The assault on America's free press is chilling, and I've been wondering when it would take a dangerous turn. I literally fear for the safety of journalists. 60 Minutes's reporting on the Trump administration's (criminal) constitutional overreach has been excellent and incredibly fair. I was happy to see that it continued last night with the alarming story of the catastrophic cuts to the NIH. We cannot stand for this assault on our institutions! WHY are there not a mere handful of GOP senators and representatives that are willing to put the fate of our democracy ahead of personal ambition??
The TRUTH is not "improper ideology" in a democratic society! So grateful for Substack.
For decades, Americans believed our greatest threats would come from abroad — from hostile nations, terrorist attacks, or economic collapse.
But today, it’s clear the real threat was homegrown: Fox News — a 24-hour propaganda machine that has done more damage to American democracy than any external enemy ever could.
Fox News was never a legitimate news organization. From the beginning, it functioned as a political infomercial, selling lies, hatred, and division under the fraudulent guise of “news.”
It operates not as journalism, but as a propaganda organ, dedicated to manipulating public opinion to serve authoritarian, plutocratic interests.
Even President Obama, cautious and diplomatic by nature, acknowledged Fox News as “destructive” to the country, comparing it to yellow journalism — a system not designed to inform but to inflame.
And yet — tragically — nothing was done.
No regulation.
No real public warning.
No executive action.
This was the original sin.
Had Obama treated Fox News as the domestic enemy it is — using the executive powers he absolutely had to regulate or even close down mass disinformation networks — we would not be living in this nightmare.
Instead, by failing to act, Obama allowed the cancer to spread:
Fox fueled the rise of Donald Trump.
Fox fueled election denialism, racism, COVID lies, climate denial, and political violence.
Fox created the environment where networks like Breitbart, OANN, and Newsmax could flourish.
Without Fox News, Donald Trump would never have become president.
Without Fox News, January 6th would never have happened.
Fox News is 90% responsible for the collapse of American political sanity.
And the responsibility for allowing it to metastasize without intervention lies squarely at the feet of leaders who refused to confront it early — especially President Obama.
The Constitution demands protection from enemies foreign and domestic.
Fox News is a domestic enemy of staggering proportions, more dangerous to the Republic than any external threat in modern history.
Had I been president, Fox News would have been shut down immediately — not for content censorship, but for systematic, provable, malicious lying that endangers national security and public health.
📺 The Cowardice of the Press
Recently, Bill Owens, the executive producer of 60 Minutes, resigned — citing political and corporate pressures from Paramount executives who may seek to manipulate the program's content in the Trump era.
While it's commendable that Owens chose to resign rather than bend to pressure, the reality is 60 Minutes and other mainstream outlets failed us too.
Had 60 Minutes used its vast reach 15 or 20 years ago to launch an all-out factual assault on Fox News — exposing its endless propaganda, its lies, its manipulation — Fox could have been delegitimized early.
The mainstream media's cowardice, their refusal to call Fox what it truly was — not "biased," but a domestic information terrorist network — enabled the monster to grow.
Today, we are paying the price.
📚 Best Books on Misinformation, Propaganda, and How to Spot Lies
"Manufacturing Consent" by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
"The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread" by Cailin O’Connor and James Owen Weatherall
"Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics" by Yochai Benkler, Robert Faris, and Hal Roberts
"Post-Truth" by Lee McIntyre
"Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World" by Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West
"Propaganda" by Edward Bernays
"Republic of Lies" by Anna Merlan
"Weaponized Lies: How to Think Critically in the Post-Truth Era" by Daniel J. Levitin
"The Death of Expertise" by Tom Nichols
"How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them" by Jason Stanley
"Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies" by Donald A. Barclay
"Why Trust Science?" by Naomi Oreskes
"A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy" by Nancy L. Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead
"How to Read a Book" by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren
"Disinformation: Former Spy Chief Reveals Secret Strategies for Undermining Freedom" by Ion Mihai Pacepa
🌐 Top Websites to Fact-Check and Detect Disinformation
Faux news sued in 2004 to not have to tell the truth! They take Excerpts from news articles and do not have to show the full comment, etc. Thereby misleading their audience. They won their lawsuit and weren't ever challenged again to my knowledge
Let’s speak plainly: this is no longer a government—it’s a cult. The individual at its center is not a leader, but a sociopathic, pathological liar who refuses to submit to law, truth, or moral conscience. This has been confirmed not just by political analysts, but by psychiatric professionals, historians, and scholars around the world.
We are not dealing with normal political conflict. We are dealing with mass delusion, militarized disinformation, and the complete erosion of democratic norms. Fox News, Newsmax, and OANN operate as propaganda machines—not news outlets—reinforcing the cult’s narrative and poisoning public understanding.
Every attempt to use institutional tools—letters, protests, legal appeals—has failed. The system has proven incapable of defending itself from this internal threat. Courts are ignored. Congressional oversight is mocked. Truth is drowned out by volume, repetition, and fear.
Let’s be honest about where we are: Without removing the cult leader and shutting down the propaganda, nothing else will work. You cannot deprogram the public while the infection source is still active. You cannot reason with people who have been taught to treat reason as the enemy.
So what remains? If lawful institutions are corrupted or paralyzed, and if information warfare continues unchecked, then yes—force becomes the last logical tool. Not because it is desirable, but because every peaceful method has been exhausted. As in any civil breakdown, when tyrants seize power and refuse to relinquish it, history teaches us what follows.
This is not a call for chaos. It’s a demand for clarity. We are not fighting over politics anymore. We are fighting over reality itself.
Until the head is severed—until the lies stop—there can be no healing, no order, and no democracy.
Fact check: Debunking 100 Trump false claims from his first 100 days
Daniel Dale, CNN
Tue, April 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM PDT
33 min read
393
US President Donald Trump speaks to the press as he signs an executive order to create a US sovereign wealth fund, in the Oval Office of the White House on February 3, 2025, in Washington, DC. - Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump filled his first 100 days back in office with the same relentless lying and inaccuracy that was a hallmark of his first presidency and his 2016 and 2024 presidential campaigns.
Some of Trump’s 2025 false claims were about consequential policy matters, others about trivial personal fixations. Some were sophisticated distortions about obscure subjects, others obvious fictions about issues average Americans experience in their daily lives. Many were ad-libbed or posted on social media, but many were scripted into prepared remarks.
Aside from the staggering frequency and the trademark brazenness, what stood out was how repetitive Trump’s lying was. Though he regularly sprinkled in some fresh deception, he deployed a core batch of favored falsehoods again and again – undeterred by the fact that many of these claims had been publicly debunked for months or even years.
Here is a list of 100 separate false claims from Trump since his inauguration on January 20, fact-checked concisely with hyperlinks to more information. This is not a comprehensive list of the president’s false claims during this period (there were well over 100 in all) or a count of how many total times he was inaccurate (he uttered many of these 100 claims over and over again).
I don't know why people vote for a pathological liar it's just beyond me and this has been shown beyond the billion times it's just I cannot have this no matter how brainwashed they may be bizarre
You may not accept this Michael but I have 4 siblings that are , well 2 are very educated but just vote for Republicans because Dems help everyone including the poor, migrants, etc. Believe me I just have literally had it to find out that they must just be racist, and it really hurts me. They've voted for Republican Always
To oppose this bill, consider the following steps:
Contact Your Representative: Call or email your House representative to express your concerns about the bill's provisions, especially those affecting healthcare, education, and environmental programs.
Engage with Senators: Reach out to your state's senators to voice your opposition, as the bill will require Senate approval after passing the House.
Participate in Public Forums: Attend town halls or public meetings to discuss the bill's impact and encourage others to take action.
Spread Awareness: Use social media and community networks to inform others about the bill's contents and potential consequences.
Support Advocacy Groups: Collaborate with organizations working to protect healthcare, education, and environmental funding to amplify your efforts.
By taking these steps, you can contribute to the collective effort to oppose the bill and advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of all citizens.
RE: Urgent Action Needed to Stop Unconstitutional ICE Raids in California
Dear Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta,
I am writing as a concerned resident of California to urge you to take immediate and decisive action against the continued presence and operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting warrantless raids in our communities. These actions violate the constitutional rights of individuals, particularly the Fourth Amendment, and are contributing to a climate of fear, trauma, and legal abuse across the state.
ICE’s consistent use of administrative warrants, which are not signed by a judge, to enter homes, detain individuals, and disrupt workplaces is an egregious abuse of power. These raids occur without judicial oversight, due process, or any semblance of legality under our state and federal constitutions. When agents forcibly enter private property or detain individuals without a proper warrant, they are acting outside the bounds of the law.
As such, I respectfully demand the following actions:
1. Issue a Statewide Directive Prohibiting Cooperation With ICE in Warrantless Raids
All state law enforcement agencies, including CHP, must be explicitly barred from assisting ICE agents unless a judicially signed warrant is presented. ICE should be treated no differently than any other law enforcement agency when it comes to search and seizure under the law.
2. Investigate and Monitor ICE Activities as Potential Civil Rights Violations
The California Department of Justice should actively investigate ICE operations under state civil rights laws, especially when agents detain individuals or enter premises without proper legal authority. Victims of such actions should have access to state-sponsored legal support and restitution.
3. Enforce and Expand California Sanctuary Laws
Laws such as SB 54, AB 103, and AB 450 must be enforced rigorously. Furthermore, these protections should be extended to cover residential raids, not just public spaces and employers. Any private party cooperating with ICE without a warrant (including landlords, employers, and contractors) should face state-level penalties.
4. Declare ICE Warrantless Raids a Violation of State Sovereignty and Public Order
The state must draw a legal line: no federal agency has the right to bypass California’s constitutional protections. While the Supremacy Clause limits certain forms of resistance, California has a duty to protect its residents from unlawful federal overreach.
We are not asking for obstruction — we are asking for constitutional order. ICE is operating outside the legal framework, without accountability, and in direct violation of the freedoms we claim to uphold as Californians and as Americans.
California has long stood as a national leader in civil rights and due process. Now is the time to act with courage and principle. I urge you to use every power available under state law to protect our residents from unlawful raids and to demand that ICE operate under the same standards required of any legitimate law enforcement body.
Let’s speak plainly: this is no longer a government—it’s a cult. The individual at its center is not a leader, but a sociopathic, pathological liar who refuses to submit to law, truth, or moral conscience. This has been confirmed not just by political analysts, but by psychiatric professionals, historians, and scholars around the world.
