What we will see is that he will clim that he has immunity, thanks to trhe dummy on the Supreme Court. He could even shoot them all and there is nothing they can do becusse they gave him IMMUNITY.
There’s been a lot of recent talk about the media elites’ capitulation, and how we are seeing all that “in advance” of the orange dude’s inauguration.
You’ve got ABC caving, and Time Magazine groveling at his feet. It's JVL's first point here.
But maybe everyone should run with that notion and even overdo it - big time?
What if one of the so-called “Sexy Magazine” publications named the Leader “Sexiest Man of the Year”? Imagine the level of ingratiation that the Leader might initially feel from that kind of accolade, especially if everybody else jumps on board and keeps it going. Whether it’s settling his frivolous lawsuits to signify reverence and capitulation, or sheer praise designed to stroke his ego, what if the country’s semi-free media just overwhelms him with praise and admiration?
It’s basically The Emperor’s New Clothes. Pretending that it’s brilliant – that he’s brilliant – and then wait… wait for his insecurities to start sinking in. Wait for him and his cronies to realize that he’s the butt of a nation-wide joke: Sexiest Man of the Year, et al., my @$$. Wait until he realizes that all of these WINS are just milk money and lip service, and nobody is really all that afraid of the bully. Let that sink into his brain – maybe there’s a chance that it will explode?
But is that scenario just a short-term amusement? Small gabs that simply shine a bright light on his narcissism, while everyone secretly laughs at his foolishness?
What then?
Does he go ape sh!t and, instead of suing his perceived media enemies to achieve capitulation, what if he just starts having the CEOs of these organizations murdered instead? That’s a Putinesque response, right? That could be his notion of doubling-down, and of course since he gives these assassination orders as official acts, it’s legal – or at least not illegal, right?
Obviously, this idea needs to be thought out a little more… or a lot more.
Does this mean, that now, if Trump accuses a politician, a celebrity or the media, of being criminal, can they now sue him? If that were true, it's going to be an interesting 4 years. I hope the whole world starts suing him
Keep up the good work JVL. Keep pointing out the asymmetry.
"...what is QAnon if not an elaborate defamation case?—while simultaneously using libel law to attack legitimate critics in an attempt to chill everyone else’s speech."
The asymmetry has always been the point, and not just in the media. It's legislative.
Merrick Garland was shunted out and Amy Coney Barrett was shifted in, right in front of us. When questioned, the Republicans turned themselves into rhetorical pretzels to make the case.
We should expect more of this. Republicans are sitting on one end of the seesaw and leaving us high and dry.
Then Merrick Garland returned in a role he was entirely unsuited for. His measured judicial temperament is not what we needed. And it could not have happened at a worse time.
JVL, please tell me that you or Tim or someone here will dissect and discuss Bret Stephans latest screed in the NYT this morning. Honestly feel like we've crossed some terrible line.
One light-hearted for the holidays: if the corporate-owned media actually does become Trump's new cheering section, then what will happen to Fox News when Trump realizes he doesn't need them any more?
By 2028 things are going to be so dystopian that I predict JV) wil be a world renowned motivational speaker raking in exponentially more than Tony Robbins ever has or will. When American fascism truly takes hold, JVL at his most cynically bleak is going to feel Hallmark Channel pollyanna by comparison...
'Over the next four years the cause of liberalism is going to rely a lot more on small media organizations like The Bulwark, because corporate-owned media will not have the freedom to cover Trump’s authoritarian attempt the way they want to.
We’re ramping up for this work and we’re only able to do that because we’re directly supported by our readers.
If you have the ability to support us, we’re going to need it. This is the fight of our lives.'
And whilst I agree with the sentiment I also hope that you have been speaking to your lawyers as well. You need to because Trump and his cronies won't just want to come after the big fish, they'll want to come after ANYONE who attempts to speak truth to their power. I would start the process of transferring my assets to a distant relative they don't know about, like yesterday.
At first, mainstream media went all out for candidate Trump, because he made money for them, not because he was a viable candidate. And kept it up ‘sane washing’ him instead of reporting the truth about his cognitive abilities, his lies, and anything else that would show he was still not a viable president. Come 2024, the ‘sanewashing’ for Trump, the non-stop publicity, but ignoring what Biden actually achieved, and pushing his gaffes and mistakes.
Mary Shelley’s Dr. Frankenstein created his monster, who ultimately destroyed him. That was fiction. We are seeing in fact how the MSM is destroying itself because of the monster they made.
I have this to say. Who’s vulnerable here? Who’s going to lose? Most of us who just want the truth, justice for *any* lawbreaker, respect, a level playing field, playing by the rules, rejecting bad faith arguments?????
We don’t have the money that these corporations do. Who cares more about the preservation of our democratic institutions?
"Over the next four years the cause of liberalism is going to rely a lot more on small media organizations like The Bulwark"
So true and one of the reasons I am a Founding member. I hope to god the bad guys don't find a way to shut down small media outlets like The Bulwark. JVL and co., keep on rockin'!
On Disney capitulation: there can be a consumer backlash. Boycott Disney, and all affiliates. Consumer power is power. Time to flex that muscle. Past time.
