Where is the opposition tho? In 2016 the very notion of Trump brought people out to the streets by the thousands. Unless i'm misremembering the protests began before the election, intensified between Nov and Jan, and culminated in flames around inauguration day. There were protests in cities and college campuses nationwide.
It's not that i want molotov cocktails and overturned police cruisers. I'd just like to see some indication that people are watching what's happening to this country and that it upsets them. People got mad at corporatism and we got Occupy Wall Street. They got mad at inequality and we got a Million Woman March. They got fed up with school shootings and we got March for Our Lives. They got mad at abusive policing and we got BLM. They got angry at a allegedly stolen election and stormed the US Capitol looking to hang the Vice President. Most recently they got legit mad at the asymmetry of the Israel-Palestine conflict but went brain dead in execution and we got pro-Hamas protests on campuses across the country.
Point being, whatever the perceived injustice or the institutional failing, it's been tradition for most of US history for people to come out fighting. Heck this country was born angry, throwing British tea in Boston Harbor.
Since the Election, I often think of the closing lines of David Fincher’s 1995 crime noir masterpiece, “Se7en,” as spoken by Morgan Freeman’s grizzled nihilist:
“Ernest Hemingway once wrote, ‘The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.’ I agree with the second part.”
Count me as increasingly alarmed that the Dems appear to have no plan whatsoever to do anything to counter any of this. Like, did Biden call Iger and read him the riot act? Did the WH put out a PR saying "This is what we warned you about and feared: tRUmp is clearly walking down the path of Orban and weak people like Bob Iger are helping him." It just feels like we are seeing the slow, lethargic, shuffling response to this like we did to Afghanistan deterioration, inflation, the border... even Ukraine, which was a marvel in many ways, quick ground down to shuffling, halting, nearly passive. And this is all just the actual policy... the Dems are in even worse shape in having any ability to drive the narrative.
This IS the fight of our lives! I do count on your commentaries and others of this Ilk to keep us in touch and active. Of course "they" will make every attempt to keep these communications from publishing ie:
H.R. 9495 sponsored by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R), whereby non-profit status can be terminated by the accusation that the publication is a terrorist organization....ahh shades of Joe McCarthy.
And indeed "they" will be doing this as well As ABC type actions. Maybe the publication platforms need to be platformed from Canada or Mexico or anyplace not under the thumb of US. Keep up keeping up...thank you
As usual, I totally agree with JVL and his analysis of this situation. It is dire, for sure, but I am not sure the media will necessarily stay "docile" for the next four years.
Many of the commenters here lament the fact that a broad span of US voters are so out of touch with what is happening. They cared more about the price of eggs in the last election than they did character and integrity. I have always felt that, unfortunately, the USA must experience a major economic collapse in order for the American people to finally wake up and, hopefully, come together to solve the problem.
Donald Trump is leading us into a major economic collapse. For example, recently we heard that one of his "minions" has expressed the desire to eliminate the FDIC. How stupid is that? If one looks at the several causes of the Great Depression in the 1930's, the Smoot-Hawley legislation imposing new tariffs is often found as a major cause. Event if Trump does not follow through with all his tariff threats, etc., he will establish "crony" capitalism which is always a disaster for economic growth and stability. For example, look at Russia.
I am afraid we will see a major economic collapse or at least a major recession within the next three years. When that happens, one would hope the American people finally wake up and demand change. I am hopeful that when this happens, journalists will re-grow their spines.
Been catching up on my long-overdue reading. "Red Orchestra" by Anne Nelson and several about Gen. Marshall. "Red Orchestra" is about the far-flung Resistance groups against Hitler and the Nazis. The term was invented by the Nazis, partly because of the belief that the Soviets were behind it (they weren't), and it made it easier to scapegoat Resistance members as "Communists". The term actually encompassed dozens, if not hundreds, of different Resistance groups, most small, ranging from people like Admiral Canaris, the ones in on the July 20th assassination attempt and the countless other failed attempts, students, business people, teachers, theater folks, soldiers from lowly privates to generals, etc., etc., etc. People who sometimes knew the others as acquaintances, even family members, but didn't know they were involved in Resistance until they ended up in the same prison. Most of their Resistance activities were small - printing flyers against the regime and putting them in mailboxes, posters, cautious speech with others, hiding Jews and other political opponents of the Nazis, etc. Doing what they could. Are Bulwark and others, including us, going to be part of the Orange Orchestra?
Should libel laws be amended to allow treble and punitive damages for bringing meritless libel cases? Does Disney have enough business before the federal government to give up a potential $100 million punitive judgement?
