Attribution: Kelly and Hegseth by Pat Bagley, PoliticalCartoons.com
64 thoughts on “One for the Yipper”
Senator Mark Kelly talks about Donald Trump attacking him and suggesting he be executed for a video telling soldiers they did not have to obey illegal orders, the issue of political violence in our country, Pete Hegseth opening an investigation into him, Trump’s playbook being the way that democracies die, and support from his Republican colleagues.
The Uniform Code of Military Justice is pretty clear on the point of disobeying illegal orders. The US military has known for many years that a fighting force of unthinking automatons is less effective than one comprised of citizens capable of making their own decisions. Do they always get it right? Of course not. In fact history shows they’re pretty bad at it, right up to the current day where someone somewhere in the Caribbean is pushing the button to obliterate innocent people in small boats.
Still, it’s good that some Democratic lawmakers got together to remind US servicemembers that they swore an oath and have, not just the option, but the duty to disobey illegal orders. Of course that would make Trump mad.
Notice how angry the right gets whenever anyone tells people their rights and responsibilities. Remember how upset they all got about Chicago’s Know Your Rights initiative?
[….] Curiously, it all means “we’re in charge, take your medicine.”
last night by ABC
“Explainer: Can military members refuse orders?
They can refuse orders but could face consequences if the order is lawful.” https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/
same subject also addressed at
Beyond Borders Channel
Can U.S. service members really refuse an order from the president or a commander?
In this explainer, we break down when military members MUST disobey, when they must obey, and why the law presumes orders are lawful under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
You’ll learn:
What makes an order “lawful” vs. “unlawful” under U.S. military law
Why troops are expected to presume orders are legal if they come from proper authority and relate to military duty
The narrow category of “patently unlawful” orders tied to war crimes and the Nuremberg principle
Why following clearly illegal orders can itself lead to prosecution
The personal risk service members take if they refuse an order that is later found lawful
How JAG (military lawyers) and the chain of command review many controversial orders before they reach the troops
Why experts say “disobedience isn’t the first step” and advise seeking clarification and legal counsel
How recent debates in Washington over a video by veteran lawmakers reignited this issue
This video is for educational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Always consult a qualified military lawyer or JAG officer about specific situations.
Keywords: unlawful orders, illegal orders, UCMJ, military law, Nuremberg principle, JAG, Uniform Code of Military Justice, chain of command, obeying orders, refusing orders, war crimes, U.S. military oath, legal vs illegal orders, military justice, service member rights.
good time to replay SNL’s cold open last Oct for juxtaposition
Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost) gives an address to a room full of military officials before getting interrupted by President Trump (James Austin Johnson).
FBI Pressure & Court-Martial Threats: Democracy’s Red Alert
The top-trending story in the country this morning is a masterpiece of American absurdity: the FBI is leaning on Democrats who told U.S. troops not to follow illegal orders. That’s supposed to be the whole point of a professional military. Instead, we’re treating constitutional basics like contraband.
And layered on top of it? Trump’s fresh threat to court-martial Sen. Mark Kelly — a Navy combat pilot and astronaut — for “disloyalty,” which in this case means reminding troops that unlawful orders are, in fact, unlawful. When a former president starts talking about prosecuting senators for fidelity to the Constitution, we’ve officially crossed into “Democracy emergency broadcast” territory.
We pulled this whole mess apart in our latest Trail Mix Brief: who decides what’s lawful, how command responsibility actually works, and why these investigations reveal far more about our political climate than the lawmakers they’re targeting.
Read the full brief here: http://trailmix.cc/orders
For the quick hit, our short lays it out in under a minute:
Some federal workers still fearful for their jobs look beyond the executive order creating the National Design Studio as a new entity and see it as little more than a corporate-style rebrand of the tarnished DOGE — much as Blackwater became Xe and Philip Morris became Altria.
Now that project is in the hands of Vought, who was plotting how to reduce the federal workforce back when Musk still described himself as “involved in politics as little as possible.”
While DOGE was drawing ire for its haphazard, wanton cuts with volatile personalities, Vought was stocking the Office of Management and Budget with dozens of policy experts, largely old Washington hands…
Vought’s staff put together the president’s proposal for the federal budget, used executive authority to control agency spending, and sent so-called “pocket recissions” — a legally questionable maneuver to cancel appropriated funds near the fiscal year’s end, without sufficient time for Congress to reject it — to Capitol Hill.
Vought’s methodical and relatively low-key approach — despite provoking legal challenges — has yet to inspire the type of media attention, or sustained public outrage, that DOGE did.
*This is really good, long article about the history of DOGE (rip?) The vampire hasn’t seen sunlight yet.
‘Suddenly exposed’ DOGE employees fear prosecution after Musk abandoned them: report
Noting that the DOGE staffers have “lived with the ever-present threat of backlash — public scrutiny, upset Cabinet officials, even the prospect that someone might assert criminal charges against them,” the report notes there is a growing sense of dread that Musk will no longer champion them if they are subject to investigations.
