@plbrock.bsky.social
Reposted
Trump's push for 'Americanism' at the Smithsonian echoes George Orwell’s theme in 1984 of controlling the past to shape the future. A historian examines the implications for national memory: buff.ly/QhkDWLT
The Orwellian echoes in Trump’s push for ‘Americanism’ at the Smithsonian
Donald Trump aims to rewrite America’s official history, including at one of the nation’s key sites of public history-making: the Smithsonian. George Orwell would recognize Trump’s impulse.
theconversation.com
August 20, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Trump's push for 'Americanism' at the Smithsonian echoes George Orwell’s theme in 1984 of controlling the past to shape the future. A historian examines the implications for national memory: buff.ly/QhkDWLT
Reposted
Letter: Republican lawmakers do not seem to like children and poor families
Letter: Republican lawmakers do not seem to like children and poor families
Letter: Republican lawmakers do not seem to like children and poor families
www.sltrib.com
June 29, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Letter: Republican lawmakers do not seem to like children and poor families
Reposted
And, yes, as people have astutely pointed out: Mayor Vaughn was re-elected in JAWS 2, because of course.
In honor of JAWS, one of the few, rare, "perfect movies," here is a reminder that America decided to elect its own Mayor Larry Vaughn.
June 20, 2025 at 11:03 PM
And, yes, as people have astutely pointed out: Mayor Vaughn was re-elected in JAWS 2, because of course.
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President Donald Trump is attempting to control your Google search results, according to a Newsweek column written by the founder and CEO of Chamber of Progress, Adam Kovacevich.
Trump's attempting to overtake your Google searches with latest proposal: report
President Donald Trump is attempting to control your Google search results, according to a Newsweek column written by the founder and CEO of Chamber of Progress, Adam Kovacevich. Trump’s move could be considered taking advantage of an antitrust lawsuit against the firm, which started during the Bide...
bit.ly
June 18, 2025 at 4:30 PM
President Donald Trump is attempting to control your Google search results, according to a Newsweek column written by the founder and CEO of Chamber of Progress, Adam Kovacevich.
Reposted
Donald Trump's administration on Saturday was accused of promoting the Russian flag, on Flag Day.
'Very telling': Trump agency under fire after posting Russian flag on Flag Day
Donald Trump's administration on Saturday was accused of promoting the Russian flag, on Flag Day.The Department of Defense over the weekend wished social media a "Happy Flag Day!""Let us honor the emblem of our nation and the stars and stripes that unite us all. As we display our nations flag and re...
bit.ly
June 15, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Donald Trump's administration on Saturday was accused of promoting the Russian flag, on Flag Day.
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"To understand how America might escape from the clutches of oligarchy, it is worth reaching back through history, to see how the people have pushed back against the elites to achieve reform." www.liberalcurrents.com/the-history-...
The History of Successful Liberal Reform
When elites feared the system would fall apart entirely, they accepted reform.
www.liberalcurrents.com
June 10, 2025 at 3:03 AM
"To understand how America might escape from the clutches of oligarchy, it is worth reaching back through history, to see how the people have pushed back against the elites to achieve reform." www.liberalcurrents.com/the-history-...
Reposted
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The White House was caught off-guard when it emerged the defence secretary had cancelled military aid flights to Kyiv in January
Pete Hegseth stopped Ukraine weapons supply and kept Trump in dark
The White House was caught off-guard when it emerged the defence secretary had cancelled military aid flights to Kyiv in January
www.thetimes.com
May 6, 2025 at 7:36 PM
The White House was caught off-guard when it emerged the defence secretary had cancelled military aid flights to Kyiv in January
Reposted
“They don’t need to have 250 pencils. They can have 5.”
May 5, 2025 at 5:00 PM
“They don’t need to have 250 pencils. They can have 5.”
Reposted
Exclusive: White House wants to defund independent Social Security board, sources say reut.rs/4jJmOjO
Exclusive: White House wants to defund independent Social Security board, sources say
The White House wants to defund a bipartisan board that advises the president and Congress on Social Security policy, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters, as the Trump administration moves to cut costs and eliminate independent voices in government.
reut.rs
April 25, 2025 at 11:40 PM
Exclusive: White House wants to defund independent Social Security board, sources say reut.rs/4jJmOjO
Reposted
Trump averaged a 45% approval rating during the first quarter of his second term, according to a Gallup poll, marking the second lowest score for any president at this stage in office since World War II. Gee, I wonder why… Could it be his tariffs? (sarcasm)
April 19, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Trump averaged a 45% approval rating during the first quarter of his second term, according to a Gallup poll, marking the second lowest score for any president at this stage in office since World War II. Gee, I wonder why… Could it be his tariffs? (sarcasm)
Reposted
There is, as they say, a lot going on here.
"Pope Francis skipped the Vatican’s official meeting with Vice President JD Vance Saturday, instead having his No. 2 give the vice president a lecture on compassion, according to a Vatican statement."
Pope Sends Deputy to Lecture Vance on Compassion at Vatican
Vance had an “an exchange of opinions” with Cardinal Pietro Parolin that touched on migration, the Vatican said.
www.thedailybeast.com
April 19, 2025 at 9:55 PM
There is, as they say, a lot going on here.
