Twozdaz Theme Music

Cold and shiny Twozda Morning in October. This is 10/23/2025. 46 F in Ashland, the temperature will frolic into the low 70s with the sun’s herding. Fall’s grasp is as firm as ever, with leaves decomposing and dropping while others hang, shimmering in reds and golds.

Sis has moved Mom into her house because of Mom’s repeated falls and inability to care for herself. No one is there to help her at her house, etc. Sis meets with a real estate agent next Tuesday to pull the levers to sell Mom’s house. An estate sale is being established to sell Mom’s furniture and belongings. Not excited to return to this state, and you know what I mean. This is life. But I’m looking forward to seeing family and being in the area of my youth.

In one of Trump’s continuing rampages to show how much he hates the United States, he’s now having the physical building called the White House destroyed. As it was put in a comment on another site, I am volcanically pissed. Breathtaking arrogance. If anything proves that Trump has no sense of history and gives not a jot of shit about anything except himself, this is it. Destroying the house of We the People and replacing it with his own gaudy, cheap imitation of grandeur is disgusting and infuriating. Project 2025 is certainly well pleased and gleeful. Roberts Court is probably shrugging. They let him trample the Constitution with his overweight ego and obese body, why not allow this effrontery? Sure hope all those MAGA are happy too. Isn’t this how love for your nation is shown, by tearing down its heritage?

Approval for him falls. Disapproval for him rises. Strength to stand against him and his regime increases.

A Daily Kos post by Michael Taylor offers solid insights into the Trump Regime’s war against the United States.

Criminalising an idea: the dangerous fiction of “ANTIFA, the organisation”

Let’s talk about a magic trick. Not the kind with rabbits and hats, but the political kind, where a complex idea is made to vanish, only to be replaced by a simple, monstrous caricature. The latest magicians? Pam Bondi, U.S. Attorney General, and the broader Trump administration, who are attempting to pull off the dangerous illusion of criminalising ANTIFA.

The premise of their act is that ANTIFA is a unified, hierarchical terrorist organisation– a domestic version of ISIS – that can be neatly listed, proscribed, and its members prosecuted. This is a profound and likely deliberate misunderstanding. ANTIFA, short for “anti-fascist,” is not an organisation; it is a political belief and a movement, no more a single entity than “conservatism” or “environmentalism.”

Under cover of criminalizing a concept and calling it an organization, the Trump Regime can attempt to use all of the government’s military and police forces against United States citizens, weakly rationalizing it as part of their fight against ‘antifa’. As Taylor closes:

The real danger isn’t a black-clad protester breaking a window; it’s a government that seeks to break the foundational principle that in America, people are free to believe, and to protest, what they see fit.

Meanwhile, the Epstein Shutdown has moved into its third week, earning Trump’s third government shutdown in five years of ‘leadership’ as the third longest U.S. government shutdown in history.

Without too much surprise, Trump’s Gaza ceasefire is as successful as Trump University, Trump Steaks, various Trump casinos and hotels, and Trump Air. Trump is a magical enshittifier.

I have The Moody Blues performing “The Story in your Eyes” in the morning mental music stream. Between conversations with Papi as I explain we’ll be going away but his favorite house sitter will be here, and thoughts of Trump’s destruction, and, well, changes in life in general, Les Neurons responded with lines out of the song.

Listen to the tide slowly turning. Wash all our heartaches away. We’re part of the fire that is burning, and from the ashes we can build another day.

May grace and peace get up and going and come around to see how we’re doing. Coffee is making itself familiar to the various body functions. Time to rock it. Time to roll it. Until the next, cheers from Trump and his smirking BFF, Jeffrey Epstein.

Mundaz Wandering Thoughts

Call it first world blues. Again.

The annual property taxes bill arrived in the mail.

Normally a mild-mannered but curmudgeonly individual since I was young, the tax bill brought out my dour side.

I vented to my wife. “Our real market value declined by nine thousand but the assessed value increased by two. The land increased in value but the structure’s value plopped by a few thousand. Yet, the tax has increased a few hundred dollars.”

Used to the annual rant, my wife nodded in feigned sympathy and fed me some new irritation fuel. “That’s so we can pay our city manager their ridiculous salary.”

