I had a whole separate essay to share with you tonight. As I was finishing up the final touches on it, I just couldn’t bring myself to publish it. All day today, I’ve been carrying heartbreak for someone I don’t even know. A video of ICE agents arresting a young man, and a mom screaming and crying in pain keeps playing over and over again in my mind, and in my heart. And then I made the mistake of reading the comments.
Please someone explain how the child can be an illegal if the mother is not.
Also how can all those ice agents with their faces covered hiding from all, be so desensitised that they forget how their mothers and children would be so horrified to know what revolting bullies their family member had become.
One of the agents pointed a gun - a lethal weapon at the mother to keep her away.
There was no checking paperwork, discussion as to whether they had the right person it was just a bunch of bully boys subduing a single man.
It literally sickens me to my core that Americans in power can stand back and agree with this and allow it to happen.
Please please someone take charge and get the man out of power.
Republicans are 100% behind him. The only way is to take both houses which will ultimately land him in “prison”, whatever that looks like and not likely he will live long enough.
If you read it anything else other than this substack you would know that the GOP is NOT 100% behind him. Most are afraid of of him but there are some who are not!
the Republicans in Congress who oppose Trump do so openly only because they are not standing for re-election this year - or in a few very rare cases in the Senate, because they have counted the votes and know they can vote No because there are enough Republicans voting Yes to carry the horrible legislation or appointment.
I would but I do not live in USA. If I could find a way of helping I would. My take is each and everyone of you must help your neighbours and friends have the right paperwork and go to the polls in groups so that ICE cannot terrorise people.
Chill, lady. That may be true that some folks want someone else to do something, but likely because they’ve never encountered such lawlessness. It’s scary as fuck. But the bigger issue is, there’s not much voters can do RIGHT NOW, to stop the cruelty and lawlessness. Yes, we need to get out the vote, but beyond that, we’re stuck watching this dementing narcissist act even crazier than normal. And there is NO WAY in hell that the Cabinet will do their duty and vote on a 25th Amendment.
Every Republican who has allowed Trump to do this to our country should be taken out of their offices. Dereliction of duty. cowards.
First of all it's the right or duty of the Vice President to start the ball rolling on the 25th. AND stop reacting to every insane thing he's doing as this substack would have you focus on. NOT because it's not happening but as humans we need to take breaks from the streets of the news. Especially things we do not have control over. This substack is making money off your constant attention to the worst news. Can you change the things being reported here,? You'd do better to take action whatever it is to look forward to plan for winning in November.
The child may have joined the mother after she did. However that is not the issue IMO. Hauling a minor into a detention using brute force is abhorrent and legal or not should NEVER have happened. What happened to human decency? This is outrageous and as Heather says how can any decent person think this is OK. And they pretend to be “Christian”
They just released a list of ‘domestic terrorists’ the other day. Basically, everyone that isn’t a magat is who they want to see behind bars. Amy Goodman from Democracy Now is on it for godsake! All Democratic Socialists, Mayor Mamdani, etc. it’s completely insane.
Thanks, Heather. Those of us who have empathy are awake in the middle of the night reading what you write and worrying about tomorrow. But there are more of us than there are them. Keep marching.
I agree it is scary - and you are wrong Heather offers many suggestions to make things better. Getting rid of ICE and asking people like you how you can justify this in good conscience
I totally agree - It would be interesting to see the nature of the poll questions - I find it almost incomprehensible that, what was it? 37% approved of the clown.. Maybe it's a culture that has become far too "fat and happy". Fed on a diet of fast food and Netflicks.
Totally agree with you. They are IMO still shockingly high and wonder do they poll the same people time and time again, what questions are asked, etc… Not the type of person who views these polls with much credence, we’ve been burned by these polls way too often and some just decide that the poll watchers say that so and so is ahead therefore there’s really no reason to vote…
Do not have any clear answers as to why people are continuing to follow him or any of his policies if you want to call them that.. his policies are to enrich himself, his family (that he taught well) and to stay out of jail and not be held accountable for anything..
Yet here we are… will say have found more and more people peeling away their support of him - after it has affected them personally. No judgement but do find that quite interesting.. Think Joni Mitchell was correct when she sang “You don’t know what you had until it’s gone….”
