I was reminded on Saturday about why I go to protest, particularly in the cold. I was standing next to two women who told me that they were from Venezuela, and they said they were protesting because they didn’t want to have to leave another country. They said that they had experienced terrible repression and fear in their country, and hoped that they had left that behind they came to the United States.
After that conversation, I looked up, and four young men, probably highschoolers, had an enormous Trump 2024 flag and they were walking through the protest crowd. No one said anything to them, we just ignored them, but I really wanted to ask them what time they were going to be at the Marine Recruiting Office on Monday.
On a side note: This is why Prince Harry got so pissed. He was fighting in Afghanistan, just being one of the lads. Not wanting to draw any undue attention to himself. When the gawking royalty-obsessed British media outed him, the military pulled him out – much to Harry’s dismay. The military could not allow Prince Harry to become a prized target.
The news is grim, but we have to face it. It's clear that the demented old man was freaking out overnight.
In addition to everything else, Trump's actions are destabilizing Pakistan, a nuclear power, that is currently in a conflict with Afghan. Pakistan gets most of its oil through the Straight of Hormuz.
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen about ICE, restoring sanctions on Russia, and the need to regularly bring up Trump's mental deterioration. I'm writing postcards to Virginia voters about redistricting.
I called the Missouri senators to ask them to vote no on SAVE. Trump’s desperation and ferocity around SAVE makes me think we really need to block this.
Thanks, Simon. I was able to use what you wrote today in my message to the execrable individual that is supposed to be my representative in Congress
Here is my message:
Not another penny for this war. Furthermore, no one who wages a war, or makes any policy based on a prophecy from a 2000 year old book, has the judgement needed to hold public office.
Trump is a failed President. Nothing he has done has been good for America. He is leaving us less prosperous, less safe, and less free. He has enriched himself while putting the entire world - and all of us - in danger.
I have asked for a response but if you are going to insult my intelligence with a message that sounds like garbage from FOX TV, don't bother. Just resign.
I have been studying the extinctions for a few years now. Not to go totally off topic here, but this all just makes everything worse in this, the 6th extinction, driven entirely by human use of fossil fuels. Extinctions are caused by the inability of species to adapt to changing environmental conditions, and the oceans are where this begins. The fastest and most complete extinction was the 4th, 252M years ago. Scientists are now saying that extinction occurred in 60,000 years. (The 5th extinction, of the dinosaurs, took 1.5-2M years.) The current extinction is causing the loss of 3 species per hour, and is said to be faster than the 4th by 1,000-10,000 times; which means 6-60 years until the majority of all species on Earth are wiped out.
This "excursion" in the ME is alarming on every front. We are not going to adapt quickly to the loss of fossil fuels (!) for moving food, etc. We are not going to adapt quickly to the loss of fossil fuel-based fertilizers to feed life on the planet. We are not going to adapt quickly to the loss of ocean based foods, on which life on Earth largely depends. Coral bleaching is happening broadly among the coral reefs planet wide, and corals support much of the sea life on which we feed. The use of nuclear weapons (and current fossil fuel based fires) will create additional problems in the atmosphere.
So while the timeline of 6-60 years sounds improbable, we do not know whether or when we have crossed the tipping point on which life on the planet depends. We are seeing the results of climate change this week as we see blizzards across one area of our nation and incredible early heat in other areas. It is crazy. Out of control. Climate change denial is a basic tenet of the lawless and idiocy of this administration.
The situation is urgent. Do whatever you can. All the things. Every day. NOW.
Nobody is taking into account that the conditions 47 is perpetuating are rhe same that gave birth to ISIS. Of course, that would just be more human lives lost or tortured. Who cares? He wants us all dead and is waiting for us to give up. March 28 is going to be epic. Just remember. There are more of us than them.
We continue to formally document the illegal actions of this administration. Senate Judiciary Democrats and Rep. Jamie Raskin have sent a referral for criminal investigation of Kristi Noem's false statements under oath denying DHS violations of court orders. That question to Noem was asked by Senator Durbin. https://bsky.app/profile/judiciarydems.senate.gov/post/3mh6rzyi6fk2w
Other false statement are cited, including the $220 million ad campaign Noem claimed was approved by dt. Hopium has been advocating criminal referrals, and the time is ripe!!
Political cartoonist Nick Anderson posted on his Substack today: "Trump Is Dismantling the World America Built." What a compelling and on-target drawing.
Great cartoon, thanks for sharing. And good article:
“America’s contributions to the United Nations amount to about $18 billion a year: roughly two percent of the U.S. military budget and less than Americans spend annually on ice cream.
