MIke, so much here. I’m glad you say what you say and do what you do.
Also today, Sunday, the NYTimes Interview has Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaking with Graham Platner. This is well worth watching or reading (though its transcript omits some of the most potent portions of Platner’s response). Platner says what no one in power in our corrupt political and economic systems has been saying. And as he says this, the voters in Maine — and I am one of them — understand and experience the reality of his narrative. He names the lie that insists this regime is legitimate and denies the experience of voters who know it is not.
Side note and fact check; here’s where I got stuck: in the narrative the piece spins, the Maine Democratic primary has already happened, and Maine voters chose Platner over Mills. The Primary is not over; it is happening now; it is still in process. “Early voting” began on May 11, 2026 (and in the NYTimes interview Platner speaks of the strange sensation of voting for himself on the first day of early voting. The official date of the Democratic Primary is June 9. Yes, Platner is the presumptive nominee. Janet Mills, down almost 30 points in the polls, has to have known she could not win this race, but her name remains on the ballot.
I’m a Platner supporter. I’m with a group that was the earliest to endorse Platner. I don’t want people in Maine to forget that they still need to vote for him — in the Primary — and again in November.
There were points in this piece where I wanted to stop reading and come here to make an angry, petty response built on grievance--justified grievance, justified anger, justified pettiness, in my view, but those nonetheless.
This piece does not deserve my anger, my pettiness, nor my grievance.
I read two posts now… Heather Cox Richardson for the Walter Cronkite “And that’s the way it is” take and Mike Brock for the brilliant take on the “belly of the beast.”
The simulation doesn't collapse when individuals or even large groups see the manipulation for what it is. Collapse can only happen after they stop passively watching and start taking action.
Democracy replaced by the “Sovereign Corporation?” The rarified air these people are breathing is making them high. Do they really have no concept the number of human beings willing to lay down their lives for their country, their Constitution, their Democratic Republic? Alternatively, do they really think they can live their fancy lives without the 99% supporting their lifestyle? The delusional audacity is truly astonishing.
I learnt and taught history and I’ve always understood that
“The Magna Carta (Latin for "Great Charter") is a foundational document of constitutional law. Sealed by King John of England on June 15, 1215, at Runnymede, it established the principle that no one, not even the monarch, is above the law.”
“We are inside history. The simulation has collapsed and the engineers know the room is filling. They know what the people in the room can see. They know they cannot unshow it. What they do next is the question the next six weeks will answer.”
Bravo Mike, another masterpiece! 👏
Excellent analysis and I’m supporting both Platner and Talarico. Democrats continually throw out the baby with the bathwater—it needs to end now! These are Game of Throne rules: You win or you die!
That said, I have no doubt democrats will win; however, winning is only half the battle—we need a plan of action when red states refuse to certify the election loss or Trump and his minions attempt to manufactures a crisis.
Or if their little “marionette” pretending to be House Speaker refuses to seat the new House majority because “there was clear evidence of democratic tinkering with the election.” Ugh! We know they are up to something—in fact many things; throwing enough crap against the wall!
Bottom line, no one who commits the crimes that Trump, his family, and coterie of morally bankrupt parasites which were committed in plain sight will ever leave willingly.
And let’s face it, no one in the higher echelons of this administration appears to be even remotely worried about the prospect of losing—and this alone should give us cause for concern!
Why the arrogance and hubris when Trump’s poll numbers are at 30% and republicans have lost almost every special election since Trump was inaugurated? This doesn’t compute!
Furthermore, with the most corrupt SCOTUS in US history, and an inept Congress (useless invertebrates)—don’t expect the courts or government to save us; they’re complicit for their own nefarious purposes.
Therefore, my question is how do we overcome this predicament, especially since Trump controls every lever of power—and most of our best and brightest have been purged from the government ranks? Or am I missing something?
FYI: if you ever debate Yarvin again, I’d love to be there in person, so please let me know. Thanks and have a wonderful rest of your weekend!…:)
After having looked at the cushion picture, the question I would ask is this. Given that it is reported that Xi weighs around 160 (give or take a few lies), and Trump is reported to weigh around 225 (give or take a lot of lies), how much would the same cushion get crushed by an individual who is 65 pounds heavier and sitting on the EDGE of it (and whose posture is hunched over), versus an individual who is 65 pounds lighter and whose weight is distributed more evenly and farther back on the cushion (and whose posture is more upright)?
