Brian Wilcox, the Friendly Curmudgeon
@brianwilcox.bsky.social
Social scientist, retired professor, former Senate staffer, enthusiastic guitarist and bass player. More interested in policy than politics.
Californian who's lived in Texas, Ohio, Virginia, DC, Nebraska, and Porto Alegre (Brazil) but returned home.
Californian who's lived in Texas, Ohio, Virginia, DC, Nebraska, and Porto Alegre (Brazil) but returned home.
Pinned
No one let go of anyone's hand.
During the Bolsonaro regime in Brazil, resistors adopted this phrase to remind all that we need to stand together, and especially with those targeted by the regime.
That's the assignment now.
During the Bolsonaro regime in Brazil, resistors adopted this phrase to remind all that we need to stand together, and especially with those targeted by the regime.
That's the assignment now.
Putin's people are getting better at writing these Trump administration reports in English.
News Analysis: President Trump has long portrayed European allies as freeloaders that fail to pay enough for their own security. That contempt is now official White House policy.
Trump’s Security Doctrine Leaves Europe at a Strategic Crossroads
A new White House policy document formalizes President Trump’s long-held contempt for Europe’s leaders. It made clear that the continent now stands at a strategic crossroads.
nyti.ms
December 7, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Putin's people are getting better at writing these Trump administration reports in English.
🎯🎯🎯💯💯💯
If you've ever been to a naturalization ceremony, you know they're filled with people whose palpable love of this country is twenty times stronger than the pinched "patriotism" of any native-born MAGA chud.
Just unspeakable assholery.
Just unspeakable assholery.
Read this: www.wgbh.org/news/local/2...
December 7, 2025 at 3:38 AM
🎯🎯🎯💯💯💯
Non-Americans,
Spend your money elsewhere. Especially avoid Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana…
Spend your money elsewhere. Especially avoid Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana…
The US State Department is instructing its staff to deny visas to those engaged in activities like combatting misinformation, disinformation or false narratives, fact-checking, content moderation, compliance, and trust and safety.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
State Department to deny visas to fact checkers and others, citing 'censorship'
The order is focused on applicants for H-1B visas, which are frequently used by tech companies and is part of a campaign by the Trump administration against online content moderation.
www.npr.org
December 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
Non-Americans,
Spend your money elsewhere. Especially avoid Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana…
Spend your money elsewhere. Especially avoid Florida, South Carolina, Louisiana…
Reposted by Brian Wilcox, the Friendly Curmudgeon
“She showed up as scheduled, and when she arrived, officers were asking everyone what country they were from, and if they said a certain country, they were told to step out of line and that their oath ceremonies were canceled.”
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social
Immigrants kept from Faneuil Hall citizenship ceremony as feds crackdown nationwide
Trump administration is pausing naturalizations for immigrants from 19 countries.
www.wgbh.org
December 5, 2025 at 10:56 PM
“She showed up as scheduled, and when she arrived, officers were asking everyone what country they were from, and if they said a certain country, they were told to step out of line and that their oath ceremonies were canceled.”
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
Donald Trump just removed Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth from the list of free entry days at national parks.
They are being replaced with Trump’s birthday.
They are being replaced with Trump’s birthday.
December 6, 2025 at 2:49 AM
🤡🤡🤡🤡🤡
The Trump haters can try, but they cannot erase the accomplishments of transgender Americans.
🖕 these small, petty losers.
🖕 these small, petty losers.
HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait
Admiral Rachel Levine was the first transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the federal government. Her official portrait at HHS headquarters has been altered.
www.npr.org
December 5, 2025 at 11:14 PM
The Trump haters can try, but they cannot erase the accomplishments of transgender Americans.
🖕 these small, petty losers.
🖕 these small, petty losers.
Looks like each member of the Court will have the opportunity to publicly declare themselves as Constitutionalists or Anti-constitutionalists.
Supreme Court Agrees to Review Trump Order Restricting Birthright Citizenship
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Looks like each member of the Court will have the opportunity to publicly declare themselves as Constitutionalists or Anti-constitutionalists.
Reposted by Brian Wilcox, the Friendly Curmudgeon
December 5, 2025 at 7:56 PM
Rotting hands look a bit like Trump's.
Person who actually deserves a trophy is the artist who made the FIFA peace prize trophy look like everyone in the entire world holding their head in their hands out of secondhand embarrassment
December 5, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Rotting hands look a bit like Trump's.
