Norm Ornstein on the Coming Hellscape

[@duanebidoux6087]

We are one sick country.

[@mangalaraj5931]

The whole world is sick. Wish Trump and America the best.

[@andreah6379]

This is what unregulated capitalism does.

[@andreah6379]

​@@mangalaraj5931Why wish T the best? NOW, THAT'S SICK.

[@ceterumcenseo-b1l]

@@mangalaraj5931 Exactly. Between the climate crisis, the epidemic, the wars in Ukraine and Gaza, the looming threat of out-of-control AI, and there just being way too many of us on this planet, it's no wonder people are losing it, either despairing or blaming and othering and hating.

[@judyives1832]

@@mangalaraj5931 Trump is a fascist dictator. Wishing him luck is bizarre. Voting for him was even more bizarre.

[@jeffreypick57]

All this talk about the pandemic is bullshit. I am in the UK and my son lives in Orlando. I am just back from a month in America. He lives on an expensive estate with houses between $650 - $2m. It is rabidly republican. When I speak to his neighbours they all gave me 3 reasons they voted for Trump. 1. They don't like Trump, but they like his policies. 2. Inflation - which is a lie - they quote at me $10 for a dozen eggs, when clearly even in Publix, eggs cost $3.28. 3. The price of gas $7 a gallon. Again a lie, as we were paying $3.19 a gallon. They know this, but quote the lies like religious responses. If these reasons are not true and they know it, why did they vote for Trump ? Simply 2 reasons, they won't reveal or admit to, as it means they are horrible people. 1. Kamala was a woman. 2. She is of mixed race. Republicans were willing to vote for a convicted criminal, a sex offender, a liar, a fraudster, 6 X bankrupt. That tells you who they really are. All that real evidence, to stop a woman from becoming President. What do they think the world now thinks of America and Americans, willing to vote for this man, to be the leader of the richest and most powerful country in the world !!!!

[@bmohin]

it’s a cult

[@jkotsche7035]

💯%

[@texadonkey34]

Has any traveled to Vegas or Disney? Flights are packed, so this whining over eggs is bullshit.

[@sarahporter1687]

Yep, totally agree

[@critterkarma]

Yup

[@direwolf6234]

a french politician said .. 'the security & fate of western europe should not rest on the voters of wisconsin' ...

[@janinechansons]

Well, unfortunately, he got the popular vote anyway. 😪

[@mtn1793]

Our whole free market electoral bribery system needs an overhaul. It’s total bullsh*t, literally. Our campaigns are nothing but advertisement. Our news programs are sponsored entertainment shows. Our government is a farce.

[@bonsummers2657]

The Democrat warmongering platform and mass immigration mongers are the main danger of the world,…. that's why I voted for Trump/Vance/Vivek/Tulsi/RFKjr./Elon/… WE the People,….

[@direwolf6234]

@@janinechansons yes but now europe knows that they will need to take measures to insure their own safety ...

[@SteveChisnall]

@@janinechansons still with fewer popular-votes than he got in '16 __or__ in '20 which strikes me as odd in light of the increase in voter enthusiasm i saw when Biden backed Kamala as the candidate. I smell voter-suppression.

[@damonbernard2802]

America has disappointed me, mankind has disappointed me

[@WeticoLivesOn]

Me too

[@estebanvaldez3632]

It is difficult not to be misanthropic.

[@littlebitofhope1489]

You just have to remember that all we are is a species of Great Ape. If you keep reminding yourself of that, you won't be disappointed when we act like it.

[@WaitingforGadot]

@@littlebitofhope1489 Not dissing the Great Ape (and thank you for your service) yet, repeating non-evolutionary messages may just have gotten us where we are now.

[@littlebitofhope1489]

@@WaitingforGadot Ok, then let's stick to facts. Humans are a species of Great Ape. How exactly is that a "non-evolutionary" message?

[@hobs1466]

Pundits underestimated two key things. 1) how many Americans actually want a fascist government. 2) How many Americans refuse to vote for a woman, even at the cost of having a fascist government

[@18_rabbit]

true tho it's important to note that age-old deeply firm statistics show that most socieites have no more than 30% of ppl who want an autrocratic rule. So, yeah, a big chunk of the GOP votes could be that but there's a lot extra, no? hard to say i realize, and i guess 60-70M ppl is fewer than 30% of the population, so i guess i'm quite possibly wrong and most of those GOP voters Do want authoritarian rule

[@hobs1466]

@@18_rabbit You also have to allow for the fact that while maybe only ~33% actively want a fascist government, there is another large chunk that is okay with it if they think it will get them what they want, and maybe more importantly that it won't come after them. The fascist-adjacent.

[@gerrydooley951]

well trump is the misinformation president: he was elected by people who get their "information" from fox, newsmax, shapiro, and podcasts like rogan

[@Yayamagee]

As a federal employee, I will just say virtually no one is talking about what's going to happen to Federal employees and then the downstream effect on government service. during the last administration, the only way to become an administrative judge in the Department of Veterans Affairs was to be a Trump voter and that has negatively affected veterans benefits. Good luck everyone.

[@AT.inbetween]

Veterans are on notice, disabled or not that our benefits are subject to cuts. It's scary.

[@Pond_Maven]

As a federal employee, how did you let this happen? Did you persuade your friends? Your relatives? You fellow churchgoers? I did my best for you - but I know that many of you voted for Trump.

[@dbarker7794]

My father used to say as soon as a federal worker gets a bump in grade and pay, they turn Republican.

[@euphegenia]

Oh no I guess federal employees are going to have to get jobs in the real world. Ones where you’re actually held accountable

[@bonniejosavland3227]

There are a lot of R federal employees that pledge their loyalty to Trump & may or may not lose your jobs! But you’ll have to submit a letter of resignation or get fired. Rs don’t care about services

[@bartgessner2665]

I guess electing a younger, progressive, intelligent, woman of colour with principles was just too great a leap.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

Slurry voiced lame brain with no ideas who dated a powerful Democrat married man 30 yrs her senior.

[@HealingLifeKwikly]

@SadPelosi No, she wasn't a terrible candidate, she was a very good candidate, far better than Trump was for any fully sane and non-racist and non-sexist nation.

[@jennifer60515]

@SadPelosiSure. The criminal who violated The Espionage Act was probably a safer bet. Brilliant “analysis.”

[@gheller2261]

@jennifer You miss the point. The Trump cult and ignorance of so many Americans meant that the Dems HAD to put a good candidate up against Trump and Kamala Harris was not it. Not even close. The Dems did what they always do, allow themselves to be governed by fear rather than principal. The candidate should have been selected at the convention and it would not have been Harris.

[@markhubenthal]

@SadPelosino she was not idiot

[@bmathesh]

Merlick Garland was a waste

[@barikitchens6383]

I feel our society has become desensitized to vulgarity,violence and lies! I do blame social media. There seems to be no class anymore! Harris is a first class act! I’m devastated about the outcome and terrified of what will become of our country!

[@amberspaulding]

Slack newspapers and most of all --- slack local news on tv.

[@Tymykal]

Not social media entirely. I work in education and the problem is mostly parents that have no decency. They’re shitty people and now their children will be shitty people. And then they grow up seeing Trump as a leader. We’ll be having the trump generation as the ruling class soon enough.

[@denisia1111]

I call it the Jerry Springer Effect. Being rude, brash, obnoxious, quick tempered, and full of violent rage is something to be applauded. Intelligence doesn't matter when you can get rich and famous by yelling F you I'll do what I want.

[@ny3683syr]

I concur. Today's society is unbelievably vulgar, rude, hostile, and trashy. For this I thank shock jocks, AM hate radio, reality TV, RW news media infotainment, video games, and online porn.

