LuAnn Ritsema
@lurits70.bsky.social
Not everyone's cup of tea. Good with that.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
“I spent three nights and three days in federal custody. During that time, I was never told what I was charged with, was not allowed to shower despite being covered in tear gas and pepper spray, had no phone call to my family, and no access to an attorney.” - George Retes, U.S. citizen and veteran.
I’m a US citizen and a veteran. ICE arrested me for no reason.
Jailed for three days without an explanation or ability to notify anyone, George Retes argues the only path to healing starts with the government taking accountability for its actions.
newsletter.ofthebrave.org
October 12, 2025 at 12:01 PM
“I spent three nights and three days in federal custody. During that time, I was never told what I was charged with, was not allowed to shower despite being covered in tear gas and pepper spray, had no phone call to my family, and no access to an attorney.” - George Retes, U.S. citizen and veteran.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
It's not being talked about enough that the Trump administration is actively committing hundred of counts of crimes against humanity and bragging about it on television
April 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
It's not being talked about enough that the Trump administration is actively committing hundred of counts of crimes against humanity and bragging about it on television
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
This is terrifying in America. ICE agents are showing up masked—these abductions must stop. If you’re going to detain someone, show your face, present a warrant, and proper ID. Disappearing people from their families without evidence or accountability isn’t law enforcement—it’s state-sponsored fear.
April 14, 2025 at 3:17 PM
This is terrifying in America. ICE agents are showing up masked—these abductions must stop. If you’re going to detain someone, show your face, present a warrant, and proper ID. Disappearing people from their families without evidence or accountability isn’t law enforcement—it’s state-sponsored fear.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
A critical read in these times. And simultaneously astounding that it is necessary.
Courage is contagious. But how do we catch it?
For months, @amifieldsmeyer.bsky.social and I have been asking dissidents and activists from around the world how we can topple authoritarianism.
We assembled their lessons into a field guide to courage.
www.newyorker.com/news/the-wee...
For months, @amifieldsmeyer.bsky.social and I have been asking dissidents and activists from around the world how we can topple authoritarianism.
We assembled their lessons into a field guide to courage.
www.newyorker.com/news/the-wee...
So You Want to Be a Dissident?
A practical guide to courage in Trump’s age of fear.
www.newyorker.com
April 12, 2025 at 6:36 PM
A critical read in these times. And simultaneously astounding that it is necessary.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
Trump just denied North Carolina’s request for FEMA relief from Hurricane Helene, calling it “unwarranted.”
FEMA will stop 100% cost-share in Helene recovery • NC Newsline
"I am extremely disappointed and urge the President to reconsider FEMA’s bad decision, even for 90 days," Gov. Josh Stein said.
ncnewsline.com
April 12, 2025 at 5:24 PM
Trump just denied North Carolina’s request for FEMA relief from Hurricane Helene, calling it “unwarranted.”
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
I love this because I can't decide which one it's meaner to.
Bill Maher is the Chuck Schumer of comedy.
April 12, 2025 at 5:54 PM
I love this because I can't decide which one it's meaner to.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
People will surely die...
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has paused multiple vaccine projects – including one to create a new Covid-19 vaccine in pill form.
RFK Jr. Takes a Sledgehammer to Two Major Vaccine Developments
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is already implementing his dangerous anti-vax views at HHS.
newrepublic.com
February 27, 2025 at 4:30 PM
People will surely die...
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
“If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
A classic quote from Malcolm X, who was assassinated 60 years ago today.
A classic quote from Malcolm X, who was assassinated 60 years ago today.
February 22, 2025 at 4:50 AM
“If you're not careful, the newspapers will have you hating the people who are being oppressed, and loving the people who are doing the oppressing.”
A classic quote from Malcolm X, who was assassinated 60 years ago today.
A classic quote from Malcolm X, who was assassinated 60 years ago today.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
And by "local Democrats," I mean anyone -- a mayor or town council member, the school board, the local party, a former or future Democratic congressional candidate or, you know, even *you*
Ask your Republican representative to hold one but if they don't, hold your own. Don't wait on anyone else.
Ask your Republican representative to hold one but if they don't, hold your own. Don't wait on anyone else.
Not a bad idea -- if House Republicans refuse to hold town halls in their congressional districts, local Democrats should set one of their own up.
Every Democrat who lost in a district in 2024 should hold a town hall if those Republicans won't.
February 27, 2025 at 1:26 AM
And by "local Democrats," I mean anyone -- a mayor or town council member, the school board, the local party, a former or future Democratic congressional candidate or, you know, even *you*
Ask your Republican representative to hold one but if they don't, hold your own. Don't wait on anyone else.
Ask your Republican representative to hold one but if they don't, hold your own. Don't wait on anyone else.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
Over half of Trump’s appointees to the Justice Department to receive hearings have been his personal lawyers.
Bondi, Blanche, Sauer, Dhillon.
He’s turning the DOJ into Trump LLP.
Bondi, Blanche, Sauer, Dhillon.
He’s turning the DOJ into Trump LLP.
