The problem with the federal takeover of DC -- one of them, anyway -- is how open-ended it is. Conveniently the regime sets no benchmark for what is acceptable progress by the local forces. What if they got the murder rate down to two people per year? Would the federals say, "No good -- we need a totally murder-free city" and stay on an open-ended basis? There is no accountability on their side, so there is no standard that they must live up to. They just do what they feel works for them.
That is not how government by, of, and for the people is supposed to work. But you know that.
trump isn't running the sh*tshow at this point. His cohort of Project 2025 advisors are. If you look at trump's recent performances, he's clearly becoming more incoherent and deranged. He often has the vacant look of those approaching life's finish line--eyes blank, mouth hanging open. Even is he were all there, revenge against big blue cities has been on his bingo card for quite a while now. Vengeance gives trump reason to live.
He's never going to get bored with sending in the troops to harass the libs and "inner-city" types. I expect that over the next few months he'll be using the "high crime" pretext to occupy Chicago or New York, even though there are plenty of red state cities with higher crime rates. Fascism has come to America wrapped in a cloak of reality-TV absurdity but repressive nonetheless.
You’re not just describing Trump; that all fits his supporters too. The daily drama of dismantling our democracy gives them the required dopamine hits. They expect to be entertained, on their way to serfdom.
"Daily dopamine hits". Considering the destruction of our democracy and any rule of law, I'm surprised that we don't see multiple dopamine overdoses every day.
Yes, I agree with that analysis. And it has become my top thought lately when contemplating our global future: the rest of the world was willing to ride out Trump One as a fluke, but Trump winning election a second time is a sign that our population is compromised in a way that will not resolve in 4 years. My conclusion is we are stuck with this situation (and probably worse) for the remainder of my lifetime. Letting go of any shreds of optimism means recalculating how to conduct my remaining years.
So true. Unless the economy depresses to such a point that even the gerrymandered states turn away from Republicans, thats when the real oppression will begin.
Now there’s a thought. It fits. As is frequently said about our Trumpian situation; ‘there is no bottom’.
Under what circumstances would both sides unite against the oppression? In my view, we had a glimmer of it when the CEO of United Healthcare was assassinated; for a period of about 72 hours, MAGAs and lefties both rejoiced Mangione, even knowing that was a transgressive response. Then the gleeful MAGAs were quickly reined in by their media ecosystem.
What's on the menu for tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day...???
Stay tuned to your local Fox Maga network for what will be unlawfully stolen from your own city. The fascist " tanks " are rolling into your town...BOLO !
WE have the power to keep your second concern from becoming true. Keep bringing up his lack of the transparency he promised HIS government would have. Wherever he is, demonstrations with "Where are the Epstein Files?" signs should be displayed if not personally carried. Make him keep mentioning it (actually, that is something the media/press should be doing).
My MAGA friend keeps blurting accusations, and photos of Adam Schiff, that are supposedly in the Files. I just keep reiterating, “So release the Files”. She thinks she’s talking me out of it.
Good for you, Linda. Just keep hounding them, even sarcastically if you think you can get away with it, about "And why isn't your hero releasing the files if there are only things about Democrats in there? Where did you find that photo of Rep. Schiff, by the way?"
I think he would not risk an election for a 3rd term. He will just say the country is in such disarray that we can't change leadership. Who will stop him? Maybe Vance will slip a little arsenic in his soda. But other than that we have no patriotic, American loving people in the Republican Party. Just Trump bitches. And a cadre of multi billionaires who now believe that there truly is no such thing as enough money.
My real concern is that this could lead to Trump calling an emergency right before the election, saying he is afraid that the Blue States are rigging the vote. He will send in troops to monitor the voting, especially in cites. That’s how Putin runs elections.
That’s been my oft-stated scenario since last November. All the political strategizing for 2026 and 2028 is worthless without facing this threat to elections head on.
Yes, Oldandintheway, you're exactly right-- this is setting up the midterms for Trump--he is determined to hold on to the House( and Senate) and as we know, he will do whatever it takes, with his vast Presidential powers, to accomplish that. As you say, ".... this could leads to Trump calling an emergency right before the election saying he is afraid that Blue States are rigging the vote. He will send in troops to monitor the voting, especially in cities. That's how Putin runs elections."
The majority of the Supreme Court were appointed because they hate democracy, hate God and love King Trump. They would give him their own children and thank him for the priveledge.
Why the fork isn't someone in a position of authority in DC filing for an injunction, demanding that he "prove" the emergency that he is saying exists as the basis for his action? The action would be legal in an emergency, so show what it is, don't just open your food hole and spew it out.
He just made the announcement yesterday. As a lawyer with clients who think that complaints and injunctions and briefs just magically appear, it takes some time and thought to do all that. I am confident that we will see lawsuits filed in short order.
Understand completely, but why not indicate that his actions will not be taken lying down? From what I have read, Mayor Bowers(?) seems to be accepting what he has done as something he can do. If I were a DC resident, I would be pounding on her door (figuratively) demanding that she take action on behalf of her constituents.
From my Biglaw days, the application for TRO/PI and accompanying memorandum of law with supporting declarations and exhibits should be in front of a judge ex parte within 48 hours of the action.
I liked the response, not because I know it is correct, but because I want to believe it is accurate and continue to wonder why the F Bowser isn't doing squat, or at least does not appear to be doing anything even close.
The timeline is about right for a serious, capable group of lawyers. Lawyers seeking emergency relief to enjoin an action have to move quickly—or risk undermining their claim of irreparable harm. DC government hasn’t even committed to filing suit yet, so I’d say their chances of successfully asserting irreparable harm aren’t high. In any event, under “the law,” Trump only has 30 days before needing congressional approval. To the extent “the law” matters any more ….
Another scenario we should consider is states run by Republicans but with substantial "blue" metro populations (Texas is the prime example) asking the administration to send in the Guard or troops to monitor / suppress Democratic voting, in order to further tip the balance of power in the House toward Republicans and, for statewide federal electoral counts (Senate and President) further move the voting results in Republicans' favor (to deepen the claim to a "mandate"). (I should note that Republicans have brought up the idea in past sessions regarding a state takeover of the City of Austin, which they have deep, deep animus towards.)
Alternatively, I am also concerned about the risk that the administration or "red" state legislatures / officials will claim that Democrats are supporting disorder / crime and/or posing a national security risk (for example, supporting "criminal" immigrants) that justifies excluding them from ballots.
