Democracy for Sale

Tag: National Security

  • Trump’s Fake Invasion and the Shredding of Our Constitution

    Trump’s Fake Invasion and the Shredding of Our Constitution

    by Rob C.

    Donald Trump has declared an “invasion” at the southern border—again. Not because there’s an actual military threat, but because he needs a legal excuse to set the Constitution on fire and call it law and order. If immigrants are “invaders,” then he thinks he can skip over that pesky part of the Constitution that says people have rights. You know, habeas corpus—the rule that says the government can’t just toss you in a cell without a trial. It’s kind of the cornerstone of democracy. But Trump’s take? “Too much paperwork.”

    He says we don’t have enough judges to process asylum claims, so his solution is simple: abolish due process altogether. Just round up millions of people and deport them without a trial. Boom. Dictator checklist… Done ✅.

    But he’s not stopping with undocumented immigrants. Now it’s legal residents in the crosshairs. Green card holders. Refugees. People who’ve lived here for decades. And what makes them dangerous? Not crimes—opinions. If your politics lean left, if you criticize Trump, if you once said “Black Lives Matter” out loud, suddenly you’re a threat to national security.

    This is ideological cleansing, wrapped in red, white, and blue. The First Amendment is now conditional on how many flags you fly in your Twitter bio.

    And behind it all? Stephen Miller, the man who makes Dracula look like a golden retriever. A lifelong white nationalist with a law degree and a grudge. He’s spent his career crafting policies that make cruelty a feature, not a bug. He’s the guy behind family separations, Muslim bans, and now, mass raids and detentions with no trials. Because when Stephen Miller looks at the Constitution, he sees a to-do list of things to destroy.

    Meanwhile, Trump suddenly discovers his big, beautiful heart when it comes to white South African farmers—the same Afrikaners who enforced apartheid. They’re granted asylum, no questions asked. Because in Trump’s America, if you’re white and scared, you get a green light. If you’re brown and desperate, you get a cage.

    Let’s be clear: this isn’t immigration policy. It’s the authoritarian playbook. Invent a crisis. Declare an emergency. Strip rights from “the others.” Call dissent unpatriotic. Burn the rules and claim it’s for safety. And watch the crowd cheer.

    But here’s the part they forget: once rights become optional, no one really has them. Once the president gets to decide who deserves a trial and who doesn’t, that power doesn’t stay limited to immigrants. Today it’s asylum seekers. Tomorrow it’s protesters. Journalists. You.

    Authoritarians don’t stop with “them.” They just start there.

    And if we let them rewrite the Constitution one racist lie at a time, we won’t need to worry about a border crisis. We’ll be living in one giant detention camp, run by billionaires in red hats, telling us we’re free because we can still shop on Amazon.

    Please support this work.

    Get the book – “Democracy for Sale – How Corporate Greed is Corrupting Democracy and Endangering the Planet.”

    Available @ AMAZON and Booksellers everywhere

    Art by Bagley

    The Saltlake Tribune

  • Gaslighting America: How a Loser Became President

    Gaslighting America: How a Loser Became President

    Donald Trump was never a successful businessman. He was a walking bankruptcy with a spray tan, creating failed companies such as, a fake university, airlines, steaks, vodka, and even a casino (how do you bankrupt a casino?). But thanks to a reality show, a complicit media, and a desperate political class, he conned America into making him president—and now, in 2025, he’s back, not to lead, but to cash out. Again.

    Today, the Trump family grift machine is in full swing, using the presidency like a shopping mall for influence peddling. Trump’s adult children—aka the Trust Fund Avengers—are running a giant Crypto scam and raking in big dollars from foreign governments, while magically avoiding regulations and oversight. Jared is back, fresh from collecting $2 billion in Saudi money, and Ivanka is reportedly “advising” American diplomacy from her branded jewelry showroom.

    Trump’s campaign and PACs are funneling donor money directly into Trump properties, paying himself inflated rates for “security,” “event space,” and “lodging” at his own golf clubs. Secret Service agents are once again being billed thousands to stay at Mar-a-Lago and Bedminster—on our dime. It’s not a presidency. It’s an ATM.

    Meanwhile, Trump sells digital trading cards of himself as a cowboy, peddles Bible knockoffs with his name on them, and hawks Trump-branded sneakers for $399 a pair—because nothing says “Christian populism” like limited-edition gold high-tops made in China.

    He’s still pretending to be a businessman, but this is pure, unapologetic fraud. His policies are designed to help one person: Donald J. Trump. Deregulation? Good for his real estate. Tax breaks? Great for his donors. Legal immunity? Perfect for a guy currently dodging multiple indictments and civil fraud judgments.

    And let’s not forget: his tariffs are back, slamming small businesses and raising prices across the board. His “economic plan” is a mix of revenge, vibes, and MAGA merch sales. It’s not leadership—it’s loot-and-scoot authoritarianism.

    He gaslit America once, turning failure into branding. Now he’s doing it again—older, angrier, and with a family of grifters in tow. And the real tragedy? Millions are still buying the act, while the country gets dismantled piece by piece like a Cyber truck hitting a speed bump.

