btilford.bsky.social
@btilford.bsky.social
Co-President of the San Ramon Valley Democratic Club
Delegate to the California Democratic Party
Ph.D. in Psychology, UC Riverside
Delegate to the California Democratic Party
Ph.D. in Psychology, UC Riverside
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🚀 These reads are out of this world! Join the SciFri Book Club, an online community where you can explore science books, connect with fellow readers, take part in author talks, and more: buff.ly/yk17YSF
December 19, 2025 at 1:20 AM
🚀 These reads are out of this world! Join the SciFri Book Club, an online community where you can explore science books, connect with fellow readers, take part in author talks, and more: buff.ly/yk17YSF
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I cannot emphasize how serious an assault on democracy this is. Any effort by the Trump administration to engage in false claims of fraud or mass voter suppression relies on this as a building block. As importantly, there is no legitimate reason DOJ would want this information.
🚨BREAKING: The Department of Justice (DOJ) sued Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Thursday for unfettered access to the states’ voter registration records. The federal government has now filed lawsuits against 21 states, plus D.C.
This is a developing story...
This is a developing story...
DOJ Sues Georgia, Illinois, Wisconsin and DC, Expanding Campaign of Voter Data Lawsuits to 22
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 18, 2025 at 11:54 PM
I cannot emphasize how serious an assault on democracy this is. Any effort by the Trump administration to engage in false claims of fraud or mass voter suppression relies on this as a building block. As importantly, there is no legitimate reason DOJ would want this information.
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It all might make more sense if he actually were drinking. But Trump, with his "alcoholic's personality," seems even less inhibited in a way that has many in Washington shaking their heads and wondering if the leader of the free world has lost it. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
Shouting, Ranting, Insulting: Trump’s Uninhibited Second Term
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:03 AM
It all might make more sense if he actually were drinking. But Trump, with his "alcoholic's personality," seems even less inhibited in a way that has many in Washington shaking their heads and wondering if the leader of the free world has lost it. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
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The deal would put one of the biggest social media into the hands of an autocratic president's close allies
* ORACLE, SILVER LAKE, ANDREESSEN TO CONTROL TIKOK IN US: WSJ
$ORCL
$ORCL
December 19, 2025 at 12:56 AM
The deal would put one of the biggest social media into the hands of an autocratic president's close allies
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December 19, 2025 at 1:31 AM
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December 19, 2025 at 1:32 AM
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"Nearby, neighbors and activists shouted, blew whistles and set up trash bins to try to block a Border Patrol caravan..."
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
Bovino’s back: Border Patrol commander leads fresh round of immigration raids in Chicago area
Gregory Bovino returned to Little Village Tuesday after playing a key role in the early phases of Operation Midway Blitz, the immigration enforcement campaign that has stoked fear among Chicago’s immi...
chicago.suntimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:00 AM
"Nearby, neighbors and activists shouted, blew whistles and set up trash bins to try to block a Border Patrol caravan..."
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
chicago.suntimes.com/immigration/...
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This catches something really important. The risk
is less that this crew changes the regime and more that while trying to do so they cash out the whole thing. Which is one more powerful reason why resistance is patriotic.
is less that this crew changes the regime and more that while trying to do so they cash out the whole thing. Which is one more powerful reason why resistance is patriotic.
The U.S. is giving dying mall vibes.
I can't explain it, but you know I'm right.
I can't explain it, but you know I'm right.
December 19, 2025 at 2:03 AM
This catches something really important. The risk
is less that this crew changes the regime and more that while trying to do so they cash out the whole thing. Which is one more powerful reason why resistance is patriotic.
is less that this crew changes the regime and more that while trying to do so they cash out the whole thing. Which is one more powerful reason why resistance is patriotic.
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I'm a veteran criminal justice reporter. I've never seen anything like ICE-occupied Memphis. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
I'm a veteran criminal justice reporter. I've never seen anything like ICE-occupied Memphis.
“It’s about as sad as you can possibly imagine."
www.motherjones.com
December 16, 2025 at 11:27 PM
I'm a veteran criminal justice reporter. I've never seen anything like ICE-occupied Memphis. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
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December 19, 2025 at 2:05 AM
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In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
The Trump administration’s political rhetoric is fueling a rise in judicial threats, Judge Esther Salas warns. For her, the issue is personal.
The Trump administration’s political rhetoric is fueling a rise in judicial threats, Judge Esther Salas warns. For her, the issue is personal.
Opinion | Threats to Judges Could Lead to a Judicial System Crisis
The rise in judicial threats is being fueled by the political rhetoric of the Trump administration, a judge argues.
nyti.ms
December 19, 2025 at 2:10 AM
In @nytopinion.nytimes.com
The Trump administration’s political rhetoric is fueling a rise in judicial threats, Judge Esther Salas warns. For her, the issue is personal.
The Trump administration’s political rhetoric is fueling a rise in judicial threats, Judge Esther Salas warns. For her, the issue is personal.
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I think Asha Rangappa is right — they are lining up the external and internal enemies. Or trying to. This is very risky and will almost certainly blow up in their faces.
I keep saying this but no one is connecting the dots. The war is to satisfy legal preconditions for mass removal *domestically* of Latinos (i.e., suddenly a lot of people are going to be “Venezuelan” for purposes of removal). This is 100% Stephen Miller…oil claim is to make grandpa go along
There is no national security logic that would impel the US to want to do regime change in Venezuela. It's simply not that important. I'm not even sure wag the dog is the right metaphor for what's happening here. Seems like an insane misallocation of US national security assets and attention.
