160 Comments

Thank you for writing about Kalief’s tragic experience. Sadly, it’s far from unique. And the contrast…. A beautiful piece of writing, Jeff.

Expand full comment

A perfect example of our bogus two-tier legal system. This poor kid never stood a chance while the deranged tangerine turd is allowed to galavant around like he's royalty and campaign while he's whining and forever claiming to be the victim. We can only hope this bullshit justice system starts to prioritize those who really belong in Rykers Island and Georgia gives the evil blob a much deserved welcome that he will never forget when he surrenders.

Expand full comment

Another revelation in all the horrors of Trump and his rank corruption is just how ugly so much of how things work in this country are. Not saying other countries are not worse but I honestly thought we were better than this, even though somewhere in there I knew better.

Expand full comment

Very well stated but some countries would've already taken care of this awful situation.

Expand full comment

Yep. Many of them except Israel.

Expand full comment

I know it has never been a fair system for races other than white but the increasing power & use of money in our legal & political systems has pushed inequality even further. From executives going to prison in the 80s and S&L crisis to the Countrywide mortgage guy getting a hand slap in 2008. Yet, no other bankers were held accountable for the Too Big to Fail bank crisis that nearly brought down the country & world econom

ies! The DoJ settles most white collar crimes and the criminals know it.

The result is corruption is now universal not just ceo making millions for nothing. The writers & SAG unions show it isn't just the top.

Expand full comment

Exactly, exactly, exactly. Extraordinarily discouraging and sickening. See the lid is off and we can see it all now and Trump just keeps rubbing our noses in it.

Expand full comment

He’s so lucky... to be white, privileged, to be born here. Since he wanted firing squads what better way to “honor” this corrupt mob boss. Hell I’d even watch if he was guillotined

Expand full comment

Even if that were to happen, that twisted head probably wouldn't shut his nauseating mouth.

Expand full comment

I agree Rick. His snout and beady eyes are enough to gag a maggot

Expand full comment

The only difference between the Orange Idiot and his crappy, ancient aircraft is that the jet stops whining when it lands!

Expand full comment

Jeff, I read this and I cried. I don't cry easily, but this is so horribly unjust.

Expand full comment

the injustice shown to Browder is typical and similar stories play out regularly, not just in NYC but across the country. many of these are not even well documented when they happen in small towns in rural america. this has been going on since people first came to these lands.

Expand full comment

I know. That's what makes me cry.

Expand full comment

My sentiments exactly...

Expand full comment

I think a urine test would be in order. Let's find what kind of shit this monster is on.

Expand full comment

Ooooh and dna for all his RAPE charges!! I can just see it now, “I have the BEST DNA!”

Expand full comment

At least on the walls of the booking room if we can’t get his bodily fluids. Hopefully a test for E. coli contamination will be overlooked as well. Maybe he’ll even feel the need to don one of those stupid Covid masks that he’s thought so little of all these years.

Expand full comment

Nailed it!

And not just once.

Expand full comment

This is the best article you have ever written. Normally your wit about serious matters makes me chuckle. This one made me cry. I am sickened by the audacity of Trump apologizers and supporters talking about a two-tiered justice system while they have callous indifference to abuse suffered by Kalief Browder and so many who cannot afford "justice."

Expand full comment

An absolute gut-punch.

Expand full comment

Spot on.

Expand full comment

This article is perfect,echoing what millions of us have been saying; if it were an average person committing ONE of these charges, we would be arrested, jailed, possibly given bail we could not afford, and held until trial.

In my humble opinion, the longer authorities give trump chances, the more time he has to dog-whistle his supporters to enact the CIVIL WAR he is fomenting. Violence is going to happen, because that is trump's plan. Either jail him now, or Baker Act him, because his mentality should be checked. He is definitely out to harm others ( Not himself, of course).

Expand full comment

IF the former guy is elected president the first thing I am doing is applying for a gun permit. I do not own any guns and never had the desire to own them. With that said, I respect others Second Amendment rights to lawfully own guns. But, if the orange POS wins the civil war will be imminent— and maybe more of a reality if he loses?!…….

Expand full comment

I’ve considered buying a gun even though I hate and fear guns. I told my husband I didn’t think I could shoot anyone, even to defend myself and he said, “If someone was threatening ME, you’d shoot someone. Hell, if someone was hurting the dogs, you’d shoot someone.” And he’s not wrong. But I still don’t wanna own a gun.

