The value of your writing creates a calming, yet angered response, an essential element in our new gilded age of robber barons, fascism and oligarchy Jeff! You’re essential to the sanity of your readers!!
Yes! I just read her column and to honor Dr King today is exactly what all caring and empathetic citizens should do today. She keeps us sane and strong and You, Jeff, help keep us healthy, since “laughter is the best medicine”! Thank you for forming this community. It truly is a safe and sane space 👏🏼 both HCR & Jeff are our heroes.
Ditto what Dana said. We must use every tool and weapon available to us if we want to survive, and knowledge is powerful - but humor is our most effective. MAGA dies when laughed at! 😅 😂🤣☠️
You have something that no one else does, even Heather. You make it bearable in a different way, to laugh and see the hypocrisy, irony, stupidity and insanity. You call them all out and that gives us satisfaction for the day. Thank god you write every day. Thank you for your brand of information and community. It feels so good to just say “fuck this shit” on a public forum and have everyone nod and say “hell yeah”.
i second your comment and reference to “fuck this shit.” Four letter words, vulgar to some, are profound in their brevity and emotion. As I said before, if I could put one work on Mt. Rushmore it would be”fuck.” Seems especially true today.
HCR has written one of the most exquisite things I have ever read. She uses her knowledge as an historian to present us with multiple critical times in American history, and to give us hope. And she uses Martin Luther King’s personal history to make us be able to CELEBRATE today, to turn a frightening day in our history into a day of hope and of joy. She focuses on the good, the brave, the sacred and turns our eyes away from the bad. Don’t miss this essay!
Heather’s posts are eloquent and informative—they make me cry, growl, and shake my fists. But yours do all that, too, Jeff, AND they make me laugh (and occasionally spit out my coffee). Thank you for your unique gifts and please do keep up with the shitfuckery…starting tomorrow. Today is a day of remembering and mourning (a dual purpose one).
Jeff, I will read HCR's column, but first I must say that you are the delight I look forward to reading! When there is no hope left, you are there to feel my pain and put a hysterical take on it! You are awesome! Thank you!!
Yes that was another beaut by HCR. Thanks for the reminder. I have long appreciated both of your takes. I came to Substack via her “Letters” and somehow found you soon after. Couldn’t have found a better combination to keep me engaged. Thanks for your special kind if potty mouthed eloquence. And both if you draw great commenters eloquent in their own ways. My subscriptions wirth every nickle. Nice to find a moment to offer praise and thanks.
Damn this thick thumb. Please substitute weird i’s with o’s in my post. Too much trouble to edit as it doesn’t work on my device and I’d have to delete, start a new reply, and then cut and paste. Jeff, your words are well wirth that kind of effort but not mine. Onward!
Thanks Jeff, couldn’t do this next four years without you! I’m heading out to stalk a wonderful guitar player and seeing him perform live Monday and Tuesday nights.
I read Heather's post, and I couldn't agree more. She is such an excellent writer. With you, Jeff, The Contrarian, Heather, Wonkette, and many others, I have found a very small measure of peace, although sometimes it's interrupted by insanity. I stand with AOC. I'm not giving one ounce of attention to the Capitol mess.
And Ann Telnaes with her substack Open Windows. She is a brilliant cartoonist who had the guts and the spine to quit the WaPo and tell Bezos to go fuck himself. Please subscribe to her.
I'm not watching it, I'm not reading reports about it, but somehow, I'm incessantly aware that this is the day our country has committed suicide. I am reflecting about how to approach the next four years, how to resist without making myself a miserable angry person, and how to bring out what courage I can in the process. As I read recently, "Courage is the decision to act in the face of fear, uncertainty and discomfort."
I am grateful that my kind, generous, loving mother, and my union-organizer uncle, both of whom hated Republicans with a passion, did not live to see this horror. They are both spinning in their graves. I will fight back in their names and to honor their memory. The rest of my family can go to hell.
I don't (yet) know how to send a picture of my Inauguration Day decorations. It is okay, but since I live in Idaho, I may get my house burned down. I'm going to try to send the picture, anyway.
If it doesn't send, I think I could put it on my Substack space.
I don't have the heart or stomach but appreciate the reminder. And the other one re: tomorrow / shoulder to wheel. I imagine one or many of those threads will make for an excellent roadmap.
Using the recent controversy surrounding Snoop Dogg as a jumping off point, I'm copying and pasting this from my FB page. I wrote and pinned this earlier today. This is my take on the inauguration and the people falling in line:
Regarding Snoop Dogg:
The reaction across social media referring to him being a sell out who's kissing the ring and bending the knee isn't hyperbole by the left trying to demonize anyone who dares to even superficially connect with Donald Trump. This time, it's actually a legitimate response.
To wit: Some time back, Snoop Dogg posted a video of himself calling out anyone who performed for Donald Trump as being sell outs, stating they were "Uncle Toms " for doing it.
You can see the uncensored video at the 51 second mark of the video YouTuber Tennessee Brando put up covering this (see below).
And so the mass capitulation begins. This follows the Washington Post announcing last week it's changing their iconic masthead from "Democracy Dies in Darkness" to something along the lines of "Representing all Americans" . Get ready for this, folks. If today marks the beginning of is what I think it does, it's only going to get worse from here.
I won't be watching the inauguration. Instead, I'll be watching something with more class and dignity. Maybe the Police Academy movies. At least they're intentionally stupid. At some point you have to make a choice stand by your values and ethics, even if it makes you unpopular and potentially puts you in harms way. I refuse to even entertain pretending to be at all okay with this narcissistic criminal having power again. I think we made a horrible choice as a country and although I may not be able to express that at work, here on my own time in my personal space I plan to remain vocal about my resistance to Trump and his corruption.
Yeah, agreed. I also wouldn't be surprised if within two years we begin seeing claims Democrats in the House and Senate are guilty of some sort of manufactured crimes and prosecuted/arrested, all in time to make sure Republicans sweep the mid terms.
This reminds me of a German series I watched that took place during the Nazi regime. The Nazis took over the press and all one could read was propaganda, so people wanting to get the truth out had to board buses and streetcars in order to hand out their hand-produced newsletters to the public.
