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Jay Vee's avatar

In addition to Epstein files and tariffs, can Meidas please start writing / speaking about the moves that Trump and his goons are doing behinds the scenes like voter suppression and what to look for so people can share it out raising awareness. If this is not done then all of this effort to defeat fascism will be lost. The most important thing right now is "ELECTION REFORM" as the right likes to sugar coat it.

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Dee Joy's avatar

Meidas just did a show with Rep Casar from Texas, talking about the gerrymandering and the lack of response to the floods. Highlighting how Mexico is still in the trenches helping without much govt assistance and still over 100 people missing.

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Susan Constable's avatar

Thank goodness for our neighbors.!They deserve jewels in their heavenly crowns for their blessed response.

MAGA should be ashamed

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Ed Garland's avatar

@ Susan Constable ...Agree wholeheartedly.

MAGATS are stupid, deaf, and blind. They fail to recognize what their dear leader has done. Rep. Adam Schiff lays out the who, the what, and the when. What is so disturbing is he's right--yet not one Rethuglican has seen fit to address the facts as they exist. In less than six months, tRUMP and Project 2025 have accomplished everything Rep. Schiff says. MAGAT is a disease.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5q9XYMDfqc

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PAM KAMPS's avatar

I second your comment. Please sound the alarm.

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Carol Gawle's avatar

They know they're going to lose, so they're fixing it to win! Cheater and perverts. What else can you expect from them!

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Anne P. Sacco's avatar

And CRIMINALS.

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Jenny Faucett's avatar

Nazis

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Pine farmer's avatar

They are not perverts they are pedophiles

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Glenda C.'s avatar

Yes. And can the remaining free States band together and get the UN to come in with independent monitors to consistently monitor what the Trump regime Department of Injustice is now doing with voter data, and continue monitoring through all US elections (until we can unseat this wannabe dictator and his fascist regime)?

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Publia's avatar

Jimmy Carter used to do this, all over the world. Who's doing it now?

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Sylvia Arrowood's avatar

How do we get the UN involved? We can also demand to have the ballots hand counted.

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Bluesmurf's avatar

You start a writing campaign to the UN. Can you imagine them being flooded with cries and complaints from the "Citizens of the United States?"

We have to let them know that WE are suffering and we have to let them know in large numbers.

Here is the Contact Information for the United Nations: https://www.un.org/en/contact-us-0

Here is where you report wrong doing, fraud, waste, and abuse:

https://oios.un.org/content/contact-us

***

https://substack.com/@bluesmurf

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Sylvia Arrowood's avatar

Well, I just sent an email to the UN. When it asked it anyone else has reported any wrongdoing I said I didn't know. Then it asked who else would know I listed Jamie Raskin, Jasmine Crocket, AOC, Bernie Sanders, Kirstin Gillibrand, Gavin Newsom and JB Pritzker. I gave my full name and phone number for them to contact me. We will see what happens.

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Diana's avatar

I know that Trump signed an executive order pulling the U.S. out of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Do you know how that affects us appealing to the UN for help? Or does it? I am woefully ignorant on how this works.

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Bluesmurf's avatar

The United Nations does several things and one of them is promoting human rights. It is irrelevant that drumpf pulled the U.S. out of the council on human rights. All that means is the drumpf refuses to help with any issues from any countries that are complaining about human rights violations. He is not going to offer money or other aid to fix it.

If the U.S. complains of human rights violations, which we can because there are plenty happening just in the deportations and incarceration of migrants, then the U.N. takes those complaints and considers what to do about them.

Sometimes the U.N. and the U.N. countries put sanctions on countries that are doing horrible things to their people or to somebody else's people. Here is their website for more information and you can do an Internet search for United Nations activities or something like that and get more information on actions they have taken. https://www.un.org/en/our-work

***

https://substack.com/@bluesmurf

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Diana's avatar

Aah - got it. This is not the 1st time that you have provided me with a clear and concise explanation on a subject matter. I really appreciate it. Thanks!

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Maureen's avatar

This is a 5 Alarm fire! If the regime gets control of voting, the nation is doomed! They are laser focused on this and must be stopped!

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Paul Schwartz's avatar

THIS

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Rick's avatar

I'd love to see them have Marc Elias on to discuss what he sees are pressing issues on the electoral side of things

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Colleen Easter's avatar

Marc is on Brian Tyler Cohen all the time and also has a newsletter Great information

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Colleen McGloughlin's avatar

Two Colleens ☘️ who see the brilliance and determination of Marc Elias. Sounds corny, I guess, but i think he and his team are heroic.

