Mods, please don't delete.

The parties that remade states and suppressed rivals were not omnipotent from the start. They exploited a historic moment to make political life impossible for their opponents. So support the multi-party system and defend the rules of democratic elections. Vote in local and state elections while you can. Consider running for office.

Snyder ties the aphorism "eternal vigilance is the price of liberty" not to external threats, but to internal ones: the rise of the one-party state. He mentions examples of "the last election", when democratic countries fall sway to authoritarianism by voting in a party that subverts democracy itself.

For my part, my expected "most likely" outcome was that the GOP would lose the election narrowly, and put in motion their plans to steal it. That didn't happen. Is there a silver lining in that, having won (apparently) legitimately, Republicans might abandon their efforts to overturn elections? Possibly wishful thinking. Regardless, getting out of this means supporting elections. A saving grace of our system is that elections are administered at the state and local level. Even a fully autocratic president would have difficulty subverting local elections. Support viable second and third- party candidates, even in "red" areas. Consider directly supporting local candidates and local elections. We may have to rebuild democracy from the ground up, and that starts local.

The election didn't go the way 50% of America wanted, and Trump will still be able to carry out the treasonous proposals in his MAGA Manifesto, Project 2025, but that is not the end of the story by a long shot.

You see, lost in all the 'mashugana' of the elections, MAGA treachery, and Trump's constant lying, other forces have quietly been at work, forces that keep Trump up late at night-- legal forces.

One of Trump's schemes to overthrow the results of Biden's election, was to put forth a cadre of MAGA slime who claimed they were the rightful 'Electors' and they would give the election to Trump, despite the vote of the people.

Like all two-bit sewer rats, they went too far and now it will lead to their extinction. In Georgia, Michigan Nevada, Arizona and Wisconsin, indictments have been served, criminals named for prosecution including in some cases Trump. Giuliani, Eastman, Mark Meadows, and dozens more, and trials will soon begin.

In many cases the rats have turned on one another and have agreed to testify against the rest in return for leniency. Many of these indicted have already lost their law licenses including Giuliani, and Jenna Ellis. Jeffrey Clarke, an active member of the other plot to overthrow the government of the United States is facing a two-year suspension of his law license.

Folks, these trials will take place, and the conspirators will face stiff penalties. Will trump escape prosecution by virtue of a corrupt Supreme Court, maybe so but during the course of the many trials all the insidious scheming will be revealed to the American public, and the treason of the participants made manifest.

Below is a lengthy -- very lengthy -- explanation of all the upcoming court cases. it is thorough, but the more you read, the happier you will become.

See this':

"The criminal cases against Donald Trump over his efforts to steal the 2020 election have not had an easy time of it. In federal court, Special Counsel Jack Smith’s prosecution was set back on its heels following the Supreme Court’s ruling finding broad presidential immunity for official acts—though Smith is doing his best to push forward. In Fulton County, Georgia, the case brought against Trump by District Attorney Fani Willis has run aground on a bizarre scandal over an alleged conflict of interest related to Willis’s romantic life.

But these prosecutions of Trump are not the only efforts to seek accountability for the 2020 election in criminal court. After all, the former president did not act alone. In addition to the Georgia case, prosecutors in four other states have pursued charges against individuals involved in the Trump campaign’s scheme to submit duplicate electoral certificates claiming that Trump had won those states. Some of those prosecutions are still moving forward, but others have faced potentially fatal complications. In no instance have these cases moved forward with perfect speed or smoothness.

In April, we reviewed the status of state-level investigations and prosecutions of what’s come to be known colloquially as the “fake electors scheme.” Here, we provide an overview of what’s happened in the intervening months. Since last spring, the Georgia case ground largely to a halt, a Nevada judge dismissed the prosecution of fake electors in that state, and pretrial proceedings have moved forward in Michigan. Meanwhile, the attorneys general of Arizona and Wisconsin have announced indictments of their own.

What follows is an in-depth, in-the-weeds status update of those cases, which we summarize briefly in this chart:

https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/where-the-fake-electors-cases-stand-in-state-court

that is all.

Foundations of Geopolitics

"Russia should use its special services within the borders of the United States and Canada to fuel instability and separatism against neoliberal globalist Western hegemony, such as, for instance, provoke "Afro-American racists" to create severe backlash against the rotten political state of affairs in the current present-day system of the United States and Canada. Russia should "introduce geopolitical disorder into internal American activity, encouraging all kinds of separatism and ethnic, social, and racial conflicts, actively supporting all dissident movements – extremist, racist, and sectarian groups, thus destabilizing internal political processes in the U.S. It would also make sense simultaneously to support isolationist tendencies in American politics".^([9])"

This has been Russia's playbook for the past 20 years. And they have just kicked their plan into overdrive with the reelection of Donald Trump.

This happened just yesterday. Racist Text Messages About Slavery Sent to Black People in Several States.

