Freducator
@freducator431.bsky.social
History and Government teacher, recovering lawyer, Deadhead, coffee drinker
Reposted by Freducator
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Exclusive: Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave an order to “kill everybody” in the first strike on suspected drug boats in the Caribbean. After two men survived, the mission commander ordered a second strike to comply with Hegseth’s instructions, according to two sources.
Hegseth order on first Caribbean boat strike, officials say: Kill them all
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth issued a verbal order to kill all crew members in the Sept. 2 strike on a suspected drug boat. Navy SEALs fired a second missile.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 28, 2025 at 7:19 PM
Every single congressional Democrat needs to be out there, right now, insisting that Pete Hegseth resign right now and announcing that he will be held accountable for committing war crimes.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
If you do not demand accountability here and now, they will only become more emboldened.
Reposted by Freducator
JD Vance loves nothing more than telling insane lies about this nation’s history
VP JD Vance stood before a crowd and tried to falsify history, claiming Christians ended widespread mass child-sacrifice practices among Native Americans
November 27, 2025 at 4:43 PM
JD Vance loves nothing more than telling insane lies about this nation’s history
Reposted by Freducator
I really wish journalists would stop using the word "retribution" to describe Trump's efforts to criminalize opposition to him, as it treats his claim that his adversaries did something wrong in the first place.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
November 26, 2025 at 11:38 AM
I really wish journalists would stop using the word "retribution" to describe Trump's efforts to criminalize opposition to him, as it treats his claim that his adversaries did something wrong in the first place.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/u...
Reposted by Freducator
Meanwhile, it's being reported this morning that Trump and Pete Hegseth are ramping up their bloodthirsty and incoherent threats to wage land war on Venezuela. Note how the fact that they're threatening to do this unilaterally has been relegated to an afterthought in much of the coverage.
Trump's illegal murders in the Caribbean just got worse. An internal DOJ memo on the bombings says the victims are waging war on the US, but per NYT, it extensively cites the WH's *own claims* to this effect as evidence!
It gets even darker than that. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
It gets even darker than that. 1/
(new piece)
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
Trump Boat Bombings Take Dark, Unnerving Turn with Leaked Memo Stunner
A new Trump administration memo argues that those carrying out the boat attacks can’t be prosecuted. Why? Because the administration says so!
newrepublic.com
November 15, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Meanwhile, it's being reported this morning that Trump and Pete Hegseth are ramping up their bloodthirsty and incoherent threats to wage land war on Venezuela. Note how the fact that they're threatening to do this unilaterally has been relegated to an afterthought in much of the coverage.
Reposted by Freducator
Washington Supreme Court Justice Mungia has an extraordinary opinion condemning "the underlying racism and prejudices that are woven into the very fabric" of SCOTUS opinions about Native people.
"We must clearly, loudly, and unequivocally state that was wrong.”
www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf...
"We must clearly, loudly, and unequivocally state that was wrong.”
www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf...
![Returning to Cherokee Nation, Justice William Johnson’s separate opinion was
less tempered in how he considered the various Native American tribes:
I cannot but think that there are strong reasons for doubting the
applicability of the epithet state, to a people so low in the grade of
organized society as our Indian tribes most generally are.
Cherokee Nation, 30 U.S. at 21. Native Americans were not to be treated as “equals to
equals” but, instead, the United States was the conqueror and Native Americans the
conquered. Id. at 23.
In discussing Native Americans, Justice Johnson employed another racist trope
used by judges both before and after him: Native Americans were uncivilized savages.
[W]e have extended to them the means and inducement to become
agricultural and civilized. . . . Independently of the general influence of
humanity, these people were restless, warlike, and signally cruel.
. . . .
But I think it very clear that the constitution neither speaks of them as states
or foreign states, but as just what they were, Indian tribes . . . which the law
of nations would regard as nothing more than wandering hordes, held
together only by ties of blood and habit, and having neither laws or
government, beyond what is required in a savage state.
Id. at 23, 27-28.
