Thank you to the thousands who tuned into my live video with Anand Giridharadas! I hope you enjoy the discussion. We do these Lives most Mondays at 12:30. To follow along, download the Substack app, enable notifications, and click the link at the appointed hour. All are welcome.
MAGA shameless projection & gaslighting about their life threatening policies & the Big Bad Brutally Cruel tax cut bill transfers wealth to the wealthiest while cutting health & nutritition support for the neediest with deadly consequences. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR1D8uXL-Nw
WE have equal access to the internet and the horizontal communication system that's been created. We can spread the truth just as quickly to our networks. WE OUTNUMBER THEM. Let's not be helpless now at the moment of truth. You both have followings you could spread this link and put America to work in this critical hour.
I’m counting on you to do everything in your power to delay and disrupt the Republican reconciliation bill, including by introducing as many amendments as possible during vote-a-rama. Here's my citizen-submitted amendment:
Add an amendment for a progressive surcharge on the uber wealthy. Allow the 4.6% tax break for the top 20%, but if annual income exceeds $1M then there should be a 25% surcharge. over $5M annually it should rise to 40%, at $10M up to 50%, and over $25M annually 60%. *change the values if it makes sense. This should be suffucient to bring the deficit down, not up, with a goal of eliminating deficit spending before the BBB expires.
or this
On every 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, employees of ICE will set up bake sales for the legal defense funds of birthright citizen children, whose immigrant parents are in detention, or rendered to 3rd countries. The Secretary of DHS will only be required to attend on the first Saturday of the month. The setting will be at the Home Depot Parking Lots across the land.
I am all for Kirsten Gillebrand being challenged, losing and getting booted out. I have disliked her since she was one of the screamers behind getting Al Franken to resign. My understanding of her actions include pushing Schumer to accept the CR, and she is the big one behind crypto.
I’m on the same page regarding Kirsten Gillebrand. When I saw her comments on Mamdani, it was very disturbing to me. Also Eric Swalwell was speaking out on the “infitada” that Mamdani mentioned, which was concerning to me, too. I have seen how Mamdani connects with the people of New York, walking from one end of Manhattan to the other. No small task. I don’t have a sense of fear with him that I do of Trump, of SCOTUS, who are making my blood boil, and the do-nothing Democratic Party who are absolutely dragging their feet. I don’t have any sense that 2026 is going to bring about any significant change to light a fire under that election. Yet the person who appears to be in fast forward regarding the future election (if it will even take place!) is Mamdani. Islamophobia rears its ugly head once again. No matter that many in the New York Jewish community support him.
I couldn't agree more. She is a conniving, self-serving tart who betrayed Al Franken and most a key seat in the Senate (now occupied by MAGA Ron Johnson, I think) to raise her platform on sexual assault in the military. Treachery. She grabbed onto that issue, not so much for vulnerable women but for herself as a campaign banner, selling herself as presidential material. Has she effectuated any material change in military culture? Her ego knows no bounds.
She's one of my senators, Long with Chuck Schumer. I called Gillebrand's office yesterday and said she should resign for what she said about Zohran Mamdani. As a former practicing Muslim, I was furious. I told her via voice mail she has lost my support and that she is disgusting.
I have a letter prepared to send to Gillibrand, Schumer and Jeffries. I outlined the $$ they have received from AIPAC and know it shapes their position. I relayed that I am an activist who will be supporting Mamdani and doing my best to counter the scare tactics intended for Jewish voters. That is what Republicans do. Pretend to be looking out for Jews but in practice, follow the old trope of making Jews the scapegoat to achieve desired ends. I am a long tenured synagogue member and live according to Jewish values versus how the leadership of Israel governs.
Should we the people perhaps sign up for accounts on Truth Social and shoot back at all his lies with truths? What are your thoughts? Could we also fight back that way?
