The Crucial Duct Tape Key Chain

10/07/2025

82 Taco Tuesdays

Robert Reich wrote a piece about the trauma of hate and the importance of recognizing we’re not alone in feeling this anxiety. It’s not a long read, and worth a moment to ponder his thoughts:

https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/sunday-thought-a-national-trauma?r=3sfec2&utm_medium=ios

After reading this, I found myself thinking “America is, at its core, a nation of diversity, a nation of tolerance, and a nation of freedom. The vocal minority and old white male guard in Washington do not represent all of us. While recognizing we are not alone in this violent and hateful time is important, now is not the time to talk about trauma, now is the time to talk about resistance, and for taking action.

Be polite
Stand with the oppressed
Check your facts
Support science
Demand justice
Vote

We need to talk about it openly

09/24/2025

84 Taco Tuesdays
I don’t even know where to begin. This week has seen a continuation of the clown show the executive and legislative branches of our government have become.

The reality TV show host posing as the country’s leader sent a public text to the United States attorney general, his loyal sycophant, instructing her to prosecute his adversaries. A clear violation of the law. And nothing was done about it.
Zero accountability.
Zero repercussions.

Another boat was bombed off the coast of South America by the US military - in international waters - with no legitimate authority.
No verifiable reason given.
No outrage.
No consequences.

The corruption and chaos is so thick and so deep these acts don’t even create a wrinkle.

Hundreds of thousands of taxpayer dollars spent on the funeral of an extreme right conservative internet “influencer…” The martyrdom - by all appearances - a recreation of Horst Wessel’s assassination in 1930 Germany. An event that served as a catalyst and resulted in the rise of the N**i party.

Will we see through the bu****it this time around - or swallow it?

To top it off, a speech at the United Nations that should trigger a 25th amendment hearing to determine the man’s sanity went on for an hour. A raving lunatic could have strung together a more coherent rant. But here we are. A world class embarrassment. His followers say “strong man!” and “great speech!” While the word laughs nervously knowing this geriatric, sociopathic, malignant narcissist, and desperate pe*****le, has the nuclear codes…

The rise of the MAGA party…

Here’s a smoking gun that should result in impeachment:

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-bondi-order-prosecute-enemies-james-schiff-comey-1235432027/

And that’s just one example of many, many, we’ve seen - this week.
Still…
Zero accountability.
Zero repercussions.

Donald Trump surprised members of his administration with public demand that Pam Bondi quickly prosecute Letitia James, Adam Schiff, and James Comey.

09/16/2025

85 - Another TACO Tuesday…

Erika Kirk, speaking out with the same vitriol her slain husband had, about “unleashing the fire…” exposes two things:

First, she clearly suffers from severe internalized misogyny…

And second, she plans on continuing the misdirection of hatred our country is becoming famous for…

As a follower of “Groyper” or whatever the hell Nick Fuentes alt-right, extremists call themselves, the shooter in Utah was in all likelihood trying to be a hero in his fellow cult members eyes. This was, by all appearances, a “right fighting right” assassination.

But Erika doesn’t care about that. She - like her husband - just wants a war between the right and the left.
That’s what “Turning Point USA” wants. That’s what their sponsors want. And that’s what the “president” wants.

So. Bring the fire Erika.
We’ll bring the heat. And history, and statistics, are on our side.

https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/12/us/tyler-robinson-charlie-kirk-shooting-suspect-invs

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cp8wl2y66p9o.amp

The 22-year-old man from Utah is set to appear in court on Tuesday to face formal charges over the killing.

09/10/2025

86 Taco Tuesdays

Last week I talked about how maybe the lack of push back was because all of this chaos was too fascinating to interrupt. Over the last week, more (terrifying or fascinating - I’ll let you decide) events have been unfolding and I wanted to take a moment to catalogue those.

Of perhaps the most misunderstood of the diabolical plans this regime has up its sleeve is gaining control of the Fed. While this agency was purposely and intentionally set up as an independent, apolitical body, tRump loyalists fill 2 of the seven seats on its board, and one is coming open - likely to be filled by another loyalist. There is an active effort to malign and unseat a fourth governor on the Fed, which - if successful - opens another seat to fill with another loyalist. You might think this is hypothetical hyperbole, but “47” makes no secret of wanting to control the Fed, and one needs only to look at his cabinet appointments and what the Republicans did to the Supreme Court to see they are not afraid to rig the game.

And for a man who bankrupted a casino… Stay tuned.

Another threat we’ve been hearing a lot of is that of deploying troops on American soil “to combat crime.” Crime in all of the cities being “targeted” is down. All the cities being named are in “Blue States.” Cities with high crime rates are predominantly in “Red States”, but what political gain is there in upsetting your base?

The most frightening element of this regimes behavior is its willingness to ignoring court rulings. On one side of the coin - we have courts actually upholding our laws - ruling these insane executive orders are unconstitutional and/or illegal. On the other side of the coin, we have a “president” who claims he’s above the law, and a legislative branch that appears afraid to hold him accountable…. (Terrifying, or fascinating…?)

This week, the Supreme Court ruled (6-3) that Immigration Control and Enforcement (“what’s a 3 letter word for ‘Geshtopo’?) can detain people based on skin color, accent, or location… So “probable cause” has been replaced with “reasonable suspicion” and the definition of “reasonable” is based on racist and xenophobic attitudes of armed and masked white men….

