Thank you for all that you’re doing, Eric. We need a constant “shout it from the rooftops” style from all of us, because our major media sure isn’t doing it.
What’s bugging me is that so many members of our current Congress knew about this plan—and did NOTHING to stop it. Meadows used to be in Congress—why did he get involved in this? (I know, he was Chief of Staff. But still!) All those like Lindsey Graham, who got phone calls—they said NOTHING? They are still in Congress saying NOTHING?
And Pence! My god, not only did he KNOW about it, he sensed that his life was in danger—he’s still saying NOTHING?
The Power Point coup should be second biggest story next to the damage caused by the tornadoes that affected Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri.
As a Filipino who spent the majority of his childhood reading, hearing and watching several coup attempts by rogue elements in military during the presidency of the late Corazon C. Aquino, it's disappointing that the American media outlets are suffering from a massive case of denial that the majority of the Republican Party has become a right-wing & authoritorian/fascist movement committed to a future where only white, Christian, and heterosexual people are the true Americans, and Democrats, liberals, LGBTQIA people, racial & ethnic minorities, non-Christians (Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, etc.) are fodder for genocide because they're un-American.
Seriously, some of those journalists with huge salaries, nice houses, and luxurious tastes should maybe consider that hobnobbing among the elites in Washington and big business have blinded their abilities to do their jobs. All the material possessions and acquired wealth they're built over the years will can disappear at any time. They should remember the reasons why the became journalists first. It wasn't fame, it wasn't money, it was their desire to seek the truth and hold the powerful accountable. They're not supposed to kiss the ass of any politician of any party. So, why are they willing to implicitly go along with the GOP's business as usual while ignoring the growing chorus of Democrats are telling them to do their part to save democracy.
The military has lied like hell about their involvement. They claim phone calls that they never made, wanted the National guard to protect pro trump people, and then when some honorable members demanded the guard get to the Capitol. They said create a plan and get back to me. See articles by Kyle Cheney and Amanda Carpenter on Twitter. They’re dirty.
Maybe WE THE PEOPLE should start having press conferences with the media. Asking them the tough questions on why they aren't asking the repugs these questions. Asking about trying to throw democracy out the door and put an insane man in the king chair. Just a thought maybe Jen P should invite WE THE PEOPLE to the next press conference and turn the tables on them and let us ask the questions. IJS
“But her emails.” At this point this should be the only story the media is covering nonstop, with ongoing updates on the tornadoes. It’s astounding that they gave more daily column inches to the dead horse of HRC’s emails and Wikileaks “revelations” (Risotto anyone?) than to the attempted overthrow of an election. As one of those votes they tried to steal/nullify, I take this very, very personally.
Wapo did that amazing in-depth story on the failed coup yet why aren’t there a number of follow up stories day in and out—the kind of coverage they gave to Travelgate, Whitewater, the fist bump, the scream, the emails, etc? None of those stories were worthy of the relentless, breathless reporting each got. But this massive scandal? Meh. It really is gobsmacking. And any criticism of the media is derided as being churlish. That Haberman is still on the “Trump beat” is astounding. How many other former presidents have gotten this kind of devoted attention?
I remember Watergate, and that was minor league compared to this failed coup—which is the kind of big story that should have journalists drooling and heads exploding everywhere. We should be witnessing a feeding frenzy. Instead it’s a big yawn.
Instead, they still give Trump oxygen, pretending there is a question of whether his acolytes like Meadows and Stone have executive privilege, when several courts have quite pointedly ruled they do not (nor does Trump because the current president has waived it). To their credit, a number of journalists are speaking out, but it isn’t enough. And of course when most media do mention it, it comes down to “what are the Dems gonna do about it?” Once again turning it into a political “problem” rather than an existential crisis for the nation.
No wonder the GOP tried so hard to prevent the committee from even forming. They know so many of their Congress members are complicit. And yet the media yawns because it’s the GOP. Astonishing, infuriating, and terrifying.
