@johndbecker.bsky.social
Twisting the arm of a company whose prosperity might depend to some extent on being in T's good graces? Winking at an alleged history of sexual misconduct (a bit like ignoring the "things" that "happened" under MBS in Saudi)? If we keep using our outrage muscles, do we tire out or get stronger?
November 26, 2025 at 3:17 AM
Twisting the arm of a company whose prosperity might depend to some extent on being in T's good graces? Winking at an alleged history of sexual misconduct (a bit like ignoring the "things" that "happened" under MBS in Saudi)? If we keep using our outrage muscles, do we tire out or get stronger?
The difference here might be that Bondi and especially K Patel, might really have broken laws. I can almost accept that sort of loyalty. Is it a bigger danger if Trump gets folks in at DoJ and FBI who are as unethical as these two, but also more competent? I hate the choices the T WH sticks us with.
November 26, 2025 at 3:10 AM
The difference here might be that Bondi and especially K Patel, might really have broken laws. I can almost accept that sort of loyalty. Is it a bigger danger if Trump gets folks in at DoJ and FBI who are as unethical as these two, but also more competent? I hate the choices the T WH sticks us with.
Does anyone else, looking at that graph, find the September, '25 bar a bit suspicious? And we just heard some stuff from ADP about private sector losing jobs. Even as bad as this bar chart looks, it might be product of Trump cosmetic surgery.
November 26, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Does anyone else, looking at that graph, find the September, '25 bar a bit suspicious? And we just heard some stuff from ADP about private sector losing jobs. Even as bad as this bar chart looks, it might be product of Trump cosmetic surgery.
This, while attractive, feels facile to me. How would anyone have "dealt with" Trump that day? Pelosi was onboard; it was heroic by her. Even McConnell was onboard for a bit. But bringing in, what, the military, to stop things? Oof, peril. Now, let's propose instead a MAGA reckoning, as penance.
November 26, 2025 at 2:56 AM
This, while attractive, feels facile to me. How would anyone have "dealt with" Trump that day? Pelosi was onboard; it was heroic by her. Even McConnell was onboard for a bit. But bringing in, what, the military, to stop things? Oof, peril. Now, let's propose instead a MAGA reckoning, as penance.
Sorry, ranting over another terrible headline. The suit is not over the allegations, but over the misuse of data, violating law and Constitution. Someone needs to start arresting this toxic drift toward making these violations part of processes; Rep. Swalwell is my hero right now.
November 26, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Sorry, ranting over another terrible headline. The suit is not over the allegations, but over the misuse of data, violating law and Constitution. Someone needs to start arresting this toxic drift toward making these violations part of processes; Rep. Swalwell is my hero right now.
Hey, is there a move afoot to use a discharge petition to force a House vote on the abortive Trump proposal to finance ACA subsidies for longer? It's likely it would pass, no? And I want the Senate to have a record vote on the proposal. (Heck, if someone can wake Trump up, he could lobby for it.)
November 26, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Hey, is there a move afoot to use a discharge petition to force a House vote on the abortive Trump proposal to finance ACA subsidies for longer? It's likely it would pass, no? And I want the Senate to have a record vote on the proposal. (Heck, if someone can wake Trump up, he could lobby for it.)
CNN's Harry Enten, quoted w/in, says people aren't buying what T is selling re Epstein. But I'd bet people might buy Trump's line, were it not for inflation and T's ridiculous lies about it. Part of the tragedy of Trump II is that it has taken economic failure to wake people up. Inevitable suffering
November 26, 2025 at 2:33 AM
CNN's Harry Enten, quoted w/in, says people aren't buying what T is selling re Epstein. But I'd bet people might buy Trump's line, were it not for inflation and T's ridiculous lies about it. Part of the tragedy of Trump II is that it has taken economic failure to wake people up. Inevitable suffering
I am late to the party, but why is Witkoff the constant focus? The main person at fault is the commander-in-thief, who is checking out of one responsibility after another, leaving vital decisions to the tender mercies of people like Witkoff. The buck stops with Trump? No, the WORK stops with Trump.
