How many times and people can Donald Trump threaten with being primaried, being sued, being
Laid with massive tariffs??? It’s exhausting and eventually no longer holds any fear, because if fear is the point…even that becomes exhausting. It can’t hold. It will wear everyone down to the point they no longer live in fear. They will all start turning on each other,as it is just beginning.
Charlie Sykes, I used to listen to you on your radio show. I cannot believe how unhinged you sound about Trump. Your myopia knows no bounds. The Democrats and Biden/Harris are so corrupt and broken, and you wanted them in for 4 more years? Bret Stephens from the NYT seems to see his shared Trump Derangement Syndrome that the Never Trumpers suffer from. Perhaps you could read his "Done With Never Trump" for a few pointers. Love the dogs though!!
Trump and Hitler: Frail Leaders, Big Lies, and the Press Under Siege
Donald Trump’s latest tantrum against the press—threatening lawsuits and jail for journalists—is a sad echo of Adolf Hitler's more violent war on media freedom. Trump, like Hitler, cannot abide criticism. Both men, frail and insecure, have decided that the best way to protect their fragile egos is by attacking the very foundation of democracy: a free press.
Trump has launched a series of defamation lawsuits against media outlets he dislikes, including one against ABC over a factual error and another against the Des Moines Register for publishing a poll he didn’t like. It's a classic move for a man who can’t handle the truth: if the press doesn't bow to you, sue them into submission. But Trump's strategy isn't just about seeking justice—it’s about using the legal system to drown out dissent. And with his pick for FBI director promising retribution against journalists, the chilling effect is already here.
Hitler, meanwhile, didn’t bother with lawsuits. He simply seized control. The Reich Press Law of 1933 turned independent journalism into state-approved propaganda, and anyone who resisted was either silenced or executed. No lawsuits needed—just the brute force of a regime that crushed free speech under the weight of its own delusions of grandeur. The Nazis even had their own term for “fake news”: Lügenpresse (lying press), a phrase weaponized to delegitimize dissent and discredit the media entirely.
Both leaders, in their own ways, use the media as a scapegoat for their insecurities. Trump calls the press “fake news” whenever it dares to report facts he dislikes, just as Hitler's Reich Ministry of Propaganda spun every inconvenient truth into a lie. Neither man can stomach the idea that their weak, insecure leadership might actually be questioned.
Tyranny doesn’t spring up overnight; it’s built piece by piece, first with threats and then with silence. Trump and Hitler are cut from the same cloth: insecure, petty men who would rather rule with fear than face the truth. Their war on the press is the first step in eroding democracy itself—and it must be resisted at all costs.
Will there be a central hotline to report professors who make disloyal statements (i.e., criticisms of Trump, or of Trump administration policies, or noting negative consequences thereof)?
The Orange Oracle is who he is. He’ll have his fun, he’ll grift from anyone and everyone. He’s not interested in doing anything to better anyone but himself. Those who voted for him thinking they would be exempt from removal, or that he’d fix the price of groceries will find out soon enough there are no exceptions. His lies will blow up around him. Tariffs will adversely affect the US, allies, and enemies alike. The Trump house of cards will collapse. Maybe partly by the midterms. His new tech friends are out for themselves. They don’t give damn about Trump. Patience folks!!! Trump’s “Waterloo” will arrive and this time he’ll pay. Greed and stupidity will be his undoing ultimately.
Firstly, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those who perished yesterday in the senseless shootings in Wisconsin and elsewhere in our country. May their memories forever be a blessing.
Also, I want to expand on something that Charlie wrote about last week regarding the insatiable appetite for immediate gratification among the American people. He mentioned the Aldolus Huxley 1932 classic novel Brave New World in this article, and I thought his comments were quite prescient.
Part of the reason why I believe Democrats performed poorly in the 2024 elections, besides not taking the material quality of life concerns of many of their long time voters seriously, having snooty attitudes and being unwilling to engage around certain cultural issues, and being unwilling to play hardball and brawl with Republicans (verbally of course) is because our freedoms and democratic institutions and technology has led to a need constant need for instant gratification.
These have been by exploited by the far-right for many years and no one was better than Trump at doing this. In a democracy, someone is always criticizing their opponents even when it is not warranted and promising greener grass when it is not necessary or possible. And technology in the way of social media makes this very easy to do.
Our freedoms and democratic institutions have bred complacency because it is very quite easy to take something for granted that one has never had to struggle or sacrifice for. People assume that because something has always been there it always will be.
