February 3: Andrew Weissmann speaks to Jen Rubin & Norm Eisen, Jen writes on the realization of a senseless consumer tax, and Norm Eisen and Lisa Gilbert on the dismantling of the DOJ and FBI
Also, see Diane Ravitch's blogsite for timely and relevant postings coming from, for instance, Timothy Synder (see his website-blog also), the NYTimes, WAPO, The Wall Street Journal, and several well-known historians who have been keeping their finger on the pulse of this ballsy Musk takeover. Apparently, people in Los Angeles are actively protesting on the highways--though watch for it on the news--cannot verify yet.
I can’t read everything all the time. I must buy food and scrub the bathtub in case there is a tomorrow. Perhaps I missed, in my morning newsfeed, local and NYT (divorced WaPo), where the F did herr muzi come from? A federal employee? Background check? Security clearance? Elected? Senate approval? DOGE! Under what department? OK then, OVER what department? How did that happen? Orange EO? Pretty stealthy but I’m new at all this conspirationalist “thought.” Stuck in “rational”, slow.
Agreed! Trump's tariff plays are a distraction from the far more dangerous activity going on right now: Musk and his henchmen unlawfully ransacking Federal institutions and their systems in violation of the legal procedures. If these actions aren't promptly reversed and stopped by the courts we risk having the administrative arms of the Federal government taken over by the oligarchs.
Would love to see The Contrarian do in depth coverage of the USTreasury breach—is this legal? What can be done about it now that highly “secure” information has likely been copied? Where do we even stand as a country after our most horrendous peacetime weekend in our history (at least that I can recall)? Where are those that we sent to Congress to act on our behalf?
At DOJ, some of the people affected may be union members. In my experience, these are some of the smartest, most knowledgeable lawyers in the country.
Unfortunately, I have some experience in data breaches as my security clearance was stolen by the Chinese military in 2014 via OPM records. Although we should have sued for damages, obtained judgments, we never did. My wife and I are retired federal employees-- in many federal databases. Many are concerned about stuff like SSA retirement benefits. Those funds come from a trust fund that should be solvent to about 2033.
Apparently DOGE has already decided to kill several agencies......
I’d be grateful if you would consider posting a suggested daily action for your readers, so that all of us who wish could deliver a concentrated, focused message to elected officials or others each day. This could be developed in-house, or could be a shout out to join an action proposed by a like-minded group. Today, for example, there are actions related to immigration as well as a call-out from Indivisible to request Senators use procedural rules to try to block confirmations. It would be very helpful to have a focused action each day. If that feels too partisan, it would also be great to have a clearinghouse of information on suggested actions from vetted groups. You are building the audience, and you have earned credibility. If you have staff for this effort, it would be welcome.
They don't care. We have to show up IN PERSON. We have to march. We have to make calls. Now, we know, our SC reps are worse than useless. New rep Sherie Biggs' office couldn't be bothered to write down my name or information. But we have to SHOW UP!!!
I agree! Back in the 60s we used to show up, and back in the Me Too time, we used to show up. Suddenly we don’t show up apathy reigns. Well they won’t be apathetic when the cold hand of this new regime is on their shoulder
What?! No discussion about the biggest data breach in the world?! Today’s news roundup seems to have been written days ago — before the coup. I expected more.
So where are we on the Musk Madness Machine? I've tried calling AARP to get them to come out against what could be happening to SS & Medicare payments & surprise, surprise there is no way to reach anyone in Government Affairs except by mail. Now, I love snail mail but this is a 5 alarm fire & writing to tell them they should be coming out against this is like mailing a bucket of water to a forest fire.
I have the list of Senators on the finance committee that was provided by Joyce Vance in her post last night & I will be calling them very soon. I've called my local rep 4 times in 6 days & will be on the phone again when the office opens. I've sent letters to a dozen Democrats telling them they need to be out there pushing back every day in every way. Is Chris Murphy the only one we get to see? He is forceful & takes a stand. Maybe he should give a crash course in how to "see something, say something"!!!! It's so obvious what is going on that a blind man can see it.
So get on board. Contact your reps. "Make some noise!"
