Truth overcomes ignorance. The biggest obstacle to saving democracy in America is the ignorance in America that has failed to recognize the ongoing criminal felony insurrection led by Trump. Not enforcing the law against insurrection has caused the failure to save democracy. What’s happened in America is an insurrection by Trump, his administration, ICE agents, Republicans in Congress, and six justices on the Supreme Court. The insurrection started on January 6, 2021, was planned in PROJECT 2025, and continues as planned in 2025. The authoritarian illegal “war” attacking Americans redefined as enemy combatants, is defined as a felony crime in federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) in language that is clear and easy to understand:
“Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.” A new law in blue states modeled after the federal law can be created and enforced beginning in 2025 by Democrats who control 15 states so that Democrats can take control of the House and the Supreme Court before the midterms.
The insurrection actually started long before Jan. 6, 2021. August 23, 1971, in fact.
That's when the Powell memo united U.S. corporate elites and the far right. Immediately, the moneyed interests went to war on the schools, establishing new foundations and lobbying groups not only to defund education in all 50 states but also to kill humanities at every level, K-12 to "higher."
I call this insurrection because fiction -- novels, other arts -- kept humanity conscious of our most human truths by rehearsing the impinging varieties of human pain deliverable to us in all varieties of ways. War. Greed. Natural disasters (including nature's own, biological, ticking clocks).
Absent the realities of our humanities, absent our elites' recourse to them, worse fictions set in. These, worse, were grounded in abstractions, in rationally-arranged paranoias, fears, and programmed schemes. Testing arrived to underscore the forms of "intelligence" tying all higher-up planning and packaging to varieties of abstracting corporate, religious sectarian, state, commercial, and other organizational scenarios.
Schools around the world took up testing and its neutered dominance in proportion to their growing absence of humanities.
And now, William, we have the mass madness, our dictatorial worst even playing Gatsby games.
Thank you for the point about 1971. I use a different memo from that year to make the same point about civic and media literacy. All part of the same thing.
If the truth about something including insurrection comes from a trusted source, ignorance about that something (insurrection) will typically be recognized.
I was also in Portland last week; I drove up from my home in Redmond, Oregon to hear Dr. Snyder speak at the Arlene Schnitzer theater. Portland was just as described, quiet, peaceful and hopeful. There were only a handful of “protesters “ downtown, although there many thousands out on No Kings Day. And there were 2,500 engaged and appreciative citizens who listened to Dr. Snyder speak on freedom that evening. At the conclusion of the evening we all rose and thanked Dr. Snyder with a long standing ovation. Thank you Dr. Snyder for traveling to Portland, for speaking truth to power and for all your work supporting freedom around the world.
Never forget that the leader of these masked, armed and abusive men is a woman who bragged about shooting and killing her young dog because she didn't like him. One despicable act leads to a myriad of despicable acts.
I'm surprised Noem was able to "lead" the dog to the quarry to be shot. She hasn't demonstrated the ability to "lead" anything else. I seriously doubt she could organize a one car funeral. She can, however, cosplay almost any role in her department. I guess that's her real talent.
She isn’t leading them. She is the photo-op model. I don’t know who is directing them, but it definitely isn’t her. She had zero qualifications for the job and a rather dramatic lack of interest in learning anything. (I am a former constituent.)
Falsely claiming to be under attack (from enemies either within or without) has been a staple excuse for usurpation of powers and use of the military by authoritarians since civilization began.
Dear Dr. Snyder. Repeating of falsehoods does not equate to truth. Tearing down a public building does not equate to modernization. Decorating an executive office with gold colored plastic does not equate to refinement. Hosting a Gatsbyish ball while denying families food assistance is vile and unforgiveable. Approval ratings in the mid-thirties means a change is coming. Keep up the pressure.
The polling numbers I’ve seen track hardcore Trump approval at the low 30’s. Trump appears to maintain this percentage come hell or high water. I heard a lady in my community - which is overwhelmingly pro Trump, say that threatening war in South America by Trump is wrong, but “you gotta love him.” The sad situation is that Trump and MAGA are not the cause but the result of brain rot that has infested our society for the past 50 years. The question is whether the demise will continue or is there a saving grace somewhere on the horizon. There are no guarantees that American so called democracy will survive this onslaught.
"War-ravaged" Portlander here. Thank you for visiting our fair city! When I was a kid (elder now), my friends and I used to take the bus downtown and watch the Rose Parade from in front of John Helmer's. Unfortunately, despite all the protests, costumes, and publicity, ICE is very much functioning here in our city. Some friends and I are getting ready to accompany someone to their ICE check in today. Praying it goes well.
I’m praying for their safety, courage and strength. I can only imagine how much it must take to show up in court with the knowledge that they might be locked up for doing the right thing. Best of luck to them and you. Please keep us posted on how it went.
