5/7/2025

My Dear Friend & POTUS, DJT,

            Do you feel me?

Are you familiar with that expression? It’s from Eubonics, AKA Black Vernacular. One of our doctoral students did an amazing analysis of its different connotations when used by 18-year olds to discuss their educational experiences. “Ya feel me” is similar to “you know.” Both expressions are an attempt to establish resonance, a taken-as-shared interpretation of the moment in acknowledging that a listener is following what the speaker is saying. “Ya feel me” is more visceral, having to do with sensation rather than just thought.

Do you feel people? Is that one of your gifts? If so, I request that you be more generous with it & extend it to people like the wife of  Kilmar Ábrego García who is so distraught that her innocent husband is confined in El Salvador. Use your magic at getting hostages released & bring him home.

            Speaking of feelings, what kind of vibe did you get from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney? I saw a photo of you, two, smiling at each other. According to CSM his 13-years at Goldman Sacks has taught him something about deal making & Canada exports some commodities to us that would be hard to do without. Perhaps it’s time to let go of the idea that you will somehow annex Canada & come up with a free trade deal. All colonial powers have eventually realized the impossibility of governing unwilling subjects as, so please stop talking about Canada as the 51st state.

            I read in the Irrawaddy today that MAH is going to Russia for the 80th anniversary of the Soviet Union’s victory over Nazi Germany on May 9. Is the US participating in that event in any way? Depending on whose data you believe, Russia lost between 27 million & 40 million soldiers & civilians during the war. Their resilience in coming back from that devastation is remarkable. Figuring out how to commemorate their victory without highlighting VVP will be tricky, but I hope you won’t just ignore it.

            Back to the “you feel me” expression, do you “feel” VVP? I suspect that you do, & because you share similar assertive tendencies, you feel led to support him. While I believe in keeping lines of communication open, I encourage you to also keep your eyes wide open & remember he comes from a country that excels at chess.

            BYBS,