'Night of Broken Glass': History Repeats Itself in Chicago

Photo of Chicago high rise building that was raided in the middle of the night. Note broken glass.

This time it's people of color. 

Last time it was the Jews.

Trump's not so secret stormtroopers aka/ICE agents raided a five-story apartment building in Chicago two nights ago.

The scene was reminiscent of the infamous "Night of Broken Glass" in prewar Germany.

Here's what happened: 

In the dead of night 300 ICE agents surrounded a Chicago high rise apartment. They were backed up with armored riot trucks. Helicopters overhead were shining their search beams on the heavily armed agents as they stormed into the building. All of the residents of the building were summarily driven out of their beds (including children) without explanation.

Imagine someone bursting through your front door and attacking your whole family. All they saw were masked men invading their living spaces and herding them out of the building like animals in the middle of the night. Eyewitnesses reported seeing children, some unclothed, separated from their mothers and restrained with zip ties. Flash bangs were going off everywhere.

It was a night of horror. Adults and children were crying and screaming. Ice agents rappelled from Black Hawk helicopters in a scene right out of war in a foreign country.

Residents were detained outside the five-story South Shore building for hours. Everyone was detained, including U.S. citizens. Finally, the children were snatched away from their parents and taken into custody without knowing if they'd ever see their parents again.

The whole event was a page out of history. 

Nazis brutally and violently raided Jewish homes throughout the late 1930s, most notably during the widespread pogrom known as Kristallnacht, or the "Night of Broken Glass," on November 9-10, 1938. This event occurred amid a larger, sustained campaign of persecution that involved both mob violence and state-sanctioned property seizures.

You don't have to be an historian to draw the parallels. What's happening in America today is uncomfortably reminiscent of the rise of fascism in Germany. Masked Ice agents are prowling the streets of cities throughout the country arresting people of color. They don't even have to have a reason for detaining people thanks to our crooked Supreme Court.

There's a reason why people keep comparing Nazi Germany to Trump's regime. Our president is following Hitler's playbook along with his Project 2025 agenda to take our freedoms away. Each day brings new violations of the Constitution and new lows in governing. 

As it Stands, Someday, if they even exist, future historians will document the rise of fascism in the greatest republic in modern history.

Blog Break: Back on Sat. Nov. 4th @ 5 p.m. PST - Meanwhile Check Out Archives

Every now and then I need to take a break from my blog and defending Democracy to just chill out. No politics. Just play. I'll be back in a few days.

If you look to the right of this page, you'll find past posts that I think you'll enjoy. I don't hold back criticizing Trump's corrupt regime and the First Felon's constant lies. 

I've been posting on this blog - As it Stands - for 17 years. In all that time I never saw Democracy threatened like it is now. We're experiencing Constitutional crisis's every day. There's been no let up as Trump exacts vengeance against his perceived enemies.

I'm convinced that a majority of Americans are already sick of Trump. That includes Republicans. As each day passes, we are seeing our rights eroded by a wanabee King with dementia.

At some point the American people are going to have to unite against Trump's authoritarian regime and vote his lackey's out of office in the midterms.

In the meantime, I encourage all Americans to protest against the machine Trump forged.

As it Stands, we must never stop defending our freedoms and rights according to the Constitution.

A Dark Day for Democracy: Trump/Hegseth Lecture to Military is MAGAfied

Senior U.S. military officers from all the armed forces were forced to listen to a MAGAfied agenda by a 5-time draft dodger. 

Men and women officers with decades of leadership were lectured about how to do their jobs correctly under the new regime. Over 800 top leaders were told that they had pussyfied all of the armed forces by pushing a "Woke" agenda.

The moment was a stark reminder of how Trump and Hegseth are working to dismantle decades of improvements in the military that they call - with scorn - DEI. 

Trump told reporters just before the meeting that he'll emphasis fighting the enemy within. What does that mean? It certainly sounds ominous.

During Trump's unhinged speech he told the leaders in the audience that they should use "Dangerous" U.S. cities as "training grounds."

