Catherine Schmidt
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lillyfinch.bsky.social
Catherine Schmidt
@lillyfinch.bsky.social
390 followers 350 following 2K posts
Crone raised in Alaska proud liberal because I care about something other than money and myself. Lover of nature and with respect for all life. Married 41 years. Love books, archaeology, history, gardening and walking, liberty for all, resistance.
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lillyfinch.bsky.social
#CECOT #trump #Rubio #StephanMiller#Cruelty #torture #Rape #Fascism #ElSalvador #alt

Heather Cox Richardson 11/13/25
RAPE AND TORTURE AT CECOT TO JUSTIFY TOUGHNESS
Heather Cox Richardson 11/13/25 RAPE AND TORTURE AT CECOT TO JUSTIFY TOUGHNESS Yesterday, Robert Tait of The Guardian noted that Human Rights Watch and Cristasal, a group that monitors human rights in Latin American, report that the Veneuzelans the Trump administration sent to the infamous CECOT terrorist prison in El Salvador endured systematic torture, including beatings and sexual violence. Only 3% of those the U.S. rendered to El Salvador had been convicted of a violent crime in the U.S. As immigration advocate Aaron Reichlin- Melnick wrote: “We paid El Salvador to torture, abuse, and rape completely innocent Venezuelans so that [Secretary of State] Marco Rubio, [White House deputy chief of staff] Stephen Miller, and Donald Trump could claim they were tough on immigrants.”
November 14, 2025 at 3:00 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Epstein #Trump #MichaelWolff files #alt
EMAL From: Michael Wolf Date; 10/29/16 12:21:03 PM To: Jeffrey Epstein [jeeyacation@gmail.com] Subject: Now could be the time There's an opportunity to come forward this week and talk about Trump in stich a way that could garner you great sympathy and help finish him. Interested?
November 13, 2025 at 5:54 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Humor #Satire #VeteransDay #trump #alt

Borowitz Report 11/11/25 SATIRE

Trump Honors Those Who Helped Others Avoid Service at Tomb of the Unknown Podiatrist
Borowitz Report 11/11/25 SATIRE Trump Honors Those Who Helped Others Avoid Service at Tomb of the Unknown Podiatrist QUEENS, NEW YORK (The Borowitz Report)—In what has become a Veterans Day tradition for him, on Tuesday Donald J. Trump laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Podiatrist. Trump made his annual pilgrimage to pay homage to the heroic doctors who issued bogus diagnoses to ensure that their privileged patients never answered the call of duty. In an emotional tribute, Trump thanked the fallen foot specialists who bravely risked their medical licenses so that others facing military service could be free. Choking back tears, he said, “They gave everything so people like me could give nothing."
November 13, 2025 at 4:27 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#trump #Epstein #Petition #Pedophiles # Representatives #Endings #Polls #alt

Heather Cox Richardson 11/12/25
“BEGINNING OF THE END”
Heather Cox Richardson 11/12/25 “BEGINNING OF THE END" Now, though, a significant portion of MAGA has broken with him, his popularity is low—a new Associated Press—NORC poll has his approval rating at 33%— and last week's elections showed his coalition is abandoning him. It is not clear that Republican senators will defend him, especially since his erratic behavior—like bulldozing the East Wing of the White House—appears to be increasing. As Representative Thomas Massie (R-KY), who backed the House discharge petition, told CNN: “This vote is going to be on your record for longer than Trump is going to be president. And what are you going to do in 2028 and 2030 when you're in a debate...and they say, "How can we trust you? You covered up for a pedophile back in 2025." Midday today, as new revelations from the Epstein documents were hitting social media every few minutes, Representative Swalwell posted: “This is the beginning of the end.”
November 13, 2025 at 3:42 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#trump #Epstein #Petition # Representatives #alt

