Joe Blanda
@joeblanda.bsky.social
supporting those who work to protect democracy from predators at home & abroad
music 🎸 books 📚 family & friends 👨👩👦 my cat 🐈 = antidotes to the insanity
#organize #innovate #resist #voteblue
🌻🌻 Ukraine 🌻🌻
music 🎸 books 📚 family & friends 👨👩👦 my cat 🐈 = antidotes to the insanity
#organize #innovate #resist #voteblue
🌻🌻 Ukraine 🌻🌻
Reposted by Joe Blanda
Ines El-Hajj
I met Omar Eid in Qalqilya, in the West Bank, while filming a story for the Austraian TV about settler attacks. He wanted to read poem for us, and I told him I’d make him famous. Please listen to Omar’s poem, and help make him known. And the poem says:
I met Omar Eid in Qalqilya, in the West Bank, while filming a story for the Austraian TV about settler attacks. He wanted to read poem for us, and I told him I’d make him famous. Please listen to Omar’s poem, and help make him known. And the poem says:
November 13, 2025 at 6:09 AM
Ines El-Hajj
I met Omar Eid in Qalqilya, in the West Bank, while filming a story for the Austraian TV about settler attacks. He wanted to read poem for us, and I told him I’d make him famous. Please listen to Omar’s poem, and help make him known. And the poem says:
I met Omar Eid in Qalqilya, in the West Bank, while filming a story for the Austraian TV about settler attacks. He wanted to read poem for us, and I told him I’d make him famous. Please listen to Omar’s poem, and help make him known. And the poem says:
"nothing new under the sun, until . . ."
Burns: The Old Testament says there’s nothing new under the sun. On July 4th, 1776, there was. Everybody up to that point had been under authoritarian rule. It was in the interests of their rulers that they be uneducated, that they be superstitious, that they be distracted by conspiracies…
November 14, 2025 at 10:49 PM
"nothing new under the sun, until . . ."
Reposted by Joe Blanda
I picked up a small bag of Ruffles at the store. When I got to the counter, I found that the price had gone up again. I mentioned it to the clerk, and he said, “And there’s a lot of air in that bag.” Somehow I remember that conversation every time I hear our president speak these days.
November 14, 2025 at 7:36 PM
I picked up a small bag of Ruffles at the store. When I got to the counter, I found that the price had gone up again. I mentioned it to the clerk, and he said, “And there’s a lot of air in that bag.” Somehow I remember that conversation every time I hear our president speak these days.
"Record-breaking in the way that you don't want to be breaking records"
Americans know the truth about Trump’s economy.
Grocery bills and health insurance premiums don’t lie.
Grocery bills and health insurance premiums don’t lie.
November 14, 2025 at 6:00 PM
"Record-breaking in the way that you don't want to be breaking records"
Maybe it's the English major in me, but I agree. 📚
Maybe it’s just the Humanities professor in me, but let it be noted that events of today (ahem) have demonstrated the value of being able to assess a large volume of qualitative data and do careful textual analysis with deep attention to context.
November 13, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Maybe it's the English major in me, but I agree. 📚
"Texas should prioritize actions that increase reliability and reduce costs." Doug Lewin, The Texas Energy and Power Newsletter
An Expensive and Unnecessary Capacity Market
open.substack.com/pub/douglewi...
An Expensive and Unnecessary Capacity Market
open.substack.com/pub/douglewi...
An Expensive and Unnecessary Capacity Market
Tomorrow the PUC will discuss a new ERCOT proposal, called DRRS Plus, to establish a capacity market. There are far less expensive and more effective solutions available to the PUC and ERCOT.
open.substack.com
November 13, 2025 at 8:35 PM
"Texas should prioritize actions that increase reliability and reduce costs." Doug Lewin, The Texas Energy and Power Newsletter
An Expensive and Unnecessary Capacity Market
open.substack.com/pub/douglewi...
An Expensive and Unnecessary Capacity Market
open.substack.com/pub/douglewi...
Reposted by Joe Blanda
The bishops broke twelve years of silence to call out fear politics and mass deportation fantasies and to defend immigrants as human beings in a country that keeps pretending it has no moral responsibilities 🙏🇺🇸
U.S. Bishops Issue a “Special Message” on Immigration from Plenary Assembly in Baltimore
The bishops issued a Special Message addressing their concern for the evolving situation impacting immigrants in the United States. It marked the first time ...
www.usccb.org
November 13, 2025 at 3:40 PM
The bishops broke twelve years of silence to call out fear politics and mass deportation fantasies and to defend immigrants as human beings in a country that keeps pretending it has no moral responsibilities 🙏🇺🇸
Reposted by Joe Blanda
Reposted by Joe Blanda
Abbott’s plan to abolish school property taxes would gut $39.5 B from TX schools—with no plan to replace it.
It’s time for new leadership that believes in the promise of public education and invests in every child, not just the privileged few.
#FundPublicEducation
#TxEd #TxLege
It’s time for new leadership that believes in the promise of public education and invests in every child, not just the privileged few.
#FundPublicEducation
#TxEd #TxLege
www.kxan.com
November 12, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Abbott’s plan to abolish school property taxes would gut $39.5 B from TX schools—with no plan to replace it.
It’s time for new leadership that believes in the promise of public education and invests in every child, not just the privileged few.
