Tony Almquist
@tony-almquist.bsky.social
🌊🌈 Blue wave. ANTIFA Minister of Information. LGBTQ friend. #Resist! #Sober 5+ years. Retired and recovered lawyer. Retired military. Gulf War vet. #INFJ. #Iowa. Follow and find out.💙🌊🌐 #BlueCrew. Follow me on Substack https://substack.com/@tonyalmquist.
by @jtylersyck.bsky.social
1/3 “The collapse of rural towns, small industrial cities, and remote farms has coincided with the decline of local cultures. A local identity brings with it pride of place and a certain willingness to live with the disadvantages endemic to the location. When people..
1/3 “The collapse of rural towns, small industrial cities, and remote farms has coincided with the decline of local cultures. A local identity brings with it pride of place and a certain willingness to live with the disadvantages endemic to the location. When people..
Localism, Not Nationalism, Will Cure What Ails Rural America
What JD Vance gets right and wrong about our left-behind regions.
www.persuasion.community
November 25, 2025 at 5:14 PM
by @jtylersyck.bsky.social
1/3 “The collapse of rural towns, small industrial cities, and remote farms has coincided with the decline of local cultures. A local identity brings with it pride of place and a certain willingness to live with the disadvantages endemic to the location. When people..
1/3 “The collapse of rural towns, small industrial cities, and remote farms has coincided with the decline of local cultures. A local identity brings with it pride of place and a certain willingness to live with the disadvantages endemic to the location. When people..
Trump's Putin Autopen by @anntelnaes.bsky.social
Trump's Putin Autopen
It saves time for his ballroom, arch, and golf course renovations
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Trump's Putin Autopen by @anntelnaes.bsky.social
by @jonathanbchait.bsky.social
1/3 "When Trump arrived on the political scene a decade ago, nearly every prominent right-wing thinker rejected him as a crook and an almost comically transparent serial liar. But Trump’s surprising embrace by Republican voters, which persisted through January 6..
1/3 "When Trump arrived on the political scene a decade ago, nearly every prominent right-wing thinker rejected him as a crook and an almost comically transparent serial liar. But Trump’s surprising embrace by Republican voters, which persisted through January 6..
The Conservative Movement’s Intellectual Collapse
Trump is both a product and a cause of the decline in intellectual standards on the right.
www.theatlantic.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
by @jonathanbchait.bsky.social
1/3 "When Trump arrived on the political scene a decade ago, nearly every prominent right-wing thinker rejected him as a crook and an almost comically transparent serial liar. But Trump’s surprising embrace by Republican voters, which persisted through January 6..
1/3 "When Trump arrived on the political scene a decade ago, nearly every prominent right-wing thinker rejected him as a crook and an almost comically transparent serial liar. But Trump’s surprising embrace by Republican voters, which persisted through January 6..
by Ruy Teixera
1/2 “Most on the left would prefer to believe that the left’s 21st century project is basically sound and just needs a few tweaks. This is whistling past the graveyard. After a quarter century, it is time to face the facts: the project is simply not fit for purpose..
1/2 “Most on the left would prefer to believe that the left’s 21st century project is basically sound and just needs a few tweaks. This is whistling past the graveyard. After a quarter century, it is time to face the facts: the project is simply not fit for purpose..
It’s Time for a New Left
Its 21st century project has failed. An overhaul is in order.
www.persuasion.community
November 25, 2025 at 4:55 PM
by Ruy Teixera
1/2 “Most on the left would prefer to believe that the left’s 21st century project is basically sound and just needs a few tweaks. This is whistling past the graveyard. After a quarter century, it is time to face the facts: the project is simply not fit for purpose..
1/2 “Most on the left would prefer to believe that the left’s 21st century project is basically sound and just needs a few tweaks. This is whistling past the graveyard. After a quarter century, it is time to face the facts: the project is simply not fit for purpose..
by @nberlat.bsky.social
1/2 “How do people manage to make a living at freelancing when they get paid worse than fast food employees? Well, you have to cut corners. You can’t do a ton of research on a pitch before it’s accepted, for example. You can’t travel. And you have to write a lot..
