Youth Advocacy
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
John Lewis, the former congressman from Georgia, who was badly injured on Bloody Sunday, tells us to get in “Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble. As the Felon from Mar-A-Lago prepares to take office, we each need to examine what kind of “Good Trouble,” will be necessary to uphold our fragile democracy.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 49 (239 total reports)
09.01.20245-14.01.2025
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
John Lewis, the former congressman from Georgia, who was badly injured on Bloody Sunday, tells us to get in “Good Trouble, Necessary Trouble. As the Felon from Mar-A-Lago prepares to take office, we each need to examine what kind of “Good Trouble,” will be necessary to uphold our fragile democracy.
Song of the Week
This compilation is filled with songs about dissenters like John Lewis. Please take a moment to listen to the 10 songs that are biopics of human rights activists.
Top Links of the Week
14.01.2025
Jack Smith in Jan. 6 report says Trump would have been convicted if he hadn't won in November
The First Felon to serve as President got his wish. He didn’t really run FOR office as much as he ran FROM prosecution. Jack Smith’s report, that was held in court for years by a Trump-appointed Judge in Florida, was released in part today and it is damning. So this is the US now? I side with Adam Cohen, who said in his Bluesky account this morning, ““The sorrow I feel is that not only did Donald Trump attempt a violent coup, wherein 140 police officers were injured and 5 died as a result, but millions of people ignored it for the chance to save a buck or two on eggs and gas-even as prices on consumer goods were starting to fall.”
13.01.2025
Why the Christian Right Demonizes Discourse
The surest sign that a parent lacks confidence in themselves is that they attempt to prevent their children from asking, “Why?” It is not different from paternalistic organizations like religion. The Christian Right is similar to the Taliban and wants to justify their misogyny, rather than have people question their injustices. Like the Taliban, the Religious Right seeks control over women and their bodies. They objectify women instead of honor them. Also like the Taliban, the Religious Right wants to control the government and use them towards their own ends. They would be overjoyed to undermine the constitutional separation of Church and State by becoming a theocracy. With little insight, they are not seeing that—when the pendulum swings back to sanity—people are finally going to tax churches as crass lobbyists and political organizations.
12.01.2025
Brooks and Capehart on Trump’s sentencing and what’s coming in his 2nd term
The balanced reporting of the actually “sane” conservative, David Brooks, and the liberal counterpoint of Jonathon Capehart, always engages me. In this rational look at the irrational President-Elect, we are reminded that so many of the completely brainless meanderings of the First Felon of Mar-A-Lago are a total distraction to keep us from focusing on the real actions that Project 2025 and he are taking to undermine the US democracy and constitution. The Far Right loves it when they get under the skin of Liberals, but we mustn’t let our guard down and should continually ask, “What is the deception?” “What are they trying to keep us from seeing?”
11.01.2025
Malala Yousafzai Honored for Her Efforts to Combat Gender Apartheid Ten Years After Receiving the Noble Peace Prize
Religious fundamentalists in Pakistan tried to silence Malala Yousafzai by shooting her in the face. As the religious right fundamentalists try to establish their own Christian Taliban in the United States in relationship with the GOP and their Orange Leader, it is important to remember Molala’s story and her consistent resistance to undermining women’s rights around the globe. Please take a moment to read about the history of her struggle and immense courage. I think you will find it inspiring and a platform for your own resilience. I have dedicated a song to Malala on my upcoming compilation, “Say Her Name,” you can find it at this link: Malala Yousafzai; Tell Her Story.
10.01.2025
Emperor Trump Has No Train of Thought
Be prepared for an era of promises unkept, projects unfinished, and alliances destroyed. This will be the legacy of the next President and the egomaniacal Oligarchs with whom he has surrounded himself. Promises will be unkept, because they were never based upon honest commitments to begin with and because it takes truly strong resilience and values to push an agenda through the government system today. 47 has neither of those values and has surrounded himself with egocentric children who are more proficient at throwing tantrums than leading teams, delegation, or actual governance. Unfortunately, Project 2025 has the stamina that the Orange Felon of Mar-A-Lago lacks and are patiently waiting for him to either die or be replaced through the 25th Amendment.
09.01.2025
Why Poor American Kids Are So Likely to Become Poor Adults
Poor children in America are more likely to become poor adults than a similar grouping of children in other wealthy countries. This well-researched article points out that this is largely due to how we treat impoverished adults in America rather than how we treat impoverished children. Despite what the GOP will tell you, this is not a genealogical issue (people aren’t born lazy and less desirous of meaningful employment), it is a matter of wealth distribution and taxes. As the US increasingly becomes an oligarchy, governed by an extremely wealthy small minority, poverty will increase over the years of the GOP’s budgetary decision-making. The Expanded Child Tax Credit (which ended in 2022) significantly decreased poverty in the US. We are unlikely to see it—or any similar policy—return while E. Musk and his cronies direct the government of 45 and his GOP puppets.
Youth Advocacy
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
In the midst of the obvious cacophony that 45 and his minions are going to introduce into the world, we are all going to need strategies for sustaining our own sanity. This week’s blog focuses on creating resistance strategies.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 48 (238 total reports)
01.01.20245-08.01.2025
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
In the midst of the obvious cacophony that 45 and his minions are going to introduce into the world, we are all going to need strategies for sustaining our own sanity. This week’s blog focuses on creating resistance strategies.
Song of the Week
Rosa Parks was no stranger to the Civil Rights movement when she was asked to move to the back of the bus in Montgomery, Alabama, to make room for white passengers. Her refusal to move led to her arrest, and her arrest led to the Montgomery Bus Strike from December 5, 1955 to December 20, 1956. 381 days! Why didn’t she move? She was tired; tired of being pushed around. Her “stand” for justice by sitting down, is one example of non-accommodation. I feature Rosa in my new compilation of people who have not cooperated with injustice and were known as dissidents. If you’re interested in this new compilation, click here: Good Trouble.
Top Links of the Week
08.01.2025
The Surgeon General just wrote you a prescription for happiness. Here's what it says
There are so many things I’m going to miss about the Biden administration, but a primary one will certainly be the professionalism and knowledge of its public servants. Biden did not appoint political hacks or billionaires to his cabinet and one example is his Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy. Murthy has been a leader in confronting the epidemic of loneliness in the US. In his closing recommendation, he gives a prescription for happiness. Something we’re all going to need to make it through the upcoming years of political shenanigans and outright lunacy. Murthy’s formula is simple, yet profound. He suggests three characteristics of happiness that include: 1) Relationships, 2) Service, and 3) Purpose. These are not three qualities he pulled from the air, they’re heavily supported by research. People who grow these habits (and indeed, they can be grown), are proven to be happier and have a higher sense of well-being. What can you do to begin to grow these habits in your life and the lives of those around you? How can you incorporate them in your dealings with others, your teaching, or raising of young people?
07.01.2025
Did Maslow Get Self-Actualization Wrong?
The points made in this article are enlightening, but I think it is based on incomplete information. Maslow scholars know that Maslow spent time in his latter years doing research with the Blackfoot Peoples in Northern Alberta (six weeks with the Skisika Nation, in 1938) and was in the process of amending some of his own work given what he learned about their concepts of self-actualization. However, he didn’t live long enough to publish these findings. In his latter (unpublished) papers, Maslow spoke of a stage beyond Self-Actualization, that of Self-Transcendence, meaning the final stage of our growth is not focused on self, but ultimately, on community. This is in keeping with the findings the author draws out in her article. This article is well worth the read for its many points about how the Blackfoot Tribe differed in their concept of “flourishing.” Please take time to look over it. I’m sure we can all use more hints on flourishing and perhaps we can help mentor others. Given yesterday’s article about, “The Decade of Discontent,” is there a more important time to teach people to flourish and embrace self-transcendence?
06.01.2025
Welcome to the Decade of Discontent.
This article reviews the data showing the deep unrest in our social structure today. It shows the result of super-elites hoarding resources to themselves while increasingly larger classes of people are unable to even start their life. Already indications of the next administration show that these super-elites are going to do more to use power to secure their own fortunes and take resources from the middle and lower classes. Our own contemporary history shows that we have not reached the “pain point” where people realize they are being lied to and their meager resources are being stripped away. The USA just fired the administration that focused on infrastructure and building the middle class while voting in a huckster who is already saying he “won’t be able to deliver” on some of his most basis promises. This article points to the hard evidence of an economic and societal collapse that is just beginning, leading to what the author is calling a “decade of discontent.”
05.01.2025
As Trump's election is certified, Americans should declare war on stupidity | Opinion
As the results of this last election become clear, one of the things becoming apparent is that 45 (and his handlers) have normalized public stupidity. Whether it’s the attempted appointment of Matt Gaetz as Attorney General or the development of a new department of Government Efficiency headed by Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, the elevation of the non-intelligent in favor of those with an agenda to complete 45’s revenge is in plain view. The dumbing down of American politics seems to be apparent everywhere in the world—except the United States itself—where being stupid is being elevated to an elite class.
04.01.2025
“There is no morality right now”: Former Rep. Adam Kinzinger on Donald Trump's GOP
I admire former Republican Representative Kinzinger deeply (despite being a supply-side, Reaganomics believer). His track record and commitment to honesty speak for itself. If you are unaware of this man’s bona fides, take a moment to read through this article. I believe he captures the lost respect of the GOP and their 45 leader in this article. His argument is our argument if you see the election of a criminal, rapist, authoritarian to the White House as a disgrace to this nation and its values. If you don’t, maybe some of Kinzinger’s insights will spur you to examine your own beliefs.
03.01.2025
In 2025 and beyond, schools need to teach more than just ‘the basics’
Schools that focus on teaching the “basics” are basing their “basics” on a Prussian model that is hundreds of years old. Imagine if we allowed other sectors of society to follow this standard; we’d have no airplanes, certainly no technology, and medicine would still involve no anesthetics. While such archaic guidelines would be unthinkable in the rest of our economy, we seem to accommodate such thinking in education and religion (even worse when they combine). Even our definition of “the Basics” must change. The idea that only teaching readin’, ‘ritin’, and ‘rithmetic or STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) can adequately prepare young people to live in our world today is unsustainable. As this article points out, schools need to be prepared to teach cognitive skills and—what the author calls—non-cognitive skills. Emotional Quotient is one such skill and a far better indicator of how well one will do in their career. This will only become increasingly true as AI (think “Augmented Intelligence”, not, “Artificial Intelligence”) becomes increasing incorporated into our lives (outside of dysfunctional school divisions). In yesterday’s review, we saw how the advanced school system of Finland is teaching students how to spot Disinformation. Such knowledge will become increasingly important in our world as authoritarians take over education. Will we demand that this becomes part of the “Basics” that schools teach or will it also be thrown into the Project 2025 dung heap along with DEI (learning about people’s difference) and “Being Woke (learning compassion and kindness)?”
02.01.2025
How Finnish Youth Learn To Spot Disinformation
The education system of Finland ranks among the top in the world. One of the primary reasons is that they focus on educating as opposed to indoctrinating. They even teach young people how to spot disinformation in their schools. This will definitely NOT be a part of GOP’s agenda for education during the era of 45 and Project 2025. In fact, if our children are going to be able to recognize disinformation, they are going to need to learn these critical skills at home or in small community-based schools. This article highlights the importance of this curriculum and what it has provided to the youth who have participated in these classes. Perhaps you have a way to influence the information young people will be receiving in an era of intentional government deceit. Or, perhaps you know adults who could benefit from this information. Either way, this article is a great primer for accumulating some of the basic necessities for arming yourself against mass, global, disinformation.
01.01.2025
Gratitude, a Road to Lasting Happiness
Our resilience will be more important than ever in this coming year and the best path to resilience is the habit of gratitude. This article looks at building a habit of gratitude into your daily life and the long-term effects on you and yours. How will you grow gratitude this year and how can you teach it to others?
Youth Advocacy
The death of Jimmy Carter is significant to the world. A man of quiet action and dignity, consistent service and dignity.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 347 (237 total reports)
25.12.2024-31.12.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
The death of Jimmy Carter is significant to the world. A man of quiet action and compassion, consistent service and dignity.
Song of the Week
Jimmy Carter; The Measure of This Man
The newest compilation that I am completing is about people who have consistently stood for human rights around the world. Please take a moment to listen to this song about President Jimmy Carter and reflect upon what we are missing in politics today; the quiet actions that led towards peace, human voting rights, global health, and environmental awareness. There was no braggadocio in this man of quiet action. Unlike many politicians today, President Carter showed that, “if you have to tell people you are the leader—you are not!”
Top Links of the Week
31.12.2024
A timeline of former President Jimmy Carter’s life and career
Yes he was a President, a Governor, and won the Nobel Peace Prize, but Jimmy Carter will probably be most remembered for his life of humble service after his presidency.
30.12.2024
Resolve to resist
This pro-LGBTQ+ magazine discusses the trials all of us will face in an administration more concerned about gender-specific bathrooms than about children’s deaths in schools. It points out ten things we can all do to resist the Christian Taliban’s efforts to undermine human rights in the US and elsewhere.
29.12.2024
Historian Reveals The 3 Signs A Political Revolution Is About To Happen — And The Ones We’ve Already Seen In America
This is a history lesson the Far Right is definitely NOT going to want you to see. An excellent examination at what—historically—leads to a revolution and if the “Rebumblecons” don’t come to their senses, this is what they will usher in. Please take a moment to look at the three primary precursors to a revolution that this historian highlights and her explanations why the USofA is so ripe for one.
28.12.2024
The Power of Resilience
Resilience is a learned trait and (as this article points out) it is the result of failure turned into growth. Resilience is a learned response—not an automatic response. Do you know someone who is good at turning failure into resilience? Ask them to coach you… and, if this is something you are adept at, coach and mentor others. Young people, especially, need to know that making mistakes does not equal failure, we only fail when we cease to learn and draw knowledge from our shortcomings. It is natural to want to quit when you’ve fallen down, to withdraw, or cease striving. But, it is at those moments of disappointment in our lives that we are also at the point of optimal growth. Creating a practice of growing from defeat is self-perpetuating.
27.12.2024
60 Comics Exaggerating Modern-Day Issues That Highlight Their Absurdity By Domien Delforge (New Pics)
Many of these comics nail the contemporary situation in which we all live, they are worth scrolling through for a smile and some serious reflection.
26.12.2024
The California Job-Killer That Wasn’t
As a number of States look at raising the minimum wage this coming year and the GOP continues its war on economic fairness. It is important to look at the numbers of what results a higher minimum wage actually has on a State’s economy. Conservative economists predicted the rise in wages in California would result in a loss of businesses and jobs, in reality, the opposite was true. Higher minimum wages resulted in a broad-based rise in worker retention, which lowered hiring and training costs for companies allowing them to put money elsewhere and increase profit margins. Actual reviews of numbers like this needs to be shouted from the rooftops because, be assured, conservatives are shouting their non-research based theories as loudly as they can. Fairness in the workplace is an economic springboard and economic policy should be based on fact, not opinion and conjecture.
25.12.2024
The New Ugly American
This article gives a succinct history into the term, “Ugly American,” and the changes the term is experiencing as the blowhard Regime of 45 and his minions start laying out their plans for taking over Greenland, Panama, Canada, and Mexico. As an ex-pat who lived in Canada and now in Mexico, I’m very aware of the bad reputation the people from the US have abroad. I’m concerned how this will only worsen with the mindless words of the “Rebumblecons” and the authoritarian they blissfully adore (45 or Musk—you pick which one you want to insert there).
Youth Advocacy
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
The puppet government E. Musk bought is revealing the chaos it plans to inflict on the US over the next four years. What is your strategy for resistance and resilience?
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 346 (236 total reports)
18.12.2024-24.12.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
The puppet government E. Musk bought is revealing the chaos it plans to inflict on the US over the next four years. What is your strategy for resistance and resilience?
Song of the Week
Who makes money when the world doesn’t work? Who becomes rich off poverty, guns, and war? If we follow the money, we will begin the see the Oligarchs who are the source of most of the world’s “unsolvable” issues.
Compilation: Resistance, Resilience
Top Links of the Week
24.12,2024
American Idiots
This week’s near-collapse of the House is but a harbinger of things to come under the GOP and 45’s administration. Nearly 100 last minute posts by E. Musk (many outright lies) stirred up the GOP faithful and nearly brought the House to a standstill that would have undermined multiple government functions over the holidays. Only a last minute effort between Hakeem Jeffries and Mike Johnson temporarily averted the crisis. This article focuses on what to expect under the shadow presidency of Musk and 45.
23.12.2024
Revolutionizing Education: Exploring the Latest Trends in Learning
A revolution in learning is long past needed and rather than fear the use of technology (or only using technology for the administration of education), the people at Google Labs are looking for vibrant ways technology can complement educators and students in classrooms and at home. The suggestions in this article are a great guide to anyone who is working in the field of education or human development. These are exciting suggestions and could lead to huge leaps in student development. I hope that if you are involved in the development of children you will read and share this article. It’s well worth it. These ideas will be especially important in light of the onset of global authoritarianism where schools will be seen by oligarchs, religions, and political leaders as opportunities for indoctrination instead of instruction. Increasingly, vital aspects of education will need to be supplemented at home, or in small learning communities, these suggestions will assist in making that possible.
22.12.2024
If We Hate, Trump Wins
MLK’s sermon on hate is a primer for those who lost the presidential election (which, essentially, is all of us—unless you’re a multi-millionaire of billionaire) this year. This article examines some of King’s most well-known sermons for practical applications today. I’m also including a past by King’s daughter with suggestions for responding to those of us grieving the decline of the American democracy.
21.12.2024
Why the ERA Needs Congressional Action—And How We Can Win
Equality needs to be enshrined in our constitution and it needs to be done before the Rebumblecons have consolidated their power under 45 and his puppet-master, Elon Musk. This is not a fight for President Biden or, as the author points out, the Archivist of the US. We cannot underestimate the anti-female focus of the Republican Congress and their leadership. This article has many technical subtleties in it, but it’s worth reading and remembering what is at stake in this groundswell movement needing state ratification.
20.12.2024
Paul Krugman on the government shutdown: "The Chaos Monkeys Have Already Taken Over the Zoo"
Krugman is already calling this “The Musk Administration,” after the billionaire bought his way as close as he can possibly get (as an immigrant) to the presidency. 45 is merely a puppet that does Musk’s bidding and Vance is nowhere to be seen. Behind this week’s budget freeze crises were major changes Musk wanted to push through that Congress (not just the Democrats—Mike Johnson could not even get a majority to approve his budget shenanigans—the response was not just a “Hard No!” but a “Hell No!”). 45 and his Republican patsies are already revealing they are going to be the “Chaos Congress” once again. Krugman is not surprised the “Chaos Monkeys” have taken over the zoo, he is merely alerting us as to how quickly it has happened. This is just a start as 45 is not even president yet and Musk is already taking over the Republican Party he bought and paid for.
19.12.2024
Scientists Tracked 1,000 Kids for 40 Years. This Was the No. 1 Predictor of Financial Success
This groundbreaking study from Dunedin, New Zealand, is a treasure trove of critical information for those who work with human beings (isn’t that all of us). It tells us such things as children generally grow out of delinquency and—as in the case of this article—the importance of Emotional Intelligence in raising healthy, balanced, young people with thriving lives. There is plenty of information in this short article that highlights Emotional Intelligence, what it is, who is credited with “popularizing” it (Psychologist Daniel Goleman), and an important fact that—unlike intelligence quotient (IQ)—Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is a learned trait. We can raise our EQ at any age in a supportive environment. If we want mentally and emotionally healthy children, teach them kindness and empathy. I’m including a link to a song about teaching kindness for those of you interested in passing on this information in a musical fashion. Teach Them Anyway.
