Sex Trafficking 2.0 - Trump Family Continues Tradition of Sleaze

By now everyone in the world knows that Trump cavorted with the infamous pedophile Jeffrey Epstein for years. Their mutual desire for underage girls was their bond.

The investigation into Epstein's crimes continues to expand from the United States to the rest of the world as Trump keeps trying to change the narrative. He started a war as a distraction but that only made things worse and now, he's stuck in a quagmire of his own making.

Meanwhile Barron Trump is keeping up the family tradition of hanging out with sexual offenders. He's an admirer of Andrew Tate and his brother Tristan who were arrested this year in Miami on UK sex-crime and trafficking extradition charges.

During the 2024 presidential campaign Barron was widely credited with advising his father to leverage podcast and online male influencers, including the Tates, to appeal to young male voters.

Congressional lawmakers have called for a probe into the Tate brothers' ties to the Trump orbit. 

Last week, Yassamin Ansari, a Democratic congresswomen and member of the House Oversight committee, called for Barron to testify about his connections to the toxic influencers Andrew and Tristan Tate. The Tate brothers have become a household name by monetizing misogyny. 

The Tate boys are fighting extradition to the UK, and face 59 allegations of rape, assault, trafficking and offences related to "indecent images of a child and extreme pornography.

Barron and Andrew Tate have been buddies since 2016. Their mutual alliance has given Andrew, and his brother cover in high places. 

In return for the Tate's help in the election members of the Trump orbit, and even the president himself, have intervened on their behalf. They were under house arrest in Romania, and the Trump regime got the Romanian government to lift travel restrictions on the Tates who were being held for sex trafficking charges. 

In a letter to the House Oversight committee, Ansari said: "The committee must investigate whether back-channel communications between the Tate brothers, presidential advisors, and members of the First Family such as Barron influenced official actions or administration policy regarding criminal prosecution and investigation of the brothers or international law enforcement cooperation."

It appears Barron is a chip off of the old blockhead and has no respect for women. Anyone involved with the Tates is a woman-hater. That's just a fact. That Barron is following in dad's footsteps should be no surprise to anyone familiar with the Trump family.

As it Stands, I can't help wondering what Melania thinks about her baby boy getting involved in a sex scandal after she's tried to hide him from the world for so long.

Mirror, Mirror on the Wall: Who is the Worst AG of Them All?

Attempts at confirming Todd Blanche for Attorney General have been thwarted by two Republicans who wanted him to sign off on Trump's Slush Fund scam. Blanche refused and when confirmation day arrived the hearing was called off because of a lack of affirmative votes.

Unfortunately, that's not the end of it.

Blanche can continue serving as acting director while his permanent nomination by Trump is pending before the Senate. Meanwhile Trump intends to keep the nomination pending until his adversaries' senators John Cornyn and Thom Tillis are gone in January after the midterms.

A potential loophole in the federal law that governs temporary appointments so the possibility that Blanche, in his acting capacity, could essentially take over the nation's top law enforcement office if Trump chooses to bypass the Senate confirmation process, as he's done for other top federal prosecutors.

There is a dispute among experts about the legality of the move, and it's unclear whether Trump will take this route or formally renominate Blanche.

Blanche is still Trump's personal lawyer - although he denies it - and he basically gets away with ignoring state and federal laws because Trump wants him to go after his perceived enemies without any restraints.

I did some research looking for the worst Attorney General before Blanche in modern times. 

It was a tie between Jeff Sessions and Bill Barr. Both Republicans mislead the American people. Barr lied about the Mueller reports real contents. Sessions managed to dismantle and rescind an astounding range of efforts by prior administrations to protect civil rights and civil liberties.

Trump forced Sessions to resign primarily due to deep anger over Sessions' recusal from the Russian investigation, ongoing public friction, and frustration that Sessions did not control the Justice Department or investigate his political rivals.

Barr broke with Trump in December 2020 by stating the Justice Department found no evidence of widespread voter fraud that could change the election outcome. Later he called Trump's election lies "bullshit" and that really pissed Trump off.

It's important to note that all the nominees for worst attorney general were appointed by Trump. When we look at Barr and Sessions AG terms they both created major havoc in the justice system. They were MAGAfied...but not quite enough.

Enter Blanche. It's obvious why Trump selected him for AG. Unlike Barr and Sessions, Blanche is willing to do absolutely ANYTHING he desires. Nothing is out of the question and that's why Trump has Blanche pursuing the Slush Fund for criminals, himself and his family. 

As it Stands, despite numerous cases of Blanche being chastised by judges and the possibility he may be disbarred in Florida, they aren't enough to stop him from breaking more laws because he's Trump's most valued puppet. 

Revisiting the Gilded Age: Trump's Version is Gaudier

Here's a quick refresher on America's Gilded Age (1870s to the late 1890s) for context on this post;

Under Trump's regime there's been a lot of talk about the Gilded Age in the nation's past. It occurred between the Reconstruction era and the Progressive era. The name came about thanks to Mark Twain's 1873 novel The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today.

The Gilded Age was an era of fabulous wealth and stark poverty. Historians say the rapid changes were a result of the Industrial Revolution.

It's Deja vu in 2026. The gap between the average American and the proliferation of billionaires has reached a critical point where we have a White House serving the wealthy and ignoring the rest of us.

We're living with a president that could have been snatched from the Gilded Age. Trump's ambitious restoration of Washington D.C. monuments and his new gold infused projects would make John D. Rockefeller, Cornelius Vanderbilt and J.P. Morgan proud. I'm sure they would have donated money to Trump...in exchange for favors. 

