The president of the United States of America spent his entire day spiraling out of control for the entire world to see. From early this morning until late tonight, Donald Trump struggled to hold it together. As he moved through a packed schedule with a swearing-in ceremony, multiple flights, and a public appearance, he still found time to share a stream of increasingly disturbing social media posts, including a fake video of himself throwing Stephen Colbert into a dumpster where his body appeared lifeless, alongside yet another threat directed at Greenland. And in between those increasingly erratic posts, he spoke at a political rally where he seemed increasingly unable to stay on message, remain focused, or even complete a coherent train of thought for more than a few seconds at a time.
I live in Australia & have been reading your posts for some months now. I have subscribed because I believe in independent journalism & see that being eroded by Trump & his corrupt, evil, horrifying administration.
I am so grateful that you’ve acknowledged the global impact of Trump as we are feeling it in many ways here. Including a political shift to the far right which fills many thinking Australians with fear.
However we are not living the nightmare you are & to take the time to think beyond your borders is so generous & I thank you for that. Please know that many of us are thinking of you & all the ordinary Americans being battered by the awfulness of Trump & his band of enablers. If I could do more I would - in the meantime I read your posts every day & every day I am in awe of your ability to find hope. Stay strong & keep writing - you are doing an amazing thing!
My God. I forced myself to watch Trump's speech, to concentrate and really try to understand what he was saying and how people reacted to him. I studied the faces behind him, the confused kids, the bored adults looking at their cell phones, the folks that laughed whenever they though he said something worthwhile. Weird smiles of looking at a cult leader with awe. It's completely stunning. I'm exhausted. I worked my way through it, fast-forwarding to see if there was a change, and it was always the same discourse 5 minutes, ten minutes on. Others are stupid, ignorant and incompetent. We are winners. Everything we do is winning. Don't believe the losers. We are the righteous best Americans and I am your leader.
I can say that I have never been more unsettled after watching this one speech than any summary of events I have listened and read extensively over many years. If you have the stomach for it, try and watch it with an open mind. Try and understand what the appeal towards Trump is with these followers is. Look at everyone, rewind and look again if you have to. The people behind him, their expressions and their mood.
It's so disturbing. I think I get it now. The cadence of his voice, the grandiose proclamations of success, the smug degradation of other who or not them. The minimizing of any protester and the righteous 'don't hurt him' to show a false moral standard. The endless lies of success that don't exist.
I'm sick to my stomach. I see a cult like I have never understood before, but more than I did yesterday. We are witnessing a deranged cult leader with almost limitless power, a malignant liar, a narcissist beyond any redemption. A convicted felon for God's sake.
America must do everything in it's power, within the law, to remove this person from power and recover the dignity of every single American soul that sacrificed to make what was an extraordinary country itself, and to put in new safeguards that prevent an evil like this to ever come into power again.
All this on the eve of Steven Colbert's exceptional last performance due to Trump's inability to laugh at himself and corporate ignorance and personal greed.
Sometimes I wonder what Jackie Spieir and the others in the congressional delegation who traveled to Ghana to witness Jim Jones and his cult felt when they found them. I imagine what we are seeing with the MAGA faithful is much the same. I believe they would drink a deathly liquid for him. So utterly disturbing.
Yet again a very insightful post. I am on holiday in Europe with a group of Americans ( I am from UK) and through careful conversations with people getting a flavour of what they are doing to try and right the ship.
Talking to a younger member of the group I reiterated the necessity of her age group getting together and providing a united front - talking to people, helping in their neighbourhood to maybe change mindsets. Also helping those who might not have the right paperwork in place to get organised for November. Europe and beyond stands with you, Trump is causing immeasurable damage all around him and the ripples are increasing. And China and Russia see the chaos and are profiting from it while pretending to be trumps friend. !
First of all my 3 year old granddaughter would have passed the animal test at least a year ago. Also I know he didn't pass the math test without being given the answer. Bragging about his cognitive abilities in front of ardent supporters is funny sine most of them have double digit IQ;s.
Thank you once again for such an insightful post. I watched the orange buffoon's "speech" at the rally in NYC and, unless my ears are deceiving me, did I hear a few boos in the crowd?
I also caught an excerpt of Stephen Colbert's last show on Facebook, where Psul McCartney was a guest. I had to laugh when, without mentioning the Dumpkof's name, they had a dig at his orange make-up. Not that the Donald appreciates subtle humour.
