CDR Bobby Jones knows ADM Holsey and has thoughts on his courage and integrity. We don't know much about why he resigned--but it is likely that he has sacrificed his career: to honor his oath, protect those he commanded; and to defend the nation. BZ ADM Holsey open.substack.com/pub/navshad/...

Nicely done. What an embarrassment Hegseth is. And how helpful Trump is being by making his intentions and threats so explicit. And all of it televised to the world! Growing up overseas, I had a case of American exceptionalism arrogance. Trump has helped cure me. open.substack.com/pub/hollyber...

I am a fan of Stuart Stevens who wrote a terrific book summing up his political career: titled--and concluding--"It Was All A Lie." In an alternate timeline, he has had a very positive career as an author, film-maker and scriptwriter for such shows as "Northern Exposure." And he had an great Dad!

Daniel Barkhuff points out the benefits of giving Flag and General Officers a chance to see that both they and their fellow FOGOs remain loyal to American values--and their oaths. This may be a turning point in dashing authoritarian hopes. open.substack.com/pub/dbarkhuf...

HCR reinforces my optimism that Trump and his allies are failing. www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ2Z...

Trump (and maybe Hegseth) doesn't know that during and before WW2 the War Department was what is now the Department of the Army which included the Army Air Corps/Force. This move insults the men and women of the Navy and the Marines--then and now the Department of the Navy. What an idiot!

Very moving readings from Robert Reich. Thank you very much. And bless your father. And your mother. (And we may as well bless you while we're at it. Thank you for your many contributions.) open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

We are possibly at a turning point for this administration. Graff does a good job acknowledging recent concerning hypotheses concerning Trump's health--as well as describing why it is internationally as well as domestically important. Major media fails to cover any of it. We will know more soon.

Daniel Barkhuff explains how labor unions may be the critical actors in defending American democracy. They are not our "only" hope--but may prove to be the most consequential. substack.com/@dbarkhuff/n...

I have so appreciated Scott MacFarlane's reporting over the years. He is an outstanding journalist in a time when the fourth estate has been profoundly failing the American people. Thank you Scott! @macfarlanenews.bsky.social #FBI

Thank you Daniel Barkhuff. Israel’s actions in Gaza are heart-breaking on many levels. open.substack.com/pub/dbarkhuf...

I believe immigrants often make the best Americans. They have been attracted by our values, ideals, our opportunity and openess. And by our traditional optimism and friendliness. My Norwegian and Cuban maternal grandparents along with paternal ancestors from colonial Massachussetts--all Americans!

Stuart Stevens on the Alaska meeting. Stuart's history makes it especially painful. I felt the meeting yielded a best case outcome--given the possibilities. Trump must be angry. So perhaps Ukraine will benefit at least a little. @stuartpstevens.bsky.social www.lincolnsquare.media/p/stuart-ste...

Newsom is most definitely NOT my first choice. I know we gotta get thru 2026, but providing we do, and the Dem primary results in Newsom, he'll have my vote. And I'm going to block far leftists who preach purity. We're dealing with fascists. Politics is a zero-sum game. We win or we lose.

I am increasingly coming around to this perspective. We are close to the end-stage of Schumpeter's 'creative destruction of capitalism' where society will not tolerate the costs. Let's start by completing the New Deal agenda of universal health care and economic reform.

Trump will fail in his attempt to become dictator. But House & Senate republicans and a majority of the Supreme Court have allowed him to do far too much damage to the American people, our values & institutions, our allies and the world's economies. @sethabramson.bsky.social contributes even more!

Steven Cash doesn't sugarcoat our situation and the task before us. open.substack.com/pub/steadyst...

These tariffs are insane...and unconstitutional! I'm not a Reagan fan but I (and most of the world) agree about tariffs. I also liked his expressions of support for immigrants and for American identity based on shared values and aspirations.

Celebrate the 250th Anniversary of America's favorite public service! What a great agency! What a remarkable history! Though hobbled by those wishing to cripple and then privatize it, it is the best in the world by most measures. www.usps.com/250/

Good inteview with Luntz. "Freedom to, but also freedom from. Freedom from fear, freedom from poverty, freedom from despair. It has to be both. One of them is basically conservative. The other one’s basically progressive. And a commitment against corruption.." www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/arc...

With all our problems here in America, we risk losing focus on the on-going Russian war against Ukraine...and Europe...and the world. @stuartpstevens.bsky.social brings a reminder of Finland's experience with Russia. (This is my Scandinavian repost week.) www.lincolnsquare.media/p/a-letter-f...

