@vonnielb.bsky.social
Reposted
Cue the Roberts Court saying that it’s not a bribe if Trump didn’t officially ask for a gold bar in return for dropping tariffs.
"It was tough to beat Apple, but the Swiss did it." said one administration official.
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 15, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Cue the Roberts Court saying that it’s not a bribe if Trump didn’t officially ask for a gold bar in return for dropping tariffs.
Reposted
When we link arms and band together, we can put the most insecure president who’s ever lived on his
November 15, 2025 at 11:48 PM
When we link arms and band together, we can put the most insecure president who’s ever lived on his
Reposted
Funny watching all the MAGA influencers celebrate Trump for rolling back tariffs on beef and coffee — after spending the whole year arguing tariffs don’t raise prices.
November 15, 2025 at 10:52 PM
Funny watching all the MAGA influencers celebrate Trump for rolling back tariffs on beef and coffee — after spending the whole year arguing tariffs don’t raise prices.
Reposted
After being diagnosed with a cancer that he didn’t actually have, Anthony Olson dropped out of college, moved back in with his parents and began Weiner’s prescribed regimen: four straight days on chemo, four weeks off.
Olson endured this for nine years.
(Published Dec. 2024)
Olson endured this for nine years.
(Published Dec. 2024)
“I Thought He Was Helping Me”: Patient Endured 9 Years of Chemotherapy for Cancer He Never Had
Anthony Olson was told that he’d die without the treatment and to ignore a negative biopsy. He’s one of many patients who may have received harmful or unnecessary treatments from Montana oncologist Dr...
www.propublica.org
November 16, 2025 at 12:00 AM
After being diagnosed with a cancer that he didn’t actually have, Anthony Olson dropped out of college, moved back in with his parents and began Weiner’s prescribed regimen: four straight days on chemo, four weeks off.
Olson endured this for nine years.
(Published Dec. 2024)
Olson endured this for nine years.
(Published Dec. 2024)
Reposted
I'm seeing people wonder why ICE is going after Charlotte.
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
“When the 8 African American sheriffs took over the largest counties in North Carolina, it became a threat to the good ol’ boy system,” says the sheriff of Charlotte. These new sheriffs broke ties with ICE.
But GOP lawmakers cracked down this week, overbidding the governor’s veto to adopt this law:
But GOP lawmakers cracked down this week, overbidding the governor’s veto to adopt this law:
North Carolina GOP Is Cracking Down on the Black Sheriffs Who Stood Up to ICE
Boosted by new supermajorities, Republicans are closing in on legislation to mandate more collaboration with ICE and preempt local policies hard-won by immigrants’ rights advocates.
boltsmag.org
November 15, 2025 at 10:43 PM
I'm seeing people wonder why ICE is going after Charlotte.
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
ICE has been at war with Charlotte's sheriff ever since he won in 2018.
We'd covered this at Bolts back in the day; this quote is from that sheriff:
Reposted
Border Patrol protest today in Charlotte, NC. 11/15
November 15, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Border Patrol protest today in Charlotte, NC. 11/15
Reposted
Most Americans agree we need to get money out of politics. If that takes a constitutional amendment, then that's what we have to do. And if that's going to take years, then it's all the more reason to begin pushing now.
November 14, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Most Americans agree we need to get money out of politics. If that takes a constitutional amendment, then that's what we have to do. And if that's going to take years, then it's all the more reason to begin pushing now.
Reposted
This is big: elected Republicans in a deep-red state saying NO to Trump even after his personal plea.
The balance is shifting - and we have to keep up the pressure everywhere.
The balance is shifting - and we have to keep up the pressure everywhere.
Indiana likely will not push forward with redistricting despite pressure from White House
It’s a massive blow to the White House’s efforts to shore up a Republican House majority next year.
www.politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:32 PM
This is big: elected Republicans in a deep-red state saying NO to Trump even after his personal plea.
The balance is shifting - and we have to keep up the pressure everywhere.
The balance is shifting - and we have to keep up the pressure everywhere.
