Charlie Close
@charlieclose.bsky.social
Writer. Very short stories. Progressive politics. Progressive rock. Progress. Michigan USA.
Pinned
I'm at the editing stage on a new collection of very short stories that I hope to release in early 2026.
Reposted by Charlie Close
The US government is summarily executing people on a weekly basis without telling the American people any of their names or presenting any proof of their guilt, for alleged crimes that do not carry the death penalty in the US.
December 6, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The US government is summarily executing people on a weekly basis without telling the American people any of their names or presenting any proof of their guilt, for alleged crimes that do not carry the death penalty in the US.
Reposted by Charlie Close
Bottom line: there is a global story that is really positive here. Markets winning, consumers winning, environment winning. US coverage is so focused on our own internal politics and dysfunction that we not only miss the big picture but also risk getting overtaken by our global competitors.
October 8, 2025 at 1:09 PM
Bottom line: there is a global story that is really positive here. Markets winning, consumers winning, environment winning. US coverage is so focused on our own internal politics and dysfunction that we not only miss the big picture but also risk getting overtaken by our global competitors.
Reposted by Charlie Close
This is remarkable. The world added more solar and wind capacity in 2024 than we added demand. 100% of demand growth PLUS 9% to retire dirtier sources. Cheap energy keeps winning. ember-energy.org/latest-insig...
October 8, 2025 at 12:57 PM
This is remarkable. The world added more solar and wind capacity in 2024 than we added demand. 100% of demand growth PLUS 9% to retire dirtier sources. Cheap energy keeps winning. ember-energy.org/latest-insig...
All of this.
I have a few thoughts on how to stop our current descent into madness. Add your own in the comments. open.substack.com/pub/davidrot...
How to Stop the Descent into Madness
To the degree you're just a spectator to this crisis, you're a contributor to it.
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:50 PM
All of this.
Reposted by Charlie Close
Do people still want to argue the finer points of grading rubrics while this is going on?
The Oklahoma House of Representatives gave that girl an award for writing a terrible essay? For getting a trans person fired? This whole thing is an op.
December 4, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Do people still want to argue the finer points of grading rubrics while this is going on?
Reposted by Charlie Close
It's a campaign of terror.
Her terror (and the terror of entire communities, forced into hiding) is not incidental.
It is a product they are manufacturing, a key part of the spectacle for their intended audience.
Which is the terrorized, but also the terror consumers.
Her terror (and the terror of entire communities, forced into hiding) is not incidental.
It is a product they are manufacturing, a key part of the spectacle for their intended audience.
Which is the terrorized, but also the terror consumers.
Agents in Key Largo, Florida ripped this woman wearing medical scrubs out of her car as she screamed she is a US citizen. Agents cuffed her and put her in one of their cars.
She was eventually let go, per David Goodhue of the Miami Herald, who also took this footage:
She was eventually let go, per David Goodhue of the Miami Herald, who also took this footage:
December 4, 2025 at 2:39 AM
It's a campaign of terror.
Her terror (and the terror of entire communities, forced into hiding) is not incidental.
It is a product they are manufacturing, a key part of the spectacle for their intended audience.
Which is the terrorized, but also the terror consumers.
Her terror (and the terror of entire communities, forced into hiding) is not incidental.
It is a product they are manufacturing, a key part of the spectacle for their intended audience.
Which is the terrorized, but also the terror consumers.
Reposted by Charlie Close
Unless proven otherwise, every Republican in Congress supports this image:
December 3, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Unless proven otherwise, every Republican in Congress supports this image:
Reposted by Charlie Close
Fighting Britain's Bathroom Ban with Jolyon Maugham
YouTube video by Political Philosophy Podcast
youtu.be
December 2, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Reposted by Charlie Close
i genuinely think the US and UK are in a race towards national (conservative-driven) suicide on both a economic and social level and i think i am right
The right wing British politics twitter reaction/the policy.
I wish I was making this up.
I wish I was making this up.
December 3, 2025 at 11:20 PM
i genuinely think the US and UK are in a race towards national (conservative-driven) suicide on both a economic and social level and i think i am right
Reposted by Charlie Close
Reposted by Charlie Close
My constituent, Wilmer, was mauled by an ICE attack dog despite the fact that, as he has consistently explained, he was not resisting arrest or trying to flee—his wife and young children, all U.S. citizens, were forced to watch helplessly as Wilmer was violently attacked and dragged away.
