By Ben Meiselas
Let me break this down for you because what I just heard in my interview with Merici Vinton—an actual former insider at the U.S. Digital Service (USDS), now the dystopian “DOGE”—left me floored. You’ve probably heard the spin from Trump’s cronies and Elon Musk’s fanboys about how DOGE (the Department of Government Efficiency) was supposed to “streamline” government. Cut waste. Save trillions.
Yeah, that was a lie.
Here’s the truth: DOGE is a hostile takeover of our government, engineered by Trump, executed by Musk, and designed to dismantle the federal agencies that actually serve YOU.
Merici Vinton, who helped build some of the most beloved government services like the IRS Direct File system, joined me to reveal what really went down. She was there before DOGE, during the hostile takeover, and saw the destruction firsthand.
What started as a patriotic mission to modernize government tech under USDS turned into a nightmare. With the stroke of Trump’s pen, Musk’s DOGE swept in—firing 42 career staffers on Valentine’s Day (because of course they did), demanding access to sensitive data (yes, your data), and pushing out loyalty tests like some dystopian sci-fi flick.
And the so-called “efficiency”? Musk and his DOGE goons walked into the IRS, the one place where the law actually matters, and told agents to “imagine there are no laws.” That’s right. They wanted to play dictator, even over our tax system.
But here’s the kicker: while DOGE was gutting agencies and cutting services that Americans depend on, they tried to kill the Direct File program—the free, user-friendly system Merici helped create that allowed millions of Americans to file taxes easily, quickly, and without predatory fees.
How good was Direct File? It had a Net Promoter Score (basically how much people love the product) that beat Apple. Let me say that again—the IRS had a higher satisfaction rating than Apple. That’s what they attempted to destroy.
All this while Musk’s promised “$2 trillion in savings” magically shrank to $150 billion—if that. Even Steve Bannon (yes, that Steve Bannon) is calling BS and demanding an audit of DOGE. When Bannon is the voice of reason, you know something’s rotten.
Merici didn’t sugarcoat it. This is a constitutional crisis. DOGE has been deleting federal agencies, cutting off cancer research funding, choking off grants for education and medicine, and gutting government services that millions rely on. And the scariest part? Most Americans don’t even know it’s happening.
But there’s hope. People like Merici and her colleagues, the ones who actually care about good governance, are ready to rebuild. They just need the chance.
So here’s my ask to you: Don’t look away. Demand accountability. Share this story. Because the more we expose this corrupt scheme, the closer we get to putting power back where it belongs—with the people. People are already starting to wake up. Let’s keep our foot on the gas.
Add the MeidasTouch Podcast right now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify to get free access to even more interviews and reports like this, and remember to join us on this Substack as a paid subscriber to keep our work going.
Ok. This is getting ridiculous. DOGE=Sandworm=Solarwinds=Russia.
Fake Ruzzian agency in America. Definitely not American. It’s a Russian intrusion into America
Yep, it’s all connected JZKsCoreHop. My definition of DOGE, Dorks Obliterating Government Ethics
Unfortunately I agree.
SPAM
Troll impersonating Ben Meiselas. Reported and blocked.
Bullshit troll grifter, anyone? That's what I'm "sharing" with you.
Yup. Total bullshit. 😏😎
We need the military to stop the trump regime and throw them all in prison, where they belong. They're domestic terrorists, working for russia.
In 90 days he's destroyed the USA and the American's prosperous future.
Ben you may want to check your personal Substack. Looks like a bot is posting from your personal Substack
This shit has to stop! Yeah the crazy dude is going back to run his car company soon, and what will happen then? Someone in the admin will say something like oh shit they were sabotaged! Or some such thing. I’ve wondered all along if the tech bros were opening doors to all our info and leaving them open so anyone could drop in and do anything.. Well it seems to be more than that. Could it be that the info exposed could now be lost and never found again. Just think of the time and effort to rebuild it all. Some of us could be dead before it’s restored!!!!!🤬🤬🤬
I don't think it was deleted - just copied so they can sell it to the highest bidders, which might include identity thieves.
More horse pucky.
We already knew all of this. We need the legal system to hold them accountable…
For weeks now I’ve been saying abt the same thing that we continue talking about all these terrible things trump and musk are doing but there still doesn’t appear anything is being done abt it. IT’S TIME FOR EFFECTIVE ACTIONS.
What are you doing to help? Calling or emailing your rep and Senator which is a matter of legal record? I sign petitions that go to my senator and rep, attend town halls that my rep holds usually once a month. One of the law firms also has a town hall that is suing the administration and Doge. I also donate small amounts to these groups It makes me feel less powerless and know how ever small it seems I am heling them do their job.
You are an inspiration for fighting back trying to protect, well save, our Democracy. We donate to Midas and to Steve Schmidt.
I encourage Steve to run for POTUS next term. We are looking for more ways we can help. Writing to Reps and Senators is good but our time is spent right now recovering from a Cancer.
I think most of us are now doing all we can. It has to be enough yet for the first time in my life I’m not feeling optimistic about things like I always did. I’m looking for another effective way I can continue to fight this.
Being a part of this Substack is motivating.
These are amazing actions but not NEARLY enough to topple whats going on right now. I agree with Dennis 100%
I’m doing these things too: writing letters and postcards, calling my reps and senators, signing petitions, etc.
Now I’m going to start writing letters to the editor. I live in a red area and the opinion pages are full of anger and misinformation. Instead of trading insults or trying to convince MAGA followers through argument which does not work, I thought I would send “lessons”, tips, suggestions in my letters to the opinion pages on how to research and check sources. If they do the work themselves, maybe they will believe the results.
Dennis~ we are powerless~ even a Supreme Court mandate is trampled and not prosecuted! Fear is quickly turning to terror!
For FAR too long the justice branch has been using civil actions for punishment. It has no effect on the wealthy. Judges catering to them. Trump was found in contempt of court over ten times walking away with NO sanctions. Today, we have controvercy over mixed bathroom privileges. I understand the angst, but Trump brags about grabbing EVERY STUFF then denying E. Jean. Carol's account of him doing just that. When found guilty his penalty was WHAT ? A fine. At one time he was "convicted" of discriminating against blacks in civil court. Punishment ? ZERO !!!
We need to be as relentless as they are. They are digging a hole they won’t be able to clime out of. Their destruction is coming even if doing it legitimately is too slow. TAKE ACTION! Hound your representatives, vote, join the protests. They’re beginning to be more afraid of us than they are of him. We will be partying in the streets when we take them down. It’s coming. Don’t give up. It’s what they’re counting on.
🤯
Hello Kate, First I should say this is Dennis’s Wife, I paid for this subscription with his credit card.
Yes fear is turning to terror this is trump’s plan. We must try hard not to be afraid and put our energy into how to effectively fight this because we are literally losing our Democracy.
If you are involved in anything effective please share with me I’d like to get involved.
Sincerely,
Yvonne J.
They are going to crash and burn. Loosing faithfull followers daily as they show who they are and boldly hurt their base with their arrogance thinking they’ve won and it doesn’t matter any more. That and the fact that his appointees are ignorant and have no idea what they’re doing so have to keep undoing things as they loose on court. They did what they’ve falsely claimed Biden did by stealing the election and that will all come out once they don’t control the house and senate. Even his stooges on the Supreme Court are starting to turn on him. If you believe you’re powerless you are. Take action. Hound your representatives. They need to be more afraid of us than they are of him. It’s already happening. 12 republicans are already talking about voting to tax the rich.
hope you are right, Mary Ann! I just don’t see enough evidence ~and our recourse is nil. If we didnt get some semblance of moral cooperation in the senate for the inhumane actions of the cast of criminals in the WH OR to reign him in on the tariffs~ add that the Supreme Court has become impotent even when they ~try he tramples over them! He doesn’t need to care about his base anymore. So I am not finding the light in the very dark tunnel!
