This is critical to national security. Stop what you are doing and if you are a flag officer, be in Quantico pronto to hear the TOP TWO civilian leaders of the U.S. military establish new instructions.
Carl, this hot-buttons post is hilarious. Trump was stuck on the elevator at the UN; it could be due to his dementia, he forgot how to walk, then remembered later when Melania started walking up the stairs.
My daughter in law has renamed escalators: Trump Traps. I love it!! We were all in D.C. Monday and enjoyed many Trump Traps getting on and off the Metro. But never saw Der Fuhrer on one.
"It was a magnificent “whole of society” response to authoritarian bullying. Trump looked unhinged and clueless." This letter explains that the fundamental working mechanism is "law and judges applying them." Plus the integrity of our military leaders loyal to the constitution, not Trump. And never forget the power of our people together. Thank you Jenn.
Thank God for Judge Young, the great folks of Portland, and particularly our senior military leaders! May the rest of us take their bravery to give us courage in these daunting times.
What brave thing have senior military leaders done? Refusing to applaud is hardly brave. Remember the Nuremberg trials and the standard they set for what military leaders should do.
When the time comes that they are ordered to take violent action against US civilians, the generals can and should refuse to comply citing the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) provisions regarding unlawful orders. They might indeed by fired but if the don't refuse, they may be charged with war crimes for complying. At that point, we can talk about bravery.
Trump virtually threatened them with firing on the spot if they didn’t appreciate him!
Also read a bit about AI being used at that gathering to detect even minor facial indications of rejection or disgust … which cd be analyzed & used against them at a later date. They were in the hot seat & did all they cd do ‘in the moment’.
— I give them credit for that AND their having to silently suffer listening to fools prattle on & insult their intelligence & ethos. 💥
Last night, Lawrence O'Donnell skewered the MSM, including the NYT, for its sanewashing of Agent Orange and its clearly unequal reporting of what Orange is doing vs what Biden did while in office. He is also pretty brave to effectively speak truth to power. We need all the undaunted, contrarian voices we have! Keep publishing!
That is what he always does. That's why he's my favorite newsperson. His passion always comes through. We don't watch news in the evening because I like to sleep, but we will be watching Lawrence this afternoon. I'm looking forward to what he has to say.
Why is the television the President's best source of information? We know he cannot read but he most certainly has informed advisors who can inform him, no? Very grateful for the Portland population asserting their rights!
Well, I suspect that most of his 'advisors' are as nutty as he is, and the ones who are not instead are cowards whose job depends on telling the "Dear Leader" only things they think he wants to hear.
Don't think we need just suspect. One look at Kristi the Puppy-Killer's moon-bat eyes, at the sock puppet sidekick at Quantico who thinks bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet shoes proves he's a macho, macho, macho man, at Junior Sturmbannführer Miller's rage-filled psychotic face, at the Maybelline butt wipe who desperately wants us to know he has a sense of warped humor....it's all rather obvious.
The military votes Republican and did so in the last election despite January 6th. The military did not push back against the deployment of marines to LA. The military has said nothing about the purge among its leaders for being DEI.
In 2016, the senior military were effective in curbing some of the worst misuses of the military. Don’t see any evidence that they are doing that now.
Sitting silent and not clapping is a pretty low bar for an award of undaunted to the military.
Yes! I too was happy to see their stony silence during the debacle speechifying, but disappointed there wasn't more of a response. (Standing and turning their backs to the president.) It's past time for the highest level of our military leaders to speak out, with one forceful, war-like if you will, voice. And to refuse to order those under them to obey the nutty Commander-in-Chief (so-called). In fact, to order the military to stand down if given an order to move to Portland or anywhere.
I hear ya, but frankly, rules can be broken, and at this time in history in our country, as the other side is breaking them constantly, it's time for this side to do the same.
And there is courage in the service or integrity and principle. Those we hold in high esteem--as we've done the military--need to know when to stand tall against tyrants acting in violation of the Constitution.
I do think the military would not execute an illegal order from orangeass... especially after having seen for themselves just how inept he is. In that respect prince DUI and king orangeass did us all a favor in calling the brass together and performing for them.
Patricia- You make a very valid point! It was history making truth up close and personal,and really could not be denied. It was painful to watch, although I couldn't watch the whole thing, it was just too much. I looked at some of the photos of the military: some looked extremely angry, one guy was obviously tuning the stooges out and scrolling through his phone, a few had vague smiles on their faces, as if to say WTF? Others, of course, were totally stone-faced, attempting to hide their incredulity. After this ridiculous show, the top military leaders cannot deny who these two idiots are, and how grossly/embarrassingly incompetent they are: one inept drunk and one demented maniac. The three stooges, or two, couldn't have been funnier, if the whole thing wasn't such a national embarrassment.
