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alanwessman.bsky.social
Alan Wessman
@alanwessman.bsky.social
1.1K followers 1.1K following 1.1K posts
Former candidate for Utah County commissioner in 2024, United Utah Party. Politically moderate. Former Utah House candidate, district 64 (Spanish Fork). Husband, dad, hiker, misplacer of common household items.
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
samhalpert.bsky.social
Sam Halpert @samhalpert.bsky.social · 51m
Dems floated a narrow bill to fund the military, which can’t move because the House isn’t in session. Meanwhile, DoD is now going to spend funds not appropriated by Congress to ensure military paychecks continue.

POTUS now both commands and provisions the military. Unconstitutional and SO dangerous
The Office of Management and Budget sent a notification to Congress about their intent to use research and development funds to pay members of the military, two sources with direct knowledge tell NBC News. A spokesperson for the OMB confirmed to NBC News that it plans to use the research and development funds and that there are two years' worth of funds available within the Department of Defense.
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
figgityfigs.bsky.social
The Fig Economy @figgityfigs.bsky.social · 46m
So uh this is straight up appropriations clause violation, yes?
samhalpert.bsky.social
Sam Halpert @samhalpert.bsky.social · 1h
www.politico.com/live-updates...
The Office of Management and Budget sent a notification to Congress about their intent to use research and development funds to pay members of the military, two sources with direct knowledge tell NBC News. A spokesperson for the OMB confirmed to NBC News that it plans to use the research and development funds and that there are two years' worth of funds available within the Department of Defense.
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
asrothstein.bsky.social
Andrew Rothstein @asrothstein.bsky.social · 1h
The entire premise is bonkers too. The president deserves a "cut" for brokering the FORCED sale of a company to his allies after illegally freezing legislation banning the company's operation to facilitate it's sale to his allies...when he championed the ban in the first place.
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
figgityfigs.bsky.social
The Fig Economy @figgityfigs.bsky.social · 1h
Just the most stunning open corruption imaginable.
robertscotthorton.bsky.social
Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 17h
Trump said he deserved a cut for brokering the TikTok deal, and at once there was agreement that his son Baron would have a top executive slot... though he hasn't asked for it, and has no apparent qualifications to hold it. This is how Trump 2.0 works. www.telegraph.co.uk/us/news/2025...
Barron Trump tipped for top TikTok job
US president’s 19-year-old son could be appointed to the app’s board
www.telegraph.co.uk
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
leahmcelrath.bsky.social
Leah McElrath @leahmcelrath.bsky.social · 4h
⚠️ USAToday reporter confirms the office in charge of special education funding has been “decimated”:
Zach Schermele Follow @ZachSchermele NEW: The Education Dept. layoffs continued overnight, w/ the main office in charge of special ed funding being "decimated," as one person described. "They cut just about everyone that works with IDEA funding," said another. "I'm not sure how these programs exist moving forward." 10:21 AM • 10/11/25 • 2.1K Views
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
augustjpollak.bsky.social
August J. Pollak @augustjpollak.bsky.social · 5h
I love how the big news on Trump’s tariff announcement is how moments before he made it a bunch of people made insanely profitable shorts on crypto, a thing that Bitcoin Bros are all astounded to see happening in a completely unregulated market of a fake currency primarily used by criminals.
BREAKING: Look at this. A new crypto account was opened yesterday morning. 30 minutes BEFORE Trump's announcement of 100% tariffs on China, it added a huge multi-million dollar levered Bitcoin short position, per YF. The market dumped. The trader made a profit of $192 million in two hours. Unusual. JUST IN: An anonymous trader opened massive crypto short positions just 30 minutes before Trump’s tariff announcements yesterday. They made an estimated $192M in profits. Someone knew the market would crash…. A Random brand new fresh wallet opened a massive $BTC short just 30 minutes before Trump’s tariff announcement and this trader made $88,000,000 profits. Donald Trump needs to go to jail. He is thief, he is literally robbing people internationally. He announced 100% Tarrifs on China and sends the US stock market into a death spiral. At the same time someone put over 1 Billion dollars into crypto with orders for 100 million being placed on Ethereum and Bitcoin and other crypto currencies across the board whilst markets got wiped after what he said. Billions, and I mean fucking billions got wiped out, whilst Bitcoin had it a biggest dip ever in a single candle losing 20k per Bitcoin, Whilst alt coins lost over 60-70% of value, everyone with leverage on the market with even 2 x leverage got murdered and robbed. This was co ordinated, this was market manipulation with one anonymous wallet making over 200 million dollars in one day with trades showing that they knew Trump was going to announce this and crash the market.
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
phillewis.bsky.social
Phil Lewis @phillewis.bsky.social · 8h
A lawsuit alleges a Black postal worker died after officers ignored clear signs he was suffering from a massive stroke, believing his medical emergency was drugs

