This week: -Three more universities rejected Trump's extortion compact -Over a dozen airports refused to play Kristi Noem's propaganda video -30+ press outlets refused to comply with Pete Hegseth's new restrictions The only way to rebuke Trump's authoritarianism is solidarity.

Thousands of new mothers in England readmitted to hospital after birth, figures show

Federal regulators have rescinded a requirement that the nation’s largest financial institutions factor climate risks into their long-term planning, a policy dating from the Biden administration.

Our federal tax dollars are being used to fund a network of government social media accounts that pump out disinformation 24/7. Even during a government shutdown. It’s definitely not essential work.

Huge story here. Daniel had his payments illegally cancelled by the Mutual Obligations system. After years of bravely fighting, he exposed the error and won the backpay he was always legally entitled to

To be unaware of one thing you don't wish to talk about is convenient. To be unaware of *everything* you don't wish to talk about is either lying or incompetence. Or both.

Me on Trump pardoning disgraced former congressman George Santos: "It's completely nuts, but he's completely nuts — and so is Santos, maybe that's the thing that joins them all together... Trump finds a fraudster appealing."

Authoritarians fear only one thing: DEFIANCE‼️ (Downtown Portland)

"Jeffrey Epstein had multiple appointments, phone calls and dinners with Matthew Menchel — the Miami U.S. Attorney’s office chief criminal prosecutor who spearheaded Epstein’s sweetheart deal in 2007, newly released documents show." #journalismmatters www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...

#UkrainianView meantime, civillians remain under attack of the russian army. For no particular reason, they are targeted because they live in the cities that can be reached with drones. It is a pure terror that people face daily.

Sick sick sick. Can't help thinking weird thoughts like trump allowed netanyahoo to do this as along he got the vids.

“To watch a glacier collapse is to feel the full weight of climate change.” Former Washington Gov. Jay Inslee’s new piece for Meidas+ is a breathtaking, and heartbreaking, firsthand look at Alaska’s vanishing world.

"The Supreme Court Case That Could End Free and Fair Elections" As Trump pressures states to redraw electoral maps to favor Republicans, the nation's far-right justices appear poised to weaken the Voting Rights Act and silence American minority voters:

open.substack.com/pub/jefftied... hey, remember those super-fun days of the summer of 2024, when Donny Not-Yet-A-Convict was on trial for having cooked the books to make hush-money payments to a porn star look like a legit campaign expense?

TRUMP AGAIN DEFENDS RUSSIA Donald insists that Zelesky give the Donbass to Russia. No further Tomahawk missile deals just now. www.axios.com/2025/10/17/t...

For the record, the judges and staff of our federal courts are working without pay, but Congress is being paid without working. I am infuriated by the preposterousness of these ridiculous times.

The missing manifesto mandate: why the UK Government should reconsider mandatory digital ID northwestbylines.co.uk/politics/dig...

At dawn, Israeli settlers gathered at the Karm Abu Salem crossing, blocking humanitarian trucks carrying aid meant for the starving people of Gaza. This was coordinated by Tsav 9, a terrorist settler group supported by terrorist Ben-Gvir & Genocidaire Smotrich. substack.com/@storysstori...

Larry Ellison has a net worth of $393 billion. Should be more than enough to cover it. Additionally, Miriam Adelson and Bill Ackman have a combined $45 billion net worth that can rebuild southern Lebanon.

Mike Johnson says cutting Medicaid will free up an alarming amount of money to be used for something more worthwhile. Let that sink in

Republicans care more about George Santos than they do about your healthcare. Shameless.

Lockheed Martin is "progressing toward" flight testing an extreme-range cruise missile amid "significant customer interest," a company executive told Axios. Zelenskyy met with Lockheed Martin yesterday.

'Til the landslide brought me down open.substack.com/pub/tdunlop/... “Labor transforming from an—admittedly imperfect—vehicle for progressive reform to one that is content with “incremental” change in the interests of its own longevity…that is the loss our country can’t afford” #auspol

In our country, the power is with the people. Tomorrow, October 18, I encourage you to join your neighbors in peaceful protest at a No Kings event.

