Gary McGath
@gmcgath.bsky.social
Freelance writer. Lover of liberty, music, and cats. Author of The Magic Battery, Spells of War, Files that Last, and Tomorrow's Songs Today. On Bluesky I post a lot about classical music and silent film.
https://garymcgath.com
https://garymcgath.com
Reposted by Gary McGath
“The government acted unlawfully when it demanded Apple remove ICEBlock,” EFF’s @mariotrujillo.bsky.social told @ArsTechnica.com. “While this case is rightfully only against the government, Apple should also take a hard look at its own capitulation.”
arstechnica.com/tech-policy...
arstechnica.com/tech-policy...
ICEBlock lawsuit: Trump admin bragged about demanding App Store removal
ICEBlock creator sues to protect apps that are crowd-sourcing ICE sightings.
arstechnica.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:03 PM
“The government acted unlawfully when it demanded Apple remove ICEBlock,” EFF’s @mariotrujillo.bsky.social told @ArsTechnica.com. “While this case is rightfully only against the government, Apple should also take a hard look at its own capitulation.”
arstechnica.com/tech-policy...
arstechnica.com/tech-policy...
Antisemitic activity in SFF fandom is down, or at least less visible, from 2024. It's still important to keep an eye out for bigotry.
garymcgath.com/antisemitism...
garymcgath.com/antisemitism...
Antisemitism in SFF fandom
In 2024, there were some disturbing actions in science fiction/fantasy fandom against people who are from Israel or support its existence. I’ve blogged about some of them before. Vancouver Co…
garymcgath.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Antisemitic activity in SFF fandom is down, or at least less visible, from 2024. It's still important to keep an eye out for bigotry.
garymcgath.com/antisemitism...
garymcgath.com/antisemitism...
John Sununu is just another Trump puppet. I'd hoped for better.
granitepostnews.com/2025/11/14/s...
#NewHampshire
granitepostnews.com/2025/11/14/s...
#NewHampshire
John E. Sununu’s changing take on tariffs, as he seeks Trump’s endorsement
Now that he’s running for Senate, John E. Sununu is praising Trump’s message on tariffs—a flip-flop that has Granite Staters writing off the Republican candidate.
granitepostnews.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:51 PM
John Sununu is just another Trump puppet. I'd hoped for better.
granitepostnews.com/2025/11/14/s...
#NewHampshire
granitepostnews.com/2025/11/14/s...
#NewHampshire
Trump is pushing hate of Somalis. ICE carries out his will.
abcnews.go.com/US/somalis-m...
abcnews.go.com/US/somalis-m...
Somalis in Minnesota say ICE agents already targeting their community
Somali community members in Minnesota said ICE agents have already begun enforcement operations in the state.
abcnews.go.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Trump is pushing hate of Somalis. ICE carries out his will.
abcnews.go.com/US/somalis-m...
abcnews.go.com/US/somalis-m...
To stand for democracy is to stand for nothing in particular. No one ever says, "The will of the majority be done, even if I hate it." Everyone assumes that the majority will want what they want.
December 8, 2025 at 3:35 PM
To stand for democracy is to stand for nothing in particular. No one ever says, "The will of the majority be done, even if I hate it." Everyone assumes that the majority will want what they want.
Reposted by Gary McGath
Just something I've been thinking about for a while: Human rights are, above all, individual rights. www.grayrinehart.com/blog/human-r...
December 8, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Just something I've been thinking about for a while: Human rights are, above all, individual rights. www.grayrinehart.com/blog/human-r...
The Archdiocese of Boston claims that speaking out against lawless abductions is "divisive political messaging." www.boston.com/news/local-n...
#Boston #Massachusetts
#Boston #Massachusetts
Boston Archdiocese calls on Dedham church to remove Nativity scene protesting ICE
“The display should be removed, and the manger restored to its proper sacred purpose," the Archdiocese of Boston said in a statement.
www.boston.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:07 PM
The Archdiocese of Boston claims that speaking out against lawless abductions is "divisive political messaging." www.boston.com/news/local-n...