Texas can show some shockingly low voter participation rates. Some of that may be due to Republican shenanigans, but it's been an unfortunate tradition for the Hispanic / Latino population to have really low participation. Not sure how that maps onto voter party registration.
Stephen Miller's fingerprints are all over this. I wonder if he's ever considered that the system he's creating can be turned against him in the future.
There is a difference. In many of the authoritarian takeovers there were actually problems that made the citizenry susceptible to the takeover. Here, it is apathy and intellectual laziness. People have no interest in accurately assessing what is really happening and are incapable of appreciating how lucky they are to live in a country with vast wealth and opportunity. How, and when, is that going to change?
Probably now. People will suddenly appreciate what they are losing - Joni Mitchell’s Parking Lot song. Or, they will wish for it when the leopards start eating their faces.
250 National Guards still remain, but the Marines are being sent out of LA. Down from 2,000 Guards and 700 Marines. Got to get rid of them now not later.
W or w/o Trump "running" again for prez, Trump & Project 2025 leaders like Roberts & Vought w the willing acquiescence from a Republican Congress and the conservative SCOTUS 6 are doing what they can to smash guardrails, violate laws like the Impoundment Control Act, vitiate the Constitution, redistrict & recensus, demand state voter rolls... all to further the purpose of establishing one party rule, at least at the federal level.
Yeah... I am hopeful that people are learning a real lesson here about "emergency" powers. It's reasonable for there to be such a thing, but clearly everyone who wrote those rules and procedures into law didn't anticipate a situation where a bad actor just says "business as usual is an emergency because I say so"
When you say murder-free, does that include people not being murdered by any cops or National Guard? Because if you use that qualifier, I’m sure DC will never be murder-free.
I wasn't thinking about it too closely, but you are right. The principle remains that no matter how the number is measured or presented, the regime will shift the goalposts at will to favor their own positions and justify whatever actions they want to take.
Traditional police expression: "To Protect and Serve".
DJT: Officers should "do whatever the hell they want."
Under that guideline, what possibly could go wrong?
Some idiot was shooting off fireworks last night in my neighborhood. I don’t know why. I heard them and I thought the new civil war had already started.
Some folks can't seem to remember to turn their calendars from July to August. Others amuse way too easily, such that anything that makes the ground rumble and a lot of noise is instantly amusing and entertaining. I'd rather read a book -- quietly.
Having lived in the DC area for about forty years, I can say that I’ve never been assaulted or mugged. I’ve never been carjacked. I’ve walked the streets at night, including walking past homeless people. I’m not saying crime doesn’t happen or isn’t bad or shouldn’t be addressed, but Trump’s move is a political stunt and power play. And an ominous one.
So I have just one question for Trump: why haven’t you released the Epstein files??
I hate to say this, Dale, but all of Trump’s Maga people know that he’s a womanizer and a pedophile. They don’t care. He hates who they hate and that is the only way they operate. Hey, that rhymed! I do it all the time!
I’ve been thinking the same, but I’m not sure it would work on Democrat “normies” whose heads aren’t wired like MAGA. I follow a fair number of leftie alternative media, and when they post frequent hair-on-fire headlines, it feels ridiculous, even to me. We need to tweak that model somehow to better reflect basic intelligence. Maybe fighting fire with fire isn’t applicable. But I’m not sure of an alternative . . .
It's fading in the bought-and-sold corporate media. God knows what the owners of these places have been doing. But in real life? Trump is a pedo gets painted on every overpass in town every weekend here. My completely checked out daughter who couldn't find Israel on a map if her life depended on it just texted me asking why we're protecting "child predator rapists".
I agree about the corporate media dropping the Epstein topic. Thus we contribute to independent journalists on Substack. Maybe someone will start a daily podcast/Substack dedicated to the Epstein case. The NYT could have a specific Epstein tab, but they’re too afraid to, is my guess. I bet they did something like that during Watergate.
I'm showing my age but crime scare, rainbow scare and welfare queen have been Republican staples for 100 years. Furthermore when did any major American city not have crime and areas with a lawless element. Certainly my life time and really since cities became urban areas instead of large towns its been a reality.
Does anybody notice a pattern in the cities that the Idiot names as having to be taken over? Note that the mayors of all those cities have a shared ethnic heritage. When MAGA is involved, it's all just the racism.
The pattern is real but I'm not sure that's the focus the Dems should make. If this is made into a race issue vs a constitutional, authoritarian, freedom issue then Trump/MAGA will win that round because that's what they want it to be about.
I agree. As someone who wants us to progress to a race-free society (I'm a biologist and we long ago dropped the idea of the existence of biological races), the problem is that moving in that direction requires correcting the problems that racism has caused and still causes. Thus, one has to acknowledge that many act and interact based on the perceived race of others, while moving society in the direction that those perceptions do not affect how people interact or ultimately to a society where nobody allows those perceptions to affect their interactions with anyone. We'll probably never get there (see MLKJr, I have a Dream), but to me this is the ultimate conundrum in all this.
I also agree that the primary focus should be the constitutional, authoritarian hellscape that MAGA wants.
Yes, exactly. It's not the mayor's heritage that's the problem. It's what it represents - a place where minorities can excel and the people who live there can see it and acknowledge it.
In early 1933 the Nazi party forced the appointment of Herman Goering, as the Interior Minister of Prussia with full control and authority over all Prussian police forces, including that of Berlin, the capital of Germany. The rest, as one might say, is history. It seems that Trump, the Trump administration, and MAGA have read, and are following, the Nazi playbook pretty closely and carefully.
Shame they didn't look at how that regime ended. As "fun" as the Nazis were, they left Germany in literal ruins and occupied by enemies. This will not end well for us
That's false, and you frankly should know better. The Nazis did not leave Germany in literal ruins, in economic free fall and famine, and bombed right down to the streets. The ALLIES did all that trying to free the Germans and the rest of the world from the crimes and horrors of the Nazis.
Who do you think is going to save us? I'm betting no one. If the US gets bombed down to the streets and millions of people conscripted and killed in fighting off people trying to actually make America a decent place, I'll be cheering our saviors on the whole way.
No one is coming to save us from ourselves. The only way anyone will come to save us is if Trump tries to take over Canada or Mexico. Then, maybe, someone might try to save us, but I doubt it.
My 89-y-o, sharp-as-a-tack German-American friend would agree. She remembers well as a child how Hitler took over Germany one authoritarian act after another. Our inability to stop Trump here is like her fellow German citizen's' inability to stop Hitler back then. So much for our hypocrisy of "it could never happen here.
