Heather Cox Richardson linked to this article yesterday, explaining that trump and musk are actually following a playbook from another techbro in which trump turns over the government to a "CEO" to run and that he (trump) acts as "Chairman of the board." It seems pretty spot-on to what they are doing.
I just cannot understand at all why musk and his little minions have been allowed to do what they are doing, even if they are doing it on trump's orders. Did everyone lose their minds when trump took office for the second time?
Dan, I've been following you for years, since you were writing for Wapo during the early W years. You helped keep me sane while my son was in Iraq fighting an ill-conceived war perpetrated by the neocons. That was bad but who could have imagined then that we would be facing Nazis taking over our government just 23 years later?
The GOP base are actually quite happy with what Trump's doing right now, because of how 'upset' it's making the Dems. Anything to 'own the Libs', right? That's how FOX News and RW media is pitching it to them.
The *only* conceivable way GOP Congress critters will ever find the stones to push back on the Executive branch is if their constituents--and more importantly their business donors--start to scream bloody murder because Project 2025 starts to push consumer prices up and cuts into Wall Street's profits.
The Base voted for him to bring down the price of eggs, and Wall Street for more tax cuts. If eggs go up, not down; and tariffs, etc. cost the Oligarchs more than they'd make from the promised tax cuts, then the deal is off, and revolt will ensue. Regarding fascism, the Oligarchs are fine with it; and the Base doesn't (yet) understand what it means.
Stupid senators like d-bag Tuberville simply don't give a shit about the institution in which they inhabit, perfectly content to have it - and them - become purely ceremonial, with members cosplaying as "senators", drawing a salary, and taking pix with tourists.
As if progressives aren't having enough anxiety attacks, here's another possibility to consider. What if Trump pulls an Andrew Jackson and starts ignoring appellate court decisions? I wouldn't put it past our insane president to do exactly that. What happens then?
Thanks again for a very good column! I agree that the news media should treat every unlawful, dangerous or questionable action in this historic coup as the major story. No more "critics say" but just say it in headlines and broadcasts. Musk must be stopped. The other cast of clowns will eventually alienate everyone.
Even an economic policy expert named Brian Riedl from the Manhattan Institute commented that because Congress has ceded power over war and tariffs, once it gives up the power of the purse, “There’s not going to be much of role for Congress left.”
John Thune’s dismissive comment shows that he’s perfectly fine with Trump/Musk burning it down. When does a quisling bystander transform into collaborator.
There is only one way to stop this coup. It is called Impeachment.
The Supreme Court in the aptly named case Trump v United States declared that the President is allowed to break the law when acting in his official capacity. They went on to specify that the people's only recourse is impeachment. Therefore, our duty as citizens in this moment is to bombard the House and Senate with demands that impeachment proceedings be initiated immediately.
Cooperation of a small number of Republicans is necessary, but do not assume that this is impossible. Do Not Surrender In Advance.
Not all Republicans are MAGA. There is a faction of traditional conservative Republicans who have in the past provided plenty of votes to raise the debt ceiling, approve military assistance to Ukraine and fund the government to avoid a shutdown. They can be persuaded to protect our democracy, but need to know there is widespread support for doing so. They're all politicians, and when pressure rises they react. Voters in red states are feeling the effects too -- perhaps even more, since they receive more federal benefits.
According to Lisa Murkowski the Senate switch board has been overwhelmed by over 16000 call per minute! I'd bet a vanishing few are singing the praises of the chaos.
The corporate owned legacy media spent the past 10 years normalizing and sanewashing Trump. Now they are tacitly promoting his agenda. They have moved from complicity to collaboration. It's worth remembering that the French (as usual) showed us at the end of World War II what happens to people who collaborate with fascist regimes. My guess is that if our fascist regime is fully realized its inevitable end will make the French purge (10,000 to 100,000 dead) look like a picnic.
The legacy news outlets that you cite no longer have much influence on what Americans think and do. There are other, much more honest and influential media outlets and organizations that are effectively sounding the alarm about the illegal, anti-democratic, and dangerous policies/ actions of the trump-musk administration. But its the actual harm and devastation that's already been done and the fear of more and greater harm to come that motivates people to pay attention, to seek out information on the real threats to our democracy and way of life posed by the trump regime. This is why the resistance is growing and will continue to grow. Big media has abandoned its purpose but we have and will press on without them.
WaPo had an article today advising readers that they are being watched: to encrypt messages, lock down data, don't use email, learn how to delete your phone data and get a burner phone. Welcome to whatever dictatorship you chose to use as a comparison. I'm sure they would add to never comment on any Bulwark screed!
They used to have a motto of "Democracy dies in darkness".....it has evolved to "time to live in darkness"
Trump now "owns" then DOJ/FBI, DOD and Congress (MAGA stooges are in the majority and do whatever Trump wants). SO who's going to enforce US laws, court rulings, or the Constitution? If there's no enforcement, if Trump simply ignores laws and judges, then we have abandoned the rule of law and now live in a kleptocracy under the Rule of Trump.
Heather Cox Richardson linked to this article yesterday, explaining that trump and musk are actually following a playbook from another techbro in which trump turns over the government to a "CEO" to run and that he (trump) acts as "Chairman of the board." It seems pretty spot-on to what they are doing.
https://www.thenerdreich.com/reboot-elon-musk-ceo-dictator-doge/?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email
I just cannot understand at all why musk and his little minions have been allowed to do what they are doing, even if they are doing it on trump's orders. Did everyone lose their minds when trump took office for the second time?
