<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto">Thanks Fran … a lot of good stuff in here with tools to fight back.<br id="lineBreakAtBeginningOfSignature"><div dir="ltr">~Steph</div><div dir="ltr"><br><blockquote type="cite">On Feb 19, 2025, at 7:26 AM, Fran B. via Lekooks <lekooks@lekook.org> wrote:<br><br></blockquote></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr">

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Dear Friends,</div>

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I highly recommend you check out <a href="http://www.substack.com/" id="OWA14fdc3e5-c56a-8a72-0c65-a0cbdc262a1b" class="OWAAutoLink">

www.substack.com</a> for great newsletters relevant to the current political crisis in our country and ways to fight back while we can. </div>

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Many of us are feeling emotionally drained by the situation and are avoiding news. I feel better when I scream at my representatives in Congress and the Democratic Party, which has failed us deeply when some members vote for unqualified, dangerous and even

 treasonous GOP cabinet nominees. </div>

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I'm guessing some of you will not like my using this list to spout off. I stgrongly suggest we all use this list to spout off and support each other in the effort to halt the dystopian madness.</div>

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<span style="color: rgb(81, 167, 249);"><b>MADA</b></span>, please help <span style="color: rgb(81, 167, 249);">

<b>Make America a Democracy Again</b></span>,</div>

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Fran Bills</div>

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<div id="divRplyFwdMsg" dir="ltr"><font face="Calibri, sans-serif" style="font-size:11pt" color="#000000"><b>From:</b> Antonia at ReframingAmerica <reframingamerica@substack.com><br>

<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 19, 2025 12:31 PM<br>

<b>To:</b> sandhillcrane@hotmail.com <sandhillcrane@hotmail.com><br>

<b>Subject:</b> Mafia Donald Teams Up with Russian, PayPal Mafias</font>

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"Nice country you have there, Volodymyr. Shame if anything happened to it."</div>

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͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏    

 ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏  

   ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏

     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏    

 ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏  

   ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     ͏     </div>

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 Donald Teams Up with Russian, PayPal Mafias</a></h1>

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"Nice country you have there, Volodymyr. Shame if anything happened to it."</h3>

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<time datetime="2025-02-19T12:32:04.650Z">Feb 19</time></div>

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<td style="vertical-align:middle"><a href="https://substack.com/@antoniascatton" originalsrc="https://substack.com/@antoniascatton" shash="Bwtf4VUqZMJd3NCm6yMFLn+6n5BXSaBvUHXjy/T9NBgM/DcXY2xowK9pvgwarjjjOYykZSH/ss6DAqYG31eYmtxbMH83dQInbVUTGzsFhCTGCjBFfB3iZKfp/yWBRAosGCe+2QYAuTkOakTyf8uqGpDghBFhYBipku4pa5heipI="><img class="x_custom-css-email-avatar x_avatar-QIQ5yR" width="40" height="40" style="box-sizing:border-box; border-radius:500000px; max-width:550px; border:none; vertical-align:middle; width:40px; height:40px; min-width:40px; min-height:40px; object-fit:cover; margin:0px; display:inline" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fb7cf85bf-5831-469a-a951-58bc1ae01c86_1464x1464.png" data-unique-identifier=""></a></td>

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“Nice country you have there, Volodymyr. Shame if anything happened to it.” The leaders of the Trump Crime Family and the PayPal Mafia have joined forces. Now they are shaking down Ukraine for “a cut of the business” with Putin as the “muscle.” Here is how

 the mafia analogy makes this situation make sense.</p>

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Image by Antonia Scatton. Not A.I. Good old Photoshop.</div>

<h2 class="x_header-anchor-post" style="font-family:'SF Pro Display',-apple-system-headline,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji','Segoe UI Symbol'; font-weight:bold; margin:1em 0 0.625em 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:1.16em; font-size:1.625em">

Fruitful Metaphors</h2>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>We call Trump names and try to associate him with negative words, but “bumper sticker” phrases only

</span><em>ring true</em><span> if they trigger what </span><em>already</em><span> lives in people’s minds.</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong>“Donald Trump = Mafia Boss” </strong><span>is what we call a</span><strong> “rich cognitive metaphor.”

</strong><span>It allows us to create </span><strong>narratives</strong><span> that make sense of what is happening and convey deeply held moral judgment, narratives which we can then “activate” in people’s brains with a few well-placed words.</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong>We use metaphors to explain, but also to </strong><em><strong>understand.</strong></em><strong>

</strong><span>When you find the right metaphor, it doesn’t only give you a quick and simple way to convey meaning to

</span><em>others</em><span>. Cognitive metaphors are also </span><em>fruitful</em><span>, they offer

</span><em>you</em><span> ways to branch out: to explore and make sense of different aspects of what you are observing.</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>In August of 2023, I wrote a </span><strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/59b952fb-beb7-41a1-a23c-1294cf46d6c5?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/59b952fb-beb7-41a1-a23c-1294cf46d6c5?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="OGT1QpDz87yLkAglrJe8a91Z+o2Jz7PHu+5a5/uDQmy76IKIKn3+nj/1O5rLZvTZSMQ9e32cX8h3GBrFH76K761aqQ64ilNU8e1Rowh7qjUarqnp0vSo3wbLooVWAsh7BXW4XCN7Fm/jJVbFGM6nP4VU9mgIborKnimZ9+6idWg=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">newsletter</a></strong><span>

 using the “Donald Trump = Mafia Boss” analogy in reference to framing the dialogue around his court cases. As

</span><strong>Trump’s criminality expands with his newly acquired power,</strong><span> this metaphor bears

</span><em>truckloads</em><span> of fruit for making sense of his </span><em>current</em><span> behavior, particularly in terms of his relationships with the appropriately named

</span><strong>“PayPal Mafia” </strong><span>and </span><strong>Vladimir Putin</strong><span>, who runs Russia as a “Mafia state.”</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>Trump’s actions as president make more sense if you know that he was the protégé of the legendary Roy Cohn, mafia lawyer and fixer, and Nixon advisor, who taught him that</span><strong>

government and the law are not limits, but tools to be coopted and abused, to crush your enemies and obtain personal wealth and power.

