Cindy Rugeley
@cindyrugeley.bsky.social
Associate Professor of Political Science at University of Minnesota Duluth, long-suffering Detroit Tigers fan, recovering journalist, Nikon addict.
Pinned
The past was erased, the erasure was forgotten, the lie became the truth ― George Orwell
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
The military has a duty to refuse unlawful orders, but Congress has a duty to remove from office a president and secretary who would issue such orders. There is something off about members of Congress talking about the former while refusing to say the latter, the part that's actually their job here.
November 25, 2025 at 6:38 AM
The military has a duty to refuse unlawful orders, but Congress has a duty to remove from office a president and secretary who would issue such orders. There is something off about members of Congress talking about the former while refusing to say the latter, the part that's actually their job here.
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
November 25, 2025 at 12:57 AM
Today, after months of requests, I toured the Broadview ICE Processing Facility. I want to share what I saw.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
The facility has no food vendor, no medical care, and detainees have to use toilets in the middle of shared cells. These are in no way suitable conditions to be holding anyone — period.
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
This is honestly what I've been stuck on all day, in addition to the absurd level of weakness it exposes.
This is the "weird," but in their use of the office.
This is the "weird," but in their use of the office.
Targeting Kelly is one of those “this is why we’ll win” moments, bc it shows how politically impetuous this admin is.
There’s clearly no adult in the room to say “wait, maybe don’t go after the charismatic war hero turned literal astronaut who ran after his wife was a victim of political violence.”
There’s clearly no adult in the room to say “wait, maybe don’t go after the charismatic war hero turned literal astronaut who ran after his wife was a victim of political violence.”
Mark Kelly: "My wife, Gabby Giffords, meeting with her constituents, shot in the head. Six people killed around her, a horrific thing. She spent six months in the hospital. We know what political violence is and we know what causes it too, The statements that Donald Trump made incites others."
November 25, 2025 at 3:30 AM
This is honestly what I've been stuck on all day, in addition to the absurd level of weakness it exposes.
This is the "weird," but in their use of the office.
This is the "weird," but in their use of the office.
Today is a good day to read a newspaper
DHS claims that an accused murderer was released from a Charlotte jail and was “back onto North Carolina’s streets because of sanctuary policies.”
The local paper reported that was false.
So DHS quietly removed that statement—and never admitted they lied. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c...
The local paper reported that was false.
So DHS quietly removed that statement—and never admitted they lied. www.charlotteobserver.com/news/local/c...
DHS quietly corrects inaccurate information after Charlotte Observer report
As Border Patrol arrived in Charlotte, DHS falsely said a Honduran man charged with murder was released under NC’s “sanctuary policies.”
www.charlotteobserver.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Today is a good day to read a newspaper
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
November 22, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Just an absolutely gutting essay by Tatiana Schlossberg, a writer, mother of two young children, and cousin of RFK Jr who is dying of leukemia.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
I guess he also is admitting his orders are illegal
Apparently, Stephen Miller cosplayed a “many great legal scholars” last night.
November 23, 2025 at 1:17 PM
I guess he also is admitting his orders are illegal
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
Re-upping my piece from yesterday on the Deputy Attorney General's "war" against federal courts—including why it's wanting for both quantitative and qualitative support; why it's especially dangerous coming from the number-two official at DOJ; and why the silence of folks on the right is deafening:
193. The "War" on Judges
Deputy Attorney General Blanche's attack on lower courts is an impressive combination of light on substance; shamelessly hypocritical; and profoundly dangerous. More people should be condemning it.
www.stevevladeck.com
November 18, 2025 at 12:57 PM
Re-upping my piece from yesterday on the Deputy Attorney General's "war" against federal courts—including why it's wanting for both quantitative and qualitative support; why it's especially dangerous coming from the number-two official at DOJ; and why the silence of folks on the right is deafening:
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
"300 agents stormed the building, rappelled from a helicopter, knocked down doors and hurled flash-bang grenades. Agents ziptied and detained many US citizens for hours..."
Prosecutors have not filed a *single* criminal charge against anyone arrested that night:
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
Prosecutors have not filed a *single* criminal charge against anyone arrested that night:
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime
Authorities said Tren de Aragua “terrorists” had taken over the building. A ProPublica investigation found little evidence to back up the government’s claims. For the first time, the Venezuelans arres...
www.propublica.org
November 15, 2025 at 1:39 AM
"300 agents stormed the building, rappelled from a helicopter, knocked down doors and hurled flash-bang grenades. Agents ziptied and detained many US citizens for hours..."
