Trump’s movement is no longer just targeting people. It’s beginning to openly discuss pressure campaigns against entire cities, systems, and institutions Americans rely on every day.
And, of course, this is directed at the "blue"states. One has to wonder how long California and others are going to tolerate this until they say "enough, you can do this without us". I live in California and I am hearing that sentiment more frequently than I expected. they posit that California would do just fine without the feds, but that might not work out as well for the feds. The level of fed up is at the top of the chart.
Nancy the people I know here in California, San Francisco Bay Area, as well as Oregon and Washington, have had it! We are the 4th largest economy in the world…and this regime should start taking into account how much revenue we actually contribute to the federal government…we don’t need them as much as they need us! That sentiment is most definitely growing!
Another fire being started to keep the chaos up and people unstable and ready to give up. I would ike to know if this event legal move...like that would matter to drumpf.... Just a thought that floated thru my head.
None of this is legal and we know that. What to do about it remains elusive. Beginning to write my postcards for fall. Can’t physically do much else. This regime is doing all it can to destroy our country. We here in Jack’s group are calmly disgusted and doing what we can. #HOLDFAST👹
Hopkins’ argument about the Mullin episode sits in a longer historical pattern he is implicitly drawing on: moments when elected officials or governing coalitions begin shifting from contesting individual critics to treating entire systems of accountability as adversarial.
The closest historical parallel is often found in late-stage institutional stress periods—where leaders no longer frame oversight as a normal feature of governance, but as obstruction. In 1970s–80s Latin American civil-military governments, for example, critics weren’t just “opponents”; courts, press institutions, and oversight bodies were increasingly described as impediments to national stability. The key step was conceptual: once institutions themselves became “the problem,” the range of acceptable political action widened dramatically.
Hopkins’ point about Mullin is that the same conceptual shift—on a far milder but still recognizable scale—appears when political actors stop engaging accountability structures as neutral referees and start treating them as partisan instruments. In U.S. history, similar tensions have surfaced in episodes like the post-Watergate reforms, when Congress explicitly strengthened inspectors general and ethics regimes precisely because unchecked executive discretion had produced abuse. The lesson of that era was that systems, not just individuals, needed constraints.
What Hopkins is warning about is the reversal of that logic: instead of reinforcing systems after conflict, political actors begin rhetorically and procedurally eroding them during conflict. That includes casting ethics offices, investigative journalism, or congressional oversight as inherently biased or illegitimate.
In that frame, Mullin is not just an isolated figure but an example of a broader governing instinct Hopkins is tracking: the move from “this person is unfair to me” to “this entire mechanism for checking me is hostile.” Historically, that transition matters because it changes the target from individuals—who can be replaced or debated—to institutions themselves, which are harder to repair once their legitimacy is steadily undermined.
Hopkins’ underlying historical comparison is less about a single regime and more about a recurring democratic vulnerability: systems tend to erode not when rules are openly abolished, but when political actors begin treating the rules themselves as optional only when inconvenient.
It all seems to be about creating enemies instead of trying to make converts of blue states or left leaning people. If people of color are enemies, if total states are enemies, if education is the enemy, if research is the enemy, the other party, oh yeah, that too. I’m problem, solution oriented. I see no solutions except voting out everyone allowing this takeover.
Now that statement takes my breath away. I keep trying not to think about the election because I need to think that at least that will be normal. My fear is that even that will be changed.
We left normality back when Trump re-entered the White House. He WILL NOT leave voluntarily, and he WILL NOT sit back passively while his sycophants are defeated in fair, free elections; that means that even if such elections can be held (a big if) the current MAGA-infested federal government will refuse to accept those results. They will claim election fraud, and it's possible that the Republicans currently controlling Congress may even refuse to seat newly-elected Democrats.
Okay Jack.. I’m aware of the talk of plans involving airports in so-called Sanctuary Cities. These are some major airports… New York.. Los Angeles.. San Francisco.. Seattle.. Chicago and more. What is the recourse? Can states fight this legally? What can we do that might actually help? What can be done to counteract the normalization of this type of “punishment?” This seems similar to refusing disaster relief to blue states, right?
Maybe Trump isn’t worried about the midterms or maybe.. once again.. he’s lying. Yes, I read “maybe it’s just bluster” but is he really not worried about them?.. and, if so, why not? Losing would be no small thing.. for either side.
Certainly there are Republican Congresspeople who are concerned about losing their seats. Other Republican candidates as well. This can’t help if they go through with it.. Is it just talk at this point or is this an actual plan in the works? Do we even know?
Just some thoughts swirling around in my brain on yet more chaos. It really is exhausting.