</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><span>Metaphors can also contain </span><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/cb6eb6c8-64f2-4ec0-ab2a-3901e6558f2d?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/cb6eb6c8-64f2-4ec0-ab2a-3901e6558f2d?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="vUZT3/4Z0c0HwLbL2+oILTmZubW9LBpKqo+z+BlcT6t8PFNels28lOUDVmaDayD8hlsFN3C+eMe1+mz6ipWfyHDLFVrMKwIrW00LAegqNqFlQBccQIx5vjvu36k9seTLgatcpFCgV9BrO1iJ7XaXJQ+vr/ErBQ27U1pKccD1EyU=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">“behavioral

 expectations”</a><span> </span></strong><span>that lead people to automatically and subconsciously visualize

</span><em>how they are supposed to</em><span> </span><em>act </em><span>in a familiar set of circumstances. In other words,

we all know how this movie ends: the people being terrorized by the criminal gang must join forces, stand up to the bad guys, and drive them out of town.

</span></p>

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<h1 class="x_header-anchor-post" style="font-family:'SF Pro Display',-apple-system-headline,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji','Segoe UI Symbol'; font-weight:bold; margin:1em 0 0.625em 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:1.16em; font-size:2em">

Extortion</h1>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>Trump is like a mob “enforcer” who firebombs a business or two before he even starts shaking people down, just so people know he means business. His threats toward Canada, Mexico and Greenland are

</span><strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/a128d250-c436-4f9a-8461-0c13276f33f3?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/a128d250-c436-4f9a-8461-0c13276f33f3?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="EcgZIq7j09skVsaAsGYIB6Dvl9WQW3iWOuUL5ZJcQgyrpoXOpwVnGzYJm1LGlQrpcIvFLGtwEK3Bx/ewSVqXNOqiOoUEPT2gOe3gBrBUgEHOyv0l1AnDjSSlGZC0c6ztWJSQizt7FtfJPq246O3MFmi3gFyKLypR1qKQGRfwNsg=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">performances

of power</a>: demonstrations of his willingness to cause harm in defiance of logic or reason.

</span></p>

<h3 class="x_header-anchor-post" style="font-family:'SF Pro Display',-apple-system-headline,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji','Segoe UI Symbol'; font-weight:bold; margin:1em 0 0.625em 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:1.16em; font-size:1.375em">

<span>Trump to Ukraine: “</span><em>Your money or your life.</em><span>”</span></h3>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>Trump’s discussions with Putin and start of negotiations with Russia without including Ukraine or Europe violate every principle of international law and basic human decency. We should be helping Ukraine in every way we can. Instead, Trump is

</span><strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/1c9019d3-093f-414e-8037-b73bfea86698?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/1c9019d3-093f-414e-8037-b73bfea86698?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="Z3wgW6+zfKbnQJz3LAVuHsGMohE7KTegnPozJK/uVxNpLxMZRiujVRSx/hTQJL5GNawcpRwkXTS2geIhkL7ti0a0Er1iQnoFcxT5dFysBfaAbJ3Z0aCGcZIcuyLU5Ctzc0PmgWEirzCc2rWba6C3QD6gsP8aC9lcsTiPuKgZ6Pw=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">making

 significant</a></strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/1c9019d3-093f-414e-8037-b73bfea86698?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/1c9019d3-093f-414e-8037-b73bfea86698?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="LNlisvO1TSHfuDdCR7J35VooqHSzcsc1644ks+WUhDAtze2VtXVAIiH9JUY9D6pJt8EPGLFmfVcGgPFhghA9L9yCOCbe+fNF91+55xAmsoOtDkkv47aodqs19w1uMhOn4d8HodBOkvHBSWzK1I4UZuIuiRav6Km7D5Ly8WxAMHk=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">

</a><strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/1c9019d3-093f-414e-8037-b73bfea86698?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/1c9019d3-093f-414e-8037-b73bfea86698?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="b3CKX7cDIyRb41pE2ssJktTf69Qo9nfydngUOI0hun0TWqAaIC+Tuy75n0rtxodPgzuCVctO1tFhFfZPzCE3N6PnjVtcU3fjQ4MSkpqukNQcr+NWWePgwGQfBPGLQz3qfjknoV5JpoaJfWP/fnHSrNPVYkGJoH2huEzx/D2FtRA=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">concessions

 to Putin</a></strong><span> on Ukraine’s behalf, while </span><em>shaking down</em><span> Ukraine for what essentially amounts to a

</span><em>part-ownership of its country’s business</em><span>.</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

From the <a href="https://substack.com/redirect/7f3986dd-86f7-4690-83e5-61635561f594?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/7f3986dd-86f7-4690-83e5-61635561f594?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="UqK7farky7mGKS/a9v0MjnFKh2EojiTk6mndGXJwWBRL2FPJ6IVXX8tcAOL3ml4B3q9X4KdwSR5vgy+qNq0AQPRdV1ZUleHme7t4ML0KoYGGbVaBT/JkCzs9gRY36T2r5/CAl1Xpj0ab/n4CBBS6jMi+hnkrMMsyvvdBcOJ1y4Y=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">U.K.

