R. Bell
@robtbell.bsky.social
Former editor of political and general news at a metro daily. Yes this is a pseudonym. Views expressed are my own. Pleased if they match yours; unbothered if they don't. The America Fairy won't save us.
Dems seem to reserve all their comments for fundraising emails :(
November 26, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Dems seem to reserve all their comments for fundraising emails :(
I have yet to see anyone explain how Schumer was supposed to force the Republicans to break. They were perfectly happy to let the shutdown go on indefinitely, the public be damned. The shutdown was a trap.
November 26, 2025 at 2:22 AM
I have yet to see anyone explain how Schumer was supposed to force the Republicans to break. They were perfectly happy to let the shutdown go on indefinitely, the public be damned. The shutdown was a trap.
Horseshit headline. Trump doesn't GAF about peace or stopping bloodshed. He just wants a deal that (a) allows him to brag that he "settled" the war and (b) rewards himself and his Russian and American cronies with profits from mineral extraction, redevelopment contracts, etc.
November 25, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Horseshit headline. Trump doesn't GAF about peace or stopping bloodshed. He just wants a deal that (a) allows him to brag that he "settled" the war and (b) rewards himself and his Russian and American cronies with profits from mineral extraction, redevelopment contracts, etc.
The Trumpist (formerly Republican) Party is completely divorced from the Constitution and the criminal, civil and military laws of the U.S.A. - which REQUIRE armed service members to refuse illegal orders.
November 24, 2025 at 5:34 PM
The Trumpist (formerly Republican) Party is completely divorced from the Constitution and the criminal, civil and military laws of the U.S.A. - which REQUIRE armed service members to refuse illegal orders.
Has everyone forgotten that Russia used the NRA to buy the gop?
November 24, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Has everyone forgotten that Russia used the NRA to buy the gop?
Why would anyone believe anything Elliot Convicted-of-Lying-to-Congress-About-Iran-Contra Abrams has to say?
November 23, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Why would anyone believe anything Elliot Convicted-of-Lying-to-Congress-About-Iran-Contra Abrams has to say?
The Associated Press *did* interview grieving relatives. They said some of the victims were transporting drugs to make a little cash. They were mules, not traffickers or kingpins.
November 20, 2025 at 3:15 PM
The Associated Press *did* interview grieving relatives. They said some of the victims were transporting drugs to make a little cash. They were mules, not traffickers or kingpins.
Of course. That's clearly been the plan since last week. As soon as it became clear the House resolution would pass, Trump ordered Bondi to open new investigations.
November 19, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Of course. That's clearly been the plan since last week. As soon as it became clear the House resolution would pass, Trump ordered Bondi to open new investigations.
In Miller's fevered mind, the law and Constitution have been replaced by dictatorship, and attempting to restore them is treasonous.
November 19, 2025 at 3:52 AM
In Miller's fevered mind, the law and Constitution have been replaced by dictatorship, and attempting to restore them is treasonous.
Yes. The Constitution only operates if our leaders follow it, and those in power today do not. The task now is not defending democracy in the USA, but *restoring* it.
November 19, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Yes. The Constitution only operates if our leaders follow it, and those in power today do not. The task now is not defending democracy in the USA, but *restoring* it.
Republicans seem to be hell-bent on demolishing everything the government does, no matter what the fallout is. The Census isn't some woke lefty program or academic program. Its data is vital to all kinds of businesses and all levels of govt. How insane can they get?
November 18, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Republicans seem to be hell-bent on demolishing everything the government does, no matter what the fallout is. The Census isn't some woke lefty program or academic program. Its data is vital to all kinds of businesses and all levels of govt. How insane can they get?
Yeah, it's a hoax by Democrats who are demanding you release the Epstein files that will expose Democrats. Suuuurrrrre.
November 18, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Yeah, it's a hoax by Democrats who are demanding you release the Epstein files that will expose Democrats. Suuuurrrrre.
Among the many, many things wrong here is this fact: ABC, the television network doesn't have a license.
The company's eight (8) network-owned TV stations have individual licenses for their over-the-air channels. All other stations on the ABC network are independently owned and licensed.
The company's eight (8) network-owned TV stations have individual licenses for their over-the-air channels. All other stations on the ABC network are independently owned and licensed.
November 18, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Among the many, many things wrong here is this fact: ABC, the television network doesn't have a license.
The company's eight (8) network-owned TV stations have individual licenses for their over-the-air channels. All other stations on the ABC network are independently owned and licensed.
The company's eight (8) network-owned TV stations have individual licenses for their over-the-air channels. All other stations on the ABC network are independently owned and licensed.
He doesn't want to release them.
Trump knows he can't stop the House from voting to release the files, so he's telling them "go ahead."
But meanwhile he's told Bondi to investigate Epstein links to Democrats. Then Bondi will claim the files part of an active investigation and can't be released.
