This might sound like arrogance (it probably is) but when I listen to the republicans who (FINALLY) are realizing how – my characterization – putrid the republican party has become is welcome to me – BUT – they don’t seem to want to take their responsibility for where things are at in today’s political world. (I haven’t read Stuart Steven’s book, but he’s one republican who’s admitted their shtick was all wrong – and they deserve the condemnation they have earned) I was listening to Liz Cheney today (an excerpt) of an interview she did at Duke University where she announced she will vote for Kamala Harris – just like me, voting AGAINST Donald Trump.

Ms. Cheney is a great ambassador of those who are pointing out the danger Trump (and his Project 2025 cohort) presents to America. And, I have to say, I’m glad she came out and said this as an encouragement to other disenchanted republicans – but, the reality is Ms. Cheney voted for Trump TWICE and went along with his un-American “policy” for the entirety of his four years denigrating the United States of America. And, the ROT in the republican party didn’t just show up the day Trump was inaugurated. I have to add, Liz Cheney’s father was the republican who motivated me to start putting my frustration with the republican party to this “blog” (if that is what this is). For me, it’s venting my frustration with the direction of the country I love. (NEWS FLASH – I wrote this last night and DICK CHENEY is voting for Ms. Harris! I’m going to have to forgive him – now, I want to see him and Bernie Sanders in the SAME ad for Ms. Harris!)

You can check the archives if you choose, but since 2008 I’ve been writing about the IMPORTANCE of voting the republican party (of today) into the history books. The first thoughts I had were centered on the authorization of TORTURE by GW Bush, Dick Cheney, and Donald Rumsfeld (plus others) which Barack Obama decided wasn’t worth pursuing legally when he said “we’re going to look forward instead of back.” I’ve written NUMEROUS times about how that philosophy goes against the most fundamental requirements of emphasizing we are a “nation of laws” and not men.

We are seeing what President Obama wanted to keep from happening as he was trying to get critical legislation through – the Affordable Care Act – and he didn’t want the division which would result from holding Bush/Cheney/Rumsfeld et al accountable. At the time I pointed out how “looking the other way” would simply create larger problems of presidential lawbreaking in the future. Of course, Trump made Bush/Cheney seem like juvenile lawbreakers. (Of course, to me, the admitting on national TV they authorized TORTURE and said, “we’d do it again,’ just didn’t sit well – and still doesn’t)

So, while I’m happy people like Liz Cheney are coming out and fighting to make sure Trump gets nowhere near the White House EVER again, I personally won’t forget their part in creating this monstrosity. I was amazed when “we the people” voted Barack Obama as our 44th president, and I’ve been a strong supporter of him since he came upon the “scene” – even though I will go to my grave believing his decision to “look forward instead of back” was a major blunder. (Now, I have to forgive Obama)

Soon after Obama took the oath of office some of the racist “cells” which existed all across the country – with an emphasis in the South and the “Rust belt” – started to emerge publicly. By the 2010 the so-called “Tea Party” was “born” with the help of financing from the Koch network of billionaires. Anyone who watched the rallies of the “Tea Party” and didn’t realize this “party” was founded on anti Black racism, wasn’t paying attention. The signs those involved were publicly carrying were disgusting to anyone who opposes the white nationalist movement.

This movement (the Tea Party) was the evolution of how the republican party was tilted to the extreme “right” – an evolution which I believe became part of their MO when future Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell penned his now infamous “memo” to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce back in 1971. Of course, it was Ronald Reagan who put Powell’s “memo” into America’s mainstream. Since Reagan took office corporations in America have become more and more integrated into the decision making of our government – largely the reason why the public agrees on so many issues – like with 70% approval on one issue after another – and Congress usually ignores their wishes. As I’ve said many times here, the foundation of fascism is a corporate/government partnership. We are dangerously close to that reality – and a Trump victory in November would be the “final straw.”

Trump has taken the republican MO of “the end justifies the means” to the extreme. We all saw in 2016 his willingness to accept “help” from the Russians – “Russia if you’re listening, I hope you can find the 30,000 emails that are missing……” and, once again the Russian help for Trump is becoming publicly exposed. The Russians are simply proving how many Americans have a “price.” They have identified numerous “useful idiots” who they support by funneling ILLEGAL funding into the American political system. Exactly what President Obama predicted when the Citizens’ United decision was handed down by the Roberts Court. This all is just further proof Trump (and his republican “idiots”) is willing to defy our Constitution if it helps him get more votes.

If you’ve had any concern about whether or not Trump is the MAJOR problem or if it’s the republican party – which I suggested above was “polluted” (OK, I didn’t use that word) a couple things happened today which simply prove my point. For example, Trump continues to act STUPID (well, I have to agree that’s true) about Project 2025. “I have no idea what ’25’ is.” (He purposely misnames it to make his “uneducated voters” believe he’s telling the truth – his LYING, by the way, works) Well, today, while speaking to a bunch of Wall Street “rich” people in New York Trump, as usual, was NOT answering questions by pretending if he was answering them. Didn’t matter what he said, these “rich” people were applauding his nonsense – which didn’t even resemble the questions asked. (Is it them who are STUPID? Even though they’re “rich?”) As I’ve said, the problem goes much deeper than Trump.

So, how does this relate to Project 2025? I’ve tried to explain this here before, but I’ll try once again – it doesn’t seem to be sinking in – out in the “real world.” Trump is the PUPPET! Those behind Project 2025 are the PUPPETEERS. They’ve set the agenda and, sadly, most people I know don’t have the will to actually read it. And, I’m not talking only about “conservatives.” When you read it, you clearly understand there’s a LARGE group of people who are going to “guide” Trump into “not making the mistakes of his first administration.” Simply put, Project 2025 is a roadmap to fascism – the fever dream of those wealthy Americans who have no use for our constitution. (That’s why they’re trying to sneak a “constitutional convention” through behind the backs of MOST Americans.

Trump will only be superficially “in charge.” His PUPPETEERS have already planned out the agenda of the “next conservative government.” Their plan, of course, is that the “next” conservative government would be Trump’s. Naturally, he’s nothing more than the person who’s proficient enough at LYING to give them an actual chance to “take over.” Remember, we’re talking about a coalition of people like David Duke with Charles Koch. Each group has their own agenda and could care less about how it affects anyone else – famous last words when you take into account the reality of Nazi Germany back in the 1930’s.

This is also why I’ve been saying the next election is the most important election in my lifetime – for the past three elections. I was also one who was in a state of disbelief when “we the people” allowed Trump to “win” back in 2016. But, just think how things would have turned out had the democrats not won the midterms in the House, back in 2018 – or the presidency in 2020 – or the Senate and nearly the House – stopping the so-called “red wave” of 2022. Well, it keeps getting more important because those behind “Project 2025” are not easily going to be turned away.

When you think of the DAMAGE being done by the SCOTUS the next four elections will fall into the same category – I won’t be around for all of them (undetermined at this point ;o) – but I can guarantee you the right wingers pushing for fascism have been at this since the days of the New Deal and they won’t be easily denied. To me, they remind me of dry rot – if you don’t get it completely removed it just keeps spreading until the entire structure is destroyed – and, the American people must somehow understand how serious these Project 2025 fascists are. The Koch’s, for example, were part of the John Birch Society (look it up if you’re not familiar) at it’s inception.

Some of the richest of all American families are willing to give up what actually made them rich in the first place – very much RICHER since the Biden/Harris administration first took office – because they don’t like things like “we the people” gaining more and more FREEDOM – from the bottom up and they use their faux “Christianity” to cause so many Christians to believe they are “genuine.” Of course, nothing could be farther from the truth and their cynicism couldn’t be more evident by the fact they’ve chosen Trump as their leader. Talk about your “deal with the devil” for America’s evangelical Christians.

But, I don’t give these Christians a “pass” either (I’m saying that as an [apparent\ liberal Christian. When you take a look at the history of Christianity in America you get a different picture than many would themselves portray it. For example, those parts of the country where you find the “Tea Party” popular you don’t have to go too far back in the history books to be reminded of the horrific racism which existed just a hundred years ago in these places.

And, keep in mind, 100 years puts many of those who are the result of the “greatest generation” (baby boomers – many who support Trump) as children and grandchildren of those responsible for the lynchings of the Jim Crow era. I know this because I was raised by man who was himself raised as an avowed racist – my father went to High School in Wheeling West Virginia (where I was conceived after WW II) – who, thankfully, learned his viewpoints of African Americans was WRONG before he died. That’s a story for another day.

My bottom line here is many people beside myself have been lamenting the DANGERS posed by “today’s” republican party which I’ve stated many times here belongs in the History books right next to Benedict Arnold. it’s Trump and his supporters who attempted the coup d’etat of January 6th, 2021 (Just the other day on Fox “news,” Trump said, regarding the attempt to overthrow our government, “I had every right to do it” (to whoever was interviewing him) while in another interview he admitted he “lost (the 2020 election) by just a little.” Do you think Jack Smith had the record button pushed? I’ve seen this since the days of Reagan, but it got so bad I started writing here in 2008. I know I’m not a professional writer – I just use this space to relieve my frustration levels as I watch our country teetering on becoming a fascist state. I always think, if I can figure this stuff out, why are so many pundits struggling with what seems so obvious? Stay tuned…….

Final Thought: I’m just turning 77 and I’ve always loved playing golf. In the process of doing so MOST of the golfers I’ve met – and, in the league I’m in now I’m one of the youngest – are really fortunate and most don’t give it much thought – they just accept that they deserve this because they’re American. So, I like to ask questions of them about their government without starting political arguments. I’m always amazed at the outcome. Many can’t name ANY of the people who are tasked as their leaders in local, state, or national government. In the years since Citizens’ United v Federal Election Commission I think I could count on one set of fingers (one hand) the number of people I’ve asked if they’ve heard of it who said anything besides “no.” This would include teachers before I retired (in 2014).

So, now, I’ve changed the question because I spend time periodically around a bunch of old “geezers” who can’t play golf any better than myself and many who consider themselves “conservatives.” (Of course, they can’t explain what conservative means) My new question is, “Have you heard of Project 2025?” And, so far, ALL of them have said “no” or “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” When I suggest to them they SHOULD read at least the first part of it, they look at me as if to say, “I quit reading stuff years ago.” When they tell me the only thing interesting them is “the border, inflation, and wars.” To which I say, “You’re obviously watching Fox ‘news.'” Most reply by simply denying it although one guy (who I consider honest) said, “no, I watch Newsmax.” When people say this election is for the soul of our nation, in my view, they “aint” wrong. Yikes!

Just Maybe – the result of the Cheney’s giving republicans the “permission” to vote for a democrat – Ms. Harris. My wish, for years, (since the days of Newt Gingrich) has been for the day when our politics isn’t “us against them.” The reality is we’re all on the same “team.”

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The Unholy Alliance: How Rightwing Preachers Are Weaponizing Our Courts

The NRB’s lawsuit could be the death knell for the Johnson Amendment…

Thom Hartmann Sep 2

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A group representing rightwing preachers is trying to bring about a merger of church and state with a new lawsuit. This is incredibly dangerous. The blowback against their effort has even generated a meme that has gone viral on social media:

Sadly, most Americans don’t understand that when a corporation (churches are corporations) doesn’t have money left over at the end of the year because they spent it all on their mission, they don’t pay a penny in income taxes, whether they’re non-profit or for-profit organizations.

Playing off this ignorance, rightwing preachers across America are howling that Democrats want to stop them from feeding the hungry or helping the poor, a completely 100% BS argument with no basis in reality. And they’re being helped out in this scam by their largest trade association and lobbying group.

The National Religious Broadcasters (NRB) is a group heavily supported by preachers and televangelists, many of whom collectively rake in literally billions of dollars every year that they use for everything from promoting Trump to private jets to 35,000 square foot 40-room lakeside mansions.

And all of it is tax-free: you and I pick up the tab for everything from their police and fire to their use of the nation’s airspace and airwaves. As Leona Helmsley famously said, “Only the little people pay taxes.” And only a few of these folks are “the little people.”

