Dr. Rick of Maine and Malta

Last Year's Move to Toronto And This Year's Politics (video and commentary)

Professor Snyder discusses how best to resist the “fascist oligarchy” now installed in Washington. Is our choice — creating a personal safe house in the EU and writing comments to the NY Times, Substacks and our congressmen — appropriate or futile? It all seems more Quixotic with each news cycle.

I wrote to our Republican Senator of Maine, Susan Collins, today to weigh in on the vote in the upper chamber coming up soon on the Trump budget proposal. Please follow my lead and write to your Senator as well.
It may help.

YouTube video by PBS NewsHour Brooks and Capehart on Elon Musk's impact on the U.S. government and agencies

youtu.be/suua4hYfLTY?...

Conservative, David Brooks, labels the DOGE cuts to USAID as essentially genocide and states that Elon Musk’s work will lead to millions of deaths, comparing it to horrendous despots like Mao and PolPot. Just slowing NIH cancer research may have similar results ultimately.

Judge Wilkinson, a conservative Republican, released this ruling Thursday evening. It eloquently demands the proper action for the U.S. government regarding bringing Mr. Garcia back to his family. Throwing people in a prison without due process and without charges is a crime against humanity.

TX Rep, Brandon Gill, is convinced that Trump will be so successful with his MAGA plans that he has introduced the American Golden Age Act. It would make Trump’s birthday a Federal holiday, rename Dulles Airport, carve his face on Mount Rushmore and create a new $250 bill with Trump’s likeness.

YouTube video by Joint Venture Silicon Valley Keynote: David Brooks

This video runs 45 minutes, but found it reassuring in these troubled times. Hope you enjoy it and gain from listening to it as well.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=putO...

The Republican leadership is calling for the US to abandon NATO. That position makes clear that they are not the conservatives. They are the destroyers of the alliance that kept the world safe for 80 years. The Democrats are the ones who want to conserve the values and alliances we care about.

Opioid related deaths (overdoses either intentional, best characterized as deaths of despair, or unintentional because of erratic levels in illicit purchases) are all tragic, but there is absolutely nothing about the Trump tariffs that has anything to do with them. Note this graph:

During the American Civil War, the cost to "buy your way out" of service, was typically $300 which allowed a draftee to pay the government instead of serving in the military. Check the chart below to see how much it has cost to buy your way out of a war with Putin ($355.54 so far):

I was at the typewriter again this morning writing to our Walter Mitty-ish Senior Senator from Maine attempting to see her actually show some vertebrae:

Phillips P. OBrien on Substack Hi All, just sent out my weekend update, free as always. This is arguably the most momentous week in European history since 1991 or even 1945. The US pivoted this week to be a friend of dictators who ...

substack.com/@phillipspob...

YouTube video by New York Post Caroline Kennedy attacks ‘predator’ RFK Jr. in scathing letter ahead of confirmation hearing

Caroline Kennedy clearly details how unqualified and inappropriate RFK Jr’s nomination is to be HHS Secretary. As a physician (now retired) I can affirm that rejecting this nomination will save more lives (times millions) than I and every doctor I worked with ever saved.

youtu.be/VFw24zVO_3E?...

January 27, 2025 Yesterday, President Donald Trump began a trade war with Colombia after that country’s president refused to permit two U.S.

Think back to how Kamala was in charge of immigration during the time that these policies were formulated and initiated. Trump’s undiplomatic and ignorant handling of the matter during his first week bodes poorly for achieving our goals on this problem.

open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

The average price of a dozen eggs last month under President Biden was $3.65. Today, a week into Trump’s term, they are over $6 per dozen and even higher in many states. Hmmmm. Very Interesting.

Best news of the day: After Trump pulled out on 1/20, Michael Bloomberg yesterday announced that his philanthropic foundation will cover the U.S.’s financial contribution for the Paris Climate Agreement and provide the reporting requirements for emissions associated with climate change - Yea Mike!

Dems should designate a shadow Secretary for each Rep appointee who will make public alternative decisions and declarations on each and every Fed Govt action, so Americans can see what we feel should be done to contrast with Trump’s plans these next 4 years. Specific differences must be pointed out.

Anne Applebaum: “What truly confuses the Danes is Trump’s inability to articulate, either at press conferences or, apparently, over the telephone, why exactly he needs to own Greenland, or how Denmark can give American companies and soldiers any more access to Greenland than they already have.”

To Sen Collins: One of the Federal Government’s most important functions is to provide for the common defense. Hegseth is not qualified in experience nor appropriate in character to be Secretary of the DOD. Recognize your obligation to whip the negative votes for his defeat with fellow Republicans.

The conclusion of
Jack Smith on January 6, 2021: “[B]ut for Mr. Trump's election and imminent return to the Presidency, the Office assessed that the admissible evidence was sufficient to obtain and sustain a conviction at trial.”

In 1977, Jimmy Carter sent this message into safe on Voyager 1
“We are attempting to survive our time so we may live into yours . . . to join a community of galactic civilizations. This record represents our hope and our determination, and our good will . . . .” May his wish somehow come true.

One of the better pieces of news I read today -

Children with cystic fibrosis are no longer automatically eligible for the Make-A-Wish Foundation because a new drug works so well that these kids are now expected to have an essentially normal lifespan.

WHY THE PAST 10 YEARS OF AMERICAN LIFE HAVE BEEN UNIQUELY STUPID A brilliant analysis by Jonathan Haidt

This analysis is spot on:
open.substack.com/pub/jonathan...
“We must harden democratic institutions so that they can withstand chronic anger and mistrust, reform social media so it becomes less socially corrosive, and better prepare the next generation for democratic citizenship in this new age.”

Bluesky's growing pains As Bluesky evolves into an increasingly relevant platform, it faces both predictable and surprising bumps in the road.

Bluesky's growing pains www.cnbc.com/2024/12/22/b...

Let’s get serious about changing the vocabulary. Let’s stop letting people who are wrong use the label “right” or allowing a party that is interested in preserving none of our basic values to claim the title “conservative”.

More visitors than ever are discovering our second home:

I saw “Wicked” yesterday. It had an incoherent story line, no memorable songs, and it bored me to the point that I almost walked out. WTF!? I have never found a film with a Tomato Meter reading that high (around 90) that was not enjoyable.

Richardson also noted that 75 Nobel Laureates in medicine, chemistry, economics, and physics wrote to senators urging them not to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr.. They reminded them he has no credentials or relevant experience and that he has opposed vaccines, the FDA, the CDC and the NIH.

Heather Cox Richardson reports - Murdoch family is in a struggle after the death of Rupert. At least two of the three of Murdoch’s children who are set to inherit the company do not share their father and brother’s politics. Perhaps Fox News’ days are numbered.

Tom Friedman’s analysis of events in Syria - insights and some optimism - ends with: Best Russian aphorism to sum up the challenge that regional and global powers now face in fixing Syria: “It is easier to turn an aquarium into fish soup, then to turn fish soup into an aquarium.”