Trump's takeover of the D.C. police and injection of the National Guard sounds scary but it's a sign of his weakness. Like the placement of troops in L.A. in June, this will be brief.
I keep swerving between reflection and analysis, trying to understand how we ended up here. In some ways, it feels futile—what’s done is done—but in other ways, it’s essential. We’ve landed in such a deep ditch that we must learn how to ensure this calamity is never repeated.
The causes are many and well-documented. We, collectively, allowed a political cancer to infiltrate the system, take root, gain disciples, and spread. The natural antibodies of our democracy—Republican and Democrat alike—failed us. The guardrails weren’t steel; they were sponges.
Now, we need a strong, uncompromising agenda. By January 2027, we must be ready to hit the ground running with a message that blends resistance and action and which is precisely calibrated to restore stability and integrity. The public must see that we mean business, and that this shameless charlatan will be relegated to the dustbin of history where he belongs.
You assume he will pull the National Guard from the city if he doesn't get Congressional approval. What if he doesn't? This is his barrier if the people finally get off the couch and realize to stop this we must march on Washington in mass.
Spot on, Jon. But I also think that the complicity of his Congressional toadies is an equally heinous reality. Coupled with the Supreme Court’s decisions, aiding and abetting his worst instincts, we are in deeply troubling, impactful and potentially long-lasting erosion of the fabric that long bound us more or less together as a nation. The creeping incrementalism of it may be hard for some to discern, but that only makes it worse.
This is NOT making him look good, no matter what he thinks or his "advisors" tell him! We are moving in a direction that most Americans do NOT want to go. This appears to me to just be more of this "Look at me! Look at what I can do!" He is not gaining fans with this. Is he going to take over every city in America with the National Guard? He will need more troops! How much more of his ego do we have to take? There are plenty of other issues that he should be concerned with. Let the cities run their own policing! This should only be done in a real emergency (like January 6 was where he did nothing!)
That is good to know but it doesn't seem to bother him or the voters! He will just stop elections if his rates go too low, or send the guard in to monitor the voters as they vote! That is what dictators do!
He may be down in the polls, but meanwhile he's wreaking havoc in everything... and everywhere!! It's exhausting us and taking irs toll, but what can we do? He has no shame!!!
There's a lot we can do, starting with organizing for 2026. A Democratic House would be a significant check on him. Trump has no shame but the CEOs, law forms etc. bending the knew can be made to realize that there is a steep reputational price to be paid for capitulation. It's important to stay strong and not despair.
He has no shame. He truly believes he is right on everything no matter what the outcome is, like the tariffs! He doesn't care about human life or respecting anything but himself!
Another distraction, same old same old. Orange Puss doesn't want those files released!
Just finished your "Defining Moment" on FDR, Jonathan. I badly needed to read something from that Era (working my way up to your current book). I didn't realize how close we came to losing democracy back then due to the Depression and people being so hopelessly desperate...
Since last November 5th I’ve pursued a sanity strategy of reliving an alternative universe by reading books about Harry Truman & his era. As a Baby Boomer, I have no memory of American and world history from my earliest years. Truman was just the antedore I needed‼️
This is naive. Yes, it's distraction, but that's not all it is. It's an attack on Black urban self-government: an effort to cement internal colonialism under the banner of crime control. To me it seems like malpractice to avoid the racial content of Trump's message here. The model is now being widely practiced in MAGA world. (See, e.g., Missouri controlling St. Louis criminal justice.
I agree about its racist content but not with the "cementing" part...His base cemented a long time ago. Nothing else cements for him. This ain't popular.
I should add (I maundered on about this on Substack) that on the 2d day of his new term Trump pardoned an MPD cop convicted of 2d degree murder by a DC jury. Maybe this is "bringing order" but it's also meant to signal "bringing pain"
Maybe, but there are parts of his base particularly subject to erosion as Big Beautiful Medicaid Cuts, tariffs-as-sales-taxes, et al. take hold. Reversion to the Nixon War on Crime, Willie Horton, "Bad-for-Black-People-Is-Good-For-You" theme is a not just any distraction, it's aimed at shoring up that patch.
One city at a time…that is how it was done in the 19th century…probably because it had to be done that way. NOW…not so much…with the lightning fast media coverage and military that Trump has forced to ‘assist’ him - ALTHOUGH THE CONSTITUTION CLEARLY STATES A POTUS MAY NOT DIRECT THE US ARMED FORCES FOR HIS PERSONAL USE…thus, all of a sudden, Washington DC is a crime-ridden terror zone that HE has to ‘clean up’! 🙄
That’s rich! A CONVICTED FELON, RAPIST, AND INCITER OF MOB VIOLENCE PUTTING ON A THEATRICAL ‘SHOW’ TO PROVE MARTIAL LAW IS NOT ‘OVER-STEPPING’ HIS POWERS. AND THE OSCAR GOES TO…
WATCH CAREFULLY AS THE BLACK CATERPILLAR PARKS UNDER HIS NOSE, AND HIS ‘GOONS’ START TO GOOSESTEP PAST THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT. 😳
I keep swerving between reflection and analysis, trying to understand how we ended up here. In some ways, it feels futile—what’s done is done—but in other ways, it’s essential. We’ve landed in such a deep ditch that we must learn how to ensure this calamity is never repeated.
