March 1, 2025
a day in the life of Substack
I will work my way through the Substack Leaderboard for U.S Politics.
Eli Lake wrote about A Fiasco in the Oval Office. I do not subscribe so I only see the first few paragraphs. In my essay About Cancel Culture, posted July 25, 2020, I noted the beginning of the remarkable Bari Weiss story.
On Friday the world witnessed one of the most astonishing spectacles in White House history.
American presidents have surely dressed down besieged allies behind closed doors; never before has it happened on live television. This break with any prior presidential diplomacy must be seen to be believed.
What unfolded between Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance turned into a political Rorschach test.
For Trump’s base, the 50-minute exchange was proof positive of America First foreign policy—an ungrateful freeloader gets upbraided by the populist tribune.
For Americans who still cling to the now unfashionable notion that the international system should be ruled by rules and not might, Friday’s incident was a horror.
From the perspective of Europe, it's the beginning of the end of the transatlantic alliance.
Heather Cox Richardson gives her take on February 28, 2025 in her usual calm manner.
In front of the cameras, Trump and Vance engaged in what Josh Marshall of Talking Points Memo called a “mob hit,” spouting Russian propaganda and trying to bully Zelensky into accepting a ceasefire and signing over rights to Ukrainian rare-earth minerals without guarantees of security. Vance, especially, seemed determined to provoke a fight in front of the cameras… His refusal to sit silent and submit meekly to their attack seemed to infuriate them.
After unloading on the reporter, Trump abruptly ended today’s meeting, saying it was “going to be great television.” Shortly afterward, he asked Zelensky and his team to leave the White House.
Cathy Young wrote about A Shameful, Appalling Spectacle.
At the end of the meeting, Trump appeared to say that all further American aid would stop unless Zelensky signed a peace agreement with Russia (“You’re either going to make a deal or we’re out”).
To repeat: The claim that Zelensky was disrespectful is bunk, even if he sometimes got frustrated during Vance’s smug and preening harangues. It was Vance who was nasty and ill-tempered in response to an entirely civil question from Zelensky and got even more insulting as the exchange went on… But premeditated or not, the confrontation was clearly initiated and escalated by Vance, with Trump’s encouragement.
Ilan Goldenberg and Jennifer Rubin issue a *Special Alert from The Contrarian* Trump and Vance berate Zelensky.
Never before have we witnessed such a grotesque display of bullying in the Oval Office by a president and vice president of the United States. Berating a democratic ally for the temerity not to sacrifice his own country to Donald Trump’s idol, Vladimir Putin.
The question remains whether this is curtains for the U.S.-Ukrainian relationship or whether Zelensky… can figure out a way to flatter and cajole Trump to resume a sane and sensible policy. For now, our greatest fears that an unhinged and irrational man-child leads the only superpower have never been more acute.
Zeteo's project is to document the ongoing, week-by-week growth of authoritarianism in the Trump second term.
We know! It’s hard to remember anything that happened this past week before President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance’s insane outburst at Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office on Friday.
But A LOT of other worrying things did happen. From more attacks on the press to another round of mass firings, here’s what the Musk-Trump-Vance administration did this week that harms the US democratic and constitutional order, the free press, and free society. Here’s your ‘This Week in Democracy - Week 6’:
Here is one selection from a long list.
In an unhinged post on Truth Social, Trump shared an AI-generated video of “Trump Gaza,” with a resort featuring a golden statue of the president, Elon Musk eating hummus, and Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sunbathing shirtless.
This 33 second video should disturb every American but will instead be praised by far too many.
Ron Filipkowski summarizes Today in Politics, Bulletin 81. 2/28/25.
… It was clear their intent entering this meeting was to create a confrontation to justify pulling aid from Ukraine, and it was Vance’s job to be the instigator.
… Even though Reuters and AP were banned from attending the event, Marge Greene’s boyfriend Brian Glenn, who despises Zelensky and has called him a criminal repeatedly, was able to get things started off by asking this question of Zelensky: “Why don’t you wear a suit? Do you own a suit?”
… An OAN reporter then asked a question which wasn’t really a question but more of a tribute to how great Trump is.
… This was a dark day for America and freedom-loving democracies all over the world. There is simply no way to sugar coat this. Trump has now put his cards on the table for everyone to plainly see that he is pro-Putin.
And Ben Meiselas says that Death Threats and Hacking Won’t Stop Meidas…EVER!!
On behalf of myself and all of our staff at the MeidasTouch Network, I want to thank you for your support as the network was targeted with more death threats, harassment, and hacking attempts, which we previously shared with you.
I have not read anything recently by Nate Silver, but I respect his work.
I rarely read Matt Taibbi.
Mr. Zelensky Comes to Washington: Transcript
This was the beginning of the end of the Zelensky legend. He came to Washington as the tough-talking spokesmodel for the “rules-based international order,” and left as a costumed pre-teen sent home with an empty trick-or-treat basket:
The rest of this article is behind a pay wall.
I rarely read Andy Borowitz as one of my shortcomings is a lack of appreciation for sarcasm.
Zelenskyy Meets With Russian Agent
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Asserting that “it was for the good of my country,” Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with a Russian agent on Friday.
Zelenskyy said he was aware that meeting the enemy agent would stir controversy, but added, “It was important to communicate with someone who speaks for Putin.”