We are not dealing with normal political conflict. We are dealing with mass delusion, militarized disinformation, and the complete erosion of democratic norms. Fox News, Newsmax, and OANN operate as propaganda machines—not news outlets—reinforcing the cult’s narrative and poisoning public understanding.
Every attempt to use institutional tools—letters, protests, legal appeals—has failed. The system has proven incapable of defending itself from this internal threat. Courts are ignored. Congressional oversight is mocked. Truth is drowned out by volume, repetition, and fear.
Let’s be honest about where we are: Without removing the cult leader and shutting down the propaganda, nothing else will work. You cannot deprogram the public while the infection source is still active. You cannot reason with people who have been taught to treat reason as the enemy.
So what remains? If lawful institutions are corrupted or paralyzed, and if information warfare continues unchecked, then yes—force becomes the last logical tool. Not because it is desirable, but because every peaceful method has been exhausted. As in any civil breakdown, when tyrants seize power and refuse to relinquish it, history teaches us what follows.
This is not a call for chaos. It’s a demand for clarity. We are not fighting over politics anymore. We are fighting over reality itself.
Until the head is severed—until the lies stop—there can be no healing, no order, and no democracy.
FULL CASE FOR IMPEACHMENT: DONALD J. TRUMP'S FIRST 100 DAYS
1. Economic Sabotage Through Tariffs and Market Manipulation
President Trump's reckless tariffs in April 2025 caused chaos on Wall Street. The Dow Jones fell over 2,200 points (5.5%) in two days, triggering a $6.6 trillion loss in market value — the worst crash since 2008.
S&P 500 dropped 9% after Trump imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese imports. (WSJ, April 15, 2025)
Consumer prices soared, worsening inflation and directly contradicting his claims that “China would pay.” (Brookings Institution, April 18, 2025)
401(k) accounts wiped out for millions of retirees and working families. (MarketWatch, April 22, 2025)
2. Illegal Executive Overreach: DOGE and Elon Musk
Trump bypassed Congress and created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unconstitutional agency headed by Elon Musk. DOGE accessed tax records and intelligence databases without oversight.
USAID dismantled, cutting off humanitarian aid and refugee assistance.
Musk given unchecked authority to fire federal employees and access sensitive data.
Public trust: Only 43% believe DOGE has reduced “waste.” Most view it as cronyism and corruption.
Approval rating: 39% and dropping. (Business Insider, April 29, 2025)
56% of Americans believe he is a “threat to democracy.” (Gallup, April 26, 2025)
🔥 BONUS: 20 Books That Condemn Trump
Top investigative, medical, and journalistic works:
The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump — Bandy X. Lee
Trump on the Couch — Justin Frank
A Very Stable Genius — Rucker & Leonnig
Fear — Bob Woodward
Rage — Bob Woodward
Too Much and Never Enough — Mary Trump
Disloyal — Michael Cohen
It Was All a Lie — Stuart Stevens
Blowout — Rachel Maddow
Proof of Conspiracy — Seth Abramson
Siege — Michael Wolff
Fire and Fury — Michael Wolff
Unhinged — Omarosa
The Cult of Trump — Steven Hassan
American Carnage — Tim Alberta
A Warning — Anonymous
The Fifth Risk — Michael Lewis
Trumpocracy — David Frum
Authoritarian Nightmare — John Dean
Insane Clown President — Matt Taibbi
🔨 CONCLUSION
Donald Trump is not just a danger to democracy — he is actively dismantling it. He has committed dozens of impeachable offenses in 100 days, including:
Violating Supreme Court rulings
Creating unlawful agencies
Manipulating the market for political gain
Deporting U.S. citizens
Appointing dangerously unqualified cronies
Undermining global alliances
Promoting propaganda through a state-run media ecosystem
Governing by executive fiat without congressional authority
This is not a presidency. It is a fascist regime in motion.
Integrity. A dying attribute in a Country where a convicted felon is actively destroying anyone who shows that trait. Wake up America, we can all sleep after we save our Democracy. Sleepy Don is not in charge, he is the distraction. We need to reveal the traitors in the shadows.
I was "crushed" when I heard what happened. I worked for a college newspaper for 17 years and still believe in the freedoms this country holds dear. Those kids that worked there learned that they had to be non-biased and by all means truthful in everything they reported. Sometimes it got them a little bit of grief but most times it got awards. What they are trying to do to whitewash history in this country and control the freedom of speech is appalling!
For decades, Americans believed our greatest threats would come from abroad — from hostile nations, terrorist attacks, or economic collapse.
But today, it’s clear the real threat was homegrown: Fox News — a 24-hour propaganda machine that has done more damage to American democracy than any external enemy ever could.
Fox News was never a legitimate news organization. From the beginning, it functioned as a political infomercial, selling lies, hatred, and division under the fraudulent guise of “news.”
It operates not as journalism, but as a propaganda organ, dedicated to manipulating public opinion to serve authoritarian, plutocratic interests.
Even President Obama, cautious and diplomatic by nature, acknowledged Fox News as “destructive” to the country, comparing it to yellow journalism — a system not designed to inform but to inflame.
And yet — tragically — nothing was done.
No regulation.
No real public warning.
No executive action.
This was the original sin.
Had Obama treated Fox News as the domestic enemy it is — using the executive powers he absolutely had to regulate or even close down mass disinformation networks — we would not be living in this nightmare.
Instead, by failing to act, Obama allowed the cancer to spread:
Fox fueled the rise of Donald Trump.
Fox fueled election denialism, racism, COVID lies, climate denial, and political violence.
Fox created the environment where networks like Breitbart, OANN, and Newsmax could flourish.
Without Fox News, Donald Trump would never have become president.
Without Fox News, January 6th would never have happened.
Fox News is 90% responsible for the collapse of American political sanity.
And the responsibility for allowing it to metastasize without intervention lies squarely at the feet of leaders who refused to confront it early — especially President Obama.
The Constitution demands protection from enemies foreign and domestic.
Fox News is a domestic enemy of staggering proportions, more dangerous to the Republic than any external threat in modern history.
Had I been president, Fox News would have been shut down immediately — not for content censorship, but for systematic, provable, malicious lying that endangers national security and public health.
📺 The Cowardice of the Press
Recently, Bill Owens, the executive producer of 60 Minutes, resigned — citing political and corporate pressures from Paramount executives who may seek to manipulate the program's content in the Trump era.
While it's commendable that Owens chose to resign rather than bend to pressure, the reality is 60 Minutes and other mainstream outlets failed us too.
Had 60 Minutes used its vast reach 15 or 20 years ago to launch an all-out factual assault on Fox News — exposing its endless propaganda, its lies, its manipulation — Fox could have been delegitimized early.
The mainstream media's cowardice, their refusal to call Fox what it truly was — not "biased," but a domestic information terrorist network — enabled the monster to grow.
Today, we are paying the price.
📚 Best Books on Misinformation, Propaganda, and How to Spot Lies
"Manufacturing Consent" by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
"The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread" by Cailin O’Connor and James Owen Weatherall
"Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics" by Yochai Benkler, Robert Faris, and Hal Roberts
"Post-Truth" by Lee McIntyre
"Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World" by Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West
"Propaganda" by Edward Bernays
"Republic of Lies" by Anna Merlan
"Weaponized Lies: How to Think Critically in the Post-Truth Era" by Daniel J. Levitin
"The Death of Expertise" by Tom Nichols
"How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them" by Jason Stanley
"Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies" by Donald A. Barclay
"Why Trust Science?" by Naomi Oreskes
"A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy" by Nancy L. Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead
"How to Read a Book" by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren
"Disinformation: Former Spy Chief Reveals Secret Strategies for Undermining Freedom" by Ion Mihai Pacepa
🌐 Top Websites to Fact-Check and Detect Disinformation
Faux news sued in 2004 to have the right to take excerpts from paragraphs, news stories, etc. And they won. Yet Canada and Australia got rid of Faux news. America eh, 🤷♀️
To oppose this bill, consider the following steps:
Contact Your Representative: Call or email your House representative to express your concerns about the bill's provisions, especially those affecting healthcare, education, and environmental programs.
Engage with Senators: Reach out to your state's senators to voice your opposition, as the bill will require Senate approval after passing the House.
Participate in Public Forums: Attend town halls or public meetings to discuss the bill's impact and encourage others to take action.
Spread Awareness: Use social media and community networks to inform others about the bill's contents and potential consequences.
Support Advocacy Groups: Collaborate with organizations working to protect healthcare, education, and environmental funding to amplify your efforts.
By taking these steps, you can contribute to the collective effort to oppose the bill and advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of all citizens.
RE: Urgent Action Needed to Stop Unconstitutional ICE Raids in California
Dear Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta,
I am writing as a concerned resident of California to urge you to take immediate and decisive action against the continued presence and operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting warrantless raids in our communities. These actions violate the constitutional rights of individuals, particularly the Fourth Amendment, and are contributing to a climate of fear, trauma, and legal abuse across the state.
ICE’s consistent use of administrative warrants, which are not signed by a judge, to enter homes, detain individuals, and disrupt workplaces is an egregious abuse of power. These raids occur without judicial oversight, due process, or any semblance of legality under our state and federal constitutions. When agents forcibly enter private property or detain individuals without a proper warrant, they are acting outside the bounds of the law.
As such, I respectfully demand the following actions:
1. Issue a Statewide Directive Prohibiting Cooperation With ICE in Warrantless Raids
All state law enforcement agencies, including CHP, must be explicitly barred from assisting ICE agents unless a judicially signed warrant is presented. ICE should be treated no differently than any other law enforcement agency when it comes to search and seizure under the law.
2. Investigate and Monitor ICE Activities as Potential Civil Rights Violations
The California Department of Justice should actively investigate ICE operations under state civil rights laws, especially when agents detain individuals or enter premises without proper legal authority. Victims of such actions should have access to state-sponsored legal support and restitution.
3. Enforce and Expand California Sanctuary Laws
Laws such as SB 54, AB 103, and AB 450 must be enforced rigorously. Furthermore, these protections should be extended to cover residential raids, not just public spaces and employers. Any private party cooperating with ICE without a warrant (including landlords, employers, and contractors) should face state-level penalties.
4. Declare ICE Warrantless Raids a Violation of State Sovereignty and Public Order
The state must draw a legal line: no federal agency has the right to bypass California’s constitutional protections. While the Supremacy Clause limits certain forms of resistance, California has a duty to protect its residents from unlawful federal overreach.