#Boston #Massachusetts
#Boston #Massachusetts
In 1917, Robert Goldstein got a federal sentence for making a movie about the American Revolution. It made the British, our allies in WWI, look bad.
garymcgath.com/spirit-of-76/
garymcgath.com/spirit-of-76/
The prosecution of “The Spirit of ’76”
The World War I years were the worst in the United States’ history for freedom of speech. Eugene Debs was sentenced to ten years for opposing US participation in the war. Charles T. Schenck g…
garymcgath.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:36 AM
In 1917, Robert Goldstein got a federal sentence for making a movie about the American Revolution. It made the British, our allies in WWI, look bad.
garymcgath.com/spirit-of-76/
garymcgath.com/spirit-of-76/
The government continues to persecute Rümeysa Öztürk, whom ICE kidnapped. www.boston.com/news/local-n...
Detained Tufts student's lawyers push for restoration of her student record
The removal of Rümeysa Öztürk’s student record since her release from ICE custody has kept her from teaching and research opportunities.
www.boston.com
December 7, 2025 at 10:45 PM
The government continues to persecute Rümeysa Öztürk, whom ICE kidnapped. www.boston.com/news/local-n...
Reposted by Gary McGath
This is great. Very few people want to go to jail, get disbarred or die for this regime. Make them fight you. They will cave.
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
Minneapolis police chief warns officers: Stop unlawful force by ICE or lose your job
Chief Brian O’Hara says he’ll fire city police officers if they don’t intervene when immigration agents use unlawful force.
www.ms.now
December 6, 2025 at 1:51 PM
This is great. Very few people want to go to jail, get disbarred or die for this regime. Make them fight you. They will cave.
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
www.ms.now/news/minneap...
Those who say "We have to use the methods of evil to fight evil" soon become indistinguishable from the thing they're fighting, except for choice of slogans and symbols.
December 7, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Those who say "We have to use the methods of evil to fight evil" soon become indistinguishable from the thing they're fighting, except for choice of slogans and symbols.
People can say I'm wrong. I sometimes am. But anyone who calls me a liar had better have good evidence behind it to avoid an immediate block.
December 7, 2025 at 2:13 PM
People can say I'm wrong. I sometimes am. But anyone who calls me a liar had better have good evidence behind it to avoid an immediate block.
In _Young Frankenstein_, the host in the castle is called Frau Blücher in the cast list, but everyone pronounces it "Blucher" without the umlaut. Maybe the horses are complaining about the pronunciation error?
December 7, 2025 at 11:44 AM
In _Young Frankenstein_, the host in the castle is called Frau Blücher in the cast list, but everyone pronounces it "Blucher" without the umlaut. Maybe the horses are complaining about the pronunciation error?
This is what's wrong with news today. In this screen capture of the Washington Post's homepage, there isn't a single news story.
December 7, 2025 at 11:33 AM
This is what's wrong with news today. In this screen capture of the Washington Post's homepage, there isn't a single news story.
The #SalvationArmy says you're "totally depraved" and "justly exposed to the wrath of God," and "faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" is necessary to salvation. In other words, all non-Christians are going to Hell.
That outfit doesn't get my money.
www.salvationarmyusa.org/spiritual-an...
That outfit doesn't get my money.
www.salvationarmyusa.org/spiritual-an...
Spiritual and Worship Services
Offering worship services and Christ-centered programs to all.
www.salvationarmyusa.org
December 7, 2025 at 1:48 AM
The #SalvationArmy says you're "totally depraved" and "justly exposed to the wrath of God," and "faith in our Lord Jesus Christ" is necessary to salvation. In other words, all non-Christians are going to Hell.
That outfit doesn't get my money.
www.salvationarmyusa.org/spiritual-an...
That outfit doesn't get my money.
www.salvationarmyusa.org/spiritual-an...
Reposted by Gary McGath
This just in: Your shit is not encrypted.
Kohler's Smart Toilet Camera Not Actually End-to-End Encrypted
Gives new meaning to the 'internet of shit.'
www.404media.co
December 6, 2025 at 9:52 PM
This just in: Your shit is not encrypted.