Well, now at least y’all know the kind of nation we really are. A party dedicated to ensuring elections are rigged in their favor as a matter of law, federal rights that can’t be protected in federal courts, and a mainstream media that are water carriers for this.
What's to be gained by this purposeful slanting of the coup story? Are they waiting for a successful one to put a failed one into some catewampus perspective? Disappointment doesn't begin to describe the shirking of duty by the fourth estate. Ironically, I doubt there are plans for its survival circulating on similar Powerpoints in coup circles.
An aside that’s having me bursting at the seams. J Wagner wrote a piece about Kamala in WaPo today. The piece was pretty factual but Wagner had to throw in a mention about the turmoil in her office, totally irrelevant to the piece. The story reported that Kamala has successfully won commitments from some of the biggest names in industry to reinvest in Guatemala, El Salvador etc. Putting aside the argument about public/private projects, very impressive imo. The online version appeared in the ‘Politics’ section below just below cookie recipes!!!????? How about featuring it in ‘World News?’ Or make it front page news since immigration is such an important issue especially among the Rs. I couldn’t find a trace of the piece in the printed piece. REALLY?
The Post published a story on the Powerpoint with a title so innocuous that I almost skipped reading it, but by the time I got halfway through it, I wondered aloud at why its author wasn't behind bars. Yeah, I talk to myself while reading the news, mostly to spew obscenities.
It is becoming more obvious that there was a conspiracy involving Trump, his closest acolytes and varied nefarious characters on the fringes, working in concert. I also think it's reasonable to believe Pence knows much more than he's been given credit for.
It's possible that the indifference shown by the press for this story comes from fear or even stupidity, where they just don't know what the rest of us see clearly. I have yet to see anyone delve deeply into the reasons why there is so much blind fealty to Donald Trump - what has he ever done for any of them? What is the end game? We voted him out but tens of millions of people bought the big lie that the crown was stolen from the mad king's head. What will they gain by their loyalty to this mediocre businessman who couldn't even make a profit from casinos and who spent his time on a silly TV show and by promoting phony wrestling matches?
My loss of trust in this country's resilience is nearly complete now, due in no small part to seeing a slow collapse of a free and dedicated news media. I'm afraid they'll become like the Egyptian media - we'll see not just one Tucker Carlson, but tens of him, all parroting the same pro-authoritarian message. But their current indifference is just as bad. Indifference is what usually causes evil to rise to power. Interesting how easily this Powerpoint story was overshadowed by the non-story of "Bidenflation."
It's just fucking outrageous that this coup Power Point presentation isn't the number one news story in America. If this doesn't show how the press is hoping for another Trump run at the White House, simply for ratings or because they themselves are a part of the coup then I don't know what does. You would expect that Fox News would ignore this story but how can institutions like the New York Times and Washington Post not have gotten out their largest typeface font for this headline staggers the mind. This passive journalism makes me feel that regardless of the progress that President Biden and the Democrats have made, the Founders idea of a country that could be governed by the people is pretty much in the shitter. Just fucking outraged!!!
Once again the Belt Way Press are full of s*it! And I'm not sure what their end game is if there's not going to be country after their failure to call out the lies and all the members of congress who were in on the coup. Like seriously, you want inside information so you can be the first to break the news?! Newsflash there are plenty of opportunities to be first to call out what all the Republicans are doing and not doing.
Also there are Senators and Reps who were part of the insurrection and they have yet to be called to the carpet and stripped of their seats. Like why isn't any of that happening?? So very frustrating. I do hope that all Democrats keep calling out the press because they are the ones undermining all the good the Dems are trying to do. smh
Thanks Eric for your continued pressure and this newsletter is so very important.
Thank you for all that you’re doing, Eric. We need a constant “shout it from the rooftops” style from all of us, because our major media sure isn’t doing it.
What’s bugging me is that so many members of our current Congress knew about this plan—and did NOTHING to stop it. Meadows used to be in Congress—why did he get involved in this? (I know, he was Chief of Staff. But still!) All those like Lindsey Graham, who got phone calls—they said NOTHING? They are still in Congress saying NOTHING?
