Donald Trump and Republicans continue to divide Americans with fear and Democrats cannot remain silent

Sunday Paper echo essay by Maria Shriver:  Beautiful essay!

Elon Musk went off the rails this week, but I’ve got to admit that I wasn’t surprised. In fact, I’ve been waiting for this moment.

That said, I can’t believe how embarrassing and depressing it was to watch the fighting that unfolded between him and Trump.

I know many people are laughing at their back-and-forth, but make no mistake: it’s serious when someone starts to unravel in the public square.

This president has somewhat normalized insane tweets—the kind people laugh at and share—but to me there is nothing funny about this...

That said, I can’t believe how embarrassing and depressing it was to watch the fighting that unfolded between Musk and Trump. I know many people are laughing at their back-and-forth, but make no mistake: it’s serious when someone starts to unravel in the public square.

"....but make no mistake: it’s serious when someone like Musk goes off in the public square and then the president jumps in."

This president has somewhat normalized insane tweets—the kind people laugh at and share—but to me there is nothing funny about this...between Musk and Trump. 

Governing is really serious business, especially at this moment. The economy is fragile. People are struggling as they try to make decisions for their families and their businesses. There are multiple wars going on. Chaos isn’t good for the business of running our country, and our leadership is chaotic right now. That hurts us at home and abroad.

While many are obsessing over this spectacle, fear is quietly taking over our lives. And for some, it’s not quiet at all.

Here in Los Angeles this weekend, fear is front and center as federal immigration agents clashed with hundreds of people protesting a recent series of raids in the city. 

So many of our country’s immigrants, our friends and neighbors, are living in daily fear that they or someone they love will be swept up in a raid and separated from their families. 

As of Saturday evening, the White House announced Donald Trump is ordering 2,000 National Guards to be deployed in Los Angeles County, which will undoubtedly stir up even more fear.

Fear seems to be everywhere I look. This week, it was another headline that really stopped me in my tracks. It said “Jews Are Afraid Right Now."

I stared at it for the longest time. Then I closed my eyes. I have so many friends who are Jewish and I wanted to take a moment to pray for each of them. In fact, I wanted to pray for everyone of Jewish faith.

I know many say thoughts and prayers do nothing, but I don’t agree. I know they’re not the only solution to our problems, but I do think they are essential parts of our toolbox. They’re by no means the only tools, but they are two important ones in my life. This I know to be true.

Another important action I believe in is condemning violence, like what we witnessed in Boulder and what happened to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro. His op-ed after a targeted attack on his home and family (you can read it here in case you missed it) still resonates. It’s a call to each of us to rise up, call out hate, and tap into our better angels, because now is a time when we need to collectively do better and be better.

Together, we have to start using our voices to speak up instead of allowing fear to stop us from taking action. We have to let others know where we stand and what we believe. Jews are afraid, yes, and that’s wrong. It actually turns my stomach, fuels my anger, and breaks my heart. It also breaks my heart that people in Gaza continue to face death and starvation amid a terrifying war.

Fear is in every conversation I have. In fact, this week when I traveled to Cleveland for our forum on women’s health and research, fear came up several times in people’s questions.

People are often afraid to question doctors and advocate for themselves. 

But you often have to push for a second opinion. You always need to speak up in the doctor’s office and believe in your own instincts, because often times your life depends on it.

Speaking of one’s life last week, I posed a question about bravery and a reader responded with her own heartbreaking but powerful story, which you can read here. This is a headline that will stop you cold as well. In "This Is What Being Brave Means for Me," this Sunday Paper reader writes that after being a victim of assault, she is still fighting for justice—not just for herself, but for other women. That’s courage. That’s pushing through fear.

It’s also brave to tell the truth, as Molly Jong-Fast has done in her new memoir How to Lose Your Mother. In the book, she writes how she inherited a world of complexity from her famous mother, and finally decided to tell her side of the story. In doing so, she embraced her grief and found grace.

That’s what bravery looks like in real time. That’s what fear transformed into power can do.

The other night, two longtime friends (who just happen to be Jewish) came to dinner. We started talking about fear in our political dialogue, and somehow the topic turned to women. We started talking about how the fear women face isn’t just in health care or religion—it’s everywhere. That’s when my son Christopher spoke up in the conversation and said, “Men are scared too.”

“In fact, do you all know that the number one predictor of suicide today is just being a man?” he said.

Men are taking their lives in record numbers. They are lonelier than ever. They are losing jobs to AI. And when a man loses his provider role, he often spirals into depression, addiction, despair, and suicide. I listened as my beautiful, strong, tender-hearted son spoke about the challenges men face in today’s society. My heart cracked.

Jews are scared. Women feel afraid. Men are hurting. Gays are worried. Scientists and researchers are in panic mode. Journalists speak about the challenges our profession faces. Even CBS, the one-time “Tiffany Network of News,” is afraid to fight a lawsuit by a sitting president—so afraid that they’re discussing folding, much like another network already did. Ugh, ugh, ugh.

Fear is everywhere. The synagogues in my city look like armed military establishments. So do schools. People are afraid to walk down the street, live in our neighborhoods, or post on social media. What in God’s name is happening to us?

All the while, millions of podcasts and newsletters and TikTok accounts pop up daily, telling us how to draw boundaries with our parents, how to deal with toxic relationships, how to breathe, emotionally regulate, jump in cold plunges, dress to feel young, exercise to ward off aging, and build our brands so we can compete in this brand-obsessed society we are all players in.

My friends, that is not going to dissolve our fear. That is not going to ease our heartbreak, our pain, our fear of one another, our fear of retribution if we speak our minds.

So then what will?

Dare I suggest… love? 💖💙💛Dare I suggest compassion? 

Dare I suggest community? Dare I suggest friendship? Dare I suggest prioritizing our own healing so that we can step forward without taking out our fear, anger, or rage on one another?

Fear is going to back us further and further into our collective corners. Fear is going to make us silent at a time when our voices are our most powerful weapons. Fear is paralyzing.

I’ve felt its effects in my life. I’m not proud to say it, but there have been times in my own life when my fear got the better of me. When I didn’t act. Didn’t use my voice.