1/2 “How do people manage to make a living at freelancing when they get paid worse than fast food employees? Well, you have to cut corners. You can’t do a ton of research on a pitch before it’s accepted, for example. You can’t travel. And you have to write a lot..
Journalists Have Been Turning Into AI Slop For Years
ChatGPT is the ideal employee
www.everythingishorrible.net
November 25, 2025 at 4:48 PM
by @nberlat.bsky.social
1/2 “How do people manage to make a living at freelancing when they get paid worse than fast food employees? Well, you have to cut corners. You can’t do a ton of research on a pitch before it’s accepted, for example. You can’t travel. And you have to write a lot..
1/2 “How do people manage to make a living at freelancing when they get paid worse than fast food employees? Well, you have to cut corners. You can’t do a ton of research on a pitch before it’s accepted, for example. You can’t travel. And you have to write a lot..
by @mikenellis.bsky.social
1/2 “She’s not leaving to do anything productive. She’s not staying to take real votes or stand up to Trump. What she is going to do is either run for something bigger—Senate, governor, hell, maybe even president—or just cash in. Book deal. Media tour. Podcast..
1/2 “She’s not leaving to do anything productive. She’s not staying to take real votes or stand up to Trump. What she is going to do is either run for something bigger—Senate, governor, hell, maybe even president—or just cash in. Book deal. Media tour. Podcast..
Don’t Fall for Marjorie Taylor Greene’s Resignation
This isn’t regret—it’s rebranding.
endlessurgency.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:45 PM
by @mikenellis.bsky.social
1/2 “She’s not leaving to do anything productive. She’s not staying to take real votes or stand up to Trump. What she is going to do is either run for something bigger—Senate, governor, hell, maybe even president—or just cash in. Book deal. Media tour. Podcast..
1/2 “She’s not leaving to do anything productive. She’s not staying to take real votes or stand up to Trump. What she is going to do is either run for something bigger—Senate, governor, hell, maybe even president—or just cash in. Book deal. Media tour. Podcast..
by @jenrubin.bsky.social
1/3 “Trump uses brazen rudeness, obscene language (including regular f-bombs), and all manner of unpresidential behavior (e.g. sleeping in meetings, attacking Oval Office guests, demeaning women, dining with antisemites) to demonstrate that he operates above & beyond any..
1/3 “Trump uses brazen rudeness, obscene language (including regular f-bombs), and all manner of unpresidential behavior (e.g. sleeping in meetings, attacking Oval Office guests, demeaning women, dining with antisemites) to demonstrate that he operates above & beyond any..
Words & Phrases We Can Do Without
‘Mr. President’? Not for this brute.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:42 PM
by @jenrubin.bsky.social
1/3 “Trump uses brazen rudeness, obscene language (including regular f-bombs), and all manner of unpresidential behavior (e.g. sleeping in meetings, attacking Oval Office guests, demeaning women, dining with antisemites) to demonstrate that he operates above & beyond any..
1/3 “Trump uses brazen rudeness, obscene language (including regular f-bombs), and all manner of unpresidential behavior (e.g. sleeping in meetings, attacking Oval Office guests, demeaning women, dining with antisemites) to demonstrate that he operates above & beyond any..
The Big Event by @andertoon.bsky.social
The Big Event
MAGA’s Meltdown Over Mamdani Shows a Movement That Can’t Handle Reality
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:36 PM
The Big Event by @andertoon.bsky.social
by @mattcrf.bsky.social
1/2“the way for a Democrat to win this race is to run as a member of a team of great Democrats. This candidate needs to be the voice of the Democratic party for farmers & rural Iowans. There is growing potential for rural voters to move to the left. It’s not that Democrats..