And Pence! My god, not only did he KNOW about it, he sensed that his life was in danger—he’s still saying NOTHING?
The Power Point coup should be second biggest story next to the damage caused by the tornadoes that affected Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missouri.
As a Filipino who spent the majority of his childhood reading, hearing and watching several coup attempts by rogue elements in military during the presidency of the late Corazon C. Aquino, it's disappointing that the American media outlets are suffering from a massive case of denial that the majority of the Republican Party has become a right-wing & authoritorian/fascist movement committed to a future where only white, Christian, and heterosexual people are the true Americans, and Democrats, liberals, LGBTQIA people, racial & ethnic minorities, non-Christians (Muslims, Buddhists, Jews, etc.) are fodder for genocide because they're un-American.
Seriously, some of those journalists with huge salaries, nice houses, and luxurious tastes should maybe consider that hobnobbing among the elites in Washington and big business have blinded their abilities to do their jobs. All the material possessions and acquired wealth they're built over the years will can disappear at any time. They should remember the reasons why the became journalists first. It wasn't fame, it wasn't money, it was their desire to seek the truth and hold the powerful accountable. They're not supposed to kiss the ass of any politician of any party. So, why are they willing to implicitly go along with the GOP's business as usual while ignoring the growing chorus of Democrats are telling them to do their part to save democracy.
The military has lied like hell about their involvement. They claim phone calls that they never made, wanted the National guard to protect pro trump people, and then when some honorable members demanded the guard get to the Capitol. They said create a plan and get back to me. See articles by Kyle Cheney and Amanda Carpenter on Twitter. They’re dirty.
Maybe WE THE PEOPLE should start having press conferences with the media. Asking them the tough questions on why they aren't asking the repugs these questions. Asking about trying to throw democracy out the door and put an insane man in the king chair. Just a thought maybe Jen P should invite WE THE PEOPLE to the next press conference and turn the tables on them and let us ask the questions. IJS
“But her emails.” At this point this should be the only story the media is covering nonstop, with ongoing updates on the tornadoes. It’s astounding that they gave more daily column inches to the dead horse of HRC’s emails and Wikileaks “revelations” (Risotto anyone?) than to the attempted overthrow of an election. As one of those votes they tried to steal/nullify, I take this very, very personally.
Wapo did that amazing in-depth story on the failed coup yet why aren’t there a number of follow up stories day in and out—the kind of coverage they gave to Travelgate, Whitewater, the fist bump, the scream, the emails, etc? None of those stories were worthy of the relentless, breathless reporting each got. But this massive scandal? Meh. It really is gobsmacking. And any criticism of the media is derided as being churlish. That Haberman is still on the “Trump beat” is astounding. How many other former presidents have gotten this kind of devoted attention?
I remember Watergate, and that was minor league compared to this failed coup—which is the kind of big story that should have journalists drooling and heads exploding everywhere. We should be witnessing a feeding frenzy. Instead it’s a big yawn.
Instead, they still give Trump oxygen, pretending there is a question of whether his acolytes like Meadows and Stone have executive privilege, when several courts have quite pointedly ruled they do not (nor does Trump because the current president has waived it). To their credit, a number of journalists are speaking out, but it isn’t enough. And of course when most media do mention it, it comes down to “what are the Dems gonna do about it?” Once again turning it into a political “problem” rather than an existential crisis for the nation.
No wonder the GOP tried so hard to prevent the committee from even forming. They know so many of their Congress members are complicit. And yet the media yawns because it’s the GOP. Astonishing, infuriating, and terrifying.
Well, now at least y’all know the kind of nation we really are. A party dedicated to ensuring elections are rigged in their favor as a matter of law, federal rights that can’t be protected in federal courts, and a mainstream media that are water carriers for this.
They wouldn't say, "mentally ill," they wouldn't say, "lie," and now they won't say "coup." The Marquis of Queensbury rules for the media.
