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Closer to the Edge's avatar

Here are Heather's Notes:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/03/22/irs-tax-revenue-loss-federal-budget/

https://www.thenerdreich.com/reboot-elon-musk-ceo-dictator-doge/

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/us-government-spending-has-not-slowed-under-trump-so-far-data-shows-2025-02-26/

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/27/federal-worker-layoffs-government-agencies/

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5213057-noem-plans-eliminate-fema/

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/poll-project-2025-broadly-known-severely-unpopular-voters-rcna172660

https://apnews.com/article/trump-education-department-shutdown-b1d25a2e1bdcd24cfde8ad8b655b9843

https://www.wired.com/story/even-more-venmo-accounts-tied-to-trump-officials-in-signal-group-chat-left-data-public/

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/republicans-loop-doge-social-security-administration-rcna198102

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/health/trump-state-health-grants-cuts.html

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/mar/26/trump-vaccine-aid-funding

https://graymirror.substack.com/p/barbarians-and-mandarins

https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/27/health/hhs-rfk-job-cuts/index.html.

https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/house-dems-tear-into-johnsons-outrageous-suggestion-that-congress-could-eliminate-some-fed-courts

https://pen.org/banned-words-list/

https://www.whitehouse.gov/fact-sheets/2025/03/fact-sheet-president-donald-j-trump-restores-truth-and-sanity-to-american-history/

https://www.wsj.com/us-news/education/columbia-university-trump-demands-federal-funding-e94d41ca

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/tufts-university-graduate-student-somerville-ice/

https://apnews.com/article/pennsylvania-democratic-party-donald-trump-election-094e907bd9af0d55a3ac76bb5e22d17c

https://apnews.com/article/social-security-administration-disability-benefits-dd53fb317dbd0e41cee436fdea9e6095

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2025/03/25/social-security-phones-doge-cuts/

X:

AccountableGOP/status/1814047103892738480

Youtube:

watch?v=0FR65Cifnhw

Bluesky:

kylegriffin1.bsky.social/post/3llevbkosxc2n

financialtimes.com/post/3llepqyas4s27

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Mercedes's avatar

I don’t see the note to curtis yarvin’s article “Barbarians and mandarins”?

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Shelly's avatar

It’s there

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Kay's avatar

We focus on the sadism to employees and all the spillover harm to communities. I think they are going to steal the funds appropriated for citizens like ssa benefits, Pell grants, etc.

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Kimberly Kennedy's avatar

I don't believe they will steal the funds. They have been following the "oligarchy" model: Tear down the government agencies/departments. Then the billionaires sweep in to divvy up the spoils, PRIVATIZE our public/social services, and THEN make a crap-ton of money. The problem with that is that privatization leads to lack of transparency and accountability, and oftentimes CORRUPTION. Look at MUSK installing Starlink everywhere he can...

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@SariKS's avatar

All autocrats are thieves. Elon Musk is not THE wealthiest man in the world, as every mention of him claims.

That is Vladimir Putin. He doesn’t show off his home(s) palace(s).

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Ethereal fairy Natalie's avatar

Yes, Putin hides his oligarchic tributes in many other countries banks. He has no need of the "I'm the richest man!" dick-waving contest that Musk and his ilk are doing.

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Jaime Ramirez's avatar

That's what I've suspected all along. But for some reason, he is usually ignored when they mention the world's richest men.

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Carsten's avatar

I am not sure what your definition of stealing is then.

The oligarchy model is just that: take an entity by force to make it your own what isnt rightfully yours.

No response required.

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Randy ballard's avatar

Then why covert gold reserves to bitcoin?

That’s coming. Along with clear cutting national forests.

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PJoye's avatar

What you outline is exactly that — stealing the funds!

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Georgia Anne Haye's avatar

He has been unable to install Starlink in South Africa 🇿🇦

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DEBORAH MAY's avatar

Yes Musk installing Star Link everywhere he can as if it is so special. He rushed in to integrate it without a contract the first crash occurred of a helicopter with an airline. The real issue is a shortage of Air traffic controllers; none were hired but there remains a shortage. Now another near crash even though Musk made a boat load of money for getting Star Link integrated without a

Contract- they quietly also took off his request to have his armored Truck contract completed. No concern for American citizens only control

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Christina “Chrysti” Lell's avatar

The only thing people with power want is more power. I think that’s a quote from somewhere, but damned if I remember where (or if it’s correctly quoted). Musk has money galore. Trump, uh, pretends he has money? But what it all boils down to is power over the American people, their pocketbooks, their lives. And we’re just a gate for more power - global control. We’re little pawns in their game of RISK.

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Chrissy's avatar

The Oracle says that in the 2nd Matrix movie. "What do all men with power want? More power."

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Mercedes's avatar

Exactly! It’s power on a global scale.

