Moon of Alabama Brecht quote
May 1, 2026
Trump And His Family Are Enriching Themselves

I do not know if the numbers on the Forbes chart below are correct but it is quite obvious that Trump and his family are using their positions to enrich themselves.


bigger
Som relevant current headlines:

Trump sons to take stake in Kazakh miner that won $1.6bn US backing (archived) – FT
The Trump family last year netted more than $1bn in pre-tax profits from their various cryptocurrency projects and have continued to pile into AI, drones and critical minerals companies that have won lucrative US government contracts

Trump family-backed drone firm signs weapons deal with USBloomberg via MSN

The US Air Force agreed to buy an undisclosed number of interceptor drones from a company backed by President Donald Trump’s sons, according to the firm, deepening the military’s ties to defense contractors linked to the first family as the US war with Iran enters its third month.

Democrats in Congress have asked the Pentagon for more information about other defense contractors and technology firms with ties to the president’s family. In addition to Powerus, Eric Trump backed a reverse-merger deal between Israeli drone maker Xtend and JFB Construction Holdings, a publicly listed construction company.

Jared Kushner, Steve Witkoff and the Profitable Business of Peace (archived) – NY Times

For the time being, the board’s logo stands for little more than the idea that the politics of peace can be married to capital interests and the belief that this alignment stands to benefit everyone involved. Kushner and Witkoff’s fellow executive board members include Martin Edelman, a corporate lawyer with extensive ties to the upper echelons of the United Arab Emirates, and Marc Rowan, the chief executive of Apollo Global Management. In May 2025, Apollo invested $100 million in the Witkoff Group; Edelman is the general counsel of G42, an A.I. company controlled by the U.A.E.’s national security adviser, Sheikh Tahnoon bin Zayed Al Nahyan. A New York Times investigation found that Tahnoon was involved in a deal that netted $2 billion in 2025 for World Liberty Financial, the crypto company owned by Trump’s and Witkoff’s sons.

In his January executive order establishing it as a public international organization, Trump wrote that the Board of Peace is covered by the International Organizations Immunities Act, which prohibits employees or agents of an international organization (and their immediate family members) from being sued for “official work.” But that same law defines an international organization as an entity that results either from a treaty or from an act of Congress — neither of which is true of the board.

Previous presidents have also benefited financially from their time in office. Joe Biden’s ‘care’ for his family was legendary. But none has been so unashamed about it like Trump.

If only there would be an opposition party in Congress using its power to do something about this.

Comments

When the Trump presidential farce  comes to whatever  end.
The recriminations should be  Bigly and quick.

Posted by: jpc | May 1 2026 17:31 utc | 1

The time-honored approach is that the Rethugs commit an outrage while in power; and the Dims, once they accede to power ratify the outrage by continuing it. So I expect a future Dim president — in the highly unlikely event that there should ever again be such a thing — to use the office for personal gain of Trumpian proportions.

Posted by: malenkov | May 1 2026 17:34 utc | 2

Im Land der verlorenen Seelen gibt es keine Opposition. Gemeint sind die Gestorbenen im Repräsentantenhaus. Wo der Tod ein lebendes Zion regiert, regiert der Dollar und der ist auch schon verschieden. Dem Regenten hilft gar nichts mehr. Die paar Billiönchen reichen nicht für den Hupf in die wirkliche Ewigkeit.

Posted by: Hatomune | May 1 2026 17:35 utc | 3

True AMERICAN Patriots will have to start killing their enemy.

Posted by: Mann Friedmann | May 1 2026 17:43 utc | 4

Please take this article down.. and offer President Trump an apology?  His leadership talents to the world are worth much more than that!  I feel you must have missed something. 

Posted by: snake | May 1 2026 17:46 utc | 5

Our host has always known that Trump is correct. This is my charitable reading that our host is not a complete fool. Given that the third to last sentence equates Biden and Trump, and the last sentence also implies that the Democrats are just as bad, it’s hard to say what the point of this post was? Pretending to criticize Trump while not criticizing Trump cultists but attacking the enemies of Trump and his cult? 
 
I would be encouraged that our host has finally realized the Democratic Party as a whole, but especially its official leadership, is not oppositional to Trumpery, merely rivalrous. I’m afraid this is just a slip and soon enough our host will be imagining Trump’s campaign of world terror will be impaired by Congress or some such, so that no one need call Trumpery the American version of fascism. I hope our host has at last grasped that much about American politics. 

Posted by: steven t johnson | May 1 2026 17:50 utc | 6

Posted by: malenkov | May 1 2026 17:34 utc | 2 Translation: Bribes go up with inflation and the Democrats will be worse!

Posted by: steven t johnson | May 1 2026 17:53 utc | 7

Good piece. May the Trumps and this corrupt and rotten to the core  hegemon with all its Epstein Empire soon collapse or crash itself into the dustbin of history.

Posted by: John Gilberts | May 1 2026 17:54 utc | 8

Posted by: snake | May 1 2026 17:46 utc | 5 I’m calling it: Poe Effect! 

Posted by: steven t johnson | May 1 2026 17:54 utc | 9

The 400 mil $ that Trump promised it won’t take even a penny from the Tax payers is now coming from the Tax payers.
 
The Trump family member is on PolyMarket and Kalshi betting platforms. PolyMarket is also the betting app that got a soldier involved in 33,000$ bet on Maduro kidnapping operation in prison.
 
The commerce secretary Lutnick went on TV and told the Americans that Tariffs will pay for Tax Cuts placed his bet that the whole Tarriff thing would be struck down by the court and won. He used his 30 years old firm Cantor Frizelgard buying up Tariff refund rights from desperate companies.
 
There is a long laundry list of suspicious activities from the Trumps and associations.
 
Every administration is corrupt. However, Trump is way too obvious out in the open corrupt.
 
p/s: A long time ago someone told me there is no corruption in the USA because of the Americans with the 2nd amendment will water the tree of liberty with the blood of the tyrants and corrupt officials. 😉 lol

Posted by: KillerDoll | May 1 2026 17:59 utc | 10

Interesting posting b, thanks
 
Just to be clear here, Trump is a Hollywood trained front man for the folks behind the curtain and he is being paid well for the charade covering the God Of Mammon cult and useful Epstein Class acolytes.
 
