Brett Sur
@brettsur.bsky.social
Links to come. Here to read and muse on politics or culture. I only post when I have something of value to add to the discourse.
Reposted by Brett Sur
So fmr Honduran President Hernandez voluntarily surrendered, and was duly extradited, tried and convicted for drug trafficking, and Trump pardoned him 6w ago.
And this morning, Trump illegally attacks Venezuela and abducts its president and his wife purportedly to try them for drug trafficking.
And this morning, Trump illegally attacks Venezuela and abducts its president and his wife purportedly to try them for drug trafficking.
January 3, 2026 at 12:44 PM
So fmr Honduran President Hernandez voluntarily surrendered, and was duly extradited, tried and convicted for drug trafficking, and Trump pardoned him 6w ago.
And this morning, Trump illegally attacks Venezuela and abducts its president and his wife purportedly to try them for drug trafficking.
And this morning, Trump illegally attacks Venezuela and abducts its president and his wife purportedly to try them for drug trafficking.
Reposted by Brett Sur
Yes, Trump is the January 6th president, not only because of his own actions since that day, but because his coordinated, violent attack on democracy appealed to people who hate the US and its institutions, and because they now staff his administration.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Opinion | Trump Is the Jan. 6 President
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 6:22 AM
Yes, Trump is the January 6th president, not only because of his own actions since that day, but because his coordinated, violent attack on democracy appealed to people who hate the US and its institutions, and because they now staff his administration.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Reposted by Brett Sur
5 million-plus kindergartners now live in counties where schools don’t have “herd immunity” for measles, Washington Post reporters found.
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
U.S. vaccination rates are plunging. Look up where your school stands.
Take a look to see what the kindergarten measles vaccination rates are in your area.
wapo.st
January 1, 2026 at 2:46 AM
5 million-plus kindergartners now live in counties where schools don’t have “herd immunity” for measles, Washington Post reporters found.
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
WaPo also built a tool to look up your own county.
Exceptional, and alarming work by @laurenweberhp.bsky.social @caitlingilbert.bsky.social et al.
(Gift link.)
Reposted by Brett Sur
He was supposed to serve 10 years and pay $36 million in restitution for defrauding investors. Never served a day. Not Somali.
December 31, 2025 at 1:20 AM
He was supposed to serve 10 years and pay $36 million in restitution for defrauding investors. Never served a day. Not Somali.
Reposted by Brett Sur
Whether it's Hillary Clinton making $100,000 in cattle futures 14 years before she became First Lady or Donald Trump making $1.7 billion from his DJT meme stock while serving as president, both sides have made money in controversial ways.
December 31, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Whether it's Hillary Clinton making $100,000 in cattle futures 14 years before she became First Lady or Donald Trump making $1.7 billion from his DJT meme stock while serving as president, both sides have made money in controversial ways.
Reposted by Brett Sur
“Why won’t Canadians come down here and give us their money??”
US CDC:
US CDC:
December 30, 2025 at 1:37 PM
“Why won’t Canadians come down here and give us their money??”
US CDC:
US CDC:
Reposted by Brett Sur
"Following the Ukraine-US meeting, Trump lauded Putin, saying the Russian president “wants to see Ukraine succeed”.
This is becoming farcical
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
This is becoming farcical
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy talks fail to deliver breakthrough on Ukraine peace deal
US president says ‘thorny’ issues remain on ending Europe’s biggest land war in 80 years
giftarticle.ft.com
December 29, 2025 at 2:23 AM
"Following the Ukraine-US meeting, Trump lauded Putin, saying the Russian president “wants to see Ukraine succeed”.
This is becoming farcical
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
This is becoming farcical
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... via @FT
Reposted by Brett Sur
Neither the New York Times nor the Washington Post published stories about Trump writing 200 unhinged posts on Christmas Day
You almost have to feel bad for an ugly old man with no family or friends to keep him company on Christmas Day that he makes 200 crazy posts ranting about everything under the sun.
Almost.
Almost.
December 26, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Neither the New York Times nor the Washington Post published stories about Trump writing 200 unhinged posts on Christmas Day
Reposted by Brett Sur
Or you might call them "camps" where people are to be "concentrated" until they are deported.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
ICE documents reveal plan to hold 80,000 immigrants in warehouses
The Trump administration wants to build seven large-scale deportation hubs to speed up deportations, internal ICE documents show.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 24, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Or you might call them "camps" where people are to be "concentrated" until they are deported.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Reposted by Brett Sur
This is just beautiful. Sincere but understated. You can feel the ache of loss. Scorsese is as good a writer as he is a director and actor. My house is full of books that he contributed essays, forewords, and introductions to, and every one is a gem.
I've seen this going around today and it's beautiful, so here's a gift link.
