Former world chess champion Garry Kasparov wrote this and more in The Atlantic.
Donald Trump likes to say he doesn’t actually lose elections–only the “rigged” ones. Such comments are not mere bluster, like the president’s boasts about golf. They are threats to democracy, which is more fragile than many Americans may realize…
About a month into Trump’s second term, I began warning that the Putinization of America was well under way. Now, after a summer of National Guard deployments in American cities, crackdowns on protests, massive layoffs of federal workers, purges of anyone deemed disloyal in the FBI, immigration raids on workplaces, and unfettered self-dealing, Trump and his administration seem more erratic, unpredictable, and chaotic than ever. But, beneath the breaking-news barrage, we can trace the thread of advancing authoritarianism.
Although Trump himself may operate on instinct, his more disciplined advisers are masterminding a steady accumulation of power. The very bedrock of American democracy—free and fair elections—is under threat. Already there is talk of redrawing district maps, banning mail-in ballots and electronic-voting machines, and rewriting voting rules. If the administration is allowed to continue on this path, Americans should not take the integrity of next year’s midterms for granted…
Categories: Democracy
in-sights.ca 
Portland.
https://www.kgw.com/article/news/local/trump-seems-to-back-off-portland-military-plan/283-e9c6bdfb-92d6-4881-bb74-09bb325a5270
“Trump questioned perception of Portland before approving military plan: ‘Am I watching things on television that are different from what’s happening?'”
“”I spoke to the governor, she was very nice,” Trump said. “But I said, ‘Well wait a minute, am I watching things on television that are different from what’s happening? My people tell me different.’ They are literally attacking and there are fires all over the place…it looks like terrible.” ”
“They are attacking our ICE and federal buildings all the time,” Trump said. “You know, this has been going on for a long time. This has been going on for years in Portland. It’s like a hotbed of insurrection.”
Protesters have been arrested.
“Of the criminal cases, most are still ongoing. Three individuals pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges of ‘failure to obey a lawful order’ and received 6 months of probation and fines. Another case was dismissed by federal prosecutors.”
“Others facing more serious charges, including felony offenses for assaulting federal officers, are set for trial later this year or in early 2026. Most of the arrests have led to misdemeanor charges, per a KGW analysis of court records.”
The President promises to make a decision in a few days.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-never-forgot-portland-s-2020-protests-now-he-says-the-military-can-use-full-force-in-an-american-city/ar-AA1NqE3v?ocid=BingNewsSerp
“Five years ago, rioters in Portland set fire to government buildings, epitomizing for many on the right the lawlessness and chaos that swirled around the George Floyd protests.”
“On Thursday, in the Oval Office, Trump pointed to Portland for at least the third time in recent weeks as an example of a city in despair.”
“Take a look at Portland some time,” Trump said. “These are crazy people, and they’re trying to burn down buildings.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cddmn6ge6e2o
“”There is no national security threat in Portland. Our communities are safe and calm,” said Oregon Governor Tina Kotek.”
“Trump’s announcement comes shortly after Portland city officials threatened to evict ICE from its facility over alleged permit violations.”
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5ylyd9lkkqo
“A federal judge in California has ruled that the way President Donald Trump deployed the National Guard to Los Angeles this summer was illegal.”
“The ruling comes as Trump seeks to use National Guard troops in order to crack down on crime in other US cities and support immigration enforcement.”
“US District Judge Charles Breyer said Trump violated the Posse Comitatus Act, which limits the power of the federal government to use military force for domestic matters.”
“White House spokeswoman Anna Kelly said that “a rogue judge is trying to usurp the authority of the Commander-in-Chief to protect American cities from violence and destruction”.”
“The ruling is on hold until 12 September.”
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Portland.
As Reported on MSNBC
https://www.msnbc.com/deadline-white-house/watch/nicolle-wallace-on-trump-a-historically-unpopular-president-for-month-nine-248671301891
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Where can 21st century humanity – specifically in America – find ample supplies of new fresh water?
Under the ocean? That’s possible?
https://www.msn.com/en-ca/video/news/scientists-uncover-potential-untapped-fresh-water-source-in-north-atlantic/vi-AA1M282r?ocid=BingHp01&cvid=68ceb56c1c934206b1fb958e72fa88a3&ei=48
https://www.msn.com/en-us/science/oceanography/scientists-went-hunting-for-freshwater-deep-beneath-the-atlantic-ocean-what-they-found-could-have-global-implications/ar-AA1MJc0g?ocid=BingNewsSerp
“This summer scientists drilled deep below the Atlantic Ocean off the coast of northeastern US and tapped into a huge, mysterious reservoir of freshwater — what they discovered could have big implications for a world grappling with an increasingly severe water crisis.”
