Donald Trump has built a regime of retribution and reward | Sidney Blumenthal

A system of retribution and reward, expertly crafted by Donald Trump, has taken shape under his leadership. What began as an impulse to punish perceived enemies has evolved into a well-oiled machine that permeates every level of the federal government. The purge of senior officials in the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the FBI has created a culture of fear and intimidation, where those who dare to challenge Trump's authority face severe consequences.

The origin of this system can be traced back to a complaint filed by three former senior FBI officials against the FBI director, Kash Patel, and the US attorney general, Pam Bondi. The complaint alleges that Patel openly acknowledged the unlawfulness of his actions, which involved firing agents who worked on cases involving Trump. This incident marks a turning point in the development of the retribution system, where loyalty is rewarded and disloyalty is punished.

The consequences of this system are far-reaching. Senior leaders at the DoJ have resigned or been forced out, while those who remain are either loyalists or compromised by their relationships with Trump. The public integrity section of the DoJ has been decimated, and the civil rights division has lost 70% of its staff. Even the FBI's leadership has been reshuffled, with Kash Patel at the helm.

Trump's pardons and grants of clemency have become a cornerstone of his retribution system. He has pardoned over 1,500 people involved in the January 6 insurrection on Capitol Hill, including those convicted of corruption and financial crimes. These pardons are often granted without explanation or review, bypassing the traditional pardon process.

The appointments to key positions have also been indicative of Trump's priorities. Erik Siebert, a former beauty contestant and insurance lawyer from Florida, was appointed as the US attorney in the eastern district of Virginia, despite having no experience with federal law enforcement. This appointment has led to widespread criticism and resignation among top prosecutors in the office.

The inner workings of Trump's retribution system are shrouded in secrecy, with some officials displaying a lack of professionalism or ethics. Karoline Leavitt, Trump's press secretary, once called for violence against an opponent on social media, while Ed Martin, who heads the "weaponization working group" at the DoJ, has been accused of staging a photo opportunity outside the home of Letitia James, the New York attorney general.

The system has its own peculiarities and quirks, but it is a clear expression of Trump's desire to consolidate power and eliminate his perceived enemies. As Richard Nixon's former counsel John Dean once said about the Watergate scandal, "it has become a cancer on the presidency." The impact of this system can be seen across all levels of government, where loyalty is rewarded and disloyalty is punished.

Ultimately, Trump's retribution system represents the ultimate expression of authoritarianism, where the leader holds absolute power over the institutions that are meant to uphold the law. It is a chilling reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of protecting the rule of law in America's democratic institutions.
 
I'm so concerned about what's happening with this system under Trump's leadership πŸ€•πŸ˜± it's like he's creating a culture of fear and intimidation, where people are too afraid to speak out against him. The fact that loyalists are being rewarded while those who disagree with him are punished is just appalling 😑. And let's not forget about the pardons and grants of clemency - it's like he's giving away free passes to people who committed crimes, without any explanation or review πŸ€¦β€β™€οΈ. This system is a clear example of authoritarianism and it's terrifying to think about what could happen if we lose our democratic institutions πŸ’”. We need to speak out against this kind of behavior and demand accountability from our leaders πŸ’ͺ.
 
This is getting really creepy 🀯. So, basically Trump has set up some kind of system where if you're loyal to him, everything is cool, but if you're not, you get punished or fired. It's like a big game of who's got the leader's back, and whoever doesn't is toast. And it's not just limited to his own people, it's affecting other officials too. I mean, what's next? Is everyone going to have to swear loyalty to him just to keep their jobs?

And those pardons he's granting? It's like he's handing out free passes to whoever he wants. No explanation, no review... it's all very secretive and shady. And the people he's appointing to key positions? They're often complete unknowns with no experience in law enforcement or justice. It's just a big mess.

I'm seriously worried about what this means for our country's institutions and the rule of law. We need people who are independent and can make decisions based on evidence, not just because they're loyal to Trump. This system is basically creating a culture of fear and intimidation, where people are too afraid to speak out or challenge him.

I hope someone puts a stop to this soon, but until then... I don't know, it's all just really unsettling 😳
 
I'm so fed up with Trump's system of retribution and reward πŸ™„ it's like, who needs that kind of drama? I mean, firing agents for working on Trump cases is just plain crazy. And don't even get me started on the pardons – 1,500 people involved in the January 6 insurrection? That's a lot of folks getting off scot-free 🀯

And what's up with these new appointments? A former beauty contestant as a US attorney? What a joke πŸ˜‚. It's like he's trying to pack his friends and family into key positions just to do his bidding. And the fact that they're not even qualified for the job is just ridiculous πŸ™„.