President Trump has already laid out the roadmap to secure a third term and to ensure the MAGA party retain full control of the House, Senate and White House. His continued insistence that mail in voting is rife with corruption. His statement that their is an enemy within our country is a sure sign that he fully intends to, unless Congress gets a spine and invoke the 25th Amendment, invoke martial law during the mid-term elections.
The operating principle of the Trump regime is apparently vae victis (Woe to the vanquished!). Trump and his officials and accomplices consider the blue states vanquished territory. They must be made to understand the other kind of retribution, the one reserved for tyrants and their agents:vae tyrannis (Woe to Tyrants!).
Let us remember the famous line from Dylan Thomas asking us to rage and not go quiet into the night of death - the death of American democracy in this case, rather than that of a loved parent.
Good! The mainstream or legacy "news" comes from the sector that is too afraid of irritating Rump and getting sued. I wouldn't trust anything they say.
Many are indeed becoming more gutsy & accurate in their reporting - whether that will be sufficient in timeliness & impact is another matter, kind of a ‘closing the gate after the horse is out’ thing.
Trumpism has been an insidious, creeping, dishonest thing that everyone has had to contend/ adjust to.
— “Michel de Montaigne's quote comes to mind, "I speak the truth not so much as I would, but as much as I dare, and I dare a little more as I grow older," offers us a profound reflection on the multifaceted nature of truth and its expression.
It acknowledges the inclination to withhold or temper the complete truth while simultaneously highlighting the potential for personal growth and boldness in the pursuit of truth.” —
Substitute ‘as I grow older’ for ‘as we realize democracy becomes more imperilled by our self-serving journalistic cowardice’ and we have a wrap?
*I don’t believe it’s so much the journalists who are cowardly here, but higher up the chain of command.
What ICE did in Chicago is absolutely frightening. It's probably good that I read Heather before breakfast - otherwise my breakfast might have met a sad end. The dehumanizing of so many people is very upsetting.
It truly is, Susan. My heart aches for all the people caught up in this horrible ICE dragnet. The entire nation is suffering under Goebbels Jr.’s evil machinations. He truly is a Nazi and must be stopped.
Punkette, I live in El Paso, Texas, with a population that is about 85% Hispanic. I am very much afraid of what will happen to our city (It's also primarily blue). I personally want to see everyone in that administration gotten rid of. All they want to do is destroy the country
Oh gosh, Susan. Please stay safe. I am a former Texan; grew up in Houston and went to college in Austin. 🤘🏽 Horrible how much the state has changed since I left back in the early eighties. I have fond memories of visiting El Paso and Juarez decades ago. I also lived in New Mexico for twenty years (El Paso having one foot in the Land of Enchantment) and I miss the vibrant tri-cultural diversity. Hoping to return one day. Meanwhile I follow El Paso natives Olivia Troye and Beto O’Rourke here on Substack. Take care and love to your wonderful city!
I am waiting for pushback from Illinois on horrific cruel, inhumane ICE raid against apartment dwellers. They herded and restrained PEOPLE worse than we handle livestock.
Sickening
Another contact reps etc. , show up with signs
Fear is palpable but so.itions and plans help channel our outrage and anxiety
Ever more evidence that the tide has turned. That Good will prevail over evil.
What matters most is not only what is written in our founding documents, but what is inscribed in our hearts and lived in our actions.
When ordinary people keep making small, good choices, they build the foundation that carries us through the storm and keeps democracy alive for the next generation. In the end, it isn't high ideals alone that save us. It's the simple, stubborn habits of virtue woven into the fabric of our lives. That is something each of us helps shape, every day.
I am afraid we have reached a point where too many Americans believe that having a dictator in charge is not too high a price to pay for having a strongman in the White House who gets rid of immigrants and promotes a racist, misogynist, White Christian Nationalist agenda. This is fast becoming “who we are.” Politicians, in the wake of unspeakable violence always say, this is not who we are. Well, it’s time to rethink that. Look at the armed agents kidnapping and disappearing innocent people; and no one is held accountable. This is who we are now. And for those embracing this show of power, know that now you have no where to turn when the dictator in charge turns on you. The media should feel shame for their complicity by refusing to inform and educate the public about the corruption that is dismantling our democracy; from the highest court to Congress to the White House to Wall Street to State and Local official Agencies. It’s time for redirection to a path back to democracy.
The current military cannot really "escalate"; I think they would be fired. But every former military personnel, from Mattis [who said plenty] down to private can certainly speak up. Capitol Police Officer Michael Fantone speaks up. Would that George W. Bush find his voice.
