Leif Hassell
@leifhassell.bsky.social
Arkansan, Democratic Socialist. I follow the intersection of fascism, history, and current events. We don't have the luxury of ignoring politics.
Pinned
Leif Hassell
@leifhassell.bsky.social
· Mar 31
bsky.app
In an effort to keep my game separate from my real life, I've set up an account for my SCA persona at bsky.app/profile/that...
Feel free to follow there for medieval shenanigans, and let me know if you are in the Society for Creative Anachronism!
Feel free to follow there for medieval shenanigans, and let me know if you are in the Society for Creative Anachronism!
Reposted by Leif Hassell
There are countless better ways to make a buck these days than owning a news outlet. Why be in the journalism business if you're not interested in protecting reporters' rights? Go sell phone cases or pet food or something.
Shari Redstone Asked CBS to ‘Delay Sensitive Stories About Trump’ Until Paramount Sale Closed: Report
Shari Redstone is so eager to close the sale of Paramount she has reportedly asked CBS News to hold sensitive stories about President Trump.
www.mediaite.com
May 3, 2025 at 3:17 PM
There are countless better ways to make a buck these days than owning a news outlet. Why be in the journalism business if you're not interested in protecting reporters' rights? Go sell phone cases or pet food or something.
Reposted by Leif Hassell
Bukele’s coming for the journalists at El Faro who exposed his deal with MS-13:
Andrea Castillo on X: "Bukele’s administration is preparing arrest warrants against journalists from @_elfaro_, whom we @latimes and many other U.S. outlets have partnered with regularly for coverage from El Salvador" / X
Bukele’s administration is preparing arrest warrants against journalists from @_elfaro_, whom we @latimes and many other U.S. outlets have partnered with regularly for coverage from El Salvador
x.com
May 4, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Bukele’s coming for the journalists at El Faro who exposed his deal with MS-13:
Reposted by Leif Hassell
Trump just said "I don't know" when he was asked on Meet the Press if he's required to uphold the Constitution.
May 4, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Trump just said "I don't know" when he was asked on Meet the Press if he's required to uphold the Constitution.
A damn good idea. Please sign! #arpx
Bring Popular Progressive Leaders to Speak in Arkansas
Can you spare a minute to help this campaign?
chng.it
April 21, 2025 at 4:58 PM
A damn good idea. Please sign! #arpx
Reposted by Leif Hassell
In 2023, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named Christian nationalist Jason Rapert to the Arkansas State Library Board, The board thwarted Rapert's efforts to enact his right-wing agenda, so the state legislature removed them from office, to be replaced by Gov. Sanders. www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwat...
Christian Nationalist Jason Rapert Topples The Arkansas State Library Board
Unable to get the Arkansas State Library Board to enact his right-wing agenda, Christian nationalist Jason Rapert got the Arkansas state legislature to remove every member from office, to be replaced ...
www.peoplefor.org
April 16, 2025 at 5:01 PM
In 2023, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders named Christian nationalist Jason Rapert to the Arkansas State Library Board, The board thwarted Rapert's efforts to enact his right-wing agenda, so the state legislature removed them from office, to be replaced by Gov. Sanders. www.peoplefor.org/rightwingwat...
Reposted by Leif Hassell
Jail them all.
BREAKING: DOJ says it won't comply with Judge Xinis' order because the deadline she set is "impracticable."
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
April 11, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Jail them all.
Reposted by Leif Hassell
"It's only papers"<--you are here
"It's only patches"
"It's only tattoos"
"It's only a bullet"
"It's only patches"
"It's only tattoos"
"It's only a bullet"
Millions of immigrants in the country without legal authorization are required as of Friday to register with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security after a federal judge rejected advocacy groups’ request to pause the requirement, reports @arianalfigueroa.bsky.social.
Immigrants without legal status must now register and carry documents, after court order • West Virginia Watch
Immigrants in the country without legal authorization are required as of Friday to register with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
buff.ly
April 11, 2025 at 4:37 PM
"It's only papers"<--you are here
"It's only patches"
"It's only tattoos"
"It's only a bullet"
"It's only patches"
"It's only tattoos"
"It's only a bullet"
Reposted by Leif Hassell
This is UNREAL!!!! Once again, I found myself fact-checking something because it seemed too ludicrous to be true. Sadly, it is. And to think that these are the people my fellow Christians think should be in power. 💔
bsky.app/profile/thet...
bsky.app/profile/thet...
As Trump defies the Supreme Court and refuses to bring innocent father Kilmar Abrego Garcia back from El Salvador — it’s worth remembering his Czar of Hate Stephen Miller has always been viciously anti-immigrant, even in high school 👇🏽
April 11, 2025 at 4:09 PM
This is UNREAL!!!! Once again, I found myself fact-checking something because it seemed too ludicrous to be true. Sadly, it is. And to think that these are the people my fellow Christians think should be in power. 💔
bsky.app/profile/thet...
bsky.app/profile/thet...
Reposted by Leif Hassell
AR-02 has the third most cuts of any congressional district in the country. French Hill's silence about this is spineless even for a perpetual jellyfish like him.
