The oligarchs aren’t just coming for the USA. I don’t know, is that comforting? Elon, anyway, is sticking his nose into European politics, as well as taking on the mantle of President-in-effect here in the US. In the UK and in Germany, most of the people resent his interference. I’d say that’s the same as here, in the US.

Most people in those countries are pretty sure Musk doesn’t understand their countries, certainly not well enough to be chiming in. A small percentage, 13% in each country, think it’s a great idea for Musk to stick his face in. Based on the US experience, I would expect that number to grow. Conservative media isn’t just manipulating American conservatives. It reaches around the world, spreading lies, promising perfection, delivering misery.

Now, here’s the problem. Currently, Musk is viewed as a know-nothing meddler, and not much more. Only 20% of those polled thought he would have much influence. But that number grows over time. Nobody thought much of Musk’s intervention in American politics, either – until he brought $250 million dollars to buy the “election” for The Felon. (I wonder how many “votes” $250 million dollars buys…)

The thing is, Europe has been down the fascist road before. They know a little something about it. They have laws they can implement to push back. Right now, they’re in “What does he know?” mode. They’re trying to just talk back, tell him to butt out and mind his own business. Based on the fall of the US, I’d say they had better start using those laws, sooner rather than later – or they’ll get to do it all over again…

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As required by law, Jack Smith generated a report on his decision to prosecute Trump and then stand down due to a technicality. He broke it into two parts, Trump’s election interference with regard to his January 6th assault on the Capitol and the stolen documents case in Florida.

Obviously, Trump tried to stop both reports from being made public. I don’t know why. The people who care can’t do anything and the people who could do something don’t care. But he tried, anyway. He lost on the first part. That part got released. Guess what? Basically, it says Trump is a criminal who would certainly have lost the case and been found guilty as charged, had Musk not brought that beautiful $250 million dollars that bought so much “support.” (Okay, no, Smith’s report didn’t mention Musk’s buy-in, but the rest is correct.)

The second half of the report has been stalled because there are still defendants in the case, so it’s still pending. Releasing the report could affect the case. Dems tried making the case to Merrick Garland that he should just drop the case and release the report. We live in a corrupt country now. The Trump maladministration isn’t going to prosecute that case so it’s dead, anyway. THEN, it would be up to Trump’s corrupt AG to “decide” if the second half of the report – the one that, likely, ALSO shows just how guilty Trump is – should be released to the public.

I suspect the toady AG will NOT serve the public and instead, serve ‘the boss.’ (No, not Musk, Trump.) The Dem position is/was, drop the case that isn’t going to happen, anyway, and release the report so that at the very least, the country – and the world – can see exactly what they’re dealing with.

I’ll tell you this: Garland hasn’t been a very good AG. I’m guessing by the time he makes a decision, we’ll all be enjoying the summer sun and it will be FAR too late…

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Well, the announcement has been made. The inauguration will take place indoors. It will be too cold to be outdoors. If I had been planning on going, I wouldn’t now. I would only go because I wanted to see the guy, right? If he’s not even going to be there, why go? I’d get a better “seat” watching the thing on television.

The Felon is going from “small crowd” to likely “no crowd.” I presume he’s hoping for a ratings bonanza on television. Me? Oh, I would LOVE to watch, really, but I have… um… I have this, uh, paint! Yeah, that’s it! I’ve got to watch some paint dry so I’m sure I’ll miss it. Oh, bummer…

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Julie Su, Biden’s outgoing acting Labor secretary, is quoted as saying, “You can’t be pro-billionaire and pro-working class.” That is exactly right. Trump is going to have to choose, money or MAGA. He literally can not choose both. (He CAN lie to one and cow-tow to the other, though…)

I think the money is going to get the service and MAGA is going to get excuses…

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According to the ‘Wall Street Journal,’ Trump is planning on launching his assault on the American economy on Tuesday in Chicago. In this case, ‘assault on the American economy’ is defined as sending in the ICE agents. 100 to 200 of them. Hey, as promised, I know. Word is, there’s no special focus on Chicago. That’s just where they’re starting. They’re planning operations all over the place. How diligent. MAGA must be walking around sporting little chubbies… for now.

I know, they’ve been told all of the undocumented people are lawbreakers and bad, bad, bad people. MAGA media put Laken Riley on a loop all day, every day (hyperbole alert) and every MAGA now knows people from south of the border want ONLY to rape and murder them.

The thing is? In the real world, the world undocumented people are about to forced out of? Those people are all out there, working jobs, spending money, and contributing to the economy! These were among the “essential workers” back when Covid-19 made it’s rounds. These are not the pampered and protected CEOs, these are the workers. Not to put too fine of a point on it, but, you know, the people who do the effing work. Yeah, rip ’em out. Move them along. That won’t possibly have any effect on the economy, right?

I’ll tell you this: if you have to consider the cost of anything, because you’re not a billionaire, you had better hold on to your wallet – tightly. The economy is about to crash and the oligarchs are coming for what’s left of your money…