"We’re ramping up for this work and we’re only able to do that because we’re directly supported by our readers."
And just what is your plan at the Bulwark when the administration shuts you down? How will you keep going and how will we find you? Has anyone thought of that???
So is anyone really thinking that Mr. Russia If You’re Listening, Evil Empire Elon, Peter “Bring Apartheid Back” Thiel & the Dark Lord himself (Putin) will not interfere in the 2026 & 2028 elections, especially with Kash “crazy eyes” Patel opening the back door to our election infrastructure??? I think America as we knew it is over. I don’t see how we get our democracy back with these mendacious f*cks controlling the levers of power! Bulwark, please do an article or podcast whether and how to secure our election systems in the face of this onslaught.
This is totally UNDEMICRATIC and is looking alot like Russian media. WAKE UP AMERICA and stand up to BIG ORANGE. America is RED WHITE & BLUE. Freedim to speak one’s own mind, to write what we think and the truth. If the mainstream media continues to bow to Herr Trump, then Democracy will continue to march towards a horrible death.
God, I am so glad that my dad did not live to see this time in the US. Equally just as glad he passed when Obama was President, so I can display his military service recognition with Obama's signature.
Sadly, too many of our nation's electorate don't care enough to even vote, let alone worry about the harm a Trump presidency could inflict on our nation.
JVL's understanding of human nature and incentive structures is what often (but not always; the shirt is a lie!) leads him to the correct conclusion while many are still unaware of the question.
Dear God, it never ends, does it? "Breaking News: Teacher and Student Are Killed in Wisconsin School Shooting, Police Say Officials revised the death toll to three, including the shooter, who they identified as a teenage student. At least six others were injured."
Capitulation disguised as pragmatism, sold to the public as "business decisions." You’re right—this wasn’t ABC News waving the white flag; it was Bob Iger and Disney running the numbers. And when those numbers are stacked against the raw power of Trump’s retribution machine, $15 million starts looking like a bargain.
But let’s zoom out. This isn’t just Disney or even just media. It’s the Russian playbook, imported wholesale. In Russia, the Kremlin didn’t need to outright seize companies—it just made the costs of dissent unbearable. CEOs fell in line, businesses funneled profits into state coffers, and the independent press? Crushed under the weight of lawsuits, arrests, or just the quiet pressure of self-censorship. Sound familiar?
We’re on that path now, except our version has billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg cheerleading the transition. Musk, fresh off alienating Tesla’s consumers with his antics, still sees his stock rise. Why? Because he’s chummy with Trump. It’s not about cars anymore; it’s about playing the game. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg is having dinner with the same guy who publicly fantasized about locking him up. They all know the rules: bend the knee or face the consequences.
The terrifying part? This isn’t some dramatic collapse—it’s a slow bleed. Media outlets won’t start publishing glowing Trump puff pieces; they’ll just stop telling the stories that matter. They’ll hire Trump loyalists to “balance” the coverage. They’ll sideline fearless critics in favor of safe, predictable voices. Most damningly, they’ll let the most important truths—the dangerous ones—go unsaid.
This isn’t just the end of journalism as we know it; it’s the end of accountability. The courts, Congress, the media, the billionaires—they’re all folding. Resistance isn’t just futile—it’s bad for business. And the populace? Numb, distracted, scrolling through TikToks while the last threads of democracy quietly unravel.
We’ve crossed the Rubicon, but there’s no grand funeral to mark the occasion. No moment of catharsis. Just the dull realization that the game is over. What’s left is the grotesque theater of obedience, where the powerful kneel to a convicted felon, and the rest of us are left watching the empire decay in real-time.
So to borrow/paraphrase a slice of wisdom from someone much smarter than myself: So how exactly did democracy here die? Well, slowly at first. Then as a cowardly, dreadful avalanche of shortsightedness and capitulation.
Perfectly put—slowly at first, until it wasn’t. Democracy didn’t die in some dramatic, Hollywood-worthy explosion. It rotted, piece by piece, while everyone pretended not to notice the stench. A law bent here, a norm shattered there, until the whole thing collapsed in a cowardly heap of self-interest and surrender.
The shortsightedness? That was the fertilizer. The capitulation? That was the shovel. And now we’re standing at the foot of the avalanche, neck-deep in the wreckage, wondering how it all happened so fast—when really, it was happening all along.
Where is the opposition tho? In 2016 the very notion of Trump brought people out to the streets by the thousands. Unless i'm misremembering the protests began before the election, intensified between Nov and Jan, and culminated in flames around inauguration day. There were protests in cities and college campuses nationwide.