But over time I found that every time I was scared and acted anyway, I gained strength. I gained courage. I found my footing—often on behalf of others, then eventually on behalf of myself. I gained courage by watching others. I gained strength by feeling their friendship, their love, and their support.

Love is expensive. Courage comes from recognizing our fear and then using our voices anyway. It comes from reaching out anyway and standing with others who may be afraid in order to ease their fear.

Standing with one group doesn’t mean you can’t stand with another one. People who stand with Jews can stand with Palestinians who are afraid for their lives. Women can stand with men. And vice versa.

My circle is broad and diverse. I want to be able to stand with men and women, with the LGBTQIA* community, and with Jews and Black Americans. I have friends who immigrated here from Ukraine, from Russia, from Iran, from Israel and Palestine. I’m a Catholic who has friends from different faiths.

The Pope inspires me, and so do my other fellow Catholics including Father James Martin, Father Richard Rohr, Father Greg Boyle, and Sister Joan Chittister. But so too do Rabbi Steve Leder, Pastor Ed Bacon, and Pastor Sarah Jakes Roberts and Bishop Mariann Edgar Budde.

My father, Sargent Shriver, Jr. (1915-2011), was an ardent Catholic, was the first person who spoke to me about the dangers of Hitler and the power of Jesus Christ’s message of love, forgiveness and peace.

My parents introduced me to the Berrigan brothers, who spoke out fiercely against the war; Dorothy Day, who founded the Catholic Worker Movement and spoke out against poverty; Cesar Chavez, who fought the establishment for workers’ rights; Rosa Parks, who said, “No, I will not get off the bus”; Fred Guttenberg, who has turned his own pain into purpose by speaking out against gun violence, hoping to spare another parent what he and his family have gone through. The list goes on.

These were the days before social media could scare you into a corner. Before the days when the leader of the free world called people derogatory nicknames in the public square.

Maybe it’s time for us all to look back and remind ourselves that there have been many fearless people throughout the ages who used their voices to stand up and stand alongside their neighbors—and often total strangers. Human beings who felt afraid due to their faith, the color of their skin, or their gender, but who spoke up anyway.

There will always be people who are afraid. May we believe there will also always be people needed who will stand up straight alongside them. Otherwise, fear will win, and we will all lose everything worth caring about.

That’s what this moment is asking of us: to recognize our fear, and the fear of our fellow humans, and turn toward them instead of away.

Perhaps turning towards one another looks like this:
T.U.R.N.

• Talk - Have one honest conversation this week with someone who might be afraid.
• Unite - Stand with at least one group or person facing fear (even if it's outside your usual circle).
• Reach out - Contact a friend, neighbor, or community member who might feel isolated.
• Name it - Speak up against hate or fear-mongering when you see it, even in small ways.

May we rise up collectively in friendship, in love, and in community. This moment demands that of us. There’s no doubt about that.

*lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, and asexual

Donald Trump and cult Republicans in denial about how the ugly tax bill will cause economic harm

Donald Trump says tax cuts for the rich will be 'Rocket Fuel' for fhe economy. Obviously, Trump is influenced by campaign donor. 

#ElonMusk "SpaceX’s Starship 🚀💢explodes for 3rd time in a row, Musk promises more frequent launches" (This the "rocket fuel" Trump is talking about?)

Opinion letter published in the Boston Globe:

Tangled in Trump budget’s weeds and pricked by its thorns

‘Rocket fuel’ for the economy, says Donald Trump and the Republican echo chamber, the GOP — with most Americans in the blast zone💥❗

The Republicans claim their big budget bill will be “rocket fuel” for the economy. But if this rocket takes off, who will get blasted in its wake?

But, everyday people have the most to lose. The Republicans have thrown in a few short-term tax credits to distract us, but that will barely make a dent for working families losing the SNAP benefits that helped them make ends meet, or communities whose local health centers have to close due to cuts to Medicaid and other funding. School districts will struggle even more to provide enough teachers, supplies, and training to meet the needs of their students.

Meanwhile, communities all across the country currently enjoying the benefits of renewable energy investments — jobs, cleaner air, and a safer, more resilient grid — will watch those dreams go up in smoke.

The rocket is on the launch pad. Citizens must speak up before it takes off. The only folks actually getting in the rocket are billionaires. The rest of us are the collateral damage inside the blast zone.

From Mary Memmott in Framingham Massachusetts

Peaceful protests against Donald Trump! Do protests make a difference "YES!" They do!

Protest is How “We the People” Save the Country
Letters to the Editor  published in The Marietta Times Ohio newspaper: 

Protesters gather during the Hands Off protest outside the Ohio Statehouse on Saturday, April 5, 2025 in Columbus, Ohio. The event is part of the nationwide protests in opposition to the Trump administration and Elon Musk.Samantha Madar/Columbus Dispatch

The Trump Administration spent the first ninety days ++ plus of its tenure tearing down the very fabric of American Government. 

His evil theory appears to be that destruction is a necessary part of any “improvements” that his cult administration plans to make. The problem with this particular group of incompetent clowns is that they don’t care about the responsibility to improve the lives of individuals they govern and have no understanding about foreign policy or the world economy. In other words, to revise the old children’s tale “The Emperor has NO CLUE”. The World sees it and so do “we the people.”

Perhaps, that is why on weekends and weekdays in the United States, everyday people are coming together to say, “this is not acceptable”. After the initial shock and apprehension of another Trump presidency, people have come out of their safe spaces to join together in protest of ELON MUSK and DOGE but primarily of the entire world view of the (cruel!) 47th president. 

Americans believe in democracy and want no part of a dictatorship. They do not want a “fake” Christianity that ignores the basic message of Jesus Christ to “love the poor and marginalized.” The illegal and unconstitutional deportation of undocumented and documented persons; without due process, speaks volumes and should serve as a cautionary tale to American citizens. Citizens who could be denied legal recourse if they are wrongly accused of crimes or exercise free speech to oppose the current administration.

The recent protest that was held in Muskingum Park on April 5th, was an excellent example of what happens when ordinary people decide to courageously exercise their political muscle. A completely peaceful, almost joyful group of over 500 people of all ages came out on a rainy day to carry signs, listen to speeches and chant in unison.