*MuskRat only cares for himself. He wore his kid on his shoulders to prevent anyone from trying to take a head shot, FFS!
Before concluding things are going so well for Mr. Chaos let’s focus on the fresh numbers that say otherwise
you and those polls
Every election is 51-49 these days, the electorate has a very short memory. They won’t remember any of this shit in a year.
your conclusion that Trump “lost the shut down” because his poll numbers are down since is flawed, correlation does not equal causation
Despite everything I say, I agree that Trump is politically weak right now, and this is where I hope people smarter than me take advantage of it
wait, smarter people than me, but that hold a similar sociopolitical philosophy- I don’t want the smarter people than me that have a diametrically-opposed sociopolitical philosophy to take advantage of it
Which is probably what will end up happening
and honestly, a little perspective here: you’re celebrating bad poll numbers for him. They’ve achieved every goal they had- safety nets shredded, department of education dismantled, department of defense captured, media stifled, kidnapping in broad daylight with impunity, wildly successful financial scams, almost done shivving Ukraine for his Master, the billionaire class serving their agenda gladly…
And you’re talking about a poll on cable news
I haven’t even bothered to articulate the generational consequences
The Hidden AI Bailout Plan and the Next Big Wealth Transfer
…a new crisis is building in private credit and AI infrastructure. He explains that this could lead to a massive, planned wealth transfer from unprepared households to prepared investors.
Private credit is money lent by non‑bank lenders, such as private funds, instead of traditional banks. These lenders are sometimes called “shadow banks” because they are outside normal banking rules.
This market has exploded from about \375billiontoaround 2 trillion in a short time…
Many loans are also illiquid, meaning they are hard to sell in a crisis.
Felix Prehn notes that this looks disturbingly similar to the 2008 crisis…
At the same time, there is a huge funding gap in AI infrastructure. Large AI firms and data center builders need vast amounts of capital for chips, servers, and power. Estimates suggest they may need trillions of dollars just to break even on infrastructure by the end of this decade.
*Remember the video I posted of the guy with all of the water glasses of investment and the tiny cup of actual AI product produced?
The “Controlled Wealth Transfer” Strategy
According to this view, the likely path is controlled wealth transfer.
This means:
Strategic inflation: keep inflation high enough, for long enough, to shrink the real value of government debt.
Strategic bailouts: support key companies and sectors, especially AI infrastructure and private credit, using cheap money, guarantees, and targeted tax breaks.
This plan is politically easier because most people do not fully understand inflation. Their paychecks may go up slowly, but prices for assets and living costs rise faster. The result is that people who hold cash and fixed income lose purchasing power, while people who own strong assets get wealthier in nominal terms.
In this system, the government does not need to send a visible check to every AI firm or private credit fund.
Instead, it can:
Keep interest rates lower than true inflation over time.
Provide loan guarantees or backstops to large AI and infrastructure projects.
Use tax credits and special programs that quietly direct money to “strategic” companies.
The cost is paid by savers whose money buys less every year.
Adolf could fix some of it by extending ACA subsidies, and by stopping the thuggish and illegal behavior of ICE. (Since they don’t have signed warrants from judges, they are actually just kidnapping folks. Why are they following illegal orders? They do not have immunity.)
Even a visit from the Grim Reaper won’t get him out of double digits.
Did you see the video of him walking to Marine One, doing a post-stroke scissor walk, and being held up by Melania or someone?
Why are they following illegal orders? They do not have immunity.)
nobody even knows who they are
They could be private contractors working for some shielded LLC who knows
Not you or me because they’re wearing masks and coded ID patches, if they are wearing legitimate identification at all
roving bands of anonymous thugs terrorizing communities with impunity but hooray a bad poll
ICE functioning like Biblical locusts
There must be an argument that since the so-called President is a convict, all of his orders are illegal. He shouldn’t be allowed to vote, let alone hold elected office at the highest level.
The constitution makes no such provisions and he wasn’t convicted of anything
from what I heard the criminal case in Georgia is still active so here’s hoping
If they are actual ICE bounty hunters, masks won’t hide them forever. They get a paycheck to do what they shouldn’t, so they can be traced. We have a WHO.
If they are with ICE, there are duty rosters placing them at certain places in certain dates. We have a WHERE.
Folks are uploading and sharing videos of the atrocities. We have a WHAT they did.
They are smashing windows and taking personal belongings of their kidnap victims, so civil suits should pile up nicely.
Ooops, there goes that bonus money they were promised. Are they getting paid in crypto or real dollars?
If they are not with ICE, which seems to be happening more frequently because I’ve seen more news of men being caught, that’s another fine kettle of fish Stephen Mitler has gotten us into, isn’t it.
