Trump's 'Students' Graduate from School of Grifting

Like a proud teacher Trump is congratulating nine of his MAGA students for following his handbook on grifting and attempting to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from American taxpayers.

Taking a chapter out of Trump's book - The Art of the Steal - the Senate snuck a poison pill into the government shutdown bill to reopen the government. The 11th hour inclusion of a provision giving nine senators $500,000 each in damages is basically an award. They got an A+ for being good and loyal students.

The language, tucked into one of the appropriations bills, comes after Senate Republicans released FBI records related to an investigation called "Arctic Frost" which pertained to the fake elector scheme from 2020 where Trump allies pressured GOP electors to register Electoral College votes for Trump from states that former president Joe Biden won.

The heart of this scheme is an accusation that special counsel Jack Smith and FBI leaders had political motives for obtaining phone records of nine GOP lawmakers with grand jury subpoenas.

Fact: the records contained data from four days surrounding the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S, Capitol. The records DO NOT INCLUDE the content of the calls. Smith said they were part of routine investigations and not an attempt to illegally listen to their conversations. 

Again, to drive the point further, hundreds of phone numbers were routinely picked up along with those nine senators phone numbers in the course of four days of investigations.

It's also recorded in court hearings that all of those senators were speaking with insurrectionists during the attempt to overthrow our government. The fact that they're going to sue the government for $500,000 each of taxpayer's money for being involved in a coup attempt is a sickening display of lawlessness.

What supposedly happened, according to House Speaker MAGA Mike Johnson, was he was blindsided by the Senate leaders who added the measure to the bill. 

I have a hard time believing that because Trump is running the whole show and both the senate and the house look to their Dear Leader and Teacher. I suspect that Johnson knew he couldn't have added the measure without pushback from the whole house.

When the scheme became common knowledge, after passing it under the umbrella of reopening the government, some Republicans suddenly got cold feet. 

House Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole said he was "surprised" to see the provision. GOP Reps. Austin Scott, Chop Roy and Morgan Griffith all expressed concern with the provision. Scott told CNN: "I think the provision is poorly worded, but I'm glad that other people were paying attention and read the full legislation and was able to explain to the American citizens what's in it."

Amid a fierce backlash to the scheme some of the nine senators are saying they won't seek monetary damages. However, there are also some who plan on getting a big payday from their constituents' taxes. 

Sen. Lindsey Graham bragged that he was "definitely" going for the money and said, "And if you think I'm going to settle this thing for a million dollars, think again. No. I want to make it painful."

Sen. Ron Johnson coyly told CNN he "had no plans at this time" to sue. Sen. Marsha Blackburn came right out and said she intended to sue but did not want monetary damages.

Some of the nine graduating students were more careful like Sen. Dan Sullivan, who stated he wasn't going to sue and was supportive of the House bill to repeal the provision. That's assuming MAGA Mike does call for a bill that would nullify the scheme. Don't bet on that.

As it Stands, the greatest grifter of all time has more students now than he ever did at the defunct and discredited Trump University.

Why the Epstein Files Won't Take Trump Down

As much as I'd like to think the Epstein files will spell disaster for Trump's presidency, logic argues against it.

There's no doubt that revelations from the notorious sex trafficker's emails are embarrassing Trump, but he also knows he firmly controls the government and there's no way he's going to ultimately pay a price for his misdeeds - past or present. 

For example, let's say the legislation for releasing all of the Epstein files passes the House next week and heads over to the Senate - and surprise, surprise - they pass it. One problem though. Trump has to sign the legislation into law. 

Can you imagine in your wildest dreams that he would expose himself like that? Of course not. The bill would be fed into his shredder while he laughed uncontrollably.

In the unlikely event the Senate overrides his veto he has a new ploy to bury the Epstein files. He's called for Pam Bondi to - are you ready for this? - INVESTIGATE the Epstein files. 

At first blush the move seems counterproductive to canceling controversy... but in fact it's evil genius because Bondi can now shut down any further inquiries by saying the DOJ doesn't discuss ongoing investigations.

It was a masterstroke worthy of Maviavelli, but I suspect it was one of his minions who came up with this latest plot to stop the investigations. 

My point is that if you're hoping Jeffrey Epstein will drag Trump down you may want to consider other avenues of getting rid of him.

There's invoking the 25th Amendment although it would take JD Vance and a majority of the Cabinet to successfully pull off that move. As ambitious as Vance is to someday be president, he's not going to risk all on a gambit that could backfire and ruin him.

Then there's impeachment. Although Trump successfully beat impeachment twice before there's different factors involved that weren't there in his first term.

For starters, Trump has never been more unpopular than he is right now. Every poll out there shows that, including conservative polls. He's facing food shortages created by his own stupid tariffs and the economy is sinking faster than The Titanic.

Throw in the possibility of war with South American countries and the repeated attacks by ICE agents and Border Patrol against prominently blue states, and you have chaos enveloping the country. 

Millions of Americans have turned out to protest (the biggest in American history) against Trump's regime.

The other factor that weakens Trump is that his cronies in Congress are showing signs of rebellion as their constituents turn against them. 

I'm not saying that impeachment will work a third time, but this time around feels different. MAGA is splintering into warring factions and Trump's tech bros have taken over.

As it Stands, it's going to take a unified effort by all Americans to dethrone our wannabee king. 

The Epstein Files: Trump Desperately Tries to Put the Genie Back in the Bottle

Have you ever seen Russian nesting dolls?

