Read @montereycountynow.com to understand why many on the Monterey Peninsula no longer consider CHOMP as their go-to hospital. Thanks, Pam Marino, for your important reporting and, Dr. Erin Sullivan, for doing yr job. www.montereycountynow.com/news/local_n...

"It’s one more over-the-top lie from a regime that swims in a stinky green algae pool of falsehoods." Trump's agents can't criminalize dissent as Owwellian thoughtcrime. #FirstAmendment www.inquirer.com/opinion/ice-...

Read @petergeoghegan.bsky.social and ask yourself, "Is a Trump-wannabe going to be elected in the next UK general election?" Odds are we'll see another pseudo-king in 10 Downing Street come 2029. open.substack.com/pub/democrac...

I know the gift that Donald Trump is giving the world today: A much, much more dangerous world than existed four months ago. There is new economic danger, new conventional military danger, and new danger of nuclear proliferation. luciantruscott.substack.com/p/the-new-ru...

After watching Netflix documentary on US Grant, which I highly recommend, I'm glad I ran across General McChrystal's essay. Pete Hegseth is no Ulysses S. Grant! Grant has risen in my estimation as a principled general and president. open.substack.com/pub/inpursui...

It would be tragic if foreign officials - of any persuasion - would be the reason Trumpism is finally crushed. Republican leaders should be stepping forward as the government and our capital city are being turned into a literal gaudy circus. www.politico.eu/article/fran...

Excellent musical coda today @paulkrugman.substack.com.web.brid.gy to cement explanation of how Musk has co-opted and corrupted key institutions with his #PonziScheme. open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...

No thanks, @jonlemire.bsky.social mire, last thing I'd do would be to watch half-naked men brutally assault each other on the White House South Lawn's "Claw” stage in celebration of a megalomaniac geriatric's birthday. #SleazyShamelessShowmanship

Why does it take a British journalist/editor to state the obvious?I'm sick of reading/listening to the American equivalent couching every report for fear of retaliation? Thank you, David Hearst @middle-east-eye.bsky.social. youtu.be/1vjET0DTBrc?...

This is a good explanation of why #SocialSecurity is in trouble. @rbreich.bsky.social writes the shortfall is all about widening income inequality. Why can't ceiling on income subject to Social Security payroll tax be raised from $184.5K to $400K? open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

US isn't sportswashing, but instead sportsmaxxing: not sanitising its image, rather #WorldCup is serving as extension of "US war on the world". Abdullah Al-Arian for @middleeasteye-rss.bsky.social questions its suitability to host the beautiful game. www.middleeasteye.net/opinion/worl...

No one in UK, Canada or US should be advertising/selling illegal settlements that are clearly NOT w/in Green Line boundry. If UK is considering sanctions for #SettlerViolence," these sales should also be banned. Dania Akkad reports for @declassifieduk.org. www.declassifieduk.org/pressure-mou...

The Occupied West Bank Territory should not be up for sale. It's a violation of international law, and along with Mayor Mandani, is something "I firmly disagree with." novaramedia.com/2026/05/09/m...

Accountability is what @ossoff.bsky.social calls for after elaborating on the Trump family blatant grifts. substack.com/@jonossoff/n...

"Piece by piece, he is changing our nation’s capital into a suburban strip mall,' thanks in part to his deteriorating health & cognitive decline, his #SuckupulentCabinet and almost every Congressional Republican. I like @lktiv.bsky.social's wordsmithing! open.substack.com/pub/luciantr...

Why did @usrepjimmypanetta.bsky.social receive so much Think Big Pac $$? He's always a shoe-in in these elections. So, what's he offering in return? #BigMoney has no place in our politics. www.montereycountynow.com/opinion/squi...

Israel is no longer central node in Middle East because of Abraham Accords but a global pariah. Trump's US tried to pivot away from Middle East, but maybe it’s time for the Middle East to pivot away from the US? Good analysis by Ishaan Tharoor @newyorker.com.

#AlabamaDecision "cements the Roberts Court’s lasting legacy as the greatest enemy of the right to vote since the post-Reconstruction era" open.substack.com/pub/erichold...

Let's hope Trump's arch, serving to frame Lee's mansion, goes the way of his East Wing outrage. @hcrichardson.bsky.social shares meaningful words from John Garfield to explain why Memorial Day has been so important and why Trump's plans demean it. open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

I read this when it was originally published, it was worth re-reading. Watch out for Yarvin's influence as Trump heads into what we all hope is the end of his reign. “He who makes half a revolution digs his own grave.” www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...

The best approach for democracy defenders is to bust our asses to win the midterms, despite Republican cheating, but be psychologically prepared to hit the streets if Trump’s emerging dictatorship refuses to accept the results. I increasingly think we’ll need a general strike to save our country.

