Thousands of children lives have already been lost in cutting USAIDS. Those SNAP recipients who voted for t, whether informed or ignorant, are getting what they voted for.
Everyone & the world is suffering & will continue to suffer under the t regime. Thank you for the integrity of your tireless efforts, Jennifer.
This is exactly what I was going to post, Kathleen. Thank you for jumping ahead of me. The disgraceful and horrific sadism of this maladministration has been evident from BEFORE Day One.
For Whom the Outrages Toll. Let us not forget the Epstein Files, first. I mean we know a pedophile when we see one dodge, duck, shuck, and jive. For some reason we need the files. I rather think we do not, and we already know what is there. The outrages toll for you as a distraction. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/too-much-two-buckets-to-sanity?r=3m1bs
Look at it this way. He doesn't care. He knows that all he has to do is screech and whine "fake news" when the files become public. His base will not desert him.
"In fact, the Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves —" Why an illegal act of the Trump government is permitted? Can the judges decide promptly to release the funds?
I keep posting. According to Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) Trumpepstein may cause an "Epstein bomb" causing over 100 Republican members to "jailbreak" from Trump.
It's very difficult for the Republican majority to stand up and take a firm position on anything. They have been in a prostrate position to worship their *orange god* for nine months!
I'd also like to point out that as Jamaica is devastated by a hurricane, USAID is no longer there to help the Jamaican people with food, shelter and necessary supplies as they were when Gilbert hit (in fact, the entire Embassy helped out). USAID is gone. In the US, FEMA is crippled too and not stepping up like it used to (western Maryland is a current example). Meanwhile, Trump is engaged in serial killing in the Caribbean, building ego projects like his ballroom and a host of other endeavors that do not serve the American people, too long to list here. It's painful to see our country so degraded by this administration.
I was waiting for the first person on this forum to mention Jamaica. Not only is USAID gone, so is the internet, so we don't yet even know what the devastation was. This was the worst hurricane in the 128 years since Jamaica has kept records, something 99% of us can't even fathom.
Don't hold your breath waiting for Trump and the band of baboons around him to make announcements about responding. There's no agency, no infrastructure, no mechanisms by which do respond. The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance is closed -- by their own hand -- illegally.
No one, not a person, Democrat or Republican, Left or Right, is discussing the fact that Trump is doing what he needs to do to take over the government of Venezuela because of their oil reserves! The drug issue is a ruse, like all the others these guys use, to move troops into that area and then continue to label the current President as a Drug Lord! From there, they will overthrow this government and put in an oil-friendly dictator!
The question we should be asking is why this is not being discussed.
Let’s take this further. If you are thinking of boycotting in the form of a spending strike on Black Friday, why not earmark a portion of your non-spending for a food bank near you?
See, it takes a village. What a great idea. We turn Black Friday into Blue Friday and instead of spending on stuff we really do not need. Let's send money to our local food bank. That strikes two blows in one. First we annoy the big orange and the other we act humanly.
Great idea! I made my contribution to the Atlanta Community Food Bank as soon as I heard about the SNAP snafu. Unfortunately, it won't be enough, and they will not be able to ramp up in time to serve all those who are going to be hungry thanks to his lowness and crew. The only bright spot (if there is one) is that this may be a bridge too far for the majority of Americans.
Democrats could do a MUCH better job of communicating exactly what is in the dirty CR being called “clean” by Republicans. If it goes through, millions lose medicaid and food benefits. Many, many who have lost in the shutdown will continue to lose if it passes. There is literally nothing in this CR about undocumented immigrants getting benefits, as the right wing keeps insisting. COME ON elected Democrats and most particularly those in leadership….MAKE THE MESSAGE MEANINGFUL.
Making the SNAP situation even worse is when ordinary Americans lose their jobs and become casualties to unemployment. Even if unemployment is a temporary situation for some they still become eligible to receive unemployment compensation and food stamp benefits at least this has been true in the past. If there’s a surge in unemployment for whatever reasons then working Americans will no longer have that lifeline until they become employed again. This totally screws with everyone. Taxpayers deserve a hell of a lot better than this.
