Trump has threatened to cancel next November's mid-terms. Does he have any legal grounds to do that, or is it just desperate bluster? Could he send ICE goons to intimidate voters? Any other disruptive maneuvers he could be planning? (But don't give him any clever ideas!)
TrumpRx is now online. To me it’s an example of the minimal attention that Republicans pay toward the need for real reform in our healthcare system. Is anyone in Congress trying to do something meaningful in the area of healthcare?
Your Sandcastle Presidency essay was brilliant. Thanks so much. This comment has to do with a bit of the cement in the sand on which Trump stands.
In the first year of his 2nd term, Trump has placed an infamous stamp on the weaknesses of our democratic system. That is a pretty solid legacy of how an authoritarian can operate in what appears to be a democratic republic. As Trump and his Gauleiters have exploited these vulnerabilities, even moderates have begun to fear for the survival of our democratic way of life. Post MAGA, these fissures and cracks need to be repaired. A list of the fault lines and possible repairs would be most appreciated. Here are some:
Biden sought to address the issue of lifetime appointments to SCOTUS. Unlike FDR, the announcement of his study and possible packing did nothing to dissuade the ultra-conservatives who may dominate the court for decades. There has not been a Switch in Time. Ultimately, the direction of this court has been to undermine the rule of law, dash precedent, dispense with legal consistency, and play a very political role in the direction of the country, perhaps moreso than any SCOTUS in history.
Given the judicial impunity thus provided, too often MAGA driven departments have flaunted judicial orders. When this has happened in the past, most notably by state governments rejecting integration court orders, National Guard troops have been used to uphold the law. Today, DHS troops have been used to violate the law, especially as to ICE's refusal to use judicial warrants.
The Department of Defense has dispensed with notions of due process by blasting or seizing private Venezuelan boats and killing those on board. The American public seems powerless to stop this, as well as the abduction of people from our streets who have committed no crimes.
Tariffs are imposed seemingly at whim, but in some cases, Viet Nam for instance, to use as leverage to enrich Trump, in violation of the emoluments clause. These actions are done in our name under guise of Executive Authority. Does our Constitutional system provide recourse?
Even the DOJ flaunts court orders and the AG, under oath, lies to Congress. Didn't John Mitchell go to jail for that? Even he might have produced the Epstein files as the law required.
Federal employees are either fired or constructively fired violating laws to protect our civil servants and, in the process, the American public. Inspector Generals are gone.
Civil Rights and anti-trust activities are gone or used selectively. The DOJ has become a private prosecutor for Trump's grievances. He's instructed the Director of National Security to focus not on foreign threats, but on his fatuous claims of voter fraud.
The USPS has changed its rules so that mail-in ballots will be counted only when the USPS gets around to processing the ballots, opening up a means by which such ballots may be invalidated by the Administration without having to prove fraud.
Bi-lateral nuclear arms treaties expire, the UN dues go unpaid, NATO is put at risk over an alleged imperial desire for Greenland, and the public watches in wonderment.
The list of exploited weaknesses could go on and on. All told, it's an infamous legacy from which we must recover.
Hello Gabe--here's my question: I continue to fret about Trump running for a third term. Could you please review the constitutional amendment that, post-FDR, prohibits this scenario. Also, under what circumstances could this amendment be repealed/revoked. Thanks!!
I feel like a broken record, but I'm obsessed by the fact that no matter what criticisms come back to most of Trump's cabinet and other people of importance, nothing ever seem to stick to Stephen Miller who wields so much influence over the President's domestic programs. Why is that
What can Democrats do to hold Pam Bondi and Kash Patel accountable for their roles in the Epstein coverup—currently, if they take back a chamber of Congress in November, and if they take back the WH in 2028?
Continuing to prop up the fossilized fuel industry, while dismantling all environmental oversight and defunding alternative energy projects certainly seems like our country is ignoring the largest political issue. Getting a handle on climate issues, soil degradation, resource depletion, externalized costs of all of the above, etc. This will require political leadership! We the people can't lead very effectively hooked on Amazon, amazon beef, cheap gas, sub-urban sprawl...
Is this a wake up to politics issue? My question is: what are our country's leaders doing relative to this?
Alex Pretti and Renee Good would still be alive if Democrats had told the truth BACK IN 2024 regarding our successful economy DEPENDENT on 11 million, mostly Spanish-speaking undocumented immigrants - 9 MILLION - who are hired and paid by American employers because Native-born Americans refuse to perform low-wage, menial labor. Gabe, are you aware of even one Democrat who is talking about this reality?
Trump has threatened to cancel next November's mid-terms. Does he have any legal grounds to do that, or is it just desperate bluster? Could he send ICE goons to intimidate voters? Any other disruptive maneuvers he could be planning? (But don't give him any clever ideas!)
