Strait of Hormuz? Everything Mad King Donald says contradicts reality – as well as whatever he’s just announced 5 minutes ago, or will Tweet in another 5 minutes.
The only Strait this toxic idiot should have is a straitjacket! And that ASAP!
Hard to believe there's anyone in this cabinet with less charm and personality than Vance, but Bessent is a contender.
Speaking of which... is Lutnick alive?
We haven't heard from Mister Jeffrey-Epstein-Is-Gross-But-Why-Not-Take-My-Friends-And-Our-Wives-and-Our-Nannies-And-Our-Kids-For-A-Free-Lunch-At-His-Private-Island in quite a while.
Just working at a few postcards when the post came up. I have 10 to mail today, 15 more working on right now. The latter batch to NE for voter outreach.
I find it a bit of a relief that the White House is leaking about all of this. Even though they are even worse than the crew in his first term, it seems like at least a few of them are waking up to how fucking insane this all is.
I still go back to the stories Miles Taylor told, about how, for example, he wanted a 2000 mile long moat along the southern border filled with snakes and alligators. Or how he didn't want doors in the southern wall for cattle ranchers, and his idea was to pull firetrucks up to the wall so the cattle could climb a ladder over the wall.
The problem with the narrative that he is entering a stage of dementia is that it neglects the fact that 10 years ago he was just as insane and demented. Maybe it's getting worse. I don't know. His ability to speak coherently has gotten worse. But some of the stupid ideas he has go back quite a long way.
Thanks so much for pointing out that "10 years ago he was just as insane and demented"!! And long before that he was a racist, misogynist PoS. What's changed since the first term is that he's now surrounded by unqualified toadies who don't realize what a mess he is and/or depend on him for their own access to power.
and my fave: he looked directly at the solar eclipse!!! after being told not to by everyone and didnt put on his special glasses. i knew right then and there we were in really big trouble.
Yes. There has to be a list of all the "great" things Trump did during his first term. Here is another one or three depending on how you count it/them: Named Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Remember how Trump looked so thoughtful when he suggested bleach to combat covid? Like he was trying so hard to look and sound smart?
Have been monitoring it since 2016, which overlaps with my mom's violent and self dealing behaviors as dementia progressed exactly as his has. (I grew up in a Trump like family where record length intranecine lawsuits and revenge plays were a thing, and it was considered funny if a subpoena arrived on someone's birthday. Vast quantities of money and valuables shifted around and disappeared, too, and there was at least one unexplained death and two suicides. All this to say both can be true. Finally got some EMDR to address some of the diagnosed c-PSTD so I could stay engaged with donations and political action. It helped - for what that is worth.
We have a madman at the helm. He has sailed us all into a monumental disaster as his mindless lackeys and power mongers keep him hermetically sealed in the bubble of his narcissism and ignorance. Meanwhile, the Republican Congress has shut its eyes and refuses to act because apparently all its members also care about is power. We must never forget their cowardice.
No doubt this idiotic unnecessary war is not going as Trump had envisioned. But, results are secondary, IMHO. The primary betrayals: are the lies about the purpose of the war, the corruption-- Trump's family, rich people and oil companies getting richer, and the utter incompetence leading into it and now carrying it out, and all of this at the direct expense of the American people. The results can change, but that core rot needs to be exposed over and over again. All leading back to 2017 when Trump abandoned the JCPOA. With the JCPOA, the Strait was open, Iran was not developing nuclear weapons, and we weren't at war with them.
and it didnt cost us lives and billions! and the global economy crashing and our allies turning their backs on us. it was just long, hard work. something satan has never done in his life.
This ‘free pass’ given to Trump’s style of communication (weave, crazy-guy, performative) holds no water. Each of his ‘episodes’ never last. It’s scarely a serious method for success in a dangerous world. Trump and his apologists are all just text book idiots.
"the only way this thing ends is if Trump makes major concessions, something I just don’t think he is capable of doing - as evidenced by his refusal to abide by the cease fire deal negotiated last week. So it’s groundhog day now. He issues big threats. Iran and the world laugh at him."
25 47
I hear on Meidas Touch that Democratic electeds in oversight committee were questioning HHS Sec;y Bobby brainworms about the 25th amendment for Trump, last week.
