Trump doesn’t dodge tough questions; he attacks them, revealing a president who lashes out because the truth, not the reporter, is the thing he can’t control.
He doesn’t even think enough to consider a thoughtful response he just says the most hateful disgusting thing he can think of. That’s his go to. Can’t wait til he’s gone.
He is totally and spectacularly incapable of considering a thoughtful response. He's a child who never got respected in New York, and now that he's in power with unqualified synchphants surrounding him, he's getting his revenge. 2026 cannot come fast enough.
he's mentally ill PERIOD. NOT ONLY is he not in there when he regurgitates what he know, the reporters let him. They need to stand their ground, ANSWER THE QUESTION.
I agree but we have to consider that these journalists are working for media moguls, as are their editors. If they challenge trump then trump will not allow them in the press corps, hence they’ll likely lose their job. Of course Trump knows all this, he knows exactly what he can get away with, and sadly he is getting away with it all.
Totally understand. However, I know my professionalism would've taken hit at that "quiet piggy" bs. He does nothing but lie anyway whenever his mouth is moving. Even though the reporter may be banned, I think she, cause the punk only insults women, would be celebrated and gifted with an even better position. I don't see how they can take it, honestly. But I understand.
I can't wait till he's gone either, but I'm afraid that too many Americans believe that Trump was a one-off. Trump didn't come out of nowhere, and the Republican Party that fawns over him has been deteriorating for decades. Our democracy is in serious trouble, and Trump is a symptom -- a horrendous symptom for sure, but it had to get this bad to make more of us wake up and pay attention to the decline of our democracy. It galls me no end that Trump will be the U.S. president for our country's semiquincentennial (NB: I had to look up the word for "250th anniversary." There are others, like "bisesquicentennial." ;-) )
Someone has to tell him he is a PUBLIC SERVANT. In this position he must answer legitimate questions.
He doesn't get to be a dillweed and treat people like shit. He is the “stupid”one.
Reporter asked what we the people he is employed by want answers.
She advised him the shooter was vetted a few times, his rude crude treatment of people is despicable and arrogant.
This man is insane and truly needs to be removed. Look at what he is doing to this country with the help of the silent Republican assclowns. We will remember. BTW I was an R, now NPA. I will not be voting for anyone with a R behind their name right now.
Yours is the right choice. There can never be a Republican party again, at least not for another 40 years of wandering in the desert. The name of the party is no longer relevant; it's not what they call themselves, it's what they do that matters. Today's Republicans don't. They step aside and let the worst, most unqualified president, along with the most unqualified cabinet members, roll all over them. They cannot be rewarded for that. We voters must make it clear that we will never again trust them to take care of the people's business. And if the Democrats don't learn the lessons from this, we should do the same to them. Let us all be NPA if we must, and let the pols compete for our favor.
My social mores are more in line with democrats. But, as a financial advisor for 30 years, I am fiscally conservative so I voted republican. I will NEVER vote republican again. The good thing is that Democrats, being reasonable, sane, thinking people, can certainly learn to become a bit more conservative.
Conservative, liberal...I'm guessing all old definitions will get replaced. D's will get modifier terms going - as will the R's. None of this trump regime crap can be allowed to be sustained - nomenclature matters. Naming will be a bigger issue or more engaging issue than content. Distinctions will be evident by the midterms. Hell, we are already seeing it with commentary ABOUT Mamdani and other recently electeds.
Yes, the old terms don’t seem to apply much currently. I actually never fit well into either party. Fiscally, I’m pretty conservative. I also wish democrats would be a little tougher on crime. But I’ll vote democrat until every maga is six feet under.
"The phrase "Vote with your wallet" isn't new. In fact, it traces its origins back to around 1915, and has spawned various iterations such as "Voting with your pocketbook," "Dollar voting," and "Voting with your purse." But regardless of the wording, the underlying sentiment remains the same, that consumers can significantly influence companies, or governments by making financial decisions that align with their personal values and ethics. While the origin of this phrase may be unclear, its impact is evident in countless examples of how consumer choices drive change." https://hcpl.net/blogs/post/what-does-it-mean-to-vote-with-your-wallet/
If we look at the economy and national debt, all of the financial indicators, we will find that the USA has been more financially well-off/stable during D administrations that Rs.
R's constantly do tax cuts, run up debt and the D's have to clean up the mess. It's a pattern.
Statistics undeniably prove that Ds create millions of JOBS!!
By comparison, Rs create next to none! Look at the statistics for the last several decades.
How the Dems have so miserably failed in driving this message home to the American people is a failure that needs to be addressed immediately. Ds need to revamp their messaging and prioritize the actual facts on JOBS!
And all Dems need to consistently deliver the same message over and over and over.Till it sinks into what Americans understand and believe.
Pres Clinton spoke of this in a speech he gave at the Democratic convention. I recall that he pointed out that in 3 decades Republican administration's had created a measly 1 million jobs!
to a large degree, that's true, however, the first year of a president's term is spillover from the previous president. Biden had to deal with massive inflation created by covid but worsened by the things that Trump mishandled. It's also why trump's administration has been able to brag about inflation going down, because Biden's policies continued to affect the economy in the first months of Trump's term. Trump inherited one of the best economies in years and if he'd done nothing, we would have continued to have at least a healthy economy because of Biden policies such as the CHIPs Act, the Infrastructure bill, etc, all which were infusing massive investment into the economy and providing new jobs. But, of course, Trump fucked that up with his tariffs, his tax bill, his massive firing of federal employees. Really, it's disgusting. All he had to do was do nothing, and we'd have been just fine.
