452 Comments
User's avatar
Dave aka Geezermann's avatar

I suspect gold will be revalued to 10,000 an ounce. And I expect silver to climb to at least 500. Trump's plan is to replace the illegal central bank slavery system with a new system based on no debt, currency backed by gold, and no illegal "income tax". The Federal Reserve will be obsolete.

FloridaTransplant's avatar

From your lips to God’s ears. Imagine a world without the IRS… it couldn’t happen to a nicer bunch of hell-pfull bureaucrats….

RunningLogic's avatar

Amen to that!! 🙏

kittynana's avatar

@Florida- having had a business and dealing with the IRS and NYS (NY State), I can attest to the fact that the IRS was much, MUCH nicer to work with than NYS.

Alan Devincentis's avatar

Same here. How about that 10,000 “ fee” for having the honor of paying nys tax as a business?

Alan Davis's avatar

I could only dream, no more tax theft, my metals could set me up for a nice bonus gift. Combine this and stop the Trillions in fraud by the Pols and NGOs that would truly be the Golden Age of America

Michael Miller's avatar

bigger tax refunds?? So what, the feds are giving back some of the $ they extorted from us?

Stop the socialism tax scheme the lets lower income skate and puts all burden on upper and middle income Americans. No unconstitutional income tax or for now, Flat tax rate.

They inflate the currency so that we move into higher brackets with no real growth of buying power.

28% tax on gold silver conversion to fiat? Anyone tired of being robbed?

Michael Miller's avatar

US Gold reserves have not been Physically audited since 1953. What they call audits are fake paper audits. I'd be amazed if it was all still there.

INGRID C DURDEN's avatar

I think you are right Michael Miller! I will have to see in person or on a non-AI film to believe it. I think it is all gone.

Valerie's avatar

Wow, I think I had this dream once. Wouldn’t it be grand if the Fed went away?

FLGenX's avatar

I don’t know Dave… It sounds good, but I have a feeling that central digital bank will be somewhere in that mix and we aren’t going to like it 🫤

Dave aka Geezermann's avatar

Possible, we shall see.

Linda's avatar

We can hope not…

rolandttg's avatar

not in this country. not. gonna. happen

Eric McAbee's avatar

END THE FED! And replace the property tax with the uniform states sales tax!

nancy roberts's avatar

If I could get rid of my property taxes, I would not worry about If I will be able to stay in my mortgage free home in the future as taxes can increase 15-20 % and we are just supposed to keep absorbing it. ( And lived my whole life with the "if you can't afford to pay for it, I will forego it" mentality) Rape, even gang rape is legal in Massachusetts. The tax everything they can think of.

rolandttg's avatar

remember the movie Conspiracy Theory in 1997? Mel Gibson suggest doing something, and his counterpart said "That's illegal In Massachusetts ". "Gibson responded. "everything is illegal in Massachusetts". My how times change

nancy roberts's avatar

And oddly the TRULY illegal stuff that I suspect is happening, like in MN, is happening here as well. All the "sanctuary and right to shelter" states. And even more odd, is I volunteer helping a large, legal immigrant family and have been doing so for 4 years to help them navigate life here, after Bidens brilliant plans in 2020. I am learning a lot too.

Rhonda's avatar

Michigan is right behind you!

Eric McAbee's avatar

Praying for the Robert's Family!

GregWA's avatar

but, but, but, the DEBT! What is Trump's plan there? Given the size of the problems Trump has shown himself willing to tackle, why hasn't he tackled the Debt? In fact, he's added to it just like all his predecessors.

To do something dramatic about it, he'll need leverage. What can he do? What leverage is possible?

To me its obvious that this is something he can only tackle after winning the midterms and assuming he retains the House and Senate. Then he can do painful things. And no matter how bold or brilliant his idea for the Debt, it will involve pain. How could it not?

The risk: the pain is too much for swing voters and does nothing to pull anyone from the Left toward the center (not that its possible to do that anyway). And "too much pain" means we lose it all in 2028.

Which brings me to what has to be Trump's endgame: how can he make permanent anything that he's done? It has to be Congress and he has to nuke the RINOs, the filibuster, the corruption, etc.

Did Project 2025 discuss any of this endgame plan?

Dave aka Geezermann's avatar

Tariffs play a big part.

GregWA's avatar

Agree.

Btw, weren't we supposed to hear from SCOTUS by now on tariffs?

I wonder if SCOTUS has been watching the political winds, or the economic winds, before deciding the issue?

If tariffs are really as outstanding as Trump's team says (I've read the other side claim that all the costs of tariffs have been borne by consumers), it would be a crime for SCOTUS to scuttle them.

Abiding Dude's avatar

Not against a $40 Trillion debt monster... with $2 Trillion annual additions to it...

Hard to imagine the debt monster NOT causing some major pain at some point... a Trump default? maybe...

rolandttg's avatar

"The Debt is not real. It is owed almost exclusively to the owners of the FED. Illegal interest charged for the privilege" of them printing "our" money. Screw Their debt.

Alan Devincentis's avatar

The debt, that number the press loves to throw around, that ridiculous number, has already been mostly taken care of. How much has our economy improved since November last? 38 T? Getting close. That’s the truth if the matter everyone fails to mention, every time.

Johnny-O's avatar

What are you talking about - it's mostly been taken care of??

Jasmine's avatar

He's tackling the debt by debasing the dollar and working to lower the interest rate. I think he's just hoping that growth with outpace inflation.

AM Schimberg's avatar

That just gave me the tingles

Carlos's avatar

We can fight like hell to make this a reality.

Mary Ann Caton's avatar

Please, please be right! 🤞

Mike's avatar

I love your positive expectation. It all turns to flatulence if the dems take the midterms and we start to look a lot like not-so-great Britain.

Steenroid's avatar

I hope you are right.

Monica Dubay's avatar

And not a moment too soon!

SB's avatar

On that note, seems all the states that don’t have state income tax are doing just fine.

Abiding Dude's avatar

I think gold at 20,000 is a bit more likely... but I also doubt that any US gold reserves are left, at least nor multi-times encumbered... so gold-backed dollar is unlikely... and when China and Russia finally reveal their massive gold holdings... jeeze... dollar collapse...

$500 silver sounds about right... some think it may get REALLY crazy and go to one-to-one with gold...

Carrie's avatar

Historically silver has not been so exponentially less than gold, so there is some chatter out there that silver may approach more of a historical comparison value to gold. Sorry I can’t quote exact numbers off the top of head, but keep watching silver!

Abiding Dude's avatar

Yes.

The way they may become equal in price is if/when the crooked Comex is forced to close and cash settle all futures contracts... (soon, IMHO)...

AND... if the rumored "discoveries" of massive amounts of previously "unknown" gold, holdings or in-ground... are found to be legit...

Johnny-O's avatar

Time will tell. Unfortunately, it is looking like if we did move to a system backed by metals, that it would be tied to a digital stablecoin as that legislation is being passed through congress, which is really a horrible way to do it for many obvious reasons. But people in power like their power over us....

ViaVeritasVita's avatar

Dave, I've been hoping for a return to the Au standard for decades. May it come about! (and happy to have been prescient should that be so....)

