Jon Bell
@jusbellum.bsky.social
I'm not important and don't really matter. My group is not important and matters as much as I do. Our words stand on their own. Citing authorities as support for a position is logic fault. Think for yourself.
1/2
If USA were a bona fide 'majority rule minority rights' kind of democracy, the fact a 'majority of Americans' view something one way or another might be meaningful.
Thing is, the wants, needs, interests, etc. of USAians are run through so many representative, petty partisan, and special ...
If USA were a bona fide 'majority rule minority rights' kind of democracy, the fact a 'majority of Americans' view something one way or another might be meaningful.
Thing is, the wants, needs, interests, etc. of USAians are run through so many representative, petty partisan, and special ...
According to an AP-NORC poll only about two-thirds of Republicans, 68%, said they approve of Trump’s government management, down from 81% in March. Independents’ approval dropped from 38% to 25%.
apnews.com/article/trum...
apnews.com/article/trum...
More Americans are unhappy with the way Trump is managing the government, AP-NORC poll shows
A new AP-NORC poll finds U.S. adults’ opinions of how President Donald Trump is managing the federal government have dropped sharply since early in his second term, highlighting the risks posed by the...
apnews.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:38 PM
1/2
If USA were a bona fide 'majority rule minority rights' kind of democracy, the fact a 'majority of Americans' view something one way or another might be meaningful.
Thing is, the wants, needs, interests, etc. of USAians are run through so many representative, petty partisan, and special ...
If USA were a bona fide 'majority rule minority rights' kind of democracy, the fact a 'majority of Americans' view something one way or another might be meaningful.
Thing is, the wants, needs, interests, etc. of USAians are run through so many representative, petty partisan, and special ...
'... enough to bring a president down' is likely accurate as re a regular POTUS, i.e., one with some integrity, in normal times, i.e., those in government having some integrity.
Thing is, you have a rather irregular POTUS and integrity is rather thin with those in government.
Thing is, you have a rather irregular POTUS and integrity is rather thin with those in government.
The fact that the White House is whipping so hard to stop the Epstein files should be scandal enough to bring a president down.
Should being the operative word there because its effectively an admission of guilt.
Should being the operative word there because its effectively an admission of guilt.
Rep. Lauren Boebert says that there is “NO WAY” she will take her name off the Epstein files discharge petition.
President Trump and his administration are pressuring her to remove her name.
Via Manu Raju
President Trump and his administration are pressuring her to remove her name.
Via Manu Raju
November 12, 2025 at 9:46 PM
'... enough to bring a president down' is likely accurate as re a regular POTUS, i.e., one with some integrity, in normal times, i.e., those in government having some integrity.
Thing is, you have a rather irregular POTUS and integrity is rather thin with those in government.
Thing is, you have a rather irregular POTUS and integrity is rather thin with those in government.
At least Trump & Co. are being transparent re their efforts, undertakings, and agenda to not be transparent.
We would say that's a small step in the right direct, except the destination being as absolute no transparency as possible is not the proper destination.
Hope the reporter said 'NO!'
We would say that's a small step in the right direct, except the destination being as absolute no transparency as possible is not the proper destination.
Hope the reporter said 'NO!'
Q: Given you answers about transparency, why are WH officials meeting with Boebert in an effort to get her to not sign the Epstein files petition?
LEAVITT: Doesn't it show transparency that members of the Trump administration are willing to brief members of Congress?
LEAVITT: Doesn't it show transparency that members of the Trump administration are willing to brief members of Congress?
November 12, 2025 at 7:05 PM
At least Trump & Co. are being transparent re their efforts, undertakings, and agenda to not be transparent.
We would say that's a small step in the right direct, except the destination being as absolute no transparency as possible is not the proper destination.
Hope the reporter said 'NO!'
We would say that's a small step in the right direct, except the destination being as absolute no transparency as possible is not the proper destination.
Hope the reporter said 'NO!'
'... will meaningfully damage ...'!?!?
We say a snowball's change in a blast furnace.
USAians are eyeballs deep with their cognitive blindness.
Geisel penned a short treatise, 'Sneetches and Other Stories', in which the unenlightened Sneetches describe USAians very well. Well beyond Trump too.
We say a snowball's change in a blast furnace.
USAians are eyeballs deep with their cognitive blindness.
Geisel penned a short treatise, 'Sneetches and Other Stories', in which the unenlightened Sneetches describe USAians very well. Well beyond Trump too.
Raise your hand you think evidence of Trump’s involvement with Epstein’s abhorrent debauchery will meaningfully damage Trump?
