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Seeing Things – Trump Tells Reporter To Smile More – Liza Donnelly

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Trump Tells Reporter To Smile More

He’s scared

By Liza Donnelly, Feb 04, 2026

I wasn’t going to write about politics today, but something really got to me.

Yesterday, in a shocking interaction, Trump berated CNN reporter Kaitlan Collins. We have seen him do this to a degree with other female reporters. He has typically been polite to Collins (unlike other female reporters who ask questions he doesn’t like) but yesterday was horrible. Of course it had to do with the fact that Collins was asking about the Epstein Files. He lost it.

He’s scared.

“It’s time for the country to get onto something else…. something people care about.”

Trump claimed he was cleared, and suggested he had been targeted. You could see he was trying to remain calm, but then snapped.

Ironically, and for me what was the sure sign he is scared: Trump accused Collins of never smiling, ever. This is such a sexist and misogynistic attitude towards women. It is a common remark—I’ve gotten it many times on the street. It is an attitude that says we are only on this planet to be pleasing to men. I find it personally offensive.

Similar to calling a female reporter “piggy,” as he did a few weeks ago.

This is what we are seeing being set up in the administration, and how they want the US to be. A system that does not value women, and those who are in the administration are complicit in this patriarchal arrangement. It’s disgusting. The women he has on his administration are basically there for show. They may be smart people, but I do not believe they are valued, and will be discarded at a moment’s notice. Please watch:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRGVFAca_IA

The Epstein Files are a blaring, horrendous, criminal extension of this attitude towards women. I cannot wait for it to be completely exposed as the corrupt, sick network it is. And see the perpetrators behind bars.

Here is another drawing from a few years ago.

I meant to do a post about dogs, since the Westminster was yesterday. I’ll share tomorrow!

Thanks for being here. You guys are the best. I have hope, we can do this.

Seeing Things is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

Editor’s Note: Seeing Things is important. Liza’s voice is strong, that good, her posts are on target, and valued for us all. –DrWeb

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump Tells Reporter To Smile More – by Liza Donnelly

Seeing Things – Trump’s Police State Moves Scare Me – Liza Donnelly

Trump’s Police State Moves Scare Me

And a dog cartoon to help you cope

By Liza Donnelly, Jan 12, 2026

The drawing above was done during Trump’s first term in office. I don’t recall the precise news item that made me draw this pied piper image, but it’s still relevant.

Only things are much worse.

It appears as though Trump is ratcheting up his efforts to create a police state, enforced by people who support him and believe in the tactics used on January 6th. We know Kristi Noem is sending thousands more ICE to Minneapolis. But that’s the tip of the iceberg. In Heather Cox Richardson’s column yesterday, she shared information about this increase in military power to enforce trump’s ideology and police American citizens. I quote her here because it’s important:

“Although ICE currently employs more than 20,000 people, it is looking to hire over 10,000 more with the help of the money Republicans put in their One Big Beautiful Bill Act of July. That law tripled ICE’s budget for enforcement and deportation to about $30 billion.

On December 31, Drew Harwell and Joyce Sohyun Lee of the Washington Post reported that ICE was investing $100 million on what it called a “wartime recruitment” strategy to hire thousands of new officers. It planned to target gun rights supporters and military enthusiasts as well as those who listen to right-wing radio shows, directing ads to people who have gone to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fights or shopped for guns and tactical gear. It planned to send ads to the phone web browsers and social media feeds of people near military bases, NASCAR races, gun and trade shows, or college campuses, apparently not considering them the hotbeds of left-wing indoctrination right-wing politicians claim.”

Sunday night after an announcement from Trump’s DOJ would investigate the chair of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, in an unprecidented move, Powell released a video powerfully countering this action. Every living former head of the Federal Reserve condemned an “unprecedented” attempt by the Trump administration to weaken the central bank’s independence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckGHaBLSn4

“The reported criminal inquiry into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is an unprecedented attempt to use prosecutorial attacks to undermine that independence,” a blunt statement signed by 13 former senior officials said. “This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly. It has no place in the United States whose greatest strength is the rule of law, which is at the foundation of our economic success.”

Powell argued he had been threatened with criminal charges because the Fed had set interest rates “based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president”.

The Federal Reserve is designed to be independent of presidents to avoid exactly what Trump is trying to do, writes Heather Cox Richardson. Senator Tillis, who sits on the Senate Finance Committee posted that “[i]f there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none. It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question.”

More agents are being sent to Minnesota and Kristi Noem ordered restrictions on congressional oversight.

Hopeful news: States are moving to rein in ICE.

In a long NY Times interview, Trump said civil rights led white people to be “very badly treated.”

I wanted to share this video below with you, a very strange Trumo moment. I know there’s a lot of strange moments with Trump, but this one stuck out to me. Last week he was in a boardroom at the White House with oil executives, and he paused the meeting to wander over the window and boast about the plans for his new ballroom. It was extremely awkward, it seemed to me, people laughing nervously at what he was doing. It also seemed very much like a man who can’t control himself and his egocentric, narcissistic tendencies, and in some ways he knew it hadn’t worked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRxVv8HHcLs

ALL of the relentless hostile things that Trump is doing in the last few weeks is a reaction to the Epstein Files. Trump’s DOJ has released less than 1% of the Epstein Files, and much of those released are ridiculously redacted as to be useless. They are trying to distract us.

I’ll end today with a dog drawing for you.

Have a good Monday, if you can. See you tomorrow, thanks for being here! Keep up the good work.

Thank you, Liza. Featured image at top by WP AI. –DrWeb

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump’s Police State Moves Scare Me – by Liza Donnelly

Seeing Things – Trump’s Police State Moves Scare Me – Liza Donnelly

Seeing Things – Trump’s Police State Moves Scare Me, And a dog cartoon to help you cope

By Liza Donnelly, Jan 12, 2026

The drawing above was done during Trump’s first term in office. I don’t recall the precise news item that made me draw this pied piper image, but it’s still relevant.

Only things are much worse.

It appears as though Trump is ratcheting up his efforts to create a police state, enforced by people who support him and believe in the tactics used on January 6th. We know Kristi Noem is sending thousands more ICE to Minneapolis. But that’s the tip of the iceberg. In Heather Cox Richardson’s column yesterday, she shared information about this increase in military power to enforce trump’s ideology and police American citizens. I quote her here because it’s important:

“Although ICE currently employs more than 20,000 people, it is looking to hire over 10,000 more with the help of the money Republicans put in their One Big Beautiful Bill Act of July. That law tripled ICE’s budget for enforcement and deportation to about $30 billion.

On December 31, Drew Harwell and Joyce Sohyun Lee of the Washington Post reported that ICE was investing $100 million on what it called a “wartime recruitment” strategy to hire thousands of new officers. It planned to target gun rights supporters and military enthusiasts as well as those who listen to right-wing radio shows, directing ads to people who have gone to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fights or shopped for guns and tactical gear. It planned to send ads to the phone web browsers and social media feeds of people near military bases, NASCAR races, gun and trade shows, or college campuses, apparently not considering them the hotbeds of left-wing indoctrination right-wing politicians claim.”

Sunday night after an announcement from Trump’s DOJ would investigate the chair of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, in an unprecidented move, Powell released a video powerfully countering this action. Every living former head of the Federal Reserve condemned an “unprecedented” attempt by the Trump administration to weaken the central bank’s independence.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KckGHaBLSn4

“The reported criminal inquiry into Federal Reserve Chair Jay Powell is an unprecedented attempt to use prosecutorial attacks to undermine that independence,” a blunt statement signed by 13 former senior officials said. “This is how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly. It has no place in the United States whose greatest strength is the rule of law, which is at the foundation of our economic success.”

Powell argued he had been threatened with criminal charges because the Fed had set interest rates “based on our best assessment of what will serve the public, rather than following the preferences of the president”.

The Federal Reserve is designed to be independent of presidents to avoid exactly what Trump is trying to do, writes Heather Cox Richardson. Senator Tillis, who sits on the Senate Finance Committee posted that “[i]f there were any remaining doubt whether advisers within the Trump Administration are actively pushing to end the independence of the Federal Reserve, there should now be none. It is now the independence and credibility of the Department of Justice that are in question.”

More agents are being sent to Minnesota and Kristi Noem ordered restrictions on congressional oversight.

Hopeful news: States are moving to rein in ICE.

In a long NY Times interview, Trump said civil rights led white people to be “very badly treated.”