[@dHolbach77]

Relative anonymity of social media allows people that wouldn't say things face to face to others say them everyday. It is a kind of death of shame and maturity: society has gotten used to "adults" acting like sophomoric junior high kids...the mean ones, bullies, and mentally unwell ones anyway.

[@wjlundmarkjr]

I don’t understand how people can forget COVID when everyone knew somebody, or loved somebody, who died, or came damn close to it. Yet they all remember the price of eggs 2-3 years ago. Hint: bird flu = dead chickens

[@destinyschild8515]

Luckily, I bought 4 chicks ($5 each) because of covid high prices. Then bird flu tripled prices. I live in a suburb in Illinois. Many townships allow a few birds no roosters. We need to establish neighborhood gardens and live stock co-ops. Co-ops with a few acres of garden, some chickens, cows and pigs could help neighborhoods around the country. State Parks could implement these co-ops as well. No one should go hungry in this country. It's ridiculous.

[@KarenRobson-t6h]

I was upset with a few women who were staunchly Trump supporters and I asked them how they support someone who is taking rights away from women and serious matters re women defying re the abortion laws. Her comment was it doesn’t matter, it doesn’t affect me. She was so focused on fearing loss of freedom of speech and she is a staunch lover of Elon and X.

[@heidimueller1039]

The US had more than twice the deaths per capita that Canada did. Cuz of Trump and DeSantos.

[@christyann2268]

​@@KarenRobson-t6h.... That's depressing as hell.

[@Tymykal]

@@KarenRobson-t6h. This is the problem. Hateful selfish people. Disgusting country full of sick people.

[@VictoriaDarrow-z8t]

I think everyone underestimated how racist and misogynistic the country is.

[@elainascott7496]

And incurious and ignorant and stupid. Those are big ones.

[@Tubes12AX7k]

And even if they 'weren't racist or mysogynistic' as some may claim.... it wasn't enough to cause them to vote for someone else. In other words, they're okay with it.

[@SteveninTune]

America is #1 in Ignorance and Greed ❤

[@Ferdinand314]

Keep telling yourself that lie. I love it when Democrats invest in the wrong analysis and lose elections.

[@BaoChiSandival]

That's part of it but economics is the greater part of it for a lot of people. If you keep playing identity politics you are going to lose.

[@wegder]

As the pandemic was ending I told my son that it would be a miracle if we didn't have a severe recession, amazingly we have soft landed just in time to hand it to trump.

[@LittleRockVol]

Like this 1000X

[@TulipIris7244]

… and now we’ll definitely have that recession.

[@gracieallen8285]

I expect trump will put the country into a recession, 1929 style. The middle class don’t know the horrors in store for them!

[@Dbb277-2]

Good news is that it will be on Trump.

[@paulmakinson1965]

​@@Dbb277-2don't count on it, he will spin it and people will swallow it.

[@kmlund42]

As a disabled person just getting by I am horrified. I know how he feels about the disabled. I could not afford the inflation already and Tariff’s, tax cuts, and hyperinflation might be a foregone conclusion.

[@swamppop2667]

It is high prices. It is not inflation, inflation has been normal for awhile. and yes, he told his own nephew his disabled son was probably better off dead.

[@judyives1832]

I’m so sorry. As a Canadian, I watched a Trump rally where he said he was ending social security and Medicaid. I thought no one would vote for him after that! What country abandons their elderly and/or disabled people?? I knew Americans have a very selfish healthcare system but I never imagined they would support stripping their elders and sick people of their only income. After they have paid into it their entire lives!!! It’s THEIR money! But Americans knew that and voted for it anyway. I’m sickened and appalled. I’ll be sponsoring as many disabled people as I can to come to Canada. We have universal healthcare because medical care for EVERYONE is a human right here. Canada has removed restrictions on immigration for health reasons so we are a country that does accept disabled people as immigrants. The problem is that if we let every American who needs an operation come here for a free one, our system would crash. But even though it’s a slow process with the paperwork, you will eventually be accepted. If you can get a sponsor it will go much faster. I think disabled people need to get out of the USA now. Don’t wait. It’s not going to get better.

[@pmzjj5]

I was so hopeful for the Harris long-term care proposals just as I was hopeful for Biden's Build Back Better. We have a severe shortage of caregiving professionals. Trump will definitely cut Biden's long-term care regulations, leaving vulnerable people at risk for neglect and abuse.

[@christyann2268]

​@@pmzjj5.... And due to the bans on women's reproductive care. The neglect and abuse of children will skyrocket.

[@eileengallagher431]

I am so sorry.

[@primordialmeow7249]

I have a master’s degree from state universities and am a product of the public school system and a working class background. My parents were both WWII veterans. I have had a good career and have gained from the women’s movement. It is hard to believe that I would now be considered an “intellectual” and an “elite.” In an actively authoritarian an/or fascist regime I would be targeted for liquidation.

[@Deuter666]

Define Fascist, Einstein

[@maureensansburn6413]

And the funny thing is, the blueblood countryclub conservative is not regarded as an elite. The MAGAS blame middle class (especially women) educated people, who like you often come from working-class backgrounds for all their problems

[@Dan-nt2yb]

Glad I’m Canadian. That said…good luck everyone. I can’t imagine sharing a country with over 70 million inhabitants who feel this is all a good idea. Yikes.😞

[@KarenRobson-t6h]

They are our neighbours and trading partners. We are going to be impacted as will other countries. I fear the triad of DT, EM and Putin as Putin wants the Arctic so they are our neighbour there and Trump wants our water. We are not contributing to NATO as we should be and Trump has said and I heard that commentary again yesterday where he states those countries who are not paying their way re NATO he will not protect them and it is fair game and if Putin wants to send nukes he will say go ahead. A Trump Government is not our friend. They are a serious enemy. Please remember in our next federal election do not vote for Poilievre, We have a Trumpian Premier in Alberta and it is not fun. She only supports her Trumpian supporters. She hosted Tucker Carlson last year, she believes in conspiracy theories, she is anti vax, she is absolutely p destroying our health care system, education system. She does not believe in climate change, etc. the list goes on.

[@chrisvoss451]

MAGA simps are very strong in Canada. They'll take over your political system very soon.

[@Nickysmom]

Trump gained fewer than 500K since 2020 election. Kamala lost 10 million since 2020. I sure would like to know why and who they are.

[@angiebams123]

It’s coming our way

[@grahambroad4354]

I'm glad I'm Canadian, too, but that border is looking pretty damn thin right now, and there are plenty of pro-Trumpers here. I hope they enjoy the economic warfare he'll unleash on our country.

[@JTfromMN]

Mr. Franken We miss u in the US Senate Brother. As a fellow Minnesotan I admire u Sir. 💙⚖️🦅🇺🇸🇺🇦🗽

[@michaelp-jm6zz]

As a slightly different take on Benjamin Franklin's famous quote, "Those who would surrender essential rule of law for a little temporary financial security deserve neither the rule of law nor financial security"

[@pmmk24]

Great show … Norm Ornstein was my political science professor at Catholic University in Washington DC years ago. He was brilliantly knowledgeable then about politics … and he still is today.

[@dbarker7794]

There's a show he appears on regularly that I cannot stand but I listen to it just to hear Norm O.

[@uckbee]

@@dbarker7794 Norm appears regularly on Mary Trump's show, The Nerd Avengers, with the brilliant Wajahat Ali, Brian Karem, Dalia Lithwick, Jen Taub, Jennifer Ruben, and occasional others. Great discussion, especially given it's Mary Trump, polar opposite of her uncle, presiding.

[@uckbee]

'Airing' Live Tuesdays and Thursdays, not sure of the time, here on KZbin.

[@lynndenault8198]

Wow, some folks have no idea what is coming.