Heather Cox Richardson 11/12/25
HOW THE DISCHARGE TO RELEASE EPSTEIN FILES PROCEEDS
Heather Cox Richardson 11/12/25 HOW THE DISCHARGE TO RELEASE EPSTEIN FILES PROCEEDS Trump's efforts to get someone to take their name off the discharge petition failed. Johnson swore in Grijalva at 4:00, as scheduled, and she immediately signed it. Now the petition needs to “ripen” for seven legislative days. Then Johnson has two legislative days to schedule a vote on a measure to require the Department of Justice to release the Epstein files it holds. Faith Wardwell and Meredith Lee Hill of Politico reported this evening that senior Republicans believe as many as 100 Republicans will support the bill when it comes to the floor. Many of them are facing constituents who voted for Trump in the belief that he would release the Epstein files as he promised and who are angry that the administration appears to be covering them up in the service of rich elites. Others likely recognize that they do not want to be seen as participating in that coverup, especially with the threat of even worse material waiting to drop. If the House passes the bill, it will go to the Senate and, if the Senate passes it, to Trump for his signature. If he vetoes it, Congress has the option to override his veto.
November 13, 2025 at 3:31 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Epstein #trump #Ghislane #NYT #alt

Heather Cox Richardson 11/12/25
YES TRUMP KNEW AND WAS, THERE NYT CULPABLE
Heather Cox Richardson 11/12/25 YES TRUMP KNEW AND WAS, THERE NYT CULPABLE In a 2015 email, Epstein gave tips on stories about Trump and girls to then- New York Times financial reporter Landon Thomas Jr. When others asked Thomas for stories, Epstein wrote: “Have them ask my houseman about donad [sic] almost walking through the door leaving his nose print on the glass as young women were swimming in the pool and he was so focused he walked straight into the door.” In another email, Epstein offered “photso [sic] of donald and girls in bikinis in my kitchen,” and Thomas urged: “l am serious man—for the good of the nation why not try to get some of this out there." But a story revealing this information did not appear in the New York Times before the 2016 presidential election or afterward. In one 2018 email referring to Trump's payment of hush money to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, Epstein wrote: “i know how dirty donald is.”
November 13, 2025 at 3:20 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Cat #Cats #CatsOfMastodon #CatsOfPixelfed #catstodon #CatsOMastodon #catsoffediverse #alt #caturday #Humor#

THIS WEEKS CENTER FOLD
JOSIE
Grey and white 8 mos. old kitten in a scalloped wicker cat tree basket. On her side, head turned to the right, let let extended out of the basket, looking demure. THIS WEEKS CENTER FOLD JOSIE
November 13, 2025 at 3:09 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Cat #Cats #CatsOfMastodon #CatsOfPixelfed #catstodon #CatsOMastodon #catsoffediverse #alt #caturday #Humor#

1/2 twist, one foot curl, nose up….a 10
Grey and white tuxedo 8 mos.old kitten on her back in a round cat stand basket. Right back leg with foot curled, front legs up, face up, body in a 1/2 twist. 1/2 twist, one foot curl, nose up….a 10
November 13, 2025 at 3:03 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Cat #Cats #CatsOfMastodon #CatsOfPixelfed #catstodon #CatsOMastodon #catsoffediverse #alt #caturday #Humor#

Not my pictures. Unknown
We just spent a hour looking for her. Not my photographs. Top picture of a rectangular Klee x box Bottom picture of a very young kitten, ears still flat pulling herself out of the Kleenex box
November 13, 2025 at 2:58 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 4:10 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#VeteransDay #alt

TO ALL HAVE AND DO UPHOLD THEIR OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION. TO THOSE WHO DON’T…WAKE
Cartoon six Snoopy’s dressed in the uniform representing all branches of US military. All carrying the American flag.
November 11, 2025 at 4:03 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#pardons #DOJ #trump #alt

Heather Cox Richardson 11/10/25
PARDONS MOSTLY SYMBOLIC
Heather Cox Richardson 11/10/25 PARDONS MOSTLY SYMBOLIC And then, in the midst of all the drama last night, Justice Department pardon attorney Ed Martin posted a document on social media revealing that Trump had issued an extraordinarily broad pardon to “all United States citizens for conduct relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential Electors, whether or not recognized by any State or State official, in connection with the 2020 Presidential Election, as well as for any conduct relating to their efforts to expose voting fraud and vulnerabilities in the 2020 Presidential Election.” As Kyle Cheney of Politico noted, the pardons of those who tried to steal the 2020 presidential election for Trump were largely symbolic because they had not been charged with federal crimes. What they do is suggest that he will protect those who try to cheat for him in the future, an interesting development considering the measure in the government- funding bill allowing senators to sue the government for accessing their phone logs during the events of January 6, 2021.
November 11, 2025 at 3:16 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#ShutDown #Vote #Cowards #Senate #ACA #trump #alt

