Category: Media

Used Car

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Used Car

Used Car

By John Curran

I needed a car and I needed it bad, and I needed it fast. So I got online ‘n found an outfit called ‘Used Cars From Hell.’ Hmmm…thinks I, what ‘hell’ indeed; I decided I’d check it out. So, I went on down there, it was down in the fiery pit of town, a rough area supposedly known for a lot of radical left activity; whatever that was. No matter, I went in the daytime and it all seemed pretty peaceful to me, the action was down a ways, I could see something going on, another shooting probably but oh well, whatever, none of my affair, more a them outside agitators, communist infiltrators, who knows, life goes on.

I was no sooner off the bus, not even feet on the ground, when this guy comes running up to me and says, “I know what you’re looking for, and I got it right here, a hot one, just got it in yesterday. It’s another sad story but the deal I got for you will fire ya up sure, so much good coming from so much bad would you not agree?” Well, I didn’t know what he was talking about but as we walked on to the lot he pointed out what he was so excited about.

“Yeah,” he says, “we got some doozies here alright, confiscated cars from murderers, thieves, bootleggers…every kind of mayhem you could imagine. If there was a car involved ‘n it got confiscated I get a shot at it after the initial investigation is done. A little deal I have with Big D.” He looks me in the eyes then real significantly like, kinda wink wink, adds, “You do know of Mr. D.,  don’t ‘cha?”

I just kinda’ nodded, and asked, “watcha got?”

“Well then,” he says, “got a beauty. Like new.” And pointing at a maroon SUV, “barely used. She didn’t get far you might say,” kinda chuckling, “Let’s have a look.”

So we walk up to the rig an the first thing I noticed, besides it being a really pretty nice, newish SUV was a rather large caliber well defined bullet hole in the front windshield. The airbag had been engaged and looking inside the rig I could see there was blood all over it ‘n other areas as well; there was even blood covering a child’s toy tiger laying on the front passenger seat.

“I call it the DT SPECIAL. A real conversation piece, this one.”

“DT SPECIAL?” I mumble.

“Domestic Terrorism SPECIAL.”

“Oh, yeah,” I say, a little weirded out actually, “so what’s the story?” Too weird actually I’m thinking.

“Well, so you want the story then?” and he’s kinda rubbing his hands together like, yeah, sure, I’ll give you a story, but before he can go on there’s a commotion outside the gates, people running, shots being fired.

“Damn,” he says, “I really wish they’d taken it somewhere else,” and then turning back to me says, “we can replace the airbag if ya like. But, my boss, Big D says we gotta leave the windshield as is, just so they’ll know we mean business.”

Was he joking? “Who is your boss then sir, the damn devil?”

But he would not answer me, not that I was serious, just looking for a car, fast and cheap. I’ll spare you the gory details but I gotta get the hell out this town, now. Speaking of hell.

 

What Next For Sesame Street?

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What Next For Sesame Street?

What Next For Sesame Street?

 

By D.S. Mitchell

 

Schnapps and Coffee

Well, right now I am adding a touch of Schnapps to my coffee. It’s still early, I might switch to straight Tequila by noon. Why? The leaders of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), after nearly 60 years of steering federal funding to PBS, NPR and hundreds of radio and TV stations nationwide voted Monday to dissolve the federally created organization. Ouch. The Republicans for years have complained loudly that public broadcasting is anti-conservatism, especially news programming. With Trump’s second administration-the GOP had full control of the government and those decades old complaints were acted on with the ‘Big Beautiful Bill’. Following Congress’s elimination of federal funding the CPB voted to close the organization to prevent what they described as, “political misuse of the organization.”

Uncertainty Over Future Funding

This congressional decision creates nationwide uncertainty for local media and independent journalism. Community fund raising has significantly increased but to be clear, there is in no way private donations will ever be able to match the lost 1.1 billion dollars in federal funds. In addition to emergency alerts public broadcasting has consistently provided educational, civic, and cultural programming.

Goodbye CPB
In essence, the closure of CPB marks the end of a major federal lifeline for public broadcasting in the U.S., shifting the burden of support onto local communities and private donors. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB), the private nonprofit created by Congress in 1967 to fund public media, officially voted to cease operations and dissolve on 1/5/2026. This decision followed the rescinding of over a billion dollars in federal funding by Congress in July 2025. While the CPB is closing, PBS and NPR are not shutting down as a whole, but going forward they face significant operational challenges: 

Rural and Local Stations: CPB funneled over 70% of its budget directly to more than 1,500 local stations. Rural and low-income areas are the most vulnerable; NJ PBS announced facing the loss of funding they are likely to close by July 2026.