I don't know where you've been. Big Ugly was denounced as soon as it was passed in the dead of night back in March by a single House vote, then later when JD Wanker broke the tie in the Senate. It's been the subject of discussion for MONTHS now.
Not nearly enough. My own(dem) rep and senators have been quite quiet on the issue. I would expect they’d be writing editorials for local and national news, trying to get on media outlets beyond the friendly, and maybe heading over to the White House for some press conferences in front of what’s left of it. I other words, get creative and LOUD.
My Senators are Schumer and Gillibrand. Schumer is big on writing "a strong letter," to the short-fingered vulgarian. Gillibrand just repeats that she voted against the bill.
I swear…if ONE MORE ELECTED DEM says that they wrote a letter, strongly worded or otherwise, I am going to lose my sh/t. Or “I didn’t vote for it, what else can I do?” What do they think the ol’ vulgarian does with those? Laughs, crumples them up , and tosses them in the trash. And enjoys the weakness of a “vote only’ response.
I think they should pay for an ad in the New York Times telling the story of the big orange starving Americans. Let's be loud and rude for once and body tell the truth.
The traditional media are no longer the only way to make yourself heard. Where are the social media posts, the constant nagging of incompetent legislators, the statements of fact for everyone to see. With few (though growing) exceptions, the Democrats are as tepid as the Republicans about their opposition.
Republican politicians lie blatantly about this matter. Obviously, they are without conscience or any strength of character. Far too many Americans, especially those who are older and long established as traditional Republicans, automatically believe them. Surely, somewhere between 40 and 50% of Americans are believing the Republican lies. One can truly ask what is wrong with them, and undoubtedly there has always been an unthinking segment, but our country is being lost because of the cognitively inflexible and incapable. The world wonders what is wrong with Americans and many will never trust us again, and I surely wonder, too.
A big part of the problem is 50+ years of highly UN-equal access to really good education, linked with high correlation to socioeconomically wealthy or poor districts. We allowed the creation and proliferation of a large population of economically disadvantaged, low-information, vulnerable, undereducated voters, something NO democracy can survive.
Far too few Americans understand how urgent is the necessity for massive investment and reform in our public education/training systems, or how transformative this one element of American life would be if we were to fix it properly AND sustain the commitment. Respected, properly funded and treasured, education of young and old is the key to a healthy, functional, prosperous and enduring democracy.
Wasting and disregarding a significant % of the potential of our People -- our MOST VALUABLE renewable resource! -- is just plain stupid.
Tyranny thrives on ignorance -- as we are experiencing now -- and until we get serious about education, all other efforts or investments will be both costly and futile.
It's even more evident when you look at women who are "detained," by ICE, including some who are here legally. Pregnancy complications, and miscarriages happen frequently, and often no medical care is given. I assume the Pretend To Be Pro Life People don't consider those babies worth "saving," or they'd be picketing the places where pregnant women are held.
My understanding is that even with food banks operating at maximum capacity with the assistance of the National Guard, they can only deliver 1/6th the amount of food that would have otherwise been available by SNAP. People should help the homeless when possible during these dark times.
If deprivation of food isn't a crime against humanity, what is? After what was done to others with the destruction of USAID, it wasn't long before this horrible reality was brought home to our own shores. There is identifiable evil in this administration and its leader. Members of Congress who will not do their jobs for their constituents for fear of Trump should resign.
My blood is boiling with rage over these brazen, cruel and destructive actions by Trump and his GOP accomplices in Congress! Citizens must contact their reps and senators now and vow to vote them all out of office at the first opportunity.
Blood boiling is what they want--they are provoking **everyone** so that victims will become violent finally, and that will give Trump the "legal" ground to clamp down with his goons and, as he has been hinting in the last two days, the military.
And the response to the violence will be martial law or something like it so to close down elections--that's the point--he wants to stay in power "for life."
When my blood boils, I get on the phone to Congress, I open my wallet to make small dollar donations to Dems challenging GOP lackeys in state AND federal races across the country, and take to the streets to PEACEFULLY protest the actions of Trump and his radical GOP goons. I want to be part of the needed 3.5% of our population necessary to prevent this authoritarian takeover and save our democracy. I will not be so foolish as to succumb to violence to give them the excuse they need and strongly desire to complete their takeover of our democracy.