November 26, 2025 at 1:47 AM
I am late to the party, but why is Witkoff the constant focus? The main person at fault is the commander-in-thief, who is checking out of one responsibility after another, leaving vital decisions to the tender mercies of people like Witkoff. The buck stops with Trump? No, the WORK stops with Trump.
Dismal. Even though he's a loser, this is still way too much writing about Trump and his evil plans. And remember, AT BEST these needless court cases are a waste of resources; DoJ is not doing things it should be, due to this sordid focus. Also: tariffs are at least a .5 %-age point economic drag.
November 26, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Dismal. Even though he's a loser, this is still way too much writing about Trump and his evil plans. And remember, AT BEST these needless court cases are a waste of resources; DoJ is not doing things it should be, due to this sordid focus. Also: tariffs are at least a .5 %-age point economic drag.
Yay! Maybe MN finally wins at something! (Oh, sorry Lynx fans, you're right; they're great, too.)
November 26, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Yay! Maybe MN finally wins at something! (Oh, sorry Lynx fans, you're right; they're great, too.)
You know, we're not even a year into this administration, and T has been revealed (shock) as both vile and not quite with-it. What happens as his cognition continues its inevitable decline? There's not enough makeup to cover it all. Come on, MAGA; even you can figure this out, right?
November 26, 2025 at 1:25 AM
You know, we're not even a year into this administration, and T has been revealed (shock) as both vile and not quite with-it. What happens as his cognition continues its inevitable decline? There's not enough makeup to cover it all. Come on, MAGA; even you can figure this out, right?
What in the world do people expect? If MAGA mostly hangs in there, despite tariff chaos, dragging the economy down, outright lies on things like inflation and the job market, which people's experience itself disproves, and T aiding the rich, rather than poorer folks, why would MTG make a difference?
November 26, 2025 at 1:20 AM
What in the world do people expect? If MAGA mostly hangs in there, despite tariff chaos, dragging the economy down, outright lies on things like inflation and the job market, which people's experience itself disproves, and T aiding the rich, rather than poorer folks, why would MTG make a difference?
But there is controversy. I read of this story as, Military officers contacted members of Congress re possibility of (more) illegal orders. The video was the response. T and Hegseth are all sound and fury, likely because they've been caught. But the next step is GOP backing the Const., NOW, right?
November 26, 2025 at 1:11 AM
But there is controversy. I read of this story as, Military officers contacted members of Congress re possibility of (more) illegal orders. The video was the response. T and Hegseth are all sound and fury, likely because they've been caught. But the next step is GOP backing the Const., NOW, right?
I hate this headline: TRUMP faces realities of aging in office? He isn't facing anything; he's just checking out, leaving important decisions to others. WE'RE the ones facing this reality. And who the heck couldn't see this coming? Frankly, Trump should be facing the realities of aging in prison.
November 26, 2025 at 12:59 AM
I hate this headline: TRUMP faces realities of aging in office? He isn't facing anything; he's just checking out, leaving important decisions to others. WE'RE the ones facing this reality. And who the heck couldn't see this coming? Frankly, Trump should be facing the realities of aging in prison.
I want to like this better. I'm grateful to Sen. Murkowski, as this (still, sadly) takes courage. But her language is gentler than it could be. The even bigger problem: where are all the other GOP senators. Give them a day or two to stand up and be counted; after that, silence counts against them.
November 26, 2025 at 12:54 AM
I want to like this better. I'm grateful to Sen. Murkowski, as this (still, sadly) takes courage. But her language is gentler than it could be. The even bigger problem: where are all the other GOP senators. Give them a day or two to stand up and be counted; after that, silence counts against them.
