Jordy Meiselas: Americans are resilient, and it’s not going to be easy over the next couple of years—but democracy will prevail. I genuinely have hope. This is the greatest country in the world. Americans want it to succeed...
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Nah. Red America doesn’t care if Democracy succeeds. They care about themselves. F the poor. F women. F PoC. F non-Christians. F LGBTQ. F education. F equal rights.
It’s the millions celebrity anchors like Couric demanded that forced the closure of network news bureaus around the world, leaving Americans less informed about their govt’s dastardly deeds abroad. One reason why 9/11 came as such a shock to the public.
I'm British as well and I love the work of these guys. No spin, no pandering their owner (they have none) and reporting based on facts not opinion. They represent a new model for media that the old media cannot cope with. We need similar in the UK. All power to the guys, they are brilliant.
It’s an illusion, the excuse. Anybody including American citizens can be put on a terrorist list, patriot act 2.0, not new. Not safe to travel in or out, this is a dictatorship. Stay safe.
And the target was not even political, no phone was searched. Explain that folks, it’s not good, it’s past 11 alarming. Please believe immigrants, we know the system failures. ✊🏽
And how delusional you English cousins sound, you guys don’t think it’s fascist to say USA is the best country in the world? 👻🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣✊🏽🇵🇹 are you sure, let’s see who’s free then 😉😉😂😂
The greatest country in the world BS is what caused all of this to begin with. A country that allows veterans to starve to death on the street, children to be killed by guns in their classroom, and people forced into
bankruptcy because they got sick isn’t great at anything.
Agreed. Billionaire’s needs are more important in America than the hard working American, not because we cannot afford to feed the poor, because we can never satisfy the rich.
Plus student loan interest guaranteed to keep one in debt long term, no medical for all, taxing the poor instead of the rich, biased media, $ in politics, & more. Thanks to the greedy & pathetic gqp & the orange crazy.
Can you guys please, look into the statistics of the last election. democrats are feeling horrible about not doing enough to help, to get the message put, to win. We saw the crowds, we saw his little groups, his dancing, music playing. Statistics DO NOT LIE. Musk & Trump admitted they cheated.
Well, we'd better get a move on getting it back. We're losing the military through expansion of Section 88 and lower enlistment standards aimed at bringing in military with no knowledge of the constitution or civics.
You guys gotta stop the belief that US is the best country in the world. It's always been brazingly egotistical to say it before and it's extremely laughable and absurd to say it today. By what merits are you measuring? Certainly not healthcare, freedom, fairness, equality or safety to name a few.
The rhetoric that we’re the greatest nation in the world is a large part of why fascism was allowed to rise and why the country elected a convicted felon conman. Couldn’t happen here right? Some firmly believe we have an unsinkable ship because we’re so ‘great’. Well fascism is HERE!
As an American, I couldn't agree more. I love my country, but at this point in time, I am ashamed of what's happening under our current evil administration. Right now, we are not the greatest country in the world by a long stretch.
That part was kinda irksome, but as Canadians, we're used to that sort of talk from the US. Especially from the ones who barely leave their state, let alone their country. I don't mind hearing a Canadian say that 🇨🇦 is the best country in the world, once in a while, so I gave this a pass.
You want it to be the greatest country in the world Ben, but by any measure, it falls well short, and has done for decades.
Keep fascism away and you stand a chance of survival in a mediocre, two tier democracy.
You're not the greatest country in the world and never was. Why do some of you think that? Did you not take history in school? Have you not been paying attention for a very long time?
I wish this was the greatest country in the world!!, WE have a let a complete corrupt racist in power, a person who is selling off everything that has any public benefit and wants us to bend to his narcissistic will. Americans must stand up against this evil in the streets to show their discontent
I'm sorry, but by what measure are we the greatest? Child Poverty? Education? Healthcare costs? Bankruptcies? Homelessness? Finland has been voted the "happiest" for 8 years. What makes us the greatest?
I love to hear ppl speaking with hope…it’s a refreshing take in these times of anger & resentment. Not that we don’t have every right to be angry & resentful…but hope is nice to feel again for a second or two☀️
it's not going to survive just because people WANT it to survive. It will only survive if people take action, and a LOT more action than they're doing now. They really need to turn up their game. Make the GOPers nervous. Scared would be better.
The message should be about what they want vs what we want. Emphasize they kill :Truth, Law, Humanity Nature. They want something else. True believers have nothing to lose.