The most important part of the protest, which quickly turned into a celebration, was that by coming out of the dark hole of listening to daily reports of this and that public service being dismantled or funding cut to highly successful programs, like Head Start, Medicaid or even the long-suffering United States Postal Service; folks came together to express their FAITH in the government that has preserved our union for over 200 years. 

They demonstrated a shared HOPE that this present group of malicious actors would be stopped by the Courts (and this is beginning) and ultimately, that LOVE is what will win the day.

Americans respect the spirit of capitalism that has built this country to be an economic power.

Nevertheless, the ordinary person is also equally proud of communities where people reach out and help others. The spirit of helping others to have access to food, health care and shelter is central to the motivation for the protests. In a federal government that is working together for the greater good these values are important. Unfortunately, the current Congress is more interested in writing a budget that robs the working poor of the safety net of Medicaid, in order to provide extension of tax cuts to wealthy donors who donate to congressional campaigns. Could there be anything more corrupt? The reality is that wealthy corporations acquired their profits on the backs of workers whose wages have rarely kept pace with a company’s profit report. This too is unacceptable and the same folks who are coming out to protest will be coming out to VOTE in State and Federal Elections moving forward.

Do protests make a difference? Yes❗ they do❗ The solidarity that is formed when 500 people who don’t know one another come together to express similar values and this continues to happen across the country; eventually the sound is loud enough that it reaches the Halls of Congress. Keep the demonstrations going❗

From Teresa R. Porter in Marietta, Ohio

Republicans must stop the litany of incompetent Donald Trump tyrannical actions

When will we wake up❓ Echo opinion letter published in the Vermont Bennington Banner newspaper:

From Linda Putney in Bennington, Vermont

Most Republicans in Congress are afraid and refuse to stand up for our democratic rights against the tyranny of Donald Trump. Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska*, a startling admission from a GOP senator: ‘We are all afraid’.

"We are afraid", Senator Lisa Murkowski

Donald Trump pardoned 1500 participants of the January 6th invasion, killings and mass destruction of the capitol building.

Donald Trump stupidly believes that tariffs are the key to making the US richer.

Trump is a president who routinely lies, bullies, recklessly abuses his power, and has 34 felonies and a rape on his record. He is phalanderer.

Our government is being run by incompetent loyalists who kowtow to his every word. The rule of law is being trampled on by Donald Trump and his co-president Elon Musk.

We are told that diversity, equity, and inclusion discriminate against White men.

Trump has done nothing to right the error in the arrest of Kilmar Abgreo Garcia and perhaps others who were not allowed due process and are being held in a notorious El Salvador prison.

We are losing essential services by the firing of over 100,000 federal employees. Donald Trump stupidly believes that tariffs are the key to making the US richer.

This is just the horrific beginning during the second disasterous Trumpzi regime.

Millions of dollars of funding have been cut for critical medical research, and US aid to nations with humanitarian needs has been stopped. But Donald Trump treats Vladimir Putin like a friend and views Adolf Hitler as a hero.

We have destroyed our good relationship with our allies and have deserted the Ukraine.

Most Republicans in Congress are afraid and refuse to stand up for our democratic rights.

Donald Trump pardoned 1500 participants of the January 6th invasion, killings, and mass destruction of the capitol building. Donald trump deems Vladimir Putin as a friend and the views the evil Adolf Hitler as a hero.

Echo opinion letter published in the Vermont Bennington Banner

Donald Trump destroyed our good relationship with our European allies and have deserted the Ukraine.

Repored in the Seattle Times: Senator Lisa Murkowski, the moderate Alaska Republican who has routinely broken with her party to criticize President Donald Trump, has made a startling admission about the reality of serving in public office at a time when an unbound leader in the Oval Office is bent on retribution against his political foes.

“We are all afraid,” Murkowski said, speaking at a conference in Anchorage on Monday. After pausing for about five seconds, she acknowledged: “It’s quite a statement. But we are in a time and a place where I certainly have not been here before. I’ll tell you, I’m oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice, because retaliation is real. And that’s not right.”

Murkowski’s comments were first reported by the Anchorage Daily News.

Trumpziism's incompetence becomes more evident and grows while his lies overhwelm our media around the world

There are many reasons to be deeply concerned about Donald Trump’s White House incompetence. 

An echo essay published in Medium (Everyone Has A Story To Tell) an on line publishing site by Tony Davis: 

Fire Pege Hegseth NOW ❗

Look at the evidence👀❗ The mendacity (aka "lying"🤥), cruelty, and the prideful ignorance are palpable. His complete lack of character, the transactional nature of every interaction, his status as a convicted felon, an adjudicated rapist, and his record of being impeached twice are damning. But even more, a new worry has emerged: Trump is determined to appoint people to senior leadership positions who are notably less competent and less informed than he is. And this is not an easy task.

Truly great leaders are not threatened by the intelligence of others; they actively seek out the smartest people to help lead. Their intelligence and experience are key components of their success, and they often strive to be the least intelligent person in the room — precisely because they value the expertise of those they hire. For a president, this is an essential trait, given the breadth and complexity of issues they must address. A president must rely on the deep knowledge and experience of their advisors to make informed decisions for the American people.

A Historical Perspective on Expertise in Leadership

There are clear examples in American history to prove how presidents who chose highly skilled and knowledgeable individuals for their cabinets were praised for their leadership. These figures are often celebrated for their transformative policies and expertise. Here are just five cabinet officials who exemplify this:

• Alexander Hamilton (Secretary of the Treasury, 1789–1795)Expertise: Finance and Economics: Achievements: Hamilton was the architect of the American financial system, establishing the First Bank of the United States and designing a federal financial structure that stabilized the fledgling economy.
• Henry Clay (Secretary of State, 1825–1829)-Expertise: Diplomacy and Legislation: Achievements: Clay, known as “The Great Compromiser,” played a pivotal role in shaping early American foreign and domestic policy, advancing initiatives like the Monroe Doctrine.
• William H. Seward (Secretary of State, 1861–1869)- Expertise: Diplomacy: Achievements: Seward’s diplomatic skill helped prevent foreign intervention in the Civil War, and his negotiation of the Alaska Purchase laid the groundwork for American expansion.
• George Marshall (Secretary of State, 1947–1949; Secretary of Defense, 1950–1951)- Expertise: Military and International Affairs: Achievements: Marshall was the mastermind behind the Marshall Plan, which rebuilt Western Europe after World War II, countering Soviet influence and fostering long-term stability.
• James Madison (Secretary of State, 1801–1809)- Expertise: Constitutional Law and Diplomacy: Achievements: Madison played a key role in the Louisiana Purchase and brought his deep understanding of constitutional law to shape early U.S. governance.