Starving people mean protests, one violent incident will bring military into the streets. Trump and his crews plan is so obvious, create a problem, use your preferred solution.
Not only increased protests, but increased criminal activity. When people are hungry, they will do anything for food. So then Agent Orange can send in the troops to kill people (probably labeled as "illegals"), providing TV entertainment for him.
They already have. They elected the orange narcissist-felon-sociopath. They have brought misery (food and health-care deprivation) to themselves and millions of others. They own the misery.
Meanwhile, the 'congress' malingers while the nation burns.
Republicans don't care who or how many people they hurt with their win-at-all-costs legislative agenda. They adhere to a delusional ideology that the poor choose to be that way. That the people on SNAP are all blacks from the ghetto or immigrants illegally receiving benefits. You sort of have to believe that this is a massive Social Darwinism experiment where they will starve the poor and deny people healthcare in hopes that they just die off so they can transfer ever more money to the Oligarchy.
Stephen Brady: I think it works for so many because the MAGA members, at least those who are in the cheap seats, apparently cannot think their way into the difference between (a) 2 or 3 individual realities or events and (b) 2 or 3 million individual realities or events. And so, they are fearful of "so many welfare moms" or "rapists crossing the border" (or whatever) and then, it follows that the sweep of policy needs to be set according to the idea of 2 or 3.
Makes perfect sense. Sort of like claiming a ceasefire while Israel murders 107 people in GAZA. Then Netanyahoo says, "Okay NOW we'll do the ceasefire." (Till next time.) If you've ever raised kids, you've surely seen this kind of logic in your 11-13 year olds.
Excessive fear, free-floating anxiety, intolerance of anything done in a way which doesn't agree with THEIR way - are all part of the authoritarian, patriarchal, racist, christian nationalist mind set.
Stephen Brady: It's like the old "welfare mom" trope. It's the fly that might have a tiny truth and so it initiates the response of a sledgehammer of government action and inaction . . . driven by corrupt politicians who will benefit by hurting everyone else.
It's been going around since Ronnie Raygun promulgated his mythical welfare queen driving from mailbox to mailbox in her Cadillac harvesting all the fraudulently obtained checks.
It should be made clear to Trump's heirs and to the MAGA Toadies in Congress, that the majority of Americans will remember this time and that there will be retribution against the monsters who now support the Monster in Chief.
Thousands of children lives have already been lost in cutting USAIDS. Those SNAP recipients who voted for t, whether informed or ignorant, are getting what they voted for.
Everyone & the world is suffering & will continue to suffer under the t regime. Thank you for the integrity of your tireless efforts, Jennifer.
This is exactly what I was going to post, Kathleen. Thank you for jumping ahead of me. The disgraceful and horrific sadism of this maladministration has been evident from BEFORE Day One.
For Whom the Outrages Toll. Let us not forget the Epstein Files, first. I mean we know a pedophile when we see one dodge, duck, shuck, and jive. For some reason we need the files. I rather think we do not, and we already know what is there. The outrages toll for you as a distraction. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/too-much-two-buckets-to-sanity?r=3m1bs
Look at it this way. He doesn't care. He knows that all he has to do is screech and whine "fake news" when the files become public. His base will not desert him.
"In fact, the Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves —" Why an illegal act of the Trump government is permitted? Can the judges decide promptly to release the funds?
AMEN, fellow Kathleen!!
And thank you too for not using the scumbag's name.
PS: every single disgraced Congressional Republican is to blame!
PPS Every single Congressional Republican is disgraced. They are unspeakably cruel.
I keep posting. According to Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA) Trumpepstein may cause an "Epstein bomb" causing over 100 Republican members to "jailbreak" from Trump.