February 27, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Over half of Trump’s appointees to the Justice Department to receive hearings have been his personal lawyers.
Bondi, Blanche, Sauer, Dhillon.
He’s turning the DOJ into Trump LLP.
Bondi, Blanche, Sauer, Dhillon.
He’s turning the DOJ into Trump LLP.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
I present to you the next deputy director of the FBI!
February 24, 2025 at 3:08 AM
I present to you the next deputy director of the FBI!
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
February 23, 2025
February 23, 2025
Something is shifting,” scholar of authoritarianism Timothy Snyder posted on Bluesky yesterday.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
February 24, 2025 at 3:38 AM
February 23, 2025
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
Tyranny requires your fear and your silence and your compliance.
Democracy requires your courage.
So gather your justice and humanity, Illinois, and do not let despair overcome us when our country needs us the most.
Democracy requires your courage.
So gather your justice and humanity, Illinois, and do not let despair overcome us when our country needs us the most.
February 19, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Tyranny requires your fear and your silence and your compliance.
Democracy requires your courage.
So gather your justice and humanity, Illinois, and do not let despair overcome us when our country needs us the most.
Democracy requires your courage.
So gather your justice and humanity, Illinois, and do not let despair overcome us when our country needs us the most.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
“They wanted power. They are trying to remake our system of government, not our laws. They have identified a weak point in that system, and they are driving a flaming Cybertruck through it.
That weak point is Congress.”
That weak point is Congress.”
February 17, 2025 at 4:41 AM
“They wanted power. They are trying to remake our system of government, not our laws. They have identified a weak point in that system, and they are driving a flaming Cybertruck through it.
That weak point is Congress.”
That weak point is Congress.”
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
CISA – a federal agency that helps secure elections from foreign threats and disinformation – has placed its employees on administrative leave. The move puts the security and integrity of elections in the U.S. at risk.
CISA Puts Election Staff on Administrative Leave
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
February 15, 2025 at 2:00 PM
CISA – a federal agency that helps secure elections from foreign threats and disinformation – has placed its employees on administrative leave. The move puts the security and integrity of elections in the U.S. at risk.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
Raskin: "The wrecking ball of rightwing authoritarianism is swinging right through Congress and coming directly at the freedoms of the press and the people. The self-appointed CEO of this operation is the unelected bureaucrat and aspiring techno-dictator, Elon Musk ... "
February 12, 2025 at 3:25 PM
Raskin: "The wrecking ball of rightwing authoritarianism is swinging right through Congress and coming directly at the freedoms of the press and the people. The self-appointed CEO of this operation is the unelected bureaucrat and aspiring techno-dictator, Elon Musk ... "
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
Gregg Abott using the wheel chair access infrastructure, built because of inclusivity policies, to get to his office and sign a bill dismantling DEI is peak brain rot.
February 4, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Gregg Abott using the wheel chair access infrastructure, built because of inclusivity policies, to get to his office and sign a bill dismantling DEI is peak brain rot.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
re-reading this tweet every few years with a new perspective on who "we" refers to
February 9, 2025 at 3:25 AM
re-reading this tweet every few years with a new perspective on who "we" refers to
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
Republicans have been ordered by their billionaire Puppet Master to end Medicare as we know it.
Democrats have 215 members in the House who can stop this extreme effort.
All we need is three House Republicans to join us.
Democrats have 215 members in the House who can stop this extreme effort.
All we need is three House Republicans to join us.
February 6, 2025 at 12:26 PM
Republicans have been ordered by their billionaire Puppet Master to end Medicare as we know it.
Democrats have 215 members in the House who can stop this extreme effort.
All we need is three House Republicans to join us.
Democrats have 215 members in the House who can stop this extreme effort.
All we need is three House Republicans to join us.
Reposted by LuAnn Ritsema
they just lied
they lied, and they lied, and they lied, and they won because of it and now they're claiming they had a mandate to do all of the things they lied about not doing and many more besides
the press bears an enormous amount of responsibility for all of this
they lied, and they lied, and they lied, and they won because of it and now they're claiming they had a mandate to do all of the things they lied about not doing and many more besides
the press bears an enormous amount of responsibility for all of this
This Politico story from last October shows how easy it is to launder lies through the press. It claimed Trump would ban anyone tied to Project 2025 from a job in a second Trump administration.
“Clearly people working on Project 2025 are blacklisted,” said an unidentified Trump insider. 1/4🧵
“Clearly people working on Project 2025 are blacklisted,” said an unidentified Trump insider. 1/4🧵
Trump team preps list of banned staffers
The names include conservatives linked to Project 2025 and Republicans viewed as disloyal to the former president.
www.politico.com
February 8, 2025 at 5:19 PM
they just lied
they lied, and they lied, and they lied, and they won because of it and now they're claiming they had a mandate to do all of the things they lied about not doing and many more besides
the press bears an enormous amount of responsibility for all of this
they lied, and they lied, and they lied, and they won because of it and now they're claiming they had a mandate to do all of the things they lied about not doing and many more besides
the press bears an enormous amount of responsibility for all of this