ICYMI: Speaker Mike Johnson is second in line to the presidency, but he wants you to know he has no opinion on anything and takes responsibility for nothing. His go-to line is “not in my lane.” Jen Psaki last night…

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MAGA is big mad at Zach Bryan for not being a fan of fascism. They’re mad at Bad Bunny because they don’t know where Puerto Rico is. Now I really want Bunny to invite Zach to perform with him at the Super Bowl.

Gift link: More on Trump's psychopathology and his obsession with his image. It's even more obsessive than his obsession with "owning the libs" or any policy . www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...

Pope Leo XIV has blasted how wealthy people live in a “bubble of comfort and luxury” while the poor suffer. In his first teaching document Thursday, Leo confirms that he is in perfect lockstep with Pope Francis on matters of social injustice.

We cover Trump and his White House budget director’s dramatic threats in an effort to get Democrats to capitulate. Trump pushes forward on deploying troops to Democratic cities, even defying a federal judge he appointed, and more. Catch up on all you missed! open.substack.com/pub/theweekl...

I deserve better a retired teacher with stage 4 cancer. My son who suffers from cystic fibrosis deserves better. Republicans don't give a damn about any of us !

🚨BREAKING: A right-wing group with a long track record of pushing for voter roll purges, is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to reinterpret a federal law designed to expand voting access as a mandate for aggressive voter removals. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

With fewer than 60 lawyers, we are currently litigating 63 voting and election cases in 30 states — a number that will almost certainly rise in the weeks to come. The only thing that could cause it to fall anytime soon would be court closures resulting from the Republican-caused government shutdown.

Let's talk about the Texas National Guard in Chicago.

Can’t believe I have to say this, but in Minnesota you will continue to have the freedom to get your COVID and flu shots.

Mike Johnson’s abrupt closure of the House had more to do with stalling a congressional investigation into Jeffrey Epstein’s sex trafficking operation than previously reported, and it appears to have been a direct response to the Treasury’s surrender of Epstein’s financial records.

Grijalva: The frustration for me is that it seems as if Speaker Johnson is not willing to swear me in because our politics are a little different, or because I’m going to be the 218th signer—he can just continue to drag this along with no end in sight. That is not a foundation of our democracy.

If you are a federal worker, there are several credit unions and other financial institutions that are offering zero interest loans during the government shutdown. Please go to my website for more information: www.sanders.senate.gov/resources-fo...

I don't understand why I see things so differently. I see a health insurance industry that thinks it's entitled to charge people 1/3rd of their income for healthcare. That industry shouldn't be "fixed." It should be burned to the ground and its ashes pissed on.

Eric Swallwell (D-CA) says it’s coming to an end and House Republicans are privately breaking, that a “jailbreak” is brewing the moment the Epstein files hit the floor, and that Trump’s aura of fear is finally cracking. #ReleaseTheEpsteinFiles #USDemocracy #Pinks open.substack.com/pub/deanblun...

House Republicans left town rather than face accountability- for ending the shutdown or releasing the Epstein files #TrumpShutUSDown

The original version of the book said that Epstein was involved in introducing Melania to her beloved husband.

A second set of pre-trial motions is due by Oct. 30. Comey’s defense counsel, Patrick Fitzgerald, said he expects that batch to include a motion regarding abuse of grand jury process and an “outrageous government conduct” motion.

NEW: Comey is going to file selective and vindictive prosecution motion to dismiss AND he will challenge the legality of Halligan’s appointment! There’s more, too… so glad @annabower.bsky.social is there to bring us the whole story! Thread below with details:

If you come for my people, you come through me.

So the people causing the shutdown are getting paid. The people keeping the country running don’t. And Speaker Mike Johnson won’t let the House come back to work. So basically they’re on a paid vacation while Americans miss paychecks. Did I get that right?

This administration is flooding the zone so furiously that people have largely lost track of the lethal attacks on boats in the Caribbean, the gov’t shutdown, the economy, failed release of the Epstein files & so much else. It’s a tactic of would-be strongmen.