😖
Not true. Unfortunately, doing things legitimately is slow. But they’re buried in lawsuits that they’re loosing, there are hearings the Dems are holding and they are loosing many followers by showing who they really are. Pretty sure the midterms will loose them the house and likely the senate and their freeforall will end. Medias touch surpassing FOX is a sign as well as all the protests. Many will go to trial and be held accountable. Praying trump will be among them if he lives that long.
Go back to your legislators, they need to hear from us that we want DOGE out of our government, and we want it now!!!!
If he found real fraud, there would be arrest. No police and no arrest means no fraud. The fraud was the Trump administration.
ITS ALL DISTRACTION.
Project 2025 is already 34% implemented, while we are distracted.
This is what is really happening behind the scenes -
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSrtVNpKA/
I have not heard anything about anyone being charged with fraud. Who’s supposedly responsible?
And musky offers no proof of doing *anything* constructive. Show us the evidence!!
He needs to "find" himself and felon Dumpty.
Great interview Ben! This gal told the truth about DOGE and spoke to the need for DOGE to be investigated. Good for her, and others, to resign after figuring out that they’d been hoodwinked into a group committing illegal activities for illicit reasons.
More former/fired employees need to visibly speak out like this!
Didn’t you see the interview with a man head of it in NR-something. I think it was national security or something. Doge created 4 files. Turned off all security, Then he downloaded a ton of data. There’s a graph showing how much. Then they deleted the four files and swept the system of their activities then left the department without turning on the security system. Then there was 20 attempts to log on the system (into one of the four doge files they created). 20 attempts in 15 minutes. They found it was a Russian IP address and that they had the correct username and password but the only reason they couldn’t access the system is because it had restricted access from foreign countries. Look it up. It’s titled Whistleblower something.
I read that one of the "boy" hackers (which using them should have been a tip off with anyone with a brain) went back in after they were told to leave it alone, might have downloaded some data and then did leave the SS database open probably because he was in a hurry and wasn't supposed to be in it. DOGE is currently being sued by regular joes for accessing those files.
Well whatever they have, it’s too late. Just waiting for the shoe to drop and see what they’re going to do with our data. It’s scary.
The article was from NPR. It’s very good and what happened is chilling. Highly recommend checking it out. Only good thing is that the data exfiltrated was in text format which is very hard to work with since the fields are not in specific formats and take time and effort to parse.
IMHO doge is there to create chaos and eliminate any agency that was investigating or blocking musks companies who happen to have almost all the contracts with the government. We can cut billions in waste by eliminating his contracts. He doesn't want oversight into him or his companies that are cutting corners or violating the standards and requirements. Just look at Tesla and the overpriced garbage he sells.
Also “DOGE” or to be more specific the Russian incursion was revealed 12/20. That’s how long Russia has been sitting in the federal network.
They’ve been in it since the Fourth of July trip the Republicans took and were informed of how they’d been compromised.
Kompromat 🇷🇺
I’ve been screaming this for over a month
Wow, sounds like this young woman should be reporting this info to ( our inefficient) Congress and get a probe going.
So who among us find it AMAZING that we might agree with Steve Bannon on something ??😳😆
It doesn’t hurt that he despises Elon I guess, rt?
Well, y’all know the old adage....”The enemy of enemy is my friend.” ✊😎
This exposé highlights the critical need for vigilance and transparency in how influential figures leverage technology and public enthusiasm for personal or political gain. It underscores why we must continually question the motivations behind high-profile endorsements and tech-driven movements. Protecting user trust and democratic integrity demands accountability—not just innovation. Excellent reporting by MeidasTouch.
Best explanation
Howtech billionaires plan to take over America 👹👹👹👹👹👹👹
https://youtu.be/5RpPTRcz1no?
It’s a digital cooo
EMPOWER YOURSELF & share
https://youtu.be/TZOoT8AbkNE
Wow! this TED talk was very powerful. Thankyou for sharing. I'll be deep diving into her previous talks as well. This just validates that this broligarchy are evil and greedy as we suspected. We must starve them. Great info, great advice. Thankyou
Excellent TED talk & now we see it in real time! Share, Share…!!
Merici Vinton seems to be a very intelligent, astute person. It's a shame that someone of her caliber and ethics was let go. I hope she can be part of the rebuild team. Thank you, Merici, for speaking out.
Agreed. I think she should work with partners to create an efficient computer system for the government that can repair the damage done, so it's ready to go when 2026 puts us back in charge of Congress, and Congress does it's job.
In order to hold DOGE accountable we must know what they have actually done. Are they just collecting Americans’ personal data for Palantir? For what end? Social control? To sell it on the open market? Inquiring minds want to know.
It also seems ripe for Russian (or other enemies) hacking, the multifold lengths to which it could be utlilized.
Hell yeah brothers well done
If it doesn't make sense - it's not true.
They stole all the info for AI.
Also to help them make decisions.
Who is a good, healthy slave?
Who is useless to them and needs to go to the death camps?
Never forget what he said to Bukele - "We need you to build 5 more camps for the homegrowns."
This is just the beginning. Exactly how Hitler started.
This is what unchecked power and billions of dollars gets you in the wrong hands. This is the evil of the trump regime.
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGgjiB4xjeA/?igsh=MTY1MHozMmJvMTl2eA
I suspect that everyone's information that the government has, has been sent to another computer system that does not belong to the government, but to Musk or someone else. I don't believe that any of information is protected in any way. It will be in the hands of someone else forever. Doge has marked something like 40,000 people dead in the Social Security system. Now it is on them to prove that they are alive and get their SS back. From what I have read and heard, they will be marked dead in everything else in their lives. Imagine, trying to get a loan, buy a house or buy a car and can't because Doge said you were dead. You can't get accountability with tRump in office.
and the dark web …
😖
Should we all demand FOIA requests on our personal data and ask where it might have been shared? Could this be an act of revolt?
I think we should do that. Nothing is being done to find out where our information was either shared or who knows what?
A class action lawsuit “we the people” vs Elon Musk and Donald Trump needs to be filed. They need to pay every dime to repair the damage they’ve caused!
Absolutely!!💯
Don’t be surprised when the fascist do fascist shyte. The problem that we have now is the fight is about the tech and the narrative. The legal system is tracking the “legality” of illegal use of technology.
They want to destroy our government so they can make our country the white Christian nation they dream of.
