Category: Anti-Establishment

Trump’s Phoenix Speech: A Dangerous Return to Authoritarian Rhetoric

Donald Trump’s recent speech in Phoenix showcased his continued efforts to appeal to far-right conservatives while promoting regressive and dangerous ideologies. In a move that echoed his previous rhetoric, Trump threatened to reclaim the Panama Canal, claiming unfair treatment by Panama and reiterating his belief in American exceptionalism. This statement reflects a troubling shift towards authoritarianism and a disregard for international agreements, as he disregards the 1977 treaty that granted control of the canal to Panama.

Trump’s comments about potentially meeting with Vladimir Putin to discuss the war in Ukraine reveal a dangerous inclination to legitimize a dictator who has committed egregious acts of aggression. By prioritizing personal diplomacy with Putin over the established diplomatic channels, Trump undermines the United States’ standing in the global community and disregards the suffering of those affected by the war.

Additionally, Trump dismissed concerns about Elon Musk’s influence over his administration, insisting that Musk is not taking over the presidency. This denial comes as Trump has increasingly relied on Musk’s platform to bolster his political power, showcasing a concerning trend of blurring the lines between corporate influence and government.

In a misguided attempt to rewrite history, Trump called for the restoration of the name Mount McKinley, suggesting it is an affront to American values to honor indigenous history. This revisionist approach to history is part of a larger trend of promoting a ‘culture war,’ which serves to distract from pressing issues facing the nation.

Trump’s endorsement of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary, despite Kennedy’s baseless claims linking vaccines to autism, raises serious ethical concerns. By promoting vaccine skepticism, Trump is endangering public health and undermining the scientific consensus that vaccines are safe and effective.

The former president’s comments on TikTok reveal a contradictory stance. While he acknowledges the app’s potential to connect with young voters, his administration previously sought to ban it over national security concerns. This inconsistency highlights the opportunistic nature of Trump’s politics.

Trump’s rhetoric demonstrates a blatant disregard for facts, as he continues to perpetuate lies about the 2020 election and inflame divisive issues. This approach not only threatens the integrity of American democracy but also emboldens extremist factions within the Republican Party.

Overall, Trump’s speech encapsulated a troubling trajectory towards authoritarianism, fueled by misinformation and a rejection of democratic norms. His continued embrace of controversial figures and ideas raises alarms about the future of American governance and the potential for further erosion of civil liberties.

As Trump continues to rally his base with incendiary language and policies that cater to wealthy elites, it is crucial to recognize the dangers posed by his brand of politics. The American public must remain vigilant against these threats to democracy and work towards a more equitable and just society.

(h/t: https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/22/politics/trump-turning-point-rally-key-lines/index.html)

Tucker Carlson Undermines Mike Pompeo’s Defense Secretary Aspirations

Tucker Carlson has allegedly sabotaged Mike Pompeo’s bid for the position of Secretary of Defense in Donald Trump’s upcoming administration, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal. Carlson conveyed to Trump his strong opposition to Pompeo, labeling him a “warmonger” and asserting that he had a history of disloyalty towards Trump, particularly regarding the 2020 election and the January 6 Capitol riots.

The report indicates that Carlson, alongside Donald Trump Jr., presented a case against Pompeo, citing his purported intentions to assassinate WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and warning against the influence of neoconservatives in the administration. Their claims highlight a growing divide within Trump’s circle, where loyalty is prioritized over experience and competence.

Following these discussions, Trump confirmed that neither Pompeo nor former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley would be part of his second-term cabinet. Trump expressed gratitude for their past service but indicated a clear break from traditional Republican foreign policy perspectives.

In a surprising turn, Trump nominated former Fox News host Pete Hegseth for the Secretary of Defense position instead of Pompeo, reflecting a shift towards more populist and less conventional choices within his administration.

This internal conflict underscores the chaotic landscape of Trump’s political sphere, where personal loyalty often triumphs over professional qualifications, further solidifying the grip of extremist ideologies on the Republican Party.