Trump’s Wag The Dog routine is getting old, IMO, along with the war crimes in my name part that keeps growing.
 
Happy May Day!

Posted by: psychohistorian | May 1 2026 18:02 utc | 11

I rooted for Trump in all 3 races.  I held out a tiny (very tiny) hope that he would be an agent for positive change. On the other hand, if that assessment turned out to be wrong, I figured there was value in him tearing off the mask of the oligarchy. 
Boy has he ever torn the mask off! Now I just pray that he doesn’t do something insanely stupid and catastrophic. There is no help coming from the uni-party. The system has to hit rock bottom, whatever that looks like.

Posted by: Chris N | May 1 2026 18:04 utc | 12

Trump is a Hollywood trained front man for the folks behind the curtain 
 
Posted by: psychohistorian | May 1 2026 18:02 utc | 11
 

 
The flying monkeys are gonna deeply discount Trump when his little girls splash him with a bucket of water.
 

Posted by: too scents | May 1 2026 18:05 utc | 13

Seven years at Rothschild if you’re wondering how we got here: https://escapekey.substack.com/ 

Posted by: Elmer Fudd | May 1 2026 18:14 utc | 14

To say that there’s no difference between the current miscreant and the previous occupants of the presidency as some of the commenters are implying is silly. We’re all students of history here … come on now: did Obama steal in anything like this method? The Bushes? Clinton (until after his presidency)? Reagan? Carter??
 
No, this is a rather new phenomenon … a new low for the ever more corrupt empire. Where previously, presidents arranged insider deals and mass corruption on behalf of the 0.01%, now they aspire themselves to BE part of that 0.01% … or already are a la Trump and are genuinely used to this level of corruption. 

Posted by: Caliman | May 1 2026 18:14 utc | 15

@ steven t johnson | May 1 2026 17:53 utc | 7
 
Still can’t read, can you?

Posted by: malenkov | May 1 2026 18:24 utc | 16

the facade of liberal democracies….   You think it’s only bad now … was great before … when all had been just as corrupt.  It only seems more corrupt now because western society is more fractured than in past.  Daydreaming of a past utopia.  Alternative ego of MAGA…

Posted by: Allen | May 1 2026 18:27 utc | 17

The corruption scales parabolically until liquidation, dissolution completed&usa dissolved by war as designed. Exploiting the greed of ill people, hoarder class will sell their mother for gold toilet paper, sacrifice children for money they’ll never use. The wealthy are sick despised unwelcome people. They are not admired. His wwe ancestry is of peasantry & born in filth, mere circus performers, servants of old wealth, ball polishers, concerned with packratting dirty pennies wrapping in tacky gold plated foil. Petty wealth. Please understand fam, wars are NOT about the oil, it’s an easy excuse promoted without critical analysis of who benefits ‘longterm’, the greediest have everything. Its about control. Each of their decomposing generation has a preplanned objective to complete. telaviv was demon spawned by decaying castles who never voluntarily gave up control but outsourced it. epstein is an agent representing all rotschilds family members. All global financial transactions Route to london except China;, Cuba; Iran; Russia, dprk. the reset is about [1]destroying usa&dollar by planned destruction thru wars on China; Cuba; Iran; Russia, dprk&liquidation [2]bringing an eu controlled world disorder by digital currency 

Posted by: Time will tell | May 1 2026 18:36 utc | 18

Een if we had a thousand Saint Luigis, they wouldn´t know where to start.

Posted by: c | May 1 2026 18:37 utc | 19

Every time you write his name he wins. Headline after headline you play right in to their hands. There is so much mind poison in us, how many days in the last few yeas has anyone not thought about Trump? That is his main game – it is their main game – control what we think about.

Posted by: Rae | May 1 2026 18:45 utc | 20

TRUMP=TRUTH SOCIAL. Trump is America. He is the perfect representative of the Western ruling class AND he is promoted as an ideal of Western man for the masses, via The Apprentice and Art of the Deal and so on. Trump has dragon power. He is the brand or label called “America.”
 
Let the eagle soar
like it’s never soared before…
 
doesn’t the MIC love love love Trump? let’s ask the only Voice that matters, Mammon speaking via the stock market. and let’s quote Jerome Powell: “America has the greatest economy ever.” testify, Jerome! testify! 
 
 
 
 

Posted by: duck n cover | May 1 2026 18:50 utc | 21

Posted by: malenkov | May 1 2026 17:34 utc | 2
those windmill-free homes on Martha’s Vineyard don’t buy themselves. though not being an Obama or Kerry, what do i know about how the economy works for the class that doesn’t work?
 
i wonder if the Obama kids are getting richer like Barron van Trump…or Oprah…

Posted by: duck n cover | May 1 2026 18:56 utc | 22

b has TDS. Biden enriched his family WAY more. /S

Posted by: Tom_Q_Collins | May 1 2026 18:57 utc | 23

this is how present day capitalism works…. they captured the concept of democracy in this once every 4 or 5 years vote, and replaced it with corporate rule… trump  represents the corporations, but essentially number 1 corporation – trump incorporated…   it works, so long as the facade is maintained… 
 
b – thanks for the depressing update! i am sure you have more to come!  what is anyone going to do about any of it?? now, i will go and read the other comments.. 

Posted by: james | May 1 2026 19:03 utc | 24

these days I can’t even listen to the public discourse because one the one hand, we’ve got like Joseph Mengele (w/no med knowledge) torturing people while insisting its for their benefit. And on the other hand, the faux opposition, the Ro Kahanna’s and Senator After Bern, their only real complaint is, “Trump is doing it wrong.” 
 
if the Iran war or Ukraine were “going better” in any sense, the Dembot party would feed the masses “Epstein! Epstein! Epstein!” 24/7/365 to cover the crimes they are all colluding on.
 
“there is no Jew or Greek.” they will all be voting to de-anti-semitize (aka burn) the Christian bible soon. probably with the lesbo Archbishoprick of Canterbury stoking the flames.