Am I the only one who's suspicious about Trump not attending his son's wedding? He's always found time to play golf. Maybe Don Junior is behind this decision.
Everything he does and says is meant to frighten us…to taunt us into believing that he is almighty..all powerful..the great and mighty leader.
DO NOT fall for it…it’s exactly the opposite..as his posts and rants get more frenetic he is revealing a lot…he is losing the grip he is desperately trying to hold onto.
That is why he repeats himself constantly..he’s trying to convince himself he’s still in control and he also cannot remember what he said an hour earlier. That IS dementia.
In the mid stages..where I believe he is now…the memory is fading more and more often…the synapses in the brain are not working as they should especially in the hippocampus where memories are. The individual recalls bits and pieces of events or situations but not the whole picture but they also realize that they are struggling to regain the memory. That causes a defense mechanism…it causes frustration and agitation and can also cause aggressive behavior.
He is now over compensating for these lapses and he needs to convince everyone around him that nothing is wrong.
The agitation causes his weird outbursts and ranting and inexplicable postings with delusions of grandeur.
He is trying to frighten everyone around him to convince them that there is nothing wrong with HIM..blame someone or something else constantly….repetitive behavior is classic in the syndrome.
IF he truly is taking more cognitive tests…any neuropsychologist , neurologist or even a NP administering them can recognize these symptoms of mid-stage dementia. It is their DUTY to inform the proper entities of government.
There is grave danger in allowing someone who is not in complete control of his mental faculties to remain in the highest office in the land….we are getting closer and closer to the end of his reign and it’s up to those physicians to start the ball rolling.
He didn’t go to his son’s wedding for a reason…it’s not the one he gave..he’s probably being evaluated further and it must be pretty urgent to do it on Memorial Day weekend.
Is he planning on laying a wreath of remembrance for those we honor on this holiday…he has not even MENTIONED that….maybe he forgot…….
Don’t let him frighten or taunt…he’ll be stopped ..but pray he can be controlled …that’s the MOST IMPORTANT THING.
Definitely all this! He is becoming more dangerous by the moment. His loyalists are to blame…KKKabinet, BeneDICKt Fetterman, RepubliKKKans, EPSTEIN Class, etc. He/they NEED to be stopped-NOW.
And now with most of them as ICE Gestapo, reparations-payment, for their call to duty on Jan.6, 2021, and call to arms to be ready for Jan.6- 2.0…We NEED to be ready NOW. Gerrymandering and Jim Crow 2.0, six corrupt SCOTUS, and now a fully fortified and militarized Bunker complete with hospital…He/they clearly have ZERO intentions of leaving OUR White House-AGAIN.
We are NOT going to let them get away with ANY of that. We have to believe that and act accordingly. His loyalists must be stopped when he is..they all must fall. We have to do everything in our power to take their power.
Once again you give us hope and that helps us get through this bizarre, scary time in our lives. I pray that more Republicans in Congress will finally get some morals, stop thinking about keeping the office we elected them to, but stand up to Trump and say “NO”!
Thank you for your hard work and always ending with a glimmer of hope. I guess we gave to live with until he has a stroke or heart attack and then we have to live through the inner circle claw at one another to determine who takes over. Feels much more like a mafia organization than a government.
Thank you for your columns. There is hope for America. We need a new definition of "The Silent Majority." I recently had a conversation with my brother, the very first, about some of the goings on. I never talk about political events with my family as they are very conservative Republicans and I am not. He must have felt safe talking to me as he could not say what he said to me to any of the rest of the family. He talked about how "it would take years for our allies to trust us again" and that "people in power do not know just how angry the people are about the war in Iran" and that "people now know that he lied to them." Granted that he is highly educated, but living in deep red Alabama in an area that he calls "a third world country" as compared to where he used to live, I wanted to share this with you. He is the kind of guy who has his hands on the local pulses and enjoys talking to people in his retirement years. We will talk more in future visits. I am not sure what he said translates into votes in November, but it could translate into staying home. Keep the faith. Janet Banks.
I live in Australia & have been reading your posts for some months now. I have subscribed because I believe in independent journalism & see that being eroded by Trump & his corrupt, evil, horrifying administration.
I am so grateful that you’ve acknowledged the global impact of Trump as we are feeling it in many ways here. Including a political shift to the far right which fills many thinking Australians with fear.
