Within every administration there are those that are driven by ideology (religion is an ideology, a secular one), and those driven by pure self interest. Those driven by pure self interest will, like rats, flee a sinking ship. the ideologues will cling to the rails as the ship goes down., in hopes of better days to come, of salvaging the situation.
The problem is identifying who is who. For instance Bessent and Lutnik are the rats that will flee, as was Michael Cohen, now that he perceives that the ship is not sinking he is swimming to climb back on board.
Tulsi Gabbard is, IMO, an ideologue. She belongs to a cult, was a Democrat, got no where, became a Republican became head of NSA. Is a Putin asset.
Hegseth acts like a true believer. Miller definitely,a psycopthath but in his own cause, and uses Trump like a mechanic uses a wrench.
Kash Patel, an opportunist a pyscopath, Karoline Leavitt a psycopathic true believer. She lies with aplumb and experiences no observable cognitive dissonance.
One thing is obvious, to be a member of his administration, or even to be an employee under his administration, one has to be a psychopath or financially desperate. The lawyers that resigned other than do his work, are healthy humans. The lawyers and FBI agents that stayed are psychopaths.
CBP and ICE are psychopaths.
Psychopathy is estimated to affect approximately 1% of the general population. While some studies suggest a lower prevalence of around 0.6%, other research indicates that up to 4.5% of the population might show signs of psychopathic traits. Psychopathy is more prevalent among men, with about 1.2% of men and 0.3%–0.7% of women falling into this category.
Professions like CEO, Lawyer, Politician, Media personality, Salesperson, Surgeon, and Journalist consistently rank highest for attracting individuals with psychopathic traits, as these roles often value traits like charm, ruthlessness, and lack of empathy that can aid in high-pressure, competitive environments, though this doesn't mean all individuals in these roles are psychopaths. Other professions appearing on lists include Police Officer, Clergy, Chef, and Civil Servant, while care-focused roles like Nursing and Therapy tend to attract fewer.
Can't convict by association, but can make a record. A defendant is presumed innocent.
If a witness lies or refuses to copoperate, another kind of case.
State criminal law penalties are probably more important (and severe) than federal law and many of the victims are foreign nationals, and in many countries a person is deemed guilty until proven innocent.
Under the Napoleanic code, the judge is also the prosecutor.
Thanks William. I just made a bet with a friend of mine about the # of innocent people will be assassinated by ICE during 2026. My estimate is 650,his is much more pessimistic,he is saying up to 2000. The ethnic cleansing against hispanics and other minorities mirrors what Hitler did in Germany starting in 1934.
In Germany it started with the trans, the smallest minority, then the mentally disabled, they used gas vans, that pumped carbon monoxide into the cells, then the Jews.
Trump has started with trans, though he hasn't executed them YET, instead of Jews it is immigrants, eventually the will work their way up to domestic terrorists, meaning anyone who isn't a Trump humper., by that time the population will be lining the sidewalks, hailing the 4th Reich of the Rich.
William,I agree,there probably is nothing that will stop them except for a violent response and many will lose their lives. It is time to get armed,get trained,learn the most effective way to fight.
Has the world ever seen a leader more driven by his own survival or more willing to sacrifice anybody (except perhaps the daughter toward whom he has expressed incestuous desires) than trump?
I am reminded of how the Right so often scolded the Left for its lack of traditional values and what they called "moral relativism"--excusing some immoral behavior on the basis of extenuating circumstances. Now we see the Trump party giving itself a complete pass on a full range of ethical lapses simply because following orders is their only commandment.
Jeffrey,the right unfortunately has never,ever been committed to : moral relativism" .What has the Republican "Neo Nazi" party ever done for the American people. Every social program from Social Security,Mediocare,Medicaid,minimum wage,equal rights for women and minorities have been opposed by the" Neo Nazi" party.
I happened to turn on MC now this morning and Trump was going off on one of his rants @ the prayer breakfast. What a joke ,Trump a die hard "Nazi" claims to be a Christian.
Hypocrisy among the Christian right is a feature. States rights, family values, traditional values don't mean what liberals think they mean, they are code. Orwelian code.
When you see or hear them write or speak, you need a decoder ring.
Ethics serve the powerful and are a tool of control for the rest.
