Dan Murphy
@bungdan.bsky.social
Ex Journalist Bloomberg/FEER/CSM. Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, then Iraq/Egypt with a smattering of everywhere else. Same handle over at Mos Eisley Spaceport. Made wine for a few years. Now training a blue heeler in the CA foothills.
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Trump granted clemency to the biggest Medicare fraudster in history. Well, the guy was just re-arrested and charged with domestic violence. Here, via @motherjones.com, is the wild, sordid tale of how Phil Esformes made a fortune screwing taxpayers and nursing home residents.
Donald Trump freed a convicted Medicare fraudster. The Justice Department wants him back.
The cautionary tale of nursing home mogul Philip Esformes.
www.motherjones.com
December 30, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Trump granted clemency to the biggest Medicare fraudster in history. Well, the guy was just re-arrested and charged with domestic violence. Here, via @motherjones.com, is the wild, sordid tale of how Phil Esformes made a fortune screwing taxpayers and nursing home residents.
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Oh my god. These non-random small-sample focus groups have always been terrible in design and execution.
But… c’mon. The SAME PEOPLE?
But… c’mon. The SAME PEOPLE?
December 30, 2025 at 8:40 PM
Oh my god. These non-random small-sample focus groups have always been terrible in design and execution.
But… c’mon. The SAME PEOPLE?
But… c’mon. The SAME PEOPLE?
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Seriously underhanded grifting.
Trump told his supporters that Democrats would “steal” their future tariff rebate checks and give them to “illegals” if they didn’t donate to him within an hour.
Trump, 79, Warns Fans to Send Him Cash or Dems Will Steal It
A frantic fundraising email leaned on promised “tariff checks” and gave a one-hour deadline.
trib.al
December 30, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Seriously underhanded grifting.
Reposted by Dan Murphy
White dude with camera arrives at daycare and demands to see kids.
Daycare workers keep doors and windows closed.
White dude alleges fraud.
Every Republican backs white dude.
That's the current story in Minnesota.
Daycare workers keep doors and windows closed.
White dude alleges fraud.
Every Republican backs white dude.
That's the current story in Minnesota.
December 30, 2025 at 12:13 PM
White dude with camera arrives at daycare and demands to see kids.
Daycare workers keep doors and windows closed.
White dude alleges fraud.
Every Republican backs white dude.
That's the current story in Minnesota.
Daycare workers keep doors and windows closed.
White dude alleges fraud.
Every Republican backs white dude.
That's the current story in Minnesota.
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Israel says it will suspend several humanitarian groups, including Doctors Without Borders, in 2026 for failing its new vetting rules for groups working in Gaza. Some international organizations have said that Israel’s rules are arbitrary and could endanger staff.
Israel says it will halt operations of several humanitarian organizations in Gaza starting in 2026
Israel says it will suspend several humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, for failing to meet its new rules to vet international organizations working in Gaza.
bit.ly
December 30, 2025 at 1:59 PM
Israel says it will suspend several humanitarian groups, including Doctors Without Borders, in 2026 for failing its new vetting rules for groups working in Gaza. Some international organizations have said that Israel’s rules are arbitrary and could endanger staff.
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Still mind-blowing that a top admin official was revealed to have taken $50,000 in cash in a paper bag from people looking for government favors, the reaction of the administration was "Whatever losers, this is how it works now" and bigshot news media said "If you say so, we'll forget about it"
Border czar Tom Homan didn't receive a normal background check for his role while his bribery probe was still ongoing:
Justice officials felt sure Homan would not be able to obtain a security clearance based on the evidence gathered. It remains unclear how Homan was eventually granted clearance.
Justice officials felt sure Homan would not be able to obtain a security clearance based on the evidence gathered. It remains unclear how Homan was eventually granted clearance.
