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Frank D. Russo

@fdrtoday.bsky.social

840 followers 540 following 3.9K posts

Attorney, active in politics & public policy half a century starting with JFK & civil rights movement, Ex Publisher California Progress Report & Legal Counsel to Speaker of CA Assembly. Trying to enjoy life in difficult times with music, photography travel

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Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · Dec 11

I’m a mediator & seek agreement on facts hence my banner at top with another FDR. I also work as an arbitrator where I decide truth amongst “alternative facts.”

With all the news & opinion maybe I should focus more on WHAT SHOULD BE DONE about this “fine mess” we’re in.
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Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 12h

Trump says San Francisco or NorCal could be next for a visit by National Guard
California Playbook

“We have great support in San Francisco," What? You got 15% of the vote. That's a big lie.

Not fun having our turn in the barrel. We didn't ask for this.

bit.ly/43obWlB

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 14h

Arizona threatens to sue after House GOP refuses to seat Democrat
The Downballot

Adelita Grijalva won a special election weeks ago in a 70-30 landslide

Speaker has steadfastly refused to seat her, despite her 70-30 landslide and has kept House out of session since Sept. 19
bit.ly/4qdshDq

Morning Digest: Arizona threatens to sue after House GOP refuses to seat Democrat

Adelita Grijalva won a special election weeks ago but still hasn't been sworn in

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 14h

Bad apples, big consequences: How a few high-volume mills are putting the whole civil justice system at risk
Cal Daily Journal

Not like most plaintiff attorneys

If the State Bar won’t enforce oversight, the legal community must act to rein in hedge-fund backed “case mills”

I agree
bit.ly/47s0vf6

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 15h

JD Vance Freaks Out After Defense of Tom Homan Bribe Is Cut Off on ABC
TNR

Trump admin is flailing to protect border czar

Bondi deflected direct questions

Vance didn’t have a better approach. Zigged and zagged until the network cut him off for refusing to answer the question
bit.ly/46Tkjb7

JD Vance Freaks Out After Defense of Tom Homan Bribe Is Cut Off on Air

Vance was cut off on live television while trying to fend off allegations that Tom Homan accepted a $50,000 cash bribe.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 15h

Trump Erupts at ABC Over Vance On-Air Fiasco as Presser Goes Off Rails
TNR

As Trump’s exchanges with reporters appear more power-crazed than usual a sharp observer of our slide into authoritarianism explains why the Resistance must find a new kind of response before it’s too late

bit.ly/47eeGmZ

Trump Erupts at ABC Over Vance On-Air Fiasco as Presser Goes Off Rails

As Trump’s exchanges with reporters appear more power-crazed than usual, a sharp observer of our slide into authoritarianism explains why the Resistance must find a new kind of response before it’s to...

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 15h

The Big List of Protest Signs for #NoKings 10/18
by Antonia Scatton

Focus on winning the hearts and minds of the unaware and undecided--tell people what we stand for

We want people to see us at in images and think, “I believe what they believe. These people are just like me”
bit.ly/3W9B4bX

The Big List of Protest Signs for #NoKings 10/18

Instead of talking to MAGA or each other, focus on winning the hearts and minds of the unaware and undecided.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 16h

Judge blocks Trump admin from laying off federal workers during government shutdown
Politico

BREAKING
U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled that the administration isn’t following legal requirements for conducting reductions in force
bit.ly/3J7Ieuc

Judge blocks Trump admin from laying off federal workers during government shutdown

U.S. District Judge Susan Illston ruled that the administration isn’t following legal requirements for conducting reductions in force.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 16h

Trump Considers Overhaul of Refugee System That Would Favor White People
NYT Gift Article

He's not considering it but is doing it!

Transforming program to help most vulnerable people in world into one that gives preference to mostly white people who say they are being persecuted
bit.ly/3KPJ3Zj

Reposted by Frank D. Russo

Craig Cheslog @craigcheslog.com · 17h

As a Cubs fan, I respect this.

Razzball @razzball.bsky.social · 19h

Someone in the crowd: “Go Cubs!”

Pope Leo XIV: “Han perdido! They lost!”

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 17h

This reminds me of Murray Edelman's books I read in college as a political science major

Especially The Symbolic Uses of Politics published a few years later

As a lawyer I try to use logic, but that's not enough!

bit.ly/46TWP5R

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 17h

Winning with misinformation: New research identifies link between endorsing easily disproven claims and prioritizing symbolic strength
The Conversaton

Wow! Published in the Journal of Social Psychology suggests that some people consider it a “win” to lean in to known falsehoods

bit.ly/4974Vt3

Winning with misinformation: New research identifies link between endorsing easily disproven claims and prioritizing symbolic strength

Conversations around misinformation that assume everyone cares about literal truth may be missing the point.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 17h

Conservative justices seem poised to weaken Voting Rights Act

Several of court’s conservatives appeared hostile to the traditional understanding of the civil rights law
Politico

We won't know until the decision comes out but it will probably have a MAJOR impact

