To ensure that the United States will always be led by a coherent, functioning President, the Twenty-Fifth Amendmentprovides for the prompt, orderly, and democratic transfer of executive power in the event the president is incapacitated, physically or mentally.
The problem, Sabrina, is that invoking the 25th Amendment would make Vance president and imo he would be more dangerous. Trump is a dumb demented fuck. Vance is a smart, cruel fuck who learned his fascist tactics from Peter Thiel. And Thiel IS a fascist. He had an uncle who worked in Nazi Germany as a rocket propellent scientist. It's in his DNA.
And if Vance was unable to be President then it goes to Mike Johnson who is even more problematic because he is a fucking religious fanatic.
Increasingly, I see the only way to solve our national problems is to give those desiring 1939 Germany 1789 France instead. Viva la Revolucion.
I don't disagree that Vance is evil and Johnson is a zealot. You may well be correct that either of them could be worse. But the solution, at least for me and the way I see the resistance, can't be to say nothing. You're not advocating that, I realize. The 25th A won't be invoked by these immoral GOP clowns, either. But since it's a tool, it deserves to be dusted off before we head irretrievably into the abyss. Viva la Revolucion indeed!- too bad so few Americans even understand that reference.
While the implementation of the 25th it is not going to happen, I do not believe either Vance or Johnson have the feral political instincts and communications/con man skills that has enabled Trump to dominate should it occur. There would be no shortage of Republican politicians who would line up to take either of them out or at least bend them to a more rational understanding of the world. Vance may listen to Yarvin, but there are probably not too many others who do in the GOP congressional caucuses. Vance also offends a lot groups whether it is trashing Ukraine or as a self described "hillbilly" referring to Chinese as being peasants, he will not get the pass on the cruelty and crudeness of Trump. I have not spoken with any who has dealt with Johnson, but he sure seems to be a weak, sniveling little dandy picked for Speaker because is a weak, sniveling little dandy.
Viva la Revolucion translated to OFF WITH THEIR HEADS---just so other readers are aware. As an old Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, I understand exactly what I'm saying.
Not literally, at least that's not what I'm saying. Violence will only beget violence, which is what trump is banking on, salivating over deploying US troops against domestic enemies. I'm saying, massive resistance in the streets, online, at work, church and schools...
I don't know. they didn't have the internet or social media, it was a different time. I'm wiling to concede that physical violence is coming, and may also be necessary. but I'm not willing to encourage it, other than defensively. at least not yet.
Even non violent protests have resulted in violence. Gandhi, MLK, Jr. for example. It's not a matter of whether it will come, it's a matter of how long it will take.
In the meantime, view this video on how North Carolina Republicans are overthrowing the valid election of a Democratic Supreme Court Justice by disenfranchising 7000 military votes cast LAST YEAR. The court sans this Justice has ruled those military voters must now send ID to prove who they were. That was not the law last year when they voted. Those service members must now be contacted so they know they have 30 days to send in ID. Whose going to notify them? The NC government? What about someone deployed on a nuclear submarine for the next few months.
This kind of evil will not be overcome with passivity.
Trump is the closest politician to Nero in US history. Trump is not only a malignant narcissist who set the world economy on fire, but then went to play in his athletic games where "surprisingly" he won. It won't be long before Trump starts reciting and writing poetry like Nero...well I guess he already does with all the time he recites his favorite poem "You knew I was a snake".
I am not a psychiatrist and don't claim to know a lot, but I have witnessed a family member and a close friend succumb to the disease. I saw uncontrollable speech out of the blue, extreme forgetfulness, as in not knowing their children, and repeating themselves, as in calling the same phone number repeatedly and starting a conversation as though calling for the first time. It's a sad thing to see. Simply put, they don't know where they are, and family and friends circle the wagon to make those afflicted comfortable and away from harm. Trump has been a vengeful racist man all his life, and his supporters may feel he is just being Trump. And now they face the consequences of choosing him as their leader after being warned of his unfitness. This will be one of the most significant test in governing in American history. The two political parties compelled to come together to remove a president. How's that for the 2025 Project?
I don't expect it to happen, republicans are not at that point yet. they know voters in the US have an. abysmally low attention span, and an even shorter memory. if we didn't realize this before, the fact that a felon who tried to overthrow the govt got re-elected is proof.
Now we have a report from the White House saying Trump is in excellent health. Around and around we go, where will America land, nobody knows. Each day is getting worse than the one before.
Chris, I am sorry for what you went through. Up close and very personally you saw the typical course of this terrible disease (which always gets worse). Sadly only a few people can afford to live where I do. It is left to family to care for loved ones with worsening dementia. I live in a continuing care retirement community which has memory care units staffed by nurses and aides who specialize in helping people with dementia and the symptoms you describe. Trump has his memory farts but this can be just because he's elderly and basically doesn't give a shit about being accused of being incoherent when he clains this is his brilliant weave. How many people with dementia can hold forth ranting even 90% coherently for an hour straight?
Much appreciate your detailed, thorough statement regarding trumps cognitive decline. Scary to realize how such an impaired individual has power to fire nuclear missiles. As a psychiatric practitioner, I could not understand why this obvious decline was not being mentioned let alone discussed. Ever since his first term it was readily apparent and yet, nowhere in the mainstream media could you find anyone questioning his cognitive decline. Even now, the GOP/MAGA party is shrugging off his decline. No one among them will dare utter a word.
Coming from a psychiatric background diagnosing dementia in early stages is very difficult. Despite all these psychiatrists views there will be just as many who wouldn’t share them. There have been cases of people using early dementia to evade prosecution, just last week the owner of Abercrombie & Fitch is claiming early dementia to excuse allegations. Unless he is outside at 4am in his underwear mowing the Whitehouse lawn I can’t see how this route will go anywhere, not to mention the VP is no better choice to replace Trump. It will only be when sufficient republican senators find their moral backbone or more likely face losing their seats that Trump will be gone, as long as the Supreme Court defend the constitution no matter what.
As an update.
the clinicians who sign this document have to be aware that at a later date if it is alleged, even remotely shown that a significant number were not clinically adept enough, which is what Hal raises, and or possibly even sympathetic to the Democrate party. This could undermine their whole profession in the eyes of the communities and their opinions of any sort As it stands today the US needs more unbiased, thoughful intelligent people that people will listen to and believe, not another group appearing to have a political axe to grind.
me too! though I was worried about Colbert there for a couple months. right after the election, his tone changed. thankfully, he bounced back. for another humor gift from this nightmare, I strongly recommend Jeff tiedrich's substack- https://www.jefftiedrich.com/?r=17fuyn substack-
I read Tiedrich daily, and I'm torn by the question of which is worse: Grampa Beffudlepants or JD the Fascist who seems quite deranged but still seems to have his cognitive abilities? I lean toward Grampa Beffudlepants. But I could be wrong.
Thank you for the tip. I will check Jeff’s Substack. Wonder what you think about Bill Maher and his visit with Trump. No matter what he says, I find it ominous.
So are we to believe all those supporting Trump and his decisions have the onset of DEMENTIA also for they all seem to understand just what he says as he slurs his words and goes off on tangents , they approve of his plans for Greenland, Panama, and Canada and are most likely ready to purchase luxury condos in Gaza they approve of restarting the coal mines and tossing out all the other energy saving operations, I mean look how many birds are being killed by those wind turbines and all those lawyers who took cases to prosecute him , they are all evil traitors KING Trump the first will never see impeachment in fact he will most probably get rid of the 25th amendment before any one can act upon it
as I see it, ie, my lay opinion, is that the people surrounding trump are propelled by an addiction to power, which also changes the chemistry in the brain. trump is also drunk on power, but his outrageously dangerous conduct suggests there's also a screw loose, bc the quickest way to lose power is to lose the support of your surrounding henchmen.
You mentioned the tariff instability as part of his decline! However, as sick as it may seem, he and his fellow monied buddies made signific gains from his post that it was time to buy just before he reversed course! That seems calculated to me and not a demented mind action!
I would actually prefer that it was intentional. a crooked president is less of a security risk than a demented one. of course, they're not mutually exclusive conditions.
Deranged and worse! Trump, along with the Republican congress and his so-called cabinet have created such havoc that I cannot understand why nothing can be done to stop them. Charging at the pace of a bull, they have nearly torn this country apart. Not just dividing the people, but destroying programs, importing anyone they want, deceiving the public with continuous lies and if this is not enough we have the threat of Trump’s madness wanting Marshall Law that he’s threatening on April 20th. Will this madman get away with this, too?
I have to disagree with you on this dementia issue. You reference another "expert" with Harry Segal. He and John Gartner have been doing a podcast together. Like John and Suzzanne Lachmann, who you cite in your previous Substact, while they are all mental health professionals, they are not experts in dementia. Here's Segal's expertise: https://psychology.cornell.edu/harry-g-segal Neurology is a broad fields. For example, there are neurologists who specialize epilepsy and others who specialize in dementia and Alzheimer's and many, many more (which you can see here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/neurology/sections/specialty-groups/orc-20117078 ).
As an MSW (clinical social worker) psychotherapist for 40 years, I saw many patients, but I never treated anyone for dementia. That would have been malpractice. I never even treated anyone who had dementia for other problems.
As I noted in my LONG Substack, "Am I the only anti-Trump shrink who thinks Trump may not have dementia? He may. But he may not," I didn't learn about dementia until I moved to a senior community and saw it in dozens of residents. https://halbrown.substack.com/p/am-i-the-only-anti-trump-shrink-who-aeb
I think it is plainly wrong to jump to the conclusion that Trump has dementia because this seems to explain behavior that could, but not necessarily, be caused by this brain disease. This is especially so when there are other possible explanations.
"To get a doctor’s take on the issue, MDLinx reached out to multiple neurologists and other doctors for their insights. Many of HCPs, however, replied saying that they felt uncomfortable or unequipped to comment on Trump’s health. For those HCPs reading this, perhaps you also feel that way—or maybe you have a more definitive statement that you’re itching to share."
They reached out, but where are the responses?
I do not want to come across as an expert on dementia, but I will go out on a limb and say that I am more of an expert than anyone you have cited. As someone who has diagnosed and treated numerous patients and, like other psychotherapists, written about Trump's psychopathology snce 2017, I see alternative clinical explanations for behavior my colleagues have labeled as dementia.
Ask yourself which of these symptoms of dementia Trump has demonstrated:
I see it as just as likely that Trump, the malignant narcissist, is suffering from late life mania as he is from dementia.
I will go further and suggest that using opinions from non-experts in dementia should be avoided. It makes for a good story but that doesn't make it true.
Hal- some people mentioned you on DailyKos, thought you might find it interesting. Tried my best to cut and paste here:
I am surprised not to see input from Hal Brown here. He has been all over the Internet writing that he is the only dementia expert in the US and his opinions should be followed by everyone.
properzombie
PFinTexas
Apr 13, 2025 at 09:04:03 AM
Huh? The only dementia expert in the US????
Satya1
PFinTexas
Apr 13, 2025 at 09:34:31 AM
I recall Hal’s diaries. He was a mental health professional and had many good points. However he left out some excellent criticisms of Gartner’s claims that were also circulating at the time among mental health professionals.
Gaelsdottir
PFinTexas
Apr 13, 2025 at 10:52:01 AM
Hal Brown was banned back in 2022. His last listed comment is dated Sept. 8 of that year. Username HalBrown, you can look up his profile like I just did.
He isn’t mentioned in Ms. Haake’s column here, isn’t relevant to that column in any way, and hasn’t even commented here in more than 2.5 years. [www.timeanddate.com]
No, I don’t personally know Mr. Brown. He and I may even have disagreed here. But I believe that a major difference between the Left and the Right is that the Left follows principles [or at least tries to], and the Right follows personalities. [Warped, dysfunctional personalities, to be sure, but they’re still personalities.]
Kicking people who are down isn’t principled behavior, and that’s even more true when the person who is down has been summarily silenced here for YEARS.
If the Left is going to become just another place to attack people who cannot defend themselves, then it’s already surrendered to the Right.
sabrina haake AUTHOR
Gaelsdottir
Apr 13, 2025 at 12:37:47 PM
Hal commented on my substack, and he strongly disagrees with me on this. I still love him and appreciate his writing. my substack is free, The Haake Take, if you’d like to subscribe you can catch up with Hal- he writes a good substack too.
Thank you for the kind words Sabrina. I love you, too, and consider you my online good friend. Hopefully some day (like Ann and I did with Thom Hartmann, who is an admirer of you too) we will meet you in person like we did Thom him a week ago. We visted his show and he took us to lunch. He lives and works 13 miles north of us of us in Portland.
My issue with Daily Kos distresses me today as they keep sending me emails to donate to them. This reminds me that they banned me without ability to explain whyI wrote the "offending" essay and the to appeal the banning. What I wrote was about how, knowing what I knew because I was a reserve police officer for 20 years, the steps I would take if my senior community was actually attacked by an armed group like the Proud Boys. They have particular antipathy against Portland. I assume Kos deemed this as my advocating violence while I was writing about in a worst case in which some people might have to take up arms in self-defense. That essay was taken down so I couldn't make a copy of it. I tried to summarize and explain it here: https://www.halbrown.org/2022/09/after-1400-posts-daily-kos-bans-me-for.html
Considering Trump and his armed to the teeth ICE Gestapo perhaps the least thing we have to worry about is the Proud Boys, at least for the present time.
Before my banning I'd posted over 1700 pieces there. The only time I was warned was when I wrote about homosociality and apparently someone thought this was homophobic. The title was "The Term 'Homosocial" Describes Autocrat Admiring Misogynist-in-Chief Trump to a T." That is still online. Check it out and try to figure about an objective knowledgable person could considern that I wrote homophobic. Let me know what you think. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/21/1782293/-The-Term-Homosocial-Describes-Autocrat-Admiring-Misogynist-in-Chief-Trump-to-a-T
My ban is so complete I can't make comments and I can't even send them an appeal. When they send me an exmail requesting a donation and I answer asking to an appeal to my ban it goes unaswered. I am not the only one who has complaints about them: https://www.complaintsboard.com/daily-kos-b147140
well, that’s some censorship bullshit. But I think its quite cool that several years later you have all these se people still remembering you!!! mazeltav!
Whether it’s pro or con, the fact that you stuck in their minds is a HUGE credit to the power of your persuasion. It doesn’t matter that they disagree, intelligent readers SHOULD disagreed with a lot THEY READ. I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I THINK IT’S A MASSIVE COMPLIMENT WHEN PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH ME BECAUSE IT MEANS 1. they read and 2. THEY TRUST ME ENOUGH TO disagree. sorry, sorry that went to all caps, I’m on my phone and I don’t know why, but the sentiment prevails…
As noted, there was no way to appeal. I couldn't then and today cannot make a comment. I cannot even recommend a story.
By chance, today I got another email from them asking for a donation to which I replied "If after 2 ½ years you still won’t let me appeal being banned why should I donate to you? Seriously…." I would be astonded if I heard back from them.
I think that their position as one of the most viewed progressive websites has gone to their heads.I wonder if anyone even glanced at the any of what I posted there over the years.
I wonder how they would have reacted to the story that got me banned if I wrote it today considering that Trump has so many people terrifed that it is only a matter of time when people decide to resort to violence and level-headed people on the anti-Trump side are wondering about a real civil war and some unhinged people on the MAGA are hoping it happens. I shudder to think about what Pete Hegseth wants to use the military for.
I certainly would have written that story with a different perspective if I were writing it today.
I also want to note that a few days before I wrote the story that wasn't published and got me banned I wrote: "Are MAGA cultists who are threatening violence really ready to die for their Fearless Leader?" https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/3/2120573/-Are-MAGA-cultists-who-are-threatening-violence-really-ready-to-die-for-their-Fearless-Leader. That story was recommended 139 times (not a record for me but a pretty good number on Kos) but a put a poll on at it got 1534 votes which is an indication of how many people read it. There were also 223 comments, not my record, but a pretty good number.
On the dementia issue which we have gone around on: I just came across this in HuffPost:
One of the most insightful articles about Trump and his myth was published by The New Yorker during his first term. It tracked down people who worked on “The Apprentice,” who revealed that Trump was so undisciplined, he sometimes “fired” the wrong contestant in the boardroom scene, leaving producers to sift through footage to revise the script and justify what he had done. “I find it strangely validating to hear that they’re doing the same thing in the White House,” show editor Jonathon Braun told the magazine, referring to the executive branch’s frequent attempts to reverse-engineer a policy to match Trump’s false statements. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-trade-war-disaster_n_67f99409e4b0c859a8c0bd9e
Aside from the serious dangerous psychopathology Trump exudes through his pores in an orange miasma, this example shows a that one could say this showed Trump had dementia when he was much younger. Rather than this, I take this to mean that, to use a non-clinical term, he doesn't give a shit. He's just a self-absorbed narcissist who has always gotten his way. He figures he's so great he can't be bothered with rules and can always just wing it on impulse.
consider, too, whether the dementia angle could provide republicans with an off-ramp. Bondi, Patel and Hegseth are power-drunk enough to go after trump's critics for treason; reliance on his mental instability is more salable as 'protect the nation' than 'fight the power.'
Why do we say "cognitive impairment," as if we were worried about a disabling condition for him? We wouldn't say Dracula suffered from cognitive impairment because he saw people as food not subjects. Okay, Dracula is a fictional character, but the world through Trump's twisted lens is hardly more real. His impairment: who cares? The damage he does to us is the impairment.
The problem, Sabrina, is that invoking the 25th Amendment would make Vance president and imo he would be more dangerous. Trump is a dumb demented fuck. Vance is a smart, cruel fuck who learned his fascist tactics from Peter Thiel. And Thiel IS a fascist. He had an uncle who worked in Nazi Germany as a rocket propellent scientist. It's in his DNA.
And if Vance was unable to be President then it goes to Mike Johnson who is even more problematic because he is a fucking religious fanatic.
Increasingly, I see the only way to solve our national problems is to give those desiring 1939 Germany 1789 France instead. Viva la Revolucion.
I don't disagree that Vance is evil and Johnson is a zealot. You may well be correct that either of them could be worse. But the solution, at least for me and the way I see the resistance, can't be to say nothing. You're not advocating that, I realize. The 25th A won't be invoked by these immoral GOP clowns, either. But since it's a tool, it deserves to be dusted off before we head irretrievably into the abyss. Viva la Revolucion indeed!- too bad so few Americans even understand that reference.
While the implementation of the 25th it is not going to happen, I do not believe either Vance or Johnson have the feral political instincts and communications/con man skills that has enabled Trump to dominate should it occur. There would be no shortage of Republican politicians who would line up to take either of them out or at least bend them to a more rational understanding of the world. Vance may listen to Yarvin, but there are probably not too many others who do in the GOP congressional caucuses. Vance also offends a lot groups whether it is trashing Ukraine or as a self described "hillbilly" referring to Chinese as being peasants, he will not get the pass on the cruelty and crudeness of Trump. I have not spoken with any who has dealt with Johnson, but he sure seems to be a weak, sniveling little dandy picked for Speaker because is a weak, sniveling little dandy.
Viva la Revolucion translated to OFF WITH THEIR HEADS---just so other readers are aware. As an old Marine Corps Vietnam veteran, I understand exactly what I'm saying.
Not literally, at least that's not what I'm saying. Violence will only beget violence, which is what trump is banking on, salivating over deploying US troops against domestic enemies. I'm saying, massive resistance in the streets, online, at work, church and schools...
How would that have worked out for Colonists in 1783 or slaves in 1861?
I don't know. they didn't have the internet or social media, it was a different time. I'm wiling to concede that physical violence is coming, and may also be necessary. but I'm not willing to encourage it, other than defensively. at least not yet.
Even non violent protests have resulted in violence. Gandhi, MLK, Jr. for example. It's not a matter of whether it will come, it's a matter of how long it will take.
In the meantime, view this video on how North Carolina Republicans are overthrowing the valid election of a Democratic Supreme Court Justice by disenfranchising 7000 military votes cast LAST YEAR. The court sans this Justice has ruled those military voters must now send ID to prove who they were. That was not the law last year when they voted. Those service members must now be contacted so they know they have 30 days to send in ID. Whose going to notify them? The NC government? What about someone deployed on a nuclear submarine for the next few months.
This kind of evil will not be overcome with passivity.
https://youtu.be/FDmftesrQ-o?si=xJFDCT1fvzBFHRli
Trump is the closest politician to Nero in US history. Trump is not only a malignant narcissist who set the world economy on fire, but then went to play in his athletic games where "surprisingly" he won. It won't be long before Trump starts reciting and writing poetry like Nero...well I guess he already does with all the time he recites his favorite poem "You knew I was a snake".
I am not a psychiatrist and don't claim to know a lot, but I have witnessed a family member and a close friend succumb to the disease. I saw uncontrollable speech out of the blue, extreme forgetfulness, as in not knowing their children, and repeating themselves, as in calling the same phone number repeatedly and starting a conversation as though calling for the first time. It's a sad thing to see. Simply put, they don't know where they are, and family and friends circle the wagon to make those afflicted comfortable and away from harm. Trump has been a vengeful racist man all his life, and his supporters may feel he is just being Trump. And now they face the consequences of choosing him as their leader after being warned of his unfitness. This will be one of the most significant test in governing in American history. The two political parties compelled to come together to remove a president. How's that for the 2025 Project?
I don't expect it to happen, republicans are not at that point yet. they know voters in the US have an. abysmally low attention span, and an even shorter memory. if we didn't realize this before, the fact that a felon who tried to overthrow the govt got re-elected is proof.
Now we have a report from the White House saying Trump is in excellent health. Around and around we go, where will America land, nobody knows. Each day is getting worse than the one before.
Chris, I am sorry for what you went through. Up close and very personally you saw the typical course of this terrible disease (which always gets worse). Sadly only a few people can afford to live where I do. It is left to family to care for loved ones with worsening dementia. I live in a continuing care retirement community which has memory care units staffed by nurses and aides who specialize in helping people with dementia and the symptoms you describe. Trump has his memory farts but this can be just because he's elderly and basically doesn't give a shit about being accused of being incoherent when he clains this is his brilliant weave. How many people with dementia can hold forth ranting even 90% coherently for an hour straight?
Much appreciate your detailed, thorough statement regarding trumps cognitive decline. Scary to realize how such an impaired individual has power to fire nuclear missiles. As a psychiatric practitioner, I could not understand why this obvious decline was not being mentioned let alone discussed. Ever since his first term it was readily apparent and yet, nowhere in the mainstream media could you find anyone questioning his cognitive decline. Even now, the GOP/MAGA party is shrugging off his decline. No one among them will dare utter a word.
Coming from a psychiatric background diagnosing dementia in early stages is very difficult. Despite all these psychiatrists views there will be just as many who wouldn’t share them. There have been cases of people using early dementia to evade prosecution, just last week the owner of Abercrombie & Fitch is claiming early dementia to excuse allegations. Unless he is outside at 4am in his underwear mowing the Whitehouse lawn I can’t see how this route will go anywhere, not to mention the VP is no better choice to replace Trump. It will only be when sufficient republican senators find their moral backbone or more likely face losing their seats that Trump will be gone, as long as the Supreme Court defend the constitution no matter what.
As an update.
the clinicians who sign this document have to be aware that at a later date if it is alleged, even remotely shown that a significant number were not clinically adept enough, which is what Hal raises, and or possibly even sympathetic to the Democrate party. This could undermine their whole profession in the eyes of the communities and their opinions of any sort As it stands today the US needs more unbiased, thoughful intelligent people that people will listen to and believe, not another group appearing to have a political axe to grind.
Vance was handpicked by Thiel and forced on Trump. Just like Pence was forced on Trump (by a different group).
I agree with you about diagnosing dementia. See my comment above.
This dumb orange f*ck sees things only in black and white, (if at all) and he’s putting us all in the red.
Use your comedy to rot this administration with its own actions. Here's Jimmy Kimmel doing just that:
https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GvmDc9ixo/
I watch Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers religiously!
me too! though I was worried about Colbert there for a couple months. right after the election, his tone changed. thankfully, he bounced back. for another humor gift from this nightmare, I strongly recommend Jeff tiedrich's substack- https://www.jefftiedrich.com/?r=17fuyn substack-
funny and irreverent AF.
I read Tiedrich daily, and I'm torn by the question of which is worse: Grampa Beffudlepants or JD the Fascist who seems quite deranged but still seems to have his cognitive abilities? I lean toward Grampa Beffudlepants. But I could be wrong.
Thank you for the tip. I will check Jeff’s Substack. Wonder what you think about Bill Maher and his visit with Trump. No matter what he says, I find it ominous.
So are we to believe all those supporting Trump and his decisions have the onset of DEMENTIA also for they all seem to understand just what he says as he slurs his words and goes off on tangents , they approve of his plans for Greenland, Panama, and Canada and are most likely ready to purchase luxury condos in Gaza they approve of restarting the coal mines and tossing out all the other energy saving operations, I mean look how many birds are being killed by those wind turbines and all those lawyers who took cases to prosecute him , they are all evil traitors KING Trump the first will never see impeachment in fact he will most probably get rid of the 25th amendment before any one can act upon it
as I see it, ie, my lay opinion, is that the people surrounding trump are propelled by an addiction to power, which also changes the chemistry in the brain. trump is also drunk on power, but his outrageously dangerous conduct suggests there's also a screw loose, bc the quickest way to lose power is to lose the support of your surrounding henchmen.
Sir. Our Sword of Dumocles.
You mentioned the tariff instability as part of his decline! However, as sick as it may seem, he and his fellow monied buddies made signific gains from his post that it was time to buy just before he reversed course! That seems calculated to me and not a demented mind action!
I would actually prefer that it was intentional. a crooked president is less of a security risk than a demented one. of course, they're not mutually exclusive conditions.
Deranged and worse! Trump, along with the Republican congress and his so-called cabinet have created such havoc that I cannot understand why nothing can be done to stop them. Charging at the pace of a bull, they have nearly torn this country apart. Not just dividing the people, but destroying programs, importing anyone they want, deceiving the public with continuous lies and if this is not enough we have the threat of Trump’s madness wanting Marshall Law that he’s threatening on April 20th. Will this madman get away with this, too?
Meanwhile, here's my Substack somehwat related to Trump NOT necessarily having dementia...
Walter Reed doctors apparently can test the health of someone's soul. Trump passed his dementia test, but apparently he aced his soul test, too.
https://halbrown.substack.com/p/walter-reed-doctors-apparently-can
I have to disagree with you on this dementia issue. You reference another "expert" with Harry Segal. He and John Gartner have been doing a podcast together. Like John and Suzzanne Lachmann, who you cite in your previous Substact, while they are all mental health professionals, they are not experts in dementia. Here's Segal's expertise: https://psychology.cornell.edu/harry-g-segal Neurology is a broad fields. For example, there are neurologists who specialize epilepsy and others who specialize in dementia and Alzheimer's and many, many more (which you can see here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/departments-centers/neurology/sections/specialty-groups/orc-20117078 ).
As an MSW (clinical social worker) psychotherapist for 40 years, I saw many patients, but I never treated anyone for dementia. That would have been malpractice. I never even treated anyone who had dementia for other problems.
As I noted in my LONG Substack, "Am I the only anti-Trump shrink who thinks Trump may not have dementia? He may. But he may not," I didn't learn about dementia until I moved to a senior community and saw it in dozens of residents. https://halbrown.substack.com/p/am-i-the-only-anti-trump-shrink-who-aeb
I think it is plainly wrong to jump to the conclusion that Trump has dementia because this seems to explain behavior that could, but not necessarily, be caused by this brain disease. This is especially so when there are other possible explanations.
This article from 2024, Doctors react to claims that Trump is sundowning" isn't any help. https://www.mdlinx.com/article/doctors-react-to-claims-that-trump-is-sundowning/4rPDR0lIEHfW8euPL4EZNS - and also cites Harry Segal, not a neurologist.
Here's an excerpt:
"To get a doctor’s take on the issue, MDLinx reached out to multiple neurologists and other doctors for their insights. Many of HCPs, however, replied saying that they felt uncomfortable or unequipped to comment on Trump’s health. For those HCPs reading this, perhaps you also feel that way—or maybe you have a more definitive statement that you’re itching to share."
They reached out, but where are the responses?
I do not want to come across as an expert on dementia, but I will go out on a limb and say that I am more of an expert than anyone you have cited. As someone who has diagnosed and treated numerous patients and, like other psychotherapists, written about Trump's psychopathology snce 2017, I see alternative clinical explanations for behavior my colleagues have labeled as dementia.
Ask yourself which of these symptoms of dementia Trump has demonstrated:
https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/dementia-warning-signs
I agree with Kenny's comment and he doesn't even claim to be a dementia expert.
I suggest reading Wiki on mania here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mania
And then reading about mania in late life here: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/advances-in-psychiatric-treatment/article/mania-in-late-life/FDEB7115E7442EDB50DBF200C3179CA6
I see it as just as likely that Trump, the malignant narcissist, is suffering from late life mania as he is from dementia.
I will go further and suggest that using opinions from non-experts in dementia should be avoided. It makes for a good story but that doesn't make it true.
Hal- some people mentioned you on DailyKos, thought you might find it interesting. Tried my best to cut and paste here:
I am surprised not to see input from Hal Brown here. He has been all over the Internet writing that he is the only dementia expert in the US and his opinions should be followed by everyone.
properzombie
PFinTexas
Apr 13, 2025 at 09:04:03 AM
Huh? The only dementia expert in the US????
Satya1
PFinTexas
Apr 13, 2025 at 09:34:31 AM
I recall Hal’s diaries. He was a mental health professional and had many good points. However he left out some excellent criticisms of Gartner’s claims that were also circulating at the time among mental health professionals.
Gaelsdottir
PFinTexas
Apr 13, 2025 at 10:52:01 AM
Hal Brown was banned back in 2022. His last listed comment is dated Sept. 8 of that year. Username HalBrown, you can look up his profile like I just did.
He isn’t mentioned in Ms. Haake’s column here, isn’t relevant to that column in any way, and hasn’t even commented here in more than 2.5 years. [www.timeanddate.com]
No, I don’t personally know Mr. Brown. He and I may even have disagreed here. But I believe that a major difference between the Left and the Right is that the Left follows principles [or at least tries to], and the Right follows personalities. [Warped, dysfunctional personalities, to be sure, but they’re still personalities.]
Kicking people who are down isn’t principled behavior, and that’s even more true when the person who is down has been summarily silenced here for YEARS.
If the Left is going to become just another place to attack people who cannot defend themselves, then it’s already surrendered to the Right.
sabrina haake AUTHOR
Gaelsdottir
Apr 13, 2025 at 12:37:47 PM
Hal commented on my substack, and he strongly disagrees with me on this. I still love him and appreciate his writing. my substack is free, The Haake Take, if you’d like to subscribe you can catch up with Hal- he writes a good substack too.
Thank you for the kind words Sabrina. I love you, too, and consider you my online good friend. Hopefully some day (like Ann and I did with Thom Hartmann, who is an admirer of you too) we will meet you in person like we did Thom him a week ago. We visted his show and he took us to lunch. He lives and works 13 miles north of us of us in Portland.
My issue with Daily Kos distresses me today as they keep sending me emails to donate to them. This reminds me that they banned me without ability to explain whyI wrote the "offending" essay and the to appeal the banning. What I wrote was about how, knowing what I knew because I was a reserve police officer for 20 years, the steps I would take if my senior community was actually attacked by an armed group like the Proud Boys. They have particular antipathy against Portland. I assume Kos deemed this as my advocating violence while I was writing about in a worst case in which some people might have to take up arms in self-defense. That essay was taken down so I couldn't make a copy of it. I tried to summarize and explain it here: https://www.halbrown.org/2022/09/after-1400-posts-daily-kos-bans-me-for.html
Considering Trump and his armed to the teeth ICE Gestapo perhaps the least thing we have to worry about is the Proud Boys, at least for the present time.
Before my banning I'd posted over 1700 pieces there. The only time I was warned was when I wrote about homosociality and apparently someone thought this was homophobic. The title was "The Term 'Homosocial" Describes Autocrat Admiring Misogynist-in-Chief Trump to a T." That is still online. Check it out and try to figure about an objective knowledgable person could considern that I wrote homophobic. Let me know what you think. https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/7/21/1782293/-The-Term-Homosocial-Describes-Autocrat-Admiring-Misogynist-in-Chief-Trump-to-a-T
I assumed it was just online noise. Is it true? Were you really banned from dailykos? Why?
Yes
At Ann’s granddaughter’s soccer game will explain later
This is the link to all my Kos stories. https://www.dailykos.com/history/user/HalBrown
My ban is so complete I can't make comments and I can't even send them an appeal. When they send me an exmail requesting a donation and I answer asking to an appeal to my ban it goes unaswered. I am not the only one who has complaints about them: https://www.complaintsboard.com/daily-kos-b147140
well, that’s some censorship bullshit. But I think its quite cool that several years later you have all these se people still remembering you!!! mazeltav!
Whether it’s pro or con, the fact that you stuck in their minds is a HUGE credit to the power of your persuasion. It doesn’t matter that they disagree, intelligent readers SHOULD disagreed with a lot THEY READ. I DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU, BUT I THINK IT’S A MASSIVE COMPLIMENT WHEN PEOPLE DISAGREE WITH ME BECAUSE IT MEANS 1. they read and 2. THEY TRUST ME ENOUGH TO disagree. sorry, sorry that went to all caps, I’m on my phone and I don’t know why, but the sentiment prevails…
Here's the link to the blog I posted in Sept. 2022 explaining my thoughts about why Daily Kos banned me. "Saying goodby to Daily Kos where I've been banned from posting stories for life," was the title. https://www.halbrown.org/2022/09/after-1400-posts-daily-kos-bans-me-for.html
As noted, there was no way to appeal. I couldn't then and today cannot make a comment. I cannot even recommend a story.
By chance, today I got another email from them asking for a donation to which I replied "If after 2 ½ years you still won’t let me appeal being banned why should I donate to you? Seriously…." I would be astonded if I heard back from them.
I think that their position as one of the most viewed progressive websites has gone to their heads.I wonder if anyone even glanced at the any of what I posted there over the years.
I wonder how they would have reacted to the story that got me banned if I wrote it today considering that Trump has so many people terrifed that it is only a matter of time when people decide to resort to violence and level-headed people on the anti-Trump side are wondering about a real civil war and some unhinged people on the MAGA are hoping it happens. I shudder to think about what Pete Hegseth wants to use the military for.
I certainly would have written that story with a different perspective if I were writing it today.
I also want to note that a few days before I wrote the story that wasn't published and got me banned I wrote: "Are MAGA cultists who are threatening violence really ready to die for their Fearless Leader?" https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/9/3/2120573/-Are-MAGA-cultists-who-are-threatening-violence-really-ready-to-die-for-their-Fearless-Leader. That story was recommended 139 times (not a record for me but a pretty good number on Kos) but a put a poll on at it got 1534 votes which is an indication of how many people read it. There were also 223 comments, not my record, but a pretty good number.
All of the 1,700 some stories I posted on Kos are here: https://www.dailykos.com/history/user/HalBrown
On cellphone too
I put the link in one of my comments to halbrown.org my old blog which has the entire Kos story
thanks for the counterpoint Hal!
On the dementia issue which we have gone around on: I just came across this in HuffPost:
One of the most insightful articles about Trump and his myth was published by The New Yorker during his first term. It tracked down people who worked on “The Apprentice,” who revealed that Trump was so undisciplined, he sometimes “fired” the wrong contestant in the boardroom scene, leaving producers to sift through footage to revise the script and justify what he had done. “I find it strangely validating to hear that they’re doing the same thing in the White House,” show editor Jonathon Braun told the magazine, referring to the executive branch’s frequent attempts to reverse-engineer a policy to match Trump’s false statements. https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-trade-war-disaster_n_67f99409e4b0c859a8c0bd9e
Aside from the serious dangerous psychopathology Trump exudes through his pores in an orange miasma, this example shows a that one could say this showed Trump had dementia when he was much younger. Rather than this, I take this to mean that, to use a non-clinical term, he doesn't give a shit. He's just a self-absorbed narcissist who has always gotten his way. He figures he's so great he can't be bothered with rules and can always just wing it on impulse.
consider, too, whether the dementia angle could provide republicans with an off-ramp. Bondi, Patel and Hegseth are power-drunk enough to go after trump's critics for treason; reliance on his mental instability is more salable as 'protect the nation' than 'fight the power.'
Why do we say "cognitive impairment," as if we were worried about a disabling condition for him? We wouldn't say Dracula suffered from cognitive impairment because he saw people as food not subjects. Okay, Dracula is a fictional character, but the world through Trump's twisted lens is hardly more real. His impairment: who cares? The damage he does to us is the impairment.