Just as he phrase "justice for us, the law for the rest" touches upon a critical, ongoing debate regarding the fairness, impartiality, and accessibility of the legal system in the United States. It highlights concerns that justice may be applied differently based on power, wealth, or status—often referred to as a "two-tiered" justice system.
This is excellent, Thom. Could you send it out to all the Republicans in the current administration? They may be getting nervous enough to pay attention.
Barbara,it would be nice if that would help,but we are well beyond the " Nazis" paying any attention.I sure wish the Dems could get a candidate 6'2' 230 lbs that woud say to his "Nazi" opposition, "I'm going after you"
Barbara,the " nazis" only understand one thing,power and intimidation. Do you really think they will cave on anything? If so,what makes you so optimistic? I read the NY Times,New Yorker magazine,The Nation and I have read nothing in the past 3 or 4 months that make me feel optimistic.Trump spoke@ the White House prayer breakfast today and all the Christians love what he had to say. How do you convince those people?
"In Daniel 5, the tables are turned. It's the King who is out of power, out of control, in the position of unknowing. And in the end, that's what the writing on the wall is about. It's destruction."- AI Overview
This is my favorite Report of 2026. We are the WRITERS. We The People are the TRUTH personified using a 250 year old gift.
The names Renee and Alex were written in flowers at the last rally I was at. No such accolade awaits these psychos and sickos. We have the power to elevate the heroes and defeat the villains. Stay brave, Get Louder. See you in the streets.
However, I must ask: Did Nixon pardon any of his underlings before leaving office? Biden pardoned his family. Trumpet has already pardoned the January 6th insurrectionists, plus anyone else who’s willing to pay for a pardon.
Kind of off topic, but I just read on the Just Security newsletter, that 300 former prosecutors have written Trump to allow local and state officials to investigate and prosecute the crimes of IC and CBP
And being retired military, that raises a flag. Should a member of the Armed Force commit a crime, the state or municipality does not need to get permission from the Dept of Defense to investigate, prosecute and imprison.
ICE and CBP are no different, if they harm or kill a citizen they are subject to the laws of the city or state, just like a member of the military.
So why ask permission?
I am sure someone will come up with some excusatory answer, but I don't buy it.
Killing, kidnapping, beating up, choking someone is a crime, and not even law enforcement can do it unless their is reasonable cause that the person committed a crime, and then the perp is given a paid vacation (administrative leave) as a reward while the scene is worked to absolve him or her.
Thom - your essay on the history of what happens to the sycophants and loyalists of a tyrannical leader is an essay by a decent person (you) warning evil people that when the regime falls, they, not 47, will suffer the consequences of 47's actions. That was a very nice thing for you to do. I suspect you already know none of the people you were writing to will listen to you. That said, I would have preferred you tell them that what they are doing in serving 47 and his diabolical schemes is morally, ethically, and legally wrong, and that they need to resign and seek forgiveness and mercy from We the People who they have wronged by their words and deeds.
Yes, when all this passes into history, the sycophants will be in jail, maybe. But the damage will be done, and the nation, and the individuals they hurt, may never fully recover from the damage
they personally caused.
So, nice try, but the people you were trying to help are not listening. They are not listening because they are true disciples. They believe in the mission of their self-indulgent, deluded, demented, power hungry, insatiably greedy leader. They drank the kool-aid a long time ago and they are happy in their work
Frank,I agree,unfortunately this may well lead to the 2nd Civil war.You can not convert these disciples with facts,logic.The damage is already done with the assassinations in Minneapolis over the past three weeks. I have a bet with a friend about the # of ICE assassinations in 2026 against anyone who speaks up is 650. He is firmly thinking many more.
Dishonest people are first and foremost dishonest with themselves. They want something they know is wrong and attempt to hide their motives and dishonesty with stories, sometimes convoluted reasoning, and oftentimes sugarcoated excuses of supposed “realities” of life. All in an attempt to make these acts seem worthwhile to themself and many times convincing others to join in both as perpetrator and enabler of others.
A child can do things on impulse at times that aren’t honest, but their habits and character are formed when they habitually choose right or wrong. The opportunity to turn it around BEFORE the deed is done or to at least make some act or effort toward restitution when they realize their mistake afterwards is the key to their character.