The White House is undergoing an endless display of gaudy gold decorations that would make any rich Sheik feel right at home. The Oval Office looks like a 19th century bordello. Golden letters are above every room so Trump can find his way around the White House.

The richest men in the Gilded Age were a group of powerful industrialists and financiers often termed "captains of industry" or more appropriately "robber barons." 

Today, we have the MAGA cult CEOs and a billionaire president who along with his family of robber barons are ripping Americans off.

One of Trump's golden grifts stands out among the rest of the chaos he's creating; the now infamous proposed White House ballroom that would span about 90,000 square feet and is designed to accommodate about 650 people for seated events. 

I've seen photos of mockups of what the fabulous ballroom will look like (top of page) and there's gold features everywhere. 

From the numerous golden chandeliers to the gold gilding on the ceiling, around the sides, and on the floor, Trump's vision is a MAGA version of the Hall of Versailles. But gaudier.

Currently the Trump regime is regilding the Arts of War and Arts of Peace monumental sculptures (which feature four massive bronze gilded horses and human groups) with gold near the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington Memorial Bridge. That's costing taxpayers about $5.1 million dollars.

As it Stands, the comparisons between the first Gilded Age and the one we're currently living in is disturbing because this version is happening under an authoritarian regime.

Trump's Latest Epstein Intervention Involves Rewriting American History

As more Epstein investigation breakthroughs hit the news in the last week Trump has been forced to create a diversion that's sure to shock most Americans.

Pulling out another chapter from the Heritage Foundation playbook "Project 25" Trump is attempting to rewrite history, knowing it'll get a lot of press time. It's a classic example of shouting squirrel! on a massive scale.

Visitors walking into the Smithsonian Institution Museum of American History, in Washington D.C., could see temporary signage or exhibits alerting them of the contents inside the space, according to a July 24 executive order. Trump loves executive orders. Hey! That sounds like a TV sitcom on Fox News. But I digress.

This is a diversion that's been planned since July 4th when the White House Domestic Policy Council released a 162-page propaganda report claiming the Smithsonian museum was an "instrument" for a "radical, activist cohort" that sought to reframe "the American story to serve its ideological ends."

It's not clear if the signs are up yet. GOP House members grilled the museum's director Dr. Anthea Hartig in a hearing reminiscent of an inquisition July 21st. Watching a gaggle of election deniers and outright liars attack Dr. Hartig was like watching a scene in a courtroom in Stalin's Russia.

For the record, Stalin successfully rewrote Russian history issuing in an age of ignorance for generations.

In Jason Stanley's book "Erasing History" he exposes the ways authoritarian regimes manipulate historical narratives to maintain power. The methods used like banning books, censoring curricular, and criminalizing educators who challenge official narratives.

By now the majority of Americans can recognize those tactics because Trump has been using them in both of his terms. With his latest assault against true history, he's just ramping up for the final task when he illegally declares martial law during the midterms.

Trump can't seem to shake the Epstein investigations that are popping up around the globe and here at home. Bits of information (with no end in sight) will continue to leak out between his attempts to change the narrative.

As it Stands, no matter how shocking Trump's attempts at avoiding information (and burying revelations) are he can't shake off his buddy and partner in crime Jeffrey Epstein.

Thanks to Trump a Biological Invasion in the Strait of Hormuz is Spreading

The Trump/Epstein war has spawned a super-spreader event in the Strait of Hormuz where invasive species - marine organisms - are attaching to the idle vessels waiting for an opening in the controversial strait.

Those marine organisms clinging to the ships get transported to other ecosystems around the world after they finally get through the dangerous strait. 

Right now, most ships aren't getting through allowing for a biological invasion to build up on their hulls. An American naval blockade is currently causing more than 1,500 ships to remain idle in the Persian Gulf and hundreds more anchored in the Gulf of Oman.

Experts say the prolonged stationary periods lead to substantial biofouling on ships. What happens is the buildup can include microorganisms, algae (Trump knows all about algae), plants and invertebrates. 

Here's the kicker, once those invasive species take hold of a foreign ecosystem, it's nearly impossible to get rid of them, according to marine biologist Mario Tamburri in a recent ABC interview.

This disastrous side effect of Trump's war against Iran is far reaching and will cause millions of dollars' worth of damage and impact to commercial operations like aquaculture and fisheries and change the environment, Tamburri told reporters.

A worst-case scenario is currently unfolding because the already warm waters in the region are heating up even more during the summer months. Which is good news for marine organisms, and invertebrates like barnacles and algae that are creating an immense international biosecurity threat, according to Tamburri.

The end result is Trump's wartime actions are leading to another war against the world's environment. I expect no less from a convicted felon and sex abuser who has gotten his tiny penis in a jam and can't get out of it.

As it Stands, what really stands out is the astonishing damage Trump has done to the world both politically and environmentally in a relatively short time.

A Day at the Links with Donald J. Trump

No other American president has ever spent more time or money playing golf than Donald J. Trump.

In his first term Trump spent 293 days golfing and ran up a $151 million dollar price tag for taxpayers so he could play golf at HIS golf courses. 

In his second term Trump is doubling down on visits to his golfing properties. Since he retook office at the end of January 2025 his golf trips have already cost roughly two-thirds of the amount spent than during his entire first term.

By the end of his second term Trump's penchant for spending time golfing will add up to be about $300 million dollars paid for by taxpayers.

To put things in perspective Trump has already spent over a quarter of his time in office golfing. He's logged approximately 120 days of golfing in his second term, according to public schedule trackers like Donald Trump Tracker and Trump Golf Track.

