47merc
@47merc.bsky.social
NYC boy, career journalist (news, features, book author), Vietnam combat veteran, dog whisperer, father of three married 50+ years, older and wiser (maybe), true patriot and lover of democracy, anti-trump and all who support him. Resist!
Pinned
Reposted by 47merc
Great piece explaining the how the Maduro arrest violates international law. @Just_Security. www.justsecurity.org/127981/inter...
International Law and the U.S. Military and Law Enforcement Operations in Venezuela
Experts survey the international law issues of Operation Absolute Resolve.
www.justsecurity.org
January 4, 2026 at 5:23 PM
Great piece explaining the how the Maduro arrest violates international law. @Just_Security. www.justsecurity.org/127981/inter...
Reposted by 47merc
Democrats need to force an impeachment of Hegseth, Rubio and Trump to the floor by getting a discharge petition signed on January 5th.
No need for hearings; the deliberate and blatant attack on law, order, and the Constitution is clear.
The President has usurped Congress’ Constitutional powers.
No need for hearings; the deliberate and blatant attack on law, order, and the Constitution is clear.
The President has usurped Congress’ Constitutional powers.
January 4, 2026 at 4:25 PM
Democrats need to force an impeachment of Hegseth, Rubio and Trump to the floor by getting a discharge petition signed on January 5th.
No need for hearings; the deliberate and blatant attack on law, order, and the Constitution is clear.
The President has usurped Congress’ Constitutional powers.
No need for hearings; the deliberate and blatant attack on law, order, and the Constitution is clear.
The President has usurped Congress’ Constitutional powers.
Reposted by 47merc
I think what we're witnessing is Marco Rubio discovering in real time that he is nowhere near as smart as he always thought he was lol
January 4, 2026 at 5:10 PM
I think what we're witnessing is Marco Rubio discovering in real time that he is nowhere near as smart as he always thought he was lol
Peace … through killing.
But it’s not a cult
Tom Emmer: "God bless this president of peace, Donald J Trump"
January 4, 2026 at 5:50 PM
Peace … through killing.
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Doublespeak is here. President of peace killing fishermen in the Caribbean & civilians in a sovereign nation. Bombing African nations, threatening Greenland and Canada and Cuba and Columbia. Absolute worst society has to offer = maga
January 4, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Doublespeak is here. President of peace killing fishermen in the Caribbean & civilians in a sovereign nation. Bombing African nations, threatening Greenland and Canada and Cuba and Columbia. Absolute worst society has to offer = maga
Reposted by 47merc
Quite simply, any mail-in voter must now place their ballot in the mail at least ONE WEEK sooner than they might have in previous years...or be encouraged to return them in person, if possible.
We need to message around this consistently from this point forward.
www.masslive.com/news/2026/01...
We need to message around this consistently from this point forward.
www.masslive.com/news/2026/01...
Mail-in voting faces new hurdle as postal service formalizes postmark practice
Guidelines announced on Dec. 24 allow postmarks to reflect processing date rather than mailing date, affecting 14 states with grace periods for late-arriving ballots, including Massachusetts.
www.masslive.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Quite simply, any mail-in voter must now place their ballot in the mail at least ONE WEEK sooner than they might have in previous years...or be encouraged to return them in person, if possible.
We need to message around this consistently from this point forward.
www.masslive.com/news/2026/01...
We need to message around this consistently from this point forward.
www.masslive.com/news/2026/01...
Reposted by 47merc
“In a telephone interview this morning, President Donald Trump issued a not-so-veiled threat against the new Venezuelan leader, Delcy Rodríguez, saying that “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,”
EXCLUSIVE: In an interview with Michael Scherer, Donald Trump threatened Venezuela’s interim leader, Delcy Rodríguez, with a fate worse than Maduro’s; defended regime change in the country; and expressed renewed interest in the U.S. seizing Greenland.
Trump: Delcy Rodríguez Might Be Next
The president told The Atlantic that the interim Venezuelan president will meet a fate worse than Maduro’s unless she complies with U.S. wishes.
bit.ly
January 4, 2026 at 5:35 PM
“In a telephone interview this morning, President Donald Trump issued a not-so-veiled threat against the new Venezuelan leader, Delcy Rodríguez, saying that “if she doesn’t do what’s right, she is going to pay a very big price, probably bigger than Maduro,”
Reposted by 47merc
As we fret about Venezuela, the administration is quietly attempting to upend mail-in voting.
Thousands of mail-in ballots could be discounted under new post office policy
The Postal Service is no longer guaranteeing when it will postmark mail, which could jeopardize some ballots that arrive after Election Day.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 4, 2026 at 5:39 PM
As we fret about Venezuela, the administration is quietly attempting to upend mail-in voting.
Reposted by 47merc
My new look, courtesy of Columbia Journalism Review, via The 11th Hour on what was then MSNBC. This image served as we used to call "the art" for this podcast. bsky.app/profile/colu... Topic: "The internet that promised so much: what went wrong..."
January 4, 2026 at 5:39 PM
My new look, courtesy of Columbia Journalism Review, via The 11th Hour on what was then MSNBC. This image served as we used to call "the art" for this podcast. bsky.app/profile/colu... Topic: "The internet that promised so much: what went wrong..."
Reposted by 47merc
The work that @atrupar.com does is more important now than ever before. Public Notice is a great newsletter and well worth subscribing to.
As 2026 begins, let me note that if you appreciate me rising and grinding to bring you the newsiest clips from the Sunday shows, please support what I do by signing up for my newsletter. You'll enjoy Public Notice and paid subscribers make these clips possible. Thanks.
