Disillusione and disappointment are powerful feelings that inactivate any positive action. You must understand one thing and that thing must be as clear as possible for the citizens of US: you are being played by the KGB's textbook, at a huge scale. It is hard to fight back and you should not feel disappointed or disillusioned if you fail. You fail, you rise, you try again. Fail is something normal in a psychological warfare. I am writing you this from a former communist country. They have tried to indoctrinate us. They have tried to kill us. They have tried to imprison us. They have tried to ruin our beliefs, our core values, our moral compass. They have succeeded with some individuals but at the same time they made the rest of us stronger, wiser and more determined. Always look at the bright side and never lose optimism! You fail. You rise!
UK here . I hear and see your pain. In Europe we are realigning in light of the Trump administrations latest outrages. We feel for you folk but you have to use the strength you have, we are here hoping beyond hope you will properly act. We also have to attend to the consequences of the betrayal that serves only the minority.
Think Sen Adam Schiff was speaking to the core of the matter when he said just off the plane seeing what's occurred "Is this what US has come to ... nothing but a protectionist extortionist racket ? " He called out to Congress to act but I feel as an offshore witness that power has evaporated from this part of your governance. I maybe wrong, I hope I'm wrong. I fear I am right. Your rule book has been torn up and lies in tatters. What you have is your morals and principles.
For me if you walk past the vulnerable, those who need your help you are commissioning the act itself. You choose.
TO ANYONE WHO FEELS THEY’VE LOST TRACK OF WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE NEW REGIME, HERE’S SOME OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW - Today's Oval Office Meeting Blow-up (Trump, Zelenskyy, Putin, Musk)
> TRUMP is a draft dodger and coward. ZELENSKYY is a war hero.
> TRUMP claims he wants to facilitate peace between Ukraine and Russia, but has focused only on making a deal for Ukraine's rare earth minerals. ZELENSKYY wants a lasting peace, which he believes requires TRUMP to take a stand against Russia's aggression.
> TRUMP has stated he thinks it's Europe's responsibility to provide military support to Ukraine. ZELENSKYY wants TRUMP to guarantee continued aid in the war Russia started.
> TRUMP has called ZELENSKYY a dictator and has specifically said he trusts PUTIN, who has violated international agreements and laws. ZELENSKYY calls PUTIN a terrorist, which is the view of most leaders of the free world.
> TRUMP is willing to let PUTIN keep the territory in Ukraine PUTIN now occupies. ZELENSKYY wants TRUMP to support the return of Ukraine's sovereign boundaries.
> TRUMP won't support Ukraine joining NATO, whichPUTIN says is a redline. ZELENSKYY wants to join NATO to get its backing.
> TRUMP has given PUTIN everything he wants in discussions that didn't include Ukraine. Zelenskyy has gotten nothing he needs to believe peace is possible.
> NEW (as reported yesterday) - TRUMP has threatened Ukraine: 'Sign mineral deal or lose access to MUSK'S Starlink." This puts tremendous pressure on ZELENSKYY, who knows Ukraine is dependent on Starlink to support (1) Military Operations, (2) Civilian Connectivity, (3) Government and Infrastructure, and (4) Humanitarian Efforts.
> PREVIOUSLY - MUSK (TRUMP'S #2 and friend of PUTIN) shut-down Starlink during a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's naval fleet rendering the operation a loss for Ukraine and a win for PUTIN!
> TODAY, a meeting in the OVAL OFFICE blew up in front of the press, during which TRUMP commented "Good TV." Following that meeting, TRUMP called off closed-door negotiations, the planned post-negotiation press conference, and sent ZELENSKYY home - posting on Truth Social " .. come back when he is ready for peace."
> MY INTERPRETATION (connecting the dots above) is TRUMP knew today's meeting was not going to lead to a finalized agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine, which had been touted by TRUMP as the expected outcome. He'd already taken a victory lap in his cabinet meeting, where at the same time he expressed confidence in getting a deal, he also told the press he was not going to give ZELENSKYY what ZELENSKYY had firmly said he needed to consummate a deal.