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A Frustrated American's avatar

Power to control our money or steal it!

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Baden Ewart's avatar

Trouble for Conold the Corrupt Coward is the ROW doesn’t give a shit about America’s descent into a shit hole country. Sooner the better suits us well. You voted for the cry baby prayer fuck wit with the bird’s nest hair and the fat wobbly guts. You keep him in your play pen.

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Christina “Chrysti” Lell's avatar

Half of us didn’t. Half of us were freaked out by him and his cronies before he got in there and are still freaked out now. It’s a nightmare. I am still screaming and seeing the earlier bits of the Nazi Regime. Is the rest of the world ready for this country to become a gigantic Nazi Germany or Putin’s Russia? If we can halt it, we’ll never see that. But all we can say now is “what if”? And too many people are ignoring it or saying it’s not my problem. And, there’s a lot none of us can do but yell. But yelling matters. Seeing it and saying something matters.

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Ellen M George's avatar

Not everybody voted for him.

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Susan's avatar

Bitcoin will give them complete control over our money.

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Gray Zebra's avatar

I’ve been thinking the same thing.

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Mar 29Edited
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Chimera's avatar

Might just be false feeling, but.... I think they know the dough is "small" change. I think they want it to all crash economically, because it's vulnerability that lets them seize financial institutions, declare more states of emergency to unlock more federal powers, change the markets, currency value/type, resources and most importanly- holding bailouts over billionaires, board members, CEOs, banks, etc...

It's been the strategy so far to financially coerce obedience to Trump's edicts. Ban trans healthcare- withhold funding to schools, hospitals etc... ban abortion- withhold funding from non profits, hospitals, clinics etc ... Ban protesting at higher education schools- withhold funding and sick ICE on students that do.

I'm adjacent to finance department, just support tech. Things are frozen, deals are on hold like investments, projects, expansion, purchases, client deals etc... obviously some still happening, but everyone's waiting for the shoe to drop. The financial institutions already know the markets are unlikely to return to normal. No one wants to risk deals in an unstable environment.

Trigger could be debt defaults, economic losses as a whole, consumption plummets etc...

We shall see.

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Barbie Butterworth's avatar

Thank you. It’s happening and it’s very scary! 🫣 we the people need to stop them!! This is our country not theirs!

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Weston Benjamin's avatar

They have all the power. There’s nothing you can do but watch your country being dismantled in real time. Y’all were warned and it’s unfolding as promised. God help us

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@SariKS's avatar

We can demonstrate in huge numbers on April 5th. 2024 was *not* a “free and fair” election as the NYTimes editorial board claimed. There were no audits of the 7 swing states that Trump allegedly won.

The American people are not as dumb as the Right would have you believe. Bernie needs to come back into the Democratic fold. The “working man” was not forgotten. Kamala Harris was fighting for the middle class.

That includes “the working man”, and woman and people of all races. No, the USA is NOT as racist as our illegitimate “president” is, and this country does not want to go back to a time when Civil Rights and women’s Reproductive freedoms were not respected.

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RRMother's avatar

Yes! Exactly!! The election was STOLEN. The American electorate has been brainwashed for decades to believe our elections are fair and not to question the results. Look up the Election Truth Alliance for the data. We are well on our way to a fascist oligarchy!!

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Diane Durham's avatar

No, we are the government. Standing and watching is what they hope will happen. This is why the Founders wrote the 2nd Amendment. It wasn’t to protect from foreign countries or your neighbor, it was to overthrow the government that turns tyrannical.

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The Good Rage's avatar

I am not an American but I thought I heard that too. Isn’t there also something else in your constitution that protects you from a tyrannical government (well, it’s a regime, not a government)?

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Weston Benjamin's avatar

You’re delusional. What part of they have all the power don’t you get? The judiciary can rule against them but Herr Drumpf has made a career of delay and appeal all the way to SCOTUS if necessary and can simply ignore a decision he doesn’t like cause he knows there’s no power to force him to comply. He has the trump cards

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Kate's avatar

April get out in the streets and keep protesting.

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Georgette Edwards's avatar

And this is when they decide to take your guns. But you worship trump and will lay them down at his feet in worship to your orange god

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Kimberley M Mueller's avatar

So I guess we give up and give in, right Benjamin?

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Weston Benjamin's avatar

Well mueller you tell us what alternative there is for an effective response that is immediately available

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Weston Benjamin's avatar

How’s that working for you so far?

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CrumpledForeskin's avatar

Are you being a scared bitch on purpose, or is that just in your nature?