I don't completely dismiss the idea that the cushions were tampered with, but I do think there are other factors contributing to the image behind Cushion-gate.
"The regime that can make you say four when you see four is a regime that can be lived inside. The regime that requires you to say five when you see four is a regime that has declared war on the part of the mind that sees."
"THERE...ARE...FOUR...LIGHTS!"
"The Fourth of July is six weeks from this morning. And then, in November, the country will vote."
I will celebrating the 4th of July this year only by watching 1776, to remember what was and what could have been - otherwise, I am hoping to protest. I certainly will vote in November if given the opportunity, but I remain unconvinced that the vote will take place, or that the true results of the vote will be announced or allowed to stand. This regime - not administration, not government, but regime - will clearly stop at nothing to remain in power.
It's really long and I couldn't focus after reading ~30%. But I agree with the 30% I read so far.
Also, long long time ago, the first time I took my partner to visit my hometown， I showed him the Temple of Heaven. We took a picture similar to what you showed. Later, we decided to print and frame that picture, and a picture of Neuschwanstein to hang on the walls. The printing shop called and told us they couldn't print those because potential IP issue. We had to bring back the digital camera to show them we took the pictures ourselves and they were not downloaded from internet.
Thanks for your continuing efforts and shares. A minor selfish note - nothing against Platner, but we here in SW Virginia also have a person of great integrity, intellect, and courage running against a rubber-stamping, unseen-by-his-constiuents Congressman in our longtime red district. Keep your ears & eyes aware of Beth Macy, she’s earned and deserves media attention, especially as our “redistricting correction” has been disallowed. She’s an inspiration to many of us and you might find her an interesting model of citizens looking to reclaim our democratic republic.
MIke, so much here. I’m glad you say what you say and do what you do.
Also today, Sunday, the NYTimes Interview has Lulu Garcia-Navarro speaking with Graham Platner. This is well worth watching or reading (though its transcript omits some of the most potent portions of Platner’s response). Platner says what no one in power in our corrupt political and economic systems has been saying. And as he says this, the voters in Maine — and I am one of them — understand and experience the reality of his narrative. He names the lie that insists this regime is legitimate and denies the experience of voters who know it is not.
Side note and fact check; here’s where I got stuck: in the narrative the piece spins, the Maine Democratic primary has already happened, and Maine voters chose Platner over Mills. The Primary is not over; it is happening now; it is still in process. “Early voting” began on May 11, 2026 (and in the NYTimes interview Platner speaks of the strange sensation of voting for himself on the first day of early voting. The official date of the Democratic Primary is June 9. Yes, Platner is the presumptive nominee. Janet Mills, down almost 30 points in the polls, has to have known she could not win this race, but her name remains on the ballot.
I’m a Platner supporter. I’m with a group that was the earliest to endorse Platner. I don’t want people in Maine to forget that they still need to vote for him — in the Primary — and again in November.
There were points in this piece where I wanted to stop reading and come here to make an angry, petty response built on grievance--justified grievance, justified anger, justified pettiness, in my view, but those nonetheless.
This piece does not deserve my anger, my pettiness, nor my grievance.
I read two posts now… Heather Cox Richardson for the Walter Cronkite “And that’s the way it is” take and Mike Brock for the brilliant take on the “belly of the beast.”
“The world’s two most powerful men, performing bullshit before history.”
Powerful. Thank you.
The simulation doesn't collapse when individuals or even large groups see the manipulation for what it is. Collapse can only happen after they stop passively watching and start taking action.
💯💯💯
Democracy replaced by the “Sovereign Corporation?” The rarified air these people are breathing is making them high. Do they really have no concept the number of human beings willing to lay down their lives for their country, their Constitution, their Democratic Republic? Alternatively, do they really think they can live their fancy lives without the 99% supporting their lifestyle? The delusional audacity is truly astonishing.
I learnt and taught history and I’ve always understood that
“The Magna Carta (Latin for "Great Charter") is a foundational document of constitutional law. Sealed by King John of England on June 15, 1215, at Runnymede, it established the principle that no one, not even the monarch, is above the law.”
