Gail Helt
@gailhelt.bsky.social
CIA analyst, 2003-14. Close Guantanamo. Human Rights. China. My posts reflect only my views.
This is what keeps me up at nights
“Cash told me that Steady State members are deeply worried about the weakening condition of American democracy — and the findings of the organization’s new report that the U.S. now shares most of the traits of foreign countries that have fallen to autocratic regimes.”
www.salon.com/2025/11/13/d...
www.salon.com/2025/11/13/d...
Donald Trump’s path to authoritarian rule is wide open
Former national security official warns “Trump is moving faster than most dictators have"
www.salon.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:22 PM
This is what keeps me up at nights
If Marsha will steal half a million from American taxpayers, how will she fleece Tennessee as Governor?
“I don’t think that’s appropriate at all.”
REPUBLICAN @RepGregSteube opposed the funding bill because @SenatorHagerty & @MarshaBlackburn and others snuck in a provision to hand themselves millions of taxpayer dollars. #MarshaMoneyGrab 💰
REPUBLICAN @RepGregSteube opposed the funding bill because @SenatorHagerty & @MarshaBlackburn and others snuck in a provision to hand themselves millions of taxpayer dollars. #MarshaMoneyGrab 💰
November 13, 2025 at 12:23 PM
If Marsha will steal half a million from American taxpayers, how will she fleece Tennessee as Governor?
Reposted by Gail Helt
Attacking a federal district judge as an “activist” for issuing a lawful ruling is an assault on judicial independence. A democracy cannot function when executive agencies denigrate judges for doing their jobs.
November 13, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Attacking a federal district judge as an “activist” for issuing a lawful ruling is an assault on judicial independence. A democracy cannot function when executive agencies denigrate judges for doing their jobs.
That lunatic wants to paint the Old Executive Office Building white.
Everything Trump touches turns to trash.
www.huffpost.com/entry/laura-...
Everything Trump touches turns to trash.
www.huffpost.com/entry/laura-...
‘A Big White Blob?!?’: Laura Ingraham Doubts Trump’s New Renovation Pitch To His Face
The Fox News anchor wasn't convinced.
www.huffpost.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:25 AM
That lunatic wants to paint the Old Executive Office Building white.
Everything Trump touches turns to trash.
www.huffpost.com/entry/laura-...
Everything Trump touches turns to trash.
www.huffpost.com/entry/laura-...
Donald Trump needs to resign the presidency.
November 12, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Donald Trump needs to resign the presidency.
Reposted by Gail Helt
Trump did call fallen soldiers "losers," his former chief of staff says. Several other eye witnesses confirm Trump said it. Trump is a draft-dodging coward and loser.
www.axios.com/2023/10/02/t...
www.axios.com/2023/10/02/t...
Trump did call fallen soldiers "losers," John Kelly says
He said his former boss "admires autocrats and murderous dictators" and has contempt for the rule of law.
www.axios.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Trump did call fallen soldiers "losers," his former chief of staff says. Several other eye witnesses confirm Trump said it. Trump is a draft-dodging coward and loser.
www.axios.com/2023/10/02/t...
www.axios.com/2023/10/02/t...
It is. He just doesn’t understand why.
November 12, 2025 at 2:36 PM
It is. He just doesn’t understand why.
Rhodes would do well to remember that Hitler did the same…and then the purge happened. Be careful what you wish for.
With a Trump pardon in hand, Stewart Rhodes says he’s ‘rebuilding’ the Oath Keepers www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
With a Trump pardon in hand, Stewart Rhodes says he’s ‘rebuilding’ the Oath Keepers www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
With a Trump pardon in hand, Stewart Rhodes says he’s ‘rebuilding’ the Oath Keepers
After vowing to bring back his group, Rhodes added that he’d like to see the president “order us all to come together ... under his command.”
www.msnbc.com
November 12, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Rhodes would do well to remember that Hitler did the same…and then the purge happened. Be careful what you wish for.