So rather than be embarrassed by not being able to "close the deal," the OVAL OFFICE blow-up was planned. TRUMP (with an assist from Vance) baited ZELENSKYY with lies, and when ZELENSKYY wouldn't let those stand without responding, they double-teamed him with more lies and taunts of not being respectful of TRUMP and the OVAL OFFICE.
In this made-for-TV moment, the planned ambush (1) showed TRUMP as the strong negotiator for peace he now claims ZELENSKYY doesn't want, (2) shifted responsibility to ZELENSKYY for the meeting and agreement failure TRUMP had promised, and (3) positioned TRUMP and PUTIN as the only two parties that want peace, thus keeping ZELENSKYY on the outside and on the defensive.
You may be right, but it also might not pan out the way that Trump thinks it should. The response of other world leaders is to stand with Zelenskyy. It may be another step on the way to making the US a pariah state. My response is that I would not trust Trump as a friend, an ally or as a trading partner. Even people outside the US who have quite conservative views are shocked by what transpired. Already the tariffs are causing some countries to look at alternative trading partners, but this blatant example of bullying does not bode well for trade deals. Do we want US base's on our soil? Can we trust the US as part of the Five Eyes? It doesn't look lije we can, and eventually our leaders will have to make a choice.
It's just a matter of seeing whether our leaders have principles. Quite possibly many of them don't, but this won't go away.
But Europe is their main goods market now, especially with Trump tariffs.
As a Central European, we don’t see China as special treat or competition, their phones or cars are welcome on our streets as any other, however the EU as a whole had a “too many eggs in one basket” moment during the Covid time when the supply chain has been interrupted.
Yes, we have elected Traitors to our country, to our democratic republic, to Ukraine, to our former allies, to the World. People gathered today in Waitsfield, VT to protest J.D. Vance, who was there skiing at Sugarbush. https://www.wcax.com/2025/03/01/protestors-organize-waitsfield-against-vice-presidential-visit/ I wasn't the only one carrying a sign in solidarity with Ukraine and that calls out Vance for being the traitor that he is.
Even people with strong values are not ready to give up their status of well being to fight for what is right( be it environment, justice or democracy) unless that well being is personally threatened. Our instinct of survival urges us to stay put until the signals are straightforward or a charismatic personality comes and leads us. In the world of social misinformation it is hard for these elements to stand clear. Unless personal pain comes first.
Attend town halls, march in protests, keep informed, make calls, be active online with emails and texts! You will make more of a difference than you know! Most of all encourage your family members and friends not to give up!
It seems completely absurd how twisted everyone’s panties were when Hillary’s emails and Hunter’s laptop and so on, and we are literally watching every possible unconstitutional, unconscionable, unbelievable thing happen, and it’s like no one can or will stop it who has the power to.
Thank you for yet another enlightening article. I'm perplexed by my friends and family who are just going about life...business as usual...like they don't have a care in the world. I "get" if they mix living life (ex: family time) with taking specific actions (ex: making their voices heard through calls, emails, protests, economic blackouts, changing spending habits...), but their absolute silence and non-action is astonishing. I'll keep doing what I'm doing, speaking loudly and obnoxiously for all to hear, and taking consistent action, regardless of what they do. It's just damn annoying, depressing and, quite honestly, inexcusable.
I was outraged by the treatment Trump & Vance gave to Zelensky. I can imagine what foreigners watching that discussion must think of Americans and I'm embarrassed to be an American.
But getting at how we got to this point is way more complicated than just the idea of standing up for principles. Looking back to the 60's might provide some hint. LBJ won in a landslide in '64 but his refusal to see the wrong the US was inflicting on Vietnam lost him that mandate and the murder of RFK and MLK beheaded the moral alternatives that seemed available to us. The result was the election of Nixon whose own paranoia would later cost him the presidency.
But, if we focus on the election of '68, I would say a lot of people just felt little attachment to the Democratic Party and stayed home. And that led to 8 years of creeping right wing intrusion via the Reagan presidency. If you look at the 2024 election, you can see the same malaise among 1) lower income groups; 2) lower education groups; and 3) minorities. In all three cases, the non-voters far outstripped the voters unlike any other segment (women, men, whites, higher incomes and higher educational levels).
