It’s hard to not feel extreme hopelessness about the Supreme Court. There is no obvious lever to use against them. Their credibility is tanking, but they don’t have stockholders to fire them or customers to boycott their horrible decisions……..
However, they not only drank the cool aid, these voters are literally floating in it. Even when they suffer the consequences, their information biases and algorithms will still point the finger at the “other”. They are literally presented with fact and the reply is “I don’t care.” They are in a cult. Their cognitive dissonance does not allow reality.
They'd cheer. They will follow him as long as HE lives. There isn't really anyone else to take his place in those dark black holes they call hearts. I think once he's gone (of natural causes or 25th Amendmented, they'll fade away.
I don't know if they'll fade away... I mean, they have always been there - just, sort of, dissipated and not as single-minded. And now we know who they are. So, while it's possible they will feel adrift if Trump is gone, having gotten a taste of getting away with being completely and utterly horrible, they are going to look for another leader.
I don't think we should ever forget that these people are out there and what they said and did during the last 10 years. Because all it takes is another psycho to bring them back together.
I'm sorry, I should have been more precise. Of course they're not going stop living, but there isn't anyone like Trump in the near future. Can you think of someone the MAGAs would follow AS IF A RELIGIOUS FIGURE like Der Trumpenfuehrer is? I can't.
To the same extent? Probably not. But.... there are possibilities. The two I can think of off the top of my head are Greg Abbot and Steve Miller. Greg Abbot in particular - talk about a quintessence of MAGA. I mean... the dude put razor wire in the river to keep immigrants out, what's not to love? [dripping sarcasm]
Letting maga suffer the consequences of the government they put in power is the only answer - dems have to untie themselves from what trump is doing and make it WELL known that it’s TRUMP that is responsible for the hell we’re going through. Stop rescuing the maga crowds from their own stupidity! It’s like parenting (though maga is unloved): let them learn the hard way, dammit!
Same. That's the main reason Democrats cave; we are the party that wants to help everyone, regardless of how they voted. Republicans are the party of helping themselves. Something's got to give.
Republicans seem to have added to their mission of helping themselves: Now they actively seek to harm, oppress, marginalize, jail and actually get rid of any- and everybody who doesn’t fit their aryan, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, misogynistic, cruel model of what they deem to be the ideal american.
Just an FYI: This morning NEWSWEEK reported that Senators Duckworth and Hirono wrote an open letter to Secretary Hegseth with respect to tomorrow's military meeting. They cited the "potentially serious security implications" of an "unprecedented concentration of senior leadership". It is important to widen out the range of things that might occur so as to include cyberattacks, airplane hijackings, bioterrorism, etc. Keep in mind that the government has been cut and experts are saying that we have never been more vulnerable. The so-called 'attack surface' is huge. As Jay advises, absolutely do take a deep breath and do be alert. These two actions are not mutually exclusive. Being calm during an emergency helps you think.
There's something about the meeting that Hegseth has called with the top generals that perhaps hasn't been fully thought through:
Such a gathering of the top brass places the US military in a uniquely vulnerable position - something all of the generals, and admirals, would be aware of. Strategic thinking and analysis is their bread-and-butter. Even a cursory risk analysis would scream - DON'T DO IT!
So such a situation, if they are to follow orders and attend, would require massive mitigation to bring the risk factor down to an acceptable level.
Like, perhaps DEFCON 1.
Another possible mitigating action would be a massive mobilization of ground and air power around and above Quantico Base. These forces would, of course, be under the direct control of the officers inside the meeting with Hegseth and Trump. The planning for this would necessarily be under the tightest secrecy, as it would otherwise devalue the mitigation.
And all it would take would be the sending of a single SMS to invite those troops to join the meeting . . .
Another question going through my brain has been, why Quantico?? You have a base cut in half by I-95, with one side of the base having the actual town of Quantico in the middle of the base. So an odd choice..
