How did we get here? This is among the questions asked to the excellent panel of historians at TNR’s Stop Trump Summit this past October at the Cooper Union. Ruth Ben-Ghiat of NYU, Nell Irvin Painter of Princeton, and David Greenberg of Columbia have all published many scholarly works on American and/or world history. This event was huge. They had an impressive range of speakers and panelists who either are working hard to do what the title of the event says—stop Trump—or have particular expertise to lend to the proceedings. Mary Trump, Jamie Raskin, Stuart Stevens, Al Sharpton, Randi Weingarten, and so many more. Panels covered the legal cases against Trump, the role of the media in the election, the No Labels effort, and more. This is just another example of people (serious people) coming together to stop a madman from taking control of our democracy.

In California, a recurring pattern is observed where homeless individuals battling drug addiction appear resistant to help. This resistance is often interpreted as a desire to continue their drug use, unimpeded by interventions. Such situations contribute to the deterioration of communities and urban areas, not only in California but also in cities like Portland, Oregon, and others across the nation. This opinion is backed up by the fact that many rebab facilities and treatment centers go two-thirds unused because many don’t want assistance or they don’t like the rules if they do use these facilities. So they go back on the streets like an endless loop. A balanced perspective suggests that the ongoing degradation of neighborhoods is a direct result of a cyclic problem: the homeless, struggling with drug addiction, are frequently returned to the streets without adequate treatment. This issue requires a nuanced approach. The solutions proposed by Republicans are often viewed as overly stringent, while those offered by Democrats are considered excessively lenient. As a result, those advocating for a centrist approach find themselves bearing the burden of this dilemma. They argue for a balanced strategy that neither criminalizes addiction nor neglects the need for effective rehabilitation and support systems. The goal is to create a sustainable solution that addresses the root causes of addiction and homelessness, while also considering the well-being and safety of the broader community.

In the current political landscape, it is no secret that the most effective way to secure funds for one’s campaign is to adopt a highly controversial stance. The individuals who make the most noise tend to attract substantial financial support from both the radical left and the radical right. Prominent figures such as Marjorie Taylor Greene, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and Jim Jordan have grasped the dynamics of modern fundraising. They have become adept campaign fundraisers by capitalizing on the concept that more exposure on television equates to more financial backing. This trend is rapidly spreading to other politicians who are keen to emulate the success of these seasoned campaigners. The prevailing strategy seems to prioritize generating a significant buzz through being vociferous, contentious, and confrontational, often overshadowing the objective of effectively governing and legislating. Marjorie Taylor Greene, in particular, has mastered the art of being loud, obnoxious, and provocative, thereby maximizing her fundraising potential. Her approach is to seize any opportunity to make audacious statements, promptly dispatching texts and emails to her supporters with headlines that read, “Look At What I Did For You.” The pivotal question that arises is: Who are the contributors supporting this seemingly outlandish conduct? It is the radical elements on both the right and the left ends of the political spectrum who are the primary patrons of this political theater. These individuals, often immersed in ideologically driven media, are eager to allocate their hard-earned funds to sustain this spectacle, perpetuating a cycle where controversial rhetoric is rewarded with financial reinforcement.

Allen takes calls from both sides but rabid calls from MAGA get in and let him know what’s on their minds. One talks about how many are planning to get Trump elected no matter what.

Donald Trump was so excited to reveal his new Trump Sneakers at Sneaker Con over the weekend. Just like his normal MAGA rallies, Trump expected the crowd to be excited and pumped up about his appearance. The crowd WAS excited and pumped up but not in the way he expected. As soon as he walked out on on stage with his shiny gold high-top sneakers, the crowd immediately began to boo, yell and scream. As he began to talk, the crowd got louder and louder. Trump then continued with his speech claiming there are people lining around the block to get a peak at his sneaks. He pretended the energy and enthusiasm was all a positive thing. Trump had a much longer speech prepared but the crowd got so loud, he had to swiftly sum it up and get off the stage with the little dignity he had left.

Oh how sad and embarrassing. Donald Trump wants Joe Biden impeached so bad. So what does he do? He goes to his band of buffoons and tells them to make it happen. What do they say? OK! They put together this sham of an investigation with no evidence. But wait! What is this? You mean they now how a star witness? Oh, it’s on. They’re on their way to a major impeachment. So the circus begins. They want the press there, they want this in the headlines, they want to come out looking like good ol’ boys in front of their great orange (cult) leader. So James Comer (idiot #1) goes out on a press campaign spreading the word that Hunter Biden is guilty and so is his Dad. And HE’S going to do something about it for the American people. He talks about this special document he has and his star witness. Well, we all know how the story ends. The star FBI informant witness was playing these clowns like a fiddle. He was lying his ass off. None of what he said was true. James Comer seemed to now fumble in his little press interviews. He’s trying to save his bloated face by claiming that’s not all the evidence he has. James, it’s over. Stop while you’re still a loser. Just one question, aren’t you embarrassed?

Remember in 1985 there was a movie about dancing being banned in a southern state? We thought it was entertaining but ridiculous. Imagine if that same movie was made about dictionaries being banned. We would have thought it was totally bonkers. Well, a school district in Florida is considering an unconventional addition to the state’s book prohibition: dictionaries. As revealed by the non-profit organization PEN America, Escambia County’s educational district has listed five dictionaries, eight encyclopedias, and “The Guinness Book of World Records” among over 1,600 titles potentially facing a ban. The right has officially gone “totally bonkers.”