It worked out. The family was able to check in and then we gave them a ride home. One year til they need to check in again. Yay. I'm so appreciative of the volunteers with the Portland Immigrants Rights Coalition (PIRC) who there every day at ICE handing out Know Your Rights info and tracking people who go in and come out.
Thank you. Glad to hear and about the PIRC! Wish every city had an organization like PIRC.
I wish this person continued happiness and peace of mind.
Thank you to you and the others who accompanied this person. This is how we help our friends and neighbors affected by this. You’re all an inspiration. 🫶🏼
Last Friday here in Evanston, IL there was a battle in the middle of the street: ICE "claimed" an activist crashed into their car. In fact, ICE likely purposely caused the crash, and the driver was "not" involved in any Evanston activist efforts to track ICE. ICE violently abducted the driver and two witnesses, all citizens, as several armed ICE agents "protected" the abductors.The ICE driver (who earlier had pointed his gun twice at witnesses) then drove the three abductee citizens around Evanston and Chicago for hours while trying to "create" more conflict. Fortunately, there are many more witnesses (with loud whistles, voices and cameras) surrounding this stormtrooper siege in full military gear. They are feeling the heat, and "hundreds" more are volunteering for this frontline each week. This is a violent invasion, and we will protect all our workers with our diverse and loud bodies.
Who controls the "dialogue" creates the "situation" and produces "the truth" simply by repeating and expanding/deepening/enlarging the "story" initially invented in the "dialogue" making actual DIALOGUE impossible and actual WAR inevitable over time. Which is absurd. And means "we" have to have our own "counter propaganda" mechanism in place and at work to deny every embellishment of "the story" that is produced by the propaganda machine, blah, blah, blahing its way to WAR. -- At least this is my simplistic way of explaining to myself the ridiculous situation we are in with Trump and Russia and the Fascist Machine everywhere. -- Jm Dollar
I should have added that the attack on media outlets worldwide is an essential part of the "war that is real but undeclared by the Fascist Machine" with reporters being assassinated, and Ann Telnaes and Tim Snyder and others set to fall off of a balcony any day now, etc. all a part of the media "cleansing" that is required by fascism in order to succeed in taking over the world and running things the way they need to be run.
Thank you, Professor Snyder... Your in-depth, thoughtful messages hit the spot. Could I just add that the skirmishes and raids inside America are most deplorable? ICE is like the Gestapo was in Nazi Germany...this time not catching Jews but people of color. It is too disgusting and shameful. We in America and the Free World have to be aware of the danger...and the loss of freedom!
There are personnel at every level of every branch of the military who agree with the Trump administration and approve of its goals. Just as we need to work hard to prevent American cities from becoming “war zones,” tearing the country apart from within, some thought should be given to how this dynamic plays out within the military, which is not a democracy. We think of our military as being superior due to its size and and effective use of technology. But its strength is actually rooted in an ethos that requires unquestioning adherence to the chain of command. The idea of combatting “lies” within such a culture is moot. Enlisted soldiers not only don’t (can’t?) protest, they can’t resign. “Voting with your feet” is not an option—that’s called “going AWOL” and is literally a crime. There are personnel at every level of every branch of the military who understand that the Trump administration is attempting to employ them illegally for immoral purposes. Let’s not forget them—their lives are on the horns of a dilemma.
"Portland is no threat to the Republic. There is nothing at all like the burning of buildings and the closing of businesses that Trump talks about."
Read the first ten pages of Project 2025 and you will see a pattern. The description of Americans not MAGA is an off the wall fiction of horrible creeps.
Trump, Miller, Vought they have all sworn an oath to promote fictions that make anyone not MAGA an enemy worthy of simply, inexplicably, tackling to the ground.
Thank you Tim. I always have to brace myself to read your posts. but unrelenting truth is what we must all stand for with you.
Gosh that is exactly how I feel. Thank you Tim for going to Portland.
I want to do more.
I see that I will have to.
Standing up for truth is an essential act of patriotism. Be a truthteller.
Bruce
Truth overcomes ignorance. The biggest obstacle to saving democracy in America is the ignorance in America that has failed to recognize the ongoing criminal felony insurrection led by Trump. Not enforcing the law against insurrection has caused the failure to save democracy. What’s happened in America is an insurrection by Trump, his administration, ICE agents, Republicans in Congress, and six justices on the Supreme Court. The insurrection started on January 6, 2021, was planned in PROJECT 2025, and continues as planned in 2025. The authoritarian illegal “war” attacking Americans redefined as enemy combatants, is defined as a felony crime in federal law (18 U.S. Code § 2383) in language that is clear and easy to understand:
“Whoever incites, sets on foot, assists, or engages in any rebellion or insurrection against the authority of the United States or the laws thereof, or gives aid or comfort thereto, shall be fined under this title or imprisoned not more than ten years, or both; and shall be incapable of holding any office under the United States.” A new law in blue states modeled after the federal law can be created and enforced beginning in 2025 by Democrats who control 15 states so that Democrats can take control of the House and the Supreme Court before the midterms.