However we are not living the nightmare you are & to take the time to think beyond your borders is so generous & I thank you for that. Please know that many of us are thinking of you & all the ordinary Americans being battered by the awfulness of Trump & his band of enablers. If I could do more I would - in the meantime I read your posts every day & every day I am in awe of your ability to find hope. Stay strong & keep writing - you are doing an amazing thing!
Thank you, Jodeo! We are sorry, and we are trying to get rid of this odious beast and his regime.
And all power to you Ann Panda 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻
My God. I forced myself to watch Trump's speech, to concentrate and really try to understand what he was saying and how people reacted to him. I studied the faces behind him, the confused kids, the bored adults looking at their cell phones, the folks that laughed whenever they though he said something worthwhile. Weird smiles of looking at a cult leader with awe. It's completely stunning. I'm exhausted. I worked my way through it, fast-forwarding to see if there was a change, and it was always the same discourse 5 minutes, ten minutes on. Others are stupid, ignorant and incompetent. We are winners. Everything we do is winning. Don't believe the losers. We are the righteous best Americans and I am your leader.
I can say that I have never been more unsettled after watching this one speech than any summary of events I have listened and read extensively over many years. If you have the stomach for it, try and watch it with an open mind. Try and understand what the appeal towards Trump is with these followers is. Look at everyone, rewind and look again if you have to. The people behind him, their expressions and their mood.
It's so disturbing. I think I get it now. The cadence of his voice, the grandiose proclamations of success, the smug degradation of other who or not them. The minimizing of any protester and the righteous 'don't hurt him' to show a false moral standard. The endless lies of success that don't exist.
I'm sick to my stomach. I see a cult like I have never understood before, but more than I did yesterday. We are witnessing a deranged cult leader with almost limitless power, a malignant liar, a narcissist beyond any redemption. A convicted felon for God's sake.
America must do everything in it's power, within the law, to remove this person from power and recover the dignity of every single American soul that sacrificed to make what was an extraordinary country itself, and to put in new safeguards that prevent an evil like this to ever come into power again.
All this on the eve of Steven Colbert's exceptional last performance due to Trump's inability to laugh at himself and corporate ignorance and personal greed.
As if Colbert is gone. Dear God, he's been born!
Paul, this is one magnificent comment.
Sometimes I wonder what Jackie Spieir and the others in the congressional delegation who traveled to Ghana to witness Jim Jones and his cult felt when they found them. I imagine what we are seeing with the MAGA faithful is much the same. I believe they would drink a deathly liquid for him. So utterly disturbing.
Yes…it’s a MAGA/MAWA-Make AmeriKKKa White (“christian” nationalist) Again, Nazi, fascist KKKult.
Beautifully said! I agree with all those words!
Colbert is a hero!
I'm convinced it's biblical. And I'm not easily convinced of anything.
Your writing is so powerful and important, Heather. Thank you!
About not attending his son’s wedding, the usual reason dictators don’t travel abroad is because they fear a coup d’etat in their absence.
Thank you Heather
Yet again a very insightful post. I am on holiday in Europe with a group of Americans ( I am from UK) and through careful conversations with people getting a flavour of what they are doing to try and right the ship.
Talking to a younger member of the group I reiterated the necessity of her age group getting together and providing a united front - talking to people, helping in their neighbourhood to maybe change mindsets. Also helping those who might not have the right paperwork in place to get organised for November. Europe and beyond stands with you, Trump is causing immeasurable damage all around him and the ripples are increasing. And China and Russia see the chaos and are profiting from it while pretending to be trumps friend. !
How dumb is he?
He's SO dumb, he should have two b's.
First of all my 3 year old granddaughter would have passed the animal test at least a year ago. Also I know he didn't pass the math test without being given the answer. Bragging about his cognitive abilities in front of ardent supporters is funny sine most of them have double digit IQ;s.
My mom used to have to take that test during her dementia. There is no such math question as the Orange Oaf described. He totally made that up.
Do you mean he lied......I'm shocked!!!!!!!
I know, right? 😂
Thank you once again for such an insightful post. I watched the orange buffoon's "speech" at the rally in NYC and, unless my ears are deceiving me, did I hear a few boos in the crowd?
I also caught an excerpt of Stephen Colbert's last show on Facebook, where Psul McCartney was a guest. I had to laugh when, without mentioning the Dumpkof's name, they had a dig at his orange make-up. Not that the Donald appreciates subtle humour.
Am I the only one who's suspicious about Trump not attending his son's wedding? He's always found time to play golf. Maybe Don Junior is behind this decision.
