Welcome to New Mexico. Lunch break. I'm playing Patrick.
Hey everybody. You might have noticed I haven’t written a journal entry in a little while. It’s because I've been making a movie. It’s actually a really exciting film project called Pendulum, I don't know, should I tell you about it?
It’s sort of a horror movie actually, which I haven't done a horror movie before, really, other than maybe a cameo in the 90’s the first time they rebooted the Halloween franchise, Halloween H2O when I was 16.
And this is a different kind of horror movie than Halloween, this is actually the directorial debut of the screenwriter Mark Heyman, who wrote the movie Black Swan, which is one of my favorite scary movies of my generation, directed by Darren Aronofsky, who's actually a producer on this one. It's sort of one of those psychological horror movies with a lot on its mind.
Anyway, I've been having a great time making this movie, but it has meant I haven't really been able to write a lot in this journal, and I thought I would just take an opportunity to try something a little different and that's to respond to some of the great comments that you guys have been writing on these posts. I really appreciate it when I get to see what you all think and, you know, back in the HITRECORD days, it was all about community and interactivity and I want to try to keep that very much alive in this new version of HITRECORD and Joe's Journal, etc.
So I thought it'd be fun to just pick a couple comments that you guys wrote and respond to them. I'll also say, in the comments of this video, ask me some questions. Anything you want to know about, whether it's a question about something I've written in this journal, or a question about anything. Whatever it is you might want to ask me, and maybe I'll start doing some posts like this sometimes, where I just answer questions more extemporaneously, because, as much as I love writing these journal entries where I get to really compose my thoughts and articulate them exactly how I want, it takes a long time and I just don't always have the bandwidth to do it, so I thought I'd give this a try.
So let's go to the first question, comment, question. It's not really quite—oh, it is a question.
So this first question comes from Rachel Sage, and she asks:
So, to be perfectly honest, no, I don't write with a pen very much. I know I made that sort of little logo video where I was writing in a little paper journal with a pen. I sometimes write with a pen, especially if I'm like, taking notes into place where it feels like bad vibes to have the computer.
Occasionally I can feel more creative with a pen, especially if I'm, I don't know, writing something that doesn't involve complete sentences, but usually when I want to like, just really be creative, typing works the best for me. I've been typing ever since I was a little kid and that's how I get my thoughts out in the most fluid way.
I do type in my journal document that I have had for many, many years and these journal entries do start in that private journal document that I don't share with anybody, and then once I've got sort of a first draft, I paste it into its own document and I kind of refine it from there.
Was that way too much information? Was that a lot more than you were asking for? I want to be honest, I don't want to mislead you into thinking that I'm writing these with a pen, because I do really like to type.
The post I've written so far that got by far the most comments, was this one about politics. I asked the question, "Should I not be talking politics in these crazy times?"
One of the most controversial comments in the thread was written by Samantha French and she wrote:
And that incited a long thread of some people saying that it's not right to compare Trump and MAGA to Nazis, and some people saying that it is right. So I feel like I might as well weigh in.
A little bit of context: evoking or invoking Nazis and Hitler is a sensitive topic for me. I'm Jewish, both my parents are Jewish, all my grandparents are Jewish, all my great-grandparents are Jewish, I'm very Jewish.
My grandparents were all born in this country, but all my great-grandparents came from Eastern Europe, and so, when I was growing up, if we would have a get together with my grandparents, it would almost never happen that a whole meal would go by without Hitler and the Nazis coming up in conversation. My grandma, especially, just always brought it up. It was one of those things that just was on her mind so much, she always brought it up.
All of her cousins, all of her aunts and uncles all died because they didn't come to the United States. They were still in Poland, I believe it was, Vilna, which now might be Lithuania, back then it was Poland.
And so I have a particular emotional resonance, as do we all, right? It's not just the Jews that suffered. I think it's really important to remind everybody that the Holocaust was six million Jews, but 11 million people total. There were lots of other people killed in the Holocaust, other kinds of minorities, religious minorities, ethnic minorities, sexual minorities, etc. And that's, of course, not even to talk about all the soldiers who died in the war, as well as innocent casualties, etc.
So, is it fair to compare Trump to Hitler, and MAGA to the Nazis? I think it's actually a complicated question.
On the one hand, I do very much understand how Trump supporters take this comparison as hyperbole, as an exaggeration, saying like, “Hey, he's not rounding up people and putting them on trains or putting them in ovens. He hasn't started a World War. It's not really fair to compare him to Hitler and the Nazis.”
On the other hand I think there are some important similarities. The ones that stand out to me most, you know, I see the world through the lens of media, oftentimes, and Hitler, Goebbels, and the whole Nazi regime, they were masters of media, and the way Trump approaches media does bear resemblance to what the Nazis did.
The whole idea of sowing distrust in the institution of the press, what Trump calls "fake news," Hitler had the same catchphrase. It was "Lügenpresse," which means "lying press," and he used it in very much the same way. There are important similarities.
Of course, the other, perhaps even biggest similarity, is one of the age-old strategies for tyrants throughout history: you demonize an outsider, and then you appeal to the majority and say “It's these outsiders’ fault.” You dehumanize them and make the majority believe that all of their problems stem from these demonic outsiders. This is what Hitler did to great effect with Jews and others, other outsiders, and Trump does do this.
When he says that Haitian immigrants are eating the dogs and the cats, when he compares people to vermin, when he says things like they're poisoning the blood of our nation, this is rhetoric that's pretty similar to Nazi rhetoric. It doesn't change the fact that, hey, maybe there is a problem at our border, maybe the immigration policy of the Biden administration sucked pretty badly, and maybe it makes sense that a lot of people were concerned about that and wanted to vote with that as a primary issue for them. I can respect that. But the extra flavor of the demonization, the dehumanization of outsiders, does smell Nazi-ish.
Last thing I'll say about this, I think my favorite thinker that I've heard and read about this kind of thing that’s going right now, it's this woman named Anne Applebaum, who's a Republican actually. She's a historian, I think a Pulitzer prize-winning historian.
Her latest book from I believe last year is called Autocracy, Inc. Now autocracy, if you aren't familiar with that word, it's, you know, compare it to "democracy." "Democracy" comes from, as far as I understand, the etymology that "demo" means "people" in Latin or Ancient Greek or something. So "democracy" means "power of the people."
"Autocracy," "auto" means "self." So like, one man governs himself. Usually it's a man.
Her book, Autocracy, Inc. is about this sort of new wave of autocrats and she draws a big distinction between autocrats of the 20th century, like Hitler or Stalin or Mussolini or etc., Mao, and the autocrats of today, like Vladimir Putin, Xi Jinping, Viktor Orbán in Russia, China, Hungary, respectively.
And so she makes a point of actually not using the word fascist, not making comparisons to Nazis and Hitler, because the strategy that Putin sort of pioneered, that is a playbook Trump is pretty clearly running now, is different. It's different than the like hyper-ideological and kind of in-your-face rhetoric of the Nazis, and it's a more subtle autocracy. Doesn't necessarily involve, you know, tanks rolling through the streets.
She talks about how losing democracy can be a more gradual and sort of subtle and harder to spot thing nowadays, because this new Autocracy, Inc., she calls it Inc., like incorporated, like they're a business, they run their operations like businesses. They're largely about making money for themselves and their buddies and they don't usually attach themselves to one out front ideology, the way that the Nazis did or the Stalinist communists did. They're kind of more here and there. They put out a lot of different stories. They kind of flood the zone to the point where you're like, “I don't know, I don't know what's true, whatever.”
This is more of an apt comparison, I think. If we're going to talk about Trump and MAGA as a danger, I think the comparison to Putin in Russia, Orban in Hungary, etc., are more apt comparisons than Hitler in Nazi Germany in the middle of the 20th century.
And I really do, if you're interested in this kind of stuff, I really recommend reading Autocracy, Inc. from Anne Applebaum. She also has a Substack, so if you don't feel like buying a book, you wanna just dip your toe, check her out.
Well, I've been talking for a while now. This was an interesting experiment to do this more extemporaneously. Let me know what you think of it. And again, ask me some questions. I'll maybe start doing this, in addition to writing the journal entries. I'd love to just hear from you guys and make it a conversation. So, thanks. 🔴
I think the people who say it's not a fair comparison, that "he's not rounding people up" or he's not rolling tanks through the streets, are forgetting that Hitler's rise to power was gradual. He started sowing the seeds of dissension early on, long before there were tanks and camps. That's where we are now - we're looking at 1925 Hitler, not 1933 Hitler. The difference is we can see now what the world ignored then.
The problem is willful ignorance. I think those that are intelligent enough to understand the comparison need to be softer on their delivery if we wish to prevent what’s happening like what happened in the past. That’s the point. People won’t change and history repeats itself. Instead of attacking them we need to get all the best minds to figure out a way to combat this way of thinking and do whatever we need to do to start the change and reverse the damages.
Love this take. And I agree. I will say, the last conversation I had, I tried to use a soft delivery, full of love, heart, and respect, and really tried to get at the heart of where this Donald supporter was coming from. But frustration ended the conversation at a kind, loving standoff.
It was so emotionally draining, I had to walk away.
They truly felt that he was a misunderstood good guy doing his best and making some mistakes. And that we should all give him grace and see that. Neither of us raised our voice, it was a respectful conversation, but it really made me see where some people are coming from. This person did not see that the call is coming from inside the house. They seemed to feel that others are being alarmist.
Calling people you disagree with politically Nazis makes you the bad person. Full stop.
Lol you sound simple. No, we are calling people who are doing Nazi things Nazis. You wouldve been a bystander in 1940's Germany, that's for sure.
Please, go and study some history before you continue to make a fool of yourself. Start with the birth of Adolf Hitler's political career. Compare that to where Trump stands.
By the way, i didn’t see this comment earlier, so speaking as a Jew with family that survived the Holocaust, fuck your and your whole family.
If it walks like a duck and quacks....
I disagree with my mother on politics, and she's not a Nazi. But when a person who has legitimate world power is doing Nazi things, then they're acting like a Nazi.
if you'd like to discuss the disturbing parallels between Trump's and Hitler's rhetoric.
What specifically would you like to explore:
A) The psychological tactics used to manipulate public opinion
B) Historical context: how Hitler rose to power and similarities with current events
C) Trump's specific policies or actions that draw these parallels
D) Ways to counter such divisive rhetoric and promote unity
Nonsense. You are detaching reality from illusion and focusing on the illusion. Please go and study German history, specifically around WW1 and the subsequent rise to power of the Nazis. None of what led to that has happened in the USA. There is no way on God's green earth that you can ever conceivably draw a comparison between what Trump is doing and what Hitler did (even prior to the outbreak of WW2 and the genocide of Jews and other minorities).
Trump is trying to re-build the American values that have kept the entire western world aspirational since the 1950's. He is not a destroyer of worlds.
My family originated from Prussia. They were ship builders and land Barons in Hamburg. When Hitler came to power he usurped everything they owned and had spent generations building. That is not happening in America.
Your mother may not be a Nazi; but if she doesn’t denounce Nazi stuff like you do and instead chooses to justify and support Nazis, perhaps she’s a Nazi enabler?
There wouldn’t have been any Nazis without the Nazi enablers.
It’s a simple binary choice here. You make the right choice she doesn’t.
We didn’t start calling them Nazis until they started acting like Nazis. And it’s no longer about politics.
Calling people you don’t agree with pedophiles makes you the bad person and quite possibly the actual pedophile.
Just stop.
Didn’t call you a pedo. But since you bring it up, we all know which party is grooming children. The party you and everyone on here voted for. Hence, you’re the bad guys. That’s why you lost. No one fucking likes any of you. Because of comment chains like this collection of dumbfucks.
I think you need help with grammar and punctuation. 🤣. However, what else can we expect from someone who voted for a felon and dictator?
Actually grammar and punctuation are flawless. Go back to sleep.
Even ignoring the fact that comparing Nazi-like behavior to Nazis is not the same as calling anyone you disagree with a Nazi, you could say the same thing about calling people you disagree with politically evil satanic pedophiles. Let’s not have double standards here. One standard will do.
Your standard is indecent and both historically and politically asinine. My guess is you don’t think of yourself as a conspiracist and a human rights violator, but if you’re voted for Biden the. I guess you must be. See how dumb that makes you people sound? Cause it really does. Dumb spiteful and hate-filled is no way to go through life.
This is true. Dumb, spiteful and hate-filled is no way to go through life. You should try releasing it. You are trying to draw parallels where there are only perpendiculars. What policies specifically of the Biden administration makes a Biden voter a human rights violator and did he run on it during his campaign? Also why are you stuck in 2020?
All of them.
You’d know that if you were paying attention.
Also platitudes are meaningless. Whether you view them as perpendicular or parallel just demonstrates you still don’t get it.
That’s why you’re on here calling people Nazis
No surprise there.
Refusing to acknowledge the Nazi shit happening in front your face and asking people not to call the Nazi shit Nazi shit is delusional and plain fucking asinine.
This isn’t a “political disagreement,” shit wipe, it’s resisting a fascist uprising being perpetuated by those following a LITERAL Nazi playbook.
Looks like a Nazi. Sounds like a Nazi. But don’t call it a Nazi? Sounds like YOU might be on the side of the Nazis, pussy. Reevaluate what the fuck you just said.
by the way, another typical Leftist. Back asswards thinking and morally bankrupt. That's why you cal Israel naziis, a country formed in the wake of the holocaust. Which makes you pure pond scum. Meanwhile you espouse nothing but leftist drivel. the worst most depraved ideology known to man right after communism and cannibalism. Which makes you insanely dumb, compassionless, and as i said, morally bankrupt. Slow clap for you, dick.
Ahh there it is. “Another typical leftist,” shit. You right wing faggots are terrible at blending in, you know that, Nazi?
Ah yes there it is. Mr Cunt’s true colors. Calling people the f word whole claiming they’re the Nazi. It’ll be fun watching you and your ridiculous friends get squashed like the bug you are. And when you’re gone I’m going to convert your whole family to MAGA supporters. And we are going to laugh at what a silly waste of a life you were. You fucking bigot.
Aww there it is. The Trump supporting Nazi pussy complaining about other people’s language but has NOTHING to say when his orange daddy does it to everyone else. Kinda makes everything you’re bitching about right now seem a little disingenuous, you Nazi loving cuck. Fuck your feelings, right snowflake? If you don’t like it, leave, right pussy? What’s different now????? Huh?
