@conifergirl.bsky.social
Art by NIKKI FRIEDE
"One of the unacknowledged advantages of this awful era is that it's revealing for all to see the putrid connections between great wealth and great power...But remember: We outnumber the oligarchs."
-Robert Reich
"One of the unacknowledged advantages of this awful era is that it's revealing for all to see the putrid connections between great wealth and great power...But remember: We outnumber the oligarchs."
-Robert Reich
From a purely tactical standpoint, it’s extraordinary. Brilliant. Extracting a heavily guarded head of state from a hostile capital without conventional ground forces is the kind of operation military planners study for decades. This wasn’t brute force. It was mastery.
January 3, 2026 at 1:00 PM
From a purely tactical standpoint, it’s extraordinary. Brilliant. Extracting a heavily guarded head of state from a hostile capital without conventional ground forces is the kind of operation military planners study for decades. This wasn’t brute force. It was mastery.
The freakout didn’t stop at the Qurans. It escalated when Mamdani did something the right wing finds far more offensive than symbolism.
One of his first moves was scrapping a set of executive orders about Israel that most New Yorkers didn’t even know existed because
One of his first moves was scrapping a set of executive orders about Israel that most New Yorkers didn’t even know existed because
January 3, 2026 at 12:29 PM
The freakout didn’t stop at the Qurans. It escalated when Mamdani did something the right wing finds far more offensive than symbolism.
One of his first moves was scrapping a set of executive orders about Israel that most New Yorkers didn’t even know existed because
One of his first moves was scrapping a set of executive orders about Israel that most New Yorkers didn’t even know existed because
Debunking Shirley’s “reporting”
The problematic nature of Shirley’s videos has been covered by many in the past few days, including by local news affiliates, so I’ll just briefly note the issues here, as excellently summarized by Adam Mockler.
The problematic nature of Shirley’s videos has been covered by many in the past few days, including by local news affiliates, so I’ll just briefly note the issues here, as excellently summarized by Adam Mockler.
January 3, 2026 at 11:43 AM
Debunking Shirley’s “reporting”
The problematic nature of Shirley’s videos has been covered by many in the past few days, including by local news affiliates, so I’ll just briefly note the issues here, as excellently summarized by Adam Mockler.
The problematic nature of Shirley’s videos has been covered by many in the past few days, including by local news affiliates, so I’ll just briefly note the issues here, as excellently summarized by Adam Mockler.
John Roberts leads a Court that includes two members who are credibly accused of accepting expensive vacations and other tributes from wealthy men with an interest in the outcome of cases that come before the Court they sit on.
January 3, 2026 at 11:33 AM
John Roberts leads a Court that includes two members who are credibly accused of accepting expensive vacations and other tributes from wealthy men with an interest in the outcome of cases that come before the Court they sit on.
It is all a farce.
Why?
Because Bob Iger and Paramount’s Shari Redstone have bent when they should have stood. They cracked like an egg and capitulated to government power by settling absurdist lawsuits, which were actually open air extortion.
Why?
Because Bob Iger and Paramount’s Shari Redstone have bent when they should have stood. They cracked like an egg and capitulated to government power by settling absurdist lawsuits, which were actually open air extortion.
January 3, 2026 at 11:22 AM
It is all a farce.
Why?
Because Bob Iger and Paramount’s Shari Redstone have bent when they should have stood. They cracked like an egg and capitulated to government power by settling absurdist lawsuits, which were actually open air extortion.
Why?
Because Bob Iger and Paramount’s Shari Redstone have bent when they should have stood. They cracked like an egg and capitulated to government power by settling absurdist lawsuits, which were actually open air extortion.
A Death Scene, Carefully Staged
On December 27, reports began circulating that Kapustin had been killed during a combat mission in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The reports emerged through Telegram channels connected
On December 27, reports began circulating that Kapustin had been killed during a combat mission in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The reports emerged through Telegram channels connected
January 3, 2026 at 11:20 AM
A Death Scene, Carefully Staged
On December 27, reports began circulating that Kapustin had been killed during a combat mission in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The reports emerged through Telegram channels connected
On December 27, reports began circulating that Kapustin had been killed during a combat mission in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The reports emerged through Telegram channels connected
Most people think Donald Trump is unraveling because of external pressure.