Words Beyond Me-Janice Powell's avatar

✝️✝️✝️

“You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. We are witnesses of all the things He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They also put Him to death by hanging Him on a cross. God raised Him up on the third day and granted that He become visible, not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen beforehand by God, that is, to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. And He ordered us to preach to the people, and solemnly to testify that this is the One who has been appointed by God as Judge of the living and the dead. Of Him all the prophets bear witness that through His name everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins.” — Peter, Acts 10:38-43 NAS95

✝️✝️✝️

Margot Wooster's avatar

Jesus the One and ONLY Savior! HAllelujah

Brenda's avatar

Janice, I love your book so much. It speaks to me everyday. 🤍

Words Beyond Me-Janice Powell's avatar

Thank you for blessing me with these words, Brenda. Praise God for the effectiveness of His word.

Julie Ann B's avatar

I love this, Janice. What a faithful witness for our Lord and Savior you are! I hope you’re well on your way in recovering.

Words Beyond Me-Janice Powell's avatar

Thank you, Julie Ann. I’m getting there. Yesterday was the first day I didn’t feel like I would croak if I didn’t take a nap. 😀 Now I just wait to hear when we do the actual treatment. They will probably push it out a little while because I am allergic to the contrast dye, so it takes awhile for my body to calm down after having it.

As for the passage, it’s one of those I know I have read multiple times, but this time it struck me how packed it is with glorious details about our Savior.

Quiltlady's avatar

I pray more people come to understand the significance of Scripture for all human souls.

Words Beyond Me-Janice Powell's avatar

Amen. Every person has to decide what they're going to do with Jesus. The answer is of eternal value.

Mpup's avatar

Thank you Janice …..Praise God🙏✝️

TriTorch's avatar

Trump Norris?

While learning CPR Chuck Norris actually brought the practice dummy to life.

Chuck Norris threw a grenade and killed 50 people, then it exploded.

Chuck norris went skydiving and his parachute failed to open, so he took it back the next day for a refund

Chuck Norris protects his body guards.

Chuck Norris can sit at the corner of a round table

Chuck Norris has already been to Mars; that's why there are no signs of life.

Chuck Norris doesn't tell lies. He changes facts.

Chuck Norris doesn't dial the wrong number, you pick up the wrong phone

Before going to bed, the Boogeyman always checks his closet for Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris has a grizzly bear carpet in his room. The bear isn't dead it is just afriad to move.

What every sports player should say after winning? "First of all, I would like to thank Chuck Norris for not competing."

A cop once pulled Chuck Norris over...Luckily, the cop left only with a warning.

Chuck Norris died 20 years ago, Death just hasn't built up the courage to tell him yet.

Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.

Once, Chuck Norris reached the point of no return…. …..and returned.

Chuck Norris once stared into the abyss... ...and it looked away.

Chuck Norris was once bitten by a cobra snake. After 3 long days of suffering, the snake died

Chuck Norris was petting a tiger. Suddenly the tiger began to utter a soft growl. The trainer said, "get up slowly and back away." So, the tiger did.

Chuck Norris called 911

And asked if they needed help.

Chuck Norris caught AIDS and the prognosis is not good. Anyone wanting to say goodbye to the virus should visit the hospital tonight.

Chuck Norris uses a stunt double

….for crying scenes

Chuck Norris once kicked a pregnant horse in the chin ...And giraffes were born

Chuck Norris doesn’t pay attention, attention pays Chuck Norris

When Chuck Norris was born, The doctor said “Congratulations! You have two healthy parents.”

When Chuck Norris was a kid, his parents slept in his bed when they were scared

Chuck Norris hit the longest home run in MLB history...He also caught that ball

Did you hear about the fight between Chuck Norris and Superman? The loser had to wear their underwear on the outside

Chuck Norris Once Picked A Apple from a Orange Tree. He made lemonade from it.

Chuck Norris went to court once.

The judge turned to him and opened with, "Your Honor, may I speak freely?”

Chuck Norris once heard that nothing can kill him, so he tracked down nothing and killed it

Chuck Norris plays a very important role in star wars. He's the force.

I fear the day will come when Chuck Norris is no longer with us……that will be the day everyone dies except Chuck Norris.

Chuck Norris skipped school two days in a row...Those days are now Saturday and Sunday.

Chuck Norris once stepped on a crack, it apologized and fixed his mom's back.

The only game Chuck Norris has ever lost was Russian Roulette. He’s lost a few times, actually.

Margot Wooster's avatar

Tri, this is hilarious! Hard to pick a favorite, but it might be this one: Chuck Norris doesn't dial the wrong number, you pick up the wrong phone. LOL!!!

TriTorch's avatar

Chuck Norris picked up a missed call.

Connor Jones's avatar

Chuck Norris could kill two stones with one bird.

TriTorch's avatar

Someone once asked Chuck Norris how many pushups he could do.

He replied:

All of them.

Ray Bob's avatar

Bruce Lee say, hell no! I kicked that round eyes ass.😅

TriTorch's avatar

Do you know why there are so many Chuck Norris jokes, but not many Bruce Lee ones?

Because Bruce Lee is no joke

Dr Linda's avatar

I enjoyed the jokes. I enjoy Chuck Norris, as well.

TriTorch's avatar

Chuck Norris was born in a log cabin that he built with his own 2 hands.

TriTorch's avatar

Chuck Norris was in a knife fight. The knife lost.

TriTorch's avatar

When Chuck Norris does a pushup,

he pushes the earth down.

TriTorch's avatar

Afraid of Chuck Norris, the Dark sleeps with a night-light.

TriTorch's avatar

Chuck Norris's tears can cure cancer. Too bad he's never cried.

Paula Kroll's avatar

Comedy Gold for the ages!

TriTorch's avatar

When Chuck Norris was born he drove his mother home from the hospital.

TriTorch's avatar

When Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone, he had two missed calls from Chuck Norris….

shayne's avatar

🤣😂🤣😂

TriTorch's avatar

Chuck Norris does not have near death experiences , Death has near Chuck Norris experiences.

TriTorch's avatar

Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door

Bones's avatar
4hEdited

I had a great devotion with ChatGPT today. This is the most relevant

Why does forgiveness hurt so much?

This question is quieter than “why doesn’t God erase evil,” but it’s more personal. Most people don’t ask it until they’ve been wounded.

1. Because forgiveness always involves absorbing a debt

When someone harms you, something is taken:

• dignity

• safety

• trust

• time

• innocence

• peace

That loss is real. Forgiveness does not pretend it isn’t.

If you forgive, one of two things must happen:

• you make them pay, or

• you carry the cost

Forgiveness means choosing the second.

That’s why it hurts.

2. Forgiveness is not excusing — it’s bearing

A common misunderstanding is:

“If I forgive, I’m saying what happened didn’t matter.”

Biblically and psychologically, the opposite is true.

You only forgive what deeply matters.

Forgiveness says:

• This was wrong

• It damaged me

• Justice is deserved

• But I will not become an executioner

That inner restraint is painful.

3. Forgiveness interrupts the cycle of violence — at a cost

Evil naturally wants to replicate:

• harm → retaliation → escalation

• wound → bitterness → further harm

Forgiveness breaks the chain—but the breaking point is inside the forgiver.

