@mcbain66.bsky.social
Reposted
Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
April 3, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Those trying to understand the tariffs as economic policy are dangerously naive.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
No, the tariffs are a tool to collapse our democracy. A means to compel loyalty from every business that will need to petition Trump for relief.
1/ A 🧵 to explain his plan and how we fight back.
Reposted
They are arresting people on the streets, terminating their visas, and disappearing them for writing things they disagree with. This is where we are. Two months in. Right now. If you think they won’t begin coming after citizens soon, you are mistaken.
March 27, 2025 at 12:03 PM
They are arresting people on the streets, terminating their visas, and disappearing them for writing things they disagree with. This is where we are. Two months in. Right now. If you think they won’t begin coming after citizens soon, you are mistaken.
Reposted
Death threats against judges are rising — and instead of dialing it back, the GOP is doubling down.
Even after Chief Justice John Roberts called the push for impeachment “not appropriate,” Republicans are pressing ahead. Just this week, House Republicans moved to impeach six federal judges.
Even after Chief Justice John Roberts called the push for impeachment “not appropriate,” Republicans are pressing ahead. Just this week, House Republicans moved to impeach six federal judges.
March 25, 2025 at 3:58 PM
Death threats against judges are rising — and instead of dialing it back, the GOP is doubling down.
Even after Chief Justice John Roberts called the push for impeachment “not appropriate,” Republicans are pressing ahead. Just this week, House Republicans moved to impeach six federal judges.
Even after Chief Justice John Roberts called the push for impeachment “not appropriate,” Republicans are pressing ahead. Just this week, House Republicans moved to impeach six federal judges.
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The astounding Republican trend of inheriting a working, growing economy from Democratic presidents and then breaking it and plunging us into a recession continues!
Stocks red since the election
*S&P 500 ERASES ELECTION GAIN, WIPING OUT $3.4 TRILLION IN VALUE
*S&P 500 ERASES ELECTION GAIN, WIPING OUT $3.4 TRILLION IN VALUE
March 4, 2025 at 3:52 PM
The astounding Republican trend of inheriting a working, growing economy from Democratic presidents and then breaking it and plunging us into a recession continues!
Reposted
NEW: USAID's acting asst administrator, Nick Enrich, has been placed on leave after sharing a memo detailing how political appointees have "wholly prevented" staff from continuing life saving aid.
March 2, 2025 at 11:39 PM
NEW: USAID's acting asst administrator, Nick Enrich, has been placed on leave after sharing a memo detailing how political appointees have "wholly prevented" staff from continuing life saving aid.
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I get the tendency to be cynical and say it's always been like this but I am telling you there have only been a handful of times since 1945 when the annexation of territory by force has been internationally legitimated and that norm breaking would be very, very bad
March 1, 2025 at 2:19 AM
I get the tendency to be cynical and say it's always been like this but I am telling you there have only been a handful of times since 1945 when the annexation of territory by force has been internationally legitimated and that norm breaking would be very, very bad
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Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
February 27, 2025 at 8:59 PM
Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Reposted
Every news outlet reporting Elon Musk's comment about accidentally canceling Ebola prevention efforts and quickly restoring them should also say they haven't been restored, they're still canceled, the outbreak-fighting teams are dismantled, the money is gone
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Musk says DOGE ‘restored’ Ebola prevention effort. Officials say that’s not true.
USAID’s initiatives to fight Ebola and other diseases have been gutted, current and former agency officials said.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 27, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Every news outlet reporting Elon Musk's comment about accidentally canceling Ebola prevention efforts and quickly restoring them should also say they haven't been restored, they're still canceled, the outbreak-fighting teams are dismantled, the money is gone
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted
State REALLLLLLLLY doesn't want Marco Rubio to be questioned under oath about whether Pete Marocco has lied about Rubio's personal involvement in cutting off most foreign aid via HIS OWN individualized decisions.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![12. In that regard, any effort to seek testimony from Secretary Rubio should be rejected.
