Ben Martell
@benjmartell.bsky.social
Classic liberal. Skier, reader of books. Love water, sun, mountains, beaches, fun. Love Democracy. Have hope we survive these times.
🚫 to fascism of any kind!
🚫 crypto
🚫 MAGA
🚫 DM’s (Unless I know you).
Software engineer (kinda, sorta semi-retired 😎)
🚫 to fascism of any kind!
🚫 crypto
🚫 MAGA
🚫 DM’s (Unless I know you).
Software engineer (kinda, sorta semi-retired 😎)
Reposted by Ben Martell
"The Founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balances. Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one."
- U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer
- U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer
December 10, 2025 at 11:03 PM
"The Founders designed our government to be a system of checks and balances. Defendants, however, make clear that the only check they want is a blank one."
- U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer
- U.S. District Judge Charles Breyer
Reposted by Ben Martell
So much easier to just use the U.S. military to steal from other countries than to actually earn it or make deals, amirite? Thanks, John Roberts, for unleashing this lifelong criminal.
Q: What happens to the oil on the tanker you seized?
TRUMP: Well we keep it I guess
TRUMP: Well we keep it I guess
December 10, 2025 at 9:28 PM
So much easier to just use the U.S. military to steal from other countries than to actually earn it or make deals, amirite? Thanks, John Roberts, for unleashing this lifelong criminal.
Reposted by Ben Martell
“We are targeting Venezuela because of DRUGS, not OIL, which is why we are blowing up boats without any drugs and stealing a tanker full of oil.”
December 10, 2025 at 11:04 PM
“We are targeting Venezuela because of DRUGS, not OIL, which is why we are blowing up boats without any drugs and stealing a tanker full of oil.”
Reposted by Ben Martell
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
December 10, 2025 at 10:30 PM
And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with sword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beasts of the earth.
WTF!! These thugs and ghouls are gonna end up killing people.
December 10, 2025 at 10:59 PM
WTF!! These thugs and ghouls are gonna end up killing people.
That’s what I call steering into the skid with some grim humor.
December 10, 2025 at 10:58 PM
That’s what I call steering into the skid with some grim humor.
Reposted by Ben Martell
This is a political stunt dressed as fiscal responsibility. While the wealthy/healthy might fiddle with HSAs, those who actually need care will be left out in the cold. And make no mistake: the expiration of these subsidies is entirely preventable. Congress can act. It chooses not to.
December 10, 2025 at 10:54 PM
This is a political stunt dressed as fiscal responsibility. While the wealthy/healthy might fiddle with HSAs, those who actually need care will be left out in the cold. And make no mistake: the expiration of these subsidies is entirely preventable. Congress can act. It chooses not to.
Reposted by Ben Martell
In what can only be described as a callous betrayal of everyday Americans, Kansas Republican Senator Roger Marshall has signaled that he expects the enhanced health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to expire.
Kansas Republican senator expects health insurance subsidies to expire
Senator Roger Marshall will be "very surprised" if a bill that extends some premium tax credits passes the chamber.
wgme.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:50 PM
In what can only be described as a callous betrayal of everyday Americans, Kansas Republican Senator Roger Marshall has signaled that he expects the enhanced health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act to expire.
Reposted by Ben Martell
Reposted by Ben Martell
Judge Emil Bove caught at a Trump rally yesterday in Pennsylvania and now there’s an ethics complaint. A federal judge showing up at a campaign-style event for the president he once represented? Hard to imagine a clearer breach of “impartiality.”
#USDemocracy
#Pinks
apple.news/AYCwxIkcGRoq...
#USDemocracy
#Pinks
apple.news/AYCwxIkcGRoq...
Can A Federal Judge Attend A Trump Rally? Judicial Group Files Complaint Against Emil Bove — Forbes
A judicial group argues Bove’s attendance violates rules prohibiting judges from “political activity.”
apple.news
December 10, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Judge Emil Bove caught at a Trump rally yesterday in Pennsylvania and now there’s an ethics complaint. A federal judge showing up at a campaign-style event for the president he once represented? Hard to imagine a clearer breach of “impartiality.”
#USDemocracy
#Pinks
apple.news/AYCwxIkcGRoq...
#USDemocracy
#Pinks
apple.news/AYCwxIkcGRoq...
Reposted by Ben Martell
Requiring foreign visitors to hand over 5 years of social media isn’t “security,” it’s unchecked government control.
