Trump’s deal with corporate elites is corrupt and undermines democracy. We all pay financially and with our freedom. Gerard Baker of The Wall Street Journal has written two columns that make a powerful statement about the damage America’s corporate elites and their style of capitalism have done.

President Trump and his regime don’t care about you and aren’t protecting your health, safety, or financial security. Here are some examples of actions they have taken that put you at risk.

Strong progressive election results are continuing. Voters are making it clear that their top issues are the unaffordability of daily life, the corruption in our politics, fairness in our economy, and strong, effective opposition to the Trump regime.

The Trump family’s relationships with Saudi Arabia and its ruler involve billions of dollars of investments and real estate deals. These conflicts of interest and apparent corruption are unprecedented. There are many accessories, and there should be many investigations and prosecutions.

Trump’s friendly relationship with Saudi Arabia and its ruler is evident in his administration’s sales to them of military equipment and artificial intelligence (AI) technology, and his visits to Saudi Arabia. Trump’s extravagant military spending and sales have been called the “Bloody New Deal.”

The Trump administration’s deal to support a Saudi Arabian nuclear energy program represents a major shift in U.S. policy and risks accelerating the nuclear arms race in the Middle East and globally. It has put a spotlight on the Trump family’s relationship with Saudi Arabia and its ruler.

Trump is the only politician calling for and taking government control of private companies and resources. At his direction, the government has taken stakes in at least nine companies. On the other hand, democratic socialists in the U.S. today are in the historical mainstream and are not communists.

Are national Democrats listening? The public is yelling and voting based on affordability and corruption. Progressive, grassroots candidates are beating incumbents and winning even in conservative districts. Many of these candidates are young, female, multicultural, and/or new to politics.

Artificial intelligence (AI) needs strong regulation because its effects are far-reaching and powerful. U.S. Representative Khanna states that a robust federal agency is needed to regulate AI and has put forth seven principles for a new social compact to address the issues of AI and inequality.

Big Tech needs strong regulation due to its potential for great benefit and great harm, especially artificial intelligence (AI). An innovative regulation of AI would be to have the government seize 50% of AI companies’ stock, putting the shares in a sovereign wealth fund to benefit all Americans.

Trump is the culmination of decades of work by wealthy individuals and CEOs (America’s oligarchs) undermining democracy & skewing government policy. This has led to high income & wealth inequality. Many Americans have lost their economic security, as well as their faith in government & democracy.

Despite all the bad news, there’s lots of good news. Democrats in Congress are increasing their resistance. State level action is critically important. I don’t condone gerrymandering, but I do believe in fighting fire with fire. Lots of good news in Jess Craven’s blog’s weekly good news edition.

The Trump administration policies are doing wide-ranging harm to people and our society. We need to protest and resist to convince elected officials, business and academic leaders, and others to stand up and push back.

PLEASE participate in a Make Good Trouble protest on Thurs., July 17. The Trump administration continues its assaults on our democracy and on the safety and well-being of Americans. We and our elected officials need to step up our resistance and make it clear we oppose the administration’s actions.

Please contact your U.S. Representative NOW. Ask them to stop the draconian Republican budget bill. The House will be voting soon on the bill just passed by the Senate. Its spending cuts will harm millions of Americans. Its tax cuts will be a windfall for wealthy individuals and corporations.

Please contact your US Senators NOW. Ask them to stop the draconian Republican budget the Senate is voting on NOW, which includes major cuts to Medicaid and food assistance. Its spending cuts will harm millions of Americans. Its tax cuts will be a windfall for wealthy individuals and corporations.

I hope you’ll participate in a protest for No Kings Day on Sat., 6/14. You can find an event near you here. The Trump administration has escalated its attacks on our democracy, and we, and our political leaders, need to step up our resistance and strongly oppose the administration’s actions.

The Trump administration is making us less safe from disease, violence, and death. Cuts to Medicaid and Medicare will increase deaths. So will weakening gun violence prevention efforts. Finally, the Trump administration’s war on children is harming children and will increase deaths for them too.

Musk and the so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) are failures. They haven’t even managed to reduce federal spending, let alone reduce waste, fraud, and abuse, or increase government efficiency – according to Jeff Jacoby, a quite conservative columnist for the Boston Globe.

Democrats need to be more dramatic, effective, and consistent in opposing Trump, his nominees, and the congressional Republicans’ agenda. They need to step up their resistance while promoting and committing to enact policies that would support everyday Americans.