98 Comments
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Lori's avatar

Thank you, Norm, the incredible work of you and the Democracy Defenders and all the contributors of The Contrarian.

Once this horrible era in our history is over, I look forward to the recovery, rebuilding & legal safeguards to prevent this from ever happening again.

Arkansas Blue's avatar

Only if voters get smarter and if old fart politicians give up their seats to younger and more energetic politicians.

Pat Jones Garcia's avatar

There are younger or newer bad politicians, too, following in the steps of the MAGA and such kind.

Hiro's avatar

I second "thank you" whole heartedly. Trump era produced both the extreme evils and heroes of America. But also the good support of American citizens providing jointly financial support for the work of heroes. Heroes and many who are willing to be a part can help democracy to survive. That is the only hope.

Steve 218's avatar

This rebuilding could start next year with the midterm election if enough voters would wise up, smarten up, and get off of their butts and vote. It never was and should not be a popularity contest.

Michele2's avatar

Re/safeguards... The Senate race next year has Roy Cooper as a very very strong democratic contender... This is going to be quite the race. Roy is going to need our grassroots support financially. If all of us on these political substacks could commit to either a one-time donation (any small amount would help) or a small monthly contribution , now in our history is the time this could make a difference. All our own state senators and representatives who are running for re-election could also use our help. It will take all of us doing everything we can to stop this dictator! And the Indivisible Protest scheduled for Labor Day weekend will need the biggest crowd ever and I mean ever to make the case for Democracy!

Catharine Stimpson's avatar

Brava/bravo on your energy and fierceness and achievements. Catharine Stimpson

Chris Dortch's avatar

Keep suing the socks off those scum, Norm. You're a great American!

Laurie's avatar

Thank you for all your work, and for maintaining your positivity. You're a bright light for us.

JudiLI's avatar

Looking back at the work of the Contrarian did take my breath away for a moment but then steeled me to continue my support for all you do. This news summary was great, I had missed a few articles/videos and am happy to have a chance to catch up. Just a note, as a North Carolinian we WILL be electing Roy Cooper as Senator! No doubt about it. Everyone I talked to is fired up. The GOP knows this and will be throwing every dirty trick at us they can come up with. We will be vigilant and counter each one.

L.D.Michaels's avatar

Outstanding coverage. I would like to add another issue which is developing now:

Are We Seeing a Pattern Emerging?

On June 17, I submitted the following Substack comment under the title, "What's Really Behind Trump's Sudden Urge to Join Israel in Attacking Iran?":

"For the past 72 hours, the world has been laughing at Donald Trump's pathetic birthday fizzle to himself on Saturday. So who but "a stable genius", after consulting with his brain trust of "Little Marco" Rubio and Pete Hegseth (assuming he was sober at the time), could have come up with the brainstorm of threatening a nuclear war to take everyone's mind off of Trump's thorough humiliation of himself?"

So today, I would similarly ask: What's really behind Trump's announcement yesterday that he's dispatching two nuclear submarines to the coast of Russia in response to comments made by former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, which was his usual, almost weekly, saber rattling?

I will pose the same question today:

So who but "a stable genius", after consulting with his brain trust of "Little Marco" Rubio and his soon to be ejected Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (assuming he was sober at the time), could have come up with the brainstorm of announcing that he's sending two nuclear submarines to the coast of Russia, which Trump is hoping will take everyone's mind off of his thorough humiliation over his bungling attempts to whitewash his relationship with Jeffrey Epstein and his humiliation over the surprise release of newly corrected data yesterday showing that our employment numbers had plummeted after Trump previously gloated over how great he was in causing them to soar.

In my opinion, the take-away in all of this is that Trump is willing, as the Commander-in-Chief of our armed forces, to send our military into an actual or potential battle to distract the American people's attention from his own humiliating conduct at home.

Robert Lastick's avatar

These are ALL sobering questions you ask!

Thank you for your thoughts.

Teresa JV's avatar

Excellent summary of stories provided by wonderful Contrarians!

Martha Lorantos's avatar

Please consider filing a lawsuit in behalf of the American people to put a halt to this outrageous ballroom project! It’s not his house! He’s just an unwelcome squatter whose only language is “lawsuit.” This must be stopped. Ben Meiselas floated the idea. Please make it so!

