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Trumpelstilskin is still trying to spin tariffs into income for Americans. The last round of tariffs resulted in less income for voters and their families. The administration was sued for tariffs by many companies and won! Now the Presidiot is putting more tariffs on goods to finance his ill-fated war with Iran. It should be no surprise that this administration is failing as the cabinet members are all unsuited for the jobs they were selected for (fealty should not the main qualification for a cabinet post). There is a possibility for Congress to wrest control of the Government if they chose to do so, this has been shown by statements from retiring members of Congress who broke with Trumpel on their way out the door.The one strong card the voters have is the vote, and (pardon the pun) our Trump card.-

It is difficult for me to believe that so many of us (voters) still think our votes do not count, well you’re wrong. Think about the machinations of this administration to create new laws regarding voting rules governing who can vote. The 2020 election was clean and fair, yet the Grifter of the United States is still trying to litigate it in the public sphere. The power to create good government starts in the voter’s booth. it’s time to say” no mas, no mas “to Trumpels actions which amount to high crimes and misdemeanors which are impeachable offenses. To the die-hard Trump supporters, if you believe in his actions against other countries and deporting the residents of those countries who work in our fields, our healthcare facilities and other sectors are good things, then explain to me why hospitals. farms and other unskilled labor jobs are going unfilled.

It is bad enough that we are in an unnecessary war that we are the losing (note that no allies or military personnel were involved in that decision) and has caused our nearby to be attacked with no warning. The cost of this incursion is costing the American people, and we will get no return on our money!


We have forgotten or ignored the phrase: “Lest WE Forget”. The indications and actual statements has given us clues as to what FFLOTUS was going to do in a second term. We have an opportunity to compare the first term to the Biden term as well as the accelerated actions of FFLOTUS’s second term (which is only a few months old). The speed of actions (Executive actions) and the unresearched content or effect is a wakeup call, or IT SHOULD BE! The so called “red” states” and their representatives to Congress are oddly quiet while the changes, tariffs and cuts to the Government workforce which will affect all states with a federal government office in its cities. What is affected by cuts and tariffs? Tariffs are Taxes pure and simple no matter what anyone says. Downsizing government offices staff will slow processes needed to continue the Governments work. The hardest hit will be the least able to afford even the smallest cut in their incomes. Then there’s the illegal war with Iran! Trumpel started this war as an affront to Biden and Obama and perhaps to enrich himself and his cronies. The current Congress (GOP) has all but given up the legislative responsibility it has to enact war powers and control spending. The most wasteful administration in decades is spending wildly with only a few comments from Congress. As a taxpayer, I see the erosion of public trust and the decimation of the national ability to function in a normal fashion. Now more tariffs are proposed on Canadian goods on top of what already exists. This administration has stolen more funds from the people than any criminal organization in history. We are essentially in a “Nero fiddles while Rome burns” situation. The way out is an all-out voter revolt where the people speak out in the voting booth!


Joe Wilkins

Updated Mon, July 6, 2026 at 2:55 PM CDT

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Trump Fans Confused by How Their Investments in His Crypto and Stock Are Now Worth a Tiny Fraction While He's Getting Richer
A color-treated photo illustration featuring U.S. President Donald Trump.

Throughout his second stint in the Oval Office, Donald Trump has raked in over a billion dollars on the backs of his most loyal acolytes. Some of his grifts harken back to the Trump cons of yesteryear, like the spectacularly cringeworthy Trump Mobile smartphone, a “made in America” device that was, predictably, produced entirely in China.

Most of the president’s most successful pulls, however, are predicated on either the cryptocurrency market, where winner-take-all scams are the name of the game, or fly-by-night stock offerings that get a temporary boost from the business mogul’s endorsement. And as Trump pulls the billion-dollar ladder out from under him time and again, his ride-or-dies are starting to crack.

One superfan, Vadim Fistikan, spoke to Forbes about what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a presidential con job. After painstakingly saving over $100,000 to buy a house near his family, Fistikan, a truck driver by trade, got wind of the special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, being built around the president’s Truth Social social network.

