6/ Healthy democracies rely on an independent legal profession to maintain the rule of law, independent universities to guard objective truth and provide forums for dissent to authority, and independent state/local government to counterbalance a powerful federal government.
Comments
The tariffs are Trump’s tool to erode that independence. Now, one by one, every industry or company will need to pledge loyalty to Trump in order to get sanctions relief.
Public shows of support from executives for all his economic policy. Contributions to his political efforts. Promises to police employees’ support for his political opposition.
As he adjusts or grants relief, it’s a win-win: the economy improves and dissent disappears.
https://bsky.app/profile/nickgilpin.bsky.social/post/3llvsaczsrc2v
Trump didn’t invent this strategy. It’s the playbook for democratically elected leaders who want to stay in power forever.
Torch the economy
Enshrine monopoly
Decimate social safety net
Nullify independent judiciary/legal profession
Handcuff dissent
Hamstring voting, buy elections
Centralize/arm surveillance/security/military forces
= compliant, watched, desperate, hopeless, powerless, cheap, trapped feudal labor
https://jlmccoy.substack.com/p/when-bullies-strike
but to establish a system where the people are completely unnecessary.
~ Hannah Arendt, ‘The Origins of Totalitarionism’
But as long as we see this clearly, we can stop him. Public mobilization is working. Today, a few Republicans joined Democrats to vote against one set of tariffs.
The people still have the power.
WWE.
Don't fall for Mitch McConnell and his accountabuki.
Schumer seems to think the court will save agencies, public service staff and assets taxpayers bought/built.
Remember he’s a grifter.
Everyone that wants to get out from under a tariff will have to pay for “protection”.
He will try to keep it secret of course but you’ll know who paid.
With tRump there are always devious reasons for what he does. Glad you are on top of it. Now all the American 🇺🇸people need to rise up and push back!
Owning YOUR Power
Deminishes tRump!
https://bsky.app/profile/economist.com/post/3llvl4efjos23
Your thread should have started, “Y’all, we’re thoroughly fucked.”
There is no emergency justifying Trump's emergency actions!!!
Deny unanimous consent to EVERYTHING until the tariffs are lifted. Demand the power back, or shut everything down.
Why the need to legislate against something that’s already refuted by our Constitution?
& also keep the people starving and working 3 jobs so they won’t have time to protest
At what point do they realize that their silence is killing our future?
Steps to a real DEMOCRACY
Exposure + Motivation + Coalition building + Revolution
Exposure: Tariffs - WTF https://www.keithalanhamilton.com?p=10821
tap/click image to read
Yes, you read that right. We’re taxing nothing from no one.
And the world is watching 🌓✨
https://substack.com/@shadowandlight1/note/p-160474075?r=32a29y&utm_medium=ios&utm_source=notes-share-action
'This is not a fight to win. This is a fight to fight'
Die with the boots on
No surrender
If you do not even know what a plan looks like, you can't get us out of this.
But no, you’ll all just narrate whats going on and hope someone else does something
You didn't do that.
https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:z6rujpf4u56jfie7aqic2nfg/bafkreih3p4sjjpoe4qc7476x37lbsktp5bfnkma2daouul4logfxamfjo4@jpeg
I typically do not agree with Rand Paul, but his comments regarding abuse of power was spot on this afternoon.
Thank you Senator for your continued efforts to fight for what is right.
Now what the fuck are YOU going to do about it, SENATOR?!?!?!
these vague bromides are why we as your constituents are PISSED OFF at you, our Democratic leadership. Give me and others a clear call to action. "Get out on April 5 to a hands off protest event and yell like your life depends on it!"
#PassTheTorchChuck
And thanks for everything else you do for our democracy.
Can we get around Johnson?
Any Republicans that lost a job today send a thank you card to Mike.
, thanks for your clarity on tariffs.
I wonder what they are doing in the archives.
Trump isn't that smart, but he understands blackmail very well.
Call your congressman and tell them that there is no state of emergency and to block the tariffs
Capitol switchboard: 202-224-3121
@unroll.skywriter.blue
Putin, Musk, Trump, RFK Jr and all the rest of the human chain saws are destroying our country, our livelihoods — and our lives.
