529 Comments
User's avatar
Jeff Tiedrich's avatar

welcome to the first post of the second Donny presidency. my goal going forward is to keep you angry and amused without crossing the line into depression and despair. with luck, I'll succeed more than I'll fail.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

What would we do without your humor??? Thanks, man. Keep it coming.

Expand full comment
Lisa59's avatar

Well, fuck a duck! Here we are. Our government is not equipped to hold the highest executive in office accountable. The guardrails never existed. It's balls to the fucking walls now. Game fucking on! Melanoma looked liked the head of a Nazi woman's concentration camp. Taking her new position has head of the Handmaid's court. She'll be in charge of boners. Useless. Ivanka looked like a flight attendant for a middle eastern airline. 😳 And this is only day 2. 🫣

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

"She'll be in charge of boners."

OK. That's it.

YOU WIN THE INTERNET TODAY!

😂😂😂😂😂😂

Expand full comment
Lisa59's avatar

I like to donate to the cause. 🤣 And thanks to Jeff for this amazing space of truth.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

You're awesome. :)

Expand full comment
Lisa59's avatar

You are! 💙

Expand full comment
Mark L's avatar

Because there is a dearth at home?

Just saying....

Expand full comment
W.C. Jones's avatar

Give her some credit. She dressed up like The McDonalds Hamburgler for Donnie dearest.

Expand full comment
Linda Weide's avatar

Lisa, Trump is a Nazi and so is everyone he is dealing with, including his brown-skinned Indian Oligarchs like Vivek, who is apparently kicked out of DOGE because Musk says he does not have a good enough work ethic according to an article in The Daily Koz.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/1/20/2297968/-DOGE-makes-its-first-cut-as-co-chair-Ramaswamy-reportedly-dumped?detail=emaildkre&pm_source=DKRE&pm_medium=email

The irony of Ramaswamy saying how Americans did not raise their children to be successful and hard working, which I criticized since everyone in India is not doing this either. Why the driven high socio-economic-status people claim to represent their entire countries is ridiculous. They do not! Those are the immigrants he is talking about. Yet, visit their home countries and you will find plenty of people who are not driven and whose parents do not schedule them up the wazoo with academic S--T just to take away their childhoods with things they think will give them a competitive edge. It makes them competitive and neurotic too to put it nicely. (My over generalizations here are meant sarcastically).

Expand full comment
Dana Jae Labrecque's avatar

(☞ ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)☞ perfect, Lisa! You nailed it! Seems our land of law and order was just a Potemkin Village all along

Expand full comment
Doreen Garza's avatar

It’s true!! Handmaids tale for sure 👍

Expand full comment
Vicki Bruning's avatar

Saw a photo of Unhappy Immigrant First Spouse in a hat on Substack.

She looks like Natasha, sinister companion of Boris Badenov. She's looking for Moose and Squirrel. Sorry, I'm unable to locate the source. If you can, please add.

Expand full comment
Bonnie Council's avatar

I think the Melanoma hat is a warning: "Police State coming." But I do love that she'll be in charge of boners too. 😉

Expand full comment
Linda Weide's avatar

Melania is a Nazi-like, daughter of a Czech (KGB-like-agency) ŠtB agent. So whether heading a CC, or a Gulag, she looked ominous. I assume she is feeling the exhaustion already of DTs return to power, and what that will demand of her. I am sure she is going to monetize every single thing she does for Trump's image, and compete in the grifting category. It is all so sickening.

Expand full comment
Lisa59's avatar

Those two are a couple of book ends. One is the head and the other is the tail. As humans we create our family of origins. It's what's familiar to us. He obviously was raised by emotionally bankrupt parents. It is very sickening, Linda. Your words are always filled with wisdom.

Expand full comment
Janan Broadbent's avatar

Indeed…

Expand full comment
Michelle Vancura's avatar

If it wasn’t for your humor, I’d definitely be drowning in depression. I’m getting most of my political news these days from you. Thank you!

Expand full comment
Janet's avatar

Ditto! Plus the fact that here in Michigan it’s like Frostbite Falls, Minnesota, but I don’t see Moose and Squirrel anywhere!

Expand full comment
Alison Parker's avatar

You have served as our anger translator and our laugh-so-you-don't-scream outlet and I know we all are grateful for both. And I think if despair occasionally creeps in, that's perfectly fine with me. We're all human here, battling against inhumanity.

Expand full comment
Susan Keefer's avatar

Thank goodness for you, Jeff! I would completely lose it if it wasn’t for you and this community.

Disgustingly sad, but welcome to the Fascist States of America. 😭

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

I think I've already crossed that line. I guess I'm glad to be old. My only hope is that my Social Security and Medicare continue.

Expand full comment
Gina's avatar

glad to be old also - given up on humanity & will focus on my garden and my 'art' - MY only hope I that CANADA continues with its pensions and health care...

Expand full comment
Cheri Collins's avatar

Me, too, Arne!

Expand full comment
Linda Suzanne Reincke -Woods's avatar

You and me both, Arne.

Expand full comment
Kaye Stone's avatar

Same for me, Arne!

Expand full comment
Songgirl Kim's avatar

You succeed, Jeff. Thanks to you and so many others here on Substack, I didn’t have to watch the psychopaths yesterday.

Expand full comment
Bob Bowden's avatar

Thanks Jeff; There’s nothing like our “liberal media”putting their seal of approval on the Nazi salute to comfort us and keep us amused and entertained on the very day a newly elected president promised us a dictatorship.

Expand full comment
Linda Suzanne Reincke -Woods's avatar

Perfectly stated, Bob!