 Telegraph courtesy of L O L G O P:</a><span> </span></strong></p>

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<td class="x_content" align="left" width="540" style="text-align:center"><a class="x_image-link" rel="" target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/redirect/48ff885f-416d-48f4-a057-7ecf6d3e7a0d?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/48ff885f-416d-48f4-a057-7ecf6d3e7a0d?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="uE+lsmC4h5kEinROoE20ty67zD76TNwzxq3/s1Nt4Wbga0zcTpB0l7MvDa/PbIWzOdTTjyuWllkoTKJcampXrsPdc4TYlIfBWEPM/9o37P/TPK3ZPtRdbcvU9kF0MuQg5qLq05rX55SJa7PcPmEsUfqOqz480kiKbTttHuamLRk=" style="flex-direction:column; align-items:center; padding:0; width:auto; height:auto; border:none; text-decoration:none; display:block; margin:0"><img class="" data-attrs="{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/3c9ab750-fff1-414e-919c-bac09c003a16_1576x1130.png","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":1044,"width":1456,"resizeWidth":540,"bytes":175462,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/png","href":null,"belowTheFold":true,"topImage":false,"internalRedirect":null,"isProcessing":false}" alt="" width="540" height="387.1978021978022" style="border:none!important; vertical-align:middle; display:block; height:auto; margin-bottom:0; width:auto!important; max-width:100%!important; margin:0 auto" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_540,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F3c9ab750-fff1-414e-919c-bac09c003a16_1576x1130.png" data-unique-identifier=""></a></td>

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<h5 style="font-family:'SF Pro Display',-apple-system-headline,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji','Segoe UI Symbol'; font-weight:bold; margin:1em 0 0.625em 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:1.16em">

SAY THIS</h5>

<blockquote style="border-left:4px solid #86154a; margin:20px 0; padding:0">

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); margin-left:20px; line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>Trump is running what amounts to a </span><em>protection racket </em><span>against America’s

</span><em>allies</em><span>. The people of Ukraine are putting their lives on the line to protect their freedom

</span><em>and ours</em><span>, and Trump is </span><em>shaking them down for protection money,

</em><span>using Russia as the </span><em>muscle</em><span> to</span><em> extort </em>

<span>Ukraine to surrender its natural resources and its independence and become an

</span><em>economic colony</em><span> of the United States.</span></p>

</blockquote>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

Putin gets to keep territory that it gained through violence and the desperately needed lifting of economic sanctions. The PayPal Mafia gets the rare earth minerals it needs to expand its tech empire.

</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong>If there ever were a good reason to call and email your elected officials AND your local and national news outlets and demand that they hold hearings / investigate and inform the American people about a story, this would be it.</strong></p>

<div style="font-size:16px; line-height:26px">

<hr style="margin:32px 0; padding:0; height:1px; background:#e6e6e6; border:none">

</div>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

There is a clear pattern here. Other actions by Trump also make sense if looked at in terms of extortion:</p>

<ul style="margin-top:0; padding:0">

<li style="margin:8px 0 0 32px">

<p style="color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; margin-bottom:0; box-sizing:border-box; padding-left:4px; font-size:16px; margin:0">

<span>Trump is </span><strong>extorting</strong><span> Panama into accepting and </span>

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/15d5c137-b93b-43b9-abd4-187d85a0640b?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/15d5c137-b93b-43b9-abd4-187d85a0640b?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="T3KYdTQz+wlzO+gMT3LFKAGF7RFU5Fvz5M+LlU6wCwaOYkWXTk/kkwEDmBXIknzCLWWCMuS7MX28EiwRr91Aks/1le7+xBuqUjgKIRriGgq3rriNNXsl9iWpMz9WERhA+KdOxK7p75VXZ3G00/p2BdxJd1SBROSO6gtBW5kMhNg=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">holding

 hundreds of migrants</a><span> </span></strong><span>from U.S. with </span><strong>threats

</strong><span>of taking over the Panama Canal.</span></p>

</li><li style="margin:8px 0 0 32px">

<p style="color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; margin-bottom:0; box-sizing:border-box; padding-left:4px; font-size:16px; margin:0">

<span>Trump is </span><strong>extorting</strong><span> New York Mayor Eric Adams to allow ICE free reign to arrest immigrants in New York City, by

</span><em>suspending</em><span> his criminal convictions and holding the </span>

<strong>threat </strong><span>of resuming them over his head, in a </span><strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/1b6e842b-cf94-4720-aec0-dfc54b3935f6?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/1b6e842b-cf94-4720-aec0-dfc54b3935f6?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="ZwWR+RGvTPJH9dDv4Xd+MStTPr3L6bgYqxaOTEIIhNHQ9DBFRKt6W3Xr4SowB6kQZbG3fSUVTeaI3jL821NDg4hGMo6jL2mGMMQgS9y09a/3K/ho4MCuLr/S37aOT0GiiSE7+pU55cgxdzSTQLIjW1BJQuzJcAXfT9nblprQk44=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">well-document

 quid-pro-quo</a><span>.</span></strong></p>

</li><li style="margin:8px 0 0 32px">

<p style="color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; margin-bottom:0; box-sizing:border-box; padding-left:4px; font-size:16px; margin:0">

<span>Trump is </span><strong>extorting </strong><span>Republicans in Congress to confirm his nominees, ignore his and Musk’s illegal actions, and support his immigration crack-down, by