Germany never had an authentic democratic government. The country was fragmented and ruled by autocratic governments until the late 1800’s were the country was united under the Kaiser. The only democratic government was inept and succumbed to Hitler because they could not stop his rise. We did not have this history, nor any experience with this type of power grab. We were always looking for invaders; we never saw the enemy being ourselves.
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Ben Franklin
Seems like the MAGA folks who claim to love the constitution and founding fathers so much that they occasionally get wet dreams about them seem to be quite comfortable trading lots of liberty for more security so long as that tradeoff happens anywhere they don't live.
Imagine how nuts the 2A militias would be going right now if it were a dem president sending national guard to enforce laws that aren't being followed in red districts--let's say for example, in red districts in Colorado whose sheriff's departments aren't enforcing the ban on sales of high-capacity magazines at gun shops or via private sales. Or sending the NatGuard into red districts whose sheriff's departments aren't arresting enough fentanyl users for breaking illicit drug use laws. They be flipping the fuck out about "jack-booted thugs" and what not. But so long as it's a MAGA president doing it to blue cities they're all like "tread on them harder daddy."
And what sort of security are they getting in return for their vote? A less free, sicker, poorer, and dumber (if that's even possible) country run by the tackiest goons who ever lived.
Still, you have to ask, how long will the true believers agree to suffer? They voted for the felon because prices were too high. Now they are higher. At some point their suffering will override their glee about the suffering of “Libs.”
You’re right, regarding the fringe Trump voters whose very identity isn’t wrapped up with MAGA. But the ones in deep? They are willing to die for him as was shown during Covid. And now they will sacrifice their children to measles.
The tail of Covid hits red counties the hardest, so that’s Darwin at work. Unfortunately, the right is full of natalists; they know they need to replace their ranks.
It will actually have to get explicitly and rather blatantly bad and personal before that happens. Far, FAR worse than some higher prices.
That just adds to the general atmosphere of suckiness, which can usually be displaced to other places than their leadership.
People will put up with amzing levels of crapiness as long as there is a good story to lay it on those Other people--because all of this is far more about Us and Them than it is about economics.
People talk a lot about economics as reasons for their votes, but votes are tied to identity and not kitchen sink issues. It doesn't help that most people know jack-all about economics ITFP.
Don't look for MAGA to be getting all upset any time soon--at least not upset about what Trump is doing. He is doing what they want.
And the suffering of Libs and Illegals makes great sauce.
Yes, you are correct. But the hard stuff isn’t here yet. Taking solace over the misery of others will seem weak when your house is in foreclosure because you lost your job, and food prices are really hurting because you lost your food stamps. Felon Trump can’t prop up the red states because he knows what is really going into the National Debt, and how that will affect the economy, Wall Street, and banks. He, or his handlers, want them to remain neutral. Don’t know if you remember the 70’s when we had high unemployment, and rising prices. It was bad. Then came recessions in 81-82, 89-92, 2001-02, and the big one in 2008. 2008 was called the Great Recession because no one had the nerve to call that downturn what it really was, an economic depression. Won’t be able to use debt to bail anyone out. I keep hoping that some people out there are trying to head this disaster off.
Nobody with any actual power or idea (of how to fix it) is tying to head it off.
Many people who shold know better are using it for political mileage or too busy making money NOW to worry about later... and they do not think that the later will bite THEM in the ass, anyway.
People are too busy working the system or corrupting he system in pursuit of the almighty dollar to actually fix the system. The financial sector is heavily invested (so to speak) in consumer debt as their engine of prosperity.
By the time the shit hits the fan, it will already be too late... and the MAGAs will have nowhere to turn to.
MAGA is far more likely to blame others and double down on their victimization than they are t turn away from their path. Many of them will be eager to believe any BS story their leadership throws at them rather than admit that MAYBE they F'd up. Because the self-righteous are rarely willing or able to admit they F'd up.
The new feudalism that is coming will be built on debt peonage.
They're not getting extra security. They're supporting that tradeoff happening in *blue jurisdictions* like LA/DC, not in their own backyards. They get to have their cake and eat it too. It's spectator sport for them.
Travis I don’t think you are as old as I am. You have brought back to me an obviously false memory of a time when Republicans talked all the time about freedom and the constitution and murmured about the deep state interfering in their lives and not respecting their private property.
One of several such provisions that fell under the umbrella of the "Intolerable Acts." The Massachusetts Government Act is closer akin to the modern DC example in my view.
Travis I was about the age you are now when 9/11 happened and for me that is the pivotal moment after which things began to slide. It turned out the American was less the land of the brave than the land of infants.
Yea. I agree with your assessment and figured out as much when I was 15 in Queens when 9/11 happened. All these supposed NYC "tough guys" in neighborhoods like Bayside and Whitestone full of Italian-Irish kids--the type you'd see on Jersey Shore--popping their collars and getting "swole" at the gym, and I didn't see any of them at MEPS when I rose my right hand and took the oath at 17. A bunch of dudes who get big to try to intimidate other men and none of them put any of that strength to use downrange defending not just their country but *their own damn city* that was literally ground zero for 21st century terrorism. A bunch of pussies who lift weights and talk shit and never back it up when it's time to put in work when we get attacked. That's when I realized it was all bullshit, the faux-patriotism. Just a lot of flag-hugging nationalists too spoiled to make any kinds of personal sacrifices for the country they claimed they were so proud of. They're all Trumpers now of course.
Funny, when I, a senior citizen, visited DC last fall for a week, I never ran into the alleged crime everywhere. I took public transportation everywhere, day and evening, and walked all over. I didn’t stay in a hotel but in a neighborhood vacation rental my friend’s said might be dodgy, Nope, perfectly fine. Crime rates are higher in many “red” state cities. It’s all a smokescreen for the police state Trump wants to create.
In D.C., 92.4 percent of us voted for President Biden. Washington is just one stop on the retribution and racism tour of Trump 2.0. D.C. is better contained for domination than sprawling Los Angeles.
Regarding crime in DC, I saw an infuriating tweet from a supposed libertarian that Democrats refuse to acknowledge nuisance crimes affect quality of life and are important metric for the perception of crime. If that is the case, then the “tough on crime, more police” advocates should admit that this isn’t about crime at all. This is about how people feel which in turn is dictated by news coverage and what they might consider anti-social behavior from their fellow citizens.
Possibly something like shoplifting, which has led to a nuisance for everyone who wants to buy toothpaste or deodorant at a CVS in some places - and for the people who staff the store.