To keep this gravy train rolling along, the NRB and two rightwing churches just launched a federal lawsuit to overturn the so-called Johnson Amendment, part of the IRS’s tax code that says that when nonprofits engage in political activity they lose their tax-exempt status.

We got the Johnson Amendment back in 1954 because rightwing whites-only churches had joined Fred Koch’s John Birch Society in the “massive resistance” movement against the racial integration of public schools mandated that year by the Supreme Court in Brown v Board. It passed that year by a unanimous voice vote in a Republican-controlled senate and was signed into law by Republican President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

Since the Reagan era, however, the law has been largely ignored. As The Washington Post noted in a 2016 editorial:

“Indeed, more than 2,000 mainly evangelical Christian clergy have deliberately violated the law since 2008 as a form of protest against it; only one has been audited by the IRS, and none punished…” 

When preachers push politics instead of religion on Sunday morning, the so-called Johnson Amendment said, their church should lose its tax-exempt status. As the IRS notes: 

“Under the Internal Revenue Code, all section 501(c)(3) organizations are absolutely prohibited from directly or indirectly participating in, or intervening in, any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for elective public office.”

The NRB is bringing their suit in a Texas federal court before a Trump-appointed rightwing judge who will almost certainly rule in their favor. From there, it’ll eventually make its way to the Supreme Court, which is clearly the NRB’s goal.

Given the six rightwing Catholics on the Court who’ve already enshrined their Church’s religious doctrine into law with the Dobbs decision, odds are the Johnson Amendment is facing the end of its days.

This is just one more example of how Bush and Trump packing the Court with rightwing religious fanatics — including one who was a member of a Catholic cult where, as The Washington Post notes, she was referred to as a “Handmaid” most of her early life — who are distorting American law and rewriting the Constitution.

Religion is one of the great unregulated realms of American life. There are no federal standards for a person to lead a congregation, become a televangelist, or open a new church. Anybody can do it.

It’s been that way from the beginning of America to this day because we’ve all accepted the Founders’ and Framers’ belief that religion and government should be as separated as possible. As author of the Declaration of Independence and then-President Thomas Jefferson wrote to the Danbury Baptist Association on New Years Day of 1802:

“I contemplate with sovereign reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’ thus building a wall of separation between Church & State.”

Every member of the Constitutional Convention in 1787 agreed, which is why there are two different places in that document that forbid our government from promoting or prohibiting any particular religion or religious doctrine, and outlaws a religious test for holding office.

They did this because of their experience of the previous two hundred years, during which Europeans on this continent brutally inflicted and enforced radical anti-woman religious dogma on our citizens, particularly in New England.

Now, however, Republican judges and politicians, heavily supported by rightwing preachers, want to take us back to that grim era and are working as hard as they can to pull it off.

This is just one more example of how out-of-control the rightwing faction of our court system is, as I lay out in detail in The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America.

It’s why it’s so vital that next year sees the Supreme Court expanded, term limits imposed, Clarence Thomas and Sam Alito impeached, court-stripping legislation put into law, and a binding code of ethics on SCOTUS passed and enforced.

It also requires our federal legislators to get ready now, with legislation to re-impose the Johnson Amendment’s separation-of-church-and-state in a way that the Supreme Court cannot overturn. And the IRS must begin enforcing it.

Rightwing Republican fanatics constantly telegraph their next move, in part to help raise money from their base. Democrats and Republicans who care about our secular republic must stop playing after-the-fact defense and go on the offense now.

Pass it along.

The Hartmann Report is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my daily work to stop rightwing and religious fanatics’ attacks on our Constitution and people, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

I watched about the last half of Joe Biden’s speech at the Democratic National Convention and, as someone who “loves” Joe Biden and what he accomplished I thought the speech was very good – I’m sure republicans will find fault as much as they can get away with (Trump will likely make fun of the stuttering) – but, there was one part that stuck out to me which, as I listened to the “pundits” talking about the evening, no one seemed to think was important. Of course, except me. (It turns out Eugene Robinson noticed the same sentence as I did)

Toward the end of the speech President Biden addressed the war in GAZA and pointed out the importance of that war coming to an end. He also adamantly pointed out (the obvious, at least to me) how important it is to provided food and supplies to the Palestinian people. Then he said something that caught me as incredible in today’s world of division that totally caught me off guard when he said: “Those people out there (referring to those who were protesting in the streets of Chicago for the Palestinians) they have a point.” It seemed to go unnoticed, but, to me, it was a refreshingly honest self criticism based on how the war in GAZA has evolved – with over 40,000 Palestinian citizens killed by the IDF.

My thoughts in this rant will likely seem MORE disconnected than usual. Tonight (day two of the DNC Convention) both Barrack and Michelle Obama were the featured speakers (at least that I saw). I teared up watching both of them (just as I had watching President Biden last night – call me old fashioned) and, while focusing on a positive “path forward” they got in plenty of jabs at Trump. Still, I managed to check out my email messages and, as usual, there was a link to “Raw Story” an outlet I subscribe to which, in their email messages to me, give excerpts from longer “stories.

What caught my eye tonight (well, one of the things that caught my eye) was reporting of Trump speaking in front of a bunch of Police Officers (I’m not sure where – “Livingston?”). He was supposed to be giving an “policy position” address regarding “how you reduce crime.” Now, I’m guessing the following was Trump, once again, straying from the teleprompter – either that or more people in his campaign need to be fired. Here’s part of what he said: “You can’t walk across the street to get a loaf of bread, you get shot, and you get mugged, you get raped, whatever it may be. You’ve seen it. I’ve seen it,”

Well, I have to be honest. I HAVEN’T seen it! I’ve driven to the store several times this year (like, maybe 100 times) and I still haven’t seen it. But, what struck me tonight was the immediate thought which crossed my mind when I read his words. I pictured Trump in the store with some of his insurrectionist friends from the “Oathkeepers” or “Proud Boys.” I figured it would be Trump doing the raping (E. Jean Carroll, Stormy Daniels) and his militia buddies doing the shooting. I still haven’t come to a conclusion as to who would be doing the mugging. (Members of the House “Freedom” Caucus? Members of QAnon?)

As an aside: Crime is nearing a 50 year low since Joe Biden became president.

In another location in Chicago where republicans were attempting (and apparently failing) to upstage the DNC Convention Rep Byron Donalds (Fla) was “heaping praise on Trump for his support of Police Officers.” (Apparently, this didn’t include the Capitol and Metropolitan Police Officers circa January 6th, 2021 – but, I digress) when he was asked the following question by a reporter: “President Trump (actually former – my words) has a history of not always paying for bills related to security costs provided at campaign events. So, I’m curious, since you emphasized President Trump’s support of men and women in blue, if you think it’s important for presidential campaigns to pay for protection for local police departments who provide security at those events?”

Rep. Donalds cut off the reporter before she could finish asking her question – you know, it probably made him a bit uncomfortable. Why do I conclude that? Well, the first thing he said was, “that’s a very interesting question.” He followed that brilliant non answer with an even MORE brilliant one. “I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Maybe he should have interjected something about people being shot and raped?

Speaking of crime: Donald Trump is scheduled for sentencing in reference to his CONVICTION on 34 FELONIES in Manhattan. I have a small tidbit of advice for Judge Merchan; make sure Trump surrenders his passport. I realize he’s got a plane which goes (I don’t know how) far, and he’s been speaking kindly of Venezuela lately because they have no extradition treaty with the U.S. but, well, by now you’re probably reading my mind. (I always figured his landing spot would be in Russia – yes, I’m predicting he will “flee” America once he’s LOST this next election.

The next couple days should be interesting. Trump concluded his convention with a 90 minute rambling soliloquy focused on all his grievances INCLUDING the “Big Lie” (OMG how many of those has he unleashed on “we the people?”) – or so I’m told. I’m guilty of not watching any of the RNC Convention – but, Trump did manage to nominate a VP candidate who’s been widely panned as the least popular in modern times – someone with a history of calling single women “cat ladies” and saying stuff you should check out, but I won’t write here, about his couch – I’ll leave it at that. However, the “ratings” (which Trump is keen to obsess on) are much higher for the dems than for the GOP.

As another aside, when I typed the words GOP I couldn’t help but think of the husband of one of my now deceased sisters when I was talking to him the other day. He’s the kind of artist who likely won’t get famous while he’s still on this side of the dirt, but a very interesting man. (And, very bright) He brought up a word to me – psuedologue which, according to Merriam Webster means “a pathological LIAR.” (my caps) He was laughing as he said “GOP means Grand Old Psuedologues.” I told him I’d add it to a rant and here we are! I think I digressed again.

Final Thought: If you didn’t see her at the DNC Convention, former Trump “White House Press Secretary Stephanie Grisham confirmed what I’ve been saying for years, kinda. What she said is that Trump once told her “It doesn’t matter what you say, Stephanie — say it enough and people will believe you.” In case you don’t understand, that’s right out of Mein Kampf – the “Big Lie Theory” – It could have been Joseph Goebbels shouting from his grave – AND – along with the puppeteers behind Project 2025 you see recipe #1 for their road to fascism. They deny this, OF COURSE, but when’s the last time you believed ANYTHING coming from Trump’s mouth? (Or, for that matter, any of the “MAGA” republicans)

Ms. Grisham, who stated she couldn’t believe she was actually speaking at a Democratic Convention, also pointed out how Trump refers to his followers as “bottom dwellers.” I’ve heard him refer to them as his “uneducated voters” – the perfect formula for a fascist. I know, in America, it’s not “kosher” to refer to Hitler or fascists, but, to me, “if it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, and looks like a duck, IT’S A DUCK! Trump and republicans are also all about PROJECTION which is another of the core tactics of the Nazi’s in the 1930’s. Trump plays dumb to all of this and, in most instances he is DUMB, but he’s clearly read up on Hitler. (ie “they’re poisoning the blood” or referring to his opponents as “vermin”)

I have to add: Since I mentioned Trump’s (and the republicans) use of projection I was looking for an email and while checking my SPAM folder there was an email from, you guessed it, Donald Trump – asking me for $10. Here’s his sales pitch – the Democrats are raising MILLIONS (my emphasis) in “dark money” ………. can you just send $10? (This coming from the “billionaire” who originally said he could self fund his campaign. I believe he said it this way for emphasis: “I’m really rich.” In addition today he said, “The Obama dark money machine is bankrolling America’s demise.” (Do you think the Obamas got under his skin on day two of the Democratic Convention?)

Then he added “He (Obama) teamed up with the Clinton “cartel” (my quotes) just to humiliate us! the “kicker” was asking for “3 MILLION ‘patriots’ (again my quotes) to chip in and declare your support for Trump.” (To help pay his legal expenses?) Do you find it interesting Trump accuses the democrats of raising dark money, when Elon Musk is pouring $45 MILLION per month into one of Trump’s “Super PAC’?” That’s not to mention the other Silicon Valley billionaires or Sheldon Adelson’s widow who “aims to do whatever it takes to help Trump win, or ???? (Miriam Adelson has about $33 BILLION to work with) As I’ve said, should be interesting.

Oh yes, I think it’s Arizona where republicans are attempting to purge about 40,000 from the election rolls. Just saying…… (Gonna be interesting)

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Down with the Kings: SCOTUS’ Presidential Protection Must Go Support the No Kings Act!

It’s supported by more than half the Democrats in the Senate, along with independents Bernie Sanders and Angus King; not a single Republican had the courage or patriotism to sign onto it….

The song that was inspired by this article is available here.
My reading this article as an audio podcast is available here.

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Republicans this week asked the Supreme Court to throw 40,000 Arizona voters off the voting rolls. This is not the sort of case the Framers of the Constitution meant for the Court to be deciding; for the past few decades, since rightwingers took over the Court, it’s been regularly overstepping its charter.

Similarly, Donald Trump’s criminal attempt to overthrow our government on January 6th is now back before Judge Tanya Chutkan’s court, although whatever decision she renders will instantly be appealed by Trump’s lawyers back to his friends on the Supreme Court. Tragically, justice will be a long time coming.

And now Senator Chuck Schumer and Congress want to do something about it.

