This is the reality of Trump’s America: Your neighbors are being abducted, disappeared, and killed; free speech is an arrest-able offense; children and a FIFTH of the nation’s capitol are set to go hungry next month, and the president is busy demolishing the East Wing.

He refers to two Dems as “low IQ“ in this clip. Neither are white.

Good morning to the person who spelled “reciprocal” wrong this morning at the WH: www.whitehouse.gov/briefings-st...

RAJU: Why not bring members back to DC to do the work they're elected to do? MIKE JOHNSON: We're evaluating this day by day. The House did its work. House Republicans are doing some of the most meaningful work of their careers. I don't want to pull them away from it.

I understand the desire to think that mainstream institutions have bought into Trumpism. But that is inaccurate. It's more like pre-existing biases of mainstream institutions and Trumpism are a perfect fit.

The idea that whoever and whatever emerges victorious from an election is therefore good and legitimate betrays an incredibly empty understanding of what democracy is supposed to be, stripped of all substantive commitments that actually make it democratic.

He was elected president, and as president, his highest duty is to ensure that the laws of the land be executed faithfully. His job is to uphold the constitutional order, not tear it down and remake it in his image.

And finally, some thoughts on why the pervasive idea that Trump somehow deserves deference for what he is doing because that’s what “people voted for” gets the idea of democracy all wrong and merely perpetuates the Trumpist claim that they have a “mandate” to tear down the Republic.

The Tea Party never reached the magnitude of No Kings. Yet it was covered as if it represented “real America,” just like MAGA today. Those are not empirical assessments, but articles of faith – ideological claims about the world that are widely shared in the American mainstream discourse.

Ask yourself this: How would the New York Times have covered the protests if it had been seven million MAGA supporters flooding the streets? We don’t even have to guess: We know how they and other mainstream outlets covered the Tea Party protests during Obama’s first term.

In this piece: The New York Times did not think the No Kings protests were all that significant – which is indicative of how much mainstream institutions have bought into the idea that only Trump and his supporters represent “real America” and have a right to have their message amplified.

The people who think the government should be run like a business are killing something that has a 180% ROI. THAT is how you bankrupt a casino.

Pregnant Women, DON’T TAKE PARENTING ADVICE FROM A CONVICTED FELON WHO OWNED A TEENAGE BEAUTY PAGEANT AND HAS SHUT DOWN THE GOVERNMENT TO HIDE THE FACT THAT HE WAS BEST FRIENDS WITH THE MOST NOTORIOUS CHILD RAPIST IN MODERN HISTORY.

I REALLY recommend this. A reason I spend a lot more time on Bluesky than, say, X (which I deleted my acct for) or anything by Meta is that I have way more control over curating my experience here.

support whomever you’d like, but what is frustratingly dishonest about this take is that actual issue — the thing critics have identified as the problem — isn’t the decision of the 21-year old to get the tattoo, but of the judgment of the 40-year old who still has it.

Trump screws his voters again: He just denied disaster aid to Maryland (while giving it to red states). But I took a look and it turns out the suffering Maryland counties are in Appalachia and backed him by 40 and 54 points. On the pod, @stevebenen.com and I discuss: newrepublic.com/article/2022...

I continue to sincerely want the term “Kavanaugh Stop” to be a badge of shame for the rest of Brett Kavanaugh’s days; the only bit of writing he’s known or remembered for; his sole contribution to the Law; for him to perceive, in little stabs of self-awareness, that this will be his rancid legacy.

Someone needs to make a video where they give the cognitive test that Trump keeps bragging about to a bunch of middle schoolers.

The ballroom will cost $2,700 per square foot... to build an apartment building (which has lots and lots of plumbing) is like ~ $700 sqft ... what is he actually building?

im sorry you cant have food but we gave all our money to one guy who “invented” 2 day shipping and another thats promising robot butlers so you can see how our hands are tied

Mamdani did this without tacking to the center by accepting republican framing and throwing marginalized people under the bus or even apologizing for being socialist; something that party operatives who actually want to win might learn from.

The Constitution explicitly forbids this, but no matter.

That theory is wildly wrong (a VP candidate has to be eligible to become president) but why are you tossing him suggestions for how he can violate the Constitution? Who asked this? Is this what we can expect from the new and improved White House press corps?

Dear @nytimes, It is entirely possible to write a story about education without seeking comment from Chris Rufo. Sincerely, An actual educator

Democrats should run a TV ad in Mike Johnson's district, thanking his constituents for taking the hit on the SNAP shutdown and other government services they use all so Mike could keep the Epstein Files from coming out? "America's Richest Pedophiles Appreciate YOUR Sacrifice!"

