Why is the world accepting that Ukraine has to give up its land in order to achieve a peace deal? Why isn't the world telling Russia that they need to pull back to the agreed to borders or they face the consequences of all the allies sending troops there to assist the Ukrainians?
My point being that this is sort of crazy pushing Zelensky and the Ukrainians to give up land to achieve peace. Has the world just gone this crazy and we now accept it as such?
LOVE your show, David. By far, you give the most factual and mostly dispassionate (meant as a compliment) analysis of US politics of all of the many podcasts that I listen to. Thank you for doing so.
You are on the money and in a rational world that should be the way it works. The Alaska meeting was a historical replay of Neville Chamberlain appeasement to Hitler. This was just a cheap photo op so Trump can say, hey I tried.
You do not go into any negotiation telling the other side your bottom line. Frankly it appears he asked Putin what he wants and Trump does what he is told. There has to be more to the story we may never know.
In T's world this is not how he thinks. Russia is undoubtedly the stronger and Ukraine the weaker. So do the math, easier to kick the weaker down and suck up to the stronger. That way he gets a "pat" on the back from Putin. Frankly I think T is afraid of Zelensky as he has the guts to challenge him. T also holds grudges. Remember he almost got canned over trying to extort Zelensky to get dirt on Biden. He also held up aid to Ukraine.
The key to all this is Europe. Europe has to stand tall and take the lead as they will be next if Ukraine falls.
Putin played Trump so easily. The pathetic thing was how Trump thought that buttering up Putin with the red carpet, flyover, applause and warm greeting was going to influence Putin. LOL. Trump hasn't enough self-awareness that Putin used flattery and compliments on him...and it worked like a champ. An EO the very next week wanting to get rid of mail-in voting...damn...how obvious is that for how much influence Putin has over Trump? Like you say...there's probably even MORE to the story on that one...
I agree totally. Russia was the country that invaded Ukraine and I don't think Russia should get any piece of land or anything else that they are asking for. The strongest support is for Eukraine and I think that all those World leaders showing up at the White House was to show the world they are behind Eukraine.
I hate being hyperbolic, but the way the regime and its co-conspirators are moving, they are definitely laying the groundwork for trying to cancel elections in 2026 and 2028, or make it impossible for them to be ousted. They will play it off that they're just trolling the libs, but I'm watching what they do, rather than what they say...since all they do is lie. What are your thoughts?
Regarding Israel, Pres. Trump seems to have forgotten that this war was also promised to be “easily ended”. Since this has little to do with Putin, why hasn’t US diplomacy done more to end the carnage, and put unrelenting pressure on BIbi to end his political gamesmanship?
The war in middle east has everything to do with Putin. The Russians and Iranians are in bed together. Iran is the major supplier of weapons to Russia. Iran is the cause of all the mayhem in the middle east. Israel was attacked with the support of Russia and Iran to dilute/deflect American support to Ukraine.
The war in Gaza parallels the war in Ukraine. Have you forgotten that Hamas attacked Israel and Russia attacked Ukraine? Hamas still has Israeli hostages? Wars are not fought with silver bullets that only kill the bad guys. Israel is fighting for its existence against Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran and you are cherry picking that Israel is the bad guy here. The war in Gaza will not end until the hostages are released. So blame Hamas for the suffering of Gaza and not Israel.
Am I correct in understanding the courts recently ruled that only Congress can levy Tariffs? If so does that mean the tariffs Captain Chaos has executed have to be withdrawn?
There is no congress or Supreme Court, the Repigs just do what T tells them to do. No telling what is going on behind closed doors. I find it appalling that 250+pigs and 6 suckup "Supreme" justices consistently do everything to support him. Even worse their support is like the masses bowing to dear leader in North Korea. I have never seen any political party so in love with their leader.
David, I am a fellow Substacker, I write Articles for my newsletter Disability & Justice (https://dcarvajalfl.substack.com) and I am also from South America (From Chile). I came 52 years ago, My question is should I be worried about doing articles against Trump Administration? I haven't received any negative threats toward my newsletter but I am worried about being kicked out of the United States, I have a physical disability. I have Cerebral Palsy.