Subscribe to Public Notice
Sign up for independent, incisive coverage of US politics and media, right in your inbox five times a week. Click to read Public Notice, by Aaron Rupar, a Substack publication with hundreds of thousan...
www.publicnotice.co
January 4, 2026 at 5:43 PM
The work that @atrupar.com does is more important now than ever before. Public Notice is a great newsletter and well worth subscribing to.
Reposted by 47merc
Translation:
"I don't know, nobody tells me anything"
"I don't know, nobody tells me anything"
January 4, 2026 at 3:40 PM
Translation:
"I don't know, nobody tells me anything"
"I don't know, nobody tells me anything"
Reposted by 47merc
Optionality? Hoooooooboy. Hell of a word for having the forward planning skills of a 3 year old on a Red Bull bender.
January 4, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Optionality? Hoooooooboy. Hell of a word for having the forward planning skills of a 3 year old on a Red Bull bender.
Reposted by 47merc
Trump has promised a Health Plan for 10+ years. HE NEVER HAS A PLAN!
January 4, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Trump has promised a Health Plan for 10+ years. HE NEVER HAS A PLAN!
El Caudillo de Venez-oil-a.
The Dear Leader of Venezuela has installed himself as El Presidente and honored himself for his valor and YUGE achievements by promoting himself to Lt Colonel Master General, His Majesty Donald Trump, Commander of all Venezuelan forces. He also took control of their SVU unit calling it a Witch Hunt.
January 4, 2026 at 3:57 PM
El Caudillo de Venez-oil-a.
Reposted by 47merc
The Dear Leader of Venezuela has installed himself as El Presidente and honored himself for his valor and YUGE achievements by promoting himself to Lt Colonel Master General, His Majesty Donald Trump, Commander of all Venezuelan forces. He also took control of their SVU unit calling it a Witch Hunt.
January 4, 2026 at 3:38 PM
The Dear Leader of Venezuela has installed himself as El Presidente and honored himself for his valor and YUGE achievements by promoting himself to Lt Colonel Master General, His Majesty Donald Trump, Commander of all Venezuelan forces. He also took control of their SVU unit calling it a Witch Hunt.
Okay! There is no plan!
BRENNAN: To be clear, there is no plan for US occupation of this country of nearly 30 million people?
MARCO RUBIO: The president always retains optionality on anything and on all of these matters
MARCO RUBIO: The president always retains optionality on anything and on all of these matters
January 4, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Okay! There is no plan!
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January 4, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Reposted by 47merc
Yep, just coincidences...🙄
January 4, 2026 at 3:44 PM
Yep, just coincidences...🙄
It’s Rube who’s confused.
BRENNAN: You're describing the regime as still in place. I'm confused why the Trump admin only arrested Maduro. The chief thug who controls the police & has $25m price on his head is still in place
RUBIO: You're confused?
B: They are still in power
R: You're gonna go in & suck up 5 more people?
RUBIO: You're confused?
B: They are still in power
R: You're gonna go in & suck up 5 more people?
January 4, 2026 at 3:55 PM
It’s Rube who’s confused.
Reposted by 47merc
Reposted by 47merc
From veterans refusing to support an illegal war to unions securing raises across the country, resistance is building. ✊
Catch up on the latest major stories you might have missed this weekend:
Catch up on the latest major stories you might have missed this weekend:
We Will Not Comply: Veterans Refuse To Support Trump’s War, New York Purges Trump-Backed Corruption, and Cultural Icons Walk Away From The Kennedy Center
Plus, unions score raises for workers across America
www.dworkinsubstack.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:45 PM
From veterans refusing to support an illegal war to unions securing raises across the country, resistance is building. ✊
Catch up on the latest major stories you might have missed this weekend:
Catch up on the latest major stories you might have missed this weekend:
Reposted by 47merc
Imagine if, instead, that (hoarded) wealth was invested in efforts to fix the environmental damage we’ve caused, to feed and educate people, and on health care for all. Maybe they wouldn’t feel the need to isolate out of fear of their fellow humans.
Wealth inequality is dangerous for everyone.
Wealth inequality is dangerous for everyone.
Now you know why Zuckerberg is building a massive bunker and why the Trump admin needs the massive ballroom (aka bunker).
The regular Americans (lowly working class) are screwed.
#ProudBlue #Pinks #OneV1
The regular Americans (lowly working class) are screwed.
#ProudBlue #Pinks #OneV1
January 4, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Imagine if, instead, that (hoarded) wealth was invested in efforts to fix the environmental damage we’ve caused, to feed and educate people, and on health care for all. Maybe they wouldn’t feel the need to isolate out of fear of their fellow humans.
Wealth inequality is dangerous for everyone.
Wealth inequality is dangerous for everyone.
Reposted by 47merc
Another galling example of this: It's been said that Trump's hatred of the "deep state" is rooted in hatred of its "warmongering." But Trump hates the deep state because it tried to hold him accountable for his crimes and because a professional civil service is a barrier to authoritarian corruption!
January 4, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Another galling example of this: It's been said that Trump's hatred of the "deep state" is rooted in hatred of its "warmongering." But Trump hates the deep state because it tried to hold him accountable for his crimes and because a professional civil service is a barrier to authoritarian corruption!
Brilliant analysis.
Marco Rubio on comparisons between Venezuela and Iraq: "People need to stop describing the apples of the Middle East to the oranges of the Western Hemisphere
January 4, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Brilliant analysis.
This, explained.
January 4, 2026 at 12:44 PM
This, explained.