For that modest price, the United States gets something priceless: a world where disputes are often resolved through diplomacy rather than war, where trade flows across predictable rules, and where global problems—from nuclear proliferation to pandemics—can be addressed collectively.
Walking away from that system doesn’t make America stronger. It makes America alone.”
Plugging 5calls.org - they have great scripts and connect you directly to your member of congress. They have 46 issues with scripts, top one being No to Iran War, Stop SAVE act, stop Paramount WB merger - and connects your with State AGs who have power! Remember it was the states that stopped Albertson Kroger merger.
Sometimes I get nervous when calling and having a handy script to read off of really really helps.
Saturday was my birthday, and I celebrated it by making ICE OUT origami butterflies with an Indivisible art build here in Oakland. The butterflies will be attached to sticks and handed to marchers at NO KINGS on the 28th. The butterflies will be attached to a larger installation at the end of the march. I cannot stress enough how much fun and empowering it is to be part of a group like this. I'll be marching in Hawaii, but now I'll be part of the march here in my hometown as well. That feels really, really good. Trump and his cohorts are a global threat. He must be stopped, removed from office, and held accountable for his failures and his crimes against humanity.
Bravi to all the countries, which means all of them!, who rejected Trump's kind offer to get
him out of the horrible jam he's created. Stay strong, countries! This is scary stuff but dragging you all into it, would only make it worse. He started it - he can end it. He's bringing shame to all of us.
Yes, Simon, It was a fantastic Oscar's night. I loved the Sinners Performance. I was with them, all the way! A great four hrs. Then you spoiled it, by reminding Us that Trump is still here, ruining our Country and the World. Then, he's standing out on the street for help? What a Madman! Someone should have helped him to the nearest Sanitarium!!
While Claude is better than ChatGPT, we should not be supporting any artificial intelligence. The data centers supporting AI are terrible for the environment, and a blight on the communities where they are located.
Thank you Simon for raising money for the North Carolina Democrats. Below is a report about the most interesting primary in our state: Phil Berger, current NC Senate leader of 15 years versus Sam Page, Sheriff of Rockingham County (Berger's home county). Page leads Berger by 23 votes. Note that Berger spent $10 million on his race and Berger spent $50,000.
From Business North Carolina: Should Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page’s win in the District 26 primary over Phil Berger hold up, the longtime N.C. Senate leader can blame his support for a casino project, Page says.
“He created that situation, and I think that started his problem,” Page says.
The 2023 legislative session included debate over legalizing non-Native American casinos, while also producing the legalization of sports wagering and talk of video lottery terminals. Page favors the existing ban on those devices, joining other N.C. sheriffs who have waged constant battles against storefront operators trying to skirt the law.
But the casino issue has been front and center since Berger spearheaded the unsuccessful legalization push in 2023. The Baltimore-based Cordish Cos. was sizing up potential N.C. sites in Rockingham and Nash counties, and Berger viewed it as a way to attract investment and jobs to the rural county.
The Rockingham quest, and the rezoning that went with it, touched off a controversy that almost unseated Berger’s son, County Commissioner Kevin Berger. The younger Berger held on by just three votes in the county’s 2024 election.
Rockingham County voters didn't like the behind-closed-doors nature of the casino drive.
“The way it was brought about, and [that] people found out at the last minute, I think it just rubbed a lot of people wrong,” Page says.
“And you know what? If you want to talk about something that you think may be controversial, you need to take it to the citizens. That’s your bosses. But when you take it on your own …”
I see two lessons here. Don't forget where you come from as we say in the South. A $50,000 spend can trump a $10 million spend sometimes. Gives me hope for the midterms!
I agree that the casino issue hurt Berger, but I think a larger issue was left-leaning independents who voted for Page in order to get rid of Berger. While Page is just as MAGA as Berger, he does not have the power or connections, which will destabilize the GOP in the state senate.
I was reminded on Saturday about why I go to protest, particularly in the cold. I was standing next to two women who told me that they were from Venezuela, and they said they were protesting because they didn’t want to have to leave another country. They said that they had experienced terrible repression and fear in their country, and hoped that they had left that behind they came to the United States.
After that conversation, I looked up, and four young men, probably highschoolers, had an enormous Trump 2024 flag and they were walking through the protest crowd. No one said anything to them, we just ignored them, but I really wanted to ask them what time they were going to be at the Marine Recruiting Office on Monday.
#SendBarron
Here's the problem with sending off to war ANY Trump or Trump-by-marriage:
Combat requires comradery to an extraordinary degree.
