Indeed, but the globalist takeover seems to be the primary problem. I am sick of "opinions" that single out a single group to make it responsible ("the Jews" are one one of them, while there is not such conglomerate group):
From the escalator moment in 2015 I thought of Trump as fascist. In many ways, I still do. Many fascist characteristics are deeply ingrained in the Trump administration. But Trump himself has no considered principles; he is entirely narcissistic. And, therefore, he was easily leashed up as a tool of the American oligarchic community as expressed most visually in Project 2025. He’s also a tool of Putin’s oligarchic community, and has recently become attached to the oil dictators of the Middle East. The fascism in America is still behind the curtain. As Trump’s usefulness subsides, the face of American Fascism will come out. Russell Vought, OMB Director, is the key outward figure today.
Mussolini was the creator of fascism and his political system reflected his mental disorders. He was sociopathic (ASPD), narcissistic, Machiavellian and sadistic. Fascist leaders tend to have most or all of these dark traits. Pinochet did; so did Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia. More recently we see Edogan and tRump having these. Fascism is a political system based on the vices and the lack of a conscience seen in these leaders. Fascist leaders have no virtues and neither does their politics.
Yes, very true. Trump presents all of the terrible characteristics of these fascist leaders. And yet he cannot espouse any political system in any depth. He is all showboat and incapable of ideological thought.
I agree: he is incapable and, I think, also disinterested. I think he is 100% after *feeling* powerful and is being puppeted to get and keep his fanbase following him. The end game has much more to do with Project 2025. That is being handled by people who have an actual *plan* for destroying American democracy. My gut instinct and/or imagination wonders if this relatively small group of people are actually driving the US toward a semblance of monarchy: dukes, earls, viscounts - he even named his son Baron. I think these guys are after spheres of influence or fiefdoms. I think the goal is individual, unrestrained and unaccountable power for those who are now in the P2025 inner circle. Trump will be displaced by, probably Vought, Stephen Miller or similar. That's my intuition, anyway.
The Trump/MAGA Big Sadistic Bill is the same financial agenda we've seen since Reagan and Voodoo economics. The Rich are the rightful stewards of government and the Rest are the working poor, needy parasites and freeloaders looking for handouts. Same socially bankrupt Pig. Slightly different lipstick. None of these will save him or MAGA from their self imposed doom: - High tariffs on consumers in America - Hugh tax cuts for the Rich in America - Destroying a liberal arts education in America - Destroying medical research in America - Destroying healthcare in America - Destroying science research in America - Expelling immigrants from America - Breaking Constitutional laws in America - Destroying relations with allies of America - Controlling the media in America - Embracing Russia for America - Embracing the middle east Gulf states - Amassing $100 billion personally But these will build our Resistance. The end is coming for the Greedy fascists
This is a (not surprising) lucid summary of where we are. Given that our traditional parties are not likely to do anything substantive to reverse this miasma, what remains as a counterforce of consequence? The only answer I see so far is the eruption of myriad civic minded organizations and individuals--the latter as part of the Substack community--who are taking the offensive. The question, then, is how can this veritable army of highly focused and unilateral non-aligned interests collaborate to achieve the capability of energizing Congressional makeup in 2026 and the Presidency in 2028? Who herds the herd of cats? How does that happen? Who comes up with a strategy for unified action to generate sufficient ballots to begin to reverse course? While giving up is not an acceptable choice, what is the most effective course of action to close ranks and take our Country back from the forces of evil? For that is what they are.
Cf Jonathan Rauch's lead editorial in The Atlantic said exactly this. One key distinguisher is that Trump/MAGA loathe beaurocracy bc it's a check on his options and actions.
So you feel he wants to wreck our democracy and our economy. What does wrecking our economy do for trump? I am trying to imagine his end goal. To me he rakes his billions in and leaves the USA in ruins.
He is a psychological study. All his strengths are used to dissemble and hide his real self. You can see it in his face: sadism and making people hurt and lying make him feel good. You can see this in this horrible press conferences where he humiliates world leaders--AND NO ONE STANDS UP AND SAYS, YOU ARE LYING. He thinks this is the best.
I agree, Ruthy. And I have been bemoaning for the past 10 years that the kind and degree of Trump's psychopathology has gone mostly unremarked upon, never mind understood. As a malignant narcissist, borderline, and sociopath, he lives and loves to hurt people and destroy things that are important to or cherished by others. It gives him pleasure to hurt others -- this is so obvious even to a casual observer, and yet, the media ignores this. He doesn't care if he wrecks the economy -- in fact, I would go so far as to say that he wants to wreck the economy. He and his family accumulate their wealth by illegal, unethical, and immoral means, so the state of the economy doesn't matter, as long as there are enough gullible MAGAts to keep robbing (and there seems to be). His end goal is destruction of everything we hold dear.
