Direction

Posted on November 22, 2024 by Dr. Conspiracy

I don’t watch much TV and had never seen an episode of The Apprentice. As a life-long southerner, the New York celebrity scene wasn’t of any interest. My very first time hearing Donald Trump was in 2011 on one of the morning TV shows and the topic was Barack Obama’s birth certificate. Trump was throwing out innuendo suggesting that Obama’s birth certificate, then not public, said he was a Muslim, never mind the fact that no US birth certificate has a child’s religion on it.

As the years went by, Donald Trump became a vector for a number of conspiracy theories, most notably 2020 election denial.

I spent thousands of hours online debunking conspiracy theories about Barack Obama, writing over 4,000 articles on the topic at my Obama Conspiracy Theories blog. This time around, I’m going to take the same approach, applying the same fact checking and debunking techniques to conspiracy theories about Donald Trump, starting with the 2024 US Presidential election. When I started on Obama I knew almost nothing about him. I had an open mind. Trump has accumulated a lot of baggage in my mind since 2011; I’ll have to be extra careful not to let my biases get in the way.

Bad News Sells

The infamous “mainstream media” has put out some pretty strong doomsday speculation about the upcoming Trump administration. Trump’s image wasn’t helped by the selection of Matt Gaetz for Attorney General, perhaps the worst pick ever for that job, who was so bad he finally withdrew. So the political left will provide the grist for the Trump Conspiracy Theories mill.

Does he intend to use the Department of Justice against his political enemies? Will he wreck the economy with tariffs and mass unemployment after gutting the federal workforce? Is he in the tank for Vladimir Putin? Is Medicaid doomed? Will children starve without school lunches? After the election, will he play golf and let Elon Musk or JD Vance run the government?

As I said once before back in 2011:

Let the Claims Begin1

  1. The Debunker’s Guide to Obama Conspiracy Theories ↩︎

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Trump attempts to exact retribution against law firms who represented his political opponents and put them out of business

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Dr. Conspiracy

Trump crossed the line again. This video explains it in detail.

Posted in Executive Orders, The Law, Videos | Tagged | Leave a comment

The First Time Around

Posted on March 17, 2025 by Dr. Conspiracy

Some people seem shocked at what Donald Trump is doing in his second term, but that may be because they forgot the first term. Here is my own list of reprehensible and scandalous things he did that I compiled in 2020:

  1. Allowed deterioration of the US Postal Service
  2. Appointed USPS Postmaster General who violated campaign finance laws
  3. Attempt to illegally increase USPS shipping rates for Amazon
  4. Appointed Michael Flynn national security advisor who lied to the FBI and the Vice President
  5. Illegal executive order regarding Tic Tok
  6. Cut Pandemic Early Warning program in 2019 and fired staff
  7. Mismanagement at CDC over Coronavirus testing kits
  8. Attempted to cut CDC funding each year of his administration
  9. Deliberately underplayed dangers of COVID-19 leading to tens of thousands of excess deaths
  10. Flawed deal in the Middle East that ignored fighting in Libya
  11. Illegal air strikes in Syria, followed by…
  12. Withdrew from Syria leaving the Russians in control
  13. Tariffs started trade war with China resulting in disastrous problems for US farmers
  14. Six TRILLION dollars added to the national debt in only 3 years
  15. Administration lied to federal court in the attempt to block publication of John Bolton’s book
  16. Withdrew from Paris Agreement on climate change
  17. Ended humanitarian program, ejecting 59,000 Haitian refugees
  18. Revealed classified information to Russian ambassador
  19. Muzzled employees from the EPA from speaking publicly about their work
  20. Withdrew from Iran nuclear deal, resulting in their renewed nuclear weapons program
  21. Went through 4 National Security Advisors and 5 Deputy National Security Advisors in less than 4 years
  22. Undermined federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies, siding with Putin
  23. Refuses to commit to leaving office if he loses election
  24. Illegally attempted to halt the US census one month early
  25. Tried to block AT&T – Time Warner merger to punish CNN
  26. Six migrant children died in federal custody, compared to none in previous 10 years.
  27. Trump illegally ordered the IRS to withhold his tax returns from a congressional committee
  28. Refused to put his assets in a blind trust
  29. The White House website had an advertisement for Melania’s jewelry line (since removed)
  30. Repeatedly promised to announce replacement for Affordable Care Act, but did not
  31. Illegal diversion of funds to build border wall
  32. Shut down the government to get more money for the wall, but actually got less than the deal he was offered
  33. Border wall progress almost nil.
  34. Asking China to start a politically-motivated investigation of the Bidens
  35. Illegal withholding of funds to “sanctuary cities”
  36. Trump ordered fruitless raid in Yemen in which one Navy SEAL was killed, 5 American soldiers were wounded and 30 civilians, some of which were children died.
  37. Trump rented space to at least two foreign governments in Trump tower
  38. Presidential neglect and incompetence led to 3,000 deaths in Puerto Rico after Hurricane Maria
  39. Multiple instances of obstruction of justice documented in the Mueller Report
  40. Committed perjury in Mueller investigation when he denied discussing WikiLeaks with Roger Stone.
  41. Pardons issued for political reasons, including Roger Stone, Dinesh D’Souza, Kristian Saucier and Joe Arpaio.
  42. Trump removed environmental protections from mercury, a neurotoxin particularly dangerous to pregnant women and infants
  43. Trump signed executive order reducing enforcement of the Johnson Amendment, which prevents tax-exempt religious institutions from taking political positions.
  44. Rolled back plan to provide affordable internet access to low-income communities
  45. Federal Elections Commission lacks quorum to bring actions against campaign law violations. Trump has not appointed replacement commissioners
  46. Staff exodus at the Elections Assistance Commission, the organization that assists the states to keep their elections systems from being hacked
  47. Trump staff turnover rate higher than 5 most recent presidents
  48. Stopped funding for Social Security
  49. Rescinded rule preventing conflict of interest in investment advice offered to retirement savers.
  50. Illegal attempts to end DACA
  51. Excluded health care workers and first responders from the Families First Coronavirus Relief Act (FFCRA)
  52. Congratulated China on the 70 anniversary of the Communist takeover
  53. Disrespect to fallen soldiers, and veteran amputees
  54. Gave green light for Turkey to invade Syria and attack our Kurdish allies.
  55. Took no action against Russian interference in US elections, which is still ongoing
  56. Told police to treat suspects roughly.
  57. Told supporters to boycott private US companies, like Goodyear
  58. Threatened to “destroy the career” of a state senator in Texas because of his position on asset seizure.
  59. Attempted to remove protections for transgender individuals
  60. Appointed inexpert and ultimately disastrous secretary of housing and urban development, Ben Carson
  61. Encouraged anti-vaxxers.
  62. Stopped family planning funds for the UN
  63. Falsely accused Obama of spying on him
  64. Retweeted anti-Islam videos
  65. Retweeted white supremacist videos
  66. Said Democrats not applauding him was treason
  67. Administration talked about totally fake recent “terrorist attack” in Atlanta.
  68. White House counselor Kellyanne Conway promoted Ivanka Trump’s retail brand when speaking in her official capacity. Trump tweet negatively about Nordstrom for discontinuing the line
  69. Stated that a CNN reporter wounded in the knee by a rubber bullet was a “beautiful sight.”
  70. Attempted to coerce Ukrainian president to announce a sham investigation of the Bidens

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News and Analysis

Posted on March 15, 2025 by Dr. Conspiracy

There are some good sources of news and analysis. The remarkably unbiased Voice of America may be on the chopping block soon. In the meantime, here is a short list that may grow of news and analysis YouTube channels.

Legal Eagle

Talking Feds

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Enemies List

Posted on March 9, 2025 by Dr. Conspiracy

Richard Nixon’s “enemies list” was an informal compilation of individuals and organizations he perceived as political adversaries. It became public knowledge during the Watergate scandal and was part of a broader effort to use federal resources to target those who opposed his administration. One of those abuses of power was when the Nixon administration was directed to audit groups critical of Nixon’s presidency. Quite the infamous chapter in U.S. political history.

