2% ICE November 4, 2025 TWO VIEWS OF MAMDANI’S 2% SURCHARGE > THIS NEW YORKER WON’T HAVE TO PAY IT — and explains (45 seconds in) why he hopes Mamdani succeeds in adding it on income above $1 million a year. A family earning $2 million, he calculates, would wind up taking home $87,500 a month instead of $90,000 . . . with the $2,500 difference going to make life more affordable for New Yorkers taking home $3,000 a month. > THIS NEW YORKER WILL — but explains why that’s okay (90 seconds). To me, both are compelling. (Though if my math is right, it’s only $1,667 per month, not $2,500, in surcharge on that second million.) Inequality in this country rivals what it was in 1929. How did that turn out? Is it such a bad idea to do something about it? And not just in New York? TWO VIEWS OF ICE The Application (80 seconds). A Pastor’s message to ICE agents (also 80 perhaps even more powerful seconds). Watch both! David H.: “Did it occur to you that we wouldn’t need ICE, except for Democrat open boarders [sic] policy.” → It did not, and I’ll tell you why. The Democrats never had an open borders policy. Not in 2002 when George W. Bush signed ICE into law. Not in 2013 when Democrats passed a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill 68-32 in the Senate that President Obama was poised to sign — if only the Republican House Speaker had allowed it to come to the floor. Nor in 2024 when Trump killed the next one. Clearly, the bill was too long in coming; but, per capita, more violent (and white collar) crime is committed each year by native-born Americans than by undocumented immigrants — who do way more than their share of the farm and food-processing and construction jobs most Americans are unwilling to do — so the blanket approach of demonizing and terrifying all those whose status is questionable in the eyes of barely-trained ICE recruits is not, perhaps, the best way to make America great. US Manufacturing Shrinks for Eighth Month on Sluggish Demand. The New Right’s New Antisemites – WSJ Could it be the Heritage Foundation, Tucker Carlson, and the Proud Boys he should be going after, not Harvard?
12 Steps And A Ditty November 3, 2025 THAT OTHER 12-STEP PROGRAM Countries that slide from democracy toward autocracy tend to follow similar patterns. To measure what is happening in the United States, the Times editorial board has compiled a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion, with help from scholars who have studied this phenomenon. The sobering reality is that the United States has regressed, to different degrees, on all 12. Our country is still not close to being a true autocracy, in the mold of Russia or China. But once countries begin taking steps away from democracy, the march often continues. We offer these 12 markers as a warning of how much Americans have already lost and how much more we still could lose. → A must-read examination by the editorial board of the New York Times: Are We Losing Our Democracy? PRINTING MONEY This dark ditty, under three minutes, is exquisitely done. Watch! It’s insane that we’re adding trillions to the national debt to extend unneeded tax cuts to billionaires. The last time we allowed our debt to grow so high relative to the size of our economy was when we fought World War II to defeat fascism. Back then, the country was overwhelmingly (though not entirely) anti-fascist (antifa for short), and it was felt that — whatever the cost — we and our British allies simply had to win. I’ve written before about my copy of the 1941 federal budget. FDR’s transmittal letter noted two things: (1) taxes should be raised to pay for the necessary military buildup; (2) they should be collected from those most able to pay — the rich. The top federal income tax bracket was set at 91% and would remain there until 1964. Yes, a lot of money had to be printed, as well — the national debt rose to about the same level it is today relative to GDP. But as much as possible was paid for through taxation, with a robust IRS empowered to collect what was due. How times have changed under Trump and his Cabinet of billionaires. No one is suggesting a 91% top rate; but there certainly could be a modest surcharge for that portion of your income above $1 million; and somewhat higher surcharges for income above $10 million, $100 million, and $1 billion. Most rich people are wonderful citizens. They shouldn’t be vilified — just taxed a bit more. On a related note, I can’t recommend Evan Osnos’ The Haves and the Have Yachts highly enough. Such great stories. And, boy, will it make you angry that we’ve largely done away with the estate tax. (“Only morons pay the estate tax.”) Join Indivisible! Support “my” 26th annual DNC LGBT Leadership Council dinner even if you’re not L, G, B, or T and even if you can’t come. An adequately funded opposition party is absolutely necessary for democracy to prevail. Next year: give to candidates. This year: to infrastructure. Have a great week.