(h/t: https://www.mediaite.com/politics/tucker-carlson-killed-mike-pompeos-chance-of-becoming-defense-secretary-report/)

Musk Aligns with Trump, Threatening GOP Moderates and Public Welfare

Elon Musk is openly aligning himself with Donald Trump, threatening to punish Republican lawmakers who do not support Trump’s agenda. Recently, Musk and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy met with GOP lawmakers to discuss the proposed Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to cut essential federal programs, prioritizing corporate interests over the needs of everyday Americans. This blatant disregard for public welfare underscores the alarming trend of American oligarchy prioritizing the wealthy elite at the expense of vulnerable populations.

During their Capitol Hill visit, Musk and Ramaswamy highlighted the potential consequences for Republican members of Congress who resist their plans. Musk’s suggestion of a ‘naughty and nice list’ denotes a dangerous shift towards authoritarian tactics within the GOP, potentially coercing lawmakers into compliance with Trump’s extreme policies. This move not only threatens the integrity of the Republican Party but also risks exacerbating the already divisive political climate.

Moreover, Musk’s financial contributions to pro-Trump PACs, including a significant sum to America PAC, reveal his commitment to mobilizing resources for furthering Trump’s agenda. These actions align Musk with a faction of the GOP that embraces fascist tactics, as they seek to eliminate dissenting voices within their ranks. The repercussions of this alliance could lead to a more radicalized Republican Party that prioritizes allegiance to Trump over the interests of constituents.

Critics of Trump’s administration are right to be concerned about Musk’s growing influence in politics. By leveraging his wealth and platforms, Musk could push the Republican Party further right, creating an environment where moderate stances are no longer tenable. The implications of this shift could undermine democratic principles and lead to the erosion of essential services that many Americans rely on.

In summary, Elon Musk’s increasing involvement in the political sphere, particularly in support of Trump’s agenda, signals a worrying trend of oligarchic control in American politics. The collaboration between wealthy elites and the GOP threatens to dismantle the foundations of democracy, prioritizing corporate interests over the well-being of the public and further entrenching a system that benefits the few at the expense of the many.

(h/t: https://apnews.com/article/elon-musk-politics-trump-7e26c829af224a1f9d67c27cea085e68?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=share)

Musk and Ramaswamy Advance Trump’s Dangerous DOGE Agenda in Congress

Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy recently met with Republican lawmakers at Capitol Hill to discuss Donald Trump’s controversial initiative, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), aimed at slashing federal programs and regulations. This meeting raised serious concerns about the prioritization of wealth and corporate interests over the needs of the American people, particularly vulnerable populations who rely on essential services like Medicare and Social Security.

The DOGE initiative is a thinly veiled attempt to fulfill Trump’s agenda of dismantling crucial government functions under the guise of efficiency. Musk and Ramaswamy, both wealthy entrepreneurs with limited public service experience, were tasked with leading this effort. Their lack of accountability and transparency threatens to undermine democratic processes and further enrich the oligarchs at the expense of everyday citizens.

During the closed-door meeting, lawmakers discussed potential cuts to various federal programs. Rep. Virginia Foxx even suggested reducing the Department of Education, a move that could devastate educational opportunities for countless students. Despite some lawmakers expressing a desire to maintain support for popular programs, the overall tone was one of prioritizing fiscal austerity without consideration for the human impact of these decisions.

Critics, including good-government advocates, are rightfully alarmed about the implications of allowing unelected individuals like Musk and Ramaswamy to influence federal budget cuts. Their advisory role lacks the traditional checks and balances that ensure a fair and transparent process. The Federal Advisory Committee Act, which was designed to uphold these standards, appears to be disregarded in favor of unaccountable decision-making.

The backdrop of this initiative is a staggering $6 trillion federal budget deficit, exacerbated by tax cuts for the wealthy, which Trump and his allies have historically championed. As these Republican lawmakers align themselves with Musk and Ramaswamy, it becomes clear that their focus is not on genuine budget reform but rather on advancing a neoliberal agenda that prioritizes corporate interests and undermines the fundamental rights of American citizens.