Now combine this with Trump's agenda, Project 2025, which among many horrible things, wants to abolish the department of homeland security, and calls out CISA specifically:

Per the article: "Another particularly jarring section with blatantly partisan attacks concerns the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency. “Of the utmost urgency is immediately ending CISA’s counter-mis/disinformation efforts. In any event, the entirety of the CISA Cybersecurity Advisory Committee should be dismissed on Day One.”"

So not only is freedom of the press going to be chilled, Russian misinformation and disinformation is going to be spread without abandon. The economy is going to tank due to Trumps horrible economic policies. Combine that with attacks on our infrastructure, and the fact that Russians can make republicans think it was democrats who are to blame... it doesn't look good.

They are also going to throw everything they can at secession movements in the US. It's already happening in Texas.

They are so confident they are going to succeed, they disrupted polling places with bomb threats that were easy to trace back to them.

This isn't about policy and winning people over anymore. They have already been lost to the Russian misinformation campaign.

It's going to take everything we've got to preserve our union. Democrats and everyone else needs to arm themselves and prepare for a fight for our lives against fascism taking over.

I've been pondering an appropriate response to any now-emboldened racists I might encounter who might try to denigrate or intimidate those I love. (As a middle-aged, lily-white guy, I'm not a target, but I'm married to an immigrant, have a mixed-race son and enjoy friendships from a wide diversity of people.)

All who may spew racism have ancestors who came from elsewhere, and who suffered exactly the same type of racist abuse their descendants now inflict on others. There are so many horrific slurs against people from all over the world -- none of whom I have anything against -- but that might stir cognitive dissonance when thrown back into the racists' faces.

You might not be able to automatically tell the racial ancestry of white people, but you might look for telltale signs, especially since everyone's got a blend of everything in them now. Or just challenge them on their family's background, then go to town.

Piled onto this of course could be general dehumanization of the racist using the generic terms of bias: poisoned blood, a status barely above animals, a need to cull the troglodytes from our society, etc.

I'll reiterate that the purpose of this thought exercise is not to promote racism against any person or people, but to inject cognitive dissonance into those whose minds need to be changed (if even possible). What's the difference between promoting racism and using it as a weapon against racists? It would only be used as a response to those who directly hurl racism: never an initiating or anticipatory invective.

And of course: safety first. This isn't anything I'd recommend if there's a sliver of a chance of racheting an encounter up to physical violence or harm. Get away from any danger, look for allies and keep yourself and your loved ones safe.

Lastly, I'll acknowledge my privilege of being able to consider this as a white guy with ancestry that might be considered "purer" than just about any storm trooper out there. I'm still trying to do my part, including sharing publicly how I'm proud my family has Nazi blood on its hands.

P.S.: Of course I thought of all kinds of horrible, specific slurs during this exercise, but there's no need to share them here (or anywhere), since they're not nice at all, and I wouldn't want anyone to get confused about their purpose.

I thought this over and I think anything else would be condoning what she's done. I just can't do that anymore. My letter to her.....

I am heartbroken. I really believed you were a person that cared about others. That cared about our daughters.That cared about more than the price of eggs. It's obvious that voting to put a person in charge of my beautiful country who is a felon, a rapist, a traitor, a misogynist, a sexual predator, a pathological liar, a crook, a cheat, a racist, a conman, an incompetent and who performs fellatio on a microphone in front of millions, doesn't have the best interest of this country, or it's daughters at heart. I never dreamed these were your values. That you saw yourself reflected in him. After all, one wouldn't put a pedophile in charge of their day care if they weren't one themselves, would they? This is someone who wants to reduce women to mere cattle. Not to mention all the other horrible things he has in store for our country. I'm crushed, I can never see you the same. I have spent my life fighting for the rights of women.The rights you take for granted weren't always there. I only ask this one last thing of you..read the Project 2025 manifesto. https://www.project2025.org/ It's all in there.This is what you've done to me, our daughters, and our country. We've done nothing to deserve this. I am a good person, I would have never done this to you. You've released a plague on our society. I will be blocking you in my contacts. It's my only option now. Goodbye old friend..

It is institutions that help us to preserve decency. They need our help as well. Do not speak of "our institutions" unless you make them yours by acting on their behalf. Institutions do not protect themselves. They fall one after the other unless each is defended from the beginning. So choose an institution you care about - a court, a newspaper, a law, a labor union - and take its side.

Snyder goes on to describe the complacency of Jewish newspapers as the Nazis took power: "We do not subscribe to the view that Hitler and his friends [...] will implement the proposals circulating in Nazi newspapers [...]" (spoiler: they did). He also describes the Nazi concept of gleichschaltung: taking over institutions one by one and making them serve the Nazi state.

I think a lot of us felt the risk of this with Bezos' recent decision to interfere with the Washington Post's editorial process and not endorse a presidential candidate. With the ongoing propaganda apocalypse, we *need* reliable sources of information. Unsubscribing from billionaire-controlled news media may be the right thing to do, but we also have to prop up reliable journalists as well.

Let’s hope they are looking into election interference.

