Peter Rothpletz on the president’s musings about executing his political rivals, reports the US Coast Guard no longer classifies swastikas as hate symbols, and Elon Musk’s AI chatbot’s daddy issues.
I discovered "Blues" when my favorite rock station changed over to right wing talk garbage. Stevie Ray Vaughn, an old favorite Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters and the Kings, BB and Albert to name a few.
That last thing...The Gallup Poll. Really? You have to ask people if they think using violence for political gains is OK or not? WTF, are we back to Gangs Of New York or Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall? How about the post civil war-reconstruction era in the south and the KKK? 83% think it's wrong...Good! I am curious about how many people in southern states were polled. And no, I am not naive with my question. It is just rhetoric on my part.
I hope we don't experience more political violence. However, the next question is, do you respond to political violence with violence? I find that one more difficult. I hope our institutions hold (enough) so I don't have to answer that.
What I know is that I don't like polls. Violence...I was "deployed" to Vietnam in 1967. I had volunteered...Volunteered for the Marine Corps. I was pretty violent back then but conversely, I had no argument with the Vietnamese. It was more as if I was a tourist going on an adventure rather than as a warrior. The smells, the sights, the people. Oh, it was wonderful. I couldn't imagine hurting any one. I didn't kill anyone and I didn't die. The patrols I would go on were more like strolls...with guns, bullets and hand grenades of course. For me, the only enemies I had were the few Marines who actually had come to kill and I saw them as murderers. SO, I was violent and I was pacific at the same time. I was 18! Now I understand why that's the way I was and also, why people mob up and go nuts for political reasons. I also understand that wealth in all its forms is the most important value for many. There is a part of me that will not ever harm a soul and there is a part of me that wonders why somebody hasn't fought back or killed any of these right wing outlaws. You make a good point but your reference about institutions holding up, when I think about it, I think differently that there are two aspects, not institutions but the Law and the Culture. The law is our social contract, written 250 years ago and they had their misgivings back then. Lawmakers would decide how much we were free to do and what limitations were required on our freedom and we had to trust them to be virtuous and do the right thing. The second aspect is Culture. " In Order To Form A More Perfect Union, We The People..." Thirteen States grew to 50. Half the states thrived on slave labor and half were attempting to evolve, to thrive while becoming more civilized. It wasn't gonna work. We had agreed on something like a truce but that sentiment to not use violence amongst ourselves was weak, questionable. Secession was alway there in some minds. We never were gonna be a United States, we did try however and we become the wealthiest country on this planet. We are two tribes and we disagree on many things but the elephant in the room is money...The economy. I went to war and was prepared to kill or be killed so that we could protect our economic system threatened by other and different economic systems. That is the sad story of our countries history and that is the example of how we use violence to advance our nations' interest.
Just checked your list out. You got most of the ones I had thought of. Here's some extras: 2004 Eminem Mosh. Dylan's Masters of war (Judy Collins cover as well}. Bruce Cockburn's If I Had a Rocket Launcher. Buffy Sainte Marie and Universal Soldier. Now this last one is the most relevant to me. 77 million votes for trump last year. A bunch of dum-sumbitches and a-holes.
They’ll all be on there, thanks for the suggestions! Didn’t know about the Eminem song. Newer rap is a blind spot. We’re shooting for the arbitrary number of 400 songs. One a day. Masters of War, one of our favs. Thanks!
Been looking exactly for something like this, thank you so much. Half the lists I see, I control F for Country Joe and the Fish and instantly know the list ain't real.
Great newsletter again, Peter! I love your wit/sarcasm/humor! However, you triggered me today with talk of the tesla truck & musk - vile, reptilian, inhuman things - both of them. But then you made me laugh outloud with the "civics lesson".
There will be some MAGAs whose friends and family members are Democrats.. ask them the question " are they going to hang their own?" This "stain" in the White House is deranged desparate and evil
What year is it? 1933? Is there a charismatic fellow in German rallying his fellow citizens against real grievances only to lead them and the rest of the world to catastrophe? Nope, it's 2025 and a (so i'm told) charismatic American president is leading his own nation to destruction and trying to pull the rest of the world into the grave with him. History has not been kind to Neville Chamberlain. Will there be anyone to write the history of this time, of Mike Johnson and the cowardly Republican senators and congress who are aiding and abetting Trump? [I used to use nicknames to avoid writing his name, but now his own name is the worst insult in my store.]
Thank you for your honest and often terrifying morning news report.
As someone who legitimately believes most of congress is guilty of treason and should be worried about the death penalty, this is so frustrating. As usual, Trump takes something I like the foundation of (e.g. limited tariffs restoring rustbelt manufacturing around key industries we need here for safety) and utterly desecrates it.
