No Kings! Around the Partisan Bend on DOGE [sic] and Ukraine
On Bluesky, folks are posting video of one after another town hall in Republican congressional districts that get heated (Nicole and I addressed the first prominent example, a Rich McCormick town hall in suburban Atlanta, in our Friday podcast).
Amid the din of lefty pundits still focused primarily on why Democratic members of Congress aren’t doing more, these town halls demonstrate the efficacy of speaking to Republicans. Whether or not they change a Congressman’s mind right away, they get press — especially local press that remains more trusted. And they define the terms of debate on which left and right might find common agreement.
This is politics.
This is a kind of politics that Democrats have too often eschewed in recent years as consultants told candidates that they couldn’t swing voters in culturally conservative areas. (Note, one of the events in the past week, a WI Eau Claire area event focused on the pain farmers are experiencing, also served as an opportunity to ask why Madison’s Mark Pocan had shown up but local WI CD-3 Congressman Derrick Van Orden did not; Orden underperformed the district’s R+4 lean against Rebecca Cooke in November.)
This kind of politics is not sufficient to reverse the fascist trend in America, but it is an irreplaceable part of any effort to try.
I want to look at this report, from a Scott Fitzgerald town hall in West Bend, northwest of Milwaukee (the district also includes Waukesha, a conservative Milwaukee exurb). The progression of the town hall — Milwaukee NBC reporter Charles Benson says his was the only news station in attendance — offers certain lessons.
As described, residents asked Fitzgerald why he wasn’t involved in all the DOGE [sic] efforts (a question Democrats are just as insistently asking their Democratic representatives).
Residents came with questions for their congressman.
“How can we be represented by you if you don’t have a voice in Congress?” asked Lorraine Henrickson.
They didn’t like some of Scott Fitzgerald’s answers.
“The end result of the fraud and abuse that has been discovered already,” Fitzgerald said before getting pushback from the audience.
Fitzgerald answered with the rote answer Republicans are still offering: that DOGE [sic] is pursuing fraud and abuse.
Of course, there’s no evidence that Elon is finding fraud and abuse. One after another analysis has debunked that claim — most recently a WSJ piece largely matching an earlier NPR one that remains among the best — that this is fraud. WSJ found that much of it is research, and just 2% of that is “DEI.”
I still think the NPR is one of the best, but the WSJ piece offers a way to share a Murdoch source with Republican members of Congress to disabuse them that this is about efficiency.
Fitzgerald’s constituents continued to ask why he, as a member of Congress, was doing nothing to oversee this and he kept retreating behind his false claim that DOGE [sic] is finding stuff.
Mary Sylvester asked about the role and responsibility of Congress. “We need three branches of government, not one. When will you stand up and say that’s enough?”
Michael Wittig is concerned with Elon Musk’s role in the Trump administration—he held a sign that read “Presidents are not kings.”
“Are you going to subpoena him at some point? Are you willing to use your subpoena power to tell Musk to stand in front of Congress and answer some hard questions?”
Fitzgerald insists Musk’s efforts to find waste and fraud are working, and Congress will eventually have budget oversight.
But then the conversation shifted (as it did in a Kevin Hern Oklahoma town hall where something similar happened) to Ukraine. While Fitzgerald backed Trump’s stated desire to end the war in Ukraine, he did agree with attendees on two points: That Ukraine did not start this war, and that Volodymyr Zelenskyy needs to be in the room for discussions on how to end it.
Many here worry about Ukraine. When asked, Fitzgerald disagreed with Trump’s false claim that Ukraine started the war.
“No, Ukraine did not start the war.”
Fitzgerald was an early supporter of U.S. aid to Ukraine but now believes Trump is right to try to end it.
“I don’t think the president’s goals are not what everybody wants, which is to end the war.”
In the end, Fitzgerald won over the crowd with this answer and suggestion about Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky.
“Zelensky needs to be in the room,” said Fitzgerald. “He absolutely needs to be in the room.”
Fitzgerald hid behind claims that DOGE [sic] was chasing fraud and abuse, claims that have been debunked but which apparently weren’t debunked here.
But on Ukraine, he refused to back several of the untenable claims the Trump Administration has adopted.