For what? To practice killing enemies? That's the military's mission... killing foreign enemies. Not raking up leaves in a park in Washington D.C. Or worse yet, turning their weapons upon protestors and calling it a training exercise.

Just looking at the assembled officers forced to listen to MAGA speak was embarrassing. Those men and women know more about leadership than Hegseth and Trump will ever know. Watching Hegseth prance up and down the stage reminded me of a Monty Python skit minus the laughter.

Hegseth ranted, "an era of politically correct, over sensitive, don't-hurt-anyone's feelings leadership ends right now." The alcoholic Trump appointee was clearly in his glory spewing hate-filled changes he planned to infuse into the military.

It was a demeaning display accusing military officers of letting their charges get out of physical shape. Hegseth demanded that there be no more fat generals (I wasn't aware that was a problem), and that the physical standards for everyone will now be at a "male level" which of course is a way to discourage women from joining the military. 

According to MAGA standards those women should stay at home and serve their husbands without question. I had to chuckle when Hegseth spewed, "No more beardos, the era of unacceptable appearance is over."

"Beardos?" Talk about childish. Hegseth solemnly warned his audience "it's time for a new position or a new profession." How clever. Let's get rid of all of America's top officers if they don't shave off their beards. That'll make them combat ready...right?

Especially egregious was Hegseth's admission that he's "overhauling" the DOD's Inspector General's Office. 

This comes on the heels of an ongoing investigation into his recent stupidity using an unsecured server (SignalGate scandal) during a top-secret conversation about attacking Iran. What do you want to bet the office will not charge him with anything now?

To add insult to injury Hegseth said he is "clearing the way for leaders to be leaders" while the real leaders had to sit there and listen to a lunatic that can't hold his booze. It was a bizarre and foreboding moment in our military history which will be remembered as the day Trump took total control of the military with the help of his lapdog Hegseth.

As it Stands, I can't help but wonder what those elite military leaders were thinking during the weirdest dog and pony show ever staged in American military history.

Trump's Distractions from the Epstein Files Increase Daily

As the calls for releasing the Epstein Files increase the First Felon has ramped up his daily diversions.

Monday - Trump met with international war criminal and also Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu today to discuss how to further disenfranchise the Palestinian people still alive in Gaza. 

For the record the Supreme Court meets today to discuss the Ghislaine Maxwell case.

Meanwhile....

Trump's cat and mouse game of keeping the government open is in its last phase. Trump met with Democrats today to discuss the government shutdown. As expected, Trump didn't budge, and it looks like there's going to be a shutdown on Tuesday night at midnight. 

The city of Portland is in Donny's crosshairs as he threatens protestors who don't want to see another city surged by Trump's private police force (formerly known as ICE) any day now. He's promising to use "full force" on any citizens who resists the upcoming invasion.

In his ongoing retribution campaign Trump has managed to find a lawyer stupid enough to concoct a case against former FBI director James Comey. The case is baseless as evidenced by the first lawyer resigning rather than pursue the trumped-up charges. I'm betting the case doesn't even go to court it's so weak. Trump knows it but considers this a good diversion from the Epstein Files.

In a sweet irony the political crises that dogged Trump's first term, including two impeachments and a probe into alleged campaign collusion with Russia, the people propelling the push for more transparency on Epstein have largely been his supporters, not just his political foes.

Trumps typical diversion playbook has included accusing former president Obama of treason, to staging a public war against the Fed Chairman Jerome Powell, former FBI Director Christopher Wray, and other prominent Democrats.

A recent Reuters/Ipso poll showed most Americans think Trump's administration is hiding information about Epstein. And for good reason. Anyone following the coverup knows it started early in the First Felon's return to Washington D.C.

In the past 48 hours, Trump has asked his Truth Social followers "How did (former USAID administrator) Samantha Power make all of that money?" 

Who cares? Most of the idiots that follow Trump don't even know who she is. But the post might make them curious. Mission accomplished.