Jamie Raskin's bill to create a 25th amendment committee as alternative to the cabinet now has over 70 Co-sponsors. I am glad to see them work this angle to pressure the GOP and just bring it into the mediasphere that Trump may indeed be too incapacitated to hold office. That's a narrative I could never get enough of.
Here is actual draft of the bill, Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of the Office introduced last Tuesday, April 14. I hope this link works for those interested. It didn't hyperlink but try copying and pasting into your navigation bar.
Key Details on the Raskin 25th Amendment Legislation:
Original 2017 Name/Number: The Oversight Commission on Presidential Capacity Act (H.R. 1987, 115th Congress).
2020 Version: Raskin reintroduced this legislation as the Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of the Office Act in October 2020.
2026 Reintroduction: In April 2026, Rep. Raskin and House Democrats introduced a new version of this bill to create a 17-member commission authorized under Section 4 of the 25th Amendment.
Purpose: The bill aims to establish the permanent "body" or commission authorized by Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to evaluate whether a president is unable to discharge their duties.
We can support this effort by asking/demanding our MoCs (regardless of party) to support Raskin's bill and get a companion bill going in the Senate. As Raskin said in an interview before he submitted the bill, "We just need a few Republicans. Not too many." Those words became marching orders for me.
As far as I'm concerned, Raskin's proposed legislation is probably the MOST important work going on. It should be obvious to anyone by now that as revolutionary and brilliant as our constitution was/is, it is incomplete, lacking an essential piece for dealing with the level of insanity-driven chaos that's been allowed to fester throughout our government today --- specifically, some teeth. This presidential competence oversight committee should always have existed, ready to convene immediately should the need arise, like a person with severe allergies might keep an epi-pen on his person, ready to go - but, alas, here we are. Up the creek, without ... blah, blah. Had we had the foresight to have seated such a standing committee [i.e., given the 25th some teeth] it would have been enacted by now, or its imposition at least anticipated.
The 25th was passed in 1965 during Lyndon Johnson's administration. They were more focussed on a President being shot or incapacitated by disease or kidnapped, not a life-long narcissist developing megalomania with a comatose congress in play.
But they put in the option for Congress to create a body so we wouldn't only have to rely on the cabinet. That means Raskin's bill doesn't have to be an amendment, but can use the language in the 25th to create a bill. Trump would have to sign it, or be overridden. He might be crazy enough to do it by then. He signed the Epstein bill after all. Even getting it to a veto, would be huge.
Raskin tried to enact this in 2017, and in 2020 while Trump was in 1.0
I agree with you, I think this strategy might work, and not only could it lead to Trump getting off the stage, it will be a bulwark against future presidents with "crazy ideas" about how the office of president has its limits. At this point, nothing seems more important to me besides primary season and the midterms. How else to end the war with Iran?
Thank you for the this added info. This should be doable - like you say, it's a bill, not an amendment! And obviously needed, to be (as you also said) "a bulwark" against this predicament [i.e., a president with certifiably crazy illogical, berserk, inane, psychotic etc., ideas]. Go, Jamie!
Thank you for leading with the WSJ article, which I found absolutely damning of our Orange Addled Idiot:
1. Reporting his belief that acting insane will force the Iranians to the negotiating table is now a dead tactic. The jig is up, there, buddy. What next, moron?
2. Details matter.
3. The photo selected by the WSJ reveals how small his hands really are.
Thank you so much for these daily updates, which I am finding indispensable in focusing my energies each day on what I can do to move our pro-democracy movement forward. It's so daunting bc of the tidal wave of news--and now we academic librarians have to stay on top of AI crap on top of it. It can make your head spin, esp. because we also have access to a plethora of paywalled resources including subscription databases. I am so grateful to you, Simon, for doing this essential service not only of synthesizing these resources each day, but of focusing our energies on what you think are the most important news items to be aware of and actions to take.
Spending this dreary day at the Jersey Shore working on a library guide on the American Revolution for my academic library, and on a presentation on AI & media lit for a local Dem Club.
In case you missed my late post yesterday, on Friday afternoon, I participated in a silent demonstration honoring those killed in ICE detention. We wore black and carried signs w images of the deceased and marched slowly down the boardwalk in Asbury Park. Nothing but thanks from onlookers. Today that same group of activists is hosting another vigil in Asbury Park to support the immigrant community after an ugly incident involving ICE right on Main St.
Please comment on Clarence Thomas’ speech at the University of Texas. Progressives are the root of all evil according to him. And government should not serve the people.
