Laura
@bookworm1.bsky.social
Books, music, democracy, photography, and good conversation bring me joy. Governerd.
Reposted by Laura
If we enforced the law he wouldn't be allowed to keep these. Fortunately for Trump, the law is only selectively enforced now, apparently based entirely on what Trump wants.
To negotiate a trade deal with the President of the United States, the Swiss government arrived with a "special Rolex desktop clock" and "a 1-kilogram personalized gold bar"
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 15, 2025 at 11:07 PM
If we enforced the law he wouldn't be allowed to keep these. Fortunately for Trump, the law is only selectively enforced now, apparently based entirely on what Trump wants.
Reposted by Laura
Breaking on MSNBC:
U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who oversees the Eastern District of Virginia, told colleagues he plans to resign.
Siebert had been pressured by Trump officials to bring bogus charges against NY AG Letitia James. Siebert did not find evidence to bring those charges.
U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who oversees the Eastern District of Virginia, told colleagues he plans to resign.
Siebert had been pressured by Trump officials to bring bogus charges against NY AG Letitia James. Siebert did not find evidence to bring those charges.
September 19, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Breaking on MSNBC:
U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who oversees the Eastern District of Virginia, told colleagues he plans to resign.
Siebert had been pressured by Trump officials to bring bogus charges against NY AG Letitia James. Siebert did not find evidence to bring those charges.
U.S. Attorney Erik Siebert, who oversees the Eastern District of Virginia, told colleagues he plans to resign.
Siebert had been pressured by Trump officials to bring bogus charges against NY AG Letitia James. Siebert did not find evidence to bring those charges.
Reposted by Laura
Hell of a photo by my former Chicago Tribune colleague Stacey Wescott from a protest today at an ICE facility in the Chicago suburbs. Read the sign at the bottom. @staceywescott.bsky.social
HARDEST PHOTO OF 2025 JUST DROPPED
September 19, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Hell of a photo by my former Chicago Tribune colleague Stacey Wescott from a protest today at an ICE facility in the Chicago suburbs. Read the sign at the bottom. @staceywescott.bsky.social
When Onion headlines just about bring you to tears.
Fearful Americans Stockpiling Facts Before Federal Government Comes To Take Them Away https://theonion.com/fearful-americans-stockpiling-facts-before-federal-gove-1819579589/
September 19, 2025 at 5:26 PM
When Onion headlines just about bring you to tears.
Reposted by Laura
The goat rodeo continues today as members are confused by population denominators in health statistics. 🙇🏼
Any 7th grade math teachers out there?
Any 7th grade math teachers out there?
These ACIP votes are a total goat rodeo.
This committee is completely and utterly incompetent.
This committee is completely and utterly incompetent.
September 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The goat rodeo continues today as members are confused by population denominators in health statistics. 🙇🏼
Any 7th grade math teachers out there?
Any 7th grade math teachers out there?
Reposted by Laura
Corporate investment in tech over jobs.
“That's the central reality of the U.S. economy right now. It explains some of the .. negative public opinion on the economy paired with record highs in the stock market.” 👀
@axios.com
www.axios.com/newsletters/...
“That's the central reality of the U.S. economy right now. It explains some of the .. negative public opinion on the economy paired with record highs in the stock market.” 👀
@axios.com
www.axios.com/newsletters/...
September 19, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Corporate investment in tech over jobs.
“That's the central reality of the U.S. economy right now. It explains some of the .. negative public opinion on the economy paired with record highs in the stock market.” 👀
@axios.com
www.axios.com/newsletters/...
“That's the central reality of the U.S. economy right now. It explains some of the .. negative public opinion on the economy paired with record highs in the stock market.” 👀
@axios.com
www.axios.com/newsletters/...
I’m currently reading this book and am torn between finding it interesting (as I often enjoy books that explore parallel universes both inside and outside the sci-fi realm) and finding it depressing. I suppose it can be both. 🤷🏻♀️
September 19, 2025 at 5:23 PM
I’m currently reading this book and am torn between finding it interesting (as I often enjoy books that explore parallel universes both inside and outside the sci-fi realm) and finding it depressing. I suppose it can be both. 🤷🏻♀️
Reposted by Laura
Survivors of the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell respond to FBI director Patel’s testimony:
September 18, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Survivors of the crimes of Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell respond to FBI director Patel’s testimony:
Reposted by Laura
The Hepatitis B vaccine, given at birth, is done so for a very clear medical reason: to protect babies from exposure to a virus that can cause devastating chronic liver disease.