All-seeing surveillance systems don’t make us safer. They are in direct opposition to our civil liberties.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
All-seeing surveillance systems don’t make us safer. They are in direct opposition to our civil liberties.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Foreign tourists could be required to disclose 5 years of social media histories under Trump administration plan
The Customs and Border Protection proposal would apply even to countries that don't require visas to enter.
www.nbcnews.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Requiring foreign visitors to hand over 5 years of social media isn’t “security,” it’s unchecked government control.
All-seeing surveillance systems don’t make us safer. They are in direct opposition to our civil liberties.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
All-seeing surveillance systems don’t make us safer. They are in direct opposition to our civil liberties.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Reposted by Ben Martell
Reuters: Trump's administration wants the International Criminal Court to amend its founding document to ensure it does not investigate Trump and his top officials, administration official said, threatening new U.S. sanctions on the court if it did not.
December 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reuters: Trump's administration wants the International Criminal Court to amend its founding document to ensure it does not investigate Trump and his top officials, administration official said, threatening new U.S. sanctions on the court if it did not.
Reposted by Ben Martell
This is Trump’s America. Fuck Trump’s America. This must never be our America. And btw, let’s not just get angry about it. Join an effort to DO something about it. Go to Paxis.app and help us. We’re building an answer to ICE’s lawlessness & cruelty.
Veteran detained by ICE: I identified myself as a US citizen and a veteran, but that didn't matter. Agents smashed my window, sprayed tear gas into my car, dragged me out. Even after I complied, I was held for 3 days without charges. No phone call, no lawyer, no medical care
December 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
This is Trump’s America. Fuck Trump’s America. This must never be our America. And btw, let’s not just get angry about it. Join an effort to DO something about it. Go to Paxis.app and help us. We’re building an answer to ICE’s lawlessness & cruelty.
Reposted by Ben Martell
🚨ZIZZLING NEWS🚨
Trump admitted in a furious meltdown that he handed out pardons in exchange for favours.
In only 10 months, trump has dispensed some of his 1,600 pardons to drug lords, corrupt politicians and crypto dealers.
President Biden only gave 140 pardons in 4 years.
WATCH 👇🏻
1/2
Trump admitted in a furious meltdown that he handed out pardons in exchange for favours.
In only 10 months, trump has dispensed some of his 1,600 pardons to drug lords, corrupt politicians and crypto dealers.
President Biden only gave 140 pardons in 4 years.
WATCH 👇🏻
1/2
December 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
🚨ZIZZLING NEWS🚨
Trump admitted in a furious meltdown that he handed out pardons in exchange for favours.
In only 10 months, trump has dispensed some of his 1,600 pardons to drug lords, corrupt politicians and crypto dealers.
President Biden only gave 140 pardons in 4 years.
WATCH 👇🏻
1/2
Trump admitted in a furious meltdown that he handed out pardons in exchange for favours.
In only 10 months, trump has dispensed some of his 1,600 pardons to drug lords, corrupt politicians and crypto dealers.
President Biden only gave 140 pardons in 4 years.
WATCH 👇🏻
1/2
Reposted by Ben Martell
Reposted by Ben Martell
When entire infrastructures are built around cruelty and sadism – it rationalizes and justifies their existence. Resist.
December 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
When entire infrastructures are built around cruelty and sadism – it rationalizes and justifies their existence. Resist.
Reposted by Ben Martell
I hope people understand that if Trump gets his way America will soon be part of the global axis of evil if we aren't already. You see it in the Caribbean, you see it in Ukraine, and you see it with Trump trying to buddy up to Xi. We are a malevolent force.
December 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I hope people understand that if Trump gets his way America will soon be part of the global axis of evil if we aren't already. You see it in the Caribbean, you see it in Ukraine, and you see it with Trump trying to buddy up to Xi. We are a malevolent force.
Reposted by Ben Martell
They want to force Boasberg into trial because he’d have to appoint a prosecutor and SCOTUS will probably take the power to appoint a judicial prosecutor away.
DOJ makes it clear: If Judge Boasberg wants to pursue a contempt case against Kristi Noem, he's going to have to pierce privileged conversations she had with Blanche, Bove and DHS lawyers – something DOJ says shoudl only happen at a trial. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 10, 2025 at 9:33 PM
They want to force Boasberg into trial because he’d have to appoint a prosecutor and SCOTUS will probably take the power to appoint a judicial prosecutor away.
Reposted by Ben Martell
Folks look at you like you're crazy when you say we're in the midst of the worst, most unprecedented Article I constitutional crisis in American history, & then it's a day, & the president is illegally monetizing the office & stealing the power of the purse. Again.