    The lesson? If you treat democracy like a business, don’t be shocked when a Con -Artist CEO burns it down and bills you for the ashes.

  • Civil Wrongs — How Trump is Trampling Your Rights

    Civil Wrongs — How Trump is Trampling Your Rights

    America. Land of the free, home of the brave… unless you’re a protester, a journalist, an immigrant, a whistleblower, or someone who thought the Constitution was more than just a napkin sketch at a Federalist Society happy hour.

    Peaceful protest — a core constitutional right — has become an excuse for deportation. Remember when federal officers tear-gassed American citizens so Trump could hold a Bible upside-down like he was casting a spell? Yeah, that was just a trial run for what he plans to do with the military.

    Under Trump, the Department of Justice has morphed into a personal attack dog, labeling protesters and activists as domestic threats while ignoring violent threats to judges.

    Welcome to Trump’s Imperial Presidency —where due process is “for losers,” court orders are “suggestions,” and the Constitution is basically just that thing you wipe your feet on before storming the Capitol in cosplay.

    Trump’s idea of civil rights? Pardoning war criminals and tweeting support for hate groups. He called neo-Nazis in Charlottesville “very fine people,” encouraged police to “not be too nice,” and defended Confederate monuments like they were part of the Founding Fathers’ group chat.

    Let’s be clear: if you thought the first season of this political reality show was wild, the reboot is being written by people who watched The Handmaid’s Tale and thought it was a how-to manual.

    Due Process? Rights for them – None for you.

    Let’s talk prisons—because nothing says “freedom” like mass incarceration without trial. Trump has openly praised El Salvador’s Bukele for his “very nice” prisons. You know, the ones where thousands of men are swept off the streets and tossed into overcrowded hellholes without a single hearing.

    Rule of Law? Ha! That’s just legal red tape for strongmen with a tight schedule.

    And guess what? Trump wants in on the action. He’s floated ideas about rounding up “gang members” (read: anyone brown, tattooed, or insufficiently enthusiastic at his rallies), and suspending rights in the name of law and order. Because what could possibly go wrong when you give unchecked power to a man who gets his policy ideas from TV crime dramas and lunch with Stephen Miller?

    Court Orders? Mere Suggestions for Orange Julius Cesar

    Trump’s first term already gave us a preview: ignore subpoenas, defy congressional oversight, and tell the courts to go pound sand. His allies now openly float ideas like invoking the Insurrection Act to deploy the military on U.S. soil—not to protect you, but to control you.

    Refusing to accept judicial rulings? Already happening. Pardoning cronies who defied the law? Done. Declaring that presidents should be immune from prosecution, even if they assassinate political enemies? That’s not hyperbole—his lawyers literally argued that in court.

    In Trump 2.0, the rule of law is whatever he tweeted at 3 a.m. between Diet Cokes.

    Here’s the Greatest Hits of Historical Parallels.

    Let’s take a little trip down Fascism Lane, shall we?

    Germany, 1933: A populist leader exploits fear, bypasses checks and balances, criminalizes dissent, and calls the press “the enemy of the people.” Sound familiar?

    Chile, 1973: Dismantling democratic institutions while promising “order” and “patriotism.” All at the behest of the C.I.A. and our corporate overlords.

    El Salvador, 2023: “Lock them all up first, sort out the law stuff later.” Said the self-discribed “Coolest Dictator”.

    Authoritarianism doesn’t arrive wearing jackboots. It shows up in a red tie, that says “I alone can fix it,” and tweets through the destruction of democracy.

    Things Trump Actually Says

    This isn’t speculation. Trump has promised:

    To be a “dictator for one day” (but only on “day one”—so generous!). To prosecute political opponents.

    To purge the civil service and replace experts with loyalists.

    To use the National Guard in American cities like a personal security force.

    His allies drafted “Project 2025”—a plan to consolidate executive power and dismantle the “deep state” (translation: workers doing their job keeping you safe or anyone who won’t lick his boots on command).

    So yeah, they’re not just violating the Constitution, they’re setting it on fire.

    But Don’t Worry—You’ll Might Still Have Rights!

    As long as you’re rich, white, male, straight, Christian, own at least two flags, and end every sentence with “Trump 2024,” you’re probably fine. For everyone else? Well, better read the fine print on the Bill of Rights—it’s getting trashed faster than the facts in a Fox News segment.

    And even if you’re in the “protected” category, remember: authoritarian regimes don’t stay in their lane. Today it’s immigrants and protesters. Tomorrow it’s you. Ask the Germans in 1934, or the Russians in 2022, or the Venezuelans in 2010.

    Warning: This Is not a Drill!

    Look, we joke because it’s ridiculous—but this is how rights die: not all at once, but in a thousand ignored court orders, in the whimpers when news organizations cave to rediculous law suits, in the silence when people stop protesting because they’re afraid.

    The Constitution is only as strong as our willingness to defend it. Trump 2.0 isn’t about making America great—it’s about making autocracy normal.

    Don’t wait for tanks in the streets. The real coup happens in broad daylight, while we’re all laughing, scrolling, or shrugging it off as “just politics.”