</span><strong>threatening</strong><span> to have Elon Musk </span><strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/0f1dd1fd-ac11-4229-b9f5-8c16b361d51e?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/0f1dd1fd-ac11-4229-b9f5-8c16b361d51e?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="Dp5Qug6iaCh4nCFZWPkzCLRTAcG4m+ahVPClvaaNxZOw3+zpr9UI/24WW9sLTxINu+aWnEx5mKaJacv4h+daq5sGjEsj7Agd16lbcrpCGFLOYQL1Dlzx0i5J0QZifW5Qv7wsIZqo5kjShviNqjJHCstGfWqDnUM0DurdPItPfUc=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">fund

 primary opponents</a><span>. </span></strong><span>Some even </span><strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/52441c19-882d-43b0-b160-0fa9ba5f798f?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/52441c19-882d-43b0-b160-0fa9ba5f798f?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="mlA22tmbudjhCHE+f+QxVXEAzvWY82+WXTr6ITtHz0SjpUiS01NMeFmkth3Izn5O41axdOSKSDrfKJqBezkGKdRAo12FrXETmfAMORkHslTWTc2bhvxOhVlhfF76ICpHA0dRkyk5yKhgzKXN1pYOhc7sZsycJU0hLH2Co3/ykF4=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">expressed

 fear for the safety of their families</a></strong><span>.</span></p>

</li><li style="margin:8px 0 0 32px">

<p style="color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; margin-bottom:0; box-sizing:border-box; padding-left:4px; font-size:16px; margin:0">

<span>Trump and Musk are </span><strong>extorting </strong><span>employees of the executive branch into allowing Musk and his henchboys to illegally access government systems and private personal information, and unconstitutionally impound government funding,

 by </span><strong>threatening</strong><span> to fire them (illegally). Those who resist are physically removed by armed private security guards.</span></p>

</li><li style="margin:8px 0 0 32px">

<p style="color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; margin-bottom:0; box-sizing:border-box; padding-left:4px; font-size:16px; margin:0">

<span>Trump may be </span><strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/b3acdda3-1187-4743-bc26-23fcf620e034?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/b3acdda3-1187-4743-bc26-23fcf620e034?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="NOOd1ltUNl/lL7RKgjcw/U+7tQIMqKTi8SXbGGoTnLXQ5qqDLHwWB5r2koTl97ROp5l4XX4EU9lmiiRqge166WqvEc+V1InXxMkNw1221lwsMrNtLah7DYzxMGFRRghGqu/wqN6y4Vu3KITRTTPlw/zBQZETeszYafegJpuYJ20=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">soliciting

 bribes</a></strong><span> from national news networks by suing them for libel (suits he would definitely

</span><em>lose </em><span>in court) and then settling out of court for millions of dollars. Meta is facing an anti-trust case, and Paramount (CBS) is seeking approval for a merger. The only question is, is this straight

</span><em>bribery</em><span> or is he </span><strong>extorting payoffs</strong><span> with the

</span><strong>threat </strong><span>of unfavorable outcomes?</span></p>

</li></ul>

<h5 style="font-family:'SF Pro Display',-apple-system-headline,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji','Segoe UI Symbol'; font-weight:bold; margin:1em 0 0.625em 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:1.16em">

SAY THIS</h5>

<blockquote style="border-left:4px solid #86154a; margin:20px 0; padding:0">

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); margin-left:20px; line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>We, the people, did not authorize Trump, or any president, to abuse the power of the United States government to terrorize Americans into compliance, extort payments from businesses, or shake down our friends and allies. All power is granted to leaders

 by their people: it is both </span><em>limited </em><span>and </span><em>conditional</em><span>, to be used

</span><em>for</em><span> the people and never </span><em>against</em><span> them. This is why we have civil liberties, separation of powers, and the rule of law, and why we use international institutions to cooperate with other nations to advance the freedom

 and security of our peoples.</span></p>

</blockquote>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>This is also why we must stop allowing corporation and billionaires to grow so big and accumulate so much wealth that they can

</span><em>buy and corrupt governments</em><span> for their own purposes. </span>

</p>

<h3 class="x_header-anchor-post" style="font-family:'SF Pro Display',-apple-system-headline,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji','Segoe UI Symbol'; font-weight:bold; margin:1em 0 0.625em 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:1.16em; font-size:1.375em">

The PayPal Mafia</h3>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

The “PayPal Mafia” is the nickname of a group of former PayPal founders that includes Elon Musk, Peter Theil (owner of J.D. Vance) and David Sacks (Trump’s Crypto and A.I. Czar).</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong>Musk’s wholesale demolition of the federal government</strong><span> is exactly what you would expect when a crime family, tired of being investigated, gets their brother (slightly daft and emotionally unstable) elected Mayor. They close the office

 that investigates public corruption, fire everybody in the Sheriff’s office and replace them with their henchmen, and turn all the city contracts over to “the family.” It’s all

</span><strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/4b5e0f3b-d5d8-44cc-96f2-344a8a06b9bd?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/4b5e0f3b-d5d8-44cc-96f2-344a8a06b9bd?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="A0LFBln1E0XjW0w+o8KcM9V+TXNZnOjZlx0fFlnSdazFPSMWBqEgm8ZVIlDlAdShexrp3V7+AhkU4ICeiTi6l/K0GydPePksdfzybKhD2cMcefe5YeXGbPun1hhiuB14+e/igQnCYjlNRv/XYhiTAm/WUwDHoVM/UAj/eobyVNM=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">corruption

 and graft</a></strong><span>.</span></p>

<div class="x_captioned-image-container-static" style="font-size:16px; line-height:26px; margin:32px auto">

<table class="x_image-wrapper" data-component-name="Image2ToDOMStatic" width="100%" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="">

<tbody>

<tr>

<td style="text-align:center"></td>

<td class="x_content" align="left" width="484" style="text-align:center"><a class="x_image-link" rel="" target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/redirect/4de4251f-7db7-4f53-ac1c-00972d707ff4?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/4de4251f-7db7-4f53-ac1c-00972d707ff4?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="ToLMRFIiBGqhfdGT8CvRVqQ4tc7xjf55VZdkCnWE5OrbrBVxcpZqXp3HvN4Bzy4zwWE21l7BwFiXr39BporP2yQKeJEMlTvx1g+rCVSEiEdUTAoANSxLmQ/8PUhWHSPq7JKxXB/Ly7M6xCY/h2AXMSooo8Uhn/k+BsKSLJGH9e4=" style="flex-direction:column; align-items:center; padding:0; width:auto; height:auto; border:none; text-decoration:none; display:block; margin:0"><img class="" data-attrs="{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d4bc27aa-bb7c-4eb9-a0e4-7e164ee7f97d_1290x1578.jpeg","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":1578,"width":1290,"resizeWidth":484,"bytes":260776,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/jpeg","href":null,"belowTheFold":true,"topImage":false,"internalRedirect":null,"isProcessing":false}" alt="" width="484" height="592.0558139534884" style="border:none!important; vertical-align:middle; display:block; height:auto; margin-bottom:0; width:auto!important; max-width:100%!important; margin:0 auto" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_484,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd4bc27aa-bb7c-4eb9-a0e4-7e164ee7f97d_1290x1578.jpeg" data-unique-identifier=""></a></td>