Without a shred of evidence Trump's director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, claimed the Obama administration officials planned a "treasonous conspiracy in 2016" aimed at Trump. It was more meat for the base he's trying to hold on to.

The thing that all of these diversions have in common is they are forged by lies by the MAGA morons serving in his corrupt administration. 

After a while even Trump supporters are going to get tired of the fake flack and demand an accounting on Epstein.

As it Stands, Trump whose ascent has been linked to a litany of unproven claims now finds his political power threatened by a conspiracy theory he can't shake. 

Deranged Lies Lead to Full Out Assault on Portland

The game is afoot.

"Portland is hell on earth!" declared the First Felon as he ranted about why he was surging troops into the West Coast city.

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Editor's Note: Peaceful protestors began appearing last night and are out today - Monday. The state of Oregon is pushing back on the illegal invasion by filing a lawsuit against those involved.

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Trump's description of the city was so outlandish it spurred an immediate pushback on social media sites.

One of my favorite independent news agencies is MeidasTouch which covers the news that the legacy media is ignoring. Yesterday a MeidasTouch reporter/photographer drove around the city of Portland. You know what he found?

Nothing. No burning buildings. No chaos.

Just a normal day in the city with people going about their business. 

I highly recommend you check out the videos and see what's really happening in Portland.

This latest crackdown on a Democrat-led city is part of Trump's overall plan to subjugate what he sees as domestic terrorists protesting against ICE and his draconian policies against brown-skinned people.

Trying his best to be a tough guy and strongman Trump ordered Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth to "provide all necessary troops to protect war ravaged Portland, and any ICE facilities under siege from attack by Antifa." He also promised to use "full force," if necessary."

Talk about chilling. What is he really saying here? Apparently, he's warning that people will be killed for any resistance against his goons. You can interpret what full force means yourself, but I believe the translation is a green light to kill protestors. 

Portland Mayor Keith Wilson, who like other Oregon officials learned of Trump's order from social media, said: "The number of necessary troops is zero, in Portland and any other American city. The president will not find lawlessness or violence here unless he plans to perpetrate it."

Mayor Wilson is on to something I've suspected for a long time. Trump wants chaos and is intentionally doing everything he can to create it so he can use the military to clamp down on protestors. It's a tactic straight from the Dictator's Handbook.

The Pentagon did not offer any clarification about whether Trump was deploying the National Guard, active-duty troops or perhaps a mix of the two.

What's the truth about crime in Portland?

Let's see; Data shows that violent crime has dropped in the first six months of 2025. Homicides fell by 51% compared to the same time last year, according to data released by the Major Cities Chiefs Association in its Midyear Violent Crime Report.

That report showed Portland had 17 homicides in the period compared with 56 in Louisville, Kentucky, and 124 in Memphis, Tennessee, which have comparable population sizes.

Oregon Governor Tina Kotek rejected the need for troops after speaking to Trump and his dog-killer Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. "There is no insurrection, there is no threat to national security, and there's no need for military troops," she told them. 

But her appeal to reality fell on deaf ears.

Tricia McLaughlin a spokesperson for the department of Homeland Security said ICE agents needed to be protected amid protests against immigration raids.

What protests? When? Where?

Meanwhile anyone viewing the Portland videos on the internet can see every street - including where the ICE facility is - and they are all serene. No domestic terrorists are assaulting the ICE agents or the ICE facility.

But that doesn't matter... does it?

Trump is going to forge ahead with his "War" in America unless he's stopped. I'm not sure the courts will hold up against his unprecedented assault against Americans freedoms.

As it Stands, we the people, need to constantly push back against our wannabee king - just like in 1776.

A Gathering of Power: Hegseth Mimics Hitler

Then.

On March 30, 1939, Hitler summoned 250 of his senior military commanders to hear a secret speech about the upcoming invasion of the Soviet Union (Operation Barbarossa).

 He stressed that this was to be a "war of extermination." He made it abundantly clear that the military disregard traditional laws of war and that he expected millions of deaths.

Now.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (doing Trump's bidding) has ordered a secret meeting of every general and admiral in the U.S. military from their duty stations and in the states to go to Virginia on Oct. 1st. 

