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Reposted by Dan Butcher

Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 18h

Trump's mechanism to pay the troops during the shutdown is by far the most illegal budgetary action he's taken as POTUS, potentially setting the stage to break everything.

It's also needless because Congress would easily pass a troop pay bill if Johnson were willing to gavel in.

Long thread.

https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/10/national-security-presidential-memorandum-nspm-8/

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Reposted by Dan Butcher

The New York Times @nytimes.com · 13h

President Trump on Wednesday signed a memorandum expanding his administration’s authority to repurpose unspent federal funds to pay members of the military during the government shutdown, escalating his challenge to the authority of Congress on spending matters.

Trump Signs Memo Expanding His Authority to Spend Federal Money

The president gave Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wide authority to repurpose funds to pay members of the military without approval from Congress, which has the sole constitutional authority to decide federal spending.

nyti.ms

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Reposted by Dan Butcher

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 10h

The CFPB is one of the most staunch financial watchdogs for the American people.

The agency has returned at least $20B to the victims of financial fraud and abuse since 2011.

It's no longer protecting consumers now...BECAUSE THIS REGIME DOESN'T WANT IT TO!

Reuters @reuters.com · 18h

White House budget director Vought plans to shut down CFPB within months, says it's no longer protecting consumers reut.rs/4qjMIyT

White House budget director Vought plans to shut down CFPB within months, says it's no longer protecting consumers

White House budget director Russell Vought said he wants to close the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and expects to do so within the next two to three months.

reut.rs

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Reposted by Dan Butcher

Reuters @reuters.com · 18h

White House budget director Vought plans to shut down CFPB within months, says it's no longer protecting consumers reut.rs/4qjMIyT

White House budget director Vought plans to shut down CFPB within months, says it's no longer protecting consumers

White House budget director Russell Vought said he wants to close the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and expects to do so within the next two to three months.

reut.rs

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Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 2h

open.substack.com/pub/populari...

The unhinged attacks on No Kings

The First Amendment to the Constitution guarantees “the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” On Sunday, October 18, millions of Ameri...

open.substack.com

Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 10h

Charlie Chaplin's 'The Great Dictator' still stands up 85 years later www.npr.org/2025/10/15/n...

How Charlie Chaplin used his uncanny resemblance to Hitler to fight fascism

It's been 85 years since The Great Dictator first dazzled audiences in 1940. It was a big risk for one of the world's most popular performers to take a stand against fascism on film.

www.npr.org

Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 10h

Hegseth orders troops to watch his speech decrying a ‘woke’ military www.npr.org/2025/10/15/n...

Hegseth orders troops to watch his speech decrying a 'woke' military

During the speech last month, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth lectured senior military officials on the "warrior ethos," focusing on fitness and grooming standards, and calling out "fat generals."

www.npr.org

Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 10h

www.kcur.org/politics-ele...

After racist Kansas Young Republicans chats leak, Gov. Kelly calls out posts from state GOP

Politico exposed racist and homophobic messages sent by leaders of the Kansas Young Republicans. Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly said the state GOP modeled similar behavior in its own social media posts.

www.kcur.org

Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 10h

www.bbc.com/future/artic...

'They're a very elusive species': The 10-year effort to photograph the rare hyena stalking a diamond mining ghost town

Ten years in the making: The story behind the award-winning photo of an elusive brown hyena stalking Namibia's diamond ghost towns.

www.bbc.com

Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 11h

a man in a helmet is saying `` i am the law '' in front of a fire .

Alt: a man in a helmet named Judge Dredd is saying `` i am the law '' in front of a fire .

media.tenor.com

Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 11h

Experts say Kristi Noem's airport video breaks the law. Penalties are unlikely www.npr.org/2025/10/14/n...

Legal experts say Kristi Noem's airport video breaks the law. Penalties are unlikely

In a Department of Homeland Security video, Kristi Noem blames Democrats for the government shutdown. Law and ethics experts say it violates the Hatch Act, but there are rarely serious consequences.

www.npr.org

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Reposted by Dan Butcher

Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 1d

They're trying to prevent the student newspaper from printing news, period. Not just a particular story.

"The Media School directed us to print no news in the paper... nothing but information about homecoming — no other news at all, and particularly no traditional front page news coverage."

Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 1d

Indiana University has fired the staff director of the student newspaper, after disputes in which university leadership tried to pressure him to prevent students from publishing news.

IndyStar 2 . Follow
1h:
"All Media School and IU students, faculty and staff
should be scared by this blatant attack on someone
standing up for what's right," student Editors-ln-Chief
Mia Hilkowitz and Andrew Miller said in a statement.
Read more: bit.ly/43ebKW1
IndyStar.
IDS
The original investigative student
newsroom of Indiana University
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Indiana University fires IDS
adviser amid push to control
student newspaper's content

The director of student media at Indiana University was fired amidst a dispute between university leadership and editors at the Indiana Daily Student over what content gets printed in the student newspaper.

