Caleb Mercer's Desk
@calebmercersdesk.bsky.social
Systems, governance, and failure modes. Interested in how democracies break and how they hold.
*The Trumpism Germ* *Resiste tyranno*
*The Trumpism Germ* *Resiste tyranno*
Pinned
TRUMPISM GERM PATHOLOGY
Trumpism functions as a reward-driven political pathogen. When norm-breaking earns attention and avoids consequence, systems select for repetition. This framework maps the conditions that sustain it and the levers that can interrupt persistence.
Trumpism functions as a reward-driven political pathogen. When norm-breaking earns attention and avoids consequence, systems select for repetition. This framework maps the conditions that sustain it and the levers that can interrupt persistence.
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
I am calling for the arrest and prosecution of the ICE agent that shot and killed Renee Good.
I am also calling on Congress to support my bill with @jasmineforus.bsky.social to force ICE agents to wear body cameras, not wear masks, have visible identification & ensure ICE has independent oversight.
I am also calling on Congress to support my bill with @jasmineforus.bsky.social to force ICE agents to wear body cameras, not wear masks, have visible identification & ensure ICE has independent oversight.
January 13, 2026 at 2:32 AM
I am calling for the arrest and prosecution of the ICE agent that shot and killed Renee Good.
I am also calling on Congress to support my bill with @jasmineforus.bsky.social to force ICE agents to wear body cameras, not wear masks, have visible identification & ensure ICE has independent oversight.
I am also calling on Congress to support my bill with @jasmineforus.bsky.social to force ICE agents to wear body cameras, not wear masks, have visible identification & ensure ICE has independent oversight.
The White House Tour crowd gets a glimpse of the Homeland Security Advisor in his office.
#Resistetyranno
#Resistetyranno
January 13, 2026 at 8:32 AM
The White House Tour crowd gets a glimpse of the Homeland Security Advisor in his office.
#Resistetyranno
#Resistetyranno
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has hired an expert law firm against the MAGA regime known for being very aggressively and fighting scorched earth until the bitter end without ever settling.
I’m glad he isn’t backing down. Punch fascism in the face.
I’m glad he isn’t backing down. Punch fascism in the face.
January 13, 2026 at 5:37 AM
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell has hired an expert law firm against the MAGA regime known for being very aggressively and fighting scorched earth until the bitter end without ever settling.
I’m glad he isn’t backing down. Punch fascism in the face.
I’m glad he isn’t backing down. Punch fascism in the face.
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
AOC: I want everybody to understand that the cuts to your health care are what’s paying for this. You get screwed over to pay a bunch of thugs in the street that are shooting mothers in the face.
January 13, 2026 at 1:20 AM
AOC: I want everybody to understand that the cuts to your health care are what’s paying for this. You get screwed over to pay a bunch of thugs in the street that are shooting mothers in the face.
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
Breaking NYT:
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
U.S. Attacked Boat With Aircraft That Looked Like a Civilian Plane
www.nytimes.com
January 13, 2026 at 12:05 AM
Breaking NYT:
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
The Pentagon used a secret aircraft painted to look like a civilian plane in its first boat attack, according to officials briefed on the matter.
The laws of armed conflict forbid combatants from feigning civilian status.
That is a war crime called "perfidy."
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
This is the way
1. BREAKING
Senator Mark Kelly is suing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the Department of Defense, the Navy Secretary, and the Navy.
Senator Mark Kelly is suing Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, the Department of Defense, the Navy Secretary, and the Navy.
January 12, 2026 at 7:29 PM
This is the way
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
Feels strangely relevant. Old The Far Side cartoon.
January 11, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Feels strangely relevant. Old The Far Side cartoon.
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
Today's favourite caricatures, found on Bluesky, 12.01, part 1
January 12, 2026 at 5:20 AM
Today's favourite caricatures, found on Bluesky, 12.01, part 1
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
NEW: Statement of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Trump’s criminal investigation into him. He says they are seeking an indictment over his Congressional testimony, but calls it pretext to pressure him into lowering interest rates.
January 12, 2026 at 1:07 AM
NEW: Statement of Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell on Trump’s criminal investigation into him. He says they are seeking an indictment over his Congressional testimony, but calls it pretext to pressure him into lowering interest rates.
The D.J Trump Zoo.
-Resiste tyranno.
-Resiste tyranno.
January 12, 2026 at 2:42 AM
The D.J Trump Zoo.
-Resiste tyranno.
-Resiste tyranno.
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
Bernie Sanders: "They will use the enormous media operations they own to deflect attention away from the impact of their policies while they entertain us to death."
January 11, 2026 at 5:46 AM
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
A Black man was killed by ICE (off duty) in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. And like Renée Good, he was an American citizen. But most people have not heard about Keith Porter.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
January 10, 2026 at 3:24 PM
A Black man was killed by ICE (off duty) in Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve. And like Renée Good, he was an American citizen. But most people have not heard about Keith Porter.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
I need y’all to realize this. Black people experience this lack of visibility all the time when it comes to being victims.
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
I am hereby calling on Press Secretary Leavitt to stop blatantly lying to the American people.
A mother of three who is now dead very clearly backed up and turned the wheel to get away from an ICE officer illegally trying to open her car.
There must be an independent investigation.
A mother of three who is now dead very clearly backed up and turned the wheel to get away from an ICE officer illegally trying to open her car.
There must be an independent investigation.
January 10, 2026 at 12:13 AM
I am hereby calling on Press Secretary Leavitt to stop blatantly lying to the American people.
A mother of three who is now dead very clearly backed up and turned the wheel to get away from an ICE officer illegally trying to open her car.
There must be an independent investigation.