“[T]op executive department officials should not, absent extraordinary circumstances, be called to
testify regarding their reasons for taking official actions.” Simplex Time Recorder Co. v. Sec’y of
Labor, 766 F.2d 575, 586 (D.C. Cir. 1985) (citing United States v. Morgan, 313 U.S. 409, 422
(1941) (Morgan II)); see also Vill. of Arlington Heights v. Metro. Hous. Dev. Corp., 429 U.S. 252, 268 (1977); cf. In re Dep’t of Com., 139 S. Ct. 16, 17 (2018) (mem.) (opinion of Gorsuch, J., joined
by Thomas, J.) (agreeing with order staying deposition of Cabinet secretary). Hence, the D.C.
Circuit and other circuits have issued writs of mandamus to prevent compulsion of testimony from
high-level Government officials. In re Cheney, 544 F.3d 311, 314 (D.C. Cir. 2008) (per curiam)
(Vice President’s Chief of Staff); accord In re McCarthy, 636 F. App’x 142 (4th Cir. 2015) (EPA
Administrator); In re United States (Jackson), 624 F.3d at 1372-73 (same); In re United States
(Reno & Holder), 197 F.3d 310, 313-14 (8th Cir. 1999) (Attorney General and Deputy Attorney
General); In re United States (Kessler), 985 F.2d 510, 512-13 (11th Cir. 1993) (per curiam) (FDA
Commissioner). Simply put, “[t]he duties of high-ranking executive officers should not be
interrupted by judicial demands for information that could be obtained elsewhere.” In re Cheney,
544 F.3d at 314. Hence, testimony from Secretary Rubio because of his role in the decisional
process concerning the contracts and grants at issue in these cases would not be justified by the
necessary “exceptional” circumstances, given the availability of Marocco. Requiring Secretary
Rubio’s testimony by contrast “would constitute an ‘unwarranted impairment’ of the functioning
of” the Department. In re Cheney, 544 F.3d at 314 (quoting Cheney, 542 U.S. at 390)](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/bafkreihb2vbfiehojjm22phz5xeg5mdqrpza4ag43iqkx6fiowg2xopj3i@jpeg)
February 26, 2025 at 6:12 PM
State REALLLLLLLLY doesn't want Marco Rubio to be questioned under oath about whether Pete Marocco has lied about Rubio's personal involvement in cutting off most foreign aid via HIS OWN individualized decisions.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
"This product is made in America—in factories that sit in a deep red area in Georgia and a deep blue area in Rhode Island. It’s made with peanuts grown mostly in the south, and dairy produced in the Northeast and Midwest. It’s produced by American workers, then hauled by them to American ports..."
Awful news --> Delivery of therapeutic food assistance to nearly 400,000 severely malnourished kids abroad is suddenly in doubt due to Trump-Musk firings at USAID, two manufacturers of the product tell me.
"Starving children are waiting," one says.
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/1919...
"Starving children are waiting," one says.
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/1919...
Musk Scandal at USAID Takes Ugly Turn, Putting Starving Kids at Risk
Two U.S. nonprofits that manufacture a treatment sent by USAID to help severely malnourished children abroad say the process is in chaos. This isn’t what Marco Rubio said would happen.
newrepublic.com
February 25, 2025 at 4:37 PM
"This product is made in America—in factories that sit in a deep red area in Georgia and a deep blue area in Rhode Island. It’s made with peanuts grown mostly in the south, and dairy produced in the Northeast and Midwest. It’s produced by American workers, then hauled by them to American ports..."
Elvis has just left the building
February 20, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Elvis has just left the building
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The Trump official currently dismantling USAID was caught in a secret meeting with a group of pro-Russian separatists in the Balkans.
Those he met with are under American sanctions for trying to restart the Bosnian war in the name of Christian nationalism. 1/
Those he met with are under American sanctions for trying to restart the Bosnian war in the name of Christian nationalism. 1/
February 17, 2025 at 1:00 AM
The Trump official currently dismantling USAID was caught in a secret meeting with a group of pro-Russian separatists in the Balkans.
