The Shumater
theshumater.bsky.social
The Shumater
@theshumater.bsky.social
Digital raconteur posting about politics, news & media, with a focus on Arkansas. Educator, author, scholar. Radical centrist. Слава Україні
Adam Watson, one of the activists leading the charge against Gov. Sanders' ill-conceived Franklin Co. mega-prison, qualifies for independent Senate run: “All of the work that I’ve been doing in the district ... is ringing true with the voters."
#Arkansas #arpx
arkansasadvocate.com/2025/11/25/i...
Independent candidate confirmed to appear on Arkansas Senate District 26 special election ballot | Arkansas Advocate
A staunch opponent of Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ plan to build a 3,000-bed prison in Franklin County will be on the ballot as an independent candidate for the Senate District 26 special ele...
arkansasadvocate.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Mystery data center owner supposedly set to build $1B data facility in Clarksville - but local legislator Rep. Aaron Pilkington, won't identify company that could drastically impact his community and his voters.
#Arkansas #arpx
www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/no...
Data center builder preparing $1 billion project in Clarksville | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Arkansas is set to be home to another billion-dollar data center, this time in Clarksville.
www.arkansasonline.com
November 25, 2025 at 10:32 PM
@economist.com's tracking of Donald Trump's approval shows he's now underwater in #Arkansas at -1.8%. He has net positive approval in just 10 states & he's 20 points underwater in Texas: "No recent president has fallen so low so quickly."
#arpx
www.economist.com/interactive/...
Donald Trump’s approval rating
Follow our presidential approval rating poll tracker to see how favourably Americans view Mr Trump
www.economist.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by The Shumater
Pete Hegseth bullying Mark Kelly?
November 25, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Here's how these Democrats should reply to this request: "Russian warship, go f**k yourself."
🚨BREAKING: The FBI has requested interviews with a group of Democratic lawmakers who reminded U.S. military and intelligence service members in a video last week that they are obligated to refuse illegal orders. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
FBI Investigating Dems Who Warned Military of Unlawful Orders
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
November 25, 2025 at 6:46 PM
More evidence of the bomb that's about to go off in #Arkansas: New LEARNS reading requirement will result in thousands of 3rd graders being held back at the end of this school year, creating a "sense of urgency" among school officials bracing for blowback.
#arpx #arleg
Arkansas’ new grade-level reading requirement has Independence County school ramping up tutoring | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Concern over a new requirement that third graders read at grade-level to move on to fourth grade has created a "sense of urgency" in at least one north Arkansas elementary school, faculty said.
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
#Arkansas state officials still haven't carried out cultural survey of site of proposed mega-prison in Franklin Co. to determine if there are any Native American burial grounds or artifacts on site, despite assurances that survey would be part of due diligence process.
#arpx #arleg
A year after start of Franklin County prison project, state hasn’t done cultural survey of land | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Arkansas hasn't done an on-site cultural survey of the land where a proposed new prison in Franklin County would be located, to ensure there aren't Native American artifacts or grave sites.
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Gov. Sanders got mad when legislators refused to approve her Franklin Co. mega-prison, but can she get even with senators who defied her will? My latest column diving into Arkansas' 2026 election in @arkansasadvocate.com
#Arkansas #arpx #arleg
Revenge, scandal and Democrats struggling for relevancy | Arkansas Advocate
The first turkey has yet to be carved, and the first present has yet to be opened, but thanks to Arkansas’ inexplicably early March primary, we’re arrived at election season before the first forkful…
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Strong indications, from Donald Trump's own mouth, that he had advance knowledge of thwarted escape of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro; Trump told reporters, before he knew escape attempt had failed, that he'd be meeting Bolsonaro "in the very near future."
Trump appears to blurt out secret plan, not knowing it's already a bust
Rachel Maddow shares reporting on bizarre behavior by former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro who tampered with his ankle monitor while on house arrest and was sent to jail. Donald Trump…
buff.ly
November 25, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Can the New York Times write a headline without a question mark?
A reader asked our fashion critic: "I am seeing all kinds of puffer jackets these days, but can they ever really be professional?" nyti.ms/4rdr7Zb
November 25, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Reposted by The Shumater
When they can’t bury the truth at the Capitol, they try to drown it in the river.

RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES
November 25, 2025 at 12:53 PM
Actually, Stephen Miller should still be in prison for the things he did during Trump's first term ...
November 25, 2025 at 1:35 PM
State enforcement agents have seized more than 8,000 hemp-derived THC products since last summer, as #Arkansas' new ban sweeps products from shelves, leaving medicinal patients and providers scrambling. Jacqueline Froelich reports in @arktimes.bsky.social
#arpx #arleg
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
State ban nips medicinal CBD industry in the bud - Arkansas Times
The ban on synthetic recreational hemp intoxicants is causing significant collateral damage to Arkansas’s blossoming medicinal CBD industry, with retailers clearing shelves and boutique CBD shops clos...
arktimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Supporters of Little Rock man who has served 44 years in prison for 1981 convenience store robbery make plea for pardon from Gov. Sanders: "I know people who (have) got out of prison for murder and don't receive a sentence like that."
#Arkansas #arpx
www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/no...
Family pleads for pardon of Little Rock man who has spent 44 years in prison for aggravated robbery | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
The family of a Little Rock man who has been incarcerated for almost 45 years is "pleading" for him to be pardoned by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, saying he's "paid his debt to society" and isn't a da...
www.arkansasonline.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:12 PM
NW Arkansas man who claims he was victim of "long con" by Las Vegas stripper suing her for $40M. He says he gave her $3 million over 10 years; her lawyer describes largesse as gifts, says he's trying to "exact revenge" after break-up.
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/no...
Northwest Arkansas man’s lawsuit against Las Vegas dancer will continue after judge denies motion to dismiss | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
FAYETTEVILLE -- A Nevada judge denied Tuesday a motion to dismiss a Northwest Arkansas man's fraud lawsuit against a Las Vegas dancer that was moved to Nevada from Arkansas earlier this year, but atto...
www.arkansasonline.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Or, in the original German, "Folgen Sie Ihrem Oberbefehlshaber ..."
BLITZER: I want to be precise. Should members of the US military obey clearly illegal orders?

McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took

(Not a no!)
November 24, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Well, now, this seems rather less than good ...
“.. In some areas, such as New York City, the surge has been dramatic — with residential [utility] shutoffs in August up fivefold from a year ago, utility filings show.”

@washingtonpost.com
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
November 24, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Revenge, scandal & Democrats struggling for relevancy: The table is set for #Arkansas 2026 election feast. My take on next year's elections in @arkansasadvocate.com.
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
Revenge, scandal and Democrats struggling for relevancy | Arkansas Advocate
The first turkey has yet to be carved, and the first present has yet to be opened, but thanks to Arkansas’ inexplicably early March primary, we’re arrived at election season before the first forkful…
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 5:06 PM
DOWN ON HIS KNEES: Tom Cotton publishes an op-ed on the challenges facing Arkansas farmers that doesn't mention Trump's tariffs, blames Democrats - and says that "without a doubt, Trump keeps [farmers] at the top of his mind and close to his heart."
#Arkansas #arpx #arnews
SEN TOM COTTON: America's farmers are going bankrupt and we need to help them before it's too late
Arkansas cattle farmer who became a senator reveals how rising costs and low commodity prices threaten generational farming families across America.
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 4:30 PM
So, when #Arkansas Republicans excitedly claimed a month ago that Donald Trump had rescued our soybean farmers, they were selling us a loaf of baloney? Shocked!
#arpx #arnews
CNBC: My understanding is the White House said that China was gonna buy 12 million tons of soybeans from the US by January. That's approaching and they've only purchased 332,000. China has not confirmed that pledge.

BROOKE ROLLINS: Your point is salient. We've got a significant way to go
November 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
"First let me say what's most important ... I was duped."
TAPPER: Dr Cassidy, RFK Jr lied to you

CASSIDY: First let me say what's most important -- vaccines are safe.
November 23, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Reposted by The Shumater
November 23, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Reposted by The Shumater
November 22, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Should Melania be worried?? 🤔
November 22, 2025 at 7:44 PM