November 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM
'... will meaningfully damage ...'!?!?
We say a snowball's change in a blast furnace.
USAians are eyeballs deep with their cognitive blindness.
Geisel penned a short treatise, 'Sneetches and Other Stories', in which the unenlightened Sneetches describe USAians very well. Well beyond Trump too.
We say a snowball's change in a blast furnace.
USAians are eyeballs deep with their cognitive blindness.
Geisel penned a short treatise, 'Sneetches and Other Stories', in which the unenlightened Sneetches describe USAians very well. Well beyond Trump too.
For this Veterans Day, consider this:
There are those among you who have seen shit they can't unsee, heard shit they can't unhear, smelled shit they can't unsmell, where you can't possibly imagine that shit.
They did what was asked of them.
Don't let what they did be in vain.
There are those among you who have seen shit they can't unsee, heard shit they can't unhear, smelled shit they can't unsmell, where you can't possibly imagine that shit.
They did what was asked of them.
Don't let what they did be in vain.
November 11, 2025 at 8:41 PM
For this Veterans Day, consider this:
There are those among you who have seen shit they can't unsee, heard shit they can't unhear, smelled shit they can't unsmell, where you can't possibly imagine that shit.
They did what was asked of them.
Don't let what they did be in vain.
There are those among you who have seen shit they can't unsee, heard shit they can't unhear, smelled shit they can't unsmell, where you can't possibly imagine that shit.
They did what was asked of them.
Don't let what they did be in vain.
McCain, in our view, deserves hero status not because of what he did or what happened to him in Vietnam (one of many) or Forrestal fire (one of very few), but that he could have opted out (at least for a while) of the conflict following the Forrestal fire. Instead he chose to join the Oriskany.
🧵20 TERRIBLE TAKES OF THE TRUMP ERA: A THREAD🧵
Donald Trump in 2015:
“[John McCain is] not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”
(We could fill all 20 spots with Trump quotes, but we won’t, I promise. Moving on …)
Donald Trump in 2015:
“[John McCain is] not a war hero. He’s a war hero because he was captured. I like people who weren’t captured.”
(We could fill all 20 spots with Trump quotes, but we won’t, I promise. Moving on …)
Trump: "He's a war hero because he was captured. I like people that weren't captured" (C-SPAN)
YouTube video by C-SPAN
www.youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 8:39 PM
McCain, in our view, deserves hero status not because of what he did or what happened to him in Vietnam (one of many) or Forrestal fire (one of very few), but that he could have opted out (at least for a while) of the conflict following the Forrestal fire. Instead he chose to join the Oriskany.
Hey Blundell!
You should change the title to your article from 'Trump's America' to something like 'Your America' or 'Americans' America' or, simply, 'America'.
Trump may think he is King. He's not. He's just POTUS.
Know this: USA is yours, not his.
Act like it.
You should change the title to your article from 'Trump's America' to something like 'Your America' or 'Americans' America' or, simply, 'America'.
Trump may think he is King. He's not. He's just POTUS.
Know this: USA is yours, not his.
Act like it.
November 11, 2025 at 6:56 PM
Hey Blundell!
You should change the title to your article from 'Trump's America' to something like 'Your America' or 'Americans' America' or, simply, 'America'.
Trump may think he is King. He's not. He's just POTUS.
Know this: USA is yours, not his.
Act like it.
You should change the title to your article from 'Trump's America' to something like 'Your America' or 'Americans' America' or, simply, 'America'.
Trump may think he is King. He's not. He's just POTUS.
Know this: USA is yours, not his.
Act like it.
'Very important to draw down Donald Trump’s approval ratings and to divide his Republican loyalists'!?!?
Wrong!
Approaches the problem backwards.
Drawing down and dividing won't cause anyone's rating to go up.
Find someone, build them up.
That'll take care of Trump.
Think non-zero sum too.
Wrong!
Approaches the problem backwards.
Drawing down and dividing won't cause anyone's rating to go up.
Find someone, build them up.
That'll take care of Trump.
Think non-zero sum too.
"If you care about democracy and the threat of fascism in America, it’s very important to draw down Donald Trump’s approval ratings and to divide his Republican loyalists in Congress. And the shutdown, as it dragged on, was exposing all kinds of divisions and vulnerabilities in the MAGA coalition."
Transcript: Trump’s Angry New Tirade Over Shutdown Should Wake Up Dems
Trump’s rant about air traffic controllers and the government shutdown showed his weakness. A sharp observer of Senate Democrats explains why they seem to be caving—and what they can do instead.
trib.al
November 11, 2025 at 4:24 PM
'Very important to draw down Donald Trump’s approval ratings and to divide his Republican loyalists'!?!?