They're colorful and they symbolize fertility, family, and the continuation of life. Each layer tells a story.

Our Russian-loving president has come up with his own set of nesting dolls, with each layer more corrupt than the last. 

In his most recent attempt to cover up his involvement in the Epstein scandal, Trump added another layer to his criminal nesting dolls by covering up his original coverup with a new one.

For context, the justice department and the FBI concluded in a memo in July that no secret list of Epstein existed and no further charges were expected. Done and done. Right?

No. The memo contradicted previous claims made by Trump and US attorney general, Pam Bondi.

Jamie Raskin, a House judiciary committee and congressman from Maryland, demanded to know why the Trump regime "inexplicably killed" the criminal investigation into Epstein.

In a letter to Pam Bondi, Raskin asked: "Why would the Trump Administration, the Department of Justice and the FBI kill an ongoing criminal investigation into a massive and decades long sex trafficking ring that preyed on girls and women. Who exactly are you intending to protect by this action?"

Then the heat turned up. The House Oversight Committee released new Epstein email correspondences four days ago from the Jeffrey Epstein Estate, striking a blow against Trump's cover-up. 

Epstein explicitly said, "Donald Trump knew about the girls," and "Trump spent hours at my house with a victim of sex trafficking," referring to Trump as "the dog that hasn't barked." 

Every time Trump tries to put the genie back in the bottle it backfires and more damning evidence surfaces. 

As I'm sure you've probably heard the phrase "doing the same thing and expecting different results" and how it applies to Trump. He's piled one cover-up after another under layers of lies that are rapidly being exposed.

So, what did Trump do next?  

He demanded Pam Bondi investigate Epstein's ties to his foes, including former President Bill Clinton. 

He made the demand on his personal hating website Truth Social (inappropriately named). 

That means the Epstein investigation is suddenly open again but with a different goal - going after Trump's perceived enemies. Not justice for the victims. This is just his latest move trying to distract from his own involvement with his old buddy Epstein.

And Bondi's acquiescence is the latest example of the erosion of the Justice Department's traditional independence from the White House since Trump took office a second time.

As it Stands, it's ironic that every effort Trump makes to hide his sordid past with the infamous sex trafficker, it blows up and no one believes him which leads to further investigations.

JD Vance Believes America Should Have an Aristocracy

I'd like to introduce you to a super-secret group that thinks America needs an Aristocracy in order to thrive. 

It's called The Rockbridge Network and they're busy building a lasting political infrastructure for the "New Right" and the MAGA movement, according to a recent article in The Washington Post.

The group is functioning as an alternative Republican ecosystem of think tanks and donor groups. 

You might be interested in who started this "New Right" movement. The Rockbridge Network was co-founded in 2019 by JD Vance and conservative activist Chris Buskirk.

That's right. The current vice-president of the United States JD Vance is in the vanguard for a movement to establish an Aristocracy in America. The Rockbridge Network is well on its way to having complete control of every government agency and the presidency. Trump is their poster child and a useful idiot.

With significant funding from tech leaders, Rockbridge Network aims to equip MAGA to outlive Trump. It's gearing up to deploy its arsenal in the 2026 midterms and the 2028 presidential contest, in which many Rockbridge Network members hope Vance will be the nominee.

I have to admit I've seen Vance as Trump's sidekick like Tattoo in Fantasy Island. 

His outward appearance, with his chubby face and makeup-lined eyes, made me underestimate the weasel. I just thought he was a fool. I was half right... he's a dangerous fool.

Vance's partner, Chris Buskirk, has been focusing on "get-out-the-voter" operations, data analysis, and media production, including documentaries. The backbone of the Rockridge Network is Tech billionaires led by Peter Thiel, who recruited other billionaires like Elon Musk to donate towards the 2024 election.

You can't go online and find a public website on the group. It operates through a collection of eight different funding vehicles, including dark-money 501(c)(4) organizations and Super PACS, which allows for limited donor disclosure requirements.

The aristocracy-loving members commit to spending at least $100,000 a year on recommended programs, with principal partners donating up to $1 million. How effective have they been so far?

The Rockbridge Network has raised over $100 million for its projects since 2019. Musk was especially helpful when he pumped $249 million into all of the swing states.

Reporting from The Washington Post has highlighted the group's controversial theory that an "aristocracy" (productive elite) is the best path forward for the country.

It seems ironic that millions of Americans have been turning out to protest Trump who they say has been acting like a King, when in fact, he is. His royal court, spearheaded by Vance, has been running things since Trump ascended to power a second time. 

As it Stands, King Trump is busy building monuments for the "New Right" while telling Americans to "eat cake" because no bread is available.

Holiday Haze: What Are People Saying These Days?

It's going to be a real challenge celebrating the holidays this season.

As Thanksgiving approaches many Americans are struggling financially and are in food lines. 

The likelihood that they'll enjoy a big turkey dinner is slim. Naturally that makes it hard for people to be in the holiday spirit. Hunger will do that. Food insecurity is a nationwide challenge this season. 

But don't tell that to Trump. He's busy trying to con people with claims that Walmart is serving Thanksgiving meals that cost less than they did a year ago. Like that's some sort of economic hallmark. The fact is those meals have 50% less items in them this season.

Out of sheer meanness (there's no other explanation) Trump has punished Americans by taking away programs like SNAP and going to the Supreme Court to seek relief against paying the money to refund the biggest food assistance program in the country.