Trump says the Gold Card proceeds will go "an account where we can do things positive for the country. Many billions of dollars"
December 10, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Folks look at you like you're crazy when you say we're in the midst of the worst, most unprecedented Article I constitutional crisis in American history, & then it's a day, & the president is illegally monetizing the office & stealing the power of the purse. Again.
Reposted by Ben Martell
I used to call Trump a “would-be dictator.” I now call him a dictator.
His masked thugs are terrorizing cities.
He‘s trying to jail his enemies.
He’s starting a war on a whim.
He’s taking control of news media.
The Institute of Peace is now “the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.”
He’s a dictator.
His masked thugs are terrorizing cities.
He‘s trying to jail his enemies.
He’s starting a war on a whim.
He’s taking control of news media.
The Institute of Peace is now “the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.”
He’s a dictator.
December 10, 2025 at 9:48 PM
I used to call Trump a “would-be dictator.” I now call him a dictator.
His masked thugs are terrorizing cities.
He‘s trying to jail his enemies.
He’s starting a war on a whim.
He’s taking control of news media.
The Institute of Peace is now “the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.”
He’s a dictator.
His masked thugs are terrorizing cities.
He‘s trying to jail his enemies.
He’s starting a war on a whim.
He’s taking control of news media.
The Institute of Peace is now “the Donald J. Trump Institute of Peace.”
He’s a dictator.
Reposted by Ben Martell
"You can give up certain products. You could give up pencils. Because under the China policy, every child can get 37 pencils. They don’t need that many. And you don't need 37 gold baby carriages. 2 or 3 is nice. You must go without, even though affordability is a hoax. See? I've fixed the problem!"
December 10, 2025 at 8:38 PM
"You can give up certain products. You could give up pencils. Because under the China policy, every child can get 37 pencils. They don’t need that many. And you don't need 37 gold baby carriages. 2 or 3 is nice. You must go without, even though affordability is a hoax. See? I've fixed the problem!"
Reposted by Ben Martell
JUST NOW: Trump now openly says he is trying to force CNN into the hands of his allies to stop the network from criticizing him.
🇺🇸 Welcome to authoritarianism. ‘1984’ is here. (Imagine Biden saying this about Fox)
🇺🇸 Welcome to authoritarianism. ‘1984’ is here. (Imagine Biden saying this about Fox)
December 10, 2025 at 9:34 PM
JUST NOW: Trump now openly says he is trying to force CNN into the hands of his allies to stop the network from criticizing him.
🇺🇸 Welcome to authoritarianism. ‘1984’ is here. (Imagine Biden saying this about Fox)
🇺🇸 Welcome to authoritarianism. ‘1984’ is here. (Imagine Biden saying this about Fox)
Reposted by Ben Martell
Senate Armed Services Dems are calling the Pentagon investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly "an outright, brazen abuse of power" in a letter to the Navy Secretary.
They say the probe amounts "to a purely political exercise seeking to threaten legitimate and lawful actions by a duly elected Senator."
They say the probe amounts "to a purely political exercise seeking to threaten legitimate and lawful actions by a duly elected Senator."
Senate Democrats call Kelly investigation 'brazen abuse of power'
The letter says an investigation into Mark Kelly following a Nov. 18 video telling military members to refuse illegal orders is 'patently political.'
www.usatoday.com
December 10, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Senate Armed Services Dems are calling the Pentagon investigation into Sen. Mark Kelly "an outright, brazen abuse of power" in a letter to the Navy Secretary.
They say the probe amounts "to a purely political exercise seeking to threaten legitimate and lawful actions by a duly elected Senator."
They say the probe amounts "to a purely political exercise seeking to threaten legitimate and lawful actions by a duly elected Senator."
Reposted by Ben Martell
The Parking Lot Lawyer & Insurance Lawyer could open a law firm together…although I’m not sure they’d be able to afford the malpractice insurance premiums.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
Judge Suggests Prosecutor on Comey and James Cases Should Resign as U.S. Attorney
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 11:57 AM
The Parking Lot Lawyer & Insurance Lawyer could open a law firm together…although I’m not sure they’d be able to afford the malpractice insurance premiums.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
Reposted by Ben Martell
Only had 15 years and four different Republican House speakers since ACA was passed.
Roger Marshall on Republicans replacing the ACA: "It's gonna take us a while to figure out the right way to do it"
December 10, 2025 at 3:49 AM
Only had 15 years and four different Republican House speakers since ACA was passed.