Hey Jack, thanks for being this important voice that tells me I am NOT over-reacting, that I am reading this as clearly as possible. At a time when you begin to wonder your own sanity, YOU stand up and say "THIS IS WRONG, and YOU SHOULD KNOW IT". Appreciate your wisdom more than I can say. #HoldingFast
This video explains why he’s not concerned about the midterms — data from all government agencies are about to be funneled into new internet sites that are registered to the office of the President rather than to the agencies. This means little or no Congress oversight. Warning: This video may make your hair turn grey. https://thedreydossier.substack.com/p/i-found-a-second-votegov-and-its?r=g5fey&utm_medium=ios
Honestly, I don't think those bastards in DC care about any other countries anyway. Look at what's been happening. Canada can't stand us, Europe can't stand us, and I'm sure there's plenty of others around the globe. A big tell will be how many people come for the FIFA World Cup. That's when we'll really know the deal and our relationship with the rest of the world.
Jack, I heard about MarkWayne Mullins plans yesterday and I wonder if Mullins realizes that Blue State tax dollars also go toward funding Customs & Border Control? As Nancy Hoffman asked how much longer is California and the other Blue States going tolerate this BS…I can tell you, most of the Californians I talk with have had it! We are the 4th largest economy in the WORLD…and there has been murmurings for years about California, Washington & Oregon joining forces and forming the country of Cascadia…add in Hawaii and you’ve got a mighty engine! California contributes much more to the Federal Government than it receives in return…and this regime would be wise to reconsider their treatment of all the Blue States…we are the economic engine of this country! I am one disgusted, angry Californian! I don’t identify as an American when we’ve been overseas…I am a San Franciscan first and Californian, second…and that has only been since Trump has been sitting in the People’s House! I was so proud of our country when Obama was our President!
OK he said it. and OK, it's pure evil bullshit. So what is the rest of congress and the courts saying? Are the lawsuits flying yet, are the injunctions in place?
Markweinie tried on power and liked it. I understand he has Cherokee blood and is a member in good standing. I wonder how the Nation will react when some of their citizens are swept up in his nets. I assume he has the same "quota" as Kristie, 3000 a day is it? So, to that end he will stop interstate and international commerce to force Blue cities to do what, exactly? Make local government drag out brown folks by their heels so his hoodlums can detain and deport them?
I imagine the next monkey wrench he wants thrown might be IRS audits targeting their citizens. Or SS checks being held up. Or maybe hold up FEMA help. Scratch that. It is already being done.
Fiscal irresponsibility is a pattern that almost everyone in ignoring. All this war, grift, theft, tax cuts for the horribly wealthy is costing billions that the country doesn’t have. What do others think?👹
I have a theory about all the fiscal irresponsibility. This administration doesn't give a damn about fiscal responsibility or irresponsibility. In fact, they want to blow our nation up financially ASAP. Why? The dollar is still seen as safe. Yes, there's warning signs of that changing. The ultimate goal is to make crypto the main currency in the US. The stock markets are good - if you're in.
I have no idea how a bankruptcy in the US would happen, but if it could be done, what would happen to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid? What about pensions for federal retirees or in the private sector that have been covered by the feds through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation? And those things are what I can easily think of.
Trump has been repeatedly bailed out by others from every economic failure he's created over the course of his life. He expects the same thing will happen if his policies lead to a US economic collapse, so why should he care?
But I think you are right about how the morbidly-rich and terminally greedy fools who are surrounding Trump see things. They think they can loot the US and (via crypto) move their wealth to other places in the world to avoid the wrath of US taxpayers when they wake up to the reality that they sold their birthright for nothing. At least Esau got some tasty cereal when he made his bad deal!
Honestly, I don't think that the MAGA faithful, who are overwhelmingly white and boomers or Gen-X, really give a damn what happens. As long as Trump and his henchmen are punishing somebody who's a POC, a woman, or some other group of people he/they love to hate, they're all good. Those folks get the attention they didn't receive as children, plus they get rewards, too? Yeah, they're definitely all good. His base still doesn't believe Trump, Inc. will ever betray them, even though it's happened a lot in the past year
We’ve already seen this with FEMA withholding support for catastrophes in blue states, or walking away from blue areas they had been supporting. Another pattern reveals itself.
And, of course, this is directed at the "blue"states. One has to wonder how long California and others are going to tolerate this until they say "enough, you can do this without us". I live in California and I am hearing that sentiment more frequently than I expected. they posit that California would do just fine without the feds, but that might not work out as well for the feds. The level of fed up is at the top of the chart.
