Kristin C.
@kristinceleste.bsky.social
"Education is a better safeguard of liberty than a standing army." -Edward Everett
Pinned
Kristin C.
@kristinceleste.bsky.social
· Jan 26
This is Teddy. Teddy wants you to avoid voting for authoritarians and conmen. He prefers kind hearts. Please don't disappoint Teddy. Thank you! 🐶
"In sum, the funding bill that reopened the government — introduced by Senate Republicans and signed into law by Trump on Nov. 12 — included provisions that delayed, weakened or prohibited FDA enforcement of ongoing and pending food safety regulations."
✅Yes, the Senate cut food safety regulations in a funding bill to reopen the government. We broke down what's changed. 👇
www.snopes.com/fact-check/g...
www.snopes.com/fact-check/g...
Government funding bill cuts food safety regulations. See the provisions for yourself
The bill prohibited the FDA from enforcing regulations aimed at increasing traceability of the supply chain, among other rules.
www.snopes.com
November 16, 2025 at 5:34 AM
"In sum, the funding bill that reopened the government — introduced by Senate Republicans and signed into law by Trump on Nov. 12 — included provisions that delayed, weakened or prohibited FDA enforcement of ongoing and pending food safety regulations."
Excellent article.
It continues to feel incredibly frustrating that we elected a president (twice now) who "..can’t even fake empathy."
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
It continues to feel incredibly frustrating that we elected a president (twice now) who "..can’t even fake empathy."
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
Republicans Are Damaged by Their Own Cruelty
They’re pathologically unwilling to help Americans in need — and Democrats should hammer this home
open.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Excellent article.
It continues to feel incredibly frustrating that we elected a president (twice now) who "..can’t even fake empathy."
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
It continues to feel incredibly frustrating that we elected a president (twice now) who "..can’t even fake empathy."
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
"In an era when U.S. bishops have often been divided, here they stood together — progressives and conservatives, cardinals and small-town bishops — declaring that cruelty toward migrants violates the Gospel."
BREAKING: At Pope Leo XIV’s urging, U.S. Catholic bishops just delivered the strongest rebuke of a sitting president in Church history — condemning Trump-Vance raids as “inhumane” and “dehumanizing” in a 216–5 vote.
NEW: At Pope Leo’s Urging, Bishops Issue Historic Rebuke of Trump’s Raids
Nearly all U.S. Catholic bishops united in Baltimore to denounce the Trump administration’s “inhumane” deportation campaign — a near-unanimous, unprecedented moral stand against a sitting president.
www.thelettersfromleo.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:52 AM
"In an era when U.S. bishops have often been divided, here they stood together — progressives and conservatives, cardinals and small-town bishops — declaring that cruelty toward migrants violates the Gospel."
"In fact, tariffs accounted for just 6% of total government revenue in September — the most recent month for which figures are available. And the jump in tariff revenue that month was more than offset by a decline in corporate tax payments."
Trump's tariffs are raising tens of billions of dollars for the federal government. They're also costing consumers, frustrating businesses and hurting the factories they're supposed to help.
Yes, Trump's tariffs are raising billions -- but at a steep economic cost
Trump's tariffs are raising tens of billions of dollars for the federal government. They're also costing consumers, frustrating businesses and hurting the factories they're supposed to help.
n.pr
November 9, 2025 at 3:37 PM
"In fact, tariffs accounted for just 6% of total government revenue in September — the most recent month for which figures are available. And the jump in tariff revenue that month was more than offset by a decline in corporate tax payments."
"..92% of construction firms struggle to fill positions."
The construction industry, where more than a quarter of workers are foreign-born, has long struggled to find enough workers. Now, industry officials say Trump's immigration crackdown is making it worse.
ICE is sending a chill through the construction industry
The construction industry, where more than a quarter of workers are foreign-born, has long struggled to find enough workers. Now, industry officials say Trump's immigration crackdown is making it worse.
n.pr
November 9, 2025 at 3:14 PM
"..92% of construction firms struggle to fill positions."
Reposted by Kristin C.
