Thank you!
Your support is sustaining the future of local news in our communities.

This is not a game

Our nation is teetering on collapse and with that, the balance of life across the whole planet is in jeopardy. The consequence of these next few months to come means that even the environment and possible sustainable human life is at risk. Wars will quickly boil up as the weakening of America’s position globally will allow factions, terrorists, and enemies to see a clear path for mayhem and destruction. And many of them will gain access to atomic weapons according to the UN.

The isolationist policies of the Heritage Foundation, which even President Reagan rejected (or avoided), when coupled with the MAGA desire for retribution and fascist policies subverting the rule of law as the nation once accepted them are on open display now. Leading the way are the corrupt Supreme Court members who defied the most common tenet of our Constitution that no one is above the law. Anything done by the President is now lawful by definition, unpunishable, sanctioned by Scotus. And with their ruling, “dictator on day one” is entirely possible.

The television, online pundits, radio presenters are treating these threats or promises (depending on which side broadcasters are on) like entertainment. There are smiles even when a news reader talks about Project 2025’s frightening claims and desires. In private they may be as frightened as you or me, but on air everyone seems to be terribly keen with sparkling eyes, earnest in their endeavor to share thoughts and worries to entertain.

The truth is, we’re at war. A war to save the America we grew up in, a war to preserve the very facts and laws of the Constitution. It is not funny or amusing at all. Not for a moment, every day relentlessly eating away at our stamina to prevail, to oppose fascism, to preserve the country.

Some people may want to take a position on abortion and concentrate on that. The fascists want you to be mono-focused, so you’re missing the totalitarian state that’s coming, easily assuaged if they claim it will never happen nationally (only statewide).

Some people may want to take a position on inflation and tax breaks and concentrate on that. The fascists want you to be mono-focused, you’re missing the totalitarian state that’s coming, easily assuaged if they claim tax breaks are good for the economy and will lower inflation.

Some people may want to take a position on the environment and concentrate on that. The fascists want you to be mono-focused, once again you’re missing the totalitarian state that’s coming, easily assuaged if they claim they will build more renewable energy windmills and solar farms, all the while they claim your very financial well-being needs the US to drill for more oil.

Some people may want to take a position on corruption of those judges and the Supreme Court and concentrate on that. But again the fascists want you to be mono-focused, so you’ll miss the totalitarian state that’s coming, easily assuaged if they claim the MAGA factions love the real law and want to enforce the law against criminals and rioters (never mind they’ll get to define who’s a criminal without due process). Next will be a promise to double the police forces to “protect” you and yours.

Look, if anyone who is reading this doesn’t understand the risk to every part of your life is on the line with these proto-fascists, read their Project 2025, see that the people who generated those rules are part of the MAGA elite and have already written the GOP Platform. Be a Missouri person, believe it when you see it. So, get off your behind and read what they have written, what they have promised. Know what is coming unless fight back now and try to you win the war.

Here are the Project 2025’s “pillars”:

“Pillar I… puts in one place a consensus view of how major federal agencies must be governed and where disagreement exists brackets out these differences for the next President to choose a path.” “Brackets out” means edit, change, subvert.

“Pillar II is a personnel database that allows candidates to build their own professional profiles and our coalition members to review and voice their recommendations.” Translation? Profiles must meet Project 2025’s designs.

“Pillar III is the Presidential Administration Academy, an online educational system taught by experts from our coalition. For the newcomer, this will explain how the government functions and how to function in government.” They’re running an indoctrination program already to tell people how to behave in their new government.

“Pillar IV—the Playbook—we are forming agency teams and drafting transition plans to move out upon the President’s utterance of “so help me God.” And 920 pages follows telling the reader exactly what is in store in the dictatorship.

When your enemy says he wants to take over, you should listen and fight. This is now war for true Americans, whether you want it or not.

Latest News

Jaimoe keeps the Allman Brother’s sound alive at Infinity Hall

Jaimoe performs with Friends of the Brothers.

Derek McCabe

The Allman Brothers Band has a wild history that involves more than its share of death, drugs, booze and blues. The band played through several iterations from 1969 until 2014. For most of that time, it was powered by the rhythm and texture of its two drummers, Butch Trucks and the enigmatic Jaimoe. On Thursday, Nov. 12, Jaimoe will get back behind the drums to bring the music of the Allman Brothers to life with Friends of the Brothers at Norfolk’s Infinity Hall.

