Joanne Freeman
@jbf1755.bsky.social
Historian of early US politics & culture; howl re: democracy—a lot. Last book: The Field of Blood: Violence in Congress & the Road to Civil War. Owned by Newbie the History Bird & Rosie the Resistance Bird.
https://www.youtube.com/@joannefreeman1755
https://www.youtube.com/@joannefreeman1755
Pinned
Joanne Freeman
@jbf1755.bsky.social
· Nov 3
America at 250: A History - YouTube
This one-time-only course examines U.S. history from 1776 to the present, in advance of the nation's semiquincentennial (or 250th birthday) in 2026. Taught j...
www.youtube.com
Hey folks--
I've been asked to pin this link here, so here you go.
The lectures and podcast episodes for "America at 250," the lecture course that I'm teaching with David Blight and Beverly Gage are at this link.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
I've been asked to pin this link here, so here you go.
The lectures and podcast episodes for "America at 250," the lecture course that I'm teaching with David Blight and Beverly Gage are at this link.
www.youtube.com/playlist?lis...
WTF?
The only people who could possibly believe that dictatorships are good are those with enough power, money, and influence to think they’ll always get what they want.
The rest of us be damned.
And trust me, in the end, they’ll suffer.
A dictatorship is a government of whims. One man’s whims.
The only people who could possibly believe that dictatorships are good are those with enough power, money, and influence to think they’ll always get what they want.
The rest of us be damned.
And trust me, in the end, they’ll suffer.
A dictatorship is a government of whims. One man’s whims.
"🇨🇦, give us your sovereignty"
"Sir, help us understand why dictators are good"
"Lebensraum, how could we finance it?"
Again, one of the things I was very wrong & naive about was that I believed there was a baseline floor below which professional journalists & publications would not sink. Alas.
"Sir, help us understand why dictators are good"
"Lebensraum, how could we finance it?"
Again, one of the things I was very wrong & naive about was that I believed there was a baseline floor below which professional journalists & publications would not sink. Alas.
January 4, 2026 at 7:12 PM
WTF?
The only people who could possibly believe that dictatorships are good are those with enough power, money, and influence to think they’ll always get what they want.
The rest of us be damned.
And trust me, in the end, they’ll suffer.
A dictatorship is a government of whims. One man’s whims.
The only people who could possibly believe that dictatorships are good are those with enough power, money, and influence to think they’ll always get what they want.
The rest of us be damned.
And trust me, in the end, they’ll suffer.
A dictatorship is a government of whims. One man’s whims.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Yeah, let's talk about this for a second.
literally the first thing this guy says is a bald faced lie www.nytimes.com/2025/01/18/m...
‘The Interview’: Curtis Yarvin Says Democracy is Done
The once-fringe writer has long argued for an American monarchy. His ideas have found an audience in the incoming administration and Silicon Valley.
www.nytimes.com
January 18, 2025 at 6:08 PM
Yeah, let's talk about this for a second.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Nightmarish. CBS News is now running straight state propaganda. They handed Hegseth all three segments and are now tweeting flattering sound bites.
January 4, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Nightmarish. CBS News is now running straight state propaganda. They handed Hegseth all three segments and are now tweeting flattering sound bites.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Moulton: "When we had briefings on Venezuela, we asked, 'Are you going to invade the country?' We were told no. 'Do you plan to put troops on the ground?' We were told no. 'Do you intend regime change in VZ?' We were told no. So in a sense, we have been briefed, we've just been completely lied to"
January 3, 2026 at 6:01 PM
Moulton: "When we had briefings on Venezuela, we asked, 'Are you going to invade the country?' We were told no. 'Do you plan to put troops on the ground?' We were told no. 'Do you intend regime change in VZ?' We were told no. So in a sense, we have been briefed, we've just been completely lied to"
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
I don’t understand how the first reaction from leadership isn’t “This is an impeachable offense. My colleagues must defund Hegseth and begin drafting articles immediately.”
Like, even if it doesn’t get done, how are you not planting this flag in the ground immediately?
Like, even if it doesn’t get done, how are you not planting this flag in the ground immediately?
January 4, 2026 at 2:45 AM
I don’t understand how the first reaction from leadership isn’t “This is an impeachable offense. My colleagues must defund Hegseth and begin drafting articles immediately.”
Like, even if it doesn’t get done, how are you not planting this flag in the ground immediately?
Like, even if it doesn’t get done, how are you not planting this flag in the ground immediately?
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
This is how you do it. No preamble to swear to God you don't like Maduro.
January 3, 2026 at 9:23 PM
This is how you do it. No preamble to swear to God you don't like Maduro.
This.
If incumbent Democrats won’t stand up and push back, challengers will—and should—fill that space.
If incumbent Democrats won’t stand up and push back, challengers will—and should—fill that space.
This is how it's done. If incumbent Democrats won't do the job, their primary challengers can and will use this to make sure someone else does
The Republican Congress has chosen to give away its authority and power and now we are being told Trump plans to occupy Venezuela. We don't cry for Maduro. We demand the following of our laws and Constitution. He is already threatening Mexico and Cuba will be next. Ann Wagner is silent.