Agree! Our media screwed up so badly in his first term by sanewashing him, that most voters deemed him to be normal, even though he is the epitome of the Dark Tetrad Personality. He's an obvious misanthrope as well.
I am amazed how many deny Musk was doing a nazi salute. His background and support for far-right politics are evidence enough. The fact that he did the salute twice. And the expression on his face. Thank you for pointing this out.
Yes, the GOP is massively affected by confirmation bias and motivated reasoning, especially when it is fascism that they are denying. They refuse to believe they got duped. They refuse to believe that tRump is a sociopath (ASPD). They refuse to believe corrective information (the backfire effect).
The fact that we SAW it was all the evidence anyone could reasonably need. You know how the only people who say the Mafia doesn't exist are members? I think the same applies here.
The facial expression told me at first glance that he meant it. Im happy to see other people coming to the same conclusion. That was a heartfelt natzi salute!
I think you had to see the video to understand. When I first saw the still image, I just assumed it was an awkward screen grab that made it look worse than it was. I thought he was just waving, with a slightly awkward, stuff arm. But then I saw the video, where he snaps a hard Nazi salute. Twice. Not waving.
What is your opinion about liberals being hesitant to wave at crowds for fear it will be seen as a Nazi salute? I got into an argument on BlueSky over my criticism of Pedro Pascal pulling down Joaquin Phoenix's arm as he waved to the crowd at Cannes for just that reason. My belief is that in doing so Pascal let fear control his actions. If we let fear do that, they win. Behaving normally can be an act of defiance in this upside-down world.
Regarding Musk's Nazi salute. Just this week, he was still defending it as a common gesture that every public speaker does eventually.
Like all gas lighting, the lie was so big the interviewer didn't even try to rebut the insanity of the claim.
Media is so completely unequipped for these brazen liars. They still get interviewed on an assumption of good faith, thought it has repeatedly need trampled. A better question to Musk would have been: "Many on the extreme right, recognised your gesture as a Nazi salute. If it's a misunderstanding, where is the contrition? Why won't you apologise unreservedly? Why won't you condemn the AfD and other neo-Nazi groups? And why have you banned liberal groups on Twitter, but refused to ban (and even unbanned) neo-Nazis? Isn't all this proof that you have neo-Nazi sympathies?"
Of course, that interviewer would never be allowed near Musk. So, here we are.
The Assault on the State: How the Global Attack on Modern Government Endangers Our Future 1st Edition by Stephen E. Hanson (Author), Jeffrey S. Kopstein (Author) and I think they make a persuasive argument for defining Trump and his political project as patrimonialism as defined by German sociologist Max Weber. More broadly Trumpist constitutes is a Personlist Politics rather than the type of fascist system created by Mussolini.
I've stumbled upon a great way to troll Teslas. Every time I see one in public, I give it a Nazi salute. This really seems to bother them far more than a bird.
Before the destruction within our government by Musk began, buying a Tesla was considered (at least by me) as a good thing - supporting electric vehicle purchases and cleaning up our air quality were considered good choices.
Now, those same Tesla owners are screwed by association. That’s unfortunate. And the value of their vehicle has dropped.
Yeah, I understand about the golden handcuffs a Tesla has become. Since I wrote that comment, I had bit of an epiphany. Long story short I came to understand my extreme approach to the fascist regime was doing more harm than good, and was very unfair to someone in your situation, and I apologize for my assumptions.
All that said, some Tesla owners have the Logos removed (cheap and easy- see YouTube) and replaced it with other left-leaning icons. They get a thumbs up!
thank you Ruth for translating your answers for us.
I just read the 9 other comments so far.
thank you for including the Bannon salute.
I had not seen it until today when it was mentioned elsewhere and I had to look for it. (already forgot where it was mentioned....)
new topic: the BIG UGLY BILL: (my words)
Ben Wikler, who will soon be leaving his position as Wis Dems chair asked that everyone call Congress today to leave messages about the BIG UGLY BILL that was just passed by the House.
(202) 224-3121
Wikler noted that it must be emphasized and amplified right now so that there is an emotional impact and memory re: what the Republicans have done so that later, in 2026, voters can be reminded of it.....and they should be reminded of it regularly, as he explained b/c during a campaign they will not believe what they are told re: facts.....so, even IF the senate does not pass the bill, the members of Congress who voted to take away benefits are held accountable for the vote.
