Brief Blog Break: I Have to Exhale

A crazy president.

An illegal war.

An economy collapsing...

WAIT!

I'm taking a brief blog break (not sure exactly how long) to bring down my blood pressure and to try to get some positive vibes going. 

Watching all of the bad things that keep popping up daily is stressful. Time for a quick battery charge.

If your new to this blog I urge you to check out the archives on the right side of the page to see what I've written in the past 20 years.

(photo - Shirley and I at NO KINGS Day 2026)

We believe in Democracy. 

I'm a journalist who believes in the Constitution.

I'm a veteran who hates seeing the illegal Trump-Epstein War taking American lives.

As it Stands, thanks for stopping by and I'll be back soon. Peace out!

We Do We Celebrate Easter with Eggs and Bunny's?

On the surface, watching bunnies frolic in a grassy yard among hidden decorated eggs is kind of weird. 

It's not weird to Christians, however. Those gaily painted eggs symbolize new life, representing both the spring season and, primarily, the resurrection of Jesus Christ from his tomb. 

Early Christians used eggs to symbolize the empty tomb, with the shell representing the tomb and the cracking of it representing Jesus.

Rabbits have a place in Easter due to their ancient symbolism of fertility and new life, stemming from their reputation for prolific breeding in spring.

Those multi-colored bunnies children play with are associated with the pagan symbol of the Germanic goddess Eostre merged with the Christian celebration of resurrection and renewal. Americans can thank German immigrants for the introduction of the very popular Easter Bunny into our culture.

For those who of us that don't embrace any particular religion Easter Sunday is still a symbol of peace and brotherhood. It's a day to set aside the wars plaguing the planet and to be with family and friends.

As it Stands, Happy Easter world!

Kicking the Oil Can Down the Road is a Losing Proposition

Trump lies every day about his war coming to an end.

He keeps extending the time frame by another two weeks continuously implying that the war is ending, that Iran is defeated, that NATO is ungrateful, and so on, in a desperate hope that everyone will but the "reality" he's selling.

So far, the lies have been working. Markets have shown a stunning willingness to believe him when he says the end of the war is around the corner. But the lies may soon stop working. Lies have a habit of backfiring. Trump should know that by now.

When Iran shut down the Strait of Hormuz Trump's dreams of seizing Iran's oil, natural gas (third ranked in the world), were suddenly shattered. It was an obstacle he, and apparently his generals, didn't take into account. Iran's leverage on the world oil market has actually increased since the war started. 

While the average price of gas in the U.S. is currently $4.07 a gallon, GasBuddy's Patrick De Haan told Reuters the pain will get worse soon.

"U.S. average retail gasoline prices are now set to climb to between $4.25 and $4.45 a gallon by next week after crossing $4 a gallon for the first time since 2022," Reuters reported.

Reuters warned that, "If there is no viable plan to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. average price of gasoline will likely cross $5 a gallon and hit record levels within a month."

This grim report is what Americans are facing as Trump kicks the oil can down the road. We're stuck watching a sociopath trying to defy reality and the rest of the world can see the emperor has no clothes.  

Trump is acting like a lying honey badger trapped in a corner and is lashing out at our allies for not going along with his illegal war. Meanwhile Congress is a dying whale beached by fear and cult loyalty.

The American public is paying a price beyond high gasoline. The fear of Trump's war escalating is palpable for most people who don't want to see a ground war and more Americans dying for a corrupt president.

My question is what will happen when Trump quits procrastinating? We are dealing with a demented dictator and there's no telling what horror the future holds.

As it Stands, I think it might be a good time for Americans to trade in their gas-guzzlers for economic vehicles...or bicycles! 

The 'Apprentice' is Back: This Version is a Horror Show

I'll never really understand what viewers of the TV show the Apprentice saw in Trump. 

For 14 seasons (from 2004 to 2017) he acted like an enraged toddler and became famous for saying "Your fired!"

The show was produced by British TV producer Mark Burnett and was co-produced by Trump who ironically was a terrible businessman pretending like he knew everything there was to know about successful big corporate businesses.

It's instructive to note that Trump had already declared bankruptcy on several casinos he owned in the 1990s. The Taj Mahal casino sold for 4 cents on the dollar. He already had a bad reputation for not paying his bills and foreign workers who helped build Trump Tower.

Yet, despite all the odds, the Apprentice was a successful show. So successful that Trump's ego had blown up to massive proportions, and he decided to run for president. At that time NBC cut ties with him after a disagreement over remarks that he made about Mexican immigrants during his announcement that he was seeking the office of the presidency.

After winning the 2016 election he was nearly impeached twice during his first term. Trump tried and failed to steal the 2020 election. Once again, against all odds, Trump got reelected in 2024.

America is now reaping its reward for bringing Trump back a second time. This vengeful version of Trump is worse than the first time around. He has no guardrails. His dementia has doubled and he is acting like a dictator and not even trying to hide the fact.

Recently Trump has been raging about the war he started and the Epstein files. I guess those two problems have caused him to go back to the "Your fired!" Apprentice mode. Attorney General Pam Bondi got to hear her fate in person at the White House when Trump dropped the hammer on her head.

Through Trump's proxies, like Pete Hegseth and Kash Patel, people are being fired for reasons only Trump knows. The most damage being inflicted is against military leaders who refuse to carry out Trump's illegal demands.