“The existence of freshwater beneath the Atlantic has been known for decades, but it had remained virtually unexplored. In the 1960s and 70s, scientific expeditions and companies drilling the ocean for resources such as oil would sometimes hit fresh water.”
Or? Forget drilling and employ new tech using ocean pressure to help desalinate sea water at depth. Benefit? This process reduces desal cost by about half.
https://www.geeky-gadgets.com/deep-sea-reverse-osmosis-technology/
“What if the answer to the world’s growing water crisis was hidden in the depths of the ocean? For decades, the idea of turning seawater into drinkable freshwater has been plagued by high costs, environmental concerns, and energy-intensive processes. But now, a new innovation called deep-sea reverse osmosis (DSRO) is rewriting the rules. By harnessing the immense natural pressure found at ocean depths, this technology offers a more sustainable, energy-efficient way to produce freshwater. Imagine a future where drought-stricken coastal cities no longer depend on overburdened rivers and aquifers but instead tap into the vast, untapped potential of the deep sea. It’s not just science fiction—it’s becoming reality.”
“Undecided with Matt Ferrell uncovers how DSRO is transforming the way we think about desalination, offering solutions that are not only more efficient but also far kinder to the environment. You’ll discover how this innovative approach reduces energy consumption by up to 40%, minimizes harmful brine discharge, and even integrates with renewable energy sources like offshore wind farms. But while the promise of DSRO is immense, it’s not without its challenges. From the logistical complexities of deep-sea infrastructure to its high initial costs, the road ahead is as deep as the waters it seeks to harness. Could this be the key to a more sustainable water future—or just one piece of a much larger puzzle? Let’s dive into the depths of this fantastic technology and its potential to reshape our relationship with water.”
Meanwhile? The American South West is going dry. Will thirsty America give it a try?
Of course not. President Trump – expert in all things Scientific – and his administration are steadfastly opposed to all that Hippie Stuff. If a project is Green it must be a Giant Scam.
And of all places, how is it that soggy old BC can’t figure out how to keep our farms in business during repeated droughts? A brief enough crisis intercedes but then is resolved, politely, by bankruptcy,
President Trump will not approve.
In Egypt there’s a huge uninhabitable area called the Qattar Depression. A perfect site for an enormous freshwater lake filled by water piped in from the Mediterranean. Start up cost $5 billion.
Any interest from Alberta? None, yet.
So many ingenious solutions.
So much political self-interest indifference and old boy opposition.
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Time for a second opinion?
Greening the desert – the question of Egypt’s leadership.
“Egypt is executing a bold plan to redirect water and revive vast stretches of its desert. But what are the risks and rewards of flooding arid land to grow crops? Watch as we uncover the engineering feats, environmental concerns, and long‑term vision behind one of the world’s most ambitious desert transformations.”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/weather/topstories/what-happens-when-you-flood-the-sahara/vi-AA1NzJEL?ocid=BingNewsSerp&cvid=c5901bf9c67a4cc2bf2f738f33bc7a54&ei=15
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Current BC Conservative leader Mr Rustad has been invited to do the right thing for the party and resign.
As usual BC media offers only a muddied version of why this happened. The public has no clear idea what triggered this management reaction and especially not after citing only a few sentences from the Management Committee’s request.
Interview the signatories to the document? Can’t do that! That would require more than sound bites!
To the rescue (and the distinct advantage of the NDP) comes The Tyee.
The link includes the document in question and itemizes why Mr Rustad’s tenure as leader has found him in a revolt remarkably similar to one he began against Kevin Falcon.
https://thetyee.ca/News/2025/10/22/State-Of-Chaos-Rustad-Asked-To-Resign/
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Interesting Times.
America’s MAGA Republicans don’t love Canada. Their devotion and worldview is restricted to Donald Trump.
For Democrats? Canada looks good. Very good. This recent political divide has changed poll results.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2674236199/
“Americans now favor Canada to President Donald Trump by a margin of nearly 60 percentage points according to a new poll, a revelation that CNN’s Harry Enten promptly ridiculed the president over on Monday.”