Border czar Tom Homan didn’t receive normal background check during bribery probe
President-elect Trump initially balked at submitting names of likely nominees to the FBI for background checks, a basic step intended to flag possible financial conflicts or ethical problems.
www.ms.now
December 30, 2025 at 4:24 PM
Still mind-blowing that a top admin official was revealed to have taken $50,000 in cash in a paper bag from people looking for government favors, the reaction of the administration was "Whatever losers, this is how it works now" and bigshot news media said "If you say so, we'll forget about it"
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Israeli armed forces uproot olive trees in a town in West Bank - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-armed-forces-uproot-olive-trees-town-occupied-west-bank
Israeli armed forces uproot olive trees in a town in West Bank
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<a href="https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-armed-forces-uproot-olive-trees-town-occupied-west-bank" rel="bookmark">
<span class="field field-title">Israeli armed forces uproot olive trees in a town in West Bank</span>
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<div class="content">
<div class="field field-field-text"><p style="line-height:1.38">Israeli army bulldozers razed agricultural land and olive trees in the town of Zubaba in the west of Jenin, Wafa News reported, citing a local official.</p>
<p>The head of Zububa Municipality also said that Israeli forces had razed the area two weeks ago and destroyed four greenhouses.</p>
<p>The attack on olive groves follows a pattern of settler violence against Palestinians in an attempt to destroy their livelihoods.</p>
<p>Palestinian researcher Hamza Zubeidat told Al Jazeera in August, after the Israeli military destroyed about 3,000 olive trees in a village near Ramallah in the West Bank, that the destruction is part of Israel’s “continuous” effort to force Palestinians off their lands.</p>
<p>The army said the trees posed a “security threat” to the main Israeli settlement road running through the village’s lands. </p>
</div>
</div>
</article>
www.middleeasteye.net
December 30, 2025 at 3:19 PM
Israeli armed forces uproot olive trees in a town in West Bank - https://www.middleeasteye.net/live-blog/live-blog-update/israeli-armed-forces-uproot-olive-trees-town-occupied-west-bank
So "complex personality" is what the PC police are forcing us to call assholes now? This is why comedy is dead.
bsky.app/profile/apne...
bsky.app/profile/apne...
Chevy Chase's new documentary, "I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not," explores his complex personality and career.
Chevy Chase is under the spotlight in a new documentary, warts and all — and he's OK with it
Chevy Chase's new documentary, “I’m Chevy Chase and You’re Not,” explores his complex personality and career.
bit.ly
December 30, 2025 at 7:09 AM
So "complex personality" is what the PC police are forcing us to call assholes now? This is why comedy is dead.
bsky.app/profile/apne...
bsky.app/profile/apne...
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Chilling Reuters update on UN staff finally making entry to al-Fashir in Sudan after the RSF takeover.
A ghost town - and the site of hundreds of alleged civilian executions.
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
A ghost town - and the site of hundreds of alleged civilian executions.
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
Aid workers find little life in Sudan's al-Fashir after paramilitary takeover
International aid staff who accessed Sudan's al-Fashir for the first time since its takeover by a paramilitary force found the city largely deserted, with a few people sheltering in buildings or under...
www.reuters.com
December 30, 2025 at 3:28 AM
Chilling Reuters update on UN staff finally making entry to al-Fashir in Sudan after the RSF takeover.
A ghost town - and the site of hundreds of alleged civilian executions.
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
A ghost town - and the site of hundreds of alleged civilian executions.
www.reuters.com/world/africa...
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Ottawa man takes his Uber driver tobogganing for first time ottawacitizen.com/news/uber-to...
December 28, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Ottawa man takes his Uber driver tobogganing for first time ottawacitizen.com/news/uber-to...
Reposted by Dan Murphy
"Can you name all the countries you've ordered attacks on in the past year" would be a great question for a Trump press conference. It will not be asked.
December 29, 2025 at 8:47 PM
"Can you name all the countries you've ordered attacks on in the past year" would be a great question for a Trump press conference. It will not be asked.
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Most underrated Biden admin mistake was bailing out Silicon Valley Bank.
SVB bet big on low interest rates and lost. Rich tech VCs who put too many eggs in that basket generated a bank run, then called for govt money.
Got their bailout, helped elect Trump, and now reaping rewards from corruption.
SVB bet big on low interest rates and lost. Rich tech VCs who put too many eggs in that basket generated a bank run, then called for govt money.
Got their bailout, helped elect Trump, and now reaping rewards from corruption.
David Sacks, presumably, on the push by some in the tech and VC world to fund a primary challenge to Congressman Khanna.
December 29, 2025 at 5:23 AM
Most underrated Biden admin mistake was bailing out Silicon Valley Bank.
SVB bet big on low interest rates and lost. Rich tech VCs who put too many eggs in that basket generated a bank run, then called for govt money.
Got their bailout, helped elect Trump, and now reaping rewards from corruption.
SVB bet big on low interest rates and lost. Rich tech VCs who put too many eggs in that basket generated a bank run, then called for govt money.