    NO, we didn’t vote for this!

    by Rob C.

    Art by Joe Heller

  • Republicans Are Wrong About Everything

    Republicans Are Wrong About Everything

    Let’s get this out of the way: Abraham Lincoln doesn’t count. He wouldn’t be allowed within 500 feet of today’s Republican National Convention unless he promised to shave the beard, burn the Emancipation Proclamation, and swear fealty to a golden statue of a twice-impeached, criminally convicted, carnival barker.

    The modern GOP? It’s been on a lifelong losing streak against progress. Not just the occasional whiff—we’re talking hall-of-fame level, record-breaking failure on every major issue of justice, equality, and good old-fashioned common sense.

    Voting Rights? Nope.

    Remember when Republicans supported voting rights? No? That’s because they never did. From poll taxes to modern-day voter ID laws, they’ve treated democracy like a nightclub bouncer: “Sorry, sir, your skin tone doesn’t meet the dress code.”

    They screamed about election fraud while running election fraud schemes. They gerrymander neighborhoods with surgical precision, not to protect democracy, but to protect their jobs. Because nothing says “patriotism” like being deathly afraid of people voting.

    Civil Rights? Not if they can help it.

    They filibustered the Civil Rights Act. They dog-whistled their way through the Southern Strategy. They called Martin Luther King Jr. a troublemaker back then, and now they try to co-opt his words out of context like he would’ve been cool with “All Lives Matter” memes and assault rifles at school board meetings.

    Women’s Rights? Laughable.

    They’ve spent decades trying to shrink government — except when it comes to your uterus. Then, suddenly, they want mandatory ultrasounds, forced births, and medieval control over women’s bodies.

    The Equal Rights Amendment? Still waiting. �

    In fact, the Republican congress recently passed a “voter ID” bill that would disenfranchise millions of married women who take their husband’s name.

    Paid maternity leave? Too socialist.�

    Every other major nation provides support for pregnant women well beyond just time off, including, paid leave, nursing assistance, and free child care.

    Childcare support? Maybe ask your church, or Elon Musk.�They weild the “pro-life” mantra like a sledge hammer, but after the child is born, you know when life really happens, they want nothing to do with that.

    Separation of Church and State?

    Not if Jesus votes Republican. They claim to love the Constitution until it gets in the way of turning the U.S. into a theocratic frat house. You want to teach science in schools? Not if it contradicts the Book of Genesis or makes Tucker Carlson feel nervous.

    Prayer in schools, creationism in textbooks, Ten Commandments on courthouse walls — if you’re white, Christian, and angry, the constitution doesn’t apply. BUT, if you dare follow Jesus’ teachings and want our government to actually feed the poor, welcome the stranger, or work for a more just and fair society then your S.O.L.

    Environment? They can’t even spell that.

    Republicans look at a smokestack spewing toxic waste and see stock dividends. They believe climate change is a liberal hoax, but somehow every solution involves more drilling, fewer regulations, and a billionaire getting a tax break to bulldoze a wetland.

    Remember when Reagan ripped the solar panels off the White House roof? That was basically their opening shot in their war against planet earth.

    The Economy? Welfare for the rich.

    Trickle-down economics (Neo-Liberalism) has been the biggest con since “The check is in the mail.” Their plan is simple: Give the rich more, pretend it helps the poor, and act surprised when it doesn’t.

    Corporate tax breaks? Yes. Minimum wage increase? God, no.

    They’ll call you a socialist for wanting healthcare but hand billions to oil companies without blinking. And when the economy tanks? It’s suddenly your fault for not working hard enough. Or just blame Joe Biden.

    Who’s Protected?

    Polluters, fraudsters, price-gouging pharmaceutical companies, payday lenders, tax-dodging billionaires. If you poison a river, they’ll write you a check. If you need insulin, better hope GoFundMe pulls through.

    They scream about law and order while pardoning White-Collar criminals and Capitol rioters. They wail about cancel culture while banning books and firing teachers.

    They’re like the killer in a horror movie: “The call is coming from inside the house.”

    Final Thought — The Moral Arc

    History has a funny way of remembering who stood on the right side of it. Spoiler alert: it’s not the folks banning Rosa Parks from classrooms or insisting gay marriage leads to communism.

    Progress is the whole purpose of our governement. And while Republicans keep hitting “control-alt-delete,” the rest of us are busy coping withthe fall-out from their moral bankruptsy.

    They’ve been wrong. They’re still wrong. And if we let them, they’ll keep dragging us backward.

    But we don’t have to follow. We can speak, vote, organize, and push forward.

    Because the arc of the moral universe only bends toward justice if we push it.

    by Rob C.

    Image Courtesy – Rogers @ Pittsburgh gazette

  • Medicare Fraud – The Real Welfare Queens

    Medicare Fraud – The Real Welfare Queens

    You’ve heard the story a thousand times: the mythical “welfare queen” — some made-up caricature of a poor person living large on government benefits. Ronald Reagan practically turned her into a bedtime monster for conservatives. But while the GOP fixates on the supposed $80 someone might misuse on an EBT card, real fraud is happening in broad daylight, and it’s being committed by their rich friends in tailored suits.

