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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 1d

NOTE: Leavitt says Trump will "stop by for his routine yearly check up."

But…Trump had his annual check up already. 5 months ago. On April 11.

Prem Thakker ツ @premthakker.bsky.social · 1d

New — White House says Donald Trump will visit Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday.

"On Friday morning, President Trump will visit Walter Reed Medical Center for a planned meeting and remarks with the troops. While there, President Trump will stop by for his routine yearly check up. He will then return to the White House. President Trump is considering going to the Middle East shortly thereafter." - White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 16h

The Democrats never seem to care that they need to offer a substantive reason to vote for them rather than reasons to vote against the Republicans.

They either think style is enough or really do prefer to sit in opposition, where all they have to do is complain about Republicans--still style.

David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 16h

Way ahead of you.

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POLITICO Europe @politico.eu · 17h

Less than 24 hours after the European Parliament voted to ban plant-based foods across the EU from using names like “burger,” “sausage” or “steak” — the institution’s canteen in Strasbourg served up a “vegan burger” as its healthy lunch option.

EU Parliament votes to ban veggie burgers — then serves them for lunch

The ink was barely dry on the European Parliament’s prohibition across the bloc when its own chefs dished up “vegan burgers,” leaving lawmakers choking on the irony.

www.politico.eu

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 16h

I'm here and I'd sure like to be there.

Politico @politico.com · 17h

“When America creates a situation of making it difficult for people with advanced degrees to stay in the United States, I think that’s an opportunity for Canada,” said Canada’s outgoing UN ambassador.

Bob Rae on Trump, tariffs and global disorder 👇

The Book that Canada’s Outgoing UN Ambassador Turns to Again and Again

Bob Rae also gets candid about Trump speeches, U.S.-Canada ties and global disorder.

www.politico.com

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 17h

These are the death throes of a constitutional oligarchy, now supplanted by an aconstitutional broligarchy.

www.disunitedstates.org/p/its-an-aco...

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Richard Delevan @richard.wickedproblems.earth · 18h

The Republic is over. Start talking about what should come next and how to get there.

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 20h

Nothing remotely resembling an insurrection is happening anywhere in the country. Any violence associated with protest has been isolated, mild, and, in nearly every case, instigated by federal law enforcement. If we let Trump get away with calling dissent an insurrection, our republic is over.

BREAKING: Trump Admin 'Seriously' Considering Using the Insurrection Act, Reports NBC

President Trump is "seriously" considering invoking the Insurrection Act in order to more easily deploy National Guard troops to major cities as part of crime crackdown, NBC reported on Wednesday

www.mediaite.com

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 17h

@atrupar.com is simply trying to be "objective." In this, he quotes an obvious lie and judges that sufficient.

The trouble is that this is a brilliant example of why "objectivity" does not exist.

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 17h

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 17h

The assumption here is that the Constitution in any way matters to Donald Trump and his minions.

www.disunitedstates.org/p/its-an-aco...

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 20h

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

George Conway 👊🇺🇸🔥 @gtconway.bsky.social · 20h

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David Benfell, Ph.D. (he/him/his) @benfell.infosec.exchange.ap.brid.gy · 17h

RE: https://mastodon.social/@houstonpublicmedia/115344677475278624

The claim that one is excising a 'political ideology' is itself both political and ideological.

mastodon.social

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 1d

Because it fits their ideology.

Epistemologically, conservatives devalue verifiable ("temporal") information in favor of ideological ("permanent") knowledge. It's one reason there's no hope for a reconciliation between white Christian nationalism and everyone else--we can't even agree on premises.

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 2d

I’m deeply skeptical that Donald Trump will live to finish his term. (I’ve been wrong here before, even doubting he’d live to the 2024 election.) J. D. Vance remains one Big Mac away from the presidency.

Raw Story @rawstory.com · 2d

Jim Acosta and Molly Jong-Fast spoke Tuesday about ongoing political turmoil, mocking Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller over their chances to succeed President Donald Trump.

'It's never gonna be you!' Trump loyalists get dose of succession reality from analyst

Jim Acosta and Molly Jong-Fast spoke Tuesday about ongoing political turmoil, mocking Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House Deputy Chief of Staff Stephen Miller over their chances to succeed President Donald Trump.Jong-Fast ripped Miller, saying he "sounds nuts" and that he "spends almost a...

bit.ly

Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 2d

What's it like living in Chicago today? This image gives us a strong sense of the fear that Chicagoans fear from Trump's secret police.