“I’m like, ‘I’m getting in,'” Fistikan told Forbes. At its peak, the trucker’s investment in the president’s social media firm reached $205,000 — a life-changing amount of money for a working class person in the United States. Today, Fistikan told the publication his investment is worth a dismal $30,000.

“I’m like, ‘hey, this is a scam,'” he told Forbes. “And a lot of people were like, ‘no, you’re just a Trump hater.’ I’m like, ‘no. I was on board since day one… I’m now broke.”

For anyone who’s heard of a SPAC before, it’s not hard to see why. A SPAC is a dubious type of investment vehicle commonly used by celebrities to take private companies public. First, the day-one sponsors — like Trump — raise money from day-two rubes through a shell company. Once the SPAC has enough capital behind it, the paper entity will merge with an actual private corporation like Truth Social to go public.

The end result is a situation where the earliest adopters rake in mountains of cash — and their acolytes are often left holding the bag.

Donald’s son, Trump Jr, took a SPAC for a spin back in 2025, raising $179 million from supporters to take the ecommerce firearm website GrabAGun public. Though GrabAGun made its public debut trading at $21.40, the company’s share price quickly plummeted to $13.20 within the first day as trading volume went through the roof — indicating that early backers were fleeing like rats on a sinking ship.

Today, GrabAGun sells at just $2.88 per share; just one of the many scams the Trump dynasty has left in its wake since returning to power.

Trump Fans Confused by How Their Investments in His Crypto and Stock Are Now Worth a Tiny Fraction While He’s Getting Richer

Joe Wilkins

Updated Mon, July 6, 2026 at 2:55 PM CDT

Trump Fans Confused by How Their Investments in His Crypto and Stock Are Now Worth a Tiny Fraction While He's Getting Richer
A color-treated photo illustration featuring U.S. President Donald Trump.

Throughout his second stint in the Oval Office, Donald Trump has raked in over a billion dollars on the backs of his most loyal acolytes. Some of his grifts harken back to the Trump cons of yesteryear, like the spectacularly cringeworthy Trump Mobile smartphone, a “made in America” device that was, predictably, produced entirely in China.

Most of the president’s most successful pulls, however, are predicated on either the cryptocurrency market, where winner-take-all scams are the name of the game, or fly-by-night stock offerings that get a temporary boost from the business mogul’s endorsement. And as Trump pulls the billion-dollar ladder out from under him time and again, his ride-or-dies are starting to crack.

One superfan, Vadim Fistikan, spoke to Forbes about what it’s like to be on the receiving end of a presidential con job. After painstakingly saving over $100,000 to buy a house near his family, Fistikan, a truck driver by trade, got wind of the special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, being built around the president’s Truth Social social network.

“I’m like, ‘I’m getting in,'” Fistikan told Forbes. At its peak, the trucker’s investment in the president’s social media firm reached $205,000 — a life-changing amount of money for a working class person in the United States. Today, Fistikan told the publication his investment is worth a dismal $30,000.

“I’m like, ‘hey, this is a scam,'” he told Forbes. “And a lot of people were like, ‘no, you’re just a Trump hater.’ I’m like, ‘no. I was on board since day one… I’m now broke.”

For anyone who’s heard of a SPAC before, it’s not hard to see why. A SPAC is a dubious type of investment vehicle commonly used by celebrities to take private companies public. First, the day-one sponsors — like Trump — raise money from day-two rubes through a shell company. Once the SPAC has enough capital behind it, the paper entity will merge with an actual private corporation like Truth Social to go public.

The end result is a situation where the earliest adopters rake in mountains of cash — and their acolytes are often left holding the bag.

Donald’s son, Trump Jr, took a SPAC for a spin back in 2025, raising $179 million from supporters to take the ecommerce firearm website GrabAGun public. Though GrabAGun made its public debut trading at $21.40, the company’s share price quickly plummeted to $13.20 within the first day as trading volume went through the roof — indicating that early backers were fleeing like rats on a sinking ship.

Today, GrabAGun sells at just $2.88 per share; just one of the many scams the Trump dynasty has left in its wake since returning to power.