When the six corrupt and well-bribed Republicans on the US Supreme Court gave Donald Trump immunity from prosecution for crimes he committed while president, they not only “broke” the law but defied the Constitution itself. This offense to our republic’s rule of law demands reversal, and Congress, at the moment, is the only venue where that can be done.

In this case, the Republicans on the Court created a new doctrine of presidential immunity out of thin air. Not only is this a violation of American law, but it also contradicts the authorities the Constitution gave the Court. As Justice Sonya Sotomayor pointed out in her dissent (see below), it’s quite literally unprecedented, a massive power grab, and a corruption of our republican Constitution.

There is a remedy, but to understand it you must first understand the nature and constitutional powers of the Court itself, as I lay out in detail in The Hidden History of the Supreme Court and the Betrayal of America.

While the Constitution created the House, Senate, and the Presidency and Vice Presidency, its authors left the definition of the size, nature, and budget of the Supreme Court to Congress itself. The Supreme Court didn’t even come into being until Congress passed a law defining it. From Article III, Section 1:

“The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one supreme Court, and in such inferior Courts as the Congress may from time to time ordain and establish.”

Thus, on September 24, 1789 Congress created the Supreme Court via the Judiciary Act of 1789:

“Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the supreme court of the United States shall consist of a chief justice and five associate justices, any four of whom shall be a quorum, and shall hold annually at the seat of government two sessions…”

Not only was the Supreme Court to be the creation of Congress, but the Framers of the Constitution further specified that it was to operate directly under the supervision and regulation of Congress itself, which even had the power to define entire areas of law where the Supreme Court could be forbidden from ruling. Per Article III, Section 2:

“[T]he supreme Court shall have appellate Jurisdiction, both as to Law and Fact, with such Exceptions, and under such Regulations as the Congress shall make.”

This was because the Framers of the Constitution wanted the Court to be the weakest, least powerful branch of our government for the simple reason that — its members being appointed, and for life at that — it is the only branch entirely unaccountable to We the People.

In his and Madison’s sales pitch for the Constitution, Alexander Hamilton, on May 28, 1788, wrote in Federalist 78, that the courts, including the Supreme Court, were the weakest of the three branches created by the Constitution. After all, at that time it wasn’t envisioned that they would ever have the power to strike down laws passed by Congress or create law or policy out of thin air (like saying the president has immunity from prosecution for crimes).

“[T]he judiciary is beyond comparison the weakest of the three departments of power,” he wrote, adding in the same sentence that “it can never attack with success either of the other two [branches].”

He even footnoted that sentence with a quote from the famous French judge Montesquieu, who had first famously articulated the idea of a separation of powers between governmental branches as a check and balance. Hamilton’s footnote read:

“The celebrated Montesquieu, speaking of them, says: ‘Of the three powers above mentioned, the judiciary is next to nothing.’”

Don’t tell that to the Republicans on the Court, however; after years of stroking and bribes from rightwing billionaires, they’ve come to think of themselves as the true kings and queens of America rather than mere servants to the Constitution and our nation’s legal processes.

Consider, for example, that notorious partisan liar Sam Alito when, a year ago July, he wrote  in The Wall Street Journal:

“No provision in the Constitution gives [Congress] the authority to regulate the Supreme Court—period.”

Or two weeks ago’s absurdity when Neil Gorsuch had the audacity to warn President Biden, who just proposed a binding code of ethics for the Supreme Court as well as term limits, that he should “be careful.”

As noted above, the Constitution did not create the Supreme Court; it merely identified it and authorized Congress to bring it into being. It did this on September 24, 1798 — about half a year after the first Congress was sworn into office on March 4, 1798 and President George Washington was sworn into office on April 30, 1798 — when Congress also simultaneously created the rest of the federal court system.

Even worse, there is not a single place in the Constitution where the Supreme Court is authorized to either create or strike down laws.

Creating laws or policy for the United States is an authority given exclusively to Congress.  All laws must originate, in fact, with the House of Representatives because they’re elected every 2 years and thus “closest to the people,” then go to the Senate, and generally only become law with the approval/signature of the president.

Similarly, striking down all or parts of laws or creating policies out of whole cloth —like “presidential immunity” — is an authority that is also only given to Congress by the Constitution. There’s not a single word in the entire document authorizing the Supreme Court to do such things.

In 1803, in the case of Marbury v Madison, the Supreme Court took onto itself the limited power to strike down laws which they believed conflicted with the Constitution. President Thomas Jefferson was horrified, writing to his old friend Virginia Supreme Court Justice Spencer Roane:

“If this opinion be sound then indeed is our Constitution a complete felo de se [a suicide pact]. For intending to establish three departments, coordinate and independent, that they might check and balance one another, it has given, according to this opinion, to one of them alone, the right to prescribe rules for the government of the others, and to that one too, which is unelected by, and independent of the nation. …

“The Constitution, on this hypothesis, is a mere thing of wax in the hands of the judiciary, which they may twist and shape into any form they please.”

But even at that, the 1803 Marshall Court didn’t try to create new law out of thin air like the six Republicans on the Court did last month when they created a brand-new never-before-seen-or-considered doctrine of presidential immunity.

Even Chief Justice Roger Taney’s 1856 Dred Scott v Sanford decision which declared that every Black person, even in the north, should become the property of a white person (which President Lincoln explicitly chose to ignore) was grounded in references to the Constitution’s original protections of slavery.

Similarly, Chief Justice Morrison Remick Waite’s 1886 comment reproduced in the headnote to the Santa Clara County v Southern Pacific Railroad case, which later courts exploited to grant “personhood” to corporations (as I examined at length in my book Unequal Protection: How Corporations Became “People”), was based in the Bill of Rights and the 14th Amendment.

And those were the two single most egregious decisions of the entire 19th century! Arguably the most controversial decisions of the 20th century were Brown v Board and Roe v Wade and, again, both were grounded in the Constitution itself.

While the opinion, concurrences, and dissents in Trump v United States — the case giving Trump immunity for “official acts” — includes 219 references to the “Constitution,” the only direct quote used to justify giving the president immunity to commit crimes while in office is from Article II: “[T]he executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America.”

Everything else is a twisting and perversion of previous cases, opinions, and the meaning of “executive Power.” The six Republican justices pulled this doctrine allowing for a criminal presidency out of their own backsides; it has absolutely no basis in law, history, or the Constitution.

As Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote in her dissent:

“Today’s decision to grant former Presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the Presidency. It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law.

“Relying on little more than its own misguided wisdom about the need for ‘bold and unhesitating action’ by the President, the Court gives former President Trump all the immunity he asked for and more. Because our Constitution does not shield a former President from answering for criminal and treasonous acts, I dissent. …

“The Court now confronts a question it has never had to answer in the Nation’s history: Whether a former President enjoys immunity from federal criminal prosecution. The majority thinks he should, and so it invents an atextual, ahistorical, and unjustifiable immunity that puts the President above the law. …

“Argument by argument, the majority invents immunity through brute force. Under scrutiny, its arguments crumble. To start, the majority’s broad ‘official acts’ immunity is inconsistent with text, history, and established understandings of the President’s role. Moreover, it is deeply wrong, even on its own functionalist terms.

“Next, the majority’s ‘core’ immunity is both unnecessary and misguided. Furthermore, the majority’s illogical evidentiary holding is unprecedented. Finally, this majority’s project will have disastrous consequences for the Presidency and for our democracy.” (emphasis added)

She notes that in Federalist 69, “Alexander Hamilton wrote that former Presidents would be ‘liable to prosecution and punishment in the ordinary course of law,’” adding that the Constitution gives limited immunity to Congress under the Speech and Debate Clause, but there is no such guarantee for the president.

This issue of keeping presidential immunity out of the Constitution was not an accident or oversight by the Framers; it was debated at length during the Constitutional Convention in the summer and fall of 1787 and the delegates (including Hamilton) decided to omit any criminal immunity whatsoever for the president.

As Sotomayor continues:

“In sum, the majority today endorses an expansive vision of Presidential immunity that was never recognized by the Founders, any sitting President, the Executive Branch, or even President Trump’s lawyers, until now. Settled understandings of the Constitution are of little use to the majority in this case, and so it ignores them.”

In response to this bizarre decision which the Republicans on the Supreme Court have forced on the American people, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has introduced the No Kings Act.

The proposed law reverses the Supreme Court’s grant of criminal immunity to Donald Trump and all present and future presidents, as well as — using the “exceptions” clause of Article III, Section 2 — stripping from the Court the power to reverse or even rule on the law.

It’s supported by more than half the Democrats in the Senate, along with independents Bernie Sanders and Angus King; not a single Republican had the courage or patriotism to sign onto it.

Call your two senators and the House member who represents you and demand passage of the No Kings Act and legislation to get the corrupt Republicans on this run-amok Court under control.

As Justice Sotomayor wrote, “with fear for our democracy,” we must all dissent.

The Hartmann Report is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my daily work to rescue our democracy from corruption by billionaires and bought-off Supreme Court justices, please consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

One of the MANY reasons I’m hoping Kamala Harris becomes the 47th president of the United States is the war in Ukraine. I regularly talk to my “Millennial” son about Russia’s ILLEGAL invasion of its neighbor and for over a year I’ve been saying the Ukrainians need to take the battle to Russia, IN Russia. Well, now they’ve done so and I was reading an article tonight about Putin’s reaction to the invasion into Kursk and his seemingly lack of ability to realize what’s actually happening. To me, it’s time for the “West” to take of the “training wheels” regarding the support they’re providing to Ukraine and allow “their” weapons to be used inside of Russia. Let the Russian people feel some of what the Ukrainian people have been dealing with for nearly three years now.

Of course Putin – further convincing me he is Donald Trump’s mentor – said the following to the Russian people as he said NO to potential peace negotiations with Ukraine: “But what kind of negotiations?” he scoffed. “How do we even talk with people who indiscriminately strike at civilians, at civilian infrastructure and try to create threats to nuclear energy? What can we even talk about with them?”

Do you see the hypocritical IRONY in those words coming from Putin’s mouth. I mean the Russian are STILL dropping bombs (up to three tons in weight) on apartment complexes, shopping malls, schools, hospitals, and they’ve been controlling the largest nuclear power plant (it’s located IN UKRAINE) in Europe for the past two plus years. Seriously, are the Russian people so hidden from reality or ??? (Stupid?) to actually believe this man. Of course, being disagreeable with Putin can find you in a Penal Colony – or falling out of a window – or, mysteriously ingesting poison, but, hey……

Putin is rattled and the Ukrainians are following the age old strategy of “giving your opponent a taste of their own medicine.” The BIG difference is reports have come out the Ukrainians are helping to feed the Russian civilians caught in what crossfire there is, although, it appears the Russians were so caught off guard there was little resistance to the Ukrainian invasion. Apparently, the Russians have fortified their troops around Belgorod in an attempt to prevent ceding more territory to the Ukrainians.

For me, this is the only way the Ukrainians can actually WIN this war. Obviously, the Russians have many more troops and are willing to LOSE even many MORE than they already have – with the numbers of Russians killed or wounded in the war fast approaching 600,000. That’s a staggering number and, obviously, Putin could care less about even one of them. The Russians continue pushing WAVES of troops at Ukraine losing OVER 1,000 on an average day – that’s right, DAY!

The Ukrainians are attempting to hit the Russians where it hurts the most – airfields in Kursk where planes take off carrying bombs intended for civilian targets in Ukraine. They’re destroying bridges in Kursk making it MUCH more difficult to supply troops (and Civilians) in the (now) HUGE area controlled by Ukraine, and reports I’ve read suggest over 2000 Russian troops in the region have surrendered. To me, while the Ukrainians continue to be the underdogs – especially, with the West failing to provide enough arms for them to push the Russians out (remember, this war will go well beyond Ukraine if the Ukrainians give in) – as the old saying goes (republican no less) the Ukrainians are fighting over there so we don’t have to – or something like that.

