Frank D. Russo
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Frank D. Russo
@fdrtoday.bsky.social
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
Pinned
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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OVERMATCHED
Why U.S. Military Needs to Reinvent Itself
NYT Editorial Board gift article

America’s military has defended the free world for 80 years

Our dominance is fading

Rivals know this & are building to defeat us

Not a Pro Trump piece: Shows his failures in a time of danger
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Opinion | Overmatched: Why the U.S. Military Must Reinvent Itself (Gift Article)
Investing in the old ways of war leaves America at risk.
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December 14, 2025 at 9:58 PM
The S.E.C. Was Tough on Crypto. It Pulled Back After Trump Returned to Office
NYT gift article

Investigation by NYT documents Trump admin change in enforcement benefited the industry especially companies with ties to the president

Wolves in the hen house

Teapot dome scandal
bit.ly/4pCG3ir
December 14, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Mass shooting at Brown U.: When gun heartbreak comes home
by Will Bunch
Philadelphia Inquirer gift article

A mass shooting at my alma mater is a gutting reminder that no one is safe until we tackle America's gun crisis

From the heart and spot on not the gobbledygook abounding

Read
bit.ly/4pDVDKP
Mass shooting at Brown U.: When gun heartbreak comes home | Will Bunch
A mass shooting at my alma mater is a gutting reminder that no one is safe until we tackle America's gun crisis.
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December 14, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Europe now holds the flickering torch of Western democracy while the Trump team pushes to extinguish it
Philadelphia Inquirer
Gift Article

The White House presses Germany to include the neofascist antisemitic AfD party in government while encouraging extremist parties across Europe
bit.ly/4q16AWu
Europe now holds the flickering torch of Western democracy, while the Trump team pushes to extinguish it | Trudy Rubin
The White House presses Germany to include the neofascist, antisemitic AfD party in government, while encouraging extremist parties across Europe.
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December 14, 2025 at 6:04 PM
To Outbuild China America Needs Friends
NYT Gift Article
by the Editorial Board

The country that can manufacture the most-steel, planes, missiles, computer chips-will win a long war

America manufactures less than China but with allies & partners can match China's industrial might

?
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Opinion | To Outbuild China, America Needs Friends (Gift Article)
For the sake of global security and freedom, the world’s democracies must collaborate better.
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December 14, 2025 at 5:15 PM
77-Year-Old Book Helps Explain the MAGA New Right
by Laura Field, author “Furious Minds: The Making of the MAGA New Right”
NYT gift article

1948 book of Richard Weaver, Ideas Have Consequences, criticized nominalism, John Locke roots and modernity for "dissolution of the West"

bit.ly/4q2spVw
Opinion | The 77-Year-Old Book That Helps Explain the MAGA New Right
www.nytimes.com
December 14, 2025 at 5:04 PM
David Ellison's Netflix scare tactic runs into European reality
Hollywood Reporter

There's a lot of complexity described in the process here but it basically comes down to raw politics is the gist I get and Trump has announced he, not the regulators, will be making the decision

bit.ly/3XTweAy
December 13, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Trump’s new order against AI regulation hits California especially hard
CalMatters

Likely to hit hardest in Cal which since 2016 has passed more laws to regulate AI than any other state

Polls show Californians and Americans support AI regulation

Congress hasn't preempted states
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Trump’s new order against AI regulation hits California especially hard
Since 2016, California enacted more AI regulations than any other state. The president's new order against such laws worries state officials.
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December 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Danish Intelligence Report Raises Concerns About U.S.
NYT Gift Article

A new document cites Washington’s shifting strategic priorities and growing pressure on allies under President Trump as sources of uncertainty for Denmark

We are officially not to be trusted

bit.ly/3KZPFEL
December 13, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Colorado Officials Reject Trump’s ‘Pardon’ of a Convicted Election Denier
NYT Gift Article

The president’s stated intention to pardon Tina Peters, jailed for tampering with election machines in 2020, has set off a legal fight over the extent of Mr. Trump’s pardon powers

bit.ly/4iUVwHS
December 13, 2025 at 5:21 PM
It's The End of the World as We Know It (And I Feel Fine)

R.E.M's song from 2000 is back on the charts and for good reason

Skip the ad and turn up the volume. The lyrics are captioned

R.E.M.'s iconic song has resurfaced time and time again during global crises. It's relevant now!
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R.E.M. - It's The End Of The World
REMASTERED IN HD! Official Music Video for It's The End Of The World As We Know It (And I Feel Fine) performed by R.E.M.  Follow R.E.M.  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rem Twitter: https://twitter.com/remhq Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/REMhq Website: https://remhq.com Subscribe for more R.E.M.: http://bit.ly/subscribe-to-remhq Listen to more R.E.M.  Spotify: http://found.ee/REM-spotify-r-1 Apple Music: http://found.ee/REM-apple-r #REM #ItsTheEndOfTheWorld #Remastered
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December 13, 2025 at 5:10 PM
‘We have not seen this rosy picture’: ADP’s chief economist warns the real economy is pretty different from Wall Street’s bullish outlook
Fortune

IMHO It's like Dickens, "A Tale of Two Cities" not a bad novel to read this time of year

A disconnect here that can only go on so long
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‘We have not seen this rosy picture,’ says ADP’s chief economist, who warns real economy will look pretty different from Wall Street’s bullish outlook | Fortune
Nela Richardson of ADP says the micro data for 2026 shows a tough job market—particularly for Gen Z entrants.
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December 13, 2025 at 4:33 PM
The Fate of Warner Bros, or Why Netflix May Be the Studio’s Least Bad Option
Digital Bits