For example, on Thursday Hegseth fired the Army chief of staff, Gen. Randy George, whose term was expected to be four years. Why?

Apparently, George recently asked to meet with Hegseth to discuss Hegseth's blocking of promotions for some Army officers, which seemed to focus on women and black men. Hegseth refused to meet with him. Then Hegseth fired him.

One of the crazy things about these firings is that they've been elevated to his MAGA supporters recently. Bondi was only the tip of the iceberg according to the scuttlebutt in Washington D.C.

The first felon, whose paranoia grows more daily, is eyeing MAGA stalwarts like FBI Director Kash Patel, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer. It's also said that there are other cabinet members treading thin ice. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem was told she's fired last month.

This version of the Apprentice is a horror show. 

As it Stands, the damage Trump has inflicted upon the country is going to last for generations. Our host is still that mean little toddler who never grew up.

Lindsey Graham is a POS and He's Running for Reelection

When the people of South Carolina elected Lindsey Graham as their senator in 2002, I thought they were on LSD passed out by GOP operatives.

It doesn't say much for the sanity of South Carolinians that they kept voting for him and now he's up for reelection again during the upcoming midterms.

Watching Graham stroll around all alone at Disney World's Magic Kingdom while holding a pink princess bubble wand the other day wasn't exactly a good look. He looked like a pedophile on the prowl.

While Graham was being mocked on social media, he put out a video of himself holding a shotgun and trying to look tough.

The contrasts between the pink bubble wand and the shotgun were stark. 

Did you happen to see that South Carolinians? 

Listen...Lindsey is known for being dramatic, often contradictory, and making baffling public statements throughout his career. So why reelect him?

Since Trump slithered into office, Graham, the man who told America that Trump was nothing more than a "race-baiting, xenophobic, religious bigot" has morphed into one of the most fawning Trump sycophants in the MAGAsphere.

In an interview in February 2019, Graham was asked why he had such a dramatic shift of allegiance towards Trump? His answer: "From my point of view, if you know anything about me, it'd be odd not to do this." When asked what "this" meant, he said "try to be relevant."

From that pithy quote we can deduce that "relevant" in Graham's interruption means to kiss the leader's ass regardless of what you think about them.

I wonder if there's something (not good) in the water because South Carolinians have been mindlessly reelecting the POS despite what an embarrassment, he is.

The flippant manner in which Graham speaks about not standing on principals makes it clear how he could go from telling Americans they should "tell Donald Trump to go to hell" to effectively licking Trump's boots on command.

I remember Graham seeking to have legally cast ballots excluded from the vote count in Georgia. He was actively trying to undermine the democratic process. He even got on the phone with the Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and asked him to exclude all mail ballots in counties with higher rates of non-matching signatures.

What's really sad is Graham knows better. After all, he spent much of his political life fighting with John McCain for people in countries who do not have democratic rule. That was then. This Lindsey Graham doesn't bare any resemblance to the one who once defended democracy.

Graham wants Trump's war to continue. He revels in being the tough guy who wants to see more blood and destruction in the Middle East.

I have a question for South Carolinian voters: What has Graham done to make your lives better?

As it Stands, we all make mistakes at one time or another. The midterms will give you a chance to correct one that has gone on for far too long.

We're Watching Trump Trying to Rig the Midterms in Real Time

It's no secret.

Trump is scared that the Democrats are going to reclaim Congress this November and impeach him.

He's expressed this fear publicly and to his spineless sycophants' numerous times.

Because Trump hasn't been able to get Congress to pass his unconstitional SAVE America Act which would severely affect voters in the midterms, he's been looking around for other avenues to hinder voter turnout.

His latest attempt, a patently illegal executive order to rig the upcoming elections in the GOP's favoring by curbing the right to vote by mail, will be challenged in court immediately.

Fun fact; Trump voted by mail recently. When asked about this apparent contradiction he said it was alright because he was the president. In MAGA speak he's above the law.

After signing the executive order, he boasted. "It's foolproof."

Only a fool would believe that. "It is certainly fool-something, and we imagine that the president, who is hardly a constitutional scholar, will find very quickly on which grounds it can be contested, as multiple pro-democracy groups are already preparing to sue," said Klaus Marre a reporter for WHO, WHAT, WHY recently.

Americans are faced with a massive and unconstitutional suppression effort aimed at giving Trump the power to create a list of who is allowed to vote by mail, election lawyer Marc Elias recently told the press. "We know where this will go - the targeting of Democrats for mass disenfranchisement. We will sue and win," Elias added.

Make no mistake. Democracy is under attack from this regime and Republicans in general. Trump is using all levers of the government to ensure that Republicans maintain control of Congress. 

Efforts to get the GOP to change the rules of the Senate to pass the so-called SAVE America Act, are still ongoing. Trump doesn't give up easily. We can expect more scams, like trying to have ICE agents assigned to polling places to intimidate voters.

The recent regime seizures of Fulton County's voting records were done to promote Trump's Big Lie to justify fraudulent foreign interference claims and the need for special security forces in the midterms.

Don't let Trump intimidate you. Go here to ensure that your vote will be counted and check your registration status. Your vote can make the difference. I urge you to make sure that family members and friends are registered well in advance of the midterms.

Americans have long been aware that freedom isn't free. We must fight for our Democracy.