Candidate Donald Trump made no secret that if elected, he would exact revenge on his political enemies, “retribution” was the word he used. It certainly makes sense in hindsight that President Biden pardoned a long list of individuals that Trump might have targeted. Nonetheless Trump has started getting even:

  1. Trump ordered security clearances removed from attorneys with the Perkins Coe law firm that formerly represented Hillary Clinton and paid for some of the work that went into the raw intelligence reports that became the “Steele Dossier.”
  2. Trump ordered all security clearances canceled for attorneys with Covingt0n & Burling LLP, and is a reviewing all government contracts with the firm. They had had agreed to represent former special prosecutor Jack Smith pro bono.
  3. Trump revoked security clearances for dozens of former intelligence officials who had criticized him.
  4. He removed Secret Service protection for Anthony Fauci and John Bolton, despite death threats.
  5. He sued CBS for the absurd amount of $20 billion, claiming they removed a few words to shorten an interview with Kamala Harris to fit the time slot.
  6. Department of Justice employees related to the investigations of Trump were purged.
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A Word From Norway

Posted on March 1, 2025 by Dr. Conspiracy

Found on the ELCA group (unofficial) on Facebook”

I am writing from Norway, former missionary, professor of theology and priest in the Church of Norway. I think it is important to make my brothers and sisters in the ELCA [Evangelical Lutheran Church in America] aware of that people here in most country in Europe begin to see the United States as it has appeared now as a greater threat to freedom and peace in the world than Russia and China. May God give you wisdom.

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Hell Hole X

Posted on February 13, 2025 by Dr. Conspiracy

I don’t visit the X social media platform, but it has really gone down the toilet.

I’ve been listening to the Voice of America off and on since 1965 and they have always been carefully balanced and accurate in their reporting.

The United States, by electing a con man as president has pretty much given up any pretense of integrity in the world, and shutting down VOA will finish the deal.

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So much misery, so little time

Posted on February 12, 2025 by Dr. Conspiracy

A counter in the back of my head clicked over to 3 million, on the number of people Trump has caused significant trauma to, whether starving people around the world or federal employees at home.

With a lying word, Trump’s stooge has labeled charity “money laundering” without any evidence. See:

Lutheran Services in Iowa ‘absolutely’ does not launder money, Gov. Kim Reynolds clarifies

And if you think, “well that doesn’t affect me,” how about The Trump Administration putting employees of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Administration on leave, specific ally those working on election security?1 Trump never forgets those folks who had the temerity to say that the 2020 election was secure. Wasn’t firing director Krebs enough?

I can’t believe the 49.9% of those who voted in the 2024 election wanted this.

  1. https://techcrunch.com/2025/02/11/cisa-election-security-officials-placed-on-leave-report/ ↩︎
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Data: The Enemy of the People

Posted on February 9, 2025 by Dr. Conspiracy

Been to the Centers for Disease Control website today?

You see, data is the enemy of conmen. And CDC data on disease and health outcomes often includes bits of information like gender, race and ethnicity. You know, that “woke” stuff? Heaven forbid somebody find out that people aren’t treated equally in society.

The recent removal of health data related to race, gender, and ethnicity from federal websites has raised significant concerns among public health experts. This action has been criticized for potentially harming public health by eliminating access to crucial information used by clinicians, researchers, and patients.

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JD Vance’s Upside Down Notion of Charity

Posted on February 5, 2025 by Dr. Conspiracy

Vice President Vance made a shocking remark January 29 or Fox News (at least shocking to a Christian) about charity.

“There is a Christian concept that you love your family and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens, and then after that, prioritize the rest of the world. A lot of the far left has completely inverted that.”

Any number of sayings from Jesus himself contradict that hierarchy. An article in the National Catholic Reporter cites:

“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you. … If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?” (Mt 5:44, 46-47)

I would point to the longer condemnation of the callous by Jesus.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’

“Then he will say to those on his left, Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Matthew 25 ESV

Frankly, Jesus was pretty distant from his family during his ministry.

And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you.” But he answered them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Luke 8: 20-21 ESV

And aliens?

When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God.

Leviticus 19:33-34 NRSV

Trumpism is fundamentally anti-Christian.

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The Greywashing of America

Posted on February 2, 2025 by Dr. Conspiracy

Yup, this photo is real.

FBI employee following new policy to remove inclusiveness from its messaging by repainting wall at the FBI Academy in Quantico.

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