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Weston Benjamin's avatar

My nature is to kick you in the dick for being such a petulant little prick

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Janet's avatar

Step 1: Join millions of others nationwide on April 5th. Step 2: Continue and increase the Tesla Takedown peaceful picketing every week. Step 3: Spend less. Join & increase the boycotts of businesses that support or refuse to stand up to pressure from 45/47 and his minions; Step 4: Vote/contribute/phone bank for the three critical elections on 4/1; Step5: Keep pounding away at Congress with daily/weekly calls, texts, postcards/letter + show up at ALL town hall; Step 6: Refuse to mute your voice in public any longer. If other hearts us say things against the regime, they might find their voices too. Step 7: Get ready to join the coming national wide strike. I for one REFUSE to stay afraid. I think the likelihood of violence or even civil war grows every week; if it comes, I will deal with it then. I will NOT go along with any of this, will NOT stay quiet, will NOT feel powerless any longer. I am an older white woman, and will do everything I can to get our democracy back on behalf of my grandsons, and in memory of and to honor my Dad, who fought his way across Europe in WW2. I will not go along with “there is nothing we can do”, and am counting on millions of us to feel the same way. If others have even more steps, please post them here.

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Gray Zebra's avatar

I sure as hell didn’t vote for him and no one in my family did. His dangerous views and plans were very clear. I don’t even think he actually won the vote. He had help from the Russians and technological help from Elon. Some ballots were destroyed. Some districts in swing states had bomb threats on voting day.

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Jan Mathias's avatar

It is going to be quite a job for the next government to rebuild America after Trump's MAGA -project Made America Go Away.

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Kinnucan (Mark/Lynne)'s avatar

The NEXT government? What next government?

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Susan's avatar

If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Don’t take the wind out of the sails of those of us who will fight back every single day. Hold your tongue or join us!

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Weston Benjamin's avatar

You’re being silly. I’ve had far more likes than not. Comprende?

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Linda Ward's avatar

I have been saying everyday…how are they getting away with all this garbage every single day. I get so excited when I hear Trump or his pet are having problems. The courts are doing a great job telling Trump and his pet no. If someone said we are closing the SS office and don’t come back. What if everyone in that city and closer cities and communicate and get everyone to come to one office and raise holy hell. Then get word out to all citizens to come join. I keep asking myself, how do these people live with themselves doing these atrocities to their neighbors and friends. Hopefully this will eat at them until their dying day. I feel like I am just sitting and watching everything happen. Maybe there should be a civil war. I am 80 years old. I can’t do a lot physically but I can yell and scream. Sorry for the ramblings

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Patrick Larson's avatar

How do we do it? The only option here is violence in my view.

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Jessie S.'s avatar

“Off with their heads!”

“Eat the rich!”

“Viva La revolution!”

I keep waiting for that vibe. All of this is utterly infuriating. It’s like your obnoxious, teenage cousin holding you down face to face with his spit string about to hit you in the eye…and you hate him so, so much you want…payback.

Until the comfy MAGAts in their La-Z Boy recliners sipping their cheap beer watching Jessie Watters can’t pay their bills, or paw paw’s social security checks stop coming, or the Medicaid no longer covers their insulin meds, nothing will really happen. But you piss those nutcases off, it’ll be January 6th in the other direction, but this time armed to the teeth.

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Patrick Larson's avatar

Agreed! I’ve never had the urge to own a gun, but this administration is pissing off a whole leftist majority here.

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Jessie S.'s avatar

I’m a progressive Bernie leftist. I actually hate guns and “gun culture” but I’m armed. Have been for years. Do it now. And be sure to get well stocked up on ammo, too. Ugh, what a time to be an American. This isn’t what I signed up for. Not for a second. 😞

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Linda Burnett's avatar

Yeah, I’ve never been a person for a gun, but I think I’m gonna go buy one because some son of bitch comes knocking at my door to take me or mine I’ve got news for you, buddy. I’ll use it to protect my kids and my grandkids and soon to be great grandkid.

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CrumpledForeskin's avatar

Bernie is a corporate democrat, warmonger, who’s playing an acting role for the dems. He’s not a progressive at all. People need to recognize both parties as being the same group of elitists. It’s a class war. Don’t confuse the enemy as a friend.

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Faded Rose's avatar

Violence is NOT an acceptable choice here. That plays into their plans. Protest must be persistent, large and peaceful. Violence plays into their plans against the left.

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Linda Ward's avatar

Yeah, I am watching how much protesting helps. Assertiveness helps much better.

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Randy ballard's avatar

Sometimes the threat of violence is enough.

Need massive protests and convergence on dc. Like j6 only bigger

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Jaime Ramirez's avatar

And enforce our right & duty to make a citizens arrest on Trump & other violators of the Constitution while converging on the White House.