Funding Shifts: National organizations like NPR and PBS have indicated they will rely on donations and emergency grants from major foundations to fill multi-million dollar gaps.  The sustainability of this plan is suspect at best.    

High Profile Programming: High-profile programs have sought external partners; for example, Sesame Street recently secured a deal with Netflix. 

Breaking News Out of Minneapolis

Time to bring out the Tequila, the breaking news out of Minneapolis, MN is a white woman, 37 years old, a citizen of this country was just murdered there by ICE agents. The gaslighting has already begun by Kristi Noem and the administration. I’ll be back tomorrow with this heartbreaking story.

12 Days of Christmas Gone Rogue

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12 Days of Christmas-Gone Rogue

 

12 Days of Christmas-Gone Rogue

 

By Cate Rees-Hessel

1. On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me, a partridge in a pear tree…

What a cute little birdie and I do love fruit… Apparently, my dear true love forgot I have a cat. That little bird sure can fly fast when being chased by a feline. I had a devil of a time getting him down from where he landed on the chandelier. Then the little dickens ate the biggest pear off the tree, the one I was saving to make a tart. I put the tree and its occupant on my patio. Perhaps a basket of fruit from Harry and David with a partridge figurine from Wayfair would have been a more appropriate present…

  1. On the second day of Christmas my love gave to me, two turtle doves…

It appears my love is quite the birds enthusiast, but these “peaceful” little creatures have a mean streak. They attacked the poor partridge when I placed them on the patio. The feathers are flying here today.  The veterinary bill is being sent to my darling gift giver. How can one re-gift feathered creatures?

  1. More foul – hens! Three of them, and not for Christmas dinner, either. Three French Hens, complete with a tariff bill I had to pay before they were shipped, arrived today. I don’t have a hen house, and my patio is getting crowded…
  2. The man with whom I share some affection sure is a bird lover. Today I received four squawking, er, I mean calling birds. These birds certainly need their own cell phones. My patio is beginning to look a lot like an aviary. Has this man not heard of Zales? My dear seems to forget I work from home…
  3. Finally, my true love sent jewelry – five lovely stackable gold rings. Maybe a diamond bracelet or earrings is in my future, in place of our winged friends…
  4. More feathered friends. Six geese-a-laying eggs all over my carpet. Perhaps my love is hinting he would like to come over for an omelet. I know eggs prices have soared, but this is a bit overkill…
  5. Enough with the birds already – my boyfriend sent seven more avians. Apparently my condo association has a rule about seven swans-a-swimming in the community jacuzzi. Who knew such a codicil existed? Perhaps my next gift will be a consultation with an attorney, and I will be seeking the services of a realtor in the new year. This has been a challenging week, thanks to my guy. I sincerely hope he doesn’t acquire a fondness for rodents…
  6. Well, at least no more birds. The gentlemen with whom a bit of affection is shared sent me eight maids carrying empty milk jugs, since I don’t have a cow. Perhaps tomorrow’s gift will involve bovine. I do love me some fat free milk but really, a grocery gift card would be much more appropriate here. These alleged maids did a terrible job with the kitchen and bathroom; they did nothing for my egg stained rug, either…
  7. Now there is a ballet going on in my living room. Nine ladies are dancing their hearts out here – I had to move the furniture out of the way. I am sending them and the maids to a motel for the night. My friend with benefits is getting an invoice for the Uber and accompanying accommodations…
  8. My friend without benefits has now sent ten lords-a-leaping. These men in tights already knocked over a table, broke a floor lamp, and scared my dog, who was already quite traumatized from all the birds and women that keep arriving. Another trip to the veterinary clinic…
  9. More noise in the form of eleven pipers piping in my dining room; my acquaintance really needs to choose gifts more wisely. Has this dude never heard of Sephora or Macy’s? I am amazed at what one can purchase on eBay or Amazon…
  10. Even more noise for my frenzy – a dozen drummers to give me a raging migraine. I flew the coup and filed a restraining order against lunatic “true love”.

 

Merry Christmas and happy holidays, everyone – hope my gift of laughter made you smile this holiday season…

 

Every Morning

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Every Morning

Every Morning

 

By D.S. Mitchell

 

With Morning

Every morning I wake up, praying it’s not true….but, it is; Donald Trump is president, and the nightmare continues. Day after day, Trump continues his consolidation of power. Any restrictions that limited his accumulation of power during his first term have been removed. He has surrounded himself with yes people; and as such, Trump has, since the 2024 election, been on a single minded pursuit of supreme authority.