I used to like Snoop Dogg. I believe that people like him are capitulating out of fear. I don't want to condemn them, but I'm severely disappointed. See you on the other side.
Just when I was beginning to like Snoop more, his charitable self, his collaboration with Martha, his Olympics stint, his coaching on The Voice - He was building his brand in ways that I never imagined and to do this to himself, I don't understand.
Yeah, I kinda like him as well. But when you watch that video where he denounces anyone performing for Trump and then see his recent choices, there's no escaping the ridiculous degree of hypocrisy.. It's not just fear - it's this "As long as I get mine, it's all good ' attitude that has completely overtaken us in the past decade. The mainstream doesn't care about protecting the greater good anymore..So it's up to us. I think it begins by recognizing who surrendered when the pressure was on. I'll never listen to anything Snoop has to say moving forward because he's shown what he's really about. Pardon the pun, but all this time he's just been blowing smoke.
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In an eleventh-hour decision on Sunday, the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump has been moved from the Capitol Rotunda to the interior of a Tesla Cybertruck.
The change of venue, dictated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), means that only people with a net worth of over 100 billion will be able to attend.
“There’s room for me, Zuckerberg, and Bezos, but, unfortunately, not JD Vance,” Musk said. “I usually don’t let employees work remotely, but JD will be allowed to call in.”
The decision to hold the Inauguration inside the electric vehicle pleased Trump, who estimated the number of people inside the truck at 4 million.
Many,many thanks for sharing this laugh, and thanks also to Jeff Tiedrich for being generous enough to post things like this on his substack. It was PERFECT.
Today I mourn the end of Representative Democracy in the United States. It lasted 249 years.
The nation will continue to exist but it will never be the same again. With the inauguration of Donald Trump it is being replaced by an Oligarchy of the Wealthy.
Oligarchy (noun): A government of and by a few at the top, who exercise power for their own benefit. Their power and wealth increase as they make laws that favor themselves, manipulate financial markets, and create monopolies that put more wealth into their pockets.
We have been here before, at the start of the 1900’s. History repeats itself when it is forgotten. Let the free-for-all grift begin.
Since I can do NOTHING about this degradation of the USA, I can only say -“LET 'ER RIP!” Sometimes it takes a good hard slap to wake people up. We are about to get it. Our only hope is that their constant infighting prevents unity.
I am done fretting about this dismal reality. A very narrow slice (1.6%) of our Citizens decided to set aside their values and morals vote for a sociopathic convicted felon. 15 million decided to not vote at all. The WORST possible person was just given absolute power and we will ALL pay the price.
The Founding Fathers warned us about the danger of electing men of poor character. My fellow citizens did not heed the warning.
As Ulysses S. Grant predicted “If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon's but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other.”
People throughout history have fought for the type of free government we just voluntarily gave up. Shame on us. Perhaps there will be backlash at the midterm elections, assuming free and fair elections are still allowed then.
I blame Joe Biden for not dropping out in time to allow a robust Democratic Primary. He was supposed to be a transitional President, a caretaker, to allow for the development of the next generation of Democratic Party leaders. In the end he overestimated his abilities and his ego took over.
I blame Attorney General Merrick Garland for not aggressively pursuing the ex-President for trying to overthrow the government until 2 YEARS after the January 6 coup attempt. He diddled and dawdled and then finally appointed a “special prosecutor” when it was well within his purview to proceed on his own. He was an utter failure.
I blame LIMOUSINE LIBERALS like Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and the rest of these fossils who not only didn’t know WHEN to step aside for the next generation of Democrat leaders but actively BLOCKED them from assuming leadership positions within the party, even after the losses in the Presidency, House and Senate. Look up the word Coprolite - it perfectly describes these “leaders”.
It's hard for me to find any optimism about anything, except my immediate friends and family. I now choose to expend my resources elsewhere, other than fighting the "good fight."
I'll save my militancy for the day they come to my door to “drag me behind the chemical shed and shoot me” (see the movie “V for Vendetta”) for my thoughts and ideas. I will keep my own value/morality set in place.
Until then, I'll be in my music/book bunker with my thoughts and prayers.
I am sorry you feel this way. Our messy, imperfect 249 year old democracy can not be killed by a bunch of thugs so easily in 4 years. As Jeff said, we rest today, tomorrow we put our shoulders to the wheel.
Hitler failed in his first attempt to overthrow the government. They let him off easy. He succeeded in utterly destroying the German Republic and it took 53 days.
There was an in depth piece on this in “The Atlantic.”
The only reason our democracy is messy and imperfect is because we chose a system that opened the door to greed. Let’s use this time to imagine a new system that will encourage unity, equality and opportunity. And how about creating a new system that encourages Quality in all things.
Yes, we've been here before during the Guilded Age, but this time the oligarchy is so much worse. Much, much worse. For one, there wasn't anyone as rotten to the core as Dungball in the White House. That one fact alone puts our country DEEP into the shitter and makes current event unprecedented.
And the Gilded ones didn’t have all of our data. Since we have all willingly walked into the trap of giving people who turned out to be evil Batman villains everything they need to know about us in order to do us harm - I say there’s no way to hide from them so that leaves us the option of standing up for ourselves and not backing down. If the owners of Substack sell us out too- which is quite possible- we’ll have to find another place or way to connect and express ourselves.
What a fabulous response. These next four years will be beyond difficult, but if we get through them, we can begin to get our country right side up again.
Agree on many of your points David, however understanding the influence of Putin on the Tech Bros’ and Silicon Valley, coupled with a corrupt SCOTUS! Toss in Bill Barr’s misdirections, disinformation, and propaganda killing investigations on behalf of 3 treasonous presidents, you’ll find their actions are where real truths lie!
After what Trump said about Elon and the voting machines, I am starting to believe that no matter what we did we were going to lose. "I have all the votes I need" has taken on new meaning. "Elon will cheat to make it so I win" is more like it.
I'm sure there will be renewed outrage over Trumps ever present projection of everything he does but it's too late, we are doomed to another 4 years unless....