Yes, I'm sure he'd fire them all, or try to. I'd like to think they'd refuse to be fired--like Lisa Cook. It's important for former generals to speak out but they don't have the authority to counter the unconstitutional commands of this president. And yes, it would be nice to hear from Bush, Obama, Clinton. They're collecting presdiential pensions and enjoying their perks, the least they can do is pretend to be concerned.
Obama has spoken out. I haven't heard anything from him about Chicago, but he does stay on top of stuff and does speak out, unlike the other two you mentioned.
I also love when they are referred to as "the military". Military, my ass. They are nothing but a bunch of gangs/hoodlums, probably ex-felons, who joined a group to terrorize people because they are punks, clear and simple. To my knowledge, they are NOT part of the military. If so, what friggin' branch would that be? And if so, did they take an oath to the Constitution?????????
Terrific. So grateful for those you highlight and for your unrelenting push back.
This is critical to national security. Stop what you are doing and if you are a flag officer, be in Quantico pronto to hear the TOP TWO civilian leaders of the U.S. military establish new instructions.
https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/omg-no-bopping?r=3m1bs
Carl, this hot-buttons post is hilarious. Trump was stuck on the elevator at the UN; it could be due to his dementia, he forgot how to walk, then remembered later when Melania started walking up the stairs.
My daughter in law has renamed escalators: Trump Traps. I love it!! We were all in D.C. Monday and enjoyed many Trump Traps getting on and off the Metro. But never saw Der Fuhrer on one.
Great name. I hope he trips on one.
Sounds wonderful!!
Thanks for sharing this!
Unfortunately, there is definite racism in the caption under the first picture, regarding the Army PR Spec 4.
Excuse me. In Alabama if I thought this racist, I would not have said it. Bama speaks this way. I grew up with it.
Sorry, I guess I've never been around a native Alabaman before, being from the north myself, originally.
Everybody read this.
"It was a magnificent “whole of society” response to authoritarian bullying. Trump looked unhinged and clueless." This letter explains that the fundamental working mechanism is "law and judges applying them." Plus the integrity of our military leaders loyal to the constitution, not Trump. And never forget the power of our people together. Thank you Jenn.
Thank God for Judge Young, the great folks of Portland, and particularly our senior military leaders! May the rest of us take their bravery to give us courage in these daunting times.
Judge Young deserves a standing ovation....
What brave thing have senior military leaders done? Refusing to applaud is hardly brave. Remember the Nuremberg trials and the standard they set for what military leaders should do.
What else could they do? No applause is the same as poison to trump....
When the time comes that they are ordered to take violent action against US civilians, the generals can and should refuse to comply citing the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) provisions regarding unlawful orders. They might indeed by fired but if the don't refuse, they may be charged with war crimes for complying. At that point, we can talk about bravery.
Trump virtually threatened them with firing on the spot if they didn’t appreciate him!
Also read a bit about AI being used at that gathering to detect even minor facial indications of rejection or disgust … which cd be analyzed & used against them at a later date. They were in the hot seat & did all they cd do ‘in the moment’.
— I give them credit for that AND their having to silently suffer listening to fools prattle on & insult their intelligence & ethos. 💥
Last night, Lawrence O'Donnell skewered the MSM, including the NYT, for its sanewashing of Agent Orange and its clearly unequal reporting of what Orange is doing vs what Biden did while in office. He is also pretty brave to effectively speak truth to power. We need all the undaunted, contrarian voices we have! Keep publishing!
I frequently yell at both the NYT and the Associated Press for their bland coverage. Maddening.
I wish everyone in America could have heard Lawrence - and actually listened and took in what he said. He spoke the absolute truth!
That is what he always does. That's why he's my favorite newsperson. His passion always comes through. We don't watch news in the evening because I like to sleep, but we will be watching Lawrence this afternoon. I'm looking forward to what he has to say.
He was wonderfully scathing! How do they let him broadcast???
What do NY House Republicans say about Trump witholding NY funding?
Other simarly affected states?
Why is the television the President's best source of information? We know he cannot read but he most certainly has informed advisors who can inform him, no? Very grateful for the Portland population asserting their rights!
Trump very deliberately picked advisors who would only tell him what he wants to hear.
Exactly-loyalty is key.
Well, I suspect that most of his 'advisors' are as nutty as he is, and the ones who are not instead are cowards whose job depends on telling the "Dear Leader" only things they think he wants to hear.
