Pity the poor parodists. How can they possibly compete in a world where this is an actual headline: “Hegseth orders makeup studio installed at Pentagon?” Or this: “Hegseth had Signal messaging app installed on an office computer”?
On today’s “To the Contrary” Podcast, Paul Rieckhoff and I discuss the witless reign of the chode installed by Donald Trump as Secretary of Defense — and speculate about his fate. Paul is the founder of Independent Veterans of America and the host of the “Independent Americans” podcast. You can watch or listen right here or on YouTube / Listen (and subscribe) on Apple/ Spotify / iHeart / RSS Feed.
Meanwhile, let’s catch up a bit on the chaos, corruption, and general madness:
Axios: Musk vs. Bessent dispute erupted into West Wing shouting match
Elon Musk’s grip on government via DOGE unraveled as Tesla stock sank - The Washington Post
Trump channels Putin propaganda as he prepares to abandon Ukraine1
NYT: Russia Pummels Kyiv Amid U.S. Threats to Abandon Peace Talks
Politico: Trump to host dinner with top holders of his meme coin 2
Pew: Trump’s approval rating drops to 40%, which puts him on track to make some history.
Happy Thursday.
I’m frequently asked: What can we do? How can we fight back? How can we get through this? How can we stay sane?
One answer: Subscribe to the independent voices out there. I know that there are a lot of claims on your time and your wallet, but this should be on your list:
Support the voices that are supporting democracy, the rule of law, free speech, and fundamental decency.
Nota bene
Tom Nichols: Trump’s Plan to Sell Out Ukraine to Russia - The Atlantic [Gift link]:
Trump’s proposal would functionally destroy Ukraine, which would limp away from the deal as a vulnerable rump state, shorn of some 20 percent of its territory and millions of its citizens. It would cede control over its foreign policy by promising never to join NATO—an ironic Russian demand, given how starkly Putin’s invasion has reminded the world why alliances such as NATO must continue to exist. But NATO membership is a distant issue compared with the immediate problem: If Kyiv agrees to Trump’s proposal, whatever is left of the Ukrainian state will soon be an easy target for the Kremlin.
Once the Russian economy recovers and Russia’s forces catch their breath, Putin will finish the job of conquering Ukraine with even greater vengeance and violence. Time and space are on Moscow’s side, and Trump intends to give Putin plenty of both.
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NYT: They Criticized Musk on X. Then Their Reach Collapsed. [Gift link]
The New York Times found three users on X who feuded with Mr. Musk in December only to see their reach on the social platform practically vanish overnight. The accounts are the starkest signs yet that Mr. Musk or others at the company have the power to punish critics and that they may be willing to use it, startling free speech advocates who hoped that the billionaire would be their champion.
Concerns about Mr. Musk’s influence have grown alongside his political ambitions as one of President Trump’s closest allies. He has also set his sights on boosting far-right politics across the world.
We all need some extra dog pictures today, don’t we?
Springtime for Auggie
Eli stands watch amid our bird feeders.
Keeping watch on the turkeys in the woods.
It’s genuinely hard to imagine that this would sound any different if it had been issued directly from the Kremlin.
Corruption in broad daylight.
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