This same characterization was used by Justice Stanley Matthews in Ex parte KanGi-Shun-Ca (otherwise known as Crow Dog), 109 U.S. 556, 3 S. Ct. 396, 27 L. Ed. 1030
(1883). Justice Matthews described Native Americans as leading a savage life.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6h7b2i6ttw3l4t7pvbvxdith/bafkreih4usl4xndm4j7udmsbopzsbha4zznbk6ahlemijsxfj77lchvjpy@jpeg)
October 10, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Washington Supreme Court Justice Mungia has an extraordinary opinion condemning "the underlying racism and prejudices that are woven into the very fabric" of SCOTUS opinions about Native people.
"We must clearly, loudly, and unequivocally state that was wrong.”
www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf...
"We must clearly, loudly, and unequivocally state that was wrong.”
www.courts.wa.gov/opinions/pdf...
Reposted by Freducator
This is a core element of conservative philosophy: If a single "undeserving" person is getting a government benefit, the answer is to take it away from millions.*
*Offer does not apply to tax loopholes or any other benefit enjoyed by the wealthy
*Offer does not apply to tax loopholes or any other benefit enjoyed by the wealthy
Brooke Rollins: "SNAP is a broken program. SNAP is full of corruption. We found 186,000 dead people."
November 13, 2025 at 4:16 PM
This is a core element of conservative philosophy: If a single "undeserving" person is getting a government benefit, the answer is to take it away from millions.*
*Offer does not apply to tax loopholes or any other benefit enjoyed by the wealthy
*Offer does not apply to tax loopholes or any other benefit enjoyed by the wealthy
Reposted by Freducator
The Trump administration is a fascist administration, but the United States is not yet a fascist state.
Total state capture takes time. Every obstacle we can present as individuals, groups, communities, and institutions helps slow that process.
Everything we do to resist matters. It ALL matters.
Total state capture takes time. Every obstacle we can present as individuals, groups, communities, and institutions helps slow that process.
Everything we do to resist matters. It ALL matters.
October 29, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The Trump administration is a fascist administration, but the United States is not yet a fascist state.
Total state capture takes time. Every obstacle we can present as individuals, groups, communities, and institutions helps slow that process.
Everything we do to resist matters. It ALL matters.
Total state capture takes time. Every obstacle we can present as individuals, groups, communities, and institutions helps slow that process.
Everything we do to resist matters. It ALL matters.
Reposted by Freducator
Refusing to feed people while building a massive ballroom is a fast track to eat the rich. No pun intended.
October 27, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Refusing to feed people while building a massive ballroom is a fast track to eat the rich. No pun intended.
Reposted by Freducator
This thread makes a point I find myself coming to often these days.
It's hard to make this point in a way that doesn't sound like a threat, but it's just a fact that for centuries the wealthy in America worried that the mob would come get them and did all they could to avoid that fate.
It's hard to make this point in a way that doesn't sound like a threat, but it's just a fact that for centuries the wealthy in America worried that the mob would come get them and did all they could to avoid that fate.
lol what the wealthy today don't seem to understand is part of staying wealthy in society is not pissing off the masses.
There's a reason why Carnegie and the Rockefellers poured money into institutions. Gutting institutions and making it harder for the masses to survive is a...choice.
There's a reason why Carnegie and the Rockefellers poured money into institutions. Gutting institutions and making it harder for the masses to survive is a...choice.
October 27, 2025 at 6:36 PM
This thread makes a point I find myself coming to often these days.
It's hard to make this point in a way that doesn't sound like a threat, but it's just a fact that for centuries the wealthy in America worried that the mob would come get them and did all they could to avoid that fate.
It's hard to make this point in a way that doesn't sound like a threat, but it's just a fact that for centuries the wealthy in America worried that the mob would come get them and did all they could to avoid that fate.
Reposted by Freducator
SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live.
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
October 27, 2025 at 12:48 AM
SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live.
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Reposted by Freducator
Hey, he’s only the president, how is he supposed to know who he is pardoning
COLLINS: Today you pardoned the founded of Binance. Can you explain why you did that?
TRUMP: Which one was that?
COLLINS: The founder of Binance
TRUMP: I believe we're talking about the same person, because I do pardon a lot of people. I don't know. He was recommended by a lot of people.
TRUMP: Which one was that?