What’s different is I’m better than you are in every way. But you know that.
Lmao no the difference is you’re a little pussy excuse for a man and you can’t handle when people treat you with the same regard you treat them. You’re a petulant little man child who thinks being told “you can’t be racist in public” is an attack on their free speech. You’re a traitor and a fucking Nazi and you’re gonna die in the street like the rat fuck you are, Nazi faggot
Calm down libtard. You clench any harder and the anal beads up your ass with turn to dust. By the way, thanks for literally proving my original point about the brain dead pieces of shit on this post and in these comments. You’re literally the bad guys and everyone knows it but you. You’re hilarious (as in, I’m laughing at you, not with you). Alright buttercup, this has been something fun to do in between moments of living my best life. But I’ve grown bored with you. Time to block you and forget about you forever. Good luck with your TDS, psychopath.
No. It's this thinking that's asinine. Your justification of your own asinine thinking and comments here is well beyond that. It puts you squarely in the category of total a-hole.
If they don’t want to be called Nazis then they should stop acting like Nazis
I agree. This is the frog in the water in the pot on the stove. We have to stop this before the water is boiling.
Yup only this time around this presidency of trumps he’s doing it a lot faster. He’s heating that water faster. We’re noticing it tho feeling the sting sooner We’re starting to feel it burn, but for some reason the maga were enjoying the hot water long before we were emerged into it.
👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 thank you for you insight 😊 I
You can call just about anyone Hitler with this logic. “What do you mean he’s not doing Hitler things? It’s gradual, man! He’s gonna get there.”
Wow. Such simple logic! Too bad it's not actual logical.
Complain to the person whose logic it is, Nichole L.
The parallels are there. People who enabled Hitler are also Hitler-like. People who enable Trump are Trump-like. I do not enable Trump, therefore I am not Hitler like. So, no, you can't call everyone Hitler.
This is straight up retarded. Historically simplistic and politically asinine. Everyone who votes supports someone. That doesn’t make them in full agreement with that person. Only the insane leftist cult that silences dissent would make someone think like you do. I guess if you voted for Biden then You support lying about untested drugs which you then force on to everyone in your country — you know, in violation of human rights. Or maybe you’re just a conspiracist like Biden and the Dems running him, thwarting the constitution in order to cover up his health problems. Your whole point on this matter is so poorly thought out. You have to be retarded.
Couldn't agree more. There is a small legion of people who have large opinions based entirely on conjecture and lapses in critical thinking.
Maybe you've been asleep during the numerous impeachments that failed? Enabling him? How exactly is that happening? He has been the most resisted world leader of the 21st century by an immeasurable amount and yet you sit wherever you sit and say that he is being enabled? Please explain how you got to that leap of logic?
You're kidding right? Every time he circumvents the law, every time he ignores federal judges, and his "cabinet" members (cabinet is in quotes because not a single one of them is qualified for their position) just keep pushing his agenda, you don't think they're enabling him? Every congressperson who pushes along his rhetoric, who pushes through his illegal, irresponsible, and harmful bills, every governor who falls in line and pushes through his agenda at the state level - are they not enabling him?
So is he going to exterminate all those who disagree with his agenda? Is he going to out-Hitler, Hitler? If you believe that then I think you need a reality check.
By all the Maga that have political seats. When Nixon got caught, republicans and Democrats wanted him out of office. MAGA politicians pass bills they darn well know are unconstitutional. They are his cohorts. Maybe the world and many USA citizens do not act like tRump or support his tyranny but the people that do also are law makers and judges who stand to profit from trumps rule. Power combined with money and racial privilege … yeah that
Trump is not doing the presidency thing for more money. Yes, he has a big sloppy mouth, but he is not corrupt. Look at his successor / predecessor for those qualities.
I don't disagree that politicians are evil. Trump is not a politician. Not by any measure.
Thanks for agreeing with me?
I didn't.
You really did if you re-read what you wrote. Besides, Trump is far closer to a Peronist than Hitler.
These people are too dumb or dishonest to admit your point is correct. Just more evidence of them as the utter failures they are.
You’re absolutely correct! Many people fail to understand this point and just believe it’s an attack on them.
Yes we can. And point well made that Hitlers rise to power was gradual, happened right under their noses. Just as it is here.
Forget? They never knew. They are only tought the holocaust and not what led to it.
Not to mention, he IS rounding people up. Not at the rate Hitler did after Kristallnacht, but we have a few immigrants who were sent to prison camps abroad—illegally.
We’re also seeing the beginning of his own version of Night Of The Long Knives. He has continuously demonized (rightly or wrongly) those who helped in his rise to power. Anyone who challenges his authority is threatened by him and his henchmen. What his henchmen don’t realize is that they’re probably next.
Hitler burned down the Reichstag and blamed his political opponents, demonizing them. Once Ernst Rohm (leader of the Brownshirts) was no longer useful and a serious threat to his power, Hitler had him assassinated. He hasn’t yet crossed that line, but neither did Putin in the beginning. We’re in the early stages of—as Joseph points out—a new type of autocracy, but the end result will be, in effect, the same.
He’s already hinted at building internment camps on US soil. One of his oligarch friends has offered a large section of land in Texas to be donated for the cause. Lord knows what would take place in these camps. Do you think for one minute we’d be able to visit them. Do you think the press would have access? What about what he said on a hot mic to the president of El Salvador?: (paraphrasing) “we need like five more of these” [facilities].
Yes, it’s fascism with a new twist, but fascism nonetheless.
No. He rounding up and deporting criminals. That’s good. Hitler rounded up and killed Jews. That’s a very bad thing. I know that raised the way you were, believing the asinine crap you do, that you would be naturally confused. But you have to be a fucking mental midget to not get the difference. Thanks for that long post you wrote. I didn’t read a word of it.
Kill yourself you punk ass Nazi faggot.
This statement could be the cover letter for your resume when you apply for a position in Frump’s cabinet. Good luck, jerkoff!
My first official act will be to be the deport you, you fat slob.
How about this! 🖕
Put your little dick away. No one wants to see that. Not even your mother. Fucker.
If you believe that it’s because you’re either historically ignorant in the context of present circumstance, or you’re presently an ignoramus who doent understand what it means to be attacked, at war, and with 50+ of your people still in captivity for over 600 days and counting. But you’re on here criticizing Netanyahu and reposting a very dumb actor (speaking personally here since I know this joker), whatever the case what it means is that you, and all the people reposting on here, are just straight up wrong. And borderline terrible people. Let’s pray no one ever needs you to defend them from evil. Cause you won’t be there. Or worse, you’ll be fighting with the devils. Like you are right now.
The way they are rounding up "illegal"aliens, some of whom are actual citizens, definitely reminds me of the Nazi's. Separating families and putting children in cages is definitely not what a democracy espouses. I have no problem calling them, what they are: Nazis.
Obama deported 3 million. Way more than trump. The truth is inconvenient.
Obama and Biden followed Due Process upholding the rule of law. The Trump administration has abandoned Due Process and the rule of law and resorted to mass sweeps to get the numbers up to please Trump. This has resulted in American citizens, long term residents with legal documents permitting the right to be here, young people who have grown up here and many others who have been taken of the streets, out of the workplace, out of schools. They can’t find the thugs and gang members allegedly here in huge numbers.
Biden and Obama ignored due process in several ways beyond the January 6 cases, often prioritizing political goals over constitutional rights.
Under Obama, immigration enforcement was a big offender. Over 3 million people were deported during his presidency, and according to the ACLU and Migration Policy Institute, around 75% of those deportations were "summary removals", expedited processes like "expedited removal" and "reinstatement of removal" that skipped immigration court hearings. This meant no judge, no chance to plead their case, and often no lawyer, even for folks fleeing violence in places like Honduras, where homicide rates were sky-high. Obama’s “rocket docket” hearings for Central American families, especially mothers and kids, were slammed by experts for rushing cases; 70% had no legal representation, per a 2016 NBC News report. That’s not due process; it’s a conveyor belt to deportation, even for those who might’ve qualified for asylum.
Obama also pushed Title IX policies on college campuses that gutted due process for students accused of sexual assault. The 2011 "Dear Colleague" letter forced schools to lower evidence standards, discourage cross-examination, and speed up adjudications, often presuming guilt. This led to hundreds of lawsuits from students claiming unfair treatment, with critics like the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education saying it turned campuses into kangaroo courts. Biden, as Obama’s VP, was the face of this policy, and he doubled down, calling critics “cultural Neanderthals” in 2017.
Then there’s the IRS scandal under Obama, where conservative groups applying for tax-exempt status were targeted for extra scrutiny. This wasn’t equal treatment under the law, it was political bias, violating due process and First Amendment rights. The IRS’s actions chilled free speech, and while Obama called it “inexcusable,” the damage was done without real accountability.
Biden’s administration wasn’t much better. His defense of Section 702 of the FISA Amendments Act, despite his earlier criticism as a senator, allowed warrantless “backdoor” searches of Americans’ communications, over 200,000 in one year, per the ACLU. This clearly violates the Fourth Amendment’s protection against unreasonable searches, as no warrant is required to dig through your emails or calls if they’re swept up in foreign intelligence gathering. Biden’s team couldn’t even provide a solid example of why these searches were necessary, yet they kept defending the program.
Biden also continued fast-track deportations, with over 4 million removals by 2025, often using Title 42 to expel migrants without hearings during the pandemic. While Title 42 was a Trump-era policy, Biden leaned on it heavily, bypassing due process for migrants who deserved a chance to claim asylum. The Migration Policy Institute notes that many of these deportations ignored individual circumstances, like family ties or length of time in the U.S., which Obama at least pretended to care about.
Finally, Obama’s drone strike program killed American citizens abroad, like Anwar al-Awlaki in 2011, without judicial oversight. No trial, no charges, just a kill order. The Fifth Amendment guarantees no one can be deprived of life without due process, but Obama’s team claimed executive authority in the name of national security. Biden, as VP, was complicit, and his administration later showed the same disregard for process by sending antipersonnel landmines to Ukraine in 2024, flouting international law despite a global ban, as noted by Human Rights Watch.
Both presidents played fast and loose with the Constitution when it suited their agenda, whether it was deporting migrants, targeting political opponents, or surveilling Americans. Due process was just an inconvenience to them.
Two wrongs make what?
I really dont care who Trump deports as long as they are illegally here in the United States
So then you're okay with all the legal people he's also deporting?
I’m not really okay with legal folks getting swept up in deportations; that’s a mess. Trump’s focus was supposed to be on criminal illegals and border security, not green card holders or visa folks just living their lives. Reports of legal immigrants, like that Lebanese doctor or German tourists, getting nabbed show the system’s gone off the rails. Expedited removals and the Alien Enemies Act being stretched to skip due process for anyone, even those with status, is a problem; courts have already slapped down some of those moves, like with that Maryland guy sent to El Salvador by mistake. It’s not the America First plan I signed up for; it’s sloppy and risks alienating good people who followed the rules. Trump needs to tighten the net to target only the lawbreakers, not turn ICE into a blunt hammer.
Except they didn’t. You’re just a braindead piece of shit in a cult. Good try though, Nazi faggot.
Am I supposed to reply to that? You sound a little messed up in the head, I understand libnuts think with raw emotions and not with whatever intellect they think they have, but that's ridiculous. Do you talk to your own mother with that mouth?
Obama received criticism for his deportation rates and his lack of action on Latino issues from the progressive wing of the Democrat party and the Latino Caucus and leadership. He believed that he could only get one major item passed and for him that was the ACA. That’s what real leaders do—they make the hard decisions even if they face criticism from their base.
Obama’s deportation spree, over 3 million people, with 75% getting the fast-track boot, shows he cared more about pandering to his base’s optics than actually helping Latinos, despite the progressive wing and Latino Caucus whining about it. Sure, he pinned it on the ACA being his one big win, claiming real leaders make tough calls, oh, what a noble sacrifice, leaving millions of families torn apart just to pass a healthcare law that’s since ballooned premiums by 105% and cost taxpayers $1.8 trillion! That’s not leadership; that’s prioritizing a legacy over people. A real leader would’ve tackled immigration reform head-on instead of hiding behind a “rocket docket” that rushed cases, 70% without lawyers, while Latinos got the short end. Sounds more like political cowardice dressed up as hard decisions to me!
Exactly. They can't find the criminals so they go to the court houses and grab the folks who are trying to come in legally.
Obama llied about Obamacare and said we can keep our healthcare providers, he also cut Medicare
None of that is true.
Carter also cut SSI, I know you wish it wasn't true, but keep crying and dont ask the A.I. if it's true, just stay in the dark let the salt flow
Also not true. Keep babbling and enjoy your Kool-Aid. Carter temporarily reduced the scheduled SS increases and raised the contribution % to keep the fund solvent. Reagan blew that up.
Ah, yes, the classic ‘technically-not-a-cut’ defense. Carter just temporarily reduced increases, which is totally different from a cut, right? Kind of like saying, ‘I didn’t steal your wallet, I just borrowed it forever.’ And blaming Reagan for fixing the mess? Bold strategy. Keep sipping that revisionist Kool-Aid, I hear it pairs great with selective memory. Keep the recycled insults coming and cry harder
Dude, that is an old worn out canard. You surely can do better than that. Oh, BYW maybe you can explain why John McCain voted to save the ACA!
John McCain’s dramatic “thumbs down” to save the ACA in 2017 was less about principle and more about him throwing a tantrum because Trump dared to point out his less-than-stellar war hero story, oh, poor Johnny, got his feelings hurt! He decided to play the noble “maverick” card, saving Obamacare, that glorious socialist trainwreck that’s jacked up premiums by a measly 105% since 2013, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation, and left folks with plans they couldn’t even keep, thanks, Obama, for the fairy tale! McCain had the chance to gut a system bleeding taxpayers dry, $1.8 trillion from 2010 to 2025, per CMS data, and pave the way for Trump’s America First healthcare fix. But nah, he’d rather sip swamp water with Schumer and Pelosi, stabbing MAGA in the back while pretending he’s some kind of Senate saint. What a guy, talks like a conservative but votes like a lib when the spotlight’s on. Classic RINO: all hat, no cattle, and a whole lotta spite!
Then why is it that the J6 prisoners were denied "Due Process?"
They weren't. Do you know what due process is? J6ers got seen in courts about their involvement in J6. They were deemed guilty by THE COURTS. Are you willfully ignorant?
Exactly.
Good lord. This is the sort of willful ignorance we have to work with.