Trump, like Reagan, took advantage of this malaise. But what caused it? I believe, the simple fact that Democratic leadership is out of touch with significant segments of society is the key. A lot of people are thinking "why bother?" I don't remember Harris (or Clinton before her) having much to say about the stagnating incomes of the working class or the dismal results of our educational system in recent decades, or even having any ideas on how to achieve affordable housing. These are the voters who stayed home and until something is done for them, they'll probably continue to stay home.
Time to dispense with conventional norms…Joe Biden should speak in defense of Ukraine and American Values. There is half of America who is waiting for a champion—even if he is retired.
I ran across this nice retired gentleman and he has a lot of great points, IMO. I honestly still need to read more of his writing, but from my preliminary impression, I think he is on to something.
I think Trump - more than once - that what was happening in the Oval was Great TV. Also the disdain Trump and Vance exhibited toward Zelensky, they feel as viciously toward the majority of Americans.
I get all of the same pushback from the same crowd. Just one note on fiscal responsibility: The GOP has wrung up more in the deficit category since Truman. Not only that, but Reagan's tax cuts and then Trumps have done a number on both escalating the deficit and the wealth gap. The GOP lies about the deficit are on par with "safe and fair elections." As for Gaza, yes to the critique of Biden, but if any of our Biden on Gaza critics had actually talked to anyone in/from Gaza -- and I did, everyone knew Trump's victory would be the quick end of Palestine. It's become fashionable to posture above both parties. That privilege has a hole stack of self-inflicted collateral damages.
Disillusione and disappointment are powerful feelings that inactivate any positive action. You must understand one thing and that thing must be as clear as possible for the citizens of US: you are being played by the KGB's textbook, at a huge scale. It is hard to fight back and you should not feel disappointed or disillusioned if you fail. You fail, you rise, you try again. Fail is something normal in a psychological warfare. I am writing you this from a former communist country. They have tried to indoctrinate us. They have tried to kill us. They have tried to imprison us. They have tried to ruin our beliefs, our core values, our moral compass. They have succeeded with some individuals but at the same time they made the rest of us stronger, wiser and more determined. Always look at the bright side and never lose optimism! You fail. You rise!
UK here . I hear and see your pain. In Europe we are realigning in light of the Trump administrations latest outrages. We feel for you folk but you have to use the strength you have, we are here hoping beyond hope you will properly act. We also have to attend to the consequences of the betrayal that serves only the minority.
Think Sen Adam Schiff was speaking to the core of the matter when he said just off the plane seeing what's occurred "Is this what US has come to ... nothing but a protectionist extortionist racket ? " He called out to Congress to act but I feel as an offshore witness that power has evaporated from this part of your governance. I maybe wrong, I hope I'm wrong. I fear I am right. Your rule book has been torn up and lies in tatters. What you have is your morals and principles.
For me if you walk past the vulnerable, those who need your help you are commissioning the act itself. You choose.
Absolutely true.
TO ANYONE WHO FEELS THEY’VE LOST TRACK OF WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE NEW REGIME, HERE’S SOME OF WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW - Today's Oval Office Meeting Blow-up (Trump, Zelenskyy, Putin, Musk)
> TRUMP is a draft dodger and coward. ZELENSKYY is a war hero.
> TRUMP claims he wants to facilitate peace between Ukraine and Russia, but has focused only on making a deal for Ukraine's rare earth minerals. ZELENSKYY wants a lasting peace, which he believes requires TRUMP to take a stand against Russia's aggression.
> TRUMP has stated he thinks it's Europe's responsibility to provide military support to Ukraine. ZELENSKYY wants TRUMP to guarantee continued aid in the war Russia started.
> TRUMP has called ZELENSKYY a dictator and has specifically said he trusts PUTIN, who has violated international agreements and laws. ZELENSKYY calls PUTIN a terrorist, which is the view of most leaders of the free world.
> TRUMP is willing to let PUTIN keep the territory in Ukraine PUTIN now occupies. ZELENSKYY wants TRUMP to support the return of Ukraine's sovereign boundaries.
