I would love to see someone (i.e. a media person or organization with professional research and editing skills) put together a montage of former Trump officials coming out against Donald Trump. For example Mike pence saying he won't vote for Trump, Bill Barr and his comments about Trump being a narcissist, Mark esper and his telling of Trump wanting to use the military to shoot protesters, Mark Meadows, former chief of staff Kelly, as well as your guests here, so on and so forth.
It's not okay to be as naive as Shadi Hamid, when he has such a massive platform, from which to mislead people.
When Trump talks about "God" saving him from assassination, he isn't demonstrating any sort of belief in "God" (let alone a devotion to piety); he's asserting that he is ENDORSED by God. He's asserting that God himself, reached down from heaven to save him, because God wants him to be president.
Shadi falsely, and recklessly, claims, "Trump is more reflective." What evidence does Shadi present to support such a ludicrous fantasy? Shadi points to the speechwriting of OTHER people (not Trump), and the alleged transformations of OTHER people (not Trump). Yet Shadi doesn't get what's wrong with his "thinking."
It is NOT "harmless" to portray infantile fantasies as "journalism."
It's EXTREMELY harmful to portray a rapey, racist authoritarian thug (and nuke-happy imbecile), as if he's a spiritual convert who has seen the light.
It's EXTREMELY harmful to portray America's "institutions" as if they are something separate from the PEOPLE who either choose to uphold them, or choose NOT to.
It's frustrating AF to see someone who gets some things right — the need to replace Biden in order to win 2024, the malign evil of Biden's genocide against Palestine, the indefensibility of Biden's violent suppression of Americans who reject genocide — fail at basic aspects of reality, like understanding that America is NOT magically immune to fascism.
The US can fall into fascism in EXACTLY the same way as every other democracy that fell into fascism. Or America can fall into fascism in its own "exceptional" way (where "exceptional" stupidity and "exceptional" corruption undermine democracy).
Even Shadi's flippant, "We, as Democrats, would deserve what we get," stance on a potential total loss (of all branches) to Trump, demonstrates a deranged view of who is at risk. No one cares what happens to the douchebags in power — or at least no one should — it's the PEOPLE (the nobodies) who bear the harm, if Biden refuses to allow someone BETTER to lead the Democratic Party (or if Biden stalls for so long that he ruins EVERYONE'S chances).
It's the nobodies who MATTER. The rich assh•les in power, who are breaking the country, have the money & freedom to just fly off to another country and buy themselves a new life. The nobodies are the people who are stuck with what's left.
Lisa, Your first 5 paragraphs are on point regarding DT finding "god". I agree!
In addition, I am sure, after the attempted assassination on DT, many journalist, politicians, etc., are playing the "safe" comment card (like Shadi Hamid). They want to keep their jobs. Many others who are also in a position to speak, like Pence, remain mute. Why? Protecting themselves and their families? Fear. No backbone? Hoping the people who see the truth will come out in November, or not, and step up to keep DT out of a 2nd term? IDK.
Moreover, truth be told, I ask, "Who is "better" to lead the Democrats at this late date?? I honestly believe the fear is if Biden runs, and wins, but cannot finish the 2nd term Kamala Harris would become President. Either way, if Biden steps down, or wins and cannot finish the 2nd term, many in this country are not ready for a female, black/brown President. Men (white/black) probably will not vote for her as President like they didn't for Hillary Clinton. Pretty sad. Democrats are stuck.
Finally, the money the billionaires pump into these Super PACs, are placing the power hungry pawns in place for their advantages. (For example, Peter Thiel, took JD Vance to meet Trump at Mar-a-Largo. He also poured money into JDV's senate race. Now Vance is VP with so little time in the senate? Umm.
Are the folks in their right minds going to just throw their hands up and not vote? Hello Project 2025! And yes, the "nobodies" are the ones who will suffer the consequences. USA is in a real pickle.
I’m not a fan of Kamala (mainly due to her willingness to aid & abet Joe Biden).
There was a point where I nearly forgave the fact that she's basically a cop — when I saw that one spectacular moment, where she confronted one example of Joe Biden's lifelong, career-guiding, racism — but then she immediately turned right around and sold her soul to be "that little girl" who propped up a racist old man (and his genocide).
Despite that fact, Kamala is inarguably a better candidate than Joe is: She knows how to form an argument against a criminal, and she’s capable of maintaining her train of thought.
The (usually white-moderate/liberal) compulsion to feign a superior understanding of racism — and the (usually white-moderate/liberal) compulsion to preemptively capitulate to racists — is not a valid excuse to block a non-white candidate from the presidential ballot. Nor is it a legitimate predictor of whether Kamala can win a presidential race against a rapey racist.