We are not asking for obstruction — we are asking for constitutional order. ICE is operating outside the legal framework, without accountability, and in direct violation of the freedoms we claim to uphold as Californians and as Americans.
California has long stood as a national leader in civil rights and due process. Now is the time to act with courage and principle. I urge you to use every power available under state law to protect our residents from unlawful raids and to demand that ICE operate under the same standards required of any legitimate law enforcement body.
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
Trump — a failed casino clown, a draft-dodging coward with a gold toilet and a black heart — never built anything real in his life. His empire was built on air, debt, branding, and bluster. No integrity. No strategy. Just noise, lawsuits, and other people’s money.
And now he’s back. Not just back in politics. Back in power.
Controlling the GOP like a cult leader. Turning the Supreme Court into a wrecking crew. Holding the nation hostage with threats of violence, lies, and mass delusion.
We are not in a post-Trump era. We are in the late-stage Trumpist regime. And it all began with Roy Cohn.
ACT I: Mentored by a Monster
Roy Cohn — McCarthy’s hitman. A closeted, vicious, scorched-earth operator. Trump's shadow tutor.
Cohn taught Trump the gospel of shamelessness:
Never apologize.
Never admit.
Attack harder when you’re guilty.
Turn truth into a weapon.
Trump took notes. Built his entire public life on this moral sewage. And it worked. Because America was primed for it. Primed by reality TV, by decades of consumer rot, by institutional cowardice, and by a broken press addicted to balance over truth.
What followed was a con job on a national scale.
ACT II: Captain Bone Spurs Rides Again
He dodged Vietnam with fake bone spurs — but paraded as a wartime president against immigrants, journalists, women, minorities, and anyone who told the truth.
He lost the 2020 election — and turned that loss into a fundraising goldmine and a slow coup. He cheered on the January 6th terrorists — then pretended he was the victim. He called soldiers “suckers and losers” — while wrapping himself in the flag like a defiled relic.
And now, like a horror sequel nobody asked for, he’s back on the ballot — but never really off the throne. The institutions that could have stopped him? They flinched. They hedged. They waited for “norms” to do the job.
But you don’t stop fascism with norms. You don’t reason with a man who has no concept of reason. You don’t appeal to shame when you’re facing a sociopath who views shame as weakness.
This isn’t political anymore. It’s pathological.
ACT III: The Traitor’s Court
Look at the rogues’ gallery he leads:
Giuliani: A greasy ghoul with teeth stained by lies and red wine.
Bannon: A fascist huckster powered by meth, hate, and podcast donations.
Flynn: A former general turned QAnon puppet, spouting theocratic garbage.
Roger Stone: Tattooed Nixon on his back, treason in his mouth.
Kari Lake, MTG, Boebert, Gaetz: A walking anti-intellectual meltdown.
And behind it all: Rupert Murdoch, poisoning the national bloodstream from a penthouse far away, as his media empire manufactures outrage, division, and fantasy 24/7.
Fox News isn’t news. It’s a weapon. A propaganda howitzer aimed straight at the brainstem of Middle America.
They’ve normalized the abnormal. Sanitized sedition. Gave treason a chyron and a commercial break.
ACT IV: A Mind War
This is psychological warfare. Not against an enemy abroad — but against the American people.
Years of disinformation, grievance politics, white resentment, and Christian nationalism have created a nation where millions now believe democracy is optional, violence is patriotic, and Trump is some kind of divine instrument.
This is not normal. This is not political disagreement. This is a cult of organized madness.
We have Americans saluting a man who tried to end democracy and will try again.
And we have institutions, billionaires, and media execs who are fine with it as long as the checks keep clearing.
ACT V: The End of Illusion
Captain Bone Spurs never served. Never sacrificed. Never cared.
He is a walking void — filled only with greed, vengeance, and the deep, lizard-brain need to never be wrong. And that makes him extremely dangerous. Because when he fails again — and he will — he’ll bring as much of the country down with him as he can.
We are past the warning signs. We are past satire. We are staring into the abyss, and half the country thinks it’s just a campaign ad.
This house is not divided. It’s on fire. And dreck like this man — and the propaganda system that birthed him — must be torn down, root and stem.
This is not politics. This is survival. The propaganda must end. The Murdoch empire must be broken. The criminal syndicate posing as a movement must be exposed for what it is: a rotting death cult wrapped in a flag, wielding a Bible, and aiming a gun at the Constitution.
Call it what it is: fascism, American-style. And stop waiting for someone else to stop it.
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
I’ve crafted it in the tone of a concerned and informed constituent with reference to the bill’s contents and constitutional implications. Since no official bill number is provided in public documents, I will refer to it as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)" for clarity—but you can insert the specific bill number (e.g., H.R. ####) once known.
[Your Full Name] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP Code] [Email Address] [Date]
To: All Republican Members of the United States Senate Washington, D.C.
RE: Opposition to the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" – A Moral and Fiscal Betrayal
Dear Senators,
As an informed American citizen and constituent, I am writing to express my unequivocal opposition to the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), recently passed by the House of Representatives and now under consideration in the Senate.
Despite its name, there is nothing admirable about this legislation. We are well aware of the contents of this bill—thanks to public reporting and legislative analysis—and we reject it in full. If passed, this bill would constitute a historic betrayal of working-class Americans, seniors, low-income families, and the future stability of the United States.
Key Provisions We Oppose:
$3.8 trillion increase to the national deficit, primarily to fund tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and corporations.
Deep and dangerous cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP, putting millions at risk of hunger and health crises.
The elimination of green energy incentives, worsening climate vulnerability and undermining U.S. innovation.
Massive tax exemptions for estates and pass-through entities, serving only the richest Americans while the rest struggle to afford groceries, housing, and healthcare.
Expansions in defense and border enforcement spending with no accountability or long-term benefit to national security or public welfare.
This bill is not merely flawed—it is a deliberate assault on the most vulnerable Americans. It is a grotesque redistribution of wealth upward, achieved by sacrificing basic protections for the elderly, disabled, and working poor.
Your Role: A Test of Conscience and Constitutional Duty
The Senate was not designed to be a rubber stamp for ideological extremism or corporate greed. Your responsibility is not to any individual or party, but to the Constitution and the American people.
If you choose to support this bill, you are complicit in enacting legislation that intentionally increases suffering and consolidates power into the hands of the few. This bill is not policy—it is economic violence in legislative form.
Our Response
We, the American people, are watching. We are organizing. We will challenge this bill in the public square, in the courts, and at the ballot box. Your support for this legislation will not be forgotten or forgiven.
This is a legal, moral, and civic disgrace, and we call on you—urgently—to vote against this catastrophic legislation and restore some measure of sanity, humanity, and decency to your office.
What’s happening in Washington is not a “bamboozle,” as Dr. Reich called it. No — this is the full-scale incarnation of evil. It’s as if every demon from hell has crawled out from under every rock, manifesting as greed, corruption, xenophobia, hatred, and racism — all empowered by cowardice, ignorance, and an unwillingness to confront the abuse of power at its root.
This didn’t happen overnight. This is what happens when a nation fails to protect the First Amendment from abuse. The rise of right-wing propaganda machines like Fox News — and our complete failure to regulate them responsibly — set the stage for this collapse. The moment Rupert Murdoch launched his empire of distortion, we should have acted. We should have revoked his ability to poison public discourse and pushed him out. But we didn’t.
Why? Because Barack Obama didn’t have the courage. He had the legal tools, the executive power, and the platform — but he was too afraid of being criticized by Republicans. He failed to defend truth and democratic norms when it mattered most. He chose caution over leadership.
And Joe Biden? He may be a capable legislator, but he is not a strong leader. His failure to speak out forcefully and consistently against the core threat — the weaponization of free speech as a tool for mass manipulation — has made everything worse.
We are not in this crisis because of one man — we are here because of decades of passivity, political cowardice, and the refusal to hold media accountable. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and we ignored every warning sign.
You cannot lie to people every day through a national media platform and expect democracy to survive. That’s not free speech. That’s propaganda. That’s brainwashing. And it has worked. My own family has been completely consumed by Fox News — they understand nothing about what’s happening in this country. If something makes them uncomfortable, they simply find a source that confirms Fox’s lies. That’s not critical thinking. That’s ideological conditioning.
People often say, “The First Amendment means you can say what you want.” But that’s a gross oversimplification. The First Amendment protects opinions rooted in reason, facts, and good faith participation in a democratic society — not deliberate disinformation campaigns designed to destroy that society from within.
And underlying all of this is the unchecked power of super PACs and corporate money. We’ve allowed our political system to be bought and sold by billionaires and extremists who benefit from chaos and deception.
This crisis is our own doing. Not just because of those who pushed the lies, but because of those who stood by and watched it happen. We didn’t stop it when we could. And now, we’re paying the price — morally, culturally, and politically.
Subject: Grave Concern Regarding Reports of Settlement with Donald Trump and Its Ethical Implications
Dear Paramount Executives,
I write to you as a deeply concerned global citizen and longtime observer of the critical role the press plays in preserving democratic society. Recent reports, including those outlined by Ben Meiselas of the MeidasTouch Network, regarding your company’s alleged willingness to settle a baseless lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump in exchange for regulatory favor related to the Skydance merger, are deeply troubling.
If these reports are accurate, they represent not just a strategic miscalculation, but a profound moral failing—one that undermines the foundational principles of journalistic independence, institutional integrity, and democratic accountability.
The notion that a media conglomerate of Paramount’s stature would capitulate to political intimidation and extortion—cloaked as litigation—raises urgent questions about the values driving your corporate leadership. The implication that a settlement in the range of $30–$50 million might be paid directly to Mr. Trump as a quid pro quo for government approval is not only alarming, it is potentially corrosive to public trust in the independence of media institutions. It is difficult to interpret this as anything other than a transactional compromise of truth for profit.
Shari Redstone, as controlling shareholder, may well seek to maximize returns through a Skydance merger, but this pursuit must not come at the expense of democratic values or ethical journalism. Paramount’s legacy—and that of CBS News in particular—was built on a tradition of fearless, fair, and independent reporting. To betray that heritage for expediency or capital gain would permanently damage your public credibility and internal morale.
The resignations of Wendy McMahon and Bill Owens, two professionals of high esteem, only underscore the gravity of the internal crisis your organization is facing. Their departures speak not of personnel changes, but of institutional conscience in revolt.