Jaimoe, born in 1944 as John Lee Johnson and also performed under the name Jai Johanny Johanson, was already an accomplished drummer before he met guitarist Duane Allman in 1967. Trained as a soul and jazz drummer, he started playing R&B at a young age and eventually made his way to Otis Redding’s band before Redding died in a plane crash at age 26. Jaimoe had an effortless texture to his drumming that set him apart from most drummers of the day, who were frequently enlisted to hold the beat rather than contribute to a bands’ musicality.

Keep ReadingShow less

Democrats earn big wins in 2026 elections

Democrats earn big wins in 2026 elections

Voters wait in a line that stretches out the door to receive their ballots at the NorthEast-Millerton Library Annex on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 3. Voting machines had recorded a total of more than 700 ballots cast in Millerton by 4:45 p.m.

Photo by Graham Corrigan

Democratic candidates in northeast Dutchess County scored wins alongside their state and federal counterparts.

Voters cited the rising cost of living and opposition to the Trump administration’s policies as reasons for turning out. In the Pine Plains town supervisor race, transparency and police surveillance were also concerns.

Keep ReadingShow less
Climate Smart Millerton’s Pumpkin Smash draws biggest crowd yet

Zeke Diebboll uses one of the handmade wooden mallets at Pumpkin Smashto cave in a pumpkin at the former Millerton Elementary School on Saturday, Nov. 7.

Photo by Nathan Miller

MILLERTON — The third annual Pumpkin Smash drew the largest crowd yet for the Climate Smart Task Force’s composting promotional extravaganza.

About 50 people visited the field that used to house Millerton Elementary School’s playground equipment on Saturday, Nov. 7, braving a drizzling rain to join in bashing and flinging pumpkins. This year’s event marked the return of repeat partner McEnroe’s Organic Farm and a new collaboration with North East Community Center, which owns the former elementary school property.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

Is it a concert or a play? “Yes, Darling.” It is.

Ryan Montbleau and Hayley Jane bring “Yes, Darling” to the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield on Nov. 13.

Provided

On Friday, Nov. 13, a truly unique performance will hit the stage of the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. “Yes, Darling” is the musical culmination of a longtime collaboration between musicians Hayley Jane and Ryan Montbleau. What sets this performance apart from a traditional musical or a regular concert is that the writers of the songs are the actors and performers themselves.

Though “Yes, Darling” is their first official album and subsequent show together, Jane and Montbleau share a number of compatible traits that work together marvelously in this project.

Keep ReadingShow less
Local favorites among Destination Dutchess tourism award finalists

Tenmile Distillery in Wassaic is a finalist for a Destination Dutchess 2026 Tourism Award of Distinction for its Revolutionary Whisky.

D.H. Callahn

Three familiar names from eastern Dutchess County are among the finalists for Destination Dutchess’ 2026 Tourism Awards of Distinction, recognizing the people, businesses and organizations that make the county a vibrant destination for visitors.

House of Stefas in Millbrook is a finalist for the Newcomer Award of Distinction, which celebrates tourism-related businesses that opened in 2025 and have already made an impression on visitors and residents alike.

Keep ReadingShow less
Empress outlines EMS plans for northeast Dutchess

MILLERTON — Empress Executive Director Robert Stuck provided details of a proposed regional emergency medical service system to North East Town Board members on Wednesday, Nov. 4. He said the changes would save participating towns hundreds of thousands of dollars in EMS costs by pooling resources with neighbors.

Stuck said the new so-called dynamic system would better use the company’s labor and equipment and would ultimately reduce the total number of ambulances servicing North East, Amenia, Washington and Stanford. Under the new agreement, the four towns would share three ambulances that would be placed strategically between each of the towns and repositioned to provide backup for occupied EMTs and paramedics. Stuck said the dynamic model would cut North East’s upcoming 2028 contract by $675,000, from $1.3 million to $625,000.

Keep ReadingShow less
google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.

google preferred source

Want more of our stories on Google? Click here to make us a Preferred Source.