Reposted by Brian Wilcox, the Friendly Curmudgeon
Whatboutism is never that productive… but, Fox News would have a field day with this if it was a Democrat.
“Obama wants to rename American Football to appease foreigners”
“Obama wants to rename American Football to appease foreigners”
Trump: "When you look at football in the US, soccer -- we seem to never call it that, because we have a little bit of a conflict with another thing that's called football. But when you think about it, shouldn't it really be called football? We have to come up with another name for the NFL stuff."
December 5, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Whatboutism is never that productive… but, Fox News would have a field day with this if it was a Democrat.
“Obama wants to rename American Football to appease foreigners”
“Obama wants to rename American Football to appease foreigners”
Theater of the Absurd.
I'll be boycotting the WC. FIFA is the most corrupt sports organizing body of all, and that takes some doing.
So what's next? Will the IOC give Trump a 24k gold medal?
I'll be boycotting the WC. FIFA is the most corrupt sports organizing body of all, and that takes some doing.
So what's next? Will the IOC give Trump a 24k gold medal?
December 5, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Theater of the Absurd.
I'll be boycotting the WC. FIFA is the most corrupt sports organizing body of all, and that takes some doing.
So what's next? Will the IOC give Trump a 24k gold medal?
I'll be boycotting the WC. FIFA is the most corrupt sports organizing body of all, and that takes some doing.
So what's next? Will the IOC give Trump a 24k gold medal?
Civil society stepping up as the Federal government fails us.
Nativity display outside Saint Susanna Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts.
Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus were swapped out for an ICE sign.
Below it, another message claims “the holy family is safe in our church” and instructs people to call a number if they see immigration agents.
Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus were swapped out for an ICE sign.
Below it, another message claims “the holy family is safe in our church” and instructs people to call a number if they see immigration agents.
December 5, 2025 at 5:28 PM
Civil society stepping up as the Federal government fails us.
Sounds like a prime candidate for a Trump pardon.
Breaking News: An ex-DEA agent has been charged with agreeing to launder millions of dollars in narcotics proceeds for a Mexican drug cartel.
Ex-D.E.A. Agent Charged With Agreeing to Launder Millions for Cartel
The former agent, Paul Campo, laundered money for the Jalisco New Generation Cartel in Mexico, according to an indictment unsealed on Friday.
nyti.ms
December 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Sounds like a prime candidate for a Trump pardon.
“In a world where people have so many choices, more choices than ever on how to spend their time, we can’t stand still,” Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-chief executive, said on a conference call.
So, they'll consolidate and give us fewer choices.
So, they'll consolidate and give us fewer choices.
Netflix to Buy Warner Bros. in $83 Billion Deal to Create a Streaming Giant
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:13 PM
“In a world where people have so many choices, more choices than ever on how to spend their time, we can’t stand still,” Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s co-chief executive, said on a conference call.
So, they'll consolidate and give us fewer choices.
So, they'll consolidate and give us fewer choices.
Looks like the American Academy of Pediatrics needs to step up and fully assume the role of providing American families with vaccine guidance for children.
CDC is a failed entity. They should be completely ignored.
CDC is a failed entity. They should be completely ignored.
An End to Hepatitis B Shots for All Newborns
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Looks like the American Academy of Pediatrics needs to step up and fully assume the role of providing American families with vaccine guidance for children.
CDC is a failed entity. They should be completely ignored.
CDC is a failed entity. They should be completely ignored.
Who negotiated that terrible deal?
Oh, right. Donald Trump.
Oh, right. Donald Trump.
December 5, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Who negotiated that terrible deal?
Oh, right. Donald Trump.
Oh, right. Donald Trump.
Whoa! This is both insane and totally in keeping with the withered souls of Trump, Vance, Stephen Miller et al.
Republicans are pro-rape.
BREAKING: Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans & intersex people, memo says. A DOJ memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) do not align with Trump’s Jan. 20 anti-trans executive order, @byadamrhodes.bsky.social reports.
December 5, 2025 at 4:25 AM
Whoa! This is both insane and totally in keeping with the withered souls of Trump, Vance, Stephen Miller et al.
Reposted by Brian Wilcox, the Friendly Curmudgeon
“We have little children going to school today whose president called them garbage.”
~Gov Tim Walz
#Minnesota #GovWalz
~Gov Tim Walz
#Minnesota #GovWalz
December 4, 2025 at 9:04 PM
“We have little children going to school today whose president called them garbage.”