Excellent. Exactly what took place. I fuck every one of them for their inability to stand up and fight. And the biggest fuck is the Supremer who sold our country for a camper.
It was so painful to witness America’s death for so many years due to cowards.
Thank you for this clear-sighted summary. I share your opinions on the state of the nation and the blame well-deserved by the Democratic gerontocracy that basically ate its young as the enemy grew stronger. Typical that Pelosi is not attending the inaugural ceremonies because she fell off her 5" heels and broke her hip (not because of some higher principle). And Biden actually welcomed Trump back to the White House. How gracious. I would recommend BIden's secret transitional letter to the incoming fascist read "First do no harm. Period." But Trump will shitcan it like he probably did with Obama's letter. Yes, I am angry today.
If I were in Biden’s place I would never have welcomed Trump or anything. He is unworthy of any nicities OF any type. Dems were waaaaaaaay tooooo weak. AND WE WILL SUFFER THE CONCEQUENCES MIS SPELLINGS SND I DONT CARE.
I have been fighting for 45 years, ever since Reagan ran for Office. I’m old, I’m weary and I’m tired. If the next generation wants to pick up the mantle and run with it I will certainly be there to help how I can but I’m simply worn out now.
yes, a minority of Americans actively voted a vile man back into office. An insufficient minority voted for a highly qualified opponent. As shameful are those Americans who didn’t give a flying F**K and will now kvetch about how bad it is becoming.
“Joe Biden … was supposed to be a transitional President, a caretaker, to allow for the development of the next generation of Democratic Party leaders.”
Really? I never got that memo.
And if you choose to retreat from the battle we have ahead of us, and to instead withdraw into a relatively safe space where the only concern is “me and mine” but with your “value/morality set in place,” you’ve already retreated into the head-in-the-sand choice that got us here in the first place.
Easy to say. I’ve been fighting the fight for 45 years. In spite of my best efforts, in spite of all that I have done, contributed, protested everything stays the same. Sticking my head in the sand? Now, I just don’t have the psychic energy to carry on. Time for the next generation to organize and March.
It’s not easy to say. FWIW, I’ve been “fighting the fight” since the days of Vietnam war protests, and I campaigned for McGovern. It’s not about you and your “best efforts.” It’s about eternal vigilance being the price of liberty. Every 2nd-Wave feminist knows that.
David: I understand your pessimism, but giving into that kills any hope to keep one in good mental health. I turn my negative feelings into anger, and whatever little I can do as in earlier, when I was in the gym, and some asshole had the inauguration on the TV, I just turned it off. A teeny tiny act of resistance, but it made me feel good. I hope you can find some positive or some hope in this situation.
Thanks Janan! I appreciate your kind words. In order to preserve my mental health I have reached a point where I’ve realized that no matter what I’ve done, no matter how I’ve tried it just has not mattered. For my own mental health I’ve decided to step back and enjoy my family. I’m not giving up, as a matter of fact I set up a recurring donation to the American Civil Liberties Union, but I cannot do it by myself any more.
I refuse to acknowledge a rapist and traitor as my president. Trump is devoid of humanity. Those who voted for him and leaders who support him will be responsible for the horror we will endure. I’m a senior citizen and have seen some shit. THIS just might be the worse this country has ever seen.
I'm curious how many people have lost family connections and lifelong friendships because of Donald Trump — it has to be in the millions, right? There was a big uptick after the election of people who just couldn't abide being connected to MAGA voters anymore, but it's been happening for years.
Not questioning your decision, I have also rid myself of MAGA (though I was fortunate not to have too many), more just a commentary on how so many people have seen their loved ones turn into monsters (or reveal they were always monsters) because of Trump. I'm sorry you lost your siblings to his cult.
Thanks, Jeff. I will not be watching the inauguration. Not even one clip. I feel like I’m sitting shiva today. But this is the way I’m taking comfort: As of noon today, the countdown begins. Before today , he was already wreaking havoc on our lives, the media, corporations, and people in power were already
starting to obey, he was
monopolizing the news cycle and we were looking at his ugly face and hearing his fucking voice every single day. AND HE HADN’T EVEN TAKEN OFFICE YET. Now that the dreaded day is finally here we can start counting down until he’s gone. Every day that we manage to put behind us is one less day we have ahead of us. And hopefully, when we get to zero, we will still recognize our country.
MSM have inflicted him on us since the day he came down that fucking escalator. He’s like catnip to them, and they don’t even wish they could quit him. It will never end. I won’t listen to his insufferable voice, and I keep an index card handy to block his ugly face on my ipad screen whenever someone pastes it into a post.
Sitting shiva…Yes! I suspect Rachel Maddow (or one of her colleagues) will have a countdown clock running to give us all hope and perspective, but I may repurpose and old digital timer/watch to do the same. We’re going to see a lot of dark before the light, but let’s hope the Republicans tear each other apart trying to “get all the goodies.”
I laugh, but I've thought similarly. Watching the death of our country has been excruciating. I have often felt like all the crazy events, the ups and mostly downs, have been happening in front of me, like in a dream, and I can never physically stop them from happening. They just churned on an on until...death. Death of our nation! So yeah, we're all sitting shiva right now.
"Now that the dreaded day is finally here we can start counting down until he’s gone. Every day that we manage to put behind us is one less day we have ahead of us. And hopefully, when we get to zero, we will still recognize our country."
This is such a great way to put it, every day we're just a little bit closer to finally being rid of him one way or another. That will be my tiny beacon of hope, one day at a time.
I for one will be doing client work, finding some Letterkenny reruns, and cooking. THANK YOU for this beautiful community of people here. You guys make me think and laugh. I’m still sort of stunned we’re at this place in time, but we must look forward! 💙✌️
Well, it's 26 below with the wind chill today. I'm ice skating in hell on ignoranceation day. That's how I feel. My 8 yr old granddaughter is with me (no school) and we are doing a pre-teen makeover of one the bedrooms here. She likes the idea of having her own place here on Nay Nay's farm. My grandkids call me Nay Nay. My job is to make them laugh. As they have told me. You should hear my made up bed time stories. 🤣 This >🍾🍷🍸🍹🍺🍻🥂🥃🥡is for after she goes home. Love yourselves. ❤️ I do. Save yourselves. Peace ✌️ ☮️. Until fucking tomorrow.