December 6, 2025 at 2:41 AM
My constituent, Wilmer, was mauled by an ICE attack dog despite the fact that, as he has consistently explained, he was not resisting arrest or trying to flee—his wife and young children, all U.S. citizens, were forced to watch helplessly as Wilmer was violently attacked and dragged away.
Some should step forward and be super petty that they didn’t win the FIFA Peace Prize.
Mockler: It's honestly humiliating that other countries are treating our president like a child, like a baby. It's like if I created a peace prize and I gave it to myself. I'm like, I'm just going to keep this medal on all night. Our president is an actual child
December 6, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Some should step forward and be super petty that they didn’t win the FIFA Peace Prize.
Reposted by Charlie Close
the reason that it's so disturbing when Newsom/Buttigieg/Harris say that they want to force trans ppl out of sports is that it signals that they don't want to fight for trans rights at a time when there is a massive genocidal campaign against trans people. 1
December 6, 2025 at 1:51 AM
the reason that it's so disturbing when Newsom/Buttigieg/Harris say that they want to force trans ppl out of sports is that it signals that they don't want to fight for trans rights at a time when there is a massive genocidal campaign against trans people. 1
Reposted by Charlie Close
ICE detain U.S. citizen woman driving to work—dressrd in full medical scrubs.
"I’m a U.S. citizen, please help me!" she cries. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Woman was dragged out of car, tackled to ground & handcuffed.
Agents finally checked ID to prove her citizenship.
Key Largo, Florida
"I’m a U.S. citizen, please help me!" she cries. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Woman was dragged out of car, tackled to ground & handcuffed.
Agents finally checked ID to prove her citizenship.
Key Largo, Florida
December 3, 2025 at 9:17 PM
ICE detain U.S. citizen woman driving to work—dressrd in full medical scrubs.
"I’m a U.S. citizen, please help me!" she cries. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Woman was dragged out of car, tackled to ground & handcuffed.
Agents finally checked ID to prove her citizenship.
Key Largo, Florida
"I’m a U.S. citizen, please help me!" she cries. "Why are you doing this to me?"
Woman was dragged out of car, tackled to ground & handcuffed.
Agents finally checked ID to prove her citizenship.
Key Largo, Florida
Reposted by Charlie Close
Democrats need to lay the groundwork for reform by attacking the villains on the Supreme Court - loudly, angrily, personally, relentlessly. And they should start now.
paulwaldman.substack.com/p/democrats-...
paulwaldman.substack.com/p/democrats-...
Democrats Need to Treat the Supreme Court Like the Villain It Is
The Court is out of control, and we'll never see reform unless we build the case for it. Starting now.
paulwaldman.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Democrats need to lay the groundwork for reform by attacking the villains on the Supreme Court - loudly, angrily, personally, relentlessly. And they should start now.
paulwaldman.substack.com/p/democrats-...
paulwaldman.substack.com/p/democrats-...
Reposted by Charlie Close
This is a cruel act of bigotry against an amazing woman who served her country with distinction.
Admiral Rachel Levine was the first transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the federal government. Her official portrait at HHS headquarters has been altered. n.pr/48HypvT
HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait
Admiral Rachel Levine was the first transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the federal government. Her official portrait at HHS headquarters has been altered.
n.pr
December 5, 2025 at 10:59 PM
This is a cruel act of bigotry against an amazing woman who served her country with distinction.
Reposted by Charlie Close
I wouldn't necessarily have predicted that this one story would get to me more than many others, but I feel heartsick.
Every married woman who takes her husband's last name has changed their legal name. Legal name changes aren't a matter of opinion - Rachel is her name.
Every married woman who takes her husband's last name has changed their legal name. Legal name changes aren't a matter of opinion - Rachel is her name.
They went in and replaced Rachel Levine's name with her deadname in her official portrait- during the shutdown- because they are cowards and the cruelty is the point www.npr.org/sections/sho...
HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait
Admiral Rachel Levine was the first transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the federal government. Her official portrait at HHS headquarters has been altered.
www.npr.org
December 5, 2025 at 11:10 PM
I wouldn't necessarily have predicted that this one story would get to me more than many others, but I feel heartsick.
