Donald Trump brought along a whole slew of oligarchs (and his grifting family) for his meeting with Xi Jinping in China this week. He says he made “fantastic trade deals.” (For whom, we wonder.) But the Strait of Hormuz is still closed with no end in sight to Trump’s Iran debacle - and inflation continues to spike.
Then there was that piece in the New York Times that noted the way he was greeted.
The Chinese understand that we are a global superpower in decline. Tim Snyder coined an excellent description of what electing Trump a second time has turned out to be: Superpower Suicide. And our demise continues, every single day.
Just look at the stories that broke just before we went live yesterday, including ABC’s report that Donald Trump plans to settle his lawsuit against the government for $1.7 billion to benefit the January 6 insurrectionists.
Karoli’s response to that was a gesture (instead of one of our usual f-bombs).
“I’m speechless. I can’t even think of anything else to say. It’s either this or punch a wall,” she said.
The Supreme Court also decided that Americans may continue to access mifepristone via telemedicine and mail while the 5th Circuit decision (to ban it nationwide) is on appeal. This was good news - but temporary.
And it’s all happening with the backdrop of the post-Callais frenzy to redistrict away all minority representation.
“I really want people that are listening to this or watching this or whatever, not to be discouraged about the fact that these all these redistricting efforts are going on, said Karoli, “because at I don’t know if you’ve watched any of like Joyce White Vance or any of these people but as they do this they are liquidating and and diluting their own strength in these districts… Anti incumbent energy is high. There’s no reason to expect that even if they do these redistricts and these things that it’s going to matter that it’s going to make a difference.”
She continued with what I thought was an excellent rant:
“People are mad and it’s time, you know, I mean, look at me. I’m mad. I’m mad about all the money he’s spending on the reflecting pool. I’m mad that he’s trying to make heroes out of insurrectionists. I’m mad that he embarrasses us on the world stage every damn day. I’m mad that he obsesses on his ballroom and the stupid arch instead of like paying attention to the things that are really important in this country. And I’m mad that he’s even in there. Every day that he’s there, he defiles the White House and our government every day. And so, by the way, does the Supreme Court. They defile their position. The six radical Republicans on the Supreme Court defile their position every day.”
View the podcast, or listen below.
During the discussion, we referenced a piece in the Bulwark that we feel is a must-read: from Harris deputy digital director Rob Flaherty, where he offered his own autopsy on the 2024 campaign and thoughts on how we should be campaigning now.
We also recommend Brian Beutler’s commentary on Democratic timidity at a time when the other side respects NO rules.