Expand full comment
Jan Moon's avatar

Thanks, Jeff. you'll be the reason I'll be climbing out of bed in the morning for the next 208 (give or take) weeks. Otherwise I'll just veg out until someone finds my pathetic carcass. God help us.

Expand full comment
Ian's avatar

Nailed it today!

Expand full comment
David Selditz's avatar

Jeff, I'll be subscribed until one of us meets our demise. I know I'll go out laughing.

Expand full comment
Jon Notabot's avatar

That's a tough needle to thread, but you do it better than anyone else I read.

Expand full comment
Stephen Brady's avatar

How long do you suppose the Regime will leave the liberal media and Bluesky alone? If you have not crossed into despair and depression, I certainly have. We are fucked up one side and down the other - and up the middle to boot.

Expand full comment
Kaye Stone's avatar

Stephen, this is my greatest fear! Nobody else has mentioned that we could lose touch with each other!! Then what do we do to rally against the shitfuckery?!¿?

Expand full comment
Elle's avatar

Pony Express, semaphore, homing pigeon, and smoke signals. Possibly ham radio, if that doesn't get fucked to tears by a nuclear war. In which case, I guess it'll mostly be a moot point for humanity anyway.

I'm not entirely joking.

Thank whatever gods may be for Jeff's humor.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Angry. Amused (today), no. Depression and despair, yes.

Expand full comment
Mark L's avatar

Have fun

They moved the ceremony indoors.

Was that because hell froze over?

Just saying.....

Expand full comment
Marla's avatar

Fear of crowds.

Small crowds.

The TV ratings were down, really, really down. People not watching seemed to work out nicely.

Expand full comment
David (Dave) Jaspers's avatar

You, sir, are a gentleman and a scholar

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

Yesterday stirred all my memories of depression: https://roberteckert.substack.com/p/why-i-burned-my-law-license

Maybe I'll get over it, maybe not.

Expand full comment
Kaye Stone's avatar

Thank you, Robert. I read your entire article and the comments. All very sadly regarding just how decrepit our system has been for such a very long time.

Expand full comment
Jamie Schler's avatar

I mean, it’s OBVIOUS that’s a Nazi salute even if Musk hadn’t already made it crystal clear that he’s a Nazi but I’ve never seen the Hitler clip!!! And side by side!!! Omg 😳 And the wishy washy press is letting us down again.

Expand full comment
Suki Herr's avatar

It was a a NAZI salute. Musk meant it as a NAZI salute.

We must remember Musk, no matter his wealth, is not elected. He has no immunity.

Expand full comment
Carol C's avatar

The snarl on his face says fuck everyone who is not me. Coming seconds after a smile and thank you. Hmmm?

I was reminded of the Monty Python episode where the Nazi in hiding has to keep bringing his salute down with his other hand. It was funny then, closer to reality now.

Expand full comment
Betsy L's avatar

He's got immunity because of his money and, for now at least, his proximity to Dumpy.

Expand full comment
Gina's avatar

richest man in the world - most immune man - that's how it works

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

👆👆🎯

Expand full comment
Deborah Hunter's avatar

If you think Trump is arrogant, he can't hold a candle to Musk. But, let them all act out in public since they think they are untouchable. This way the world sees them for who they are. No guessing or theories involved.

Expand full comment
Marian Goldsmith's avatar

Well not officially. But just you watch when he needs it. But I do take uour point. We do have to remember how this guy got on the bus. He had a magic token from the dingydon.

Expand full comment
Doreen Garza's avatar

Yes he fucking did mean it as a nazi salute pos! Fucking freak 🤬

Expand full comment
Margaret Irish's avatar

Sadly, he holds the Trump card, which turns out to be not hearts, diamonds, clubs or spades but dollars.

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

All too true, and a very important point to make.

Expand full comment
counterlife's avatar

Wishy washy is too kind for the MSM. Most of them are corrupted by corporate ownership, and even more by their own mediocrity.

Expand full comment
Judy Luchsinger's avatar

I would not describe the legacy media as the wishy-washy press. I would describe it as the support of fascism legacy media.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Not "wishy washy". Bought out. Traitorous.

Expand full comment
Rick Calegari's avatar

The worthless assholes of the media let us down again and this was only day one. Smuk is a fucking Nazi whether the press and the airwaves acknowledge it or not. How many more times will we have to see this shit? In the meantime, we have 1,500 more brownshirt felons roaming the streets to assist dear leader with his evil and bizarre agenda. WTF could possibly go wrong? Speaking of bizarre, Melania's fashion statement with that fugly hat couldn't be any more hideous. It's par for the course these awful days and it's just the beginning.

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Her stylist hates her, that trashy "I don't care..." coat looked like someone graffitied it while she was waiting for a subway train. And lets not forget the "African colonizer" explorer outfit when she traveled there. And lets not forget the weird mashup of pilgrim/ American Gothic (painting with the dour, pinch faced, church lady) for Carter's funeral. She looked like she was the original model for that painting.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Did you notice the canoodling cuddle painted on the white collar? I pointed it out, and one person said perhaps it was a post saying "I'm available"; someone else said it was a secret message to her lover. (Justin Trudeau, perchance?)

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

I couldn’t see it clearly, but it almost looked like two long-eared basset hounds.

My Prime Minister may be going through a midlife crisis, but he is far too classy to do that white-supremist/ birther-nonsense woman. (I claim him because I am married to a Canadian, and lived the on a PR card. it kept me sane last time Tangerine Toddler befouled the white house.)