    Let’s talk about actual fraud. The kind that steals billions — not from the government, but from you. From the nurses working 12-hour shifts, the retirees scraping by on fixed incomes, and the sick waiting on lifesaving treatments denied by a for-profit bureaucracy.

    Enter: Paul Walczak — Trump’s Kind of Guy

    Yesterday, Trump pardoned Paul Walczak, a Florida healthcare executive convicted of stealing nearly $11 million in payroll taxes from the paychecks of doctors and nurses. That’s right — the guy didn’t just defraud Medicare. He looted the people saving your life. And in return? Trump gave him a get-out-of-jail-free card. Because if there’s one thing the Trump administration stands for, it’s loyalty to criminal friends.

    Rick Scott: From Felon to Senator

    Need more? Let’s talk Rick Scott. Before he was Florida’s governor and then senator, he was the CEO of Columbia/HCA, a healthcare company that paid a record $1.7 billion in fines for defrauding Medicare. That’s billion with a B. And what did that little escapade earn him? A political career. Because apparently, in the Republican Party, stealing from the government is only a problem if you’re poor.

    UnitedHealth: The Corporate Vampire of Medicare

    Then there’s UnitedHealth Group, one of the largest healthcare companies in the country. Every year, they rake in billions from Medicare Part D — the prescription drug program for seniors. And what do they do with that money? Well, besides throwing cash at shareholders, they’ve been accused of:

    Overbilling taxpayers by gaming risk adjustment formulas.

    Denying legitimate claims to pad profits.

    Funneling dark money to political action committees that keep the system rigged.

    But hey — it’s not like seniors need those meds anyway, right?

    And the Hits Keep Coming…

    Purdue Pharma: Creators of the opioid crisis. Lied, marketed, and killed. Now “restructuring” in bankruptcy court so the rich Sackler family never faces real consequences.

    Theranos: Elizabeth Holmes defrauded investors and endangered patients with fake blood testing technology. Her punishment? A slap on the wrist compared to what happens to someone who shoplifts from CVS.

    Centene Corporation: Paid out over $215 million in settlements for allegedly overcharging Medicaid programs in multiple states.

    Are you seeing a pattern here?

    The Real Drain on the System

    It’s not the immigrant working two jobs who doesn’t get benefits. It’s not the single mom trying to get SNAP so her kid can eat lunch. It’s not your grandma using Medicare to get her blood pressure pills.

    It’s the giant corporations, the politically connected fraudsters, and the grifters in suits who are robbing you blind — and getting pardons from the President while they do it.

    The Deadly Price of Greed

    Innocent people are dying. People are going bankrupt trying to pay for insulin. Clinics are closing. Nurses are walking off the job because they’re exhausted, underpaid, and betrayed. And instead of fixing it, Trump is using the power of the presidency to reward the looters.

    This isn’t just fraud. It’s sanctioned economic violence.

    And guess what? You’re paying for it — with your tax dollars, your health, and your life.

    The next time you hear a Republican talk about “entitlement reform” or “wasteful spending,” just remember: they’re not coming for the crooks. They are the crooks.

    So don’t fall for the scam. Call it what it is: a massive heist, with a presidential pardon at the getaway car.

    Wake up. Speak up. And fight back.

    by Rob C.

    Image – Andy Marlette

  • The Social Security Scam – How the Rich Are Robbing You Blind (Again)

    The Social Security Scam – How the Rich Are Robbing You Blind (Again)

    What Social Security Really Is

    Let’s get one thing straight: Social Security is not welfare. It’s not a “handout.” It’s money you earned. Every paycheck, every week, you contributed to it. It’s a contract between generations—an agreement that says if you work hard and contribute, you won’t be left to starve in old age or disability. That’s called responsibility. Or, as Trump might call it: “for suckers.”

    How the Trump Administration (and Friends) Are Gutting It

    Trump 2.0 and his DOGE (Department of Government Elimination) bros have been gunning for your Social Security like a bunch of Wall Street interns at an open bar. They want to:

    • Slash benefits under the guise of “budget concerns,” right after handing billion-dollar corporations massive tax breaks.
    • Raise the retirement age so high you’ll need a walker and a miracle to ever see a dime.
    • Privatize the system, turning your guaranteed benefits into Wall Street casino chips, racking up fat fees for their rich buddies.

    And if you’re disabled? Good luck. Trump’s policies have already made it harder for disabled Americans to access their benefits—sentencing thousands to homelessness, bankruptcy, and early death. But hey, at least the billionaires got another yachts.

    How the Rich Really See You

    Here’s how the wealthy elite really view Social Security:

    • Elon Musk calls it a “Ponzi scheme,” which is rich (pun intended) coming from a guy whose companies float on federal subsidies.
    • Howard Lutnick said people wouldn’t care if Social Security checks were delayed, “unless they were scammers.” Because, obviously, your 85-year-old grandmother struggling to afford insulin is running a criminal enterprise from her kitchen table.

    The Lie About Immigrants and Social Security

    Contrary to the xenophobic talking points, undocumented immigrants are not draining Social Security. They are, in fact, saving it. Undocumented workers contribute around $25 billion every year into the system—money they’ll never claim.

