Louise
@weezerbackstg.bsky.social
Retired Global Event Producer & Stage Mgr (aka road warrior). Lover of dogs, creativity & trying to save democracy & humanity.
Reposted by Louise
Hey, remember all the talk about MAGA populism? It’s just the same GOP crap. Thanks a lot, Trump voters.
May 17, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Hey, remember all the talk about MAGA populism? It’s just the same GOP crap. Thanks a lot, Trump voters.
Reposted by Louise
For no particular reason, I thought I’d remind folks about the time Trump reposted a full-size, full-color image of a truck that was “decorated” with an unconscious Joe Biden, arms and legs bound as though he’d been kidnapped, during the campaign. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
We Need to Talk About This
Today’s widely discussed Trump post on Truth Social isn’t just another instance of bad behavior.
open.substack.com
May 17, 2025 at 2:51 AM
For no particular reason, I thought I’d remind folks about the time Trump reposted a full-size, full-color image of a truck that was “decorated” with an unconscious Joe Biden, arms and legs bound as though he’d been kidnapped, during the campaign. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
Reposted by Louise
'Refugee groups have questioned why the white South Africans are being prioritized ahead of people from countries wracked by war and natural disasters. Vetting for refugee status in the US often takes years.'
Trump administration offers refugee status to 49 white South Africans
Group, including families and small children, departed for US after Trump order created relocation program
www.theguardian.com
May 12, 2025 at 11:09 AM
'Refugee groups have questioned why the white South Africans are being prioritized ahead of people from countries wracked by war and natural disasters. Vetting for refugee status in the US often takes years.'
Reposted by Louise
NEWS: U.S. and China agree to a 90-day pause on new tariffs after shipping to U.S. ports plummeted.
Tariffs on Chinese imports will be cut from 145% to 30%. Tariffs on U.S. imports will be cut from 125% to 10%.
If tariffs should result in massive job growth and make the U.S. rich, why lower them?
Tariffs on Chinese imports will be cut from 145% to 30%. Tariffs on U.S. imports will be cut from 125% to 10%.
If tariffs should result in massive job growth and make the U.S. rich, why lower them?
May 12, 2025 at 10:56 AM
NEWS: U.S. and China agree to a 90-day pause on new tariffs after shipping to U.S. ports plummeted.
Tariffs on Chinese imports will be cut from 145% to 30%. Tariffs on U.S. imports will be cut from 125% to 10%.
If tariffs should result in massive job growth and make the U.S. rich, why lower them?
Tariffs on Chinese imports will be cut from 145% to 30%. Tariffs on U.S. imports will be cut from 125% to 10%.
If tariffs should result in massive job growth and make the U.S. rich, why lower them?
Reposted by Louise
AOC: "We need to be talking about ICE agents and the cowardly policy of covering their faces
May 11, 2025 at 2:19 PM
AOC: "We need to be talking about ICE agents and the cowardly policy of covering their faces
Reposted by Louise
The remarks come just one day after calling for a ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid in Gaza and an end to the war in Ukraine.
Pope Leo XIV asks journalists to use communication as a tool for peace
The remarks come just one day after calling for a ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid in Gaza and an end to the war in Ukraine.
www.npr.org
May 12, 2025 at 11:32 AM
The remarks come just one day after calling for a ceasefire and access to humanitarian aid in Gaza and an end to the war in Ukraine.
Reposted by Louise
"The danger now is that compassion fatigue will leave the civilized world too depleted to push back if an eventual U.S.-brokered peace deal omits any mention of accountability for the Kremlin’s war criminals," Lee Hockstader writes. wapo.st/3RSP8EH
Opinion | Amnesty for the Kremlin’s war criminals is a disgusting possibility
Mountains of evidence document Russian war crimes in Ukraine. The victims must be heard.
wapo.st
May 8, 2025 at 8:15 PM
"The danger now is that compassion fatigue will leave the civilized world too depleted to push back if an eventual U.S.-brokered peace deal omits any mention of accountability for the Kremlin’s war criminals," Lee Hockstader writes. wapo.st/3RSP8EH
Reposted by Louise
(I’m on my fourth train of the day trying to get from DC to NYC … and we’re now stopped outside of Philly.)