No Limits

Donald Trump has for years made no secret of his total disregard for limits on his power and during his 2024 campaign said more than once that he was going “to be a dictator on day one,” following up with, “a lot of Americans want a dictator.” No one seemed to be listening, pretending Trump was “joking” around. From what I’ve seen this last nearly 10 months, supports the idea that he was as serious as a nuclear meltdown.

It Was Predicted

During Trump term 1, officials surrounding him suggested, not so quietly, that he wanted to politicize the military, using it to target Americans, and potentially using those troops to hold onto office. Currently, Trump is going well beyond what looks like any legal authority to militarize the streets of America by declaring imagined emergencies.

For Example

In recent days alone, Trump has taken major steps on this front. He federalized the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and has deployed the National Guard to the nation’s capitol to deal with his fabricated, “out of control crime.” The federalization of the D.C. police department has been called “unprecedented” and the deployment of the National Guard is “extraordinary,” because the NG is usually called up for widespread, violent rioting, not some agitated president trying to distract from a building sex scandal. After sending the Guard into Chicago, Los Angeles, D.C. and Memphis, now has set his sites on the “Little Beirut” of the Pacific Northwest, my beautiful, beloved hometown, Portland, Oregon.

I Better Like What You Say

Whether you’re Jimmy Kimmel or the Commissioner of Bureau of Labor Statistics, if Donnie Dumb-Ass doesn’t like what you are saying, expect to get fired. As a further politicization of federal information and data he fired BLS Commissioner, Erika McEntarfer, calling her reported July jobs report, politically “rigged.” Rather than reassure financial markets that they would be able to trust data he replaced McEntarfer with a presumed MAGA loyalist, William Wiatrowski.

Demanding Investigations 

It’s been a long summer of Trump demanding one investigation after another of all his political opponents-and his demands keep growing louder screaming that everyone from Hillary Clinton to John Bolton will be investigated and jailed. First of the big opponents to be dragged into court is, holy crap, James Comey, former FBI Director. Mr. Comey has been indicted and charged with making false statements and obstruction of justice. I personally believe it’s more about Comey posting on his Instagram account the now infamous image of “8647” made of sea shells on a beach somewhere.

An Authoritarian Turn 

With all this going on, it’s as good a time as any, to explore the most recent significant and consequential power grabs by Trump and his inner circle. With the help of dozens of media outlets I’ve put together a list of 7 actions that Trump is using to expand his authoritarian control of our government. Is this how we, after nearly 250 years of sovereignty, lose our democracy; to a fat, demented psycho, signing illegal executive orders? Is this our crossing of the Rubicon, that moment that can’t be reversed? I guess only time will tell. But the kamikaze attack Trump is carrying out against our institutions is alarming. This is looking, scary, folks. So, here is my 7 point list:

1. US Military On US Streets

I guess in Trump’s shriveled mind, all you need to do is declare an emergency and then call in the military. Wahoo! Not so fast, it looks like he wants to militarize the county, at least all those cities and states with duly elected Democratic officials. J.B. Pritzger, (D) Governor of Illinois said he thinks Trump wants to make it common place seeing soldiers on the streets of our great cities, so when elections begin in 2026 Trump’s storm troopers will be available to  intimidate, harass, and even arrest citizens  as they attempt to vote.

The primary legal reason that the U.S. military generally is not allowed to occupy American cities is the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878. This federal law prohibits the use of armed military forces for domestic law enforcement purposes, based on a long standing belief that military interference in civilian affairs is a threat to democracy. Furthermore, the 10th Amendment to the Constitution is the pillar to state independence and the foundation for state sovereign immunity, which declares that powers not delegated to the United States are reserved to the states or the people. Reinforcing the federalist principle, ensuring the federal government’s powers are limited; and that states retain significant autonomy over their own affairs.

2. Tariffs

Now this whole ‘effin tariff game is just another Trump power play. He is, of course, far exceeding any presidential authority. The U.S. Court of International Trade has said so, but we haven’t gotten to the Supreme Court and he seems to have neutered them, right along with the Congress, and is currently running around like a dictator, changing the terms and tariff amounts willy-nilly in some schizophrenia bargaining strategy. The end result, is an ever shifting and changing level of taxation on American citizens and businesses.

It may not seem like it now, but the Congress does have the power to slow this wanna be tyrant down, but the GOP controlled Congress has no interest in stopping or even slowing down their party’s standard bearer. What a sad display of weak kneed cowardice for the world to see.