Reposted by Gary McGath
New from me at my Maryland policy blog Free State Notes: activists pushing for BWI to kick out commercial airline Avelo over ICE charters may not have done their homework about the legalities. I cite reporting from @thebaltimorebanner.com
On Avelo, BWI, and its ICE flights
Activists in Maryland and elsewhere want Baltimore-Washington International (BWI) and other airports to kick out Avelo, a small commercial airline that has allowed its planes to be chartered to ICE…
freestatenotes.wordpress.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:45 PM
New from me at my Maryland policy blog Free State Notes: activists pushing for BWI to kick out commercial airline Avelo over ICE charters may not have done their homework about the legalities. I cite reporting from @thebaltimorebanner.com
Just watched Blazing Saddles for the first time in many years. I love the way it destroys the power of racial slurs by making them ridiculous.
December 6, 2025 at 6:16 PM
Just watched Blazing Saddles for the first time in many years. I love the way it destroys the power of racial slurs by making them ridiculous.
It's a cliché of TV shows and movies that chess players don't see a checkmate coming till the turn it happens. Only inexperienced players do this, and even then not that often. #chess
December 6, 2025 at 4:43 PM
It's a cliché of TV shows and movies that chess players don't see a checkmate coming till the turn it happens. Only inexperienced players do this, and even then not that often. #chess
Hegseth on shooting unarmed protesters: "I'd be careful what you read in books and believing it. Except for the Bible."
He was probably thinking of the Book of Joshua, where every man, woman, and child in Jericho was slaughtered on orders from God.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/heg...
He was probably thinking of the Book of Joshua, where every man, woman, and child in Jericho was slaughtered on orders from God.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/heg...
Democratic senators hammer Hegseth as he trades barbs with them during testy hearing
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth snapped back at female Democratic senators, at one point telling one that her "time was up," as he was grilled at a congressional hearing.
abcnews.go.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Hegseth on shooting unarmed protesters: "I'd be careful what you read in books and believing it. Except for the Bible."
He was probably thinking of the Book of Joshua, where every man, woman, and child in Jericho was slaughtered on orders from God.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/heg...
He was probably thinking of the Book of Joshua, where every man, woman, and child in Jericho was slaughtered on orders from God.
abcnews.go.com/Politics/heg...
Real acts of antisemitic violence are contemptible, but it only distracts from them when ICE invents claims.
www.boston.com/news/local-n...
www.boston.com/news/local-n...
Harvard professor charged with firing pellet gun outside Brookline temple arrested by ICE
Federal officials described the incident as an “anti-Semitic shooting,” contrary to statements from local authorities and Temple Beth Zion leadership.
www.boston.com
December 6, 2025 at 11:32 AM
Real acts of antisemitic violence are contemptible, but it only distracts from them when ICE invents claims.
www.boston.com/news/local-n...
www.boston.com/news/local-n...
It's fun to watch arguments that score own goals. For instance, "School choice is racist." The implication is that some races need to be "protected" from choice and should be happy with whatever the public school system sticks them with.
December 5, 2025 at 9:03 PM
It's fun to watch arguments that score own goals. For instance, "School choice is racist." The implication is that some races need to be "protected" from choice and should be happy with whatever the public school system sticks them with.
Reposted by Gary McGath
BREAKING: The Supreme Court just agreed to hear our case against the Trump administration to protect birthright citizenship and the Fourteenth Amendment.
The constitution and over a century of precedent have made it clear: if you are born on U.S. soil you are a citizen — period.
The constitution and over a century of precedent have made it clear: if you are born on U.S. soil you are a citizen — period.
December 5, 2025 at 7:37 PM
BREAKING: The Supreme Court just agreed to hear our case against the Trump administration to protect birthright citizenship and the Fourteenth Amendment.
The constitution and over a century of precedent have made it clear: if you are born on U.S. soil you are a citizen — period.
The constitution and over a century of precedent have made it clear: if you are born on U.S. soil you are a citizen — period.
I like dancing to classical pieces for exercise. The third movement of Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony is a serious challenge to keep step with. Where _are_ those beats?
December 5, 2025 at 7:39 PM
I like dancing to classical pieces for exercise. The third movement of Tchaikovsky's 4th Symphony is a serious challenge to keep step with. Where _are_ those beats?