Category Archives: Sen. Murkowski

The Struggle for the Soul of America: While the Fear of Trump’s Retaliation Works to Suppress Opposition, Resistance Is Still Growing

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In the 1930s, as Hitler was consolidating his power, the great majority of Germans did little or nothing to resist him and his Nazi forces out of fear. Peter Hoffmann’s review of The Good Germans concluded that the “threat of harsh punishment largely worked.”[1] Today, Trump is taking a page from Hitler’s playbook.

            The latest example of Trump’s threats working is CBS’s surprise cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the highest rated talk show in the country.[2] The announcement came just days after CBS parent company Paramount Global reached a $16 million settlement with Trump in what appeared-to-be his “frivolous” lawsuit against Paramount. Some Democrats contend that Paramount paid Trump under threat that his administration would not approve of its multi-billion-dollar merger with Skydance Media.[3]

            Fear of Trump retaliating has affected Republicans, too. According to former Speaker Nancy Pelosi, GOP Congressmen are afraid “they could be attacked in the same way her husband” was.[4] That likely influenced GOP Sen. Lisa Murkowski’s failure to vote against Trump’s big budget bill, a vote which would have sunk that bill. Murkowski admitted, “I’m oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice, because retaliation is real.”[5]

In both cases, the fear of Trump’s retribution probably affected the outcome in his favor. In addition, major corporations including AT&T, Ford and Toyota made large contributions to Trump’s inauguration to gain his goodwill[6] and avoid potential backlash for failing to support him.[7] As a result, corporate America won’t be leading the fight against Trump’s authoritarian regime.

Still, the resistance is growing.[8] On July 16, Indivisible held an online One Million Rising training attended by over 130,000 concerned Americans just like you. “The 90-minute video conference was organized to train activists in principles of ‘strategic non-cooperation,’ which aims to gum up the works of the increasingly dark and dictatorial Trump administration.”[9] If you missed it, I urge you to watch it at https://www.nokings.org/rise#livestream.

I participated in the training with 10 friends. We all felt it was an excellent workshop and an inspiring beginning to the formation of a huge resistance movement.

The second of the three training sessions is Wednesday, July 30, at 6 pm Mountain Time, 8 pm Eastern. You don’t have to have attended the first session to register for the second and third trainings. Go to https://www.nokings.org/rise to sign up and learn more about this crucial effort.

Too many of us are sitting at home in fear and hopelessness, not knowing what to do. If that includes you, joining One Million Rising will help you overcome these feelings by engaging with hundreds of thousands of Americans in the struggle to stop Trump and his cronies. Together, we must strive to save our country and build a better democracy.

Bruce Berlin

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/. Join the movement to revive our democracy. Together we can save the soul of America.

[1] https://www.jstor.org/stable/24483571

[2] https://www.theatlantic.com/culture/archive/2025/07/late-show-stephen-colbert-canceled-cbs/683602/

[3] https://www.msn.com/en-us/tv/news/stephen-colbert-s-late-show-canceled-after-trump-lawsuit-settlement-sparks-backlash/ar-AA1IRlgw?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[4] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/nancy-pelosi-reveals-why-republicans-wont-cross-trump_n_6878bf6ce4b09816d3162894

[5] https://www.npr.org/2025/04/29/nx-s1-5327518/donald-trump-100-days-retribution-threats

[6] https://www.axios.com/2024/12/25/companies-donate-trump-inauguration

[7] https://apnews.com/article/trump-retribution-columbia-paul-weiss-law-firms-40c8cbafaa3592a6b2cc5858770d3731

[8] https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/resistance-2-0-protests-get-louder-and-more-organized/ar-AA1IAIX9?ocid=BingNewsSerp

[9] https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/trump-authoritarian-no-kings-playbook-1235388347/

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Stop Trump from Destroying Our Democracy

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In an outrageous, blatant display of corruption, President Trump is selling access to the White House. He is using “his office for personal enrichment…selling face time to those who put money into his bank account by purchasing nearly $200 million worth of his branded souvenir crypto coins.”[1]

 In addition, his overreach is totally out of control. Two federal courts have now ruled that Trump does not have the authority to issue “emergency tariffs on imports from around the world…”[2] (However, a federal appeals court has just put a temporary stay on that ruling.[3])

 While this is par for the Trump we’ve come to know too well, some Senate Republicans are finally pushing back. Until recently, practically all Congressional Republicans either have been too afraid of retribution to cross him; or they refuse risking their potentially significant financial gains from his “big, beautiful budget” bill by challenging him.[4]