David, do you think that Democrats will have a chance to win the 2026 Midterms? With what Trump is already doing trying to gain GOP seats with redistricting, it seems to me like he has already found a way to cheat that is not being addressed.
Trump and his coconspirators are most likely using redistricting and trying to ban mail-in ballets as a smoke screen to do something altogether different. Just my thought,
Nothing that Trump does makes sense. He was elected by less than 2%. Which tells me he also won with mail in ballots. There is no way that 50 states can run elections and count 160 million ballots using paper ballots that are hand counted. Republican President Bush won over Democrat Al Gore because of the dangling chad fiasco. So even with machines, Republicans win. There is no election on earth that will satisfy Republicans. Even when they win they cry cheating by the other side. The goal is to poison the process and do away with elections and have coronations.
What also amazes me is that the current batch of Republicans now in power all got elected by the same process, Trump says is rigged. Yes but probably in favor of the Republicans.
I keep hearing the message that we need to put together a plan, a platform, an agenda, a 'Project 2029'... Here is the question: How do we start this? Who can get involved? You have the voice and reach to talk to people, including people who know people... It will not need to take much. Just someone setting up a web site and helping get things organized. It could have it's own 'funding' through the site.
Again, the question is who is going to do this? Let us get past the stage where we are deciding to do it and just do it. We know we need to do it so why aren't we doing it?
We do not need to wait for a savior, a knight on a white horse to come and rescue us. We are not a helpless maiden waiting breathlessly for her true love to come and find her... We are passionate, engaged and wanting to save ourselves and so we subscribe, we communicate to support those with a louder voice than ours.
Actually I would accept a black knight to save us. What you are calling for takes leadership that frankly is missing in Democrat land. Hating Trump is not enough. Everyone is numb and desensitized to his escapades. There are 250+ Democrats in congress and thousands amongst the states who need to do what you are calling for.
Democrats need to define a platform that stops playing the same sad song that does not win... equality for all regardless of ability, milking racism as if minorities are inherently weak and need extra protection. Really if racism is so bad, how is it we have had a black male president and black vice president and never a white female in either? Dems are still project soft on crime and drug abuse is society's fault. Dems need to give America something to vote for and not against.
Hope, Faith, Perseverance: Hope that there is a (good) answer, Faith that somehow we will prevail and Perseverance to keep pushing forward until we get there.
From my perspective, while dark days are certainly here, in the words of Monty Python: "I ain't dead yet!" All pessimism does is sap the will to push onward.
I do not think we need a 'leader with all the answers', what we really need is a manager like in any business, to bring people together and coordinate their work. Leaders become important at the stage of communication to the public, having values and ability to handle reality as it comes, because no plan survives contact with reality.
Actually I think we have a lot of good leaders, but they are all civilized and going to allow the primary process to work.
I agree that we can not play the old game. We need to be bold, "Go Big or go home" should be our mantra. Don't settle for small gains, we want and the people want BIG change that will help solve the crisis they can feel has been slowly crushing them for decades. The fear is real but rarely understood as to exactly what the source is, so most people's fears are easily misdirected, as Trump has done.
As to candidates, Sad reality is, either out of cultural conditioning, or Racism / Misogyny, most people, including women and minorities are more comfortable at this time with a white man. We can be right or we can make things right...
Hope does spring eternal. Billy Graham was once asked what mistake he thought God made. He replied race. Man will always find fault with others. However, we are born into our race and you cannot change that. Unfortunately race has divided us and the political exploitation does not help .
Trump got elected against issues like DEI and the push for reparations for slavery. What kind of reaction do you expect from poor whites when they hear that? They voted for Trump. Thanks California, you did more to elect Trump than Musk.
Dear David, Why are You NOT Commenting on Netanyahu, the Israel Protesters Against Netan and the GAZA War ? and the Starving to Death of the Gaza Inhabitants as well the Hostages by Netan ? Why Does Netan think Taking Over ALL of Gaza is Moral ?
Wars are not moral. Why is Israel always held to a higher standard and not its enemies? A small handful of Israelis has a billion enemies and is fighting for its survival. They occupy a tiny amount of mostly barren worthless desert. It is only by their hard work it has become productive. They gave a prductive Gaza to the Palestinians. What did they do with it. They destroyed it and made it into a permanent welfare state to keep Hamas in charge. Billions have been spent on Gaza and this is what you get.
