'Big Brother' is Burrowed Deeper into our Lives Than You Thought

Try to imagine you're just driving along obeying speed laws when a policeman suddenly appears behind you and signals for you to pull over.

The officer appears at your side of the vehicle, and he is accompanied by two masked men with assault rifles and protective vests who all want you to get out while holding both arms straight up. You're being treated like a criminal without rights as the masked men tear apart your vehicle looking for illegal narcotics.

As this is going on you're being peppered with questions. The officer checks your driver's ID and proof of vehicle insurance before finally explaining why you were stopped.

"We had reason to believe you were smuggling drugs."

"What?" you ask. "Why?"

"There were some questionable transactions in your bank account, and you were flagged by the Department of Homeland Security's CBP initiative that analyzes bulk data."

"Bulk data, eh? What do you have? A secret center for spying on Americans?"

"It's all perfectly legal under Trump's Transaction Record Analysis Center (TRAC) database. Here's your license. You've been cleared. Have a good day."

Of course, it wouldn't be that smooth if you were really pulled over. You'd be sitting in a stinking jail cell while they investigated you which could take hours or even days.

Thanks to 404 Media a secretive U.S. Customs and Border Protection unit has been exposed. Drivers who are not suspected of any specific crime face aggressive interrogation and vehicle searches when local law enforcement initiate a "pretext stop," using a minor traffic infraction as the legal excuse for pulling you over. 

Special Predictive Units analyze data - including your financial habits and transaction history. The program blends data broker intelligence with traditional roadside enforcement. 

TRAC has illegally amassed over 145 million records of bulk money transfers (such as Western Union data) sent by ordinary citizens, allowing law enforcement expansive, warrantless access to personal financial transactions. 

As it Stands, the really scary part of this program is that it's undoubtably tied to other secret agencies that are stripping away our freedoms in the shadows.

Slip Sliding away... Trump Regime is Rewriting American History

One of the first things a fascist regime establishes is a fake history that fits into their ideology. Books are burned. Books are banned. History is rewritten to reflect white superiority.

Students of history will point to Hitler's Nazi regime for an example. Dictators like Mussolini formed a restrictive government that told people what to believe and who to believe in.

It's 2026 and Americans are watching their heritage slip-slide away under a corrupt authoritarian government that favors the wealthy and the White.

Schools and libraries have been besieged with regime trolls banning books and rewriting curriculums in public schools in both of Trump's terms. His vile efforts have increased during his second term.

For the sake of space, I'm just going to point out one of Trump's attempts to rewrite our history. There are numerous others.

In July, the White House released a scathing 162-page report accusing the Smithsonian Institution of engaging in "extreme political activism" and presenting "a radical view of American history." 

The blatantly political report, which was published by the White House Domestic Policy Council, took aim at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History, accusing its leadership of adopting "an ideological framework that no longer treats the American story as a shared national inheritance to be taught or celebrated, but as a political instrument to divide, dispirit, and discourage our citizens."

In other words, ignore the fact that Americans in southern states enslaved black people to enrich themselves. That blacks in America had to fight for their freedoms and still are. 

The report came out after Trump signed an executive order on March 27, 2025, called (ironically) "Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History."    

Since the July release of that scathing report the Trump regime has been attacking exhibits and demanding they change them because they don't reflect the new Trumpian reality. 

It's no wonder that the Smithsonian Secretary Lonnie Brunch stepped down on Tuesday from his position while telling ABC News that "I have fought as long as I can." Brunch has been a part of the Smithsonian Institution for 38 years and was named secretary in June 2019, making him the first African American to serve in that role.

You can imagine the pressure Brunch has been under coming from our racist regime that minimizes people of color and which refuses to obey laws it doesn't like. 

As it Stands, it's up to you and me, and millions of other voters, to turn out for the midterm elections and vote Blue to reverse the traitorous trend Trump is taking this country on.

Rename It and Claim It: Dementia Don Knows No Boundaries

Trump claimed the Moon belonged to America and Republicans didn't laugh.

They were afraid too. The rest of the world mocked his moronic claim.

During a recent tantrum Trump renamed Lake Ontario, Lake America, because Canada refused to be bullied by our demented leader and not accept his draconian terms for trade. 