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

LOL!!! Two basset hounds!!! Take a closer look. It is startling. Bizarre outfit to wear for a funeral. But then again, she is bizarre -- and seems to get more so every day. Is she insane, too? You're right about Trudeau. She was giving his a come-hither look, but he looked right past her. Good for him! (I'm jealous. You can get a PR card. I'm stuck here. Not entirely true. I spent much of last night thinking about how to get rest of our stuff -- already started, but b/o hurricane issues -- quickly packed. Then I got really sleepy and took a nap.) Your final sentence is so apropos.)

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

"WTF could possibly go wrong?" Indeed.

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

I never say that anymore even in jest, the universe seems to take it as a challenge.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

(Does it count that I was just quoting someone?)

Expand full comment
Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Not on your karma, no.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Whew! That's a relief!

Expand full comment
Dana Jae Labrecque's avatar

“Letting us down again” is too soft. They are delivering the American third Reich.

Expand full comment
Neal Stiffelman's avatar

Fuuuuuuuuuuuccccccccccccccccccckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk…

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

My sentiments exactly. 🤦‍♀️

Expand full comment
Charles Austin's avatar

I second that!

Expand full comment
Susan Keefer's avatar

Third that.

Expand full comment
David Skoglund's avatar

I exponential that!

Expand full comment
Randy Woodall's avatar

Nth that.

Expand full comment
Dana Jae Labrecque's avatar

Fuck to the 10th power x Pi.

Expand full comment
Doreen Garza's avatar

You got that right!! I’m screaming it out right now!!

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

Jeff your comparison with Hitler and Elonia is perfect. They are exactly the same.

No one is coming to save us, are they?

The pressed has delivered America right into the hands of an authoritarian. They are indeed "collaborators".

And the ADL? JFC! What are they afraid of??? We are so screwed.

Expand full comment
Mary Hall's avatar

Where dafuq are the Democrats? Shitler and Eloon were both bragging how they stole the election. We really are on our own. The only good thing is that ALL of the shit about to befall us is 100% on the Rethuglicans. FUCK!

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

You are so right! Where ARE the Democrats????? Im pissed at them for being pussies. COME ON! Get assertive, call this shit out, DO SOMETHING! Is it going to come down to the states..blue one versus red ones?

Expand full comment
Teri's avatar

Susan, Schumer is a wuss. Today I'm emailing Amy Klobuchar, my Senators, Bernie S. to demand forceful 24/7 365 hard pushback. Imo Eliz Warren, Tammy Duckworth & others need to hear from 20 million of US NOW!!! They do not get to hide from America's emergency!! #Resist

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

Schumer is the Merrick Garland of the Senate

Expand full comment
Doreen Garza's avatar

Absolutely!!

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

Good idea. I will email them as well. Schumer is old and now seemingly ineffective.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

A lot like Biden was, tragically.

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

I've never understood what Schumer has over the Democratic Party. Klobuchar doesn't thrill me. Padilla, the patron of Israel, and Schiff don't make me happy either. Bernie is the best, along with the senators from Massachusetts and Oregon. That's about it, although Andy Kim may be okay.

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

Schiff is a mixed bag. I thought his work during the J6 and impeachment hearings was commendable, but what he did to Katie Porter (my choice for Senator) during the primary was atrocious. I held my nose as I voted for him in the general (like I'd ever vote for Garvey)(tho he was good at first base for the Dodgers)

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

My feelings exactly! Dodgers Boo!!! I'd just like to mention that the weather in the nine counties that make up the 17th largest economy in the world is beautiful today.

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

I was born in DTLA and have lived in Greater LA my whole life. I own two baseball shirts, and both are Red Sox jerseys. Go figure.

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

Unfortunately, my brother-in-law, who was born in Brooklyn, actually bleeds Dodger Blue, which is his favorite color. We are Giants fans, and I still recall the 1962 season very vividly, including the last game of the World Series. If you want, I can tell you again how at the top of the ninth of the third game of the playoffs , Chavez Ravine was rocking, and by the end of the top of the ninth, you could hear an actual pin drop.

Expand full comment
Marla's avatar

I, too, was born in Brooklyn. However, unlike your BIL, I have never forgiven the Dodgers for leaving Brooklyn. They are scum. Their leaving ripped the heart and soul out of Brooklyn. Ebbetts Field is now a housing development. If you ask nicely, they'll show you a brass plaque where home plate used to be.

I'm a Yankees fan now, although they don't make it easy.

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

I'm not a Dodger fan, despite being born less than 2 miles from Dodger Stadium. And it has nothing to do with Brooklyn; it's how 3 long-time neighborhoods were wiped off the map to build the stadium. And I wasn't much of a baseball fan either until I went to a Red Sox game at Fenway on a whim while on vaycay in New England.

People in LA, for the most part anyway, really like the Dodgers. But people in Boston are absolutely IN LOVE with the Sox, it's on a whole different level. And Fenway just drips with history, any fan of the game should attend a game there at least once.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

The best is Jamie Raskin (D-MD). Dan Goldman (D-NY) is proving himself to be a powerful advocate for rule of law, as well.

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

They're both national treasures (and I think you meant Goldman; Dan Goleman is an author and psychologist)

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

HUH! I thought I'd edited that before I posted it! Will do now. Thanks.

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

Great points Teri, the old guys all need to step aside for new leadership. Writing Senators and Congress is sometimes productive, calling all of their offices is a good backup! I’ve known Amy since she was a kid, but still receive duplicitous, inane “ thanks for informing me of your concerns and thanks for your support” form letters for my effort. Community and town hall meetings like Tina Smith attends work, get their schedules from their websites!

Why the Dems have shown no resistance is certainly curious, good luck!!