I wanted to share this video below with you, a very strange Trumo moment. I know there’s a lot of strange moments with Trump, but this one stuck out to me. Last week he was in a boardroom at the White House with oil executives, and he paused the meeting to wander over the window and boast about the plans for his new ballroom. It was extremely awkward, it seemed to me, people laughing nervously at what he was doing. It also seemed very much like a man who can’t control himself and his egocentric, narcissistic tendencies, and in some ways he knew it hadn’t worked.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pRxVv8HHcLs&t=1s

ALL of the relentless hostile things that Trump is doing in the last few weeks is a reaction to the Epstein Files. Trump’s DOJ has released less than 1% of the Epstein Files, and much of those released are ridiculously redacted as to be useless. They are trying to distract us.

I’ll end today with a dog drawing for you.

Have a good Monday, if you can. See you tomorrow, thanks for being here! Keep up the good work.

Editor’s Note: Thank you, Liza, for the research, facts, and truth in these times. –DrWeb

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump’s Police State Moves Scare Me – by Liza Donnelly

Seeing Things – January 6th Is Still Happening In Real Time – Liza Donnelly

I’m serious today because this is deadly serious, January 6th Is Still Happening In Real Time

By Liza Donnelly, Jan 06, 2026

Above is drawing I did as I watched the insurrection unfold on television on January 6th, 2020. It was terrifying.

Later that day, during a live broadcast, I did the above on paper, from memory, live on Instagram. Police officer Eugene Goodman was the man who stopped insurrectionists from further entering the depths of the Capital; I remember watching him, in awe, and was so moved by his bravery. He may have single handedly saved the lives of some Senators, Congress people and Vice President Mike Pence.

For some years after that horrific violent coup attempt, we were hopeful that it was an isolated event. But as I began to see how Trump continue his election-denying, and more and more people were willing to lie about it and join his side, it was clear to me that we were in big trouble. I saw that what was going to happen was that Trump and anyone who attached themselves to him with these lies, was going to try to affect a coup from within the government. Then he was re-elected on more lies, swindling his followers into thinking he was all for them.

We are living a slow, internal coup right now. Vote in ALL elections, protest and call your reps.

The Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado has vowed to return to the country as soon as possible and she rejected the authority of the interim president backed by the US after it forcibly removed Maduro. She wants to return and hold elections.

Many people in Venezuela expected her to return as the leader of the country after Maduro was captured. Today, Machado publicly praised Trump for capturing Maduro, who was an illegitimate leader of the country following the previous elections which he lost. But Trump sidelined Machado as a potential leader, saying she has no support in her country; a flat out lie. She is hugely popular. Some are suggesting that because Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year (for her opposition work against Maduro), and Trump desperately wanted to get it, that his ego will not let her return to the country. Trump wants to run Venezuela, and hopes to threaten those in power now to do what he wants. He probably thinks that Machado is not someone he can trust to do his bidding.

There was a briefing yesterday for the Congressional Gang of Four about the Venezuela military action. It left members with more questions, and we don’t know yet what those opposed to Trump’s warmongering will do.

“This business of coming over and just talking to some of us, I think is a special kind of stupid,” Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) said in an interview Monday. “They need to sit down with every member of the Senate and explain what’s going on.”

As that briefing was going on, Trump advisor Stephen Miller was on CNN in an interview was at times very contentious, Miller yelling at Tapper, and saying some outrageous things. The premise of his comments were that the United States has the right, because of the fact that we are a superpower, to take over countries in the Western Hemisphere for our security. Power over diplomacy.

Below is a clip that will show you, as well as the full exchange. Miller stated that we have “a right to Greenland.” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark urged Mr. Trump on Sunday to “stop the threats” to annex Greenland, in effect attacking a NATO ally.

Miller:

“We live in a world, in the real world, Jake, that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power. These are the iron laws of the world since the beginning of time.”

“We set the terms and conditions,” Mr. Miller said. “We have a complete embargo on all of their oil and their ability to do commerce. So for them to do commerce, they need our permission. For them to be able to run an economy, they need our permission. So the United States is in charge. The United States is running the country.”

“The future of the free world depends on America being able to assert ourselves and our interests without apology. This whole period that happened after World War II when the United States began apologizing, groveling and begging…” then Jake Tapper cut him off saying “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“You’re looking at it the wrong way Jake. This neoliberalism idea that the United states should go around the world demanding elections everywhere!”

This is imperialism.

https://www.tiktok.com/@cnn/video/7592063639100624141?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc

Here’s the whole interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kLFkQbPWWDI

Source: https://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/kLFkQbPWWDI?rel=0&autoplay=0&showinfo=0&enablejsapi=0

The Pentagon moved to punish retired Navy captain and Senator Mark Kelly for an “anti-Trump video” he was a part of (it was not anti-Trump), calling it “seditious behavior.” They want to cut his military pay of $6000/month.

“Pete Hegseth wants to send the message to every single retired servicemember that if they say something he or Donald Trump doesn’t like, they will come after them the same way,” Kelly said. “It’s outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that.”

Here is the video: https://youtube.com/shorts/Fk9Gh3qwW4I?si=QlMPl9Xraza6tytc

I’ll end with one more thing about January 6th. Today on Capitol Hill, Pamela Hempel spoke at a hearing that Democrats held to mark the 5th anniversary of January 6th. She was one of the 1600 insurrectionists who were pardoned by Trump, but she refused the pardon and served time in prison.

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Direct link to above: View this post on Instagram, A post shared by C-SPAN (@cspan) … C-SPAN on Instagram: “Pamela Hemphill, a Jan. 6 participant who…

She said at the hearing today:

“Once I got away from the Maga cult and started educating myself about January 6th, I knew what I did was wrong. I am guilty and I own that guilt I had fallen for the president’s lies.”

A remarkable woman of conscience. I wish we had some like her among congressional Republicans, then we could end this madness.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: January 6th Is Still Happening In Real Time

Trump’s Frightening, Illegal Attack. And Words To Match

Trump’s Frightening, Illegal Attack. And Words To Match

The warmongering moves of a US president

By Liza Donnelly, Jan 03, 2026

“We know that Mr. Trump’s warmongering violates the law.”
—NY Times Editorial Board.

Last night, Trump ordered an invasion of Venezuela. In an operation that was apparently planned for months, the U.S. military stormed Venezuela and kidnapped President Maduro and his wife. They’re being taken to New York. Casualities of Venezuelans is not know, apparently no Americans were harmed.

My head hurts. My heart hurts.

The bottom line is, Trump plans to “run” Venezuela, he said so in the press conference just now. Haven’t we learned our lesson? How can this be justified as legal? What will Congress do, can this be grounds for impeachment? How do MAGA supporters feel about this?

I just watched Trump’s press conference so you don’t have to. Here are some key things that I heard and was able to write down. It went on for an hour, so I did not catch a lot, but had my ears were tuned for what I thought to be significant statements.

Trump:

“So we are going to run the country until a transition takes place. We can’t take a chance of anyone else taking over. We’re there now. We’re going to run it until a proper transition can take place. We want to mke Venuzeual rich, independant and safe.”

“The Monroe docrine is a big deal, but we’ve superceded it.”

Pete Hegseth spoke with bravado, swagger and his ususl dramatic tv voice. About Maduro, he said,

“He f-around and he found out.”

“This is America first, this is peace through strength. America is back.”

Gen Dan Caine, Chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke in incredible detail about the operation, naming all the planes and systems and machines and technical stuff, as if trying to show how great this country is with such things. In fact it was said by Trump and Hegseth, bragging about our military prowess. Caine said we are claiming “the power of American force.”

Marco Rubio: “This president is a president of action.”

When asked if Congress was notified, he said, “It’s not the kind of mission you can pre-notify. This is a Congress that leaks.”

Trump:

“With me you’ve only had victories. No losses.”

“We’re in the oil business now.”

“What Joe Biden did to this country should never be forgotten. If they had won, we would now be Venezuela on steroids.”

“We will run it properly and will bring in the biggest oil companies in there.”

Asked about running the country could be for a long time: “Its not going to cost us anything. Theres a lot of money in the ground.”

“The money is going to the Venezuelans. And we will be reimbursed.”

“The people behind me will be running the country.” i.e.Rubio, Hegseth, Steven Miller (who said nothing. Why was he there?)

“We are not afraid of boots on the ground.”

It’s all about money.

Listening to all these white men speak, it’s all about men being tough.

When a reporter asked Trump about China and Russia, his response was “we are in the oil business now.” This means that Trump will try to leverage power as he controls all the oil in Venezuela.

I didn’t plan to write about politics today, and I don’t usually write much about international issues. But this is about Trump, it is too important.

Of course I feel for the Venezuelan people, they were ruled by a horrible person, Maduro. A friend of mine had to leave her country of Venezuela a couple of years ago. Rayma Suprani is a political cartoonist and was very critical of the government, plus she’s gay. She was harassed and her life threatened incessantly, so she had to leave for her own safety. She now lives in Florida.