These leaders are revered for their expertise and lasting impact, setting a high bar for what a presidential cabinet can and should achieve. Unfortunately, Trump’s choices for his second term fall far short of this standard.

Trump’s Troubling Cabinet Selections: Ouch🤕❗ 

Pete Hegseth is completely incompetent and compromised by his history of alcoholism and worse Elon Musk was never vetted he is not elected to do anything except to pay people to be Trumpziism's cult loyalists. 

Instead of selecting individuals with deep knowledge and expertise, Trump’s incompetent nominations suggest a preference for loyalty over competence. The result is a “clown car” of willful ignorance and aggressive incompetence that is not only offensive but potentially dangerous. Here are some of the most concerning nominations:

• Pete Hegseth as Secretary of Defense- Concerns: Hegseth, a former Army National Guard officer and Fox (Fake❗) News host, has little experience managing large-scale military operations. His selection raises serious doubts about his preparedness to oversee the Department of Defense, a role that requires extensive strategic expertise.
• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS)- Concerns: Kennedy’s well-documented anti-vaccine stance alarmed public health experts, who fear his appointment will undermine vaccine initiatives and erode public trust in health policies, risking lives during future health crises.
• Tulsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence- Concerns: Gabbard’s limited experience in intelligence and her controversial foreign policy positions cast doubt on her ability to oversee national intelligence operations effectively.

Loyalty Over Competence

Trump’s selections appear to prioritize personal loyalty over qualifications and expertise. This is very troubling because it undermines the effectiveness of federal agencies, which rely on competent leadership to function properly. By choosing individuals who are unlikely to challenge his decisions, Trump may be surrounding himself with yes-men rather than experienced advisors capable of providing independent, informed counsel.

Consolidating Power at the Expense of Democracy

Experts also warn that Trump’s cabinet is part of a broader strategy to consolidate power within the executive branch. Such a move risks eroding the checks and balances fundamental to democratic governance. By appointing loyalists rather than seasoned professionals, Trump could weaken the accountability mechanisms essential for a healthy democracy.

A Dangerous Path Forward

These cabinet ppointees and other loyalists reflect a troubling trend that will have far-reaching consequences for public health, justice, national security, and the balance of power in U.S. government. Trump’s preference for loyalty over expertise suggests a repeat of the disastrous decision-making seen during his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic. If history is any guide, the consequences of these incompetent appointees will be severe, potentially leading to a new wave of preventable crises.

The True Motivation❓

Only Trump knows the full reasons behind his decision to appoint individuals who seem less competent than himself, but it likely stems from a desire to avoid dissent and ensure that no one questions his authority. This is a dangerous precedent, particularly when the stakes involve the health, safety, and security of the American people.

The implications of Trump’s choices for key leadership positions are stark. Instead of the competent, experienced leadership that the American public deserves, we are likely to see a repeat of the mismanagement, chaos, and preventable deaths that marked the most troubling periods of his first term. History will not look kindly on the decisions being made today, and the consequences may well be borne by a great many Americans in the years to

Tim Walz needs to lead the Democrats with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Bernie Sanders and Jasmine Crockett.

Echo report published in The New York Times by Jess Bidgood:

Governor Tim Walz Attacks Musk With Language From the Trump Playbook.

Minnesota governor derided Elon Musk, a naturalized United States citizen, as a “South African nepo baby.” (IOW "inherited wealth" nepotism baby)

When he took the stage in downtown Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on Tuesday night to rev up Democrats ahead of a critical State Supreme Court race, Governor Tim Walz of Minnesota said he didn’t think name-calling would help things.

Then he called Elon Musk a “dipshit” and, later, a “South African nepo baby” with the power to cut government programs. The crowd roared.

“There’s nothing conservative about an unelected South African nepo baby firing people at the Veterans Administration.,” he said.

Trump has frequently insulted his political opponents by suggesting they are somehow foreign or different from Americans. He began his political career partly by questioning whether President Barack Obama was a citizen. During his first term, he told a mostly American-born group of congresswomen of color to “go back” to their home countries. While campaigning against Vice President Kamala Harris last summer, Trump frequently mispronounced her name and cast her as an outsider by questioning her ethnic background.

Musk was born in South Africa in 1971, moved to Canada in 1989, and then to the United States during college. He obtained Canadian citizenship just before moving there and became a naturalized United States citizen in 2002, according to his biographer, Walter Isaacson.

Governor Tim Walz made his remarks at a town-hall-style event that coincided with the first day of early voting for a State Supreme Court race in Wisconsin. That election, which will be held on April 1, pits a liberal candidate against a conservative Trump ally who has drawn more than $13 million in backing from Musk. 

Wisconsin Democrats have seized on those contributions to cast Musk as the election’s main villain.

It was at least the second time Mr. Walz has tagged Musk with the phrase “nepo baby,” slang for someone who inherited wealth or status. (Musk’s father was a successful engineer and developer in Pretoria.) At a town-hall event Friday in Des Moines, the governor criticized Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency for recommending cuts to the Veterans Affairs Department.
Governor Walz, his party’s nominee for vice president last year, is one of several Democrats who have referred to Musk’s immigrant background as they ramp up attacks on the billionaire’s powerful role in the Trump administration.

At times, their language, casting Musk as a foreign outsider, has echoed aspects of Trump’s own xenophobic insults of his political foes — although Trump’s remarks were typically directed toward elected officials of color, not white billionaires.

