Jonathan, you’ve nailed the contradictions, but I believe you're missing the deeper driver behind Trump's behavior: it's his pathological narcissism. He doesn’t just play for optics—he thrives on creating chaos, confusing everyone around him, and securing his power through manipulation. His contradictions are not errors or inconsistencies; they are a strategy. He’s detached because he doesn’t care about logic or consistency—he cares about staying on top. His supporters may try to make sense of it, but he’s playing a game of perpetual distraction, where his only goal is to maintain control. Until that’s understood, this will continue to spin.
Susan, That’s a stark but powerful observation. It captures the way his actions leave a trail of harm and division, highlighting the destructive impact of his relentless pursuit of power. Thank you for adding that perspective—it’s a reminder of how important it is to stay grounded in truth and accountability.
Susan, Yes, partly to the plane I am on. I have survived so much hate and division in my life—more than enough for a lifetime. It hasn’t helped a single person to hate me, condemn me, badmouth me, or gaslight me. They tried to break me, yet somehow, they couldn’t—not fully. If they had, I wouldn’t be here sharing my truth with you or anyone else. I believe healing—both within ourselves and in the world—requires a metacognitive perspective, one that seeks to understand the deeper layers of what’s happening. But to be clear, understanding doesn’t mean condoning. It means acknowledging complexities, so we can move forward without perpetuating the cycles of harm and division. Thank you for engaging with my words and for bringing your own thoughtful reflections. It’s in these exchanges that hope begins to rebuild.
I know of at least 2 people in my life who would happily take and are qualified for the jobs that “only foreigners are able to do.” They of course would require healthcare and a livable wage. Also, all of the bullshit personality quizzes and dumbass interview questions in big tech make a lot more sense. “We can’t find a candidate that hasn’t ever gotten a grade lower than an A in their life so we’re just forced to hire an H1B worker who we have more control over!” “None of the candidates could correctly name how many goats live in Argentina, so our hands are tied!”
Ps Thank you for making me a more informed person! I’m all on board for raising the wages of everyone, and ending the nightmare of people from other places being abused because they don’t have the legal standing to fight back. And Elon can go fuck himself. He’s living proof that being rich makes a person dumber.
Bottom line: "Strikingly, those in the top 1 percent were found to be potentially less smart than those close behind them, indicating ultra-success could be due to something different entirely. "
While the concept of an afterlife is not backed by the available science, and eternity is a long fucking time for anything, I’ll go along with it if it makes some people less shitty. Plus, it’s fun to think about.
Y'know, I actually looked this up once upon a time and his time as a Dem was shorter than I recalled, and it appears he actually was a registered Republican first. I wrote it up somewhere on Substack, I swear...
There's a story about baseball umpires that goes like this:
The new umpire says, "I call'em the way I see 'em." The more experienced umpire says, "I call them the way they are." While the senior most umpire says, "They ain't nothin' till I call them."
All roads lead to pooootin
https://x.com/maddenifico/status/1875967116030968029?s=46&t=eOghHEAJ7NrnLprqfixxtQ
I got a mention!
You’re Jim fucking Earl!
I remembered this from 2019.
…buckle up america, we’re going on the ride in Tesla that constantly catches on fire with two psychopaths drivers going in two different directions
Jonathan, you’ve nailed the contradictions, but I believe you're missing the deeper driver behind Trump's behavior: it's his pathological narcissism. He doesn’t just play for optics—he thrives on creating chaos, confusing everyone around him, and securing his power through manipulation. His contradictions are not errors or inconsistencies; they are a strategy. He’s detached because he doesn’t care about logic or consistency—he cares about staying on top. His supporters may try to make sense of it, but he’s playing a game of perpetual distraction, where his only goal is to maintain control. Until that’s understood, this will continue to spin.
That’s why everything Trump touches dies.
Susan, That’s a stark but powerful observation. It captures the way his actions leave a trail of harm and division, highlighting the destructive impact of his relentless pursuit of power. Thank you for adding that perspective—it’s a reminder of how important it is to stay grounded in truth and accountability.