*What does it take for all Trump supporters to realize a mistake was made by electing him (again). He promised to make” America great again”, while the underlying message is far more sinister. “Trumpel” being the grifter he is has played his constituents like a fiddle (missing some strings). Understanding how unwieldy the U.S. Government is, he has exploited every loophole he can through suspect “executive Orders. What’s worse or perhaps better is the weakness in Congress following his lead. The better is that voters now see who their elected representatives work Certainly not for the voters! MA


Possible Trumpelstilskin affliction?


Background: Diverticular disease is common in the western hemisphere with approximately half of the United States population aged 50 and over being affected. The spectrum of diverticulitis ranges from uncomplicated microperforation to large-scale macroperforation resulting in feculent peritonitis. Treatment modalities are governed base on Hinchey classification. Extra-abdominal manifestations of diverticulitis, such as brain abscesses, remain exceedingly rare with only five previously reported cases in the literature. The bacteria involved in this phenomenon are commonly flora of the Streptococcus milleri group and of the Enterococcus faecium species, both of which were isolated in this patient.

Case Report: In this report, we describe a case of a 64-year-old female with diverticulitis resulting in brain abscess formation, present the clinical and radiologic features, and discuss the treatment options.

Conclusions: Brain abscess secondary to diverticulitis are seldom reported in the literature, it is our hope that reporting these unusual instances will raise awareness of disease manifestations and allow for earlier diagnosis and treatment. Possible Trumpelstilskin affliction?


Joe Sommerlad

Mon, June 22, 2026 at 3:54 AM CDT

Donald Trump has again lashed out over negative press coverage of his war with Iran, singling out The New York Times for criticism after it asked what the conflict had actually achieved.

“The way the Corrupt and Failing New York Times is covering stories on a very battered and beat up Iran, through FAKE & MADE UP ‘FACTS’ is, in my opinion, ‘TREASONOUS,'” the president wrote on his Truth Social platform late Sunday.

“I will be adding all of their false and ridiculous reporting to my multi Billion Dollar lawsuit against them. They are Criminals!”

Shortly beforehand, he had vented his fury on the same subject in another post that read: “The headline in the Corrupt and Failing New York Times: ‘What Changed After Almost 4 Months of War? Analysts Say Not Much.’ REALLY?

“Their Military is DONE, their Navy is GONE, their Air Force is GONE, their Launching Pads, Missiles, Drones and Manufacturing of same, is almost GONE, their top two sets of Leaders are GONE, their Inflation is at 250%, their Economy is BROKEN, their Soldiers aren’t being paid, the Hormuz Strait is OPEN, THE OIL IS GUSHING, and the U.S. Stock Market and Jobs are at record HIGHS.

President Donald Trump has again lashed out at The New York Times, calling the newspaper’s reporting on the Iran conflict ‘false and ridiculous’ and its staff ‘criminals’ (Reuters)

President Donald Trump has again lashed out at The New York Times, calling the newspaper’s reporting on the Iran conflict ‘false and ridiculous’ and its staff ‘criminals’ (Reuters)

“That’s what’s CHANGED, you corrupt and unethical cowards, and MORE!!!”

Opinion: The Trumpelstilskin methodology, sue, get issues into the judicial system where it will take time (a long time) to adjudicate. This ties up court time with frivolous lawsuits while keeping the issue in the public space. All the while normal life contracts along with the business sector. MA


The Difference made me curious, are we either of these or something else.? MA

Fascism is a far-right, authoritarian political ideology that emphasizes nationalism, militarism, and the supremacy of the state over individual rights. It emerged in the early 20th century, notably in Italy under Benito Mussolini, and is characterized by:

  • Authoritarian, centralized government with suppression of political opposition and dissent.
  • Nationalist ideology that often promotes exclusionary or exclusionist policies toward minorities.
  • Corporatist economic model where the state coordinates labor and capital, often suppressing unions.
  • Militarization and glorification of military strength.
  • Suppression of civil liberties in favor of collective identity and state control thisvsthat.io+1.

Social Democracy is a center-left political ideology that supports democratic governance, social welfare, and equality. It developed in the late 19th century in response to industrialization and inequality, and is marked by:

  • Democratic institutions with protections for individual rights and freedoms.
  • Mixed economy with government regulation to ensure social welfare, economic stability, and fairness.
  • Progressive taxation and public investment in healthcare, education, and social security.
  • Commitment to social justice and inclusivity, often advocating for progressive values and anti-discrimination policies thisvsthat.io+1.