<td style="text-align:center"></td>

</tr>

</tbody>

</table>

The New York Times</div>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>Trump, Theil, and Sacks </span><em>also</em><span> suffer from </span><strong>white christian techno-fascist dystopian fantasies</strong><span>, but that’s a topic for another newsletter.</span></p>

<h3 class="x_header-anchor-post" style="font-family:'SF Pro Display',-apple-system-headline,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji','Segoe UI Symbol'; font-weight:bold; margin:1em 0 0.625em 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:1.16em; font-size:1.375em">

The Mafia State</h3>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>It is well known that Vladimir Putin runs a </span><strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/de2a32ea-383c-4cd5-b2e8-e9229fc54aa6?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/de2a32ea-383c-4cd5-b2e8-e9229fc54aa6?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="dQtX9HZBRWB2iz9YRmCAFhBJnz/068Rk9GfO+edfSDO/2Y73ROX6bs/qCCYAjjzybCQ7PXazfqTtZ3KLpTPDRHzeaL+MEKnp6ko5djIifJMH5MSWtIxlaVfUSOfsIPGe0fZR7gtzXdauI4nmQ4Nm6FqVC60b/4+EaFtnlR0pmTU=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">“mafia

 state.”</a></strong><span> Russia is a full-fledged </span><strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/16306631-e93d-4167-a796-649250556e1c?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/16306631-e93d-4167-a796-649250556e1c?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="xG2wq0vkcMCypB3BfLr8d7p/Nj7+2ow5brsQjJnkI5fwEQGWWREjm5NETvXRn1tunHV3/5lhRGJJJx0uYd+QWspc3WiwGM/PAJriR5JSbcB2sxnYhjaayaZN6ZjWU8k4bdRTnHtVz6FqTAnezR69H4EqYrHB/QJrhIzRflKH838=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">kleptocracy</a><span>

</span></strong><span>that has been stripped so bare that there’s not much left to steal, and where anyone who speaks up against you “falls out of a window” or “has an unfortunate plane crash.” All that remains to be figured out is the exact nature of the Trump/Putin

 relationship. Is Trump is working for Putin or is Putin is working for Trump?</span></p>

<div style="font-size:16px; line-height:26px">

<hr style="margin:32px 0; padding:0; height:1px; background:#e6e6e6; border:none">

</div>

<h2 class="x_header-anchor-post" style="font-family:'SF Pro Display',-apple-system-headline,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji','Segoe UI Symbol'; font-weight:bold; margin:1em 0 0.625em 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:1.16em; font-size:1.625em">

Key Words and Phrases</h2>

<blockquote style="border-left:4px solid #86154a; margin:20px 0; padding:0">

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); margin-left:20px; line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>ABUSE OF POWER, CORRUPTION. </span><strong><br>

</strong><span>We need the terms “abuse of power” and “corruption” to appear more in the public debate than “fraud” and “waste.”</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); margin-left:20px; line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

EXTORTION, PROTECTION, RACKET, SHAKEDOWN, “MUSCLE,” THREATS OF VIOLENCE, ECONOMIC or POLITICAL HARM.</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); margin-left:20px; line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

MAFIA, ORGANIZED CRIME, CRIME, CRIMINAL. Trump “acting like a” or “playing the role of” a MAFIA DON.

</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); margin-left:20px; line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

Refer to the war in Ukraine as the UNPROVOKED INVASION of a FREE, INDEPENDENT and DEMOCRATIC NATION (not a “land grab”).</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); margin-left:20px; line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

COLLUSION WITH RUSSIA.</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); margin-left:20px; line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

BRIBERY, BRIBE, PAYOFF, CONFLICT OF INTEREST, WHITE COLLAR CRIME</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); margin-left:20px; line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

FREEDOM, THE RULE OF LAW, THE CONSTITUTION, CIVIL LIBERTIES, SEPARATION OF POWERS, LIMITS OF POWER, CONSENT OF THE GOVERNED.</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); margin-left:20px; line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, FREEDOM, NATIONAL SECURITY</p>

</blockquote>

<div style="font-size:16px; line-height:26px">

<hr style="margin:32px 0; padding:0; height:1px; background:#e6e6e6; border:none">

</div>

<h3 class="x_header-anchor-post" style="font-family:'SF Pro Display',-apple-system-headline,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji','Segoe UI Symbol'; font-weight:bold; margin:1em 0 0.625em 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:1.16em; font-size:1.375em">

What We Are Fighting FOR</h3>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>It is important to point out</span><em> </em><span>THAT what they're doing is wrong. It is even</span><em> more

important to remind people WHY. Mafia leaders are not “cool.” They are a threat to the freedom of people everywhere.

</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

The victims of extortion rackets are the owners of “mom and pop” stores and restaurants and the residents of communities, all of whom are just trying to live their lives without the boot of organized crime on their necks.