Nancy the people I know here in California, San Francisco Bay Area, as well as Oregon and Washington, have had it! We are the 4th largest economy in the world…and this regime should start taking into account how much revenue we actually contribute to the federal government…we don’t need them as much as they need us! That sentiment is most definitely growing!
Another fire being started to keep the chaos up and people unstable and ready to give up. I would ike to know if this event legal move...like that would matter to drumpf.... Just a thought that floated thru my head.
#HOLDFAST
Teri
None of this is legal and we know that. What to do about it remains elusive. Beginning to write my postcards for fall. Can’t physically do much else. This regime is doing all it can to destroy our country. We here in Jack’s group are calmly disgusted and doing what we can. #HOLDFAST👹
Agree...
Hopkins’ argument about the Mullin episode sits in a longer historical pattern he is implicitly drawing on: moments when elected officials or governing coalitions begin shifting from contesting individual critics to treating entire systems of accountability as adversarial.
The closest historical parallel is often found in late-stage institutional stress periods—where leaders no longer frame oversight as a normal feature of governance, but as obstruction. In 1970s–80s Latin American civil-military governments, for example, critics weren’t just “opponents”; courts, press institutions, and oversight bodies were increasingly described as impediments to national stability. The key step was conceptual: once institutions themselves became “the problem,” the range of acceptable political action widened dramatically.
Hopkins’ point about Mullin is that the same conceptual shift—on a far milder but still recognizable scale—appears when political actors stop engaging accountability structures as neutral referees and start treating them as partisan instruments. In U.S. history, similar tensions have surfaced in episodes like the post-Watergate reforms, when Congress explicitly strengthened inspectors general and ethics regimes precisely because unchecked executive discretion had produced abuse. The lesson of that era was that systems, not just individuals, needed constraints.
What Hopkins is warning about is the reversal of that logic: instead of reinforcing systems after conflict, political actors begin rhetorically and procedurally eroding them during conflict. That includes casting ethics offices, investigative journalism, or congressional oversight as inherently biased or illegitimate.
In that frame, Mullin is not just an isolated figure but an example of a broader governing instinct Hopkins is tracking: the move from “this person is unfair to me” to “this entire mechanism for checking me is hostile.” Historically, that transition matters because it changes the target from individuals—who can be replaced or debated—to institutions themselves, which are harder to repair once their legitimacy is steadily undermined.
Hopkins’ underlying historical comparison is less about a single regime and more about a recurring democratic vulnerability: systems tend to erode not when rules are openly abolished, but when political actors begin treating the rules themselves as optional only when inconvenient.
#HOLDFAST
It all seems to be about creating enemies instead of trying to make converts of blue states or left leaning people. If people of color are enemies, if total states are enemies, if education is the enemy, if research is the enemy, the other party, oh yeah, that too. I’m problem, solution oriented. I see no solutions except voting out everyone allowing this takeover.
We need to start thinking about what we will need to do when voting no longer works.
Now that statement takes my breath away. I keep trying not to think about the election because I need to think that at least that will be normal. My fear is that even that will be changed.
We left normality back when Trump re-entered the White House. He WILL NOT leave voluntarily, and he WILL NOT sit back passively while his sycophants are defeated in fair, free elections; that means that even if such elections can be held (a big if) the current MAGA-infested federal government will refuse to accept those results. They will claim election fraud, and it's possible that the Republicans currently controlling Congress may even refuse to seat newly-elected Democrats.
We have to be prepared for this.
Okay Jack.. I’m aware of the talk of plans involving airports in so-called Sanctuary Cities. These are some major airports… New York.. Los Angeles.. San Francisco.. Seattle.. Chicago and more. What is the recourse? Can states fight this legally? What can we do that might actually help? What can be done to counteract the normalization of this type of “punishment?” This seems similar to refusing disaster relief to blue states, right?
Maybe Trump isn’t worried about the midterms or maybe.. once again.. he’s lying. Yes, I read “maybe it’s just bluster” but is he really not worried about them?.. and, if so, why not? Losing would be no small thing.. for either side.
Certainly there are Republican Congresspeople who are concerned about losing their seats. Other Republican candidates as well. This can’t help if they go through with it.. Is it just talk at this point or is this an actual plan in the works? Do we even know?
Just some thoughts swirling around in my brain on yet more chaos. It really is exhausting.
Thank you for laying it all out so clearly, Jack.
#Holdfast
~Susan
It's essentially ALL major airports! And cutting off international flights through them will tank American business, not just leisure travel.
It's another example of "Ready, Fire, Aim!"
All in blue states 😡
Hey Jack, thanks for being this important voice that tells me I am NOT over-reacting, that I am reading this as clearly as possible. At a time when you begin to wonder your own sanity, YOU stand up and say "THIS IS WRONG, and YOU SHOULD KNOW IT". Appreciate your wisdom more than I can say. #HoldingFast
We should ask our congressional representatives to investigate these plans.