What's to be gained by this purposeful slanting of the coup story? Are they waiting for a successful one to put a failed one into some catewampus perspective? Disappointment doesn't begin to describe the shirking of duty by the fourth estate. Ironically, I doubt there are plans for its survival circulating on similar Powerpoints in coup circles.
An aside that’s having me bursting at the seams. J Wagner wrote a piece about Kamala in WaPo today. The piece was pretty factual but Wagner had to throw in a mention about the turmoil in her office, totally irrelevant to the piece. The story reported that Kamala has successfully won commitments from some of the biggest names in industry to reinvest in Guatemala, El Salvador etc. Putting aside the argument about public/private projects, very impressive imo. The online version appeared in the ‘Politics’ section below just below cookie recipes!!!????? How about featuring it in ‘World News?’ Or make it front page news since immigration is such an important issue especially among the Rs. I couldn’t find a trace of the piece in the printed piece. REALLY?
I’ve been to some sucky meetings, but that takes the cake. “Should have been a phone call, Mark.”
Honestly, they had a meeting, with Powerpoint slides about how to overthrow the government?
These guys are like the worst Bond villains ever.
Certainly there must be a distribution list and an attendees list. How hard can this be to get the indictments rolling?
The Post published a story on the Powerpoint with a title so innocuous that I almost skipped reading it, but by the time I got halfway through it, I wondered aloud at why its author wasn't behind bars. Yeah, I talk to myself while reading the news, mostly to spew obscenities.
It is becoming more obvious that there was a conspiracy involving Trump, his closest acolytes and varied nefarious characters on the fringes, working in concert. I also think it's reasonable to believe Pence knows much more than he's been given credit for.
It's possible that the indifference shown by the press for this story comes from fear or even stupidity, where they just don't know what the rest of us see clearly. I have yet to see anyone delve deeply into the reasons why there is so much blind fealty to Donald Trump - what has he ever done for any of them? What is the end game? We voted him out but tens of millions of people bought the big lie that the crown was stolen from the mad king's head. What will they gain by their loyalty to this mediocre businessman who couldn't even make a profit from casinos and who spent his time on a silly TV show and by promoting phony wrestling matches?
My loss of trust in this country's resilience is nearly complete now, due in no small part to seeing a slow collapse of a free and dedicated news media. I'm afraid they'll become like the Egyptian media - we'll see not just one Tucker Carlson, but tens of him, all parroting the same pro-authoritarian message. But their current indifference is just as bad. Indifference is what usually causes evil to rise to power. Interesting how easily this Powerpoint story was overshadowed by the non-story of "Bidenflation."
The press is complicit.
How ironic is it that the 2 members of the Rump administration who showed the most integrity around this coup attempt are Bill Barr and Mike Pence? 🤯
As for the MSM - keep riding them! They have to break eventually, right?
It's just fucking outrageous that this coup Power Point presentation isn't the number one news story in America. If this doesn't show how the press is hoping for another Trump run at the White House, simply for ratings or because they themselves are a part of the coup then I don't know what does. You would expect that Fox News would ignore this story but how can institutions like the New York Times and Washington Post not have gotten out their largest typeface font for this headline staggers the mind. This passive journalism makes me feel that regardless of the progress that President Biden and the Democrats have made, the Founders idea of a country that could be governed by the people is pretty much in the shitter. Just fucking outraged!!!
More proof of the total capitulation of the press to Republicans.
Time named Elon Musk its' Man Of The Year...
Once again the Belt Way Press are full of s*it! And I'm not sure what their end game is if there's not going to be country after their failure to call out the lies and all the members of congress who were in on the coup. Like seriously, you want inside information so you can be the first to break the news?! Newsflash there are plenty of opportunities to be first to call out what all the Republicans are doing and not doing.
Also there are Senators and Reps who were part of the insurrection and they have yet to be called to the carpet and stripped of their seats. Like why isn't any of that happening?? So very frustrating. I do hope that all Democrats keep calling out the press because they are the ones undermining all the good the Dems are trying to do. smh
Thanks Eric for your continued pressure and this newsletter is so very important.