18.12.2024
150 Years Ago, Thomas Edison Discovered the Secret to Exceptional Creativity. It Still Works Today
Thomas Edison is known as one of the most prolific inventors in the history of the North America, his “Edison Labs” (in West Orange, New Jersey) were famous for sometimes producing over 1,000 patents a year. However, when we think of Edison’s “Labs,” we should not picture sterile, working environments with all the experimenters isolated at individual work sites. Instead, we are told in this article, that his labs were more like playgrounds than high school or college laboratories. This writer also tells us that the primary quality promoted at the labs was, “fun.” Edison apparently believed that fun was the root of creativity. It was not unusual for the experimenters to take breaks and go to a local stream for a group swim or use other extended breaks to play group games. In an atmosphere of fun, the brain is far more open to learning than in an environment of fear and control. Indeed, in controlling environments, the creative functions of the brain shut down. What does that mean for our classrooms and family gathering times? How can we add fun to our learning environments and increase the development of creativity over the retention (or memorization) of knowledge. Creativity is not the accumulation of existing knowledge, it is using existing knowledge to create novel connections and innovative possibilities. Is your classroom fun? Is your workplace fun? Is your home fun? If you want to increase creativity, ask how you can make time together more enjoyable.
Youth Advocacy
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
Keeping your moral compass and becoming a dissident
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 345 (235 total reports)
11.12.2024-17.12.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
Keeping your moral compass and becoming a dissident
https://www.communitiesoftrust-jerrygoebel.com/youthadvocacy
Song of the Week
The article below this week, “How To Keep Your Moral Compass,” takes a look at the people called “Dissidents.” The qualities listed there are important to review. Dissidents don’t seek the title, they don’t seek leadership, they just live true to their “moral compass.” Another important aspect of Dissidents is that they often speak through the language of the arts: Music, poetry (spoken word) the physical arts.
Compilation 01: Resistance, Resilience
Top Links of the Week
17.12.2024
How to Keep Your Moral Compass
Dissidents; this article examines them from across the world, pointing out that—with a rise of global authoritarianism—we also need a rise in dissidents. As this article, points out, dissidents don’t necessarily start out looking for the title; they wind up with the title for being themselves. Small acts of dissent tied to uncompromising values are the central key to their lives—even when it costs them external freedom such as being jailed for their actions. Do you have any small acts of dissent that you can commit to or do you know anyone whose values result in them being called a dissident? How can you support them?
16.12.2024
The Commons: Washington’s Nightmare
This article is really a compilation of responses to a previous article written by Tom Nichols about George Washington and how Nichols thinks the General/President/“Man-Who-Could’ve-Been-King” would view Trump and his presidency. Three words sum up Nichols’s thoughts on Washington: “He Went Home.” As Nichols points out in his article, DonOLD is the president that was indeed “Washington’s Nightmare.” It is worth taking time to read these responses and link to the article (which was originally written in November).
15.12.2024
It’s Remarkably Hard to Catch the Master Manipulator
Now that T-Rump is admitting that lowering the price of eggs may be hard; are the people who voted for him acting amazed and revealing themselves as thoroughly gullible (aka “suckers”)? The President-Elect is not just a liar and felon, he is a Master Manipulator. This article does a great job of revealing the personality traits of a Master Manipulator or (as some would confirm) a Machiavellian. Traits of Machiavellianism include a “Dark Triad” of personalities which, in addition to being a Machiavellian, also include psychopathy and narcissism, some believe that cynicism should also be included in these traits. All told, they create a framework for many of the billionaires that are now running the global economy. Some might go as far as to say that a Machiavellian, Dark Triad, personality is a key ingredient to being a billionaire.
14.12.2024
Why Losing Sight Of The ‘Learning Value’ Of Work Has Been A Disaster For Students
This insightful analysis into the inherent problems of the US Education system is spot-on. Similar to allowing Airline CEO’s to evaluate their own safety, the US has allowed Academics to design their own metrics. What metrics should we expect from academics who have excelled in their own world, but that to be outstanding in academics, one must also be an academic. What has been missing from education metrics for decades is real-world work experiences. In many circles, I have heard these things, “poo-pooed” for measuring a students ability to fit into the world of business and global economics/community development. It is past time for “outsiders” to be brought into the metric measuring equation. What makes a graduate a “good citizen?” A “contributing member of a business team?” A “good citizen?” Certainly, not that they can individually stand out on an achievement test like the SAT or even the current ACT (designed largely by Iowa professor of education, Everett Franklin Lindquist, in 1959).
13.12.2024
4 Surprising Benefits of Curiosity
This article examines why we all need to foster curiosity in our lives and make it a fundamental component of those we are helping to mature. Imagine raising a generation that saw curiosity and exploration as a greater strength in their leadership than pat answers and intellectual bravado. Take time to review this short article and ask “How many of these benefits can I use? How about the young people in my life?” The four “surprising” benefits noted in this article are an absolute necessity in raising a generation that will be concerned about and caring towards others.
12.12.2024
The Crisis Neither Party Is Equipped to Handle
Trump’s cabinet pick has already shown that he has a singular objective regarding for US Schools and that is to close the Department of Education (which requires support from congress). Congress will likely not support his goal, even though they obviously have no alternative plan for improving education. The sole aim of the GOP is to use education to fight culture wars. While the country is in deep need of addressing multiple S.T.E.A.M (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, Math) issues, the GOP has largely focused on making sure congressional bathrooms are not transgender and yet almost all congresspersons fly to DC in planes that have transgender bathrooms. This article looks at the historic decline of US Education pre and post COVID and attempts in the past to fix a system that remains obstinately broken because lawmakers focus largely on tinkering with test scores while the real issue lies in the terrible underfunding of educators.
11.12.2024
You Did A Good Job Raising Your Kids If They Have These 11 Skills As Adults
This is an excellent article about raising young people to be healthy adults. It is filled with goals to keep in mind as you watch your children grow. My suggestion would be to post these goals on a wall to remind yourself (and either those you with whom you parent or work with) what is important to focus upon while raising young people.
Youth Advocacy
Adversity does NOT equal trauma, this week focuses on overcoming the negative in our lives to grow more resilient.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 344 (234 total reports)
06.12.2024-10.12.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
Adversity does NOT equal trauma, this week focuses on overcoming the negative in our lives to grow more resilient.
Song of the Week
What words did you learn to use inside your head? Are they uplifting? Do they encourage you? Or did you come from a home where mistakes were punished with harsh words and now you use them on yourself? This song examines the messages we have been given AND the messages we can grow.
Link to the entire Compilation: Resistance, Resilience:
Top Links of the Week
10.12.2024
Breaking the Cycle of Adverse Childhood Experiences
Not all childhood adversity leads to trauma, people who have someone in their lives that can help identify the source of adversity, name it, and replace it, are able to live fuller and more meaningful lives. The key here is that Adversity does NOT = Trauma. The cycle can be broken and doesn’t need to be passed on to a new generation.
09.12.2024
Mom teaches son to pick up the 'invisible load' at home and it's something every parent should do
I’ve been saving this article for a week because I knew I would eventually want to share it with you. This mother’s brilliant parenting tip could be applied to all relationships; in the workplace, with a partner, in our communities, as well as in parenting. What is the “invisible load” that often slips through the cracks in our lives? How do we train ourselves to look for it and seek to complete it without being asked or prompted? Are you a person who seeks out the ‘invisible load’ in your relationships and responds, without pressure, without praise, and without prompting?
08.12.2024
4 Ways to Free Your Child From Crushing Self-Doubt
We become the words we hear as children, if we hear harsh words, our own internal message becomes harsh as well. Self-Doubt, the product of harsh words, undermines children’s (our) resiliency. It reminds us again, the way we parent ourselves (internally), is often the way we parent our children. One of the most important tasks of adulthood is to examine the inner conversations passed on to us and that we use when we make mistakes or run into obstacles in our lives. This article speaks deeply to examining how we speak to our children, but definitely can also be applied to how we speak to our inner child. The next time you are angry with yourself, write down some of the words or phrases you use in your own inner conversations. See if those words are helpful, like, “It’s okay to fail when you’re trying to grow,” or, “making mistakes means I am trying new things.” It is fairly certain that if you use these phrases for yourself, you will use them with others around you.
07.12.2024
If You Have These 11 Things, You're Better Off Than An Average Person
Many people I know are struggling to find things to be grateful for following the election of an autocrat to the presidency of the United States. If you are someone (or know someone), that fits that definition, this is a great list to start with—and those things on the list that you do NOT have are things that you can focus on growing. As you read through the list keep in mind the phrase, “Have It or Grow It.” Because gratitude is the most important attribute you can have to improve your well-being, health, and relationships.
06.12.2024
Supercharging Human Curiosity
Listen to some of the exciting phrases in this article; “Augmented Intelligence,” “Return the Joy to Learning,” “Increase Engagement.” These are a few of the goals leaders like Ben Gomes, the SVP (Senior Vice President of Learning & Sustainability at Google are using as guidelines for developing tools to combine AI and learning. While most approaches to AI and Education are between the dichotomy of (as The Atlantic puts it) “uncritical optimism or dystopian fear.” The reasoned approaches by Gomes and people like Sal Khan, of The Khan Academy and Khanmigo, are dedicated to a future where AI (‘Augmented Intelligence’ as differentiated from ‘Artificial Intelligence’) helps foster the creativity of teachers and students alike.
05.12.2024
Complaining Won't Change the World, But Your Actions Can
Michelle Obama, addressing the DNC in August said, "Don't just sit around and complain. Do something!” This article highlights that exhortation. Complaining makes you feel less resilient, doing something increases your strength and positivity. It doesn’t have to be earth-shattering action, simple acts of kindness and courtesy are often all that’s needed are often all that’s needed to bolster your sense of hope and positivity. If this note rings true for you, perhaps you’ll also like my new song, “Act!” Please click the link and have a listen.
Youth Advocacy
The US has determined it would prefer a government of rulers, not leaders. How can we prepare our children for the consequences of Project 2025 and the years following?
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 343 (233 total reports)
28.11.2024-04.12.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
The US has determined it would prefer a government of rulers, not leaders. How can we prepare our children for the consequences of Project 2025 and the years following?
Song of the Week
What is the difference between a government of Rulers and a government of Leaders? That is examined in this song. Of course the style had to be Hip-Hop. Here’s a sample lyric; “If laws don’t apply to the political ones they’re rulers, not leaders.”
Top Links of the Week
04.12.2024
South Korea’s Warning for Washington
A critically important event has been unfolding in one of the US’s allies on the Pacific, it has immense connotations for how their pending new Authoritarian Administration under Project 2025 could play out. That nation, of course, is South Korea, and this article goes into some depth about why we all need to be aware of how that fledgling democracy’s current martial law situation developed and how it is playing out. It could indeed present a roadmap of how to save a democracy from tyranny.
03.12.2024
How to Tell Stories That Move Mountains
Storytelling is the key to leadership. According to Yuval Noah Harari (and this is a very reductive appraisal of his amazing book, “Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind”) the person (group) with the most prevalent myth wins. Every religion, every political movement, every war, every civilization, is built on myth. Storytelling is the way that myth is conveyed. Influential leaders know this fact and incorporate it. Many organizations that recognize this are now substituting the term, CEO (Chief Executive Officer) with CNO (Chief Narrating Officer). Can you turn your business plan into a compelling story? Your budget? This article will give you key insights into using storytelling to motivate and move your people. In the last election, the Democratic Party failed to tell a story that compelled a significant majority to vote for their party, it cost them the election.
02.12.2024
Writer Thoreau warned of brain rot in 1854. Now it's the Oxford Word of 2024
Oxford’s Word of the Year is not new to thinkers like Thoreau. Henry David used the term to warn against “oversimpilification,” in his book “Walden.” Articles like this are important because they analyze how we got here and identify what it means. Our next step is to chart a way back—for ourselves—for our children. Most people would blame our compulsion to social media for our current mind-decaying situation, but—like money—social media is value-neutral. Our usage and the way it has come to dominate our dopamine-starved, reward cycle is what we need to analyze and address. Banning young people from social media is not the answer; teaching people (of all ages) to develop the discipline of rigidly verifying their sources is a beginning. “Who said that?” “What was the context?” “Where did they get their information?” “Where’s the proof of their results?” This should become standard questions for all our educational efforts. Teaching children to think critically—and the best teaching is always modeling—begins at home, but must be included in our schools. However, the chances of an authoritarian regime, like Project 2025, encouraging voters to “check their sources,” is slim to nil. Acceptance, not examination, is their end-goal.
02.12.2024
The End of Democratic Delusions
It’s going to take years to unravel what happened in the last election, even to understand what to call the age of politics that has begun under the “Trump Reaction”—yes, sadly, as this article points out, D-Trump has loomed over American politics now for as long as FDR was president. What made DonOLD attractive to so many voters and what made Democrats so unelectable? We need more insightful articles like this to understand and respond.
01.12.2024
How to Love Yourself, With All Your Flaws
This link inspired me to write a new song, “The Words We Use Inside…” about the words and phrases often passed down by those guiding us as children. Often (usually) those words become our own words that we speak internally as we “raise ourselves.” Left unexamined, these words can prevent us from taking risks that could lead to growth and accepting that perfection—as opposed to failure—is the superior indicator of measuring our propensity for growth.
30.11.2024
Lessons from Civil Rights Activism for Today’s Social Divide
The history of Civil Rights Activism (or Social Resistance) is a topic that we can be sure won’t be taught in schools under the new Project 2025 administration. Indeed, “Civil Rights” will probably be mocked in much the same way as DEI and being “Woke (compassionate).” It will become increasingly important to re-establish alternative ways of educating ourselves and our children. What do you need to teach at home, that kids will NOT be learning in a Christian Nationalist education system? This book may be an important one to put on the shelves in your home or institution, to aid those around you in teaching the history of Civil Rights Activism. Check out the song, “Teach It Anyway,” for an example of how we can raise children who will be compassionate and caring in a society that often sees winning and domination as preferred values.
29.11.2024
The True Threat to Democracy Is Our Unelected Oligarchy
It would be easy to see Trump as the primary threat to democracy, but what is easy is often deceptive and our brains inherently oversimplify due to the way we have evolved. What’s important to remember is that the Orange Clown is merely a deception, the true threat is Project 2025 and its propensity for an unelected oligarchy. They want to elect someone they can control and that can fascinate the masses. At the time of the election, J.D. Vance was not that meme. Now, the true powers behind Donny OLD, have time on their side, perhaps two years—longer if they can create ways to interrupt the interim election in 2026.
28.11.2024
How AI Will Impact the Future of Teaching—a Conversation With Sal Khan
Sal Khan is the brilliant founder of “The Khan Academy” and “Kahnmigo.” I believe he is one of the most respected names in education today, and, I’m not alone, so when Khan speaks about the future of AI and Education combined, I am all ears. If you are connected to any child that is getting an education (or going to get one), this is a must-read. There needs to be a way forward for the two (AI and Education) to collaborate, because children who cannot compete in a world infused with AI will be at a complete disadvantage and we can’t leave technology up to the people at Project 2025 and Elon Musk.
Youth Advocacy
Looking for resources to grow resilience in your life and the lives of the young people around you?
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 342 (232 total reports)
21.11.2024-27.11.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Dr. Jerry Goebel, MBA, D.Min.
Looking for resources to grow resilience in your life and the lives of the young people around you?
Song of the Week
This song examines the aspects of mature hope; a hope that is founded in acts of service, a hope that leads to resilience.
Top Links of the Week
27.11.2024
Teaching Students How to Debunk Myths About Misinformation
Social Media is a major part of young people’s lives today and we are fooling ourselves if we think that is going to decrease. Good education prepares young people for the future that THEY will live in, not the past that educators (or administrators, or school boards) USED to live in. Taking phones out of schools does not prepare young people for their future. Creative educators find ways to include technology into their daily activities, rather than acting as if they are competing against it. That includes teaching young people to recognize and “debunk” the misinformation they receive—and are going to continue to receive—as they become adults. I’m old enough to remember when math teachers protested the use of calculators in classrooms, because those teachers had been trained in using the slide rule. Obviously, educators were on the wrong side of that argument. They are just as likely to be on the wrong side of this argument if they don’t find ways to utilize technology, instead of running from it.
26.11.2024
It’s Not the Economy, Stupid
There’s a lot of simplistic, singular, theories about why the Democrats lost this last election, each of them might have a part of the truth, this article takes a deeper dive into a combination of causes that had rippling effects on the whole.
25.11.2024
These US cities scored top marks for commitment to LGBTQ+ rights – is yours one of them?
Will there be safe havens for those people whom the right seems to love to hate? Already the Project 2025 minions are suggesting that cities not supportive of their policies will lose financial assistance. Trump suggested doing this when he was president by not providing disaster relief to States that did not support him. We can surely expect him to take those principles further in the future. If you have LGBTQ+ people in your relationships (as I do), this list of cities might be essential.
24.11.2024
The Virtual Gratitude Visit
Gratitude is a life-enhancing habit and intentional decision. A Gratitude-Visit was a therapy tool suggested by Martin Seligman (one of my favorite psychologists) in his book, “Authentic Happiness.” This article elaborates upon the practice of gratitude and the components of a Gratitude Visit, then further applies them to helping deal with grief. The grieving process is neither linear nor simple. Practices like this assist people in narrating the new story that needs to be created following loss.
23.11.2024
Reclaim Your Playful, Courageous Self with This Fear-Busting Life Advice
This brief review, is well-worth the short read and you might even want to invest in the book. What holds us back from the life we inwardly believe we are supposed to live? According to this author, it is our fears. Also, according to this author, those fears can be addressed and relocated to a place they can’t prevent you from maximizing the joy (and potential) in your life. It’s a brief read, and well-worth it.
22.11.2024
Three Ways to Become a Deeper Thinker
Taking us on a journey from Zen Buddhism to Carl Jung, Arthur Brooks hints that we have become “spiritually flabby” and it has negative affected our well-being. Citing research, Brooks points out that young people who are encouraged to study life’s “unanswerable questions,” have better cognitive health than those that do not. He also refers to neurological research as to why this occurs. In the article, he raises a few of the questions that are difficult to answer, which allows us the chance for a timely mental workout. Take a look through the article, let your brain work through some of the questions, if you know a young person, let them explore them with you—even if it is frustrating—it is a critical cognitive exercise that we could all use, especially now as so many unanswerable questions face us.
21.11.2024
The Gettysburg Address Really Holds Up
At times (like these), it is particularly important to remember what greatness sounds like. In this article, Charles R. Pierce, reminds us of the power of 269 words. Lincoln’s 269 words shared at Gettysburg, also during a time of great upheaval. All the greatest leaders in the world have one thing in common, they rose to influence in times of great stress. Many of them, did not seek power, most did not seek notoriety. Behind their great accomplishments, most were very humble people. Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address stands as a testament to strength in adversity. Take time to read them again (they are contained in this article) and reflect on their pertinence today.
Youth Advocacy
Curiosity… that’s the primary theme this week, how do you awaken it? How do you pass it on to a new generation?
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 341 (231 total reports)
12.11.2024-20.11.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Curiosity… that’s the primary theme this week, how do you awaken it? How do you pass it on to a new generation?
Song of the Week
If you haven’t had the time, I hope you will take a moment to review my latest musical compilation, “Resistance, Resilience.” The songs are designed to build hope, and yes… to fortify resistance to the election results we have just witnessed. Many of the songs are designed to help co-regulate young people negotiating their emotions, others were made to offer an emotional support for those feeling down or oppressed at this time.
You can get the compilation for free at the following link:
Top Links of the Week
20.11.2024
How the Science of Curiosity Boosts Learning
Imagine the goal of education to be “creating wonder.” How would that change the entire system? The way we hire and evaluate teachers—and students? It’s important to remember that healthy children come to us full of wonder—that is their gift to us. It should be the goal of every school to graduate students that say, “I’ve learned a lot, but there’s so much more to find out!!!”
19.11.2024
Traffic on Bluesky, an X competitor, is up 500% since the election. How will it handle the surge?
If, post-election, you are looking for an alternative to X (formerly—and still really known as—Twitter) try Bluesky. I have found it is an exceptional alternative without the messy fingerprints of E. Musk on every link. If you want to connect with me on there, my username is @docjerr.bsky.social. Hope to see you.
