Paul
@poetadeplaya.bsky.social
Words and music, and nothing much more than that, other than many questions about life.
Reposted by Paul
Remember, in his first term Trump asked military leaders of protesters:
“can’t you just shoot them.”
Back then his officials refused. So he found ones who wouldn’t.
This is what he’s always wanted. It’s not an accident. It was his vision. www.npr.org/2022/05/09/1...
“can’t you just shoot them.”
Back then his officials refused. So he found ones who wouldn’t.
This is what he’s always wanted. It’s not an accident. It was his vision. www.npr.org/2022/05/09/1...
Former Pentagon chief Esper says Trump asked about shooting protesters
NPR's Michel Martin speaks with Mark Esper about his forthcoming book, "A Sacred Oath: Memoirs of a Secretary of Defense During Extraordinary Times."
www.npr.org
January 26, 2026 at 12:51 AM
Remember, in his first term Trump asked military leaders of protesters:
“can’t you just shoot them.”
Back then his officials refused. So he found ones who wouldn’t.
This is what he’s always wanted. It’s not an accident. It was his vision. www.npr.org/2022/05/09/1...
“can’t you just shoot them.”
Back then his officials refused. So he found ones who wouldn’t.
This is what he’s always wanted. It’s not an accident. It was his vision. www.npr.org/2022/05/09/1...
Reposted by Paul
Every one of the factors that now convince him Trump is fascist was present in the first term (even if unsuccessful). Lots of folks who accurately described Trump as fascist were called unserious. I'ed much rather someone admit why they were wrong (left-punching, bias, etc.) than this. Gift link
Yes, It’s Fascism
Until recently, I thought it a term best avoided. But now, the resemblances are too many and too strong to deny.
www.theatlantic.com
January 25, 2026 at 9:12 PM
Every one of the factors that now convince him Trump is fascist was present in the first term (even if unsuccessful). Lots of folks who accurately described Trump as fascist were called unserious. I'ed much rather someone admit why they were wrong (left-punching, bias, etc.) than this. Gift link
Reposted by Paul
Important read.
Yes, It’s Fascism
Until recently, I thought it a term best avoided. But now, the resemblances are too many and too strong to deny.
www.theatlantic.com
January 25, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Important read.
Reposted by Paul
Trump and his allies are already smearing Alex Pretti’s name instead of confronting the truth.
Veterans who served our country and lived because of the VA are outraged. Alex was a VA nurse and hero, not a villain.
Stay informed. Join the fight. Follow @saveamericamvmt.bsky.social
Veterans who served our country and lived because of the VA are outraged. Alex was a VA nurse and hero, not a villain.
Stay informed. Join the fight. Follow @saveamericamvmt.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Trump and his allies are already smearing Alex Pretti’s name instead of confronting the truth.
Veterans who served our country and lived because of the VA are outraged. Alex was a VA nurse and hero, not a villain.
Stay informed. Join the fight. Follow @saveamericamvmt.bsky.social
Veterans who served our country and lived because of the VA are outraged. Alex was a VA nurse and hero, not a villain.
Stay informed. Join the fight. Follow @saveamericamvmt.bsky.social
Reposted by Paul
This is powerful from military veterans about Alex Pretti.
"They took his life. Don't let them take his name."
"They took his life. Don't let them take his name."
Trump and his allies are already smearing Alex Pretti’s name instead of confronting the truth.
Veterans who served our country and lived because of the VA are outraged. Alex was a VA nurse and hero, not a villain.
Stay informed. Join the fight. Follow @saveamericamvmt.bsky.social
Veterans who served our country and lived because of the VA are outraged. Alex was a VA nurse and hero, not a villain.
Stay informed. Join the fight. Follow @saveamericamvmt.bsky.social
January 25, 2026 at 9:00 PM
This is powerful from military veterans about Alex Pretti.
"They took his life. Don't let them take his name."
"They took his life. Don't let them take his name."
Reposted by Paul
This woman speaks for the majority of Americans. 🙌🙏🫶👇
January 25, 2026 at 4:33 PM
This woman speaks for the majority of Americans. 🙌🙏🫶👇
Reposted by Paul
Bondi's letter—essentially offering to stop attacking and murdering citizens in Minnesota in exchange for the state's voter rolls—shows what Trump, Miller et al. are really after:
They want to fuck with the nation's elections so that they never have to cede power or answer for their crimes.
They want to fuck with the nation's elections so that they never have to cede power or answer for their crimes.
In the wake of another fatal shooting in Minneapolis.