Read my post.
https://williamlmiller.substack.com/p/how-to-stop-trump-republicans-and
Let's back up, William.
The insurrection actually started long before Jan. 6, 2021. August 23, 1971, in fact.
That's when the Powell memo united U.S. corporate elites and the far right. Immediately, the moneyed interests went to war on the schools, establishing new foundations and lobbying groups not only to defund education in all 50 states but also to kill humanities at every level, K-12 to "higher."
I call this insurrection because fiction -- novels, other arts -- kept humanity conscious of our most human truths by rehearsing the impinging varieties of human pain deliverable to us in all varieties of ways. War. Greed. Natural disasters (including nature's own, biological, ticking clocks).
Absent the realities of our humanities, absent our elites' recourse to them, worse fictions set in. These, worse, were grounded in abstractions, in rationally-arranged paranoias, fears, and programmed schemes. Testing arrived to underscore the forms of "intelligence" tying all higher-up planning and packaging to varieties of abstracting corporate, religious sectarian, state, commercial, and other organizational scenarios.
Schools around the world took up testing and its neutered dominance in proportion to their growing absence of humanities.
And now, William, we have the mass madness, our dictatorial worst even playing Gatsby games.
Thank you for the point about 1971. I use a different memo from that year to make the same point about civic and media literacy. All part of the same thing.
Truth can overcome ignorance, but only if it is recognized.
If the truth about something including insurrection comes from a trusted source, ignorance about that something (insurrection) will typically be recognized.
I was also in Portland last week; I drove up from my home in Redmond, Oregon to hear Dr. Snyder speak at the Arlene Schnitzer theater. Portland was just as described, quiet, peaceful and hopeful. There were only a handful of “protesters “ downtown, although there many thousands out on No Kings Day. And there were 2,500 engaged and appreciative citizens who listened to Dr. Snyder speak on freedom that evening. At the conclusion of the evening we all rose and thanked Dr. Snyder with a long standing ovation. Thank you Dr. Snyder for traveling to Portland, for speaking truth to power and for all your work supporting freedom around the world.
Never forget that the leader of these masked, armed and abusive men is a woman who bragged about shooting and killing her young dog because she didn't like him. One despicable act leads to a myriad of despicable acts.
She is a sick disgusting piece of shit.
. . . but also a great boon to the practitioners of plastic surgery.
I'm surprised Noem was able to "lead" the dog to the quarry to be shot. She hasn't demonstrated the ability to "lead" anything else. I seriously doubt she could organize a one car funeral. She can, however, cosplay almost any role in her department. I guess that's her real talent.
She isn’t leading them. She is the photo-op model. I don’t know who is directing them, but it definitely isn’t her. She had zero qualifications for the job and a rather dramatic lack of interest in learning anything. (I am a former constituent.)
Falsely claiming to be under attack (from enemies either within or without) has been a staple excuse for usurpation of powers and use of the military by authoritarians since civilization began.
Dear Dr. Snyder. Repeating of falsehoods does not equate to truth. Tearing down a public building does not equate to modernization. Decorating an executive office with gold colored plastic does not equate to refinement. Hosting a Gatsbyish ball while denying families food assistance is vile and unforgiveable. Approval ratings in the mid-thirties means a change is coming. Keep up the pressure.
Never underestimate the power of ignorant people in large groups-George Carlin
I read yesterday some polls at 43% approval for Trump - NBC, I believe. Totally perplexing.
The polling numbers I’ve seen track hardcore Trump approval at the low 30’s. Trump appears to maintain this percentage come hell or high water. I heard a lady in my community - which is overwhelmingly pro Trump, say that threatening war in South America by Trump is wrong, but “you gotta love him.” The sad situation is that Trump and MAGA are not the cause but the result of brain rot that has infested our society for the past 50 years. The question is whether the demise will continue or is there a saving grace somewhere on the horizon. There are no guarantees that American so called democracy will survive this onslaught.
I'd much rather believe your numbers! In fact, after J6, I cannot believe he has 1 supporter.
Rachel Maddow went over recent polls last night. Not looking good for Donnie
"War-ravaged" Portlander here. Thank you for visiting our fair city! When I was a kid (elder now), my friends and I used to take the bus downtown and watch the Rose Parade from in front of John Helmer's. Unfortunately, despite all the protests, costumes, and publicity, ICE is very much functioning here in our city. Some friends and I are getting ready to accompany someone to their ICE check in today. Praying it goes well.