Americans aren't preparing to give Christmas presents this season, their more concerned with making the rent or mortgage, and the cost of food. Thanks to Trump's tariffs the cost of gifts is skyrocketing with no end in sight. 

I'm expecting to see people protesting the economy not singing carols in quiet Hallmark-like neighborhoods.

It's difficult to be in the holiday spirit as Trump's goons roam neighborhoods in cities across the land, illegally kidnapping brown people without warrants and sending them to concentration camps that are rapidly multiplying in America.

Immigrant families are staying indoors for fear of being disappeared by masked men and women bearing semi-automatic rifles. 

In this time of year when many religions are celebrating holy holidays churches can't even provide sanctuary from government Gestapo agents violating all societal norms.

Families won't be talking about Santa Claus visiting The White House. They know the jolly old elf was probably deported back to the Ice Pole by evil elf Stephen Miller. 

The Grinch is firmly entrenched in the Oval Office and the only thing he cares about is making the Epstein files scandal disappear. He's hoping for a Christmas miracle.

As it Stands, Americans are also hoping for a miracle. That Trump disappears and that his Maga minions are brought to justice.

Epstein File Discharge Petition Vote Set for Today and then...

Here's what's supposed to happen today when Maga Mike reopens the House of Representatives.

First thing.

Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva will finally get sworn in to the House after waiting for nearly two months since she was elected and certified by the State of Arizona.

Second thing.

Grijalva will sign the discharge petition that will start the process to bring the Epstein files measure to a vote in the House.

Third thing.

If the bill passes it still has to pass in the Senate and be signed into law by Trump who would rather eat glass and read the LGBTQ novel "We Are Everywhere," from start to finish.

Since being re-elected Trump has gone to extraordinary lengths to hide the Epstein files. The list is too long to cite in this post but the craziest thing he's done yet is to shut down the country so lapdog Johnson could avoid bringing up a vote on releasing the Epstein files.

That little gambit cost the economy roughly $55 billion in lost output according to the Congressional Budget Office which also pointed out that every additional week would cost $7 billion, or 0.1% of the GDP.

Meanwhile, Trump stays up all night tweeting in caps about crazy conspiracies and sleeping in the day during Oval Office visits. Epstein is never far from his lizard brain. Nor is Ghislaine Maxwell.

Epstein's partner in crime Maxwell is sitting in the cat bird's seat (in this case a minimum-security camp) because Trump had his lackey lawyer Todd Blanche transfer her out of a maximum-security prison because...

A. It was for her safety for being a snitch (about what?).

B. Blanche discovered she has shit on Trump that would really ruin his day, and she needed to be temporarily pacified while he worked on freeing her.

C. She was such an exemplary prisoner that the warden thought she should go to a less restrictive lockup.

I'm going with B, how about you?

I try to imagine what Trump is hiding that is so devasting that he's ready to bankrupt the economy, ruin Epstein victims' lives with lies, and threaten his own cronies to help with the coverup. What did he do? Are there photos? Is he a pedophile?

Rep. Jamie Raskin accused Trump and his regime of allowing "a corrupt misuse of law-enforcement resources" and demanded that Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche testify before the Judiciary Committee immediately to "answer for this corrupt misuse of law enforcement resources and potential exchange of favors for false testimony exonerating you and other Epstein accomplices." 

As it Stands, the one thing that's for sure is the Epstein files are going to haunt Trump like the ghost of past Christmases during the holidays ahead.

Late Night Senate Sellout - 7 Dems and 1 Independent Side with Republicans

After 40 days of firm resistance against the Republicans demands to open the government without extending healthcare benefits, Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer talked seven Democratic members and one Independent to throw the party under the bus.

The traitors voted with Republicans on Sunday to secure the 60 votes needed to pass the deal, which failed to address the key Democratic demand of extending the enhanced Affordable Care Act tax credits expiring on January 1.

The legislation does extend government funding through January 30, 2026, and includes provisions to halt mass firings of federal workers by the Trump regime, reverse terminations that occurred during the shutdown, and guarantee back pay.

What really smells about Schumer's gambit is he talked seven retiring Dems and one Independent into taking the heat for crossing party lines while he still voted no on the bill.

That cowardly act caused a majority of Dems to question his leadership.

He thinks the move will shield his leadership, but he appears to have miscalculated.

The only thing Schumer did was show what a lying hypocrite he really is. Just before the vote he attacked Senator Durbin for - wait for it - abandoning the party's negotiating position and surrendering the party's leverage by going along with the Republicans. Talk about disgusting.

California Governor Gavin Newsome joined a list of other angry Democrats chiding Schumer. "Tonight's Senate vote on the federal government shutdown should have been a time for strength. Instead, we saw capitulation and a betrayal of working-class Americans." 

What's particularly galling is Schumer knows that Trump and his minions have no intention of extending healthcare benefits despite promising to bring it up in the second week of December. Why not agree to do it right away as soon as the government is open? The answer is obvious.

Apparently, Schumer didn't get the message when a blue wave washed across the country during special elections in 39 states recently. But the message was clear. Save healthcare benefits. Millions of Americans, some for the first time, voted to save the healthcare system.

And what did Schumer do? He sold those voters out. He blinked instead of staring down the Senate Republicans and forcing them to do the right thing. Now 20 million Americans are facing health insurance premiums three to four times more than what they currently pay.

The shutdown may end next week when the House passes the Senate version, but Americas problems won't end there. Trump will celebrate his victory by heaping more indignities upon the Constitution and people he doesn't like. 