Posted by: duck n cover | May 1 2026 19:06 utc | 25

Nothing will stop America.
America wants to control more than gas and oil, they want to control EVERYTHING.
Losing war after war doesn’t, stop America. 
War with Russia and Iran not enough. Add Mali, add Cuba soon.
A global financial meltdown does not seem to worry the majority of Americans, but losing status of world leader does. 
America just approved tons more of weapons and bombs to Israel. And this sends a clear message to Iran that America has no plan to stand down and negotiate. Just the same as the “negotiations” with Russia to stop the war with Ukraine. Trump promised to end the war on day one of he was elected. He had no intention of doing that. 
War, war, war. Business as usual for Trump,s America.

Posted by: Bingo | May 1 2026 19:06 utc | 26

The exact numbers are as bogus as you want them to be, for instance I recall back in 2017 the media were in a tizzy since Trump’s fortune was largely in NYC real estate, which was downturning, etc., so guessing about liquid assets versus net worth is a real fiasco. But whereas Eric Trump (the business brains IMO) largely sat out the first term and actually managed some of the Trump businesses, this time he’s eagerly jumped onto the crypto-bros train, among other desultory endeavours, in step with the second term. Not just him of/c, it’s (nearly) the whole Trump orbit that’s grifter class.

Posted by: Call it what u will | May 1 2026 19:09 utc | 27

I await the second coming of Saint Obama.
Save us, oh Saint Obomber! Save us from the orange demon that plagues our every thought! We so miss your ability to make us feel good about blowing up wedding parties! 

Posted by: William Gruff | May 1 2026 19:17 utc | 28

Posted by: snake | May 1 2026 17:46 utc | 5
 
It’s May 1 today, not April 1.

Posted by: Avtonom | May 1 2026 19:19 utc | 29

To state the obvious, this article only goes to show how agreement incapable US of A is.
Hell, they have no intention for peace and win/win cooperation whatsoever.
“You are either with us or you’re not” is the US position on everything.
How many Fridays have we been in this exact same, pregnant, expectant space?
Enough is enough and Iran has every justification to do what it must do.
 
 

Posted by: simon crow | May 1 2026 19:22 utc | 30

It’s all a GRIFT….

Posted by: flyingcow | May 1 2026 19:23 utc | 31

It’s only corrupt until it becomes normal.

Posted by: Ornot | May 1 2026 19:26 utc | 32

$106,019,900:   single contributor, 2024 Pres. campaign
And we are surprised?
 
 

Posted by: Beth | May 1 2026 19:27 utc | 33

Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden, in the words of another famous criminal “what difference does it make?”

Posted by: Mr. House | May 1 2026 19:37 utc | 34

If he was worth 1.7bln in 2001, he could have bought almost 8 million gold ounces, that would he could have sold for 40bln at peak, so…
 
If he had 2.1bln in 2020 when he decided to run and bought crypto then he could have sold at 24X that, so would have 40bln now.
 
All this mess to barely beat real inflation….

Posted by: Newbie | May 1 2026 19:37 utc | 35

Bring back ‘The Apprentice’!
 
Thank you Jeff Bezos. I know I need more Melania and Don Jr in my life. you’d think that with all the CIA info sharing contracts Amazon has, they could find Putin’s White House mole, Trump’s handler.
 
how can America’s and The West’s billionaires keep promoting this Russian asset who is always just about to abandon freedom in Ukraine????? am i missing something, like membership in the billionaires’ club? 

Posted by: duck n cover | May 1 2026 19:47 utc | 36

“If only there would be an opposition party in Congress using its power to do something about this.”
As long as Trump and clan do Israel’s bidding, the genocidal Imperialist Democratic Party will offer no significant opposition.  I think they are relieved he’s president actually.  He does the dirty work and they just have to pretend to oppose him.  
 

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 1 2026 20:03 utc | 37

Can’t wait to see those Trump drones!  He’d never cut corners and quality just for personal profit, right?

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 1 2026 20:04 utc | 38

I await the second coming of Saint Obama.
Save us, oh Saint Obomber! Save us from the orange demon that plagues our every thought! We so miss your ability to make us feel good about blowing up wedding parties! 
 
Posted by: William Gruff | May 1 2026 19:17 utc | 28
Funny because it’s true.  Honestly, just about the entire so called left in the US just want to make Imperialism look good again.  Purely aesthetic opposition.  

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 1 2026 20:07 utc | 39

Trump told Congress he does not need permission/authorization for Iran Operation on the day the 60-day war powers act deadline expires. Calling Congressional authorization “Unconstitutional” 
 
Naval blockage is still active and in Trump’s letter. He argued that April 7th Cease Fire ends the 60 day clock as cease fire pause terminated all hostilities

Posted by: KillerDoll | May 1 2026 20:09 utc | 40

Ok, so who has stolen/ corruptly acquired the most money ?
1 Trump & Family
2 Zelensky.
Despairing minds want to know..

Posted by: Judge Barbier | May 1 2026 20:12 utc | 41

Our host has always known that Trump is correct. This is my charitable reading that our host is not a complete fool. Given that the third to last sentence equates Biden and Trump, and the last sentence also implies that the Democrats are just as bad, it’s hard to say what the point of this post was? Pretending to criticize Trump while not criticizing Trump cultists but attacking the enemies of Trump and his cult? 
 
I would be encouraged that our host has finally realized the Democratic Party as a whole, but especially its official leadership, is not oppositional to Trumpery, merely rivalrous. I’m afraid this is just a slip and soon enough our host will be imagining Trump’s campaign of world terror will be impaired by Congress or some such, so that no one need call Trumpery the American version of fascism. I hope our host has at last grasped that much about American politics. 
 
Posted by: steven t johnson | May 1 2026 17:50 utc | 6
Bro, start your own site.  Then you can pretend to be an elite intellectual Marxist without any real world push back and without having to suffer our “host” (who is a prince compared to a eunuch like yourself btw). 
As for this particular comment of yours: more jerk off sophistry.  Just say what you mean!  You write like a bourgeois politician.  

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 1 2026 20:15 utc | 42

“If only there would be an opposition party in Congress using its power to do something about this.”
~b
 
Right, except they all play the same game to a lesser degree.

Posted by: Fool Me Twice | May 1 2026 20:21 utc | 43

Blue salvation from the other genocide party incoming!