I thought the same but if we can get enough people all at once to try at least we can make it like a protest. Only thing is we would have to show receipts to prove what we are saying and not fight back with them, because you know they will come back at us. Wonder if it would help at all because those hard cores are so brainwashed. Have to think about it or look into another way to get the truth out because many of them are not in the places we are hearing the truth
There's the rub. Too brainwashed. If I knew how to change minds, I'd think some form of rebuttal worth a try. The reality is that any efforts to change people's thinking would require discussions 1 on 1, and with a lot of listening along the way.
Go for it Dems - stand on clear moral ground, present a positive beyond-progressive agenda, a true alternative to the current regime. I'm 71 yrs old, I'm a reliable voter for democrats, but have never joined the party because they've never been radical enough for me!
Zorhan on is confident and snarky all at the same one and I think he is the way we need to go. Democratic Socialism, no centrist movement. That is just not working for us any longer
It appears clear that Trump is a sociopath, so it's reasonable to ask: would he think a terror attack on US soil a "good thing"? Another 9/11-scale attack would enable him to consolidate power considerably. The Patriot Act, following 9/11 led to vastly increased information gathering and government surveillance, and few in Congress opposed it. Imagine an act requiring all social media companies to hand over to the government individual contacts, profiling information, etc., for all users; and which enabled him to deploy the military anywhere, for any reason, using flimsy references to a "terror threat". If you want a police state, the mechanisms for it are one terror attack away. What is a different explanation for "decimating" national security?
MAGA shameless projection & gaslighting about their life threatening policies & the Big Bad Brutally Cruel tax cut bill transfers wealth to the wealthiest while cutting health & nutritition support for the neediest with deadly consequences. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kR1D8uXL-Nw
Ruth,
F*ck the autocrats and their gaslighting.
WE have equal access to the internet and the horizontal communication system that's been created. We can spread the truth just as quickly to our networks. WE OUTNUMBER THEM. Let's not be helpless now at the moment of truth. You both have followings you could spread this link and put America to work in this critical hour.
Besides just informing us, encourage us on action items. Right now during the vote-a-rama Patriots can submit amndment suggestion to their Senators through this form set up by Indivisible. https://act.indivisible.org/letter/amendment-reconciliation-bill/
Here's my suggestions...
I’m counting on you to do everything in your power to delay and disrupt the Republican reconciliation bill, including by introducing as many amendments as possible during vote-a-rama. Here's my citizen-submitted amendment:
Add an amendment for a progressive surcharge on the uber wealthy. Allow the 4.6% tax break for the top 20%, but if annual income exceeds $1M then there should be a 25% surcharge. over $5M annually it should rise to 40%, at $10M up to 50%, and over $25M annually 60%. *change the values if it makes sense. This should be suffucient to bring the deficit down, not up, with a goal of eliminating deficit spending before the BBB expires.
or this
On every 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month, employees of ICE will set up bake sales for the legal defense funds of birthright citizen children, whose immigrant parents are in detention, or rendered to 3rd countries. The Secretary of DHS will only be required to attend on the first Saturday of the month. The setting will be at the Home Depot Parking Lots across the land.
I am all for Kirsten Gillebrand being challenged, losing and getting booted out. I have disliked her since she was one of the screamers behind getting Al Franken to resign. My understanding of her actions include pushing Schumer to accept the CR, and she is the big one behind crypto.
I’m on the same page regarding Kirsten Gillebrand. When I saw her comments on Mamdani, it was very disturbing to me. Also Eric Swalwell was speaking out on the “infitada” that Mamdani mentioned, which was concerning to me, too. I have seen how Mamdani connects with the people of New York, walking from one end of Manhattan to the other. No small task. I don’t have a sense of fear with him that I do of Trump, of SCOTUS, who are making my blood boil, and the do-nothing Democratic Party who are absolutely dragging their feet. I don’t have any sense that 2026 is going to bring about any significant change to light a fire under that election. Yet the person who appears to be in fast forward regarding the future election (if it will even take place!) is Mamdani. Islamophobia rears its ugly head once again. No matter that many in the New York Jewish community support him.