3. The “Enemy Within” Investigations

I’m sure you have heard Trump say, at multiple rallies, “I am your retribution.” Well, he was not talking about “your retribution,” he was talking about going after his own enemies. He’s pushing for investigations against key figures that headed four high profile efforts to scrutinize Trump in his first term; the Russian investigation, his first impeachment, the January 6, 2021 riot investigations, and those leading his personal criminal and civil cases. The retributive nature of using the Justice Department to bring charges against his perceived enemies, is to say the least, a break with historical practice. At the beginning of Trump term 2 he signed an executive order explicitly demanding the investigation of Miles Taylor (a Homeland Security official in Trump 1) and Christopher Krebs (a top cyber security official in Trump 1) both well-known and vocal Trump critics.

Even if the investigations fail to produce indictments, they subject the targets to large legal fees, politically motivated threats against their health and welfare, and public embarrassment; sending a clear message to anyone else who may be thinking of blowing the whistle on Trump’s actions, that they better not. If you question him, he and his political attack dogs will come after you. That’s a powerful recipe for keeping people quiet.

4. Loss Of Independent Functions

Trump’s actions with the Bureau of Labor Statistics could have big time implications. Here again, its all about the message it sends to others who might deliver bad news for Trump. And although his nomination of E.J. Antoni, to replace fired BLS commissioner, Erika McEntarfer,  was withdrawn due to sharp bipartisan criticism, the nomination was an obvious effort to undermine the expectation of independence from such officials.

Trump has a long history of trying to fire nonpartisan government officials and watchdogs. Just look at his continued attacks against Federal Reserve Chairman, Jerome Powell, attempting to force him to lower interest rates, by repeatedly threatening to fire or investigate him. President’s aren’t supposed to do this kind of shit. Well, until Trump that is. Trump’s active and very public, often by tweet, threats against the Chairman should be alarming. Such political pressure in apolitical government functions is reprehensible.

5. The Disregard of Due Process

In order to ramp up those lawless deportations, Trump and his advisor, the ever shrinking, “4’10” Stephen Miller”, have made some serious power grabs. Most notably; by just ignoring the due process clause of the Constitution and the rule of law.  Trump invoked a wartime authority-the Alien Enemies Act-to quickly deport undocumented immigrants, which in itself is quite a stretch of authority.

In the heated rush to deport the undocumented there have been numerous wrongful deportations and attempted deportations. These actions in some cases have been blocked by the lower courts. In one case, in total defiance of court order, the Trump administration ignored the court order to turn around planes carrying migrants headed to prison in El Salvador. It seems the lower courts have stepped up to check Trump, while the Supreme Court continues to bend over backwards to indulge whatever perverted whim strikes our demented leader. The power struggle continues with dire prospects for democracy.

6. Ignoring Congress/Tik Tok

Trump has no intention of heeding the will of the Congress; and his acquiescence to his every demand is growing dangerous and increasingly alarming. A great example is the legislation regarding Tik Tok. The legislative branch passed a bipartisan bill requiring the social media giant to divest from its parent company ByteDance or be banned, with lawmakers citing urgent national security concerns. The bill was later unanimously upheld by the Supreme Court. But Trump, until last week, seemed to be intentionally ignoring the legislation, giving ByteDance (Tik Tok) multiple extensions, despite him having no authority under law to take such action.

On 9/25/2025, Donald Trump, by executive order, of course, approved the deal to sell Tik Tok to American investors, Oracle Chairman, Larry Ellison, Fox Corp Chairman Emeritus, Rupert Murdoch, and Dell Technologies CEO, Michael Dell. With concerns for free speech and privacy in the forefront these names should light a fire under all of us. In case you didn’t notice, these men are all close Trump allies.  Per the agreement, ByteDance will retain 20% ownership. Furthermore, under the agreement, Americans will hold six of the seven seats of the US Tik Tok Board of Directors. The takeover of the U.S. media by a few MAGA individuals leaves me and a whole lot of others deeply worried. There was good reasons that the Founding Fathers protected free speech and a free press in the Constitution as essentials to a free functioning country. Pretty soon these rich guys will own all the media outlets in the country. A real time for thoughts and prayers.

7. Dominate Media, Colleges, and Law Firms

The media, the universities, and many of the most high powered law firms in the country have made unexpected and quite remarkable concessions to Trump’s demands. It seems that many have made the calculation that it is better to stay on the fat guy’s good side, than to resist. New precedents are being set and those precedents could negatively impact other institutions and further embolden Trump and his supporters.