He said it much better.
He was in conversation with Katie Phang on The Contrarian, sitting in for Norm and Jen.
I hope they post a recording of it so you can hear him say it in his own eloquent manner and words.
change of subject: re: deporations: ICYMI: (on the PBS Newshour last night )
EVERYTHING IS TRUMP! However we have to remember that without followers and supporters Trump is nothing, neither is Putin, neither was the leader of the Third Reich. If Trump were gone he could easily be replaced by someone worse. You cannot change a country just by eliminating one person, there has to be a complete shift in the way people look at things.
It can, and is indeed, happening here.
If fascism is defined as a corporate state, ALL "modern" countries have fascist governments, which must make you busy in Switzerland! :)
Trump is only an errand boy in a government fully under globalist control.
Fascism is much more complex than just being a corporate state.
Indeed, but the globalist takeover seems to be the primary problem. I am sick of "opinions" that single out a single group to make it responsible ("the Jews" are one one of them, while there is not such conglomerate group):
https://rayhorvaththesource.substack.com/p/finalizing-who-is-responsible
"Secret societies" is another favorite for those craving for cognitive security without investing much thought:
https://rayhorvaththesource.substack.com/p/the-convenience-of-blaming-secret
From the escalator moment in 2015 I thought of Trump as fascist. In many ways, I still do. Many fascist characteristics are deeply ingrained in the Trump administration. But Trump himself has no considered principles; he is entirely narcissistic. And, therefore, he was easily leashed up as a tool of the American oligarchic community as expressed most visually in Project 2025. He’s also a tool of Putin’s oligarchic community, and has recently become attached to the oil dictators of the Middle East. The fascism in America is still behind the curtain. As Trump’s usefulness subsides, the face of American Fascism will come out. Russell Vought, OMB Director, is the key outward figure today.
Agree.
Mussolini was the creator of fascism and his political system reflected his mental disorders. He was sociopathic (ASPD), narcissistic, Machiavellian and sadistic. Fascist leaders tend to have most or all of these dark traits. Pinochet did; so did Slobodan Milosevic of Serbia. More recently we see Edogan and tRump having these. Fascism is a political system based on the vices and the lack of a conscience seen in these leaders. Fascist leaders have no virtues and neither does their politics.
Yes, very true. Trump presents all of the terrible characteristics of these fascist leaders. And yet he cannot espouse any political system in any depth. He is all showboat and incapable of ideological thought.
I agree: he is incapable and, I think, also disinterested. I think he is 100% after *feeling* powerful and is being puppeted to get and keep his fanbase following him. The end game has much more to do with Project 2025. That is being handled by people who have an actual *plan* for destroying American democracy. My gut instinct and/or imagination wonders if this relatively small group of people are actually driving the US toward a semblance of monarchy: dukes, earls, viscounts - he even named his son Baron. I think these guys are after spheres of influence or fiefdoms. I think the goal is individual, unrestrained and unaccountable power for those who are now in the P2025 inner circle. Trump will be displaced by, probably Vought, Stephen Miller or similar. That's my intuition, anyway.
Trump is a globalist asset. The terminology makes little difference. MAGA itself was a psyop:
https://rayhorvaththesource.substack.com/p/the-maga-psyop
a knocked-it-outta-the-park interview!
The Trump/MAGA Big Sadistic Bill is the same financial agenda we've seen since Reagan and Voodoo economics. The Rich are the rightful stewards of government and the Rest are the working poor, needy parasites and freeloaders looking for handouts. Same socially bankrupt Pig. Slightly different lipstick. None of these will save him or MAGA from their self imposed doom: - High tariffs on consumers in America - Hugh tax cuts for the Rich in America - Destroying a liberal arts education in America - Destroying medical research in America - Destroying healthcare in America - Destroying science research in America - Expelling immigrants from America - Breaking Constitutional laws in America - Destroying relations with allies of America - Controlling the media in America - Embracing Russia for America - Embracing the middle east Gulf states - Amassing $100 billion personally But these will build our Resistance. The end is coming for the Greedy fascists
From your lips to god's ear...
I hope God has ears. One can wonder.
Don't see it......... (give them bread and give them games)
Keep you guys feed and entertained and you will never revolt… same as Roman Empire.
