The quip on the Insurrection Act is really alarming to me for one reason. Invoking it (for what I see is unwarranted) opens the door for declaring Marshal Law and leads the way to cancelled elections.
I like your idea about Mike Pence - even as a democrat. Pence is a good person and puts law and country before party.
The stance on Europe is the dictators plan to split the world into three areas:
1. USA - Western Hemisphere
2. Russia - Europe
3. China - Asia
Very alarming.
AS I SAY EVERY WEEK, YOUR SUMMARIES AND LINKS ARE FANTASTIC. WORKING IN TRUMP 1.0 MAKES YOU A PIVOTAL INDIVIDUAL WHO IS OBVIOUSLY IN THE KNOW!
The two words sound alike and both deal with matters military , but it's *martial* law, not marshal law. The word "martial" is derived from Mars, the Roman god of war. "Marshal," I just learned, is partly derived from "marah," an Old High German word for "horse" -- it was originally associated with cavalry.
Heading to DC today to visit family. Three out of four kiddos work in DHS, SEC and State Department...I pray for them everyday!
In the meantime, we watch the news, we write letters, we stay connected, we worry. My youngest is gay...he and his friends should not hav to live under constant worry. and stress.. but alas...
In the meantime...I have not heard about craftivism. What a wonderful idea. I have long lost my skills but perhaps it's time to dust off the crochet hooks! Thanks so much for sharing.
Wishing you and yours a Happy New year, full of hope and peace...
The Lord works in mysterious ways - I dusted off my crochet hooks about a year ago & am currently finishing a blanket for a friend who was diagnosed with cancer. Once that's finished, I just might have to find a hat pattern & get into my craftivism era! 🧶
I think Mike would not be good in the Oval Office but as a protesting conservative he has credibility (except that he won’t make anti Trump sentiments public)
I can’t believe I’m rooting for Mike Pence. His wife and daughter seemed to truly respect and admire him when he was vp. I remain impressed by that. My big time concerns with him are with separation of church and state, LGBTQ rights, and DEI. So - leading a new conservative Heritage Foundation defector’s group - YAY; for 2028 - NO WAY.
I’m so thankful for you Olivia! You bring the truth to us with such clarity and help us to navigate the chaos which, unfortunately, has become a daily burden. I find inspiration, hope and determination reading your essays! 💕
The Heritage Foundation is infected with Opus Dei, CN and Nazi loving European royalists who have also poisoned every level of education with their elevation of primitive, discredited idea, they fog young brains with bull shit about dinosaurs and Noah’s Ark while children die of long eradicated diseases. American Intellectuals are so lame.
"This isn’t about whether Trump invokes [the Insurrection Act] tomorrow. It’s about trajectory."
Thank you for this crucial observation, one that is too rarely made. We get caught up in events, punch and counterpunch, and lose the big picture -- or "trajectory," as you put it. To see or imagine that arc, we have to step back and consider the elements and forces at work, and their behavior patterns.
The Insurrection Act is not exactly inevitable, but, as you point out, it becomes more and more likely as Trump's legal options dwindle. The imperative for him (and MAGA) is survival -- which, by the zero-sum terms he himself has set, must equate with victory rather than compromise. That, ultimately, forces the issue and threatens a dark, if not inexorable, trajectory toward confrontation with deadly force. In light of which, Quantico can be seen as an opening move.
After all the alarms raised in today's substack, I wholeheartedly liked "Weapons of Mass Construction". Best of luck to those who knit for protest in 2026. Also hope for Mike Pence to bring sanity to the Republican Party. It's one thing to advocate for smaller government, it's quite another to destroy government. Also after years of one party or the other using racism as a structural position, it could be the start of ending racism itself, banishing it to the dark, unspoken corners of a few evil person's souls.
trump and his repulsive minion little marco sanctions peaceful EU officials and coddles the Butcher of Bucha. Classy bunch. Satan blushes.
I look forward to Heritage and maga destroying themselves in their own hate filled rage machines. That would be a wonderful stocking stuffer for 2026 Christmas.
Happy New Year, Olicia! Thank you for all your efforts this year to keep me informed about the inside ga,es.
From France, I like all that you write and say Olivia ! We are appalled by whatTrump and his administration do, it is unbelievable. They do not consider Europeans as their allies any longer, and they side with Putin !!!
Commenting on just one thing you wrote: My confidence in anything Mike Pence is doing is low. As you yourself once wrote, “He’s just weak”
If he really wants to be a “true conservative” he’ll advocate for getting rid of the insane tax cuts for the wealthy, and in fact RAISING taxes on them.
He won’t.
True conservatism had (note the past tense there) as its #1 tenet fiscal sanity.
Modern day phony conservatism, since Reagan is all about big deficits because of tax breaks (as well as hatred of POC, gays, trans, and anyone who isn’t a phony white Christian)
Olivia, did you see this story?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-hires-beauty-salon-owner-to-decide-who-to-ban-from-us/ar-AA1T4Yvo?ocid=BingNewsSerp
The quip on the Insurrection Act is really alarming to me for one reason. Invoking it (for what I see is unwarranted) opens the door for declaring Marshal Law and leads the way to cancelled elections.
I like your idea about Mike Pence - even as a democrat. Pence is a good person and puts law and country before party.
The stance on Europe is the dictators plan to split the world into three areas:
1. USA - Western Hemisphere
2. Russia - Europe
3. China - Asia
Very alarming.
