Fintan O'Toole
@fotoole.bsky.social
đ¤ 11016
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Writer, Irish Times columnist, New York Review of Books contributor, We Don't Know Ourselves author.
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Fintan O'Toole
Peter Geoghegan
12 days ago
Am incredibly chuffed to have been longlisted for
@privateeyenews.bsky.social
's Paul Foot awards for investigation into Labour Together and APCO A real coup for a tiny outlet like Democracy for Sale So good to see such great stories nominated too. đ
www.private-eye.co.uk/paul-foot-aw...
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The Paul Foot Award | Private Eye
The Paul Foot Award is an award given for investigative or campaigning journalism, set up in memory of revered journalist Paul Foot, who died in 2004.
https://www.private-eye.co.uk/paul-foot-award
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www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/ins...
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Fintan OâToole: 100 years on, Fianna FĂĄil is flailing
Inside Politics podcast with Hugh Linehan
https://www.irishtimes.com/podcasts/inside-politics/fintan-otoole-100-years-on-fianna-fail-is-flailing/
12 days ago
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Fintan O'Toole
The New York Review of Books
18 days ago
Our Art Issue is now online, with Jed Perl on the Whitney Biennial,
@fotoole.bsky.social
on Trumpâs precarious sanity, Elaine Blair on the Guerrilla Girls, Mark OâConnell on a death in London, Nick Laird on Seamus Heaney, Susan Tallman on Manet & Morisot, and more.
https://go.nybooks.com/4eDS04E
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May 14, 2026 Art Issue
Table of Contents
https://go.nybooks.com/4eDS04E
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Fintan O'Toole
Mira Kamdar
19 days ago
Brilliant by
@fotoole.bsky.social
for
@nyrb-imprints.bsky.social
. "When the balance of power is lost and democratic accountability is replaced by a cult of the divinely inspired leader, the conditions that exacerbate derangement become the principles of governance."
www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
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âThe Right Amount of Crazyâ | Fintan OâToole
In Trumpâs strategy of feigning madness to get what he wants, there is no longer any border between pretense and actual irrationality.
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2026/05/14/the-right-amount-of-crazy-fintan-otoole/
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Fintan O'Toole
The New York Review of Books
20 days ago
Fintan OâToole (
@fotoole.bsky.social
) on Trumpâs derangement syndrome
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âThe Right Amount of Crazyâ | Fintan OâToole
In Trumpâs strategy of feigning madness to get what he wants, there is no longer any border between pretense and actual irrationality.
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2026/05/14/the-right-amount-of-crazy-fintan-otoole/?utm_source=Bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026-04-21_OToole-MadKing-1
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Fintan O'Toole
SFDB
20 days ago
"...the only evidence that Trump might not be crazy is his obvious determination to seem so." Is Trump employing Richard Nixon's Madman Theory or is he really mad? Interesting essay from
@fotoole.bsky.social
... đđ
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âThe Right Amount of Crazyâ | Fintan OâToole
In Trumpâs strategy of feigning madness to get what he wants, there is no longer any border between pretense and actual irrationality.
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2026/05/14/the-right-amount-of-crazy-fintan-otoole/?share_key=66721788c95c
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www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
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âThe Right Amount of Crazyâ | Fintan OâToole
In Trumpâs strategy of feigning madness to get what he wants, there is no longer any border between pretense and actual irrationality.
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2026/05/14/the-right-amount-of-crazy-fintan-otoole/
20 days ago
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Fintan O'Toole
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
22 days ago
At least 88 corporations paid ZERO in income tax despite reporting $105 BILLION in profits. Meanwhile the average American paid $14.5% on their income. Our system is rigged to benefit billionaires. Itâs time to fix it.
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www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/b...
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Can These Israeli and Palestinian Tour Guides Find Common Ground?
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/13/books/review/the-future-is-peace-aziz-abu-sarah-maoz-inon.html?searchResultPosition=1
22 days ago
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Fintan O'Toole
Marcy Gall
28 days ago
Should be part of his next test.
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www.irishtimes.com/world/americ...
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Trump accused of âsacrilegeâ over Jesus image by influential Irish-American organisation
Ancient Order of Hibernians says US presidentâs criticism of Pope Leo and AI-generated image has âdeeply offendedâ Catholics
https://www.irishtimes.com/world/americas/2026/04/14/trump-accused-of-sacrilege-over-jesus-image-by-influential-irish-american-organisation/
27 days ago
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Don't underestimate what a huge defeat this is for the Trumpist project of destroying the EU and establishing ethnonationalism all over Europe.
www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/w...