Wrong!
Approaches the problem backwards.
Drawing down and dividing won't cause anyone's rating to go up.
Find someone, build them up.
That'll take care of Trump.
Think non-zero sum too.
Wrong!
Approaches the problem backwards.
Drawing down and dividing won't cause anyone's rating to go up.
Find someone, build them up.
That'll take care of Trump.
Think non-zero sum too.
'Biggest democracy news of the day'!?!?
Nah. Not even close.
If you gotta get the judiciary involved, democracy is failing/has failed.
'Biggest pro-democracy judicial news of the day' is probably more accurate.
Nah. Not even close.
If you gotta get the judiciary involved, democracy is failing/has failed.
'Biggest pro-democracy judicial news of the day' is probably more accurate.
The biggest democracy news of the day and its only 11am! www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
Utah Judge Strikes Down GOP Gerrymander, Restores Voter-Approved Fair Map
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 11, 2025 at 4:06 PM
'Biggest democracy news of the day'!?!?
Nah. Not even close.
If you gotta get the judiciary involved, democracy is failing/has failed.
'Biggest pro-democracy judicial news of the day' is probably more accurate.
Nah. Not even close.
If you gotta get the judiciary involved, democracy is failing/has failed.
'Biggest pro-democracy judicial news of the day' is probably more accurate.
'Truth Search AI' is kinda dumb and/or poorly educated.
Tariffs are not taxes. Tariffs, without more, may be tax like, increase costs, but not a tax.
Trump can't, we say, tell a lie. He's simply dumb and believes what he says is truth, even if false.
No evidence doesn't equal proof.
Tariffs are not taxes. Tariffs, without more, may be tax like, increase costs, but not a tax.
Trump can't, we say, tell a lie. He's simply dumb and believes what he says is truth, even if false.
No evidence doesn't equal proof.
You have got to check out this item in today's Morning Shots in which we demonstrated that Truth Social's own AI widget actually tells the truth about Donald Trump and his policies www.thebulwark.com/p/pardon-the...
November 11, 2025 at 3:04 PM
'Truth Search AI' is kinda dumb and/or poorly educated.
Tariffs are not taxes. Tariffs, without more, may be tax like, increase costs, but not a tax.
Trump can't, we say, tell a lie. He's simply dumb and believes what he says is truth, even if false.
No evidence doesn't equal proof.
Tariffs are not taxes. Tariffs, without more, may be tax like, increase costs, but not a tax.
Trump can't, we say, tell a lie. He's simply dumb and believes what he says is truth, even if false.
No evidence doesn't equal proof.
Mr. Egger,
A lot in your article is spot on.
Doesn't change fact that sometimes you gotta pick your battles.
A lot in your article is spot on.
Doesn't change fact that sometimes you gotta pick your battles.
November 11, 2025 at 5:09 AM
Mr. Egger,
A lot in your article is spot on.
Doesn't change fact that sometimes you gotta pick your battles.
A lot in your article is spot on.
Doesn't change fact that sometimes you gotta pick your battles.
You might want to add a 'so far'.
(Trump's a trailblazer. There are folks taking copious notes re just how Trump is doing it and USAians keep demonstrating they are simply incompetent, incapable, or disinterested in preventing Trump from doing what Trump does. So, his playbook remains viable.)
(Trump's a trailblazer. There are folks taking copious notes re just how Trump is doing it and USAians keep demonstrating they are simply incompetent, incapable, or disinterested in preventing Trump from doing what Trump does. So, his playbook remains viable.)
The most corrupt president ever
NEW: President Trump's pardon of his alleged 2020 co-conspirators was less about shielding them from past crimes, his adversaries say, than about signaling to others that he has their back if he needs them again in 2026 or 2028.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 11, 2025 at 4:57 AM
You might want to add a 'so far'.
(Trump's a trailblazer. There are folks taking copious notes re just how Trump is doing it and USAians keep demonstrating they are simply incompetent, incapable, or disinterested in preventing Trump from doing what Trump does. So, his playbook remains viable.)
(Trump's a trailblazer. There are folks taking copious notes re just how Trump is doing it and USAians keep demonstrating they are simply incompetent, incapable, or disinterested in preventing Trump from doing what Trump does. So, his playbook remains viable.)
For this Veterans Day, consider this:
There are those among you who have seen shit they can't unsee, heard shit they can't unhear, smelled shit they can't unsmell, where you can't possibly imagine that shit.
They did what was asked of them.