</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong>The victims of Trump and Musk’s extortion are virtually </strong><em><strong>everyone</strong></em><strong>,</strong><span> from American public servants to the people of Ukraine, from migrant families to everyone who depends on

</span><em>any</em><span> form of government program or service, or has private and personal information held in government systems, which is literally every American. Both here and in other countries, all our freedom is being threatened. All our economic stability

 is being put in jeopardy. All our national security is being put at risk. </span>

<strong>All of us.</strong></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>We must fight </span><em>for</em><span> freedom and </span><em>against </em>

<span>using the tactics of organized crime, like bribery and extortion, both here and abroad. We must fight

</span><em>against</em><span> corruption and abuse of power, and </span><em>for</em><span> the rule of law and constitutional limits and civil liberties.</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

We must fight for and defend the “Eliot Nesses,” the Treasury and FBI officers and other patriotic civil servants who fight corruption, defend our government and the rule of law, and put “mobsters” in jail. We may also need to fight for their international

 counterparts: the U.N., INTERPOL, and the International Criminal Courts (ICC).</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<span>We must </span><strong>band together to fight back,</strong><span> and that means join forces with anyone willing to stand up to Trump and Musk, from Republican politicians to foreign countries.</span></p>

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<td class="x_content" align="left" width="791" style="text-align:center"><a class="x_image-link" rel="" target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/redirect/72769101-865c-4099-a7d7-11cc0e9b424e?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/72769101-865c-4099-a7d7-11cc0e9b424e?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="oXFA+lITGaygCbFQtq51VTvTQB5J+UP0/zLm0B+5W0oje/dBRFxR1ZKTLfk7Vv0Bq7F2i02c1tMSIHEDEgLD+nIq1U0+4emt6cMuB94U+cnOFGQkeS8rvRyFrbHX6050SRA+6AMubHTZMo3FqJZxJ3LJGGIKtKb17i8FPJNERF8=" style="flex-direction:column; align-items:center; padding:0; width:auto; height:auto; border:none; text-decoration:none; display:block; margin:0"><img class="x_wide-image" data-attrs="{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/d005f30a-c154-4cbf-a4ef-2d11c66ea33d_791x65.png","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":65,"width":791,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":1218,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/png","href":null,"belowTheFold":true,"topImage":false,"internalRedirect":null,"isProcessing":false}" alt="" width="550" height="45.19595448798989" style="border:none!important; vertical-align:middle; display:block; height:auto; margin-bottom:0; width:auto!important; max-width:100%!important; margin:0 auto" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1100,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fd005f30a-c154-4cbf-a4ef-2d11c66ea33d_791x65.png" data-unique-identifier=""></a></td>

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<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

Thanks, as always, for reading and subscribing! I hope you are able to use this in your work and your activism!</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

In solidarity,</p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong>Antonia</strong></p>

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<td class="x_content" align="left" width="980" style="text-align:center"><a class="x_image-link" rel="" target="_blank" href="https://substack.com/redirect/f5640c34-1277-465e-880e-009cbb5f2c57?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/f5640c34-1277-465e-880e-009cbb5f2c57?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="fximD4RhsPTRdMuFvoruahkYXb63Uwf5umzXm35gRCyDv/eGypfmnX3NZLz0llVwO5DdYFiZCc3JXrQGqyMWi2w2YhL0diFQHDt5N2b+VJ5FOP9LaZS38jPBSxd0PtiN1pX9FNB4nfnWLNcMx/kOzhT3GVaivaui2rGwn5jFYpk=" style="flex-direction:column; align-items:center; padding:0; width:auto; height:auto; border:none; text-decoration:none; display:block; margin:0"><img class="x_wide-image" data-attrs="{"src":"https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/f17a2397-d137-41da-baa9-2564a632d95b_980x40.png","srcNoWatermark":null,"fullscreen":null,"imageSize":null,"height":40,"width":980,"resizeWidth":null,"bytes":18620,"alt":null,"title":null,"type":"image/png","href":null,"belowTheFold":true,"topImage":false,"internalRedirect":null,"isProcessing":false}" alt="" width="550" height="22.448979591836736" style="border:none!important; vertical-align:middle; display:block; height:auto; margin-bottom:0; width:auto!important; max-width:100%!important; margin:0 auto" src="https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/w_1100,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Ff17a2397-d137-41da-baa9-2564a632d95b_980x40.png" data-unique-identifier=""></a></td>

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<h3 class="x_header-anchor-post" style="font-family:'SF Pro Display',-apple-system-headline,system-ui,-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,'Segoe UI',Roboto,Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif,'Apple Color Emoji','Segoe UI Emoji','Segoe UI Symbol'; font-weight:bold; margin:1em 0 0.625em 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:1.16em; font-size:1.375em">

NOTES:</h3>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/59b952fb-beb7-41a1-a23c-1294cf46d6c5?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/59b952fb-beb7-41a1-a23c-1294cf46d6c5?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="lUAM/ySua7NbIGUF8J+5N9T2DVlVpI0Iy+xS9J57DtSsTmZbKa75eIpbneefCQE+fFG2q9ChR28uEOBU1GVIWdUQ8kmNiJ4pMMBPdzD7D077VxefV44qqtwTwBACuANWjq14ZcnOJNt/iMBGjz7RJOmRDWr6nLPwRW9oQSqztYw=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">Mafia

 Donald: How to talk about Trump</a></strong><br>

<span>By Antonia Scatton | Reframing America | Aug. 29, 2023</span></p>

<blockquote style="border-left:4px solid #86154a; margin:20px 0; padding:0">

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); margin-left:20px; line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<em>"Donald Trump is a habitual criminal and crime boss. His whole life has been about the pursuit of money. We can reframe that whole life as evidence, not of his talent, but of his boundless greed and willingness to stop at nothing in his pursuit of personal

 wealth."</em></p>

</blockquote>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/619f0ac1-26b5-4cc2-be08-6d334c301e0e?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/619f0ac1-26b5-4cc2-be08-6d334c301e0e?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="ew34QccHzUvfjJRCPosoUpASxfW/tI5PefiQKbpQbrSiES6kHJ+uIm18euwP2/ArtZCXx8s8tyoVjOO2H6ociIpRpSz+99MzG2YYDsjE1dPGvjBmdBD106z7T+b5bMZ0Fn+Xq0YdxCJr4+U4qWYYGx99FGD7Ga/yn2hw6PxhgMs=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">Restoring