“Fortunately, early on in my life I realised that personal ’stuff’ really didn’t matter. Joan and I lived on a houseboat and one day it sank. We realised that we missed nothing except our treasured photo albums. Later our house in London caught fire, destroying everything inside. Last year our home in the British Virgin Islands was completely gutted as a result of a lightning strike. We were so relieved that everyone got out safely that even the loss of photo albums and notebooks were of little consequence. — https://www.givingpledge.org/pledger/richard-and-joan-branson/
‘Stuff’ really is not what brings happiness. Family, friends, good health and the satisfaction that comes from making a positive difference are what really matters.”
*Richard Brandon’s wife of 50 years has died. The full text of their giving pledge is attached. It started in 2010 with Buffet; few have signed on considering the number of ultra-wealthy folks out there.
There are few big-name billionaires on the list because they are hoarders.
They are the boys who read that poster in the 80s: He who dies with the most toys wins. They just read it as a competition, not its meaning. Even if you have the biggest pile of toys when you die, you’re still dead.
HOUSEKEEPING: BiD, me and AI Sam figured out why sometimes there are huge blank sections in comments with raw links. It happens if the link is posted on its own line — our coding thinks it’s an image and tries to build a frame. THE FIX: Put raw links on a line with other text and there’s no issue, like this: https://trailmix.cc/home/one-for-the-yipper/#comment-217873 SHORT ANSWER: Only put raw url for images on a their own line, not article links.
We will work on code to address this but right now I don’t want to tinker and break something else, on our punch list for after Thanksgiving.
sorry if I was cynical before, all the chatter in the streets about Mamdani didn’t help, the alt-right propaganda machine is very effective still
I ain’t never heard so many hillbillies say the word “socialism” in one week before in my life
They were all saying it in unison because someone was feeding it to them
yay fun ✌️✌️
today’s meme…
meme #2…
Poobah, the Trailmix Brief on illegal orders is very good. There is every reason to put clear explanations of Dumbass’ unconstitutional suggestions out there for people to see.
If Dodo is above the law, then we have no law. Just oppression.
It was said on some nature series documentary I saw on PBS some years ago that whenever one species of anything comes to dominate and put things out of balance, forces of nature will converge to bring it down. Dodo and RFKjr’s attack on science and healthcare are now that force.
Thanks, Pog. That’ s the part of this debate i thought wasn’t getting enough air — what kind of orders are we actually talking about?
If you can’t leave town with one suitcase and a smile, the things own you, you don’t own them.
Jeffries says mTg is just the lead horse in the parade of goopers leaving Congress.
Whelp, they could’ve ganged up on Moscow Mike and the tRUMPsky and done their damned jobs.
Craig, I had no idea there was an issue. Everything looks normal on my phone. Sorry for the trouble. Does it do that every time?
Authorities are responding to a confirmed shooting near downtown Washington, D.C., close to the Farragut Metro Station and within walking distance of the White House on Wednesday.
Two sources confirmed to Fox News that two National Guard members were shot about a mile from the White House, but their conditions are not known.
US NAVAL ACADEMY IN ANNAPOLIS ON LOCKDOWN AS ACTIVE THREAT REPORTED
The whereabouts of the alleged shooter are not known.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
A handful of US representatives have reacted furiously to a leaked recording in which the special envoy to Ukraine reportedly coached Moscow on how to handle Donald Trump, but most have so far remained mute on the revelation that American officials were advising a US adversary.
Don Bacon, a Republican representative, called for Steve Witkoff’s immediate dismissal. “For those who oppose the Russian invasion and want to see Ukraine prevail as a sovereign & democratic country, it is clear that Witkoff fully favors the Russians,” the Nebraska lawmaker wrote on X.
“He cannot be trusted to lead these negotiations. Would a Russian paid agent do less than he? He should be fired.”
Brian Fitzpatrick, a Pennsylvania Republican wrote that the leak represented “a major problem” and “one of the many reasons why these ridiculous side shows and secret meetings need to stop”. He urged that the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, be allowed to “do his job in a fair and objective manner”.
Democratic representative Ted Lieu went further, calling Witkoff an “actual traitor,” and adding: “Steve Witkoff is supposed to work for the United States, not Russia.”
[continues]
Two US national guard soldiers were shot on Wednesday near the White House and their conditions aren’t immediately known.
“Please join me in praying for the two National Guardsmen who were just shot moments ago in Washington DC” Kristi Noem, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, posted on X, adding that the agency is working with local law enforcement to gather more information.
The incident happened near the Farragut West metro station and comes amid a controversial deployment of troops to the US capital city ordered by the Trump administration.
Washington’s Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) wrote on X that the scene is secured and one suspect is in custody.
Emergency vehicles were seen responding to the area.
Earlier, the MPD said that a “critical incident” occurred. “MPD is on the scene of a shooting at 17th and I Street, NW. Please avoid the area. Updates to come,” the post said.
The area was shutdown following the incident and the Guardian’s Washington office, located on Farragut Square Park, was under lockdown. The White House was also locked down.
