Great about having Andrew Mcabe on. He’s great Seasoned. Led the FBI investigation in the Boston Marathon bombing. Asha I’m so sorry to read you had threats from the trump lunatics. It’s upsetting. Keep doing what you’re doing!! I wasn’t kidding when I said you’re doing what people would have said in past timed the lord’s work. You’re vitally important. Stay
I listened to the podcast on my bike, on the way back from Pilates class, riding through my Dutch city getting ready for King's day, and I almost shouted 'Noooooo!' when you mentioned that Tucker Carlson might run for president.... Noooo! Please! Not that. Though I guess I'm grateful to you for steeling us for that possibility. But still... I don't want him to.
Thx for "Ding Dong", of course, and also "adjudicated rapist". Can't wait to protest Trump appearances with THAT sign. Except I'd be putting my life in danger, so I'll have to find another way. I've closed my Twitter account. Suggestions, anyone?
Still, how many Trump supporters will be swayed by that? They are Cleopatras - Queens of Denial. Impervious, I said, above.
Also thanks for your Zocalo piece. I'm adding that to my disinformation and propaganda bibliography.
And, re Carlson, I heard from Amanda Carpenter on a Bulwark podcast that Fox owns him until his contract runs out, so no monitizing until then. Same thing happened to O'Reilly when he was fired.
In my 35 years in this country, I have seen it from a high of Clinton years (assault weapons ban, balanced budget with surplus, information super highway as a precursor to the Internet as we know it today, big tech) to a low of the lowest now, large-scale corruption everywhere, mass shooting everyday, harassment of the vulnerable (yes, women are included in that) like the middle ages, and celebration of the stupid and the ignorant masses resembling neanderthals, and on and on. How did the most powerful, wealthy, mostly rational nation become like this in one (or half) lifetime? And, we have not hit bottom yet. This can only happen because the nation is being eaten alive bit by bit by its own citizens who are lacking in all respects (I just can't imagine why or how the Boeberts and the MTGs and their other not so vocal but equally depraved colleagues are getting elected). At some point, we have to start shaming the voters who elect these corrupt mfers and slapping some sense into their veins - if they have any national pride and self respect, they must realize that whatever this is that they are voting for is not going to help the country prosper.
IMHO the American culture jumped the shark when it began celebrating the humiliation of others. That’s bound to be destructive. There was a spate of tv shows starting in the early 2000’s that featured people laughing at other people’s pain.
Reality TV did a lot of harm... but frankly, I am tired of academic exercises on why these people are driven to behave the way they do. I also wonder if talking about fascism and democracy is too abstract for some of these people. Maybe asking them if they want to live in a country run by Taliban-like will do the trick instead. Maybe start doing concrete things that would peel away the ones we can from this nightmare. I saw a TV ad that had a dad and a son in the car in front of a synagogue with the dad telling the son to go there and tell them that Hitler was right to their faces. I saw another clip where this activist was filming some group who cover their faces saying why are they afraid to show their faces. Maddow showed another such group in OH last night and the purported leader of that group seemed insane. Maybe the media could dig into who is funding these groups -- easy money for these young people. Media could do so much more but of course, they don't. I just heard on Morning Joe this woman saying it will reflect badly on Biden if he does not cave to the Maga crowd in the House about debt ceiling -- how about telling the viewers what GOP did for the debt ceiling during trump years and how they look like hostage takers now and what their crazy demands are. I want to see a more concerted effort from every quarter to right this ship.
I agree. I don't know what the solution here is. A robust media (which we don't have) would have 'shamed' these people and the people who use these people. We need a few credible voices to paint the BIG picture of what will happen if this continues and they gain more power -- what will the country look like? We have to start talking about that. Scare them! Many of the things going on in the red states are crazy enough to make certain third world countries seem smart and progressive.
I don't think the solution is to scare them. They are already inebriated with fear of the secular Left taking over and punishing them. That's what the Rs, led by Trump, peddle.
The more I think about it, the more I think the only thing we can do as Americans is understand our fellow Americans' fear. Like a frightened animal - you slowly coax them into accepting eating out of your hand. It takes a long time to build trust with an anxious animal. Nothing else I've seen seems to reach them. Maybe electoral losses over a number of years will.
Rather than fighting them - they ARE our fellow Americans - I think we need to understand what is driving them. What do the Trumpers fear??? We first need to understand that. I'm have no idea of how to do that on a national scale. For previous authoritarian governments who peddled fear to build their power base, meaning the Nazis, they had to be roundly defeated in war at a cost of many, many human lives.