If I were to take a shot in the dark, it would be that the base commander is someone that Trump trusts - as far as Trump trusts anyone. But if the commander has privately sworn loyalty to Trump then it would make sense.
I can see a false flag operation used on those present to evoke martial law in the US. Wouldn’t put it past DT & his inner circle to sacrifice Pete & those people “for the cause”. I hope I'm proven wrong.
Speaking as a milspouse of an officer for over 20 years, if that were to happen, you'd see mass resignations and then former AD members going on record about what really happened. There would be endless congressional hearings with them testifying. I guarantee it.
There is so much, “look over there,” going on, it’s made me think that Trump isn’t just worried about us finding his name in the Epstein files, but that he is carrying on a bribery scheme to keep other people’s names from becoming public. The only real thing trump cares about is money, so he would do anything to keep that pipeline flowing!
Do they ever acknowledge? I share most of the same substacks, Stephen! Plus Scott Dworkin and Dave Barry (Barry’s largely apolitical but he’s hilarious).
They send replies, but I am not sure they read the content I share with them - and I mean staff. I doubt that most of what I send ever makes it through to my 3 congress critters.
That’s too bad for them - they could truly benefit from the wisdom in these articles. Regardless, I admire you for what you’re doing and you’ve inspired me to do the same! Neguse, Bennet and Hickenlooper are my three critters - lucky for me, they (Bennet and Neguse at least) are just about always loudly singing members of our choir. Hickenlooper usually is, just more quietly and less wholeheartedly. He hates trump at least!
Putin is only in the files as so much as he and the FSB are the recipients of copies of some of the juicer and of more blackmail value videos taken by Epstein and Maxwell.
This is all beautifully said, Jay. Thank you. The big military meeting?--I think this is Trump's infantile imitation of the review of Troops he did with King Charles in England (next a golden carriage). Just as, when he came back from opulent Saudi Arabia, he started covering the White House in gold. He's a geriatric 5 year-old.
You're right. My nephew is 9, but when he was 5 he was much more mature than Dumpty. But then, he has a much better upbringing. That's why you raise kids to be decent adults--so they don't end up like Dumpty.
Re: "even if we prove definitively that a shooter actually was a crazed right-wing Trumper, they’ll shift to blaming something else, from the mental health of a “lone wolf” to too many video games". Exhibit A: "January 6th rioters were undercover Antifa".
Question: Why did Trump pardon all of those violent antifa guys?
Mostly rhetorical, but also a plea to any media or politicians out there who are allowed to address his orangeness and pundits, as a question they should answer whenever they say it was undercover antifa.
I SO agree with the need for MAGA voters to experience the consequences of their election choices. I see that as the primary weakness of the Democratic Party over the years. They keep trying to “save” the well being of people who vote against us. It’s futile trying to solve problems not of our making, rather than educating the electorate by calling attention to the party responsible for creating the problems.
Vought is so rarely mentioned? As far as I can see he is the brains behind the regime. All the things that are happening are just a part of his 2025 wish list. Correct me if I’m wrong.
As you write, Jay, only when the Trump voters feel the economic pain of the Big Beautiful Bill will there be any hope they will come to their senses & refrain from shooting themselves in the foot with their votes.
I'm not sure. the midwestern farmers felt it in Trump 1.0, but he bailed them out. They are hurting again (after 70-80% voted for him again) and I've read several articles - they're expecting him to do it again.
Trump says he's says he's going to use tariff money for rescue. Wait - doesn't that tariff money belong to all of us?
And when questioned about high grocery costs, trump just said, oh it'll take till next year for that to get better. The cultists will swallow that, I bet.
Yes, the tariff money belongs to the U.S. Treasury, thus to us. If he tries to use tariff money to bail out farmers, it's extremely essential to point out - repeatedly - that the tariff money came out of the pockets of U.S. businesses. The exporting countries pay nothing. Robbing Peter (American businesses) to pay Paul (other American businesses).