I smell what JVL’s stepping in. Two things. 1. Trump’s age is a factor here. He is rapidly deteriorating cognitively and it will be increasingly obvious because he likes to get on camera and run his mouth. He cares very deeply about what is said on cable news about him and his focus is on them because his generation watches TV and pays for cable. Cable News has had a declining ratings problem for years because many of us under 55 do not bother with it and don’t have cable. Many more completely lost faith in them because of how they covered the 2024 race and they lost even more audience because they were trying to play both sides, as having Trump around was good for ratings. But the audience isn’t tolerating even a smidge of Fox News fluff. They have been bailing on cable news especially as folks like Morning Joe go bend the knee. 2. How badly Trump will muck things up for the public. Trump 2028 only works if he has enough support. I suspect he will lose quite a bit of it with his bad policies and behavior. He has already spent a lot of his political capital with his horrible nominees and his J6 pardon promises that people don’t want, and walking back the singular reason those not in his cult voted Republican - inflation and prices. Republicans are cowards but only because they think he and his base are the path to winning. The moment they do not think that, I would imagine JD Vance has the 25th Amendment knife sharpened and ready to plunge into Trump’s back. The non MAGA expect Paul Ryan’s and Mitch McConnell’s policy and a return to the 2019 economy as pricing, which they for some reason do not understand is not a thing that will happen no matter who is president. He will not only not deliver that, he will ruin the ok economy we do have and there will be a lot of backlash. There is no spectacular Obama economy to ride this time, an economy he was on pace to thwart before Covid accelerated everything in 2020. It won’t matter if these media and companies bow to him if he is rolling with a 28% approval rating and most people aren’t watching them anyway. In places where what he is attempting to do has worked they at least had popular support in the beginning and some policy success. But Trump is not as smart or capable as those authoritarians, he is a moron with terrible ideas whose mouth wrote checks he can’t cash in office. People are going to notice price hikes and less and more expensive housing and they’re not going to be happy. We will see I guess. But if the public are all clamoring for him to go, and good riddance, he will have little support to violate what he must violate to run again.
Trump being his own worst enemy is my hope as well. He is in serious decline. From what I have seen of the supporters who write to my newspaper, none of these fools have changed their minds. Just doubled down with support. Plan to remind them of the NBC News interview with my next letter. Maybe that will start the ball rolling.
What we will see is that he will clim that he has immunity, thanks to trhe dummy on the Supreme Court. He could even shoot them all and there is nothing they can do becusse they gave him IMMUNITY.
May they sleep easy.
Capitulation to the Man of the Year
There’s been a lot of recent talk about the media elites’ capitulation, and how we are seeing all that “in advance” of the orange dude’s inauguration.
You’ve got ABC caving, and Time Magazine groveling at his feet. It's JVL's first point here.
But maybe everyone should run with that notion and even overdo it - big time?
What if one of the so-called “Sexy Magazine” publications named the Leader “Sexiest Man of the Year”? Imagine the level of ingratiation that the Leader might initially feel from that kind of accolade, especially if everybody else jumps on board and keeps it going. Whether it’s settling his frivolous lawsuits to signify reverence and capitulation, or sheer praise designed to stroke his ego, what if the country’s semi-free media just overwhelms him with praise and admiration?
It’s basically The Emperor’s New Clothes. Pretending that it’s brilliant – that he’s brilliant – and then wait… wait for his insecurities to start sinking in. Wait for him and his cronies to realize that he’s the butt of a nation-wide joke: Sexiest Man of the Year, et al., my @$$. Wait until he realizes that all of these WINS are just milk money and lip service, and nobody is really all that afraid of the bully. Let that sink into his brain – maybe there’s a chance that it will explode?
But is that scenario just a short-term amusement? Small gabs that simply shine a bright light on his narcissism, while everyone secretly laughs at his foolishness?
What then?
Does he go ape sh!t and, instead of suing his perceived media enemies to achieve capitulation, what if he just starts having the CEOs of these organizations murdered instead? That’s a Putinesque response, right? That could be his notion of doubling-down, and of course since he gives these assassination orders as official acts, it’s legal – or at least not illegal, right?
Obviously, this idea needs to be thought out a little more… or a lot more.
Does this mean, that now, if Trump accuses a politician, a celebrity or the media, of being criminal, can they now sue him? If that were true, it's going to be an interesting 4 years. I hope the whole world starts suing him
Keep up the good work JVL. Keep pointing out the asymmetry.
"...what is QAnon if not an elaborate defamation case?—while simultaneously using libel law to attack legitimate critics in an attempt to chill everyone else’s speech."
The asymmetry has always been the point, and not just in the media. It's legislative.
Merrick Garland was shunted out and Amy Coney Barrett was shifted in, right in front of us. When questioned, the Republicans turned themselves into rhetorical pretzels to make the case.
We should expect more of this. Republicans are sitting on one end of the seesaw and leaving us high and dry.
Then Merrick Garland returned in a role he was entirely unsuited for. His measured judicial temperament is not what we needed. And it could not have happened at a worse time.