Yes, we’re in an Ashlandia uproar over the city manager’s compensation. She doesn’t live in Ashland, and makes 226K a year after a 30K pay raise. Total compensation pushes her package close to 400K a year. She earns more than any other city manager in the area, yet there is a general impression among the hoi polloi that things in the city are going in the wrong flippin’ direction. Fer instance, while the city manager and other ‘managers’ were given raises, the city laid off maintenance and office people and cut back services. Like, WTF, over?

I pointed out to my wife, though, “The city manager’s pay doesn’t come out of this. This is the county’s tax bill.” I then read her the itemized list of bond issues we’re supporting in our $6200 tax bill (with discounts for paying it on time and in full in November). Most of it is for the Ashland School District. Yet, Ashland Schools needed a $890,000 donation to make ends meet.

This all does not computer. Our house was built in 2005. Three bedrooms, two baths. Almost 1900 square feet, it’s not large or fancy, all on just under a quarter acre of land.

On the other hand, I reminded myself. I have a decent house and life. I can afford to pay these taxes when it will strain others.

Ranting is in me, though. I’ll rant, let it go, pay it, and move on. Then, though the subject came up in NextDoor. Multiple people turned out to have the same opinion as me about the subject. Reading their comments validated my opinions and insights. Thus comforted, I slept well.

For the record, here’s more about the donation to the school district from last week. Cheers

Kelly Clarkson Is Amazed By $1 Million Anonymous Donor Who Saved Oregon School District

Ashland School District in Oregon was facing an $8 million deficit last year, until an anonymous donor stepped in with a nearly $1 million donation to save teachers’ jobs and student programs. Kelly meets superintendent Dr. Joseph Hattrick, executive director of the school district’s foundation Erica Thompson, as well as students Soren and Grace and teacher Paul, who share how the community came together to thank the donor. Watch till the end for another huge surprise for the Ashland School District from Scholastic and Kelly!

A Wrap Up

A wrap up of some terrific posts by other bloggers about the October 18 No Kings II rallies.

#AntifaWasHere

Willow Croft has a good suggestion.

I know I’ve been a bit AWOL what with finishing up school, planning my move, and all that, but I had this idea. The MAGA goons/the Trump Administration is spewing out all this nonsense about Antifa, so what if we (the collective resisters) take the hashtag #AntifaWasHere and attach it to posts ranging from volunteer activities to random acts of kindness for friends, neighbors, elderly, etc. etc.?

No Kings … Then, Now, or Ever!

From My Less than Humble Opinion:

Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson, and other Republicans in Congress are calling today’s protests a “Hate America” rally sponsored by extreme leftists, pro-Hamas activists, hardened criminals, and terrorist organizations like ANTIFA.[2] Apparently, they’ve never read the first amendment to the Constitution.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

No Kings #2 Was A Success!!!

Jill wrote,

I think that We the People proved to the leaders of this regime that we will not lie down and let them kick us, will not give in and will fight to the death against their lawless attempts to  replace our democratic republic with a dictatorship run by a cruel and evil tyrant.  Remember these images next time you hear Felon Trump say that “everybody” loves him or “everybody” believes what he is doing is right.

Success!

Robert Hubbell wrote,

No act of resistance is wasted, and no act of resistance is unsuccessful. Because in resisting, we redeem ourselves, we consecrate ourselves, we reclaim our dignity, and we assert our agency as American citizens who control the destiny of our nation.

No Kings, the Rally Heard ’round the World

Earl wrote,

Yesterday’s No Kings Rally wasn’t just a protest — it was a reckoning. A mosaic of causes, signs, and voices, all bound together by one unifying thread: We the People have been stirred to action. Not by policy differences. Not by party loyalty. But by the cruelty, the malignant narcissism, and the corrosive influence of Donald Trump.

Fascism began as a Roman metaphor: a bundle of sticks (fasces) symbolizing strength through unity. One stick breaks easily. A bundle resists. Mussolini twisted that into authoritarianism. Hitler weaponized it. And Trump? He tried to make the bundle serve only him — demanding loyalty, punishing dissent, and mocking the vulnerable.