this was eye opening
supporting stories below inc from MSNBC 50501 Rachel Maddow & Time magazine
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSrtVNpKA/
‼️ MSNBC
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGiEHYrRCVg/?igsh=MWtrbGc2MjdtbW80aQ==
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSrvLD5or/
The first three videos spell out the details best so far - the fourth hints at the more sinister plan - im not crazy they are
Tk civics
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSrtVNpKA/
Kiki callout
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSrvd2QRn/
How tech billionaires plan to take over America 👹👹👹👹👹👹👹
https://youtu.be/5RpPTRcz1no?feature=shared
It’s a digital coup
EMPOWER YOURSELF & share X 5
https://youtu.be/TZOoT8AbkNE
MSNBC
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGiEHYrRCVg/?igsh=MWtrbGc2MjdtbW80aQ==
‼️The sinister plan
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGgjiB4xjeA/?igsh=MTY1MHozMmJvMTl2eA
‼️ hostile takeover
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DHcL78lRAM9/?igsh=eHQzN2J5NnMybGNw
‼️Tech supremacy
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DIJXRfHRLmC/?igsh=eThibTZ4cmc4d3lj
‼️smrtmth 2 Maddow
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DF6Ld-PxN72/?igsh=MXNwZWxybjlxbjNxNw==
‼️The sinister plan
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DGgjiB4xjeA/?igsh=MTY1MHozMmJvMTl2eA
‼️ RACHEL MADDOW
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/19vLK7Ca59/
‼️ Time
https://time.com/7269166/dark-enlightenment-history-essay/%20https://time.com/7269166/dark-enlightenment-history-essay/
‼️Morgan
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1A4Gx1QEuq/?mibextid=uSdriS
‼️blond politics
https://youtu.be/5RpPTRcz1no?feature=shared
‼️the resistance
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18qPtVdHkT/?mibextid=WC7FNe
‼️50501 Substack
https://open.substack.com/pub/50501ny/p/its-even-worse-than-you-think?r=5coyuf&utm_medium=ios
‼️resistance radio
https://substack.com/@resistanceradio/note/p-160078980?r=5coyuf&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
‼️ Dr smrtmth
https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1BiBpDgDEq/?mibextid=K35XfP
‼️Jon
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/16Ziw33Cx2/?mibextid=WC7FNe
‼️ Rosie
https://open.substack.com/pub/theresistersreport/p/elon-musk-dark-maga-and-the-technate?r=5coyuf&utm_medium=ios
‼️ How tech's richest plan to save themselves after the apocalypse | Silicon Valley | The Guardian
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/jul/23/tech-industry-wealth-futurism-transhumanism-singularity
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/aug/18/peter-thiel-refused-consent-for-sprawling-lodge-in-new-zealand-local-council
‼️sugarrhi https://open.substack.com/pub/sugarrhi/p/the-heritage-foundation-and-the-dark?r=5coyuf&utm_medium=ios
‼️alluring 2
https://www.notesfromthecircus.com/p/the-plot-against-america
‼️alluring
https://www.threads.net/@alluring/post/DIK-uO8tO32?xmt=AQGzLZfmGSDeUnBv5puItrS
‼️ Ftboy
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/16CK7UiNY1/?mibextid=uSdriS
‼️ Peter Thiel
https://www.facebook.com/100079779344617/posts/637359518933354
‼️ Peter Thiel wants Greenland
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/greenland-freedom-city-rich-donors-push-trump-tech-hub-up-north-2025-04-10/?
‼️ https://theplotagainstamerica.com/?sfnsn=mo&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR5K0L_XPYgpsn1KO1kHwI4WrpQHf3MDmY2LH4KH7rd2wYCtrDV0HLT-YEvU7g_aem_uXYHim8GFecYThoTy_7l9g
How tech billionaires plan to take over America 👹👹👹👹👹👹👹
https://youtu.be/5RpPTRcz1no?feature=shared
It’s a digital coup
EMPOWER YOURSELF & share X 5
https://youtu.be/TZOoT8AbkNE
Thanks for sharing. It's horrifying what they're planning.
I wish everyone would see these for their own info. I just hope and pray we can stop them.
Intuit donated heavily to the trump campaign and then free file was axed. Guess it was hitting their turbo tax profit!
Besides the data mining and surveillance, has anyone stopped to think about what kind of viruses and logic bombs they could be implanting into the systems?
exactly.
LOVED her! She needs to run the IRS!!!
I hope we'll hear more people speak out and expose more problems in depth that Trump & Musk caused.
The seven mountain mandate which is attached to speaker of the House Mike Johnson and other far right phony Cristo nationalist, including Peter Thiel project 2025 and agenda 2030, want the population of the US to be 50 million, and then they want to start their breeding programs to breed good little boys and girls from there with the education that they are told. By 2030 we will all own nothing. That's what they are implementing now. They plan on elderly people dying and disabled people dying and autistic people not being cared for and so forth and so on. They even would like to catch women on fire again Nick Fuentes said it out loud
The new head of the world economic forum is the old CEO of nestlé the one with the very strange left eye that said water is not a human right
Great insights with interview Ben led with ? What are the Nazis going to do with the data on citizens and we didnt get the answer Berulis the whistleblower has suggested that it's clearly being downloaded For election interference or suppression? Also of import
China's Local Move To Gold For Trade Replacing Dollar
China is now preparing to establish a gold standard in trading with its local ASEAN trading partners through the Shanghai Gold Exchange established in 2002 With an estimated 30K+ tons of gold it is strongly positioned to use the yuan backed by gold to displace the dollar as the global reserve currency
This is a really big deal for much of the America's economic strength over the decades has been as its place as reserve currency in global trade But with the deterioration of its purchasing power due to excessive QE over the decades the weakened dollar position can now be easily exploited by China whose geopolitical strategy has always been to let the US make the mistakes and patiently wait for its turn to move, much akin to the philosophy of martial arts
The time is right to strike with the US weakened with what the Chinese knowing that the largest credit bubble in world history has been popped prompted by the Orange Cheeto and his Nazi followers with the equity markets reflecting this With China being the second largest buyer of US treasuries to support the ballooning American debt this adds another layer of complexity that puts the US in a very vulnerable position
The only safe place to be in this global destruction of fiat currencies is to get out of credit and get into real money which is gold/silver
She is so correct about the loss of scientific and medical research hurting us in the future. Also, it is much easier to destroy than to build.
We are losing the best and brightest in the US every day and it will make the US fall behind every country in the world.
I agree with what everybody here is saying. Fraud, Russian influence, it was also a way to divert attention. Look there don’t look here. Social security numbers once retrieved , driver license numbers , they can find out who are the loyal cult , dems , republicans, independents. DOGE bags had access to it all. ,
This needs investigation- a new govt credit card system that musk n Thiel n trump will profit from
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-peter-thiel-ramp-gsa-smartpay-expense-payment-system
They let a fox into the hen house
Yeah, I knew it. I could just tell that the guy it was an underhanded piece of crap, he was destroying the country and protecting his own fukin interests.
Foxtrotdeltatango.
WHATS really going on ‼️
civics
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSrtVNpKA/
callout
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSrvd2QRn/
tech billionaires plan to take over America 👹👹👹👹👹👹👹
https://youtu.be/5RpPTRcz1no?
It’s a digital cooo
EMPOWER YOURSELF & share X 5
https://youtu.be/TZOoT8AbkNE
Fully agree.
We often imagine global collapse as a sudden storm — armies moving, capitals falling. But in truth, the most dangerous shifts happen quietly, across unseen lines. Trump’s second term doesn’t announce America’s exit from the liberal order; it engineers it, piece by piece, like a bishop cutting diagonals across the chessboard of alliances, law, and trust. Putin doesn't need victory by invasion. He only needs America to stop defending the board. This essay lays out how close we already are to strategic checkmate — and why only clear-eyed recognition can still change the game.
That's not a secret. It was never about efficiency. It was always about pain for the american people, they will not hold the muskrat accountable.
Well Elon has all the information he needs on his thumb drives from all Americans because of DOGE and he says he’s going back to work on Tesla. Right!! He’s got all he needs to hand pick our infrastructure and citizen information from his last few week deep diving our info.
What irony Ben. I just posted about DOGE today before I saw this. Congress has to act.
I have really hope more people watch this, we transparency and accountability we have not been given any real proof only what Musk and the clown keep reporting. It’s all lies!💪🇺🇸
That was so informative!! Thank you Merici for all of your hard and effective work!! I'm so sad that you felt you had to quit your job. You are the perfect example of a government employee that is exactly what we need! I pray you will eventually make your way back to improving the US government!!
These people are at war with "empathy". That's a fact. They said so: They're working to destroying empathy. Destroying empathy is destroying human kindness. Destroying human kindness is destroying that which makes us human. That's a reasons for Hitler and the Nazis' to be able to destroy that which makes us human. WTF we all need to wake up.
The 1st time I agree with Bannon: today!🤣
Right?? In this and this alone, I hope he has some real power!
“ Here’s the truth: DOGE is a hostile takeover of our government, engineered by Trump, executed by Musk, and designed to dismantle the federal agencies that actually serve YOU.”
This is exactly what we have all been seeing,
“ The U.S. Agency for International Development’s director of security and his deputy were placed on administrative leave Saturday after they tried to prevent employees from the Department of Government Efficiency from accessing secure USAID systems”
“ Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency used the U.S. Marshals to physically take over a government agency Thursday, and now that agency head is suing.”