Those he met with are under American sanctions for trying to restart the Bosnian war in the name of Christian nationalism. 1/
Those he met with are under American sanctions for trying to restart the Bosnian war in the name of Christian nationalism. 1/
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I know that there are lots of reasons to be scared and sad at the moment, but for folks who aren’t following what had been happening with the national park services, this is a good summary of what has happened and the potential implications. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
US Forest Service and National Park Service to fire thousands of workers
Agencies say Trump’s latest push to trim government could impede firefighting efforts and create crises at national parks
www.theguardian.com
February 18, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I know that there are lots of reasons to be scared and sad at the moment, but for folks who aren’t following what had been happening with the national park services, this is a good summary of what has happened and the potential implications. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
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Attorney General Pam Bondi disbanded an FBI task force investigating foreign influence operations, including those targeting U.S. elections. Additionally, she restricted enforcement actions against individuals who fail to disclose lobbying on behalf of foreign governments.
February 18, 2025 at 4:11 PM
Attorney General Pam Bondi disbanded an FBI task force investigating foreign influence operations, including those targeting U.S. elections. Additionally, she restricted enforcement actions against individuals who fail to disclose lobbying on behalf of foreign governments.
Reposted
Want to go visit the national parks this year?
Sorry.
The reservation system is shut down, EMT personnel are gone, so don't get hurt or lost. No one can clean the bathrooms or cabins, so they'll be closed. Rangers are fired.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Sorry.
The reservation system is shut down, EMT personnel are gone, so don't get hurt or lost. No one can clean the bathrooms or cabins, so they'll be closed. Rangers are fired.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Yosemite halts camping reservations, with no timetable for their return
Yosemite halts camping reservations, with no timetable for their return at a time when federal employees are being laid off
www.sfchronicle.com
February 18, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Want to go visit the national parks this year?
Sorry.
The reservation system is shut down, EMT personnel are gone, so don't get hurt or lost. No one can clean the bathrooms or cabins, so they'll be closed. Rangers are fired.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Sorry.
The reservation system is shut down, EMT personnel are gone, so don't get hurt or lost. No one can clean the bathrooms or cabins, so they'll be closed. Rangers are fired.
www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/arti...
Reposted
JUST IN: Another medical horror story in an affidavit from a USAID employee stationed overseas. Says his pregnant wife was not medevac-ed for emergency health care because of directives from DC. Took intervention of a U.S. senator to reverse — but was too late. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
February 18, 2025 at 1:40 AM
JUST IN: Another medical horror story in an affidavit from a USAID employee stationed overseas. Says his pregnant wife was not medevac-ed for emergency health care because of directives from DC. Took intervention of a U.S. senator to reverse — but was too late. s3.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
Reposted
My experience with USAID, published this morning. www.thebulwark.com/p/how-usaid-...
How USAID Helped Us Defeat the Iraqi Insurgency
Its projects reinforced our military efforts, and served American interests while saving and improving lives.
www.thebulwark.com
February 13, 2025 at 12:34 PM
My experience with USAID, published this morning. www.thebulwark.com/p/how-usaid-...
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Four FEMA officials were fired for not following illegal orders to withhold spending.
The White House is saying of judicial decisions: "These unlawful injunctions are a continuation of the weaponization of justice against President Trump."
These are not warning signs. This is happening now.
The White House is saying of judicial decisions: "These unlawful injunctions are a continuation of the weaponization of justice against President Trump."
These are not warning signs. This is happening now.
The constitutional crisis goes hand in hand with the attack on the civil service and a politicized legal infrastructure.
Federal employees are much less likely to resist following illegal orders when General Counsels are telling them its ok, and they would otherwise lose their jobs.
Federal employees are much less likely to resist following illegal orders when General Counsels are telling them its ok, and they would otherwise lose their jobs.
SCOOP from @nbcnews.com — A senior FEMA official instructed subordinates to freeze funding for a wide array of grant programs Monday, just hours after a federal judge ordered the Trump administration — for the second time — to stop such pauses.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
February 11, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Four FEMA officials were fired for not following illegal orders to withhold spending.
The White House is saying of judicial decisions: "These unlawful injunctions are a continuation of the weaponization of justice against President Trump."
These are not warning signs. This is happening now.