The causes are many and well-documented. We, collectively, allowed a political cancer to infiltrate the system, take root, gain disciples, and spread. The natural antibodies of our democracy—Republican and Democrat alike—failed us. The guardrails weren’t steel; they were sponges.
Now, we need a strong, uncompromising agenda. By January 2027, we must be ready to hit the ground running with a message that blends resistance and action and which is precisely calibrated to restore stability and integrity. The public must see that we mean business, and that this shameless charlatan will be relegated to the dustbin of history where he belongs.
You assume he will pull the National Guard from the city if he doesn't get Congressional approval. What if he doesn't? This is his barrier if the people finally get off the couch and realize to stop this we must march on Washington in mass.
Spot on, Jon. But I also think that the complicity of his Congressional toadies is an equally heinous reality. Coupled with the Supreme Court’s decisions, aiding and abetting his worst instincts, we are in deeply troubling, impactful and potentially long-lasting erosion of the fabric that long bound us more or less together as a nation. The creeping incrementalism of it may be hard for some to discern, but that only makes it worse.
Thank you. Courage is contagious.
This is NOT making him look good, no matter what he thinks or his "advisors" tell him! We are moving in a direction that most Americans do NOT want to go. This appears to me to just be more of this "Look at me! Look at what I can do!" He is not gaining fans with this. Is he going to take over every city in America with the National Guard? He will need more troops! How much more of his ego do we have to take? There are plenty of other issues that he should be concerned with. Let the cities run their own policing! This should only be done in a real emergency (like January 6 was where he did nothing!)
He’s terrified to look bad and he’ll do everything he can to keep up his self worship.
What do Trump, Mussolini, Gaddafi, and Ceausescu all have in common?
⏱️🤔⏱️🤔⏱️🤔⏱️
Low approval ratings.
That is good to know but it doesn't seem to bother him or the voters! He will just stop elections if his rates go too low, or send the guard in to monitor the voters as they vote! That is what dictators do!
He may be down in the polls, but meanwhile he's wreaking havoc in everything... and everywhere!! It's exhausting us and taking irs toll, but what can we do? He has no shame!!!
There's a lot we can do, starting with organizing for 2026. A Democratic House would be a significant check on him. Trump has no shame but the CEOs, law forms etc. bending the knew can be made to realize that there is a steep reputational price to be paid for capitulation. It's important to stay strong and not despair.
He has no shame. He truly believes he is right on everything no matter what the outcome is, like the tariffs! He doesn't care about human life or respecting anything but himself!
Well, that’s actually the best thing I’ve heard all day. Thanks Jonathan. Hang in there. I will try to do the same.
Sure hope he doesn't win the midterms since tgry r doing their best to steal it
Another distraction, same old same old. Orange Puss doesn't want those files released!
Just finished your "Defining Moment" on FDR, Jonathan. I badly needed to read something from that Era (working my way up to your current book). I didn't realize how close we came to losing democracy back then due to the Depression and people being so hopelessly desperate...
Since last November 5th I’ve pursued a sanity strategy of reliving an alternative universe by reading books about Harry Truman & his era. As a Baby Boomer, I have no memory of American and world history from my earliest years. Truman was just the antedore I needed‼️
Great anecdote! I will move on to "Harry" next! Sanity strategies SO important and desperately needed...
Glad you liked it, Nancy! Thanks for letting me know.
This is naive. Yes, it's distraction, but that's not all it is. It's an attack on Black urban self-government: an effort to cement internal colonialism under the banner of crime control. To me it seems like malpractice to avoid the racial content of Trump's message here. The model is now being widely practiced in MAGA world. (See, e.g., Missouri controlling St. Louis criminal justice.
I agree about its racist content but not with the "cementing" part...His base cemented a long time ago. Nothing else cements for him. This ain't popular.
I should add (I maundered on about this on Substack) that on the 2d day of his new term Trump pardoned an MPD cop convicted of 2d degree murder by a DC jury. Maybe this is "bringing order" but it's also meant to signal "bringing pain"
Maybe, but there are parts of his base particularly subject to erosion as Big Beautiful Medicaid Cuts, tariffs-as-sales-taxes, et al. take hold. Reversion to the Nixon War on Crime, Willie Horton, "Bad-for-Black-People-Is-Good-For-You" theme is a not just any distraction, it's aimed at shoring up that patch.
I keep hearing wait for midterms. It should be interesting. It better make big changes.
Release the Epstein files
One city at a time…that is how it was done in the 19th century…probably because it had to be done that way. NOW…not so much…with the lightning fast media coverage and military that Trump has forced to ‘assist’ him - ALTHOUGH THE CONSTITUTION CLEARLY STATES A POTUS MAY NOT DIRECT THE US ARMED FORCES FOR HIS PERSONAL USE…thus, all of a sudden, Washington DC is a crime-ridden terror zone that HE has to ‘clean up’! 🙄
That’s rich! A CONVICTED FELON, RAPIST, AND INCITER OF MOB VIOLENCE PUTTING ON A THEATRICAL ‘SHOW’ TO PROVE MARTIAL LAW IS NOT ‘OVER-STEPPING’ HIS POWERS. AND THE OSCAR GOES TO…
WATCH CAREFULLY AS THE BLACK CATERPILLAR PARKS UNDER HIS NOSE, AND HIS ‘GOONS’ START TO GOOSESTEP PAST THE WASHINGTON MONUMENT. 😳
Yes! So many ass kissers!