“ suing.”
“ Specifically, DOGE actions resulted in approximately 62,242 federal job cuts, impacting 17 agencies. These cuts were followed by a surge in job applications at other agencies, potentially indicating a broader ripple effect”
THIS IS NOT NORMAL. THIS IS A HOSTILE DIGITAL TAKEOVER! THIS IS A COUP!
Musk has ties to both China and Russia. He has delusions of a dystopian world where billionaires live in excluded islands or in space and AI runs everything, He has built a huge data center in Tennessee that I can’t say for a fact , but I know in my heart is true that he is feeding all of our data to. He wants the contract for trumps ‘Golden Dome’. that would send out to 1000 satellites circling the earth and he wants to allow it on a subscription basis. .can you imagine , Musk with the ability of 1000 satellites spying on everyone, and a huge data center to process all of that???? This from the man that has 14 inverting children with at least 4 different woman and wants them all to live on a compound in Texas. He has king/god delusions, no capacity for empathy or remorse and feels above any man made laws, a of course he has stolen all of our data and dismantled our government for his own personal gain, We let the con men in and they are winning, Let’s hope enough peole now see the con and stop these thieves,
And yet, he is just a Russian/Project tool. If he becomes a problem they will still send him to a gulag prison.
She said that they were told Congress approved dismantling the government in 24 hours????? Since when????I think Jamie Raskin would speak to that and they should be able to advise where this is in the courts
Next guest, Sen. Elissa Slotkin? https://www.politico.com/news/2025/04/24/slotkin-has-a-war-plan-to-beat-trump-dont-be-weak-and-woke-00308176
We do trust her and her colleagues and would love them to come back.
Musk didn’t go in there for efficiency, he went in there for destruction and I agree, I want Musk and his little weasels all be brought to justice and every contract he has with the federal government cut up and destroyed. His wealth should be used to help rebuild what he destroyed. Period.
Awesome reporting.
What an excellent interview! I admit to being a numerophobe - I have a fear about anything that requires using numbers. Marci Vinton explained things that even I understood.
I just had a conversation with my Number One son about something you touched upon. I mentioned a gentleman that I thought would make a good president. He was of the opinion it would be the same old, same old. My thoughts are that the present generation (I don’t know what letter we’re on; Y or Z) doesn’t have enough experience yet regarding government doings.
One of my concerns is how much information is creepy Elon stealing. Military secrets, personal information regarding our citizens? I’m guardedly optimistic that this debacle can be turned around. I haven’t trusted the government since 1975. Any hope of trusting is totally and irrevocably impossible. I’m 70 years old and have seen and experienced too much.
Thank you Marici for sharing your knowledge and help me see things more clearly. Ben, you’re a wonderful teacher. I love all three Meiselas brothers.
It is a sad day when Steve Bannon is the voice of reason!
Steve Bannon will do anything for attention.
He's trying to get recognised by the tech bros.
He's jealous the broligarchy aren't including him.
Oh, I understand - I don't trust him
Ben your talking too much. Please let yourvinterviewee speak!
@electiontruthalliance they started before all this.
Very worried
It was always about being the department of get everything for musk and the gang. They don't give a flying eff about efficiency.
WHATS really going on ‼️
Best short summary
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSrtVNpKA/
callout
https://vt.tiktok.com/ZSrvd2QRn/
When we get control back from Trump and DOGE we will get accountability. Then we should hold Trump, Musk and their minions inside DOGE financially responsible for the rebuilding costs that Mirici Vinton speaks about.
He just did it to save his own ass keep himself out of jail and to destroy the lives of everyone not named Elon Musk
Thank you for this!
"And the scariest part? Most Americans don’t even know it’s happening."
Would mass mailings to Americans, with a provactive message on the outside of the envelope, help bring this to the attention of at least some Americans who aren't paying attention (before they toss it into recycling)?
As a long time subscriber of Meidas Touch Network, Patreon and Substack. Yet this morning on YouTube, MTN was not in my subscriber list. I had to do a search and then click the Subscriber button again, as if I wasn’t already a member. Anyone else have this happen?
Can you get this interview to Congresswoman Maxine Dexter of Oregon please?
Please investigate everything they do. Jail for all the Administration
The great 2025 heist! Stolen billions and personal data! Musk must be arrested!
Kudos to Ms Vinton.
I hope you’re correct that we can rebuild. However if we do not rally in the next few weeks it looks very bleak. Destruction of all federal departments seems to be the plan. Nothing will be left and a Christian theocracy can fill the vacuum.
IT WAS ALL ABOUT SHUTTING DOWN THE AGENCIES INVESTIGATING ELON MUSK
Thank you for Direct File! I used it for the 1st time. Easy and helpful!
Why don't MOST AMERICANS know this is happening? If they don't they are dumber than shit, vile, and/or don't care at all. Which probably describes the regime's base. How do you force feed the facts to those who choose not to care?
What pisses me off as well, these people were not supposed to be getting paid and yet GSA services are paying them WAY more than a GS-12 with MANY years of service and PHD's make 134k a year as a GS-13 and these children are making between 144k 19 yr old and 199k for the 28 year old and every age in between is paid in that range which is a slap in the face to civil servants everywhere! They are destroying Government with their intrusive software, with putting SS representative out of Business adding MUSKS Software Program X or Twitter WHY, that should not have happened as many older people do not have computers or phones in which to access or even know how to access that program, so now Musk has another Billion-dollar contract with the government. This stinks like a dirty diaper! What has doge done NOTHING but damage our programs meant to Serve the People! I have yet to see the receipts of all this waste fraud and abuse, the only thing i have seen as waste fraud and abuse is the Trump administration SPENDING!
Direct file was cut because TurboTax/Intuit lobbied Republicans. They were losing money because fewer people bought TurboTax. So, I found another free tax service: freetaxusa.com
But We All Knew Where This Was Going !! As It Happened !! Beforehand ..!! Because The Retards Trump & Musk Have No Idea 💡 Of What Their Doing ..!!? I Said IT Would Take Year's To Fix This Mess But It's Clear Now Trump Has Wasted Billions Of Tax Payer's Dollars !! Destroying What Has Taken Generations To Build !! And Now Will Take Generations To Fix ..!! The Only Difference Is Were Going To Have To Do It Broke ..!!..??? 🤔🤔🤔🤔😮😮😮😮 !!
it was not cuts . it was transfers. to Musk companies
Is there anything we can do if our records were accessed without permission? And how do we find out?
If, you can, go to DP INSIGHTS and watch Karoline Leavitt goes nuts after Jasmine Crockett exposed__________. I think you will like it. Kudos to Jasmine. She's my kind of person.
I believe that he is compiling everyone's information for the government to use. I, also, think that he is compiling information that would be useful for him to use against others.
She lead the hacks with Trump and Musk period
Because it was fraud conducted by slimy people!
Musk was part of Project 2025. David A Graham, author of "The Project" was on Katy Curic last night and she did a wonderful job of asking him questions and she asked if Elon Musk was part of Project 2025 and wouldn't ya know, yes he was. If you can find her program, it would open your eyes to what is happening, and people need to know what they can do to stop it, or at least slow it down. It's like a runaway locomotive at this point.
I'm an eighty four year old social democrat. These people are so dangerous. Since they have all of this digital information I worry that at some point they can go in and Cut off social security benefits In terms of targeting Americans who exercise free speech protests against these people. A few punches on a keyboard add "oops" There's go someone's retirement payments or social security benefits. Remember these people Want to destroy empathy. OMG!🤢😡🥶
HE RIPPED ME OFF...
I DO NOT TAKE THINGS PERSONAL.
I WILL MAKE A COAT OUT OF HIM.
Great interview, great insight. Thank you.