Not before they destroy this country
This is a (not surprising) lucid summary of where we are. Given that our traditional parties are not likely to do anything substantive to reverse this miasma, what remains as a counterforce of consequence? The only answer I see so far is the eruption of myriad civic minded organizations and individuals--the latter as part of the Substack community--who are taking the offensive. The question, then, is how can this veritable army of highly focused and unilateral non-aligned interests collaborate to achieve the capability of energizing Congressional makeup in 2026 and the Presidency in 2028? Who herds the herd of cats? How does that happen? Who comes up with a strategy for unified action to generate sufficient ballots to begin to reverse course? While giving up is not an acceptable choice, what is the most effective course of action to close ranks and take our Country back from the forces of evil? For that is what they are.
A military revolt is the only hope you have left....
I wonder what proportion would be willing.
That is what keeps popping into my head too. Things seem pretty far gone it seems =/
Yes, that is the million dollar question. Is a general strike the answer?
https://generalstrikeus.com/
In my view, Trump himself is patrimonial not authoritarian, an important distinction. See my taxonomy here, on which I have been working for many years: https://tinyurl.com/TaxonomyOfIdeologies in a link from my substack https://michaelalandover.substack.com
Cf Jonathan Rauch's lead editorial in The Atlantic said exactly this. One key distinguisher is that Trump/MAGA loathe beaurocracy bc it's a check on his options and actions.
Where do we go from here? Is this shareable? Will we get punished for doing so? Fb belongs to maga.
Of course it is. Use your voice and share wherever you can.
So you feel he wants to wreck our democracy and our economy. What does wrecking our economy do for trump? I am trying to imagine his end goal. To me he rakes his billions in and leaves the USA in ruins.
He is a psychological study. All his strengths are used to dissemble and hide his real self. You can see it in his face: sadism and making people hurt and lying make him feel good. You can see this in this horrible press conferences where he humiliates world leaders--AND NO ONE STANDS UP AND SAYS, YOU ARE LYING. He thinks this is the best.
I agree, Ruthy. And I have been bemoaning for the past 10 years that the kind and degree of Trump's psychopathology has gone mostly unremarked upon, never mind understood. As a malignant narcissist, borderline, and sociopath, he lives and loves to hurt people and destroy things that are important to or cherished by others. It gives him pleasure to hurt others -- this is so obvious even to a casual observer, and yet, the media ignores this. He doesn't care if he wrecks the economy -- in fact, I would go so far as to say that he wants to wreck the economy. He and his family accumulate their wealth by illegal, unethical, and immoral means, so the state of the economy doesn't matter, as long as there are enough gullible MAGAts to keep robbing (and there seems to be). His end goal is destruction of everything we hold dear.
Agree! Our media screwed up so badly in his first term by sanewashing him, that most voters deemed him to be normal, even though he is the epitome of the Dark Tetrad Personality. He's an obvious misanthrope as well.
They are still sanewashing him.
What is his choice, holding power or jail. Choosing the most unsavoury authoritarian company, as we watch.
Re: Regina Foucht’s comment
I am amazed how many deny Musk was doing a nazi salute. His background and support for far-right politics are evidence enough. The fact that he did the salute twice. And the expression on his face. Thank you for pointing this out.
I know, right? The ability of people to NOT see what is right in front of them is astounding.
Yes, the GOP is massively affected by confirmation bias and motivated reasoning, especially when it is fascism that they are denying. They refuse to believe they got duped. They refuse to believe that tRump is a sociopath (ASPD). They refuse to believe corrective information (the backfire effect).
The fact that we SAW it was all the evidence anyone could reasonably need. You know how the only people who say the Mafia doesn't exist are members? I think the same applies here.
It was a shocking Nazi salute. Yet I questioned it myself, could it be? It was undeniable.
The facial expression told me at first glance that he meant it. Im happy to see other people coming to the same conclusion. That was a heartfelt natzi salute!
We will be in even more trouble when they stop denying it’s a Nazi solute.
I think you had to see the video to understand. When I first saw the still image, I just assumed it was an awkward screen grab that made it look worse than it was. I thought he was just waving, with a slightly awkward, stuff arm. But then I saw the video, where he snaps a hard Nazi salute. Twice. Not waving.
What is your opinion about liberals being hesitant to wave at crowds for fear it will be seen as a Nazi salute? I got into an argument on BlueSky over my criticism of Pedro Pascal pulling down Joaquin Phoenix's arm as he waved to the crowd at Cannes for just that reason. My belief is that in doing so Pascal let fear control his actions. If we let fear do that, they win. Behaving normally can be an act of defiance in this upside-down world.
Excellent, as always.
Regarding Musk's Nazi salute. Just this week, he was still defending it as a common gesture that every public speaker does eventually.
