This in a state that gave tRump a 30 point margin of victory. The article mentions possible denial of federal aid in MS and MO, two other big-win states for Rump. This is how he will lose his congressional support, as the "base" puts pressure on their lapdog representatives.
I realize that people on this site hold CNN in disdain (to put it mildly) because they're not "progressive," but this article sums up exactly what the D's face in fighting back. It's not a negative theme, but a realistic one. At least, more realistic than donning Handmaid Hats and wailing for one single individual unjustly deported.
Unless the D's are able to offer the tRump base something more than unicorns, rainbows, and platitudes, the next president may well make this one seem almost sane.
"He can singlehandedly stop much of Trump’s agenda if he so chooses". Chuck Grasley will go down in history as an absolute coward. His face should appear in the dictionary next to the words coward and sycophant.
I think you may be placing a bit too much importance on that statement, but why would you expect a Republican senator to "stop much of tRump's agenda"? That's the responsibility of the D's. Did any Democrat "stop much" of Obama's agenda? Or Biden's? That "Profiles in Courage" is long gone from any aspect or party in US politics. Where was the courage in 2023 when it was obvious that Biden should graciously step aside and let the primary process select a strong candidate?
OK, but they weren't "normal times" in 2023 when it was obvious that not only was tRump going to be the candidate, but that he had an enormous groundswell behind him. And not one D said a thing!
And speaking of not doing anything, who's the Senate minority leader these days? About the only thing he can do is stand up at the podium with his hands in his pockets and read a prepared statement praising the late pope.
Where are these millions of murderers and rapists, insane immigrants that he and Republicans continue to rant and rave about? Trump said many times that the local police know who they are and they would be easily identified and deported. Instead he is going after people who came here legally and are engaged in the asylum process, even arresting them as they arrive for judicial meetings. 90% of the guys sent to CECOT had no criminal records in the US. They are left having to makeup crimes that they assign to these political prisoners. Abrego is a political prisoner. Clear. Cut and dry. He is an actual hostage unlike the Jan 6 insurrectionists who received pardons from Trump. At least they got due process in their convictions. Abrego has not been convicted of anything.
A fellow Taurus.(May 8) The cracks are beginning to show. We need to keep the pressure on. Hiring an investigative reporter is a good idea to counter the cowardly bullshit in the mainstream media. Said journalist will need to be tough and unrelenting. And we'll need to have his/her back. I'm looking forward to seeing who jumps into this role.
There is a certain irony that JD was one of the last people to meet with the pope on his last day on earth. No one was a bigger champion for refugees and immigrants than the pope. I imagine that he had some small word to give Vance about compassion for those trying to escape poverty and violence. We can only hope at the least that brief visit weighs on Vance conscience and won’t totally let him forget even if it take years for Vance to understand the truth of who the pope was. In general I believe most Americans are decent people who don’t want to hate or persecute immigrants. Cruelty isn’t who we are as a nation. For all our many faults our hearts are touched when we can see the faces of the immigrant and those who love them. I think we need the faces of all the men Trump sent to hell to further the public’s empathy. Trump and his immigration ghouls have cruel and black hearts. He’s loosing this fight because most Americans do not.
There’s no question that since Trump slithered on the scene he’s done all he can to erode America’s soul. He’s made inroads with some types of people, but those people were ripe for the picking so to speak. Americans today learn best from the visual. Put the face of a man with his kids and a crying wife and most Americans want to do something. It’s the real reason why Grassley was screamed at during his town hall. The bad economy wasn’t front and center. People don’t like cruelty or seeing the courts disobeyed. They are standing up because of that. I have a close friend who grew up under communism in Bulgaria. I tell her if we get through this nightmare it’s going to because of the American spirit. Some people got swallowed up by Trump along the way but I still believe our overall spirit is strong and will be what wins this war.
I was thinking the same thing; ironic that one of the last people the pope saw was someone devoid of conscience or compassion. From all accounts, including the video, it seems that nothing of any substance was said in the very brief meeting.
I wish I could share your optimism about what "most Americans" are; a long life observing the passion for wars, flag-waving, and other signs of "compassion" makes that difficult. Most Americans are more concerned about the price of eggs than about what happens to a few people who admittedly entered the country illegally.