Our congresspeople took funds from a foreign state and then helped it bomb US allies, murder US citizens, and weaponize the first amendment to go after any American who disagreed. That's treason. The only reason it's not technically treason is that the same people engaging in this behavior are the ones with the authority to label it what it is. Every single one who took AIPAC funds and then approved a cent of military funds or a single free-speech crackdown should be under investigation and expecting jailtime at least.
But now I have to go rally behind traitors like Slotkin, one of the most unapologetic traitors of all, because Trump is picking a fight I want in the most disgusting, self-interested, unjustifiable way possible. And this probably means it'll be harder to get actual sentences for any of these monsters.
For your playlist: both songs are from Honey Dijon! "Journey to the sun (Dennis Ferrer remix)[Mixed]"--Joey Negro& the sunburst band and "So Good Today (Yoruba Soul Remix)[Mixed]--Ben Westbeech. (Honey DijonFM on Apple Music--her mixes drop and they have some bangers to just move your body and feel happy and light)
to the newsletter, I have to say that I am confused why it is still called a "ceasefire" in Gaza between Israel and Hamas...it seems much more like a "pause deal" or "pause fire" given that Israel still does whatever the fuck it wants cuz Bibi sucked just enough of trumps dick to get him to look the other way. Ugh, too many thoughts and feelings about the state of things. I am perpetually outraged.
Thanks Peter! Much appreciated for helping get me through this barrage of literal lunacy and moral decay.
"I haven’t seen a single, major GOP official condemn Trump’s words."
That is precisely why we need to HYPE his words. Call him out for his violent rhetoric since no one else will. It matters not whether he means it, there are too many crazies out there who will.
And btw, try some old school Nordic Metal for your playlist. Back in the 'aughts, I had my son make me a playlist with some "high energy workout beats". Wish I could remember more names, but Nightwish and NanoWar of Steel come to mind.
I discovered "Blues" when my favorite rock station changed over to right wing talk garbage. Stevie Ray Vaughn, an old favorite Jimi Hendrix, Muddy Waters and the Kings, BB and Albert to name a few.
noted!
I like your style. As you state quite succinctly, everyone should already know this, but apparently they don't.
Thank you, friend!
Rosalia, Lux.
Ooo, thank you!
Been jamming to Emile and the Education as well as Sickick.
Ooooh, thanks Ruth!
That last thing...The Gallup Poll. Really? You have to ask people if they think using violence for political gains is OK or not? WTF, are we back to Gangs Of New York or Boss Tweed and Tammany Hall? How about the post civil war-reconstruction era in the south and the KKK? 83% think it's wrong...Good! I am curious about how many people in southern states were polled. And no, I am not naive with my question. It is just rhetoric on my part.
I hope we don't experience more political violence. However, the next question is, do you respond to political violence with violence? I find that one more difficult. I hope our institutions hold (enough) so I don't have to answer that.
What I know is that I don't like polls. Violence...I was "deployed" to Vietnam in 1967. I had volunteered...Volunteered for the Marine Corps. I was pretty violent back then but conversely, I had no argument with the Vietnamese. It was more as if I was a tourist going on an adventure rather than as a warrior. The smells, the sights, the people. Oh, it was wonderful. I couldn't imagine hurting any one. I didn't kill anyone and I didn't die. The patrols I would go on were more like strolls...with guns, bullets and hand grenades of course. For me, the only enemies I had were the few Marines who actually had come to kill and I saw them as murderers. SO, I was violent and I was pacific at the same time. I was 18! Now I understand why that's the way I was and also, why people mob up and go nuts for political reasons. I also understand that wealth in all its forms is the most important value for many. There is a part of me that will not ever harm a soul and there is a part of me that wonders why somebody hasn't fought back or killed any of these right wing outlaws. You make a good point but your reference about institutions holding up, when I think about it, I think differently that there are two aspects, not institutions but the Law and the Culture. The law is our social contract, written 250 years ago and they had their misgivings back then. Lawmakers would decide how much we were free to do and what limitations were required on our freedom and we had to trust them to be virtuous and do the right thing. The second aspect is Culture. " In Order To Form A More Perfect Union, We The People..." Thirteen States grew to 50. Half the states thrived on slave labor and half were attempting to evolve, to thrive while becoming more civilized. It wasn't gonna work. We had agreed on something like a truce but that sentiment to not use violence amongst ourselves was weak, questionable. Secession was alway there in some minds. We never were gonna be a United States, we did try however and we become the wealthiest country on this planet. We are two tribes and we disagree on many things but the elephant in the room is money...The economy. I went to war and was prepared to kill or be killed so that we could protect our economic system threatened by other and different economic systems. That is the sad story of our countries history and that is the example of how we use violence to advance our nations' interest.