I heard that CVS' shoplifting dramatically increased when CVS reduced staff and no staff was on the sales floor. Of course, it's just not possible that cutting staff has a downside.
I can walk in and out of my local CVS without seeing a single employee except for the ones in the pharmacy section. Mostly there isn't an employee at the check stations near the door because they assume everyone will use the self checkout (or just walk out without paying).
My wife worked in retail and the general policy is don't stop or interact with a shoplifter - which is why shoplifting has increased. I understand the employee safety and likely legal ramifications that drive the policy but it just seems so wet noodley. Now that I have written this, I realized I have no point to make :-)
I don’t think confrontation is necessary. Just having human eyes all around provides deterrence to opportunistic shoplifters. The smash and grab types won’t care.
The tweet in question was quote tweeting an anecdote about a man and his daughter walking down the street in DC and being yelled at by a homeless person. There was not actually a crime committed at all. And yet, the account I was referencing lumped that event under the category of nuisance crime.
People have been complaining about the loud ATVs and other vehicles cruising the streets. I don't know, seems like a recession is going to fix that problem soon. Who can afford vehicles just for fun in this economy?
I can't wait to hear all the reports of low FBI morale. Hey, you went to all that schooling and training to protect the country from espionage and human trafficking. Now, you're on a street corner rounding up homeless.
Part of me does wonder how FBI agents vote. I suspect, I wouldn't feel sorry for them getting what they voted for.
I know that one of their mandates is to “clear out the homeless”, and I know that there was a recent EO regarding “forcible institutionalization “ of the homeless, and they aren’t meeting their immigrant roundup and deportation quotas. So are the homeless going to all the new concentration camps? I guess you could call those “institutions”.
Who is even left at the FBI? I keep hearing that everyone is leaving there. I found a NY Times story but I don't subscribe. Apparently the FBI is also under a hiring freeze?
Against the better judgement of both their parents and their friends, my bff’s kid accepted a spot for grad school at GW for the fall. Yesterday they decided to stay in Massachusetts (where they attended undergrad) and work for $20/hour instead. I am wondering how many other aspiring students are looking upon what’s happening in DC right now and reevaluating their options for the fall.
That’s probably a growing, as yet un-observed threat; people afraid to travel anywhere in the U.S. A question I have which I haven’t seen addressed yet, is when the L.A. Olympics will be cancelled, due to athletes and spectators avoiding travel to the U.S.
There are backup plans in place to hold the Olympics in Paris again. (I think this is something they always do so not unique to our current crisis.)
and don’t forget that the World Cup is also supposed to take place here, Mexico and Canada in 2026. Last I checked, outside of Europe, most soccer fans are not white . I guess FIFA could just move all the matches outside of America. But given how cozy the head of FIFA is with Donald, idk if that will happen. I suspect this will be the lowest attended World Cup in history.
The problem with the federal takeover of DC -- one of them, anyway -- is how open-ended it is. Conveniently the regime sets no benchmark for what is acceptable progress by the local forces. What if they got the murder rate down to two people per year? Would the federals say, "No good -- we need a totally murder-free city" and stay on an open-ended basis? There is no accountability on their side, so there is no standard that they must live up to. They just do what they feel works for them.
That is not how government by, of, and for the people is supposed to work. But you know that.
Remember, Trump's presidency is all Reality TV-based.
Every damned day is a new episode and, without clicks, it becomes irrelevant.
Ever notice how Trump flits from self-created crisis to self-created crisis?
How he gets bored with stuff, usually by the end of the week?
And, for all his bluster, how much of what he spews falls off the wall and into a pile on the floor?
Even his goons can't keep up with it.
Time will tell how stuff shakes out in D.C.
It'll start with a bang but, I think, it's gonna go out in a whimper.
People are starting to pay attention, and we know they don't like what they see.
Will the people finally stand up and say enough's enough?
We may finally be reaching that point.
trump isn't running the sh*tshow at this point. His cohort of Project 2025 advisors are. If you look at trump's recent performances, he's clearly becoming more incoherent and deranged. He often has the vacant look of those approaching life's finish line--eyes blank, mouth hanging open. Even is he were all there, revenge against big blue cities has been on his bingo card for quite a while now. Vengeance gives trump reason to live.
He's never going to get bored with sending in the troops to harass the libs and "inner-city" types. I expect that over the next few months he'll be using the "high crime" pretext to occupy Chicago or New York, even though there are plenty of red state cities with higher crime rates. Fascism has come to America wrapped in a cloak of reality-TV absurdity but repressive nonetheless.
You are right there. There is cabal of instigators who don't want you to pay attention to them. So they speak out of Trumpp's big fat, stupid face.
You’re not just describing Trump; that all fits his supporters too. The daily drama of dismantling our democracy gives them the required dopamine hits. They expect to be entertained, on their way to serfdom.
"Daily dopamine hits". Considering the destruction of our democracy and any rule of law, I'm surprised that we don't see multiple dopamine overdoses every day.
I know I don’t care about living to 80 if this is the “shithole country” I have to live in.
Canada, despite their problems (related to Trumponomics in many cases) is still looking better and better al the time.
Every year I hate coming back a little bit more.
Too bad the weather isn't better.
So the government we should compare it to is not NAZI Germany, but the decadent failing Roman Empire. Nero started out popular with the lower classes.
Yes, the Romans. Autocrats seem to exhibit universal truths, not least, absolute power corrupts....!
Yes, I agree with that analysis. And it has become my top thought lately when contemplating our global future: the rest of the world was willing to ride out Trump One as a fluke, but Trump winning election a second time is a sign that our population is compromised in a way that will not resolve in 4 years. My conclusion is we are stuck with this situation (and probably worse) for the remainder of my lifetime. Letting go of any shreds of optimism means recalculating how to conduct my remaining years.
So true. Unless the economy depresses to such a point that even the gerrymandered states turn away from Republicans, thats when the real oppression will begin.
Now there’s a thought. It fits. As is frequently said about our Trumpian situation; ‘there is no bottom’.
Under what circumstances would both sides unite against the oppression? In my view, we had a glimmer of it when the CEO of United Healthcare was assassinated; for a period of about 72 hours, MAGAs and lefties both rejoiced Mangione, even knowing that was a transgressive response. Then the gleeful MAGAs were quickly reined in by their media ecosystem.
Ya gotta have a new dramatic climax every week to keep the viewers engaged.
taco...et al ...and their own " Crisis de Jour."!
What's on the menu for tomorrow...and the next day...and the next day...???