After the Ukrainian thoroughly destroyed his counterpart in the meeting, the Russian agent received a harsh upbraiding from his Kremlin superior, Elon Musk.
“I thought I told you not to have any meetings without me,” Musk screamed.
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy’s performance garnered wide praise. “Vlod, you kicked his ass!” said Bishop Budde.
#10 Civil Discourse with Joyce Vance
I like civil discourse but I am now getting tired of reading and writing and this feels like a cute ending for now.
Today has been the reminder I needed that although we have a tough fight ahead of us to hold onto democracy, we have to continue living our lives with as much joy as possible, too. That’s been an elusive concept for me with so much happening and so many people’s lives turned upside down. We know there is more to come. So, yes we have work to do. We must help others who are directly impacted by what’s going on. But try to seize a little happiness for yourself too—a great way to remember why democracy matters so much. Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
We’re in this together,
Not all of us are in this together. Below is a post by someone who, long ago, was my spiritual brother. We are inadvertently still connected on facebook.
The facts behind yesterday's meeting between Trump and Zelensky. 'Secretary Bessent confirms this was the third time Zelensky has agreed to the terms of the mineral deal only to back out. This time it was staged for the media.
Scott Jennings sums it up perfectly on CNN with Laura Coates Live. "I mean, all Zelenskyy had to do today was put on a tie, show up, smile, say 'thank you,' sign the papers, and have lunch. That‘s it. And he couldn‘t do that."
Susan Rice peddles propaganda that Trump “SETUP” Zelenskyy at the WH to appease Putin. RIGHT: Marco Rubio explains that the deal could’ve been SIGNED DAYS AGO, but Zelenskyy INSISTED on coming to DC.
The liberal media is casting the Trump/Zelensky blowout as Trump bullying our ally. It's actually Trump standing up for the used and abused American taxpayer. Trump can't stand that our generosity is being used against us to prolong a war most Americans don't believe in.
Before Zelensky got owned by Trump and Vance, he met with major warmongers in the US Government.
Tony sets us straight! “You see the way Trump talks to Zelensky? That’s what we’ve been missing! That’s what I voted for! That’s what I’ve been looking for!” “And I like how Vance step right in. Trump sat back like a G.” Americans love what they saw today.
And here are some selected quotes from X.
Billionaire Bill Ackman - 1.6 million followers
I totally agree that Zelensky was the problem today after watching the whole session. Don’t rely on media excerpts if you want to get to the truth.
Tucker Carlson - 15.8 million followers
One of the most striking things about yesterday’s Zelensky press conference was Lindsey Graham’s reaction to it. The two are old friends, but Graham disavowed him within the hour. This was more than just transactional disloyalty. It was scapegoating. Lindsey Graham knows what’s coming. Over the past three years, with the tacit support of its western patrons, the Ukrainian government has committed a remarkable number of serious crimes. The Ukrainians sold huge quantities of American weapons on the international black market at twenty cents on the dollar. These weapons are now in the hands of armed groups around the world, including Hamas, the Mexican drug cartels and the forces now controlling Syria. God knows what the Ukrainians have done with the pathogens in American biolabs in their country. Even US intel agencies aren’t sure. The Ukrainians have also murdered a number of people in various countries in political assassinations, and tried to murder others, including American journalists and a European head of state. This is all true, and it’s all going to come out at some point. Better to start blaming it on Zelensky now.
Eric Schmitt - United States Senator for Missouri
Zelenskyy could have signed the deal five days earlier but wanted to come to the White House. He’d been difficult for two weeks. Yet he wanted the White House meeting. Trump was upbeat about it even just the day before publicly and privately the day of. Although he could have reset the whole thing Zelenskyy was antagonistic and over the top. There are no more cards to play. No more “it could be your sons next” or “one more year and we’ll have them on their knees.” America has to move to our core interests now: Homeland and China. All he had to do was smile for the cameras, sign the minerals deal and have lunch. That’s it. He couldn’t do it. He failed his country and the relatively standard practice for an Oval Office meeting like this. There are now serious questions if we can even deal with him. He blew it. He had a one foot putt but was more interested in litigating issues that should be discussed behind closed doors (and have been) in public. It is in the national interest of the U.S. for there to be a peace deal. Now. Trump ran on this. It’s not a surprise. There will be no more money for war there. Not from us. Now is the time for peace.
Lindsey Graham - United States Senator for South Carolina
BREAKING: Unfortunately, America was disrespected and the deal is off. I have never been more proud of President @realDonaldTrump and Vice President @JDVance for standing up for America First.
Tulsi Gabbard - Director of National Intelligence
Thank you @realDonaldTrump for your unwavering leadership in standing up for the interests of the American people, and peace. What you said is absolutely true: Zelensky has been trying to drag the United States into a nuclear war with Russia/WW3 for years now, and no one has called him on it. Thank you, Vice President @JDVance for speaking out so forcefully and clearly, about the necessity of diplomacy.
The fact that so many people perceived the situation so differently does not bode well for our ability to cohere and respond to the complex crises we are in. To me, it ultimately comes down to what we choose to focus on, our depth of contextual awareness, and our values and purpose. If we could align around even the most fundamental common concern, like the process of knowing and being known, grounded in a deeper sense of collective belonging, we might not find ourselves in this predicament. But that would require the presence of a mature feminine spirit - one that nurtures relationality, responsiveness, and care. Unfortunately, we live in a world where the immature masculine spirit still prevails.