It starts with poootin and the long game
https://x.com/maddenifico/status/1875967116030968029?s=46&t=eOghHEAJ7NrnLprqfixxtQ
Hello Wild Lion*esses Pride,
Those are words coined by Rick Wilson as the title of his book by the same name. It is a true thing.
Look at Rudy Colludy, Lindsey Graham, Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss, who sued to restore their good names.
Look at all the women and girls he physically and emotionally damaged.
Look how he is jockeying to murder Democracy all over the world.
Look at our breathable air, drinkable water, and the majesty of Nature’s indispensable open spaces.
He kills all that.
. . . but these words are on a separate plane from the one I believe you’re on. I read your beautiful newsletter.
Susan, Yes, partly to the plane I am on. I have survived so much hate and division in my life—more than enough for a lifetime. It hasn’t helped a single person to hate me, condemn me, badmouth me, or gaslight me. They tried to break me, yet somehow, they couldn’t—not fully. If they had, I wouldn’t be here sharing my truth with you or anyone else. I believe healing—both within ourselves and in the world—requires a metacognitive perspective, one that seeks to understand the deeper layers of what’s happening. But to be clear, understanding doesn’t mean condoning. It means acknowledging complexities, so we can move forward without perpetuating the cycles of harm and division. Thank you for engaging with my words and for bringing your own thoughtful reflections. It’s in these exchanges that hope begins to rebuild.
Your mind is remarkably clear and well organized.
I know of at least 2 people in my life who would happily take and are qualified for the jobs that “only foreigners are able to do.” They of course would require healthcare and a livable wage. Also, all of the bullshit personality quizzes and dumbass interview questions in big tech make a lot more sense. “We can’t find a candidate that hasn’t ever gotten a grade lower than an A in their life so we’re just forced to hire an H1B worker who we have more control over!” “None of the candidates could correctly name how many goats live in Argentina, so our hands are tied!”
Check the MAGA vs Musk tech bros split on H1B with these interactive infographics:
Trump flip flops on immigration to side with H1B employers against MAGA base: Follow the money
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/12/28/trump-flip-flops-on-immigration-to-side-with-h1b-employers-against-maga-base-follow-the-money/
EXPOSED: Musk’s scheme to hire more H1B workers by closing American public schools
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/12/29/musk-scheme-to-hire-more-h1b-workers-by-closing-american-public-schools/
How to exploit workers: Insider’s step-by-step guide
https://thedemlabs.org/2024/12/29/how-to-exploit-workers-h1b-prison-labor-undocumented-workers-gig-workers/
Ps Thank you for making me a more informed person! I’m all on board for raising the wages of everyone, and ending the nightmare of people from other places being abused because they don’t have the legal standing to fight back. And Elon can go fuck himself. He’s living proof that being rich makes a person dumber.
Thank you! I mean, I'm pretty sure they've literally done studies about the correlation between extreme wealth and unsmartness...
Yes, they have: https://www.iflscience.com/the-ultra-rich-may-actually-be-less-intelligent-than-lower-paid-people-study-finds-67416
Bottom line: "Strikingly, those in the top 1 percent were found to be potentially less smart than those close behind them, indicating ultra-success could be due to something different entirely. "
While the concept of an afterlife is not backed by the available science, and eternity is a long fucking time for anything, I’ll go along with it if it makes some people less shitty. Plus, it’s fun to think about.
I love soupcon. And, wasn't Trump a Demo during Carter's presidency?
Y'know, I actually looked this up once upon a time and his time as a Dem was shorter than I recalled, and it appears he actually was a registered Republican first. I wrote it up somewhere on Substack, I swear...
Trump responded to Carter’s death yesterday with a shocking-for-him degree of grace
Which is what makes it obvious that someone else wrote it.
There's a story about baseball umpires that goes like this:
The new umpire says, "I call'em the way I see 'em." The more experienced umpire says, "I call them the way they are." While the senior most umpire says, "They ain't nothin' till I call them."
Here's to calling a brighter 2025!