Thank you for your observation from afar we are all in this together one way or another. The earth is our entire neighborhood as many children already voice this comment…
I have a young girl who helps me as needed… she is white but has children of mixed color as her partner was black. She is starting to see black boys and men in her neighborhood be picked up by ICE for no reason except their skin color. She is scared to death. The brother of a friend was returning home after driving someone home from the hospital. As he got closer to his home he stopped at a local store to pick up a cold drink and after returning to his car was “arrested” as he “looked like a suspect in a recent crime”…. They threw him on the ground and beat him up. They fractured his eye socket and punched his face and head, fractured two ribs and then took him to the police station and arrested him. For what? I say for being black, in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was born in this country by American parents. He was an athlete so never drank or did he drugs or even smoked cigarettes. What is this country coming to? The agents had turned off cameras if they had any. The girl who helps me is scared to death for her teenage son even though he has never had any arrests or run ins with the law. If the reason this poor young man was beaten up was because of his color, no one is safe.
Yes! The worst part is he has possibly permanent damage from the beating and we know he is not the only one. Things have so drastically changed since officers do not have to follow rules of conduct. Very few have consequences. I fear for all of us now. This comes from violent rhetoric starting at the top. It is catching. I am from the generation where love was the answer. It truly is the only answer. All the hate brings more hate. We need to teach empathy in schools… teach how love is also catching.
There are good police… i see them doing good things… just not enough. People are being hurt because violence is accepted.. groups swarm and mob mentality ensues. We have to be better than this. We all have red blood running through our veins. Where are the leaders reminding all of us to have a heart? I will stop now. Makes me sad. Must support leaders with the messages we want to see in this world.
I think my fear has made me more willing to act and less to hide. I agree we need action against the madness. It has become madness. So thankful for the press we have left and others who all speak the truth.
BUT reading a substack about information you can get elsewhere and meeting with people who are taking action is what's needed. Has the substack here given you one suggestion of what to do ever?
I do understand your frustration and anger, and I share it. We have slightly similar problems here in the U.K. and people here are almost as divided as Americans. I wish I could do more than just write but I’m 85 and not very mobile (I know—poor excuse!) because of back and knee injuries.
No one is safe, that is the point. And the only thing we can do is get them out of office. no matter how long it takes. Trump has given violence and hate permission to act. We MUST act back. Lord yes, it is hard. But that IS the answer.
Yes! So we are all onboard. But nothing happens until we call out and start eliminating the enablers. None of this would be possible without the GOP Congress carrying out his psychopathic agenda. And so far the only time one finally comes around and takes a stand is when they are thrown out of Congress or resign.
This nearly same scenario happened in my community today. On a pleasant little downtown village street where people stroll to have lunch or coffee at a sidewalk cafe or walk their dog. And a video was posted on Next Door and some neighbors were aghast and also warned others that ICE was present in our neighborhood and others cheered and expressed their gratitude that ICE was ridding our fine community of these unwanted criminals. Yes we are, I believe, hopelessly divided now.
Yes I am absolutely fearful. Something has to change at a level I have no control over for me to not be fearful and to feel hopeful. In the meantime, I carry on fighting the good fight nonetheless. So given up? No.
Heather I found your latest post quite appalling. These ICE agents are behaving just like Hitler's blackshirts. Surely there are enough Senators and Congressmen and women to impeach the orange buffoon, as it's quite clear he's grossly incompetent to be the leader of the Western world. We in Europe can only look on in mounting disbelief. The wise words of Edmund Burke come to mind.
With so many human rights violations, why aren’t our members of Congress enacting impeachment?? If The Wannabe Dictator is allowed to stay in office with all this horrific stuff happening, the power of precedence it creates is frightening. Everyone ( including me) should be writing or calling their members of Congress to demand impeachment. If he is allowed to remain, a tragic GOODBYE to The Land of The Free!!
Heather, we have to do more to stop this before we can’t. Your post are like fingernails on my heart. I can’t stay quiet any longer. How do we organize and let our voices be heard in mass? I’ve attended the No Kings rallies but I think we need to be even bigger. I don’t think it’s too late but we are getting very close. Please help us stop this madness.
She's not going to give you a plan. There's a book called the plan. Just came out. You are wasting time reading here instead of getting registered And helping 😁 others get out the vote for the primaries that remain and the vote in November
Dear Heather, I understand how upsetting those images are for you and how baffling the comments as well. Here in Australia I get the same disappointing reactions to anything posted about aboriginal welfare or climate change. I despair at the underlying racism that respondents post whenever something about First Nation people is posted. My hope is that they are a minority who make the loudest noise - I hope so but I’m not sure.