Good! November 1, 2025November 2, 2025 TOO GOOD Keith B: A while back, you used a phrase that caught my eye. Something along the lines of, “where has this been my whole life?” You offered up this bold statement of approval for the “food conservation” app, Too Good To Go. I decided to investigate. “We help users rescue good food from going to waste, offering great value for money at local stores, cafes and restaurants.” Well, I’m here to tell you: it’s true! For $6.99 you’ll typically get at least $21.99 worth of food — with one caveat: what you get is a surprise. It’s literally a “surprise bag” of food. That made me nervous (though you can flag issues such as food allergies). But I tried it. And soon the “surprise” element had become maybe the best part! It’s the perfect way to sample a place you’ve never tried or to get a sweet deal from one of your favorites. The app keeps track of my history. I’ve used it 27 times, visiting 8 different places – grocery store, coffee shops, pastry shops, bakeries, and a trendy pizza parlor – and have saved $340, while also avoiding CO2 equivalents equal to 12,447 smart-phone charges. One of my regulars is my local Susie Cakes. Not just because their staff is awesome and their food is outstanding, but the value that you get is incredible. One “surprise bag” contained an entire cake! A $60 value! For $6.99! Of course, this doesn’t happen all the time; but consistently, the value you receive is amazing. And there’s always room in the freezer. We’ve spread the word to friends who now tell delicious tales of their own. GOOD WIN BREAKING: Historic moment as 38-year-old openly gay Rob Jetten becomes Netherlands’ new Prime Minister after his party D66 crushed far-right leader Geert Wilders in a stunning election defeat. A powerful rebuke of authoritarianism and a win for democracy across Europe. THE PERFECT IS THE *ENEMY* OF THE GOOD Dustin Lance Black, Oscar winner for the Harvey Milk biopic, here implores idealistic young LGBT kids not to demand (what they see as) perfection. Under 3 minutes. Powerful. And his broader point could have applied equally well to the 97,488 wonderfully well-meaning Floridians who voted for Nader in 2000, even though they were well aware he could not possibly win. In doing so, because they believed Ralph was “better” than Al Gore — who was ultimately judged to have lost the state by 537 votes even though, counting the “overvotes,” he had won it by 45,000 — they threw the election to George W. Bush. Had they settled, instead, for merely “the good,” electing Gore, there would have been no war in Iraq, no Citizens United or gutted Voting Rights Act (the Supreme Court would have leaned left instead of right), no inequality-gaping tax cut for the mega-wealthy, less room for a demagogue to seize power . . . and on and on and on. It was the tragedy of all tragedies. All Nader’s idealistic followers would have had to do — and only those in swing states, at that! — was vote for the guy who shared most, just not all, their views. CHRIS JONES — TALK ABOUT GOOD! This ordained minister graduated at the top of his high school class, where he quarterbacked the football team; earned his BS in math and physics at Morehouse College, interning at NASA each summer; earned his masters at M.I.T. in nuclear engineering before getting his doctorate in urban planning; and ran for governor of Arkansas in 2022. He lost — but that set him up well for his run now to flip one of Arkansas’s 4 Congressional seats blue. (His wife of 22 years, mother of their three kids, was, among other things, a flight surgeon in Afghanistan.) The polls have it about even, but my money’s on Chris. A REALLY GOOD EXPLANATION OF YOUR AUTOMOTIVE FUTURE So fun (90 seconds). SPEAKING OF WHICH, GOOD QUESTIONS Does this 60 second jaw-dropper make you doubt whether Tesla will dominate the global electric vehicle market? Whether its shares are worth their current 312 times earnings? GOOD NIGHT Enjoy the extra hour tomorrow. Remember when clocks didn’t automatically Fall back and Spring forward?
Uncle Sam Needs YOU! October 30, 2025 Former Intelligence Officials Warn Trump Poses Existential Threat to U.S. Democracy More than 340 of them . . . from the CIA, FBI, Department of State, Department of Defense and Department of Homeland Security. Not that this is any sort of news flash . . . yet hearing it this way focuses attention. Do not miss Marco Rubio’s finest minute. (And . . . just in case you have four more.) > “Defy Trump, Together.” I just joined a load of good folks who’ve signed on to DEFIANCE.org. Check it out — and spread it widely. > Join today’s Indivisible call — “What’s the Plan?” — at 3pm Eastern. > Support “my” 26th annual DNC LGBT Leadership Council dinner even if you’re not L, G, B, or T and even if you can’t come. An adequately funded opposition party is absolutely necessary for democracy to prevail. Next year: give to candidates. This year: give to infrastructure.
