Beyond the lunacy of Trump’s (too many) posts, the real giveaway is when he speaks—mostly monosyllables, things repeated thrice, practically childish, a series of unfinished sentences. This is the voice of an eight year old bully.
We were already in a sad state with social media, algorithms, and billionaires profiting on lies, conspiracy theories, and hate speech. As our democracy is shredded before our eyes and an obviously incompetent president abuses his authority, the corporate media has succumbed, just like the Republican congress, academia, and the Supreme Court. It’s up to We The People to exert everything we’ve got to bring this madness to an end.
The mainstream media and most of the Republicans in Congress. I was a reasonably sentient (and politically engaged) adult in the early/mid 1970s, so I can't help noticing that the "guardrails" that helped save us then are largely missing now. The Republican Party has become ever less democratic since the white Southern Democrats jumped into it in the late '60s and '70s. Economic power (aka corporations and "big money") has been dominating democracy since the onset of Reaganomics, with a big assist from the Supreme Court in Citizens United and other decisions. Vote and voter suppression proceeds apace in Republican-run states, and until the Trump II started implementing Project 2025 pretty much on day one, the Democratic Party leadership was pretty much asleep at the wheel in part because it had been marginalizing and ignoring members who called attention to what was happening.
In 1929 and what followed, it was the world economy that crashed. In 2026 it's constitutional government in the United States that's crashing. Neither catastrophe came out of nowhere, but the warnings were too often brushed off. Are "we the people" up for dealing with it? Who knows, but here's hoping . . .
I can't get over the batsh*t insanity of putting the reflecting pool vertically to compare with the height of buildings! Is that for real???? Why aren't the MSM ALL over it, blasting from the rooftops??? That's pure Looney tunes level nonsense! 😵💫😵🤬
Call it out everyday. He’s mentally ill. He’s a danger to all of us. He needs to be removed. Shame the media for IGNORING this. Our allies are mocking him for sleeping. I was happy to see Ted Lieu call this out to Rubio yesterday. More of this please.
Sometimes I have to laugh instead of cry, and this subheading made me laugh. I am an RN with psych experience, and he would be a lot of work to normalize, even in an inpatient setting.
I also was in a bad relationship with a malignant narcissist in the past (fine now), and I made up all kinds of rationalizations for that relationship, both to keep myself sane and because the person made me question and doubt myself if I saw it for what it was. America is in a toxic relationship with whatever psychologically unhealthy description you want to use for trump, and they will only leave it after extreme damage has been done to them, and that will vary person by person, over what, 70 million people? I simply had too much to lose by admitting I was codependent with a toxic person who was bad for me. Trust me. There is no standard way to solve the problems that American voters have created for themselves and for America. The media wants to keep selling to those voters.
MAGA has destroyed us for generations. When I say I am "fine now" after a pathological person being central to my lifestyle, I mean fine in the sense that I don't think about him and he doesn't influence my day-to-day choices. But there is like a 10-year net loss in my progress (financial, personal, self-regard, etc).
I don't know how or when we get out of this catastrophe, but I do know that I will never ever ever forgive or forget how the legacy and corporate media sane-washed Trump and his allies---while excoriating Democrats for the smallest offensive. I'm looking at you, NYT, WaPost, NPR, Axios,
Beyond the lunacy of Trump’s (too many) posts, the real giveaway is when he speaks—mostly monosyllables, things repeated thrice, practically childish, a series of unfinished sentences. This is the voice of an eight year old bully.
His mind is chaos, which makes him very, very dangerous.
Yup—he craves to create chaos … and - also a peeping tom, remember? - loves to watch the violence.
Well said‼️
Thank you!
We were already in a sad state with social media, algorithms, and billionaires profiting on lies, conspiracy theories, and hate speech. As our democracy is shredded before our eyes and an obviously incompetent president abuses his authority, the corporate media has succumbed, just like the Republican congress, academia, and the Supreme Court. It’s up to We The People to exert everything we’ve got to bring this madness to an end.
Outstanding. How you manage to write such vital and thoughtful pieces (and still maintain your sobriety) is beyond me, but many thanks.
What I find particularly disturbing is that Trump is viewed - and views himself - as a white savior on a white steed rather than a muttering old fart.
The mainstream media and most of the Republicans in Congress. I was a reasonably sentient (and politically engaged) adult in the early/mid 1970s, so I can't help noticing that the "guardrails" that helped save us then are largely missing now. The Republican Party has become ever less democratic since the white Southern Democrats jumped into it in the late '60s and '70s. Economic power (aka corporations and "big money") has been dominating democracy since the onset of Reaganomics, with a big assist from the Supreme Court in Citizens United and other decisions. Vote and voter suppression proceeds apace in Republican-run states, and until the Trump II started implementing Project 2025 pretty much on day one, the Democratic Party leadership was pretty much asleep at the wheel in part because it had been marginalizing and ignoring members who called attention to what was happening.
In 1929 and what followed, it was the world economy that crashed. In 2026 it's constitutional government in the United States that's crashing. Neither catastrophe came out of nowhere, but the warnings were too often brushed off. Are "we the people" up for dealing with it? Who knows, but here's hoping . . .
I can't get over the batsh*t insanity of putting the reflecting pool vertically to compare with the height of buildings! Is that for real???? Why aren't the MSM ALL over it, blasting from the rooftops??? That's pure Looney tunes level nonsense! 😵💫😵🤬
Very well put Aaron!
Do you ever feel like you are screaming at a wall? Not sure where I would be without Public Notice and other magnificent Substackers.
Thank you for your work. Much appreciated.
Call it out everyday. He’s mentally ill. He’s a danger to all of us. He needs to be removed. Shame the media for IGNORING this. Our allies are mocking him for sleeping. I was happy to see Ted Lieu call this out to Rubio yesterday. More of this please.
Forget the media - why does the public ignore Trump’s madness?
Because the media ignores it, which signals to the general public that it's not important. Americans do not think for themselves.
Thank you! This piece articulates what has been clear for years and covered up by the legacy media. Why? We are all trapped in the mind of a mad king.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Finally someone is saying it. trump is mentally unwell.
The sadism and narcissism are a dangerous combo and being ignored. This essay should be sent to every congressman. I'll be sending it to mine.
Sometimes I have to laugh instead of cry, and this subheading made me laugh. I am an RN with psych experience, and he would be a lot of work to normalize, even in an inpatient setting.
I also was in a bad relationship with a malignant narcissist in the past (fine now), and I made up all kinds of rationalizations for that relationship, both to keep myself sane and because the person made me question and doubt myself if I saw it for what it was. America is in a toxic relationship with whatever psychologically unhealthy description you want to use for trump, and they will only leave it after extreme damage has been done to them, and that will vary person by person, over what, 70 million people? I simply had too much to lose by admitting I was codependent with a toxic person who was bad for me. Trust me. There is no standard way to solve the problems that American voters have created for themselves and for America. The media wants to keep selling to those voters.
MAGA has destroyed us for generations. When I say I am "fine now" after a pathological person being central to my lifestyle, I mean fine in the sense that I don't think about him and he doesn't influence my day-to-day choices. But there is like a 10-year net loss in my progress (financial, personal, self-regard, etc).
I don't know how or when we get out of this catastrophe, but I do know that I will never ever ever forgive or forget how the legacy and corporate media sane-washed Trump and his allies---while excoriating Democrats for the smallest offensive. I'm looking at you, NYT, WaPost, NPR, Axios,
Politico and all the rest.
Corporate media is corrupt!