Massive Congressional visits November 18.
https://www.instagram.com/flare.usa/p/DP_mdOyjdiG/
Visit Congressional Republicans.https://www.mobilize.us/indivisible/event/851451/
I continue to be exasperated by the parties and lawyers with cases when justices and judges who have dispositive records of bribery and prejudice are not challenged. At SCOTUS, Roberts opened the door in November, 2023. https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/Code-of-Conduct-for-Justices_November_13_2023.pdf
It's very difficult for the Republican majority to stand up and take a firm position on anything. They have been in a prostrate position to worship their *orange god* for nine months!
Just need a few.
I know! I'm waiting.
yes Charles and all they have birthed is orange crap
Job over Country. Pathetic.
A job that is actually scraps from the oligarch table.
Could not agree more.
So I have told Nick Langworthy (NY23) many times, and will continue to tell him.
I'd also like to point out that as Jamaica is devastated by a hurricane, USAID is no longer there to help the Jamaican people with food, shelter and necessary supplies as they were when Gilbert hit (in fact, the entire Embassy helped out). USAID is gone. In the US, FEMA is crippled too and not stepping up like it used to (western Maryland is a current example). Meanwhile, Trump is engaged in serial killing in the Caribbean, building ego projects like his ballroom and a host of other endeavors that do not serve the American people, too long to list here. It's painful to see our country so degraded by this administration.
I was waiting for the first person on this forum to mention Jamaica. Not only is USAID gone, so is the internet, so we don't yet even know what the devastation was. This was the worst hurricane in the 128 years since Jamaica has kept records, something 99% of us can't even fathom.
Don't hold your breath waiting for Trump and the band of baboons around him to make announcements about responding. There's no agency, no infrastructure, no mechanisms by which do respond. The Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance is closed -- by their own hand -- illegally.
world central kitchen is busy in DC feeding laid off federal workers...
Yes, and we should all donate to WCK for the humane work that they do around the world. Shameful that they have to dole out food in the US.
It is a mere REGIME certainly cannot be called an administration?
No one, not a person, Democrat or Republican, Left or Right, is discussing the fact that Trump is doing what he needs to do to take over the government of Venezuela because of their oil reserves! The drug issue is a ruse, like all the others these guys use, to move troops into that area and then continue to label the current President as a Drug Lord! From there, they will overthrow this government and put in an oil-friendly dictator!
The question we should be asking is why this is not being discussed.
That is so blatantly illegal that it could spark World War 3.
Let’s take this further. If you are thinking of boycotting in the form of a spending strike on Black Friday, why not earmark a portion of your non-spending for a food bank near you?
See, it takes a village. What a great idea. We turn Black Friday into Blue Friday and instead of spending on stuff we really do not need. Let's send money to our local food bank. That strikes two blows in one. First we annoy the big orange and the other we act humanly.
I'm all for it. Let's do it.
I’m in.
They need the money! And don't forget those in rural areas, which often have fewer resources than those in large cities.
If donating product, most really need baby formula.
Great idea! I made my contribution to the Atlanta Community Food Bank as soon as I heard about the SNAP snafu. Unfortunately, it won't be enough, and they will not be able to ramp up in time to serve all those who are going to be hungry thanks to his lowness and crew. The only bright spot (if there is one) is that this may be a bridge too far for the majority of Americans.
Unfair to take this out on children and the elderly! But, the Trump beat goes on with his waste and building projects! Vulgar and disgusting!
Trump has found a PIGGY BANK? Speak up, People!
Democrats could do a MUCH better job of communicating exactly what is in the dirty CR being called “clean” by Republicans. If it goes through, millions lose medicaid and food benefits. Many, many who have lost in the shutdown will continue to lose if it passes. There is literally nothing in this CR about undocumented immigrants getting benefits, as the right wing keeps insisting. COME ON elected Democrats and most particularly those in leadership….MAKE THE MESSAGE MEANINGFUL.
And those government websites - lies, lies, lies. Hatch Act has been axed.
Making the SNAP situation even worse is when ordinary Americans lose their jobs and become casualties to unemployment. Even if unemployment is a temporary situation for some they still become eligible to receive unemployment compensation and food stamp benefits at least this has been true in the past. If there’s a surge in unemployment for whatever reasons then working Americans will no longer have that lifeline until they become employed again. This totally screws with everyone. Taxpayers deserve a hell of a lot better than this.