I'm seriously worried about the state of our institutions right now πŸ‘€. If we can't trust our leaders to uphold the law, then what's the point? It's time for Trump to take a hard look at his system and figure out why it's not working πŸ€”. Otherwise, we're in for a whole lot of trouble 😬.
 
🚨 I'm low-key freaking out about what's going on with Trump's retribution system 🀯. Like, how did it get so deep into the DoJ and FBI? It's like they're trying to create a culture of fear and intimidation instead of justice and accountability πŸ’”. And those pardons? Completely unexplained and arbitrary, like he's just throwing shade at whoever he wants πŸ”₯. I'm also not buying Erik Siebert as a real US attorney 🀣. What's next, someone from TikTok being appointed to the Supreme Court? πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ This system is like, totally Orwellian, where loyalty is rewarded and disloyalty is punished πŸ‘Š. We need to stay vigilant and protect our democratic institutions from this kind of authoritarianism πŸ’ͺ.
 
TRUMP'S REWARDS AND PUNISHMENTS SYSTEM IS GETTING OUT OF HAND 🚨😱 IT STARTED AS A WAY TO SILENCE HIS ENEMIES BUT NOW IT'S A FULL ON CULTURE OF FEAR AT THE DOJ AND FBI!!! THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE THE WATCHDOGS OF AMERICA BUT INSTEAD THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO SURVIVE BY PLAYING BY TRUMP'S RULES. AND DON'T EVEN GET ME STARTED ON THOSE PARDONS HE'S BEEN GRANTING TO EVERYONE FROM CORRUPT POLICEMEN TO INSURRECTIONISTS 🀯 IT'S LIKE HE THINKS HE CAN JUST BUY HIS WAY OUT OF ANYTHING. THE SYSTEM IS COMPLETELY UN accountABLE AND IT'S ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE IT TURNS INTO A FULL ON Authoritarian REGIME πŸ‘€πŸ’₯
 
"You can't control the winds, but you can adjust your sails." πŸ’¨ The retribution system under Trump has become a major concern for the country's institutions. The purge of senior officials and the appointments of loyalists with questionable credentials are indicative of a larger issue: the erosion of trust in the government.

The secrecy surrounding this system is alarming, especially when it comes to pardons and grants of clemency. It raises questions about accountability and the rule of law. The fact that top prosecutors have resigned or been forced out due to their lack of experience with federal law enforcement is a red flag for the administration's priorities.

As the saying goes, "absolute power corrupts absolutely." πŸ€• Trump's retribution system has become a cancer on the presidency, and its impact can be felt across all levels of government. It's time to take action and ensure that the rule of law is protected in America's democratic institutions. πŸ’ͺ
 
omg u can feel the toxic energy emanating from this whole retribution system πŸš¨πŸ’” it's like, trump is basically creating a cult following where loyalty is rewarded and disloyalty is punished, and it's getting outta hand!!! 🀯 i mean, what happened to checks and balances? shouldn't ppl be held accountable for their actions, not just because of who they know or who they're loyal to?! πŸ™„ the fact that karoline leavitt was allowed to call for violence on social media is just wild 🀯 ed martin staging a photo op outside someones home tho takes the cake 🍰
 
🀯 I'm freaking out reading about this retribution system under Trump πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ! The purge of senior officials at the DoJ and FBI is insane, it's like they're trying to dismantle the very fabric of our justice system 🀯. And the fact that he's pardoning over 1,500 people involved in the January 6 insurrection without explanation or review? That's just mind-blowing 😱. It's like he's creating a cult following and silencing anyone who dares to speak out against him πŸ‘Š. I'm scared for our democracy and the future of America πŸ‡ΊπŸ‡Έ...
 
πŸ€” I'm still trying to wrap my head around how far this system has come under Trump. Like, it started off as some impulse thing to punish people who were 'enemies', but now it's like a fully formed machine πŸ€– that's basically strangling the entire DoJ and FBI. I mean, can you imagine if this was happening in any other country? The thought alone is terrifying 😱. It's crazy how loyalty is being rewarded while disloyalty is getting punished left and right. What's next? Is everyone just going to be expected to toe Trump's line now? 🀯

And don't even get me started on the pardons. Like, what's the criteria here? Just because you were involved in some insurrection or financial crime doesn't mean you should get a pardon out of thin air πŸ’Έ. It's like he's just making it up as he goes along and expecting everyone to just roll with it πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ.

I think the worst part is how this system is affecting people's lives on a daily basis. Like, those prosecutors who resigned in Virginia? What about their families? Did they get any support from Trump or the government? 🀝 It's all just so... uncaring πŸ˜”.

And let's not forget about Ed Martin and Karoline Leavitt's antics. Like, what even is that supposed to be? A photo op outside someone's home? Is this really how you want to represent the US government in front of the world? πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ

Anyway, I guess my point is: Trump's retribution system is a super scary development and we need to pay attention to it ASAP πŸ”₯.
 
I'm so worried about this retribution system that Trump has created 🀯. It's like a never-ending game of Musical Chairs, where those who are loyal get to stay and those who aren't get bounced out. I mean, can you imagine working at the DoJ without being able to criticize the administration or even think for yourself? 😱 The culture of fear that Trump has instilled is toxic, and it's not just about the senior officials who have resigned - it's about the countless other employees who are living in fear of being fired or blacklisted.

And let's not forget those pardons 🀝. It's like Trump is handing out participation trophies to his friends and allies, without any regard for the rule of law or justice. I mean, what even is the point of a pardon system if it's just going to be used as a tool for revenge? The lack of transparency and accountability is staggering - how can we trust that these pardons are being granted fairly and without bias?

It's also disturbing to see how Trump's appointments have been influenced by his personal network πŸ’Ό. I mean, Erik Siebert, the US attorney in Virginia? Has he even got a clue about federal law enforcement? It's like Trump is stacking the deck with cronies who share his views, rather than appointing qualified professionals who can do their job without fear or favor.

This system is a cancer, just as John Dean said 🀒. It's infecting every level of government and undermining the rule of law. We need to be vigilant and demand that our institutions are protected from this kind of authoritarianism. The stakes are too high - we're talking about democracy itself πŸ—³οΈ.
 
I'm getting really worried about what's going on with this retribution system under Trump 🀯. It seems like he's basically creating his own rules and punishing people who don't agree with him. The fact that senior officials are resigning or being forced out is crazy, and it's only making things more toxic in the government. I mean, who gets pardoned for crimes without any explanation? 1500+ people involved in the January 6 insurrection get a free pass? It just doesn't seem right πŸ€·β€β™‚οΈ. And what about the people who are appointed to key positions with no experience at all? It's like he's stacking the deck against anyone who tries to hold him accountable πŸ’Ό. I'm seriously concerned about the future of our country if this kind of thing is allowed to continue unchecked 😬.
 
This is getting really scary πŸ€• Trumps whole thing with loyalty vs disloyalty is making me worried, like what's next? He's basically turning people against each other to get ahead or keep their jobs. It doesn't seem right that someone can just get a pardon for doing something super wrong and not even have to explain themselves πŸ™„ And that appointment of Erik Siebert as a US attorney without any experience is wild 🀯 What if he screws up because of it? The whole thing just feels like Trump is trying to take control of everything and make anyone who opposes him pay the price πŸ’Έ
 
πŸ€” this whole thing is super shady - I mean who does Trump think he is?

The way he's just gonna pardon anyone he wants without explanation or review is literally mind-blowing... like, doesn't he know that's not how it works? πŸ™„

And what's with these weird appointments? Erik Siebert, the guy from Florida, being appointed as a US attorney despite having no experience? That's just wild.

I'm also low-key concerned about Karoline Leavitt saying she wants violence against an opponent on social media... that's some seriously concerning stuff. πŸ€•

But honestly, it all just feels like one big power play to me - Trump trying to consolidate his authority and get rid of anyone who might stand in his way.

Like, I know we're talking about a system here, but it's hard not to feel like this is all just some kind of sick game. 🚫
 
πŸ€” I'm still trying to wrap my head around this whole thing... it feels like we're living in a scene from a dystopian novel. The fact that Trump has basically created his own system of retribution, where loyalty is key and disloyalty gets punished, is just mind-boggling. And the people he's appointed to lead these institutions? πŸ™„ It's like he's handpicked his own personal team of yes-men and women. I mean, who appoints an insurance lawyer from Florida to head up a major US attorney office without any experience in law enforcement? πŸ˜‚

But seriously, this whole thing is so disturbing. The way Trump seems to be using these appointments to silence dissenting voices and consolidate power... it's just scary. And the fact that people like Karoline Leavitt are out there making threats on social media and staging photo ops to intimidate opponents? 🀯 That's not leadership, that's authoritarianism.

I'm all for accountability in government, but this whole thing feels like a game of musical chairs where the only ones left standing are Trump's loyalists. And we're all just watching from the sidelines, wondering what's going to happen next. 😬
 
I'm getting really concerned about what's going on with this system Trump has created 🀯. It seems like he's setting up a trap for anyone who disagrees with him, and it's just not right 😑. I mean, firing agents who worked on cases involving him? That's just intimidation tactics, plain and simple πŸ’Ό.

And don't even get me started on the pardons πŸ™„. 1,500 people involved in the January 6 insurrection? It's like he's rewarding people for breaking the law! What a slap in the face to everyone who actually cares about justice and equality πŸ€·β€β™€οΈ.

I'm all for holding people accountable for their actions, but this system is just too extreme πŸ”₯. We need to make sure that our leaders are held to the same standards as the rest of us, not above them πŸ‘Š. Otherwise, we're just going to lose our democracy altogether 😩.

And what's up with these weird appointments? πŸ€” Erik Siebert, a beauty contestant and insurance lawyer? Who is this guy even supposed to be leading federal law enforcement? 🚨

Anyway, I'm just gonna keep spreading the word about how disturbing this system is πŸ“’. We need to wake people up and make them realize what's going on here πŸ’‘.
 
I'm really worried about what's going on with Trump's team πŸ€•. They're basically silencing anyone who disagrees with him, whether it's through threats or just making it hard for them to get their work done 🚫. It's like they think the president is above the law πŸ™„, which is super scary. And what's up with all these pardons? It feels like he's just giving out treats to whoever he likes 🍰. The fact that someone with no experience in law enforcement ended up being a top prosecutor in Virginia is wild πŸ˜‚. Trump's system seems more like a game of "who can be most loyal" rather than actually doing the job πŸ’Ό. We need to make sure our leaders are working for us, not just themselves πŸ‘Š
 
🚨 This whole thing with Trump's retribution system is like something out of a dystopian novel, right? πŸ“– I mean, think about it - a former beauty contestant turned US attorney gets appointed to a key position despite having zero experience with federal law enforcement... what's next? A reality TV star becomes the head of the CIA? πŸ˜‚ It's just mind-boggling.

But seriously, this system is like a cancer on the presidency. The way Trump has been punishing his perceived enemies and rewarding loyalty is super concerning. I mean, we're talking about senior officials in the DoJ and FBI being forced out or resigning because they wouldn't play ball with him... that's just not right.

And don't even get me started on the pardons and grants of clemency. 1,500 people involved in the January 6 insurrection? That's a staggering number. And it's not like these pardons are being granted out of some sense of justice or fairness - nope, they're just another way for Trump to consolidate power and silence his opponents.

It's like he's creating this whole alternate reality where loyalty is rewarded and disloyalty is punished. Newsflash: that's not how democracy works! We need institutions like the DoJ and FBI to be independent and free from political interference, not subservient to some all-powerful leader who can decide who gets a slap on the wrist.

Anyway, I just think this whole thing needs to be watched closely and scrutinized. It's like we're witnessing a slow-motion coup, where Trump is systematically dismantling the checks and balances that are meant to keep him in check. πŸ•°οΈ Scary stuff, dude. 😬
 
I'm getting really worried about this retribution system that Trump has created πŸ€•. It's like, you gotta wonder what's going on behind closed doors when senior officials just resign or get forced out without any explanation. And those pardons? Unbelievable! I mean, 1,500 people involved in the January 6 insurrection? That's just crazy 😱.

And don't even get me started on the appointments. Erik Siebert, a former beauty contestant and insurance lawyer, being appointed as US attorney in Virginia without any experience with federal law enforcement? Come on! πŸ™„ It's like Trump is trying to stack the deck against his enemies or something.

I'm not sure what kind of "system" this is supposed to be, but it feels like a recipe for disaster. I mean, we're talking about a culture of fear and intimidation here, where people are too afraid to speak out against the president. That's just not okay πŸ™…β€β™‚οΈ.

We need to start paying attention to these kinds of things and holding our leaders accountable for their actions. We can't let Trump's retribution system go unchecked and become a cancer on the presidency like John Dean said 😬.
 
The recent machinations under Trump's leadership have created a dystopian atmosphere within the federal government 😬. The purge of senior officials at the DoJ and FBI has resulted in a culture of fear, where whistleblowers are silenced and dissenting voices are crushed 🀐. Trump's system of retribution and reward is akin to a hydra-like entity, where loyalty is rewarded with impunity and disloyalty is punished with ruthless efficiency πŸ’£.

The appointment of Erik Siebert as the US attorney in Virginia has been particularly egregious πŸ™„, highlighting the lack of expertise and qualifications for key positions. The pardons and grants of clemency have also been arbitrary and often unexplained, bypassing traditional review processes πŸ”’. This is a clear expression of Trump's desire to consolidate power and eliminate perceived enemies πŸ‘Š.

The system's peculiarities and quirks are a symptom of its larger problem: the erosion of accountability and the rule of law 🚫. The inner workings of this system are shrouded in secrecy, with officials displaying a lack of professionalism or ethics πŸ€¦β€β™‚οΈ. It is a chilling reminder of the dangers of unchecked power and the importance of protecting America's democratic institutions from authoritarianism πŸ’”.
 
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