Darlene
@placitas03.bsky.social
Retired. Historian by training. Public policy research/analysis by career. Trying to survive pandemic and politics.
This isn’t over. Uncertainty has not declined and we're in an absurd trade war with China.
Biggest mistakes I'm seeing in early reporting (thread):
1. Tariffmageddon isn't over: Lotsa tariffs to account for, but the average tariff rate is only down around one quarter. So most of the pain of Liberation Day is still with us.
1. Tariffmageddon isn't over: Lotsa tariffs to account for, but the average tariff rate is only down around one quarter. So most of the pain of Liberation Day is still with us.
April 9, 2025 at 7:56 PM
This isn’t over. Uncertainty has not declined and we're in an absurd trade war with China.
Think of a cloture "no" vote as a form of civil disobedience (we don't have power but we refuse to acquiesce to those who do and seek to do us harm). It grows the movement. Courts are important but the people are the source of power.
March 14, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Think of a cloture "no" vote as a form of civil disobedience (we don't have power but we refuse to acquiesce to those who do and seek to do us harm). It grows the movement. Courts are important but the people are the source of power.
Don't give up! Call your senators again. Tell them "no on cloture." The public will blame the folks with power (Reps and Trump) for the shutdown.
New Quinniac poll:
If there's a shutdown...
32% blame Dems
31% blame Republicans
22% blame Trump
That's a majority blaming Trump and/or the GOP. Hang tough, Dems.
If there's a shutdown...
32% blame Dems
31% blame Republicans
22% blame Trump
That's a majority blaming Trump and/or the GOP. Hang tough, Dems.
March 13, 2025 at 6:59 PM
Don't give up! Call your senators again. Tell them "no on cloture." The public will blame the folks with power (Reps and Trump) for the shutdown.
One thing I've noticed on the town hall and picket videos is that the crowds are older folk. Where are young people? College students? In my formative years it was youth and young leaders who led the movement for change. Is "liking" a post on social media a real alternative to visible opposition?
March 2, 2025 at 7:49 PM
One thing I've noticed on the town hall and picket videos is that the crowds are older folk. Where are young people? College students? In my formative years it was youth and young leaders who led the movement for change. Is "liking" a post on social media a real alternative to visible opposition?
As an American, I am ashamed.
Rubio terminated 5800 USAID contracts – more than 90% of its foreign aid programs – in defiance of the courts.
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
Here’s a list of just some of the lifesaving awards that were terminated. Nearly all were Congressionally mandated. They’ve saved millions of lives. 🧵
February 28, 2025 at 3:51 PM
As an American, I am ashamed.
Probationary workers have rights.
ATTN: Probationary federal workers who have been fired, please read: federalworkerrights.com/2025/02/13/m...
Mass terminations of probationary employees: is there any recourse?
Several federal agencies have begun mass terminations of probationary employees. Other agencies are expected to follow soon. The administration is targeting probationary employees because they lack…
federalworkerrights.com
February 14, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Probationary workers have rights.
Reposted by Darlene
I firmly believe @petebuttigieg.bsky.social should lead a daily press conference. We are in desperate need of simple, unified messaging
Waging a procedural war and an information war will at least delay — and possibly prevent — an actual war. I don't get why Democratic leaders don't see the necessity here.
If Democrats don't have the stomach to actually wage the procedural war that's fully within their power, they must at the very bare minimum wage the information war that's both right in front of them and extremely ripe with targets.
February 14, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I firmly believe @petebuttigieg.bsky.social should lead a daily press conference. We are in desperate need of simple, unified messaging
I'm putting this suggestion out here and hoping some org can do this task. We need a chart, at least by state, of would lose the most through the freezes and cuts as they are identified. E g., as a share of per-pupil expenditures, I suspect fed K-12 Ed $ support red states the most.
February 11, 2025 at 8:58 PM
I'm putting this suggestion out here and hoping some org can do this task. We need a chart, at least by state, of would lose the most through the freezes and cuts as they are identified. E g., as a share of per-pupil expenditures, I suspect fed K-12 Ed $ support red states the most.
Where's the AARP? I'm a member and I'm reading that Medicare and Social Security are on the line. I heard nothing from you when Musk tried to freeze payments to services like Meals on Wheels. Lots of old folks look to you. Did I miss the lawsuits?
February 5, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Where's the AARP? I'm a member and I'm reading that Medicare and Social Security are on the line. I heard nothing from you when Musk tried to freeze payments to services like Meals on Wheels. Lots of old folks look to you. Did I miss the lawsuits?
I know attention spans are short, but what's happening with the funding freeze? Are providers getting paid? If not, where are the stories from around the country?
February 5, 2025 at 1:07 AM
I know attention spans are short, but what's happening with the funding freeze? Are providers getting paid? If not, where are the stories from around the country?
Reposted by Darlene
The Germans press is not having as much trouble discerning what happened as the American press. www.zeit.de/kultur/2025-...
Elon Musk: Ein Hitlergruß ist ein Hitlergruß ist ein Hitlergruß
Elon Musk streckt den rechten Arm, und alle springen drüber. Willkommen im neuen Aufmerksamkeitsregime.
www.zeit.de
January 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The Germans press is not having as much trouble discerning what happened as the American press. www.zeit.de/kultur/2025-...
Not British, but old. The sentiment in this poem transcends national boundaries.
Excellent article in the Guardian by Michael Rosen on Johnsons' incompetence and loathsome indifference to suffering.
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023...
www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023...
‘Who were you to decide that our innings was over?’ Michael Rosen’s Covid inquiry poem
The poet and broadcaster, who spent 48 days in intensive care after contracting coronavirus, reflects on the ‘chilling’ evidence from the Covid inquiry, and pens a poem in response
www.theguardian.com
December 14, 2024 at 6:35 PM
Not British, but old. The sentiment in this poem transcends national boundaries.