markspotsthex
@markspotsthex.bsky.social
Social media expatriate. Ex-Facebook, Ex-Twitter.
Please, stop pondering and worrying about “winners and losers” of a government shutdown, or of any political activity for that matter.
Unless everyone is clothed, fed, housed, educated, and contributing faithfully to society, we have failed as a nation.
There are no winners. We all lose.
Unless everyone is clothed, fed, housed, educated, and contributing faithfully to society, we have failed as a nation.
There are no winners. We all lose.
November 10, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Please, stop pondering and worrying about “winners and losers” of a government shutdown, or of any political activity for that matter.
Unless everyone is clothed, fed, housed, educated, and contributing faithfully to society, we have failed as a nation.
There are no winners. We all lose.
Unless everyone is clothed, fed, housed, educated, and contributing faithfully to society, we have failed as a nation.
There are no winners. We all lose.
Trump didn’t pardon himself. In my opinion, it’s because he plans to hold office until he dies, avoiding justice entirely.
History will not view this act kindly, nor those it benefits. It is wise to refuse this pardon, an admission of guilt for conspiracy in the 2020 election.
History will not view this act kindly, nor those it benefits. It is wise to refuse this pardon, an admission of guilt for conspiracy in the 2020 election.
The pardons include 77 allies tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including Rudy Giuliani, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and former Trump attorney Sidney Powell.
Trump grants pardons to Giuliani, Meadows, others linked to 2020 election efforts
The pardons include 77 allies tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election, including Rudy Giuliani, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and former Trump attorney Sidney Powell.
n.pr
November 10, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Trump didn’t pardon himself. In my opinion, it’s because he plans to hold office until he dies, avoiding justice entirely.
History will not view this act kindly, nor those it benefits. It is wise to refuse this pardon, an admission of guilt for conspiracy in the 2020 election.
History will not view this act kindly, nor those it benefits. It is wise to refuse this pardon, an admission of guilt for conspiracy in the 2020 election.
Acceptance of a pardon is explicitly an admission of guilt for crimes committed. If there is overlap between state and federal law, they would be idiots to accept the federal pardons, because states will use that against them.
Trump’s pardon attorney Ed Martin claims Trump is pardoning his Georgia co-defendants and other “alternate electors.”
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
Note: Trump’s Georgia co-defendants are charged under state law. The president can’t pardon people for state crimes.
November 10, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Acceptance of a pardon is explicitly an admission of guilt for crimes committed. If there is overlap between state and federal law, they would be idiots to accept the federal pardons, because states will use that against them.
I’m beginning to see an AI problem. AI companies are funded by wealthy people whose other investments employ millions of laborers and workers. AI has the potential to reduce need for labor, which doesn’t displace the wealthy but does make them wealthier while doing little for the displaced worker.
November 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM
I’m beginning to see an AI problem. AI companies are funded by wealthy people whose other investments employ millions of laborers and workers. AI has the potential to reduce need for labor, which doesn’t displace the wealthy but does make them wealthier while doing little for the displaced worker.
Reposted by markspotsthex
Jack White just thanked “the homeless, the powerless, and the forgotten” as he’s inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He said we should all always be thinking of and thanking them, and it really moved me.
November 9, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Jack White just thanked “the homeless, the powerless, and the forgotten” as he’s inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. He said we should all always be thinking of and thanking them, and it really moved me.
To appease the Transportation Secretary’s domestic flight reductions, airlines should cut all flights to Republicans states.
November 8, 2025 at 4:45 AM
To appease the Transportation Secretary’s domestic flight reductions, airlines should cut all flights to Republicans states.
“He’ll be gone in just over three years…”
If not sooner.
Let us not forget that Trump is an unfit, elderly man in poor health. If Republicans aren’t working under the assumption that Trump could die in office before his term ends, they’re deluding themselves.
If not sooner.
Let us not forget that Trump is an unfit, elderly man in poor health. If Republicans aren’t working under the assumption that Trump could die in office before his term ends, they’re deluding themselves.
"But with Tuesday’s stunning election losses crystallizing the risks to downballot Republicans...there are growing signs that lawmakers are contending with the facts of their political lives: He’ll be gone in just over three years, while they’ll still be around."
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Donald Trump enters his lame duck era
Republicans are starting to contend with the fact that the president will soon be gone, and they'll be fending for themselves.
www.politico.com
November 6, 2025 at 8:54 PM
“He’ll be gone in just over three years…”
If not sooner.
Let us not forget that Trump is an unfit, elderly man in poor health. If Republicans aren’t working under the assumption that Trump could die in office before his term ends, they’re deluding themselves.
If not sooner.