January 4, 2026 at 4:30 AM
This.
If incumbent Democrats won’t stand up and push back, challengers will—and should—fill that space.
If incumbent Democrats won’t stand up and push back, challengers will—and should—fill that space.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Will it solve everything? No.
Is it still better to demand accountability than it is to type out “LOL nothing matters” on your phone? Yes.
I’ll block anyone I see doing this helpless shit. Go stick your head in the sand if you want but stop clucking at people online for giving a shit.
Is it still better to demand accountability than it is to type out “LOL nothing matters” on your phone? Yes.
I’ll block anyone I see doing this helpless shit. Go stick your head in the sand if you want but stop clucking at people online for giving a shit.
January 3, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Will it solve everything? No.
Is it still better to demand accountability than it is to type out “LOL nothing matters” on your phone? Yes.
I’ll block anyone I see doing this helpless shit. Go stick your head in the sand if you want but stop clucking at people online for giving a shit.
Is it still better to demand accountability than it is to type out “LOL nothing matters” on your phone? Yes.
I’ll block anyone I see doing this helpless shit. Go stick your head in the sand if you want but stop clucking at people online for giving a shit.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
This is how it's done. If incumbent Democrats won't do the job, their primary challengers can and will use this to make sure someone else does
The Republican Congress has chosen to give away its authority and power and now we are being told Trump plans to occupy Venezuela. We don't cry for Maduro. We demand the following of our laws and Constitution. He is already threatening Mexico and Cuba will be next. Ann Wagner is silent.
January 3, 2026 at 9:39 PM
This is how it's done. If incumbent Democrats won't do the job, their primary challengers can and will use this to make sure someone else does
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
The Chicago protest against the U.S. attack on Venezuela has stepped off to march through the downtown area. Hundreds have joined the march.
January 3, 2026 at 11:51 PM
The Chicago protest against the U.S. attack on Venezuela has stepped off to march through the downtown area. Hundreds have joined the march.
This is precisely what I said this morning. Politicians MUST draw a formal line in the sand.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=dZDJ...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=dZDJ...
January 3, 2026 at 10:10 PM
This is precisely what I said this morning. Politicians MUST draw a formal line in the sand.
m.youtube.com/watch?v=dZDJ...
m.youtube.com/watch?v=dZDJ...
I just can’t.
Press call with Chuck Schumer says he has been talking with his caucus "I've been talking to so many members of my caucus today. Everybody is very, very just totally, totally, totally troubled."
January 3, 2026 at 9:36 PM
I just can’t.
He watched it from his house.
Not from the seat of government.
And experienced it as a TV show.
He is a non-president.
Not from the seat of government.
And experienced it as a TV show.
He is a non-president.
The WH released photos of Trump watching the operation live from a makeshift “war room” at Mar-a-Lago.
Trump went on Fox News this morning and said he watched it like “a television show,” praising the “speed” and “violence” as “an amazing thing.”
Trump went on Fox News this morning and said he watched it like “a television show,” praising the “speed” and “violence” as “an amazing thing.”
January 3, 2026 at 9:28 PM
He watched it from his house.
Not from the seat of government.
And experienced it as a TV show.
He is a non-president.
Not from the seat of government.
And experienced it as a TV show.
He is a non-president.
YES.
DRAW SOME FRICKIN’ LINES IN THE SAND.
Formally, loudly, state the blunt facts about this as a group, with force.
Expose the reality of this.
Without that, it’s just consensus.
DRAW SOME FRICKIN’ LINES IN THE SAND.
Formally, loudly, state the blunt facts about this as a group, with force.
Expose the reality of this.
Without that, it’s just consensus.
Yes, this is exactly the time to demand Democrats "do something."
They can denounce Trump's actions as unconstitutional. They can state that he must be impeached and removed. They can make clear that all involved will be held accountable.
These are the core duties of a role they all signed up for.
They can denounce Trump's actions as unconstitutional. They can state that he must be impeached and removed. They can make clear that all involved will be held accountable.
These are the core duties of a role they all signed up for.
January 3, 2026 at 9:24 PM
YES.
DRAW SOME FRICKIN’ LINES IN THE SAND.
Formally, loudly, state the blunt facts about this as a group, with force.
Expose the reality of this.
Without that, it’s just consensus.
DRAW SOME FRICKIN’ LINES IN THE SAND.
Formally, loudly, state the blunt facts about this as a group, with force.
Expose the reality of this.
Without that, it’s just consensus.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
I’m at Times Square, where an emergency “No War On Venezuela” protest just took to the street. Easily a thousand people here in real-feel 20°F weather.
“No more coups, no more wars, Venezuela’s not yours!”
“No boots on the ground no bombs in the air, U.S. out of everywhere!”
“No more coups, no more wars, Venezuela’s not yours!”
“No boots on the ground no bombs in the air, U.S. out of everywhere!”
January 3, 2026 at 8:02 PM
I’m at Times Square, where an emergency “No War On Venezuela” protest just took to the street. Easily a thousand people here in real-feel 20°F weather.