After Schumer's betrayal the Dems need to change leadership and to double down on what will surely be a weakness for the GOP - affordable healthcare - in next year's midterms.

The longest shutdown in U.S. history that centered on a dispute over extending enhanced health care policy, has most Americans blaming the Republicans for the damage done to the country in the last 40 days.

As it Stands, the fight for affordable healthcare doesn't end here, however. It's going to be the number one reason the Republicans suffer major losses next November.

Trump is 'Culling the Herd' to Make Amerika an Autocratic Paradise

Farmers and ranchers often remove animals that are sick, have poor production, are genetically inferior, or are no longer reproductive from their herds. It's called "culling the herd."

Since Trump slithered into The White House for a second time, he's been busy thinning out the population of people who he perceives to be his enemies. 

His regime is going after immigrants, who do the dirty work white Americans don't want to, like they're weeds that need plucked from our society's gardens and disappeared into concentration camps.

In Trump's ongoing efforts to turn the United States of America into a dystopian state ruled by a dictator for life, there's nothing he won't do to achieve his ends. That includes starving poor and middle-class Americans and ending their current healthcare benefits to show he means business.

The main target of Trump's "culling the herd" approach to taking over the country are Democrats, Independents, and liberals. Like a rancher from hell, Trump wants to separate selective members of a group - in this case anyone who opposes him nationwide.

Masterminding the purge of Trump's enemies is a Nazi-worshipping creep named Stephan Miller who is his top advisor. He makes Darth Vadar look like Willie Wonka. Inspired by Hitler, Miller's mission is the total elimination and deportation of brown and black people in order to make the country "pure" again.

In Trump's twisted fantasies he sees himself as the fictional character Ben Cartwright in the TV show Bonanza and America as his personal Ponderosa. 

He envisions himself in a western-themed golf cart surveying his herds of lunatic lackeys loitering around and waiting for his orders.

When Trump looks at the red states, he sees fellow Maga ranchers culling out the herds of Democrats, Independents, and liberals by ignoring the laws of the land. The Maga ranchers follow Trump/Miller's lead in disappearing people of color.

The land of the free is facing challenges that our forefather's couldn't have imagined in their worst nightmares. The once beautiful landscape of liberty is rapidly turning into a desert for Democracy.

As it Stands, treating Americans like cattle is Trump's promised autocratic paradise to his puppets. 

Surprise! Trump Doesn't Have an Agenda

People who say that Trump is following Project 2025 guidelines are now starting to realize it's worse than they suspected... he doesn't have anything close to an organized agenda. 

Every new day is packed with grievances and hateful actions like willfully withholding food benefits from millions of Americans.

Trump's cronies do promote Project 2025, but he is rudderless and sets sail every day on new adventures that will make him more money and more powerful. 

While the first felon does have an enemy list it's fluid. One day he'll suddenly remember how mad he is at some judge, former prosecutor, or Taylor Swift. It's a crap shoot where there are no winners and lots of losers.

By now the whole world knows Trump is demented. A lunatic at-large in the White House. The official mouthpiece for the government, Fox News, tries to hide his obvious defects, both mental and physical, but the rest of the world knows he's a walking timebomb with a tiny brain and no conscience.

It would be a compliment to suggest Trump has an agenda. It would mean there's a tiny spark of intelligence in his withered brain. He doesn't plan for each day any more than a rhesus monkey does. He reacts to stimulus like a frantic lab rat on fentanyl.

For years now political pundits have been saying that Trump never had a plan for anything. That includes healthcare. 

It's his rank-in-file minions that put together plans to subvert laws and he merely goes along with them when it's to his advantage. To credit him with the carefully planned assault on immigrants' rights would be ignoring the real mastermind, his top advisor (and Nazi-lover) Stephen Miller. 

The same thing is happening in the Department of Justice, the FBI, ICE, and other government agencies. 

Each agency has a Trump loyalist leader who does the detailed dirty work for him because he can't remember what he said from one day to another let alone organize complex operations. He waits like a bloated frog to give his seal of approval to each new atrocity his lapdogs heap upon Americans daily.

Malicious narcissists, sociopaths, serial liars, and perverts aren't necessarily known for making good decisions. As Trump qualifies for all of those bad traits (and a legion more) we know his thought process is broken. Shattered into hundreds of alternate realities that blindly guide him when he's awake.

Trump is a fractured fascist whose only friends are dictators and the uber wealthy. He has cult followers who know his dark desires are destroying Democracy and they are doing their best to pave the way to an autocratic state.

As it Stands, the foundations of our Democracy are being shaken by a man with no agenda. 

Today in the USA: Dictators Tete-a-Tete at The White House and Open Pardon Time

                 Another day in infamy. 

Another day in the Trump regime.

Trump met with autocratic leader Viktor Orban yesterday in what Maga influencers called a "Touching Moment Between Two Strongmen." It was heartwarming moment when they both declared each other "great leaders" and compared toupees.

After praising each other to the point that some onlookers began vomiting, Trump explained his buddy needed a favor. Orban asked Trump to exempt his country from oil sanctions leveled at Russia that are going in to effect on Nov. 21. 

The reason is simple. Orban's country buys Russian oil to survive, and they need a free pass to continue buying oil during the US sanctions against Russian oil.

The consensus is that Trump will take care of his longtime friend and will carve out an exemption for Hungary's dictator. 