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
November 7, 2025 at 7:39 AM
The world’s first trillionaire initiated a move that has left more than half a million people dead, most of whom are children.
Reposted by Kristin C.
President Trump has already made well over $1B off the presidency in his 2d term. Many of the deals he is profiting from appear to violate the Constitution’s foreign and domestic emoluments clauses. But Congress needs to codify them. Our new paper explains how: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
How Congress Can Rein in Surging Political Corruption
Federal lawmakers can protect the American public by passing a new law to fully implement the Constitution’s oldest anticorruption safeguards.
www.brennancenter.org
November 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
President Trump has already made well over $1B off the presidency in his 2d term. Many of the deals he is profiting from appear to violate the Constitution’s foreign and domestic emoluments clauses. But Congress needs to codify them. Our new paper explains how: www.brennancenter.org/our-work/ana...
“The United States needs to realize Randall was not a delinquent – and he was wholly loved."
Dec 2024 - Costa Rican man crosses into U.S.
Feb. 2025 - ICE detains him.
He talks to his family daily.
June - He disappears.
Aug - His family finally finds him detained and in a vegetative state.
Sept. - He's air ambluenced home.
Oct. 26th - He dies.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Feb. 2025 - ICE detains him.
He talks to his family daily.
June - He disappears.
Aug - His family finally finds him detained and in a vegetative state.
Sept. - He's air ambluenced home.
Oct. 26th - He dies.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Family speaks out after death of man deported by ICE in vegetative state
Randall Alberto Gamboa Esquivel’s family alleges negligence and inhumane treatment
www.theguardian.com
November 6, 2025 at 2:25 PM
“The United States needs to realize Randall was not a delinquent – and he was wholly loved."
“When you take a wrecking ball to the federal government, you are going to wind up undermining important government functions that keep all of us safe, especially our food”
NEW: Billions of pounds of food are imported to the U.S. each year.
The FDA inspects foreign producers to ensure what we're eating is safe from pathogens and dangerous manufacturing practices.
But now, after Trump's drastic staff cuts, these inspections have plummeted to a historic low.
🧵/
The FDA inspects foreign producers to ensure what we're eating is safe from pathogens and dangerous manufacturing practices.
But now, after Trump's drastic staff cuts, these inspections have plummeted to a historic low.
🧵/
Foreign Food Safety Inspections Hit Historic Low After Trump Cuts
The dramatic shift in oversight comes at a time when the U.S. has never been more reliant on foreign food, which accounts for the vast majority of the nation’s seafood and more than half its fresh fru...
www.propublica.org
November 6, 2025 at 2:03 PM
“When you take a wrecking ball to the federal government, you are going to wind up undermining important government functions that keep all of us safe, especially our food”
"...the social-media giant for at least three years failed to identify and stop an avalanche of ads that exposed Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp’s billions of users to fraudulent e-commerce and investment schemes, illegal online casinos, and the sale of banned medical products."
(Reuters) - Meta internally projected late last year that it would earn about 10% of its overall annual revenue – or $16 billion – from running advertising for scams and banned goods, internal company documents show.
$META @reuters.com
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
$META @reuters.com
www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 6, 2025 at 1:26 PM
"...the social-media giant for at least three years failed to identify and stop an avalanche of ads that exposed Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp’s billions of users to fraudulent e-commerce and investment schemes, illegal online casinos, and the sale of banned medical products."
Mamdani: Whether you are an immigrant, a member of the trans community, one of the many black women that Donald Trump has fired from a federal job, a single mom still waiting for the cost of groceries to go down, or anyone else with their back against the wall—your struggle is ours too
November 5, 2025 at 4:55 AM
"You have your supposed leader flirting with someone who does not care if you have a pension – someone who does not care if you have healthcare..."
I spoke with Richard Hooker Jr., who leads Teamsters Local 623 in Philly, about his run against Sean O'Brien for President of the Teamsters
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Labor activist takes on Teamsters leader allying with Trump: ‘He doesn’t represent the workers’
Richard Hooker Jr is running to replace Trump ally Sean O’Brien as president of the Teamsters International union
www.theguardian.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:42 PM
"You have your supposed leader flirting with someone who does not care if you have a pension – someone who does not care if you have healthcare..."