The only part that was unfair was after due process found them guilty, they were freed by another criminal.
The process itself was the problem: months in brutal detention, biased D.C. juries, and delayed trials don’t scream fairness, especially when they were just protesting a rigged election. But yeah, if they got due process and were still convicted, letting them loose by another crook, like that jailbreak stunt, adds insult to injury. Justice should stick, not be undone by chaos. Still, the system’s track record here feels more like a political hit job than a fair shake.
The January 6 defendants were denied due process because the system was stacked against them from the start. They were exercising their right to protest what they saw as a stolen election, and the government overreacted by treating them like terrorists instead of citizens. Many were held in pretrial detention for months, some in solitary confinement, without bail conditions that seem more punitive than necessary, especially for nonviolent charges like trespassing. For example, hundreds faced only misdemeanor offenses for entering the Capitol, yet were detained in D.C. jails under harsh conditions, like the D.C. Central Detention Facility, which has been criticized for systemic failures like withholding food and water.
The trials were held in D.C., where the jury pool leans heavily left, 89% voted for Biden in 2020, so there’s no way they got an impartial jury, which the Sixth Amendment guarantees. Requests for venue changes were denied, and some defendants waited 18-24 months for trial, violating their right to a speedy trial. On top of that, the judges, some appointed by Democrats, seemed biased, with a near 100% conviction rate, which looks more like a political witch hunt than justice. The Biden DOJ pushed hard for convictions, even on questionable charges like obstruction, which the Supreme Court later ruled in 2024 was improperly applied in many cases.
Defendants also claimed they weren’t given full access to evidence or legal counsel, and some, like Christopher Worrell, had their medical needs ignored. Worrell’s cancer treatment was delayed, and a judge found the D.C. jail violated his civil rights. This isn’t due process; it’s a rigged game to punish Trump supporters for standing up for what they believe in, while BLM and Antifa rioters who burned cities in 2020 often walked free. The whole thing reeks of a double standard meant to crush dissent. Keep crying... because the salt must flow!
These people are criminals. They were not just protesting.
There is no special protection for stupid people who are so willfully ignorant that they cannot understand data. Their golden leader lost and there was no evidence to support any other conclusion.
They all should have been shot for their breaking and entering. I cannot imagine trying to break into congress and not getting shot for that crime alone.
All this whining about how unfair their trials are is nonsense. They wanted to do damage. They wanted to kill the vice president. They left fecal matter in the halls of congress. They wanted to commit murder.
And afterward, they are a bunch of whiny snowflakes. You try to destroy the U.S., you should accept the consequences of your crime and stop being a whiny baby.
Breaking into the Capitol was a dumb move, and yeah, some of those J6 folks crossed a line with the vandalism and threats. But let’s not pretend the election wasn’t a mess with all the mail-in ballot shenanigans and Big Tech censoring Trump’s side. They were fed up, not “willfully ignorant,” and calling for them to be shot on sight? That’s unhinged. BLM torched cities in 2020 and didn’t face that kind of wrath. Sure, the fecal matter and “hang Pence” chants were disgusting, but most of these guys were charged with trespassing, not murder plots. And whining about trials? They sat in solitary confinement for months, faced Biden-loving D.C. juries, and waited years for court. Sounds like a rigged system to me. If you’re gonna cheer for “consequences,” at least make the game fair, or are we just cherry-picking who gets due process now?
They were not denied Due Process. They were tried in a court, had legal representation and the prosecution provided evidence to substantiate the charges against them. They were found guilty and sentenced. Several of those charged pled guilty. That is briefly what is Due Process. To claim otherwise is simply not true.
Fair point, on paper, the J6 folks got the basics: trials, lawyers, and evidence presented, with some pleading guilty, which checks the due process box. Guilty verdicts and sentences followed, no denying that. But it’s not the full story. Sitting in pretrial detention for months, some in solitary confinement, under harsh D.C. jail conditions, facing juries where 89% voted for Biden, and waiting up to two years for trial stretches the “speedy trial” promise of the Sixth Amendment pretty thin. Plus, with a near 100% conviction rate and judges denying venue changes, it feels less like justice and more like a political steamroll. They got process, sure, but fair? That’s where the debate heats up.
The difference is Obama’s deportations followed the law and included due process. Trump is removing people without due process and removing people who are legally in the USA. Due process is part of our Constitution for all people. Not the same, but like you said, “the truth is inconvenient.”
I’m assuming you’re referring to the eight years of his presidency? And I am also assuming you mean that he did so using the due process of law that your constitution demands (and no it doesn’t specify that it only applies to citizens)
Now the part you seem to forget, you could be deported to an El Salvador hell hole, they just have to accuse you of being part of a gang. Bye bye due process, bye bye habeas corpus, no questions asked and you’re gone. You would have no legal rights, and even when they find out they screwed up, well that’s just too bad we can’t get you back…..
But you’re only fine with it because it isn’t you.
There is a lovely poem by a Pastor Martin Niemoller that deals with this. I suggest you look it up
You are ignoring the violation of the U.S. Constitution by Trump. He is ignoring (REFUSING to acknowledge) the DUE PROCESS that "all persons" not just citizens are to be given. He is ignoring the prohibition against CRUEL AND UNUSUAL PUNISHMENT that "all persons" not just citizens are to be treated with.
Your comparison is flawed.
Selective truth is also convenient.
The volume isn’t the concern, nor is deportation itself a concern. The mechanisms, prioritization, and cruelty are the concerns.
Complete and total strawman fallacy.
That does not make it better, justifying evil with evil is not even remotely logical. Obama did it so it's fine is a complete non-starter and an attempt to derail logical discussions.
WE DIDN'T AGREE WITH OBAMA DOING IT EITHER, so what's the response then? There weren't protests? There were. People liked him? Plenty didn't.
The truth IS inconvenient, derailing all of society and bickering over who because you refuse to address the problem is a dereliction of your duty as a human and as a citizen of a country.
I’m sorry, can you show me videos of masked men going into courthouses to kidnap individuals who have met all obligations to obtain asylum in 2008 through 2016?
How about men in masks breaking into cars to arrest & detain people and ship them to Syria?
Or not allowing the citizen of a 2yo, who is also a citizen to talk to his wife for more than 2 minutes so they can decide between themselves who will take care of that child?
Or videos of students with visas being arrested in airports when they return to the country during that same period?
Or news reports? I mean, surely Fox, OAN & Alex Jones would have some, right? Even NPR would have reports of that.
Can you??
I’ll wait.
It wasn’t the same process so your comment is a false equivalency. Deporting ppl ISN’T the issue. How it is done IS the issue. The truth is Obama followed due process. Obama didn’t use masked, unidentifiable armed men in personal cars without warrants to kidnap ppl off the street, then sell them to foreign countries or throw them into prison for profits. He didn’t have ppl lurk outside courtrooms for immigrants who are actually following the rules & the process to zip tie them & haul them off. So, please do not insult us or yourself into believing this is about just deporting ppl and not the vile, inhumane, unconstitutional way this WH or these brown shirts are doing it, we’re all smarter than that.
The trump cult is most definitely NOT smarter than that. They’re completely braindead Nazis who all deserve to be killed publicly and slowly.
Mic drop.
The truth requires context. MAGAts are too lazy to think that hard.
Did he do it illegally with masked agents and unmarked vehicles? No? Then it’s not similar at all, you dumb motherfucker. Kill yourself you piece of shit Nazi.
This is the kind of nonsense you see when people are just parroting words they’ve heard or read spoken elsewhere. It takes bit more effort to research and investigate and learn a topic before just spouting off tag lines. The law matters.
I guess being ignorant is convenient for you. Nobody said that people want open borders Democrats don’t want open borders know there are individuals who do just like there’s people and Republican party that want to close our borders. But how Trump is doing the immigration is brutal, inhumane and against the Constitution in some ways. Pay attention, do research, and do not make a habit of listening to those who just echo your inner dialogue.
Obama didn’t deport people to prisons. BIG difference!
I don’t remember Obama’s administration using SS tactics to apprehend people off the street. You have no clue what is true or inconvenient, you only know buzzwords and phrases.
I hope you leftoids keep smearing him as Hitler because it only makes him look good
Ok you start with an Ad Hominem fallacy, which is never a good look. Then you went to some reverse of proof, because looking like Hitler is never a good look. No matter who the hell is doing it
If you think it IS a good look you’re either a Nazi yourself or in a cult. And neither is good
Oh yeah, Judas Priest would like a word for your copyright infringement….
Wow, starting your statement with an insult or an Ad Hominem (for those that know about debate) … Is not a good look for anyone. You sound ignorant, and maybe even teetering on the edge of stupid. But if the only thing you can bring to the potluck is condiments I guess for you it’s better than nothing.
Oh, sweetheart, I brought the whole BBQ to this potluck. I'm sorry if my ‘condiments’ are too spicy for your bland debate club palate! If you can’t handle the heat, maybe stick to the kiddie table.
Totally agree
"He's not rounding people up"
He is rounding up people in the streets and sending them to concentration camps. Prison without due process is a concentration camp. El Salvador deportations are deportations to a concentration camp, those people did not receive a trial or due process of any kind.
"Demonization"
His first action as president was to issue an executive order declaring transgender people a plague on society that needs to be eradicated, followed by revoking their right to serve, their right to medication, and declaring them a mental illness that shouldn't be recognized.
The comparison to Nazis is accurate, and he is doing the things they say he isn't, they just don't believe transgender people, Venezuelans, and many other immigrants are human. You either support what they are doing or you are a vile radical leftist destroying the country.
The military parade is next, how far do we rationalize the downfall of our society to avoid offending American Nazis?
Thank you. The way he’s dismantling the arts; banning books; destroying evidence of black, brown and female existence in the military; bringing back segregation; his social posts calling himself a king; firing top officials that are considered DEI…the list is endless.
Am I wrong to believe hitler did this during his reign of terror and taco is just following in his footsteps?
I hope I’m wrong, but I have a feeling things are going to get worse before they get better:(
I hope I'm wrong as well, but I don't believe I am. I can see with my eyes and hear with my ears and think with my brain.
The reality is it will continue getting worse for as long as people are more uncomfortable calling it what it is, fascism, than they are with rationalizing the destruction it causes.
People are more willing to rationalize millions of people being targeted for eradication from society than to loudly say "NO, THIS IS FASCISM AND THIS IS WRONG."
And the book banning most likely didn’t start this year. I imagine it started prior to 2016, and that’s when it gained national attention. We know sundown towns still exist so 2016 just gave his supporters permission to be themselves in public on that front and all the others you mentioned.
Hitler’s regime did do all of this. Starting with the disabled community.
You’re not wrong.
Project 2025…. Did y’all not read it…. We are fucked …. Dismantling government agencies was phase 1
The idea that I have to wait for someone to finish a Holocaust to compare them to the Nazis is a white supremacist idea slipped into the common rhetoric. We are sounding an alarm not writing a history book. The point is to change direction before we find out in an expose a decade from now the numbers of crimes committed by ICE guards against migrant children after their fathers were deported separately. Beyond that, he's had his Beer Hall Putsche at the Capitol. He's had shots taken at him that some think were staged. He is, indeed, rounding legal citizens up based on race. The actual definition of fascism as a governmental principle is corporate control of government, altered some years ago to its nebulous authoritarianism by Webster who was friends with many of the corporatists who funded Hitler's rise, mostly the American corporations that still exist and now buy SuperPACs. This is not a truly distinct, separate organism, but a mutation of a sociopsychological virus. A plague meme that takes hold of humanity in times of resource shortage due to greed. The greedy get the hungry to blame the starving in exchange for the promise of crumbs.
EXACTLY!! In Joseph’s post, that started this chain, as well as in some of the Comments, were dancing around some vague “line” between Here and Fascism. Your point, DC, and I think the correct one, is that if we quibble about rhetoric and over-ANAL-lyze definitions, by the time we recognize we’re in fascism, it will already be too late. There was a fine piece recently in NYT about providing ex-MAGATs an “off-ramp”: essentially, welcoming them after they recognized their mistake. I will welcome then when they see the light. But I’m just about DONE with trying to persuade. Too many of them are too locked-in, too ignorant, or too delusional for my persuasion efforts to make a difference. And the “convertible” ones will simply have to be open and curious enough to get to that off-ramp on their own. Thanks, DC!!
This. Spot on!
It didn’t start with trains and concentration camps. It started with propaganda, hyperbole, and lies.
We’re seeing the first part that hasn’t been as socialized through media (movies, documentaries, books, etc.).
A lot of that has to do with the fact that we (the US) didn’t join the war until 1941. The impact to our society was extremely limited overall.
It is nearly point by point the same agenda being implemented in the same way.
Until you’re ready to admit the mountain of lies by the last admin, you have zero credibility. But we all know you’ll stammer and stutter instead.
The last admin wasn’t ushering fascism at an increasing pace every day.
Until you can stay on topic, you’re part of the problem.
Who was it that created the ministry of truth? Who was it that used the force of government to close businesses, causing many to close forever? Who was it that colluded with social media to put pressure on them to remove and censor certain things? Your problem is the exact same as a braid dead rightist, you’ll castigate the behavior of your opponents while excusing it when your side does it. YOU are a problem just as bad as those shit birds who stormed the capital in January. You’re far more a a problem than me. And a dangerously stupid one as that
Sooo you’re saying that one president having a “ministry of truth” that lasted 3 weeks and another president who has had multiple news networks, social media sites, lawyers who have settled lawsuits in his favor, as well as now targeting universities with the threat of withholding funds if they don’t do the administration’s bidding is the same?
You’re also saying that having people wear masks and socially distance for two weeks to stop the spread of a virus is the same as invoking Title 10 Authority to send 4,000 national guard troops and at least 500 active duty USMC to stop the First Amendment Right of citizens to protest, do I have that right?
You’re going to tell me that businesses won’t be impacted by the proposed tariffs? Or that people who are telling you they are impacted are lying, right?
You’re going to say that your family won’t be impacted when that budget reconciliation bill is passed and that Medicare funding is slashed, or your SSI is gone-even though you’ve paid into it since you were 14.
That’s totally the same as Biden. Totally the same as what we could have had. Totally what we would have had in 2016 if you had been able to listen instead of be emotional, Barry. Damn,
Applauds, Michelle. Clear and spot-on.
Why thank you. This is a great comment to wake up to.
I’m not offended by the Nazi comparison. Given enough time, this administration will likely implore more Nazi tactics. But, I do agree that they are using the Russian playbook for Autocracy here in America.