At a news conference last month, Representative Marcy Kaptur of Ohio said she wondered, “Which country is he loyal to❓ South Africa, Canada, or the United States?” Representative Nydia Velázquez of New York declared Mr. Musk should “go back to South Africa” at a recent protest. At a different protest, Representative Don Beyer of Virginia said, “We’re going to send Elon back to South Africa.”

All of those attacks prompted waves of outrage from Democrats. But some of them seem to be willing to dip into Trump’s playbook in their efforts to portray Musk as a foreign interloper.

The question of Musk’s origins and immigration status occasionally came up on the campaign trail during the 2024, election. After The Washington Post reported, in the closing days of the presidential campaign, that Musk had worked in the United States while on a student visa during the 1990s, President Joseph R. Biden Jr. called him an “illegal worker.”

It’s not just Democrats taking aim at Musk’s immigrant status. Stephen K. Bannon, one of Trump’s chief White House strategists during his first term, last month derided Musk as a “parasitic illegal immigrant” who lacked “respect for the country’s history, values or traditions.”

That seemed to be a reference to The Post’s report about Musk overstaying his student visa, which Musk has referred to as a “gray area.” He later denied that he had worked illegally in the United States.

Musk has made immigration status a major focus of his political rhetoric, frequently deriding illegal immigrants and baselessly suggesting that Democrats are using Social Security and other benefits to draw them to this country.🤥💩

Jess Bidgood is a managing correspondent for The Times.

A One hundred percent certain way to be sure American tourists stay far away from El Salvador

Echo opinion by Rex Huppke

We here at the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office are proud to announce our new slogan: 'Come to America! There's only a small chance you'll be detained indefinitely!'

Greetings, international tourists.😁 I’m here to persuade you to ignore the fake news media and spend your vacation time this year in MAGAmerica, formally known as “America.”

Republicans are allowing an unelected South African immigrant to change every aspect of our American way of life.💨💥😡 

Under the stunning (RESIST❗)  of President/King Donald Trump and his billionaire regional manager Elon Musk, the United States has been transformed from a violent and deteriorating third world nation to the greatest place on earth. (Please note: “greatest place on earth” does not apply to people who say bad things about Teslas.)

In honor of the return of American exceptionalism, we here at the U.S. National Travel and Tourism Office are proud to announce our new slogan: “Come to America! There’s only a small chance you’ll be detained indefinitely!”

We have, of course, seen the reports that fewer Canadians are traveling to America, despite President Trump’s gentle trade war and generous offer/threat to annex their country. U.S. data showed a nearly 13% drop in Canadians crossing into our country in February compared with last year, but the Trump administration is working to swiftly eliminate Marxist “data” like that, so we’re not concerned.

And yes, we saw research firm Tourism Economics' recent estimate that international “inbound travel to the US is projected to decline by 15.2% compared to baseline projections,” which will result in “a $22 billion annual loss” in inbound travel spending. 

But again, those are “words” and “numbers,” and President Trump has made it abundantly clear those are illegal unless he likes them.
Consider all MAGAmerica has to offer foreign travelers

So forget that silly nonsense and think about what MAGAmerica has to offer you, the fabulous foreign traveler.

For starters, there are our beautiful national parks, which will be less crowded this year thanks to Mr. Musk firing about 1,000 U.S. National Park Service employees. No more bothersome “park rangers” telling you woke stuff like “please stay on the path so you don’t destroy delicate ecosystems” and “please don’t pee in Old Faithful.”

But it’s not just the natural parks or the numerous Trump-owned properties you will be required to stay at. International visitors coming to America this year could win … a free trip to El Salvador!

Depending on your accent and the color of your skin, agents from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) could deem you a foreign gang member and then use the Alien Enemies Act to ship you off for a free stay at an El Salvadoran fitness facility, something the liberals lamely call “a labor camp.”

You and your family could be next❗

While only a select number of lucky visitors will receive what we’re calling “the El Salvador package,” every foreign tourist will get to experience America’s new-and-improved First Amendment, which gives all people the right to speak freely, as long as they aren’t critical of President Trump and don’t engage in the kind of protected free speech that makes South African immigrant Elon Musk angry or sad.

Maine Writer postscript:  Although many adventerous tourists like to explore exotic and off the tourist map places, the government of El Salvador has now created a fool proof way to be sure American tourists find other places to visit. Obviously, President Nayib Bukele would rather keep his nation's horrible prisons full than to support his poor country's destination tourism businesses. 

No More Kings protests grass roots organized in record time by 50501 with more to follow

50501- All 50 states on one day: A grass roots activist group organized to protest the illegal anti-democratic Trumpziisms.
This group organized via social media without any money!

 ‘No kings on Presidents Day’ rings out from protests against Trump and Musk. Echo report by the Associated Press by Michael Casey*.

BOSTON (AP) — Protesters against President Donald Trump and his policies braved frigid temperatures in parts of the U.S. Monday, shouting “No kings on Presidents Day” in East Coast cities and attempting to enter the Arizona Statehouse to oppose a bill that would bolster fast-changing federal immigration enforcement.

In Florida and California, local media outlets reported on hundreds of protesters carrying out “Not my Presidents Day” protests. The “No Kings” theme was orchestrated by the 50501 Movement, and marked the second set of protests criss-crossing the nation in less than two weeks. A similar nationwide event on Feb. 5 drew participants in dozens of cities. Both sets of rallies denounced Trump and billionaire adviser Elon Musk, the leader of Trump’s new Department of Government Efficiency, a government organization designed to slash federal spending.

Nearly 1,000 people marched in the snow from the Statehouse in Boston to City Hall, chanting “Elon Musk has got to go” and other slogans. The temperature was below freezing, with wind chills in the teens.

Boston protesters, some dressed in Revolutionary War-style clothing, carried signs saying such things as “This is a Coup” and “Cowards Bow to Trump, Patriots Stand Up.” One sign had a depiction of Uncle Sam saying “I Want You to Resist.”

“I thought it was important to be here on Presidents Day to demonstrate for what America stands for,” said Emily Manning, 55, a Boston engineer who came to the rally with her two teenage sons. “American values are not the values of the plutocracy or the limited few rich people.”

Organizers of Monday’s "No Kings Day" protests, which were focused on state capitals and major cities including Washington, D.C.; Orlando, Florida; and Seattle, said they were targeting “anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies.”

