Progressive Thinking

No matter what you see or hear on TV, social media, or even talking to neighbors, check out the facts and think for yourself.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - Every time I hear a Republican repeat something that I know is flat-out false, it drives me nuts. These aren’t little white lies — they’re huge, proven-to-be-false statements that people repeat like gospel. I honestly don’t know if they’re lazy, scared, or just don’t care about the truth.

So I’ve done the work for you.
Here’s a short, simple list of common lies, the real facts, and the receipts — actual links to the truth.

LIE: The 2020 election was stolen.

TRUTH: There is no evidence of widespread voter fraud. More than 60 lawsuits were filed by Trump and his allies — and all of them failed. Even Trump’s own Attorney General, Bill Barr, said there was no fraud that would have changed the results.

AP Fact Check: No, the election wasn’t stolen
https://apnews.com/article/fact-checking-99371c9b79b43a102bd7c99c42b0e6dd

Politifact: False claims about 2020 election debunked
https://www.politifact.com/article/2021/jul/12/fact-checking-false-claims-about-2020-election/

LIE: Democrats want to “defund the police.”

TRUTH: This is a scare tactic. The Democratic Party does not support defunding the police. President Biden and other leaders have repeatedly called for funding the police — with better training, community programs, and accountability.

FactCheck.org: Biden’s position on defunding the police
https://www.factcheck.org/2022/02/the-facts-on-defunding-the-police/

Reuters Fact Check: Democrats on police funding
https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-usa-biden-police-idUSL2N2XV25N

LIE: Immigrants are bringing crime and violence to the U.S.

TRUTH: Study after study shows that immigrants commit fewer crimes than U.S.-born citizens. There’s no link between immigration and rising crime.

Cato Institute: Crime Rates Among Immigrants and Native-Born Americans
https://www.cato.org/publications/immigration-research-policy-brief/crime-rates-among-immigrants-native-born-americans-1990

FactCheck.org: Illegal immigrants and crime
https://www.factcheck.org/2018/06/illegal-immigrants-and-crime/

LIE: Climate change is a hoax.

TRUTH: 97% of climate scientists agree that climate change is real and caused by human activity. It’s not a debate — it’s science. Rising temperatures, melting ice, record-breaking weather — it’s happening right now.

NASA: Scientific consensus on climate change
https://climate.nasa.gov/scientific-consensus/

Politifact: No, climate change is not a hoax
https://www.politifact.com/factchecks/2021/mar/30/facebook-posts/no-climate-change-not-hoax/

LIE: Trump never tried to cut Social Security or Medicare.

TRUTH: Trump proposed cutting both multiple times in his budget plans. He has openly said he would consider cutting them again if reelected.

Reuters: Trump budget proposals included cuts
https://www.reuters.com/article/factcheck-trump-socialsecurity/fact-check-trump-budget-proposals-included-social-security-and-medicare-cuts-idUSL1N2ZA2LE

CNN: Trump’s comments on Social Security cuts
https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/23/politics/fact-check-trump-social-security-cuts-davos/index.html

Bottom Line:
These are just a few of the biggest lies I hear over and over again.
They’ve all been fact-checked. They’ve all been proven false.
But some people keep believing them — because they want to.

You don’t have to.
The truth is right here.
Click the links. Read for yourself.
Stop letting people lie to you.

This is not politics. This is a con. It’s a deliberate, calculated attack on American democracy and the U.S. Constitution.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - There’s a dangerous and downright disgusting scheme brewing in MAGA circles — one that should make every American’s skin crawl. It’s not a conspiracy theory. It’s a plan being openly discussed by Trump loyalists and right-wing operatives: run someone like J.D. Vance (or another Trump crony) as the Republican presidential candidate in 2028, put Donald Trump in the vice-presidential slot, then once they win, have the president resign so Trump can slide right back into the Oval Office.

Let me be blunt — this is not politics. This is a con.
It’s a deliberate, calculated attack on American democracy and the U.S. Constitution.

The Constitution is Clear — No Third Term

The 22nd Amendment says:

"No person shall be elected to the office of the President more than twice."

Trump’s allies think they’ve found a loophole. They argue that since Trump would "only" be elected vice president, not president, they can force him back into power after the fact. That is nothing but legal wordplay and bad-faith manipulation.

The 12th Amendment closes the door even tighter:

"No person constitutionally ineligible to the office of President shall be eligible to that of Vice President."

If you can’t be president, you can’t be vice president. Period. End of story.

This entire plot is a pre-planned constitutional crisis.
The founders never imagined a man so obsessed with power, so shameless, that he’d try to bypass term limits by propping up a placeholder and sneaking back in through the side door. But here we are.

A Cheap, Corrupt Power Grab

Let’s call this what it is: a political coup dressed up as a technicality.
It’s a scam, pure and simple — the same kind of stunt you’d expect from a corrupt dictator in a collapsing country, not a former president of the United States.