Let me be absolutely clear: Settling with a man who has openly undermined democracy, attacked the press, incited violence, and attempted to subvert the rule of law is a moral compromise that cannot be justified under any business rationale. The short-term gain in merger approval or shareholder profit pales in comparison to the long-term reputational and historical cost of enabling authoritarian manipulation of media.
As stewards of one of the world’s most visible and influential media platforms, you have a duty not only to your shareholders, but to your audience, your journalists, and to the democratic society you serve.
I urge you to reconsider any move that would allow such a settlement to go forward. The public is watching. History is watching. And it will not forget those who sold out truth for money.
Thank you, Olivia. I saw this on 60 Minutes last evening. Can you investigate more specifically what Paramount has said and done to stifle the independence of one of my alltime favorite shows? NO wonder Trump has never attended the White House Correspondents Dinner--he has no sense of humor, and no ability to take any form of critique.
Yes, I remember it well (Obama was so calm and cool and funny). So, Trump hasn't attended a Correspondents Dinner since he felt so insulted and humiliated--which is what he tries to do to others constantly!
That's the take-home point! Trump just lives to dish it out, but he doesn't have the character to take it. The "tough" guy is just a shrinking violet. And then we had Trump speaking to the UN General Assembly where they all laughed him out of the building.
Not only did Trump attend the 2011 dinner but Obama’s brutal takedown may have motivated Trump to run for President as described in this PBS Frontline excerpt.
It is ironic that the party that has been complaining about censorship and cancel culture, is now doing it themselves. Thanks for speaking out Olivia. When Trump called the press the "enemy of the people" I paid attention. I am not sure what it takes for other people.
The fact that there are NO Republicans and far too many Democrats staying silent on the orange man-baby’s attempts at silencing the media and the universities is as chilling as his brazen attempts. When did they (elected officials) and we, the citizens as a whole, become a nation of spineless jellyfish? Our pioneer ancestors settled this great country and we put the first human on the moon all hard, challenging endeavors, but yet we stand hapless in the face of buffoonery. Thank you, Olivia, for your clear, concise warning about what’s really going on.
This is indeed chilling .. companies like CBS need to stand up to politicians .. not stand down. The push for profits over quality reporting is just another twist the greedy pursue for making more money. How much do the ultra wealthy need .. oh wait, it’s really about power over the rest of civilization.
The men who pledged their lives and "sacred honor" to each other would have never conceived of a United States where it would be illegal to criticize the government and the Supreme Leader, but it would be perfectly acceptable to lie shamelessly about a thousand other issues.
The assault on America's free press is chilling, and I've been wondering when it would take a dangerous turn. I literally fear for the safety of journalists. 60 Minutes's reporting on the Trump administration's (criminal) constitutional overreach has been excellent and incredibly fair. I was happy to see that it continued last night with the alarming story of the catastrophic cuts to the NIH. We cannot stand for this assault on our institutions! WHY are there not a mere handful of GOP senators and representatives that are willing to put the fate of our democracy ahead of personal ambition??
The TRUTH is not "improper ideology" in a democratic society! So grateful for Substack.
thank you, Olivia, for the truth-telling, stating the facts, AND helping us *prepare* for the fight. we ARE the ones we've been waiting for.
Fox News: America's Most Dangerous Domestic Enemy
For decades, Americans believed our greatest threats would come from abroad — from hostile nations, terrorist attacks, or economic collapse.
But today, it’s clear the real threat was homegrown: Fox News — a 24-hour propaganda machine that has done more damage to American democracy than any external enemy ever could.
Fox News was never a legitimate news organization. From the beginning, it functioned as a political infomercial, selling lies, hatred, and division under the fraudulent guise of “news.”
It operates not as journalism, but as a propaganda organ, dedicated to manipulating public opinion to serve authoritarian, plutocratic interests.
Even President Obama, cautious and diplomatic by nature, acknowledged Fox News as “destructive” to the country, comparing it to yellow journalism — a system not designed to inform but to inflame.
And yet — tragically — nothing was done.
No regulation.
No real public warning.
No executive action.
This was the original sin.
Had Obama treated Fox News as the domestic enemy it is — using the executive powers he absolutely had to regulate or even close down mass disinformation networks — we would not be living in this nightmare.
Instead, by failing to act, Obama allowed the cancer to spread:
Fox fueled the rise of Donald Trump.
Fox fueled election denialism, racism, COVID lies, climate denial, and political violence.
Fox created the environment where networks like Breitbart, OANN, and Newsmax could flourish.
Without Fox News, Donald Trump would never have become president.
Without Fox News, January 6th would never have happened.
Fox News is 90% responsible for the collapse of American political sanity.
And the responsibility for allowing it to metastasize without intervention lies squarely at the feet of leaders who refused to confront it early — especially President Obama.
The Constitution demands protection from enemies foreign and domestic.
Fox News is a domestic enemy of staggering proportions, more dangerous to the Republic than any external threat in modern history.
Had I been president, Fox News would have been shut down immediately — not for content censorship, but for systematic, provable, malicious lying that endangers national security and public health.
📺 The Cowardice of the Press
Recently, Bill Owens, the executive producer of 60 Minutes, resigned — citing political and corporate pressures from Paramount executives who may seek to manipulate the program's content in the Trump era.
While it's commendable that Owens chose to resign rather than bend to pressure, the reality is 60 Minutes and other mainstream outlets failed us too.
Had 60 Minutes used its vast reach 15 or 20 years ago to launch an all-out factual assault on Fox News — exposing its endless propaganda, its lies, its manipulation — Fox could have been delegitimized early.
The mainstream media's cowardice, their refusal to call Fox what it truly was — not "biased," but a domestic information terrorist network — enabled the monster to grow.
Today, we are paying the price.
📚 Best Books on Misinformation, Propaganda, and How to Spot Lies
"Manufacturing Consent" by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
"The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread" by Cailin O’Connor and James Owen Weatherall
"Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics" by Yochai Benkler, Robert Faris, and Hal Roberts
"Post-Truth" by Lee McIntyre
"Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World" by Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West
"Propaganda" by Edward Bernays
"Republic of Lies" by Anna Merlan
"Weaponized Lies: How to Think Critically in the Post-Truth Era" by Daniel J. Levitin
"The Death of Expertise" by Tom Nichols
"How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them" by Jason Stanley
"Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies" by Donald A. Barclay
"Why Trust Science?" by Naomi Oreskes
"A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy" by Nancy L. Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead
"How to Read a Book" by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren
"Disinformation: Former Spy Chief Reveals Secret Strategies for Undermining Freedom" by Ion Mihai Pacepa
🌐 Top Websites to Fact-Check and Detect Disinformation
Snopes
FactCheck.org
PolitiFact
Media Bias/Fact Check
NewsGuard
The News Literacy Project
Ad Fontes Media
OpenSecrets
ProPublica
The Center for Media Literacy
Poynter Institute
🧠 Final Thoughts
Fox News is not a news outlet.
It is a weapon of mass deception deliberately targeting the minds and hearts of the American public.
Its influence has crippled our institutions, corroded our discourse, and enabled authoritarianism.
We must stop pretending otherwise.
We must confront Fox News — and any future imitators — for what they are: enemies of truth and democracy.
There can be no liberty without truth.
And there can be no truth while Fox News remains on the air.
Faux news sued in 2004 to not have to tell the truth! They take Excerpts from news articles and do not have to show the full comment, etc. Thereby misleading their audience. They won their lawsuit and weren't ever challenged again to my knowledge
Let’s speak plainly: this is no longer a government—it’s a cult. The individual at its center is not a leader, but a sociopathic, pathological liar who refuses to submit to law, truth, or moral conscience. This has been confirmed not just by political analysts, but by psychiatric professionals, historians, and scholars around the world.
We are not dealing with normal political conflict. We are dealing with mass delusion, militarized disinformation, and the complete erosion of democratic norms. Fox News, Newsmax, and OANN operate as propaganda machines—not news outlets—reinforcing the cult’s narrative and poisoning public understanding.
Every attempt to use institutional tools—letters, protests, legal appeals—has failed. The system has proven incapable of defending itself from this internal threat. Courts are ignored. Congressional oversight is mocked. Truth is drowned out by volume, repetition, and fear.
Let’s be honest about where we are: Without removing the cult leader and shutting down the propaganda, nothing else will work. You cannot deprogram the public while the infection source is still active. You cannot reason with people who have been taught to treat reason as the enemy.
So what remains? If lawful institutions are corrupted or paralyzed, and if information warfare continues unchecked, then yes—force becomes the last logical tool. Not because it is desirable, but because every peaceful method has been exhausted. As in any civil breakdown, when tyrants seize power and refuse to relinquish it, history teaches us what follows.
This is not a call for chaos. It’s a demand for clarity. We are not fighting over politics anymore. We are fighting over reality itself.
Until the head is severed—until the lies stop—there can be no healing, no order, and no democracy.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/fact-check-debunking-100-trump-190050473.html
Fact check: Debunking 100 Trump false claims from his first 100 days
Daniel Dale, CNN
Tue, April 29, 2025 at 12:00 PM PDT
33 min read
393
US President Donald Trump speaks to the press as he signs an executive order to create a US sovereign wealth fund, in the Oval Office of the White House on February 3, 2025, in Washington, DC. - Jim Watson/AFP/Getty Images
President Donald Trump filled his first 100 days back in office with the same relentless lying and inaccuracy that was a hallmark of his first presidency and his 2016 and 2024 presidential campaigns.
Some of Trump’s 2025 false claims were about consequential policy matters, others about trivial personal fixations. Some were sophisticated distortions about obscure subjects, others obvious fictions about issues average Americans experience in their daily lives. Many were ad-libbed or posted on social media, but many were scripted into prepared remarks.
Aside from the staggering frequency and the trademark brazenness, what stood out was how repetitive Trump’s lying was. Though he regularly sprinkled in some fresh deception, he deployed a core batch of favored falsehoods again and again – undeterred by the fact that many of these claims had been publicly debunked for months or even years.
Here is a list of 100 separate false claims from Trump since his inauguration on January 20, fact-checked concisely with hyperlinks to more information. This is not a comprehensive list of the president’s false claims during this period (there were well over 100 in all) or a count of how many total times he was inaccurate (he uttered many of these 100 claims over and over again).
