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Mehdi Hasan @mehdirhasan.bsky.social · 7h

Remember the first few months of this year, when all we talked about was DOGE and spending cuts and waste, and this administration gutted USAID?

And now they’re giving $40 billion (!) to Argentina.

Insane the amount of amnesia in this country and in our politics and media.

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Gallifrey Stands @drgallifreystands.bsky.social · 4h

“A significant increase in political control over hiring…with potential of a partisan screen for every employee.”

“No federal civilian position that is vacant may be filled, & no new position may be created, except as provided for in this order or required by law.”

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...

As Trump’s Federal Hiring Freeze Expires, He Puts New Restrictions in Place

www.nytimes.com

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KD📚🌎🌊🇺🇸 @kdnerak33.bsky.social · 1d

Let me get this straight:

Using Charlie Kirk’s own words on social media may get you fired, but using antisemitic, homophobic, and violent tropes in a leaked group chat will get you defended by the Vice President?

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Asha Rangappa @asharangappa.bsky.social · 22h

🧵 This reporting confirms my suspicion on why, based on reporting last week, the CIA's Deputy Director, Michael Ellis, installed himself as the agency's general counsel. 1/ www.nytimes.com/2025/10/15/u...

Trump Administration Authorizes Covert C.I.A. Action in Venezuela

www.nytimes.com

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Gallifrey Stands @drgallifreystands.bsky.social · 4h

Maybe it should be a source of shame to all Americans that civil servants should have to turn to food banks rather than get paid for doing their jobs working for the public good. It’s not just the military that deserves to get paid for their work.

#gopshutdown

www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/c...

Capital Area Food Bank extends help to federal workers in need

The Capital Area Food Bank and its partners are stepping up to help federal workers in the D.C. area who have been furloughed or are working without pay during the shutdown. As the shutdown drags on, ...

www.nbcwashington.com

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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 9h

"The administration is laying the groundwork for subjecting speech critical of it to suppression and prosecution. There are indications that new crackdowns on dissent, on dissenters, and on the institutions that employ them and their funders, are imminent."

www.thebulwark.com/p/its-gettin...

It’s Getting Worse.

The Trump administration’s assault on the rest of us is intensifying.

www.thebulwark.com

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Gallifrey Stands @drgallifreystands.bsky.social · 5h

Nothing stopping them now from taking the next step of paying whoever or whatever they want out of the treasury sans appropriations.

So it’s already sayonara Appropriations and Article I.

The Constitution is no longer in effect.

Maybe someone should discuss that with Thune.

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Gallifrey Stands @drgallifreystands.bsky.social · 5h

Now that the GOP Congress has completely self-neutered by surrendering the power of the purse to the executive branch, violating the bedrock principle of the Constitution, I fully expect this to be the next step.

Craig Calcaterra @craigcalcaterra.bsky.social · 8h

If only we had precedent for what happens when the King dissolves parliament and embarks on a path of personal rule.

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jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 21h

the extent to which media elites treat liberal americans as if they do not count in the body politic is a real problem

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Gallifrey Stands @drgallifreystands.bsky.social · 5h

Nothing stopping them now from taking the next step of paying whoever or whatever they want out of the treasury sans appropriations.

So it’s already sayonara Appropriations and Article I.

The Constitution is no longer in effect.

Reposted by Gallifrey Stands

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 9h

"We are a decade into Trumpism. These Young Republicans have never known any other type of Republicanism. We’re talking about a full generation of Republicans who only understand politics in the context of an authoritarian project."

www.thebulwark.com/p/all-the-pr...

All the Pretty Little Nazis

The shape of things to come.

www.thebulwark.com

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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 7h

Second article of impeachment of Richard Nixon:

“He has endeavoured…to cause, in violation of the constitutional rights of citizens, income tax audits or other income tax investigations to be intitiated or conducted in a discriminatory manner.”

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Exclusive | Trump Team Plans IRS Overhaul to Enable Pursuit of Left-Leaning Groups

The effort would install a Trump ally at the IRS’s criminal unit who has drawn up a list of investigative targets.

www.wsj.com

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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 17h

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 · 1d

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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James Fallows @jfallows.bsky.social · 5h

Where we stand, in long arc of history:

-Story on left, adding race as a factor when that favors white people.

-Story on right, banning race as a factor when that favors non-whites.

I often complain about NYT headlines and story-play. But these are strong. Including "If Court Guts 1965 Law."

Two headlines on front page of NYT.

First is "Trump Weighs Transforming Refugee Policy. White People Would be Given Preference."

Second is "Justices May Ban Race as a Factor in District Maps. Nation's Political Balance Could Shift If Court Guts 1964 Law."

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The Cat Mother @hullerfarcats.bsky.social · 1d

Inflation in grocery aisle is picking up & stinging consumers. Consumers are cutting back on purchases, stockpiling certain foods or exploring more-affordable stores. Albertsons CEO: shoppers choosing smaller package sizes & using more coupons to reduce grocery bills.

www.wsj.com/economy/cons...

Wall Street Journal article on grocery prices continuing to increase.

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Gallifrey Stands @drgallifreystands.bsky.social · 5h

Nothing stopping them now from taking the next step of paying whoever or whatever they want out of the treasury sans appropriations.

So it’s already sayonara Appropriations and Article I.

The Constitution is no longer in effect.

Gluon Spring @gluonspring.bsky.social · 14h

That would basically be the end of the constitution. If Article 1 isn't binding in a really really binding way, then the whole thing is a sham. I don't think we should be bound by anything, anything at all, if Article 1 doesn't hold.

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Gallifrey Stands @drgallifreystands.bsky.social · 5h

Nothing stopping them now from taking the next step of paying whoever or whatever they want out of the treasury sans appropriations.

So it’s already sayonara Appropriations and Article I.

The Constitution is no longer in effect.

Gallifrey Stands @drgallifreystands.bsky.social · 5h

Or, in other words, just king.

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PonderOsa @rockintheroad.bsky.social · 23h

The way 75% of US Forest Service employees is also highly suspect and took planning. Funds ripped from legally appropriated, but now halted, Biden era programs are being used to pay for energy extraction, mining, logging and select recreation. It warrants a closer look.

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Gallifrey Stands @drgallifreystands.bsky.social · 5h

Exactly. Everything IS falling apart.

What we can do is organize to put 10000 people on the streets around White House 24/7 demanding an end to the illegal administration. People can take it in shifts. That’s what’s left to do, but when I say so, response is always: Americans won’t/can’t do that.

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Gallifrey Stands @drgallifreystands.bsky.social · 6h

a woman in a black shirt is pointing up at the word this in pink letters

Alt: a woman in a black shirt is pointing up at the word this in pink letters

media.tenor.com

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Gallifrey Stands @drgallifreystands.bsky.social · 6h

It’s not

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Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 1d

By an entire parsec, the Trump administration has undertaken the most illegal set of budget actions in history. This is why we desperately need guardrails to restrain and go after budget malfeasance from the White House.

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Bobby Kogan @bbkogan.bsky.social · 1d

Taken together with impoundments, this would break everything. The president is claiming the power to not spend money he doesn't want to and now also to spend money where it's not allowed. And SCOTUS might say no one has standing to stop him. That would make him an appropriations king.

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