Yes, exactly, except that global economy genius Agent Orange thinks foreign countries pay the tariffs. You know, I sometimes wonder if he is really that stupid, or just pretends to be.
yes. He refused to spend something like $5 billion in foreign aid that Congress had appropriated. But he wants to spend $20B to help out his fellow autocrat.
I remember during Trump 1.0 that the farmer bailouts were inadequate for many, especially the family farms. I remember a PBS NewsHour interview with a northern dairy farmer who listed the ordinary operating expenses his bailout wouldn’t cover and how much more in the red he was sinking. I imagine the same would happen to farmers this time around, too. Everyone will welcome the bailout and then be dismayed by how little it helps.
And that's not even considering the farmers who are being hurt by the immigration policies. and most voted for trump. They keep saying "I didn't vote for this" or "I didn't think he meant it" or "wasn't going to happen to me."
Well. Yes they did vote for it, people who voted against trump knew he meant it. and they were willing to let the pain happen to other people.
R Wilson, of Lincoln Project and not automatically my reference point, expands your "find out" part. "Find out" needs to go beyond maga and include all the Ms who choose to be uniformed and not to vote. It's time.
I don’t know how much maga or nonvoters will make the connection though. The trump/right wing and media mantra of blaming dems has so thoroughly brainwashed these people, while I want them to suffer consequences, I want them to attribute the suffering to the right actors (the right wingnuts). I fear they won’t.
Project 2025 they were called there to sign the "Loyalty Oath " to the President of the United States why do you think Trump will be attending!! Trump would not miss a " Love Fest" like this one
Contrary to my usual doom-and-gloom outlook, I think it's a multi-million dollar photo op for Hegseth who is too stupid to realize what a security risk this is. Dumpy didn't even know about it originally. But Dumpy can't handle the idea of the spotlight shining on anybody else, so he's crashing the party. It's so much fun adding even more security headaches for the military.
And yes, it's a multi-million dollar waste of money that could have been handled via email or mass VTC. But Hegseth wants all those stars winking under the camera lights while he pontificates.
According to what I have read, T originally thought it was a gathering of generals from around the world. Right hand, meet left hand. And I agree it both a huge security risk and waste of our money.
I agree 100 percent. Sometimes it’s going to take the opposition to feel the pain they inflict upon others. They’re not immune from the sweeping chaos that’s present now
"At some point though, hard as it may be to witness, we may need to let MAGA voters face the “find out” part."
.....
How. About. Now?
It’s hard to not feel extreme hopelessness about the Supreme Court. There is no obvious lever to use against them. Their credibility is tanking, but they don’t have stockholders to fire them or customers to boycott their horrible decisions……..
What do they care about their credibility? They are the supreme law of the land and no one outranks them. And there's nothing we can do about it.
Until Trump fires one. And there's nothing we can do about that, either.
Agreed.
However, they not only drank the cool aid, these voters are literally floating in it. Even when they suffer the consequences, their information biases and algorithms will still point the finger at the “other”. They are literally presented with fact and the reply is “I don’t care.” They are in a cult. Their cognitive dissonance does not allow reality.
So, we all suffer.
this is the truth - they only believe their news sources and EVERY OTHER SOURCE is "lying." I live it daily with a member of the cult :'(
That's how you know they're in a cult.
Amen. They'll never vote for Dems. Best case scenario they become so demoralized that they stop voting at all. I can one million times live with that.
Yep, no time like the present!!!
I keep wondering this. What will it take for them? How much? Does he really have to shoot someone in the middle of 5th Avenue?
Even then they will shout “Fake News”!
They'd cheer. They will follow him as long as HE lives. There isn't really anyone else to take his place in those dark black holes they call hearts. I think once he's gone (of natural causes or 25th Amendmented, they'll fade away.
I don't know if they'll fade away... I mean, they have always been there - just, sort of, dissipated and not as single-minded. And now we know who they are. So, while it's possible they will feel adrift if Trump is gone, having gotten a taste of getting away with being completely and utterly horrible, they are going to look for another leader.