    That’s right. They’re footing the bill for benefits they’re not even eligible to receive. Imagine buying dinner for a table full of billionaires… and still being called a “freeloader.”

    Why Social Security Matters

    For everyday Americans — the real workers, not the yachting class — Social Security is a lifeline. It keeps:

    • 22 million seniors out of poverty.
    • Disabled workers off the streets.
    • Widows and orphans from falling into destitution.

    It’s not charity. It’s a promise. One that a greedy, silk-suited class is trying desperately to break while distracting you with shiny culture wars and shouting about “wokeness.”

    Final Thought — And a Call to Action

    They want you to believe Social Security is doomed. But the truth? It’s only doomed if we let them destroy it.

    If billionaires paid even half the taxes you do on your first paycheck, Social Security would be solvent for another hundred years.

    It’s not a money problem. It’s a greed problem.

    So don’t buy the lies. Don’t let the predators win. Demand that Congress protect and expand Social Security—for you, for your parents, for your kids, for everyone who actually built this country.

    Your future isn’t a charity case. It’s yours.

    Fight for it.

    Please support this work.

    Get the book – “Democracy for Sale – How Corporate Greed is Corrupting Democracy and Endangering the Planet.”

    Available @ AMAZON and Booksellers everywhere

  • Emergency! (Just Kidding, It’s a Power Grab)

    Emergency! (Just Kidding, It’s a Power Grab)

    National emergencies used to mean something serious: war, natural disasters, a financial meltdown.
    But in the hands of Donald Trump?
    A “national emergency” just means he didn’t get his way.

    Over his time in power, Trump declared eight national emergencies — more than any other recent president over a similar time span. Not because the nation was collapsing (well, not until he started working on it), but because emergencies are the fastest way to bypass Congress and grab even more unchecked executive power.

    Case in Point: IEPA and the Penguin Tariffs

    One of Trump’s most absurd abuses came through the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) — a law originally passed in 1977 to give the president limited authority to deal with real threats from abroad: rogue states, terrorists, arms dealers. It was supposed to be the national security equivalent of “break glass in case of emergency.”

    Trump smashed that glass like a toddler with a baseball bat.

    Instead of focusing on credible threats, he used the IEEPA to slap tariffs on anyone and anything, from China to tiny nations that barely had economies, let alone posed a threat. Rumor has it if there was an island full of penguins exporting ice cubes, Trump would’ve slapped a 25% tariff on them too.

    The “Emergency” Wall

    Then there was Trump’s infamous border wall emergency.
    Congress refused to fund his ridiculous, impractical wall.
    So what did Trump do?
    He declared a national emergency — so he could divert billions of dollars from the military and disaster relief, just to satisfy his political base and pretend Mexico was footing the bill (spoiler alert: they weren’t).

    It wasn’t about security. It was about spectacle.
    Trump created a fake crisis to justify a fake emergency, which allowed him to build a fake wall — and every branch of government except the one holding up the Constitution just stood there.

    The Supreme Court: Enablers-in-Robes

    Once upon a time, the Supreme Court was supposed to act as a check on presidential overreach.
    Today? They mostly act like the king’s personal legal team.

    The Court’s increasingly “hands-off” approach to executive actions has effectively blessed Trump’s emergency declarations, even when they were thinly disguised political stunts.
    Under the legal fig leaf of “deference to the executive,” they have allowed presidential power to expand like a balloon at a kid’s birthday party — ready to pop at the worst possible moment.

    Congress: From Powerhouse to Puppet Show

    Meanwhile, Congress — you know, the branch that’s actually supposed to hold the purse strings and check the president — has become little more than a rubber stamp.
    A noisy, chaotic rubber stamp, sure. Lots of speeches. Lots of tweets.
    But when it comes to doing anything about Trump’s abuses of emergency powers?
    Crickets.

    Why? Fear.
    Trump’s stranglehold over the Republican Party has transformed elected officials into terrified extras in his reality show presidency — terrified to stand up, terrified to lose power, terrified to tell their base that the Constitution matters more than one man’s ego.

    The Danger Beyond Trump

    Here’s the kicker:
    Even if Trump were gone tomorrow (and he won’t be without a fight), the system he abused is still broken.
    The next autocrat — and there will be another one — can pick up right where Trump left off, declaring “emergencies” whenever democracy gets inconvenient.

    We don’t have a presidency anymore.
    We have a throne.
    And it’s only a matter of time before someone tries to sit in it permanently.

    Final Thought:

    When the definition of “emergency” becomes “whatever the president says it is,”
    and when Congress and the courts roll over like puppies looking for belly rubs,
    it’s not just a Trump problem.

    It’s a democracy problem.

    And the longer we pretend it’s normal,
    the closer we get to waking up in a country where every day is an “emergency” —
    and freedom itself is on permanent lockdown.

    by Rob C.

    Art by

    Get the new book “Democracy for Sale – How Corporate Greed is Corrupting Democracy and Endangering the Planet.” 