Trump knows he can't stop the House from voting to release the files, so he's telling them "go ahead."
But meanwhile he's told Bondi to investigate Epstein links to Democrats. Then Bondi will claim the files part of an active investigation and can't be released.
November 17, 2025 at 8:23 PM
He doesn't want to release them.
Trump knows he can't stop the House from voting to release the files, so he's telling them "go ahead."
But meanwhile he's told Bondi to investigate Epstein links to Democrats. Then Bondi will claim the files part of an active investigation and can't be released.
Trump knows he can't stop the House from voting to release the files, so he's telling them "go ahead."
But meanwhile he's told Bondi to investigate Epstein links to Democrats. Then Bondi will claim the files part of an active investigation and can't be released.
He already ordered Bondi to start a new investigation (targeting Democrats only) so Bondi can claim that the records can't be released because of an active investigation.
November 17, 2025 at 2:35 PM
He already ordered Bondi to start a new investigation (targeting Democrats only) so Bondi can claim that the records can't be released because of an active investigation.
The shutdown was a trap. As this article says, the Trump Party showed no sign of giving in, while SNAP recipients, fed workers and others suffered. "Whatever political advantage the (Dems) held collided with the reality of millions caught in the crossfire." So what were they supposed to do?
November 17, 2025 at 1:18 AM
The shutdown was a trap. As this article says, the Trump Party showed no sign of giving in, while SNAP recipients, fed workers and others suffered. "Whatever political advantage the (Dems) held collided with the reality of millions caught in the crossfire." So what were they supposed to do?
This idea of a country 'emptying its prisons' and sending inmates to the US is stuck in his brain from the 1980 Mariel boatlift. He heard back then that Castro did this, and his failing brain thinks it's still happening.
November 17, 2025 at 1:06 AM
This idea of a country 'emptying its prisons' and sending inmates to the US is stuck in his brain from the 1980 Mariel boatlift. He heard back then that Castro did this, and his failing brain thinks it's still happening.
Not to engage the argument, but it is important to make clear that it's completely false. "He's spewing vile propaganda" has less force than "He's lying, totally making shit up, to spew his vile propaganda."
November 15, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Not to engage the argument, but it is important to make clear that it's completely false. "He's spewing vile propaganda" has less force than "He's lying, totally making shit up, to spew his vile propaganda."
I don't see the "objective" news orgs reporting it yet. Odd.
November 13, 2025 at 11:29 PM
I don't see the "objective" news orgs reporting it yet. Odd.
It's just as much a "hoax" as Russian interference in the 2016 election, Trump's efforts to steal the 2020 election, Trump's theft of top-secret documents ...
In Trumpspeak, "hoax" = "damning evidence."
In Trumpspeak, "hoax" = "damning evidence."
November 12, 2025 at 10:38 PM
It's just as much a "hoax" as Russian interference in the 2016 election, Trump's efforts to steal the 2020 election, Trump's theft of top-secret documents ...
In Trumpspeak, "hoax" = "damning evidence."
In Trumpspeak, "hoax" = "damning evidence."
The last line there - "explain why and how" - points to exactly what's been missing from all the lamentations about the Dem "cave." Holding out longer would just mean more SNAP benefits and federal worker paychecks withheld. Plus Trump was happy with the shutdown. What other endgame was possible?
November 12, 2025 at 8:35 PM
The last line there - "explain why and how" - points to exactly what's been missing from all the lamentations about the Dem "cave." Holding out longer would just mean more SNAP benefits and federal worker paychecks withheld. Plus Trump was happy with the shutdown. What other endgame was possible?
"Trump supporters who believe in the Constitution" - quite the oxymoron.
Kind of like "lying thieves who believe in the Ten Commandments."
Kind of like "lying thieves who believe in the Ten Commandments."
November 11, 2025 at 2:56 PM
"Trump supporters who believe in the Constitution" - quite the oxymoron.
Kind of like "lying thieves who believe in the Ten Commandments."
Kind of like "lying thieves who believe in the Ten Commandments."
Sorry but what was the alternative? Continue the shutdown indefinitely? The Trumpists had zero incentive to change course. They were happy to keep parts of the govt shut, let Trump decide what parts to keep running, and meanwhile starve the poor. There was no hint they would ever give an inch.
November 11, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Sorry but what was the alternative? Continue the shutdown indefinitely? The Trumpists had zero incentive to change course. They were happy to keep parts of the govt shut, let Trump decide what parts to keep running, and meanwhile starve the poor. There was no hint they would ever give an inch.
This isn't a poker game - it's a hostage situation. All well and good to say "don't give in to terrorists" but hard to hold that stance when they're starving the hostages.
November 10, 2025 at 5:07 PM
This isn't a poker game - it's a hostage situation. All well and good to say "don't give in to terrorists" but hard to hold that stance when they're starving the hostages.