“The White House is aware and actively monitoring this tragic situation,” said Karoline Leavitt, the White House press secretary, in a statement. “The president has been briefed.”
Uber-ing past White House shooting now, heading to airport. Definitely time to get out of town!
Wasiington Monument intact
Both Guardsmen have passed away. Suspect was injured and is in custody.
well, Ivy, forget what i said earlier:
“ The final criminal case against Donald Trump ended on Wednesday with a filing for dismissal by the state prosecutor who took over the case. Pete Skandalakis, the executive director of the prosecuting attorneys’ council of Georgia, wrote in a 22-page memo today that he would not be pursuing charges against Donald Trump, or the Republican electors who were accused of taking part in a conspiracy to illegally overturn Trump’s narrow 2020 loss to Joe Biden in the Peach state. A reminder that Skandalakis appointed himself to replace Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, after she was removed from the case by the Georgia supreme court.”
-the Guardian
17th & 8th in Washington, the site of two West Virginia National Guardsmen being killed in action, but now the reports say it’s confusing: are they dead or alive? It’s 4:17 PM now.
Their mission was trash picking-up.
They were deployed there illegally, according to sources I hear.
Only some of the Guardsmen are armed.
Donald Trump ordered these Guardsmen to patrol in D.C..
It’s another ambush, either by a madman , a terrorist, a hate crime attacker…this will all be sorted out .
We all hate to see this kind of news.
Guns kill people.
Suspect in custody after two NG killed in DC.
1) The NG didn’t need to be on the streets, so tRUMP is an accomplice before the fact.
2) I’m glad they have a suspect, but I am suspicious because tRUMP has been chomping at the bit to declare ML.
2) I’m glad they have a suspect, but I am suspicious because tRUMP has been chomping at the bit to declare ML
BiD… I’m not a conspiracy person… but… isn’t it a coinky dinky that a judge just said the National Guard was in DC illegally….
however… I do pray for those 2 men…
well, Ivy, forget what i said earlier:
anon, there oughta be a law.
Jaime – life in the military. If it does not fit in a duffel bag or your AWOL bag you are not going to be with it.
Current is the two National Guard soldiers and the assailant are in critical condition, the declaration they had died was rescinded.
Later in his prepared remarks, Vance joked about the fact that Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving.
“Turkey, think about turkey,” Vance said. “Who really likes, be honest with yourself, who really likes turkey?”
After a small number of soldiers raised their hands and cheered, Vance told them: “You’re all full of shit. Everybody who raised your hands.”
As the audience laughed, the current frontrunner to be the Republican nominee for president in 2028 added: “Here’s how I know that every single one of you who raised your hand is lying to me: how many times do you roast an 18-pound turkey, just randomly? Just, you know, a nice summer afternoon, we’re going to go get an 18-pound turkey.”
“Nobody does it because turkey doesn’t actually taste that good,” Vance continued. “But on Thanksgiving… the most American holiday, we’re gonna cook a turkey, by God, because that’s what Americans do! We cook this gigantic American bird, and we do all kinds of crazy things to make it taste good.”
JD stole that entire comedic routine from an NBA player, what a douche
also undermining the business of an American agricultural sector
Well, the nightly news said critical condition, not killed as the headline I read.
Adolf sending 500 more troops to DC. This is what he wanted. It was only a matter of time. Kegsbreath and JD are out there thumping their chests.
@JoeBiden
Jill and I are heartbroken that two members of the National Guard were shot outside the White House. Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and we must all stand united against it. We are praying for the service members and their families.
*This is a proper response to calling out violence.
@realDonaldTrump
The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!
*This is how not to do it.
MSN did report “dead” but then that chyron disappeard-ed.
In any event, I grieve for the families, knowing how their pain and uncertainty will be exploited and exacerbated.
he’s happy for put others in harm’s way for no reason
MSN did report “dead” but then that chyron disappeard-ed.
headlines have been amended to “shot in head, critical condition”
which is terrible
especially since they had no good reason to be there
I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!
I I I I
me me me me
and he’s literally not with them he’s in Mar-a-Lago
My maga-guests would think this fuunny, but I would chuckle to see it picked apart.
just saw shooting was 1,000 feet from our dentist office. glad I’ve got permant dentures now — no more fittings every 2 weeks
Yep, 500 more troops that don’t need to be there. It was tRUMPsky/Mitler/Vance that made it possible for them to be shot in the first place. Maybe that was the plan. Do something that would upset enough folks that eventually one would act out, so tRUMPsky could declare ML.
• The FBI believes it has identified the suspect, multiple law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told CNN. The initial ID matches a man from Washington state who appears to have immigrated from Afghanistan in 2021, they said. -Per CNN
National Guard shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the US in 2021, and was vetted and granted LEGAL asylum by the tRUMPsky regime in April, 2025.