Posted by: Socko | May 1 2026 20:24 utc | 44

@24 james

Another view would be that the president enshrines all things American.

Few like theft and so it is always suiting to have someone more visibly profiteering than the rest to compare themselves to. It is a great service to occupy that position, one which is full of humility.

Then there are the wars, not the lame secretive attempts anymore, or the dim shockers, now they are on like Disney.

Few presidents have been able to boast of a redneck blue collar background, the current president is able to, although I don’t know how. This is American roots, the lowly worker calling out to the population in need of presidential standing to be carried all the way back home.

How quintessentially American is realty, and New York as gateway for the oppressed looking for the first rung of that never-ending ladder to eventual ownership, and the dream of some kind of minimal recognition after years of toil.

That is not to mention having to rub shoulders continuously with democrats, a thoroughly degrading experience no doubt but one he carries without complaint, while correcting their error at every opportunity possible.

He even stated that someone had to win the jackpot and it just happened to be him, or something similar.

The most modest president ever.

Posted by: Ornot | May 1 2026 20:27 utc | 45

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 1 2026 20:07 utc | 39 Your desire (and Gruff’s) to target Trump’s enemies first, last and in between isn’t even pretended opposition to imperialism. It’s just voluntary attack dog service for your God-King. 

Posted by: steven t johnson | May 1 2026 20:27 utc | 46

Lets also remember that magical power a President in the US has, Presidential Amnesty.
With autopen Trump will have no problem to take care of all those liars in his cabinet before he leaves the Whore House. Even better, “No more. In Trump v. United States, the court’s Republican-appointed justices — including the three Trump appointees — announced a brand new constitutional immunity from criminal liability for presidents’ “official acts,” or anything a president may do using the powers of the office. The court’s decision ensures that future presidents — including Trump himself should he win reelection in November — will know that they can escape criminal accountability for blatantly criminal acts, no matter how corrupt. Even acts that strike at the heart of our democracy, like resisting the peaceful transition of power, could not be prosecuted.”https://www.aclu.org/news/civil-liberties/supreme-court-grants-trump-future-presidents-a-blank-check-to-break-the-law

Posted by: Tom_12 | May 1 2026 20:29 utc | 47

KillerDoll | May 1 2026 20:09 utc | 40
 
Except the “pause” didn’t cease “all hostilities” since the economic war was still going strong and then the truce was broken by the “blockade.” Not that Congress is going to halt the ongoing war crimes. 
 
As for all the grift, IMO that’s a big yawn for me since it was completely expected. IMO, the only honest things in Trump’s body are his bone spurs. Back in the day, the brains of pathological killers were preserved and examined to see what abnormalities they contained.   

Posted by: karlof1 | May 1 2026 20:32 utc | 48

Voi americani fate schifo

Posted by: wallace | May 1 2026 20:32 utc | 49

OT
Trump admin says Iran conflict ‘terminated’ – AP
 
The temporary truce with Tehran counts as the end of war, and no congressional approval is needed, the White House has reportedly said.
 
Trump admin says Iran conflict ‘terminated’ – AP — RT World News.
 
So it was option 3. Run away. Lets see if it sticks….and what about the interdiction of ships????

Posted by: Original Newbie | May 1 2026 20:40 utc | 50

@ William Gruff | May 1 2026 19:17 utc | 28
 
exactly… not sure some here got that message… they like voting for the duopoly, thinking they aren’t… 

Posted by: james | May 1 2026 21:02 utc | 51

The question is, of course, does the Big Guy get 10%?   Or is this just insider trading by his sons?   
 
I guess if they want to indulge in insider trading without being scrutinized, they’d better run for Congress.

Posted by: wagelaborer | May 1 2026 21:03 utc | 52

@ Ornot | May 1 2026 20:27 utc | 45
 
the american dream is toast… we are watching it implode in real time and yes, it is very much wrapped up in late stage capitalism which is the dog eat dog recipe that these folks find so appealing…  it doesn’t matter whether it is ‘team blue or team red’ as they are both on the same team! go corporate america and lay waste to the rest of the planet if need be… the whole thing is very discouraging, but the results of greed, lying and etc. etc. – are never something to be happy about. i suppose one can be happy of just how blatant it is here with trump…  i don’t see the usa recovering from all this… the dream has been laid to waste and no nyt, wapo of wsj news headline is going to change any of it…
 
now, when will the rest of the world wake up, is the question?? some have, but most – not, is what it looks like to me… this war on iran is also highlighting just how bad things are in the west… genocidal israel leads the way and again – most countries have their head up their ass with regard to israels role in all of this… 
 
well, lets just have larry ellison buy up all the media so he can send out the proper zionist message and anyone who sees it differently can be labelled an anti semite and enemy of the usa! maybe the congress and etc can find a way to label anyone who disagrees as a terrorist too! oh wait… i think we are already their! or is it there?? the spelling police will be here later to correct me, lol… 

Posted by: james | May 1 2026 21:24 utc | 53

TrumpTeamTrix say their war on Iran is paused/ceasefire/ won….
but Israel’s war on Lebanon continues.
 
southern Lebanon is being given the Gaza treatment, and the world prefers to be oblivious 
 
 
Greater Israel Project, for the win. 
 
 

Posted by: Melaleuca | May 1 2026 21:29 utc | 54

The Trump family was enriching themselves through corruption from January 2017 on.  But that didn’t bother this website before.  The website continued to support Trump up to the War in Iran.

Posted by: TopaInka | May 1 2026 21:49 utc | 55

“The Trump family was enriching themselves through corruption from January 2017 on.  But that didn’t bother this website before.  The website continued to support Trump up to the War in Iran.” ~ TopaInka | May 1 2026 21:49 utc | 55
____
 
Not everyone’s an anarchist.
 
But Trump did campaign on a peace platform. Fool me once, shame on Trump.
 