I know the Contrarian is still trying to define themselves, and from the comments I've seen below I am not the only one who feels you've missed the mark. The original effort involved multiple emails all day long, and it was too much. The next week you previewed three or four or five stories and provided links and it looked like you were going to do that once in the morning and once in the evening. That seemed perfect to me. Since then you seem to be relying more on video. I'm sure there is a place for video, but seriously, it takes too long to listen to, and always feels dumbed down. You have assembled an incredible group of writers. We can be informed more efficiently and effectively if you could at least provide more links to written stories and opinions. We really need a good reliable news source now that legacy media has failed us. We're counting on you!
Idea - How about having an emergency red alarm fire meeting to devise a plan that is more than just issuing lawsuits; which take forever and don’t work as we have seen? Congress has authorities in a constitutional and national emergency, no? Would we let any other country come in a do this? No we would take immediate action. It’s now or never folks.
How about a democrat emergency news conference for the public to inform the outraged and overwhelmed Americans the truth about what is going on and what is going to be done to combat this take over by unelected officials.
Stop saying this is illegal. We know that. Show us you are in emergency mode too.
We have a trifecta of illegal, unconstitutional and insanity. Do more than just calling it out!
Why is congress not functioning in a state of emergency? Who else do we have to combat this?
What about the 6 young infidels Musk used to raid USAID data and that at Treasury? If any government employee were to connect a device to said systems to get data they wuld be summaril marched out the DOOR and the machines seized as evidence of THEFT! No comment?
Every person who has paid their taxes or gotten their tax refund electronically has standing to sue Bessant for turning over access to Musk and his henchmen and to seek an injunction ordering that the access codes immediately be changed and Musk and co locked out. Norm Eisen please file this lawsuit.
read Tim Snyder today for a road map...it HELPS to understand what the government can still do (what's left ) what powers have been cripples and what citizens must now do
"It’s a new week for us to litigate and laugh our way through the Trump regime..." Litigate yes, but laugh? The "laugh" part reminds me of the late English playwright Peter Barnes's two-act ironic, black comedy, "Laughter." The second act is entitled "Auschwitz" and is set in the bureaucratic offices of government employees in Berlin. While the characters in the play seem to be representative of civil servants in any governmental setting, with the same petty concerns and battles, the audience is slowly made aware that they are responsible for the functioning of the Auschwitz extermination center. It exposes the truth of the chillingly pedestrian way the Nazis went about exterminating 6M+ innocents, by confronting the audience and forcing it to laugh uncomfortably at a range of familiar Nazi comic devices and stereotypes. Yet in the prologue to "Laughter," Barnes makes an impassioned tirade against laughter as a politically neutralizing device and the "ally of tyrants." Part of his genius, I suppose, to make you feel guilty for laughing at what he wrote to be laughed at. In that prologue he says: “Comedy itself is the enemy…It softens our hatred…Nothing needs changing when it's all a joke.”
It seems to me and many others that a coup is underway right now. An unelected billionaire with full access to the Treasury payment system is making decisions and withholding payments approved by Congress, using his own computer systems and staff. Tariffs will hit most of us in the pocketbook and perhaps divert our attention from the larger picture. Which is horrific. Congress has to act now. Decisively and quickly. Concerned Americans need to engage with representatives and senators. Significant damage is taking place daily, hourly. There isn’t time for lawsuits, though I think the judicial system can be part of the solution.
I’m counting on the Contrarian to report on all of this.
I do not understand how the most terrifying act of this administration to date doesn’t even warrant a footnote: Musk’s team of 5 who have taken control of the spending infrastructure of the US Government. This is effectively a coup - he is crowing about cutting off funding to organizations he does not like and it fully appears that his team may well have the ability to do this. This is the beginning of the reign of rule by one man and not rule by law. We need to be screaming to our representatives about this, as Musk effectively has control of the Government purse.
No news about the largest data breach in history?
My thoughts exactly! Where is the reporting on the data breaches and the taking over of government computer systems?
TAKEN OVER
Pretty much
Check out The Bulwark this morning. JVL has a strong piece written about it.
Also, see Diane Ravitch's blogsite for timely and relevant postings coming from, for instance, Timothy Synder (see his website-blog also), the NYTimes, WAPO, The Wall Street Journal, and several well-known historians who have been keeping their finger on the pulse of this ballsy Musk takeover. Apparently, people in Los Angeles are actively protesting on the highways--though watch for it on the news--cannot verify yet.