Opinion | Martin Scorsese: ‘Rob Reiner Was My Friend’
www.nytimes.com
December 25, 2025 at 7:36 PM
This is just beautiful. Sincere but understated. You can feel the ache of loss. Scorsese is as good a writer as he is a director and actor. My house is full of books that he contributed essays, forewords, and introductions to, and every one is a gem.
Reposted by Brett Sur
Nothing like asking career AUSAs who have been under assault for the last year, watched their colleagues get fired for no reason, and their offices taken over by incompetent boobs to volunteer their time to perpetuate a cover up of their boss's involvement w/a sex predator 🙃
December 24, 2025 at 1:49 PM
Nothing like asking career AUSAs who have been under assault for the last year, watched their colleagues get fired for no reason, and their offices taken over by incompetent boobs to volunteer their time to perpetuate a cover up of their boss's involvement w/a sex predator 🙃
I reposted a few other things today, but this one gets a special set of !!!!!!!👇👇👇👇👇👇
December 25, 2025 at 9:35 AM
I reposted a few other things today, but this one gets a special set of !!!!!!!👇👇👇👇👇👇
Reposted by Brett Sur
After buying it for $18.8 billion, Walgreens' new private equity owner has eliminated paid holidays for all hourly workers on Christmas and New Year's.
Last year, Walgreens had a CEO-to-Worker pay gap of 410 to 1.
Corporate greed that would make even Scrooge blush.
Last year, Walgreens had a CEO-to-Worker pay gap of 410 to 1.
Corporate greed that would make even Scrooge blush.
December 24, 2025 at 8:01 PM
After buying it for $18.8 billion, Walgreens' new private equity owner has eliminated paid holidays for all hourly workers on Christmas and New Year's.
Last year, Walgreens had a CEO-to-Worker pay gap of 410 to 1.
Corporate greed that would make even Scrooge blush.
Last year, Walgreens had a CEO-to-Worker pay gap of 410 to 1.
Corporate greed that would make even Scrooge blush.
Reposted by Brett Sur
It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans.
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December 21, 2025 at 2:51 AM
It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans.
🧵 1 of 9
🧵 1 of 9
Reposted by Brett Sur
Budget cuts threaten the future of Amsterdam-based Radio Dabanga, which has served as an information lifeline for Sudanese people about their war-torn country. n.pr/4saai1J
A radio station in Amsterdam is a lifeline for Sudan. After USAID cuts, it's faltering
Budget cuts threaten the future of Amsterdam-based Radio Dabanga, which has served as an information lifeline for Sudanese people about their war-torn country.
n.pr
December 21, 2025 at 11:55 AM
Budget cuts threaten the future of Amsterdam-based Radio Dabanga, which has served as an information lifeline for Sudanese people about their war-torn country. n.pr/4saai1J
Reposted by Brett Sur
One day something will happen — a wedding, a graduation, a job promotion, Jake Paul getting knocked out, Andrew Tate getting knocked out the next day — and you’ll want the right outfit to celebrate. Buy that special outfit now, so you’re ready when that next unexpected moment arrives.
December 21, 2025 at 7:19 AM
One day something will happen — a wedding, a graduation, a job promotion, Jake Paul getting knocked out, Andrew Tate getting knocked out the next day — and you’ll want the right outfit to celebrate. Buy that special outfit now, so you’re ready when that next unexpected moment arrives.
Reposted by Brett Sur
In short: the fate of the MAGA murder budget is undecided. Please consider joining a phonebank tomorrow to reach folks in key states and push more calls to senators who we might be able to sway:
Phonebank shifts for 7/1:
- 11AM ET and 5PM ET with Medicaid Defenders/SEIU
- 3PM-4:30PM ET with Food and Water Watch
- 4PM-9PM ET with People’s Action
- 5:30PM-10:30PM ET with Together for CA Health
- 6PM-7:30PM ET with Activate America
- 6PM-8PM ET with MoveOn
Links in replies:
- 11AM ET and 5PM ET with Medicaid Defenders/SEIU
- 3PM-4:30PM ET with Food and Water Watch
- 4PM-9PM ET with People’s Action
- 5:30PM-10:30PM ET with Together for CA Health
- 6PM-7:30PM ET with Activate America
- 6PM-8PM ET with MoveOn
Links in replies:
July 1, 2025 at 4:19 AM
In short: the fate of the MAGA murder budget is undecided. Please consider joining a phonebank tomorrow to reach folks in key states and push more calls to senators who we might be able to sway:
Reposted by Brett Sur
Using my last gift link for the month because this is so mind-blowing, even for Trump. He's sending MS-13 gang members back to El Salvador, where they're being treated like royalty, so that he can suck up to the dictator, who's been locking up his deportees. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...