Indeed Abigail, celebrating the greatness of MLK, is much more important than the charade taking place for a 78 year old career criminal, adjudicated rapist! Who’s drug addled mind is only focused on serving himself, while hiding from a prison cell!!
I'm the only me. yes, I was friends with John Holmstrom and the Punk Magazine crowd back in the day, but I don't remember having been a contributor. I guess I was.
some day I'll share the story of the time I saw Legs McNeil throw his girlfriend's television out the window
I have been here since Truman. You've heard me say that. I was playing alto sax in 7th grade band class the moment JFK was shot in Dallas. I was a Senior in High School the moment MLK was shot in Memphis.
There were criminals in the White House in 1968-71 and there was great turmoil but America survived.
MLK tried to DWJWD so he told the truth. Nice guys try to hold to that principle. Fairness and honesty.
Now that criminals are back in the White House, it is a guarantee that they will try to destroy Democracy. When they get to the point of ruining the American people's lives they will hit some resistance.
Even though it was the young against the "establishment" in the 60s, when the National Guard shot four dead at Kent State America recoiled from that. It was a small part of what brought Nixon down. Would the reaction be the same today if Trump tried to use the military against the American people? Trump runs close to too far all the time. He is liable to screw up really badly and it all fall on him.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones in this time. I am not going to watch TV for a day or two. I can live well without it.
I'm about the same age. I was in my 5th grade class when JFK was shot. The school principal came to our classroom in tears, and we all cried for the rest of the day. One of the mothers brought in a box of puppies - a genius move, but didn't stop the tears.
My TV has been unplugged for years, I only use it when my granddaughter visits.
I don't know about you, but I'm afraid I will die with American Democracy still under siege.
Re Kent State: Too many people approved of the shootings. "Kent State Four, should have studied more." I will remember that for the rest of my life. My boyfriend at the time was a student at Kent. This is a sick and ugly country and Trump has given permission to be as horrendous as possible. Welcome to the Fourth Reich - it's going to be worse than we can even begin to imagine. I'm about to turn 75 and I don't think I will survive this nightmare.
The reality is that some of the four were walking to class. Sandy's parents had escaped from East Germany. Some of their family members didn't make it, shot in the back by the border guards. Her dad was proud to raise his daughter in a nation that didn't shoot it's citizens. That night Nixon and Agnew went on National TV and told him that his daughter got what she deserved. Hell is too good a place for Republicans.
Same. About to turn 75. These posts bring back the pain of losing my 6yo sister when I was in 7th grade, losing our president in 8th grade.... MLK, Jr. & RFK, Sr. the year I graduated high school.
I'll be 75 in a few weeks. The painful memories have only increased in this age of fascism. Everything I spent my life fighting for has been trampled in the mud, and it's damn hard to keep hope alive.
Despite the day…a beautiful MLK quote Jeff. We need to stay positive—and as you say-deal with the shitfuckery ahead of us. Not watching any of that crap on tv today! Hang in there everyone-we will get through this together! 💙
The bell has not yet rung for the first round of our fight against this neo-feudalism!
The mobbed-up fascist charade that takes place today sets the four squared stage, time for everyone here to band together and fight!
Knowing The execrable wastrel is a gaseous windbag of threats, lies, and unkempt promises, that seldom see success! Let’s knock the fuckery of him, and his coterie of corruption out!!
Jeff, my goal today? Morning work out, lunch, then community service at my synagogue. My community will plant trees and celebrate 3 brave women hostages being released. In memory of Dr. King, a real American hero.
and, of course, if you need support, we are all down here for you in the comments
a must-read is today's Heather Cox Richardson post. I wish I had one tenth of her eloquence.
https://heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/january-19-2025
The value of your writing creates a calming, yet angered response, an essential element in our new gilded age of robber barons, fascism and oligarchy Jeff! You’re essential to the sanity of your readers!!
And sometimes your column is so goddammned funny, it makes my whole day!!
HCR is my hero and Jeff, you are a rock star, sir.
I second that!!
The Shakespeare of Swears you are, Jeff!
So very true!!!
Yes! I just read her column and to honor Dr King today is exactly what all caring and empathetic citizens should do today. She keeps us sane and strong and You, Jeff, help keep us healthy, since “laughter is the best medicine”! Thank you for forming this community. It truly is a safe and sane space 👏🏼 both HCR & Jeff are our heroes.
My plans today have been to honor King and ignore the inauguration. I am doing this with a group of Democrats Abroad.
Ditto what Dana said. We must use every tool and weapon available to us if we want to survive, and knowledge is powerful - but humor is our most effective. MAGA dies when laughed at! 😅 😂🤣☠️
Yours, Jeff, is a different kind of eloquence; one that is just as sorely needed.
You have something that no one else does, even Heather. You make it bearable in a different way, to laugh and see the hypocrisy, irony, stupidity and insanity. You call them all out and that gives us satisfaction for the day. Thank god you write every day. Thank you for your brand of information and community. It feels so good to just say “fuck this shit” on a public forum and have everyone nod and say “hell yeah”.
i second your comment and reference to “fuck this shit.” Four letter words, vulgar to some, are profound in their brevity and emotion. As I said before, if I could put one work on Mt. Rushmore it would be”fuck.” Seems especially true today.
HCR has written one of the most exquisite things I have ever read. She uses her knowledge as an historian to present us with multiple critical times in American history, and to give us hope. And she uses Martin Luther King’s personal history to make us be able to CELEBRATE today, to turn a frightening day in our history into a day of hope and of joy. She focuses on the good, the brave, the sacred and turns our eyes away from the bad. Don’t miss this essay!
Heather’s posts are eloquent and informative—they make me cry, growl, and shake my fists. But yours do all that, too, Jeff, AND they make me laugh (and occasionally spit out my coffee). Thank you for your unique gifts and please do keep up with the shitfuckery…starting tomorrow. Today is a day of remembering and mourning (a dual purpose one).
