MAGA faithful cling to their false god
Millions of Americans still believe in a total fraud
by David Horsey
[A “simp” is someone who shows excessive affection, attention, or devotion toward another person who does not reciprocate the same feelings.]
“SIMP”ER FI
MAGA faithful cling to their false god
Millions of Americans still believe in a total fraud
David Horsey
Polls keep showing that Donald Trump is hitting historic new lows in favorability. One new poll on his economic policies indicates only 26% of voters think he is doing a good job. Other surveys put his approval rating in the low thirties.
The baffling thing is that those numbers are not even lower.
Given the mountain of evidence that grows almost hourly proving the president is incompetent, mendacious, delusional, and focused only on self-enrichment and self-glorification, it is rather amazing that a quarter to a third of Americans still support the man.
These are the true MAGA faithful whose continued admiration for Trump is testament to the power of tribalism, fear and ignorance to block reality from entering certain human minds.
During the Republican primary campaign in 2016, my editors at the Los Angeles Times sent me out to interview Trump supporters to find out why they believed a reality TV star was worthy of the presidency. One woman said she admired his family because they were “humble and down-to-Earth.” Her husband said Trump “isn’t bought out by the money people.” Many said they supported Trump because he was “on their side.”
Those early illusions about Trump have been proven utterly misguided. And, over one-and-a-half terms in the White House, most of his campaign promises have never been fulfilled. Yet, the MAGA faithful remain faithful.
And I suppose it is faith that explains it. They believe in a conception they have of Trump, not in the reality. And, the more that belief comes under assault by the facts, the more they cling to it because, to do otherwise would be to admit they let themselves be duped.
For some people, that is the hardest thing to admit.
a hymn for the faithful
renamed “When we all get to Mar a Lago”
4th verse:
Onward to the prize before us!
Soon His beauty we’ll behold;
Soon the pearly gates will open;
We shall tread the streets of gold.
Refrain:
When we all get to Mar a Lago,
What a day of rejoicing that will be!
When we all see Donnie,
We’ll sing and shout the victory!
speaking of Mal an Ego, here’s today’s history lesson
Attribution: Mar-a-Lago Offer Declined in 1973 by Randall Enos
Harry on the numbers so far
Oct 7, 2026 #Midterms #Election #News
CNN Chief Data Analyst Harry Enten runs the midterm numbers with only one month to go until the election, from voter registrations to net approvals.
TEXAS FIASCO
Hecklers Repeatedly Disrupt Trump Speech
USA Today: Donald Trump was interrupted by protester multiple times at a Texas rally. Trump echoed his calls for voters to “pretend I’m on the ballot” as he campaigned for Republican Senate candidate Ken Paxton and repeatedly attacked Democratic opponent James Talarico.
But the San Antonio rally was interrupted several times by protesters, with several being escorted out by security. Video captured from inside showed moments where protesters and rally goers clashed, including one attended who grab another man’s hair. Trump accused protesters, who were removed by security from the event, of being paid by “enemies of our nation” and told any remaining protesters to “get the hell out of here.”
in other news
Oct 7, 2026 #DailyShow #Plague #Sinkholes
Michael Kosta dives into the various disasters plotting to kill humanity, from sneaky sinkholes devouring cars, to widespread frozen food contamination, to a possible plague outbreak in Russia. And if Trump’s elevated scientific language is a litmus test of concern, we’re f**ked. Plus, Josh Johnson weighs the pros and cons of grisly death over another round of quarantine hobbies.
TRUMP’S RALLY GOES OFF THE RAILS
Covering the Coverage
The coverage reveals three competing narratives: mainstream outlets see a warning sign for Republicans in Texas; progressive and independent outlets emphasize disorder, confrontations and Trump’s unsubstantiated allegations of paid protesters; conservative coverage portrays the hecklers as agitators being deservedly removed.
— Human-directed. AI-generated. Powered by Gemini (Pro).
Mortgage rates jump again. The American dream comes with a steeper monthly payment. ☕ This morning’s FIRST CUP: How long can rates keep climbing before buying a home gets on the ballot
Dr. Google will see you now.
Ivy, thanks to you and Doc Goog.
It is important to remember when talking to hapless friends on the other side that
…it is often mentally easier to dismiss the evidence, reframe the situation, or blame external entities (such as political opponents or the media) rather than accept that a deeply held belief was wrong.
…. followers may feel that abandoning support means admitting a profound error. The psychological cost of walking away can feel far higher than the cost of continuing the performance of loyalty.