🚨 How are DOGE cuts impacting your community? Under Musk's leadership, DOGE has implemented sweeping reductions in grants, contracts, and leases. Here’s a new tool I built that identifies grant and lease terminations by congressional district.
April 9, 2025 at 7:19 PM
AR-02 has the third most cuts of any congressional district in the country. French Hill's silence about this is spineless even for a perpetual jellyfish like him.
Reposted by Leif Hassell
Correction: they *tried* to roast you, but I fear you told the truth and it seems that the truth hurts.
Is there a song about that or something?
Librarians are dedicated to their patrons, despite well-funded efforts to falsely discredit them.
Get your library cards and use them, y'all.
Is there a song about that or something?
Librarians are dedicated to their patrons, despite well-funded efforts to falsely discredit them.
Get your library cards and use them, y'all.
They roasted the hell out of me, but i am glad we protected small and rural libraries today. IMLS is shuttered and that Shockwave hasn't even reached Arkansas yet.
In an incredible but honestly unexpected twist, #SB536 FAILS on a roll call. Not sure exactly how Beck (vice chair) or Gazaway (chair) voted (they're somewhat protected from the public record), but library supporters HUSTLED to get these NO votes.
If your rep voted no, call them and thank them.
If your rep voted no, call them and thank them.
April 10, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Correction: they *tried* to roast you, but I fear you told the truth and it seems that the truth hurts.
Is there a song about that or something?
Librarians are dedicated to their patrons, despite well-funded efforts to falsely discredit them.
Get your library cards and use them, y'all.
Is there a song about that or something?
Librarians are dedicated to their patrons, despite well-funded efforts to falsely discredit them.
Get your library cards and use them, y'all.
Evil. Pure, absolute, unmitigated evil.
We are living in a fascist dictatorship.
We are living in a fascist dictatorship.
ICE director envisions Amazon-like mass deportation system: ‘Prime, but with human beings’ • Michigan Advance
The leader of Immigration and Customs Enforcement said that his dream for the agency is squads of trucks rounding up immigrants for deportation the same way that Amazon trucks crisscross American citi...
michiganadvance.com
April 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
Evil. Pure, absolute, unmitigated evil.
We are living in a fascist dictatorship.
We are living in a fascist dictatorship.
Reposted by Leif Hassell
so, stephanie turner—the fencer who took a knee & went on a media tour about it—cost a trans girl the chance to participate in society & did it for $5,000 cash, in addition to, i assume, paid speaking gigs with folks like riley gaines.
this is grifting. turner is a grifter. also a garbage person.
this is grifting. turner is a grifter. also a garbage person.
April 9, 2025 at 8:57 PM
so, stephanie turner—the fencer who took a knee & went on a media tour about it—cost a trans girl the chance to participate in society & did it for $5,000 cash, in addition to, i assume, paid speaking gigs with folks like riley gaines.
this is grifting. turner is a grifter. also a garbage person.
this is grifting. turner is a grifter. also a garbage person.
I grew up listening to my grandparents' and great-grandparents' stories about living through the Great Depression. I did not ever consider that I might have to put their wisdom into practice in my own life.
But here we go.
But here we go.
April 9, 2025 at 3:17 AM
I grew up listening to my grandparents' and great-grandparents' stories about living through the Great Depression. I did not ever consider that I might have to put their wisdom into practice in my own life.
But here we go.
But here we go.
Reposted by Leif Hassell
this is absolutely true and we are not prepared for it
the boardgame industry is capital-f Fucked, as one example - there simply are not any alternative manufacturers many folks can shift to in order to stop going under
and that sort of thing doesn't come back easily even if the tariffs go down
the boardgame industry is capital-f Fucked, as one example - there simply are not any alternative manufacturers many folks can shift to in order to stop going under
and that sort of thing doesn't come back easily even if the tariffs go down
The discourse around tariffs has been “things will get more expensive” but I am here to tell you that I am knee deep in reporting on this subject and I strongly suspect that if super high tariffs endure, it will shift to *certain items cease to be available at any price*
April 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM
this is absolutely true and we are not prepared for it
the boardgame industry is capital-f Fucked, as one example - there simply are not any alternative manufacturers many folks can shift to in order to stop going under
and that sort of thing doesn't come back easily even if the tariffs go down
the boardgame industry is capital-f Fucked, as one example - there simply are not any alternative manufacturers many folks can shift to in order to stop going under
and that sort of thing doesn't come back easily even if the tariffs go down
Reposted by Leif Hassell
In case you missed it, Trump also signed an executive order today directing the AG to go after state and local climate policies. Potentially bigger deal than coal order, imo…
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Protecting American Energy From State Overreach
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1. Purpose.
www.whitehouse.gov
April 9, 2025 at 12:29 AM
In case you missed it, Trump also signed an executive order today directing the AG to go after state and local climate policies. Potentially bigger deal than coal order, imo…
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Reposted by Leif Hassell
I'm not going to stop saying this. We need to stop calling it "deporting." It may not always be fair or humane, but deportation has a process. And it means you're sent back to where you came from. These people are being trafficked and sold to slave prisons. Not deported.
