100% right.

“The target repeatedly brought up Homan, saying he was collecting bribes in exchange for future government contracts, the two sources told Reuters.”

Devastating, detailed review of the interlocking corruption of Eric Adams and Donald Trump www.nytimes.com/2025/09/20/o...

A VPN is not a tool for anonymity, and while it can protect your location from some companies, there are many other ways companies may track you. ssd.eff.org/module/choo...

Just got a Myspace flashback

If you're not totally aware of how bots try to sway minds, here's a good example.

Social media is the sea peoples

If you have two followers, you are ahead of half of all Bluesky accounts. If you have 400 followers, you are in the top 1%. bsky.jazco.dev/stats

California became the first state to ban most law enforcement officers, including federal immigration agents, from covering their faces while conducting official business under a bill that was signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom.

I know everyone is focusing on the legality of this and the substance of this particular message; but that is the spammiest, scammiest, trashiest platform with vast networks of fake accounts and its had security issues in the past. It’s wild to think he’s just DMing cabinet secretaries etc on it.

>trying to take an air base deep behind enemy lines >>doing it for dubious political reasons >>>mountainous terrain nearby >>>>welcome back dien bien Phu

"Every single reliable poll shows that a majority of Americans disapprove of Trump. Media brands that cave to Trump, or appear to do so, risk alienating a huge swath of the American audience." —@brianstelter.bsky.social e.newsletters.cnn.com/click?Ecm9zZ...

Trump criticizes Pam Bondi for not charging his adversaries quickly enough, in a Truth Social post that looks a lot like a DM. truthsocial.com/@realDonaldT...

JP Morgan’s Feroli says Fed doves Waller and Bowman not joining mew governor Miran in dissenting for 50 basis cut is “subtle signal that that they would be unwilling to entertain some of the more unorthodox power plays” Trump might envision to capture Fed.

With Carl Heastie behind him, Zohran Mamdani has the nominal support of the governor and the two state legislative leaders. We'll most likely soon find out whether those endorsements mean anything in the brutal Albany cold of budget season.

President Trump threatens the Taliban, demanding that Bagram in Afghanistan be returned to U.S. control.

MSNBC: “Last year, the FBI recorded Tom Homan, now the White House border czar, accepting $50,000 in cash after indicating he could help the agents — who were posing as business executives — win government contracts in a second Trump administration.m,” later, Trump officials closed investigation.

Last week, Israel targeted and massacred 34 newspaper reporters in Yemen. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, it was the second deadliest attack on journalists ever recorded.

Trump administration cancels USDA’s annual food insecurity survey, WSJ reports reut.rs/46tqqBn

“52% of all autocratization episodes become U-Turns, which increases to 73% when focusing on the last 30 years. The vast majority of U-Turns (90%) lead to restored or even improved levels of democracy” V-Dem data

US new H-1B visa fee will not apply to existing holders, Axios reports

NOTUS: Dem House Rep Steven Horsford: “They called the local sheriff; they showed up and were going to arrest me. These are the same people that I’m supposed to call to coordinate security or to do support when I have a town hall.” www.notus.org/democrats/me...

Peace president? “Trump's goal of re-occupying Bagram air base in Afghanistan might end up looking like a re-invasion of the country, requiring more than 10,000 troops.” Via Reuters

At the risk of staying the obvious ... If you sign this, you are in no way a journalist.

Same week: 1. “Trump added $3 billion [in wealth] over the last year, leveraging the presidency for profit.” 2. “.. sales of foods commonly purchased when financial times get tough are on the rise ..” @zacheverson.com @nytimes.com www.forbes.com/sites/danale...

Investor alert: SEC “is acting quickly to pull back on how much information Wall Street giants, gadflies and the public at large may get about a company’s financial health as well as their ability to take those companies to court.” Via Politico

Good lord this is tasty.

“Urban areas need far more transit than rural areas do, so fighting over transit has always been a thinly coded way to fight over whether cities, and higher-density living in general, are a good thing.” www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

I am pleased to report that Hawaii Supreme Court Justice Todd Eddins has dropped another total evisceration of the Supreme Court. He says originalism is a fraud—and the Republican justices are shamelessly making up facts and history to impose radical Christian nationalism: slate.com/news-and-pol...

J.P. Morgan: “Barring major surprises in the next payrolls report, we believe the path is set for another 25bp cut in October. We expect subsequent cuts in December and January…Risks are two-sided with chances of an earlier pause if US payrolls rebound with sticky inflation…”

CBS: "Contribute money to the new White House ballroom President Trump is constructing and, in exchange, donors may be able to choose a Trumpian option: their names etched inside the White House forever."

The US ceased to be a reliable NATO ally on January 20, 2025. The last week has simply made that undeniable. The only question now is whether European leaders accept it. The USA will not now defend Europe from Russia. That is reality. Everything else is hopes and dreams.

Critical part of the President's new $100,000 charge for H1-B visas: The Administration can also offer a $100,000 discount to any person, company, or industry that it wants. Replacing rules with arbitrary discretion. Want visas? You know who to call and who to flatter.

Musk over promise and under deliver may cost US race to beat China back to the moon. Via NYT

“Some 154 million people get health insurance through their employer — and many could see their paycheck deductions surge next year, by 6% to 7% on average.” Via NPR

“if he can order the Navy to operate as a presidential hit squad on the high seas, any number of grim hypotheticals could become reality sooner than Americans might expect,” @radiofreetom.bsky.social argues:

Very little matters. If your basic needs are satisfied and you've got a few people who you love and who love you, you're doing quite well. Also, always have a pet if possible.

Argentina: the country where every economic theory goes to die.

This is a good summary of Disney’s business interests as to the Kimmel thing, and it is in line with all that we’ve heard.

Four consecutive WSJ headlines tonight showcasing Trump’s tightening grip on the American economy

Meanwhile, over at the commerce secretary’s Twitter, a meme about new model free market capitalism.

"More professors in the United States have been fired for controversial views in the past week than any other week in all of American history." www.insidehighered.com/opinion/colu...

Trump visa action may deliver fresh blow to economy: “Some analysts suggested the fee may force companies to move some high-value work overseas, hampering America's position in the high-stakes artificial intelligence race with China.” Via Reuters

Top US prosecutor overseeing Letitia James case resigns after Trump threat - www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...

Stephen Colbert: “Tonight we’re all Jimmy Kimmel…. With an autocrat, you can’t give an inch. If ABC thinks that this is going to satisfy the regime, they are woefully naive, and clearly they've never read The Children's Book If You Give a Mouse A Kimmel.”

"The anti-vaccine fringe is now setting CDC’s agenda." The latest from Dr. Leana S. Wen:

Again, just to be clear here, Siebert's replacement will take office with a clear, virtually explicit, mandate to prosecute people who have committed no crime

Sorry, American farmers. It’s probably Brazil’s market share now. @bloomberg.com finance.yahoo.com/news/china-s...

Breaking on MSNBC: U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who oversees the Eastern District of Virginia, told colleagues he plans to resign. Siebert had been pressured by Trump officials to bring bogus charges against NY AG Letitia James. Siebert did not find evidence to bring those charges.