Criminals are usually in a hurry. In this case, they know they have to achieve their heist before their followers wake up. And possibly even more important, keep those who are awake and aware in a state of confusion and anxiety.
I saw a street scam card game in London once. In which the con man was taking advantage of a drunk guy. He had to guess which card was his. The drunk showed the card to my friend while he dog-eared the corner of it. So my friend suddenly wanted to "get in on it", and rip off the card shark. It was a sure thing.
I couldn't stop laughing because it seemed so obvious, it couldn't be real. When the drunk picked the dog-eared card, the con man flipped it over, and it was NOT the same card! In a flash, the conman grabbed the money, and fled the scene with the drunk (who was now obviously not drunk). My friend and I, along with others who bet on the sure thing, were left staring at the dog-eared wrong card. We all thought the drunk was the "mark", but it was US!
I will never forget it. Even though I lost nothing, and saw the scam in real time, I still fell for it somehow. This is what is happening in our government, in real time, right now.
My question: Will people actually pay attention, or will they continue to cover their eyes in timidity, while thousands of innocents are terrorized and brutalized each day?
I agree wholeheartedly that the Trump regime has accelerated its efforts to crush democracy, beyond the scope of the Project 2025 schedule. Anyone thinking liberty can survive until the midterms is making a grave error. Intensifying domestic hostilities is about more than intimidation to sway future election results.
I believe Republicans are desperately trying to concrete their authoritarian power as rapidly as possible. While Trump is the figurehead, the regime has the loyalty of the extremist groups and the full weight of MAGA militancy behind its efforts to subvert the population. If Trump's health continues to fade, and Vance assumes the Presidency, he'll need dictatorial domination fully in place, as support for him is not nearly as strong as the devotion apparent for Trump. If Vance makes it into the Commander in Chief role, it's not hard to imagine future elections being cancelled.
America is at a crucial stage in its history. The time to resist is now. Citizens need to realize that they have a fleeting opportunity to stand up en masse and grind the gears of this dysfunctional treasonous government to a screeching halt. Large scale protests need to be an ongoing event across the country. Unions need to stand behind striking workers and shut the economy down.
There is still hope that the military will come to the publics' aid if the resistance acts relatively soon, but efforts are underway to purge service members with the conscience to honour their oath to the constitution.
If you collectively fight to save your democracy, there is a good chance of success. If you do not summon the courage to resist, failure is guaranteed.
Jim, excellent and scary article. I'm glad to see this article as I was afraid Michael Flynn may have shut you up somehow! I can only hope that their rush to impose a dictatorship will backfire big time. We need a huge turnout at the next No Kings event on October 18 to kick-off more serious resistance to this fascist madness.
Hey Jim, I'm going to miss the Zoom tomorrow. You have a plethora of observations to have come to a reasonable belief that Flynn is a nazi, among other things. So have I. Good luck next week.
JB Pritzger has spoken out so articulately against Trump, for a while. Speaking more forcefully and eloquently than others it seemed. It felt to me, watching the attack on the apartment building in Chicago (!!!!), that it was Trump’s answer to Pritzger. It was Hitler’s answer to anyone learned, or cultured or civilized: smash that goodness. Obliterate it.
I believe Trump‘s greatest threat is the Democratic Party and free thinkers and lovers of democracy. The only way for his strategy to succeed is through a one party dictatorial system and he’s going blue State by blue State. As long as we give him reason through protest and demonstrations that are out of control that we are in chaos, we help quicken his success and urgency for complete takeover.
Regarding the Chicago raid...a guy followed the money and speculates that the building was in foreclosure, and the raid and ensuing destruction of the apartments, was potentially beneficial to those seeking to take over the property...
Brilliant, as ususal. Thank you. They are rushing for all the reasons you gave. I think they are rushing also because Trump is very ill, probably on dialysis. They are panicking about the midterms -- especially if Trump's demise or incapacity is a matter of months. Although Trump is just a chess piece and nothing will quickly alter the disaster in progress, they would rather have Trump ordering troops to blue states than have him on life support. If they succeed in November 2026, the way is open for them to complete the destruction of the United States from within.
Trump is busy making deals with Saudi. He could care less about Israel. The Israelis haven't figured that out. Trump has a bus for Ukraine and another one for Israel. It's just a matter of time, even if he gets his hotel in Gaza.
Criminals are usually in a hurry. In this case, they know they have to achieve their heist before their followers wake up. And possibly even more important, keep those who are awake and aware in a state of confusion and anxiety.
I saw a street scam card game in London once. In which the con man was taking advantage of a drunk guy. He had to guess which card was his. The drunk showed the card to my friend while he dog-eared the corner of it. So my friend suddenly wanted to "get in on it", and rip off the card shark. It was a sure thing.
I couldn't stop laughing because it seemed so obvious, it couldn't be real. When the drunk picked the dog-eared card, the con man flipped it over, and it was NOT the same card! In a flash, the conman grabbed the money, and fled the scene with the drunk (who was now obviously not drunk). My friend and I, along with others who bet on the sure thing, were left staring at the dog-eared wrong card. We all thought the drunk was the "mark", but it was US!