1/2“the way for a Democrat to win this race is to run as a member of a team of great Democrats. This candidate needs to be the voice of the Democratic party for farmers & rural Iowans. There is growing potential for rural voters to move to the left. It’s not that Democrats..
Can Democrats Win Race for Iowa Secretary of Agriculture?
Yes! Here's how.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:34 PM
by @mattcrf.bsky.social
1/2“the way for a Democrat to win this race is to run as a member of a team of great Democrats. This candidate needs to be the voice of the Democratic party for farmers & rural Iowans. There is growing potential for rural voters to move to the left. It’s not that Democrats..
1/2“the way for a Democrat to win this race is to run as a member of a team of great Democrats. This candidate needs to be the voice of the Democratic party for farmers & rural Iowans. There is growing potential for rural voters to move to the left. It’s not that Democrats..
by @cliffschecter.bsky.social
1/2 “Trump doesn’t operate from strategy, his 5-hour-energy bursts are derived from ego maintenance. You don’t need to decode his ideology because there isn’t one. His entire inner life can be summed up in five words he repeats like a mantra:
"He said nice things..
1/2 “Trump doesn’t operate from strategy, his 5-hour-energy bursts are derived from ego maintenance. You don’t need to decode his ideology because there isn’t one. His entire inner life can be summed up in five words he repeats like a mantra:
"He said nice things..
The Only Trump Theory That Ever Mattered: He Said Nice Things About Me
Trump isn’t a strategist — he’s a praise-powered reaction machine. Mamdani proved it, dictators exploit it, and the media still can’t grasp it.
www.blueamp.co
November 25, 2025 at 4:29 PM
by @cliffschecter.bsky.social
1/2 “Trump doesn’t operate from strategy, his 5-hour-energy bursts are derived from ego maintenance. You don’t need to decode his ideology because there isn’t one. His entire inner life can be summed up in five words he repeats like a mantra:
"He said nice things..
1/2 “Trump doesn’t operate from strategy, his 5-hour-energy bursts are derived from ego maintenance. You don’t need to decode his ideology because there isn’t one. His entire inner life can be summed up in five words he repeats like a mantra:
"He said nice things..
by @paulkrugman.substack.com.web.brid.gy
1/2 “Although DOGE is no longer, the damage persists. In addition to the needless loss of hundreds of thousands of lives around the world and the trashing of America’s global reputation, all for some flashy headlines, DOGE also seriously compromised the..
1/2 “Although DOGE is no longer, the damage persists. In addition to the needless loss of hundreds of thousands of lives around the world and the trashing of America’s global reputation, all for some flashy headlines, DOGE also seriously compromised the..
DOGE Was a Harbinger of Trump’s Assault on Decency and Privacy
Democrats will have to repair the damage
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:24 PM
by @paulkrugman.substack.com.web.brid.gy
1/2 “Although DOGE is no longer, the damage persists. In addition to the needless loss of hundreds of thousands of lives around the world and the trashing of America’s global reputation, all for some flashy headlines, DOGE also seriously compromised the..
1/2 “Although DOGE is no longer, the damage persists. In addition to the needless loss of hundreds of thousands of lives around the world and the trashing of America’s global reputation, all for some flashy headlines, DOGE also seriously compromised the..
by @snipy.bsky.social
1/2 “if a higher court were to resuscitate the Comey and James charges by reinstalling Halligan as some form of US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, she’s still stuck with the fact that these indictments are garbage. Getting Halligan back in only fixes..
1/2 “if a higher court were to resuscitate the Comey and James charges by reinstalling Halligan as some form of US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, she’s still stuck with the fact that these indictments are garbage. Getting Halligan back in only fixes..
Trump's lawfare takes a big L
The war isn't over but this battle was a rout.
www.publicnotice.co
November 25, 2025 at 4:19 PM
by @snipy.bsky.social
1/2 “if a higher court were to resuscitate the Comey and James charges by reinstalling Halligan as some form of US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, she’s still stuck with the fact that these indictments are garbage. Getting Halligan back in only fixes..