Candace, I hear what you are saying. I have read Heather Cox Richardson and Pakman talk about this image that Dems are not fiscally wise. I felt they debunked this well and now I don't feel this way anymore. If I could, I'd share what they said but I am not particularly good at recall factual information....wish I was! just sharing 😊
Traditionally democrats have been labeled “tax and spend” while republicans want lower taxes (what people ignore is they’re also stingy about providing benefits). This, to some degree is true because democrats want to provide good social benefits and that takes money, ie taxes. But the republicans have upended that by lowering taxes for the rich while telling the rest of us to go eff ourselves by denying benefits as well as not getting any tax breaks. They'll pay at the polls for this.
The bizarre aspect is that our deficit v surplus in the modern era got worse with every Republican president. So while they espouse fiscal responsibility, they actually were not, but wanted us to think they were. Here is an article illustrating this. Scroll down about half way to the chart.
Yes, research has essentially proved their fiscal responsibility mantra is just bullshit. The only thing that I’m seeing that is still true to the traditional Republican Party is they are tough on crime….now to a degree that it’s actually cruelty.
Yes each state has its own designation, whether "Independent", "No Party Affiliation" or whatever. Another thing that varies from one state to another is whether NPAs will be allowed to vote in primaries. One way to engage more NPAs is to have more ballot issues, such as Prop 50 in California, which will attract all voters. Eventually, we will probably work our way into more standardization of these processes across states, but there's no reason why we all must do the same thing. The point is to be responsive to the voters' needs.
In my state (MA) it's "unenrolled," meaning unenrolled in any party. But we have open primaries, so if you're unenrolled you can take either party's ballot.
There are different levels of narcissism and the malignant type is rare and the most dangerous type. Add dementia and it gets more dangerous as he acts out.
He is combative and out of control. Remember, narcissism starts in early childhood, and that is where they get stuck and don’t mature from there. We are dealing with an out of control child who now has too power that he abuses. It feeds his fragile ego and he feels untouchable and extremely powerful thanks to the corrupt Supreme Court. There isn’t any med nor treatment or cure for it as it’s a personality disorder. He needs to be locked away somewhere and away from the rest of society.
and without access to ANY kind of public speech. NO interviews, no social media. As long as he is alive and has access to the public on a broad basis, he will continue to poison the well.
You are absolutely right, Pamela, we lock up dangerous criminals to control their behavior & stop them harming people. I do not entirely understand how abusive behavior has been enabled & rewarded, but it's clear we can't afford to let sociopaths have power any longer.
I will say that the women Trump chooses to lash out at have a lot of courage to stand up to that kind of insult in front of the whole world. But anyone with half a brain can see it is not about them. It's about him, and he is loosing it. Let's hope his fall comes sooner than soon, and we can start to repair this ugly chapter in our history. As for Karoline Leavitt, she should be looking for another job because her advice sucks and is only going to appeal to the lowest of the low.
In 2018, [Trump] called [Weijia] Jiang [senior White House correspondent for CBS News] “obnoxious” and told her to be "quiet" when she inquired about North Korea. And then during a news conference in the Rose Garden last May, one of their interactions made headlines when Jiang asked how Trump could claim the U.S. is outperforming other countries in COVID-19 testing at a time when Americans were dying at an incredible rate. Trump snapped back, pivoting away from the original question. “They’re losing their lives everywhere in the world, and maybe that’s a question you should ask China,” he said before attempting to move onto another reporter’s question. “Don’t ask me, ask China that question, OK?” Jiang quickly fired back: “Why are you saying that to me, specifically?” Trump retorted, saying he would give the same answer to “anybody that asks a nasty question.” https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/01/29/weijia-jiang-journalists-trump-biden
I’m so tired of being guilted. Can’t subscribe because my SS income and tiny retirement check won’t stretch that far. Especially after keeping a family member’s head above water. Not your fault; you need subscribers. I need to meet my own responsibilities.
I appreciate all you and others do and wish I could do more.
Maybe MTN can you use you as a beta tester for "People who cannot afford to be, but want to be, subscribers (and we at MTN want them), so we are awarding you a free subscribership from a resource pool set aside for that exact purpose.” Your plate seems overfull with caring for another while treading swirling waters. Stay safe, be well. 🙏 KH
To clarify: my post was a suggestion that MTN might choose do something. No gift occurred or was intended. It will be up to MTN not me to make any decision. All I did was to make a suggestion on which others (not me) might ( or might not) act.
In all sincerity, which that was and this is, I was not and am not. It would be good PR for MTN and would allow people who find themselves in circumstances equivalent (to them) to yours to participate fully. I meant only well wishes, certainly nothing pejorative
He seems to attack when faced with a question that proves he's lying. When you call him out like the reporters just did he lashes out so you know every time he lashes out. Every time he calls a reporter names you know that she hit a sore spot she called him out or he called him out on a lie. Why he calls them piggy or stupid or lousy reporter you know right then and there that's a reporter is so right. Think Trump would make a lousy poker player He has too many tails
This is such a horrible time to live through. To see the most powerful, rich country in the world elect a mob boss, an illectual midget, a sexual predator-convicted assaulter, a convicted felon, a con-man, a every 5 minutes liar, a psychopathic killer, a person with no empathy, a narcissist become the leader of the USA, is heartbreaking and past disappointing. I knew the country was becoming more self-involved, less intelligent, less analytical, less able to think absractly but THIS CULT and MOB is not tiny. GOP representatives in states and federal seats are bought and paid for by Heritage Foundation and oligarchs, are probably being blackmailed by trump and Putin and are not serving We the People or preserving the US Constitution or our laws.