It may well be that Trump will coerce cowardly Republicans to adopt his false claims about Ukraine in the days ahead — indeed, some have, wholeheartedly. I hope that as more media outlets expose DOGE’s fraudulent claims about waste, constituents will get better at debunking the entire claimed premise of DOGE [sic].
But in just one week of contentious confrontations, a slight break between Trump and even rabid Republicans has become clear: Ukraine.
That’s an important lesson.
Trump is trying to hide behind DOGE [sic] to pull off the firing of a bunch of people who either are or offer services cherished by the constituents of Republican Congressmen. That, by itself, is enough to create this problem for right wingers. Their constituents, just as much as Maryland and Virginia members of Congress, are the ones getting the axe.
But Trump is trying to do it even as he sells Ukraine out to Russia. And that’s an issue on which some Republicans are less willing, at least so far, to adopt Trump’s propaganda.
Note, MoJo’s Clara Jeffries posted some of these TikTok videos to Bluesky.
Rich McCormick, GA CD-7 R+13
Scott Fitzgerald, WI CD-5 R+14
Glenn Grothman, WI CD-6 R+10
Kevin Hern, OK CD-1 R+14
Stephanie Bice, OK CD-5 R +12 (Bice repeated false claims about FEMA funding for migrants)
Kevin Kyley, CA CD-3 R+4
Jay Obernolte, CA CD-23 R+8
Cliff Bentz, OR CD-2 R+15 (TPM roundup)
This is fabulous Marcy. I have been scouring the internet for a comprehensive list of UPCOMING town halls. Any ideas?
They’re due back in DC this week, so likely no more House ones for a while.
There is a phone town hall next Wed. with Becca Balint, Bernie Sanders — and even Peter Welch is supposed to emerge from the shadows. Don’t know if you have to be a Vermonter. Registration is here: https://balint.house.gov/live/
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Ultimately, they can’t get reelected if they don’t win their primaries.
Even in purple districts, Team Red is bat sh*t, and the people who show up for primaries
are on average even more extreme.
Getting in the Members’ faces is good but, while necessary, is not sufficient to sway them.
A serious recession would do the trick under normal circumstances, but with a locked and loaded federal law enforcement itching to take on internal enemies, who knows.
It’s been reported it is like the 2009 Tea Party, and I agree. I was fairly involved in local politics at the time, and I remember both the shock at seeing previously rational Republicans spitting at us at a holiday parade, but also in the denial with the senior Democrats until we got wiped out in November. Only fascist supporters will get through primaries, but hopefully their denial will persist to November 2026 if we can make it that far
Excellent piece on a very salient subject.
Since JFK was assassinated in 1963, Democrats have focused more on policies than on politics to their detriment.
In 1968, Nixon campaigned on political issues; Humphrey campaigned on policy issues. Nixon wins two consecutive terms.
When Reagan campaigned for President in 1980, Republican campaign strategists focused on creating emotional cultural wedge issues, i.e., politics; Carter campaigned on policy issues. Reagan wins two consecutive terms.
Clinton campaigned on politics in 1992 and with the help of Ross Perot, defeats G.H. W. Bush who campaigned on policies.
It is easier to win campaigns running on politics than policies, especially policies that the majority of the voters don’t understand, find too emotional or unsavory due to lack of interest, ignorance or both.
The sad part about what you are saying is that political rhetoric wins over policy and real issues. Political rhetoric can be defined by simple minded slogans and issues require a longer attention span. The lizard brain gets the former and is done with thinking any farther.
Except, what is simpler than: “All American citizens have the right to vote.” “Facts are Facts.” etc.?
Another slight break: it’s reported today that Kash Patel has told FBI staff not to respond to Musk’s demand to tell him what they’ve been doing. It was inevitable the rats would start fighting.
Here’s a furious piece about the Congressional GOP’s (non) response to Trump’s Ukraine lies from Mike Brock:
Profiles In Cowardice: The Nobody Saw This Coming Brigade
https://www.techdirt.com/2025/02/21/profiles-in-cowardice-the-nobody-saw-this-coming-brigade/
protest, confrontation and debate is all well and good. it can help. but there is no persuading them to change. the only path with this intransigence is to get them out of office. how? a plan of action. all dems and independents should register as republicans and choose a more moderate candidate in the primaries. then of course, vote dem in the election. it’s legal and a real thing. i’m doing it.