18.11.2024
Why Simon Sinek Is Obsessed With Friendship
Isolation and loneliness, the upcoming administration has reveled in these twin weapons—and yes, they are weapons. The more isolated we feel, the more helpless we feel and the less we want to involve ourselves in true acts of justice, or even simple acts (like voting). Simon Sinek has a credible answer, form communities. Communities of compassion, not built upon the “likes” of social media, but upon the deep intimacy of sharing. This is a critical time to seek out Givers of Hope and bond to them. Who will be in your community? Sadly, churches used to fulfill this role, but they chose dogma over community and lost their relevance. However, we still need to gather, not to trade myths, but to deepen hope and compassion.
17.11.2024
Trump’s New York Sentencing Must Proceed
Is a criminal above the law because he has money? Is a criminal above the law because he has power? We are about to see. Will the charges against Trump be dropped because he is President-Elect? How would that make the US Government any different than a dictatorship? It wasn’t Democrats who found Trump guilty, it was a jury of his peers. The rest of Americans would be sentenced for the crimes he committed. Is this man different? Is he indeed above-the-law?
16.11.2024
Get Ready for Higher Food Prices
Apparently, a lot of people—when they voted for T-Rump—didn’t understand the deceptions of his economic policies, if not the outright “kindergarten” approaches to economics and international relationships. Given that, we need to prepare for an economy where food prices are going sky high, as well as prices for other necessities—housing, automobiles, taxes. A trade war will soon be ignited, medicare and social security will go bankrupt. Most people will lose their health care and education will become Christian Nationalist dogma. The GOP will have no one to blame because they control the administrative, congressional, and judicial branches of congress. Tighten your belts folks, this ain’t gonna be pretty.
15.11.2024
The Benefits of Dopamine
Short-Term dopamine rushes are what keep people glued to their social media. The ability to substitute these rushes is essential to a healthy life. This article looks at how to help yourself and others replace the compulsive need to keep “clicking.” Notice the words I’m using here, Substitute and Replace, not cease and desist. Compulsive or addictive behaviors are not terminated without a substitution. This article looks at long-term solutions (replacement therapy) to the constant nagging demands of dopamine rushes.
14.11.2024
Steve Jobs Said Great Ideas and the Success That Follows Come Down to 2 Simple Words
I wont ruin the surprise “Two Words” the author quotes, but they are timeless and applicable to all learners and leaders. A great read…
13.11.2024
Storytelling, Not Stages, to Combat Grief
The work of Elizabeth Kubler-Ross provided a watershed for understanding the process of grieving. The key was that the stages were never meant to be concretized and some people interpreted them that way believing, “You must go through this stage to get to the next stage.” The messy reality of grieving is that it is not that simple, people may wander from stage to stage as if they were permeable and nothing in human behavior is truly linear. It doesn’t account for outside forces that can send shockwaves into the pretty patterns of stages in which we would like people to fit and thus some see those grieving from a lens of “how do I move this person to the next stage—and finally out through the final stage of Acceptance. The research in this article reveals that the key to helping those grieving is storytelling. In truth, all of life is a narration—including and especially—our own self-concepts. Helping someone grieve is helping them narrate a new story of life without the object of their grief. What is my new story going to be? What will my life look like now? How do I cope with this loss? All of these questions are answered in story form before living them. Our role (if we are assisting) is to co-narrate the story through patient and focused listening. It is not pretty, it is not linear. It takes time and attention to help someone narrate a new story that encompasses their loss.
Youth Advocacy
If you work with young people who are trying to form their cognitive skills, I hope you will listen to this compilation. It is my first release in decades.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 340 (230 total reports)
06.11.2024-12.11.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
This marks the first time I’ve released a musical compilation in decades. The compilation is called, “Resistence, Resilience” and the details are below.
NEW RELEASE of MUSIC!
This week marks the debut of my newest music compilation focused on youth advocacy and especially building Resilience and Resistance (the name of the compilation). Because I’m unable to play instruments like I used to, I used Suno (an AI tool) to assist in making the lyrics come to life. I’m so impressed with that app, it allowed me to be much more eclectic in my writing and save me tens of thousands of dollars in recording costs. That’s very important to me as I do not charge for my music and proceeds from past albums and books are donated to various causes. Please enjoy and share…
You can get the compilation at the following link:
Top Links of the Week
12.11.2024
What Trump's first 100 days in office could look like
https://apple.news/AZg8wixDnS6-o_MSmQ381lg
It’s important to know what to prepare for and what to expect if we are going to offer resistance and resilience for the next years under Project 2025. We can’t resist if we’re unaware and can’t be resilient if we stand alone. Seek out givers of hope.
11.11.2024
Bertrand Russell’s 10 Commandments for Living in a Healthy Democracy
Bertrand Russell is an essential voice in building healthy democracies (small “d”). These ten “commandments” are a primer for his thoughts. Worth a read.
10.11.2024
The United States of Selfishness Won Trump the Presidency
As we have been examining this week, the loss of the Presidency and Senate to a convicted felon and his party, is not an exterior issue, fixed by a technical tweak, but an existential one, that must force us to look deep into our relationships and the way we raise humans today. This article points out that the US has become the “ME” Nation. A nation about “ME,” not “WE.” What’s most concerning is this is condoned, it is an acceptable viewpoint to think about self first, second, and last. Over the next years, we are going to see how that plays out nationally and internationally; in economic terms and immigration terms. It is not going to be pretty, but in the words of the voters today—as long as it doesn’t affect, “Me, I’m okay with that.”
09.11.2024
It's About Our Identity, Stupid!
The writer of this article has an extremely valid point; the election wasn’t about the economy, “stupid…” it was about “identity.” People didn’t want to be woke, they wanted to be affirmed. For many of us, the affirmation was for values we cannot comprehend. But our comprehension must now go underground. It must become the basis of resistance and resilience. This article is worth a read to understand the Democrat’s loss, both electorally and by popular vote. This is no surface fix, no “tweak” there’s a deep, abiding rupture in the way two Americas think.
08.11.2024
Kamala Harris’s Concession Was a Masterclass in Resilience
Yesterday we looked at the difference between regret and depression, today we look at the difference between hope and optimism and its impact on resilience. The author uses Vice President Harris’ concession speech to lead us in the process of growing resilience in the face of defeat. Hope more than optimism (according to research by this author) is the key to facing the difficult challenges that will lie ahead of us as we both foster our own resilience and become a beacon to others.
07.11.2024
How to Deal With Disappointment
Thank you to Arthur Brooks for this wonderful article. This is an in-depth study of disappointment looking at the epigenetic history of the experience. Contrasting is with regret and depression (anhedonia—dysregulated dopamine levels associated with clinical depression). I hope that you will find it as helpful as I did, if you are feeling “disappointed” over the results of the US election.
06.11.2024
Trump Won. Now What?
This morning, many of us might be in shock. Since very early this morning, I’ve been considering my long-term strategy for resilience and resistance. What will be your plan for mental health? What will be your plan for relationships? Economics? How will you support those you know who will be targeted by the policies of white, christian, nationalism? This is no short-term turnover. Once Project 2025 gets in, they are not going to let go and they are going to do everything they can to crush opposition. They are not going to want an election in 2028. Despite all his victory dances, T-Rump is not long for this world. Not only is he old, but 2025 doesn’t need him now that he’s secured the White House, Senate, and a potential House win. I expect a purging; both in the US and abroad. I also expect a mass exodus from the US (from people who do not want to live under a dictatorship, but also people who don’t want the Far Right to decide their immigration, relational status. or bodily autonomy).
Youth Advocacy Training Link of the Week
How Different Forms of Cognitive Distortion Can Lead to a Continuous Cycle of Negativity
https://laughingsquid.com/cognitive-distortion/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_content=topic/lifesciences
This chart gives excellent graphics for types of cognitive disorders often experienced by people who have experienced childhood adversity (sometimes leading to Trauma). It’s really worth a look and if you work with those recovering from painful pasts or trying to build a whole life. Hint: You might want to post this in the staff room.
Youth Advocacy
Turn off your social media tonight, the vote won’t be counted and concluded this evening. Expect the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago to declare victory early and plenty of fake news and social media posts to follow.
Youth Advocacy 2024 05.11.24
Year 3, Week 39 (229 total reports)
29.11.2024-05.11.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Turn off your social media tonight, the vote won’t be counted and concluded this evening. Expect the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago to declare victory early and plenty of fake news and social media posts to follow.
Song of the Week
There was a good thoughtful this week (that I’ll include) that said, “It depressed the hell out of me, that people I grew up with or I am related to have turned into people that I wouldn’t tell where Anne Frank was hiding.” This farcical song captures the painful meaning of that phrase.
Top Links of the Week
05.11.2024
Imagine What One Year Of A Kamala Harris Presidency Could Be
Please VOTE today. This hope-filled article imagines what the US will look like on its Quarter Millennial if we elect Kamala Harris for President this week. It’s just the type of hope needed to steel ourselves for tonight. PBS advises, “turn off your social media” while watching tonight. Expect the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago to declare victory early and a hailstorm of fake news and posts to follow. Chances are the true results of the Presidential election will not be resolved tonight, Biden’s win wasn’t official until the Saturday after the booths had closed. But like, then, Trump will declare himself the winner and everything after that, he will call fake. Then he will use the courts to press his false claims (again)...
04.11.2024
'Traitors within': How one group tried to radicalize the American right in the '60s
The term “enemies from within” is not just a term historically used by dictators abroad, it has a US history as well, back to Barry Goldwater (in his loss to perhaps the last true Republican, Dwight Eisenhower), and crafted by the infamous, John Birch Society. In 1958, the John Birch Society, under the guidance of ultra-conservative, Robert Welch, wanted Goldwater to attack members of the GOP who did not support their agenda, he called them, “Traitors within…” This article does a good job of reflecting on the US history of that terminology and it’s usage as hate speech by the far right radicals of the GOP.
03.11.2024
Trump Needs Help
This article puts the issue as gently as possible. Yesterday, the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago, in front of a group including children, simulated performing fellatio on a microphone during a rally. The article points out that if this were a grandfather or an elderly father, we would seriously seek medical attention for him. We would make sure he was not put under any psychological stress, and—most of all—until he had sought help, we would find ways to prevent him from being in public venues, especially when children are around. Have all the years of living without boundaries on any of his most basic impulses finally caught up and overwhelmed DonOLD? Given his increasing fascination with female AND male genitalia, as well as this shocking display in a public venue, we would think that he is deeply entrenched in a state of what famed psychosocial psychoanalyst, Erik Erikson, would call disintegration. We certainly would not want this person controlling the largest military in the world. Yet, this article points out, that even this might not dissuade his cultic followers to re-consider their votes. How very sad—and, at the same time—terrifying.
02.11.2024
How Does Immigration Affect the U.S. Economy?
If you want to understand the numbers beyond the Republican rhetoric of immigration, this article is a great place to start. It reveals the amount of taxes that immigrants pay in the US, the industries that would be devastated under T-Rump’s massive deportation schemes (which gives a bit of insight into how the economy would be on the brink of collapse with such idiotic policies). If you know people who “think” they understand immigration issues, but still believe in DonOLD’s/the Far Right’s policies, then this article is for you. Sadly, the people who support the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago’s policies on immigration and most other areas, are not basing their opinions upon fact, but upon fear. It’s been in authoritarian’s playbooks to stoke fear about immigration in multiple countries and multiple campaigns throughout history. Fascists need tangible enemies to succeed and the Far Right is no different. They have chosen to create hatred and fear rather than offer constructive solutions. The Orange Dictator-for-a-Day even told his minions to vote against an Immigration Policy that Republicans help draft because the policy would help resolve issues at the border and that would be bad for the Orange Clown’s campaign. If we want true reform at the US Border that results in humane policies that don’t involve separating families, detaining children in prison camps, and mass deportation, then we need to get rid of this generation of T-Rump cult followers.
01.11.2024
Two dead, another arrested for miscarriage — this is how Trump plans to "protect" women
T-Rump says that he will protect women, “whether they like it or not.” This article points out how DonOLD and his Far Right Minions plan on “protecting” women—by controlling them, to the death if necessary. Let’s shut this group of American Fascists out, teach them they have no right to make choices for other people’s bodies. Vote them—and their policies of death—out!
31.10.2024
A tale of two closing messages: Harris offers patriotism, rejects Trump’s ‘chaos’
The future of America is either very bright and full of economic opportunity for all classes of people or a “garbage heap” filled with racist hate and Christian nationalism. It depends on which candidate YOU vote for. Please vote for hope and “not going back” to the 1800’s.
30.10.2024
Mass Deportation Won’t Solve U.S. Immigration Policy. Here Are Three Things That Will.
I spent a great deal of time in Central America and currently live in Mexico. I abhor what the Far Right is doing to the issue of immigration, but mostly what they are doing to people who are trying to legally immigrate to the United States or have already immigrated. The GOP playbook is straight from every fascist government seeking authoritarian rulle for the last 100 years. Distract people from their real problems (and your inability to address them) by creating an enemy they can hate. Make that group of people less-than-human and generate an us/them mentality. Sadly, because there are so many people choosing to be ignorant about immigration glabally, it continually works. Like a teenager feeling angst about growing up, it is easier to hate something tangible (parents, teachers, authority figures in general), than it is to deal with the deeper issues of growth and development. In order to grow, immature minds create tangible enemies. This effort to externalize blame and push it outward would be comical if the consequences weren’t so serious. Frank Herbert states repeatedly in Dune, “Fear is the mind-killer,” and it is. It prevents people from using their rational mind to look at interior issues. It shuts down empathy and all paths to a compassionate solution. In its stead, it leaves hatred and vilification. Whether it is creating glaringly false stories about immigrants eating cats, dogs… and geese, calling Puerto Rico a floating island of garbage or lies about how schools are doing sex changes on children in the middle of the day; the lies are not stopping—even worse—the blatant abandonment of cognitive reality checking and the addiction for more absurdity on a daily basis is growing. That’s why I found this article so refreshing, the solutions it presents to the immigration issues the world is facing today are applicable and practical. They make common sense and would produce long-term solutions indigenous to the areas where emigration is growing. Please read this article and pass it along to people who do not understand the underlying issues of global immigration.
Youth Advocacy Training Link of the Week
How to Carry the Burden of Grief
Grief is never linear and the stages of grief can come and go like tsunamis on our heart. This poignant article talks about strategies for bearing the burden of our losses. It can also help you assist others experiencing similar waves of pain.
Youth Advocacy 2024
As we finally turn the corner into the last week of the most decisive election in modern American democracy, we are faced with two visions for our children’s future: one bleak, racist, anti-immigrant and hate-filled; the other filled with possibilities, economic policies to support the middle-class, and opportunities for diverse groups of people.
Youth Advocacy 2024
Year 3, Week 38 (228 total reports)
23.10.2024-28.10.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
As we finally turn the corner into the last week of the most decisive election in modern American democracy, we are faced with two visions for our children’s future: one bleak, racist, anti-immigrant and hate-filled; the other filled with possibilities, economic policies to support the middle-class, and opportunities for diverse groups of people.
Song of the Week
Project 2025 is coming to “25” the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago. “Watch your back Old Donny, Poor Donny…” Peppy funk beat, a tongue-in-cheek primer of Project 2025’s real agenda for T-Rump. Is it only DonOLD who doesn’t realize he’s just a patsy for Project 2025 to get the real president they want? Vance will do to T-Rump, what T-Rump did to Pence.
Top Links of the Week
29.10.2024
Ending Christian Nationalism
Voting out the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago not only means an absolute route at the polls of the obscene man himself, but also the cronies that support him. Among them are billionaires that need to be taxed, GOP lackeys that have been spineless during this whole takeover, and churches that need to be taxed because they are political patsies of the far right. Christian Nationalism has fueled the T-Rump surge and continues to do so. Somehow, their leaders have convinced them that only studying the most racist and angry parts of the Old Testament as well as Paul’s writings allows them to silence the messages of unconditional love found in the Gospel. These pastors are political players that hide in the shade of tax breaks and accumulate vast amounts of wealth while endangering democracy in favor of views that make them no less than an American Taliban.
28.10.2024
Off-color jokes, vitriol take over Trump Madison Square Garden rally
DonOld’s image of America was on full display last night at Madison Square Garden as he held his closing message rally to set off the last week of legitimate campaigning. It included blatant racism, and multiple references to America (and Puerto Rico) as garbage cans. This is funny?!! The only way to stop the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago’s vision of America from becoming a manifested reality is to beat him at the ballots and in the following weeks in expensive court case after court case.
27.10.2024
For Trump, November 5 Is When the Election Starts
For those, like me, watching and concerned with the direction of the polls, please keep in mind our greatest defense against a Putin/GOP/T-Rump dictatorship is to vote. Also, to understand, the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago’s redundant playbook. He will declare victory early, so that he can claim everything thereafter is illegitimate. It’s a tired page from his past, but it has worked for him and he will use it again. His supporters and attorneys are already using money amassed from traitorous tech giants like Musk and Bezos, to file endless lawsuits in multiple states to hinder election results. Sadly, this may be the pattern we see ad infinitum until the old Orange rap(c)ist finally dies and Project 2025 is stuck with its unelectable true candidate, JD Vance (or whatever name he will call himself by then).
26.10.2024
Tucker Carlson’s ‘daddy’ comments speak volumes about the far right
If you want to be grossed out by a misogynist’s ranting, read the text of Carlson’s commentary about how DonOLD is going to spank America because she is a “Very bad girl.” This diatribe is exemplary of the type of paternalistic and perverted thinking the far right “American Taliban” is pushing these days.
25.10.2024
'Imminent catastrophic public danger': Hundreds of doctors sound new alarm about Trump
An urgent warning by a panel of doctors tells us that the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago is rapidly losing his mental capacities. Anyone who watches his interviews and rants will see that he cannot stay linear in conversations anymore, instead he is continually moving tangentially from topic to topic in a pattern he calls “the weave.” He says his followers (good people) understand it and Trump/GOP Networks like Fox and X do everything they can to pretend they understand him. Of course, those around him know he is losing his mental capacities, but they can’t run someone else this late in the election. What is beginning to clarify itself is a plan to run DonOLD in this election, hopefully gain a win, and then use the 25th Amendment to replace him with the true favorite of Putin, Musk, Thiel, and the other Project 2025 disciples; VP candidate, J.D. Vance.
24.10.2024
The future if Trump wins
Do not let anything keep you from voting whether you send in your ballot, vote early, or show up in person on November 5. Don’t let the polls, the pundits, the politicians, or even a devious republican poll worker stop you from making your voice count this year. No one is exaggerating when they say, “This is the most important election of our fledgling democracy.” Vote, Vote, VOTE!!! If you need additional incentive, contrast the two visions for America’s future that the candidates (and their parties) put forward. Only one candidate (party) is actually putting offering a vision that is forward-facing. The other wants to take us back. Back to a time when minorities couldn’t vote, when abortions were done in a back room with a coat hanger, when LGBTQ+ people were afraid of openly showing their love, and when immigrants made this country great with their hard work ethic and desire to see a better life for their children. Only one candidate wants a future that capitalizes on America’s greatness; our diversity, our commitment to the Constitution and democracy, to religious freedom and equality. To a secure middle-class and an economy based upon fairness; fairness in taxes, fairness in representation. The choice is clear. A staggering fall backwards or a joyful leap forward; vote, Vote, VOTE!!!
23.10.2024
23 Nobel Prize-winning economists call Harris’ economic plan ‘vastly superior’ to Trump’s
The point where we can look for a rational reason that anyone would vote for the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago has long gone. With Trump himself telling us that he would be a dictator, that he wants the type of generals that supported Hitler, and that he will not accept the results of this election (again) if he does not win. With his former aides refusing to vote for him and rational Republicans like Liz Cheney coming out against him. The only reason to vote for this man who is fixated on genitalia (male and female) is because you support his brand of racism and misogyny. A quick read of this article would tell any rational person voting for the long-term stability of the country and the world would run—not walk—to vote for Harris/Walz. Trump’s plan and his healthcare “concept of a plan” would bankrupt social security, raise taxes for middle-income Americans, and send the country spiraling into a recession, perhaps even a depression. If you are continuing to support this man, you have somehow justified in your heart that his morals are worth guiding this country and making decisions for your grandchildren and their children on down the line.
