My belief is that these goobers are trying to engineer a recession to reset the labor market. There's nothing like 10%+ unemployment to get people to work for ant amount and in any conditions. But it could be even worse and more nefarious than that. Heaven help us.
Maybe it's time for a prediction made by someone on a Caribbean island during my youth in the late 1980s to come true: that the United States would fall apart, he said in 2015 or 2025. It is clear that some Americans want (to return to) a White Christian Nationalist Confederacy, and other Americans want to move forward in an inclusive democracy with equal rights and some mutual respect and sanity....
I can’t say much about other countries but the Australian press isn’t picking up what Musk has been doing with DOGE. It would explain the small decline.
“Today, Musk reposted a social media post from MAGA religious extremist General Mike Flynn… In today’s post, Flynn complained about “the ‘Lutheran’ faith” and, referring to federal grants provided to Lutheran Family Services and affiliated organizations, said, “this use of ‘religion’ as a money laundering operation must end.” Musk added: “The [DOGE] team is rapidly shutting down these illegal payments.”
In fact, this is money appropriated by Congress, and its payment is required by law. Republican lawmakers have pushed government subsidies and grants toward religious organizations for years, and Lutheran Social Services is one of the largest employers in South Dakota, where it operates senior living facilities.
South Dakota is the home of Senate majority leader John Thune, who has not been a strong Trump supporter, as well as Homeland Security secretary nominee Kristi Noem.”
Thanks JVL. I'm watching beloved ancient Billy Joel videos with a side of Bulliet bourbon all night. You have put my 81 yo life in jeopardy.
But maybe, just maybe, you need to update us after the market closes tomorrow? The Oracle of Delphi cannot be silent when the Persians are upon us! (Sorry, got carried away). Or? Send Tim in to sub?
"Trump’s tariffs just shattered market confidence. Dow futures plunged 550 points, S&P 500 down 1.6%, Nasdaq down 2.3%—all within hours. Investors hoped he was bluffing. He wasn’t. The self-delusion is over. Buckle up"
I apologize if linking to my own Substack violates a protocol here, JVL. If you feel the need to junk this comment for that reason, I understand.
That said, this is worse than you think. If, as my mother once said, "the real crime in America is what's legal," then I fear a lot of our fellow Trump critics are in for a rude shock.
Just wanted to comment to say that as it feels like we have fallen into an abyss, and the only question is how far we'll fall, and how quickly we'll fall, I want to say at least I'm falling with all of you.
Feels like one of the last bastions of sanity in a world where everything seems to be going mad.
Serious bloodbath tomorrow and for the rest of the week. I've got limit orders to sell on the 1st penny drop in stock prices. I expect buying opportunities galore in the coming weeks.
PS Apologies for the sloppy non edits…too many distractions in my real world while trying to finish & send 🤣🤣 and a giant white line down the centre of my screen grrrr
This whole weekend has seemed like Nero fiddling while Rome burned. The Congress people on the news shows seem quite nonplussed by Musk’s actions which seem like a coup to me. WTAF?
Completely agree with JVL. The tariffs are threats - worked on Colombia and may elsewhere. He'll back off soon, claiming some kind of victory -- like the water release. But the real issue is Musk, his cadre of teenagers, and the chance he might arbitrarily stop payments. All of that leaves aside the decimation of the FBI, the paid-for SCOTUS, the spineless GOP politicians, Tulsi freaking Gabbard, Kash freaking Patel, and RF freaking K Jr. Oh, and Bessent, who a dozen Dems voted to confirm. Horse has left the barn. The government is already unrecognizable.
Musk has introduced an unknown number of potentially compromised private hard drives and servers into our government systems, which should NEVER be allowed. We should be a lot more concerned about who or what may now have access to our infrastructure as an unintended consequence. Our own "government" may be the least of those attacking us.
And from this Auzzie perspective please remember this is Geopolitical situation and now a very visceral global experience for us your ‘Allies’ …and that WE THE PEOPLE needs to be a Global Resistance movement for humanity to be successful in democracy surviving!
As I am sure you are aware Indonesia has now also joined Bric! This means that makes Bric a stronger military collective than the USA Military.
For us Auzzie’s one of your closest Ally what’s happening with Canada makes us extremely nervous.
We have seen the political influence The Heritage Foundation has had on New Zealand & South Korea politics and many others too. And now they are making UK & Europe their focus and then no doubt us!
They have already made many visit and contact with our pollies since 2014 - working their way in quietly in the background. They tried with Morrison and failed however they will not fail with Dutton who is at best an authoritarian (& Many lefties are unhappy with Albanese our current Labour Prime Minister) I don’t believe he is the right Polly to win the federal this year for us! Jim Chalmers our Treasurer would be perfect but Labour are too stubborn just like the US Dems and set in their ways to change our Labour Party leader .… hopefully they don’t make the same mistake and try to make that change too late.
