At approximately 10 p.m. last night, Donald Trump walked into the ballroom at Mar-a-Lago wearing a white “USA” cap, a dark blue suit, and a deep red tie. “God Bless the USA” blared from the speakers as he greeted the crowd of his most loyal donors. He looked animated, almost giddy, but also like he couldn’t wait to get it over with. At a million dollars a ticket, with the money flowing straight into his MAGA super PAC, there was no skipping it. So he gave them three minutes and a little dance.
He threw his hands in the air and did his usual stiff-shouldered sway while the room clapped and sang along. He smiled, waved, and shook a few hands. Secret Service formed a circle around him, keeping everyone at a distance.
Aside from the awkward swaying, he stood in place, soaking it all in. Someone shouted...
I assume Miller has systematically cleansed all the sane and seasoned military leadership and replaced it with Murdoch’s Maga complicit Fox news informed obedient true believers. Replacing leadership in all governing institutions with obedient loyalists is the first move of any authoritarian coup.
This Heritage Foundation Maxwell-Epstein network funded coup of America has been in planning and slow execution for decades. It will take similar decades to unravel and defeat.
I, like u Heather, lived overseas for most of my growing up years and my dad worked much of the time in Tehran in the ‘60’s and 70’s. It was when the country was prospering, before American interference in trying to get their natural resource, namely oil. My dad loved the people and the country very much. Had good friends there and talked a lot to us about the wonderful people there. What trump is doing now after all Iranians have been through with corrupt governments that WE facilitated, is criminal let alone unconstitutional. I’m sick to my stomach and hope Americans don’t fall for trump’s lies. I’m glad the corrupt Iranian government is over, but can the people pull it together when another dictator has taken over namely trump and Netanyahu??? Look what we have allowed in Ukraine and now this?? I’m so angry. Americans will suffer more now. We will b exposed to much more danger, all in the name of trump distraction. Don’t b fooled Americans!
My dad, who used to travel for business to Tehran, told us a story one time, that was told to him by an Iranian friend. Here it is: One day a scorpion stood by the river trying to cross. A fish came by and the scorpion asked it if it would give him a ride to the other side. The fish said “ No! U will sting me and we will both die!” The scorpian said “No no! I promise, I will not sting you!” So the fish took the scorpian on his back. Half way across the river, the scorpian stung the fish. The fish said “ Why did u sting me? Now we will both die!” The scorpian replyed “That’s life in the Middle East!” It’s what happens when u don’t know the culture and the ways of a people. Trump knows nothing and we will all get stung. What an ignorant fool.
Excellent essay. I found your Substack only yesterday and after just one article I became a paid subscriber. Your writing resonates with what many of us are feeling. Thank you.
The chronological timeline of Iran’s struggles is really helpful in understanding what is happening there - and what is likely to happen here. The Islamic Revolution parallels the Christian Nationalist Movement. I don’t like having to point out that I say this without irony, but I’ll say it anyway: God help us all.
Heather, note: I am taking the liberty to speak to you as a friend. Your ability to juxtapose contradictions so succinctly is amazing. I have been reading your work for a while, however this essay put what is currently happening to us so clearly, so concisely, it’s like a dirty window has been thrown open and now we can see the nasty, appalling devastation of true evil. The fact that “we the people” complacently sat by while a moronic buffoon carnival barker destroyed our democracy is just so devastatingly sad. And we now know it is fragile with gaping holes that allowed this to happen. Not sure about the next steps, however, I am thinking that enough of us are mad as hell, and we will just not take it anymore.
Oh absolutely the Fox Entertainment network (no News there) has been pursuing the demise of the US since Murdoch decided he was good making millions on the backs of the American people.
Thanks Heather. Good to know that not all the US has gone MAGA mad. I have heard that Mark Carney has released a 40+ page dossier on a Trump based 'scam' within international trade negotiations. Nothing
about it in the billionaire owned UK media. Would be interested to hear your take on it.
I believe yesterday was a hard day for many. The pure range of emotions that I had was liking having whiplash for 24 hours. And it continues. But I took heart in your last paragraph. As a mom of 2 veterans, the sacrifices that they made and my sleepless nights while they were in harms way requires us to be able to have the “two truths”. We can be upset that we are now in a war with no notice, no plan and no sane person at the helm. We can be equally supportive of the men and women in our military.
We've always believed that he would go to war to create yet another distraction...I hate to be proven right. Without Congressional approval. Without Congressional approval. Doesn't this decision provide the ammunition (so to speak) to remove him from office?
And where the hell is the outcry from congress??? R the news stations not covering it? Where is the outcry from ALL the dems?? They r usurping ur power with blatant disregard and crickets??
Heather, your writing is always clear and concise. Always intelligent. I hope this column of yours reaches millions before too long. Many of us have completely given up on mainstream media, but the only problem with independent journalism is the average post gets thousands of likes or restacks, not millions. How do we spread the word?
George Orwell could not dream up such a scenario; sticking to the facts, especially the history of Western involvement in destabilizing the region … it’s OIL profits $$ ‼️ … supplies the horrific context we need to try to make sense of this latest chapter, Heather. Thank you, and, yes, God help us all.
From the moment the Supreme Court gave him free reign that he could do anything while in office and not be held liable, I knew we were in deep trouble. It was hard to imagine how much trouble but everyday is another slap in the face to those of us who didn't vote for him. While he encourages the people in another nation to rise up, we are sitting ducks. How will we be able to overcome this at this? Has it gone too far already? If voters are suppressed, is it all over?