Let us not forget that Trump is an unfit, elderly man in poor health. If Republicans aren’t working under the assumption that Trump could die in office before his term ends, they’re deluding themselves.
She must have some really good divorce lawyers on retainer.
The greatest patriot in the history of patriots. So much patriotism.
November 6, 2025 at 12:47 PM
She must have some really good divorce lawyers on retainer.
That level of casualties seems… unlikely, putting that in kindest possible terms.
For scale, the War in Vietnam resulted in ~60,000 American deaths. [But I wouldn’t expect Trump to know anything about that.]
Citation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam...
For scale, the War in Vietnam resulted in ~60,000 American deaths. [But I wouldn’t expect Trump to know anything about that.]
Citation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam...
November 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
That level of casualties seems… unlikely, putting that in kindest possible terms.
For scale, the War in Vietnam resulted in ~60,000 American deaths. [But I wouldn’t expect Trump to know anything about that.]
Citation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam...
For scale, the War in Vietnam resulted in ~60,000 American deaths. [But I wouldn’t expect Trump to know anything about that.]
Citation: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vietnam...
With the passing of Dick Cheney, I will only remark that ‘Vice’ is one of Christian Bale’s strongest performances. It’s worth a view regardless, but if you can sneak one in today, it will frame a lot of the mixed media messaging.
November 4, 2025 at 3:15 PM
With the passing of Dick Cheney, I will only remark that ‘Vice’ is one of Christian Bale’s strongest performances. It’s worth a view regardless, but if you can sneak one in today, it will frame a lot of the mixed media messaging.
I’m looking forward to the fallout from employers threatening to leave NYC if Mamdani is elected.
1) it shows how little the C-suite cares about employees in a time when return-to-office mandates are failing to take flight
2) it shows employees just how weak/little their corporate leaders are
1) it shows how little the C-suite cares about employees in a time when return-to-office mandates are failing to take flight
2) it shows employees just how weak/little their corporate leaders are
November 4, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I’m looking forward to the fallout from employers threatening to leave NYC if Mamdani is elected.
1) it shows how little the C-suite cares about employees in a time when return-to-office mandates are failing to take flight
2) it shows employees just how weak/little their corporate leaders are
1) it shows how little the C-suite cares about employees in a time when return-to-office mandates are failing to take flight
2) it shows employees just how weak/little their corporate leaders are
This is the Third Amendment in reverse. Instead of citizens being forced to quarter soldiers, soldiers are being forced to quarter citizens.
Stephen Miller, Marco Rubio, Kristi Noem, and others now live on military bases. Read The Atlantic’s reporting on how Generals’ Row became MAGA Avenue: https://theatln.tc/vj8DMBoz
October 30, 2025 at 8:56 PM
This is the Third Amendment in reverse. Instead of citizens being forced to quarter soldiers, soldiers are being forced to quarter citizens.
I propose an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that requires the Speaker of the House to have the support of the majority of the minority party members in Congress. Failure to maintain this support, demonstrated by a weekly roll call vote, results in immediate removal from the position.
The Founders knew Congress - especially the House - was the backbone of U.S. democracy. It should be a huge story that Mike Johnson, serving Trump, has all but shut it down
From the Reichstag Fire to Putin's toothless Duma, this is what dictators do. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
From the Reichstag Fire to Putin's toothless Duma, this is what dictators do. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
It didn’t take a Reichstag Fire to burn down Congress | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, what’s troubling about Maine’s Nazi tattoo flap.
www.inquirer.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I propose an Amendment to the U.S. Constitution that requires the Speaker of the House to have the support of the majority of the minority party members in Congress. Failure to maintain this support, demonstrated by a weekly roll call vote, results in immediate removal from the position.
The founders of the Tea Party Patriots were once hailed by conservatives. So of course they prove themselves to be hypocrites by attacking the people behind No Kings.
Karoline Leavitt officially announced the "Launch of a large-scale investigation to find the people behind 'No Kings.'"
I've saved her some time.
I've saved her some time.
October 29, 2025 at 11:17 AM
The founders of the Tea Party Patriots were once hailed by conservatives. So of course they prove themselves to be hypocrites by attacking the people behind No Kings.
This needs to be a Halloween costume this year.
Per @chicagotribune.com, the pajama-pants-guy is a former county prosecutor.
And he had some things to say. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/25/c...
And he had some things to say. www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/25/c...
October 26, 2025 at 1:44 AM
This needs to be a Halloween costume this year.
Mike Johnson is far creepier than former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. I fully expect future historians will note this creepiness similarity will be similarly founded.
