Dear Everybody:
The big news today is Trump and Ramaswamyâs trying to deal with the firestorm they created with the disgusting ad about Amy Acton:
–Ramaswamy is now trying to claim that the ad wasnât about what it was clearly about: âOur ad had nothing, NOTHING, to do with childhood abuse, sexual abuse. We condemn that as forcefully as anyone. Our ad was about a consistent track record of Amy Acton telling lies, including during this campaign. If a candidate has repeatedly told lies in this campaign, as she has…I think it is absolutely appropriate for voters to hear and make a decision for themselves.â (Nobody believes this for a minute.)
–Trump, on the other hand, has decided the right approach to defending the indefensible is to double down and yell at the reporters, as witness this extraordinary exchange yesterday:
–Female reporter: âNow that you know the backstory about Amy Acton and her stepfather and why she hasnât talked to her mom for so long, her stepfather was indicted for rape, now that you know all that, sir, do you change your mind about the ad?â Trump: âNo, no. Itâs a mother speaking badly about Amy Acton And to me itâs very easy. âReporter: âBut they havenât talked for years.â Trump: I donât care.â Reporter: âBut her mother stood by her husband after her husband had rapedââ Trump: âLook, you donât know that. You donât know anything. Her mother stood by, didnât stand by. Her mother went on television and said that the daughter whoâs running for governor of Ohio is a liar and a bad person. Thatâs all I know. Why wouldnât you listen to a mother who says that?â Reporter: She stayed with a stepfather who was charged with raping his stepdaughter in 1978, sir.â Trump: âYou just keep talking.â Reporter: I am answering you, sir.â Trump: âI donât know anything about stepfathers.â Reporter: âDo sexual abuse allegations mean nothing to you, sir?â Trump: âWait, wait, wait. Slow down. Who are you with?â Reporter: âNBC, sir. But they are very serious sex abuse allegations.â Trump: âQuiet! Isnât she a fresh person? Youâre a horrible little reporter, arenât you?â And he walked away.
–Both approaches seem to be working equally wellâthat is, not at all, and the issue shows no sign of going away.
The other big story of the week was Trump’s increasing violence toward reporters and protesters:
–One thing that’s been very clear this past week is that Trump’s violent impulses are becoming greater and greater. He is now encouraging his rally goers to beat up protesters.
–There were at least a dozen hecklers at Trump’s rally Wednesday night, and Trump got angrier and angrier at each interruption. Rallygoers pounded on one protester, hitting him repeatedly, and Trump said, “That was great, man. Wow! I loved that.”
–The night before, Trump had said he used to tell supporters to “beat the hell” out of protesters, but learned not to say things like that. “Today I say, ‘Please don’t hurt them.’ This way the press can’t get me.”
–Heather Delaney Reese; “He told everyone watching that he wasn’t trying to protect his fellow Americans from violence; he was just trying to avoid criticism from the media…one day later, and he was standing on stage telling the crowd how much he loved watching someone get punched for using their voice.”
–After a protester was forcibly removed, Trump said he would “go home and mom slaps them around for that. ‘I voted for that man, son. Don’t you ever do that again.”
–Trump also said, “We’re not going to put up with it, by the way. A possible threat which could happen. I hope you won’t get angry if I treat them very, very rough ’cause that’s what’s gonna happen.”
Trump’s hostility to the press is also increasing:
–He is now attacking reporters–shouting at them, getting in their faces, threatening them–at every press briefing and Q&A session.
–Trump to Kaitlin Collins of CNN: “You don’t know what you’re talking about. ; You’re a dummy. You’re a low IQ person. You’re a dummy and you work for CNN.”
–Trump to Karen Travers of ABC: “Are you a stupid person? Who do you work for? You’re a stupid person. And by the way, your network is the worst of all.” (Note: In both instances, the reporters had asked about Trump’s removing sanctions on Russia, a question he obviously doesn’t want to discuss.)
–Trump threw Andrew Feinberg (who asked him a question he didn’t like the other day) out of the White House pool on Thursday when he was supposed to be the designated pool reporter.” Trump told him: “I don’t know who the hell you are, but you better be careful.”
–The White House is demanding that Politico retract three stories about Susie Wiles “or face the consequences.”
–Trump is talking about shutting the press briefing room and the entire press office complex in the White House altogether and replacing it with a swimming pool. (The briefing room is 100 years old.)
–Evidence has emerged that Trump wanted Karoline Leavitt’s final action as press secretary to be announcing she was throwing out of all reporters who cover the White House, followed by the permanent closing of the briefing room, but that he was temporarily talked out of it.
In the War on Ukraine news:
–Ukrainian drones struck a multi-story building in Lipetsk and caused multiple explosions around the city.
–Ukraine struck a weapons plant near Moscow.
–Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s 75th GRAU Arsenal, 380 km from Russia’s border.
