Charles Jay
@chazjay425.bsky.social
I worked for more than 30 years for a major news outlet as a correspondent and editor. Follow my work at the progressive website Uncharted Blue. I had been a member of the Community Contributors Team at the Daily Kos website. I also write about jazz.
Don't compare the Hegseth family photo to the antifa Von Trapps. There's a more apt comparison: the family videos featuring Magda Goebbels and her children. But on May 1, 1945, the Goebbels committed suicide after poisoning their 6 children in Hitler's bunker.
youtu.be/Fs222tyOb-I?...
youtu.be/Fs222tyOb-I?...
December 4, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Don't compare the Hegseth family photo to the antifa Von Trapps. There's a more apt comparison: the family videos featuring Magda Goebbels and her children. But on May 1, 1945, the Goebbels committed suicide after poisoning their 6 children in Hitler's bunker.
youtu.be/Fs222tyOb-I?...
youtu.be/Fs222tyOb-I?...
Who does Trump think he is? Big Brother?
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.”
― George Orwell, 1984
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.”
― George Orwell, 1984
And does he have the authority to do this?
Donald Trump wants to be recognized as a peacemaker.
His deputies obliged today by putting his name on the headquarters of the U.S. Institute of Peace, an agency that DOGE tried to kill.
The new name — the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace — "adds insult to injury," said a lawyer for USIP staff.
His deputies obliged today by putting his name on the headquarters of the U.S. Institute of Peace, an agency that DOGE tried to kill.
The new name — the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace — "adds insult to injury," said a lawyer for USIP staff.
December 4, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Who does Trump think he is? Big Brother?
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.”
― George Orwell, 1984
War is peace.
Freedom is slavery.
Ignorance is strength.”
― George Orwell, 1984
What I hope Jack Smith will do is prepare an opening statement to the committee and release it to the press in advance of the closed door hearing. That way he could control the narrative and play offense. Trump is threatening to have the DOJ go after Smith. So he should fire back/
Why are Republicans afraid to let Jack Smith testify in public?
December 4, 2025 at 1:36 AM
What I hope Jack Smith will do is prepare an opening statement to the committee and release it to the press in advance of the closed door hearing. That way he could control the narrative and play offense. Trump is threatening to have the DOJ go after Smith. So he should fire back/
If Trump attacks Venezuela, will he insist that we not refer to it as a "war," but instead call it a "special military operation" as his Putin did when he invaded Ukraine?
December 3, 2025 at 9:05 PM
If Trump attacks Venezuela, will he insist that we not refer to it as a "war," but instead call it a "special military operation" as his Putin did when he invaded Ukraine?
The night before his Cabinet meeting, Tromp put out 160 social media posts in less than 4 hours. Then he was up early to send more posts. This bizarre obsession probably caused the 79-year-old to nod off during his Cabinet meeting.
December 3, 2025 at 7:05 AM
The night before his Cabinet meeting, Tromp put out 160 social media posts in less than 4 hours. Then he was up early to send more posts. This bizarre obsession probably caused the 79-year-old to nod off during his Cabinet meeting.
The GOP tried to smear TN-7 Democratic candidate Ashtyn Behn by calling her the "AOC of Tennessee." So who does Behn bring in for her closing virtual rally - AOC, who praised Behn for showing "a special kind of guts" in her campaign.
www.commondreams.org/news/aftyn-b...
www.commondreams.org/news/aftyn-b...
AOC Rallies for Progressive Aftyn Behn in Surprisingly Close Race in Tennessee's Trump Country | Common Dreams
In a closely watched special election in Tennessee's 7th District, progressive state lawmaker Aftyn Behn is challenging a Trump ally. With polls tight, the race symbolizes the American people's discon...
www.commondreams.org
December 2, 2025 at 6:06 PM
The GOP tried to smear TN-7 Democratic candidate Ashtyn Behn by calling her the "AOC of Tennessee." So who does Behn bring in for her closing virtual rally - AOC, who praised Behn for showing "a special kind of guts" in her campaign.
www.commondreams.org/news/aftyn-b...
www.commondreams.org/news/aftyn-b...