It's not that i want molotov cocktails and overturned police cruisers. I'd just like to see some indication that people are watching what's happening to this country and that it upsets them. People got mad at corporatism and we got Occupy Wall Street. They got mad at inequality and we got a Million Woman March. They got fed up with school shootings and we got March for Our Lives. They got mad at abusive policing and we got BLM. They got angry at a allegedly stolen election and stormed the US Capitol looking to hang the Vice President. Most recently they got legit mad at the asymmetry of the Israel-Palestine conflict but went brain dead in execution and we got pro-Hamas protests on campuses across the country.
Point being, whatever the perceived injustice or the institutional failing, it's been tradition for most of US history for people to come out fighting. Heck this country was born angry, throwing British tea in Boston Harbor.
It's quiet. TOO quiet.
Since the Election, I often think of the closing lines of David Fincher’s 1995 crime noir masterpiece, “Se7en,” as spoken by Morgan Freeman’s grizzled nihilist:
“Ernest Hemingway once wrote, ‘The world is a fine place and worth fighting for.’ I agree with the second part.”
Count me as increasingly alarmed that the Dems appear to have no plan whatsoever to do anything to counter any of this. Like, did Biden call Iger and read him the riot act? Did the WH put out a PR saying "This is what we warned you about and feared: tRUmp is clearly walking down the path of Orban and weak people like Bob Iger are helping him." It just feels like we are seeing the slow, lethargic, shuffling response to this like we did to Afghanistan deterioration, inflation, the border... even Ukraine, which was a marvel in many ways, quick ground down to shuffling, halting, nearly passive. And this is all just the actual policy... the Dems are in even worse shape in having any ability to drive the narrative.
This IS the fight of our lives! I do count on your commentaries and others of this Ilk to keep us in touch and active. Of course "they" will make every attempt to keep these communications from publishing ie:
H.R. 9495 sponsored by Rep. Claudia Tenney (R), whereby non-profit status can be terminated by the accusation that the publication is a terrorist organization....ahh shades of Joe McCarthy.
And indeed "they" will be doing this as well As ABC type actions. Maybe the publication platforms need to be platformed from Canada or Mexico or anyplace not under the thumb of US. Keep up keeping up...thank you
As usual, I totally agree with JVL and his analysis of this situation. It is dire, for sure, but I am not sure the media will necessarily stay "docile" for the next four years.
Many of the commenters here lament the fact that a broad span of US voters are so out of touch with what is happening. They cared more about the price of eggs in the last election than they did character and integrity. I have always felt that, unfortunately, the USA must experience a major economic collapse in order for the American people to finally wake up and, hopefully, come together to solve the problem.
Donald Trump is leading us into a major economic collapse. For example, recently we heard that one of his "minions" has expressed the desire to eliminate the FDIC. How stupid is that? If one looks at the several causes of the Great Depression in the 1930's, the Smoot-Hawley legislation imposing new tariffs is often found as a major cause. Event if Trump does not follow through with all his tariff threats, etc., he will establish "crony" capitalism which is always a disaster for economic growth and stability. For example, look at Russia.
I am afraid we will see a major economic collapse or at least a major recession within the next three years. When that happens, one would hope the American people finally wake up and demand change. I am hopeful that when this happens, journalists will re-grow their spines.
Been catching up on my long-overdue reading. "Red Orchestra" by Anne Nelson and several about Gen. Marshall. "Red Orchestra" is about the far-flung Resistance groups against Hitler and the Nazis. The term was invented by the Nazis, partly because of the belief that the Soviets were behind it (they weren't), and it made it easier to scapegoat Resistance members as "Communists". The term actually encompassed dozens, if not hundreds, of different Resistance groups, most small, ranging from people like Admiral Canaris, the ones in on the July 20th assassination attempt and the countless other failed attempts, students, business people, teachers, theater folks, soldiers from lowly privates to generals, etc., etc., etc. People who sometimes knew the others as acquaintances, even family members, but didn't know they were involved in Resistance until they ended up in the same prison. Most of their Resistance activities were small - printing flyers against the regime and putting them in mailboxes, posters, cautious speech with others, hiding Jews and other political opponents of the Nazis, etc. Doing what they could. Are Bulwark and others, including us, going to be part of the Orange Orchestra?
Should libel laws be amended to allow treble and punitive damages for bringing meritless libel cases? Does Disney have enough business before the federal government to give up a potential $100 million punitive judgement?
"We’re ramping up for this work and we’re only able to do that because we’re directly supported by our readers."
And just what is your plan at the Bulwark when the administration shuts you down? How will you keep going and how will we find you? Has anyone thought of that???