Youth Advocacy Training Link of the Week
Rapid Relief: Calm Your Child's Emotional Storms in Minutes
This is a good article about the basics regarding affirming anyone—of any age—who is working on growing their cognitive functions and emotional stability. It is simple, but clear, reducing the major steps to three actions by emotional coaches. Give it a read, and give it a try.
Youth Advocacy
Advocating for young people as Harris/Walz paint a picture of hope and joy while the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago projects civil war and a bloodbath if he loses.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 37 (227 total reports)
04.09.2024-08.09.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as Harris/Walz paint a picture of hope and joy while the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago projects civil war and a bloodbath if he loses.
(Friends, I know I’m posting early this week. My wife and I are getting ready for a vacation, I’ll be back at the end of September and hope you will check in then).
Songs to Enjoy
Thoughts and Prayers with Trump telling us we should “just get over it,” and JD Vance saying that school shootings are just a “fact of life.” We need to say LOUDLY that the problem is GUNS and the only thing preventing sane legistlation are the Republican Congressman deeply in the pockets of the NRA.
Past Songs
He’s a Dangerous Man don’t underestimate those around the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago. Although he is obviously losing his mental capacities, he is desperately running for one reason—to stay out of jail. Those around him are supporting him because they want a tool for their ends in the White House.
There’s an Orange Clown in Mar-A-Lago Don’t say his name, it just gives the media more hits on his counter.
It’s Just Donny A song for all the complicit racists that support the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago
We’re the GOP and Proud For those who’ve given up their dignity to follow the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago
They’re Weird and Creepy What makes the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago and his current running mate, so weird and creepy? Have a listen and a good laugh.
Sakes Alive, It’s Project 2025 These people want to take away your thoughts, their plan is for a White, Christian, Fascist, Nation. Don’t underestimate them.
White Evangelination If you’re not white, Christian or unwilling to give up the rights to the female body, you won’t belong in this group’s nation.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
How to Feel Joy During Life’s Unexpected Challenges
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/feel-joy-lifes-unexpected-challenges-bookbite/51554/
This is an excellent book for any of us who experience challenges in life, which is, all of us. Unexpected challenges, the author points out, don’t have to sidetrack our joy, in fact, with the proper mindset, they can become a source of joy. The adept mind has to find a way to hold both suffering and joy in balance for a life of well-being. Like so many other cognitive steps in life, it is a learned response, this book presents a roadmap for learning (and teaching) the components of a joyful response to the unexpected challenges of life.
Best Links of The Week
08.09.2024
'This pig': Observers erupt as ex-president caught 'threatening the voters' at his rally
https://www.alternet.org/trump-threatening-voters-rally/
We all know that the closer we get to the election and the more it looks like the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago is going to lose, the more desperate he will become and the worse his diatribes will sound. At this point, he is threatening a civil war and blood bath if he is not put into office. That shouldn’t surprise us as he is the only President in US history who has tried to disrupt a peaceful transition of power. The Orange Monster is facing prison if not elected, he’s not going to go quietly. The only way to stop him is to make sure he loses resoundingly. So soundly that no one can question results of either the popular election (which he’s lost before, two times) or the electoral college (rigged to magnify white votes).
07.09.2024
A New Level of Incoherence From Trump
When asked a fundamental campaign question about financing childcare, no one could understand the word salad that came from the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago’s mouth. He meandered about tariffs and China, occasionally saying the word “childcare” as if his cobwebbed mind intermittently remembered that he was asked a question. Of course, the Orange Elephant in the room quaintly calls these lapses, “The Weave,” and—he says—no one does it better than him. Only Fox News says that his answers make sense, but Fox News long ago gave up being news when it had to settle the $1.6 billion dollar lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems. Fox doesn’t report the news, it makes far right commentaries and then reports on its own commentaries. The Old Orange Man is derelict. Not just hateful and spiteful, but also mentally incompetent for office. Thank you, The Atlantic, for finally reporting what the rest of us have been seeing for months.
06.09.2024
Kamala Harris is showing that joy can be a strategy
https://19thnews.org/2024/09/kamala-harris-campaign-strategy-joy/
We’ve already seen that hate and alienation can be a campaign strategy. Among the many contrasts this election will reveal is whether hope and joy can be as effective. I hope so. Many people I know are also tired of hearing how immigrants are rapists and murderers, how women are too irresponsible to control their own bodies, how transexuals are a greater threat to our school children than guns, that we need to ban books to prevent our children from being WOKE (ie. aware of their country’s honest history). The constant name-calling, the frequent lewdness, the misogynist and racist rhetoric. Let’s move forward. This is the contract that the Harris/Walz ticket offers instead of what we’ve been constantly fed by the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago and his Orange Cult-Aides for almost a decade now. Let’s go forward, not back. Let’s silence these weirdos and tell them their playbook is old and tired. In a landslide, let’s show them it won’t work anymore.
05.09.2024
Finally: Top Journo Erupts at Media for Ignoring Trump’s Mental State
https://newrepublic.com/article/185622/finally-top-journo-erupts-media-ignoring-trumps-mental-state
Finally a well-known journalist is addressing the “Orange Elephant in the GOP Room.” After months (maybe years) of racist and misogynist remarks, and now the months of gibberish coming out of his mouth during interviews and speeches, a well-known journalist is using the same litmus test on DonOLD as was used on Joe Biden when he was a candidate. Some of us wondered if the Orange Elephant ever had the mental capacity to be given the nuclear codes, but his behavior of late has begun to reveal that he’s not just a hateful, lying, spiteful, felon, and sexual predator, but he looks well into cognitive decline as well. What will it take for his GOP hardliners to realize how decrepit he is? Fortunately, more lifelong Republicans are putting their country’s interest ahead of their party on a daily basis. This week, heavyweights like Jon McCain’s son (Jimmy) and Liz Cheney, pledged their support to the Harris/Walz campaign. When are the rest going to admit to the “Orange Elephant in the Room?”
04.09.2024
What Trump Doesn’t Understand About the Military
Understanding the military is impossible for the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago because he doesn’t understand service or sacrifice. There is not a thought in his brain that isn’t focused on his own ends and what others can do for him. Every relationship in the Orange Blob’s life is transactional—including those in his own family. He was raised to be self-focused and mentored to believe that is life’s true purpose. His recent antics at ANC (Arlington National Cemetary) but also previous statements he has made about veterans and active duty members highlight what kind of relationships he will forge with America’s military, they will serve his agenda of revenge and making America white-er. He will need the military to carry out Project 2025’s plan of arresting tens of thousands of immigrants, putting them into concentration camps, and deporting them. As well as rounding up all the people that (in the Orange Clown’s mind) harassed him. The Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago will need the military, but he won’t understand the military. It will be a toy of his degenerating mind; his dangerous mind. The Orange Clown is a dangerous man surrounded by very dangerous people who will not act as guardrails against his worst instincts. Orange Donny is losing in the polls, but winning in the electoral college. US Voters need to realize that is how Republicans have won the presidency in multiple elections—including all of DonOLD’s elections. The Orange Clown has to lose by a landslide. Harris/Walz and everyone down ballot can’t run for a slight majority win. they have to dominate the upcoming election.
This Week’s Links
08.09.2024
'This pig': Observers erupt as ex-president caught 'threatening the voters' at his rally
https://www.alternet.org/trump-threatening-voters-rally/
Trump threatens lawyers, donors and election officials with prison for 'unscrupulous behavior'
'I lied.' A teacher describes protecting her students during Apalachee HS shooting
https://www.npr.org/2024/09/07/nx-s1-5104200/georgia-apalachee-high-school-shooting
Tim Walz Stings GOP With Blunt 'Fact of Life' After JD Vance's School Shooting Remarks
How the GOP Got From Reagan to Trump
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/09/reagan-trump-republicans/679746/
Does Hopefulness Outshine Mindfulness? New Study Says Yes
07.09.2024
A New Level of Incoherence From Trump
The Electoral College bias has returned with a vengeance
https://www.natesilver.net/p/the-electoral-college-bias-has-returned
The Fairest Way to Keep Cognitively Declining People From Being Elected
https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2024/09/age-limits-president/679726/
Liz Cheney says Dick Cheney will vote for Kamala Harris
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/liz-cheney-dick-cheney-kamala-harris/
WATCH: Vance says school shootings are ‘the reality we live in’ at campaign rally in Phoenix
Florida Goes Full Police State Over Abortion Ballot Initiative
https://newrepublic.com/post/185704/florida-police-state-abortion-ballot-initiative
The Cases Against Trump: A Guide
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/09/donald-trump-legal-cases-charges/675531/
How to Feel Joy During Life’s Unexpected Challenges
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/feel-joy-lifes-unexpected-challenges-bookbite/51554/
06.09.2024
Kamala Harris is showing that joy can be a strategy
https://19thnews.org/2024/09/kamala-harris-campaign-strategy-joy/
Colin Gray, father of US school shooting suspect, charged with murder
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c9wj0vyl8xko
Robert Reich: What Will Kamala Harris Do About America’s Soaring Inequality And Shameful Tax System? – OpEd
The End of Democracy Has Already Begun
https://www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/archive/2024/09/start-with-a-lie/679625/
The Paradox of "Trump Derangement Syndrome"
05.09.2024
Finally: Top Journo Erupts at Media for Ignoring Trump’s Mental State
https://newrepublic.com/article/185622/finally-top-journo-erupts-media-ignoring-trumps-mental-state
U.S. accuses Russia of sophisticated influence campaigns against U.S. voters
https://www.npr.org/2024/09/04/nx-s1-5100329/us-russia-election-interference-bots-2024
Former Rep. Liz Cheney crosses party lines to endorse Kamala Harris, who is 'proud' to have her vote
04.09.2024
What Trump Doesn’t Understand About the Military
The GOP Is Actually Better Off if Kamala Harris Wins
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2024/09/04/kamala-harris-republicans-after-trump-00177194
Donald Trump’s Incredible ‘Transgender Thing’
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/09/donald-trump-schools-sex-change/679690/
Republicans pushing Christianity into public schools are hitting resistance — even in red states
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/09/04/republicans-religion-schools-resistance-00177181
Youth Advocacy
Advocating for young people as two very different campaigns define gender roles in our society.
Year 3, Week 36 (226 total reports)
28.08.2024-03.09.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as two very different campaigns define gender roles in our society.
Songs to Enjoy
He’s a Dangerous Man don’t underestimate those around the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago. Although he is obviously losing his mental capacities, he is desperately running for one reason—to stay out of jail. Those around him are supporting him because they want a tool for their ends in the White House.
Past Songs
There’s an Orange Clown in Mar-A-Lago Don’t say his name, it just gives the media more hits on his counter.
It’s Just Donny A song for all the complicit racists that support the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago
We’re the GOP and Proud For those who’ve given up their dignity to follow the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago
They’re Weird and Creepy What makes the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago and his current running mate, so weird and creepy? Have a listen and a good laugh.
Sakes Alive, It’s Project 2025 These people want to take away your thoughts, their plan is for a White, Christian, Fascist, Nation. Don’t underestimate them.
White Evangelination If you’re not white, Christian or unwilling to give up the rights to the female body, you won’t belong in this group’s nation.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
Where do different ideas of masculinity fit into the presidential election?
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/29/nx-s1-5086473/richard-reeves-boys-men-masculinity-2024-elections
This read articulates important distinctions in ideas of masculinity between the Harris/Walz ticket and the Trump/Vance ticket. One of the phrases I especially appreciated in this Steve Inskeep/Christopher Thomas interview was the quote about Melinda French Gates’ billion dollar donation to causes supporting women and girls; “What she's come to realize is that a world of floundering men is not likely to be a world of flourishing women…” I understand the concept of “floundering men” and hope that we have many more conversations like this before the election. Policies of the Far Right will set women (and men) back for decades—perhaps centuries. Kudos to Kamala Harris and her slogan “We are NOT going back…”
Best Links of The Week
03.09.2024
When Gus Walz cried at the DNC, his tears helped free us all from toxic gender roles - LGBTQ Nation
As true to their character, the far right (and particularly Anne Coulter), took to mocking the neurodiverse son of Tim Walz, following his intense show of love at the DNC. Because of the way Gus Walz’s brain is formed, he has a hard time with regulating his emotions in public. While the right, finds this fodder for snarky humor, everyone—who is not weird—sees this as a sign of a son’s adoration of his father. Perhaps that’s what the Far Right truly hates, true emotional attachment based upon deep familial bonds. As with many articles this week, it reveals the toxicity of the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago and his Far Right Orange-aids when it comes to gender roles. It is past time to put the weirdness of the Orange Clown and his Female-Hating accomplice aside and—as a political party—grow up. There are multiple articles below of former Republicans who are choosing democracy over party. Like so many others, they have tired of the Mar-A-Lago Monster’s creepy antics. If you’re still stuck supporting these escapades, then either you’re choosing to be blind or choosing to support White, Fascist, Misogynist, Racists.
02.09.2024
Republicans’ misogynistic attacks on Kamala Harris aren’t even the worst part
Thanks to MSNBC and Molly Jong-Fast for this overview of misogynist attacks by the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago. It’s deeper than just the Orange Clown, but his Orange-Aides are involved in this too. Ms. Jong-Fast lays out their sexist attacks back to the Mar-A-Lago Monster’s first public appearances, and none of his cultic followers have the least desire to rein him in; in fact, just the opposite, they encourage and join him in his attacks. Why would the sadly demented man of Mar-A-Lago stop when he’s getting so much support from his closest advisors and admirers—in short, he won’t. Signs are it is just going to get uglier the closer we get to the election and today (Labor Day), traditionally begins the last sprint to the finish line. Expect more wackiness, weirdness, and women’s attacks from the Right and their Orange Cultic DemiGod. In one word: “Yuck.”
01.09.2024
The Women Trump Is Winning
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/donald-trump-moms-for-liberty/679683/
This is such an anomaly to me, how a woman can vote for the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago—or in this case—ask him to be a keynote speaker at their annual event. But then, read the deets. These women are for abolishing women’s rights to their own bodies, they want to ban books about racism, diversity, gender development, and yes, support misogynist men who will take over their lives. External control is always preferred when one lacks internal boundaries. For some reason, these women lack internal boundaries and prefer to live in a land controlled by men like Mike Johnson, J.D. Vance, and the Orange Clown. Yet… even in the environment where they invited the Make-Up Monster to keynote their convention, they kept him on a lease and at a distance. They limited his talking time and responses to questions asked by the host. It was not one of the OrangeMan’s typical rambling speeches. It was a question/limited answer event, eventually cutoff by the interviewer when the time limit had been reached. The very man they want controlling their bodies and the bodies of other women and children; they tried themselves to control.
31.08.2024
Six Degrees of Trump and Bacon
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/trump-bacon-wind-speech-gibberish/679667/
After giving him a pass for far too long, the media that brutally attacked Biden for his age and embarrassing debate performance is finally turning their sights on the other “Old Guy” in the presidential runoff, the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago. For months, if not years, Orangmeister has been mentally declining. But now that he is in the final stretch of this campaign (and starting to lose in the polls), his imbecility is becoming even more clear. The last week has been a real circus for his aides and him; Orange’s use of sexual slurs to attack both Harris and Hillary, his aimless speeches—like the one above—about bacon and wind power, his waffling on core Republican issues like abortion and IVF (any lie to get a vote), and his campaign’s despicable desecration of Arlington National Cemetary—giving a “Thumbs Up” at the graveside of a soldier. If you’re still voting for this guy, there can only be one reason… you are trapped in your cognitive mindset defending him and are too embarrassed to admit how wrong you have been. Embrace the truth, be like the 100’s of former aides and other Republicans who have bravely chosen to embrace democracy over party. This guy is mentally unstable and should not be anywhere near the nuclear codes.
30.08.2024
6 takeaways from Harris' interview on CNN
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/30/nx-s1-5095227/kamala-harris-interview-cnn-analysis
My wife and I support NPR as we have found it to be the most balanced news feed globally. It regularly avoids “gutter reporting” and, instead of personal commentaries by partisan, biased reporters, you get a fair and accurate assessment of the daily news. This review of the Harris interview by Dana Bash on CNN is no exception. It’s important to remember that CNN itself is not an unbiased source and like many other news sources, it is owned by a Republican billionaire. Remember, when you find an ongoing problem in politics, always follow the money and find out who benefits from the way policies currently stand. Who owns the Republicans? Who owns Trump? Who owns the NRA? Who owns Netanyahu? Who owns immigration issues? Go down the list of global problems and find the “ownership” of those issues. All that said, if you want to know the highlights of the Harris/Walz interview from an unbiased source—have a read of this review.
29.08.2024
Donald Trump went on a fascist posting spree on Truth Social after receiving news of his latest indictment.
https://newrepublic.com/maz/post/185393/trump-fascist-violent-posts-truth-social-death-enemies
As the election nears and the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago continues to sink in the polls while facing huge hurdles over the next few weeks (a debate with Kamala Harris, his sentencing in the illegal use of campaign funds trial, plus the recent news of Jack Smith’s superseding investigation addressing the Orange Man’s Supreme Court “immunity”), the meltdowns will only worsen. This week’s antics, including a potentially illegal foray into Arlington Cemetary for a photoshoot in a restricted area, and wishing Jesus would return and count votes in the upcoming election, this Truth Social tirade by Trump is nothing short of lewd. There’s no way I can repeat his thoughts in my blog. Suffice it to say, that whatever guardrails his staff have tried to set up to keep him from revealing just how far his cognitive abilities have diminished—is not working. Once again, Republicans are asking that his phone be taken away (how long have we heard that request)? The question is similar to the “mute issue” his staff is arguing about for the upcoming debate. Harris and her staff want the mute off—so they can hear his mutterings live, his staff wants the mute on so people don’t see how deranged and incompetent he really is. I lean towards; “The more he talks, the more he loses.”
28.08.2024
Jack Smith Isn’t Backing Down
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/jack-smith-isnt-backing-down/679635/
I’m so thankful for people like Jack Smith whose commitment to the constitution results in his tireless prosecution of a man who thinks he should be king and the SCOTUS (Supreme Court of Trump US) who would shield him for personal power and gain. Who has the most to lose here? Well, the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago for sure, but the Court (under Justice”?” Roberts) has garnered quite a bit of sovereignty for themselves. They have already set themselves up to supersede all branches of government and decide who will be the US’s future presidents. There’s no doubt that if the Orange One loses, they will also lose power and have ethical guardrails put on their positions. Of course, the Orange Toddler is melting down over this—and so is the far right. In the last couple of days, Orange-y’s entourage has fought their way into a photo op at the Arlington Cemetery, he’s declared that if Jesus were to return he would be a vote-counter and declare the Orange Wonder winner in all 50 states. Simultaneously, the Republicans are actively trying to steal the election in Georgia—even before its been held—and Ken Paxton, AG of Texas, is arresting Hispanic voting activists who are unlikely to support the Far Right’s agenda. Do not expect the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago to win a fair election, but also do not expect him to bow out gracefully. There is only one way this election needs to go; a landslide for Harris/Walz. It is the only way the US Democracy will survive.
This Week’s Links
03.09.2024
When Gus Walz cried at the DNC, his tears helped free us all from toxic gender roles - LGBTQ Nation
Questions surrounding Trump's mental acuity are a real 2024 story
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/trump-age-harris-ramble-rcna168979
I Have A Real Problem With Trump's Arlington Visit
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a62034296/trump-arlington-visit-history/
Ex-MAGA Fans Reveal What Finally Made Them Dump 'Disgusting' Trump In Damning Ads
A restoration of the rule of law: Kamala Harris’ “freedom” campaign is coming for Trumpism
Verifying Facts in the Age of AI – Librarians Offer 5 Strategies
https://www.the74million.org/article/verifying-facts-in-the-age-of-ai-librarians-offer-5-strategies/
02.09.2024
Republicans’ misogynistic attacks on Kamala Harris aren’t even the worst part
Robert Reich: Trump’s Cemeterygate – OpEd
https://www.eurasiareview.com/01092024-robert-reich-trumps-cemeterygate-oped/
Critics Call Hilarious BS On Donald Trump's New Brag About His Speeches
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-mocked-speech-explainer_n_66d57fa0e4b078fcd9313143
01.09.2024
The Women Trump Is Winning
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/donald-trump-moms-for-liberty/679683/
'Extremely American' explores the Christian theocracy movement in the U.S.
