Laurie Wainberg
@lauriewainberg.bsky.social
democracy, media and anthropomorphizing cats
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
Absolute all-timer sentence in today's @nytimes.com
September 30, 2025 at 7:06 AM
Absolute all-timer sentence in today's @nytimes.com
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
the kimmel thing is bad but as long as they arent rounding people up indiscriminately based on race, building concentration camps and talking about eradicating those they deem sexual deviants, i think we’ll be ok
September 18, 2025 at 3:09 AM
the kimmel thing is bad but as long as they arent rounding people up indiscriminately based on race, building concentration camps and talking about eradicating those they deem sexual deviants, i think we’ll be ok
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
Feel free to continue arguing over the shooter's motives, but please understand that *it doesn't matter*.
There's a organized political movement that plans to suppress, arrest, or kill its political opposition. It it seeking pretexts. Anything will do. If it's not this, it'll be something else.
There's a organized political movement that plans to suppress, arrest, or kill its political opposition. It it seeking pretexts. Anything will do. If it's not this, it'll be something else.
September 15, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Feel free to continue arguing over the shooter's motives, but please understand that *it doesn't matter*.
There's a organized political movement that plans to suppress, arrest, or kill its political opposition. It it seeking pretexts. Anything will do. If it's not this, it'll be something else.
There's a organized political movement that plans to suppress, arrest, or kill its political opposition. It it seeking pretexts. Anything will do. If it's not this, it'll be something else.
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
Kirk didn't serve in the military or hold office. The war hero treatment -- half-mast flags, military guard, Air Force Two escort, calls for a statue at the Capitol or to lie in the Rotunda -- shows that for MAGA, service to Trump has become the highest, most honorable form of service.
September 12, 2025 at 4:38 PM
Kirk didn't serve in the military or hold office. The war hero treatment -- half-mast flags, military guard, Air Force Two escort, calls for a statue at the Capitol or to lie in the Rotunda -- shows that for MAGA, service to Trump has become the highest, most honorable form of service.
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
You know who was also a young husband and father—not to mention ex-Marine—who died, not attacking others to make himself rich and powerful, but to save the lives of others?
David Rose, the officer killed by the anti-vax domestic terrorist who attacked the CDC.
apnews.com/article/deka...
David Rose, the officer killed by the anti-vax domestic terrorist who attacked the CDC.
apnews.com/article/deka...
Law enforcement officers remember police officer killed in CDC shooting in Atlanta
Weeks after David Rose was killed while responding to a shooting this month at the CDC headquarters in Atlanta, officers are remembering the DeKalb County police officer as a courageous leader who pri...
apnews.com
September 11, 2025 at 2:21 PM
You know who was also a young husband and father—not to mention ex-Marine—who died, not attacking others to make himself rich and powerful, but to save the lives of others?
David Rose, the officer killed by the anti-vax domestic terrorist who attacked the CDC.
apnews.com/article/deka...
David Rose, the officer killed by the anti-vax domestic terrorist who attacked the CDC.
apnews.com/article/deka...
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
Most striking thing about this clip is not Trump floating the idea of being a dictator (again) and claiming some want that.
The most striking thing is his sneering dismissal of the counter argument "freedom."
Only modern US president to explicitly oppose freedom. Should be the basis of opposition.
The most striking thing is his sneering dismissal of the counter argument "freedom."
Only modern US president to explicitly oppose freedom. Should be the basis of opposition.
August 26, 2025 at 2:23 PM
Most striking thing about this clip is not Trump floating the idea of being a dictator (again) and claiming some want that.
The most striking thing is his sneering dismissal of the counter argument "freedom."
Only modern US president to explicitly oppose freedom. Should be the basis of opposition.
The most striking thing is his sneering dismissal of the counter argument "freedom."
Only modern US president to explicitly oppose freedom. Should be the basis of opposition.
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
This is good actually and we are going to need veterans to be the first waves of folks making things more uncomfortable for the fascist ground troops invading our cities.
Make the dissonance unbearable for the troops working to destroy America
Make the dissonance unbearable for the troops working to destroy America
BREAKING: VETERAN'S
BEGIN A SIT-IN IN WASHINGTON DC AND WON'T STOP UNTIL THE MILITARY LEAVES TOWN
BEGIN A SIT-IN IN WASHINGTON DC AND WON'T STOP UNTIL THE MILITARY LEAVES TOWN
August 25, 2025 at 7:58 PM
This is good actually and we are going to need veterans to be the first waves of folks making things more uncomfortable for the fascist ground troops invading our cities.
Make the dissonance unbearable for the troops working to destroy America
Make the dissonance unbearable for the troops working to destroy America
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
The precise moment when and where in recent weeks America crossed that invisible line from democracy into authoritarianism can and will be debated by future historians, but it’s clear that the line itself has been crossed. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/america-ti...