The title sounds extreme, but it’s what’s on my mind. Trump and his cronies have made no secret of their plans. If the US found plans showing a group outside the US was planning on taking over and turning our government into a dictatorship, Biden’s administration would take action. This is exactly what’s happening, but the threat is from inside. Is Biden pretending this isn’t happening and “taking the high road,” or can he use the newly expanded presidential immunity to round up Trump and his gang and put them away forever, be damned the consequences? Are we not wasting the final days we have to do something while Biden is in power?

I’m over simplifying things and understand it’s not this clear cut or simple.

EDIT: Title gore, for sure. I'm my on worst editor.

The ACA, or Affordable Care Act, was enacted by the Democrats to make healthcare affordable to low-income Americans.

Many Republican-leaning states, especially those in the South and Midwest, have significant numbers of ACA recipients. The ACA often serves individuals who are lower- to middle-income, which overlaps with some demographics that may support MAGA, particularly in rural and working-class communities.

See this if you are a recipient of Obamacare -- boldface mine.

By Berkeley Lovelace Jr.

Millions of Americans risk losing subsidies next year that help them pay for health insurance following President-elect Donald Trump’s election win and Republicans’ victory in the Senate. The subsidies — which expire at the end of 2025 — came out of the 2021 American Rescue Plan, and increased the amount of assistance available to people who want to buy health insurance through the Affordable Care Act. The American Rescue Plan also broadened the number of people eligible for subsidies, extending them to many in the middle class. The looming expiration date means that the incoming Congress and next president will need to decide whether to extend them — something Trump and Republicans have already signaled they don’t support, said Chris Meekins, a health policy research analyst at the investment firm Raymond James.

“If Republicans end up winning the House, in addition to the Senate and White House, having a GOP sweep, I think the odds are less than 5% they get extended,” said Meekins, who was a senior HHS official in Trump’s first term. Even Democratic control of the House likely won’t save the subsidies, he added.

In 2024, more than 20 million people got health insurance through the ACA, according to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Since the 2021 subsidies went into effect**, enrollment in ACA plans with reduced payments doubled, particularly in Southern red states,** said Cynthia Cox, the director of the program on the ACA at KFF, a nonpartisan health care policy research group.

The Inflation Reduction Act, passed in 2022, extended the subsidies through 2025. In 32 states where data is available, 15.5 million people receive the subsidies, according to KFF.

If the subsidies aren’t extended, the Congressional Budget Office — a nonpartisan agency that provides budget and economic information to Congress — estimates that nearly 4 million people will lose their coverage in 2026 because they won’t be able to afford it. Enrollment will continue to fall each year, with coverage reaching as low as 15.4 million people in 2030.

A spokesperson for Trump did not respond to a request for comment..."

There is more to the story here:

https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/millions-risk-losing-health-insurance-trumps-victory-rcna179146

Since election night several things have looked pretty screwy. I take conspiracy theories with a grain of salt but this is indeed worrisome.

They keep saying "record turnout" but there's suddenly 15+ million votes LESS than 2020? They said it would take days for results but called races early and called the election hours after polls closed? People are checking their ballots and they say "not counted" or other issues. She's within 1 to 2 percentage points in several swing states today and the count isn't 100% yet.

I've heard scores of people mentioning these issues since yesterday. Today Anonymous put out a statement that something's not right... What's going on?

Edit: Typo

Obviously, the situation is dire, and I am an Immigrant who lives in the US, so I am not exactly relaxed about my own situation.

Still, more than what will happen here, I am concerned with what will happen in Ukraine.
I am not a fan of the American Military complex, but the moment the focus switched from bombing people of color to giving support to a country invaded by Russia, my investment in their work definitely shifted.

Now, the US is not the only country that helps Ukraine, but it does provide a lot of help that is necessary.
I am wondering, without the doomerism, what are possible options there.

A lot of weapon manufacturers are based in the US but are actually multinational entities with several branches overseas.
There are ways to make contracts difficult to breach.

And there are possibly ways to have those companies support Ukraine uninterrupted, especially if it technically happens outside of the country.

What do you think are the best options to make sure support to Ukraine doesn't dry up?

Signing multi year contracts with the weapon manufacturers that they will be able to litigate even after Biden steps down?
give access to the weapons to European allies that then would have the liberty to oversee the manufacturing and delivery of said weapons to Ukraine?
Give Ukraine direct access to the satellite systems that the US uses to coordinate strikes?

What are the options.

I Understand how a lot of people are going to doom right now, and it's understandable, but no matter how bad it will get in 3 months, there are actions that can be taken now and it's the time to explore them.

Trump supporters need to learn that their actions have real-world consequences. That's the only way to get through to them.

He is barred by NY state law from leaving the country. He cannot pardon himself for state crimes. There is no basis for the SCOTUS to nullify NY state felony laws. Will the state of New York fight the Trump administration to enforce the law?

Just another way that this whole thing is completely fucked up. Our democracy is completely broken.