The indictments.
The courts.
The media.
The indictments.
The courts.
The media.
January 3, 2026 at 11:14 AM
Most people think Donald Trump is unraveling because of external pressure.
The indictments.
The courts.
The media.
The indictments.
The courts.
The media.
Expanded reports of helicopters and possible ground activity
Meanwhile, in the past hour, multiple reporters and eyewitness accounts have described sustained helicopter activity over Caracas, beyond the low-flying fixed-wing aircraft reported earlier.
Meanwhile, in the past hour, multiple reporters and eyewitness accounts have described sustained helicopter activity over Caracas, beyond the low-flying fixed-wing aircraft reported earlier.
January 3, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Expanded reports of helicopters and possible ground activity
Meanwhile, in the past hour, multiple reporters and eyewitness accounts have described sustained helicopter activity over Caracas, beyond the low-flying fixed-wing aircraft reported earlier.
Meanwhile, in the past hour, multiple reporters and eyewitness accounts have described sustained helicopter activity over Caracas, beyond the low-flying fixed-wing aircraft reported earlier.
As I said in my speech on 9/2, our members come from all over the nation, with our own experiences, beliefs and communities. We want different things out of our government sometimes. We see the world differently, we love differently and we are all beautifully imperfect in our own way.
January 3, 2026 at 11:05 AM
As I said in my speech on 9/2, our members come from all over the nation, with our own experiences, beliefs and communities. We want different things out of our government sometimes. We see the world differently, we love differently and we are all beautifully imperfect in our own way.
Hidden within the executive order on the structure of the Mayor’s office is a significant though subtle shift in the hierarchy of the NYPD. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the symbol of national security astride a city that is
January 3, 2026 at 11:01 AM
Hidden within the executive order on the structure of the Mayor’s office is a significant though subtle shift in the hierarchy of the NYPD. Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the symbol of national security astride a city that is
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act on November 18, 2025, by a near unanimous vote. One day later, the United States Senate passed it unanimously.
The law was clear. The deadline was not ambiguous.
The law was clear. The deadline was not ambiguous.
January 3, 2026 at 10:55 AM
The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act on November 18, 2025, by a near unanimous vote. One day later, the United States Senate passed it unanimously.
The law was clear. The deadline was not ambiguous.
The law was clear. The deadline was not ambiguous.
Chronic venous insufficiency doesn’t show up overnight, it develops over years, it is common in older, obese, sedentary men with poor cardiovascular health, in other words, Donald Trump’s biography. We’ve all seen the signs stacking up, the
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Chronic venous insufficiency doesn’t show up overnight, it develops over years, it is common in older, obese, sedentary men with poor cardiovascular health, in other words, Donald Trump’s biography. We’ve all seen the signs stacking up, the
The Grotesque Irony
Here’s the real slap: Trump’s inner circle doesn’t just tolerate delusion. They celebrate it. They dance amid a glittering mirage while the American dream is being auctioned off to the highest bidder,
Here’s the real slap: Trump’s inner circle doesn’t just tolerate delusion. They celebrate it. They dance amid a glittering mirage while the American dream is being auctioned off to the highest bidder,
January 3, 2026 at 10:48 AM
The Grotesque Irony
Here’s the real slap: Trump’s inner circle doesn’t just tolerate delusion. They celebrate it. They dance amid a glittering mirage while the American dream is being auctioned off to the highest bidder,
Here’s the real slap: Trump’s inner circle doesn’t just tolerate delusion. They celebrate it. They dance amid a glittering mirage while the American dream is being auctioned off to the highest bidder,
We’re paying a neurochemical tax that the other side never pays.
And some of us have been paying it for years. Being right early often means being alone. The recognition doesn’t come when you make the call; it comes later, if at all.
And some of us have been paying it for years. Being right early often means being alone. The recognition doesn’t come when you make the call; it comes later, if at all.
January 3, 2026 at 10:42 AM
We’re paying a neurochemical tax that the other side never pays.
And some of us have been paying it for years. Being right early often means being alone. The recognition doesn’t come when you make the call; it comes later, if at all.
And some of us have been paying it for years. Being right early often means being alone. The recognition doesn’t come when you make the call; it comes later, if at all.