Again, as you have on a daily basis, along with the other Heather and Kareem and many other journalists/truthtellers, again you have shone a clear light of intelligence, rationality and empathy on the dark virus infecting our spirit. As with every disease, the cancer begins small and then expands geometrically. With no guarantee of a cure.
The hope here is that the tipping point has not been reached and that you and the other doctors of the spirit have created the vaccine that will help push back the dark tide that threatens all of us.
Yes, this infection, this “syndrome” hurts me, too.
Yet, still we rise. And hear this little bird, hope, even in the chill of morning on the strangest seas, singing. Courage, my friend. We fall down, scrape and hurt, then get up.
Hello Heather, Thank you - here in Britain we look on with horror at what is happening in your country. Keep up the good work - I hope common sense will overcome prejudice before long.
To the people who are cheering ICE as they attack and drag that young man away in front of his mother...be careful what you are cheering for...one of these days, YOU may be the person that gets dragged away for no reason...
Please someone explain how the child can be an illegal if the mother is not.
Also how can all those ice agents with their faces covered hiding from all, be so desensitised that they forget how their mothers and children would be so horrified to know what revolting bullies their family member had become.
One of the agents pointed a gun - a lethal weapon at the mother to keep her away.
There was no checking paperwork, discussion as to whether they had the right person it was just a bunch of bully boys subduing a single man.
It literally sickens me to my core that Americans in power can stand back and agree with this and allow it to happen.
Please please someone take charge and get the man out of power.
Republicans are 100% behind him. The only way is to take both houses which will ultimately land him in “prison”, whatever that looks like and not likely he will live long enough.
She is referring to the Republicans in Congress. And with very rare and few exceptions it’s 100%. Adam Kinsinger Liz Cheney. They’re gone.
If you read it anything else other than this substack you would know that the GOP is NOT 100% behind him. Most are afraid of of him but there are some who are not!
I read plenty. I’m talking about how they vote. I’m not interested in what they think cause I already know.
the Republicans in Congress who oppose Trump do so openly only because they are not standing for re-election this year - or in a few very rare cases in the Senate, because they have counted the votes and know they can vote No because there are enough Republicans voting Yes to carry the horrible legislation or appointment.
Horrible what's going on and not only worse, but worst seeing people cheering. 😢😳
That is the work of social media. Engagement usually means enragement.
I am off all Meta.
I would but I do not live in USA. If I could find a way of helping I would. My take is each and everyone of you must help your neighbours and friends have the right paperwork and go to the polls in groups so that ICE cannot terrorise people.
So many of you want SOMEONE ELSE TO DO THAT when it's YOU AND YOUR VOTES THAT CAN DO THIS! STOP handwringing and get out the vote!
Chill, lady. That may be true that some folks want someone else to do something, but likely because they’ve never encountered such lawlessness. It’s scary as fuck. But the bigger issue is, there’s not much voters can do RIGHT NOW, to stop the cruelty and lawlessness. Yes, we need to get out the vote, but beyond that, we’re stuck watching this dementing narcissist act even crazier than normal. And there is NO WAY in hell that the Cabinet will do their duty and vote on a 25th Amendment.
Every Republican who has allowed Trump to do this to our country should be taken out of their offices. Dereliction of duty. cowards.
First of all it's the right or duty of the Vice President to start the ball rolling on the 25th. AND stop reacting to every insane thing he's doing as this substack would have you focus on. NOT because it's not happening but as humans we need to take breaks from the streets of the news. Especially things we do not have control over. This substack is making money off your constant attention to the worst news. Can you change the things being reported here,? You'd do better to take action whatever it is to look forward to plan for winning in November.
The child may have joined the mother after she did. However that is not the issue IMO. Hauling a minor into a detention using brute force is abhorrent and legal or not should NEVER have happened. What happened to human decency? This is outrageous and as Heather says how can any decent person think this is OK. And they pretend to be “Christian”
They just released a list of ‘domestic terrorists’ the other day. Basically, everyone that isn’t a magat is who they want to see behind bars. Amy Goodman from Democracy Now is on it for godsake! All Democratic Socialists, Mayor Mamdani, etc. it’s completely insane.