Don't think we need just suspect. One look at Kristi the Puppy-Killer's moon-bat eyes, at the sock puppet sidekick at Quantico who thinks bouncing up and down on the balls of his feet shoes proves he's a macho, macho, macho man, at Junior Sturmbannführer Miller's rage-filled psychotic face, at the Maybelline butt wipe who desperately wants us to know he has a sense of warped humor....it's all rather obvious.
No. He only has sycophants who support every thing he says or does.
that's why he picked them - they would not dare use the 25th Amendment on him, however demented he clearly is to everyone else.
He doesn't listen either.
Yes terrific. But…..
The military votes Republican and did so in the last election despite January 6th. The military did not push back against the deployment of marines to LA. The military has said nothing about the purge among its leaders for being DEI.
In 2016, the senior military were effective in curbing some of the worst misuses of the military. Don’t see any evidence that they are doing that now.
Sitting silent and not clapping is a pretty low bar for an award of undaunted to the military.
Yes! I too was happy to see their stony silence during the debacle speechifying, but disappointed there wasn't more of a response. (Standing and turning their backs to the president.) It's past time for the highest level of our military leaders to speak out, with one forceful, war-like if you will, voice. And to refuse to order those under them to obey the nutty Commander-in-Chief (so-called). In fact, to order the military to stand down if given an order to move to Portland or anywhere.
if you know anyone in the military none of those things is anything their training and code would allow them to do...especially at that level
I hear ya, but frankly, rules can be broken, and at this time in history in our country, as the other side is breaking them constantly, it's time for this side to do the same.
And there is courage in the service or integrity and principle. Those we hold in high esteem--as we've done the military--need to know when to stand tall against tyrants acting in violation of the Constitution.
I do think the military would not execute an illegal order from orangeass... especially after having seen for themselves just how inept he is. In that respect prince DUI and king orangeass did us all a favor in calling the brass together and performing for them.
They already did (killed the people in the boats of Venezuela).
Patricia- You make a very valid point! It was history making truth up close and personal,and really could not be denied. It was painful to watch, although I couldn't watch the whole thing, it was just too much. I looked at some of the photos of the military: some looked extremely angry, one guy was obviously tuning the stooges out and scrolling through his phone, a few had vague smiles on their faces, as if to say WTF? Others, of course, were totally stone-faced, attempting to hide their incredulity. After this ridiculous show, the top military leaders cannot deny who these two idiots are, and how grossly/embarrassingly incompetent they are: one inept drunk and one demented maniac. The three stooges, or two, couldn't have been funnier, if the whole thing wasn't such a national embarrassment.
Couldn’t agree more!!
As always so proud to be a Contrarian. Your analysis and tone are on point. Im now ready for the day.
Hooray from coast to coast and all points in-between! Get ready for October 18th y’all!
President Trump has already laid out the roadmap to secure a third term and to ensure the MAGA party retain full control of the House, Senate and White House. His continued insistence that mail in voting is rife with corruption. His statement that their is an enemy within our country is a sure sign that he fully intends to, unless Congress gets a spine and invoke the 25th Amendment, invoke martial law during the mid-term elections.
The operating principle of the Trump regime is apparently vae victis (Woe to the vanquished!). Trump and his officials and accomplices consider the blue states vanquished territory. They must be made to understand the other kind of retribution, the one reserved for tyrants and their agents:vae tyrannis (Woe to Tyrants!).
Let us remember the famous line from Dylan Thomas asking us to rage and not go quiet into the night of death - the death of American democracy in this case, rather than that of a loved parent.
Yes to this column but what about what is happening in Chicago?
Just terrible. Heather Cox Richardson reported today on the inhumane Chicago high rise raid:
https://open.substack.com/pub/heathercoxrichardson/p/october-2-2025?r=r55rm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Yep, I follow her, too. (and so many on substack--I rely on the writers here for info rather than mainstream 'news'.
Good! The mainstream or legacy "news" comes from the sector that is too afraid of irritating Rump and getting sued. I wouldn't trust anything they say.
Many are indeed becoming more gutsy & accurate in their reporting - whether that will be sufficient in timeliness & impact is another matter, kind of a ‘closing the gate after the horse is out’ thing.
Trumpism has been an insidious, creeping, dishonest thing that everyone has had to contend/ adjust to.
— “Michel de Montaigne's quote comes to mind, "I speak the truth not so much as I would, but as much as I dare, and I dare a little more as I grow older," offers us a profound reflection on the multifaceted nature of truth and its expression.
It acknowledges the inclination to withhold or temper the complete truth while simultaneously highlighting the potential for personal growth and boldness in the pursuit of truth.” —
Substitute ‘as I grow older’ for ‘as we realize democracy becomes more imperilled by our self-serving journalistic cowardice’ and we have a wrap?