Even conservative Senator Josh Hawley (R-MO) is voicing concerns about changes to Medicaid in Trump’s big budget bill that could lead to millions of people losing coverage. He warned colleagues in an op-ed published in The New York Times this month that cutting health care to pay for tax breaks would be “morally wrong and politically suicidal.”[5] GOP Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Thom Tillis (N.C.) are objecting to measures in the budget bill as well.[6]

The Santa Fe chapter of the national, grassroots organization Indivisible is leading an effort to harness this nascent Republican backlash against Trump’s unlawful and unethical measures. We have put out a call to Americans across the country to urge Sen. Murkowski to form a bipartisan caucus to save our democracy. Most importantly, this effort is catching on with her Alaskan constituents. See my April 30th post at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog/ for a copy of the letter to the senator which you are free to copy or use in drafting your own letter.

Perhaps it’s time to broaden the appeal to these other Republican senators who don’t see eye-to-eye with Trump. If you believe your senators, Republican or Democratic, might be willing to help form a bipartisan caucus to save our democracy, write to them as well as to Senator Murkowski. And ask your friends and email connections to do the same.

Here in New Mexico, I’m writing to Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, a young, Hispanic Democrat requesting that he speak to Sen. Murkowski and offer to co-chair this bipartisan caucus to save our democracy with her. The two of them together would broaden the appeal for such an effort. If you live in New Mexico, I urge you to write to him as well. The more senators hear from their constituents that we want them to work together to save our democracy, the more likely they will do just that. Time is running out. We all need to get to work now!

Bruce Berlin J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-coin-dinner-corruption_n_682e52bae4b09130a584ec82?origin=top-ad-recirc

[2] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/05/29/second-federal-court-rules-against-trumps-tariffs-00374377

[3] https://www.yahoo.com/news/trump-tariffs-back-now-fights-194416188.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

[4] https://www.commondreams.org/news/big-beautiful-bill

[5] https://www.newsweek.com/senate-republicans-demands-trump-big-bill-2077055

[6] https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/5320674-senate-republicans-trump-bill-debate/

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Together We Can Make a Difference

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Everyone I’ve talked to about a national letter writing campaign urging Republican Sen. Lisa Murkowski to form a bipartisan caucus to save our democracy has been enthusiastically supportive of the idea. Now, it’s up to all of us to make it a reality.

If we roll up our sleeves and get to work, I envision this bipartisan caucus in the Senate in the next couple of months, maybe even sooner. Our country is spinning out of control. We all know who’s responsible. And the way things are going, we’ve got no time to waste.  

The latest Trump corrupt sleaze has him accepting a $400 million luxury Boing jet from Qatar to be used as Air Force One for as long as he’s president, which according to him, would then be turned over to his presidential library that he plans building after leaving office. In effect, Trump would then get to use it as his private jet.[1]

This is so despicable that even Senate Republicans are opposed to the “gift.” A strong Trump supporter, Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said accepting the plane would pose “significant espionage and surveillance problems.”[2] He’s quite right. All indications strongly suggest Qatar has supported Hamas. The gift is an outright bribe to get Trump to treat Qatar as a friend despite its support of radical and Islamist groups.

Ignoring security issues, Trump questions how the United States can turn down a ‘free’ gift.  He said, “Only a FOOL would not accept this gift on behalf of our Country.”[3] The fool that he is, doesn’t realize, or more likely just doesn’t care, that it’s going to cost American taxpayers millions and millions of dollars to tear the aircraft apart and rebuild it into a fully secure, presidential plane.

By the way, Trump’s accepting the plane without the consent of Congress also violates Article One, Section Nine of the Constitution.[4]

In response to Trump’s outrageous public corruption, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) forcefully opposed the deal: “Nothing says ‘America First’ like Air Force One, brought to you by Qatar. It’s not just bribery, it’s premium foreign influence with extra legroom.”[5] Or, as others have called it, “pure grift.”

It’s the latest evidence of how Trump views his presidency: It’s all about him. The hell with the rest of us and the country. Isn’t it time we take back our country?

Sen. Murkowski is as disgusted as we are with Trump and his attempt to destroy our democracy. I believe that a bipartisan caucus may be our best shot at saving it. Better yet, it could be the opening to rebuilding our country into a true democracy where all American citizens have the right to vote and have their vote counted, everyone pays their fair share, and the rule of law applies to everyone, including the president.