Rumors for this historical meeting - it's never happened before in American history - range from a 30-minute speech on "warrior ethos" to an indoctrination oath of fealty to Trump who will more than likely be there. 

Like Hitler Hegseth is going to talk about disregarding traditional military laws and the need for "everyone to row in the same direction," or face career consequences. Translated that means follow the glorious leader regardless of how you feel about him, or you're gone.

The secretive meeting will be a pep rally in true Nazi fashion where loyalty goes to the great leader and not to the rule of law. It heralds a new world where fascism will be promoted even more vigorously with military propaganda films flooding the American landscape.

Trump has taken his first big step to being a dictator by following the dictator's manual for taking over the entire military to enforce his will upon the American people and other countries. 

I never thought this would happen. I guess I was naive. As a military veteran I'm disgusted and disappointed at how many people are capitulating to this corrupt regime.

There's some concern among the attendees about the possibility of getting fired from their jobs as it's common knowledge Trump wants to reduce the entire military by at least 20%.

This is where we see Hegseth, an extremist Fox News host and notorious alcoholic elevated to this unimaginable position that is going to destroy whatever credibility America has left in the world. 

America was once a Beacon of Liberty to the rest of the world... now it's dimmed thanks to Trump and his venomous minions.

As it Stands, both America and the rest of the world are standing by to see what new hell Trump has unleased on us all.

Yes, we're having a Constitutional Crisis Right Now

There are costs for standing up to Trump.

Former FBI Director James Comey knows that.

For years Comey has lived rent free in Trump's little brain, burrowing in deeper with each day. Trump has tried to indict Comey, but it failed because the Trump-appointed U.S. Attorney Eric Siebert could find no evidence of a crime.

So, Trump fired him and got former Miss Colorado finalist, Lindsey Halligan, (a personal lawyer who has never prosecuted a case in her life) to go after Comey.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin responded to the blatant attack, "As if by magic, within mere days of being appointed, Ms. Halligan delivered for the president by filing the extra baseless charges against Mr. Comey that her predecessor had rejected."

Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy tweeted on X, "We aren't on a slippery slope to a constitutional crisis. We are IN the crisis. Time for political leaders, business leaders, civic leaders - to pick a side: democracy or autocracy?"

One fact remains; there is no evidence.

So, Halligan is going to try to lie her way through the courts. If it turns out to be a neutral judge and Comey isn't railroaded, Trump will still get the satisfaction of having a show trial to demean his enemy. And, of course, another great distraction from the Epstein Files.

This malicious prosecution against Comey has no apparent basis in law or fact, and lawyers of good conscience in the department know it. The question is how many are left with a conscience in the Justice Department?

As long as Trump can get away with fixing the system to work for him against his enemies, he's causing a Constitutional crisis every day. Americans are helplessly caught up in the maelstrom that threatens the very foundation of their Democratic republic. 

As it Stands, it only took Trump nine months to create a Constitutional crisis. What lies ahead in the next three years? 

GOP Panicking Over Imminent Release of Epstein Files

Regardless of everything else that's been happening around the country in the last two weeks there's one sore subject Trump can't make go away.

Yes. The Epstein Files. Remember them?

The most recent GOP attempt to stop the release of the Epstein Files is just another example of how far Trump's minions are willing to go to protect him from being exposed as a pedophile partner with Epstein. Here's what's happening.

Republican congressman Thomas Massie and Democrat Ro Khanna needed 218 signatures for a discharge petition to force a vote on the House on releasing the Epstein files. Democrats only needed one more signature to force the vote on Monday. That signature is coming from a recent special election in Arizona where Democrat Adelita Grijalva won.

But there's a small snag. GOP leaders are in full panic mode trying to stop the discharge petition. We know what that means. Obstruct in any way possible. The current plan is a two-pronged attack.

The first attack is threatening those four GOP House members that have signed the petition; Thomas Massie, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, and Nancy Mace with political retribution. In a related aside in Democratic circles pundits are opining that Nancy Mace will back out in the last minute. I wouldn't be surprised. One can only guess at what threats were directed her way.  