But I strongly believe that we should not get involved with regime change–I know we have in the past. We don’t take over countries and decide to “run them” without their permission. With the kind of actions as Trump ordered last night, it then is justifiable for Putin to go in and arrest Zelenskyy, for Xi JinPing to take over Taiwan.

This is not about human rights, it’s about power and money.

So, happy Saturday. I hope you are able to enjoy your weekend. We’re going out to a movie for a change!

I am grateful that you are here. See you tomorrow!

Seeing Things is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

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Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump’s Frightening, Illegal Attack. And Words To Match

Trump’s Continued Degradation – Seeing Things -Liza Donnelly

Trump’s Continued Degradation

It should be front and center

By Liza Donnelly, Dec 16, 2025

Yesterday we learned that the wonderful movie director and actor Rob Reiner and his wife Michele Singer were murdered in their home. Authorities believe their son is responsible. It’s so incredibly sad. Nick Reiner spoke about how he had been in and out of rehab over a dozen times, and was helped by his parents through it all over the years. Apparently, Nick had argued with his father the night before their murders. It’s just heartbreaking, and hard to know what happened and why. I suppose we’ll find out eventually.

It’s been a difficult week. So much hate. And then this: after the news broke about the Reiners’ murders, Trump wrote on social media:

It’s actually crazy talk.

And then later, he doubled down. [See embedded YouTube video.]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qo9DhU_AYsY

We all have unfortunately become accustomed to horrible things from Trump, but this hits a new low for me. They are the comments of a narcissistic, cruel human being. In the hours after he said these things, many condemned them, including members of the Republican Party. It was good to read that some members of the GOP have a sense of decency. But I just checked the various mainstream outlets that I read daily, and I see no mention of Trump’s horrific words anymore. Why can’t there be a way to keep pushing back on this horrible behavior? And keep calling him out loudly on how he treats female reporters? Has mainstream media lost its decency?

Rob Reiner was a political activist, very vocal in his opinion against Trump. He was angry and not afraid to show it. This morning I thought, wouldn’t it be sweet if Trump’s comments about the Reiners’ murder are the thing that really bring him down? That the crudeness of what Trump said, how mean it was, how really crazy the comments were, will be what push people away from him. Trump’s support is eroding, and this certainly added to it. That would have made Reiner happy, I bet.

In other news: Hegseth witholds video of boat survivors’ deaths. “Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth refused to share video of a heavily scrutinized Sept. 2 military strike on a suspected drug boat during briefings with Congress on Tuesday. Mr. Hegseth faced calls to share unedited video of the attack, in which a follow-up strike killed two survivors, but said he would play it only for the House and Senate Armed Services committees. Mr. Hegseth added that it would not be made public. The U.S. military attacks have killed at least 95 people.”

Unemployment numbers rose today to a four year high, causing worry for the economy. Trump shrugged it off.

And the Epstein files have still not been released.

I don’t want to draw a cartoon about Trump again today, it’s too hard. So I leave you with a couple of snow people!

I hope you’re holding up okay, it’s been a rough week. Thank you for being here, I’m very grateful for your company. Have a good Tuesday.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump’s Continued Degradation – by Liza Donnelly

#95PeopleKilled #BashesReiner #ContinuedDegradation #Crazy #Dangerous #Degradation #EpsteinFiles #GOP #Insane #LizaDonnelly #LowPointForTrump #MichelleReiner #MurderVideoFromAir #Republicans #RobReiner #SeeingThings #Substack #Trump #TrumpSHate

When Do They Serve the Wine? (2010)

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Stock image.
When Do They Serve the Wine?: The Folly, Flexibility, and Fun of Being a Woman (2010)

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Signed and doodled upon.

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Seeing Things – Trump: Gold In The Capitol? – Liza Donnelly

And the Epstein Files are still not released…

By Liza Donnelly, November 3, 2025

Trump really would rather not have a legislative branch of any kind. Plus, the building that houses that branch of democracy is not gaudy enough for him.

And this just in: Trump says he’s only going to make partial SNAP payments this month.

CBS News did an interview with Trump on 60 Minutes, and surprise surprise, it was a nothing burger. Nora O’Donnell did not push back, although at times early on, she appeared to try a little. The less than half hour interview (which I fell asleep for part of) was heavily edited. A full transcript of the interview was later published, along with a 73-minute-long extended version online. Trump got what he wanted from a network now run by sympathizers.

Good news: Heather K. Gerken, the new head of the Ford Foundation, said Friday that the foundation, which has a long history of supporting social justice and civil rights initiatives, was undeterred. Her priority, she said, was “defending the rule of law and protecting our election system.” She sees protecting democracy as a non-partisan issue. The Ford Foundation has been the repeated target of JD Vance since he became Vice President. Gerken is undetered, saying,

“When the Ford Foundation funded the civil rights movement, it was a source of controversy,” she said. “It was incredibly important that we were protected in doing that work. When the Ford Foundation stood up to protect free speech and dissent during the McCarthy era, it was incredibly important that we had the right to do that.”

We are in the second month of the government shutdown. It’s hard to know how it will end, and, as Jamelle Bouie suggests in this video, Trump would like it never to end. He may think he has more power without a legislative branch.

@nytopinion “I don’t know how this ends,” says @nytopinion columnist Jamelle Bouie on the ongoing government shutdown. In this round table for “The Opinions,” Jamelle, David French and Michelle Cottle break down how Trump is using a “forever shutdown” to expand his executive power. “It seems to me that the president thinks you can have a forever shutdown, and that in the president’s conception of things, the shutdown gives him more power through some magical, convoluted, transmogrifying mechanism that no one understands,”@jamellebouie argues. #theopinions #nytopinion ♬ original sound – New York Times Opinion

https://www.tiktok.com/@nytopinion/video/7568581913699470622 – Link to above…

I will write it every day: The Epstein Files are still not released.

And here’s another version of the same idea as the drawing at the top of this letter.

That’s it for me today, hope you guys are all well. Enjoy your Monday, what’s left of it. Thanks for being here!

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump: Gold In The Capitol? – by Liza Donnelly

#2025 #America #Capitol #DonaldTrump #Education #EpsteinFiles #Gold #Health #History #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #LizaDonnelly #nytopinion #Opinion #Politics #Resistance #Science #SeeingThings #Shutdown #Substack #theopinions #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates

The End of the Rainbow
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Cathy and Spence’s copy of Cartoon Marriage.

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A Hippo in Our Yard

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Liza Donnelly.

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Signed by Liza Donnelly, Liana Finck, Roz Chast, Amy Hwang, Emily Flake, and The New Yorker's cartoon editor Emma Allen.

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Seeing Things – My Drawings Marched! -Liza Donnelly

My Drawings Marched!

No Kings Protest photos

By Liza Donnelly, Oct 19, 2025

When asked if the president had a comment on the demonstrations yesterday for No Kings Day nationwide, Abigail Jackson, a White House spokeswoman, gave a brief response in an email.

“Who cares?” she said.

Millions came out to protest. Apparently red states had significantly more protesters this time than on the last No Kings Day. Altogether, protesters numbered almost half again as many as previous protests.

Resistance is gaining ground.

A friend (and also Executive Producer on my documentary, WOMEN LAUGHING), Lauren Lexton, took me up on the offer to use a few of my drawings against Trump in a protest yesterday. I’m honored, and so happy to be represented at a protest by my drawings! Thank you, Lauren!

And after our world premiere of the film yesterday, we walked in Woodstock and I took some photos of the passionate protestors. Woodstock, of course, is the town near where the famous music festival Woodstock happened, and it still carries a very liberal, peace vibe throughout the town.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: My Drawings Marched! – by Liza Donnelly – Seeing Things

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Seeing Things – Democracy Leads To Peace – Liza Donnelly

I cannot help but think the Nobel Committee is sending a message to the world as it turns more authoritarian and more to radical right ideologies…. and to Trump. Machado built a powerful social movement challenging the country’s authoritarian president, and has been living in hiding since last year. The committee said she received the Peace Prize recognition for…

“her tireless work promoting democratic rights for the people of Venezuela and for her struggle to achieve a just and peaceful transition from dictatorship to democracy.”

Democracy Leads To Peace

And my documentary is premiering in NYC!

By Liza Donnelly, Oct 10, 2025

It is thrilling that pro-democracy opposition leader, Marina Corina Machado of Venezuela won the Nobel Peace Prize, for standing up for democracy!

And, she’s a woman.

U.N. Secretary General António Guterres said in a statement it was a reminder that the tools of democracy were the means for peaceful change. “At a time when democracy and the rule of law are under threat globally, today’s prize is a tribute to all those working to safeguard civil and political rights around the world,” Guterres said.