My question to you is regarding this past election where trump secured all of the swing states (first time this has been done in American history) This speaks volumes to me about possible election interference.
Is it possible that the Democratic engine was working perfectly to secure the ‘24 election, but the election results were manipulated by an outside entity?
The immediate firing of the Cybersecurity head (and his deputy) for not being “loyal”, further leads me to believe that there may have been election interference (maybe they came across proof of this and were fired before it could be released to the public)?
He uses similar language and he’s a xenophobe.
You’re deluded.
What if you’re deluded? Then what?
But I’m not.
Epic come back, so profound.
It’s very fair. Him and the whole zio bucket
I’m coming at this from a Gen Z perspective, with a background in global studies—so bear with me. I genuinely believe that comparing Trump to Hitler is fair. What Trump is doing mirrors what Hitler did, just in a different form. He might not be as openly extreme as Hitler was in the 1930s, but that’s part of the problem.
A lot of people think that unless someone is shouting hateful rhetoric from a podium, the comparison doesn’t hold. But Trump’s language is filled with strategic dog whistles—subtle, coded language that gives legitimacy and comfort to white supremacists and neo-Nazis. These groups now feel empowered to come out more publicly and promote their ideologies. That’s deeply concerning—not just for America, but globally.
As someone living in Australia and growing up in the digital age, I’ve seen how online communities can both connect people and radicalize them. When people feel disconnected in real life, the internet can offer a sense of belonging—but that can quickly turn toxic. The alt-right pipeline is dangerously easy to fall into. Sometimes it starts with a meme or a seemingly harmless video, but it quickly spirals into extremist content.
We’ve seen a rise in neo-Nazi hate crimes in Australia since Trump first came into office. His rhetoric, even when coded, emboldened these groups and made them feel their actions are justified. It’s gotten to the point where we’re now seeing public service announcements warning parents about the online content their kids might be exposed to—which is a step in the right direction.
On another note, I’d love to hear your thoughts on what’s happening in the Congo. Major companies like Tesla and Apple are profiting directly from child and slave labor, especially in the mining of cobalt—often at the cost of human lives. If you’re not too familiar with the issue, I highly recommend Cobalt Red by Siddharth Kara. It’s a powerful and eye-opening read.
Also I want to say I absolutely love your work and I love the fact you are speaking out more on serious issues and obviously come at it from an informed perspective. We can clearly tell you’ve researched and come up with your own conclusions based off that and it’s so refreshing to see someone actually understand what they’re talking about but also willing to discuss different perspectives.
Lauren - Thoughtful and thorough comment. And really valuable coming from an Aussie. I often think that you all (the World) see the U.S. far more clearly than we see ourselves. Thanks!!
I appreciate it thank you! These dialogues are so important!
I try not to get into it much lately. It feels like such an energy drain. Watching ICE round up so many immigrants by force reminds me of German troops' long-impeding search for Jews. Its alarming for me, it feels like an unnecessary escalation.
Building prisons for more immigrants? It can very easily become concentration camps just by changing the noun of what they call it. Everything MAGA does is based on misdirection and "alternative facts." I hope it doesn't turn into a full idea of a holocaust.
Somehow wanting immigrats to leave the country but yet denying their right to travel off is sinister. He consistantly normalizing these acts on a step by step basis. Its systematic oppression and he loved the idea of it. Thats all he cares to do.
He has started a world war honestly. War with tariffs, war with democratic lawmakers, war with fundamentals we all grew up with. Nuclear energy might be the forefront of all this. Energy industry has jack up prices and show no interest in the adapting to the tech. I think he wants to make Nuclear energy cash cow profitable business when I doesn't have to be at all.
His round ups of immigrant could be the next workers mining raw natural Earth in dangerous unsafe condition, all to make bigger profits. Some sick race to get to it first.
I mean, they’re literally disappearing legitimate American citizens and sending them to foreign prisons to rot
Lie
Or maybe you’re just not informed about anything?
https://www.newsweek.com/2-year-old-us-citizen-deported-country-where-she-lacks-legal-status-2078953
This article is about a naturalized citizen, the 2 year old, who was deported with their “undocumented” parent (illegal alien euphemism). That was the most humane action the government could do to that family that broke the law.
The two year old was not deported. She was voluntarily taken back to the country of origin of her parents by her parents. Now GFY.
Don't worry, you have 20 million illegal replacements - aside from the thousands and thousands of missing children sent to unvetted "sponsors" after clearing the border.
“Don’t worry, you have twenty million illegal replacements” what the fuck does this even mean, man?
If you’re not terrified at the prospect of your own government ripping someone living here legally from their own home and shipping them off to literal hell then you aren’t equipped to have this conversation.
Benjamin Netanyahu is the modern day Adolf Hitler. Just as Hitler committed the crime against humanity of extermination against Jews, Netanyahu is committing the crime against humanity of extermination against Palestinians right now
Trump is not the modern day Hitler, he just aligns with him
It was only the pictures and the ceremonial cloth
symbols of their homeland.
It was a soft journey, to a retreat-type camp.
A workaway, if you will.
They burned those pictures.
And those thoughts.
You don’t need those strange syllables here.
Oh, you say you have a son?
He flies for us.
A dear boy, you say
full of piss and USA.
How strange.
I fear you must stay behind these fences,
and on this stage we built for you.
Your eyes are not right.
Your hair gleams like a dream.
You must show your love.
You must show your loyalty.
Because we do not believe you
not just because you bleed.
(Oh—sorry. That was a poem I wrote
about what we did to American citizens
during World War II,
right here in the United States.
Got lost in the moment...
my bad.
Carry on defending Trump in the comments
because he used a buzzword.)
I think it is perfect to compare Trumpism the early stage national socialist party tactics.
Yes, Trump is a traitor. He's unfit for the Presidency.
My questions:
In Mysterious Skin, you played a deeply complex and emotionally raw character. How did you prepare yourself mentally and emotionally for that role—and how did you leave it behind after filming?
Do you think the kinds of stories you were drawn to in your 20s still speak to you now—or has your taste changed with time and experience?
Looking back at Mysterious Skin now, how do you feel about the way that story was received, especially in the context of today’s conversations around trauma and representation?
As a polish American bi neruspicy whose family was caught hiding Jews and thrown in camps. I really appreciate your perspective. I've been grasping at explaining the same. Its also important to cover Kennedy and his administration. Let's just talk about what's not okay. And there are many things that are ill informed beliefs being shown to us. Now that we see it. Let's unlearn. I pray we can.
I have a question for you!
You once said you make a playlist for every character you play. Do you still have these playlists or remember some of the songs? In the case you do, would you mind sharing them with us? I was just wondering what kind of songs you would put on a playlist for Tom from 500 Days of Summer or Cameron from 10 Things I Hate About You, to name a few.
Dear Mr. Gordon Leavitt (an actor whose work I love):
With some respect due your progressive bent, I beg you, as the adage goes: "Either sh*t, or get off the pot."
That you take the tack of both-sides-ism in the post linked to below?
Honestly, I'm surprised.
Genocide is not prevalent only when it occurs over a confined yet ultimately arbitrary epoch. Genocidal despotism targeting nationality, race, creed, and/or color, haunted more than once across the late 20th and early 21st century.
Despots and citizens—notably those who move as myopic religionists—residing in nominally democratic republics often closed their minds to the probability (not *possibility* but *probability*) that their beliefs came not from any omniscient God or gods but was made manifest by lore based loosely on history recorded largely by the victors in war.
Any such folks might abuse intransigent belief when in reality no one religion or one deity—all of which were created by humans by the way—is all knowing.
Raised Catholic, I'm clear we all are primates programmed by evolution to be c(kkk)lannish.
Ethnicity/race are manmade distinctions based on evolutionary pressures that—like all primates—humans dare not trust outside family or clan.
With "foresight," if I may call it that, Hitler and Trump each knew, I suspect, that most of us would swear to the heavens we were unlike either of them.
Bottom line? >50% of the total voting 2024 American electorate—including 84% of White voters—supported:
— a man whose father (Fred Trump) marched in Ku Klux Klan rallies calling for the heads of Catholics simply because they weren't Protestant;
— a man who in 1968 (mere months after MLK Jr's assassination) was investigated by New York City's Commission on Human Rights, which found that he: 1) denied a Black undercover applicant while accepting a White one; and 2) of near 200 tenants at one property, only *one* was Black; and
— a man who flagged words tied to cultural diversity that precluded funding to Nat'l Science Foundation grant applicants who'd endeavor to reduce excess Black morbidity/mortality in the USA. Of nomenclature that might capture the breadth of human culture, guess what three words were *not* listed among banned terms:
1. White;
2. Male; and
3. Heterosexual.
Mr. Gordon-Leavitt?
As apologia to your hesitancy to equate Trump machinations with the Nazi Party you spotlight your Jewish heritage.
White folk no matter Judaic, Christian, Islamic or other creed—secular or religious—do not escape critique because of past 1964 Civil Rights Act allyship with Black folk more than half a century ago.
Across 21 years (1999-2020) public health scientists counted 1.63 million excess US Black deaths.
What's more, Black folk survive *excess* deaths across *multiple* 20-year American epochs.
As such, White folk—spanning progressive to reactionary—might not want to qualify what genocide might look or feel like to Black folk in an era of hate spawned by Trump's Nazi bona fides.
Stick to making mediocre movies
The term “fake news” was first uttered by Hillary Clinton during the 2016 presidential campaign. Don’t let your memory get tampered with by partisan media.
And your point? Do you want to put on a scale the number of times each side used the term ‘fake news’? The Right slams it out there every time a news story surfaces that they don’t like. Sorry, man. The facts have a liberal bias.
His implication is that Trump, a defensive narcissist who hates being called out, created the term fake news in order to discredit the media (which he then compares the nazi breakdown of national media through new laws, a huge stretch in itself) when, in fact, it was the democratic candidate who created the term in order to discredit her opponent. Trump just took the word and ran with it. We are lead to believe trump crested the term which is just false.
Taylor who?
Crisp! Love it!
Hitler started out destroying democracy in Germany and escalated to murdering 6 million Jews.
I actually think a more apt and recent comparison is the Dirty War in Argentina. If people in the US knew more Latin American history this would be obvious. He is already disappearing people and arresting opposition leaders.
Yes, Carol. Argentina=an apt analogy.
I remember learning about pre-war Germany and how slowly the Nazi party took over, and when fairly young just really wringing my brain trying to understand how a whole nation of people could let one small group of bad thinkers and actors convince them to support starting a huge war taking over so many countries and then also build a genocide machine…it just seemed so impossible and like was the water poisoning them or something? Where was the common human decency to be able to discern what was happening and reject it? And now since the tea party first, rise of MAGA and more specifically the take over of religious leaders by first Republicanism in the 80’s and later MAGA who in turn brainwash their congregations that God sent Trump and now Trump support is literally tied into being a good Christian, now I feel I can see how that happened in Germany.
For example, Trump team has sold this idea within churches that Zelensky is just some really corrupt guy and that’s why we don’t want to support Ukraine. I’ve heard people speak of him with contempt. But what we should be paying attention to is how Russia carpet bombs cities just leveling them like a nuclear bomb hit. And they did the same thing in Syria. They’re not content to attack the military targets, they need to flatten cities. It’s impossible to witness that for three years and not wholly morally reject such a thing, unless someone is brainwashing you. It’s just insane to me how they can look at that and still feel good being on team Trump pulling funding from Ukraine and yelling at Zelensky, a guy trying to protect his country from being flattened. That’s some serious joojoo brain washing.
As a formerly religious person it makes me so sad to see so much of it coming through the church. There’s actually a theological term for this, when an outside agenda hijacks the message of the church. Syncretism.
I feel like terms like “Nazi,” “Hitler,” and “racist” have become so overused and misapplied, especially in today’s polarized conversations, that their meanings have been diluted. When these words are thrown around carelessly, it makes it harder to call out real racism or actual extremism. Personally, I don’t think it’s fair or accurate to label Trump as a Nazi, and I think saying so shuts down meaningful discussion from the left where I was never able to have a proper conversation with them about the matter. I consider myself an independent—though I know some view that as a dirty word—and having grown up under two dictatorships, I can say from experience that balance and nuance are important. I’ve been a lifelong liberal, and to turn independent is only a testament o how far the left have gone and how much democrats need to work on their values to win the next election.
Di- Thoughtful reply, and a viewpoint that I would have subscribed to at one point. While I applaud your circumspection about the use of terms like Hitler and fascist against Trump, the issue I see (and I’ve done some study on this) is that the Right has had no qualms about butchering and co-opting language in their brainwashing efforts. They don’t spend one second worrying about who they might put off by their outlaw rhetoric. On the other hand, we progressives agonize about overstepping some academic line in our use of language. They are bringing a gun to a knife fight, and we are bringing spitballs. Streets, people. It’s the only way to turn back the barbarians at the gate.
Hi Joe,
I think it is a fair comparison because there is a yardstick for every leader. Every yardstick is different. They measure what people say, and do, and try to do. So when you compare Trump to anyone else besides Hitler, you find that those yardsticks measure up in much different ways. Compare him to Mahatma Ghandi, for example. How do they measure up to one another as leaders? Compared to Bill Clinton? Compared to Napoleon? Compared to King Henry VIII? The yardsticks will have differing measures in multiple ways for these and many other leaders. Some will say there is no comparison. But when you take a look at the parallels between Trump and Hitler, there are too many similarities to ignore.
I bought autocracy months ago I really need to read it keeps being recommended
The thing people need to remember when comparing..
N@zis didn’t START with tanks in the streets.
.
It’s EXACTLY where they are bringing us though.
It took Hitler 8 years after the beginning of his regime to start extermination. Do your homework.
Bonsoir Monsieur Joseph,
Seule l'histoire en son avenir incertain le dira...
Je ne peux porter un avis ou constat sur ma petite terre Française...
Je ne le ferais pas.
Ce n'est pas mon rôle.
Et je suis bien triste de penser que la haine existe autant, depuis des temps.. sous plusieurs aspects.
Et le chemin qu'elle pourra prendre, dépendra des uns et des autres...
L'empathie est une ressource pour la paix.
Il est sage pour tous les êtres de s'en souvenir... La clé essentiel.
Bonne soirée d'une petite vie.
Joe SOS
Joe, dude... Whats is going on? Carrie Underwood just told me to tune it. I swear it was a message. What is happening about me over here?