As it Stands, "Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will have to sit on their blisters." - Abraham Lincoln

Ballrooms and Battlefields: Realities Facing Americans

Despite being in a hot war with Iran Trump has a slew of building projects that he would rather talk about.

As American and Israeli military forces' bomb the hell out of Iran, and now Yemen, Trump is boasting about building a high-rise library for himself in Miami, building a huge ballroom next to the White House( Update: A judge blocked Donny's ballroom today), and a triumphant Independence Arch inspired by Paris's Arc de Triomphe in the grassy area near the Lincoln Memorial and Arlington National Cemetery.

As the world struggles to safely navigate the vital Strait of Hormuz, Trump is talking about another ballroom he wants to build in Ireland on his golf course there.

Trump is already bored with his little excursion in the Middle East and has moved on to other things that amuse him like a stadium in front of the White House for MMA events. 

He also signed an executive order for the "Freedom 250 Grand Prix of Washington D.C," an IndyCar street race planned for August 21-23. The race aims to run alongside the National Mall, featuring speeds near 190 mph past iconic landmarks.

I'm reminded of a movie called "Death Race 2000," where racers run over people for extra points. In the Trump version it'll be immigrants and Democrats strategically positioned on the raceway.

Just what we, the American people, need right now.

The economy is being battered while Trump is getting fake trophies from his spineless sycophants. Gas prices are the highest since 2002. Healthcare costs have quadrupled since the Republicans got rid of the Obamacare extensions.

 As Trump is systematically getting rid of our allies worldwide, his cronies are printing up dollar bills with his illegible signature on them and a gold coin with him standing over a desk looking like a mad orangutan.

Thanks to Trump we have the longest government shutdown in history and airports are packed with 4–5-hour lines as ICE goons look on and do nothing but scare people of color.

While Americans struggle to pay their bills Trump and his family have substantially increased their wealth through various cryptocurrency and bitcoin ventures. 

Eric Trump co-founded World Liberty Financial and serves as chairman of this Bitcoin mining and holding company, which reportedly has added billions to the Trump family fortune according to Bloomberg.com, Forbes, and Reuters.

The divide between the super wealthy and average Americans is wider than the Grand Canyon. Poor Americans are so marginalized they live day-by-day hoping for a deliverance that will never come.

As it Stands, stay strong and join millions of Americans who will be voting in the midterms to rein in our dictator and taking Congress back, giving Democrats the power to actually stand up to the traitor squatting in the Oval Office.

Signs of the Times: It's a Mad, Mad World

Signs seen on NO KINGS Day:

"Know Your Parasites - Dear Tick, Dog Tick, and Luna Tick."

Also

"Tell Me Again, which crimes get you deported, which ones make You President?"

More...

- "The Power of the People is Stronger Than the People in Power."

- "There isn't a sign big enough to list all the REASONS why I'm here."

- "Yes, that Red Hat Does Make Your DICK look small!"

- "It does not say RSVP on the Statue of Liberty."

- "Imagine being scared of diversity but not dictatorship."

- "This Wanna Be King Deserves a Royal Flush!"

- "Elect a Clown - Expect a Circus."

- "In a great America the Constitution is Respected and Democracy is Protected." 

- "FREE BALLS for members of Congress who have lost theirs."

- "I prefer my ICE crushed."- 

- "Hey Trump, nobody paid us to be here! We all hate you for FREE!"

- "1, 2, 3 What are we fighting 4? Don't ask Trump because he doesn't give a DAMN!"

- "Hands off of our universities!"

- "Freedom Over Fascism."

- "Willing to send Congress a spine."

- "Woke Jesus NOT Orange Jesus!"

- "No crown for a clown."

- "Impeach - Convict - Imprison!"

- "Rejecting Kings since 1776."

- "Make Orwell Fiction Again!"

- "So Many Lies so little Cardboard."

- "No One is above the Law."

As it Stands, over 8 million people turned out to express their disgust with the Trump regime in signs and sheer numbers across the nation.

Teetering on the Eve of Destruction

 "Don't you understand what I'm trying to say

Can't you feel the fears I'm feeling today?

If the button is pushed, there's no running away

There'll be no one to save, with the world in a grave

Take a look around you boy, it's bound to scare you, boy

And you tell me

Over and over and over again, my friend

How you don't believe

We're on the eve of destruction."

Barry McGuire

America is the epicenter of chaos that's spreading around the world.

Trumpism is worse than Communism because it has no real ideology. Senseless cruelty is the order of the day. In a wicked turn of fate, the USA is run by a dictator who makes life more miserable every day.

The reality of having a convicted felon and sexual abuser in the White House is shocking but true. Trumpism has spread like a disease throughout the country and abroad. Truth is a causality in this regime where our corrupt leaders get wealthier every day.

All the signs are here; we're on the Eve of Destruction. 

Having a sitting president put his name on our currency is just another sign of the end times. If the dire prophecies are becoming true it's not going to be good for me or you.

According to biblical and theological interpretations signs of the Antichrist include the rise of a lawless leader who rebuilds the temple in Jerusalem, sits in it proclaiming to be God, and performs great signs/lying wonders.

The rise of lies follows a slew of false prophets, a decline in love for the truth, and a rise in anxiety and societal stress. Trump is the Lord of Lies and the world knows it. His daily falsehoods feed followers on social media platforms where up is down and down is up.