As you’re starting to notice, when they say the quiet parts out loud, what you think, and how you vote? They’re past all of that. You had 14 years to stand up on your hind legs and talk back. They own us now.
Let's get this straight. Like WWII, Civil War, Revolution We MUST win this one. There's no choice. Two of the Meislas have new babies. For their sake & for the sake of all the new "people' as well as the old, we have to preserve this experiment. We JUST CAN'T leave an oligarchy to our children.
Please stop saying America is the greatest! We're not! Not just because of Felon47's presence. Bankruptcy due to no universal healthcare, poor infrastructure...
America is not the greatest country in the world Never has been Never will be. Even if we get a Democratic president, slavery, wars, War on women and LGBTQ+. You can tell me that this is the greatest country and we are having these problems. Hell even China is doing better than us right now.
How is it as he says “the greatest country in the world” if its people vote for racist assholes because they are upset with their changing white culture and economic status?
Right in our face he's doing it! Every single protester, every single TV news person, and just us regular folks have to preface every complaint and remark with IMPEACH AND REMOVE HIM! Let's say it together: IMPEACH AND REMOVE!
This craziness daily for four years?
You still haven’t realized that you are nowhere near “the greatest country in the world” even before Trump. Until you get over that brainwashed rhetoric, there’s little hope for America.
Greatest country in the world? You would rather murder your children than give up your guns, you have the worst health care in the free world, you have the lowest minimum wage in the free world. Elected a rapist bankrupt felon. What is so great about it?
I sincerely admire your optimism and faith but the fact that your system put that man in power(again) and seems incapable of holding him and his inept and corrupt cabinet to account suggests to me that something in “the greatest country in the world “ is fundamentally flawed. I hope it can be fixed
There are structural reasons the people of the US live under minority rule. You are absolutely right that our system is failing. Without a lot of fundamental change (difficult) we will just struggle along and teeter on that authoritarian abyss.
You meant “This WAS the greatest country ….” upto past 250 yrs.
But NOT RIGHT NOW !
Just ask any Leaders of other Democratic Countries!
(Must Caution you that they may laugh at face 😆 …. 😣
Just that you HAVE to say that the US is the "greatest country in the world" means you've already lost. By what standards? And democracy, even whatever tiny shreds are left are under the gravest threat. It seems too many Americans just want "revenge" on their perceived enemies..
Maybe if all you pasty white ego video boys would have helped activists SUCH AS WOMEN HAVE over the last forty fucking years i wouldn't have to call you cowwwards.
Signed
gray antifas from outside where bigbro sends dogs you've never had the balls to face down SUCH AS WOMEN
It won't prevail if nobody is going to work for it, and I'm just not seeing it at the moment. All anybody's done so far is delay things a bit. The deck is stacked, folks, and also we are definitely not the greatest country on earth. That bullshit myth about "rugged individualism" hasn't helped.
Greatest country in the world except no French would want to live in your great country. We have universal healthcare, unemployment benefits, strict gun control, strong worker protection (35h-week), longer vacation (5w), cheaper childcare, excellent public transportation, free education.
By every objective metric, the US is one of the worst countries in the developed world. Doesn't have universal healthcare, paid family leave, U pre-k, subsidized child/elder care, affordable higher ed, modern infrastructure, modern transit, gun control.
EU mandates 4 weeks paid vacation since 1992.
Paid vacation isn’t even in the Dem orbit of ideas even though private sector taxpayers fund paid vacation for the public sector.
US federal Dems are Conservative Party by global standards. They don’t advocate for basic work/life benefits.
“Greed is good” harnessed dark parts of human nature to be the engine of growth. Now it’s eating us inside out. We have had ever greater freedoms expanded, but we keep getting brainwashed to short change social support in the name of “freedom” and rugged individualism. Like we’re in colonial 1500s
I mean, srsly, who really thinks the u.s. is the greatest country in the world? Like 10 people? Just stop with that shit, you're just another country, and not a very good one at that. Ffs.
I’m not so sure about that. We aren’t the greatest country in the world. That’s why half of my friends are leaving. If I could, I would too. I’m terrified and exhausted.
"The greatest country in the world" would not elect someone like Trump twice. Trump is, however, a symptom of the sickness in the American soul that deludes it into thinking it's the greatest country in the world.
I think they do. It's their business model after all...