With a Trump pardon in hand, Stewart Rhodes says he’s ‘rebuilding’ the Oath Keepers www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
With a Trump pardon in hand, Stewart Rhodes says he’s ‘rebuilding’ the Oath Keepers www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
You don’t “defend families” by tearing apart other families. Shame on her and anyone who participates in this pogrom.
Kristi Noem: "We're not gonna just be in Chicago, we're spreading out to other cities and continuing to do our work. We're not going to give Pritzker any relief from his political rhetoric. We're gonna be in there defending these families."
November 12, 2025 at 12:58 PM
You don’t “defend families” by tearing apart other families. Shame on her and anyone who participates in this pogrom.
The tiniest glimpse of northern lights tonight in NE Tennessee
November 12, 2025 at 2:30 AM
The tiniest glimpse of northern lights tonight in NE Tennessee
How much are these guys getting to tank the US economy, and from who?
KUDLOW: Is Trump going to push hard for a $2,000 tariff dividend?
STEPHEN MILLLER: It is something he's going to push hard as part of his economic plan
STEPHEN MILLLER: It is something he's going to push hard as part of his economic plan
November 12, 2025 at 1:28 AM
How much are these guys getting to tank the US economy, and from who?
Proof that Trump thinks Americans are stupid.
Also, you don’t bring in foreigners to work in a defense program. Good freaking grief.
Also, you don’t bring in foreigners to work in a defense program. Good freaking grief.
TRUMP: You have to bring in talent
INGRAHAM: Well, we have plenty of talented people in America
TRUMP: No you don't. No.
INGRAHAM: We don't have talented people here?
November 12, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Proof that Trump thinks Americans are stupid.
Also, you don’t bring in foreigners to work in a defense program. Good freaking grief.
Also, you don’t bring in foreigners to work in a defense program. Good freaking grief.
What’s just a wee bit crazy is that (former) immigrants understand our constitution more thoroughly than the President of the United States.
Rep Omar is brilliant and we are all better because she is one of us.
Rep Omar is brilliant and we are all better because she is one of us.
Trump on Ilhan Omar: "I look at somebody who comes from Somalia...and she comes in and tells us how to run our country. 'The Constitution says this, the Constitution says that.' The whole thing is crazy."
November 11, 2025 at 10:28 PM
What’s just a wee bit crazy is that (former) immigrants understand our constitution more thoroughly than the President of the United States.
Rep Omar is brilliant and we are all better because she is one of us.
Rep Omar is brilliant and we are all better because she is one of us.
I don’t believe any air traffic controllers failed to show up. Not showing up when you’re essential is automatic termination. Unless they were prepared to be fired they’d have worked.
That said, I’m sure some couldn’t afford to be unpaid and quit. That isn’t unpatriotic. What was done to them is.
That said, I’m sure some couldn’t afford to be unpaid and quit. That isn’t unpatriotic. What was done to them is.
Sean Duffy threatens "action" against air traffic controllers who didn't come to work during the shutdown: "I'm concerned about their patriotism."
November 11, 2025 at 9:51 PM
I don’t believe any air traffic controllers failed to show up. Not showing up when you’re essential is automatic termination. Unless they were prepared to be fired they’d have worked.
That said, I’m sure some couldn’t afford to be unpaid and quit. That isn’t unpatriotic. What was done to them is.
That said, I’m sure some couldn’t afford to be unpaid and quit. That isn’t unpatriotic. What was done to them is.
So Trump pardoned the husband of Diana Harshbarger (R-TN). He was convicted in 2013 and served prison time for buying cheap dialysis drugs from China and representing them as an American brand. Despicable. History will remember and his dishonor will remain.
www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/p...
www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/p...
Pharmacist Sentenced For DistributingMisbranded Drug For Kidney Dialysis Patients
www.justice.gov
November 11, 2025 at 1:52 PM
So Trump pardoned the husband of Diana Harshbarger (R-TN). He was convicted in 2013 and served prison time for buying cheap dialysis drugs from China and representing them as an American brand. Despicable. History will remember and his dishonor will remain.
www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/p...
www.justice.gov/usao-ks/pr/p...
It’s like he found a way to put his hair on the White House walls.
Look at what this garish, classless, tasteless fool has done to the People’s House.