For those in America who don’t want to see the Russians ultimately pushing into Poland, Hungary, and the other former “Soviet” states (members of NATO meaning our troops would then be involved) you should think twice about supporting Trump if you’re STUPID enough to be planning to do so. Trump called Putin’s invasion of Ukraine “genius” and says he’ll end the war in “one day.” Well, another LIE – but, I do believe he would cut off aid to Ukraine forthwith. And JD Vance, when he’s not on his couch, has said, “I could care less what happens to Ukraine.”

One reason I wasn’t worried about Joe Biden’s age was because had he won a second term and something happened to prevent him from “governing” Kamala Harris would have become president. (Well, it appears there’s a good chance she does so anyway) But, just think about the possibilities should Trump succeed (in CHEATING to win) this November. He’s the OLDEST candidate for president in the history of the country. That’s correct, he’s older than President Biden was in 2020. Can you even picture of this J.D. Vance dude becoming president. I mean the ONLY person ever to run for this office with less qualification than Vance would have been Trump in 2016.

Obviously, there’s a segment of the American public who don’t care. They still haven’t figured out the republicans are all about POWER with no idea how to govern. Trump accomplished ONE thing of significance legislatively in his first term – a tax cut which increased the national debt be several TRILLION – with MOST of the benefits going to the “top 1%” and corporations who used the benefit to buy back stocks – raising the stock prices and providing the executives with massive gains.

People like Jeff Bezos, Mark Zuckerberg, and Elon Musk, to name a few (and there were MANY more) actually had their fortunes DOUBLE after the tax cuts and the pandemic. Speaking of the pandemic, Trump’s FAILURE to be able to deal with it likely is the reason he’s not still the president (praise the Lord) – not only did (by many accounts) several HUNDRED thousand Americans die needlessly, but when Trump left office (and 400 Americans were DYING daily – with NO plan to stop the carnage) there were three MILLION fewer Americans with jobs than when he took office.

You have to go back to Herbert Hoover to find a president with similar failed economic policy. (Apparently, Trump’s SIX bankruptcies SHOULD have been a clue) That’s why I was such a strong supporter of President Biden despite the FACT he’s too old. Biden, by many accounts, has been the MOST impactful president since FDR took over for the failed policies of Hoover. He managed to get MORE meaningful legislation passed in his first two years – despite a razor thing majority in the House (about the same as the republican majority over the past two years where NOTHING has been accomplished without the help of democrats – other than torpedoing their own speaker) and a 50/50 “majority” in the Senate (which included Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema) than any administration in my lifetime (I’ve been paying attention to politics since the Eisenhower years in the 50’s).

To anyone who’s paid attention to how economics and the government works for any length of time it should surprise no one that coming out of the pandemic – with supply chains choked off and MILLIONS of people out of work – that addressing those issues forthrightly would lead to inflation – especially, with corporations with little to no regard for their civic duty – for them it’s all about the “Benjamin’s” – their sole purpose is to make as MUCH money as they can. All of a sudden MILLIONS were going back to work, wages were increasing (giving people at the “bottom” money to spend) and the issue with the supply chains (plus Putin’s aforementioned war) naturally led to inflation.

Using history as a guide and knowing we seem to rely on the Fed to “jack up” interest rates as their sole defense against inflation – most “experts” were predicting there had to be a recession to slow down the increase in prices. Well, the Biden administration has inflation in America the lowest in the Western world and the economy continues to produce record levels of job growth. So much for the “experts.” And, of course, Trump’s proposed solutions (including Project 2025 which he conveniently says “I know nothing about 25” – just ANOTHER in his LONG list of LIES) will likely not only cost Americans thousands per year but will reignite inflation – but, at least he’ll solve the Ukraine war in one day (while he’s the “dictator”)

Putin and Trump are “cut from the same cloth.” Narcissistic and delusional, but obsessed with POWER. Putin is, at least as I’m writing this, entrenched at the head of Russia while he uses the same Nazi tactics as Trump. Tell your LIES over and over until the “people” believe they’re “true” and use PROJECTION when discussing your enemies. That is, put your transgressions on them before the public understands what has happened to it.

Both Putin and Trump, if they’re good at anything, it’s pathological LYING and accusing – in Putin’s case accusing Ukraine (and America) of his own policies of attacking civilians and the power grid, while in Trump’s case, the most egregious example of his PROJECTION (it’s commonplace with him) would be accusing Ms. Harris of CHEATING regarding her crowds, etc. Talk about the “Pot calling the kettle black.” Remember, this is a man who not only CHEATED to “win” back in 2016, but he CHEATS at “golf.” You really have to be a CHEATER to CHEAT at golf! (Putin CHEATS to win every time there’s an election in Russia)

The bottom line for me here is that I feel really good about Ukraine’s decision to take the fight into Russia. I mean, why on earth does all the fighting have to be on Ukrainian “soil.” Russia’s been holding a significant portion of Ukraine since the “Orange Revolution” in 2014 as Putin became more and more paranoid about having a nation which evolved to democratic rule right on its border. He became convinced Ukraine would be joining NATO and, in the process of “stopping” them (for something which was certainly not imminent at a minimum) he “encouraged” BOTH Finland and Sweden on or near its northern border to actually join NATO. (Stupid?)

Russia has proven itself to be a “paper tiger” as they’ve been emptying their reserve weaponry, sacrificing their people by the HUNDREDS of thousands, and facing an economic disaster all because Putin, in the words of Trump, is a “genius.” (I hope you see the sarcasm in that last sentence). I’ll say it again, Putin and Trump are similar in so many ways: Power hungry LIARS who PROJECT their failures on their enemies. It’s time for Trump to be voted into the history books right next to Benedict Arnold and for the Russian Army to solve the Putin problem in their traditional fashion. High up window anyone?

Final Thought: This next week is the Democratic Convention in Chicago. The first year I was eligible to vote it was 1968, right in the middle of the Viet Nam war. My chosen candidate was Robert F Kennedy and, of course, he was murdered before democrats had a chance to nominate him giving “we the people” hope THAT illegal war would be ended. Of course, there were massive demonstrations leading to what was later termed a “police riot” which pretty much ensured Richard Nixon would win the 1968 election.

Well, there are many planned demonstrations planned again this year, according to reports and my hope is the demonstrations will be peaceful. The thing I find interesting is these protests will be regarding the Israeli SLAUGHTER of civilians in GAZA. Obviously, this SHOULD stop “yesterday.” However, I’ve been pointing out since Israel sent their first troops into GAZA (and started, in essence, leveling it) that Bibi Netanyahu will drag this war on indefinitely – because his regime will be toppled the day it ends and he’ll be facing his own CORRUPTION charges.

What I find really interesting is I didn’t read about these protestors during the republican convention. They many have been there I just didn’t see them if they were because, surprise, surprise, I didn’t watch the republican convention. I get that many of these people believe President Biden has the power to stop Israel’s attack – arguably on HAMAS – but Netanyahu (and his right wing “cabinet” – not the correct term) have no interest in letting Biden influence them. My point here is, have these demonstrators considered the other option? Trump? Netanyahu was part of the CONSPIRACY to get Trump elected (according to Seth Abramson’s book “Proof of Conspiracy”) along with the Russians, the Saudi’s, the Emerati’s, and the Egyptians back in 2016. Simply put, Trump is NOT the answer to what’s happening to the Palestinian people in GAZA. I pray for a CEASEFIRE as soon as possible and for food, necessary supplies, and reconstruction of GAZA along with a plan for a Palestinian state, ASAP. Stay tuned………….

For some time I’ve been talking (OK writing) about what I read in “Proof of Conspiracy” by Seth Abramson where he tediously lays out the evidence the 2016 “Election Interference” not only came from the Russians, but also the Saudi’s, Emerati’s, Israeli’s, and the Egyptians. Well, today as I was driving around listening to MSNBC on my XM radio there was a segment about how the Egyptians, allegedly, right before the 2016 Presidential election funneled $10 MILLION to the Trump campaign – ie Trump.

Apparently, evidence of this issue was first uncovered by the Mueller investigation and, when their investigation was “shuddered,” it was “handed off” to DOJ. Of course, at that time William Barr had become the Attorney General and I suppose it won’t take the brain of a “stable genius” to figure out what happened. Well, of course Mr. Barr ended DOJ’s further investigation before it started. Would have been the end of the story, but apparently an investigative reporter (I can’t remember from where, I think the Wa Post) recently uncovered the story.

Naturally, this would have been a serious violation of American law – NO candidate can take ANYTHING of value from a foreign person or government during a political campaign. (Of course, Trump willingly did so) Shortly before Trump became president the Egyptian secret service requested the National Bank of Egypt to withdraw nearly $10 MILLION in hundred dollar bills (taking a huge “slice” of Egypt’s U.S. dollar reserves) and put them into bags – when men came to take the bags they weighed approximately 200 pounds. That’s a lot of $100 dollar bills!

Before the Justice Department and/or the FBi could obtain Bank records associated with Trump as part of the investigation Mr. Barr, in essence, shut the investigation down. Well, this all will just be more of the absurd in relation to Trump’s bid to retake the “White House” because the statute of limitations has passed so Trump cannot face an indictment for this alleged action, but the circumstantial evidence seems to point a “finger” directly at the MOST corrupt president in American history. Keep in mind, shortly after taking office the Trump administration released close to $2 BILLION in Egyptian funds which had been frozen due to human rights violations be what Trump referred to as “my favorite dictator” in El Sisi. Classic “quid pro quo?” (I should take about two weeks for THIS Trump scandal to blow past our “liberal media”)

Whether or not it’s a “quid pro quo” it would have been grossly ILLEGAL for Trump to take that money from El Sisi. However. logic tell us Trump would have done this without a second thought. After his son and son in law met with Russian operatives offering “stuff” for Trump’s campaign back in June of 2016 Trump was asked about taking “stuff” from foreign governments and he indicated he would do so. (“Why wouldn’t I?”) Well, in the instance regarding the Egyptians mentioned above, the evidence strongly suggests he did. And, of course, connecting the dots – that is the 200 pounds of $100 dollar bills with reversing American policy regarding Egypt’s human rights abuses looks a bit more than “fishy.”

Of course, “we the people” will likely never know for sure because Trump is an expert at laundering money and, in this case, while allegedly receiving CASH he knew how to hide the money via “laundering” which he likely learned from the Russians themselves. Maybe once Trump is out of the picture – meaning LOSING another election and then facing up to the MANY criminal charges still pending in front of him – with the SCOTUS likely to stop buoying him up – maybe people like William Barr will come clean with what they know and what they did. Obviously, the Justice Department under Merrick Garland had little to no stomach for following up with allegations from Trump’s presidency regarding his criminal conduct until the January 6th Committee forced his hand.

Mr. Garland ignored the ten instances of OBSTRUCTION of Justice which Robert Mueller “memorialized” for possible indictment once Trump was no longer in office. Garland wasn’t interested. Apparently, the ILLEGAL campaign contribution alleged to have come from Egypt got no interest in Garland’s Justice Department (although, it’s possible he wasn’t aware of the investigation). Also, the ILLEGAL paying off of a couple women with whom Trump allegedly had illicit affairs while his wife was nursing his final son didn’t interest Garland DESPITE the FACT Michael Cohen was sentenced to THREE years for the CRIME. Trump was referred to as “individual 1” who directed and benefited from the CRIME.

Garland just had no interest in taking on Trump. Apparently Trump’s MO of repeated CRIMINAL conduct was just too complicated for Mr. Garland to take on. You know, like Obama’s famous “we’re going to look forward instead of back” regarding Bush/Cheney admitting on national TV they authorized TORTURE. I said, at the time (it would be in the archives) that the lawbreaking by future presidents will just get worse if they act as if they’re “above the law.” And, of course, Trump proved me right.