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Thank you Marcy. Anger can be a positive incentive for change. This is a wake up call to EDUCATE the public how government works. Government isn’t a business for profit, it is a service for the people. Take away service and people notice what they had is gone.
These representatives are federal employees, public servants, suppose to be serving the public to help people, not hurt people. The lack of answers and BS these representatives spew is poppycock. McCormick from GA cancelled an interview with CNN after a thumping from constituents.
Demolishing the government hurts people. Federal employees used as scapegoats to reduce the budget with an axe is poppycock. Downsizing can be done without firing through attrition. This administration thrives on cruelty, hate, anger and pain. All people get hurt caught in this administration’s abusive greed and grift. The ripple effect.
Lots of federal employees in my community are helping one another. Communities rising up to turn this around. We the People can change this fighting for democracy unified as one.
“Speak up, speak out, get in the way. Get in good trouble, necessary trouble, and help redeem the soul of America.”
John Lewis
Many agencies were understaffed already – IRS and the Park Service are prominent among them.
Park Service has been understaffed and underfunded since the Kennedy administration. The hardest working crews I ever worked with was seasonal employees in the Park Service. They were under paid but their love of the parks, not the Park Service drove them.
During the first Trump regime, Ryan Zinke made it practically impossible for seasonal Park Rangers to put together two assignments to yield a year round position. Many left the service then, meaning we lost the investment in training and accumulated knowledge of those people.
Also, at Yosemite today, Rangers raised an upside down American flag on El Capitán.
https://bsky.app/profile/luckytran.com/post/3lit5nacfnk2d
Adding to LaMissy!’s comment:
https://www.sfgate.com/national-parks/article/yosemite-national-park-el-capitan-demonstration-20183557.php
With a photo of the flag.
One of the demonstrators was a park mechanic who was fired, but the others were apparently not. (This was the last weekend for the sunset “firefall”.)
Zelenskyy offers to step down in exchange for peace and Ukraine’s Nato membership?
https://bsky.app/profile/jaylyall.bsky.social/post/3liugbtfqk223
He shouldn’t comply with demands from The Felon Guy or from Putin. Neither will keep their “promises”. Both want the resources more than they want peace.
I think Zelenskyy is calling Trump and Putin’s bluff. And raising the stakes to a level DJT and VP can’t match. And by refusing the offer, they show their true colors (not that most people aren’t aware) and the desire for Ukraine’s total surrender.
It wasn’t an offer. He was being dismissive of the suggestions about elections, and that he wants to cling on to power.
He was asked a long question (nearly 1minute) about security guarantees, and tacked on to the end of it was the question about whether he’d give up the presidency in exchange for peace.
The initial response was he’d give up the presidency in exchange for peace and membership of NATO then expanded on security guarantees and involvement of allies for several minutes (over 6 minutes)
https://www.youtube.com/live/athtSGE36S8
[04:10 question
05:00 -11:25]
Here’s a better video than the above (SkyNews -garbled translation)
UATV https://www.youtube.com/live/U5KaAOP29sM
[04:35 question
05:19 answer 11:53]
Thanks for clarification. I assumed that in addition to NATO membership he would have insisted on certain security guarantees, like NATO or US troops. None of which Putin would agree to (so far – if ever).
I am sure Zelenskyy is sincere in his desire for peace (duh), but not at the price of surrender to Russia, or forfeiting Ukraine’s sovereignty or future security.
This tracks. All of the Trump voters that I know personally are strongly pro-Ukraine.
They’re all in that MMA-following Joe Rogan demographic, and one thing those folks love more than anything is *warriors*. And right now, that’s the Ukrainian spirit.
Thousands in Midwestern GOP Districts Attend Sanders’ First Stops on Tour to Fight Oligarchy “It’s like there’s only one person who is actually able to sidestep the demoralization and frustration,” said one observer. https://www.commondreams.org/news/bernie-sanders-donald-trump Julia Conley Feb 22, 2025
The Three Doges: Mo, Lari, and Churly. Here’s a photo that’s hard to un-see:
https://gaylordnews.net/9178/news/washington/spending-bill-dead-following-trump-elon-musk-rejection/
Great moniker!
