The number of people MURDERED by America’s military based on orders (allegedly) coming from the “top” – meaning Trump and Hegseth has gone over 50. Personally, it’s hard for me to comprehend that ordering the extra-judicial MURDER of unknown PEOPLE in boats in the Caribbean Sea – PEOPLE who pose no serious danger to “we the people” and, according to some estimates, would have needed to refuel 20 times in order to reach the United States is “legal.” Of course, by now, we understand the SCOTUS has given Trump the idea “legal” is a term used by others.

It appears this ordering of MURDER by Trump, Hegseth, and military personnel (who very possibly are following ILLEGAL orders) has expanded to the Pacific Ocean from the Caribbean. The number of victims, I believe, as I said above has grown into the 50’s and, of course, these are PEOPLE that cause not a bit of remorse to Trump and Hegseth. The reason I bring this up is because the optimist in me is hopeful the details will become part of an investigation once Trump is no longer in office. Should the American people somehow turn control of BOTH branches of Congress to the Democrats in 2026 (If we actually have elections that November) this SHOULD, at a minimum, result in IMPEACHMENT #3.

I’m someone who remembers the antics of our CIA in years past when the leaders of “we the people” felt comfortable in causing “regime change” in various countries in Central and South America according to the wishes of our OLIGARCH class. Well, it appears that is happening again because Trump doesn’t like the ELECTED leader of Venezuela. Reports which came out of Venezuela recently stated the CIA was organizing Venezuelans to enact a “false flag” attack on an American ship in the area setting the groundwork for our “peace loving” president to attack. Yikes!!!

Of course, with republicans, there’s always more. While “we the people’s” government is in a shutdown – which is standard fare while Trump is president and republicans control Congress – Trump, as everyone knows by now, summarily ordered the razing of the East Wing of the “White House.” I’ve stated this before here – this is like me renting my house and the tenant then destroying the detached garage. That is to say, Trump DOES NOT own the “White House.” He’s a tenant for a short time (that feels like an eternity) and seems hell bent on destroying much of it. He’s turned the “Rose Garden” into a concrete slab!

Trump destroyed the East Wing of the “White House” so he can build an obscene “ball room.” This “ballroom” will dwarf the actual “White House” and will cost upwards of $350 MILLION to build. The estimated cost began at $200 MILLION but has nearly doubled and they haven’t even begun the “permitting” – as if that’s an impediment to Trump. The East Wing sat on top of the “bunker” where officials go when there is a threat to the building – like during 9/11. The $350 MILLION is supposedly going to be provided by America’s OLIGARCHS further “cementing” them to Trump’s whims. Many of these same OLIGARCHS pledged to have NOTHING to do with Trump after January 6th 2021. Oh my! How the thirst for MORE riches can change one’s moral compass! (Reminder, the foundation of FASCISM is a corporate/government partnership)

While all this is going on it’s become public knowledge that Trump is attempting to GRIFT $230 MILLION from “we the people” to compensate him from the “horrible” experience he had defending himself from the FELONY charges he incurred after instigating an attempted coup and from STEALING Top Secret documents from the government archives when he high tailed it out of town in January of 2021. He’s been on “high speed” in Trump 2.0 extracting as much MONEY as he can while he’s got a subservient Congress which has virtually ignored the CONSTITUTION. Reports are Trump has enriched himself in the BILLIONS during is first year back in POWER.

While I’m lamenting the first of these HORRIBLE four years I’ve got to add a bit more. We’re in a “government shutdown” and the republicans are attempting to block the release of emergency “SNAP” (food stamps) funds for the 40 MILLION low income Americans who depend on this assistance to EAT. Of the 40 MILLION there are reportedly 16 MILLION children. Extending those benefits SHOULDN’T be a hard call – but, once again, we’re dealing with republicans. To me, this is STUPID!

Another example of the STUPIDITY of the republican party (and their leader) is the bailout of Argentina – to the tune of $40 BILLION – apparently enough to pay for the Affordable Care Act supplements which are a sticking point (yeah) for democrats regarding the “shutdown.” Trump has also agreed to allow Argentina “beef” into the U.S. in order to cause meat prices to drop. It seems he really is aware of how much food prices have risen since he took office – prices he PROMISED would come down. Well, farmers aren’t too happy with him. Trump just got played by Xi Jinping of China so the Chinese are going to purchase HALF of the amount of soybeans they normally purchase while they get the rest from, you guessed it, Argentina. (They also get them from Brazil – a market developed during the shutdown in Trump 1.0 – Additionally, they now will have access to the technology they want)

This money going to Argentina will also bail out some “investors” who are affiliated with Treasury Secretary Bessent. They’ll be able to unload their STUPID “bets” on the Argentinian economy in order to save a pile of money – as usual, Thanks to “we the people.”

And, speaking of the government shutdown and who to “blame” for it – I have to say the democrats are FINALLY putting their collective feet down opposing the never ending republican attack on America’s health care system. Remember in their “Big whatever Bill” they slashed all aspects of our health care system without a single democratic vote. So, why would the democrats agree to republican demands when their votes are needed and if they agree their base would NEVER forgive them. The “we’ll negotiate health care later” promise of republicans isn’t worth the paper I could use to print out this rant (never happening, by the way). Republicans have the POWER to get rid of the filibuster and pass their legislation. “We the people” would then be crystal clear on why democrats are holding out. I, like many progressives, expect the democrats to “give in” – but, for once I hope they stand by their basic beliefs.

Trump gives people like me something to complain about daily – sometimes hourly. So, here’s my last bit for today. Trump is very unhappy that Zohran Mamdani is likely to WIN the election to be mayor of New York City. The FACT Mamdani is a Shia Muslim and belongs to an affiliation of “Democratic Socialists” rankles Trump and his republican sycophants. (Remember, one of the key attributes of FASCISTS is racism) Now there are reports republicans are going to somehow “de-naturalize” Mamdani (Who became a U.S. Citizen in 2018) and deport him to somewhere like Somalia or Libya. Honestly, I can hardly believe I needed to write those words. Yikes!!!

Final Thought: Slowly but surely the so-called “liberal media” is figuring out we are witnessing a FASCIST takeover of America’s government. Most people, including at times me, keep their focus on the brazen illegal conduct of Trump – which is understandable – but we MUST realize what is really happening is the slow motion coup laid out in Project 2025. And, to me, the two most responsible perpetrators of this “rollout” are Stephen Miller and Russel Vought – two of the authors of Project 2025. Obviously there are other “authors” of that “roadmap to FASCISM” who are lingering in the shadows. Don’t for a minute believe Trump fully understands what the Project 2025 “folk” are up to. They are happy to encourage Trump to perpetrate his “revenge tour” while they chip away at what’s left of our democratic republic.

Personally I believe if this republic is to be saved the “liberal media” MUST start explaining FASCISM to the American public and how we’ve been tiptoeing our way toward it for years. And, it’s not just the Project 2025 authors – who know the details of what it will take to permanently topple our constitutional order. You have the BILLIONAIRE (oligarch) class which includes the “Tech bros” along with people like Charles Koch who have access to UNLIMITED funding and a SCOTUS which unleashed their POWER with the Citizens United decision. America’s OLIGARCHS have masterfully gained control of the ENTIRE government and it will take a herculean response by “we the people” to regain that control of the “ship of state.” Stay tuned….