As director of student media, Jim Rodenbush did not directly oversee or have any say over the content published in the IDS, per a charter between the IDS and the university. But he told IndyStar his firing follows a series of meetings with IU Media School leadership in which it grew increasingly apparent they were expecting him to officially prohibit students from publishing news.

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Reposted by Dan Butcher

Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 16h

UPDATE: Following the firing of the director of the student newspaper, Indiana University has now cut the print edition of the newspaper entirely.

www.idsnews.com/article/2025...

Indiana University cuts IDS print entirely, hours after firing student media director
By IDS staff
Oct 15, 2025 1:23 pm · Updated Oct 15, 2025 1:23 pm

IU previously directed the Indiana Daily Student to stop printing news coverage in our newspaper. Upon pushback, the university fully cut print, including our special editions. The IDS was not involved in the decision.

Media School Dean David Tolchinsky sent the order to IDS leadership in an email responding to its appeal that the school not censor the newspaper. And the dean attributed the decision to “the campus.” He has not yet responded to a message for clarification.

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Reposted by Dan Butcher

Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 18h

Reminder that it's long past time to reform the Supreme Court. Here's how. https://youtu.be/RwxNnqy8YRA?si=U6gGIo8RF1KNYhYR

How to Fix a Broken Supreme Court | Robert Reich

Robert Reich

youtu.be

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Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 14h

www.propublica.org/article/wate...

“Staggering” Water Loss Driven by Groundwater Mining Poses Global Threat

A new study finds that freshwater resources are rapidly disappearing, creating arid “mega” regions and causing sea levels to rise.

www.propublica.org

Reposted by Dan Butcher

Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 22h

Trump is upfront in saying he will use the shutdown to punish Democrats, and here are the receipts. About $27.2 billion cut from Dem districts compared to about $0.7 billion in GOP districts.
We all complain about the media, but need this type of in-depth journalism.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

Trump Halts Billions in Grants for Democratic Districts During Shutdown (Gift Article)

The Trump administration has frozen or canceled nearly $28 billion primarily located in Democratic-led districts, according to an analysis by The New York Times.

www.nytimes.com

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Reposted by Dan Butcher

Social Security Works @socialsecurityworks.org · 17h

Our premiums are likely to double or even triple because of Republican cuts to the ACA.

My husband is 62 years old and I am 59 years old. We cannot afford a sudden increase for health insurance, and we'll have to go without coverage...taking a gamble with our lives. - Jackie Bush Holcomb

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Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 17h

www.bbc.com/news/article...

Judge orders Trump administration to pause shutdown layoffs

Last week the Trump administration began the process of laying off about 4,000 workers, saying it was due to the federal shutdown.

www.bbc.com

Reposted by Dan Butcher

laura olin @lauraolin.bsky.social · 17h

Back to 1963, by design, effectively disenfranchising millions of Black people. A travesty.

Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 17h

Now, Dems hold 7 of 33 US house seats (21%) across AL, LA, MS, SC & TN. Dems won 37% of 2024 presidential vote in those states.

Now Supreme Court may allow those states to eliminate >all< Dem seats by undermining the VRA www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...

Our democracy being chipped away, bit by bit.

Current vs a plausible congressional seat map, if the Supreme Court heads in the direction it appears to be by killing elements of the VRA.

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Reposted by Dan Butcher

Yonah Freemark @yonahfreemark.com · 17h

Now, Dems hold 7 of 33 US house seats (21%) across AL, LA, MS, SC & TN. Dems won 37% of 2024 presidential vote in those states.

Now Supreme Court may allow those states to eliminate >all< Dem seats by undermining the VRA www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...

Our democracy being chipped away, bit by bit.

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Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 21h

A Supreme Court ruling on Voting Rights Act could help GOP www.npr.org/2025/10/15/n...

A Supreme Court ruling on voting rights could boost Republicans' redistricting efforts

A Supreme Court case over Louisiana's congressional map could determine the future of Voting Rights Act protections against racial discrimination and allow Republicans to draw 19 more House seats.

www.npr.org

Reposted by Dan Butcher

Jess Calarco @jessicacalarco.com · 1d

Indiana University has fired the staff director of the student newspaper, after disputes in which university leadership tried to pressure him to prevent students from publishing news.

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Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 1d

jacobin.com/2025/10/mamd...

Zohran Mamdani: “Our Time Is Now”

Last night at a campaign rally, Zohran Mamdani addressed his supporters: “For too long, we have tried not to lose. Now, it is time that we win.”

jacobin.com

Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 1d

www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Trump Is Accusing Foes With Multiple Mortgages of Fraud. Records Show 3 of His Cabinet Members Have Them.

The White House has targeted opponents, including a Fed governor, for having more than one primary residence on their loan papers. ProPublica found that, in one case, a Trump cabinet secretary got two...

www.propublica.org

Dan Butcher @danielbutcher.bsky.social · 1d

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/u...

U.S. Military Kills Another 6 People in 5th Caribbean Strike, Trump Says

www.nytimes.com