ShazzieB
ShazzieB's JournalWhy Ailing Trump's Erratic Ego Has World On Edge / The Daily Beast Podcast
My favorite psychologist, Dr. John Gartner, pays another visit to the Daily Beast to take a look at the current state of Trump's ongoing cognitive deterioration. Highly recommended viewing for anyone still entertaining the notion that Trump has not yet lost most of his marbles!
Mapping Christian Nationalism Across All 50 States: Insights From PRRI's 2025 American Values Atlas
In 2022, PRRI pioneered one of the most comprehensive measures of Christian nationalist ideology. This year, we build on that foundation, sharing new findings from the 2025 PRRI American Values Atlas, which draws on more than 22,000 interviews to provide the most up-to-date, state-level picture available.
Additionally, the new report examines the impact of Christian nationalism on attitudes toward political violence and authoritarianism, as well as debates over immigration and childhood vaccine mandates. PRRI's webinar unpacks these findings and what they reveal about the political landscape today.
Panelists:
Ruth Ben-Ghiat, Ph.D., Professor of History and Italian Studies, New York University
Fr. Bryan Massingale, S.T.D., James and Nancy Buckman Chair in Applied Christian Ethics, Fordham University and PRRI Senior Democracy Fellow
Robert P. Jones, Ph.D., President and Founder, PRRI
Melissa Deckman, Ph.D., CEO of PRRI
Read the full survey report at: https://prri.org/research/mapping-christian-nationalism-across-the-50-states-insights-from-prris-2025-american-values-atlas/
Video is pretty long, but VERY informative.
Something just occurred to me.
I have always wondered why Schlump picked RFK Jr of all people to be a member of his cabinet. I assumed they cut a deal prior to the election so that RFKJ would not run as an independent and split the anti-Harris vote between him and Trump, and that still makes sense to me. But I couldn't help wondering if that was the whole story.
Just now, thinking about the Orange One's recent attack on the Kennedy Center, the thought popped into my head that his making Bobby part of his cabinet must also have been a great big middle finger to the Kennedy Family. What you all think of this theory? No one but Schlump would be that petty, of course, but no one is as petty as the King of Petty!
Of course that didn't satisfy him, so he went after the Kennedy Center. That's because Schlump is a hollow man and nothing will ever satisfy him for more than 5 consecutive minutes.
I've Found Where Melania Trump Really Lives: Wolff / Inside Trump's Head
Michael Wolff steps inside the chaos swirling around Trump World—from Wolff’s bombshell federal lawsuit against Melania Trump, which he says could finally force sworn answers about the Trump–Epstein relationship, to the extraordinary legal fight over where the First Lady actually lives. As Wolff argues that anti-SLAPP laws may become a frontline weapon against what he calls the White House’s assault on free speech, he and Daily Beast executive editor Hugh Dougherty dissect the implications of Melania’s alleged full-time life in New York, her separate Trump Tower apartment, and the branding empire she’s quietly building. The conversation then widens to what Wolff portrays as a second administration defined by loyalty over competence: election denier Kurt Olsen rising to oversee election security, Pam Bondi’s combative Hill performance, and the bizarre El Paso airspace shutdown involving secret lasers, drone claims, and bureaucratic bedlam. Is this a White House tightening its grip—or a government spinning into incompetence so profound it can no longer explain itself?
Gov. Walz gives update on fatal shooting involving federal agents
If this has already been posted at DU, I haven't been able to find it. Apologies for any unintentional duplication.
Appreciation thread for the people of Minnesota
After ICE's SECOND MURDER of an INNOCENT American in the Minneapolis-St.Paul area, I just want to say how impressed I am by the people of Minnesota, including Governor Tim Walz and other state and local leaders at this horrible scary time.
My hat is off 
to all of the people who have been peacefully protesting, blowing whistles, and in particular, filming the atrocious behavior of ICE to create an accurate record of what's going on in the Twin Cities right now. As the secretary of DHS and all the other despicable criminals who staff the administration of the most evil, criminal, psychopathic president in our nation's history continue to make up and spread lies and slander the character of INNOCENT people who can't speak for themselves because they've been murdered in cold blood, these heroic videographers are creating the evidence that will ultimately set the historic record straight. They're out there right now, in below zero weather that would keep my elderly ass inside (almost) no matter what was going on, and I just want to say the following:
Minnesotans, you rock! I see you, I respect you, and I stand with you. 