Texas Newspaper Accuses Greg Abbott of 'Hurting Our Democracy'
Project 2025’s Anti-Trans Agenda Would Endanger Families Across the US
https://truthout.org/articles/project-2025s-anti-trans-agenda-would-endanger-families-across-the-us/
Things That Will Happen If Trump Is Not Elected, According To Him
31.08.2024
Six Degrees of Trump and Bacon
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/trump-bacon-wind-speech-gibberish/679667/
Where Are Harris’s Policies? Trapped in the Supreme Court
https://newrepublic.com/post/185462/harris-policy-supreme-court-chevron
The GOP is making false claims about noncitizens voting. It’s affecting real voters
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/30/nx-s1-5091032/noncitizens-voting-election-gop-texas-tennessee-alabama
'There Is No Limit': Trump Resorts To Gross Sexual Slurs As Harris Rises In The Polls
The misogynistic motormouth of JD Vance is the gift that keeps on giving
https://www.advocate.com/voices/jd-vance-misogynistic-motormouth
Gwen Walz Uses Her ‘Teacher Voice’ For Spectacular JD Vance Takedown
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/gwen-walz-teacher-voice-jd-vance_n_66d2167ee4b013957161c863
Grieving the dead is complicated. Here's how you can help someone experiencing loss
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/31/nx-s1-5092142/complex-grief-coping-with-the-loss-of-a-sibling
30.08.2024
6 takeaways from Harris' interview on CNN
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/30/nx-s1-5095227/kamala-harris-interview-cnn-analysis
Trump Botches IVF Policy Roll Out With Extremely Weird Speech
https://newrepublic.com/post/185486/donald-trump-kamala-harris-ivf-weird-speech
Why Trump’s Arlington Debacle Is So Serious
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/trump-arlington-cemetery/679659/
Donald Trump is warning the Meta founder to help him ahead of November’s election—or else.
https://newrepublic.com/maz/post/185411/trump-threat-mark-zuckerberg-election-save-america
LULAC Asks DOJ to Protect Latino Voters from Texas Attorney General
I’m a childfree teacher. JD Vance thinks that means I’m ‘brainwashing’ students.
Major publishers sue Florida over ‘unconstitutional’ book ban law
https://thehill.com/homenews/education/4854982-major-publishers-sue-florida-book-ban-law/?tbref=hp
Where do different ideas of masculinity fit into the presidential election?
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/29/nx-s1-5086473/richard-reeves-boys-men-masculinity-2024-elections
29.08.2024
Donald Trump went on a fascist posting spree on Truth Social after receiving news of his latest indictment.
https://newrepublic.com/maz/post/185393/trump-fascist-violent-posts-truth-social-death-enemies
Arlington National Cemetery’s Section 60 is a focus of controversy. What is the area?
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/28/nx-s1-5092041/arlington-trump-section60-veterans-altercation
Trump Begs For Jesus: Says He Would Win Even California If Jesus Was Counting Votes In Nov.
JD Vance, Obsessed With Strangers’ Reproductive Decisions, Said Childless Teachers “Disturb” Him
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/jd-vance-childless-teachers-disturb-him
JD Vance Says Kamala Harris 'Can Go To Hell'
Jack Smith Is Back with a New Trump Indictment, and This One Side-Elbows the Supreme Court
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61995662/jack-smith-trump-fraud-revised-indictment/
Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson calls out immunity ruling as contrary to a system that 'treated everyone the same'
What a 100-Year-Old Trial Reveals About America
28.08.2024
Jack Smith Isn’t Backing Down
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/jack-smith-isnt-backing-down/679635/
Last week in Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton unleashed police raids of the homes of Hispanic voting activists. Get ready for more of this.
https://newrepublic.com/maz/article/185334/ken-paxton-texas-gop-cheat-intimidate-elections
Critics Give Trump Holy Hell After Utterly Bonkers Claim About Jesus
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-california-jesus_n_66cea620e4b0fa7cef5b2e63
Trump campaign staff had altercation with official at Arlington National Cemetery
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/27/nx-s1-5091154/trump-arlington-cemetery
Youth Advocacy
Advocating for young people as the Harris/Walz ticket presents a critical vision of a hopeful, joyful, diverse, USA.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 35 (225 total reports)
21.08.2024-25.08.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as the Harris/Walz ticket presents a critical vision of a hopeful, joyful, diverse, USA.
Songs to Enjoy
There’s an Orange Clown in Mar-A-Lago Don’t say his name, it just gives the media more hits on his counter.
Past Songs
It’s Just Donny A song for all the complicit racists that support the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago
We’re the GOP and Proud For those who’ve given up their dignity to follow the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago
They’re Weird and Creepy What makes the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago and his current running mate, so weird and creepy? Have a listen and a good laugh.
Sakes Alive, It’s Project 2025 These people want to take away your thoughts, their plan is for a White, Christian, Fascist, Nation. Don’t underestimate them.
White Evangelination If you’re not white, Christian or unwilling to give up the rights to the female body, you won’t belong in this group’s nation.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
What the Freshman Class Needs to Read
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/08/what-freshman-class-ought-be-studying/679530/
This refreshing article is about a vision for education that doesn’t include book-burning or limiting learning to a small, history-fearing, Christian—indeed fascist—viewpoint. It’s about teaching classical literature and honest history including all the blots and smudges of our global colonial past. There’s a wealth of reading in this article including books and ideas that—if you haven’t read—it might be time to consider.
Best Links of The Week
25.08.2024
Tim Walz’s DNC Speech Was a Masculinity-Themed Populist Pep Talk
https://msmagazine.com/2024/08/26/tim-walz-masculinity-white-male-voters-kamala-harris/
This is a refreshing article by Ms. Magazine, one of the few magazines with the best rights to define positive masculinity (given their decades of advocacy for women). If you’re concerned about women’s rights in the upcoming election (and we all must be), this is a great article to review that counteracts the ongoing misogyny of the far right’s stance on fake masculinity portrayed by their felon, sex offender leader, the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago. While you’re at it, please take a moment to review this extremely important recent ad by The Lincoln Project.
26.98.2024
Finally, the Democrats Have Found Trump’s Achilles Heel: Ridicule Him
https://newrepublic.com/article/185270/democrats-harris-trump-achilles-heel-ridicule
The Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago, is eating away at himself. So much so that his staff is trying to get him out from behind his Big Screen TV and golf course and onto the campaign trail. This article points out that the well-deserved ridicule thrown at Trump by nearly every speaker at the DNC is having a profound impact. It is driving the Orange Clown nuts—and a “nuts” Orange Clown says and does increasingly nutty things (like embracing even nuttier RFK, jr.).
25.08.2024
There Is Only One Good Scenario Left — Trump Must Be Routed
This article reveals an important truth for the upcoming election, it is not enough to edge out Trump, he must be routed out. A blue wave up and down the ballot must be attained to tell anti-democratic groups that their way of thinking is a vast minority in this country. The constitution was written to protect minorities and the GOP has been taking advantage of this in every election they have lost by popular vote since George H.W. Bush. Yesterday, a Trump judge gave the go ahead on protecting machine guns and we mustn’t forget the Republican’s stance on de-funding families and children, their attempts to undermine health care, social security and their blatant lies about protecting Roe v. Wade. Project 2025 (no matter how much Trump lies to distance himself from this abhorrent plan) is a brain child of his administration and would gut protection to women, minorities, and the LGBTQ+ community. They’re hostile towards immigrants—not just hostile—but willing to tear apart families with little or no care about children and infants. Harris cannot “edge” Trump out, she must “trounce Trump” at the polls.
24.08.2024
DNC Day 4: The Democrats Are No Longer Afraid of Themselves
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61956817/kamala-harris-dnc-acceptance-speech/
“Guided by optimism and faith…” Those are the words of Kamala Harris. “You won’t have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians," those are the words of Donald Trump. Both are running for president, one wants to appeal to all people—even Trump supporters—to help us pursue our greatest ambitions as a nation together. The other wants to take away our voting rights and become Christian nationalists—even though he is not a Christian himself (and like many other things, only plays one to garner votes). Finally, even a minuscule number of Evangelicals are calling him the antichrist. This article talks about the recent DNC representing a turning point for Democrats. A time to shift from apologizing for themselves, to boldly projecting the optimistic vision they have for the future. I’m with them, I hope you are too. We’ll need a resounding majority to tell the Trump’s and the GOP that their dark and weird vision for America and the world is unacceptable. We embrace democracy and the constitution and are tired of their antics. Let’s tell them on November 5 (or before if you’re mailing in a ballot).
23.08.2024
5 takeaways from Kamala Harris’ historic acceptance speech
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/23/g-s1-19251/harris-dnc-takeaways
I have chosen to cover the brilliant hope-filled speech of Kamala Harris, rather than the disgusting antics of Hard-liners like Ann Coulter and Mike Lindell. There is nothing more that people like this—and their Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago—would like to distract us with than their hatred and weird lunacy. Harris reveals the stark choices we have to make, between the darkness of Donald Trump’s vision (and his Orange Evangelists), and the hope and joy of her campaign’s view of the future. This is not a choice between Democrats and Republicans, this is a choice between Democracy and a Dictator. The momentum is shifting to Harris and that will make the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago miserable. His minions (Orangites) will become increasingly desperate as the days to the election tick off. They’ve already shown there is no bottom to their indecency and no boundaries to their use of fake AI (though Trump is distancing himself from both Project 2025 and the fake AI pictures of Taylor Swift). Expect deception, expect indecency; they are beginning to see how wretched their circumstances are and some of the most hideous players in the world (dictators, oil barrons, tech barrons, Christian Fascists, and more) want the Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago as their Dictator-for-Life.
22.08.2024
WATCH: ‘Dump Trump’ says Georgia Republican Geoff Duncan at 2024 Democratic National Convention
The Orange Clown of Mar-A-Lago and his Orange parade are called out in this wonderful speech by Republican Geoff Duncan who was targeted by the Clown and his hordes for standing by his values. The Orange Parade surrounded his personal residence and threatened his entire family with violence. This is the inevitable result of All-Things-Orange. A criminal darkness that leads to violence—if he doesn’t get his way. He will use anyone “else” to fight his fights while he licks his bone spurs and imaginary wounds in the basement bathroom of his Florida hideaway. Send this weirdo, Orange Menace packing!
21.08.2024
The Obamas Are Ready to Fight
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/obama-democratic-national-convention/679536/
Michelle Obama was definitely the star of the show last night at the DNC in Chicago. Barack Obama had one of the best laughs (when he talked about the Orange Clown of Mar O Lago and his fixation on crowd size). This article points out that there has been a transition from Michelle’s “When they go low, we go high.” I don’t think we really know what that transition is going to look like, but it is clear that the Obama’s are concerned enough about democracy in the United States that they are not going to sit this election out on the sidelines.
This Week’s Links
25.08.2024
Tim Walz’s DNC Speech Was a Masculinity-Themed Populist Pep Talk
https://msmagazine.com/2024/08/26/tim-walz-masculinity-white-male-voters-kamala-harris/
The Traitorous Trump
https://whowhatwhy.org/politics/us-politics/the-traitorous-trump/
Why this writer says her son deserves a champion like Tim Walz
Taunting Trump: Harris campaign's sneer tactics
https://www.axios.com/2024/08/27/taunting-trump-harris-campaigns-sneer-tactics
Why Harris wants to unmute Trump
https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/27/politics/harris-trump-debate-rules-analysis
Former national security adviser paints picture of a chaotic Trump White House and an insecure president in new book
The Conservatives Who Sold Their Souls for Trump
Who The Hell Let Trump Into Arlington National Cemetery?
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61975583/trump-arlington-cemetery-visit/
26.98.2024
Finally, the Democrats Have Found Trump’s Achilles Heel: Ridicule Him
https://newrepublic.com/article/185270/democrats-harris-trump-achilles-heel-ridicule
‘Elected by no one’: ‘Reaganland’ author on how the Heritage Foundation wields power
France's arrest of Telegram's CEO feels like a warm-up for a much bigger target: Elon Musk
Young Adults Are in Crisis
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2024/08/young-adult-mental-health-crisis/679601/
25.08.2024
There Is Only One Good Scenario Left — Trump Must Be Routed
Trump judge greenlights machine guns under Second Amendment
US Economy Is Doing Better Than Americans Think
https://www.newsweek.com/us-economy-better-americans-think-1941732
21 Minutes in the Buttigieg Bubble
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/pete-buttigieg-dnc-media/679611/
5 Personality Traits That Suggest You Were Raised In A Predominately Negative Home, According To Family Therapists
https://www.yourtango.com/family/personality-traits-suggest-raised-predominately-negative-home
24.08.2024
DNC Day 4: The Democrats Are No Longer Afraid of Themselves
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61956817/kamala-harris-dnc-acceptance-speech/
Harris and Walz Should Make America a Global 'Good Neighbor' Again
https://inkstickmedia.com/harris-and-walz-should-make-america-a-global-good-neighbor-again/
Kamala Harris Fuels a Beautifully Heretical View of the World
RFK Jr. Was My Drug Dealer
This socialist just became an establishment favorite
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/23/aoc-mainstream-democrat-dnc-00175955
What the Freshman Class Needs to Read
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/08/what-freshman-class-ought-be-studying/679530/
5 Ways Anxiety Crushes Teens and How to Ease the Burden
You Really Want To Understand People? Try Forensic Listening
https://www.forbes.com/sites/rodgerdeanduncan/2024/08/24/forensic-listening-strategies-negotiation/
23.08.2024
5 takeaways from Kamala Harris’ historic acceptance speech
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/23/g-s1-19251/harris-dnc-takeaways
Sudden attention for Tim Walz’s son brings focus to challenges of people with learning disabilities
Republicans Are Being Weird to Kids at the 2024 DNC
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/republicans-are-being-weird-to-kids-at-the-2024-dnc
At the DNC, the Democrats Are Finally Fighting
https://newrepublic.com/article/185219/dnc-democrats-fighting-partisan-edge
Former Republican lawmaker offers a blistering assessment of Trump in DNC speech
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/22/g-s1-19226/adam-kinzinger-trump-dnc-speech
How Tim Walz redefines masculinity for modern America
https://www.fastcompany.com/91177442/tim-walz-masculinity-modern-america-harris-vance
WATCH: How to pronounce Kamala Harris, according to her nieces | 2024 DNC Day 4
Central Park Five members condemn Trump at DNC for calling for their execution
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/central-park-five-members-trump-dnc-2024/
6 Thunderous Trump Takedowns That Got Some Serious Love From DNC Crowd
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-trump-dnc-takedowns-night-4_n_66c821e7e4b0f75c7c15c6c7
22.08.2024
WATCH: ‘Dump Trump’ says Georgia Republican Geoff Duncan at 2024 Democratic National Convention
Tim Walz Just Showed Why Kamala Harris Picked Him
https://time.com/7013789/tim-walz-dnc-guns/
The Republican attack on Tim Walz over Tiananmen Square is almost unbelievable
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/tim-walz-china-trip-tiananmen-ron-johnson-rcna167552
What anxious parents of neurodivergent children can learn from Tim and Gwen Walz
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/tim-walz-children-gus-neurodivergent-rcna166748
Republicans’ New, Dangerous Attempt to Break the Election
Barack Obama’s speech for Kamala Harris shows just how much things have changed
Economists Are Wrong About Price Gouging
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/08/economists-kamala-harris-price-gouging/679547/
21.08.2024
The Obamas Are Ready to Fight
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/obama-democratic-national-convention/679536/
How price gouging bans really work
https://www.axios.com/2024/08/20/price-gouging-kamala-harris-communism-kamunism
Donald Trump Accused of Committing 'Massive Crime' With Reported Phone Call
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-accused-crime-benjamin-netanyahu-call-ceasefire-hamas-1942248
“Do Something!” Michelle Obama’s Big-Hearted, Urgent, Barn-Burner of a Convention Speech
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/08/michelle-obama-democratic-national-convention-speech/
The Democrats Hone Their Trump Narrative
Harris hits 'freedom' theme in rally at the site of Trump's convention
Trump's AI Deepfake Post Enrages Swifties, May Have Broken the Law
Sen. Durbin pushes for bipartisan ethics reform of the Supreme Court
Youth Advocacy
Advocating for young people as the US Election reveals two opposing viewpoints of the country’s future; one grim and full of despair, the other joyful and full of hope.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 34 (224 total reports)
14.08.2024-20.08.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as the US Election reveals two opposing viewpoints of the country’s future; one grim and full of despair, the other joyful and full of hope.
Songs to Enjoy
Two things Fascists hate: being called weird and being laughed at. This song is written to continue the laughter at the weird policies of Project 2025.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
A Compliment That Really Means Something
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/08/give-great-compliment-happiness/679447/
The most effective way to grow a person or a team is proven to be specific compliments, not a compliment, but a high ratio of compliments tied to the behavior you are seeking to grow. This works just as much for raising teens, as enhancing the quality of your marriage, or increasing the effectiveness of your work team. The exact ratio is identified in this article by Arthur Brooks (a favorite writer of mine) as well as how to make your compliments effective. Brooks also points out that poorly planned compliments are not just ineffective, but can be demotivating and backfire.
Best Links of The Week
20.08.2024
The Mistake That Could Cost Trump the Election
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/project-2025-backfired-trump/679509/
Trump continues to want to hide Project 2025, but no more than Project 2025 wants to hide itself. It is hard for the Trump/Vance ticket to distance themselves from this document when Vance wrote the forward to the Heritage Foundation President’s (Kevin Roberts) new book; “Dawn’s Early Light.” While the DNC was busy laying a foundation for an America full of hope and meaning last night, Trump and his campaign continued unraveling with false claims and despicable lies. Everything from a fake ID picture of Taylor Swift endorsing the convicted felon to Trump accusing Harris of using sexual favors to make her way to the top. We haven’t seen the worst from Donald Trump, remember—as George Conway points out—this guy isn’t running FOR president, he’s running FROM prison.
19.08.2024
Trump’s Medal of Dishonor
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/trumps-medal-of-dishonor/679507/
Donald can’t help himself, he can’t make it day to day without finding someone to insult, this time taking on Medal of Honor Veterans. With Harris pulling ahead in the polls and Trump unable to stay on message, those who want their patsy, Donald Trump, in office are pulling out all the stops to do the campaigning he seems incapable of doing himself. The list includes Putin, the GOP, and Elon Musk. Putin’s Russia Information Machine is spewing disinformation on a scale not seen since Hilary Clinton ran for office. The GOP is harassing Harris and Walz with a bevy of nonsensical investigations (in the meantime, James Comey and his farcical investigative squad, seems to have forgotten about Hunter and Joe Biden—it’s almost as though those investigations were purely political. Elon Musk is supporting a bevy of false AI-generated imagines on his political platform, X, including a deepfake image of Taylor Swift appearing to support Trump. As the election gets closer and their convicted carny (Donald Trump) continues to mentally devolve, expect these attacks to worsen. Remember Fascists can’t stand being called “weird” and being made fun of—so keep it up. Keep laughing at their attempts as you support others lining up to flood the voting box this fall.