It’s like fkn Chinese water torture, til it turns in to water boarding, and by then it’s too late!
This video explains why he’s not concerned about the midterms — data from all government agencies are about to be funneled into new internet sites that are registered to the office of the President rather than to the agencies. This means little or no Congress oversight. Warning: This video may make your hair turn grey. https://thedreydossier.substack.com/p/i-found-a-second-votegov-and-its?r=g5fey&utm_medium=ios
The 47-Git's Regime is upping the ante in many directions:
Mullin is putting insane plans to keep the fascism alive & well .
The amount of chaos Mullin's plan would not just domestic but the chaos & destruction of air travel would be world wide .
Honestly, I don't think those bastards in DC care about any other countries anyway. Look at what's been happening. Canada can't stand us, Europe can't stand us, and I'm sure there's plenty of others around the globe. A big tell will be how many people come for the FIFA World Cup. That's when we'll really know the deal and our relationship with the rest of the world.
Oh, sweet baby Jesus.
Don’t get me started on this motherfucker.
I’d apologize for my language if I were sorry. I just canNOT with this one.
Jack, I heard about MarkWayne Mullins plans yesterday and I wonder if Mullins realizes that Blue State tax dollars also go toward funding Customs & Border Control? As Nancy Hoffman asked how much longer is California and the other Blue States going tolerate this BS…I can tell you, most of the Californians I talk with have had it! We are the 4th largest economy in the WORLD…and there has been murmurings for years about California, Washington & Oregon joining forces and forming the country of Cascadia…add in Hawaii and you’ve got a mighty engine! California contributes much more to the Federal Government than it receives in return…and this regime would be wise to reconsider their treatment of all the Blue States…we are the economic engine of this country! I am one disgusted, angry Californian! I don’t identify as an American when we’ve been overseas…I am a San Franciscan first and Californian, second…and that has only been since Trump has been sitting in the People’s House! I was so proud of our country when Obama was our President!
OK he said it. and OK, it's pure evil bullshit. So what is the rest of congress and the courts saying? Are the lawsuits flying yet, are the injunctions in place?
Markweinie tried on power and liked it. I understand he has Cherokee blood and is a member in good standing. I wonder how the Nation will react when some of their citizens are swept up in his nets. I assume he has the same "quota" as Kristie, 3000 a day is it? So, to that end he will stop interstate and international commerce to force Blue cities to do what, exactly? Make local government drag out brown folks by their heels so his hoodlums can detain and deport them?
I imagine the next monkey wrench he wants thrown might be IRS audits targeting their citizens. Or SS checks being held up. Or maybe hold up FEMA help. Scratch that. It is already being done.
Fiscal irresponsibility is a pattern that almost everyone in ignoring. All this war, grift, theft, tax cuts for the horribly wealthy is costing billions that the country doesn’t have. What do others think?👹
I have a theory about all the fiscal irresponsibility. This administration doesn't give a damn about fiscal responsibility or irresponsibility. In fact, they want to blow our nation up financially ASAP. Why? The dollar is still seen as safe. Yes, there's warning signs of that changing. The ultimate goal is to make crypto the main currency in the US. The stock markets are good - if you're in.
I have no idea how a bankruptcy in the US would happen, but if it could be done, what would happen to Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid? What about pensions for federal retirees or in the private sector that have been covered by the feds through the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation? And those things are what I can easily think of.
Trump has been repeatedly bailed out by others from every economic failure he's created over the course of his life. He expects the same thing will happen if his policies lead to a US economic collapse, so why should he care?
But I think you are right about how the morbidly-rich and terminally greedy fools who are surrounding Trump see things. They think they can loot the US and (via crypto) move their wealth to other places in the world to avoid the wrath of US taxpayers when they wake up to the reality that they sold their birthright for nothing. At least Esau got some tasty cereal when he made his bad deal!
Honestly, I don't think that the MAGA faithful, who are overwhelmingly white and boomers or Gen-X, really give a damn what happens. As long as Trump and his henchmen are punishing somebody who's a POC, a woman, or some other group of people he/they love to hate, they're all good. Those folks get the attention they didn't receive as children, plus they get rewards, too? Yeah, they're definitely all good. His base still doesn't believe Trump, Inc. will ever betray them, even though it's happened a lot in the past year
The smart ones care, because this won't just effect younger generations. It will trash their retirements.
We’ve already seen this with FEMA withholding support for catastrophes in blue states, or walking away from blue areas they had been supporting. Another pattern reveals itself.