Mike Johnson: "Suddenly now, they've somehow convinced themselves that the Epstein files will be damaging to President Trump and Republicans in some way that they've imagined, and so they feign outrage."
October 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
Mike Johnson is far creepier than former Speaker J. Dennis Hastert. I fully expect future historians will note this creepiness similarity will be similarly founded.
Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you happiness.
October 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Stop scrolling and post two characters who bring you happiness.
If Trump thinks Chicago is inherently dangerous and infiltrated by Antifa, why is he cutting Illinois’s anti-terror funding? If his concerns are legitimate, why aren’t funds increasing?
October 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
If Trump thinks Chicago is inherently dangerous and infiltrated by Antifa, why is he cutting Illinois’s anti-terror funding? If his concerns are legitimate, why aren’t funds increasing?
We no longer have a functioning government. The executive branch disregards the other branches in violation of oath of office, yet neither coequal branch has the fortitude to impose the checks granted it in the Constitution because the majorities are politically complicit.
President Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum expanding his administration’s authority to repurpose unspent federal funds to pay members of the military during the government shutdown, escalating his challenge to the authority of Congress on spending matters.
Trump Signs Memo Expanding His Authority to Spend Federal Money
The president gave Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wide authority to repurpose funds to pay members of the military without approval from Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to decide federal spending.
nyti.ms
October 16, 2025 at 3:39 AM
We no longer have a functioning government. The executive branch disregards the other branches in violation of oath of office, yet neither coequal branch has the fortitude to impose the checks granted it in the Constitution because the majorities are politically complicit.
Dear @washingtonpost.com,
Please stop sending me offers to resubscribe. I have no interest in your current offerings and no faith they will ever improve.
Your paper isn’t fit to line a cat’s litter box, because god forbid one learns to read while using it.
Regards,
Please stop sending me offers to resubscribe. I have no interest in your current offerings and no faith they will ever improve.
Your paper isn’t fit to line a cat’s litter box, because god forbid one learns to read while using it.
Regards,
October 10, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Dear @washingtonpost.com,
Please stop sending me offers to resubscribe. I have no interest in your current offerings and no faith they will ever improve.
Your paper isn’t fit to line a cat’s litter box, because god forbid one learns to read while using it.
Regards,
Please stop sending me offers to resubscribe. I have no interest in your current offerings and no faith they will ever improve.
Your paper isn’t fit to line a cat’s litter box, because god forbid one learns to read while using it.
Regards,
Honestly, reverting to older, antiquated standards, which drives down recruitment, seems to be a backdoor way to justify reinstating the draft, which the wealthy can dodge and the poor cannot.
Something our glorious Secretary of War does not seem to have considered is that the reason military PT and grooming standards, plus policies for EEO and abuse reporting, are the way they are is because they're necessary for recruitment and retention
October 1, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Honestly, reverting to older, antiquated standards, which drives down recruitment, seems to be a backdoor way to justify reinstating the draft, which the wealthy can dodge and the poor cannot.
An auspicious start to a plea to military leaders to not oppose if not back their coup-adjacent plans.
Hegseth to military leaders: "Good morning and welcome to the War Department. Because the era of the Department of Defense is over. You see, the motto of my first platoon was 'those who long for peace must prepare for war.'"
September 30, 2025 at 12:45 PM
An auspicious start to a plea to military leaders to not oppose if not back their coup-adjacent plans.
I’m very excited to hear what two failed TV “personalities” have to say about the Constitution in an audience with people who have committed their lives to defending it.
Live updates: President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth are scheduled to address hundreds of senior U.S. military officers on Tuesday, in an unusual meeting that places many of the Pentagon’s top generals and admirals in one room.
Live updates: Trump, Hegseth to address senior military leaders in unusual meeting
The gathering, at Marine Corps Base Quantico in Virginia, was ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, requiring some officers to fly thousands of miles.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:41 PM
I’m very excited to hear what two failed TV “personalities” have to say about the Constitution in an audience with people who have committed their lives to defending it.
Gee, I wonder if Trump’s tariff on movies is in any way related to Marvel Studios pulling out of Georgia.
September 29, 2025 at 5:41 PM
Gee, I wonder if Trump’s tariff on movies is in any way related to Marvel Studios pulling out of Georgia.
While I embrace the First Amendment’s protections for Freedom of Speech, the 1A speech protections should not extend to “quote out of context” or other similar application of quotation in bad faith. These acts should be civilly punishable to the fullest extent without delay.
September 27, 2025 at 5:37 PM
While I embrace the First Amendment’s protections for Freedom of Speech, the 1A speech protections should not extend to “quote out of context” or other similar application of quotation in bad faith. These acts should be civilly punishable to the fullest extent without delay.