JVL, please tell me that you or Tim or someone here will dissect and discuss Bret Stephans latest screed in the NYT this morning. Honestly feel like we've crossed some terrible line.
Mike Freedom
One light-hearted for the holidays: if the corporate-owned media actually does become Trump's new cheering section, then what will happen to Fox News when Trump realizes he doesn't need them any more?
"Ratings don't last, good journalism does." --Dan Rather
By 2028 things are going to be so dystopian that I predict JV) wil be a world renowned motivational speaker raking in exponentially more than Tony Robbins ever has or will. When American fascism truly takes hold, JVL at his most cynically bleak is going to feel Hallmark Channel pollyanna by comparison...
You say:
'Over the next four years the cause of liberalism is going to rely a lot more on small media organizations like The Bulwark, because corporate-owned media will not have the freedom to cover Trump’s authoritarian attempt the way they want to.
We’re ramping up for this work and we’re only able to do that because we’re directly supported by our readers.
If you have the ability to support us, we’re going to need it. This is the fight of our lives.'
And whilst I agree with the sentiment I also hope that you have been speaking to your lawyers as well. You need to because Trump and his cronies won't just want to come after the big fish, they'll want to come after ANYONE who attempts to speak truth to their power. I would start the process of transferring my assets to a distant relative they don't know about, like yesterday.
At first, mainstream media went all out for candidate Trump, because he made money for them, not because he was a viable candidate. And kept it up ‘sane washing’ him instead of reporting the truth about his cognitive abilities, his lies, and anything else that would show he was still not a viable president. Come 2024, the ‘sanewashing’ for Trump, the non-stop publicity, but ignoring what Biden actually achieved, and pushing his gaffes and mistakes.
Mary Shelley’s Dr. Frankenstein created his monster, who ultimately destroyed him. That was fiction. We are seeing in fact how the MSM is destroying itself because of the monster they made.
I have this to say. Who’s vulnerable here? Who’s going to lose? Most of us who just want the truth, justice for *any* lawbreaker, respect, a level playing field, playing by the rules, rejecting bad faith arguments?????
We don’t have the money that these corporations do. Who cares more about the preservation of our democratic institutions?
I think we can now say that extreme wealth does nothing for principles and integrity. It erodes it.
"Over the next four years the cause of liberalism is going to rely a lot more on small media organizations like The Bulwark"
So true and one of the reasons I am a Founding member. I hope to god the bad guys don't find a way to shut down small media outlets like The Bulwark. JVL and co., keep on rockin'!
On Disney capitulation: there can be a consumer backlash. Boycott Disney, and all affiliates. Consumer power is power. Time to flex that muscle. Past time.
I'm sorry, but what good would that do? Better to focus on who is the real bad actor here, and that is the Orange godking.
I smell what JVL’s stepping in. Two things. 1. Trump’s age is a factor here. He is rapidly deteriorating cognitively and it will be increasingly obvious because he likes to get on camera and run his mouth. He cares very deeply about what is said on cable news about him and his focus is on them because his generation watches TV and pays for cable. Cable News has had a declining ratings problem for years because many of us under 55 do not bother with it and don’t have cable. Many more completely lost faith in them because of how they covered the 2024 race and they lost even more audience because they were trying to play both sides, as having Trump around was good for ratings. But the audience isn’t tolerating even a smidge of Fox News fluff. They have been bailing on cable news especially as folks like Morning Joe go bend the knee. 2. How badly Trump will muck things up for the public. Trump 2028 only works if he has enough support. I suspect he will lose quite a bit of it with his bad policies and behavior. He has already spent a lot of his political capital with his horrible nominees and his J6 pardon promises that people don’t want, and walking back the singular reason those not in his cult voted Republican - inflation and prices. Republicans are cowards but only because they think he and his base are the path to winning. The moment they do not think that, I would imagine JD Vance has the 25th Amendment knife sharpened and ready to plunge into Trump’s back. The non MAGA expect Paul Ryan’s and Mitch McConnell’s policy and a return to the 2019 economy as pricing, which they for some reason do not understand is not a thing that will happen no matter who is president. He will not only not deliver that, he will ruin the ok economy we do have and there will be a lot of backlash. There is no spectacular Obama economy to ride this time, an economy he was on pace to thwart before Covid accelerated everything in 2020. It won’t matter if these media and companies bow to him if he is rolling with a 28% approval rating and most people aren’t watching them anyway. In places where what he is attempting to do has worked they at least had popular support in the beginning and some policy success. But Trump is not as smart or capable as those authoritarians, he is a moron with terrible ideas whose mouth wrote checks he can’t cash in office. People are going to notice price hikes and less and more expensive housing and they’re not going to be happy. We will see I guess. But if the public are all clamoring for him to go, and good riddance, he will have little support to violate what he must violate to run again.
Trump being his own worst enemy is my hope as well. He is in serious decline. From what I have seen of the supporters who write to my newspaper, none of these fools have changed their minds. Just doubled down with support. Plan to remind them of the NBC News interview with my next letter. Maybe that will start the ball rolling.