18.08.2024
Why Kamala Harris' New Politics of Joy Is the Best Way to Fight Fascism
Research has shown that two of the greatest weapons against fascism are Joy and Mocking. The Harris/Walz ticket are using those valuable weapons to pursue their campaign for President/Vice President. Polls show they are being very effective. While Donald Trump and J.D. Vance continue to make fools of themselves, the Harris/Walz campaign offers policies and laughter… and it is driving the GOP crazy. Trump can’t seem to focus on anything but personal attacks and Vance is busy alienating himself from women while the entire GOP seems determined to run as far as possible from it’s own platform, designed by a major funder, the Heritage Foundation. Dressing Project 2025 up as anything but what it is, merely puts makeup on a pig. No matter how they try to paint this, Trump and Vance are theirs and Project 2025 is their brainchild. In the meantime, keep on laughing, it’s driving them crazy.
17.08.2024
X’s chatbot can now generate AI images. A lack of guardrails raises election concerns
X is rolling out a very dangerous tool and it is in the hands of a very dangerous person, Elon Musk. Musk is a well-known Trump backer and promised Trump $45 million a month (which he later backed out of), but that doesn’t keep Musk from using his power and fortune to support Trump and the GOP in all ways possible. This article highlights another reason why rational people should “check their sources” when they see something that doesn’t seem right. As the TSA has been telling us for years, “If you see something, say something.” The images (and articles) that are being generated by AI are deeply realistic and have included using an AI Voice of Joe Biden telling voters to stay home in New Hampshire. Contrary to our intuition, we need to start with a basis of distrust when we see images, read articles, but even when we hear recordings or watch videos. People like Musk have no ethical boundaries to guide their behavior and the people he supports (like Trump and the GOP) have no qualms about lying in any form available to them.
16.08.2024
Trump’s Strike-Busting Comments Could Come Back to Haunt Him
This story highlights Trump’s meandering pandering to Elon Musk as they both laughed about busting unions. As this, The Atlantic, author, Lora Kelley, points out, Trump’s rambling conversation with Elon Musk was a serpentine diatribe about many fatuous things, during which—as Kelley points out, “Trump complimented Musk on his ‘fertile mind,’ celebrated the prospect of climate change creating more oceanfront property, and said that Vice President Kamala Harris resembled his own wife on a recent Time cover. But the moment when Trump praised the idea of firing workers on strike could be the one he comes to regret this election season.” It’s difficult to tell which incident Trump was referring to as Musk has illegally let go of so many employees. Union workers are a strong voting block in many swing states and Harris is pro-union, while Tim Walz himself was a member of a union and recently started his first solo campaign appearances with Union Members in California. Trump continues to offer such tidbits of banality to his opposition and his campaign managers (and many other Republican leaders down-ballot from Trump) are asking him to reign in his gibberish. It hasn’t worked so far. In an interview yesterday at Trump’s Golf Course in New Jersey, campaign aids laid out an array of breakfast foods so Trump would be reminded to speak about food prices and the economy. Instead, Trump rambled aimlessly for an hour, before mentioning the food next to him for about five minutes, and then returned to more of his sad, twenty-year-old “poor me” routine. Trump can’t seem to get beyond that Biden stepped aside and he is running (“unfairly” according to him) against Kamala Harris. Watching Trump dissolve cognitively is pathetic. Most pundits think that he will come completely apart at the upcoming debate with former prosecutor, Kamala Harris, who will not let up about Trump’s long history of misdeeds, felonies, and sexual assaults. This is “old turf” for Harris—used to prosecuting criminals and sexual offenders, but it sure will be new for Donald, used to softball interviews from the likes of Musk.
15.08.2024
Of Course Trump Is Going to Claim the Election Was Stolen If Harris Wins: Ex-Trump Official
Donald Trump is falling steadily in the polls and even his own staff can’t help him. His campaign staff is trying to put him in front of smaller crowds with one message at a time (for example, at a rally on August 14, he was only supposed to speak for an hour about the economy), but he couldn’t help himself. The penultimate carnival barker, he had to play to the crowd and his crowd doesn’t cheer when he speaks about policy. However, they go nuts when he speaks about race, immigration, or making fun of his opponent, so the campaign strategy went out the door and his talk devolved into the regular Trump fascist diatribe. George Conway has pointed out that Trump is not so much running FOR the presidency as FROM prison. So, as this article points out, what do we expect Trump to do the day after he loses? Will he congratulate Kamala Harris on her win and quietly accept the outcome? Of course not. This article analyzes what needs to be done ahead of time for when Trump does NOT accept the results. I would also like to add that this is not the time for complacency, polls are not votes and every vote is needed to send the GOP and Trump a clear message about their politics and agenda.
14.08.2024
'Republicans for Harris' want conservatives to vote Democrat in 2024 to topple Trump
Thank you to these brave Republicans who have decided to put nation before party. As the GOP Party enters it’s “Please Shut Up” phase (see article below), some Republicans are realizing that Trump and Project 2025, don’t want to just win an election, they want to dismantle the constitution. These Republicans are taking their oath of office seriously and pointing out they did not take an oath to a cult leader—or even a party—but to the Constitution of the United States and that is exactly what is at risk if Trump wins in the November election.
This Week’s Links
20.08.2024
The Mistake That Could Cost Trump the Election
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/project-2025-backfired-trump/679509/
Policy Isn’t Going to Win This Election
DNC: Biden passes torch to Harris in convention speech
https://www.dw.com/en/dnc-kicks-off-in-chicago-with-biden-headlining-first-night/live-69984295
Here’s why VP Harris wants price gouging banned
https://www.fastcompany.com/91175089/here-s-why-vp-harris-wants-price-gouging-banned
'Evangelicals For Harris' Ad Denounces Trump As False Prophet
Rep. Crockett at DNC: 'Kamala Harris has a résumé; Donald Trump has a rap sheet'
Trump Is Raking in Millions From Foreign Business Partners
After Falsely Accusing Kamala Harris of Using AI, Donald Trump Posts AI Slop About Her on Twitter
https://futurism.com/donald-trump-posts-ai-kamala-harris
The Simple Reason Trump Can’t Run a Campaign About Policy
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61917383/trump-undisciplined-presidential-campaign/
Trump Accuses Kamala Harris Of Using Sexual Favors To Earn Nomination
https://okmagazine.com/p/donald-trump-alanis-morissette-parody-kamala-harris-sexual-favors/
The White House plan to stop companies from wasting our time
19.08.2024
Trump’s Medal of Dishonor
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/trumps-medal-of-dishonor/679507/
Donald Trump uses fake AI image of Taylor Swift to try and win support
Pro-Russia 'News' Sites Spew Incendiary US Election Falsehoods
https://www.barrons.com/news/pro-russia-news-sites-spew-incendiary-us-election-falsehoods-c3b5bb33
Scoop: Harris-Walz probes ignite House GOP divisions
https://www.axios.com/2024/08/19/harris-walz-house-republican-investigations
Without Using Trump's Name, Kamala Harris Calls Out 'Coward' Leaders
18.08.2024
Why Kamala Harris' New Politics of Joy Is the Best Way to Fight Fascism
George Conway's Donald Trump Prediction Takes Off Online
https://www.newsweek.com/george-conways-donald-trump-prediction-takes-off-online-1940668
Kamala Harris learned a lesson about the border early in her career. It’s paying off now.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/08/17/kamala-harris-immigration-border-gangs-00173819
Trump Has Turned Over an Old Leaf
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/trump-has-turned-over-old-leaf/679494/
Donald Trump Mocked for Saying He's 'Better Looking' Than Kamala Harris
https://www.newsweek.com/donald-trump-kamala-harris-beautiful-mocked-pennsylvania-rally-1940750
The DNC starts Monday. Here’s what you need to know
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/18/nx-s1-5078651/dnc-convention-harris-walz-speakers-schedule
17.08.2024
X’s chatbot can now generate AI images. A lack of guardrails raises election concerns
Supreme Court keeps new rules about sex discrimination in education on hold in half the country
Kamala Harris Rolled Out An Ambitious Economic Plan. Here’s What’s In It
https://time.com/7011865/kamala-harris-economic-plan-groceries-child/
Brooks and Capehart on Harris’ economic policy proposals
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/brooks-and-capehart-on-harris-economic-policy-proposals
All the Artists Who Don't Want Donald Trump Using Their Music
Lt. Col. Vindman: Trump ‘Absolutely’ at Fault for Russia’s Ukraine Invasion
https://www.vice.com/en/amp/en/article/n7n9dq/alexander-vindman-russia-ukraine-invasion/
Republicans Have No Idea What to Do About Trump and Project 2025
https://newrepublic.com/post/184960/republicans-freak-out-trump-project-2025
What Kierkegaard Can Teach Us about the Meaning of Life
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/kierkegaard-can-teach-us-meaning-life-bookbite/51124/
16.08.2024
Trump’s Strike-Busting Comments Could Come Back to Haunt Him
Learning to Live By What You Want, Not What You Should Want
15.08.2024
Of Course Trump Is Going to Claim the Election Was Stolen If Harris Wins: Ex-Trump Official
Trump’s New Campaign Strategy Just Went Up in Flames
https://newrepublic.com/post/184892/donald-trump-campaign-strategy-up-in-flames
The Trump Campaign Endorses a Racist Theory
A Compliment That Really Means Something
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/08/give-great-compliment-happiness/679447/
14.08.2024
'Republicans for Harris' want conservatives to vote Democrat in 2024 to topple Trump
The Trump Campaign’s ‘Please Shut Up’ Phase
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/trump-campaign-musk-interview/679451/
Inside Project 2025’s Secret Training Videos
https://msmagazine.com/2024/08/13/project-2025-training-videos/
Trump Suggests He’ll Flee to Venezuela If Harris Wins the Election
The Power of Purpose
Youth Advocacy
Advocating for young people as hope rises in the form of a joyful Harris/Walz ticket while the Far Right doubles down on controlling Beliefs and Bodies.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 33 (223 total reports)
07.08.2024-13.08.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as hope rises in the form of a joyful Harris/Walz ticket while the Far Right doubles down on controlling Beliefs and Bodies.
Songs to Enjoy
Satirical song for those who think that Trump, Vance, and the GOP are weird and creepy.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
Journalist David Brooks reveals the essential questions to deepen any relationship
You may have heard me promote the book that David Brooks wrote about deepening our ability to have meaningful relationships, “How to Know a Person; The Art of Seeing Others Deeply and Being Deeply Seen.” This book is a life-enhancer. My wife and I are both listening to it on Audible and I invested in a hard-copy so I could follow along and underline the parts that stood out to me. Brooks’ style is humorous—without ever being deprecating—it is folksy, yet profound. If I haven’t already convinced you to buy this book (or stock it for your co-workers), let me try again. Your relationships and your life will be the better for it.
Best Links of The Week
13.08.2024
The Economic Mind of Tim Walz
https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2024/08/13/g-s1-16662/the-economic-mind-of-tim-walz
As Governor, Tim Walz focused on a budget that would support children and families. The result is an example of a booming, sustainable, economy that occurs when families and children are put before the wealthy and corporations. This is an excellent read on how to grow the US economy in opposition to the spend on corporations and tax middle income family policies of Republican Administrations. It gives concrete evidence of the falsehoods behind “Trickle Down” economics.
12.08.2024
Vance’s “Cat Ladies” Remarks Reflect Broader GOP Effort to Weaponize “Family”
Under Vance’s strategy, women with children would get more votes than women without. All of this weird nonsense has one focus; weaponizing families. Project 2025, the framework designed by Trump and Vance’s largest funder and think tank—the Heritage Foundation—wants to take over your bedroom and decide what reproductive choices you make.
11.08.2024
Students and Educators Are Joining Forces to Fight Book Bans Across the US
It can be done and these students and educators are showing how to do it? How do you stop the conservative, white, christian, nationalists from achieving their fascist agenda in schools across the United States? This article reveals a working plan that groups have been successfully applying. It’s not normal to ban books that make you feel uncomfortable, it’s all part of the fascist’s weird agenda.
10.08.2024
JD Vance’s Racist Populism
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/08/jd-vance-racist-populism-white-privilege-trump-harris/
“I’m not a racist, but…” how many racist comments begin with that phrase? Here’s a new one, “I’m not a racist, but I’m voting for Trump/Vance.” If you support them, you are a racist. You are a racist by supporting two of the most bigoted, chauvinistic, people who have run for the highest office in the United States since the Civil War, and make no mistake, these two wouldn’t care less if they started another Civil War to achieve their own ends. You could declare that “You’re not racist, but…” that would only mean you have not read your party’s platform and the text (or even overviews) of Project 2025. If you are voting for Trump and Vance in November, you are a racist, no ifs, ands, or buts.
09.08.2024
Playbook: Trump's 'reset' that wasn't
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2024/08/09/trumps-reset-that-wasnt-00173380
The expectations (among the GOP) were high yesterday as their deranged demigod, Donald Trump, called for a press conference at his fortress hideaway in Florida (Mar-A-Lago). Yet, once again their hopes were dashed. Expecting somewhat of a reset to a campaign that’s floundering, they were hoping for a number of things: 1) withdrawing J.D. Vance from the ticket, 2) policies for challenging their democratic rivals, 3) perhaps even Trump’s withdrawal from the race. Instead, they got more of the same… the barely decipherable ramblings of an elderly man whose brain is deteriorating with age as well as years of lies and revenge-based hatred. With little left to offer, Trump and the GOP’s only hope is to fix the election, and again, refuse to accept the result. The Biden administration, and others, have already said they are preparing for this strong possibility (inevitability). Once again, we are reminded our strongest chance to defeat the lunacy and weirdness of the Trump platform is a resounding defeat at the polls in November. In other news this morning, far right Republicans are already challenging thousands of votes in States. It wouldn’t hurt to double-down and make sure your vote will count and not be challenged when you go to the polls or mail-in your ballot. Trump does not want to go back to court and he certainly, does not want to go to prison. The Heritage Foundation, Putin, and his US Lackeys (the GOP), do not want to lose their best shot at destroying Western Democracy. Before you vote, check your ballot and make sure it will count.
08.08.2024
The GOP Is a Messy Soap Opera Right Now
Tom Nichols, author of this commentary, is well-positioned to comment on national and international events. To quote his bio, “He is a professor emeritus of national-security affairs at the U.S. Naval War College, where he taught for 25 years, and an instructor at the Harvard Extension School. He has served as a legislative aide in the Massachusetts House and the U.S. Senate.” When a person of this caliber says, “someone should take J.D. Vance’s phone away,” and that, “Trump is a deeply unwell person who is not fit to be the commander in chief, and that should he return to office, other Republican officials cannot be counted on to protect the nation—especially Vance, who reveals himself daily as every bit the intellectual lightweight and political fraud his critics believe he is,” it should shake the opinions of Trump’s followers. As Nichols points out, it does appear to have shaken Kellyanne Conway, who is almost openly calling for J.D. Vance to be replaced. Conway, who served as Trump’s Senior Counselor and spokesperson, was once photographed lounging on the Oval Office couch as if it was her personal bed away from home (one can only fear what J.D. Vance is going to do with—to—that couch), is as addicted to the Trump cult as humanly possible. She lied for him and explained his lies as, “Alternative Facts…” Of course, it won’t shake the opinions of Trump’s followers, because nothing about their opinion is based upon substance or fact. They are based on a cultic personality, a convicted, sexual offender, game-show host, who feeds a need for control in people who are frightened by the state of a world that the GOP fear-mongering machine has been conjuring up since Ronald Reagan ran for office. It feeds a desire by white, Christians, to return to a world where women did not vote, black people were silenced, and gender roles were strictly defined (if indeed, not practiced behind locked doors). Harris and Walz offer an alternative to this weird lunacy, this creepiness. Walz provided free breakfasts and lunches for every child in his State so that they were sitting in class prepared to learn. He made sure every female in his schools had access to sanitary products, he stood by LGBTQ students in the school where he taught while knowing the power it would have for a State-Championship winning football coach to take such a controversial role. We have a chance, this November, to demand a return to normalcy, a return to kindness, a return to compassion. We need a resounding majority of votes so the likes of Trump and Vance are silenced. As Harris told a crowd chanting, “Lock Him Up!” last night, “We're gonna let the courts handle that. Our job is to beat him in November.”
07.08.2024
Happy warriors Harris and Walz propose an antidote to Trump’s American carnage
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/07/politics/harris-walz-happy-warriors-analysis/
Aren’t you tired of the party of hatred and revenge? Hasn’t it gotten old (like its primary candidate, Donald Trump)? It is evident to everyone—except his cult followers—that he’s running to stay ahead of more convictions, to exact revenge on those his fragile ego feels offended by, and to maximize his personal fortune and power. He’s obviously a patsy for the far right, white christian, fascists that put him in office the first time. Last night’s acceptance speech by Tim Walz alongside candidate, Kamala Harris, and following Pennsylvania’s governor, Josh Shapiro, was a festival of joy and hope. I’m ready for hope to take the stage. I’m so done with the old, overweight, con-man taking all the air out of the world. The day we don’t hear a peep from him is a day the mental health of the world will breath a collective sigh. Let’s show him the door, let’s let the air out of his balloon, let’s send him to another courtroom where he can sit and fume, and perhaps reflect on the damage he has done to the Institution of American Democracy. Hope and Joy are in; weird and creepy are out.
This Week’s Links
13.08.2024
The Economic Mind of Tim Walz
https://www.npr.org/sections/planet-money/2024/08/13/g-s1-16662/the-economic-mind-of-tim-walz
Trump Is Setting the Stage to Challenge the Election
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/08/trump-rally-crowd-challenge-election/679448/
Minnesota Became A ‘Trans Refuge’ Thanks To Tim Walz — And It Changed Lives
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/minnesota-trans-refuge-tim-walz_n_66ba51c1e4b0eabd2393ca01
Get a Load of Project 2025’s Horrifying Series of “Training” Videos
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61853227/project-2025-secret-training-agenda/
Reforming the Supreme Court Should Be Commonplace
The Secret to Healing Trauma
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/being-your-best-self/202408/the-secret-to-healing-trauma
12.08.2024
Vance’s “Cat Ladies” Remarks Reflect Broader GOP Effort to Weaponize “Family”
In first interview since dropping out, Biden says Trump danger to US
This Guy Is Putting The 'Hell' In Helicopter Ride
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61852780/willie-brown-helicopter-ride-trump/
11.08.2024
Students and Educators Are Joining Forces to Fight Book Bans Across the US
Chris LaCivita sunk John Kerry's presidential campaign. Now he's trying to 'Swift-boat' Tim Walz.
https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/chris-lacivita-donald-trump-swift-boat-tim-walz-rcna166020
Will the Government Stop Political Deepfakes Like Elon Musk's Kamala Harris Ad?
The Myth of Female Unelectability
10.08.2024
JD Vance’s Racist Populism
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/08/jd-vance-racist-populism-white-privilege-trump-harris/
That Mar-a-Lago Press Conference On Thursday Was Perhaps The Nuttiest Ever
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61841430/trump-mar-a-lago-presser-crowd-size/
A brief history of swift boating, from John Kerry to Tim Walz
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/09/nx-s1-5069480/swift-boat-john-kerry-tim-walz-jd-vance
Inside Project 2025’s Secret Training Videos
https://www.propublica.org/article/inside-project-2025-secret-training-videos-trump-election
What Adam Grant Just Said About People Pleasers Is Harsh. It's Also True
She was working at McDonald's at 17 and now she's become the first Mexican-born woman in space
09.08.2024
Playbook: Trump's 'reset' that wasn't
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/playbook/2024/08/09/trumps-reset-that-wasnt-00173380
What to know about Minnesota first lady Gwen Walz
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/08/nx-s1-5067814/gwen-walz-minnesota-first-lady
Right-Wing Activists Are Challenging Tens Of Thousands Of Voter Registrations
More People Should Be Talking About IVF the Way Tim Walz Is
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2024/08/tim-walz-ivf-reproductive-rights/679404/
08.08.2024
The GOP Is a Messy Soap Opera Right Now
Having a Chance Has Changed the Democrats
'Kamabla'? Trump isn't just losing the election, he's losing his mind.
