fred
@fdtate.bsky.social
Just a below average Joe interested in news/politics, sports, music and whatnot. Life's too short to spend it arguing with randos on the Internet.
Reposted by fred
Hey so this seems like something more people should be talking about 🤔 🗳️
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
December 29, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Hey so this seems like something more people should be talking about 🤔 🗳️
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
www.npr.org/2025/10/23/n...
Reposted by fred
A retired Tennessee policeman who spent more than a month in jail over an anti-Trump Facebook post is suing the authorities responsible for his arrest.
Attorneys for Larry Bushart, 61, allege in the lawsuit that those responsible violated Bushart's First and Fourth Amendment rights.
Attorneys for Larry Bushart, 61, allege in the lawsuit that those responsible violated Bushart's First and Fourth Amendment rights.
A retired policeman was jailed over an anti-Trump meme. Now he’s suing.
Attorneys for 61-year-old Larry Bushart say a Tennessee sheriff violated the First Amendment: “In America, we do not jail people for political speech.”
www.washingtonpost.com
December 30, 2025 at 12:11 AM
A retired Tennessee policeman who spent more than a month in jail over an anti-Trump Facebook post is suing the authorities responsible for his arrest.
Attorneys for Larry Bushart, 61, allege in the lawsuit that those responsible violated Bushart's First and Fourth Amendment rights.
Attorneys for Larry Bushart, 61, allege in the lawsuit that those responsible violated Bushart's First and Fourth Amendment rights.
#EmojiSounds
🌎
Ledisi - This Bitter Earth
From her Dinah Washington tribute album For Dinah
youtu.be/vMM7dxYhvso?...
🌎
Ledisi - This Bitter Earth
From her Dinah Washington tribute album For Dinah
youtu.be/vMM7dxYhvso?...
Ledisi | This Bitter Earth | Audio
YouTube video by Ledisi
youtu.be
December 30, 2025 at 1:33 AM
#EmojiSounds
🌎
Ledisi - This Bitter Earth
From her Dinah Washington tribute album For Dinah
youtu.be/vMM7dxYhvso?...
🌎
Ledisi - This Bitter Earth
From her Dinah Washington tribute album For Dinah
youtu.be/vMM7dxYhvso?...
Bon Iver - Everything Is Peaceful Love (Official Video)
YouTube video by BonIverVEVO
youtu.be
December 30, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Reposted by fred
An FBI run by two Trump hacks has operated exactly as expected. It investigates whomever Trump doesn’t like. trib.al/MxlLetC
Working at the FBI is now not about your investigative skills, but how Patel and other Trump aides think you feel about the president.
Working at the FBI is now not about your investigative skills, but how Patel and other Trump aides think you feel about the president.
Under Kash Patel, “FBI” Means Foolish, Belligerent, and Incompetent
All of Trump’s law enforcement people are toadies. But Patel and number two Dan Bongino have brought extra incompetence to the party.
trib.al
December 29, 2025 at 10:22 PM
An FBI run by two Trump hacks has operated exactly as expected. It investigates whomever Trump doesn’t like. trib.al/MxlLetC
Working at the FBI is now not about your investigative skills, but how Patel and other Trump aides think you feel about the president.
Working at the FBI is now not about your investigative skills, but how Patel and other Trump aides think you feel about the president.
Reposted by fred
A growing body of research indicates that Texas's restrictive abortion bans have negatively impacted the health and lives of Texas women and babies in multiple ways. Across the board, pregnancy outcomes and complications have worsened.
What researchers have discovered about maternal, infant health under Texas' abortion laws
In the more than four years since the state of Texas significantly restricted access to abortion, medical researchers have been studying the health effects of that policy change.
medicalxpress.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:12 PM
A growing body of research indicates that Texas's restrictive abortion bans have negatively impacted the health and lives of Texas women and babies in multiple ways. Across the board, pregnancy outcomes and complications have worsened.
Reposted by fred
BREAKING: A Russian newspaper today — “America no longer sees our country as a threat… The US leader’s philosophy is closer to the values of Russia’s president, not the politicians of the Old World… he sees Europe as a liberal stronghold that must be destroyed…”
Read that again.