Get loud and stay loud, America! Don’t let a cheap man in cheap make-up and a cheap suit try to destroy democracy. Fight back! 💪🏻
EXCELLENT INFO!!
I really hope the Dems hold hearings on this!
I actually knew bout the free filing program being cut out. I know there are things that I need to do for my work that I can’t get to anymore which are of public record. Gone, the link just cut. That’s happened yesterday to me. So I had to punt.
Oooh is Steve going to turn on his buddy?
Ben. We need to take care of our parents… even if they won’t leave…then we need a possible magistrate/district governor to help people in little bushels in pen marks towns everywhere in this nation-if you guys know what we need to do take care of our parents and our kids before we leave, even if they don’t want that we have to do everything we can. It’s a moral honorable obligation to us before we leave here so I’m not sending succeeding to this
Where is the Money?
What a great example of an exceptional American citizen .. funny thing .. the country. is full of exceptional people .. yet we are being overrun by a minority of turds. All they can think of is how to snuff out exceptional people… I am hoping America wakes up and realizes this .. sooner vs later ..
She is right on. Her question "What is the mission of government" should be addressed in every forum and analysis of current events. A GOVERNMENT IS NOT A BUSINESS. The mission is very different. It seems like much of the population does not know why the government even exists - and it sure ain't there to make a profit, at least it's not supposed to be. It needs to be efficient, sure, but it's not supposed to be there to enrich the shareholders.
Accountability!
maga trumpers 👎🤣😂👺👹😭😅😡🤡😝👎🤣😂👺👹😭😅😡🤡😝🤣🤣😂👺👹😭😅😡🤡👎
Thank you for exposing this. Not that it wasn't obvious from the start - at least to those of us who were paying attention. Unfortunately, there's a large segment of Americans who need to be hit over the head with it to get a damn clue already.
None of Ben’s post seem to be available to listen or watch!
I'm WITH you, but... anything illegal is one step too far. I believe that would hurt our credibility. It would look like we placed our feet into Trump's shoes !!
“DOGE has been deleting federal agencies, cutting off cancer research funding, choking off grants for education and medicine, and gutting government services that millions rely on. And the scariest part? Most Americans don’t even know it’s happening.” … this is a nightmare!! PLEASE, people, share this, wake up to this reality, let your voice be heard. Let’s fight to take back our America, let’s be kind, thoughtful and caring to others. And push back against the mega trump-ism. Be a force to be reckoned with….as Michelle Obama had said, “DO something!”
In our current situation the Russians and the NerdReich billionaires along with the Project 2025 fanatics all have the same goal: destroying the United States and its liberal democratic allies around the world. After destroying that they will fight it out amongst themselves as to what type of dictatorship they will construct to replace it. Since there will be no democracy at that point the only way to get and retain power will be by murdering your competition.
Of course the billionaires are so confident in their own superiority they can’t imagine a Putin like dictator pushing them out of high windows, poisoning them with nerve gas, murdering them in prison after convicting them of made up crimes and murdering their whole families as Putin has done in Russia.
These poor slobs don’t appreciate what a free democratic society based on the rule of law has allowed them to accomplish and accumulate in terms of wealth. If they are successful in achieving their goal, they and their posterity will pay a terrible price that they are obviously, currently unable to imagine. We will all pay the price for their excesses.
The most disturbing part of all this is the seeming indifference from Mr. and Mrs. Average. The people on the street [or anywhere else] just don't have the slightest inkling of what's going on, even though it's everywhere they look on tv and the 'net. "Oh, Trump's taking away our health care, social security, and food stamps? Fake news!"
I'm I the only one that think the American people sound really spoiled. We live or use to live in the greatest country in the world. All I'm hearing is the system could've been better. That doesn't mean trash it. Rebuilding the system? Not likely.
Where the hell are the Democrats?!? Why aren’t they shouting this from the rooftops? Their silence is deafening.
My desire is to see the U.S. Congress shut down and prosecute the DOGE team, and its leadership, for fraud, abuse and cyber crimes - to include espionage in the cyberwar.
When will members of Team DOGE and their leadership finally be fitted with ankle bracelets? Stay tuned! There are more investigations to come. - kaf
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-doge-irs-treasury-tigta-inspector-general-probe
First thing I could say, I agree with Bannon. The reason the number keeps going down. Is we have departments in government they were laid off .they did their jobs and their best to eliminate fraud and waste.
You didn’t get into what they were doing with the data ? This is the real issue with these people consolidating and collecting personal information across the government on American citizens and noncitizens. The government can now start targeting American citizens
NOTHING TO DO WITH FRAUD & WASTE!!!
DOGE is just the Trojan horse for the DARK MAGA “techno-fascist” “techno-monarchist” agenda which starts with destroying the administrative state.
I recommend reading this, by Brandon King, who introduced the Trojan horse metaphor:
https://open.substack.com/pub/brandonkingm/p/doge-the-trojan-horse-of-technomonarchism?r=5mefa&utm_medium=ios
Elon is destroying the Federal Government as fast as possible. It is part of the Curtis Yarvin’s plan to destroy the U.S. government and replace it with tech bro dictatorships.
Democracy is done
https://open.substack.com/pub/shanealmgren/p/democracy-is-done-the-rise-of-corporate
None of it makes sense, but it doesn't make sense that steve bannon is all of a sudden doing a 180
Sharing!
It's very encouraging that people were effectively working to get government working as it should, but many of us aren't going to get to rebuilding if this isn't stopped now.
Direct file was great! I used it last year. This year I didnt because I couldnt file my state free with it.
Withhold filing this year's taxes might be a solution.
Theil, Visa and Musk’s social control system will rival China’s in every way. No more ‘Constitution’. Just a fed gov telling you what you must do to receive social credits and access your money.
The system that Theil and Musk and Visa are building will rival China’s surveillance, social credit system in every way.
It’s kinda the “most Americans don’t know this is happening “ comment that is the biggest part of this story. Why can’t we message to these people? Where are our brilliant messaging people?
Attention. (Chris Hays). It’s all about attention, why can’t we get their attention?
I’m sorry but as a French listening to that, I’m struggling to get how it was allowed to happen. It would qualified as a coup in most countries and the army should have prevented it. Americans were completely asleep for years: Musk bought Twitter because he saw how efficient it was for Jan 6 2021. I think it’s time for Europe to ignore the US. When was America great btw? The last time was in the 50s.
Kill that federal 2025 budget. Not only is it a forced cut to Medicaid including ACA, It adds 30 trillion to the budget over 35 years compliments of our generation to our children's children.
Taking a step back for a moment! Ease at the IRS user friendly gone! People complain. Then. Privatize. To enrich another billionaire! Same for the VA, social security? Certain that's in the 2025 plan that Russel Vought Elon, JD , Peter ThelMaybe even Buffoon Donald has a remote clue?
We know their game ! Heard they've "covered 35% of the 2025 plan!" Failig.grade.plan was.to have it.done in.100 days!..failed businessman.donal.will.bankrupt most.all.of.us.with just his tariff embargo efforts!..another part of the 2025 plan? Impeach this loose.asshole!!
It is about Musk and HIS Business INTERESTS!!
Steve must've got hit on the head!!!!
Because they weren't actually looking for fraud or waste, cause had they been they wouldn't have fired the people who's whole job was to identify fraud and waste… he just went in and slashed departments and fired people without cause… found a bunch of shit he didn't understand and called it fraud, like children getting survivors benefits from their dead parents that Musk thought were small business loans🤦♀️
When I agree with Bannon I know we’re in trouble
Pretty clear why doge cut a very popular, "self-serve" feature of the IRS ...... it allows people to DIY rather than pay big, expensive (and probably big donors) companies to do your taxes for you. The feature cuts into their profits.
Just now I tried to listen to your interview and it wouldn’t load up and play???