Robert Reich published an interesting Substack post about this yesterday. He responds to the arguments about progressivism and also shares about being in law school with Thomas, Hillary Rodham and Bill Clinton.
Simon, I think I covered all the articles (gift links) you left for the weekend. All very important and interesting! Thank you, enjoy the rest of your weekend.
One of the great side effects of Iran's hilarious social media posts is that they have totally overtaken official White House posts for views and engagement. Frankly, the White House posts look moldy and tired, and tend to work the same 2-3 approaches: a) punching down, b) making trump look like a god or military leader, or c) 7th-grade-level inside jokes no one can understand. By contrast, Iran's posts are funny, skillful uses of satire similar to Gavin Newsom's team's style.
I am amazed at Iran's social media team. They are so good. OMG, they make look Trump and his team look even more stupid. They're funny, spot on ... and brutal.
Okay, the one that Meidas Touch was showing with the crying baby labelled as trump sticking his hand in the Strait of Hormuz on the map had me rolling!
Strait of Hormuz? Everything Mad King Donald says contradicts reality – as well as whatever he’s just announced 5 minutes ago, or will Tweet in another 5 minutes.
The only Strait this toxic idiot should have is a straitjacket! And that ASAP!
Did I hear someone ragging on Hegseth calling it the Strait of Vermouth?
It was Scott Bessent who said that.
Uch.
Scott Bessent. He needs to go to ACOA meetings. He really looks mentally ill when he’s groveling.
Hard to believe there's anyone in this cabinet with less charm and personality than Vance, but Bessent is a contender.
Speaking of which... is Lutnick alive?
We haven't heard from Mister Jeffrey-Epstein-Is-Gross-But-Why-Not-Take-My-Friends-And-Our-Wives-and-Our-Nannies-And-Our-Kids-For-A-Free-Lunch-At-His-Private-Island in quite a while.
Strait of Vermouth. I’d like some vermouth w my Strait of Martini.
When I see the healthcare pros take Donnie away in his well-deserved straitjacket, I’ll take my celebratory Balvenie neat.
Are we not supporting George Conway for congress? He's running as a Democrat.
Hopium doesn't endorse in primaries.
Just working at a few postcards when the post came up. I have 10 to mail today, 15 more working on right now. The latter batch to NE for voter outreach.
I find it a bit of a relief that the White House is leaking about all of this. Even though they are even worse than the crew in his first term, it seems like at least a few of them are waking up to how fucking insane this all is.
I still go back to the stories Miles Taylor told, about how, for example, he wanted a 2000 mile long moat along the southern border filled with snakes and alligators. Or how he didn't want doors in the southern wall for cattle ranchers, and his idea was to pull firetrucks up to the wall so the cattle could climb a ladder over the wall.
The problem with the narrative that he is entering a stage of dementia is that it neglects the fact that 10 years ago he was just as insane and demented. Maybe it's getting worse. I don't know. His ability to speak coherently has gotten worse. But some of the stupid ideas he has go back quite a long way.
Thanks so much for pointing out that "10 years ago he was just as insane and demented"!! And long before that he was a racist, misogynist PoS. What's changed since the first term is that he's now surrounded by unqualified toadies who don't realize what a mess he is and/or depend on him for their own access to power.
Yes to all of that.
And his first time was awful as well. Granted he did not start a war with Iran then.
Nope, just recommended injecting bleach to combat covid. And he did tear up Obama's Iranian accord to limit their nuclear ambitions.
and my fave: he looked directly at the solar eclipse!!! after being told not to by everyone and didnt put on his special glasses. i knew right then and there we were in really big trouble.
Sheesh, I'd totally forgotten that.
😂
😂. Too bad he didn't stare at it longer. Trust me, I wasn't this mean before Trump.
Yes. There has to be a list of all the "great" things Trump did during his first term. Here is another one or three depending on how you count it/them: Named Gorsuch, Kavanaugh and Barrett to the Supreme Court.
Remember how Trump looked so thoughtful when he suggested bleach to combat covid? Like he was trying so hard to look and sound smart?
Those were names on a list someone handed him.
Federalist Society
My immediate response was “Thank heavens for small favors.” My second thought was “At that point the Epstein files weren’t hot on his trail.”
Well he's been stupid his whole life, so...