Expand full comment

I’m an Army veteran - if you consider purchasing a weapon, please also consider the proper training courses and devoting time to become comfortable with the weapon and learning about caring for the weapon. This also means lots of practice. I completely respect anyone’s desire not to own a firearm and to be free from fear of them; I wish I could make that a reality. But I also take heart that many on our side are considering it, because one day we may need skilled, armed individuals.

Expand full comment

Thank you and I agree wholeheartedly with the weapons training — this suggestion is already being taken. I fear for my children and grandchildren: never in my lifetime would I ever have thought that it would come to this.

Expand full comment

Just get a harmless spray that I have that deters loose dogs when I walk my dog. It sprays a powerful stream of citronella up to 5 feet. That should detract an aggressive man long enough for you to knee em in the balls. If our country becomes like Northern Ireland though, we've got a problem. It's the essence of entitlement to start a war when we live in such abundance.

Expand full comment

I think if he loses, there will be violence from MAGA.

Expand full comment

I think maybe a few here & there but these cult people are insecure weasels who talk big. I am optimistic that they have learned from J6 how the law comes after them...

Expand full comment

Janan, I agree. There are a few who hold on to their bravado and tough guy talk, but I believe there are many Jan. 6 rioters who go to sleep crying in their prison cells every night.

Expand full comment

I think for the most part you’re right, but never, ever underestimate them as a whole. There are those among them who are highly trained, highly skilled and lethal.

Expand full comment

I have to, sadly, agree with you. All of the “election is stolen “ nonsense will continue. The Retrumplicans have to find another candidate to run against Biden—- and lose!

Expand full comment

This puts it all in perspective-Americas value system is so fucked up. I will never understand the cult mentality. Trump worshipers are deluded horrible people. 🙄

Expand full comment

I despair that racists, halfwits, corrupt free marketeers and their stooges, bullies, thugs, nazi cosplaying cops, perverts and kooks who see Jesus in a piece of burnt toast are intent on forever establishing some version of their wet dream on our beautiful land. As Kurt Andersen wrote in his masterful book, Fantasyland, it’s all there at the founding. And as he illustrated in his equally masterful follow-up, Evil Geniuses, there are economic predators and pirates who are counting on it to continue their plunder.

Fuck each and every one of them, collectively and individually.

Expand full comment

You know Neal, sometimes I think maybe we should find our own cult leader. One who is kind, compassionate, empathetic and generous of spirit. (Biden is all these things). There are way more of us than them. And possibly, just possibly we could drown out their evil, selfish, hateful insanity.

We need to find someone just like Jesus, the real deal Jesus who could teach those Mother Fuckers what being a Christian is all about.

Just saying.

Expand full comment

Can we keep religious beliefs out of this? There are many of us who believe in kindness, gratitude, humility & caring without being Christian.

Expand full comment

The word Christian is just a noun for those who believe in Christ/Jesus. Believing in this man and his teachings does NOT make you religious, not in the least. It is the churches and their corruption that has become religion.

Expand full comment

Yes, Biden is that, but Dems aren’t cult members & we don’t have a FOX to push Dem talking points. Hell, even the NYTimes & the Washington Post push Repub talking points. ☹️

Expand full comment

Evening PBS and retired Judy Woodruff and her stupid Focus Groups.

Expand full comment

Lorraine and the rest of us: How are we going to drown out their evil, selfish, hateful insanity? Let’s worry about our own evil, selfish, hateful punishment we are hoping to see fall on the head of DJT.

All that’s necessary to hope for is that Justice be served in equal measure for his crimes and the crimes of all the other offenders. That will be enough. We will be satisfied with that.

Expand full comment

I won’t be satisfied with equal justice, I want payback. His inept handling of Covid cost more than 100,000 lives. He treated sensitive documents like toilet paper, endangering our military and our allies, costing untold lives. He ripped children - even BABIES - away from their parents, with no means of returning them to their families. He promoted an insurrection that cost 5 lives and ruined many more, and taught his cult that political violence is necessary.

He’s a multiply indicted, self confessed sexual predator. His disregard of laws nearly subverted Democracy itself. What do I think would be *justice* for that sociopath? Hang him by his feet and treat him the way Mussolini was treated. Our bring back the guillotine. That would be going easy on him. So I’ll take whatever *justice* is meted out to him but it won’t be enough.