Yes, racism is real & sexism is real. However, Hillary didn't lose because she's a woman, and Barack didn't lose AT ALL.
I hear you again, Lisa, and agree that race and sex shouldn't be an issue in a Presidential race. But it is the elephant in some Republican, and some Democratic, rooms. Yes, Kamala is a formidable opponent, intelligent and articulate and should not be overlooked should Biden step down.
The problem is the polls. I am not one who follows statistics, but our politicians do, and, especially those elite donors! Many of the polls break down constituent statistics according to race, sex, education, income, location, blah, blah, blah. And that's what has many people and Dems running scared.
Yet, the electoral college will determines the next president. Yes, there is the popular vote (which Hillary won); but Trump won the presidency by 304 (minimum needed is 270) electoral votes, and Clinton 227 in 2016. (Dollars to donuts white males said, "Hell no!" to Clinton.) Obama had won ECV that traditionally went to Republicans in 2008 and 2012. People wanted a change. But Trump kept playing the race card and still is.
My whole point is the Democrats just need to rally and show unity because no one REALLY knows who will win the ECV.
In 2020, Biden won 306 ECV, as well as the popular vote; Trump had 232 ECV. Being a sore loser, he wanted Pence to disqualify the results. Which, Pence, Constitutionally, did not capitulate.
Yes, Biden is aged, and to some, appears weak, and he's called Genocide Joe for 9 months of Gaza abomination. Yet, it won't change that he won the primary, and is the Democratic people candidate of choice, and Kamala the running mate. All this jawing about him stepping down is disheartening. He is who we democratically selected. If he steps down, so be it. If he decides not... it is what it is. Let it be.
The focus needs to be on Project 2025 and Trump/JD Vance. Naïveté is no excuse to think our Democracy is infallible.
Mehdi. I am so pleased with your work. I have always admired your reporting and I’m so glad you have created this avenue to get correct information to the people. Keep it up . Thank you very good production of facts and information.
Whether it's a Muslim ban, separating immigrant children, siding with Putin over his own intelligence department or trying to overthrow an election, Shadi is delusional that Trump has softened his rhetoric.
Mehdi, I am so happy to be able to tune in to Zeteo! You ask the right questions, and you push back when it is called for-unlike the mainstream media! Thank you!
I’m so tired of people saying Trump has the ability to change. TRUMP IS A MALIGNANT NARCISSIST AND SOCIOPATH. THEREFORE, HE IS INCAPABLE OF CHANGING. Anyone with these psychological disorders can’t change with therapy or psychiatric treatment. Just stop!
From a retired and long experienced clinical/academic psychiatrist: Our Mad King (wannabe) Donald suffers (?) from a "Borderline Personality Disorder", which over arches his narcissism, grandiosity, sociopathy/lack of empathy, splitting (everything/everyone good or bad), impulsivity (sexual and aggressive), rage episodes, poor personal relationships, and, most importantly, rejection sensitivity (loyalty is everything)--willingness to immediately abandon anyone/anything that opposes or questions him. Google it. It's the stuff from which dictators are made.
Mehdi, did you that right after the Anthrax scare, Dubya put together a plan to put in place a program that would detect pandemics and stop them before they go global. Obama expanded that program. This is how SARS, SARSCov 2, MERS, Avian Flu and Ebola were detected, stopped and contained. There was nothing special about COVID19. Do you know why it went global? This "businessman" decided to save $21million/year and got rid of the pandemic surveillance program. Note the date of this article. I have yet to see a SINGLE democrat accuse him of unleashing COVID on the world
Trump would beat Biden in a landslide. I think Sarah or JVL said on the secret podcast, something like Trump's whole strategy is Biden is old and weak and Trump is strong, and the split screen of the two reinforces that narrative. However, if you put Harris next to Trump, Trump becomes the weak old man. She has an exponentially better chance of beating Trump.
I love how many times I hear the words "get someone who can prosecute the case against Trump" who, lest we forget, is a convicted felon, when we have a VP who is literally a prosecutor.
The fellow in the second half seems to believe that the mention of god renders one sincere by default. The naïveté is striking that he might assume that no one has ever used god instrumentally.
I would love to see someone (i.e. a media person or organization with professional research and editing skills) put together a montage of former Trump officials coming out against Donald Trump. For example Mike pence saying he won't vote for Trump, Bill Barr and his comments about Trump being a narcissist, Mark esper and his telling of Trump wanting to use the military to shoot protesters, Mark Meadows, former chief of staff Kelly, as well as your guests here, so on and so forth.