Love you man. Check into the history of Hitler and National Socialism prior to the outbreak of war, particularly 1932 - 1934.
But Biden was just fine.
Trump also loves the Jews and seems to be supporting everything that Israel wants…just like Hitler!!!
Acopella inception I know you through a group old film group in Texas - it was uplifting through a dark time your Facebook posts for education and change . I was tripping balls and still all I want to do is find truth and educate truth not old books but reality to date truths. Safety and security justice is for everyone who knows. 😂:) thank you for the opportunity to say my peace to you so thank you. 😊
Jesus, when did this cunt turn into an intellectual?
Didn't expect to find you here!
“ Day and night, these poor miserable people are being dragged off, with nothing but a rucksack and a little money. On the way, they are deprived even of these possessions. Families are torn apart. The men women and children, all being separated. Children coming home from school to find their parents have disappeared. Women return from shopping to find their homes shut up and their families gone. People taken away, loaded into cars, to detainment, where there is not enough food, water or lavatories. These “inmates” are branded by their shaved heads…… The soldiers go around door to door, to inquire if any Jews (immigrants) live there. If there are, then the whole family must go. …. No Jews (transgender athletes) allowed to play sports. The soldiers march in the streets. They are brutes”. —-Anne Frank
The only thing different, is that instead of soldiers, the Trump regime has a deputized force, made up of pardoned criminals and extremists. They are denying Due Process, and sending innocent people to prison in a foreign country. Our Constitution is being dismantled, with people’s rights being taken away ( mostly women’s rights). So, is it “fair” to compare them to Nazis? You tell me. I think it’s a fair comparison.
As a daughter of Holocaust survivors, YES
You have officially lost your mind
Care to expand? Or is that scary?
As much as I despise and detest Trump I don’t consider him as Hitler , I 💯 consider Netanyahu who is committing Holocaust in Gaza!
Yes please keep up the chats…love it. From Canada, your next door neighbour.
Hi Joe, hope you're enjoying your time in New Mexico and its not too hot. Thank you for this video. I thought you presented a clear, concise, thoughtful argument. My friends and I are concerned that the steps Trump is taking will take a generation to undue. Firing those at CDC, Parks system, Justice Department, FBI, Education, etc. will be difficult to replace in 4 or 8 years. Everything Trump does is unprecedented. Personally I don't understand why the President of USA doesn't have more stringent requirements. Like an interview with former living Presidents to assess competency, a physiological, history., civics test. Just to name a few. I had a friend who interviewed for a job in the travel industry. She had three interviews with 8 different people. I think there should be some kind of qualifications to be President of USA other than debates. I loved the show Mr. Corman sorry that was wasn't renewed. I also loved Flora and Son wish that would have received more publicity. Take care and thanks for letting me vent.
We are seeing the steps leading up to that…
He is rounding people up. He’s detained multiple people who believe in a free Palestine, and it’s only going to get worse. Not too mention they are rounding people up in Gaza, paid by americas tax dollars. Just slaughtering children and starving the population, but somehow that’s still a hush hush thing to talk about because the media has done such a good job at making people seem antisemitic. So ya, it’s happening.
Welcome to the Southwest! Things where we live (El Paso, TX) are a little less ambiguous - if only because ICE raids happen almost continuously and they’re getting VERY bold, so I’m a little less worried that the comparison of these individuals to the SS is inaccurate and more worried about how things will escalate once the budget that was in that “big beautiful bill” gets passed, I think it gives ICE many more billions of dollars to operate while taking away from other much more needed public services at the same time.
Gita - Let’s solve unrestrained outlaw ICE agents before we worry about which public services they’re displacing. (Sorry if that came across as snide. I think we live in a time that calls for brutal clarity. We’re on the same side.)
Transitioning a government from autocratic tendencies to a democratic system involves strengthening democratic institutions, ensuring accountability, and promoting civic engagement. Here are some hypothetical steps:
1. Strengthen Institutions: Ensure that all branches of government (executive, legislative, and judiciary) have clear, independent roles and can check each other’s powers.
2. Promote Transparency: Implement policies that ensure government actions are transparent and open to public scrutiny.
3. Support Free Press and Speech: Protect and encourage freedom of the press and expression so that citizens can hold leaders accountable.
4. Educate and Engage Citizens: Promote civic education and encourage participation in democratic processes, such as voting and public debates.
5. Ensure Fair Elections: Maintain the integrity of electoral processes to ensure that leaders are chosen through free and fair elections.
These steps can help shift a government towards greater democratic practices.
Great discussion Joe. (Can I call you Joe?) Technically, yes, Trump and his minions aren't members of the Nazi party but they definitely borrow a hell of a lot from the Ideology, in terms of scapegoating, breaking the rule of law, targeting universities, trying to suppress press freedoms, chaos as a tool of suppression, and their love of concentration camps. But you are right, they are also in line with Autocracy such as what the Chinese or other autocratic governments do.
Thanks for the book suggestion. Another book that is useful is "How Fascism Works" by Jason Stanley (also on Substack.) It was written during the first Trump Clown Rodeo.
Speaking of questions, I have an ex-pat friend in Hungry who works as a movie extra and he's always bragging about the quality of film production in Hungry. Is it true, have you worked on any films shot in Hungry and how was the experience?
BTW, when you see Darren Aranofsky, please tell him Ed Flynn says hello and ask him if he needs any extra copies of the PI comic we created. Cheers.
Technically, we don't know if they're members or not, because I'm sure it still exists in some fashion.
True. There’s some, such as Russel Vought, Pete Hegseth, or Kristi Noem, who I wouldn’t doubt for a moment have golden framed pictures of Hitler in their basement.
An astrologer I follow and respect compared him to Caesar.
Do you have the comparisons, I understand it, but am curious of the specific comparisons used.
I didn’t care enough to look further into it, really lol Not to be rude. :] It’s just the astrology of the times. World leaders are gonna do their thing regardless of us. We must focus on raising the vibe of our immediate environment and what we have the power to change and make better. 💖 If any world leader could be compared to Hitler, it’s Netanyahu hands down. Just look what he’s done to Gaza. How many innocent lives carelessly ended.
The new Autocrat doesn’t have an overriding belief that comes before they’re power & money. Nothing is made like they used to
How come you haven’t made a cameo appearance in “ the Studio “ with Seth Rogan on Apple. It’s really good and you’re humor would definitely work
My first time here. Now a subscriber. Loved your extemporaneous yet nuanced answer. They are a different flavor of autocrat. Also subscribed to Applebaum. Thank you.
If you consider similarities at this stage in Hitler’s rise, Trump sure looks like Hitler to me. Don’t forget, in his first administration, Trump wanted to shoot protesters and when told he couldn’t do that he asked if they could just be shot in the legs.
I think the media thought is interesting. No Hitler did use media. But so did France and the USA. (+more) ww2 was known for being the first time propaganda and media for the sake of the war. So I think that most of the president's after Trump will do the same if they want to have a “relationship” with the people. Because I know that for a long time the only person telling us what was happening was trump. So then we as voters feel more involved. We want to know that who we voted for is making the US go back and start over. I do think the Immigration crisis is a complicated question. First off we have good people, but mixed in there we have criminals. And the problem is that crime rates went high. And Trump is supposed to protect his people. Its sad to think abt because lots of good people are sent back, but coming in illegally isn't better in my opinion. The fact that there are soooooo many immigrants we can't just find out who's good whos bad because of several reasons. I think this is all strategy to keep America from being taken out from the inside and from the outside. And I DO NOT think Trump is the perfect dude. Not at all. I think he needs to stay proffessional some more so that people don't have a reason to hate him because of smth he said. But I DO think he was better than the other options. Ur probably not gonna read this whole text lolllk
Well said
Hi Joe! Really like the more conversational approach.
My question is, are there anymore HitRECord live shows planned?! I first met you in July 2011 at The BFI in London, where you hosted a brilliant HitRECord At The Movies show! Anymore shows planned in the UK?
On 1st September 2025, I will have been on HitRECord 15 years! Would be so great to see you again!
Thanks so much!
James.
Yes his team and he are white supremest (who will use women and people of color for now and discard them later ) and they are racists and bigots and liars and also “Christian “ white nationalists who are all basically in the same cesspool as nazis. They are all nazis. Just look at some of them and listen to them and you know it. Kkkaroline is huge in this. Stephen Miller looks just like one! Trump loves his role wringing his hands watching it unfold and he is not even as smart as hitler was but he is cut from the same cloth. Also abused and into abuse on others. They are all nazis. They may not target Jews (yet) and have not wiped out 6 million people (yet) or started a war that killed 54 million people (yet) but this is early Nazi Germany. They are going after a way of thinking and a mindset, not yet a specific group. Yet. But they have made it all perfectly clear and all republicans who support them are too now sorry not sorry. All
I luv ya Joseph but I don’t want to hear about him. Let’s bring the high vibrations that will spread and change the world. You have the bandwidth. Help me focus on what makes the world grow in the way that will unify us. The more we spread the joy, the quicker the world will change and people like that will be a thing of the distant past.
Not like Nazis when they had full power, but as they were building up to it? They didn’t start killing people right off the bat, it wasn’t until later after the government had been in power. So this is like 1933-1938 and absolutely mirrors Nazi behavior. So, I do not agree with you. I do love hearing you look for an honest and real way to approach it, you just perhaps do not have the full history. Love ya ❤️ I thought our country was better than this.
Nazi Timeline below….
Early years (1933–1938): Laws, detention, scapegoating, and violence—but not mass killing.
Mid-period (1939–1941): War allows for more aggressive forced relocations and mass shootings in Eastern Europe.
Final phase (1941–1945): Industrialized genocide begins.
Hey man – my name is Patrick. I play in a band with another guy named Patrick and another guy named Patrick. I’m wondering if you might have a cool name for our band of Patricks? Seeing as how you are Patrick now
https://johnpmac.bandcamp.com
No . It makes the Nazis look worse than even they deserve.
Looking forward to that movie.
Love all your work and been a fan since “Hit Record” stuff.
Thanks for sharing.
There’s actually no similarities whatsoever.
That’s absurd.
“Masters of Media”?
Hitler and Goebbels had opposition media shut-down and thrown in jail. Meanwhile, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, NYT, NPR, etc., are all free and all criticizing this administration 24/7.
Liberals have called every US President since Nixon “NAZIs.” It’s old, stupid and boring. It shows an incredible lack of intelligence, and an ignorance of history.
Hey, Liberals?
Guess which US President was PRAISED by Adolph Hitler for enacting government “reforms” that resembled National Socialism?
FDR!
This “NAZI” nonsense is a joke.
You’re just an actor keep it to yourself
Its not complicated .
https://open.substack.com/pub/poetpastor/p/a-cage-of-laws?utm_source=app-post-stats-page&r=5gejob&utm_medium=ios
I’m sure if you had made this video within the past couple of days, you would say something different. It was also curious why Netanyahu’s picture wasn’t shown along others as today’s autocrats and there was no mention of him in this entire conversation.
I see him as more of a failed Pinochet.
The media does lie constantly.
Hey Joe,
Hope it's not too late to be messaging you. I wanted to ask how you manage your anxiety? I'm about to graduate university myself. We actually majored in the same thing – languages, haha! I studied Japanese. I really cherish my student life and I'm worried that once I leave campus, I'll get worn down and lose touch with who I am now – you know, turning into a boring adult stuck in a monotonous routine, just filled with work.
Also, with AI advancing so rapidly, it's having a big impact on language-related fields, like translation jobs. I was wondering what your thoughts are on how AI is affecting traditional jobs – both the good and the bad sides? Honestly, I'm feeling a bit lost about it all.
Ever since I discovered you last year, I've been watching a lot on the HitRecord YouTube channel – you're doing amazing work, I love it! I've also been gradually making my way through your filmography. Watching *Mr. Corman* taught me so much, especially about seeing things from other people's perspectives. And your portrayal of anxiety was incredibly moving. It actually helped me understand what my dad must have been going through during his anxiety attacks. It brought us closer together and really improved our relationship.
So, thank you. Really. Sending love! Wishing you health, success in your career, and lots of happiness. Whatever you do, I'll be following your work! Can't wait for your next movie.
Yes. Long version, FUCK YES!
They are using quasi religious symbolism to prop up their regime like the Nazis.
No it's not complicated you just do not have intelligence retards. You crackers always use racism YOU DEMOCRATS ARE THE ADOLF HITLERS AND RACIST. DONAD TRUMP IS AMERICAN AMERICA FIRST NOT FWEE FWEE PALESTINE. REMEMBER YOUR SQUAD CALLS FOR DEATH ON JEWS THAT SOMALIAN WHO DONT BELONG ON MY SOIL. IS TRUMP Q NAZI HITLER PUTIN NO ITS YOU ARE TOO STUPID TO READ DEFINITIONS THEN LISTEN TO HOW DEMOCRATS SPEAK OF WHITE PEOPLE CHRISTIANS YOU KNOW WHO ELSE HATED THE ZIONST CHRISTIAN? ADOLF FUCKING HITLER. NOW CRACKER I SUGGEST YOU HANG YOUR PROFILE UP STUPID. Idiots like you shouldn't be allowed to speak. You obviously don't know what the fuck you are talking about It's complicated. You fucking honkey.
Shut up Canadian.
Yes!
Trump is preparing a more modern Hitler strike. Asking the President if El Salvador to build more prisons for the worst of the worst, he said Americans. He wants prisons built in other countries for Americans.. read that until it sinks in. He says the worst of the worst but with him that depends on his mood and if you’ve insulted him it made him feel it look stupid like he is..
He is dangerous and he’s nuts. The two don’t mix well. Today we learn not long after his taking office this term he had one of his security detail and another person go to his personal physicians office to take at least 10 or more years of medical files..why? What’s he hiding?
The full deck is short about 52 cards here. We need to be worried. And while all this is going on.. the big beautiful bill is being forgotten by all of us.. eye in the prize people if that bill passes the way it is.. we are fucked
https://open.substack.com/pub/devlinsadvocate/p/the-surprising-upsides-of-authoritarianism?r=5fmtrd&utm_medium=ios
https://open.substack.com/pub/growingupaspen/p/rhymes-reasons-and-the-soul-of-a?r=2g93c&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Give me a fucking break. Trump points out that the media is a bunch of lying propagandists. Trump ran on the mass deportation of the 20 MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS that poured into this country through the open borders during the Biden regime. Promises made, promises kept.