"Intentional use of lethal force is allowed only as a last resort against someone representing “an imminent threat to life,” she said. “Otherwise, it would amount to a violation of the right of life and constitute extrajudicial killings.”
The UN human rights chief says US military strikes against vessels allegedly carrying illegal drugs from South America are “unacceptable” and must stop. The condemnation marks the first of its kind from a United Nations organization.
UN human rights chief: US military strikes on alleged drug boats 'unacceptable'
The U.N. human rights chief says U.S. military strikes on vessels allegedly carrying illegal drugs from South America are unacceptable and must stop.
bit.ly
November 1, 2025 at 2:12 PM
"Intentional use of lethal force is allowed only as a last resort against someone representing “an imminent threat to life,” she said. “Otherwise, it would amount to a violation of the right of life and constitute extrajudicial killings.”
Excellent artice. On point.
"...it assumes, in breezy fantasy borrowed from simpler times, that voters’ sense of the Democratic Party comes from the party’s policy platform and candidate speeches, rather than random tidbits absorbed from a propaganda-filled media environment."
"...it assumes, in breezy fantasy borrowed from simpler times, that voters’ sense of the Democratic Party comes from the party’s policy platform and candidate speeches, rather than random tidbits absorbed from a propaganda-filled media environment."
"Elections are determined by four broad factors: (1) your message, (2) the messenger, (3) the media environment, and (4) the moment. The only thing that political campaigns have complete control over is the message." Fun, thoughtful piece from @davekarpf.bsky.social
newrepublic.com/article/2023...
newrepublic.com/article/2023...
Why Centrist Democrats Keep Being Wrong About Elections
A new 60-page report insists the party is too radical. But the problem isn’t the party platform. The problem is the broader environment.
newrepublic.com
October 30, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Excellent artice. On point.
"...it assumes, in breezy fantasy borrowed from simpler times, that voters’ sense of the Democratic Party comes from the party’s policy platform and candidate speeches, rather than random tidbits absorbed from a propaganda-filled media environment."
"...it assumes, in breezy fantasy borrowed from simpler times, that voters’ sense of the Democratic Party comes from the party’s policy platform and candidate speeches, rather than random tidbits absorbed from a propaganda-filled media environment."
"About 90,000 people living near larger chemical plants face an unacceptable risk of developing cancer, the EPA said. The agency estimated that the new limits on chemicals would have cut that number to 3,000 residents — a drop of 97%."
More than 5 million people face an increased cancer risk because they live near a type of industrial plant that would have been subject to rules put forward by the Biden.
The Trump administration is rolling them back
By the inimitable @lisalsong.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/epa-...
The Trump administration is rolling them back
By the inimitable @lisalsong.bsky.social
www.propublica.org/article/epa-...
Air Pollution From Industrial Facilities Is Far Worse Than Estimated
The Trump administration has put a stop to EPA rules that would have required more than 130 industrial facilities to install air monitors to measure pollution. Millions of people living near these pla...
www.propublica.org
October 30, 2025 at 1:35 PM
"About 90,000 people living near larger chemical plants face an unacceptable risk of developing cancer, the EPA said. The agency estimated that the new limits on chemicals would have cut that number to 3,000 residents — a drop of 97%."
Reposted by Kristin C.
This year, 16 states enacted 29 restrictive voting laws — a rise that coincides with unprecedented efforts by the federal government to undermine our elections. Check out the latest State Voting Laws Roundup to learn more: bit.ly/475imbF
State Voting Laws Roundup: October 2025
The number of new restrictive voting laws has increased this year, while legislation aimed at expanding voting access has lagged.
www.brennancenter.org
October 26, 2025 at 1:45 PM
This year, 16 states enacted 29 restrictive voting laws — a rise that coincides with unprecedented efforts by the federal government to undermine our elections. Check out the latest State Voting Laws Roundup to learn more: bit.ly/475imbF
"A $130 million donation would equal about $100 a service member."