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Orban, Beacon to the Right, Concedes Defeat in Hungaryâs Election
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/12/world/europe/hungary-election-orban-magyar.html
29 days ago
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Fintan O'Toole: Trumpâs random gibberish is more terrifying than lies. It is a sign of derangement
The US president isnât making this stuff up â itâs making him up
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/04/07/fintan-otoole-trumps-random-gibberish-is-more-terrifying-than-lies-it-is-a-sign-of-derangement/
about 1 month ago
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Peter Geoghegan
about 1 month ago
From Roger Scruton cafes to paying Matt Goodwin $10k a month, Viktor Orban has built a network of populist right think tanks, journalists and activists Today Democracy for Sale delves into Orbanâs allies on the British right Well worth a read
democracyforsale.substack.com/p/orbans-brits
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What happens to Britain's radical right if OrbĂĄn loses?
Inside the money, power and patronage connecting Hungary and the British right
https://democracyforsale.substack.com/p/orbans-brits
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Fintan O'Toole
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
about 1 month ago
Thank you to all the Members of Congress who joined my Kidnapped and Disappeared hearing last week. As Ranking Member of the Immigration Subcommittee, Iâll continue working to organize Members to stand up to Trumpâs lawlessness.
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Fintan O'Toole
Anne Applebaum
about 1 month ago
Two weeks ago, the Hungarian opposition was bracing for a false flag operation, an "emergency" that would allow Viktor Orban to turn the tide or even cancel an election he is losing. Now it appears to have arrived
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Fintan O'Toole
George Conway âď¸đşđ¸
about 1 month ago
This is absolutely fantastic. ht:
@maddenifico.bsky.social
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Fintan O'Toole
Jon Cooper
about 1 month ago
A DOGE staffer convened a meeting with Department of Energy officials to discuss the future of nuclear power and downplayed the risk of radiation exposure at nuclear test sites: âThey are testing in Utah. ⌠I donât know, like 70 people live there.â
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DOGE Goes Nuclear: How Trump Invited Silicon Valley Into Americaâs Nuclear Power Regulator
In its rush to boost nuclear energy, the Trump administration is rapidly rewriting rules to ease regulations and provide financial breaks for industry. âThe safety culture is under threat,â a former h...
https://www.propublica.org/article/trump-nuclear-power-nrc-safety-doge-vought?utm_campaign=propublica-sprout&utm_content=1775311225&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
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Fintan O'Toole
Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies
about 1 month ago
Colm TĂłibĂn compliments âFor and Against a United Irelandâ in this piece for
@nybooks.com
. The book, written by
@fotoole.bsky.social
and
@sjamcbride.bsky.social
, was commissioned by
@arinsproject.bsky.social
â a joint project of the Keough-Naughton Institute and the Royal Irish Academy (
@ria.ie
).
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www.nybooks.com/articles/202...
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Reimagining the Future of Ireland | Colm TĂłibĂn
Two writers from different parts and traditions of the island argue with each other and themselves about the advantages and disadvantages of Irish unification.
https://www.nybooks.com/articles/2026/04/23/reimagining-the-future-of-ireland-otoole-mcbride-toibin/
about 1 month ago
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Fintan O'Toole
Brendan Coffey
about 2 months ago
I think
@fotoole.bsky.social
needs to make nice with Apple's voice-to-text folks.
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Fintan O'Toole
Sally Hayden
about 1 month ago
I'm doing the very first event for my new book 'This is Also a Love Story' on Sunday May 10 at Phizzfest (Dublin đŽđŞ), with
@fotoole.bsky.social
(thank you to him!). More info & tickets here:
phizzfest.ie/event/storie...
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Fintan O'Toole
Adam Roberts
about 2 months ago
Stunning photo: James Bradford in 1961, arrested for reading in the Jackson, Mississippi public library.
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John Q. Barrett
about 2 months ago
Read Fintan OâTooleâs powerful & important essay on Pres. Trumpâs war on Iran: no rationale no plan no âstoryâ of a U.S. interest that we are pursuing, at devastating costs.
@fotoole.bsky.social
@nybooks.com
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www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/norther...