The second attack is a nuclear option of a sorts where the Republicans have canceled votes for Sept. 29/30 and now are even talking about delaying the swearing in of Grijalva, the 218th signature. By law she is supposed to be sworn in on her first day. Again, don't be surprised if House Leader MAGA Mike comes up with another stalling tactic in a last-ditch effort to stop the vote.

You have to wonder what Trump did to go to the extremes he has gone to bury his past relationship with Epstein. What damning information has Trump soiling his diapers at an accelerated rate?

As this political drama goes on Americans are facing a government shutdown. If that happens Trump plans on firing hundreds of federal workers. Not laid off, but arbitrarily firing federal employees. Something Musk's DOGE wasn't able to make happen in the courts.

As Trump sees it, he's going to win whatever happens. Staying open or closing. It really doesn't matter to our orange-faced first felon. If it stays open that means he's won the battle of the bill, and no Democratic changes will be included.

Meanwhile the Epstein Files are getting closer to being revealed. Political pressure isn't going to go away soon. Those files will be a storm cloud above Donny's head for the near future. How long we don't know. It depends upon too many variables. The wild card being his Orangeness.

As it Stands, I'm cautiously predicting that more information means we'll finally know even more about Trump's role in the scandal. What happens after that is anyone's guess.

The Fight for Free Speech is Far from Over - 'Savant' Suspended

While everyone is celebrating the big win for Free Speech when Kimmel was allowed to return to TV, there are numerous First Amendment challenges that are ongoing.

Here's another example of TV censorship where Apple TV+ decided to postpone the debut of "The Savant," a streaming series about an investigator who infiltrates online hate groups.

The first two episodes of "The Savant" were scheduled to premiere Friday but then something happened. An Apple TV+ spokesperson said the platform decided to postpone the show's rollout after "careful consideration," adding "We appreciate your understanding and look forward to releasing the series at a future date."

If the term careful consideration sounds familiar it's what the executives said in the Kimmel case. The bottom line is that once again a cabal of studio executives don't want the show to happen because it may make Trump look bad with his extremist connections.

To be clear Apple TV+ did not give any reason for postponing the show. One has to look between the lines to understand why the show was suspended despite promoting it for weeks.

What we do know is the decision came two weeks after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated. Up to that point "The Savant" was full systems go. Then every Trump minion in the country immediately blamed "the leftists" for Kirk's death... with no evidence at all. 

Which leads us back to the suspension of "The Savant."

Here's a brief summary of the show that was adapted from a 2019 article published in Cosmopolitan titled "Is it Possible to Stop a Mass Shooting Before it Happens?"

The miniseries stars Oscar-winning actor Jessica Chastain who infiltrates online hate groups. It's topical because we know lies and disinformation are a huge online problem today. For the record, Chastain said she isn't "aligned" with Apple's decision.

The decision to postpone comes at an especially tense moment for American media companies as they navigate political pressure, regulatory scrutiny and a polarized viewing public.

Its apparent CEO Tim Cook is walking a fine line with the Trump administration because he'd pledged to invest $600 billion in the U.S. over the next four years as it works to avoid tariffs on items used in iPhones and other key products.

In other words, Cook is being blackmailed by Trump. Hence, he doesn't want to upset the first felon with a show on extremists... who by the way are Trump's most loyal supporters.

This is just one current example. There are dozens more out there threatening our Free Speech every day. 

As it Stands, while it's been nice to celebrate Kimmel's win, we must not lose sight that the fight continues every day as long as Trump is in office.

Does Anyone Believe RFK Came Up with a Cure for Autism?

There is no cure for autism despite Trump's recent brag.

While speaking at Charlie Kirk's funeral Trump teased the audience with a promise of curing autism despite the fact that he was supposed to be eulogizing Kirk. It had to be the vilest eulogy ever given as Trump ranted about hating his enemies and other grievances he has.

