Weekend reading: Where America stands, one year after Trump’s election. A fascistic movement controls the government; they are trying to build an authoritarian state; but they have not consolidated authoritarian rule. A democracy no more, but not a stable autocratic regime yet. This week’s piece:

The federal budget failed to include the req't for transparency from unregulated pregnancy centres, sending the signal that protecting reproductive rights from deceptive practices is not a government priority. Please email your MP today using this tool from @bchumanist.ca

Those who agree - "I am willing to accept slower economic growth in Canada if it means greater economic independence from the United States" 🟢 All: 70% 🟢 Liberals: 86% 🟢 NDP: 77% 🟢 Conservatives: 55% Read it here: open.substack.com/pub/canadian...

Rep. Yassamin Ansari has set up a table and this sign outside Speaker Johnson’s office.

According to this ranking, Canada’s reputation has improved since 2024. We are now the 2nd most reputable country in the world. The United States has dropped from 30th to 48th in that same year, the biggest drop of any nation BY FAR. Its reputation-peers are now Kuwait, Algeria, Kazakhstan…

Mamdani is taking no prisoners. listen to this interview of Lina Khan by @hcrichardson.bsky.social if you’re unfamiliar with what an excellent choice she is for his transition team. m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ydxk...

This is the way

Joyscrolling

It’s ok to be inspired—even, or especially, when shit’s this crazy out there. Let me be clear: I’m not obsessed with optimism, nor do I think it always works out. But we should be wary of those who tell us to rid ourselves of hope. The opposite of hope for the enslaved is enslavement, after all.

WOW. 81% of women 18-29 voted for Mamdani, 80% for Sherril, and 78% for Spanberger. Gen Z women aren't playing around.

Republicans thought they had a permanent hold over young men. They didn't. Spanberger wins men 18-29 by 14%, Sherrill by 10%, and Mamdani by a stunning 40%.

The 1A protects you from being persecuted by the government for what you say, not from other people's disapproval or ostracism. No one - absolutely no one - is saying that Nick Fuentes should be thrown in prison. They are simply saying that he shouldn't be elevated or taken seriously.

Anyway, we need some joy, so here's the Egyptian foreign minister being given a Lego Pyramid by the Danish foreign minister.

Having slept on it, it’s really set in that the Blue Jays loss last night was one of the most gutting pro sports losses I can remember. Absolutely brutal. My heart goes out to 🇨🇦

profile update…

I laughed out loud

Let's go, Blue Jays! Give us a treat of a victory!

What is happening to the world? What kind of people promote being against a treaty that protects women against domestic violence?

this is evil

why did this make me wheeze out loud

JD Vance's bad faith arguments (employers can pit immigrant groups against each other, so "immigration is bad", not "employers are jerks"?!) prompt a beautiful history thread on multicultural union cooperation

JAYS WIN!

If they're done pretending they're not racist, xenophobic, and bigoted, there's absolutely zero reason for those who report on these people to continue pretending otherwise. Certainly not because it's "civil." It's cowardly, dishonest, and insulting to keep propping up this transparent ruse.

Heartwarming attitudes and actions that should spread worldwide "Our enduring inability to separate out homelessness from blame and those who “deserve” support ends up blinding us to what is ultimately an empirical question over what works and what doesn’t."

JAYS WIN. EVERYBODY GETS TO SLEEP!

Agreed! This video gave me a new perspective and understanding of social media usage

First time in my life I decide to watch a baseball game to the end and this happens

When games go into extra innings we should get the next day off.

I forgot how frustrating sports can get. You get invested and then it hurts when we don't do well. (Even more so when the game has a political tinge..) #goJaysGo

From the article "A Constant Torrent of Authoritarian Arrogance, Corruption, and Complicity"

The dream of every Muslim is simply to be treated the same as any other New Yorker. And yet, for too long, we have been told to ask for less than that, and endure hatred and bigotry in the shadows. No more.

#cdnPoli The New York Times calling out Trump's false claims

Les échographies dans certains centres de grossesse suscitent des inquiétudes - La Coalition pour le droit à l'avortement du Canada dit que les échographies ont pour objectif de dissuader les femmes de se faire avorter. ( Radio Canada) ici.radio-canada.ca/nouvelle/220...

"On the White House Wreckage" - by an angry Robert Arnold

You have to laugh, otherwise you’ll cry and scream at how deeply unserious a country we have become, now that this shanda has not immediately ended his presidency

Here you are: bsky.app/profile/thed...

"Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you happiness."

At Yonge & Dundas Jays fans are obeying the pedestrian scramble, as is the custom & returning to sidewalk each light cycle.

Trump earlier today when asked about the construction of the new ballroom: “It won’t interfere with current building. It won’t be. It’ll be near it but not touching it — and pays total respect to the existing building, which I’m the biggest fan of.” This is how it was left now overnight ⬇️

Binary categories of Trump “winning/losing” – or the regime being “weak/strong” – are not particularly helpful. Better to grapple with the murkiness of this moment: A staunchly authoritarian movement is in power, but they haven’t been able to install a consolidated autocracy yet.

This becomes also an indicator of the mental age and morality of the Trump supporters

I (and perhaps you) get confused because we think intellect has to be connected with wisdom or thoughtfulness, but it just doesn’t. Intelligence is values-neutral and amplifies whatever it is pointed at.

Imo, intelligence can be used as a powerful tool to rationalize behavior. Instead of reshaping values, it sometimes reinforces and finds clever ways to justify them. Without curiosity and humility, intelligence makes those values harder to shake 🧵

Way to go, awesome Missoula! #dftba

The event organizers say 7m people showed up. That would mean ~1 out of every 50 Americans came out to protest the president

lolol

It was uplifting to see the rally in Montreal, Canada today. So many Canadians and Americans, standing up together for democracy. This give me hope! — at Montreal, Canada.