Trump has managed to alienate our friendly trading partners by imposing high tariffs on their exports and the autocrats of the world because they know he is personally weak and easily manipulated. The world is isolating the US.
We have lost it. The U.S. is seen as a bully, able to pick on weaker nations. Te U.S. is a mirror of Trump, he has remade us in his own image, and we will suffer. No longer a world power, all we have is the power of our ability to consume. Consumption is our super power and that is powered by debt, not just government debt, but that credit card you hold in your purse or wallet.
European leaders have been acting like the sycophants in his cabinet, making haj to D.C. to supplicate Trump, totally disgusting and me thinks that they will pay for debasing themselves at his feet.
I have watched the parade in China, being a former drill sergeant, I am totally impressed, what a regimented society, not one false step, and I don't mean marching, absolutely perfect, dress and cover, not one soldier missed a beat,
But more impressive as the squads were marching past their equipment, they broke off, maintained formation and all entered their vehicles precisely the same, in the same way and even closed doors and ramps at the same time.
Fantastic regimentation, only possible with weeks or months of practice. A parade army is not a battlefield army. There is only so many hours in a day, days in a week, weeks in a month months in a year and you spend that in the military either in practice and marching or you spend it in field exercises and on the range. China spends it on marching.
Intense regimentation breeds robots. Armies incapable of on the spot decision making, Russia has that problem in spades. The United States, Europe and through training Ukraine has a well developed NCO corps capable of decentralized decision making.
The Russian Army is meat, as is the North Korean, and it appears the Chinese. Meat doesn't think, it doesn't even react, it only acts on command and is thrown into the grinder.
Which is what the Ukrainians say of the Russiian front and Russian Army, meat for the meat grinder.
Even though the press conference by the 10 Epstein women abuse survivors today (Wednesday) is hugely important, the meeting of all the autocratic leaders in China is hugely important too. What these countries couldn’t accomplish in decades, firmly placing the US on the outside and uniting the autocrats, is happening now due to the deliberate incompetence and egoism of the American president. As a people, we are being rapidly defeated from within.
What’s it going to take to get through to American voters about what this government is doing to our country?
I also certainly hope some Republicans will grow a spine and a heart over the revelations of the Epstein survivors. Good Job representatives Massie and Ro Khanna working together for the discharge petition. I hope it happens.
Mike and David, so sorry for the loss of your good companion Artie. He found good people. He will be missed, even by your listeners.
Michelangelo I am so very sorry for your loss of Artie. I know the heartbreak all too well. With one of my Labs now over 15 I take every day she’s doing well as a blessing. Our last pitbull lived to almost 17. He was an awesome companion. We still miss him.
Thank you for this sharp piece. You really nailed the pattern: Trump is not feared, not respected—just mocked. What stood out is how every “slick” move he tried only backfired. The Alaska meeting with Putin, the tariffs on India, the trade war with China—each one left him weaker and more humiliated.
I especially appreciated how you highlighted Modi’s rejection and the Beijing summit. While Trump ranted on Truth Social, Xi, Putin, Modi, and Kim were shoulder-to-shoulder, signaling unity while he projected insecurity. That image says it all.
For me, the most dangerous part isn’t just Trump’s personal embarrassment—it’s the vacuum he leaves behind. Strongmen like Putin and Xi don’t admire him, they exploit him. And when leadership is all performance and no policy, the world doesn’t pause; it moves on without us.
Thanks again for laying this out so clearly—it’s a wake-up call we need.
Condolences to you and David; you gave Artie a wonderful life. May the pleasant memories with Artie bring you joy and peace.
There really are no words to describe the endless damage done by Drumpf and those around him, regarding EVERYTHING. Our foreign diplomacy is in a shambles and his cult is too ignorant to understand the danger it has put us in. We used to have guardrails, and now there are none. Resisting and supporting the rallies, and those who are brave enough to speak out, like the Epstein/Maxwell/Drumpf victims, is our only hope to reacquire our democracy.
So sorry to hear about Artie. We have an 11 year old greyhound. She is in great shape but we know that it is unusual for them to live this long. Everyday is a pleasure with her. I am soooo sorry.I hope we last as a country until the elections. I don't understand how these Republican reps and senators can continue down this path.
So sorry about your pup. Understand your absence for sure
So here we go with cheeto. Now he’s rendering America to a second rate, undependable nation. Way to go cheeto. How this great country elected you is such a mystery but now we gotta live with it.
Someone has fallen deeper into a pit madness. I’m hearing 1973 Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon “Brain Damage” in my head. Mike, so sorry for your loss of loved one and also comforted to know you three recently had a vacation and Artie did well, deeply enjoyed it. Precious memories.
Mike so sorry about Artie, many of us felt like we knew him and love the pictures you used to post of him. Thinking of you and your husband. It’s tough when they cross the rainbow 🌈 bridge. All the best
You know your life is hell when even your best friends hate you. All he has left is, "Come to bed, jig-a-jig, me love you long time! Me very clean...schoolteacher."
That guy in the row behind the North Korean, on his left...looks like John Spencer from "The West Wing." Did he infiltrate this event?
TRUMP IS A PATHETIC EXCUSE FOR AN AMERICAN, AND AS PRESIDENT , SICKENING
Trump has managed to alienate our friendly trading partners by imposing high tariffs on their exports and the autocrats of the world because they know he is personally weak and easily manipulated. The world is isolating the US.
Agree.