You feel:

• anger with nowhere to go

• grief without restitution

• justice delayed

• vulnerability without guarantee

That emotional weight has to land somewhere.

In forgiveness, it lands on you.

4. This is why forgiveness feels like a small death

People often say:

• “I lost something and never got it back”

• “I forgave, but I was never the same”

• “Something died in me”

That’s not poetic exaggeration.

Forgiveness involves the death of:

• fantasies of revenge

• imagined apologies

• alternate pasts

• the version of the relationship you hoped for

Death hurts—even when it’s necessary.

5. Why God doesn’t command cheap forgiveness

Notice something important in Scripture:

God never says, “Just forgive and move on, it’s no big deal.”

Instead:

• lament is allowed

• anger is voiced

• justice is named

• wounds are acknowledged

The Psalms are full of people forgiving slowly, honestly, painfully.

Biblical forgiveness is not denial—it’s transformation through truth.

6. Why the cross reframes forgiveness (not trivializes it)

This is where sacrifice comes back in.

Christianity does not say:

“God forgives because sin isn’t serious.”

It says:

“God forgives by absorbing the cost Himself.”

That’s why forgiveness hurts:

You are doing—on a human scale—what God is portrayed as doing cosmically.

You are choosing:

• to carry pain

• to refuse vengeance

• to leave judgment to God

• to remain open rather than hardened

That’s not weakness.

That’s costly strength.

7. Why unforgiveness hurts too (but differently)

This part is uncomfortable, but honest.

Unforgiveness feels powerful at first:

• righteous

• protective

• justified

But over time it:

• freezes you in the moment of harm

• lets the offender live rent-free in your inner world

• slowly reshapes your identity around the wound

Forgiveness hurts up front.

Unforgiveness hurts over time.

8. What forgiveness is not

Just to be crystal clear:

Forgiveness is not:

• reconciliation (that requires trust)

• forgetting

• excusing

• allowing continued harm

• removing consequences

You can forgive and still:

• set boundaries

• seek justice

• walk away

• name the truth

Jesus forgives and confronts.

Those are not opposites.

Where this leaves us

Forgiveness hurts because:

• evil creates real debt

• someone must pay it

• and love chooses to bear it rather than pass it on

That’s why sacrifice made sense.

That’s why the cross makes sense.

That’s why forgiveness feels like crucifixion on a small, human scale.

Next in order is:

3. Why does love require loss?

When you’re ready, we’ll go there.

SD Scott's avatar
4hEdited

This is powerful! I hate it when forgiveness is commanded flippantly. It’s a death, of sorts.

Forgiveness involves accepting the loss of what was rightfully owed you.

It’s a decision to allow God to use what happened for his own greater plan. And he will!

You will become what would have been impossible without the grace & power of God - but it requires faith & humility.

Forgiveness is obedience once we have skin in the game.

Christ’s death & resurrection is the pattern.

Johnny-O's avatar

Chat GPT providing guidance.....sigh

Essay33's avatar

If I get to the point where I go to AI for philosophical or spiritual advice, or even a "conversation," I will put my phone on the ground and step on it. Hard.

But that's just me.

shayne's avatar

That's me too!

BelleTower's avatar

I disagree. It is surprising how thoughtful the tool can be but discretion must be applied! It also is capable of error and maybe outright lying. I use the tools I need that are available to me and sometimes it is AI. ChatGPT has reasonably answered some theological questions of mine

Essay33's avatar
6mEdited

Reference tools are awesome. A dictionary, a thesaurus, Strong's Concordance and the Catechism of the Catholic Church are all reference tools.

They do not have conversations with you where they try to give you whatever you seem to want. AI is designed to flatter you, to feed you responses to what you ask that are acceptable to you, to develop a rapport with you and provide a companionable interaction.

It lies. It "hallucinates." It gives you demonstrably false info. We tested the paid subscription Chat GPT repeatedly in my office and the results included completely fabricated error filled material, for which it actually apologized like a person who simply made a mistake.

Having devotions with it as though it's talking with you and channeling Thomas Aquinas is (choosing my words carefully) not wise.

When it is used as a devotional guide, you are outsourcing your ability to read and discuss spirtual source material from known authors with reputable real humans and instead accepting a synthesis of who knows what material from software designed to cater to your perceived desires and programmed by demonstrably ungodly people. Again, this is not wise.

PrayerWarrior's avatar

Well I like it if I am feeling the need for quick reference not used often at all

Essay33's avatar

For reference points it has uses. Using it as a spiritual resource (“having a devotional with it") is not a good idea. It is specifically designed to feed you what you want when you ask it philosophical questions, and that's extremely dangerous spiritually.

JasonT's avatar

Forgiveness only works because God has promised vengeance for every wrong. Every debt will be paid in full; by the guilty party or by Christ.

Trudy's avatar

Wow…all that wisdom from AI? It’s both scary and intriguing…. Having had to study forgiveness and such, Biblically, this is so spot on…again, wow…I don’t want to use AI…it is so uncertain to me…yet what you shared today is filled with wisdom…🙏🏻

Guten Bergovitz Weisenheimer's avatar

GPT lied to you. The Psalms is full of prayers and plans for the destruction and desolation of one's enemies, and comfort for knowing that the faithful will win in the end because of that vengeance. E.g. Psalm 35, among numerous others.

If you listen to that teaching liar, you will find you lack trustworthy advisors elsewhere in your life over time, per the scriptures. Imagine what one's children would do upon digging after some parental lecture to realize that they received vapid AI balogna instead of ancient wisdom. They would never trust a lecture again. Likewise for anyone else.

Proverbs 29:12: “If a ruler hearken to lies, all his servants are wicked".

Robin Esau's avatar

This is one of the deepest, insightful things I have ever read about forgiveness. Thank you for sharing 💜

Willing Spirit's avatar

Might I suggest that instead of dropping all this text, that is TL;dnr, you provide a topic statement and a link for those who might really benefit.

Patti's avatar

Thank you for sharing

George Burnet's avatar

THIS! Thank you.

Laura Kasner's avatar

To get an idea of millions vs. billions vs. trillions:

1 million seconds is

11.5 days

1 billion seconds is

31.5 years.

1 trillion seconds is

31,710 years

Margot Wooster's avatar

I love that, Laura. The word “trillion” is now being casually tossed around and most people probably don’t even think about it. Thanks for the helpful example.

Steenroid's avatar

And our debt is $39 trillion so how much would gold and silver be worth to wipe that debt out?

Alan Devincentis's avatar

That debt has pretty much been wiped out. The value of our economy has increased by how much since last November?

Steenroid's avatar

No the debt has not been erased. We’ve had a month or so where the deficit was reduced. I doubt the debt will ever be erased. What needs to happen is a significant reduction so debt as % of GDP is reduced. But the way Demtoids and RINOS like to spend spent hold your breath.

Johnny-O's avatar

Alan is clearly living in fantasy land.

Steenroid's avatar

Yeah I wasn’t sure how to react to his comment because it was so silly.