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BluForever's avatar

Our DEM CONGRESS… & THE CONSTITUTION. COUNTERATTACK -ATTACK with a CONSTITUTION EXPERT! PROJECT 2025 Attacks Our Constitution..ITS IN THERE…,but we need a leader of knowledge defining EVERY ARTICLE & FOLLOW THRU WITH PERSECUTION OF THE TRUMP & his TRAITORS. Our CONSTITUTION USE IT, for pete sakes.. but use it with ONE EXPERT.. defining every step taken to STOP THE STEAL… STOP THE COUP… &&&&& THE DEM CONGRESS FOLLOW THRU❗️

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Jaime Ramirez's avatar

Jamie Raskin is such a constitutional expert. I think Sheldon Whitehouse is, too.

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John's avatar

The money is in the process of drying up. Soon, all will have more important things to worry over save for a few folks settling scores here and there.

USAID was just a start and relatively minor. Wait till the federal reserve comes under scrutiny, along with the IRS. The whole financial system will be altered.

Hand wringing and pearl-clutching along with plenty of passion in all directions. Save your energy and start making some preparations. Time's wasting. Once the reset occurs, you'll be subsisting with what's in your belly, so make it count.

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Mike A's avatar

Reading Substack while falling asleep I wandered into this den of seriously deficient morons and now wonder how the country will survive if this band of imbeciles is truly representative of the Democrat base. Jeezus people, get off the Zanax!

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eleanor sanchez's avatar

So fucking crazy and scary

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Ellen M George's avatar

So what’s the plan? Protest! Letters to your Reps. In Congress, to your senators. Don’t support the Oligarch’s businesses. Support lawyers who are litigating on our behalf. Can others add to this list?

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Jim Malloy 🇨🇦's avatar

Amazing piece of work! Thank you Heather!

This regime’s tyranny is disgusting and must be stopped as soon as possible!!

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Renee's avatar

Chilling

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Sandra Y. Schemmer's avatar

I’ve been following Heather for several months. She’s excellent. She doesn’t editorialize. She states her sources……although who knows she’ll have access to what she needs soon.

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Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

Heather is amazing, thanks for pointing this out!!

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Sephardigirl's avatar

Thank you for all of these articles

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Glennz2013's avatar

Oh, good God! Looks like it's time to go buy some weaponry! Damn, I hate these people with the fire of a thousand suns. Which I realize makes me evil, but sadly. I'm coming to terms with it!

Blessings to the writers at CTTE and HCR!

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Susan Fisher's avatar

In my opinion, we SHOULD hate evil.

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Eileen Lawler's avatar

I came to terms quite a while ago, I don’t feel bad about how I feel . The feeling is not something we have control over. Don’t worry , they don’t care how we feel. There is no sign of remorse or regret, instead they revel in causing pain to others. How should we feel? We didn’t ask for this evil, we’ve tried to get through with kindness, understanding, compromise and even concessions. Their hate runs so deep that nothing is enough to satisfy their need for revenge . ( for what? Idk) So, I think they’ve earned how we feel. We have to accept that this is what they want. But, Let us not forget , as they try to erase history , we’ve seen this evil before. This is not a hard decision for me. We have to do what we have to do bc we do know what the alternative is!

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Mitch Michalec's avatar

Yeah, what these fucking mouth breathers are going to realize real quick is that we candy-assed woke homo libs have guns too. And they’re not going to fucking like it when they do.

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Mercedes's avatar

HCR 03-27-2025, check out the footnote “Barbarians and mandarins” - click on “Read more” - it’s written by curtis yarvin. He’s the megalomaniac (alleged) behind all this evil madness. He’s the most dangerous - the driving force behind vought, vance, musk, trump, project 2025. But it reads crazy, like maybe musk ain’t the only one doing ketamine. The Hunger Games Donald Sutherland meets an undeveloped adolescent gamer. Absolutely bonkers, but scary as hell. They are all buying into yarvin’s game plan to take over the world. Read it!

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Glennz2013's avatar

One day, I'll try to read crazy crap. Right now, just the "everyday" Trump nonsense has me building a garden, thinking about stocking ammo and flying into cussing rages!

Reading anything from Yarvin could turn me into another Luigi! God forbid

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Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

Moldbug(Yarvins) Butterfly Revolution is a disturbing piece thatVance,Thiel, Musk alongside multiple billionaires and Silicon Valley Tech Bros, hold in high esteem, which shouldn’t be the least surprising to anyone at this point Mercedes!!

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Janet's avatar

I feel your pain as well.

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TruthSeeker's avatar

Yup. Theres going to be a Civil war. Arm yourselves!!!

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Patrick Daniels aka Cromulent1's avatar

At the very least a widely organized revolution Truth!!

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Linda Ward's avatar

You are not evil, you are just tired of people stomping all over your rights…and smiling when they tell you what they are going to do next. I will be right by your side brother.

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Carrie Deitzel's avatar

Glenn-don’t feel too badly about hating these people. The other day I saw a quote from some famous person whose name I forget. He said something along the lines of: ‘I’ve never wished anyone dead, but I’ve read many obituaries with great pleasure.’ —Personally, I find that sentiment comforting.

