This dangerously parallels how political violence helped fascist movements gain power in the 1920s and 1930s. Political elites tolerated Mussolini’s Blackshirts. Hitler’s movement attacked opponents before taking power, then strengthened that violence through state protection. Making opposition physically dangerous helped them weaken resistance.

History shows how brutality can become a political advantage when opponents are portrayed as enemies of the country. Trump calling protesters people paid to destroy the country is exactly that

Make no mistake, this is how a society becomes more permissive of fascist violence. The danger has already arrived.

Please watch and share this.

And if you know this woman, talk some sense into her.

This Michigan woman says she fears her two-year-old daughter will be raped, and that is why she still supports Donald Trump.

I am seething that the Channel 4 News (Michigan) journalists who produced this did not inform both this woman and their audience that the man she supports is an adjudicated rapist. It is journalistic neglect that journalists never discuss this. Literally every other man who has been found guilty of rape is branded a rapist for life alongside their name—but not the most powerful one in the world.

Oct 1, 2026. Public Citizen Co-President Lisa Gilbert speaks at the Veterans Over Vanity protest. Here’s the full 4-minutes on YouTube: Public Citizen Co-President Lisa Gilbert Speaks at the Veterans Over Vanity Protest - Public Citizen - Oct 1, 2026 (YouTube)

Description: As we’ve witnessed countless times, the Trump administration regularly attempts to circumvent the rules and laws that have governed this country for 250 years. Now, as a self-indulgent project, Donald Trump plans to build a 250-foot arch without Congressional approval, a clear violation of federal law. ~:~ But Trump’s planned construction of his “Triumphal Arch” is not only illegal. It is an affront to American veterans and their families. ~:~ The arch will sit on Memorial Circle along the Potomac River, impeding the symbolic line-of-sight between the Lincoln Memorial in D.C. and Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia, where hundreds of thousands of our nation’s military members have been laid to rest. ~:~ That’s why Public Citizen is holding the line against the construction of the arch to tell Trump and his administration to “Respect our Vets!” ~:~ Learn more: Trump’s Illegal Arch Desecrates Line-of-Sight Between Arlington Cemetery and Lincoln Memorial - Public Citizen - Oct 1, 2026 (article)

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Third Act: thirdact.org ~:~ ”We’re a community of Americans over sixty determined to change the world for the better. Third Act harnesses an unparalleled generational power to safeguard our climate and democracy.”

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This arch is unlawful, it's illegal, and it's part of a pattern. An ego-driven pattern from this President: A desecration of DC landmarks and national items. Whether he's trying to put his name on the Kennedy Center. Whether he is plastering his face on a poster that is dropped down in front of the Department of Justice. Or if he's just trying to put his name on all of our passports.

You know, it is disgusting, and it is a kingly trapping, and it is inappropriate in a democracy.

The other pattern we're witnessing is the endless lawbreaking. As we look at this Department of Justice, led by a Crony who is launching illegal prosecutions. As we watch Trump himself attack Judges, attack Nonprofits, attack Universities, attack the Media. As we watch an arrest — an illegal arrest — of a sitting Member of Congress, just for doing her job overseeing ICE. As we watch attacks on our First Amendment protected speech. As we watch militarization of our Cities without cause. Including DC. 

You know, on and on, the list of lawlessness is disgusting, it's abhorrent, and It's authoritarian. 

Litigation (like our lawsuit) can deter wrongdoing. It can fight these abuses of power. And mobilization (like this event today) can show this Administration that We the People, we will not stand for corruption, for self-dealing, for lawless behavior anymore. 

So, at Public Citizen, we vow to continue mobilizing, to continue litigating — and honestly just using every tool in our arsenal — to fight back against this authoritarian overreach. 

And I am so thrilled to be here today with Champions in the same fight, Champions for blocking the arch, for fighting authoritarianism. And I want to thank Third Act for organizing with us today and making all of this happen.

- Lisa Gilbert, Public Citizen Co-President at the Veterans Over Vanity protest on Oct 1, 2026