The truly lost are the ones who do seem to get away with it. They are the ones who get lost in their confused reasoning and excuses. This, then, becomes their habitual pattern in life.
Part of growing up and learning to be a responsible adult is understanding right from wrong. However, some scoff at the word responsibility, and look at love for their fellow humans with disdain. They taught themselves early on and possibly with little consequence that “whatever it takes” is the way of get what they want easily, as long as they don’t get blamed or punished. This becomes their game of sorts. Getting away with it.
It’s those who form these belief patterns around their dishonesty who time and again find themselves embroiled in scenarios of deceit that invariably brings pain to others and even to themselves. They seem impervious to other’s suffering as they are to their own, as long as there’s little external criticism or consequence.
This is one of the main reasons why people refer to t,rump as an emotional child. This manner of living was formulated in his character very early on and he never grew out of or above it.
This type of person, with time, weave a sad web of denial and self aggrandizing reasoning and excuses behind them along with a trail of pain that their lies and dishonesty eventually cause everyone around them.
They rarely self reflect but Instead focus on the next twisted and temporarily, self-glorified pleasure they run to, and believe they need, one blurred into another and never seeming enough.
At some point life has a way of disposing of these people, unfortunately for the rest of us, never quick enough. They do serve as a sad reminder and teacher throughout our history and a sad testimony to our lack of understanding or observation that we allow people like this to thrive and rise in status and stature.
I'm old enough to remember all of that. Words to live by. Stephen Miller needs to pay particular attention to this. That goes for trump's other enablers as well, such as Scott Bessent, Howard Lutnick and all of the rest. The democrats will be coming for all of them eventually.
I hope this excellent report reaches the millers and the Bondies and the noems and the hegseths and the other Trump enablers. History is coming for you and it won’t be pretty.
BUT, it reinforces what I have commented before, there will be no elections in November. These crooks know that if they lost in a fair election, they would all end up in prison. They have no interest in risking all they have achieved on a fair election. They were practicing Crown Control in Mn, not immagration control. That's cover so they can practice, not only killing people, but the mouthpieces can practice their reponses. They were really hoping that a few or more ICE thugs get killed in MN, so they could justify bringing in the tanks and helicopters with all the military. They plan to do this between now and November even if they have to plant the shooter to kill a few ICE men. When they announce that the election is cancelled or postponed or what ever for some ficticious reason of nation security, masses will hit the streets and masses will die. Thesg goons know they are in far too deep to back out, killing to hold on to what they have is in the plans. You will see it. Take care of one another, peter
Thank you Thom:
I would like all ICE terrorists to read the following wonderful short poem by a cousin of mine.
Unfortunately, I suppose not many of them read your enlightening discources..
NOT AFRAID OF FEAR by NJ Hynes 25 - 31 Jan 2026
(homage to Maya Angelou, Adrian Mitchell and Minneapolis)
blind our eyes with pepper
stuff our mouths with lies
stitch our hands with nettles
whistling, still we rise
stop our ears with bangs
flood our street with gas
batter down a neighbour’s door
we witness each kidnap
we lift our arms up high
empty hands make clear
we've not 'learned your lesson' yet
we're not afraid of fear
blind your eyes with hate
fill your mouth with trash
fold your hand around a gun
a thug behind a mask
knock away our phones
smash car window glass
lock us up but know
we’ll rise and lift the latch
we stand with arms held high
open hands -- it’s clear
you've not learned our lessons yet
we won’t disappear
our freedom leads us here
we’re not afraid of fear
NJ Hynes 25 - 31 Jan 2026
(check her URL for other works...)
Gordon,that is so appropriate.Keep up the good work
This report is a warning. But it could also be a prediction. In this case, for the good of the country, I pray that history will repeat itself.
Within every administration there are those that are driven by ideology (religion is an ideology, a secular one), and those driven by pure self interest. Those driven by pure self interest will, like rats, flee a sinking ship. the ideologues will cling to the rails as the ship goes down., in hopes of better days to come, of salvaging the situation.
The problem is identifying who is who. For instance Bessent and Lutnik are the rats that will flee, as was Michael Cohen, now that he perceives that the ship is not sinking he is swimming to climb back on board.