AS I SAY EVERY WEEK, YOUR SUMMARIES AND LINKS ARE FANTASTIC. WORKING IN TRUMP 1.0 MAKES YOU A PIVOTAL INDIVIDUAL WHO IS OBVIOUSLY IN THE KNOW!
HAPPY NEW YEAR
The two words sound alike and both deal with matters military , but it's *martial* law, not marshal law. The word "martial" is derived from Mars, the Roman god of war. "Marshal," I just learned, is partly derived from "marah," an Old High German word for "horse" -- it was originally associated with cavalry.
Damn I always forget that spelling as Martial Law. Nevertheless, I see this coming esp with the midterms looming
Heading to DC today to visit family. Three out of four kiddos work in DHS, SEC and State Department...I pray for them everyday!
In the meantime, we watch the news, we write letters, we stay connected, we worry. My youngest is gay...he and his friends should not hav to live under constant worry. and stress.. but alas...
In the meantime...I have not heard about craftivism. What a wonderful idea. I have long lost my skills but perhaps it's time to dust off the crochet hooks! Thanks so much for sharing.
Wishing you and yours a Happy New year, full of hope and peace...
Have a wonderful visit with your family in DC! Yes!!!🙌 Let me know if you get back into crochet.🧶
The Lord works in mysterious ways - I dusted off my crochet hooks about a year ago & am currently finishing a blanket for a friend who was diagnosed with cancer. Once that's finished, I just might have to find a hat pattern & get into my craftivism era! 🧶
“Conservative Brain Drain” now that is funny😂
😉
This is an excellent article, Olivia! Thank you so much for sharing your truth and your perspective. 🥰✌🏽🙏🏽🤩❤️
I hope more Republicans choose to align themselves with Mike Pence!
I think Mike would not be good in the Oval Office but as a protesting conservative he has credibility (except that he won’t make anti Trump sentiments public)
I can’t believe I’m rooting for Mike Pence. His wife and daughter seemed to truly respect and admire him when he was vp. I remain impressed by that. My big time concerns with him are with separation of church and state, LGBTQ rights, and DEI. So - leading a new conservative Heritage Foundation defector’s group - YAY; for 2028 - NO WAY.
Great last Covfefe of 2025. Thank you for your insight and clear writing. Looking forward to reading more!
I’m so thankful for you Olivia! You bring the truth to us with such clarity and help us to navigate the chaos which, unfortunately, has become a daily burden. I find inspiration, hope and determination reading your essays! 💕
The Heritage Foundation is infected with Opus Dei, CN and Nazi loving European royalists who have also poisoned every level of education with their elevation of primitive, discredited idea, they fog young brains with bull shit about dinosaurs and Noah’s Ark while children die of long eradicated diseases. American Intellectuals are so lame.
This is all going to lead to a Depression, but those of us at the bottom of the totem pole are well equipped, the elite? Not so much😎
"This isn’t about whether Trump invokes [the Insurrection Act] tomorrow. It’s about trajectory."
Thank you for this crucial observation, one that is too rarely made. We get caught up in events, punch and counterpunch, and lose the big picture -- or "trajectory," as you put it. To see or imagine that arc, we have to step back and consider the elements and forces at work, and their behavior patterns.
The Insurrection Act is not exactly inevitable, but, as you point out, it becomes more and more likely as Trump's legal options dwindle. The imperative for him (and MAGA) is survival -- which, by the zero-sum terms he himself has set, must equate with victory rather than compromise. That, ultimately, forces the issue and threatens a dark, if not inexorable, trajectory toward confrontation with deadly force. In light of which, Quantico can be seen as an opening move.
I've written on this dynamic in greater detail: https://whowhatwhy.org/politics/us-politics/the-dictators-doom-loop-revisited-trump-wont-go-gentle/ and https://whowhatwhy.org/politics/us-politics/as-his-popularity-tanks-donald-trump-turns-to-power/ are two examples.
After all the alarms raised in today's substack, I wholeheartedly liked "Weapons of Mass Construction". Best of luck to those who knit for protest in 2026. Also hope for Mike Pence to bring sanity to the Republican Party. It's one thing to advocate for smaller government, it's quite another to destroy government. Also after years of one party or the other using racism as a structural position, it could be the start of ending racism itself, banishing it to the dark, unspoken corners of a few evil person's souls.
trump and his repulsive minion little marco sanctions peaceful EU officials and coddles the Butcher of Bucha. Classy bunch. Satan blushes.
I look forward to Heritage and maga destroying themselves in their own hate filled rage machines. That would be a wonderful stocking stuffer for 2026 Christmas.
Happy New Year, Olicia! Thank you for all your efforts this year to keep me informed about the inside ga,es.
Thank you.
From France, I like all that you write and say Olivia ! We are appalled by whatTrump and his administration do, it is unbelievable. They do not consider Europeans as their allies any longer, and they side with Putin !!!
Commenting on just one thing you wrote: My confidence in anything Mike Pence is doing is low. As you yourself once wrote, “He’s just weak”
If he really wants to be a “true conservative” he’ll advocate for getting rid of the insane tax cuts for the wealthy, and in fact RAISING taxes on them.
He won’t.
True conservatism had (note the past tense there) as its #1 tenet fiscal sanity.
Modern day phony conservatism, since Reagan is all about big deficits because of tax breaks (as well as hatred of POC, gays, trans, and anyone who isn’t a phony white Christian)
He won’t touch it.
This will go nowhere.
Because Pence is weak
Thank you for your relentless devotion in exposing the inner corruption of this regime.