Do your part: Don't let what they did be in vain.
There are those among you who have seen shit they can't unsee, heard shit they can't unhear, smelled shit they can't unsmell, where you can't possibly imagine that shit.
They did what was asked of them.
Do your part: Don't let what they did be in vain.
November 11, 2025 at 4:03 AM
For this Veterans Day, consider this:
There are those among you who have seen shit they can't unsee, heard shit they can't unhear, smelled shit they can't unsmell, where you can't possibly imagine that shit.
They did what was asked of them.
Do your part: Don't let what they did be in vain.
There are those among you who have seen shit they can't unsee, heard shit they can't unhear, smelled shit they can't unsmell, where you can't possibly imagine that shit.
They did what was asked of them.
Do your part: Don't let what they did be in vain.
From where are you going to find the people will 'take it over and transform it'?
The wager here is that if such people existed, you wouldn't have the need to take anything over or transform anything.
The wager here is that if such people existed, you wouldn't have the need to take anything over or transform anything.
Right, the answer isn't to abandon the party to these weasels.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
The answer is to flood the party with people who will take it over and transform it.
Hey, a lot of people are talking about changing affiliation from Democratic to Independent.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
Let me tell you why you shouldn’t do that in Colorado.
One of the main ways to get a primary challenge candidate on a ballot is to caucus for your party. You need to be registered as a Dem to caucus.
November 10, 2025 at 10:42 PM
From where are you going to find the people will 'take it over and transform it'?
The wager here is that if such people existed, you wouldn't have the need to take anything over or transform anything.
The wager here is that if such people existed, you wouldn't have the need to take anything over or transform anything.
For Ms. Freeman, Mr. Quintanilla, Ms. Longwell, and Mr. Cheney:
What did you expect?
If you truly expected something less, well, self-serving by Trump, we suggest you have your cognitive awareness/cognitive functions evaluated.
If you rag on Trump for sport, you're not helping.
What did you expect?
If you truly expected something less, well, self-serving by Trump, we suggest you have your cognitive awareness/cognitive functions evaluated.
If you rag on Trump for sport, you're not helping.
November 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
For Ms. Freeman, Mr. Quintanilla, Ms. Longwell, and Mr. Cheney:
What did you expect?
If you truly expected something less, well, self-serving by Trump, we suggest you have your cognitive awareness/cognitive functions evaluated.
If you rag on Trump for sport, you're not helping.
What did you expect?
If you truly expected something less, well, self-serving by Trump, we suggest you have your cognitive awareness/cognitive functions evaluated.
If you rag on Trump for sport, you're not helping.
Why limit the search to 'modern times' (whatever the fuck 'modern times' is)?
We suggest you look at 'Medieval times' and undertake a comparative analysis re the feudal systems of old and the system you're moving into, which we describe as a Lord-Serf condition.
We suggest you look at 'Medieval times' and undertake a comparative analysis re the feudal systems of old and the system you're moving into, which we describe as a Lord-Serf condition.
I actually think what ICE is doing under Trump 2.0 is shaping up to be a world-historic campaign of human rights violations in an advanced industrialized ~democracy
I’m not sure I have many modern parallels. Japanese internment? Treatment of French-Algerians in the Algerian war? Those were wartime.
I’m not sure I have many modern parallels. Japanese internment? Treatment of French-Algerians in the Algerian war? Those were wartime.
"When I picked up my granddaughter from the federal agents, she had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. She was exhausted and cried… My heart aches knowing this could happen to others, to my kids, or even me, despite being U.S. citizens.”
November 8, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Why limit the search to 'modern times' (whatever the fuck 'modern times' is)?
We suggest you look at 'Medieval times' and undertake a comparative analysis re the feudal systems of old and the system you're moving into, which we describe as a Lord-Serf condition.
We suggest you look at 'Medieval times' and undertake a comparative analysis re the feudal systems of old and the system you're moving into, which we describe as a Lord-Serf condition.
Why is the current state of American capitalism not sustainable?
Explain.
In detail.
Nota bene: It's a bit of a trick question, given your use of 'capitalism' is a rather significant misuse of the term, where if 'capitalism' is your goto for the condition you describe, you're behind the curve.
Explain.
In detail.
Nota bene: It's a bit of a trick question, given your use of 'capitalism' is a rather significant misuse of the term, where if 'capitalism' is your goto for the condition you describe, you're behind the curve.
“The current state of American capitalism isn’t sustainable. It doesn’t deserve to be sustained. And the best way to avoid an American version of “eat the rich” is to fix the current “let them eat cake” distortion of capitalism into which we’ve fallen.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/let-them-e...
www.thebulwark.com/p/let-them-e...