Unfortunately we have extremely strong economic ties to China and if President Apprentice F-47 continues to do The Heritage bidding globally with their horrendous Project 2025 mandate we may be forced into joining Bric down the track ourselves 🙈
New Zealand has already fallen to the right extreme ist with their last election.
As of February 3, 2025, the Prime Minister of New Zealand is Christopher Luxon, leader of the National Party. He assumed office following the general election held on October 14, 2023, where the National Party formed a coalition government with the ACT and New Zealand First parties. 
Prior to his political career, Luxon was a prominent businessman, notably serving as the CEO of Air New Zealand. Since taking office, his administration has focused on economic growth, law and order, health, and education. 
Sound familiar? They have been working towards overturning the Treaty since 2014 ! They have managed to already overturn 3 smaller related laws in preparation.
And all this just in our little isolated corner of the world with the rest of the world on political & literal fire, quakes, flooding etc
So important we find strength in global collaboration at the grassroots so we can all work together in this global war of contrast 🙏
How fantastic would it be if The Bulwark started a global geopolitical cross cultural pollination gathering (monthly???? annual????anything really🤷♀️) LIVE ZOOM grassroots style? A further digital footprint in a global distance movement against autocracy & dictatorship!
Anyway just my ever hopeful heart idea…..see where it lands with you 🙏
🥂 Keep on keeping on Mighty Bulwarks continue to ‘KEEP THE BASTARDS HONEST’ we both need and honour your contribution to the Resistance 🥂
Did anyone go shopping this weekend? The stores in LA were as busy as the week before Covid lockdowns. All of them. The folks working the registers were scratching their heads, saying, “we’re usually busy on Sundays, but this is crazy.” The collective hive-mind subconscious is abuzz and the response is: buy toilet paper and avocados. Folks is worried.
If 25% of America’s users/buyers quite or boycotted Facebook, Twitter, Tesla, Home Depot, Lowe’s, McDonald’s, Target, the Coke empire, etc., etc., the stock market would also react! Quitting and boycotting Musk/Trump supporters/enablers are the only actions we ordinary citizens currently have for revolting against Musk/Trump who are hell bent on taking over our country!
My belief is that these goobers are trying to engineer a recession to reset the labor market. There's nothing like 10%+ unemployment to get people to work for ant amount and in any conditions. But it could be even worse and more nefarious than that. Heaven help us.
Maybe it's time for a prediction made by someone on a Caribbean island during my youth in the late 1980s to come true: that the United States would fall apart, he said in 2015 or 2025. It is clear that some Americans want (to return to) a White Christian Nationalist Confederacy, and other Americans want to move forward in an inclusive democracy with equal rights and some mutual respect and sanity....
The Asian markets are falling by around 1-2 percent. It does seem for now they don’t think it’s going to be an long term tariff.
I can’t say much about other countries but the Australian press isn’t picking up what Musk has been doing with DOGE. It would explain the small decline.
From HCR on Feb 2, 2025:
“Today, Musk reposted a social media post from MAGA religious extremist General Mike Flynn… In today’s post, Flynn complained about “the ‘Lutheran’ faith” and, referring to federal grants provided to Lutheran Family Services and affiliated organizations, said, “this use of ‘religion’ as a money laundering operation must end.” Musk added: “The [DOGE] team is rapidly shutting down these illegal payments.”
In fact, this is money appropriated by Congress, and its payment is required by law. Republican lawmakers have pushed government subsidies and grants toward religious organizations for years, and Lutheran Social Services is one of the largest employers in South Dakota, where it operates senior living facilities.
South Dakota is the home of Senate majority leader John Thune, who has not been a strong Trump supporter, as well as Homeland Security secretary nominee Kristi Noem.”
Thanks JVL. I'm watching beloved ancient Billy Joel videos with a side of Bulliet bourbon all night. You have put my 81 yo life in jeopardy.
But maybe, just maybe, you need to update us after the market closes tomorrow? The Oracle of Delphi cannot be silent when the Persians are upon us! (Sorry, got carried away). Or? Send Tim in to sub?
Futures currently pointing to Scenario 1. Everyone seems to have their heads in the sand.
"Trump’s tariffs just shattered market confidence. Dow futures plunged 550 points, S&P 500 down 1.6%, Nasdaq down 2.3%—all within hours. Investors hoped he was bluffing. He wasn’t. The self-delusion is over. Buckle up"
https://x.com/drboycewatkins1/status/1886206310137336137
I apologize if linking to my own Substack violates a protocol here, JVL. If you feel the need to junk this comment for that reason, I understand.
That said, this is worse than you think. If, as my mother once said, "the real crime in America is what's legal," then I fear a lot of our fellow Trump critics are in for a rude shock.
https://open.substack.com/pub/standingathwartyellingstop/p/how-musk-et-al-can-get-away-with?r=9qmwp&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true
Just wanted to comment to say that as it feels like we have fallen into an abyss, and the only question is how far we'll fall, and how quickly we'll fall, I want to say at least I'm falling with all of you.