Tulsi Gabbard is, IMO, an ideologue. She belongs to a cult, was a Democrat, got no where, became a Republican became head of NSA. Is a Putin asset.
Hegseth acts like a true believer. Miller definitely,a psycopthath but in his own cause, and uses Trump like a mechanic uses a wrench.
Kash Patel, an opportunist a pyscopath, Karoline Leavitt a psycopathic true believer. She lies with aplumb and experiences no observable cognitive dissonance.
One thing is obvious, to be a member of his administration, or even to be an employee under his administration, one has to be a psychopath or financially desperate. The lawyers that resigned other than do his work, are healthy humans. The lawyers and FBI agents that stayed are psychopaths.
CBP and ICE are psychopaths.
Psychopathy is estimated to affect approximately 1% of the general population. While some studies suggest a lower prevalence of around 0.6%, other research indicates that up to 4.5% of the population might show signs of psychopathic traits. Psychopathy is more prevalent among men, with about 1.2% of men and 0.3%–0.7% of women falling into this category.
10 Signs that separate psychopaths from 99% of the people: https://medium.com/write-a-catalyst/10-signs-that-separate-psychopaths-from-99-of-people-cee69814f2de
Professions like CEO, Lawyer, Politician, Media personality, Salesperson, Surgeon, and Journalist consistently rank highest for attracting individuals with psychopathic traits, as these roles often value traits like charm, ruthlessness, and lack of empathy that can aid in high-pressure, competitive environments, though this doesn't mean all individuals in these roles are psychopaths. Other professions appearing on lists include Police Officer, Clergy, Chef, and Civil Servant, while care-focused roles like Nursing and Therapy tend to attract fewer.
For starters, Trump, Lutnick and Kennedy,Jr. are mentioned in the Epstein files.
The statutes of limitations in many states, including the Virgin Islands do not apply to rape.
Interesting and thanks, but not what I asked. But that leads me to suggest that all mentioned in the Epstein files are psychopaths.
Some may be material witnesses.
In order to prove a crime, need to prove mens rea, intent to commit it.
IMHO some of these people, like Mamafort, may be forteign agents.
A person is known by the company they keep.
Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas!
Can't convict by association, but can make a record. A defendant is presumed innocent.
If a witness lies or refuses to copoperate, another kind of case.
State criminal law penalties are probably more important (and severe) than federal law and many of the victims are foreign nationals, and in many countries a person is deemed guilty until proven innocent.
Under the Napoleanic code, the judge is also the prosecutor.
I have little doubt several are foreign agents. Maybe double agents or more.
Epstein was, Krasnov definitely.
Thanks William. I just made a bet with a friend of mine about the # of innocent people will be assassinated by ICE during 2026. My estimate is 650,his is much more pessimistic,he is saying up to 2000. The ethnic cleansing against hispanics and other minorities mirrors what Hitler did in Germany starting in 1934.
In Germany it started with the trans, the smallest minority, then the mentally disabled, they used gas vans, that pumped carbon monoxide into the cells, then the Jews.
Trump has started with trans, though he hasn't executed them YET, instead of Jews it is immigrants, eventually the will work their way up to domestic terrorists, meaning anyone who isn't a Trump humper., by that time the population will be lining the sidewalks, hailing the 4th Reich of the Rich.
William,I agree,there probably is nothing that will stop them except for a violent response and many will lose their lives. It is time to get armed,get trained,learn the most effective way to fight.
Has the world ever seen a leader more driven by his own survival or more willing to sacrifice anybody (except perhaps the daughter toward whom he has expressed incestuous desires) than trump?
I am reminded of how the Right so often scolded the Left for its lack of traditional values and what they called "moral relativism"--excusing some immoral behavior on the basis of extenuating circumstances. Now we see the Trump party giving itself a complete pass on a full range of ethical lapses simply because following orders is their only commandment.
Jeffrey,the right unfortunately has never,ever been committed to : moral relativism" .What has the Republican "Neo Nazi" party ever done for the American people. Every social program from Social Security,Mediocare,Medicaid,minimum wage,equal rights for women and minorities have been opposed by the" Neo Nazi" party.
I happened to turn on MC now this morning and Trump was going off on one of his rants @ the prayer breakfast. What a joke ,Trump a die hard "Nazi" claims to be a Christian.