Please keep doing what you’re doing and get others to speak plainly about ALL of this. 🚨🚨🚨
Why? Because they don’t want us to be independent individuals.
They want to control us: what we think (library, universities, education depart), what we learn (news orgs), who defends us (law firms), and how we survive (economy).
WAKE UP PEOPLE!
#HandsOff, all way off!
+ #TeslaTakedown / #BoycottTesla = all for one, one for all, all for love of one another❣️
A better #USA is ours for the making 🌈🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️🇺🇸
What's next, because we'd better plan a what's next.
Work stoppage (national sick in)?
Farmers drive tractors into d.c., other capitols, clog streets and disrupt? Like Europeans have done?
Other ideas, next year's elections ARE REALLY CLOSE.
I saw his spokesperson effectively saying that he could overturn a court judgement because the judge worked for the DOJ
How will the party block anything he says he can do?
Trump wants the power and the money while his cronies want Project 2025.
But why isn’t there one Republican brave enough to take this man on? What is hanging over their heads?
He's an evil lil' twit.
#OustTeamFelon47
#TheFilibooker #CoryBooker #RockOnSenator #GoodTrouble #ComeOnDems #MeetTheMoment #WeNeedSomeHeroes #Rise
https://prospect.org/economy/2025-04-03-theyre-not-tariffs-theyre-sanctions/
What is the mechanism to remove the current Leader?
Meet our new reciprocal TARIFF. #CatsEatNazis4Snacks
Malignant narcissists have a need for power and control and will do whatever it takes to achieve their goals, even if it means harming others in the process. They are often prone to fits of rage and can be physically violent towards those who cross them.
And somewhere along the line, he's going to steal something huge. It's not about power, it's about money. We need to be ready, catch him red-handed, and persecute.
It's how the mafia, drug lords and African warlords have been doing it for ages though not on a world scale.
I see all this.
But he is elderly and physically weak. What about when he dies and we have a President Vance?
-run authoritarian state.
Hello?!
Congress gets to wield Tariff policy, not executive.
Republicans in both the House and the Senate will absolutely NOT stop him now
Bullshit. We sent Democrats to control the White House, Senate and House immediately after Trump's coup attempt.
It is fucking outrageous that our Democratic representatives let the leaders of an insurrection get off scott free, enabling them to try again to seize power.
You had the power, we gave it to you, we trusted you, and you failed hard.
Don't bullshit us that we are the ones that have to fix it. We aren't given the privilege of serving in the Senate.
We know it’s a part of a plan to screw us all.
Now what?
https://bsky.app/profile/timothysnyder.bsky.social/post/3llw4ma4vp22f
There's something called skyview to help with that. Now you can share it anywhere
https://skyview.social?url=https://...
But, he should be withholding unanimous consent on every vote.
It’s sad that Congress, from the beginning, has been silent.
It’s sad that Congress nominated all the buffoons completely incapable.
A guy who’s anti-vaccine, a bimbo who’s pro-Russia.
It’s unbelievable that you’re only understanding now.
This serves their purpose (P2025)
It is not sad. It is infuriating.
Confederates do not believe in democracy or laws. They believe in violence and coercion to enforce their twisted social order.
Be better.
https://www.reuters.com/fact-check/no-evidence-2012-trump-post-calling-impeachment-if-dow-drops-by-1000-points-2025-03-11/
They have no 🏀🏀.
Thank you very much for the thread.
The examples are rife. A majority or Republicans in power are fine with what is happening.
All of us, and a few democrat leaders, are the response to this crisis.
Strap in.
You need to make yourselves on the left bigger than the threat. How? I'm not sure, but we can explore.
Check the link below to see when, where, and time Hands Off
is happening and your state.
https://www.mobilize.us/handsoff/
https://bsky.app/profile/thejenniwren.teamlh.social/post/3llmlo5znsc24
It's Putin.
It's the federalist society.
It's the heritage foundation.
It's the Republican party.
They've been working on this for 50 years, maybe longer.
Trump is the patsy, effective because he's the master of distraction. They point, he signs.
Those factions seem like they would definitely prefer a system that forces fealty, even if their beloved market crashes first.