Stay tuned to your local Fox Maga network for what will be unlawfully stolen from your own city. The fascist " tanks " are rolling into your town...BOLO !
Has anyone considered that he may announce his “running for a third term” during this period when he’s in “control” of the DC Police and Guard?????
I am concerned-
This kills two birds with one stone.
1) Accomplishing his goal of a 3rd term and subduing the protests
2) Taking the focus off of Epstein
Thoughts????
WE have the power to keep your second concern from becoming true. Keep bringing up his lack of the transparency he promised HIS government would have. Wherever he is, demonstrations with "Where are the Epstein Files?" signs should be displayed if not personally carried. Make him keep mentioning it (actually, that is something the media/press should be doing).
My MAGA friend keeps blurting accusations, and photos of Adam Schiff, that are supposedly in the Files. I just keep reiterating, “So release the Files”. She thinks she’s talking me out of it.
Good for you, Linda. Just keep hounding them, even sarcastically if you think you can get away with it, about "And why isn't your hero releasing the files if there are only things about Democrats in there? Where did you find that photo of Rep. Schiff, by the way?"
I find anything other than one or two simple, declarative sentences garnishes paragraphs full of rhetorical squirrels in free-association.
I think he would not risk an election for a 3rd term. He will just say the country is in such disarray that we can't change leadership. Who will stop him? Maybe Vance will slip a little arsenic in his soda. But other than that we have no patriotic, American loving people in the Republican Party. Just Trump bitches. And a cadre of multi billionaires who now believe that there truly is no such thing as enough money.
Saying he’s going to Russia (instead of Alaska)!
My real concern is that this could lead to Trump calling an emergency right before the election, saying he is afraid that the Blue States are rigging the vote. He will send in troops to monitor the voting, especially in cites. That’s how Putin runs elections.
That’s been my oft-stated scenario since last November. All the political strategizing for 2026 and 2028 is worthless without facing this threat to elections head on.
Yes, Oldandintheway, you're exactly right-- this is setting up the midterms for Trump--he is determined to hold on to the House( and Senate) and as we know, he will do whatever it takes, with his vast Presidential powers, to accomplish that. As you say, ".... this could leads to Trump calling an emergency right before the election saying he is afraid that Blue States are rigging the vote. He will send in troops to monitor the voting, especially in cities. That's how Putin runs elections."
What is sad to me is that the Supreme Court will stand idly by.
The majority of the Supreme Court were appointed because they hate democracy, hate God and love King Trump. They would give him their own children and thank him for the priveledge.
Why the fork isn't someone in a position of authority in DC filing for an injunction, demanding that he "prove" the emergency that he is saying exists as the basis for his action? The action would be legal in an emergency, so show what it is, don't just open your food hole and spew it out.
He just made the announcement yesterday. As a lawyer with clients who think that complaints and injunctions and briefs just magically appear, it takes some time and thought to do all that. I am confident that we will see lawsuits filed in short order.
Understand completely, but why not indicate that his actions will not be taken lying down? From what I have read, Mayor Bowers(?) seems to be accepting what he has done as something he can do. If I were a DC resident, I would be pounding on her door (figuratively) demanding that she take action on behalf of her constituents.
From my Biglaw days, the application for TRO/PI and accompanying memorandum of law with supporting declarations and exhibits should be in front of a judge ex parte within 48 hours of the action.
I liked the response, not because I know it is correct, but because I want to believe it is accurate and continue to wonder why the F Bowser isn't doing squat, or at least does not appear to be doing anything even close.
The timeline is about right for a serious, capable group of lawyers. Lawyers seeking emergency relief to enjoin an action have to move quickly—or risk undermining their claim of irreparable harm. DC government hasn’t even committed to filing suit yet, so I’d say their chances of successfully asserting irreparable harm aren’t high. In any event, under “the law,” Trump only has 30 days before needing congressional approval. To the extent “the law” matters any more ….
DC leadership, including the mayor, has been disgustingly silent. Shame on them.
Thank you for the concurrence in my point about Mayor Bowser.
Another scenario we should consider is states run by Republicans but with substantial "blue" metro populations (Texas is the prime example) asking the administration to send in the Guard or troops to monitor / suppress Democratic voting, in order to further tip the balance of power in the House toward Republicans and, for statewide federal electoral counts (Senate and President) further move the voting results in Republicans' favor (to deepen the claim to a "mandate"). (I should note that Republicans have brought up the idea in past sessions regarding a state takeover of the City of Austin, which they have deep, deep animus towards.)
Alternatively, I am also concerned about the risk that the administration or "red" state legislatures / officials will claim that Democrats are supporting disorder / crime and/or posing a national security risk (for example, supporting "criminal" immigrants) that justifies excluding them from ballots.
Texas actually has more registered Democrats.
Total Registered Voters: 17,485,702
Democrats: 8,133,683 (46.52%)
Republicans: 6,601,189 (37.75%)
Unaffiliated: 2,750,830 (15.73%)
Problem is a lot don't vote. Or the people in charge of elections are Republicans and they only have maybe 2 polling places in Democratic areas.
Texas can show some shockingly low voter participation rates. Some of that may be due to Republican shenanigans, but it's been an unfortunate tradition for the Hispanic / Latino population to have really low participation. Not sure how that maps onto voter party registration.
Davy Crockett died fighting to keep Texas a slave state. Jermaine Crockett is fight to keep it from happening again.
Jasmine?
I agree! That could be the plan. Trump has undoubtedly been taking notes while watching the master - Putin.
Without a doubt. On the one hand I feel I'm too old to be a partisan fighter, but other hand, what have I got to lose?
Stephen Miller's fingerprints are all over this. I wonder if he's ever considered that the system he's creating can be turned against him in the future.
I’m sure they have considered that, but are planning on a future when that can’t happen.
Which never works, and they never learn. I am sure the Nazi’s and Stalin had similar ideas.
There is a difference. In many of the authoritarian takeovers there were actually problems that made the citizenry susceptible to the takeover. Here, it is apathy and intellectual laziness. People have no interest in accurately assessing what is really happening and are incapable of appreciating how lucky they are to live in a country with vast wealth and opportunity. How, and when, is that going to change?
Probably now. People will suddenly appreciate what they are losing - Joni Mitchell’s Parking Lot song. Or, they will wish for it when the leopards start eating their faces.
I hope you are right. I'm less optimistic.
I'm guessing it goes like the guard in LA. It peters out as we move on to the next squirrel.
The Guard is still in LA. So are the marines.