One sign at the rally that attracted hundreds in the nation’s capital said, “Deport Musk Dethrone Trump.”

Many demonstrations were slated for cities where temperatures were well below freezing as a polar vortex worked its way across the country.

The rallies followed a series of Trump evil executive orders and came just days after layoffs across federal agencies as part of an effort to reduce the government workforce.

In Phoenix, hundreds of protestors gathered in front of the Capitol carrying signs reading “No Kings” and “Resist Fascism.” Security barred protesters from entering the building after a few tried to get inside. Demonstrators were seeking access to a state Senate committee hearing on legislation that would require law enforcement officers across the state to support federal immigration policy.

Protest organizer December Archer said her goal was to keep the event civil. She quickly came between someone trying to enter the Statehouse and a security guard who pushed the protestor back through the doorway.

“We’re trying to make sure everything stays civil and stays respectable because again, we’re here to make a statement not be the statement,” Archer said.

*Associated Press writers Scott Bauer in Madison, Wisconsin; and Sejal Govindarao in Phoenix contributed to this report.

No King Day is now the mantra to oppose Donald Trump authoritarianism Trumpziism

Trump can’t be king in America  Echo opinion published in the Nevada Sun by Fred Underwood, in Henderson Nevada.

The ongoing dismantling by Elon Musk, with or without Donald Trump’s permission, of American institutions are not the prudent and just actions expected of public servants.

Trump and Musk are acting like mean and selfish public servants, because they are trying to empower and enrich themselves by dismantling institutions put in place for the public good to promote freedom, well-being and justice for all Americans.

They are trying to dismantle American institutions with constant barrages of false and negative information about how dysfunctional they are, but they aren’t providing any specific information about how they will make them better. This is not surprising given their past tendencies to lie. They don’t have all Americans’ interests in mind, only their own.

They are trying to lull Americans to sleep with those barrages that sound good and seem appealing on the surface, but underneath are mean and dangerous, and it’s past the time to wake up to their deceptions.

Being “woke” to those barrages seems to be the right thing to be, and Trump and Musk don’t remember that the idea of a king in America was rejected long ago.

Moreover, that rejection "No King" is still alive and stronger, and even the woke Americans will not be tricked into accepting Trump’s deceptions and blatantly unlawful attempts to gain the power of a king in America.

Democrats must protect dedicated hard working federal employees from harm by Evilism-Trumpziism

Echo opinion report calling on support for federal employees from Representative Troy Carter published in the New Orleans Times Picayune NOLA:

Evilism-Trumpziism with his wind up toy monkey "Musk-o-vite" Elon Musk

Louisiana’s federal employees — and millions like them nationwide — are the backbone of our government. They process Social Security benefits, protect our environment, care for our veterans and keep our communities safe. Yet, once again, they face attacks from President Donald Trump, who seeks to dismantle the civil service and replace skilled professionals with political loyalists.

Trumpziism's latest scheme — a so-called “deferred resignation” offer — is a trap.There is no legal basis for it, and those who accept could find themselves unemployed with no recourse. Even more dangerous is Schedule F, a reckless policy designed to strip civil servants of job protections, allowing mass firings based on political loyalty rather than expertise. The goal? To replace competence with compliance.

Union-busting, contract violations and political purges don’t just harm federal workers — they harm every American who depends on government services. Gutting agencies means delayed Social Security payments, fewer resources for veterans and weaker law enforcement.

We cannot allow this blatant power grab to weaken the institutions that serve us all.

U.S. REP. TROY A. CARTER SR. Louisiana’s Second Congressional District

To every federal worker in Louisiana and beyond: You are valued, you are needed and you are not alone. As a proud member of Congress, I will fight to protect your rights, your jobs and the integrity of your service. The government should be staffed by professionals based on merit — not loyalty to any politician.

Americans deserve a government that works for them, not one manipulated for political gain. I urge my colleagues and citizens to stand against these dangerous proposals and defend our civil service.

Letter to Senator Susan Collins from constituent- Follow the example of Margaret Chase Smith of Maine

Stand up❗ Senator Collins

Opinion letter published in the PenBay Pilot (Penobscot Bay Pilot), in Rockland, Maine.  Dear Senator Collins:

As we well know, Senator Margaret Chase Smith stood up to Senator Joseph R. McCarthy and brought to a close his unjustified, unconstitutional witch hunt for Communists which he suspected lurked everywhere. 

McCarthy's bullying ruined the lives of many Americans and scared even more. Senator Smith's leadership is lauded today, over 70 years later, and Maine is proud to claim her as one of ours.

Now it's your turn.

Our country is in turmoil. Trump has threatened and is carrying out retribution. Federal employees are being fired for doing their jobs while their important government agencies are being taken over by individuals with no ability, experience, or expertise whose goal seems to be to gut or close the agencies entirely. January 6th Criminals convicted of storming the Capital have been released from prison without serving their sentences; many people wonder whether the rule of law even stands any more. 

Others wonder if this country is going to continue fulfilling the promises of the Constitution and the Bill of Rights.

The people calling for these actions don't seem concerned about the repercussions - national or international, intentional or otherwise.

It's now your turn to show the entire country, and Maine in particular, that you put our country before your party.

You need to show everyone that you can't be intimidated into voting for unethical, immoral, inexperienced and downright absurd people to head various departments.

More than that, you need to stand for what's right and just and against the outrageous and often unconstitutional actions of Donald Trump and Elon Musk.

Your challenge is to be your most courageous self and lead others to be the same.

In the past you have often attempted to find middle ground. I don't think that's appropriate here. You need to be "all in" in order to turn around this attempt to gut our country.

I believe you have it in you to do all this, and I believe that should your most courageous self prevail, you will be remembered in Maine and throughout the country, as is Senator Margaret Chase Smith.

From Mary Orear,  in Rockport Maine

Democrats must engage in the resistance to demand for government to comply with checks and balances

Echo editorial essay published in the New York Times:

Now is not the time to tune out❗

• Don’t get distracted. 
• Don’t get overwhelmed. 
• Don’t get paralyzed and pulled into the chaos that Trump and his allies are purposely creating with the volume and speed of executive orders; the effort to dismantle the federal government; the performative attacks on immigrants, transgender people and the very concept of diversity itself; the demands that other countries accept Americans as their new overlords; and the dizzying sense that the White House could do or say anything at any moment. 