Comparing Trump's and Obama's golf excursions is astonishing. Obama played 333 rounds of golf during his two terms in office. So that was roughly 41 rounds of golf per year. Trump has already smoked that statistic in 18 months of his second term.

President Joe Biden only played 20 rounds of golf during his presidency. He had more important things to do like fighting COVID and restoring an economy that Trump had crippled before he was in office.

Despite starting a war with Iran that he's lost control of; Trump can't stay away from his links. He also uses those golfing days to push new grifts with his billionaire buddies. He's done most of his fundraisers at his golf courses.

In one case it cost Americans $9.7 million dollars last year when he went to Scotland for the opening of a new golf course in Aberdeen. Most of the rest of the visits averaged 1.7 million dollars each.

You probably won't be surprised that Trump cheats at golf.

I highly recommend reading sportswriter Rick Reilly's book, Commander in Cheat where he documented the ways that Trump broke the rules.

As it Stands, it's hard to believe Americans continue to put up with an 81-year-old demented felon and sex abuser who has turned the presidency into a money-making scam.

'The Final Dealmaker' Screwed Up Again

During a press conference Thursday White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt bragged that Trump was the "final dealmaker."

In reality Trump's move to help Saudi Arabia obtain nuclear energy was roundly criticized when the details leaked out.

Mr. Art of the Deal Trump gathered officials on Wednesday at the downtown headquarters of the Energy Department to unveil his civilian nuclear agreement with Saudi Arabia known as the 123 agreement. 

It didn't take long, a mere 24 hours, before Trump decided the signed document had some problems.

What happened you may reasonably ask?

For starters the kingdom was not required to sign a standard agreement called the Additional Protocol with the International Atomic Energy Agency. In short, there would be no inspections by foreign countries on the progress of the 123 agreement. In order to get Congress to approve the agreement there had to be that major guardrail.

Then there's the fact that Israelis who hate Saudi Arabia would never stand for the possibility of an enemy with weaponized nuclear capability. It would be a major threat to the country. 

Despite the wording in the agreement assuring that the uranium enrichment and plutonium reprocessing program would only be used for peaceful means, skeptics point out it would give the Saudis the means to produce nuclear bombs.

Finally, some lawmakers and experts signaled their opposition to the deal the moment they became aware of it. Sen. Ed Markey argued that the 123 agreement represented a "potentially enabling nuclear proliferation in Saudi Arabia and igniting an arms race in the region."

The overall consensus was Trump was screwing up once again in a foreign deal. Whatever convinced Trump to turn around a day later and say that the new deal was subject to a new condition isn't clear. He declared that the 123 agreement now needed Saudi Arabia to join the Abraham Accords.

That was a non-starter for Saudi Arabia. They didn't trust Israel and joining them in any agreement was simply out of the question.

After a flurry of criticism from conservative media outlets like Fox News, Trump decided to blame his own Energy Department for the screwup. He claimed they (Energy Department officials) had informed the media too soon, allowing critics to pan it before the deal was complete despite the White House signing ceremony the day before. 

The result of Trump's poorly conceived plan to help his Saudi billionaire buddies (quid pro quo?) was a screwup, something he's demonstrated repeatedly in his foreign nation relations throughout his second term.

As it Stands, you have to wonder how much Trump and his family would have benefited financially if this deal would have gone through.

A Quick Look at Some of Trump's Absurdities

When it comes to Trump truth is stranger than fiction.

Buckle up as I share some true stories about the president of the United States.

A few days ago, Trump visited a Georgia high school to announce a financial plan for children. He bragged about the plan for about two minutes before launching into full blown crazy tangent about election fraud. 

It got creepier as Trump confidently claimed that secret forces were planning a massive attack on the carved faces on Mt. Rushmore. His evidence free claim must have made some of those students uneasy and question his sanity.

On July 19th Trump maintained that Canada should pay the United States "damages or something" over the wildfire smoke drifting down into the northern states. I'm not kidding. With that kind of logic should the United States pay Canada when we have wildfires that send smoke up their way?

Trump's response to the deaths of four service members was both absurd and disgusting. He tried to put words into their mouths by claiming they all agreed with his stated message of destroying Iran's nuclear capacity. Instead of honoring them Trump turned their deaths into a propaganda stunt to further his illegal war.

In a mid-July national address Trump said, "Our country is safer, stronger, and far wealthier that it has ever been before." Not only was the claim absurd it was litany of lies. 

Random absurdities:

+ Trump said Denmark "doesn't have the right" to Greenland, despite the fact it belongs to them.

+ In February Trump delivered a speech at a Black History Month event at the White House where he boasted about receiving" more votes from Black Americans than any other Republican president ever."

+ In an awkward moment in front of an all-female audience Trump tried to win them over when he labelled himself "father of IVF."

+ In a rally in Erie, Pennsylvania Trump said that crime in the state could be dealt with similar to the dystopian action horror film series The Purge where all crime, even murder, is legal for a 12-hour period.

+ In a recent brag on Truth Social, Trump suggested he is "the only president" to have donated his salary. False. John F. Kennedy and Herbert Hoover donated their presidential salaries.

I think it's safe to say Trump has made the most absurd claims ever uttered by an American president. From outlandish claims about drug prices to the suggestion that he's "shook more hands than any human is capable of" Trump has stood out as a master of lies and absurdities.

Here's one last absurd statement; "The call me the president of Europe. Which is an honor."

As it Stands, the most absurd and dangerous lie - has been Trump's attempts to sanitize his Jan. 6, 2021 coup that failed. 

Where On Earth is Mitch McConnell?

In 2008 a viral art project called Where on Earth is Waldo? was launched on an undisclosed rooftop in Vancouver, Canada. 