*I don’t believe it’s so much the journalists who are cowardly here, but higher up the chain of command.
I posted the details for those who hadn’t heard about it.
Yes! That's a great idea.
There’s so much crazy stuff going on that it’s hard to keep track. Argh! Thanks, Ellen for keeping our focus on Chicago.
The only thing keeping me sane is knowing millions of other people are saying or thinking: WTAF?!
What ICE did in Chicago is absolutely frightening. It's probably good that I read Heather before breakfast - otherwise my breakfast might have met a sad end. The dehumanizing of so many people is very upsetting.
It truly is, Susan. My heart aches for all the people caught up in this horrible ICE dragnet. The entire nation is suffering under Goebbels Jr.’s evil machinations. He truly is a Nazi and must be stopped.
Punkette, I live in El Paso, Texas, with a population that is about 85% Hispanic. I am very much afraid of what will happen to our city (It's also primarily blue). I personally want to see everyone in that administration gotten rid of. All they want to do is destroy the country
so they and their rich buddies can have it all.
Oh gosh, Susan. Please stay safe. I am a former Texan; grew up in Houston and went to college in Austin. 🤘🏽 Horrible how much the state has changed since I left back in the early eighties. I have fond memories of visiting El Paso and Juarez decades ago. I also lived in New Mexico for twenty years (El Paso having one foot in the Land of Enchantment) and I miss the vibrant tri-cultural diversity. Hoping to return one day. Meanwhile I follow El Paso natives Olivia Troye and Beto O’Rourke here on Substack. Take care and love to your wonderful city!
Thank you, Punkette.
Thanks to all of you. There’s more fight in America than Trump and his toadies imagine.
I am waiting for pushback from Illinois on horrific cruel, inhumane ICE raid against apartment dwellers. They herded and restrained PEOPLE worse than we handle livestock.
Sickening
Another contact reps etc. , show up with signs
Fear is palpable but so.itions and plans help channel our outrage and anxiety
Superb piece, J.R.!
Ever more evidence that the tide has turned. That Good will prevail over evil.
What matters most is not only what is written in our founding documents, but what is inscribed in our hearts and lived in our actions.
When ordinary people keep making small, good choices, they build the foundation that carries us through the storm and keeps democracy alive for the next generation. In the end, it isn't high ideals alone that save us. It's the simple, stubborn habits of virtue woven into the fabric of our lives. That is something each of us helps shape, every day.
Best... /glc
I am afraid we have reached a point where too many Americans believe that having a dictator in charge is not too high a price to pay for having a strongman in the White House who gets rid of immigrants and promotes a racist, misogynist, White Christian Nationalist agenda. This is fast becoming “who we are.” Politicians, in the wake of unspeakable violence always say, this is not who we are. Well, it’s time to rethink that. Look at the armed agents kidnapping and disappearing innocent people; and no one is held accountable. This is who we are now. And for those embracing this show of power, know that now you have no where to turn when the dictator in charge turns on you. The media should feel shame for their complicity by refusing to inform and educate the public about the corruption that is dismantling our democracy; from the highest court to Congress to the White House to Wall Street to State and Local official Agencies. It’s time for redirection to a path back to democracy.
Excellent article. Thank-you to our military officials for their service and professionalism. 🇺🇸
Now we need more from them. Verbal resistance at the least. They need to escalate their response.
Refuse to follow unconstitutional orders .
The current military cannot really "escalate"; I think they would be fired. But every former military personnel, from Mattis [who said plenty] down to private can certainly speak up. Capitol Police Officer Michael Fantone speaks up. Would that George W. Bush find his voice.
Yes, I'm sure he'd fire them all, or try to. I'd like to think they'd refuse to be fired--like Lisa Cook. It's important for former generals to speak out but they don't have the authority to counter the unconstitutional commands of this president. And yes, it would be nice to hear from Bush, Obama, Clinton. They're collecting presdiential pensions and enjoying their perks, the least they can do is pretend to be concerned.
Obama has spoken out. I haven't heard anything from him about Chicago, but he does stay on top of stuff and does speak out, unlike the other two you mentioned.
Totally agree about Bush, and I believe, Fantone is retired.
I also believe he's retired but he continues to speak out. That makes him a hero in my book.
ICE is a domestic terrorist group.
I also love when they are referred to as "the military". Military, my ass. They are nothing but a bunch of gangs/hoodlums, probably ex-felons, who joined a group to terrorize people because they are punks, clear and simple. To my knowledge, they are NOT part of the military. If so, what friggin' branch would that be? And if so, did they take an oath to the Constitution?????????