Lots of chatter about Pope Bob 86ing the Opus Dei, but not so much about the Anglican church schism that happened, like... yesterday. A coalition of Anglican bishops from the global south has officially cut ties with the mother church after the election of the 1st female archbishop of Canterbury.

🤔? www.instagram.com/p/DPzWMKGCeW...

Ground beef is $9/lb, a dozen eggs are $6+, insurance premiums are skyrocketing, farmers have rotting fields of soybeans, SNAP benefits won’t be available in November… How’s it going, MAGA?

“We’ve found multiple submissions across different renewable energy projects, all authored by the same person from RRA … all showing the same pattern of fake citations,” Can Walker campaigns coordinator at Friends of the Earth Australia RRA LIED & fake citations? www.theguardian.com/australia-ne...

This doesn’t even include the ones who had pending case but he had their charges dropped.

ALERT: "CYBERSECURITY order warns of "imminent risk" to federal agencies following possible breach." www.cbsnews.com/news/f5-sour... ISSUE: Did FASCIST felon Donald Trump & Nazi Elon Musk - both RUSSIAN ASSETS - deliberately issue orders & make staff cuts to cause this U.S. gov vulnerability?

The Santos commutation is a prelude to a Ghislaine Maxwell pardon. Mark my words.

Banks is well aware that Trump was president in 2020. He's counting on the American electorate, half of whom are as dumb as rocks or sound asleep under one to not know or not care.

www.commondreams.org/news/jd-vanc... While the vice president “infantalizes people on the right to defend them,” said one journalist, “he never shows the same charity to the left (like, for instance, students that Trump has tried to deport).”

FRANK RICH: “.. Mamdani’s secret power, I’d argue, is that he can never be president. .. not angling to go to Washington or be anointed the ‘savior’ of the Democratic Party .. “.. he is a politician who actually wants to do the job .. a truly radical idea.” @nymag.com nymag.com/intelligence...

Teapot Dome. Watergate. They’re Nothing Compared to This. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/17/o... I’ve gifted this because I’m bribing you to read it

Today, I joined local and state leaders in filing a lawsuit against Gov. Bill Lee for his unlawful deployment of the National Guard in Memphis. This isn’t leadership, it’s illegal! Memphis deserves respect. We’re standing together to defend democracy! #shelbycounty #memphis #jbsmileyir

The new sovereignty: freedom as belonging From nation states to the self, a new idea of sovereignty is emerging: freedom found in relationship, not control By Mike Chitty @yorkshirebylines.co.uk

Remember folks. The original bluesky ethos by us bluesky elders (apparently I count?) is block and move on. Don't quote dunk, don't pick fights. Block, and move on. This is what made this site unpalatable to the right early on, and we can continue to make it unpalatable to them.

How idiotically stupid do you have to be to say this publicly. #JaneHume has always had a much higher opinion of herself than the rest of Australia!

EU‘s new €1.5 billion defense program includes €300 million dedicated to bringing Ukrainian manufacturers into European supply chains The deal establishes the EU's first security of supply mechanism and caps non-EU components at 35% starting 2025 euromaidanpress.com/2025/10/17/e...

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Know your First Amendment

Mike Johnson Accuses No Kings Protesters of Blatantly Exercising First Amendment Rights open.substack.com/pub/borowitz...

What do you think made America great? I’ve traveled the world, and every time I come home, I’m reminded of what makes this place special: the culture, the mix of people, the constant diversity. I love this country. And I also know who truly hates America: • The KKK • 3 Percenters • Proud Boys 1/2

India will need as much as $21 trillion to achieve its climate goals and lift its population out of poverty, according to a draft government plan seen by Bloomberg.

Ocean container shipping spot rates rise $700–$900 due to US-China trade fight