Simon Rosenberg says in this post that it’s time to acknowledge that Trump is a sadist.
That’s an understatement!
I think it’s LONG PAST time to to acknowledge that Trump is a sadist.
I think it’s time to acknowledge that Trump is a sadist. He likes harming people, killing them: – USAID vaporization, 10m dead- Killing people on high seas- ICE terror regime- Cutting health care, food assistance to tens of millions- Iran War, backing genocidal Putin
— Simon Rosenberg (@simonwdc.bsky.social) 2026-02-28T13:29:55.035Z
Have the Benghazi hearings started yet?
Several hours after reports of the Supreme Leader’s death in Iran, 500 Shia Muslims stormed the U.S. consulate.
9 people were killed.
Did this fucked up administration even communicate with any of our embassies that region?
At least 9 people were killed in an attack on the U.S.consulate in PakistanThis was confirmed by a correspondent of Radio Liberty’s Pakistani service at the scene.Several hours after reports of the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Khamenei,around five hundred Shia Muslims stormed the U.S. consulate
— Anton Gerashchenko (@antongerashchenko.bsky.social) 2026-03-01T10:05:26.227Z
Fucking Sadistic Idiots
Let a thousand flowers bloom
Thanks to this administration of sadists, a whole new generation of radicalized people is surely being created right in front of our eyes.
Now let’s make some calls TODAY to help pass the War Powers resolutions!
Find contact information for your legislators
This is our moment – no matter who represents you, make the calls. Please.
WaterGirl
If we’re not part of the solution, we’re part of the problem.
I challenge every single person who makes even one comment on Balloon Juice today to make the calls to your elected officials today.
Even if your elected officials are blood red and evil and heartless, they can count.
They will be getting a lot of calls in support of this illegal and immoral attack. Add your call to the other column:
WE NEED THE WAR POWERS RESOLUTION TO PASS.
Spanky
Not the first time I’ve said this here: The Pee Tape is a snuff film.
prostratedragon
🤡 policy, foreign and domestic, in a nutshell: “See it — rape it.” Remember the flag.
WTFGhost
@Spanky: And, as an analog to the “Trump can grab my (arrow pointing down)” which proves that Republicans still don’t know a damn thing about consent, they can have “Trump can snuff my (insert name/relationship)” shirts, understanding that sometimes a man just has to shoot a man in Vegas, just to watch him die. And when you’re a star, you get away with it!
artem1s
I can’t believe they didn’t evacuate all the consulates in the Middle East, especially Pakistan. Like I said in a previous thread, I had a dreadful feeling we’d be seeing something along the lines of the barracks bombings in 1980. Of course state department officials are even lower on the losers list than the suckers in the military to today’s GQP leadership, so no great loss I guess?
Anyone on Orangemandius’ short list to take over the grift machine in Iran is sure to be even worse than the current regime, so also, too no great loss I guess?
WTFGhost
@prostratedragon: There’s was a novel, Synners, where one person’s motto was “if you can’t eat it and it doesn’t dance, (fornicate) it or throw it away.”
Said person was left dry-humping the refrigerator, and the listener was just waiting to see him try to throw that away.
Doesn’t that just sound like a Trump encounter at an Epstein party?
A Ghost to Most
The cult that chose him THREE times is just as sadistic
WaterGirl
If you report your calls in the comments, I’m willing to bet that it will inspire other people to pick up the phone.
Chief Oshkosh
@WTFGhost: Err, that’s Reno where the shootin’ to watch the dyin’ happens.
Scout211
TBH, I don’t think that Trump cares enough about anyone outside of his circle of people who are of use to him to actually care enough to find joy or pleasure at other people’s harm. He doesn’t do what he does because he is craving the sick pleasure that it gives him to hurt others. Hurting others is just something he does to further his need for power, revenge and narcissistic need. Collateral damage to his toxic narcissism.
But the end result is the same. For either reason behind his actions, he won’t stop hurting people, cultures and nations until he is King of the World.
ETA for clarity
Searcher
Yeah, where WAS Hillary Clinton when all this was going down?
Old Man Shadow
It’s long past time to state that the conservative project itself is sadistic. A zero sum game in which human misery is necessary to allow the elite to be happy. Where property rights trump human rights and human well-being. Where greed and envy are virtues and compassion and empathy are vices. Where blessed are the rich for God has given them ease and cursed are the poor for they are lazy and deserve their suffering is their primary beatitude.