I can’t believe I have to say this, but historically, masked men who kidnap families in the middle of the night are usually not the good guys.

Trump and the Republicans are so determined to take away our health care that they are keeping the government shut down to do it. #TrumpShutUSDown

Equal Exchange is a worker-owned cooperative that works directly with farmer cooperatives to create a more democratic and equitable supply chain. The co-op provides an alternative to the corporate-based system and shows us that cooperative economics is viable and worker empowerment is possible.

Today, Senator Kaine and I will force the Senate to vote on the administration’s decision to blow up ships in the Caribbean. If a president can unilaterally put people or groups on a list and kill them, there is no meaningful limit to his use of force.

Sen. Mark Kelly on Trump suggesting they might not give furloughed federal workers back pay: "They don't care about working class people. I don't think they're really looking out for people other than people in Donald Trump's orbit."

Remember, it was the Washington Post who gave Bondi a thumbs up to be confirmed. Democracy Docket made clear from day one that she was an election denying sycophant. No surprise at their coverage of today. Support independent, pro-democracy media today. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0

There’s a way to get her sworn in that bypasses Johnson

Rep-elect Grijalva won her election TWO weeks ago, yet Mike Johnson REFUSES to swear her in. Why? Because she would be the last signature needed on the Epstein vote‼️

CNN: “An older couple making $85K/year will see their yearly insurance premiums jump from $7K to $25,000 — 30% of their income.” 😳#TrumpShutdown #TrumpHealthCareTax This is what Dems are drawing attention to and want fixed. Now, not later.

Woman shot by ICE in Brighton Park ordered released. “What I do know is, it was Ms. Martinez who has seven holes in her body from five shots from this agent, who fired within seconds of getting out of this vehicle,” — Martinez’s attorney, Christopher Parente www.yahoo.com/news/article...

In remembrance of Anna Politkovskaya, who was murdered on 7 October 2006. The 7th of October is also Vladimir Putin's birthday - it is not a coincidence.

www.npr.org/sections/sho... Two psychiatry organizations have released statements saying that the actions of the RFK Jr have increased stigma, instilled fear and hurt access to mental health and addiction care.

Trump loves to say "We've never seen anything like it." In this case he's right- this is the most corrupt administration in American history. Chip in here to help me fight back: www.terryvirts.com

Journalist Edward R. Murrow used his platform on CBS to criticize the witch hunts led by Senator Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s. This is what real journalism should do — hold power to account, not capitulate to it.

I’m. So. Tired. I don’t just want you to pay attention to Chicago because I want you to understand our plight. I want you to see how hard people are fighting and know wtf you’re made of. We’re not just fighting for this place. This is for all of us.

This is great. The absurdity of this moment captured. Make it go viral.

My girl Carolyn Hall hit the ball out the park on this one. "We must defend the freedom of our press. Our republic depends on it." www.adn.com/opinions/202...

Republicans are trying to beat Federal workers out of their pay now too. 😒

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse asked Pam Bondi about DOJ's decision to drop the investigation into Tom Homan. MSNBC first reported that Homan was recorded in Sept. 2024 accepting a bag with $50,000 in cash in an undercover FBI sting. Bondi refused to answer, then attacked Whitehouse.

When people are hired, not for their honesty or competency, but for their ability to be snarling trolls on TV for the delight of their immature and unpleasant boss, you get an AG like Pamela Jo Bondi.

This is so Bizarre. I’ve had multiple conversations this week with several people about Ellis. He’s the guy that stashed the perfect phone call transcript in a code word classified system. And took over prepub review of Bolton’s book. Now this. 1/ www.nytimes.com/2025/10/06/u...

What's happening in Chicago is not normal. The arrest of Alderperson Fuentes is just the latest example of how far Noem and Bovino are willing to go to ignore the rule of law. We must all speak up.

New (& important) from @dahlialithwick.bsky.social @mimirocah1.bsky.social Rachel Foster & me slate.com/news-and-pol...