In Sunday’s letter, Heather Cox Richardson provides a cogent history of how we got to the mess we’re now in. It’s the logical outcome of two generations who have been sold and bought into the peculiar myth of U.S. cowboy individualism. The myth rose following the landmark 1954 Brown v. Board of Education decision. The idea of white men acting for freedom and justice on their own, unhampered by government, became the guiding image for the rising right wing. Barry Goldwater an

We’ve been dragged into a war by the Trump administration and it promises to be very expensive. Alison Durkee of Forbes reported yesterday that Trump’s military strikes in Iran have already cost U.S. taxpayers more than $1 billion , , not to mention the coming increase in gas prices, estimated at 5 to 10 cents a day while the conflict lasts. And there is no end in sight. “Neither Trump nor anyone else in his regime has provided any clarity about how we’ll know whether we’ve “

No congressional approval. No appeal to the American people. No explanation. No justification. So why are we now at war with Iran? It’s the act of a desperate president says Robert Reich in his piece today. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/sunday-thought-the-mounting-costs

In addition to Democrats beating Republicans by a wide margin in the early Primary vote, Trump’s approval rating has fallen to a new low of 37%. Among registered voters, Democrats lead the generic House ballot 52% to 42% with just 6% undecided! Read all about it in today’s Strength in Numbers report. https://www.gelliottmorris.com/p/ahead-of-state-of-the-union-address

Trump doesn’t deserve our attention, writes Robert Reich, and lays out all the reasons why. Here’s an excellent alternative from MeidasTouch and MoveOn. It will feature Democratic Senators and Congressional Reps who are also boycotting Trump’s State of the Union. Watch at 7:30 PM Central Time at https://www.instagram.com/reels/DU6EXwSD7Ca/ A much better use of your time! http://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-fate-of-the-dis-union

On Friday in a press conference in Arizona, Noem claimed elections were under the DHS’s mission of “maintaining critical infrastructure.” She doubled down on Sunday, “Yes, we must build election infrastructure that makes it easy and secure for eligible American citizens to vote—while preventing non-citizens, including illegal aliens, from casting ballots.” This is Trump’s latest salvo to take over the midterm elections, which he will surely lose without his thumb on the scale

Reports Heather Cox Richardson, international leaders react strongly against Secretary Rubio’s declaration of new U.S. policy abandoning values of democracy in favor of imperialism. “European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas rejected the ideology behind Rubio’s speech. ‘Contrary to what some may say, woke, decadent Europe is not facing civilizational erasure,’ she said. She noted that other nations want to join the E.U. and those that are already members want the E.U. ‘

The Apple CEO’s $1 million donation to Trump’s inauguration, his 24-karat gold gift, removal of ICE-tracing apps from Apple, endurance of VIP screening of “Melania” - all counted for naught when Cook posted a selfie with superstar Bad Bunny before the Super Bowl. Reports Daily Kos today, this perfectly normal act, and Apple Music’s sponsorship of the Super Bowl halftime show, kicked off an attack by Trump and his goons at the FTC and right-wing media. “Cook, like so many othe

AI promoters are working overtime to spin it as a benefit for average people. Brags a recent article in the Washington Post , “These companies say AI is key to their four-day workweeks.” Robert Reich writes about the downside today: “The four-day workweek will most likely come with four days’ worth of pay.” “So, as AI takes over their current work, most workers will probably get poorer or have to take additional jobs to maintain their current pay.” While the GDP and stock mar

On Thursday, the Department of (In)Justice announced an interim final rule that effectively dismantles the immigration appeals process, making it nearly impossible to appeal adverse decisions by immigration law judges. Daily Kos writes, “It goes into effect automatically within 30 days, bypassing the normal notice and comment period to make sure the government doesn’t have to take into account any input from bleeding heart libs who don’t want immigrants abducted and deported.

The U.S. Senate has two weeks to decide on whether and under what conditions to extend funding for ICE. G. Elliott Morris reports today on what Americans actually want done about ICE, and it looks like they may be to the left of the Senate. Morris writes, “Between 60% and 90% of Americans support most ICE reforms in this polling. Not just a majority, a supermajority of voters say they want transparency, accountability, rules, and oversight. That even includes a lot of Republi

“I want to see elections be honest, and if a state can’t run an election, I think the people behind me should do something about it,” said Trump yesterday during the bill-signing ceremony to reopen the federal government. This is not an isolated remark. In a podcast released Monday, Trump called on Republicans to “take over” voting procedures in 15 states. Although he didn’t name them, they are obviously the ones he lost in 2020. A week ago under the direct and unprecedented

A federal judge stopped Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton this week from dissolving the charter of one of the largest Latino voter registration groups in the state. Texas Take with Jeremy Wallace reports that U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman issued a preliminary injunction, saying that Paxton had “not produced any credible evidence” that Jolt Initiative was improperly registering voters. For more on Paxton’s multiple failed attempts to shut down voter registration gro

As reported yesterday by The Washington Post, U.S. District Judge Fred Biery ordered the release of the pair detained last week at their Minnesota home after returning from the child’s preschool. In a sharply worded statement, the judge said that the warrants “do not pass probable cause muster… That is called the fox guarding the henhouse,” he continued. “The Constitution requires an independent judicial officer.” Hurray for an independent judiciary! https://www.washingtonpo

In spite of a nation-wide outcry and numerous judicial rulings against federal actions, Trump and his lackeys show no signs of ending DHS operations in the state. Why? One possible and chilling answer is found in Heather Cox Richardson’s piece yesterday. She reports disturbing signs that there may be a nefarious purpose for DHS continuing occupation of the state. Attorney General Pam Bondi wrote Minnesota governor Tim Walz that he could “bring an end to the chaos” by giving t

State Rep Vikki Goodwin , Anne Ochoa , and Joan Carney at NSD welcome booth outside LV polling place in 2020.

Because of the Minnesota killings, Senators are coming out against the bill that would fund the government past Friday at midnight, unless DHS funding is removed or restrictions placed on immigration enforcement operations. Now’s the time to give our Texas Senators an earful! Or eyeful! Senator John Cornyn (202) 224-2934 (DC) https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact-john-cornyn/ Senator Ted Cruz (202) 224-5922 (DC) https://www.cruz.senate.gov/contact (suggested message - ta

…writes Paul Krugman in substack today. Both were clearly on display in Trump’s demented speech in Davos. But Trump’s tactics are no longer working. Eurocrats have discovered that appeasing a bully doesn’t work, but standing up to him does. Krugman concludes, “The question now is whether and when enough influential people here at home will learn the same lesson. https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/trump-0-europe-1

Pay special attention to the 4th, writes Robert Reich today. “Whenever he tries to shoot the messenger, the message is worth your attention. For example …” https://robertreich.substack.com/p/the-4th-axiom-for-interpreting-trump

Reported by Rebecca Santana of the Associated Press yesterday, ICE has been breaking into homes under the authority provided by a secret memo of May 12, 2025, signed by the acting director of ICE, Todd Lyons, saying that federal agents do not need a judge’s warrant to force their way into people’s homes. Two ICE whistleblowers provided the memo to Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), explaining that they were shown the memo. At least one long-time employee resigned rather than