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Top Comments: 45 vs. 47 [1]
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Date: 2025-06-11
I’ve been pondering why life under Orange Julius Sleazer feels so different than it did the first time around, and why it’s so much harder this time. Here’s what I’ve come up with.
But first, a word from our sponsor!
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The first time felt like a fluke. A mistake, even. If not for the ridiculous anachronism of the Electoral College, it would never have happened at all. Democrats were vocal in their opposition to TFG, and so were some Republicans, especially in the beginning. While the media was never as hostile toward him as they were to Hillary Clinton, they were at least willing to mention (in the softest, most both-sidesy way possible) when things he said were utter bullshit not strictly accurate.
Impeachment still looked like a possibility. People pointed out criminal acts, holding onto the hope that he would be held criminally liable once he was out of office. At the very least, we were sure that a free and fair election would get him out of power permanently.
If only.
Just a few years later, the right-wing stranglehold on the media is much tighter (for instance, the Washington Post’s new ownership). Anti-TFG Republicans were primaried out of office like Liz Cheney, or gave up and left like Mitt Romney. One-third of the Supreme Court justices are TFG’s own appointees. And there’s a very organized movement selecting his personnel and policies.
When the 2024 election results came in, I saw a lot of people quoting Timothy Snyder’s On Tyranny, particularly the first rule: “Do not obey in advance.” And yet, one after another, we’ve watched law firms and businesses bend the knee, colleges apologize for diversity and equality, and media outlets delicately refrain from the slightest criticism of him. Even Gavin Newsom, once a vocal critic of Tinyhands Tribblehead, was sucking up to the right on his podcast.
Last time felt like swimming across a wide river. This time, it’s more like swimming straight upstream, with the current trying to sweep us further and further down.
But.
We’re not even halfway through his first year, and already we’re seeing cracks appearing. TFG is feuding (on and off) with his bestie Elon, who reminded everyone about the Epstein files. The media is now running endless variations on “Person who voted for face-eating leopards stunned to discover that leopards eat faces.” Businesses like Costco and American Airlines are voting to keep their DEI programs. I’m in the weird position of rooting for Harvard as it stands up to TFG. And — best indicator of which way the wind is blowing — Newsom is back to taunting TFG online.
We can do this. And even if it turns out we can’t, I’m not giving up while I still have the power to keep my head above water.
On to Top Comments!
Highlighted by giddy thing:
Start with Dana Vicalvi’s comment hoping that it rains cats & dogs on TFG’s ego parade on Saturday, and then read Carmeninvermont’s addendum.
Top mojo, courtesy of mik:
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