Ambassador Ken Fairfax
@portlandken.bsky.social
Retired former US Ambassador, NSC Director for Russia, Ukraine, and Eurasia, NSC Director for Nuclear Materials Security, and Deputy Exec. Dir. of the International Energy Agency
Frogs marching forward in Portland. When not resisting ICE they are helping feed those in need.
November 19, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Frogs marching forward in Portland. When not resisting ICE they are helping feed those in need.
At least some of the media are beginning to wake up to Trump's plan to pretend to want to release the Epstein files while simultaneously ordering Bondi to open new investigations as a pretext for refusing to release the files even if Congress demands it.
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
November 18, 2025 at 1:48 PM
At least some of the media are beginning to wake up to Trump's plan to pretend to want to release the Epstein files while simultaneously ordering Bondi to open new investigations as a pretext for refusing to release the files even if Congress demands it.
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
thehill.com/homenews/hou...
Just curious: Am I the only one who finds the "Mar-a-Lago" look to be not only repulsive but downright scary?
I'm talking "night of the living dead" combined with "the plastic robot apocalypse" level of scariness.
I'm talking "night of the living dead" combined with "the plastic robot apocalypse" level of scariness.
November 13, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Just curious: Am I the only one who finds the "Mar-a-Lago" look to be not only repulsive but downright scary?
I'm talking "night of the living dead" combined with "the plastic robot apocalypse" level of scariness.
I'm talking "night of the living dead" combined with "the plastic robot apocalypse" level of scariness.
At least the New York Times is at least using an honest headline.
It really shouldn't be that hard to state the obvious, but most media are bending over backwards and inserting little weasel words to avoid incurring Trump's wrath.
It really shouldn't be that hard to state the obvious, but most media are bending over backwards and inserting little weasel words to avoid incurring Trump's wrath.
November 13, 2025 at 12:28 AM
At least the New York Times is at least using an honest headline.
It really shouldn't be that hard to state the obvious, but most media are bending over backwards and inserting little weasel words to avoid incurring Trump's wrath.
It really shouldn't be that hard to state the obvious, but most media are bending over backwards and inserting little weasel words to avoid incurring Trump's wrath.
The morning commute (walk) to the office could also be interesting.
The sand storms were bad enough, but that was nothing compared to getting 'blown up' by an incoming missile that landed just 25 yards from me. No shrapnel wounds, but bleeding ears, eyes, mouth, and nose from the overpressure.
The sand storms were bad enough, but that was nothing compared to getting 'blown up' by an incoming missile that landed just 25 yards from me. No shrapnel wounds, but bleeding ears, eyes, mouth, and nose from the overpressure.
November 13, 2025 at 12:13 AM
The morning commute (walk) to the office could also be interesting.
The sand storms were bad enough, but that was nothing compared to getting 'blown up' by an incoming missile that landed just 25 yards from me. No shrapnel wounds, but bleeding ears, eyes, mouth, and nose from the overpressure.
The sand storms were bad enough, but that was nothing compared to getting 'blown up' by an incoming missile that landed just 25 yards from me. No shrapnel wounds, but bleeding ears, eyes, mouth, and nose from the overpressure.
One of the challenges facing the 'modern American diplomat' is keeping your suit sharply pressed while flying to meetings in an open-sided chopper in 110-degree heat. Kept my suit jacket neatly folded on my lap, but held tightly.
Another challenge was not getting killed. I barely passed that one.
Another challenge was not getting killed. I barely passed that one.
November 13, 2025 at 12:05 AM
One of the challenges facing the 'modern American diplomat' is keeping your suit sharply pressed while flying to meetings in an open-sided chopper in 110-degree heat. Kept my suit jacket neatly folded on my lap, but held tightly.
Another challenge was not getting killed. I barely passed that one.
Another challenge was not getting killed. I barely passed that one.
Fully-masked, heavily armed DHS agents are photographing every American citizen they see in order to feed all of their faces into a giant AI-based facial recognition system. Every face is being stored indefinitely for whatever use Trump decides.
And the DHS agents are fully masked.
And the DHS agents are fully masked.
November 9, 2025 at 7:58 PM
Fully-masked, heavily armed DHS agents are photographing every American citizen they see in order to feed all of their faces into a giant AI-based facial recognition system. Every face is being stored indefinitely for whatever use Trump decides.
And the DHS agents are fully masked.
And the DHS agents are fully masked.
Who will suffer the most due to Republicans' insistence on gutting funding for the Affordable Care Act? Republicans.
So, why are Democrats so insistent that the cuts be reversed? Because they support healthcare and justice for ALL Americans. It's not a partisan issue. It is an American issue.
So, why are Democrats so insistent that the cuts be reversed? Because they support healthcare and justice for ALL Americans. It's not a partisan issue. It is an American issue.
November 7, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Who will suffer the most due to Republicans' insistence on gutting funding for the Affordable Care Act? Republicans.
So, why are Democrats so insistent that the cuts be reversed? Because they support healthcare and justice for ALL Americans. It's not a partisan issue. It is an American issue.
So, why are Democrats so insistent that the cuts be reversed? Because they support healthcare and justice for ALL Americans. It's not a partisan issue. It is an American issue.
As an old Catholic school student, I prefer the Latin Bible to the NIV, although I realize that is not the original. Matthew most likely wrote in Aramaic or Hebrew, although some scholars think he spoke those language but wrote in Koine Greek.