Fascism Doesn’t Share October 29, 2025 This is the Grand Ballroom video everyone’s talking about (90 seconds). Don’t miss it. It plays on the incredible inequality Republicans make ever worse. I’ve long linked to Nick Hanauer’s 2014 TED Talk: Beware, Fellow Plutocrats, The Pitchforks Are Coming. (Excerpted here.) But instead of heeding Nick’s warning, many of his fellow plutocrats pressed for a 10-year tax cut, which Trump gave them; and then pressed Trump to extend it, which he just did. And here we are. Ordinary people, struggling to get by, are angry on the right and the left. But oh how sweet it is at the top! I once spent two nights as the only passenger on Charles Revson’s 252-foot yacht, Ultima II, with a crew of 22 to serve me. It’s fun writing about really rich people! My guess is that Evan Osnos had a blast writing The Haves and the Have-Yachts. I certainly had a blast reading it. It’s at once delectable and horrifying. And, I think, important. When I was writing about Revson half a century ago, Ultima II was (if memory serves) the third largest yacht in the world. Today, it is a few feet shorter than one of the auxiliary yachts Mark Zuckerberg keeps beside his main one. You know — for the helicopters, submarine and basketball court. According to this clip, maintaining his yachts — forget the cost to acquire them — runs $136,504 a day. Nick Hanauer’s talk is worth the listen, even as the demagogue, backed by millions of followers with metaphorical pitchforks, leads us ever deeper into fascism. If you oppose fascism, you’re anti-fascist — “antifa,” for short — and Trump considers you a terrorist. Think about that for a second. If you oppose fascism, you’re a terrorist. NPR reports what happens if Antifa does get officially labeled a foreign terrorist organization (7 minutes): It could have enormous consequences, including making it illegal to provide something as meager as a bottle of water to what the Trump administration deems to be Antifa. BONUS “Fascism doesn’t share” — 70 seconds worth your time. So . . . Join Indivisible. Support “my” 26th annual DNC LGBT Leadership Council dinner even if you’re not L, G, B, or T and even if you can’t come. An adequately funded opposition party is absolutely necessary for democracy to prevail. Next year: give to candidates. This year: give to infrastructure. Though some of the damage is irreversible, we can save democracy — and (based on everything I was taught growing up) we must. BOREF Yesterday’s broken link was to an article in the October/November issue of the trade journal LARA (Low-Fare & Regional Airlines), surveying potential improvements in airport ground operations with a nice little write-up of WheelTug and a photo. Nothing in it you don’t already know; I just wanted to show you that, yes, they’re still at it, 25 years and counting. Another small example popped up even as I was trying to figure out (unsuccessfully) how to make the LARA link work: WheelTug and Aipron Consulting join forces to boost airline and airport operational efficiency.
On ICE October 28, 2025 Garrett Graff: In those halcyon early days, ICE kept bragging about its huge numbers of applications . . . But it turns out, if you’re hiring for a pariah agency using nakedly fascist and racist messaging and recruiting for a job where you get to be jeered by your neighbors and are so hated that you literally refuse to show your face . . . while facing down people in inflatable frog costumes and wrestling to the ground hard-working roofers in the Home Depot parking lot, America’s best, brightest, and most fit don’t apply. . . . What’s even more worrisome is that other federal law enforcement agencies are now cutting their hiring standards too. . . . [A]gencies like the FBI are actually lowering their long-standing higher hiring and training standards to more closely match ICE. For the first time, FBI Director Kash Patel wants to drop the college degree-requirement and turn its traditionally highly educated, older agent workforce into something more like ICE’s high-school educated street cops; the training they get will drop from 18 weeks to just eight, a stunning cut. Lots of interesting detail here, if you have time to read in full. AND ON THE ECONOMIC FRONT . . . It’s nice to think our economy is “the envy of the world,” as the Economist dubbed it just one year ago. But since Trump took over, the dollar has had its steepest decline in over 50 years, farmers have lost their markets, the government has shut down, billionaires have gotten a tax cut, and . . . well, these dark but powerful 90 seconds tell a story I hope has a different ending. Join Indivisible. Support “my” 26th annual DNC LGBT Leadership Council dinner even if you’re not L, G, B, or T and even if you can’t come. An adequately funded opposition party is absolutely necessary for democracy to prevail. Next year: give to candidates. This year: give to infrastructure. BOREF Needless to say, after two decades’ waiting, I’m counting no chickens. But, as noted here, its half-owned WheelTug subsidiary continues to plug away.