The SCOTUS apparently felt left out of the conversation as to whether or not presidents are “above the law.” They, of course, now “famously” decided section 2 of the 14th amendment doesn’t really mean what it CLEARLY says – because, if it did, they’d have a lot of lawsuits to handle and Trump would have been removed from MANY ballots as being ineligible to hold ANY office in the U.S. according to various states. As usual, that wasn’t enough for the court so NOW our constitution says presidents are IMMUNE from prosecutions if they commit their crimes while being officially in office. Talk about opening up “cans of worms.” Our SCOTUS has morphed to the pathetic from the disgusting. (Remembering Bush v Gore)

I wrote the above a couple of weeks ago and have been “on vacation” since then. Actually, I’m in the “old white guy” category and have been having a few visits to various doctor’s offices. The other thing is, as someone who was strongly in favor of Joe Biden (even though I, too, feel he’s too old for another four year term) and felt democrats were going to do what they’ve done so many times in my lifetime (I first voted in 1968) and that’s “snatch defeat from the jaws of victory.” I was concerned with the “leaders” in the party (like President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and others) urging Biden to drop out so the democrats could have an “open convention.” To me, that was doing the republicans’ bidding.

I pointed out if Biden dropped out the ONLY alternative was for Kamala Harris to be the candidate for the reason of the time between the democratic convention PLUS the issue of raising money, organizing a campaign staff, volunteers, and field offices. V. P. Harris, I said, was the ONLY person who could “inherit” the $250 MILLION Biden had in the “bank” and the ground game Biden had produced over the previous year or so. Thankfully, Biden’s “delegates” realized right away the same thing and it only took a few days for Ms. Harris to be the “presumptive candidate.” (Within a week or so it was “official”) I wasn’t sure, at all, whether Ms. Harris would be a good candidate – but, that question was soon answered. The first three weeks where she was the “candidate” have been about as good as (someone like me would hope) it gets.

She’s raised OVER $300 MILLION in additional campaign funds and her “run” through the battleground states after she chose (surprisingly) Tim Walz as her “running mate” was witnessed by standing room only crowds everywhere they went. Based on what I’ve seen in this first three weeks I’m expecting the Harris/Walz campaign to continue showing up all across the country in the 80, or so, days left until the election. The “endorsers” lining up behind them continues to grow and is impressive. Plus, the Harris/Walz campaign is showing expertise at getting under Trump’s “skin.” Trump seems as if he’s going to get his AGE exposed (along with his distemper) going forward.

I refuse to allow myself to get at all complacent (although I don’t influence too many) because I just can’t imagine another four years of Donald Trump – especially, with “Project 2025” sitting there just waiting for Trump to get sworn in once again. Of course Trump is distancing himself from “Project 2025” but, that’s just one more in his LONG line of LIES. His (and his VP choice) fingers are all over “Project 2025.” You can read it be clicking HERE. I’ve read the first 100 pages (plus the intro) and haven’t felt the need to go any further – because it comes across to me as a roadmap to fascism. There’s a lot of detail after where I’ve stalled, but it all points to a fascist dictatorship in America. I believe Trump is too STUPID to actually read it, but “we the people” should.

Final Thought: I was watching Rachel Maddow the other night and her and her producer were talking about a book her producer wrote (out today) regarding the issue of “misinformation” and the republican party. As I listened to them – as many others do – puzzling about all the LYING coming from Trump and republicans, I wondered when someone on a TV “news” outlet is going to reference why they’ve chosen LYING as a tactic? I’ve been writing about this for years (beginning with Rush Limbaugh) and trying to get someone in the media to point out republicans long ago ADOPTED the “Big Lie Theory” of Adolf Hitler and Joseph Goebbels along with their “tactic” of PROJECTION. Just the other day Trump gave the epitome of his use of these NAZI strategies in one “Truth Social” post.

In part, it read: “She’s a CHEATER. She had NOBODY waiting, (at the Detroit Airport) and the ‘crowd’ looked like 10,000 people!” Mr. Trump wrote. “Same thing is happening with her fake ‘crowds’ at her speeches. This is the way the Democrats win Elections, by CHEATING – And they’re even worse at the Ballot Box. She should be disqualified because the creation of a fake image is ELECTION INTERFERENCE.”

OK, in those few words Trump incorporated BOTH of his NAZI strategies. Not only is he LYING about her “crowd sizes” (as he’s famous for doing) but the accusation of “cheating” is PURE PROJECTION. For heaven’s sake, Trump CHEATS at GOLF. Now, I’m someone who loves to play golf. I play in a league with guys who are (mostly) older than me (I’m soon to be 77) and the idea of ANYONE cheating is, well, that person would no longer be in the league. Of course, Trump “owns” the golf courses (purchased with laundered money?) so, apparently, his CHEATING is OK. You can listen to just about any Trump “speech” (or conversation) and the LYING and PROJECTION is pervasive. (OBTW – anyone who CHEATS at golf will, you know, CHEAT at everything. They would be a CHEATER pure and simple!)

It continues to bug me that NO ONE (at least that I see/hear) in the press point out the republicans are using NAZI propaganda tactics – routinely. And, when you combine that REALITY along with the REALITY of “Project 2025” you would think the press (“liberal media”) would be pointing this out to “we the people.” Combine that with the FACT Trump has “nakedly” used Hitler’s language – “They’re poisoning the blood” of Americans and the democrats are …… “vermin.” Why are “we the people” afraid to even reference the NAZI’S when Trump’s “slow moving coup” is taking us in that direction? Praise the Lord for the Harris/Walz campaign! Stay tuned……..

About a year ago I finally got fed up with the opinion pieces for the NY Times leading me to cancel my subscription. I have not been remorseful since. Well, after Joe Biden had a bad debate performance the “pundit class” went into high gear aiming to force Biden from the Ballot – despite being the choice of democrats in the primaries – because “he’s too old.” This would suggest the voters who took place in the primaries didn’t understand Biden was soon to be 81. Of course, the weak kneed democrats in Congress, holding their fingers to the “winds” started bailing from Biden like a group of fishermen on a sinking boat.

Well, what they’re accomplishing is doing the “dirty work” for republican operatives who’ve been blasting President Biden’s age for the past 3 plus years. Of course, they’re preferred candidate is ONLY three years younger and when it comes to knowledge of government and wisdom Trump still seems to be more like a Middle Schooler than a candidate for the most important job in the world. (Sorry, Mr. Putin) Here’s what’s bugging me about all of this. The issue is Trump, the MAGA republicans, and, of course, the “Project 2025” Manifesto which is FINALLY getting more than a cursory look. For those unwilling to read, it’s a roadmap to fascism for America. (The “fever dream” of those opposing the New Deal)

The right wing fascists behind Project 2025 have been living “under the rocks” since the early days of Charles and David Koch taking over the reins of Koch Industries and their push for a right wing bent to our government. Keep in mind (If you’ve watched NPR’s “Nazi Town USA”) some of the authors of Project 2025 very well could be directly associated – by their familial relationship to the key “players” in the Nazi movement in America preceding WWII. Trump was widely recognized as their conduit to the “mainstream” of politics when he took the “torch” of the racist “birther movement.” The “cherry on top” for these white/christian nationalists is they didn’t have to “coach” Trump about the “Big Lie Theory” of Hitler’s Nazi’s. Trump is a natural.

Suddenly, a bunch of journalists and pundits discovered Joe Biden is old. For the past few weeks several, as I mentioned above, a group of “weak kneed” democrats in the House and Senate continue pushing President Biden to drop from the “race.” Well, I’ll say once again what I’ve been saying for months. The winner of the election will be either Joe Biden or Donald Trump. Put another way, a competent political government administrator or a CONVICTED felon who’s also an adjudicated sexual offender guilty of bank, insurance, and tax fraud who supports Project 2025. Put still another way it’s either a president who supports our democratic republic or one who supports a roadmap to FASCISM! I say to democrats, let’s get on with it!

Here’s something I’m finding interesting. Outlets like the NY Times, the WA Post, and several other parts of the “Mainstream Media” (MSM) have suddenly realized their two weeks of putting their “microscope” on Joe Biden and the FACT he’s 81, maybe they had better put some of their focus on Trump. And, it only takes a cursory look at what Trump is saying and his supporters are saying for these outlets to conclude what MOST of us everyday Americans concluded long ago – Trump is UNFIT to hold any office in America’s government. let alone the presidency. It’s almost time for the actual campaign to start and democrats will win if they close ranks around Biden/Harris in order to BLOCK Trump and his fascist compatriots from success.

Not only do they need to get behind Biden/Harris they also need to support the democrats who can win in November’s Senate and House elections. Republicans like Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, both senators who proved to be traitors in January of 2021, SHOULD be vulnerable. Cruz who famously vamoosed to Cancun during the Freeze in Texas a few years ago and spends his time Podcasting instead of governing and Hawley, now proudly proclaiming to be a “Christian Nationalist,” (apparently like the ones backing Hitler back in the day) should even turn off some republicans. But, of course, they represent “red America,” so who knows.

My point is, Joe Biden needs a democratically controlled Congress to get ANYTHING done – keeping in mind, if Biden wins in November, nary a republican in today’s Congress will accept the results. They’re all on the “Trump train.” Once again, read Project 2025, to get an idea of what these people believe. Actually, I’m not sure they believe anything other than doing whatever it takes to remain in POWER.

Some of the hypocrisy of these republicans is startling. Of course, Ted Cruz watched Trump attack his wife and his father back in 2016 before bending over and licking Trump’s boots. Hawley had his now infamous raised fist salute to the January 6th INSURRECTIONISTS only to be video taped running for his life as they stormed the Capitol. The list is long. Now, Trump has chosen Ohio Senator – with almost NO governing experience JD Vance, who once called Trump “America’s Hitler,” called himself a “Never Trumper,” and said you’d be an “idiot” if you voted for him, as his Vice President candidate. Attention women: Not only is Vance opposed to abortion, he’s also opposed to ANY exceptions. (Maybe that’s why he now claims Trump was a “great president.” (my stomach is curdling)

Trump could have chosen “liddle” Marco Rubio who was kissing up to him as if his life depended on being the choice. Apparently, Rubio making fun of Trump’s “small hands” – just like Stormy Daniels – was a bridge too far for Trump – unforgivable. Tonight, Nikki Haley, who claimed she wouldn’t support Trump, was another of the many who “flip flopped” – again and again – gave a speech for him at the republican convention. Of course, I didn’t manage to watch the speech but I have to wonder if she mentioned her husband in the speech – the husband Trump suggested was overseas in the military to get away from her. Seriously, these people have no shame.

Mitch McConnell. Trump’s been blasting him for years – including making RACIST comments about McConnell’s wife. McConnell, who couldn’t draw the courage to vote to CONVICT Trump in IMPEACHMENT #2 right before he gave a blistering speech on the floor of the Senate saying, in effect, Trump was guilty, was seen recently attempting to lick Trump’s boots at a get together at, you guessed it, the same Capitol Trump instigated the attack 3 1/2 years ago. Talk about your profiles in courage. But, as usual, there’s always more. Despite all of Trump’s ridiculing him – AND being booed at the Convention – there’s McConnell looking for extra spittle to put on Trump’s boots. I have to wonder if some of these cowardly republicans are getting on their knees for Trump (and, not to pray for him, if you know what I mean). This just gets more and more disgusting by the day.

And, still, we continue to have democrats arguing over who their candidate should be. Joe Biden sometimes slurs his words. Sometimes he forgets a name and makes a mistake. He stutters. They’re just AFRAID “we the people” are unable to understand Biden is 81 and the MOST effective president since, likely, FDR. For some reason democrats have lost sight of the FACT the issue is Donald Trump and Project 2025. Arguing over who the nominee should be is wasted air!

Hopefully, I’ll be eating “crow.” A couple days ago now, Joe Biden announced he was removing himself from the presidential election of 2024 – a decision which SHOULD further cement his “legacy” as one of America’s greatest presidents. That is, of course, if I’m eating that “crow.” I had written earlier, if he dropped out the ONLY possible choice for a “successor” was Kamala Harris for a plethora of reasons. The money, which only she can “inherit,” the campaign infrastructure and the campaign staff, and the amount of time it would take to choose someone else not to mention the divisiveness inside the party should that be their plan. (And, with many, including, apparently, Barack Obama, that WAS the plan) True to democrats of the past, there were many calling for an “open convention.” A choice which, in my view, would have guaranteed a second Trump administration.