A gleeful Trump during an interview at the White House in March of 2025, said, “You see what we’re doing with the colleges, and they’re all bending (the knee) and saying, ‘Sir, thank you so much. We appreciate it. Nobody can believe it, including law firms that have been so horrible, law firms that, nobody would believe this, just saying, ‘Where do I sign? Where do I sign?'” I don’t believe a word that this delusional guy says, except in this case, I do believe he has humbled the mighty and just as with every other move he has made the intent is to silence those who would oppose him and his authoritarian actions.

 

***Mark  October 18, 2025 on your calendar and commit to join the growing army of anti-Trumpers and hit the streets with sturdy shoes and inspirational signs. The NO Kings event is revving up as we get closer to 10/18/25. Please come out and visibly display your hatred for kings and oligarchs. My sign says: NO CROWNS for CLOWNS with a big crown and below it a clown riding a unicycle. I know you guys are smarter than me and can come up with something better, just do it!

References: Union and Labor Standards, Wages, Incomes, and Wealth, the Perkins Project, the New York Times, Mother Jones, The New Republic.

Goodbye, Jane

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Goodbye, Jane Goodall

Goodbye, Jane Goodall

4/3/1934-10/1/2025

By D.S. Mitchell

The world has lost a guiding light. Dame Valerie Jane Morris Goodall has died at the age of 91. Ms Goodall was still speaking, touring, and offering hope for not only the animals of the world, but humanity when she died of natural causes, October 1st, 2025, while in Los Angeles, CA, on a speaking tour.

Her discoveries while living with the chimpanzees at Gombe Stream National Park in Tanzania transformed how the world perceived not only human’s closest living biological relatives, but also the emotional and social complexity of all animals, while propelling Ms. Goodall into the public consciousness.

Goodall was an English primatologist and anthropologist. She was a recognized pioneer in primate research. She was best known for more than six decades of field research on the social and family life of wild chimpanzees in Tanzania. Jane Goodall documented her observations, describing their use of tools and their distinct personalities. Goodall observed and reported them doing activities previously believed to be exclusive to humans.

Goodall was a tireless advocate for the protection and restoration of the natural world. The soft spoken intellectual and conservationist transcended generations  with her appearances beginning in the 1960’s in documentaries, books, magazines, and public appearances before packed auditoriums until the day she died.

***A few books by Jane Goodall available on Amazon:
Through a Window, The Book of Hope, Hope for Animals and Their World, My Life with the Chimpanzees, 50 Years at Gombe

40 Reasons To Smile

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40 Reasons To Smile

40 Reasons To Smile

D. S. Mitchell

Relish Routine

Here at Calamity Politics, a Wednesday is pretty much the same as a Friday, or a Sunday.  I’m not complaining. In fact, I relish it. I am an individual that loves routine. Up at 5:00, in the pool @5:45, walk the dog at 7:30, coffee @8:30. @9:00 I start scanning the internet for breaking news on the Trump fiasco, going on in the White House. I turn on CNN or MSNBC to get their view of the situation. If it’s a big scandal, I’ll turn on FOX to get their spin. I usually leave the TV playing in the background. You get the idea.

Things That Make Me Smile

But, at least once a week, I stop, and consciously think about how blessed I am, and all the things in life that make me happy; those things that never fail to bring a smile to my face.  Here’s 40 Things That Made Me Smile Today:

  1.  Painting old furniture; giving something old a new life
  2.  Danish Brie and California Chardonnay
  3.  New shoes; makes me want to dance
  4.  Nap time
  5.  Visiting the Planetarium
  6.  Palladian style windows, a whisper of elegance
  7.  Flower baskets in bloom
  8.  The Celtic Cross
  9.  My dog, Lily
  10.  Whales and elephants
  11.  A box of old black and white photos, worth more than gold to see my daddy again
  12.  Taking a Community College class and pulling an A
  13.  Towel warmers in the bathroom
  14.   Reading my daily horoscope
  15.   The Bobble-Head toys in the back window of my friend’s car
  16.   The newspaper. A real newspaper, one that I touch, that I unfold, that I read over coffee
  17.   Street musicians
  18.   YSL Black Opium, perfume
  19.   Glass bowl filled with sun bleached shells
  20.   Three-day week-ends
  21.   My new iPhone
  22.   Wall size antique mirrors
  23.   The delicate beauty of Orchids
  24.   Travel magazines
  25.   Roller coasters
  26.   Drawstring sweat pants
  27.   Little boxes of Sunshine raisins
  28.   Hummingbirds feeding in my garden
  29.   Patsy Cline on my play list
  30.   The muted colors of Madras fabric
  31.   Holding a baby in my arms
  32.   Sharing a banana split with a calorie counting friend
  33.   A handmade greeting card
  34.   Author book signings
  35.   Reading scandal magazines at the grocery checkout stand
  36.   Having help with a big job, four hands are always better than two, if you have six, all the better
  37.   My kitchen junk drawer
  38.   Wrist corsage
  39.  Pagodas in the mist
  40.  Fog horns in the night