[@justpassingthrough...2492]

The midterms in 2022 were atypical, in that the party in power almost always loses seats in the midterms. I'm betting for a "typical" midterm election in 2026. Let the Trump Administration try to get things done after "buyer's remorse" hits.

[@12345682900]

Should it matter who's running against a rapist? Half of America logically assumed this was a "no brainer."

[@pppantz]

and stayed home and didn't vote just like 2016

[@andreah6379]

While I totally agree with you, you could say it another way. Fascism v Struggling democracy. That was on the ballot. The stakes have never been higher. But know the other facts. Massive numbers of youth/pro-gaza voters were repeatedly ignored by Biden, then Harris. On top of that, they saw how eagerly Harris courted non-trumpers like Cheney. We also saw Harris going more to the right in her policies to get Cheney-types onboard. Why didn't Harris court progressives, those youth voters who have student debt, disabled & poor who have medical bills, & just offered to raise minmum wages to $20? There are about 200 million of us that live from paycheck to paycheck. Offering $25K to new home buyers, or up to$50K to start a new business isn't going to help you if you barely make $14/hour. Lastly, Latinos, for several years now, having been wooed over to the right. Why haven't Dem party leaders ever addressed THEM?? I vote blue every damn chance I got. I resent every establishment Democrat I see. They are all arrogant, & selfish as hell but...BUT i only want to make sure the only party that saves SOCIAL Security are Democrats & that they stay in power. They are only the lesser of the 2 evils. But, many millions of us think that was debateable. It wasn't--NOT WITH THIS ELECTION.

[@softhotty]

@@pppantz Appears to be the case. The element of fear is going to grow, and subsequently vulnerabilities of the citizens as well as catastrophes.

[@chriscrilly8807]

And the other half have no brain.

[@bonsummers2657]

The Democrat warmongering platform and mass immigration mongers are the main danger of the world,…. that's why I voted for Trump/Vance/Vivek/Tulsi/RFKjr./Elon/… WE the People,….

[@christyann2268]

They DIDN'T forget about the child separation. They fully SUPPORTED it!!!

[@KathrynTanner-t8f]

I ALMOST understand the weird Latino vote. They're in some ways just following a long American tradition. We have a history of coming here from another place, getting to feel like real Americans, and then rejecting the people who want to come in after us.

[@luisvarela9096]

Hope they are the first deported.

[@texadonkey34]

I have Mexican friends who think they are white. 😆

[@ceterumcenseo-b1l]

I do also wonder what Roe might have to do with it - most of them are catholic, after all. Just a thought.

[@Tomas_Pita]

It's the I GOT MINE factor, right? I knew we were tanked before BTC told us at 1:23am when I saw all those states where women protected their own reproductive health rights - going heavily Trump I GOT MINE!!!

[@romulus_]

they think they're in the 'big club' but they'll find out how they're viewed soon enough.

[@JoeL-zb1yd]

What it's going to be is sickening.

[@joangravitz3280]

And dangerous and terrifying

[@davidthompson7817]

@@joangravitz3280 Better find some more disgruntled Republican 18 years old from Pennsylvania…

[@marianmiller2802]

The most important thing i took away from this is half the citizens in this country could care less about whether or not we are electing a criminal as our leader.

[@Deuter666]

Like Laken Riley , Rapist ?

[@karenwernert1744]

He has unchecked power… we will never get them out

[@Neddoest]

I certainly don’t see a path. I don’t hear anyone making real suggestions, either.

[@Trace-l7k]

Dark Brandon can single handily save democracy with his new powers. But he won’t. Oligarchs are in charge.

[@paulmakinson1965]

He's old, but his son might take over, just like the Kim dynasty in NK.

[@Moluccan56]

He might…you know…die or get wheeled out. He’s wayyy too old for the job.

[@Dusty-y6b]

@@paulmakinson1965omg his son is a twisted fk.

[@12345682900]

We can AND will analyze this to the point of nauseum but STILL the overriding fact remains.... it's BEYOND comprehension among HALF OF AMERICA that any American could even consider a racist, convicted felon, criminal rapist as a viable candidate for ANY elected office.

[@StephenHALL-g8u]

Right!

[@Cornell902]

I think it’s 33% of the country, not half. Somewhat comforting. Ugh.

[@carolynmeinung1286]

I agree. Both of them seem to have all the answers. Lol. After it's over they are telling you a bunch of crap. The cult is there and willing to applaud and cheer trump even if he shoots someone on 5th Av. It's a cult.

[@rtraweek1]

@@Cornell902 Not according to the election results. Evidently it is more of the population than I thought possible.

[@ThorD4602]

​@@rtraweek1 the election totals are for those who voted,not all of the people in the country. Surely you understand that.

[@KathrynTanner-t8f]

Well, this was a mistake to listen to this at 3 a.m. But I was already too far down to get more depressed anyway.

[@leorapier9389]

Yeah, me too.

[@Fortunapage839]

@@KathrynTanner-t8f this is a wake up call and scared me more. I thought we had at least half a year or two before the economy crashes. Six months.!

[@earthsystem]

2:49 AM, in same boat. I’m a scientist so I read my news with an eye for fact legitimacy. Everything here is sober and consistent with facts. More ominous fact patterns exist like promises to reopen Gitmo, promises to jail male Bidens,. Revenge on blue states is a concern. The incalculable power of American military in the hands of a greedy murderous tyrant disgusted with NATO and an enchanted with Russia.

[@ghstbird3338]

@@Fortunapage839… I’m at lost. I feel SO unable to move to do anything, IF there’s anything to do about it.

[@briansmith5293]

FOX News/Newsmax will just nlame Biden/Harris and Grandpa Trump's cult will eat it up. 😂

[@johnnevada46]

My view from Europe. Since Reagan most of the pebbles have been moved to the rich end of the beach. The working class see themselves doing less well than their parents and grandparents. They voted for somebody to tear the system down.

[@mike-williams]

But they voted for the principal pebble movers

[@ny3683syr]

@@mike-williams Yes, they voted for the ones who take all of the pebbles for themselves. To me that is not tearing the system down. That is re-enforcing the very system they claim to hate.

[@jenniferc218]

Very astute. Raygun started this whole debacle.

[@annemitchell5302]

This is the only postmortem discussion I've been able to stomach. Thank you, Norm and Al. I worked the polls in a red state on Tuesday, and I've been just sick, witnessing so many people vote against their own interests. It's heartbreaking. Sure, they could do more research but I don't think that in our current times that that's realistic. We need to focus on better communication as we - if we - move forward.

[@Tymykal]

Our communication and media are useless. People are on their own which is why we’re in this pickle.

[@jacquelynwilliams4723]

His speeches were extremely repetitive and showed clear signs of dementia (I'm a prison psychologist). Guards and prisoners are not as different as they would like to think. Both groups were heavily pro-trump.

[@estebanvaldez3632]

trump's followers did a cost/benefit analysis and chose the sunk cost fallacy.

[@Dbb277-2]

Hmmm. That’s interesting. I would have thought prisoners to vote opposite of the right.

[@nsbd90now]

@@Dbb277-2 It isn't actually about "right" and "left" with them. It is an "us and them" dynamic with an element of sociopathy and developmental delays as insecure teen boys.

[@grepora]

I watched another channel (Shrinking Trump) that said Trump had dementia. To me, Trump's speeches seemed like his typical performative craziness. On the Joe Rogan show he rambled for three hours talking about all kinds of things (even the J.F.K. assassination). He may be a psychopathic sadistic narcissist in normal mental decline from aging, but I don't get a sense that he has dementia. Then, I am not expert. Multiple speeches will seem repetitive. When someone talks about so much BS for such a long periods of time they are bound to forget what they said.