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Pat Robinson's avatar

Not corney at all..sad that in the US it is heroic to speak the truth, but not corney that you recognize their heroism.

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Colleen McGloughlin's avatar

😘

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Leah Baum's avatar

Lev Parnas talks about those issues in his news letter you can find on Substack.

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Colleen McGloughlin's avatar

⭐️Marc Elias Democracy Docket https://www.democracydocket.com/

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Bluesmurf's avatar

I put out a post on my substack yesterday that addresses this very issue - Election Interference - and suggestions for things that each and every one of us can do to fight back, bring awareness, etc.

On top of what I suggested in my post - we also need to contact 50501 and Indivisible and get rallies going against gerrymandering and election interference. The States own the elections and they will start changing the election laws as soon as possible to stack the deck in the MAGA favor. Time to get everyone riled up. Check out my substack post from yesterday.

****

https://substack.com/@bluesmurf

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laurie's avatar

The cheaters want to be in charge of election integrity, that's rich! :)from Laurie Blair.

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Nina Simmonds's avatar

Absolutely!!! 2025’s 1st stage was done when The pedo file came out, he was toast, that’s over. Now we’re at the second stage where they are taking over the election process and the removal of 130 federal judges. This should be our focus. We cannot let them get ahead of us while they continue their destructive agenda. Do NOT be distracted by all the scandals. Demand that the democrats in power get off their assets and fight dirty like the repugs in the house are doing!!!

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Gwenny's avatar

Yes, tariffs are passed onto us, USA citizens!!! Grocery prices are out of touch!! $6.13 for celery 2 weeks ago. Coffee pods, $13.95. Wake up, it's all affecting us!!!

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Susan Raquel's avatar

Yesterday I thought the $3.00 for celery was outrageous. Roma tomatoes were 99cents a lb

Coffee beans $9.98 lb.

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KathyInCali's avatar

Just wait, it’s going to get worse. Should be pretty bad around the holidays. And coffee.. Last I heard 🤡wants to slap a 50% tariff on Brazil! That’s because they’re punishing Bolsanaro for HIS insurrection. He’s a corrupt/criminal wanna be dictator just like the 🤡. So he threatened the 50% tariff unless they free him. (Not gonna happen) Think coffee’s high now?

https://substack.com/home/post/p-168714425

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Pat Robinson's avatar

And even though the entire GOP Congress is fine with kids doing without at Christmas, I don't think retailers are going to be all that happy. But then they helped get trump elected. It might be interesting to see how Americans cope....maybe we will see we never did need all that stuff and once the tariffs are gone we will not go back to our old buying habits.

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Cynthia Koepke's avatar

Glad I ordered extra coffee for several months because I believed he would hit us with his tariffs and I wasn't going to wait. I usually start buying my baking supplies for Thanksgiving and Christmas now too.

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Sylvia Salazar's avatar

Wise girl. Do what you can to get through this fiasco without anxiety.

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Becky Schneider's avatar

Even worse, we actually had a trade surplus with Brazil so there goes his argument that he was imposing tariffs to make trade more fair (which was already total BS). The orange turd never ceases to amaze me on the depths of his utter stupidity and self-serving cruelty.

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Anne P. Sacco's avatar

Coffee has doubled up here! It's far reaching. Weekly searches for coffee sales, grinding my own beans to save...got those of us addicted to the black gold over a barrel. 🇨🇦

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Susan Raquel's avatar

There is a little store a couple of miles from me. I've been a customer there for going on 30 years. I get free coffee. I wonder if the owner will continue to do that for his regular customers if coffee gets much higher.

Yes, I do like my coffee.

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Cynthia Koepke's avatar

I have been diagnosed with severe chronic fatigue. I live on coffee just to wake up! Im addicted to it.

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Susan Raquel's avatar

I read an article that says before drinking coffee in the morning, drink a glass of water. Since the coffee in large amounts can be a diuretic the water helps keep you hydrated.

I don't have chronic fatigue; but, even the fatigue I occasionally feel is not pleasant. It must be awful to feel that way all of the time.

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Cynthia Koepke's avatar

I keep a water bottle (reusable) next to me in bed. I drink water when I wake up to take my morning meds. I also drunk sine water whenever I wake up in the middle of the night. My meds make for a dry mouth. But you are right. Water is good to drink in the morning to help wake up!