I can imagine the scene at the White House as Trump, Hegseth, Leavitt and others decide to make Admiral Bradley the fall guy for ordering the strike that killed the two survivors of the first strike on the boat. Remember this scene from "The Maltese Falcon."
youtu.be/vqOByzMoS_A?...
youtu.be/vqOByzMoS_A?...
The Maltese Falcon (6/10) Movie CLIP - There's Our Fall Guy (1941) HD
YouTube video by Movieclips
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 5:50 PM
I can imagine the scene at the White House as Trump, Hegseth, Leavitt and others decide to make Admiral Bradley the fall guy for ordering the strike that killed the two survivors of the first strike on the boat. Remember this scene from "The Maltese Falcon."
youtu.be/vqOByzMoS_A?...
youtu.be/vqOByzMoS_A?...
Now Pete Hegseth and Trump are throwing a Navy admiral under the bus for issuing the command to shoot the two survivors of the Sept. 2 boat strike.
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
White House says admiral directed second strike that killed alleged drug boat survivors in ‘self defense’
Trump administration refuses to say whether survivors on suspected drug-trafficking vessels posed imminent threat
www.yahoo.com
December 1, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Now Pete Hegseth and Trump are throwing a Navy admiral under the bus for issuing the command to shoot the two survivors of the Sept. 2 boat strike.
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
www.yahoo.com/news/article...
This is why it was entirely proper for Sen. Mark Kelly and the five other Democratic lawmakers to release the video appealing to service members to refuse to carry out an “illegal order.”
www.thedailybeast.com/pentagon-pet...
www.thedailybeast.com/pentagon-pet...
Pentagon Pete in Legal Peril Over ‘Kill Them All’ Orders
A follow-up missile allegedly killed survivors of a U.S. strike on a drug boat.
www.thedailybeast.com
November 28, 2025 at 8:59 PM
This is why it was entirely proper for Sen. Mark Kelly and the five other Democratic lawmakers to release the video appealing to service members to refuse to carry out an “illegal order.”
www.thedailybeast.com/pentagon-pet...
www.thedailybeast.com/pentagon-pet...
So Trump is advising people to take their imaginary $2,000 check and go to a casino. I would never take advice from someone whose own casinos went bankrupt.
November 27, 2025 at 9:53 PM
So Trump is advising people to take their imaginary $2,000 check and go to a casino. I would never take advice from someone whose own casinos went bankrupt.
Zohran’s transition period has been just as excellent as his campaign was. We New Yorkers are eagerly looking forward to his mayoralty and can give thanks today that somehow against all the odds we elected him.
Combatting poverty and hunger in this city will take every single one of us. Myself included.
November 27, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Zohran’s transition period has been just as excellent as his campaign was. We New Yorkers are eagerly looking forward to his mayoralty and can give thanks today that somehow against all the odds we elected him.
Don’t forget that Witkoff also negotiated the Mideast “peace” deal which is already falling apart.
Putin aide Yuri Ushakov called the leaked chat with U.S. envoy Witkoff “very unusual,” blaming WhatsApp and hinting someone wanted it exposed. He claimed neither side wanted the leak, but compared it to the Flynn case, suggesting Witkoff might have enemies in D.C.
Yeah right.
Yeah right.
November 26, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Don’t forget that Witkoff also negotiated the Mideast “peace” deal which is already falling apart.
Let’s hope that Marjorie R
Taylor Greene forms a third party of disgruntled MAGA supporters upset that Trump is working on behalf of billionaires like himself. Then Democrats can sweep the midterms and win in 2028.
Taylor Greene forms a third party of disgruntled MAGA supporters upset that Trump is working on behalf of billionaires like himself. Then Democrats can sweep the midterms and win in 2028.
NARRATOR: "Despite several strenuous efforts at enunciation, Marjorie Taylor Greene's drawl was never remotely sweet."
November 26, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Let’s hope that Marjorie R
Taylor Greene forms a third party of disgruntled MAGA supporters upset that Trump is working on behalf of billionaires like himself. Then Democrats can sweep the midterms and win in 2028.
