Yes. But I think Democrats will get more traction also linking all this spending on aggression (how much is this all costing?) to the ineptness/venality of the GOP and Trumpstein in letting Americans go without healthcare, endure high cost of living etc all in the service of enriching billionaires and oil companies.
And with the chaos this war will bring, on top of Trump's whirling dances to distract from the Epstein files and Jack Smith's testimony and our sinking economy and rising prices for the 90%, he may be too busy/tired to effectively interfere with the mid-terms, so maybe we should focus on that outcome which will give us the ultimate power to curb his autocracy.
So far, several have signed the Trumpepstein, Obamacare extensions and today, Russian sanctions. Wating for Dan Bacon's statement today about Greenland.
I came to say something similar. Democrats need to ask why we are spending so much money improving Venezuelan oil infrastructure while getting rid of FEMA funding to rebuild after disasters, while reducing spending on education, medical and scientific research, and other important US Infrastructure
These two points are not mutually exclusive. The Democratic Party, timid though it has shown itself to be, should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.
I have observed over 83 years that Republicans became much more evil after 1980. In my younger years, there were many Republicans I believed were actually working on behalf of the American people. I have since watched a lot of that commitment die in favor of the wealthy and large corporations.
I think they have been misguided/wrong for most of my lifetime, but after the turn of the century they have taken a liking for the Dark Side, to the point where they now have become pure evil.
It wasn't after the turn of the century it was in 1994 when Newt Gingrich released the Republican party’s so-called “Contract for America,” more accurately called the Contract ON America, based in part on Ronald Reagan's 1985 State of the Union Address (“government is the problem). This explicitly called for Republicans to treat Democrats not as the political opposition, but as enemies of the nation.
Fair enough. I was thinking more about morality than politics with that comment. The MAGAt party is no longer just the party of bad policies, it's the party of bad people doing bad things.
It’s time the military told these unhinged heathens to fuck off. If they try to take Greenland, they’ll have all of NATO on top of us. They are ruining our standing in the world
Trump has made it clear that he hates NATO, and that is part of his evil design. Likewise, the other evil imperialist, Putin, also hates NATO. We the people of the US and other democracy loving sovreignties need NATO to stave off worldwide authoritarianism There is an evil form of lying and hypocrisy when Trumpers claim we need to annex Greenland for "our" national security. Ours & NATOs national security interests were covered via our military base there for decades.
NYT: Rubio Tells Lawmakers Trump Wants to Buy Greenland
"President Trump has said since his first term that he wants to acquire Greenland, and he asked aides for an updated plan on Monday. European leaders reject the president’s assertions."
Yes, Judge Solomon, it has all become patently absurd. Greenland needs to hold its ground (literally) and not let them provoke dissolution of NATO. We need to keep this alliance intact for when this dystopian Trumpian nightmare is over.
He has a significant portion of the military on his side.the move against Mark Kelly has sent a clear, chilling warning….most with a pension on the line will comply.
We have watched the US military cheerfully comply with blatantly illegal orders since last September. I think expecting any significant proportion of our armed services to break ranks with the regime at this point is optimistic.
Not ruining your standing in the world. HAVE ruined it already. This will take a very long time to recover from. At least, that is how Canada sees things.
Supreme Court may have given Trump legal immunity for "official facts", Impeachment is not a legal procedure but a political one. The Supreme have made it harder but impeachment is still possible.
Not with the MAGA majority in both houses it isn't. We will have to wait for the results of this year's midterm election, and then the course toward impeachment still is not certain.
Excellent! Thank you to all. Why should people who can’t afford healthcare subsidize huge oil companies and Trump oligarchs, especially when the world is turning to new sources of energy?
Actually, Congress can impeach, convict and remove the President. That’s not an immunity that the Supreme Court can confer. That’s a specific power held by the Article One branch.
He is so whiny and unfit, and given the GOP follows him everywhere, despite his obvious corruption and ignorance on every level, says as much about that party and our politics as it does about him. What it says about us, though, and our conception of ourselves or our responsibilities as citizens is the worst of all, that anybody would find this acceptable is (choose your expletive, or multiples) tragedy — worldwide tragedy.
Sure, in theory. In reality, there aren't the 20 GOP senators needed to convict him. Onlly 7 voted to remove him after he provoked an insurrection that had them running for their lives!