Trump campaigned heavily for the prize, and today he criticized the Nobel Committee for being “political.” He is the polar opposite of Machado: Trump is trying to END democracy in the United States.

We will not let him.

On another, sort of personal note: While the world is in such turmoil, we can — and should— be together and take time to laugh. In my documentary, WOMEN LAUGHING, I talk with ten women cartoonists who are incredibly talented artist and thinkers. We talk, draw and laugh together, discuss our work and the world as it is for women right now. It also includes a look back at previous women cartoonists at The New Yorker, and what we have in common.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Democracy Leads To Peace – by Liza Donnelly – Seeing Things

#2025 #America #democracy #DonaldTrump #Education #History #Libraries #Library #LizaDonnelly #NobelPeacePrize #nobelpeaceprizewinner #Opinion #Peace #Politics #Resistance #Science #SeeingThings #Substack #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates #Venezuela #WomenLaughing

Seeing Things – The Trump And Hegseth Show: Toxic Masculinity – Liza Donnelly

The Trump And Hegseth Show: Toxic Masculinity

And use US Cities as military training grounds

By Liza Donnelly, Sep 30, 2025

Today, Pete Hegseth and Trump gathered 800+ Generals, spending millions to bring them to Virgina just so he and Hegseth could have a photo op. It was a joke, Hegseth looked riduculous. A former FOX talk show host talking to 800 men and women who have risked their lives for our democracy. I don’t really want to spend too much time on it, but it really annoys me. Their effort to ram a toxic brand of machismo down our throats is offensive.

Hegseth: “No more climate change worship, no more division, distraction or gender delusions,”

He wants to get rid of facial hair in the military.

He wants everyone in the military to be really “fit.”

He defended his firing of more than a dozen military leaders, many of them people of color and women: the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Charles Q. Brown Jr., who is Black; the first woman to command the Navy, Adm. Lisa Franchetti; and the U.S. military’s representative to the NATO military committee, Vice Adm. Shoshana Chatfield.

Walking around stage, he said he wanted to change the military’s “stupid rules of engagement” that he claims limit war fighters in the field. Hegseth had fired the top lawyers for the Army, Navy and Air Force in an effort to “remake the military into a force that is more aggressive on the battlefield and less hindered by the laws of armed conflict.”

He wants his “Department of War” (what Trump wants the Defense Dept to be renamed, but Congress has not approved it) to be able to play dirty, I guess.

Trump followed Hegseth, and try as hard as he could, he could not get the military leaders to laugh or even applaud. It is customary for miltary personal to remain non-partisan in situations like this, much to Trump’s chagrin. NY Times reporter Maggie Haberman wrote, “It was striking how many times President Trump tried to get the assembled military leaders to break character, or laugh when he mocked his predecessors or used his typical political lines. It was also striking how often they resisted before Trump finally threw in the towel.”

In his rambling delivery, repeating so many of his grievances to the assembled group of high ranking professionals, he brought up tariffs, Joe Biden and the autopen, the southern border, CNN, his feelings about Putin and his desire for a Nobel Peace Prize he feels he deserves. “I think we should maybe start thinking about battleships by the way,” he said at one point, pausing to bring up a 1950s documentary series about naval warfare. “I used to watch ‘Victory at Sea.’ I love ‘Victory at Sea.’”

Trump said he told Hegseth that “we should use some of these dangerous cities as training grounds for our military,” referring to urban areas in the US.

This man is crazy and dangerous.

The goverment is close to a shutdown, which will furlough many and stop services. Speaker Johnson has set it up so that this will happen: he canceled votes earlier this month after Republicans in his chamber pushed through a stopgap spending measure to fund the government through Nov. 21. That was a bid to “pressure Democrats into accepting the Republicans’ proposal, but they refused, blocking the measure in that chamber, where the bill is currently stalled, awaiting the 60 votes it would need to move.”

Continue/Read Original Article Here: The Trump And Hegseth Show: Toxic Masculinity

#Admirals #Crazy #Dangerous #Democrats #DepartmentOfFools #FacialHair #Generals #LizaDonnelly #MilitaryTraining #PeteHegseth #Republicans #SeeingThings #ToxicMasculinity #USCities #USMilitary #WastedMoney

Seeing Things – Trump: Delay, Lie, Fake Stuff – Liza Donnelly

Trump: Delay, Lie, Fake Stuff

And I saw this person today

By Liza Donnelly, Sep 29, 2025

The above is a live drawing I did on my iPhone with my finger. I was waiting for the commuter train in Yonkers, NY and this elderly man on his phone walked by.

Adelita Grijalva was voted into the Arizona House in a special election last week, and it is significant because she is the first Latina American to be elected to Congress. But her election is also important because her promised vote on the resolution to release the Epstein files will be the 218th vote, and that will be enough House votes to force Speaker Johnson to release the files. But he is delaying her certification, claiming he is waiting until her election is official, despite her 40 points victory. From Meidas Touch: “Johnson’s new standard of waiting for all the votes to be counted was not in place two weeks ago when he swore in Democrat James Walkinshaw of Virginia with unofficial results immediately after his victory. Johnson has also routinely sworn in Republicans the day after their race is called.”

Delay is Trump’s magic wand, all his life he has gotten away with so much by delaying.

Oregon is suing Trump to stop him from deploying National Guard to the city, which he announce he would do over the weekend. On Saturday, Trump stated he would use “full force, if necessary,” to combat protests that he said were interfering with immigration enforcement.

“I think this is a sad day for our country, a sad day for Oregon that the president of the United States does not listen to local leaders about what they need,” Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek, a Democrat, told reporters.

“When the president and I spoke yesterday, I told him in very plain language there is no insurrection or threat to public safety that necessitates military intervention in Portland or any other city in our state,” Kotek said. “Putting our own military on our streets is an abuse of power … Local law enforcement has this under control.”

As of today, it appears Trump is backing away from this plan.

Good news: California doctors can now prescribe abortion pills anonymously. It is meant to shield doctors from out-of-state lawsuits.

Last night at 10:18, Trump posted a fake video, an AI generated Fox report. It was about how Trump will be making healthcare “available to everyone,” except just a few offers will be available to start.

“Every American will soon receive their own MedBed card.” As the video shows what looks like a futuristic hospital, complete with what appear to be podlike beds, he continues: “With it, you’ll have guaranteed access to our new hospitals led by the top doctors in the nation, equipped with the most advanced technology in the world. This is the beginning of a new era in American healthcare.”

@jaketapperTrump shares apparent AI video promoting ‘medbed’ conspiracy theory

I learned that MedBeds are a conspiracey theory promoted by QAnon people in which there is a world where there exists these magic beds that can cure anything, from aging to whatever that befalls the human body. But, according to QAnon, these beds are only available to the rich and elite. The post has since been deleted.

I am sure that in the few hours this was live on social media, it created a major stir in the QAnon community, let alone regular followers. It is a very cynical, manipulative use of AI to trick his followers. Heather Cox Richardson writes, “If MedBeds were real and “every citizen” could use them, as the deep fake video suggests, no one would need to worry about losing their healthcare insurance.”

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump: Delay, Lie, Fake Stuff – by Liza Donnelly

#2025 #America #DonaldTrump #FakeStuff #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #Lie #LizaDonnelly #Opinion #Politics #Resistance #Science #SeeingThings #Substack #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates

Seeing Things – A News Item And A Silly Cartoon – Liza Donnelly

A News Item And A Silly Cartoon

By Liza Donnelly, Sep 14, 2025

Apparently, new information into the investigation of the Kirk murder last week has just emerged, according to the NY Times. Govenor Spencer Cox of Utah reported that the suspect had been “radicalized” after he left college (he only studied for one semester), and according to Cox, was in a romantic relationship with someone who was transitioning from male to female. This person was his roomate, and there is no evidence that trans issues are a part of motive. The roomate is apparently co-operating with authorities.

“There clearly was a leftist ideology with this — with this assassin,” the governor said, citing the suspect’s family and romantic partner as sources of that information.

This is just the kind of news the radical right wants to hear, and if true, they will have more ammunition to blame Democrats for Kirk’s death; although they would do that anyway, regardless.

We will perhaps know more on Tuesday when the suspect will be charged. He is not cooperating with Utah authorities thus far.

Among other things, Kirk was ani-transgender, and extremely anti-independent women. The more I see and hear about his views on women in particular, the angrier I get. I also have difficulty with mainstream media highlighting the “dialogue” format Kirk used when visiting college campuses. It was his way of manipulating young minds and getting video clips to use online to further indoctrinate youth. I do not believe there was anything democratic about what he was doing—and he himself is quoted as saying he “hates empathy.” I have viewed some of these, and they are difficult to watch. He was a radical Christian right white male with arrogant and unyielding views, and his “dialogues” with college kids were a constuct to make them look stupid, and Kirk dominant. He was only after changing minds to his way of thinking, and thus, gain more power.