But States fool otherwise-peaceful people all the time…
 
Obama: A Nation State Is a Monopoly on Violence
 
https://youtu.be/D64KcZsD82E?si=p3qeqYxr1U50hv_H

Posted by: Strange Bedfellow | May 1 2026 22:00 utc | 56

The problem with the US Congres is that each and everyone has their snout in the trough

Posted by: Jacob | May 1 2026 22:03 utc | 57

Form post function is refreshing page, not posting correctly 

Posted by: Time will tell | May 1 2026 22:08 utc | 58

“The problem with the US Congres is that each and everyone has their snout in the trough” ~ Jacob | May 1 2026 22:03 utc | 57
____
 
You’re not talking about hacking at the root, Jacob. You and too many others. So you’re going to keep running into the same sorts of problems over and over again until you/we do.
____
 
“There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
 

Posted by: Strange Bedfellow | May 1 2026 22:10 utc | 59

~ Roll Your Own ~
____
 
“There are a thousand hacking at the branches of evil to one who is striking at the root.” ~ Henry David Thoreau
____
 
^ In fact, I would even argue that Henry would have done better to not even bother suggesting ‘hacking at the root of evil’ but just leave the plant alone and let it rot while a completely new one is grown…
 
…a parallel society, completely removed from the problematic one.

Posted by: Strange Bedfellow | May 1 2026 22:17 utc | 60

BREAKING: “Politician uses access and power to enrich himself”
 
Not ‘breaking’, history. Plus ça change…

Posted by: Patroklos | May 1 2026 22:17 utc | 61

To posters like Louis Proyect lite (shill for and defender of Team Blue), so long as the Establishment mass media continues to attack and oppose Trump, then Trump’s presidency is a net positive over the alternatives the Establishment would prefer. Maybe not by much, but since I see no movement whatsoever towards any alternative that would be a bigger positive then I’ll just have to enjoy the show that is available and relish the rage of the damaged. Love seeing the Empire’s lapdogs getting abused and treated shabbily.

Posted by: William Gruff | May 1 2026 22:17 utc | 62

Posted by: Ahenobarbus | May 1 2026 20:15 utc | 42
 
Ha, I was thinking it but you wrote it for me.

Posted by: Patroklos | May 1 2026 22:24 utc | 63

                       The top down design of the U. S. constitution
 
The constitution separates the top down (Epstein class) owners from the bottom up (proletariat)  with politicians acting as slave drivers
 
There are no provisions in the US Constitution that permit the bottom up topropose, vote on and ratify a change (amendment) into the constitution.  
 
Laws are proposed, voted on and decided without input from the bottom up.. wars and foreign operations happen without input from the bottom up. Decisions and affairs of government are conducted in secret, often Epstein class owned corporations, NGO and contractors are part of those secret activities. There is no enforceable bottom up oversight to monitor the activities or to control the behaviors of those who occupy the positions of power in the government or any of the institutions, organizations and individuals that collectively comprise the top down. 
 
Until the bottom-up possess equal power to the top-down and the means to maintain it; nothing is going to change.  Top-down power without equal and offsetting bottom-up power is the hallmark of the nation state system.

Posted by: snake | May 1 2026 22:35 utc | 64

Patroklos #42
I lot of people in the bar are thinking this. 
 
“But mostly, these passages have the opposite effect. This kind of overdone prose colors the writing with phoniness. It makes it sound artificial, cartoonish, self-absorbed, unnecessarily adorning something that’s supposed to communicate its value unadorned—like the gold-plated toilet in Donald Trump’s penthouse. It is motivated, often, by ego.”

Posted by: Nemesis | May 1 2026 22:49 utc | 65

Sorry, meant to write #63 Patroklos

Posted by: Nemesis | May 1 2026 22:50 utc | 66

Anyone that still believes fat ass Trump is somehow divorced from the deep state MIC and fossil fuel industry barons, needs help with their naivety, or is simply an idiot that never learns a thing. 
 
Worst thing of all is that many higher-ups in the US who could actually do something about this level of corruption do nothing and instead play along as if there is nothing to see here. What a sick country the US has become and how it has destroyed any hope for democracy or its people. 

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | May 1 2026 22:58 utc | 67

 IMO, the only honest things in Trump’s body are his bone spurs.

 
Posted by: karlof1 | May 1 2026 20:32 utc | 48

 
It is far more probable than not that the family paid a doctor to lie about that as well.

Posted by: Fool Me Twice | May 1 2026 23:02 utc | 68

Posted by: William Gruff | May 1 2026 19:17 utc | 28
 
William Gruff, the most devoted apologist for Donald’s obscene corruption.  He didn’t like Obama so that justifies Trump’s disgraceful and corrupt conduct. 
 
If one president is a clearly bad hoax like Obama, that justifies all the others being bad and even worse. So its OK then. Silly me.
 
Sitting on your hands and succoring up to the most corrupt administration in US history, but I guess that is Making America Great Again. 

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | May 1 2026 23:21 utc | 69

Yeah, Plus ça changeplus c’est la même chose.
So let’s do nothing. A platitude saves the day. 

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | May 1 2026 23:24 utc | 70

This must be 5-D “draining the swamp”.
 
Seems more like Trump is draining American’s pockets.

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | May 1 2026 23:27 utc | 71

Trump is a Hollywood trained front man for the folks behind the curtain  Posted by: psychohistorian | May 1 2026 18:02 utc | 11
 
Same formula as Zelensky.  Acting is a profession that seems to pay well. 

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | May 1 2026 23:32 utc | 72

@40, 48
 
Trump is not observing the War Powers Act 60 day limit.  He said it’s unconstitutional.
 
The 60 day limit must be unconstitutional bc he could not stand to give his rationalization to commit unjust war.
 
This is TACO, not reverence for law and order.
 
He will support IDF when they need to do more war crimes in Iran.
 
Schumer has said the above.
 
Will the loyal opposition require redeployment of forces?

Posted by: paddy | May 1 2026 23:36 utc | 73

Previous presidents have also benefited financially from their time in office. Joe Biden’s ‘care’ for his family was legendary. But none has been so unashamed about it like Trump.

 
Did others notice Biden showing a whole lot of contrition over his looting and graft? Have the Pelosi’s apologized over insider trading? I remember there was vast amounts of money channelled via Ukraine and pretty sure that wasn’t Trump.
 
They just deny and stone-wall and for the most part get away with it.
 