We have lost it. The U.S. is seen as a bully, able to pick on weaker nations. Te U.S. is a mirror of Trump, he has remade us in his own image, and we will suffer. No longer a world power, all we have is the power of our ability to consume. Consumption is our super power and that is powered by debt, not just government debt, but that credit card you hold in your purse or wallet.
European leaders have been acting like the sycophants in his cabinet, making haj to D.C. to supplicate Trump, totally disgusting and me thinks that they will pay for debasing themselves at his feet.
I have watched the parade in China, being a former drill sergeant, I am totally impressed, what a regimented society, not one false step, and I don't mean marching, absolutely perfect, dress and cover, not one soldier missed a beat,
But more impressive as the squads were marching past their equipment, they broke off, maintained formation and all entered their vehicles precisely the same, in the same way and even closed doors and ramps at the same time.
Fantastic regimentation, only possible with weeks or months of practice. A parade army is not a battlefield army. There is only so many hours in a day, days in a week, weeks in a month months in a year and you spend that in the military either in practice and marching or you spend it in field exercises and on the range. China spends it on marching.
Intense regimentation breeds robots. Armies incapable of on the spot decision making, Russia has that problem in spades. The United States, Europe and through training Ukraine has a well developed NCO corps capable of decentralized decision making.
The Russian Army is meat, as is the North Korean, and it appears the Chinese. Meat doesn't think, it doesn't even react, it only acts on command and is thrown into the grinder.
Which is what the Ukrainians say of the Russiian front and Russian Army, meat for the meat grinder.
Even though the press conference by the 10 Epstein women abuse survivors today (Wednesday) is hugely important, the meeting of all the autocratic leaders in China is hugely important too. What these countries couldn’t accomplish in decades, firmly placing the US on the outside and uniting the autocrats, is happening now due to the deliberate incompetence and egoism of the American president. As a people, we are being rapidly defeated from within.
What’s it going to take to get through to American voters about what this government is doing to our country?
I also certainly hope some Republicans will grow a spine and a heart over the revelations of the Epstein survivors. Good Job representatives Massie and Ro Khanna working together for the discharge petition. I hope it happens.
Mike and David, so sorry for the loss of your good companion Artie. He found good people. He will be missed, even by your listeners.
Richard
Fenton, Missouri
Michelangelo I am so very sorry for your loss of Artie. I know the heartbreak all too well. With one of my Labs now over 15 I take every day she’s doing well as a blessing. Our last pitbull lived to almost 17. He was an awesome companion. We still miss him.
So sorry about Artie. Every pet is a close friend and family member.
Thank you for this sharp piece. You really nailed the pattern: Trump is not feared, not respected—just mocked. What stood out is how every “slick” move he tried only backfired. The Alaska meeting with Putin, the tariffs on India, the trade war with China—each one left him weaker and more humiliated.
I especially appreciated how you highlighted Modi’s rejection and the Beijing summit. While Trump ranted on Truth Social, Xi, Putin, Modi, and Kim were shoulder-to-shoulder, signaling unity while he projected insecurity. That image says it all.
For me, the most dangerous part isn’t just Trump’s personal embarrassment—it’s the vacuum he leaves behind. Strongmen like Putin and Xi don’t admire him, they exploit him. And when leadership is all performance and no policy, the world doesn’t pause; it moves on without us.
Thanks again for laying this out so clearly—it’s a wake-up call we need.
I'm sorry about Artie. It's never long enough.
So so sorry about your pup. We had to put our 14 year old girl down in May. It is the worst pain 🐾💔
Condolences to you and David; you gave Artie a wonderful life. May the pleasant memories with Artie bring you joy and peace.
There really are no words to describe the endless damage done by Drumpf and those around him, regarding EVERYTHING. Our foreign diplomacy is in a shambles and his cult is too ignorant to understand the danger it has put us in. We used to have guardrails, and now there are none. Resisting and supporting the rallies, and those who are brave enough to speak out, like the Epstein/Maxwell/Drumpf victims, is our only hope to reacquire our democracy.
So sorry to hear about Artie. We have an 11 year old greyhound. She is in great shape but we know that it is unusual for them to live this long. Everyday is a pleasure with her. I am soooo sorry.I hope we last as a country until the elections. I don't understand how these Republican reps and senators can continue down this path.
So sorry about your pup. Understand your absence for sure
So here we go with cheeto. Now he’s rendering America to a second rate, undependable nation. Way to go cheeto. How this great country elected you is such a mystery but now we gotta live with it.
Someone has fallen deeper into a pit madness. I’m hearing 1973 Pink Floyd’s Dark Side of the Moon “Brain Damage” in my head. Mike, so sorry for your loss of loved one and also comforted to know you three recently had a vacation and Artie did well, deeply enjoyed it. Precious memories.
Mike so sorry about Artie, many of us felt like we knew him and love the pictures you used to post of him. Thinking of you and your husband. It’s tough when they cross the rainbow 🌈 bridge. All the best
You know your life is hell when even your best friends hate you. All he has left is, "Come to bed, jig-a-jig, me love you long time! Me very clean...schoolteacher."
That guy in the row behind the North Korean, on his left...looks like John Spencer from "The West Wing." Did he infiltrate this event?
My condolences to you and yours at the loss of your precious Artie. MAGA's real motto should be "AmeriKKKa Last."
Sorry for your loss. I know how hard that is. I just do not want to lose our precious democracy to the residents evil.
😈