87 Comments
User's avatar
The Peaceful Solution-Plan B's avatar

This could be the Mother of All Spending Strikes. The looming government shutdown is an opportunity to hold the Rat accountable and stop his atrocities, and the fascist takeover of the country. We, the People cannot easily withhold our tax dollars from the Rat, but the Dems in the Senate have that opportunity.

A U.S. president cannot spend money without an appropriation from Congress, which holds the "power of the purse".

Direct spending is prohibited.

Constitutional power: The Constitution's Appropriations Clause states, "No Money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of Appropriations made by Law".

The Dems in the Senate must have a list of demands under which they would vote to keep the government running. Such as, the Congress sets tariffs, ICE only goes after violent convicted felons, no one is deported to a third party country, and so forth. And that willingness to fund the government would be on a week to week basis, to prevent the Rat from going back on his commitment.

If congress refuses to authorize appropriations, the Rat will not have money to operate his corrupt, inept, sadistic government. A chance for the Dems to prove they’re not the feckless cowards they’ve been up until now.

Expand full comment
Robert E Bruce's avatar

I would love to see a few more democrats that are not gutless, as of right now there are very few democrats that will stand up to this maga cult. And it seems most are women, they have the biggest balls in the democratic party.

Expand full comment
Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

Women and people of color -- including several who are both. You've probably noticed who "moderate" white Dems have been marginalizing as "left" and even "far left" over the last few years.

Expand full comment
Patricia Lestz's avatar

I am a Californian and am so proud of our people in both houses. They are intelligent and fighting back.

Expand full comment
Patricia Lestz's avatar

I love this and the demands! Need to make sure that they are on the Dems list!

Expand full comment
Resist Tyranny's avatar

I think, from what I've read, that under a government shutdown if they are not able to come to an agreement in 39 days then all powers of Congress accrue to the Executive Branch.

Since the GOP is only too happy to yield power to Trump, I doubt that they'd be amenable to work towards any agreement.

Whilst functionally some may say that Trump exercising the powers of Congress is what he's doing now, that idea misses out on many things.

At the moment, Trump can still nominally be accused of failing to follow the Constitution because he is inappropriately imposing tariffs and is failing to spend how Congress decides (among other egregious acts.)

If Trump gets the powers of Congress, he can ratify the tariffs, which makes the tariffs legal ... Even though this is currently working its way through the courts.

If my analysis is accurate, then imo the Democrats cannot afford to let the government shutdown.

I doubt the Republicans would even try to resubmit a budget or CR, they would just go on holiday and laugh at the Dems.

This all feels really scary.

I want to yell HEEEEEELP

Expand full comment
Rachel C's avatar

Good luck with that! They already gave ICE more money than the actual military. The whole asshole regime can operate on that for months or more. What incentive do the fascists have to make a deal? Remember, they care only for themselves and money. Not one other thing 👹

Expand full comment
Bullionbite's avatar

Kimmel didn’t get canceled. He got shoved off air because Trump’s FCC guy played mob boss. Call it what it is → government censorship.

Expand full comment
Judy Stiers's avatar

Disney has a new princess. See Censor-ella...

https://substack.com/@jkstiers/note/c-158149182?r=57sv1h

Expand full comment
Tori lawson's avatar

This is what gets me about that fake administration, they try to do shit illegally, but they’re so stupid that everything they freaking do they get caught everything! there’s nothing that they do that they don’t get caught at, because they’re so stupid! Not two brain cells to rub together between that whole fucking bunch that’s how stupid they are! Like that stupid freaking immigration idiot how did he think he was not gonna get busted 50 grand!!! Really?? And like this FCC guy?? I mean, they’re all so fucking stupid from the fake fucking President child rapist all the way down to the idiot girl who stands behind the lectern!

Expand full comment
Snoozer's avatar

Yeah, they get caught. But where are the consequences? Who is dishing out any punishment? NOBODY! Aye, there’s the rub! We need somebody big enough, strong enough, courageous enough, and I’ve got to say it, rich enough, to start showing these assholes the business end of asswhooper.

Expand full comment
Barb O's avatar

In this case, massive numbers of cancellations to Disney from around the world are creating the kind of punishment they understand in the business world.

Expand full comment
Snoozer's avatar

I was speaking about the so called administration swamp dwelling assholes. But you're right. If we put enough hurt on the businesses, the corporate assholes will be pressured by shareholders.

Expand full comment
Rhonda L Schneider's avatar

Remember Elon, not the richest in the world anymore.