Reposted
The New York Times is being either naive or dishonest in suggesting it's possible for prosecutor Jay Clayton to operate ethically under Trump's order to target Democrats. Clayton would have quit already – or never taken the job – if he had principles.
U.S. Attorney Under Pressure After Order to Investigate Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2025 at 7:13 PM
The New York Times is being either naive or dishonest in suggesting it's possible for prosecutor Jay Clayton to operate ethically under Trump's order to target Democrats. Clayton would have quit already – or never taken the job – if he had principles.
Reposted
Trump's new autopen scandal. Every accusation is a confession.
Justice Department quietly replaced 'identical' Trump signatures on recent pardons
President Donald Trump is facing new scrutiny over the use of a replicated signature on several recent pardons.
apnews.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Trump's new autopen scandal. Every accusation is a confession.
Reposted
This sounds like a keystone cops scenario, but is actually an incredibly dangerous situation and an upshot of poor coordination.When I was U.S attorney, we took great pains to minimize this precise risk, which happens when diff agencies are working the same area.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Fullerton police stop man pointing gun at female driver, only to learn he is ICE agent
A Fullerton police officer told the agent he couldn't help 'with someone following or recording him if no crime had occurred.' Under state law, local police cannot enforce federal immigration law.
www.latimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 12:01 AM
This sounds like a keystone cops scenario, but is actually an incredibly dangerous situation and an upshot of poor coordination.When I was U.S attorney, we took great pains to minimize this precise risk, which happens when diff agencies are working the same area.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
One thing is consistent, he's disgusting then and now.
Here is Trump when he owned the Miss Universe and Miss Teen USA pageants bragging about how he “was able to get away with” going backstage when contestants were naked since he was the boss and he had to do “inspections.”
November 16, 2025 at 1:36 AM
One thing is consistent, he's disgusting then and now.
Reposted
The murderous little piece of shit who kills Washington Post journalists, right? *That* crown prince?
That’s the one you’re honoring, yes?
That’s the one you’re honoring, yes?
November 15, 2025 at 3:36 AM
The murderous little piece of shit who kills Washington Post journalists, right? *That* crown prince?
That’s the one you’re honoring, yes?
That’s the one you’re honoring, yes?
Reposted
Trump's policies are inflicting so much harm even his allies can see it. Yet he's mostly doing exactly what he promised to. If they revolt over policy, they'll reveal they were fools to back him in the first place. They need a *moral* reason to abandon him. The Epstein files provide just that.
November 15, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Trump's policies are inflicting so much harm even his allies can see it. Yet he's mostly doing exactly what he promised to. If they revolt over policy, they'll reveal they were fools to back him in the first place. They need a *moral* reason to abandon him. The Epstein files provide just that.
Reposted
The Trump family is chasing another real estate deal in Saudi Arabia.
And the Saudis want a mutual defense agreement and access to U.S. nuclear technology.
Looks like Trump and the royal family will both win, with our national security for sale. The only losers? The American people.
And the Saudis want a mutual defense agreement and access to U.S. nuclear technology.
Looks like Trump and the royal family will both win, with our national security for sale. The only losers? The American people.
November 15, 2025 at 11:06 PM
The Trump family is chasing another real estate deal in Saudi Arabia.
And the Saudis want a mutual defense agreement and access to U.S. nuclear technology.
Looks like Trump and the royal family will both win, with our national security for sale. The only losers? The American people.
And the Saudis want a mutual defense agreement and access to U.S. nuclear technology.
Looks like Trump and the royal family will both win, with our national security for sale. The only losers? The American people.
Reposted
Known for his cosmic-stoner songwriting and freewheeling tunes, Todd Snider's career spanned three decades. n.pr/4pgYetu
Americana troubadour Todd Snider, alt-country singer-songwriter, dies at 59
Known for his cosmic-stoner songwriting and freewheeling tunes, Todd Snider's career spanned three decades.
n.pr
November 15, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Known for his cosmic-stoner songwriting and freewheeling tunes, Todd Snider's career spanned three decades. n.pr/4pgYetu
Reposted
CORRECTION: They dissolved *some* of the Washington Post journalist's body in acid.
