Taking something a political figure says out of context and making it sound like they said something more sinister than they did is common in politics. And it bugs me regardless of whether it helps or hurts politicians I support/don't support.

"The German fleet has assaulted its jailer, but it is still in jail"

Wrote up some thoughts on the current war with Iran. You can't have a strategy if you don't even have a policy. open.substack.com/pub/bafriedm...

Susan Collins just gave Donald Trump the green light to take further unilateral military action that could push the United States into another endless war without oversight. She doesn't have the courage to stand up to the President, even when American lives are on the line.

Average Kuwaiti pilot seeing an unidentified radar track show up

Today's explanation for the Iran War (they shift by the minute) is that Israel was going to attack and so we had to as well. We were "forced" into war by Netanyahu. That's the definition of weakness - being suckered into a war of choice that no American wants.

My statement on President Trump’s combat operations in Iran⬇️

bing bong

In an era of great power rivalry, Canada is choosing to be principled and pragmatic. To name reality, to act together, and to build what we claim to believe in.

My statement on the Trump Administration’s actions in Venezuela.

the full speech is something to see & is one of the reasons it is good to have a trans member of congress youtu.be/5LqVMCW4e0c?...

Birthright citizenship is probably not integral to liberal democracy, but it is integral to *American* liberal democracy. Our vision of what we are as a country, as a nation beyond an ethnicity, requires it.

Gandalf showing why there is a need for integrated SHORAD in a modern, contested battlespace (fell beasts are a kind of FPV)

One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc

A Quick Take on Team Cave’s Big Win talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-qui...

Populist Dems won. Moderate Dems won. We won in blue states. We won in purple states. Maybe the take is that (a) people think Trump is out of control; and (b) people like Dems when we're taking a stand and fighting for what we believe in - as we have been for the last month.

Gallego: "It's murder. It's very simple. If this president feels they are doing something illegally, then he should be using the Coast Guard. If this is an act of war, then you use our military and then you come and talk to us first. But this is murder ... it's disgusting."

Maine’s senior senator, a master politician, is going to be extremely tough to oust in 2026, writes opinion columnist Steve Collins.

my favorite robert redford story is that mike nichols considered him for dustin hoffman's part in THE GRADUATE. during their conversation nichols asked redford something like, "have you ever struck out with a girl?" and redford's response was basically, "i don't understand the question"

Indonesian Navy Brawijaya-class frigate KRI Brawijaya (320) coming into Surabaya - September 10, 2025 SRC: INST- jeremiaa85

People are responding to this by acting in astonishment with regards to how powerful these people are and I'm sorry to say that Avasarala was right and the government is more powerful than any corporation.

It is simply inconceivable that Chuck Schumer is not clearing a path for the Oyster farmer we all met last week

Spanish Navy Alvaro de Bazan-class air-defence frigate ESPS Mendez Nunez (F104) coming into Yokosuka, Japan - July 24, 2025 SRC: TW-@MICHIYAM

My record on Palestine speaks for itself. I’m proud of it. One of the strongest in Congress. I throw down for pro-Palestine candidates. Largely unrecognized work. That’s fine. Disagreements are fine, too. But if you want to toss all that for 1 half assed MTG stunt, be my guest. I know where I stand.

it is interesting to see large parts of the new york city and national democratic establishment line up behind mamdani as the party's nominee for mayor; to see influential insiders complain about mamdani; and to see how this all shakes out in public perception to "democrats are hostile to mamdani"