Trump’s people will say it’s "just a loophole." That’s a lie.
This scheme is an insult to every American voter, an assault on the rule of law, and a spit in the face of every person who believes in fair elections and peaceful transfers of power.

Legal Experts Agree — This Won’t Fly

Don’t take my word for it. Legal scholars across the country have already said this plan would violate the Constitution and collapse under the weight of lawsuits and public outrage.

A recent article from ABC News makes it clear:

"[Scholars say] the suggestion of a third term is unconstitutional and would likely trigger a legal battle if attempted." (Source)

The Times UK went further:

"Trump’s plan for a third term is no joke. It’s an open challenge to the Constitution." (Source)

This Should Terrify Every American

If this plot is attempted, it won’t just trigger court battles — it will tear this country apart.
The last time Trump refused to leave office peacefully, we got an insurrection. If we let him get away with this stunt, we’re not a democracy anymore. We’re a banana republic with better branding.

If the Republican Party has any backbone left, they should shut this madness down now. But I’m not holding my breath. Too many of them have already sold their souls.

The American people must stand up and say enough is enough. No more games. No more stunts. No more Trump. Our democracy depends on it.

#ConstitutionUnderAttack, #NoThirdTerm, #DefendDemocracy, #22ndAmendment, #StopTheCoup#ProtectTheVote, #NoLoopholes, #TrumpIsNotAboveTheLaw, #RuleOfLaw, #DemocracyMatters

Since Trump’s re-election, his behavior has only grown more extreme, and the Republican response has been lockstep obedience or cowardly silence.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - At this point, there’s no more benefit of the doubt. If you’re a Republican still standing behind Donald Trump, you’re either willfully ignorant, blatantly weak, or some mix of both. And if you’re an elected official with power and a platform, your silence—or worse, your loyalty—isn’t just embarrassing. It’s dangerous.

Since Trump’s re-election, his behavior has only grown more extreme, and the Republican response has been as predictable as ever: lockstep obedience or cowardly silence. Trump has openly promised a “day one dictatorship,” pledged mass deportations, and threatened to use the Department of Justice to go after political enemies. He’s even said that he plans to “gut the deep state” and “restructure” the Constitution to “restore presidential power.” These are not veiled threats—they are declarations of intent. And Republicans? They’ve greeted it all with applause or shrugs.

Take Speaker Mike Johnson, who once called for “election integrity” but now parrots Trump’s lies about 2020 and supports efforts to suppress the vote in key states. Senator Josh Hawley, who raised his fist to insurrectionists on January 6th, continues to push the idea that Trump is a victim of a corrupt system. Elise Stefanik, once a moderate, has rebranded herself as MAGA’s most loyal attack dog—going so far as to call Trump the “law and order president” while he faces over 90 felony counts.

Let’s not forget Senator Tim Scott, who campaigned as a man of faith and unity, yet now dodges every opportunity to criticize Trump’s plans for mass retribution. Or Ron DeSantis, who folded like a lawn chair once he realized criticizing Trump would cost him the nomination. And Lindsey Graham—the man who once warned Trump would “destroy the Republican Party”—now spends his days praising Trump’s “strength” and calling for his enemies to be prosecuted.

This isn’t politics. It’s cult behavior.

And it’s not just the politicians. Every Republican voter who still supports Trump is part of this mess. If you’re cheering for someone who’s promised to become a dictator, you are helping to pave that road. If you dismiss his threats as “just talk,” you’ve learned nothing from history—or from Trump himself. He means what he says. He wants the power. And the GOP is handing it to him on a silver platter.

Look around. Public education is being slashed. Women’s reproductive rights have been gutted. Book bans are spreading. Climate policy has been reversed. Immigrants are being targeted. LGBTQ+ rights are under constant attack. And all the while, Republicans claim they’re the party of freedom and patriotism.

Let me be crystal clear: This is not conservatism. This is authoritarianism dressed up in red, white, and blue.

And the price will be paid not by the rich or the powerful, but by working Americans—especially seniors, students, immigrants, the poor, and the sick. Those relying on Medicare, Social Security, and affordable housing. Those who can’t afford to weather a storm created by reckless leadership and blind loyalty.

History will not be kind to this era of Republican cowardice. It will remember who stood up—and who stayed silent.

This administration's failure to base decisions on evidence and analysis leaves citizens to bear the brunt of poorly conceived policies.

LAKE GENEVA, WI - The Trump administration's blatant disregard for conducting impact studies on their sweeping policy changes and budget cuts is not only irresponsible but downright dangerous. By neglecting to assess the real-world consequences of their actions, they are essentially navigating without a map, leaving millions vulnerable to unforeseen hardships. This cavalier approach begs the question: do they even care about the fallout of their decisions?