Adding to the chaos are the other daily affronts to our freedoms and social protections:
- Unconstitutional detention of innocent American citizens
- Reversing consumer protections against predatory lending and creditors
- Ignoring vaccine science
- Dismantling our educational and historical institutions
I can’t help thinking - all of what we see is just smoke and mirrors to hide the real work being done by Steven Miller and his Fourth Reich at the Heritage Foundation…

Or maybe this IS the plan.

Besides the Epstein files, has anyone seen Elon Musk anywhere?

09/03/2025

87 Taco Tuesdays
Somewhere, in the back of my mind, while I listen to what’s going on around the country, I wonder if the people smarter than me are all taking notes.
If the lack of push back is somehow because the academics, the economists, the political scientists, sociologists, and historians aren’t all thinking “we’ll never have another chance to see how “this” works out again….

“This” being a “president” who wants to intentionally weakening the dollar. Or who openly defies court orders. Or completely disregards human rights, civil liberties, and long standing laws….

Last week’s article on restructuring the Fed is a case in point (one of many I could have chosen):
https://www.politico.com/news/2025/08/29/trump-fed-shake-up-stephen-miran-00534615

It’s terrifying, and at the same time fascinating. We have an uneducated and easily distracted population being governed by thugs. You couldn’t design (or afford), a study of cultural and societal impacts as broad-reaching and significant as what is playing out in America today.

There are still people alive who lived through the 1930’s and 40’s. What they are seeing sickens them. There is one significant difference with what’s happening today. These atrocities are being broadcast in real time. TicToc, Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), Instagram, everyone with a phone is streaming video.
Nothing is hidden.

The division today is not drawn along political ideology, religion, or cultural lines, it is drawn along lines of human morality. It’s the line that separates those who think harming others is a solution, and those who think harming others is abhorrent.

“The rest is commentary.”

If Miran joins the board, his extensive critiques of the central bank would make him a rare iconoclast within an institution that strives for consensus.

08/27/2025

88 Taco Tuesdays
I keep hoping one of these weeks it’ll get better. The media will start actually reporting on the circus in Washington in a meaningful way. Social media will stop being the “presidential platform” and bully pulpit for the gas lighting sociopathic con man in the White House. Our legislative bramch will stand up to the illegal acts coming out of the executive branch every. single. day….

But no. Not this week anyway. Eighty-eight weeks to go, and “Hope is not a strategy…”

Occasionally, the judicial branch pushes back:

https://apple.news/AAev-YVQfTVqaZHko26rt9Q

Occasionally, the media touches on a protest or a few facts. But these are lost in the myriad of noises and distractions. World events and perverted politicians…. Even what should be grounded interviews devolve.
This morning on NPR, the line of questioning went from legitimate economic concerns to “what was it like being fired by….” you know who….
Like that had any bearing on what was being discussed. Like that had any merit as part of intellectual Q and A. Like that’s what the American people care about. And maybe that’s it. Maybe all we want is a washed up reality TV hack firing everyone who disagrees with him. Threatening anyone who disrespects him. Terrorises anyone who isn’t a loyal sycophant….

It isn’t bravado. It isn’t hyperbole. It’s real. And we are not taking it seriously.

Where will we be in 87 weeks (let alone 3 years…)

The administration tried to sue 15 federal judges over a court policy related to deportation orders. A different judge tossed out the case.

08/26/2025

Hear me out….. this could be the answer to unlimited energy…. 😝

08/26/2025

Illinois on Monday launched a legal advice line for LGBTQ residents, the first state to do so as the Trump administration’s policies on gender and sexuality face a wave of legal challenges. The he…

08/19/2025

“89 Taco Tuesdays”
The descent towards fascism continues, and the only signs of resistance are memes from former television journalists and texts from “blue state” governors lambasting the commander in cheat using his own weapons - the media and tweets.

Oh, there are protests. In Washington. Where the number of National Guard troops was increased this week. In Anchorage, where a “strategy session” with a war criminal took place…. And in other places being subjected to the intentional chaos and political theatre of illegal actions taken by ICE - actions that are being normalised at the peril of our country…. None of these are getting the attention they should. Apparently, because tweets, memes, and sound bites are all that our country’s population of social media junkies can digest.

Our traitor in chief invited the “president” of Russia, an accused war criminal, ruthless murderer, and dictator onto American soil and discussed a land deal. (That is, after all, all the Cheeto knows - or claims to know.) Under a banner reading “pursuing peace” these two clowns put on a show compete with red carpets and a demonstration of our military might. Russia’s dictator got everything he wanted - validation and legitimacy on the world stage - with our “strong man leader” coming across like a love sick lap dog. Our “president” appears to have capitulated on every point - and is taking an offer back to our NATO allies that sounds like surrender.

“Pursing peace” my ass.
This. Ripped from today’s headlines:

Trump reignites his push to ban mail-in voting after meeting with Putin

Trump said he and the Russian leader spoke last week about what they see as the problems with mail-in voting. Since then, Trump has pushed again for the U.S. to end the practice of mail in voting….

Taking his cues on democracy from a dictator. As far as Mexican restaurants reviews, all I can say is, “TACO… “ and that leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

02/12/2025

It’s crucial you have duct tape….

03/07/2024

03/06/2024

Thanks
Moscow Mitch.
Good to know you haven’t changed
a bit…