–Russia, meanwhile is focusing on civilians, aiming at residential buildings and shopping malls and using dozens of missiles and cluster munitions to kill as many people as possible.
–One of the casualties was a one-year old in her stroller, which happened just as Trump was saying, “Russia, frankly, has been fine on Ukraine. They haven’t been doing much,” a comment that caused outrage around the world.
The photos of the child who was killed quickly went viral. Zelenskyy said, “Pure atrocity. These are horrific photos, but behind them are shattered lives and the truth about this war.”
–Russian partisans are setting fires at gas stations.
–The Ukrainians’ strikes on the Russian oil industry is having a major effect on the Russian economy, and Ukraine is pushing deeper and deeper into Russian territory to take out their refineries.
In Trump’s BBC defamation case:
–Trump brought a lawsuit against the BBC, saying a story they published made the Trump family lose billions in revenue.
–The BBC got judges to demand ALL financial records of all Trump family members. So, in the discovery phase, Trump has no defense and has been ordered to turn over all the records.
–Rather than turn over all records or drop the lawsuit, Trump just keeps asking for delays and they are refusing to cooperate in every way possible.
–Trump and his family are now refusing to participate in the lawsuit. Trump is claiming he’s unavailable to sit for a deposition till the day after the limit to do so in the case runs out, and Jared and Ivanka and Don, Jr. are all hiding out from the process servers.
–The BBC ruled against Trump, who was claiming that he couldn’t sit for a deposition because he had national security conflicts. The BBC proved those conflicts were a political rally and a fundraising dinner at Mar-a- lago and said he has to sit for the deposition. Trump’s lawyers objected.
–The judge has now ordered Trump to sit for a deposition by December 11.
–And Trump has another big problem. The BBC is calling Jack Smith to testify in discovery. Trump says Smith’s testimony is “entirely irrelevant,” but the BBC says no, it’s not, and they’re calling him. (Go, BBC! We may finally get to hear what’s in that second volume of his report that Judge Cannon sealed up tighter than a drum.)
In other How Low Can You Go news:
–After Trump screamed at the reporter Andrew Feinberg the other day for trying to ask him a question, snarling, “I actually think there’s something wrong with you,” the official White House account, Rapid Response 47, posted the following. “POTUS absolutely roasts Mongoloid Moron Andrew Feinberg for his disgraceful behavior.”
–Anthony Michael Kreis: “The White House official accounts are posting Down Syndrome slurs to attack journalists. These people are disgusting and morally depraved.”
–Richard Levine: “I guess Make America Great Again means feeling free to use disgusting slurs that haven’t been heard in decent company for like sixty years.’
–E. Denzer: “There isn’t one single redeeming quality in this administration.”
–ctrl+alt+RESIST: “Official White House accounts. Not some troll farm, the actual President, posting slurs at reporters.”
In the Grift Goes On news:
–Ambassador To Israel Mike Huckabee’s family company is offering $5800 and trips to Israel on which tourists can meet top Israel officials.
–Kristi Noem bought five planes at an inflated price from a donor of hers right before she was fired from the Department of Homeland Security. She went home to South Dakota, where a large bronze statue of a horse standing next to Noem dressed as a cowgirl was unveiled which “pays tribute to her greatness as a governor.”
–ICE head Markwayne Mullin tried to put his wife on the government payroll so she could have access to government planes, even though they each have their own private plane.
–From the movie THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE: “Rich people. They’ll nickel and dime you to death.”
In JD Vance is His Own Worst Enemy news:
–Vance, talking about the bad economy and advocating patience: “You don’t turn the Titanic around overnight.”
–Alex Cole: “JD Vance just compared the Trump economy to a ship famous for sinking. Democrats couldn’t write better campaign material.”
In Epstein news:
–Federal prosecutors at the DOJ have opened an investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s executors–his lawyer and his accountant.
–They did this immediately after the Attorney General of New Mexico opened an investigation into the same two men, charging them with financing and covering up Epstein’s sex trafficking activities at the Zorro Ranch in New Mexico.
–muellershewrote: “I hope I’m wrong, but I feel like Blanche opened this investigation to prevent discovery in any state probes like New Mexico, or to prevent having to release any files due to ‘an open and ongoing investigation.’”
–(I think she’s right. This is exactly what they did back when New Mexico investigated Epstein and the Zorro Ranch the first time. The feds stepped in, took over the investigation, told the state guys that they were now in charge, and then did nothing.)
In What We’re Up Against news:
–Armed federal agents dispatched by the DHS and ICE are knocking on doors in several states, asking residents about their immigration status and past voting records. (This is blatantly illegal–and clear intimidation of voters.)
–There are reports out of Tennessee’s Williamson County (including from Dolly Parton’s sister) that voting machines are flipping Democratic votes to Republicans. One person said she had to try three times before the machine didn’t flip her vote.