Key differences:

  • Governance: Fascism is totalitarian and authoritarian; Social Democracy is democratic and participatory.
  • Economy: Fascism centralizes economic control; Social Democracy blends market economy with state intervention for welfare.
  • Individual vs. Collective: Fascism prioritizes collective identity over individual rights; Social Democracy protects individual freedoms while promoting equality.
  • Social policy: Fascism often promotes traditional values and exclusion; Social Democracy emphasizes inclusivity and progressive social reforms thisvsthat.io+1.

In short, Fascism seeks to unify society under a single, authoritarian state with suppressed dissent, while Social Democracy seeks to strengthen democracy and protect rights through social welfare and inclusive policies.

Socialism: a political and economic theory of social organization which advocates that the means of production, distribution, and exchange should be owned or regulated by the community as a whole:

Populism: a political approach that strives to appeal to ordinary people who feel that their concerns are disregarded by established elite groups

Social Democracy: a system of liberal democracy that incorporates a commitment to social reform and social justice.

Fascist:an advocate or follower of the right-wing political philosophy or system of fascism


The political Mafia (aka Trump Organization) has taken over the government and dragged the criminal ruling class from each state with it. There is no other way to say it. The Federal Government as it is right now can be likened to the “Star Wars” saga. We have elected the basest members of society to represent us under a thin cape of “honesty” and strength to fight for us. To quote another Movie: “What we have is a failure to communicate”. There is no other way we can overcome this is the power of the vote (guided by facts). The once trustworthy streams of information are now suspect in the information they provide except for the comic strips that dare to poke fun at politicians and their politics. Make no mistake we are now under the leaky umbrella of long time suspected and now confirmed grifter on a grand scale. The common denominator is “proof of concept”- we have always suspected the political class and we have been proven correct more times that we should have to experience. OUR ONE JOB (as voters) is to forget party lines if possible and pay attention to who is running for office (new or incumbent) and determine by facts if they are worth your support. Remember the good and bad often meld into “tolerable” as far as politics go.

We may have to abide by “tolerable” to survive these next few years, with that exercise any of the several avenues of contacts with the existing seat fillers and voice your opinion-OFTEN!



I am thinking Trumpelstilskin is a useful tool for “Bibi” to try to give legitimacy for attacking Iran. The “smart” man who leads(?) the USA is definitely a pawn for anyone he perceives as a strong leader of their country. He wants to emulate them but does not have the knowledge or ability to do it. It takes an entire team of people to wage a successful war and we don’t have that. Trumpel is more a follower than a leader. A successful cook can only stir one pot at a time.


I have written what is called "6 word memoirs". I am sharing just a few below":

GOP espousing false narratives as facts’

The GOP seems to be determined to mop the floor with a dirty mop

Truth riles TOTUS, so be it!!

It is pretty obvious by now that facts riles up the liars no matter the party. It seems that all purveyors of non facts get upset when presented with facts and counter with more non facts or personal attacks.

Sixes 2 A

We’re doing what best for you

autocrats, dictators, people in power all seem to tell us that what they are doing to us is for our own good and somehow many of us believe it. If we are paying attention, we can see that the GOP is doing and saying the same thing while enacting repressive laws on

 voting, reproduction and installing “their choice of judges” while stopping passage of infrastructure legislation. Is this for our own good?

No truth in poLItics, neither party

Dishonesty appears to be the bedrock of politics and unfortunately too many voters  are accepting it.

Botch already backing TOTUS for 2024

Botch McConnell in a play to remain in power has already endorsed TOTUS for a 2024 Presidential run-Is it possible that his (Mitch) constituents are blind and numb?

 Cruz, Hawley, Johnson, modern JoeMcCarthy’s

Only in America can miscreants become lawmakers (or breakers?) and suffer no consequences

Higher standards-N/A to elected officials

We always thought it- politicians generally are suspect

Foxes have control of the henhouse

The GOP now has control of the US house and has proceeded to exact revenge on the DEMs for perceived and real (correct) sins against the party. This energy world be better used to actually strike an accord and govern instead of pursuing irrational and uninformed issues. The course being followed will certainly come back to

bite” them and further divide the voters.