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

I watched nothing yesterday, until at 10:30 PM I decided to take a quick peek at a headline. When I read that the Brownshirts have all been pardoned, I fell into a funk that is so deep I don't know when I will ever get out again. I have had many glimpses into the future ("visions", some might call it). I have only told a couple of people about them, other than writing on one substack what I saw "trump" (he doesn't deserve a human name) descended the fake-gold elevator on June 16, 2015, with a paid crowd of people pretending to cheer for him. The hair on the back of my neck stood up and I said, "Hitler. It's Hitler." Until November 6, 2025, I still had hope that my vision would turn out to be wrong. But last night, my dreams were so terrifying that I am shaking today. I have "seen" what the Nazis did. I know what life -- and death -- was like during those 11 years under hitler. Our Democratic "leaders" are beyond naive. Hitler was appointed by President and former General Paul von Hindenburg as Chancellor of Germany on January 30, 1934. Von Hindenburg opposed the Nazi party, but thought that appointing that monster would help calm things. Within two months, Hitler opened the concentration camp, Dachau, on March 22, 1934. Why are Democrats/Democratic leaders playing this game of normalcy?? Do they not know that the stock in private prisons SOARED on November 7th? Do they not understand the implication of “private prisons”?? Private means that what is done in these prisons will be not be seen by us — parallel, I think, to what happened with the relatively hidden concentration camps in Germany. "The Judiciary will protect us,” say the Democrats. WTF ARE THEY THINKING??? WHO SAYS that the Judiciary will protect us??? The Supreme Court is packed, and with another four years (if you honestly believe that is the only time that this nightmare will continue; I fear that is not true) there will only be appointees and new Justices who have been appointed by the orange sadist. And Pam Bondi for AG?! Kash Patel for FBI Director?! And Tulsi Gabbard, along with almost all of the repugnicants, colluding with pukin. [Quick question: why does the Far Right love Russia? Answer — and I have this on extremely good, very private authority (don’t want to reveal my source right now): because Russia has had the least immigration from non-white countries. As my source earnestly explained to me, they are the only remaining “white” country in Europe. The hopes of the Far Right depends on Russia. Did you know this? Most people don’t. So, there you have it. Things are NOT NORMAL!!! Hell is about to erupt. And I sit here -- alone? even the JDL has abandoned reality? -- seeing the future.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

"Why are Democrats/Democratic leaders playing this game of normalcy??" They better get their shit straight, or they will find themselves in the private prisons you mention. Where have decent Americans gone??

Expand full comment
Elle's avatar

I strongly suspect that they're playing the game of normalcy in the hope of avoiding those "private prisons."

They have immunity for doing their jobs, but even if all they do is have to defend charges that are ultimately dropped, they could wind up bankrupt. That may well be trump's goons' strategy for gaining their compliance. Or at least not standing up.

I am so bitterly disappointed with the absolutely gutless behavior of our elected Democratic "leadership."

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

That's what I've thought: bankruptcy looms in the future of anyone who stood up to, or will stand up to, the orange sadist. I SO wish that Biden had pardoned the remaining 60 on $kash's enemies list... I have no idea why he didn't.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Touche, Susan, touche'.

Expand full comment
Mary Hall's avatar

Sickening that so many of the world's ills are due to racism and misogyny. Fking EVOLVE people!

Expand full comment
Patricia Williamson's avatar

The Democrats are behaving as if this is normal politics; it isn't. They need to stop asking me for money and start fighting for justice. Put a fork in us, we're done.

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

"Send us (more) money", that's been their sole response for some time now.

Here's a thought: how about "Join your local Democratic party and show up at meetings. Enter your address, and we'll provide you the contact information."

Crickets. 🦗🦗

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

Or grasshoppers, as it were

Expand full comment
Doreen Garza's avatar

I feel the same! Under a never ending dark dark cloud! I feel like I really should leave the country but that’s drastic to start at my age!!

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Ditto. I woke up this morning ready to hurry up with the preparations which we'd already planned to moved. But by afternoon, I'm just soooo tired...

Expand full comment
Doreen Garza's avatar

At least you have already prepared!

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

I have been trying to prepare. For a long-term Portuguese visa one of the things I need is an FBI background report. One of the things I need for that is to get fingerprinted. They told me to go to the Post Office: I've been to four, and their machines don't work for shit. They told me to go to the police station: I've been to two, they don't do fingerprinting for this purpose. They sent me to a state agency: they had a machine like the ones at the Post Office, have tried a couple times.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Oh! Portugal for you, too! I've been told by more than a few people that it's a great place for expats. (Having said that, last night I was so freaked out that I wondered if we're headed for WW III, and that NO place is going to be safe.)

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

Even if there is war in Europe, Portugal is the last place it would get to (never saw a single bomb in the 1930s or 40s for example). It is indeed a nice place, very cheap, lots of expats, more people who know at least some English (UK English of course) than you might think. The written form of Portugal is not hard to puzzle out if you know any Romance languages, although the spoken language is impenetrable.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

That's good news about being safe in WW II -- despite their geographic closeness to Spain and Italy. Everything you write are things I've heard. It's so interesting. Not a place I'd ever have considered, otherwise.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Not anywhere near enough!

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

It’s fairly obvious the DNC had no interest in contesting the Russian Tail election theory! The nonsensical “when we fight we win” idiocy, blathered ad nauseam was never going to happen Susan! There’s the question we all should be asking, WHY??

Expand full comment
Doreen Garza's avatar

Ya, where the fuck are all the pussy ass democrats? Running scared fucking ass kissing bastards!! They’re definitely part of the reason we are in this position! They’re useless POs!

We are all going to suffer horribly because of idiots and democrats 🤬

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

And remember when Trump said, "You don't even have to vote, I already have all the votes I need" (or something to that effect) a week or so BEFORE the election?

Expand full comment
Doreen Garza's avatar

I still feel the results were crooked with Russia, and all the money by idiots bezos, musk, etc. I still don’t believe he won fairly!!