COLLINS: The founder of Binance
TRUMP: I believe we're talking about the same person, because I do pardon a lot of people. I don't know. He was recommended by a lot of people.
October 23, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Hey, he’s only the president, how is he supposed to know who he is pardoning
Reposted by Freducator
It is notable that the Times article did not mention this, which, in itself, should be a huge, ongoing scandal, particularly in light of all of the concern about condescension to ordinary Americans that the Democrats supposedly display.
uk.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump...
uk.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump Has Posted An AI Video Of Himself Dumping S**t On Protesters
The US president is seen flying a fighter jet and wearing a crown as he targets those taking part in "No Kings" marches
uk.news.yahoo.com
October 19, 2025 at 11:08 AM
It is notable that the Times article did not mention this, which, in itself, should be a huge, ongoing scandal, particularly in light of all of the concern about condescension to ordinary Americans that the Democrats supposedly display.
uk.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump...
uk.news.yahoo.com/donald-trump...
Reposted by Freducator
In social movement studies, we talk about how marches and protests expand the threshold of acceptable risk so that people take more and bigger social risks IN PUBLIC, EN MASSE. This is extremely important for the bourgeois white folks holding signs and building social rapport.
Not a shitpost: #NoKings is feel-good performative activism for comfortable mostly upper and upper middle class white folks and that’s good, actually. Millions of people in the streets protesting a fascist regime is good. It is good for the normie baseline to be massive displays of public dissent.
October 19, 2025 at 1:44 AM
In social movement studies, we talk about how marches and protests expand the threshold of acceptable risk so that people take more and bigger social risks IN PUBLIC, EN MASSE. This is extremely important for the bourgeois white folks holding signs and building social rapport.
Reposted by Freducator
So now suddenly it's "Who cares?" and you know that means Trump cares, he cares very much indeed
"Who cares?" says the president about a day of peaceful NO KINGS protest in approximately 2,500 cities, towns, villages all over the United States, and in many other parts of the world.
October 18, 2025 at 10:38 PM
So now suddenly it's "Who cares?" and you know that means Trump cares, he cares very much indeed
Reposted by Freducator
Not being even vaguely sarcastic:
At some point, a journalist needs to ask Johnson “you regularly claim you have no idea what your own government is doing. If we take you at your word, how are you so poorly informed, and do you this level of ignorance should disqualify you as speaker?”
At some point, a journalist needs to ask Johnson “you regularly claim you have no idea what your own government is doing. If we take you at your word, how are you so poorly informed, and do you this level of ignorance should disqualify you as speaker?”
Q: What's your message to the 170 US citizens who have been detained by ICE? About 20 of them are children
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know what you're talking about with the children. I haven't seen that so I'm not going to comment on it.
MIKE JOHNSON: I don't know what you're talking about with the children. I haven't seen that so I'm not going to comment on it.
October 18, 2025 at 1:45 AM
Not being even vaguely sarcastic:
At some point, a journalist needs to ask Johnson “you regularly claim you have no idea what your own government is doing. If we take you at your word, how are you so poorly informed, and do you this level of ignorance should disqualify you as speaker?”
At some point, a journalist needs to ask Johnson “you regularly claim you have no idea what your own government is doing. If we take you at your word, how are you so poorly informed, and do you this level of ignorance should disqualify you as speaker?”
Reposted by Freducator
Newsom: This president appears unhinged… seems listless… he seems, dare I say, in decline—cognitively, and… physically. These are just the rantings of someone who needs an intervention, needs some help, needs to be stabilized.
October 16, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Newsom: This president appears unhinged… seems listless… he seems, dare I say, in decline—cognitively, and… physically. These are just the rantings of someone who needs an intervention, needs some help, needs to be stabilized.
Reposted by Freducator
Hakeem Jeffries posted pictures of two Rep. Members posing with “Young Republicans” who were part of a racist text thread (as reported by Politico).
In response, Mike Davis (well-connected in Trump World & on the Hill) called Jeffries a “house slave” for George Soros - proving Jeffries’ point.
In response, Mike Davis (well-connected in Trump World & on the Hill) called Jeffries a “house slave” for George Soros - proving Jeffries’ point.