How it is affecting the right is extremely important. That the alleged shooter might have left-leaning views is newsworthy— it changes the dynamic.

If true.

I will wait to hear more because I do not trust the right to provide facts, when they repeatedly demonstrate that they weaponize misinformation.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: A News Item And A Silly Cartoon – by Liza Donnelly

#Cartoon #GOPSpin #GovernorUtah #Kirk #LizaDonnelly #SeeingThings #SpencerCox #Substack #Transgender

Seeing Things – Department of Hate, Etc. -Liza Donnelly

Trump’s ideas keep coming at us, it’s exhausting

By Liza Donnelly, Sep 05, 2025

Renaming the Department of Defense to be the Departent of War is such a toxic masulinity move. It’s typical. Trump is all about getting rid of Education, Health— and into making “leadership” all about aggression, hate, and dominance. But today Trump signed an executive order to make the change.

Why doesn’t he just create a Department of Hate? How about a Department of Meanness? Department of Arrogance? Department of Stupidity? Department of Sexism? I could go on but probably should stop.

NY Times opinion journalist Jamelle Bouie writes for the paper, but he also records daily—sometimes twice daily—videos (on Instagram and TikTok) with sharp intelligence and often humor. I always appreciate his take, and this time he is railing against the leadership in Florida for removing any vaccine mandates in schools or for children. It’s outrageous, and scary. Editor’s Note: I added the link for readers.

https://instagram.com/p/DOJvhE_Cc_G

A post shared by @jbouie

At least 475 South Korean workers were detained in a major ICE raid at the Hyundai Factory in Georgia. According to the Guardian, “Trump has said he wants to deport “the worst of the worst” criminals, but Ice figures have shown a rise in non-criminals being picked up. Rights advocates have denounced such raids.”

Another weak jobs report hit today, the second in a row for Trump. After the bad report in August, Trump fired the official in charge of the numbers. This month’s data was just as disappointing. Who will he fire this time?

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Department of Hate, Etc. – by Liza Donnelly – Seeing Things

#2025 #America #DepartmentOfWar #DonaldTrump #Health #History #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #LizaDonnelly #Politics #Resistance #Science #SeeingThings #Substack #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates

Anger, Passion: Survivors Speak – by Liza Donnelly

Anger, Passion: Survivors Speak

Epstein Victims at Press Conference

Today, ten survivors of Epstein’s abuse and trafficking gave a press conference on the Capitol Hill steps. I was incredibly moved. It was powerful to hear these women, listen to the details of what they went through as young girls and women, how they were manipulated, tricked and humiliated and how they have found the courage to come forward. What is crystal clear is that Epstein used his connections to powerful men— including Trump— to sway the girls into believing him. Also, it is clear that not only did Ghislaine Maxwell participate in creating and Executing the trafficking scheme, she participated in the abuse, as well. Finally, it is incredibly clear that the government covered this up for decades.

They were strong, sometimes showing their pain as they spoke. Here are some excerpts I caught, not from transcripts:

Anouska Di Georgiou: “I am no longer weak, I am no longer powerless, I am no longer alone.”

Marina Lacerda: “I was ‘minor victim one’ in federal indictment of Jeffrey Epstein in 2019. I was one of dozens of girls who I personally know who were forced into Jeffrey Epstein’s mansion on 9 east 71st St in NYC when we were just kids. Today is the first time I ever speak publicly about what happened to me. For the first time, a little girl struggling to get by at 14, finally has a voice.

An immigrant from Brazil, I was only 14 years old when I met Jeffrey. It was the summer and I was working three jobs to try to support my mom and my sister when a friend in the neighborhood told me that I could make $300 to give an older guy a massage. It went from a dream job to the worst nightmare…. I was told I had to be at the mansion so often, I ended up dropping out of high school and never went back…. From 14 to 17 I worked for Jeffrey. Every day, I hoped he would offer me a real job, his assistant or something. Something important. I would finally have made it big. That day never came. I had no way out. Until he finally told me I was too old.”

Courtney Wild: “The goverement worked so hard with Jeffrey Epstein to violate our rights. WHY? Why did the government work so hard to protect Jeffrey and not work so hard to protect me and my innocent friends? Why was Jeffrey so importnat to the government and I so insignificant?

Jena-Lisa Jones: “I had a terrible home life, but I was such an innocient kid and did well in school. I had a positve outlook on life. Then I met Jeffrey. I have never been so scared as the first time he hurt me. I remember crying on the way home, wondering how I could tell anyone about what happened in that house.

“This guy was so rich and had so many pictures with so many famous people …no one would believe me if I told them. I know I was just a little kid, but sometimes I still think it was my fault that this happened. Together we can finally make a change. Please recognize how important this is…. It is not about sides. If you are a Congress person, you have chosen to serve those who cannot always stand up for themselves. We are those people. We are the Americans that you promised to protect. We need your help. Please, President Trump, pass this bill and help us. Make us feel that our voices are finally being heard.”

Haley Robson: “I was a high school student with good grades and high aspirations when I was recruited by a classmate of mine and a 20 year old male, asking if I wanted to give an old rich guy a massage. But, what high school girl would not want to do that. That day changed my life forever and when I got into the massage room, Jeffrey Epstein (and here, Ms. Robsin pauses and takes a big, difficult breath) undressed and asked me to do things to him. My eyes welled up with tears and I have never been so scared in my life. When it was over, he paid me $200 and in exchange requested I bring a girl each time to make another $200. I told him I did not want to do that. And he gave me an ultimatum and said either you come here when I call you and give me a massage or you bring friends of yours to massage me and I will give you $200 each time she comes. I thought I would never hear from him again but he called me every day. He was so wealthy and powerful, I felt I had no choice. I thought if I dissobeyed him something bad would happen. So knowing I did not want to be sexually abused—I’m sorry— I started to bring him other girls from my high school and he payed me $200 for bringing them. I hoped each time would be the last time. One day, one of the stepmothers of one of the girls called the police on Jeffrey Epstein. The police then called me in for questioning. I had told them the truth and told them the names of all the other victims. The police treated me like a criminal. I had by this time, I had turned 18 and had been with Jeffrey since I was 16. They told me I was going to be arrested and my name be given to the press as a co-conspirator with my abuser, who I detested. My entire world was crashing around me and I was being threatened and bullied. To this day I still get death threats.”

I demand every congressman or woman who votes against this bill be outed! I wanna know!”

When asked by a member of the press as to why Trump calls the Epstein files a “hoax,” many of the women groaned. Haley stood forward to answer, in part,

“I would like Donald J. Trump and everyone around the world to humanize us. I would be more than happy to meet with him, so he knows this is not a hoax.”

The co- sponsors of this bill are Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA).

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Anger, Passion: Survivors Speak – by Liza Donnelly

#Anger #Epstein #LizaDonnelly #Maxwell #Passion #SeeingThings #SexTrafficking #Survivors

Seeing Things – Getting Angry With A Pencil – Liza Donnelly

Getting Angry With A Pencil

We are in our darkest hour

Last night, I started watching the Darkest Hour, a great film about WInston Churchill during WW II, starring Gary Oldman. Nothing new here, but it is so clear to me that we are right now in our darkest hour. I know many, many people are doing heroic things to try to stop Trump, stop his autocrat architects, the evil masterminds of Project 2025; but at times it seem so piecemeal. Where is our Churchill? He saw the danger of Hitler clearly. As he made clear right after he became Prime Minister, there is no negotiating with Hitler.

We have to fight.

This came up on my social media today:

Our lives are so scattered, and our media is fractured. This makes it difficult for one person to lead like Churchill did. All he had was a radio broadcast —which was a huge tool during the war— and he had news media as well. And his genius, his compassion. Powerhouses like Pritzker, Newsom and others are trying. We need to amplify their words. But I want to hear more from others, like Obama, Clinton, Hochul, Booker, Buttigieg, Whitmer, Klobuchar, Shapiro….to name a few.

One person in the alternative media whom I respect is Kara Swisher. She has a great podcast, On With Kara Swisher, which I highly recommend. She posted this on Bluesky this morning:

This grouping of men must infuriate Trump that he’s not with them. He probably thinks they are laughing at him; and they probably are.

Another good source of information is Meidas Touch News. Politico is good, too. If you don’t subscribe to Heather Cox Richardson’s Letter from An American, you won’t regret it.

Good news: Judge Charles R. Breyer of the Federal District Court in San Francisco found that Trump’s deployment had exceeded the limits of federal laws that generally prohibit the use of the military for domestic law enforcement. Will this stop him from sending National Guard to Chicago? Unclear.

