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fdtate.bsky.social
fred
@fdtate.bsky.social
Just a below average Joe interested in news/politics, sports, music and whatnot. Life's too short to spend it arguing with randos on the Internet.
Reposted by fred
Love 2 go to the doctor and not know what body part they’re analyzing
November 15, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Reposted by fred
ICE vs the clergy
November 15, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Reposted by fred
Trump just told reporters on Air Force One that he hasn’t ruled out a pardon for Ghislane Maxwell
November 15, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Reposted by fred
"300 agents stormed the building, rappelled from a helicopter, knocked down doors and hurled flash-bang grenades. Agents ziptied and detained many US citizens for hours..."

Prosecutors have not filed a *single* criminal charge against anyone arrested that night:

www.propublica.org/article/chic...
“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime
Authorities said Tren de Aragua “terrorists” had taken over the building. A ProPublica investigation found little evidence to back up the government’s claims. For the first time, the Venezuelans arres...
www.propublica.org
November 15, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Reposted by fred
🧵Mark Epstein offered partial clarification on Bubba, Trump’s object of ...affection

"Mark Epstein told Newsweek the individual was not Clinton. He did not provide any additional details about the identity of “Bubba” or the meaning of the emails. "

www.newsweek.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump ‘blowing Bubba’ message in Epstein emails under scrutiny
Mark Epstein asked Jeffrey Epstein in an email to ask Steve Bannon if Vladimir Putin has "the photos of Trump blowing Bubba."
www.newsweek.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Reposted by fred
Awful: Trump's boat bombings are now being justified by a new legal memo that relies on WH's own determinations as evidence. Memo also says people can't be prosecuted for the killings. But that reveals WH knows there's legal vulnerability here, Ds tell me.

New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
Trump Boat Bombings Darken as Secret Memo Reveals Holes in Legal Case
A new White House memo argues that those carrying out the boat attacks can’t be prosecuted. Why? Because the White House says so!
newrepublic.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by fred
The Biden administration sought to create a streamlined refund system free of hoops for passengers who experienced canceled or significantly changed flights.
Trump Axes Biden-Era Plan To Compensate Passengers For Flight Disruptions
The Biden administration sought to create a streamlined refund system free of hoops for passengers who experienced canceled or significantly changed flights.
www.forbes.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Reposted by fred
Chris Murphy: "I don't think anybody with ambition right now should be planning on running for president in 2028 because we might not have a free and fair election in 2028. We all have to be in the business of saving our democracy right now."
November 14, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Reposted by fred
"They were intimate enough for her to see him flossing his teeth, his dopp kit overflowing with prescriptions.

She writes that despite being 'sober' for decades, Kennedy [RFK Jr.] told her he still uses psychedelics, and smoked dimethyltryptamine, or DMT..."

www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/s...
Olivia Nuzzi Did It All for Love
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Reposted by fred
Burns: The Old Testament says there’s nothing new under the sun. On July 4th, 1776, there was. Everybody up to that point had been under authoritarian rule. It was in the interests of their rulers that they be uneducated, that they be superstitious, that they be distracted by conspiracies…
November 14, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Reposted by fred
Trump is demanding that GOP side with him over Epstein's victims, Rep Ansari tells me. She had a harrowing exchange with one victim who recounts how her mom had cancer and he exploited that.

Also note her mockery of network disclaimers on Trump. More like this, Ds:

newrepublic.com/article/2031...
November 14, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Reposted by fred
Billionaires are more publicly involved in politics than ever—and Americans aren’t loving it.
Americans Want Billionaires Out Of Politics—And Think They’re A Threat To Democracy, Poll Shows
Billionaires are more publicly involved in politics than ever—and Americans aren’t loving it.
www.forbes.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:40 PM
Reposted by fred
November 14, 2025 at 8:20 PM
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Trump wants the DOJ to open an investigation because then they wouldn't be allowed to release what's in the files.
November 14, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Reposted by fred
House plans to vote Tuesday on releasing Epstein files
House plans to vote Tuesday on releasing Epstein files
President Donald Trump has made repeated attempts to kill the effort, but a discharge petition has forced Speaker Mike Johnson's hand.
dlvr.it
November 14, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Reposted by fred
This is big: elected Republicans in a deep-red state saying NO to Trump even after his personal plea.

The balance is shifting - and we have to keep up the pressure everywhere.
Indiana likely will not push forward with redistricting despite pressure from White House
It’s a massive blow to the White House’s efforts to shore up a Republican House majority next year.
www.politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:32 PM
Reposted by fred
GOP Rep. Kevin Kiley, who did not support the Epstein discharge petition, says he will vote yes next week on releasing the Epstein files
November 14, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Reposted by fred
From this minister's op-ed: "People wanting to experience God are more likely to meet the Divine trying to shut down the Broadview, Illinois, ICE facility than we ever were in church...God does not live in our houses of worship, but...with those who are bearing the brunt of cruelty in this moment."
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
November 14, 2025 at 9:38 PM
#302020s

Lord Huron - Long Lost
💿 Long Lost (2021)

youtu.be/G2JmQ-j0jlc?...
Lord Huron - Long Lost (Official Lyric Video)
YouTube video by Lord Huron
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 10:43 PM
#NewWaveNovember

The Bongos - Numbers with Wings

youtu.be/XdPNmHJNQpc?...
The Bongos - Numbers With Wings (Official Video)
YouTube video by TheBongosVEVO
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 10:41 PM
#MusicInMusic

Gillian Welch - Elvis Presley Blues

youtu.be/7FM8ui2ByUI?...
Gillian Welch - Elvis Presley Blues
YouTube video by langsense
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 10:38 PM
#ArtistFave15

Sturgill Simpson

Call to Arms
💿 A Sailor's Guide to the Earth (2016)

Closing out this unranked list with a rocking tune that closes out his third album

youtu.be/qsrsrOB0zNQ?...
November 14, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Reposted by fred
Oh wow @reuters.com got the photo here:
November 14, 2025 at 9:25 PM
Reposted by fred
People seeking federal pardons generally must file petitions through the Office of the Pardon Attorney.

But during Trump’s second term, only 10 of the roughly 1,600 people granted pardons had filed such petitions.

By @jeremykohler.bsky.social
How Trump Has Exploited Pardons and Clemency to Reward Allies and Supporters
The president’s second term has brought a flood of clemency for allies and donors — as well as felons, like him, who were convicted of financial wrongdoing.
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 9:15 PM
Reposted by fred
November 14, 2025 at 3:37 AM