Kevin Lawrence
@psaltis.bsky.social
Violinist teaching at UNC School of the Arts, liturgical musician...and some day I'll really know Syriac
Pinned
Kevin Lawrence
@psaltis.bsky.social
· Mar 3
The Weight of Gold: A Mandaean Journey Through Exile
Cut off from the society that nourished their way of life, the followers of this ancient Gnostic religion are slowly disappearing
newlinesmag.com
A moving essay that speaks to all of us who hope to pass on to the next generation something we know of a beautiful past.
newlinesmag.com/first-person...
newlinesmag.com/first-person...
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
A wonderful essay by McNeil Taylor on Hellenism, Zionism, and the legacies of c19 Western European colonialism. www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/71/ta...
November 25, 2025 at 1:08 PM
A wonderful essay by McNeil Taylor on Hellenism, Zionism, and the legacies of c19 Western European colonialism. www.cabinetmagazine.org/issues/71/ta...
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
Almost every day the fascist stories are accompanied with stories about record anxiety and stress and uncertainty and loneliness and hardly anyone wants to connect the obvious dots.
Fascism is a collective breakdown. People are struggling and there has to be relief.
Fascism is a collective breakdown. People are struggling and there has to be relief.
November 25, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Almost every day the fascist stories are accompanied with stories about record anxiety and stress and uncertainty and loneliness and hardly anyone wants to connect the obvious dots.
Fascism is a collective breakdown. People are struggling and there has to be relief.
Fascism is a collective breakdown. People are struggling and there has to be relief.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
““If they’re not gonna run the programs, then what are we paying them for?” she said. “It’s like, you know, you’re paying us for a service and they’re not delivering. So let’s stop paying for it.”
👀 @mikiesherrill.bsky.social goes there …
👀 @mikiesherrill.bsky.social goes there …
New Jersey may stop paying federal taxes under new governor
Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill said on a podcast with Jon Stewart it's a "great idea."
www.politico.com
November 22, 2025 at 4:15 PM
““If they’re not gonna run the programs, then what are we paying them for?” she said. “It’s like, you know, you’re paying us for a service and they’re not delivering. So let’s stop paying for it.”
👀 @mikiesherrill.bsky.social goes there …
👀 @mikiesherrill.bsky.social goes there …
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
This is not a peace plan. It is a proposal that weakens Ukraine and divides America from Europe, preparing the way for a larger war in the future. In the meantime, it benefits unnamed Russian and American investors, at the expense of everyone else.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Trump Has a Recipe for War and Corruption, Not Peace
Who would benefit from the White House’s 28-point proposal for Ukraine?
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:11 AM
This is not a peace plan. It is a proposal that weakens Ukraine and divides America from Europe, preparing the way for a larger war in the future. In the meantime, it benefits unnamed Russian and American investors, at the expense of everyone else.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
$1 billion data centre to maybe create 100 jobs. That's likely an overstatement.
It is truly not worth draining the living word for this vampiric tech and people are starting to realize it.
www.wisn.com/article/meta...
It is truly not worth draining the living word for this vampiric tech and people are starting to realize it.
www.wisn.com/article/meta...
Meta plans $1 billion data center in Beaver Dam
The facility is expected to be completed in 2027 and will support 100 jobs, according to state officials.
www.wisn.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:17 PM
$1 billion data centre to maybe create 100 jobs. That's likely an overstatement.
It is truly not worth draining the living word for this vampiric tech and people are starting to realize it.
www.wisn.com/article/meta...
It is truly not worth draining the living word for this vampiric tech and people are starting to realize it.
www.wisn.com/article/meta...
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
ICE kidnapped a US citizen in Charlotte after he provided proof of citizenship.
Of course, they made sure to smash his vehicle window for dramatic effect.
Of course, they made sure to smash his vehicle window for dramatic effect.
November 16, 2025 at 12:27 AM
ICE kidnapped a US citizen in Charlotte after he provided proof of citizenship.
Of course, they made sure to smash his vehicle window for dramatic effect.
Of course, they made sure to smash his vehicle window for dramatic effect.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
lock them out
do not comply
abolish ice
do not comply
abolish ice
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
November 16, 2025 at 12:59 PM
lock them out
do not comply
abolish ice
do not comply
abolish ice
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
Important to understand the Epstein stuff and the fascism and the corruption are, in a lot of ways, really all the same story from different angles: powerful men who can and do abuse vulnerable people around them because they can, and because systems of elite accountability catastrophically failed
November 12, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Important to understand the Epstein stuff and the fascism and the corruption are, in a lot of ways, really all the same story from different angles: powerful men who can and do abuse vulnerable people around them because they can, and because systems of elite accountability catastrophically failed
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
Many Americans are hurting right now because of the shutdown, but caving to Republicans won’t end the hurt.
