Brian
@bschmal.bsky.social
Pinned
Brian
@bschmal.bsky.social
· Jun 11
I recently saw the play "Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground" at the Barrington Theater in Pittsfield, MA (terrific, btw). Our 34th president laments his place in history, as measured by a group of historians in 1962 (#22 fwiw).
Reposted by Brian
Armed ICE agents trapped US citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers. Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN. They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers. Every person present was a US citizen.
Federal agents use chemical irritant on crowd in Somali neighborhood of Minneapolis amid Trump crackdown
Federal agents have used chemical irritant to disperse a crowd in a heavily Somali neighborhood in Minneapolis. This happened Tuesday during a identification checks amid the Trump administration's cra...
www.mprnews.org
December 14, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Armed ICE agents trapped US citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers. Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN. They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers. Every person present was a US citizen.
Reposted by Brian
Rob Reiner: “Silence in the face of authoritarianism is complicity. Speaking out is a patriotic act. Democracy doesn’t defend itself. It requires participation, vigilance, and courage from ordinary people."
December 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
Rob Reiner: “Silence in the face of authoritarianism is complicity. Speaking out is a patriotic act. Democracy doesn’t defend itself. It requires participation, vigilance, and courage from ordinary people."
Reposted by Brian
I think this is bad, and probably another low point for some very basic notions of human decency in the United States.
December 15, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I think this is bad, and probably another low point for some very basic notions of human decency in the United States.
Reposted by Brian
VP Harris: Let us make a new commitment to the common good that declares our country will be commanded by everyday citizens for the betterment of the country. A commitment that declares that the power of this country does not belong to any king or oligarchs, it belongs to We The People
December 13, 2025 at 1:26 AM
VP Harris: Let us make a new commitment to the common good that declares our country will be commanded by everyday citizens for the betterment of the country. A commitment that declares that the power of this country does not belong to any king or oligarchs, it belongs to We The People
Reposted by Brian
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Fiasco for Trump as Judge Issues Harsh Rebuke in Abrego Garcia Case
Judge Paula Xinis’s ruling temporarily freed Kilmar Abrego Garcia from custody. It also savagely indicted Trump’s lawless handling of this whole affair from start to finish.
newrepublic.com
December 12, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Remarkable how brutal the ruling against Trump on Abrego Garcia truly is: It details flagrant and malicious abuses of power all throughout. Trump and Stephen Miller were testing their ability to spread lawless state terror. But the court held the line. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2043...
Reposted by Brian
“I told the president that these kinds of raids that we’re seeing here in New York City, they’re cruel and inhumane and they do nothing to serve the interests of public safety."
Mamdani vows to resist Trump's ‘cruel and inhumane’ immigration crackdown
New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani tells MS NOW's Jacob Soboroff he will hold Trump's immigration officials "accountable" should they target New Yorkers.
www.ms.now
December 10, 2025 at 9:59 PM
“I told the president that these kinds of raids that we’re seeing here in New York City, they’re cruel and inhumane and they do nothing to serve the interests of public safety."
Reposted by Brian
If you think Trump's bad polling doesn't matter, I hope you reconsider after tonight's elections. Maybe his unpopularity doesn't affect *his* behavior, but it definitely impacts tons of other people—including many GOP voters who are either switching sides or staying home.
December 10, 2025 at 3:13 AM
If you think Trump's bad polling doesn't matter, I hope you reconsider after tonight's elections. Maybe his unpopularity doesn't affect *his* behavior, but it definitely impacts tons of other people—including many GOP voters who are either switching sides or staying home.
Reposted by Brian
Trump's White House gutted the Institute of Peace, fired its staff and called it a "bloated, useless entity." Now Trump has renamed the institute he tried to destroy after himself. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/u...
Trump Renames Institute of Peace for Himself
www.nytimes.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Trump's White House gutted the Institute of Peace, fired its staff and called it a "bloated, useless entity." Now Trump has renamed the institute he tried to destroy after himself. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/03/u...
Reposted by Brian
These are good moments to remember that the CEOs of all the biggest companies in America are happy to go to White House dinners and slap this guy’s back. They do not care about this. Remember this, years from now, when they want you to forget.