Still, for Latin fans, here it is:
Still, for Latin fans, here it is:
November 6, 2025 at 2:23 AM
As an old Catholic school student, I prefer the Latin Bible to the NIV, although I realize that is not the original. Matthew most likely wrote in Aramaic or Hebrew, although some scholars think he spoke those language but wrote in Koine Greek.
Still, for Latin fans, here it is:
Still, for Latin fans, here it is:
Pope Leo was referring to many Bible passages when he questioned Trump's immigration policies, from Leviticus to Matthew. One has to wonder how the "Christian Nationalists" reconcile their message of hatred of foreigners with Jesus' personal message in Matthew 25: 35-40.
November 6, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Pope Leo was referring to many Bible passages when he questioned Trump's immigration policies, from Leviticus to Matthew. One has to wonder how the "Christian Nationalists" reconcile their message of hatred of foreigners with Jesus' personal message in Matthew 25: 35-40.
There is a serious cost to police wearing masks, refusing to identify themselves, and generally behaving like armed gangs.
November 6, 2025 at 12:08 AM
There is a serious cost to police wearing masks, refusing to identify themselves, and generally behaving like armed gangs.
Not very often, but every once in a while, Trump tells the truth. Since a shutdown means the president is weak, what does it mean when the same president is responsible for the two longest shutdowns in history?
November 5, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Not very often, but every once in a while, Trump tells the truth. Since a shutdown means the president is weak, what does it mean when the same president is responsible for the two longest shutdowns in history?
Your table failed to list protecting pedophiles.
November 5, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Your table failed to list protecting pedophiles.
As hundreds of women push for justice, hundreds of GOP members of Congress are doing everything in their power to protect pedophiles. It's their new name...
November 3, 2025 at 7:31 PM
As hundreds of women push for justice, hundreds of GOP members of Congress are doing everything in their power to protect pedophiles. It's their new name...
Here's Bovino's official portrait sandwiched between a couple of vintage photos of Nazis.
There is zero chance that DHS and Bovino did not know what message they were sending.
There is zero chance that DHS and Bovino did not know what message they were sending.
November 3, 2025 at 12:39 AM
Here's Bovino's official portrait sandwiched between a couple of vintage photos of Nazis.
There is zero chance that DHS and Bovino did not know what message they were sending.
There is zero chance that DHS and Bovino did not know what message they were sending.
The photo below is NOT the creation of some left-wing hacker who wants to make Trump's Border Patrol chief, Greg Bovino, look like a Nazi.
The photo is DHS's official photo of Bovino. Evidently they want to leave no doubt that he fully embraces his role as Nazi Gestapo chief.
The photo is DHS's official photo of Bovino. Evidently they want to leave no doubt that he fully embraces his role as Nazi Gestapo chief.
November 3, 2025 at 12:37 AM
The photo below is NOT the creation of some left-wing hacker who wants to make Trump's Border Patrol chief, Greg Bovino, look like a Nazi.
The photo is DHS's official photo of Bovino. Evidently they want to leave no doubt that he fully embraces his role as Nazi Gestapo chief.
The photo is DHS's official photo of Bovino. Evidently they want to leave no doubt that he fully embraces his role as Nazi Gestapo chief.
Yet more proof that cruelty is the point. Trump's USDA has sent the message below out to retailers across the country in an attempt to prevent food sellers from showing compassion to those left hungry by Trump's shutdown.
November 2, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Yet more proof that cruelty is the point. Trump's USDA has sent the message below out to retailers across the country in an attempt to prevent food sellers from showing compassion to those left hungry by Trump's shutdown.
For anyone who hasn't read Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby," the book is NOT a celebration of the 'Gilded Age.' Instead, it is a biting indictment of the unfettered greed, corruption, and casual cruelty of the 1920's.
Trump's party celebrated that greed, corruption, and cruelty as a good thing.
Trump's party celebrated that greed, corruption, and cruelty as a good thing.
November 2, 2025 at 10:50 PM
For anyone who hasn't read Fitzgerald's "Great Gatsby," the book is NOT a celebration of the 'Gilded Age.' Instead, it is a biting indictment of the unfettered greed, corruption, and casual cruelty of the 1920's.
Trump's party celebrated that greed, corruption, and cruelty as a good thing.
Trump's party celebrated that greed, corruption, and cruelty as a good thing.
The decision of Heritage Foundation to promote a Tucker Carlson interview with rabid antisemite and White Supremacist Nick Fuentes has caused the authoritarian-aligned group to take some CYA moves.
The reality is a large percent of the MAGA base is made up of White Supremacists, antisemites, etc.
The reality is a large percent of the MAGA base is made up of White Supremacists, antisemites, etc.
November 2, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The decision of Heritage Foundation to promote a Tucker Carlson interview with rabid antisemite and White Supremacist Nick Fuentes has caused the authoritarian-aligned group to take some CYA moves.
The reality is a large percent of the MAGA base is made up of White Supremacists, antisemites, etc.
The reality is a large percent of the MAGA base is made up of White Supremacists, antisemites, etc.
When Flynn and the MAGA crowd talk about "weaponization" of the justice system, what they really mean is that they don't like it when the law is applied to right-wing criminals but they are perfectly happy to have Trump order FBI and DOJ to attack his perceived enemies.
November 1, 2025 at 9:17 PM
When Flynn and the MAGA crowd talk about "weaponization" of the justice system, what they really mean is that they don't like it when the law is applied to right-wing criminals but they are perfectly happy to have Trump order FBI and DOJ to attack his perceived enemies.
The party's name says it all: the GOP.
October 31, 2025 at 6:38 PM
The party's name says it all: the GOP.