Hi, I’ve been working on a Resistance music playlist, here’s the first hundred. Check it out, this era needs a soundtrack.
https://gebryan.substack.com/p/the-resistance-playlist
Just checked your list out. You got most of the ones I had thought of. Here's some extras: 2004 Eminem Mosh. Dylan's Masters of war (Judy Collins cover as well}. Bruce Cockburn's If I Had a Rocket Launcher. Buffy Sainte Marie and Universal Soldier. Now this last one is the most relevant to me. 77 million votes for trump last year. A bunch of dum-sumbitches and a-holes.
They’ll all be on there, thanks for the suggestions! Didn’t know about the Eminem song. Newer rap is a blind spot. We’re shooting for the arbitrary number of 400 songs. One a day. Masters of War, one of our favs. Thanks!
Been looking exactly for something like this, thank you so much. Half the lists I see, I control F for Country Joe and the Fish and instantly know the list ain't real.
You’re doing great work with this newsletter, it’s a crowded field.
Great newsletter again, Peter! I love your wit/sarcasm/humor! However, you triggered me today with talk of the tesla truck & musk - vile, reptilian, inhuman things - both of them. But then you made me laugh outloud with the "civics lesson".
My day is now complete!
Awww thank you Lianne! You made my day!
There will be some MAGAs whose friends and family members are Democrats.. ask them the question " are they going to hang their own?" This "stain" in the White House is deranged desparate and evil
Calling for members of congress to be hung is deliberate stochastic terrorism, with known results. As for Kirk, “things happen”.
What year is it? 1933? Is there a charismatic fellow in German rallying his fellow citizens against real grievances only to lead them and the rest of the world to catastrophe? Nope, it's 2025 and a (so i'm told) charismatic American president is leading his own nation to destruction and trying to pull the rest of the world into the grave with him. History has not been kind to Neville Chamberlain. Will there be anyone to write the history of this time, of Mike Johnson and the cowardly Republican senators and congress who are aiding and abetting Trump? [I used to use nicknames to avoid writing his name, but now his own name is the worst insult in my store.]
Thank you for your honest and often terrifying morning news report.
As someone who legitimately believes most of congress is guilty of treason and should be worried about the death penalty, this is so frustrating. As usual, Trump takes something I like the foundation of (e.g. limited tariffs restoring rustbelt manufacturing around key industries we need here for safety) and utterly desecrates it.
Our congresspeople took funds from a foreign state and then helped it bomb US allies, murder US citizens, and weaponize the first amendment to go after any American who disagreed. That's treason. The only reason it's not technically treason is that the same people engaging in this behavior are the ones with the authority to label it what it is. Every single one who took AIPAC funds and then approved a cent of military funds or a single free-speech crackdown should be under investigation and expecting jailtime at least.
But now I have to go rally behind traitors like Slotkin, one of the most unapologetic traitors of all, because Trump is picking a fight I want in the most disgusting, self-interested, unjustifiable way possible. And this probably means it'll be harder to get actual sentences for any of these monsters.
For your playlist: both songs are from Honey Dijon! "Journey to the sun (Dennis Ferrer remix)[Mixed]"--Joey Negro& the sunburst band and "So Good Today (Yoruba Soul Remix)[Mixed]--Ben Westbeech. (Honey DijonFM on Apple Music--her mixes drop and they have some bangers to just move your body and feel happy and light)
to the newsletter, I have to say that I am confused why it is still called a "ceasefire" in Gaza between Israel and Hamas...it seems much more like a "pause deal" or "pause fire" given that Israel still does whatever the fuck it wants cuz Bibi sucked just enough of trumps dick to get him to look the other way. Ugh, too many thoughts and feelings about the state of things. I am perpetually outraged.
Thanks Peter! Much appreciated for helping get me through this barrage of literal lunacy and moral decay.
I run similar mileage each week but I listen to podcasts; usually The Damage Report and Kyle Kulinski on my runs.
On the terms of the Ukraine deal: oh, yeah, Putin definitely has the Bubba pictures.
Regarding Peter's plea for new music, when I jogged (too old now) I listened to Oliver Mtukudzi, my pick for the all time best musician ever!
You write
"I haven’t seen a single, major GOP official condemn Trump’s words."
That is precisely why we need to HYPE his words. Call him out for his violent rhetoric since no one else will. It matters not whether he means it, there are too many crazies out there who will.
And btw, try some old school Nordic Metal for your playlist. Back in the 'aughts, I had my son make me a playlist with some "high energy workout beats". Wish I could remember more names, but Nightwish and NanoWar of Steel come to mind.