Where they would rather burn down the house than agree to live in it as equals and do their part to help it prosper.
It is the ideology of Hell.
prostratedragon
@WTFGhost: It certainly does. Published 1991, so tentatively goes on my list of underground references to him.
lowtechcyclist
I have called. I have mentioned my support of what the Democrats are doing with the War Powers resoluton, but gone on to say that what they are doing is committing mass murder, just like they’ve done with blowing up all the Venezuelans in boats in the Caribbean and Pacific, many miles from our shores. I have said that Trump, Rubio, Hegseth, and anyone else in the Administration involved in forming these policies that produce these actions need to someday be tried for mass murder, and be sentenced to spend the rest of their lives in prison
ETA: I think I’d better pull myself away from the Internet for a few hours. It’s been a long time since I’ve been this angry.
frosty
@WaterGirl: I just made my call to my useless-R Rep: “I’m calling to tell the Congressman to vote for the War Powers Resolution. It’s time for Congress to take back its Constitutional power.”
That’s it, for today. If I start on the Cabinet and impeachment I’ll be on the phone all day.
trollhattan
Rare time when work is an attractive distraction from…everything else.
Happy Monday.
WTFGhost
@Chief Oshkosh: Damn. No wonder it was so easy to stop the shooting in Vegas.
(sighs) I’ve gotta listen to lyrics more closely….
Deputinize America
(Verse 1)
Well, come on all of you big strong men
Uncle Sam needs your help again
He’s got himself in a terrible jam
Way down yonder in old Iran
So put down your phones and pick up a gun
We’re gonna have a whole lot of fun
(Chorus)
And it’s one, two, three, what are we fighting for?
Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn
Next stop is Tehran
And it’s five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates
Well, there ain’t no time to wonder why
Whoopee! We’re all gonna die
(Verse 2)
Well, come on generals, let’s move fast
Your big chance has come at last
Now you can go out and get those Reds
Wait, it’s the Ayatollahs instead
The only good fundamentalist is one that’s dead
And you know that peace can only be won
When we’ve finished the job that we’ve begun
(Verse 3)
Well, come on mothers throughout the land
Pack your boys off to the desert sand
Come on fathers, don’t hesitate
Send your sons out before it’s too late
And you can be the first ones on your block
To have your boy come home in a box
(Chorus)
And it’s one, two, three, what are we fighting for?
Don’t ask me, I don’t give a damn
Next stop is Tehran
And it’s five, six, seven, open up the pearly gates
Well, there ain’t no time to wonder why
Whoopee! We’re all gonna die
Kirklin
The offices of Cornyn and Cruz have been called. Who knows, the horse may even learn to sing.
Belafon
@WTFGhost: Been a long time since I read that. I think I need to reread it.
Warblewarble
There is no going back. The world has seen that theU.S, will use the cover of negotiations to stalk and kill. Doubly stupid to make a martyr of a religious leader(no matter how evil) when dealing with a religion founded on martydom.The Shia take martydom seriously in a way that west cannot grasp. Shia martyr’s are revered for centuaries, there will be a price.
different-church-lady
Boot stomping on a human face, forever!
Geminid
@Kirklin: Congressional Republicans will get plenty of critical calls about this war, and not just from Democrats and Independents. I saw a real split among Republicans in the run-up to this war, and I think most of the anti-interventionists are not going to rally behind Trump.
As to the general political consequences of this war, I think they’re mostly downside. Even if the war were to have its best possible outcome, the boost to Trump’s popularity would be transitory.
Suzette
I called Sen. Chris Murphy, Sen. Richard Blumenthal, and Rep. Jahana Hayes. I did add that I was sickened by Hegseth’s comment about rules of engagement.
different-church-lady
@WTFGhost: Except it would be a dorm fridge.
jonas
It’s precisely stuff like this SCOTUS has said the president can’t be held criminally liable for. Not sure about others in the executive branch, but I presume if they’re technically carrying out POTUS’s orders, they’re covered, too.
different-church-lady
@jonas: Well, there’s always The Hague.
Jackie
@WaterGirl: I am in no (wo)man’s land right now. I’m an unregistered voter until Fri? I get my FL DL then, and assume? I’ll be registered to vote at that time. Then, as a registered Democratic voter, I get to raise hell with Skeletor, the rethug Rubio replacement and my new rethuglican congressman. (At least that I’m used to! <rolling eyes>)
MisterForkbeard
@artem1s: The initial reporting I saw is that there were large riots at 2-3 embassies/consulates that resulted in Marines fighting back, but the articles heavily implied that the deaths were all local civilians, not Americans or Military.