I believe my democracy-loving, Nowegian-immigrant great-grandfather would endorse this post. I know I do. hartmannreport.com/p/how-norway...

Ed Zitron’s skepticism about the supposed genius of AI is an important corrective, I think, especially considering how tech stocks are driving the stock market. This is long, so if it’s too much, read the skeptical beginning and the end, which suggests alternative approaches.

Dangerous, destructive cosplay "Remember “The Deporter in Chief?" That was President Obama, at a time when deportations far exceeded those by President Trump. Whether you supported those deportations or not, oddly enough they were completed without undue violence." open.substack.com/pub/steadyst...

Alarming scenes from Oxnard—Mike Madrid grew up in this area. Is likely to get worse. greattransformation.substack.com/p/breaking-i...

It seems that bounty hunters may be impersonating federal LEOs.

No LEO should wear a mask when serving the people.

Let us support remaining FBI employees as they uphold core FBI values and practices with fidelity, bravery and integrity.

The American public elected a president and administration who whether they knew it or not was intent on dismantling the very things that made America the economic and cultural envy of the world. That is the story of Trump 2.0.

We receive help from the people of other nations when our people are hurt. Cutting FEMA and NOAA/NWS is not the way. Further improve the Emergency Alert Service. Reduce tax cuts if necessary to do so. (One of my projects in the 90's increased rural coverage.)

I fully endorse> www.borowitzreport.com/p/americans-...

Stuart Stevens gets it right....again. BravoZulu "On this Fourth of July weekend, let us celebrate the July 4 victories of 1776 and 1863 and go forward with the confidence and courage that the evil of Trumpism will die the same fate as the evil of slavery." www.lincolnsquare.media/p/one-big-be...

This and other developments today strengthen my suspicion that we've got bounty hunters grabbing our neighbors. If so, we need local law enforcement to arrest the bounty hunters and investigate their operations and connections with DHS.

Endorsed.

This certainly seems possible. It would explain the huge budget for "bonuses" that DHS was seeking about two weeks ago. Raskin was joking about what that would mean per capita for DHS employees. A bounty hunter testified in a city council hearing that this was coming. How can we legally interfere?

Truly alarming reports. "This is how authoritarianism creeps in: not with tanks, but with men in uniform who tell you that your words are a threat. That your conscience makes you into a suspect. That the border is now a checkpoint for loyalty to the king." hartmannreport.com/p/border-age...

These are days of trial for our fellow Americans who are in uniform. Especially the leaders. A timely and topical essay by Daniel Barkhuff. open.substack.com/pub/dbarkhuf...

"Strange days have tracked us down." the Doors Recent events are no longer red flags but are actual authoritarian acts--Padilla, McIver, domestically deployed Marines, Ft. Bragg political rally, parade with tanks. Keep the faith. America will prevail. www.washingtonpost.com/video/politi...

Now more than ever. And surely it is.

The federal government is taking over the California National Guard and deploying 2,000 soldiers in Los Angeles — not because there is a shortage of law enforcement, but because they want a spectacle. Don't give them one. Never use violence. Speak out peacefully.

Great to see this! I am a big fan of the part of country. Father born in Moscow and Mother in Boise. Sister lives in Whitefish. My old Navy lab tested submarines at Bayview (across the lake from Sandpoint).

An excellent, bracing take from Stuart Stevens! “Attack, attack, attack, and if you don't think it's working, attack harder.” www.lincolnsquare.media/p/the-democr...

More on the poison pill that Hartmann identifies.

The cuts are bad enough, bill's poison pill(s) may be worse. "Please call your members of the House and Senate (202-224-3121), and whatever media outlets you can reach, to highlight this issue and demand that this provision be stripped from this legislation." hartmannreport.com/p/the-final-...

Seth Abramson reminds us of the background which explains the Qatari "gift" for Trump. open.substack.com/pub/sethabra...

Thom Hartman with a sobering assessment of a malady affecting too many influential Americans. "A nation without empathy is not a nation at all; it’s merely a conspiracy to elevate the powerful while crushing the weak, a crime syndicate with a flag and an army." hartmannreport.com/p/a-nation-w...

"Feel free to hide your honest thoughts in private group chats if you like....but if you do, don’t pretend..." "Say what you think, cowards! Or stop pretending that your beliefs are important enough for other people to care about in the first place." www.hamiltonnolan.com/p/ideas-that...

Yet another example of the deep historical antecedents of Wokeness.