Jon Farrington
@jonfarrington.bsky.social
Engineer, oyster farmer, Chesapeake Bay
Reposted by Jon Farrington
DHS reportedly fast-tracked a contract worth almost $1 billion to a company led by a donor to a pro-Trump nonprofit group where one of the officials overseeing the deal previously worked.
That raises serious ethics concerns.
That raises serious ethics concerns.
DHS fast-tracked $1 billion contract to pro-Trump donor’s company
A DHS official leading the process previously worked at the America First Policy Institute, a pro-Trump nonprofit where the contractor’s CEO was a donor.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 2, 2026 at 12:05 AM
DHS reportedly fast-tracked a contract worth almost $1 billion to a company led by a donor to a pro-Trump nonprofit group where one of the officials overseeing the deal previously worked.
That raises serious ethics concerns.
That raises serious ethics concerns.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Reposted by Jon Farrington
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
It's New Year, so time to look back and forward. These are 10 things I think we need to recognise in 2026. It’s a response to what I think are profoundly damaging mistaken assumptions I’ve heard and read from practitioners, journalists, and analysts in 2025. Warning: very long🧵
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Thanks to the monumentally stupid decision to invade Ukraine, Russia is even less of a great power than it was 4 years ago. If your military capacity relies on DPRK and Iran, and you've turned yourself into a dependent of China, you’re not a great power. carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...
With Putin in Charge, Russia’s Vassalage to China Will Only Deepen
Moscow should be looking for ways to correct its course and restore balance in its foreign policy, instead of putting all its eggs in the China basket. But Putin is no pragmatic decision-maker, and th...
carnegieendowment.org
January 1, 2026 at 4:55 PM
Thanks to the monumentally stupid decision to invade Ukraine, Russia is even less of a great power than it was 4 years ago. If your military capacity relies on DPRK and Iran, and you've turned yourself into a dependent of China, you’re not a great power. carnegieendowment.org/russia-euras...
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches (Gift Article)
The president, his family and some of their closest associates have engaged in a sprawling campaign of deals that stretches across industries and the globe.
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Oh my goodness, this Wall Street Journal piece about Trump's ailing health that includes an interview with him (gift link). There are a number of ridiculous details in it and I'll put a few of them in this thread. (1/6)
Exclusive | As Signs of Aging Emerge, Trump Responds With Defiance
In an interview, President Trump—the oldest man to assume the office—said he has eschewed some advice from his doctors and regrets getting advanced imaging.
www.wsj.com
January 1, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Oh my goodness, this Wall Street Journal piece about Trump's ailing health that includes an interview with him (gift link). There are a number of ridiculous details in it and I'll put a few of them in this thread. (1/6)
Reposted by Jon Farrington
This should not be shrugged aside. They have stopped with the fake 22 million illegal immigrants things and are flat out saying we want to deport 10's of millions of citizens and legal residents from "third world countries" Basically they are advocating removing 1/3 of the population on a gov site.
December 31, 2025 at 9:59 PM
This should not be shrugged aside. They have stopped with the fake 22 million illegal immigrants things and are flat out saying we want to deport 10's of millions of citizens and legal residents from "third world countries" Basically they are advocating removing 1/3 of the population on a gov site.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
1/ This advertisement is dangerous. ICE agents are shown in full paramilitary gear (helmets, rifles, tactical vests) despite ICE being a civil immigration enforcement agency, not a military force.
December 31, 2025 at 7:57 PM
1/ This advertisement is dangerous. ICE agents are shown in full paramilitary gear (helmets, rifles, tactical vests) despite ICE being a civil immigration enforcement agency, not a military force.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
An official account of the United States government is dreamposting about deporting 80+ million citizens
December 31, 2025 at 11:16 PM
An official account of the United States government is dreamposting about deporting 80+ million citizens
Reposted by Jon Farrington
NEW: Jack Smith seemed in total command of the details of his probes and used his deposition to forcefully rebut claims of weaponization and reiterate his belief that Trump was guilty of historic crimes.
Our 7 takeaways.
w/ @Hailey_Fuchs @jordainc
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Our 7 takeaways.
w/ @Hailey_Fuchs @jordainc
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
December 31, 2025 at 11:33 PM
NEW: Jack Smith seemed in total command of the details of his probes and used his deposition to forcefully rebut claims of weaponization and reiterate his belief that Trump was guilty of historic crimes.
Our 7 takeaways.
w/ @Hailey_Fuchs @jordainc
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Our 7 takeaways.
w/ @Hailey_Fuchs @jordainc
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Trump deleted and reposted his attack on Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Mesa County DA Dan Rubinstein:
“I wish them only the worst. May they rot in Hell.”
“I wish them only the worst. May they rot in Hell.”
December 31, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Trump deleted and reposted his attack on Colorado Governor Jared Polis and Mesa County DA Dan Rubinstein:
“I wish them only the worst. May they rot in Hell.”
“I wish them only the worst. May they rot in Hell.”
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Democracies cannot function like this. The President is a public servant of the people, not a diety who doles out government services based on perceived personal slights.
In his veto letter, President Trump blamed the Miccosukee Tribe for having “actively sought to obstruct reasonable immigration policies that the American people decisively voted for when I was elected.”
via @floridaphoenix.com
via @floridaphoenix.com
Trump vetoes Miccosukee flood protection, citing tribe’s opposition to ‘Alligator Alcatraz’
The Miccosukee Tribe’s lawsuit contesting an immigration detention facility in the Everglades cost them federally funded flood protection, at least if President Donald Trump gets his way.
www.newsfromthestates.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:30 PM
Democracies cannot function like this. The President is a public servant of the people, not a diety who doles out government services based on perceived personal slights.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
It’s nice to get a break from Trump’s pedophile crimes to change it up with Jack Smith’s testimony on all his treason & insurrection crimes.