Trump: "It’s a hellhole right now. And those Somalians should be out of here. They've destroyed our country. And all they do is complain, complain, complain. You have her. She’s always talking about the Constitution provides me with – go back to your own country and figure out your constitution."
December 4, 2025 at 12:13 AM
These are good moments to remember that the CEOs of all the biggest companies in America are happy to go to White House dinners and slap this guy’s back. They do not care about this. Remember this, years from now, when they want you to forget.
Reposted by Brian
He somehow manages to get more disgusting by the week.
Trump: "It’s a hellhole right now. And those Somalians should be out of here. They've destroyed our country. And all they do is complain, complain, complain. You have her. She’s always talking about the Constitution provides me with – go back to your own country and figure out your constitution."
December 4, 2025 at 12:44 AM
He somehow manages to get more disgusting by the week.
Reposted by Brian
George Will: "Pete Hegseth seems to be a war criminal. Without a war. An interesting achievement. ... The killing of the survivors by this moral slum of an administration should nauseate Americans. A nation incapable of shame is dangerous, not least to itself" www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | A sickening moral slum of an administration
Regarding Venezuela, Ukraine and much more, Trump and his acolytes are worse than simply incompetent.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 2, 2025 at 9:53 PM
George Will: "Pete Hegseth seems to be a war criminal. Without a war. An interesting achievement. ... The killing of the survivors by this moral slum of an administration should nauseate Americans. A nation incapable of shame is dangerous, not least to itself" www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Brian
Reposted by Brian
“You can’t have a political party that hates everyone except white people who like Hitler..."
“I don’t think we’re at that point,” she added, but “there is a battle.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
“I don’t think we’re at that point,” she added, but “there is a battle.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
Why Republicans Are Fighting About the Nazis
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 7:27 PM
“You can’t have a political party that hates everyone except white people who like Hitler..."
“I don’t think we’re at that point,” she added, but “there is a battle.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
“I don’t think we’re at that point,” she added, but “there is a battle.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
Reposted by Brian
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/19/4... 400 people to be released Friday because there wasn't cause to justify their detention by ICE/border patrol in Chicago
400 Arrested By ICE In Chicago To Be Released Friday, But Feds' 'Risk' List Remains Murky
A judge denied the Department of Homeland Security's bid to delay releases, saying ICE failed to justify detentions or show it would win on appeal. Questions remain around how risk is calculated by th...
blockclubchicago.org
November 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/19/4... 400 people to be released Friday because there wasn't cause to justify their detention by ICE/border patrol in Chicago
Reposted by Brian
Reporter: Mr. President, why wait for congress to release the Epstein files? Why not just do it now?
Trump: It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude… I think the license should be taken away from ABC. We have a great commissioner, a chairman who should look at that.
Trump: It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude… I think the license should be taken away from ABC. We have a great commissioner, a chairman who should look at that.
November 18, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Reporter: Mr. President, why wait for congress to release the Epstein files? Why not just do it now?
Trump: It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude… I think the license should be taken away from ABC. We have a great commissioner, a chairman who should look at that.
Trump: It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude… I think the license should be taken away from ABC. We have a great commissioner, a chairman who should look at that.
Reposted by Brian
Non-stop threats.
Trump in response to an Epstein question: "ABC, your company, your crappy company is one of the perpetrators. I think the license should be taken away from ABC because your news is so fake and so wrong. And we have a great commissioner, a chairman, who should take a look at that."
November 18, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Non-stop threats.
Reposted by Brian
Calling the ABC reporter’s question “insubordinate” explains everything about how Trump sees press freedom.
Q: Why wait for Congress to release the Epstein files? Why not just do it now?
TRUMP: It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you're a terrible reporter. It's the way you ask these questions. You start off with a man who's highly respected asking him an insubordinate question
TRUMP: It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you're a terrible reporter. It's the way you ask these questions. You start off with a man who's highly respected asking him an insubordinate question
November 18, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Calling the ABC reporter’s question “insubordinate” explains everything about how Trump sees press freedom.
Reposted by Brian
NEW: When Andrew Tate landed in the US, Customs & Border Protection seized his electronic devices. But @propublica.org found that a White House official told DHS to return the devices, emphasizing that the request came from the White House.