Take, for instance, the administration's decision to retract $11.4 billion in COVID-19 funding from state and local health departments. This move, executed without a thorough analysis of its potential impact, undermines efforts to combat the ongoing pandemic and leaves communities ill-prepared for future health crises.

Similarly, the proposed cuts to Medicaid threaten to strip essential healthcare from vulnerable populations. In Texas, experts warn that these reductions could lead to devastating losses for hospitals and clinics, potentially resulting in closures and diminished services. The absence of impact studies means these communities are left in the dark about the full extent of the damage until it's too late.

The administration's assault on scientific research further exemplifies this reckless behavior. The cancellation of numerous grants focused on critical health questions, including studies on HIV prevention and cancer, represents a significant step backward in our pursuit of medical advancements. The lack of foresight and analysis in these decisions not only hinders scientific progress but also jeopardizes lives.

Moreover, the purging of government data sets, including those related to crime, education, and climate, hampers policymakers' ability to make informed decisions. This systematic dismantling of information repositories indicates a deliberate effort to blindfold both the public and decision-makers, raising concerns about the administration's motives and priorities.

The refusal to conduct impact studies or consider expert analyses reflects a disturbing indifference to the well-being of the American people. It appears the administration is more concerned with pushing through its agenda than understanding or mitigating the harm it may cause. This negligence is not just an oversight; it's a dereliction of duty.

In a functioning democracy, leaders are expected to base decisions on evidence and thorough analysis to serve the best interests of their constituents. The current administration's failure to do so is a betrayal of this fundamental principle, leaving citizens to bear the brunt of poorly conceived policies.

It's high time we demand accountability and insist that our leaders prioritize the health, safety, and prosperity of all Americans. The stakes are too high to allow this reckless disregard for impact assessments to continue unchecked.

When you or your neighbor lose your job, your benefits, your healthcare and you’re still clinging to some twisted idea that Trump is on your side, will you still support a man who’s made it his mission to dismantle the very systems you rely on?

LAKE GENEVA, WI - Since Donald Trump’s reelection, the fallout has been swift and brutal—especially for those who once believed he was fighting for them. From sweeping federal layoffs to deep, targeted cuts in vital programs, millions of Americans are now living with the consequences of policies that were designed to shrink government but are ending up gutting lives. If you rely on the federal government for your job, your housing, your healthcare, your education, or your retirement—this isn’t politics as usual. This is personal. And it’s going to get more painful

Over 200,000 federal workers have already lost their jobs. Entire departments like Education are being gutted—nearly 2,000 positions wiped out there alone. The Social Security Administration has slashed 7,000 jobs, crippling services for seniors and disabled people. And veterans—who make up about a third of the federal workforce—are getting hit hard. Nationwide, tens of thousands of people who served this country are now being shown the door. These are not nameless figures. These are your neighbors, your coworkers, your family members.

And it doesn’t end there. Medicaid is on the chopping block, threatening healthcare for millions of low-income Americans. Federal proposals have called for $1.1 trillion in cuts to Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act over the next decade—threatening access to care for countless families, including children, the elderly, and people with chronic illnesses. Social Security services are crumbling under staffing cuts and budget freezes. Delays are widespread, and talk of privatization has made it clear: the safety net is being shredded.

The burden of these cuts doesn’t just fall on those who rely on them directly. It falls on all of us. When people lose benefits, lose income, lose homes and healthcare, someone has to step in. That “someone” is often local government, charities, food banks—and ultimately, taxpayers. Communities suffer when the support system is dismantled, and the cost gets passed down to everyone.

Now here’s the thing that infuriates me: many of the people who are being hurt the most by these policies are the same ones who voted for Trump. They backed him with pride, believed the slogans, swallowed the rhetoric—and now, as their benefits vanish and their paychecks stop coming, they’re left looking around, wondering what went wrong.

So let me be clear: Anyone who voted for Trump and still support him, and now have been affected, or will potentially be affected by these disastrous policies—don’t expect the rest of us to feel even a shred of sympathy for you. You ignored every warning. You dismissed every fact. You chose slogans over substance. And now, you’re reaping the consequences of that decision.

If you’ve lost your job, your benefits, your healthcare—and you’re still clinging to some twisted idea that Trump is on your side—ask yourself this: what’s your plan now? How are you going to survive without that paycheck or those benefits? And do you really believe, after all this, that Trump has given even a second’s thought to people like you—those living paycheck to paycheck, with no cushion to fall back on?

Because honestly—what the hell are you going to do?

This isn’t about left versus right anymore. This is about survival, about dignity, and about recognizing betrayal when it stares you in the face. If you’re still supporting a man who’s made it his mission to dismantle any of the systems you rely on, you’re not a victim of politics. You’re a victim of your own willful ignorance!