 Sanity: We will prevail. We need to talk like it.</a></strong><br>

<span>By Antonia Scatton | Reframing America | Feb. 06, 2025 </span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/7f3986dd-86f7-4690-83e5-61635561f594?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/7f3986dd-86f7-4690-83e5-61635561f594?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="Jy+P0ifUE1bM6/mLV2HLKAJHoReiHenr0Cr4vRwzy+n0IyO1c2OPYF9tuVADPER5o1TmsSbo907qBQ2kk46CnL+tCfwUnNPu71qgRgYDLHf+CsHiO2QLVCbDBZXqmBsszkDXRPMAIpkRXX1sBfqaZ9cky3xehu+0mjoVilP2PC0=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">The

 people who mocked Trump/Russia should be ashamed of themselves</a></strong><br>

<span>By LOLGOP | The Cause | Feb. 18, 2025</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/ad78dfb2-896a-428c-9a8b-37b70a59af76?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/ad78dfb2-896a-428c-9a8b-37b70a59af76?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="JrEJB8+RNLiWjpfhOeR2Y8fZdS+/Zn/BNgKH1EorIsRGM5LVAz2Jfc0YdbCuzl6bLQVF7zlzYF0saFKe5rfjIYqW6aLXVD0JnfJlnzgku+BoHWrOgP08Ra8pIfayPBYPRtdCuUNdwH7vZNFYAOCEigdOKZYNmWjbvhumms3vWgE=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">Gangster’s

 paradise: how organised crime took over Russia</a></strong><br>

<span>By Mark Galeotti | The Guardian (UK) | Mar. 23, 2018</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/d1418c3e-e13f-4b26-ba18-b123fe7e6600?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/d1418c3e-e13f-4b26-ba18-b123fe7e6600?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="OO7NuTjg7vrJQJq1V59DJBBir4Tm7Ki1fgOYSeNDZ+FiB8GaD8LTWmKtZRx80ucM4sbcXmxFMKeqfhB33i8TSi8j2t2L9ATrStRSmp3GX/JgVpJkqsK0iVfSiZVxOP4BLVAkekA/D8nqLNndFYtANRHdPKCWHtzLgram/tW8/lI=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">The

 Mafia Style in American Politics: Roy Cohn connects the McCarthy era to the age of Trump across more than half a century.</a></strong><br>

<span>By George Packer | The Atlantic | Oct. 3, 2019</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/1c9019d3-093f-414e-8037-b73bfea86698?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/1c9019d3-093f-414e-8037-b73bfea86698?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="QRFF4kM3wvTCPidSAZG+llM91Dd8XyM0FxY84O0K6SqwAQ8IB42WtXBie2aua+zgArNj86KLAMoVmZhyXWpBU2xlqskSWu/ZCTtaxBcr3dtGnTvWDMlMZvIaa2dJHLWA8yeslVpclWNkj51Ts/wGf4VpFefv2S1eBEBDqU+ZUYY=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">Hegseth

 makes clear that Trump will sell out Ukraine</a></strong><br>

<span>By Eliot Wilson | The Hill | Feb. 17, 2025</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/15d5c137-b93b-43b9-abd4-187d85a0640b?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/15d5c137-b93b-43b9-abd4-187d85a0640b?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="uFQMArfuDYCCUvuins1LBs0Hm5KStxnrGTjpu+lEhdzfIl6LbpRufZ/Ss5ndaDAfYmFV02ZAWpmbDHwFoYljXDkTmWINFb70zfI7pdkUWS/RqZIbBV2VydJEYZW+KZEa133TnTtIYVXW+esEEv5WljYSBDMTmAU/DtBBWXvkf0k=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">As

 Trump ‘Exports’ Deportees, Hundreds Are Trapped in Panama Hotel</a></strong><br>

<span>By Julie Turkewitz, Hamed Aleaziz, Farnaz Fassihi, and Annie Correal | The New York Times | Feb. 18, 2025</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/1b6e842b-cf94-4720-aec0-dfc54b3935f6?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/1b6e842b-cf94-4720-aec0-dfc54b3935f6?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="W5VMVtXw1AcLHTTMzuCtbSO00kec9eZCsgEEuyJKHwgHZeKBE4Uf3KjEf4GWrOdiUxII3uuEGCR/NPFHOHaZqX5wuzrGwlIjikU/lcnsK3+P1JFQSYFnhE6FQD8aA84IKOdWzZSaOGoPbeMIbxcMwlKgzJtFl+o1BiUHAOUTJm8=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">New

 York governor under pressure to fire Eric Adams after ‘quid pro quo’ with Trump over criminal charges</a></strong><br>

<span>By Rhian Lubin and Ariana Baio | The Independent (UK) | Feb. 16, 2025</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/b3acdda3-1187-4743-bc26-23fcf620e034?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/b3acdda3-1187-4743-bc26-23fcf620e034?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="untl7LY+q9Ipgs51x8N4dpEDBDxQT8ue3QA7oRntOfgOYP5wF+aJRWErvHlivQyxofCRI4eFnRo+t8Ey0FD3b/WF+Cp+omM9FTgEAHjohhOIPUZKf6GSl8vExJSkUYwvDaJHGknWraVK2STsVjx3zQPa1A0IdH1/129mUWjXlN0=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">Bribery

