Jon Farrington
jonfarrington.bsky.social
Jon Farrington
@jonfarrington.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1.4K following 1.5K posts
Engineer, oyster farmer, Chesapeake Bay
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Reposted by Jon Farrington
Here's the issue:

there is and has been a large financial incentive for corporate America, especially our largest tech companies, to pay tributes and thinly disguised bribes to Trump.
They are reaping tangible benefits and avoiding punishment/retaliation.
Will only change if the public pushes back.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Nobody knows how much money any of them (except one, Google, which is giving $22M) have donated for Trump's $300M White House ballroom -- or what they expect in return.

I reached out to all of these companies, and as many of these people as I could find, to ask. www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
All The Donors Financing Trump’s Ballroom As He Demolishes The White House
Trump may have destroyed American history by razing the East Wing, but at least these corporations and rich people get to buy access to the president.
www.huffpost.com
Reposted by Jon Farrington
I think that the next step in the civil resistance campaign to Trump should be inflicting punishment on elites and institutions who cave. They need to understand that there are costs to compliance
approximately seven million people were out in the streets protesting last week. these people need to grow a spine. www.ft.com/content/1377...
Ed Luce watching democracy die in the United States of America
Reposted by Jon Farrington
The White House is "the people's house."

But now, corporate interests are paying millions to fund the construction of a gilded ballroom to curry favor with President Trump.

This is a physical representation of the rampant corruption that has escalated over Trump's two terms.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
When Trump hears what Ronald Reagan said about immigrants he’s going to have DOJ arrest him for mortgage fraud.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
a very weird Fannie May and Freddie Mac ad that's narrated by what sounds like a Trump impersonator is airing on Fox Business
it's no longer a question: fascism has arrived
Reposted by Jon Farrington
On Wednesday, Nancy Pelosi suggested that those who break the law should be held accountable, even if those people are federal agents.

On Thursday, AG Pam Bondi said she’s launching a DOJ investigation into the House speaker emerita. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
AG Pam Bondi announces investigation into another Trump foe: Nancy Pelosi
Pelosi suggested those who break the law should be held accountable, even if those people are federal agents. The attorney general wasn’t pleased.
www.msnbc.com
Reposted by Jon Farrington
You Can Kill a Democracy Without a Dictator www.nytimes.com/2025/10/24/o...

With a gift link because I think it is very important for people to understand this:
Opinion | You Can Kill a Democracy Without a Dictator
www.nytimes.com
Reposted by Jon Farrington
This is exactly the position that EVERY democratic world leader should adopt.

There is no viable way of dealing with Trump. The only method (outright bribery, and ever-increasing displays of submission) is not suitable for any democracy.

Only alternative: "Develop new partnerships."
Carney: "We can't control the trade policy of the US. We recognize it has fundamentally changed from the policy in the 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, & it's a situation where US has tariffs against every trading partner... what we we can control is developing new partnerships, including w/econ giants of Asia"
Trump lying that he will donate to charity is well-established. David Fahrenhold won a Pulitzer for his reporting about this en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_F...
David Fahrenthold - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
Reposted by Jon Farrington
‼️The strike on the kindergarten on Kharkiv (48 kids aged 1,5 to 5 years) was done by the country that chairs the UN Security Council this month (Russia).

We are living in an absurd world.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Dems should push a bill banning such administrative claim payments to presidents even if claims predated their service. Republicans will block vote on it. Let them. Then hammer away at that to voters. Push media to cover GOP complicity in Trump's theft of taxpayer $.

newrepublic.com/article/2021...
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Well, in a certain way, Trump achieved what the flight 93 hijackers could not
WASHINGTON (AP) — The entire White House East Wing has been demolished as Trump moves forward with ballroom construction, AP photos show.

AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Trump raises the price of the ballroom to $350 million

(It changed from $200 million, then $300 million, now $350 million within the course of a few days)
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Call this what it is: rank corruption.

Major corporations funding a president's vanity project is a textbook model for pay-to-play. Why else would tech giants, crypto firms, and defense contractors care about a 90,000 sq ft ballroom?
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Trump rewarded Changpeng Zhao, a business partner who boosted his crypto venture, with a pardon for crimes that Zhao pleaded guilty to.

Trading presidential favors for self-interest.

You can’t get more classically corrupt than this.
Q: On the pardon of Changpeng Zhao, Binance has significant business interests with World Liberty Financial, the president family's crypto company. How do you respond to criticisms that this is a corrupt act?

LEAVITT: I would respond and say the president is exercising his constitutional authority
Reposted by Jon Farrington
An actual terrorist would be thrilled to achieve this level of physical devastation of the White House
Picture of the East Wing demolition of the White House taken on my flight out of DCA.
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Leavitt: "At this moment in time, of course, the ballroom is really the president's main priority."
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Q: Can the president tear down anything he wants without oversight? Could he demolish this building or the Jefferson Memorial?

LEAVITT: Only for vertical construction will a submission be required.

Q: So it sounds like the answer is yes
Reposted by Jon Farrington
Picture of the East Wing demolition of the White House taken on my flight out of DCA.
Brilliant piece, truly captures the depravity of this moment.
The destruction of the East Wing is a reminder that America has violated the only check-and-balance that actually ends up mattering: www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/the-only-c...
The only check-and-balance that actually matters
www.doomsdayscenario.co