My question too!
TrumpRx is now online. To me it’s an example of the minimal attention that Republicans pay toward the need for real reform in our healthcare system. Is anyone in Congress trying to do something meaningful in the area of healthcare?
What democratic candidate has the best chance to challenge the populist rise of the right and JD Vance in 2028?
Astronaut Mark Kelly
Andy Beshear. Not even close. :)
Will we ever see what is hiding in the Epstein files about Trump?
Your Sandcastle Presidency essay was brilliant. Thanks so much. This comment has to do with a bit of the cement in the sand on which Trump stands.
In the first year of his 2nd term, Trump has placed an infamous stamp on the weaknesses of our democratic system. That is a pretty solid legacy of how an authoritarian can operate in what appears to be a democratic republic. As Trump and his Gauleiters have exploited these vulnerabilities, even moderates have begun to fear for the survival of our democratic way of life. Post MAGA, these fissures and cracks need to be repaired. A list of the fault lines and possible repairs would be most appreciated. Here are some:
Biden sought to address the issue of lifetime appointments to SCOTUS. Unlike FDR, the announcement of his study and possible packing did nothing to dissuade the ultra-conservatives who may dominate the court for decades. There has not been a Switch in Time. Ultimately, the direction of this court has been to undermine the rule of law, dash precedent, dispense with legal consistency, and play a very political role in the direction of the country, perhaps moreso than any SCOTUS in history.
Given the judicial impunity thus provided, too often MAGA driven departments have flaunted judicial orders. When this has happened in the past, most notably by state governments rejecting integration court orders, National Guard troops have been used to uphold the law. Today, DHS troops have been used to violate the law, especially as to ICE's refusal to use judicial warrants.
The Department of Defense has dispensed with notions of due process by blasting or seizing private Venezuelan boats and killing those on board. The American public seems powerless to stop this, as well as the abduction of people from our streets who have committed no crimes.
Tariffs are imposed seemingly at whim, but in some cases, Viet Nam for instance, to use as leverage to enrich Trump, in violation of the emoluments clause. These actions are done in our name under guise of Executive Authority. Does our Constitutional system provide recourse?
Even the DOJ flaunts court orders and the AG, under oath, lies to Congress. Didn't John Mitchell go to jail for that? Even he might have produced the Epstein files as the law required.
Federal employees are either fired or constructively fired violating laws to protect our civil servants and, in the process, the American public. Inspector Generals are gone.
Civil Rights and anti-trust activities are gone or used selectively. The DOJ has become a private prosecutor for Trump's grievances. He's instructed the Director of National Security to focus not on foreign threats, but on his fatuous claims of voter fraud.
The USPS has changed its rules so that mail-in ballots will be counted only when the USPS gets around to processing the ballots, opening up a means by which such ballots may be invalidated by the Administration without having to prove fraud.
Bi-lateral nuclear arms treaties expire, the UN dues go unpaid, NATO is put at risk over an alleged imperial desire for Greenland, and the public watches in wonderment.
The list of exploited weaknesses could go on and on. All told, it's an infamous legacy from which we must recover.
Will Trump and his lackeys in the DOJ and FBI interfere in the 2026 midterms? And if so, what can be done now to stop it?
Hello Gabe--here's my question: I continue to fret about Trump running for a third term. Could you please review the constitutional amendment that, post-FDR, prohibits this scenario. Also, under what circumstances could this amendment be repealed/revoked. Thanks!!
I feel like a broken record, but I'm obsessed by the fact that no matter what criticisms come back to most of Trump's cabinet and other people of importance, nothing ever seem to stick to Stephen Miller who wields so much influence over the President's domestic programs. Why is that
What can Democrats do to hold Pam Bondi and Kash Patel accountable for their roles in the Epstein coverup—currently, if they take back a chamber of Congress in November, and if they take back the WH in 2028?
Continuing to prop up the fossilized fuel industry, while dismantling all environmental oversight and defunding alternative energy projects certainly seems like our country is ignoring the largest political issue. Getting a handle on climate issues, soil degradation, resource depletion, externalized costs of all of the above, etc. This will require political leadership! We the people can't lead very effectively hooked on Amazon, amazon beef, cheap gas, sub-urban sprawl...
Is this a wake up to politics issue? My question is: what are our country's leaders doing relative to this?
Alex Pretti and Renee Good would still be alive if Democrats had told the truth BACK IN 2024 regarding our successful economy DEPENDENT on 11 million, mostly Spanish-speaking undocumented immigrants - 9 MILLION - who are hired and paid by American employers because Native-born Americans refuse to perform low-wage, menial labor. Gabe, are you aware of even one Democrat who is talking about this reality?