Trump and his lapdogs continue to assert that they alone have the power to slash whatever programs they don’t like.
Deals with this regime are meaningless.
Trump and his lapdogs continue to assert that they alone have the power to slash whatever programs they don’t like.
Deals with this regime are meaningless.
November 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Many Americans are hurting right now because of the shutdown, but caving to Republicans won’t end the hurt.
Trump and his lapdogs continue to assert that they alone have the power to slash whatever programs they don’t like.
Deals with this regime are meaningless.
Trump and his lapdogs continue to assert that they alone have the power to slash whatever programs they don’t like.
Deals with this regime are meaningless.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
This is the party that stole a Supreme Court seat from President Obama. This is the party whose leaders all said President Trump was culpable for 1/6 yet they didn't hold him accountable & they enable him at the expense of their constituents. You can't negotiate in good faith with the faithless.
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 PM
This is the party that stole a Supreme Court seat from President Obama. This is the party whose leaders all said President Trump was culpable for 1/6 yet they didn't hold him accountable & they enable him at the expense of their constituents. You can't negotiate in good faith with the faithless.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
Schumer & Jeffries should have the integrity to resign from their positions in leadership. They've failed, badly. Either they cannot control their caucuses or they're lying & secretly pushed this vote through behind the scenes.
Either way, their betrayal of the American people is indefensible.
Either way, their betrayal of the American people is indefensible.
November 10, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Schumer & Jeffries should have the integrity to resign from their positions in leadership. They've failed, badly. Either they cannot control their caucuses or they're lying & secretly pushed this vote through behind the scenes.
Either way, their betrayal of the American people is indefensible.
Either way, their betrayal of the American people is indefensible.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
I will not support a deal that does nothing to make health care more affordable.
We are in a health care emergency. A simple one-year extension of these tax credits would cost less than Donald Trump’s $40 billion bailout for Argentina.
A vote for this bill is a mistake.
We are in a health care emergency. A simple one-year extension of these tax credits would cost less than Donald Trump’s $40 billion bailout for Argentina.
A vote for this bill is a mistake.
November 10, 2025 at 1:06 AM
I will not support a deal that does nothing to make health care more affordable.
We are in a health care emergency. A simple one-year extension of these tax credits would cost less than Donald Trump’s $40 billion bailout for Argentina.
A vote for this bill is a mistake.
We are in a health care emergency. A simple one-year extension of these tax credits would cost less than Donald Trump’s $40 billion bailout for Argentina.
A vote for this bill is a mistake.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
The administration is deliberately starving poor people so that Dems will agree to radically slash the healthcare available to poor people.
Do not let its familiarity dull your outrage. This is monstrous, unforgivable shit.
Do not let its familiarity dull your outrage. This is monstrous, unforgivable shit.
The Trump administration told states that they must “immediately undo” any actions to provide full food stamp benefits to low-income families, in a move that added to the chaos surrounding the nation’s largest anti-hunger program during the government shutdown. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/b...
November 9, 2025 at 7:56 PM
The administration is deliberately starving poor people so that Dems will agree to radically slash the healthcare available to poor people.
Do not let its familiarity dull your outrage. This is monstrous, unforgivable shit.
Do not let its familiarity dull your outrage. This is monstrous, unforgivable shit.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
He has now erased fully 10% of the term to which Grijalva was elected.
Speaker Johnson is officially keeping the House in recess again next week. This will be the eighth consecutive week the House has been out of session. The chamber hasn't met since Sept. 19. Adelita Grijalva, who was elected on Sept. 23, has not been sworn in.
November 7, 2025 at 7:44 PM
He has now erased fully 10% of the term to which Grijalva was elected.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
“ICE loves to demand our papers but it seems they don’t like it as much when we demand theirs,” said Ginger Quintero-McCall, one of FPF's lawyers in our latest FOIA lawsuit against the immigration agency.
FPF takes ICE to court over dangerous secrecy
FOIA lawsuit targets ICE’s efforts to stop congressional oversight of detention facilities
freedom.press
November 7, 2025 at 8:34 PM
“ICE loves to demand our papers but it seems they don’t like it as much when we demand theirs,” said Ginger Quintero-McCall, one of FPF's lawyers in our latest FOIA lawsuit against the immigration agency.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
All the results from yesterday will of course make them more reckless and desperate. I love all my fellow peaceful warriors who made all that happen yesterday. But let this momentum also carry with it that knowledge: the right are in peril, and will be at their most treacherous.
