It's a coup

It feels like both the longest and shortest two weeks on record. Two weeks ago today, Donald Trump was sworn in as President. Without needing to read any dedicated-MAGA press, there's been quite a shift in tone in the newsletter, blog, substack, BlueSky version of news. Where there were one or two "wait and sees" two weeks ago, there are none, now.

Today, I've finally seen more headlines pointing out the obvious than those still questioning it. It's quite clear that Elon Musk is cashing in on his purchase of U.S. elected officials. As he notoriously fired employees, ditched servers, and stopped paying his bills within days of taking over Twitter, he has brought this same slash-and-burn deviancy to the U.S. Government. "Arrest him," I keep shouting at the radio/television/internet, "for trespassing, if nothing else." He wears no federal ID badge, has been voted for and confirmed by nobody, and clearly enjoys being the wise guy. The thing is, neither he, nor the child-human-shield he keeps firmly locked on his shoulders, is who you voted for.

It's important to see this for what it is, and stop capitulating. Stop capitulating to the DEI distraction. Stop pretending that the terrorizing of trans people doesn't affect you. They (oligarchs and the numerous levels and jurisdictions of politicians they've purchased) will hurt you, too, if they haven't already. In the weirdest rewrite of the BS they spewed during the campaign, it is now the GOP that wants you to care about the queers down the street rather than the price of groceries. Don't fall for it.

If you're not of them, they are not for you.

Their favorite distraction is to make you hate on your neighbor rather than hate them for hoarding wealth, torching the planet with their private jets, lowering wages, increasing prices, threatening national allies, and demanding ever greater tax breaks for themselves.

It's a coup attempt. See if for what it is. Only then can we stop it. And it will take all of civil society to do so.