Reposted
In January 2025, days before Trump’s second inauguration, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta would end its third-party fact-checking program in the United States, citing the political environment and a desire to return to “free
January 3, 2026 at 10:20 AM
In January 2025, days before Trump’s second inauguration, Mark Zuckerberg announced that Meta would end its third-party fact-checking program in the United States, citing the political environment and a desire to return to “free
That’s why they’ve already successfully passed previously-unthinkable major voter suppression laws in 18 states and have them pending in many more. They’ve changed the law in
January 3, 2026 at 10:07 AM
That’s why they’ve already successfully passed previously-unthinkable major voter suppression laws in 18 states and have them pending in many more. They’ve changed the law in
Mamdani’s speech was a declaration of a new kind of modern politics that focuses on “freedom to” rather than “freedom from.” For decades, the Republican Party has called for dismantling the government, arguing that regulations and taxes were destroying Americans’ freedom from constraints.
January 3, 2026 at 10:00 AM
Mamdani’s speech was a declaration of a new kind of modern politics that focuses on “freedom to” rather than “freedom from.” For decades, the Republican Party has called for dismantling the government, arguing that regulations and taxes were destroying Americans’ freedom from constraints.
Over and over again, Jack Smith returns to the same foundational point, one that detonates years of talking points. He did not charge Donald Trump because Democrats wanted him to. He charged him because, in his professional
January 2, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Over and over again, Jack Smith returns to the same foundational point, one that detonates years of talking points. He did not charge Donald Trump because Democrats wanted him to. He charged him because, in his professional
But let me be clear—we are not in any kind of clear yet. While today is a big win to start 2026, there are also dangerous forces of disinformation working hard to divide us, to convince us to wage culture wars against one another, and to prevent a change to the status quo.
January 2, 2026 at 12:18 PM
But let me be clear—we are not in any kind of clear yet. While today is a big win to start 2026, there are also dangerous forces of disinformation working hard to divide us, to convince us to wage culture wars against one another, and to prevent a change to the status quo.
The Minnesota Somali Context (That Often Goes Unmentioned)
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, concentrated primarily in Minneapolis–St. Paul. The roots of this community go back to the 1990s, when the
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, concentrated primarily in Minneapolis–St. Paul. The roots of this community go back to the 1990s, when the
January 2, 2026 at 12:15 PM
The Minnesota Somali Context (That Often Goes Unmentioned)
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, concentrated primarily in Minneapolis–St. Paul. The roots of this community go back to the 1990s, when the
Minnesota is home to the largest Somali population in the United States, concentrated primarily in Minneapolis–St. Paul. The roots of this community go back to the 1990s, when the
And 2025 is not the end of the Trump efforts to overturn American democracy and to greatly reduce its non-white population. Instead of focusing on governing to meet America’s needs, the White Christian Nationalists in the administration say
January 2, 2026 at 12:04 PM
And 2025 is not the end of the Trump efforts to overturn American democracy and to greatly reduce its non-white population. Instead of focusing on governing to meet America’s needs, the White Christian Nationalists in the administration say
Because fear…pure…paralyzing fear…has always been the accelerant of authoritarian movements. It makes good people freeze. It convinces them they’re already beaten. It keeps them passive…while a loud minority pretends inevitability.
January 2, 2026 at 11:57 AM
Because fear…pure…paralyzing fear…has always been the accelerant of authoritarian movements. It makes good people freeze. It convinces them they’re already beaten. It keeps them passive…while a loud minority pretends inevitability.
Pressing forward
The fact that Trump and this regime have been blocked or stymied in myriad ways this year does not mean they will be in 2026. Nor does it erase the pain that they have caused for so many.
The fact that Trump and this regime have been blocked or stymied in myriad ways this year does not mean they will be in 2026. Nor does it erase the pain that they have caused for so many.
January 2, 2026 at 11:49 AM
Pressing forward
The fact that Trump and this regime have been blocked or stymied in myriad ways this year does not mean they will be in 2026. Nor does it erase the pain that they have caused for so many.
The fact that Trump and this regime have been blocked or stymied in myriad ways this year does not mean they will be in 2026. Nor does it erase the pain that they have caused for so many.