I will never forget it. Even though I lost nothing, and saw the scam in real time, I still fell for it somehow. This is what is happening in our government, in real time, right now.
Hello, I haven't received the link to sign up for today's zoom ...
Great insight Jim.
My question: Will people actually pay attention, or will they continue to cover their eyes in timidity, while thousands of innocents are terrorized and brutalized each day?
I agree wholeheartedly that the Trump regime has accelerated its efforts to crush democracy, beyond the scope of the Project 2025 schedule. Anyone thinking liberty can survive until the midterms is making a grave error. Intensifying domestic hostilities is about more than intimidation to sway future election results.
I believe Republicans are desperately trying to concrete their authoritarian power as rapidly as possible. While Trump is the figurehead, the regime has the loyalty of the extremist groups and the full weight of MAGA militancy behind its efforts to subvert the population. If Trump's health continues to fade, and Vance assumes the Presidency, he'll need dictatorial domination fully in place, as support for him is not nearly as strong as the devotion apparent for Trump. If Vance makes it into the Commander in Chief role, it's not hard to imagine future elections being cancelled.
America is at a crucial stage in its history. The time to resist is now. Citizens need to realize that they have a fleeting opportunity to stand up en masse and grind the gears of this dysfunctional treasonous government to a screeching halt. Large scale protests need to be an ongoing event across the country. Unions need to stand behind striking workers and shut the economy down.
There is still hope that the military will come to the publics' aid if the resistance acts relatively soon, but efforts are underway to purge service members with the conscience to honour their oath to the constitution.
If you collectively fight to save your democracy, there is a good chance of success. If you do not summon the courage to resist, failure is guaranteed.
Jim, excellent and scary article. I'm glad to see this article as I was afraid Michael Flynn may have shut you up somehow! I can only hope that their rush to impose a dictatorship will backfire big time. We need a huge turnout at the next No Kings event on October 18 to kick-off more serious resistance to this fascist madness.
Hey Jim, I'm going to miss the Zoom tomorrow. You have a plethora of observations to have come to a reasonable belief that Flynn is a nazi, among other things. So have I. Good luck next week.
JB Pritzger has spoken out so articulately against Trump, for a while. Speaking more forcefully and eloquently than others it seemed. It felt to me, watching the attack on the apartment building in Chicago (!!!!), that it was Trump’s answer to Pritzger. It was Hitler’s answer to anyone learned, or cultured or civilized: smash that goodness. Obliterate it.
I grieve with the governor of Illinois.
I second your comments!
JB Pritzger
One thing is that he no longer cares about “the base”. Have they quickened towards that conclusion to their detriment?
I knew the pillar of six would not stop this but it is a personal dissonance I didn’t see as their recognition of their own possible demise.
When one runs roughshod one doesn’t see around any corners.
No ideological cohesion just pieces trying to get in line.
The truth being is the “they” are for all intents and purposes done with Trump.
Whether he knows this I don’t know.
Whether the people know it is another story.
What a great travesty that lies behind the lies.
I believe Trump‘s greatest threat is the Democratic Party and free thinkers and lovers of democracy. The only way for his strategy to succeed is through a one party dictatorial system and he’s going blue State by blue State. As long as we give him reason through protest and demonstrations that are out of control that we are in chaos, we help quicken his success and urgency for complete takeover.
Another fantastic piece, as usual.
Regarding the Chicago raid...a guy followed the money and speculates that the building was in foreclosure, and the raid and ensuing destruction of the apartments, was potentially beneficial to those seeking to take over the property...
https://substack.com/@politicsusa46/note/c-162999371?r=17ghdl
Brilliant, as ususal. Thank you. They are rushing for all the reasons you gave. I think they are rushing also because Trump is very ill, probably on dialysis. They are panicking about the midterms -- especially if Trump's demise or incapacity is a matter of months. Although Trump is just a chess piece and nothing will quickly alter the disaster in progress, they would rather have Trump ordering troops to blue states than have him on life support. If they succeed in November 2026, the way is open for them to complete the destruction of the United States from within.
Is trump indeed disappeared or is he busy with Gaza peaceplan? E.g.https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-10-05/ty-article/.premium/trump-israel-agrees-to-idf-withdrawal-cease-fire-to-go-into-effect-once-hamas-approves/00000199-b1a0-d9d3-ab9b-f3f986580000
Trump is busy making deals with Saudi. He could care less about Israel. The Israelis haven't figured that out. Trump has a bus for Ukraine and another one for Israel. It's just a matter of time, even if he gets his hotel in Gaza.
Where is Jared Kushner? https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/2025-10-04/ty-article/.premium/israel-prepares-to-restart-indirect-talks-with-hamas-believes-u-s-to-pressure-both-sides/00000199-aea4-d9d3-ab9b-fefd34930000