Praise the Lord! It only took less than 48 hours for Ms. Harris to accumulate enough pledged delegates to the democratic convention to guarantee her the nomination. In addition, it’s been reported in those (less than) 48 hours something like $250 MILLION was raised. (If you don’t understand it takes a lot of money to win a presidential election I’ve got a …………. well, you know the rest) We’ve lost a great mind in making government work, in prosecuting a foreign policy which holds the Western Alliance together, and a determination to keep Putin holed up in Russia without accomplishing his fever dream of recreating the Soviet Union – starting with Ukraine.

Ms. Harris has been by Biden’s side as he’s navigated a 50/50 Senate and a House (in his first two years) with a razor thin majority into the most consequential legislative successes, from my vantage point, in my lifetime. At this point, I’m feeling the KEY to whether or not she will win in November, will be her choice for V.P. I don’t pay much attention to the polling, but, at this point, I have no idea what the polls are “saying.” I just can’t imagine the American people voting in a convicted FELON, who attempted a coup d’etat after his first FAILED term in office – where more jobs were LOST than what were there when he started (I believe he set the record) and analysis of his COVID ineptitude suggesting something like HALF A MILLION Americans aren’t here because of his folly.

Trump (and his campaign) keep asking “Are you better off now than you were four years ago? Well, unless you’re one of the tech BILLIONAIRES whose wealth doubled, tripled, or more, that answer is likely NO! People were losing jobs in droves, at this point four years ago something like 2000 to 3000 Americans PER DAY were dying of COVID – a number which rose to 4000 PER DAY by the time Trump (reluctantly) left office on January 20, 2021. He left with the economy in near free fall and NO plan for how to get us out of the COVID mess he helped exacerbate. Now he’s up against a 59 year old former prosecutor and, I’m guessing, he’s trying to figure out how to worm his way out of the September debate. (Which he already agreed to)

I’ll say it again. I’ve NEVER wished more to be wrong about one of my predictions than the one where I predicted the democrats would lose if they abandoned Biden. It still remains to be seen, but the initial enthusiasm, at least with the campaign staff and the democratic leaders who pushed Biden out of the race seems to be high. As I’ve said here and other places, I would have voted for Biden if he was on his last breath. As a friend of mine once said, “I’d vote for a can of tomato soup before I’d vote for Trump.” The next three months will be interesting and historic. I’m still hopeful for one of the last things on my bucket list: To live long enough (I’ll soon be 77 and have cancer) to see Trump go to jail. For that to happen, Ms. Harris needs to win in November!

Final Thought: I’ve written ad nauseam about the SCOTUS Citizen’s United v FEC decision back in 2010 which unleashed the “dark money” flowing into elections causing the COST of gaining a seat in Congress or, more drastically, winning the “White House” to run into the BILLIONS. For “little old me” who throws in $25 here and there it’s not much different than before – when there were actually campaign finance laws attempting to curb the effect of BILLIONAIRES on our elections. Well, it just keeps getting worse.

In the 2024 election we’ve got Trump attempting to get OIL BILLIONAIRES to drop him a “cool billion” with the promise to reverse President Biden’s environmental decisions. And, now, the latest report I’ve read has Elon Musk (yes, the same Elon Musk who claimed he was staying out of this election) ponying up $45 MILLION per month for Trump’s campaign coffers. Of course, he has to give the money to a “PAC” – which is not connected to Trump’s campaign (wink, wink). Will Trump use the money to pay his legal bills? That question doesn’t seem to be in the news lately – or all of Trump’s LIES. Even democrats are working overtime for Trump, by knifing Joe Biden in the back. I’ll say it again, that’s why I’ve never been a democrat.

Yellow Journalism Exposed: The Unfair Targeting of Biden’s Flaws vs Trump’s Crimes!

So, to answer the question about why Trump is polling better than Biden regardless of the realities in the fact-based world: “It’s the media, stupid.”

Thom Hartmann

Jul 08, 2024

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Watching and reading American media, a certain bias becomes immediately evident: stories proliferate about pundits and a handful of Democrats calling for President Biden to drop out of the race, but they are almost never “balanced” by pointing out the massively larger number of Republicans (many now “former” or “never Trump” Republicans, but Republicans nonetheless) who are calling for Trump to drop out or be defeated.

Why would this be?

Why wouldn’t American media at least try to balance their coverage of two “flawed” candidates? After all, Trump has been disowned by the former head of his own party (Michael Steele), something like half of his own former cabinet officials (including his Defense and Intelligence officials), and even his own former vice president.

There is nothing like a movement or groundswell that size on the Democratic side; virtually all of the calls for Biden to step aside have come from the media and not one current or former administration official has gone on the record against Biden.

Shouldn’t the GOP calls for Trump to step aside, be replaced, or be defeated — from old-line conservative Republicans like Liz Cheney to mainstream Republicans like Michael Steele to organized Republican movements like the Lincoln Project — at least be mentioned every time a story is written or a report done on Biden’s struggle to hang onto his candidacy?

Shouldn’t Trump’s crimes and anti-American behavior be at least mentioned whenever Biden’s age is criticized?

Why aren’t they?

Given Trump’s obvious criminality; the GOP’s hostility to women and racial, gender, and religious minorities; his pathetic economic performance pre-covid and incompetent handling of the pandemic (causing America to have the second-highest per-capita death rate in the world behind Peru); and rambling rants about sharks and batteries, you’d think he’d be far behind in the polls regardless of Biden’s occasional senior moments or gaffes.

And yet, numerous national polls conducted by reputable organizations in the past few weeks consistently show Trump beating Biden in this fall’s matchup.

So, again, what’s going on here?

One proposed answer is that the media is putting their thumb on the scale because they’re largely run by billionaires and corporations eager for more tax cuts and afraid of Biden’s Bernie-like promise to make them “pay their fair share.”

A popular meme this past weekend that went viral on social media, for example, says:

“The media’s Anti-Biden noise isn’t an accident:
— CNN: CEO Trump donor
— ABC: CEO Trump donor
— CBS: CEO Trump donor
— NBC: CEO Trump donor
— MSNBC: CEO Trump donor
— Washington Post: owner anti-union billionaire Jeff Bezos
— Wall Street Journal: Owner: Rupert Murdoch
— New York Times: CEO Trump donor.”

While not entirely accurate (and overlooking the political leanings of the billionaires who own the social media sites where some studies suggest as many as a third of us get our news these days), and with the notorious exceptions of Fox, Sinclair, and X, most media reporting isn’t so simplistically driven from the top down.

But that doesn’t mean that one of the biggest problems facing Americans (and the fate and future of our democratic republic) isn’t media bias. It’s just a very different type of bias that most people who don’t work in the media never consider.

I’m not talking about a simple left/right bias, a political preference held by reporters or publishers and editors of the nation’s major media outlets.

While there’s a strong case to be made for billion-dollar corporations and multimillionaire media personalities having a preference for low taxes and deregulation, for example, the bias I’m referencing has to do with spectacle.

Generations ago, we condescendingly referred to newspapers that emphasized scandal and celebrity intrigue as “yellow journalism.” The phrase dates back to the 1890s when William Randolph Hearst bought, in 1895, the Journal, a New York newspaper that he used to successfully compete with Joseph Pulitizer’s then-dominant and rather staid New York World.

Hearst hired away from Pulitzer’s papers a number of famous writers along with Richard Outcault, then the nation’s most famous cartoonist, who penned the wildly popular series called The Yellow Kid. Between Outcault’s draw and Hearst’s emphasis on celebrity and sensationalism, from the 1890s until the WWII era, “yellow (kid) journalism” dominated the American media scene.

It took two world wars to push public demand for real news and serious reporting — and an emphasis on fact-based reporting and substance over flash — back into media dominance. They birthed what became the era of Walter Cronkite and Kathryn Graham, with honest, credible reporting on everything from Nixon’s Watergate crimes to the horrors of the Kennedy assassination and the Vietnam War.

Cronkite competed with Huntley and Brinkley based on the quality of their reporting and the credibility of their sources, as did the nation’s major and even regional newspapers and radio news networks.

Television and radio networks lost money on their news operations, but it was a price they were happy to pay to maintain their otherwise very profitable broadcast licenses.

But then something changed.

I trace the modern era of yellow journalism to the 1990s, when the nation was transfixed by Ken Starr’s (and his right-hand-man Brett Kavanaugh’s) relentless and pornographic 4-year-long pursuit of Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky.

After Reagan ended enforcement of the Fairness Doctrine in 1987, radio and TV stations were no longer burdened by the requirement to “program in the public interest” to maintain their broadcast licenses; within a year (1988) all three major TV networks had moved their news divisions — which had universally been losing money in the competition for “real news” — under the arm of their entertainment divisions, where they remain to this day and have become significant profit centers.

Thus was birthed the modern era of yellow journalism/infotainment, replacing classic issue-based journalism.

Rush Limbaugh’s 1988 national syndication and Rupert Murdoch’s 1996 Fox “News” set the tone for this era’s new yellow journalism, frontloading — as did Hearst back in the day — personality, celebrity, and scandal over the boring details of policy, debate, and the consequences of congressional and presidential decisions.

The “yellow” of this era’s “yellow journalism” more accurately means “profitable,” now that nobody remembers that cartoon of the 1890s. And, unlike the 1890s when there were still papers engaging in serious journalism, today’s yellow journalism is ubiquitous across the media consumed by the majority of Americans.

As a consequence, a Wall Street Journal poll found that 52% of voters claim that Trump “has a strong record of accomplishments” but only 40% say the same for Biden.

And now the researchers are weighing in, showing how 21st century yellow journalism has altered our political landscape and led to the rise of the ultimate scandal/celebrity/personality/profit spectacle: Donald Trump and his fascist cult followers.

The Columbia Journalism Review, the premiere watchdog of American news reporting, last year published a scathing indictment of pre-election political coverage in The New York Times and The Washington Post. Nothing has changed in the months since then; if anything, this profit-driven “yellow journalism” has gotten worse.

Because these two newspapers are so widely read and respected, they tend to set the agenda and tone for most other reporting in the United States, and what the Review found leading up to the 2022 midterm election was shocking:

“Both emphasized the horse race and campaign palace intrigue, stories that functioned more to entertain readers than to educate them on essential differences between political parties. …

“By the numbers, of four hundred and eight articles on the front page of the Times during the period we analyzed, about half—two hundred nineteen—were about domestic politics. A generous interpretation found that just ten of those stories explained domestic public policy in any detail; only one front-page article in the lead-up to the midterms really leaned into discussion about a policy matter in Congress: Republican efforts to shrink Social Security.

“Of three hundred and ninety-three front-page articles in the Post, two hundred fifteen were about domestic politics; our research found only four stories that discussed any form of policy. The Post had no front-page stories in the months ahead of the midterms on policies that candidates aimed to bring to the fore or legislation they intended to pursue. Instead, articles speculated about candidates and discussed where voter bases were leaning.”

This is the exact same type of yellow journalism “reporting” that preceded the 2016 election and brought us Donald Trump as president, and is a clear echo of the days of Hearst’s New York Journal.

But it’s not just selective reporting of the news of the day with a heavy tilt toward the GOP (or, more correctly, a steady refusal to report on the accomplishments of Biden and Democrats).

Another factor that Hearst played on heavily — and has come to dominate what passes today for journalism — is the media’s intentional “inversion of expectation.” It’s the other side of the coin of spectacle.

As any comedian can tell you, an involuntary laugh response comes when a person thinks they know what’s coming next and is then, instead, surprised by the unexpected.

“I just flew in from New York,” Red Skelton used to famously say, deadpan. “Boy, are my arms tired!”

In his 1941 book American Journalism. A History of Newspapers in the United States through 250 Years, 1690 to 1940, Frank Luther Mott famously noted the hallmark of Hearst’s yellow journalism era:

“When a dog bites a man, that is not news, because it happens so often. But if a man bites a dog, that is news.”

In today’s yellow journalism era, reporters are similarly far more interested in “man bites dog” stories than in examining the factors and history that may have provoked that bite, or even covering in any detail the frequency of bites of any kind.

In this regard, we’re watching a repeat of the way our national news media helped Trump into the White House in 2016.