Artist Melanie Coles created a massive 54-foot painting of Waldo and asked people to guess where it was.

The project's goal was to have eager video gamers hunt for the giant character using Google Earth satellite imagery. 

The book which the project was derived from - Where's Waldo? - faced bans in several schools and public libraries where outraged parents complained about a tiny, hidden background illustration on the "On the Beach" scene which depicted a small woman sunbathing topless.

Waldo was often portrayed hiding in massive crowds in his famous red-white striped shirt, a matching pom-pom beanie, and round glasses. The striped traveler actually originated in the UK as Where's Wally?

Hopefully you are at an age to recognize the original Waldo craze because it'll help you understand the slim connection between Senator Mitch McConnell's disappearance and the mythical character.

Where's Mitch?

On June 14th, 2026, Senator Mitch McConnell suffered an undisclosed medical emergency and was rushed to the hospital. First aide responders called in and reported a man suffering a cardiac arrest. But McConnell's staff claim he suffered a fall and was just temporarily unconscious. Later they added he had a case of pneumonia.

It's a mystery why there's been no proof of life videos of the longtime senator. His staff released a photo of him sitting up in bed smiling a couple of weeks ago which one Republican senator claimed was an old photo. Two Republican senators originally claimed they talked with him for twenty minutes on the phone. Since then, they've been oddly silent.

So, where's Mitch?

His staff recently reported that he is recovering at a rehabilitation center. Kentucky's governor has asked for proof of life evidence (old or AI generated photos just won't do) on behalf of McConnell's constituents. However, he hasn't gotten a satisfactory reply yet from McConnells staff.

The way I see it online gamers need to resurrect the Waldo challenge and search every rehab center in America for Mitch.

Admittedly it's going to be a lot harder to find Mitch than Waldo. The MAGA morons in Congress are doing their best to cover for him. Even Trump claims he doesn't know where Mitch is at or his health status. I find that really hard to believe. 

As it Stands, another difference between Waldo and Mitch is one was part of an art project. The other is part of a conspiracy to cheat voters for GOP political gain.

The Iran War is More Unpopular Than the Wars in Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan

A new Washington Post-Ipsos poll that came out last week shows the majority of Americans are against Trump's war with Iran.

Americans hate the Iran war more than the one in Vietnam (!), Iraq and Afghanistan. That's saying something about the mess Trump has caused worldwide by starting a war for no good reason.

The Post-Ipsos poll survey showed 68% of Americans think the Iran war was not "worth fighting" for, while just 28% said it was.

Looking back at the previous wars since Vietnam it took Americans a lot longer to turn against them than the one in Iran. 

It took nearly eight years for Americans to conclude Afghanistan was not worth fighting for. It took four years for Americans to be fed up with the Iraq war and six years for the Vietnam war.

It only took six months for Americans to turn against the Iran war.

Despite Trump's claim that the war in Iran is a sign of U.S. strength, the majority of Americans don't see it that way. Last month a Quinnipiac University poll showed registered voters said 45%-33% that the war has made the United States WEAKER in the world rather than stronger. 

What Americans see is the economy is staggering and the price of food and gas keeps going up.

Americans also see the world turning against the United States because of Trump's illegal war and tariff attacks against our allies and the rest of the world.

The war at home under the guise of immigration laws continues to get worse. Trump has unleashed ICE's untrained thugs who act like a modern-day Gestapo.

It's no wonder surveys show that Americans are not as focused on the Iran war like they were in prior wars. Between a sagging economy and constant attacks against innocent Americans defending immigrants, it's not easy to focus on an undeclared war that's happening half a world away.

One of the most alarming things about the Iran war is Trump can't figure out how to end it. He really doesn't have a plan. What turned out to be a crusade against Iran's nuclear capabilities to protect the world, has sunk into an international quagmire with no end in sight. 

As it Stands, there's a strong case to be made that the Iran war is one of the United States' most unpopular modern wars. It sure became unpopular faster than any others did.

Trump Turned the Presidency into the Ultimate Grift

I've never read or heard of a young person wanting to get rich by being the president of the United States. It's just not something one associates with being the president of the United States.

I remember elementary classes where the virtues of the presidency assured us, we have a great leader. Key phrases like "serving the public" and "people's president" were tossed out in civic classes assuring students of the integrity of the country's commander-in-chief. 

How times have changed.

We now have a convicted felon and sex abuser in the Oval Office who is getting richer every day. Trump has generated billions of dollars in income since returning to the presidency, largely through business ventures and investments tied to his family.

Here's the key sources of Donny's income:

- Cryptocurrency: Trump and his family made over one billion dollars in his first year back with crypto projects like World Liberty Finance and TRUMP meme coins.

- Policy intersections: Watchdog groups have cited policy decisions - such as executive orders on crypto assets, pardons, and critical mineral deals with foreign governments - that have coincided with the Trump family's activities. 

- Real Estate & Licensing: Trump properties and international ventures continue to generate significant revenue.

I discovered something alarming while researching this post; U.S. conflict-of-interest laws DO NOT prohibit the president from "participating personally and substantially in particular government matters that will affect his own financial interests."

Past presidents have always put their investments in a "blind trust" to avoid conflicts of interest. It was the ethical thing to do.

According to CNN, Trump promoted roughly 20 companies on his Truth Social platform within days of purchasing shares in those same businesses.

So, why is the president immune to laws that apply to the rest of the government and to all Americans? No other president has used that free pass for the presidency like Trump has.  

The answer goes back decades ago when Congress created a carveout, fearing that rigid divestment rules would hinder the president's ability to govern and address broad, national issues. 