Sophia Demas's avatar

Yes! I also think that Erika McEntarfer, the commissioner of the Bureau of Labor Statistics, should sue rump's rump. He accused her of cooking the books and fired her because he didn't like the numbers? That's defamation!!

donna woodward's avatar

I worry that he's planning on staying at the WH forever.

Martha Lorantos's avatar

I think he is! Luckily, there is no “if” about death, only “when.”

donna woodward's avatar

And I'd add, "If only... (soon...very soon...!)

Gail Talbot's avatar

A thought about the world and its politics. For years the USA, based upon its size, GDP, its massive immigrant population and for withstanding attacks on its governance, has conjured a theory that they are the best in the world. They are grand. They should be the leaders in all the associations and organizations around the world to help the poor and guide other nations financially and politically. Well, with Trump in office, the USA has shocked the world, and certainly the citizens of the USA, with how much like a melting ice cube the USA’s greatness is being diminished.

Having an addled brained president, who is a convicted felon and sex abuser, lying during his campaign about all he would do if the citizens would just elect him, has become the laughingstock of the world. It is terrifying. As the USA is shrinking in its stature, the billionaires who were part of Trump’s election are silent. As they hold onto their cash, investments, and all, they creepily watch. They want their tax breaks, because they theorize that you can never be too rich and with that comes power. However, as the US citizens slowly wake up to what is being done to their country, they should all be shaking in their hand made expensive shoes. The people of America are opposed to the Republicans, their sovereign king in the presidency, and are beginning to march against them.

No, it is never too late. Regardless of how the world sees the people, they are strong, resilient, and closing the aperture of their focus on the evilness, negativity, total lack of adherence to the constitution, on not following through on promises made before the election, and the constant grifting of Trump and his so called administration. Of course, there is the horrible Epstein/Trump/Maxwell saga that will not go away until the files are made public and the victims are given some relief.

Keep up the pressure America.

Pat Jones Garcia's avatar

Except that you forget the politicians and people who stupidly back Trump regardless of the outright evilness and cruelty and hatred.

Jay Jay Eh's avatar

Surely they are rapidly diminishing, and more so by the midterms!

That’s why I look forward to the economic downturn - as painful as it will be, because some people will NOT LEARN any other way.

donna woodward's avatar

He SHOULD be the laughing stock of the world but world leaders treat him wish crazy deference. Yes, it's pat time for the US not to be thought of as indispensable leaders in all realms. The EU should rival the US in power. But they have kowtowed to a bully and may never recover from that stupidity.

donna woodward's avatar

It's not the most serious of this president's abuses and excesses, but please will someone point the way to stop the building of his new ballroom at the White House? There is simply no end to his grandiosity in the service of himself.

Jay Jay Eh's avatar

That alright — after he’s gone & a Dem prez installed it can be imaginatively renamed to properly honor the course correction /survival effort needed to overcome his hideous onslaught on democracy & decency! — perhaps even have a naming contest!

Lucy's avatar

Thank you for keeping us up to date on these stories.

Janet Carter's avatar

And now 47 and Bondi are attacking UCLA, finally going after a public university. It is my hope that Chancellor Frenk will fight back and not capitulate.

Carole Langston's avatar

Can the destruction of The White House be blocked to shove it up the 🍊 snitch?

Lilla Russell's avatar

Thank you Norm for all the work you do in court and outside of court interviewing and writing here for the Contrarians. We so appreciate you!

Carl Selfe's avatar

Now is our moment—tomorrow take action against this harmful government. They are:

Covering up a pedophile ring.

Ignoring court orders.

Spreading corruption.

The poor, the needy, and children are being abused—by our government. Healthcare, already a broken system, was canceled for 13 million. Take to the streets!

We must protest outright crooks and the pedophiles. They will start shooting us. Untrained ICE agents will shoot us. Protest until we go down or we oust these tyrants.

I made 54 protest signs to aid protest groups. I will make many more to share. You will see something different in these signs! Help yourself to this second batch, and share them as far as you can.

https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/more-free-protest-signs?r=3m1bs

sheila's avatar

I like the layout of this issue! Keep up the good work!