November 11, 2025 at 12:08 PM
It’s like he found a way to put his hair on the White House walls.
Wait. There was an enlistment ceremony on the football field during halftime so Trump could do this? Woah. So I’m betting the commanders new stadium really will be named after Trump.
November 10, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Wait. There was an enlistment ceremony on the football field during halftime so Trump could do this? Woah. So I’m betting the commanders new stadium really will be named after Trump.
The most corrupt president in history finds new levels of corruption… authoritarian leaders trying to rewrite history — but the dishonor of all these individuals will remain.
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Trump Pardons Key Players In Scheme To Overturn 2020 Election
The president is not done rewriting history about his effort to cling to power following his 2020 defeat.
www.huffpost.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:37 AM
The most corrupt president in history finds new levels of corruption… authoritarian leaders trying to rewrite history — but the dishonor of all these individuals will remain.
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
It’s like this is the first time he’s seen that oath….
I can recite it from memory, and I only took it once.
I can recite it from memory, and I only took it once.
November 10, 2025 at 3:41 AM
It’s like this is the first time he’s seen that oath….
I can recite it from memory, and I only took it once.
I can recite it from memory, and I only took it once.
Reposted by Gail Helt
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
November 10, 2025 at 1:36 AM
My family has been without half our income for 40 days. It has been.. very hard.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
We are willing to feel that pain so people can have health care next year, or to undo these illegal recissions.
We are not willing to have been put through this for NOTHING.
You are harming millions of Americans who have to figure out how to pay outrageous insurance premiums now, Senator. All on a promise by professional liars. Unbelievable.
My statement on the funding deal to reopen government, protect federal employees, and vote to protect health care:
November 10, 2025 at 1:39 AM
You are harming millions of Americans who have to figure out how to pay outrageous insurance premiums now, Senator. All on a promise by professional liars. Unbelievable.
Warner opposes the “deal.”
Thank you Senator.
Thank you Senator.
Every day this shutdown drags on, Virginians feel it, from federal workers struggling to pay their bills to families unsure how they will put food on the table because this administration is cruelly and deliberately withholding the assistance they need.
November 10, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Warner opposes the “deal.”
Thank you Senator.
Thank you Senator.
Reposted by Gail Helt
Hey @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social and @schumer.senate.gov: compromising with fascists is compliance. Read the room. Do your jobs. Protect your constituents.
November 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Hey @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social and @schumer.senate.gov: compromising with fascists is compliance. Read the room. Do your jobs. Protect your constituents.
If Democrats cave they’re complicit in every step this admin takes toward fascism.
Republicans will never negotiate; they’ll never act honorably.
Don’t teach them they’ll always be able to wait you out.
Show us that you get it. Don’t squander the groundswell of support you had last week.
Republicans will never negotiate; they’ll never act honorably.
Don’t teach them they’ll always be able to wait you out.
Show us that you get it. Don’t squander the groundswell of support you had last week.
November 9, 2025 at 10:33 PM
If Democrats cave they’re complicit in every step this admin takes toward fascism.
Republicans will never negotiate; they’ll never act honorably.
Don’t teach them they’ll always be able to wait you out.
Show us that you get it. Don’t squander the groundswell of support you had last week.
Republicans will never negotiate; they’ll never act honorably.
Don’t teach them they’ll always be able to wait you out.
Show us that you get it. Don’t squander the groundswell of support you had last week.
I’d be remiss if I failed to note that Mussolini needed his likeness/name smeared across everything he saw as well.
apnews.com/article/trum...
White House says naming new Washington Commanders stadium after Trump would be 'beautiful' I have a feeling that there will be a lot of signs to tear down after the next presidential election.
White House says naming new Washington Commanders stadium after Trump would be 'beautiful' I have a feeling that there will be a lot of signs to tear down after the next presidential election.
White House says naming new Washington Commanders stadium after Trump would be 'beautiful'
The White House says it would be “beautiful” to name the new stadium for Washington’s NFL team after President Donald Trump.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I’d be remiss if I failed to note that Mussolini needed his likeness/name smeared across everything he saw as well.