The very fact that we have a leader who is becoming more unhinged and desperate daily doesn't bode well for anyone. His unpredictable actions are killing people here at home and globally. A hot war in the Middle East is Trump's answer to diverting attention from the Epstein files.

The bible says the Antichrist will emerge as a powerful, charismatic world leader who will demand to be worshipped. Sound familiar? I recall seeing a cluster of right-wing false prophets surrounding Trump in the Oval Office and praying over him and calling him, "The Chosen One."

For total clarity I am not a religious man, but I find it interesting that the bible's description of the Antichrist fits so closely to Trump. Coincidence? You call it.

All I know is that we have a demented dictator who is getting crazier daily. The thought that he has access to nuclear bombs is scary. Thinking about that tiny hand hovering over the nuke button that could lead to our destruction, is not far-fetched. You and I both know he's capable of doing the worst thing possible.

As it Stands, the bible says the Antichrist's reign is depicted as a time of immense suffering, but his power is temporary. That's encouraging...right?

Millions Turning Out for 3rd NO KINGS DAY Protests in all 50 States

Today Americans are sending a message out - loud and clear - to the Trump regime, "We don't want you here!"

Last year there were two NO KINGS DAY. The first was on June 14th and it set a record with five million Americans participating in all 50 states. 

The second NO KINGS DAY event broke that record with 7 million Americans turning out in the streets to protest against the corrupt regime and the use of Trump's private thug army, Aka ICE.

This third iteration of the nationwide NO KINGS demonstrations will be highlighting Trump's illegal war in Iran and the ongoing destruction of our economy. 

There are hundreds of new locations added to the map. Organizers have announced that there are 3200 events scheduled across the nation. I expect a new record attendance this time. Again.

People will be turning out to say ENOUGH! Trump is not a king. He is a pathetic version of a dictator with dementia doing his best to sell out our freedoms to foreign enemies.

My wife Shirley and I will proudly be attending the NO KINGS event here in Medford, Oregon today. We went to the first two here and came away inspired. There's nothing like being among people who are real patriots. The camaraderie is real.

As it Stands, "Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed." - Martin Luther King, Jr.

Trump's Legacy of Lies Will Affect Future Generations

Lies can be deadly. 

When they're amplified by a malicious narcissist, they can take down a democracy and plunge countries into chaos.

I can see historians documenting Trump's cult shaking their heads in wonder at the damage he did to America in just one decade.

Here's what gets me... everyone (that includes his deranged supporters) knows Trump lies every day without exception. 

He announces something publicly and then turns around and changes his story when it suits him. Fact-checkers don't bother him. In his world he's winning when he takes a crap on his golden throne.

You can't embarrass Trump. It's impossible. He operates on a different level that has no morales or compassion. The fact that he hates dogs tells me he's a special asshole who if he had a pet, it would be a snake. 

One of the biggest problems with Trump's constant lies is they poison the younger generation who will go on and live twisted lives based upon the misinformation he's spread like rancid butter over the years. They will truly be a lost generation.

Watching Trump's sycophants giving him fake awards for telling lies to stroke his fragile ego has been a regular occurrence throughout his time in office. 

The steady stream of lies Trump tells daily not only hurts Americans but people throughout the world. His lies are like bombs dropping on our allies and enabling our enemies. No lie is too big, or too small. He tosses them out like grenades to see the effect they have on people.  

If there was an annual prize for telling lies Trump would shut out the competition every year. He enjoys spreading fear with his outrageous lies and his private army of masked goons who ignore citizens and immigrants' rights.

Historians will have their hands full digging through unending mounds of documents that expose his lies and the damage they caused everyone in the country and the world. The sheer magnitude of mistruths will require some AI assistance to sift through them.

In the future I suspect there will be whole sections of online libraries dealing with Trump's track record of lies. There will be books like, "The Art of the Lie," and "50 Shades of Lies," alongside his complete history of lies beginning at the moment he learned how to speak.

As it Stands, "Lying is done with words, and also with silence." - Adrienne Rich

Wishing Trump Would Die is a Waste of Time

Our time is precious.

Wasting it on wishing Trump would die isn't a positive way to go about your day. 

Too much negative karma is attached to that kind of thinking.

Don't worry. 

In the end he's human (I know that's debatable) and we all die someday. He's going on 80, has dementia, and other physical problems that go along with that age. So be patient. 

I know that doesn't stop a lot of hopeful people who track Trump's health more assiduously than his personal physicians. From bruised hands to swollen ankles they examine every physical ailment closely hoping it will spell Trump's demise.

I would remind everyone that only the good die young. That means Trump will probably live to be 100 years old. 

Here's a thought; what will happen to Trump when his term is over in 2028? I know some traumatized Americans worry about him not stepping down when his term is expired. That we will be pawns in an authoritarian government and he will be dictator for life. 

Take a deep breath. It isn't going to happen like that because We the People won't allow it too. 

On Saturday millions of people across all 50 states will be protesting during the 3rd edition of the No Kings movement. This protest is going to be larger than the one's prior - which were historic in their scope.

Democracy isn't going to die under Trump. The desire to be free from tyranny is deeply embedded in the American spirit. We take threats of losing freedoms seriously. We've made mistakes in history but have always overcome them to keep America a Democratic republic.