The suit says guards left him helpless on a jail cell floor in his own urine for hours
KARE 11 Investigates: Postal worker died after police mistook stroke for drug impairment
Kingsley Bimpong was jailed instead of hospitalized; video shows guards ignored his suffering for hours.
www.kare11.com
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jennanewman.bsky.social
jenna newman phd @jennanewman.bsky.social · 5h
impact—
“1)Outbreaks go unseen…
2)Doctors lose guidance…
3)States lose coordination…like trying to fight a wildfire w/o radios
4)Americans lose time. The time btwn an emerging threat & a public warning stretches from hrs to days to weeks.In public health, time saves lives”🛟🧪 @kkjetelina.bsky.social
“But here's what happens next: 1. Outbreaks go unseen. When data stops flowing, early warnings disappear. The "invisible shield" that keeps us safe from measles, flu, and the next unknown virus begins to crack. 2. Doctors lose guidance. The experts who turn raw data into actionable guidance (how to treat, what to look for) are gone. 3. States lose coordination. When states can't share information through the CDC, it's like trying to fight a wildfire without radios. 4. Americans lose time. The time between an emerging threat and a public warning stretches from hours to days to weeks. In public health, time saves lives.”
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
pmskinner.bsky.social
Patrick Skinner @pmskinner.bsky.social · 7h
Probably a mistake to have narcissistic billionaire children with petty-god complexes run the society and economy of a people taught from birth that empathy is evil and selfishness is patriotism.
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
billkristolbulwark.bsky.social
Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 18h
The shameless GOP lying about the No Kings gatherings scheduled for next Saturday reveals how deeply hostile much of the Republican Party is to “the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” I look forward to our local No Kings event, and urge my fellow Americans to attend in their communities.
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olgalautman.bsky.social
Olga Lautman 🇺🇦 @olgalautman.bsky.social · 19h
In case anyone missed this

Erdoğa said that Trump ended Halkbank’s criminal case after talks w him. He said that Trump told him “The Halkbank problem is finished for us.”

Halkbank was helping Iran evade taxes and launder billions.

Qatar and now this. The corruption is off the charts
Turkey’s Erdogan Says Halkbank US Case to End After Trump Talks
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said state lender Halkbank’s legal case in the US is due to be resolved following recent talks with President Donald Trump, prompting bank shares to rise.
www.bloomberg.com
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annabower.bsky.social
Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 1d
You’ll never guess who is in charge of the Homeland Security Council….

(Miller. It’s Stephen Miller.)
jordanonrecord.bsky.social
Jordan Fischer @jordanonrecord.bsky.social · 1d
NEW: A senior ICE official testified today the WH Homeland Security Council — and not the State Department — informed him Uganda was the deportation target for Abrego Garcia.

DOJ then asserted presidential privilege over any other details about the call. www.wusa9.com/article/news...
DOJ asserts presidential privilege over details about how Uganda was selected in Abrego Garcia deportation case
A senior Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) official said third-country designations are typically made by the State Department.
www.wusa9.com
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pbump.com
Philip Bump @pbump.com · 1d
Oh, does it benefit the US to provide aid to foreign countries? That would have been good to know back in January and February.
carlquintanilla.bsky.social
Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 1d
“Stabilizing Argentina is ‘America First’.”

🇦🇷 🇺🇸
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
thebulwark.com
The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 1d
George was just trying to get to work.

ICE pepper-sprayed him, dragged him from his car, locked him in a detention center, and placed him on suicide watch. He even missed his young daughter’s birthday in the process.

This man is a veteran and American citizen. Don't look away.
thebulwark.com
The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 1d
"They put me on suicide watch and they put me in the cell, I'm naked, in like a hospital dress and just a concrete bed with like a mattress, like a thin mattress and, they leave the light on 24/7."