It was Trump latest example of squirrel! Get people talking about autism and maybe they'll forget he's hiding the bulk of the Epstein Files.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy has a myopic view about the cause of autism that threatens to destroy years of scientific research on the subject.

Kennedy's view of autism - basically the person is a vegetable who has to be cared for throughout their life - doesn't take into account that the criteria for autism has broadened, producing a spectrum ranging from severe impacts to more modest ones.

Today's definition encompasses individuals with milder symptoms, stronger language skills, and higher IQs. But Kennedy has chosen to ignore years of scientific study and to brand every autistic child as an unbearable burden for the parents.

Kennedy's bleak assessment for the future of all kids with autism is inaccurate. The total amount of people on the spectrum with severe limitations was 26.7% of 8-year-olds with "profound autism" a newly framed (and not universally accepted) definition that included children who were nonverbal, minimally verbal, or had an I.Q. below 50. 

Zoe Gross, the director of advocacy at the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, said limited available data suggests that Kennedy's characterization is exaggerated.

What's particularly galling to me is that Kennedy is a science denier who has recommended horse medicine for worms to cure Covid and now he's spewing false information about autism. 

Fact: there's no proof that Acetaminophens (Tylenol) cause autism. The rest of the world is laughing at how stupid Trump and RFK are and how they ignore science.

How could anyone in their right mind recommend anything without facts to back it up? Kennedy's disability is his credibility which is a big fat zero.

Recommended reading: We're Not Broken: Changing the Autism Conversation by Eric M. Garcia who is on the autistic spectrum.

As it Stands, RFK's stance against science is frightening, putting millions of Americans at risk of diseases that were irradicated years ago.

Free Speech Prevails! Jimmy Kimmel is Back Today!

                            Victory!

Trump got thumped by a quick reversal of events that saw the First Amendment hold up and Trump's revenge revoked.

I can't tell you how relieved I am to see that Jimmy Kimmel Live is coming back tonight.

Let's take a quick look at what happened after ABC took Kimmel off of the air. 

Trump was bragging about Jimmy Kimmel losing his job on Truth Social before FCC Chair Brendan Carr pressured Disney and ABC to cancel his show. Network executives initially responded by making up a reason why he was really being fired. He somehow insulted Charlie Kirk. But it was a too blatant of a move threatening Kimmel's free speech.

While MAGA minions were celebrating Trump's growing power over everything studio executives had a rude awakening. The protests against Kimmel being cancelled were widespread as Disneyland saw its entertainment parks boycotted and people getting rid of their Disney subscriptions online. ABC studios went for days with protestors demanding Kimmel's restoration back to the lineup of late-night comedy shows.

Why did the studio executives suddenly have a change of heart today? Did their consciences tell them they were being bad? I doubt it. The reason they came back to the table and reinstated Kimmel was because his lawyers threatened a First Amendment t lawsuit which they would more than likely lose.

Let's put it this way; if the case were to go to The Supreme Court the last time they voted on Free Speech rights, they ALL agreed (9-0) that it's protected under the Constitution. Realizing it was a lost cause the executives called up Kimmel and made nice.

Studio executives revealed they were bringing Jimmy back after "thoughtful conversations" with parent company Disney. I'll bet they were "thoughtful."

The scene:

Kimmel's Lawyer: "We're going to sue your asses off and guess what? We're going to win because we have the Supreme Courts affirmation of Free Speech. Oh yeah... Republicans and Democrats have been denouncing you daily since your stupid decision."

ABC Executive: Listen, it was just a moment of madness (I think the full moon was out that night) and we regret it bigly.

Disney Executive: Because we had this little misunderstanding I'm going to give you - and your whole family - free passes to Disneyland for life. Can we be friends again?

In closing. The country desperately needed this affirmation of our right to free speech during Trump's authoritarian regime. It was heartening to finally see someone stop the lunatic in the Oval Office from further destruction of our democratic rights.

As it Stands, I'm proud of all the Americans that put pressure on Disney and ABC. I'm especially delighted to see Trump taken down a notch.