“We are inside history. The simulation has collapsed and the engineers know the room is filling. They know what the people in the room can see. They know they cannot unshow it. What they do next is the question the next six weeks will answer.”
Bravo Mike, another masterpiece! 👏
Excellent analysis and I’m supporting both Platner and Talarico. Democrats continually throw out the baby with the bathwater—it needs to end now! These are Game of Throne rules: You win or you die!
That said, I have no doubt democrats will win; however, winning is only half the battle—we need a plan of action when red states refuse to certify the election loss or Trump and his minions attempt to manufactures a crisis.
Or if their little “marionette” pretending to be House Speaker refuses to seat the new House majority because “there was clear evidence of democratic tinkering with the election.” Ugh! We know they are up to something—in fact many things; throwing enough crap against the wall!
Bottom line, no one who commits the crimes that Trump, his family, and coterie of morally bankrupt parasites which were committed in plain sight will ever leave willingly.
And let’s face it, no one in the higher echelons of this administration appears to be even remotely worried about the prospect of losing—and this alone should give us cause for concern!
Why the arrogance and hubris when Trump’s poll numbers are at 30% and republicans have lost almost every special election since Trump was inaugurated? This doesn’t compute!
Furthermore, with the most corrupt SCOTUS in US history, and an inept Congress (useless invertebrates)—don’t expect the courts or government to save us; they’re complicit for their own nefarious purposes.
Therefore, my question is how do we overcome this predicament, especially since Trump controls every lever of power—and most of our best and brightest have been purged from the government ranks? Or am I missing something?
FYI: if you ever debate Yarvin again, I’d love to be there in person, so please let me know. Thanks and have a wonderful rest of your weekend!…:)
After having looked at the cushion picture, the question I would ask is this. Given that it is reported that Xi weighs around 160 (give or take a few lies), and Trump is reported to weigh around 225 (give or take a lot of lies), how much would the same cushion get crushed by an individual who is 65 pounds heavier and sitting on the EDGE of it (and whose posture is hunched over), versus an individual who is 65 pounds lighter and whose weight is distributed more evenly and farther back on the cushion (and whose posture is more upright)?
I don't completely dismiss the idea that the cushions were tampered with, but I do think there are other factors contributing to the image behind Cushion-gate.
Gorgeous peice of writing
"The regime that can make you say four when you see four is a regime that can be lived inside. The regime that requires you to say five when you see four is a regime that has declared war on the part of the mind that sees."
"THERE...ARE...FOUR...LIGHTS!"
"The Fourth of July is six weeks from this morning. And then, in November, the country will vote."
I will celebrating the 4th of July this year only by watching 1776, to remember what was and what could have been - otherwise, I am hoping to protest. I certainly will vote in November if given the opportunity, but I remain unconvinced that the vote will take place, or that the true results of the vote will be announced or allowed to stand. This regime - not administration, not government, but regime - will clearly stop at nothing to remain in power.
I think you've convinced me about Platner 🤞
Does the pillows photo actually exist anywhere?
https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/global-trends/did-xi-jinping-make-donald-trump-sit-on-a-smaller-sofa/articleshow/131112909.cms
just google "Trump and Xi cushions"
I couldn't find it either
It's really long and I couldn't focus after reading ~30%. But I agree with the 30% I read so far.
Also, long long time ago, the first time I took my partner to visit my hometown， I showed him the Temple of Heaven. We took a picture similar to what you showed. Later, we decided to print and frame that picture, and a picture of Neuschwanstein to hang on the walls. The printing shop called and told us they couldn't print those because potential IP issue. We had to bring back the digital camera to show them we took the pictures ourselves and they were not downloaded from internet.
Thanks for your continuing efforts and shares. A minor selfish note - nothing against Platner, but we here in SW Virginia also have a person of great integrity, intellect, and courage running against a rubber-stamping, unseen-by-his-constiuents Congressman in our longtime red district. Keep your ears & eyes aware of Beth Macy, she’s earned and deserves media attention, especially as our “redistricting correction” has been disallowed. She’s an inspiration to many of us and you might find her an interesting model of citizens looking to reclaim our democratic republic.