250 National Guards still remain, but the Marines are being sent out of LA. Down from 2,000 Guards and 700 Marines. Got to get rid of them now not later.
Only about 300 left under Fed control.
https://share.google/4UAWNSQLjAaWC5tZu
Jpg: got there at the same time. Great minds think alike!
I sincerely hope so.
One open-ended end we know a lot abt:
W or w/o Trump "running" again for prez, Trump & Project 2025 leaders like Roberts & Vought w the willing acquiescence from a Republican Congress and the conservative SCOTUS 6 are doing what they can to smash guardrails, violate laws like the Impoundment Control Act, vitiate the Constitution, redistrict & recensus, demand state voter rolls... all to further the purpose of establishing one party rule, at least at the federal level.
Yeah... I am hopeful that people are learning a real lesson here about "emergency" powers. It's reasonable for there to be such a thing, but clearly everyone who wrote those rules and procedures into law didn't anticipate a situation where a bad actor just says "business as usual is an emergency because I say so"
MSOP Management by Seat of The Pants
When you say murder-free, does that include people not being murdered by any cops or National Guard? Because if you use that qualifier, I’m sure DC will never be murder-free.
I wasn't thinking about it too closely, but you are right. The principle remains that no matter how the number is measured or presented, the regime will shift the goalposts at will to favor their own positions and justify whatever actions they want to take.
Traditional police expression: "To Protect and Serve".
DJT: Officers should "do whatever the hell they want."
Under that guideline, what possibly could go wrong?
Some idiot was shooting off fireworks last night in my neighborhood. I don’t know why. I heard them and I thought the new civil war had already started.
Some folks can't seem to remember to turn their calendars from July to August. Others amuse way too easily, such that anything that makes the ground rumble and a lot of noise is instantly amusing and entertaining. I'd rather read a book -- quietly.
Yeah. I feel bad for my granddaughters (3). What a horrible world they were brought into.
Having lived in the DC area for about forty years, I can say that I’ve never been assaulted or mugged. I’ve never been carjacked. I’ve walked the streets at night, including walking past homeless people. I’m not saying crime doesn’t happen or isn’t bad or shouldn’t be addressed, but Trump’s move is a political stunt and power play. And an ominous one.
So I have just one question for Trump: why haven’t you released the Epstein files??
I hate to say this, Dale, but all of Trump’s Maga people know that he’s a womanizer and a pedophile. They don’t care. He hates who they hate and that is the only way they operate. Hey, that rhymed! I do it all the time!
Epstein is already fading . . . As intended.
Democrats are still pushing, and are waiting for the recess to end to continue their fight.
I’m sure you’re right. But there are so many battle fronts facing Democrats. That’s part of the overall MAGA strategy, and it’s effective.
Flood the zone with shit. Unfortunately it works unless the Dems can organize better to offset it
I’ve been thinking the same, but I’m not sure it would work on Democrat “normies” whose heads aren’t wired like MAGA. I follow a fair number of leftie alternative media, and when they post frequent hair-on-fire headlines, it feels ridiculous, even to me. We need to tweak that model somehow to better reflect basic intelligence. Maybe fighting fire with fire isn’t applicable. But I’m not sure of an alternative . . .
It's fading in the bought-and-sold corporate media. God knows what the owners of these places have been doing. But in real life? Trump is a pedo gets painted on every overpass in town every weekend here. My completely checked out daughter who couldn't find Israel on a map if her life depended on it just texted me asking why we're protecting "child predator rapists".
I agree about the corporate media dropping the Epstein topic. Thus we contribute to independent journalists on Substack. Maybe someone will start a daily podcast/Substack dedicated to the Epstein case. The NYT could have a specific Epstein tab, but they’re too afraid to, is my guess. I bet they did something like that during Watergate.
Yep, which is a reason why I want to keep asking the question.
Yes; we all need to keep that question front and center.
I noticed yesterday morning the pedo stuff for Trump was trending on X - didn't take long for it to change but at least it pops up
I'm showing my age but crime scare, rainbow scare and welfare queen have been Republican staples for 100 years. Furthermore when did any major American city not have crime and areas with a lawless element. Certainly my life time and really since cities became urban areas instead of large towns its been a reality.
Does anybody notice a pattern in the cities that the Idiot names as having to be taken over? Note that the mayors of all those cities have a shared ethnic heritage. When MAGA is involved, it's all just the racism.
Yes, and we need to be a lot louder about that fact. Because it is a fact, no matter how much our pundits refuse to take off the blindfolds about it.
The pattern is real but I'm not sure that's the focus the Dems should make. If this is made into a race issue vs a constitutional, authoritarian, freedom issue then Trump/MAGA will win that round because that's what they want it to be about.
Yes, it's true that when you point out racism, some people are in favor. That's not going to make me stop being against it.
I agree. As someone who wants us to progress to a race-free society (I'm a biologist and we long ago dropped the idea of the existence of biological races), the problem is that moving in that direction requires correcting the problems that racism has caused and still causes. Thus, one has to acknowledge that many act and interact based on the perceived race of others, while moving society in the direction that those perceptions do not affect how people interact or ultimately to a society where nobody allows those perceptions to affect their interactions with anyone. We'll probably never get there (see MLKJr, I have a Dream), but to me this is the ultimate conundrum in all this.
I also agree that the primary focus should be the constitutional, authoritarian hellscape that MAGA wants.
Yes. And in reverse, what do we assume about people from Iowa and Indiana?
Trump's whole message: racism packaged as calls for the pure to be made safe from the impure. Trump's whole message is disgusting.
Interesting. I don’t think that matters as much as you think it does. The mayor’s race or ethnicity is usually a reflection of the voting population.
Yes, exactly. It's not the mayor's heritage that's the problem. It's what it represents - a place where minorities can excel and the people who live there can see it and acknowledge it.
That then leads back to exactly the same place.
In early 1933 the Nazi party forced the appointment of Herman Goering, as the Interior Minister of Prussia with full control and authority over all Prussian police forces, including that of Berlin, the capital of Germany. The rest, as one might say, is history. It seems that Trump, the Trump administration, and MAGA have read, and are following, the Nazi playbook pretty closely and carefully.
Trump & Co. seem to have looked at the history on the rise of the Nazis and said, "Oh, neat, bet this will work here, too."
Shame they didn't look at how that regime ended. As "fun" as the Nazis were, they left Germany in literal ruins and occupied by enemies. This will not end well for us
That's false, and you frankly should know better. The Nazis did not leave Germany in literal ruins, in economic free fall and famine, and bombed right down to the streets. The ALLIES did all that trying to free the Germans and the rest of the world from the crimes and horrors of the Nazis.