Expand full comment
Janine Johnston's avatar

When he made that statement “several times” in different speeches I knew something was going to happen. When he won every fuckin swing state, I was positive he stole the election. There were more anomalies people brought up.

Expand full comment
User's avatar
Comment deleted
Jan 21
Comment deleted
Expand full comment
Teri's avatar

KD, I am so sorry you are feeling understandingly horrified. I had an hour long phone call with a therapist my Dr. set up for me recently. She let me pour out my fear, anxiety, etc. I felt like a weight had lifted. Not all of it, but she felt exactly as I did. Said she was talking to lots of people dealing with our nat'l. impending unknown ahead. I highly recommend this! We talk again in 2 weeks. Controlling your news consumption was her #1 tip, and pursuing what brings you joy tip 2.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Once again, Teri, you are an Angel. I need to stay with my visions, however, because they are real. I am not watching any TV. But I also don't want to paper over what I see with "joy". I need to stay where I am.

Expand full comment
Doreen Garza's avatar

I haven’t watched the news since Nov. 2nd! I refuse! My therapist told me the exact same thing!!

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

The coup on democracy appears to be shared by the oligarchs on the left kd, we all should be asking our democratic representatives if they wanted to see democracy destroyed, it appears so, by their inaction!!

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

I know that the oligarchs who were once on the Left are turncoats. Mark Cuban seems to be a (the?) exception. Others?

Expand full comment
Doreen Garza's avatar

ABSOLUTELY!!

Expand full comment
Gina's avatar

no special visions here - but none needed: nose/face

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

The ADL thinks that "obeying in advance" will prevent their offices from being firebombed and their staff tossed into a gulag

SPOILER ALERT: It won't work

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

Good point Steve, Trumps newly pardoned Brownshirt militia won’t be standing back any time soon!!

Expand full comment
CroneEver's avatar

I wonder if SpaceNazi is going to invite all the German AfDs (the new Nazis) here so they can join his "Special Forces"...

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

AFD have been here since Trump’s first ban on Muslims Crone, hopefully he doesn’t recruit more right wing extremist, we already have our fill!!

Expand full comment
CroneEver's avatar

Truth.

Expand full comment
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

Fucking ADL! Did you know that Southern Poverty Law Center deemed them a terrorist group a long time ago? I despise them! Daughter of Holocaust victims here.

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

Thanks for sharing Marlene!!

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

"Jeff your comparison with Hitler and Elonia is perfect. They are exactly the same." That was surely the intention. Elon is copying the exact details of how Adolf did the salute to make sure that no-one mistakes the message, even if some pretend to misunderstand.

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

Damn straight Robert!!

Expand full comment
Cathy Wray's avatar

Susan, great reply!!!

Expand full comment
Stephen Schiff's avatar

The ADL labors under the same illusion as did the Zionists under Hitler, that of a Jewish theocracy in Palestine. They share the same blindness of the real goal which is to make the fatherland Judenfrei. Whatever it takes.

Of course it's natural, the ADL is a Zionist organization and as such differs from its ally of convenience only in the target of its ethnic hatred.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

That's interesting, new information for me.

Expand full comment
Stephen Schiff's avatar

Yes the Hitlerian alliance was a short lived thing. Most Jews in Germany identified as German so emigration was slow even with horrors like Kristallnacht, and then with the invasion of Poland the number of Jews became unmanageable. Hence the Endlösung.

Expand full comment
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

Both of my parents were victims of the Holocaust. They never identified themselves as survivors because they escaped before being rounded up for camps. However, their family members did not survive. My mother’s parents were taken from their home in Berlin to a work camp and then put in a cattle car to Chelmno, a gas camp deep in Poland, where they met their fate, along with 9 others, in a van, 1942.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

I am SO, SO sorry, Marlene...

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

Wow Marlene… I am so sorry. Horrifying ☹️

Expand full comment
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

It is. Trying to educate people how awry these things can get in a short amount of time, Susan.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

I am, too. (I think most people can't believe it. It just sounds too far out. It's not.)

Expand full comment
Teri's avatar

Marlene (( hugs, dear lady )). What a tragic history. So sorry for all your family suffered.

Expand full comment
Marlene Lerner-Bigley (CA)'s avatar

Thanks, Teri.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

When I was a little girl and, for some reason, immersed in literature about the Holocaust (I'm not Jewish), I used to puzzle and puzzle why Jews didn't leave Germany right away. As I got a bit older, I realized that leaving everything behind -- community, house, all possessions, friends -- would have been really hard, but if it meant you would live? As an adult, I finally got it. And it is beyond HORRIFYING. And now? Stock in "private" jails soared on November 7. Will we know what actually goes on in those jails?

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

First they came for the journalists-- and we don't really know what happened after that.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Superb point.

Expand full comment
shee-rah's avatar

Horrific. And to think that Dumbass Donny is making America safe for Nazis. I shudder to think of the horrors that await us.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

It is terrifying, outrageous, and heart-breaking -- all at the same time.

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

I was under the assumption that ADL was anti-Zionist like the JVP I read often Stephan…hmm!!

Expand full comment
Stephen Schiff's avatar

I assume they are Zionists because it seems they think every criticism of Israel is a manifestation of antisemitism. But I could be wrong.

Expand full comment
Dana Jae Labrecque's avatar

it seems to me the ADL has been compromised somehow or perhaps threatened.

Expand full comment
Tess's avatar

I quit Threads…still on Bluesky…only news is Jeff and MediasTouch…Scott Dworkin…Heather Cox Richardson…and a few more…..I will fucking absolutely NOT watch any sanewashing news channels! Thanks for having us Jeff! Take care everyone!