    Available @ AMAZON

    And book sellers everywhere

  • The Deregulation Delusion — Safety Theater

    The Deregulation Delusion — Safety Theater

    Let’s continue to talk about safety — that elusive little concept Republicans like to slap on every fearmongering campaign ad. They’ll tell you they’re the party of law and order, the protectors of the homeland, the guardians of your future.

    Except, under Trump 2.0 and his tech-bro-led deregulation cult (aka DOG-E — Deconstruct Our Government: Everything), you’re not safer. Not even close. You’re breathing dirtier air, eating sketchier food, flying with less oversight, investing in increasingly unstable markets, and sending your personal data into the great unknown — and they’re patting themselves on the back for it.

    Let’s break this down.

    DOG-E Math: A Masterclass in Fuzzy Numbers

    One of the first things Trump 2.0’s DOG-E team did after storming the agencies was brag about “billions in taxpayer savings.” Headlines! Pressers! Victory laps!

    But when auditors — you know, people who actually know how to use a calculator — took a look? Yeah… not billions. Not even hundreds of millions.

    More like a few million — and even that was suspect.

    Turns out, when you fire experts, kill oversight, and turn departments over to guys who list “crypto evangelist” on their LinkedIn bios, the books don’t quite balance. They counted savings that didn’t materialize, assumed costs that never existed, and in some cases literally couldn’t explain the math. Like a bad school project — except the project is the federal government, and you’re the one who fails.

    And here’s the punchline: while they claimed to be saving you money, they were costing you way more:

    • Food safety crises cost billions in recalls, lawsuits, and healthcare.
    • Train derailments and chemical spills? Same deal.
    • Cyberattacks made easier by gutted digital security? Jackpot for hackers, nightmare for you.

    But sure, let’s celebrate those theoretical savings while the cost of living — and, you know, dying — goes up.

    Deregulate Everything, Especially Your Sanity

    DOG-E’s motto? “If it moves, deregulate it. If it doesn’t move, privatize it. If it explodes… call it a win for freedom.”

    They slashed:

    • Air traffic safety programs — fewer controllers, fewer inspections, more chaos at 30,000 feet.
    • Food and drug oversight — welcome to the great American experiment in salmonella roulette.
    • Nuclear safety regulators — because glowing in the dark is the free market’s way of saying hello.
    • EPA protections — if you can’t see the chemicals, why worry?

    It’s not about efficiency. It’s about gutting public protections so corporations can cut corners and pad profits — while you foot the bill.

    And speaking of footing the bill…

    Tariffs, Insider Trading, and Chaos as a Business Model

    Remember when Trump started announcing new tariffs like Oprah giving out cars? Steel! Aluminum! Maybe cars next week! Surprise!

    Markets plunged.

    But wait — what’s this? Just before those announcements, someone placed enormous bets against the stock market. Hyper-specific bets. The kind of bets you’d only make if you had… advance notice.

    Gee. Wonder who might’ve had that kind of info.

    This isn’t just bad policy. It’s a shake-and-bake financial scam. They create chaos, trade on it, and then walk away with millions while your 401(k) evaporates like truth at a Trump rally.

    And they’re doing it in plain sight.

    Meanwhile, in Real America…

    While Trump and DOG-E play Monopoly with the country, here’s what’s happening outside the Mar-a-Lago bubble:

    • Americans are drinking bottled water because their tap is flammable.
    • People are getting sick from uninspected food.
    • Flights are delayed because there aren’t enough safety staff.
    • Sensitive data from public agencies has been leaked — and no one’s sure just how bad it is… yet.

    But don’t worry, folks. Those DOG-E bros saved $37 million in “regulatory costs.” That’s like cutting your brakes to save gas money.

    “Safety” for Who?

    Let’s be crystal clear: Trump and his crew aren’t keeping you safe. They’re keeping themselves safe.

    They don’t live near chemical plants or train tracks. They don’t fly coach. They don’t drink public water or rely on Social Security. They’re never the ones caught in the fallout of their own chaos. You are. We are.

    And the kicker?

    We’re paying for it.

    With our tax dollars. With our retirement funds. With our health, our privacy, our future.

    This isn’t deregulation. It’s dehumanization — dressed up as freedom, while the same people shouting “government overreach” cash government checks and rig the system in their favor.

    Final Thought: The Cost of Cheap Lies

    So, when you hear a Talking News Head telling you that Trump’s government is “leaner” and “more efficient,” ask this:

    Efficient for who?

    Because deregulation didn’t make America safer. It made it cheaper — in all the worst ways. Cheaper food, because no one checks if it’ll kill you. Cheaper flights, because no one’s left to inspect the jet engines. Cheaper labor, because protections are gone.

    The deregulation delusion is a con. And like all cons, it only works if you don’t look too closely.

    So open your eyes. Look closely. Follow the money. And next time someone says the government should run more like a business, ask yourself: what kind of business do they mean?

    Because right now, it’s looking a lot like 3 Card Monty with nukes.

  • Unsafe at Any Speed — Welcome to Trump 2.0

    Unsafe at Any Speed — Welcome to Trump 2.0

    And now a “Public Safety” announcement — that magical buzzword every politician loves to toss around like glitter at a parade. “We’re going to keep Americans safe,” they say. “Strong borders, strong economy, strong nation.”