(h/t: https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Business/wireStory/elon-musk-vivek-ramaswamy-bringing-trumps-doge-capitol-116487139)

Trump New Ad Calls Him God’s Chosen One

Donald Trump’s new ad “God Made Trump” which he promoted on Truth Social reads like a biblical fanfic, casting Donald Trump as America’s divinely ordained hero battling wicked forces. Think a mashup of Adam’s creation (“God looked down…needed a caretaker. So God gave us Trump”) and Moses parting the Red Sea, only instead of Pharaoh, it’s “those darn Marxists.” This potent cocktail of biblical imagery and cult-like persuasion demands a closer look.

The ad employs the classic “Chosen One” trope, imbuing Trump with near-sacred authority. It invokes Genesis, framing his birth as God’s deliberate act, not a mere coincidence. References to John 10:11 paint him as a shepherd guiding his flock through perilous times, fostering a sense of dependence and unquestioning loyalty among supporters. This blurring of the lines between leader and divinely-ordained savior echoes the tactics of biblical cults, where charismatic figures wielded religious authority to control their followers.

But beneath the divine veneer lies a troubling “us vs. them” narrative. The ad paints a dystopian picture of America besieged by “Marxist vipers” and the “deep state serpent,” reminiscent of biblical battles between God’s chosen and their enemies. This stark division solidifies a sense of belonging and exclusivity within the Trump camp, but at the cost of silencing dissent and stifling critical thinking. This tactic mirrors the isolation and groupthink common in biblical cults, where members are encouraged to distrust outsiders and unquestioningly accept the leader’s pronouncements.

Remember, this ad is a masterclass in persuasive messaging, not a factual biography. Fact-checking reveals Trump’s “divine mandate” often translated to late-night tweets and Fox News marathons, not celestial guidance. His self-proclaimed messianic achievements demand nuanced analysis, not divinely-attributed magic. Ultimately, discerning voters, not divine intervention, are the architects of our democracy. Let’s keep faith in the pews and critical thinking in the voting booth. Just because the ad depicts Trump parting America’s political Red Sea doesn’t mean we should blindly follow him into the promised land.

“GOD MADE TRUMP”

“And on June 14th, 1946, God looked down on his planned paradise and said, I need a caretaker.

So God gave us Trump.

God said, I need somebody willing to get up before dawn, fix this country, work all day, fight the Marxists, eat supper, then go to the Oval Office and stay past midnight at a meeting of the heads of state.

So God made Trump.

I need somebody with arms, strong enough to rustle the deep state and yet gentle enough to deliver his own grandchild. Somebody to ruffle the feathers, tame cantankerous World Economic Forum, come home hungry, have to wait until the first lady is done with lunch with friends, then tell the ladies to be sure and come back real soon. And mean it.

So God gave us Trump.

I need somebody who can shape an axe but wield a sword, who had the courage to step foot in North Korea, who can make money from the tar of the sand, turn liquid to gold, who understands the difference between tariffs and inflation, will finish his 40-hour week by Tuesday noon, but then put in another 72 hours.

So God made Trump.

God had to have somebody willing to go into the den of vipers, call out the fake news for their tongues as sharp as a serpent’s, the poison of vipers is on their lips, and yet stop.

So God made Trump.

God said, I need somebody who will be strong and courageous, who will not be afraid or terrified of the wolves when they attack. A man who cares for the flock, a shepherd to mankind who won’t ever leave nor forsake them. I need the most diligent worker to follow the path and remain strong in faith and know the belief of God and country. Somebody who’s willing to drill, bring back manufacturing and American jobs, farm the lands, secure our borders, build our military, fight the system all day, and finish a hard week’s work by attending church on Sunday. And then his oldest son turns and says, dad, let’s make America great again. Dad, let’s build back a country to be the envy of the world again.

So God made Trump.”

(https://themessenger.com/politics/trump-shares-new-ad-god-made-trump?fbclid=IwAR2aj96th4RgWg2JzULV7rcIcYHw-qWoW8bD8ZPv1Dq263HsFUADvPxeGkc_aem_AQVJ7MCOyMt_egIStLZUg0F86qKW93UTLT49euVX3WYND024liJOo5weANX5TY8bJgM)

Betsy DeVos Just Made It Harder for Defrauded Students to Get Their Debt Canceled

Just in time for the start of a new school year, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Friday finalized a new suite of changes to an Obama-era policythat targeted fraud at for-profit colleges. The new DeVos rule significantly raises the bar students have to clear in order to qualify for debt forgiveness when their schools close while they’re enrolled.

