m2c4
@thesoundings.bsky.social
940 followers 92 following 2.5K posts
Politics and economics with sidelights in photography, astronomy, tennis, and the Canadiens...
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thesoundings.bsky.social
"The Supreme Court has turned the Constitution on its head...The Constitution and its institutions have failed our democracy." Read if for free: thesoundings.com/2025/10/well...
of throw me some $$ here: tidalsoundings.medium.com/well-how-did...
Music: www.youtube.com/watch?v=5IsS...
Talking Heads - Once in a Lifetime (Official Video)
YouTube video by Talking Heads
www.youtube.com
Reposted by m2c4
davidjbier.bsky.social
You have to understand that there is NO accountability for ICE even in theory. You can't sue an ICE agent. They won't be criminally prosecuted for violating your rights. They won't be fired. THE ONLY WAY TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM ICE IS TO RUN FROM ICE.
davidjbier.bsky.social
Here's another Kavanaugh stop in action. Agent says: "Why are you running?" Admitting that he had no cause to stop and tackle this boy.
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mehdirhasan.bsky.social
Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich vows “there will be Jewish settlements in Gaza” during an address at a Simhat Torah event in the southern border city of Sderot.
Smotrich: ‘There will be Jewish settlements in Gaza’
* * *
www.timesofisrael.com
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beaubaumann.bsky.social
I really think we need to reconceptualize this shutdown as the last stand for the rule of law and Art I. Bring it to default if that’s what it takes. If Congress can’t assert the power of the purse, we are in “move to Portugal” territory of screwed.
beaubaumann.bsky.social
This cannot just be about healthcare. The existing constitutional system hangs in the balance. The rule of law is now baked into this shutdown in a huge way.
nytimes.com
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.
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donmoyn.bsky.social
There are so many obvious constitutional violations in this story. It is enraging.
There is no war, there is no foreign invasion, there is nothing that justify it. This is a choice to create a military presence that will brutalize residents of cities that do not support the President.
lyndab08.bsky.social
"The boy, who is Hispanic and African American, was held in a garage for five hours “without informing his family, stating any charges, or allowing him to call an attorney,” the statement said. He is a U.S. citizen, as is his entire immediate family, the release said."
Feds ram SUV after chase down residential street in Chicago, then tear-gas crowd
The crash happened late Tuesday morning near 105th Street and Avenue N in the East Side neighborhood. Two men being pursued were arrested as were two bystanders. The crash drew dozens of neighbors who...
chicago.suntimes.com
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carlquintanilla.bsky.social
WSJ: “.. the effort has drawn up a list of potential targets that includes major Democratic donors, some of the people said ..”

@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
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markgsheppard.com
I modified the #SahmRule, by @claudia-sahm.bsky.social, creating 3.2k spacial Sahm Rules, which show that #recession exposure can differ by place/time.

The bellwether of recessions are rich/white counties but they're slow; the fastest indicators are poor/black counties, but they're noisy.
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hunterub.bsky.social
There's literally no reason for Congress to exist if any random freak in the presidential orbit can nullify laws and seize federal funds. All of this is plainly illegal, but Mike Johnson leads the most corrupt Congress in US history (and by a wide margin.)
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bgrueskin.bsky.social
Related: The Chicago Sun-Times, in its partnership with WBEZ, is doing stellar work right now.

Including this piece about the downstream effects of ICE enforcement on stuff like apartment rents and maintenance

chicago.suntimes.com/real-estate/...
The fear among residents and workers, both documented and undocumented, is palpable, he said. Residents are scared to open their doors for maintenance workers, and it has become harder to schedule repairs with his work force.
Other property managers and owners said workers are not showing up at job sites - frightened by ICE — and it's causing delays on building repairs and maintenance. Some residents are not able to pay rent on time as they are holed up at home, too afraid to go to work with federal agents popping up throughout the city.
This adds to the already rising business costs for building owners and managers, some who say they are eating the increased expenses connected to ICE raids. But if the enforcement activity continues into the busy spring moving season, property managers and owners like Warren said they may have to increase rents to recoup some of their costs.
The hardina neouidoes! concorns follou a encont I/C enid at a Cauth Chars anormant
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amandamarcotte.bsky.social
What's funny is I read the language of this "compact." It would ban gender-based affirmative action.

If schools did that, it would hurt boys. Already girls outnumber boys in college, and schools tacitly lower standards for boys in admissions.

Without that, some schools would be 60-70% female.
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andycraig.bsky.social
"a memorandum expanding his administration’s authority"

The phrasing you're looking for is that he's suspending parts of the Constitution by decree.
nytimes.com
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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radleybalko.bsky.social
That’s $5 billion more than the entire annual USAID budget. All to one country. To rescue one friend of the president’s.
ilhanmn.bsky.social
Trump found another $20 BILLION to give to Argentina, totaling their bailout to $40 BILLION.

Yet we can’t afford to prevent millions of Americans from losing their healthcare.

Shame.
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ddayen.bsky.social
They've been arguing in court repeatedly that there are no plans for a shutdown and that they will honor all statutory obligations.
Not sure what a legal system does with a government that simply isn't credible.
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andycraig.bsky.social
Illegal on a statutory basis and more fundamentally unconstitutional.
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andycraig.bsky.social
When this regime is over and buried, I don't want to hear about oh it's not worth the money or it's too petty to worry about. The order to bulldoze this illegal and unconstitutional monstrosity should be signed on Day 1.
wsj.com
Exclusive: More than three dozen organizations and individuals are expected to attend a dinner with Trump on Wednesday after opening their checkbooks to support a $250 million White House ballroom.
Trump Invites Ballroom Donors to Glitzy White House Dinner
The dinner is set to include representatives from Lockheed Martin, Microsoft, Meta Platforms, Alphabet’s Google, Amazon and Palantir Technologies.
on.wsj.com
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stephenwolf.bsky.social
This is a reason why we should ditch the Electoral College & Senate & adopt proportional representation for the House so every voter counts equally no matter where they live.

Our system insulates the governing party from electoral blowback in uncompetitive states & districts if it screws them over
donmoyn.bsky.social
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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asharangappa.bsky.social
🧵 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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ariberman.bsky.social
SCOTUS decision killing what’s left of Voting Rights Act could cost Dems 19 House seats, eliminate every majority-minority district in South, eviscerate 14th/15th Amendments & fulfill John Roberts 40-year crusade against country’s most important civil rights law www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Republican justices appear poised to destroy what’s left of the Voting Rights Act
The results will be "catastrophic."
www.motherjones.com
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murshedz.bsky.social
The Roberts #SCOTUS sure appears to be working to do their part to help Trump/Republicans lock in a de facto Congressional majority (unless there is a overwhelming blue wave). The Q is why are Dem leaders silent about this MAGA subservient Court?
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melissakchan.bsky.social
🇨🇦🇺🇸 “America is a bus going off a cliff,” says Canadian writer Stephen Marche. Does Canada want to stay on the bus? Spicy beginning to @migsinstitute.bsky.social’s Montreal International Security Summit. Marche also says we’re in an era of regional power warlordism (US, Russia, China).
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santiagomayer.com
It’s time to abandon the idea of chasing after “swing voters.”

We gotta start targeting the angry. Those who have been failed by the system. Those who are being screwed every day despite giving it their all.