But yesterday, we reclaimed the bundle. Not as a tool of domination, but as a symbol of democratic resistance. Many years ago, Chief Tecumseh taught the same lesson with arrows. The Founders echoed it with E Pluribus Unum. And yesterday, the signs told the story.

No kings!

we said no kings
we’ve had enough
of golden thrones
and royal fluff

yet here he comes
in tie and spray tan
declaring:
“only I will, only I can!”

No Kings

Athena Scalzi wrote,

It was so amazing to see older folks and younger people alike coming together, and I saw a friend there who gave me a sign, so I was thankful for that. It was such a great feeling to look around and see everyone coming together for the same cause, to speak up against the tyranny and tell the world (or at least Miami County) “this is not okay.”

#NoKings Day in Brooklyn

Diane Ravitch wrote,

Thousands of people turned out to participate in the #NoKings March, which started at Grand Army Plaza and ended at the southern end of Prospect Park. We were surrounded by people carrying signs and chanting “Hey hey hi ho/Donald Trump has got to go.” Many signs were very clever. I couldn’t photograph them all.

I liked the little girl who had a sign that said, “I should be worried about tests/Not my rights.”

The Fight Continues for Democracy

From The Contrarian:

This No Kings Day was the one of the largest demonstrations in U.S. history—with upwards of seven million Americans estimated to have gathered across all 50 states, with thousands more protesting across the world, to stand up against tyranny; stand up against corruption; and stand up for the ideals that make this nation exceptional.

And finally, The Borowitz Report:

Over 400 of Elon Musk’s Children Attended No Kings Rallies

WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—In yet another indication of the heavy turnout for the No Kings rallies, over 400 of Elon Musk’s children attended the protests, according to estimates released on Sunday.

Donald J. Trump, furious at the size of the No Kings crowds, claimed that the estimated attendance of 7 million “is much lower when you subtract all the people who were there to show their hate for Elon.”


Sundaz Wandering Political Thoughts

I’m not reposting it or linking to it. Trump released an AI video of himself as a king and a fighter pilot.

Trump weaseled out of serving his nation five times when he was young.

Whined about having bone spurs.

Now he pretends to be a fighter pilot, a specimen of individual who is highly trained and extremely fight, 180 from what he is. There it is again, the alternate Trump reality, where facts, truth, history, and logic are completely disengaged. Not a good place for someone in his position. He needs to be removed. If this isn’t 25th Amendment material, what is?

The other part…where he projects himself as king. Well, that’s exactly what we’re protesting in the No Kings rallies. As a POTUS pretending to be a king, acting like he’s a king, above We the People, and not serving us, he should be impeached.

Worse, though, he fantasizes about bombing American citizens. Dropping sewage on them. How horrible is that for anyone who occupies the Oval Office?

And those deep, deep, double standards are fully in play here. Listen to the crickets as the GOP say nothing. Recall their fervent outrage against President Joe Biden. How they bleated about him being unfit. He, who never released a video fantasy about being a king, being a fighter pilot, and bombing our people.

Imagine the uproar if this had been President Obama. My, oh, my, the shockwaves would have felt like major earthquakes across the continent.

But here we have it, signs of a demented, detached individual fantasizing about being a fighter pilot and king, bombing his citizens.

And they say nothing.

Their silence speaks as loudly as Trump’s video fantasy. They are as corrupt and complicit as him.

And this is why we march and protest.

No kings. Not in 1776. Not in 2025.

Not. Ever.

Satyrdaz Wandering Political Thoughts

I joined some patriots today to announce, again, “No Kings” for the United States.

It was a good way to spend an October Saturday in the United States.

And it was all for a good reason.

Republicans Know How Vulnerable Trump Is. The Attacks on No Kings Prove It.

Jamelle Bouie

In the four months since the last No Kings protests, President Trump has gone even further down the road of claiming plenary authority over the executive branch. He has continued to claim the right to fire anyone he pleases, to cancel or spend federal funds outside congressional appropriations and to launch lethal strikes against foreign civilians without explicit authorization from Congress or evidence of imminent threat to Americans.