After state and federal investigations into fraud at some of the country’s biggest for-profit college operators caused the schools to shutter, thousands of students found themselves deep in debt for incomplete degrees. As my colleague Eddie Rios reported last year:

The Century Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, found in May that more than 127,000 debt relief claims were filed to the Education Department by March 2018, up 29 percent from August 2017….More than 98 percent of those claims came from students who attended for-profit colleges. 

The Obama program has cleared $222 million in loans from nearly 20,000 borrowers since 2016, according to the New York Times. But as a result of the new DeVos rule, after July 2020, students filing for debt relief will have to prove their colleges intentionally deceived them, that it influenced their decision to enroll, and that it made them financially suffer. The change also sets a three-year deadline for filing a claim; the Obama rule had no deadline and automatically relieved their debts if they didn’t enroll elsewhere within three years. 

Just in time for the start of a new school year, Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Friday finalized a new suite of changes to an Obama-era policythat targeted fraud at for-profit colleges. The new DeVos rule significantly raises the bar students have to clear in order to qualify for debt forgiveness when their schools close while they’re enrolled.

After state and federal investigations into fraud at some of the country’s biggest for-profit college operators caused the schools to shutter, thousands of students found themselves deep in debt for incomplete degrees. As my colleague Eddie Rios reported last year:

The Century Foundation, a Washington-based think tank, found in May that more than 127,000 debt relief claims were filed to the Education Department by March 2018, up 29 percent from August 2017….More than 98 percent of those claims came from students who attended for-profit colleges. 

The Obama program has cleared $222 million in loans from nearly 20,000 borrowers since 2016, according to the New York Times. But as a result of the new DeVos rule, after July 2020, students filing for debt relief will have to prove their colleges intentionally deceived them, that it influenced their decision to enroll, and that it made them financially suffer. The change also sets a three-year deadline for filing a claim; the Obama rule had no deadline and automatically relieved their debts if they didn’t enroll elsewhere within three years. 

The Trump administration has repeatedly tried to delay rules for for-profit colleges and student loan forgiveness. Last year, a federal court called the delay “arbitrary and capricious,” ordering DeVos to implement the Obama-era rule. Student and consumer advocates plan to legally challenge DeVos’ latest replacement, as well. 

Student loans and Devos’ unpopular run as secretary of education have become a centerpiece of Democratic presidential politics. The 2020 field quickly condemned DeVos over the weekend.

[Mother Jones]

Trump on guns: ‘We do have a lot of background checks right now’

President Donald Trumpon Sunday emphasized a need for the country to focus on “a very big mental health problem” in the wake of two mass shootings in one weekend that left 32 people dead earlier this month as he appeared to defend current US gun control measures, stating “we do have a lot of background checks right now.”

“It’s the people that pull the trigger, not the gun that pulls the trigger so we have a very, very big mental health problem and Congress is working on various things and I will be looking at it,” Trump told reporters on the tarmac before heading back to Washington after a vacation at his golf club in Bedminster, New Jersey. 

The White House, Trump said, is “very much involved” in the discussions Congress is having to address gun violence and while “a lot of things are happening on the gun level” he said “the concept of mental institutions” must be addressed.

“These are people that have to be in institutions for help, I’m not talking about as a form of a prison, I’m saying for help and I think it’s something we have to really look at, the whole concept of mental institutions,” he said. “I remember growing up we had mental institutions, then they were closed — in New York, I’m talking about — they were, many of them closed. A lot of them were closed and all of those people were put out on the street.”

“So I think the concept of mental institutions has to be looked at,” he said. 

Guns in America

Trump’s comments Sunday mark an increased focus from the President on mental health measures over gun control legislation to address gun violence as lawmakers remain skeptical gun control legislation could pass a divided Congress. 

