Lee Wheelock Butz
@americandn.bsky.social
News/Politics junky. Sky Islander. Proud, enrolled Oneida. Bear Down, Boiler Up, GoPackGo. My opinions - take them or leave them.
Pinned
Lee Wheelock Butz
@americandn.bsky.social
· Dec 14
"Opinion is the medium between knowledge and ignorance." - Plato
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Home ownership is now out-of-reach for many Americans. @matthewstoller.bsky.social says that's because starter homes "don't exist anymore," and business and government have forgotten that "homes are for people to live in," not investments. #Velshi
Matt Stoller: How 'oligarchs' and 'extraction' fueled America's housing crisis
Home ownership is now out-of-reach for many Americans. “Homes are for people to live in,” says Matt Stoller of the American Economic Liberties Project, but he warns big landlords are "building homes for money, not people." President Trump claims to care about home affordability, but Stoller insists his administration is actually "on the side of oligarchs."
www.msnbc.com
November 16, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Home ownership is now out-of-reach for many Americans. @matthewstoller.bsky.social says that's because starter homes "don't exist anymore," and business and government have forgotten that "homes are for people to live in," not investments. #Velshi
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Such bullshit. Trump doesn’t need the House to vote to release the Epstein files. Trump could just order Pam Bondi to release the files. Tomorrow morning.
Trump now says House Republicans should vote to release the Epstein files “because we have nothing to hide”
November 17, 2025 at 3:16 AM
Such bullshit. Trump doesn’t need the House to vote to release the Epstein files. Trump could just order Pam Bondi to release the files. Tomorrow morning.
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
bit.ly/4oNgsD5
"Trump capitulated because he did not want to suffer a crushing defeat in the House . . . Trump’s half-baked announcement is curious because he can circumvent the need for a congressional vote merely by ordering the DOJ to release the files."
"Trump capitulated because he did not want to suffer a crushing defeat in the House . . . Trump’s half-baked announcement is curious because he can circumvent the need for a congressional vote merely by ordering the DOJ to release the files."
Trump surrenders, calls for release of Epstein files!
November 16, 2025
bit.ly
November 17, 2025 at 6:32 AM
bit.ly/4oNgsD5
"Trump capitulated because he did not want to suffer a crushing defeat in the House . . . Trump’s half-baked announcement is curious because he can circumvent the need for a congressional vote merely by ordering the DOJ to release the files."
"Trump capitulated because he did not want to suffer a crushing defeat in the House . . . Trump’s half-baked announcement is curious because he can circumvent the need for a congressional vote merely by ordering the DOJ to release the files."
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
The excuse Trump, Vance, Bessent and every member of the admin constantly uses is things are so bad because of what “they inherited.” What about what Biden inherited? Has everyone forgotten Jan 2021? Economy in shambles, global supply chain a mess, global inflation, J6 aftermath.
November 14, 2025 at 3:06 AM
The excuse Trump, Vance, Bessent and every member of the admin constantly uses is things are so bad because of what “they inherited.” What about what Biden inherited? Has everyone forgotten Jan 2021? Economy in shambles, global supply chain a mess, global inflation, J6 aftermath.
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
"All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved."
Sun Tzu - The Art Of War
🧵👇🏼 for a moment of reflection
Sun Tzu - The Art Of War
🧵👇🏼 for a moment of reflection
November 11, 2025 at 1:05 AM
"All men can see these tactics whereby I conquer, but what none can see is the strategy out of which victory is evolved."
Sun Tzu - The Art Of War
🧵👇🏼 for a moment of reflection
Sun Tzu - The Art Of War
🧵👇🏼 for a moment of reflection
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
When Massachusetts passed a "millionaires tax" in 2023, conservatives claimed the rich would flee.
But two years later, they haven't — and MA has collected $5.7B for infrastructure and public education.
A reminder that positive change can still happen at the state level.
But two years later, they haven't — and MA has collected $5.7B for infrastructure and public education.
A reminder that positive change can still happen at the state level.
October 24, 2025 at 10:01 PM
When Massachusetts passed a "millionaires tax" in 2023, conservatives claimed the rich would flee.
But two years later, they haven't — and MA has collected $5.7B for infrastructure and public education.
A reminder that positive change can still happen at the state level.
But two years later, they haven't — and MA has collected $5.7B for infrastructure and public education.
A reminder that positive change can still happen at the state level.
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
A #BlueskyLullaby for tonight: Just a couple days ago, these two Swedish musicians—classical guitarist Emil Ernebro and harmonicist Filip Jers—released this cover of the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." It's jammin' and it's lovely. See you around.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAmh...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAmh...