The president has tried to leverage the power of the federal government against his political opponents and legal adversaries, sending the Justice Department after James Comey, a former director of the F.B.I.; Attorney General Letitia James of New York; and one of Trump’s former national security advisers, John Bolton. Trump also wants to use the I.R.S. and other agencies to harass liberal donors and left-leaning foundations. He has even tried to revive lèse-majesté, threatening critics of his administration and its allies with legal and political sanctions. With Trump, it’s as if you crossed the bitter paranoia of Richard Nixon with the absolutist ideology of Charles I.

Today’s protesters, in other words, are standing for nothing less than the anti-royal and republican foundations of American democracy. For the leaders of the Republican Party, however, these aren’t citizens exercising their fundamental right to dissent but subversives out to undermine the fabric of the nation.

Our local protests in Ashland and Medford

Ashland’s “No Kings” Rally That Was Cancelled, Then Wasn’t Cancelled – A Thousand Came to Protest #1

Ashland’s “No Kings” Rally That Was Cancelled, Then Wasn’t Cancelled – A Thousand Came to Protest #2

Thousands line busy Medford thoroughfare for second ‘No Kings’ protest

And across the state…

‘No Kings’ rallies bring thousands to 50 communities across Oregon

And across the United States…

Crowds gather at anti-Trump “No Kings” rallies across the U.S., worldwide

‘No Kings’ protesters emerge en masse for anti-Trump rallies

Live updates: Thousands of No Kings protesters rally across Houston area

‘No Kings 2.0’ protest in Grand Junction

Boise, Idaho

And outside of the United States…

Thank you, Ireland!

Thank you, fellow patriots.

Fridaz Wandering Political Thoughts

Lemme get this right.

Blue states and blue cities are run by Democrats.

Trump hates Democrats.

Democrats are Americans. United States citizens.

So Trump hates Americans. United States citizens.

To prove the depths of his hatred of United States citizens, Trump is following a course to destroy United States blue cities.

First, he disrupted supply chains by breaking trade agreements and declaring outrageous tariffs. That slowed imports. That damaged business, business planning, and employment.

That severely affected farmers in rural areas. In red states. Which means the nation produces less food. Which drives up the cost of food. So more food needs to be imported. Like beef. But tariffs increase the costs of importing food. Like beef.

Right?

Trump then marched in national guard units to patrol city streets, but only in blue cities. Even though they were safe.

The Trump Regime threatened media outlets that are less than flattering to Trump. Trump threatened to take away licenses to broadcast if they are critical or factual in their reporting about what he’s doing. He threatened networks which allowed comedians to make fun of him.

In parallel, Trump expanded his ICE police force and filled cities with ICE in masks, with guns, to sow terror, grab people and disappear them, just as we’ve seen and read about happening in all those stories about nations led by dictators, or places like the Soviet Union, NAZI Germany, North Korea, and Red China. Without due process. Without evidence.

Right?

Trump began persecuting political opposition through DOJ. If a prosecutor failed to fall in line, they were removed and replaced. As we’ve read about happening in the Soviet Union. NAZI Germany. North Korea. Red China. And many other countries ruled by despots.

Then Trump installed federal law enforcement units to protect the storm troopers from Americans trying to save and help their fellow citizens.

How am I doing so far? Do I have this right?

And as Americans stand up to protest Trump and these actions, Trump and his mouthpieces like Ted Cruz, Mike Johnson, and JD Vance accuse these Americans of being anything and everything except Americans exercising their Constitutional rights.

Then, this self-declared law and order prezzy cut funding to fight terrorism and other crimes, pouring Federal monies into his maligned destruction campaign against blue states and cities.

But –

Most revenues in the United States come from blue states and cities.

Red states and cities are poorer. Proven fact. They receive more from the Federal government than they give. And red cities and states dominate the crime statistics.

Blue states and cities dominate as centers of education, research, technology, business, and trade.

The money these blue states and cities make are paid into Federal coffers as taxes and fees to support people in red states and cities.

Right?

If you destroy blue states and cities, make them unlivable with heavy military and law enforcement presence, and disrupt their business means, their revenue to the federal government will drop.

Which means the red states will get less money. Which means red state voters and children will have less food to eat, less healthcare, be less secure, and have less education. So, red state citizens will be sicker. Poorer. Unhealthier.

All this is supposed to ‘make America great again’?

Do I have that right?

This is Trump’s alternate world as designed by Project 2025.