So I guess we just left these open and killed locals, which is going to make our work there much easier. Yay.
Old School
Suzanne
I’ll be calling this afternoon.
What a shitshow.
Old School
gene108
@different-church-lady:
U.S. would have to join the ICC for it to matter, and I doubt we will ever allow that to happen.
MisterForkbeard
@Warblewarble: Yeah. I have a lot of problems with the New Middle East War Of Choice, but especially:
1. We started it off by attacking without warning during peace negotiations
2. The first thing we did was to make a martyr (via missile) of their religious leader
I don’t think anyone trusted us much under Trump, but now it’s doubly ridiculous to do so. And the idea of “they wouldn’t do that, it would be really dumb and counterproductive” doesn’t apply anymore because the Trump Admin just doesn’t care if they’re acting stupidly or not, they just want good video.
@Old School: Venezuela, where we famously didn’t have a plan for the aftermath other than “leave the government in place and threaten the new leaders into giving Trump money personally”? That’s the best case goal? Hoo boy
different-church-lady
@Old School:
Ah. So there’s no plan.
Old School
different-church-lady
@gene108: Naw, the South Koreans will drag them there after they liberate us.
gene108
@Old School:
Iranian oil goes to a Trump controlled slush fund?
jonas
@Warblewarble: I don’t think anyone in Iran will be canonizing Khameni or Ahmadinejad anytime soon. They were about as popular as the Ceaușescus.
WaterGirl
@Suzette:
Thank you!
Can you elaborate about Hegseth’s comment about rules of engagement.
Someone else may want to mention that when they call.
different-church-lady
@Old School: Hey, I’ve always had a hard time telling Eastasia and Eurasia apart too.
WaterGirl
@Jackie: Great progress!
I don’t think they ask if you’re registered to vote, so you could still call. :-) Introduce yourself! :-)
Almost Retired
I called my Congressman Ted Lieu, even though he’s reliable. I always tell the staffer or the answering machine that I have been his constituent for every office he has ever held, starting with a suburban city council seat.
WaterGirl
@MisterForkbeard: Like the plane crashes where 300 people lost their lives, and our news talks about the 45 Americans who died.
Belafon
@Old School: Remember how well that went for Gaza.
Old School
@WaterGirl:
There aren’t any.
WaterGirl
@Old School: What about the previous leader they chose????
(not yelling at you, yelling at Markwayne)
Suzanne
@Old School:
Oh. Well, I feel better now! That went so well!
WaterGirl
@Old School:
Awesome, so I guess they just have the old rape, murder and pillage routine.
YY_Sima Qian
Spain (alongside Ireland, Norway & Slovenia) has been an outlier among European countries in its ME policy:
HinTN
I got a live person at Rep. DesJarlais’ office. I was told my message would be related.
I got voicemail only at my two Senators’ offices. I left messages requesting them to sort the War Powers Act so that Congress could reclaim its rightful authority to declare war.
I laid the carnage in the Middle East directly on President Trump. I was measured and polite. Fuck them all.
Deputinize America
@WaterGirl:
Translation – “We’re leaving the ROE to the whims of 20 year old E3s – the more collateral damage the better so that the locals learn their place in the new order. No more Mahmoudiya prosecutions!”
WaterGirl
@HinTN:
Powerful statement.
YY_Sima Qian
Potential impact of high oil prices on the US economy (despite the US being a net exporter of oil):
frosty
@Deputinize America:
Nice update to a hardy perennial.
Suzette
@WaterGirl: In this morning’s AL thread there was discussion of Hegseth not ruling out boots on the ground with NO rules of engagement. Basically an invitation for war crimes. Ugh, that guy makes me sick.
different-church-lady
Welp, they got our embassy in Kuwait
Gloria DryGarden
Ok. I called. Google gave me my reps number easily, someone answered, it was short and sweet.
i tried a senator, not as easy to find a number, got voice mail at his local office, left a detailed bunch of opinions.
Peale
@WaterGirl: I’m pretty sure that the ultimatum is coming that either the Iranians choose the Shah, or we drop the bomb.
Hungry Joe
Left a message with my rep even though she’s solidly blue. It’s important to let them know that we’ve got their backs, and that we’re counting on them to ACT.