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Belfast Telegraphâs Sam McBride wins Christopher Ewart-Biggs Prize for co-authored united Ireland debate book
Northern Ireland editor of the Belfast Telegraph Sam McBride has won the 29th Christopher Ewart-Biggs Literary Prize along with Fintan OâToole for their co-authored book, For and Against a United Irel...
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/news/northern-ireland/belfast-telegraphs-sam-mcbride-wins-christopher-ewart-biggs-prize-for-co-authored-united-ireland-debate-book/a/143676653.html
about 2 months ago
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If you're anywhere in the vicinity of Princeton on Friday please join us
arts.princeton.edu/news/2026/03...
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Fund for Irish Studies at Princeton University presents âFor and Against a United Irelandâ
âFor and Against a United Irelandâ authors Fintan OâToole & Sam McBride debate their points for Princeton's Fund for Irish Studies on 3/20/26.
https://arts.princeton.edu/news/2026/03/fund-for-irish-studies-at-princeton-university-presents-for-and-against-a-united-ireland/
about 2 months ago
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Fintan O'Toole
The New York Review of Books
about 2 months ago
Our 4/9 issue is now online, with Pankaj Mishra on India and Iran, Pablo Scheffer on the art of tennis,
@yilingliu95.bsky.social
on Shenzhenâs engineers, Miranda Seymour on Muriel Sparkâs spark, Ben Lerner on John Berger,
@fotoole.bsky.social
on Trumpâs war of choice, & more.
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April 9, 2026 Issue
Table of Contents
https://www.nybooks.com/issues/2026/04/09/?utm_source=Bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026-03-19_04-09-26-issue-reveal
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Fintan O'Toole
Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies
about 2 months ago
Great event on âFor and Against a United Irelandâ this morning in DC with the Washington Ireland Program and authors
@fotoole.bsky.social
and
@sjamcbride.bsky.social
. Special guests included Deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland
@little-pengelly.bsky.social
and
@reptimkennedy.bsky.social
. đ§ľ
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Deeply honoured that Sam McBride and I have won the Ewart-Biggs Memorial Prize for For and Against a United Ireland.
www.hotpress.com/culture/fint...
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Fintan OâToole and Sam McBride win 29th Christopher Ewart-Biggs Literary Prize | Hotpress
'We were seeking not to change people’s minds, but to open them,' said Sam McBride when accepting the award.
https://www.hotpress.com/culture/fintan-otoole-and-sam-mcbride-win-29th-christopher-ewart-biggs-literary-prize-23134304
about 2 months ago
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Fintan O'Toole
ARINS Project
about 2 months ago
'For and against a united Ireland' by Sam McBride and Fintan OâToole has won the 29th Ewart-Biggs Prize! đ đđž The Ewart-Biggs Prize recognises work that promotes peace, reconciliation and greater understanding.
@ria.ie
@ndirishstudies.bsky.social
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Fintan O'Toole
Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies
about 2 months ago
We kicked off the US tour of âFor and Against a United Irelandâ last night in Chicago w/ authors
@fotoole.bsky.social
and
@sjamcbride.bsky.social
. Next: NYC, DC, Boston, Princeton The book has inspired dialogue in Ireland and the UK. Itâs a thrill to discuss it on this side of the Atlantic.
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Fintan O'Toole
The New York Review of Books
about 2 months ago
Fintan OâToole (
@fotoole.bsky.social
) on Trumpâs meaningless war, all violence and no pretext, all means and no ends
https://go.nybooks.com/4rrbXOP
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Signifying Absolutely Nothing | Fintan OâToole
Trumpâs war of choice in Iran is a performance of horrific military strength that betrays a stark political weakness.
https://www.nybooks.com/online/2026/03/13/signifying-absolutely-nothing-iran-war-otoole/?utm_source=Bluesky&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026-03-13_OToole-Iran040926-1
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Signifying Absolutely Nothing | Fintan OâToole
Trumpâs war of choice in Iran is a performance of horrific military strength that betrays a stark political weakness.
https://www.nybooks.com/online/2026/03/13/signifying-absolutely-nothing-iran-war-otoole/
about 2 months ago
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Fintan OâToole: Donald Trump is not mentally ill, but he is mad
Someone needs to tell him the truth or swathes of the world could be turned into Gaza writ large
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/03/10/fintan-otoole-donald-trump-napoleon-iran-israel-gaza-pedro-sanchez/
2 months ago
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Poignant that Country Joe died in the midst of all this: "One, two, three, four / What are we fighting for?"
www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft0v...