> TRUMP won't support Ukraine joining NATO, whichPUTIN says is a redline. ZELENSKYY wants to join NATO to get its backing.
> TRUMP has given PUTIN everything he wants in discussions that didn't include Ukraine. Zelenskyy has gotten nothing he needs to believe peace is possible.
> NEW (as reported yesterday) - TRUMP has threatened Ukraine: 'Sign mineral deal or lose access to MUSK'S Starlink." This puts tremendous pressure on ZELENSKYY, who knows Ukraine is dependent on Starlink to support (1) Military Operations, (2) Civilian Connectivity, (3) Government and Infrastructure, and (4) Humanitarian Efforts.
> PREVIOUSLY - MUSK (TRUMP'S #2 and friend of PUTIN) shut-down Starlink during a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's naval fleet rendering the operation a loss for Ukraine and a win for PUTIN!
> TODAY, a meeting in the OVAL OFFICE blew up in front of the press, during which TRUMP commented "Good TV." Following that meeting, TRUMP called off closed-door negotiations, the planned post-negotiation press conference, and sent ZELENSKYY home - posting on Truth Social " .. come back when he is ready for peace."
> MY INTERPRETATION (connecting the dots above) is TRUMP knew today's meeting was not going to lead to a finalized agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine, which had been touted by TRUMP as the expected outcome. He'd already taken a victory lap in his cabinet meeting, where at the same time he expressed confidence in getting a deal, he also told the press he was not going to give ZELENSKYY what ZELENSKYY had firmly said he needed to consummate a deal.
So rather than be embarrassed by not being able to "close the deal," the OVAL OFFICE blow-up was planned. TRUMP (with an assist from Vance) baited ZELENSKYY with lies, and when ZELENSKYY wouldn't let those stand without responding, they double-teamed him with more lies and taunts of not being respectful of TRUMP and the OVAL OFFICE.
In this made-for-TV moment, the planned ambush (1) showed TRUMP as the strong negotiator for peace he now claims ZELENSKYY doesn't want, (2) shifted responsibility to ZELENSKYY for the meeting and agreement failure TRUMP had promised, and (3) positioned TRUMP and PUTIN as the only two parties that want peace, thus keeping ZELENSKYY on the outside and on the defensive.
What do you think?
You may be right, but it also might not pan out the way that Trump thinks it should. The response of other world leaders is to stand with Zelenskyy. It may be another step on the way to making the US a pariah state. My response is that I would not trust Trump as a friend, an ally or as a trading partner. Even people outside the US who have quite conservative views are shocked by what transpired. Already the tariffs are causing some countries to look at alternative trading partners, but this blatant example of bullying does not bode well for trade deals. Do we want US base's on our soil? Can we trust the US as part of the Five Eyes? It doesn't look lije we can, and eventually our leaders will have to make a choice.
It's just a matter of seeing whether our leaders have principles. Quite possibly many of them don't, but this won't go away.
I sincerely hope it doesn’t pan out the way Trump expects. And I do hope principled leaders win the day!
What would be the outcome if Zalenskyy would turn for help to China, and in exchange for mineral access, ask them to take the Russia off his back?
Clearly Xi is not Putin’s or Tech Bros errand boy.
Ci Jinping doesn’t need the minerals and has professed a long and enduring friendship with Putin. Europe is Zelenskyy’s best hope.
But Europe is their main goods market now, especially with Trump tariffs.
As a Central European, we don’t see China as special treat or competition, their phones or cars are welcome on our streets as any other, however the EU as a whole had a “too many eggs in one basket” moment during the Covid time when the supply chain has been interrupted.
Musk has already restricted Starlink access years ago.
Thanks. Got it!
Yes, we have elected Traitors to our country, to our democratic republic, to Ukraine, to our former allies, to the World. People gathered today in Waitsfield, VT to protest J.D. Vance, who was there skiing at Sugarbush. https://www.wcax.com/2025/03/01/protestors-organize-waitsfield-against-vice-presidential-visit/ I wasn't the only one carrying a sign in solidarity with Ukraine and that calls out Vance for being the traitor that he is.
Trump, Vance, Musk - the Unholy Trinity.