“The poll comes amid Trump’s latest spat with Canada over an advertisement that criticized Trump’s tariff policy using the words of former President Ronald Reagan. Trump falsely accused the Canadian province that paid for the ad of manipulating the late president’s words and immediately cut off trade talks with the nation, and then slapped it with higher tariff rates in retaliation.”
“When you pick on Canada as the United States president, you are picking on a country that the American people adore,” Enten said. “When you’re going after Canada, you are going against [something that] is far more popular than you are, Donald Trump.”
“According to the poll, the net popularity of Canada among Americans sits at +49 percentage points. For Trump, that figure sits at minus-10 percentage points.”
If more Americans esteem Canada and approve of how Canada is governed to a far greater extent than they value their own President’s efforts where does this leave Pierre Poilievre, Danielle Smith and John Rustad, all of whom are Trump sycophants?
The same Trump rejections are reported happening in Asia. In Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore.
Recent Trump polls have been so gruesome that now he wants “negative” poll results banned.
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-demands-a-ban-on-fake-ads-that-show-off-his-shrinking-polling-numbers/ar-AA1PhptW
“Continuing, the president alleged that “radical left losers” are “taking fake ads, not showing REAL Polls, but rather saying that I’m Polling at low levels.””
““These are the people that I’ve been beating for years, and am continuing to do so, but by even bigger margins. These ads should not be allowed to run because they are FAKE!” he added.”
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Interesting times. Interesting consequences?
America’s Republican don’t love Canada. Their devotion and worldview is restricted to Donald Trump.
For Democrats? Canada looks good. Very good. This political divide has changed recent poll results.
https://www.rawstory.com/trump-2674236199/
“Americans now favor Canada to President Donald Trump by a margin of nearly 60 percentage points according to a new poll, a revelation that CNN’s Harry Enten promptly ridiculed the president over on Monday.”
“The poll comes amid Trump’s latest spat with Canada over an advertisement that criticized Trump’s tariff policy using the words of former President Ronald Reagan. Trump falsely accused the Canadian province that paid for the ad of manipulating the late president’s words and immediately cut off trade talks with the nation, and then slapped it with higher tariff rates in retaliation.”
“When you pick on Canada as the United States president, you are picking on a country that the American people adore,” Enten said. “When you’re going after Canada, you are going against [something that] is far more popular than you are, Donald Trump.”
“According to the poll, the net popularity of Canada among Americans sits at +49 percentage points. For Trump, that figure sits at minus-10 percentage points.”
If more Americans esteem Canada and approve of how Canada is governed to a far greater extent than they value their own President where does this leave Pierre Poilievre, Danielle Smith and John Rustad all of whom are Trump sycophants parroting his views?
Trump trade policy rejections are happening in Asia. In Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore. The Hispanic vote is cratering.
Recent Trump approval polls have been gruesome – what to do? He wants “negative” poll results banned.
https://crooksandliars.com/2025/10/trump-demands-ban-ads-showing#google_vignette
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trump-demands-a-ban-on-fake-ads-that-show-off-his-shrinking-polling-numbers/ar-AA1PhptW
“Continuing, the president alleged that “radical left losers” are “taking fake ads, not showing REAL
Polls, but rather saying that I’m Polling at low levels.””
““These are the people that I’ve been beating for years, and am continuing to do so, but by even bigger margins. These ads should not be allowed to run because they are FAKE!” he added.”
In a poll of young Republicans
https://prri.org/spotlight/partisanship-ideology-and-young-americans-young-men-may-be-trending-more-republican-but-not-necessarily-more-conservative/
“Compared with older Americans, the partisan gender gap among young Americans is the most pronounced. In 2024, 26% of young men identified as Republican, compared with 17% of young women — a 9-percentage-point spread. In contrast, the gap with respect to Republican identification was significantly smaller among other age cohorts. The gender gap in Republican identity among younger Americans has grown significantly since 2013, when 18% of young men and 14% of young women identified as Republican.”