The  Protests Go On

I’m about to go watch the kids fly their kites. It is just about a perfect day for kite flying; clear sky, great breeze and a strangely lonely beach for this time of year.   Have a great week, and remember we always have time, to smile. I’m hoping that while you are grinning ear-to-ear you are busy planning for the July 17, 2025, “Good Trouble Lives On” protest. Make a new sign, The protest will be the fifth national day of protest against the Trump administration. The protest will also honor Civil Rights activist icon, congressman, John Lewis. Turn out; make your voices heard. No cuts to Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, VA benefits, SNAP or Child Tax Credits. Call your congressman/woman tell them to stop the Big Ugly Bill.

Join the New Resistance

NO KINGS HERE PROTEST

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NO Kings Here Protest

NO Kings Here Protest

By D.S. Mitchell

I decided not to make a new sign, I figured my ‘Resist MAGA’ sign would still work. It was Easter weekend after all and I had guests coming. Not that I’m pulling my hair out or any such thing. GRR. Fuck. I just want to take my life back. The idea that one orange melon head can disrupt, traumatize and injure so many people with the scribble of his sharpie is inconceivable; but here we are in Psych Crisis Unit 2025 with Donald Trump Director of Chaos, Delusion, and Hate. Until one of us, Trump or me, dies I am committed to resist Donald Trump and his oligarchs and his fascist message.

I was sitting on the stone wall in front of the County Court House holding my sign and hooping and hollering at passing motorists when a grey shadow blocked my view of the street; causing me to look up. He was tall and slender with close cropped salt and pepper hair; rather good-looking in a clean-cut way. Not only was he staring down at me he was pointing at me and asking me what my problem with MAGA. was. Startled I sucked in a breath and let loose. It was then I realized he was pointing a microphone at me. Shit. What the hell had I just said. I suddenly worried.

“And what else?” he challenged me.

“Quite honestly, my outrage is limitless. How about; tariffs, the crashing stock market, Social Security cuts, the defunding of Medicare and  Medicaid, destroying the Department of Education, closing USAID, the VA cuts, the attacks against science and research, the distain for knowledge. What we have left is stupidity, chaos and corruption…like I said, my outrage is too big for one sign.”

His questions continued and I blabbered on about the loss of our core vales, the growing police state that comes with the loss of due process and wanna-be-dictator Trump’s cabinet of oligarchs. After a few more questions he thanked me and moved on down the street without talking to anyone else. He didn’t leave a card, nor did he identify himself as working for any media company. I assume he was just a Trump backer sent behind the enemy lines to agitate the  demonstrators. The whole episode was a bit strange and if his intent was to agitate me he certainly succeeded on that score.

Once my interrogator had moved on the group around me burst in to pats on the back and shouts of praise for my spontaneous performance. I appreciated the praise, it was very kind. I however, could barely remember a word I had said.

RESIST MAGA

This is Not Normal

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This is Not Normal

I raised my sign and held it right above his head

This is Not Normal

By John Curran

So, my girlfriends down at the Pole Dance Club bet me that I’d never do it. Well, that’s all it took. They should know me better than that. They sure never thought I’d get elected to Congress either, but here I am tonight to take on the fight, as best a little ‘ol ex-stripper can do. And, yeah, I was even warned about what they might do, if I actually carried out my plan. But c’mon,  they don’t really torture do they. No, fear will not be an issue and the opportunity is just too perfect to let it slip away. See, I’m new to this place and they don’t know me yet.  They just figure I’m gonna just do my small part as a so called “placeholder.” I’m s’posed to just stand here and act as a balance to the makeup of the receiving line for ‘Big D’, meaning, I’m young, female, white, of course, and over there, on their side, is old, male, white-as-white-is an we like balance it.  That’s the idea, anyway. D won’t be shaking my hand, actually, I wouldn’t let him, but he’ll  be busy with everybody else’s so…the timing is perfect.

The sign is small and innocuous, but the printing is large enough and quite clear.