–Trump is now claiming that Canada is interfering with the vote. (Not, you will notice, Russia. Or China. Or Elon Musk. Just Canada.)
The most interesting (and concerning?) story of the day is a post from die-hard Trump fan Liz Wheeler:
–Liz Wheeler: “There’s a literal coup against President Trump being plotted as we speak. 1600+ former USAID employees, military, state department diplomats, and foreign policy officials are planning violence for after the midterms. If Democrats win the House and Senate, the plot will be activated. DSA ‘foot soldiers’ will take to the streets, instigating violence clashes with Trump law enforcement agents. They intend their violence to provoke Trump into invoking the Insurrection Act. If Trump invokes that law, the thugs plan to seize power from the federal government in a ‘doomsday scenario’ delegitimizing the federal government and giving power to Democrat governors in blue states.”
–bethelight: “She is laying the groundwork, planting the seed. So when MAGA ensues (I think they mean “instigates”) violence, she can blame the Dems. Same crap they did during BLM.”
–Andy Flan: “Every accusation/prediction is a confession. Always.”
–Bluebagger57: “Thanks, Liz. Been waiting on this very accusation to be 100% certain Trump will launch another insurrection after the midterms…”
–RiseUp!!: “Huh. She makes it sound like only democrats would handle it the way republicans already have.”
–Glenn Mulno: “She is putting the intended action out there (Insurrection Act) as if it will be in response to voting. They are signaling that Trump will invoke it if Republicans lose and they want people to be thinking now that violence will provoke it. Violence will happen BECAUSE of Trump’s new steal.”
–Linda Arbuckle: “I love that Trump and his sycophants accuse other people of just what they want or are planning to do, or have just done. E.g., ‘fake news,’ ‘stolen election.’”
–TaraX: ‘So that’s what they’re planning then? Every damn thing is projection with them, so…”
–ronnieb47: “It’s more likely that Trump will use ICE to start violence and declare martial law if he loses.”
In promising news:
–Michael Bloomberg has donated $80 million dollars to help Democrats in the midterms.
–Voting on the first day of early voting in Texas in two suburban counties which Trump carried by double digits in 2024 was up 19.2 points for the Democrats compared to 2022.
–Adam Cochran: “Holy shit! So unless you think Paxton is somehow crushing it with new voters, the increased numbers look great for Talarico!”
–Jennifer Rubin: “The MAGA crackup has begun.
–Also Jennifer Rubin: “Trump’s behavior on the campaign trail has only intensified the sense that the country is rudderless, careening from one disaster to another without a sentient leader…we are seeing the political death spiral of a regime under the tutelage of a mentally decrepit narcissist.”
In scientific news;
–Astronomers have discovered a green star. It’s a white dwarf which became a ghostly shade of chartreuse after ingesting rocky debris from planets that once orbited it. You can see it here:
https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2026/10/261017230018.htm
And, speaking of green, here’s the coolest bird of the day, Anna’s hummingbird, which has an iridescent two-shades-of-green back and a cerise-colored head. You can see it here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Annas_Hummingbird/id
In other news:
–When asked about that so-called “investigation” into why the US bombed that girls’ school and killed all those kids, Defense Secretary Hegseth said he is still investigating and he’ll tell us when the investigation is done. (Like never.)
–Dr. Oz announced that the Department of Health and Human Services will be taking $1.2 billion dollars away from California’s Medicare funds because their costs are too high. (Plus, Trump doesn’t like them and wants to punish them.)
–The Apple Store put out an ad bragging about the beautiful design details of its store, particularly about the “perfect little door” in a steel column that “hides the fire extinguisher.”
–James Welham: “Hiding a fire extinguisher is a hilariously bad idea.”
In good news:
–A federal judge blocked parts of a DHS campaign to question suspected non-citizen voters, saying it violated the Voting Act.
–There have been walkouts all over the country (including Colorado) demanding a freeze on all AI until regulations are in place that allow public input.
–Pope Leo’s lung cancer was 1) caught in the early stages, and 2) is the most common kind of lung cancer and the most treatable, both of which bode well for his recovery. Plus, survival rates for lung cancer are improving. And we badly need people in positions of authority who will speak out against Trump’s horrible depredations and evilness. (Plus, I’m glad for him personally.)
The Politics Chicks:
Slava Ukraini
Canada is a great neighbor.
Genocide is bad, no matter who perpetrates it.
Trans people have always existed.
Immigrants and the LGBTQ+ community are not the enemy.
Democratic socialism is not communism. Don’t be stupid.
Patriarchy is bad.
Abortion is health care.
Fuck ICE, fuck DJT, fuck MAGA.
Just fucking VOTE BLUE.
In case anyone wondered where we stand.
Best comment of the day, from Jim Acosta: “Folks, the wheels came off a long time ago, but now the axles are scraping off, too.”
Keep calm and carry on,
Connie Willis