The White House is saying of judicial decisions: "These unlawful injunctions are a continuation of the weaponization of justice against President Trump."
These are not warning signs. This is happening now.
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The only way I can interpret the GOP's actions is that they are 100% certain they will never face another democratic election again.
They hit the shore and burned their ships.
They hit the shore and burned their ships.
February 11, 2025 at 3:48 AM
The only way I can interpret the GOP's actions is that they are 100% certain they will never face another democratic election again.
They hit the shore and burned their ships.
They hit the shore and burned their ships.
Reposted
Democrats should be responding to all this the way Republicans would respond if Clinton/Biden/Obama just capriciously decided to shut down the Department of Defense by fiat. It’s a 20 alarm fire and the Democrats are responding like it’s a single matchstick.
February 11, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Democrats should be responding to all this the way Republicans would respond if Clinton/Biden/Obama just capriciously decided to shut down the Department of Defense by fiat. It’s a 20 alarm fire and the Democrats are responding like it’s a single matchstick.
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“I have lived through a dictatorship before,” said [one USAID employee]. “I know what these look like, and the writing is on the wall for me.”
In Breaking USAID, the Trump Administration May Have Broken the Law
ProPublica’s reporting provides new details about what legal risk officials were prepared to take and what laws they may have violated on their way to creating a “constitutional crisis.”
www.propublica.org
February 9, 2025 at 7:02 PM
“I have lived through a dictatorship before,” said [one USAID employee]. “I know what these look like, and the writing is on the wall for me.”
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And there it is — next shoe dropping. Steal the bank, control the military and then silence the media
Trump megadonor Steve Wynn has filed a petition asking the Supreme Court to overturn the landmark 1964 decision in New York Times v. Sullivan, which protects the media's ability to aggressively cover public officials. www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24...
February 7, 2025 at 5:41 PM
And there it is — next shoe dropping. Steal the bank, control the military and then silence the media
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As the Trump administration and Elon Musk work to dismantle USAID, the government’s lead agency for delivering humanitarian aid for generations, right-wing influencers have flooded the internet with falsehoods about its work, promoting unfounded claims and conspiratorial thinking. nyti.ms/4htWHN0
February 8, 2025 at 12:40 AM
As the Trump administration and Elon Musk work to dismantle USAID, the government’s lead agency for delivering humanitarian aid for generations, right-wing influencers have flooded the internet with falsehoods about its work, promoting unfounded claims and conspiratorial thinking. nyti.ms/4htWHN0
Reposted
NEW: Organizations that provide vital, lifesaving care for desperate and vulnerable people around the world have been forced to halt operations, turn away patients and lay off staff.
“I’ve never seen anything that scares me as much as this,” one doctor said.
“I’ve never seen anything that scares me as much as this,” one doctor said.
“People Will Die”: The Trump Administration Said It Lifted Its Ban on Lifesaving Humanitarian Aid. That’s Not True.
Organizations that provide vital care for desperate and vulnerable people around the world have been forced to halt operations, turn away patients and lay off staff. “I’ve never seen anything that sca...
www.propublica.org
January 31, 2025 at 8:05 PM
NEW: Organizations that provide vital, lifesaving care for desperate and vulnerable people around the world have been forced to halt operations, turn away patients and lay off staff.
“I’ve never seen anything that scares me as much as this,” one doctor said.
“I’ve never seen anything that scares me as much as this,” one doctor said.
Reposted
A USAID HR director sent out this email today to staff letting them know he was placed on administrative leave.
“Today, representatives of the Agency's front office and DOGE instructed me to violate the due process of our employees by issuing immediate termination notices to a group of employees.”
“Today, representatives of the Agency's front office and DOGE instructed me to violate the due process of our employees by issuing immediate termination notices to a group of employees.”
January 31, 2025 at 1:08 AM
A USAID HR director sent out this email today to staff letting them know he was placed on administrative leave.
“Today, representatives of the Agency's front office and DOGE instructed me to violate the due process of our employees by issuing immediate termination notices to a group of employees.”
“Today, representatives of the Agency's front office and DOGE instructed me to violate the due process of our employees by issuing immediate termination notices to a group of employees.”