Republicans Officially Enact Their Most Extreme School Book Ban
https://newrepublic.com/post/184672/utah-republicans-enact-extreme-school-book-ban
Biden says he's "not confident at all" there will be a peaceful transfer of power if Trump loses
Why Project 2025 Leader Suddenly Delayed His Book Release
15 Educational Apps That Will Make Your Kids Smarter
https://arnienicola.com/15-educational-apps-that-will-make-your-kids-smarter-35038/
07.08.2024
Happy warriors Harris and Walz propose an antidote to Trump’s American carnage
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/08/07/politics/harris-walz-happy-warriors-analysis/
It’s Walz
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/08/why-kamala-harris-chose-tim-walz/679377/
Tim Walz Joins the Anti-weirdness Ticket
Kamala Harris' Reaction to Tim Walz' JD Vance Jab Goes Viral
https://www.newsweek.com/kamala-harris-reaction-tim-walz-jd-vance-jab-goes-viral-1935634
Watch: Trump Campaign Desperate to Avoid Kamala Debate Questions
https://newrepublic.com/post/184635/trump-campaign-desperate-avoid-kamala-debate-questions
Journalist David Brooks reveals the essential questions to deepen any relationship
Youth Advocacy
Advocating for young people as Old DonOLD Trump and Hillbilly Vance make themselves into memes of weird.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 32 (222 total reports)
01.08.2024-06.08.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as Old DonOLD Trump and Hillbilly Vance make themselves into memes of weird.
Songs to Enjoy
A farcical song for all the people who like to excuse the behavior of the weird, man-toddler, convicted felon, Donald Trump.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
Opinion: Some jobs should never be done by kids. Project 2025 sees things differently
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/31/opinions/project-2025-child-labor-goodman
Yesterday, Republicans blocked expansion of the Child Tax Credit. They are so concerned about fetuses, but—once born—children are on their own. Allowing the Child Tax Credit to continue would mean less money available to the billionaires that support Donald Trump and his GOP lackeys. This is not an isolated incident into the GOP’s propensity for child cruelty. Glance at this article to have a better understanding of the plan “Trumpettes” have for forcing children to work in dangerous situations at dangerous hours. If the Heritage Foundation and Trump’s Project 2025 have their way, children will be working late night shifts in unsafe factories, jobs too dangerous and low paying for even adults to take. The Heritage Foundation continues to make it clear they want a mudsill financial system (permanent underclass of workers) that feed their billionaire economy.
Best Links of The Week
06.08.2024
Project 2025 Creator Has a Devious Plan for If Trump Wins
https://newrepublic.com/post/184563/trump-project-2025-leader-administration-white-house
Trump has already told his followers, that 1) voting doesn’t matter, 2) if Christians vote for him, they may never have to vote again, and 3) he would be a dictator. Donald, known for lying to purport the reality he prefers, has tried to distance himself from Project 2025, even though a number of its creators were either members of his cabinet or among his main funders. Now, there are reports that the primary creator of Project 2025, Russell Vought, will be a high-ranking staff member in Trump’s White House, some even say, Chief of Staff. There is no doubt these people are fascists, they cannot be allowed access to the keys of democracy. The only way to stop them is to vote them out resoundingly and begin the long-term legal process of dismantling their influence in the US government, the courts, the House, key posts abroad, and voting precincts all over the country. Please turn out to vote so that your children and children’s children have that option available to them in the future.
05.08.2024
Trump Brags About MAGA Takeover of Georgia Election Board
Increasingly, pundits are beginning to risk saying that Trump is going to lose the election, the GOP knows this, and some say that even Trump is beginning to realize this. This means two things: 1) Trump, Vance, and the GOP machine will get weirder. 2) Trump, his backers, the Supreme Court, and the GOP will try to turn democracy against itself. Regarding Item 1, Trump—who resorts to name-calling when he has no substance to debate—is focusing on the favorite themes of his followers, race-baiting and immigration fear-mongering. Expect this to get worse as the Harris campaign goes through the normal polling bumps that will result from naming a VP, the DNC, and whatever debates occur after Donny pulled out of the last agreed-upon one. Regarding Item 2, the US Constitution was written to protect minorities against unyielding majorities. The GOP will continue to exploit this through further manipulations of the court system, the do-nothing Republican House, undermining voting rights, and shows of force in local elections. (For a primer in this, look at the recent fixed election of Putin-Supported Madura in Venezuela) Expect more threats of violence and calls to violence as the election closes in and the polls reveal a Trump loss. The singular protection that the United States has will be a resounding defeat of Trump and the GOP on election days. A moderate defeat will not do, remember that Republicans have not won a popular vote since George W. Bush in 2004, but have still stolen the elections through the manipulation of the electoral college. The upcoming election can be no “slim defeat.” It must be a mandate. An overwhelming defeat of racism and threats of political violence all the way up and down the ballot. Only by turning out every vote possible, will llPutin, Trump, and his closet-racists/misogynists, learn that their vitriol, threats, and actual violence are not acceptable in the US.
04.08.2024
The Broligarchs Are Trying to Have Their Way
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/08/tech-bro-male-billionaire-anti-democratic/679267/
It is important that we know what a “Broligarch” is and just who fits into that multimillionaire or billionaire category. In order to understand the attack on the poor and the middle class, we need to follow the dollar. Who benefits from poverty? Who benefits from war? Who benefits from authoritarianism? Who benefits from child labor, racism, and a permanent underclass of workers (mudsilling)? This article gives us the names as well as the beliefs behind the very small, very powerful, group of people funding the dismantling of democracy in the United States and around the world. Citing a favorite book of the Noblesse Oblige, the author points out that many of these super-rich “bros” see themselves as reincarnations of the pharaohs. They trade in politicians and justices like commodities at a Saturday Market, then use them to pass laws that will concretize their wealth and power. Take a look behind their “Wizard of Oz” veil and see them for the super-manipulators they are. There is a way to defeat them, make sure they don’t have another administration like Trump and the GOP who kowtow to their every whim and pass laws that impoverish the majority of people to serve as their serfs (economic foot soldiers). The upcoming election is not just about democracy in the United States, it is also about preventing this “Broligarchy” from permanently establishing their power.
03.08.2024
The real reason Team Trump keeps trying to call Kamala Harris a ‘DEI hire’
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/team-trump-calls-kamala-harris-dei-hire-rcna164117
What is behind the GOP’s DEI attacks on Kamala Harris? In a commentary for MSNBC, Natalie S. Burke, the president and CEO of CommonHealth ACTION, tells us, “These false racist and sexist attacks seek to reinforce beliefs that the best, and potentially only, people qualified to lead America are white men.” Convicted felon and sexual predator, Donald Trump, is a racist and those who support him are supporting his racism as well as his misogyny. Something dark and malevolent is being affirmed when people choose to support such a blatantly weird, angry, racist, man. It says something about the supporters need for control—and therefore their repressed fear. It is not historically unusual for religious people to want to control others that don’t share their beliefs. It is certainly not new to the Republican playbook to exploit immigrants and people who are diverse. The thinking that “those who don’t look like us, don’t think like us,” works as well in fear-based politics as it does on the playground. Such beliefs belong to a two-year-old brain, locked in a “mine, Mine, MINE,” mentality. Attacking someone’s racial diversity is a cheap shot. It is what happens when you have no substance to debate. Trump—and his followers—have run out of substance (did they ever really have any)? So they are forced to attack the fact that Kamala is biracial and female. They don’t want to be reminded she was a Prosecuting Attorney, the Attorney General of California, and a Senator for California from 2017-2021, before becoming President Biden’s pick for Vice-President. In short, Trump and the GOP are bereft. They continue to be a rudderless boat, tied only to Trump’s desire for more power and revenge. Recent reports that Trump received $10 million illegally from the Government of Egypt are further examples of his willingness to sell the presidency to the highest bidder. Supporting Donald Trump is not a substance-based decision, it is a control-based decision.
02.08.2024
Trump Is Running Scared
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/trump-polls-kamala-harris-vance/679333/
Felon and Sexual Predator, Donald Trump, is falling apart and it “Ain’t Pretty.” Trump, difficult to comprehend in his most lucid moments, has run out of terms to vilify his opponent so he is resorting to an old page in his verbal abuse book, demeaning her heritage. Trump used this on Obama with his birther lies, it bought him a few points then and undermined Obama’s credibility among Trump’s cult followers. Omarosa, a former Trump staffer, tells us that this ploy is close to Trump’s own heritage as his German grandfather, Frederich, used to say he was “Swedish,” so he could rent more low-cost housing units to Jewish survivors of WWII. If it is part of the Democratic strategy to “let Donald speak…” it’s working. The more Donald talks, the more he reveals how mentally unstable (weird), he truly is. Congratulations to the NABJ for having the courage to invite Trump onto their platform and ask him the hard questions Trump normally avoids.
01.08.2024
In forthcoming book, Heritage president rails against birth control, IVF, abortion, childlessness, and dog parks
A quick read of this review of Kevin Robert’s (President of Heritage Foundation) new book, forwarded by J.D. Vance, will give you an insight into just how this group wants to “Make America Gilead Again.” In case you were wondering, Gilead is the fantasy nation in Margaret Atwood’s book, “The Handmaid’s Tale.” Robert’s explains how Trump’s Project 2025 plan for America includes monitoring women’s menstrual cycles, travel, and overseeing birth control. In one section, Robert’s decries birth control because, “it makes having a child look optional…” This book, Dawn’s Early Light: Taking Back Washington To Save America, lays the Heritage Foundation’s warped, misogynistic, white, Christian Nationalist agenda out in the open. It is Mein Kampf for english-speaking GOP cult followers.
This Week’s Links
06.08.2024
Project 2025 Creator Has a Devious Plan for If Trump Wins
https://newrepublic.com/post/184563/trump-project-2025-leader-administration-white-house
A Field Guide to the Flags of the Far Right
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2024/09/us-far-right-trump-flags/679154/
Why Joe Biden Passing the Torch to Kamala Harris Matters for Women in the Workplace
Venting Doesn't Reduce Anger, But Something Else Does, Study Says
https://www.sciencealert.com/venting-doesnt-reduce-anger-but-something-else-does-study-says
05.08.2024
Trump Brags About MAGA Takeover of Georgia Election Board
The Real Reason Why Trump Praises Putin’s Prisoner Swap
https://whowhatwhy.org/international/the-real-reason-why-trump-praises-putins-prisoner-swap/
We spoke to 5 people who knew Kamala Harris before she was VP. Here's what we learned
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/05/nx-s1-5052893/kamala-harris-election-2024
04.08.2024
The Broligarchs Are Trying to Have Their Way
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/08/tech-bro-male-billionaire-anti-democratic/679267/
Jimmy Carter, 99, is holding out to vote for Kamala Harris, his grandson says
https://www.msnbc.com/top-stories/latest/jimmy-carter-vote-kamala-harris-rcna165019
Scholars on the 'divide and conquer' strategy behind Trump's false claim that Harris ‘turned Black’
https://www.npr.org/2024/08/03/g-s1-15174/harris-mixed-race-trump-black-indian
Trump says he's agreed to Fox debate while Harris sticks with ABC plan
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-trump-kamala-harris-debate-fox-news-abc-news/
03.08.2024
The real reason Team Trump keeps trying to call Kamala Harris a ‘DEI hire’
https://www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnbc-opinion/team-trump-calls-kamala-harris-dei-hire-rcna164117
The 2024 U.S. Presidential Race: A Cheat Sheet
Biden has a good idea for fixing the Supreme Court. This is an even better one.
Why it's time for a vice president who happens to be gay (and maybe because of it)
https://www.advocate.com/voices/pete-buttigieg-vp
02.08.2024
Trump Is Running Scared
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/08/trump-polls-kamala-harris-vance/679333/
Omarosa Exposes How Trump Pathetically Lied About His Ethnicity
https://newrepublic.com/post/184474/ex-aide-omarosa-hypocrite-trump-lied-ethnicity-kamala
White man tells Black journalists his Black opponent is not Black - LGBTQ Nation
01.08.2024
In forthcoming book, Heritage president rails against birth control, IVF, abortion, childlessness, and dog parks
Project 2025’s Impact on Education, Books, & Reading
https://bookriot.com/today-in-books-july-31-2024/
Donald Trump Questions Whether Kamala Harris Is Really Black
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-nabj-kamala-harris/679313/
Trump Goes on Truly Deranged Rant About “Black Jobs” as Crowd Boos Him
https://newrepublic.com/post/184445/trump-black-jobs-nabj-crowd-boos
Speaking to Black journalists, Trump reminded everyone how racist he can be
'The American People Deserve Better': Harris Responds to Trump's Racist Rant
Chuck Schumer rolls out 'No Kings Act' to eliminate presidential immunity
Trump proposed bombing Mexico and it somehow wasn’t a big story
https://www.vox.com/policy/363146/trump-policy-war-mexico-trade-deportation-border
The Mexican women aiding migrants on their perilous journey to the US
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c720vye08y9o
Opinion: Some jobs should never be done by kids. Project 2025 sees things differently
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/31/opinions/project-2025-child-labor-goodman
The Real Reason People Aren’t Having Kids
https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2024/08/fertility-crisis/679319/
Youth Advocacy
Advocating for young people as one older candidate bravely steps aside and the other digs in.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 31 (221 total reports)
17.07.2024-23.07.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as one older candidate bravely steps aside and the other digs in.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
Leonard Cohen on the Antidote to Anger and the Meaning of Resistance
https://www.themarginalian.org/2024/07/18/leonard-cohen-anger-resistance/
This book review by Maria Popova of Leonard’s Cohen’s writings offering “an antidote to anger and the meaning of resistance,” is perfectly timed for our current situation. Popover gently reminds us that (like children) we run to our parent(s) when the world around us feels chaotic and threatening. Though this is touching in children, in adults, we use this impulse to give our personal will away to authoritarians in times of societal stress. The commentator looks at this from Leonard Cohen’s perspective, revealing the depth of his reflections on the sense of helplessness many people have felt throughout history and how often that has led to the justification of violence and oppression. Cohen offers the antidote to anger and helplessness as meaningful relationships and a discovery of personal meaning. What could be a greater gift for us to offer young people today than a deeply affirming relationship based in purpose and belief that one’s life has meaning?
Best Links of The Week
23.07.2024
Suddenly Trump Looks Older and More Deranged
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-looks-older-and-more-deranged/679186/
Now that President Biden has made the heroic choice to step aside and endorse Kamala Harris for President, the media is finally focusing on Trump’s age and failing mental capabilities (Older and More Deranged). His mental lapses and meandering, often violent, diatribes are nothing new, the only thing that has changed is the focus of the major news networks. Trump has been disintegrating mentally for months (perhaps years), but now the focus is on him. Many Republicans have already come out and stated that the GOP cannot win with him on the ticket and, of course, Trump is already backing out of a debate with the prosecutor who—as she has said—“has worked with his kind before.” Biden’s debate performance was abysmal and he has stepped aside appropriately, largely because of it. Will Trump step aside? Of course not. He’ll just circumvent debates and fall back on name-calling. Trump needs this election to gain more power, avoid his debts, and avoid his many court cases. Without the presidency, Trump will dry up like the old pervert and degenerate criminal he is. The GOP won’t stop supporting him because, they are in-too-deep. They need a patsy like Trump who will blank stamp their authoritarian agenda and continue to undermine the courts (Project 2025 and Putin’s Global Agenda). There is a new energy among the Democrats that will only grow as they continue through the VP pick and National Convention. Biden will join a cadre of impressive statesmen and past presidents, he will be remembered for his legislative prowess, service to his country, and for stepping aside when his country needed him to.
22.07.2024
A Candidate, Not a Cult Leader
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/07/a-candidate-not-a-cult-leader/679182/
President Joe Biden made the biggest choice of his career (and perhaps the hardest) yesterday. He decided that he was not the best candidate to lead the Nation in a victory against the Authoritarian Right. This act of courage and heroism will be the defining act of his career, perhaps even of politics this century. His timing couldn’t have been better. Following the clown show at the RNC and the demigod worship of their felon, sexual abuser, candidate, Donald Trump. The GOP had no wind left in its sails to detract from Biden’s statesmanly transition to Kamala Harris. Now, it will be prosecutor vs. felon and the Trump team is heretofore running scared. The GOP is already looking for ways to block Biden’s decision. This Atlantic article draws out that this is the difference between a real candidate (Joe Biden) and a cult leader (Donald Trump). One can never imagine Donald Trump stepping aside for the good of the country. One cannot imagine Donald Trump ever doing anything that wasn’t in his own best interest. People who admire that quality will continue to adore Donald Trump and it reveals a great deal about their internal character.
21.07.2024
What the Democrats’ Divisions Could Mean for the Election
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2024/07/election-divisions-washington-week/679172/
(When I wrote this piece, Biden had not stepped aside, but I’ve decided to leave it in anyway). By all the numbers, the Biden administration has been a huge success for the middle class and the impoverished in the United States—except, of course, where a belligerent and incompetent Republican-led House has blocked him. A second Biden term would definitely provide more wins for the middle and lower economic classes of the United States, it would increase pressure for tax reform, for climate health, immigration reform, reform of the Supreme Court, and for empowering voting rights. It would lead to courts being allowed to justly prosecute Trump for his crimes and insurrectionists for their attempts to overthrow the US government. Mostly, a resounding win would tell the GOP and Trump that their authoritarian, white Christian nationalist movement has no place in the United States. Imagine the country being able to return to its democratic roots. If Biden steps down, none of these goals change, but the choice is Biden’s to make. He earned it and he beat Trump before. He needs our support to do it again.
20.07.2024
A Searing Reminder That Trump Is Unwell
To quote, Tom Nichols, the author of this article, "Trump is a vengeful autocrat with obvious mental deficits who has surrounded himself with a crew of vicious goons.”
All Trump had to do was stick to the teleprompter, but his self-serving ego wouldn’t even allow him to do that. Like a bad comedian at a garden party, Trump’s bellicose manner stole all the air from the room to focus the attention on himself. Also like an attention hog at a, evening social, he told the same jokes getting louder with each one. Smugly, smiling at his own self-perceived wisdom while showing the rest of the world (except for his cult followers) that he is indeed, “unwell.” People who back Trump don’t do so because of his intelligence (he’s the dumbest man to ever hold the office of President), certainly not for his ethics (he has none), and definitely not for his policies (they will harm the majority of his own constituents). They follow him because he appears to be what they are not—a strong, unbending, personality in the midst of a chaotic world. They think he will stand up to “whatever bad guys” the GOP concocts this week; immigrants, other races, people with dissimilar sexual preferences, people who are not White Christians. They want a “White Chrisitan” takeover of the US and they want everyone forced to believe exactly like they believe. Everyone else is a threat to them and they believe that Donald is the demigod that will rid them of those threats. Imagine a world without his hatred. Imagine a world without his daily whining diatribes. Imagine a world where his imaginary friend, Hannibal Lector, is not vaunted as a role model. That world, is achievable with a heavy vote turnout. It doesn’t matter who the Democrats run, they just need to beat Trump and his “goons;” Project 2025, the Supreme Court of Donald Trump, and the White Christian Nationalist takeover of the United States.
19.07.2024
Why the Christian Right Believes Donald Trump Is “Anointed by God”
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/christian-right-donald-trump
I’ve been trying to understand the fascination any self-proclaiming Christian would have with the felon, sex offender, Donald Trump. This article identifies it as a fixation on ideology rather than theology. The other factor, I believe, is simply about control. A lack of feeling in control of your own personal life always leads to a desire (often compulsion) to control the lives of others. Modern Christian Nationalism is no different than Islamic Sharia Law with the exception of what version of God they want to force on others. It is amazing to me that the failed assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life has become a rallying cry for the far right that he is “ordained by God” to be the next leader of the government. I suppose that flies in the face of Revelations 13:3, “And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death; and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondered after the beast.” But what is Religious fanaticism if not picking only the sacred writings that support your opinion (or in this case, ideology)?