Mueller, She Wrote has an answer. (Btw, follow her.) If I understand it, Judge Currie is bending over backwards to allow DoJ to look for a savings provision that would override the SOL and include a grace period. I'm not sure there is one, or that DoJ could find it. But I'll wait till they give up.
November 24, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Mueller, She Wrote has an answer. (Btw, follow her.) If I understand it, Judge Currie is bending over backwards to allow DoJ to look for a savings provision that would override the SOL and include a grace period. I'm not sure there is one, or that DoJ could find it. But I'll wait till they give up.
It doesn't feel "over" to me if the dismissal is w/o prejudice. Am I missing something? With Comey, at least, there was/is a statute of limitations problem, I think. I'd like to feel even better about this news.
November 24, 2025 at 8:46 PM
It doesn't feel "over" to me if the dismissal is w/o prejudice. Am I missing something? With Comey, at least, there was/is a statute of limitations problem, I think. I'd like to feel even better about this news.
I find JD disgusting generally, but I have a lot of sympathy for Usha. I know that spouses sign up for all of this, but it's hard for anyone to stay married. Let's not make it worse for her if we can help it. Everyone deserves to have their dignity respected.
November 23, 2025 at 11:18 PM
I find JD disgusting generally, but I have a lot of sympathy for Usha. I know that spouses sign up for all of this, but it's hard for anyone to stay married. Let's not make it worse for her if we can help it. Everyone deserves to have their dignity respected.
I'm not a Walmart fan, but this story indicates that there is some real meritocracy going on there.
November 23, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I'm not a Walmart fan, but this story indicates that there is some real meritocracy going on there.
I just heard on today's Bulwark (Rampell with Bill Krystol) that Ms. Rampell is on Bluesky, collecting data that people are aware of and that we can't count on the WH to provide right now. (She's worth following anyway.) Please check in if you have useful information.
November 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
I just heard on today's Bulwark (Rampell with Bill Krystol) that Ms. Rampell is on Bluesky, collecting data that people are aware of and that we can't count on the WH to provide right now. (She's worth following anyway.) Please check in if you have useful information.
There are people I admire who support Trump. This is deeply saddening, and increases my anger at Trump. He is unworthy to tie their shoes.
November 23, 2025 at 10:04 PM
There are people I admire who support Trump. This is deeply saddening, and increases my anger at Trump. He is unworthy to tie their shoes.
Immigration should not be a polarizing issue. And deportation policy that tramples on human dignity, as is regularly the case with ICE, should be abhorrent to everyone. But we're not very mature on this issue in the U.S.
November 23, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Immigration should not be a polarizing issue. And deportation policy that tramples on human dignity, as is regularly the case with ICE, should be abhorrent to everyone. But we're not very mature on this issue in the U.S.
Agreed. And his mind is weakening as well; the two might be connected. But there is danger here, no? (Even though I'd rather have him weakening.) Who in the GOP clown car can fill in the gap? (Many will try, I suspect.)
November 23, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Agreed. And his mind is weakening as well; the two might be connected. But there is danger here, no? (Even though I'd rather have him weakening.) Who in the GOP clown car can fill in the gap? (Many will try, I suspect.)
Ha, ha, ha: "despite" U.S.-led negotiations? Newsweek, you're so cute when you're clueless.
November 23, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Ha, ha, ha: "despite" U.S.-led negotiations? Newsweek, you're so cute when you're clueless.
I don't think the "firing calculus" works the same way in the Trump administration as it does in a well-run government. Lawyers in DoJ who refuse to prosecute bogus cases get fired. Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth, whose incompetence, let alone criminality, threatens national security, labors on.
November 23, 2025 at 9:43 PM
I don't think the "firing calculus" works the same way in the Trump administration as it does in a well-run government. Lawyers in DoJ who refuse to prosecute bogus cases get fired. Meanwhile, Pete Hegseth, whose incompetence, let alone criminality, threatens national security, labors on.