Leavitt confirmed that the WH is working on deporting US citizens to El Salvador
April 8, 2025 at 8:10 PM
I'm not going to stop saying this. We need to stop calling it "deporting." It may not always be fair or humane, but deportation has a process. And it means you're sent back to where you came from. These people are being trafficked and sold to slave prisons. Not deported.
Reposted by Leif Hassell
Trump defenders are trying to spin the tariffs as an attempt to bring the middle-class economy back to the heyday of the 1960s. But Trump himself keeps saying his plan will return America back to the 1890s. “Don't think GM—think Triangle Shirtwaist Factory,” says Hayes.
'Idiotic': Trump's tariffs aim to send us back to Triangle Shirtwaist Factory era
YouTube video by MSNBC
www.youtube.com
April 9, 2025 at 12:56 AM
Trump defenders are trying to spin the tariffs as an attempt to bring the middle-class economy back to the heyday of the 1960s. But Trump himself keeps saying his plan will return America back to the 1890s. “Don't think GM—think Triangle Shirtwaist Factory,” says Hayes.
Reposted by Leif Hassell
And in the end, they even sacrificed their claim to “state’s rights” for which they enslaved, seceded, fought, segregated, assaulted and murdered, and in the name of which they degraded themselves, their families and their region.
April 9, 2025 at 1:36 AM
And in the end, they even sacrificed their claim to “state’s rights” for which they enslaved, seceded, fought, segregated, assaulted and murdered, and in the name of which they degraded themselves, their families and their region.
Reposted by Leif Hassell
Three Senate Democrats may vote for Queen Sarah’s corrupt billion-dollar prison boondoggle. No good reason why. Except more sleazy politics. Shane on them. Plan can’t pass without them.
April 9, 2025 at 1:38 AM
Three Senate Democrats may vote for Queen Sarah’s corrupt billion-dollar prison boondoggle. No good reason why. Except more sleazy politics. Shane on them. Plan can’t pass without them.
Reposted by Leif Hassell
Half of America has a chronic illness. I am one of those people.
This is an active and immediate attack on our very lives, as if our medications weren’t expensive enough.
This is an active and immediate attack on our very lives, as if our medications weren’t expensive enough.
Trump: "We're gonna tariff our pharmaceuticals ... we're going to be announcing very shortly a major tariff on pharmaceuticals."
April 9, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Half of America has a chronic illness. I am one of those people.
This is an active and immediate attack on our very lives, as if our medications weren’t expensive enough.
This is an active and immediate attack on our very lives, as if our medications weren’t expensive enough.
Reposted by Leif Hassell
Seeing as how I spend half my day taking pills, this is swell fucking news. Enjoy selling your plasma for prozac!
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Trump says US will soon announce tariffs on pharmaceutical imports
President Donald Trump on Tuesday said the U.S. will soon announce a "major" tariff on pharmaceutical imports.
www.reuters.com
April 9, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Seeing as how I spend half my day taking pills, this is swell fucking news. Enjoy selling your plasma for prozac!
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
Reposted by Leif Hassell
TRANSLATION: Fuck you and fuck your future. Oil, gas, and coal billionaires can poison your water and drive us towards climate apocalypse, and become unimaginably rich.
The men who paid to elect Trump can do whatever they want, and everyday people can eat shit.
The men who paid to elect Trump can do whatever they want, and everyday people can eat shit.
Trump signs an executive order ending "woke policies that discriminate against secure sources of power, like coal and other fossil fuels"
April 9, 2025 at 2:16 AM
TRANSLATION: Fuck you and fuck your future. Oil, gas, and coal billionaires can poison your water and drive us towards climate apocalypse, and become unimaginably rich.
The men who paid to elect Trump can do whatever they want, and everyday people can eat shit.
The men who paid to elect Trump can do whatever they want, and everyday people can eat shit.
We are living in a theocratic, fascist dictatorship.
Gov. Sanders can save the state hundreds of thousands of dollars in litigation costs by vetoing this pointless & clearly unconstitutional bill to mandate display of 10 Commandments. Will she take advantage of the opportunity?
#arleg #arpx #arnews
www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/ap...
#arleg #arpx #arnews
www.arkansasonline.com/news/2025/ap...
Bill to require Ten Commandments to be displayed in classrooms sent to governor | Arkansas Democrat Gazette
Arkansas may soon join Louisiana in requiring the Ten Commandments to be displayed in every public school and college classroom.
www.arkansasonline.com
April 8, 2025 at 4:19 PM
We are living in a theocratic, fascist dictatorship.
This is absolutely Orwellian doublespeak...
"The webpage also changed the phrase 'enslaved African Americans' to 'enslaved workers.”
"The webpage also changed the phrase 'enslaved African Americans' to 'enslaved workers.”
thehill.com
April 8, 2025 at 4:18 PM
This is absolutely Orwellian doublespeak...
"The webpage also changed the phrase 'enslaved African Americans' to 'enslaved workers.”
"The webpage also changed the phrase 'enslaved African Americans' to 'enslaved workers.”