The fact that military leaders are going along with an illegal war is extremely dangerous and disgusting. I can only conclude that they’re MAGA.
I assume Miller has systematically cleansed all the sane and seasoned military leadership and replaced it with Murdoch’s Maga complicit Fox news informed obedient true believers. Replacing leadership in all governing institutions with obedient loyalists is the first move of any authoritarian coup.
This Heritage Foundation Maxwell-Epstein network funded coup of America has been in planning and slow execution for decades. It will take similar decades to unravel and defeat.
Great reporting Heather. Thank you.
I, like u Heather, lived overseas for most of my growing up years and my dad worked much of the time in Tehran in the ‘60’s and 70’s. It was when the country was prospering, before American interference in trying to get their natural resource, namely oil. My dad loved the people and the country very much. Had good friends there and talked a lot to us about the wonderful people there. What trump is doing now after all Iranians have been through with corrupt governments that WE facilitated, is criminal let alone unconstitutional. I’m sick to my stomach and hope Americans don’t fall for trump’s lies. I’m glad the corrupt Iranian government is over, but can the people pull it together when another dictator has taken over namely trump and Netanyahu??? Look what we have allowed in Ukraine and now this?? I’m so angry. Americans will suffer more now. We will b exposed to much more danger, all in the name of trump distraction. Don’t b fooled Americans!
My dad, who used to travel for business to Tehran, told us a story one time, that was told to him by an Iranian friend. Here it is: One day a scorpion stood by the river trying to cross. A fish came by and the scorpion asked it if it would give him a ride to the other side. The fish said “ No! U will sting me and we will both die!” The scorpian said “No no! I promise, I will not sting you!” So the fish took the scorpian on his back. Half way across the river, the scorpian stung the fish. The fish said “ Why did u sting me? Now we will both die!” The scorpian replyed “That’s life in the Middle East!” It’s what happens when u don’t know the culture and the ways of a people. Trump knows nothing and we will all get stung. What an ignorant fool.
Excellent essay. I found your Substack only yesterday and after just one article I became a paid subscriber. Your writing resonates with what many of us are feeling. Thank you.
Essential reading. A necessary reminder of what happens when tyranny is camouflaged by twirling flags and rhetorical lies.
The chronological timeline of Iran’s struggles is really helpful in understanding what is happening there - and what is likely to happen here. The Islamic Revolution parallels the Christian Nationalist Movement. I don’t like having to point out that I say this without irony, but I’ll say it anyway: God help us all.
Heather, note: I am taking the liberty to speak to you as a friend. Your ability to juxtapose contradictions so succinctly is amazing. I have been reading your work for a while, however this essay put what is currently happening to us so clearly, so concisely, it’s like a dirty window has been thrown open and now we can see the nasty, appalling devastation of true evil. The fact that “we the people” complacently sat by while a moronic buffoon carnival barker destroyed our democracy is just so devastatingly sad. And we now know it is fragile with gaping holes that allowed this to happen. Not sure about the next steps, however, I am thinking that enough of us are mad as hell, and we will just not take it anymore.
Very well put. The media worked to promote the criminal failed property magnate especially Fox news
Oh absolutely the Fox Entertainment network (no News there) has been pursuing the demise of the US since Murdoch decided he was good making millions on the backs of the American people.
Thanks Heather. Good to know that not all the US has gone MAGA mad. I have heard that Mark Carney has released a 40+ page dossier on a Trump based 'scam' within international trade negotiations. Nothing
about it in the billionaire owned UK media. Would be interested to hear your take on it.
I believe yesterday was a hard day for many. The pure range of emotions that I had was liking having whiplash for 24 hours. And it continues. But I took heart in your last paragraph. As a mom of 2 veterans, the sacrifices that they made and my sleepless nights while they were in harms way requires us to be able to have the “two truths”. We can be upset that we are now in a war with no notice, no plan and no sane person at the helm. We can be equally supportive of the men and women in our military.
We've always believed that he would go to war to create yet another distraction...I hate to be proven right. Without Congressional approval. Without Congressional approval. Doesn't this decision provide the ammunition (so to speak) to remove him from office?
Yes but GOP will again support this Hitler like fascist dictatorship led by a malignant narcissist.
Great job! Keep up the good work ..it is so important!
And where the hell is the outcry from congress??? R the news stations not covering it? Where is the outcry from ALL the dems?? They r usurping ur power with blatant disregard and crickets??
Heather, your writing is always clear and concise. Always intelligent. I hope this column of yours reaches millions before too long. Many of us have completely given up on mainstream media, but the only problem with independent journalism is the average post gets thousands of likes or restacks, not millions. How do we spread the word?
Head to ceasefiretoday.com. This site allows you to easily and quickly call your Senators and representatives to demand an end to this illegal war.
George Orwell could not dream up such a scenario; sticking to the facts, especially the history of Western involvement in destabilizing the region … it’s OIL profits $$ ‼️ … supplies the horrific context we need to try to make sense of this latest chapter, Heather. Thank you, and, yes, God help us all.
From the moment the Supreme Court gave him free reign that he could do anything while in office and not be held liable, I knew we were in deep trouble. It was hard to imagine how much trouble but everyday is another slap in the face to those of us who didn't vote for him. While he encourages the people in another nation to rise up, we are sitting ducks. How will we be able to overcome this at this? Has it gone too far already? If voters are suppressed, is it all over?