Don’t I know it! Then again, he keeps upping the disgust ante, and as he loses support from his base, he loses the reason for the Senators to stick with him. You can chalk that up to hope as much as fact.
Yes, Democrats could and should do all of the things you laid out in the article but will they? And if they don’t, what’s next! Democrats have been playing dead since January 20, 2025. Please! Democrats! WAKE UP. These things don’t do themselves! Stop this madness!
They had a shadow hearing yesterday, and it was very good. That is a good start and needs to be amplified by even more hearings and hopefully actions that cannot be ignored by MSM.
Thank you for your message. I’m glad there was a hearing, shadow or not. Listen, MSM, except MS NOW will not be reporting any positive news for Democrats. Nichole Wallace has it all by herself, and she great, but the only coverage you can trust is here, on Substack, and the Bulwark. That’s just the facts.
It’s going to be difficult because a significant amount of the active duty military are alighted with Trump. What they are attempting to do to Kelly has sent a clear warning. My career Delta Force stepson resigned after 23 years. He was not going to serve under Trump. He was a Colonel, widely admired and respected and trusted by his men and the brass above him. I believe the only thing that will stop Trump is military might from China. He is in Putin’s pocket.
The democrats should…the democrats have a chance… the democrats FAILED and expecting them to really take the reins and do everything in their power to fight for the common people is like beating a dead horse. When we have to call, write letters, protest, etc. to garner a little action on their part, remind them of their responsibilities to our nation, then you know the problem is huge insidiously infecting both parties in different ways.
Time to stop the blaming and start doing something. Every American who cares should be pounding their elected folks by email and phone to stop the madness, and we must mount some peaceful protests and general walkouts. Trump and his merry band of thugs must be brought to heel.
Have you heard a peep out of YOUR congressperson or senator? Because I haven’t. Democrats are the problem, because they're meekly writing letter and going into friendly media outlets and whining. Or, like mine,there’s radio silence. We elected these people to represent our interests, and they’re not doing it. Silence is complicity.
Why is there no mention of the cost of this entire operation just as there is no mention of the cost of stationing National Guard troops in US cities and how can there be even a whiff of a mention about our tax dollars being used to build oil infrastructure in Venezuela?
The discussion doesn't match the headline. Who are the MAGA Republicans who condone it?
Why hasn't Contrarian interviewed the members of the Armed Services Committee? .
Key Republican Dissenters
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY): A frequent critic of unauthorized military action, Paul is one of only two Senate Republicans who previously voted for a war powers resolution to block the use of force in Venezuela without congressional approval. He has accused his colleagues of hypocrisy, noting they were critical of past presidents for similar actions but are now silent as the U.S. "removes the president" of another country.
Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY): Massie has been a sharp critic, co-introducing legislation to direct the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities in Venezuela. He argued on social media that the operation is about "OIL and REGIME CHANGE" rather than drugs, stating, "This is not what we voted for".
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA): Greene questioned the administration’s focus on Venezuela, arguing that if the goal were truly to stop narco-terrorism, the administration would attack Mexican cartels instead. She compared the capture of Maduro to the "Washington playbook" used in Iraq.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT): While initially open to a legal justification, Lee publicly questioned what "constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war". He later noted that the action might fall under Article II authority for self-defense but remains a critical voice on the lack of congressional authorization.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): Along with Senator Paul, Murkowski was the only other Republican to vote for a measure to block unauthorized strikes in the Caribbean leading up to the incursion.
It is mind boggling that we need to even state the obvious. Republicans are allowing the United States of America to be run by a dictator and tyrant who has only benefited himself and his oligarchs. In their own words and actions that we can see!!
Jen - surely you misspoke when you said it would be”fruitless” to impeach and remove Trump. Far from it - and when the republic regains control of the DOJ - Trump should be prosecuted for ALL of his crimes. Force the system and SCOTUS to clarify if they did or didn’t intend to create a king!!
… and yes -prosecute everyone around him and down the chain of command who is complicit.
Help me understand why you describe impeachment/removal of Trump as “fruitless” even after the midterms? The Supreme Court gave him broad immunity for criminal prosecution, but how does that stop removing him from office? Politically unlikely, ok. But fruitless?
Even if Democrats make big gains in the Senate, impeachment would still need a a large number of Republican senators to vote to convict (need 2/3 of Senate). If they wouldn't do it after running for their lives during an insurrection, when will they?