I think they fear being replaced by the non-white, non-religious trends in our country's demography.
By 'scare them' I was referring to what the country will look like if we continue on this path. Do they want a Sudan in their future? Do they want a Taliban in their future jailing/ostracizing women and other vulnerable population? Maybe hyperbolic but in my 35 years here, it has gone from a democracy run by pretty smart people to half the country favoring authoritarianism now. It should scare everyone.
Understood. But I don't think it will scare them, because if they're the tyrants, they don't mind tyrrany. If the country is jailing/ostracizing women having abortions, that is fine with them.
Well, we can only hope that we can separate ordinary citizens caught up in this anger farming from tyrants/enablers/grifters when consequences are spelled out clearly. Tyrants (the GOP) are of course dreaming about the US becoming a Russia or a China or an Iran or even Taliban. I didn't give up my other citizenship for this. And boy, am I glad everyday that I don't have children. Uprooting oneself to a distant country by choice is one thing but forced to leave behind children to suffer the consequences is a guilt I won't have.
It is totally unacceptable that these loonies get elected. I just can’t imagine how anyone can go into a voting booth and cast a ballot for them. It’s downright cult like!
Yesterday I watched a video clip of Arnold Schwarzenegger (conservative Republican) predicting that Trump will be the GOP candidate in 2024; however he predicted that may be a good thing for the party because there’s no way that he can win and this will hasten the collapse of the MAGA movement and the return of the Republican Party to its traditional conservative values (e.g., Reagan, Bushes). Let’s hope Arnold is correct!!!
Truly amazed that sponsors of Fox News haven't bolted en mass. I can't imagine that any company would want their brand to be associated with them. Looking fwd to Andy McCabe!
Great about having Andrew Mcabe on. He’s great Seasoned. Led the FBI investigation in the Boston Marathon bombing. Asha I’m so sorry to read you had threats from the trump lunatics. It’s upsetting. Keep doing what you’re doing!! I wasn’t kidding when I said you’re doing what people would have said in past timed the lord’s work. You’re vitally important. Stay
Perfect reaction “Ding Dong” at least feels good for the moment. Thanks!
Looking forward to hearing Andy McCabe. Thank you Asha!!! You are so on target!
FYI, I listen to Andy McCable weekly on "JACK: A Special Counsel Podcast" with Allison Gill (https://mswmedia.com/show/jack-a-special-counsel-podcast/). I learn a LOT!
Wow - great wrap for a busy week. An extra pour of red wine and some extra crispy fries are well deserved. Thank you.
Asha, it's a Cab Franc for me tonight at dinner, in honor of your great wrap!
Didn’t mean to finish yet. But you get my intentions. Stay on it! You’re doing important work!!!👍👍👍
The ad before the Ding Dong was regarding constipation. May Tucker have a pout of constipation 😜
I listened to the podcast on my bike, on the way back from Pilates class, riding through my Dutch city getting ready for King's day, and I almost shouted 'Noooooo!' when you mentioned that Tucker Carlson might run for president.... Noooo! Please! Not that. Though I guess I'm grateful to you for steeling us for that possibility. But still... I don't want him to.
Thx for "Ding Dong", of course, and also "adjudicated rapist". Can't wait to protest Trump appearances with THAT sign. Except I'd be putting my life in danger, so I'll have to find another way. I've closed my Twitter account. Suggestions, anyone?
Still, how many Trump supporters will be swayed by that? They are Cleopatras - Queens of Denial. Impervious, I said, above.
Also thanks for your Zocalo piece. I'm adding that to my disinformation and propaganda bibliography.
And, re Carlson, I heard from Amanda Carpenter on a Bulwark podcast that Fox owns him until his contract runs out, so no monitizing until then. Same thing happened to O'Reilly when he was fired.
In my 35 years in this country, I have seen it from a high of Clinton years (assault weapons ban, balanced budget with surplus, information super highway as a precursor to the Internet as we know it today, big tech) to a low of the lowest now, large-scale corruption everywhere, mass shooting everyday, harassment of the vulnerable (yes, women are included in that) like the middle ages, and celebration of the stupid and the ignorant masses resembling neanderthals, and on and on. How did the most powerful, wealthy, mostly rational nation become like this in one (or half) lifetime? And, we have not hit bottom yet. This can only happen because the nation is being eaten alive bit by bit by its own citizens who are lacking in all respects (I just can't imagine why or how the Boeberts and the MTGs and their other not so vocal but equally depraved colleagues are getting elected). At some point, we have to start shaming the voters who elect these corrupt mfers and slapping some sense into their veins - if they have any national pride and self respect, they must realize that whatever this is that they are voting for is not going to help the country prosper.