AG Pam Bondi sends Gov. Walz a letter today making several asks including:
"Allow DOJ Civil Rights division access to state voter rolls"
AG Pam Bondi sends Gov. Walz a letter today making several asks including:
"Allow DOJ Civil Rights division access to state voter rolls"
January 25, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Bondi's letter—essentially offering to stop attacking and murdering citizens in Minnesota in exchange for the state's voter rolls—shows what Trump, Miller et al. are really after:
They want to fuck with the nation's elections so that they never have to cede power or answer for their crimes.
They want to fuck with the nation's elections so that they never have to cede power or answer for their crimes.
Reposted by Paul
This man is part of the agency that is leading the federal "investigation."⬇️
This stuff is even beyond George Orwell's imagination:
Bovino in short: I am not blaming the victims. The victims are the Border Patrol agents.
Direct quote below.
This stuff is even beyond George Orwell's imagination:
Bovino in short: I am not blaming the victims. The victims are the Border Patrol agents.
Direct quote below.
BASH: It feels as though you're blaming the victim here
BOVINO: The victims are the Border Patrol agents. I'm not blaming the Border Patrol agents. The victims are the Border Patrol agents.
BOVINO: The victims are the Border Patrol agents. I'm not blaming the Border Patrol agents. The victims are the Border Patrol agents.
January 25, 2026 at 2:49 PM
This man is part of the agency that is leading the federal "investigation."⬇️
This stuff is even beyond George Orwell's imagination:
Bovino in short: I am not blaming the victims. The victims are the Border Patrol agents.
Direct quote below.
This stuff is even beyond George Orwell's imagination:
Bovino in short: I am not blaming the victims. The victims are the Border Patrol agents.
Direct quote below.
Reposted by Paul
The retreat, according to a British newspaper, followed a low-key intervention by King Charles III, whose son Prince Harry served on the front lines as a helicopter pilot and lost friends in the fighting.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
Trump, in retreat, praises U.K. troops after royal family expresses hurt
President Donald Trump’s comments belittling the role of NATO allies in Afghanistan sparked outrage in Britain, which lost 457 soldiers in the U.S.-led war.
www.washingtonpost.com
January 25, 2026 at 2:45 PM
The retreat, according to a British newspaper, followed a low-key intervention by King Charles III, whose son Prince Harry served on the front lines as a helicopter pilot and lost friends in the fighting.
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
www.washingtonpost.com/world/2026/0...
Reposted by Paul
This witness to Alex Pretti's murder not only refutes the governmen't story, but says she is afraid to go home because federal agents might arrest her. This is what it feels like to live under state terror.
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
TincherSealedWitnessDec012426.PDF
www.documentcloud.org
January 25, 2026 at 2:43 PM
This witness to Alex Pretti's murder not only refutes the governmen't story, but says she is afraid to go home because federal agents might arrest her. This is what it feels like to live under state terror.
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by Paul
This. All of it. But don’t exclude from prosecution the leaders who created and guided and ordered the crimes.
Congress is not powerless. Democrats must unify around an actual agenda.
1. Vote no on DHS funding bill.
2. Repeal the multi-year $75 billion funding for ICE.
3. End qualified immunity for ICE agents.
4. Investigate and prosecute every single ICE agent who broke the law.
1. Vote no on DHS funding bill.
2. Repeal the multi-year $75 billion funding for ICE.
3. End qualified immunity for ICE agents.
4. Investigate and prosecute every single ICE agent who broke the law.
January 25, 2026 at 2:39 PM
This. All of it. But don’t exclude from prosecution the leaders who created and guided and ordered the crimes.
Reposted by Paul
M. Gessen, gift link: The soviet secret police too "were ruled by quotas... Fundamentally, the terror was random. That is, in fact, how state terror works. The randomness is the difference between a regime based on terror and a regime that is plainly repressive"
Opinion | State Terror Has Arrived
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 1:55 PM
M. Gessen, gift link: The soviet secret police too "were ruled by quotas... Fundamentally, the terror was random. That is, in fact, how state terror works. The randomness is the difference between a regime based on terror and a regime that is plainly repressive"
Reposted by Paul
Stephen Miller is a very sick person, more so, IMO, than the president. And he is calling the shots.
I remember when Terry Moran dared to make this observation and got fired from ABC for it.
I remember when Terry Moran dared to make this observation and got fired from ABC for it.
January 25, 2026 at 12:58 AM
Stephen Miller is a very sick person, more so, IMO, than the president. And he is calling the shots.
I remember when Terry Moran dared to make this observation and got fired from ABC for it.
I remember when Terry Moran dared to make this observation and got fired from ABC for it.
Reposted by Paul
This was murder. Pretti did not initiate the confrontation. He didn’t strike them. He didn’t brandish his gun. They tackled him, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him.
Holy crap.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
This is the most damning video yet.
It shows Border Patrol agents clearly taking Alex's firearm, running it away, and THEN executed him in cold blood by emptying a clip into his face.