December 31, 2025 at 11:50 PM
It’s nice to get a break from Trump’s pedophile crimes to change it up with Jack Smith’s testimony on all his treason & insurrection crimes.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Smith: He was getting calls from people he trusts, people he relies on—and he still refused to come to the aid of the people at the Capitol. That’s very important evidence for criminal intent in our case.
December 31, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Smith: He was getting calls from people he trusts, people he relies on—and he still refused to come to the aid of the people at the Capitol. That’s very important evidence for criminal intent in our case.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Jim Jordan was really scared on Jan. 6 after being in contact with the White House, Mark Meadows told Jack Smith’s team.
This comes out in testimony before Jordan’s own committee, which Jordan initially chose not to make public and then decided to release in the final hours of 2025.
This comes out in testimony before Jordan’s own committee, which Jordan initially chose not to make public and then decided to release in the final hours of 2025.
December 31, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Jim Jordan was really scared on Jan. 6 after being in contact with the White House, Mark Meadows told Jack Smith’s team.
This comes out in testimony before Jordan’s own committee, which Jordan initially chose not to make public and then decided to release in the final hours of 2025.
This comes out in testimony before Jordan’s own committee, which Jordan initially chose not to make public and then decided to release in the final hours of 2025.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
HERE Jack Smith sets out Trump’s direct culpability and complicity in the federal election interference case, including January 6th:
December 31, 2025 at 10:45 PM
HERE Jack Smith sets out Trump’s direct culpability and complicity in the federal election interference case, including January 6th:
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Uh… check out what ChatGPT allegedly told a man before he killed his mother and then himself.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 31, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Uh… check out what ChatGPT allegedly told a man before he killed his mother and then himself.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Smith: There was an exchange between the two where Epshteyn asked Bannon if he was in touch with him. The answer was affirmative, and it was something to the effect of, “He’s still on fire.”
December 31, 2025 at 10:01 PM
Smith: There was an exchange between the two where Epshteyn asked Bannon if he was in touch with him. The answer was affirmative, and it was something to the effect of, “He’s still on fire.”
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Jack Smith: Trump’s FRAUD was not protected First Amendment speech.
Trump knowingly lied about the 2020 election in an attempt to overturn its result.
Trump knowingly lied about the 2020 election in an attempt to overturn its result.
December 31, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Jack Smith: Trump’s FRAUD was not protected First Amendment speech.
Trump knowingly lied about the 2020 election in an attempt to overturn its result.
Trump knowingly lied about the 2020 election in an attempt to overturn its result.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Question: But the president’s statements that he believed the election was rife with fraud—those are statements protected by the First Amendment, correct?
Smith: Absolutely not. If they are made to target a lawful government function and are made with knowing falsity, then no, they are not.
Smith: Absolutely not. If they are made to target a lawful government function and are made with knowing falsity, then no, they are not.
December 31, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Question: But the president’s statements that he believed the election was rife with fraud—those are statements protected by the First Amendment, correct?
Smith: Absolutely not. If they are made to target a lawful government function and are made with knowing falsity, then no, they are not.
Smith: Absolutely not. If they are made to target a lawful government function and are made with knowing falsity, then no, they are not.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
a little more on one of my favored analogies youtu.be/Msz2daPeTyg
The Democratic Party's McClellan Problem
YouTube video by Takes™ by Jamelle Bouie
youtu.be
December 30, 2025 at 10:09 PM
a little more on one of my favored analogies youtu.be/Msz2daPeTyg
Reposted by Jon Farrington
So roofers and landscapers and cooks are getting harassed and worse, while Russian-propaganda launderers are getting special visa treatment
Trump Admin Scores Visa for Founder of Russian Propaganda Outlet
Tenet Media’s Lauren Chen is back—even though the illegal-influence and money-laundering investigation remains open.
lnk.thebulwark.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:30 PM
So roofers and landscapers and cooks are getting harassed and worse, while Russian-propaganda launderers are getting special visa treatment
Reposted by Jon Farrington
DC does not have a triumphal arch, despite all its other Roman architecture, because they are an imperial and not a republican symbol. They became reserved for the Caesars, and the Arc de Triomphe is a monument to Napoleon. If this dumb thing gets built, the only acceptable course is to demolish it.
Congress should stop this.
Also, if Trump wants to enjoy an imitation of the Arc de Triomphe done in a style and at a place congenial to him, he can visit the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang, completed in 1982.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Also, if Trump wants to enjoy an imitation of the Arc de Triomphe done in a style and at a place congenial to him, he can visit the Arch of Triumph in Pyongyang, completed in 1982.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Trump says construction of the ‘Triumphal Arch’ to begin in ‘2 months’
The monument would be a centerpiece of the White House’s plans for America’s 250th birthday.
www.politico.com
December 31, 2025 at 6:08 PM
DC does not have a triumphal arch, despite all its other Roman architecture, because they are an imperial and not a republican symbol. They became reserved for the Caesars, and the Arc de Triomphe is a monument to Napoleon. If this dumb thing gets built, the only acceptable course is to demolish it.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Donald Trump sent young women from his spa at Mar-a-Lago to give “massages” to Jeffrey Epstein.
“The house calls went on for years.”
“The house calls went on for years.”
December 31, 2025 at 3:12 PM
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Donald Trump sent young women from his spa at Mar-a-Lago to give “massages” to Jeffrey Epstein.
“The house calls went on for years.”
“The house calls went on for years.”