I will NOT watch that traitorous fool blather on. Nothing he says is true. However, just because I won’t watch that latest episode of the shitshow doesn’t mean I am not paying attention. Just 45’s very presence in the White House is an affront to everyone who ever served in the US military and fought for this country. Too many people fought and died for this country. He brings great shame on us all.
Great Idea. The noise should be focused on Trump's lies. Every time he lies, fill the chamber with a very loud noise. Hope people in the audience has signs that say LIE to respond also.
The Dems should seriously consider boycotting this speech. To attend gives some air of legitimacy to what is going to be an hour of lies, propaganda, and to put it mildly, crazy bullshit.
I subscribed today to you substack so I could read and comment on what you say tomorrow about the speech because, like JennSH, and others, I'm not going to subject myself to Trump's continuing debasement of our democracy.
Thank you, Dan! Sorry you have to watch it for me. Clips will be more than enough for me.
My biggest fear, while I am here, is that the mid-term elections will be so rigged We will not take back the House. And that there simply will be no election in 2028.
If a gramma-type can give you advice for watching the "speech"? Take a long walk during the hour beforehand, surround your TV screen with pictures of your loved ones. Place a picture of a dog taking a dump strategically above his (and Vance's, and Johnson's) head. And use some kind of whoopie cushion/kazoo device to drown out the applause. Thank you for all your work, Dan. I appreciate your insights.
....oh: and get a massage or take a run after the speech.
Great comment. I watch Jonathan Last and Will Salatan yesterday and Will made the comment that Trump's repeated use of the phrase "you don't have the cards" to Zelensky sounded like a mob boss. Then JVL went on to say that what Trump wants to do is carve up the world into zones or spheres like the Five Families carving up the boroughs of NYC.
I’m afraid the joke at The Bulwark is that JVL is always right. Last night he asked Tim Miller, does this seem like the actions of someone who is worried about the next election? I don’t think so. I think Trump meant it when he said at a rally to his “lovely Christians” that they’ll never have to vote again.
[Note to Substack: please, at all costs, put a back button into the Comments interface. Or maybe an auto-save on the device for 30 mins. Or something. Countless times, like just now again, I have lost an almost finished, well thought out comment to the ether because of an inadvertent swipe of a finger on the screen. It’s maddening in an otherwise great software and platform. To quote Dan (and before I lose this one too) …You’re welcome.]
Dan, I have never loved you more (in manly, bro way) than I do right now for you watching this for all of us. Thank you
"Because I made a series of ill-fated career decisions, I am required by professional obligation to consider, watch, podcast about, and write a newsletter concerning Trump’s speech."
Dems should act like British parliament and shout him down every time he lies. DO NOT OVERREACT TO TRANS COMMENTS!!! That shows you out of touch w America
"I am curious about the numbers because it will decide whether the public is paying any attention to the insanity happening in Washington." You're assuming that if someone doesn't watch this address they aren't paying attention. I think this is a simplistic assumption. I'm not going to watch it for the same reason that I stopped watching and listening to GW Bush and Trump I; I can't stand to to see or listen to them. I read about what's going on politically and I don't need to "see" it IRL. We already know what's going to happen. Trump will continually lie, make up numbers, hurl insults, re-litigate the 2020 election, yell at Zelenskyy, blame Biden and the Democrats, blame immigrants, and on, and on, and on. Republicans will clap and stand and howl. You may need to dwell in a lower level of Dante's Inferno, but I don't.
Why do you think Dan is assuming that? (He might be, but not necessarily.) A significant change in the numbers *in either direction* -- more watching than usual or fewer -- would be a useful indicator. What exactly it indicates would take further inquiry. For instance, disgust or horror at what's going on might lead more people to watch the speech, or it might lead regular viewers to skip it.
Fwiw, I don't watch official Trump speeches but I might watch this one because I want to see what the Democrats do. Whether I'll get through the whole thing is very much open to doubt.
Thanks for your sacrifice, Dan! I remember having a visceral response to hearing GWB and Jr. speak, and it's worse now. Especially after hearing the terrible treatment they gave Zelensky - I was so angry. If my grandsons acted like that, they would be grounded in perpetuity.
I think he has already proved that Congress doesn't matter. Why would he need to sell us, or them, an agenda. The economy is tanking, we are enemies with our friends, egg prices are up, car prices are going up, we have a huge measles outbreak, he just truthed that he will jail students for protesting. He has access to all of the technology involved in any election going forward, like he did the last. Why are we even talking about this like a normality anymore? It's gone.
Dan, you deserve combat pay. There is no power in the 'verse strong enough to make me watch that POS. I will sprint across a room to turn off a TV or media source if so much as hear his voice.
Thank you Dan for covering this for those of us who cannot gather our forces together to watch or listen to this man. I made a pact with myself in 2016 after he was elected that I would never watch any speech that he would be giving or any video of him blathering about with all of his bullshit? I don’t have time to listen to somebody that only lies. The only time I have watched him actually speaking in the video of the Zelensky meeting. That made me want to vomit. It’s just too painful.
I will NOT watch that traitorous fool blather on. Nothing he says is true. However, just because I won’t watch that latest episode of the shitshow doesn’t mean I am not paying attention. Just 45’s very presence in the White House is an affront to everyone who ever served in the US military and fought for this country. Too many people fought and died for this country. He brings great shame on us all.