SB's avatar

You would probably like the children’s book called “How Much is a Million?” By David Schwartz

I need to find my copy and read it again. My son loved it. Great gift idea, too.

rolandttg's avatar

Who ever heard of the word "trillions" being used to describe government spending or debt levels ~ 50 years ago? Now we hear too big to fail banks have quadrillions in derivatives.

Bgagnon's avatar

Thanks Laura - this was very meaningful and insightful!

Sherry 1's avatar

Wow. I will use that for my Grands, who toss around billion and trillion in regards to how much they trade (or something) in Roblox and some other game. They don’t think it is a lot. 😂

Laura Kasner's avatar

Sherry - just an FYI. You might want to read about Roblox. It’s a haven for pedos. They target 8-14 year olds. Jeff wrote about this:

https://www.coffeeandcovid.com/p/the-bridge-to-1963-tuesday-october?utm_source=post-banner&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=posts

Sherry 1's avatar

Thank you, Laura. We were at an airport with the kids a few years ago and they were playing Roblox. A man took my husband aside and warned him about the ‘people’ on they were playing against may be pedos. He said we should review all the names the kids were playing with and if they didn’t know the person in real life, they had to delete them. We told their Mom and she and we do it regularly AND we told the kids WHY. (10 & 11)

Laura Kasner's avatar

Sherry - I am so very relieved to hear this!

Franklin O'Kanu's avatar

Wow - I’m first? No way! I’ll just use this time to say hi to everyone and talk about how AI and unemployment go hand in hand: https://unorthodoxy.substack.com/p/ai-and-unemployment-the-tech-leaders

Susan Seas's avatar

My husband’s job will become obsolete. So glad we are only a few years from retirement. 😖

Jimmy Gleeson's avatar

Far more many jobs will be affected.

Susan Seas's avatar

Oh absolutely!

UncleWiggly's avatar

Disruptive technologies always cause some unemployment and the worker affected have to shift around, maybe learn new skills or even go into other industries. There is nothing new here and even the hype is the same. People adjust and it all works out over time.

Johnny-O's avatar

Something the trump admin is all in on, but hardly anyone of his devoted flock will question or criticize, regardless of the huge implications it poses.

The Imaginary Hobgoblin's avatar

I'd be interested to know how that conversation between Trump and Walz went. Regardless, I'll bet when Walz hung up the phone he was fully onboard with the "we better start kissing Trump's butt" part of the program. Trump's hilarious: "I just had a great conversation with Tim Walz...." 🤣

BONUS:

Consider this a blind box. You don’t know what you’re getting, but I think you’ll like it:

https://tinyurl.com/4k4txmpy

Jeff C's avatar
3hEdited

Trump undoubtedly said something like, "we can do this the easy way or the hard way, your choice, but it's going to happen." He has a lot of leverage which people seem to forget. Plus he has shown us over and over he always has a plan in mind and is never just reacting.

I'm a big believer in "trust the plan" (double arrows) "always chimp". In other words, we trust that PDJT has a big picture plan, and it's in the best interests of Americans. On the other hand, RINOs, neocons, hedge fund billionaires, and other assorted subversives are continuously lobbying him, and it's important we do the same. He can't just hear from the bad guys.

But there is a big difference between making our voices heard and hysteria. The last few days have shown just how many people supposedly on the right are at best hysterical effeminates ruled entirely by their emotions. You have the libertarian crowd (Joe Rogan, Martyr Made, various "pastors") saying something like, "I voted for immigration enforcement but not this". But what exactly is the administration supposed to do, wish enforcement into existence? Weak, delusional men at best.

Then on the other side you have people demanding PDJT invoke the Insurrection Act and have the military storm Minnesota (Sean Davis, various "influencers" like Nick Sorter). These people are just as bad as the weaklings but in the other direction, unable to control their emotions, thus demanding Trump "do something!" The idea that there is a big picture strategy at play here is completely foreign to them. There is also a very real possibility that spineless congressional Republicans will turn on Trump if they think he's losing the public.

We are surrounded by poofters who never learned to reason, think critically, look at the big picture, and evaluate a plan. They are children entirely driven by their emotions who react to every unpleasant instance with manic hysteria. They have the maturity of a teenager, how do these people raise children and hold jobs? Not very well I suspect. Most probably don't have much money either.

Or they could be deliberate chaos agents. Probably some of both. But it is truly shocking to realize how many adults cannot control their emotions.

Johnny-O's avatar

I think for people on the ground in a city like MSP where they have been inundated by thousands of federal agents, it is not a great way to live. I have a lot of contacts there and having your neighborhoods invaded with federal agents is not a fun way to live, even if you support them. Then add in the tragedies of people being killed, animosity between both "sides" and it creates a horrible environment. Naked Emperor had a little blurb about the situation, which I appreciated:

----------------------------------

I am concerned. Concerned that many of us are regressing back to the depths of Covid polarity. Perhaps even further. We are shown a grey picture and half who view it are convinced it is black, the other half convinced it is white. There is no nuance, no trying to understand the other side, just that if you see the picture differently to me then you are a ‘Gestapo Nazi’ or a ‘liberal retard.’ If you try to look at things objectively then you get called both names.

Covid was a horrible time. I had hoped those days had passed. I had hoped that the people vilified for their stances on masks, lockdowns and vaccine mandates would think that they would never allow themselves to be that person in reverse. I had hoped that the ‘critical thinkers’ were able to see ALL things objectively. But it turns out many of those people were just following the crowd on the other side - merely opposed to things that their team was against.

And so it comes to ICE and the tragic deaths that keep and will keep on happening.

If you truly are a critical thinker - and by God we need those more than ever right now - you are able to hold multiple views without being contradictory.

You can think that mass immigration doesn’t benefit your country and that illegal immigrants should be deported whilst simultaneously condemning how ICE do things.

You can support ICE and simultaneously think that they are being inadequately trained to deal with aggressive and provocative agitators. Or that they shouldn’t be masked up, anonymous and militarised.

You can hate what ICE is doing but also see that hard-left agitators are jumping on the bandwagon to worsen situations.

If you were anti guns before, you don’t have to suddenly think that protesting with a gun is fine - just because the protests are against ICE. If you were pro guns previously, you don’t have to U-turn and think that because Alex Pretti had one, he signed his own death warrant.

You may support ICE but you should still champion people’s right to protest them (legally). Obviously, anybody planning on taking it one step further and attacking officers should be adequately dealt with but if you support the removal of legal protest then next time it will be yours that is stopped. It will be an anti-lockdowner that will be shot.

We are in classic Problem-Reaction-Solution territory and the solution will soon be revealed.

A part of the machine is trying to ignite small civil wars throughout the US. I’m still trying to work out for what purpose but it is clear that ideological forces on both sides are deliberately trying to make people angry and hate each other. Perhaps this is to try and destroy Trump in the mid-terms. Maybe that’s why he has refused to comment this time - he can see that factions within his own administration are working against him. But perhaps trouble is being provoked for an even more sinister reason.