Thanks, Heather. Those of us who have empathy are awake in the middle of the night reading what you write and worrying about tomorrow. But there are more of us than there are them. Keep marching.
She's not marching she's scaring the daylight out of you and offering no plans or ideas to make anything better.
I agree it is scary - and you are wrong Heather offers many suggestions to make things better. Getting rid of ICE and asking people like you how you can justify this in good conscience
I disagree. She gives me hope.
Not true. Advocating for Trump to leave office is the main idea to make things better.
🙄🇬🇧
I have to admit that as an outsider watching from Europe, I find these approval ratings still shockingly high.
I totally agree - It would be interesting to see the nature of the poll questions - I find it almost incomprehensible that, what was it? 37% approved of the clown.. Maybe it's a culture that has become far too "fat and happy". Fed on a diet of fast food and Netflicks.
"First they came for....."
and Fox and OANN and Newsmax and Sinclair ...
Same reply to you as above
Totally agree with you. They are IMO still shockingly high and wonder do they poll the same people time and time again, what questions are asked, etc… Not the type of person who views these polls with much credence, we’ve been burned by these polls way too often and some just decide that the poll watchers say that so and so is ahead therefore there’s really no reason to vote…
Do not have any clear answers as to why people are continuing to follow him or any of his policies if you want to call them that.. his policies are to enrich himself, his family (that he taught well) and to stay out of jail and not be held accountable for anything..
Yet here we are… will say have found more and more people peeling away their support of him - after it has affected them personally. No judgement but do find that quite interesting.. Think Joni Mitchell was correct when she sang “You don’t know what you had until it’s gone….”
Thank you for your observation from afar we are all in this together one way or another. The earth is our entire neighborhood as many children already voice this comment…
Then pay attention to whatever is happening in Europe and stop posturing about the United States!
Who says I don't?
Funny to think that only Americans are allowed opinions on the USA - the biggest poser of all countries.
I have a young girl who helps me as needed… she is white but has children of mixed color as her partner was black. She is starting to see black boys and men in her neighborhood be picked up by ICE for no reason except their skin color. She is scared to death. The brother of a friend was returning home after driving someone home from the hospital. As he got closer to his home he stopped at a local store to pick up a cold drink and after returning to his car was “arrested” as he “looked like a suspect in a recent crime”…. They threw him on the ground and beat him up. They fractured his eye socket and punched his face and head, fractured two ribs and then took him to the police station and arrested him. For what? I say for being black, in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was born in this country by American parents. He was an athlete so never drank or did he drugs or even smoked cigarettes. What is this country coming to? The agents had turned off cameras if they had any. The girl who helps me is scared to death for her teenage son even though he has never had any arrests or run ins with the law. If the reason this poor young man was beaten up was because of his color, no one is safe.
💔💔💔 This kills me. So sad, so frightening.
Yes! The worst part is he has possibly permanent damage from the beating and we know he is not the only one. Things have so drastically changed since officers do not have to follow rules of conduct. Very few have consequences. I fear for all of us now. This comes from violent rhetoric starting at the top. It is catching. I am from the generation where love was the answer. It truly is the only answer. All the hate brings more hate. We need to teach empathy in schools… teach how love is also catching.
There are good police… i see them doing good things… just not enough. People are being hurt because violence is accepted.. groups swarm and mob mentality ensues. We have to be better than this. We all have red blood running through our veins. Where are the leaders reminding all of us to have a heart? I will stop now. Makes me sad. Must support leaders with the messages we want to see in this world.
Keep on cowering in fear. Get out the vote. You are giving in to the madness with your fear!
I think my fear has made me more willing to act and less to hide. I agree we need action against the madness. It has become madness. So thankful for the press we have left and others who all speak the truth.
BUT reading a substack about information you can get elsewhere and meeting with people who are taking action is what's needed. Has the substack here given you one suggestion of what to do ever?
I do understand your frustration and anger, and I share it. We have slightly similar problems here in the U.K. and people here are almost as divided as Americans. I wish I could do more than just write but I’m 85 and not very mobile (I know—poor excuse!) because of back and knee injuries.
No one is safe, that is the point. And the only thing we can do is get them out of office. no matter how long it takes. Trump has given violence and hate permission to act. We MUST act back. Lord yes, it is hard. But that IS the answer.