This is a very dangerous mentality to have when it comes to one’s personal rights and freedoms because they can very easily be taken away, as the American people will soon find out. There is a reason Thomas Jefferson said “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Why Americans have so many rights and freedoms is because of the sacrifices of the many generations of Americans that have become before them.
Social media has been used by Trump and his fascist mullahs to turn people who may have been a little bit racist a lot more racist and has led to many of them becoming so radicalized that they may be never be willing to change their odious views. The inflation over the last three years has led to more people than usual being willing to give authoritarianism a try, look for simplistic solutions to complex problems, and scapegoat others or has made them indifferent to these negative things.
In short, Trump has used the freedoms and democratic institutions of the United States and the technology that has given the American people the highest quality of life in the world to convince many or them that freedom and democracy suck.
Sadly, the American people are likely going to discover very quickly after the gates of hell open on January 20, 2025 how good they had it and say to themselves the lyrics of that old Cinderella song from the 1980s “You don’t know what you got till it’s gone,” even more so than in 2018 and 2020 when Trump and his MAGA mullahs were last rejected by them.
Their goal is a world where no one speaks ill of Trump ever, and if they do they are prosecuted. Trump is God like. Trump, is untouchable.Trump is the word the light and the glory.
As a psychologist, I can state that the judge is correct: that IS how we define rape. The fact that these legal wranglings have somehow managed to obscure the horrific nature of his crime is devastating to victims everywhere. We continue to normalize cruel and predatory behavior. As for the capitulation of corporate media, there doesn’t seem to be much that consumers can do, but we CAN choose to follow independent journalists like you, and we CAN spread the word to everyone we know that substack is a place to find reliable, in depth reporting. Thank you!
"Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, of Rochester, retweeted a comment by U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, which said universities should be teaching students how to think, not what to think." Just wondering if these folks ever heard of the New College of Florida? Hypocrisy still reigns supreme in the republican party.
As for what Disney did, it was awful, both the capitulation and the effect of putting another $15 million dollars in the conman's pocket. t***p is already profiting handsomely from being president even before he is. The happiest people in this sorry outcome would be t***p's lawyers as the judge ordered ABC to pay them. Though I imagine t***p will demand a cut of even that.
Let me add this video where the head of SoftBank bows and scrapes before Dear Leader. This is what we have become. And conservative sites like NR are crowing. So - to Charlie... what did you folks achieve? You are all to blame. The video: https://youtu.be/ndvReiq7pgA?si=nGPqnTlVFav3U-q1
Respectfully I disagree with blaming Charlie, or the Bulwark, or any other independent media that did all they could to tell people the truth. The blame for the horror we are about to endure falls squarely on the people who voted for t***p, all of them. They were shown the truth and refused. Do not blame the messengers.
Ok sure. But the voters were led by a simplified message on right wing media - from Fox to the ever present talk radio. The blame is diffuse and Charlie has reformed, but the simple messages absorbed by average folks are (for me) the fruit of years of crafting a simple lie. Or set of lies. Even now on the Bulwark, they almost never discuss policy but instead talk messaging. Dems talk policy, the right talks message. I am disgusted with the voters too.
Please remember that Kamala ran a campaign for President in 107 days while Trump has been running for over 3000 days AND she only lost the popular vote by 1 1/2 % and less than a % In Wisconsin, PA, Michigan.
Who on earth could have done that up against a lying, predator, thief of Top Secret documents and fomenter of an Insurrection of his own country while being the greatest performative candidate ever who knew exactly how to play victim in an assassination. Who else could do that, I ask you???
This surrender by ABC only encourages a destructive individual to continue on his daily chaos of fear and retribution. We need other government officials to stand up and defend the rights of the citizens who did not support the felon. I agonized every day for four years during Trump 1.0 and dread the coming nightmares!
How many times and people can Donald Trump threaten with being primaried, being sued, being
Laid with massive tariffs??? It’s exhausting and eventually no longer holds any fear, because if fear is the point…even that becomes exhausting. It can’t hold. It will wear everyone down to the point they no longer live in fear. They will all start turning on each other,as it is just beginning.
Trumpland has disqualified Fani Ellis from the Georgia case. And so it goes. . .
Charlie Sykes, I used to listen to you on your radio show. I cannot believe how unhinged you sound about Trump. Your myopia knows no bounds. The Democrats and Biden/Harris are so corrupt and broken, and you wanted them in for 4 more years? Bret Stephens from the NYT seems to see his shared Trump Derangement Syndrome that the Never Trumpers suffer from. Perhaps you could read his "Done With Never Trump" for a few pointers. Love the dogs though!!
