Trump is single-handedly destroying the US tourism industry. In 2023, international visitors spent more than $213 billion on travel and tourism-related activities within the US. This year, foreign travel to the US has declined significantly, leading to an estimated $64 billion shortfall.  

This Creek Also Rises Voltaire said in Candide, after the young anti-hero wandered and experienced all sensual, intellectual, and emotional life—come on back home where “One must cultivate their own garden.”

open.substack.com/pub/kgscalf/...

You set the house on fire, watched it burn, and then lost your nerve and put it out. You now have a partially burned house. Great job.

I cannot overstate the importance of reading books, particularly novels by respected authors, for critical thinking skills and reading comprehension. If the big gun novelists don't interest you, start small and work your way up. Or read whatever interests you. Just read. Or listen. It's all books.

OK, let’s see the best signs that you saw today.

@maddow.msnbc.com Here are a few of my favorite signs from today’s Hands Off rally in Vancouver, WA, just across the river from Portland, OR! We had several thousand!

American Democracy started here in Philly. Today 15,000+ told Trump-Musk #HandsOffPhilly 📸Credit: @pt74.bsky.social @50501philadelphia.bsky.social @newpennsylvania.bsky.social @phlscienceaction.bsky.social @pftlocal3.bsky.social @indivisible.org @maddow.msnbc.com @maddowblog.msnbc.com

A woman stands in front of the Washington Monument with a sign that says "Too Many Things Wrong To Fit On One Sign." Which is just objectively true.

Couldn't even begin to narrow it down
#HandsOff2025 #HandsOff #HandsOffDC #WashingtonDC @maddow.msnbc.com

#HandsOff Talkeetna, Alaska
photo credit Wendy Battino

400 here lining the avenue in our little Appalachian Rustbelt town in a red state.

I needed to hear this. Maybe you do too.

“Fear has a way of being contagious… courage is also contagious.” — Kamala Harris

Man, I miss her.

After getting some rest, I am in awe of everyone who continues to lift their voice and speak out. This is a moment for our country, and we must make a choice about the America we want to be.

Sen. Cory Booker has shattered the record, brought the BEST trouble, and redeemed the dream of America.

Massive thanks with all our hearts and greatest appreciation @booker.senate.gov

Pete Buttigieg has entered the chat.

Are you sending texts to The Atlantic stringer bell meme

Pm Private GIF ALT: Pm Private GIF

I would like to nominate Maxwell Smart for national security advisor.

😬

This continues to be the biggest story in the country: DOGE has already squandered half a trillion dollars in 6 weeks. Not billion. half a trillion, $500 billion talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/irs-p...

Bernie Sanders, AOC, and Greg Casar on stage in Tucson in front a crowd of 23,000 people.

Tucson, Arizona today.

Original projected attendance was 3,000 people.

23,000 showed up.

👊 On April 5, we are sending a LOUD message:
HANDS OFF OUR COMMUNITIES!
HANDS OFF OUR FREEDOMS!
HANDS OFF OUR DEMOCRACY!
We won't be silenced!

LFG!

Simply awful. And Trump is blocking immigration. This is yet another way that a superpower falls.

Trump says he will double tariffs on Canadian steel and aluminum in response to electricity duties The province of Ontario had placed a 25% tariff on electricity imported by the U.S.

BREAKING 🚨🚨🚨
Trump says he will double tariffs on Canadian steel & aluminum in response to electricity duties

Just maybe the guy who filed bankruptcy 1/2 dozen times, who is owned by Russian banks & the richest man on the globe wasn’t the guy to run the United States.

And the GOP clears the way.

Bernie Sanders: "I think this is a prelude not only to cutting benefits, but to privatizing Social Security ... why do you lie so much about Social Security? Why do you make it look like it's a broken system? The reason is to get people to lose faith in the system so you can give it over to Wall St"

YouTube video by Senator Chris Murphy Murphy: Six Weeks In, This White House Is On Its Way To Being The Most Corrupt In U.S. History

The corruption is so blatant and frequent as to anesthetize us against seeing it as problematic and demanding that it stop. Do not be dulled into thinking it’s okay. Great speech by @chrismurphyct.bsky.social youtu.be/hycoCYenXls?...

That’s before we talk about the sadistic attacks on transgender Americans and teachers. Excluding the truly dystopian hatred towards Democrats and even his favorite racist slur about Sen. Warren. The idolizing of his assassination attempt is right out of Hitler. That speech was American fascism.

What we saw last night was nothing but lies beyond count. The twisting of good projects overseas into dark evil and almost 5 minutes of lies about Social Security recipients. It’s all twisting reality so fools are eager to tear down the very system protecting them. They’re coming for ALL of it.

Social media post by Sean Casten (@SeanCasten ) reading: 'You cannot repeal the first amendment by tweet. I know this because I watched Schoolhouse Rock.' The post includes a quote from Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump ), with a profile picture featuring an American flag, stating: 'All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests. Agitators will be imprisoned/or permanently sent back to the country from which they came. American students will be permanently expelled or, depending on the crime, arrested. NO MASKS! Thank you for your attention to this matter.'

I know because I’m old enough to have been there when they adopted it.

Avos not ripe yet(may become unaffordable?)
But delish hummus sweet potato toast instead. Tiny bright moments amid the chaos.