18.07.2024
We the People Are on Our Own
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/07/individual-responsibility-renew-democracy/679024/
A convicted felon and serial sexual assaulter, Donald Trump, is accepting the nomination of the Republican party tonight. Meanwhile, elderly statesman, Joe Biden is sidelined from campaigning by COVID with an increasing number of his own party members calling for him to step down. Trump is supposed to call for unity, but the only unity his party has been pushing in the last three nights of the Republican National Convention is unity around letting Trump not face the consequences of his actions. They would like all of us to put aside our differences and support his authoritarian bid for president. The author of this article, Shannon A. Mullen, wants to tell us that neither presidential candidate offers unity to America at this point, but her viewpoint is that this can be a plus for all of us—IF in the process we rediscover our own “agency.” Agency, according to psychologists is the sense of control that you feel in your life, your capacity to influence your own thoughts and behavior, and have faith in your ability to handle a wide range of tasks and situations. Your sense of agency helps you to be psychologically stable, yet flexible in the face of conflict or change. Ms. Mullen wants us to remember that—in a time when politicians and the media are playing up our helplessness—we need to remember that we OWN the democratic process. Our ability to unite as a community and express our vote will decide our future. Our ability to engage each other in CIVIL discourse is our most important (and I don’t use this word lightly) weapon. Find civil ways to voice your opinion, be open to the opinion of others, don’t allow politicians and pundits to force us into camps of “us vs. them.” Encourage discourse in the face of violence. Your voice and your vote are still your ticket to agency. Rise above helplessness and turn out for the vote this November. Your voice is needed and your voice still counts.
17.07.2024
The 22 Scariest Lines We Found in Project 2025’s 900-Page ‘Mandate for Leadership’
Who better to do an overview of a plot to overthrow women’s rights to their own bodies (as well as the constitution), than the people at Ms. Magazine? Long a bastion of journalistic integrity and support for women’s rights all over the world. This magazine is unflinching in its review of what the GOP is planning on implementing during a Trump Takeover of the government of the United States. If you haven’t read through Project 2025, this is your chance to do a solid overview. Please read this and pass onto friends. Trump and the GOP Have to lose in ROE-vember.
This Week’s Links
23.07.2024
Suddenly Trump Looks Older and More Deranged
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-looks-older-and-more-deranged/679186/
Democrats target GOP’s Project 2025 in Milwaukee amid Republican National Convention
https://www.advocate.com/politics/democrats-target-republican-project-2025
The Changing Odds of a Great Conflict in America
https://time.com/7001346/great-conflict-american-politics-update/
GOP Lawmakers Now Blame Women for Trump’s Assassination Attempt
As Harris launches her presidential run, the veepstakes is on. Here's who to watch
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/22/nx-s1-5048872/kamala-harris-vp-veepstakes-shapiro-newsom-cooper
Kamala Harris Kicks Off Her Campaign With Major Snub to Netanyahu
https://newrepublic.com/post/184119/kamala-harris-campaign-snub-netanyahu
22.07.2024
A Candidate, Not a Cult Leader
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/07/a-candidate-not-a-cult-leader/679182/
6 political takeaways from Biden's decision to step aside
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/22/nx-s1-5048115/biden-harris-drop-out-election-analysis
World leaders show respect and support as Biden quits race
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw9ygvw959ro
The Staggering Nihilism of the GOP’s Climate Policy Was on Display This Week
The results of the biggest study on guaranteed income programs are finally in
https://19thnews.org/2024/07/study-guaranteed-income-program-results/
Individuals Who Grew Up as 'People-Pleasers' Usually Develop These 12 Traits as Adults, Psychologists Say
21.07.2024
What the Democrats’ Divisions Could Mean for the Election
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2024/07/election-divisions-washington-week/679172/
The Country’s Most Conservative Court Just Reinstated a Jim Crow-Era Voter Suppression Law
The Trump Campaign Has Peaked Too Soon
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-campaign-has-peaked-too-soon/679176/
20.07.2024
A Searing Reminder That Trump Is Unwell
This Crew Is Totally Beatable
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/donald-trump-republican-party-nomineee/679109/
Plans Are Afoot In Trumpland To Call The Election A Win, No Matter What
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61650532/trump-2024-election-certification/
At the Republican National Convention, a ‘Darker, Gloomier’ GOP
Video provides chilling look at Project 2025's Christian Nationalist effect on public schools - LGBTQ Nation
People are going wild for a possible Kamala Harris/Pete Buttigieg 2024 ticket - LGBTQ Nation
Your brain wants you to be curious, not anxious
https://www.fastcompany.com/91159221/science-your-brain-wants-you-to-be-curious-not-anxious
19.07.2024
Why the Christian Right Believes Donald Trump Is “Anointed by God”
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/story/christian-right-donald-trump
RNC Celebrates Trump’s Horrific Campaign Promise With Sinister Signs
https://newrepublic.com/post/183987/rnc-celebrates-trump-horrific-campaign-promise-immigration
Fact check: Trump makes more than 20 false claims in RNC acceptance speech
https://www.cnn.com/2024/07/18/politics/fact-checking-night-4-republican-national-convention-trump/
The One Statistic about America’s Racial Wealth Gap that Says It All
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/one-statistic-americas-racial-wealth-gap-says-bookbite/50738/
Are We Finally Letting Go of Our Learned-Helplessness Syndrome Around the Supreme Court?
https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/07/joe-biden-court-reform-plan.html
Leonard Cohen on the Antidote to Anger and the Meaning of Resistance
https://www.themarginalian.org/2024/07/18/leonard-cohen-anger-resistance/
18.07.2024
We the People Are on Our Own
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/07/individual-responsibility-renew-democracy/679024/
Why Some Americans Really Do Want an Authoritarian in Charge
https://newrepublic.com/article/183866/americans-want-authoritarian-president-trump
Make America Hungary Again
Logotherapy: Finding Meaning in the Face of Extreme Distress
https://www.healthline.com/health/logotherapy
17.07.2024
The 22 Scariest Lines We Found in Project 2025’s 900-Page ‘Mandate for Leadership’
The Gathering Conspiracy Against Freedom
https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/the-gathering-conspiracy-against-freedom.html
Fighting Talk From Republicans
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/republicans-unity-national-convention/679045/
Is Donald Trump the victim of stochastic terrorism?
https://unherd.com/2024/07/the-psychology-of-political-violence/
Judge Cannon Slammed for “Erratic” and “Dangerous” Behavior
https://newrepublic.com/post/183885/judge-cannon-torched-logic-dismiss-trump-classified-documents
Widow of Trump Rally Attendee Killed in Shooting Said Biden Called Her but Trump Didn't?
https://www.snopes.com/news/2024/07/16/trump-shooting-victim-widow-biden/
RFK Jr.'s Embarrassing Phone Call Scandal With Trump Has Everyone Shouting The Same Thing
Why the far right is surging all over the world
https://www.vox.com/politics/361136/far-right-authoritarianism-germany-reactionary-spirit
Covid-19’s back. Should you be worried?
https://edition.cnn.com/2024/07/16/health/summer-covid-rise-wellness/
12 books that people say are life-changing reads
https://www.upworthy.com/12-books-people-say-are-life-changing-reads-rp2
Youth Advocacy
Advocating for young people as the US’s addiction to guns causes more havoc.
Youth Advocacy
Year 3, Week 30 (220 total reports)
10.07.2023-16.07.2024
REVIEW and ANNOUNCEMENTS
Advocating for young people as the US’s addiction to guns causes more havoc.
Special Adolescent Care Link of the Week
Adverse Childhood Experiences: Who Stumbles and Who Thrives?
This article is a review of the book, “The Kite that Couldn’t Fly: And Other May Avenue Stories,” by Michael Menard. Mr. Menard’s books reflects on his personal experience of being raised in an impoverished family of 14 with an alcoholic father but loving mom. It examines why some children were able to overcome ACE’s (Adverse Childhood Experiences) while other siblings were emotionally crippled. It is a heart-rending peek into an inspirational life and both the article and the book are worth your time.
Best Links of The Week
16.07.2024
‘What the Heck Just Happened?’
Perhaps my favorite quote in this morning’s news feed was by Charles Pierce of Esquire. In his opinion column, he states the primary two things he has gleaned from the Trump assassination attempt are: Too many nuts, too many guns.
The man who shot Trump was young, white, a registered Republican, and an avid Trump supporter. We have no real leads as to what his motives were and everything else is conjecture, so Pierce’s commentary is down to the facts and straightforward. It sticks to what we actually know, “Too many nuts, too many guns.”
In other news, Trump picked J.D. Vance as his running mate. This is the same J.D. Vance that said that Trump is cultural heroine, and that his followers are duped by his demagoguery. But first, let’s remember why Trump is picking a new Vice Presidential candidate? Do we remember the gallows outside the capital and the chants of, “Hang Mike Pence?” Why, because Pence followed the constitution instead of Trump and the GOP in admitting who won the fairest, most observed, election in US history. Why pick Vance? Because Vance has already stated that he would choose Trump over the constitution in a similar situation.
15.07.2024
Biden addresses Trump rally shooting in Oval Office address: "Politics must never be a literal battlefield"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-oval-office-address-trump-shot/
As we would expect from a seasoned statesman, President Biden’s response to the shooting of Donald Trump is reasoned, compassionate, and contextual. That should be compared with the statements of leading Republicans (see below), who are already pointing fingers at Joe Biden and the Democrats. This is not the time that responsible leaders should start issuing more calls for revenge and violence. But, then, the Republican Hacks spouting conspiracy theories are not leaders. They are attention-hogs with histrionic personality disorders looking for the longest news cycle they can attain, a chance at working for Fox news, or—the coveted prize—a thumbs up from their felon/nominee. We need to remember what rhetoric brought us to the point that an individual (in this case, white, Republican, and a gun enthusiast) believed it was his right—for whatever reason—to decide the election for all of us with one act of violence. Who fomented the belief that democracy is optional if you don’t get what you want? Who started pushing the political strategy that force was justifiable if your party did not win? Who encouraged people to riot and try to prevent the democratic process underwritten by the constitution if your candidate was a loser?
14.07.2024
A Moment to Seek Our Better Angels
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-pennsylvania/679004/
Nothing is clear about the motives behind the shooting of Donald Trump, so no conjecture should be spoken or promoted. The only thing that should be attended to is that violence is unacceptable, without exception. Falling back to the words of President Abraham Lincoln, this article resurrects his phrase, “Better Angels.” To quote Lincoln’s first inaugural address, “The mystic chords of memory, stretching from every battlefield and patriot grave to every living heart and hearthstone all over this land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely, they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”
This article chooses to focus on another statement by the former president that he made in response to the hideous Dred Scott decision, “To give the victory to the right, not bloody bullets, but peaceful ballots only, are necessary.”
This is not a moment for humor or conjecture, this is a moment of grave concern for a nation whose penchant for “expressing your opinion through violence” has become acceptable. We need to resoundingly say it is NOT!
13.07.2024
Shocker Poll Suggests Trump’s Lying May Be Huge Weakness for Him
https://newrepublic.com/article/183784/poll-trump-lying-huge-weakness
Shocker: No one votes for Donald Trump because they trust him. People don’t trust him and they can’t trust him. He is a compulsive liar who fears the truth about his own insincerity, inner ugliness, incompetence, and how history will finally judge him. He has to cover up all of that with bullying and belligerence. The older he gets and the more his feebleness shows, the more he falls back to his modus operandi of lying and sidestepping pertinent issues. People vote for Donald Trump because he lets them vent the worst of themselves. The part of themselves that wants to bully others into believing their viewpoint, their religion, or their racism. He captures their fear, anger and desire for revenge—against whatever made-up enemy the GOP is conjuring up this week. Donald Trump gives free rein to people’s worst desires. For some reason, people don’t realize that his lies apply to them as well and that, unless they are among the US’s richest rich people, his policies will undercut their own lives and economy. One truth that Donald Trump has told this year, “I don’t care about you, I just want your vote.”
12.07.2024
We Still Don’t Know What to Do With the Endless Stream of Trump Lies
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-lies-nato-alliance/678968/
Most people would prefer to tell the truth if they were able, but the more we learn about convicted felon and sex offender, Donald Trump, the more we learn that he would prefer a lie—even when it’s obvious he is telling one. It’s not just habitual with Trump, it’s compulsive—even addictive. It continues to be exacerbated as his mental decline becomes increasingly obvious. At the root of this is a man deeply flawed and grossly insecure in the undermining knowledge that he is an imposter, a poser, a loser.
11.07.2024
Project 2025 Continues The Historic Racist, Fascist Project – OpEd
This article points out that Project 2025 (the contemporary version of Mein Kampf according to one author below) isn’t anything new in US politics. It continues a whites-only playbook used by Supreme Court Justice Lewis Powell (The Powell Memo) and then by Newt Gingrich (Contract with America). Wanting to make America a safe haven for fascist, White and Wealthy Theocrats is sadly a mindset, that people seeking fairness and justice have had to confront since the development of the Constitution—indeed, it was the reason for the constitution.
10.07.2024
It’s our democracy, America! A second Trump presidency would be nothing like the first
As Pro-Trumpers become more violent and find support for their tyrannical outbursts, we need to become increasingly aware, vocal, and alarmed. There is no sidelines on this issue. This week, pro-life, MAGA Republican nominee for North Carolina Governor, Mark Robinson, remarked, “Some folks need killing!” he said to a church audience in White Lake, a small town in the state’s southeastern corner. He went on to tell the congregation, “It’s not a matter of vengeance,” he emphasized. “It’s a matter of necessity!” Killing people who disagree with you in a Democracy is a NECESSITY?!! How did this become even remotely acceptable to say and still remain a viable candidate for office. It’s part of the slow-slide to acceptable violence that Donald Trump has led his followers, a part that most of his supporters not only condone, but encourage. These are NOT the values of the United States, this is not how candidates for office should be given credence to speak. There is NO excuse for this type of behavior. Imagine a 2025 where such people have been voted into the dust, a 2025 where such people find no platform, a 2025 where it is acceptable to voice your opinion without the threat of violence to you or your loved ones. It is time to stop this ever-increasing slide into fascism—and that’s exactly what this is.
This Week’s Links
16.07.2024
‘What the Heck Just Happened?’
MAGA World’s Reckless Point-Scoring
https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2024/07/trump-shooting-republicans-criticism/679026/
Stop Pretending You Know How This Will End
One Sure Thing About the Trump Assassination Attempt
Trump’s Ugly New Post-Shooting Rant Instantly Wrecks His “Unity” Pivot
https://newrepublic.com/article/183860/trumps-post-shooting-rant-wrecks-unity-pivot
An Astonishing Ruling in Trump’s Classified-Documents Case
7 ways to avoid becoming a misinformation superspreader when the news is shocking
J.D. Vance's horrendous record of homophobia and transphobia
https://www.advocate.com/politics/jd-vance-anti-lgbtq-record
School Vouchers Were Supposed to Save Taxpayer Money. Instead They Blew a Massive Hole in Arizona’s Budget.
https://www.propublica.org/article/arizona-school-vouchers-budget-meltdown
Benefits of Parent Education in Raising Children With ADHD
15.07.2024
Biden addresses Trump rally shooting in Oval Office address: "Politics must never be a literal battlefield"
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-oval-office-address-trump-shot/
The Republican response to Trump’s shooting is beyond irresponsible
The Trump Shooting Conspiracies Outpaced Reality
Five Questions for the Secret Service
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/07/five-questions-secret-service/679013/
SCOTUS Says Cruelty Is a Solution to Homelessness
https://jacobin.com/2024/07/supreme-court-grants-pass-homelessness/
14.07.2024
A Moment to Seek Our Better Angels
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-pennsylvania/679004/
How to Save Democracy When You Don’t Know Where to Start
https://nextbigideaclub.com/magazine/save-democracy-dont-know-start-bookbite/50657/
A Terrible New Era of Political Violence in America
Biden Digs In
https://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2024/07/biden-digs-in-washington-week/678999/
White supremacy with a law degree: How do we escape "The Originalism Trap"?
https://www.salon.com/2024/07/14/supremacy-with-a-law-degree-how-do-we-escape-the-originalism-trap/
Robert Reich: Debunking Myth #7: America Is Socialist – OpEd
https://www.eurasiareview.com/14072024-robert-reich-debunking-myth-7-america-is-socialist-oped/
These are America's 10 worst states for quality of life in 2024
https://www.cnbc.com/2024/07/13/10-states-worst-quality-of-life-america.html
Greg Abbott Hightailed It Out Of Texas Just In Time For Hurricane Beryl
https://www.esquire.com/news-politics/politics/a61586567/greg-abbott-hurricane-beryl/
13.07.2024
Shocker Poll Suggests Trump’s Lying May Be Huge Weakness for Him
https://newrepublic.com/article/183784/poll-trump-lying-huge-weakness
Project 2025 Is the Rare Policy Tome to Go Viral
GOP’s 2024 platform mirrors extremist Project 2025 as threat to women, LGBTQ+ people, and minorities
https://www.advocate.com/news/2024-gop-platform-project-2025
Republican Rep. Goes on Unhinged Rant About Women “Emasculating Men”
https://newrepublic.com/post/183778/republican-rep-goes-unhinged-rant-women-emasculating-men
Media Literacy Is an Essential Skill. Schools Should Teach It That Way (Opinion)
Houston Is on a Path to an All-Out Power Crisis
https://www.theatlantic.com/science/archive/2024/07/houston-power-outage-beryl/678990/
Why Hurricane Beryl was more than Houston could handle
https://www.vox.com/climate/360181/climate-hurricane-beryl-blackout-houston-flood
Frustration mounts into threats for Texas power crews as 1 million still in dark after Beryl
This is exactly how to hone your personal leadership style
https://www.fastcompany.com/91154854/this-is-exactly-how-to-hone-your-personal-leadership-style
The One Unexpected Thing Infectious Disease Experts Are Begging You to Stop Doing If You Don't Want to Get COVID This Summer
12.07.2024
We Still Don’t Know What to Do With the Endless Stream of Trump Lies
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-lies-nato-alliance/678968/
The Trump National Convention
https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2024/07/trump-republican-national-convention/678974/
Trump’s Sleazy New Project 2025 Disavowal Scam Blows Up in His Face
https://newrepublic.com/article/183737/trumps-sleazy-new-project-2025-disavowal-scam-blows-face
The deep and enduring history of universal basic income
https://bigthink.com/the-past/history-of-universal-basic-income/
Five takeaways from Biden’s pivotal press conference
https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/4767854-biden-nato-summit-reassure-democrats/
11.07.2024
Project 2025 Continues The Historic Racist, Fascist Project – OpEd
The Rebellion Against Biden Is Over
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/07/rebellion-against-biden-over-now/678954/
Project 2025 is the American, modified Mein Kampf
https://blogs.timesofisrael.com/project-2025-is-the-american-modified-mein-kampf/
Stop Soft-Pedaling the GOP’s Extreme Positions
Oklahoma is having right-wing media figures rewrite its social studies curriculum. Here’s what you need to know about them.
The 2016 Election Reshaped the Supreme Court. So Will 2024.
https://newrepublic.com/article/183551/2016-election-reshaped-supreme-court-will-2024
The ACLU has a blueprint to constrain Trump in a second presidential term
https://www.npr.org/2024/07/11/nx-s1-5034884/aclu-trump-second-term
Adverse Childhood Experiences: Who Stumbles and Who Thrives?
Persuasion expert shares how one word makes people 30% more likely to change their minds
10.07.2024
It’s our democracy, America! A second Trump presidency would be nothing like the first
Trump is just a con man from New York
https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/7/9/trump-is-just-a-con-man-from-new-york
Senator Josh Hawley is proudly revealing the truth about the Republican agenda.
https://newrepublic.com/maz/post/183576/josh-hawley-threat-revive-christian-nationalism
Greg Abbott Feels the Heat Over Texas Power Outage Failure
https://www.newsweek.com/greg-abbott-feels-heat-texas-power-outage-failure-1923105
Biden blames Texas officials for delayed federal response to Hurricane Beryl
The Supreme Court curbed federal oversight of schools. It's a big deal.
Humorous Comics By Tom Gauld For All The Book And Science Lovers Out There (35 New Pics)
https://www.boredpanda.com/comics-about-books-art-science-tom-gauld-part-3/