I used to watch them a lot but they, and Michael Cohen have become pretty insufferable since the election. Profiting from toxic positivity. The definition of hopium. Basically denying this total #USCollapse.
I immigrated to Canada from the US over ten years ago. I had already figured out the US was definitely not the greatest country. Neither is Canada. Every country has its problems but the US is plagued with the hubris to think it's somehow unique in this regard and it's been going downhill for years.
It’s the result of being “the leader” largely self appointed of the free world, the big military etc. That post war sleight of hand that got the US dollar as the default currency. No one is the greatest but that exceptionalism idea is poisonous to people’s minds.
It was that. And the military that money buys instead of feeding kids or giving people healthcare. And why? So that the US can proclaim itself “leader” which, let’s face it, was always code for bully with a superiority complex. If it ends, probably just as well if if erases that poison
I have also long thought that what the US was exceptional at was letting other countries do the hard work of educating its people, and then poaching them once that was done with the lure of big money. America isn’t so great at doing its own heavy lifting.
I grew up with the US dollar as THE dollar. I took this for granted as well as purchasing choice. Most of us weren't taught to look at other countries & how they solve issues. Most have been spoiled by a working democracy. Canadians aren't much better in this regard sadly but it's still better here
Yes, for different reasons I think. Canada had a fairly stable life and we got too comfortable to remember that nothing can be taken for granted. This era really snapped us back to reality and I hope it lasts and we uphold good values.
Most Dem politicians are cut from the same cloth as Reps, just dyed a different color. Money, power, status, greed, & completely out of touch with voters until election time, when they say your their greatest concern. Bullshit.
Guys maybe if you stop repeating that nonsense that "usa is the greatest country in the world" you might start changing things there... USA white supremacism is based on the idea that USA is the greatest of the greatest...
Stop the nonsense. We are not even close to the greatest country in the world from education to health care to fast trains and so much more. Without the obscene insane bloated military we could be doing better. If we are hated, it's because of American arrogance and ignorance about other countries.
You see some of the problem is you say things like America is the greatest country in the world. It's mindless blah and it just sounds so bad to people outside of the USA who are living perfectly happy lives in their own counties. This flag shagging is tedious.
Extra points for “flag shagging”. The “greatest country “ trope had a lot of fathers when politicians were trying to get their war on. Or counter any criticism of obvious overreach or atrocity. It was a patriotism test. Right up there with “love it or leave it”. We’re powerful. Selectively great.
Sorry boys, it was the greatest country in the world before your political and judicial systems were bought by the contributions of your billionaires and now external royalty et al.
Without structural constraints and proper legal restraints you are doomed to lose your economic empire.
We need to figure out a way to fight the billionaires, because they are “buying” a government for this country that we won’t recognize in another year or so.
I hate that the clip ends there, but here is the end of the speech (Aaron Sorkin is an phenomenal writer, and is the reason I became invested in my civic duty; and Jeff Daniel's deliver is... I don't really have words for it, but he definitely does the job well.):
1/4
"We sure used to be. We stood up for what was right! We fought for moral reasons, we passed and struck down laws for moral reasons. We waged wars on poverty, not poor people. We sacrificed, we cared about our neighbors, we put our money where our mouths were, and we never beat our chest. "
2/4
"We built great big things, made ungodly technological advances, explored the universe, cured diseases, and cultivated the world's greatest artists and the world's greatest economy. We reached for the stars, and we acted like men."
3/4
"We aspired to intelligence; we didn't belittle it; it didn't make us feel inferior. We didn't identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election, and we didn't scare so easy. And we were able to be all these things and do all these things because we were informed."
4/4
"By great men, men who were revered. The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one—America is not the greatest country in the world anymore."
Some days, I feel like I'm the only one who watched that series.
Goant Orange Tittybaby whines about how embarrassing it is that he has to slum around on an old Airforce One... meanwhile Americans are embarrassed we dont have a competent leader.
It really pisses me off that EVEN OBAMA said that shit. Pretty young as countries go, and a different kind of democracy for its time a GAWD knows the fucking biggest MILITARY. But at what price for the poor and non-white people who built it!?!?!?
Jordy, sorry to disagree with you but American is not the greatest country in the world. Never really has been. Slavery, civil war, lack of civil rights, outdated voting system, corrupt Supreme Court, two-tiered justice system, humongous poverty.Need I go on?