William, ditto. MEHDI, I second the motion. Please, ASAP.
Here's a taste that The Daily Show just put together. https://x.com/BidenHQ/status/1814382413956391041?t=MtRi3a6kHKE2pqnDXUNjuA&s=19
It's not okay to be as naive as Shadi Hamid, when he has such a massive platform, from which to mislead people.
When Trump talks about "God" saving him from assassination, he isn't demonstrating any sort of belief in "God" (let alone a devotion to piety); he's asserting that he is ENDORSED by God. He's asserting that God himself, reached down from heaven to save him, because God wants him to be president.
Shadi falsely, and recklessly, claims, "Trump is more reflective." What evidence does Shadi present to support such a ludicrous fantasy? Shadi points to the speechwriting of OTHER people (not Trump), and the alleged transformations of OTHER people (not Trump). Yet Shadi doesn't get what's wrong with his "thinking."
It is NOT "harmless" to portray infantile fantasies as "journalism."
It's EXTREMELY harmful to portray a rapey, racist authoritarian thug (and nuke-happy imbecile), as if he's a spiritual convert who has seen the light.
It's EXTREMELY harmful to portray America's "institutions" as if they are something separate from the PEOPLE who either choose to uphold them, or choose NOT to.
It's frustrating AF to see someone who gets some things right — the need to replace Biden in order to win 2024, the malign evil of Biden's genocide against Palestine, the indefensibility of Biden's violent suppression of Americans who reject genocide — fail at basic aspects of reality, like understanding that America is NOT magically immune to fascism.
The US can fall into fascism in EXACTLY the same way as every other democracy that fell into fascism. Or America can fall into fascism in its own "exceptional" way (where "exceptional" stupidity and "exceptional" corruption undermine democracy).
Even Shadi's flippant, "We, as Democrats, would deserve what we get," stance on a potential total loss (of all branches) to Trump, demonstrates a deranged view of who is at risk. No one cares what happens to the douchebags in power — or at least no one should — it's the PEOPLE (the nobodies) who bear the harm, if Biden refuses to allow someone BETTER to lead the Democratic Party (or if Biden stalls for so long that he ruins EVERYONE'S chances).
It's the nobodies who MATTER. The rich assh•les in power, who are breaking the country, have the money & freedom to just fly off to another country and buy themselves a new life. The nobodies are the people who are stuck with what's left.
Lisa, Your first 5 paragraphs are on point regarding DT finding "god". I agree!
In addition, I am sure, after the attempted assassination on DT, many journalist, politicians, etc., are playing the "safe" comment card (like Shadi Hamid). They want to keep their jobs. Many others who are also in a position to speak, like Pence, remain mute. Why? Protecting themselves and their families? Fear. No backbone? Hoping the people who see the truth will come out in November, or not, and step up to keep DT out of a 2nd term? IDK.
Moreover, truth be told, I ask, "Who is "better" to lead the Democrats at this late date?? I honestly believe the fear is if Biden runs, and wins, but cannot finish the 2nd term Kamala Harris would become President. Either way, if Biden steps down, or wins and cannot finish the 2nd term, many in this country are not ready for a female, black/brown President. Men (white/black) probably will not vote for her as President like they didn't for Hillary Clinton. Pretty sad. Democrats are stuck.
Finally, the money the billionaires pump into these Super PACs, are placing the power hungry pawns in place for their advantages. (For example, Peter Thiel, took JD Vance to meet Trump at Mar-a-Largo. He also poured money into JDV's senate race. Now Vance is VP with so little time in the senate? Umm.
Are the folks in their right minds going to just throw their hands up and not vote? Hello Project 2025! And yes, the "nobodies" are the ones who will suffer the consequences. USA is in a real pickle.
I’ll tell you what I told Wajahat:
I’m not a fan of Kamala (mainly due to her willingness to aid & abet Joe Biden).
There was a point where I nearly forgave the fact that she's basically a cop — when I saw that one spectacular moment, where she confronted one example of Joe Biden's lifelong, career-guiding, racism — but then she immediately turned right around and sold her soul to be "that little girl" who propped up a racist old man (and his genocide).
Despite that fact, Kamala is inarguably a better candidate than Joe is: She knows how to form an argument against a criminal, and she’s capable of maintaining her train of thought.
The (usually white-moderate/liberal) compulsion to feign a superior understanding of racism — and the (usually white-moderate/liberal) compulsion to preemptively capitulate to racists — is not a valid excuse to block a non-white candidate from the presidential ballot. Nor is it a legitimate predictor of whether Kamala can win a presidential race against a rapey racist.