I think it's possible now that Republicans have seen the madness in policy and enrichment and lawlessness trump and cronies have inflicted this first year. And convicting in the Senate would put Vance in charge giving the party a better chance of holding on to power. Still a bad guy but not unhinged like trump. Republicans in large did not vote for new wars or getting out of NATO and destroying all partnerships around the world. I believe there are more sane republicans than insane.
One request, Jennifer. Would you and the many others who write these great articles stop having a picture of Herr Frump as part of the commentary? Why should I have to see a picture of this lunatic in so many news media publications? We know what the idiot looks like.
Shades of Iraq. A quick military takeover with no plans for the future. The whole region was destabilized. All that occurred was dead Iraquis and US and ally troops. Now Venezuela is in the throws of civil war. Nice job by the incompetent Trump, Hegseth, Miller, Rubio team
Yes. But I think Democrats will get more traction also linking all this spending on aggression (how much is this all costing?) to the ineptness/venality of the GOP and Trumpstein in letting Americans go without healthcare, endure high cost of living etc all in the service of enriching billionaires and oil companies.
Democrats get more traction by finding Republican allies. With three (3) votes we can flip the House. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/republican-rep-doug-lamalfa-of-california-dies-reducing-gops-narrow-control-of-the-house-to-218-213
The GOP cult are not allies at this point in time. They are actively attacking the republic, as they have been since Jan 6th, 2021.
We only need three (3).
Who are they? I have given up on Collins and Murkowski. Maybe three from left (right?) field?
Three is greater than zero. We gave ZERO Republicans who will change side.
Don't need them to...just oppose Trump. Without them we will have a majority.
We do need a 2/3 majority for doe votes.
There were plans even before that horrible day, as per recent accounts from people who knew first hand.
And with the chaos this war will bring, on top of Trump's whirling dances to distract from the Epstein files and Jack Smith's testimony and our sinking economy and rising prices for the 90%, he may be too busy/tired to effectively interfere with the mid-terms, so maybe we should focus on that outcome which will give us the ultimate power to curb his autocracy.
Name three.
So far, several have signed the Trumpepstein, Obamacare extensions and today, Russian sanctions. Wating for Dan Bacon's statement today about Greenland.
I came to say something similar. Democrats need to ask why we are spending so much money improving Venezuelan oil infrastructure while getting rid of FEMA funding to rebuild after disasters, while reducing spending on education, medical and scientific research, and other important US Infrastructure
These two points are not mutually exclusive. The Democratic Party, timid though it has shown itself to be, should be able to walk and chew gum at the same time.
Agree which is why I said also.
Same as they've ever been. Just no masks this time. Republicans have always been evil in my lifetime.
I have observed over 83 years that Republicans became much more evil after 1980. In my younger years, there were many Republicans I believed were actually working on behalf of the American people. I have since watched a lot of that commitment die in favor of the wealthy and large corporations.
I am 83, too, and totally agree with you. I'd thought the Vietnam days were the worst we would ever see, but was very wrong about that.
I think they have been misguided/wrong for most of my lifetime, but after the turn of the century they have taken a liking for the Dark Side, to the point where they now have become pure evil.
It wasn't after the turn of the century it was in 1994 when Newt Gingrich released the Republican party’s so-called “Contract for America,” more accurately called the Contract ON America, based in part on Ronald Reagan's 1985 State of the Union Address (“government is the problem). This explicitly called for Republicans to treat Democrats not as the political opposition, but as enemies of the nation.
Fair enough. I was thinking more about morality than politics with that comment. The MAGAt party is no longer just the party of bad policies, it's the party of bad people doing bad things.
It’s time the military told these unhinged heathens to fuck off. If they try to take Greenland, they’ll have all of NATO on top of us. They are ruining our standing in the world
Invading Greenland would be the end of NATO. Is that what Trump wants?
Trump has made it clear that he hates NATO, and that is part of his evil design. Likewise, the other evil imperialist, Putin, also hates NATO. We the people of the US and other democracy loving sovreignties need NATO to stave off worldwide authoritarianism There is an evil form of lying and hypocrisy when Trumpers claim we need to annex Greenland for "our" national security. Ours & NATOs national security interests were covered via our military base there for decades.