What DOES seem to be getting attention is the latest screw-up by Hegseth, including his wife, family, and lawyer in a Signal chat annoys R congressmen far more than repeatedly showing the picture of the "loving" deportee.
I think we have to keep it in perspective. The hard core cult who would walk off a cliff for their dear leader is not large, maybe 34-35% of the population. They’re just lost. A lot of others in the last election are not in Trump’s cult. They are mostly the uninformed who also had amnesia about what a horrible leader he was last go round. The non voter is much larger than it should be. They’re apathetic and don’t care about much of anything. Of course there will always be republicans who will vote for one just because they always have. Really we have a lot to work with. The country is full of independents and a lot of the ones who foolishly voted for Trump are beginning to have buyer’s remorse. The non voter even though apathetic is worried too now which may wake them up. Our job as democrats is to pull these people into our camp. The Trump cult can’t win elections on their own and it’s become quite obvious most Americans want to live in a democracy so if we play it smart they will go with us in the midterms.
From laura Egan. “Democrats have been petrified to talk about immigration since the 2024 election. Many in the party think President Joe Biden fumbled the border and gave Trump a winning issue to run on. You can almost see the consultant-brain at work when leaders such as Newsom are asked to weigh in on the topic (more on that from Tim Miller in today’s Triad).”
Julie, thanks so much for finding the positives (green shoots as some say) in a sea of negatives and hand wringing. The magic, as Chris Murphy said, of continuous loud street demonstrations is hard to see when one is out there yelling at passing cars whose occupants give you the finger. I think we have attended three in the past 30 days and another at our local SS office coming up on Thursday.
Thank you Julie. I appreciate your writing and that of your readers, like Kenneth. While I do have disagreements, those same issues prompt me to rethink my views, or at least, try to articulate them better.
Julie—do you agree that Trump's immigration proposals poll higher than other issues, largely because Democrats have failed to establish a solid immigration policy? I believe there would be significant strategic value in Democrats presenting a clear, affirmative immigration platform rather than merely opposing deportations of legal citizens and law-abiding residents. This would expose the wasteful and harmful nature of Trump's approach while offering a constructive alternative.
What specific policy alternatives would effectively connect with voters who currently find Trump's immigration stance appealing?
I think that the Biden policy of admitting anyone who claimed "asylum" and releasing them with no vetting, and "promise" to show up at a hearing months or years away, and then not caring if and when they don't, was and is a significant problem for D's. "Compassion" is nice, but when the numbers admitted are overwhelming, it becomes prohibitive. The US has procedures for admitting immigrants; most follow them and they should be adhered to. But to virtually throw open the doors doesn't "play well" with most non-progressives.
Thanks, Nathan. It’s anll the more reason to have such a policy. this morning. I wrote Julie Roginsky one of my favorite substack critics of Democratic Party messaging and messages and offered a similar criticism of the Democrats inconsistent policy on immigration. In response to my note, someone suggested that the Democrats should just compile current laws and procedures on immigration and prescribe them as new or reformed policy for the public. But to comply with them
Julie, another great article. I'm glad to see that while you are still concerned, the underlying tone of near-panic seems to be subsiding. It does seem that tRump is imploding, at least with those who count, including R politicians. I also watched as Kennedy seemed, in sort of a "Shucks Good Ole Boy" way, to repudiate most of the recent antics of Rump. The Justice Department lawyer who had originally admitted that the deportation was an error was of course immediately fired; next up will be those who initially recommended it.
As someone once said, "MAGA ye will always have with you," but they are easily distracted by shiny objects and fast NASCAR races. I am still relatively confident that once SCOTUS slams down the birthright challenge (7-2; the troglodytes will never leave him), he will begin to lose interest. Hopefully, by summer, he will dedicate himself exclusively to golf and leave government to the adults.
Why I got founders plan but I can’t afford any more , good luck raising don’t have people to give the free Substack too live in trump country everyone sticking with trump o one wants a anti trump Substack
Another interesting article:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/23/weather/trump-denied-disaster-aid-arkansas-tornadoes/index.html
This in a state that gave tRump a 30 point margin of victory. The article mentions possible denial of federal aid in MS and MO, two other big-win states for Rump. This is how he will lose his congressional support, as the "base" puts pressure on their lapdog representatives.