Feels like one of the last bastions of sanity in a world where everything seems to be going mad.
Serious bloodbath tomorrow and for the rest of the week. I've got limit orders to sell on the 1st penny drop in stock prices. I expect buying opportunities galore in the coming weeks.
PS Apologies for the sloppy non edits…too many distractions in my real world while trying to finish & send 🤣🤣 and a giant white line down the centre of my screen grrrr
This whole weekend has seemed like Nero fiddling while Rome burned. The Congress people on the news shows seem quite nonplussed by Musk’s actions which seem like a coup to me. WTAF?
Completely agree with JVL. The tariffs are threats - worked on Colombia and may elsewhere. He'll back off soon, claiming some kind of victory -- like the water release. But the real issue is Musk, his cadre of teenagers, and the chance he might arbitrarily stop payments. All of that leaves aside the decimation of the FBI, the paid-for SCOTUS, the spineless GOP politicians, Tulsi freaking Gabbard, Kash freaking Patel, and RF freaking K Jr. Oh, and Bessent, who a dozen Dems voted to confirm. Horse has left the barn. The government is already unrecognizable.
Musk has introduced an unknown number of potentially compromised private hard drives and servers into our government systems, which should NEVER be allowed. We should be a lot more concerned about who or what may now have access to our infrastructure as an unintended consequence. Our own "government" may be the least of those attacking us.
😱😱😱
Yes agree follow the money!!!
Just watched a podcast that tracks for me and many other Auzzie’s…worth the watch & contemplating if you have the time.
https://youtu.be/Cy-0N93-1nA?si=Blw5vRl_jip4dnfH
And from this Auzzie perspective please remember this is Geopolitical situation and now a very visceral global experience for us your ‘Allies’ …and that WE THE PEOPLE needs to be a Global Resistance movement for humanity to be successful in democracy surviving!
As I am sure you are aware Indonesia has now also joined Bric! This means that makes Bric a stronger military collective than the USA Military.
For us Auzzie’s one of your closest Ally what’s happening with Canada makes us extremely nervous.
We have seen the political influence The Heritage Foundation has had on New Zealand & South Korea politics and many others too. And now they are making UK & Europe their focus and then no doubt us!
They have already made many visit and contact with our pollies since 2014 - working their way in quietly in the background. They tried with Morrison and failed however they will not fail with Dutton who is at best an authoritarian (& Many lefties are unhappy with Albanese our current Labour Prime Minister) I don’t believe he is the right Polly to win the federal this year for us! Jim Chalmers our Treasurer would be perfect but Labour are too stubborn just like the US Dems and set in their ways to change our Labour Party leader .… hopefully they don’t make the same mistake and try to make that change too late.
Unfortunately we have extremely strong economic ties to China and if President Apprentice F-47 continues to do The Heritage bidding globally with their horrendous Project 2025 mandate we may be forced into joining Bric down the track ourselves 🙈
New Zealand has already fallen to the right extreme ist with their last election.
As of February 3, 2025, the Prime Minister of New Zealand is Christopher Luxon, leader of the National Party. He assumed office following the general election held on October 14, 2023, where the National Party formed a coalition government with the ACT and New Zealand First parties. 
Prior to his political career, Luxon was a prominent businessman, notably serving as the CEO of Air New Zealand. Since taking office, his administration has focused on economic growth, law and order, health, and education. 
Sound familiar? They have been working towards overturning the Treaty since 2014 ! They have managed to already overturn 3 smaller related laws in preparation.
And all this just in our little isolated corner of the world with the rest of the world on political & literal fire, quakes, flooding etc
So important we find strength in global collaboration at the grassroots so we can all work together in this global war of contrast 🙏
How fantastic would it be if The Bulwark started a global geopolitical cross cultural pollination gathering (monthly???? annual????anything really🤷♀️) LIVE ZOOM grassroots style? A further digital footprint in a global distance movement against autocracy & dictatorship!
Anyway just my ever hopeful heart idea…..see where it lands with you 🙏
🥂 Keep on keeping on Mighty Bulwarks continue to ‘KEEP THE BASTARDS HONEST’ we both need and honour your contribution to the Resistance 🥂
https://www.studiozeroart.org/art-by-kelli-sharp
PS We have some artworks we can donate if your interested?

Did anyone go shopping this weekend? The stores in LA were as busy as the week before Covid lockdowns. All of them. The folks working the registers were scratching their heads, saying, “we’re usually busy on Sundays, but this is crazy.” The collective hive-mind subconscious is abuzz and the response is: buy toilet paper and avocados. Folks is worried.
My abundant thanks, JVL, for all you are doing!
If 25% of America’s users/buyers quite or boycotted Facebook, Twitter, Tesla, Home Depot, Lowe’s, McDonald’s, Target, the Coke empire, etc., etc., the stock market would also react! Quitting and boycotting Musk/Trump supporters/enablers are the only actions we ordinary citizens currently have for revolting against Musk/Trump who are hell bent on taking over our country!