Read that again.
December 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
BREAKING: A Russian newspaper today — “America no longer sees our country as a threat… The US leader’s philosophy is closer to the values of Russia’s president, not the politicians of the Old World… he sees Europe as a liberal stronghold that must be destroyed…”
Read that again.
Read that again.
Reposted by fred
USPS quietly changed its postmark rules — mail is no longer dated when you drop it off. The “official” date is when it hits automated sorting — sometimes days later
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
December 29, 2025 at 7:14 PM
USPS quietly changed its postmark rules — mail is no longer dated when you drop it off. The “official” date is when it hits automated sorting — sometimes days later
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Which could have major implications for mail in voting — it’s a clever way to disenfranchise voters that’s going largely overlooked
Reposted by fred
Ladies and gentlemen, the head of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division
December 29, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Ladies and gentlemen, the head of DOJ’s Civil Rights Division
Reposted by fred
“You are not entitled to a response from us, or anyone, ever,” is what a US Education Department spokesperson wrote to one of our reporters, @megomatz.bsky.social, after she repeatedly tried to get comment from the department and its officials. My column on the condemnation of good journalism.
Our Reporters Reached Out for Comment. They Were Accused of Stalking and Intimidation.
Our journalists reach out to people they’re writing about to ensure fairness. But in this environment, they’ve found their efforts to do so are more likely to be vilified than appreciated.
www.propublica.org
December 29, 2025 at 2:58 PM
“You are not entitled to a response from us, or anyone, ever,” is what a US Education Department spokesperson wrote to one of our reporters, @megomatz.bsky.social, after she repeatedly tried to get comment from the department and its officials. My column on the condemnation of good journalism.
Reposted by fred
Who saw that coming?
December 29, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Who saw that coming?
Reposted by fred
The US invented the solar panel & wind turbine, notes @billmckibben.bsky.social:
"We could have owned these technologies, & instead we’ve just ceded them to our theoretical main rival... I don’t think there’s been an act of national self-sabotage quite like this." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
"We could have owned these technologies, & instead we’ve just ceded them to our theoretical main rival... I don’t think there’s been an act of national self-sabotage quite like this." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
‘This is the Costco of energy, man!’: author Bill McKibben on the promise of renewables
The activist and author of Here Comes the Sun discusses rapid advances in solar and wind power and how the US ceded leadership in the sector to its main rival
www.theguardian.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:13 AM
The US invented the solar panel & wind turbine, notes @billmckibben.bsky.social:
"We could have owned these technologies, & instead we’ve just ceded them to our theoretical main rival... I don’t think there’s been an act of national self-sabotage quite like this." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
"We could have owned these technologies, & instead we’ve just ceded them to our theoretical main rival... I don’t think there’s been an act of national self-sabotage quite like this." www.theguardian.com/environment/...
Reposted by fred
The outrageous sanctioning of EU lawmakers and citizens in order to pressure democratically-elected European governments to change their laws shows just how intent the US government is on controlling Europeans' lives.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
The US can destroy a European's life with the swipe of a pen
This week's US sanctions against European lawmakers and privacy activists is a major escalation. And it shows the dangers of Europe relying on American economic infrastructure.
open.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 5:09 AM
The outrageous sanctioning of EU lawmakers and citizens in order to pressure democratically-elected European governments to change their laws shows just how intent the US government is on controlling Europeans' lives.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
We must go into 2026 with eyes open.
Reposted by fred
Meanwhile, DOJ wants to push the first public hearing for accused pipe bomber Brian Cole past the date (January 5) when 5-year statutes of limitation would expire.
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
December 29, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Meanwhile, DOJ wants to push the first public hearing for accused pipe bomber Brian Cole past the date (January 5) when 5-year statutes of limitation would expire.
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by fred
"One study surveyed over 1,700 families with an annual income of under $100,000, usually considered to be in the upper middle class. Over 80% said food costs more, and 55% of families said it's harder to afford the amount and quality of food they need." www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/m...
Food hardship hitting more middle-class families
More middle-class families are feeling the pinch when it comes to the rising cost of living.
www.nbcbayarea.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
"One study surveyed over 1,700 families with an annual income of under $100,000, usually considered to be in the upper middle class. Over 80% said food costs more, and 55% of families said it's harder to afford the amount and quality of food they need." www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/m...