And….the door is opening and here they come. If you’ve ever done the running of the bulls in Pamplona, well this is like that a bit; only it’s a lot slower and there’s only one bull and he doesn’t have horns, but somehow the smell of it is the same. A smell of excitement mixed with a tension like something could surely happen at any moment, and must not. A heavy sort of testosterone-like overlay as if the damn guns could be drawn any second.  A heavy vibe. Meanwhile, Big D’s coming down the aisle all shit-faced ‘n grinning, shaking them hands like crazy; and let me tell you this next little step was the easiest stunt that I have ever pulled, certainly of this damn magnitude.

The cameras followed Donald and me. No one got it, for the longest time. I just followed along behind him like I was s’posed to be there. I am so close I coulda’ touched him ‘n he’s not seeing me at all. Finally, this little old bald-headed white guy catches on and yanks my sign and it goes up in the air in pieces. And later it was obvious all the media was trying to ignore it, like it never happened, but it did. All my girl friends down at the Pole Dance Club  assured me, “You killed it, girl. It was the funniest thing ever, and you can have your old job back here too, anytime, ’cause we’s just so proud of you, Tiger.”

Editor: This is a fantasy based on some facts.

OPINION: “All Evil is Done in the Name of Good”

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OPINION: 

“All Evil is Done in the Name of Good”

It's good to have a lawless president

Editor: First, I’d like to welcome a new writer to the Calamity fold. Welcome, Vajra Ma. I thought this might be a good time to remind readers if you have something to say about life, politics, healthcare, UFO’s, conspiracy theories, or anything else for that matter, just send it to my direct email: ditchawk@aol.com and I swear I will at least read it.  Please print SUBMISSION in capital letters on the reference line. If you want to get paid the standard $20, you must have a PayPal account for Calamity to pay you.  Additionally, I am the editor. I edit and reserve that right with all submissions Once a submission reaches my in box I decide on changes when and where I think they ARE needed. Thanks, happy submitting.

OPINION: 

“All Evil is Done in the Name of Good”

By Vajra Ma

The question: – What is your reaction to writer, teacher, New Thought pioneer, Emma Curtis Hopkins’ statement that “all evil is done in the name of good,” and compare this to Ernest Holmes’ observation that, “We shall have to learn that evil is neither person, place, or thing of itself, but is an experience which we are allowed to have – because of our divine individuality.”

It’s Good

It is good that the United States has a president who will make America great again.

It is good that the current US president has revived the slogan “America First” otherwise this inspiring slogan of the 1940s movement, headed by Minnesota Senator Ernest Lundeen, to support Hitler in WWII might have fallen into the depths of obscurity.

It is good that the U.S. has a president who repeatedly tells us he will make America great again, and by the way, don’t ever forget, “he is the only one who can fix it.”

The Hand of God?

It is good to have a man of great leadership and character in the White House. MAGA followers believe God chose him, a man:
Who has been convicted of rape.
Who has been accused of sexual assault by two dozen women.
Who brags about grabbing women by the pussy.
Who had sex with a porn star while his wife was home with their new baby.

Surely, it will be such a man that can make America great again.

Big Lie Histrionics

It is good this man declares the 2020 election was stolen, even though:

…he lost 60 court cases trying to prove it.

…he was convicted of 34 felony counts of his election fraud (euphemistically called the ‘hush money’ case).

…Fox News paid the slandered Dominion Voting Machines $787.5 million in settlement for defamation AND  acknowledgement that FOX had knowingly broadcast false statements about Dominion. (In other words Fox News lied and the election was not stolen.)

…in the Jan 6 Congressional Hearings our strong man’s campaign manager and White House lawyer (and several other Republican supporters) testified that the election was not rigged and that they told Trump so and he was even caught on tape admitting he knew he had lost; but it is good that the Big Lie continues.

Stolen Elections

It is good to say the election was stolen because he is making America great again.

“…in the Big Lie there is always a certain force of credibility; because the broad masses of a nation are always more easily corrupted in the deeper strata of their emotional nature than consciously or voluntarily; and thus in the primitive simplicity of their minds they more readily fall victims to the big lie than the small lie, since they themselves often tell small lies in little matters but would be ashamed to resort to large-scale falsehoods.

“It would never come into their heads to fabricate colossal untruths, and they would not believe others could have the impudence to distort the truth so infamously. Even though the facts which prove this to be so may be brought clearly to their minds, they will still doubt and waver and will continue to think there may be some other explanation. For the grossly impudent lie always leaves traces behind it, even after it has been nailed down, a fact which is known to all expert liars in this world and to all who conspire together in the art of lying.”
— Adolf Hitler, Mein Kampf, vol. I, ch. X.