Jeff, I will read HCR's column, but first I must say that you are the delight I look forward to reading! When there is no hope left, you are there to feel my pain and put a hysterical take on it! You are awesome! Thank you!!
Yes that was another beaut by HCR. Thanks for the reminder. I have long appreciated both of your takes. I came to Substack via her “Letters” and somehow found you soon after. Couldn’t have found a better combination to keep me engaged. Thanks for your special kind if potty mouthed eloquence. And both if you draw great commenters eloquent in their own ways. My subscriptions wirth every nickle. Nice to find a moment to offer praise and thanks.
Damn this thick thumb. Please substitute weird i’s with o’s in my post. Too much trouble to edit as it doesn’t work on my device and I’d have to delete, start a new reply, and then cut and paste. Jeff, your words are well wirth that kind of effort but not mine. Onward!
You and Dr Richardson are taking two different avenues. Be proud of your talent.
She is amazing!
Thanks Jeff, couldn’t do this next four years without you! I’m heading out to stalk a wonderful guitar player and seeing him perform live Monday and Tuesday nights.
I read Heather's post, and I couldn't agree more. She is such an excellent writer. With you, Jeff, The Contrarian, Heather, Wonkette, and many others, I have found a very small measure of peace, although sometimes it's interrupted by insanity. I stand with AOC. I'm not giving one ounce of attention to the Capitol mess.
And Ann Telnaes with her substack Open Windows. She is a brilliant cartoonist who had the guts and the spine to quit the WaPo and tell Bezos to go fuck himself. Please subscribe to her.
I'm not watching it, I'm not reading reports about it, but somehow, I'm incessantly aware that this is the day our country has committed suicide. I am reflecting about how to approach the next four years, how to resist without making myself a miserable angry person, and how to bring out what courage I can in the process. As I read recently, "Courage is the decision to act in the face of fear, uncertainty and discomfort."
She brought tears to my eyes with this today
1460 days to go. Thank God for you and Heather Cox Richardson! I don't know if I could make it without my daily reading of you both.
You do have her eloquence, Darlin' Man. It has a very different tone and focus, but that does not make it "less."
Thank you. I feel a little less alone. Still scared, but defiant.
I am grateful that my kind, generous, loving mother, and my union-organizer uncle, both of whom hated Republicans with a passion, did not live to see this horror. They are both spinning in their graves. I will fight back in their names and to honor their memory. The rest of my family can go to hell.
You’re now the voice of reason, integrity and intelligence Linda, be proud!!
I don't (yet) know how to send a picture of my Inauguration Day decorations. It is okay, but since I live in Idaho, I may get my house burned down. I'm going to try to send the picture, anyway.
If it doesn't send, I think I could put it on my Substack space.
oh, and if you *are* paying attention to the news today and *do* want to talk about it, go for it. I'm sure you won't be the only one
Not me, but appreciate the offer.
I don't have the heart or stomach but appreciate the reminder. And the other one re: tomorrow / shoulder to wheel. I imagine one or many of those threads will make for an excellent roadmap.
I won't be watching today's theater of the absurd. However, I'm keeping an eye on the beginnings of internal strife among the MAGA cult and the GOP.
Actually, there's plenty of that.
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/01/19/trump-agenda-congress-delay-republicans-00001768
I do want to talk about it and will be following your wise words here all day
Using the recent controversy surrounding Snoop Dogg as a jumping off point, I'm copying and pasting this from my FB page. I wrote and pinned this earlier today. This is my take on the inauguration and the people falling in line:
Regarding Snoop Dogg:
The reaction across social media referring to him being a sell out who's kissing the ring and bending the knee isn't hyperbole by the left trying to demonize anyone who dares to even superficially connect with Donald Trump. This time, it's actually a legitimate response.
To wit: Some time back, Snoop Dogg posted a video of himself calling out anyone who performed for Donald Trump as being sell outs, stating they were "Uncle Toms " for doing it.
You can see the uncensored video at the 51 second mark of the video YouTuber Tennessee Brando put up covering this (see below).
And so the mass capitulation begins. This follows the Washington Post announcing last week it's changing their iconic masthead from "Democracy Dies in Darkness" to something along the lines of "Representing all Americans" . Get ready for this, folks. If today marks the beginning of is what I think it does, it's only going to get worse from here.
I won't be watching the inauguration. Instead, I'll be watching something with more class and dignity. Maybe the Police Academy movies. At least they're intentionally stupid. At some point you have to make a choice stand by your values and ethics, even if it makes you unpopular and potentially puts you in harms way. I refuse to even entertain pretending to be at all okay with this narcissistic criminal having power again. I think we made a horrible choice as a country and although I may not be able to express that at work, here on my own time in my personal space I plan to remain vocal about my resistance to Trump and his corruption.
#resistance
https://youtu.be/f3sYMDWoI4s?si=39lDE0y51tKhr3Oz
Major media who don’t agree to air all positive stories about the regime are gonna find their broadcast license suspended. Just wait.
Yeah, agreed. I also wouldn't be surprised if within two years we begin seeing claims Democrats in the House and Senate are guilty of some sort of manufactured crimes and prosecuted/arrested, all in time to make sure Republicans sweep the mid terms.
This reminds me of a German series I watched that took place during the Nazi regime. The Nazis took over the press and all one could read was propaganda, so people wanting to get the truth out had to board buses and streetcars in order to hand out their hand-produced newsletters to the public.
Tennessee Brando has something to say. Definitely worth a listen.
I only discovered him about three months ago and he's definitely one of the better independents out there ( like Jeff here).
I used to like Snoop Dogg. I believe that people like him are capitulating out of fear. I don't want to condemn them, but I'm severely disappointed. See you on the other side.
Just when I was beginning to like Snoop more, his charitable self, his collaboration with Martha, his Olympics stint, his coaching on The Voice - He was building his brand in ways that I never imagined and to do this to himself, I don't understand.
Bye DOGG.
I feel the same.
Well said. My thoughts exactly. Buhbye Snoop, you jumped the shark on this folly.