… followers may feel that abandoning support means admitting a profound error. The psychological cost of walking away can feel far higher than the cost of continuing the performance of loyalty.
Good Liars is putting up the folks at the Nebraska rally this afternoon. Saw a clip somewhere and it was embarrassing. These are not the folks I grew up around/with. I left before Fox Noise was a thing. In fact, I only knew one family with cable in the early 80s.
murdoch and zuck brought out the worst in everyone
but it was always there
i guess one either grows up under the law of the jungle and is subsequently perpetually looking over their shoulder, or one is reared in a privileged bubble and is shocked and appalled when they or someone else is victimized
people are animals, why we have government
Just ran across this cool graphic of Roman roads.(link) It reminds us the Roman centurion gets all the glory and credit but it was the lowly construction/ road builder that made the empire
Jack
aka “slaves”
decent series:
the engineers of that era were revered
the slave laying the brick, not as much
☕𝐎𝐏𝐄𝐍 Chat Now 🗣️
HECKLERS SHUT HIM DOWN
On YouTube🎙️11am (ET) until 11:45
WATCH here 👇
The Roman invasion of the British Isles was a time/resource wasting event. What was there in the British Isles worth the effort to possess it. It was a waste of resources badly needed in more important parts of the empire.
I guess you could call it the logic of Empire.
We could say much the same of the military adventure our leaders have attempted in the last 30 years.
Jack
well Caesar really wanted to know what was on the other side
they did hold it for 500 years
oh and what resource was there? once again, slaves
fun fact: in some of the Arthurian legends, King Arthur was a retired Roman soldier
Cornwall area has been known for millennia as some of the best farmland in Europe also, why the Vikings tried to conquer it, they were starving in Denmark
(rarely freezes due to oceanic thermals)
today’s meme…
Jungle Site (amazon) is doing Prime days. I generally avoid it, I rarely want to spend time doom scrolling the pages, I will sometimes search for something specific to see if it is on sale. This time I needed a new Waterpik unit, the last one was starting to fail after seven years of hard work. A good price was shown and I bought the replacement. New one same as old one, minus a word on the face, still genuine Waterpik. There is so much stuff for sale and no desire to search for anything I don’t need right now.
I got a new queen bedspread. $30.
online wally world is the new bezosmart
same garbage, better prices
Gen A would say temu is the new amazon but when something is that cheap, exploited labor is making it
hard pass
de nada, Pat. You do great work here every day. 🙏
“Hi, this is Willie Nelson. I’ve gotten to know James Talarico. He’s a good man and will be a good senator for the state of Texas. Please vote — and vote for James Talarico.”
meme #2…
the most important thing to remember in that context, Jack:
Supreme executive authority is derived from a mandate by the masses, not some farcical aquatic ceremony
BB, Waterpik HQ a few miles from my house, a daily drive-by. Big plant facility with only ever a few cars in the lot. Must be making everything in cheena now. 🪥💦
i reject the intellectual snobbery of the online left and am still not a trump supporter, dear Reader
it’s a big tent!
i swear!
possibly
ok probably not
Today in the Diner…
Donald Trump San Antonio Rally Hecklers & $90 Medicare Checks
Donald Trump faces a dozen protest interruptions at his San Antonio rally for Ken Paxton while mailing out $90 Medicare checks to buy midterm votes.
The wheels are coming off the campaign trail down in Texas. At his San Antonio rally for Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, Donald Trump got interrupted a whopping twelve times by protesters. Even better, his own bored crowd kept watching the hecklers get hauled out instead of listening to him attack Texas Democrat James Talarico. Meanwhile, Donald Trump is busy sending out $90 notices to Medicare recipients with his giant signature plastered all over them, hoping nobody notices that ninety bucks barely covers a tank of gas.
Back at the diner, we are mapping out what happens if Russell Vought and Tina Peters try seizing ballot boxes in November, and why Jamie Raskin and Hakeem Jeffries need to bring Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders to the front of the microphone right now. We also break down Megyn Kelly desperately attacking Olivia Rodrigo for relevance, Whole Foods in Washington DC charging nine dollars for a single pumpkin, and Willie Nelson officially backing James Talarico and Gina Hinojosa in Texas.