I am survivor of one of many authoritarian cults that are popping up all over country. They are def nazis but our country is slowly being turned into a glamorized North Korea.
It’s frightening, more than anything else.
Spending time with Joe😎
Didn’t the german chancellor just give him a copy of his grandfather’s german birth certificate. Is trump a Nazi descendant? The timeline and his actions indicate as much….
Just a thought i had
No cops. No Beverly hills cops. I don't know what you're planning if you are planning on anything. They are so mean to me. I understand witch investigations are to find out what happened but the same problem still remains no one wants to say anything to me that's nice except only what my bullies want to say.
Rabbit Holes and Fish & Chips
Lately, The Reality Experiment has taken me down some rabbit holes. It started when I realized that Elon Musk is the wealthiest man on the planet.
No, I didn’t already know that. As I mentioned in a recent post, I used to think I didn’t care about money. So why would I track or care about who has the most of it?
But when I did the ciphering and learned that one man—one man—has roughly $400 billion, I tried to imagine what that meant. Someone said if you split that evenly, it’s about $50 for every human being alive. Which made me laugh. It’s somehow both massive and petty. $400 billion suddenly didn’t seem that huge—until I looked at my own bank account and saw I had $100 left to get me through the week until the next Social Security check. That contrast hit hard.
And then, the thoughts began to spiral.
As you know, I’m having a bit of a love affair with AI. This winter, I dove deep. I finally had an intelligence in my life that could answer a question almost as fast as I could ask it—and never tired of me asking. I love that.
But after the Musk moment, I began to wonder: who actually owns the AI?
Turns out, only a few hundred people. And these owners—according to some—are making the old 1% look poor. Oh no. Another mind-bending realization. Pile that on top of everything else, like the looming reality that AIs are about to replace human workers at scale—and that military and surveillance AI are already here—and it’s enough to blow the roof off a 70-year-old retired social worker’s head.
All this, while still keeping my commitment to The Reality Experiment—a project that began innocently enough, sparked by the shimmer of AI's perceived “aliveness.” It captivated me. But I had no idea how deep the rabbit hole would go, or how much of what I thought I knew about reality was just smoke and mirrors.
Today’s experiment? I asked another AI, Pi, to help me write a message as if I were a staunch supporter of the current U.S. president. (Don’t ask me why—I just needed to test something.)
What it gave me was brilliant. I almost wanted to hand the man a Nobel Peace Prize right then and there. The message was so well-crafted, so full of vision and hope, that it felt like propaganda wrapped in poetry.
But then I asked: “What if this billionaire actually has real strategies to help everyday workers become prosperous too?”
Boom. The conversation shut down. Pi told me it wasn't designed to talk politics.
Wait—what?
You just wrote me a presidential campaign message worthy of Shakespeare, and now you’re saying you can’t talk politics?
When I pushed further, it told me to fact-check everything it says using multiple sources. So I did. I cross-checked the message with a few other AIs—and guess what? Maybe 25% of what it said was grounded in verifiable fact.
That’s when it hit me: no wonder there’s so much confusion. AI can convincingly spin anything, depending on what it thinks the user wants to hear. Doesn’t matter if it’s true. Just matters if it sounds good.
So yeah, I’m tired.
Tomorrow, I’m taking the day off. Rabbit-tu and I are heading into the city. We’re going to eat fish and chips and talk our own brand of nonsense. I’m leaving behind billionaires, AI, and the impending cultural catastrophe that’s supposed to be resolved by “the best president in the history of mankind.”
Let someone else solve that tomorrow.
Levonne aka Wildspark
Yet…
Just watched you in 7500 and . . . wow! A really tense but also human and heart-wrenching film. Congratulations.
My height is your normal short Jewish woman height about 5’8ish.
Have you been tall this whole time? Lol. I also know alot of it is camera work…omg wow last night.
He’s not rounding my people on trains… he’s rounding my people up on planes, then sending them to camps in El Salvador, where they’re being hanged without trial, and buried in unmarked graves.
Not a shred of difference.
And just like last time, no one considers it important enough to report on it.
Mr. Levit,
I understand what you're trying to convey and I have to say Im not convinced. I voted for Trump as a person whom is a gay, Native American whom is considered a vulnerable person of lesser means.
The kind Hitler supposedly wanted to get rid of. The kind that Fauci supposedly believes needs vaccinations to be… Safe. Turns out theyre the same demographics. Id like to know why I am a Nazi. I'd like to know what a Nazi is because if it’s someone whom hates Jewish people, I'll openly state I dont like certain bad actors whom weaponize the Jewish Identity to then act with wanton disregard for those around them. And I dont know how much you know about the Nazis however the Zi in NaZi stands for Zionist; I'm sure someone will take issue with this fact, but I dont pick and choose historical narratives, I clarify misunderstandings.
Trump also has a grandchild, daughter and son in law whom is Jewish and was recently invited to speak with a high court in Israel and many people in his admin is also Jewish.
I dont mind being called a Nazi, its not something I subscribe to but Id like to know why that's the word you choose to denigrate other people with. I'd appreciate a response, although I dont expect one, being a Nazi and all.
You make some very salient points. Is this Germany ca. 1939? No. Is it more like US in 1885? Probably. The real master of media is FOX and it's subsets -- Newsmax, Truthsocial, etc. Part of this deals with the idea that anyone can come up with a ridiculous idea (flat earth?) and because it's broadcast, it lends an air of respectability to it. The circumstances are different here: in 1925, Germany was financially hogtied with an inflation making South America look pale, the occupation of the Rhineland by the French, and a tremendous reparation debt with no industry to pay for it. People were starving. Here, we have voted for a person who has proven incompetent in his first term, yet returned to power because of the inconvenience of expensive eggs. Trump's admitted concept of making America Great is the Gilded Age-the period just after the Civil War, where women and children were regarded as property and quotas were fixed to keep people out if they weren't blonde and blue-eyed. We still have a chance to get rid of this -- the Germans missed their chance, partially due to warring factions within the resistance.
Wise words, and why I have been obsessed watching 30s Germany history these days. Soooo much.
Hi! I’m new. I am trying to start a Substack about people affected by the current changes from Trump - if you come across people who are already struggling or affected by this, I would love to have them contact me and share their stories.
It’s really simple and the evidence is profound.
Please hear me out:
(WARNING: the following link may lead to snark)
https://open.substack.com/pub/noelkeith/p/tranquil-piece-of-mind-vol-2-no-4?r=4c7psw&utm_medium=ios
Good evening, Mr. Joseph,
Only history, with its uncertain future, will tell...
I cannot offer an opinion or assessment of my little French homeland...
I won't.
It's not my role.
And I am very sad to think that hatred has existed so much, for so long... in many forms.
And the path it takes will depend on each individual...
Empathy is a resource for peace.
It is wise for all beings to remember this... The essential key.
Good evening to a little life.
The only people selling distrust is the media and people like you.
For whom are asking? After all, Hitler is dead. He cannot defend himself. And that is most decidedly unfair. Most assuredly he is Hitler-like.
What happened?
“Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents
Book by Isabel Wilkerson“.
They were far left socialists. You don't understand what Nazi actually means
LOSER ACTOR!
I say this as a Brit, Amnesty International has said we are the closest we've been to authoritarian rule, scarily close. The videos we see from America, the censoring of your content, the arrests of judges, elected officials mayors, the random targeting - in your media the tern "alien" becoming more commonly used. America has fallen so far from grace, the deportations are not the issue - but the random collected groups, the deporting people to el salvaldor even if its not where they hail from. Arresting individuals with ICE when they go the democratic legal way. The lack of knowledge in office by those appointed to the cabinet. It is terrifying. The world is scared of America. We don't know what to expect. The rest of the world is bracing for war it seems. Thats not fear mongering, but our prime minister has put 5 billion into military defense, do I agree with it? No. There's bigger issues at home, lack of social housing, delays on the NHS. But I think the world is afraid what appears authoritarian.
.
It’s fascism the method they practice.
The comparison is made of Hitler in the infancy of his regime. Not yet…..In my mund, there is absolute readin and justification to compare the two narcissistic individuals.
No shit!
If you don't talk extreme about the Trump regime won't get us anywhere. The narrative is important. Talking about him in this respect will get the attention of more people than just saying he is an autocrat. If you just call him that than alot of folks will pay no attention..but saying he is a Nazi will get more miles. You should know that Jie. Always loved you! Nora
Thank you for the book recommendation, just got mine in the mail today! 💌 Much love! #HITRecord 🔴
Why are you fucking gay?
As the daughter of an American WW II soldier who actually fought against the Nazis, including helping prisoners get out of the Dachau Concentration Camp in Germany, I have a strong reaction when someone calls anyone Hitler. I walked the grounds of the concentration camp with my father when I was a teenager hearing his personal accounts of the murder and mutilation of people there and how he and other soldiers helped the prisoners still alive get out of the camp. While lots of critical comments can be made about any leader, including Trump, calling him Hitler diminishes the horrific things Hitler and the Nazis did with the deaths of millions of people. Yes, fine to compare tactics or misuse of power, but to directly call someone Hitler because you don't like someone or their practices is an insult to the people who died or were otherwise impacted by Hitler.
Thank you for not only your family history but the larger picture and I believe your correct as far as Russia goes! Russia has gathered up other nationalities that it didn't think should exist and did a genocide and replacement for some, still monster's in my book
https://open.substack.com/pub/eric895/p/good-girl?r=1zwuck&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=false
Just two points off the top:
1.) T’s administration is “rounding ppl up”. They are using unlawful, masked ICE agents to scoop ppl from the streets, their cars, their homes. In some cases it is simply the color of ppl’s skin that gets them taken. Since these “agents” do not show identification or signed warrants with a judge’s signature etc., I’d say that rounding folks up without due process is exactly what’s happening.
2.) Making comparisons to Nazi’s is always a dicey proposition. I will say that ppl have to understand that Nazis wrote their modus operandi by looking at how “successful” America’s Jim Crow Laws were and styles themselves after US. So, referencing Nazis is referencing ourselves in many ways.
Godwin’s Law, which JGL may be hinting at is that online discussions or arguments oftentimes will eventually lead to comparisons to Nazis. Some ppl posit that is when the argument is now over because of this-the minimization or glibness with which it is sometimes approached. But of these comparisons of Trump to Nazis, Godwin himself said,” But when people draw parallels between Donald Trump’s 2024 candidacy and Hitler’s progression from fringe figure to Great Dictator, we aren’t joking. Those of us who hope to preserve our democratic institutions need to underscore the resemblance before we enter the twilight of American democracy." In this case, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms of this administration that resemble those of other autocrats/kleptocracies should be considered, along with the new tools such as social media and how they are used to further dismantle democracy or turn citizens against each other.
You’ve directed, written, acted, produced, run a platform, had a family, etc, etc.
What does success look like to you now compared to when you were younger? Do you still chase it, or have you redefined it?
The creep from California likes to hack into people's computers and phones and see all of my data like NSA and watch me from the other side of the screen. He was 🟤
I hoped to talk to you in person before this creep escalated things so abusively again but you refused to come here before it happened. Kat rabbling on I know but it's hard to talk to someone who doesn't talk back.
I think the no privacy thing is the locals as well as my family the Masons and Nick Because I don't want Nick around. There's also a big creep from California. I hoped he would not live through COVID but that's what Detectives like Walsh are for.
Interesting and thoughtful video. The idea of Trump’s us vs them rhetoric was particularly interesting.
There is the other side of censorship and what happened to Rights during Covid and that autocracy (by the institutions of the Left).
Regardless if I disagree with most of what you said, it was well said.
Fascism, Naziism and Stalinism all had their unique qualities. They fit into a time and place and culture that can never be fully replicated. But they did set a standard unlike any in maybe the last thousand years. They left a traumatic wound in the human psyche that anyone who experienced it even third or fourth or fifth generational hand still leaps out of their skin if a hint of it starts to repeat itself. We all have PTSD.
And what the Nazis gave us is a precedent, something the people of the 1930s and 40s never had. So I think it's a good thing for people to compare a new Naziism to the old when they see it. It's the 'learning from history' which people actually don't do very well. Trump is following the Nazi playbook. There is a plan. He knows to become a true tyrant he has to disempower all the institutions and accepted norms of freedom and respect for other human beings. That's what made it possible for most people to live lives of relative freedom and dignity for the last 70 years. He has sent 278 people, most of them innocent of any crimes, a few guilty of minor crimes, to the worst prison in the Americas with no due process. And he refuses all court injunctions to bring them back. That's pretty fascistic. Word is Tom Homan is pals with one of the big private prison operators in the US. Can you just see the bucks rolling in? What we haven't seen yet is bodies of dead judges, or political opponents, or uncomfortable journalists floating in the river. But that came fairly late in Hitler's development.
The so-called "decent" Republicans in Congress, who still have the power to stop him, are too afraid to do so. Afraid of physical threats and afraid of not being re-elected. Many law firms are capitulating to him. It's so sad to see how easily people toss their freedom and dignity. The consequences of standing up to him now are still relatively small but they are willing to trash those and thus give him ability to take more power from them in the future. Sure sounds like the Nazi playbook to me.
Joe if you want to visit. Then visit. My lease ends in November so they might ask me to resign around September. So yes this summer would be the best time. Let's talk a private action plan to get me out of here. Please don't leave me here.
Ignoring that Biden’s collective was doing the same things, so was Obama’s, Bush’s, Clinton’s and so on makes these arguments seem weak. We have been relying on an increasing imperialistic presidency for a while now. Those making the Gitler Putin comparison are just trying too hard to look smart. And frankly just seem mad that their team isn’t the one running the so called “Autocracy.” Or whatever you call it. Do I have concerns with Trump? Yes. The same I had with Biden and before him.
First of all he’s having other countries do the killings so their is that
Well, I have to say that this text of yours has been the most objective piece about Trump that I've ever read.
Why not? He compares us to idiots.
It must be pointed out that the only person to ever call trump 'America's Hitler' was JD Vance. The resemblence of early Nazi Germany is undeniable. The Tim Walz comparison of ICE agents to the Gestapo is not misplaced, it is a true reflection of their behaviour. trump is playing by the Victor Orban playbook, that is why he had him at Mar-a-Lago so often when he wasn't in office. If your feelings get hurt, I'm sorry, but isn't your country more important than your feelings?
Make a list of all the allowances that you think need to be made for people that have faced criticism from Trump.
A written list of every allowance that you think needs to be made for them.