It's only fair to point out they spent the rest of their visit touring the White House looking at Trump's golden trophies and crown. Then they had lunch near the demolished East Wing before the asbestos clouds drove them back inside the undamaged sections of the People's House.

The day wouldn't have been complete without issuing at least one pardon to a criminal. 

The criminal(s) for today are a former Tennessee Republican state house speaker Glen Casada and his top aide, who were sentenced to three years in prison for public corruption charges. 

The public corruption part struck a chord in Donny's shriveled heart, and he blamed (who else?) former president Biden for "significantly over-prosecuting" the rogue politicians.

This pardon continues a pattern of Trump using his second term to bestow unlikely pardons on political allies, prominent public figures and others convicted of defrauding the public.

Trump also pardoned Michael Grimm, a New York Republican House member who resigned after a tax fraud conviction (an issue close to Donny's black heart) and made headlines for threatening to throw a reporter off a Capitol balcony over a question he didn't like. 

The pardons have also come amid a continuing Trump regime effort to erode public integrity guardrails - including the firing of the department's pardon attorney and the near-dismantling of a prosecution unit established to hold public officials accountable for abusing the public trust.

As it Stands, it's just another day living under a demented dictator intent on destroying our Democracy.

Another Felonious First For Trump

You got to hand it to our first felon; he's managed to keep up his criminal chops by shutting down the government and demolishing the White House in ten short months.

For the record the longest government shutdown to date was under Trump's first administration. He's exceeded his own dubious record this year. 

The stakes are higher than ever before as the economy falters and Americans face losing healthcare benefits. For the first time in history the SNAP program wasn't able to help hungry Americans until the courts stepped in and forced Trump to fund SNAP at the 11th hour. Another first.

As a horrified public watched helplessly Trump tore down the East Wing of The White House with no input from Congress or anyone else normally involved in historical building projects. Talk about bad optics. It's another first. 

Here's some more felonious firsts in Trump's return to the Oval Office.

- In defiance of the Constitution Trump has been surging active military troops and federalizing national guards into blue cities on missions to intimidate citizens who dare interfere with the illegal ICE arrests across the country.

- He weaponized the Department of Justice, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security to go after his perceived enemies and people he just doesn't like.

- He's openly extorting media outlets that he doesn't like by threatening to hurt companies through legislative action that don't bend the knee to him.

- Showing no shame, Trump has been openly grifting foreign nations and getting GIFTS like a presential airplane and a gold crown with the help of his spineless supporters in Congress. 

- From Day One Trump has been attacking the judicial system like a warthog with rabies. He's defied court orders regularly. He threatens judges he doesn't like with impeachment.

All of these assaults on our democracy are firsts for any president. We've never had a more corrupt leader in history. Americans are learning lessons the hard way after electing Trump for a second term. 

Trumps completely unhinged and acting out all of his fantasies from building a massive, gilded age ballroom for his wealthy friends connected to the White House, to a triumphal arch in his name across from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC.

The firsts we're experiencing are both stunning and shocking on a daily basis. Americans wake up wondering if Trump is going to start a war in Latin America, or if he's going to declare martial law and cast off any pretense of not being a dictator and assume full control of the United States of America.

I'm willing to bet there's a lot of people who are wishing that they hadn't voted for Trump and are now struggling in our collapsing economy with increasing food lines for middle class Americans out of work.

Before you lose hope for the country, I want to point out the recent special elections across 39 states were almost entirely won by the Democrats. There were record lines at voting booths from New York to California. People have seen enough of Trump's firsts and are organizing for the midterms where I expect there will be a blue wave of retribution.

As it Stands, Americans must continue to resist Trump's felonious firsts agenda and be prepared to turn out in record numbers and vote next November.

Republicans Have the Blues Over Special Election News

Democrats dominated the special elections.

It was plain to see there was a blue wave across the country.

When Trump woke up Wednesday, he was greeted by a defeated GOP. His party minions scrambled about trying to somehow please the lout, but he continued to shout and pout.

The election losses preyed on Trump's tiny brain as he gathered his cabinet to find someone to blame. He called them out for the horrific countrywide loses and then he bragged about winning last year's election and his international fame.

"I wasn't on the ballot, so we lost!" he ranted and raved to his minions who sat quietly by. All they could do was sigh and let him cry.

It didn't help when Trump heard there was skepticism from the Supreme Court over his power to level tariffs internationally, he acted irrationally. 

In a ridiculous claim, Trump called the tariff case a "life or death moment for the country," which was beyond lame. But that's the first felon's game.

Talk about gall, Trump spoke at the American Business Forum and told them his beautiful tariffs would help them all.

Throughout Trump Country Maga lawmakers are hosing their constituents today, claiming Republicans carried the day.

As it Stands, Trump's cult suffered at the polls faring worse than their stated goals.

Trump Voters: 'How Do You Like What America Has Become?'

This post is for you if you voted for Trump in 2024.

So how do you like America today? Is the current chaos what you expected?

Is Trump checking off the list of promises he made you while campaigning last year?

Has the price of food gone down? How about eggs and gas? How about the fact that illegal tariffs have sent retail prices through the roof. 

You may be wondering why the economy is staggering to stay afloat. Maybe you're getting a little concerned about what you see when you go into stores and get sticker-shock.

Remember those wonderful tariffs that Trump said would supercharge the economy? By now, you know those tariffs are part of the reason why your facing rapid inflation and soaring prices on EVERYTHING. 