Insurrectionist reparations for post- Civil War Confederates built into Constitution as clear violation of the 14th Amendment. @jonathanmladd.com

“Fraud by Don Jr at Kalshi? Out. Fraud at Trump Media & Technology Group? Out. Fraud at whatever crypto/drone/AI/investment endeavor? Out - no DOJ, no SEC, no IRS, no CFTC - no federal entity.” #1776FraudFund open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...

We don't need examples from Russia or Hungary to understand how democracies die. We're living it here, thanks to Heritage Foundation, SCOTUS, tech bros and of course the useful puppet. All have helped with the "ideal labor pool: the frustrated and mediocre". www.nytimes.com/2026/05/18/w...

Very good point and another reason to get out the vote.

For those still undecided who to vote for in CA gubernatorial race, here's a good update from the LA Times that seems to be subscription-free. Plus polling as of 5/10 ⤵️

I walked by this right across from the Carmel Mission yesterday. I'm glad someone's asking these questions of our one and only hospital here on the Monterey Peninsula: Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula. What's happened?

I just realized why I'm enjoying Jill Lepore' bio of Jane Franklin so much: Mother's Day just occurred and it's a slightly different way to appreciate our revolution as we approach our 250th anniversary.

UK is witnessing unprecedented violation of long-held legal procedure in #Menon case. It deals with principle of #juryequity, that allows jurors to give verdict based on their convictions. @daniaakkad @declassifiedUK reporting on #PalestineAction www.declassifieduk.org/palestine-ac...

I remember the optimistic days that began the Syrian fight for freedom in 2011. Deb Amos on trial of Atef Najib who oversaw killing of Hamza al-Khateeb that sparked beginning of Syria's revolution. Tomorrow's trial could influence al-Sharaa's fragile position. open.substack.com/pub/debamos/...

Whaaaat? POTUS's consumption of #BigMacs isn't boosting MickeyD's numbers enough to meet their projections? Sad.

The rot runs deep in the Supreme Court.

This is definitely not a time for #climatehushing, as @billmckibben.bsky.social explains so well here. Renewables offer something fossil fuels never did: stability and sovereignty. There are no embargoes, price shocks or tariffs. open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...

Diana Drake wrote this piece a few weeks ago, but I'm glad I found it now. She suggests "Trump would do well to respect the ancient civilization here from which we are all descended, and to remember that even he cannot change the geography of this unique area." dianadarke.com/2026/04/17/h...

Good interview with a man who's spent decades in resolving international conflicts. Oliver McTernan is as doubtful as many others that Trump "negotiators" have capacity to understand what's required diplomatically, legally, possibly ethically. www.france24.com/en/iran-will...

So is Bezos also being brought up b4 the DOJ too? That's a T-shirt available now on Amazon. www.npr.org/2026/04/28/n...

Wait, Lindsey Graham wants us, the US taxpayers, to fork out $400M for this tasteless gilded homage to the dear leader? thehill.com/homenews/sen...

Who's truly ramping up the rhetoric?? substack.com/@teamzeteo/n...

I can't believe this. @normcharlatan.bsky.social you're a Minnesota Legend, my man.

"Let me ask you something. If you were the leaders of Iran, whoever they are, would you send someone to Pakistan or anywhere else for that matter, to make a deal with a man whose mental faculties are so depleted that he believes this shit?" My head hurts too, @lktiv.bsky.social.

Not sure which part of latest @brianklaas.bsky.social more 👀 opening: verbosity of Pres. Buchanan to Queen Victoria or video of shark trying to eat an undersea cable. I always learn something when I read his Substack. open.substack.com/pub/briankla...

Excellent piece from Noah Hawley about, no longer suffering consequences of their actions, the new elite class have the hubris of accomplishment. They have NO concern for or reason to care about anyone but themselves. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...

For all Californians, this is a good one to read b4 June's primary. Who's leading "Team Donkey," as @markleibovich.bsky.social calls it. His description of candidates & "Wizard of Oz wrap party" left me wondering about the 💙 party, but not enough to vote 🟥. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...

Win or lose, there remains a real measure of promise and decency in America that is worth the fight. And win or lose, there is no dignity for any of us unwilling to have that fight.

Now we have a better idea why Trump shuttered the #KennedyCenter. www.pbs.org/newshour/sho...

#CorporateComplicity "For the first time in France, and possibly for the first time ever, anywhere, an entire corporation had been put on trial and found criminally liable for enabling terrorism." @mashagessen.bsky.social on new chapter in the prosecution of war crimes that may begin.

This is one of her most brilliant essays! I've never read about the last hours of Lincoln's life. In an alternate world, what would our country be now if Abe and Mary had been able to take that trip to California? "The ideas of the Confederacy never became odious." open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

Where is your name, @usrepjimmypanetta.bsky.social?