I don't know why people vote for a pathological liar it's just beyond me and this has been shown beyond the billion times it's just I cannot have this no matter how brainwashed they may be bizarre
You may not accept this Michael but I have 4 siblings that are , well 2 are very educated but just vote for Republicans because Dems help everyone including the poor, migrants, etc. Believe me I just have literally had it to find out that they must just be racist, and it really hurts me. They've voted for Republican Always
As of May 15, 2025, the Republican-led budget reconciliation bill—often referred to as the “big, beautiful bill”—is facing significant internal opposition, delaying its progress toward a House vote initially targeted for Memorial Day weekend. House Speaker Mike Johnson is contending with dissent from ultraconservative members who demand deeper Medicaid cuts and stricter work requirements, as well as moderates concerned about the bill's impact on constituents and fiscal implications. https://apnews.com/article/5588a1ba31875e5a4a2e23564244851b?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/15/megabill-teeters-after-hard-liners-make-their-stand-00352892?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Key Provisions of the Bill
The bill proposes substantial tax cuts and spending reductions, including:
$715 billion in Medicaid cuts, introducing work requirements and eligibility checks that could affect over 10 million people.
$351 billion in cuts to student aid, limiting Pell Grant eligibility and repealing student debt forgiveness programs.
$50 billion in cuts to the Federal Employee Retirement System, reducing take-home pay and retirement benefits.
Significant reductions in funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and dissolution of the Public Accounting Oversight Board.
New taxes on electric and hybrid vehicles and elimination of funding for green energy programs authorized by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
$25 billion allocated for a “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, involving space-based assets.
Limitations on federal judges’ authority to hold government officials in contempt of court.
Current Status
The House Budget Committee is scheduled to meet on Friday to address the bill, but internal divisions may delay further progress. Speaker Johnson aims for a floor vote next week, but with a slim majority and no Democratic support expected, the bill's passage remains uncertain. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/15/megabill-teeters-after-hard-liners-make-their-stand-00352892?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.wsj.com/politics/gop-tax-bill-speaker-mike-johnson-01456ff6?utm_source=chatgpt.com
How You Can Take Action
To oppose this bill, consider the following steps:
Contact Your Representative: Call or email your House representative to express your concerns about the bill's provisions, especially those affecting healthcare, education, and environmental programs.
Engage with Senators: Reach out to your state's senators to voice your opposition, as the bill will require Senate approval after passing the House.
Participate in Public Forums: Attend town halls or public meetings to discuss the bill's impact and encourage others to take action.
Spread Awareness: Use social media and community networks to inform others about the bill's contents and potential consequences.
Support Advocacy Groups: Collaborate with organizations working to protect healthcare, education, and environmental funding to amplify your efforts.
By taking these steps, you can contribute to the collective effort to oppose the bill and advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of all citizens.
RE: Urgent Action Needed to Stop Unconstitutional ICE Raids in California
Dear Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta,
I am writing as a concerned resident of California to urge you to take immediate and decisive action against the continued presence and operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting warrantless raids in our communities. These actions violate the constitutional rights of individuals, particularly the Fourth Amendment, and are contributing to a climate of fear, trauma, and legal abuse across the state.
ICE’s consistent use of administrative warrants, which are not signed by a judge, to enter homes, detain individuals, and disrupt workplaces is an egregious abuse of power. These raids occur without judicial oversight, due process, or any semblance of legality under our state and federal constitutions. When agents forcibly enter private property or detain individuals without a proper warrant, they are acting outside the bounds of the law.
As such, I respectfully demand the following actions:
1. Issue a Statewide Directive Prohibiting Cooperation With ICE in Warrantless Raids
All state law enforcement agencies, including CHP, must be explicitly barred from assisting ICE agents unless a judicially signed warrant is presented. ICE should be treated no differently than any other law enforcement agency when it comes to search and seizure under the law.
2. Investigate and Monitor ICE Activities as Potential Civil Rights Violations
The California Department of Justice should actively investigate ICE operations under state civil rights laws, especially when agents detain individuals or enter premises without proper legal authority. Victims of such actions should have access to state-sponsored legal support and restitution.
3. Enforce and Expand California Sanctuary Laws
Laws such as SB 54, AB 103, and AB 450 must be enforced rigorously. Furthermore, these protections should be extended to cover residential raids, not just public spaces and employers. Any private party cooperating with ICE without a warrant (including landlords, employers, and contractors) should face state-level penalties.
4. Declare ICE Warrantless Raids a Violation of State Sovereignty and Public Order
The state must draw a legal line: no federal agency has the right to bypass California’s constitutional protections. While the Supremacy Clause limits certain forms of resistance, California has a duty to protect its residents from unlawful federal overreach.
We are not asking for obstruction — we are asking for constitutional order. ICE is operating outside the legal framework, without accountability, and in direct violation of the freedoms we claim to uphold as Californians and as Americans.
California has long stood as a national leader in civil rights and due process. Now is the time to act with courage and principle. I urge you to use every power available under state law to protect our residents from unlawful raids and to demand that ICE operate under the same standards required of any legitimate law enforcement body.
Sincerely,
Let’s speak plainly: this is no longer a government—it’s a cult. The individual at its center is not a leader, but a sociopathic, pathological liar who refuses to submit to law, truth, or moral conscience. This has been confirmed not just by political analysts, but by psychiatric professionals, historians, and scholars around the world.
We are not dealing with normal political conflict. We are dealing with mass delusion, militarized disinformation, and the complete erosion of democratic norms. Fox News, Newsmax, and OANN operate as propaganda machines—not news outlets—reinforcing the cult’s narrative and poisoning public understanding.
Every attempt to use institutional tools—letters, protests, legal appeals—has failed. The system has proven incapable of defending itself from this internal threat. Courts are ignored. Congressional oversight is mocked. Truth is drowned out by volume, repetition, and fear.
Let’s be honest about where we are: Without removing the cult leader and shutting down the propaganda, nothing else will work. You cannot deprogram the public while the infection source is still active. You cannot reason with people who have been taught to treat reason as the enemy.
So what remains? If lawful institutions are corrupted or paralyzed, and if information warfare continues unchecked, then yes—force becomes the last logical tool. Not because it is desirable, but because every peaceful method has been exhausted. As in any civil breakdown, when tyrants seize power and refuse to relinquish it, history teaches us what follows.
This is not a call for chaos. It’s a demand for clarity. We are not fighting over politics anymore. We are fighting over reality itself.
Until the head is severed—until the lies stop—there can be no healing, no order, and no democracy.
FULL CASE FOR IMPEACHMENT: DONALD J. TRUMP'S FIRST 100 DAYS
1. Economic Sabotage Through Tariffs and Market Manipulation
President Trump's reckless tariffs in April 2025 caused chaos on Wall Street. The Dow Jones fell over 2,200 points (5.5%) in two days, triggering a $6.6 trillion loss in market value — the worst crash since 2008.
S&P 500 dropped 9% after Trump imposed a 145% tariff on Chinese imports. (WSJ, April 15, 2025)
Consumer prices soared, worsening inflation and directly contradicting his claims that “China would pay.” (Brookings Institution, April 18, 2025)
401(k) accounts wiped out for millions of retirees and working families. (MarketWatch, April 22, 2025)
Source: NPR, April 4, 2025 — https://www.npr.org/2025/04/04/nx-s1-5352362/markets-selloff-dow-trump-tariffs
2. Illegal Executive Overreach: DOGE and Elon Musk
Trump bypassed Congress and created the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), an unconstitutional agency headed by Elon Musk. DOGE accessed tax records and intelligence databases without oversight.
USAID dismantled, cutting off humanitarian aid and refugee assistance.
Musk given unchecked authority to fire federal employees and access sensitive data.
Public trust: Only 43% believe DOGE has reduced “waste.” Most view it as cronyism and corruption.
Source: Business Insider, April 29, 2025 — https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-musk-doge-government-waste-fraud-poll-2025-4
3. Criminal Immigration Violations and Deportation of Citizens
Trump has blatantly ignored court orders and deported legal residents and U.S. citizens:
Kilmar Abrego-García, deported to El Salvador despite a Supreme Court stay. (NPR, April 1, 2025)
Four U.S. citizens wrongly detained or deported. (PBS NewsHour, March 25, 2025)
Trump’s justification? That they “looked suspicious” — a thinly veiled racist smear targeting Latinos. This is a flagrant violation of due process.
4. NATO Sabotage, Diplomatic Insanity, and Global Instability
Trump openly mocked and undermined NATO:
Refused to reaffirm Article 5, destabilizing the U.S.–EU alliance.
Claimed “Canada will be the 51st state” if they don’t “control fentanyl.” (CNN, March 21, 2025)
Revived claims that the U.S. should “take Greenland seriously again.” (BBC, April 4, 2025)
Source: Center for American Progress, April 28, 2025
5. State-Run Propaganda and Attacks on the Free Press
Feb 8, 2025: Revoked press credentials from 15 journalists (NPR, AP, etc.), calling them “traitors.” (AP News, Feb 10, 2025)
Coordinated propaganda with Fox News, violating federal regulations. (Democracy Forward Lawsuit, March 7, 2025)
Spread false COVID-23 claims and directed newsrooms to suppress rising monkeypox outbreaks in Florida.
6. Destruction of Environmental Protections
Trump rolled back over 50 environmental rules in 100 days:
Revoked limits on offshore drilling.
Opened national parks to private oil firms.
Withdrew from the updated Paris Agreement II.
Source: Time, April 30, 2025
7. Cronyism and Appointments of the Unqualified
Trump filled federal positions with sycophants, extremists, and unqualified influencers:
Health Director: A TikTok protein powder “guru” with zero credentials. (NYT, March 14, 2025)
Climate Advisor: Flat-earther and YouTube conspiracy theorist. (Rolling Stone, April 1, 2025)
Education Secretary: Claims public schools are “Marxist indoctrination camps.” (WaPo, March 12, 2025)
8. Mental Instability, Narcissism, and Malignant Cultism
Over 800 psychiatrists confirm Trump displays traits of malignant narcissism, sociopathy, paranoia, and delusions of grandeur.
His behavior is erratic, impulsive, and increasingly detached from reality.