I can’t read everything all the time. I must buy food and scrub the bathtub in case there is a tomorrow. Perhaps I missed, in my morning newsfeed, local and NYT (divorced WaPo), where the F did herr muzi come from? A federal employee? Background check? Security clearance? Elected? Senate approval? DOGE! Under what department? OK then, OVER what department? How did that happen? Orange EO? Pretty stealthy but I’m new at all this conspirationalist “thought.” Stuck in “rational”, slow.
Agreed. A strange lack of information?
FYI: Lots of incisive information coming through on MSNBC--Maddow, Velchi, and many others.
Agreed! Trump's tariff plays are a distraction from the far more dangerous activity going on right now: Musk and his henchmen unlawfully ransacking Federal institutions and their systems in violation of the legal procedures. If these actions aren't promptly reversed and stopped by the courts we risk having the administrative arms of the Federal government taken over by the oligarchs.
Would love to see The Contrarian do in depth coverage of the USTreasury breach—is this legal? What can be done about it now that highly “secure” information has likely been copied? Where do we even stand as a country after our most horrendous peacetime weekend in our history (at least that I can recall)? Where are those that we sent to Congress to act on our behalf?
Support CREW. https://www.citizensforethics.org/legal-action/lawsuits/trumps-plan-to-fire-government-workers-is-illegal/
https://www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/PEER-Complaint.pdf
At DOJ, some of the people affected may be union members. In my experience, these are some of the smartest, most knowledgeable lawyers in the country.
Unfortunately, I have some experience in data breaches as my security clearance was stolen by the Chinese military in 2014 via OPM records. Although we should have sued for damages, obtained judgments, we never did. My wife and I are retired federal employees-- in many federal databases. Many are concerned about stuff like SSA retirement benefits. Those funds come from a trust fund that should be solvent to about 2033.
Apparently DOGE has already decided to kill several agencies......
READ THIS TODAY ....... IMP !!!! https://snyder.substack.com/p/the-logic-of-destruction
I’d be grateful if you would consider posting a suggested daily action for your readers, so that all of us who wish could deliver a concentrated, focused message to elected officials or others each day. This could be developed in-house, or could be a shout out to join an action proposed by a like-minded group. Today, for example, there are actions related to immigration as well as a call-out from Indivisible to request Senators use procedural rules to try to block confirmations. It would be very helpful to have a focused action each day. If that feels too partisan, it would also be great to have a clearinghouse of information on suggested actions from vetted groups. You are building the audience, and you have earned credibility. If you have staff for this effort, it would be welcome.
I use Resistbot to send emails to representatives DAILY. Easiest way I have ever done it.
They don't care. We have to show up IN PERSON. We have to march. We have to make calls. Now, we know, our SC reps are worse than useless. New rep Sherie Biggs' office couldn't be bothered to write down my name or information. But we have to SHOW UP!!!
I agree! Back in the 60s we used to show up, and back in the Me Too time, we used to show up. Suddenly we don’t show up apathy reigns. Well they won’t be apathetic when the cold hand of this new regime is on their shoulder
THIS
Nothing funny here…
...........anyone else smell smoke ?? Rome is burning
Yes! Our side has been laughing at the Monsters for way too long. We should have gotten serious a long time. ago.
What?! No discussion about the biggest data breach in the world?! Today’s news roundup seems to have been written days ago — before the coup. I expected more.
Me too, and so many links I zone out. I do subscribe to Joyce Vance, she is very focused and sums up legal matters brilliantly.
And Heather Cox Richardson.
So where are we on the Musk Madness Machine? I've tried calling AARP to get them to come out against what could be happening to SS & Medicare payments & surprise, surprise there is no way to reach anyone in Government Affairs except by mail. Now, I love snail mail but this is a 5 alarm fire & writing to tell them they should be coming out against this is like mailing a bucket of water to a forest fire.
I have the list of Senators on the finance committee that was provided by Joyce Vance in her post last night & I will be calling them very soon. I've called my local rep 4 times in 6 days & will be on the phone again when the office opens. I've sent letters to a dozen Democrats telling them they need to be out there pushing back every day in every way. Is Chris Murphy the only one we get to see? He is forceful & takes a stand. Maybe he should give a crash course in how to "see something, say something"!!!! It's so obvious what is going on that a blind man can see it.