The Federal government is made a political tool. Oppression through the government against citizens and the media is increased.

Citizens are turned against citizens. The voter systems are handicapped. Protest and criticism are attacked. Employment falls. Health and safety systems are dismantled. Education is crated. They recklessly and wantonly destroy our national heritage and censor history. Only white history matters in their world.

This is to make us as a nation, ‘greater’.

Right?

No.

It is clear. Trump hates the United States. As do the leaders and architects of Project 2025. They’re out to destroy the nation. And Mike Johnson, JD Vance, the Roberts Court, and the GOP are happy to stand by and let them.

No matter what it takes, no matter what it costs, no matter how illogical, depraved, illegal, immoral, inhumane, or un-American it is.

I mean, it is only logical and makes sense if Trump is trying to destroy the United States. Because the actions he takes against the blue states and cities will affect and damage the red states and cities. That means that all United States citizens will be affected. If they have wealth, they can rise above the fray. Like Trump. Vance. Johnson. Billionaires.

Did I get that right?

No Kings Reminder

Another No Kings series of rallys and protests are planned for October 18, 2025. Almost 2,500 such gatherings are planned.

They’re not being organized by antifa. They are antifa in nature because the Trump Regime is Profa. If you can, participate. Here are some news pieces from different cities and areas with more information.

Saturday, October 18, Millions Across Our Nation Will Stand Up to Say “NO KINGS!”

‘No Kings II’ rallies slated for Saturday across Rogue Valley

No Kings Day Protest – October 18, 2025 Reclaiming Democracy, Rejecting Authoritarianism

Jackson joins 100 ‘No Kings’ protests happening around Michigan

‘No Kings’ protests planned across rural southwest Missouri Saturday

Phoenix ‘No Kings’ protest: When, where, what to know

No Kings rally coming to Ashland’s Corner Park on Oct. 18

Another ‘No Kings’ Protest Planned In Newark

What to know about upcoming ‘No Kings’ protests

More ‘No Kings’ anti-Trump protests planned across California. See when and where

The “No Kings” Oct. 18 Protests: Locations, How To Attend, & More Info

Why are people protesting in Binghamton on Oct. 18? What to know about ‘No Kings’ rally

Richland County among 2,500 sites nationwide taking part in Oct. 18 No Kings protest

Another ‘No Kings’ Protest Planned In Bloomfield (What To Know)

‘No Kings’ Protests Planned This Weekend Across GA: What To Know

CT towns plan ‘No Kings’ protests against Trump administration

Second ‘No Kings Rally’ scheduled for Charleston

What to know about ‘No Kings’ rallies planned around Greater Akron on Saturday

Hornell Democrats holding ‘No Kings’ rally Oct. 18. Other events in Wellsville, Livingston

Oshkosh to host second No Kings rally Oct. 18. The first one drew around 1,500 people.

Manitowoc anti-Trump No Kings rally set for Oct. 18 at Washington Park

No Kings rallies: What to know about anti-Trump protests happening in the Wilmington area

‘Small town protest capital’ Salina preps for next No Kings rally

Denver No Kings Protest: When, Where, What to Know

‘No Kings’ Rally To Return To Morristown

Sheboygan ‘No Kings’ anti-Trump protest is set for Oct. 18 at Peace Park

Millions Expected to Attend ‘No Kings’ Protest on Oct. 18.



Twozdaz Wandering Political Thoughts

There are many news stories out there to concern and anger me about the Trump Destruction Machine. One points to how the Trump Regime repeats failed ideas while expecting different outcomes. Racism and sexism comes to mind, as does reckless huge tariffs, and giving tax breaks to the wealthy. None have panned out, except for very short terms. They are not sustainable.

Another of these is the Trump Death Machine’s attack on Venezuela boats, killing people without war being declared, without due process, without evidence. Trump is following a dangerous and problematic policy that has historic precedence. Policies like his led to terrorist attacks on the United States that culminated in the disaster immortalized under another Republican POTUS, 9/11. Sooner or later, some relatives or political leaders will say, “Fuck him,” and counterattack. I don’t need to engage much imagination to conceive of multiple deadly ways in which the United States can be struck. This is simply a losing course. Trump is too ignorant, shallow, and arrogant to understand.