IMHO the American culture jumped the shark when it began celebrating the humiliation of others. That’s bound to be destructive. There was a spate of tv shows starting in the early 2000’s that featured people laughing at other people’s pain.
Reality TV did a lot of harm... but frankly, I am tired of academic exercises on why these people are driven to behave the way they do. I also wonder if talking about fascism and democracy is too abstract for some of these people. Maybe asking them if they want to live in a country run by Taliban-like will do the trick instead. Maybe start doing concrete things that would peel away the ones we can from this nightmare. I saw a TV ad that had a dad and a son in the car in front of a synagogue with the dad telling the son to go there and tell them that Hitler was right to their faces. I saw another clip where this activist was filming some group who cover their faces saying why are they afraid to show their faces. Maddow showed another such group in OH last night and the purported leader of that group seemed insane. Maybe the media could dig into who is funding these groups -- easy money for these young people. Media could do so much more but of course, they don't. I just heard on Morning Joe this woman saying it will reflect badly on Biden if he does not cave to the Maga crowd in the House about debt ceiling -- how about telling the viewers what GOP did for the debt ceiling during trump years and how they look like hostage takers now and what their crazy demands are. I want to see a more concerted effort from every quarter to right this ship.
Sorry to say, but good luck with that. They are shameless, just like their hero. Impervious to any appeals, like the truth.
I agree. I don't know what the solution here is. A robust media (which we don't have) would have 'shamed' these people and the people who use these people. We need a few credible voices to paint the BIG picture of what will happen if this continues and they gain more power -- what will the country look like? We have to start talking about that. Scare them! Many of the things going on in the red states are crazy enough to make certain third world countries seem smart and progressive.
I don't think the solution is to scare them. They are already inebriated with fear of the secular Left taking over and punishing them. That's what the Rs, led by Trump, peddle.
The more I think about it, the more I think the only thing we can do as Americans is understand our fellow Americans' fear. Like a frightened animal - you slowly coax them into accepting eating out of your hand. It takes a long time to build trust with an anxious animal. Nothing else I've seen seems to reach them. Maybe electoral losses over a number of years will.
Rather than fighting them - they ARE our fellow Americans - I think we need to understand what is driving them. What do the Trumpers fear??? We first need to understand that. I'm have no idea of how to do that on a national scale. For previous authoritarian governments who peddled fear to build their power base, meaning the Nazis, they had to be roundly defeated in war at a cost of many, many human lives.
I think they fear being replaced by the non-white, non-religious trends in our country's demography.
By 'scare them' I was referring to what the country will look like if we continue on this path. Do they want a Sudan in their future? Do they want a Taliban in their future jailing/ostracizing women and other vulnerable population? Maybe hyperbolic but in my 35 years here, it has gone from a democracy run by pretty smart people to half the country favoring authoritarianism now. It should scare everyone.
Understood. But I don't think it will scare them, because if they're the tyrants, they don't mind tyrrany. If the country is jailing/ostracizing women having abortions, that is fine with them.
Well, we can only hope that we can separate ordinary citizens caught up in this anger farming from tyrants/enablers/grifters when consequences are spelled out clearly. Tyrants (the GOP) are of course dreaming about the US becoming a Russia or a China or an Iran or even Taliban. I didn't give up my other citizenship for this. And boy, am I glad everyday that I don't have children. Uprooting oneself to a distant country by choice is one thing but forced to leave behind children to suffer the consequences is a guilt I won't have.
I know. It’s frightening, and like an aggressive cancer it devours all sense and reason.
It is totally unacceptable that these loonies get elected. I just can’t imagine how anyone can go into a voting booth and cast a ballot for them. It’s downright cult like!
Yesterday I watched a video clip of Arnold Schwarzenegger (conservative Republican) predicting that Trump will be the GOP candidate in 2024; however he predicted that may be a good thing for the party because there’s no way that he can win and this will hasten the collapse of the MAGA movement and the return of the Republican Party to its traditional conservative values (e.g., Reagan, Bushes). Let’s hope Arnold is correct!!!
Truly amazed that sponsors of Fox News haven't bolted en mass. I can't imagine that any company would want their brand to be associated with them. Looking fwd to Andy McCabe!
Unfortunately, just as in TWoO, there is yet another person to take over (and more evil).
forget to be honest for goodness sake
What does Carlson do with the 40,000hrs of vid footage now? Does the network give them to NARA? Thank you
with the flower moon coming Friday evening this week ought to be a good one