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 11:31 AM
NEW: When Andrew Tate landed in the US, Customs & Border Protection seized his electronic devices. But @propublica.org found that a White House official told DHS to return the devices, emphasizing that the request came from the White House.
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
Reposted by Brian
When asked if there was anything "incriminating" in Epstein's emails, Trump pointed a finger in a female reporter's face and snapped. 'Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.'
people.com/donald-trump...
people.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump Snaps at Female Reporter Who Asks About Epstein Files: 'Quiet Piggy'
Donald Trump Says 'Quiet Piggy' to Female Reporter Asking About Epstein Files
people.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:55 AM
When asked if there was anything "incriminating" in Epstein's emails, Trump pointed a finger in a female reporter's face and snapped. 'Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.'
people.com/donald-trump...
people.com/donald-trump...
Reposted by Brian
"Agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, ERO, and CBP intend to implement a comprehensive plan to target Spanish-speaking churches across the country during the upcoming holiday season between Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 25."
Exclusive: Trump DHS Plans Immigration Raids on Churches Over Holidays
The Trump Dept. of Homeland Security is briefing federal agencies on plans for immigration enforcement operations inside churches over holidays.
thisweekinworcester.com
November 18, 2025 at 1:12 AM
"Agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, ERO, and CBP intend to implement a comprehensive plan to target Spanish-speaking churches across the country during the upcoming holiday season between Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 25."
Reposted by Brian
Extremely clear pattern emerging in the ojonc.org map with federal law enforcement targeting heavily Latino areas in their terror campaign.
November 17, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Extremely clear pattern emerging in the ojonc.org map with federal law enforcement targeting heavily Latino areas in their terror campaign.
Reposted by Brian
huge turnout in Charlotte tonight for @siembranc.bsky.social’s “Safe to Work, Safe to School” training for people who want to learn how to protect their neighbors from Trump’s mass deportation effort.
November 18, 2025 at 12:18 AM
huge turnout in Charlotte tonight for @siembranc.bsky.social’s “Safe to Work, Safe to School” training for people who want to learn how to protect their neighbors from Trump’s mass deportation effort.
Reposted by Brian
Eastern European dissidents became experts in authoritarian takeovers, and authoritarians, of all kinds. What lessons can Americans learn from them?https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/VEz7Vj
How to Endure Authoritarianism
A visit to a poet’s home in Kraków recalls the lessons of Eastern Europe’s dissidents.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 18, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Eastern European dissidents became experts in authoritarian takeovers, and authoritarians, of all kinds. What lessons can Americans learn from them?https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/VEz7Vj
Reposted by Brian
As always, I'm astonished far less by Trump himself than I am by the tens of millions of Americans, powerful and not, who are essentially pretending this is all normal. It's like the court martial judges saying "well, maybe they DID steal his strawberries" and making Queeg Secretary of The Navy.
Trump: "I gave them as you know unlimited water, Biden came back with a rigged election, and he immediately restricted the water again. But I came back in and immediately unrestricted it again. So now you have unlimited water to clean your damn dishes."
November 18, 2025 at 12:16 AM
As always, I'm astonished far less by Trump himself than I am by the tens of millions of Americans, powerful and not, who are essentially pretending this is all normal. It's like the court martial judges saying "well, maybe they DID steal his strawberries" and making Queeg Secretary of The Navy.
Reposted by Brian
79-year-old Paul Bojerski was born to Polish parents in a WWII German refugee camp. His family legally emigrated to the U.S. when he was 5.
He’s been taken by ICE in Florida.
www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/16/s...
He’s been taken by ICE in Florida.
www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/16/s...
Sanford grandfather, born in refugee camp, nabbed by ICE after 70 years in U.S.
Paul Bojerski never gained official residency, but he checked in regularly with ICE for years. Then in July, at age 79, he was detained and sent to Alligator Alcatraz.
www.orlandosentinel.com
November 17, 2025 at 2:18 PM
79-year-old Paul Bojerski was born to Polish parents in a WWII German refugee camp. His family legally emigrated to the U.S. when he was 5.
He’s been taken by ICE in Florida.
www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/16/s...
He’s been taken by ICE in Florida.
www.orlandosentinel.com/2025/11/16/s...