THIS. This is precisely what has, unfortunately, been keeping me awake at night. Media softballing the whole damn shit show. While sitting in a parking lot waiting on my wife to finish an appointment this morning, I decided (against better judgment) to turn on the radio and listen to NPR, lacking anything else to do at the moment. They had a law professor on, I can’t remember where she was from, who was asked a direct question: “Who enforces it when the president breaks the law?”
No less than 4 wishy-washy answers she gave! gods, I could have choked on my disbelief. Here was some prestigious academic basically saying, “well, we’re all kinda fucked if Trump doesn’t do what he’s supposed to do.”
There are no police, there is no radical outcry from the democrats, there is no enforcement mechanism that *actually* kicks into action. No. We are left to wonder if future bus tours of Washington DC will feature stops like, “This is where the U.S. Treasury once was, but now we just write our checks to Emperor Trump, so NO NEED to WORRY, all is well. Sleep peacefully, children…”
The NYT has likewise downplayed how much white supremacy is driving Trump and his inner circle. He's chosen only one Black cabinet member, just as he did in his first Administration. Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen are both friendly online to racists and anti-Semites for a reason. And the early attacks on DEI are a way to discredit any non-white person who's found success. Why is it difficult for our largest news organization to connect these dots?
Kudos to Mr. Crankstock! Our media is often less than useless; they're complicit in the unwinding of our democratic constitutional republic. Always the horse race, never whose horse is worthy of our support.
It seems to be a virus that's going around. Dems are an easy target.
I find myself reminding folks not to take their eye off the ball (sports metaphor), and that we need all hands on deck, even those who now feel guity about their vote. There is only one party that has the ability to curtail Trump, and those folks have identified with the perpetrator as his accessories and accomplices.
I guess I'd be disappointed if I wasn't so unsurprised by their complicity. They've been telling us for awhile now who they are. I am baffled as to why anyone reads or listens to them anymore. Americans should NOT trust American legacy media in ANY FORM.
Absolutely. The lack of outrage, leadership, action by Democrats and the mainstream media against the deliberate and unlawful destruction of our democracy is mind boggling in its complicity. I've been watching the patterns of dictatorship unfold in this country for decades and dramatizing them in plays of mine--now hyperbole is becoming fact.
I agree wholeheartedly. What a disappointment Democrats have been. Too tepid. It is the responsibility of those writing about this debacle to bring forth exactly what Mr Crankstock states. Even the ‘liberal’ press is failing us.
Constitution Constitution Constitution. This needs to be hammered home. Musk/Trump are turning us into a lawless country. Only evil people would want this. That’s why I don’t understand the complicit embrace by Democrats. The more laws they break weakens our country.
We need more Mr Crankstock or maybe he should just review articles before published since they generally miss the point. Read this message before you write a story and before publishing. Does it meet those standards? If not rethink, yourself and what your purpose is.
I’ve increasingly distanced myself from mainstream outlets like NPR and The New York Times’ The Daily*, sensing a troubling normalization of issues that others might accept uncritically. Casual listeners could walk away from these programs believing everything is fine, unaware of the deeper currents at play. For sharper analysis, I’ve turned to voices like Ezra Klein, whose commentary suggests he anticipates either judicial intervention or a potential backlash against overreach. Yet the damage being done now—eroding norms and institutions—is already tangible.
The true crisis, however, would come if those in power defy court rulings entirely. Coupled with the Supreme Court’s upcoming decisions, this moment could determine whether America remains a constitutional republic or slides into something resembling autocracy. Are we headed toward a future that safeguards democratic principles, or a regression to a pre-New Deal era, where federal authority and safeguards were minimal? And if attacks on judicial and regulatory institutions—like the Federal Reserve—intensify, the stakes grow even higher.
This isn’t just political drama; it’s a test of whether governance by checks and balances can endure, or if we’ll normalize a system where power trumps accountability.
This is perfect. Thank you. It has been hard for me and probably others to detach from the academic mindset about the constitution. For so long in this country, all our discussions about the law and how the constitution works have been more or less abstractions.
Now we face the practical application of all those classroom hypotheticals. Many are obviously not shifting gears. If the press would report and editorialize about the real world consequences of the constitutional crisis in progress, we could better shift to action.
As it is, everything is just 'content' for the purpose of selling entertainment. Most press is for-profit. It knows that if it turns into Pro-Publica, the audience will become bored. What is needed now is some publication that can straddle the line between tedious detail and exciting news.
Check out my play, search for IMPOSSIBLE lee roscoe youtube. What happens to friends in a small New England town when a tyrannical president, to whom they have a personal connection, takes over the nation.
THIS. This is precisely what has, unfortunately, been keeping me awake at night. Media softballing the whole damn shit show. While sitting in a parking lot waiting on my wife to finish an appointment this morning, I decided (against better judgment) to turn on the radio and listen to NPR, lacking anything else to do at the moment. They had a law professor on, I can’t remember where she was from, who was asked a direct question: “Who enforces it when the president breaks the law?”
