On Sunday March 15 the Palos Verdes Democratic Club will present acclaimed author Sasha Abramsky speaking about his new book American Carnage: How Trump, Musk and DOGE Butchered the U.S. Government. This is a sweeping examination and indictment of the political, institutional, economic and democratic wreckage that Donald Trump, Elon Musk and the Heritage Foundation perpetrated on America with a bludgeon called “DOGE.” Masquerading as “efficiency,” the real purpose of DOGE was to fulfil the Heritage Foundation plans to massively reshape the country under a “unitary executive,” with major impacts and consequences, from education, to the economy, to medicine, to everything – but especially people. Already the elimination of USAID has resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths, with 14 million more by 2030. Sasha Abramsky is one of the most respected progressive journalists and political analysts writing today. A regular contributor to The Nation, Abramsky has also written extensively for publications including The New Yorker, The Atlantic, The New York Times, and Rolling Stone.

Antonio Villaraigosa, a candidate for governor, spoke to the Palos Verdes Democrats about his record and platform. He highlighted his experience as Speaker of the California State Assembly and Mayor of Los Angeles, emphasizing his work on affordable housing, public safety, education, and environmental issues. Villaraigosa addressed concerns about immigration, healthcare, and the high cost of living in California. He promised to take on Donald Trump and fight for working families, while also fixing potholes and improving government services. The audience asked questions about tax protests, winning back middle-of-the-road voters, and healthcare access for undocumented immigrants. Villaraigosa emphasized his commitment to expanding healthcare coverage and addressing the affordability crisis in California.

Dr. Paul D'Anieri, a political science professor at UC Riverside, discussed the origins and current state of the war in Ukraine. He explained that Russia's refusal to accept Ukraine's independence dates back to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, with Russian leaders consistently seeking to reclaim Ukraine. D'Anieri highlighted that despite Russia's incremental territorial gains in the Donbass region, the war has become a costly stalemate, with both sides enduring significant losses. He noted that peace negotiations are currently far apart, with Ukraine willing to compromise on territory but resistant to Russian demands for neutrality and military limitations. D'Anieri also shared his observations from a recent visit to Kyiv, emphasizing the resilience of Ukrainians despite harsh conditions, and suggested that the U.S. role in the conflict remains ambiguous due to divided political views.