Read MORE….

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Getting Angry With A Pencil – by Liza Donnelly

#2025 #America #DonaldTrump #Health #History #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #LizaDonnelly #Politics #Resistance #Science #SeeingThings #Substack #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates

Epstein Victims To Speak – by Liza Donnelly

Epstein Victims To Speak

And thoughts on work…

By Liza Donnelly, Sep 01, 2025

On September 3rd, ten of Epstein’s victims will hold a press conference on the steps of the Capitol. (The press conference will be streamed live on the MeidasTouch YouTube channel. I have not seen any notice of this in the Mainstream media, except Fox News). Congressman Ro Khanna (D-California) called it “explosive.” He and Congressman Thomas Massie—a Republican—are co-leading a bill to force the release of Epstein’s files. They need 218 votes. Every Democrat is already in, so six Republicans have to step up. Fox News reported that Khanna arranged this press conference and hopes that when the American public hear the victims (most of whom have not spoken up, nor been asked to), they will be outraged.

“These victims haven’t spoken for decades. When Epstein got that lenient plea deal, no one talked to the victims or their lawyers. My belief is, when the American people actually hear the victims for the first time, they are going to sympathize, their hearts are going to be broken, and all the victims are saying is for closure.”

“We’ve got 212 Democrats and 12 Republicans, including Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert. Look, this is not about Donald Trump, and it’s not partisan. This is about justice for the victims of rich and powerful men who abused underage girls.”

Khanna emphasized that “in this country, people want transparency. They want accountability. I’m confident we’re going to get the 218 votes for the discharge petition.”

I know I’ve posted this drawing before, but here it is again.

Although it’s better than it was, we still live in a culture that does not believe women.

Hundreds of marches took place today across the country today to mark Labor Day. Called “Workers Over Billionaires,” there were demonstrations in cities including New York, Houston, Washington DC, and Los Angeles, Cleveland, Ohio and Greensboro, North Carolina.

Trump is not sympathetic to workers, as much as he has touted that he is. He could care less about the common person, the working person. According to a report in the NY times: “the attack on labor unions is part of a broader effort by Trump to assert more control of the federal work force and make it easier to fire civil servants. The president has also crippled several independent boards that adjudicate employment disputes, interfering with a critical resource employees have to challenge their terminations.”

Continue/Read Original Article: https://lizadonnelly.substack.com/p/epstein-victims-to-speak-tomorrow

#2025 #America #DonaldTrump #Epstein #EpsteinVictims #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #LizaDonnelly #Politics #Resistance #Science #SeeingThings #Substack #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates #VictimsOfSexTrafficing

Seeing Things – Voting Is Voice – Liza Donnelly

Voting Is Voice

Today is the anniverary of the Nineteenth Amendment

Heather Cox Richardson created a short video explaining the history of the Amendment. Thanks, Heather, for reminding me of this anniverary!

It took decades of struggle for women— and male advocates— to gain suffrage. Our rights are again under seige from members of the Trump administration, it’s frightening.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Voting Is Voice – by Liza Donnelly – Seeing Things

#2025 #America #DonaldTrump #Health #History #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #LizaDonnelly #Opinion #Politics #Resistance #Science #SeeingThings #Substack #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates #Voice #Voting #YouTube

The Urgency Of Trump’s Destruction – by Liza Donnelly

The Urgency Of Trump’s Destruction

We need to feel it

By Liza Donnelly, Aug 25, 2025

When you slightly remove yourself from the news for a few days, as I just did, it feels odd. I stayed in touch with the headlines, but didn’t go deep during my time away. It was restorative, for sure, but also made me unsure of how to jump back in. Things right now seem to be a case of more-of-the-same, which is not good. Trump is continuing to be destructive, and the opposition is continuting to try to find a way to stop him.

I find California Govenmor Newsom’s loud, mocking tweets to be very effective in bringing attention to the fact we have a deranged, dangerous president. He recently posted a hysterical tweet that advertised a shop that included a bible for sale for $100 (“SOLD OUT” —but I imagine it never was for sale). The link included more items, and it was unclear to me if you could actually order these things and where the money would go. The site is administered by a group called Campaign for Democracy.

There are tons of Newsom memes, too.

Chicago and New York are next up in Trump’s sights for sending National Guard troops. The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has spent weeks preparing for an operation in Chicago that would include National Guard troops and potentially active-duty forces. WEEKS.

Civil Rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton spoke in Washington yesterday, and said it is clearly about targeting Black and Brown communities.

“This is laced with bigotry and racism. Not one white mayor has been designated. And I think this is a civil rights issue, a race issue, and an issue of D.C. statehood.”

The liberal cities’ leadership is pushing back hard, “An authoritarian power grab of major cities,” Gov. JB Pritzker called the move in a Friday post on X, placing it as the sole item on a list of “things People are NOT begging for” and needling Trump for his administration’s handling of the Epstein files. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said on X that deploying the national guard could “inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement” and “threaten to undermine the historic progress we have made” in fighting crime.

There are tons of Newsom memes, too.

Chicago and New York are next up in Trump’s sights for sending National Guard troops. The Washington Post reported that the Pentagon has spent weeks preparing for an operation in Chicago that would include National Guard troops and potentially active-duty forces. WEEKS.

Civil Rights leader Rev. Al Sharpton spoke in Washington yesterday, and said it is clearly about targeting Black and Brown communities.

“This is laced with bigotry and racism. Not one white mayor has been designated. And I think this is a civil rights issue, a race issue, and an issue of D.C. statehood.”

The liberal cities’ leadership is pushing back hard, “An authoritarian power grab of major cities,” Gov. JB Pritzker called the move in a Friday post on X, placing it as the sole item on a list of “things People are NOT begging for” and needling Trump for his administration’s handling of the Epstein files. Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson said on X that deploying the national guard could “inflame tensions between residents and law enforcement” and “threaten to undermine the historic progress we have made” in fighting crime.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: The Urgency Of Trump’s Destruction – by Liza Donnelly

#2025 #America #DonaldTrump #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #LizaDonnelly #Opinion #Politics #Resistance #Science #SeeingThings #Substack #Trump #TrumpAdministration #TrumpSDestruction #UnitedStates

Seeing Things – Trump’s Adoration Of Putin – by Liza Donnelly

The above drawing was bought by The New Yorker during the Iraq war, I think, but they never ran it.

Trump said after the meeting with Putin in Alaska last week that Ukraine would have to make concessions because Russia was a more “powerful” country. He obviously does not understand the importance, and power, of a free, fairly elected democracy.

He is obsessed with what he preceives as power, and he wants it.

Today, following the disastrous “summit” in Alaska last Friday, Ukrainian President Zelensky came to the White House to meet with Trump, and he was accompanied by many European leaders: French President Macron; Germany’s chancellor, Friedrich Merz; Prime Minister Keir Starmer of Britain; Giorgia Meloni, Italy’s prime minister; President Alexander Stubb of Finland; NATO’s secretary general, Mark Rutte; and Ursula von der Leyen, the president of the European Union’s executive arm. Solidarity in support of Ukraine.

Russia attacked Ukraine hours before Zelinsky’s meeting with Trump. Ten people killed, including a child.

Trump and Zelinsky had a press conference in the Oval Office before their meeting. Because Trump has stacked the WH press pool with pro-Trump reporters, the whole thing was a sham. Trump answered softball, flattering questions and talked about whatever he wanted to. He meandered around a lot of topics from “crime” in DC and how “even Democrats are calling me to thank me,” supposedly they had dinner out in the city and it felt safe. One reported asked about voting in the US and how Trump wants to get rid of mail-in ballots and machine voting; Trump said, “a little off-topic, but…” and then continued to rant about his plan to change how we vote in the US (he can’t do that). What he did say about the war was vague. He blamed the war on Biden, whom he said was stupid even 20 years ago. Trump said he’s ended six wars. It was nauseating to listen to.

I really hope something comes of this, but I’m not holding my breath. Putin will not agree to give back all the territory he has stolen. Zelinsky should not have to give anything to Russia, they are a sovereign nation. They were invaded. Trump will only do what Putin wants.

It’s rather amazing how we are seeing Trump’s complete adoration with Putin. The “summit” last week, which I did not write about, was full of clear body language from Trump as to his worship of Putin, beginning with clapping on a red carpet (!) as Putin arrived. His social media posts today about “leading a movement” to get rid of mail in voting came after he met with Putin. From the NY Times:

“Trump’s latest comments came after he said that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia had discussed the issue during their summit on Friday in Alaska. Mr. Trump said in an interview with Fox News that the Russian leader had agreed with him that the 2020 election had been rigged in favor of Mr. Biden. “He said, ‘Your election was rigged because you have mail-in voting,’” Trump quoted Mr. Putin as saying.”