Oops. Now what will MAGAts do?
they will triple-down on racism of course
then the libs will overcompensate
and on it goes
Wednesday night, in a video message released on social media, President Donald Trump called for the reinvestigation of all Afghan refugees who entered under the Biden administration.
“If they can’t love our country, we don’t want them,” he said, adding that the shooting was “a crime against our entire nation.”
All of those pics of MBS (not wearing a suit) with tRUMPsky at the WH. Not a Muslim, but an Islamo-fascist.
Ah, but they will push the pics with Mamdani to inflame the Islamophobia. Somehow, they will use this to undermine Mumdani. (Eric Adams is busy leaving stink-bombs for Mumdani.)
The list of fraudsters, grifters, thieves, and violent creeps pardoned by tRUMP is growing.
One of my great-grandmothers (whom I never met) said that you can tell the world is coming to an end when:
1)The seasons change
2)There are lights as far as the eye can see
3)There will be so many bad folks that the good ones will be locked inside
1) Climate change
2) StarLink satellite chains
3) Locking doors/bars on windows; pardoning the bad guys
Senator Mark Kelly talks about Donald Trump attacking him and suggesting he be executed for a video telling soldiers they did not have to obey illegal orders, the issue of political violence in our country, Pete Hegseth opening an investigation into him, Trump’s playbook being the way that democracies die, and support from his Republican colleagues.
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/11/21/2354953/-Cartoon-Uniform-Code-of-Don-t-Read-This
last night by ABC
“Explainer: Can military members refuse orders?
They can refuse orders but could face consequences if the order is lawful.”
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/
same subject also addressed at
Beyond Borders Channel
Can U.S. service members really refuse an order from the president or a commander?
In this explainer, we break down when military members MUST disobey, when they must obey, and why the law presumes orders are lawful under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ).
You’ll learn:
What makes an order “lawful” vs. “unlawful” under U.S. military law
Why troops are expected to presume orders are legal if they come from proper authority and relate to military duty
The narrow category of “patently unlawful” orders tied to war crimes and the Nuremberg principle
Why following clearly illegal orders can itself lead to prosecution
The personal risk service members take if they refuse an order that is later found lawful
How JAG (military lawyers) and the chain of command review many controversial orders before they reach the troops
Why experts say “disobedience isn’t the first step” and advise seeking clarification and legal counsel
How recent debates in Washington over a video by veteran lawmakers reignited this issue
This video is for educational purposes only and does not provide legal advice. Always consult a qualified military lawyer or JAG officer about specific situations.
Keywords: unlawful orders, illegal orders, UCMJ, military law, Nuremberg principle, JAG, Uniform Code of Military Justice, chain of command, obeying orders, refusing orders, war crimes, U.S. military oath, legal vs illegal orders, military justice, service member rights.
good time to replay SNL’s cold open last Oct for juxtaposition
Pete Hegseth (Colin Jost) gives an address to a room full of military officials before getting interrupted by President Trump (James Austin Johnson).
FBI Pressure & Court-Martial Threats: Democracy’s Red Alert
The top-trending story in the country this morning is a masterpiece of American absurdity: the FBI is leaning on Democrats who told U.S. troops not to follow illegal orders. That’s supposed to be the whole point of a professional military. Instead, we’re treating constitutional basics like contraband.
And layered on top of it? Trump’s fresh threat to court-martial Sen. Mark Kelly — a Navy combat pilot and astronaut — for “disloyalty,” which in this case means reminding troops that unlawful orders are, in fact, unlawful. When a former president starts talking about prosecuting senators for fidelity to the Constitution, we’ve officially crossed into “Democracy emergency broadcast” territory.
We pulled this whole mess apart in our latest Trail Mix Brief: who decides what’s lawful, how command responsibility actually works, and why these investigations reveal far more about our political climate than the lawmakers they’re targeting.
Read the full brief here: http://trailmix.cc/orders
For the quick hit, our short lays it out in under a minute:
Canadian Pacific Holiday Train
Here’s a graphic from our video on illegal orders Trump has already hinted about or outright discussed. More at the Trail Mix Brief → Illegal Orders: What Troops Can’t Be Told To Do
could be WH hoping to snare the six if any allow themselves to be interrogated by FBI.
see https://www.justice.gov/archives/jm/criminal-resource-manual-916-false-statements-federal-investigator
trumpco’s chaos strategy still working magnificently for them
all about them clicks
they can say any bullshit and responsible people must consider them legitimate threats whether they are or not
this is why you shouldn’t give the reins of power to chaos agents, trumpers
Will you remember for next time?
Will there be a next time?
The liberal histrionics over absolutely everything only serves to benefit the chaos agents, even if the liberals are right every time
Wise man once didn’t say…
https://www.politico.com/news/magazine/2025/11/21/doge-elon-musk-succession-00641110
Some federal workers still fearful for their jobs look beyond the executive order creating the National Design Studio as a new entity and see it as little more than a corporate-style rebrand of the tarnished DOGE — much as Blackwater became Xe and Philip Morris became Altria.
