While we're expecting a blue wave, we're also seeing the influence of extreme money on politics... in this case the GOP. Per Cillizza's analysis, based on Axios reporting, a billionaire has basically selected the representative for a TX district, through a massive spend.

"The Trump administration on Monday abandoned its attempts to impose potentially crippling executive orders against law firms that refused to capitulate to the president, walking away from its appeal of victories the firms had won against the White House."

Loneliness raises mortality risk ~26%. Call someone today

The first step to dealing with Trumpism is to ignore everything they say and only watch what they do.

Kind of amazed she had it turned on? I only turn it on when I'm crossing borders or am visiting a country controlled by a repressive regime ahhh shit

This is in fact one of the things congressional Dems can do - and they're doing it (and have been on this and other topics). Hard to break through, but this one seems to have a bit and even when it doesn't creating a public record is worthwhile.

Highlighting the speaker who stood in front of the Surprise mayor and told him to consider what the Mayor of Ohrdruf must’ve thought before he died by suicide: “He might have thought ‘how is this my fault I had no jurisdiction over this’ maybe he said ‘this site was not subject to local zoning.’”

Welcome back to #StatsSunday — your statistical fix, pulled from this week’s stories.⁠ Read the story behind this stat here: https://reasonstobecheerful.world/india-most-chess-obsessed-country-in-the-world/

SUNDAY…

Good advice from an ophthalmologist Dr Glaucoflecken (I know - still not sure it's a real name) on what to do if you get tear-gassed. Looking at you, #Minnesota Warriors for Democracy & Justice! Also #Minneapolis. Y'all know we always got you, right? Peace & love!

This is an oldie, but I think it speaks to the power of "We the people." Leadership can be over-glorified. To have a movement, we have to have people who can courageously follow... (I'll probably repost it in the future...) www.youtube.com/watch?v=fW8a...

Seems like one of those issues that should greatly concern everyone regardless of their politics.

THIS IS HOW YOU DO IT. Come with FACTS and USE THEM.

{gift link} t.co/ZPGBxgRIpu

YOUR PHONE CALLS TO THE SENATE ARE WORKING. KEEP CALLING. 202–224-3121 Three Democrats who previously broke with the party and voted with the GOP are now saying they will not vote for the bill. That’s enough for the bill to be unpassable right now.

Closest one claps after the shots

“If a traveler enters the security line without an acceptable ID, they will be escorted to a separate location to pay the TSA ConfirmID payment process," said Monya Bates, the TSA assistant federal security director for screening for Mississippi. buff.ly/hCsY5pn

“We have a nice little database, & now you’re considered domestic terrorists” says an ICE agent after photographing a civilian who was videotaping them. Posted today by Brian Allen on X. h/t @allenanalysis.bsky.social

We are building and financing a corrupt detention/industrial complex. It’s human trafficking, and it has to end.

🚨"The [ICE] officer charged me with pepper spray and then clocked me in the eye, knocked off my glasses, then he clocked me again with more pepper spray and punching me and then arrested me," -Mark, an ICE protester with severe black eye from being beaten by ICE. LIVE NOW⬇️

I’m seeing posts from people (outside of MN) about how US citizens should carry their passports. And let me say that *inside* MN, we are calmly responding to requests with: “No, I don’t have to show you any documentation.” Because that’s how you protect everyone, regardless of immigration status.

Stars & Stripes is a great paper.

The people you elected should know when you have concerns — especially about ICE. Calling members of Congress WORKS. Here's a quick rundown on how to do it.

🎧Berkeley Talks: What if “nice” isn’t a weakness but a competitive edge? UC Berkeley experts and business leaders unpack how empathetic leadership boosts trust, engagement and results. news.berkeley.edu/2026/01/09/b...

Researchers from @berkeleyengineer.bsky.social turned the “coffee-ring effect” into a rapid disease test that can detect COVID, sepsis, and even cancer markers in just minutes. news.berkeley.edu/2026/01/09/w...

After the horrific killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis, many of us want accountability. JD Vance and others claim that ICE officers are immune from prosecution. This is false. But it’s complicated and there are some limits. I explain. youtube.com/shorts/2yBW8...

At a time when federal disaster support is questionable, it's good to invest more effort into personal safety - 60% of people have not practiced/prepared for an emergency - 55% think they can rely on the government to save them Part of being able to take care of others is taking care of yourself.

We put out a call for #ICEOutForGood vigils 24 hours ago. There are now more than 1000 events taking place across the country this weekend. Find yours: www.mobilize.us?tag_ids=2913...

The everyday courage of normal people is breathtaking

Iran is another country that Trump could target for an invasion in the near future. The exiled crown prince lives in the US.

Today would be a good day to see those Epstein files.

10,000 people honoring Renee Nicole Good at the site of her murder

Active duty or retired, or even if you left after just one enlistment, you know this is true. Please share far and wide. @hcrichardson.bsky.social

Mayor Jacob Frey: "They are already trying to spin this as an action of self defense. Having seen the video myself, I want to tell everybody directly that is bullshit."

I am haunted by the ghosts of Iraq and Afghanistan. Those military operations initially went flawlessly but the problem was in trillions of $ spent, thousands of American lives, decades of lost opportunity. Americans have zero appetite for more nation building, endless quagmires.

💯

As of this year, CalRx insulin pens are now available for just $11 each — and copays for a 20-day supply are capped at $35. No one should have to choose between paying the bills and receiving life-saving medicine.

This was never about drugs. It was never even about democracy. It was about installing a puppet—Maduro’s own VP—to serve U.S. oil interests. How on brand for Trump to ignore the election results and the will of the people of the country.

Demand your Member of Congress do everything in their power to stop Trump’s escalating attacks against Venezuela. act.indivisible.org/sign/stop-tr...

"The 2025 reconciliation law is estimated to reduce federal Medicaid spending by $911 billion (roughly 14%) over a decade and may have broad implications for home care, including for the workforce, support for family caregivers, and states’ coverage of services."

Make your call to congress. Today and everyday.

Nixon insisted the bombing of Cambodia was just targeting Viet Cong outposts there and not meant to undermine its government, but the bombings destabilized the Lon Nol government and paved the way for the Khmer Rouge’s killing fields and the massacre of more than a million people.

The Chicago protest against the U.S. attack on Venezuela has stepped off to march through the downtown area. Hundreds have joined the march.

NYC folks, opposed to, umm, the attack on Venezuela, and related issues. They started at Times Square. Initially, they were about 1,000 people.

Sept 1 1939: The Führer announces that Poland is a clear danger to the nation, and that "In order to put an end to this lunacy I have no other choice than to meet force with force. Since 5:45 a.m. we have been returning fire, and from now on bombs will be met by bombs."

Caine, in what happened when the military invaded Maduro’s compound: “On arrival into the target area, the helicopters came under fire, and they replied to that fire with overwhelming force in self-defense.” We’re going to be reading that sentence for years.