Anyone on this bowl who is watching what is going on in DC and ok with it? If so, I’d like to hear your POV, because between DOGE, the purging of the top military leaders and replacement with Trump loyalists, I have a feeling of immense foreboding. Short of watching Fox News, which I don’t think I can do without my blood pressure skyrocketing, I’m trying to understand if there is another way to interpret all of this that isn’t very, very bad. Not looking to argue - just trying to understand.

I share your shock and disbelief that we are here, but my understanding from my friends and family who support him is that they think the system is broken and there is a lot of waste and mismanagement which is why they think it’s a good idea that they try something else and have the government be run like a business. What they’re not understanding is that the government is not and should never be run like a business (read: for profit). The government is designed to protect the citizens’ best interests. For-profit does none of that. They are well-intentioned in their thought processes and are not wrong that the government can and should be audited and reworked, but that would mean taking money OUT of the system’s management hierarchy (i.e. lobbying and campaign finance reform), not making money more a part of how it’s run. They think that blowing the whole thing up and rebuilding might work and do more than what we’ve done for decades. But that’s what Trump wants them to think. In actuality, he’s condensing power underneath him alone, losing checks and balances, and funneling money to the most wealthy. It’s already an oligarchy. Within weeks, it will be a dictatorship. The second he defies a Supreme Court order, it’s done. They have no recourse. They have no army. He does. Constitutional crisis. No checks on his power. The Supreme Court already gave him king powers. We are then done. It’s just a matter of time at this point. He’s already told us what he’s going to do. Ladies, know we are tired, but we have to fight now to protect ourselves and our family and friends. Do what you can. Much strength to us all.

You’re not alone. There appears to be no loyalty to the Constitution, to the courts, to the people. Only loyalty to one man….yet “they” paint the people concerned about a dictatorship in America as only crazy left-wing maniacs. I am a moderate who is extremely concerned.

Am I the only one who believes Trump and Musk chose the acronym DOGE as an inside joke to describe their philosophy of turning the U.S. federal government into an autocracy? For the world history buffs out there, the Doge was the chief executive of an Italian city state -- especially Venice and Genoa. They were elected for life and served pretty much as the "king" of their domain. Hopefully enough Republican senators and representatives will find out where Trump has hidden their balls and stop this slide into fascism before it's too late. Otherwise we will have to wait for the 2026 federal elections and hope for a "blue wave" to put people in there who know what to do and aren't afraid to do it. By the way, I've been a registered Republican in the South for 50 years. The GOP has never been the same since Southern Democrats left the party to hijack the Party of Lincoln.

I'd recommend listening to Breaking Points, it's a news podcast with hosts from the left and right that debate/have constructive conversations about politics. They're all smart, thoughtful people and it's honest conversations, not just clickbait. Interestingly, they're all uncomfortable with Elon but some of them are happy about the purges and have interesting commentary about why. They do great interviews with people too!

Well half of this country voted for him and the Republicans have both Senate and the House. I think a lot of people are just afraid to admit they like Trump, are racist, and don’t care about lifting up the fallen or being the voice of liberty or leading the free world. I have a couple of family members who voted for him, but they just cite crazy stats (things like the DV Delta crash was due to D&I initiatives or the economy is always better under Republicans). There are no reasonable conversations that I can find.

I honestly am not paying attention to it on purpose. I can survive this. I am focused on what I can control. It has brought me peace.