Prosecutors have not filed a *single* criminal charge against anyone arrested that night:
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
Prosecutors have not filed a *single* criminal charge against anyone arrested that night:
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
Pope Leo: “We can no longer tolerate structural injustices in which those who have more always have more, and, conversely, those who have less become increasingly poor".
Pope Leo XIV: ‘We can no longer tolerate structural injustices’ - Vatican News
A new book by Pope Leo XIV, “La forza del Vangelo: la fede cristiana in 10 parole,” includes a previously unpublished text by the Holy Father. ...
www.vaticannews.va
November 15, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Pope Leo: “We can no longer tolerate structural injustices in which those who have more always have more, and, conversely, those who have less become increasingly poor".
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
November 13, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
In terms of big disappointments, he gets honorable Manchin.
November 11, 2025 at 10:30 PM
In terms of big disappointments, he gets honorable Manchin.
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
An absolutely brutal SNL cold open last night about Trump.
Oval Office Press Conference Cold Open - SNL
YouTube video by Saturday Night Live
youtu.be
November 9, 2025 at 1:34 PM
An absolutely brutal SNL cold open last night about Trump.
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
Trying to figure out what #SCOTUS just did with #SNAP, and why Justice Jackson temporarily froze the district court's ruling?
Via "One First," me on what's going on—and why I think Jackson's move was savvy, notwithstanding the awful circumstances that forced it:
www.stevevladeck.com/p/190-snap-wtf
Via "One First," me on what's going on—and why I think Jackson's move was savvy, notwithstanding the awful circumstances that forced it:
www.stevevladeck.com/p/190-snap-wtf
190. SNAP WTF?
A very quick explainer on what (and why) Justice Jackson issued an "administrative stay" in the SNAP case late on Friday night, and on what's likely to happen next
www.stevevladeck.com
November 8, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Trying to figure out what #SCOTUS just did with #SNAP, and why Justice Jackson temporarily froze the district court's ruling?
Via "One First," me on what's going on—and why I think Jackson's move was savvy, notwithstanding the awful circumstances that forced it:
www.stevevladeck.com/p/190-snap-wtf
Via "One First," me on what's going on—and why I think Jackson's move was savvy, notwithstanding the awful circumstances that forced it:
www.stevevladeck.com/p/190-snap-wtf
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
November 6, 2025 at 5:00 AM
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
If the sub didn’t split, you must acquit!
Defense begins, “This case, ladies and gentlemen, is about a sandwich. A sandwich that according to Agent Lairmore somehow both exploded on his chest in a spray of mustard and onions but also landed intact on the ground still in its Subway wrapper.”
November 5, 2025 at 6:58 PM
If the sub didn’t split, you must acquit!
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
Mamdani: "My message to ICE agents & to everyone across this city is that everyone will be held to the same standard of the law. If you violate it, you must be held accountable. There is sadly a sense growing that certain people are allowed to violate that law, whether they be POTUS or ICE agents."
November 5, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Mamdani: "My message to ICE agents & to everyone across this city is that everyone will be held to the same standard of the law. If you violate it, you must be held accountable. There is sadly a sense growing that certain people are allowed to violate that law, whether they be POTUS or ICE agents."
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
Beshear: Let me be clear. The president has both the funding and the authority to fund snap during a shutdown. In fact, every other president in every other shutdown has done so. People going hungry in this instance is a choice that this president has made.
November 5, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Beshear: Let me be clear. The president has both the funding and the authority to fund snap during a shutdown. In fact, every other president in every other shutdown has done so. People going hungry in this instance is a choice that this president has made.
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
So white folks continue to do white folks shit, eh? And Black people continued to fight for Democracy. Black people are the patriots white folks on the right and the left think that they are. We always have been. Black people are the base for the Democratic Party.
November 5, 2025 at 8:03 AM
So white folks continue to do white folks shit, eh? And Black people continued to fight for Democracy. Black people are the patriots white folks on the right and the left think that they are. We always have been. Black people are the base for the Democratic Party.
Reposted by Cindy Rugeley
November 1, 2025 at 4:29 PM