Until GOP breaks from trump's mob control, MAGA, Putin, oligarchs, USA will suffer greatly. SCOTUS is undependable, DOJ is a farce so the only Branch of the 3 Branches left is the Legislative Branch-US Congress. If they do not work together to change what is happening, unemployment, recession, bankruptcy, bank defaults, Stock Market bubble bursts without AI, energy prices/healthcare/food/housing/basic needs will eat up the majority of Americans' wages and savings. GDP will fall.
How bad does it have to get to have GOP/MAGA dump this idiot, RFK. Jr., Hegseth, Bondi. Noem, Justice Thomas and Alito for corruption, Patel, Withcoff, Jared Kushner AGAIN?, Dept. of Education, State, Treasury Heads, Hell all of the appointees of trump/GOP. They are incompetent, lawless and dangerous.
I so tired of being ashamed to be American. It started in 2017 and for almost 10 years I hope for relief. It must be coming because WE the People are waking up at last!
You note: "This is such a horrible time to live." With deference and respect I ask you which of these time was better for those involved and otherwise affected?
The Progressive Era (1890s–1920s). Muckrakers were investigative journalists during the Progressive Era (1890s–1920s) who shone a light on corrupt business and government leaders as well as major social problems like racism. Ida B. Wells wrote graphically about the horrors of lynching in the South. Her newspaper office was burned to the ground, and she was forced to move to Chicago after her own life became imperiled. Jacob Riis photographed immigrant children who lived among the garbage dumps underneath the wharves in New York City. Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle, revealing the unsafe and unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry. Ida Tarbell wrote about the monopolistic practices of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, which destroyed small businesses, including her father’s. https://www.journalisminaction.org/case/ida-tarbell-muckraker
The Great Depression (1929-1939). The stress of financial strain took a psychological toll—especially on men who were suddenly unable to provide for their families. The national suicide rate rose to an all-time high in 1933. Marriages became strained, though many couples could not afford to separate. Divorce rates dropped during the 1930s though abandonments increased. Some men deserted their families out of embarrassment or frustration: This was sometimes called a “poor man’s divorce.” It’s estimated that more than two million men and women became traveling hobos. Many of these were teens who felt they had become a burden on their families and left home in search of work. Riding the rails—illegally hopping on freight trains—became a common, yet dangerous way to travel. Those traveling the country in search of work often camped in “Hoovervilles,” shantytowns named after Herbert Hoover, president during the early years of the Great Depression. https://www.history.com/articles/life-for-the-average-family-during-the-great-depression
World War II (1941-1945). During the spring of 1942, a rationing program was established that set limits on the amount of gas, food and clothing consumers could purchase. Families were issued ration stamps that were used to buy their allotment of everything from meat, sugar, fat, butter, vegetables and fruit to gas, tires, clothing and fuel oil. Not all American citizens were allowed to retain their independence during World War II. Just over two months after Pearl Harbor, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) signed into law Executive Order 9066, which resulted in the removal from their communities and the subsequent internment of all Americans of Japanese descent who resided on the West Coast. https://www.history.com/articles/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii
Selma, AL (1965). The rising racial tensions finally bubbled over into bloodshed in the nearby town of Marion on February 18, 1965, when state troopers clubbed protestors and fatally shot 26-year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson, an African American demonstrator trying to protect his mother, who was being struck by police. Although [Alabama Governor George] Wallace ordered state troopers “to use whatever measures are necessary to prevent a march,” approximately 600 voting rights advocates set out from the Brown Chapel AME Church on Sunday, March 7. It would be detrimental to your safety to continue this march,” Major John Cloud called out from his bullhorn. “This is an unlawful assembly. You have to disperse, you are ordered to disperse. Go home or go to your church. This march will not continue.” “Mr. Major,” replied [Hosea] Williams, “I would like to have a word, can we have a word?” “I’ve got nothing further to say to you,” Cloud answered. Then the troopers' pace quickened. They knocked the marchers to the ground. They struck them with sticks. Clouds of tear gas mixed with the screams of terrified marchers and the cheers of reveling bystanders. Lewis later testified in court that he was knocked to the ground and a state trooper then hit him in the head with a nightstick. When [John] Lewis shielded his head with a hand, the trooper hit Lewis again as he tried to get up.
Progressive Era? I think of it as the Gilded Age as well. I think the Great Depression “was better for those involved and otherwise affected.” All are horrible. The human toll devastating. However, this disaster was the least based on hatred, humans’ need to dominate, control, oppress, harm others with raw animus. It was a financial, governmental, business melt-down mixed with other uncontrollable events. I think WWII is worse than what we are living with now only because of the number of deaths, injuries, murders, exterminations. I think right now is so horrible for me is that our democratic rule, our morals, our law and order, our sense of fairness, decency, dignity, humanity, justice seems to be on the edge of disappearing. We may never get it back. Repair, improvement once this is over will take decades of trial and error. AI will cause huge dislocations in the labor force, society, expectations, education, healthcare, governments. It is a huge technological change. This is bigger than the advent of the computer, cell phone, TV IMO.
Add Vietnam if you were young and non-white. Add 9/11 in its totality. Add COVID-19. My point was "the good old days" never really were unless you were rich.