I don't think we should ever forget that these people are out there and what they said and did during the last 10 years. Because all it takes is another psycho to bring them back together.
I'm sorry, I should have been more precise. Of course they're not going stop living, but there isn't anyone like Trump in the near future. Can you think of someone the MAGAs would follow AS IF A RELIGIOUS FIGURE like Der Trumpenfuehrer is? I can't.
To the same extent? Probably not. But.... there are possibilities. The two I can think of off the top of my head are Greg Abbot and Steve Miller. Greg Abbot in particular - talk about a quintessence of MAGA. I mean... the dude put razor wire in the river to keep immigrants out, what's not to love? [dripping sarcasm]
The Project 2025 crowd aren’t going anywhere.
Let’s hope you’re correct
ABSOLUTELY, and YESTERDAY! This sentence stood out to me, too.
Letting maga suffer the consequences of the government they put in power is the only answer - dems have to untie themselves from what trump is doing and make it WELL known that it’s TRUMP that is responsible for the hell we’re going through. Stop rescuing the maga crowds from their own stupidity! It’s like parenting (though maga is unloved): let them learn the hard way, dammit!
As much as I agree that it's time to take a stand, it's not just MAGA voters who are going to suffer.
Yes. You’re very right; I wish I could think of a better way. I truly do.
Same. That's the main reason Democrats cave; we are the party that wants to help everyone, regardless of how they voted. Republicans are the party of helping themselves. Something's got to give.
You said it.
Republicans seem to have added to their mission of helping themselves: Now they actively seek to harm, oppress, marginalize, jail and actually get rid of any- and everybody who doesn’t fit their aryan, racist, homophobic, xenophobic, misogynistic, cruel model of what they deem to be the ideal american.
Just an FYI: This morning NEWSWEEK reported that Senators Duckworth and Hirono wrote an open letter to Secretary Hegseth with respect to tomorrow's military meeting. They cited the "potentially serious security implications" of an "unprecedented concentration of senior leadership". It is important to widen out the range of things that might occur so as to include cyberattacks, airplane hijackings, bioterrorism, etc. Keep in mind that the government has been cut and experts are saying that we have never been more vulnerable. The so-called 'attack surface' is huge. As Jay advises, absolutely do take a deep breath and do be alert. These two actions are not mutually exclusive. Being calm during an emergency helps you think.
Every single member of Congress who served in the military (and there are quite a number, on both sides) should have sent a similar letter.
There's something about the meeting that Hegseth has called with the top generals that perhaps hasn't been fully thought through:
Such a gathering of the top brass places the US military in a uniquely vulnerable position - something all of the generals, and admirals, would be aware of. Strategic thinking and analysis is their bread-and-butter. Even a cursory risk analysis would scream - DON'T DO IT!
So such a situation, if they are to follow orders and attend, would require massive mitigation to bring the risk factor down to an acceptable level.
Like, perhaps DEFCON 1.
Another possible mitigating action would be a massive mobilization of ground and air power around and above Quantico Base. These forces would, of course, be under the direct control of the officers inside the meeting with Hegseth and Trump. The planning for this would necessarily be under the tightest secrecy, as it would otherwise devalue the mitigation.
And all it would take would be the sending of a single SMS to invite those troops to join the meeting . . .
Another question going through my brain has been, why Quantico?? You have a base cut in half by I-95, with one side of the base having the actual town of Quantico in the middle of the base. So an odd choice..
If I were to take a shot in the dark, it would be that the base commander is someone that Trump trusts - as far as Trump trusts anyone. But if the commander has privately sworn loyalty to Trump then it would make sense.
I can see a false flag operation used on those present to evoke martial law in the US. Wouldn’t put it past DT & his inner circle to sacrifice Pete & those people “for the cause”. I hope I'm proven wrong.