May 8, 2025 at 8:15 PM
(I’m on my fourth train of the day trying to get from DC to NYC … and we’re now stopped outside of Philly.)
Reposted by Louise
I thought everyone was kidding
May 8, 2025 at 8:16 PM
I thought everyone was kidding
Reposted by Louise
That should alarm anyone who cares about government transparency. Taxpayers have a right to know how the government spends their money. Period.
CREW sues Trump administration for hiding federal spending information from the public - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
OMB took offline information that shows how OMB directs agencies to spend taxpayer money—information that OMB is required by law to post.
www.citizensforethics.org
May 8, 2025 at 8:21 PM
That should alarm anyone who cares about government transparency. Taxpayers have a right to know how the government spends their money. Period.
Reposted by Louise
NEW: We're suing to challenge the White House's illegal takedown of a gov't spending database.
In a filing in the case, OMB argued that it's *unconstitutional* for Congress to require the executive branch to disclose how it's spending taxpayer funds. www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/u...
In a filing in the case, OMB argued that it's *unconstitutional* for Congress to require the executive branch to disclose how it's spending taxpayer funds. www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/u...
May 8, 2025 at 8:19 PM
NEW: We're suing to challenge the White House's illegal takedown of a gov't spending database.
In a filing in the case, OMB argued that it's *unconstitutional* for Congress to require the executive branch to disclose how it's spending taxpayer funds. www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/u...
In a filing in the case, OMB argued that it's *unconstitutional* for Congress to require the executive branch to disclose how it's spending taxpayer funds. www.citizensforethics.org/wp-content/u...
Reposted by Louise
If you hate Pope Leo XIV because he is too “liberal”, I have some very bad news for you about Jesus.
May 8, 2025 at 6:10 PM
If you hate Pope Leo XIV because he is too “liberal”, I have some very bad news for you about Jesus.
Reposted by Louise
Reposted by Louise
This is an absolutely rip-roaring opinion by three judges all originally appointed by GOP presidents (two Trump, one Reagan).
Among other things, they find that GOP lawmakers *intentionally* discriminated against Black Alabamians when they passed a map that did *not* create a second Black district.
Among other things, they find that GOP lawmakers *intentionally* discriminated against Black Alabamians when they passed a map that did *not* create a second Black district.
NEW: Federal court issues *final* declaration that the AL legislature's 2023 House map violates federal law.
In 2023, the court issued a *preliminary* injunction barring use of that map and imposed a court-drawn map for 2024. It may remain in place for the rest of the decade, but not clear yet.
In 2023, the court issued a *preliminary* injunction barring use of that map and imposed a court-drawn map for 2024. It may remain in place for the rest of the decade, but not clear yet.
#490 in Milligan v. Allen (N.D. Ala., 2:21-cv-01530) – CourtListener.com
FINDINGS OF FACT, CONCLUSIONS OF LAW, and INJUNCTION. Signed by Judge Anna M Manasco for the Court on 05/08/2025. (WPP). (Entered: 05/08/2025)
www.courtlistener.com
May 8, 2025 at 8:07 PM
This is an absolutely rip-roaring opinion by three judges all originally appointed by GOP presidents (two Trump, one Reagan).
Among other things, they find that GOP lawmakers *intentionally* discriminated against Black Alabamians when they passed a map that did *not* create a second Black district.
Among other things, they find that GOP lawmakers *intentionally* discriminated against Black Alabamians when they passed a map that did *not* create a second Black district.
Reposted by Louise
We need a live cam outside of Samuel and Martha Ann Alito’s household, especially the flag pole.
May 8, 2025 at 6:23 PM
We need a live cam outside of Samuel and Martha Ann Alito’s household, especially the flag pole.