You didn't hit on issues with healthcare, education, infrastructure, public transportation, lack of corporate regulation, military industrial complex, police corruption and lack of oversight, infant mortality rate for a developed country, and so many more reasons.
If it takes that lone America will not survive. The revolution needs to start now. It’s time to kick more Republican assets. Any delay is counterproductive to freedom.
This sounds like propoganda at this point. The US is not "the greatest country in the world". It's one of the worst. And no, there isn't any hope. Tens of millions will die, then the remains will be occupied by other countries. Some friendly, some not. Most of us will be refugees.
Lo, the Republic bendeth—but break it shall not. Though fools crown liars and traitors crave a throne, the People endure. Not by sword, but by vote. Not by fear, but by stubborn, righteous hope. Democracy is not dead—it’s just catching its breath.
Gross, sounds like a politician.
We are not even close to being the “greatest” country. I was going to start listening to them but now I feel like they’re incredibly tone deaf …
It’s so easy to get down and pessimistic with the constant barrage of griff, hatefulness, and corruption that calls itself our government. I hope that Jordy is right. I’m putting my faith in the younger generations, as we as elders have failed miserably.
Democracy may prevail, but at the cost of how many dead pregnant women, innocent immigrants disappeared, permanent damage from regulatory rollbacks, etc? In the coming years, how many will lose their jobs, homes and life savings? How many will suffer or die due to lack of health care or oversight?
How can Americans constantly claim the US is the greatest country in the world when it doesn't even rank in the top 10 on most GLOBAL Indexes annually, including the Freedom Index (#25), Democracy Index (#28) & Press Freedom Index (#57)?
I am actually getting kinda sick of seeing these guys on all the shows and giving the thumbs up on the red carpet. I will stick with Brian Tyler Cohen.
I really wish we would stop with this “greatest country in the world” nonsense. American exceptionalism is how we got here. We aren’t better than everyone else. We don’t even make the top 10 of freest countries. We are 29th in democracy score, and probably lower now that we have the felon-in-chief.
Generation after generation pays into Social Security for over 40 years and never gets a dime. How dumb do you have to be to not understand this will increase poverty, hunger, and homelessness over time?
Ask Bernie Sanders how many people start paying into Social Security before they turn 20, pay into the system for 40 years, die at 60 years old when they have 3 children over 30 years old? What is the funeral benefit again?
What are the retirement benefits for members of Congress?
First off, only US thinks they're the greatest.
Your country is no longer democratic.
There is no law and order.
Your top people are idiots.
Your president is a felon.
You hold visitors at your border crossings for hours because someone flipped a coin.
Good luck with that 'hope'.
The comments are spot on. Independent media is dismal. Same ancient talking points. Americans do not think that this is the greatest country in the world! It just has potential. And that ain't cutting it. They sound just as out of touch as our elected officials. Where's the hope coming from?
“Greatest country in the world” is a massive stretch.
It would be better to say your country is full of amazing people who are invested in making America one of the best countries in the world.
The constant American grandstanding is gross and has run its course across the globe.
Hour by hour our country is more torn to shreds. This is a fact that can't be argued!
It is going to be a huge task to turn our government & our society back to civil and moral standards.
Jordie, you need to travel a bit more. Love The Meidas Touch, I do regard countries with proper health care, social services & education as being better than the US every day of the week. I have been to many places, not the US & have no desire to visit.
Comments
https://youtu.be/Zh7n5Pe2qsY
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/15/trump-faces-maga-backlash-over-qatari-airplane/83631791007/?tbref=hp
Where exactly is the rock she’s been hiding under?
What brought her out from under it?
Who do the fellas think they are reaching by talking to her?
Ben looks a bit knackered after becoming a new dad. Probably lack of sleep lol!
Both are highly needed for your country as well
bankruptcy because they got sick isn’t great at anything.
Realize that first and work from there.
By what measure?
https://demwriter.substack.com/p/theyre-laughing-in-our-faces?r=3ozbwu
Keep fascism away and you stand a chance of survival in a mediocre, two tier democracy.
USA USA USA "we're #22 !!"
https://open.substack.com/pub/demodirge/p/meet-the-mellons-part-i?r=9gmmo&utm_medium=ios
If you want your country to succeed - quit with the exceptionalism. It has created many of your problems.
If democracy indeed does prevail, it is up to the survivors to pursue justice for those of us killed, maimed, and disappeared.
Paid vacation isn't even a policy proposal in the US in 2025.
Was the greatest country in the world.