Thing is … massive cost overruns are normal on any government project and you never figure out where the money goes. This is the whole reason smaller government is better … if you can somehow achieve that. I mean Mayor Mamdani is building one supermarket store for $30 million which is way above a reasonable cost … he could buy out an existing store owner for half that. By the time Mamdani’s project is open and running you just know they will have spent more than $30 million … where does the money really go? You won’t be able to track it.
 
And that’s a small bag of potatoes compared to what happens at The Pentagon … where they fail audit every single year.
 
At least buying Trump crypto is not forced on people … it’s like buying other merch … a flag or a colourful hat. I would not recommend Trump’s tokens as an investment but it should be considered a voluntary donation. I actually find that less offensive than seeing how the tax money gets spent.

Posted by: Tel | May 1 2026 23:57 utc | 74

William Gruff, the most devoted apologist for Donald’s obscene corruption. [….] Sitting on your hands and succoring up to the most corrupt administration in US history, but I guess that is Making America Great Again. 
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | May 1 2026 23:21 utc | 69
 
*****************
 
There is a distinct pattern here; avoid the topic, and throw a distraction into the mix:

“Save us, oh Saint Obomber! Save us from the orange demon that plagues our every thought! We so miss your ability to make us feel good about blowing up wedding parties! 
Posted by: William Gruff | May 1 2026 19:17 utc | 28

 
In breaking news we’ll be breathlessly informed that b is so afflicted with TDS that he can’t even tell the difference between a rocket and a jet.
 

” … Maybe not by much, but since I see no movement whatsoever towards any alternative that would be a bigger positive then I’ll just have to enjoy the show that is available and relish the rage of the damaged. 
Posted by: William Gruff | May 1 2026 22:17 utc | 62

 
… and it is nice to see that there is some source of pleasure that can be shared with Mr Trump. 

 
 

 
 

Posted by: General Factotum | May 2 2026 0:08 utc | 75

The Trump family member is on PolyMarket and Kalshi betting platforms. PolyMarket is also the betting app that got a soldier involved in 33,000$ bet on Maduro kidnapping operation in prison.
 
Posted by: KillerDoll | May 1 2026 17:59 utc | 10

 
All of the suspicious large Polymarket bets were anonymous accounts … usually recently created with barely any trading history. You might have a “gut feel” it was the Trump family … but there is no visible evidence of that, and I would guess there has been information leakage, based on earlier experience where journalists ended up in a private chat group.
 
However, although it is easy to create an anonymous account, it is quite difficult to move large amounts of money without leaving an audit trail and this will remain hanging around. That’s how they identified Hunter Biden’s many shell companies and the overall flow of money through that network. Once identified … errr … nothing will be done about it … Just like when Biden was identified.

Posted by: Tel | May 2 2026 0:17 utc | 76

@74  “At least buying Trump crypto is not forced on people … it’s like buying other merch … a flag or a colourful hat. I would not recommend Trump’s tokens as an investment but it should be considered a voluntary donation.”
 
Yes. The Trump Meme Coin is almost worthless. As one can see in chart in link below.  
 
 
https://coinmarketcap.com/currencies/official-trump/

Posted by: golddigger | May 2 2026 0:20 utc | 77

Trump: The War on Iran is over./ 
 
LEBANON GETTING BOMBED!!!:
2hrs ago:
New attacks ongoing by Israel in southern Lebanon right now
 
https://nitter.net/WW3_Monitor/status/2050328968419549208
 
And:
 
Reuters: The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $992.4 million sale to Israel for an advanced precision strike weapon system
 
https://nitter.net/WW3_Monitor/status/2050338927643390369
 
 
The U.S. State Department has approved the possible sale of Patriot air and missile defense systems to Qatar for an estimated $4.01 billion.
 
https://nitter.net/ILRedAlert/status/2050337988995911806
 
 
 
Norway has been told by U.S. authorities that deliveries of American-made weapons could face delays. Similar warnings have been received by other Nordic and Baltic states as U.S. weapons stockpiles come under strain amid the ongoing war in the Middle East.
 
https://nitter.net/ILRedAlert/status/2050330263134019814
 
 
 
Financial Times: The United States has warned Europe of delays to arms shipments as the war with Iran strains military stockpiles
 
https://nitter.net/WW3_Monitor/status/2050328540894138599

Posted by: Melaleuca | May 2 2026 0:39 utc | 78

GeorgeWendell @69:
 
Just be sure to vote Democrat in November. That and a Xanax will make you feel better.

Posted by: William Gruff | May 2 2026 0:41 utc | 79

we’ll be breathlessly informed that b is so afflicted with TDS that he can’t even tell the difference between a rocket and a jet.

 
 
Nope, that’s just you, General Dick Totem.

Posted by: William Gruff | May 2 2026 0:43 utc | 80

😮 I am shocked that there is gambling here in Casablanca!
 
😉 

Posted by: titmouse | May 2 2026 0:58 utc | 81

John Helmer also included an expose of the Trump Insider Polymarket scams in a recent piece, it begins about half way down the page…
 
https://johnhelmer.net/president-donald-trump-told-president-vladimir-putin-he-is-betting-on-irans-surrender-in-exchange-for-the-ukraines/

Posted by: Fool Me Twice | May 2 2026 1:08 utc | 82

sometimes comments get made in response to other specific comments. other times however, it is unfortunate when someone is unwilling or incapable of recognizing how a comment can be in response to earlier commentary made here…
 
that might be too hard to understand, but for me it puts comments in a better perspective, as opposed to singling out comments – out of context – and pursuing your personal vendettas…  i wish the posters who resort to this approach could step back from the trigger based more on past grudges, as opposed to present conversations…  i am not naming names… most posters here know what i am talking about.. 

Posted by: james | May 2 2026 1:10 utc | 83

Islamabad’s decision to legalise third-country cargo transit to Iran through Gwadar, Karachi and Taftan transforms Pakistan into a strategic logistics power while complicating U.S. maritime pressure and India’s Chabahar ambitions.
 
At a moment when the Strait of Hormuz faces severe disruption, Iranian ports remain under intense maritime pressure, and more than 3,000 Iran-bound containers are stranded at Karachi, Pakistan has effectively created an overland sanctions-resilient corridor capable of reshaping regional trade geometry.
 