Yeah, I kinda like him as well. But when you watch that video where he denounces anyone performing for Trump and then see his recent choices, there's no escaping the ridiculous degree of hypocrisy.. It's not just fear - it's this "As long as I get mine, it's all good ' attitude that has completely overtaken us in the past decade. The mainstream doesn't care about protecting the greater good anymore..So it's up to us. I think it begins by recognizing who surrendered when the pressure was on. I'll never listen to anything Snoop has to say moving forward because he's shown what he's really about. Pardon the pun, but all this time he's just been blowing smoke.
You're right.
I don’t read comics so I don’t know one thing about snoop dog.
Well said. Thank you.
You have no worry as to my resistance. None.
Some humor from Andy Borowitz:
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In an eleventh-hour decision on Sunday, the Inauguration of Donald J. Trump has been moved from the Capitol Rotunda to the interior of a Tesla Cybertruck.
The change of venue, dictated by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), means that only people with a net worth of over 100 billion will be able to attend.
“There’s room for me, Zuckerberg, and Bezos, but, unfortunately, not JD Vance,” Musk said. “I usually don’t let employees work remotely, but JD will be allowed to call in.”
The decision to hold the Inauguration inside the electric vehicle pleased Trump, who estimated the number of people inside the truck at 4 million.
😂😂😂
Love ❤️ Andy Borowitz.
Beautiful
Many,many thanks for sharing this laugh, and thanks also to Jeff Tiedrich for being generous enough to post things like this on his substack. It was PERFECT.
"today is Martin Luther King Day. let’s honor his memory."
I know his soul is crying. MLK
January 20, 2025
Today I mourn the end of Representative Democracy in the United States. It lasted 249 years.
The nation will continue to exist but it will never be the same again. With the inauguration of Donald Trump it is being replaced by an Oligarchy of the Wealthy.
Oligarchy (noun): A government of and by a few at the top, who exercise power for their own benefit. Their power and wealth increase as they make laws that favor themselves, manipulate financial markets, and create monopolies that put more wealth into their pockets.
We have been here before, at the start of the 1900’s. History repeats itself when it is forgotten. Let the free-for-all grift begin.
Since I can do NOTHING about this degradation of the USA, I can only say -“LET 'ER RIP!” Sometimes it takes a good hard slap to wake people up. We are about to get it. Our only hope is that their constant infighting prevents unity.
I am done fretting about this dismal reality. A very narrow slice (1.6%) of our Citizens decided to set aside their values and morals vote for a sociopathic convicted felon. 15 million decided to not vote at all. The WORST possible person was just given absolute power and we will ALL pay the price.
The Founding Fathers warned us about the danger of electing men of poor character. My fellow citizens did not heed the warning.
As Ulysses S. Grant predicted “If we are to have another contest in the near future of our national existence, I predict that the dividing line will not be Mason and Dixon's but between patriotism and intelligence on the one side, and superstition, ambition and ignorance on the other.”
People throughout history have fought for the type of free government we just voluntarily gave up. Shame on us. Perhaps there will be backlash at the midterm elections, assuming free and fair elections are still allowed then.
I blame Joe Biden for not dropping out in time to allow a robust Democratic Primary. He was supposed to be a transitional President, a caretaker, to allow for the development of the next generation of Democratic Party leaders. In the end he overestimated his abilities and his ego took over.
I blame Attorney General Merrick Garland for not aggressively pursuing the ex-President for trying to overthrow the government until 2 YEARS after the January 6 coup attempt. He diddled and dawdled and then finally appointed a “special prosecutor” when it was well within his purview to proceed on his own. He was an utter failure.
I blame LIMOUSINE LIBERALS like Chuck Schumer, Nancy Pelosi and the rest of these fossils who not only didn’t know WHEN to step aside for the next generation of Democrat leaders but actively BLOCKED them from assuming leadership positions within the party, even after the losses in the Presidency, House and Senate. Look up the word Coprolite - it perfectly describes these “leaders”.
It's hard for me to find any optimism about anything, except my immediate friends and family. I now choose to expend my resources elsewhere, other than fighting the "good fight."
I'll save my militancy for the day they come to my door to “drag me behind the chemical shed and shoot me” (see the movie “V for Vendetta”) for my thoughts and ideas. I will keep my own value/morality set in place.
Until then, I'll be in my music/book bunker with my thoughts and prayers.
I am sorry you feel this way. Our messy, imperfect 249 year old democracy can not be killed by a bunch of thugs so easily in 4 years. As Jeff said, we rest today, tomorrow we put our shoulders to the wheel.
Hitler failed in his first attempt to overthrow the government. They let him off easy. He succeeded in utterly destroying the German Republic and it took 53 days.
There was an in depth piece on this in “The Atlantic.”
The only reason our democracy is messy and imperfect is because we chose a system that opened the door to greed. Let’s use this time to imagine a new system that will encourage unity, equality and opportunity. And how about creating a new system that encourages Quality in all things.
SCOTUS is responsible for messing up our democracy the most.
I used to think lobbyists were bad and then came Citizens United. UGH
As a geologist, I appreciate your use of coprolite
I had to Google. Good word!
Yes, we've been here before during the Guilded Age, but this time the oligarchy is so much worse. Much, much worse. For one, there wasn't anyone as rotten to the core as Dungball in the White House. That one fact alone puts our country DEEP into the shitter and makes current event unprecedented.
And the Gilded ones didn’t have all of our data. Since we have all willingly walked into the trap of giving people who turned out to be evil Batman villains everything they need to know about us in order to do us harm - I say there’s no way to hide from them so that leaves us the option of standing up for ourselves and not backing down. If the owners of Substack sell us out too- which is quite possible- we’ll have to find another place or way to connect and express ourselves.
Well, they can’t read. They know nothing.
Jeff Bezos knows what we've been reading.
Oh no! Please don't let this happen!
What a fabulous response. These next four years will be beyond difficult, but if we get through them, we can begin to get our country right side up again.