Screening first was tried years ago and didn’t work - it’s why we vaccinate, so we don’t miss anyone.
Screening first was tried years ago and didn’t work - it’s why we vaccinate, so we don’t miss anyone.
September 18, 2025 at 10:54 AM
The Hepatitis B vaccine, given at birth, is done so for a very clear medical reason: to protect babies from exposure to a virus that can cause devastating chronic liver disease.
Screening first was tried years ago and didn’t work - it’s why we vaccinate, so we don’t miss anyone.
Screening first was tried years ago and didn’t work - it’s why we vaccinate, so we don’t miss anyone.
Reposted by Laura
STEWART: “Comedy doesn’t change the world, but it’s a bellwether— we’re the banana peel in the coal mine… authoritarians are the threat to comedy, music, art, thought… progress.”
Nailed it.
Nailed it.
September 19, 2025 at 1:51 AM
STEWART: “Comedy doesn’t change the world, but it’s a bellwether— we’re the banana peel in the coal mine… authoritarians are the threat to comedy, music, art, thought… progress.”
Nailed it.
Nailed it.
Reposted by Laura
New week's cover of The New Yorker, "Remote Control," by Barry Blitt.
September 19, 2025 at 12:01 AM
New week's cover of The New Yorker, "Remote Control," by Barry Blitt.
Reposted by Laura
There's so much to unpack -- his childish understanding of the world, his raw nerve of grievances, his sociopathy -- but I can't get past what a whiny, pathetic loser you'd have to be as president to stamp your little feet and cry that the media isn't "allowed" to be mean to you. Mom said so guys!
Trump:
"When you have a network, and you have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump... They're not allowed to do that."
"When you have a network, and you have evening shows, and all they do is hit Trump... They're not allowed to do that."
September 18, 2025 at 11:27 PM
There's so much to unpack -- his childish understanding of the world, his raw nerve of grievances, his sociopathy -- but I can't get past what a whiny, pathetic loser you'd have to be as president to stamp your little feet and cry that the media isn't "allowed" to be mean to you. Mom said so guys!
Reposted by Laura
RIP, Robert Redford. What a devastating year this has been for actors of this stature and this generation. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/m...
Robert Redford, Screen Idol Turned Director and Activist, Dies at 89
www.nytimes.com
September 16, 2025 at 12:17 PM
RIP, Robert Redford. What a devastating year this has been for actors of this stature and this generation. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/16/m...
Reposted by Laura
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning actor, director and godfather for independent cinema as Sundance founder, dies at 89.
September 16, 2025 at 12:29 PM
PROVO, Utah (AP) — Robert Redford, the Oscar-winning actor, director and godfather for independent cinema as Sundance founder, dies at 89.
Reposted by Laura
RIP, Robert Redford.
September 16, 2025 at 12:20 PM
RIP, Robert Redford.
Reposted by Laura
Two key things to point out re: Trump sending National Guard troops to Memphis:
1) Unlike in blue states, there’s just no need for this; even if circumstances warranted, Governor Lee, who still commands the TN National Guard, could’ve just sent them in himself; and
2) Chicago (and Illinois) won.
1) Unlike in blue states, there’s just no need for this; even if circumstances warranted, Governor Lee, who still commands the TN National Guard, could’ve just sent them in himself; and
2) Chicago (and Illinois) won.
September 12, 2025 at 1:39 PM
Two key things to point out re: Trump sending National Guard troops to Memphis:
1) Unlike in blue states, there’s just no need for this; even if circumstances warranted, Governor Lee, who still commands the TN National Guard, could’ve just sent them in himself; and
2) Chicago (and Illinois) won.