Now that project is in the hands of Vought, who was plotting how to reduce the federal workforce back when Musk still described himself as “involved in politics as little as possible.”
While DOGE was drawing ire for its haphazard, wanton cuts with volatile personalities, Vought was stocking the Office of Management and Budget with dozens of policy experts, largely old Washington hands…
Vought’s staff put together the president’s proposal for the federal budget, used executive authority to control agency spending, and sent so-called “pocket recissions” — a legally questionable maneuver to cancel appropriated funds near the fiscal year’s end, without sufficient time for Congress to reject it — to Capitol Hill.
Vought’s methodical and relatively low-key approach — despite provoking legal challenges — has yet to inspire the type of media attention, or sustained public outrage, that DOGE did.
*This is really good, long article about the history of DOGE (rip?) The vampire hasn’t seen sunlight yet.
https://www.rawstory.com/doge-employees/
‘Suddenly exposed’ DOGE employees fear prosecution after Musk abandoned them: report
Noting that the DOGE staffers have “lived with the ever-present threat of backlash — public scrutiny, upset Cabinet officials, even the prospect that someone might assert criminal charges against them,” the report notes there is a growing sense of dread that Musk will no longer champion them if they are subject to investigations.
*MuskRat only cares for himself. He wore his kid on his shoulders to prevent anyone from trying to take a head shot, FFS!
Before concluding things are going so well for Mr. Chaos let’s focus on the fresh numbers that say otherwise
you and those polls
Every election is 51-49 these days, the electorate has a very short memory. They won’t remember any of this shit in a year.
your conclusion that Trump “lost the shut down” because his poll numbers are down since is flawed, correlation does not equal causation
Despite everything I say, I agree that Trump is politically weak right now, and this is where I hope people smarter than me take advantage of it
wait, smarter people than me, but that hold a similar sociopolitical philosophy- I don’t want the smarter people than me that have a diametrically-opposed sociopolitical philosophy to take advantage of it
Which is probably what will end up happening
and honestly, a little perspective here: you’re celebrating bad poll numbers for him. They’ve achieved every goal they had- safety nets shredded, department of education dismantled, department of defense captured, media stifled, kidnapping in broad daylight with impunity, wildly successful financial scams, almost done shivving Ukraine for his Master, the billionaire class serving their agenda gladly…
And you’re talking about a poll on cable news
I haven’t even bothered to articulate the generational consequences
https://goatacademy.org/how-felix-prehn-explains-the-coming-500b-ai-bailout-plan/
The Hidden AI Bailout Plan and the Next Big Wealth Transfer
…a new crisis is building in private credit and AI infrastructure. He explains that this could lead to a massive, planned wealth transfer from unprepared households to prepared investors.
Private credit is money lent by non‑bank lenders, such as private funds, instead of traditional banks. These lenders are sometimes called “shadow banks” because they are outside normal banking rules.
This market has exploded from about \375billiontoaround 2 trillion in a short time…
Many loans are also illiquid, meaning they are hard to sell in a crisis.
Felix Prehn notes that this looks disturbingly similar to the 2008 crisis…
At the same time, there is a huge funding gap in AI infrastructure. Large AI firms and data center builders need vast amounts of capital for chips, servers, and power. Estimates suggest they may need trillions of dollars just to break even on infrastructure by the end of this decade.
*Remember the video I posted of the guy with all of the water glasses of investment and the tiny cup of actual AI product produced?
The “Controlled Wealth Transfer” Strategy
According to this view, the likely path is controlled wealth transfer.
This means:
Strategic inflation: keep inflation high enough, for long enough, to shrink the real value of government debt.
Strategic bailouts: support key companies and sectors, especially AI infrastructure and private credit, using cheap money, guarantees, and targeted tax breaks.
This plan is politically easier because most people do not fully understand inflation. Their paychecks may go up slowly, but prices for assets and living costs rise faster. The result is that people who hold cash and fixed income lose purchasing power, while people who own strong assets get wealthier in nominal terms.
In this system, the government does not need to send a visible check to every AI firm or private credit fund.
Instead, it can:
Keep interest rates lower than true inflation over time.
Provide loan guarantees or backstops to large AI and infrastructure projects.
Use tax credits and special programs that quietly direct money to “strategic” companies.
The cost is paid by savers whose money buys less every year.
Adolf could fix some of it by extending ACA subsidies, and by stopping the thuggish and illegal behavior of ICE. (Since they don’t have signed warrants from judges, they are actually just kidnapping folks. Why are they following illegal orders? They do not have immunity.)
Even a visit from the Grim Reaper won’t get him out of double digits.