The hypocrisy is monumental.
It is intentional, they are not ashamed, because they know it is double speak, and they know the real meaning of their words.
Hypocrisy among the Christian right is a feature. States rights, family values, traditional values don't mean what liberals think they mean, they are code. Orwelian code.
When you see or hear them write or speak, you need a decoder ring.
Andra Watkins has been making that precise point for some time on her Substack articles.
Anyone who has been paying attention and uses their pre frontal cortex would have come to the same conclusion.
Trump and his minions never have been aware of the concept of ethics.
Ethics serve the powerful and are a tool of control for the rest.
Just as he phrase "justice for us, the law for the rest" touches upon a critical, ongoing debate regarding the fairness, impartiality, and accessibility of the legal system in the United States. It highlights concerns that justice may be applied differently based on power, wealth, or status—often referred to as a "two-tiered" justice system.
True, but for me it’s no excuse.
Agreed. but our opinion matters as much as that of the mouse, the ant, the family pet.
You are correct about that, unfortunately.
The more golden monuments Cheatloaf erects to himself, the more satisfying it will be when we tear them all down.
It will be a great day indeed when we can finally go all Nuremberg Trials on these bastards.
Let us hope or pray that someday the gravely-needed justice will prevail.
This is excellent, Thom. Could you send it out to all the Republicans in the current administration? They may be getting nervous enough to pay attention.
Barbara,it would be nice if that would help,but we are well beyond the " Nazis" paying any attention.I sure wish the Dems could get a candidate 6'2' 230 lbs that woud say to his "Nazi" opposition, "I'm going after you"
I guess I disagree. The Republicans are not a unified group. There are cracks appearing. We need crow bars to insert into the cracks.
Barbara,the " nazis" only understand one thing,power and intimidation. Do you really think they will cave on anything? If so,what makes you so optimistic? I read the NY Times,New Yorker magazine,The Nation and I have read nothing in the past 3 or 4 months that make me feel optimistic.Trump spoke@ the White House prayer breakfast today and all the Christians love what he had to say. How do you convince those people?
Try The Contrarian, Robert Hubbel, and/or Simon Rosenberg for ideas on how to proceed without a sense of doom.
Sorry -- I fired both of them.
https://jerryweiss.substack.com/
Watch Jessica Denson. https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLFcdKlXn3-cQJT3UkacF0OL_tOleHoHWm
Massie might listen.
The writing is on the wall.....
"In Daniel 5, the tables are turned. It's the King who is out of power, out of control, in the position of unknowing. And in the end, that's what the writing on the wall is about. It's destruction."- AI Overview
This is my favorite Report of 2026. We are the WRITERS. We The People are the TRUTH personified using a 250 year old gift.
The names Renee and Alex were written in flowers at the last rally I was at. No such accolade awaits these psychos and sickos. We have the power to elevate the heroes and defeat the villains. Stay brave, Get Louder. See you in the streets.
Great article, Thom!
However, I must ask: Did Nixon pardon any of his underlings before leaving office? Biden pardoned his family. Trumpet has already pardoned the January 6th insurrectionists, plus anyone else who’s willing to pay for a pardon.
Just wondering…
Kindest regards,
Kevin
Kind of off topic, but I just read on the Just Security newsletter, that 300 former prosecutors have written Trump to allow local and state officials to investigate and prosecute the crimes of IC and CBP
And being retired military, that raises a flag. Should a member of the Armed Force commit a crime, the state or municipality does not need to get permission from the Dept of Defense to investigate, prosecute and imprison.
ICE and CBP are no different, if they harm or kill a citizen they are subject to the laws of the city or state, just like a member of the military.
So why ask permission?
I am sure someone will come up with some excusatory answer, but I don't buy it.
Killing, kidnapping, beating up, choking someone is a crime, and not even law enforcement can do it unless their is reasonable cause that the person committed a crime, and then the perp is given a paid vacation (administrative leave) as a reward while the scene is worked to absolve him or her.
