"It was a dark and almost certainly illegal escalation of the out-of-control agency’s war on the American people, a portrait of an authoritarian secret police that seems set to model itself on history’s worst fascist enforcers."

A sobering thought from Judge Sullivan: "I fear President Trump believes the American people are so divided that today they will not stand up, fight for, and defend our most precious constitutional values so long as they are lulled into thinking their own personal interests are not affected."

Pretty compelling characterization.

This is not what a moral people do. The downside of self-government is that this evil is done in our name.

Another excellent explainer by @brieannafrank.bsky.social on the Religion clause cases currently before the court. @micahschwartzman.bsky.social do you know BrieAnna? I will direct her your way if not--she'd very much appreciate it!

American exceptionalism requires being the good guys. Or at least trying.

First Augustinian. First American. First "Leo" since Leo XIII. This is going to be so interesting--and, I wager, invigorating for our world. Especially in this so-called postliberal moment.

More evidence that we're going backwards. I'm sure this is all in the name of "deregulation." www.military.com/daily-news/2...

Recent selections for word of the year: 2016 Post truth 2017 Fake news 2018 Misinformation 2019 Cancel culture (also They) 2020 Pandemic 2021 Vax/vaccine 2022 Gaslighting 2023 AI 2024 Brain rot Notice a teend? My prediction for 2025: Bad faith.

Holy &$%@!

Somewhat ironic that the least qualified, most unfit and incompetent Sec of Defense in American history is the one who abolished DEI.

Talk about cancel culture! At least if you go ROTC, you don't have to worry about government censorship like book bans.

The decision by the academy’s leaders to not protest the original order — which I believe flies in the face of basic academic freedoms and common sense — has put them in the now even stickier position of trying to suppress criticism of that decision.

Joe is going deep here! I'd never guessed 15 years ago that an avid Tea Party guy some day would be quoting Arendt. See this @samantharhill.bsky.social ? ⬇️⬇️⬇️ Love it!

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I feel bad for farmers getting hurt and caught up in tariff chaos. But Trump giving them taxpayer-funded bailouts--since they are from red districts--reinforces the corruption of the tariff regime and deepens divisions between Americans. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

This ⤵️

Thirty-six percent of registered voters [and 71% of Republicans] identified themselves as MAGA supporters in the March NBC News poll. www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...

Democracy = govt of the people, by the people, for the people. So when US govt is sued for abusing its power, that means WE are being sued. And WE (your tax $ and mine) will pay the damages and fines for this abuse of power.

Harvard has set an example for other higher-ed institutions - rejecting an unlawful and ham-handed attempt to stifle academic freedom, while taking steps to make sure students can benefit from an environment of intellectual inquiry, rigorous debate and mutual respect. Let’s hope others follow suit.

If you are against war crimes only when one side of a conflict commits them, you are pro-war crimes.

We are becoming a soulless country. As our selfishness and contempt for "the other" grows, Americans increasingly will turn against fellow citizens whom we also now see as other.

A Trump Haiku An old-fashioned term Different things in a bag-- Groceries, sort of.

Man, every day, American redefined just how much lower the bottom can be from what we ever thought it could be. C'mon America, do better.

Trump and the GOP are worried about losing a district he won by 20 points. That tells you everything you need to know about how popular he and his policies really are.

Could not have said this any better myself.

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Academics: "They" don't like you; don't value you, your profession, or your institution; and don't want you to freely do your job without looking over your shoulder to see if they are watching. Do not be afraid.

Trump really is unifying the country--Canada, that is. I'm envious of the solidarity, patriotism, and pride Canadians have right now. Imagine if Trump spent the same effort trying to unify his own country as he has spent turning Canada against us. www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

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Pretty much guaranteed.

Concluding irony #2: if "belief in climate change" constitutes "religion," then so does "belief in the free market" or "belief that fossil fuel corporations will make the world better." These are deeply held convictions of people like Zeldin, and the reason this accusation is a confession. 9/

Poll Finds Most Americans Would Swap Democracy For $100 Best Buy Gift Card theonion.com/poll-fi...

It can take centuries to build what it only seconds to tear down. Nihilism always has the edge on efficiency.

That flag hangs in a Ukrainian brigade’s r&r house near the front in Kharkiv region, where I was visiting some infantrymen in September. I was proud to see it.

Trump and Vance act as if the problem is that Ukraine is resisting an ongoing Russian invasion. The problem is the ongoing Russian invasion. If they want to use American power to stop the war, apply it to the aggressor. Abusing the victim is not going to end a war of aggression.

Reality should not be partisan.

February, the shortest month of the year, is lasting forever.

Remember when the U.S. helped rebuild Europe & condemned Russian attacks on European democracies, as opposed to encouraging such an attack & demanding the attacked democracy’s mineral wealth?

This is a great way to reply if some dickhead jumps down the chain of command 5+ levels and asks you to report directly to him. As as a leader, supervisor, or manager, I'd be pissed if someone higher up went direct to my people like this.

We are living through an advanced civics lesson right now. When I took American government in 9th grade, there was nothing like what we're going through on the test.

👇👇👇 (psst, we're not on their side.)

🎼 We the people...🎵

He is not lying. Unlike our president.

Haunting post. But I get it.

Important article about how cuts to forest service, park service, Interior & BLM will impact Americans. "The flurry of firings across agencies has raised anxieties and also halted productivity among the federal workforce who have survived the mass firings so far." www.politico.com/news/2025/02...

Please join us March 4th for this free webinar. I’ll be sharing *new research* from a larger project explaining how Christian nationalism contributes to our submission under plutocracy. Follow the QR code for the zoom link.

Reno, Nevada people (do I have any Reno people?) - come hear me rant about AI, politics, ethics and Plato at the Nevada Museum of Art on Feb. 27 www.nevadaart.org/event/ai-pol...