Carolyn Fiddler
@cfidd.bsky.social
Comic book lover, oenophile, Virginian. Obsessed with/nation's foremost expert on state politics. carolyncfiddler at gmail dot com. she/her
Today's GOP:
December 26, 2025 at 2:25 PM
Today's GOP:
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
You have to get past 30 paragraphs and several pictures in this NYT White grievance story for a single-sentence mention in passing of African-Americans affected by Republican gerrymanders www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/u...
They Wanted a Conservative State. They Might Get a Democratic Representative Instead.
www.nytimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:24 PM
You have to get past 30 paragraphs and several pictures in this NYT White grievance story for a single-sentence mention in passing of African-Americans affected by Republican gerrymanders www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/u...
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
Republicans quoted: 9
Democrats quoted: 0
Democrats quoted: 0
The Trump administration celebrated Christmas on Thursday by posting a series of religious messages from official government accounts, using language that drew criticism from those who pointed to America's separation of church and state.
Trump Administration Emphasizes Religion in Official Christmas Messages
Government officials have traditionally steered clear of such overtly religious language, as the Constitution prohibits the establishment of an official state religion.
nyti.ms
December 26, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Republicans quoted: 9
Democrats quoted: 0
Democrats quoted: 0
Wishing a v merry Xmas to all who observe
December 25, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Wishing a v merry Xmas to all who observe
A v seasonal podcast featuring one of the excellent AGs I'm lucky enough to work with -- AG Charity Clark, who's AG of the state with... well, if not most, a LOT of Hallmark Xmas movies taking place there.
Anyway, merry Xmas Eve!
open.spotify.com/episode/1C20...
Anyway, merry Xmas Eve!
open.spotify.com/episode/1C20...
Vermont's Holiday Spirit (feat. Charity Clark)
open.spotify.com
December 24, 2025 at 11:33 PM
A v seasonal podcast featuring one of the excellent AGs I'm lucky enough to work with -- AG Charity Clark, who's AG of the state with... well, if not most, a LOT of Hallmark Xmas movies taking place there.
Anyway, merry Xmas Eve!
open.spotify.com/episode/1C20...
Anyway, merry Xmas Eve!
open.spotify.com/episode/1C20...
Many thanks to whichever friend who set the clocks on my microwave and oven to the correct time during my holiday party
a small rabbit is standing on a cardboard mat in a room .
ALT: a small rabbit is standing on a cardboard mat in a room .
media.tenor.com
December 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Many thanks to whichever friend who set the clocks on my microwave and oven to the correct time during my holiday party
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
Christmas fucking miracle right here
NEW: By a 6-3 vote, the Supreme Court blocks Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to Chicago to assist immigration agents. A majority holds that he likely lacks authority to do so. Thomas, Alito, and Gorsuch dissent. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25p...
![The Government asked this Court to stay the District Court's order. After the response and reply were filed, JUSTICE BARRETT referred the application to the Court. We directed the parties to file supplemental letter briefs on an issue that the District Court had addressed but the parties' initial briefs had not: the meaning of the term "regular forces" in §12406(3). In its supplemental brief, the Government argues that the term refers to civilian law enforcement officers, such as those employed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the Federal Protective Service.
Respondents, echoing the District Court, maintain that the term refers to the regular forces of the United States mili-tary.
We conclude that the term "regular forces" in §12406(3) likely refers to the regular forces of the United States mili-tary. This interpretation means that to call the Guard into active federal service under §12406(3), the President must be "unable" with the regular military "to execute the laws of the United States." Because the statute requires an assessment of the military's ability to execute the laws, it likely applies only where the military could legally execute the laws. Such circumstances are exceptional: Under the Posse Comitatus Act, the military is prohibited from "execut[ing] the laws" "except in cases and under circumstances expressly authorized by the Constitution or Act of Congress."
18 U. S. C. §1385. So before the President can federalize the Guard under §12406(3), he likely must have statutory or constitutional authority to execute the laws with the regular military and must be "unable" with those forces to perform that function.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6h7b2i6ttw3l4t7pvbvxdith/bafkreiftbhzwvn3vgwhqsi7k2paizvdw4t26ailljvovso3chqupnmj364@jpeg)
December 23, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Christmas fucking miracle right here
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
For @rollingstone.com, I wrote about the making of the myth of sheriff Buford Pusser, and how recent revelations that he was likely responsible for the 1967 murder of his wife, Pauline, undercuts that myth -- and begs for a new narrative about intimate partner violence and family trauma.
He Was a Legendary Sheriff Who Inspired a Movie. Did He Also Murder His Wife?
When Buford Pusser’s wife was killed, his grief turned into the movie ‘Walking Tall.’ But a new report from investigators suggests it was all a lie.
www.rollingstone.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:59 PM
For @rollingstone.com, I wrote about the making of the myth of sheriff Buford Pusser, and how recent revelations that he was likely responsible for the 1967 murder of his wife, Pauline, undercuts that myth -- and begs for a new narrative about intimate partner violence and family trauma.