NYT: Rubio Tells Lawmakers Trump Wants to Buy Greenland
"President Trump has said since his first term that he wants to acquire Greenland, and he asked aides for an updated plan on Monday. European leaders reject the president’s assertions."
Yes, Judge Solomon, it has all become patently absurd. Greenland needs to hold its ground (literally) and not let them provoke dissolution of NATO. We need to keep this alliance intact for when this dystopian Trumpian nightmare is over.
Because it's what Papa Putin wants.
It is what Trump's puppetmaster Putin wants and thus, yes!
Yes, ending NATO is what Trump wants, and he has never made a secret about it.
Yes.
YES. Putin OWNS him.
Yes
YES!
Good question!
He has a significant portion of the military on his side.the move against Mark Kelly has sent a clear, chilling warning….most with a pension on the line will comply.
Westpoint broke about 50/50 in the first US civil war. It'll likely break about the same this time around.
We have watched the US military cheerfully comply with blatantly illegal orders since last September. I think expecting any significant proportion of our armed services to break ranks with the regime at this point is optimistic.
Not ruining your standing in the world. HAVE ruined it already. This will take a very long time to recover from. At least, that is how Canada sees things.
Not "They are", they have.
Supreme Court may have given Trump legal immunity for "official facts", Impeachment is not a legal procedure but a political one. The Supreme have made it harder but impeachment is still possible.
Not with the MAGA majority in both houses it isn't. We will have to wait for the results of this year's midterm election, and then the course toward impeachment still is not certain.
Excellent! Thank you to all. Why should people who can’t afford healthcare subsidize huge oil companies and Trump oligarchs, especially when the world is turning to new sources of energy?
But T says the oil companies will share their profits with the rest of us, just like the tariffs already are paying our bills!
Exactly! How much $ will Trump make from this?
Actually, Congress can impeach, convict and remove the President. That’s not an immunity that the Supreme Court can confer. That’s a specific power held by the Article One branch.
Right, Robbie. Dumpty knows this, which is why he whined to the Republican Caucus yesterday that they must win the midterms or he’ll be impeached.
He is so whiny and unfit, and given the GOP follows him everywhere, despite his obvious corruption and ignorance on every level, says as much about that party and our politics as it does about him. What it says about us, though, and our conception of ourselves or our responsibilities as citizens is the worst of all, that anybody would find this acceptable is (choose your expletive, or multiples) tragedy — worldwide tragedy.
Sure, in theory. In reality, there aren't the 20 GOP senators needed to convict him. Onlly 7 voted to remove him after he provoked an insurrection that had them running for their lives!
Don’t I know it! Then again, he keeps upping the disgust ante, and as he loses support from his base, he loses the reason for the Senators to stick with him. You can chalk that up to hope as much as fact.
Yes, Democrats could and should do all of the things you laid out in the article but will they? And if they don’t, what’s next! Democrats have been playing dead since January 20, 2025. Please! Democrats! WAKE UP. These things don’t do themselves! Stop this madness!
They had a shadow hearing yesterday, and it was very good. That is a good start and needs to be amplified by even more hearings and hopefully actions that cannot be ignored by MSM.
Thank you for your message. I’m glad there was a hearing, shadow or not. Listen, MSM, except MS NOW will not be reporting any positive news for Democrats. Nichole Wallace has it all by herself, and she great, but the only coverage you can trust is here, on Substack, and the Bulwark. That’s just the facts.
It’s going to be difficult because a significant amount of the active duty military are alighted with Trump. What they are attempting to do to Kelly has sent a clear warning. My career Delta Force stepson resigned after 23 years. He was not going to serve under Trump. He was a Colonel, widely admired and respected and trusted by his men and the brass above him. I believe the only thing that will stop Trump is military might from China. He is in Putin’s pocket.
I'm sorry about your stepson's career, but I admire him for what he did.
The democrats should…the democrats have a chance… the democrats FAILED and expecting them to really take the reins and do everything in their power to fight for the common people is like beating a dead horse. When we have to call, write letters, protest, etc. to garner a little action on their part, remind them of their responsibilities to our nation, then you know the problem is huge insidiously infecting both parties in different ways.
WE ARE A MINORITY. Blame MAGA!
Time to stop the blaming and start doing something. Every American who cares should be pounding their elected folks by email and phone to stop the madness, and we must mount some peaceful protests and general walkouts. Trump and his merry band of thugs must be brought to heel.