Trump Vowed to Dismantle MS-13. His Deal With Bukele Threatens That Effort.
www.nytimes.com
June 30, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Using my last gift link for the month because this is so mind-blowing, even for Trump. He's sending MS-13 gang members back to El Salvador, where they're being treated like royalty, so that he can suck up to the dictator, who's been locking up his deportees. www.nytimes.com/2025/06/30/u...
Reposted by Brett Sur
Breaking: The US dollar has suffered its worst first half of the year since 1973, as Donald Trump’s trade and economic policies prompt global investors to rethink their exposure to the world’s dominant currency. https://on.ft.com/4ev1ux1
June 30, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Breaking: The US dollar has suffered its worst first half of the year since 1973, as Donald Trump’s trade and economic policies prompt global investors to rethink their exposure to the world’s dominant currency. https://on.ft.com/4ev1ux1
Reposted by Brett Sur
This is the 6-year-old who just finished chemo for leukemia and is now falling apart without his medical care in a detention jail for brown people
“He’s pale. He’s bruising. He cries every night.”
A detained Texas family says their son’s health is deteriorating: bit.ly/4ldATHp
A detained Texas family says their son’s health is deteriorating: bit.ly/4ldATHp
Family sues over US detention in what may be first challenge to courthouse arrests involving kids
A mother and her two young kids are fighting for their release from a Texas immigration detention center.
bit.ly
June 28, 2025 at 5:13 PM
This is the 6-year-old who just finished chemo for leukemia and is now falling apart without his medical care in a detention jail for brown people
Anyone who thinks this court wouldn’t rule in favor of segregated schools on any such premise/argument, isn’t paying attention.
looking forward to some parents suing to demand segregated schools because integration violates their religious beliefs
June 28, 2025 at 10:01 AM
Anyone who thinks this court wouldn’t rule in favor of segregated schools on any such premise/argument, isn’t paying attention.
Reposted by Brett Sur
If I'm running a news room now, I assign everyone who has done piece on Biden's final-years fitness-to-govern, and have them apply same standards here.
(Once heard Bill Clinton give 45-minute ad-hoc on what diff *counties* in Arkansas had done in Civil War. Trump doesn't know WHAT YEAR it was.)
(Once heard Bill Clinton give 45-minute ad-hoc on what diff *counties* in Arkansas had done in Civil War. Trump doesn't know WHAT YEAR it was.)
Trump: "If you look at the end of the Civil War -- the 1800s, it was a very turbulent time. If you take the end day -- was it 1869? Or whatever."
June 27, 2025 at 4:38 PM
If I'm running a news room now, I assign everyone who has done piece on Biden's final-years fitness-to-govern, and have them apply same standards here.
(Once heard Bill Clinton give 45-minute ad-hoc on what diff *counties* in Arkansas had done in Civil War. Trump doesn't know WHAT YEAR it was.)
(Once heard Bill Clinton give 45-minute ad-hoc on what diff *counties* in Arkansas had done in Civil War. Trump doesn't know WHAT YEAR it was.)
Reposted by Brett Sur
June 27, 2025 at 4:59 PM
Reposted by Brett Sur
I once had a fight with my publisher's lawyer over what constitutes "fair use." He said reprinting 4 lines of a poem without the poet's explicit permission was too much. But AI gobbling up whole books now counts as "fair use." Something is definitely wrong with US copyright law.
Federal court says copyrighted books are fair use for AI training
Anthropic didn’t break the law when it trained its chatbot with copyrighted books, a judge said, but it must go to trial for allegedly using pirated books.
wapo.st
June 26, 2025 at 12:09 PM
I once had a fight with my publisher's lawyer over what constitutes "fair use." He said reprinting 4 lines of a poem without the poet's explicit permission was too much. But AI gobbling up whole books now counts as "fair use." Something is definitely wrong with US copyright law.
Reposted by Brett Sur
They’re planning on building a detention center for migrants in the middle of the fetid swamps of Florida.
If you think this is something new, the first internment camp they sent me and my family to in 1942 was a barbed wire prison called Rohwer. It was located in the swamps of Arkansas.
If you think this is something new, the first internment camp they sent me and my family to in 1942 was a barbed wire prison called Rohwer. It was located in the swamps of Arkansas.
June 24, 2025 at 9:43 PM
They’re planning on building a detention center for migrants in the middle of the fetid swamps of Florida.
If you think this is something new, the first internment camp they sent me and my family to in 1942 was a barbed wire prison called Rohwer. It was located in the swamps of Arkansas.
If you think this is something new, the first internment camp they sent me and my family to in 1942 was a barbed wire prison called Rohwer. It was located in the swamps of Arkansas.