It was never about government efficiency what it was about is Trump letting Musk destroy all the agencies that were investigating him and his companies so that he didn't lose any money but instead made money that's all this was about those agencies were important to the American people and should be reinstated immediately
It was never about government deficiency what what Trump allowed musk to do was close down all of the agencies that were investigating him and his companies so that he could make more money and he can come are having a great laugh at the expense of the American people because these are agencies that we need I I is an American demand that they are reinstated but they won't do it on my word alone so I hope Congress finally does something destabilize our government
All part of the plan- if you haven’t already take a look at Project ‘25. Their objective: to accomplish it all in 180 days
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/25/2318614/-DOGE-pillages-another-federal-agency-in-the-dead-of-night
Even this fool knows when he is being fooled. Notice the military spending wasn’t touch and there was no announcement about how much this cost.
Elon was and is the the fraud and needs to go to jail!!
Geez. I paid hundreds to Intuit to do our taxes. And I was hoping to use Direct File next year. Congress, are you listening?
Thanks Ben ! This was an awesome interview …hope there are more like this that want to come back … we need them … excellent episode !!!
Get rid of Doge and get rid / Impeach Trump, before there is no return from, the Trump Regime!!!
This interview offers real time facts on what Doge perpetrates snd highlights the loss of services the American people are experiencing. The interview freely acknowledges that waste in government exists, but attests to the current Musk MO
is NOT the answer.
It's Soros
Fascinating to hear about a takedown of the IRS from the inside. Heartbreaking. Makes me wonder if these DOGE weirdos even file their taxes.
I did like her idea that we could build this up again from what's been left. Maybe make it better.
Follow the gourde!!!!
Wow. Amazing information and to know that this was cut just shows how horrid these republicans truly are.
Shut up
So much good information, and hope for the future. Reminded me of Cory Booker's statement " ... remember that democracy depends on those who refuse to be silenced."
Great interview!
Ben, this was good info but honestly, talk less and let your very capable guest talk more. Ask questions and let her teach, do a cohesive summary at the end if you want to bring points home. Also, maybe bring on or feature TED talk from Carole Cadwalladr from April 2025. Thanks. Search: youtube.com Carole Cadwalladr TED April 2025
They want to do the right thing, not illegal government take over!!
Excellent interview! Great information!! Thank you! 🇺🇸🇺🇸🖐️🖐️ HANDS OFF🇺🇸💪💪 ELBOWS UP🇺🇸🇺🇸!!
Now that russia has our personal information, have people noticed more personally targeted spam attempts?
Bahaha. Most of these folks are just suck ups because of MONEY and GREED. This guy is really and truly as STUPID AS THEY COME.
You ou won’t get anything. Because it’s not about fraud. It’s about stealing assets.
as I watch this my wife tells me in Arkansas trucker are stopping at weigh stations . and if they can't read and write in english ? they are being arrested !!!!! this shit is all over the country like a cancer ....we all know what damage cancer can do if not stopped !
These fairy tales are pretty funny. Still pointing. Still laughing. Do people just forget this stuff immediately so when it’s disproven it’s not an issue because they didn’t remember it in the first place? Bizarro World. Keep fighting!
Definitely about the data etc
Why can’t Congress do anything about DOGE?
Yes, I agree that the Status Quo isn't going to cut it. We need to rebuild for the future.
This is all a part of Project 2025/the Christian Nationalist agenda, playbook, plan, etc. if you watch or have already watched Bad Faith, it’s literally been a long term goal. As others have said, they need to take the playbook and work backwards to muck up their plans.
DOGE was always a lie from the start. This was a huge data steal and now with Theil and his computer program Palintir, there will be hidden backdoors in the government computer system for their use. Selling data. Russian assets abound in Trump's administration starting at the top.
Doge has our private data from our SS#’s to medical records. It unfortunately makes perfect sense to me considering that we’re dealing with a Nazi regime here. They want to know who is disabled bc they believe we are a drain on the economy and useless people who can’t contribute to society financially. THEY WANT US DEAD‼️
They want to know who is elderly and no longer able to contribute to society financially. THEY WANT THEM DEAD‼️
I’m not one to air my personal info to anyone I’m not close to, especially online, but, I’m a 44yo divorced disabled childless dog woman currently living with her elderly parents in the home I grew up in.
I’m almost everything these people hate. If I along with my parents (who worked hard their entire lives) lose our SS, Medicare and Medicaid, we will have no income and not enough to live off of for more than a year. I will not be able to afford my medications for Multiple Sclerosis and my symptoms will immobilize me. I won’t be able to help my aging parents. I AM TERRIFIED…but, I’ve been fighting as if I’m not bc I have too because there will be people in worse conditions than my own. These people are truly evil. And we need to defeat this because this isn’t just about us! It’s about the world! If America falls, then the world will suffer as well.
I am blown away why people are allowing or empowering this. Congress makes the laws, makes new departments and fund it. Why are federal law enforcement, US Marshall's Service, ICE, DHS swat teams and even DC police backing DOGE break-ins and take over of government departments. Escorting federal workers out and banning them from returning including changing locks?
By these actions being treated as legal, with no signed orders from cabinet level staff or judges or senior members of congress doesn't this whole process (or lack of) signify the total collapse of our legal system?
Even the 2 Bob's in Office Space could only advise and not act. Even though everyone assumed they had real power. Power perceived is power achieved. Every one of the actors including federal Leo's should be rounded up and send to a work retreat in GITMO while this is all sorted out. Since these things don't need authorizations or even leaders and names can be kept secret, I have started a new working group toward investigating and eliminating fake takeover and enforcement groups within federal government. We exercise a higher power and more authority over everyone and everything than any previous trash talking outsiders. Anyone want to sign on? It should be fun fighting for America. 😁👍🇺🇸
Musk wanted pesky limiting agencies off his biz interests. He thought he was the real ceo president
Exactly- none of it made sense to us either as they continued to scream WASTE FRAUD ABUSE over and over
So many government websites across the board were really working .
DOGE putting in place programs and code in all systems. Once everything is in place, Trump can give the order to flip the switch and shut down all your financial resources. What is everyone going to do when their money is held captive? You are going to do what they want you to do....which will be dictated by extreme right wing Christian rules.
I always thought it wasn't about finding fraud, but collecting the data on a long term basis. They have had the ability to introduce programming to create "backdoors" into all the sensitive information. Wasn't that why all the "tech bros" got together?
We need more people like her!🫶🏻
It’s hard to say this but I actually agree with Bannon on this one. None of this makes sense.
Ben, you did something very important here, giving time and exposure to one of the many, many hardworking dedicated government workers toiling in obscurity to make our lives better. You obliterated the disgusting term “faceless bureaucrat” and showed us the face and voice and ideas and reality of an actual public servant, not to be confused with the mockery that Donald, Elon and their fellow trolls are making of our government. Thank you, and more of this please.
Great interview
When will all of this stop? I thought SCOTUS could/would stop him after they saw with their own eyes what is going on. But nope. Congress is a f n joked bcuz they’re (GOP) just concerned about lining their on pockets. Every1 says midterms may flip who controls Congress. But I don’t see it. I don’t see it bcuz Muskrat did something to make it where Cheetolini won. That’s a hill I’ll die on. Cheetolini said it on a live feed interview. He said “they rigged it for me to win”. We need a coupe! But, there are ppl in the military who follow him. Just like the police forces around the country! We either need a coupe, or something to happen like the show Designated Survivor to happen, or the Simpson prediction to actually happen. It’s gone to far.
Trump, Musk, and the Republican party are setting this country back decades.
Before any of this started off - I FUCKING KNEW IT WAS ALL GOING TO BE BASED ON LIES. Everything is
And sure as shit here we are coated with kids upon lies the only ones buying this shit are Trump's ignorant fried brains cult and his billionaire buddies trying to keep their businesses going due to tariffs. Lol
I have this saying: WE MAKE YOU WHO YOU ARE, WE CAN MOTHER FUCKING BREAK YOU LIKE AN OLD TWIG.