Excellent analysis
bit.ly/4oho6ol

Conservative justices seem poised to weaken Voting Rights Act

Several of the court’s conservatives appeared hostile to the traditional understanding of the civil rights law.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 17h

Maine’s Platner now has the support of 3 labor unions

The endorsements inject more energy into his underdog Senate primary bid to unseat Collins
Politico

He's the rugged oyster man

Spirited primary will get best Dem candidate
bit.ly/4nU7NhG

Maine’s Platner now has the support of 3 labor unions

The endorsements inject more energy into his underdog Maine Senate primary bid.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 18h

The Justice Department’s Dangerously Weak Case Against Letitia James
Lawfare

Lindsey Halligan didn't have a strong case against Letitia James. She indicted her anyway

Meet the New Case (Worse than the Old Case?) The indictment is even weaker than what she sought
bit.ly/3WFpB40

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 18h

Trump's message to Bondi is the gravest threat to democracy of his second term
By Norman Eisen and Andrew Warren
9/24/25
ICYMI

Trump’s campaigns against James, Comey and Schiff follow similar patterns
bit.ly/4n8tfOL

Trump's post pressuring Bondi to prosecute his enemies is a grave threat to democracy

The president has pondered aloud about prosecuting his enemies, wished for it and is now ordering it.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 18h

Read the letter to the DOJ Inspector General asking for a probe of the Comey and Letitia James Cases

It is a well written letter with citations and links and raises a number of issues not just about these egregiously filed criminal cases
bit.ly/3JdkXak

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 18h

Watchdog group seeks probe of Comey, Letitia James cases CBS News

Former federal ethics officials who served in Republican and Democratic administrations are asking the Justice Department's inspector general (on furlough) to investigate the prosecutions

Raises *many* issues-read
bit.ly/4nSBShq

Watchdog group seeks probe of Comey, Letitia James cases

Former federal ethics officials are asking the Justice Department's watchdog to look into the prosecutions of James Comey and Letitia James, which they called a "turning point in our democracy."

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 19h

‪In Dallas 6,700 women rally for culture war battles after Kirk’s death
AP

For conservative Christian women battle is about defending biblical truths but leader says political engagement is a byproduct

Abortion, gender, sexuality & "Darwinian evolution"--like Scopes Monkey trial
bit.ly/46U5gy2

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 19h

As billionaire wealth soars $33 trillion Mark Cuban says it's time for workers to receive cut of their employers' success in the form of stocks
Fortune

Kind of like servers being required to share tips with back of house restaurant workers

But income inequality is a bigger problem

bit.ly/46TvAIz

As billionaire wealth soars $33 trillion, Mark Cuban says it's time for workers to receive a cut of their employers' success in the form of stocks | Fortune

Billionaire wealth has increased by $33 trillion since 2015—and Mark Cuban says employees deserve a piece of that pie too.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 19h

This is just outrageous. And worse could have happened as she could have been incarcerated and taken out of state as has happened to others.

I hope to see two things happen. First that it gets communicated to Justice Kavanaugh who allowed stops based on looks. Second that a lawsuit is filed.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 19h

US Citizen Says ICE Detained Her, Said Her Passport "Isn’t Real"
Newsweek

They placed her hands behind her back secured with zip ties before questioning her for about an hour

She routinely carries a copy of her passport, is a Latina & was told she didn't look like her name, Greeley
bit.ly/4q6tKeN

US citizen says ICE detained her, said her passport "isn't real"

Maria Greeley was reportedly detained by agents, despite carrying documentation proving her citizenship.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 1d

Israel still not allowing international media back into Gaza despite ceasefire
The Conversation

Foreign journalists banned by Israel from entering Gaza independently since start of the war.

Only access has been to favored reporters embedded with Israeli military, highly scripted
bit.ly/47q9ugQ

Israel is still not allowing international media back into Gaza, despite the ceasefire

Israel has blocked international journalists from entering Gaza since the start of the war.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 1d

Musician playing ‘Ghostbusters’ outside Portland ICE facility is arrested by agents: "Why are they targeting a clarinetist?"
Independent

"Taking US citizens out of state to detain them without charge is a new action from the Feds and should be opposed," her band said

There is video
bit.ly/43jEpJc

Musician playing ‘Ghostbusters’ outside ICE facility is arrested by agents

‘Taking us citizens out of state to detain them without charge is a new action from the Feds and should be opposed,’ her band said

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 1d

He's more worried at this moment about a picture of him published in a story that shows his hair as less established from an angle he didn't like.

Frank D. Russo @fdrtoday.bsky.social · 1d

The Portland Chicken Has a Degree in Game Theory
Lucid

The Power of Humor in Resistance Action “Coordination Games”

Homeland Security head Kristi Noem traveled to Portland to capture propaganda footage of “dangerous subversives”

Viewers saw her on roof looking down on the Chicken
bit.ly/4n9j3pg

The Portland Chicken Has a Degree in Game Theory

Humor, Prep for No Kings, and Resistance Actions as “Coordination Games”