Agree on many of your points David, however understanding the influence of Putin on the Tech Bros’ and Silicon Valley, coupled with a corrupt SCOTUS! Toss in Bill Barr’s misdirections, disinformation, and propaganda killing investigations on behalf of 3 treasonous presidents, you’ll find their actions are where real truths lie!
After what Trump said about Elon and the voting machines, I am starting to believe that no matter what we did we were going to lose. "I have all the votes I need" has taken on new meaning. "Elon will cheat to make it so I win" is more like it.
I'm sure there will be renewed outrage over Trumps ever present projection of everything he does but it's too late, we are doomed to another 4 years unless....
Excellent. Exactly what took place. I fuck every one of them for their inability to stand up and fight. And the biggest fuck is the Supremer who sold our country for a camper.
It was so painful to witness America’s death for so many years due to cowards.
Thank you for this clear-sighted summary. I share your opinions on the state of the nation and the blame well-deserved by the Democratic gerontocracy that basically ate its young as the enemy grew stronger. Typical that Pelosi is not attending the inaugural ceremonies because she fell off her 5" heels and broke her hip (not because of some higher principle). And Biden actually welcomed Trump back to the White House. How gracious. I would recommend BIden's secret transitional letter to the incoming fascist read "First do no harm. Period." But Trump will shitcan it like he probably did with Obama's letter. Yes, I am angry today.
If I were in Biden’s place I would never have welcomed Trump or anything. He is unworthy of any nicities OF any type. Dems were waaaaaaaay tooooo weak. AND WE WILL SUFFER THE CONCEQUENCES MIS SPELLINGS SND I DONT CARE.
Don’t be a surrender monkey!
I have been fighting for 45 years, ever since Reagan ran for Office. I’m old, I’m weary and I’m tired. If the next generation wants to pick up the mantle and run with it I will certainly be there to help how I can but I’m simply worn out now.
yes, a minority of Americans actively voted a vile man back into office. An insufficient minority voted for a highly qualified opponent. As shameful are those Americans who didn’t give a flying F**K and will now kvetch about how bad it is becoming.
When I hear people bitching about the government the first thing I ask is “did you vote last election?”
If the answer is no I tell them to shut the fuck up. They have no right to bitch if they didn’t vote. Harsh but true.
“Joe Biden … was supposed to be a transitional President, a caretaker, to allow for the development of the next generation of Democratic Party leaders.”
Really? I never got that memo.
And if you choose to retreat from the battle we have ahead of us, and to instead withdraw into a relatively safe space where the only concern is “me and mine” but with your “value/morality set in place,” you’ve already retreated into the head-in-the-sand choice that got us here in the first place.
Easy to say. I’ve been fighting the fight for 45 years. In spite of my best efforts, in spite of all that I have done, contributed, protested everything stays the same. Sticking my head in the sand? Now, I just don’t have the psychic energy to carry on. Time for the next generation to organize and March.
It’s not easy to say. FWIW, I’ve been “fighting the fight” since the days of Vietnam war protests, and I campaigned for McGovern. It’s not about you and your “best efforts.” It’s about eternal vigilance being the price of liberty. Every 2nd-Wave feminist knows that.
Well, I’ve been energized by the protests and am “back in the game”
David: I understand your pessimism, but giving into that kills any hope to keep one in good mental health. I turn my negative feelings into anger, and whatever little I can do as in earlier, when I was in the gym, and some asshole had the inauguration on the TV, I just turned it off. A teeny tiny act of resistance, but it made me feel good. I hope you can find some positive or some hope in this situation.
Thanks Janan! I appreciate your kind words. In order to preserve my mental health I have reached a point where I’ve realized that no matter what I’ve done, no matter how I’ve tried it just has not mattered. For my own mental health I’ve decided to step back and enjoy my family. I’m not giving up, as a matter of fact I set up a recurring donation to the American Civil Liberties Union, but I cannot do it by myself any more.
How did you read my mind and post exactly what I'm thinking?
Great minds thinking alike!
I refuse to acknowledge a rapist and traitor as my president. Trump is devoid of humanity. Those who voted for him and leaders who support him will be responsible for the horror we will endure. I’m a senior citizen and have seen some shit. THIS just might be the worse this country has ever seen.
I stopped talking to my siblings cause they are MAGA. All four, dead to me.
That is so sad. Maybe one day they will see the light.
Never look back. No-one gets a 'moral blank check'. You'll sleep like a baby.
So sad. But I understand.
I'm curious how many people have lost family connections and lifelong friendships because of Donald Trump — it has to be in the millions, right? There was a big uptick after the election of people who just couldn't abide being connected to MAGA voters anymore, but it's been happening for years.
Not questioning your decision, I have also rid myself of MAGA (though I was fortunate not to have too many), more just a commentary on how so many people have seen their loved ones turn into monsters (or reveal they were always monsters) because of Trump. I'm sorry you lost your siblings to his cult.
Thanks, Jeff. I will not be watching the inauguration. Not even one clip. I feel like I’m sitting shiva today. But this is the way I’m taking comfort: As of noon today, the countdown begins. Before today , he was already wreaking havoc on our lives, the media, corporations, and people in power were already
starting to obey, he was
monopolizing the news cycle and we were looking at his ugly face and hearing his fucking voice every single day. AND HE HADN’T EVEN TAKEN OFFICE YET. Now that the dreaded day is finally here we can start counting down until he’s gone. Every day that we manage to put behind us is one less day we have ahead of us. And hopefully, when we get to zero, we will still recognize our country.
MSM have inflicted him on us since the day he came down that fucking escalator. He’s like catnip to them, and they don’t even wish they could quit him. It will never end. I won’t listen to his insufferable voice, and I keep an index card handy to block his ugly face on my ipad screen whenever someone pastes it into a post.
Sitting shiva…Yes! I suspect Rachel Maddow (or one of her colleagues) will have a countdown clock running to give us all hope and perspective, but I may repurpose and old digital timer/watch to do the same. We’re going to see a lot of dark before the light, but let’s hope the Republicans tear each other apart trying to “get all the goodies.”
Yes, let the face-eating begin!