You are fighting the good fight for all Americans, and we will all be forever in your debt. Stay strong, and keep on taking care of yourselves and each other as you have shown you're so very good at doing.
Renee Good 
Alex Pretti
Willow is slowing down.
I haven't posted anything about Willow in over a month, and it feels like time for an update. Basically, she's sleeping more and eating less these days. She has less energy than she used to, and she's also lost a bit of weight, which makes sense with the appetite decrease. (Not a scary amount of weight at this point - she was a bit of a chonk to begin with - but it is noticeable.)
She still loves to get pets and snuggles, which we are happy to provide, and she enjoys getting frequent drinks of water from the bathroom sink, so we know she's not getting dehydrated. Mr. B and I both feel like she probably doesn't have a lot of time left. We talked about it the other day and agreed it might be time to say goodbye in a month or two. Maybe sooner, depending on how things progress. We'll see how it goes.
The thought of saying goodbye makes us feel sad, but as we watch her showing more and more signs of going down hill, we are grateful to know we will be able to call an end to things as soon as we can tell she's really not enjoying life any more. I really appreciate this group's support and will post again when there is news.
P.S. For anyone not familiar with what's been going on with our little lady, here are links to my last 2 posts about her:
Update on Willow - Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - 1:45 am
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1161103946
Willow's trip to the vet (3rd attempt) - Tuesday, December 9, 2025 - 10:13 pm
https://www.democraticunderground.com/1161103966
Josie Caballero for Montgomery County Council
This article is a few months old, but as far as I can tell, it hasn't been posted here before.
Silver Spring resident Josie Caballero, an LGBTQ+ policy advocate and Navy veteran, says she is running for an at-large seat on the Montgomery County Council in the 2026 general election because it’s time to stand up and fight for the county in the face of changes wrought by the Trump administration.
“I decided to run because as we see everything that’s going on in the country, this seems like the moment to start pushing back and showing strong leadership,” Caballero told Bethesda Today in an interview Monday. “As a veteran and as a trans woman, looking at what’s going on has been very scary.”
Caballero announced her candidacy Friday in a social media post. If elected, Caballero would be the council’s first openly transgender member.
“I’m running because Montgomery County’s bold leadership stands as a beacon of hope as the federal government is turning its back on all Americans,” Caballero said on an ActBlue fundraiser page announcing her candidacy. “We will not settle as everything our nation stands for gets destroyed. I know what it means to serve with integrity, to fight for what’s right, and to never back down in the face of adversity.”
https://bethesdamagazine.com/2025/06/10/josie-caballero-council-run/
https://josieformaryland.com/
Well, there goes the neighborhood!
Look what's moving to my town! 
https://www.lakemchenryscanner.com/2026/01/08/owner-of-shuttered-trump-and-truth-store-in-huntley-announces-she-will-open-new-store-in-crystal-lake/
The Trump Truth Store is expected to “pre-open” on Martin Luther King Jr. weekend on January 17. The business will sell apparel, cups, mugs, posters, flags and other memorabilia related to President Donald Trump. The new store is located in a strip mall at 829 South Virginia Street in Crystal Lake and will be open that Saturday, Sunday and Monday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. when it pre-opens.
After Martin Luther King Jr. weekend, the business will be open Thursday and Friday from 12-6 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The Trump Truth Store is expected to host a grand opening in March and a regular daily operating schedule will begin at that time./excerpt]
The article goes on to say that the eviction mentioned above was due to the store owner continuing to display Trump signs, flags, tables,chairs, a Trump inflatable and a sign on her trailer outside the store, despite despite numerous requests by the landlord and the Village of Huntley and and both the store owner and her landlord being charged with numerous ordinance violations by the Village of Huntley. After repeatedly going to the store and speaking with the store owner, asking her to comply with the village’s ordinances, the landlord finally got fed up and evicted her ignorant ass!
Needless to say, I will be keeping a close eye on this situation.
Trump's mental decline is accelerating - Psychologist / The Daily Beast Podcast
On Friday I made a post about Schlump's dementia, featuring videos of Dr. John Gartner's appearances on the Daily Beast Podcast. Today a new one dropped. Imo, this is the most informative one yet, as it includes up to the minute commentary on some od the Orange Hellbeast's most recent displays of being non compos mentis (not of sound mind).
Profile Information
Name: SharonGender: Female
Hometown: Chicago area, IL
Home country: USA
Member since: Tue Mar 26, 2013, 03:18 AM
Number of posts: 22,429