”While My Guitar Gently Weeps” - harmonica and guitar cover by Filip Jers & Emil Ernebro
YouTube video by Filip Jers Music
www.youtube.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:28 AM
A #BlueskyLullaby for tonight: Just a couple days ago, these two Swedish musicians—classical guitarist Emil Ernebro and harmonicist Filip Jers—released this cover of the Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps." It's jammin' and it's lovely. See you around.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAmh...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAmh...
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
A federal judge just ruled that Donald Trump is trying "to deny Americans their birthright." Trump is a serial violator of the Constitution. But Congress CAN STOP HIM & save the republic. Call your elected officials early and often. Red states, blue states, it doesn't matter.
Pressure bursts pipes.
Pressure bursts pipes.
October 5, 2025 at 7:28 PM
A federal judge just ruled that Donald Trump is trying "to deny Americans their birthright." Trump is a serial violator of the Constitution. But Congress CAN STOP HIM & save the republic. Call your elected officials early and often. Red states, blue states, it doesn't matter.
Pressure bursts pipes.
Pressure bursts pipes.
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
The thing about a lot of these never Trump Republicans is that, unlike a lot of institutionalist Dems who think the fever will break and we can all return to comity or whatever, these guys saw the rot up close and know the only appropriate response is to tear them out of government root and branch.
If you had told me in 2012 that Mitt Romney’s presidential campaign manager would be posting like this 13 years later i would not have believed you
August 31, 2025 at 2:22 AM
The thing about a lot of these never Trump Republicans is that, unlike a lot of institutionalist Dems who think the fever will break and we can all return to comity or whatever, these guys saw the rot up close and know the only appropriate response is to tear them out of government root and branch.
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Just finished the Spike Lee documentary released 20 years after Hurricane Katrina. Make time if you can.
New Orleans’ Own Tell Their Stories in Katrina: Come Hell and High Water
Twenty years after the disaster, docuseries gathers fresh reflections from survivors.
www.netflix.com
August 31, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Just finished the Spike Lee documentary released 20 years after Hurricane Katrina. Make time if you can.
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
New Mexico is overriding the federal government on the topic of COVID19 vaccines to ensure their residents can access them.
States hold a tremendous amount of public health power. They should use it.
States hold a tremendous amount of public health power. They should use it.
State steps in to ensure access to COVID-19 vaccine
Public health order counters potential limitations set by the USFDA
www.koat.com
August 31, 2025 at 2:53 AM
New Mexico is overriding the federal government on the topic of COVID19 vaccines to ensure their residents can access them.
States hold a tremendous amount of public health power. They should use it.
States hold a tremendous amount of public health power. They should use it.
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
They’re doing all this to prevent people from MEMORIALIZING A MASS SHOOTING
The DeSantis administration currently has at least seven Florida Highway Patrol troopers just on anti-chalk duty: Two watching from a Dunkin Donuts next door and five more parked in the lot right behind them.
August 30, 2025 at 11:53 PM
They’re doing all this to prevent people from MEMORIALIZING A MASS SHOOTING
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Who voted for war with Venezuela?
August 31, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Who voted for war with Venezuela?
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
It’s “theological malpractice” to "pray for something you have the power to change" said @brotherjones.bsky.social in response to lawmakers offering prayers after the MN shooting.
Facts from @gregoryjacksonjr.bsky.social: “There are more gun stores than there are McDonald's in our country"
Facts from @gregoryjacksonjr.bsky.social: “There are more gun stores than there are McDonald's in our country"
‘More gun stores than there are McDonald's’: Gun violence is a ‘dark stain on American history’
The tragic mass shooting at Annunciation Catholic School’s church this week “brought back flashbacks,” says Tennessee State Representative Justin Jones. “This is cruelty, and we should be outraged,” connecting this latest tragedy to the school shooting his own community endured two years ago. Fmr. deputy director of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention Gregory Jackson, stressed the urgent need for stronger oversight of the gun industry, and all the recent progress that has been actively dismantled by the Trump administration. “President Trump is protecting an industry that now his family is profiting from.”
www.msnbc.com
August 30, 2025 at 8:01 PM
It’s “theological malpractice” to "pray for something you have the power to change" said @brotherjones.bsky.social in response to lawmakers offering prayers after the MN shooting.
Facts from @gregoryjacksonjr.bsky.social: “There are more gun stores than there are McDonald's in our country"
Facts from @gregoryjacksonjr.bsky.social: “There are more gun stores than there are McDonald's in our country"
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Americans are begging for Democratic leadership to get off the mat and back into the fight.
If you’re a political leader in this country and are not prepared to fight with both hands, not prepared to make “good trouble”, then perhaps you should step aside and make space for those who will. #Velshi.
If you’re a political leader in this country and are not prepared to fight with both hands, not prepared to make “good trouble”, then perhaps you should step aside and make space for those who will. #Velshi.