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Kathy Gutierrez's avatar

A few months ago I was looking for parts to my costume I was going to wear to my first Renaissance Faire. I found the perfect accessory. It was $28. I thought I was buying from an American company. They had a name in English, an address in the U.S., and descriptions and information were written in proper American English. I wrote up the order. When the total showed up, the shipping was $3.99, not bad. However, there was a handling charge of $68. . . .

I was floored! I pushed the little information button. It said that due to problems with shipping problems through American ports these charges have become necessary. The company sincerely apologized for this additional cost.

My $28 pirate hat for the Renaissance Faire was now going to cost me over $100 thanks to our president's astronomical tariffs! Nonetheless, he says China is going to pay these tariffs, not American consumers! Naturally, I didn't buy the hat. I bought another one.

DON'T BELIEVE TRUMP'S LIES! How can you tell when he is lying? Any time he is talking, it is a lie!!

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Kathy H's avatar

Drag. Garb ain't cheap. That felon is ruining everything good.

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Lynne Rodgers's avatar

🤡 clusterfuck shitstorm🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

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Connie Larsen's avatar

You are being to nice!

Brainless, Treasonous, clusterfuck, shitstorm!🤬🤬🤬🤬🤬

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Pat Robinson's avatar

Good job for reading the not so small print!!! I fear lots of Americans may not do that and will be stuck for a much higher price than they expected.

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Stop the BS247's avatar

Sorry to hear that. You could make your own for under $50. it would probably fit better too.

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Kathy Gutierrez's avatar

I bought an inexpensive one and my sister and I decorated ours.

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Stop the BS247's avatar

Awesome

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Paul Schwartz's avatar

Michael - thank you for posting. Aside from this Epstein mess we need to be laser focused and get out into the open on what Lev has warned us about - gerrymandering in Tx and across the country

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PAM KAMPS's avatar

Nothing else matters if we either have no future elections or we have all dems taken off the voter rolls due to some stupid (but legal) postcard scheme. Sound the alarm.

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April's avatar

I’m interested in becoming a paid subscriber and am more than happy to support your work. I do have one question before subscribing: My husband and I, along with our well-informed young adult child, all enjoy your content. What I’d like to avoid is paying for three separate subscriptions for the same household.

Do you offer a family plan, household subscription, or any type of shared access option? If not, is there a way to set up a multi-user subscription, or is this something you’re considering for the future?

If this information is already mentioned somewhere in your content, I apologize for missing it — and would appreciate you pointing me in the right direction.

Thank you for your time and for the work you’re doing. I look forward to hearing from you.

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Kathy H's avatar

As a Substack subscriber, I don't seem to be limited on devices, so you could probably share an "April Fam" account, although that might be confusing if commenting.

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April's avatar

Most of us use our cell phones from majority of our viewing, how do I share subscription using our mobile phones.

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FDD's avatar

Calling it Trumpflation!!!

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Kezia Sorensen's avatar

Trumpflation—I like it. Now who can think of a 2-3 word phrase containing the word tariff? Rhyming or alliteration would make it more memorable.

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Dana Devalera's avatar

Trump Tax Scam

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Mike Sirota's avatar

Not only do they pass on the tariffs but they MARK THEM UP!!!!!

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Kathy H's avatar

Yup, it's a open door for gouging, just like covid was & all the other costs that keep going up.

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Melvy's avatar

I totally agree with this article, but, I'm pretty sure the intended audience is not here at Substack, so how is this message getting to them? I can post my support and "like" others' comments here, but I am not the one who needs to be convinced.

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Bluesmurf's avatar

I have an idea - copy this article and make sure to send to to your local community leaders (mayor, city council, county commissioners) and let them know how it impacts you. They need to hear it - not just Congress. So do your State leaders. The Governor, you legislators. I know that they already know what is happening and how it works, but they also need to know that you aren't going to be keeping them in office if they continue to support it, or do nothing - this is something that impacts everyone regardless of political party.

Here is the contact information of who you can spread this around to. You will have to look up the contact information for your local leaders. Pass this around...

Call the Capitol Building: (202) 224-3121

• Try out 5 Calls App from your App Store to Assist!

Who are my Congressional Leaders in Washington, DC?

https://www.congress.gov/members/find-your-member

Who are my State and Local Leaders?

https://myreps.datamade.us/

Contact Hakeem Jeffries

Comments from the American People

https://democraticleader.house.gov/contact

Contact the DNC

https://democrats.org/contact-us/

Contact the DCCC - (202) 863-1500

https://dccc.org/contact/

Pound on the Republicans!