Noble Tweets

“He who saves his country violates no law.” This is another noble truth and it is good the U.S. president recently tweeted it. Otherwise this guiding principle might have disappeared into obscurity after self-proclaimed neo-Nazi Anders Breivik used it to justify his 2011 slaughter of 69 youth in Norway and injury of 41 more. Breivik himself revived this truth from obscurity after studying Hitler and Napoleon.

It is good to pardon those who responded to the 2020 stolen election by storming the Capitol on Jan 6th

-wherein 174 Capitol police officers were injured wherein four officers who responded to the attack died by suicide within seven months.
-wherein damage caused by attackers exceeded $2.7 million.
-wherein the mob built a gallows and chanted “Hang Mike Pence.”
-wherein they shat on the carpets and smeared in on the walls.
-wherein the “MAGA shaman” wearing red, white and blue face paint and animal horns prayed to God and Jesus in the Congressional chamber after the members of Congress fled for safety.

Strong Man Heroes

It is good the strong man tweeted that day:
“These are the things and events that happen when a sacred landslide election victory is so unceremoniously & viciously stripped away from great patriots who have been badly & unfairly treated for so long”. Then, “Go home with love & in peace. Remember this day forever!” [emphasis added]

Pardoning all those who were tried, convicted and imprisoned for these crimes is good because it makes America great again.

It is good to have a president who admires and openly praises dictators: Orban, Putin, and Duterte. And exchanges “love letters” with brutal North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un; but its all good.

Tracking Lies and Falsehoods

It is good that during his first term the strong man spoke 30,000 lies or misleading statements (fact-checked and published by the Washington Post) because he is making America great again.

It is good Trump recently kicked the Associated Press out of the WH pressroom because they refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. This removal of AP puts America First and helps make America great again.

It is good the president of the U.S. votes at the U.N. in alignment with Russia, China, and Iran and against Europe and Ukraine. It makes America great again.

It is good to say Ukraine started the war. It makes America great again.

It is good to make Canada into the Fifty-first State of the United States.  It makes America great again.

It is good that Greenland should belong to the United States, “We strongly support your right to determine your own future. And if you choose, we welcome you into the United States of America. We need Greenland for national security and even international security…And I think we’re gonna get it—one way or the other, we’re gonna get it.  [emphases added]  Congressional Address March 4, 2025

It’s Good to Have Trump as President

It is good that anyone reading this consider it fake news because even though these items are a matter of record, it is good to have this president.

Why?

Because it’s America First!
The election was stolen!
He is making American great again!

Back to Divine Individuality

In alignment with Ernest Holmes, American citizens are free to elect such an experience because of our “divine individuality.” Free will, as he says, is either our bondage or our freedom, depending upon what we choose to believe. Holmes also said, “Humanity has suffered enough.” Have we?

The time is coming when we (humanity) will collectively realize we have suffered enough and evil will disappear into the bloated nothingness it is. Meanwhile—as inherent and necessary part of that disappearing process—I call out the lies.

And so it is.

Some are Saying it Was an Inside Job

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OPINION:

Some are Saying it was an Inside Job

Some are saying it was an inside job

OPINION:

Some are Saying it was an Inside Job

 **Editors note. This is an opinion piece and Calamity News and Politics is neutral on this topic.

By Anonymous II

It seems like more and more often I find my writing fueled by outrage. My current outrage centers on the bedwetters in the Democratic Party and the hysterics in the media; instead of focusing on the dangers of a second Trump administration, the Republican 2025 Plan, and now the assassination melodrama.

For the last two weeks the only news filling the airwaves has been dump demented old Joe. This is in spite of old Joe having had the most significant presidency in the last 90 years. No one said the transition would be complete in four years. There is still much to do.

The news of an assassination attempt against Trump has finally changed the focus of the news. Unfortunately, the incident has only amped up Trump’s message of hate and violence instead of tamping it down. As a conspiracy theorist friend of mine said, ‘it’s a plot by Trump to solidify his position as targeted and persecuted.’ You know kinda like Jesus Christ.

As my friend noted, Trump doesn’t care that people were killed. He hadn’t given a fuck on January 6th when people were getting wounded and killed; so why would he give a fuck now? My friend’s thought was that Trump would have a small device tucked behind his ear and when Trump’s paid shooter started firing Trump would detonate the device which would ignite behind his ear making it appear he was shot.

My friend is convinced it was an inside job.