Trump, who has previously expressed support for tighter gun restrictions only to back off under pressure from the National Rifle Association, added Sunday that he’s “very concerned about the Second Amendment.”

Meanwhile, two gun control groups mobilized to increase the pressure on senators to pass legislation in the wake of the two mass shootings in Dayton, Ohio, and El Paso, Texas.

Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action held rallies across the country this weekend after announcing Thursday that they would spend nearly $1 million on ads against a handful of Republican lawmakers. 

The effort from Everytown and Moms Demand comes as the NRA, its biggest adversary, has been noticeably absent from applying pressure on Capitol Hill allies to hold fast against strong forces for gun reform.

Support for background checks 

The Democrat-controlled House passed a universal background check bill in February, but the measure has not been considered by the Republican-led Senate. Trump last week expressed an openness to background checks.

Speaking to a Kentucky radio station last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said that the Senate will put the issues of background check legislation in addition to “red flag” laws “front and center” when the body reconvenes after its summer recess, but it will not return early as Democrats are demanding.

A mid-July NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll found that 89% of Americans considered it a “good idea” to implement background checks for gun purchases at gun shows or other private sales, with a nearly nonexistent partisan divide: 96% of Democrats, 89% of independents and 84% of Republicans called it a good idea.

[CNN]

Trump embraces ‘nationalist’ title at Texas rally

President Donald Trump declared himself a “nationalist” during his rally here on Monday night, officially tagging himself with the label that has long defined his populist rhetoric and protectionist policies.

“A globalist is a person that wants the globe to do well, frankly not caring about the country so much. You know, we can’t have that,” Trump said, prompting boos from the crowd.

“You know what I am, I’m a nationalist,” he added, as the crowd erupted in “USA! USA!” chants. “Use that word.”

The comment marked the first time Trump has directly associated himself with the political ideology, which has long defined his outlook and the protectionist trade policies he has implemented in an effort to boost domestic manufacturing.

The remark came during a nearly hour-and-a-half-long rally in the arena that is home to the Houston Rockets, where the President rallied his base in this deeply red state 15 days before the midterms, stoking fears about illegal immigration, painting Democrats as criminal accomplices and basking in the glory of his accomplishments.

With his visit ostensibly aimed at boosting Sen. Ted Cruz’s re-election bid, the President took the stage after an introduction from his former political nemesis by addressing the elephant in the room.

“You know, we had our little difficulties,” Trump said to laughter from the nearly full house at the 18,000-capacity Toyota Center in downtown Houston.

He and Cruz, Trump said, had begun the 2016 presidential campaign as allies, rallying conservatives together in Washington early in the campaign. But eventually, Trump said, the two men decided it was “time” to begin hitting each other.

“And it got nasty,” Trump said.

But since he was elected, Trump said, Cruz has been one of his top allies in Congress.

“And then it ended and I’ll tell you what, nobody has helped me more with your tax cuts, with your regulation, with all of the things … including military and our vets, than Sen. Ted Cruz,” Trump said as he predicted that “in just 15 days the people of Texas are going to re-elect a man who has become a really good friend of mine.”

[CNN]

Reality

Donald Trump actually came out and said it, he labeled himself a “nationalist.”

Conservatives will bend over backwards to explain away how this has to do with a nationalist vs. globalist ideological context, but keep in mind this is the same week Trump is stoking racial fears of immigrants from countries he himself once labeled as “shitholes,” while wanting more European white immigrants.

This is the same week Trump pushed an anti-Jewish conspiracy theory and
echoed the Protocols of Zion, a faked document that white supremacists use as their “proof” that wealthy Jewish elites are puppetmasters “pulling the strings” to subvert democracy, by claiming without evidence that Jewish billionaire George Soros was secretly pulling the strings by paying migrants to come to American to illegally vote for Democrats, subverting democracy.

This is the same Trump who hired alt-right white nationalists, such as Stephen Miller and Steve Bannon, who ran the white supremacist site Breitbart, a website that frequently used nationalist to mean “white nationalist” and frequently used “Jew” as a slur.