“No more coups, no more wars, Venezuela’s not yours!”
“No boots on the ground no bombs in the air, U.S. out of everywhere!”
“No more coups, no more wars, Venezuela’s not yours!”
“No boots on the ground no bombs in the air, U.S. out of everywhere!”
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Candid answer - as someone who handled constituent affairs calls for years - while they’re not checking the phone right now, the urgency of the moment is important.
Show them you care enough to make the weekend call, and be counted that way. Staffers will clock and report this upstream.
Show them you care enough to make the weekend call, and be counted that way. Staffers will clock and report this upstream.
Is there actually a benefit to leaving a VM now vs getting a staffer on Monday? Can do both but just curious
January 3, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Candid answer - as someone who handled constituent affairs calls for years - while they’re not checking the phone right now, the urgency of the moment is important.
Show them you care enough to make the weekend call, and be counted that way. Staffers will clock and report this upstream.
Show them you care enough to make the weekend call, and be counted that way. Staffers will clock and report this upstream.
Warfare for profit and power, NOT the people.
And there ya have it…
Officials from top Wall Street firms will be traveling to Venezuela to investigate “investment prospects” of the country. “The trip will feature about 20 officials from the finance, energy and defense sectors.”
Officials from top Wall Street firms will be traveling to Venezuela to investigate “investment prospects” of the country. “The trip will feature about 20 officials from the finance, energy and defense sectors.”
Finance Industry Eyes Investment Opportunities in Venezuela
Some on Wall Street are already considering possible investment opportunities in Venezuela following the capture of Nicolás Maduro, according to Charles Myers, chairman of consulting firm Signum Globa...
www.wsj.com
January 3, 2026 at 9:09 PM
Warfare for profit and power, NOT the people.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Rep. Seth Moulton comes on CNN and starts by saying: "Is anyone going to just stop for a second and be honest? This is insane. What the hell are we doing? We've got a lot of problems in America today, and invading / occupying / running Venezuela does not solve any of them."
January 3, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Rep. Seth Moulton comes on CNN and starts by saying: "Is anyone going to just stop for a second and be honest? This is insane. What the hell are we doing? We've got a lot of problems in America today, and invading / occupying / running Venezuela does not solve any of them."
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Hey folks—
A few words about what happened this morning in Venezuela—from the airport.
www.youtube.com/live/dZDJbwu...
A few words about what happened this morning in Venezuela—from the airport.
www.youtube.com/live/dZDJbwu...
WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED? (...alone at an airport...)
YouTube video by Dr. Joanne Freeman
www.youtube.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Hey folks—
A few words about what happened this morning in Venezuela—from the airport.
www.youtube.com/live/dZDJbwu...
A few words about what happened this morning in Venezuela—from the airport.
www.youtube.com/live/dZDJbwu...
Hey folks—
A few words about what happened this morning in Venezuela—from the airport.
www.youtube.com/live/dZDJbwu...
A few words about what happened this morning in Venezuela—from the airport.
www.youtube.com/live/dZDJbwu...
WHAT THE HECK JUST HAPPENED? (...alone at an airport...)
YouTube video by Dr. Joanne Freeman
www.youtube.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Hey folks—
A few words about what happened this morning in Venezuela—from the airport.
www.youtube.com/live/dZDJbwu...
A few words about what happened this morning in Venezuela—from the airport.
www.youtube.com/live/dZDJbwu...
Draw the line.
Over and over again.
NOT doing so normalizes what’s happening.
Over and over again.
NOT doing so normalizes what’s happening.
impeach him. try to do it once a month, if necessary. build the case over and over to not just the American people but to the world that this isn’t the way things should be here, that this isn’t the way we should use our power abroad.
January 3, 2026 at 4:39 PM
Draw the line.
Over and over again.
NOT doing so normalizes what’s happening.
Over and over again.
NOT doing so normalizes what’s happening.
Thanks a heap for presidential immunity, SCOTUS.
A ticket to dictatorship, as MANY of us said.
Other power-holders, however….
Interesting questions at hand.
A ticket to dictatorship, as MANY of us said.
Other power-holders, however….
Interesting questions at hand.
January 3, 2026 at 4:24 PM
Thanks a heap for presidential immunity, SCOTUS.
A ticket to dictatorship, as MANY of us said.
Other power-holders, however….
Interesting questions at hand.
A ticket to dictatorship, as MANY of us said.
Other power-holders, however….
Interesting questions at hand.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Whatever happens now, we absolutely cannot allow Trump's refusal to seek Congressional authorization for what appears to be a large scale military attack on another country vanish from the media discussion, which already appears to be happening.
January 3, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Whatever happens now, we absolutely cannot allow Trump's refusal to seek Congressional authorization for what appears to be a large scale military attack on another country vanish from the media discussion, which already appears to be happening.
Reposted by Joanne Freeman
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
January 3, 2026 at 10:52 AM
Marco Rubio is reportedly saying Maduro will stand trial in US courts.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.
Which means it’s now the US administration’s position that US courts can hold foreign presidents, but not the US president, accountable for crimes.