Breaking News: The U.S. military accepted a private donation of $130 million to help pay troops during the shutdown. The move is highly unusual and a potential violation of federal law.
Trump to Use $130 Million Donation to Help Pay Troops
It is not clear how far the gift will go toward covering the salaries of the nation’s 1.3 million troops.
nyti.ms
October 25, 2025 at 5:13 AM
"A $130 million donation would equal about $100 a service member."
“As president, you may not receive any payment from the federal government or any of the states except for your salary. That is a categorical prohibition not even waivable by Congress.”
"If you tell this president, ‘DOJ, you just own all that and can control and direct it,’ surprise—he’s going to use it for corrupt ends."
If you want to grasp Trump's $230 million heist and role of SCOTUS and Raskin's oversight, listen to @leahlitman.bsky.social:
newrepublic.com/article/2022...
If you want to grasp Trump's $230 million heist and role of SCOTUS and Raskin's oversight, listen to @leahlitman.bsky.social:
newrepublic.com/article/2022...
Jamie Raskin’s Harsh New Takedown of Trump Reveals MAGA’s Dark New Aim
As Rep. Raskin’s broadside against Trump’s $230 million shakedown of DOJ hits home, a legal expert demystifies why this scheme is so appallingly corrupt—and what it says about MAGA’s ugliest designs.
newrepublic.com
October 24, 2025 at 3:15 PM
“As president, you may not receive any payment from the federal government or any of the states except for your salary. That is a categorical prohibition not even waivable by Congress.”
"Mr. Johnson swore in two Republicans this year while the House was not in session for legislative business. Those representatives, Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, both of Florida, were seated within 24 hours of winning special elections in April."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
As Johnson Delays, Grijalva Sues to Be Seated in the House
www.nytimes.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:25 PM
"Mr. Johnson swore in two Republicans this year while the House was not in session for legislative business. Those representatives, Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine, both of Florida, were seated within 24 hours of winning special elections in April."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
Reposted by Kristin C.
ICYMI here is a quick explainer on why the strikes in the Caribbean are illegal and why you should care (hint: you might be next) open.substack.com/pub/asharang...
So You've Decided to Target Random People with Military Force
Here's why it's illegal.
open.substack.com
October 17, 2025 at 1:34 AM
ICYMI here is a quick explainer on why the strikes in the Caribbean are illegal and why you should care (hint: you might be next) open.substack.com/pub/asharang...
"...a broad range of legal specialists have called the premeditated and summary extrajudicial killings illegal. They noted that the military cannot lawfully target civilians — even criminal suspects — who do not pose a threat in the moment and are not directly participating in hostilities."
If Trump can order the murder of people on boats without any accountability, he can order the murder of people on land without any accountability.
That's twenty-seven flat-out murders. That's twenty-seven lives taken without even a semblance of a legal justification under domestic or international law.
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/u...
October 15, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"...a broad range of legal specialists have called the premeditated and summary extrajudicial killings illegal. They noted that the military cannot lawfully target civilians — even criminal suspects — who do not pose a threat in the moment and are not directly participating in hostilities."
Reposted by Kristin C.
This is the genius of the Portland protests - they make the claims of lawlessness look not just wrong, but comical
The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.
October 9, 2025 at 10:54 PM
This is the genius of the Portland protests - they make the claims of lawlessness look not just wrong, but comical
Thought provoking article.
"Every good-faith questioner is now a dissenter. You either open yourself up to harassment or, like most people, you choose silence. And if silence is the only logical choice, then authoritarianism has arrived."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o...
"Every good-faith questioner is now a dissenter. You either open yourself up to harassment or, like most people, you choose silence. And if silence is the only logical choice, then authoritarianism has arrived."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o...
Opinion | Mourn, or Else
www.nytimes.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:35 PM
Thought provoking article.
"Every good-faith questioner is now a dissenter. You either open yourself up to harassment or, like most people, you choose silence. And if silence is the only logical choice, then authoritarianism has arrived."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o...
"Every good-faith questioner is now a dissenter. You either open yourself up to harassment or, like most people, you choose silence. And if silence is the only logical choice, then authoritarianism has arrived."
www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/o...