Hamas steals the aid sent to Gaza and uses the civilians as shields. You want Hamas to call the shots? Gaza is a war zone full of tunnels used for weapons to be used against Israel. Allowing Hamas to stay in Gaze will just be more of the same continue to destroy Israel?
I do feel for the women and children, but their fate is in the hands of Hamas and not Israel. The best thing that can happen is for Israel to defeat Hamas and move them to Yemen where they can dance together and dig all the tunnels they want. Hamas has lost any legitimacy it has and should not be rewarded with keeping Gaza.
The Dumbacrats did their fair share to give Fox lots of ammunition to fan the flames. Dems still want open borders, transgenders in womens sports, less police and more welfare, more drug treatment and less enforcement and more pandering to the racism industry that whites are the real problem and should pay reparations for slavery,
So keep on keep on and maybe by luck Trump will screw up worse than normal or get rehired for another tv series and get bored with the office.
Seriously, what is the Democrat vision of America that does not alienate half of America that pays the taxes that Dems want to use to maintain policies that are losers.
This seems like a dated question, is it a feasible idea for the ICC and the UN Security Council can collaborate more transparently to be a more sustainable global solution?
I’m sure there could be a myriad of solutions but I just wanted your take on it.
The underlying problem in Israel was established at the end of WWII when two incompatible groups, the Israelis and the Palestinians were put together in the same area. The thinking was given time they could work it out and somehow get along.
We see how that has worked ... it doesn't.
Hauling Bibi to court has the same logic as Trump kicking Zelensky to surrender to Russia. Why is it that the country that gets attacked like Israel and Ukraine are the ones responsible for making peace and not the other way around? Hamas should be hauled to the ICC and not Bibi.
I will tell you why, the world wants quick and cheap fixes to problems. They find it easier to apply pressure to one side (Israel and Ukraine) without applying pressure on the belligerents.
What would you feel if we are the Americans at the helm when it all came crashing down? Not those alive in 1861. Not 1941. Not 1929. Not 1778. Not 1962. Us. Here and now.
We would not be feeling anything, we would be dead. One way to solve the debt problem is to not exist any longer. Let some other country deal with the climate or live with the consequences at least we would not have to pay for it.
I agree we are not headed in the right direction. Hey, elections have consequences, so not onward and upward.. just backward and downward wearing bright red caps with smiles on their faces. Ask the farmers in Nebraska how things are working out at the bankruptcy court.
I am picking up what you're putting down. However, a post-America culture here on the North American continent is certainly possible--Margaret Atwood created quite a convincing version in The Handmaid's Tale. It's a post-American dystopia. I think in that case, the 300,000,000 folks who are still alive and present would be most ashamed that it happened while they were on watch.
David, I think your analysis is great and for a while was a paid subscriber, my credit card number may have changed. I think Putin sent a double to Alaska. If true that means everything Trump said was scripted by Putin and worked out with Trump in advance. I think Joe Broe had the photos that are convincing and Jay Smart had fact based on other data that was convincing. What do you think? Do you want to touch this topic.
Are you really thinking of leaving the U.S.? (I hope not, but I can fully see why you would be considering leaving.)
Several MAGA "influencers" have accused you of being gay. You're a straight guy: how does the accusation of being gay affect you (if at all). For the record -- I *am* gay, and I have *never* picked up anything resembling a gay vibe from you, AT ALL. Also, as a gay man, I find using "gay" as an epithet against people to be absolutely vile and offensive.
Why is the world accepting that Ukraine has to give up its land in order to achieve a peace deal? Why isn't the world telling Russia that they need to pull back to the agreed to borders or they face the consequences of all the allies sending troops there to assist the Ukrainians?
My point being that this is sort of crazy pushing Zelensky and the Ukrainians to give up land to achieve peace. Has the world just gone this crazy and we now accept it as such?
LOVE your show, David. By far, you give the most factual and mostly dispassionate (meant as a compliment) analysis of US politics of all of the many podcasts that I listen to. Thank you for doing so.
You are on the money and in a rational world that should be the way it works. The Alaska meeting was a historical replay of Neville Chamberlain appeasement to Hitler. This was just a cheap photo op so Trump can say, hey I tried.
