Oligarchy (noun): A government of and by a few at the top, who exercise power for their own benefit. Their power and wealth increase as they make laws that favor themselves, manipulate financial markets, and create monopolies that put more wealth into their pockets.

Among our most-read stories of 2025: Afghan scholar Mohammad Halimi, who fled the Taliban in 2021, had worked to help U.S. diplomats understand his homeland. Then DOGE put his family’s lives at risk by exposing his sensitive work for a U.S.-funded nonprofit. (Published Aug. 2025)

NEW: I haven't forgotten about the Epstein Files. I've filed my response to the government in my ongoing FOIA battle to get the redaction training videos, and I break it down here: www.muellershewrote.com/p/my-pursuit...

From Greenland to Venezuela to Iran the world is on edge this evening after the United States' actions over the past 24 hours. Meanwhile, at home, the Trump DOJ is violating the law again. A major update. Subscribe to support: open.substack.com/pub/aaronpar...

Rubio, “It was about Maduro, it really was! They better give us their oil if they know what’s good for them!”

Does anyone really think a guy who raped children has a conscience? Trump is a Dictator and that’s our reality. Either we do something about it, or this is who we are…the leaders of the Axis of Evil. He is not going to stop. What country is next?

Eric Swalwell nailed it yesterday when he said, “He couldn’t run a casino, and now he’s going to run a country in South America while he fails to run a country in North America?”

Has anyone thought about the millions of $ that Trump is throwing at his personal Stazi or black shirt army? Why would anyone enlist in the service if you can make more money in T’s personal army. Esp. if you have no conscience. Better than a policeman because no one is trying to kill you.

"Fascists strive impotently for a bigness the shrunken aspirations of their soul can never reach. Fascism is the banal dream of tiny men and deserves its place in the sewage of history." Good @mattpolprof.bsky.social on fascism's hatred of left, relevant now: www.currentaffairs.org/news/why-fas...

I’ll be on MSNOW talking to my friend @velshi.com about Trump and Venezuela live at 10am Eastern.

Maduro’s capture and the new 51st state. Check out my take on substack: substack.com/@thefrankfig... “You can do a good thing and do it for horrible reasons.”

Members of Congress: stop posting online and APPEAR, PHYSICALLY on the steps of the Capitol to decry this unconstitutional violation of domestic & international law. SHOW THE PEOPLE the level of danger we are facing as a country. @housedemocrats.bsky.social @senatedemocrats.bsky.social

Goooooood morning Venezuela.. (OG folk will hear the above in Robin Williams voice)

CBS News has capitulated but Democracy Docket never will. I created it without any corporate backers or private equity investors. It's only accountable to its members who help support its 22-person team. Become one now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0

For everyone disgusted by legacy media gaslighting—I’m a human rights lawyer who writes and interviews daily on the critical human rights issues that impact us all. My standard is justice. All my articles are fact checked with a receipt. And no paywall, ever. Join us: www.qasimrashid.com/subscribe

Unlike CBS, I believe that the media should take into account the perspectives of those advocating for free and fair elections. I started Democracy Docket to do just that -- provide you news, information and analysis of what is happening to democracy in court. Sign up now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0

Russian banks just went into crisis mode! Collapse possible.

The stain of this Lawless Pedo-Prez will never come off the Republican Party! The real project 2026! Vote Blue!! LFG!!! 👇 🔥🔥

Fraudulent Behavior. Where have we seen this before⁉️🤨

Just in case you thought the whole world wasn't privy to what's going on here in America in regards to 47. There is a literal site called the trump action tracker. In case anyone is interested. #SheShed

Well we all no the answer, but let the EAC wear egg!

“Can’t believe NYC elected a Muslim as mayor.” In truth—a Black American Christian woman swearing in a Ugandan American Muslim of South Asian ethnicity as his Syrian American wife holds the Qurans he swears in on, all while standing on the steps of a subway station—is the most NYC thing imaginable.

At year end, the dividing line in politics today is defined by dignity. Dignity is something that can't be taken away. It can only be surrendered voluntarily. We saw the most powerful business leaders willing to surrender dignity while everyday Americans stood tall.

Wow.

This is Trump’s long game. We’ve spent years cracking down on fraudsters. It’s a serious issue - but this has been his plan all along. He’s politicizing the issue to defund programs that help Minnesotans. www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/hhs...