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Country Joe & the Fish - VietNam Song - Live Woodstock 1969 - Full HD Video
YouTube video by Dima T
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft0vkKCadgk&list=RDft0vkKCadgk&start_radio=1
2 months ago
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www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
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Fox News uses old clip of Trump after he wore hat while saluting slain US soldiers
Conservative outlet aired footage of president saluting at similar ceremony in December for at least three broadcasts
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/mar/08/fox-news-trump-hat-salute-military
2 months ago
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Fintan O'Toole
Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
2 months ago
Prosecutors are losing key witnesses in criminal cases because they are getting deported by this administration. The lawlessness of ICE and CBP makes us all less safe.
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Fintan O'Toole
Sunder Katwala (sundersays)
2 months ago
The Trump administration is unsatirisable
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Fintan O'Toole
Keough-Naughton Institute for Irish Studies
2 months ago
Join us in Chicago for an event with
@fotoole.bsky.social
and
@sjamcbride.bsky.social
â authors of the acclaimed book âFor and Against a United Ireland.â đď¸ Thursday, March 12 đ Reception @ 4:30 pm | Event @ 5:30 pm đ The Chicago Club, 81 E. Van Buren St. â Register here:
go.nd.edu/for-against-...
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www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026...
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Fintan O'Toole: Britainâs King Charles should heed the lesson of the crumbling Irish Catholic Church
Abusers did not bring down the hierarchy here, it was down to the repeated cover-ups by bishops
https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/2026/02/24/catholic-church-andrew-mountbatten-windsor-king-charles-virginia-giuffre-jeffrey-epstein/
3 months ago
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Fintan O'Toole
Emily Bell
3 months ago
Former UK PM Gordon Brown is providing - voluntarily and not for the first time - information to the police about abuses of power relating to the Epstein files. As PM Brown was briefed against by people such as Alistair Campbell and Peter Mandelson as being âpsychologically flawedâ âŚ.1/
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Opinion | The Former British Prince and the Very American Outrage
https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/21/opinion/andrew-arrest-epstein.html
3 months ago
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Great piece on Andrew and imagery.
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
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From handsome prince to a ghost behind glass, Andrewâs face tells the story of his decline | Fay Bound-Alberti
Royals have always prized their images as ways to assert their lineage and authority. Now this pathetic photo will define the former prince, says historian Fay Bound-Alberti
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/feb/20/andrew-mountbatten-windsor-prince-face-car-window
3 months ago
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If you're in New York on March 25th you're very welcome to this talk in memory of the great Robert Silvers.
www.showclix.com/tickets/fint...
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Fintan O'Toole: The Idiocy of Greatness
Fintan O'Toole: The Idiocy of Greatness in New York - Checkout. The acclaimed Irish writer delivers the annual Robert B. Silvers lecture. The idea of greatness has infused politics across much of the...
https://www.showclix.com/tickets/fintan-otoole/tag/guest
3 months ago
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Fintan O'Toole
Aaron Rupar
3 months ago
Trump: "I can do anything I want to do to them ... I'm allowed to destroy the country."
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This mock-up from the Guardian is rather eloquent
3 months ago
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Sherrilyn Ifill
3 months ago
Yes itâs Valentineâs Day. But itâs also the chosen birthday of Frederick Douglass who was born in 1818 on a plantation in Talbot County, Maryland. He escaped from slavery & rose to become the most eloquent and forceful voice for the abolition of slavery & for Black voting rights in the U.S.
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Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal
3 months ago
The idea that Trump is creating quotas for denaturalization is a gross abuse of power that should scare every single American. Republicans used to pretend they were for legal immigration, but now they are working to strip citizenship from Americans for no reason.
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Trump administration working to expand effort to strip citizenship from foreign-born Americans
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services officials focused on denaturalization were sent to offices nationwide, sources say.
https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/immigration/trump-administration-working-expand-effort-strip-citizenship-foreign-b-rcna255427
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The Tennessee Holler
3 months ago
SEN. KAINE: âYou said American whites are victims of a cultural genocide⌠are they represented in the senate? House? Presidency? CEOâs?â Trumpâs white nationalist pick for a top state department spot Jeremy Carl skewered by
@kaine.senate.gov
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