[@johnriley5499]

As any undergraduate studying psychology would know, T has a severe personality disorder. There is no one more dangerous than a narcissistic, antisocial personality with power.

[@janicelloyd3215]

Amnesia on the insurrection too.

[@jenniferlynn3537]

Have you ever visited the Comments section of their troll hero, Matt Walsh? It’s revolting. They say 1 in 20 people are sociopaths- and they’re drawn like moths to his flame - reveling in the chaos they’ve succeeded in sowing. These are seriously disturbed individuals who shouldn’t even be loose in public. They exist solely to cause mayhem - like The Joker of Batman fame.

[@Tomas_Pita]

I wonder if it was amnesia or if the heritage FOundation message sunkk in subliminally "a bloodless revolution if the left allows it"?

[@christopherdaly1399]

Almost 40 minutes into this. It's like listening to someone narrate an inevitable nightmare that we cannot avoid.

[@amberspaulding]

It might not be as bad as we fear. If there are any Democrats around to push back.

[@Dusty-y6b]

@@amberspauldingwe can only hope.

[@faturechi]

Just remember that in 2 years when all the B.S. doesn't happen and hold these two idiots accountable for their idiocy.

[@sandal_thong8631]

14 million people didn't show up to vote for Harris after voting Biden-Harris in 2020. If you don't explain this, then talking about demographics changing for Trump doesn't make a bit of sense. Also 2 million didn't show up to vote for Trump who did in 2020.

[@Salina-qd6es]

Yup

[@Lardzor]

I like the idea of Biden stepping down for whatever reason to make Kamala president. I also like an idea I heard to blanket pardon all undocumented immigrants so they are no longer in violation of the law and can't be deported for that reason.

[@mwhitney9532]

A White house full of convicts. What could go wrong?

[@Moluccan56]

Oh, drain the bank account.

[@justpassingthrough...2492]

Maybe a new TV series?

[@bevsfrybreadwisdom5854]

@AlFranken Please. We really, truly NEED you to be a senator again. We have to have someone that will at least make an effort to protect humans. Please consider running again. PLEASE.

[@mnemonth]

Considering everything Mr. Franken had to endure (go back and read the history) to even be permitted to take his rightfully earned seat in the Senate, only to see his political career sacrificed on the altar of Kirsten Gillibrand's (among other's) ambitions...I think he's probably had enough of that cr*p for one lifetime.

[@johnharrington22]

What a nightmare,

[@christyann1201]

And don’t forget he delayed the checks to make it appear he signed them and it came from him

[@kawannaridout6004]

99% of people never saw a check at all. It was all direct deposit. Only the orange Nazi didn’t know that.

[@Tymykal]

And many idiots fell for that scam that he signed the checks so he sent them money. People in this country are so gullible they don’t even realize that’s their own tax money, nothing from Donnie.

[@y4kv]

The saying that “no one but migrants will do these jobs…” is an incomplete statement. No one wants to say “…for these low wages” because completing the statement forces us to think.

[@chuckkottke]

If we didn't have full employment and US citizens were in shape, and there were many people willing to relocate for seasonal work. Plus the pay and safety issues. I've worked in the woods, it's hard dangerous work and few people are willing to do jobs like that.

[@CharlesPutnam-b5h]

I have worked fifty years in agriculture in Florida. Growing fruits and vegetables. Americans have not done labor on farms for about 40 years. The pay is not that bad. The minimum wage for H2A workers is $14.75 an hour. They make more than that harvesting a good crop.

[@ny3683syr]

That is only partially true. Whenever agriculture has tried to hire non Central Americans to perform farm labor, people cannot perform the work. I agree about the other jobs. I grew up poor, had zero access to job connections or opportunities, and performed many of these so-called immigrant jobs at the same low pay that they did. Other poor whites and US born blacks perform those jobs, not just brown immigrants from south of the border.

[@CharlesPutnam-b5h]

@@ny3683syr Same with me . I worked as a foreman, tractor driver and mechanic most of my life on farms . I did some labor when I was young. The pay is bad. The last 25 years I had a decent position on a large farm. I have a home, some old boats and a couple old trucks paid for . No retirement and a few thousand and the bank. I will be trying to survive on social security next year. I have been doing that kinda work for fifty years.

[@justpassingthrough...2492]

And employers in those industries violate labor regulations commonly. Remember the children who were getting injured in meat-packing plants? Until the Labor Dept. went after the companies.

[@kevinbrennan-ji1so]

Norm is on point, per usual. A voice of reason in this cloudy haze of forthcoming chaos.

[@user-st4fj2ii2h]

Were in deep shit, sorry. Love you, Al

[@thunderbird3694]

Fact: cost of eggs related to earnings is less today than it was 15 years ago

[@jenniferlynn3537]

The thing with the eggs is this: There WAS a huge spike in egg prices last year (I saw large eggs selling for $6.50/dz). My understanding is that it was due to an avian disease that hit - there was a culling of the flocks for food safety. Fewer hens = not enough demand = higher prices (until the flocks recovered).

[@Roberta-q1q]

​@@jenniferlynn3537 but then gouging was tacked onto the actual emergency, coat tailing on the excuse!

[@vtfollett]

And Americans in general pay less of their income for food than almost any other nation. Many countries pay as much as 50%.

[@ThorD4602]

​@@jenniferlynn3537 Cal Maine foods had the biggest quarterly results in company history, with the highest profit margin since their founding. Then the stock skyrocketed after the earnings call. It was gouging, plain and simple.

[@TheOzthewiz]

The price of gas in 1960 @ $0.30/gal is MORE than it is today. When adjusted for inflation, it would be $3.40 today. I just paid $2.74/gal in Central Wisconsin. So lets STOP reminiscing about how we had CHEAP gas, "back in the day"!! Our economy, even under "evil" Biden has NEVER been Greater!!!

[@chadbadour3980]

I keep hearing “we’ll get ‘em in 2 or 4 years” from people and I respond with “sure, Russia and Hungary still have “elections””

[@GUITARTIME2024]

So you're admitting the 2020 elections had some oddities? Cool.

[@gigiartstudiowithartistvir3919]

@@GUITARTIME2024 Don't be obtuse. He means voting will be nothing but optics from this point forward in the same way countries ruled by dictators have voting that is factually nothing but smoke and mirrors.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

@gigiartstudiowithartistvir3919 thats silly. This 24 election was very secure. Trump won fairly.

[@arizonanative7409]

Excellent point. And I agree!

[@arizonanative7409]

@@gigiartstudiowithartistvir3919Use words they understand! 😂

[@lucibjlb]

So, everything Norm thinks might happen, we deserve. And every family member I have who voted for Trump, can expect a phone call from me asking if they've had enough yet.

[@WannaKnowDetails]

We're f*cked.

[@tomlund4951]

I refuse to yield… I’m attacking in a different direction. I will do something locally to make a difference.✊🏼FDT

[@Roberta-q1q]

USA did _not_ very quickly shut down for CoVID !!! Trump let it get a beachhead first!

[@susangreene6449]

CORPORATE GREED DROVE PRICES UP!

[@lauriecraw5033]

So why aren't corporations and Wall Streeters getting any blame for higher prices that don't come down? Huh?

[@generalputnam2990]

Viz., Elaine Chao & Kroger ® Corporation, etc.

[@iakiakamooh]

Hmmm...maybe ask the billionaire-owned mainstream media who are pushing right-wing propaganda 24/7?

[@uckbee]

Because corporate MEDIA don't Want to talk about it. Their owners get the same lush tax cuts that any other corporate brass get.

[@ny3683syr]

Of course not. They are worshipped as 'jobs providers', when in fact they are Plantation Masters.