Thom - your essay on the history of what happens to the sycophants and loyalists of a tyrannical leader is an essay by a decent person (you) warning evil people that when the regime falls, they, not 47, will suffer the consequences of 47's actions. That was a very nice thing for you to do. I suspect you already know none of the people you were writing to will listen to you. That said, I would have preferred you tell them that what they are doing in serving 47 and his diabolical schemes is morally, ethically, and legally wrong, and that they need to resign and seek forgiveness and mercy from We the People who they have wronged by their words and deeds.
Yes, when all this passes into history, the sycophants will be in jail, maybe. But the damage will be done, and the nation, and the individuals they hurt, may never fully recover from the damage
they personally caused.
So, nice try, but the people you were trying to help are not listening. They are not listening because they are true disciples. They believe in the mission of their self-indulgent, deluded, demented, power hungry, insatiably greedy leader. They drank the kool-aid a long time ago and they are happy in their work
Frank,I agree,unfortunately this may well lead to the 2nd Civil war.You can not convert these disciples with facts,logic.The damage is already done with the assassinations in Minneapolis over the past three weeks. I have a bet with a friend about the # of ICE assassinations in 2026 against anyone who speaks up is 650. He is firmly thinking many more.
Had mothers, daughters, wives, and even reptiles are hatched.
Dishonest people are first and foremost dishonest with themselves. They want something they know is wrong and attempt to hide their motives and dishonesty with stories, sometimes convoluted reasoning, and oftentimes sugarcoated excuses of supposed “realities” of life. All in an attempt to make these acts seem worthwhile to themself and many times convincing others to join in both as perpetrator and enabler of others.
A child can do things on impulse at times that aren’t honest, but their habits and character are formed when they habitually choose right or wrong. The opportunity to turn it around BEFORE the deed is done or to at least make some act or effort toward restitution when they realize their mistake afterwards is the key to their character.
The truly lost are the ones who do seem to get away with it. They are the ones who get lost in their confused reasoning and excuses. This, then, becomes their habitual pattern in life.
Part of growing up and learning to be a responsible adult is understanding right from wrong. However, some scoff at the word responsibility, and look at love for their fellow humans with disdain. They taught themselves early on and possibly with little consequence that “whatever it takes” is the way of get what they want easily, as long as they don’t get blamed or punished. This becomes their game of sorts. Getting away with it.
It’s those who form these belief patterns around their dishonesty who time and again find themselves embroiled in scenarios of deceit that invariably brings pain to others and even to themselves. They seem impervious to other’s suffering as they are to their own, as long as there’s little external criticism or consequence.
This is one of the main reasons why people refer to t,rump as an emotional child. This manner of living was formulated in his character very early on and he never grew out of or above it.
This type of person, with time, weave a sad web of denial and self aggrandizing reasoning and excuses behind them along with a trail of pain that their lies and dishonesty eventually cause everyone around them.
They rarely self reflect but Instead focus on the next twisted and temporarily, self-glorified pleasure they run to, and believe they need, one blurred into another and never seeming enough.
At some point life has a way of disposing of these people, unfortunately for the rest of us, never quick enough. They do serve as a sad reminder and teacher throughout our history and a sad testimony to our lack of understanding or observation that we allow people like this to thrive and rise in status and stature.
I'm old enough to remember all of that. Words to live by. Stephen Miller needs to pay particular attention to this. That goes for trump's other enablers as well, such as Scott Bessent, Howard Lutnick and all of the rest. The democrats will be coming for all of them eventually.
I hope this excellent report reaches the millers and the Bondies and the noems and the hegseths and the other Trump enablers. History is coming for you and it won’t be pretty.
Thanks Thom, I agree.
BUT, it reinforces what I have commented before, there will be no elections in November. These crooks know that if they lost in a fair election, they would all end up in prison. They have no interest in risking all they have achieved on a fair election. They were practicing Crown Control in Mn, not immagration control. That's cover so they can practice, not only killing people, but the mouthpieces can practice their reponses. They were really hoping that a few or more ICE thugs get killed in MN, so they could justify bringing in the tanks and helicopters with all the military. They plan to do this between now and November even if they have to plant the shooter to kill a few ICE men. When they announce that the election is cancelled or postponed or what ever for some ficticious reason of nation security, masses will hit the streets and masses will die. Thesg goons know they are in far too deep to back out, killing to hold on to what they have is in the plans. You will see it. Take care of one another, peter