Please delineate this "corruption." I'm assuming that someone whose handle is "Joe" is a bot, but you can prove me wrong.
Very handsome boys. Thank you for sharing.
Trump and Hitler: Frail Leaders, Big Lies, and the Press Under Siege
Donald Trump’s latest tantrum against the press—threatening lawsuits and jail for journalists—is a sad echo of Adolf Hitler's more violent war on media freedom. Trump, like Hitler, cannot abide criticism. Both men, frail and insecure, have decided that the best way to protect their fragile egos is by attacking the very foundation of democracy: a free press.
Trump has launched a series of defamation lawsuits against media outlets he dislikes, including one against ABC over a factual error and another against the Des Moines Register for publishing a poll he didn’t like. It's a classic move for a man who can’t handle the truth: if the press doesn't bow to you, sue them into submission. But Trump's strategy isn't just about seeking justice—it’s about using the legal system to drown out dissent. And with his pick for FBI director promising retribution against journalists, the chilling effect is already here.
Hitler, meanwhile, didn’t bother with lawsuits. He simply seized control. The Reich Press Law of 1933 turned independent journalism into state-approved propaganda, and anyone who resisted was either silenced or executed. No lawsuits needed—just the brute force of a regime that crushed free speech under the weight of its own delusions of grandeur. The Nazis even had their own term for “fake news”: Lügenpresse (lying press), a phrase weaponized to delegitimize dissent and discredit the media entirely.
Both leaders, in their own ways, use the media as a scapegoat for their insecurities. Trump calls the press “fake news” whenever it dares to report facts he dislikes, just as Hitler's Reich Ministry of Propaganda spun every inconvenient truth into a lie. Neither man can stomach the idea that their weak, insecure leadership might actually be questioned.
Tyranny doesn’t spring up overnight; it’s built piece by piece, first with threats and then with silence. Trump and Hitler are cut from the same cloth: insecure, petty men who would rather rule with fear than face the truth. Their war on the press is the first step in eroding democracy itself—and it must be resisted at all costs.
For a deeper look into how Trump’s tactics echo those of pre-WWII Hitler, read my full article here: https://substack.com/home/post/p-153103008.
It explores their shared strategies of exploiting grievances, manipulating followers, and undermining democracy.
Subscribe for more insights on the dangerous rise of authoritarianism and the fight to protect our freedoms.
Thank you for the dog pictures and updates; it truly is the little things that sustain me.
Will there be a central hotline to report professors who make disloyal statements (i.e., criticisms of Trump, or of Trump administration policies, or noting negative consequences thereof)?
Like I've said before - bring on the tariffs. High prices are the only way the morons will take notice.
But they will believe it is Biden's fault somehow. Though I agree with you about the pain.
The Orange Oracle is who he is. He’ll have his fun, he’ll grift from anyone and everyone. He’s not interested in doing anything to better anyone but himself. Those who voted for him thinking they would be exempt from removal, or that he’d fix the price of groceries will find out soon enough there are no exceptions. His lies will blow up around him. Tariffs will adversely affect the US, allies, and enemies alike. The Trump house of cards will collapse. Maybe partly by the midterms. His new tech friends are out for themselves. They don’t give damn about Trump. Patience folks!!! Trump’s “Waterloo” will arrive and this time he’ll pay. Greed and stupidity will be his undoing ultimately.
Why would you think anything will be left by that time? This is a swarm of locusts and killer bees sweeping everything away. I see no barriers.
From your lips to God's ears.
Firstly, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the loved ones of those who perished yesterday in the senseless shootings in Wisconsin and elsewhere in our country. May their memories forever be a blessing.
Also, I want to expand on something that Charlie wrote about last week regarding the insatiable appetite for immediate gratification among the American people. He mentioned the Aldolus Huxley 1932 classic novel Brave New World in this article, and I thought his comments were quite prescient.
Part of the reason why I believe Democrats performed poorly in the 2024 elections, besides not taking the material quality of life concerns of many of their long time voters seriously, having snooty attitudes and being unwilling to engage around certain cultural issues, and being unwilling to play hardball and brawl with Republicans (verbally of course) is because our freedoms and democratic institutions and technology has led to a need constant need for instant gratification.
These have been by exploited by the far-right for many years and no one was better than Trump at doing this. In a democracy, someone is always criticizing their opponents even when it is not warranted and promising greener grass when it is not necessary or possible. And technology in the way of social media makes this very easy to do.