1/2 “if a higher court were to resuscitate the Comey and James charges by reinstalling Halligan as some form of US attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, she’s still stuck with the fact that these indictments are garbage. Getting Halligan back in only fixes..
by @joycewhitevance.bsky.social @preetbharara.bsky.social
1/2 “A flag here for future appeals—the administration is likely to challenge the law that permits judges to appoint interim US Attorneys, arguing it violates separation of powers by permitting the courts to intrude in the executive..
1/2 “A flag here for future appeals—the administration is likely to challenge the law that permits judges to appoint interim US Attorneys, arguing it violates separation of powers by permitting the courts to intrude in the executive..
Explanation: The Comey and James Prosecutions, Dismissed Without Prejudice
Preet's and my conversation and more
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:13 PM
by @joycewhitevance.bsky.social @preetbharara.bsky.social
1/2 “A flag here for future appeals—the administration is likely to challenge the law that permits judges to appoint interim US Attorneys, arguing it violates separation of powers by permitting the courts to intrude in the executive..
1/2 “A flag here for future appeals—the administration is likely to challenge the law that permits judges to appoint interim US Attorneys, arguing it violates separation of powers by permitting the courts to intrude in the executive..
by @dianabutlerbass.bsky.social
1/2 “GOD, there are many days we do not feel grateful.
“When we are anxious or angry. When we feel alone. When we do not understand what is happening in the world or with our neighbors. When the news is bleak and confusing. When there are threats, injustice..
1/2 “GOD, there are many days we do not feel grateful.
“When we are anxious or angry. When we feel alone. When we do not understand what is happening in the world or with our neighbors. When the news is bleak and confusing. When there are threats, injustice..
When Gratitude Eludes Us
Choose it anyway
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:04 PM
by @dianabutlerbass.bsky.social
1/2 “GOD, there are many days we do not feel grateful.
“When we are anxious or angry. When we feel alone. When we do not understand what is happening in the world or with our neighbors. When the news is bleak and confusing. When there are threats, injustice..
1/2 “GOD, there are many days we do not feel grateful.
“When we are anxious or angry. When we feel alone. When we do not understand what is happening in the world or with our neighbors. When the news is bleak and confusing. When there are threats, injustice..
by @hcrichardson.bsky.social
1/3 “Turning to military tribunals harks back to QAnon, a conspiracy theory that took off in 2017. It maintained Trump was leading a fight against an international ring of pedophiles that he would bring to justice through military tribunals. As recently as during the..
1/3 “Turning to military tribunals harks back to QAnon, a conspiracy theory that took off in 2017. It maintained Trump was leading a fight against an international ring of pedophiles that he would bring to justice through military tribunals. As recently as during the..
November 24, 2025
U.S.
open.substack.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
by @hcrichardson.bsky.social
1/3 “Turning to military tribunals harks back to QAnon, a conspiracy theory that took off in 2017. It maintained Trump was leading a fight against an international ring of pedophiles that he would bring to justice through military tribunals. As recently as during the..
1/3 “Turning to military tribunals harks back to QAnon, a conspiracy theory that took off in 2017. It maintained Trump was leading a fight against an international ring of pedophiles that he would bring to justice through military tribunals. As recently as during the..
Judge dismisses Comey, James indictments after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed
qctimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Judge dismisses Comey, James indictments after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed
by @tdorman.bsky.social @theswinerepublic.bsky.social
1/3 “Perhaps Jones’ biggest break with Iowa political orthodoxy is his opposition to ethanol. Planting a mountain of King Corn for fuel has been bad for our waterways. Big government still is needed to keep the industry afloat..
1/3 “Perhaps Jones’ biggest break with Iowa political orthodoxy is his opposition to ethanol. Planting a mountain of King Corn for fuel has been bad for our waterways. Big government still is needed to keep the industry afloat..