For Trump officials old enough to remember the legal consequences of being a part of the Nixon administration President Nixon in effect was granted immunity from prosecution. His top subordinates equally obsessed by “Blind Ambition” though not dressed for the experience went to prison.
https://watergate.info/analysis/casualties-and-convictions/
The final toll included:
one presidential resignation
one vice-presidential resignation – although Agnew’s crimes were unrelated to Watergate
40 government officials indicted or jailed
H.R. Haldeman and John Erlichman (White House staff), resigned 30 April 1973, subsequently jailed
John Dean (White House legal counsel), sacked 30 April 1973, subsequently jailed
John Mitchell, Attorney-General and Chairman of the Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP), jailed
Howard Hunt and G. Gordon Liddy (ex-White House staff), planned the Watergate break-in, both jailed
Charles Colson, special counsel to the President, jailed
James McCord (Security Director of CREEP), jailed
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Interesting headlines from the world’s greatest economy.
https://avg.1news.io/news/9a6f5b601e55676b3453fdbabe2ddb0b?utm_source=avg&utm_medium=ntp
“More than half of U.S. homes have dropped in value over the last year — and nearly all houses in these cities have seen losses”
After warnings from Mike Burry it looked as though only AI investors had a market credibility problem. Not the banking sector. Never the market itself. If the AI sector crashes shifts into a Correction, and\or the banking system falters, again, and/or the stock market dives – where does that leave Donald Trump and the Republican Party? Especially if any of these sharp downturns hit before the mid-term elections.
Wait. The US Fed already is bailing out ‘financially assisting’ several debt-threatened US banks?
https://avg.1news.io/news/e90a7e426b97906f99bc7691c3a81911?utm_source=avg&utm_medium=ntp
“Gundlach argues that the entire market, including equities and fixed income, is currently overvalued, leading to a pessimistic outlook.”
“He describes “garbage lending” in the private credit sector, a rapidly expanding market, which he believes is on a path to a crisis akin to 2008.”
“He draws parallels between current private credit practices and the repackaging of subprime mortgages in 2006.”
“To mitigate this risk, Gundlach advises investors to hold a significant amount of cash, suggesting up to 20% of portfolios.”
“Other market commentators, like Jamie Dimon, also express concerns about the private credit market, with Dimon likening troubled companies to “cockroaches” and suggesting underlying issues due to bad loans.”
“Gundlach points to the misleading AAA ratings given to mortgage-backed securities and collateralized debt obligations before the 2008 crisis and worries that private credit managers may inaccurately value their loans.”
“He notes that private credit has only two realistic prices: 100 or zero, implying that perceived safety is illusory as prices can rapidly decline.”
“Gundlach considers the US equity market to be in its worst state during his career and believes investors are misinterpreting the financial landscape, similar to their misjudgment before the 2008 crisis.”
“He observes that speculative markets consistently reach extremely high levels, which he sees happening currently.”
US debt?
https://fortune.com/2025/11/13/38-trillion-national-debt-peter-peterson-foundation-historians-economists/
“‘We are guilty of spending our rainy-day fund in sunny weather’: Top economists, historians unite to urge action on $38 trillion national debt”
“The United States’ national debt, currently standing at $38 trillion and exceeding 120% of annual economic output, demands action, experts warn. The nonpartisan Peter G. Peterson Foundation gathered a series of distinguished national economists and historians from outside the foundation in a collection of essays published Thursday. They analyzed risks to U.S. economic strength, dollar dominance, and global leadership. The experts also explored the national debt’s impact on interest, inflation and financial markets, with some characterizing this moment in history as a crisis. Collectively, they argue that the nation is operating under a dangerous fiscal gamble.”
Which countries could survive major financial damage? The BRICS (working together) and Japan.
Japan’s debt is owned by – the nation.
https://factsanddetails.com/japan/cat24/sub154/item1869.html
“Yes, Japan has a huge debt-to-GDP ration but much of it is financed internally through its huge residual savings while the United States must get help from abroad, namely from China and Japan. The Japanese government has borrowed mostly from Japanese while Japan has continued accumulating foreign assets, behavior that arguably makes more sense that borrowing excessively from foreigners as is the case with the United States.”
“The debt market is helped by government policies that keep interest rates relatively low. The Japanese government bond market is the world’s largest. It is also one of the least international. Roughly 96 percent of government securities are domestically held so there is little worry about capital flight.”
“Much of Japan’s government debt is held publicly and financed by the country’s once-ample private savings. Ninety-five percent of Japan’s debt is owned by its citizens, not foreign hedge funds; it’s unlikely that those citizens would dump their bond holdings. But a slow drop in the savings rate has raised fears about the long-run sustainability of public finances, especially given the country’s lackluster economic outlook, the Fitch report said.”
By the 1950’s in Canada if someone purchased enough Canada Savings Bonds they could use the additional revenue to help retire. Unlike Canada Japan kept their bonds in house and in country.
Anyone remember when our dollar was worth $1.25 US not 71 cents US?
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