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US Taxpayer's avatar

Weaponry: Body, voice, poster board ! Active; not re-active. Republicans want Democrats dead. Dead people don’t vote. Then again, you don’t need votes in a Dictatorship Authoritarian government - Just knee pads.

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Vendryes Diane's avatar

Are you the garbage talking?

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Scott's avatar

Die you human garbage. Turn the gun on yourself.

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Lisa's avatar

HCR always writes the clear, unbiased truth, and links current events with history. Her letter is one email I make sure I read every day.

It’s scary how we haven’t learned from past mistakes, and are making them again.

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Patrick Larson's avatar

Me too!

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dave eddy's avatar

That's the 1st thing I read every morning

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Kim Buckley Falcone's avatar

Oh yes, since she began writing ‘Letters from an American’.

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Cheryl Peters's avatar

Every Day. She gives me hope.

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Clementine's avatar

Exactly!

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Jay Corvan's avatar

Have been reading heather since her inception five years ago? She’s is the most levelheaded journalist of our time. She levies all her observations against a firm Historical backdrop that’s helpful to compare events in that perspective. She rocks! And she’s fun.

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Faded Rose's avatar

A minor Kindly meant correction: Heather Cox Richardson is not a journalist. She is a historian. A really good one. She tells the story after it has happened, not predictive. She provides sources, she doesn't dig herself as primary investigation. She sorts it out, fact checks it down to the short hairs and pulls historical parallels as metaphor and framework. She is a calm, heroic, gritty treasure for our nation. We need our Journalists too! Don't get me wrong. But she is the right person at the right time for all the right reasons.

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Jay Corvan's avatar

I think it’s fair to say that heather started as a history professor and has always stayed true to that role, but as soon as trump began his avalanche of lies and deceptions , she realized teaching in a “ silo” university setting wasn’t enough. She began to explore the hybrid between journalism and history and now , it appears, she’s created a fusion between the two , a public forum on history, which is an important reminder about the presence of the past.

I think heather would agree that There are always new issues but almost always ways that our elders have dealt with them successfully or not so. I think heather saw us slipping into a national delirium that was quite dangerous and she tried to see if she could remind people that it’s an easy thing to fall prey to history’s mistakes, but much better to remind those who may not see the historic parallels, that there’s answers in the past when applied to future problems. She keeps layering the present with the past like making an artful lasagne dish with multiple ingredients for success or failure depending on the recipe. Haha. J.

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Amelia Castaneda's avatar

Spot on!

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Kathe OConnor's avatar

Started reading while I was very sick with Covid. The only place I trusted in that scary time. I was so sick it took a few hours to read her post. She is a national treasure.

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pat  devlin's avatar

Agree with you. It’s surprising that they haven’t shut her down yet

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Jessie S.'s avatar

She’s too academic and level headed for them to notice or feel angry. She is an historian and puts it all in deliriously, fascinating, pertinent context. She’s brainy and in-depth. If she was a firebrand, or if she held our national attention on a major news outlet like the wonderful, scholarly but more opinionated Rachel Maddow does, I feel sure they’d be threatening her all day. But she’s not. She flies a bit under their radar because she is calm, she’s factual, and she just lays it all down for us to do with what we will. You’ll notice she tampers her opinion as well as anyone I’ve ever seen and she’s a goddamn national treasure.

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Kim Buckley Falcone's avatar

Amen to that!! (National Treasure!)

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TV's avatar

Rachel is gay and they definitely don’t like that!

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Jessie S.'s avatar

What they hate even more is that she is a WOMAN. The misogyny in this country is astounding.

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Faded Rose's avatar

Update: Facebook yanked her video yesterday. (not an update, more an up late)

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

I got to Substack via reading her Letters on Facebook for years. I have subscribed to a few different writers here now--too many to keep up with, really--but she has been and will continue to be my go-to for solid information. As always, she writes as the historian is and, as you say, with the evidence..."brings the receipts" as they say. Brava, Dr. Richardson!

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Katiejane M's avatar

I switched over to listening to her on my podcast feed about a year ago. Now I do my chores and become educated all at the same time.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

I haven't gotten into listening to podcasts yet. There's already so much information overload for me, and I realized last night I'm subscribed to at least seven writers on here, which makes for an overflowing inbox already. Sigh....

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Katiejane M's avatar

I’m with you. So many great writers here, it’s easy to subscribe over and over. I reached the tipping point a few months ago and changed my settings and now only read in the app. My email inbox is much transformed. As for podcasts, it’s only HCR and a few others. So much content these days that I truly could be on my devices most of my day.

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HarrisWalz FTW 2024's avatar

Check out the piece by Ben Meiselas on Meidas+ today. Probably what I needed to hear.

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Grandma Andrea's avatar

Well this is terrible. Understatement of the century .