America Tips Into Fascism
Today is different than before.
www.doomsdayscenario.co
August 25, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The precise moment when and where in recent weeks America crossed that invisible line from democracy into authoritarianism can and will be debated by future historians, but it’s clear that the line itself has been crossed. www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/america-ti...
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
With this vote, Congress makes ICE the highest-funded federal law enforcement agency in history, with more money per year at its disposal over the next four years than the budgets of the FBI, DEA, ATF, US Marshals, and Bureau of Prisons combined.
🚨🚨 NEW: House passes sprawling domestic policy bill, sending it to Trump's desk
Final House vote is 218-214, with TWO Rs voting no (Massie & Fitzpatrick).
Senate passed it 51-50.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Final House vote is 218-214, with TWO Rs voting no (Massie & Fitzpatrick).
Senate passed it 51-50.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
House passes sprawling domestic policy bill, sending it to Trump's desk
The Republican package would slash taxes, boost spending on immigration and the military, and impose steep cuts to Medicaid, SNAP and clean energy funding.
www.nbcnews.com
July 3, 2025 at 6:35 PM
With this vote, Congress makes ICE the highest-funded federal law enforcement agency in history, with more money per year at its disposal over the next four years than the budgets of the FBI, DEA, ATF, US Marshals, and Bureau of Prisons combined.
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
July 3, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.
It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
One of the biggest barriers to fascist takeover in the US is a lack of a national police force - Trump is building one.
If the GOP reconciliation bill passes, ICE gets through FY2029:
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
‼️‼️
June 29, 2025 at 6:04 PM
One of the biggest barriers to fascist takeover in the US is a lack of a national police force - Trump is building one.
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
ICE *already* can't meet their detainment numbers without rounding up children, veterans, people born in the U.S., people with no criminal records, people at immigration hearings, plus academics and visitors with valid visas.
So who do they plan to detain with >10x the budget?
The answer is: you.
So who do they plan to detain with >10x the budget?
The answer is: you.
If the GOP reconciliation bill passes, ICE gets through FY2029:
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
‼️‼️
June 29, 2025 at 6:05 PM
ICE *already* can't meet their detainment numbers without rounding up children, veterans, people born in the U.S., people with no criminal records, people at immigration hearings, plus academics and visitors with valid visas.
So who do they plan to detain with >10x the budget?
The answer is: you.
So who do they plan to detain with >10x the budget?
The answer is: you.
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
Viktor Orban banned pride events in Hungary, the people took it as a challenge and just had the largest pride march in their country's history.
June 28, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Viktor Orban banned pride events in Hungary, the people took it as a challenge and just had the largest pride march in their country's history.
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
Wild how the Fed chair saying that *entire regions of the United States* won’t be able to get a mortgage in the next decade barely registered as a news event
June 18, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Wild how the Fed chair saying that *entire regions of the United States* won’t be able to get a mortgage in the next decade barely registered as a news event
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
The day started with tragedy with political violence in MN and instead of being scared, neighbors SHOWED UP to stand together at No Kings Twin Cities. We packed the Capitol Mall all the way to the Cathedral. Estimate 80,000+ right now. So proud of our state. #nokings #indivisible
June 14, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The day started with tragedy with political violence in MN and instead of being scared, neighbors SHOWED UP to stand together at No Kings Twin Cities. We packed the Capitol Mall all the way to the Cathedral. Estimate 80,000+ right now. So proud of our state. #nokings #indivisible
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
It’s blindingly clear at this point that the protestors in Los Angeles are in fact helping to prevent a fascist takeover, and the pundits who suggested that protest is counterproductive were being either stupid or actively malicious.
June 12, 2025 at 1:20 PM
It’s blindingly clear at this point that the protestors in Los Angeles are in fact helping to prevent a fascist takeover, and the pundits who suggested that protest is counterproductive were being either stupid or actively malicious.
"Welcome is yet another donor- and elite-driven operation seeking to drag the Democratic Party rightward on economic policy. That “rebranded neoliberalism” approach risks further alienating the very constituencies that Democrats lost in 2016 and 2024..."
therevolvingdoorproject.org/welcomefest/
therevolvingdoorproject.org/welcomefest/
Who’s Behind Abundance Coachella? | Revolving Door Project
Donors to the group behind WelcomeFest include tech baron Reid Hoffman, Walmart heirs, and Michael Bloomberg.
therevolvingdoorproject.org
June 5, 2025 at 1:57 AM
"Welcome is yet another donor- and elite-driven operation seeking to drag the Democratic Party rightward on economic policy. That “rebranded neoliberalism” approach risks further alienating the very constituencies that Democrats lost in 2016 and 2024..."
therevolvingdoorproject.org/welcomefest/
therevolvingdoorproject.org/welcomefest/
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
🚨You should read this official State Dept post bc it foreshadows a major fight: Zuckerberg & Musk want 🇪🇺 regulators off their backs. Trump & Vance want to help AfD, Le Pen, and the global populist right. So they are reframing tech regulation as tyranny & censorship.
open.substack.com/pub/statedep...
open.substack.com/pub/statedep...