Expand full comment
Snoozer's avatar

What? He didn’t get his trillion dollar bonus?

Expand full comment
Tori lawson's avatar

Billionaires don’t like when you fuck with their money! Why do you think they fight so hard not to pay taxes?

Expand full comment
Snoozer's avatar

And just who do you think will be really hurt by the boycotts? It's not the billionaires. They'll find ways to pad their bottomline in the manner of employee wage freezes, layoffs and worse.

Expand full comment
Terry's avatar

Layoffs go to trumps unemployment numbers. Freezing of waging leads to people quitting, which will again, add to unemployment under trump. It also doesn't look good for the business, which then gets an even bigger drop in business. Which is exactly what we're looking for by canceling subscriptions, or no longer doing shopping with the business. Much like we did with Target. You've seen how their numbers have dropped dramatically, correct?

Expand full comment
Rose (WNY via OH/OR/MA/FL/CO)'s avatar

I understand Snoozer’s point, and empathize with the employees whose jobs likely will be cut as a result of cancellations and boycotts. But we’re at an EXISTENTIAL CRISIS point! When our freedom, our voice, our rights are being increasingly and incessantly nullified—with the blessing of the Supreme Court!—what other non-violent measures can we take? Nothing else has been working.

Expand full comment
Snoozer's avatar

Yes but Trump has a powerful megaphone and network, lacks any morality that inhibits lies, has an audience that salivates over every false utterance, and a close following that parrots the lies to all who will listen. He couldn’t care less who gets hurt by his actions or words as long as he gets his way. In comparison, as a minority, we are limited to two tin cans and a string.

Expand full comment
Tina's avatar

100% agree. Nothing happens, NOTHING!! They break the law over and over and violate our Constitution and NOTHING happens, they are not held accountable. It's flat out BS.

Expand full comment
Snoozer's avatar

A two tier justice system. Everything they do is okay, but you and I better watch our steps and now, also what we say.

Expand full comment
Susanna J. Sturgis's avatar

I am so grateful that they're as inept as they are. If they were clever, we'd be lost. In the second term, Trump can't stand to have anyone around him who's smarter than he is -- he had too many problems with smart people in the first term -- and this sets a very, very low bar. Now if the Dems could push aside their gutless "leaders" we might get somewhere.

Expand full comment
Tori lawson's avatar

If you don’t think that they’re pissed right now because they’re losing their freaking shorts because of this stupid stunt, he pulled you’re out of your mind!

Expand full comment
seal's avatar

They had no problem with a democrat being attacked in his own home with a hammer! The jokes and insults were disgusting! So freedom of speech for maga not for anyone else. Mega is the definition of hypocrisy

Expand full comment
Everybody's Mamá's avatar

Have you noticed that our videos are being replaced with error messages? Sorry I couldn't watch yours. I have been finding error messages on other's videos today too. To check open some of your previous post. I also have been having trouble restacking articles too. Did I miss some announcement? What's up? Is someone trying to silence us too?

Expand full comment
Pamela's avatar

I've noticed when I say certain things in the comments that it takes minutes to post and sometimes it doesn't!

Expand full comment
Ruth Birch's avatar

It’s getting curiouser and curiouser isn’t it…..

Expand full comment
Snoozer's avatar

Now that federal investigators report Robinson had no affiliations to left wing influences, we should all get hats that say “Kimmel was right about everything!”

Expand full comment
Ran's avatar

I for one am boycotting all sponsors on ABC CBS NBC until they grow some balls and stand up to the orange turd. Will you join me?

Expand full comment
Lissette Freyre's avatar

October 18th- everyone everywhere.

Expand full comment
Pamela's avatar

My television has been off for a couple of months. I got sick of president pedophile showing up and his voice nauseates me also. Don't miss it.

Expand full comment
Rose (WNY via OH/OR/MA/FL/CO)'s avatar

Same here, except for PBS Newshour (with my finger on the mute button to avert the orange nausea-trigger) and late night comedians (yes, that endangered valiant species).

Expand full comment
Fraser's avatar

Yup! I cut them all off months ago!!

Expand full comment
Judy Cross's avatar

What about our having to hear Trump's and his regime free speech? I find it abrasive, full of hate and lies. Their free speech should have consequences if he is going that route.

Expand full comment
Doreen Parker's avatar

Yes, Judy, listening to his read of that speech next to the King of England! Wow, that was hard to endure wasn't it? Not sure what that "fancy" suit looked like but I remember the last time he wore one of them (same one?). Ugh.

