Mike O’Rourke
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mikeorourkenews.bsky.social
Mike O’Rourke
@mikeorourkenews.bsky.social
470 followers 420 following 690 posts
Retired newspaper guy. Stillwater, Minn. resident. Former associate editor and political reporter at Brainerd Dispatch.
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Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
sammerchant.bsky.social
Code of Conduct for United States Judges, Canon 5: "A judge should not . . . attend or purchase a ticket for a dinner or other event sponsored by a political organization or candidate... A judge should not engage in any other political activity." (All judges receive training on this.)
annabower.bsky.social Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 1d
Via MS NOW: Emil Bove is in attendance at Trump’s speech in Pennsylvania tonight.
Vaughn Hillyard @VaughnHillyard X.com Judge Emil Bove is at President Trump's Pennsylvania event tonight—an unusual move for a federal judge. When asked by MS NOW off camera why he is here, he responded: "Just here as a citizen coming to watch the president speak."
December 10, 2025 at 12:20 AM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
kevinmkruse.bsky.social
I know we’ve been talking about the 25th Amendment being invoked for years now, but we should probably be talking about it a lot more and a lot more seriously right now.
dominicervolina.com Dom Ervolina @dominicervolina.com · 19h
Couple of things here:

1. Trump says he took another cognitive test recently

2. In front of "large numbers of doctors and experts"

3. He called the examinations "long...and very boring"

4. If you're given 3 cognitive exams in one year by panels of doctors, something is VERY wrong with you
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump There has never been a President that has worked as hard as me! My hours are the longest, and my results are among the best. I've stopped Eight Wars, saving many millions of lives in the process, created the Greatest Economy in the History of our Country, brought Business back into the United States at levels never seen before, rebuilt our Military, created the Largest Tax Cuts and Regulation Cuts, EVER, closed our open and very dangerous Southern Border, when previous Administrations were unable to do so, and created an "aura" around the United States of America that has led every Country in the World to respect us more than ever before. In addition to all of that, I go out of my way to do long, thorough, and very boring Medical Examinations at the Great Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, seen and supervised by top doctors, all of whom have given me PERFECT Marks - Some have even said they have never seen such Strong Results. I do these Tests because I owe it to our Country. In addition to the Medical, I have done something that no other President has done, on three separate occasions, the last one being recently, by taking what is known as a Cognitive Examination, something which few people would be able to do very well, including those working at The New York Times, and I ACED all three of them in front of large numbers of doctors and experts, most of whom I do not know. I have been told that few people have been able to "ace" this Examination and, in fact, most do very poorly, which is why many other Presidents have decided not to take it at all. Despite all of this, the time and work involved, The New York Times, and some others, like to pretend that I am "slowing up," am maybe not as sharp as I once was, or am in poor physical health, knowing that it is not true, and knowing that I work very hard, probably harder than I have ever worked before. I will know when I am "slowing up," but it's not now! After all of the work I have done with Medical Exams, Cognitive Exams, and everything else, I actually believe it's seditious, perhaps even treasonous, for The New York Times, and others, to consistently do FAKE reports in order to libel and demean "THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES." They are true Enemies of the People, and we should do something about it. They have inaccurately reported on all of my Election Results and, in fact, were forced to apologize on much of what they wrote. The best thing that could happen to this Country would be if The New York Times would cease publication because they are a horrible, biased, and untruthful "source" of information. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! 908 ReTruths 3.07k Likes Dec 09, 2025, 9:11 PM
December 10, 2025 at 4:54 AM
mikeorourkenews.bsky.social
Ham sandwiches may be safe.
kovarsky.bsky.social Lee Kovarsky @kovarsky.bsky.social · 7h
I think this is probably a new era of grand jury practice where there is communal awareness of abusive policing.

The GJ just doesn't believe the state.

I'm not an expert on the history of grand juries, but my sense is that this is the first time we are seeing that phenomenon at scale.
jonseidel.bsky.social Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 7h
JUST IN: Assistant U.S. Attorney Jeffrey Snell just confirmed, at the prodding of U.S. Magistrate Judge Keri Holleb Hotaling, that this motion for dismissal followed a "no bill" from a grand jury.

That means the grand jury refused to indict.
December 10, 2025 at 10:42 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
schumer.senate.gov
It takes a special kind of delusion to tell parents to buy their kids fewer toys and pencils while bragging about building a new White House ballroom and gold in the Oval Office.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 22h
Trump: "You can give up certain products. You could give up pencils. Because under the China policy, every child can get 37 pencils. They only need 1 or 2. They don't need that many. You always need steel. You don't need 37 dolls for your daughter. 2 or 3 is nice. So we're doing things right."
December 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
jonathancohn.bsky.social
Misogyny and racism put people's safety at risk and don't lower the cost of living for anyone.

