Your analysis of the insanity and cruelty this country is dealing with is the best there is . Your columns should be required reading for everyone especially those who voted for this madness. His treatment of the press is shocking even for him but my anger is also towards the press in attendance who don’t ALL turn their backs and walk out every single time he does this . Grow a spine leave him yammering on my to cameras recording him but no one asking questions because every single one of them knows they will only receive lies as it’s all he knows
Ugh ugh ugh. It seems like ICE administrative warrants shouldn't be in the NCIC database. They are not real warrants, they are signed by ICE administrators, not judges. They don't give the officer holding the warrant the ability to enter a home without consent. This is where we are though. I worked at 9-1-1 for a long time, and routinely confirmed warrants for officers. I can imagine the desperation in the communities--not being able to call for help in an emergency for fear of ICE.
I agree with Mary B. Gerster 100%. And as a former news director, I mourn the state of the news business in these times when we need accurate reporting and courage to tell the truth.
I was glad to see this brilliant essay on my husband’s FB this morning, with thousands of readers. It’s hard to look reality in the eye, but the alternative is fatal.
It bears repeating: there is only one story that deserves the headline in every serious vessel of journalism: the Trump regime is dangerous and treasonous, and Trump and his cabinet are unfit for office by every metric. Denial and complicity are an American virus that enables the damage to accelerate and expand.
We’ve all had it! You (Mary) inspire us by your grit and refusal to look away. It’s the ultimate public service in these fraught times.
Your analysis of our dystopian-draconian crazytown is spot on. Ah yes as he would put “The biggest and best hole anyone has ever seen.” With his inevitable follow up with “So many have said ‘Thank you sir,’ for making this hole for us all, the best beautiful hole ever seen”….
The continuation of “wash, rinse, dry and fold” over and over again on all topics that fulfill the vileness of this revenge and retribution crazytown circus that’s become our reality.
The so called “America First” of White-National Christians who have removed those white hoods and replaced them with ICE tactile gear but keeping the face masks to absurdly hide their identities. At this time who knows how many are fully engaged and make up this MAGA cult following along down this hole he has created.
How anyone can justify the vileness of this creature who occupies our Oval and this junk drawer of loyalists and sycophants should be beyond belief..
Yet here we are. Instead we will have more National Guardsman be taken away from their lives, jobs and family to fulfill his sickened delusions of the “boogie man” who is around every corner making “real Americans” lives miserable. They will follow their orders, not always voluntarily but will do so because they swore an oath to our Constitution. The good old days of knowing the National Guard was dispatched when there were natural disasters like floods, hurricanes and all to be of assistance and to help those suffering. To assist the community, the American people in need of the hardships experienced and to provide relief to clear debris and to allow the people in the community to have water, shelter and to begin building their lives again as a community, Gone. Now they are there to protect those ICE Agents to remove the people in the communities to sites unknown in detention centers with no idea if they shall remain here even though they’ve followed the laws to achieve citizenship and even American citizens born and raised on this land.
Yet here we are it’s the “normalization” to “justify” even himself as well as the MAGA followers and his regime their conscience.. if they even have a conscience anymore…
Stage 1 - demoralization
Stage 2 - destabilization
Stage 3 - crisis
Stage 4 - normalization
We’ve gone from degrading the press from calling it “fake news” when it didn’t align with his evil agenda or when he had no idea what to do other than drinking bleach when Covid was in full force to now no longer even waiting to not just degrade and bully, but to fully humiliate. We’ve gone from telling them “Quiet, quiet Piggy” to not even giving it a thought when again it seems another female reporter points out that federal officials had confirmed Afghan evacuees were vetted in 2021, and he was vetted prior to giving him asylum in April 2025 under his own regime to be who he is by snapping, “Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person?”… Just once would like to see the other journalists, reporters in the room just say and ask, “No sir, but are you?” Just starting out to give him that feeling of flattery but dropping the rubble of the East Wing squarely on his head, or slamming the door in his face… It’s no longer the banter of reporters asking questions for clarification of polices or his agenda for clarification. It’s a “mud fest” of him slinging it out of a bazooka and hitting reporters as if they were those ducks on that wire in a carnival game seeing how many he can blast with his mud slinging to earn some delusional points in his feeble brain.
Remarked days ago that am sickened, angry and heartbroken at the same time. This has not changed, unfortunately added more emotions on this ongoing onslaught of this carnival ride we are all in. Hearing of Sarah Beckstrom, who only 20 years old dying to her injuries of this shooting. No amount of condolences can be expressed to these National Guardsman’s families, friends and their community. This is heartbreaking.