The Gilded Age may have come earlier than you suggest (from and including Grant through McKinley) though certainly there was some overlap during the 1890s. "In United States history, the Gilded Age is the period from about the late 1870s to the late 1890s, which occurred between the Reconstruction era and the Progressive Era." (Wiki) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilded_Age#Politics
You are probably right about the Gilded Age. Yes, rich equates with being in charge of the herd, being the favorite mate, strongest, most aggressive-whatever the animal world does to survive, mate, be successful. Rich is the same things-work hard, be smart, be a bully, be a criminal whatever it takes to be rich. Rich does insulate against many forays into your territory, insures success in mating, offspring, safety, buys life of plenty. Humans have the same genes of animals. The thing I value is freedom, law/order, fairness, justice, decency, empathy. We have never balanced or had these as I would envision, but with democracy, free speech etc. I had the hope of a “more perfect union” crafted by the majority of the people-not the rich or most powerful. That seems to happen too often but if We the People get smart enough, fair enough, far-sighted enough, evolve enough-whatever-the rich, bullies-bulls among the cows will be cornered and cowed. I’m an idealist born with hopes and dreams that are dimming but still lit.
I NEVER thought the days in my long past were good for everyone. The good old days for females have never been good. They have never been good for POC, disabled, poor, uneducated, abused etc. Society has always been animalistic in many corners hidden by shadows cast by the powerful, loudest, cleverest giants.
It was so enlightening and a pure pleasure to read your words. As we share the exact same views on this nightmare this administration is forcing us to live in now.
Murder, out right MURDER on the high seas, and no one blinks an eye, letting the alcoholic get away with Murder now. As I scream, as I watch every single day, the corruption and tragedy happening every minute, of every day, for 10 months
In agony for 10 years. As a Mob, con man, Felon, rapist, rapist of children, a list that just does not end
Robert's, Alito, Thompson. All should be disbarred and shunned by society.
Outrageous, and the gop,
Turns their spineless backs, and lines their bank accounts with billions now.
I wake each morning, and pray,
Their home, their planes, their multiple properties
There are many examples of times when people in this country suffered at the hands of governmental corruption, but never has the USA seen anything on the magnitude of the Kleptocracy that has dismantled our infrastructure, not even the racist Civil Service policies that Wilson imposed in 1913 (https://tinyurl.com/4z86uhn8). Corruption and the use of force for greed are nothing new to the American Government Three examples:
The Teapot Dome Scandal. Just Post WWI, in 1922, President Harding moved naval oil reserve lands from the Navy to the Dept. of the Interior, headed by Albert Fall who, for a $200,000 (about $4M in 2025 dollars) bribe, secretly granted the rights to tap the Teapot Dome, WY oil reserve to Harry Sinclair (Mammoth Oil Company) and to others. https://www.britannica.com/event/Teapot-Dome-Scandal
Typifying the Gilded Age upon which the new Golden Age is predicated, the Crédit Mobilier Scandal was a complex fraud conducted from 1864 to 1867 Union Pacific executives succeeded in swindling the US government out of over $44 million (almost $1Bn in 2025 dollars). https://www.thoughtco.com/the-credit-mobilier-scandal-5217737
The Stealing of Hawaii. In 1893, backed by President Harrison, insurrectionists back by the Dole (sugar and pineapple) family fomented an insurrection to steal Hawaii to draw in the USN for protection. The process was not finished before President Harrison, who wanted no part of the imperialist expansion at the expense of the monarchy, refused to participate. So matters were slow walked until 1897, when President McKinley negotiated a treaty, using the Spanish-American War in 1898 as a pretext to annex HI. 60 years later, in 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state. Unlike Puerto Rico, which long has sought to become a state, Hawaiians did not consent. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/january-17/americans-overthrow-hawaiian-monarchy
Thank You Meidas for helping put out the word on StatusCoup!!!!! They are doing Gods work....exposing the ICE Gestapo units with amazing video!!!
Their reporters are brave and heroic!!! They are showing the work the hellscape....the total derkness and hatred for humanity that is the Trump Administration!!!!
Support StatusCoup anyway that you can!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sorry, he is a malignant narcissist. He doesn't listen to anyone but his own ugly inner voice. Others may tell him things to "keep him happy" but he is evil through and through.
The President of the United States used to be that powerful. The felon is the laughing stock of the world. The only power he holds is with maga. Everyone else knows what a waste of space he is.
He doesn’t even think enough to consider a thoughtful response he just says the most hateful disgusting thing he can think of. That’s his go to. Can’t wait til he’s gone.
He is totally and spectacularly incapable of considering a thoughtful response. He's a child who never got respected in New York, and now that he's in power with unqualified synchphants surrounding him, he's getting his revenge. 2026 cannot come fast enough.
He never got "respected" because he never did or said anything that earned respect.
https://ojaiohana.substack.com/p/video-trump-today-to-reporter-are?r=5chxge
he's mentally ill PERIOD. NOT ONLY is he not in there when he regurgitates what he know, the reporters let him. They need to stand their ground, ANSWER THE QUESTION.
I say the SAME thing! When are those reporters going to throw his disrespect back in his face?
I agree but we have to consider that these journalists are working for media moguls, as are their editors. If they challenge trump then trump will not allow them in the press corps, hence they’ll likely lose their job. Of course Trump knows all this, he knows exactly what he can get away with, and sadly he is getting away with it all.
Totally understand. However, I know my professionalism would've taken hit at that "quiet piggy" bs. He does nothing but lie anyway whenever his mouth is moving. Even though the reporter may be banned, I think she, cause the punk only insults women, would be celebrated and gifted with an even better position. I don't see how they can take it, honestly. But I understand.