You do not go into any negotiation telling the other side your bottom line. Frankly it appears he asked Putin what he wants and Trump does what he is told. There has to be more to the story we may never know.
In T's world this is not how he thinks. Russia is undoubtedly the stronger and Ukraine the weaker. So do the math, easier to kick the weaker down and suck up to the stronger. That way he gets a "pat" on the back from Putin. Frankly I think T is afraid of Zelensky as he has the guts to challenge him. T also holds grudges. Remember he almost got canned over trying to extort Zelensky to get dirt on Biden. He also held up aid to Ukraine.
The key to all this is Europe. Europe has to stand tall and take the lead as they will be next if Ukraine falls.
Putin played Trump so easily. The pathetic thing was how Trump thought that buttering up Putin with the red carpet, flyover, applause and warm greeting was going to influence Putin. LOL. Trump hasn't enough self-awareness that Putin used flattery and compliments on him...and it worked like a champ. An EO the very next week wanting to get rid of mail-in voting...damn...how obvious is that for how much influence Putin has over Trump? Like you say...there's probably even MORE to the story on that one...
I agree totally. Russia was the country that invaded Ukraine and I don't think Russia should get any piece of land or anything else that they are asking for. The strongest support is for Eukraine and I think that all those World leaders showing up at the White House was to show the world they are behind Eukraine.
Love the "Eurkraine" bit...it captures the moment brilliantly! Sad that "US" isn't in there, but like I said, it's perfect for this particular moment.
I hate being hyperbolic, but the way the regime and its co-conspirators are moving, they are definitely laying the groundwork for trying to cancel elections in 2026 and 2028, or make it impossible for them to be ousted. They will play it off that they're just trolling the libs, but I'm watching what they do, rather than what they say...since all they do is lie. What are your thoughts?
Regarding Israel, Pres. Trump seems to have forgotten that this war was also promised to be “easily ended”. Since this has little to do with Putin, why hasn’t US diplomacy done more to end the carnage, and put unrelenting pressure on BIbi to end his political gamesmanship?
The war in middle east has everything to do with Putin. The Russians and Iranians are in bed together. Iran is the major supplier of weapons to Russia. Iran is the cause of all the mayhem in the middle east. Israel was attacked with the support of Russia and Iran to dilute/deflect American support to Ukraine.
The war in Gaza parallels the war in Ukraine. Have you forgotten that Hamas attacked Israel and Russia attacked Ukraine? Hamas still has Israeli hostages? Wars are not fought with silver bullets that only kill the bad guys. Israel is fighting for its existence against Hamas, Hezbollah, Syria, Iran and you are cherry picking that Israel is the bad guy here. The war in Gaza will not end until the hostages are released. So blame Hamas for the suffering of Gaza and not Israel.
Am I correct in understanding the courts recently ruled that only Congress can levy Tariffs? If so does that mean the tariffs Captain Chaos has executed have to be withdrawn?
There is no more congress no more supreme court and no more constitution ..JUST THE KING ..TACO TITS
There is no congress or Supreme Court, the Repigs just do what T tells them to do. No telling what is going on behind closed doors. I find it appalling that 250+pigs and 6 suckup "Supreme" justices consistently do everything to support him. Even worse their support is like the masses bowing to dear leader in North Korea. I have never seen any political party so in love with their leader.
David, I am a fellow Substacker, I write Articles for my newsletter Disability & Justice (https://dcarvajalfl.substack.com) and I am also from South America (From Chile). I came 52 years ago, My question is should I be worried about doing articles against Trump Administration? I haven't received any negative threats toward my newsletter but I am worried about being kicked out of the United States, I have a physical disability. I have Cerebral Palsy.
David, do you think that Democrats will have a chance to win the 2026 Midterms? With what Trump is already doing trying to gain GOP seats with redistricting, it seems to me like he has already found a way to cheat that is not being addressed.
Trump and his coconspirators are most likely using redistricting and trying to ban mail-in ballets as a smoke screen to do something altogether different. Just my thought,
Keep up the good work David!
After the firing of the BLS head, believe it truer than ever before: If you vote Republican at any level today, you are a traitor to democracy.
