Memes in the Time of Trump 2.0: a parade of parody, piss, and vinegar

Epstein, Epstein, Epstein 

DON’T STOP TALKING ABOUT THE EPSTEIN FILES: ask why they’re so heavily redacted? Why didn’t Trump release them as and when he said he would (rhetorical for most of us; but should be a burning question for his supporters); who is being protected other than Trump? Why is this administration protecting child trafficking and pedophiles? If you voted for Trump and his administration, please ask yourself if you’re cool with letting the files remaining obscured, redacted, delayed. If you didn’t vote for the regime or have changed your mind about it, don’t stop talking about the files!

Raise the question to your elected officials. Ask them, if they’re Republicans, how they justify the regime’s reluctance to release the files with greater transparency and actually respect the victims, whose sensitive information is unredacted. Are they fine, then, with protecting the rich and powerful but not the victims of human trafficking and sex crimes. And can they refrain from using terms like “underage women” and actually use words like “children” and “underage girls”?

Let’s melt the ICE

The Streets of Minneapolis, trampling the Constitution, and state terrorism

Ask your representatives if they support the regime’s use of stormtroopers to spread fear in cities and among American citizens as an attempt to cow “Blue states”, liberals, democrats, and anyone not on board with what they’re doing to the country. Oh, and as a distraction from the Epstein files. It can be two things.

Ask them if they’re okay with ignoring due process, violating the 4th Amendment, and visiting trauma on entire communities of American citizens. Then ask if they’re partnering with ICE in your city and if they lie about it, call them out, and let them know their days in office are numbered.

The Rise of the Oligarchs or “how much of this country can I buy?”

I feel sorry (only up to a point) for MAGA people who bought into the idea that Trump & Co. were for the working class and would improve their economic situation. How is it that a guy who’s been a notorious grifter his entire life rose to the highest office? 

Lots of backers with money who knew he’d dance like a trained monkey for them. They knew he had no moral or ethical compass and that he’d straight-up lie to save his own skin. 

And yeah. They’ve got something to hide, too.

And this brings us to the great work the Regime has done on the economy. By which I mean wrecking it. Job creation? Think again. Lower prices? Yeah, right. I’ll have more to say about what a shell game it is that average Americans are being played by, but there’s plenty here to make that clear.

We were recovering from Trump 1.0, but apparently, people were swayed by the idea that the rebounding economy wasn’t enough (or it didn’t include them), that The President was too old and mentally feeble (or given who won the election, perhaps not feeble enough), & now we have all of the foregoing. 

Following are quick takes on the media, the electorate, and what’s led to the results. 

Racism/xenophobia/white supremacy 

Think you’re not a racist? Think the rulers aren’t racist? Everything I’ve posted has its origin in fear and hatred of “the Other” and that fear and hatred has been weaponized by our rulers to divide us so they can get more and establish themselves as our “betters”. You like that idea? You think because a white guy has enough money to buy your country, he’s better than you? 

You think immigrants and all non-white people are ignorant animals and should be deported? Then you really have inherited the world you deserve, you tragic ignoramus. But please tell me you’re not racist because you don’t think they all should be done away with, that there are some good ones. Oh, and you have a Black friend at work? Oh, good for you! And there’s a Black family that attends your church services? Aw, sugarplum, why you’re no racist, are you?

Nope. Sorry. You are.

Which brings us to the Occupier. He showed you who he was over decades. You still voted for him. He ran once on baldfaced lies and empty promises and you voted for him. Then you did it again.

As for those of you who couldn’t make it to vote because of gerrymandering or draconian political machinations, you’re off the hook; but for the millions who couldn’t be bothered to get off your collective ass? Fuck you. This is your mess, too.

America, here is your “king”, your tin-pot dictator, your pedo-in-chief! Make America Grim Always.

I usually end these on a positive note, but I think it’s important to sit with and absorb the situation we’re in, without wallowing and with some amount of humor, even if it's of the gallows variety.

Actually, I’ll do a follow-up with a more positive spin and resources for engagement. But for now, as usual, take what you can use and if you see a graphic here that should have attribution (or if it’s yours and you want it taken down), let me know.