Completely outrageous move by FBI leadership, but reassuring to see there are honorable senior agents pushing back.

BREAKING: Today, over 1,000 former DOJ officials who served in both Republican & Democratic administrations—have released a letter condemning the unprecedented, politically motivated indictment of fmr. FBI Director James Comey. Read their letter: protdem.org/3ITOo0Y

In China, this sort of thing is referred to as “the Great Firewall.” So Trump is looking to the Chinese communist party as the role model for controlling access to information.

FYI @karaswisher.bsky.social

Another shameless move to eliminate congressionally-approved spending. Eliminating funding for the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency is unlawful and should only be understood as another attack by the Trump regime on oversight and accountability.

New OPM guidance says OMB "has determined" agencies may do work on mass firings during shutdowns. This seems like a blatant Antideficiency Act violation, which caries criminal penalties. However, the Trump admin won't prosecute itself, so this is yet more broken budget laws from the Trump admin 🧵

Maine GOP Sen. Collins says Trump should be sued by GAO for illegally canceling funds GAO definitely should sue.

“My point is that there is something larger going on here than a domestic cut in health care spending, which—while horrible—was at least duly voted upon by Congress. That something is a systematic disregard for the laws Congress passes.”

NEW: Rachel Maddow drops unseen bodycam footage of feds coordinating the arrest of Newark Mayor Baraka. I REPEAT: the feds ordered his arrest even though he wasn’t breaking any laws. Federal agent: “We are arresting the mayor right now per the Deputy Attorney General of the United States.”

The toddler comparison in this piece describing who’s to blame for the government shutdown (Russ Vought) is amazing.

The federal law enforcement officers who were assaulted on January 6 must be reassured that DOJ has their backs. DOJ “will stand strong when federal law enforcement officers are attacked or threatened for doing their sworn duty on behalf of the United States government.”

I’m sure your voters who struggle to pay bills, including their medical expenses, are happy for you.

On January 20, Trump gave a blanket pardon to 1500+ rioters responsible for the #January6 Capitol attack, including Aiden Henry Bilyard. Bilyard pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement—he sprayed officers with pepper spray. Bilyard was sentenced to 40 months in prison.

Portland’s Chicken Man looks extremely dangerous. I bet he even crosses roads for no good reason. No wonder Portland is “war-ravaged.”

#Maine #fall

On Jan 20, Trump gave a blanket pardon to 1500+ rioters involved in the #January6 Capitol attack, including Mark Andrew Mazza. Mazza pleaded guilty to assaulting officers and carrying a weapon w/o a license. He carried two loaded firearms into the Capitol. He was sentenced to 60 months in prison.

The point of funding deals is to secure money that helps people. If the administration plans to just illegally ignore any deal you make with them, what’s the point of making a deal? Don’t take it from me, take it from,,,,, Steve Womack, a senior GOP appropriator.

#Maine Maiden’s Cliff and Megunticook Lake.

“For Trump, the Comey indictment isn’t just the culmination of years of grievance; it’s a potential signifier of a new phase of his presidency, when Trump uses the hammer of the state to try and prosecute his political rivals.”

Does the Trump administration actually care about veterans and their ability to thrive in post-service life? The evidence is clear that they do not. Just one example 👇

While Trump is getting rid of U.S. Attorneys who won’t gun up prosecutions against his enemies, his Justice Department is quietly closing investigations into members of his own administration (apparently at Bove’s direction) www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/t...

"Homan…indicated he would facilitate securing contracts for them in exchange for money once he was in office.…On Sept. 20, 2024, with hidden cameras recording the scene at a meeting spot in Texas, Homan accepted $50,000 in bills" Reporting by @carolleonnig.bsky.social & @kendilanian-nbc.bsky.social

I just received an email solicitation from a group raising money to support “the J6 hostages.” I couldn’t click unsubscribe fast enough or hard enough. The insurrectionists will never receive a dime or a good word from me.

Happy birthday to the Constitution. We need to remember and adhere to constitutional principles now more than ever.

I have questions.