    Sounds great, right? Except here’s the problem: under Trump 2.0 and his merry band of deregulation junkies — the DOG-E crew (Destroy Our Government – Everywhere) — America isn’t safer. It’s actively more dangerous. And not in the abstract, far-off, geopolitical way. We’re talking about the stuff that hits you right in the fridge, your wallet, your hospital room, your flight path — and your WiFi.

    Let’s run the damage report.

    Airplanes, Food, and Nuclear Reactors — What Could Go Wrong?

    Remember when Trump 2.0 came in hot with promises to “drain the swamp” and “cut the red tape”? Well, it turns out that a lot of that “red tape” was your safety net.

    Air Traffic Controllers: Fired, furloughed, or forced into early retirement. But don’t worry, if your next flight feels like it was guided by a guy playing Flight Simulator in his mom’s basement — it’s probably because it was.

    Food Inspectors: Gone. USDA staff slashed, and inspections of meat and produce outsourced to… drumroll… the meat companies themselves! Because when you’re trying to maximize profit, checking for E. coli is just such a buzzkill.

    Nuclear Safety Regulators: Also trimmed. If you ever wanted to feel the thrill of living near a nuclear plant with fewer inspections than your neighborhood pool, Trump’s got you covered.

    Medical Researchers: NIH and CDC cuts, scientific brain drain, and a revolving door of conspiracy theorists promoted to “experts.” Who needs immunologists when you’ve got a MyPillow guy?

    And it doesn’t end there. Rail safety, chemical plant oversight, environmental protections — all gutted. Apparently, the only thing standing between you and a toxic spill is a vague prayer and a MAGA bumper sticker.

    Digital Insecurity Brought to You by DOG-E

    Now enter Musk and his DOG-E minions, who think “cybersecurity” is just a liberal hoax — like climate change, empathy, or paying your taxes.

    Under DOG-E, federal agencies lost not just professionals but data. Sensitive data. Your data. Health records, Social Security info, internal agency protocols — casually accessed, shuffled, or exposed by tech bros with no clearance but excellent résumés from Elon’s fan club.

    And of course, once the breach was made public, DOG-E did what any responsible government agency would do: lied about it, claimed it was “minimal,” and then… quietly covered their tracks and fudged the numbers after giving the keys to the back door to Russian hackers. Oops. Millions of Americans’ information, now floating in some shady forum in St. Petersburg. But hey, look — the budget spreadsheet looks leaner!

    But Wait — There’s More: Attacking Your Retirement

    Think you’re safe financially? Think again.

    Social Security: Trump keeps promising to “cut the waste” — which, translated from MAGA-speak, means “gut the program you paid into your whole working life” and then turn your money over to Wall St. bankers to gamble with.

    Tariffs: Remember those? Yeah, Trump 2.0’s favorite toy. They’re back, and much worse. But now they’re aimed not just at China but at allies and trading partners. That’s great for your 401(k) — if by “great” you mean “prepare to see your retirement portfolio spiral like a paper airplane in a hurricane.” And just for kicks, you get to pay higher prices on almost everything you buy. �So, if you’ve ever plan to retire, invest, or just buy literally anything made with steel, you already know: tariffs are economic landmines. They’re bad for trade, bad for markets, and terrible for your retirement savings.�But you know who they’re great for?

    People with advance notice.

    Right before Trump made his big tariff announcement, guess what? Someone — let’s call them “a very stable genius’ friend” — made a massive, highly specific bet on market chaos. And wouldn’t you know it, the tariffs hit, the markets tanked, and someone walked away with a sweet payday.

    Coincidence? Please.

    It’s insider trading with a MAGA hat on — using government chaos as a stock market slingshot. Regular Americans lose their jobs or their pensions while these guys literally profit from destruction.

    Do we have evidence? Not yet. But I’m sure our AG, Pam Bondi, will certainly get right on that. (ooops, they fired the “white collar crimes” department). Trump’s inner circle isn’t exactly big on oversight. Do you think the same folks who ran a coup attempt on live TV wouldn’t also tip each other off before jacking up tariffs and crashing the markets before removing them? Somebody made billions, we have the reciepts.

    Trump: “Tough on Crime,” Except When It’s Crime He Commits

    Meanwhile, Trump is spending your tax dollars — six million of them — to pay a foreign dictator to jail legal residents who had the gall to criticize him. And no, they’re not MS-13 members or ISIS militants. These are students, journalists, and political opponents. But it’s okay — as long as they weren’t wearing “Let’s Go Brandon” hats, who cares?

    This isn’t safety. It’s state-sponsored hostility — toward the facts, toward democracy, and toward you. First they came for…

    So, About Those “Savings”

    DOG-E’s biggest flex? “We’re saving taxpayers billions!”

    Let’s break it down: They cut regulations that protected your health — now you pay for cancer treatment out-of-pocket.

    They slashed oversight of food and medicine — now you’re playing Russian roulette with your groceries.

    They cut digital security — and now you’ve got a Russian credit score.