Our freedoms and democratic institutions have bred complacency because it is very quite easy to take something for granted that one has never had to struggle or sacrifice for. People assume that because something has always been there it always will be.
This is a very dangerous mentality to have when it comes to one’s personal rights and freedoms because they can very easily be taken away, as the American people will soon find out. There is a reason Thomas Jefferson said “Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty.” Why Americans have so many rights and freedoms is because of the sacrifices of the many generations of Americans that have become before them.
Social media has been used by Trump and his fascist mullahs to turn people who may have been a little bit racist a lot more racist and has led to many of them becoming so radicalized that they may be never be willing to change their odious views. The inflation over the last three years has led to more people than usual being willing to give authoritarianism a try, look for simplistic solutions to complex problems, and scapegoat others or has made them indifferent to these negative things.
In short, Trump has used the freedoms and democratic institutions of the United States and the technology that has given the American people the highest quality of life in the world to convince many or them that freedom and democracy suck.
Sadly, the American people are likely going to discover very quickly after the gates of hell open on January 20, 2025 how good they had it and say to themselves the lyrics of that old Cinderella song from the 1980s “You don’t know what you got till it’s gone,” even more so than in 2018 and 2020 when Trump and his MAGA mullahs were last rejected by them.
Kol Tuv,
David Hurwitz
Chicago, IL
Charlie,
Once again I agree with every word you wrote in this article… and just when I thought I could not respect not only ABC ANY LESS plus …
Zuckerberg and The Amazon guy any less they gave him a million dollars for the inauguration.
Pl-lease. That just lends itself to the a$& kissing going on now. It makes me sick to witness.
Their goal is a world where no one speaks ill of Trump ever, and if they do they are prosecuted. Trump is God like. Trump, is untouchable.Trump is the word the light and the glory.
Whose crap makes me so 😫 sick.
As a psychologist, I can state that the judge is correct: that IS how we define rape. The fact that these legal wranglings have somehow managed to obscure the horrific nature of his crime is devastating to victims everywhere. We continue to normalize cruel and predatory behavior. As for the capitulation of corporate media, there doesn’t seem to be much that consumers can do, but we CAN choose to follow independent journalists like you, and we CAN spread the word to everyone we know that substack is a place to find reliable, in depth reporting. Thank you!
"Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, of Rochester, retweeted a comment by U.S. Rep. Bryan Steil, which said universities should be teaching students how to think, not what to think." Just wondering if these folks ever heard of the New College of Florida? Hypocrisy still reigns supreme in the republican party.
As for what Disney did, it was awful, both the capitulation and the effect of putting another $15 million dollars in the conman's pocket. t***p is already profiting handsomely from being president even before he is. The happiest people in this sorry outcome would be t***p's lawyers as the judge ordered ABC to pay them. Though I imagine t***p will demand a cut of even that.
Let me add this video where the head of SoftBank bows and scrapes before Dear Leader. This is what we have become. And conservative sites like NR are crowing. So - to Charlie... what did you folks achieve? You are all to blame. The video: https://youtu.be/ndvReiq7pgA?si=nGPqnTlVFav3U-q1
Respectfully I disagree with blaming Charlie, or the Bulwark, or any other independent media that did all they could to tell people the truth. The blame for the horror we are about to endure falls squarely on the people who voted for t***p, all of them. They were shown the truth and refused. Do not blame the messengers.
Ok sure. But the voters were led by a simplified message on right wing media - from Fox to the ever present talk radio. The blame is diffuse and Charlie has reformed, but the simple messages absorbed by average folks are (for me) the fruit of years of crafting a simple lie. Or set of lies. Even now on the Bulwark, they almost never discuss policy but instead talk messaging. Dems talk policy, the right talks message. I am disgusted with the voters too.
Please remember that Kamala ran a campaign for President in 107 days while Trump has been running for over 3000 days AND she only lost the popular vote by 1 1/2 % and less than a % In Wisconsin, PA, Michigan.
Who on earth could have done that up against a lying, predator, thief of Top Secret documents and fomenter of an Insurrection of his own country while being the greatest performative candidate ever who knew exactly how to play victim in an assassination. Who else could do that, I ask you???
This surrender by ABC only encourages a destructive individual to continue on his daily chaos of fear and retribution. We need other government officials to stand up and defend the rights of the citizens who did not support the felon. I agonized every day for four years during Trump 1.0 and dread the coming nightmares!