If, in the last year, you have enjoyed something I have written or a piece on the Democracy Docket website, consider becoming a Democracy Docket member to support its pro-democracy mission and to access all its premium content. hubs.ly/Q03CbHTt0

Did you know? Last year, Minnesota eliminated prison gerrymandering. The law, signed by Tim Walz in the spring, ended the practice of counting incarcerated people where prisons are located, which skews political power within the state.

Today I wrote about how this year many large institutions -- media, law, business -- sacrificed their dignity for profits. It is more vital than ever to support independent pro-democracy outlets. Become a Democracy Docket member to access premium content and support its work. hubs.ly/Q03CbHTt0

Cartoon by Clay Jones @claytoonz.bsky.social Support Clay at open.substack.com/pub/claytoonz/

Cartoon by Pedro X. Molina @pxmolina.bsky.social Support Pedro at pxmolina.substack.com

In what has to be the cartooning story of the year Ann Telnaes left The Washington Post after they refused to run her cartoon of billionaire oligarchs paying tribute to Donald Trump.

Cartoon by Mike Smith, Las Vegas Sun

NEW: Our reporter visited a potential source’s home, where he introduced himself as a reporter and they had a pleasant conversation. A few days later, VA Secretary Doug Collins sent out a tweet that accused our reporter of trying to “stalk” the employee.

And you might spend less time online allowing yourself to be influenced by Mean World propaganda in 2026. You'll feel much better if you limit your information consumption and go out and meet people and create community and save democracy in America: www.zocalopublicsquare.org/what-happens...

December 28, 2025

“MAGA diehards and ‘America First’ ideologues have become so numb to the suffering of others that they see Trump’s transgressions and human rights abuses as cause for celebration rather than deep national scars and misdeeds for which we will someday be forced to atone.” open.substack.com/pub/noelcas

When I wasn't happy with big law, I built my own law firm to protect democracy. When I saw what corporate overlords were doing to the media, I decided to build Democracy Docket. But I need your help for it to grow and thrive. Support its 22 person team by becoming a member today. hubs.ly/Q03CbHTt0

As families come together to light the kinara, Jen and I wish all those celebrating a joyful Kwanzaa.   May the seven principles of Kwanzaa, in particular community, purpose, and unity, guide our way toward a better future.   Happy Kwanzaa, California!

NEWS: Bipartisan Condemnation of Justice Department grows as Epstein Files continue to engulf Trump. ICE builds out massive surveillance state to target citizens and non-citizens. An important post-Christmas update. Subscribe to support if you can! open.substack.com/pub/aaronpar...

Job interview.

I've spent 30 years fighting to protect free and fair elections. From county courtrooms to the U.S. Supreme Court, I've argued and won cases that have helped decide elections. I started Democracy Docket to share most important information and analysis with you. Sign-up now. hubs.ly/Q03CbHTt0

The right to vote is currently treated as second-class, unlike the right to own guns. Although the right to bear arms seems unrelated, developing new pro-democracy theories requires seeking inspiration in the most unlikely of places, Marc Elias writes.

I'm not in a position to give a Christmas gift to everyone who reads this feed so instead I'll simply say that I've only rarely had the experience of knowing a book is one of my ten favorites as I'm still reading it for the first time and I CHEERFULLY REFUSE is basically perfect

CBS News has capitulated but Democracy Docket never will. I created it without any corporate backers or private equity investors. It's only accountable to its members who help support its 22-person team. Become one now. hubs.ly/Q03M8rql0

Why does flying suck so much these days? Here are five things that ruined air travel (and the rest of our economy). https://youtu.be/eTzaMXXelew?si=3rHJ7gqtgthx2LI1

Calling criticism “TDS” is how adults avoid acting like adults. My latest piece is an indictment of trump’s enablers and the damage they’re doing. Check out my Substack here:https://brooklyndaddefiant.substack.com/p/its-time-to-retire-that-idiotic-tds

“Over the last 48 hours, the faux-free speech warrior, faux-queer rights advocate, and arguably faux-journalist “editor-in-chief” of CBS News decided to drop the mask; she opted to go full fash, as the kids say.” - @petertwinklage.bsky.social for Zeteo’s First Draft:

Trump’s corruption is sprawling & documented We @democracydefendersfund.org are challenging abuses like the Qatari jet & crypto profits through over 237 legal cases & matters Courts are pushing back—but but the ultimate guardrail is the American people I explained on @ms.now👇

From time to time I burden you with some personal stuff, based on my belief that our values begin with who we are and where we came from. I wanted to share some thoughts on what it means to get older. https://robertreich.substack.com/p/you-look-great