Smith requests that his closed-door deposition be made public, asserting that it presents proof "beyond a reasonable doubt" that Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. GOP is terrified. #ProudBlue thehill.com/homenews/adm...

"Bringing home the Christmas tree," 1946. Photo by Monte Fresco.

Five Questions: Live with The Librarians

"Shortly before an election, a spin-doctor and a Hollywood producer join efforts to fabricate a war in order to cover up a Presidential sex scandal." (IMDb)

On Saturday, We Bake

…and what's up with those cancer rates, Iowa?

Vaccine advice? Any other medical info that's on the political agenda? Please speak directly with a healthcare provider who you can trust and/or with legitimate patient advocacy groups.

You know, it's not a bad idea to check the mask supply.

“In any society, most people accept standards that are, in fact, ethical. But standards of behavior in society can deviate from what is ethical. An entire society can become ethically corrupt. Nazi Germany is a good example of a morally corrupt society.” —Markkula Center for Applied Ethics

"George Washington would, most certainly, not have hung members of Congress for expressing their views. He would not have approved of what Donald Trump said today, or pretty much any day." Sorry, George Washington Would Not Have Hanged Them. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...

"Third Spaces" We were reminiscing about childhood places where we'd pass a few hours with a cuppa (or soda) and newspaper (or comic), catching up, seeing folks (or not). Pinball, maybe; jukebox definitely. Turns out they're good for us AND the community. Who knew?! www.google.com/search?q=thi...

"These changes could strip federal protections from up to 55 million acres of wetlands, or about 85 percent of all wetlands nationwide, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, an environmental group." [contʻd in comments] www.nytimes.com/2025/11/17/c...

"…this population has substantial medical needs, and the health effects of losing Medicaid coverage could be devastating.... "… can lead to substantial healthcare costs, either in the emergency department or when these adults turn 65 and receive Medicare coverage."

Remember how Trump said ICE targets “violent criminals?” Trump’s own DOJ now reports that ONLY 2.5% of the people ICE arrested in Chicago have any criminal history. That means 97.5% have ZERO criminal record. They were targeted because they were of Latino ethnicity. This is what fascism looks like

"There is never a democracy that did not commit suicide. It is in vain to say that democracy is less vain, less proud, less selfish, less ambitious, or less avaricious than aristocracy or monarchy. It is not true, in fact, and nowhere appears in history." [cont'd in comments]

Youngkin doing everything he can to buy that election next week:

Sigh... ...she won the Pulitzer Prize at the age of 19. Still at it: "He was ten inches long, thin as a curve, a muscled ribbon, brown as fruitwood, soft-furred, alert.… He had two black eyes I didn’t see, any more than you see a window." www.themarginalian.org/2025/10/14/a...

Independent and credible — check your news against an international source that has no domestic U.S. pressures:

Okay, I found this fascinating. He held on as long as he could — maybe longer. "…along the way, I rationalized, compartmentalized, and found excuses to stay tethered to the party"

The amphibian resistance!

She's antifa.

It'd be easier to ignore the politics, if it weren't for that pesky Loyalty Oath.

A concise outline of the conditions for obtaining forgiveness, in a few religious traditions that articulate them clearly: 1. Christianity Core idea: Forgiveness (from God) is conditioned on repentance and faith. Key requirements (especially in Catholic and Orthodox traditions): (cont'd)

...please also see their related concerns about undersea mining near indigenous territory.

It's public (and personal) health, it's not politics. I've been seeing lots more people choosing to wear masks on the bus routes, too. Not a bad idea, I'll check my supply…

Republicans control every branch in Washington. Now, Trump is openly giddy about using the shutdown to slash and burn federal resources that working Americans count on. His shutdown, and firings, will hurt people in every part of this country.

Someone points out: if you are self-censoring — being cautious about re-posting, Liking, or commenting on posts because you think it's better to keep your head down — then your First Amendment rights are already being infringed.

The legendary Jane Fonda “has relaunched the Committee for the First Amendment, the McCarthy-era initiative started by her father, Henry Fonda ...” www.theguardian.com/film/2025/oc...

R.I.P.

"At best, we now live in a 'hybrid regime'." Maybe I'll start a senior's demonstration-of-one. Take a folding chair out to the street-side. Maybe a cooler for drinks, a brimmed hat and sunscreen. Definitely a good book to read…

#Pinks #ProudBlue This is unprecedented and disturbing to me. They never have all these people in the same place at the same time. What are they going to do arrest the ones that won’t swear fealty to trump, fire them. Wtf is going on? www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...

I'm sure this is fine. "Microplastics Found Deep Inside Human Bones, Scientists Warn" www.sciencealert.com/microplastic...

Trump: 'We are so broke 15 million people need to lose their health insurance.' Also Trump: www.cbsnews.com/news/donald-...

"Our laws protect our people....Our country has survived darker periods than the one we are going through now—but that only happened because good people refused to stay silent.… …most Americans believe in the ideals our nation was founded upon. Now is the time to stand up for those noble ideals."