J. L. Bell
@boston1775.bsky.social
History, analysis & unabashed gossip about Revolutionary New England.
Pinned
J. L. Bell
@boston1775.bsky.social
· Dec 4
When I joined Twitter years ago, I created multiple accounts for my separate interests and activities. Each account followed different groups and attracted different followers.
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Reposted by J. L. Bell
In case it's not obvious, none of this is true. He's either innumerate, or lying.
November 11, 2025 at 3:24 AM
In case it's not obvious, none of this is true. He's either innumerate, or lying.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
"This Week in Democracy – Week 42: Trump Pardons Crooks, Ignores Courts, and Threatens War"
Another week of Zeteo's project to document the ongoing growth of authoritarianism in Trump's second term.
Read/share/subscribe:
Another week of Zeteo's project to document the ongoing growth of authoritarianism in Trump's second term.
Read/share/subscribe:
This Week in Democracy – Week 42: Trump Pardons Crooks, Ignores Courts, and Threatens War
Another week of Zeteo's project to document the ongoing growth of authoritarianism in Trump's second term.
zeteo.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:58 PM
"This Week in Democracy – Week 42: Trump Pardons Crooks, Ignores Courts, and Threatens War"
Another week of Zeteo's project to document the ongoing growth of authoritarianism in Trump's second term.
Read/share/subscribe:
Another week of Zeteo's project to document the ongoing growth of authoritarianism in Trump's second term.
Read/share/subscribe:
Reposted by J. L. Bell
I know we have the memory of a goldfish, but I’m amazed we’re only a few years past conservative economic “experts” claiming the $2,000 COVID checks were the primary cause of an inflation crisis, and now those same “experts” are praising Trump’s promise to, you guessed it, send $2,000 checks.
November 11, 2025 at 3:40 AM
I know we have the memory of a goldfish, but I’m amazed we’re only a few years past conservative economic “experts” claiming the $2,000 COVID checks were the primary cause of an inflation crisis, and now those same “experts” are praising Trump’s promise to, you guessed it, send $2,000 checks.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
They already won. Why would they bother to negotiate now?
Meanwhile Squeaker Johnson is busy trying to figure out how to end the shutdown without swearing in the new rep who will sign the discharge petition. Until Trump convinces Nancy Mace to unsign it, this is a big problem for them.
Meanwhile Squeaker Johnson is busy trying to figure out how to end the shutdown without swearing in the new rep who will sign the discharge petition. Until Trump convinces Nancy Mace to unsign it, this is a big problem for them.
In the most predictable development ever, Mike Johnson is not committing to hold a House vote on ACA subsidies
November 10, 2025 at 10:41 PM
They already won. Why would they bother to negotiate now?
Meanwhile Squeaker Johnson is busy trying to figure out how to end the shutdown without swearing in the new rep who will sign the discharge petition. Until Trump convinces Nancy Mace to unsign it, this is a big problem for them.
Meanwhile Squeaker Johnson is busy trying to figure out how to end the shutdown without swearing in the new rep who will sign the discharge petition. Until Trump convinces Nancy Mace to unsign it, this is a big problem for them.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
EVERY WORD FROM THIS CLOWN IS A LIE. EVERY SINGLE WORD.
INGRAHAM: “Why are people saying they’re anxious about the economy?”
TRUMP: “The polls are fake 🤥. The economy is the strongest ever 🤥. We have $20 Trillion coming in 🤥 . Largely because of the tariffs 🤥.”
Every sentence is a lie.
TRUMP: “The polls are fake 🤥. The economy is the strongest ever 🤥. We have $20 Trillion coming in 🤥 . Largely because of the tariffs 🤥.”
Every sentence is a lie.
November 11, 2025 at 3:53 AM
EVERY WORD FROM THIS CLOWN IS A LIE. EVERY SINGLE WORD.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Also: This shows how easy it is to hand Trump something and have him adopt it as his latest Must-Have, with no thought or vetting or staff attention or anything. Just a pretty picture saying "You're a great POTUS!" and boom! New policy.
November 11, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Also: This shows how easy it is to hand Trump something and have him adopt it as his latest Must-Have, with no thought or vetting or staff attention or anything. Just a pretty picture saying "You're a great POTUS!" and boom! New policy.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Wow, very weird, the guy who told Trump that he found cases where his political enemies have committed fraud and it turns out to be untrue is full of shit in other areas also.
November 11, 2025 at 12:49 AM
Wow, very weird, the guy who told Trump that he found cases where his political enemies have committed fraud and it turns out to be untrue is full of shit in other areas also.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
The President wouldn't last five minutes as an air traffic controller, and after everything they've been through - and the way this administration has treated them from Day One - he has no business shitting on them now.