Have been monitoring it since 2016, which overlaps with my mom's violent and self dealing behaviors as dementia progressed exactly as his has. (I grew up in a Trump like family where record length intranecine lawsuits and revenge plays were a thing, and it was considered funny if a subpoena arrived on someone's birthday. Vast quantities of money and valuables shifted around and disappeared, too, and there was at least one unexplained death and two suicides. All this to say both can be true. Finally got some EMDR to address some of the diagnosed c-PSTD so I could stay engaged with donations and political action. It helped - for what that is worth.
We have a madman at the helm. He has sailed us all into a monumental disaster as his mindless lackeys and power mongers keep him hermetically sealed in the bubble of his narcissism and ignorance. Meanwhile, the Republican Congress has shut its eyes and refuses to act because apparently all its members also care about is power. We must never forget their cowardice.
No doubt this idiotic unnecessary war is not going as Trump had envisioned. But, results are secondary, IMHO. The primary betrayals: are the lies about the purpose of the war, the corruption-- Trump's family, rich people and oil companies getting richer, and the utter incompetence leading into it and now carrying it out, and all of this at the direct expense of the American people. The results can change, but that core rot needs to be exposed over and over again. All leading back to 2017 when Trump abandoned the JCPOA. With the JCPOA, the Strait was open, Iran was not developing nuclear weapons, and we weren't at war with them.
and it didnt cost us lives and billions! and the global economy crashing and our allies turning their backs on us. it was just long, hard work. something satan has never done in his life.
This ‘free pass’ given to Trump’s style of communication (weave, crazy-guy, performative) holds no water. Each of his ‘episodes’ never last. It’s scarely a serious method for success in a dangerous world. Trump and his apologists are all just text book idiots.
"the only way this thing ends is if Trump makes major concessions, something I just don’t think he is capable of doing - as evidenced by his refusal to abide by the cease fire deal negotiated last week. So it’s groundhog day now. He issues big threats. Iran and the world laugh at him."
25 47
I hear on Meidas Touch that Democratic electeds in oversight committee were questioning HHS Sec;y Bobby brainworms about the 25th amendment for Trump, last week.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lwduS0V1n8I&t=217s
Jamie Raskin's bill to create a 25th amendment committee as alternative to the cabinet now has over 70 Co-sponsors. I am glad to see them work this angle to pressure the GOP and just bring it into the mediasphere that Trump may indeed be too incapacitated to hold office. That's a narrative I could never get enough of.
Here is actual draft of the bill, Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of the Office introduced last Tuesday, April 14. I hope this link works for those interested. It didn't hyperlink but try copying and pasting into your navigation bar.
chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://democrats-judiciary.house.gov/sites/evo-subsites/democrats-judiciary.house.gov/files/evo-media-document/ld_01_xml.pdf
Here is a summary from Google AI:
Key Details on the Raskin 25th Amendment Legislation:
Original 2017 Name/Number: The Oversight Commission on Presidential Capacity Act (H.R. 1987, 115th Congress).
2020 Version: Raskin reintroduced this legislation as the Commission on Presidential Capacity to Discharge the Powers and Duties of the Office Act in October 2020.
2026 Reintroduction: In April 2026, Rep. Raskin and House Democrats introduced a new version of this bill to create a 17-member commission authorized under Section 4 of the 25th Amendment.
Purpose: The bill aims to establish the permanent "body" or commission authorized by Section 4 of the 25th Amendment to evaluate whether a president is unable to discharge their duties.
We can support this effort by asking/demanding our MoCs (regardless of party) to support Raskin's bill and get a companion bill going in the Senate. As Raskin said in an interview before he submitted the bill, "We just need a few Republicans. Not too many." Those words became marching orders for me.
As far as I'm concerned, Raskin's proposed legislation is probably the MOST important work going on. It should be obvious to anyone by now that as revolutionary and brilliant as our constitution was/is, it is incomplete, lacking an essential piece for dealing with the level of insanity-driven chaos that's been allowed to fester throughout our government today --- specifically, some teeth. This presidential competence oversight committee should always have existed, ready to convene immediately should the need arise, like a person with severe allergies might keep an epi-pen on his person, ready to go - but, alas, here we are. Up the creek, without ... blah, blah. Had we had the foresight to have seated such a standing committee [i.e., given the 25th some teeth] it would have been enacted by now, or its imposition at least anticipated.