The White House — Then And Now October 26, 2025October 28, 2025 This is a two-minute tour of the White House as countless tourists, guests, and visiting dignitaries have until recently experienced it. The first two floors of the East Wing. This is apparently what Trump has done to it, without so much as a hearing, discussion or debate. Just Trump’s assurance that his royal gilded ballroom wouldn’t interfere with the existing White House in any way; it would be near the existing structure but not touching it.* And this is the White House website trumpeting the glory of it all. At first, it seems appropriate. But scroll down to the section MAJOR EVENTS TIMELINE and you will be shocked — or delighted, if you live to own the libs. It starts straight-forwardly enough: the design phase from 1791-1800 . . . the reconstruction after the War of 1812 (the same war that marked the first and last time the U.S. Capitol was breached by hostile forces, until January 6, 2021) . . . the additions of the South and North Porticos, and so on — all depicted in black and white even after color photography was commonplace — — and then suddenly, after the addition of the briefing room (1970-73), you have a color photo of President Clinton and Monica Lewinsky, directly followed by President Obama dressed as a Muslim hosting terrorists . . . a tasteful pause for Melania Trump constructing the Tennis Pavillion “featuring a neo-classical design” (2020) . . . directly followed by Hunter Biden cracked out in a bathtub (2023) and (2023-2024) “Trans Day of Visibility” featuring President Biden beside a naked woman covering her nipples with her hands. Join Indivisible. Support “my” 26th annual DNC LGBT Leadership Council dinner even if you’re not L, G, B, or T and even if you can’t come. An adequately funded opposition party is absolutely necessary for democracy to prevail. Next year: give to candidates. This year: give to infrastructure. *There is precedent: Donald Trump Has a History of Pulverizing Historic Buildings. Only, this isn’t Bonwit Teller — it’s the White House.
Seth Meyers’ Closer Look; Your New-Found Mental Youth October 24, 2025October 25, 2025 Still enjoying the largest peaceful protest in American history. It’s fun when a friend you’ve known nearly half his life runs for Congress — especially when he has a chance to flip a red seat blue. Chris Gallant’s latest. Trump said his giant gilded royal ballroom would be near the White House but not touching it or interfering with it in any way. SETH MEYERS TAKES A CLOSER LOOK Trump’s Shocking White House Demolition. GETTING 10 YEARS YOUNGER Brain HQ on NPR: Intense mental exercise may be able to offset the effects of aging, research finds. Hasselmo says the first Alzheimer’s drugs reduce symptoms by increasing acetylcholine. Now, he says, it looks like hardcore brain training can offer a similar benefit. . . . cognitive training appeared to turn back the clock by about 10 years . . . De Villers-Sidani says during the 10-week study, half of the participants spent 30 minutes a day doing mental exercises. These came from a science-backed cognitive training program called Brain HQ. I’ve done some selective excerpting above . . . but as long-time readers know, a lot of evidence suggests BrainHQ really works — on everything from mental acuity to depression to tinnitus. With 4 million teachers versus “just” 30,000 ICE agents, it’s not practical. But it sure makes a good poster. Have a great weekend. Join Indivisible. Support “my” 26th annual DNC LGBT Leadership Council dinner even if you’re not L, G, B, or T and even if you can’t come. An adequately funded opposition party is absolutely necessary for democracy to prevail.
Trump’s 5-Step Economic Plan October 23, 2025 REPUBLICANS ARE RIDICULING “NO KINGS” A striking new poll shows Americans aren’t laughing. TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION Mike Johnson Won’t Block House From Releasing Epstein Files, He Says—But Also Won’t Swear In Lawmaker To Be Decisive Vote Her 800,000 constituents are paying taxes; they just don’t have a representative. MAGA VERSUS HIS LIBERAL TWIN This won’t change MAGA minds, but it’s kind of fun (60 seconds). TRUMP’S 5-STEP ECONOMIC PLAN An under-5-minute clip by @culturalperspective on TikTok . . . posted by Jenn Budd (Against the Wall: My Journey From Border Patrol Agent to Immigrant Rights Activist) on her Substack. THE LATEST FROM VOTE VETS There’s this guy Scott Perry representing Pennsylvania’s Fourth Congressional District. He’s an Army Veteran. We respect and honor that service. But, respectfully: Go f**k yourself, Scott. See, Scott Perry thinks Democrats hate the Military. He even thinks the only reason a Democrat would join the Military in the first place would be to check a box so they can run for office. First off, and most obviously, 99.99% of Veterans who lean democrat never run for office. The idea that Democratic voters join the military to run for office is asinine. They love their country. Period. But want to make it about elected officials? Okay, Scott… let’s play that game. How about Dan Inouye? Legendary Democratic Senator from Hawaii, awarded the Medal of Honor, lost an arm fighting Nazis. Or John Glenn, maybe you’ve heard of him? Marine aviator, Democratic Senator… First American to orbit the earth in space. Ringing any bells? Oh, okay, maybe more recent. There’s this guy, Mark Kelly. 39 combat missions as a Navy aviator, 4 missions to space as an astronaut. Does Scott think Mark joined the Navy 40 years ago to run for Senate someday? Or fellow Army Veteran, Tammy Duckworth. I guess Scott thinks she got shot down over Iraq and lost her legs because someday she might want to run for office. There are literally millions of Veterans, patriotic Americans, who are registered Democrats. Scott Perry represents thousands of them in Congress. And while he talks about how Democrats hate America, our Military, our Constitution, remember this: Scott Perry did everything he possibly could to steal the election in 2020 and hand it to Donald Trump. He wanted to throw out thousands of votes from Pennsylvania, including people he represented. If that’s not hatred for our Democracy, and for the people who fought and died to protect it… Well, we don’t know what to tell you. We’re proud to be American, and we’re proud of our service. Damn proud. There’s nothing Scott Perry can do to take that pride away. But there is something you can do to help us make sure people like Scott get kicked out of Congress for good. Make a donation to VoteVets and help us beat guys like Scott Perry up and down the ballot in 2026. We need all the help we can get, and these donations add up fast when tons of people are chipping in. Join today’s Indivisible call — 3pm Eastern.