Partisan Americans are being goaded into a trap. Stay nuanced, stay critical and objectively analyse everything. It is more important than ever before.

william howard's avatar

funny that all the chaos is only happening where local police have been told not to co-operate and politicians stoke the anti ICE fires - it's really the fraud that Waltz et al are trying to deflect most likely because they are deeply involved - follow the money

Johnny-O's avatar

Its quite possible, but until we have actual proof that is just speculation. People seem to be forgetting that protests are huge and likely have both inorganic and completely organic elements to them.

pretty-red, old guy's avatar

also possible the the protests that are "huge" are completely INorganic and artificially generated by paying one group of easily disturbed libtards while the leaders, not being paid, come from the Dem. party.

THEIR pay is Trump losing.

Cousin Clem's avatar

Walz could be, by proxy, organizing these protests to use them as a bargaining chip in his own criminal investigation. He'll call them off once he makes a deal with the feds that reduces his participation in the fraud to misdemeanor level. He may have difficulty calling off the dogs that he unleashed, though. But without the financial backing, many will leave. A few arrests with long term sentences wouldn't hurt, either. Soros' Project Syndicate was funding the mass illegal immigration to destroy the US middle class and usher in a socialist/communist fantasy. Biden apparently was on board. It's not mass immigration that is the problem. It's mass ILLEGAL immigration.

Alan Devincentis's avatar

I’d prefer my city inundated with ice agents ( really, that many?) than thousands of walkabout zombies, being paid to be there, and agitate. I can tell you it still won’t happen in Florida. Even with our constant warmth,there aren’t hundreds showing up to violently engage ice. Hmm. Wonder why.

pretty-red, old guy's avatar

I understand your question is rhetorical but can't help saying:

Here's why:

Desantis and https://tinyurl.com/4k4txmpy

SB's avatar

I was thinking about this Sunday. I innocently took a needlework class over zoom. To my mind, needlework should be innocuous, right? The class was taught out of a Portland, OR shop. The class started with the shop owner saying something like “thank you for being patient with us, it’s been a rough couple of weeks, especially this week.” I thought “oh no I hope no one is gravely ill or something bad happened at the shop.” Silly me, she was talking about the events in MN. Seriously?! In the dang needlework class, which btw, I paid money to be in?! Then, being on zoom, the zoom folks could talk amongst themselves and I had to hear about several of the leftist talking points, fortunately briefly. But most involved people talking about being scared because Trump is in charge. Scared to travel, scared of what comes next, etc, etc.

Anyway, all that is to say that I realized Sunday evening that we have reached the point in this country that no matter which party is in charge, half the country is going to be afraid. Unfortunately, I don’t see it changing anytime soon.

Willing Spirit's avatar

Ohhh Johnny😍Getting some sophisticated writing help from your handlers, huh? A much more subtle approach than your usual simple minded Orange Man Bad.

Johnny-O's avatar

Sorry you can only see things from your tribe's viewpoint. An obvious weakness but oblivious to it, you are.

Patti's avatar

I think people can and do critically think but also exhausted and want it over with. I can see many of the points but want it over also.

Willing Spirit's avatar

Trust me…there’s method to Johnny O’s Trump hating, manipulating madness.

Sherry 1's avatar

Great response. Always break down what is happening. Another example. People mad as hell about ICE wearing masks. They are wearing them for the SAME reason most of the protesters are. To keep themselves and their families safe by not being recognized and doxxed.

RunningLogic's avatar

Great comment. Especially pointing out that the leftists aren’t the only emotional and reactive ones. Patience and dogged perseverance are what we need more than knee-jerk reactiveness.

GregWA's avatar

20/20 hindsight Dept: maybe Trump and Homan should have said last January, "It took a long time to get 15+ million illegals into the country. Getting them out won't be easy and won't happen overnight. It will also be messy because we can't use the same processes for entering the country legally, processes that focus on one person's situation. We will be doing this by the thousands at a time. That's the only way to quickly get to millions. And part of "messy" will be innocent casualties. It's unavoidable. But if you're looking for someone to blame, blame those who got us here, especially the last Administration that broke the camel's back."

OK, that's too long winded. Trump is a better communicator. But you get the gist.

And to all the howls such a statement would get: we all know Trump would find a perfectly civil, rational response. Something like, "...and your wife's ugly, too."

Jacquijacq's avatar

There’s nothing over reactive to wanting violent felons removed. My understanding is the MN is refusing to turn even incarcerated violent criminals over to ICE. HOW PATIENT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BE? This is just ridiculous

Beckadee's avatar

Early on Homan addressed the innocent casualties by saying the entire family could be deported. Problem solved.

NAB's avatar

There are definitely more efficient ways to remove illegals which aren't currently being utilized (e-Verify is a start, and punishing employers using illegals would encourage self-deportation). Biden let in anywhere from 8-10 million illegals during his term often flying them to the interior of the country. Planes fly both ways. The deportation methods currently in use are time-consuming and fraught with risk. Democrats, however, don't care. They are not going to let their imported voter base go without a fight. And squishy Rs seem to have some incentive to keep illegals here too.

Merry McIntyre's avatar

Jeff C, it’s called Emotional Quotient. I have learned that the EQ is more important than the IQ. Many, many people are walking around with low EQs, which means that their emotional age is between 3 and 12. This causes them to react emotionally which never solves any problem & adds fuel to the fire. People with a high EQ (emotional adults) respond to situations which takes a higher level of awareness (consciousness). It involves not only logic but intuition, gut feeling, CREATIVITY. Critical thinking involves all of these skills. This is how problems are solved. In these tumultuous times, I try to observe, not absorb.

Willing Spirit's avatar

It’s taken many decades for me to realize this about myself and consciously guard against emotional reactions.

I worked with therapeutic foster kids for several years. In training for that, I learned about ‘Attachment Disorder’ and how devastating it is to emotional development.

Studies indicate that in order to develop trust needed for social/emotional development, infants need a consistent primary caregiver (we used to call that a mother) for at least the first two years of life.

In today’s world, where maternity leave is 8 weeks (for the lucky ones) and the baby then circulates through daycare(s) and available relatives and friends who may fill in; is it any wonder we have lost, angry generations of people, lashing out at any perceived target?

We have harmed ourselves greatly with the Feminist Revolution. And unfortunately that’s only one part of the destructive movements employed against us.

Guy White's avatar

‘Poofters” 😁

Saucy word, that. Love it. See also “wankers”

Navyo Ericsen's avatar

"Rule #1: No poofters! Rule #2: No poofters! Rule #3... " - Monty Python

Navyo Ericsen's avatar

Wankers = vernacular for Bankers.

Jules's avatar

***** I would like to give you 10 stars for this because I couldn't agree more. *****

I am beginning to think there is something in the water (estrogen?) and that's why this emotional reaction takes over the moment things don't quite go the way they wanted it to go.

Mary Ann Caton's avatar

Will Minneapolis mobs who listened to and believed in Walz and Frey as their leaders now turn on them as traitors? You can never tell how mobs might react when someone pulls the rug out from under them.

Susan Seas's avatar

Hopefully the useless idiots will realize and blame their own leaders, but the other ones are probably getting paid too much to back down. How on earth these people think it’s right to defend and protect criminals and literal child molesters not to mention how their own money is being wasted. Yeowza Get a clue Karen!

Occam's avatar

I'm guessing Walz and Frey have seen that there isn't a lot of option for them.