Murder.
January 24, 2026 at 9:46 PM
This was murder. Pretti did not initiate the confrontation. He didn’t strike them. He didn’t brandish his gun. They tackled him, beat him, disarmed him, and shot him.
Reposted by Paul
We’ve placed the available videos of the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis today into the same synchronised timeline and are continuing to analyse further.
January 24, 2026 at 8:39 PM
We’ve placed the available videos of the shooting of Alex Pretti by federal agents in Minneapolis today into the same synchronised timeline and are continuing to analyse further.
Reposted by Paul
They say “where’s the gun?” — After the shots
Because they don’t realize one of them had already taken it — before the shots
Because they don’t realize one of them had already taken it — before the shots
January 24, 2026 at 8:47 PM
They say “where’s the gun?” — After the shots
Because they don’t realize one of them had already taken it — before the shots
Because they don’t realize one of them had already taken it — before the shots
Reposted by Paul
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
January 24, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Federal law enforcement agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis on Jan. 24 according to local police officials. DHS told Fox News that the man was “armed with a gun”. A video of the shooting appears to show that a gun was taken from the man before the first shot was fired. x.com/BillMelugin_...
Reposted by Paul
This is open and shut 1st degree murder.
So I watched the shooting video frame by frame and it looks like:
1) They were beating a struggling man with batons
2) His jacket opened revealing a gun in his waistband or lower back
3) The agent in gray grabbed the gun and was walking away
4) THEN the other agents shot the man in the back
1) They were beating a struggling man with batons
2) His jacket opened revealing a gun in his waistband or lower back
3) The agent in gray grabbed the gun and was walking away
4) THEN the other agents shot the man in the back
January 24, 2026 at 5:47 PM
This is open and shut 1st degree murder.
Reposted by Paul
This is apparently on X. I have a few concerns: 1) why is DHS sending photos of (alleged) evidence that should be in a secure chain of custody that is now lying on a car seat??? and 2) being armed does not on its own justify the use of deadly force — there has to be evidence he was trying to use it
January 24, 2026 at 5:09 PM
This is apparently on X. I have a few concerns: 1) why is DHS sending photos of (alleged) evidence that should be in a secure chain of custody that is now lying on a car seat??? and 2) being armed does not on its own justify the use of deadly force — there has to be evidence he was trying to use it
Reposted by Paul
BREAKING Minn. Latest Killing: Feds claim person they killed had a gun. Even if true, that's not a crime. Indeed, this administration said repeatedly its 2d A protected activity. Agents would have to KNOW he had a gun and fear IMMINENT harm from it - that is yet to be established by any evidence.
January 24, 2026 at 5:18 PM
BREAKING Minn. Latest Killing: Feds claim person they killed had a gun. Even if true, that's not a crime. Indeed, this administration said repeatedly its 2d A protected activity. Agents would have to KNOW he had a gun and fear IMMINENT harm from it - that is yet to be established by any evidence.
Reposted by Paul
Not sure our brains were made to process extrajudicial executions in the streets in real time
January 24, 2026 at 4:27 PM
Not sure our brains were made to process extrajudicial executions in the streets in real time
Reposted by Paul
You did not bear the shame.
You resisted.
You bestowed the eternally vigilant symbol of change by sacrificing your impassioned lives for freedom, justice and honour.
— The German Resistance Memorial in Berlin
You resisted.
You bestowed the eternally vigilant symbol of change by sacrificing your impassioned lives for freedom, justice and honour.
— The German Resistance Memorial in Berlin
January 24, 2026 at 4:25 PM
You did not bear the shame.
You resisted.
You bestowed the eternally vigilant symbol of change by sacrificing your impassioned lives for freedom, justice and honour.
— The German Resistance Memorial in Berlin
You resisted.
You bestowed the eternally vigilant symbol of change by sacrificing your impassioned lives for freedom, justice and honour.
— The German Resistance Memorial in Berlin
Reposted by Paul
I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening.
The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.
The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.
January 24, 2026 at 4:04 PM
I just spoke with the White House after another horrific shooting by federal agents this morning. Minnesota has had it. This is sickening.
The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.
The President must end this operation. Pull the thousands of violent, untrained officers out of Minnesota. Now.
Reposted by Paul
Here is the video. Trigger warning: MURDER
January 24, 2026 at 3:38 PM
Here is the video. Trigger warning: MURDER
This is Fascism. Plain and simple.
Video of the Minneapolis shooting on Reddit shows a group of ICE agents beating a man on the ground. One of the ICE agents then steps back and shoots the victim multiple times.
A nearby witness says “they killed the guy.”
A nearby witness says “they killed the guy.”
January 24, 2026 at 4:17 PM
This is Fascism. Plain and simple.