Did you know that Trump was going to put together a special strike force from our military to occupy every state in the union? What? Trump didn't mention that. Maybe he forgot.

But what do you think of the current use of national guard units who have been sent out to "protect" ICE agents and border patrol cops in major cities? Are you okay with people being kidnapped in their homes, churches, and schools?

I hope you didn't have any silly ideas about having more rights and freedoms under Trump's regime. Another thing. Unless your wealthy Trump doesn't give a damn about you. You know that's true right now as he shut down the government causing millions of Americans to lose their healthcare benefits. 

I wonder what you think about the cruelty Trump has displayed about SNAP benefits disappearing for 42 million Americans because he said he doesn't have enough money - patently false - to fund the national food assistance program?

Did you ever suspect Trump would triple his fortune in the first nine months of his presidency? Have you bought your $100 Trump Bible yet? Are you okay with the flood of gifts from foreign countries essentially paying Trump for favors? How about the whole Trump family grifting their way across the world at taxpayers' expense?

Did you ever hear a hint about Trump demolishing the White House and Rose Garden as he campaigned? Did he tell you that he was going to build a triumphal arch across from the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. and call it the Arc de Trump? Or that he planned to build a massive ballroom - twice the size of the White House? Do you believe the ballroom is fully funded even though the price goes up every time Trump talks about it?

I hope you aren't a travel agent because there's never been a worse time for tourism in America. Other countries are watching our democracy sink into the sunset as we demonize brown people and round them up like animals nationwide.

The number of foreign visitors has declined this year according to the travel research firm Tourism Economics who say Trump's rhetoric and restrictive policies are the cause. Canadian tourists are going to other countries rather than visit their worrisome neighbors. Add a new $250 "visa integrity fee" that began in October, and you can understand why international tourists don't want to come to our country.

By the way did you celebrate Halloween by taking your kids out to neighborhoods that were being gassed by ICE agents?

I just want you to know that Trump celebrated Halloween with a Great Gatsby gilded-age theme (which they called a little party that never hurt anyone) at Mar-a-Lago with his billionaire buddies as our country remains shut down.

As it Stands, if Trump's regime is making your life hell, then you might consider joining the majority of other Americans in resisting the Maga movement and fighting for democracy.

More Republicans are Caught Between Trump and Their Constituents Every Day

Judgement Day is approaching fast for Republicans in Congress. 

They're faced with supporting a malicious narcissist who misuses the U.S. military here and abroad. 

A president who wants taxpayers to give him $230 because he didn't like being investigated over his coup attempt on Jan.6.

Supporting Trump gets harder daily after he shut down the government and jeopardized support for 42 million Americans that need food assistance programs like SNAP.

Republican senators and house representatives don't dare to hold town halls. They know what their constituents are going to ask.

Why is the president holding gilded age parties while Americans are in danger of losing their health benefits?

Why has Trump and his family tripled their fortunes in 10 months as the economy is collapsing?

Why does Trump keep getting personal gifts from foreign countries like Qatar who presented him with a $400 million dollar jet?

Why didn't you try to stop Trump from illegally tearing down the White House and building a massive ballroom next to it?

Why do you go along with Trump's lies, even as they are being exposed every day in real time?

Why are you joining Trump in his personal revenge tour when you know it's illegal and that he's weaponized the Department of Justice?

Why are you supporting Trump's illegal tariffs when you know that the public is paying the price?

What has Trump done for us in our state to elevate the economic crisis we're experiencing?

Upcoming Special Elections - Nov. 4th

Republicans can read the writing on the wall. Trump has become so toxic it's jeopardizing their careers. Democrats are turning out in record numbers in early voting in Virginia for the governor's spot. Democrat Abigail Spanberger leads Republican Winsome Earl-Sears according to the majority of recent polls.

New Jersey's Governor's race shows Democrat Mikie Sherrill leading her Republican opponent Jack Ciattarelli by 51% versus 43%, according to the most recent Quinnipiac poll.

Side note: Arizona Democrat, Adelita Grijalva, was elected to Congress over a month ago, but House Speak Mike Johnson refuses swear her in. A lawsuit has been filed against Johnson.

California voters will be voting on Prop 50. From all accounts it looks like it's going to pass giving Democrats more seats in Congress.

The signs of a blue wave are everywhere with special elections in Atlanta, Boston, Cleveland, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York City, and Seattle who are choosing new leaders or deciding on incumbents.

Which brings us back to the challenges Republicans are currently facing with an out-of-control leader literally tearing apart the White House and the economy. One has to wonder what the breaking point will be for these Maga minions to turn on dear leader.

As it Stands, I encourage Democratic and Independent voters to exercise their rights to vote today and tomorrow... while they still can.

'Let Democracy Speak' - Epstein Victims Urge Mike Johnson to Stop Playing Politics

No one has gone further out of their way to conceal the Epstein files than House Speaker Mike Johnson. 

He could hold a seminar on how to obstruct justice with all of the experience he's gained in the House as its leader. 

Trump has been counting on Johnson to keep the House closed as long as possible so Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ) couldn't provide the one needed vote to have a bipartisan discharge petition to compel the Trump regime to release the Epstein case files. 

The thinking behind keeping his Republican charges on a never-ending vacation is that some 11-th hour event will come up and derail it. Like one of the Republicans who are voting for the release suddenly changes their mind and joins the rest of his cowardly colleagues in opposing the release of the Epstein files.