The irrefutable example comes from an in-depth analysis of 2016 done by Media Matters comparing Hillary Clinton’s private comment about Trump’s followers being “a basket of deplorables” and Trump’s very public 2016 proclamation, literally echoing Hitler, that some of us are “vermin” who he intended to “root out” and eliminate from American society.

Clinton is a reasonable and thoughtful politician and former diplomat, so her “deplorables” comment was seen by our yellow press as “man bites dog.” It was unexpected.

Trump, on the other hand, is a sadistic fascist whose call for the extermination of his political opponents could reasonably be expected: “dog bites man.”

The 2016 data proves the thesis, as Media Matters noted:

“Media Matters reviewed the nationally syndicated broadcast news shows – ABC’s Good Morning America, World News Tonight, and This Week; CBS’ This Morning, Mornings, Evening News, and Face the Nation; and NBC’s Today, Nightly News, and Meet the Press – in the first week after each remark.

“We found that those programs aired 54 minutes of coverage of Clinton’s “deplorables” comment but just 3 minutes regarding Trump’s “vermin” remark.

“ABC News aired 20 minutes of ‘deplorables’ coverage across 13 segments and 3 teasers, but devoted only a single minute of coverage to the ‘vermin’ comment, during an interview with the network’s chief Washington correspondent, Jonathan Karl, about his new book.

“CBS News provided 13 minutes of ‘deplorables’ coverage across 11 segments and 3 teasers, compared to 1 passing mention of the ‘vermin’ remark on Face the Nation that comprised less than 30 seconds.

“And NBC News spent 21 minutes of airtime on the ‘deplorables’ comment across 11 segments, compared to 2 minutes on ‘vermin’ — one a passing mention, the other an interview in which Meet the Press moderator Kristen Welker read the comment to Republican National Committee Chair Ronna McDaniel and asked her, ‘Are you comfortable with this language coming from the GOP front-runner?’ (McDaniel declined to comment.)”

Cable news (CNN, Fox “News,” and MSNBC) wasn’t much different:

“On CNN, there were 553 mentions of ‘deplorable’ compared to 70 for ‘vermin.’

“On Fox News, there were 513 mentions of ‘deplorable’ compared to only 9 of ‘vermin.’

“And on MSNBC, there were 596 mentions of ‘deplorables’ compared to only 112 of ‘vermin.’”

The reporters at Media Matters then turned their attention to the nation’s five largest newspapers by circulation: “the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, USA Today, The Wall Street Journal, and The Washington Post — in the first week following each remark.”

Here, they found the pattern repeated.

The LA Times published 3 articles about Clintons “deplorables” comment, two on the front page. Not one single article during the week after Trump mentioned “vermin” even referenced his remark.

The New York Times had seven articles about Clinton’s comment, four on the front page; like the LA Times, there wasn’t a single news story mention of Trump’s ‘vermin’ comment during that time period.

The Wall Street Journal similarly ignored Trump’s comment altogether, but ran 8 articles about Clinton’s faux pax, four of them on the front page.

The Washington Post at least mentioned Trump’s comment once, on page A2 (including it in the headline), but gave Clinton’s remark 9 stories, one on the front page, with five using the word “deplorables” in the headline.

USA Today covered Clinton’s comment in 2 news articles but, like three of the other four papers completely ignored Trump’s.

And now they are repeating that pattern virtually step-by-profitable-step.

So, to answer the question about why Trump is polling better than Biden regardless of the realities in the fact-based world: “It’s the media, stupid.”

It’s an echo of CBS’s Les Moonves telling Donald Trump to keep it up in 2016 because Trump’s hate and bizarre lies were making so much money for the TV network:

“Man, who would have expected the ride we’re all having right now? … The money’s rolling in and this is fun. … I’ve never seen anything like this, and this going to be a very good year for us. Sorry. It’s a terrible thing to say. But, bring it on, Donald. Keep going.”

In the wake of Reagan ending enforcement of the Fairness Doctrine and later the Equal Time Rule, to see this issue-free spectacle-style coverage passing as news on the front pages of our nation’s largest newspapers is, frankly, a crime against our democracy.

For voters to make intelligent decisions about candidates, they must be well-informed.

Sadly, that is very much not what is happening today in America, and our era’s profit-driven yellow journalism, no longer required to “program in the public interest,” bodes ill for this fall’s election.

The best corrective, and the best chance to save our Republic, is for all of us to speak out loudly when we see this kind of modern-day yellow journalism practiced.

As we saw last week when The New York Times featured an editorial calling for its heavily Democratic readers not to vote and then altered the headline in response to public outrage, our pressure can alter media behavior.

It’s time to raise some hell!

I read news feeds from several sources and the response of the democrats, as I wrote recently, to Joe Biden’s debate performance just reminds me, it seems, every day of why I’ve never joined the democratic party. On first glance it’s outrageous, but then my mind settles in on it’s STUPID. For some reason there are a bunch of democrats who believe now is the time to replace Joe Biden on the democratic ticket. It’s like “what have you done for me lately?” It’s ALMOST as if these democrats WANT to live through another Trump administration. Obviously, they haven’t read “Project 2025” or listened to the “brass” at the Heritage Foundation crowing about how the SCOTUS has turned hard right and given Trump all the POWER he’ll need to upend our republic.

To me, the focus SHOULD be on the Court and the potential ramifications of them giving the president “absolute immunity” (I’m going to gag) for virtually any actions he/she takes during their term in office. The best example given in the majority opinion was that Trump was “immune” from criminal prosecution for his conversations with members of DOJ as he was CRIMINALLY (my characterization) attempting to foment a coup d’etat. (Could Biden now order his AG to arrest and jail Trump? Could he end the Electoral College so presidents are chosen by a majority of the people? Just wondering)

Here’s what SHOULD happen. Democrats SHOULD get their sh*t together, line up behind Biden/Harris and start campaigning as if their/our lives depend on it. Just the Courts decisions in the last week. let alone in the last two (+) years, should get their/our attention. Of course, the obvious one (since Dobbs) was the granting to Trump of his preposterous claim he was, as president, “above the law.” Not only did they grant Trump his fever dream, but they took EVERY possible day to get their decision out, I don’t know, maybe overshadowed by Biden’s debate performance. And, OBTW, to me, Trump’s debate performance was, on substance, the WORST I’ve ever seen. He did manage to limit the outright LIES to around 50 in the 90 minutes.

Why on earth is all of this not motivating democrats to get behind Biden. I’ve read several suggestions Biden should step aside for Kamala Harris. STUPID! She’s his VP and, should he be unable, for any reason, to perform the duties of his office, she would step in. In fact, I’m guessing that’s the obvious scenario which will play out. But, there’s not enough time for anyone else to set up a campaign with any chance to beat Trump. And, to all the naysayers who think Trump has this election in the bag, democrats have an excellent to awesome record of achievement over the previous 3 1/2 years, there’s the issue of abortion (and, trust me, read “Project 2025” if you actually believe there won’t be a national ban on abortion with a Trump victory) along with many others.

Project 2025 isn’t a suggestive document which is 900 pages long, in the short amount of pages I’ve been able to transverse, it’s a roadmap to “deconstructing the administrative state” and “conservative presidents” will be expected to “do as told.” (Once again, my characterization) Trump won’t read a page of it, but he’ll be surrounded by those who wrote it and he’ll be expected to do as told. All he cares about is the POWER and the LIMELIGHT. (Plus staying out of jail) The U.S. will have been, in effect, undermined from within as Hitler failed to do back in the 1930’s. Hyperbole? Check out “Nazi Town” on YouTube (by PBS, which, by the way, “Project 2025” is planning to get rid of – you know, “lights out.” (Click HERE to access the video – might be behind a paywall – I give PBS $5 per month)

We ALL have a major decision to make by November’s election. Do we care enough for our democratic republic to defend it against this right wing fascist assault. This isn’t just happening here, but if “we the people” are unwilling to defend our nation from fascism then democracies across Europe are likely to start falling. Steve Bannon just got thrown in prison, but he’s got his fingertips all over this right win sludge – not only in America – but in Europe as well. His “Cambridge Analytica” was a key proponent in the Brexit breakup of the EU, the first Trump calamity in America, and, likely what’s going on in France as I’m writing this. (Despite the fact Cambridge Analytica got exposed and shuttered – although Bannon has all the stolen data)

While we MUST keep our focus on what’s happening here, understanding there’s a global cabal (and V. Putin is right in the middle of it) is important. Ukraine’s fight to save their democracy is on the line in our election. by extension, so is the future of the countries like Poland, Slovakia, Moldova, Hungary, and others which Putin has his sights set on. And, do you really believe Trump is going to keep the U.S. as the leader of NATO? If “we the people” are STUPID enough to elect Trump 2.0 the world will be turned upside down and we’ll deserve what we get. And, when all is said and done we’ll be responsible) As it stands, there’s “more of us that there are of them” but they are doing a great job of dividing the democrats into a sniveling group of losers. And, I have to add, our “liberal media” is playing their part in all of this. Before you notice MSNBC will be showing Trump’s speeches once again, not for our benefit but for their’s hoping Trump will go easy on them as he participates in the dismantling of the foundation of our republic.

Look, “we the people” have less than a month to get our sh*t together and get this campaign focused on what’s important. It’s important for ALL of us, just in different ways. For us old people (I was going to write farts) we need to stop Trump for the sake of our children and grandchildren (if you’re fortunate enough to have any) – maybe I should just say, for those who will come after us. The ultimate consequence of ignoring the Climate Crisis, for example, won’t happen until we are long gone, (Although, brace yourself for this year’s hurricane season) The damage Trump will cause to the economy won’t affect us nearly as much as the young people of our nation (in whose futures Biden/Harris are focused on investing), And, we’re all too old to be affected by what likely will be a complete ban on abortions not to mention a president who can violate the same laws he/she is expected to ensure are faithfully executed with impunity.

This right wing coup has been brewing for over half a century. I’ve written many times how I believe it started with Lewis Powell’s “memo” to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce back in 1971 – although it had been “brewing” since the days of the New Deal. Remember, a key component of fascism is a “corporate/government” partnership of which the Powell “memo” ushered in. Remember, Lewis Powell became a Justice of the SCOTUS within a year of writing this “memo” – placed there by Richard Nixon – who, I believe, in his wildest dreams couldn’t envision what’s going on in the U.S. right now. Reagan put the Powell “recipe” into effect on steroids. Republicans have been chipping away at our “free market” system ever since, all while claiming it’s the democrats. Pure projection!

Let me skip to the “young Americans” who I believe will determine who wins/loses in November. I’ll simply list some of the issues which SHOULD matter to them. Let’s start with the Climate Crisis – Biden is attempting to do something about it, Trump thinks it’s a “hoax.” Enough said. Abortion? Well, as it stands in about half of America’s 50 states getting pregnant is a life threatening condition. I’m not a “pro abortion” person other than I believe it’s up to every woman and her doctors to decide what’s best for her. I can’t imagine having a miscarriage and being denied care because the procedure is, in essence, an abortion – but, that’s the circumstances of women all across our nation. That issue SHOULD mobilize people much more than a poor debate performance.

Education? For starters Trump (via “Project 2025”) wants to eliminate the education department in America. If you’re a white, affluent (OK, I should have just said “affluent”) family in America, maybe this is OK. The damage of ending the education department is hard for me, a retired teacher, to stomach. But, that should really get the attention of young Americans. And, to further get your attention, there are already states REQUIRING the “Ten Commandments” be placed on the walls of EVERY school classroom. Those doing this are tempting the SCOTUS to give their approval, and what do you think the result will be? Do you think Trump will object or have his AG defend our freedom of (or from) religion? The ramifications of ending the education department are too numerous to mention here – but, none of it will affect us old (people).

What about your Voting Rights? You’ve already got legions of right wing republicans working to PREVENT various groups of voters who tend to vote for democrats from being able to participate in this November’s election. For example, they’re working to prevent college students from being able to vote. I’m not sure of the details, but I’m far removed from being a college student and the only way it will affect me is if the scheme works to get Trump elected. How about Gaza? While Bibi Netanyahu continues his assault on the Palestinian people there will be young people blaming Joe Biden because we/he supports Israel. Before you let what’s going on in Gaza to cause you to either not vote for Biden or vote for a third party or worse yet, vote for Trump – just consider what Trump’s position is. He’s a Netanyahu fan. They’re like two peas out of the same pod. Netanyahu was involved in the conspiracy to elect Trump in the first place, and he’s facing similar CORRUPTION charges – do you really believe Trump will be better than Biden?