Reposted by Louise
New from me: language in the House reconciliation process would gut courts' power to enforce contempt rulings. That's a threat to justice not only in the Trump disputes at hand, but also across the private economy and, crucially, in other areas where government has violated constitutional rights. /1
Wild: House bill would strip courts of contempt enforcement power
In the ongoing public discussion about whether the courts will try to rein in the Trump administration’s lawlessness, or will prevail in a resulting showdown if they do, the story that follows has bee...
walterolson.substack.com
May 8, 2025 at 7:19 PM
New from me: language in the House reconciliation process would gut courts' power to enforce contempt rulings. That's a threat to justice not only in the Trump disputes at hand, but also across the private economy and, crucially, in other areas where government has violated constitutional rights. /1
Reposted by Louise
You love to see it
The new pope isn’t mincing words. Pope Leo XIV (Robert Prevost) has already called out JD Vance for twisting the Gospel, defended immigrants, and condemned Trump’s deportation policies.
May 8, 2025 at 8:22 PM
You love to see it
Reposted by Louise
Today, Philly passed the POWER or Protect Our Workers Enforce Rights Act: the most significant legislation to offer sweeping protections for workers since Trump’s election.
How Philadelphia is Fighting Back Against Donald Trump’s Anti-Worker Crusade.
The Protect Our Workers Enforce Rights Act can serve as a model for cities all across the country.
bit.ly
May 8, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Today, Philly passed the POWER or Protect Our Workers Enforce Rights Act: the most significant legislation to offer sweeping protections for workers since Trump’s election.
Reposted by Louise
Hear that? It’s the sound of the hot take industrial complex churning out six dozen identical THE POPE IS TOO WOKE opeds
May 8, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Hear that? It’s the sound of the hot take industrial complex churning out six dozen identical THE POPE IS TOO WOKE opeds
Reposted by Louise
Trump is now targeting the American movie industry?
Using tariffs to force production back to the U.S. would be awkward as some foreign production by American studios *has* to occur overseas. That’s especially true of “action and adventure” films that command about 60% of market share these days.
Using tariffs to force production back to the U.S. would be awkward as some foreign production by American studios *has* to occur overseas. That’s especially true of “action and adventure” films that command about 60% of market share these days.
Trump’s Movie Tariffs Won’t Save Hollywood
American movies are dying, but not in the way Trump imagines.
newrepublic.com
May 8, 2025 at 8:24 PM
Trump is now targeting the American movie industry?
Using tariffs to force production back to the U.S. would be awkward as some foreign production by American studios *has* to occur overseas. That’s especially true of “action and adventure” films that command about 60% of market share these days.
Using tariffs to force production back to the U.S. would be awkward as some foreign production by American studios *has* to occur overseas. That’s especially true of “action and adventure” films that command about 60% of market share these days.
Reposted by Louise
Abrego Garcia’s lawyers filed a motion today and it could lead to a deposition in the White House. Read about it here and be up to date. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
A Subpoena for the White House?
On April 16, I wrote to you about a hearing in the Kilmar Abrego Garcia case, which is before U.S.
open.substack.com
May 8, 2025 at 8:23 PM
Abrego Garcia’s lawyers filed a motion today and it could lead to a deposition in the White House. Read about it here and be up to date. open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
Reposted by Louise
"Furthermore, I expect the German legal profession to understand that the nation is not here for them, but that they are here for the nation"
Hitler, 1942
Doesn't sound much different, does it?
Hitler, 1942
Doesn't sound much different, does it?
Bondi declares war on the courts: "What has happened to our judiciary is beyond me ... they are deranged ... we are sending a very strong message today ... we will come after you and we will prosecute you. We will find you."
April 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
"Furthermore, I expect the German legal profession to understand that the nation is not here for them, but that they are here for the nation"
Hitler, 1942
Doesn't sound much different, does it?
Hitler, 1942
Doesn't sound much different, does it?
Reposted by Louise
More from @americanprogress.bsky.social on how many lives will be lost.
Congressional Republicans’ Proposals To Slash Medicaid Could Cost Tens of Thousands of Lives
Medicaid cuts would result in widespread coverage losses, which could lead to 15,400 deaths due to work reporting requirements or roughly 34,200 deaths from reduced federal funding each year.
www.americanprogress.org
April 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
More from @americanprogress.bsky.social on how many lives will be lost.