Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
@bbmcginty.bsky.social
Posting information about NatSec/Media/Law issues.
Also posting pictures of Cats and Corgis to cleanse your timeline and throw out some serotonin.
Also posting pictures of Cats and Corgis to cleanse your timeline and throw out some serotonin.
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
I don’t have a new book to promote, but four of my former students have their first books coming out this academic year and, people, you are going to hear about them.
November 26, 2025 at 10:59 PM
I don’t have a new book to promote, but four of my former students have their first books coming out this academic year and, people, you are going to hear about them.
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
The President doesn't want you standing up and speaking out against him, so he's coming after me to intimidate all of us.
But I won't back down — and neither should you.
But I won't back down — and neither should you.
November 26, 2025 at 7:51 PM
The President doesn't want you standing up and speaking out against him, so he's coming after me to intimidate all of us.
But I won't back down — and neither should you.
But I won't back down — and neither should you.
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
November 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
Steve Witkoff isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
What Is Steve Witkoff Trying to Do?
Trump’s envoy isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war.
www.theatlantic.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Steve Witkoff isn’t promoting peace. His interventions are helping Vladimir Putin and prolonging the war
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
While the Trump admin claims troops have been deployed to make cities safer & to protect Trump’s immigration interests, the use of the military against civilians protesting ICE’s presence is itself unprecedented and, in many cases, has helped further stoke violence and unrest, rather than prevent it
Hegseth Orders 500 More Troops to DC in Wake of National Guard Shooting
This is your TPM evening briefing.
wherethingsstand.talkingpointsmemo.com
November 26, 2025 at 10:38 PM
While the Trump admin claims troops have been deployed to make cities safer & to protect Trump’s immigration interests, the use of the military against civilians protesting ICE’s presence is itself unprecedented and, in many cases, has helped further stoke violence and unrest, rather than prevent it
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
James Bond supervillains threaten to blow up the world with their big laser unless you pay them a trillion dollars.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
November 26, 2025 at 7:25 PM
James Bond supervillains threaten to blow up the world with their big laser unless you pay them a trillion dollars.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
Real American supervillains embed themselves in the economy and threaten to cause a depression unless you subsidize their sex robots and the weird chatbots they use to avoid humans.
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
🟢 Jeremy Scahill says Palestinian factions are pushing back against Trump’s plan from w/in a unified national framework — & they’re drawing clear red lines.
▪️ No foreign control of Gaza: The factions reject Trump’s idea of a Trump-chaired “Board of Peace,” saying Gaza must be administered by an...
▪️ No foreign control of Gaza: The factions reject Trump’s idea of a Trump-chaired “Board of Peace,” saying Gaza must be administered by an...
November 26, 2025 at 8:08 PM
🟢 Jeremy Scahill says Palestinian factions are pushing back against Trump’s plan from w/in a unified national framework — & they’re drawing clear red lines.
▪️ No foreign control of Gaza: The factions reject Trump’s idea of a Trump-chaired “Board of Peace,” saying Gaza must be administered by an...
▪️ No foreign control of Gaza: The factions reject Trump’s idea of a Trump-chaired “Board of Peace,” saying Gaza must be administered by an...
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
For those who were asking, here’s Delly in his handsome Thanksgiving scarf. 🍂 🦃
November 26, 2025 at 8:56 PM
For those who were asking, here’s Delly in his handsome Thanksgiving scarf. 🍂 🦃
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
This. USNA 81 grad. We were specifically taught about My Lai as THE example of NOT following illegal orders. Thank you, @willbunch.bsky.social for point this out.
In 1968, a soldier named Hugh Thompson defied orders to save Vietnamese lives during the My Lai massacre. Eventually seen as a hero, in real time he was vilified and nearly court-martialed
It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The Catch-22 around Trump’s illegal orders | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, Pennsylvania chooses a budget over the planet.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:37 PM
This. USNA 81 grad. We were specifically taught about My Lai as THE example of NOT following illegal orders. Thank you, @willbunch.bsky.social for point this out.
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
It’s not that complicated, people.
November 26, 2025 at 9:14 PM
It’s not that complicated, people.
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
2016 happened. Russia did support Trump’s campaign. Good reporters were on it at the time. I wrote it up within the larger context of global oligarchy and neo-fascism in "Road to Unfreedom."
9 years ago,House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Speaker to be Kevin McCarthy had a recorded conversation in which McCarthy says, "There are two people that I think Putin pays, (Representative Dana) Rohrbacher and Trump. Swear to God."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oio0...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=oio0...
Washington Post: House majority leader said in 2016, "Putin pays" Trump
YouTube video by CBS News
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:16 PM
2016 happened. Russia did support Trump’s campaign. Good reporters were on it at the time. I wrote it up within the larger context of global oligarchy and neo-fascism in "Road to Unfreedom."