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Aalia Mauro @aaliamauro.bsky.social · 2d

I'm sick of anyone bringing up Oct 7th. There have been like a thousand October 7ths in Palestine. End the gcide now.

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 2d

All this would be fine, but at least in the U.S., the Green Party also supports throwing Ukraine under the bus. That, along with support for genocide, is one of my red lines.

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Mother Jones @motherjones.com · 2d

"Soft secession, powered by the presidential ambitions of multiple blue-state governors, could, should it come to that, be the proving ground of a new confederacy.

Hopefully the threat of CalExit or a new Union will be enough.”

The latest from @clarajeffery.bsky.social:

It’s time for soft secession

How blue states can use their economic clout to stand up to Trump’s agenda—starting with California.

www.motherjones.com

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 2d

There's a lot that's weird here, but the first thing that catches my eye is that if these are supposed to be undercover operations, Ken Paxton probably doesn't want to give the "leftist terror cells in Texas" a heads-up.

Anna Bower @annabower.bsky.social · 2d

Can’t decide which is the wilder use of “BREAKING” by a government official:

1. “BREAKING: I’m launching undercover operations” — Texas Attorney General

Or

2. “BREAKING: MSNBC still an ass clown factory” — FBI Director

FBI Director Kash Patel &
@FBIDirectorKash
X.com
BREAKING: MSNBC still an ass clown factory of disinformation. Same circus animals that slobbered all over perp walks of Stone, Navarro, Bannon...
MSNBC has no facts and no audience
In this @fbi, follow the chain of command or get relieved.
9, Barb McQuade • @BarbMcQuade • 3d
DOJ policy prohibits "perp walks," in which arrestees are paraded before the cameras. x.com/ jesserodriguez...
10:03 AM • 10/4/25 • 12M Views

Attorney General Ken Paxton &
@KenPaxtonTX
X.com
BREAKING: I'm launching undercover operations to infiltrate and uproot leftist terror cells in Texas.
Leftist political terrorism is a clear and present danger. There can be no compromise with those who want us dead.
ORNEY

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 2d

It isn’t surprising that this would be happening with a 79-year-old man. The crazy and dangerous part is that there’s an entire political movement and media ecosystem that rationalizes, justifies, and tries to retroactively validate every synapse misfire that escapes his mouth.

Andy Craig @andycraig.bsky.social · 2d

I know invoking Latin terms can be a bit esoteric, and "dementia" is fine and accurate, but I think there's real merit in zeroing in on the relevant legal concept: he is non compos mentis. Not just that he's a batty old man, he is debilitated in a concrete legal sense, fit for conservatorship.

Eric Michael Garcia @ericmgarcia.bsky.social · 2d

Ruben Gallego on whether Trump is talking to Democrats:

“Look, the President clearly has some kind of dementia, so I think there's a he's probably talking to himself, or think he's talking to a Democrat, but I sincerely doubt that that's actually he's actually physically talking to a Democrat.“

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 2d

apple.news/Ah6G_OVtcQLi...

David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 3d

It keeps getting weirder:

apple.news/AFe-QlnINRim...

QAnon Shaman Says He’s the ‘True’ President, Sues Trump for $40 Trillion — VICE

Jacob Chansley, better known as the shirtless, bison-horned “QAnon Shaman” from the Capitol cosplay riot on Jan. 6, 2021, is, unfortunately, back in the news.

apple.news

David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 3d

Yeah, I’m trying to figure out where that threshold lies. From my perspective, it’s been “completely over the top” pretty much throughout Donald Trump’s time in office.

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David Benfell, Ph.D. @disunitedstates.org · 3d

This, at the same time Donald Trump is launching a war on U.S. cities, seems like a really stupid idea even for white Christian nationalists.

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

Lawrence Hurley @lawrencehurley.bsky.social · 3d

The new Supreme Court term starts today, meaning that -- in a novel twist -- the justices will hear oral arguments in some cases before they issue rulings that actually explain what they are doing.

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Reposted by David Benfell, Ph.D.

David Benfell, Ph.D. (he/him/his) @benfell.infosec.exchange.ap.brid.gy · 3d

https://www.disunitedstates.org/p/what-if-this-is-all-out-war

What if this is all out war?

It is at least a reign of terror

www.disunitedstates.org

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