It looks as tho the architects of this fucking ridiculous plan left something out of their equation.

Americans millions of them love their democracy.

The next few weeks/months will continue to be very interesting.

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beth smith's avatar

But so many spineless uninformed MAGA loving this.

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Patricia Lees's avatar

The key word is uninformed or misinformed.

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TJ's avatar

Yes, Grandma Andrea, we love our democracy, but how do we stop the fascists? Nazi Germany was finally destroyed by the Allies and U.S. 😳 Do we all become Canadians? Is there a counter plan to defeat the f*ing ridiculous plan? What if they cancel or rig elections (if they haven’t already)?

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Grandma Andrea's avatar

I sure wish I had those answers.I see the peaceful protests,I see it all over the US that gives me hope.

The big difference I think is there are far more Americans that love democracy and actively speak out.

Germany seemingly rolled over,in part I suppose because of the defeat in WW1,the Treaty of Versailles had alot to do with how things went in Germany.

I am sitting here in Canada waiting for the next salvo from that deranged lunatic leader.

Elbows up my friend we all have to have courage.

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TJ's avatar

Thank you! Please also remember that tens of millions of Americans stand shoulder to shoulder with Canadians, the nicest people on earth and great friends of the vast majority of Americans.

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Amelia Castaneda's avatar

I keep saying the same thing till Im blue in the face…..it was all over for democracy on november 7th. No one is coming to save us.

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Stickala's avatar

I’ve been reading Heathers ‘Letters from an American’ since Trumps first forage into Americas destruction. The clarity with which she writes reveals a level of insight and perspective that is rarely witnessed in media today. I rarely let a day go by where I don’t read her post to understand the gravity of what we are currently experiencing. Thank you for your razor sharp reporting Heather!

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Katiejane M's avatar

I was worried she would decide to stop writing when Biden was elected, but she understood how important the times were and besides we, the people wouldn’t let her.

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Delia Wozniak's avatar

You never disappoint!

You provide us with “The truth, the whole truth to be known, and nothing but the truth!”

Blessings on you and keep up the good work!

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Anne Cavanaugh's avatar

So true. I’ve suggested to so many people these last few years, “I’m serious, if you truly want to know the truth and ‘how did we get here’?, just read Professor Richardson’s letters.

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Frann Altman's avatar

I continue to be amazed with the writing and research you deliver to us in the midst of this chaotic world. I can always count on you for truth, justice and the American spirit no matter how spent you are - keeping us informed and educated. I trust you and you continue to inspire. Thank you, Heather, for all you do…🙏🏻

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GeologyRockYo's avatar

Our days of thinking “someone else” or “some other group of ppl” will stop this is over.

We must be thinking like guerrilla soldiers for the foreseeable future.

Gone are the days where we wake up, go to work, come home and binge watch a TV show. That is a banal luxury we no longer have unless we want to be culpable as the most vulnerable disappear right before our very eyes.

If you or I don’t think we’re next, we’re fools.

We ARE next. But that shouldn’t be the reason we fight back tooth and nail.

It should be because our empathy is REAL.

It should be clear to us that it doesn’t matter what we SAY but what we DO.

What are you doing?

Are you sitting on your ass at home watching TV?

Are you not protesting in person and economically?

Are you joining GeneralStrikeUS.com to sign a strike card?

WHAT. ARE. YOU. DOING????

Bc if it’s nothing or some paltry bullshit like wearing an angry t-shirt or putting up a sign in your yard…fuck off.

In all seriousness. Fuck. Off. You. Pieces. Of. Shit.

Because you CAN do more. You just WON’T.

No excuses. No more lies to yourself and those around you.

At least admit to yourself and everyone else that you’re a selfish coward who’s decided to just hide in your home until your turn comes to be disappeared.

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Deanna's avatar

I agree. I have work friends who say they can’t come to a protest because they have anxiety or because they don’t like crowds. I called them on the bullshit. I asked them how are you gonna feel when you’re in a concentration camp. Questions always met with silence.

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John's avatar

Guerrilla fighters? You mean like the Viet Cong? French, Russian or Yugoslav partisans? You couldn't hold their jock straps.

You're a pampered, coddled American. Get a grip.

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GeologyRockYo's avatar

I’m an ex Park Ranger who backpacks mtns several times a year and has hunted plenty of game, can wild/ rural/ urban forage, sneak up on a fox, know how to access clean water w/ my degree in Geology and Soil Science, and survive w/ minimal supplies.

Sounds like you’re projecting your own fears here. Might be good to start preparing and getting a grip of yourself, don’t ya think?

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John's avatar

Quite the journey you are on.

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John's avatar

I've been fighting Wildfire since 1974, and still climb the hills and pull long shifts. Cowboyed and traveled the world. And least importantly, graduated, with honors, in a natural resource discipline.

Projecting my fears? The only real fear I have is losing one of my children- but all parents feel that.