Expand full comment
MzNicky in East Jesus, TN's avatar

Jen Rubin’s new Substack The Contrarian is very good also.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

It really is good. I was thrilled when Jen told WaPo to go fuck themselves.

Expand full comment
Karen Hall's avatar

Me too

Expand full comment
Doreen Garza's avatar

Me three!!

Expand full comment
Tess's avatar

I have subscribed! :)

Expand full comment
Teri's avatar

Tess, subscribed also to The Conrarian (Jen Rubin, Norm Eisen).

Expand full comment
Kay-El's avatar

Yep, dumped both Threads and Instagram. Warning: just like FacePlant, if you even touch a link someone sends you before 30 days is up, you’re back in.

Only on Substack and BlueSky as well.

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

I dumped Twitter when it became Xitter, tried Threads for about two seconds and dumped that, then dumped IG when I realized it would never be anything more than ridiculous staged videos and hoo-uzz driving traffic to their Onlyfans accounts. It was very liberating. I do miss what IG originally was - - ppls lame vaycay pics. I wish someone would pull a Bluesky and make a new one.

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

For my hour of internet this morning, I started with Al-Jazeera News.

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

I read The Guardian (and toss them a few bucks from time to time.)

I cut my teeth on the LA Times in the late 60s/early 70s; I picked up a copy last year and found it unrecognizable.

Expand full comment
Kay-El's avatar

I did too, but that current owner is a loon. Right up there with Bezos. Talk about fake news.🙄

Expand full comment
arne link's avatar

I gave up on the news a year ago. I can't even watch Lawrence. I have to retain whatever is left of my sanity.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

I did too, pretty much. I continued to watch Lawrence from time to time. At this point, however, I can't even watch him.

Expand full comment
Tess's avatar

I read somewhere this morning that trump and vance were added as followers to people on facebook….I don’t have facebook (I hate snooping people-lol) but if true-probably better check!

Expand full comment
Kay-El's avatar

Someone replied to one of my notes saying the same. I’m sure people can “thank” Zuckerberg for that. 🖕🏼

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Whew!

Expand full comment
PTW's avatar
Jan 21Edited

I complained about the same thing, and someone replied that anyone who had "followed" President Biden and or/the WH on Facebook got automatically switched over to following the "new" White House and the new "president". That all things Biden and his White House were archived, and people's FB account "follows" were automatically switched to the new regime.

It made sense to me. So I don't think it is as nefarious at it first appears.

Expand full comment
Kay-El's avatar

Thanks for this, it does make sense because one of my kids is on FB and they didn’t get added. I still think it’s weird though. Let people decide on their own whether to follow a new admin.

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

Imagine my shock when Trump is my FB friend-I reported it as hate speech and blocked. I’m on there because social media management was my job. But I lost that client so…I guess it’s time to go-it’s nothing but ads now. And this and BlueSky is so much better.

Expand full comment
PTW's avatar

I complained about the same thing, and someone replied that anyone who had "followed" President Biden and or/the WH on Facebook got automatically switched over to following the "new" White House and the new "president". That all things Biden and his White House were archived, and people's FB account "follows" were automatically switched to the new regime.

It made sense to me. So I don't think it is as nefarious at it first appears.

Expand full comment
Tess's avatar

OMG!!!! That is disgusting!!!

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Thanks for the heads up to what is looking increasingly ominous.

Expand full comment
Janine Johnston's avatar

Yes, my account wasn’t but a couple of my friends were. I went to block him anyway and a message popped up about not being able to block him from “other accounts” he might be associated with. Wow, just wow

Expand full comment
Carol C's avatar

PBS news hour brought up Elon’s salute and reported that he removed the video of it from his account.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Yesterday, MTG ran around cackling, "As the Chairwoman of the Oversight Subcommittee on DOGE, I look forward to PBS @NewsHour coming before my committee and explaining why lying and spreading propaganda to serve the Democrat party and attack Republicans is a good use of taxpayer funds. We will be in touch soon."

Expand full comment
Tess's avatar

oh Lord!

Expand full comment
Teri's avatar

🤢

Expand full comment
James Stanley's avatar

Good ones for sure! I add Brian Tyler Cohen, Luke Beasley, Kyle Kulinski (Secular Talk) into the mix as well

Expand full comment
Gina's avatar

I tentatively tuned into MJ today after my boycott...they are

Very Concerned (all media should be running around studios with hair ablaze)

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

What is MJ?

Expand full comment
Teri's avatar

KD, Morning Joe

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Thanks.

Expand full comment
Tess's avatar

probably morning joe??

Expand full comment
MattSMaine's avatar

Is it just me or the fact that Musk gives the Nazi salute from behind a podium WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL SEAL triples the fear and loathing this gesture elicits.

Expand full comment
Sharon Hudnall's avatar

Trump's promise that, as part of this nation's Manifest Destiny, we'd be planting the Stars and Stripes on Mars reeks of Space Nazi. So evidently, Musk wrote at least sections of the inaugural speech, if not all of it.

Expand full comment
Teri's avatar

So elump has resolved the "sudden disassembly" of his rockets? How about a written detailed plan on research on how to logistically ACHIEVE a trip to Mars, proven plan for that long a time for astronauts?

Expand full comment
Kimberly Wiley's avatar

Love that, “elump” — it’s perfect!

Expand full comment
Elle's avatar

It's a one-way trip to Mars.

There are people willing to do it.

I used to belong to a gem and mineral club; this would have been sometime in late 2015, and they had a guest speaker, a geology grad student, who was involved in Musk's "Colonize Mars" wet dream. This 20-something kid openly said it was a one-way trip. He was dearly hoping to go.