Expand full comment

I agree with everything you said. He wasn’t charged for the worst offenses he committed, like the atrocity of taking the children away from their parents. Let’s talk later after he has been found guilty on all charges. And sentenced to…unknown for now.

Expand full comment

They're fun in the early stages, but tough to keep going in a clean state.

Expand full comment

I read your post and immediately thought of the book “Confessions of an Economic Hit Man”. It blew me away.

Expand full comment

I've got that book, too. I even read it. Riveting and enlightening. Illusion-destroying.

Expand full comment

Fantasyland is a must-read.

Expand full comment

Or "must-listen". He reads his own books with years of radio host experience.

Expand full comment

Good to know.

Expand full comment

Completely! The grifters, the pirates and shameless free marketeers, all part of an animal kingdom that continues profiteering on the ignorance of the true believers.

Expand full comment

One's first thought would be, ok a former president should be given a little bit more leeway in these proceedings and not be mugshot, fingerprinted, perp-walked, etc. But then you have to re-think and say a former PRESIDENT is being charged with crimes!!! How could such a person ever have become a president and done such crimes; he's a disgrace to the office of the presidency and our country. He doesn't deserve to be called Mr. President or even former president. He should be given LESS courtesies due to the fact he was a president and still betrayed his country. A person such as this should be treated worse than the lowest criminal. And history should view him as a traitor to his country. I hope he rots in jail.

Expand full comment

Amen!

Expand full comment

I agree with everything you said except for the last sentence. He won’t rot in jail. He will start a whole new cult in jail.

Expand full comment

For the time being, I just want his mouth shut. Yes he has first amendment rights like we all do; but he doesn’t have a right to foment violence through stochastic terrorism. Shut him up in Mar-a-Lardo with an ankle bracelet and take his fucking phone away from him.

Expand full comment

I personally tend to agree Jon but would never try to second guess the pros who understand all ramifications.

Expand full comment

Agree 💯.

Expand full comment

not even maga lardo. he has to spend his time in a real prison.

Expand full comment

It is a dream I have 😊.

Expand full comment

Thank you for speaking about the injustice of our system, if more folks knew then I think things would change. RiP Kalief, I am sorry we failed you and so many others.

Expand full comment

Technically, he is being treated unfairly, albeit to his advantage.

Any fair treatment would sent his soft, shitty body into overload and cause his immediate death, after all.

And I know that would keep us all awake at night.

Just to be sure though, I figure we should stick him in some community shithole with some other felons with just one large room and no privacy.

Expand full comment

Do you mean like Trump wanted to do to Hillary when he said “Lock her up” ? Trump is going to get what is coming to him through the proper channels of the DOJ.

Expand full comment

Thank you for shining a bright light on this dark corner of the American Judicial System. May Kalief Rest In Peace. May Trump rot in Hell. Trump has repeatedly betrayed the American people and undermined our Democracy. Jeff Tiedrich, as always, is right on target with a bullseye column hitting the heart of today's GOP atrocities.

Expand full comment

Anyone wanna bet he attempts a cheese eating grin And a thumbs up gesture for his mugshot?

Expand full comment

Poignant.

Expand full comment

But but but tRump is the son of GOD, isn't he? Or maybe God Himself. And clearly from his name Kalief was the wrong--something or other. Yep, Right. 🙄

Expand full comment

I’m not outraged about DJT’s treatment. I am completely demoralized over the whole police/prison system though.

I don’t care what methods are used or what decisions are made to bring Trump to Justice. More discerning minds than mine have been immersed in this thing for years now. I am sure they are dealing with this criminal, this embodiment of harm and hate, in the best way possible for the long and short run. We should all be standing by with respect for Jack Smith, Fani Willis, and all the rest of the defenders of the constitution.

Expand full comment

Susan, I am so moved by one sentence: “...this embodiment of harm and hate...” That is what dump is all about. How much that creep has hated all of us and harmed all of us, even his stoopid “supporters”. I still say “How the hell did we get here????”

Expand full comment

Yes Elisabeth, I call this an accelerated learning experience for the entire world of people who are blown away that this ‘Embodiment of harm and hate’ could and did come to be.

Expand full comment

100% Agree!

Expand full comment