Who do you think is going to save us? I'm betting no one. If the US gets bombed down to the streets and millions of people conscripted and killed in fighting off people trying to actually make America a decent place, I'll be cheering our saviors on the whole way.
No one is coming to save us from ourselves. The only way anyone will come to save us is if Trump tries to take over Canada or Mexico. Then, maybe, someone might try to save us, but I doubt it.
My 89-y-o, sharp-as-a-tack German-American friend would agree. She remembers well as a child how Hitler took over Germany one authoritarian act after another. Our inability to stop Trump here is like her fellow German citizen's' inability to stop Hitler back then. So much for our hypocrisy of "it could never happen here.
Germany never had an authentic democratic government. The country was fragmented and ruled by autocratic governments until the late 1800’s were the country was united under the Kaiser. The only democratic government was inept and succumbed to Hitler because they could not stop his rise. We did not have this history, nor any experience with this type of power grab. We were always looking for invaders; we never saw the enemy being ourselves.
Seems like all roads could lead to authoritarian Rome.
And Rome fell because the state could not control the infrastructure. Took a long time unfortunately. We can’t wait that long.
1932 Prussian coup d'état - Wikipedia https://share.google/8AHkjUspyI9UgRPGW
I am profoundly sad about the country right now. I will wallow in that for a time but then will be back to resist. But now I need a time to wallow.
As resistance becomes more risky, I see a national strike with teeth in our future.
If Trump is going to Alaska, and Alaska is now Russia, then Murkowski needs to pack her shit and clear out of the Senate office building ASAP.
Yea, I guess that's one safeguard against Orange Julius trading Alaska away for a bag of magic beans. He'd lose two senate seats.
"I have some concerns, but apparently I'm now a senator for Russia." -- Murkowski
"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." - Ben Franklin
Seems like the MAGA folks who claim to love the constitution and founding fathers so much that they occasionally get wet dreams about them seem to be quite comfortable trading lots of liberty for more security so long as that tradeoff happens anywhere they don't live.
Imagine how nuts the 2A militias would be going right now if it were a dem president sending national guard to enforce laws that aren't being followed in red districts--let's say for example, in red districts in Colorado whose sheriff's departments aren't enforcing the ban on sales of high-capacity magazines at gun shops or via private sales. Or sending the NatGuard into red districts whose sheriff's departments aren't arresting enough fentanyl users for breaking illicit drug use laws. They be flipping the fuck out about "jack-booted thugs" and what not. But so long as it's a MAGA president doing it to blue cities they're all like "tread on them harder daddy."
It's almost like the militia types aren't actually concerned about government over-reach. Weird, huh?
And what sort of security are they getting in return for their vote? A less free, sicker, poorer, and dumber (if that's even possible) country run by the tackiest goons who ever lived.
As long as there’s also pain among their political enemies, the true MAGAs will gladly suffer for their leader.
Still, you have to ask, how long will the true believers agree to suffer? They voted for the felon because prices were too high. Now they are higher. At some point their suffering will override their glee about the suffering of “Libs.”
You’re right, regarding the fringe Trump voters whose very identity isn’t wrapped up with MAGA. But the ones in deep? They are willing to die for him as was shown during Covid. And now they will sacrifice their children to measles.
Which in a snarky way will decrease the surplus population of MAGA people. Should be a better solution.
Dickens is rolling over in his grave...
The tail of Covid hits red counties the hardest, so that’s Darwin at work. Unfortunately, the right is full of natalists; they know they need to replace their ranks.
It will actually have to get explicitly and rather blatantly bad and personal before that happens. Far, FAR worse than some higher prices.
That just adds to the general atmosphere of suckiness, which can usually be displaced to other places than their leadership.
People will put up with amzing levels of crapiness as long as there is a good story to lay it on those Other people--because all of this is far more about Us and Them than it is about economics.
People talk a lot about economics as reasons for their votes, but votes are tied to identity and not kitchen sink issues. It doesn't help that most people know jack-all about economics ITFP.
Don't look for MAGA to be getting all upset any time soon--at least not upset about what Trump is doing. He is doing what they want.
And the suffering of Libs and Illegals makes great sauce.
Yes, you are correct. But the hard stuff isn’t here yet. Taking solace over the misery of others will seem weak when your house is in foreclosure because you lost your job, and food prices are really hurting because you lost your food stamps. Felon Trump can’t prop up the red states because he knows what is really going into the National Debt, and how that will affect the economy, Wall Street, and banks. He, or his handlers, want them to remain neutral. Don’t know if you remember the 70’s when we had high unemployment, and rising prices. It was bad. Then came recessions in 81-82, 89-92, 2001-02, and the big one in 2008. 2008 was called the Great Recession because no one had the nerve to call that downturn what it really was, an economic depression. Won’t be able to use debt to bail anyone out. I keep hoping that some people out there are trying to head this disaster off.
Nobody with any actual power or idea (of how to fix it) is tying to head it off.
Many people who shold know better are using it for political mileage or too busy making money NOW to worry about later... and they do not think that the later will bite THEM in the ass, anyway.
People are too busy working the system or corrupting he system in pursuit of the almighty dollar to actually fix the system. The financial sector is heavily invested (so to speak) in consumer debt as their engine of prosperity.
By the time the shit hits the fan, it will already be too late... and the MAGAs will have nowhere to turn to.
MAGA is far more likely to blame others and double down on their victimization than they are t turn away from their path. Many of them will be eager to believe any BS story their leadership throws at them rather than admit that MAYBE they F'd up. Because the self-righteous are rarely willing or able to admit they F'd up.
The new feudalism that is coming will be built on debt peonage.
They're not getting extra security. They're supporting that tradeoff happening in *blue jurisdictions* like LA/DC, not in their own backyards. They get to have their cake and eat it too. It's spectator sport for them.
That Franklin quote has been cycling through my mind since yesterday.
Travis I don’t think you are as old as I am. You have brought back to me an obviously false memory of a time when Republicans talked all the time about freedom and the constitution and murmured about the deep state interfering in their lives and not respecting their private property.
I turn 39 next month :-) (est'd in '86)
Obscenely young...says this nonogenarian relic 🙄
Three words from American history that show our deviation in 2025: Boston Port Act.
One of several such provisions that fell under the umbrella of the "Intolerable Acts." The Massachusetts Government Act is closer akin to the modern DC example in my view.