Heather Cox Richardson 11/10/25
DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED COWARDS
Heather Cox Richardson 11/10/25 DEMOCRATS WHO VOTED COWARDS Democratic party leaders appeared to acknowledge that the momentum of the party is behind a fight against Trump and MAGA authoritarianism. The senators who voted with the Republicans are all either retiring, not up for election in 2026, or not running for another office, while Democrats who are in one of those categories were vocal about their anger over the vote.
November 11, 2025 at 2:57 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#ShutDown #Vote #Senate #Republicans #trump #alt

Heather Cox Richardson 11/10/25
REPUBLICANS WIN AND SOME GET TO SUE THE GOVERNMENT OVER JACK SMITH JAN 20th INVESTIGATION
Heather Cox Richardson 11/10/25 REPUBLICANS WIN AND SOME GET TO SUE THE GOVERNMENT OVER JACK SMITH JAN 20th INVESTIGATION Seven Democrats and one Independent voted with all but one Republican to advance a measure that funds the government through January 30 of next year. It includes funding for military construction and the Department of Veterans’ Affairs, the Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, and operations for the legislative branch, or Congress. Tucked within that last appropriation is a measure that allows the eight Republican senators whose phone logs were seized during former special counsel Jack Smith's investigation of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, to sue the government for up to $500,000 apiece.
November 11, 2025 at 2:52 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Satire #Humor #Trump #Nobel

Borowitz Report 11/9/25

Nobel Peace Prize Committee Says It Takes Points Off if a Candidate Denies People Food
OSLO (The Borowitz Report)—The committee tasked with awarding next year's Nobel Peace Prize will deduct points from any candidate who has denied people food, a Nobel spokesperson announced on Sunday. The spokesperson, Halvard Dorrinstrom, explained how the scoring system works, using the hypothetical example of someone who withheld food from 42 million people. “That person would lose 42 million points,” he said. Offering further insight into their deliberative process, Dorrinstrom said the committee would “instantly disqualify” any candidate who blew up random fishing boats for no apparent reason.
November 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Trump #greed #Corruption #Hunger #alt

DECADENCE WHILE AMERICANS FACE HUNGER
Midas Touch
Exhibit A: Mar-a-Lago, where the opulence is grotesque. Videos and images discovered by our researchers show synchronized swimmers, lavish crab spreads, and half-naked entertainers performing for a crowd of billionaires and political hangers-on. Auction items included an eight- day Thailand vacation for $64,000, enough to feed hundreds of families who've been cut off from SNAP benefits during this Trump-created shutdown. Midas Touch
November 9, 2025 at 7:43 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#ElonMusk #Musk #Greed #alt
Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social If Musk meets all the benchmarks of his new $1 trillion pay package from Tesla he will be paid $274 MILLION EVERY DAY FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS This is his part-time job
November 9, 2025 at 3:00 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Scotus # #TransRights #GayMarriage #LGBTQ #Passports #Cruelty #HumanRights #alt

Thom Hartmann 11/8/25
JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON SCATHING DISSENT AGAINST RIGHT WING TRANS RIGHTS
Thom Hartmann 11/8/25 JUSTICE KETANJI BROWN JACKSON SCATHING DISSENT AGAINST RIGHT WING TRANS RIGHTS — U.S. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson published a scathing dissent after six bought-off right-wingers on the Court issued a ruling trashing trans rights. For over 30 years, people who've undergone gender reassignment surgery have been able to put their new gender on their passports; the six corrupt Republicans on the court ended that right, apparently just out of spite to make Trans people's lives miserable. This is as sick and twisted as it gets, and KBJ was so right to call them out. Yesterday they also debated in private session whether or not to hear arguments about ending the federal right to gay marriage. So much for the separation of church and state...
November 9, 2025 at 2:52 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#NYC #Violence #trump #alt

Thom Hartmann 11/8/25
NEW YORK CITY PREPARES FOR TRUMP VIOLENCE
Thom Hartmann 11/8/25 NEW YORK CITY PREPARES FOR TRUMP VIOLENCE — How New York City is quietly preparing for a possibly violent Trump takeover. Politico is reporting that “a wide range of New York's most prominent civic leaders” from New York's Governor Hochul to folks in city hall and below are strategizing and working out plans to resist an invasion by Trump's masked secret police. They've seen the chaos and bloodshed his stormtroopers have brought to Chicago, LA, and Portland, and really don't want the same in their fair city. Trump, for his part, is calling the newly elected mayor a “communist” and making veiled “And so it begins..." threats. But has he been so crippled by the election losses this week that he'll find it harder to make his threats stick? Stay tuned...
November 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Pharmacuticals #Greed #Corporations #Healthcare #trump #alt