Got their bailout, helped elect Trump, and now reaping rewards from corruption.
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Advocates for a Gavin Newsom 2028 Presidential run would be advised to ask themselves whether a Democratic politician who is operating like this three years out would be predisposed toward meaningfully holding those who are currently aiding and abetting Trump accountable if/when they take power.
By the way, Gavin Newsom is apparently raising money to fight AGAINST the billionaire tax. So thoughtful of him to come to their aid at this particular time in history,
December 29, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Advocates for a Gavin Newsom 2028 Presidential run would be advised to ask themselves whether a Democratic politician who is operating like this three years out would be predisposed toward meaningfully holding those who are currently aiding and abetting Trump accountable if/when they take power.
Reposted by Dan Murphy
December 29, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Reposted by Dan Murphy
We may be a few weeks away from a South Yemeni independence declaration, and Israel would definitely recognize that eventually
Y'all see a pattern?
Y'all see a pattern?
December 29, 2025 at 6:06 AM
We may be a few weeks away from a South Yemeni independence declaration, and Israel would definitely recognize that eventually
Y'all see a pattern?
Y'all see a pattern?
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Trump Says the U.S. Struck a ‘Big Facility’ in Campaign Against Venezuela
www.nytimes.com
December 29, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Reposted by Dan Murphy
AI sloppers (is that a term?) crying that their prompts are being stolen is more beautiful than anything AI could produce
December 28, 2025 at 11:46 PM
AI sloppers (is that a term?) crying that their prompts are being stolen is more beautiful than anything AI could produce
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Julie K. Brown is a reporter for the Miami Herald who did groundbreaking work on Epstein beginning in 2018, including groundbreaking work on the disgusting coverup by Alex Acosta.
Her travel itinerary was released with some of the Epstein files. It appears the DOJ was monitoring her in 2019.
Her travel itinerary was released with some of the Epstein files. It appears the DOJ was monitoring her in 2019.
December 28, 2025 at 11:10 PM
Julie K. Brown is a reporter for the Miami Herald who did groundbreaking work on Epstein beginning in 2018, including groundbreaking work on the disgusting coverup by Alex Acosta.
Her travel itinerary was released with some of the Epstein files. It appears the DOJ was monitoring her in 2019.
Her travel itinerary was released with some of the Epstein files. It appears the DOJ was monitoring her in 2019.
Reposted by Dan Murphy
Does it count as jawboning if an AAG is yelling at right wing propagandists, from her personal account, for criticizing the AG?
December 29, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Does it count as jawboning if an AAG is yelling at right wing propagandists, from her personal account, for criticizing the AG?
Reposted by Dan Murphy
For the last 2 weeks, we had to staff at least 1-2 extra people for each department, every shift, because of the inevitable call outs. I feel like I’ve been holding schedules together with marline & duct tape. And we aren’t out of the woods yet. Not even close.
NY is having a bad flu season. More hospitalizations last week than any week on record.
Health authorities are encouraging everyone aged 6mo+ to get the flu vax (it's not too late).
Find a provider here: on.nyc.gov/getvaccinated. You can filter for sites where there's no cost for the uninsured.
Health authorities are encouraging everyone aged 6mo+ to get the flu vax (it's not too late).
Find a provider here: on.nyc.gov/getvaccinated. You can filter for sites where there's no cost for the uninsured.
December 28, 2025 at 3:46 PM
For the last 2 weeks, we had to staff at least 1-2 extra people for each department, every shift, because of the inevitable call outs. I feel like I’ve been holding schedules together with marline & duct tape. And we aren’t out of the woods yet. Not even close.
Reposted by Dan Murphy
“The 10-year development plan, drafted by first son-in-law Jared Kushner…”
Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law, is described as an "investor" and "developer" in this project into which more than $91 bn in US taxpayer funds are to be channeled. This is a straightforward violation of US anti-corruption legislation, as the NYC bar has noted in a report.
Trump reps draft $169 billion plan to develop Gaza into a 'smart city' with luxury resorts
Trump administration reps have just revealed a grandiose $112 billion (AUD $169 billion) plan to rebuild war-torn Gaza into a futuristic international destination dubbed “Project Sunrise.”
www.skynews.com.au
December 28, 2025 at 3:35 PM
“The 10-year development plan, drafted by first son-in-law Jared Kushner…”