Like all gas lighting, the lie was so big the interviewer didn't even try to rebut the insanity of the claim.
Media is so completely unequipped for these brazen liars. They still get interviewed on an assumption of good faith, thought it has repeatedly need trampled. A better question to Musk would have been: "Many on the extreme right, recognised your gesture as a Nazi salute. If it's a misunderstanding, where is the contrition? Why won't you apologise unreservedly? Why won't you condemn the AfD and other neo-Nazi groups? And why have you banned liberal groups on Twitter, but refused to ban (and even unbanned) neo-Nazis? Isn't all this proof that you have neo-Nazi sympathies?"
Of course, that interviewer would never be allowed near Musk. So, here we are.
Spot on.
I just finished reading this book:
The Assault on the State: How the Global Attack on Modern Government Endangers Our Future 1st Edition by Stephen E. Hanson (Author), Jeffrey S. Kopstein (Author) and I think they make a persuasive argument for defining Trump and his political project as patrimonialism as defined by German sociologist Max Weber. More broadly Trumpist constitutes is a Personlist Politics rather than the type of fascist system created by Mussolini.
What's the difference, really, if we know the difference? The result is the same.
I've stumbled upon a great way to troll Teslas. Every time I see one in public, I give it a Nazi salute. This really seems to bother them far more than a bird.
Before the destruction within our government by Musk began, buying a Tesla was considered (at least by me) as a good thing - supporting electric vehicle purchases and cleaning up our air quality were considered good choices.
Now, those same Tesla owners are screwed by association. That’s unfortunate. And the value of their vehicle has dropped.
Who’s buying a Tesla these days?
That’s an interesting take. It’s similar to the unfortunate outcome of being named: “Karen”….what a bad connotation that name now has these days!
Or Brandon
Yeah, I understand about the golden handcuffs a Tesla has become. Since I wrote that comment, I had bit of an epiphany. Long story short I came to understand my extreme approach to the fascist regime was doing more harm than good, and was very unfair to someone in your situation, and I apologize for my assumptions.
All that said, some Tesla owners have the Logos removed (cheap and easy- see YouTube) and replaced it with other left-leaning icons. They get a thumbs up!
When we purchased our electric car, it was deliberately decided we would not be buying a Tesla. Call it cancel
culture if you wish. I’m not giving my
money to a racist nazi-lover and democracy hater. This decision was made way before he started slicing and dicing into our government.
Lol.
wow.
thank you Ruth for translating your answers for us.
I just read the 9 other comments so far.
thank you for including the Bannon salute.
I had not seen it until today when it was mentioned elsewhere and I had to look for it. (already forgot where it was mentioned....)
new topic: the BIG UGLY BILL: (my words)
Ben Wikler, who will soon be leaving his position as Wis Dems chair asked that everyone call Congress today to leave messages about the BIG UGLY BILL that was just passed by the House.
(202) 224-3121
Wikler noted that it must be emphasized and amplified right now so that there is an emotional impact and memory re: what the Republicans have done so that later, in 2026, voters can be reminded of it.....and they should be reminded of it regularly, as he explained b/c during a campaign they will not believe what they are told re: facts.....so, even IF the senate does not pass the bill, the members of Congress who voted to take away benefits are held accountable for the vote.
He said it much better.
He was in conversation with Katie Phang on The Contrarian, sitting in for Norm and Jen.
I hope they post a recording of it so you can hear him say it in his own eloquent manner and words.
change of subject: re: deporations: ICYMI: (on the PBS Newshour last night )
"Madison Sheahan, Deputy Director, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement: We see activist judges stepping in, in a way that we have never seen before to put criminals first and not the American people. This judge wants these criminals, these rapists, murderers out on the streets in your communities." https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/news-wrap-judge-says-deportations-to-south-sudan-violate-court-order
re: Sheahan:
ICE’s new deputy director helped oversee Louisiana’s homeless sweeps
By Delaney Nolan for The Appeal https://www.wwno.org/immigration/2025-04-17/ices-new-deputy-director-helped-oversee-louisianas-homeless-sweeps
Published April 17, 2025 at 3:48 PM CDT
sorry for the long comment.
thanks again Ruth.
EVERYTHING IS TRUMP! However we have to remember that without followers and supporters Trump is nothing, neither is Putin, neither was the leader of the Third Reich. If Trump were gone he could easily be replaced by someone worse. You cannot change a country just by eliminating one person, there has to be a complete shift in the way people look at things.
Perhaps but let's get rid of him and find out.....
Lol