Travis I was about the age you are now when 9/11 happened and for me that is the pivotal moment after which things began to slide. It turned out the American was less the land of the brave than the land of infants.
Yea. I agree with your assessment and figured out as much when I was 15 in Queens when 9/11 happened. All these supposed NYC "tough guys" in neighborhoods like Bayside and Whitestone full of Italian-Irish kids--the type you'd see on Jersey Shore--popping their collars and getting "swole" at the gym, and I didn't see any of them at MEPS when I rose my right hand and took the oath at 17. A bunch of dudes who get big to try to intimidate other men and none of them put any of that strength to use downrange defending not just their country but *their own damn city* that was literally ground zero for 21st century terrorism. A bunch of pussies who lift weights and talk shit and never back it up when it's time to put in work when we get attacked. That's when I realized it was all bullshit, the faux-patriotism. Just a lot of flag-hugging nationalists too spoiled to make any kinds of personal sacrifices for the country they claimed they were so proud of. They're all Trumpers now of course.
War on Terror, but on the US.
Funny, when I, a senior citizen, visited DC last fall for a week, I never ran into the alleged crime everywhere. I took public transportation everywhere, day and evening, and walked all over. I didn’t stay in a hotel but in a neighborhood vacation rental my friend’s said might be dodgy, Nope, perfectly fine. Crime rates are higher in many “red” state cities. It’s all a smokescreen for the police state Trump wants to create.
Exactly, He wants to normalize the idea of military forces patrolling the streets of our cities. Especially blue cities - especially at election time.
In D.C., 92.4 percent of us voted for President Biden. Washington is just one stop on the retribution and racism tour of Trump 2.0. D.C. is better contained for domination than sprawling Los Angeles.
DC is a better backdrop than LA .. all that marble, all those historic views.
Regarding crime in DC, I saw an infuriating tweet from a supposed libertarian that Democrats refuse to acknowledge nuisance crimes affect quality of life and are important metric for the perception of crime. If that is the case, then the “tough on crime, more police” advocates should admit that this isn’t about crime at all. This is about how people feel which in turn is dictated by news coverage and what they might consider anti-social behavior from their fellow citizens.
"When I use words, they mean just what I choose them to mean -- neither more nor less,"
- Humpty Trumpty
How is nuisance crime defined by that person?
Possibly something like shoplifting, which has led to a nuisance for everyone who wants to buy toothpaste or deodorant at a CVS in some places - and for the people who staff the store.
I heard that CVS' shoplifting dramatically increased when CVS reduced staff and no staff was on the sales floor. Of course, it's just not possible that cutting staff has a downside.
I can walk in and out of my local CVS without seeing a single employee except for the ones in the pharmacy section. Mostly there isn't an employee at the check stations near the door because they assume everyone will use the self checkout (or just walk out without paying).
My wife worked in retail and the general policy is don't stop or interact with a shoplifter - which is why shoplifting has increased. I understand the employee safety and likely legal ramifications that drive the policy but it just seems so wet noodley. Now that I have written this, I realized I have no point to make :-)
I don’t think confrontation is necessary. Just having human eyes all around provides deterrence to opportunistic shoplifters. The smash and grab types won’t care.
But clearly it's the Liberals in the big cities responsible for the shop lifting!
If I have to wait more than 30 seconds for an attendant, I leave the store. This happens often; in fact, I’ve walked out with several customers.
If I understand the business press, AI will soon solve everything! 😀
The tweet in question was quote tweeting an anecdote about a man and his daughter walking down the street in DC and being yelled at by a homeless person. There was not actually a crime committed at all. And yet, the account I was referencing lumped that event under the category of nuisance crime.
People have been complaining about the loud ATVs and other vehicles cruising the streets. I don't know, seems like a recession is going to fix that problem soon. Who can afford vehicles just for fun in this economy?
As my dad would say "those are probably some entitled rich family hoodlum kids"
Loud music of a certain genre is certainly a nuisance crime, don’t you think? /s
Loud trucks and endless leaf blowers bug the crap out of me.
I can't wait to hear all the reports of low FBI morale. Hey, you went to all that schooling and training to protect the country from espionage and human trafficking. Now, you're on a street corner rounding up homeless.
Part of me does wonder how FBI agents vote. I suspect, I wouldn't feel sorry for them getting what they voted for.
The FBI has never had a Democrat in charge of it. Never. Even the CIA has, but never the FBI.
There, now you know how they vote.
I know that one of their mandates is to “clear out the homeless”, and I know that there was a recent EO regarding “forcible institutionalization “ of the homeless, and they aren’t meeting their immigrant roundup and deportation quotas. So are the homeless going to all the new concentration camps? I guess you could call those “institutions”.
I’ve heard from reliable sources (former agents) that the FBI is about as right as it gets.
Who is even left at the FBI? I keep hearing that everyone is leaving there. I found a NY Times story but I don't subscribe. Apparently the FBI is also under a hiring freeze?
Yes, it's definitely easier to deploy the National Guard to DC than to release The Epstein Files. In Epstein we trust! https://bsky.app/profile/opsan.bsky.social/post/3luihjmexyc26
I wonder how the DC occupation will impact the Virginia gubernatorial race as a large voting block in Virginia is based in the DC suburbs.
I fear that it might be neutral to slightly help the GOP, but I’m in a dark place this morning.
So much money in the RFK Jr household, yet such bad taste.
Bad taste is in the MAGA DNA.
The President has been drooling over the prospect of militarily occupying American cities since his escalator ride. Why is anyone surprised?
Except for on 1/6. No need for the Guard then.
A day of love!
Against the better judgement of both their parents and their friends, my bff’s kid accepted a spot for grad school at GW for the fall. Yesterday they decided to stay in Massachusetts (where they attended undergrad) and work for $20/hour instead. I am wondering how many other aspiring students are looking upon what’s happening in DC right now and reevaluating their options for the fall.
That’s probably a growing, as yet un-observed threat; people afraid to travel anywhere in the U.S. A question I have which I haven’t seen addressed yet, is when the L.A. Olympics will be cancelled, due to athletes and spectators avoiding travel to the U.S.
There are backup plans in place to hold the Olympics in Paris again. (I think this is something they always do so not unique to our current crisis.)
and don’t forget that the World Cup is also supposed to take place here, Mexico and Canada in 2026. Last I checked, outside of Europe, most soccer fans are not white . I guess FIFA could just move all the matches outside of America. But given how cozy the head of FIFA is with Donald, idk if that will happen. I suspect this will be the lowest attended World Cup in history.