“We should be aware of the demagogues.”
he set the stage for this
Perhaps?
It was to enable southern states to continue using armed slave militias to chase down escaped slaves.
by and large congressional democrats are coming through this just fine
25th needs to be invoked now. How can Repubs be so dumb. They are being led off a bridge.
https://bsky.app/profile/shriketron.bsky.social/post/3ll4miemcoc2d
this helps them achieve Project 2025
No autopsy, quickly-planned funeral, oversized-heavy coffin for ashes???
That's not going to work
#SelfCoup
#Autogolpe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-coup
Earn your fucking votes.
Bingo! That's what I said. He doesn't even know how to spell tariffs, let alone know what the ramification of them can cause. This is Vought and Stephen Miller
https://theplotagainstamerica.com
https://theplotagainstamerica.com/
She was correct when she warned us.
I put all hope in us, the people,the anonymous cloud. #3E
Powered by @skywriter.blue
Senate Democrats need to do more, or we'll find someone else who will.
The longer that fuck sits there the worse it it.
its project 2025 to the letter and they will put us on the street.
I have been looking for someone to say this, and befuddled by economists and the talking heads of the stock market talking in circles and at a loss.
This is why the liberal arts in education are so important.
That said I'd be interested in what u would do as a Dem Senator right now.
The 'how we fight back' bit is disappointingly short though.
I don't necessarily believe it, but I hope so.
he’s a psychopath
Massive, idiotic grift that will destroy our democracy & crash markets.
But, hey, the oligarchs will buy low/sell high with their billions insulating them from the economic consequences.
Look at how many businesses raised prices due to "covid inflation" under Biden, yet also reported record profits.
Yeah wonder who got that unneeded job out of nowhere.
Stay strong! Stay mad! Channel your anger into action.
https://Handsoff2025.com
He was always in the Star Enquirer or some other gossip rag weekly
He did not anticipate the rebellion from other countries or the pure hatred for musk and his little twits.
Sacrificing social security while the stock market is crashing shows just how amateurish they are.
Now stop grand standing and do your damn job
When MAGA says this is like a kitchen renovation, you say: “They forget to say the end where you run out of money to finish the job, and you’re stuck with an unfinished kitchen. And a house you can’t sell.”
he is a mobster and an extortionist.
Complex dynamic systems cannot be reset brutally.
Prev tarrifs
Ming dynasty
Cultural revolution
Every office restructure
Mergers
Trumpcession coming right up!
Wonder how many cops will “volunteer” to escort Trump’s motorcade next time.
He’s not a rocket scientist, he is shaking down the world economy one law office, one social media company, one university, one country and one global company at a time.
Thanks to John Roberts and a corrupt SCOTUS, there is no recourse.
Follow the money. Literally, someone follow the money.
Don the Con
Step 2: Crash the economy
Step 3: Provoke civil unrest
Step 4: Declare martial law
Step 5: Suspend democratic elections
https://youtu.be/5RpPTRcz1no?si=q26w2Wa-oJisJ1_r
He does it all the time!
https://thehill.com/opinion/criminal-justice/5224229-trump-makes-history-by-pardoning-a-corporation/
Its embarrasaing!
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/premiers-washington-lobbyist-checkmate-1.7458770
challenge and debate.
Dictators eliminate people until they have "loyalty."
How Trump swindled every one a second time would be hard to understand...but MAGAdonians make up around half of American voters...so...
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/premiers-washington-lobbyist-checkmate-1.7458770
Nothing is given for free
WHY AREN’T DEMS SHOUTING THIS FROM THE ROOFTOPS??????
Why isn’t this point made any time someone shoves a mic in your faces?
Why is everyone making confused pikachu faces when you absolutely know what he’s doing?
in all: these are criminals, who act like the mafia,
in all: these are criminals, who act like the mafia, and in these rich, higher circles it seems to be the main imperative to give favors to each other.
Trump may not understand math, or any other subject whatsoever, but he understands what lines his pockets.
But you should have stopped short of giving your Big Law buddies a pass.
I agree that they should be independent. You are telling us that they are not.
there’s balls on a belle
and there’s the aba
https://youtu.be/5RpPTRcz1no?si=q26w2Wa-oJisJ1_r