Did you see the video of him walking to Marine One, doing a post-stroke scissor walk, and being held up by Melania or someone?
nobody even knows who they are
They could be private contractors working for some shielded LLC who knows
Not you or me because they’re wearing masks and coded ID patches, if they are wearing legitimate identification at all
roving bands of anonymous thugs terrorizing communities with impunity but hooray a bad poll
ICE functioning like Biblical locusts
There must be an argument that since the so-called President is a convict, all of his orders are illegal. He shouldn’t be allowed to vote, let alone hold elected office at the highest level.
The constitution makes no such provisions and he wasn’t convicted of anything
from what I heard the criminal case in Georgia is still active so here’s hoping
If they are actual ICE bounty hunters, masks won’t hide them forever. They get a paycheck to do what they shouldn’t, so they can be traced. We have a WHO.
If they are with ICE, there are duty rosters placing them at certain places in certain dates. We have a WHERE.
Folks are uploading and sharing videos of the atrocities. We have a WHAT they did.
They are smashing windows and taking personal belongings of their kidnap victims, so civil suits should pile up nicely.
Ooops, there goes that bonus money they were promised. Are they getting paid in crypto or real dollars?
If they are not with ICE, which seems to be happening more frequently because I’ve seen more news of men being caught, that’s another fine kettle of fish Stephen Mitler has gotten us into, isn’t it.
“Fortunately, early on in my life I realised that personal ’stuff’ really didn’t matter. Joan and I lived on a houseboat and one day it sank. We realised that we missed nothing except our treasured photo albums. Later our house in London caught fire, destroying everything inside. Last year our home in the British Virgin Islands was completely gutted as a result of a lightning strike. We were so relieved that everyone got out safely that even the loss of photo albums and notebooks were of little consequence. — https://www.givingpledge.org/pledger/richard-and-joan-branson/
‘Stuff’ really is not what brings happiness. Family, friends, good health and the satisfaction that comes from making a positive difference are what really matters.”
*Richard Brandon’s wife of 50 years has died. The full text of their giving pledge is attached. It started in 2010 with Buffet; few have signed on considering the number of ultra-wealthy folks out there.
There are few big-name billionaires on the list because they are hoarders.
They are the boys who read that poster in the 80s: He who dies with the most toys wins. They just read it as a competition, not its meaning. Even if you have the biggest pile of toys when you die, you’re still dead.
HOUSEKEEPING: BiD, me and AI Sam figured out why sometimes there are huge blank sections in comments with raw links. It happens if the link is posted on its own line — our coding thinks it’s an image and tries to build a frame.
THE FIX: Put raw links on a line with other text and there’s no issue, like this: https://trailmix.cc/home/one-for-the-yipper/#comment-217873
SHORT ANSWER: Only put raw url for images on a their own line, not article links.
We will work on code to address this but right now I don’t want to tinker and break something else, on our punch list for after Thanksgiving.
sorry if I was cynical before, all the chatter in the streets about Mamdani didn’t help, the alt-right propaganda machine is very effective still
I ain’t never heard so many hillbillies say the word “socialism” in one week before in my life
They were all saying it in unison because someone was feeding it to them
yay fun ✌️✌️
today’s meme…
meme #2…
Poobah, the Trailmix Brief on illegal orders is very good. There is every reason to put clear explanations of Dumbass’ unconstitutional suggestions out there for people to see.
If Dodo is above the law, then we have no law. Just oppression.
It was said on some nature series documentary I saw on PBS some years ago that whenever one species of anything comes to dominate and put things out of balance, forces of nature will converge to bring it down. Dodo and RFKjr’s attack on science and healthcare are now that force.
Thanks, Pog. That’ s the part of this debate i thought wasn’t getting enough air — what kind of orders are we actually talking about?
If you can’t leave town with one suitcase and a smile, the things own you, you don’t own them.
Jeffries says mTg is just the lead horse in the parade of goopers leaving Congress.
Whelp, they could’ve ganged up on Moscow Mike and the tRUMPsky and done their damned jobs.
Craig, I had no idea there was an issue. Everything looks normal on my phone. Sorry for the trouble. Does it do that every time?
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/law-enforcement-responding-after-2-national-guard-members-shot-near-white-house/
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/26/republicans-steve-witkoff-leaked-call-russia-ukraine
more on that DC shooting
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/nov/26/national-guard-soldiers-shot-washington-dc
Uber-ing past White House shooting now, heading to airport. Definitely time to get out of town!
Wasiington Monument intact
Both Guardsmen have passed away. Suspect was injured and is in custody.
well, Ivy, forget what i said earlier:
“ The final criminal case against Donald Trump ended on Wednesday with a filing for dismissal by the state prosecutor who took over the case. Pete Skandalakis, the executive director of the prosecuting attorneys’ council of Georgia, wrote in a 22-page memo today that he would not be pursuing charges against Donald Trump, or the Republican electors who were accused of taking part in a conspiracy to illegally overturn Trump’s narrow 2020 loss to Joe Biden in the Peach state. A reminder that Skandalakis appointed himself to replace Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, after she was removed from the case by the Georgia supreme court.”