[@jennifernorthcutt6462]

There is a large part of the population who is absolutely convinced the president sets the prices we are paying. I have to explain almost daily where I live that the president doesn't set the prices for anything. Use to be about gas prices now they think that for all prices. Texas has successfully dumbed down 3/4th of the people here. I'm so tired.

[@bobmiltner7832]

The genie is out of the bottle and there’s no putting her back in. I seriously doubt we’ll have a midterm to course-correct.

[@justpassingthrough...2492]

A midterm that's not unforgivably rigged in their favor anyway.

[@destinyschild8515]

Why is no one talking about Red state Governors who never raised the minimum wage? Yes, people living on $8 per hr. were stressed about inflation. BUT why wasn't the finger pointed at Governors failing their people instead of pointing only to covid supply chains and corp. greed.

[@davidobriend8560]

Bc democrats are expected to govern and republicans are expected to do nothing.

[@Bigwave2003]

Because the billionaires buy the politicians and media to point the finger of blame at government instead of private enterprise.

[@websitemartian]

i don't think people are working for that anywhere in the country ... at least $12 /hr

[@jenniferc218]

​Unfortunately, there are still states where entry level workers start at $7.25 per hour. Yes, they're red states, but that level of casual disinterest does exist.

[@destinyschild8515]

@@websitemartian There are definitely states still paying the Federal minimum wage of $7.25. As I said no one talks about how the Governor can increase minimum wage in their state.

[@debbiekrpan7513]

What the hell is with the eggs? Im so sick of hearing about how we voted for a convicted felon over hen droppings.

[@marco12377]

eggs= personal selfishness, over voting rationally and for the good of the country.

[@phil20_20]

Seriously, it's a virus not politics. The felatio trick works for Ron White.

[@carolinemaybe]

Aagghhh. JD lied about the literal price of eggs. They were in view of the camera so we could see that the eggs weren’t as expensive as he said. They moved on from just groceries.

[@Fortunapage839]

@@carolinemaybe a culture of misogyny. Even women don’t support women can’t see the forest because of the trees.

[@dantaniondb]

​@@carolinemaybeYou mean they were MORE expensive, right??

[@stephensuddick1896]

A 100 day campaign should be the norm.

[@grahamcampbell8297]

We get through campaigns in 6-8 weeks in England. The less we see of politicians the better!

[@frederickrapp5396]

You are correct. 100 days should be enough time to campaign. However, our system prefers longer campaigns.

[@Roberta-q1q]

​@@frederickrapp5396 our system of zombie media depends on long SUSPENSEFUL campaign as a public works project and ratings booster. I'm sure a chunk of the millions they make on campaign ads goes to lobby against shorter campaign season!

[@avmail7097]

there are so many things that i disagree with on why we lost, how we lost... but something every single american should agree on is 100 days is long enough to decide. 50 days for primaries 50 for general done.

[@brucehoward9801]

So true. The pols just can't understand that people just tune out all the campaigns to all of our detriment. Longer is not better.

[@kawannaridout6004]

We are taking it personally. So far, my friends are jokingly asking if they can come live in my basement a Jewish couple we know asked if they could live in my attic like Anne Frank. We are all one Social Security payment away from losing our homes so yeah it’s personal.

[@GUITARTIME2024]

??? It's the DEMS who are anti Semitic.

[@Logiconfire]

Weird.

[@justpassingthrough...2492]

States and municipalities will have to pick up the pieces, as will charities. I was at one time a social worker, and remember the end of year when United Appeal funds ran out. To this day, I drop money into the Salvation Army bucket at Christmas because they were the only ones I could count on to rescue my desperate clients.

[@cpoinsette]

America failed her assignment. It will be painful.

[@helengarrett6378]

Workers can fight for better wages or change jobs. They voted for Trump having at least the hope for improving their condition. Seniors can't do that. My income is entirely dependent on Social Security. The annual rent raise is always 2% to 5% higher than my COLA for my supposedly affordable apartment. I get poorer every year and currently, rent alone is over 50% of my income. The longer we live the more insecure and difficult the lives of the elderly get. That $4,000 that we got during Covid kept me alive during Covid lockdown but also lasted until this year. I could survive the inflation at the beginning of the pandemic but now inflated prices hit harder. My income buys less now, my rent is crippling, healthy food is impossible to afford for a diabetic who cannot extend meals with filler starches. Laundry has gotten more expensive, utilities have risen too. If Trump cuts SNAP I will have no food after the 15th of the month. A charitable pantry cannot fill the gap and offers starch heavy items.. If he privatizes or cuts Social Security I will immediately be homeless. If Trump cuts Medicaid I won't have my medications either. God help me if I get sick without Medicaid. How will any of this improve encampments of homeless and sick people? How will any of this even allow the elderly to maintain life and cope with the the difficulties that elderly working people deal with silently? Why have the young abandoned their elders? That is what they have done.

[@Contessa6363]

Excellent post. I am in your boat! No one is rallying for us!! 😢😢

[@Raelven]

Same here. I may as well try to drink myself to death now and avoid the inevitable pain that is coming. Except I can't afford the booze. MAGA sees seniors as dead weight. Trump and his VP Elon couldn't care any less about us.

[@BA-ng9bx]

❤

[@helengarrett6378]

@@Contessa6363 I guess we just have to rally for our own lives. I take my walker to any event or protest that I can get to. I get tired and it's not easy, especially if I can't find parking close by, but I feel like I have to advocate for myself. Nobody else seems to care about seniors or our silent crisis. It's rotten that after working all my life I'm now poor at 83 years old. I never made a good wage. I always scrimped and saved but one disaster or another always depleted my little fund and I had to start over. Now there is nothing to save. I have no little disaster fund and I wait for the ax to fall. I'm collecting a couple of cans and shelf stable foods to put aside because I am sure we will either have a recession or a worsening of inflation. So I collect dried beans, canned tomatoes, a few cans of tuna to keep myself fed in about 6 months when I am guessing times will be even harder.

[@ailblentyn]

We were given money and then they took it away. Blame Manchin and Sinema.

[@AT.inbetween]

Right! However they will land blame on Dems.

[@Tomas_Pita]

@@AT.inbetween And they'll take a 3.3% win, when he didn't even get more votes than 4 years ago as a "mandate" and from mandate they extrapolate that to "a vast majority of Americans" when in reality it was 22% of the population or one in five Americans who voted for Trump. BTW to the OPs point, in 2020 Manchin and Sinema were funded by "votesane PAC" a blood red dark money machine that had never funded a Democratic campaign before - they got their money's worth

[@ailblentyn]

@@AT.inbetween i absolutely blame the Dems for not bullyiing Manchin and Sinema. Biden certainly could have done more. E.g. threaten to sic the DOJ onto Manchin’s daughter, make it clear to Sinema that when she retired to her cushy lobbying job she would be persona non grata in any Democrat’s office for ever.

[@davidobriend8560]

​@@ailblentynya i thought too a while ago on that epipen case. We both thought it, but it'd have been pretty illegal to do that. Prob would have worked tho

[@raymondmartin6737]

Four more years or as he wants 🤔 for Forever, no more elections. 1984 has arrived with doublespeak. 😢

[@reptilez]

For me its about reality. As far as I'm concerned, I am DONE with Bonaparte. ALL OF THEM. Resist, wake up and fight.

[@marystephens765]

Bonaparte?

[@perrikimono2563]

Were you with him before? What changed?

[@ceterumcenseo-b1l]

Bonaparte was a major a++hole, but the orange guy wouldn't even have been allowed to empty the emperor's chamber pot.

[@rollyknevels3570]

#DONEwithBonaparte

[@timcox7746]

💙 thank you Al, I am glad to find your podcast and your voice of reason and humor. We need that

[@dale1786]

Mr. Franken. I have heard you say that you and Lindsey Graham are friends. How do you rationalize a friendship with someone who openly lies for trump? Thanks

[@Stephendoover-ho3ne]

I blame Rush Limbaugh!