Natalia Harp had to restock the black diaper bag she carried around for Trump because he repeatedly lost his shit over Canada's defiance.

The disrespect Trump has for our second biggest trade partner has been an ongoing theme where he's suggested Canada should become the 51st state in the union.

On Trump's first day back in office, he issued several executive orders and directives aimed at renaming major geographic features, federal agencies, military bases, and public landmarks. He focused on MAGA inspired American themes or his own name.

Who can forget when Trump decided to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Not one nation on the planet changed their maps to include the change. He was mocked worldwide, something that soon became a regular event every time he came up with another stupid renaming of a geographic feature, building, or national monument.

Because President Obama changed the name Mount McKinley in 2015 to Mount Denali (something the native Alaskan's have called it for thousands of years which means "the high one.") Trump restored it to Mount McKinley.

The other day Trump was riffing with reporters and said, "Maybe we'll have to change the name of the Atlantic and/or Pacific. Maybe we change them both" he boasted.

Last September Trump ordered the Department of Defense be renamed the Department of War to match what officials called a new "warrior ethos."

The United States Institute of Peace was rebranded by Trump to the "Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace," ignoring the fact it was a congressionally created organization.

The Trump regime has introduced his name or likeness into new government-backed programs, such as tax-advantaged children's saving options officially referred to as "Trump Accounts."

 As it Stands, the list of military bases and local landmarks Trump renamed is too long to recite here. Just know that this rebranding/renaming is going to continue until Trump leaves the White House. One way or another.

White House Website Proudly Displays Vile Video Games

Just when I thought the Trump regime couldn't get viler it recently proudly displayed anti-immigration games that expose how racist the regime really is. 

The official White House website launched a sub-section on Sept. 3 called Arcade.gov, featuring five retro-style arcade games designed to promote Trump's core policies.

Two of these games focus explicitly on immigration and border security.

* Rio Run - This game is a clone of the classic mobile game Snake. Players control an avatar resembling either Trump or border czar Tom Homan patrolling the Rio Grande. 

The goal is to catch migrants attempting to cross the border. Once caught, the characters are shown in orange prison jumpsuits and follow behind the player to increment a deportation high score.

* Build the Wall - Subtitled Zombie Border Siege, this Tetris-style block-stacking game's objective is to build out sections of a border wall to "protect the border from the incoming hoard" of zombies and space aliens.

On Sept. 4, 2026, The Tetris Company issued a statement clarifying it had no involvement with "Build the Wall," denounced the anti-immigrant rhetoric, and threatened the regime with legal action for copyright infringement.

The other three titles target the regime's programs.

* Trump Savings Tycoon: A game where players grab flying cash (how Trumpian can you get?) to fund the regime's newborn investment savings accounts.

* Supply Line: A food- sorting game tied to "Make America Healthy Again" (MAHA) movement.

* Flappy Bill: A Flappy Bird clone featuring a bald eagle carrying legislation past obstacles (like the law) over the National Mall.

The launch quickly drew heavy criticism from immigration rights advocacy groups and civil rights organizations. Rightly so.

Meanwhile the Trump regime defended their disgusting new games "as policy you can interact with (WTF?) meant to contrast with their political opponents." This gibberish is supposed to be an explanation.

As it Stands, can you imagine MAGA parents letting their children play these loathsome games? I can. 

A Survival Guide to Living in an Age of Rage

"It looked as if a night of dark intent was coming, and not only a night, an age. Someone had better be prepared for rage..." - Robert Frost

It's safe to say we live in an age of rage.

Just look around you. Our anger is reflected in everything we do. Even the most common things, like driving a car, is scary because of road rage that kills hundreds of Americans every week, month, and year.

More than 1 in 4 Americans frequently witness road rage, showing that this dangerous behavior is fairly common according to a recent AAA report (2025). Another study found that 96% of people have reported witnessing road rage.

The rage keeps growing.

Rage in the air has been around for some time but lately incidents on commercial airlines have become routine for travelers in America and worldwide. The once friendly skies are not so friendly anymore. 

I just read about an unruly passenger on an American Airlines airplane. He was so violent other passengers had to restrain him while the stewardess got out duct tape and zip ties to constrain him.