November 10, 2025 at 4:53 PM
The President wouldn't last five minutes as an air traffic controller, and after everything they've been through - and the way this administration has treated them from Day One - he has no business shitting on them now.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
The President pardoned members of his private militia after they failed to overturn an election; they, in turn, pledge their support to him and urge him to use them to police civil society.
New:
On The Gateway Pundit's podcast yesterday, Stewart Rhodes announced he's relaunching the Oath Keepers
He also urged Trump to “call us up as a militia" & "order us all to come together in our counties under his command."
www.mediamatters.org/oath-keepers...
On The Gateway Pundit's podcast yesterday, Stewart Rhodes announced he's relaunching the Oath Keepers
He also urged Trump to “call us up as a militia" & "order us all to come together in our counties under his command."
www.mediamatters.org/oath-keepers...
![STEWART RHODES (FOUNDER, OATH KEEPERS): And one other thing I want to say is that President Trump, as commander in chief, always has absolute authority to call all of us up as the militia because every one of us — in federal statues defining the militia, it's every able-bodied male from age 17-45. And for us veterans, it goes up to age 64 because of our prior training and experience.
Right now, under federal statutes, President Trump can call us up as the militia if he sees it necessary, especially for three purposes: to repel invasions, to suppress insurrections, and to execute the laws of the union. And right now, we see all three of those in play.
...
And the militia is all of us. So the National Guard is part of the militia, which is why it's completely lawful for him to use the National Guard as he has, and he should do more of that, I think, across the country.
...
He could just say given the circumstances of an invasion, insurrection, and resistance against federal law being being enforced, I'm calling up the militia, ordering all the men to come together [in] every county, put the veterans in charge of training and organizing all the other men and just have them stand too and await his orders. He can do that and I think he should do that. And so that's what I'll be advocating for from him. So from the bottom, from down the rank and file, we can let President Trump know that we're ready to serve, encourage him to do that, call us up as a militia, order us all to come together in our counties under his command, which gives you complete legal sanction to do what you're doing.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:af7tqcetuyt352aolf3znlxe/bafkreialm4skuozqobejpd6vx4m6kuwsgtidxmmxvj3ftcff6otiuyohiy@jpeg)
November 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
The President pardoned members of his private militia after they failed to overturn an election; they, in turn, pledge their support to him and urge him to use them to police civil society.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
a lot of the problem with the Nates and Matts is that they didn't go to grad school. I don't think going ensures you aren't a blowhard knowitall, but it does make you understand that people have been working on shit for a long time and you can't just brush up in 3 hours because you are a special boy
As someone who spent ten years in grad school (and did defend + graduate) I’m always so weirded out by people who think being smart about one thing makes them smart about everything when what being highly educated did to me was saddle me with the crushing certainty that I’m not smart about anything
the pandemic really fucked him up. he had no expertise in public health, but felt like being a quant guy should make him an expert by default, and people not agreeing with him on that point just sent him into a bizarre radicalizing ego spiral.
November 10, 2025 at 7:07 PM
a lot of the problem with the Nates and Matts is that they didn't go to grad school. I don't think going ensures you aren't a blowhard knowitall, but it does make you understand that people have been working on shit for a long time and you can't just brush up in 3 hours because you are a special boy
Reposted by J. L. Bell
“I swore an oath to the Constitution, not a person," she says. "I just really, really implore my peers and everybody outside looking in, to just think about that. Really think about that, and think about what that means. And if there are questions, ask them. Keep talking."
In an encrypted group chat, National Guard members question Trump deployments
As President Trump's call for National Guard deployments rings out across the U.S., a small contingent of Ohio guard members is quietly expressing concern in an encrypted group chat.
www.npr.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:05 PM
“I swore an oath to the Constitution, not a person," she says. "I just really, really implore my peers and everybody outside looking in, to just think about that. Really think about that, and think about what that means. And if there are questions, ask them. Keep talking."
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Jeffries: "I'm not gonna respond to any comments from randos like Dr Oz who is woefully unqualified to be in whatever position he holds in the administration. He's a joke."
November 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Jeffries: "I'm not gonna respond to any comments from randos like Dr Oz who is woefully unqualified to be in whatever position he holds in the administration. He's a joke."
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Now that Lord George Germain has entered the chat, a brief note on style. CORRECT: Lord Howe, Lord North, Lord Cornwallis, Lord George Germain. INCORRECT: Lord Richard Howe, Lord Frederick North, Lord Charles Cornwallis, Lord Germain.
November 10, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Now that Lord George Germain has entered the chat, a brief note on style. CORRECT: Lord Howe, Lord North, Lord Cornwallis, Lord George Germain. INCORRECT: Lord Richard Howe, Lord Frederick North, Lord Charles Cornwallis, Lord Germain.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
104 years ago:
The Boat (US)
A boat builder and his family attempt to set sail in his handmade boat, 'The Damfino'.