All of this is intended to keep the country on its back heel so Trump can blaze ahead in his drive for maximum executive power, so no one can stop the audacious, ill-conceived and frequently illegal agenda being advanced by his administration. For goodness sake, don’t tune out❗

The actions of this presidency need to be tracked, and when they cross moral or legal lines, they need to be challenged, boldly and thoughtfully, with the confidence that the nation’s system of checks and balances will prove up to the task. There are reasons for concern on that front, of course. The Republican-led Congress has so far abdicated its role as a coequal branch of government, from allowing its laws and spending directives to be systematically cast aside to fearfully assenting to the president stocking his cabinet with erratic, unqualified loyalists. Much of civil society — from the business community, to higher education, to parts of the corporate media — has been disturbingly quiet, even acquiescent.

But there are encouraging signs as well. The courts, the most important check on a president who aims to expand his legally authorized powers and remove any guardrails, so far have held, blocking a number of Trump’s initiatives. 

States also took action, with several Democratic attorneys general suing over Trump’s attempts to freeze federal grant funding and end birthright citizenship and vowing to fight Elon Musk’s team’s access to federal payment systems containing personal information. 

State or local officials are also defending their laws in the face of federal immigration raids and fighting Trump’s executive order barring gender-affirming medical care for transgender children. And independent-minded journalism organizations continued excellent reporting on the fire hose of excesses of these early days, bringing essential information to the public.

None of this is to say that Trump shouldn’t have the opportunity to govern. Seventy-seven million Americans cast ballots to put Mr. Trump back in the White House, and the Republican Party, now fully remade in service of the MAGA movement, holds majorities in both houses of Congress. 

Elections, as is often noted, have consequences. But is this unconstitutional overhaul of the American government — far more sweeping, haphazard and cruel than anything he campaigned on — really what those voters signed up for? To put America’s system of checks and balances, its alliances and its national security at risk? Because, beyond the bluster, that is what Trump, Musk and (Project 2025 MAGA) supporters are doing.

Three weeks into the second Trump term, here are a handful of the places where Americans can’t afford to turn away:

Elon Musk’s Executive Takeover. The problem is not that Musk is unelected, it’s that he is breaking the law. Not even a full-time government employee, he is trying to unilaterally shut down or dismantle entire federal agencies and departments, ignoring congressional mandates — this is prohibited by the Constitution. He and his team are behind the announced buyout offers to millions of civil servants — including the entire C.I.A. work force — and have effectively forced out top officials whom he has no power to fire. He is on a mission to rampage through the government’s confidential payment systems with an anarchist’s glee, deciding on his own which aspects of federal spending are legitimate, and substituting his instinctual embrace of conspiracy theories for any effort to understand the government functions he’s undermining.

Both the president and Musk seem to relish that most of their actions are plainly illegal, daring the courts to step in and stop them, on the theory that these laws are flawed to begin with. At the same time, you have the richest man in the world leading this effort, still holding interests in his private companies, which do billions of dollars in business with and are regulated by the federal government. It’s a level of conflict of interest unlike anything we’ve seen in the modern era.

The Administration vs. Public Officials (a.k.a. Trump’s Enemies). Along with terminating more than a dozen members of the U.S. Attorneys Office in Washington who’d worked on cases involving the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, the Trump administration began collecting the names of thousands of F.B.I. personnel who helped to investigate crimes associated with the attack on the Capitol. Several top-ranking officials at the agency have already been fired. The move offered an early glimpse at how Trump and his nominee to run the F.B.I., Kash Patel — who published a literal enemies list of “Executive Branch Deep State” members — might use federal law enforcement against the president’s political opponents. In perhaps the most disturbing warning to those who might think to question or defy him, Trump stripped several of his former advisers of security protection that was deemed necessary given credible threats by the Iranian government to assassinate them for actions they took under his direct order.

Trump's Imperial Bluster and Attacks on Allies. Trump spent weeks coyly suggesting the United States is on the verge of illegally seizing territory on three continents, leaving all levels of consternation in his wake. 

Then there are his long-planned, seemingly legal — even if extremely ill advised — tariffs. 

All the threats and insults have gained Trump some short-term concessions, but none are likely to make America’s economy stronger or make America safer in the world. Running roughshod over centuries-old alliances will hurt the targeted countries, but it also could compromise national security, raise the price of goods, disrupt global commerce, benefit adversaries like China and Russia that are eager to fill the void of an increasingly distrusted America.

Public Health Imperiled. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a vocal vaccine skeptic, has not been confirmed as Trump’s health and human services secretary yet. But the administration is already taking steps to weaken and wreck public and global health protections. On Thursday, The Times reported that the administration plans to reduce the staff of more than 10,000 Americans at the U.S. Agency for International Development to only about 300 people, and cancel nearly 800 awards and contracts the agency administered. The president — much less Musk — cannot shut down a federal agency without a vote by Congress. To do so is also illegal under the Constitution. More than half of U.S.A.I.D.’s spending in 2023 went to health programs intended to stop the spread of diseases, such as polio, Ebola, tuberculosis, H.I.V./AIDS and malaria or to humanitarian assistance to respond to emergencies and help stabilize war-torn regions. If you care about preventing the next pandemic or the pressures of global migration, U.S.A.I.D. is an investment you should want the United States to make.

The President’s Anti-Civil Rights Blitz. Trump issued a flurry of executive orders and pronouncements that set back decades of progress on civil rights and often openly defy the Constitution. He has especially targeted transgender Americans and has threatened federal funding for public schools that do not adhere to right-wing ideology about how history and race should be discussed. He has also found nearly daily excuses to rail against diversity, equity and inclusion policies, even blaming D.E.I. for the Jan. 29 air crash in Washington and strongly implying that any air traffic controller who is a woman or not white is inferior and has been given a job for the wrong reasons. And the new attorney general, Pam Bondi, announced on Wednesday that private companies that choose to maintain their own diversity and inclusion policies could be targeted for “criminal investigations.”