Why are we seeing so many outbursts ranging from an impolite gesture (flipping the bird) at another motorist to road rage that can literally lead to death?

One explanation is given in this informative article:

Psychiatrists: Rage Comes From Accumulation.

Another explanation for uncontrolled anger comes from the pits of politics so extreme there's a battle every day to cling to our freedoms. 

Trump's raging rhetoric keeps fanning the flames of anger into something so ugly any sense of humanity has been squeezed out of most Americans by now.

It's up to us to not let rage rob our senses and make us do something we'll later regret. We can't do anything about the next person, but we do have the option of keeping our own cool.

With that in mind here's an Age of Rage Survival Guide link:

Controlling Anger before it Controls You

As it Stands, I hope the above article helps you understand why there's so much anger in our world.

Fear and Loathing Over Republican's Upcoming 'Trumpapalooza'

It's not enough to just say you're a Trump supporter; you have to put your money on the line to belong in the cult these days.

Republican lawmakers are being asked to contribute hefty sums - reportedly between $25,000 and $100,000 to Trump's slush fund aka House Republican campaign committee for a brand new Trumpian event dubbed a Midterm Convention.

Many Republicans and other critics are calling the event a Trumpapalooza because they know it's just going to be another Trump circus grift designed to build up his already $400 million dollar war chest that he's using sparingly to support select MAGA leaders.

An increasing number of Republicans - particularly those facing tight reelections in competitive swing districts - are loath to attend or are actually skipping the event with a host of interesting excuses.

Who can blame them? The minority that still have some brain cells don't want to be seen anywhere with Trump and his tanking approval ratings. They realize that Democrats are going to use the Trumpapalooza as easy ammunition for attack ads. 

With Trump's historically low polls it'll be like shooting fish in a barrel. One of their biggest fears is being broadcast next to a demented president who doesn't recognize reality.

State party leaders are furious about pulling candidates off the campaign trail for two days right after Labor Day (Sept. 9th -10th). 

There is also widespread bewilderment that Trump's inner circle scheduled the convention's primetime slots directly against the opening nights of the NFL season. It certainly increases the chance of getting their asses kicked on television.

It's no surprise then that many GOP officials and major donors are declining to show up. Organizers have been forced to open up seating to everyday local supporters to ensure the American Airlines Center doesn't look empty on television. I wonder what those Republicans that had to pay think about that?

The biggest fear that moderate and battleground Republicans have is the event will ultimately function as a massive, self-serving Trump rally that does more to fire up the base than win over the moderate independents needed to secure victory in November.

As it Stands, the event should be amusing as Trump touts all of his imagined policy wins in the face of facts that show the economy is struggling and that we're stuck in a forever war with Iran.

Data Centers Are Coming to Your Neighborhood - Whether You Like it or Not

Like other typical Americans I hardly ever thought about data centers until recently.

They didn't even crack my Top 10 Most Thought About Subjects.

Now I'm looking out my back door wondering if a data center is suddenly going to spring up like a maleficent new neighbor that sucks up tons of water and electricity in my city.

Don't get me wrong. I know that the modern internet simply can't exist without data centers. They are often called the "physical infrastructure of the internet."  But I don't want one nearby.

I live in Oregon which just happens to be one of the ten states with the highest number of active and planned data centers (142) according to a Pew analysis of information compiled by Data Center Map.

My concerns are two-fold; data centers use up a ton of electricity and need a lot of water (which is an issue in our current drought status state) to keep all of those servers from overheating. 

Also, there's the noise factor. Residents near data centers describe being near one is like having a "freight train" constantly running past their homes. Researchers have found that large data centers can have a "heat island" effect that makes the surrounding area noticeably hotter.

The reason that the need for data centers is expanding rapidly is Artificial Intelligence (AI). Big tech companies are talking up the benefits of large data centers which can consume more energy than entire major cities.

In Virginia, for example, data centers consumed 40% of the state's electricity in 2024, according to a Bloomberg analysis.

Most data centers have been built in rural areas thus far, but the growing need for them with the advent of AI has companies buying up property in metropolitan areas. That's when you'll read about protests from residents who don't want data centers in their back yard. People like me. But do you blame us?