The same can be said for Trump’s tariffs. It’s hilarious to read his reaction to China’s moves when they mirror what Trump has done and continues to do. It’s like Trump had no idea that other nations would not just bend the knee to him and do as he says — and not as he does. Paul Krugman has more lovely details about it. As Krugman points out, ‘”Gosh. Aggressive unilateral trade action is a “moral disgrace.” Who knew?’

Courts and judges are pushing back against Trump’s one-story vision of ‘blue’ cities teetering with destruction and violence. Trump claims they’re on fire, burning down, etc. The evidence isn’t there, but that doesn’t stop him. Just as with Trump’s hugely fake ‘the 2020 election was stolen’ campaign, where courts consistently ruled against him and his surrogates because the evidence for his claims were not there, the same result is happening as people take Trump to court for sending the military into Portland, Chicago, etc. The evidence is not there, and the courts are telling him so. The danger here is that the Roberts Court will take it up, shrug, and overturn these rulings without explaining why. We know why, of course; the Roberts Court is deeply implicit in trying to establish Trump as the first Dictator of the United States.

Turns out that MAGA and I have something in common. When Pete Hegseth, Trump’s proxy in the War Department, announced that Qatar would build a military base on U.S. soil, I reacted with a furious, “WTAF?” Apparently, MAGA reacted in the same way. Didn’t know that at the time, but I saw the spin a few hours later as the Trump Regime pretended, “No, that was fake news, Qatar is not building a U.S. military base. They’ll be hosted on a U.S. base, just as we do with other allies.”

MAGA balked at Team Trump’s Qatari air force base. So now it’s a ‘fake story.’ | Opinion

Finally, just as seen and predicted, with school back in and the Trump Regime virulently rising up against vaccinations, cases of measles are rising again.

More than 150 unvaccinated students quarantined in South Carolina measles outbreak

Minnesota’s measles case count jumps to 20, with most unvaccinated children

Central Ohio declares new measles outbreak linked to New Albany school district

Measles cases in the US continue to rise after already reaching highest count in 30 years

Don’t you we’re on the eve of destruction?

Who We Are

Nan has a post in which a letter writer reflects about who they are, which is an important component of what’s happening in the United States. It’s an important reminder. We are not terrorists; we are citizens exercising our freedom of speech and our freedom to assemble.

Donald Trump is against freedom of speech. He’s against us exercising our rights. He has explicitly said this.

As more “No Kings” protests are planned in the United States for October 18, 2025, to answer back to our servant, the POTUS known as Donald Trump, he and his people are busy slandering who we are, as noted in Annie’s post.

A Week Before the Biggest Public Protest Ever, the Regime Reveals Their Fear of US

Donald Trump’s House surrogate, Speaker Mike Johnson, said:

“The Antifa crowd and the pro-Hamas crowd and the Marxists, they’re all going to gather on the [Washington] Mall [in a] Hate America rally.”

He’s deliberately and falsely conflating threats and groups in order to stir fear in others. That is not who I am. I am not a Marxist. I am not ‘pro-Hamas’. I am a registered Democrat, a United States citizen, and a United States military veteran who served my country, the United States, for more than twenty years.

I detest the lies and slander Speaker keeps making about who I am.

An Independent article headline states,

Trump says ‘we took the freedom of speech away’ as officials compare Antifa to Hamas in White House roundtable

As United States citizens, we know that the President of the United States is not a king or ruler. We know the freedom of speech is one of the fundamental rights established by the United States Constitution. Donald Trump, no matter what office he holds, does not have the power to take freedom of speech away.

Speaking at the same meeting, Donald Trump said members of the group “have been very threatening to people, but we’re going to be very threatening to them, far more threatening to them than they ever were with us.”

“We’re going to be very threatening to them, far more threatening to them than they ever were with us.”

Trumps displays his ignorance about our rights and his role as in our republic. He makes it clear that he has no interest in any peaceful resolutions. He’s going to use strongarm tactics and escalate the violence against anyone who opposes him.

That is why he must be opposed. This is why it’s important that we protest. And the best way to protest is to stand up together and raise our voices as part and exercise our rights and freedoms as United States citizens. Find a protest on October 18, 2025 and join us.