Nice to hear MAGA folks complaining about violent rhetoric. Surely, then, we'll hear an apology for all of this stuff: www.thebulwark.com/p/donald-tru...

The National Guard should be doing what they’ve been trained to do and not should not be used for political purposes. #notthemission

“Calling people a fascist is dangerous, violent rhetoric.” ... Here's a compilation of Trump doing precisely that: ht: @micaherfan.com

This may be one of the most, if not the most, irresponsible Oval Office statements ever made.

The administration is setting the stage for a full-year continuing resolution for the second straight year. This is no way to run the government.

Trump said he would end Russia’s war against Ukraine “in 24 hours.” On day 233 of his presidency, the war continues. Russia murdered 23 Ukrainian pensioners in an airstrike. Stand with #Ukraine🇺🇦 Слава Україні!

On Jan 20, Trump gave a blanket pardon to 1500+ rioters involved in the #January6 Capitol attack, including Gregory Purdy. Purdy was convicted of six felonies, including assaulting law enforcement. Now, House R’s have stood up a panel to attempt to rewrite history of Jan 6. They’re shameless.

The Trump administration is unlawfully withholding funds approved by Congress and enacted into law. The tally of withheld funds and funds that potentially may be withheld by September 30 is more than $410 billion, according to Appropriations Committee Democrats.

Your periodic reminder that you should stick with credible news sources like @chicago.suntimes.com for info on what is and what isn't happening in Chicago re: ICE. Don't share posts from random accounts. Just don't. chicago.suntimes.com/chicago/2025...

Few, if any, JAGs are familiar with immigration law. But this administration doesn’t care. The expectation will be to just sign deportation orders; don’t worry about the law.

You know you’re too damn early getting to the airport when the motion-activated lights in the gate waiting area turn on when you get to your gate.

Ten former House and Senate, Appropriations Committee and Budget Committee, staff directors wrote to House & Senate leaders and Appropriations Committee chairs and ranking members to oppose the illegitimate “pocket rescissions” sent to Congress by the Trump administration. Good work.

I wrote down some thoughts on the coming congressional debate to keep the government running past September 30. Nerdy stuff, but it’s important.

Budget nerd alert - OMB is making significant changes to its key budget formulation/execution guidance to federal agencies. These changes make impoundment easier, defying the Constitution and good governance. Congress holds the power of the purse under the Constitution. Russ Vought doesn’t care.

Visited the Polonne Sunflower Garden in front of the Russian embassy today. The garden is there to remind the Russians that we support Ukraine in the war Putin started. And it’s there to annoy them. We helped to plant the garden, and it’s great to see it doing so well.

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety." Benjamin Franklin, 1759

Maine is *ALWAYS* ahead of the curve!

On Jan 20, Trump gave a blanket pardon to 1500+ rioters involved in the #January6 Capitol attack, including Gregory Lamar Nix. Nix pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement and was sentenced to 42 months in prison. He assaulted a police officer with a flagpole then threw the flagpole at him.

Trump said he would end Russia’s war against Ukraine “in 24 hours.” On day 223 of his presidency, the war continues. So Trump is getting “irritated” about the pace of negotiations. Can he imagine how “irritated” Ukrainians are when they are bombed every night? Stand with #Ukraine🇺🇦 Слава Україні!

I did some local tourism today on the National Mall, and I want to share the sights from the nation’s capital. Three words to describe the National Guard personnel I encountered: courteous, respectful, and bored.

Oh, this article is good… “But inside the soul of each unwitting service member is a warfighter who grows more lethal with each cigarette butt lifted from the mean streets of the National Mall.” www.militarytimes.com/off-duty/mil...

“…I am infuriated that the Air Force plans to grant military funeral honors to Ashli Babbitt. She did not die defending the Constitution. She died trying to overturn it.” My latest in @thebulwark.com www.thebulwark.com/p/honoring-a...

Trump sent a “pocket rescission proposal” to Congress. It’s not a proposal; it’s a power grab. There’s a reason why the Framers gave the power of the purse to Congress - they knew that when kings control the purse strings, the people suffer. oakd.substack.com/p/budgetocracy