I pay my membership to you from Australia
Everything he does and says is meant to frighten us…to taunt us into believing that he is almighty..all powerful..the great and mighty leader.
DO NOT fall for it…it’s exactly the opposite..as his posts and rants get more frenetic he is revealing a lot…he is losing the grip he is desperately trying to hold onto.
That is why he repeats himself constantly..he’s trying to convince himself he’s still in control and he also cannot remember what he said an hour earlier. That IS dementia.
In the mid stages..where I believe he is now…the memory is fading more and more often…the synapses in the brain are not working as they should especially in the hippocampus where memories are. The individual recalls bits and pieces of events or situations but not the whole picture but they also realize that they are struggling to regain the memory. That causes a defense mechanism…it causes frustration and agitation and can also cause aggressive behavior.
He is now over compensating for these lapses and he needs to convince everyone around him that nothing is wrong.
The agitation causes his weird outbursts and ranting and inexplicable postings with delusions of grandeur.
He is trying to frighten everyone around him to convince them that there is nothing wrong with HIM..blame someone or something else constantly….repetitive behavior is classic in the syndrome.
IF he truly is taking more cognitive tests…any neuropsychologist , neurologist or even a NP administering them can recognize these symptoms of mid-stage dementia. It is their DUTY to inform the proper entities of government.
There is grave danger in allowing someone who is not in complete control of his mental faculties to remain in the highest office in the land….we are getting closer and closer to the end of his reign and it’s up to those physicians to start the ball rolling.
He didn’t go to his son’s wedding for a reason…it’s not the one he gave..he’s probably being evaluated further and it must be pretty urgent to do it on Memorial Day weekend.
Is he planning on laying a wreath of remembrance for those we honor on this holiday…he has not even MENTIONED that….maybe he forgot…….
Don’t let him frighten or taunt…he’ll be stopped ..but pray he can be controlled …that’s the MOST IMPORTANT THING.
Definitely all this! He is becoming more dangerous by the moment. His loyalists are to blame…KKKabinet, BeneDICKt Fetterman, RepubliKKKans, EPSTEIN Class, etc. He/they NEED to be stopped-NOW.
Lance Rosen wrote this about another possible J6….https://substack.com/@lancefrosen/note/c-248115689?r=71veyx&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
And now with most of them as ICE Gestapo, reparations-payment, for their call to duty on Jan.6, 2021, and call to arms to be ready for Jan.6- 2.0…We NEED to be ready NOW. Gerrymandering and Jim Crow 2.0, six corrupt SCOTUS, and now a fully fortified and militarized Bunker complete with hospital…He/they clearly have ZERO intentions of leaving OUR White House-AGAIN.
And this by Lance Rosen about his Bunker…https://substack.com/@lancefrosen/note/c-253106363?r=71veyx&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
We are NOT going to let them get away with ANY of that. We have to believe that and act accordingly. His loyalists must be stopped when he is..they all must fall. We have to do everything in our power to take their power.
For sure…we can’t rely on the system or most of the Useless Democrats.
It’s so frustrating and infuriating.
UNITED WE STAND AND DIVIDED WE FALL ❤️🩹
Thank you Heather Delaney Reese for all you do
The dumb Loser speaks again! And still can’t stay on topic.
Once again you give us hope and that helps us get through this bizarre, scary time in our lives. I pray that more Republicans in Congress will finally get some morals, stop thinking about keeping the office we elected them to, but stand up to Trump and say “NO”!
This has to stop!
Heather, Meidas,and the Writers Cabin.
Thank you for your hard work and always ending with a glimmer of hope. I guess we gave to live with until he has a stroke or heart attack and then we have to live through the inner circle claw at one another to determine who takes over. Feels much more like a mafia organization than a government.
Thank you for your columns. There is hope for America. We need a new definition of "The Silent Majority." I recently had a conversation with my brother, the very first, about some of the goings on. I never talk about political events with my family as they are very conservative Republicans and I am not. He must have felt safe talking to me as he could not say what he said to me to any of the rest of the family. He talked about how "it would take years for our allies to trust us again" and that "people in power do not know just how angry the people are about the war in Iran" and that "people now know that he lied to them." Granted that he is highly educated, but living in deep red Alabama in an area that he calls "a third world country" as compared to where he used to live, I wanted to share this with you. He is the kind of guy who has his hands on the local pulses and enjoys talking to people in his retirement years. We will talk more in future visits. I am not sure what he said translates into votes in November, but it could translate into staying home. Keep the faith. Janet Banks.