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Reposted

John Scalzi

@scalzi.com

There is still beauty in this world

Omar Wasow @owasow.bsky.social · Feb 4

Judge rules that Black church in DC, which won a $2.8 million default judgment against the Proud Boys, now gains control over the trademark “Proud Boys.” The far-right group is barred from selling any related merchandise or symbols without the consent of the church. Gift link:

Proud Boys Lose Control of Their Name to a Black Church They Vandalized (Gift Article)

A judge awarded the trademarked name and symbols to a Washington church to help satisfy a $2.8 million judgment against the far-right group.

www.nytimes.com

February 4, 2025 at 5:38 PM

Reposted

Maxwell Frost

@maxwellfrost.bsky.social

We are members of Congress at the Treasury Department. We want to be let in to provide oversight on behalf of our constituents. @jasmineforus.bsky.social @sethmagaziner.bsky.social

February 4, 2025 at 9:40 PM

Reposted

Gillian Branstetter

@gbbranstetter.bsky.social

Lessons to be learned:

1. Centrists align with far-right to look tough on immigration
2. Centrists gain nothing
3. Far-right wins more power

German Opposition Gambles With Far-Right on Immigration, and Loses
Friedrich Merz and his Christian Democrats broke a political taboo by working with the hard-right Alternative for Germany to toughen rules on immigration. It did not pay off.

In an effort to portray himself and his party as tough on immigration, Friedrich Merz, the leader of the poll-leading Christian Democrats, pushed a series of measures tightening borders and accelerating deportations through Parliament this week. He did so with help from the hard-right Alternative for Germany party, or AfD — parts of which have been classified as extremist by German intelligence agencies.

On Friday, the gambit ended in a crushing legislative defeat for Mr. Merz, dissent in his own party and jubilant claims of new legitimacy from the AfD, a chain reaction that could rattle Mr. Merz’s comfortable seat at the top of the polls.

Mr. Merz’s willingness to rely on support from the AfD, broke a taboo in German politics that had endured since the end of World War II.

January 31, 2025 at 5:51 PM

Reposted

Adam Kinzinger

@adamkinzinger.substack.com

Stating the obvious: tariffs are a regressive tax on the poorest Americans.

A company pays the tariff, and raises their prices to get that money. That price is paid by the consumer.

Duh

February 2, 2025 at 1:55 AM