The Constitution vests the power to set the “times, places and manner” of elections with states, and it gives only Congress the ability to override state laws on voting.

Anyway, my guess is that this is another distraction to stop the press from talking about Epstein. However, I am happy to see the NY Times has an article today:

Republican’s Bid To Help Trump Move Past Epstein Falls Flat.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump’s Adoration Of Putin – by Liza Donnelly

Original article: View source

#2025 #America #DonaldTrump #Health #History #Libraries #Library #LibraryOfCongress #LizaDonnelly #Opinion #Politics #Resistance #Science #SeeingThings #Substack #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates

Seeing Things – Trump’s Autocrat Check List – Liza Donnelly

 Trump’s Autocrat Check List

It’s long

By Liza Donnelly, Aug 06, 2025

I realise the above drawing only touches on what he is doing. Voting rights, immigration abuses and Esptein nonsense are the main stories in my reading today.

Texas Democrats who left the state to block a vote on redistricting voter maps say they received bomb threats at their hotel in Illinois where they are sequestering. “This is what happens when Republican state leaders publicly call for us to be ‘hunted down’. Texas Democrats won’t be intimidated,” John Bucy III, who represents Austin district, said. Govenor Abbott filed an emergency petition asking the state supreme court to remove Wu, the top Democrat in the state house of representatives, and declare his seat vacant. Legal experts say this tactic is a long shot. I am so proud of the Texas Dems.

Other states appear to be following Texas’s lead and considering mid-cycle redistricting . Ohio, Indiana and Missouri Republicans are exploring their options to try to gain more GOP seats by redrawing their voting maps. Democratic govenors are also exploring options, but it appears they don’t have the power to draw as many seats as the Republicans do. California, with 52 seats in congress, may be the best bet. Governor Gavin Newsom is “reportedly moving ahead with a referendum this fall to ask to adopt a new map that would add Democratic seats and override an independent redistricting commission.”

Senator John Osssof’s office reported hundreds of reported cases of human rights abuses in US immigration detention centers. Here is the report. The alleged reports include: deaths in custody, physical and sexual abuse of detainees, mistreatment of pregnant women and children, inadequate medical care, overcrowding and unsanitary living conditions, inadequate food and water, exposure to extreme temperatures, denial of access to attorneys, and child separation. This is not who we are.

in news of the Epstein files, apparently, JD Vance is holding a meeting at his home with senior officials to strategize on how to handle the Epstein Scandal. At the top of their list is whether or not to release the transcripts of justice department representative (and former Trump personal attorney) Blanche’s recent interviews with Ghislaine Maxwell. After the interview, Maxwell, who is serving time for trafficing girls, was transferred to a lower security, a nicer prison. Outrageous. The justice department subpoenaed a number of high profile people to interview them for more information about Epstein, among them Bill and Hillary Clinton. While it is public knowledge that they knew Epstein, so did Trump. Yet Trump was not subpoenaed. This is a tactic to stall and to try to show Trump’s MAGA base that he is doing something about the scandal. Everything but releasing the files, which he can do, but won’t.

At least 60% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s handling of the Epstein case.

That’s all today for me. Hope you have a good Wednesday, what’s left of it. See you tomorrow, thank you so much for being here!

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump’s Autocrat Check List – by Liza Donnelly

Original article: View source

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Trump, Epstein And “Sharing” People – Seeing Things – Liza Donnelly

We need to help the victims

By Liza Donnelly, Jul 31, 2025

I was glad to hear the famliy of one of Epstein’s victims speak out today.

Perhaps you are tired of the Epstein Files story, but I hope not. The details of what Trump has been saying make it clear to me that it doesn’t add up. We have had Donald Trump in our lives for ten years now, and sometimes he says things that we accept when we should absolutely now. Yesterday, the family of Virginia Giuffre, who accused Jeffrey Epstein of sexually abusing her when she was a teenager, released a statement. They expressed outrage at Trump’s recent story explaining how he broke from Epstein when Epstein “stole” employees from his Mar-a-Lago resort. Ms. Giuffre was working as a spa attendant at the time. This seems odd— why would a major real estate developer such as Trump know the details of employees at that level of his restort? It makes no sense. Here is a video of Trump saying this about “sharing” people.

In addition, there was a recent recounting by another of Epstein’s victims, Maria Farmer, in which she says she met Trump at Epstein’s office and Epstein said to Trump, “Oh no, she’s not for you.” This woman told

The family of Ms. Giuffre, who died by suicide in April, said the following,

“It was shocking to hear President Trump invoke our sister and say that he was aware that Virginia had been ‘stolen’ from Mar-a-Lago. It makes us ask if he was aware of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell’s criminal actions, especially given his statement two years later that his good friend Jeffrey ‘likes women on the younger side … no doubt about it.’ We and the public are asking for answers; survivors deserve this.”

The women whom Epstein and Maxwell abused were girls when they were violated. Their lives were ruined. We should stand up for them and open this case wide so that we know the facts and get some sort of justice for the victims. And expose Trump for who he is, a man who was, in fact convicted of sexual assault, someone who has zero respect for women.

Trump, Epstein And “Sharing” People by Liza Donnelly

We need to help the victims

Read on Substack

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump, Epstein And “Sharing” People – by Liza Donnelly

#2025 #America #DonaldTrump #Epstein #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #LizaDonnelly #Politics #Resistance #RuleOfLaw #Science #SeeingThings #SexTrafficing #Substack #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates

Seeing Things – Trump: “It’s Time To Go After People” – by Liza Donnelly

Trump: “It’s Time To Go After People”

The Epstein files are making him even more unhinged

Speaker of the House Mike Johnson cut short the House session today to avoid an Epstein vote. The House will reconvene in September; this is clearly a stall tactic. Most members of Congress—Republican and Democrat— want the files to be released. This is outrageous and screams that Trump clearly does not want the files released; he is guilty of something, but we don’t know what.

There are so many pieces to this story, it’s mind boggling what is happening.

Today while speaking to reporters, Trump attacking President Obama. The NY Times writes: “President Trump deflected questions about the disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein by lashing out at his perceived enemies.” In the Oval Office, Trump went on a tirade and said,

“It’s time to go after people.”

He sounds more unhinged than ever.

Trump condemned questions about Epstein as “sort of a witch hunt,” and then launched into a rant against a now-familiar string of rivals and the media.

“The witch hunt that you should be talking about is they caught President Obama,” Trump said, referring to a report from Tulsi Gabbard, the director of national intelligence, that tried to undermine the eight-year-old assessment that Russia favored his election in 2016.

“Obama was trying to lead a coup. And it was with Hillary Clinton.”

This makes no sense. Calling Obama and Clinton treasonous is dangerous. People could get killed.

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump: “It’s Time To Go After People” – by Liza Donnelly

#2025 #America #DonaldTrump #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #LizaDonnelly #Politics #Resistance #Science #SeeingThings #Substack #Trump #TrumpAdministration #TrumpDistractions #UnitedStates

Seeing Things – Trump’s Games – by Liza Donnelly – July 21, 2025

Trump’s Games, Don’t fall for them, by Liza Donnelly, Jul 21, 2025

As we rightfully obsess about the Jeffrey Epstein files, and whether or not the uncovering of that whole story will lead to the take-down of Trump, I fear the masterminds of Project 2025 are working to disrupt midterm elections. I am sure they are. Trump is trying to distract all of us, but particularly his base, by throwing stuff out, calling for the renaming of football teams and other stupid ideas. Trump is hoping his base is will be lured away.

Here is a NY Times article which is very informative on Epstein and Trump, I highly recommend it. An Epstein accuser told the FBI years ago to look into Trump for behavior she witnessed. Maria Farmer was among the first women to report Epstein sexual crimes back in 1996 when, according to a new interview with the Times, she also identified Trump among others close to Epstein as worthy of attention. I know more will come out.

In the meantime:

Republicans are attempting to redraw the voting map for Texas as the state is recovering from the devastating floods.

“It is more than redistricting. It’s really theft,” said Democratic representative Al Green, whose Houston-area congressional district is likely to be one targeted by Republicans in a redrawn map. “It’s the kind of election theft that you use when you realize that you can’t win playing with the hand that you’ve been dealt. So, you decide that you’ll just rearrange the cards so that they favor you.”

Opponents of redistricting launched a website, StopTheTexasSteal.com, which accuses the Republican majority of using the flooding for partisan gain and is raising money.

Trump is eyeing other states for possible redistricting.

Trump is laser focused on the races for 2026. He is using money to fund Republican candidates and looking to recruit new ones. The administration is traveling to key battleground states to try to sell (and lie about) his recent bill, which is very unpopular at the moment, even with his base.