Shiny objects no motive for support-The most prominent or shiniest object more distracting than useful

Flip flops are not just footwear-

 ask Linsey Hop graham and Botch McConnell

Patton slap to GOP-all Cowards!

General Patton was reprimanded for slapping a GI who was suffering from what we now know as” battle fatigue”, he was wrong in what he did however he was ordered to apologize for it. We as voters need not apologize if we “Patton” slap our elected officials

2Tr tax cut or 2Tr stimulus?

The GOP happily passed a 2trillion dollar tax cut that benefitted themselves and big business yet balk against 2trillion to stimulate the economy and help the voters. No brainer on who to vote foTop of Form

r.

Why Do Balding heads require parting?

Just curious

Congress competing for standup Comic jobs?

Standups are more serious about their work than these neer do wells

Its Ok until you’re the victim

What happens to one affects us all and we should all be involved or be at least paying attention.

Possibly hoods in the Congressional closet?

Ron Johnson has made plain what we have always suspected of the GOP. Perhaps not all but too many to ignore and we should not let the Dems off the hook either.

Fist Bump ridiculed once, now gentrified

During Obama Presidency fist bump was ridiculed, not so “ghetto” now is it?

Amazing disgrace: current miscreant elected officials

There is no partisanship when elected officials disrespect the office for their personal gain, not the country and the voters who put them in office.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.”


Abel Meeropol

Born     February 10, 1903

New York City, U.S.

Died     October 29, 1986 (aged 83)

Longmeadow, Massachusetts, U.S.

Other names  Lewis Allan

Occupations  Actor, songwriter

Known for         “Strange Fruit”

“The House I Live In”

Spouse               Anne Shaffer​

​(m. 1931; died 1973)​

Abel Meeropol (February 10, 1903 – October 29, 1986)[1] was an American songwriter and poet whose works were published under his pseudonym Lewis Allan. He wrote the poem and musical setting of “Strange Fruit” (1937), which was recorded by Billie Holiday.

Early life

Meeropol was born in 1903 to Ukrainian-Jewish immigrants in the Bronx, New York.[2][3][4] He graduated from DeWitt Clinton High School in 1921 (his classmate Countee Cullen graduated in 1922) and earned a B.A. from City College of New York and an M.A. from Harvard University. Meeropol taught English at DeWitt Clinton for 17 years.[5] During his tenure as a high school teacher, Meeropol taught author and racial justice advocate James Baldwin.[6]

Song writing and poetry

The sheet music for ‘Vote I. for Ben’, written for Communist New York City Council candidate Benjamin J. Davis Jr., 1943

Meeropol wrote the anti-lynching poem “Strange Fruit” (1937), first published as “Bitter Fruit” in a teacher union publication. He later set it to music. The song was recorded and performed by Billie Holiday and Nina Simone.[7] Holiday notes in the book Lady Sings the Blues that she co-wrote the music to the song with Meeropol and Sonny White. The writers David Margolick and Hilton Als dismissed that claim in their work Strange Fruit: The Biography of a Song, writing that hers was “an account that may set a record for most misinformation per column inch”. When challenged, Holiday—whose autobiography had been ghostwritten by William Dufty—claimed, “I ain’t never read that book.”[8] Meeropol wrote numerous other poems and songs, including the Frank Sinatra and Josh White hit “The House I Live In”.[9] He also wrote the libretto of Robert Kurka’s opera The Good Soldier Schweik, which was premiered in 1958 by the New York City Opera.

According to his adopted son Robert Meeropol, the songs “Strange Fruit” and “The House I Live In”, along with the Peggy Lee hit “Apples, Peaches and Cherries”, provided most of the royalty income of the family. “Apples, Peaches and Cherries” was translated into French by Sacha Distel and became a number one hit in France under the title “Scoubidou”. Meeropol filed a copyright infringement lawsuit over Distel’s plagiarism as Distel initially had claimed the song as his. After the case was settled, Meeropol started receiving the royalties.[10]

Meeropol published his work under the pseudonym of “Lewis Allan” in memory of the names of his two stillborn children.