Also, thought this year we would be spared from any Thanksgiving post from him but alas was wrong, never to be afforded that hope. Because everything he touches just dies... Yes came the Felon’s late-night “Happy Thanksgiving” rant. His dangerous rhetoric continues to divide this country when we need just a drop of unity, just a drop but that’s not a possibility and it’s foolish to think it…
Good leaders at times like this, remain calm and measured with compassion. This is what people need especially from their leaders. Otherwise it is bedlam with things turning exponentially worse, as we are witnessing now.
Keep up the great work. I love the metaphors- keep 'em coming!
Kudos to the Dallas Chef of Police, and thank you for mentioning that story.
By the way, where the hell is Congress? They have a job to do, i.e., impeachment, which would be a slam dunk in any other universe, but are just sitting it out. We can't hold a candle to Brazil in that regard.
Can it get any worse, we ask, and then within a news cycle of a few hours, it does. If I were a decent Republican politician , questionable, I would storm the White House with pitchforks and torches and carry the monster created and fed by that same group, away into the night and muzzle him , if necessary, lock him in Mir-A-Lago and apologize to the American people. There is no retribution that can ever repay our country and the people for the damage , both local and in our world, his presence has created, but it would be a start. Thanks, Mary, I would be lost without you!
When you go meta and leave feelings behind, this is a wildly extreme moment by any measure across the timeline of civilization. That is not hyperbole, this is reality. If Mary were writing an epistolary work of non-fiction, or even a lively historical novel, it would be a page turner and one you'd recommend to friends as a good read. But it is not, it is our lives and we are watching and reading it in real time. Even so, it's a book we can't put down.
FUBAR - that's my word for the day or likely longer. Media need to report on what trump does more than what he says. Mary has a good balance. I pulled, "Disinhibition isn’t just rudeness; it’s neurological." Tim Miller showed trump walking and how abnormal it was. Victims of strokes might swear like sailors for first time in their lives. My random thoughts on this cluster.
Your analysis of the insanity and cruelty this country is dealing with is the best there is . Your columns should be required reading for everyone especially those who voted for this madness. His treatment of the press is shocking even for him but my anger is also towards the press in attendance who don’t ALL turn their backs and walk out every single time he does this . Grow a spine leave him yammering on my to cameras recording him but no one asking questions because every single one of them knows they will only receive lies as it’s all he knows
Ugh ugh ugh. It seems like ICE administrative warrants shouldn't be in the NCIC database. They are not real warrants, they are signed by ICE administrators, not judges. They don't give the officer holding the warrant the ability to enter a home without consent. This is where we are though. I worked at 9-1-1 for a long time, and routinely confirmed warrants for officers. I can imagine the desperation in the communities--not being able to call for help in an emergency for fear of ICE.
Two words: 25th Amendment
Even the atheists are praying.
And the introverts are protesting!
I agree with Mary B. Gerster 100%. And as a former news director, I mourn the state of the news business in these times when we need accurate reporting and courage to tell the truth.
I was glad to see this brilliant essay on my husband’s FB this morning, with thousands of readers. It’s hard to look reality in the eye, but the alternative is fatal.
It bears repeating: there is only one story that deserves the headline in every serious vessel of journalism: the Trump regime is dangerous and treasonous, and Trump and his cabinet are unfit for office by every metric. Denial and complicity are an American virus that enables the damage to accelerate and expand.
We’ve all had it! You (Mary) inspire us by your grit and refusal to look away. It’s the ultimate public service in these fraught times.
Your analysis of our dystopian-draconian crazytown is spot on. Ah yes as he would put “The biggest and best hole anyone has ever seen.” With his inevitable follow up with “So many have said ‘Thank you sir,’ for making this hole for us all, the best beautiful hole ever seen”….
The continuation of “wash, rinse, dry and fold” over and over again on all topics that fulfill the vileness of this revenge and retribution crazytown circus that’s become our reality.
The so called “America First” of White-National Christians who have removed those white hoods and replaced them with ICE tactile gear but keeping the face masks to absurdly hide their identities. At this time who knows how many are fully engaged and make up this MAGA cult following along down this hole he has created.
How anyone can justify the vileness of this creature who occupies our Oval and this junk drawer of loyalists and sycophants should be beyond belief..