I don't think wishing anyone would die is right. Having said that I will be with the rest of America celebrating when Trump has gone on... to wherever people like him go.

Instead of wasting time wishing Trump would die I think we should all be using this time to help Democrats win back Congress in the midterms. Getting the House of Representatives back from MAGA would be a positive step in reigning in our deranged First Felon. 

If the Democrats take back the Senate, then there's a real chance Trump would get impeached. Imagine that. It's more likely to happen than Trump just dropping dead tomorrow.

On the other hand, it could happen.

As it Stands, I'll be joining other protestors here in Oregon for another NO KINGS historic turnout of Americans united against Trump and his minions.

Trump's Fantasy World Keeps Colliding with Reality

In the middle of a hot war of his own making Trump is displaying more signs of dementia as he descends into an alternate universe where he's always the "good guy."

By now Americans are convinced Trump is crazy. Most of the rest of the world agrees. But it's not changing the fact that he's doing things that only a malicious narcissist and a lunatic would do.

In between bragging about winning the war in Iran Trump took a trip to Elvis Presley's mansion. In his world Trump thinks he looks like Elvis. He managed to blow a tour guides mind when he asked him if he would win a fight with the legendary singer?

The poor guide came up with a mealy-mouthed answer when he suggested Elvis would let Trump win out of respect for him. I understand why such a suck-ass reply was necessary as he probably thought his job depended on his answer.

Trump claimed that Iran was days away from having a nuclear bomb when in fact that was a lie that his own regime accidently revealed to be untrue. His claim that he was defending the American people from an imminent attack was quickly refuted by U.S. intelligence agencies.

Trump said we won the war and Iran wanted to negotiate a surrender. Iran called bullshit on the claim and told the world Trump is batshit crazy. They didn't want anything to do with Trump's negotiators Steve Witkoff and Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner.

With the economy staggering under Trump's financial direction, he's directed the U.S. Mint to print a commemorative coin with his ugly mug on it despite the fact it's against the law for living presidents to be featured on coins.

While Americans are dealing with higher prices on everything Trump revealed plans to build a massive ballroom next to the White House. Just what the country needs along with his proposed triumphant Arch and new colonnades on the West Wing.

When Trump slapped his name on the Kennedy Center, he basically destroyed the memorial to John F. Kennedy and then decided to shut it down because the public wanted nothing to do with Trump goons programing right-wing entertainment.

In Trump's world turning the White House interior to a replica of a 19th century brothel with gold gilding on every available surface, was a gift to Americans.

Trump's makeover of the White House continues with additions that racists would think are appropriate. 

He just put up a statue of Christopher Columbus on new black granite paving stones on the famed West Wing colonnade. It was a replica of one that was toppled by anti-racism protesters in the city of Baltimore in 2020. 

The fact that we have to put up with a madman at the helm is scary. In Trump's lizard brain he believes he's winning every day and making America great again.

The reality, of course, is the opposite. Trump has castrated Republican lawmakers and they're afraid of him. As a result, Congress is crippled and partially shutdown.

As it Stands, we're at the mercy of a madman whose agenda doesn't line up with average Americans who are struggling to survive in an unstable economy and from the adverse effects of an illegal war.

It's Unanimous: The Tariffs Were Terrible

Trump managed to cripple the automotive industry in record time. 

When he was campaigning for re-election, Trump bragged about imposing high tariffs on the entire world and what a great benefit that would be for the average American.

Even our allies who enjoyed having a free trade agreement since 1930 were hit with tariffs when he slunk into office the second time around.

"Tariff shock" caused by Trump's stupidity has spread across the world causing a financial toll that has been swift and deep. The First Felon's boasts about saving his "beloved automobile industry" have come home like vultures hovering over a dying animal.

A car magazine, WardsAuto, reported the damage done to the industry has been horrific. The magazine pointed out that General Motors took a tariff hit of $3.5 to 4,5 billion in 2025. Ford absorbed an $800 million second-quarter blow. Volkswagen is bracing for a $5 billion impact.

In just the first seven months of Trump's term the car industry had collectively accumulated more than $25 billion in tariff obligations. That's roughly $5,200 per imported vehicle.

The U.S. software company ServiceNow and the UK multinational professional services network KPMG recently issued a joint white paper called, When Tariffs Hit an Industry in Transition. 

KPMG managing director Len Prokopets, an expert on supply chains, explained that the tariffs "have created a three-dimensional crisis: direct cost increases on materials and parts, deteriorating supplier financial health, and a massive internal burden as OEMS must analyze, validate, and renegotiate thousands of individual supplier claims."  

To be perfectly clear, the tariffs have done the opposite of what Trump promised. 

The Court of International Trade Judge Richard Eaton is presiding over the case to determine how the Trump regime is going to reimburse the tariffs he illegally collected.

Deciding who should get a refund will undoubtably be a cluster-f**k. First, they have to decide what the price would have been had there been no tariff. It gets more complicated when you break down all the variables.

Our legal system will probably give the refund to the party that spends the most on lawyers instead of the one with best evidence, according to Karl Widerquist, an economist and philosopher at Georgetown University.

As it Stands, as for the American public who have absorbed the increasing prices, I don't see refunds coming anytime soon. Or ever.

What Trump Doesn't Want You to Know: The U.S. Government is Insolvent

The sound of silence was never more damning than last week when the Treasury Department announced the government is insolvent. 