Johnson was confronted today with an open letter from the victims of the late billionaire financier and sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. In it they asked him to stop obstructing the swearing in of Rep-elect Adelita Grijalva.

They didn't hold back their concerns.

"Grijalva was duly elected and certified to serve in the U.S. House of Representatives," the letter began. "Her constituents have spoken, and their voices deserve representation without further delay. The continued refusal to seat her is an unacceptable breach of democratic norms and a disservice to the American people. Even more concerning to us survivors, this delay appears to be a deliberate attempt to block her participation in the discharge petition that would force a vote to unseal the Epstein/Maxwell files."

In conclusion the letter said, "Speaker Johnson must stop using procedural tactics to protect the powerful and instead uphold the integrity of our democratic institutions. Our trauma is not a pawn in your political games. Every day you stall is another day survivors are denied justice, and the American people are denied the truth. Swear in Representative Grijalva and let democracy speak."

The country is in chaos because Johnson has his head up Trump's ass and doesn't care if the government stays closed throughout his dear leader's term. Without the last-minute intervention from a judge the SNAP program was going to shut down and deprive 42 million Americans of much-needed food. Johnson claimed he couldn't do anything about that. Really?

The third most powerful politician in the government couldn't do anything to help millions of Americans. Think about that. We all know he's lying - and he knows we know - but he still stands in front of microphones and lists of lies like flies.

I wonder what Johnson would think if he heard what Trump reportedly told a GOP house member the other day. He bragged that behind the scenes he's effectively holding the position of president and House speaker.

I'm thinking he'd squint behind his owl glasses and give a big shitty smile to show he has no shame.

As it Stands, as of Saturday the House has been in recess for 30 days as Johnson refuses to reconvene the chamber until the Senate adopts a spending bill that will doom American healthcare.

The Militarization of America is Speeding Up

Any dictator worth his/her salt knows they have to control the military in order to achieve a totalitarian regime.

That lesson hasn't been lost on Trump, who has been studying for years on how to be a proper dictator (dear leader) under the tutelage of Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong-un, and Xi Jinping, and now he feels his time has arrived. 

Trump on his first day of his regime rescinded an executive order (Executive Order 13989) signed by President Joe Biden that guaranteed that the Executive Branch would make ethical decisions. That set the stage for his corrupt regime.

To prove he's been reading the Dictator's for Dummies guidebook, Trump illegally surged active military and federalized national guard units in August, in California. Under a tsunami of lies Trump expanded his attacks against blue cities like Portland, Oregon, Washington DC, and Chicago, Illinois.

The result thus far has been a flood of court cases as Democrats fight back against the seizure of their cities by a military force. It's looking like the tide is slowly turning against Trump in the courts and possibly by the Supreme Court.

But that chaos isn't slowing Trump down in his quest to take over all 50 states with "special military units" by January 1st. He's already ordered the National Guard to train as many as 500 troops per state to serve as a "rapid response" team focused on civil disturbance "missions."

If that doesn't sound ominous, I don't know what is. I went on "missions" in Vietnam. But that was a war. This war is against the American people.

In our undeclared war against South American countries Trump has deployed an aircraft carrier group (the Gerald R. Ford is the biggest aircraft carrier in the world) and Secretary of War Defense Hegseth has authorized illegal strikes on civilian boats in the Caribbean Sea and the eastern Pacific Ocean under the pretext they were all drug smugglers. So far, 61 people have been arbitrarily murdered in what critics are calling "illegal extrajudicial killings."

The U.S. government has been accused of violating Columbian sovereignty, by striking a civilian fishing boat. Venezuela has appealed to the international courts about U.S. operations and openly 'hostile provocation" and a breach of international law. The country has mobilized its armed forces and militia to stop a suspected invasion of their country.

The military is not permitted to target civilians, including suspected criminals, who do not pose an imminent threat of violence. We have the Coast Guard to protect against drug smugglers.

But Congress has been kept in the dark about what's happening with the exception of some Republican Trump loyalists who got a brief meeting with Hegseth a day ago telling them what to say - not the real story.

Hegseth has purged the military of all its top brass in every branch to install Trump loyalists that will obey Trump's every command. Including going to war without authorization from Congress.

As it Stands, the political weaponization of American Armed Forces is progressing rapidly with little resistance - with the exception of the overwhelmed court system trying to protect our rights as free people. 

SNAP Benefits and Health Insurance Extensions Can Be Saved: Here's How

With just over 24 hours left before millions of Americans go hungry there is still a way of saving the biggest food program in the country for the needy.

This morning Senator Schumer, Senator Amy Klobuchar, and Senator Ben Ray Lujan, introduced two bills. The first one will fund the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) before the Nov. 1st deadline. If it isn't passed 42 million Americans will go hungry.

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UPDATE: A coalition of 25 Democratic-run states sued the Trump administration to prevent billions of dollars of cuts to federal food assistance. If the lawsuit is successful SNAP will be funded in time.

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The second bill would preserve the Affordable Care Act by extending health insurance tax credits in exchange for the Democrats support to reopen the government. The Nov. 1st deadline is in sight and there's no time to waste on partisan politics. Though the tax credits are set to sunset at the end of the year, increased premiums are expected to appear during the open enrollment period.

The reality that faces both bills is grim. Trump's hammerlock on the House and Senate is firm. Trump could care less if people go hungry or lose their health insurance. He's demonstrating his disdain for the American people by going on an Asian tour to collect gifts bribes from several countries.

For example, South Korea presented Trump with a gold crown today. I'm not kidding! The irony is as thick as a brick.  