Where is the Party?: time for Democratic leaders to ‘fight with both hands’ or ‘step aside’
Even in easy times, this democracy needs care. And right now it is in dire need of defense. And it needs defenders who are willing to do whatever it takes. Americans are begging for more. Begging for Democrats to get off the mat and back into the fight. If political leaders in this country are not prepared to fight with both hands, and are not prepared to make “good trouble”, then perhaps they should step aside and make space for those who will.
www.msnbc.com
August 30, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Americans are begging for Democratic leadership to get off the mat and back into the fight.
If you’re a political leader in this country and are not prepared to fight with both hands, not prepared to make “good trouble”, then perhaps you should step aside and make space for those who will. #Velshi.
If you’re a political leader in this country and are not prepared to fight with both hands, not prepared to make “good trouble”, then perhaps you should step aside and make space for those who will. #Velshi.
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
NEW: Leaders of a small Arizona city ramped up affordable housing & services like soup kitchens for homeless people. In response, a former mayor got angry & tried to recall them. But they survived the recalls this month.
Bolts reports on what's happening—& the warring responses to homelessness:
Bolts reports on what's happening—& the warring responses to homelessness:
Facing Arizona’s Crackdown on Homelessness, Two Cities Offer Different Responses - Bolts
Fewer than 250 voters cast a ballot in a South Tucson recall election this month targeting the mayor and two allies in city council. The three officials, Mayor Roxy Valenzuela... Read More
boltsmag.org
August 22, 2025 at 6:34 PM
NEW: Leaders of a small Arizona city ramped up affordable housing & services like soup kitchens for homeless people. In response, a former mayor got angry & tried to recall them. But they survived the recalls this month.
Bolts reports on what's happening—& the warring responses to homelessness:
Bolts reports on what's happening—& the warring responses to homelessness:
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
You can’t bend reality; you can shatter trust. Politicized stats fool no one—markets, the Fed, and CEOs will ignore propaganda—but they will all suffer without reliable data. Break the thermometer, and you still have a fever. And without reliable diagnostic tools, you won't get the right medicine.
August 20, 2025 at 9:56 PM
You can’t bend reality; you can shatter trust. Politicized stats fool no one—markets, the Fed, and CEOs will ignore propaganda—but they will all suffer without reliable data. Break the thermometer, and you still have a fever. And without reliable diagnostic tools, you won't get the right medicine.
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Coffee prices are soaring under Trump. He doesn't want you to wake up.
August 20, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Coffee prices are soaring under Trump. He doesn't want you to wake up.
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Brief thread.👇
The White House has a secret blacklist of U.S. companies — basically based on how loudly they praise Trump, according to Axios.
I know folks are nervous about the word “authoritarian.”
But a “loyalty scorecard” sounds pretty damn authoritarian to me.
I know folks are nervous about the word “authoritarian.”
But a “loyalty scorecard” sounds pretty damn authoritarian to me.
August 20, 2025 at 12:27 PM
Brief thread.👇
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
This growth in AI’s energy demand is not sustainable, notwithstanding Trump’s attacks on alternative energy sources
MELIUS: “.. data centers could consume up to 12% of total US electricity by 2028, tripling from 2023's 4.4%
“.. the availability of power is going to be everything for tech investors.” (And, one might add, consumers.)
“.. the availability of power is going to be everything for tech investors.” (And, one might add, consumers.)
August 20, 2025 at 11:51 AM
This growth in AI’s energy demand is not sustainable, notwithstanding Trump’s attacks on alternative energy sources
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Although you may not realize it, AI is demanding energy and water thereby increasing prices for everyone, and even creating shortages, all while destroying the environment www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/t...
Their Water Taps Ran Dry When Meta Built Next Door
www.nytimes.com
August 20, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Although you may not realize it, AI is demanding energy and water thereby increasing prices for everyone, and even creating shortages, all while destroying the environment www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/t...
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Russians are advancing in Zaporizhzhia oblast under the American flag.
August 18, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Russians are advancing in Zaporizhzhia oblast under the American flag.
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Gallego on Mamdani: "It's okay to say 'I disagree with this, this, and this, but I agree with that.' But the idea that we're just gonna throw out people that are really bringing in new ideas to the fold, exciting people, just because they're slightly to the right or to the left of us is dumb."
August 17, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Gallego on Mamdani: "It's okay to say 'I disagree with this, this, and this, but I agree with that.' But the idea that we're just gonna throw out people that are really bringing in new ideas to the fold, exciting people, just because they're slightly to the right or to the left of us is dumb."
Reposted by Lee Wheelock Butz
Controversial opinion: When it comes to US presidents, "blatantly breaking laws and violently violating people's rights" is a bigger deal than "is old," meriting greater public concern and a higher percentage of attention.
August 17, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Controversial opinion: When it comes to US presidents, "blatantly breaking laws and violently violating people's rights" is a bigger deal than "is old," meriting greater public concern and a higher percentage of attention.