Part of the reasoning for the exemption was to ensure the executive office could function without unnecessary legal jeopardy arising from presidential actions affecting the economy.

Politicians in Congress must have dropped LSD if they thought the free pass wouldn't be misused. They stupidly created a path for a psychopath like Trump to trample all over the constitution.

There are supposedly ethical and constitutional constraints, but Trump has ignored them like a good dictator. 

As it Stands, the national "general corruption" consensus recently conducted by the Brennan Center for Justice revealed that 92% of ALL voters agree political corruption is a massive structural problem in the Trump administration.

Red Lines Crossed: Trump Fouls FIFA's Reputation

Trump and the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) crossed a red line long before they got called out this week for colluded in overturning a one-match suspension for American striker Folarin Balogun.

Now Trump and FIFA President Gianni Infantino are facing ethics and neutrality complaints filed with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and FIFA's Ethics Committee.

When Trump publicly intervened on the suspension FIFA's disciplinary committee brazenly reversed the ban, freeing Balogun to play. It was a shocking display of Trump's power over an international organization.

The unprecedented reversal drew intense backlash. European football governing body UEFA strongly condemned the decision, stating that "FIFA had crossed a red line."

The London-based sports and human rights group FairSquare formally submitted a complaint against Infantino to the IOC which holds jurisdiction due to Infantino being an IOC member.

FairSquare, in its complaint, is questioning the credibility and integrity of Infantino. The organization said there was compelling evidence Infantino committed five clear breaches of IOC rules on political neutrality through statements or other clear expressions of support for Trump.

The organization said Infantino was promoting a FIFA fan site for the 2026 World Cup "which appears to have been part of a data-harvesting campaign run by entities linked to Trump." Sound familiar? It's one of Trump's favorite ways of exploiting confidential information on people. 

From the moment Infantino presented Trump a "Peace Prize" on Dec. 5, 2025, I knew Trump would use his sway to somehow corrupt the international soccer league. Trump didn't disappoint and consequently there's an international fallout.

Because Infantino decided to join the MAGA cult by giving Trump a fake trophy the die was cast. 

Don't think for a moment this is the end of Trump's meddling in FIFA affairs. He's already told Infantino that the American women's soccer team wouldn't play if trans women were allowed to compete in the World Cup tournament. And he wants it in writing.

Here's something interesting; Fans Bring Red Cards for Trump.

Trump and Infantino were greeted with boos at the start of the game and were later given a boo encore during the trophy

Update: Spain won. Trump refused to leave the stage after presenting the trophy. He finally had to be escorted away allowing the Spanish players to celebrate.

As it Stands, when it comes to red lines, Trump sees them as opportunities for grifting.

The Tale of the Dictator Who Cried Wolf Too Many Times

Today I want to share a classic Aesop's Fable about a bored shepherd boy who tricks villagers into repeatedly thinking a wolf is attacking his sheep. 

When a real wolf finally appeared and the boy called for help, the villagers ignored him, resulting in lost sheep.

As the story goes:

One day a young shepherd grew bored watching his flock on a hillside. Just for kicks he shouted, "Wolf! Wolf!" and the villagers quickly responded by running up the hill to help. 

When they got there and realized he was shining them on and there wasn't any danger, they were pissed.

Not being particularly bright and still bored with his job the shepherd boy tried pulling the same stunt the next day. 

When the alarmed villagers ran up the hill a second time and discovered they were being punked they threatened to kick his ass if he did it again.

Wouldn't you know it? That wolf showed up after the angry villagers left and dined on the flock. The shepherd boy panicked and cried out but the villagers ignored him.

The moral of the story is "Liars are not believed even when they speak the truth." It shows how constant deception destroys trust.

Which brings me to a modern-day interpretation of the famous fable but instead of a shepherd boy we're talking about a dictator.

Instead of a flock of sheep there's Trump's BIG LIE. He's been crying election rigging for six years and people are finally realizing its bullshit. The 2020 election wasn't stolen as Trump constantly claims. 

Instead of villagers the American people are fed up with Trump's outrageous claims and that was never more evident than when he gave a primetime speech Thursday night. After viewing Trump's disjointed rant, the majority of people's comments were about how crazy and what a brazen liar he is.

Many media outlets didn't even cover the dictatorial speech because they were aware that it was going to be evidence free accusations and a thinly disguised political rally. State regime platforms like Fox, OAN, and NewsMax carried the slurred speech in its entirety.

Overall, it looks like American voters - polls show him at an all-time popularity low - are rejecting Trump's desperate cry to cheat in the midterms. Judges have been turning back his corrupt attempts at disrupting the November election since he got back in office a second time.

As it Stands, Aesop's fable was a clear warning not to believe a liar, and it applies today in Trump's case.

Defending Democracy: Judges Who Push Back Against Corrupt DOJ

Looking at the totality of court cases brought by the Department of Justice (DOJ) since Trump's second term one thing stands out; judges are increasingly fed up with the frivolous and unconstitutional lawsuits that the DOJ has filed in federal courts.

Here's one recent example of what I'm talking about.

A federal judge admonished the DOJ after finding that a legal filing in an immigration detention case appeared to cite a nonexistent court decision, suggesting the citation was likely generated by artificial intelligence, according to court filings on July 16th.

What makes this case so interesting is the judge was a Trump appointee (a rare case) who warned that AI-generated legal research has fueled a "rash of cases" involving fabricated authorities, noting that courts increasingly face briefs containing "fake, hallucinated cases that do not exist."

One of my theories is the DOJ has such incompetent lawyers they need any help they can get, and AI has become their latest backup. Others involve using Trump loyalists willing to lie and risk humiliation and worse to please Dear Leader. The above is one of many bogus filings used by the DOJ in their desperation to get convictions.