So is anyone really thinking that Mr. Russia If You’re Listening, Evil Empire Elon, Peter “Bring Apartheid Back” Thiel & the Dark Lord himself (Putin) will not interfere in the 2026 & 2028 elections, especially with Kash “crazy eyes” Patel opening the back door to our election infrastructure??? I think America as we knew it is over. I don’t see how we get our democracy back with these mendacious f*cks controlling the levers of power! Bulwark, please do an article or podcast whether and how to secure our election systems in the face of this onslaught.
This is totally UNDEMICRATIC and is looking alot like Russian media. WAKE UP AMERICA and stand up to BIG ORANGE. America is RED WHITE & BLUE. Freedim to speak one’s own mind, to write what we think and the truth. If the mainstream media continues to bow to Herr Trump, then Democracy will continue to march towards a horrible death.
God, I am so glad that my dad did not live to see this time in the US. Equally just as glad he passed when Obama was President, so I can display his military service recognition with Obama's signature.
Sadly, too many of our nation's electorate don't care enough to even vote, let alone worry about the harm a Trump presidency could inflict on our nation.
There is always the third option regarding lawsuits... Delay, Delay, Delay....
That only works if you're a MAGA.
JVL's understanding of human nature and incentive structures is what often (but not always; the shirt is a lie!) leads him to the correct conclusion while many are still unaware of the question.
Dear God, it never ends, does it? "Breaking News: Teacher and Student Are Killed in Wisconsin School Shooting, Police Say Officials revised the death toll to three, including the shooter, who they identified as a teenage student. At least six others were injured."
Sick, isn't it? And yet media outrage is highest when a CEO is the target.
The manhunt NYPD held to catch that guy's killer was a sight to behold, wasn't it?
If he were an everyday schmo, tho, that case would still be in it's preliminary investigative stages.
Priorities, am I right? :)
Capitulation disguised as pragmatism, sold to the public as "business decisions." You’re right—this wasn’t ABC News waving the white flag; it was Bob Iger and Disney running the numbers. And when those numbers are stacked against the raw power of Trump’s retribution machine, $15 million starts looking like a bargain.
But let’s zoom out. This isn’t just Disney or even just media. It’s the Russian playbook, imported wholesale. In Russia, the Kremlin didn’t need to outright seize companies—it just made the costs of dissent unbearable. CEOs fell in line, businesses funneled profits into state coffers, and the independent press? Crushed under the weight of lawsuits, arrests, or just the quiet pressure of self-censorship. Sound familiar?
We’re on that path now, except our version has billionaires like Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg cheerleading the transition. Musk, fresh off alienating Tesla’s consumers with his antics, still sees his stock rise. Why? Because he’s chummy with Trump. It’s not about cars anymore; it’s about playing the game. Meanwhile, Zuckerberg is having dinner with the same guy who publicly fantasized about locking him up. They all know the rules: bend the knee or face the consequences.
The terrifying part? This isn’t some dramatic collapse—it’s a slow bleed. Media outlets won’t start publishing glowing Trump puff pieces; they’ll just stop telling the stories that matter. They’ll hire Trump loyalists to “balance” the coverage. They’ll sideline fearless critics in favor of safe, predictable voices. Most damningly, they’ll let the most important truths—the dangerous ones—go unsaid.
This isn’t just the end of journalism as we know it; it’s the end of accountability. The courts, Congress, the media, the billionaires—they’re all folding. Resistance isn’t just futile—it’s bad for business. And the populace? Numb, distracted, scrolling through TikToks while the last threads of democracy quietly unravel.
We’ve crossed the Rubicon, but there’s no grand funeral to mark the occasion. No moment of catharsis. Just the dull realization that the game is over. What’s left is the grotesque theater of obedience, where the powerful kneel to a convicted felon, and the rest of us are left watching the empire decay in real-time.
So to borrow/paraphrase a slice of wisdom from someone much smarter than myself: So how exactly did democracy here die? Well, slowly at first. Then as a cowardly, dreadful avalanche of shortsightedness and capitulation.
"This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
This is the way the world ends
Not with a bang but a whimper" T.S. Eliot "The Hollow Men"
Perfectly put—slowly at first, until it wasn’t. Democracy didn’t die in some dramatic, Hollywood-worthy explosion. It rotted, piece by piece, while everyone pretended not to notice the stench. A law bent here, a norm shattered there, until the whole thing collapsed in a cowardly heap of self-interest and surrender.
The shortsightedness? That was the fertilizer. The capitulation? That was the shovel. And now we’re standing at the foot of the avalanche, neck-deep in the wreckage, wondering how it all happened so fast—when really, it was happening all along.