Yet here we are. Instead we will have more National Guardsman be taken away from their lives, jobs and family to fulfill his sickened delusions of the “boogie man” who is around every corner making “real Americans” lives miserable. They will follow their orders, not always voluntarily but will do so because they swore an oath to our Constitution. The good old days of knowing the National Guard was dispatched when there were natural disasters like floods, hurricanes and all to be of assistance and to help those suffering. To assist the community, the American people in need of the hardships experienced and to provide relief to clear debris and to allow the people in the community to have water, shelter and to begin building their lives again as a community, Gone. Now they are there to protect those ICE Agents to remove the people in the communities to sites unknown in detention centers with no idea if they shall remain here even though they’ve followed the laws to achieve citizenship and even American citizens born and raised on this land.
Yet here we are it’s the “normalization” to “justify” even himself as well as the MAGA followers and his regime their conscience.. if they even have a conscience anymore…
Stage 1 - demoralization
Stage 2 - destabilization
Stage 3 - crisis
Stage 4 - normalization
We’ve gone from degrading the press from calling it “fake news” when it didn’t align with his evil agenda or when he had no idea what to do other than drinking bleach when Covid was in full force to now no longer even waiting to not just degrade and bully, but to fully humiliate. We’ve gone from telling them “Quiet, quiet Piggy” to not even giving it a thought when again it seems another female reporter points out that federal officials had confirmed Afghan evacuees were vetted in 2021, and he was vetted prior to giving him asylum in April 2025 under his own regime to be who he is by snapping, “Are you stupid? Are you a stupid person?”… Just once would like to see the other journalists, reporters in the room just say and ask, “No sir, but are you?” Just starting out to give him that feeling of flattery but dropping the rubble of the East Wing squarely on his head, or slamming the door in his face… It’s no longer the banter of reporters asking questions for clarification of polices or his agenda for clarification. It’s a “mud fest” of him slinging it out of a bazooka and hitting reporters as if they were those ducks on that wire in a carnival game seeing how many he can blast with his mud slinging to earn some delusional points in his feeble brain.
Remarked days ago that am sickened, angry and heartbroken at the same time. This has not changed, unfortunately added more emotions on this ongoing onslaught of this carnival ride we are all in. Hearing of Sarah Beckstrom, who only 20 years old dying to her injuries of this shooting. No amount of condolences can be expressed to these National Guardsman’s families, friends and their community. This is heartbreaking.
Also, thought this year we would be spared from any Thanksgiving post from him but alas was wrong, never to be afforded that hope. Because everything he touches just dies... Yes came the Felon’s late-night “Happy Thanksgiving” rant. His dangerous rhetoric continues to divide this country when we need just a drop of unity, just a drop but that’s not a possibility and it’s foolish to think it…
Good leaders at times like this, remain calm and measured with compassion. This is what people need especially from their leaders. Otherwise it is bedlam with things turning exponentially worse, as we are witnessing now.
Keep up the great work. I love the metaphors- keep 'em coming!
Kudos to the Dallas Chef of Police, and thank you for mentioning that story.
By the way, where the hell is Congress? They have a job to do, i.e., impeachment, which would be a slam dunk in any other universe, but are just sitting it out. We can't hold a candle to Brazil in that regard.
Can it get any worse, we ask, and then within a news cycle of a few hours, it does. If I were a decent Republican politician , questionable, I would storm the White House with pitchforks and torches and carry the monster created and fed by that same group, away into the night and muzzle him , if necessary, lock him in Mir-A-Lago and apologize to the American people. There is no retribution that can ever repay our country and the people for the damage , both local and in our world, his presence has created, but it would be a start. Thanks, Mary, I would be lost without you!
So then, a wrongful death suit by the family of the murdered Guardswoman..?
I agree with Mary. Without a doubt, I am thankful every day that I found you.
When you go meta and leave feelings behind, this is a wildly extreme moment by any measure across the timeline of civilization. That is not hyperbole, this is reality. If Mary were writing an epistolary work of non-fiction, or even a lively historical novel, it would be a page turner and one you'd recommend to friends as a good read. But it is not, it is our lives and we are watching and reading it in real time. Even so, it's a book we can't put down.
Mary, absolutely love your daily newsletter. I listen to it while I’m walking the dog, try not to scream with frustration. I found this website
Joincomminground.org
truly giving me hope, and maybe the power of the people will save this country. Would love your thoughts. Terry
I will check it out
Bang on, Mary! First post I read in the morning!
FUBAR - that's my word for the day or likely longer. Media need to report on what trump does more than what he says. Mary has a good balance. I pulled, "Disinhibition isn’t just rudeness; it’s neurological." Tim Miller showed trump walking and how abnormal it was. Victims of strokes might swear like sailors for first time in their lives. My random thoughts on this cluster.