Reposted by fred
And detainees are held for much long periods of time than needed so that these companies can charge more and make billions extra. It’s state sanctioned human trafficking.
December 29, 2025 at 12:41 AM
And detainees are held for much long periods of time than needed so that these companies can charge more and make billions extra. It’s state sanctioned human trafficking.
Reposted by fred
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 fred
I feel like "attention hacking" is most of politics now. The Minnesota aid fraud story is becoming a perfect example.
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
December 29, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I feel like "attention hacking" is most of politics now. The Minnesota aid fraud story is becoming a perfect example.
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Reposted by fred
Both of the homes Trump claimed as principal residences in the ’90s were used as investment properties and rented out, according to an interview with his longtime real estate agent — exactly the sort of scenario he’s pointed to as evidence of fraud.
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
The Trump administration has argued that Fed board member Lisa Cook may have committed mortgage fraud by declaring more than one primary residence on her loans. We found Trump once did the very thing ...
www.propublica.org
December 29, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Both of the homes Trump claimed as principal residences in the ’90s were used as investment properties and rented out, according to an interview with his longtime real estate agent — exactly the sort of scenario he’s pointed to as evidence of fraud.
Reposted by fred
These parents killed their child and we need to say it
“The vaccination has stuff we don’t trust,” said the father of the 6-year-old girl who died of measles. In March, Tom Bartlett wrote about his visit with a family confronting an unthinkable tragedy.
Revisit one of The Atlantic’s most-read stories of 2025: theatln.tc/yADSKik3?lin...
Revisit one of The Atlantic’s most-read stories of 2025: theatln.tc/yADSKik3?lin...
December 29, 2025 at 12:43 AM
These parents killed their child and we need to say it
Reposted by fred
The President of the United States appears to be getting regular IV infusions, the public doesn’t know anything about it, & the DC media evidently doesn’t care.
We are months into the mystery of Trump’s hands, the White House is lying, & I’ve seen a grand total of one serious news story about it.
We are months into the mystery of Trump’s hands, the White House is lying, & I’ve seen a grand total of one serious news story about it.
Trump looked pretty rough today -- note that both of his hands are discolored
(Joe Raedle/Getty)
(Joe Raedle/Getty)
December 29, 2025 at 1:40 AM
The President of the United States appears to be getting regular IV infusions, the public doesn’t know anything about it, & the DC media evidently doesn’t care.
We are months into the mystery of Trump’s hands, the White House is lying, & I’ve seen a grand total of one serious news story about it.
We are months into the mystery of Trump’s hands, the White House is lying, & I’ve seen a grand total of one serious news story about it.
Reposted by fred
Trump sympathizes with how stressful it would be for Putin to have to stop killing people for a while because of how inconvenient it would be for him to resume it. This whole thing is a farce. A charade. Putin is playing Trump like the useful idiot that he is.
December 29, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Trump sympathizes with how stressful it would be for Putin to have to stop killing people for a while because of how inconvenient it would be for him to resume it. This whole thing is a farce. A charade. Putin is playing Trump like the useful idiot that he is.
Reposted by fred
check out the expression on Zelenskyy's face as Trump claims the war wouldn't have happened if the 2020 election hadn't been "rigged and stolen"
December 28, 2025 at 10:03 PM
check out the expression on Zelenskyy's face as Trump claims the war wouldn't have happened if the 2020 election hadn't been "rigged and stolen"
Reposted by fred
Issa Rae has canceled her sold out performance at the Kennedy Center. Pulitzer Prize winner Rhiannon Giddens, Peter Wolf, Low Cut Connie, and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., have also canceled. Lin-Manuel Miranda has canceled the entire Kennedy Center run of Hamilton.
December 28, 2025 at 11:07 PM
Issa Rae has canceled her sold out performance at the Kennedy Center. Pulitzer Prize winner Rhiannon Giddens, Peter Wolf, Low Cut Connie, and the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., have also canceled. Lin-Manuel Miranda has canceled the entire Kennedy Center run of Hamilton.