Something to seriously ponder:
https://www.cnn.com/2025/04/23/politics/trump-presidency-chaos-success-analysis/index.html
I realize that people on this site hold CNN in disdain (to put it mildly) because they're not "progressive," but this article sums up exactly what the D's face in fighting back. It's not a negative theme, but a realistic one. At least, more realistic than donning Handmaid Hats and wailing for one single individual unjustly deported.
Unless the D's are able to offer the tRump base something more than unicorns, rainbows, and platitudes, the next president may well make this one seem almost sane.
"He can singlehandedly stop much of Trump’s agenda if he so chooses". Chuck Grasley will go down in history as an absolute coward. His face should appear in the dictionary next to the words coward and sycophant.
I think you may be placing a bit too much importance on that statement, but why would you expect a Republican senator to "stop much of tRump's agenda"? That's the responsibility of the D's. Did any Democrat "stop much" of Obama's agenda? Or Biden's? That "Profiles in Courage" is long gone from any aspect or party in US politics. Where was the courage in 2023 when it was obvious that Biden should graciously step aside and let the primary process select a strong candidate?
I hear ya, but these aren't normal circumstances. Grasley knows damn well what's happening, so he's choosing DJT over America so that makes him a POS.
OK, but they weren't "normal times" in 2023 when it was obvious that not only was tRump going to be the candidate, but that he had an enormous groundswell behind him. And not one D said a thing!
And speaking of not doing anything, who's the Senate minority leader these days? About the only thing he can do is stand up at the podium with his hands in his pockets and read a prepared statement praising the late pope.
Where are these millions of murderers and rapists, insane immigrants that he and Republicans continue to rant and rave about? Trump said many times that the local police know who they are and they would be easily identified and deported. Instead he is going after people who came here legally and are engaged in the asylum process, even arresting them as they arrive for judicial meetings. 90% of the guys sent to CECOT had no criminal records in the US. They are left having to makeup crimes that they assign to these political prisoners. Abrego is a political prisoner. Clear. Cut and dry. He is an actual hostage unlike the Jan 6 insurrectionists who received pardons from Trump. At least they got due process in their convictions. Abrego has not been convicted of anything.
A fellow Taurus.(May 8) The cracks are beginning to show. We need to keep the pressure on. Hiring an investigative reporter is a good idea to counter the cowardly bullshit in the mainstream media. Said journalist will need to be tough and unrelenting. And we'll need to have his/her back. I'm looking forward to seeing who jumps into this role.
lol on the Menendez couple. Their conjugal visits not something I care to conjure up in my mind. lol
On a lighter note, looks like ex-Senator Menendez isn't going to have to ask for conjugal visits. The feds may let Mr. and Mrs. M. share a cell!
There is a certain irony that JD was one of the last people to meet with the pope on his last day on earth. No one was a bigger champion for refugees and immigrants than the pope. I imagine that he had some small word to give Vance about compassion for those trying to escape poverty and violence. We can only hope at the least that brief visit weighs on Vance conscience and won’t totally let him forget even if it take years for Vance to understand the truth of who the pope was. In general I believe most Americans are decent people who don’t want to hate or persecute immigrants. Cruelty isn’t who we are as a nation. For all our many faults our hearts are touched when we can see the faces of the immigrant and those who love them. I think we need the faces of all the men Trump sent to hell to further the public’s empathy. Trump and his immigration ghouls have cruel and black hearts. He’s loosing this fight because most Americans do not.
There’s no question that since Trump slithered on the scene he’s done all he can to erode America’s soul. He’s made inroads with some types of people, but those people were ripe for the picking so to speak. Americans today learn best from the visual. Put the face of a man with his kids and a crying wife and most Americans want to do something. It’s the real reason why Grassley was screamed at during his town hall. The bad economy wasn’t front and center. People don’t like cruelty or seeing the courts disobeyed. They are standing up because of that. I have a close friend who grew up under communism in Bulgaria. I tell her if we get through this nightmare it’s going to because of the American spirit. Some people got swallowed up by Trump along the way but I still believe our overall spirit is strong and will be what wins this war.
I was thinking the same thing; ironic that one of the last people the pope saw was someone devoid of conscience or compassion. From all accounts, including the video, it seems that nothing of any substance was said in the very brief meeting.
I wish I could share your optimism about what "most Americans" are; a long life observing the passion for wars, flag-waving, and other signs of "compassion" makes that difficult. Most Americans are more concerned about the price of eggs than about what happens to a few people who admittedly entered the country illegally.