You think sneaking up on a fox is somehow equivalent to guerrilla warfare? Even with all I've done in life, I'm humble enough to know I've only dabbled in the fringes of what real adversity and real toughness are all about.

A sense of humility will get you much further in life than touting a college degree. I could go on, but trust you get the point.

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GeologyRockYo's avatar

Odd. You seem to be touting your own experience yet acting as if a higher education & training is somehow beneath you. Higher education is often far more difficult than physical toughness & skill. Honing your body, reflexes, & habits includes heavy exercise of the brain.

Learning critical thinking, deductive reasoning, art, literature, sociology, philosophy, & all the sciences is part of using the most important muscle we have; our minds.

I grew up in a cult and intimately familiar with adversity & toughness when it comes to standing up to bullies and toxic men. False humility is an extremely ugly trait, especially when it’s done to fluff yourself up.

Your attitude & words thus far have mimicked some of the worse qualities humans possess. Instead of asking questions or responding to the totality of my comment; you latched onto one word in one sentence and decided to play caveman level “devils advocate”.

Since YOU don’t think YOU’RE capable of a specific type of warfare, YOU assume others can’t possibly do it either. YOUR own inadequacies are YOURS.

Which was the entire point of my comment that you’ve proven all on your own. In every documented case of rebellion, resistance, or guerrilla (the definition of that word is freedom fighter) attacks; the people involved included scientists, ex-military, hunters, farmers, laborers, cooks, doctors, athletes, teachers, and every type of talent & skill available.

What they all have in common is courage, dedication, determination, & selflessness. Some people aren’t capable of exhibiting those qualities. Others need to have proverbial cold water to the face in order to dig deep and find those traits inside themselves.

While someone cowers behind they fear they have, even if it’s soley focused on their own children, it’s highly unlikely they’d have the ability to think beyond themselves or someone who’s directly connected to them.

In order to be a freedom fighter social empathy is a prerequisite. Having the wherewithal to put yourself on the line for others you don’t know who may not even deserve it.

Free will means you have the choice to cower if you so choose. Many in wars & attacks have done the same. Hiding inside homes w/ their measly personal weapons thinking they alone can fight off a hoard of heavy armed violent Nazi thugs intent on annihilation. That worked out so well for the Jewish ppl Germany.

Hide if you wish. That won’t save you or your family when you’re next on the firing line. Meanwhile, those of us who give a shit will be fighting like honey badgers to try to stop them from doing so, even if you don’t deserve the help.

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John's avatar

You didn't pay attention to anything I wrote.

You mention Nazi thugs as a problem. Will you be going over to Ukraine to take on those Nazis who run that government and military effort?

You may come home in a box, or in pieces, but you'll have walked the talk.

But mostly, it seems you have no clue who your enemies are. It's standard, few people really give it much thought. Emotion is an easier path to follow. But I guess you've found that out.

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GeologyRockYo's avatar

Ohhhh! Now it makes sense why your comments are like a troll bot. You’re in the maga cult.

I’ve been so used to sane non-culty people on this particular app I’d forgotten how a few maga trolls have slipped in. You know I’m talking about fighting against your cult leader & christian nationalism so ofc you spend these last few yrs of your life as an old man troll on the internet. Might be a good time to reevaluate who you’ve become & the side of history you’re on before leaving this earth.

My war vet papaw is 90 yrs old and would never allow himself to be taken in by a cult. He didn’t fall prey to one when my grandmother became a Jehovah’s Witness & he knew immediately how corrupt & tyrannical your cult leader was over a decade ago. He’s a brilliant free thinker who never finished high school but can fix anything you put in front of him. Cars, tractors, electronics, doesn’t matter what it is. He also knows how important higher education is & helped my sis and I escape our parents as teens to go live with him.

Him and my uncle taught us how to hunt, forage, fix our own cars, play the guitar, make moonshine, and treated us as equals like he treated everyone no matter their gender, race, or sexuality. My uncle came out as gay in the 90’s and papaw didn’t miss a beat telling him “as long as you’re happy I’m happy”.

Papaw is unconditional love personified. So when I come across older white men like yourself who’re weak minded & the polar opposite of him, it reminds me how lucky I am to have had him as a role model. You reminded me that it’s been about a month since I drove down to see him. I’ll tell him he has a troll maga cult member old man to thank for reminding me how fortunate I am to have him in my life.

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Chris Crandall's avatar

What can we do besides protest, boycott, call and call, and donate?

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P. J. Schuster's avatar

That’s what we can do. Especially protests, in the streets, MASSIVE protests. An expert on successful resistance movements against authoritarian regimes, last name Chenowyth, says massive nonviolent, protests with 3.5% of the population is the only thing that ever has worked.