Every Trump rally is a Klan rally.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 23h
Trump: "Ilhan Omar, whatever the hell her name is. With her little turban. I love her. She comes in, does nothing but bitch ... we ought to get her the hell out ... she's here illegally."

The crowd in Pennsylvania then starts chanting "send her back!"
December 10, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
inuyasha1953.bsky.social
theheadlinelab
What if Donald Trump's presidency was more than just political controversy—what if he was the Kremlin's greatest achievement? From praising Putin and undermining NATO to dismissing American intelligence, Trump's actions seem to align with Russian interests.
December 10, 2025 at 6:34 AM
mikeorourkenews.bsky.social
Will Republicans who claim to “Back the Blue” support this civil suit?
macfarlanenews.bsky.social Scott MacFarlane @macfarlanenews.bsky.social · 9h
“Plaque shaming” in court filing…. As Trump Admin fights a civil suit that seeks to hang a legally-mandated Jan 6 police honorary plaque

youtube.com/shorts/44rim...
“Plaque shaming” by the Justice Dept .. as they fight request to hang Jan 6 police honorary plaque
YouTube video by Scott MacFarlane CBS
youtube.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
pbump.com
I just read this out loud to my wife. If you have a spouse or partner, try it, especially if they don’t know what’s coming. Hearing it out loud makes the bonkers-ness sink in.

Reading this to unsuspecting people should be a TikTok meme.
pbump.com Philip Bump @pbump.com · 21h
Every part of this is bonkers. The intro is bonkers. The transition to his health is bonkers. The mention that other presidents didn't need cognitive exams is bonkers. The claim that this screening test is somehow hard is bonkers. The idea that criticism of him is treason is bonkers. All of it.
There has never been a President that has worked as hard as me! My hours are the longest, and my results are among the best. I’ve stopped Eight Wars, saving many millions of lives in the process, created the Greatest Economy in the History of our Country, brought Business back into the United States at levels never seen before, rebuilt our Military, created the Largest Tax Cuts and Regulation Cuts, EVER, closed our open and very dangerous Southern Border, when previous Administrations were unable to do so, and created an “aura” around the United States of America that has led every Country in the World to respect us more than ever before. In addition to all of that, I go out of my way to do long, thorough, and very boring Medical Examinations at the Great Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, seen and supervised by top doctors, all of whom have given me PERFECT Marks — Some have even said they have never seen such Strong Results. I do these Tests because I owe it to our Country. In addition to the Medical, I have done something that no other President has done, on three separate occasions, the last one being recently, by taking what is known as a Cognitive Examination, something which few people would be able to do very well, including those working at The New York Times, and I ACED all three of them in front of large numbers of doctors and experts, most of whom I do not know. I have been told that few people have been able to “ace” this Examination and, in fact, most do very poorly, which is why many other Presidents have decided not to take it at all. Despite all of this, the time and work involved, The New York Times, and some others, like to pretend that I am “slowing up,” am maybe not as sharp as I once was, or am in poor physical health, knowing that it is not true, and knowing that I work very hard, probably harder than I have ever worked before. I will know when I am “slowing up,” but it’s not now! After all of the work I have done with Medical Exams, Cognitive Exams, and everything else, I actually believe it’s seditious, perhaps even treasonous, for The New York Times, and others, to consistently do FAKE reports in order to libel and demean “THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.” They are true Enemies of the People, and we should do something about it. They have inaccurately reported on all of my Election Results and, in fact, were forced to apologize on much of what they wrote. The best thing that could happen to this Country would be if The New York Times would cease publication because they are a horrible, biased, and untruthful “source” of information. Thank you for your attention to this matter. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!
December 10, 2025 at 3:27 AM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
cenobiteyogapunk.bsky.social
And here it is. Kushner is working with the Saudis to grab CNN and make them a propaganda channel for both them and tDumpster. If we do not start doing something now, we are going to belong to all the wrong people.