Speaking as a milspouse of an officer for over 20 years, if that were to happen, you'd see mass resignations and then former AD members going on record about what really happened. There would be endless congressional hearings with them testifying. I guarantee it.
Jedi- You’re giving them way too much credit. These are not evil geniuses. They are bumbling fools.
There is so much, “look over there,” going on, it’s made me think that Trump isn’t just worried about us finding his name in the Epstein files, but that he is carrying on a bribery scheme to keep other people’s names from becoming public. The only real thing trump cares about is money, so he would do anything to keep that pipeline flowing!
I wish our congresspeople were made up of humans with the brains of Jay Kou. This column should be required reading for every voter.
And member of Congress.
I send posts from Robert Reich, Jay, Andy Borowitz, Dan Rather, and The Contrarian all the time. Go ahead and pepper them, folks.
✅
Do they ever acknowledge? I share most of the same substacks, Stephen! Plus Scott Dworkin and Dave Barry (Barry’s largely apolitical but he’s hilarious).
They send replies, but I am not sure they read the content I share with them - and I mean staff. I doubt that most of what I send ever makes it through to my 3 congress critters.
That’s too bad for them - they could truly benefit from the wisdom in these articles. Regardless, I admire you for what you’re doing and you’ve inspired me to do the same! Neguse, Bennet and Hickenlooper are my three critters - lucky for me, they (Bennet and Neguse at least) are just about always loudly singing members of our choir. Hickenlooper usually is, just more quietly and less wholeheartedly. He hates trump at least!
Har! I was about to reply just this very thing, Colleen! Congress needs Jay’s perspective the most.
You are absolutely right about that. I'll bet putin is in the files.
Putin is only in the files as so much as he and the FSB are the recipients of copies of some of the juicer and of more blackmail value videos taken by Epstein and Maxwell.
This is all beautifully said, Jay. Thank you. The big military meeting?--I think this is Trump's infantile imitation of the review of Troops he did with King Charles in England (next a golden carriage). Just as, when he came back from opulent Saudi Arabia, he started covering the White House in gold. He's a geriatric 5 year-old.
More like a 3 y/o. My 4 y/o granddaughter is more self- and situationally-aware than Dumpy.
You're right. My nephew is 9, but when he was 5 he was much more mature than Dumpty. But then, he has a much better upbringing. That's why you raise kids to be decent adults--so they don't end up like Dumpty.
Don't forget The Epstein Files.
Brilliant!! NEVER, EVER give the bully your lunch money...
Tell Chuck and Hakeem.
They are doing what we asked them to right now, so take a moment to thank them, Colleen.
I have many flaws. A quick temper and sharp tongue may lead the list. But, Riversong, I do express thanks when thanks are due.
Great post, Jay. Thanks!
Re: "even if we prove definitively that a shooter actually was a crazed right-wing Trumper, they’ll shift to blaming something else, from the mental health of a “lone wolf” to too many video games". Exhibit A: "January 6th rioters were undercover Antifa".
Question: Why did Trump pardon all of those violent antifa guys?
You really have to ask, or was that rhetorical?
Mostly rhetorical, but also a plea to any media or politicians out there who are allowed to address his orangeness and pundits, as a question they should answer whenever they say it was undercover antifa.
I SO agree with the need for MAGA voters to experience the consequences of their election choices. I see that as the primary weakness of the Democratic Party over the years. They keep trying to “save” the well being of people who vote against us. It’s futile trying to solve problems not of our making, rather than educating the electorate by calling attention to the party responsible for creating the problems.
Why is it that Russell
Vought is so rarely mentioned? As far as I can see he is the brains behind the regime. All the things that are happening are just a part of his 2025 wish list. Correct me if I’m wrong.
I think you're exactly right, but with some help from Stephen Miller.
I mention him often.
He gets mentioned in my sources.
Thank you for the clear eyed perspective and reassurance. Very much needed during this time. 🙏🏼
As you write, Jay, only when the Trump voters feel the economic pain of the Big Beautiful Bill will there be any hope they will come to their senses & refrain from shooting themselves in the foot with their votes.