A mother of three who is now dead very clearly backed up and turned the wheel to get away from an ICE officer illegally trying to open her car.
There must be an independent investigation.
Political Immune Suppression by Design
Once decorum is weaponized, attention shifts to spectacle. Voting suppression works quietly. It doesn’t cancel elections. It weakens correction. Reduced turnout lowers immune response, allowing deviation to persist without triggering recalibration.
Once decorum is weaponized, attention shifts to spectacle. Voting suppression works quietly. It doesn’t cancel elections. It weakens correction. Reduced turnout lowers immune response, allowing deviation to persist without triggering recalibration.
January 9, 2026 at 9:38 PM
Political Immune Suppression by Design
Once decorum is weaponized, attention shifts to spectacle. Voting suppression works quietly. It doesn’t cancel elections. It weakens correction. Reduced turnout lowers immune response, allowing deviation to persist without triggering recalibration.
Once decorum is weaponized, attention shifts to spectacle. Voting suppression works quietly. It doesn’t cancel elections. It weakens correction. Reduced turnout lowers immune response, allowing deviation to persist without triggering recalibration.
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
jonathan ross “feared for his life” yet calmly filmed the entire interaction & never set his phone down, even when murdering renee good
January 9, 2026 at 7:43 PM
jonathan ross “feared for his life” yet calmly filmed the entire interaction & never set his phone down, even when murdering renee good
Release all the Epstein files immediately!
January 9, 2026 at 4:44 AM
Release all the Epstein files immediately!
"The question is not what power unchecked can do. We've seen that answered. The question is, what are you prepared to do?"
𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘬. 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘦, 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬. 7 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦 2025.
𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘬. 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘦, 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬. 7 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦 2025.
January 9, 2026 at 4:33 AM
"The question is not what power unchecked can do. We've seen that answered. The question is, what are you prepared to do?"
𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘬. 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘦, 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬. 7 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦 2025.
𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘕𝘪𝘨𝘩𝘵, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘎𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘓𝘶𝘤𝘬. 𝘋𝘪𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘥 𝘣𝘺 𝘋𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘥 𝘊𝘳𝘰𝘮𝘦𝘳, 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘮𝘢𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘣𝘺 𝘎𝘦𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦 𝘊𝘭𝘰𝘰𝘯𝘦𝘺, 𝘞𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘎𝘢𝘳𝘥𝘦𝘯 𝘛𝘩𝘦𝘢𝘵𝘳𝘦, 𝘕𝘦𝘸 𝘠𝘰𝘳𝘬. 7 𝘑𝘶𝘯𝘦 2025.
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told his officers that they have a duty to intervene if they see ICE committing crimes and will be fired if they don't. We need more of this.
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
Minneapolis police chief warns officers: Stop unlawful force by ICE or lose your job
Chief Brian O’Hara says he’ll fire city police officers if they don’t intervene when immigration agents use unlawful force.
www.ms.now
January 8, 2026 at 6:02 PM
Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O’Hara told his officers that they have a duty to intervene if they see ICE committing crimes and will be fired if they don't. We need more of this.
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
TRUMPISM GERM PATHOLOGY
Trumpism functions as a reward-driven political pathogen. When norm-breaking earns attention and avoids consequence, systems select for repetition. This framework maps the conditions that sustain it and the levers that can interrupt persistence.
Trumpism functions as a reward-driven political pathogen. When norm-breaking earns attention and avoids consequence, systems select for repetition. This framework maps the conditions that sustain it and the levers that can interrupt persistence.
January 8, 2026 at 6:02 PM
TRUMPISM GERM PATHOLOGY
Trumpism functions as a reward-driven political pathogen. When norm-breaking earns attention and avoids consequence, systems select for repetition. This framework maps the conditions that sustain it and the levers that can interrupt persistence.
Trumpism functions as a reward-driven political pathogen. When norm-breaking earns attention and avoids consequence, systems select for repetition. This framework maps the conditions that sustain it and the levers that can interrupt persistence.
Day 20 since the DOJ failed to meet the Epstein files disclosure deadline set by Congress.
#EpsteinFiles #ImpeachAG
#EpsteinFiles #ImpeachAG
January 8, 2026 at 7:52 AM
Day 20 since the DOJ failed to meet the Epstein files disclosure deadline set by Congress.
#EpsteinFiles #ImpeachAG
#EpsteinFiles #ImpeachAG
3 Different Types:
January 6, 2026 at 12:44 AM
3 Different Types:
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
NEW: I arrived in the U.S. eight weeks ago to report on how the administration’s immigration crackdown was playing out from the front lines.
What I saw Thursday was the culmination of ICE’s aggressive behavior.
By @tilleckert.com
What I saw Thursday was the culmination of ICE’s aggressive behavior.
By @tilleckert.com
I Filmed the ICE Officer Who Shoved a Woman. It Felt Like the New Normal.
I arrived in the U.S. eight weeks ago to report on how the administration’s immigration crackdown was playing out from the front lines. What I saw Thursday was the culmination of ICE’s aggressive behavior.
www.propublica.org
September 26, 2025 at 11:21 PM
NEW: I arrived in the U.S. eight weeks ago to report on how the administration’s immigration crackdown was playing out from the front lines.
What I saw Thursday was the culmination of ICE’s aggressive behavior.
By @tilleckert.com
What I saw Thursday was the culmination of ICE’s aggressive behavior.
By @tilleckert.com
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
Posted on X by billifer1973, a precious Canadian who lives in the US. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@conormcl2025.bsky.social
@conormcl2025.bsky.social
March 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Posted on X by billifer1973, a precious Canadian who lives in the US. 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
@conormcl2025.bsky.social
@conormcl2025.bsky.social
Reposted by Caleb Mercer's Desk