Pffft, it is time to STAND UP TO piggy PERIOD. piggy doesn't know anything but bullshit. he is no longer there
https://open.substack.com/pub/ojaiohana/p/breaking-statement-from-former-jags?r=5chxge&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
YES!
https://ojaiohana.substack.com/p/video-trump-the-downward-spiral?r=5chxge
I can't wait till he's gone either, but I'm afraid that too many Americans believe that Trump was a one-off. Trump didn't come out of nowhere, and the Republican Party that fawns over him has been deteriorating for decades. Our democracy is in serious trouble, and Trump is a symptom -- a horrendous symptom for sure, but it had to get this bad to make more of us wake up and pay attention to the decline of our democracy. It galls me no end that Trump will be the U.S. president for our country's semiquincentennial (NB: I had to look up the word for "250th anniversary." There are others, like "bisesquicentennial." ;-) )
Well said Susanna. We won’t be out of this come January 2029
The unchanged origins of modern government: Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey (1943) monkeys attending circus performance: 13 monkeys, 1 elephant, 1 pig "admission 2 nuts" https://static-prod.lib.princeton.edu/visual_materials/Circus/Cir1/images/C-12.jpg
https://ojaiohana.substack.com/p/video-trump-today-to-reporter-are?r=5chxge
Yes !!!
Someone has to tell him he is a PUBLIC SERVANT. In this position he must answer legitimate questions.
He doesn't get to be a dillweed and treat people like shit. He is the “stupid”one.
Reporter asked what we the people he is employed by want answers.
She advised him the shooter was vetted a few times, his rude crude treatment of people is despicable and arrogant.
This man is insane and truly needs to be removed. Look at what he is doing to this country with the help of the silent Republican assclowns. We will remember. BTW I was an R, now NPA. I will not be voting for anyone with a R behind their name right now.
Yours is the right choice. There can never be a Republican party again, at least not for another 40 years of wandering in the desert. The name of the party is no longer relevant; it's not what they call themselves, it's what they do that matters. Today's Republicans don't. They step aside and let the worst, most unqualified president, along with the most unqualified cabinet members, roll all over them. They cannot be rewarded for that. We voters must make it clear that we will never again trust them to take care of the people's business. And if the Democrats don't learn the lessons from this, we should do the same to them. Let us all be NPA if we must, and let the pols compete for our favor.
I won’t be voting for anyone with a R behind their name ever again
That is how I feels as well. The last republican president I voted for was McCain.
Many of us never did, but, welcome to the fight just the same...
My social mores are more in line with democrats. But, as a financial advisor for 30 years, I am fiscally conservative so I voted republican. I will NEVER vote republican again. The good thing is that Democrats, being reasonable, sane, thinking people, can certainly learn to become a bit more conservative.
Conservative, liberal...I'm guessing all old definitions will get replaced. D's will get modifier terms going - as will the R's. None of this trump regime crap can be allowed to be sustained - nomenclature matters. Naming will be a bigger issue or more engaging issue than content. Distinctions will be evident by the midterms. Hell, we are already seeing it with commentary ABOUT Mamdani and other recently electeds.
Yes, the old terms don’t seem to apply much currently. I actually never fit well into either party. Fiscally, I’m pretty conservative. I also wish democrats would be a little tougher on crime. But I’ll vote democrat until every maga is six feet under.
"The phrase "Vote with your wallet" isn't new. In fact, it traces its origins back to around 1915, and has spawned various iterations such as "Voting with your pocketbook," "Dollar voting," and "Voting with your purse." But regardless of the wording, the underlying sentiment remains the same, that consumers can significantly influence companies, or governments by making financial decisions that align with their personal values and ethics. While the origin of this phrase may be unclear, its impact is evident in countless examples of how consumer choices drive change." https://hcpl.net/blogs/post/what-does-it-mean-to-vote-with-your-wallet/
If we look at the economy and national debt, all of the financial indicators, we will find that the USA has been more financially well-off/stable during D administrations that Rs.
R's constantly do tax cuts, run up debt and the D's have to clean up the mess. It's a pattern.
Statistics undeniably prove that Ds create millions of JOBS!!
By comparison, Rs create next to none! Look at the statistics for the last several decades.
How the Dems have so miserably failed in driving this message home to the American people is a failure that needs to be addressed immediately. Ds need to revamp their messaging and prioritize the actual facts on JOBS!
And all Dems need to consistently deliver the same message over and over and over.Till it sinks into what Americans understand and believe.
Pres Clinton spoke of this in a speech he gave at the Democratic convention. I recall that he pointed out that in 3 decades Republican administration's had created a measly 1 million jobs!
to a large degree, that's true, however, the first year of a president's term is spillover from the previous president. Biden had to deal with massive inflation created by covid but worsened by the things that Trump mishandled. It's also why trump's administration has been able to brag about inflation going down, because Biden's policies continued to affect the economy in the first months of Trump's term. Trump inherited one of the best economies in years and if he'd done nothing, we would have continued to have at least a healthy economy because of Biden policies such as the CHIPs Act, the Infrastructure bill, etc, all which were infusing massive investment into the economy and providing new jobs. But, of course, Trump fucked that up with his tariffs, his tax bill, his massive firing of federal employees. Really, it's disgusting. All he had to do was do nothing, and we'd have been just fine.
Candace, I hear what you are saying. I have read Heather Cox Richardson and Pakman talk about this image that Dems are not fiscally wise. I felt they debunked this well and now I don't feel this way anymore. If I could, I'd share what they said but I am not particularly good at recall factual information....wish I was! just sharing 😊
Traditionally democrats have been labeled “tax and spend” while republicans want lower taxes (what people ignore is they’re also stingy about providing benefits). This, to some degree is true because democrats want to provide good social benefits and that takes money, ie taxes. But the republicans have upended that by lowering taxes for the rich while telling the rest of us to go eff ourselves by denying benefits as well as not getting any tax breaks. They'll pay at the polls for this.