www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Jared Kushner is investor in Paramount’s hostile takeover bid of Warner Bros
Jared Kushner’s Affinity Capital, along with the sovereign wealth funds from Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Abu Dhabi, have ‘agreed to forgo any governance rights – including board representation – associate...
www.independent.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 11:19 AM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
chrislhayes.bsky.social
I guess the president just announced he recently took his latest in a series of cognitive tests, this one in front of a room full of medical personnel observing him?
December 10, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
frankfigliuzzi.bsky.social
In the lawsuit by 140 officers injured on a January 6, Trump is claiming Executive Privilege to hide his communications on and around that day. More on Substack: substack.com/@thefrankfig...
December 9, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
garyandover.bsky.social
Just a thought experiment, if Democrats somehow managed to regain the presidency how would the Supreme Court justify that all their rulings during the Trump regime were suddenly invalid?
December 9, 2025 at 11:37 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
maxberger.bsky.social
Freedom of the Press is irrelevant if fascist billionaires control all of our media.
moreperfectunion.bsky.social More Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 2d
If Paramount is allowed to take over Warner Bros. Discovery, the conservative billionaire Ellison family will control:

Paramount Studios
CBS
CNN
MTV
HBO
Comedy Central
Nickelodeon
Cartoon Network
Warner Bros.
DC Studios
Fandango
New Line Cinema
TNT Sports
TBS
Oracle

And more.
December 9, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
johnpavlovitz.bsky.social
It’s time to stop saying that we need to understand these people. We do understand them.

We understand that they have dug in their heels so deeply, they will not be moved by anything: not facts or data or truth or their own eyes.

johnpavlovitz.substack.com/p/we-cant-ch...
We Can't Change These Hateful People, America. We Have to Outnumber Them.
There’s an old saying: “When the horse is dead… dismount.”
johnpavlovitz.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:25 AM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
adamparkhomenko.bsky.social
It is absolutely wild that the guy who won’t stop yelling about law and order is now personally stepping in to keep January 6 documents hidden from the police officers who were attacked that day. He knows exactly what’s in those files and he is terrified the country will see it.
December 9, 2025 at 9:26 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
sykescharlie.bsky.social
The Revolt of the GOP Women

open.substack.com/pub/charlies...
December 9, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
klobuchar.senate.gov
Farmers are being hurt by the President’s tariffs. The assistance announced today will clearly benefit some farmers now, but a one-time payment is not a long-term fix—only restoring these markets can do that.
December 8, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
klobuchar.senate.gov
Congress has long used its power to establish independent agencies to protect Americans without undue political pressure.

It is deeply troubling that conservative justices appear ready to give the president even more unchecked power.

Justice Kagan put it best:
December 8, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
democracydocket.com
NEW: The DOJ will potentially treat opponents of Trump’s policies as “domestic terrorists,” according to a leaked memo. The move appears to represent the department’s first attempt to implement Trump’s calls to target left-wing activists and others who protest his policies.
Leaked Memo: DOJ To List, Target Anti-Trump Activists as ‘Domestic Terrorists’
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 8, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
freedom.press
2025 was one of the most difficult years for press freedom in the U.S. Journalists faced escalating harassment, censorship, legal threats, and violence — and FPF was there every step of the way to do something about it.

Read what we accomplished in 2025.
2025 by the numbers
2025 was one of the most difficult years for press freedom in the U.S. Journalists faced escalating harassment, censorship, legal threats, and violence.
freedom.press
December 8, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
newsjennifer.bsky.social
Let's not kid ourselves: this may have CBS News written all over it but it's political propaganda masquerading as journalism. If it was legit, then real reporters would be in the anchor chair, not Trump approved Bari Weiss.

My latest:

open.substack.com/pub/jennifer...
CBS News journalists are sidelined for network's Erika Kirk town hall
If providing news and information were the goal then journalists like Gayle King or Norah O’Donnell would be asking the questions, not Trump approved pundit Bari Weiss.
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:22 AM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
michaeledward.bsky.social
Patience has nothing to do with waiting. Patience is about understanding the right moment for action and the right moment for stillness.
December 8, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
justinelliott.bsky.social
NEW:

Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal

www.propublica.org/article/trum...

w/ @robert-faturechi.bsky.social @amierjeski.bsky.social
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
The Trump administration has argued that Fed board member Lisa Cook may have committed mortgage fraud by declaring more than one primary residence on her loans. We found Trump once did the very thing ...
www.propublica.org
December 8, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
justfara.bsky.social
Special Counsel Jack Smith's investigation used unsealed documents showing that Trump-aligned political action committees (PACs) and the campaign's general fund paid millions to organizers of the Jan. 6 "Save America" rally, including funds for travel, hotels, and a busing program for attendees.
December 7, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Reposted by Mike O’Rourke
bcfinucane.bsky.social
Striking that the public legal defense of the boat strikes is coming from a Senator and not the Attorney General or the General Counsel of the Pentagon.
December 7, 2025 at 8:10 PM