You can be excused for not knowing how bad America's finances are because the press barely covered the alarming news last week. There was a near-total media silence after consolidated financial statements for fiscal year 2025 were released.

The report stated that the U.S. has $6.06 trillion in total assets against $47.78 trillion in total liabilities as of September 30, 2025. That $47,78 trillion does not include the unfolded obligations of social insurance programs like Social Security and Medicare - those are disclosed separately in the off-balance-sheet Statement of Social Insurance.

In a nutshell, our total liabilities are now nearly eight times the value of reported assets. The largest drivers were a $2 trillion increase in federal debt and interest payable (now $30.33 trillion) and a $438.8 billion increase in federal employee and veteran benefits (now $15.47 trillion).

If you think that's bad the off-balance-sheet picture is even more alarming. The 75-year unfunded social insurance obligation surged by $10.1 trillion in a single year. The Treasury's Statement of Long-Term Fiscal Projections shows the 75-year fiscal gap widening from 4.3 of GDP in 2024 to 5.7 GDP in 2025. 

Experts say the problem is due to serious, ongoing financial management problems at the Department of Defense and weaknesses in accounting for interagency transactions.

It's bad enough that the financial press ignored the consolidated financial statements, but most members of Congress and members of the general public will never see those financial statements. Now they're submerged in a government swamp created by MAGA.

Meanwhile in real time the country is in chaos with a partial shutdown and a tanking economy as prices for everything climb higher daily. Gas prices are surging as the Trump-Epstein war in Iran drags on with no clear idea when it's going to end.

Because of Trump's ongoing illegal war in Iran and against immigrants and American citizens, what should have been a financial bomb turned into a dud. 

Woe onto the reporter who dares ask Trump about this financial fact. They'll be insulted and kicked out of the room. Trump will lie about it and dare anyone to defy him.

As it Stands, Trump's flood of lies continue to flow and it's our job to know the truth by researching every claim he makes.

If You Think Air Travel is Bad Now - You Haven't Seen Anything Yet!

Thanks to our First Felon it's going to be even more miserable at airports on Monday. 

In his infinite stupidity Trump is surging ICE agents into airports to go after illegal immigrants.

Can you say riots?

Think about it for a moment. Our airports are facing a severe operational strain due to a partial government shutdown, causing unpredictable security wait times, significant staffing shortages, and low employee morale, with some major hubs experiencing delays of over two-and-a-half hours.

Trump is injecting chaos into a system on the brink of collapsing because... he's an asshole.

There's no other reason for him to stage ICE agents in airports at a time of crisis where there's already security and staffing problems. 

Can you imagine the reactions international travelers will have when they see masked and armed thugs arresting people of color for no apparent reason? 

Watching women and children being rounded up like cattle is going to shock all of the travelers and is almost certainly going to cause more delays in the rapidly deteriorating system.

Why is Trump doing this?

First and foremost, it's a threat aimed at pressuring Congressional Democrats to agree to a deal to fund the Department of Homeland Security.

"I look forward to moving ICE in on Monday and have already told them to get ready. No more waiting, no more games," Trump said from the comfort of his Florida mansion Saturday.

Reportedly ICE agents will focus on arresting immigrants from Somalia because Trump hates blacks. There are no details on how ICE would take a role in airport security. That's because the mission is really to cause pain to further Trump's political agenda.

Since Day One of his presidency Trump has formed ICE into his private army to carry out his dirty work against immigrants and American citizens. He doesn't want any restraints against his thugs and is pressuring GOP congressional members not to compromise on funding them.

Those same gutless Republicans are getting nervous as they see mounting problems that will hurt them in the midterms. Their aware that sabotaging airports isn't going to get them votes in November.

"If we can't come up with a solution really quickly, things are going to get worse and worse," said Senate Majority Leader John Thune.

How right you are leader Thune. Wait until Monday.

As it Stands, to be sure, we're fighting two wars. One abroad and one here at home.

Free Press Pushes Back Against Trump and Hegseth's Lies

We still have a free press, but just barely.

Trump's doubling down on his long-time crusade against truth in reporting has been getting assistance from Pentagon Pete since the illegal war was started.

Hegseth's chest-thumping claims on the Iran war paint a different image of the scenes on the ground. 

Data from the U.S. military show that the pace of operations in Iran has been fluctuating since Trump declared war, contrary to Hegseth's bombastic claims of "more and larger" waves of strikes.

Thanks to the U.S. Central Command we have data that shows the average number of strikes per day. Despite Hegseth's lies, the strikes have risen and fallen over time, even as Hegseth claims we're hitting them harder every day.

Meanwhile Trump told reporters recently that the U.S. has obliterated (he loves that word) Iran's defenses. The fact is Iran has been hitting key bases in the Middle East even as Hegseth claims he destroyed their fighting ability.

The good news is the news media has pushed back on Hegseth's Pentagon policy restricting press access. 

A federal judge has struck down Hegseth's ridiculous rules. 

The judge, Paul Friedman, ruled the policy - which forced journalists to sign agreements not to solicit unapproved information - was unconstitutionally vague and amounted to viewpoint discrimination.

Outcome: the court ordered the reinstatement of credentials for journalists. The Pentagon filed an immediate appeal, but I don't see it going anywhere.