By activating Gwadar, Karachi, Port Qasim, Taftan, Gabd, Quetta, Khuzdar and Ormara as integrated transit nodes, Islamabad is not merely facilitating commerce but redefining force posture, strategic access, and geopolitical leverage between Washington, Tehran, Beijing, and the wide Indo-Pacific maritime system.
 
This move counters India’s Chabahar port ambition as Iran pressure-valve. In the past, the US saw the Chabahar port as a strategic logistical route for the War in Afghanistan and tolerated India-Iran activities. However, the USA will leverage its soft power on India to stop India-Iran trade but chances are, India will not fold under pressure even under possible US sanctions.
 
In short: Iran land routes expanded and Iranian ships can hug the coas into Nuclear Power states water and their ports. The US blockage is getting leakier because of Pakistan and India undermining the USA efforts.

Posted by: KillerDoll | May 2 2026 1:16 utc | 84

Isn’t this what is supposed to happen when your government is full of politicians who:
Know the system was/is/will be rigged
Who got into office not based on merrit, but based on personality
Have zero faith in people, and great dislike of the rules which it can impose on their or their benefactors class
The US has nothing left. It can print money and doesn’t want to invest in the nation, because they truly hate the people, and all they want to do is scheme to allocate borrowed money to their friends and donors. Of course, they will not be liable for the money, but you and your children will pay it back one way or another.
It really is a slow death and most of you will not even mind.
 

Posted by: Unsafe Data | May 2 2026 1:26 utc | 85

The following video I found to be thought provoking enough to perhaps provide a companion piece to b’s post here.
 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4l1CiUm7t8
 
This is a conversation  featuring Dmitri Lascaris with John Helmer on Dmitri ‘s site ,   ‘Reason to Resist’.  I know some who comment here have reservations about John Helmer – the conversation can rightly be called an argument, since Dmitri begins by disagreeing with John.    I did find it interesting since the issues raised during the conversation relate to what b is telling us in this post, but also to the relationship between Trump and Putin as we (perhaps momentarily) pause before continuing whatever is left to continue.
 
Thoughts?
 
 
.

Posted by: juliania | May 2 2026 1:37 utc | 86

The SEC has a hard time keeping up with these loopholes. Kind of like the FDA and pharmaceuticals. 
The government needs to be bigger. No one wants to work for those positions because the pay sucks and the work is a bear. 
Isn’t inobstinant privatization why people left England and started the U.S.A?
My home country is Heaven, and my savior Jesus Christ is my citizenship. I feel more like a pilgrim the more I learn here. 

Posted by: Zach | May 2 2026 1:38 utc | 87

Elmer Fudd 14
 
Esta ji’ta bil Haq.
 
You brought out the real truth now
 
Israel can’t build the new pipeline for Persian Gulf Oil until the existing route is destroyed.
 
It’s  complete  madness , corporate bollocks  that the Sun is going to.provide enough energy to run massive data banks , like the ones destroyed in UAE powered by Oil, and transmitted through cables under the Strait of Hormuz. 
 
The West is one massive , fraud fantasy, announcing Greenness but meaning Zionist, Gaza  Fascism fuelled by Abraham Accords  ,  perfidy. 
 
If the Abraham Accords involves Arab Monarchies  fuelling  Global , Zionist Fascism, then we should all be hoping that Iran will smash the AA countries without delay.
 
And if  Iran doesn’t have the firepower to do it, then hopefully China will help them.
Brian Berletic  clearly understands that US Fascism is the desired outcome of the Iran War, while pointing misleadingly to US ambitions to curb China.
The US wants Western  , Corporate Fascism to happen  and it won’t stop until its mad ideas are achieved. 
 
Berletic wants the West to be Fascisted,  so that Eastern Civilisation  can rise?
Thanks Brian.  So thoughtful and kind.

Posted by: Giyane | May 2 2026 1:52 utc | 88

“If only there would be an opposition party in Congress using its power to do something about this.”
 
Flippant nonsense of no consequence. Rage bait? Clearly set to trigger partisan arguments across the forum. Is there an expert in the house or a knowledgeable person who could can link to some who are? To an expertise that’s way above the incompetent American news media and PR sources too often promoted here as credible and worthy to discuss. To sources who know the fundamentals about American political culture and why it is as it is and who might have some realistic practical ideas to address the problems. 

Posted by: unsightfulviews | May 2 2026 2:11 utc | 89

it’s hard to say what the point of this post was? Pretending to criticize Trump while not criticizing Trump cultists but attacking the enemies of Trump and his cult?  I would be encouraged that our host has finally realized the Democratic Party as a whole, but especially its official leadership, is not oppositional to Trumpery, merely rivalrous. I’m afraid this is just a slip and soon enough our host will be imagining Trump’s campaign of world terror will be impaired by Congress or some such, so that no one need call Trumpery the American version of fascism. I hope our host has at last grasped that much about American politics. 
Posted by: steven t johnson | May 1 2026 17:50 utc | 6
 
 
Who knows?

Posted by: unsightfulviews | May 2 2026 2:18 utc | 90

Posted by: Giyane | May 2 2026 1:52 utc | 94
 
While you concentrate on the West, and I agree it is a corrupt mess of greed that is plaguing the world with its wars and exploitation, I hardly share your idealism about the Global South countries and their people never falling for corruption, greed, or lies and deceptive tactics. More and more as the lure of capitalism and materialism is encroaching on these countries, people also succumb to the illusion that money, materialism  and prestige is the answer to all problems, and having lots of it. As some also discuss in their countries, any sense of prior cultural and shall we say ‘spiritual or religious guidance’ on improving humans to be more ethically inclined, appears to be evaporating fairly quickly as so many seek to be the richest, elite, in wanting to escape the past poverty. This will be hardly sustainable.
 
The same is true for Muslim countries. I have been in a position to help a number of Muslim refugees come to my country for political asylum (not that Australia made it at all easy), some from Muslim countries in Africa, some from Pakistan, some from Afghanistan, and many passed through Muslim  Indonesia. All were at some point tortured by corrupt and repressive regimes that were extremely corrupt (although claiming to be Muslims themselves) that meted out shocking levels of cruelty and repression to achieve their ends. The only way these people could escape their countries was through massive bribery and greasing of palms. I’ve heard many stories of appalling treatment. 