#FundPublicEducation
#TxEd #TxLege
It’s time for new leadership that believes in the promise of public education and invests in every child, not just the privileged few.
#FundPublicEducation
#TxEd #TxLege
Reposted by Joe Blanda
NEW via CNN: “The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal”
Exclusive: UK suspends some intelligence sharing with US over boat strike concerns in major break | CNN Politics
The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes ...
www.cnn.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:17 PM
NEW via CNN: “The United Kingdom is no longer sharing intelligence with the US about suspected drug trafficking vessels in the Caribbean because it does not want to be complicit in US military strikes and believes the attacks are illegal”
Reposted by Joe Blanda
It’s the same old same old. Republicans do a tantrum and break the dishes. The Democrats clean it up. It’s an abusive relationship.
November 10, 2025 at 11:35 PM
It’s the same old same old. Republicans do a tantrum and break the dishes. The Democrats clean it up. It’s an abusive relationship.
Reposted by Joe Blanda
I hear people all around me saying, “They are going to crash the economy. Surely they don’t mean to crash the economy.”
I beg to differ. This is curated failure.
jesspiper.substack.com/p/i-know-exa...
I beg to differ. This is curated failure.
jesspiper.substack.com/p/i-know-exa...
I Know Exactly What They Are Doing
Rural foresight
jesspiper.substack.com
October 28, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I hear people all around me saying, “They are going to crash the economy. Surely they don’t mean to crash the economy.”
I beg to differ. This is curated failure.
jesspiper.substack.com/p/i-know-exa...
I beg to differ. This is curated failure.
jesspiper.substack.com/p/i-know-exa...
Reposted by Joe Blanda
Reposted by Joe Blanda
November 10, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Reposted by Joe Blanda
Ask Trump
Shaheen: "When I talk to my constituents in New Hampshire, you know what they say to me? They say, 'Why can't you all just work together to address the problems that are facing this country?'"
November 10, 2025 at 1:07 PM
Ask Trump
Reposted by Joe Blanda
Absolutely correct
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
November 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Absolutely correct
Reposted by Joe Blanda
Ro Khanna calls for Schumer‘ ouster
November 10, 2025 at 2:18 AM
Ro Khanna calls for Schumer‘ ouster
Reposted by Joe Blanda
This is so insane. #MedicareForAllNOW
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 AM
This is so insane. #MedicareForAllNOW
Reposted by Joe Blanda
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.
Reposted by Joe Blanda
Pay attention to what Democratic candidates are saying right now. Find and support the fighters. Having a spine must be a litmus test issue in 2026 and beyond.
November 10, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Pay attention to what Democratic candidates are saying right now. Find and support the fighters. Having a spine must be a litmus test issue in 2026 and beyond.
Reposted by Joe Blanda
Meet the real bosses of Texas politics 👇
Spoiler: it’s not you, me, or any voter.
#FollowTheMoney #Txlege
Spoiler: it’s not you, me, or any voter.
#FollowTheMoney #Txlege
November 10, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Meet the real bosses of Texas politics 👇
Spoiler: it’s not you, me, or any voter.
#FollowTheMoney #Txlege
Spoiler: it’s not you, me, or any voter.
#FollowTheMoney #Txlege
Reposted by Joe Blanda
Sanders: That is a totally meaningless gesture. You can get 100 votes here and it won't mean anything because the House is not going to take it up.
November 10, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Sanders: That is a totally meaningless gesture. You can get 100 votes here and it won't mean anything because the House is not going to take it up.
Reposted by Joe Blanda
1.2 million veterans
12% of active duty military
40% of recipients are CHILDREN
Elderly
Disabled
Relying on SNAP
If you want to thank us for our service, help us get our country back!
Veterans against Trump
Veterans say NO KINGS
12% of active duty military
40% of recipients are CHILDREN
Elderly
Disabled
Relying on SNAP
If you want to thank us for our service, help us get our country back!
Veterans against Trump
Veterans say NO KINGS
November 9, 2025 at 5:11 PM
1.2 million veterans
12% of active duty military
40% of recipients are CHILDREN
Elderly
Disabled
Relying on SNAP
If you want to thank us for our service, help us get our country back!
Veterans against Trump
Veterans say NO KINGS
12% of active duty military
40% of recipients are CHILDREN
Elderly
Disabled
Relying on SNAP
If you want to thank us for our service, help us get our country back!
Veterans against Trump
Veterans say NO KINGS
Reposted by Joe Blanda
Good morning, Bob and fur girls! 😘☮️💙 It's been a pretty jolly week for Dems, I must say...all things considered. 😉
November 7, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Good morning, Bob and fur girls! 😘☮️💙 It's been a pretty jolly week for Dems, I must say...all things considered. 😉
Reposted by Joe Blanda
US Army soldiers stationed in Germany are advised to report to German food banks to get something to eat, because Hegseth has ordered the closing of the mess halls. The soldiers feel humiliated. www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/deuts...
Deutschland: US-Armee schickt Soldaten zur Tafel - die reagiert „mindestens irritiert“
Wegen des Shutdowns gibt die Armee den in Deutschland stationierten Soldaten Tipps zur Essensversorgung.
www.sueddeutsche.de
November 7, 2025 at 2:08 AM
US Army soldiers stationed in Germany are advised to report to German food banks to get something to eat, because Hegseth has ordered the closing of the mess halls. The soldiers feel humiliated. www.sueddeutsche.de/bayern/deuts...