Taylor Greene forms a third party of disgruntled MAGA supporters upset that Trump is working on behalf of billionaires like himself. Then Democrats can sweep the midterms and win in 2028.
So now Trump is clashing with the architect over his demand to make his one big beautiful ballroom a bigger and uglier eyesore.
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-79-feu...
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-79-feu...
Trump, 79, Feuds With His White House Ballroom Architect Over Bonkers Demand
The president and architect James McCrery II have butted heads, insiders claim.
www.thedailybeast.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:33 PM
So now Trump is clashing with the architect over his demand to make his one big beautiful ballroom a bigger and uglier eyesore.
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-79-feu...
www.thedailybeast.com/trump-79-feu...
And then there were none. Teflon Don escapes accountability once again with the Georgia racketeering case against him and his minions dropped. Trump has gotten away with plotting to overturn the 2020 election results, and is now claiming he was the victim.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/26/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/26/p...
Georgia prosecutor kills the historic racketeering case against Trump and allies | CNN Politics
A Georgia prosecutor on Wednesday officially dropped the historic racketeering case against President Donald Trump and others for attempting to overturn the 2020 presidential election, closing the cha...
www.cnn.com
November 26, 2025 at 4:14 PM
And then there were none. Teflon Don escapes accountability once again with the Georgia racketeering case against him and his minions dropped. Trump has gotten away with plotting to overturn the 2020 election results, and is now claiming he was the victim.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/26/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/26/p...
Who was the biggest antifa in the cast of Casablanca? It wasn’t any of the obvious suspects. It was the German actor Conrad Veidt, who played Major Heinrich Strasser, one of the most villainous Nazis ever to appear on the silver screen. Here is my tribute to Veidt.
www.dailykos.com/stories/2022...
www.dailykos.com/stories/2022...
November 26, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Who was the biggest antifa in the cast of Casablanca? It wasn’t any of the obvious suspects. It was the German actor Conrad Veidt, who played Major Heinrich Strasser, one of the most villainous Nazis ever to appear on the silver screen. Here is my tribute to Veidt.
www.dailykos.com/stories/2022...
www.dailykos.com/stories/2022...
So I guess Hegseth’s plan is to replace Scouting America with the Trumpjugend.
In a memo drafted to Congress, Hegseth writes that he wants to cut the military’s support for Scouting America, the 115-year-old organization teaching kids survival and outdoor skills. In the draft leaked to NPR.
REMINDER: Hitler also banned the Boy Scouts.
apple.news/AV93GCrzwTsq...
REMINDER: Hitler also banned the Boy Scouts.
apple.news/AV93GCrzwTsq...
Pete Hegseth Has Found the Real Enemy: The Scouts — New York Magazine
The Defense secretary is cutting the U.S. military’s ties with the group because it’s too “woke” or something.
apple.news
November 25, 2025 at 10:45 PM
So I guess Hegseth’s plan is to replace Scouting America with the Trumpjugend.
What will you say?
ICE Agents: I was only following orders.
That didn’t work as a defense for Nazis at Nuremberg in 1945. It won’t work as a defense now.
ICE Agents: I was only following orders.
That didn’t work as a defense for Nazis at Nuremberg in 1945. It won’t work as a defense now.
To ICE agents across the country – shame on you. Your kids are watching.
New powerful ad from @womensmarch.com
youtu.be/684ncxqERO4
New powerful ad from @womensmarch.com
youtu.be/684ncxqERO4
Dear ICE Agents: What Will You Say?
YouTube video by Women's March
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 6:16 PM
What will you say?
ICE Agents: I was only following orders.
That didn’t work as a defense for Nazis at Nuremberg in 1945. It won’t work as a defense now.
ICE Agents: I was only following orders.
That didn’t work as a defense for Nazis at Nuremberg in 1945. It won’t work as a defense now.
So when will Pete Hegseth try to ban the film “Nuremberg” as seditious because it shows the consequences when you issue or obey illegal orders that could be considered war crimes, for example blowing up boats in the Caribbean.