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
Stay tuned for the @theins.press story, in collaboration with @spiegel.de, about how we knew Kirill Dmitriev was the architect of this “peace plan.” Drops tomorrow at 5am EST.
November 26, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Stay tuned for the @theins.press story, in collaboration with @spiegel.de, about how we knew Kirill Dmitriev was the architect of this “peace plan.” Drops tomorrow at 5am EST.
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
The Feds Want to Make It Illegal to Even Possess an Anarchist Zine theintercept.com/2025/11/23/p... by @seth-stern.bsky.social
The Feds Want to Make It Illegal to Even Possess an Anarchist Zine
Daniel Sanchez is facing federal charges for what free speech advocates say is a clear attack on the First Amendment.
theintercept.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:39 PM
The Feds Want to Make It Illegal to Even Possess an Anarchist Zine theintercept.com/2025/11/23/p... by @seth-stern.bsky.social
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
Why would they need that when they didn’t at the beginning of the term?
Brooke Rollins: "The farm economy -- we do have a package, a bridge package, we're finalizing ... it's just a bridge to get us to next year per the president's promise that he wasn't gonna leave any of our farmers behind."
November 26, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Why would they need that when they didn’t at the beginning of the term?
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
'An ordinary president, Kelly told us on Tuesday afternoon, would have responded to the video by affirming that troops should of course follow lawful orders. “But not this guy,” he added. “We basically said, ‘Follow the law.’ And he said, ‘Kill them.’”'
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
‘An Example MUST BE SET’
The pursuit of Mark Kelly in the military-justice system sends a clear message to service members and veterans.
www.theatlantic.com
November 26, 2025 at 1:58 PM
'An ordinary president, Kelly told us on Tuesday afternoon, would have responded to the video by affirming that troops should of course follow lawful orders. “But not this guy,” he added. “We basically said, ‘Follow the law.’ And he said, ‘Kill them.’”'
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
www.theatlantic.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
November 26, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
If the executive can unilaterally shift all functioning out of an congressionally established agency, then what is left of Congress’ lawmaking?
Why should Congress authorize executive agencies to do anything at all, ever?
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Why should Congress authorize executive agencies to do anything at all, ever?
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
School Groups Sue to Stop Dismantling of the Education Department
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:00 PM
If the executive can unilaterally shift all functioning out of an congressionally established agency, then what is left of Congress’ lawmaking?
Why should Congress authorize executive agencies to do anything at all, ever?
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Why should Congress authorize executive agencies to do anything at all, ever?
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff isn’t working for the US, or for humanity. He’s working for Vladimir Putin. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 25, 2025 at 9:37 PM
Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff isn’t working for the US, or for humanity. He’s working for Vladimir Putin. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
Witkoff advised the Russians on how to pitch their Ukraine plan to Trump www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
November 25, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Witkoff advised the Russians on how to pitch their Ukraine plan to Trump www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
Trump Admin Terrorist Designations Show Latest Attempt to Target Domestic Enemies talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-a...
Trump Admin Terrorist Designations Show Latest Attempt to Target Domestic Enemies
When Secretary of State Marco Rubio added four European anti-fascist groups to...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:19 PM
Trump Admin Terrorist Designations Show Latest Attempt to Target Domestic Enemies talkingpointsmemo.com/news/trump-a...
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
A reminder, as Trump boasts about having "never worked so hard in my life" that he is playing golf more often now than he did in his first term and in less than five years has already played golf more often than Obama did in eight. www.pbump.net/o/an-officia...
November 26, 2025 at 2:06 PM
A reminder, as Trump boasts about having "never worked so hard in my life" that he is playing golf more often now than he did in his first term and in less than five years has already played golf more often than Obama did in eight. www.pbump.net/o/an-officia...
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
Nothing about the conduct of the Trump II White House would suggest that Noem was running the Alien Enemies Act operation herself, let alone out there freelancing on her own. But we’re supposed to believe that the buck stopped with … Kristi Noem.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
The Contempt of Court Buck Stops With … Kristi Noem?
Not Buying It For One Hot Second For the first time, the...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
Nothing about the conduct of the Trump II White House would suggest that Noem was running the Alien Enemies Act operation herself, let alone out there freelancing on her own. But we’re supposed to believe that the buck stopped with … Kristi Noem.
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo...
Reposted by Group Captain Lionel Mandrake
the Doug Mills video embedded in the NYT Trump aging story is pretty amazing
November 26, 2025 at 4:01 AM
the Doug Mills video embedded in the NYT Trump aging story is pretty amazing