Polls show most Americans say they expect AI to have a negative impact on society when you take into account how it will affect the labor market, education, environment and our personal relationships. 

Some politicians argue AI will create new jobs. That's just bullshit. It's going to be just the opposite; people are losing their jobs to AI already today.

As it Stands, at a very basic level, we need data centers. The questions are how many we need, where they should go and who should bear the costs for them.

How Petty is Trump? Here's the Latest Example

Because a mean old federal judge won't let Trump put his name on the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, he's throwing one of his signature tantrums.

This new tantrum comes on the heels of renaming Lake Ontario, Lake America, because he's mad that Canada wouldn't go along with his unreasonable trade proposals. Canada and the rest of the world have been mocking Trump's petulant behavior recently.

Now Trump has added more fuel to the fire by displaying his pettiness in retaliation to the judge's orders to keep his name off of the Kennedy Center. 

He had an outdoor sculpture called "Blue" removed from the grounds of the Kennedy Center today just because he had to lash out at something.

It's what spoiled toddlers do. In this case a demented man-child with an ego so big it's a miracle he can get his head through doorways is expressing his anger.

The sculpture was created by acclaimed American sculpture Joel Shapiro and was installed in 2019 to inaugurate the Center's Reach annex. The artist passed away last year.

Because the removal coincided with Trump's larger battle over the Kennedy Center I don't think anyone was surprised at this petty act.

Our first felon considers the center HIS and made that clear after he got re-elected by firing the Center's Board of Directors and appointing a new MAGAfied board prepared to please him in any way he desired.

Trump has been warning that he may just tear the whole center down and build an outdoor auditorium if he doesn't get his way with the re-naming. Many of Trump's most famous displays of pettiness involve minor blows to his fragile ego or physical presentation.

Who can forget when Trump ordered his press secretary to falsely claim he had the largest inauguration crowd in history when he first came into office in 2017 when it was false? That was America's introduction to the malicious narcissist man-child who would go on to set new lows for the office of the presidency.

As it Stands, Trump's obsession with image, flattery, and numbers, is going to be how history will document his disastrous presidency.

How Are News Networks Handling Trump's Lies During Live Coverage?

While Trump will never get a Noble Peace Prize (unless someone gives him their prize which has already happened) I think he deserves some international recognition for being the biggest liar in the world.

I'm going to submit his name to the Guiness Book of World Records committee with tons of evidence to prove no one lies like our first felon.

Meanwhile let's take a look at how American media outlets are dealing with our demented dictator:

For the record MSNBC changed its name to MS NOW in mid-August. The network's strategy to minimize Trump's live on-air lies are commendable. 

When it comes to handling broadcasts of uninterrupted presidential speeches, they don't allow the feed to run unfiltered. They monitor Trump's addresses by adding real-time fact checking and editorial context before or after showing segments.

Despite pulling back on uninterrupted primetime broadcasts, MS NOW still actively sends correspondents to cover Oval Office press availabilities.

What do the other networks do to try and minimize Trump's live lies? I'm glad you asked.

ABC News and NBC News have opted to completely protect their main broadcast channels from unfiltered, live remarks. 

The strategy involves bypassing traditional TV entirely, refusing to interrupt regularly scheduled primetime entertainment. Instead, they redirect live coverage exclusively to their free digital streaming platforms.

CNN treats Trump's speeches as news material to be gathered and verified rather than a live event for public consumption. 

Their editorial board monitors the live feed internally. The delay gives journalists and legal experts time to actively review newly presented documents, check facts, and consult experts before airing clips with heavily curated context later in the broadcast.

CBS News has carved out a middle ground that involves taking the live feed but tightly controlling the presentation. 

The network will preempt regular television to run a live special report. However, the anchor introduces the feed by warning viewers about the potential for unverified claims.

Fox News takes Trump speeches directly into their highest-rated primetime blocks, such as Sean Hannity's hour, without live interruptions, mid-speech fact checks, or early cutaways. In other words, they invite their dear leader to lie his ass off whenever he feels like it to an eagerly awaiting MAGA mob.

As it Stands, every network - including Fox - is subject to Trump's wrath if he doesn't like what's being reported. The truth is fake news in Donny's one-page book on dealing with the press.