I don't know where you've been. Big Ugly was denounced as soon as it was passed in the dead of night back in March by a single House vote, then later when JD Wanker broke the tie in the Senate. It's been the subject of discussion for MONTHS now.
https://sylvestercat.substack.com/p/why-republicans-work-in-the-wee-hours
Not nearly enough. My own(dem) rep and senators have been quite quiet on the issue. I would expect they’d be writing editorials for local and national news, trying to get on media outlets beyond the friendly, and maybe heading over to the White House for some press conferences in front of what’s left of it. I other words, get creative and LOUD.
My Senators are Schumer and Gillibrand. Schumer is big on writing "a strong letter," to the short-fingered vulgarian. Gillibrand just repeats that she voted against the bill.
I swear…if ONE MORE ELECTED DEM says that they wrote a letter, strongly worded or otherwise, I am going to lose my sh/t. Or “I didn’t vote for it, what else can I do?” What do they think the ol’ vulgarian does with those? Laughs, crumples them up , and tosses them in the trash. And enjoys the weakness of a “vote only’ response.
I think they should pay for an ad in the New York Times telling the story of the big orange starving Americans. Let's be loud and rude for once and body tell the truth.
We don't own the friggin' media!
https://blueprint.democrats.org/
The traditional media are no longer the only way to make yourself heard. Where are the social media posts, the constant nagging of incompetent legislators, the statements of fact for everyone to see. With few (though growing) exceptions, the Democrats are as tepid as the Republicans about their opposition.
to get a message to people who spend time in their own protective bubble, try billboards. That may be the only way to cut through the noise.
Did you not follow the link above?
I read Jen’s article. I’m commenting on it.
Republican politicians lie blatantly about this matter. Obviously, they are without conscience or any strength of character. Far too many Americans, especially those who are older and long established as traditional Republicans, automatically believe them. Surely, somewhere between 40 and 50% of Americans are believing the Republican lies. One can truly ask what is wrong with them, and undoubtedly there has always been an unthinking segment, but our country is being lost because of the cognitively inflexible and incapable. The world wonders what is wrong with Americans and many will never trust us again, and I surely wonder, too.
The government is closed. What the public believes is irrelevant.
The only recourse is to convince Congressional Republicans to come forward. Many of them know Trump is nuts. We only need a few.
Yesterday 4 Republican senators crossed over on Brazilian tarrifs.
A big part of the problem is 50+ years of highly UN-equal access to really good education, linked with high correlation to socioeconomically wealthy or poor districts. We allowed the creation and proliferation of a large population of economically disadvantaged, low-information, vulnerable, undereducated voters, something NO democracy can survive.
Far too few Americans understand how urgent is the necessity for massive investment and reform in our public education/training systems, or how transformative this one element of American life would be if we were to fix it properly AND sustain the commitment. Respected, properly funded and treasured, education of young and old is the key to a healthy, functional, prosperous and enduring democracy.
Wasting and disregarding a significant % of the potential of our People -- our MOST VALUABLE renewable resource! -- is just plain stupid.
Tyranny thrives on ignorance -- as we are experiencing now -- and until we get serious about education, all other efforts or investments will be both costly and futile.
Re: “Americans are believing the Republican lies”
— indeed, very brainwashed AND *lazy* intellectually.
They accept culture war diatribe as truth & look no further.
— Saves them from having to think AND indulges their ‘grievances’.
The hypocrisy of “ProLife” is quite evident. Thank you, Jen, for your analysis of this cruelty.
It's even more evident when you look at women who are "detained," by ICE, including some who are here legally. Pregnancy complications, and miscarriages happen frequently, and often no medical care is given. I assume the Pretend To Be Pro Life People don't consider those babies worth "saving," or they'd be picketing the places where pregnant women are held.
My understanding is that even with food banks operating at maximum capacity with the assistance of the National Guard, they can only deliver 1/6th the amount of food that would have otherwise been available by SNAP. People should help the homeless when possible during these dark times.
If deprivation of food isn't a crime against humanity, what is? After what was done to others with the destruction of USAID, it wasn't long before this horrible reality was brought home to our own shores. There is identifiable evil in this administration and its leader. Members of Congress who will not do their jobs for their constituents for fear of Trump should resign.