The Committee to protect Journalists published a special report by Leonard Downie Jr. titled "The Trump Administration and the Media." The report stated: Trump has habitually attacked the news media in rallies, responses to reporter's questions, and many hundreds of tweets.

From funding cuts and executive orders to billion-dollar lawsuits, the Trump regime has mounted an historic assault on independent journalists and press freedom.

History tells us dictators always try to intimidate the free press or outright shut it down if they can. See Nazi Germany.

As it Stands, press protections are integral to the First Amendment, including the right to report without fear of government interference.

GOP Lawmakers Follow the Bouncing Ball Regardless of Where it Leads

           Hey! Karaoke fans I've got a good one for you. 

It's called following the bouncing ball which is a classic sing-along technique popularized by Fleischer Studios in the 1920s.

Viewers were invited to follow a ball-shaped icon bouncing on lyrics to guide the rhythm. It allowed audiences to sing along to on-screen text.

The bouncing ball is sometimes used as a metaphor for ignoring complex details to focus on simplistic guided narratives.

We currently have Congressional Republicans who follow Trump's bouncing ball every day. Like the old TV show Sing Along with Mitch, the tune has been updated to sing along with Don the Con in Congress.

It doesn't matter if the ball ends up in a sewer, the spineless GOP lawmakers will faithfully follow it. To get the full effect watch a video of these cowards in action to appreciate their slack-jawed subservience.

Following the Bouncing Con is an act of daily devotion. Only the most gutless go where no sane person would, clinging onto Don the Con's every declaration.

The sounds of stupidity echo through the Congressional corridors as slavish GOP members sing along to "Donnie's Always Right," a cult classic.

While Trump's playing with toy soldiers on the carpet in the Situation Room his generals are following the bouncing Con's orders to the detriment of our military infrastructure and national security.

As it Stands, the way I look at it is those spinless GOP lawmakers are going to end up going off a cliff while following Don the Con's bouncing balls.

What's Trump's Doing About the War Today? Answer: Selling His Special Sneakers

           Trump is really unhinged today. 

The war isn't going his way so he's ranting about everything but the hot mess he created in the Middle East.

This morning's frantic social media posts included one so bizarre I couldn't believe my eyes at first. But there it was. Donnie decided to remind the world about his tacky line of overpriced gold sneakers.

The First Felon shamelessly posted on Truth Social that his "Never Surrender" high top shoes were being listed for sale at $180,000 at a sneaker convention in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. You read that right. $180,000 for a pair of Trump sneakers. By the way, I strongly suspect that sneaker event isn't happening soon.

Think about that for a moment. For starters the seller of these sneakers never found a buyer after a year of trying. The shoes originally sold for $399 at Sneaker Con Jeddah on Feb. 4th. There's a video of the seller apparently struggling to offload that same pair of sneakers.

This kind of distraction is Trump's go to tactic for not facing reality when it gets disastrous... like what's happening in his mindless war right now.

Israel launched a widespread strike on Iran's world-largest gas field, South Pars, triggering retaliation from Tehran against key energy sites across the Gulf Arab states. An Iranian drone struck a Saudi Aramco refinery in Yanbu, on the Red Sea, and the damage is still being assessed.

Kuwait's Mina Al-Ahmadi Refinery was also struck by an Iranian drone causing a "limited" fire. 

Qatari authorities said that Iranian missile attacks caused "extensive damage" at the Ras Laffan terminal, which carries about one-fifth of the global supply of liquid natural gas. It caused gas production at Ras Laffan to come to a halt.

With the current situation in the Strait of Hormuz closed to countries that aren't sanctioned by Iran, energy prices are surging worldwide.

Trump's knee jerk reaction to today's dismal news was another sign that his dementia is getting worse. He rambled about windmills, (actually turbines but don't tell him that) a source of grievance over 20 years old. 

He also took the time to praise GOP National Committee Chairman Michael Whatley, who is running for a North Carolina Senate seat. No mention of course, that Whatley is a convicted child sex offender.

As it Stands, what's it going to take for Republicans in Congress to recognize the obvious threat that Trump poses to America and the entire world?

Despite Trump's 'Bigly' Distractions the Epstein Files Won't Disappear

In the past when a president decided to wage war on another country it was the BIG news of the day. It stayed that way, more or less, until the war was over. 

For a brief moment when Trump mindlessly started a war with Iran it was the BIG news of the day. Americans and their allies were shocked, disturbed, and deeply suspicious because Trump illegally bypassed Congress and gave several accounts of why he started the war.

After considering Trump's excuses for launching an illegal war (I just had a good feeling) everything points to his desperation to bury the Epstein files. 

Yes, we are talking daily about the ravages of war and the destruction of the entire Middle East and its economic effects upon America and the rest of the world. 

But the Epstein files are gaining momentum daily. Two days ago, The House Oversight Committee requested testimony from one of the prison guards, Tova Noel, who was on duty at the Metropolitan Corrections Center in New York when Jeffrey Epstein died.

Tova Noel - along with another guard Michael Thomas - were charged in a federal indictment in 2019 (During Trump's first time in office) with falsifying records to make it seem as though they completed their required rounds of the Special Housing Unit, when they did not.

Guess what? Noel and Thomas later reached a deal with prosecutors, and the case was dropped in December 2021.

Yesterday, Attorney General Pam Bondi was subpoenaed to testify on April 14th before a House Oversight Committee over the Epstein files. The committee had asked her to voluntarily testify but she refused.