Let's take a look at the DOJ's track record since Trump slithered back to the White House.

The regime's success rate in court varies significantly by judicial level: there was significantly more pushback in lower federal courts, but the regime maintained a high win rate at the Supreme Court that Trump controls.

An analysis by the New York Times revealed that on final merits rulings, and plaintiffs challenging the regime's policies won 48 times and only lost 5 times, giving Trump a roughly 25% success rate on his initial policy challenges.

The regimes success rate improved at the circuit court level, to around 51% with Trump appointed judges voting in Trump's favor 92% of the time, according to the New York Times.

The most appalling statistic is Trump's ownership of the Supreme Court where he won about 90% of the cases testing the bounds of presidential power.

There's one statistic that is encouraging, however. Across all federal challenges to major regime rules, they prevailed in only 23% to 31% of cases. That's compared to past presential administrations DOJs that typically won in 70% of their cases.

I would also like to point out that the justice department has lost a quarter of its lawyers, the lowest number of employees in 40 years after Trump lackeys purged it. 

The best lawyers, with the longest tenure were shoved out the door when the Trump regime ascended to power last year. Now there's backlogs and staff shortages, with senior leaders looking for new jobs.

Epilogue.

Since its founding in 1870, the Justice Department has occupied elevated status in American democracy, sustained through transitions of power by reliance on facts, evidence and law. 

That's no longer the case.

As it Stands, democracy is still being defended by judges who risk threats from the regime for sticking to judicial standards that made this country great.

Trump's Prime Time Speech Was a Cry for Help

Did anyone really believe Trump's much anticipated prime time speech was going to have shocking evidence of election tampering in the 2020 presidential election?

After years of making false claims about the 2020 election that he lost being rigged one would think Trump had a smoking gun or two. That he would come out like a ringmaster parading such damning evidence Americans jaws would drop.

No one should have been surprised that THE SPEECH was a plea to believe in his Big Lie. To that end he pushed his SAVE America Act like a used car salesman trying to get someone gullible enough to buy a junker that doesn't even run.

Trump reminded me of a famous used car salesman in the 1960s and 70s in LA named Cal Worthington (Go Call Cal!). In every TV commercial he brought out an exotic animal like an elephant and called it his Dog Spot. It might be an alligator one time, or Zebra in his next commercial. Didn't matter. It was like an inside joke and helped sell a lot of used cars with questionable warrantees.

Trump looked just like Cal intent on selling Americans lies about our electoral system being rigged in 2020. I know it's not nice comparing a scoundrel like Cal with a convicted felon, sexual abuser, Pedophile, and con man, but there it is.

How about Trump's claim that China tried to undermine him in 2019? Let's put that in context. Russia, China, and Iran all pulled election propaganda stunts online with bots but... Trump's own administration at the time concluded none of them actually affected voting machines. 

I can't help wondering how this sudden accusation against China will go down with Chinese President Xi Jinping who is scheduled to visit Donnie on September 24. They'll probably compare notes and co-author a book called The Art of the Steal.

Seriously, I can't wait for Trump to humiliate himself by praising one of his favorite dictators and taking back his accusations when they actually meet.

Circling back to the sad spectacle Thursday night, Trump is desperate. He feels his power draining out of his tiny hands and people are laughing at him all the time now. 

You know what's funny? I didn't hear Trump talk about the significant cuts to the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, including to its election work that he recently made. Must have been an oversight.

To be clear, there was no voter fraud in Fulton County, Georgia or any other states because they were litigated to death with 60 court cases right up to the Supreme Court. Not one iota of truth behind any of the claims was ever presented.

Yet here we go again. Another last-ditch effort to derail the midterms by dragging out old baseless lies that he still thinks most Americans will buy - despite his low polling numbers.

Trump had a whine time. He accused ABC, NBC, and CNN of refusing to cover his speech "because they know how corrupt our system is and they don't want to reveal it" he claimed as his face bronzer slowly melted onto his tie. TV networks took different approaches in covering Trump's remarks.

Fox News ran the speech unedited; MS NOW and CBS aired some portions live but then cut away for analysis and factchecking from their correspondents. Trump concluded his rant against the media by saying they were all plotting against him. Sure Donnie.

As it Stands, one of the biggest tells of the pathetic speech was Trump didn't provide any specific evidence that any vote was changed or altered in the 2020 election. I wish I could say this is the last we'll hear about it, but I know better. Trump can't admit he's a loser.

Trump is Boldly Letting His Inner Dictator Come Out

After two murders in one week ICE leadership decided that didn't look very good. 

So, DHS secretary Markwayne Mullin announced the agency was, "having a temporary suspension of most Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) vehicle stops."

Mullin felt pressure from lawmakers like Sen. Susan Collins and halted most non-urgent vehicle stops.

So far, so good. Maybe there's hope yet.

BUT NO!

When Trump heard about Mullin's order, he expressed fury, blew out his double diaper, and then publicly overturned the pause.

Was this the moment of truth? Was a Trump appointee actually going to stand up to his dictatorship? Not in this life.

Mullin saw that "daddy" was pissed at him and he did what every Trump appointee does... fell to his knees, kissed his feet, and immediately rescinded the order and shamelessly reposted Trump's statement slapping him down.

After listening to the House confirmation hearings for Todd Blanche and Jay Clayton - both Trump toadies - I saw their slavish devotion to the Big Lie when they wouldn't say who won the 2020 election because that would make Trump cry!