Sources:
The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump — Bandy X. Lee
Trump on the Couch — Justin Frank
World Mental Health Alliance, Feb 5, 2025 — https://worldmentalhealthalliance.org
9. Approval in Free Fall
Approval rating: 39% and dropping. (Business Insider, April 29, 2025)
56% of Americans believe he is a “threat to democracy.” (Gallup, April 26, 2025)
🔥 BONUS: 20 Books That Condemn Trump
Top investigative, medical, and journalistic works:
The Dangerous Case of Donald Trump — Bandy X. Lee
Trump on the Couch — Justin Frank
A Very Stable Genius — Rucker & Leonnig
Fear — Bob Woodward
Rage — Bob Woodward
Too Much and Never Enough — Mary Trump
Disloyal — Michael Cohen
It Was All a Lie — Stuart Stevens
Blowout — Rachel Maddow
Proof of Conspiracy — Seth Abramson
Siege — Michael Wolff
Fire and Fury — Michael Wolff
Unhinged — Omarosa
The Cult of Trump — Steven Hassan
American Carnage — Tim Alberta
A Warning — Anonymous
The Fifth Risk — Michael Lewis
Trumpocracy — David Frum
Authoritarian Nightmare — John Dean
Insane Clown President — Matt Taibbi
🔨 CONCLUSION
Donald Trump is not just a danger to democracy — he is actively dismantling it. He has committed dozens of impeachable offenses in 100 days, including:
Violating Supreme Court rulings
Creating unlawful agencies
Manipulating the market for political gain
Deporting U.S. citizens
Appointing dangerously unqualified cronies
Undermining global alliances
Promoting propaganda through a state-run media ecosystem
Governing by executive fiat without congressional authority
This is not a presidency. It is a fascist regime in motion.
IMPEACH NOW.
So true.
Integrity. A dying attribute in a Country where a convicted felon is actively destroying anyone who shows that trait. Wake up America, we can all sleep after we save our Democracy. Sleepy Don is not in charge, he is the distraction. We need to reveal the traitors in the shadows.
I like you wrote and shared this regarding integrity. Integrity is everything yet becoming extinct
Thank you, Olivia, for your courage in standing up to this regime bent on destroying our country.
I was "crushed" when I heard what happened. I worked for a college newspaper for 17 years and still believe in the freedoms this country holds dear. Those kids that worked there learned that they had to be non-biased and by all means truthful in everything they reported. Sometimes it got them a little bit of grief but most times it got awards. What they are trying to do to whitewash history in this country and control the freedom of speech is appalling!
This is another stark example that the TRUTH is the most feared enemy of Trump and the MAGAts. They can't handle it.
Fox News: America's Most Dangerous Domestic Enemy
For decades, Americans believed our greatest threats would come from abroad — from hostile nations, terrorist attacks, or economic collapse.
But today, it’s clear the real threat was homegrown: Fox News — a 24-hour propaganda machine that has done more damage to American democracy than any external enemy ever could.
Fox News was never a legitimate news organization. From the beginning, it functioned as a political infomercial, selling lies, hatred, and division under the fraudulent guise of “news.”
It operates not as journalism, but as a propaganda organ, dedicated to manipulating public opinion to serve authoritarian, plutocratic interests.
Even President Obama, cautious and diplomatic by nature, acknowledged Fox News as “destructive” to the country, comparing it to yellow journalism — a system not designed to inform but to inflame.
And yet — tragically — nothing was done.
No regulation.
No real public warning.
No executive action.
This was the original sin.
Had Obama treated Fox News as the domestic enemy it is — using the executive powers he absolutely had to regulate or even close down mass disinformation networks — we would not be living in this nightmare.
Instead, by failing to act, Obama allowed the cancer to spread:
Fox fueled the rise of Donald Trump.
Fox fueled election denialism, racism, COVID lies, climate denial, and political violence.
Fox created the environment where networks like Breitbart, OANN, and Newsmax could flourish.
Without Fox News, Donald Trump would never have become president.
Without Fox News, January 6th would never have happened.
Fox News is 90% responsible for the collapse of American political sanity.
And the responsibility for allowing it to metastasize without intervention lies squarely at the feet of leaders who refused to confront it early — especially President Obama.
The Constitution demands protection from enemies foreign and domestic.
Fox News is a domestic enemy of staggering proportions, more dangerous to the Republic than any external threat in modern history.
Had I been president, Fox News would have been shut down immediately — not for content censorship, but for systematic, provable, malicious lying that endangers national security and public health.
📺 The Cowardice of the Press
Recently, Bill Owens, the executive producer of 60 Minutes, resigned — citing political and corporate pressures from Paramount executives who may seek to manipulate the program's content in the Trump era.
While it's commendable that Owens chose to resign rather than bend to pressure, the reality is 60 Minutes and other mainstream outlets failed us too.
Had 60 Minutes used its vast reach 15 or 20 years ago to launch an all-out factual assault on Fox News — exposing its endless propaganda, its lies, its manipulation — Fox could have been delegitimized early.
The mainstream media's cowardice, their refusal to call Fox what it truly was — not "biased," but a domestic information terrorist network — enabled the monster to grow.
Today, we are paying the price.
📚 Best Books on Misinformation, Propaganda, and How to Spot Lies
"Manufacturing Consent" by Edward S. Herman and Noam Chomsky
"The Misinformation Age: How False Beliefs Spread" by Cailin O’Connor and James Owen Weatherall
"Network Propaganda: Manipulation, Disinformation, and Radicalization in American Politics" by Yochai Benkler, Robert Faris, and Hal Roberts
"Post-Truth" by Lee McIntyre
"Calling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World" by Carl T. Bergstrom and Jevin D. West
"Propaganda" by Edward Bernays
"Republic of Lies" by Anna Merlan
"Weaponized Lies: How to Think Critically in the Post-Truth Era" by Daniel J. Levitin
"The Death of Expertise" by Tom Nichols
"How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them" by Jason Stanley
"Fake News, Propaganda, and Plain Old Lies" by Donald A. Barclay
"Why Trust Science?" by Naomi Oreskes
"A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on Democracy" by Nancy L. Rosenblum and Russell Muirhead
"How to Read a Book" by Mortimer Adler and Charles Van Doren
"Disinformation: Former Spy Chief Reveals Secret Strategies for Undermining Freedom" by Ion Mihai Pacepa
🌐 Top Websites to Fact-Check and Detect Disinformation
Snopes
FactCheck.org
PolitiFact
Media Bias/Fact Check
NewsGuard
The News Literacy Project
Ad Fontes Media
OpenSecrets
ProPublica
The Center for Media Literacy
Poynter Institute
🧠 Final Thoughts
Fox News is not a news outlet.
It is a weapon of mass deception deliberately targeting the minds and hearts of the American public.
Its influence has crippled our institutions, corroded our discourse, and enabled authoritarianism.
We must stop pretending otherwise.
We must confront Fox News — and any future imitators — for what they are: enemies of truth and democracy.
There can be no liberty without truth.
And there can be no truth while Fox News remains on the air.
Faux news sued in 2004 to have the right to take excerpts from paragraphs, news stories, etc. And they won. Yet Canada and Australia got rid of Faux news. America eh, 🤷♀️
As of May 15, 2025, the Republican-led budget reconciliation bill—often referred to as the “big, beautiful bill”—is facing significant internal opposition, delaying its progress toward a House vote initially targeted for Memorial Day weekend. House Speaker Mike Johnson is contending with dissent from ultraconservative members who demand deeper Medicaid cuts and stricter work requirements, as well as moderates concerned about the bill's impact on constituents and fiscal implications. https://apnews.com/article/5588a1ba31875e5a4a2e23564244851b?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/15/megabill-teeters-after-hard-liners-make-their-stand-00352892?utm_source=chatgpt.com
Key Provisions of the Bill
The bill proposes substantial tax cuts and spending reductions, including:
$715 billion in Medicaid cuts, introducing work requirements and eligibility checks that could affect over 10 million people.
$351 billion in cuts to student aid, limiting Pell Grant eligibility and repealing student debt forgiveness programs.
$50 billion in cuts to the Federal Employee Retirement System, reducing take-home pay and retirement benefits.
Significant reductions in funding for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and dissolution of the Public Accounting Oversight Board.
New taxes on electric and hybrid vehicles and elimination of funding for green energy programs authorized by the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act.
$25 billion allocated for a “Golden Dome” missile defense shield, involving space-based assets.
Limitations on federal judges’ authority to hold government officials in contempt of court.
Current Status
The House Budget Committee is scheduled to meet on Friday to address the bill, but internal divisions may delay further progress. Speaker Johnson aims for a floor vote next week, but with a slim majority and no Democratic support expected, the bill's passage remains uncertain. https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/15/megabill-teeters-after-hard-liners-make-their-stand-00352892?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.wsj.com/politics/gop-tax-bill-speaker-mike-johnson-01456ff6?utm_source=chatgpt.com
How You Can Take Action
To oppose this bill, consider the following steps:
Contact Your Representative: Call or email your House representative to express your concerns about the bill's provisions, especially those affecting healthcare, education, and environmental programs.
Engage with Senators: Reach out to your state's senators to voice your opposition, as the bill will require Senate approval after passing the House.
Participate in Public Forums: Attend town halls or public meetings to discuss the bill's impact and encourage others to take action.
Spread Awareness: Use social media and community networks to inform others about the bill's contents and potential consequences.
Support Advocacy Groups: Collaborate with organizations working to protect healthcare, education, and environmental funding to amplify your efforts.
By taking these steps, you can contribute to the collective effort to oppose the bill and advocate for policies that prioritize the well-being of all citizens.
RE: Urgent Action Needed to Stop Unconstitutional ICE Raids in California
Dear Governor Newsom and Attorney General Bonta,
I am writing as a concerned resident of California to urge you to take immediate and decisive action against the continued presence and operations of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents conducting warrantless raids in our communities. These actions violate the constitutional rights of individuals, particularly the Fourth Amendment, and are contributing to a climate of fear, trauma, and legal abuse across the state.
ICE’s consistent use of administrative warrants, which are not signed by a judge, to enter homes, detain individuals, and disrupt workplaces is an egregious abuse of power. These raids occur without judicial oversight, due process, or any semblance of legality under our state and federal constitutions. When agents forcibly enter private property or detain individuals without a proper warrant, they are acting outside the bounds of the law.
As such, I respectfully demand the following actions:
1. Issue a Statewide Directive Prohibiting Cooperation With ICE in Warrantless Raids
All state law enforcement agencies, including CHP, must be explicitly barred from assisting ICE agents unless a judicially signed warrant is presented. ICE should be treated no differently than any other law enforcement agency when it comes to search and seizure under the law.
2. Investigate and Monitor ICE Activities as Potential Civil Rights Violations
The California Department of Justice should actively investigate ICE operations under state civil rights laws, especially when agents detain individuals or enter premises without proper legal authority. Victims of such actions should have access to state-sponsored legal support and restitution.