Don the Con couldn't be a more blatant racist if he showed up to work wearing a white hood and sheet.
Has anyone checked the back of his closet?
I suspect they'd find classified documents, but beyond that I don't kn ow.
I was thinking of checking for outfits, but yes, likely what you said as well.
you would probaby find a little orange closet monster wearing a diaper and holding a cheeseburger
My blood is boiling with rage over these brazen, cruel and destructive actions by Trump and his GOP accomplices in Congress! Citizens must contact their reps and senators now and vow to vote them all out of office at the first opportunity.
Blood boiling is what they want--they are provoking **everyone** so that victims will become violent finally, and that will give Trump the "legal" ground to clamp down with his goons and, as he has been hinting in the last two days, the military.
And the response to the violence will be martial law or something like it so to close down elections--that's the point--he wants to stay in power "for life."
When my blood boils, I get on the phone to Congress, I open my wallet to make small dollar donations to Dems challenging GOP lackeys in state AND federal races across the country, and take to the streets to PEACEFULLY protest the actions of Trump and his radical GOP goons. I want to be part of the needed 3.5% of our population necessary to prevent this authoritarian takeover and save our democracy. I will not be so foolish as to succumb to violence to give them the excuse they need and strongly desire to complete their takeover of our democracy.
Starving people mean protests, one violent incident will bring military into the streets. Trump and his crews plan is so obvious, create a problem, use your preferred solution.
Not only increased protests, but increased criminal activity. When people are hungry, they will do anything for food. So then Agent Orange can send in the troops to kill people (probably labeled as "illegals"), providing TV entertainment for him.
" . . . Americans must decide . . . "
They already have. They elected the orange narcissist-felon-sociopath. They have brought misery (food and health-care deprivation) to themselves and millions of others. They own the misery.
Meanwhile, the 'congress' malingers while the nation burns.
Republicans don't care who or how many people they hurt with their win-at-all-costs legislative agenda. They adhere to a delusional ideology that the poor choose to be that way. That the people on SNAP are all blacks from the ghetto or immigrants illegally receiving benefits. You sort of have to believe that this is a massive Social Darwinism experiment where they will starve the poor and deny people healthcare in hopes that they just die off so they can transfer ever more money to the Oligarchy.
Stephen Brady: I think it works for so many because the MAGA members, at least those who are in the cheap seats, apparently cannot think their way into the difference between (a) 2 or 3 individual realities or events and (b) 2 or 3 million individual realities or events. And so, they are fearful of "so many welfare moms" or "rapists crossing the border" (or whatever) and then, it follows that the sweep of policy needs to be set according to the idea of 2 or 3.
Makes perfect sense. Sort of like claiming a ceasefire while Israel murders 107 people in GAZA. Then Netanyahoo says, "Okay NOW we'll do the ceasefire." (Till next time.) If you've ever raised kids, you've surely seen this kind of logic in your 11-13 year olds.
Excessive fear, free-floating anxiety, intolerance of anything done in a way which doesn't agree with THEIR way - are all part of the authoritarian, patriarchal, racist, christian nationalist mind set.
Stephen Brady: It's like the old "welfare mom" trope. It's the fly that might have a tiny truth and so it initiates the response of a sledgehammer of government action and inaction . . . driven by corrupt politicians who will benefit by hurting everyone else.
It's been going around since Ronnie Raygun promulgated his mythical welfare queen driving from mailbox to mailbox in her Cadillac harvesting all the fraudulently obtained checks.
See your fellow Substack writer's incisive piece this week for starvation as historic strategy: Starving you is the point.
https://open.substack.com/pub/drstaceypatton1865/p/starving-you-is-the-point-the-neuroscience?utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=email
It should be made clear to Trump's heirs and to the MAGA Toadies in Congress, that the majority of Americans will remember this time and that there will be retribution against the monsters who now support the Monster in Chief.
"THE DEMOCRATS DID IT! THE DEMOCRATS DID IT! THE DEMOCRATS DID IT! God, I am so sick of it.