[@AT.inbetween]

Don't worry tere will be status to visit

[@andreah6379]

And NOT FOX, OAN, RAV, Newsmax, X, Tik Tok, etc...

[@Trace-l7k]

Ronald Raygun changed laws concerning media ownership, thereby allowing Rupert Murdock to buy up am radio stations and hire Rush Limpdick. So, really, Raygun brought us here.

[@justpassingthrough...2492]

I blame Newt Gingrich, the evil mind that came up with a lot of this blueprint.

[@christopherspavins9250]

Capitalism is broken.

[@50-50_Grind]

And USA has fallen.

[@Trace-l7k]

Oligarchs have purchased justice and democracy, now they’ve got their felonious leader. Get your passport in order. It’s over.

[@estebanvaldez3632]

Marx wrote that a true Communism can only come into existence after the fall of capitalism.

[@Trace-l7k]

@@christopherspavins9250 Oligarchs own the justice system and both houses of congress. Now they’ve have a felonious leader. It’s over.

[@christopherspavins9250]

@@estebanvaldez3632 The 2007-8 financial collapse was a harbinger of the events of the last several days. The legacy of slavery hangs over all institutions from education, healthcare and the financialization of the working poor. That almost half of Americans wouldn't be able to pay a $500 unexpected bill is a sobering indictment of the inequality that plagues the working population. The obscene display of wealth is now the catalyst for the next social and political earthquakes that "lie" ahead.

[@normastone1044]

The possibility of Trump legitimately winning all the swing states, the electoral college and the popular vote is as likely as getting directions to El Dorado from a leprechaun riding a unicorn.

[@ny3683syr]

Yes, I have nagging suspicions about the election, and I'm not so convinced things were legit.

[@justpassingthrough...2492]

They learned how to pre-rig this time around.

[@JoeL-zb1yd]

Trump is going to blow up food inspections. Here comes e-coli.

[@paisleydreamzz]

And RFK JR wants to get rid of the FDA so no safe medicine once anybody gets sick from anything either🤷‍♀️

[@lindaflesch7303]

IT Appears as though ELON is the (Acting Vice President).

[@GUITARTIME2024]

Nice try. JD will be great as VP , and as prez for 8 yrs.

[@catherinebirk2934]

ELON AND FELON

[@StevenMichals0812]

Judge Merchan should sentence him to 4 years in prison.

[@chromewench1595]

No, instead WE'LL BE IN PRISON 4 YEARS!

[@andreah6379]

But Garland should have prosecuted him ASAP.

[@KarenRobson-t6h]

@@andreah6379Mitch should have not blocked impeachment.

[@delmofritz3964]

Judge Merchan has already show us his moral fibre. Don't hold your breath.

[@robertthweatt1900]

Sentence him to four years. Then head to the airport with his family.

[@12345682900]

How much strategy should it take to compete against a 34-count convicted felon & rapist?

[@judyives1832]

Yes!!! And a convicted felon who openly says he will end social security and Medicaid!! When I heard that I thought no sane person would vote for THAT! That would cause so much pain and suffering for the elderly and disabled! And they did it anyway!!! Watching this from Canada is very very concerning,

[@writerjb]

We live in a spoiled silly society where people believe in sound bites and are too lazy to educate themselves. This should have been a no brainer but racism and prejudice won. I didn't see it coming but I think some people with a lot more knowledge about the way our elections work should have. And there's no way I will believe that Russia didn't do something very powerful to produce the outcome.

[@ThorD4602]

​@@judyives1832 young men love him. They think he is "owning the libs". Voting is just a fun lark to them, they have no sense of the past or the future at all.

[@JohnThundergun]

You're thinking that the people actually care about that sort of thing... negatively. There are more bad people out there than you realize.

[@Indrid__Cold]

Merik (garbage) Garland will not be judged well by history.

[@prairiedogsareextant]

Just saw a headline that caused me to double over in convulsive laughter. Tucker Carlson angrily accuses Senate Republicans of plotting coup against Trump. Yeah, man, only MAGA is allowed to attempt a coup.

[@KarenRobson-t6h]

I saw that.

[@JefferyTheriault]

Tucker Carlson is trying to set himself up to survive what's coming. It's only going to work as long as Trump survives. Once Trump is gone, Carlson will be counted as a danger to those that replace trump.

[@justpassingthrough...2492]

He expects them to toady up like good little MAGAs and intimidated GOP centrists. Indignation! (You sure that wasn't an Andy Borowitz headline?)

[@lindylee1139]

There really isn’t any logical reason to think the next years won’t be horrific. Prove me wrong.

[@andreah6379]

Impossible.

[@StephenHALL-g8u]

Oh they will be very bad! Jesus said that there never been a time so terrible! It is called the Great Tribulation!

[@frederickrapp5396]

I can’t. I really can’t.

[@jenniferlynn3537]

The trolls - unemployed young males likely living in their parents’ basements - love this kind of distress. It makes them feel strong, powerful, effective and in control of the future. And by “in control,” I mean of Bedlam.

[@davidobriend8560]

I'm wondering what happens at the first protest.

[@JTfromMN]

NYTimes AG Salzberger is a Coward his paper is a dumpster fire

[@AT.inbetween]

Unsubscribe for all sources that supported such.

[@intallpines]

Thank you for your thoughts. Al, we need you back in your Senate seat, sir. Please consider it again!

[@cynicalfairy]

We need someone like Al whose a lot younger and more media savvy (not the old media of cable news and newspapers). Sorry it's true.

[@sydgriffin7591]

​@@cynicalfairy Yes. Al is great, but that train left the station already.

[@James-hd4ms]

His replacement is fine. Al is fine where he is.

[@dellbertoo]

Saying she lost because she answered two questions not to your liking completely discounts the fact that everything he said was vile or lies. The sad fact is Americans chose hate and discord , and without one thought to the repercussions not just on themselves but the world

[@cheeseheadfiddle]

Mark Cuban points out that the Chinese Tarifs will drive moves by companies to Veitnam and other countries.

[@grosskid5664]

Really hope they push all as many judges as possible and Biden should make KH the 47th, then DT will have to redo all his merch and the rest of us can laugh and laugh.

[@janetkriegl6720]

I like the idea of Biden going all in with 'Dementia Dark Brandon', watching how he tops one credibly defiant act after another. Have the right screeching for their smelling salts as he punches to the very edge with his immunity privileges. Lose the sense of protocol and decorum; after all, turnabout is fair play. Although, Biden has the savvy and class to play fair. Unlike his successor. Leave Don the Con with lasting reminders before his Inauguration. And have all previous Presidents boycott Trump on 1/20/24, symbolizing the disrespect he's shown them, and especially his Oath of Office.

[@cynicalfairy]

The people that would push those judges through are the same people that failed to do anything about SCOTUS for the last 30 years. No, they won't push through judges. "Come on man," think of the institutions!

[@leechap3]

KH needs to replace Sotomayor on the SCOTUS

[@ghstbird3338]

He’s not going giving his track record. I wish i had more hope in him.

[@scottmajerus574]

Senate won't confirm any more.

[@ParkAvenue34]

Al, STOP blaming President Biden and Vice President Harris on this election. It matters ~NOT~ what they did, what they didn't, policies, etc... Everyone new what would happen if they did not elect Democrat...it should not have been a choice Stop eating our own. That is the problem with our Party, lift them up, not let them down.