🔥 @jolahtalks.bsky.social : “Every Trumper brings up the same hotel. You know why? BECAUSE NONE OF THIS HAS EVER AFFECTED YOUR LIFE…. Fox News just convinced you to be mad about it. If 20 million “invading” 🇺🇸 was a huge issue, all of you wouldn’t need to bring up the same damn example.”

Fun fact. Trump destruction of soybean exports (rightfully) gets lots of attention. But you know what we sell even more of to China? Education. 2024 soybean exports to China: $13B. Higher Ed: $14B. Yes, all those internat’l students count as *exports.* Trump is STILL actively destroying that market.

I think it's worth noting that most of Thompson's career was in the UK. When he transitioned to the US he worked for NYT, where he was IIRC the President and CEO

I just wish that when the chance comes to offer equal rights to a group of people who are somewhat different than the dominant group, we wouldn’t have to start at zero or less than zero every single time.

There are going to be a LOT of people in thrift shops this year. And in food banks. And at holiday soup kitchens. For the love of CHRIST - now that someone's brought this to your attention, please go through your stuff - for kids *and* for grown-ups - and for once, give some GOOD stuff away.

Apparently Aldi is doing a $40 thanksgiving dinner with turkey.

The reason they have free healthcare is because they were until recently relatively homogenous. And the reason we don't is because they were afraid Black people would have access. and the reason they're at risk of losing their healthcare is because their countries aren't as white as they once were

I don't know who needs to hear this, but if you have friends struggling through the shutdown, consider inviting them over for a family dinner this week. Make too much. Insist they take leftovers home. Some folks can't say they need help out loud but will appreciate the kindness.

there was a line of women waiting to use the sole working bathroom and the manager was almost in tears begging us to be quick, because she was afraid of “getting in trouble.” a genuinely unsettling experience. who’s out there gender policing Indiana’s gas station bathrooms and handing out tickets??

when we stopped at a gas station somewhere in rural Indiana earlier today, the women’s bathroom was closed so I went to use the men’s. the store manager ran over and frantically said women “aren’t allowed” to use that one—“we got a ticket last month.” what kinda piss fuckery is going on in Indiana

i made a helpful reference

SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live. Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps: * Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled * Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages

#nycpoli I'm sorry to give credit to anything on NextDoor but this is the best possible response to all the "if Mamdani wins I'm leaving the city" bitching.

Here’s why 40 inches of rain is possible: Higher temps allow the air to hold more water vapor. (Think about how it’s more humid in the summer). The more water a hurricane holds, the more rain it releases Hurricanes are also moving more slowly now so they just sit over land and dump all that water

The fact that the Hatch Act has just disappeared is not the worst violation of this government but it's a good microcosm of the problem with everything right now, e.g. laws are not self-enforcing

tossing a food bank a couple bucks won’t turn SNAP on. but you personally can’t turn SNAP on, and you maybe can toss a food bank a couple bucks.

My sustaining donor spiel: If you have a enough money to keep forgetting to unsubscribe to something, I highly recommend becoming a sustaining donor at the food bank (or other org) of your choice.

who creates the lively art and music scenes if the rent is too high? who makes cultural life? who serves you food or washes your dishes? who creates the fancy little restaurants that draw you to urban living? affordable housing is at the heart of what makes city life worthwhile.

I couldn’t help but draw something that just feels so damn wholesome. #CriticalRole #CriticalRoleFanart

this is a pretty simple one to figure out: it was bullshit and authoritarian when trump tried to rig and steal the 2020 election while lying about how legitimate results were rigged, it was not bullshit or authoritarian to state the fact that trump was trying to rig and steal that election

This is the guy who lied on the stand at a trial in LA, telling the jury he witnessed the defendant assault the ICE officer, when the video showed the ICE officer assault the defendant. The jury took an hour to acquit. He's referred to immigrants as "filth, trash, and scum."

Whenever people complain about the number of folks relying on food stamps, it is worth reminding them that SNAP is, by too large of a degree, a subsidy for corporations that refuse to pay a living wage and their political allies who reject public policy prescriptions to reduce income inequality.

*hurriedly tells Bugs Bunny to stop his sawing and wait just a minute in anticipation of a hopeful event*

this is something that individual members of Congress could do tomorrow. The government is shut down so they could use their district offices. I suggested in January that they turn those offices into full on community centers where people could find each other re: mutual aid etc...