Trump's 'Likely Unlawful' Controversial Ballroom Construction Continues

                   What's going on?

Is this a bad dream?

The Supreme Court has become a criminal organization that allows Trump to trample on existing laws and the Constitution without recourse.

In a 5-4 decision the hard right wing of the court is allowing Trump's ballroom construction to continue. Chief Justice Roberts joined the liberal wing in dissenting while making this statement, "That construction is likely unlawful."

If that's the case, why is Trump getting away with his vanity project? By now it's apparent to most Americans - the hard right wing of the court has turned Trump loose to do whatever his black heart desires. As a malicious narcissist making over Washington DC into his personal vanity legacy Trump is living out his wet dreams.

If the construction continues unimpeded it's slated to be complete in August 2028, according to court documents. Come November - which just happens to be the midterms the framework of the building is expected to be finished. 

Supposedly the whole project is being privately funded according to Trump. We already know that's bullshit. Trump's minions have been plucking money out of various agencies (funded by taxpayers) to meet the rising costs.

The last laughable guess that it will take $400 million to complete the ballroom is already being challenged as insiders suggest it'll end up being $600 to $800 million. Possibly a billion dollars.

The lawsuit to stop construction will return to the lower courts, but documents say that key portions of the project could be complete within months - a quick timeline compared with a typical legal case.

The ballroom never had the mandatory congressional approval (hence Robert's remark) but the Trump regime has plowed forward ignoring court decisions to halt until fully adjudicated.

The irony is Trump won't be in office upon completion of his pet project. I suspect a Democrat will be elected president in 2028. I also think that Congress will be in Democratic hands. Based upon those assumptions the new president may declare the ballroom The Stephen Colbert Media Arts Center.

If Trump is even alive then, the first Master of Ceremonies, Jimmy Kimmell, would probably invite him along with Biden and Obama. The three could sit together in the front row.

As it Stands, even if Trump slaps his name on the front of the ballroom, I doubt it will stay there in a Democratic administration.

Robot Dogs Called Spot Coming Soon - Next Up: RoboCops in Every City?

In 1987 America was introduced to RoboCop.

ED-209 was a law enforcement robot designed to supplant human police. 

But the first ED-209 malfunctioned and brutally killed a volunteer. Meanwhile in an attempt to upgrade the newly minted ED-209 authorities converted a police officer who was killed in the line of duty into a cyborg with no memory of his former life in the year 2028, in this science fiction masterpiece.

It's now 2026 in the real world and robots are being introduced into the American police force. More specifically the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) which is planning on purchasing up to $2 million worth of dog-like robots for use in immigration enforcement and deportation operations.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) claims that the RoboDogs are not being acquired to actively chase or make physical arrests. Real quick. When was the last time DHS told the truth about anything?

The RoboDogs are quadruple robots - specifically the ironically named Spot model manufactured by Boston Dynamics. 

See Spot run. Spot can run you down and watch you run with 360-degree cameras and sensors.

You aren't going to get away from Spot who can navigate complex terrains, open doors, and relay live data back to operators.

I'm particularly concerned that the corrupt Trump regime will ignore the manufacturer's restrictions. Boston Dynamics released an ethics statement reiterating that their terms of sale strictly prohibit the weaponization of their robots or use as autonomous targeting systems.

Does anyone really think Trump and his minions are going to play nice with this new technology and not weaponize it? 

There's substantial criticism from civil liberties groups and civil rights advocates who voice concerns about removing the human element of law enforcement and the potential normalization of robot policing. Imagine Spot crouching like Stephen King's Cujo in every neighborhood.

Let's not forget this $2 million proposal follows a heavily contested $20 million contract earlier this month for ICE to purchase shock gloves. 

It's just a matter of time now before ICE introduces humanoid robots to hunt down immigrants and anyone the regime doesn't approve of. 

China is leaps and bounds ahead of the world in humanoid development. Their robots can outrun the fastest man on the planet and are easily adapted into killing machines.

If you think the Trump regime isn't working on similar humanoids to control the public, then you're kidding yourself. There's nothing Trump wouldn't do to stay in office as long as his deteriorating body holds out.

As it Stands, let's just hope Trump supporters don't manage to turn him into a cyborg RoboCop from hell when he kicks the bucket!