~Gov Tim Walz
#Minnesota #GovWalz
~Gov Tim Walz
#Minnesota #GovWalz
This means war.
Alito's opinion is beyond appalling. His argument is that Texas used race as a proxy for party affiliation. Republicans aren't really trying to screw Black politicians and voters over. They're just trying to screw Dems, and in TX that requires that they fuck over Black citizens.
🖕🖕
Alito's opinion is beyond appalling. His argument is that Texas used race as a proxy for party affiliation. Republicans aren't really trying to screw Black politicians and voters over. They're just trying to screw Dems, and in TX that requires that they fuck over Black citizens.
🖕🖕
Supreme Court Clears the Way for Republican-Friendly Texas Voting Maps
www.nytimes.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:47 AM
This means war.
Alito's opinion is beyond appalling. His argument is that Texas used race as a proxy for party affiliation. Republicans aren't really trying to screw Black politicians and voters over. They're just trying to screw Dems, and in TX that requires that they fuck over Black citizens.
🖕🖕
Alito's opinion is beyond appalling. His argument is that Texas used race as a proxy for party affiliation. Republicans aren't really trying to screw Black politicians and voters over. They're just trying to screw Dems, and in TX that requires that they fuck over Black citizens.
🖕🖕
Trump, Musk, and Rubio: killing children by the hundreds of thousands.
This fetid landmark, this historical stain on humanity is primarily due to the stunningly reckless obliteration of America's foreign assistance agency earlier this year.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
For First Time in Decades, Child Deaths Will Rise This Year
Almost a quarter of a million more children around the world are projected to die in 2025 than in 2024.
www.wsj.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Trump, Musk, and Rubio: killing children by the hundreds of thousands.
Reposted by Brian Wilcox, the Friendly Curmudgeon
December 4, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Dead silence from Jim Jordan, James Comer, and all those Republicans who worried about the kids of presidents taking advantage of Daddy's position.
This is a million times worse than anything Hunter Biden was accused of doing in even the most fevered right-wing conspiracy dream
UPDATE: Trump Jr.-backed startup receives $620 million Pentagon loan
In October, Popular Information reported that the Pentagon awarded a contract to Unusual Machines, an obscure drone company that President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., joined as an advisor in Novemb...
popular.info
December 4, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Dead silence from Jim Jordan, James Comer, and all those Republicans who worried about the kids of presidents taking advantage of Daddy's position.
Nothing to see here. Just Kavanaugh Stops.
Americans have been dragged, tackled, beaten, tased and shot by immigration agents.
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
They’ve had their necks kneeled on.
They’ve been held outside in the rain while in their underwear.
At least three citizens were pregnant when agents detained them.
More Than 170 U.S. Citizens Have Been Held by Immigration Agents. They’ve Been Kicked, Dragged and Detained for Days.
The government does not track how often immigration agents grab citizens. So ProPublica did. Our tally — almost certainly incomplete — includes people who were held for days without a lawyer. And near...
www.propublica.org
December 4, 2025 at 6:27 AM
Nothing to see here. Just Kavanaugh Stops.
Why is any credible journalist still affiliated with CBS and 60 Minutes?
Raskin wrote in his letter, “President Trump increasingly appears to be exercising direct control over CBS’s editorial decisions, destroying CBS’s ‘journalistic integrity’ while violating its right to be free from governmental coercion and manipulation.” deadline.com/2025/12/trum...
Jamie Raskin Files Complaint To CBS News Ombudsman Over ‘60 Minutes’ Edits To Donald Trump Interview
Jamie Raskin filed a formal complaint over the way that CBS News edited its Donald Trump interview.
deadline.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:38 AM
Why is any credible journalist still affiliated with CBS and 60 Minutes?
So sorry to hear that the great Steve Cropper has passed away. Steve was a guitarist’s guitarist and a great songwriter.
Fond memories of seeing him with Levon Helm and Dr. John many moons ago. His music has already stood the test of time.
Fond memories of seeing him with Levon Helm and Dr. John many moons ago. His music has already stood the test of time.
December 4, 2025 at 4:51 AM
So sorry to hear that the great Steve Cropper has passed away. Steve was a guitarist’s guitarist and a great songwriter.
Fond memories of seeing him with Levon Helm and Dr. John many moons ago. His music has already stood the test of time.
Fond memories of seeing him with Levon Helm and Dr. John many moons ago. His music has already stood the test of time.