Nothing that Trump does makes sense. He was elected by less than 2%. Which tells me he also won with mail in ballots. There is no way that 50 states can run elections and count 160 million ballots using paper ballots that are hand counted. Republican President Bush won over Democrat Al Gore because of the dangling chad fiasco. So even with machines, Republicans win. There is no election on earth that will satisfy Republicans. Even when they win they cry cheating by the other side. The goal is to poison the process and do away with elections and have coronations.
What also amazes me is that the current batch of Republicans now in power all got elected by the same process, Trump says is rigged. Yes but probably in favor of the Republicans.
I keep hearing the message that we need to put together a plan, a platform, an agenda, a 'Project 2029'... Here is the question: How do we start this? Who can get involved? You have the voice and reach to talk to people, including people who know people... It will not need to take much. Just someone setting up a web site and helping get things organized. It could have it's own 'funding' through the site.
Again, the question is who is going to do this? Let us get past the stage where we are deciding to do it and just do it. We know we need to do it so why aren't we doing it?
We do not need to wait for a savior, a knight on a white horse to come and rescue us. We are not a helpless maiden waiting breathlessly for her true love to come and find her... We are passionate, engaged and wanting to save ourselves and so we subscribe, we communicate to support those with a louder voice than ours.
Actually I would accept a black knight to save us. What you are calling for takes leadership that frankly is missing in Democrat land. Hating Trump is not enough. Everyone is numb and desensitized to his escapades. There are 250+ Democrats in congress and thousands amongst the states who need to do what you are calling for.
Democrats need to define a platform that stops playing the same sad song that does not win... equality for all regardless of ability, milking racism as if minorities are inherently weak and need extra protection. Really if racism is so bad, how is it we have had a black male president and black vice president and never a white female in either? Dems are still project soft on crime and drug abuse is society's fault. Dems need to give America something to vote for and not against.
Hope, Faith, Perseverance: Hope that there is a (good) answer, Faith that somehow we will prevail and Perseverance to keep pushing forward until we get there.
From my perspective, while dark days are certainly here, in the words of Monty Python: "I ain't dead yet!" All pessimism does is sap the will to push onward.
I do not think we need a 'leader with all the answers', what we really need is a manager like in any business, to bring people together and coordinate their work. Leaders become important at the stage of communication to the public, having values and ability to handle reality as it comes, because no plan survives contact with reality.
Actually I think we have a lot of good leaders, but they are all civilized and going to allow the primary process to work.
I agree that we can not play the old game. We need to be bold, "Go Big or go home" should be our mantra. Don't settle for small gains, we want and the people want BIG change that will help solve the crisis they can feel has been slowly crushing them for decades. The fear is real but rarely understood as to exactly what the source is, so most people's fears are easily misdirected, as Trump has done.
As to candidates, Sad reality is, either out of cultural conditioning, or Racism / Misogyny, most people, including women and minorities are more comfortable at this time with a white man. We can be right or we can make things right...
Hope does spring eternal. Billy Graham was once asked what mistake he thought God made. He replied race. Man will always find fault with others. However, we are born into our race and you cannot change that. Unfortunately race has divided us and the political exploitation does not help .
Trump got elected against issues like DEI and the push for reparations for slavery. What kind of reaction do you expect from poor whites when they hear that? They voted for Trump. Thanks California, you did more to elect Trump than Musk.
Dear David, Why are You NOT Commenting on Netanyahu, the Israel Protesters Against Netan and the GAZA War ? and the Starving to Death of the Gaza Inhabitants as well the Hostages by Netan ? Why Does Netan think Taking Over ALL of Gaza is Moral ?
Wars are not moral. Why is Israel always held to a higher standard and not its enemies? A small handful of Israelis has a billion enemies and is fighting for its survival. They occupy a tiny amount of mostly barren worthless desert. It is only by their hard work it has become productive. They gave a prductive Gaza to the Palestinians. What did they do with it. They destroyed it and made it into a permanent welfare state to keep Hamas in charge. Billions have been spent on Gaza and this is what you get.
Hamas steals the aid sent to Gaza and uses the civilians as shields. You want Hamas to call the shots? Gaza is a war zone full of tunnels used for weapons to be used against Israel. Allowing Hamas to stay in Gaze will just be more of the same continue to destroy Israel?