December 19, 2025 at 2:10 AM
I think Asha Rangappa is right — they are lining up the external and internal enemies. Or trying to. This is very risky and will almost certainly blow up in their faces.
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Billionaires are using a loophole to avoid Medicare taxes. Closing it — and eliminating other ways around the tax for wealthy business owners — could raise more than $250 billion over 10 years for the program.
(Published Dec. 2024)
(Published Dec. 2024)
How a Decades-Old Loophole Lets Billionaires Avoid Medicare Taxes
Some of Wall Street’s richest and most powerful figures are using a legal loophole to avoid paying millions of dollars in taxes earmarked for health care, a ProPublica investigation found.
www.propublica.org
December 19, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Billionaires are using a loophole to avoid Medicare taxes. Closing it — and eliminating other ways around the tax for wealthy business owners — could raise more than $250 billion over 10 years for the program.
(Published Dec. 2024)
(Published Dec. 2024)
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Finding ways to pay for upgrades is challenging, said Erik Porse @ucanrwater.bsky.social @ucanr.edu, because it will also require convincing ratepayers who will bear the costs. “I don’t think we’ve really grappled with how much water system charges and bills and rates could increase.”
The wildfires revealed the limitations of California’s water systems. When L.A.’s overtaxed systems lost pressure, fire hydrants ran dry. A year later, residents and experts are weighing solutions that would make more water available for firefighting. www.latimes.com/environment/...
L.A.'s hydrants ran dry during the fires. Residents are still demanding solutions
Nearly a year after the devastating fires in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, residents and experts say the water problems that hindered firefighting leave several lessons.
www.latimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Finding ways to pay for upgrades is challenging, said Erik Porse @ucanrwater.bsky.social @ucanr.edu, because it will also require convincing ratepayers who will bear the costs. “I don’t think we’ve really grappled with how much water system charges and bills and rates could increase.”
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Today I received FOUR death notifications for people in ICE custody. That's 30 deaths since Trump took office. It's appalling & unacceptable.
ICE is required—by law—to ensure detainees are safe & their basic needs are met. It's clear this isn't the case. We NEED answers.
ICE is required—by law—to ensure detainees are safe & their basic needs are met. It's clear this isn't the case. We NEED answers.
December 18, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Today I received FOUR death notifications for people in ICE custody. That's 30 deaths since Trump took office. It's appalling & unacceptable.
ICE is required—by law—to ensure detainees are safe & their basic needs are met. It's clear this isn't the case. We NEED answers.
ICE is required—by law—to ensure detainees are safe & their basic needs are met. It's clear this isn't the case. We NEED answers.
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here's today's post: "old man yells at country" — scenes from a batshit speech.
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
old man yells at country
scenes from a batshit speech
bit.ly
December 18, 2025 at 4:23 PM
here's today's post: "old man yells at country" — scenes from a batshit speech.
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
thanks for reading, and please sign up for my daily newsletter to keep getting the good stuff —
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Breaking News: A Wisconsin judge was found guilty of obstructing federal agents who were waiting outside her courtroom to arrest an undocumented immigrant.
Judge Convicted of Obstructing Agents as They Sought Undocumented Immigrant
The Wisconsin state judge, Hannah C. Dugan, was accused of ushering a man to a side door as federal agents waited outside a courtroom.
nyti.ms
December 19, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Breaking News: A Wisconsin judge was found guilty of obstructing federal agents who were waiting outside her courtroom to arrest an undocumented immigrant.
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🔢 Ranked Choice for Every Voter? New Bill Would Transform Every Congressional Election by 2030
🌟 Curious about reforms that could reshape how we vote and build consensus? Subscribe for clear more about its impact on democracy 👉 goto.powertothepeoplenews.org/3KBICSM
#PowerToThePeopleNews
🌟 Curious about reforms that could reshape how we vote and build consensus? Subscribe for clear more about its impact on democracy 👉 goto.powertothepeoplenews.org/3KBICSM
#PowerToThePeopleNews
December 19, 2025 at 3:10 AM
🔢 Ranked Choice for Every Voter? New Bill Would Transform Every Congressional Election by 2030
🌟 Curious about reforms that could reshape how we vote and build consensus? Subscribe for clear more about its impact on democracy 👉 goto.powertothepeoplenews.org/3KBICSM
#PowerToThePeopleNews
🌟 Curious about reforms that could reshape how we vote and build consensus? Subscribe for clear more about its impact on democracy 👉 goto.powertothepeoplenews.org/3KBICSM
#PowerToThePeopleNews
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Breaking News: European leaders agreed to a $105 billion funding plan for Ukraine without using Russia’s frozen assets as backing
Europe Agrees to $105 Billion Funding Plan for Ukraine
European Union officials wanted to use Russia’s frozen assets to back a major loan to Ukraine. Unable to overcome opposition, they settled on another way to lend the money.
nyti.ms
December 19, 2025 at 3:20 AM
Breaking News: European leaders agreed to a $105 billion funding plan for Ukraine without using Russia’s frozen assets as backing
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I've spent 30 years fighting to protect free and fair elections. From county courtrooms to the U.S. Supreme Court, I've argued and won cases that have helped decide elections. I started Democracy Docket to share most important information and analysis with you. Sign-up now. hubs.ly/Q03CbHTt0
December 19, 2025 at 3:34 AM
I've spent 30 years fighting to protect free and fair elections. From county courtrooms to the U.S. Supreme Court, I've argued and won cases that have helped decide elections. I started Democracy Docket to share most important information and analysis with you. Sign-up now. hubs.ly/Q03CbHTt0
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Sen. Andy Kim is a force to be reckoned with.
December 18, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Sen. Andy Kim is a force to be reckoned with.