1921-11-10
https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/50704
The Boat (US)
A boat builder and his family attempt to set sail in his handmade boat, 'The Damfino'.
1921-11-10
https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/50704
November 10, 2025 at 6:53 PM
104 years ago:
The Boat (US)
A boat builder and his family attempt to set sail in his handmade boat, 'The Damfino'.
1921-11-10
https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/50704
The Boat (US)
A boat builder and his family attempt to set sail in his handmade boat, 'The Damfino'.
1921-11-10
https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/50704
Reposted by J. L. Bell
We need a Trump Pardon Recidivism Tracker.
Hang this shit around his and his supine Congress' neck.
🎁 link
Hang this shit around his and his supine Congress' neck.
🎁 link
Felon Freed by Trump Is Set to Be Sentenced Again in Brooklyn
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 5:59 PM
We need a Trump Pardon Recidivism Tracker.
Hang this shit around his and his supine Congress' neck.
🎁 link
Hang this shit around his and his supine Congress' neck.
🎁 link
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Rep. Adrian Smith R-NE ignores Democrats on the floor and adjourns the House until Wednesday. Adelita Grijalva was elected on Sept. 23 and still has not been sworn into office. It may finally happen later this week.
November 10, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Rep. Adrian Smith R-NE ignores Democrats on the floor and adjourns the House until Wednesday. Adelita Grijalva was elected on Sept. 23 and still has not been sworn into office. It may finally happen later this week.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
November 10, 2025 at 6:05 PM
I got this useful bon mot from a middle school teacher recently.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
In response to, “I DONT UNDERSTAND,” he calmly said, “okay what steps have you taken to understand?”
And that’s when I realized that a lot of folks have no steps.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
November 10, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Even AFTER the Dems surrendered:
♦️Trump is STILL trying to starve Americans.
Lesson for Dems (and everyone):
♦️Don't cave.
It only makes him bully you harder.
♦️Trump is STILL trying to starve Americans.
Lesson for Dems (and everyone):
♦️Don't cave.
It only makes him bully you harder.
BREAKING: The Trump administration has renewed its Supreme Court appeal to keep full SNAP payments frozen during the shutdown.
States face uncertainty as Trump administration tries to reverse SNAP food payments
States are facing uncertainty about providing full monthly benefits for a federal food program serving 42 million Americans.
bit.ly
November 10, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Even AFTER the Dems surrendered:
♦️Trump is STILL trying to starve Americans.
Lesson for Dems (and everyone):
♦️Don't cave.
It only makes him bully you harder.
♦️Trump is STILL trying to starve Americans.
Lesson for Dems (and everyone):
♦️Don't cave.
It only makes him bully you harder.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
What I'll never understand abt "moderate" Dem enthusiasm for risking it all to do a deal w Republicans is that the regime has ALREADY SHOWN that they will act in defiance of existing civil rights & appropriations laws. Why on earth would you expect them to comply with the stipulations of any deal?
November 10, 2025 at 3:43 PM
What I'll never understand abt "moderate" Dem enthusiasm for risking it all to do a deal w Republicans is that the regime has ALREADY SHOWN that they will act in defiance of existing civil rights & appropriations laws. Why on earth would you expect them to comply with the stipulations of any deal?
Reposted by J. L. Bell
BREAKING: The Supreme Court DENIES former county clerk Kim Davis's request for the justices to take up her longshot bid to overturn 2015's Obergefell v. Hodges marriage equality decision. No justice even writes about the request.
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 PM
BREAKING: The Supreme Court DENIES former county clerk Kim Davis's request for the justices to take up her longshot bid to overturn 2015's Obergefell v. Hodges marriage equality decision. No justice even writes about the request.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
💯. It wasn't about just the ACA subsides—it was about those and … everything else.
November 10, 2025 at 2:41 PM
💯. It wasn't about just the ACA subsides—it was about those and … everything else.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
The US government's lawless killing spree at sea continues.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
November 10, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The US government's lawless killing spree at sea continues.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
The "designated terrorist organizations" supposedly operating these vessel are of course unidentified.
As are the purported "narco-terrorists" killed.
Using the language of counterterrorism doesn't actually make this counterterrorism.
Reposted by J. L. Bell
A different kind of "black page" that has always fascinated me - the ink blot in Ignatius Sancho's Letters - Samcho was a big fan of Sterne
November 10, 2025 at 1:32 PM
A different kind of "black page" that has always fascinated me - the ink blot in Ignatius Sancho's Letters - Samcho was a big fan of Sterne
Reposted by J. L. Bell
Chicago, under attack by Trump's thugs.
Here’s video of federal agents doing a drive by pepper spraying that hit a father and his one-year old on Saturday when the Feds were hitting Little Village and Cicero
November 9, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Chicago, under attack by Trump's thugs.