By confirming Todd Blanche as Attorney General Trump is further solidifying his power. The same goes for confirming Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence. Both can be counted on to keep Trump in power. One way, or another.

So far, in about 18 months Trump has transformed the government into an authoritarian state and has openly taken on the mantle of a dictator. There are no restraints on his regime because of the crooked Supreme Court.

Americans are getting increasingly worried about Trump's efforts to rig the midterms in order to protect himself from an inquiring Congress that could potentially impeach him for the third time.

Meanwhile Trump is stuck with an illegal war that he started and is now crippling our economy. Rumors of a ground invasion of Iran hang over Washington D.C. like dark clouds.

NATO doesn't trust Trump for many reasons beyond his open lies. His love for Vladimir Putin is a public humiliation for the entire nation and a good reason not to trust Trump and his goons.

As it Stands, I hope I'm wrong and the fix isn't in on confirming Blanche and Clayton despite their crooked past histories. I'm not holding my breath until the outcome, however. 

Whose Lying About McConnell's Health? Damning Photo Exposed

It appears both Republicans and Democrats are questioning a photo released by Mitch McConnell's staff purportedly showing the senior Senator sitting up in bed smiling with his wife next to him.

There's a problem with the photo. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson questioned the authenticity of the photo and suggested it was an older photo.

McConnell who has been hospitalized since June 14th when he reportedly suffered a cardiac arrest according to emergency dispatch audio obtained by media outlets, is now claiming he just had a fall and was unconscious. So, why did the medics have to give him CPR according to the news reports?

In a written statement Sunday McConnell said he did not break any bones and did not endure a heart attack or stroke. He did say he has a mild case of pneumonia. What? That doesn't add up any way you look at it.

What made far-right activist Laura Loomer claim a source had told her the senator was "brain dead" and "not coming back." My guess is that she might know something, but it's just as likely a way to get hits on her website. 

NewsNation asked a House Republican whether McConnell was still alive. Rep. Marlin Stutzman's response was telling; "I don't know if he's alive or has passed away." He said that in spite of the release of the photo circulating in the media.

A career counter-terrorism intelligence officer, Malcolm Nance, came out and said, "I think he's dead. It's very clear. I heard that 911 tape and I was an EMT when I was in the military. One of the things they teach you about CPR is the probability of coming back from CPR is very, very, very small."

Several days ago, prior to the supposed proof of life photo, a couple of Republican senators, John Thune and John Barrasso, attempted to dampen speculation by claiming the each talked with him for 20 minutes. They've been silent since.

To put this situation in prospective McConnell's resignation or death would create a problem for the GOP party. Any vacancy would trigger a special election. Depending on when a vacancy occurred, his seat could potentially remain empty until the new Congress is sworn in next January.

That's the last thing the GOP wants to see. One less vote for the majority.

As it Stands, it would be interesting to find out who is behind the controversial photo and coverup. My guess would be Trump who has claimed he doesn't know what's going on with McConnell.

ICE Attack: Another Murder in Maine

Two men have been murdered by ICE agents in the last week.

The most recent murder was Monday in Maine where an ICE Officer mistook a Hispanic man for someone else and shot him in cold blood.

A witness, Daniel Boucher said he looked out his third story window after hearing a "pop,pop,pop" sound and saw a small car "turned 90 degrees to the curb" with an SUV behind it. The driver was wounded and the car started moving down the street until the SUV hit it again.

"His face was bloody. His head was bloody," Boucher said, getting choked up. "I clearly heard the victim say, 'I tried to stop' clearly heard him say that."

It's not a coincidence that the agent didn't wear a body camera. When another agent murdered Lorenzo Salgado Arajo in Houston, Texas he wasn't wearing a body camera either.

That's because the new ICE director Markwayne Mullin hasn't made the officers wear body cams, despite legislation stating that all ICE agents wear them.

The Maine murder was a repeat of the Texas murder where unmarked vehicles chased innocent people. In both cases ICE's claim of the suspect weaponizing his vehicle and endangering the agent were trotted out as fact.

In fact, witnesses in the Houston attack said that there was no agent in front of the suspect's vehicle. ICE opened fire from the side of the truck. 

Afterwards they blocked the city from investigating the murder. A tactic ICE regularly uses to destroy evidence. There were three witnesses in the back of the van who were taken into custody. ICE is currently trying to get two of the men to self-deport before testifying in court.

The Maine man that was murdered was from Columbia and U.S. authorities are working with the Colombian embassy to get the individual's identity. According to the Maine immigrants' Rights Coalition and Presente! - the man was authorized to work in the U.S. 

Another case of mistaken identity (after all Hispanics all look alike. Right?)  as Mulllin confessed the warrant was NOT for the man they killed. Opps! The hell with that!

These murders are only going to continue until ICE and its director, are stopped. Congress has a duty to hold both to account and make some big changes soon. 

Justice might have to wait until after the midterms when the Democrats take back the House and possibly the Senate.

As it Stands, no one is safe in America today if their black or brown. Shame on the authoritarian government that encourages these murders.

Surprise News: McConnell is Alive Amid Conspiracies, Coincidences and Corruption

                     Where to start?

Two prominent Republicans have cardiac arrests within 30 days. One is dead. The other disappears in a hospital where his status has been unclear for three weeks. 

Coincidences?

Mitch McConnell was reportedly taken to the hospital after suffering a reported cardiac arrest and getting CPR. No one knew if he was dead or alive and speculation was swirling around every media platform.

That suddenly changed today when McConnell made a public statement and appeared in a photo (AI?) with his wife Elaine Chao. The same day Lindsey Graham died.

He claimed he didn't have a heart attack or a stroke and had suffered from a fall and was "briefly unconscious," and that he was recovering in a rehabilitation center.