How can they be so optimistic when they told me that Trump would be an authoritarian and cancel elections?
https://www.thedailybeast.com/kid-rocks-restaurant-closes-to-avoid-trumps-ice-raids/
And with the Dems acting like they do at this very moment, they might have a small point - years of brainwashing tell them that "neat & meek = weak".
No healthcare, homelessness, starving kids, terrible public schools, mass shootings, fascism, indeed, WHAT is great about any of that?
This craziness daily for four years?
https://www.ap.org/news-highlights/elections/2024/trump-is-using-election-lies-to-lay-the-groundwork-for-challenging-2024-results-if-he-loses/
1) Successful 2026 Midterms.
2) Civil War.
But NOT RIGHT NOW !
Just ask any Leaders of other Democratic Countries!
(Must Caution you that they may laugh at face 😆 …. 😣
America is a beautiful experiment made bad by the minds of men.
Please take care of your eyes. Eight screens! Whoo.
Signed
gray antifas from outside where bigbro sends dogs you've never had the balls to face down SUCH AS WOMEN
your turn little boys
I want more than a tiny percentage of you to have the fucking spine to help activists
You responded because truth hurts
Fellow actual activists say damn straight
Got it
#USCollapse
#FuckingAmericans
Everything’s for-profit!
Sending love to Luigi.
Boasting is easy, it costs nothing. Making it real is very, very hard.
The US sucks.
But yeah you're right, we have serious work to do.
Paid vacation isn’t even in the Dem orbit of ideas even though private sector taxpayers fund paid vacation for the public sector.
US federal Dems are Conservative Party by global standards. They don’t advocate for basic work/life benefits.
I used to watch them a lot but they, and Michael Cohen have become pretty insufferable since the election. Profiting from toxic positivity. The definition of hopium. Basically denying this total #USCollapse.
I think that concept is at the root of your current problems
And they’re not gonna take our country with
out a fight to the bitter end.
Without structural constraints and proper legal restraints you are doomed to lose your economic empire.
The USA has degenerated into an (unfortunately dangerous) laughing stock.
This is the greatest country in the world.
>>
🤡🤡🤡
https://bsky.app/profile/marmel.bsky.social/post/3lnp324ki7227
"We sure used to be. We stood up for what was right! We fought for moral reasons, we passed and struck down laws for moral reasons. We waged wars on poverty, not poor people. We sacrificed, we cared about our neighbors, we put our money where our mouths were, and we never beat our chest. "
"We built great big things, made ungodly technological advances, explored the universe, cured diseases, and cultivated the world's greatest artists and the world's greatest economy. We reached for the stars, and we acted like men."
"We aspired to intelligence; we didn't belittle it; it didn't make us feel inferior. We didn't identify ourselves by who we voted for in the last election, and we didn't scare so easy. And we were able to be all these things and do all these things because we were informed."
"By great men, men who were revered. The first step in solving any problem is recognizing there is one—America is not the greatest country in the world anymore."
Some days, I feel like I'm the only one who watched that series.
We are not even close to being the “greatest” country. I was going to start listening to them but now I feel like they’re incredibly tone deaf …
Did y'all know in Japan you only need to work 14 hrs a week to meet your survival needs. France is 25.
Also, we don't need to be the best, we need to DO OUR BEST and we are NOT doing that for the everyday people at all.
Generation after generation pays into Social Security for over 40 years and never gets a dime. How dumb do you have to be to not understand this will increase poverty, hunger, and homelessness over time?
Ask Bernie Sanders how many people start paying into Social Security before they turn 20, pay into the system for 40 years, die at 60 years old when they have 3 children over 30 years old? What is the funeral benefit again?
What are the retirement benefits for members of Congress?
Wake me up!!
If they were, gas chambers would've been running round the clock, hosting all the Nazis.
Your country is no longer democratic.
There is no law and order.
Your top people are idiots.
Your president is a felon.
You hold visitors at your border crossings for hours because someone flipped a coin.
Good luck with that 'hope'.
It would be better to say your country is full of amazing people who are invested in making America one of the best countries in the world.
The constant American grandstanding is gross and has run its course across the globe.
It is going to be a huge task to turn our government & our society back to civil and moral standards.
Jordie, you need to travel a bit more. Love The Meidas Touch, I do regard countries with proper health care, social services & education as being better than the US every day of the week. I have been to many places, not the US & have no desire to visit.