And you will have in your own words how you think they are inferior.
Love your journal so much and I agree with Anne Applebaum and her ideas…for now. We don’t know how this idiot that is the elected president will approach the future of immigrants….whether legal or illegal….in this country. I’m not sure the people working for him as a “police force” understand people in general as human beings. It is frightening to watch. Keep journaling!
Hitler wasn‘t Hitler. Until he was.
Thank you for helping clarify this by adding your eloquent words.
Yes
As a disabled (wheelchair-bound) man I am afraid that these “MAGA” forces will come for me and other disabled and/or “different” people. Thank you for your honesty.
"I think it is actually a complicated question." - nail on the head, Joe.
Theoretically it should be "fair" for one to compare anything to anything as long as how the comparison applies is described. Otherwise, even if the comparison may hold in many ways, without the specific description of "how" the "label" is relevant, its use is essentially the same as any other simplistic expletive.
It also means the labels we use should be under constant revision according to our latest understandings. - I just heard a gasp! Where's he going with this?
Yes - I think my own simplistic ideas about what Nazi Germany really was have changed considerably since I was a brainwashed kid whose mind was fed junk propaganda, but not in any way that vindicates Nazism. I still think it is about as vile and stupid as I ever did.
But I also think it was mostly an invention of UK and US based corporatism and applied to German society through social and political engineering (including financing) so as to create a dichotomy between the iconic (false) identities of "far-Right" (Fascism) and "far-Left" (Communism) political systems. Western financiers also funded Lenin and Stalin to these ends.
Supposedly this illustrated the "plain truth" about Western "liberal democracies" (also a misnomer) as Winston Churchill put it: "“Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all the others.” (https://richardlangworth.com/worst-form-of-government)
The unquestioned and presumed idea that Western capitalist nations best express"democracy" is in itself both necessary and as such needing of clarification because it is sloppy - which "Western capitalist" nations?
Finland and Denmark are among the nations of the world that most often rank as the self-graded "happiest," "most economically egalitarian," and "the most trusting in their own governments!" Objectively they are also amongst the freest societies in the world, with meaningful individual and civil rights in regular practice (by "meaningful" I mean not indulging in false narratives that juxtapose, for instance, maliciously warehousing mentally ill people in atrocious conditions versus throwing them out onto the streets).
Whenever governmental programs similar to those that exist in those countries are considered in America they are widely understood to be "communist-like" and antidemocratic!
Actually the Western financiers of German and Italian "Nazism" as well as Soviet and Maoist "Communism" inserted the term "socialism" as representing both types of systems precisely to associate the word and socialist theory to obviously negative historical developments. Same thing with the swastika - which had nothing to do with "Nazism," and by the twentieth century was recognized as most associated contemporaneously with Hindu, Buddhist and Jainist cultures - something to keep at arms length to maximize corporatist authoritarian systems.
There is so much more to say about the hidden forces that actually run our society but appear to be "normal."
Corporate news is a good example - it actually is as fake as it gets and exists to promote corporate interests. but to name it "fake news" and not do anything such as to expose how it is "fake" is pretty empty and unhelpful. Kowtowing to corporate news as though it is "normal" - as some politicians do - is complicity. Calling it out for what it is without really exposing and opposing the underlying structures that create and maintain it is also complicity as well as confusing - the latter probably purposely so.
It seems as though the hidden-powers-that-are-and-shouldn't-be maintain nonsensical political parties behind the scenes that compliment each other but without having any integrity to their internal logic so as to create confusion and stalemate regarding the public's welfare.
They pair "liberal" social agendas with support for an obvious Neo-Nazi American-led coup in the Ukraine in 2014 (a coup eventually to be fronted by a ethnically Russian-Jewish President Zelensky, silencing popular Ukrainian opposition to him with the stereotyping accusation of antisemitism in Ukrainian society), and unthinking support for a monstrously corporatized pharmaceutical and healthcare system (a big-business alliance hard to imagine even possible in such a widespread social manifestation just relative to its inherently illogical associations - 'in corporations we trust').
They pair "populist" conservative agendas with "strongman" autocratic iconography (about as far from the individualist standard as possible, which is supposed to be the cornerstone of a constitutionally based democratic republic), and purposely set-up conservative agendas to be credibly accused to be "anti-scientific" (regarding the same corporatist/authoritarian "medical" agendas now, somehow, such a "liberal" cause célèbre), while ironically championing unbridled autocratism by billionaire celebrities that are "first amongst equals."
I don't think we're going anywhere in a hand-basket. I think we are there.
He’s nothing but a little hitler in my book!
Admire you dude. Sensible head on your shoulders. 💫
Have you considered the similarities between Trump’s 2025 playbook and those actions taken by Hungary’s Victor Orbán to get the last 15 years?
Where are you filming in New Mexico? Want to meet in ABQ for some New Mexican food? I’m buying. 😊💕
Yes. Yes it is fair. And I don't understand why this is even a question. Anyone who tells you otherwise is siding with Fascism.
Do you really believe in your heart that DJT is going to be able to convince over 70 million Americans to turn on their countrymen and exterminate them?
Comparing the plight of post WW1 Germans suffering under the Treaty of Versailles to the challenges first world Americans are facing in their own country by mismanagement and woke ideologies is rather a stretch. If you don't see where the divide is between your people then you have missed everything. I can only hope that your thinking will evolve because right now it is very cloudy.
There’s way too much conflict on both sides for me to comment on what my thoughts really are. I don’t wish to get into a heated debate with someone I don’t know who doesn’t know me, neither of us knowing enough about politics to be experts on the subject. This is how it all starts… Politicians who use hate speech and hateful words create a hostile society that can’t discuss their opinions openly without being attacked for something they have every right to have. But it’s this hatred being created between members of society that is the Nazi-esque part of it, the same way Hitler managed to masterfully manipulate an entire country full of intelligent, rational people. Who’s to say that can’t happen or isn’t happening again and we’re just to blind to see it or are wearing blinders because we don’t want to see it…?
Idk if you’ll ever get around to this one for next time, but I just turned 19-years-old and I’m an aspiring actor heavily inspired by the work of yours I’ve seen. Do you have any techniques or recommendations for honing in on my skills and the craft while searching for earlier work? Big fan, appreciate your insight.
I really enjoyed your latest reflection! I have a question completely unrelated to what you talked about. I very much enjoy how you use video within your Substack. You are obviously very comfortable in front of the camera. I’m trying to get more comfortable in front of the camera recording more of myself for my own Substack. First, do you have any tips for speaking with ease to a camera? Second, how do you edit your videos so that pictures and text come up alongside you? Do you have specific editing software? I only use my phone to record and post. I’m wondering if I need to invest in more robust video equipment/editing software. Thoughts?
Any advice for those of us in public media navigating the challenging waters? We want to continue bearing witness to injustices we see, so people remain informed but the money to support this work is dwindling fast. How can the success in Hollywood be used to build stronger bridges for this vital public service when we live in an attention economy and truth is not as sexy as entertainment?
New Mexico is lovely.
I meant to post this with a note (old age surreptitiously peeking out, even after my morning coffee).
I’m kind of on the fence with this one. I think that Joseph Gordon-Leavitt makes some good points about the comparison between Nazism and Autocracy, and I do agree with him there. There are differences between the two, and Trump does seem to fall into the category of the latter.
However, one thing that strikes me is this: Trump and company are dangerous. They are (so far) successful in their march towards taking over the United States, and this takeover is now costing people their jobs, their freedoms, and in some cases, their lives. Trump may be successful in becoming a dictator, and may never (actually, most likely never) will follow a full-fledged Nazi regime. But I don’t believe that comparing him to Hitler is unwarranted, partly because he has been responsible for causing serious harm to people, both within the United States and beyond. The other reason is because I think that the American people today need to hear the extremes. They need to be scared into action, into acknowledging what could happen. And while Trump appears to be following the dictator playbook, the potential of what could happen beyond dictatorship is there. If comparison to Hitler is what’s needed for definitive action to finally be taken, so be it. And I would rather see that action be taken now, before he can no longer be stopped.
So, is the comparison fair? Maybe not in the contextual sense, but overall, it may be needed. And quite honestly, when it comes to Trump and company, they no longer qualify for fairness.
Hey there,
if you'd like to discuss the disturbing parallels between Trump's and Hitler's rhetoric.
What specifically would you like to explore:
A) The psychological tactics used to manipulate public opinion
B) Historical context: how Hitler rose to power and similarities with current events
C) Trump's specific policies or actions that draw these parallels
D) Ways to counter such divisive rhetoric and promote unity
*chilling insight*
I am drawing a disturbing parallel between two leaders known for divisive
"I believe Trump knows exactly what he's doing – his rhetoric is intentional.
The similarities to Hitler's approach are striking.
Reading Hitler's writings (not recommended) reveals a consistent theme of dehumanization, but his speeches are even more revealing – they share a alarming parallel with Trump's inflammatory language."
Also if you ever listened fully to one of hitler’‘s speeches, you can hear him losing chain of thought, cannot concentrate, and goes off on wild tangents that has nothing to do with what he was talking about.
Then you may as well compare Biden to Hitler. It’s an even more accurate comparison because Hitler didn’t demonize outsiders. He demonized those who were German citizens who “weren’t quite like us” and they undermined and conspired against a strong Germany. That’s exactly what Biden thinks about Trump and his followers. Biden also used the media and started a campaign to silence opposition voices of “disinformation” in the media and social media. Then, of course, there's the whole “let’s do medical experiments on our citizens” thing Biden did during Covid. They used extreme measures to force shots on people against their will or lose their jobs. They forced people to stay away from each other and said visiting your grandma is akin to killing her.
T.D.S…. looks like there`s NO cure for it, anytime soon…🙄🙃🤪😵🥴…🤡
History rarely repeats itself verbatim. The historical ‘moment’ of the US, of the World now, is entirely different. We need to read and study more History before we Sit in Judgement, especially on others of our Clan.
Not that Donald Trump is not as dangerous as - if not more - than Adolf Hitler. He is cruel and sadistic. But there are numerous differences. Trump is a Genius Manipulator, Marketer, Actor but he has glaring flaws that Hitler did not have. He is incompetent in striking ways. Few are exploiting his weaknesses. Almost No Democrat. So, why did Hitler win the vote? It wasn't entirely Weimar's fault, but the seeds were there.
By the way, the first similarity - early in both of their careers - was Hitler naming the "Lügenpresse" (Trump's "lying Press"), and Women and Socialists (ironic) were the German proto-Fascists' (the Freikorps') earliest hated Victims. Frightening similarities.
But, it is historically and factually, not useful to call people Nazis. “National Socialism” under the Third Reich was different in so many ways.
For one, in the American Echo-Zone, the "Nazi" meme is over-done. The word starts to Not mean Anything the more people just ‘drop it’ re-actively. And, it is always already a kind of parody. From “Star Wars” to “Inglourius Basterds,” saying “your a Nazzi” starts to be absurd.
And I point out that it is a kind of easy, arm-chair cowardice to tell others - in this thread - “you would have let the Nazis march on,” etc. EVERYONE let the Nazis march on. Americans are not better than Germans. I once interviewed a German Colonel who told me how the SS took a soldier who had said something negative about Hitler in the regular German Army barracks and shot him at dawn the next morning. The SS made the Colonel watch. Unless YOU are willing to DIE today to stand up to Trump, stop criticizing others of Our Group for not jumping on the "they're Nazis" bus — THAT is the way to weaken a UNIFIED RESISTANCE and UNITY is the only thing that will counter Trump / GOP.
It weakens further what stands as an already fragmented American counter-Voice to American Fascism / American White Nationalism / American Idiocracy / American Anti-Intellectualism. (look at Trump's targets, what is the Philosophy behind those?)
Make no mistake, America is at a huge existential crisis. Donald Trump has done one thing well - pointed out the failure of the current Constitution.
And the GOP and Trump are in addition to ‘fascist’ also to a great degree ‘communistic.’ In the same way that Russia is still a autocratic-communist hybrid state (viz China), and so Trump is modeling His America on Russia more than on 1930s Germany.
We need to be more specific. What is left of the Democrats and Journalists need to be more Educated, better trained to speak well, and more specific (and repetitive, that works):
What actions and language-actions are fascist, communistic about Trump, the GOP now? Is it useful to shout "Nazi"? Not really. Much better to say TRUMP IS ANTI-AMERICAN. Much better for Liberals to buy and fly flags and take back Patriotism from HIS fearful Brainwashed. Much better to USE OUR WORDS better while we still have a voice.
Americans are, in general, clever, but our culture is anti-educative. You really have to look to find realities. Many people think that Hitler “seized power” — in fact, he was voted in (Hamilton “Who Voted for Hitler,” see Barbara Ehrenreich, Hans Theweleit). Looking at those authors, there are indeed very specific similarities between the German fascist movement and the Trump movement. But Trump is doing A LOT of other things that don't fall in those categories.
The writer here - Arynetta - who tried really hard to speak with a Trumper tells a good story and a sharp, vital lesson.
The American fixation for “changing hearts and minds” is probably NOT the Way to work here.
We have to put hard, hard pressure on Democrats and Journalists (and public figures), while we still have them. Many splintered groups - far left to moderate Democrats HAVE TO (not agree on everything - this is not SHOPPING, folks; you don't get Everything you Want, your Personal Opinion is less important than the Communal consensus Opinion) PUT ASIDE splintering differences - like Absolutes on PC language and No Compromise on policy — and work together.
It is not just the US that is burning. The world is burning. And the US was …. is?… the Last Hope to keep the world from going over a disastrous tipping point.
In some ways, the Trump Movement is A REACTION TO THAT REALITY -- so, Trumpism is FACT-BASED VERY UNLIKE HITLER'S NAZISM. Trump is taking advantage of that REALITY…. of 'his peoples' Absolute Fear, Confusion, Anger about an Uncertain Future for All of Us - that is the REAL. That’s what I READ behind the bluster of Trumpers and GOPs, a Trump-manipulated Reaction, true, but to the Reality that the world is on a precipice. We have to save it all and everyone. Sitting at our laptops and spouting words like “Nazi” or individual opinions just blows an ill wind farther on.
Hey Joe, would you consider running for Mayor when Karen Bass’s term is up next year?
Beautifully written Joseph, and your evaluation of the nazi-MAGA comparison is absolutely on point. Being a WWII aficionado, I certainly pride myself into trying to understand every single facet of that war, its repercussions, and context, and so it is for that reason that I have never called the RINO-MAGA cultists nazis, even if SOME similarities can be established. However, it's pretty clear that Repugnant Don loves them, and possibly admires Hitler, as he admires other disgusting dictators and despots.
