The Insurrectionists are Winning
4 stories that should break every American's heart
This is a reader-supported Substack for and about you — witnesses to an age of acrimony and anxiety.
These newsletters are free. A paid subscription also gives you access to “The Morning Read-In,” a daily curation and conversation around the day’s most compelling stories on politics, culture, communications, and life. Today’s newsletter first appeared in the MRI.
I BRING YOU four stories that should break every American’s heart.
Story #1
PRESIDENT TRUMP marked the fifth anniversary of his attempted coup by codifying his Big Lie with a digital insurrection. The official White House website now:
Falsely claims that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen.”
Falsely claims Capitol police caused the riot.
Falsely claims Vice President Mike Pence had the power to “return disputed electoral slates to state legislatures for review and decertification” but chose not to “in an act of cowardice and sabotage.”
Falsely claims that Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House speaker at the time of the attack, was to blame for “security lapses” at the Capitol.
After 49.8% of voters returned Trump to office despite his assault on democracy, he pardoned some 1,600 rioters convicted for their role in the Capitol attack. Now he’s rewriting history on our White House website, the act of an authoritarian. Trump supporters are laying the groundwork in every state to falsely claim fraud in contested elections they lose in 2026 and 2028.
We need to acknowledge an ugly truth: The insurrectionists are winning.
Story #2
NEEDING TO REENGERIZE his base for the midterms, Trump warned Republicans on Tuesday that Democrats will impeach him if the GOP loses control of Congress in November.
“You got to win the midterms, because if we don’t win the midterms, they’ll find a reason to impeach me,” Trump said Wednesday. “I’ll get impeached.”
My take:
He’s right.
He should stop doing impeachable things.
Also: Democrats should not threaten impeachment in midterm campaigns. They should focus on affordability, political reform, and the other “I” word: Inflation. Landside election defeats are the only way to eradicate Trumpism, and Democrats can’t win supermajorities without addressing the economic and social frustrations driving many voters to the MAGA movement.
Story #3
I STAND with Denmark.
A bullying superpower should not be allowed to seize Greenland from the Danes.
Threatening military force to seize Greenland is the act of a rogue nation.
Surely, it’s Russia or China aiming to upset a global order in place since World War II, when the United States stood against hegemony.
No, it’s not. It’s us.
Story #4
ABC NEWS REPORTS that the Department of Health and Human Services is freezing $10 billion in federal funds in five Democrat-run states over allegations of fraudulent child-care programming.
The news comes days after Democratic Gov. Tim Walz dropped his re-election bid amid investigations into rampant fraud in Minnesota’s welfare programs.
My take:
Government fraud is a problem in GOP-run states. I don’t see Republicans freezing their federal money.
Fraud is a problem in corporate American. I don’t see Republicans freezing corporate welfare money.
The freeze in California, Colorado, Illinois, Minnesota, and New York is not about reducing fraud. It’s about punishing Democrats and their voters, which is immorally cruel.
Fraud is a problem in all government services, an ancient scourge supercharged by modern technologies that give scammers a huge advantage over outdated government systems. Where is the national liberal-Democratic movement to modernize and intensify anti-fraud activities inside government?
There isn’t one, which is a shame because it would be a winning issue for Democrats and one less arrow in the MAGA quiver.
THAT’S A WRAP
Enjoy your day. Love your people.
While insurrectionists try to rewrite history, short-term gains don't mean they're winning.
Truth isn't written in website lies; it's embedded in the memories of insurrection witnesses from coast to coast. "There was truth and there was untruth," as George Orwell wrote in '1984,' and the truth-knowing majority outnumbers Jan. 6 untruthers.
Thank you for all you do Ron- I just have to vent. I am sick and sad and tired and embarrassed to be an American- especially today after hearing this…how is this legal?
How dare they change the story- that in its own right is insane.
Jan 6 was a very sad day- it remains an opened wound- it was an abomination and it happened bc somebody didn’t want to go to jail.
That someone is now destroying the White House - America’s reputation in the world … trying to steal country’s? This is not what an American president or government does And btw hes already divided our nation-he’s divided families-ended friendships-the list is long and there’s still 3 years of God knows what else he’ll add to the list.
Isn’t this grounds for the 25th amendment. Insane is an understatement
This should be the Democrats number 1 priority. Point this insanity out. This is not normal and it is not ok.- make it clear …The emperor is naked! They have to.
Demand accountability- do not stop talking about the Epstein files- do not allow the distractions to change the dialogue . It is all smoke and mirrors. We’re watching the crazy train in real time and I feel helpless as it nears the end of the track.
Ps It’s also time for Fox News and other disgraceful media outlets-to just stop the madness- the brainwashing propagandists are culpable in this toxicity …I realize it’s all about the $ but what’s the point of all that money when America falls?