There are over 2 million employees in federal civil service. Add to that contractors, non-profit, researchers etc who are dependent on federal budget. Add to that their spouses and children, and it would probably double this number. Millions of US citizens who are directly affected by DOGE, who are purposefully traumatized every day. There should be strength in numbers.
The first thing, the one thing every one in that group should do is to speak: speak with your family, friends, neighbors, random people you meet. Anyone. In private, in public, everywhere. Make it personal. Don’t make it into a political discussion. Tell people how DOGE is directly affecting you and the people around you. Tell them about the important job you and your colleagues do. Tell them about the trauma, the uncertainty, the emotional toll, how it makes it harder to do your job and serve our country. Tell them how your colleague, a veteran who used to fight for the US in Afghanistan, is now experiencing PTSD because to DOGE. Tell them how your team was teary-eyed when one of your best teammates was terminated because they were probationary. Those kind of small personal stories.
If we keep doing that, we could win over all those billionaire gatekeepers and their megaphones.
In California, the places hardest hit, so far, are the rural areas that depend on federal jobs (Forest Service and Park Service), and farmers who sold crops to the government for USAID and other food programs.
You know, the people mostly likely to have voted R in the last several elections.
Exactly. And I bet many of the federal workers there voted for Trump too, and were up to a rude awakening.
And I don’t expect them to be political in this discussion. All they need is to advocate for federal workers like themselves.
The mass firing of government workers doesn’t have much to do with fraud, abuse, undocumented people, etc. The mass firings are to create fear and confusion amongst government workers and the opposing political parties. There really is no rhyme or reason to the firings. i..e. firing people who keep nuclear weapons and all things nuclear safe with in the country; firing and not hiring people in the forestry/national parks system, firing people in medical research and other research projects. The firing of people in the military, FBI, CIA, etc. is simply to demonstrate to Putin that Trump is doing as he is told. It also reduces the ability of the country to defend itself. With all the confusion in the U.S.A. now would be a really good time to take action against them, if you were a terrorist. Why would a President, V.P., Cabinet Ministers, political leaders want to put their country in this position?
I’m sure Elon is having a good time. Running around on stage with a chain saw is every kid or idiots idea of a good time.
The damage these firings will do to the USA is going to cost a great deal of money especially if something goes side ways. Just imagine the law suits if it is proven that plane crashes, etc. was directly due to the lack of air traffic controllers or some equipment wasn’t operational at a critical time.
The defunding and firings of people in the foreign aid dept. is going to destabilize a lot of areas around the world. It will also cause many people to try to go elsewhere to find food and water. Who in their right mind closes programs, lets food rot and starves other human beings. Its going to kill a lot of people, especially children. It will leave the U.S.A. with a very bad rep in those areas. Its a nice opening for China to spread their “charity”. It will demonstrate to people all over the world, the U.S.A.s word isn’t good for anything.
There was a report this evening that 140K workers would loose their federal jobs in Virginia. That is going to cause a fair amount of pain. People who don’t have income don’t buy, can’t afford doctors or dentists, eventually won’t be able to afford rents, vehicles. All this has spin off effects and reaches out into other areas of a State. A lot of small businesses are going to be in for difficult times. When you look at the side effects of these lay off/firings there is no money to be saved just a lot of money going out to deal with the problems created by Musk and Trump .
How to destroy a country and a democracy in one easy lesson. This unfortunately is going to get a lot worse.
Cliff Bentz, one of those beleaguered wingnut House members, is my cousin in law. I only interacted with him once, when I was 16 and he was 14, at a family gathering at his folks place in OR.
He showed me how to grind a tree stump with a gas mower, and then he decided to get rid of a large hornets’ nest in a tree by shoving the nozzle of a hand-pump oil can into the nest-opening and squirting. It did not go well, as any vaguely rational person would expect.
I was well removed, observing dispassionately as he ran screaming to his mom. That brought the family gathering to a close, but the clear memory, almost 60 years later, jibes with his current role in the hare-brained, self-inflicted demolition of our democracy.
My apologies to rabbits, btw.