Jones believes facts can beat ‘cropaganda’
Researcher who has been sounding the alarm on Iowa's dirty water for years is considering a run for secretary of agriculture in 2026
substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:46 PM
by @tdorman.bsky.social @theswinerepublic.bsky.social
1/3 “Perhaps Jones’ biggest break with Iowa political orthodoxy is his opposition to ethanol. Planting a mountain of King Corn for fuel has been bad for our waterways. Big government still is needed to keep the industry afloat..
1/3 “Perhaps Jones’ biggest break with Iowa political orthodoxy is his opposition to ethanol. Planting a mountain of King Corn for fuel has been bad for our waterways. Big government still is needed to keep the industry afloat..
by @laurarbelin.bsky.social
1/2 “The Fund for Economic Independence later claimed their commercial ‘sharply’ improved Bird’s image with ‘targeted persuadable voters,’ moving her from a 7-point deficit to a tie in a ballot test against Democratic challenger Nate Willems.
“While it’s impossible to..
1/2 “The Fund for Economic Independence later claimed their commercial ‘sharply’ improved Bird’s image with ‘targeted persuadable voters,’ moving her from a 7-point deficit to a tie in a ballot test against Democratic challenger Nate Willems.
“While it’s impossible to..
Conservative group attempted image makeover for Brenna Bird
Iowa's AG has surprisingly bad poll numbers
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:28 PM
by @laurarbelin.bsky.social
1/2 “The Fund for Economic Independence later claimed their commercial ‘sharply’ improved Bird’s image with ‘targeted persuadable voters,’ moving her from a 7-point deficit to a tie in a ballot test against Democratic challenger Nate Willems.
“While it’s impossible to..
1/2 “The Fund for Economic Independence later claimed their commercial ‘sharply’ improved Bird’s image with ‘targeted persuadable voters,’ moving her from a 7-point deficit to a tie in a ballot test against Democratic challenger Nate Willems.
“While it’s impossible to..
by @jenrubin.bsky.social
1/2“A little intentionality in your holiday gift-buying can go a long way.What would success look like? Nelini Stamp, one of the We Ain’t Buying It leaders, told me, ‘Success looks like a dent in sales of Home Depot, Target, & Amazon, & folks understanding there is a dent..
1/2“A little intentionality in your holiday gift-buying can go a long way.What would success look like? Nelini Stamp, one of the We Ain’t Buying It leaders, told me, ‘Success looks like a dent in sales of Home Depot, Target, & Amazon, & folks understanding there is a dent..
A call to action
‘We Ain’t Buying It’
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:11 PM
by @jenrubin.bsky.social
1/2“A little intentionality in your holiday gift-buying can go a long way.What would success look like? Nelini Stamp, one of the We Ain’t Buying It leaders, told me, ‘Success looks like a dent in sales of Home Depot, Target, & Amazon, & folks understanding there is a dent..
1/2“A little intentionality in your holiday gift-buying can go a long way.What would success look like? Nelini Stamp, one of the We Ain’t Buying It leaders, told me, ‘Success looks like a dent in sales of Home Depot, Target, & Amazon, & folks understanding there is a dent..
by @davidpakman.bsky.social
1/3 “On the Republican side, I expect a primary that is completely chaotic, probably ugly, and still anchored to Trump in some way. Whether that is Vance, or some media figure, or someone we are not even thinking about yet, the basic project will be Trumpism 2.0..
1/3 “On the Republican side, I expect a primary that is completely chaotic, probably ugly, and still anchored to Trump in some way. Whether that is Vance, or some media figure, or someone we are not even thinking about yet, the basic project will be Trumpism 2.0..
Is Newsom vs. Vance INEVITABLE?