1) Unlike in blue states, there’s just no need for this; even if circumstances warranted, Governor Lee, who still commands the TN National Guard, could’ve just sent them in himself; and
2) Chicago (and Illinois) won.
“Democracy has always depended on the stubborn –— and stubbornness, I have in spades. Democracy doesn’t endure because of the brilliance of the few, but because of the courage and persistence of the many who refuse to yield.”
open.substack.com/pub/sharonmc...
open.substack.com/pub/sharonmc...
Why I Haven’t Pressed Delete
If you want to know how I really feel:
open.substack.com
September 12, 2025 at 1:42 PM
“Democracy has always depended on the stubborn –— and stubbornness, I have in spades. Democracy doesn’t endure because of the brilliance of the few, but because of the courage and persistence of the many who refuse to yield.”
open.substack.com/pub/sharonmc...
open.substack.com/pub/sharonmc...
Reposted by Laura
The media environment in the US has degraded so quickly. While Dowd's remarks weren't laudatory, they weren't crass or cheap. Compare this with the Fox News anchor suggesting *this morning* that we should murder ("involuntary lethal injection; just kill 'em") people experiencing mental health crises
Political analyst Matthew Dowd has been fired from MSNBC after his comments about the death of Charlie Kirk, Variety reports
Matthew Dowd Fired From MSNBC For Charlie Kirk Comments
Political analyst Matthew Dowd has been fired from MSNBC after his comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
variety.com
September 11, 2025 at 2:49 AM
The media environment in the US has degraded so quickly. While Dowd's remarks weren't laudatory, they weren't crass or cheap. Compare this with the Fox News anchor suggesting *this morning* that we should murder ("involuntary lethal injection; just kill 'em") people experiencing mental health crises
Reposted by Laura
Overwhelming bipartisan support in the House to continue providing military support to Ukraine. 🇺🇸🇺🇦
September 11, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Overwhelming bipartisan support in the House to continue providing military support to Ukraine. 🇺🇸🇺🇦
Reposted by Laura
"The decision to bar the teenage athletes from entering the United States comes as the country prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028..."
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
Venezuelan Little League team denied travel visas to U.S. for World Series
The Cacique Mara Little League team from Maracaibo, Venezuela, will not be able to participate in the Senior League Baseball World Series in South Carolina this year.
www.washingtonpost.com
July 28, 2025 at 9:54 PM
"The decision to bar the teenage athletes from entering the United States comes as the country prepares to host the FIFA World Cup in 2026 and the Summer Olympics in Los Angeles in 2028..."
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2025/...
Reposted by Laura
This is how our government has been corrupted:
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office.
2) Elected officials rewrite the rules in the donors' favor.
3) Donors make a huge profit.
4) Repeat.
For the sake of democracy, we must get Big Money out of politics.
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office.
2) Elected officials rewrite the rules in the donors' favor.
3) Donors make a huge profit.
4) Repeat.
For the sake of democracy, we must get Big Money out of politics.
July 27, 2025 at 10:00 PM
This is how our government has been corrupted:
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office.
2) Elected officials rewrite the rules in the donors' favor.
3) Donors make a huge profit.
4) Repeat.
For the sake of democracy, we must get Big Money out of politics.
1) Donors give huge sums to elect politicians to office.
2) Elected officials rewrite the rules in the donors' favor.
3) Donors make a huge profit.
4) Repeat.
For the sake of democracy, we must get Big Money out of politics.
Reposted by Laura
Three days after Texas GOP Rep. Giovanni Capriglione announced he was dropping his reelection bid, a conservative news site reported on a former exotic dancer who had a 17-year affair with him. She claims Capriglione paid her for “meetups” and “funded several abortions for his own personal gain.”
Texas GOP Rep. Giovanni Capriglione admits affair, denies abortion allegations
A conservative news site published an interview with a woman who alleges a 17-year affair with the Southlake representative, who said this week he wouldn’t seek reelection.
www.texastribune.org
July 25, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Three days after Texas GOP Rep. Giovanni Capriglione announced he was dropping his reelection bid, a conservative news site reported on a former exotic dancer who had a 17-year affair with him. She claims Capriglione paid her for “meetups” and “funded several abortions for his own personal gain.”