What DOES seem to be getting attention is the latest screw-up by Hegseth, including his wife, family, and lawyer in a Signal chat annoys R congressmen far more than repeatedly showing the picture of the "loving" deportee.
See my comment Kenneth on the main thread.
I admire your optimism. You see the glass as half full. I see it as half empty because a majority of Americans drank the Kool-Aid.
I think we have to keep it in perspective. The hard core cult who would walk off a cliff for their dear leader is not large, maybe 34-35% of the population. They’re just lost. A lot of others in the last election are not in Trump’s cult. They are mostly the uninformed who also had amnesia about what a horrible leader he was last go round. The non voter is much larger than it should be. They’re apathetic and don’t care about much of anything. Of course there will always be republicans who will vote for one just because they always have. Really we have a lot to work with. The country is full of independents and a lot of the ones who foolishly voted for Trump are beginning to have buyer’s remorse. The non voter even though apathetic is worried too now which may wake them up. Our job as democrats is to pull these people into our camp. The Trump cult can’t win elections on their own and it’s become quite obvious most Americans want to live in a democracy so if we play it smart they will go with us in the midterms.
From laura Egan. “Democrats have been petrified to talk about immigration since the 2024 election. Many in the party think President Joe Biden fumbled the border and gave Trump a winning issue to run on. You can almost see the consultant-brain at work when leaders such as Newsom are asked to weigh in on the topic (more on that from Tim Miller in today’s Triad).”
Julie, thanks so much for finding the positives (green shoots as some say) in a sea of negatives and hand wringing. The magic, as Chris Murphy said, of continuous loud street demonstrations is hard to see when one is out there yelling at passing cars whose occupants give you the finger. I think we have attended three in the past 30 days and another at our local SS office coming up on Thursday.
Thank you Julie. I appreciate your writing and that of your readers, like Kenneth. While I do have disagreements, those same issues prompt me to rethink my views, or at least, try to articulate them better.
Julie—do you agree that Trump's immigration proposals poll higher than other issues, largely because Democrats have failed to establish a solid immigration policy? I believe there would be significant strategic value in Democrats presenting a clear, affirmative immigration platform rather than merely opposing deportations of legal citizens and law-abiding residents. This would expose the wasteful and harmful nature of Trump's approach while offering a constructive alternative.
What specific policy alternatives would effectively connect with voters who currently find Trump's immigration stance appealing?
I think that the Biden policy of admitting anyone who claimed "asylum" and releasing them with no vetting, and "promise" to show up at a hearing months or years away, and then not caring if and when they don't, was and is a significant problem for D's. "Compassion" is nice, but when the numbers admitted are overwhelming, it becomes prohibitive. The US has procedures for admitting immigrants; most follow them and they should be adhered to. But to virtually throw open the doors doesn't "play well" with most non-progressives.
Thanks, Nathan. It’s anll the more reason to have such a policy. this morning. I wrote Julie Roginsky one of my favorite substack critics of Democratic Party messaging and messages and offered a similar criticism of the Democrats inconsistent policy on immigration. In response to my note, someone suggested that the Democrats should just compile current laws and procedures on immigration and prescribe them as new or reformed policy for the public. But to comply with them
Julie, another great article. I'm glad to see that while you are still concerned, the underlying tone of near-panic seems to be subsiding. It does seem that tRump is imploding, at least with those who count, including R politicians. I also watched as Kennedy seemed, in sort of a "Shucks Good Ole Boy" way, to repudiate most of the recent antics of Rump. The Justice Department lawyer who had originally admitted that the deportation was an error was of course immediately fired; next up will be those who initially recommended it.
As someone once said, "MAGA ye will always have with you," but they are easily distracted by shiny objects and fast NASCAR races. I am still relatively confident that once SCOTUS slams down the birthright challenge (7-2; the troglodytes will never leave him), he will begin to lose interest. Hopefully, by summer, he will dedicate himself exclusively to golf and leave government to the adults.
Why I got founders plan but I can’t afford any more , good luck raising don’t have people to give the free Substack too live in trump country everyone sticking with trump o one wants a anti trump Substack
MAGA = MS13
(See photo in link)
https://substack.com/@todd247041/note/c-110826692?r=gly8p&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action