Every married woman who takes her husband's last name has changed their legal name. Legal name changes aren't a matter of opinion - Rachel is her name.
Every married woman who takes her husband's last name has changed their legal name. Legal name changes aren't a matter of opinion - Rachel is her name.
This.
Marching and protests are a good start. But to make real change we need to build local infrastructure and civic engagement. No one can do everything. Everyone can do something.
www.thenation.com/article/acti...
Marching and protests are a good start. But to make real change we need to build local infrastructure and civic engagement. No one can do everything. Everyone can do something.
www.thenation.com/article/acti...
The Left Must Build Its Infrastructure
We need to look not at what it will take to win the next election, but what it’ll take to win the next 10 elections.
www.thenation.com
December 5, 2025 at 3:48 PM
This.
Marching and protests are a good start. But to make real change we need to build local infrastructure and civic engagement. No one can do everything. Everyone can do something.
www.thenation.com/article/acti...
Marching and protests are a good start. But to make real change we need to build local infrastructure and civic engagement. No one can do everything. Everyone can do something.
www.thenation.com/article/acti...
Reposted by Charlie Close
I was radicalized on the issue of the Supreme Court 25 years ago this month. I’ve spent more than half of my life now waiting for the Democrats and liberalism to get there. They still aren’t. It’s sickening.
December 5, 2025 at 5:17 AM
I was radicalized on the issue of the Supreme Court 25 years ago this month. I’ve spent more than half of my life now waiting for the Democrats and liberalism to get there. They still aren’t. It’s sickening.
This.
Marching and protests are a good start. But to make real change we need to build local infrastructure and civic engagement. No one can everything. Everyone can do something.
www.thenation.com/article/acti...
Marching and protests are a good start. But to make real change we need to build local infrastructure and civic engagement. No one can everything. Everyone can do something.
www.thenation.com/article/acti...
The Left Must Build Its Infrastructure
We need to look not at what it will take to win the next election, but what it’ll take to win the next 10 elections.
www.thenation.com
December 5, 2025 at 12:26 PM
This.
Marching and protests are a good start. But to make real change we need to build local infrastructure and civic engagement. No one can everything. Everyone can do something.
www.thenation.com/article/acti...
Marching and protests are a good start. But to make real change we need to build local infrastructure and civic engagement. No one can everything. Everyone can do something.
www.thenation.com/article/acti...
Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, that House member should be you.
- A Genesee County constituent
- A Genesee County constituent
Yeah, a House member needs to send up that impeachment flag. This is illegal, immoral, dangerous behavior — that is also likely unconstitutional as well.
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth announces another boat strike in response to a request/wish from Turning Point USA’s Andrew Kolvet.
December 5, 2025 at 2:27 AM
Rep. Kristen McDonald Rivet, that House member should be you.
- A Genesee County constituent
- A Genesee County constituent
Members of Congress need to start talking *now* about changing the membership of the Supreme Court, to help the public understand the threat and get ready to act immediately in 2029.
“What’s your plan for the Court?” is the only question that matters for 2028 Democratic hopefuls, because if they don’t, the Republican Super Legislature is hatcheting their agenda before it can get off the ground.
December 5, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Members of Congress need to start talking *now* about changing the membership of the Supreme Court, to help the public understand the threat and get ready to act immediately in 2029.
Reposted by Charlie Close
I am humbly requesting that lawmakers in every Democratic-controlled state spend every waking hour between now and Christmas cooking up new congressional district maps that draw Republicans out of electoral existence
December 5, 2025 at 1:13 AM
I am humbly requesting that lawmakers in every Democratic-controlled state spend every waking hour between now and Christmas cooking up new congressional district maps that draw Republicans out of electoral existence
Reposted by Charlie Close
Trans people suffer the most violence in prison. PREA was never enough but it’s just disgusting to roll it back.
BREAKING: Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans & intersex people, memo says. A DOJ memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) do not align with Trump’s Jan. 20 anti-trans executive order, @byadamrhodes.bsky.social reports.
Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans and intersex people
A Department of Justice memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act do not align with Trump’s executive order
prismreports.org
December 5, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Trans people suffer the most violence in prison. PREA was never enough but it’s just disgusting to roll it back.