Expand full comment
Teri's avatar

Elle 😱😯🤯. One way?!? Gonna need lots of food and water.

Expand full comment
Elle's avatar

Yep. Talked about how to create soil (I get it--you have to start ecology compatible with humans and human food somewhere, but human urine and feces as a catalyst is rather problematic for a whole variety of reasons) and utilizing existing cave systems for shelter and protection from radiation. And mining water ice, sending drones of food/equipment/shelter/medical supplies ahead of time, and ... hell.

It's been a decade, and I wasn't exactly taking notes.

I read hard sci-fi, though, and I remember wondering how many people would get there with their reproductive systems intact, and how they were planning on keeping embryos viable and where they'd ethically source those embryos, and women who would WANT to do nothing but be implanted with embryos over and over, and the type of society that would create (assuming any pregnancy even survived to term, much less then survive infancy). And creating an entire population of people who never consented to being sentenced to never being able to step foot on Earth.

And just all the myriad miscellaneous (but vitally important) details of sustaining a permanent presence on a planet that is so fundamentally inimical to the mere existence of any known biological life.

Like equipment would break down constantly from cold and hydrogen peroxide in the soil. Lack of materials to create human-essential essential amino acids. Mental health issues would be ongoing and constant. Whaddya do with someone who has a psychotic break? Assuming you don't just off them immediately and lose their skillset and knowledge base, you're in a closed system. How do you treat them, heal them, and keep their medication from contaminating the water and soil you have to use for growing food?

How do you test what's going to grow on another planet vs what won't, and grow enough to sequester seeds/tubers and still feed people? How do you overcome the issue that part of the time Mars is a lot farther from Earth than other times, impacting communication and even the cost in time and resources of shipping materials?

Without a permanent, stable, LARGE, long-term presence at some LaGrangian point first, it's just not viable. And FFS, Elon's reusable rockets keep blowing up.

We haven't overcome bazillions of the fundamental issues of routinely escaping Earth's gravity well without it costing a not-so-small fortune, without aiming for Mars and hoping people stick, so to speak.

And there was Elon in his speech having a public fash-gasm of People On Mars.

Expand full comment
Alison Parker's avatar

The fact that so many people are so quick to explain away what Musk did when the man has been going full Nazi for years now makes me want to fucking scream until my throat ruptures.

Expand full comment
James Stanley's avatar

not only that, he killed a bipartisan bill for funding pediatric cancer by threatening the Repubs on-board to bankroll their demise? Absolute evil, this guy.

Expand full comment
David Skoglund's avatar

Absolutely. There is no reason to give the benefit of the doubt anymore.

Expand full comment
Cheryl Keeping's avatar

Didn't watch it. Did meet with my Dem women's group. Wore black, drank wine, ate, swore to overthrow the Reich

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

Thats sounds like a great way to spend some time. 🍷🍷

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Did it help?

Expand full comment
Eric W.'s avatar

"Where are Moose and Squirrel?"

First actual laugh I've been able to indulge over this whole nightmare.

Expand full comment
Betsy L's avatar

Moose and squirrel are smart enough to hide.

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

My husband had to explain it to me, since I had very limited access to tv when I was young. However, I will say that what I've seen so far this morning (no TV or internet yesterday), apparently this was not Kennedy's inauguration in 1961. "Ask not..."

Expand full comment
longtimebirdwatcher's avatar

I think I get Melania's hat now. She's Natasha, right?

Expand full comment
Troll Slayer's avatar

And Tiger Beat on the Potomac (h/t Charles Pierce) can fuck all the way off with this:

https://apple.news/AyIo7kq9LT82u4N9Z-8qzSA

Expand full comment
Jeff Tiedrich's avatar

Jesus H Christ, that's an atrocity

Expand full comment
Janan Broadbent's avatar

I was flabbergasted - how sick are these people?

Expand full comment
Steve in SoCal's avatar

How much time ya got?

Expand full comment
David Skoglund's avatar

🤣😆😂

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

Gross. What planet is that guy living on????

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

😂😂😂😂

Expand full comment
Carol C's avatar

Speaking of planets, it seems a third of the Arctic is now contributing methane to the atmosphere with the thawing permafrost.

I read somewhere that the oil leases in Alaska made available in the Biden administration had no takers. Oilmen not interested. Not seen as profitable.

Drill, Baby, Drill? Not unless it’s a safe bet.

Expand full comment
PTW's avatar
Jan 21Edited

It is true. There were absolutely no bids from oil companies to drill in the ANWR. Too costly to be profitable, apparently.

Expand full comment
Carol C's avatar

Just now heard that they can get all the oil they currently want from the Permian Basin. Too much oil would bring the price down.

Expand full comment
PTW's avatar

That makes sense.

Expand full comment
Janine Johnston's avatar

Exactly what I was thinking!

Expand full comment
Eric W.'s avatar

It sounds better in the original German.

Expand full comment
monimuikko's avatar

Politico has been bought by a german right wing media group.they publish the most disgusting daily newspaper, well hated by us lefties. #haltdiefressebild!

Expand full comment
Susan Niemann's avatar

I had no idea!!!! Thanks for this.

Expand full comment
Teri's avatar

Moni, thank you for that important info.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

FOR REAL?????

Expand full comment
Sharon Hudnall's avatar

Harris and Politico are the equivalent here of Time parking Trump's ugly mug on its cover as "Person of the Year" and conflating "greatness" with celebrity exposure and the blind allegiance of too many deplorably stupid people.

Expand full comment
Morgan OCailleigh's avatar

What the actual fuck...

Expand full comment
Lynn Van Haren's avatar

Disgusting pandering

Expand full comment
Elle's avatar

Oh my god. I genuinely feel dirty after reading that filth.