No less than 4 wishy-washy answers she gave! gods, I could have choked on my disbelief. Here was some prestigious academic basically saying, “well, we’re all kinda fucked if Trump doesn’t do what he’s supposed to do.”
There are no police, there is no radical outcry from the democrats, there is no enforcement mechanism that *actually* kicks into action. No. We are left to wonder if future bus tours of Washington DC will feature stops like, “This is where the U.S. Treasury once was, but now we just write our checks to Emperor Trump, so NO NEED to WORRY, all is well. Sleep peacefully, children…”
The NYT has likewise downplayed how much white supremacy is driving Trump and his inner circle. He's chosen only one Black cabinet member, just as he did in his first Administration. Elon Musk and Marc Andreessen are both friendly online to racists and anti-Semites for a reason. And the early attacks on DEI are a way to discredit any non-white person who's found success. Why is it difficult for our largest news organization to connect these dots?
Kudos to Mr. Crankstock! Our media is often less than useless; they're complicit in the unwinding of our democratic constitutional republic. Always the horse race, never whose horse is worthy of our support.
It seems to be a virus that's going around. Dems are an easy target.
I find myself reminding folks not to take their eye off the ball (sports metaphor), and that we need all hands on deck, even those who now feel guity about their vote. There is only one party that has the ability to curtail Trump, and those folks have identified with the perpetrator as his accessories and accomplices.
It's a long road ahead.
So disappointed in the Daily and nytimes. This is no time for chit chat.
I guess I'd be disappointed if I wasn't so unsurprised by their complicity. They've been telling us for awhile now who they are. I am baffled as to why anyone reads or listens to them anymore. Americans should NOT trust American legacy media in ANY FORM.
Crankstock nails the crux.
NYT headlines are particularly
wobbly on Trump/Musk/DOGE extra-Executive activities, ie qualifying illegal actions' outcomes with "may" and "could."
Open letter I sent today to both senators and representative. Feel free to copy, customize, and use as a template for your own letter.
https://www.corneroak.com/leaves/le020625.html
Copied and sent. Please send a copy to your local newspaper (if you have on left aft the purge by hedge funds.)
Absolutely. The lack of outrage, leadership, action by Democrats and the mainstream media against the deliberate and unlawful destruction of our democracy is mind boggling in its complicity. I've been watching the patterns of dictatorship unfold in this country for decades and dramatizing them in plays of mine--now hyperbole is becoming fact.
I agree wholeheartedly. What a disappointment Democrats have been. Too tepid. It is the responsibility of those writing about this debacle to bring forth exactly what Mr Crankstock states. Even the ‘liberal’ press is failing us.
Constitution Constitution Constitution. This needs to be hammered home. Musk/Trump are turning us into a lawless country. Only evil people would want this. That’s why I don’t understand the complicit embrace by Democrats. The more laws they break weakens our country.
We need more Mr Crankstock or maybe he should just review articles before published since they generally miss the point. Read this message before you write a story and before publishing. Does it meet those standards? If not rethink, yourself and what your purpose is.
Telling it like it is.
Jeff you told us what was happening long ago. No one who read you book The Family should be surprised.
I’ve increasingly distanced myself from mainstream outlets like NPR and The New York Times’ The Daily*, sensing a troubling normalization of issues that others might accept uncritically. Casual listeners could walk away from these programs believing everything is fine, unaware of the deeper currents at play. For sharper analysis, I’ve turned to voices like Ezra Klein, whose commentary suggests he anticipates either judicial intervention or a potential backlash against overreach. Yet the damage being done now—eroding norms and institutions—is already tangible.
The true crisis, however, would come if those in power defy court rulings entirely. Coupled with the Supreme Court’s upcoming decisions, this moment could determine whether America remains a constitutional republic or slides into something resembling autocracy. Are we headed toward a future that safeguards democratic principles, or a regression to a pre-New Deal era, where federal authority and safeguards were minimal? And if attacks on judicial and regulatory institutions—like the Federal Reserve—intensify, the stakes grow even higher.
This isn’t just political drama; it’s a test of whether governance by checks and balances can endure, or if we’ll normalize a system where power trumps accountability.
This is perfect. Thank you. It has been hard for me and probably others to detach from the academic mindset about the constitution. For so long in this country, all our discussions about the law and how the constitution works have been more or less abstractions.
Now we face the practical application of all those classroom hypotheticals. Many are obviously not shifting gears. If the press would report and editorialize about the real world consequences of the constitutional crisis in progress, we could better shift to action.
As it is, everything is just 'content' for the purpose of selling entertainment. Most press is for-profit. It knows that if it turns into Pro-Publica, the audience will become bored. What is needed now is some publication that can straddle the line between tedious detail and exciting news.
We gotta be better about imagining pushbacks. <BangingMyOwnHeadOnAWall>
Check out my play, search for IMPOSSIBLE lee roscoe youtube. What happens to friends in a small New England town when a tyrannical president, to whom they have a personal connection, takes over the nation.
He is correct on all points!