A Trump in the military puts all our precious patriots in jeopardy.
On a side note: This is why Prince Harry got so pissed. He was fighting in Afghanistan, just being one of the lads. Not wanting to draw any undue attention to himself. When the gawking royalty-obsessed British media outed him, the military pulled him out – much to Harry’s dismay. The military could not allow Prince Harry to become a prized target.
Yes, I remember this.
Unfortunately, the Trump family is not to be trusted when it's life/death; they lack the ability to think outside themselves.
They are as useless to humanity as the Romanovs.
Simon, hope you are safe from this weather.
The news is grim, but we have to face it. It's clear that the demented old man was freaking out overnight.
In addition to everything else, Trump's actions are destabilizing Pakistan, a nuclear power, that is currently in a conflict with Afghan. Pakistan gets most of its oil through the Straight of Hormuz.
I called Congressman Raskin and Senators Alsobrooks and Van Hollen about ICE, restoring sanctions on Russia, and the need to regularly bring up Trump's mental deterioration. I'm writing postcards to Virginia voters about redistricting.
I called the Missouri senators to ask them to vote no on SAVE. Trump’s desperation and ferocity around SAVE makes me think we really need to block this.
I loved, loved loved the video of Dumpty tRumpy standing on the street with his pathetic sign.
The mockery is so apt and well-deserved!
Thanks, Simon. I was able to use what you wrote today in my message to the execrable individual that is supposed to be my representative in Congress
Here is my message:
Not another penny for this war. Furthermore, no one who wages a war, or makes any policy based on a prophecy from a 2000 year old book, has the judgement needed to hold public office.
Trump is a failed President. Nothing he has done has been good for America. He is leaving us less prosperous, less safe, and less free. He has enriched himself while putting the entire world - and all of us - in danger.
I have asked for a response but if you are going to insult my intelligence with a message that sounds like garbage from FOX TV, don't bother. Just resign.
That's a good one and sums things up nicely. Failed administration on all counts except stupidity and hubris.
I have been studying the extinctions for a few years now. Not to go totally off topic here, but this all just makes everything worse in this, the 6th extinction, driven entirely by human use of fossil fuels. Extinctions are caused by the inability of species to adapt to changing environmental conditions, and the oceans are where this begins. The fastest and most complete extinction was the 4th, 252M years ago. Scientists are now saying that extinction occurred in 60,000 years. (The 5th extinction, of the dinosaurs, took 1.5-2M years.) The current extinction is causing the loss of 3 species per hour, and is said to be faster than the 4th by 1,000-10,000 times; which means 6-60 years until the majority of all species on Earth are wiped out.
This "excursion" in the ME is alarming on every front. We are not going to adapt quickly to the loss of fossil fuels (!) for moving food, etc. We are not going to adapt quickly to the loss of fossil fuel-based fertilizers to feed life on the planet. We are not going to adapt quickly to the loss of ocean based foods, on which life on Earth largely depends. Coral bleaching is happening broadly among the coral reefs planet wide, and corals support much of the sea life on which we feed. The use of nuclear weapons (and current fossil fuel based fires) will create additional problems in the atmosphere.
So while the timeline of 6-60 years sounds improbable, we do not know whether or when we have crossed the tipping point on which life on the planet depends. We are seeing the results of climate change this week as we see blizzards across one area of our nation and incredible early heat in other areas. It is crazy. Out of control. Climate change denial is a basic tenet of the lawless and idiocy of this administration.
The situation is urgent. Do whatever you can. All the things. Every day. NOW.
Yes, these are really important issues that have been totally overshadowed unfortunately.
I don't have any answers right now though. Not a lot that can be done until Dems take back control and so that has to be the focus.
Will it already be too late by then? Possibly, but we have to maintain some optimism I think!
I agree.
Nobody is taking into account that the conditions 47 is perpetuating are rhe same that gave birth to ISIS. Of course, that would just be more human lives lost or tortured. Who cares? He wants us all dead and is waiting for us to give up. March 28 is going to be epic. Just remember. There are more of us than them.
We continue to formally document the illegal actions of this administration. Senate Judiciary Democrats and Rep. Jamie Raskin have sent a referral for criminal investigation of Kristi Noem's false statements under oath denying DHS violations of court orders. That question to Noem was asked by Senator Durbin. https://bsky.app/profile/judiciarydems.senate.gov/post/3mh6rzyi6fk2w
Other false statement are cited, including the $220 million ad campaign Noem claimed was approved by dt. Hopium has been advocating criminal referrals, and the time is ripe!!