The *rest* they barbecued on a grill until it was incinerated.
I know because I wrote a chapter on it in Proof of Conspiracy (Macmillan).
Trump thereafter bragged about "saving MBS's ass."
These are all monsters.
The *rest* they barbecued on a grill until it was incinerated.
I know because I wrote a chapter on it in Proof of Conspiracy (Macmillan).
Trump thereafter bragged about "saving MBS's ass."
These are all monsters.
November 15, 2025 at 11:11 PM
CORRECTION: They dissolved *some* of the Washington Post journalist's body in acid.
The *rest* they barbecued on a grill until it was incinerated.
I know because I wrote a chapter on it in Proof of Conspiracy (Macmillan).
Trump thereafter bragged about "saving MBS's ass."
These are all monsters.
The *rest* they barbecued on a grill until it was incinerated.
I know because I wrote a chapter on it in Proof of Conspiracy (Macmillan).
Trump thereafter bragged about "saving MBS's ass."
These are all monsters.
Reposted
Michigan 👀
Scared about the massive costs of healthcare or worried about the loss of SNAP benefits? Fret not! You've graciously paid for the tax breaks of two Michigan House reps!
distillsocial.substack.com/p/how-two-mi...
distillsocial.substack.com/p/how-two-mi...
October 29, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Michigan 👀
Reposted
QUESTION: Who is your political inspiration?
SCHLOSBERG: “In the modern era, I love Nancy Pelosi… the most important female political figure in American history… the backbone of the Democratic Party… the reason we have the Affordable Care Act… she deserves a lot of credit for the example she set.”
SCHLOSBERG: “In the modern era, I love Nancy Pelosi… the most important female political figure in American history… the backbone of the Democratic Party… the reason we have the Affordable Care Act… she deserves a lot of credit for the example she set.”
November 15, 2025 at 3:08 PM
QUESTION: Who is your political inspiration?
SCHLOSBERG: “In the modern era, I love Nancy Pelosi… the most important female political figure in American history… the backbone of the Democratic Party… the reason we have the Affordable Care Act… she deserves a lot of credit for the example she set.”
SCHLOSBERG: “In the modern era, I love Nancy Pelosi… the most important female political figure in American history… the backbone of the Democratic Party… the reason we have the Affordable Care Act… she deserves a lot of credit for the example she set.”
Reposted
What a photograph.
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
November 15, 2025 at 1:51 PM
What a photograph.
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
“Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protested outside a federal immigration facility near Chicago…”
Arrested large amounts of peaceful clergy face first on pavement is a pretty good sign you’re not the good guys in the story. www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Reposted
This is me at 15. I’m a child.
I’m a CHILD.
I’m a CHILD.
November 15, 2025 at 2:17 PM
This is me at 15. I’m a child.
I’m a CHILD.
I’m a CHILD.
Reposted
Yes, sadly it is real.
November 15, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Yes, sadly it is real.
Reposted
Reposted
Standing up to a tyrant - who is willing to impose pain as leverage to compel loyalty or acquiescence - is hard. You can convince yourself that yielding stops the pain and brings you back to "normal".
But there is no "normal". Submission emboldens the tyrant. The threat grows.
But there is no "normal". Submission emboldens the tyrant. The threat grows.
November 10, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Standing up to a tyrant - who is willing to impose pain as leverage to compel loyalty or acquiescence - is hard. You can convince yourself that yielding stops the pain and brings you back to "normal".
But there is no "normal". Submission emboldens the tyrant. The threat grows.
But there is no "normal". Submission emboldens the tyrant. The threat grows.
Reposted
We are headed toward martial law and the end of our democracy and I will never forgive the people in power who every step of the way told us it was all just fine and everything would work out swell as long as we kept pretending that nothing we have actually seen with our own two eyes was happening
November 10, 2025 at 9:25 PM
We are headed toward martial law and the end of our democracy and I will never forgive the people in power who every step of the way told us it was all just fine and everything would work out swell as long as we kept pretending that nothing we have actually seen with our own two eyes was happening