Expand full comment
Cherae Stone's avatar

Good work, Adam.

Expand full comment
Kelvin Hobbs's avatar

We have a toolbox of precedents, these and others. We need to push them and make more (easier to say than to do; maybe vote “no” on the budget and sue every time). Act!

Silent Sentinels (Women's Suffrage) Movement Protest (1917) 19th Amendment (1920)

Near v. Minnesota (1931) - no prior restraint of press publications

Montgomery Bus Boycotts (1955) - First Amendment rights to integrate society

(Woolworth/other) Greensboro Sit-Ins (1960) - advancing racial desegregation

March on Washington (1963) - MLK’s “I Have a Dream Speech.”

Berkeley Free Speech Movement (1964) - anti-Vietnam protests

NY Times v. Sullivan – Public officials not defamed unless content knowingly is false and made with actual malice (reckless disregard for the truth) (1964)

Brandenburg v. Ohio (1969) free speech includes advocacy not directed to inciting or producing imminent lawless action and is likely to incite or produce such action.

Cohen v. California (1971) speech cannot be criminalized simply because New York Times v. United States (1971) - the Pentagon Papers

Pruneyard Shopping Center v. Robins (1980) - speech protected at shopping centers

Texas v. Johnson (1989) - flag burning constitutes free speech

(Summaries are from a variety of sources that can be verified independently)

These principles are not just US ideas. They were enacted as international protocols:

United Nations, University Declaration of Human Rights, Article 19 https://www.un.org/en/about-us/universal-declaration-of-human-rights "Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."

Expand full comment
Ruth Birch's avatar

Disgusting bullies… thumbing their nose at the First Ammendment.

Expand full comment
Richard Priore's avatar

I would say we have no choice at this time

Expand full comment
Mike Hammer's avatar

I think that about sums it up.

Expand full comment
Richard Bertoldo's avatar

It is a sad state of affairs when a World Wide Company like Disney who at one stage stood up to TACO boy and beat him would then self destruct by not supporting their own talent and wouldn't stand up for free speech because a merger is more important, so much so that now it gives billionaires against free speech more power.

Disney's quick decision to appease the 20 year old school yard bully who never left the school yard because everyone was afraid of him continues to fill his pockets by stealing children's lunch money. The bully now owns a corrupt school who won't throw him out.

Disney was the only one the bully was afraid of and the who the school children looked up to. Disney instead of standing up to the bully stepped aside without even protesting or a fighting, Disney just handed over their lunch money and sold out every other child who brings their lunch money to school.

Disney a company who promotes good family values now faces extinction which is a loss to those who loved Disney and a win for the 20 year old school yard bullying stealing children's lunch money. Disney was every child's hero and now the school yard has revolted not against the 30 year old school yard bully but against their hero. The villan wins, he has divided the hero from his supporters and at the same time weakened the hero's power to give the bully a flogging.

So what options does Disney have, bring back Kimmel and lose the merger or lose its company and share holders?

If Disney had any sense it would fight the psychopath bully with an extortion law suit and tell TACO boy it will cost billions of dollars in lost revenue and shareholder value.

Shareholders would most likely have cause to sue both Disney for making a decision without their consent and TACO boy for losses. There is another aspect to this, who is profiting from the Disney's share value decline and the merger when approval is given?

Watch the money trail and Republican bank accounts, let's see if this is any stock market manipulation.

Expand full comment
Cliff MacLeod's avatar

Ok NBC. How about prime time special starring Kimmel, Cobert and Fallon roasting Trump and his cabinet for two hours. Maybe throw in some SNL cast members for spice. It would be a ratings boom and a huge middle finger to our corrupt fake president.

Expand full comment
Sheryl Jensen's avatar

At the end of the day, it's not about kindness and caring toward others, it's not about lifting people up and assisting them if they need it, it's not about making a stronger and more vibrant country for all people, it's about money. It's about the rich getting richer and the poor getting poorer. It's about those who feel entitled believing that they can do whatever they want as long as they win and if people die, get sick, or lose their businesses in the meantime it's just collateral damage. It's a very sad unbalanced country that we live in now. The oligarchs are taking over and threatening anybody who gets in their way. We simply cannot give up. We cannot stop fighting because this is our country, not theirs. It was built on we the people not we the rich. I will not give up, I may be tired some days, but I am not giving up. Our country is far too valuable.

Expand full comment