"I feel like I'm sitting shiva today." 😂
I laugh, but I've thought similarly. Watching the death of our country has been excruciating. I have often felt like all the crazy events, the ups and mostly downs, have been happening in front of me, like in a dream, and I can never physically stop them from happening. They just churned on an on until...death. Death of our nation! So yeah, we're all sitting shiva right now.
"Now that the dreaded day is finally here we can start counting down until he’s gone. Every day that we manage to put behind us is one less day we have ahead of us. And hopefully, when we get to zero, we will still recognize our country."
This is such a great way to put it, every day we're just a little bit closer to finally being rid of him one way or another. That will be my tiny beacon of hope, one day at a time.
Thank you, Jeff, and everyone who's a member of this group. We are not alone.
I for one will be doing client work, finding some Letterkenny reruns, and cooking. THANK YOU for this beautiful community of people here. You guys make me think and laugh. I’m still sort of stunned we’re at this place in time, but we must look forward! 💙✌️
Letterkenny was great. it's too bad they ran out of ideas after ... what, the third season?
I know….it’s like they didnt know when to quit. Later seasons are not steller. :(
Well, it's 26 below with the wind chill today. I'm ice skating in hell on ignoranceation day. That's how I feel. My 8 yr old granddaughter is with me (no school) and we are doing a pre-teen makeover of one the bedrooms here. She likes the idea of having her own place here on Nay Nay's farm. My grandkids call me Nay Nay. My job is to make them laugh. As they have told me. You should hear my made up bed time stories. 🤣 This >🍾🍷🍸🍹🍺🍻🥂🥃🥡is for after she goes home. Love yourselves. ❤️ I do. Save yourselves. Peace ✌️ ☮️. Until fucking tomorrow.
I bet your grandkids adore you!
They do! 🥰 I adore them. We are over the top grandparents. We dig it. 😎
I'll be trying to stay warm. (2° right now in Columbus Ohio) 🥶🥶
Jesus! Stay safe out there….its not even that cold in Dead Horse, Alaska!!
I'm going out as little as possible. It's going to be colder tomorrow.
😳😳😳
Went out to fill the bird feeders this morning. It was -17. Poor birds! And it's hell for the homeless.
😱
Love Letterkenny
Happy MLK Day to all! That IS worth celebrating!
Indeed Abigail, celebrating the greatness of MLK, is much more important than the charade taking place for a 78 year old career criminal, adjudicated rapist! Who’s drug addled mind is only focused on serving himself, while hiding from a prison cell!!
Perfect pitch for today.
thanks, I try
Hi Jeff.
a bit off topic, but, I was just re-reading my copies of Comical Funnies. and you're in two of them. if, you're the same Jeff Tiedrich.
I'm the only me. yes, I was friends with John Holmstrom and the Punk Magazine crowd back in the day, but I don't remember having been a contributor. I guess I was.
some day I'll share the story of the time I saw Legs McNeil throw his girlfriend's television out the window
I have been here since Truman. You've heard me say that. I was playing alto sax in 7th grade band class the moment JFK was shot in Dallas. I was a Senior in High School the moment MLK was shot in Memphis.
There were criminals in the White House in 1968-71 and there was great turmoil but America survived.
MLK tried to DWJWD so he told the truth. Nice guys try to hold to that principle. Fairness and honesty.
Now that criminals are back in the White House, it is a guarantee that they will try to destroy Democracy. When they get to the point of ruining the American people's lives they will hit some resistance.
Even though it was the young against the "establishment" in the 60s, when the National Guard shot four dead at Kent State America recoiled from that. It was a small part of what brought Nixon down. Would the reaction be the same today if Trump tried to use the military against the American people? Trump runs close to too far all the time. He is liable to screw up really badly and it all fall on him.
Take care of yourself and your loved ones in this time. I am not going to watch TV for a day or two. I can live well without it.
I'm about the same age. I was in my 5th grade class when JFK was shot. The school principal came to our classroom in tears, and we all cried for the rest of the day. One of the mothers brought in a box of puppies - a genius move, but didn't stop the tears.
My TV has been unplugged for years, I only use it when my granddaughter visits.
I don't know about you, but I'm afraid I will die with American Democracy still under siege.
Re Kent State: Too many people approved of the shootings. "Kent State Four, should have studied more." I will remember that for the rest of my life. My boyfriend at the time was a student at Kent. This is a sick and ugly country and Trump has given permission to be as horrendous as possible. Welcome to the Fourth Reich - it's going to be worse than we can even begin to imagine. I'm about to turn 75 and I don't think I will survive this nightmare.
The reality is that some of the four were walking to class. Sandy's parents had escaped from East Germany. Some of their family members didn't make it, shot in the back by the border guards. Her dad was proud to raise his daughter in a nation that didn't shoot it's citizens. That night Nixon and Agnew went on National TV and told him that his daughter got what she deserved. Hell is too good a place for Republicans.
Amen.
Same. About to turn 75. These posts bring back the pain of losing my 6yo sister when I was in 7th grade, losing our president in 8th grade.... MLK, Jr. & RFK, Sr. the year I graduated high school.
I'll be 75 in a few weeks. The painful memories have only increased in this age of fascism. Everything I spent my life fighting for has been trampled in the mud, and it's damn hard to keep hope alive.
I will be boycotting the inauguration of this demon. I'm looking for MLK-related programming to watch instead.
We are many, my friends. Support one another. We made it through his first four years of fuckery. We'll survive this, too.
With love.
Despite the day…a beautiful MLK quote Jeff. We need to stay positive—and as you say-deal with the shitfuckery ahead of us. Not watching any of that crap on tv today! Hang in there everyone-we will get through this together! 💙
The bell has not yet rung for the first round of our fight against this neo-feudalism!
The mobbed-up fascist charade that takes place today sets the four squared stage, time for everyone here to band together and fight!
Knowing The execrable wastrel is a gaseous windbag of threats, lies, and unkempt promises, that seldom see success! Let’s knock the fuckery of him, and his coterie of corruption out!!
Jeff, my goal today? Morning work out, lunch, then community service at my synagogue. My community will plant trees and celebrate 3 brave women hostages being released. In memory of Dr. King, a real American hero.