[@cynicalfairy]

Unfortunately, we need to understand what happened in order to change. And the people most at fault have the most to loose. This is what I fear: I fear Democratic political consultants and commentators (those most responsible, in my opinion, because they failed to understand the American people's economic discontent and provide a popular economic rhetoric) will blame trans, college protesters, BLM, Gaza protesters, etc. instead of blaming themselves. Their livelihood depends on them "not" being wrong, and they are willing to throw people under the bus rather than self-reflecting (they did this in 2016 to Bernie supporters). If Dems do it again, I'm unregistering as a Dem. I'm done.

[@ParkAvenue34]

@cynicalfairy Oh..that's an attitude to take. Great, so if you can't best 'em, join 'em....got it..because quitting is exactly what we do.

[@ceterumcenseo-b1l]

@@cynicalfairy Please explain: what economic benefits did Harris fail to include in her policies? Honestly, I'm super tired of that argument.

[@buddyflood6761]

You can't believe McConnell, remember how he lied about putting justices ihncc3in the supreme court

[@willdon.1279]

@@ceterumcenseo-b1l We don't need "pretend ex - democrats" Any thinking person knows the Dems were ahead by every sensible metric (of the developed world, too!) No, a few swallowed the outrageous lies, but the rest just liked TFG 45 to allow them to be who they are, out in public.

[@johnf8122]

These are all contributing reasons outlined by Norm. However, the overarching motivation by his hardcore supporters is Trump hates who they hate. Hate is a powerful drug. For his non-hardcore voters, this go around, I agree, buyer's remorse will come hot and heavy.

[@ileneragland369]

Yes it will hit them hard in the pocketbook!

[@sydgriffin7591]

FAFO

[@chuckkottke]

There is something there, I recall reading in a MotherJones interview of a former clan member about their addiction to hate, and when clan members left the clan they would often turn to hard drugs as a substitute for the missing rush.

[@johnf8122]

@chuckkottke Chuck....it is a rush. Even with my right wing folks on Facebook, the hate of the other is actually entertainment and recreation. If they didn't have it, they'd feel something is missing in their lives. For example, they're constantly ragging on the "View" a show I barely know that tends to have mostly liberal co-hosts. My question is why you're ragging on a show you never watch anyway. George Carlin said it best that we have lots of dumb people in this country.

[@iakiakamooh]

@@chuckkottke 100% - every Trump supporter I know cannot shut off the right-wing media spigot because they are addicted to the outrage fix they get daily. Without exception they have all become angrier, more bitter and unhappy, and more racist and misogynistic over the past 8 years. Most also cling to the false nostalgia and jingoism fed to them by those same propaganda channels.

[@spat726]

Just how could she explain that she would have done things differently without shaming Biden. Tough spot

[@pauldandrea7012]

She might have said that she had new policies for a changing world which wouldn't have been perceived as a criticism of Joe.

[@spat726]

@@pauldandrea7012 you know, in hindsight it wouldn’t have mattered because any messaege would have been drowned out by the Trump/media circus .

[@genesweetman7311]

There was and is inflation that was from supply shocks. But I think and I feel a lot would agree with me, that the recent “inflation” is corporate greed. They saw us paying higher prices and when their supply cost came back down they just kept taking as much as they could. I think I that’s why you have the government and financial experts saying the economy is great cause business are making record profits, buying back their own stocks to boost their wealth. Buy up all the housing so that everyone has to rent. The average voter is at the bottom of all that footing the bill for all of it. And they are pissed about it. That’s why he won. He wasn’t them. Everyone thought that she would win because she wasn’t him, turns out ending up being the opposite. Crazy times

[@bmohin]

they never ever blame corporations

[@andreah6379]

Dem leaders don't like to say "corporate greed," because they have corporate donors who don't want them to speak the truth. We can thank Citizens United for our nightmare and of course anyone who didn't vote for Harris. She was still the lesser of the 2 evils.

[@Trace-l7k]

Oligarchs hide behind the facade of democracy.

[@mikefialko2979]

I’ve been saying this for a long time. Capitalism is wonderful when it works for everyone. Unfortunately we have capitalism on steroids. Steroids that drug supplement that body builders and athletes use to cheat and artificially build up their bodies or athletic abilities. Unregulated and unfettered capitalism is capitalism on steroids. You are absolutely correct about inflation. This isn’t inflation caused by supply chain issues,it’s Greedflation. When we allow corporations that publicly traded companies on the stock exchange to buy back their own stock,that’s insider trading. Private equity firms although good for investors and pension funds, without government oversight they are causing problems with housing. The US healthcare system, we keep hearing it’s the best in the world. Yes it’s good for Wall Street. Not so much for more and more people who can’t afford it. And this is because billionaires and the super wealthy have way too much control over politicians. And with this election it’s going to get a lot worse. With Trump in the White House and no guardrails we’re on our way to a world wide oligarchy. And both political parties are responsible for it.

[@ny3683syr]

Crazy times and very stupid people.

[@laurablake2711]

This sounds grim. Do I stock up on toilet paper, prepare to protest, or buy a gun? Or all three?

[@ileneragland369]

All 3 because he'll probably figure out a way to stop democrats from buying guns! We're so dangerous. LOL

[@MrMgakaf]

All three

[@lesliecurran1704]

Buy a bidet. You won't ever have to buy toilet paper again.

[@ghstbird3338]

@@lesliecurran1704👀….🤢🤮

[@chromewench1595]

Buy ALCOHOL! Those tariffs are gonna sky rocket BOOZE!

[@LWJCarroll]

33:02. This reminds me of the militia that Mussolini had in his rise to power in the late 20-30’s. He was hung at the end of WW2 of course.

[@ny3683syr]

Mussolini didn't have Fox Entertainment, Sinclair Broadcasting, X and all the rest. No matter what happens, their propaganda machine will tell them to look over there (at Dems, immigrants, feminists, and the usual suspects).

[@BabbetteChoquette-po5hx]

Ballots are not being counted. People are checking their ballot status and they are being told that their ballots have not been counted, no matter when different people voting weeks ago or more recent voting.

[@annjuurinen6553]

The Billionaires bought an ELECTION.

[@andreah6379]

Why are there virtually entire country showing so much red even in every blue state, too? Yes, there's always RW voter suppression but Harris ran a poor campaign. You may have loved her but obviously millions of others of us don't agree. Harris isn't contesting this election. Unless there is proof of what you claim, move on.

[@HebaruSan]

If his voters don't get what they wanted, they'll find a new scapegoat to blame. It's a fantasy to think that anything will wake them up.

[@hankstalica1922]

The solution is left wing populism. It's not complicated. F.D.R.

[@thelorax7704]

The person you speak of is Bernie Sanders in 2016, but the Democrats mugged him on the way to the White House in South Carolina. Instead they anointed Hillary. Big mistake. Bernie is the closest thing to F.D.R. that we have seen.

[@justpassingthrough...2492]

100% correct. Unfortunately, it just has to have the proper stimulus, like the Great Depression had for FDR. And a courageous and strong leader.

[@Dave-df8gr]

46:08 ‘we don’t know how often we’ll have elections’, pretty chilling Norm

[@brian4507]

Don’t expect a fair and free midterm.

[@1006walt]

“Every voter profile except for black women and jews moved noticeably in Trump’s direction”…that is very disappointing.

[@ny3683syr]

Well this FDR style female is as porcelain white as they come, and I will never vote for a conservative, and definitely not for a fascist. I'd like Dems to be more like Sanders. The party is often too centrist for me, but I still vote consistently to the left.

[@search4answers849]

The media normalized an abnormal narcissist and won't or can't see it. This is the first discussion I've listened to that at least highlights some of the horrific damage done by Trump 45 while crucifying the dems for what you see as short comings. Still I appreciated this discussion.