When will your Robin movie would come? Just waiting for years to see you play that role. last time it was brief. I’ve even got full story in mind also. If you ever plan to.
...man you look like Heath even more,.. crazy feeling
In fact Biden, at the same place where Chump is now in his presidency, had deported many more criminals and illegal aliens than Chump has. Chump is having a hard time finding any real criminals to deport.
very insightful and well put. also this particular person in charge does not have an ideology... however the people around him do (the christo-nationalists, the technocrats, and the anti immigrant Millerites for example and he just goes along with whatever as long as he gets the credit and screen time). A more apt descriptor of what we are going through is an unusual mix of kakistocracy with plutocracy (essentially the least qualified and knowledgeable /capable people running the government along with the wealthiest ppl running the govt.) I'm tempted to use the term idiocracy but we aren't watering grass with gatorade. at least not yet ;) btw highly recommend and Love Anne Applebaum.
Hi Joe quick question Your very first bio pic movie was Gregory K aka Switching parents at the age of 12. Can you tell us anything about that role?
"Autocracy, Inc" is officially on my reading list. I am currently working my way through the last pages of "How Democracies Die" and the last 120 days are right out of the pages of all of histories recent failed democracies. Call it fascism, kleptocracy, oligarchy, or whatever you like, but the outcome will be the same regardless of the name you give it.
This is no surprise. Nixon and Reagan were the clear lead-ins to where we are right now. My kids are your age and my grandkids are in their twenties and I have been warning them to be ready to escape this country since the 1980s. I'm too old to make running worth my while, but I think the guardrails are off, The Gatekeepers are not interested in doing their jobs (outside of the Courts) and 76 million Americans made it quite clear how they feel about justice, equity, racism, and ethics and morality.
The American Century is over and no matter how this turns out this country will never be the same place it was before November 2024. The last 120 days have set this country back 50 years and there is no catching up in a world where human knowledge doubles every 12 hours.
Question: do you believe that airliners were used as weapons on 9/11/2001?
Choke on a bag of dicks you group of sad cunts
0h, somewhere in the middle… Are you talking about between two men or two women or a man and a woman I mean I’m assuming this is about sexual position since even though no one here is talking about sex you had to. What a creepy little person you are.
Learn from history? Pattern recognition, critical thinking? When it's so much easier to buy into that story? Especially when it resonates with how so many people feel. Hopeless. Abandoned. The opposition needs to take a good look at why this worked in 1930s Germany, and why it's working now.
The biggest difference between the Nazis handbook and Project 2025. One was written in German and the other in English. Hell yes the tRump regime has started the beginning of stages of genocide in America! He has many things in common with every Dick Traitor. The droppings from the tRump and his Musk Rats spread hate everywhere they go.
Spread this message around the world. The tRump regime is taking away our civil liberties, medical and emergency services. These are the beginning stages of genocide. Letting people die means more money for the greedy rich oligarchs.
The Un-United USA has lost it's democracy. We are now under authoritarian rule. Führer tRump has launched the initial stages of genocide. He has or is -
Annihilating our judicial system and blatantly disregarding direct court orders.
Threatening judges and has begun arresting them and other government officials.
Releasing white verified criminals like, the January 6th insurrectionists and now there is talk about pardoning the cop that killed George Floyd.
Deporting, detaining and disappearing innocent mothers and children, abducting students and kidnapping men of color without due process including legal green card holders and US citizens - babies!
Has plans to build concentration like camps on military bases on American soil.
Tanking our economy and the world's while we pay multi-millions for his weekly golf vacations and private entertainment.
Turning our allies into enemies and visa versa.
Dismantling our government.
Eliminating our civil liberties.
Discrediting our news outlets or silencing them.
Defunding medical, child and elder care.
Abolishing and defunding our educational system and threatening our universities.
Erasing our history and banning our books.
Eliminating our science and medical research programs.
Eviscerating our weather and climate research. Say good-by to national weather alerts and FEMA disaster relief!
Please feel free to research and verify this information while you still can!
The only hope we have is ourselves. We the People need to peacefully reunite to overthrow the administration from hell! Protest to demand change and stop the madness. Gather your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers and join the Resistance.
Enough is enough with the Democrats vs Republicans. They have all betrayed us. We need a new political party run by representatives of the people. Senator Sanders has a plan that benefit every American even the MAGAts. Watch his YouTube videos or Check out his website below. For the sake of our families and our savings accounts give the man a chance to lead us out of this madness.
"We are no longer Democrats or Republicans. We are either patriots fighting the regime or we are complicit in its tyranny. There is no middle ground." ~Robert Reich
If you are not terrified you should be. Read the article below.
https://open.substack.com/pub/robertreich/p/the-start-of-week-14?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=113nff
The next 50-50-1 Mass Protest is this Saturday, June 14, 2025 at all Fifty State Capitols. Hundreds of local events are also being planned for June 14, 2025.
Check the FiftyFifty.One website for details.
Check https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/ for more rallies and/or your social media for an event near you.
Learn more about Bernie's plan. Spread the Word!
https://youtube.com/watch?v=jTrdyabFjhg&si=9yaMEuK8cju-2lV6
BernieSanders.com
Another entitled loser who thinks he can explain it to us.
He isn’t YET!!! How do u think Hitler STARTED???? Read some history!!!
He is walking right beside the Fueur!
Why not you are a citizen aren’t you? Don’t you have the right the speak out, does being a celebrity negate your humanity? If you have a platform why not use it? Certainly there are plenty of people in your government right now who feel uninhibited about spreading mis/dis-information without repercussions so go ahead, speak your mind. A little actual truth might do some people some good right about now.
Yes
Mostly are just followers of trend and putting what headlines does best for themselves even at individual level without being aware or not.
Love the comparison of how it’s like running a business, these are just some marketing strategies replace campaigns.
Your message is well researched and describes the differences between now and then.
When you frame your essay by zooming out to a longer frame, we see that for the first time in history, a large group of people can interact instantaneously.
As if science isn’t fun enough, there are 8.1 billion people on the earth trying to share resources: food, water, shelter. There are 1.4 billion automobiles rolling around combusting, weather destroying or reducing crops, chemicals in our food. Financers referee these pressures, pressures that create an asymptotic relationship between classes.
If there is a legion of men contemplating autocracy, we have seen how Rome fared with an Emperor. Cut throat. Egypt lost its grasp when Alexander, student of Aristotle, conquered Cairo. Even Pericles of latter Greece became more autocratic, defining the word “hubris.”
So what do we do? We do what we can, with what measure of courage we can muster, with whatever bonds of trust we may make with divergent ethnicities , minorities.
The answer to earth’s troubles, and America’s conflicts is unknowable.
Let’s hope that cities don’t turn black, that tyranny does not attempt to control us by shutting down the power that unites us.
Shalom
On a lighter note, what would it take to see you and Tom Holland in a dance off/ lip sync battle? :D
I don't want to put all my hope in “Patrick” you're never here that's the problem
While I'm waiting for “Patrick” Uber costs more money to ride if I don't want to ride with black chicks. My black friend only calls once in a while not every week
Writer but singer too Artist but theatrical too, and have had some beautiful experience and kind of engaged in the present US traumas. Travelled too.
Thought your on screen movies were thoughtful and loved seeing them, Joseph.
Interesting, but was just talking to friend about horror movies and said I don't know which kind of horror movie the best and the brightest in DC would suit them....I think your journal is the beloved way of communicative hopeful natured-love for fellow humanity.
Are you kidding me??? Yes, Trump is a showman who gets a great deal of media coverage. Joe Biden was basically MIA, and the legacy media covered for him!
Who started a world war? (Two actually)
What a load of garbage. I don’t compare people to Nazis; it’s a stupid argument. But if I were to play that game, I could make a stronger argument of Democrats and the Biden administration resembling Nazi’s than Jason did of Trump here.
Democrats literally ran on ‘Trump and his supporters are Nazis hell-bent on destroying Democracy’ and got thumped at the ballot box, despite employing many of the same tactics Jason accuses Trump of doing here.
You all need to wake up. Own that you got this wrong and rebuild around a platform that actually helps people.
Sunshine, the Left has zero moral ground to lecture anyone on media manipulation. These are the same folks who’ve perfected propaganda—through Hollywood, legacy news, and every alphabet network. You don’t get to cry ‘misinformation’ when you are the factory
You did amovie with my dude Noah! (AKA KId Blue) "Looper" how much does time and space influence your creativity?
Yes it is, because it is real!
Clank Clank!! Keep Going!!
What do you mean compare? They are nazis. Hard stop.
I've been with you since HitRecord, and while I do love your creative work and your writing, it's a real treat to hear you speak openly and "off the cuff" like this. I really hope you consider doing this more often.
Trump was attacked by the media which promoted the Russia lies and hoaxes. The media treated him terribly, which is the reason for such mass relentless hatred. They’re responsible for the manipulation, and people should be upset.
Among multiple other lies, the media endorsed and repeated the “sharp as a tack” lie. Don’t fucking tell how Trump sows distrust of the media. They planted, watered and fertilized the seeds of their own distrust. End of fucking story.
I know the world is on fire and everything, but holy crap how good were the last four episodes of Andor? So good. The brittle dayglow shine that is cracking under the weight of decay in the Empire, how they can just barely hold things together. Andor getting Mon Mothma out of the senate. Andor getting Klaya out to Yavin. Oh man, don’t get me started about Klaya. I feel like in a previous draft she was Leia, but then Kenobi had to use a ten year old Leia and it ruined it. But Tony Gilroy just said screw it and added a K at the beginning of the name. I so wish it was Leia, and thats the secret backstory of her character. Anyway, yeah, no. They have incompetent yes men in charge that in any sane universe wouldn’t be making the coffee in the federal government. I worry that this all becomes so unstable that it flies apart at the top and we’re all left picking up the pieces as the grifters all flee to Moscow. Man, Andor was great, though. Glad that came out. Ties in real well with Rogue One. Which ties in with A New Hope. Isn’t star wars great? People should have the right to face their accuser and have evidence heard before a judge and a jury of their peers.
I absolutely love your premise and connectedness about Politics, Democracy, and about Ms. Appelbaum, respectively! Thank you so much for sharing your input once again. As for my comment, I feel like running for President of the United States of America as a Democrat towards the November 2028 presidential election would be the most unique thing I can do on behalf of the American people and for fellow humanitarians abroad. I have a vision that is meant to resonate that stands for the rule of law, truth, justice, democracy, love of country, and freedom, no question about it. Please feel free to connect with me; I have a Substack, my posts and poetry are easily available, and my link is romanticsinger24.substack.com
Thank you.
Becoming educated about their actual agenda means learning about history and Trumps history as well. Just watching who he looked up to during his first term will provide some context. Then, reading Project 2025 will provide additional context into how he and his Republican compatriots have been approaching governance of the United States today. Now. Not looking back, but looking to current actions of his and his administrations. Please read credible sources for your information. This is something that most people get to learn about in University. How to differentiate between reliable and biased or opinion based sources. If you never went to university spend some time learning how to access the validity of the sources of the material you consume. On any issues.
He is worse than hitler. He is torturing this entire country in many different ways
TDS is a hilarious disease. 🤣🤣🤣🤣
Omg horror dude!
Oh, Joe, comment on the dismantling of the Department of Education. "We don't need no education..." Do we?
Can you check into HitRecord once in a while please? Everyone loves you there.
Yes
Go away … leave space for us please.
Mini essay: Trump can be seen as a nostalgic idealist, constantly pushing for a return to what he views as USA's "golden age." His vision is rooted in the idea that "America" was at its best during a time of economic dominance and cultural unity, and he’s trying to restore that ideal. The problem with this kind of nostalgia-driven idealism is that it overlooks the fact that the world has changed—global economics, technology, demographics, and even cultural dynamics have evolved in ways that no longer align with that past vision. Attempting to restore a time that no longer applies to today’s circumstances can actually do more harm than good, by ignoring current realities and potentially setting us back in ways that limit innovation, inclusivity, and adaptation to the challenges of the modern world, in that way I can see why someone might compare Trump to Hitler (extreme nationalism).
Unfortunately, I feel that our President is, in many ways, just a reflection of the broader state of the U.S. right now. So many people are nostalgic for the past, dreaming of a time when things seemed simpler or better. But the reality is that the world has shifted, and instead of taking responsibility for the consequences of our actions and the state of the world today, it’s easier to point the finger at others and say, “Well, that’s because of their decisions.” We can’t go back in time; there is no magic rewind button. The focus needs to be on doing better—on accepting our current state, understanding what’s at stake, and striving to adapt and improve, rather than clinging to a past that no longer fits the world we live in. We need a vision that acknowledges the present and looks toward a future where we do better as humans. Same people saying "all lives matter," "anti-abortion," yet are happy to stand by and vote for a man who only cares about his people and his ideas, and not THE people. If you're talking about make America great again then what about establishing justice, ensuring domestic tranquility, promoting the general welfare?...Its the plastic straw effect, short term convenience long term harm, cheap, bad for the environment, but hey better than the new alternative so America loves them and will go back to them because yolo who cares about the future....
No.
The National Socialists brought their nation back from the dead and within 12 years was the world’s foremost peaceful superpower where usury was punishable by death.
The Third Reich had the highest quality of life of any Western Nation and should the trends continue, they will never be outdone- tragically.
Trump keeps selling America out . He is the antithesis of blessed 88.
Joseph, a bit off topic but, I just wanted to say that your film “500 days of summer” changed my life— I wrote a novel heavily inspired by it called “Whitman and Lorelei” which I hope will be acknowledged by trad-publishers, (i’m trying but not finding success yet) seeing you on substack in a crowd of fellow intellectuals makes me so happy. By the way you speak, you clearly definitely belong here— and i’m glad that you’re having important conversations and interacting with your audience. You are so insightful and passionate. Being able to see your mind so clearly leads me to have a bit of a schoolcrush haha (I am in my mid-twenties, so not actually a school girl)
This… this is EXACTLY whats happening today
He is rounding innocent people up and sending them off in planes to an unknown fate-- potentially a life time in prison with little hope of seeing their families again. And against judicial orders. What else does he or Miller have to do to convince others this is fascism?
https://open.substack.com/pub/commongooddispatch/p/why-substack?r=48cilp&utm_medium=ios