Live Chat: https://trailmix.cc/chat
Website: https://trailmix.cc
Alerts: https://trailmix.cc/alerts
00:00 Intro & Ulysses S. Grant
02:49 Ohio GOTV Freedom Bus Tour
03:35 Ken Paxton & San Antonio Hecklers
04:15 Megyn Kelly Attacks Olivia Rodrigo
10:08 Midterm Ballot Box Strike Plan
11:30 Jamie Raskin & Pete Hegseth
14:30 Russell Vought & Hakeem Jeffries
16:12 Bernie Sanders & AOC Crowds
17:00 Zohran Mamdani & NYC Airbnb Ban
21:47 Donald Trump $90 Medicare Mailer
25:18 San Antonio Protesters & James Talarico
33:58 Hadrian’s Wall & Roman Britain
36:40 $9 Whole Foods Pumpkins in DC
40:50 TMZ Tracks Lindsey Graham Rumors
47:30 Ann Richards & Dan Scavino
49:18 AI Data Centers & RAM Prices
50:50 Palmer Luckey, Elon Musk & China
57:40 Hillary Clinton Endorses Peggy Flanagan
58:14 Taylor Swift & Marsha Blackburn
01:00:32 Willie Nelson Backs James Talarico
01:02:07 JD Vance Defines Socialism
— Human directed and edited. Machine drafted (Gemini Pro).
Election Interference Watch:
1. ICE obtained tens of millions of voter records
Documents released October 7 by Democracy Forward reveal that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has:
– Obtained 50.6 million voter records from the Justice Department and another 48.4 million records from independent sources associated with DHS adviser Heather Honey. These datasets may overlap.
– Investigated voter-registration organizations, particularly in Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio.
– Considered deploying undercover agents to investigate organizations suspected of improperly registering noncitizens.
– Explored transferring voter information into a database used for immigration enforcement.
Importantly, the database transfer has not been confirmed. The software provider says voter records were never integrated into its deportation-targeting system.
Some investigations found no evidence of wrongdoing. Nevertheless, the documents establish a substantially broader federal election-investigation operation than previously understood. Democracy Forward
Read the October 7 disclosure and original government records
Assessment: Orange-to-red watch. The critical questions concern voter-data privacy, possible intimidation of registration organizations, and whether investigative findings lead to actions affecting eligible voters.
2. Two lawsuits challenge federally funded political advertising
On October 7, the Democratic National Committee and a separate coalition including Common Cause filed federal lawsuits challenging the administration’s use of taxpayer money for television advertisements promoting President Donald Trump.
According to the Associated Press, more than $12 million has already been spent airing the advertisements under a $20 million DHS contract.
The plaintiffs argue that the campaign violates federal restrictions against using appropriated money for political publicity or propaganda. The White House maintains that the advertisements are legitimate public-service announcements.
Trump has indicated that outside political organizations will finance future advertisements, but reimbursement for spending already incurred remains unresolved. Neither lawsuit has yet established that the expenditures were unlawful. Spectrum Local News
Associated Press: October 7 lawsuits
Assessment: Significant election-related litigation, although it concerns government-funded political messaging rather than ballot administration.
3. Postal equipment damages California ballot envelopes
On October 7, election officials in San Francisco confirmed reports of vote-by-mail packets arriving with torn or partially opened outer envelopes.
The damage apparently occurred during United States Postal Service processing.
USPS has switched to manual handling of the remaining packets. Election officials say voters can use their ballots normally when the enclosed voting materials are intact. Replacement packets are available when necessary.
There is no evidence of deliberate tampering, and officials have not established that ballots themselves were damaged. The precise number of affected envelopes remains uncertain. San Francisco Chronicle
Assessment: Yellow watch. A genuine administrative problem, but one for which corrective action is already underway.
Overall assessment
The newly disclosed ICE records are today’s most consequential finding. They connect several concerns we have been tracking separately: federal voter-roll acquisition, immigration enforcement, investigations of registration organizations, and scrutiny of voting equipment.
The next critical developments would be evidence that federal agencies are using these records to challenge eligible voters, confirmation of improper data transfers, or judicial intervention restricting the investigations.
There is still no evidence in these reports that November ballots have been altered or election results manipulated.
https://www.yahoo.com/news/us/articles/uss-abraham-lincoln-scheduled-dock-100017009.html
USS Abraham Lincoln to dock in San Diego after harrowing stretch at sea
*Right after Dumbass invited Iran to “take out” LA and San Diego. Treasonous, rapey, old Dumbass.
PUMPKIN SPICE CONSERVATISM ➡️ Autumn gourds turn voters into timid Republicans. Whole Foods charges $9 for this political terror.