[@hueywallop2461]

What Norm should have said: "Trump understands US voters, the Dems don't." But at this point, why should we resist what's coming? Why protect Trump voters from themselves? 31 million women voted for Trump, and millions more did not vote. So why should I care what happens then?

[@sandrabentley8111]

Because at least 69 million people voted for Kamala. Still counting on the West coast. It wasn't a landslide for Trump, no matter what he says. It was maybe just 1 or 2%.

[@Actorsplace]

Pain does not stay in a neat container.

[@hammieinvestigations5392]

It has nothing to do with prices. It was because Trump was a comedian and he was featured multiple times, over and over again on the media. What did Trump do today, what did he post, he used all caps, he gave head, he danced on stage, he insulted women, he insulted, insulted, insulted. Every minute people raced to their video feed to see what Trump did next. He was like a drug, but he was also constantly communicated with the population. The masses lost sight that the election was about a serious job position, and not a reality TV beauty pageant. In contrast, they could perceive the opposition (Biden/Harris) as the politian (whom people hate government). Consequently, the masses laughed themselves into a win for the jokester. Consider if Trump really applied for a job, the recruiter wouldn't ever have forwarded his resume to HR, as he would have been considered a crackpot. Hence, it is a sure bet that something terrible is going to happen, and create unthinkable chaos. The reality of the election was a "job function" and Trump is incompetent to do the job, as he was incompetent to do the prior job. This time it will by 10X worse because he will be traveling close to 82yo with full onset of dementia, and NO STOP sign.

[@ralphd.4857]

This just goes to show how public education has degraded over time and the elevation of anti-intellectualism by pop culture. Trump exploited this to the max.

[@Roberta-q1q]

Zombie media spun Trump "amusing" and Harris "insufficient"! Of all the times person on street subjects claim, "need to know more" not once did a "journalist" ask "Have you been on her website?" Voters act like info should be fed to them on a spoon, and we have to guess whose proferred spoon will be accepted!

[@rolfaalto]

A big problem is that the American Left/Youth won't vote unless perfect is on the ballot. Compare to the French left, who in many ways are far more hardcore than Yankees, but understand that when fascists are on the rise you turn out and VOTE!

[@angryanne]

America forgot what they were supposed to remember when they say, “Lest we Forget “

[@shalinib108]

“They had all this money in their pocket…” omg Al? Really? A total of $3200 in three payments over an entire year?? You think that qualifies as “all this money” ….? When’s the last time you had to stick to a budget? Your approximate net worth is listed online as $10 million. I think your misunderstanding of the value of money is showing. Do you understand what an insufficient amount of money that really was? How fast that was swallowed up by bills and late fees? Especially when so many people had lost their regular income. If you think that was a lot of cash, you are part of the problem. Edit: didn’t mean that to sound angry, I really appreciate your work in the senate and wish you hadn’t resigned so quickly. It’s just that those who have achieved a certain level of wealth often seem to lose touch with the actual value of money when it comes to an average monthly budget of a middle class family. Most Americans live paycheck to paycheck, have a few thousand in credit card debt (often due to unexpected necessities), and have trouble affording something like a car or home repair bill. An average middle class family has about $5000 to $6500 flowing both in and out every month. That’s why $3200 over an entire year (while helpful) doesn’t have much of an impact at all. I don’t want you to be part of the problem.. I want you to understand what a regular family goes through… I want you to be one of the good guys. 😊

[@dbarker7794]

Franken is out of touch with working class people. Probably hasn't been to a grocery store in decades. No need for you to apologize.

[@suemccord2633]

EXACTLY!

[@LittleRockVol]

Exactly! Well, said.

[@delmofritz3964]

exactly what i thought. Al is showing his centrist dem colors.

[@jacobcoburn7634]

It wasn't just 3 stimulus payments. Trillions were spent on employment augmentation, keeping businesses afloat (i.e., keeping people employed, even if they weren't working) and other forms of aid, both direct (student load payment pauses, child tax credits) and indirect (eviction moratoria). That is what Al is referring to - it doesn't mean there was no hardship but we did spend A LOT trying to keep things intact while riding the waves caused by the pandemic. This did leave a lot of money to stimulate demand that supplies (due to supply shocks and backed up chains) couldn't meet effectively, increasing inflation. Our return from the pandemic also increased inflation as everyone rushed to get out and do stuff all at once while supplies/services were still limited to cut backs in production. This also includes oil/gas prices, which were hit with the double-wammy of drastic rises in demand that the industry had a hard time responding to (it takes time to restard oil extraction after shutting a bunch of production down) followed by the war in Ukraine (Russian sanctions). All this to say, Al isn't acting like some out of touch elite pointing out the sheer amounts of money given out during the pandemic and the ways it contributed to inflation. It's just a fact, not some blithe dismissal of the hardship people had during and after. Calm down.

[@robertwagner9933]

I just can't believe that so many people were conned into a false hope and now this Country is in deep deep trouble and I hope we can overcome the damage the suffering is going to be horrible

[@jayell8145]

New subscriber from Australia. So good to hear intelligent discussion. Thank you !

[@eshel1954]

With all due respect, the Democrats don't have a Fox/Newsmax/OAN/Sinclair machine. That was a big factor. Then Norm showed his misogyny by suggesting that an open primary would've resulted in a white male candidate. Good job, Norm. You both would be wise to listen to Jon Stewart's conversation with Professor Heather Cox.

[@lhoward9593]

I think he was saying that a White male candidate would have had more of a chance of winning than a Black/Asian woman. It's just a reality in America.

[@susangreene6449]

That interview with Jon and Heather was ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT.

[@chuckkottke]

Yes. The propaganda machine coupled with movie magic has mesmerized and dazzled many into the cult of the Donald. That discussion between Heather Cox Richardson and Jon Stewart was excellent in elucidating the problem. 🗽

[@iakiakamooh]

Heather Cox Richardson is brilliant - she has a mailing list and podcast that everyone should be tuning in to.💙

[@BryantPP]

Asking if "it's legal for him to do that?" Even if it's not legal you forget that he'll have "immunity". That's a moot question. I dont know, I'm kind of low key excited to see the voters get their comeuppance, I guess that makes me no better than them after all...

[@sandicampbell3252]

Hey Norm, are you going to do another book about how much worse things are then they look? You are the only one who has been willing to tell us the unvarnished truth.

[@generalputnam2990]

David Cay Johnston, also.

[@claygrier4673]

Hi Al, big fan here but at 22:21 you say "the first 3 years were peace and prosperity". Really? What about the chaos of Charlottesville, the muslim ban, the Trump tax cuts that exploded the debt, the trade war with China that caused Trump to have to bail out farmers affected by the trade war and finally his disbanding of the NSC pandemic response unit. There are many more of these events through his whole presidency. I feel that most people have the memory of goldfish to forget just how chaotic and stressful his whole time in office was. Not just covid.

[@lifeandfaith]

Yes. I've thought about the scenario of "free elections" that give the appearance of legitimacy. Trump had his crowds holding signs that said "Trump will Fix It." Trump has used that exact language. "I'll fix it. We'll fix it good. So you... You never have to vote again."

[@janicelloyd3215]

Is he going to seriously deport? I always thought that as long as rich people wanted cheap labor the situation at the border would remain the same. It’s just an election distraction.

[@laurablake2711]

He's capable

[@Zakuzelo]

Yeah, probably. Fascists are gonna fascists.

[@stefanblackadder5236]

It’s not an election distraction. They’re already planning to ramp up. You’re going to see some disturbing shit on tv. They’re talking about a million immigrants a year. Raids on businesses etc, camps. Cruelty is going to be the point.

[@NathanCroucher]

good point, so yeah it wont happen. to a few yeah, but not the ones they want to keep.

[@EarlyRiser71]

The fact you are good with milkions of unfettered foreign nationals in our country is telling.