2028 is shaping up to be the strangest, most crowded race in modern politics.
substack.davidpakman.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:53 PM
by @davidpakman.bsky.social
1/3 “On the Republican side, I expect a primary that is completely chaotic, probably ugly, and still anchored to Trump in some way. Whether that is Vance, or some media figure, or someone we are not even thinking about yet, the basic project will be Trumpism 2.0..
1/3 “On the Republican side, I expect a primary that is completely chaotic, probably ugly, and still anchored to Trump in some way. Whether that is Vance, or some media figure, or someone we are not even thinking about yet, the basic project will be Trumpism 2.0..
by @lizdye.bsky.social
1/2 “the Abrego cases plod along, a slow parade of thuggish buffoonery. After kidnapping him to CECOT & claiming that he would never set foot in the US again, the government snatched him back & crowed that this dangerous criminal would face justice in an American courtroom..
1/2 “the Abrego cases plod along, a slow parade of thuggish buffoonery. After kidnapping him to CECOT & claiming that he would never set foot in the US again, the government snatched him back & crowed that this dangerous criminal would face justice in an American courtroom..
DOJ: We Can't Send Abrego To Costa Rica. Costa Rica: ¡Falso!
False declarations in court? What DOJ lawyer will they find to do that????
www.lawandchaospod.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:48 PM
by @lizdye.bsky.social
1/2 “the Abrego cases plod along, a slow parade of thuggish buffoonery. After kidnapping him to CECOT & claiming that he would never set foot in the US again, the government snatched him back & crowed that this dangerous criminal would face justice in an American courtroom..
1/2 “the Abrego cases plod along, a slow parade of thuggish buffoonery. After kidnapping him to CECOT & claiming that he would never set foot in the US again, the government snatched him back & crowed that this dangerous criminal would face justice in an American courtroom..
by @paulkrugman.substack.com.web.brid.gy
1/2"Why is Bitcoin a Trump trade? Partly because Trump, whose family has in effect received massive bribes from the crypto industry, has been rewarding that investment with pro-crypto policies. Notably, Trump has signed an executive order intended to allow..
1/2"Why is Bitcoin a Trump trade? Partly because Trump, whose family has in effect received massive bribes from the crypto industry, has been rewarding that investment with pro-crypto policies. Notably, Trump has signed an executive order intended to allow..
The Trump Trade is Unraveling
Tells from the crypto crash
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:42 PM
by @paulkrugman.substack.com.web.brid.gy
1/2"Why is Bitcoin a Trump trade? Partly because Trump, whose family has in effect received massive bribes from the crypto industry, has been rewarding that investment with pro-crypto policies. Notably, Trump has signed an executive order intended to allow..
1/2"Why is Bitcoin a Trump trade? Partly because Trump, whose family has in effect received massive bribes from the crypto industry, has been rewarding that investment with pro-crypto policies. Notably, Trump has signed an executive order intended to allow..
by @jojofromjerz.bsky.social
1/2 “senators at the Halifax Security Forum said Rubio told them that the 28 point document was not ours at all. It was Russia’s. Putin’s wet dream printed on White House letterhead. A dictator’s Christmas list translated for Western media by someone in Trump’s orbit..
1/2 “senators at the Halifax Security Forum said Rubio told them that the 28 point document was not ours at all. It was Russia’s. Putin’s wet dream printed on White House letterhead. A dictator’s Christmas list translated for Western media by someone in Trump’s orbit..
Diplomacy for Dummies: Duck and Cover Edition
What a fucking shitshow.
open.substack.com
November 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
by @jojofromjerz.bsky.social
1/2 “senators at the Halifax Security Forum said Rubio told them that the 28 point document was not ours at all. It was Russia’s. Putin’s wet dream printed on White House letterhead. A dictator’s Christmas list translated for Western media by someone in Trump’s orbit..
1/2 “senators at the Halifax Security Forum said Rubio told them that the 28 point document was not ours at all. It was Russia’s. Putin’s wet dream printed on White House letterhead. A dictator’s Christmas list translated for Western media by someone in Trump’s orbit..