3. Enforce and Expand California Sanctuary Laws
Laws such as SB 54, AB 103, and AB 450 must be enforced rigorously. Furthermore, these protections should be extended to cover residential raids, not just public spaces and employers. Any private party cooperating with ICE without a warrant (including landlords, employers, and contractors) should face state-level penalties.
4. Declare ICE Warrantless Raids a Violation of State Sovereignty and Public Order
The state must draw a legal line: no federal agency has the right to bypass California’s constitutional protections. While the Supremacy Clause limits certain forms of resistance, California has a duty to protect its residents from unlawful federal overreach.
We are not asking for obstruction — we are asking for constitutional order. ICE is operating outside the legal framework, without accountability, and in direct violation of the freedoms we claim to uphold as Californians and as Americans.
California has long stood as a national leader in civil rights and due process. Now is the time to act with courage and principle. I urge you to use every power available under state law to protect our residents from unlawful raids and to demand that ICE operate under the same standards required of any legitimate law enforcement body.
Sincerely,
Yes, I might sound unhinged — but how else should a sane person respond to this madness?
Those of us who believed in building a just country, those who fought and sacrificed and struggled for progress — we’re watching it all be burned down in real time. The dream we invested in is slipping into the hands of a cult, not a government. This has nothing to do with governance, law, or leadership. It's about blind devotion, manipulation, and rage.
The wealth of this country was built on slavery and centuries of institutionalized misery. We endured a Civil War. We suffered through the Great Depression, Vietnam, assassinations, injustice upon injustice. And through all that, we believed — however naively — that maybe, just maybe, we were getting somewhere. That we were evolving as a species. That truth, equality, reason, and democracy might finally triumph.
Instead, what did we do?
We handed the megaphone to the lowest, loudest voices. We coddled ignorance and called it "freedom." We allowed propaganda to parade as journalism. We surrendered facts to feelings. And now, here we are, teetering on the edge of fascism again — despite knowing where that road leads.
And yes, I have written volumes. I have essays, articles, and warnings ready to go — but what’s the point? Everything that needs to be said has been said. The people we most desperately need to reach won’t listen. Not because they disagree, but because they can’t. They’re in a cult. They’ve given up their critical thinking in exchange for identity, grievance, and a false sense of belonging.
Donald Trump couldn't run a public toilet without fouling it up. And yet he’s propped up by a cabal of criminals, grifters, and sociopaths who know exactly what they’re doing. These are not patriots. These are not Christians. These are not leaders. These are parasites who feed on chaos, fear, and ignorance.
And we let it happen.
Why?
Because we failed to protect the First Amendment from abuse. Because Obama — as brilliant and articulate as he was — lacked the political courage to confront the rising tide of disinformation. Because Democrats believed the system would hold. It didn’t.
We allowed lies to become law. We allowed Rupert Murdoch to poison the minds of millions. We allowed Facebook, YouTube, and Fox News to turn ignorance into a product and fear into a lifestyle.
And now, here we are — shouting into the abyss, knowing that truth doesn’t matter anymore to the ones who most need it.
So yes, I’m angry. Yes, I sound unhinged. But if you’re not angry right now, then you’re not paying attention.
The Ride of Captain Bone Spurs
A Brutal History of a Nation Hijacked
He never earned it. He just took it.
Trump — a failed casino clown, a draft-dodging coward with a gold toilet and a black heart — never built anything real in his life. His empire was built on air, debt, branding, and bluster. No integrity. No strategy. Just noise, lawsuits, and other people’s money.
And now he’s back. Not just back in politics. Back in power.
Controlling the GOP like a cult leader. Turning the Supreme Court into a wrecking crew. Holding the nation hostage with threats of violence, lies, and mass delusion.
We are not in a post-Trump era. We are in the late-stage Trumpist regime. And it all began with Roy Cohn.
ACT I: Mentored by a Monster
Roy Cohn — McCarthy’s hitman. A closeted, vicious, scorched-earth operator. Trump's shadow tutor.
Cohn taught Trump the gospel of shamelessness:
Never apologize.
Never admit.
Attack harder when you’re guilty.
Turn truth into a weapon.
Trump took notes. Built his entire public life on this moral sewage. And it worked. Because America was primed for it. Primed by reality TV, by decades of consumer rot, by institutional cowardice, and by a broken press addicted to balance over truth.
What followed was a con job on a national scale.
ACT II: Captain Bone Spurs Rides Again
He dodged Vietnam with fake bone spurs — but paraded as a wartime president against immigrants, journalists, women, minorities, and anyone who told the truth.
He lost the 2020 election — and turned that loss into a fundraising goldmine and a slow coup. He cheered on the January 6th terrorists — then pretended he was the victim. He called soldiers “suckers and losers” — while wrapping himself in the flag like a defiled relic.
And now, like a horror sequel nobody asked for, he’s back on the ballot — but never really off the throne. The institutions that could have stopped him? They flinched. They hedged. They waited for “norms” to do the job.
But you don’t stop fascism with norms. You don’t reason with a man who has no concept of reason. You don’t appeal to shame when you’re facing a sociopath who views shame as weakness.
This isn’t political anymore. It’s pathological.
ACT III: The Traitor’s Court
Look at the rogues’ gallery he leads:
Giuliani: A greasy ghoul with teeth stained by lies and red wine.
Bannon: A fascist huckster powered by meth, hate, and podcast donations.
Flynn: A former general turned QAnon puppet, spouting theocratic garbage.
Roger Stone: Tattooed Nixon on his back, treason in his mouth.
Kari Lake, MTG, Boebert, Gaetz: A walking anti-intellectual meltdown.
And behind it all: Rupert Murdoch, poisoning the national bloodstream from a penthouse far away, as his media empire manufactures outrage, division, and fantasy 24/7.
Fox News isn’t news. It’s a weapon. A propaganda howitzer aimed straight at the brainstem of Middle America.
They’ve normalized the abnormal. Sanitized sedition. Gave treason a chyron and a commercial break.
ACT IV: A Mind War
This is psychological warfare. Not against an enemy abroad — but against the American people.
Years of disinformation, grievance politics, white resentment, and Christian nationalism have created a nation where millions now believe democracy is optional, violence is patriotic, and Trump is some kind of divine instrument.
This is not normal. This is not political disagreement. This is a cult of organized madness.
We have Americans saluting a man who tried to end democracy and will try again.
And we have institutions, billionaires, and media execs who are fine with it as long as the checks keep clearing.
ACT V: The End of Illusion
Captain Bone Spurs never served. Never sacrificed. Never cared.
He is a walking void — filled only with greed, vengeance, and the deep, lizard-brain need to never be wrong. And that makes him extremely dangerous. Because when he fails again — and he will — he’ll bring as much of the country down with him as he can.
We are past the warning signs. We are past satire. We are staring into the abyss, and half the country thinks it’s just a campaign ad.
This house is not divided. It’s on fire. And dreck like this man — and the propaganda system that birthed him — must be torn down, root and stem.
This is not politics. This is survival. The propaganda must end. The Murdoch empire must be broken. The criminal syndicate posing as a movement must be exposed for what it is: a rotting death cult wrapped in a flag, wielding a Bible, and aiming a gun at the Constitution.
Call it what it is: fascism, American-style. And stop waiting for someone else to stop it.
Title: Memorial Day Briefing: When the Generals Met the Grifters
Setting: A Secure Tactical Bunker – Location Classified, Time Eternal
The war room’s steel door hissed open. General George S. Patton was first through it, boots thudding like judgment. He wore his trademark helmet and twin pearl-handled Colts — more ceremonial now, but the gleam in his eye said he’d still use them if duty called.
Next came General Omar Bradley. Measured, calm, the “soldier’s general.” He had the look of a man ready to assess, weigh, and render judgment with surgical clarity.
Behind him, General Mark Clark — ever sharp, analytical, and diplomatic when needed — surveyed the scene with a seasoned general’s disdain for nonsense.
Bringing up the rear, chain-smoking and muttering, was Walter Bedell “Beetle” Smith, Eisenhower’s wartime chief of staff. He looked like he’d already seen too much — and wasn't surprised this meeting was happening.
Laid out before them: dossiers, video evidence, testimonies, indictments — the whole unholy mess of the modern American clown show. A rogue’s gallery led by Donald Trump and propped up by Giuliani, Bannon, Stone, Flynn, Eastman, and a choir of stooges so loud it drowned out logic.
Act I: The Briefing
Beetle Smith squinted at the video monitor. “This one tried to say windmills cause cancer.”
Bradley flipped through a file. “Trump dodged the draft for bone spurs, then mocked POWs. This is who led the armed forces?”
“He didn’t lead,” Clark muttered. “He marketed. Different thing entirely.”
Patton growled, “If I’d caught him during the war claiming leadership, I’d have kicked his gold-plated ass across the Maginot Line. You don’t get to wave the flag with one hand while pocketing the treasury with the other.”
“Let’s talk about this ‘rally’,” Bradley said, pointing to January 6th footage. “He sent civilians to storm their own Capitol. Incited rebellion. Hid behind lawyers.”
Beetle coughed through his smoke. “This is fascism with spray tan. Hitler had uniforms. This guy had merch.”
Clark leaned forward. “And still, he claims patriotism. Claims to love the troops.”
Bradley locked eyes with the others. “We buried the real patriots. They never bragged. They bled. And this man would’ve left them to die if it helped his poll numbers.”
Act II: The Holding Pen
The door to the observation room opened. The generals stood behind one-way glass, looking into the containment area where the modern criminals sat.
Trump lounged like a bloated Caesar. Giuliani’s hair dye was dripping again. Bannon looked like he’d been soaking in bourbon and conspiracy theories. The rest yakked into cameras or practiced confused versions of the Constitution.
Bradley spoke first. “I fought alongside men who’d die for democracy. These people wouldn’t miss brunch for it.”
Patton paced. “He talks about greatness, but he’s never served, never sacrificed, never stood for anything but himself. If cowardice were a currency, this room could fund a moon mission.”
Beetle Smith chuckled bitterly. “The Nazis were evil. These clowns are evil and incompetent. It’s like Boris and Natasha joined forces with the Ku Klux Klan and hired the Three Stooges for strategy.”
Clark added, “It’s not just Trump. It’s the ecosystem. Grifters, liars, media stooges. They’ve turned democracy into a pay-per-view grudge match.”
Act III: The Verdict
Patton slammed his fist on the table. “This isn’t politics. It’s treason wrapped in reality TV. The only thing these men ever fought for was airtime.”