The Republican-led investigation committee believes "about half" of the Epstein files are still being held by the Department of Justice and she is covering up for Trump. The carefully worded subpoena says they plan to question her "Mismanagement" of the Epstein files. 

I expect this new phase of accountability to involve questioning Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick who denied visiting Epstein Island when in fact he did.

For the last week we've been hearing about Epstein's Zorro Ranch in New Mexico and the possible crimes committed there. I wouldn't be surprised if this investigation is going to turn up more dirt on Epstein and associates.

I am surprised that so many Republicans on the committee seem to want the truth and are becoming more proactive in their pursuit of it.

It's no wonder why Trump is becoming increasingly desperate to change the subject of his complicity with his long-time pedophile buddy.

As it Stands, I'm concerned about what Trump's next distraction will be. You know there will be one.

Gambling on Death: No Barriers to Making Millions in Today's World

I was thinking about that 1975 low budget film Death Race 2000 the other day when I realized we're currently betting on deaths to make money.

For those not familiar with the movie, Death Race 2000 it's a story of champion meets champion in a future car race across the country where hitting pedestrians scores points. The movie, produced by Roger Corman, has become a cult classic. It's stars, David Carradine and Sylvester Stallone went on to become Hollywood legends.

In the 2026 version we have a death race with a twist. There's an International Betting platform called Polymarket where users can bet on individual deaths, like heads of countries for example, and mass deaths caused by unnamed wars and violence globally.

A journalist for the Times of Israel newspaper, Emanuel Fabian, had published a short blog post reporting that an Iranian missile had struck an open area outside a Jerusalem suburb, harming no one... when the threats started coming.

According to The Washington Post Fabian received a chilling message on his phone.

"You have 90 minutes left to update the lie," a stranger said. "If you do this - you solve in a minute the most serious problem you have caused yourself in life. And you won't remember me anymore in a week," the message warned.

Other threats began to pour in threatening his life and family. He didn't know at first that his blog post triggered a dispute on the prediction market Polymarket on whether an Iranian missile would strike Israel on March 10th.

Apparently, his post scored a win for some Polymarket users who had bet against a missile strike occurring that day. The losers were angry and went after Fabian like crazed honey badgers. That didn't stop him from keeping the post however, and he reported the threats to the police.

Here's an example where an anonymous user on Polymarket won $400,000 betting on the ouster of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro just hours before U.S. forces kidnapped him and took him back to the U.S. Bettors had ponied up $7 million dollars in a typical waging transaction for the site.

In Fabian's police report he shared a message written in Hebrew on WhatsApp by a user calling themself "Haim" who said if he caused him to lose his $900,000 bet, he would invest no less than that to finish him.

Polymarket is not open to American users, so another betting platform called Kalshi was created for American bettors. Users can bet on future events from elections to dictators being kidnapped, or assassinations of prominent figures.

As it Stands, the dystopian future that Death Race 2000 portrayed has been replaced by a reality much more deadly, where human lives worldwide have been reduced to betting chips.

MAGA Fashion Trend Sweeps Senate

When we last left Donny, he was playing with plastic soldiers on the carpet in the White House. 

Since then, Trump has decided to dress his minions for grifting success.

The trend started slowly when Trump bought his senate minions shoes like his. 

The minions didn't complain when the shoes didn't fit because he guessed at everyone's size. They grinned and bore their pain for dear leader.

Trump didn't stop there, however. Oh, hell no!

The narcissist-in-charge decided to dictate what his supporters should wear - from top to bottom. Whitey tighties like Trump's were the foundation garment paired with a white sleeveless wife-beater t-shirt.

The first suck-up to show off his underwear was Mark Rubio (see photo above) who showed up at a staff meeting to share his new fashion statement. Little Marco was applauded by his fellow minions who quickly left in order to purchase their own Trump-endorsed whitey tighties.

In the next meeting Sen. James Langford strolled in wearing an imitation of Trump trousers that hung loosely on his skinny ass and pooled around the top of his Trump shoes. Not to be outdone Sen. Tom Cotton wore the signature pants, but that they were too short for his long legs. However, he still maintained a baggy look that gave him a bubble ass.

Once the word was out, the sycophants had to dress like dear leader they scrambled to comply. Senate GOP Leader John Thune proudly sported an extra-long red tie even though he tripped every time he took a step.

Instead of the Senate button Trump's cronies wore a button with Trump's orange mug surrounded by the motto, "Seal of Stupidity."

Wearing the same clothes as the first felon soon wasn't enough to show proper loyalty. The imitation of dear leader's clothes morphed into a hair and makeup challenge that his puppets found to be fun.

Sen. Ted Cruz took the prize for imitating the bird's nest on top of Trump's fat head. Using a combination of chicken feathers and week-old strands of angel hair pasta he created a matching headpiece that even fooled Trump who thought it was real hair like his. Wink! Wink!

After applying bronzer to their faces some of the senators appeared to be Hispanic-looking whereupon the others tried to deport them. 

The senate's latest demonstration of servile and spineless allegiance was noticed by House MAGAnuts who wasted no time in copying their gutless colleagues. 

As it Stands, I'm waiting for Trump to monetize this latest fashion statement for his followers and to open up a retail store called, "The House of Trump." Motto: Fashions for fascists.