🍽️From today’s Digital Diner menu
who is that guy with the pumpkin
wally world has them for less than half as Whole Paycheck does
oh i see now it’s Ray Winstone
aren’t you glad the libs crucified John Edwards
😭
Ivy, see Jamie’s chart yesterday? In Vestavia, what is a 2nd cousin? Curious to see if your def aligns with what I was brought up believing.
Poobah, those “gourds” you’re posing with are $6.96 at Sam’s.
Here’s the song from the Musk documentary; lyrics are just quotes from Elon.
No Kings: Vote Early: Election Protection 101
Virtual Event
TONIGHT, October 8
8 – 9pm EDT
Virtual event
Join from anywhere
Join the No Kings coalition for this call to learn how you can take action wherever you are to protect our elections this fall. We’ll cover how to get out the vote, the importance of voting early, poll watching, and more.
okaaaaaaaay….
It was a really bumpy 600 years until Alfred the Great managed to gather things together.
Just this time, the Democrats need to keep it together and decide to fight later after we take over Congress.
i mean no romans up their asses tho, very limited government
might not have been so bad
we’re just going to misrepresent things this one last time
we promise
you say you want a revolution
also
prime deals
Good Liars at the Nebraska Dumbass rally.
Yikes!
Isn’t it lovely watching billionaires waste all this money!!! they might even run out…
GOP Panic Spending Watch:
Kansas and South Carolina
Kansas: New polling and Republican spending now point in the same alarming direction for Roger Marshall. A YouGov poll conducted September 24–October 4 puts Democrat Adam Hamilton ahead 48%–45%, following the Times/Siena tie and other recent surveys showing a dead heat or narrow Hamilton edge. Republicans have now expanded their Kansas rescue operation from an $8.2 million reservation to $14 million. That combination confirms Kansas as a genuine toss-up, not a polling curiosity.
South Carolina: Republicans are spending $5 million to protect a seat that ordinarily would require no rescue at all. The Senate Leadership Fund calls the expenditure an “insurance policy” for Darline Graham, but it follows several polls placing Annie Andrews within 1–3 points and two separate ratings downgrades. The money is the clearest tangible confirmation that Republican strategists share the public concern about the race.
After watching this, I hope the Huskers lose the rest of the season…and since tRUMP went to Nebraska, he probably jinxed them. Stupider just by watching these goobers.
The “Torahan.” 🤦♀️
Gas prices are “political,” but Repugz control all three branches of government.
Debates tonight
Michigan: Republican Mike Rogers vs. Democrat Abdul El-Sayed in Michigan at 7 p.m. (WOOD-TV)
Georgia: Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff vs. Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Collins at 7 p.m. (WTOC-TV)
Maine: Republican Sen. Susan Collins vs. Democrat Troy Jackson in Maine at 8 p.m. (WMTW-TV)
Wales and Scotland were still pains in Britain’s neck and rear end. Shuffling sides was a full time occupation.
Have you seen this one?
Winterlinde – Thank You! I had seen a still pic, but had no idea of its size.
How long does this go on, indeed? Folks needed to understand how deadly seriously this regime is to the entire world.
Another new anti-Abdul ad airing this afternoon. Using the same video clips that were used in previous anti-Abdul ads. Ends with the warning: “El-Sayed would hand Michigan to criminals.” Paid for by the Senate Leadership Fund.
This could get ugly …
Local TV news giant Sinclair to launch Substack brand called The National Press
https://www.thedailybeast.com/leaked-audio-exposes-maga-candidate-ken-paxton-laughing-over-social-security-cuts/
Leaked Audio Exposes MAGA Candidate Laughing Over Social Security Cuts
Ken Paxton was hit with another brutal audio leak in which he is caught with a group of lobbyists laughing as they discuss mandatory spending cuts.
Mandatory spending in the federal government is overwhelmingly driven by the benefit programs Social Security and Medicare. Attempts to reform such programs are politically toxic with voters, as efforts have often meant slashing funds.
“Making some reasonable cuts in mandatory spending, you’re gonna have to do it, or there is no solution,” Paxton said in the audio leaked to the Texas Tribune. “That’s just the reality. We have to suck it up.”
Pog, it gets even harder to track when grandparents had multiple marriages and more than one “litter.” I have half-aunts who are younger than me.
My maternal grandmother’s family had a formal family association which held large organized annual reunions up until WWII. I remember seeing a souvenir flyer for the 50th family reunion from 1939. After the war, everything changed. We boomer-generation did not get the benefit. Even so, my generation of 22 first cousins were more like siblings.
I have “half-cousins” too, but nobody treated anyone like a half-anything. It was all one big family.