The insidious thing is that during Trump's first regime there was a long shutdown, the longest in history, but he somehow found a way to fund the program back then. Why not do it this time? 

I think you know the answer. Trump has no guardrails and is openly playing the dictator. There is a fund to tap, an annual appropriation, this time, just like the last time. Congress built in a backup fund for just this kind of emergency.

The extended effect of losing the SNAP program goes beyond hungry people. For example, one dollar in SNAP benefits generates $1.50 in economic activity, according to the USDA. 

At this point, I'm afraid the cowardly Republicans in both the House and Senate are going off an economic cliff like lunatic lemmings to please their dear leader.

It would take a miracle to bring MAGA Mike and his puppets back to the House to save Americans that are going to go hungry and lose their health benefits. The Senate will need to move fast - as in today or tomorrow - to save both programs.

As it Stands, the SNAP program is 60 years-old and has never been unfunded... until now.

Supreme Court is Enabling Trump's Control Over the Federal Government

It sure must be nice to have the Supreme Court in your pocket especially if you're a dictator looking to establish complete control of a government.

Once again, the Trump regime is asking the Supreme Court to break rules for the dear leader. This time they want SCOTUS to uphold the illegal firing of the Register of Copyrights Shira Perlmutter from her influential post earlier this year inside the Library of Congress that oversees and enforces the United States' copyright system.

Imagine the fun Trump will have abusing copyright laws to benefit himself. This is just the latest appalling appeal to the justices over the first felon's expansive view of presidential control over the federal government.

Next month, the Supreme Court will consider Trump's ability to fire members of independent federal agencies without cause. Next year the Supreme Court will also examine Trump's control over members of the Federal Reserve.

Under federal law, the Register of Copyrights is appointed by and reports to the Liberian of Congress, who in turn is appointed by the president for a 10-year term after confirmation by the Senate.

Ignoring the fact that Biden appointed Librarian Carla Hayden had years to go in her term, Trump arbitrarily fired her without cause when he came into office. He replaced her with his personal attorney and Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanche, who has become Trump's enforcer and Epstein File confidant. Blanche then fired Perlmutter and the deed was done.

Trump is brazenly shaking down the justices to overturn the legal questions surrounding his control of the Library of Congress and who leads it.

The Supreme Court made a huge mistake when they granted immunity for the most crooked politician in the modern age. Trump is rampaging through the federal government and the states in order to assert complete control of the United States.

The Supreme Court's so-called shadow docket for emergency motions has played an outsized role in legal challenges against the new Trump regime. Federal trial judges from across the ideological spectrum have repeatedly blocked actions by the regime, only for the Supreme Court to halt those rulings with little or no explanation.

The Court's failure to explain its rulings has also opened the door to the Trump regime embracing a maximalist interpretation of what the Court has authorized.

Without a doubt America is at a precarious moment of backsliding. The courts are being asked to serve as a check on Trump's abuses and a backstop for the rule of law. In case after case, the justices have declined that charge.

As it Stands, with the conservative majority in the Supreme Court, Trump is riding roughshod over all of our laws in his quest to be a dictator.

Is Trump Dying Before Our Eyes?

Trump has always lied about his health. 

So have his handpicked doctors who have described his health in hyperbolic terms like "he's the healthiest President in history."

We know he's the oldest president in history and he's a documented serial liar. Beyond that people can only go by what they see. Like hands with dark red and purple splotches hastily covered up with makeup and ankles so swollen it's a wonder he can walk.

Under pressure from the media, Minister of Propaganda Karoline Leavitt, reluctantly admitted Trump has chronic venous insufficiency which she downplayed as not being unusual. 

Then the media announced that Trump had an MRI during his recent trip to Walter Reed medical center. This new development has raised even more serious questions about Trump's health.

While on his way to Asia Trump told CBS News, "I did. I got an MRI, it was perfect, yep." When asked what the doctors were looking for, Trump shrugged and nonchalantly said "ask the doctors." And surprise, surprise, the doctors were aboard the plane, and they claimed Trump had "some of the best reports they've ever seen." Sound familiar?

But the bullshit didn't stop there. Trump's personal physician, Capt. Sean Barbarella sent out a memo saying that he was in perfect health and his cardiac age "was found to be approximately 14 years younger than his chronological age." Barbarella also didn't say what part of the body was the MRI done on or if it was a whole-body scan. Of particular interest he never said why the MRI was ordered.

The most chilling part of the in-flight interview was when Trump refused to rule out a bid for a third presential term, despite the 22nd Amendment limiting presidents to two terms. "I would love to do it," he responded to reporters' question of running for a third term. "Am I ruling it out? You'll have to tell me," Trump ominously replied. 

Is Trump dying? Does he have even more brain damage than most people have suspected? Does he have a chronic condition that is threatening his life? 

My theory is Trump knows his days are limited so he's going balls out in a grand farewell to the American people and the world. Hence crazy things like tearing down the East Wing of The White House to accommodate a ballroom which I'm sure will be dubbed "The Trump" Ballroom." It gives him a chance to forever proclaim his majestic reign.

Maybe all of Trump's recent comments about going to heaven - and even holding a grift among his minions to give him money to enter heaven - are reflective of him sensing his days are numbered. Because he hides all of the real records about his health one has to wonder how sick he really is.

As it Stands, don't be surprised if Mount Rushmore is partly demolished so that Trump's fat face can go alongside some real presidents.