Bradley spoke calmly but firmly. “They mock everything we stood for. The Constitution. The truth. The lives lost in Europe, the Pacific, North Africa. This… what we’re seeing… is a betrayal.”
Beetle exhaled. “Let history record: we were called to fight monsters. These are parasites. Worse in some ways. At least monsters had the decency to be obvious.”
Clark stood. “Then let the record show: had these men lived in our time, they wouldn’t be generals. They wouldn’t be heroes. They’d be cellmates.”
Memorial Day – Then and Now
Today, we honor the soldiers who gave everything.
But we must also call out those who dishonor them — with lies, cowardice, and corruption cloaked in faux patriotism.
Patton would’ve slapped the smug off their faces. Bradley would’ve dismantled them with truth. Clark would’ve cornered them with facts. And Beetle Smith would’ve filed them under “Enemies, Domestic.”
They fought real evil. What we’re fighting now is dressed as a joke — and that’s how it gets away with it.
I’ve crafted it in the tone of a concerned and informed constituent with reference to the bill’s contents and constitutional implications. Since no official bill number is provided in public documents, I will refer to it as the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)" for clarity—but you can insert the specific bill number (e.g., H.R. ####) once known.
[Your Full Name] [Your Address] [City, State, ZIP Code] [Email Address] [Date]
To: All Republican Members of the United States Senate Washington, D.C.
RE: Opposition to the "One Big Beautiful Bill Act" – A Moral and Fiscal Betrayal
Dear Senators,
As an informed American citizen and constituent, I am writing to express my unequivocal opposition to the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), recently passed by the House of Representatives and now under consideration in the Senate.
Despite its name, there is nothing admirable about this legislation. We are well aware of the contents of this bill—thanks to public reporting and legislative analysis—and we reject it in full. If passed, this bill would constitute a historic betrayal of working-class Americans, seniors, low-income families, and the future stability of the United States.
Key Provisions We Oppose:
$3.8 trillion increase to the national deficit, primarily to fund tax cuts for the ultra-wealthy and corporations.
Deep and dangerous cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, and SNAP, putting millions at risk of hunger and health crises.
The elimination of green energy incentives, worsening climate vulnerability and undermining U.S. innovation.
Massive tax exemptions for estates and pass-through entities, serving only the richest Americans while the rest struggle to afford groceries, housing, and healthcare.
Expansions in defense and border enforcement spending with no accountability or long-term benefit to national security or public welfare.
This bill is not merely flawed—it is a deliberate assault on the most vulnerable Americans. It is a grotesque redistribution of wealth upward, achieved by sacrificing basic protections for the elderly, disabled, and working poor.
Your Role: A Test of Conscience and Constitutional Duty
The Senate was not designed to be a rubber stamp for ideological extremism or corporate greed. Your responsibility is not to any individual or party, but to the Constitution and the American people.
If you choose to support this bill, you are complicit in enacting legislation that intentionally increases suffering and consolidates power into the hands of the few. This bill is not policy—it is economic violence in legislative form.
Our Response
We, the American people, are watching. We are organizing. We will challenge this bill in the public square, in the courts, and at the ballot box. Your support for this legislation will not be forgotten or forgiven.
This is a legal, moral, and civic disgrace, and we call on you—urgently—to vote against this catastrophic legislation and restore some measure of sanity, humanity, and decency to your office.
Sincerely,
What’s happening in Washington is not a “bamboozle,” as Dr. Reich called it. No — this is the full-scale incarnation of evil. It’s as if every demon from hell has crawled out from under every rock, manifesting as greed, corruption, xenophobia, hatred, and racism — all empowered by cowardice, ignorance, and an unwillingness to confront the abuse of power at its root.
This didn’t happen overnight. This is what happens when a nation fails to protect the First Amendment from abuse. The rise of right-wing propaganda machines like Fox News — and our complete failure to regulate them responsibly — set the stage for this collapse. The moment Rupert Murdoch launched his empire of distortion, we should have acted. We should have revoked his ability to poison public discourse and pushed him out. But we didn’t.
Why? Because Barack Obama didn’t have the courage. He had the legal tools, the executive power, and the platform — but he was too afraid of being criticized by Republicans. He failed to defend truth and democratic norms when it mattered most. He chose caution over leadership.
And Joe Biden? He may be a capable legislator, but he is not a strong leader. His failure to speak out forcefully and consistently against the core threat — the weaponization of free speech as a tool for mass manipulation — has made everything worse.
We are not in this crisis because of one man — we are here because of decades of passivity, political cowardice, and the refusal to hold media accountable. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and we ignored every warning sign.
You cannot lie to people every day through a national media platform and expect democracy to survive. That’s not free speech. That’s propaganda. That’s brainwashing. And it has worked. My own family has been completely consumed by Fox News — they understand nothing about what’s happening in this country. If something makes them uncomfortable, they simply find a source that confirms Fox’s lies. That’s not critical thinking. That’s ideological conditioning.
People often say, “The First Amendment means you can say what you want.” But that’s a gross oversimplification. The First Amendment protects opinions rooted in reason, facts, and good faith participation in a democratic society — not deliberate disinformation campaigns designed to destroy that society from within.
And underlying all of this is the unchecked power of super PACs and corporate money. We’ve allowed our political system to be bought and sold by billionaires and extremists who benefit from chaos and deception.
This crisis is our own doing. Not just because of those who pushed the lies, but because of those who stood by and watched it happen. We didn’t stop it when we could. And now, we’re paying the price — morally, culturally, and politically.
Subject: Grave Concern Regarding Reports of Settlement with Donald Trump and Its Ethical Implications
Dear Paramount Executives,
I write to you as a deeply concerned global citizen and longtime observer of the critical role the press plays in preserving democratic society. Recent reports, including those outlined by Ben Meiselas of the MeidasTouch Network, regarding your company’s alleged willingness to settle a baseless lawsuit filed by former President Donald Trump in exchange for regulatory favor related to the Skydance merger, are deeply troubling.
If these reports are accurate, they represent not just a strategic miscalculation, but a profound moral failing—one that undermines the foundational principles of journalistic independence, institutional integrity, and democratic accountability.
The notion that a media conglomerate of Paramount’s stature would capitulate to political intimidation and extortion—cloaked as litigation—raises urgent questions about the values driving your corporate leadership. The implication that a settlement in the range of $30–$50 million might be paid directly to Mr. Trump as a quid pro quo for government approval is not only alarming, it is potentially corrosive to public trust in the independence of media institutions. It is difficult to interpret this as anything other than a transactional compromise of truth for profit.
Shari Redstone, as controlling shareholder, may well seek to maximize returns through a Skydance merger, but this pursuit must not come at the expense of democratic values or ethical journalism. Paramount’s legacy—and that of CBS News in particular—was built on a tradition of fearless, fair, and independent reporting. To betray that heritage for expediency or capital gain would permanently damage your public credibility and internal morale.
The resignations of Wendy McMahon and Bill Owens, two professionals of high esteem, only underscore the gravity of the internal crisis your organization is facing. Their departures speak not of personnel changes, but of institutional conscience in revolt.
Let me be absolutely clear: Settling with a man who has openly undermined democracy, attacked the press, incited violence, and attempted to subvert the rule of law is a moral compromise that cannot be justified under any business rationale. The short-term gain in merger approval or shareholder profit pales in comparison to the long-term reputational and historical cost of enabling authoritarian manipulation of media.
As stewards of one of the world’s most visible and influential media platforms, you have a duty not only to your shareholders, but to your audience, your journalists, and to the democratic society you serve.
I urge you to reconsider any move that would allow such a settlement to go forward. The public is watching. History is watching. And it will not forget those who sold out truth for money.
Respectfully,
Thank you, Olivia. I saw this on 60 Minutes last evening. Can you investigate more specifically what Paramount has said and done to stifle the independence of one of my alltime favorite shows? NO wonder Trump has never attended the White House Correspondents Dinner--he has no sense of humor, and no ability to take any form of critique.
Trump did go to one during Obama's presidency. Obama eviscerated Trump for his stupid, stupid "birtherism" BS.
Yes, I remember it well (Obama was so calm and cool and funny). So, Trump hasn't attended a Correspondents Dinner since he felt so insulted and humiliated--which is what he tries to do to others constantly!
That's the take-home point! Trump just lives to dish it out, but he doesn't have the character to take it. The "tough" guy is just a shrinking violet. And then we had Trump speaking to the UN General Assembly where they all laughed him out of the building.
Not only did Trump attend the 2011 dinner but Obama’s brutal takedown may have motivated Trump to run for President as described in this PBS Frontline excerpt.
https://youtu.be/Htt91G2qDwM?si=7j8n9QVcaDehzdGM
Yes, I've read that's is where Trump decided on his fever dream.
It is ironic that the party that has been complaining about censorship and cancel culture, is now doing it themselves. Thanks for speaking out Olivia. When Trump called the press the "enemy of the people" I paid attention. I am not sure what it takes for other people.
Dan Rather and his Team Steady provided great detail and insight on the 60 Minutes situation.
https://open.substack.com/pub/steady/p/meet-the-hero-of-60-minutes?r=1pvmiz&utm_medium=ios
The fact that there are NO Republicans and far too many Democrats staying silent on the orange man-baby’s attempts at silencing the media and the universities is as chilling as his brazen attempts. When did they (elected officials) and we, the citizens as a whole, become a nation of spineless jellyfish? Our pioneer ancestors settled this great country and we put the first human on the moon all hard, challenging endeavors, but yet we stand hapless in the face of buffoonery. Thank you, Olivia, for your clear, concise warning about what’s really going on.
I have always wanted to go to “Nerd Prom!”
Olivia, you looked happy and motivated in all your recent photo posts :) Joy is fuel for the fight ~Cada Día La Lucha
🫶 In this together. Not backing down!
People will slit the very throat of democracy to line their own pockets. Extreme wealth is a mental illness.
That's it Angie, the almighty dollar. And it's never enough for them
We have to stay the course and fight. The Nazis got theirs and these Magots will to. He will not live forever and justice will be served!
This is indeed chilling .. companies like CBS need to stand up to politicians .. not stand down. The push for profits over quality reporting is just another twist the greedy pursue for making more money. How much do the ultra wealthy need .. oh wait, it’s really about power over the rest of civilization.
The men who pledged their lives and "sacred honor" to each other would have never conceived of a United States where it would be illegal to criticize the government and the Supreme Leader, but it would be perfectly acceptable to lie shamelessly about a thousand other issues.