Bupalos
Trump is a profound narcissist and that’s more than enough to account for the damage he does to other humans and the planet. I’m guessing folks think “sadist” is some kind of escalation and it really isn’t.
The problem is that people use “narcissist” in colloquial terms and don’t understand that profound clinical narcissism is among the most dangerous psychological disorders. Narcissists act on an entirely different emotional economy that is unrecognizable to normal humans. It’s right up there with psychopath.
frosty
@WaterGirl: It was ever thus:
Boston Globe: Hub citizen killed in plane crash.
Gloria DryGarden
@Jackie: but i bet you can still call your representative .. the intern at my reps office (degette) only asked for my zip code and a name.
Tom Levenson
@Chief Oshkosh: Biggest Little City in the World!
different-church-lady
@frosty: “New York City also destroyed”
Deputinize America
@YY_Sima Qian:
Money has been draining out of the US economy for months. My lower middle and middle class clientele have all been reeling during this administration.
Tony Jay
@WaterGirl:
Why should they?
The US has just launched an unprovoked attack on a country it was engaged in high level peace negotiations with, while allied to a country that has just spent over a year committing genocide against a defenceless civilian population. If the corporate Media aren’t going to raise an eyebrow over that combination of WTFs, why would anyone expect them to even notice the lack of pesky rules amidst the telegenic boom-boomery?
JoyceH
It is also long past time for the nation and the Republican Party to finally admit that Trump is crazy. When he announced that he was sending an unavailable hospital ship to a nonexistent medical emergency, that was proof positive. He’s hallucinating now.
different-church-lady
@JoyceH: I sincerely look forward to Jake Tapper’s book on the subject.
Warblewarble
@jonas: It does not take the whole population, the ones who take Shia martyrdom as a core element of their faith, wil be there for centuaries.For American policy to be based on what gives a tingle in the trousers is profoundly stupid and will blow back for a very long time.
lowtechcyclist
@Old Man Shadow:
Truth. Every last word of this.
Melancholy Jaques
I think it’s time to acknowledge that the people that voted for that asshole are sadists. They like seeing people they do not like being harmed and killed.
Another Scott
C-Span.org – Jesse Jackson Memorial Service in South Carolina (21:39).
Best wishes,
Scott.
different-church-lady
@Melancholy Jaques: Ah, that’s better.
Melancholy Jaques
@Old School:
And Jake is so excited he can barely speak.
different-church-lady
@Melancholy Jaques: Tapper not speaking would be a sort of grim silver lining.
different-church-lady
Hey everyone, it’s fine, we’re sending more troops!
Ohio Mom
@Bupalos: It’s also important to note that these characteristics are on a scale. You could have a touch of narcissism or in Trump’s case, the dial is all the way up to the proverbial 11.
My MIL’s narcissism drives me bonkers but she’s not a criminal, just a pain in the ass.
NutmegAgain
I think it’s fair to say that in addition to the large scale acts of cruelty initiated by Trump, he is sadistic on a personal level. Between the record of assaults on children by Trump in the Epstein files released (so far), and the many recorded times he’s mocked and insulted people for being women reporters, or handicapped, or the wrong race, he’s a person who enjoys humiliating others.
Denali5
When are we going to hear from Silverman on this whole new war?
Heidi Mom
Phone calls made.
WendyBinFL
Placed calls to the useless Republicans who represent me, even though they don’t represent my views or values. Nothing but answering machines. I hope that’s because they’re being besieged by angry constituents!
Doc Sardonic
@Jackie: You are now a resident of the Mildew State, welcome by the way, assume nothing. Contact your Supervisor of Elections office in your county of residence and they will help you. If you are in Polk County, ground zero for Florida Man sightings, I don’t know how much help they might be(just kidding, Mildew State native, been making fun of Polk County all my life)
BretH
Looking at the NYT how would I ever know there is even a War Powers Resolution to vote on? I can’t see it mentioned anywhere.
Scout211
@Bupalos: 100%
You said it much more clearly than I did upthread.
Geminid
Some items from Ankara-based Clash Report:
During the run-up to this war, there was a lot of speculation as to whether Hezbollah would join in on Iran’s side. They did last night, and now Israeli jets are striking Hezbollah targets.
The Lebanese government has been negotiating the surrender of Hezbollah’s weapons for some months now, but it hasn’t forced the issue because Hezbollah outguns the Lebanese Army.
