I feel like we should all refrain from declaring or lecturing about what is probably fake/real/whatever in the Epstein files until we have more information, because there are a lot of things we know are true now that I would’ve said were fake 5-10 years ago

“Why didn’t the media report” usually turns out to be “why didn’t I read/watch.” People have lives and the algorithms blind us, but still, have less certainty in that critique!

Hageman held a town hall in March, where about 500 people showed up, and told them, “It’s so bizarre to me how obsessed you are with the federal government,” and “You guys are going to have a heart attack if you don’t calm down ... I’m sorry, you’re hysterical.”

BREAKING: The Supreme Court keeps President Trump’s National Guard deployment blocked in the Chicago area for now.

NEW: The DOJ has instructed the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to stop providing any abortion care or counseling, even in cases of rape or incest, reversing a 2022 policy meant to preserve access no matter where military members might be deployed. The agency said it will comply immediately.

all I wanted for today was to pretend to work but noooo the government has to be doing things

Former Nebraska Republican U.S. Sen. Ben Sasse is dying of “metastasized, stage-four pancreatic cancer,” he announced on social media today. via @nebraskaexaminer.com

Bloomberg gift link, good for 7 days: www.bloomberg.com/news/feature...

Found the Associated Press article where the existence of this letter was first disclosed two years ago, in response to a FOIA request It's definitely real apnews.com/article/jeff...

It's actually worse. The Supreme Court has held 9-0 -- Clarence Thomas and other executive power fanatics included -- that detainees rendered to another country via the Alien Enemies Act are entitled to a pre-deportation hearing. There is no legal debate whatsoever.

The Guardian wrote about the existence of this letter in 2023. 2/ www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023...

Ballot questions on abortion in Missouri, Idaho likely to spur more legal fights arkansasadvocate.com/2025/12/22/r...

Just within the past hour, nearly a dozen YouTube accounts have posted the pulled 60 Minutes CECOT story. CBS and Google can keep trying to take them all down, but it's sort of pointless now.

I downloaded a copy of the CECOT video, so in case anyone needs it and the YouTube clips keep getting taken down, lmk

I love to see it

The 60 Minutes piece on the Trump Administration’s torture prison that Bari Weiss doesn’t want you to see has leaked.

It's been almost one year now since I deleted mine, and I do not miss it. I have a burner account with a nothing name that follows 23 accounts and never posts anything, so they're not making any money off of me but I can still go look at stuff.

We really needed more interviews with the Abu Ghraib wardens to get their side

My mom’s cat is mad she hasn’t been fed yet. Should I be scared for her

Staffers in the Heritage Foundation’s economic and legal centers resigned over the weekend to join a conservative advocacy group founded by former Vice President Mike Pence. The fallout continues. www.nationalreview.com/news/exclusi...

Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:

I already thought Diddy was a POS but good god, this documentary

There are so many incredible journalists at CBS News. I’ve talked to the 60 Minutes team in the past, and I know them to be meticulous, fair, and deeply committed to getting the facts right. What a shame.

Current issue of @theonion.com nails it again.

well it's been a busy weekend, I need to hop on and do my grocery shopping, guess I'll see what's up on bluesk-- nah nvm

For the record, the law states that "No record shall be withheld, delayed, or redacted on the basis of embarrassment, reputational harm, or political sensitivity, including to any government official, public figure, or foreign dignitary." www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

Some of these redactions are almost like modern art

"A Republican bill to be voted on in January ... will, for the first time in over a hundred years, give towns permission to limit or avoid providing help to those in need." - Rep. Laurel Stavis Tell your Rep to vote against HB 348 + read more: vnews.com/2025/12/11/r... #NHPolitics

Sen. Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyo., says she won’t run for re-election. Opens on a safe red Senate seat in Wyoming.

“Congresswoman Elise Stefanik says she is dropping out of the New York governor’s race and will not run for reelection to the House after finishing her term…[the] announcement comes days after Nassau County executive Bruce Blakeman decided to challenge her for the Republican nomination for governor”

Criticism erupts after DOJ official says some Epstein files will emerge after deadline | via @ashleymurray.bsky.social @StatesNewsroom.com mainemorningstar.com/2025/12/19/r...

I generally think things like this are useless, but this is an important takeaway: "What matters most for them all is not ideological consistency but vibe: humor, transgression, and the sense of being led by someone who can command attention."

mitt romney in 2028 on his mastodon account: let trans olympians compete!!! gavin newsom, polling at -20% against jd vance: we need to privatize social security so palantir can compete with china

"The delay meant that the administration would apparently violate a law signed by President Trump in November ordering the complete release of all unclassified materials about Mr. Epstein in the Justice Department’s possession within 30 days, with limited exceptions."

Things are going great over at X, The Everything App

The CDC has reported another child death from flu during last year’s season, bringing the total to 288 – the deadliest pediatric flu season on record outside of a pandemic.

BREAKING: Judge Hannah Dugan found guilty of felony obstruction in federal trial wisconsinexaminer.com/2025/12/18/f...

o...kay...

If you followed immigration news this year, please support the many, many local journalists who made it possible. Nonprofit media needs support! I kept returning to @lataco.bsky.social @calmatters.org @wbez.org @blockclubchi.bsky.social @documentedny.bsky.social @statesnewsroom.com & so many more

SCOOP: House Democrats suspected a few in their caucus would support a bill criminalizing gender-affirming care for trans youth So Sarah McBride reached out to Republicans Four Rs — Fitzpatrick, Lawler, Kennedy, Evans — joined Dems in opposing the bill www.notus.org/congress/mcb...

Get your Airbnb recommendations from a reporter who covered gun violence, so she can tell you about the areas that should be avoided because redlining and disinvestment created more crime

Periodic reminder that you can support States Newsroom and any of our 39 state outlets focused on government accountability reporting (or our 11 other nonprofit media partners) and join a group of donors that doesn't include any Billionaires Trying to Own Everything

If you want to help the AZ Mirror continue to write stories like this one — which I covered from accusations in 2024 to guilty pleas in 2025 — you can donate at the link below. Thanks so much to all our supporters! It's a dream to report important stories without answering to corporate owners.

The White House claims the vote to rename the Kennedy Center was “unanimous.” That is false. I was muted on the call and denied the opportunity to speak or register my opposition. That is not consensus. That is censorship.

Got my daughter a new piggy bank for Christmas and had it inscribed with a quote I liked

Fact-checking Trump’s 18-minute speech from last night.

@isiahholmes.bsky.social is in federal court this week filing daily dispatches on the Dugan trial, wrapping up today

One small way to try to re-establish social trust would be to transparently disclose *in this very column* that you hung out with Jeffrey Epstein. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/21/o...

welp.