Proof: Elons Tesla going to the trash faster then he can save it.
Whos the next billionaire to take down???
You fuck with the masses, we fuck back!
Kids - lies
I so agree! They have cost a fortune for starters. I cannot believe I agree with Bannon. An accounting. Musk just throws big shocking numbers around. What? Where? Who? Why? I am not willing to just except the word of a person who is pre-school status government "employee."
This should be required viewing for all Americans… both for it's honest appraisal of Doge’s actions (and the ensuing harm), and for the hopefulness for rebuilding better once this regime and Doge are incapacitated/removed.
Even if we rid our government of DOGE, how do you undo this damage: All our personal data in one place with an AI overlay so they can filter Americans to decide who gets what benefits, rid the world of undesirables and enslave anyone they can… remember those letters from the credit bureaus saying your email MIGHT be in a hacking breach and you get a year of credit monitoring? Seems so quaint.
Does that mean were not getting the DOGE checks!?!
Hey Congress time to get off your asses! How long will you be played?
Really brilliant and thoroughly interesting and informative.
I’m sure all the data somehow ended up at Palantir to enhance their spying capabilities. But who got paid? Trump? Musk?
Where's the arrest!!!
Impeach a President Again/ MAKE an IMPEACHMENT AGAIN www.change.org/impeach_now
Ben, you have a Russian bot impersonating you and scamming users.
It's a shame everyone couldn't mobilise and refuse to pay their taxes this year. It's only going in the orange felon and Musk's pockets anyway
We the People at Work
The People, the protectors of Democracy, are out and about. What "people," out where, about what--and why? First, millions said "Hand Off"to Trump/Musk et al, then on the 19th via 50501" (50 protests, 5o states, 1 Movement) millions more protested the mess in WDC. Also on the 19th we celebrated the "the shot heard around the world at Lexington and Concord, starting the Revolution and our country. On the 22nd protectors of the environment cleaned up a different kind of mess on Earth Day.
As important as the participants in environmental mess cleanup and American history are, this post is dedicated to the named and unnamed protestors fighting the Trump/Musk Washington, DC, tyrannical mess. Or as Susan Grymes calls it: "Protectors" of democracy, and so shall I in this post.
Who are the Protectors of democracy on April 5, 19th, May 1st--or all the everydays in between and into the future?? We will never know the names of each individual marcher, sign holder (or just standing together in solidarity). But we do know by name some people, advocacy groups, judges and law firms, and other entities who have not been cowed, and have fought back publicly--sometimes under threat of death.. Some, such as Sen. Cory Booker, with his 25 hour righteous speech on ethics, morality, and American democracy,have become an inspiration. Here then, in no particular order of noteworthy (except the first three), are the names of many of the army of protectors of democracy--and remember Courage is Contagious:
(Of course, the list is imperfect, Additions are welcomed. Also re-posting is permitted and encouraged.
PROTECTORS OF DEMOCRACY (By pen, voice, sign, or act)
(Updated April 25, 2025 Individuals
Heather Cox Richardson/"Letters from an American,"
Jess Piper/"View from Rural Missouri,"
Joyce Vance/"Civil Discourse,"
Rep. AOC,
AGs, 23 Blue States,
Aaron Parnas,
Adam Kinzinger,
Sen. Adam Schiff,
Adam Smith,
Alex Wagner,
Alexander Vindman,
Ali Velshi,
Alison Gill
Alvin Bragg (and the unnamed Manhattan jurors),
Amb. Susan Rice,
Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzales/Democracy Now,
Anand Giridharadas,
Anat Shenker-Osario,
Andrew Weissmann,
Andy Borowitz,
Ann Telnaes,
Anne Applebaum,
Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF (Freedom from Religion Foundation),
Ari Melber,
August Flentje,
Ben Meiselas,
Beth Benike,
Brett Meiselas,
Brian Tyler Cohen,
Cassidy Hutchinson,
Charlotte Clymer,
Chris Hayes,
Chris Krebs,
Col. Susannah Meyers,
Congressman Jim Himes,
D. Earl Stevens,
Dan Barker, FFRF (Freedom from Religion Foundation)
Dan Pfeiffer,
Dan Rather,
Daniel Berulis,
Daniel Morton-Bentley,
David Hogg,
Dean Obeidallah,
Delia Ramirez,
Sen. Elizabeth Warren,
Sen. Elyssa Slotkin,
Erez Reuveni,
Rep. Eric Swalwell,
Francie Garber Pepper (1940-2025),
Garrison Keillor,
Garry Kasparov,
George Conway,
Glenn Kirschner,
Gov. Beshear,
Gov. Janet Mills,
Gov. Kathy Hochul,
Gov. Maura Healey (MA),
Gov. Tim Walz (MN),
Gov. Tony Evers (WI),
Greg Olear,
Harry Litman,
J.B. Pritzker,
Jake Auchincloss,
Rep. Jamie Rankin,
Rep. Jasmine Crockett,
Jay Kou,
Jeff Danziger,
Sen. Jeff Merkley,
Jeff Stein,
Jeff Tiedrich,
Jen Rubin And the Contrarians,
,Jeremy Seahill,
Jessica Craven,
Jessica Yellin,
Jim Acosta,
Jim Hightower,
Jimmy Kimmel,
J-L Cauvin,
John Cusack,
John Larson
Sen. Jon Ossoff,
Jonathan Bernstein,
Jordy Meiselas,
Josh Johnson (stand-up comedian),
Josh Marshall/TPM,
Joy Reid,
Judd Legum (Popular Information),
Julie Roginsky,
Katie Phang,
Ken Harbaugh,
Lawrence O'Donnell,
Liz Cheney,
Lucian Truscott IV,
Marianne Williamson,
Mark Fiore,
Marvin Kalb,
Mary L. Trump,
Maxwell Frost,
Mayor Michelle Wu,
Mehdi Hasan,
Melvin Gurai,
Michael Bennett,
Michael Cohn,
Michel Zeitgeist,
Miles Taylor,
Nicolle Wallllace,
Noel Casler (former and current staff of the Inter-American Foundation, a small but mighty federal agency for Latin America)
Olga Lautman,
Oliva Troye,
Paul Krugman,
Prof. Lawrence Tribe,
Qasim Rachid,
Rabbi Joshua Hammerman,
Rachel Cohen,
Rachel Maddow,
Rebecca Solnit,
Rep. Andrew Egger,
Rep. Emily Randall,
Rep. Jessica Denson,
Rep. Jonathan V. Last,
Rep. Noe Casler,
Rep. Pramila Jayapal,
Rep. Sarah Longwell,
Rep. Al Green,
Rep. Don Beyer,
Rev. Mariann Edgar Budde,
Rev. William J. Barber II,
Rez Reuveni (acting deputy director for the Office of Immigration Litigation, and his supervisor),
Rich Wilson,
Robert B. Hubbell,
Robert Reich,
Roger Parloff,
Ron Filipkowski,
Ruth Ben-Ghait,
Sarah Inama,
Scott Dworkin,
Sen. Amy Klobuchar,
Sen. Andy Kim,
Sen. Bernie Sanders,
Sen. Chris Murphy,
Sen. Chris Van Hollen,
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand,
Sen. Lisa Murkowski,
Sen. Maria Cantwell,
Sen. Patty Murray,
Sen. Ron Wyden,
Sharon McMahon,
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse,
Simon Rosenberg,
Stacey Abrams,
Stephanie Miller,
Stephen King,
Steve Brodner,
Steve Schmidt,
Sue Nethercott,
Sen. Tammy Duckworth,
Tennessee Brandon,
Thom Hartmann,
Tim Snyder,
Timothy Snyder
Tristan Snell,
Will Bunch,
Zev Shalev,
ADVOCACY GROUPS, MEDIA NETWORKS
ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union),
AICN (North Carolina),
American Oversight,
Bill Kristol/all NeverTrumpers,
Blue Future,
Blue Missouri,
Blue Wave,
Bluesky,
Bulwark Media,
CODEPINK,
CREW,
DemCast,
Democracy Forward,
Democracy Index,
DemocracyLabs,
Every State Blue,
Feathers of Hope,
Field Team 6 (North Carolina),
FiftyFifty one (50501),
Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF),
Fred Wellman/On Democracy,
"Hands Off,"
Indivisible,
Jessica Valenti/Abortion Everyday,
Lambda Legal,
League of Women Voters,
Marc Elias/Democracy Docket,
MeidasTouch Network,
MoveOn,
MSNBC (an exception to corporate news, and their suppressing news0,
No Kings,
Olivia Troye,
Protect Democracy,
Public Citizen/Co-president Robert Weissman,
Run for Something,
Seneca Project,
Substack,
The 19th/Errin Haines,
The American Manifesto,
The Bulwark,