November 5, 2025 at 4:28 PM
All the results from yesterday will of course make them more reckless and desperate. I love all my fellow peaceful warriors who made all that happen yesterday. But let this momentum also carry with it that knowledge: the right are in peril, and will be at their most treacherous.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
Really looking forward to the Speaker of the House claiming to be unaware of the election results.
November 5, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Really looking forward to the Speaker of the House claiming to be unaware of the election results.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
Politicians should probably get on Bluesky to get better in touch with the American electorate.
November 5, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Politicians should probably get on Bluesky to get better in touch with the American electorate.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
One interesting thing about the California redistricting Prop 50 election is lawmakers in Texas, Missouri & North Carolina all redrew their congressional maps this year without having to go to the voters for approval and idk maybe voters in those states would like to change that
November 5, 2025 at 12:30 AM
One interesting thing about the California redistricting Prop 50 election is lawmakers in Texas, Missouri & North Carolina all redrew their congressional maps this year without having to go to the voters for approval and idk maybe voters in those states would like to change that
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
Dick Cheney did more than anyone else to build up expansive and destructive executive branch powers in the wake of 9/11; he lived to see another president turn those same powers against his own daughter.
He should be a warning sign to the GOP today but too many of them are in the cult.
He should be a warning sign to the GOP today but too many of them are in the cult.
November 4, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Dick Cheney did more than anyone else to build up expansive and destructive executive branch powers in the wake of 9/11; he lived to see another president turn those same powers against his own daughter.
He should be a warning sign to the GOP today but too many of them are in the cult.
He should be a warning sign to the GOP today but too many of them are in the cult.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
This was the biggest travesty of justice ever inflicted on the American people.
November 4, 2025 at 2:46 AM
This was the biggest travesty of justice ever inflicted on the American people.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
If I had the opportunity, says Judge Michael Luttig; "I would tell the Chief Justice that he is presiding over the end of the rule of law in America. That's what he is doing."
For anyone concerned with what remains of US democracy, this is a must listen podcast.
For anyone concerned with what remains of US democracy, this is a must listen podcast.
always an immense honor to talk with @judgeluttig.bsky.social about what it means for judges to stand up to monarchic power, and then to Rick Woldenberg of Learning Resources who brought the tariffs case to SCOTUS for . . . precisely the same reason. podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
The Federal Judiciary Is Trapped
Podcast Episode · Amicus With Dahlia Lithwick | Law, justice, and the courts · 11/01/2025 · 1h 3m
podcasts.apple.com
November 1, 2025 at 9:15 PM
If I had the opportunity, says Judge Michael Luttig; "I would tell the Chief Justice that he is presiding over the end of the rule of law in America. That's what he is doing."
For anyone concerned with what remains of US democracy, this is a must listen podcast.
For anyone concerned with what remains of US democracy, this is a must listen podcast.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
The United States was the leading destination for top scientists from all over the world.
That is ending. Politicians ended it. It will cripple our future competitiveness.
And it’s such a bitter tragedy. Almost no Americans, Conservative or Liberal, grasp what is now being stolen from them.
That is ending. Politicians ended it. It will cripple our future competitiveness.
And it’s such a bitter tragedy. Almost no Americans, Conservative or Liberal, grasp what is now being stolen from them.
Top researchers consider leaving U.S. amid funding cuts: 'The science world is ending'
YouTube video by PBS NewsHour
youtu.be
November 1, 2025 at 3:44 AM
The United States was the leading destination for top scientists from all over the world.
That is ending. Politicians ended it. It will cripple our future competitiveness.
And it’s such a bitter tragedy. Almost no Americans, Conservative or Liberal, grasp what is now being stolen from them.
That is ending. Politicians ended it. It will cripple our future competitiveness.
And it’s such a bitter tragedy. Almost no Americans, Conservative or Liberal, grasp what is now being stolen from them.
Reposted by Kevin Lawrence
“The statement that was made by the North Carolina GOP spokesperson is not the kind of statement that should be made in a democracy,” Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist at Dartmouth College, said.
A spokesman for the North Carolina Republican Party appeared to threaten ProPublica, urging President Trump to “feed” the news outlet to the “USAID wood chipper,” over a story it published on a prominent conservative state Supreme Court judge.
N.C. GOP spokesman urges reporter to drop news story, citing Trump ties
Communications director Matt Mercer later said in a social media post that Trump should “feed ProPublica to the USAID wood chipper.”
wapo.st
October 31, 2025 at 9:20 PM
“The statement that was made by the North Carolina GOP spokesperson is not the kind of statement that should be made in a democracy,” Brendan Nyhan, a political scientist at Dartmouth College, said.