He is promoting those candidates who he thinks will win and do his bidding, and punishing those members of the GOP who have crossed him.

Is this a distraction, as well as a horrific implementation of Project 2025? Immigration officals are going to escalate arrests in New York and other cities. Trump’s border czar Tom Homan said, “Sanctuary cities are now our priority. We’re gonna flood the zone.” A week or so ago, there was a story about how ICE went to a ball park in NYC to interogate young little league players.

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump’s Games – by Liza Donnelly – Seeing Things

#2025 #America #DonaldTrump #Health #History #Libraries #LibraryOfCongress #LizaDonnelly #Politics #Resistance #Science #SeeingThings #Substack #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates

Trump Will Not Silence Humor – Seeing Things – by Liza Donnelly

Trump Will Not Silence Humor

Colbert will continue, I know it

Last week claiming “budgetary concerns,” CBS fired Colbert and ended The Late Show, although his show will remain on air until May 2026. It is the top-rated late night show on television.

If you weren’t following the CBS saga recently, CBS just settled a lawsuit with Trump for $16 million; Trump claimed CBS wrongly edited a 60 Minutes segement with Kamala Harris during the election; many lawyers believe the suit was un-winable, Trump had no real case. But CBS hopes for a merger with Paramount— which Trump has approval over. When the suit was settled, Colbert- in his initmitable sarcastic style— criticized CBS on-air for not taking a stand against Trump. So…. you can make all the deductions as to why Colbert was let go.

From 2016-2020, I was resident cartoonist at CBS News. One afteroon, my boss sent me to the taping of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and to live-draw it. It was SO FUN, a dream assignment.

I adore Stephen Colbert. Not only is he hilarious, and his political humor always are spot on— he’s such a thoughtful man. He is not afraid to show his emotions on air, and I love that about him. When a tragedy happens in our world, he doesn’t avoid it, he always knows what to say to make us feel better. And then help us laugh again, if appropriate. He is the kind of humorist I aspire to be in my work.

This is scary stuff, and we should take notice of these kind of pressure tactics towards the press, and now humor. Stand up against it, make noise about it.

In any case, Colbert’s show in the next year will certainly be interesting; I assume he won’t hold back. And when his time is up at CBS, I am sure Colbert will now show up on another network next year. This firing will give him more of a megaphone than he already had.

Stephen Colbert is far from done.

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump Will Not Silence Humor – by Liza Donnelly

#2025 #America #Comedy #DonaldTrump #History #Humor #Lawsuit #LibraryOfCongress #LizaDonnelly #Paramount #PoliticalSatire #Politics #Resistance #SeeingThings #StephenColbert #Substack #TheLateShow #Trump #TrumpAdministration #UnitedStates

Seeing Things – Trump Guts and Dismantles – by Liza Donnelly

And Justice Jackson speaks out

By Liza Donnelly, Jul 13, 2025

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is making news by expressing concern about our democracy, and she wants people to know about it. She is the newest member of the court, and is getting rebuked for speaking in public about the court. “She’s breaking the fourth wall, speaking beyond the court,” said Melissa Murray, a law professor at New York University. “She is alarmed at what the court is doing and is sounding that in a different register, one that is less concerned with the appearance of collegiality and more concerned with how the court appears to the public.”

Jackson said the majority imperiled the rule of law, creating “a zone of lawlessness within which the executive has the prerogative to take or leave the law as it wishes.”

Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote a stinging rebuke after Jackson wrote a second dissenting opinion to the case about birthright citizenship: “Justice Jackson, however, chooses a startling line of attack that is tethered neither to these sources nor, frankly, to any doctrine whatsoever.”

This makes me wonder if what Jackson is doing could be very important. I am by nature a rule-follower, and always thought the justices of the Supreme Court were to follow the court rules and not speak personally; this historically that has been the case from my observations. They are supposed to be legal “brains” who interpret the law, not individuals with opinions. I am excited that she is speaking out.

We need this kind of rule breaking right now.

https://youtu.be/AJ0ROPDGQaA

“I’m not afraid to use my voice,”she said about when she writes a dissent for a case. When asked by the moderator, what keeps you up at night, Jackson replied:

“I would say the state of our democracy. I am really very interested in getting people focussed and invested in what is happening in our country and in our government.”

In a supposed effort to cut the budget, Trump is gutting emergency relief capabilities at a time when global warming is increasing the events in the US. OUr government is no long agile in preparing for or responding to weather emergencies. Trump’s budget proposal for the next fiscal year would close 10 laboratories run by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and he has dramatically scaled-down the Federal Emergency Management Agency which would shift the costs of disaster response and recovery to the states. The administration has already revoked $3.6 billion in grants from FEMA. Kristi Noem, homeland security director said:

FEMA, for one, “has been slow to respond at the federal level. It’s even been slower to get the resources to Americans in crisis,” Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, said last week at a meeting convened by the president to recommend changes to the agency. “That is why this entire agency needs to be eliminated as it exists today and remade into a responsive agency. We owe it to all the American people to deliver the most efficient and the most effective disaster response.”

Editor’s Note: Read the rest of the story, at the below link.

Continue/Read Original Article Here: Trump Guts and Dismantles – by Liza Donnelly

#JusticeJackson #KetanjiBrownJackson #LizaDonnelly #SCOTUS #SeeingThings #SpeaksOut #Substack #SupremeCourtOfTheUnitedStates

Trump’s Big Ugly Hateful Bill Should Not Pass – Seeing Things -Liza Donnelly Jun 29, 2025

Trump’s Big Ugly Hateful Bill
Should Not Pass – Liza Donnelly – Jun 29, 2025

Trump’s self titled Big Beautiful Bill is being debated now in the Senate. It’s a huge document, not beautiful at all. In fact it would be devastating if it passes. Among the major features are:

-tax cuts for the wealthy and corporations, making them perminent

-add $3.3 trillion to the national debt.

-add $45 billion for Immigration and Customs Enforcement to detain migrants, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion.

-add $8 billion for new ICE hires and retention.

-cut $930 billion out of Medicaid, the measure will cause 11.8 million Americans to become uninsured.

According to the NY Times:

“As of 10 a.m. Sunday, Senate clerks had read aloud 630 pages of the 940-page bill (something Democrats demanded be done) and estimates were that they would finish the task by midafternoon. That would start the clock on 20 hours of debate on the legislation, evenly split between the two parties, though Republicans were not anticipating using all of their time. At the end of the debate, members of both parties would have the opportunity to offer more changes and force floor votes on those amendments in an hourslong process known as a vote-a-rama.”

If I understand what’s going on, this bill was passed by the House and now is in front of the Senate. But Senate Republicans are changing much of it in real time to try to persuade members of the GOP who might vote the bill down, but also to adjust to those measures that were struck down by the Senate Parlimentarian as not going by the rules of the chamber. One provision I was worried about appears to have been taken out, one that would have limited the ability of federal courts from issuing preliminary injunctions.

I pray this bill does not pass. Republican Senator Tom Tillis of North Carolina said he will not sign the bill and Trump immediately threated to primary him in the next election. Tillis said he will not seek re-election for a third term.

“In Washington over the last few years, it’s become increasingly evident that leaders who are willing to embrace bipartisanship, compromise, and demonstrate independent thinking are becoming an endangered species,” Mr. Tillis said in a lengthy statement on his decision.

Trump is wielding all kinds of pressure on Senate Republicans to fall in line, I hope it doesn’t work.

Read more: Trump’s Big Ugly Hateful Bill Should Not Pass – Seeing Things -Liza Donnelly Jun 29, 2025Source Links: Trump’s Big Ugly Hateful Bill – by Liza Donnelly

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Last Night's Swann Salon attemptedbloggery.blogspot.com/2025/06/last-n… #SwannGalleries #WomenLaughing #LizaDonnelly

My Copy of Mixed Feelings by Liana Finck--With Liza Donnelly
attemptedbloggery.blogspot.com/2025/03/my-cop… #LianaFinck #LizaDonnelly

The envelope, please. And the winning caption si . . .
My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #938 attemptedbloggery.blogspot.com/2025/03/my-ent… #LizaDonnelly #Dogs #Boardroom #TheNewYorker #Cartoon #CaptionContest

I rolled over and voted.
My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #938 attemptedbloggery.blogspot.com/2025/03/my-ent… #LizaDonnelly #Dogs #Boardroom #TheNewYorker #Cartoon #CaptionContest

I voted, but did I cross a line?
My Entry in The New Yorker Cartoon Caption Contest #855 https://attemptedbloggery.blogspot.com/2023/06/fd.html #LizaDonnelly #LivingRoom #Road #TheNewYorker #Cartoon #CaptionContest