I’m praying for their safety, courage and strength. I can only imagine how much it must take to show up in court with the knowledge that they might be locked up for doing the right thing. Best of luck to them and you. Please keep us posted on how it went.
It worked out. The family was able to check in and then we gave them a ride home. One year til they need to check in again. Yay. I'm so appreciative of the volunteers with the Portland Immigrants Rights Coalition (PIRC) who there every day at ICE handing out Know Your Rights info and tracking people who go in and come out.
Thank you. Glad to hear and about the PIRC! Wish every city had an organization like PIRC.
I wish this person continued happiness and peace of mind.
Thank you to you and the others who accompanied this person. This is how we help our friends and neighbors affected by this. You’re all an inspiration. 🫶🏼
Last Friday here in Evanston, IL there was a battle in the middle of the street: ICE "claimed" an activist crashed into their car. In fact, ICE likely purposely caused the crash, and the driver was "not" involved in any Evanston activist efforts to track ICE. ICE violently abducted the driver and two witnesses, all citizens, as several armed ICE agents "protected" the abductors.The ICE driver (who earlier had pointed his gun twice at witnesses) then drove the three abductee citizens around Evanston and Chicago for hours while trying to "create" more conflict. Fortunately, there are many more witnesses (with loud whistles, voices and cameras) surrounding this stormtrooper siege in full military gear. They are feeling the heat, and "hundreds" more are volunteering for this frontline each week. This is a violent invasion, and we will protect all our workers with our diverse and loud bodies.
My God, they are chomping at the bit for a false flag operation.
The “truth “has been perverted by this administration, all to serve acceptability for the totally unacceptable.
Nothing is more important than the actual truth. The one we see in Portland,
Chicago, California.
All these places have been attacked by the government ( the one that is supposed to help and protect them . )
The people in this country are attempting to live their lives and are being attacked for it by Donald Trump, Steven Miller et al.
The truth needs to be told by all of us, every chance we get.
Who controls the "dialogue" creates the "situation" and produces "the truth" simply by repeating and expanding/deepening/enlarging the "story" initially invented in the "dialogue" making actual DIALOGUE impossible and actual WAR inevitable over time. Which is absurd. And means "we" have to have our own "counter propaganda" mechanism in place and at work to deny every embellishment of "the story" that is produced by the propaganda machine, blah, blah, blahing its way to WAR. -- At least this is my simplistic way of explaining to myself the ridiculous situation we are in with Trump and Russia and the Fascist Machine everywhere. -- Jm Dollar
I should have added that the attack on media outlets worldwide is an essential part of the "war that is real but undeclared by the Fascist Machine" with reporters being assassinated, and Ann Telnaes and Tim Snyder and others set to fall off of a balcony any day now, etc. all a part of the media "cleansing" that is required by fascism in order to succeed in taking over the world and running things the way they need to be run.
And when, before or after you vote, speak to others and assure their voting.
Everyone!
Thank you. These troops are only one kind of threat that we face. Today, NJ polling places are getting bomb threats. We will not be deterred.
Thank you, NJ voters, for your courage and determination.
Thank you, Professor Snyder... Your in-depth, thoughtful messages hit the spot. Could I just add that the skirmishes and raids inside America are most deplorable? ICE is like the Gestapo was in Nazi Germany...this time not catching Jews but people of color. It is too disgusting and shameful. We in America and the Free World have to be aware of the danger...and the loss of freedom!
Thank you, again. I always learn from you. Thank you for guiding us all and helping us think clearly.
There are personnel at every level of every branch of the military who agree with the Trump administration and approve of its goals. Just as we need to work hard to prevent American cities from becoming “war zones,” tearing the country apart from within, some thought should be given to how this dynamic plays out within the military, which is not a democracy. We think of our military as being superior due to its size and and effective use of technology. But its strength is actually rooted in an ethos that requires unquestioning adherence to the chain of command. The idea of combatting “lies” within such a culture is moot. Enlisted soldiers not only don’t (can’t?) protest, they can’t resign. “Voting with your feet” is not an option—that’s called “going AWOL” and is literally a crime. There are personnel at every level of every branch of the military who understand that the Trump administration is attempting to employ them illegally for immoral purposes. Let’s not forget them—their lives are on the horns of a dilemma.
The military oath is to our constitution. The military can refuse to obey illegal orders.
And they do.
Please learn a bit more about the US military. Your description bears no resemblance whatsoever to how our military actually works.
"Portland is no threat to the Republic. There is nothing at all like the burning of buildings and the closing of businesses that Trump talks about."
Read the first ten pages of Project 2025 and you will see a pattern. The description of Americans not MAGA is an off the wall fiction of horrible creeps.
Trump, Miller, Vought they have all sworn an oath to promote fictions that make anyone not MAGA an enemy worthy of simply, inexplicably, tackling to the ground.