    The highlight is that they apparently can’t do math, the numbers they posted had to be drastically revised down because they don’t understand how contracts work, or realized the money had already been spent.

    So yeah, congrats on the “savings.” Hope you enjoy spending them on hospital bills, financial fraud, and bottled water because your tap now glows in the dark.

    And let’s not forget the “highly qualified” DOG-E staff: a revolving door of former interns, influencers, and libertarian Reddit moderators who now manage the very agencies they used to tweet about defunding.

    The Price of Freedom (Is Apparently Your Safety)

    Here’s the kicker: not only is your health, security, and financial future at risk — you are paying for it. With your tax dollars. With your privacy. With your dignity. This isn’t government efficiency. It’s government sabotage wrapped in a flag and sold with a red hat discount.

    Because in Trump’s America, “safety” means keeping him safe — from prison, from the truth, from accountability. The rest of us? We’re on our own.

    Welcome to the Chaos Economy

    So the next time someone tells you that Trump or DOG-E is making America safer, ask them one question:

    For who?

    Because it’s not for the family trying to afford insulin. It’s not for the airline passenger hoping their pilot isn’t running on fumes and prayers. It’s not for the retiree watching their pension nosedive.

    Trump 2.0 isn’t a return to greatness — it’s a high-speed crash with no seatbelts, no airbags, and a flaming Twitter feed for a GPS.

    by Rob C.

    Art by Christopher Weyant

  • Trump’s Pardons: A Badge of Loyalty, A Threat to Justice

    Trump’s Pardons: A Badge of Loyalty, A Threat to Justice

    Under Donald Trump, the power of presidential pardons became something far from its intended purpose. A tool of mercy? Sure. But under Trump, it was wielded like a political weapon—rewarding loyalty and, in some cases, justifying violence.

    It wasn’t just the usual suspects: corporate crooks and white-collar criminals. Trump’s clemency spree extended to a who’s who of political extremists and violent offenders—people who weren’t just breaking the law, they were doing so in the name of Trumpism.

    Let’s break it down:

    The Politicians and Cronies: Rewarding the Faithful

    • Roger Stone: Convicted of lying to Congress and witness tampering, Stone was pardoned after making clear his loyalty to Trump.
    • Paul Manafort: Convicted for financial crimes and conspiracy against the U.S. Trump handed him a pardon for not cooperating with investigators.
    • Michael Flynn: Pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI, and Trump ultimately pardoned him to prevent further damage.
    • Charles Kushner: Jared’s father, involved in tax evasion and witness retaliation. He got a pardon after spending years in prison.

    Trump also granted clemency to at least 10 healthcare executives and doctors convicted in large-scale Medicare fraud schemes.

    Many wealthy individuals paid tens of thousands of dollars to former advisors to Trump for them to lobby Trump to grant pardons, bypassing the review process of the Office of the Pardon Attorney.

    Trump also issued pardons to seven Republican congressmen convicted of crimes: Chris Collins, Duncan D. Hunter, Steve Stockman, Rick Renzi, Robin Hayes, Mark Siljander, and Randall “Duke” Cunningham.

    The Dangerous Extremists: Making America More Unsafe Trump didn’t stop there. He pardoned individuals with ties to violent, far-right extremist groups who were involved in the January 6th insurrection.

    • Stewart Rhodes: Leader of the Oath Keepers, convicted of seditious conspiracy—Trump pardoned him.
    • Enrique Tarrio: Leader of the Proud Boys, convicted of seditious conspiracy—also pardoned.
    • Other Violent Extremists: From assaulting police officers to planning further attacks, many insurrectionists were given clemency. Convicted murderers. – Trump also Pardoned 4 Blackwater Guards Who Killed 14 Iraqi Civilians – Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard were convicted of killing 14 Iraqi civilians and the wounding of 17 others. Witnesses described how these men ambushed civilians with heavy gunfire and grenade launchers.

    What Does It Mean for Justice? Trump’s pardons weren’t about justice. They weren’t about redemption. They were about loyalty— loyalty to Trump himself. These individuals weren’t simply guilty of breaking laws; many were involved in dangerous, violent plots against American democracy.

    Trump’s actions send a clear message to those who break the law in his name: “Don’t worry. If you’re with me, I’ll clear your record.”

    Safety and National Security This is where Trump’s pardons take a darker turn. Trump didn’t just pardon white-collar criminals—he pardoned individuals who posed a direct threat to America’s security. By clearing the records of violent extremists who stormed the Capitol, he encouraged further acts of political violence. He didn’t just undermine justice—he made the country less safe.

    A Message for the Future This isn’t just about one president’s bad choices. It’s about setting a precedent that loyalty overrules law and order. Trump’s pardons were a dress rehearsal for autocracy—a signal that political violence won’t just be tolerated, but rewarded.

    As we move forward, it’s vital to understand the dangers that Trump’s actions have set in motion. If the next wave of violence comes, it won’t just be angry—it’ll be emboldened.

    This isn’t democracy.
    This is dictatorship in disguise, and it should make every citizen pause and reflect on the future we want to build.

    #TrumpPardons #PoliticalViolence #Justice #Trumpism #NationalSecurity