Yes!
Political cartoonist Nick Anderson posted on his Substack today: "Trump Is Dismantling the World America Built." What a compelling and on-target drawing.
https://substack.com/home/post/p-191130464
Great cartoon, thanks for sharing. And good article:
“America’s contributions to the United Nations amount to about $18 billion a year: roughly two percent of the U.S. military budget and less than Americans spend annually on ice cream.
For that modest price, the United States gets something priceless: a world where disputes are often resolved through diplomacy rather than war, where trade flows across predictable rules, and where global problems—from nuclear proliferation to pandemics—can be addressed collectively.
Walking away from that system doesn’t make America stronger. It makes America alone.”
Plugging 5calls.org - they have great scripts and connect you directly to your member of congress. They have 46 issues with scripts, top one being No to Iran War, Stop SAVE act, stop Paramount WB merger - and connects your with State AGs who have power! Remember it was the states that stopped Albertson Kroger merger.
Sometimes I get nervous when calling and having a handy script to read off of really really helps.
Saturday was my birthday, and I celebrated it by making ICE OUT origami butterflies with an Indivisible art build here in Oakland. The butterflies will be attached to sticks and handed to marchers at NO KINGS on the 28th. The butterflies will be attached to a larger installation at the end of the march. I cannot stress enough how much fun and empowering it is to be part of a group like this. I'll be marching in Hawaii, but now I'll be part of the march here in my hometown as well. That feels really, really good. Trump and his cohorts are a global threat. He must be stopped, removed from office, and held accountable for his failures and his crimes against humanity.
Bravi to all the countries, which means all of them!, who rejected Trump's kind offer to get
him out of the horrible jam he's created. Stay strong, countries! This is scary stuff but dragging you all into it, would only make it worse. He started it - he can end it. He's bringing shame to all of us.
Yes, Simon, It was a fantastic Oscar's night. I loved the Sinners Performance. I was with them, all the way! A great four hrs. Then you spoiled it, by reminding Us that Trump is still here, ruining our Country and the World. Then, he's standing out on the street for help? What a Madman! Someone should have helped him to the nearest Sanitarium!!
Trump was not standing out on the street, that is AI. But it is what he is doing and being turned down.
Yes, that's right
While Claude is better than ChatGPT, we should not be supporting any artificial intelligence. The data centers supporting AI are terrible for the environment, and a blight on the communities where they are located.
Thank you Simon for raising money for the North Carolina Democrats. Below is a report about the most interesting primary in our state: Phil Berger, current NC Senate leader of 15 years versus Sam Page, Sheriff of Rockingham County (Berger's home county). Page leads Berger by 23 votes. Note that Berger spent $10 million on his race and Berger spent $50,000.
From Business North Carolina: Should Rockingham County Sheriff Sam Page’s win in the District 26 primary over Phil Berger hold up, the longtime N.C. Senate leader can blame his support for a casino project, Page says.
“He created that situation, and I think that started his problem,” Page says.
The 2023 legislative session included debate over legalizing non-Native American casinos, while also producing the legalization of sports wagering and talk of video lottery terminals. Page favors the existing ban on those devices, joining other N.C. sheriffs who have waged constant battles against storefront operators trying to skirt the law.
But the casino issue has been front and center since Berger spearheaded the unsuccessful legalization push in 2023. The Baltimore-based Cordish Cos. was sizing up potential N.C. sites in Rockingham and Nash counties, and Berger viewed it as a way to attract investment and jobs to the rural county.
The Rockingham quest, and the rezoning that went with it, touched off a controversy that almost unseated Berger’s son, County Commissioner Kevin Berger. The younger Berger held on by just three votes in the county’s 2024 election.
Rockingham County voters didn't like the behind-closed-doors nature of the casino drive.
“The way it was brought about, and [that] people found out at the last minute, I think it just rubbed a lot of people wrong,” Page says.
“And you know what? If you want to talk about something that you think may be controversial, you need to take it to the citizens. That’s your bosses. But when you take it on your own …”
I see two lessons here. Don't forget where you come from as we say in the South. A $50,000 spend can trump a $10 million spend sometimes. Gives me hope for the midterms!
I agree that the casino issue hurt Berger, but I think a larger issue was left-leaning independents who voted for Page in order to get rid of Berger. While Page is just as MAGA as Berger, he does not have the power or connections, which will destabilize the GOP in the state senate.
There is no question that Donald Trump is a failed president and the Republican (MAGA)Party is a failed political party.