Firing squad execution will be live streamed!
What is next, gallows in public parks?
Docs in the newest Hamilton ad say it’s not normal to charge predatory interest rates on medical care nor for patients to be arrested, and that our healthcare system is broken.
Roger Marshall is an OB/GYN. There were 81 of his patients who were arrested.|
Private prison company GEO Group has filed a federal lawsuit challenging California’s new Senate Bill 942, known as the Civil Detainees Bill of Rights Act, grants civil rights protections—including medical care and privacy—to immigrant detainees held in state facilities, the Los Angeles Times reports.
Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill September 29th – GEO Group filed its complaint the next day in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California, asking the court to declare the law unconstitutional and enjoin enforcement.
*Suing to withhold human rights. Wild times.
Blue
There are proposed ways to fund SS, but all of them hit people with over $500,000 annually and politicians don’t like to bother their donors.
LAWYER UP RIGHT NOW ➡️
Threaten rogue election workers obeying Trump’s illegal orders with endless, costly congressional hearings.
Another ICE shooting in New York!
Federal prisoners already have rights. Do we need legislation for them to apply to for profit prisoners?
trumpco/heritage-nazis say the constitution doesn’t apply to undocumented residents
livestream firing squad is a degree beyond not before
https://newrepublic.com/post/216405/ice-terrifying-marching-orders-california
“Go After Anybody”: ICE Gets Terrifying Marching Orders in California
Immigration and Customs Enforcement has quietly launched a 45-day immigration crackdown in California ahead of the midterm elections, instructing its officers to “go after anybody.”
The so-called “Operation Safe California” has not been formally announced yet, but two sources told the Washington Examiner Wednesday that operations have been underway for several days.
One source told the outlet that officers were “told to go after anybody, they can pick up anybody.”
News of this secret operation comes as early voting began this week in California, which has been a consistent target for punishment by the Trump administration. Voting rights groups cited an ICE detention that took place in Santa Maria, California, on Monday in the same area that voters had to pass through to reach a ballot drop box.
pork chops I marinated on the podcast this morning, ready to go
El Sayed making some serious mistakes tonight in debate. He’s weaseling,
I liked his SS riff on scrap the cap…
Can’t believe he let Rogers get away with saying he’s “funded by Hamas”
He needed to differentiate between Israel as a nation and the IDF / Netanyahu.
Scrap the cap penalizes upper middle class and self employed without getting to the uber wealthy whose income doesn’t come from salaries. There needs to be a donut hole with the current cap and then kicks back in over $500,000 plus a wealth tax and possibly a stock market teeny tax. Multiple sources to fund SS.
TEXAS CROWD GOES ROGUE ➡️
🍽️ From today’s Digital Diner menu
Ivy, so you didn’t know either? Some of
my elders (mom) said a 2nd cousin was the kid of a first cousin. My aunt said a 2nd cousin was the …
Ivy, so you didn’t know either? Some of my elders (mom) said a 2nd cousin was the kid of a first cousin. My aunt said a 2nd cousin was the grandkid of my great uncle or aunt. (I didn’t know any of them).
Child of a first cousin is your first cousin once removed. (different generations)
Your child and the child of your cousin are second cousins. (Same generation)
Pog, my aunt and her daughter (my first cousin) knew all the ancestries and times-removed. My cousin’s child is my first cousin once removed. Now there’s where I start to lose track, but I think it’s my cousin’s children and my children are either first cousins twice-removed or second cousins.
The ICE Nazis shot a man in the Bronx.
another chart
trumpco trying to provoke a pretense for martial law
don’t take the bait NY
peaceful and smart
Meantime, breaking news: we’re depraved.
Northern Virginia county sues to block Trump from building his arch
On account of we’re deprived
Officer Krupke
More of our tax dollars
I guess I’d have to see the Opelika genealogy chart to figure out how mom came to her understanding (she’d agree with the cousin explainer, because it looks so Alabamaish). Of course it doesn’t answer the question about our “cousin” Eddie – the son of my uncle’s wife’s sister. Or does the scheme treat both sides of the aunt/uncle the same?
Pog
It treats all direct genetic relations the same. It gets weird when you have “half” relations. I’ve got a case where two brothers married two sisters with families then lost opposing spouses so the two leftovers married each other and produced a third family.
Children of your parent’s siblings count on the chart. Any children their spouses might have had with others don’t. They are just “kissing cousins”. The son of your uncle’s wife’s sister is in the kissing class because they don’t have the required shared grandparent.
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