What about Civil Rights? If you believe that all Americans deserve the same rights, well check out some of the underlying “hints” coming from the SCOTUS. They, according to several court watchers, have their sights set on LGBTQ rights, marriage equality, and, of course “Project 2025” is firmly entrenched in the white nationalist, Christian nationalist movement in America, so, if you’re NOT “white” why on earth would you consider doing anything which might put Trump back in office. He’s no longer being covert about his racism. Do you think Trump, and Stephen Miller, and the rest of them are kidding about rounding up “illegals” (whatever that means anymore) and putting them into what amount to concentration camps prior to deporting them? Well, after the election it will be too late to find out if Trump (cheats to) “win.”

I could go on (and on and….) but here’s the solution to all of this. First, there’s no time to put up another candidate beside Biden (for all you fine weather democrats) so it’s time to mobilize like never before. Just the decision of the Supreme Court and the likelihood Trump would place even more YOUNG judges on the court SHOULD get your attention. The courts are already COMPROMISED but the situation will get far worse if democrats continue arguing amongst themselves. (although, sadly, that’s typical – republicans are chuckling under their breath) To me, if we just limited the issues to ABORTION rights, the SCOTUS and their assault on our constitution, Ukraine, and the Climate Crisis – there SHOULD be enough Americans who don’t want the “Project 2025” solution to these issues to turn back Trump’s attempt to finalize his coup.

Final Thought: I honestly can’t believe there are enough Americans who can’t remember Trump 1.0, the attempted coup d’etat, the stealing of our nation’s top secrets and potentially giving them out/selling them to our adversaries, his being found liable for sexual assault (with about 25 more cases not adjudicated), his business found guilty of business and tax FRAUD, he (and his sons) found liable for a 450 MILLION judgement for the same, and being found GUILTY of paying off a couple women prior to the 2016 election in order to affect the outcome – and, then, hiding the campaign finance violation by hiding the payments in his “two ledger” system of accounting for his business. (Just like an organized criminal)

But, the reality is if we who DO remember Trump 1.0 and all that has transpired over the past 4 years and then get our “panties in a bunch” over a bad debate performance by Joe Biden – forgetting about his historical first term, the strong economy, the steady reporting of strong jobs data, the help with medical expenses, the infrastructure bill (and now, projects going into affect), the Chips and Science Act – bringing computer chip production back into America’s manufacturing base – the help for our veterans, and on and on (including reducing the issue of inflation) well, we deserve what we get. Many democrats are acting like scared jackrabbits – almost as if by tradition. I even read of some democrat in Maine suggesting (this is a rep to the U.S. House) another Trump administration will be just fine – our guardrails held before, they’ll do it again. Apparently, he hasn’t read “Project 2025.” (Read it HERE)

One more thing: The democratic circular firing squad is officially in high gear. These people are STUPID. There’s no time to choose a different candidate and the VOTERS chose Biden, overwhelmingly. The democrats, with an incredible BOOST from the MSM, are attempting to grab DEFEAT out of the jaws of VICTORY. What needs to happen is ALL of the people who don’t like Trump get behind Biden/Harris. If something happens to Biden where he can’t perform the duties of president then it will fall to Kamala Harris. Very simple! Let’s get on with it and stop doing the republicans work for them!

This past week has shown why I’ve never joined the democratic party. While driving around I listened to MOST of the first part of the debate between Joe Biden and our TWICE IMPEACHED so-called four times indicted 2 times popular vote LOSING (ex) president (Donald Trump) and I managed to catch the last twenty minutes, or so, on the TV. Two things were apparent to me: FIRST – Trump didn’t actually answer a single question. He BLOVIATED and LIED his way through the entire “debate.” Second: President Biden got off to a rough start and struggled to figure out how to deal with someone who, when his lips were moving, was LYING.

So, to no surprise from my standpoint, the pundits (I was watching on MSNBC) were in panic mode believing Biden had terribly lost the “debate.” Not ONE of the people I listened to (or watched) said virtually anything other than Biden should drop out of the election. This is TYPICAL democratic response to a situation which was, admittedly, less than ideal. BUT – the reality is the person President Biden was “debating” is a known pathological LIAR, a convicted FELON, facing an additional 54 FELONY charges which, with the help of HIS SCOTUS, he’s trying to worm his way out from. Not a SINGLE pundit put the onus on Trump for LYING for the entire 90 minutes – as if, that’s their measuring “stick” for the so-called “winner.”

Then, to top it off, out comes the New York Times calling on Biden to step aside – for who? That would be a good question now, wouldn’t it? If the democrats had a better candidate than Biden, it seems to me, that person would have participated in the primaries and been chosen by “we the people.” But, the truth is, the democrats DON’T have a better candidate than Biden and even if they did it would be impossible for that person to actually put together a campaign which had any chance.

I long ago quit the NY Times – the paper is accused of being “liberal” but for the couple of years I subscribed to it I saw little evidence that was true. And, suggesting to President Biden he should “put his tail between his legs” and quit the race, well NOTHING could be more stupid. Are they actually trying to help Trump back into the “White House.” I honestly can’t figure out why they would want that. And, the pundits? OMG they were unbelievable. What a bunch of wimps. It’s made me NOT want to tune into MSNBC because I got the impression they (there were several of their “hosts” in panic mode) were putting their individual “visceral” reactions out to MILLIONS without thinking what the hell they were doing.

To me, so what if it wasn’t “State of the Union” Biden? The other guy is a pathological LIAR and he was in top form. Virtually EVERYTHING coming out of his mouth was NOT true – fabricated in most instances. Why wouldn’t that be considered a devastating performance? Because he was aggressively spewing falsehoods and racist garbage we look the other way? I haven’t heard ONE MSNBC host suggesting Trump should get out of the race because of his LYING, racist rants, fascist innuendo. AND soon to be sentencing for 34 FELONY counts, re: stealing the 2016 election. Come to think of it, I don’t believe the NY Times has called on Trump to quit either. In fact – I get their headlines still in my email inbox – it appears to me the NY Times is actually pro Trump. Yikes!!!

Here’s the reason I’m going to vote for Joe Biden, no matter what the pundits on MSNBC and CNN, or papers like the Times say (I think other papers had the same editorial manure as the Times). The Biden administration passed the COVID rescue bill early on which saved several families I know (with children) from being homeless. They ACTUALLY got a bipartisan INFRASTRUCTURE bill passed which is putting people to work all across this land fixing stuff that needs fixing (Roads, Bridges, pipes with lead, etc.) plus pushing broadband access into rural areas, they passed the Chips and Science Act which is causing the manufacture of computer chips to be done here in America, they passed the so-called “Inflation Reduction Act” which included the MOST significant Climate legislation yet, they got legislation passed for Veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits, and that’s just what I can remember off the top of my head.

The bottom line is Joe Biden KNOWS how the government works and he’s able to accomplish things that others (like Trump) have no idea what to do. Everyone, by now, knows the joke about Trump’s continuous “infrastructure week.” Never got done. President Biden got it done in his first two years in office. President Biden is TRYING (he needs Congress to do it right) to get a student loan forgiveness program through to help students who’ve been paying on their debt for years only to have the balances increasing. Typical bank skulduggery – and, of course, republicans oppose it.

Even to suggest President Biden doesn’t have the “stamina” to do this job you’d have to been having your head in the sand lately. He’s been flying back and forth across the Atlantic for different activities some ceremonial (like actually going to Ainse-Marne cemetery just outside of Paris where Trump said the “suckers and losers” are buried) and some official, like the G-7 Summit in Italy. Despite the BOLD FACED LIE coming from Trump that America is not respected around the world, well unless you’re focused on Russia, Iran, North Korea, and maybe China, Trump’s claim falls into the “poppycock” category. Nonsense! Yet, virtually everyone watching the “debate” let Trump get away with this.

And, CNN? I don’t watch/listen to CNN, but they were the ones putting on this debate. Their moderators were AWFUL. Now, maybe they were helpless to call out the lies based on the “rules” of the debate. But, they COULD have insisted Trump answer their questions. Here’s one I remember. Trump was asked how he would deal with the Climate Crisis (which is getting worse, year after year). He responded by blathering out about the “border” and the longer they let him go the more fanciful his response became. The number of “illegal aliens” continued to grow – seemingly exponentially – while the accusations of all the “murderers, rapists (remember Trump falls into that category while MOST immigrants DON’T), people from prisons, insane asylums, and terrorists is just MORE of Trump’s LYING. (Yes, Biden SHOULD have been prepared for this barrage of nonsense – but, as I remember it he simply said, “Everything he just said is a Lie.”

And, the issue of a CONVICTED FELON running to be president took up something like five minutes of the “debate.” Yes, I would like to have seen President Biden mention it more, but the part which caught my eye was Trump, in true mob boss form, attempted to turn the tables on the President by throwing accusations at him and suggesting Hunter Biden’s conviction for apparently lying about his drug use when he purchased a gun (think of ALL the cases which could be brought on that charge) was a more serious charge than him (Trump) LYING to (ie CHEAT) win the 2016 election. Hunter’s issue affected no one else – Trump’s something like 150 MILLION voters. And, Trump accusing Biden of being a criminal is classic (Nazi like) projection – “accuse your opponent of that which you’re guilty.”

For me, as I stated above, this “panic” by the so-called “liberal” pundits pretty much says it all. it’s the reason I’ll never join the democratic party. The democrats did this to Obama back in the 2012 election – unwilling to defend the Affordable Care Act – and, thus. LOSING control of Congress. Democrats allowed republicans to denigrate Hillary Clinton to the point where MANY either voted third party or didn’t vote – or, in some cases may have actually voted for Trump. And, now they’re complaining about the SCOTUS while attacking President Biden who’s put the most diverse judges on the various benches EVER. Once again, democrats seem to be running from their own accomplishments. The GREATEST one was keeping Trump out of office in 2021. And, they’re facing the same challenge today and, well, they’d better figure out soon the winner of the 2024 election will be either Biden or Trump. Full Stop!

Trump has sucked 40% of America into his CULT. Democrats don’t need to help him enlarge that number. And, trust me, Trump’s numbers will not (ever) go up. The plan of the republicans has been, since the INSURRECTION, to bring the number of democratic voters down. That’s why Trump’s largest donor (Timothy Mellon) is also RFK Jr.’s largest donor. (One of RFK Jr.’s spokespersons flatly said, “we want to make sure Joe Biden loses”) That’s the reason behind all the voter suppression legislation and the intimidation of poll workers. That’s why Trump is, once again, making his “mob like suggestions” about whether or not he’ll accept the results of the 2024 election. I can guarantee you, the ONLY way he accepts them is if he can somehow CHEAT his way back into the “White House.”

Final Thought: It’s just as important that democrats focus on giving President Biden a Congress which will allow critical legislation to get passed – and be somewhat of a “check” on the SCOTUS. There is much President Biden was unable to accomplish because republicans were able to block important legislation. For all those out there who are not “in tune” with how the government works, Biden is limited to what he can get through Congress and, while he managed some historic “bipartisan” legislation in his first two years, republicans ALWAYS crawl back to their ugly space at the slightest suggestion from the fuhrer.

Just think about all the republicans who’ve told the truth about Trump only to come grovelling back because they fear his nasty “tweets.” (Or whatever form the latest nasty-gram comes in) Trump has insulted Ted Cruz’s wife and father – you’d never know it (he even helped with the coup). Trump insulted Marco Rubio – ruthlessly – you’d never know it. Trump has insulted Mitch McConnell and made racist comments about his wife – you’d never know it. And, on and on. Lindsey Graham, Nikki Haley, one after another, they ALL come crawling back. Is it disgusting or embarrassing or shameful, or all of the above? You decide. It’s certainly not a good look!