Do you have a source for this comment made by y Eric Swalwell or in what context it was said?
I couldn't agree more. She is a conniving, self-serving tart who betrayed Al Franken and most a key seat in the Senate (now occupied by MAGA Ron Johnson, I think) to raise her platform on sexual assault in the military. Treachery. She grabbed onto that issue, not so much for vulnerable women but for herself as a campaign banner, selling herself as presidential material. Has she effectuated any material change in military culture? Her ego knows no bounds.
So glad someone else remembers her blind drive to remove Franken
She's one of my senators, Long with Chuck Schumer. I called Gillebrand's office yesterday and said she should resign for what she said about Zohran Mamdani. As a former practicing Muslim, I was furious. I told her via voice mail she has lost my support and that she is disgusting.
Agreed!
I believe that Al Franken shouldn’t have quit or be forced out! I would like to see her go too!
Late to the party here … listening in from 12 mi out to sea. Spotty reception here.
What I’m hearing is extremely important : dissecting the mechanics of a Trump takeover:
It seems that Trump is riffing on more than one ‘template’ from the history of strongman template.
He’s is hard to pin down? Slippery?
Democrats are afraid of the big tent, because …
Not having a catchy phrase/ shtick ?
Because the message is too new??
We did not know how to categorize?
I have a letter prepared to send to Gillibrand, Schumer and Jeffries. I outlined the $$ they have received from AIPAC and know it shapes their position. I relayed that I am an activist who will be supporting Mamdani and doing my best to counter the scare tactics intended for Jewish voters. That is what Republicans do. Pretend to be looking out for Jews but in practice, follow the old trope of making Jews the scapegoat to achieve desired ends. I am a long tenured synagogue member and live according to Jewish values versus how the leadership of Israel governs.
Yes, Schumer and Jeffries as well. Frankly, I am disappointed in Jeffries.
Thank you for your discussion. Would the two of you consider continuing this discussion.
How do democrats or whatever the next iteration of democrat,
coalesce?
Yes! Registering people to vote. Expand the tent.
"Big, beautiful" is childish talk. Weird.
Should we the people perhaps sign up for accounts on Truth Social and shoot back at all his lies with truths? What are your thoughts? Could we also fight back that way?
Interesting suggestion that I've wondered about. My guess: we'd be banned, with claims that we are "bots". (But I haven't tested it.)
I thought the same but if we can get enough people all at once to try at least we can make it like a protest. Only thing is we would have to show receipts to prove what we are saying and not fight back with them, because you know they will come back at us. Wonder if it would help at all because those hard cores are so brainwashed. Have to think about it or look into another way to get the truth out because many of them are not in the places we are hearing the truth
There's the rub. Too brainwashed. If I knew how to change minds, I'd think some form of rebuttal worth a try. The reality is that any efforts to change people's thinking would require discussions 1 on 1, and with a lot of listening along the way.
Every accusation Republicans hurl at their "enemies" is a confession.
Thank you both. Excellent!
Go for it Dems - stand on clear moral ground, present a positive beyond-progressive agenda, a true alternative to the current regime. I'm 71 yrs old, I'm a reliable voter for democrats, but have never joined the party because they've never been radical enough for me!
I think he is awesome!!!
Zorhan on is confident and snarky all at the same one and I think he is the way we need to go. Democratic Socialism, no centrist movement. That is just not working for us any longer
It appears clear that Trump is a sociopath, so it's reasonable to ask: would he think a terror attack on US soil a "good thing"? Another 9/11-scale attack would enable him to consolidate power considerably. The Patriot Act, following 9/11 led to vastly increased information gathering and government surveillance, and few in Congress opposed it. Imagine an act requiring all social media companies to hand over to the government individual contacts, profiling information, etc., for all users; and which enabled him to deploy the military anywhere, for any reason, using flimsy references to a "terror threat". If you want a police state, the mechanisms for it are one terror attack away. What is a different explanation for "decimating" national security?