Let them know who we are.



Satyrdaz Wandering Political Thoughts

TL/DR: Trump lies a lot. So does Speaker Mike Johnson. And they’re wrecking the United States. Also, an explanation of the TLLs.

GOP duplicity and hypocrisy increases. Not surprising, really. Duplicity and hypocrisy are not finite. Tariffs don’t affect their availability. Duplicity and hypocrisy are as cheap and free as words. With the Epstein Shutdown of 2025 diving toward unpopularity reaching MAGA’s levels of hatred for diversity, Trump and the GOP are lying more about it.

BTW, this is Trump’s third government shutdown in less than five years of running the government. Spell that out, Trump has had a government shutdown in three out of five years of governing. Such a weak leader, isn’t he?

Except, we know the Epstein Shutdown isn’t like the others. This shutdown is to, one, distract people from the Epstein files and stop their release so that all the dirt that Trump did with Epstein is kept hidden from the light.

The Smirketeers. Donald Trump, left, with Jeffrey Epstein, second from the right, BFFs.

Perhaps as importantly, the Epstein Shutdown gives cover to the Project 2025 architects, enabling them to orchestrate the MAGA takeover of the Federal government. They want only GOP loyalists in there. Anyone critical of Trump or the anti-Christ known as Charlie Kirk must go! Third, and even more importantly, Trump can barrel through the Constitution and its checks and balances and broaden the cold war he’s conducting against Democrats through Federal funding of projects in blue states and blue cities. It’s all pretty cunning evil, certainly worthy of another Austin Powers movie.

Here’s where the hypocrisy, duplicity, and well, general lying kicks in.

Trump says it’s all the evil Democrats’ fault. Claims, they want funding to give trillions away to illegal immigrants. That’s a bonafide Trump Lie Level 5 lie, or in net shorthand, a TLL5. Trump lies so often and completely, we’ve been forced to develop a scale to discuss his lies.

Trump Lie Levels Examples for Clarification:

TLL1: Trump’s lies about his golfing or his weight

TLL2: Trump lies about coming out with a healthcare plan to replace ACA

TLL3: The lies Trump told about $50 million in funding for Hamas condoms

TLL4: Trump’s lies about immigrants eating pets.

TLL5:  Democrats shut down the government because they want to give free health care to immigrants who entered the U.S. illegally, a lie Trump continually repeats.

Going along with Trump’s lie, Speaker Mike Johnson (R-Hell) is now praising the Federal government that he so often maligned. From Carl Hulse in the NYTimes.

Shutdown Politics Has G.O.P. Singing Government’s Praises

“You’re talking about women, infants and children who rely upon these supplemental nutrition programs that are now not being funded and being shut down,” Speaker Mike Johnson lamented on the Fox Business Network. “They are affecting FEMA services in the middle of the hurricane season.”

Never mind that Mr. Johnson led Republicans this year in pushing through legislation to slash nutrition assistance programs as part of the party’s marquee tax cut law, or that President Trump has taken an ax to FEMA grants during his first months in office.

In the upside-down political messaging surrounding the shutdown fight, conservative Republicans, usually eager to assail government largess, have transformed themselves into enthusiastic evangelists for federal spending and programs. It is part of a bid by the G.O.P. to maximize the pressure on Democrats, who routinely advocate for government workers and services, to relent in the spending battle.

Speaker Johnson pushes TLL5 lies out there, pretending he cares about people and how the government helps people. Johnson’s actions, as Carl Hulse pointed out, Speaker Johnson has consistently and cruelly demonstrated that he does not give a shit about anyone but Trump and whoever will help keep Trump and the GOP in power as they destroy the United States in all but name.

The truth is the Democrats want the CR being offered to include provisions to stop healthcare premiums from rising. The GOP under the Trump and Johnson tandem put those into effect in Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill passed earlier this year. Even Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is outraged about it.

Greene ‘disgusted’ if health care tax credits expire and premiums double

We need to vote these liars out of office. Stand up and be heard. Wake up those who are sleeping through the Trump Destruction Machine and what it’s doing to the United States. The longer it takes to wake others up and stop the destruction, the longer it’ll take to rebuild and resume our effort to be a democracy with justice, freedom, and equality for all.

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