The Cliffs of Insanity
The Cliffs of Insanity
The authoritarian right’s punk moves are coming from a place of weakness
Today, CNN bravely reported on Judge Merchan’s $15 donation to the Biden campaign. 🤪
Meanwhile, in real news, ProPublica reported on the massive ethical breaches of Clarence Thomas, who has a lifetime appointment on the Supreme Court. According to the report, Thomas enjoyed decades of luxury vacations courtesy of a Republican megadonor billionaire Harlan Crow.
As if an Insurrectionist wife is not enough to discredit the already disgraced Judge, retired IRS criminal investigator Martin Shiel says:
Thomas apparently has not reported any of the trips by jet or yacht as required. Unknown is whether Crow took any tax deductions for the expense he incurred covering Thomas and his wife's expense.
Or
If Crow paid Gift Tax on any of the luxury trips he subsidized for the Thomases including one which ProPublica estimated would have cost Clarence $500K out of his pocket should he have attempted to pay for it himself.
I am so shocked by this article my brain feels the effects of anesthesia.
I am in stun mode!
SCOTUS for sale anyone?
Some days the enormity of the deceit and the dark money infection seems overwhelming, but thanks to ProPublica’s tenacity, we may be one step closer to a commission investigating the Supreme Court. Other countries have term limits. We need to think about that. We also need to think about why we aren’t out in the streets demanding Trump appointed SCOTUS members resign.
As I wrote in a Tweet yesterday:
Again, all apologies to pigs.
But why not demand the ability to replace lifetime judges appointed by an illegitimate president* who was a useful idiot for Leonard Leo, who is networked to the authoritarian right-Kremlin cabal?
Recall, McConnell stole a seat from Obama. Why do we place so nice?
Republicans are not playing nice in Tennessee.
They are not playing nice in Kansas.
They certainly are not playing nice in Florida, where the state’s Democratic leaders can now be arrested for protesting peacefully.
These are chaos and destabilization events aimed to knock us off balance. Chaos always precedes fascists seizing power. Unlike Italy in the 1920s, and Germany in the 1930s, and Russia in the 1990s, we can see it coming. That gives us leverage to take action.
The authoritarian right in America does not have the numbers they need to retain future power so they are creating chaos - both real and virtual - deploying digital soldiers to attack anyone influential who is speaking truth to power.
But we must realize that we do have power, and we do have truth. We have the numbers. We saw Wisconsin heroically defeat an authoritarian right candidate this week. We also saw Chicago elect a progressive mayor, a former school teacher and community organizer.
And despite the ongoing attacks to discredit our work, my podcast partners are being retweeted General Michael Hayden - retired US Air Force, former Director of the CIA and NSA - as they expose the fascist network.
No one is more focused on the psychological war and harms Mike Flynn is committing on our citizenry than my podcast partner Jim Stewartson. Hayden retweeting him tells me we got the attention of those in intelligence who understand the escalation of the authoritarian right’s desperation.
He and other powerful figures are calling attention to our work.
If each of us in our unique way continues to do the labor of democracy, we can be the frontline activists who inspire the groundswell to save our imperfect democracy from authoritarian capture in 2024.
I will need you to recognize that we are at war. Every day will bring new pain, but we will also celebrate our victories. This is a long game, and one that may last our lifetime, but we have to stay focused on each battle.
We also have to start playing offense. We will learn much more about that on Sunday with David Pepper. We each have our roles to play.
I am so glad you are here.
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Bette Dangerous is a reader-funded magazine. Thank you to all monthly, annual, and founding members. Thank you as well to all those who support my work with your generous coffee tips and who buy my ebooks. A private link to group activist discounts available upon request.
More info about Bette Dangerous - This magazine is written by Heidi Siegmund Cuda, an Emmy-award winning investigative reporter, author, and veteran music and nightlife columnist. She is the cohost of RADICALIZED Truth Survives, an investigative show about disinformation and is part of the Byline Media team. Thank you for your support of independent investigative journalism.
Save the date! The next Bette Dangerous ‘Speakeasy’ Zoom for paid members is Sunday, April 9, 4 pm PT, featuring ‘Laboratories of Autocracy - A Wake Up Call from Behind the Lines’ author David Pepper.
David Pepper is a lawyer, writer, political activist, former elected official, and adjunct professor, and served as the Chairman of the Ohio Democratic Party between 2015 and 2021.
Pepper is a brilliant democracy coach, and no one will get you more excited about how you can pitch in to save ours. Please consider subscribing to join the community. Looking forward to meeting new members and seeing Bette’s core group. 🤍