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
Today is 22 December 2025.
Greenland: Danish
Panama Canal: Panamanian
Canada: Canadian
Russia: at war against Ukraine
12 large grade-A available at Safeway near me: $2.69
Tomatoes: $2.08/lb
Haitian immigrants who have eaten household pets: 0
President's felony convictions: 34
Greenland: Danish
Panama Canal: Panamanian
Canada: Canadian
Russia: at war against Ukraine
12 large grade-A available at Safeway near me: $2.69
Tomatoes: $2.08/lb
Haitian immigrants who have eaten household pets: 0
President's felony convictions: 34
December 22, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Today is 22 December 2025.
Greenland: Danish
Panama Canal: Panamanian
Canada: Canadian
Russia: at war against Ukraine
12 large grade-A available at Safeway near me: $2.69
Tomatoes: $2.08/lb
Haitian immigrants who have eaten household pets: 0
President's felony convictions: 34
Greenland: Danish
Panama Canal: Panamanian
Canada: Canadian
Russia: at war against Ukraine
12 large grade-A available at Safeway near me: $2.69
Tomatoes: $2.08/lb
Haitian immigrants who have eaten household pets: 0
President's felony convictions: 34
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
Current issue of @theonion.com nails it again.
December 21, 2025 at 11:03 PM
Current issue of @theonion.com nails it again.
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
December 22, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
Okay everything is terrible but at least we get a little more sunlight every day for the next six months
elmo from sesame street standing in front of a wall
ALT: elmo from sesame street standing in front of a wall
media.tenor.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Okay everything is terrible but at least we get a little more sunlight every day for the next six months
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
UPDATE: in point of fact there is not an innocent explanation for this.
December 22, 2025 at 2:27 AM
UPDATE: in point of fact there is not an innocent explanation for this.
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
On a related note here is a photo of Barbra Streisand’s house.
December 22, 2025 at 2:21 AM
On a related note here is a photo of Barbra Streisand’s house.
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
This is the worst case scenario that everybody was worried about
It is utterly catastrophic that RFK Jr. plans to end CDC recommendations for most childhood vaccines.
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
December 20, 2025 at 2:16 PM
This is the worst case scenario that everybody was worried about
Welp saving the hell out of this picture, this is ART
The University of Arkansas spent $36,000 on balloons last year. After seeing what they got, we think it was worth every penny.
In FOIAball this week, we EMBRACE THE HOG.
www.foiaball.com/p/college-fo...
In FOIAball this week, we EMBRACE THE HOG.
www.foiaball.com/p/college-fo...
December 17, 2025 at 11:56 PM
Welp saving the hell out of this picture, this is ART
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
All new jokes for 2026!
December 17, 2025 at 3:17 PM
All new jokes for 2026!
All the lying they're doing in court not helping, either
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Unprecedented errors are eroding the credibility of Trump's Justice Department
In years past, it was relatively rare for a federal court to question the Justice Department's competency or good faith. But such questions are becoming more common.
www.reuters.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:47 PM
All the lying they're doing in court not helping, either
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
Next Dem president might be tempted to look into the funding for Vought’s Center for Renewing America to see if there was some oil industry patronage involved.
An absolute bedrock institution for understanding how the planet works, just civilization-scaled vandalism by the most incurious morons on Earth
December 17, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Next Dem president might be tempted to look into the funding for Vought’s Center for Renewing America to see if there was some oil industry patronage involved.
Feeling crummy after a lil procedure had unforeseen complications, but Nurse Nebs is on the job
December 17, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Feeling crummy after a lil procedure had unforeseen complications, but Nurse Nebs is on the job
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
Here is the Department of Homeland Security touting this new ban by describing the (among others) spouses and children of U.S. citizens coming on visas as "foreign invaders."
It has never been about legal versus illegal. They hate legal immigration. They want to stop it. That's the story.
It has never been about legal versus illegal. They hate legal immigration. They want to stop it. That's the story.
December 16, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Here is the Department of Homeland Security touting this new ban by describing the (among others) spouses and children of U.S. citizens coming on visas as "foreign invaders."
It has never been about legal versus illegal. They hate legal immigration. They want to stop it. That's the story.
It has never been about legal versus illegal. They hate legal immigration. They want to stop it. That's the story.
Reposted by Carolyn Fiddler
this is not behavior becoming of a FIFA Peace Prize recipient.
December 15, 2025 at 8:18 PM
this is not behavior becoming of a FIFA Peace Prize recipient.
I dunno seems like a pretty good political opportunity for folks running for offices that help determine tax law
"According to the…annual Harris Poll, for the 1st time, a majority of Americans believe billionaires are a threat to democracy. A remarkable 71% believe there should be a wealth tax. A majority believe there should be a cap on how much wealth a person can accumulate." www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/o...
Opinion | The Billionaires Have Gone Full Louis XV
www.nytimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:51 PM
I dunno seems like a pretty good political opportunity for folks running for offices that help determine tax law