I do feel for the women and children, but their fate is in the hands of Hamas and not Israel. The best thing that can happen is for Israel to defeat Hamas and move them to Yemen where they can dance together and dig all the tunnels they want. Hamas has lost any legitimacy it has and should not be rewarded with keeping Gaza.
Two questions:
1-Now that they are starting to release the Epstein files, do we really believe all the info is going to come out?
2-if they are successful in burying the important info, and the Dems re-take the House in 2026, can it be revisited at that time?
Fox News remade the landscape, not Trump. 20 plus years of 24/7 paranoia and anxiety created the conditions for Trump to take over.
The Dumbacrats did their fair share to give Fox lots of ammunition to fan the flames. Dems still want open borders, transgenders in womens sports, less police and more welfare, more drug treatment and less enforcement and more pandering to the racism industry that whites are the real problem and should pay reparations for slavery,
So keep on keep on and maybe by luck Trump will screw up worse than normal or get rehired for another tv series and get bored with the office.
Seriously, what is the Democrat vision of America that does not alienate half of America that pays the taxes that Dems want to use to maintain policies that are losers.
This seems like a dated question, is it a feasible idea for the ICC and the UN Security Council can collaborate more transparently to be a more sustainable global solution?
I’m sure there could be a myriad of solutions but I just wanted your take on it.
The underlying problem in Israel was established at the end of WWII when two incompatible groups, the Israelis and the Palestinians were put together in the same area. The thinking was given time they could work it out and somehow get along.
We see how that has worked ... it doesn't.
Hauling Bibi to court has the same logic as Trump kicking Zelensky to surrender to Russia. Why is it that the country that gets attacked like Israel and Ukraine are the ones responsible for making peace and not the other way around? Hamas should be hauled to the ICC and not Bibi.
I will tell you why, the world wants quick and cheap fixes to problems. They find it easier to apply pressure to one side (Israel and Ukraine) without applying pressure on the belligerents.
What would you feel if we are the Americans at the helm when it all came crashing down? Not those alive in 1861. Not 1941. Not 1929. Not 1778. Not 1962. Us. Here and now.
We would not be feeling anything, we would be dead. One way to solve the debt problem is to not exist any longer. Let some other country deal with the climate or live with the consequences at least we would not have to pay for it.
I agree we are not headed in the right direction. Hey, elections have consequences, so not onward and upward.. just backward and downward wearing bright red caps with smiles on their faces. Ask the farmers in Nebraska how things are working out at the bankruptcy court.
I am picking up what you're putting down. However, a post-America culture here on the North American continent is certainly possible--Margaret Atwood created quite a convincing version in The Handmaid's Tale. It's a post-American dystopia. I think in that case, the 300,000,000 folks who are still alive and present would be most ashamed that it happened while they were on watch.
My two cents.
David, I think your analysis is great and for a while was a paid subscriber, my credit card number may have changed. I think Putin sent a double to Alaska. If true that means everything Trump said was scripted by Putin and worked out with Trump in advance. I think Joe Broe had the photos that are convincing and Jay Smart had fact based on other data that was convincing. What do you think? Do you want to touch this topic.
Are you saying the Russians sent a dummy to Alaska to meet our dummy?
What effect did the 1st Trump Admin shortening the 2020 Census collection period have on thd results?
Hi,
in these days it seems that several states where Repubblicans have the majority redraw their voting maps using Gerrymandering.
Also states with democratic majority like for example California are starting with Gerrymandering.
Do you think that it is good, that the Democrats react this way?
Who do you think will increase more seats manipulating the voting districts?
Will President Trump be able to save the majority in the House of Representatives even losing a lot of votes/voters in comparison to 2024?
Are you really thinking of leaving the U.S.? (I hope not, but I can fully see why you would be considering leaving.)
Several MAGA "influencers" have accused you of being gay. You're a straight guy: how does the accusation of being gay affect you (if at all). For the record -- I *am* gay, and I have *never* picked up anything resembling a gay vibe from you, AT ALL. Also, as a gay man, I find using "gay" as an epithet against people to be absolutely vile and offensive.