The bizarre aspect is that our deficit v surplus in the modern era got worse with every Republican president. So while they espouse fiscal responsibility, they actually were not, but wanted us to think they were. Here is an article illustrating this. Scroll down about half way to the chart.
https://amarkfoundation.org/reports/u-s-presidents-and-the-federal-deficit/
Yes, research has essentially proved their fiscal responsibility mantra is just bullshit. The only thing that I’m seeing that is still true to the traditional Republican Party is they are tough on crime….now to a degree that it’s actually cruelty.
I agree whole heartily with you. Politically, I'm an Independent leaning towards Progressive. What is a NPA?
It means “No party affiliation”.
Yes each state has its own designation, whether "Independent", "No Party Affiliation" or whatever. Another thing that varies from one state to another is whether NPAs will be allowed to vote in primaries. One way to engage more NPAs is to have more ballot issues, such as Prop 50 in California, which will attract all voters. Eventually, we will probably work our way into more standardization of these processes across states, but there's no reason why we all must do the same thing. The point is to be responsive to the voters' needs.
In my state (MA) it's "unenrolled," meaning unenrolled in any party. But we have open primaries, so if you're unenrolled you can take either party's ballot.
I think it means No Political Association...just a guess.
There are different levels of narcissism and the malignant type is rare and the most dangerous type. Add dementia and it gets more dangerous as he acts out.
He is combative and out of control. Remember, narcissism starts in early childhood, and that is where they get stuck and don’t mature from there. We are dealing with an out of control child who now has too power that he abuses. It feeds his fragile ego and he feels untouchable and extremely powerful thanks to the corrupt Supreme Court. There isn’t any med nor treatment or cure for it as it’s a personality disorder. He needs to be locked away somewhere and away from the rest of society.
and without access to ANY kind of public speech. NO interviews, no social media. As long as he is alive and has access to the public on a broad basis, he will continue to poison the well.
Yes he will.
You are absolutely right, Pamela, we lock up dangerous criminals to control their behavior & stop them harming people. I do not entirely understand how abusive behavior has been enabled & rewarded, but it's clear we can't afford to let sociopaths have power any longer.
In effect, isn't he now, just with the benefit of the Secret Service to keep him in and us out?
Seem so.
It's gonna be women who save this country, we are the ones willing to question & fight for what is right. 🫶
I will say that the women Trump chooses to lash out at have a lot of courage to stand up to that kind of insult in front of the whole world. But anyone with half a brain can see it is not about them. It's about him, and he is loosing it. Let's hope his fall comes sooner than soon, and we can start to repair this ugly chapter in our history. As for Karoline Leavitt, she should be looking for another job because her advice sucks and is only going to appeal to the lowest of the low.
In 2018, [Trump] called [Weijia] Jiang [senior White House correspondent for CBS News] “obnoxious” and told her to be "quiet" when she inquired about North Korea. And then during a news conference in the Rose Garden last May, one of their interactions made headlines when Jiang asked how Trump could claim the U.S. is outperforming other countries in COVID-19 testing at a time when Americans were dying at an incredible rate. Trump snapped back, pivoting away from the original question. “They’re losing their lives everywhere in the world, and maybe that’s a question you should ask China,” he said before attempting to move onto another reporter’s question. “Don’t ask me, ask China that question, OK?” Jiang quickly fired back: “Why are you saying that to me, specifically?” Trump retorted, saying he would give the same answer to “anybody that asks a nasty question.” https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2021/01/29/weijia-jiang-journalists-trump-biden
Trump is a bully...plain and simple. He does not care about telling any kind of truth because nobody is holding him accountable.
I’m so tired of being guilted. Can’t subscribe because my SS income and tiny retirement check won’t stretch that far. Especially after keeping a family member’s head above water. Not your fault; you need subscribers. I need to meet my own responsibilities.
I appreciate all you and others do and wish I could do more.
Maybe MTN can you use you as a beta tester for "People who cannot afford to be, but want to be, subscribers (and we at MTN want them), so we are awarding you a free subscribership from a resource pool set aside for that exact purpose.” Your plate seems overfull with caring for another while treading swirling waters. Stay safe, be well. 🙏 KH
I don’t see my response so to be sure:
I am so grateful and took no offense. I will use this gift ethically and as wisely 🤭 as I can manage
To clarify: my post was a suggestion that MTN might choose do something. No gift occurred or was intended. It will be up to MTN not me to make any decision. All I did was to make a suggestion on which others (not me) might ( or might not) act.
I’m so embarrassed. I understand and apologize
I think you’re foolin’ me. But that’s ok. 😉😍
In all sincerity, which that was and this is, I was not and am not. It would be good PR for MTN and would allow people who find themselves in circumstances equivalent (to them) to yours to participate fully. I meant only well wishes, certainly nothing pejorative
He seems to attack when faced with a question that proves he's lying. When you call him out like the reporters just did he lashes out so you know every time he lashes out. Every time he calls a reporter names you know that she hit a sore spot she called him out or he called him out on a lie. Why he calls them piggy or stupid or lousy reporter you know right then and there that's a reporter is so right. Think Trump would make a lousy poker player He has too many tails
Forked? Hell, yeah!
Lol
Tells
This is such a horrible time to live through. To see the most powerful, rich country in the world elect a mob boss, an illectual midget, a sexual predator-convicted assaulter, a convicted felon, a con-man, a every 5 minutes liar, a psychopathic killer, a person with no empathy, a narcissist become the leader of the USA, is heartbreaking and past disappointing. I knew the country was becoming more self-involved, less intelligent, less analytical, less able to think absractly but THIS CULT and MOB is not tiny. GOP representatives in states and federal seats are bought and paid for by Heritage Foundation and oligarchs, are probably being blackmailed by trump and Putin and are not serving We the People or preserving the US Constitution or our laws.