In the case of the USA 🇺🇸 that means about 11-12 million people in the streets; in DC & in the state capitols

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PJoye's avatar

Look up “Hands Off” gatherings on April 5. And show up.

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@SariKS's avatar

April 5 will be huge. I’m not sure why most people don’t realize that Trump did not legitimately win in 2024.

He had every reason to cheat, but the main one was to stay out of prison (like his good friend Bibi. At least Bibi had the guise of retribution for a heinous attack. And the Israelis demonstrated in large numbers against his murderous rule. Perhaps not large enough, as the huge percentage of Israelis *were* affected by the unprovoked October 7th attack.)

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Dirk Burhans | Obi-two Kenobi's avatar

The short answer is to build community, because HCR and the people who love her so much are going to get a shock when they find that the electoral politics she's been advocating over many years are not going to work anymore. The ways we do it here include joining a local DSA or RCA or JBGC or SRA to help with their community-based activities. We started a yearly brakelight clinic so that our people-of-color can avoid pullovers by the cops. We work one night a month with our local Loaves & Fishes or Food Not Bombs. We find friends and take blankets and hot chocolate to people experiencing homelessness on a cold night. Instead of posting #RESIST on our social media, we started a neighborhood group and meet monthly for neighbors who need help with appointments, prescriptions, yard work, and protection from ICE agents. We also do emergency training and sponsor skill workshops, including stop-the-bleed and protest medic training.

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Rebeca Barragan's avatar

Well, what do other people do when their government is overthrown by adversary forces?

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P. J. Schuster's avatar

They protest in the streets & take it back, but it requires millions to become effective; 3.5% of the population, which in the US is about 11-13 million

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Robyn Pender's avatar

Also: a general strike. That’s the most effective.

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P. J. Schuster's avatar

No, it isn’t, not according to experts on resistance movements. General strikes are extremely difficult to organize & have very small chance of success unless you can get several large unions to join in.

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Rebeca Barragan's avatar

General consumer strikes would be effective here in the US, but how do we get enough consumers to stop consuming so much? It is a conundrum.

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P. J. Schuster's avatar

No, they aren’t effective - unless you can get large numbers to participate & focus on 1-2 retailers only & they have to be willing to sustain it for a significant period of time.

The boycott of Target & Tesla ARE being effective because they are focused, not scattered amongst too many retailers

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John's avatar

Clutch your pearls and wring your hands?

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Jane Hardy's avatar

Convince others to join you! ;)

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Tania Cordova's avatar

I found Heather's Facebook page shortly after her first post in 2019. I can hardly believe I have read her daily dispatches for so long. She truly is a Historian. Her Letters from an American are truly just simply a chronicle of the things that have happened. Last night I felt her tone shift. I know people have been asking her to look into Peter Theil and the Oligarchy in more depth. Her receipts laid it all out. Everyday I wake up and wonder why the fuck I have to go to work and pretend the world isn't on fucking fire. With Heather's post, I feel like maybe, just maybe, people will see what is happening.

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Flowerbomb25's avatar

Same here. And I have always said 2 things. 1 - the people who should be reading HCR’s letters never will. 2 - if more people read and shared her letters we wouldn’t be here today. This is like watching a train wreck in slow motion that has been coming for 9 years!!! Those of us paying attention knew what was coming!

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California Jonathan's avatar

I couldn’t agree more! Heather’s work is amazing and she deserves our full support. She has been working tirelessly to provide us with ammunition to FIGHT FOR OUR DEMOCRACY BEFORE IT DIES FROM NEGLECT!!!

Keep up the good work, Heather!!

We APPRECIATE YOU BIG TIME!! ❤️‼️

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Mark L's avatar

Are you suprised? Christ all mighty, do you think that having this spelled out to you time and time again, written out, spoken about, do you think annexation was Just dreamt up in this current term. They were already talking about all these things in 2016. They told you what they would do with the supreme court. Everything was laid out. That you were too busy or lazy or didnt care to take the time to understand what was being "offered" or proposed, is not the Republicans fault. Its your own fault. It is your pathetic Democrats, who Blew an election through sheer mismanagement and incompetence.

So now you get what the majority of citizens voted for.

Sucks doesnt it. As one Canadian had said here on Substack.

This is one of the most sad, unsatisfying , I Told You So In History.

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BC's avatar

Truth is the election this time around was a soft coup stolen by sophisticated tech bros and vigilantes with co conspirator and the guidance of Putin and Orban have done it election after election. Stop attacking the democrats or one another. Americans need to unite against a common enemy that is a threat to each and every individual American citizen and our cherished freedoms The sole purpose of any and all Govts is to serve the best interests of all its peoples. This present regime is soaked in hatred and fear.

What we have is the result of 60!years of efforts by the rich class to get rid of our democracy and regulations.

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Bonnie A Manjarrez's avatar

I've followed her since 2020. Her letter is the first thing I read every day

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