Thom Hartmann 11/8/25
HEALTH CARE FOR ALL COULD BE FUNDED BY BIG PHARMA SHOULD BE TOP OF LIST FOR 2026 ELECTION
Thom Hartmann 11/8/25 HEALTH CARE FOR ALL COULD BE FUNDED BY BIG PHARMA SHOULD BE TOP OF LIST FOR 2026 ELECTION — Health insurance prices are exploding: where is all that money going? Dr. Rachel Madley writes, over at the Health Care un- coveredSubstack newsletter, that the amount of profits the big insurance companies are squeezing out of us — the half-trillion-dollars they hung onto just since 2014 — could have gone a long way toward eliminating the need for private insurance altogether and simply funded a good single- payer healthcare system for America. Even the industry's executives are in on the scheme to drain our wallets and retirement funds dry, shoveling out over $146 billion in stock buybacks, which only serve to increase executive and shareholder compensation and assets while doing nothing whatsoever for the nation’s health. As | noted last week, this is a huge issue and Democrats should center it in next year’s elections.
November 9, 2025 at 2:44 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Satire #Humor #Trump #Election #alt

Borowitz Report 11/5/25
Trump Flees to Argentina
WASHINGTON (The Borowitz Report)—Stating, “I can see where this is going,” on Wednesday Donald J. Trump fled to Argentina, vowing never to return. Speaking bitterly to reporters as he departed the White House, Trump said, “You take away people's food, throw yourself a Great Gatsby party, and tear down the White House, and this is the thanks you get.” Trump had hoped to leave the US on the luxury 747 given him by the Emir of Qatar, but once Tuesday's election results became clear the Arab ruler swiftly withdrew the gift. In a tersely worded statement, the Emir declared, “Fly coach, loser.” In Buenos Aires, Trump was greeted by an angry anti-immigrant mob.
November 7, 2025 at 3:30 AM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Trans #Trump #Scotus #Military #Passports #Alt
Centered America Rulings temporary but… The decisions, handed down over the past months and reaffirmed this week, permit the administration to proceed while lawsuits continue. Under the passport policy, the “X” nonbinary marker is suspended, and applicants can only select “male” or “female” as listed on their birth certificates. The Court also lifted injunctions blocking the Pentagon’s policy that disqualifies transgender individuals from enlisting or continuing service unless they adhere to their birth-assigned sex. Both rulings are temporary but signal strong judicial deference to Trump’s executive authority on identity and military policy. The Biden-era expansions of passport options and military inclusion are now fully reversed, marking the most significant federal rollback of LGBTQ+ rights in nearly a decade.
November 6, 2025 at 9:18 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Humor #RFK #Vaccines #alt
Congrats to RFK Jr.'s neighbor, who trolled him with this festive Halloween decoration on her front lawn. A skeleton sitting in a chair reading a being “Wish I had taken my vaccine.”
November 6, 2025 at 3:56 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Election #trump #alt

Heather Cox Richardson 11/4/25
WE THE PEOPLE VOTED
Heather Cox Richardson 11/4/25 WE THE PEOPLE VOTED Tonight, legal scholar John Pfaff wrote: “Every race. It's basically been every race. Governors. Mayors. Long-held [Republican] dog-catchers. School boards. Water boards. Flipped a dungeon master in a rural lowa D&D club. State senators. State reps. A janitor in Duluth. State justices. Three [Republican] Uber drivers. Just everything.” Trump posted on social media: “TRUMP WASN'T ON THE BALLOT, AND SHUTDOWN, WERE THE TWO REASONS THAT REPUBLICANS LOST ELECTIONS TONIGHT, according to Pollsters.” But in fact, today voters resoundingly rejected Trump and Trumpism, and tomorrow, politics will be a whole different game.
November 5, 2025 at 2:45 PM
lillyfinch.bsky.social
#Trump #Presidency #alt
This entire “presidency” is like being tied to a chair and watching a toddler play with a loaded pistol.
November 5, 2025 at 2:16 PM