Expand full comment
Dave Drell's avatar

Repulsive article - what a hack.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Wait. WHAT?????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

Just, like, fucking, wow...

So it begins.

Expand full comment
Michelle Vancura's avatar

Actually, it looks like Melonoma stole her hat from the Hamburgler.

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Natasha Fatale

Expand full comment
vorpal's avatar

robble robble

Expand full comment
RZAngel's avatar

🤣🤣🤣🤣

Expand full comment
Carl Selfe's avatar

The noise is indeed unbearable. It is a loud whoosh of raw sewage cresting, then crashing, pouring out of this White House onto our land. Large chunks of Project 2025 interspersed create the stench. This lends strong credence to our community’s correctly characterizing and then naming our foe as psychopathic neo-fascists. We did days of study to determine the correct nomenclature. I think now it is obvious to everyone. They are psychopathic neo-fascists. https://hotbuttons.substack.com/p/my-name-for-them?r=3m1bs

Expand full comment
David Skoglund's avatar

You have to excuse Elon. He was higher than a kite.

Expand full comment
Ann Anderson's avatar

Boy howdy

Expand full comment
Susan P Thatcher's avatar

Orbiting Pluto

Expand full comment
Sharon Hudnall's avatar

He does a better job of launching himself than those de-assembling rockets we're all paying for.

Expand full comment
David Skoglund's avatar

Yes. I saw that another one blew up the other day.

Expand full comment
skangirl's avatar

I took a grad school class on the Holocaust. One day, another student showed up in full SS regalia, complete with the gun. The other students were amused. They even challenged him to go to the student union and rip up a copy of the Jewish student newspaper. It was so fucking hilarious that I picked up my shit and stormed out.

When I went to the professor's office to complain, he literally told me that he was trying to "teach the Holocaust OBJECTIVELY." (Dude was from Harvard. And Jewish. And periodically showed up on TV as an "expert" on the subject.) SOME THINGS SHOULD NOT BE TREATED OBJECTIVELY. ANYTHING RELATED TO HITLER FALLS FIRMLY INTO THAT CATEGORY.

Other things that should never be taught objectively? Animal abuse, pedophilia, genocide. How hard is it to grasp that concept?!

Expand full comment
Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

THIS Is uhtcearu provoking slamgirl!!

Expand full comment
skangirl's avatar

I don't know whether I should agree or disagree. Is uhtcearu early-morning anxiety? Mine's 24/7 until further notice. (I'm binging West Wing from now on, pretending that Josiah Bartlet is my president.)

Expand full comment
Lynn Van Haren's avatar

That was my refuge in 2016 after the 1st tRump win. Such a great show & it would be so wonderful to have a President Bartlett

Expand full comment
T L Mills's avatar

I thought she looked more like the Hamburglar...and I think I know why she wore that hat pulled so low. It sure kept ol' Donald at hat brim distance, preventing a clearly unwelcome kiss and perhaps keeping his denture breath from funking up her space.

Expand full comment
Mary Hall's avatar

Or “Spy vs. Spy” from Mad Magazine.

Expand full comment
Irascible Ink's avatar

🤔😃😂👍

Expand full comment
Lauralite's avatar

Her own border wall.

Expand full comment
Irascible Ink's avatar

😂😂😂

Expand full comment
Lauralite's avatar

Can't blame her, lol. But she knew what she signed up for.

Expand full comment
Alice B Toklas's avatar

Her space is already funked up. Am holding my breath for her anti-bullying campaign to come roaring back.

Expand full comment
Sharon Hudnall's avatar

As Trump V2 "First Lady," we should expect zero effort on her part to do anything. Russian tv and Tass rushed out old photos of Melania the Career Girl spreadeagled and nude the day after turd won the election. We know who owns their asses.

Expand full comment
J. Rose's avatar

My thought is that Mel was using that brim to shadow over a bruise or mark inflicted by a notorious rapist and assaulter of women....for her to 'shut up and pretend to be a loving first lady.'

Expand full comment
CAM from 🇨🇦's avatar

Nah, I think she was paid a mighty sum to be there, hold his hand and pretend they were a loving couple, and still more moola to change her mind about moving back to the WH. A classless tort.

Expand full comment
Lauralite's avatar

There isn't enough money in the universe.

Expand full comment
CAM from 🇨🇦's avatar

That’s why they’re currying favors. Bezos backing the film about Smelania’s life. Let’s find a nice title for this wondrous undertaking. “A star is born”. We could substitute star with many other more appropriate words - folks take your pick amongst them - for example ‘Sleeping with the enemy’, ‘eyes wide closed, ‘To catch the thieves’, etc.

Expand full comment
Robert Eckert's avatar

A Star is Bare

Expand full comment
CAM from 🇨🇦's avatar

Good one! ☝️

Expand full comment
Lauralite's avatar

Slovenia Confidential

Expand full comment
kdsherpa's avatar

Super titles.

Expand full comment
PTW's avatar
Jan 21Edited

"Tort" or "tart"?

Expand full comment
CAM from 🇨🇦's avatar

I meant TART, and you got it correctly. Well done.

Expand full comment
David Selditz's avatar

He's a Goddamn Nazi, full stop. I've experienced antisemitic remarks my entire life, some dog whistles and some physical. Now I live across the street from a dumb shit Jew hater and bigot. I asked him during one of his diatribes if he'd ever met a tough Jew. That was the last of him. I thought that by the time in my mid 70s we'd be beyond this but here we are - still. The challenging of hatred has taught me to pick and choose the battles with these peabrains but I know it will not end.

Expand full comment
Dave Drell's avatar

We need to hire Mossad

Expand full comment