Senator Lindsey Graham visited Ukrainian President Zelensky on Saturday to assure him of America's support, then dies of a cardiac arrest on Sunday. Reports suggest he had a lingering health problem. But what?

Moving on.

Corruption.

It's obvious the Trump favors Russian dictator Putin over democratic world leaders. 

Why else did Trump stop the oil sanctions against Russia? Why did Trump roll out the red carpet in Alaska for Putin's visit? He hasn't done that for any other world leader.

How did Trump earn $2.2 billion in the first year of his second term? The Trump clan increased their wealth four-fold by getting U.S. contracts worth billions and through crypto currency schemes cooked up by Trump and his money minions. 

The Department of Justice has become a wholly owned subsidiary that follows Trump's illegal orders. Every major position in Trump's cabinet is filled by loyalists willing to walk on glass for dear leader.

America's 250th anniversary has become a honey pot for Trump and MAGA as they cash in on their twisted interpretation of patriotism by holding expensive stunts funded by Trump's billionaire buddies (and taxpayers) seeking more influence with America's mob boss.

Conspiracies.

Hands down, the most dangerous conspiracy in America today is Trump's attempt to rig the midterms and his never-ending lie about the 2020 election being stolen.

In his return to office Trump has been conducting a witch hunt and going after his perceived enemies. The DOJ openly denies that. But privately it's open game time as evidenced by the numerous lawsuits filed.

The Pentagon is going out of its way to withhold information regarding the war with Iran. Secretary of War Defense Pete Hegseth has done everything in his power to muzzle reporters. Trump doesn't want to talk about the war or the Strait of Hormuz.

No one is sure if we're still at war (what happened to that Memorandum of Understanding?) or if there's a cease fire. Every day brings a new surprise/attack as the hostilities grow unchecked.

As it Stands, in this age of Trumpian lies and misinformation no one can be sure about anything. Every day is so full of challenges that Americans are in a state of continual stress.

Who Will Be Left Standing After Lies About McConnell's Condition is Exposed?

Do you believe "Moscow Mitch" McConnell is still alive?

It's a fair question considering the lack of information about his health for three weeks now. What little we do know would make anyone wonder why no proof of life has been reported yet.

You can't count the three MAGA morons who claim they talked with him just days ago. Republican Senators Thune and Boraso both claim they each talked with McConnell for 20 minutes since his hospitalization. I suspect their going to regret their stories when the truth comes out. 

The third MAGA moron is Scott Jennings at CNN. In an interview with Kasie Hunt Jennings claimed he talked with McConnel and was relieved he was doing so well. Hunt didn't let him off of the hook however and asked him to call McConnell on air. He declined the offer.

There was a reason Hunt asked Jennings to make the call. Simply put, she didn't believe him. Maybe because he's been caught lying on air before with false claims like "Almost 5 million able-bodied people on Medicaid simply choose not to work. They spend six-hours a day socializing and watching TV." 

Being a competent journalist Kasie Hunt must have heard from inside sources that there was something rotten in Denmark. That McConnell was dead. The challenge for Hunt and other journalists is determining if he's brain dead or deceased. It's a fine line that MAGA is sure to exploit and claim when the truth gets out, and we discover he wasn't technically dead.

Being a cynical kind of guy I'm waiting for the Republicans to prop up McConnell's body for a photo shoot in a scene from Weekend at Bernie's Mitch's.

The reason for all the lies is a political calculation. If McConnel can no longer do anything but lie in bed until relatives pull the plug, the Republican party is afraid Democratic Gov. Andy Beshar will appoint a Democrat in his place (one who can run as an incumbent during the midterms). Worse yet, they fear Thomas Massie may run for the Republican party in November.

It should be interesting watching Jennings, Thune, and Boraso try to back pedal on their conversation claims. If Jennings had any credibility, he shredded it. As far as I'm concerned Thune and Boraso lost any credibility when they kissed Trump's ring a long time ago.

As it Stands, Trump probably knows the truth about McConnell and that's why he's taking "executive time" for several days to redecorate the Oval Office with a coating of Ketchup. 

If Trump Gets His Way Residents and Tourists Will Be Unable to See the White House

You better take a quick trip to Washington D.C. if you want to see the White House and take a photo or two.

Trump is planning to fence off parts of Pennsylvania Avenue outside the White House, shutting down a historic space for political protests. 

The Washington Post reported that the regime and the Secret Service plan to put fences where Pennsylvania Avenue crosses 15th and 17th streets NW, allowing them to close pedestrian access if they decide there are security risks.

What do you want to bet any protests will be viewed negatively? If not a protest, then just at the whim of the big baby in the Oval Office if he's feeling insecure. Easy access will be a thing of the past.

The concealment of the people's house will also extend to Lafayette Square (a public park across from the White House and another historic protest space) where the regime is going to put up permanent fencing. 

Trump's plan is to plant 47 maple trees in Lafayette Park to make sure the White House will be further obscured to visitors and foreign tourists.

The fences on Pennsylvania Avenue will affect multiple organizations that are located on the street, including the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Renwick Gallery and the Milken Center for Advancing the American Dream.

The new fencing will cut off the public's view of the White House and deter, if not outright ban, pedestrians from getting through. The irony is thick. Americans will be deterred from pursuing the American Dream.

To put a cap on it, Trump doesn't give a damn about the public's opinion on his ravaging of Washington D.C.s monuments and the White House itself because he's remaking the city in in his own hateful image.

As it Stands, a paranoid convicted felon and sexual abuser is making the White House HIS HOUSE and so far, he's getting away with it.