November 25, 2025 at 3:46 PM
So when will Pete Hegseth try to ban the film “Nuremberg” as seditious because it shows the consequences when you issue or obey illegal orders that could be considered war crimes, for example blowing up boats in the Caribbean.
The next step predictably will be Trump targeting U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, a Clinton appointee, who dismissed the cases against James Comey and Letitia James.
I hope Comey and James sue Halligan. Bondi and anyone else at DOJ responsible for these bogus indictments.
I hope Comey and James sue Halligan. Bondi and anyone else at DOJ responsible for these bogus indictments.
November 24, 2025 at 6:56 PM
The next step predictably will be Trump targeting U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie, a Clinton appointee, who dismissed the cases against James Comey and Letitia James.
I hope Comey and James sue Halligan. Bondi and anyone else at DOJ responsible for these bogus indictments.
I hope Comey and James sue Halligan. Bondi and anyone else at DOJ responsible for these bogus indictments.
Hegseth should be made to watch the film "Nuremberg." The Nuremberg trials provided a basis for arguing that US service members cannot hide behind orders to avoid responsibility for war crimes -- e.g. torture or bombing boats in international waters. Kelly knows the UCMJ better than Hegseth.
Hegseth is now threatening to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to active duty in order to court martial him.
November 24, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Hegseth should be made to watch the film "Nuremberg." The Nuremberg trials provided a basis for arguing that US service members cannot hide behind orders to avoid responsibility for war crimes -- e.g. torture or bombing boats in international waters. Kelly knows the UCMJ better than Hegseth.
It's interesting that the most hostility to Mamdani came from the right-wing media that Trump has put into the WH press pool rather than Trump himself. And Mamdani deftly handled all those hostile questions.
It's Mamdani who definitely looked like a winner and in control of the situation..
It's Mamdani who definitely looked like a winner and in control of the situation..
November 21, 2025 at 9:23 PM
It's interesting that the most hostility to Mamdani came from the right-wing media that Trump has put into the WH press pool rather than Trump himself. And Mamdani deftly handled all those hostile questions.
It's Mamdani who definitely looked like a winner and in control of the situation..
It's Mamdani who definitely looked like a winner and in control of the situation..
Hey, MSM stop with this two boys from Queens reference to the Trump-Mamdani meeting. Zorhan didn't move to Queens until after he graduated from college.
My neighborhood, Morningside Heights, near Columbia U, is proud to be whereZorhan was raised after his family moved to the US when he was 7.
My neighborhood, Morningside Heights, near Columbia U, is proud to be whereZorhan was raised after his family moved to the US when he was 7.
November 21, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Hey, MSM stop with this two boys from Queens reference to the Trump-Mamdani meeting. Zorhan didn't move to Queens until after he graduated from college.
My neighborhood, Morningside Heights, near Columbia U, is proud to be whereZorhan was raised after his family moved to the US when he was 7.
My neighborhood, Morningside Heights, near Columbia U, is proud to be whereZorhan was raised after his family moved to the US when he was 7.
Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler had no qualms about executing any member of the German army who refused to obey illegal orders. “I was only following orders” did not work as a defense at the Nuremberg trials.
Them: “You don’t have to obey illegal orders.”
Him: “That’s seditious! They should be hanged!”
Definitely not beating the giving-illegal-orders allegations.
Him: “That’s seditious! They should be hanged!”
Definitely not beating the giving-illegal-orders allegations.
November 21, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Adolf Hitler and Heinrich Himmler had no qualms about executing any member of the German army who refused to obey illegal orders. “I was only following orders” did not work as a defense at the Nuremberg trials.
Could the producers of the film “Nuremberg” arrange a special screening at the White House cinema for Trump and his fascist cronies like Hegseth and Noem. Unfortunately the WH movie theater was demolished along with the rest of the East Wing on Trump’s orders.
November 21, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Could the producers of the film “Nuremberg” arrange a special screening at the White House cinema for Trump and his fascist cronies like Hegseth and Noem. Unfortunately the WH movie theater was demolished along with the rest of the East Wing on Trump’s orders.