Hartmann Report

They put an egg into a caterpillar or spider and when the wasp larvae hatches it eats its host, leaving behind only a husk.... The Republican presidential debate wasn’t encouraging: Trump’s hold on the GOP appears stronger than ever. And that’s bad news for America. In Robert Hubbell’s excellent Today’s Edition Newsletter on Substack, he made the point yesterday that Trump’s relationship to the GOP is like that of one of those parasitic wasps that puts an egg into a caterpillar or spider and when the wasp larvae hatches it eats its host, leaving behind only a husk. I’d take the metaphor a step farther: there’s a fungus, cordyceps, that infects ants and seizes control of their brains to alter their behavior to the fungus’ advantage. Another example is the toxoplasma parasite that’s often spread by cats: when mice are infected with the parasite, they no longer fear the smell of cats (and sometimes even want to play with them!), thus becoming easy prey. Scientists call it “fatal attraction.” What Trump has done to the GOP is really quite impressive, worthy of either cordyceps or toxoplasma. And, frankly, it’s amazing that they didn’t even see it coming or try to stop him. (More on that in a moment.)

Here’s a quick summary of the things that Biden has accomplished (with a little help from Democrats in Congress) in his first two-and-a-half years in office... The first Republican debate of the 2024 election cycle is tonight, and while all the drama seems focused on whether or not anybody beyond Chris Christie will take a serious swing at Trump, odds are most of the evening’s time will be devoted to trashing President Joe Biden. So, to help keep you sane through all the lies and BS — and the fog you may be in by the end of the debate if your drinking game involved the word “woke” — here’s a quick summary* of the things that Biden has accomplished (with a little help from Democrats in Congress) in his first two-and-a-half years in office.

Hawaii needs to move on this quick, before other for-profit utilities get into the act. The corporate raiders will soon be circling, even as Lahaina buries its dead… Following the tragic — and perhaps criminal — fires in Lahaina, the state of Hawaii should purchase Hawaiian Electric, the sole provider of electric power to the state, and run it as a publicly owned utility. Here’s why. When it comes to electric utilities, there are basically only two types of companies: private and public. The main difference between the two is one of incentives.

If we want America to become the “we society” that represents the highest outcome of democratic governance, we must get a large enough progressive majority in Congress to can actually pull it off… Ron DeSantis, it’s reported this weekend, is targeting giant corporations and billionaires for money in exchange for political favors: he’s essentially soliciting bribes. How the hell did America get here? There are basically two models for social organization, regardless of all the names. They are “me societies” and “we societies.”

"The future masters of technology will have to be light-hearted and intelligent. The machine easily masters the grim and the dumb." —Marshall McLuhan Read more at HartmannReport.com. -Thom

The Best of the Rest of the News. — New tapes show the fake electors plot goes all the way back to before the election was even held! — Some on the right are saying “please stop with the progressive hero worship of Jack Smith & Tanya Chutkan” — but aren’t they in fact heroes? — People are “shocked” and have “never seen anything like this” about Jared Kushner’s billions. Where is the investigation? — If the ruling of the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is upheld by the Supreme Court, the abortion drug Mifiprestone will become almost impossible for women to access in Republican-controlled states that have outlawed abortion. — Good News Alert! Climate Change: the kids won their trial in Montana! — Electric cars are facing punitive fees in Red states: why are they blocking progress? — Geeky Science: To paraphrase Napoleon Hill, think and grow young! — Crazy Alert! 13 yr old girl emerges as the new head of QANON cult and vows to indoctrinate kids... Read more at HartmannReport.com. -Thom

Whether it’s Barbie or the Trump prosecutions that have brought about what feels like the a sea-change in the American zeitgeist — or the combination of them both around the same time — I’ll take it! Have you noticed Americans are beginning to reject hate? Trump’s popularity — even among Republicans — is dropping like a stone, and parents are beginning to show up in large numbers at school board meetings to talk back to bigots and haters. MSNBC and CNN are filled with Republicans who have rejected Trump and hate. Increasingly, pastors are speaking out against Trump and hate. Trump called for huge protests at his arraignments, but only a handful of people showed up, and the Wall Street Journal is calling for Republican presidential candidates to organize themselves in a way that will prevent Trump from becoming the GOP’s nominee again.

There’s a deeper truth here: the Trump/MAGA faction of the GOP hasn't just committed electoral crimes -- they've declared war on democracy itself... While it may be satisfying to call Trump and his enablers “fascists,” there’s a deeper truth here, with which America must come to terms: the Trump/MAGA faction of the GOP has declared war on democracy itself. Funded by rightwing billionaires who, themselves, view democracy as an inconvenient pain-in-the-ass and — when Democrats talk about them “paying their fair share” — an actual threat, these MAGA Republicans have also joined forces with wealthy international elements dedicated to ending democracy all around the world. They’re supported by a media machine itself largely created by rightwing billionaires — Murdoch’s Fox “News,” over 1500 rightwing radio stations, and think-tanks and publications based in every state in the union — dedicated to tearing down democracy in our country and promoting the interests of oligarchs, the fossil fuel industry, and autocrats. They gin up suspicion of racial, religious, and gender minorities to replace the natural distrust working class people have historically had of corporate bosses and the morbidly rich.

Why are Republicans across the nation insisting that the country’s most severe problems are teaching Black History and trans kids wanting to be recognized for who they are? There’s a popular internet meme going around that says: “Say you’re in a room with 400 people. Thirty-six of them don’t have health insurance. Forty-eight of them live in poverty. Eighty-five are illiterate. Ninety have untreated mental illnesses. And every day, at least one person is shot. But two of them are trans, so you decide ruining their lives is your top priority.”

We can’t afford any more George W. Bush’s or Donald Trump’s, who were both brought to us by Democratic-leaning voters thinking they were doing the right thing by voting for third party candidates... One of the most fashionable statements these days among progressive-leaning voters who pretend to great political insight is: “I want to vote for the person I like the most, not some party or candidate that I only half-agree with.” Its corollary is: “You’re just trying to get me to vote Democratic because you support that party’s corruption. I won’t be intimidated: I’m going to vote for the best person to run the country!”