A civilian death off of Oman:
While Qatar has been the closest to an ally Iran has among the Arab Gulf states, the Qataris don’t sound very friendly after numerous missile and drone strikes from their neighbor:
And from 8 hours ago, a report on the death toll in Iran:
ArchTeryx
@Bupalos: Yeah. I was subject to a full on narcissistic attack that basically was an EF5 tornado going through my life. The narcissist in question was a friend of 8 years, and suddenly did a Face-Heel-Turn on me and my group of friends. He knew every single weak spot and attacked them all.
There’s really no defense. They thrive on attention and are masters at playing the victim, so any counterattack just makes them stronger. And ignoring them leaves them and their cult free to rampage through your life and destroy it. Now you combine that with the fact that the Terminally Online Left is ready at any time to form a social media lynch mob, and you have yourself a mini-Trump.
The bitterest irony? They’re transmasculine. And decided to adopt the most toxic sort of masculinity possible as part of their new identity.
trollhattan
@Suzanne:
A Pabellón Criollo truck on every corner.
Another Scott
@BretH: I believe any War Powers votes will be Tuesday or later.
https://www.c-span.org/congress/?chamber=senate&date=2026-03-02 says there will be a Senate session today at 3 PM ET, but doesn’t say anything about War Powers. I don’t know if it will be brought up.
HTH a little.
Best wishes,
Scott.
Another Scott
Meanwhile, … ExistentialComics.com – #644 kinda ties it all together…
:-/
;-)
Best wishes,
Scott.
Nelle
@WaterGirl: I’ve called all the DC offices of the three who are complicit in this travesty. The senators never answer but I left messages. Among other comments are “You sought this power and yet refuse to use it to honor your oath to the Constitution.” And “Everything, every bit of hunger, unaddressed health issues, every death around the world that is prompted by Trump, is also on you. You are complicit in your silence and in your failure to use the power that you asked for and were given by the people of this state.” I talked to a staffer in the Congressman’s office (for 24 minutes) and I was both clear and friendly to the staffer herself. I think my message might have a better chance of being passed on if I make a decent impression on the staffer.
Then I called the local office of the Congressman and left a message requesting a personal, short appointment, as he may be in the district (they aren’t in session, are they?). I expect that will be ignored.
Ruckus
Trump is a sadist.
At the very least.
Actually he is far worse than a sadist.
He has no limits to his sadistic bullshit.
He is old, aged out, pompous, arrogant, ignorant, self centered/self serving – at best, and making him president gives him – in his tiny mind – power over every human on earth. He doesn’t give even one shit about anyone else but what he sees in a mirror. His IQ is leaving him in bits and pieces daily. Maybe has already completely left. Not that it was ever all that and a box of saltines.
dww44
@Heidi Mom: I’ve called my GOP Congressman. As always talked to a young staffer. Phone promptly answered which means they’re not being deluged with calls because they’re likely on board with everything Trump does. Never met a war they didn’t love.
May call my 2 Dem senators later. I’m thinking they will be voting the right way on the War Powers resolution.
Paul in KY
@Warblewarble: I fear that.
dww44
@Ruckus:
Spouse watches a lot of C-Span. Earlier they were broadcasting the Medal of Honor ceremony. I swear to all that not only did Trump read the official verbiage from the teleprompter and ad-libbed it, afterwards when a non visible staffer was reading the specifics of the recipients actions, he stood there falling asleep. Literally his eyes were closed.
Ruckus
@JoyceH:
He’s hallucinating
nowstill.He thinks he’s the leader of the free world (actually all of the world), but his ego is his only working segment in that lump on top of his neck.
Ruckus
@dww44:
He’s 80 years old. He was never all that and a box of saltines. As someone not far behind him in years, and living in a seniors apt complex, I guarantee that given his history, 80 is his line of little to nothing left. I have a neighbor 100 years old and she is far smarter than he is. He thinks his shit doesn’t stink. And it doesn’t, it reeks so bad one can see the effects thousands of miles away.
Geminid
@Geminid: From Roi Kais, Arab Affairs reporter for Israeli Kan News:
Geminid
@Nelle: I think Congress goes back into session tomorrow.
SiubhanDuinne
@WaterGirl:
And plunder. Don’t forget plunder.
WaterGirl
@Nelle: You are an awesome citizen activist!
WaterGirl
pillage
@SiubhanDuinne: You are so right.
Gloria DryGarden
I might print and frame this, or use part of it in the signature if I send any emails to my congresspersons. Because you’ve stated it clearly, and strongly enough. I deeply appreciate it.