The Civic Center,
The Dean's List/ Dean Obeidallah,
The Dr. Martin Luther King Center
The Lincoln Project,
The Politics Girl,
The States Project (North Carolina),
The Union (North Carolina)
Third Act,,
Thomas Zimmer/Democracy Americana,
We the People Dissent,
Working Families Party,
LAW FIRMS/ORGANIZATIONS, LAWYERS, COURTS, ACADEMIA
American Bar Association,
Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer,
Big Ten Universities,
Brenna Trout Frey
David Pepper,
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher (representing the Amica Center for Immigrants Rights and others seeking to block funding cuts for immigrant legal services),
Harvard/President Alan M. Garber,
Hogan Lovells (seeking to block executive orders to end federal funding for gender-affirming medical care),
Jenner & Block (also seeking to block the orders on cuts to medical research funding),
Judge Hannah Dugan,
Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III,
(former) Judge J. Michael Luttig,
Judge James Boasberg,
Judge Paula Xinis,
Judge Royce Lamberth,
Justice Elena Kagan,
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson,
Justices Sonia Sotomayer,
Northwestern University,
Perkins Coie and Covington & Burling (have resisted Trump, fighting back with the help of other courageous firms like Williams& Connolly),
Presidents of 328 U.S. colleges and universities who have signed a letter condemning “government overreach" (including St. Louis University),
Ropes & Gray (seeking to block cuts to medical research funding), Susman Godfrey law firm,
UC Berkeley Law School Dean Erwin Chemerinsky,
Wilmer Cutler Pickering Hale and Dorr (per the ABA Journal, representing fired inspectors general),
Wilmer Hale Keker, Van Nest & Peters,
Southern Poverty Law Center,
Letter signed by 500 law firms joined a court brief supporting Perkins Coie lawsuit against the Trump Administration),
To paraphrase Churchill: We shall fight them in the streets, we shall fight them on the sidewalks, we shall fight them on the internet, we shall fight them in the courts, we shall fight them in the Congress, we shall fight them in the voting booth--We shall never surrender. YOU ARE NEVER ALONE. SOLIDARITY..
E pluribus unum ( "Out of many, one")
With that many Defenders of Democracy one might think we would have a solution for this disaster…
If you don’t owe money. Don’t file taxes. Take as many deductions as you can and give them as little money as you can..
A lot of information, facts and the sad truth.DOGE is a disaster for Government Agencies and a Gut Punch to the American people. Because Elon Musk is a Chinese and Russian Asset (IMOP) it's an early Christmas Present to them both. Basically stealing our Data, and selling it to the Highest Bidder. The whole bunch at the DOGE need to be prosecuted and thrown in prison, with No Computer Access!!! Thank you,Ben, another great conversation, and will reStack ASAP 💯👍
Laughing my ass off!
And DOGE is also a cover for the billionaires to steal our money. DOGE is a criminal organization and every single member of DOGE are criminals and are committing crimes against Americans every single day!!! Every member of DOGE needs to tracked down and arrested and charged and convicted and jailed for their crimes against America and Americans. They are ILLEGAL and must be treated like it.
So helpful!!
It's all about data mining. Elon probably already sold our information.
Direct filing - it isn’t that DOGE didn’t see value in it. It is that no CEO was making a profit off of it. So it has to go and be replaced by a private service that will charge citizens and reap a profit.
What’s the take on the “Why?”
Any intelligent sane adult with the mental capacity to apply critical thinking KNOWS what it’s all about
WTP are fckd
What we don’t know is what we’re going to DO about it
Love our protests- but Republicans & Their potus aren’t going to tolerate them indefinitely.
Hell GOP’s having judges arrested while the most corrupt pieces of shit sit on the SC….Thanks to Republicans
GOP doesn’t seem to be worried about what their constituents want or honoring their oaths which
makes me think they know there will be no midterms or if there is it’ll be Putin style elections
A Republican minion just went to Russia and met w/Putin alone for 3 hours
He came back with the boss’s orders
Vote republican or stay away from windows
There’s not a judge we’ve seen with the courage to actually hold him accountable
He plays the system and they tolerate it
Republicans Are Above The Law
Tfg ignored the SCOTUS orders and the response from the SC?
🙉🙈🙊
Elbows Up America 🇺🇸👊
NEVER FORGET that EVERY Republican Congressperson and every corporation, law firm, or other entity that has kissed the ring is DIRECTLY COMPLICIT in the endless crimes being perpetrated on the USA by the Rump Regime.
CALL THEM OUT
BOYCOTT THEM
"Republican members of Congress could stop Trump at any time. In the case of tariffs, they could simply reassert their constitutional power to manage tariffs. If they choose not to and the economy doesn’t recover and thrive as Trump keeps promising, voters can be expected to hold them, as well as him, to account."
Heather Cox Richardson
4 April
2025
What appears to be missing in all these pieces about DOGE's actions is the WHY are they doing it. Truly, it cannot be SIMPLY to "destroy democracy! without having a REASON to destroy democracy. No way are they running this risk and program "for fun!" Dismantling democracy is a process to something else. What is it? THAT is what we need answer for ASAP!
Keep being loud!
Use this spreadsheet to call/email/write any of our representatives as often as possible. Not just your own state reps, reach out to those in other states. Be as loud as you can and share this. Use your voice and make some “good trouble.”
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13lYafj0P-6owAJcH-5_xcpcRvMUZI7rkBPW-Ma9e7hw/edit
Another great, informative interview.
Thanks for the update . Things just keep exploding around us. WE have stay the course and not let them win.
Bit by bit, little by little those walls of lies and foolishness are tumbling down. Everyday it's something...we are tired, past disgusted and numb to the bs. Patience is needed folks ...a whole lot!🤦🏽🤷🏽🛐
How are Tesla’s stocks back up to 285. They had sunk to 218. Nobody is buying, they didn’t meet sales expectations.
How are they boosting its value?
Please address this I just read this This is scary sh..
The FDA this month also suspended existing and developing programs that ensured accurate testing for bird flu in milk and cheese and pathogens like the parasite Cyclospora in other food products.”
Stop. You’re going to kill people. You go eat and drink it. But some don’t want to see preventable deaths. And public outcry
Would love to see Merici Vinton again. She has lots of great information. Hopefully she leads the team, who rebuilds the govt after this evil regime is overturned.
"MAGA suckers rejoice! Trump's got a fun new way to take your money."
"President Donald Trump’s online store now sells “Trump 2028” hats for $50 a pop. It’s unclear if that includes potential markups, as a result of his boneheaded trade war.
Since winning the 2024 election, Trump has been peddling self-branded cologne and perfume, tacky MAGA guitars, and other MAGA merchandise. But this latest item, an overture to running for an unconstitutional third term, is distressing." (Daily Kos)
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/4/25/2318611/-MAGA-suckers-rejoice-Trump-s-got-a-fun-new-way-to-take-your-money