How did King Donald happen?

I talk to a lot of people all over the country, and I hear the same question every freaking day from people like me who stand opposed to Donald Trump. How could this happen? How did we end up with a guy like this in the land of the free and the home of the brave?

I get it. I struggle with it myself, even though I have a good idea of how it happened and played a role in it. I can tell you this much, it didn’t happen overnight. If you’ve been around the block a few times (like me), you probably remember when presidential election choices were roughly this:

Then, they gradually morphed into:

But for at least three cycles now, we’ve been faced with:

That kind of existential drama creates a lot of tension, and it leads people into echo chambers and down rabbit holes where the opposition is pure “evil,” and you’ll vote for anything else. It’s no way to have a healthy and free society. And that’s how you end up with Donald fucking Trump.

Bill Maher is 100% wrong: If you’re pissed off that Trump won, don’t blame Democrats. Blame the American people. We were complicit. We allowed it to happen. Trump voters either knew exactly who and what they were voting for, or they didn’t pay attention. They didn’t take him seriously, and they just enjoyed the show. Either way, they told the whole world what they care about and what they don’t care about. We’re no shining city on a hill anymore, my friends.

I’m not an expert on political philosophy, but I do know people. I don’t believe most Americans want a king. It goes against our national DNA. But when people get fed up and fired up enough, they make boneheaded decisions. We’re going to be feeling the effects of this horrible, uninformed, selfish decision for a long time.

NO KINGS, RIGHT? RIGHT? If you think I’m letting the Democrats off easy, think again. They lost the election, and ever since, they’ve been sitting in the corner sucking their thumbs or trying to appease Trump. FFS, he’s firing people left and right for political reasons, demanding loyalty oaths from civil servants, and shutting off congressionally approved funding! He’s turning the presidency into a dictatorship by taking a meat cleaver to decency, the rule of law, and checks and balances. Big tech and mainstream media are basically his lapdogs now. We need an opposition party with some balls, and we need it yesterday. Democrats: take your cue from Jim Acosta, and wake the fuck up!

THE CHURCH OF TRUMP. Democrats should steal some cojones from the congressional GOP, because they obviously have no use for them. Might as well retitle Speaker Mike Johnson “Reverend” for preaching the gospel of Donald Trump full time now. His latest embarrassment is echoing Trump’s demand to put conditions on federal disaster relief for the California fires. Then he poured gasoline on the fire by adding that Republicans had three seats in California “frankly slip away from us.” What a fucking joke. But this is what MAGA voted for: political extortion when their fellow citizens are suffering. Every state is on its own now when it comes to natural disasters. Great! /s

RAIDS, DEPORTATIONS & DR. PHIL. I come from right-wing media, so trust me when I say that the cruelty is always the point. It’s playing out right now with the migrant deportations. Joe Biden deported people too, but you didn’t see it on the news or social media. Donald Trump makes everything a “show.” Doubt it? He brought in a talk-show psychiatrist for a ridealong! Welcome to the modern-day Colosseum. Just like in Roman times, the cruel performance is the whole point, facts be damned. Stay informed!

LOOK AT SOUTH KOREA. We’re not the only country facing a crisis like this. In December, President Yoon Suk-yeol, of our ally South Korea, declared “emergency martial law” and put the country under military rule, prohibiting all political activities and suspending freedom of speech and the press. He instructed his army chief to shut down the National Assembly. Is this where we’re heading? Doesn't seem outside the realm of possibility anymore, does it?

The South Korean assembly voted to revoke the president’s order, and there were mass protests throughout the country. A couple weeks later, the assembly voted to impeach Yoon, and he was suspended from his duties. He has since been indicted for insurrection. Good job. But the president’s conservative party remains supportive of him and is catering to extremists, while the liberal party is struggling to seize the moment. Sounds awfully familiar.

Fixing South Korea’s democracy now falls on the shoulders of ordinary South Koreans. I believe that about us too. It’s worth keeping an eye on this story.

ONE MORE THING. Here’s the power and danger of social media on full display: 80% of Americans over the age of 30 believe Israel has a right to exist, while only 40% of Americans under the age of 30 feel the same way. Propaganda is real, folks. It’s powerful, and it’s out there. We gotta look out for our kids and grandkids.

So what can you do?

No more whining. We are not helpless, and we are not royal subjects. We are Americans! We have to fight against this wannabe king like Americans.

1. Flood the phones and inboxes at your representative’s and senators’ offices with calls and emails. Get your friends and neighbors to do it too. Tell them you are one of the 75 million people who didn’t vote for a king (or one of the 77 million who voted for Trump and now feel like an idiot). We have to let them know we’re out here every day.

2. Social media is good for venting, but try some analog activities too. Support a group that is actively fighting back. Organized opposition is critical.

3. Independent media is vital now too. Please follow my recommended Substacks, and if there’s one I should check out, let me know about it.

4. Watch the exclusive video below from me. (Can’t see it? Then join our community and help me keep a fact-checker employed by upgrading to a paid subscription!)...