RNC - https://gop.com/contact-us/

NRCC - https://act.nrcc.org/contact-us/

1-888-606-1023

***

https://substack.com/@bluesmurf

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RUSTY LEFFEL's avatar

HOW WE AS AMERICANS ARE SO EASILY FOOLED. “Tariffs” sounded like something someone else would pay. WRONG.

It is an additional FEDERAL SALES TAX on US!

But maybe as we pay these new federal taxes we can FEEL GOOD knowing we are giving extra to fund the BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL and extra tax cuts for Billionaires!!!

Call the Tariffs a “Feel Good” penalty for buying stuff?

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Paul Schwartz's avatar

Dumb America does not want to hear it. Anything him or NutLick say they listen!

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Dr Cannie Stark's avatar

We in the rest of the world knew from the start that the Big Bully Tarrifs were going to be paid by you in the Divided States of America (DSA). How is it that so many Americans couldn't figure that out? The power that the little dictator has over cognitive abilities is just astounding! I sincerely hope that the current fascist regime in the DSA is eliminated before you lose ALL of your freedoms (you have already lost sooo many). I am not meaning to be nasty with these comments.

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PeachBlossom's avatar

I'm convinced that his power is demonically derived, and I truly am serious.

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Susan Meeker-Lowry's avatar

I agree. There’s some heavy duty energy wielding going on behind the scenes.

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Anne P. Sacco's avatar

The power of gaslighting, it's brainwashing 101, by drip, drip, drip. Eventually ppl lack the ability to logical reasoning, even to educated and intelligent ppl. It's pathological. And so evil. And effective.

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EaB's avatar

Actually you’re not being nasty, you’re being a realist. Many people want to act like the 3 monkeys see no evil, hear no evil…etc. They aren’t curious enough to know what’s going on in this devolving country with the ruling corrupt regime and are only hurting themselves and will be the first ones to say, ‘how could this be happening in America?’

It’s called being informed and active in our democracy folks! Prepare yourselves for what’s coming. You have to do the homework and get involved instead of relying on others to do the heavy lifting then it becomes less of a burden for each individual.

Just saying!

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Minnie Scarnato's avatar

So true. Went to Walmart a few days ago for a few things. 8 items $80.00. I’m not kidding. I couldn’t believe it then, and I’m still thinking about it. Crazy!!☹️😞

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ATC409's avatar

Walmart is definitely not the cheapest prices around ; never has been. It’s all in illusion just like you know who 🫩

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Prof Sipwell's avatar

Totally nitpicking here, but where in the wide world of sports can you find a pair of Levi's for anything less than $80?

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Paul Schwartz's avatar

Take a look at the price of sneakers!!!!!!!!!!

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EaB's avatar

I was in Costco yesterday and they’re now carrying Adidas sneakers for men/women at $35…And they were good looking ones! They had sandals and a couple of other shoes, too. Good old Costco👏🏻

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Prof Sipwell's avatar

I try very much not to ...

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Cathy Delia's avatar

That's what I was wondering.

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Kathy H's avatar

Made me wonder, too. I have been able to avoid Walmart, but most stores are going that way. It sucks.

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Patricia Jones's avatar

Walmart has women’s for that price.

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Prof Sipwell's avatar

I may need to investigate. I actually have a few pairs of women's jeans, thanks to the local thrift store, and my only complaint is the egregious lack of pockets.

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Terri Mac's avatar

Try Mercari, Posh, secondhand stores.

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Rikki Marshall's avatar

I shop at Safeway and until recently, they had weekly coupons geared to regular shoppers and towards Safeway Members. Over the last few weeks they are only posting one or two of these coupons for members.

I used to save $15 to $20 a week, now I am not saving any.

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Susan Raquel's avatar

We no longer have a Safeway here. My biggest laugh is when Raley's or Bel Aire (our fancy grocery stores) have a sale. The sale price is the usual price at Winco, , our lower cost grocery store.

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Kathy H's avatar

It's terrible. It used to be worth it to shop sales & use coupons, which, of course, promotes sales to store's advantage...now, it's like, screw it, I just want to get out of there & not buy anything I don't have to.

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JOHN SMITH's avatar

Be a minder for your community just watch and see. Be the truthful person and be smart. We can do this.

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Momma M's avatar

Michael, I like the way you write. Do more?

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