@davidfrenchjag.bsky.social opinion piece is an excellent, succinct explanation of the of the 5th Circuit Appeals Court ruling on immigrant detention. We need to understand this if we are to understand the plans for mass detention by the current administration. Gift link.

For Californians, the message that we, in all our diversity, are all Americans, is like “Duh”

My ten year old granddaughter protested with about 100 others today at a Target in PA. She wrote: “we got kicked out.” To which her mom replied “Is everyone okay?” And she said: “Yes, we were prepared and trained.” Prepared and trained. She follows in the footsteps of so many others. Proud.

Begging journalists to please challenge administration officials about their definition of "sanctuary city." The perception out there, based on their rhetoric, is that these cities are committing an illegal act. They are NOT. Talk to any sanctuary city lawyer. We are within our rights.

Johnson et al seem to be saying that it is wrong to “resist.” As mayor during Trump 1, I told a crowd that if we were called upon to do unconstitutional things, I would resist. Some objected, suggesting that if the president did it, it WAS constitutional. Now we know better.

Studied social capital for my dissertation. Used it to understand how people, relying on tight social bonds, achieve things together they could never do alone. But there is a dark side. The Epstein files reveal it: powerful men achieving horrible things together, that they would never do alone.

I guess we are at that event horizon at which everything is now a distraction from everything else.

They killed him. I know “they” is a collective accusation, but, in this case, it is appropriate. They, from Trump, through Miller, down to all the people beneath them, killed an innocent man today. They did it in front of all of us, and they expect that we won’t do anything about it. We will.

Our AG today: "It's extremely organized. The signs they have are all matching, they're well written…“ She is saying that organizing and training for protests is, what, illegal? I don’t think I am wrong to say that without organization and training there would not have been a civil rights movement.

So, wait, is he saying he wants Iceland too? But Iceland is so... small. How is getting it going to compensate for... anything?

Listening to Carney. Yes, I share his vision and I feel Canadian today. This quote: (Negotiating bilaterally with a hegemon) is not sovereignty. It‘s the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination.” And the powerful use “economic integration as coercion.” Clear-eyed and honest.

Blowback is the unintended adverse results of an action. Today in the US we are experiencing blowback from the post 9-11 period when we handed the DHS centralized power to ”protect” us. We built the bomb, and assumed no one like Trump (Miller) would ever come along to light the fuse. We were wrong.

Taking a long view of human history, these are merely dinosaurs (metaphorically) bent on consuming all the dinosaurs (literally).

So, wait… Trump’s a neo-con now? I go to bed on New Year’s Eve with America first and wake up with one war warning and one hot war. Gonna be hearing a LOT about “spheres of influence” for the rest of 2026. “Welcome to the new world order.”

What a science fiction year. Started with Murderbot (@marthawells.com) went on to Redshirts and When the Moon Hits Your Eye (@scalzi.com) and finished with Alien Clay (@aptshadow.bsky.social). There was more in between there. Lovers of SF (me) are lucky to have so many talented & fun writers.

This is my local DA. This whole thread is important and describes the unquestioned dehumanization in our criminal legal system. This must change.

My New Year’s hope for you all comes from nearly 63 years ago, when we went as a family to swallow the sugar cube that kept us and millions of others safe. We cannot go back. I hope for every child to receive all the life saving vaccines we have all worked hard to make available across the planet.

Apparently, I, my spouse, and everyone we work with is going to earn 4.3% more now. GDP rose that much so… It’s cool to see the Commerce Secretary explaining to us plebeians how averages work and that GDP growth=wage growth. Very helpful public service.

The headline I want: “Vance endorses “big tent” conservative movement that welcomes racists, Facists, anti-Semites, and conspiracy theorists.” Unlike the ”purity tests” of liberals, this party is open to literally anybody with a grievance, hate, and a penchant for lying and dissembling.

This subheading in the NYT is about our president and his (mostly) BFF: “Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency.” All you folks who voted for this man, a request: If you have any, read this quote to your daughters and then explain WHY you voted for him. Thanks.

I don’t understand it. Every morning some “news” show has a member of the administration or Republican congressperson on to “discuss” trade, or ACA, or jobs, or whatever. They all lie predictably and using the same concepts over and over and over. What is the point? Is there some hidden pedagogy?

I will go out on a limb and say that “Stand by Me” (based on Stephen King’s “The Body”) is the greatest coming-of-age film ever made.

When I was a child, bigotry was murmured and whispered among trusted colleagues and friends. Now gutter racism is spouted publicly and rebroadcast across the land—spewing from the mouth of the arch-bigot who was, somehow, elected president. He is a coarse racist who empowers racists. I mourn.

Very helpful thread with good links. Hard agree: we need policies that make it possible to breastfeed for all who desire to do so (and the overwhelming majority DO).

