49 Comments
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Dave Kirkpatrick's avatar

We obviously don’t have a government being run by public servants, it’s being misused to enrich real estate magnates and oligarchs. Vote out the Grand Oligarchy Party.

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Elizabeth Ratkovich's avatar

I would call it the Greedy Oligarchy Party and definitely vote it out.

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Jim Carmichael's avatar

We simply have to end these financial cabals. As usual, Judd, you are right on top of this chicanery. I am thoroughly sick of defining people in terms of their wealth as if their humanity had anything to do with money. Time to topple the kleptocrats and oligarchs.

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Linda Weide's avatar

I agree Jim. Toppling them, and ending their neoliberal economics, and replacing the Kakistocracy with a functioning government that actually governs. Right now DTs policy be it domestic or foreign is about robbing the population blind and grifting as much as he can. Then, he also wants to use his private military to take over the US and keep himself or his offspring in power.

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Adam's avatar

Agreed. Sooner than later.

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Joseph Mangano's avatar

The Trump administration is just one big personal enrichment scheme. Witkoff is clearly compromised by his financial ties, and Jared Kushner being at that October meeting is simply too on the nose.

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Edna's avatar

Thanks for connecting the dots. We've always suspected these ties run deep and tangled, but we're closer to understanding them.

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Larry Carr (autocarr)'s avatar

“Witkoff hammered out the peace plan not with a Russian foreign affairs official but with Kirill Dmitriev, the head of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund (RDIF). In 2022, —sanctioned by the United States and banned from the country for his role at the RDIF, which the Treasury Department described as “a slush fund for President Vladimir Putin and… emblematic of Russia’s broader kleptocracy.” Last month Witkoff met with Dmitriev in Miami to finalize the the “Trump peace plan”. There’s enough Sovereign Slush funds to go & Donny (via DonJr, Eric,Jared K & Witkoff) gonna get him some slush… no hush, or blush about it.

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Linda Weide's avatar

Larry, Witkoff needs to be tried for treason! Trump is complicit, although coaching a foreign government on how to manipulate Trump seems treasonous to me.

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Joe Weicher's avatar

Reading these stories, seeing these numbers, I'm always thinking . . . do these grifters really need to make even more money? Is no amount enough?

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Adam's avatar

They are mentally ill and not much different from hoarders There is no such thing as "enough" in their existence.

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A Sarcastic Prophet's avatar

Just when I think I know how bad things are Judd, you show me how little I know and how much worse it can get. Kleptocracy plus incompetence with malice equals the Queens real estate mob boss pretending at presidency and all of his minions. It’s going to be a long, cold winter.

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Joseph McPhillips's avatar

Trump fraudsters are plundering the Treasury & exploding the national debt for the benefit of the Great Gatsby/Epstein class...Trump's idea of affordability. Trump's tone deaf depravity: So I don’t wanna hear about the affordability. …so the affordability is much better with the Republicans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-HyLNIRmdY

Resist the fraudster authoritarians. Vote Blue!

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Linda Weide's avatar

Joseph, this is what Canadian journalist Substacker says Europe and Canada will do with that debt.

https://open.substack.com/pub/deanblundell/p/breaking-canada-and-the-eu-exploring?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

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Adam's avatar

That was chilling and not much different from the scenario; what if China dumped all their US bonds onto the market? Utter catastrophe for us regular folks.

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Linda Weide's avatar

Adam, That was what China is always going to be considering I presume. Someone shared this article with me, that I think will interest you. It is more optimistic about the US military. I suspected someone high up in the military was fed up and leaking.

https://open.substack.com/pub/thewestpointhistoryprofessor/p/a-nefarious-peace-plan-exposed-early?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

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Adam's avatar

"That was what China is always going to be considering I presume."

Precisely. That was my very first thought when the tariff wars were started by the dispenser of cheese-flavored Koolaid.

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Ann Sharon's avatar

Japan now holds the most US debt, more than China. But the UK holds almost as much as China. The UK plus Canada (not including the EU) holds more than Japan’s $1 Trillion.

Of course it called an economic ‘nuclear option’ for a reason. Whoever weaponizes the debt will be pulled into the resulting economic chaos too. It would take some real determination, willingness to face political blowback at home & financial wizardry to survive using the US debt to rein in this WH.

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/ranked-the-top-20-countries-holding-the-most-u-s-debt/

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Adam's avatar

Linda, that substack is amazing. I don't have enough money dammit. I subscribed anyway. I may have to purge a few and add a few. Sigh.

Thank you for this.

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Linda Weide's avatar

Adam, I know what you mean. I always start off subscribing for free, and then after a while I decide whether I am going to pay, and every few months I purge.

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progwoman's avatar

This is a must read. Our (former?) allies won't take this sitting down.

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Linda Weide's avatar

PW, See the one I just posted to Adam just now as well, from West Point History Professor.

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progwoman's avatar

Thank you.

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Allan Halline's avatar

Sickening corruption beyond comprehension as desperate Ukrainians are fighting for their lives to remain free while corrupt Trump family and friends are bargaining off their country for personal gain. Why won't Republicans see this kleptocracy for what it is and put and end to this horrible regime.

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The Fact And Just The Facts's avatar

Yet another example of the orange anus mouth tyrant being managed to inflict maximum pain on innocents. What a fucking dupe!

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Joyce's avatar

Will a win for Aftyn Behn give Dems enough of a margin to begin the impeachment proceedings and subsequent trials for these criminals, or do we have to try to endure until the end of 2026? I am concerned we won't be able to repair the damage if we have to wait that long.

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progwoman's avatar

Sent her a donation yesterday.

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Stephanie Anne's avatar

Remember these stories and reports next time you vote!

In the meantime do what you can to make it clear & explicit America is not one of Trump, Putin, Witkoff, or Kushner’s pawns in this game they are playing.

Write or call your local politician, attend town meetings, attend next No Kings rallies…there are cracks & we need to keep widening those cracks!

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BJB's avatar

Great reporting

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Larry Carr (autocarr)'s avatar

Waiting for the 60 minutes follow-up? 😂

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Linda Weide's avatar

I look forward to the day when the US has the type of leadership, like Brazil, that takes these people to trial and puts them in prison.

This is Canadian journalist Substacker Dean Blundell's take on Witkoff and his deals with Russia. He sees Trump as being in on it and Witkoff is doing his bidding. https://open.substack.com/pub/deanblundell/p/breaking-canada-and-the-eu-exploring?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

Then today Jabob Kaarsbo, former Danish Intelligence agent, says that all of the negotiators in Florida, all of the ones negotiating with Ukraine are the fake ones. They are just giving the illusion of including Ukraine.

https://open.substack.com/pub/deanblundell/p/breaking-canada-and-the-eu-exploring?r=f0qfn&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false

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BTAM Master's avatar

"So a whole country of individuals suffer and die? No problem! Look at how much money I'm making!"

I feel like we're playing political limbo: how low can they go? Every day is a new surprise.

Great reporting PI!

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George K Milam's avatar

Masterful reporting.

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