Until GOP breaks from trump's mob control, MAGA, Putin, oligarchs, USA will suffer greatly. SCOTUS is undependable, DOJ is a farce so the only Branch of the 3 Branches left is the Legislative Branch-US Congress. If they do not work together to change what is happening, unemployment, recession, bankruptcy, bank defaults, Stock Market bubble bursts without AI, energy prices/healthcare/food/housing/basic needs will eat up the majority of Americans' wages and savings. GDP will fall.
How bad does it have to get to have GOP/MAGA dump this idiot, RFK. Jr., Hegseth, Bondi. Noem, Justice Thomas and Alito for corruption, Patel, Withcoff, Jared Kushner AGAIN?, Dept. of Education, State, Treasury Heads, Hell all of the appointees of trump/GOP. They are incompetent, lawless and dangerous.
I so tired of being ashamed to be American. It started in 2017 and for almost 10 years I hope for relief. It must be coming because WE the People are waking up at last!
You note: "This is such a horrible time to live." With deference and respect I ask you which of these time was better for those involved and otherwise affected?
The Progressive Era (1890s–1920s). Muckrakers were investigative journalists during the Progressive Era (1890s–1920s) who shone a light on corrupt business and government leaders as well as major social problems like racism. Ida B. Wells wrote graphically about the horrors of lynching in the South. Her newspaper office was burned to the ground, and she was forced to move to Chicago after her own life became imperiled. Jacob Riis photographed immigrant children who lived among the garbage dumps underneath the wharves in New York City. Upton Sinclair wrote The Jungle, revealing the unsafe and unsanitary conditions in the meatpacking industry. Ida Tarbell wrote about the monopolistic practices of John D. Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company, which destroyed small businesses, including her father’s. https://www.journalisminaction.org/case/ida-tarbell-muckraker
The Great Depression (1929-1939). The stress of financial strain took a psychological toll—especially on men who were suddenly unable to provide for their families. The national suicide rate rose to an all-time high in 1933. Marriages became strained, though many couples could not afford to separate. Divorce rates dropped during the 1930s though abandonments increased. Some men deserted their families out of embarrassment or frustration: This was sometimes called a “poor man’s divorce.” It’s estimated that more than two million men and women became traveling hobos. Many of these were teens who felt they had become a burden on their families and left home in search of work. Riding the rails—illegally hopping on freight trains—became a common, yet dangerous way to travel. Those traveling the country in search of work often camped in “Hoovervilles,” shantytowns named after Herbert Hoover, president during the early years of the Great Depression. https://www.history.com/articles/life-for-the-average-family-during-the-great-depression
World War II (1941-1945). During the spring of 1942, a rationing program was established that set limits on the amount of gas, food and clothing consumers could purchase. Families were issued ration stamps that were used to buy their allotment of everything from meat, sugar, fat, butter, vegetables and fruit to gas, tires, clothing and fuel oil. Not all American citizens were allowed to retain their independence during World War II. Just over two months after Pearl Harbor, U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt (1882-1945) signed into law Executive Order 9066, which resulted in the removal from their communities and the subsequent internment of all Americans of Japanese descent who resided on the West Coast. https://www.history.com/articles/us-home-front-during-world-war-ii
Selma, AL (1965). The rising racial tensions finally bubbled over into bloodshed in the nearby town of Marion on February 18, 1965, when state troopers clubbed protestors and fatally shot 26-year-old Jimmie Lee Jackson, an African American demonstrator trying to protect his mother, who was being struck by police. Although [Alabama Governor George] Wallace ordered state troopers “to use whatever measures are necessary to prevent a march,” approximately 600 voting rights advocates set out from the Brown Chapel AME Church on Sunday, March 7. It would be detrimental to your safety to continue this march,” Major John Cloud called out from his bullhorn. “This is an unlawful assembly. You have to disperse, you are ordered to disperse. Go home or go to your church. This march will not continue.” “Mr. Major,” replied [Hosea] Williams, “I would like to have a word, can we have a word?” “I’ve got nothing further to say to you,” Cloud answered. Then the troopers' pace quickened. They knocked the marchers to the ground. They struck them with sticks. Clouds of tear gas mixed with the screams of terrified marchers and the cheers of reveling bystanders. Lewis later testified in court that he was knocked to the ground and a state trooper then hit him in the head with a nightstick. When [John] Lewis shielded his head with a hand, the trooper hit Lewis again as he tried to get up.
Progressive Era? I think of it as the Gilded Age as well. I think the Great Depression “was better for those involved and otherwise affected.” All are horrible. The human toll devastating. However, this disaster was the least based on hatred, humans’ need to dominate, control, oppress, harm others with raw animus. It was a financial, governmental, business melt-down mixed with other uncontrollable events. I think WWII is worse than what we are living with now only because of the number of deaths, injuries, murders, exterminations. I think right now is so horrible for me is that our democratic rule, our morals, our law and order, our sense of fairness, decency, dignity, humanity, justice seems to be on the edge of disappearing. We may never get it back. Repair, improvement once this is over will take decades of trial and error. AI will cause huge dislocations in the labor force, society, expectations, education, healthcare, governments. It is a huge technological change. This is bigger than the advent of the computer, cell phone, TV IMO.
Add Vietnam if you were young and non-white. Add 9/11 in its totality. Add COVID-19. My point was "the good old days" never really were unless you were rich.