And then Warner can spin off Discovery Global—which includes CNN, TNT, and the studio’s other cable channels—sometime next year and that company will go its own way

Best of a binary choice
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The Fate of Warner Bros, or Why Netflix May Be the Studio’s Least Bad Option
The Fate of Warner Bros, or Why Netflix May Be the Studio’s Least Bad Option
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December 13, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Growing number of House Republicans sign on to effort to force vote on ACA subsidies -- defying Speaker Johnson
ABCNews

Nearly a dozen Republicans have signed on

As House Speaker yes a vote next week a growing number of Republicans are revolting many from swing districts
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Growing number of House Republicans sign on to effort to force vote on ACA subsidies -- defying Speaker Johnson
Nearly a dozen Republicans have signed on to dueling measures.
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December 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
Why Is Warner Bros. for Sale at All?
Its never been more critically or financially successful. Why is it auctioning itself off?

David Dayen, editor of The American Prospect has written a must read article on this revealing that the head of WBD will get as much as $500 million from it
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Why Is Warner Bros. for Sale at All? - The American Prospect
Its product has never been more critically or financially successful. Why is it auctioning itself off?
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December 12, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Trump sued by preservationists seeking reviews &
congressional approval for ballroom project
AP

National Trust for Historic Preservation in Federal Court asks project be blocked until comprehensive design and environmental review, public comment, congressional debate & ratification
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Trump sued by preservationists seeking reviews and congressional approval for ballroom project
President Donald Trump has been sued by preservationists seeking an architecture review and congressional approval over his White House ballroom project.
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December 12, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Trump Orders DEI Out of National Park Bookstores
KQED

National park advocacy groups condemn Trump admin weaponizing the country’s treasured public lands — and rewriting history in favor of their political ideology

There's got to be a good First Amendment lawsuit on this

Orwellian
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Trump Orders DEI Out of National Park Bookstores | KQED
A new memo gives the National Park Service two weeks to review bookstores for “equity-related” content for removal.
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December 12, 2025 at 7:52 PM
The deeply personal reasons why many Indiana Senate Republicans said no to Trump
CNN

They've been abused by Trump and his ilk trying to punish them. They don't like being doxed and threatened

They've had enough. Trump may primary them

We'll probably see more of this elsewhere
bit.ly/3XOuj07
The deeply personal reasons why many Indiana Senate Republicans said no to Trump | CNN Politics
Jean Leising spoke at a breakfast this fall at her 8th grade grandson’s school. Hours later, when she was set to give him a ride home from basketball practice, he bashfully told her that his entire te...
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December 12, 2025 at 7:43 PM
40,000 people died on California roads. State leaders looked away
CalMatters

At State Senate committee hearing CalTrans director showed simple chart that might have caused assembled lawmakers some alarm

Fatalities falling until 2010, since then a 60% increase

We need enforcement!
bit.ly/4pSZROR
40,000 people died on California roads. State leaders looked away
As driving deaths have skyrocketed across the state, the governor, legislators, the courts and the DMV have failed to act.
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December 12, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Trump launches $1m ‘gold card’ visa scheme amid immigration crackdown
Guardian

Wealthy immigrants able to buy residency. $5m ‘platinum card’ will exempt holders from some taxes

Contradicts US reputation as a refuge for the hardworking poor

Statue of Liberty for sale?
bit.ly/3KW5SuI
Trump launches $1m ‘gold card’ visa scheme amid immigration crackdown
Wealthy immigrants will be able to buy residency, and $5m ‘platinum card’ will exempt holders from some US taxes
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December 12, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Republicans Undercut Johnson, Circumventing Him to Force Votes
NYT Gift Article

The speaker has lost his grip on House floor thanks to a once rare parliamentary maneuver that G.O.P. members are increasingly using to force action on legislation

Used to pass Democratic bill last week

bit.ly/3MX3ft5
December 12, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Why Trump’s AI EO Will be DOA in Court
Tech Policy

California, Colorado, Florida, Michigan, New York, Texas & Utah have passed strong laws to make AI companies accountable for how their powerful models & services impact consumers

With Trump & grift it's Katy Bar the Door

Stay tuned
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Why Trump’s AI EO Will be DOA in Court | TechPolicy.Press
Policymakers should not allow the happy-talk about innovation blind them to the ways in which AI companies may harm consumers, Olivier Sylvain writes.
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December 12, 2025 at 5:36 PM
Trump Signs Executive Order to Neuter State A.I. Laws
NYT Gift Article

Creates one federal regulatory framework for artificial intelligence

Gives AG authority to sue states & overturn laws that dont support “United States’ global A.I. dominance”

Bipartisan and consumer opposition
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December 12, 2025 at 5:24 PM
How a Manosphere Star Accused of Rape and Trafficking Was Freed
NYT Gift Article

The connection between Tate Brothers and the Trumps

Barred from leaving Romania they courted powerful figures on the American right. Then an extraordinary order let him go.

A major scandal: A lot here

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December 12, 2025 at 5:07 PM
The Ivies can weather the Trump administration’s research cuts – it’s the nation’s public universities that have the most to lose
The Conversation

Details about how this is a disaster for public universities, often not covered by the media which focuses on the elite private colleges
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The Ivies can weather the Trump administration’s research cuts – it’s the nation’s public universities that have the most to lose
While headlines focus on Harvard and Columbia, state universities train far more STEM students, power the nation’s research engine and have fewer resources to weather sweeping cuts.
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December 12, 2025 at 5:00 PM