-the Guardian
17th & 8th in Washington, the site of two West Virginia National Guardsmen being killed in action, but now the reports say it’s confusing: are they dead or alive? It’s 4:17 PM now.
Their mission was trash picking-up.
They were deployed there illegally, according to sources I hear.
Only some of the Guardsmen are armed.
Donald Trump ordered these Guardsmen to patrol in D.C..
It’s another ambush, either by a madman , a terrorist, a hate crime attacker…this will all be sorted out .
We all hate to see this kind of news.
Guns kill people.
Suspect in custody after two NG killed in DC.
1) The NG didn’t need to be on the streets, so tRUMP is an accomplice before the fact.
2) I’m glad they have a suspect, but I am suspicious because tRUMP has been chomping at the bit to declare ML.
2) I’m glad they have a suspect, but I am suspicious because tRUMP has been chomping at the bit to declare ML
BiD… I’m not a conspiracy person… but… isn’t it a coinky dinky that a judge just said the National Guard was in DC illegally….
however… I do pray for those 2 men…
anon, there oughta be a law.
Jaime – life in the military. If it does not fit in a duffel bag or your AWOL bag you are not going to be with it.
Current is the two National Guard soldiers and the assailant are in critical condition, the declaration they had died was rescinded.
duffel bag
JD stole that entire comedic routine from an NBA player, what a douche
also undermining the business of an American agricultural sector
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2025/nov/26/jd-vance-addresses-dc-shootings-at-army-base-in-kentucky-video
lol JD is the Carlos Mencia of Vice Presidents
Well, the nightly news said critical condition, not killed as the headline I read.
Adolf sending 500 more troops to DC. This is what he wanted. It was only a matter of time. Kegsbreath and JD are out there thumping their chests.
@JoeBiden
Jill and I are heartbroken that two members of the National Guard were shot outside the White House. Violence of any kind is unacceptable, and we must all stand united against it. We are praying for the service members and their families.
*This is a proper response to calling out violence.
@realDonaldTrump
The animal that shot the two National Guardsmen, with both being critically wounded, and now in two separate hospitals, is also severely wounded, but regardless, will pay a very steep price. God bless our Great National Guard, and all of our Military and Law Enforcement. These are truly Great People. I, as President of the United States, and everyone associated with the Office of the Presidency, am with you!
*This is how not to do it.
MSN did report “dead” but then that chyron disappeard-ed.
In any event, I grieve for the families, knowing how their pain and uncertainty will be exploited and exacerbated.
he’s happy for put others in harm’s way for no reason
headlines have been amended to “shot in head, critical condition”
which is terrible
especially since they had no good reason to be there
I I I I
me me me me
and he’s literally not with them he’s in Mar-a-Lago
My maga-guests would think this fuunny, but I would chuckle to see it picked apart.
just saw shooting was 1,000 feet from our dentist office. glad I’ve got permant dentures now — no more fittings every 2 weeks
Now in Boston.
I see they’re already gaming this for a power move..
Trump Admin to Escalate D.C. Military Takeover After Two National Guard Members Shot https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-escalate-dc-deployment-after-national-guard-shooting/
Yep, 500 more troops that don’t need to be there. It was tRUMPsky/Mitler/Vance that made it possible for them to be shot in the first place. Maybe that was the plan. Do something that would upset enough folks that eventually one would act out, so tRUMPsky could declare ML.
• The FBI believes it has identified the suspect, multiple law enforcement officials briefed on the matter told CNN. The initial ID matches a man from Washington state who appears to have immigrated from Afghanistan in 2021, they said. -Per CNN
National Guard shooter, Rahmanullah Lakanwal, entered the US in 2021, and was vetted and granted LEGAL asylum by the tRUMPsky regime in April, 2025.
Oops. Now what will MAGAts do?
they will triple-down on racism of course
then the libs will overcompensate
and on it goes
so effing irresponsible
https://www.nbcrightnow.com/national/two-west-virginia-national-guard-members-shot-in-dc-have-died-the-states-governor-says/article_715952c7-ad32-5dc5-a25c-4a0bd3127074.html
All of those pics of MBS (not wearing a suit) with tRUMPsky at the WH. Not a Muslim, but an Islamo-fascist.
Ah, but they will push the pics with Mamdani to inflame the Islamophobia. Somehow, they will use this to undermine Mumdani. (Eric Adams is busy leaving stink-bombs for Mumdani.)
The list of fraudsters, grifters, thieves, and violent creeps pardoned by tRUMP is growing.
One of my great-grandmothers (whom I never met) said that you can tell the world is coming to an end when:
1)The seasons change
2)There are lights as far as the eye can see
3)There will be so many bad folks that the good ones will be locked inside
1) Climate change
2) StarLink satellite chains
3) Locking doors/bars on windows; pardoning the bad guys
the world ended last year, this is the simulation
NEW THREAD