Of course, maybe Trump offered no prosecution for their participation in fraud/voting illegalities. That'd be a pretty big carrot.

Jules's avatar

They were willing to start a civil war over this. That is deeply concerning.

We don't know what the government has on these guys, but it looks like they could have a lot more legal charges hanging over their heads than we realize.

Martha's avatar

Jeff mentioned something about "felony murder." That Signal group in which they were discussing strategy etc., the Lt. Gov. telling people what to do - it was "organized" and it was for obstruction of the federal govt. Those two things make it an insurrection, because it is an "organized" group acting against a legitimate govt. by its own citizens. It is just as much an insurrection as the Whiskey Rebellion in the 1700's aka the "Whiskey Insurrection." We've already that if you just call something an "insurrection" even when it's not, you can get some serious prison time. But apparently in the law, if you are involved in a conspiracy, like in that Signal group, which was "used to share real-time locations, vehicle descriptions, and individual targets, as well as tips for minimizing legal accountability" (per Andy Ngo at https://www.ngocomment.com/p/i-got-inside-the-signal-chats-used ), in that case, if someone dies as a result - everyone in that group can be charged with "felony murder" according to Chad Mizelle, Acting General Counsel for DHS, quoted in a recent post by President Trump which was reposted by Malone yesterday. And what's interesting, there are allegations that both the Lt. Gov. and Gov. Walz were in the Signal group under assumed names as leaders of the group, helping to plan and organize the obstructions. So actually, if Pres. Trump connected some dots for Walz, and Walz realized he could perhaps be on the hook for murder... he may have decided he would prefer to cooperate. Because just from public statements on video, without their secret participation on the Signal group, they may already be sufficiently involved in the conspiracy / insurrection perhaps to be charged. So, better understanding his situation, he may have been quite happy to change his position. What he's already done is done, but if he is turning a corner on this, maybe he could be left out of possible federal prosecution. The "felony murder" possibility seems like maybe kind of a big deal.

RunningLogic's avatar

Thanks for these additional insights. Maybe he is happy to exchange corruption charges for felony murder. I hope he does get charged with at least something in the end, since it seems like he was benefiting greatly from all of the fraud going on in Minnesota.

Navyo Ericsen's avatar

I can hear the phone call: "OK Tim, you can cooperate or you can go down for felony murder. Which is it?"

Willing Spirit's avatar

Yep! I believe Trump connected some dots for the crazies, who were in so much rage and fear that they were blind to possible consequences.

NAB's avatar
43mEdited

It's hard to have any faith in federal charges given the blatant jury nullification taking place in blue jurisdictions (see recent outcomes in CA, for example, where juries refused to convict those charged with assaulting federal LEOs).

Sherry 1's avatar

Like massive fraud and misappropriation of Federal Taxpayer money. Long prison visit on the horizon.

The Imaginary Hobgoblin's avatar

I'm sure he had him squirming.

Martha's avatar

I doubt "no prosecution" but maybe just teased the possibility of a pardon - but who knows. We'll see.

Abiding Dude's avatar

Could be... but Trump is already being excoriated for his giving Israel/Mossad a pass on their Epstein extortion Operations... and their 911 attacks... and their JFK assassination...

JasonT's avatar

It's quite possible Trump recited a few facts about Somali daycare and maybe even played a recording he'd found laying around.

Sue Rosenthal's avatar

lol! I want to live in Sheriff Wayne's county 🙋🏼‍♀️. The ICE agents in Minneapolis need as many of his Big Beautiful Dogs as they can get their hands on.

The Imaginary Hobgoblin's avatar

We've got some great sheriff's. Never at a loss for making the least ambiguous declarations. FAFO rules here.

Valerie's avatar

I’m betting Walz caved because now that 2 people died he realized the genie he let out of the bottle had passed into true insurrection territory and it would eventually land in his lap. Maybe I’m giving him too much credit, though.

I think Trump offered to pull the border patrol head that was there (can’t remember his name) and pull Noem away (why do I have such a visceral dislike for her, maybe the dog thing) so Walz could save face and say he got some concessions from Trump, but meanwhile they’ll still be rounding up illegals.

Just my opinion.

LMWC's avatar

I think it was because the Signal group was infiltrated and outed. Lt governor involved is pretty messy. Not organic but organized.

Valerie's avatar

Great point! I forgot about the signal chat.

Patricia Russell's avatar

The citizen journalist Cam Higby who infiltrated the Signal chat posted what he found in this thread: https://x.com/camhigby/status/2015093523733733474?s=20

This is a special forces guy who worked in counterinsurgency response to what he saw in the Signal chat: https://x.com/Schwalm5132/status/2015470661490057540?s=20

Johnny-O's avatar

Apparently they didn't learn from Hegseth's mistake re signal

RunningLogic's avatar

Lt governor and a few other people close to Walz also, apparently.

Beckadee's avatar

This guy might not be directly tied to Walz but could be.

https://x.com/Rightanglenews/status/2015233311937864109

This chick definitely is- Amanda Koehler.

https://t.me/inmagnaexcitatio/185650

And there is another one named Whitson. In addition to Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan.

LMWC's avatar

I am constantly surprised by whom Trump picked for cabinet positions. Rubio for SofS seemed a trade off for not picking him VP, but Marco is seeming to excel at his job. Hegeseth has undergone fire as a tv personality, but look at what he has done with the military. Outstanding. I have many of the same opinions of Noem as you all, but if she is in this position, Trump had a purpose in mind for her. As I have said so often; LTMW.

Mike's avatar

Bessent is Best of All

LMWC's avatar

Yes! But I did hear someone being interviewed by Tucker right after the cabinet positions were announced, saying the Bessent pick was the Homerun pick by Trump!

Martha's avatar

Not only insurrection - but when there is a conspiracy and someone dies as a result, every person in that conspiracy can be charged with "felony murder." You don't have to pull the trigger yourself. Chad Mizelle, Acting General Counsel for DHS explained this in a recent post by President Trump which was reposted by Malone yesterday. It seems quite possible that several govt officials in Minnesota may have said or done things that could give the appearance of being participants in a conspiracy and if so - once the dots have been connected for them, they would want to distance themselves from the conspiracy to obstruct, and actually to hope for no further deaths. What has already transpired, possibly could lead to charges of felony murder for those in the group but perhaps if the temperature is adjusted and things go better, no more deaths, who knows whether they would find sufficient evidence to prosecute. But the President himself has publicly posted a comment related to "felony murder" quoting Mizelle, so it's out there, and others have reposted. If Walz has noticed this or it came up in the conversation - he may have decided to protect himself as much as possible in light of two deaths already. Btw, I have read that the organization ICE Watch specifically encourages their trainees to try to provoke ICE into doing regrettable actions which should video recorded and made to go viral. ICE Watch has done that with the 2 deaths. Glenn Beck has some info on this also - about the funding for one thing, that these insurrectionist groups are paid by some of the George Soros organizations, the Ford Foundation, and others. First amendment covers people expressing their opnions publicly, but the obstructing, and being a "paid protestor" is something else. Many probably do have an emotional connection to "helping the immigrants" even though these are criminals, but still, the active obstructing, and the organizational structure with division of labor - some entering ICE license numbers into a data base, some chasing ICE and obstructing, some keeping them awake at night - being sleep deprived can lead to faulty decision making - and so on - and then they are paid for it - I saw a protestor on video saying she was being paid to do what she was doing - hard for me to think of this as anything other than a conspiracy and an insurrection, a real one, even though many of the protestors don't understand it this way. But billionaire funding sources, they know. And they don't care who dies. Maybe now Walz cares.