The Need for Civilizational Allies in Europe
Author: Samuel Samson
open.substack.com
May 28, 2025 at 3:02 AM
🚨You should read this official State Dept post bc it foreshadows a major fight: Zuckerberg & Musk want 🇪🇺 regulators off their backs. Trump & Vance want to help AfD, Le Pen, and the global populist right. So they are reframing tech regulation as tyranny & censorship.
open.substack.com/pub/statedep...
open.substack.com/pub/statedep...
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
Re-upping this piece because the deadline for comments on the new version of Schedule F has been extended to June 7.
DOGE actions occurred with no public input, so no excuse not to weigh in on Trump's further efforts to politicize the civil service.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
DOGE actions occurred with no public input, so no excuse not to weigh in on Trump's further efforts to politicize the civil service.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
Here is a specific thing you can do to fight Trump's politicization of public services
Plus: what I wrote in Science about the revised Schedule F
donmoynihan.substack.com
May 26, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Re-upping this piece because the deadline for comments on the new version of Schedule F has been extended to June 7.
DOGE actions occurred with no public input, so no excuse not to weigh in on Trump's further efforts to politicize the civil service.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
DOGE actions occurred with no public input, so no excuse not to weigh in on Trump's further efforts to politicize the civil service.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/here-is-a-...
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
4. What's new?
Unlike the oligarchs of old, broligarchs aren't just looking for tax cuts and lighter regulations; they largely solved those problems.
Broligarchs have a global political vision, and it’s set on a collision course with American democracy and American leadership on the world stage.
Unlike the oligarchs of old, broligarchs aren't just looking for tax cuts and lighter regulations; they largely solved those problems.
Broligarchs have a global political vision, and it’s set on a collision course with American democracy and American leadership on the world stage.
November 15, 2024 at 9:01 PM
4. What's new?
Unlike the oligarchs of old, broligarchs aren't just looking for tax cuts and lighter regulations; they largely solved those problems.
Broligarchs have a global political vision, and it’s set on a collision course with American democracy and American leadership on the world stage.
Unlike the oligarchs of old, broligarchs aren't just looking for tax cuts and lighter regulations; they largely solved those problems.
Broligarchs have a global political vision, and it’s set on a collision course with American democracy and American leadership on the world stage.
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
I asked an international human rights lawyer recently what red lines to watch for - he said, “when people start to disappear.” Well…https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/us/ice-tufts-student-detained-rumeysa-ozturk.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts Student, Is Detained by ICE
The university was told that the student’s visa had been terminated, its president said in a late-night email to students and faculty members.
www.nytimes.com
March 27, 2025 at 12:11 AM
I asked an international human rights lawyer recently what red lines to watch for - he said, “when people start to disappear.” Well…https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/26/us/ice-tufts-student-detained-rumeysa-ozturk.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
There's mass confusion or willful revision of how to amass broad enough coalition to defeat fascist threat. Aka "big tent" or strange bedfellows strategy and what has actually worked in the past & in other places. Salivating centrist, shocker, say it's - moderate & sell out "controversial" issues.🧵
March 24, 2025 at 9:02 PM
There's mass confusion or willful revision of how to amass broad enough coalition to defeat fascist threat. Aka "big tent" or strange bedfellows strategy and what has actually worked in the past & in other places. Salivating centrist, shocker, say it's - moderate & sell out "controversial" issues.🧵
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
GOPers have a remedy that they alone can use any day to right the ship of state and, not incidentally, massively enlarge their own individual power(s): impeach him.
The whole point of deporting someone with a soccer tattoo that's relabeled a "gang" tattoo is for Trump to assert the power to simply say someone is a gang member or terrorist *without* presenting evidence of it.
On the pod, @lizdye.bsky.social is terrific on this:
newrepublic.com/article/1930...
On the pod, @lizdye.bsky.social is terrific on this:
newrepublic.com/article/1930...
“Terrifying”: Trump’s Rage at Judge Unnerves GOPers as Crisis Worsens
As Trump begins defying a judge blocking deportations and Republicans balk at his demands for the judge’s impeachment, a legal expert explains why this is headed for a major crisis.
newrepublic.com
March 21, 2025 at 12:22 PM
GOPers have a remedy that they alone can use any day to right the ship of state and, not incidentally, massively enlarge their own individual power(s): impeach him.
Reposted by Laurie Wainberg
Note to Dem leaders: If you consider how much the political landscape has changed in two months and you’re calculating your political tactics because you think you know what the world will look like in fall 2026, much less 2028, you’re deluding yourself.
March 14, 2025 at 5:46 PM
Note to Dem leaders: If you consider how much the political landscape has changed in two months and you’re calculating your political tactics because you think you know what the world will look like in fall 2026, much less 2028, you’re deluding yourself.