We had nothing to do with the insanity. Democrats are NOT the problem. Concentrate on convincing Republicans to stand up.
Have you heard a peep out of YOUR congressperson or senator? Because I haven’t. Democrats are the problem, because they're meekly writing letter and going into friendly media outlets and whining. Or, like mine,there’s radio silence. We elected these people to represent our interests, and they’re not doing it. Silence is complicity.
MY MAGA Congresswoman, Maria Elvira Salazar, broke with Trump over immigration.
I live in the Fascist state of Florida. Rick Scott sent me a letter agreeing that Putin is a war criminal and that we need to sanction him.
We should have been using the Jerry Weiss scenario all along. https://jerryweiss.substack.com/
IMHO Epstein could be the straw that breaks the camel's back. Where's Bubba?
Why is there no mention of the cost of this entire operation just as there is no mention of the cost of stationing National Guard troops in US cities and how can there be even a whiff of a mention about our tax dollars being used to build oil infrastructure in Venezuela?
The discussion doesn't match the headline. Who are the MAGA Republicans who condone it?
Why hasn't Contrarian interviewed the members of the Armed Services Committee? .
Key Republican Dissenters
Senator Rand Paul (R-KY): A frequent critic of unauthorized military action, Paul is one of only two Senate Republicans who previously voted for a war powers resolution to block the use of force in Venezuela without congressional approval. He has accused his colleagues of hypocrisy, noting they were critical of past presidents for similar actions but are now silent as the U.S. "removes the president" of another country.
Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY): Massie has been a sharp critic, co-introducing legislation to direct the removal of U.S. forces from hostilities in Venezuela. He argued on social media that the operation is about "OIL and REGIME CHANGE" rather than drugs, stating, "This is not what we voted for".
Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA): Greene questioned the administration’s focus on Venezuela, arguing that if the goal were truly to stop narco-terrorism, the administration would attack Mexican cartels instead. She compared the capture of Maduro to the "Washington playbook" used in Iraq.
Senator Mike Lee (R-UT): While initially open to a legal justification, Lee publicly questioned what "constitutionally justify this action in the absence of a declaration of war". He later noted that the action might fall under Article II authority for self-defense but remains a critical voice on the lack of congressional authorization.
Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): Along with Senator Paul, Murkowski was the only other Republican to vote for a measure to block unauthorized strikes in the Caribbean leading up to the incursion.
It is mind boggling that we need to even state the obvious. Republicans are allowing the United States of America to be run by a dictator and tyrant who has only benefited himself and his oligarchs. In their own words and actions that we can see!!
Jen - surely you misspoke when you said it would be”fruitless” to impeach and remove Trump. Far from it - and when the republic regains control of the DOJ - Trump should be prosecuted for ALL of his crimes. Force the system and SCOTUS to clarify if they did or didn’t intend to create a king!!
… and yes -prosecute everyone around him and down the chain of command who is complicit.
Help me understand why you describe impeachment/removal of Trump as “fruitless” even after the midterms? The Supreme Court gave him broad immunity for criminal prosecution, but how does that stop removing him from office? Politically unlikely, ok. But fruitless?
Even if Democrats make big gains in the Senate, impeachment would still need a a large number of Republican senators to vote to convict (need 2/3 of Senate). If they wouldn't do it after running for their lives during an insurrection, when will they?
I think it's possible now that Republicans have seen the madness in policy and enrichment and lawlessness trump and cronies have inflicted this first year. And convicting in the Senate would put Vance in charge giving the party a better chance of holding on to power. Still a bad guy but not unhinged like trump. Republicans in large did not vote for new wars or getting out of NATO and destroying all partnerships around the world. I believe there are more sane republicans than insane.
One request, Jennifer. Would you and the many others who write these great articles stop having a picture of Herr Frump as part of the commentary? Why should I have to see a picture of this lunatic in so many news media publications? We know what the idiot looks like.
Exactly. His image and his voice are both detestable.
Shades of Iraq. A quick military takeover with no plans for the future. The whole region was destabilized. All that occurred was dead Iraquis and US and ally troops. Now Venezuela is in the throws of civil war. Nice job by the incompetent Trump, Hegseth, Miller, Rubio team
bankrupt 6 times