A comparison: estimates say that China’s economic growth is being driven by investments in wind and solar energy While US economic growth is driven by energy consuming AI centers. Useful comparison.

A propos to nothing. Simple proposal: you don’t get to play in the college football playoff if you are not part of a conference. Go through the rigors of conference play, and then you get a shot.

“The centrality of sadism.” Yes, that captures it. You know, because empathy (or gods forgive, compassion) will get you killed. You gotta inflict pain first and hard.

Edsall’s pieces are always intriguing and helpful. The part of this gift article about the four streams of the MAGA movement is excellent.

And, here it's December 1. As Pink Floyd put it (and how I sometimes feel): Every year is getting shorter, never seem to find the time Plans that either come to naught or half a page of scribbled lines

We need to stop, just top. A murderer is feted in the White House and all the oligarchs show up to smile, and eat, and drink. Shame has taken a holiday and while shame can be overdone, we need it. We all need it like a watchman on a wall. It needs to be there to sound the alarm, but it is gone..

If you want to know what Trump thinks of journalists, the “piggy” comment is not as revealing as two recent/current visitors to the White House: Orban and MBS.

I know why some guys aspire to be the “alpha” male. Seeing what is playing out nationally around the Epstein files and with a few men with whom I have worked who had that “status,” I can say that their quest for alpha status is really about being able to act without limits or constraints.

OMG, take a moment to read this! "Think I’m bluffin’? Why don’t you ask the last guy who tried to argue that crime is a violation of the law and the state, rather’n a violation of people and relationships."

If, and I say “IF” this was about making it possible to fly over the holidays without undue inconvenience, then the war on poor people is being waged by a LOT more people than just the broligarchs.

Those of us in the trenches, feeding people and dealing with the fallout of lack of insurance are NOT amused. Just gonna say it: Fuck Schumer and these moderates” We don’t go to the mat day after day so you can give in to a bunch of dissemblers and liars. You dishonor yourselves.”

The proverbial “snatching defeat from the jaws of victory.”. Leadership is hard, but not THAT hard.

Oh, and by the way, I very much doubt SNAP recipients are going to riot. They are too busy trying to find some additional hours, a new side hustle, spending time in line at multiple food distributions, trying to figure out how to decide what to pay this month and what not to pay… Our nation is ill.

I have heard them say everything in the past week: “we are doing what we can but… Dems;” “SNAP is a scam;” “SNAP is bloated and out of control;” ”we would pay if we could, but we legally can’t;” “pay 50%, no 35%, no 65%—wait, claw back what you just paid.” These are very sick people. Very sick.

As of about 9:00 am PST on November 7, 2025, CalFresh benefits are being disbursed in CA. Would love to hear about other places.

You cannot suppress us.

Dear election “monitors” in CA. Go home. We don’t need you. America doesn’t need you. Look around. No one wants you or the sad, lost person who sent you here. Go home while we dream of a better nation.

Read it for the history of SNAP (food stamps), marvel at the sheer cruelty of the current administration that gladly uses the poorest Americans as pawns so it can further slash their benefits.

Been following this for a while: the American Conservative MAGAites were positive that Trump was going to pull the US out of foreign entanglements. Now they know:

What I see. With SNAP cutoff looming, I am proud to say that my University and community are rapidly and decisively coming together to create a response. It cannot fully cover what is lost, but it is a start. We combat the vile disdain for wellbeing by acting in solidarity. We will prevail.

From where I sit, here is what I see: Shutdown continues through this month and the next. County personnel administering SNAP start getting laid off. Program is effecitvely gutted. No congressional discussion. The program quietly dies. Millions without food support. They are without mercy.

Records obtained by ProPublica indicate that food banks across the country were expecting more than 27 million pounds of chicken, 2 million gallons of milk, 10 million pounds of dried fruit and 60 million eggs that never arrived.

Idaho folks: buckle up. You are on a one way fast trip to the 17th century (health-wise). You have made your choice. One request: please stay the fuck out of California.

Dear Mike Johnson - I know you call Jesus your lord, but here’s what Jesus said: “Not every one who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.“ You lie daily. You “accuse the brethren” (Satan’s work). You are lost my man.

Out here in CA, counties are informing SNAP (food stamps) recipients that they will not get their November benefit. Is anyone writing about this? @kyledcheney.bsky.social @hcrichardson.bsky.social @boltsmag.org @zeteo.com Hopefully, this gets picked up soon. Punishing the most vulnerable.

Here in Davis, CA about 7% of the population showed up today. The crowd was a microcosm of our city and region. To us, diversity is the water in which we swim. We don’t notice it. But I took pains to notice it today and it is a treasure—the core of who we are. Why are so many afraid of that?