 Worries Shadow Trump, CBS Suit</a></strong><br>

<span>By Jessica Toonkel | The Wall Street Journal | Feb. 14, 2025</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/0f1dd1fd-ac11-4229-b9f5-8c16b361d51e?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/0f1dd1fd-ac11-4229-b9f5-8c16b361d51e?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="f/9Ke3HQL7Ur74NsEkH1jsSJvD5zxjncTa5NzTQMbib+TsGBV68JpqsJE5ywFLjsfk1b1z6JbTikrL4bI7uERjed5AUqP6OIydGblkVQXRJs1GKq+jyrpcNhF6XoAZbWf/GCpAyEbbjqF1g2D+1sUVAP1to75sNXKxUBrYNMBvE=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">GOP

 senators terrified of crossing Trump, facing Musk-funded challengers</a></strong><br>

<span>By Alexander Bolton | The Hill | Feb. 10, 2025</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/52441c19-882d-43b0-b160-0fa9ba5f798f?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/52441c19-882d-43b0-b160-0fa9ba5f798f?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="c/KMIrVu0sqlmsZutKYg13pYzpBsgm2mKzPd1wwqsbpbxoOHdSXSj5NXcdfYYKvh1BYewdaEPvmwr3AwDCEOFkCR8+MF7YAKb3KfZ356JBiXVd+eZwKH1pEO/govgLrv8PFVF/tL0BmVdKVOWXAnzn9IJxZ+w+l6RbY+LVD86G4=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">The

 terrorizing style in American politics</a></strong><br>

<span>By Philip Bump | The Washington Post | Sept. 14, 2023</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/4b5e0f3b-d5d8-44cc-96f2-344a8a06b9bd?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/4b5e0f3b-d5d8-44cc-96f2-344a8a06b9bd?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="M1jA1dDxTt4t2Fkbd79RLh5bIlgnzHyonKK17PhPk89hAXipJv2ngRD/Z78gq7DSwKkhPJnDYH5KxwSavVvsniMDk/v34vOehFRyZINB0JJilxcfpACjqCauypsbRH6fzBXkVB03m/yv4rJn2+hKut5BTJ3F//imsr9pMuTSlDc=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">Elon

 Musk’s Business Empire Scores Benefits Under Trump Shake-Up</a><span> </span></strong><br>

<span>By Eric Lipton and Kirsten Grind | New York Times | Feb. 11, 2025</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/16306631-e93d-4167-a796-649250556e1c?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/16306631-e93d-4167-a796-649250556e1c?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="tBeEyc6L1V1Nrr0tkFjWurUg3xOss9WGOk50y8lzzx0eWsMcs0fSQtFJt3WkTpZE91o9bjfAAHWBVv8MMzBBv74kQs6UmgO2Mo3HZI6smYY6ZIneXDJB+znWPCTkEFBAmpocEJGZcm8XLDqzBTX7KUsmetqYssjOXIIymnl3P8U=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">The

 Rise of Kleptocracy: Power and Plunder in Putin’s Russia</a></strong><br>

<span>By Miriam Lanskoy and Dylan Myles-Primakoff | Journal of Democracy | Jan. 2018</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<em><strong>More on the Paypal Mafia:</strong></em></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/6824bbc5-19e6-4840-98f0-69c1589ea6ab?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/6824bbc5-19e6-4840-98f0-69c1589ea6ab?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="TZduC8DsxVcebEAIJ8Xkm5joU9Z6RkWlcIZcl3Tm2vgs3Kx/OYDn0dvgUipVZmfo//zdgjfnDgxEyO4oB5h98Sn1FpciSr9pKJxAaVFzcYeQEeBs7Kj1eiXUHE9QIvGgN2hgLr2ZqeIwjfvqGUfuD8ykWkfbkaRk8uBOGucPjW0=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">The

 ‘PayPal mafia’ comes to Washington</a></strong><br>

<span>By Jasper Goodman, Lauren Egan, Lisa Kashinsky, Megan Messerly and Ben Johansen | Politico | Dec. 6, 2024</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/c7bf1391-5f05-4196-8d36-fae0193f985e?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/c7bf1391-5f05-4196-8d36-fae0193f985e?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="kCDq76+W0SF9/avUSzDPlpgmQAiHN3jzVoUPL+29kXsfBUkw8kUCA/1CpaMqRFYGh52hOguQyh2kw+YtBTt+oAzeYtNS2p5Rvcbjyt/QwOK1CgkrqSv8/ExPoM4XZPmfKjaX5Sv+y1qEf+S60z6tOQpHa/x7v0jxUq4DWPfAF3M=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">The

 PayPal Mafia is taking over America’s government</a></strong><br>

<span>The Economist | Dec. 10, 2024</span></p>

<p style="margin:0 0 20px 0; color:rgb(54,55,55); line-height:26px; font-size:16px; margin-bottom:0">

<strong><a href="https://substack.com/redirect/5fcdae0b-fac8-4aea-905b-7164ed239f43?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" originalsrc="https://substack.com/redirect/5fcdae0b-fac8-4aea-905b-7164ed239f43?j=eyJ1IjoiZnVmbHkifQ.H2fkyV9F5NukIp701opMW-nGnGJxIqlSfxZ4h0kK2_0" shash="QYGaB7DLJ1tFBlldo7zDPaiE0vZtJGSCoJLAsssm9T2CN4AyVWMe2GNrmc4thMFtvMsCyqWoElt/IhRBn69xuxfq8OtLzcn0m+7fIDVe/fG4Ovi4SXsNt8s8Dnl4czid8pa9Gnb3+5QKsPcYTeoHUVc8FxNtK1AbMbyjhbedSwg=" rel="" style="color:#86154a; text-decoration:none">How

 the roots of the ‘PayPal mafia’ extend to apartheid South Africa</a></strong><br>

<span>By Chris McGreal | The Guardian (UK) | Jan. 26, 2025</span></p>

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