Even people with strong values are not ready to give up their status of well being to fight for what is right( be it environment, justice or democracy) unless that well being is personally threatened. Our instinct of survival urges us to stay put until the signals are straightforward or a charismatic personality comes and leads us. In the world of social misinformation it is hard for these elements to stand clear. Unless personal pain comes first.
A lot of us agree with you but are at a loss as to what to do about it.
Exactly that. I make calls and send emails but all my reps in my Blue state are already doing all I could hope for.
Keep doing what you’re doing! It is making an impact!
Attend town halls, march in protests, keep informed, make calls, be active online with emails and texts! You will make more of a difference than you know! Most of all encourage your family members and friends not to give up!
This guy wouldn’t know a moral stain if one jumped up and bit him in the ass…
It seems completely absurd how twisted everyone’s panties were when Hillary’s emails and Hunter’s laptop and so on, and we are literally watching every possible unconstitutional, unconscionable, unbelievable thing happen, and it’s like no one can or will stop it who has the power to.
Let it burn.
Thank you for yet another enlightening article. I'm perplexed by my friends and family who are just going about life...business as usual...like they don't have a care in the world. I "get" if they mix living life (ex: family time) with taking specific actions (ex: making their voices heard through calls, emails, protests, economic blackouts, changing spending habits...), but their absolute silence and non-action is astonishing. I'll keep doing what I'm doing, speaking loudly and obnoxiously for all to hear, and taking consistent action, regardless of what they do. It's just damn annoying, depressing and, quite honestly, inexcusable.
I was outraged by the treatment Trump & Vance gave to Zelensky. I can imagine what foreigners watching that discussion must think of Americans and I'm embarrassed to be an American.
But getting at how we got to this point is way more complicated than just the idea of standing up for principles. Looking back to the 60's might provide some hint. LBJ won in a landslide in '64 but his refusal to see the wrong the US was inflicting on Vietnam lost him that mandate and the murder of RFK and MLK beheaded the moral alternatives that seemed available to us. The result was the election of Nixon whose own paranoia would later cost him the presidency.
But, if we focus on the election of '68, I would say a lot of people just felt little attachment to the Democratic Party and stayed home. And that led to 8 years of creeping right wing intrusion via the Reagan presidency. If you look at the 2024 election, you can see the same malaise among 1) lower income groups; 2) lower education groups; and 3) minorities. In all three cases, the non-voters far outstripped the voters unlike any other segment (women, men, whites, higher incomes and higher educational levels).
Trump, like Reagan, took advantage of this malaise. But what caused it? I believe, the simple fact that Democratic leadership is out of touch with significant segments of society is the key. A lot of people are thinking "why bother?" I don't remember Harris (or Clinton before her) having much to say about the stagnating incomes of the working class or the dismal results of our educational system in recent decades, or even having any ideas on how to achieve affordable housing. These are the voters who stayed home and until something is done for them, they'll probably continue to stay home.
Always count your fingers after shaking hands with Trump, as the British saying goes.
Time to dispense with conventional norms…Joe Biden should speak in defense of Ukraine and American Values. There is half of America who is waiting for a champion—even if he is retired.
I ran across this nice retired gentleman and he has a lot of great points, IMO. I honestly still need to read more of his writing, but from my preliminary impression, I think he is on to something.
https://substack.com/@rmdolddave?r=38m3cj&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=profile
I think Trump - more than once - that what was happening in the Oval was Great TV. Also the disdain Trump and Vance exhibited toward Zelensky, they feel as viciously toward the majority of Americans.
I get all of the same pushback from the same crowd. Just one note on fiscal responsibility: The GOP has wrung up more in the deficit category since Truman. Not only that, but Reagan's tax cuts and then Trumps have done a number on both escalating the deficit and the wealth gap. The GOP lies about the deficit are on par with "safe and fair elections." As for Gaza, yes to the critique of Biden, but if any of our Biden on Gaza critics had actually talked to anyone in/from Gaza -- and I did, everyone knew Trump's victory would be the quick end of Palestine. It's become fashionable to posture above both parties. That privilege has a hole stack of self-inflicted collateral damages.