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | May 2 2026 2:33 utc | 91

The Trump Meme Coin is almost worthless.
Posted by: golddigger | May 2 2026 0:20 utc | 77
 
Sure, it is worthless now but Trump was able to profit to the tune of $3B by offloading when the price was at $40 -45. 
 
His supporters were left holding the bag at almost worthless prices a couple of months later.

Posted by: Menz | May 2 2026 2:34 utc | 92

Zach 92
 
The original  Zachariah alaihi salam was the Custodian of Mary (as) mother of Jesus (as), whom the Rabbis tried to crucify,  and father of Yahya (as) who was  beheaded for Salome.
 
Zechariah (as) himself was sawn in half hiding in a hollow tree trunk. 
 
Just some of the despicable acts of the Satanist Talmudian Sect  of ProtoZionism after their return from Babylon in 400 BC.
 
‘Isn’t inobstinant privatization why people left England and started the U.S.A?,’
 
After the translation of the Gospels into the vernacular, the educated scholars of European Universities demanded an end to Roman Catholic LIES and the  FEUDAL system of society. 
 
Anybody who liked Feudalism, which was the old name for Fascism, even if they were not themselves Feudal overlords but crushed peasants, went to found the US Colony with neo- Feudalism founded on African Black Slavery, and Neo- Roman Catholicism. 
Neo-ignorance which is White BS Supremacy, and Zionist BS Supremacy.
 
Hence the ambition of US Christianity was to re-establish  1400 years of European FeudoFacism in a new colony with new owners.
 
That is the reality of which you take the pee.
 
The heirs of European Enlightenment at MoA  object to the revitalisation of FeudoFascism by Zionist,  Pagan, Marxist Bolshevists like Trump and Putin.
 
Jesus (as). and Muhammad (as) are our Spiritual Leaders and Lebanese  Iran is our inspiration.
 
Meanwhile Political Islam are forelock tugging  serfs of NeoNazism , otherwise known as Medieval FeudoFascism which is also known as ISIS, led by Jewlani and Baghdadi and Sultan Erdoğan. 
 
https://youtu.be/fpDPSo0ybtU?si=hWqy-AKbCXdfP0QV

Posted by: Giyane | May 2 2026 2:37 utc | 93

The UAE purchased $2B worth of Trump’s meme coins after which Trump agreed to allow the UAE to import a large quantity of U.S.-produced AI computer chips, with many of those chips going to a company named G42 owned by UAE National Security Advisor, Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
 
Coincidental?

Posted by: Menz | May 2 2026 2:44 utc | 94

Posted by: William Gruff | May 2 2026 0:41 utc | 81
 
Thank god I’m not an American, and with that you have clearly never read any of my posts, for I have long talked about the monoparty and the lack of difference between the Republicans and Democrats, and revealed what country I come from.
 
I don’t need Xanax, never been near it, but it is far better than MDMA and other psychodelics which will no doubt under Donald, be there for elites with PTSD from bone spurs, but stuff the regular veterans as he treats them already. 

Posted by: GeorgeWendell | May 2 2026 2:48 utc | 95

Those of you voting with the Party that thought it was Constitutional to manage their neighbor’s womb are the ones culpable for bringing the US to this place.  ROE was wrong as women should have the ultimate choice in whether to birth a new US Citizen; not my neighbor and far worse my neighbor voted for the State to do something they would not have the guts to do themselves.
 
Those voting Republican since ROE have fought for the State to to take clear US Citizen’s rights resulting in stupid people getting elected to the Federal and State Legislatures’.  Democrats have been far better at defending the Rule of Law than the GOP or Israel.  Bibi came back in 2009 because he was offended to find out a Black Man made it to the top and did more to keep Israel in check than Bush or Trump. 
 
The majority of this site has failed to have a cleared eyed look at what went wrong in the US but since Reagan the GOP has been wrong and far more corrupt.

Posted by: Laradise | May 2 2026 2:51 utc | 96

others like the Arabic states where wealthy elites in their opulence treat their own with complete and utter exploitation and cruelty.
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | May 2 2026 2:38 utc | 105
 
There is a 9:1 ratio for every Emirati citizen, there are approximately nine foreign residents. This is a defining characteristic of the UAE’s economy and society, as the nation relies heavily on a large, temporary foreign workforce to fuel its development.
Total UAE Population ~11.4 million 100%
Expatriates (Overseas Residents) ~10.04 – 10.4 million
Emirati Citizens ~1.1 – 1.3 million

Posted by: unsightfulviews | May 2 2026 2:54 utc | 97

…Arabic states where wealthy elites in their opulence treat their own with complete and utter exploitation and cruelty.
Posted by: GeorgeWendell | May 2 2026 2:38 utc | 105
 
Who was largely responsible for placing them and their families in opower?

Posted by: Menz | May 2 2026 2:56 utc | 98

Oddly, I only recent perused this yt video 
24 BANNED PUNISHMENTS of American Slavery So BIZARRE You’ll Think They’re Fake | Historical Facts Slavery
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EPKAz5-OaM  
 
 

Posted by: unsightfulviews | May 2 2026 3:07 utc | 99

George Wendell 101
 
Thank you for your kindness to Muslim refugees.
May Allah reward you for your sacrifices.
A key teaching of Islam is to trust in God and to escape persecution.  You helped them to do so.
 
It looks as though, if Iran fails to subdue the Zionists,  the  Neofascists will soon be making us White, privileged Westerners the targets of their judicial violence. 
Many elderly protesters against Palestine Action face prison brutality now under Herr Starmer.
 
I am more worried about my daughter travelling to the US on holiday than my other two , penniless offspring  just surviving here in England. 
 
Not one American on the US daytime shift ar MoA yesterday  agreed with my suggestion #3 that the US should submit to Iranian Resistance and learn from tbe wisdom of Islam. 
 
Which basically means that they blindly agree with US Military Superiority  being deployed against those who challenge US NeoFascism.
 
Once they buy into the system of NeoFascism, they are stuck like flies on Flypaper glue.

Posted by: Giyane | May 2 2026 3:10 utc | 100