26 Comments
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Dave Thompson's avatar

With all due respect Tom, I believe that the tear down of our real anti-terrorism capabilities is quite intentional on the part of the authors of Project 2025. Aligning with Stalinist tactics to suppress the general populace, while allowing Putin wide leeway to steal national secrets aligns just fine with their objective of establishing a right wing totalitarian state. Sadly, ironically, I fear that a highly successful, destructive and murderous terrorist attack by Iran (fill in your favorite anti-democracy, US antagonistic state) might be the only thing that awakens our entertainment addled populace to the threats they have willfully ignored. In 8 months, Don the Con and his MAGots have taken the greatest country on earth down the path to becoming one of the dip-sh*t countries that his Conship used to bitch about in his lie filled campaign complaints.

Robert Lastick's avatar

Said well, Dave.

I, like you, am so very tired of Americans who do have the power to confront our answer to Agent Orange (death to all it touches), and do ABSOLUTAMENTE NADA!!!

What we need is a courageous patriot like Boston mayor Wu to stand up and say to all that WE ALL are mad as hell and will not take this for one more second!!!!!!!!!!!!

R MICHAEL LISKAY's avatar

You bring up some good points but I don't understand why the "With all due respect Tom" was really necessary. You aren't actually disagreeing with Tom but just adding a parallel idea or extension. Well put to you and Tom M.

Wendy Shelley's avatar

The National Guard. Then FBI. Then military WITH WEAPONS. What do we think is going to happen now? And “the military” taking over PROSECUTIONS? What in the hell is going on? Who and when and what are going to stop this (I can’t think of a proper description for DJT) (jackass?) Terrorist who has already ruined our country in this world? I’m so embarrassed and distressed and just beside myself! God help us us.

wendy moluf's avatar

Just a thought, Tom: just because the NYT says that “Democrats are treading cautiously” it doesn’t mean it’s true. It’s long past time for all of us to stop treating the NYT like it has the definitive explanation for what’s happening in real time. Their reliance on analysis over straight factual reporting has become odious, and the headline writers are actually national punchlines (NYT Pitchbot, anyone?). So maybe you don’t think Democrats are doing enough to call out the important points you’re making about our national security. Well, you’re a Democrat and you’re calling it out, right? How about enlisting some of your former colleagues like Andy Kim to publicize the issue? I get pretty tired of everyone, including Democrats who should know better, blaming Democrats for not doing enough. You have agency - use it.

Jim Brown's avatar

YES! Veteran journalist James Fallows posted yesterday on his Substack about exactly this sort of issue in their "reporting?" anticipating Harvard's capitulation to Trump. I've read Fallows for more than 40 years. His is one of a half-dozen news and analysis SubStacks that I pay for (along with several more about jazz).

Lenny Rothbart's avatar

I think about the aspirations of those FBI agents relegated to walking beats hunting for street crime & visa violations. They’ve made it through a process so rough that only 1% of the few candidates who get as far as being admitted to the training program qualify to become special agents. I’m sure this isn’t where they thought that extraordinary accomplishment would lead them. It must be incredibly demoralizing to be rewarded for that dedication & excellence with this kick in the teeth.

Justin Sayne's avatar

Republicans are a poison to the USA. They just oppose the Country being run in accordance with the Constitution.

Vicki Krutzler's avatar

I agree with you Justin. Republicans are a poison to the USA. They are a poison to the world right now. The current GOP doesn’t even represent true republican values. Where did all the republicans go?

Shannon Starks's avatar

Thanks for this call to action. I’ve thought a lot about this and am still reeling with the knowledge that every GOP lawmaker is officially supporting rising terrorist threats to America.

Robert Lastick's avatar

Do whatever is necessary to get him out of office NOW!

Deanna J Marquart's avatar

Why is this still going on? It's not as if we don't know what trump is doing. Are we without laws against what he is doing? Is it possible this is what Roberts and his posse HAD IN MIND by blessing him with exemption from prosecution? Who is available to stop this? And don't tell me it's "we the people," because we the people have learned that we are as disorganized and powerless as Congress. Many thanks to The Contrarian for publishing this article by Tom Malinowski ... I do appreciate that. But I'd also like to know what is taking place that will ultimately lead to getting trump out of the White House BEFORE the end of his term.

Emilie H.'s avatar

.... before October.

David Moscatello's avatar

Trump sees the lack of enforcement against organized crime and child trafficking and exploitation, and especially against white-collar corruption and fraud, and from foreign spies, as a good thing for him and his pals.

I’m convinced that there are two reasons we haven’t already suffered a massive foreign or domestic rightwing terrorist attack. First is that terrorists were taken completely off guard by the rapid evisceration of our security infrastructure (what nation does that to itself!?), and didn’t have anything ready to go. And the ongoing reason is that the Trump regime is acting daily as domestic rightwing terrorists, so the Proud Boys and other fascists can join ICE or some subcontractor, mask up, and get paid to commit acts of terror. They're living the dream!

And the foreign terrorists have been happy so far to sit back and watch us destroy ourselves. As Napolean said, “"Never interrupt your enemy when he is making a mistake."

Robert Lastick's avatar

Just how much longer are we (the American people) going to allow this treasonous activity to go on?

How much longer are we going to continue talking ad nauseum and continue to do nothing?

When is someone going to ACT!!??

pjm0746@gmail.com's avatar

Tom, You have added a strong clear voice for the restoration of democracy, Thanks, Peter

Pat Jones Garcia's avatar

So agree, Tom, and thank you for so clearly listing what is not being done due to Trump's wrongful ideas and revenge towards people he doesn't agree with. (I still cannot believe so many people voted for him.) The small amount of reading I had done on Project 2025 was quite enough to convince me that the crazy authors hated our country and its people. Why didn't more people do their homework and ignore the lies?!

Irena's avatar

Well said: trump..." is forcing federal law enforcement agencies to play act as his personal, partisan police force instead of securing America." Mr. Malinowski, please get other like minded people and take Congress.

Ted's avatar

My question is -- how do we get this kind of information to the public . I dont know the breath of Mr Malinowski's readership, but I suspect most Americans have not heard or seen or understand what "dear leader" is doing to the security of the US. Every Democrat, at every level of government, should have this type of information and get it into their town hall meetings, campaign stops and every chance they have to meet the public. Obviously there is a lot of information every candidate and/or office holder should have and use it focused on the issues facing each audience he/she has.

Chelle's avatar

Miss you Tom! The other Tom is just a Trumpuppet!!

Emilie H.'s avatar

One of my major concerns is the diversion of employees in national/international security. Am I the only one who wonders if the cockwomble is diverting our FBI employees, natsec personnel, and who knows who else, so no one is watching right wing movements in the US; or watching attempted hacks on the Justice Department; or 'picking off' those who criticize him? And what about more insidious things - those trafficking in highly infectious viruses? What about the cockwomble provoking incidents like the "drug boat" so he can declare war and confound the 2026 elections?

I am all for peaceful protests. I also wonder what it will take to get this administration out of power.

Jim Carmichael's avatar

Magnificent summation and call to duty.