So, I hope you all will join this campaign. If you don’t have them already, the links to my last blog with a model letter, and to the Senator’s website where you can send your letter, are below. Ask all your friends, family and colleagues to get on board as well. Together we can make a difference.

Here’s what to do:

  1. Get an electronic copy of my blog which includes the letter to Sen. Murkowski at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog/.
  2. Once you have the copy, go to https://www.murkowski.senate.gov/contact/email to email Sen. Murkowski the letter, or your own version of it urging her to form a bipartisan caucus to save our democracy.

It’s that easy.

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.), the founder of New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics, a former U.S. Institute of Peace fellow, and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He can be reached at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-qatar-air-force-one-2ef13d87b71185bde547abe6840b098c

[2] https://www.yahoo.com/news/trumps-critics-supporters-unite-against-223257726.html?fr=yhssrp_catchall

[3] https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2025/05/14/trump-airplane-deals-boeing-qatar/83625621007/

[4] https://constitution.congress.gov/constitution/article-1/

[5] https://www.firstpost.com/explainers/trump-qatar-jet-gift-air-force-one-ethics-controversy-13887697.html

The Struggle for the Soul of America: Will Sen. Murkowski Help Save Our Democracy?

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President Trump’s first 100 days clearly demonstrate how corrupt, autocratic, and self-serving he and his Republican lackeys are. But there is at least one Republican senator who’s not onboard Trump’s train to infamy.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the four-term Republican from Alaska, recently admitted that “we are all afraid” of retaliation from President Trump if we, i.e. Republican officials, don’t go along with him. At the same time, the senator said she did not plan to stop speaking out. In fact, she explained that “I have to figure out how I can do my best to help the many who are so anxious and are so afraid.”[1]

I’m thinking we should all help her do just that. If she received a ton of letters from Americans all over the country suggesting how she could support her Republican colleagues who don’t like Trump’s efforts to destroy our democracy but are afraid to cross him. The letter might go something like this:

Dear Sen. Murkowski,

         I want to thank you for speaking out regarding the fear that most everyone, including yourself, is feeling. The fear of retaliation from President Trump for criticizing or opposing him and his administration is widespread. I applaud your courage in refusing to back down in the face of the president’s threats. You have proven to be a true American patriot in your efforts to thwart the president’s autocratic conduct.

         As president, Mr. Trump is violating Americans’ constitutional rights to free speech and assembly as well as our right to due process, among others. If we allow President Trump to continue his attacks on the rule of law and numerous other rights, the United States will soon become an autocratic state where no one will be safe from the president’s wrath.

         Sen. Murkowski, as an independent-minded Republican senator willing to speak your truth, you are in a unique position to help save American democracy. But, it will require other Republicans willing to risk their positions, and perhaps their safety, to overcome the president’s autocratic efforts to destroy our democracy. So, here are a few things I hope you will consider:

  1. Talk to your Republican colleagues in the Senate who feel as you do and urge them to speak out as well.
  2. Meet with senators of both parties who you believe would be willing to work in a bipartisan way to deter President Trump’s authoritarian policies.
  3. Organize a bipartisan caucus of Senate and House members to create a national campaign to save our democracy.

Time is running out to stop President Trump and his MAGA cohorts from overthrowing our democracy and creating an autocracy. I urge you to act quickly and do whatever you can to stop President Trump and save our democracy. I guarantee that the vast majority of Americans will have your back, and many of them will want to work with you.

Respectfully yours,

(Your name)

 Please let me know your response to my proposal and whether you are willing to write to Sen. Murkowski and help build a national letter writing campaign.

Bruce Berlin, J.D.

A retired, public sector ethics attorney, Berlin is a former U.S. Institute of Peace Fellow and the founder and former executive director of The Trinity Forum for International Security and Conflict Resolution. He is also the author of Breaking Big Money’s Grip on America.  (See breakingbigmoneysgrip.com.). Contact him at breakingbigmoneysgrip@gmail.com.

Subscribe to this blog at https://breakingbigmoneysgrip.com/my-blog-3/.

[1] https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/17/us/politics/lisa-murkowski-trump.html?campaign_id=190&emc=edit_ufn_20250419&instance_id=152901&nl=from-the-times&regi_id=72679230&segment_id=196312&user_id=51750e72d4988f5b891f2289251150c2