Let Them Eat AI-Generated Cake
Elon Musk and the coming twilight of the elites.
www.thebulwark.com
November 8, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Why is the current state of American capitalism not sustainable?
Explain.
In detail.
Nota bene: It's a bit of a trick question, given your use of 'capitalism' is a rather significant misuse of the term, where if 'capitalism' is your goto for the condition you describe, you're behind the curve.
Explain.
In detail.
Nota bene: It's a bit of a trick question, given your use of 'capitalism' is a rather significant misuse of the term, where if 'capitalism' is your goto for the condition you describe, you're behind the curve.
'Federal immigration agents pepper-sprayed an infant today'!?!?
November 8, 2025 at 10:00 PM
'Federal immigration agents pepper-sprayed an infant today'!?!?
'Richest nation in human history'.
Maybe.
Don't forget the asymmetrically distributed factor when endeavoring to discuss USAians' wealth.
Sometimes the Mean thing works. Sometimes not. When it doesn't, using the Modal thing is better. Things like Standard Deviation and Variance even better.
Maybe.
Don't forget the asymmetrically distributed factor when endeavoring to discuss USAians' wealth.
Sometimes the Mean thing works. Sometimes not. When it doesn't, using the Modal thing is better. Things like Standard Deviation and Variance even better.
November 8, 2025 at 7:11 PM
'Richest nation in human history'.
Maybe.
Don't forget the asymmetrically distributed factor when endeavoring to discuss USAians' wealth.
Sometimes the Mean thing works. Sometimes not. When it doesn't, using the Modal thing is better. Things like Standard Deviation and Variance even better.
Maybe.
Don't forget the asymmetrically distributed factor when endeavoring to discuss USAians' wealth.
Sometimes the Mean thing works. Sometimes not. When it doesn't, using the Modal thing is better. Things like Standard Deviation and Variance even better.
1/2
Easy say, sitting wherever you are sitting.
However, if you were in the jury room, you could have things like justice, empathy, sympathy, integrity, honesty, civility, etc. begin to kick in. And, you'd not be able to control them or deny their effect. ...
Easy say, sitting wherever you are sitting.
However, if you were in the jury room, you could have things like justice, empathy, sympathy, integrity, honesty, civility, etc. begin to kick in. And, you'd not be able to control them or deny their effect. ...
I would never commit jury nullification if I were a juror in any of the administration's ginned up Nazi cases, I would simply apply the rule of law and the jury instructions exactly as they were given to me and I hope everyone here can say the same
November 8, 2025 at 2:39 AM
1/2
Easy say, sitting wherever you are sitting.
However, if you were in the jury room, you could have things like justice, empathy, sympathy, integrity, honesty, civility, etc. begin to kick in. And, you'd not be able to control them or deny their effect. ...
Easy say, sitting wherever you are sitting.
However, if you were in the jury room, you could have things like justice, empathy, sympathy, integrity, honesty, civility, etc. begin to kick in. And, you'd not be able to control them or deny their effect. ...
Hey Reich!
Stop with the morality 'shameful' bullshit.
The actions at issue are either lawful or not, or constitutional or not.
If not, the actions are removal for office actions.
Focus on the shit that matters.
Do not focus on the shit that doesn't.
If you don't know the difference, get help.
Stop with the morality 'shameful' bullshit.
The actions at issue are either lawful or not, or constitutional or not.
If not, the actions are removal for office actions.
Focus on the shit that matters.
Do not focus on the shit that doesn't.
If you don't know the difference, get help.
On top of refusing to fully fund SNAP during the shutdown, the Trump regime has:
-Cut $1 billion from USDA programs supporting food banks
-Enacted tariffs that have caused food prices to rise
-Made the largest cut to SNAP in history
-Canceled the annual food security survey
Shameful.
-Cut $1 billion from USDA programs supporting food banks
-Enacted tariffs that have caused food prices to rise
-Made the largest cut to SNAP in history
-Canceled the annual food security survey
Shameful.
November 7, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Hey Reich!
Stop with the morality 'shameful' bullshit.
The actions at issue are either lawful or not, or constitutional or not.
If not, the actions are removal for office actions.
Focus on the shit that matters.
Do not focus on the shit that doesn't.
If you don't know the difference, get help.
Stop with the morality 'shameful' bullshit.
The actions at issue are either lawful or not, or constitutional or not.
If not, the actions are removal for office actions.
Focus on the shit that matters.
Do not focus on the shit that doesn't.
If you don't know the difference, get help.