I'm not sure. the midwestern farmers felt it in Trump 1.0, but he bailed them out. They are hurting again (after 70-80% voted for him again) and I've read several articles - they're expecting him to do it again.
Trump says he's says he's going to use tariff money for rescue. Wait - doesn't that tariff money belong to all of us?
And when questioned about high grocery costs, trump just said, oh it'll take till next year for that to get better. The cultists will swallow that, I bet.
Yes, the tariff money belongs to the U.S. Treasury, thus to us. If he tries to use tariff money to bail out farmers, it's extremely essential to point out - repeatedly - that the tariff money came out of the pockets of U.S. businesses. The exporting countries pay nothing. Robbing Peter (American businesses) to pay Paul (other American businesses).
Yes, exactly, except that global economy genius Agent Orange thinks foreign countries pay the tariffs. You know, I sometimes wonder if he is really that stupid, or just pretends to be.
Wonder no more, Dawn, he REALLY is THAT STUPID.
Ha Ha! Yes, I know. And the folks around him are really that evil.
Wasn't he mentioning sending tariff money to bail out Argentina from Miliel's disastrous economic plan?
yes. He refused to spend something like $5 billion in foreign aid that Congress had appropriated. But he wants to spend $20B to help out his fellow autocrat.
https://popular.info/p/trumps-argentina-bailout-enriches
I remember during Trump 1.0 that the farmer bailouts were inadequate for many, especially the family farms. I remember a PBS NewsHour interview with a northern dairy farmer who listed the ordinary operating expenses his bailout wouldn’t cover and how much more in the red he was sinking. I imagine the same would happen to farmers this time around, too. Everyone will welcome the bailout and then be dismayed by how little it helps.
And that's not even considering the farmers who are being hurt by the immigration policies. and most voted for trump. They keep saying "I didn't vote for this" or "I didn't think he meant it" or "wasn't going to happen to me."
Well. Yes they did vote for it, people who voted against trump knew he meant it. and they were willing to let the pain happen to other people.
Zero sympathy. Lady Karma can be a hard dame.
Correct. That farmer bailout largely benefited the big farm conglomerates, not the little Ma & Pa operations.
Yet the farmers keep voting Republican.
Plus he’s spending $20 billion on Argentina.
https://popular.info/p/trumps-argentina-bailout-enriches
R Wilson, of Lincoln Project and not automatically my reference point, expands your "find out" part. "Find out" needs to go beyond maga and include all the Ms who choose to be uniformed and not to vote. It's time.
I don’t know how much maga or nonvoters will make the connection though. The trump/right wing and media mantra of blaming dems has so thoroughly brainwashed these people, while I want them to suffer consequences, I want them to attribute the suffering to the right actors (the right wingnuts). I fear they won’t.
I get that. Ds have no choice though.
True.
Project 2025 they were called there to sign the "Loyalty Oath " to the President of the United States why do you think Trump will be attending!! Trump would not miss a " Love Fest" like this one
Contrary to my usual doom-and-gloom outlook, I think it's a multi-million dollar photo op for Hegseth who is too stupid to realize what a security risk this is. Dumpy didn't even know about it originally. But Dumpy can't handle the idea of the spotlight shining on anybody else, so he's crashing the party. It's so much fun adding even more security headaches for the military.
And yes, it's a multi-million dollar waste of money that could have been handled via email or mass VTC. But Hegseth wants all those stars winking under the camera lights while he pontificates.
According to what I have read, T originally thought it was a gathering of generals from around the world. Right hand, meet left hand. And I agree it both a huge security risk and waste of our money.
I agree 100 percent. Sometimes it’s going to take the opposition to feel the pain they inflict upon others. They’re not immune from the sweeping chaos that’s present now
A reminder, the Democrats can't actually shutdown the government. Republicans have the majority and the White House.
There's only one party to blame...