He Alone October 22, 2025October 22, 2025 One of you wrote to say Trump has deservedly called the press “the enemy of the people” given the million times the press has called him a fascist. I’m not sure it’s a million times (or ever); but even if it is, would calling him a fascist be out of line if he is a fascist? I asked Co-pilot: “What are the characteristics of a fascist leader?” It replied (view here if this formats weirdly in your email): Trait Description Authoritarianism Demands absolute obedience; centralizes power in a single leader or party Ultranationalism Promotes intense national pride, often tied to ethnic or cultural superiority Cult of Personality Portrays the leader as infallible, heroic, and indispensable to national survival Suppression of Opposition Uses censorship, intimidation, and violence to silence critics and rivals Militarism Glorifies military strength and often seeks expansion or conflict to assert dominance Anti-Democratic Rhetoric Rejects pluralism, liberalism, and democratic institutions as weak or corrupt Propaganda & Mass Mobilization Relies on rallies, symbols, and media control to unify and manipulate public opinion Scapegoating & Demonization Blames societal problems on marginalized groups or political enemies Economic Control Supports a dirigiste economy—state-directed capitalism aimed at national self-sufficiency Palingenesis Promises national rebirth through purging decadence and restoring greatness These traits are often reinforced by emotional appeals, fear-based messaging, and a rejection of intellectualism or nuance. It strikes me that this fits Trump more or less to a T. When I sent it to my correspondent, he replied: “You see a fascist. I and millions see a flamboyant, energetic, humorous, personable and headstrong leader.” I’m not sure the two are mutually exclusive. Steve S. “I sent your Who Really Hates America? to my partly-MAGA family yesterday with this note.” Policies from this administration are hurting farmers, small businesses, working families, military families, public schools, universities, cancer researchers, local law enforcement, and legal immigrants, not to mention our most important global allies. We should have known, as it is all described in their manifesto, Project 2025, with a mission to destabilize the Federal government, the economy, businesses, industry and the American people by creating chaos in just about every aspect of daily life, all while fleecing anybody that seeks to negotiate with the president. If they don’t bring gifts or buy into his family crypto schemes, they don’t get access. All of this is made worse by the Republicans in congress that will not push back on any of his most outrageous policies or his exceptionally unqualified appointees that are quickly gutting our national defense, global economic leadership, etc. Most disturbing is the lack of enforcement of the rule of law by the Supreme Court on the president and his vast, unconstitutional power grab that is anti-democratic and un-American. Do any of these people remember their oath to protect and defend the Constitution? Not normal. Not acceptable! . . . which is why we marched! Bulldozers Are Literally Tearing Down Part Of The White House To Make Room For Trump’s Giant Ballroom. I don’t think Trump would be appending a gilded imperial ballroom to the White House if he planned ever to move out. Fascist leaders don’t believe in the peaceful transfer of power. Join Indivisible. Support “my” 26th annual DNC LGBT Leadership Council dinner even if you’re not L, G, B, or T and even if you can’t make it to New York November 14. An adequately funded opposition party is absolutely necessary for democracy to prevail. NOW is the time to fund the infrastructure the party builds and maintains for Democratic candidates nationwide. NEXT YEAR is the time to contribute directly to the candidates you feel offer the best chance of our retaking the House and Senate.