I want the Dems to bring noisemakers. Everytime he lies they make noise. It'll be great TV and show them fighting. We need to make noise!
They should have signs saying THIS IS A LIE
Great Idea. The noise should be focused on Trump's lies. Every time he lies, fill the chamber with a very loud noise. Hope people in the audience has signs that say LIE to respond also.
The Dems should seriously consider boycotting this speech. To attend gives some air of legitimacy to what is going to be an hour of lies, propaganda, and to put it mildly, crazy bullshit.
I subscribed today to you substack so I could read and comment on what you say tomorrow about the speech because, like JennSH, and others, I'm not going to subject myself to Trump's continuing debasement of our democracy.
My new senator Patty Murphy has already said she won’t attend.
It’s Patty Murray. And she is terrific.
Oh wow, I actually know that. Brain fart, thanks for the correction.
Thank you, Dan! Sorry you have to watch it for me. Clips will be more than enough for me.
My biggest fear, while I am here, is that the mid-term elections will be so rigged We will not take back the House. And that there simply will be no election in 2028.
If a gramma-type can give you advice for watching the "speech"? Take a long walk during the hour beforehand, surround your TV screen with pictures of your loved ones. Place a picture of a dog taking a dump strategically above his (and Vance's, and Johnson's) head. And use some kind of whoopie cushion/kazoo device to drown out the applause. Thank you for all your work, Dan. I appreciate your insights.
....oh: and get a massage or take a run after the speech.
Good luck!
We elected a criminal mob boss in November. Now he's acting just like a mob boss. No one should be surprised.
Great comment. I watch Jonathan Last and Will Salatan yesterday and Will made the comment that Trump's repeated use of the phrase "you don't have the cards" to Zelensky sounded like a mob boss. Then JVL went on to say that what Trump wants to do is carve up the world into zones or spheres like the Five Families carving up the boroughs of NYC.
I’m afraid the joke at The Bulwark is that JVL is always right. Last night he asked Tim Miller, does this seem like the actions of someone who is worried about the next election? I don’t think so. I think Trump meant it when he said at a rally to his “lovely Christians” that they’ll never have to vote again.
[Note to Substack: please, at all costs, put a back button into the Comments interface. Or maybe an auto-save on the device for 30 mins. Or something. Countless times, like just now again, I have lost an almost finished, well thought out comment to the ether because of an inadvertent swipe of a finger on the screen. It’s maddening in an otherwise great software and platform. To quote Dan (and before I lose this one too) …You’re welcome.]
Cannot bring myself to watch this heinous orange sphincter. I will have to rely on your recap. I'm guessing I'm not alone.
Dan, I have never loved you more (in manly, bro way) than I do right now for you watching this for all of us. Thank you
"Because I made a series of ill-fated career decisions, I am required by professional obligation to consider, watch, podcast about, and write a newsletter concerning Trump’s speech."
Dems should act like British parliament and shout him down every time he lies. DO NOT OVERREACT TO TRANS COMMENTS!!! That shows you out of touch w America
"I am curious about the numbers because it will decide whether the public is paying any attention to the insanity happening in Washington." You're assuming that if someone doesn't watch this address they aren't paying attention. I think this is a simplistic assumption. I'm not going to watch it for the same reason that I stopped watching and listening to GW Bush and Trump I; I can't stand to to see or listen to them. I read about what's going on politically and I don't need to "see" it IRL. We already know what's going to happen. Trump will continually lie, make up numbers, hurl insults, re-litigate the 2020 election, yell at Zelenskyy, blame Biden and the Democrats, blame immigrants, and on, and on, and on. Republicans will clap and stand and howl. You may need to dwell in a lower level of Dante's Inferno, but I don't.
Why do you think Dan is assuming that? (He might be, but not necessarily.) A significant change in the numbers *in either direction* -- more watching than usual or fewer -- would be a useful indicator. What exactly it indicates would take further inquiry. For instance, disgust or horror at what's going on might lead more people to watch the speech, or it might lead regular viewers to skip it.
Fwiw, I don't watch official Trump speeches but I might watch this one because I want to see what the Democrats do. Whether I'll get through the whole thing is very much open to doubt.
Thanks for your sacrifice, Dan! I remember having a visceral response to hearing GWB and Jr. speak, and it's worse now. Especially after hearing the terrible treatment they gave Zelensky - I was so angry. If my grandsons acted like that, they would be grounded in perpetuity.
I think he has already proved that Congress doesn't matter. Why would he need to sell us, or them, an agenda. The economy is tanking, we are enemies with our friends, egg prices are up, car prices are going up, we have a huge measles outbreak, he just truthed that he will jail students for protesting. He has access to all of the technology involved in any election going forward, like he did the last. Why are we even talking about this like a normality anymore? It's gone.
I’m sorry you have to watch it.
Dan, you deserve combat pay. There is no power in the 'verse strong enough to make me watch that POS. I will sprint across a room to turn off a TV or media source if so much as hear his voice.
Thank you Dan for covering this for those of us who cannot gather our forces together to watch or listen to this man. I made a pact with myself in 2016 after he was elected that I would never watch any speech that he would be giving or any video of him blathering about with all of his bullshit? I don’t have time to listen to somebody that only lies. The only time I have watched him actually speaking in the video of the Zelensky meeting. That made me want to vomit. It’s just too painful.