Yes! So we are all onboard. But nothing happens until we call out and start eliminating the enablers. None of this would be possible without the GOP Congress carrying out his psychopathic agenda. And so far the only time one finally comes around and takes a stand is when they are thrown out of Congress or resign.
That’s where the focus needs to be, IMHO.
How are you going to throw them out? Get out the vote. That's your voice.
This nearly same scenario happened in my community today. On a pleasant little downtown village street where people stroll to have lunch or coffee at a sidewalk cafe or walk their dog. And a video was posted on Next Door and some neighbors were aghast and also warned others that ICE was present in our neighborhood and others cheered and expressed their gratitude that ICE was ridding our fine community of these unwanted criminals. Yes we are, I believe, hopelessly divided now.
Yes I am absolutely fearful. Something has to change at a level I have no control over for me to not be fearful and to feel hopeful. In the meantime, I carry on fighting the good fight nonetheless. So given up? No.
So you've given up already? Then by that you are siding with the fear.b
Heather I found your latest post quite appalling. These ICE agents are behaving just like Hitler's blackshirts. Surely there are enough Senators and Congressmen and women to impeach the orange buffoon, as it's quite clear he's grossly incompetent to be the leader of the Western world. We in Europe can only look on in mounting disbelief. The wise words of Edmund Burke come to mind.
With so many human rights violations, why aren’t our members of Congress enacting impeachment?? If The Wannabe Dictator is allowed to stay in office with all this horrific stuff happening, the power of precedence it creates is frightening. Everyone ( including me) should be writing or calling their members of Congress to demand impeachment. If he is allowed to remain, a tragic GOODBYE to The Land of The Free!!
See my comments above. Vote for a democratic/independent majority in November! Then maybe.
Actually Congress cannot impeach anyone now. We don't have a majority that wants that. Get a grip on the facts and get out of la la land!
Once again you put my very chaotic thoughts into words. Thank you so much for everything you do.
Heather, we have to do more to stop this before we can’t. Your post are like fingernails on my heart. I can’t stay quiet any longer. How do we organize and let our voices be heard in mass? I’ve attended the No Kings rallies but I think we need to be even bigger. I don’t think it’s too late but we are getting very close. Please help us stop this madness.
She's not going to give you a plan. There's a book called the plan. Just came out. You are wasting time reading here instead of getting registered And helping 😁 others get out the vote for the primaries that remain and the vote in November
Dear Heather, I understand how upsetting those images are for you and how baffling the comments as well. Here in Australia I get the same disappointing reactions to anything posted about aboriginal welfare or climate change. I despair at the underlying racism that respondents post whenever something about First Nation people is posted. My hope is that they are a minority who make the loudest noise - I hope so but I’m not sure.
I’m in Australia, too, Roger. I agree. It’s the underlying racism that is so ugly. I’d hoped we were beyond that but it keeps rearing its ugly head.
Again, as you have on a daily basis, along with the other Heather and Kareem and many other journalists/truthtellers, again you have shone a clear light of intelligence, rationality and empathy on the dark virus infecting our spirit. As with every disease, the cancer begins small and then expands geometrically. With no guarantee of a cure.
The hope here is that the tipping point has not been reached and that you and the other doctors of the spirit have created the vaccine that will help push back the dark tide that threatens all of us.
Yes, this infection, this “syndrome” hurts me, too.
Yet, still we rise. And hear this little bird, hope, even in the chill of morning on the strangest seas, singing. Courage, my friend. We fall down, scrape and hurt, then get up.
Hello Heather, Thank you - here in Britain we look on with horror at what is happening in your country. Keep up the good work - I hope common sense will overcome prejudice before long.
The Cabinet should do this while most Americans are still alive and the West Wing of the White House is still intact.
The # of people trump has killed, either directly or indirectly, is only in the thousands right now.
trump HAS TO GO. 🤬🤬🤬🤬🖕🖕🖕🤬🤬🤬🤬
You are absolutely right, Heather. The cruelty and lack of empathy for another who only may look different, is stunning.
To the people who are cheering ICE as they attack and drag that young man away in front of his mother...be careful what you are cheering for...one of these days, YOU may be the person that gets dragged away for no reason...
First They Came by Pastor Martin Niemöller
First they came for the Communists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Communist
Then they came for the Socialists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Socialist
Then they came for the trade unionists
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a trade unionist
Then they came for the Jews
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a Jew
Then they came for me
And there was no one left
To speak out for me