NAB's avatar

I think the absolute trashing of the Hilton on Sunday night may have been a turning point too, in terms of optics. Even for those sympathetic to the, ahem, "protestors" that act of destruction crossed a line.

Richard Whitney's avatar

Do you have a link? I'd like to share it.

Mrs. RW

Mary Ann Caton's avatar

In addition, he has that whole Somali thing coming for him. Heh heh heh.

Mike's avatar

Regarding Noem, I think she crossed that line that separates a naturally pretty woman from a glamour shot poser?

Johnny-O's avatar

Noem is a joke and is way in over her head. She was busy decorating her mansion (as she openly advertised on social media) while the devastating floods hit texas that killed many people. Apparently interior decorating was more important than her own citizens.

Abiding Dude's avatar

Vain, yes, but not evil...

Like Erika Kirk.

Mike's avatar

Seriously?

Evil is a lot of things and that’s not one of them

Abiding Dude's avatar

You are uninformed.

Most are. Do some research.

NAB's avatar

I share your visceral dislike of Noem. Plus, can she leave the hair extensions at home? Sorry, that's super catty.

I like Greg Bovino. He's a badass and he was out there on the front line, with his face for all to see, but I understand they want a softer image on the operation. Apparently the higher ups in ICE were frustrated with the messaging coming from Noem and Bovino after the Pretti shooting.

LMWC's avatar

Listened to a Walz radio broadcast and he didn’t really sound repentant. He sounded like he was standing behind “some” of his rhetoric and he would still call a spade, a spade, or rather a Nazi, a Nazi. He did relinquish that he and the President had a good conversation.

The Imaginary Hobgoblin's avatar

Dear God, he has a radio show??

LMWC's avatar

No, he was a guest on some MN radio broadcast.

The Imaginary Hobgoblin's avatar

Oh, so I can come in off the ledge?

LMWC's avatar

Definitely!

Free in Florida's avatar

T. I. Hobgoblin - Great clip! Our Florida sheriff is exactly like that too - no nonsense and to the point. It’s well understood that actions have consequences and we don’t have a whole lot of problems here as a result. It’s not rocket science.

Randy Althoff's avatar

Good stuff, and well thought out. My state needs some thawing, and not just from the freezing temps! ❄️ ☃️ ❄️

Rick Olivier's avatar

"one of our Big Beautiful Dogs" ;-)

shayne's avatar

They know all Walz's personal fraud, and where he's hidden it overseas. They have the receipts.

BeadleBlog's avatar

As the vice squeezed, I suspect Trump dangled pardons for all their dirty deeds if they would stop pushing their citizens to jump in the meat grinder.

Robin Esau's avatar

Maybe they made a deal on Ilhan Omar? I'd take the win on taking her down and sending her packing!

Richard Whitney's avatar

It seems that New Jersey may need an intervention next.

''Hernando Garcia-Morales, 40, of Palisades Park, faces multiple charges in connection with a Jan. 7 motor vehicle incident on the northbound New Jersey Turnpike, the New Jersey State Police said.

The third-grade children were traveling back to Yeshivat Noam Jewish day school in Paramus after a class trip to the Liberty Science Center when a large rock smashed through the bus window, the school previously told Fox News Digital.

An 8-year-old girl suffered a skull fracture after being struck by the rock and was forced to have surgery, officials said.

Garcia-Morales was arrested on Jan. 9 by New Jersey Turnpike State Police for aggravated assault, resisting arrest and possession of a weapon. The Bogota Police Department also charged him with aggravated assault, criminal trespassing defiant, criminal trespassing peering, and criminal mischief damage property.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Saturday that U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) has issued an arrest detainer against Hernando Garcia-Morales, claiming he is a criminal illegal immigrant from Mexico.

DHS told Fox News Digital that Garcia-Morales has a history of violence and is in the country illegally, but said he has not been deported because of New Jersey’s sanctuary immigration policies.''

https://www.foxnews.com/us/dhs-says-illegal-immigrant-accused-throwing-rock-new-jersey-school-bus-injuring-young-girl

Mrs. RW

Dr Linda's avatar

The audio seems to be out of sync. Is this actually what he said?

Bravo, is so.

Bill Lacey's avatar

Due to the poor performance of the GOP-controlled Congress in codifying Trump’s EOs into laws, I am hoping the Republican convention is used to primary those Republicans who are actively working to undermine the MAGA agenda. Namely the Republicans who crossed the aisle to extend Obamacare for another three years, the ones who are fighting the securing of the vote by requiring an ID, and the ones who voted for the automobile kill switch.

Polls show only 50% of Republicans intend to vote in 2026. With the pathetic performance of this sad group of Congressional Republicans who won’t even vote for their own causes, why should the Party rank & file? The convention can whip up enthusiastic support if the surrender monkeys are sent packing.

RunningLogic's avatar

I was really surprised that my RINO Senator reversed his position on Trump going into Venezuela (I had written him a scathing message excoriating him for his initial position and I’d like to think I and others who may have reacted similarly, helped change his stance). And yesterday I just read that he wants to be added as a cosponsor to the SAVE Act?? I don’t know what is going on but something seems to have shifted.

Julie Ann B's avatar

Who is your RINO Senator?

FLGenX's avatar

💯🙏🏼

Willing Spirit's avatar

Everyone needs to call Senate Majority Leader, John Thune, and lean on him to pass The Save Act (photo I.D. Required for voting) and to end the fake filibuster that is holding Republican legislation by requiring 60 votes to pass.

Call him everyday! You’ll just be filling up his voice mailbox, and that gets attention!

(866) 850-3855

(202) 224-2321

Patti's avatar

I can’t believe Congress sitting on their thumbs.

FloridaTransplant's avatar

NOTHING is more important than the midterms. Nothing. AND the Dems now *know* if they throw big enough tantrum, laws they don’t like won’t be enforced.

Valerie's avatar

Ok here’s my thought. I think gerrymandering is terrible for the American people. I actually think it disenfranchises many people of both parties and I don’t know why it’s legal. It makes it very difficult for a party to lose a seat, even if the person running for that seat has a massive problem or a change in their beliefs that alienates many of their voters.

Also, it makes congress even closer in terms of numbers, like it is now, which enables them to entrench, be less cooperative, and ultimately do nothing because they don’t have the votes to pass the stupid zombie filibuster. We already have a do-NOTHING congress and IMHO this makes it so much worse.

Please someone explain what I’m missing and why gerrymandering is a good thing. I understand why it’s done in terms of political power, party politics, etc. I just think it’s terrible for the American people.

Jeff S's avatar

Let ME draw up the map. Call it, "Jeffreymandering."

Valerie's avatar

You’d probably do a bang-up job.