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Protesters in Westerville, Ohio are getting into some good trouble!
Thank you for showing up, Ohio!
Thank you for showing up, Ohio!
April 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Protesters in Westerville, Ohio are getting into some good trouble!
Thank you for showing up, Ohio!
Thank you for showing up, Ohio!
Reposted
Much of the IT and cybersecurity infrastructure underpinning the US health system is in danger of a possible collapse following a purge of IT staff and leadership at the Dept. of Health and Human Services, four current and former agency workers tell WIRED.
HHS Systems Are in Danger of Collapsing, Workers Say
The purging of IT and cybersecurity staff at the Department of Health and Human Services could threaten the systems used by the agency’s staff and the safety of critical health data.
wrd.cm
April 19, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Much of the IT and cybersecurity infrastructure underpinning the US health system is in danger of a possible collapse following a purge of IT staff and leadership at the Dept. of Health and Human Services, four current and former agency workers tell WIRED.
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Mighty coincidence that all of these US citizens getting detained are Middle Eastern-Americans.
I was waiting for this—evidence of CBP overreach at a US/Canada *land* border.
Well, here it is: a *US CITIZEN* detained in Vermont, handcuffed, and confined to a cell across from his wife.
They could have been transferred to an ICE facility.
Cross in airport pre-clearance if you can.
Well, here it is: a *US CITIZEN* detained in Vermont, handcuffed, and confined to a cell across from his wife.
They could have been transferred to an ICE facility.
Cross in airport pre-clearance if you can.
April 19, 2025 at 10:18 PM
Mighty coincidence that all of these US citizens getting detained are Middle Eastern-Americans.
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The turnout in small towns across the country has been incredible drawing crowds of thousands. We’re already seeing over one million in attendance nationwide, and events are still underway. Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ohio all had especially surprising showings.
April 19, 2025 at 7:12 PM
The turnout in small towns across the country has been incredible drawing crowds of thousands. We’re already seeing over one million in attendance nationwide, and events are still underway. Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Ohio all had especially surprising showings.
Reposted
Reposted
Trump: "I did it last time. And they undid it. That's why we have to stay president for a long time."
April 17, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Trump: "I did it last time. And they undid it. That's why we have to stay president for a long time."
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He’s never stepping down, you know.
Trump: "I did it last time. And they undid it. That's why we have to stay president for a long time."
April 17, 2025 at 8:40 PM
He’s never stepping down, you know.
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Calling 20 million "fiction" understates it. "paranoid fantasy" more like it.
Over on The Hellsite, JD Vance has now functionally called for an end to due process for migrants. His argument is riddled with deceptions, bad faith, and embarrassingly awful logic. I think it needs a real response, so here's what I put up over there.
First, his 20 million number is fiction. 1/
First, his 20 million number is fiction. 1/
April 17, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Calling 20 million "fiction" understates it. "paranoid fantasy" more like it.
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Please repeat over and over:
“Bending to the whims of a bully will not end his cruelty. It will only embolden him. The response to authoritarianism isn’t acquiescence. Bullies respond to one thing, and one thing only: a punch in the face.”
—Gov. JB Pritzker
“Bending to the whims of a bully will not end his cruelty. It will only embolden him. The response to authoritarianism isn’t acquiescence. Bullies respond to one thing, and one thing only: a punch in the face.”
—Gov. JB Pritzker
April 16, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Please repeat over and over:
“Bending to the whims of a bully will not end his cruelty. It will only embolden him. The response to authoritarianism isn’t acquiescence. Bullies respond to one thing, and one thing only: a punch in the face.”
—Gov. JB Pritzker
“Bending to the whims of a bully will not end his cruelty. It will only embolden him. The response to authoritarianism isn’t acquiescence. Bullies respond to one thing, and one thing only: a punch in the face.”
—Gov. JB Pritzker
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The projection is off the charts here
April 16, 2025 at 6:35 PM
The projection is off the charts here
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If what the capitulating law firms told the NY Times is correct, then they are the most incompetent lawyers in America. It isn't possible that they thought that they made a deal with Donald Trump and he was getting nothing and it would not come back to bite them.
April 16, 2025 at 10:18 PM
If what the capitulating law firms told the NY Times is correct, then they are the most incompetent lawyers in America. It isn't possible that they thought that they made a deal with Donald Trump and he was getting nothing and it would not come back to bite them.
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Oh.
"This is about whether we have functional constitutional government in this country. If the IRS can go after you because of what you think or what you believe or what you do, we'd no longer live in a free country.“
"This is about whether we have functional constitutional government in this country. If the IRS can go after you because of what you think or what you believe or what you do, we'd no longer live in a free country.“
April 16, 2025 at 9:45 PM
Oh.
"This is about whether we have functional constitutional government in this country. If the IRS can go after you because of what you think or what you believe or what you do, we'd no longer live in a free country.“
"This is about whether we have functional constitutional government in this country. If the IRS can go after you because of what you think or what you believe or what you do, we'd no longer live in a free country.“