The Gilded Age may have come earlier than you suggest (from and including Grant through McKinley) though certainly there was some overlap during the 1890s. "In United States history, the Gilded Age is the period from about the late 1870s to the late 1890s, which occurred between the Reconstruction era and the Progressive Era." (Wiki) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilded_Age#Politics
You are probably right about the Gilded Age. Yes, rich equates with being in charge of the herd, being the favorite mate, strongest, most aggressive-whatever the animal world does to survive, mate, be successful. Rich is the same things-work hard, be smart, be a bully, be a criminal whatever it takes to be rich. Rich does insulate against many forays into your territory, insures success in mating, offspring, safety, buys life of plenty. Humans have the same genes of animals. The thing I value is freedom, law/order, fairness, justice, decency, empathy. We have never balanced or had these as I would envision, but with democracy, free speech etc. I had the hope of a “more perfect union” crafted by the majority of the people-not the rich or most powerful. That seems to happen too often but if We the People get smart enough, fair enough, far-sighted enough, evolve enough-whatever-the rich, bullies-bulls among the cows will be cornered and cowed. I’m an idealist born with hopes and dreams that are dimming but still lit.
I NEVER thought the days in my long past were good for everyone. The good old days for females have never been good. They have never been good for POC, disabled, poor, uneducated, abused etc. Society has always been animalistic in many corners hidden by shadows cast by the powerful, loudest, cleverest giants.
☮ KH
No comment? Just like? Love debates.
I love your comments
So true. So disgusting to say the least They all have to charged with Treason
And actually put in prison for life no possibility of parole
There is no escaping what crimes have already been committed
Guilty as charged !!!
It was so enlightening and a pure pleasure to read your words. As we share the exact same views on this nightmare this administration is forcing us to live in now.
Murder, out right MURDER on the high seas, and no one blinks an eye, letting the alcoholic get away with Murder now. As I scream, as I watch every single day, the corruption and tragedy happening every minute, of every day, for 10 months
In agony for 10 years. As a Mob, con man, Felon, rapist, rapist of children, a list that just does not end
Robert's, Alito, Thompson. All should be disbarred and shunned by society.
Outrageous, and the gop,
Turns their spineless backs, and lines their bank accounts with billions now.
I wake each morning, and pray,
Their home, their planes, their multiple properties
Are blown up
Allowing all Americans to return to some sense of
Normalcy
There are many examples of times when people in this country suffered at the hands of governmental corruption, but never has the USA seen anything on the magnitude of the Kleptocracy that has dismantled our infrastructure, not even the racist Civil Service policies that Wilson imposed in 1913 (https://tinyurl.com/4z86uhn8). Corruption and the use of force for greed are nothing new to the American Government Three examples:
The Teapot Dome Scandal. Just Post WWI, in 1922, President Harding moved naval oil reserve lands from the Navy to the Dept. of the Interior, headed by Albert Fall who, for a $200,000 (about $4M in 2025 dollars) bribe, secretly granted the rights to tap the Teapot Dome, WY oil reserve to Harry Sinclair (Mammoth Oil Company) and to others. https://www.britannica.com/event/Teapot-Dome-Scandal
Typifying the Gilded Age upon which the new Golden Age is predicated, the Crédit Mobilier Scandal was a complex fraud conducted from 1864 to 1867 Union Pacific executives succeeded in swindling the US government out of over $44 million (almost $1Bn in 2025 dollars). https://www.thoughtco.com/the-credit-mobilier-scandal-5217737
The Stealing of Hawaii. In 1893, backed by President Harrison, insurrectionists back by the Dole (sugar and pineapple) family fomented an insurrection to steal Hawaii to draw in the USN for protection. The process was not finished before President Harrison, who wanted no part of the imperialist expansion at the expense of the monarchy, refused to participate. So matters were slow walked until 1897, when President McKinley negotiated a treaty, using the Spanish-American War in 1898 as a pretext to annex HI. 60 years later, in 1959, Hawaii became the 50th state. Unlike Puerto Rico, which long has sought to become a state, Hawaiians did not consent. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/january-17/americans-overthrow-hawaiian-monarchy
Penny, thank you for your kind and very much appreciated words. 🙏 KH
Thank You Meidas for helping put out the word on StatusCoup!!!!! They are doing Gods work....exposing the ICE Gestapo units with amazing video!!!
Their reporters are brave and heroic!!! They are showing the work the hellscape....the total derkness and hatred for humanity that is the Trump Administration!!!!
Support StatusCoup anyway that you can!!!!!!!!!!!!!
https://open.substack.com/pub/ojaiohana/p/essay-the-ice-list?r=5chxge&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Sorry, he is a malignant narcissist. He doesn't listen to anyone but his own ugly inner voice. Others may tell him things to "keep him happy" but he is evil through and through.
The walls are closing in! He can’t handle the truth. We must continue to protest in the streets. Here is a No Kings Anthem we can sing together: https://democracydefender2025.substack.com/p/no-kings-anthem-no-crown-no-throne
Thanks Michael for explaining the IDIOT BEHIND THE MASK! PLEASE KEEP SPEAKING TRUTH!
Ugly is as ugly does. (Just look at that face. Or better yet, don’t!)
I like it when Scott Dworkin covers his face with a bowl of mashed potatoes or a slice of pie.
🤣
No one talks about that face. He hasn’t always had the J Epstein chin or the prominent cheekbones. Not as a young man
The President of the United States used to be that powerful. The felon is the laughing stock of the world. The only power he holds is with maga. Everyone else knows what a waste of space he is.
This man isn't playing with a full deck. Speaking logically to him isn't going to work. When are we going to impeach him???