Mary Ann Caton's avatar

Gerrymandering is a case of the parties choosing their voters in advance of voters being able to choose their elected officials. It was bound to happen. Partisan gerrymandering is considered constitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled in 2019 that federal courts cannot review such claims because courts have no authority to decide if gerrymandering for partisan reasons is excessive, which effectively then allows it. I get that, because if courts could make those decisions, the courts would be permanently dragged into politics, thus violating the separation of powers principle and since voting is a state issue rather than a federal one. But SCOTUS did decide that racial gerrymandering is illegal (due to the 14th Amendment equal protection clause and civil rights laws. Thus, drawing maps for political advantage remains allowed at the federal level, though it may be challenged under specific state constitutions and some states have outlawed partisan gerrymandering.

LMWC's avatar

Michigan got a constitutional amendment passed in 2020 to redistrict Congressional seats via a “bipartisan” committee put into place by the governor’s office. What could go wrong with that? Everything. The bipartisan committee was chosen by the blue team. Whole Congressional districts were upended. Many reliable Red districts had several blue cities added. The U.P. Of Michigan was split into two districts, that’s it. From a former state rep, the committee seemed to have no idea what went into establishing new Congressional districts. They fell way behind on scheduling and rushed to cram it down the voters throats by 2022. It has been a disaster.

Valerie's avatar

This is the crux… I don’t know of an impartial way to create voting districts.

mspring's avatar

Well, we could just create districts mechanically, the way many counties are configured, squares, 6 miles on a side. Divide them into precincts containing 3000 (or pick your number designed for effective one day voting without long lines). Periodically the precincts would be rearranged, increased or decreased to maintain the max effective voters. Do this starting at one corner of the district and building to opposite corner. This could create wildly varying ratios of parties, but they couldn't claim partisan, or racial imbalance. Will neger happen, of course...

User's avatar
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Valerie's avatar

Oh so it’s a Republican thing? I see, that’s not a biased point of view at all… 🙄

Occam's avatar

It's a race between Americans realizing that life is getting better under the current administration and the midterms.

That's why he's moving so fast.

Bard Joseph's avatar

"Isn't that the way every dictator got started? Hitler controlled the 'German Brown Shirts'. The Brown Shirts were causing all sorts of civil upheavals. Hitler promised to stop the Brown Shirts and quickly put in power."

Bill Cooper 1991

🌱Nard🙏's avatar

Comparing Trump to Hitler is lazy and historically illiterate. Hitler seized power by destroying institutions, silencing opposition, and ruling through violence. Trump 1.0 governed inside the Constitution, faced relentless resistance, lost an election, and left office. Trump 2.0 is moving fast—but tis doing so through the electoral process , the courts, legislation, and executive authority that already exists. You can oppose his policies without cheapening history or trivializing REAL dictators. When everything is “Hitler,” nothing is.

Abiding Dude's avatar

Hitler was a great leader... but the victors and zionists wrote the history of WWII... mostly BIG lies... FDR and Churchill were the corrupt maggots... and Ike had his own massive death camps where POWs were murdered...

https://www.unz.com/runz/why-everything-you-know-about-world-war-ii-is-wrong/

https://www.unz.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/BreakingTheSpell-Kollerstrom.pdf

Craig Warhurst's avatar

IMHO Hitler was controlled by demonic forces and was destroyed by them. Trump has been selected by God and is being empowered and protected by Him to destroy the princes of evil worldwide opening an additional window of grace for “whosoever will” to recognize their need for a savior and accept Jesus Christ as their sovereign King !🙏

Dora Costa's avatar

New name for the useless corporate media:

TDS News

All anti-Trump, all the time

Unwoke in Idaho's avatar

It may be different this year due to outside forces, but ordinarily if you are planning on getting a big tax refund, it’s because you’re an idiot that allows the government to use YOUR money for free before you beg to have it returned through a “refund”. Ideally, your tax forms should show zero or even a small owing, which if you’re smart you mail in on April 15 with a postmark applied in front of you.

NoVA mom's avatar

My hub always plays the owe just a bit game…does NOT want to give the gov’t a free loan!!

Susan Seas's avatar

Did you get fined for not guessing your correct taxable income? Because we did, and it wasn’t even that much less.

RunningLogic's avatar

That is so infuriating and ridiculous 😡 At least allow a certain percentage as a margin of error. But ideally, scrap the whole income tax and the authoritarian bureaucratic mess that is the IRS with it!!

Margot Wooster's avatar

Lord willing, that will soon come to pass!

NoVA mom's avatar

He makes sure to stay above the 90% threshold of taxes owed. If you fall below that - you get dinged.

Jeff S's avatar

Yup, but no need to call them, "idiots."

Unwoke in Idaho's avatar

Morons? Stupid? Ignorant?

Jeff S's avatar

Unenlightened?

Susan Seas's avatar

Several years ago, we changed ours to take out a smaller amount, even if we have to pay in at the end of the year. Well, guess what we got fined for under guessing our tax income! No, I’m not joking.

Tom F's avatar

Pay as you go, you need 90% of your tax obligation paid by the end of the tax year.

SD Scott's avatar

Anyone who knows how to pray in this country has been praying for Minneapolis. God answered!

JasonT's avatar

Trump gave Tiny Tim enough rope to get into serious trouble and then offered a small carrot and a very large stick. Now, on with the show! TAW

M. Dowrick's avatar

I live in britain. Have done so for the past 28 years. I have witnessed things going from bad to worse. And I agree with your take Jeff on 15 minute cities. Although when I returned to the USA, the other day, immigration handed me an “A1 “written in pink on my customs card, which meant I had to go through another layer of homeland security, in a cordoned off area. Not sure why I was targeted, but it was unpleasant as a law abiding citizen to be detained. One has to ask what the US gov’t is up to. I am a 75 year old, retired RN, with rheumatoid arthritis. Hardly a threat to our country. A disappointing experience.

🌱Nard🙏's avatar

Illegal immigration. It’s why we can’t have nice things. Hopefully if we get this under control, we can loosen things up for law abiding folks :).

Julie Ann B's avatar

I had the exact same thing happen in London. Not only did I get pulled out of line but had to go in a room where they took my passport and went through some process, which I don’t know what it was, for about 20 min. They finally gave it back without telling me why I had been singled out. I’m not exactly excited to go back to the UK again.

Abiding Dude's avatar

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Patti's avatar

My experience was not as bad it was a regular TSA agent but I was randomly selected and had to have a full pat down. I specifically wear soft clothing. Slip on shoes. Sport bra nothing metal. No jewelry. No belt. Nothing. The female agent spent her sweet time and I was so uncomfortable. My sister who was traveling with me was getting pissed and started to react. It was ridiculous and embarrassing. I recall my sister (Air Force ) saying ‘racial profiling is used because it works. She is not your problem.’ Ha! I thought if she gets me strip search I was gonna be pissed. It all ended and I was mostly fine.

NAB's avatar

That is awful and another reason I haven't flown in 10 years.

Delightful Designs's avatar

" If your only source is useless corporate media, you are drowning in a bathtub of lukewarm misinformation." I'm SO stealing that line!! I have a neighbor who tells me stuff she gets of the TV news, who is then stunned when I explain the reality of the story to her. She will be hearing that line :D