America faces a new reality, and it demands wisdom, endurance and courage. The United States is now led by a president who appears willing to stampede over any person, law, congressional statute or country that stands in his way. He is driven by impulse and is disinterested in rules, history or reality.

How Americans and the world handle such a president will determine much about the next four years, and it will ask much from all of us. We must meet the moment. Trump won the election fair and square, but his position is that of president, not king or god-emperor. Every time Congress allows him to exceed his constitutional role, it encourages more anti-democratic behavior and weakens the legislature’s ability to check further erosion of the norms and values that have helped make this nation the freest, richest and strongest in the world.

Trumpziism cult is a terrible and dangerous throw back to the Middle Ages!

Echo opinion published by Scott Lehigh, in the Boston Globe:

Yes, indeed, Trump’s Cabinet nominees are pretty far out there.🚀⋆｡ﾟ🪐｡⋆｡ ﾟ☾ ﾟ｡⋆💥

From MAGA to medieval🏰 : How Trump’s team echoes the past

As Lord Acton said, we can’t expect great men to be good men.

MAGA supporters seem inclined to support felons (i.e. "Felonx34"), sexual predators, philandering politicians, right wing fake news reporters, wanna-be TrumpBFFs without any FBI vetting ❗.....what is wrong with these insane cult followers❓ 

I’ve heard from a number of triumphant 😒MAGA correspondents and commenters. Their message? That I am completely out of touch with America, clinging desperately to obsolete notions.

Upon reflection, they may well be right. MAGA America has moved on. Not back to the future, but forward to the past. So I’m trying to look at things through wider and wiser eyes as Trump goes about staffing his new (extremist) government.

Our once and future leader frequently boasts of surrounding himself with “the best people,” and it’s certainly true that the team he’s building is unexampled. So much so that they’ve got me pondering Lord Acton’s observation that “Great men are almost always bad men” — and looking to history for greater understanding.

Some modern sticklers, after all, objected to the way Trump’s MAGA men are treating women. And to those who, like me, apparently cleave to outmoded standards of conduct, that seems like serious stuff.

For example, a lawsuit by former SpaceX employees alleges that Trump alter ego Elon Musk ran “his company in the dark ages — treating women as sexual objects to be evaluated on their bra size, bombarding the workplace with lewd sexual banter, and offering the reprise to those who challenge the ‘Animal House’ environment that if they don’t like it they can seek employment elsewhere.”

Which is to say, Musk enabled pretty much the same atmosphere that Defense Secretary designate Pete Hegseth created at one of the veterans’ advocacy organizations he ran, according to a detailed, devastating article in The New Yorker.

That sounds disturbing. Unless, that is, “Animal House” is your lifestyle guide and you believe the Dark Ages are highly underappreciated. It was, after all, an era of traditional gender roles, a time before vexing vaccination regimes, an epoch when everyday life proceeded happily apace, save for those occasional periods when the bubonic plague would swoop in and carry off large segments of the population.

And as anyone familiar with the Dark Ages or adjacent historical spans will tell you, Henry VIII certainly didn’t treat his wives, consorts, or courtiers particularly well, as several lopped-off heads would surely attest. Yet today Henry is considered one of England’s most remarkable kings❗ (born 1491- died 1547 IOW, GMAB😡) (Ahhhh❓ Maybe🤔 Henry was remarkable because he was the father of Queen Elizabeth I - ya'think❓)

Meanwhile, don’t forget France’s Francis I. According to historian William Manchester, he traveled his kingdom exercising the royal “right of the first night” — that is, the kingly prerogative to have wedding-day sexual relations with the nation’s newly married brides.

Sullen brides and grooms may have objected, but today, no one doubts Francis’s greatness. He, after all, is the king who invited Leonardo da Vinci to France. Leonardo brought the Mona Lisa along for the ride, and just think how many grateful Americans now have a prized selfie taken in front of that timeless painting, all due to Francis’s gracious instincts as a host!

History has a trickier time explaining Health and Human Services nominee Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who in addition to being a reported groper, also frequently says things that make it seem he’s stayed out too long in the brain-baking sun or has otherwise been touched in the head, and by something much worse than a worm. But don’t forget that George III of England is said to have buried a steak outside Windsor Castle in the hope it would grow into a beef tree and mistook an oak for the king of Prussia. At least RFK Jr. hasn’t done anything like that (Frankly❓ I would not make that assumpion).

And though public health professionals are unhappy to see him heading to HHS, this is hardly the first time self-satisfied subjects have disliked a new ruler. History reports that the people of Bohemia chafed under King John when he took the throne in 1311, considering their Paris-raised ruler an alien sovereign. 

But, in a way, that’s an apt metaphor for aging Prince Robert, when duty called, John answered. Although completely blind by the time of the Hundred Years’ War, he nevertheless joined the fray at the Battle of Crecy.

Meanwhile, don’t forget France’s Francis I.  According to historian William Manchester, he traveled his kingdom exercising the royal “right of the first night” — that is, the kingly prerogative to have wedding-day sexual relations with the nation’s newly married brides.

Sullen brides and grooms may have objected, but today, no one doubts Francis’s greatness. He, after all, is the king who invited Leonardo da Vinci to France. Leonardo brought the Mona Lisa along for the ride, and just think how many grateful Americans now have a prized selfie taken in front of that timeless painting, all due to Francis’s gracious instincts as a host!

“Take me to the place where the noise of the battle is the loudest!” commanded the sight-deprived sovereign. And so, just as RFK Jr. charged into the vaccine battle, Blind King John and his knights rode valiantly forth into the arrow-filled air, John swinging his sword so wildly as to endanger his own entourage.

Yes, the king and his knights perished during that foray. But history has no truck with minutia. Today they are remembered as romantic heroes in paintings and busts in Prague museums and cathedrals — and what, really, can be better than that!

This, then, is what I’ve learned so far in my struggle to understand modern medieval MAGA America. History doesn’t care about character or competence. Tragically, as evidenced in this essay, power is all that counts.

Until the public declares otherwise, that is.

Sinclair Lewis: