My trump-loving mom has a daughter-in-law from Ukraine and two half-Ukrainian grandsons but yesterday she quadrupled down on her psychosis. She tried to "explain" but all I could do was scream from the gravely depths of my soul. The last thing I remember her saying was "you never listen to me" and I hung up.
That sounds incredibly painful and frustrating. It’s heartbreaking when loved ones refuse to see reality, especially when it directly affects their own family. You’re not alone in this—so many are dealing with the same deep divides. Take care of yourself, and know that your anger is completely valid.
I feel for you, really. It's even harder to see that kind of blindness and crass denial in people we love. It leaves us absolutely shattered and clueless as how to reach out to them again. Very, very sad.
My Krasnov-loving, Fox-addicted parents declared me "dead to [them]" years ago, during his first abysmal term, because I dared to not only speak out against him, but state my dislike and distrust of him. They hate that I moved to a "socialist" country and actually like it. Anything my adult kids who still live in the States—in the same town as my parents—say or do anything that is the slightest bit empathetic to people who are suffering or if they speak against any of the atrocities of the new adminstration/regime, my parents sneer at them, "You're just like your mother!"
My parents are now in their 80s and I honestly don't think there will be any reconciliation before they die. They will make excuses for their hero, Musk, and (most alarming) Putin until their last breaths. And I'm weirdly fine with that. It's like I already lost my parents six years ago.
Dina, that’s a brutal kind of loss—one that doesn’t come with closure, just the slow realization that the people who raised you have chosen their delusions over their own family. And you’re right—at some point, you stop hoping for reconciliation and just accept that they aren’t coming back.
The fact that they sneer at your kids for showing empathy says everything. They’ve been so consumed by the right-wing grievance machine that kindness itself has become an unforgivable sin. That’s not just political—it’s a fundamental moral shift, and it’s terrifying how common it has become.
You’ve done the hardest thing: breaking free. You built a life outside their ideological prison, and you’ve raised kids who still see humanity for what it is. That’s a win. It doesn’t erase the pain, but it does mean that the cycle stops with you.
Thank you. I tried my best with them prior to "the big breakup," not just trying to nudge them into reality but also simply get along without bringing politics (or religion, another of their favorites) into conversation. It never worked. The last time I spoke to my mother, on the phone, I mentioned how nice it was that a recent hospital visit was made less stressful for me because there were no co-pays, no dreading extra bills arriving in the mail for radiology, etc—I was discharged and simply walked out without having to speak to someone from the finance department about how the remainder of my bill would be paid. She screamed at me about how I was now "one of those elite socialists" putting down the "American way of life" (??) and then she hung up on me.
Yes, I am proud that my kids are seeing through all the b.s. and one of them has stopped taking his kids over to see them. He's been ghosting them lately when they try to phone him. I DO see that as a win.
Mersault excellent piece. This nation has been basically treading water as we navigate the nutty political leaders, grifters, dethroned sports heroes and all the “Melania wannabe’s.” Because money has replaced God/ Humans/all things good….. We’re now seeing the results.
Everyone is waiting for someone to come and help. When we realize there is no help coming, then what do we do? Lie down and die? Many aren’t familiar with civic duty or volunteerism— so those who are leaders need to have compassion and patience. Many are regretting they voted for this band of thugs…. They need a way to come back into the fold and be supported. Many have lost friends and family….and are trying to navigate alone through the daily news quagmire. There needs to be a huge level of compassion for ourselves and our fellow compatriots.
We should all stop saying that DT denigrated Zelenskyy. No. He did not. He only lowered himself deeper into the disgusting filthy abyss where he dwells. And of course, in his crassness, he commented that the whole little meeting would make good television. Zelenskyy did not fall for his theatrics, lies, name calling, "you're not grateful enough" etc from the other half jdv either. Those two are hollow vessels with nothing but garbage and filth emanating from their big foul mouths. And of course, as in karma always happens, the hillbilly and his family fled from a ski resort in Vermont because the real people were there to let him know they are watching and don't want him there. And of course, he ran away.
Mersault -- what does Ukraine / Zelenskyy ACTUALLY NEED? AND HOW CAN WE GET IT TO THEM?
Being "sorry" doesn't do any good. These people need honest-to-God practical / actual help. I've looked at some of the more promising titles of the organizations you've shared. I see a lot of "social initiatives" & "humanitarian aid" -- but if someone is invading my house, I don't need Meals-on-Wheels. I need something I can use to defend myself -- until either the police (or my neighbors & family) arrive ... or the invader is "neutralized." <== THAT BUCKET is where I want to put my "drop in the bucket" I can give to this cause. Can you help me find that? Or do you have specific suggestions?
If I've just asked a stupid question, I'm sorry. But I am too distressed tonight to stay calm & keep following links that don't bring me satisfaction. I hope you will understand & forgive me.
Your work is beyond stellar. I am so grateful you exist -- & that I found you. Thank you for everything.
My resources at the end of the article primarily focus on humanitarian aid and supporting democracy—providing medical assistance, refugee support, and rebuilding efforts that help sustain Ukraine’s people and institutions. I fully understand, though, that you’re looking for ways to directly support Ukraine’s defense and military resilience.
If you’re interested in contributing to non-lethal military aid, tactical supplies, or direct defense support, here are some organizations that focus on those areas:
We witnessed the bravery of a great man. President Zelensky walked into the lions den and stood his ground. Trump and his boot kissers only magnified their meanness
Well said. Zelenskyy showed true courage, standing firm in the face of bad-faith attacks. Meanwhile, Trump and his enablers only revealed their own pettiness and cruelty. Their desperation was on full display.
Thank you for capturing our collective despair and expressing our confirmation, as real Americans, we stand with the people of Ukraine and democracy everywhere. At home, we need to reach out to the MAGAts awakening to what they've wrought. We need to rally the 90 million apathetic people who did not vote - encourage unity to fight tyranny inside U.S. borders. #wearetheresistance #freedom #democracy
I have sent this open letter to a friend, Tanya M, a refugee from eastern Ukraine, now living in western Ukraine. We will read it together this morning when I help her, long distance, with her English. Thank you!!
That means so much—thank you for sharing it with Tanya. Wishing you both a meaningful conversation, and I hope it brings some clarity and strength. Appreciate you passing it along!
Phoebe, that truly means the world—please send my deepest gratitude to Tanya. The fact that you took the time to read it together, to share in that moment, is incredibly moving. I’m honored to have her as a subscriber and hope she finds both strength and solidarity here. Wishing you both all the best, and thank you again!
Tanya loved that she could mostly understand your writing as generally a lot of pieces employ sophisticated vocabulary that she loves but had trouble remembering. But she said she heard your words and felt their sincerity and asked me how to subscribe. She and her fellow Ukrainians are suffering now in a way that they didn’t suffer before because they had more hope. When we first started our daily conversations Tanya was living in eastern Ukraine and she would call me even while the air raid siren was sounding and would talk to me from the corridor where she hid in her building. Or from the bathroom until the power went out. We met via the language exchange two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine. And we have been talking almost daily since then. Formerly a high school teacher, Tanya works now for a humanitarian organization, housing refugees like herself, which, like many such organizations, depends on funds coming from the US government. Since that has ended, her job will also end fairly soon. Literally everyone is affected by what the dumpster has done!
Please tell Tanya I’m deeply honored that my words resonated with her. Her resilience—speaking through air raids, helping others despite losing so much—is nothing short of heroic.
I understand why the suffering feels different now. Hope, when betrayed, is heavier than despair. The U.S. could help. Should help. But instead, the coward in the White House and his enablers abandon Ukraine to save their own power.
Tanya, and every Ukrainian still standing, have not been forgotten. The fight continues.
I see where you’re coming from, and I understand the emotional weight behind it. And yet, I don’t share your framing. The idea that the US was ever the singular “leader of the free world” was always a narrative built on its own perception rather than an uncontested reality. If anything, the cracks in that image were visible long before Trump. His first presidency just made the decline undeniable.
The US, already under DT 1.0, lost so much credibility that Europe and the Commonwealth considerably strengthened their ties. This isn’t just about NATO or the UN. That regime couldn't stay in either—it would have countered everything they believe in. Their mission is to build a new global dominance, dividing the world into spheres of influence, much like 600-700 years ago when the Portuguese and Spanish split the world in half. The English, Dutch, and French fought for their share, and the struggle continued almost to WWI, with parts lingering into modern times. This is nothing new. They are reviving old imperialist playbooks—men ruling the world with an iron fist, exploiting it and its people for their own gain. Alexander the Great, Caesar—they all sought the same. Some were even crueler than what we see today.
The world has moved on from the bipolar Cold War structure where everything was about US vs. USSR. The alliances that are forming now are not just reactions to the US losing its grip but a continuation of a shift that started decades ago. The EU expanded and solidified itself into a major global player. Africa is increasingly looking to new partnerships beyond the West. Latin America, despite its struggles, is asserting more regional agency. The Asia-Pacific region is actively shaping its own security frameworks rather than waiting for the US to decide its fate.
Right now, 81 countries are forming a direct alliance against the Russia-China-US axis. Yes, Israel, Iran, North Korea, and Hungary are players, but the global structure looks eerily familiar to the 80s—just with the US now tipping the scale the other way. The US, like Russia, lost much of its influence in the 90s. Their world dominance has been questioned in Europe for decades, leading to a 27-state-strong European Union—up from 13 in 1988—one of the biggest and strongest single markets in the world. That didn’t help either the US or Russia in maintaining their spheres of influence.
Even within the US, many companies in the non-tech sector are no longer US-owned. Look at the once-dominant automotive market—Japan, France, Germany, Italy are leading, with China as a runner-up. Not the US. Just one example.
The US still matters, and so does its internal struggle over democracy. And yet, it’s no longer the pivot around which everything turns. If the goal is to counter authoritarianism, then the answer isn’t just to lament the loss of American leadership—it’s to recognize that democracy is now a multipolar effort. Leadership is shared, not bestowed. Europe, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and many others are already acting accordingly.
And I see the real shift right now—it isn’t just about which form of government prevails. This isn’t a battle between democracy and autocracy the way it was framed during the Cold War. And this isn’t, like in the Middle East, a fight over religion. What we’re witnessing is a deeper, more fundamental struggle over worldview.
This fight—for those of us standing up for democracy—is about human rights, women’s rights, queer rights, self-determination, and the inviolable dignity of every human being. A concept that, in its current form, only emerged 75 years ago. That is the real fight. We are pushing back against the dominance of a few men ruling over everybody else, as has been the norm throughout most of world history. And we do this because we have evolved.
Look at those now holding non-democratic leadership positions. They are all men. They want to conserve their unique right to rule over others. This isn’t about governing—it’s about preserving their power. This is the struggle between power over versus power with and power to.
At its core, this is a fight against the patriarchal-hierarchical world order and for a more interconnected, equity-based one. What emerges from this struggle isn’t just about maintaining democracy in its current form but about shaping a future where
- decentralized and cooperative world structures replace rigid hierarchies, fostering local autonomy, collaboration, and shared governance
- interconnected, equity-based frameworks prioritize mutual respect, diverse voices, and social justice over raw power
- horizontal, participatory models emphasize shared leadership, direct democracy, and non-hierarchical organization
- regenerative, relational systems highlight sustainability, community-centered approaches, and interconnected societies
This is where the world is moving, and it’s happening with or without the US. The US is locked in its internal struggle, but globally, the momentum is shifting.
Mersault, your anger at Trump is justified. The concern about Ukraine is justified. And yet, the idea that democracy depends on “real Americans” fighting to reclaim a lost position feels outdated. Democracy survives when power is distributed, when no single nation dictates its fate, and when people in every country—including the US—hold their own leaders accountable. That’s where the real fight is.
The world isn’t leaderless. The US is. And that’s a difference that matters.
I appreciate your perspective, especially given your view from Europe, where the shifts in global power structures have been more acutely felt. You’re absolutely right that the notion of the U.S. as the singular “leader of the free world” was always more a product of American self-perception than an uncontested reality. And yes, the cracks in that image have been deepening for decades, not just since Trump. The EU’s expansion, Asia’s growing autonomy, and Latin America’s increasing regional agency all speak to a world moving away from U.S. dominance.
But while the world may no longer hinge on America’s every move, that doesn’t mean American leadership—or its failures—don’t have profound consequences. Trump’s abandonment of Ukraine isn’t just another milestone in the decline of U.S. influence; it is a catastrophic dereliction of responsibility that actively empowers authoritarian expansionism. This isn’t merely about America’s lost credibility—it’s about the immediate and material consequences of an emboldened Russia, a fractured NATO, and a world in which strongmen increasingly feel there are no real consequences for their ambitions.
You frame this as a broader struggle against hierarchical, patriarchal power structures—and I agree. But one of the last major bulwarks against that model of governance is a world where democracy remains militarily and economically capable of resisting conquest. The U.S. doesn’t need to dictate the fate of the world, but its withdrawal from the fight for Ukraine all but ensures that authoritarianism advances unchecked. The multipolar democratic order you describe doesn’t emerge from a vacuum—it needs the U.S. and others to act in defense of nations under siege.
So yes, democracy is bigger than the U.S. now. But Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine isn’t just a sign of America’s declining centrality—it’s a direct failure of moral and strategic leadership, one that makes the world more dangerous, not less. The fight against authoritarianism requires shared leadership, but it also requires that the strongest defenders of democracy don’t retreat when it matters most.
Mersault, I see where you're coming from, and I appreciate the depth of your response.
You're right—Trump’s abandonment of Ukraine isn’t just a symptom of shifting global power; it has real consequences. And yet, the structures enabling those consequences were already in place long before. The belief that the U.S. was the last major bulwark against authoritarianism is itself a reflection of the old world order—one that saw power as something concentrated in a single nation rather than distributed across many.
The real failure isn’t just Trump’s decision; it’s the decades-long assumption that democracy's survival depends on one country’s military and economic strength rather than on the collective resilience of democratic societies worldwide. Ukraine is fighting, the EU is stepping up, and NATO is holding its ground. The UK and France are also nuclear powers. In recent years, Europe has built a significant arms industry to reduce its dependence on the U.S.
I agree—the American decision may, for a moment, tip the scale in Putin’s favor. Yet when I look at how the Commonwealth and the EU are stepping in forcefully to fill the void left by the U.S., I don’t think it will take long to close the gap. And by then, the damage to the U.S. will be done. Any politician in the House or Senate who assumes that things will simply return to "normal" once this regime is gone is in for a rude awakening. The influence, power, and standing the U.S. once held will be lost—not because of Trump or Musk, but because those in the House and Senate who had the power to act in defense of democracy and the Constitution failed to do so. Their failure carries far more weight than the episode of Trump itself—because what has failed is the system.
And history shows that when a system fails, trust is not easily restored.
Look at how long it took Germany to be accepted again as a full and equal member of the United Nations. How long the Allied forces maintained their oversight of everything happening politically in Germany.
Why? Because they distrusted us.
Because they wanted to keep us in check. A loss of trust at that scale isn’t repaired with a single election cycle or a change in leadership. It lingers. It reshapes alliances. It forces other nations to create safeguards so they are never left as vulnerable again.
That’s exactly what’s happening now.
The rest of the world isn’t waiting to see whether the U.S. regains its footing—it is already building alternative structures, redistributing influence, and ensuring that no single nation can hold global democracy hostage again.
This isn’t just about the future of the U.S.; it’s about the evolution of democracy itself.
Even within the U.S., there are those resisting the tide.
The future of democracy won’t be decided by whether the U.S. remains the world's dominant force—it will be determined by whether democratic nations, communities, and movements build structures that make authoritarianism unsustainable.
Shared leadership isn’t just about defense; it’s about dismantling the systems that made such concentrated power possible in the first place. That’s the deeper shift in play.
Ukrainians are in our prayers and hearts forever. We will never turn our backs on you and I send my Love from Michigan and hope peace comes to you very soon.
The difficulty lies in his followers to enlighten them to believe it appears all situations when it comes to tRump.
There is this bizarre “worship” that he does no wrong. That they will negate all that they see & hear with their own 2 eyes and ears. It’s quite frightening to a degree that they no longer rely on their own life experiences, common sense, and any drop of logic when it comes to his actions & behaviors.
What strikes me is even as Muskrat & his boys are reeking havoc to all of our safety nets, having all of our financial & medical information that it doesn’t dawn on them that it will negatively affect them, as if they will be “immune” of these destructions.
That they will not be affecting from the MAGA (no longer Republican Party) Congress when it comes to their own finances, medical needs, cost of living, etc. - again they believe they are “immune” - yes some are getting it but it’s not enough yet to change that “base” & fear when the base get it - it definitely will be too late.
The Congress itself has been neutered not just by him but by themselves.
The judicial branch is holding on by their finger nails & who knows what SCOTUS will do - but not holding my breath that this corrupt SCOTUS will go against him
As for allies who supplied as “intelligence” for our national safety & security - yea that’s either gone already or not going to happen in another few weeks as it’s going.
To continue to stop our democracy from being set ablaze is our voices “The People” to use our those voices to demonstrate, make “good trouble” don’t buy anything to subsidize any oligarchs like Musk, Bezos and all. Call our representatives daily, even if they don’t answer leave a voicemail, email, write to do whatever each and everyone has the possibility of doing
The other voice of reason are journalists who continue to exercise that concept of a free press…
I’m glad that Trump wasn’t President during WWII, or there’s a good chance we’d all be speaking German now.
Trump’s approach to settling this conflict is like a principal ordering the school bully’s victims to just give the bully their lunch money, as a supposedly suitable way to end the bully’s attacks. It’s like Neville Chamberlain on steroids.
My sister in law and I are the only two people in my whole family who didn’t vote for the pumpkin head. Both of our late husbands hated him also but it’s just us now. Yesterday I got into a shouting match with my two other s/i/l’s over that horrible shameful meeting and my daughter added her two cents that supported all the right leaning horror stories about Ukraine wasting the money they got. This got me angrier when they said we have things in our local politics we need to fix first. It was more stupid for me even trying to discuss with them so I just took the visiting Bassett hound out to the backyard to relieve himself and have a smoke ( bad habit I know) to calm myself down before I threw them out of my house. Seems all they’re interested in the local politics was what they wanted to talk about. I was calmer when I came back in and they took the hint and all left about the same time. How stupid are these people who are all college grads and are retired like me after putting years into our professions. My son and daughter are the same way though we had to agree to keep politics out of our life discussions while still loving each other deeply. I guess I can be thankful for that.
You handled that about as well as anyone could under the circumstances. It’s exhausting trying to break through the wall of right-wing talking points, especially when it’s coming from people who should know better. The whole “we need to fix our own problems first” line is just an excuse to ignore suffering elsewhere—conveniently trotted out only when helping Ukraine, never when funneling billions into tax cuts for the wealthy or military boondoggles. And the misinformation about Ukraine is pure propaganda, designed to sow division and justify abandoning an ally fighting for democracy.
At least you have your sister-in-law as an ally, and even with your kids, it’s good that there’s still love despite the political divide. That’s more than a lot of families can say these days. Also, I fully support your strategic retreat to the backyard—sometimes, you just need to step away before the frustration boils over.
Patrice Mersault: you are a goddess of truth and fierce vision. This is a post worthy of much wider circulation. I hope you will go mainstream too. It needs to be recognized.
And thank you for the list of activism resources.
I have restacked. Thank you. 🙏🏻 bless this world and all those who need help and who give support and hope.
I wonder how many of us understand the Krasnov reference. I learned about it on a thread by Anthony Anderson on X which has now been taken down. I would love to start a #Krasnov (just simply that, no other words) on FB but today a reply I tried to make to a friend was blocked. Maybe Substack will accept it!
My trump-loving mom has a daughter-in-law from Ukraine and two half-Ukrainian grandsons but yesterday she quadrupled down on her psychosis. She tried to "explain" but all I could do was scream from the gravely depths of my soul. The last thing I remember her saying was "you never listen to me" and I hung up.
That sounds incredibly painful and frustrating. It’s heartbreaking when loved ones refuse to see reality, especially when it directly affects their own family. You’re not alone in this—so many are dealing with the same deep divides. Take care of yourself, and know that your anger is completely valid.
I feel for you, really. It's even harder to see that kind of blindness and crass denial in people we love. It leaves us absolutely shattered and clueless as how to reach out to them again. Very, very sad.
My Krasnov-loving, Fox-addicted parents declared me "dead to [them]" years ago, during his first abysmal term, because I dared to not only speak out against him, but state my dislike and distrust of him. They hate that I moved to a "socialist" country and actually like it. Anything my adult kids who still live in the States—in the same town as my parents—say or do anything that is the slightest bit empathetic to people who are suffering or if they speak against any of the atrocities of the new adminstration/regime, my parents sneer at them, "You're just like your mother!"
My parents are now in their 80s and I honestly don't think there will be any reconciliation before they die. They will make excuses for their hero, Musk, and (most alarming) Putin until their last breaths. And I'm weirdly fine with that. It's like I already lost my parents six years ago.
Dina, that’s a brutal kind of loss—one that doesn’t come with closure, just the slow realization that the people who raised you have chosen their delusions over their own family. And you’re right—at some point, you stop hoping for reconciliation and just accept that they aren’t coming back.
The fact that they sneer at your kids for showing empathy says everything. They’ve been so consumed by the right-wing grievance machine that kindness itself has become an unforgivable sin. That’s not just political—it’s a fundamental moral shift, and it’s terrifying how common it has become.
You’ve done the hardest thing: breaking free. You built a life outside their ideological prison, and you’ve raised kids who still see humanity for what it is. That’s a win. It doesn’t erase the pain, but it does mean that the cycle stops with you.
Thank you. I tried my best with them prior to "the big breakup," not just trying to nudge them into reality but also simply get along without bringing politics (or religion, another of their favorites) into conversation. It never worked. The last time I spoke to my mother, on the phone, I mentioned how nice it was that a recent hospital visit was made less stressful for me because there were no co-pays, no dreading extra bills arriving in the mail for radiology, etc—I was discharged and simply walked out without having to speak to someone from the finance department about how the remainder of my bill would be paid. She screamed at me about how I was now "one of those elite socialists" putting down the "American way of life" (??) and then she hung up on me.
Yes, I am proud that my kids are seeing through all the b.s. and one of them has stopped taking his kids over to see them. He's been ghosting them lately when they try to phone him. I DO see that as a win.
Bless you Dina. It stops with You. Seven generations forward 💫
Mobilizing people to “do something” ……. But what?
Mersault excellent piece. This nation has been basically treading water as we navigate the nutty political leaders, grifters, dethroned sports heroes and all the “Melania wannabe’s.” Because money has replaced God/ Humans/all things good….. We’re now seeing the results.
Everyone is waiting for someone to come and help. When we realize there is no help coming, then what do we do? Lie down and die? Many aren’t familiar with civic duty or volunteerism— so those who are leaders need to have compassion and patience. Many are regretting they voted for this band of thugs…. They need a way to come back into the fold and be supported. Many have lost friends and family….and are trying to navigate alone through the daily news quagmire. There needs to be a huge level of compassion for ourselves and our fellow compatriots.
That is so sad—she's chosen her orange god over her own grandchildren.
But, they still insist they aren't in a cult.
We should all stop saying that DT denigrated Zelenskyy. No. He did not. He only lowered himself deeper into the disgusting filthy abyss where he dwells. And of course, in his crassness, he commented that the whole little meeting would make good television. Zelenskyy did not fall for his theatrics, lies, name calling, "you're not grateful enough" etc from the other half jdv either. Those two are hollow vessels with nothing but garbage and filth emanating from their big foul mouths. And of course, as in karma always happens, the hillbilly and his family fled from a ski resort in Vermont because the real people were there to let him know they are watching and don't want him there. And of course, he ran away.
Keep the pressure on.
Thank you for your readership and your sharp commentary. You’re absolutely right—this isn’t about denigration, it’s about Trump sinking even lower.
I totally agree. Zelenskyy was the only one in that room who left with his dignity intact.
Mersault -- what does Ukraine / Zelenskyy ACTUALLY NEED? AND HOW CAN WE GET IT TO THEM?
Being "sorry" doesn't do any good. These people need honest-to-God practical / actual help. I've looked at some of the more promising titles of the organizations you've shared. I see a lot of "social initiatives" & "humanitarian aid" -- but if someone is invading my house, I don't need Meals-on-Wheels. I need something I can use to defend myself -- until either the police (or my neighbors & family) arrive ... or the invader is "neutralized." <== THAT BUCKET is where I want to put my "drop in the bucket" I can give to this cause. Can you help me find that? Or do you have specific suggestions?
If I've just asked a stupid question, I'm sorry. But I am too distressed tonight to stay calm & keep following links that don't bring me satisfaction. I hope you will understand & forgive me.
Your work is beyond stellar. I am so grateful you exist -- & that I found you. Thank you for everything.
My resources at the end of the article primarily focus on humanitarian aid and supporting democracy—providing medical assistance, refugee support, and rebuilding efforts that help sustain Ukraine’s people and institutions. I fully understand, though, that you’re looking for ways to directly support Ukraine’s defense and military resilience.
If you’re interested in contributing to non-lethal military aid, tactical supplies, or direct defense support, here are some organizations that focus on those areas:
https://spiritofamerica.org/project/help-ukraine-meet-the-moment?utm_source=chatgpt.com Provides non-lethal aid such as helmets, body armor, and medical supplies.
https://bank.gov.ua/en/news/all/natsionalniy-bank-vidkriv-spetsrahunok-dlya-zboru-koshtiv-na-potrebi-armiyi A government-run account for direct military support.
https://razomforukraine.org/ Provides tactical medical kits, communication equipment, and field supplies to Ukraine’s defenders.
Donate to Ukraine here. Whatever you can. This is the official page of the government of Ukraine. https://u24.gov.ua/
Thank you for this. I appreciate your help.
Thank you. I will do so
Yes, Janice gave you a good link, I've used it as well. Directly to the Ukrainian government and transparent reporting on how the money is spent
We witnessed the bravery of a great man. President Zelensky walked into the lions den and stood his ground. Trump and his boot kissers only magnified their meanness
Well said. Zelenskyy showed true courage, standing firm in the face of bad-faith attacks. Meanwhile, Trump and his enablers only revealed their own pettiness and cruelty. Their desperation was on full display.
You don’t mention Canada, but Trump would love to Annex us, as Putin did Ukraine. He wants our minerals and our North.
Thank you for capturing our collective despair and expressing our confirmation, as real Americans, we stand with the people of Ukraine and democracy everywhere. At home, we need to reach out to the MAGAts awakening to what they've wrought. We need to rally the 90 million apathetic people who did not vote - encourage unity to fight tyranny inside U.S. borders. #wearetheresistance #freedom #democracy
I have sent this open letter to a friend, Tanya M, a refugee from eastern Ukraine, now living in western Ukraine. We will read it together this morning when I help her, long distance, with her English. Thank you!!
That means so much—thank you for sharing it with Tanya. Wishing you both a meaningful conversation, and I hope it brings some clarity and strength. Appreciate you passing it along!
We have read it together and Tanya has subscribed!!
Phoebe, that truly means the world—please send my deepest gratitude to Tanya. The fact that you took the time to read it together, to share in that moment, is incredibly moving. I’m honored to have her as a subscriber and hope she finds both strength and solidarity here. Wishing you both all the best, and thank you again!
Tanya loved that she could mostly understand your writing as generally a lot of pieces employ sophisticated vocabulary that she loves but had trouble remembering. But she said she heard your words and felt their sincerity and asked me how to subscribe. She and her fellow Ukrainians are suffering now in a way that they didn’t suffer before because they had more hope. When we first started our daily conversations Tanya was living in eastern Ukraine and she would call me even while the air raid siren was sounding and would talk to me from the corridor where she hid in her building. Or from the bathroom until the power went out. We met via the language exchange two weeks after Russia invaded Ukraine. And we have been talking almost daily since then. Formerly a high school teacher, Tanya works now for a humanitarian organization, housing refugees like herself, which, like many such organizations, depends on funds coming from the US government. Since that has ended, her job will also end fairly soon. Literally everyone is affected by what the dumpster has done!
Please tell Tanya I’m deeply honored that my words resonated with her. Her resilience—speaking through air raids, helping others despite losing so much—is nothing short of heroic.
I understand why the suffering feels different now. Hope, when betrayed, is heavier than despair. The U.S. could help. Should help. But instead, the coward in the White House and his enablers abandon Ukraine to save their own power.
Tanya, and every Ukrainian still standing, have not been forgotten. The fight continues.
I will let her know and she will read it herself!
Mersault,
I see where you’re coming from, and I understand the emotional weight behind it. And yet, I don’t share your framing. The idea that the US was ever the singular “leader of the free world” was always a narrative built on its own perception rather than an uncontested reality. If anything, the cracks in that image were visible long before Trump. His first presidency just made the decline undeniable.
The US, already under DT 1.0, lost so much credibility that Europe and the Commonwealth considerably strengthened their ties. This isn’t just about NATO or the UN. That regime couldn't stay in either—it would have countered everything they believe in. Their mission is to build a new global dominance, dividing the world into spheres of influence, much like 600-700 years ago when the Portuguese and Spanish split the world in half. The English, Dutch, and French fought for their share, and the struggle continued almost to WWI, with parts lingering into modern times. This is nothing new. They are reviving old imperialist playbooks—men ruling the world with an iron fist, exploiting it and its people for their own gain. Alexander the Great, Caesar—they all sought the same. Some were even crueler than what we see today.
The world has moved on from the bipolar Cold War structure where everything was about US vs. USSR. The alliances that are forming now are not just reactions to the US losing its grip but a continuation of a shift that started decades ago. The EU expanded and solidified itself into a major global player. Africa is increasingly looking to new partnerships beyond the West. Latin America, despite its struggles, is asserting more regional agency. The Asia-Pacific region is actively shaping its own security frameworks rather than waiting for the US to decide its fate.
Right now, 81 countries are forming a direct alliance against the Russia-China-US axis. Yes, Israel, Iran, North Korea, and Hungary are players, but the global structure looks eerily familiar to the 80s—just with the US now tipping the scale the other way. The US, like Russia, lost much of its influence in the 90s. Their world dominance has been questioned in Europe for decades, leading to a 27-state-strong European Union—up from 13 in 1988—one of the biggest and strongest single markets in the world. That didn’t help either the US or Russia in maintaining their spheres of influence.
Even within the US, many companies in the non-tech sector are no longer US-owned. Look at the once-dominant automotive market—Japan, France, Germany, Italy are leading, with China as a runner-up. Not the US. Just one example.
The US still matters, and so does its internal struggle over democracy. And yet, it’s no longer the pivot around which everything turns. If the goal is to counter authoritarianism, then the answer isn’t just to lament the loss of American leadership—it’s to recognize that democracy is now a multipolar effort. Leadership is shared, not bestowed. Europe, Japan, Australia, South Korea, and many others are already acting accordingly.
And I see the real shift right now—it isn’t just about which form of government prevails. This isn’t a battle between democracy and autocracy the way it was framed during the Cold War. And this isn’t, like in the Middle East, a fight over religion. What we’re witnessing is a deeper, more fundamental struggle over worldview.
This fight—for those of us standing up for democracy—is about human rights, women’s rights, queer rights, self-determination, and the inviolable dignity of every human being. A concept that, in its current form, only emerged 75 years ago. That is the real fight. We are pushing back against the dominance of a few men ruling over everybody else, as has been the norm throughout most of world history. And we do this because we have evolved.
Look at those now holding non-democratic leadership positions. They are all men. They want to conserve their unique right to rule over others. This isn’t about governing—it’s about preserving their power. This is the struggle between power over versus power with and power to.
At its core, this is a fight against the patriarchal-hierarchical world order and for a more interconnected, equity-based one. What emerges from this struggle isn’t just about maintaining democracy in its current form but about shaping a future where
- decentralized and cooperative world structures replace rigid hierarchies, fostering local autonomy, collaboration, and shared governance
- interconnected, equity-based frameworks prioritize mutual respect, diverse voices, and social justice over raw power
- horizontal, participatory models emphasize shared leadership, direct democracy, and non-hierarchical organization
- regenerative, relational systems highlight sustainability, community-centered approaches, and interconnected societies
This is where the world is moving, and it’s happening with or without the US. The US is locked in its internal struggle, but globally, the momentum is shifting.
Mersault, your anger at Trump is justified. The concern about Ukraine is justified. And yet, the idea that democracy depends on “real Americans” fighting to reclaim a lost position feels outdated. Democracy survives when power is distributed, when no single nation dictates its fate, and when people in every country—including the US—hold their own leaders accountable. That’s where the real fight is.
The world isn’t leaderless. The US is. And that’s a difference that matters.
I appreciate your perspective, especially given your view from Europe, where the shifts in global power structures have been more acutely felt. You’re absolutely right that the notion of the U.S. as the singular “leader of the free world” was always more a product of American self-perception than an uncontested reality. And yes, the cracks in that image have been deepening for decades, not just since Trump. The EU’s expansion, Asia’s growing autonomy, and Latin America’s increasing regional agency all speak to a world moving away from U.S. dominance.
But while the world may no longer hinge on America’s every move, that doesn’t mean American leadership—or its failures—don’t have profound consequences. Trump’s abandonment of Ukraine isn’t just another milestone in the decline of U.S. influence; it is a catastrophic dereliction of responsibility that actively empowers authoritarian expansionism. This isn’t merely about America’s lost credibility—it’s about the immediate and material consequences of an emboldened Russia, a fractured NATO, and a world in which strongmen increasingly feel there are no real consequences for their ambitions.
You frame this as a broader struggle against hierarchical, patriarchal power structures—and I agree. But one of the last major bulwarks against that model of governance is a world where democracy remains militarily and economically capable of resisting conquest. The U.S. doesn’t need to dictate the fate of the world, but its withdrawal from the fight for Ukraine all but ensures that authoritarianism advances unchecked. The multipolar democratic order you describe doesn’t emerge from a vacuum—it needs the U.S. and others to act in defense of nations under siege.
So yes, democracy is bigger than the U.S. now. But Trump’s betrayal of Ukraine isn’t just a sign of America’s declining centrality—it’s a direct failure of moral and strategic leadership, one that makes the world more dangerous, not less. The fight against authoritarianism requires shared leadership, but it also requires that the strongest defenders of democracy don’t retreat when it matters most.
Mersault, I see where you're coming from, and I appreciate the depth of your response.
You're right—Trump’s abandonment of Ukraine isn’t just a symptom of shifting global power; it has real consequences. And yet, the structures enabling those consequences were already in place long before. The belief that the U.S. was the last major bulwark against authoritarianism is itself a reflection of the old world order—one that saw power as something concentrated in a single nation rather than distributed across many.
The real failure isn’t just Trump’s decision; it’s the decades-long assumption that democracy's survival depends on one country’s military and economic strength rather than on the collective resilience of democratic societies worldwide. Ukraine is fighting, the EU is stepping up, and NATO is holding its ground. The UK and France are also nuclear powers. In recent years, Europe has built a significant arms industry to reduce its dependence on the U.S.
I agree—the American decision may, for a moment, tip the scale in Putin’s favor. Yet when I look at how the Commonwealth and the EU are stepping in forcefully to fill the void left by the U.S., I don’t think it will take long to close the gap. And by then, the damage to the U.S. will be done. Any politician in the House or Senate who assumes that things will simply return to "normal" once this regime is gone is in for a rude awakening. The influence, power, and standing the U.S. once held will be lost—not because of Trump or Musk, but because those in the House and Senate who had the power to act in defense of democracy and the Constitution failed to do so. Their failure carries far more weight than the episode of Trump itself—because what has failed is the system.
And history shows that when a system fails, trust is not easily restored.
Look at how long it took Germany to be accepted again as a full and equal member of the United Nations. How long the Allied forces maintained their oversight of everything happening politically in Germany.
Why? Because they distrusted us.
Because they wanted to keep us in check. A loss of trust at that scale isn’t repaired with a single election cycle or a change in leadership. It lingers. It reshapes alliances. It forces other nations to create safeguards so they are never left as vulnerable again.
That’s exactly what’s happening now.
The rest of the world isn’t waiting to see whether the U.S. regains its footing—it is already building alternative structures, redistributing influence, and ensuring that no single nation can hold global democracy hostage again.
This isn’t just about the future of the U.S.; it’s about the evolution of democracy itself.
Even within the U.S., there are those resisting the tide.
The future of democracy won’t be decided by whether the U.S. remains the world's dominant force—it will be determined by whether democratic nations, communities, and movements build structures that make authoritarianism unsustainable.
Shared leadership isn’t just about defense; it’s about dismantling the systems that made such concentrated power possible in the first place. That’s the deeper shift in play.
I will be donating in the morning.
Ukrainians are in our prayers and hearts forever. We will never turn our backs on you and I send my Love from Michigan and hope peace comes to you very soon.
🌟
The difficulty lies in his followers to enlighten them to believe it appears all situations when it comes to tRump.
There is this bizarre “worship” that he does no wrong. That they will negate all that they see & hear with their own 2 eyes and ears. It’s quite frightening to a degree that they no longer rely on their own life experiences, common sense, and any drop of logic when it comes to his actions & behaviors.
What strikes me is even as Muskrat & his boys are reeking havoc to all of our safety nets, having all of our financial & medical information that it doesn’t dawn on them that it will negatively affect them, as if they will be “immune” of these destructions.
That they will not be affecting from the MAGA (no longer Republican Party) Congress when it comes to their own finances, medical needs, cost of living, etc. - again they believe they are “immune” - yes some are getting it but it’s not enough yet to change that “base” & fear when the base get it - it definitely will be too late.
The Congress itself has been neutered not just by him but by themselves.
The judicial branch is holding on by their finger nails & who knows what SCOTUS will do - but not holding my breath that this corrupt SCOTUS will go against him
As for allies who supplied as “intelligence” for our national safety & security - yea that’s either gone already or not going to happen in another few weeks as it’s going.
To continue to stop our democracy from being set ablaze is our voices “The People” to use our those voices to demonstrate, make “good trouble” don’t buy anything to subsidize any oligarchs like Musk, Bezos and all. Call our representatives daily, even if they don’t answer leave a voicemail, email, write to do whatever each and everyone has the possibility of doing
The other voice of reason are journalists who continue to exercise that concept of a free press…
So thank you 🙏🏼
Thank you for commenting. Trump’s base isn’t just deceived—they choose deception. Fear and ego keep them loyal, even as his policies hurt them.
Meanwhile, Congress is weak, SCOTUS is corrupt, and billionaires tighten their grip. The system won’t fix itself.
The only real counterforce? Us. Protest, boycott, vote smart, and apply relentless pressure.
I’m glad that Trump wasn’t President during WWII, or there’s a good chance we’d all be speaking German now.
Trump’s approach to settling this conflict is like a principal ordering the school bully’s victims to just give the bully their lunch money, as a supposedly suitable way to end the bully’s attacks. It’s like Neville Chamberlain on steroids.
Or, like Chamberlain on Adderall, Cocaine, and Xanax:
A Chemically Compromised Commander in Chief
https://open.substack.com/pub/patricemersault/p/trumps-drug-use-a-chemically-compromised?r=4d7sow&utm_medium=ios
You have outdone yourself. Bravo!
Exactly!
My sister in law and I are the only two people in my whole family who didn’t vote for the pumpkin head. Both of our late husbands hated him also but it’s just us now. Yesterday I got into a shouting match with my two other s/i/l’s over that horrible shameful meeting and my daughter added her two cents that supported all the right leaning horror stories about Ukraine wasting the money they got. This got me angrier when they said we have things in our local politics we need to fix first. It was more stupid for me even trying to discuss with them so I just took the visiting Bassett hound out to the backyard to relieve himself and have a smoke ( bad habit I know) to calm myself down before I threw them out of my house. Seems all they’re interested in the local politics was what they wanted to talk about. I was calmer when I came back in and they took the hint and all left about the same time. How stupid are these people who are all college grads and are retired like me after putting years into our professions. My son and daughter are the same way though we had to agree to keep politics out of our life discussions while still loving each other deeply. I guess I can be thankful for that.
Great article Mersault!
You handled that about as well as anyone could under the circumstances. It’s exhausting trying to break through the wall of right-wing talking points, especially when it’s coming from people who should know better. The whole “we need to fix our own problems first” line is just an excuse to ignore suffering elsewhere—conveniently trotted out only when helping Ukraine, never when funneling billions into tax cuts for the wealthy or military boondoggles. And the misinformation about Ukraine is pure propaganda, designed to sow division and justify abandoning an ally fighting for democracy.
At least you have your sister-in-law as an ally, and even with your kids, it’s good that there’s still love despite the political divide. That’s more than a lot of families can say these days. Also, I fully support your strategic retreat to the backyard—sometimes, you just need to step away before the frustration boils over.
I don't feel sorry for the MAGA Base, they have given in to dark, demonic impulses. Trump is the embodiment of Evil.
The Antichrist
Patrice Mersault: you are a goddess of truth and fierce vision. This is a post worthy of much wider circulation. I hope you will go mainstream too. It needs to be recognized.
And thank you for the list of activism resources.
I have restacked. Thank you. 🙏🏻 bless this world and all those who need help and who give support and hope.
I wonder how many of us understand the Krasnov reference. I learned about it on a thread by Anthony Anderson on X which has now been taken down. I would love to start a #Krasnov (just simply that, no other words) on FB but today a reply I tried to make to a friend was blocked. Maybe Substack will accept it!
A CLASSIFIED Letter from Vladimir Putin to Donald Trump
Trump, Russia, and the Greatest Intelligence Coup in History:
"You Serve Me, Donald. You Always Have. You Always Will."
https://patricemersault.substack.com/p/classified-an-open-letter-from-vladimir?r=4d7sow
I only refer to That Guy as Krasnov. On Blue Sky, and on Facebook. I haven't been stopped on FB...yet.