So get on board. Contact your reps. "Make some noise!"
I know the Contrarian is still trying to define themselves, and from the comments I've seen below I am not the only one who feels you've missed the mark. The original effort involved multiple emails all day long, and it was too much. The next week you previewed three or four or five stories and provided links and it looked like you were going to do that once in the morning and once in the evening. That seemed perfect to me. Since then you seem to be relying more on video. I'm sure there is a place for video, but seriously, it takes too long to listen to, and always feels dumbed down. You have assembled an incredible group of writers. We can be informed more efficiently and effectively if you could at least provide more links to written stories and opinions. We really need a good reliable news source now that legacy media has failed us. We're counting on you!
Idea - How about having an emergency red alarm fire meeting to devise a plan that is more than just issuing lawsuits; which take forever and don’t work as we have seen? Congress has authorities in a constitutional and national emergency, no? Would we let any other country come in a do this? No we would take immediate action. It’s now or never folks.
How about a democrat emergency news conference for the public to inform the outraged and overwhelmed Americans the truth about what is going on and what is going to be done to combat this take over by unelected officials.
Stop saying this is illegal. We know that. Show us you are in emergency mode too.
We have a trifecta of illegal, unconstitutional and insanity. Do more than just calling it out!
Why is congress not functioning in a state of emergency? Who else do we have to combat this?
What about the 6 young infidels Musk used to raid USAID data and that at Treasury? If any government employee were to connect a device to said systems to get data they wuld be summaril marched out the DOOR and the machines seized as evidence of THEFT! No comment?
"laugh our way"? Not laughing...
Every person who has paid their taxes or gotten their tax refund electronically has standing to sue Bessant for turning over access to Musk and his henchmen and to seek an injunction ordering that the access codes immediately be changed and Musk and co locked out. Norm Eisen please file this lawsuit.
How do we stop this dismantling of the government? What action can we take?
I thinks it’s just going to get more and more ridiculously dystopian and we all need coping skills, friends and pacifiers…honestly it’s very scary.
read Tim Snyder today for a road map...it HELPS to understand what the government can still do (what's left ) what powers have been cripples and what citizens must now do
https://snyder.substack.com/p/the-logic-of-destruction
"It’s a new week for us to litigate and laugh our way through the Trump regime..." Litigate yes, but laugh? The "laugh" part reminds me of the late English playwright Peter Barnes's two-act ironic, black comedy, "Laughter." The second act is entitled "Auschwitz" and is set in the bureaucratic offices of government employees in Berlin. While the characters in the play seem to be representative of civil servants in any governmental setting, with the same petty concerns and battles, the audience is slowly made aware that they are responsible for the functioning of the Auschwitz extermination center. It exposes the truth of the chillingly pedestrian way the Nazis went about exterminating 6M+ innocents, by confronting the audience and forcing it to laugh uncomfortably at a range of familiar Nazi comic devices and stereotypes. Yet in the prologue to "Laughter," Barnes makes an impassioned tirade against laughter as a politically neutralizing device and the "ally of tyrants." Part of his genius, I suppose, to make you feel guilty for laughing at what he wrote to be laughed at. In that prologue he says: “Comedy itself is the enemy…It softens our hatred…Nothing needs changing when it's all a joke.”
It seems to me and many others that a coup is underway right now. An unelected billionaire with full access to the Treasury payment system is making decisions and withholding payments approved by Congress, using his own computer systems and staff. Tariffs will hit most of us in the pocketbook and perhaps divert our attention from the larger picture. Which is horrific. Congress has to act now. Decisively and quickly. Concerned Americans need to engage with representatives and senators. Significant damage is taking place daily, hourly. There isn’t time for lawsuits, though I think the judicial system can be part of the solution.
I’m counting on the Contrarian to report on all of this.
I do not understand how the most terrifying act of this administration to date doesn’t even warrant a footnote: Musk’s team of 5 who have taken control of the spending infrastructure of the US Government. This is effectively a coup - he is crowing about cutting off funding to organizations he does not like and it fully appears that his team may well have the ability to do this. This is the beginning of the reign of rule by one man and not rule by law. We need to be screaming to our representatives about this, as Musk effectively has control of the Government purse.