Dan, I've been following you for years, since you were writing for Wapo during the early W years. You helped keep me sane while my son was in Iraq fighting an ill-conceived war perpetrated by the neocons. That was bad but who could have imagined then that we would be facing Nazis taking over our government just 23 years later?
Thank you for your tireless work!
The GOP base are actually quite happy with what Trump's doing right now, because of how 'upset' it's making the Dems. Anything to 'own the Libs', right? That's how FOX News and RW media is pitching it to them.
The *only* conceivable way GOP Congress critters will ever find the stones to push back on the Executive branch is if their constituents--and more importantly their business donors--start to scream bloody murder because Project 2025 starts to push consumer prices up and cuts into Wall Street's profits.
The Base voted for him to bring down the price of eggs, and Wall Street for more tax cuts. If eggs go up, not down; and tariffs, etc. cost the Oligarchs more than they'd make from the promised tax cuts, then the deal is off, and revolt will ensue. Regarding fascism, the Oligarchs are fine with it; and the Base doesn't (yet) understand what it means.
Stupid senators like d-bag Tuberville simply don't give a shit about the institution in which they inhabit, perfectly content to have it - and them - become purely ceremonial, with members cosplaying as "senators", drawing a salary, and taking pix with tourists.
As if progressives aren't having enough anxiety attacks, here's another possibility to consider. What if Trump pulls an Andrew Jackson and starts ignoring appellate court decisions? I wouldn't put it past our insane president to do exactly that. What happens then?
Thanks again for a very good column! I agree that the news media should treat every unlawful, dangerous or questionable action in this historic coup as the major story. No more "critics say" but just say it in headlines and broadcasts. Musk must be stopped. The other cast of clowns will eventually alienate everyone.
Even an economic policy expert named Brian Riedl from the Manhattan Institute commented that because Congress has ceded power over war and tariffs, once it gives up the power of the purse, “There’s not going to be much of role for Congress left.”
John Thune’s dismissive comment shows that he’s perfectly fine with Trump/Musk burning it down. When does a quisling bystander transform into collaborator.
There is only one way to stop this coup. It is called Impeachment.
The Supreme Court in the aptly named case Trump v United States declared that the President is allowed to break the law when acting in his official capacity. They went on to specify that the people's only recourse is impeachment. Therefore, our duty as citizens in this moment is to bombard the House and Senate with demands that impeachment proceedings be initiated immediately.
Cooperation of a small number of Republicans is necessary, but do not assume that this is impossible. Do Not Surrender In Advance.
Not all Republicans are MAGA. There is a faction of traditional conservative Republicans who have in the past provided plenty of votes to raise the debt ceiling, approve military assistance to Ukraine and fund the government to avoid a shutdown. They can be persuaded to protect our democracy, but need to know there is widespread support for doing so. They're all politicians, and when pressure rises they react. Voters in red states are feeling the effects too -- perhaps even more, since they receive more federal benefits.
For more detailed information about this, see https://jerryweiss.substack.com/p/resistance-is-not-enough or www.FeathersOfHope.net
.
According to Lisa Murkowski the Senate switch board has been overwhelmed by over 16000 call per minute! I'd bet a vanishing few are singing the praises of the chaos.
Send them emails.
The corporate owned legacy media spent the past 10 years normalizing and sanewashing Trump. Now they are tacitly promoting his agenda. They have moved from complicity to collaboration. It's worth remembering that the French (as usual) showed us at the end of World War II what happens to people who collaborate with fascist regimes. My guess is that if our fascist regime is fully realized its inevitable end will make the French purge (10,000 to 100,000 dead) look like a picnic.
The legacy news outlets that you cite no longer have much influence on what Americans think and do. There are other, much more honest and influential media outlets and organizations that are effectively sounding the alarm about the illegal, anti-democratic, and dangerous policies/ actions of the trump-musk administration. But its the actual harm and devastation that's already been done and the fear of more and greater harm to come that motivates people to pay attention, to seek out information on the real threats to our democracy and way of life posed by the trump regime. This is why the resistance is growing and will continue to grow. Big media has abandoned its purpose but we have and will press on without them.
WaPo had an article today advising readers that they are being watched: to encrypt messages, lock down data, don't use email, learn how to delete your phone data and get a burner phone. Welcome to whatever dictatorship you chose to use as a comparison. I'm sure they would add to never comment on any Bulwark screed!
They used to have a motto of "Democracy dies in darkness".....it has evolved to "time to live in darkness"
I think I'll stick with Bullwarks LED.
The Dems need to call for Impeachment every week No matter if it can' be done without a majority!
Why doesn’t someone arrest these Jr. Muskovites?They are treasonous!
Why are we not ahead of these takedowns?
Thanks for your reporting!
Trump now "owns" then DOJ/FBI, DOD and Congress (MAGA stooges are in the majority and do whatever Trump wants). SO who's going to enforce US laws, court rulings, or the Constitution? If there's no enforcement, if Trump simply ignores laws and judges, then we have abandoned the rule of law and now live in a kleptocracy under the Rule of Trump.
Dont forget to embarrass the enablers :GOP, with DT and EM.
Republicans are trashing the laws. Say it. Make it stick. Make those many Reps who took legal oaths squirm
Republicans are defying the law
I admire and honor your work over many years and thank you profoundly for this newsletter. Together we are strong!