This is the same Trump who called Nazis “very fine people,” after one murdered and inured protesters by driving his car through a crowd.

This is the same Trump who kept retweeting known white supremacists, even after being told they were white supremacists.

This is the same Trump who said a judge, born in the United States, couldn’t be impartial because of his Hispanic heritage.

The Alt-Right, who Trump is again embracing, use “nationalist” to mean “a nation of white people” and “globalist” interchangeably with “elite cabal of Jewish puppetmasters.”

We’ve crossed a Rubicon here in America. Trump and the Republicans keep pushing themselves slowly towards white supremacy.

You should be alarmed.

QAnon Conspiracy Theorist Got a Photo with Trump in the Oval Office

By now you’re probably heard about the conspiracy theory “QAnon,” particularly after a Trump rally last month featured some very noticeable Q signs, shirts, etc. from the rallygoers.

Well, one QAnon conspiracy theorist actually got a photo with President Donald Trump in the Oval Office this week.

According to The Daily Beast, Lionel Lebron said he didn’t ask Trump directly about the issue, but believes Trump knows all about it already.

And White House officials didn’t really have a good answer for this:

All four White House officials the Beast did speak with about how Trump, the leader of the free world, ended up in a smiling photo op at the Resolute Desk with a prominent QAnon conspiracy theorist, pleaded ignorance about when this occurred, and why. Two of these West Wing officials audibly could not contain their laughter.

The Washington Post confirmed that White House officials had no idea how this happened:

[Mediaite]

President Trump takes credit for canceling costly military parade he proposed

President Trump claimed Friday that sticker shock led to the scrapping of his much maligned military parade.

Trump accused local Washington politicians of price gouging, despite the fact that the jaw-dropping projected $92 million cost was largely due to Pentagon figures for aircraft, equipment and personnel.

“Maybe we will do something next year when the cost comes WAY DOWN,” the President tweeted.

The claim came hours after the Defense Department had already said the parade wouldn’t happen this year.

Col. Rob Manning, a Pentagon spokesman, said Thursday that the military and the White House “have now agreed to explore opportunities in 2019.”

The Associated Press and CNBC reported on Thursday the parade would cost about $92 million — $80 million more than the price first suggested by the Trump administration.

A majority of the taxpayer funds, roughly $50 million, would cover costs for aircraft, tanks, transportation and personnel for the Nov. 11 spectacle.

Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser knocked Trump and his finger-pointing tweets.
“Yup, I’m Muriel Bowser, mayor of Washington DC, the local politician who finally got thru to the reality star in the White House with the realities ($21.6M) of parades/events/demonstrations in Trump America (sad),” she tweeted.

The President announced that he’ll be skipping town the weekend of Veterans Day, when the parade was planned to take place.

Trump said he “will instead attend the big parade already scheduled at Andrews Air Force Base on a different date, & go to the Paris parade, celebrating the end of the War, on November 11th.”

France hosts an annual parade to commemorate the end of hostilities during World War I on Armistice Day, which coincides with Veterans Day in the U.S.

But Trump’s initial plans for a celebration of military might appeared more in line with authoritarian-style displays seen in China and North Korea.

Some critics speculated that there were other reasons beside the price tag for the sudden cancellation.

Several veterans’ groups were expected to launch protests in D.C. to counter Trump’s parade.

Activist and Vietnam era vet John Penley said he received approval to stage an anti-war rally in a park near the route.

“We have no doubt that the rapidly growing number of requests for protest permits in DC and the intel they have on the possible number of protests and people planning to protest Trump’s Military Parade caused the President and the Pentagon to… announce that the date of the parade had been changed to next year,” Penley said in a statement. “Well, as far as I know at this point nobody is cancelling their Veterans Day weekend protests and we definitely are not.”

Common Defense, a progressive group of vets and military families, also planned a counter-demonstration.

“Trump’s arrogant attempt to use our brothers and sisters in uniform as his unwilling political props suffered a major defeat, and that defeat could not have happened without the organizing of veterans and military families,” said Common Defense executive director Pam Campos, a former Air Force military intelligence analyst.

[New York Daily News]

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