34 Comments
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Judy Guenther's avatar

When I saw that he had $45B in his budget to build new detention centers (and the prior budget had been $3B), I knew immediately what that meant. The future is bleak.

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Ron Fournier's avatar

Yes. Unless we change some minds and rise up together

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dbu's avatar

Yes.. to my view all of this, for a decade, is downstream of about ⅔ of US voters concluding that there's nothing in any of this worth voting against. It is I who am in the fringe ⅓, that finds this so very wrong and upsetting.

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Dale Lawrence's avatar

Ron, it’s already worse than you think because he’s already marched into authoritarianism. The crisis is here NOW!

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Abhcán's avatar

Time is running short.

The American constitution can be hacked up too, as Trump's idol Orban did to the Hungarian.

https://adamkinzinger.substack.com/p/trumps-mentor-is-a-dictator

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Alan Smith's avatar

I agree with all of this and there won’t be free and fair elections in 2026…you think MAGA is just going to let themselves be “voted” out?

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Betty Pasternak's avatar

He is insisting on paper ballots. I am worried this could somehow make election fraud easier.

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Beth Reisberg's avatar

Trump and Musk need to be removed from Whitehouse before 2026.

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Mark Mansour's avatar

It will take a mass, overwhelming revolt of millions.

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Ron Fournier's avatar

Exactly

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Carolyn Christopher's avatar

Thank you for a well said commentary! 👍🏽

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Alex Moffatt's avatar

I'm struck on Twitter that an increasing number of prominent conservatives are repeatedly speaking out against Trump and his trampling over the rule of law, from Edward Feser and Robert P George to a considerable number of National Review writers. I wonder if this move among intellectuals in any way significant or is entirely removed from ordinary Maga voters? Is there any sign of Maga losing momentum?

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Ron Fournier's avatar

I don’t think so but let me think on it

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Liz Sherman's avatar

Trump has created a monster! Half of hardcore MAGA are dangerous and yes, he has good reason to be afraid of them. From their ranks came Charlottesville and January 6 violence. So Trump must keep them satisfied by feeding them more aggressive racist, Nazi type rhetoric as well as outright violent attacks on immigrants. They and he do believe great replacement theory and MAGA demands action! If he falters they might turn on him! He knows many are antisemites which is why Trump kept mum about the fireball attack on Gov. Shapiro and family. Remember Trump’s first words? He said he’s not one of my supporters. He checked that out before he spoke. He probably figured he probably was when he heard the news.

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Michael Lewis's avatar

It won't be popular; but off hand I'd think one way to attract some of the MAGA base is to meet them if not half-way but at least part-way.

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pat murphy's avatar

Please explain what you mean by half way. What should we accept? the economic chaos? The total disregard for the rule of law? The incompetence and the grift?

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Michael Lewis's avatar

Offhand - and understanding this is not after a deeply-thought-out oped: Focus on what are the concerns of "MAGA" and what concerns are many Americans. And perhaps not just total disparagement of MAGA as "ignorant" or "isolationist" or "nativist,: And understand why people voted for Trump and for Republicans.. And why the backlash.. Not just what your or my views might be (which themselves might differ) "MAGA" - which is obviously a convenience term - cos not all have same views don't want economic chaos. Or grift etc...I reverse it: Do any of the concerns of MAGA have merit?

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Fed Up With Fraud's avatar

War crimes. He doesn’t need to obey any laws now. This is not good. He is not a president. He has broken the constitution. Don’t let him near the original constitution declaration. Trump will burn 🔥 it quite literally burn it. Nothing he wouldn’t do. Nothing b

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Tracey Gotham's avatar

It takes just one "absolute monster" to know another

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Kathleen Murphy's avatar

Donald Trump is not a "strategic genius." Oh my heavens.

He suffers from Pathological narcissism. These people will lie, manipulate, cheat, betray and hurt those closest to them. Extreme vindictiveness is a hallmark of this exploitive and entitlement style. He is leaning towards psychopathy now, a pattern of remorseless lies and manipulation. We are pawns in his game of retribution, no empathy, no compassion no judgment. He is functionally impaired with his psychiatric burden and we should get the needed nonpartisan specialists, to evaluate him and make an assessment as he is poised to bring us to the precipice of disaster in multiple arenas. I am so surprised people do not see how impaired he is. He also needs a cognitive test; erratic, unfocused, inattentive, distorted thinking are hallmarks of early decline. Frame him as a diagnostic entity. Get him the treatment he so richly deserves.... Kathleen

Murphy MD

The complicity is chilling

No one challenging him

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Peggy M's avatar

Is that because he is doing the bidding of the Project 2025/ Curtis Yarvin/ tech oligarchs. They need someone this devoid of human empathy to carry out their plans.

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Ron Fournier's avatar

Thanks, Doctor. Who called him a strategic genius?

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A.Gnosticthefirst's avatar

I am not an MD, but I was trained and educated in mental health and I provided support in a housing environment for mentally ill persons for 20 years. I believe the term that might be used in diagnosis for what ails Trump is Anti-Social Personality Disorder. Perhaps, instead of the Oval Office, trump belongs in either a 'rubber room' or a straitjacket.

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P.'s avatar

So much attention on this defiance of sc. what else is brewing that has not yet been exposed?

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Doriane Salem's avatar

MARTIAL LAW IS COMING!!!

💩signed an executive order on Inauguration Day that allows him to enact the insurrection act and grab absolute power on 4-20-2025 and declare Marshall Law. Why isn't this being reported on?

With everything that happened with El Salvador and SCOTUS this past few days, I am pretty sure this is going to happen!

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Kris Weinschenker's avatar

I don’t think it can get much worse than what I THINK…

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Allison Jensen's avatar

Yes, a worry . How will it end.

The man currently in the White House is a thin skinned narcisstic bully surrounded by cowards. When will the US wake up. Most other countries in world can see the truth

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