The 25th was passed in 1965 during Lyndon Johnson's administration. They were more focussed on a President being shot or incapacitated by disease or kidnapped, not a life-long narcissist developing megalomania with a comatose congress in play.
But they put in the option for Congress to create a body so we wouldn't only have to rely on the cabinet. That means Raskin's bill doesn't have to be an amendment, but can use the language in the 25th to create a bill. Trump would have to sign it, or be overridden. He might be crazy enough to do it by then. He signed the Epstein bill after all. Even getting it to a veto, would be huge.
Raskin tried to enact this in 2017, and in 2020 while Trump was in 1.0
I agree with you, I think this strategy might work, and not only could it lead to Trump getting off the stage, it will be a bulwark against future presidents with "crazy ideas" about how the office of president has its limits. At this point, nothing seems more important to me besides primary season and the midterms. How else to end the war with Iran?
Thank you for the this added info. This should be doable - like you say, it's a bill, not an amendment! And obviously needed, to be (as you also said) "a bulwark" against this predicament [i.e., a president with certifiably crazy illogical, berserk, inane, psychotic etc., ideas]. Go, Jamie!
https://www.threads.com/@ronaldfilipkowski/post/DXUkqkCkcSQ?xmt=AQF0vPHNerZ87eKFrhplTfh7vNfWhr845YfX_C5JHq8D9NDD4b_5necpKriivl7kA7FBmDT_&slof=1
Iran is claiming no knowledge of any negotiations in Pakistan and says they currently have no plans to attend
Thank you for leading with the WSJ article, which I found absolutely damning of our Orange Addled Idiot:
1. Reporting his belief that acting insane will force the Iranians to the negotiating table is now a dead tactic. The jig is up, there, buddy. What next, moron?
2. Details matter.
3. The photo selected by the WSJ reveals how small his hands really are.
Thank you so much for these daily updates, which I am finding indispensable in focusing my energies each day on what I can do to move our pro-democracy movement forward. It's so daunting bc of the tidal wave of news--and now we academic librarians have to stay on top of AI crap on top of it. It can make your head spin, esp. because we also have access to a plethora of paywalled resources including subscription databases. I am so grateful to you, Simon, for doing this essential service not only of synthesizing these resources each day, but of focusing our energies on what you think are the most important news items to be aware of and actions to take.
Spending this dreary day at the Jersey Shore working on a library guide on the American Revolution for my academic library, and on a presentation on AI & media lit for a local Dem Club.
In case you missed my late post yesterday, on Friday afternoon, I participated in a silent demonstration honoring those killed in ICE detention. We wore black and carried signs w images of the deceased and marched slowly down the boardwalk in Asbury Park. Nothing but thanks from onlookers. Today that same group of activists is hosting another vigil in Asbury Park to support the immigrant community after an ugly incident involving ICE right on Main St.
Keep going!
https://substack.com/@phillipspobrien/note/c-245698891?r=ac69z&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
This is so interesting!
Please comment on Clarence Thomas’ speech at the University of Texas. Progressives are the root of all evil according to him. And government should not serve the people.
Robert Reich published an interesting Substack post about this yesterday. He responds to the arguments about progressivism and also shares about being in law school with Thomas, Hillary Rodham and Bill Clinton.
https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-worst-justice-in-modern-supreme
Thank you! I read his comments!
Throw a bunch of shoes at him.
Simon, I think I covered all the articles (gift links) you left for the weekend. All very important and interesting! Thank you, enjoy the rest of your weekend.
I want to share this important short essay here. If dems think that throwing trans people under the bus is going to help in elections they are wrong https://www.bostonreview.net/forum/how-not-to-defeat-authoritarianism/julia-serano/
One of the great side effects of Iran's hilarious social media posts is that they have totally overtaken official White House posts for views and engagement. Frankly, the White House posts look moldy and tired, and tend to work the same 2-3 approaches: a) punching down, b) making trump look like a god or military leader, or c) 7th-grade-level inside jokes no one can understand. By contrast, Iran's posts are funny, skillful uses of satire similar to Gavin Newsom's team's style.
I am amazed at Iran's social media team. They are so good. OMG, they make look Trump and his team look even more stupid. They're funny, spot on ... and brutal.
Okay, the one that Meidas Touch was showing with the crying baby labelled as trump sticking his hand in the Strait of Hormuz on the map had me rolling!