October 15, 2025 at 7:31 PM
Hakeem Jeffries posted pictures of two Rep. Members posing with “Young Republicans” who were part of a racist text thread (as reported by Politico).
In response, Mike Davis (well-connected in Trump World & on the Hill) called Jeffries a “house slave” for George Soros - proving Jeffries’ point.
In response, Mike Davis (well-connected in Trump World & on the Hill) called Jeffries a “house slave” for George Soros - proving Jeffries’ point.
Reposted by Freducator
Someone should let her know that she is currently the chair of the (normally) powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and do a lot more than weakly protest this shit.
Sen. Susan Collins says the White House should try to get their proposed spending cuts into appropriations bills.
“This end run is not helpful,” she says.
Collins adds that it “would be helpful” to reopening the govt if WH and OMB’s Russ Vought stop the rescissions.
“This end run is not helpful,” she says.
Collins adds that it “would be helpful” to reopening the govt if WH and OMB’s Russ Vought stop the rescissions.
October 15, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Someone should let her know that she is currently the chair of the (normally) powerful Senate Appropriations Committee and do a lot more than weakly protest this shit.
Reposted by Freducator
bsky.app/profile/sluc... This seems dispositive to me, & also just as a matter of fundamental separation of powers concerns, a federal regulation that *did* allow POTUS to fund the military for *years* against Congress’ wishes can’t be legit. Must be unconstitutional for the Constitution to survive
October 12, 2025 at 2:49 AM
bsky.app/profile/sluc... This seems dispositive to me, & also just as a matter of fundamental separation of powers concerns, a federal regulation that *did* allow POTUS to fund the military for *years* against Congress’ wishes can’t be legit. Must be unconstitutional for the Constitution to survive
Reposted by Freducator
Of all the news in this NYT survey of sitting federal judges - incl 47 of them think the SCt is mishandling its emergency docket - maybe the biggest is that 65 sitting fed judges (37D, 28R), folks circumspect for a living, responded to a NYT survey. Stunning. And a sign that something is very wrong.
Federal Judges, Warning of ‘Judicial Crisis,’ Fault Supreme Court’s Emergency Orders
www.nytimes.com
October 11, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Of all the news in this NYT survey of sitting federal judges - incl 47 of them think the SCt is mishandling its emergency docket - maybe the biggest is that 65 sitting fed judges (37D, 28R), folks circumspect for a living, responded to a NYT survey. Stunning. And a sign that something is very wrong.
Reposted by Freducator
If they claim they haven't heard the quote, play it for them and ask for a response.
If they claim it's being taken out of context, play a longer version and ask for a response.
If they try to sidestep the issue, play it over again and ask for a response.
If they claim it's being taken out of context, play a longer version and ask for a response.
If they try to sidestep the issue, play it over again and ask for a response.
STEPHANOPOULOS: Hold on a second. Answer the question. As Speaker, do you believe it's appropriate to use American cities as training grounds for the military, calling those people 'the enemy within'?
JOHNSON: I'm not comment on your characterization of what the president said.
S: Those are quotes
JOHNSON: I'm not comment on your characterization of what the president said.
S: Those are quotes
October 1, 2025 at 2:41 PM
If they claim they haven't heard the quote, play it for them and ask for a response.
If they claim it's being taken out of context, play a longer version and ask for a response.
If they try to sidestep the issue, play it over again and ask for a response.
If they claim it's being taken out of context, play a longer version and ask for a response.
If they try to sidestep the issue, play it over again and ask for a response.
Reposted by Freducator
The Secretary of Defense who only got the job because the president saw him on the teevee is complaining about military leaders who were promoted "for the wrong reasons"
September 30, 2025 at 12:25 PM
The Secretary of Defense who only got the job because the president saw him on the teevee is complaining about military leaders who were promoted "for the wrong reasons"
Reposted by Freducator
Trump’s political prosecutions require members of the public—specifically jurors—to go along with him. Every time Trump wants to prosecute one of his political enemies, the people should say: no. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
September 28, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Trump’s political prosecutions require members of the public—specifically jurors—to go along with him. Every time Trump wants to prosecute one of his political enemies, the people should say: no. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...