@timmiller.bsky.social talked to a veteran who ICE wrongly detained and brutalized
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prchovanec.bsky.social
Patrick Chovanec @prchovanec.bsky.social · 1d
This is huge. Komeito (a Buddhist-backed political party) has long been a crucial part of the governing LDP coalition, carefully managing their differences over military rearmament and social spending. This leaves the LDP short of a majority in both chambers.
japantimes.co.jp
The Japan Times @japantimes.co.jp · 1d
BREAKING: Komeito said Friday it plans to leave the ruling camp, parting ways with the LDP and new President Sanae Takaichi after the LDP failed to accept the party’s proposal on political donations.
Komeito announces split with LDP, clouding Takaichi's bid for PM
Komeito’s decision to end the 26-year partnership with the LDP means the ruling party will need to court opposition parties to vote Takaichi in as prime minister.
ebx.sh
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
drannecarpenter.bsky.social
Anne Carpenter @drannecarpenter.bsky.social · 1d
15 years in the making, we confirmed that mitochondria - the powerhouse of the cell - have an unusual localization in patients who experience psychosis (including schizophrenia and bipolar disorders). You’ll never guess what kind of patient cells we used to make this discovery… 🧵
mitochondria from bipolar patients are closer to the nucleus in these images; control patients' are spread out further
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Reposted by Alan Wessman
gelliottmorris.com
G Elliott Morris @gelliottmorris.com · 1d
I think it is wild that the Republican leaders of Congress are publicly delegating their branch of government's constitutional spending powers to the president. Why not just let him vote on Supreme Court cases, too?
atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d
Q: Rescission are something Dems have said is a reason for a lack of trust. What rescissions are you discussing?

JOHNSON: We have more than $37t in debt. We're doing everything we can to get us back to sound fiscal responsibility. What does that include? A rescission package is part of our process
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andycraig.bsky.social
Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 1d
Hegseth sucks. The Qataris suck. But we aren’t giving Qatar an airbase in Idaho. It’s building dorms etc. at an existing base to train them on F-15s we sold them, just like Singapore already has there. Common arrangement we have with lots of countries. This one was already being planned under Biden.
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fritschner.bsky.social
Aaron Fritschner @fritschner.bsky.social · 1d
A few minutes ago in the House:

- Speaker Mike Johnson officially cancels votes next week, extending the House recess through a fourth week

- House Republicans block Democrats from passing a bill to pay the troops during the shutdown, ensuring they will miss paychecks next week
House Press Gallery: During today's pro forma session, the Clerk read a message from the Speaker designating Tuesday, October 14 through Sunday, October 19 as a district work period. Punchbowl's Briana Reilly: House gaveled in and out of its pro forma just now w/o recognizing Rep Elfreth, who was seeking to UC a mil pay bill from Rep Sykes. Elfreth told reporters after that House Dems stand “ready and willing to take” up standalone legislation to pay troops.
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fritschner.bsky.social
Aaron Fritschner @fritschner.bsky.social · 1d
Confirmed: it's the whole week
House Press Gallery: During today's pro forma session, the Clerk read a message from the Speaker designating Tuesday, October 14 through Sunday, October 19 as a district work period.
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tjdfotographist.bsky.social
spooky tim dewey @tjdfotographist.bsky.social · 1d
If I were a DC reporter, I’d consider maybe pressing Johnson on how he reconciles these two statements.
@atrupar.com Mike Johnson: "We're so angry about it. I mean, l'm a very patient guy, but l've had it with these people. The theory we have right now -- they have a hate America rally that's scheduled for October 18 on the National Mall. It's the pro-Hamas wing and antifa people ..." @atrupar.com Mike Johnson: "People have got to stop framing simple policy disagreements in terms of existential threats to our democracy. You can't call the other side fascists and enemies of the state and not understand that there are some deranged people in our society who will take that as cues to act."
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alanwessman.bsky.social
Alan Wessman @alanwessman.bsky.social · 1d
bsky.app/profile/andy...
andycraig.bsky.social
Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 1d
Sounds like they finalized a deal that was already underway under Biden.
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jacobtlevy.bsky.social
Jacob T. Levy @jacobtlevy.bsky.social · 1d
One of the only things Trump has ever been right about: Obama had no business winning the Nobel Peace Prize for what amounted to the accomplishment of being a US president who was not George W Bush. (Remember, he had been in office for eight months at the time.)
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alanwessman.bsky.social
Alan Wessman @alanwessman.bsky.social · 1d
A nice Bluesky feature would be the ability to live-follow a thread, where new posts to the thread by the targeted user would automatically appear instead of requiring reload or revisiting upthread posts.
Reposted by Alan Wessman
kenwhite.bsky.social
Popehat Agitates And Irritates @kenwhite.bsky.social · 1d
On the 18th we need to be vigilant for increased violence and provocation by both law enforcement and counter-protestors, both of which will be used to try to justify more violence and authoritarianism.
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