Yes, racism is real & sexism is real. However, Hillary didn't lose because she's a woman, and Barack didn't lose AT ALL.
I hear you again, Lisa, and agree that race and sex shouldn't be an issue in a Presidential race. But it is the elephant in some Republican, and some Democratic, rooms. Yes, Kamala is a formidable opponent, intelligent and articulate and should not be overlooked should Biden step down.
The problem is the polls. I am not one who follows statistics, but our politicians do, and, especially those elite donors! Many of the polls break down constituent statistics according to race, sex, education, income, location, blah, blah, blah. And that's what has many people and Dems running scared.
Yet, the electoral college will determines the next president. Yes, there is the popular vote (which Hillary won); but Trump won the presidency by 304 (minimum needed is 270) electoral votes, and Clinton 227 in 2016. (Dollars to donuts white males said, "Hell no!" to Clinton.) Obama had won ECV that traditionally went to Republicans in 2008 and 2012. People wanted a change. But Trump kept playing the race card and still is.
My whole point is the Democrats just need to rally and show unity because no one REALLY knows who will win the ECV.
In 2020, Biden won 306 ECV, as well as the popular vote; Trump had 232 ECV. Being a sore loser, he wanted Pence to disqualify the results. Which, Pence, Constitutionally, did not capitulate.
Yes, Biden is aged, and to some, appears weak, and he's called Genocide Joe for 9 months of Gaza abomination. Yet, it won't change that he won the primary, and is the Democratic people candidate of choice, and Kamala the running mate. All this jawing about him stepping down is disheartening. He is who we democratically selected. If he steps down, so be it. If he decides not... it is what it is. Let it be.
The focus needs to be on Project 2025 and Trump/JD Vance. Naïveté is no excuse to think our Democracy is infallible.
Mehdi. I am so pleased with your work. I have always admired your reporting and I’m so glad you have created this avenue to get correct information to the people. Keep it up . Thank you very good production of facts and information.
Whether it's a Muslim ban, separating immigrant children, siding with Putin over his own intelligence department or trying to overthrow an election, Shadi is delusional that Trump has softened his rhetoric.
Mehdi, I am so happy to be able to tune in to Zeteo! You ask the right questions, and you push back when it is called for-unlike the mainstream media! Thank you!
I’m so tired of people saying Trump has the ability to change. TRUMP IS A MALIGNANT NARCISSIST AND SOCIOPATH. THEREFORE, HE IS INCAPABLE OF CHANGING. Anyone with these psychological disorders can’t change with therapy or psychiatric treatment. Just stop!
One of the reasons why I will be voting for Jill Stein. #JillStein2024 #GreenParty #JoinJill
From a retired and long experienced clinical/academic psychiatrist: Our Mad King (wannabe) Donald suffers (?) from a "Borderline Personality Disorder", which over arches his narcissism, grandiosity, sociopathy/lack of empathy, splitting (everything/everyone good or bad), impulsivity (sexual and aggressive), rage episodes, poor personal relationships, and, most importantly, rejection sensitivity (loyalty is everything)--willingness to immediately abandon anyone/anything that opposes or questions him. Google it. It's the stuff from which dictators are made.
I love watching Mehdi debate. I really do.
Talking about "god" with real feeling? hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!
Mehdi, did you that right after the Anthrax scare, Dubya put together a plan to put in place a program that would detect pandemics and stop them before they go global. Obama expanded that program. This is how SARS, SARSCov 2, MERS, Avian Flu and Ebola were detected, stopped and contained. There was nothing special about COVID19. Do you know why it went global? This "businessman" decided to save $21million/year and got rid of the pandemic surveillance program. Note the date of this article. I have yet to see a SINGLE democrat accuse him of unleashing COVID on the world
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/25/health/predict-usaid-viruses.html
Trump would beat Biden in a landslide. I think Sarah or JVL said on the secret podcast, something like Trump's whole strategy is Biden is old and weak and Trump is strong, and the split screen of the two reinforces that narrative. However, if you put Harris next to Trump, Trump becomes the weak old man. She has an exponentially better chance of beating Trump.
I love how many times I hear the words "get someone who can prosecute the case against Trump" who, lest we forget, is a convicted felon, when we have a VP who is literally a prosecutor.
It's Biden who's a threat to our democracy right now the more he delays stepping down
Worse choices for US , Genocide Joe , or crazy Trump , I'm sitting out the vote this year along with thousands of others
There are no third party candidates to vote for?
The fellow in the second half seems to believe that the mention of god renders one sincere by default. The naïveté is striking that he might assume that no one has ever used god instrumentally.