Ellis Hankins
@forrepdemruleoflaw.bsky.social
Very concerned American in North Carolina. Retired lawyer & public policy/management professor in a purple state (the state, not me). Married up. Public commercial airport board member, aviation enthusiast.
Good. Stirrings of actual congressional oversight. It’s there in their distant memory.
Admiral ousted by Hegseth talks privately to lawmakers
Adm. Alvin Holsey, who was pushed out of his post as a top U.S. military commander, spoke privately with lawmakers.
abcnews.go.com
December 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Good. Stirrings of actual congressional oversight. It’s there in their distant memory.
Here’s a comprehensive bill of particulars from Forbes, that left liberal publication, despite what the MAGA cult Maximum Leader says (if his lips or fingers are moving, he’s lying).
20 Signs There's An Affordability Crisis In America
Retail, dining and debt data all point to growing strain on household budgets as voter unease over rising costs intensifies.
www.forbes.com
December 9, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Here’s a comprehensive bill of particulars from Forbes, that left liberal publication, despite what the MAGA cult Maximum Leader says (if his lips or fingers are moving, he’s lying).
This is my periodic reminder of the Burger King tax inversion deal in 2014, to lower or avoid taxes paid in the United States. I haven’t bought anything at a Burger King since then.
Restaurant Brands International - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
December 9, 2025 at 2:20 PM
This is my periodic reminder of the Burger King tax inversion deal in 2014, to lower or avoid taxes paid in the United States. I haven’t bought anything at a Burger King since then.
Here’s an idea for a healthcare plan:
Stop trying to kill the Affordable Care Act.
Stop trying to kill the Affordable Care Act.
Scoop: Senate GOP chairs circulate health plan as ACA subsidies hang in the balance
Two key Republican chairmen circulated the plan as the GOP struggles to unite around health policies.
www.axios.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Here’s an idea for a healthcare plan:
Stop trying to kill the Affordable Care Act.
Stop trying to kill the Affordable Care Act.
Finally, a first step toward reviving congressional oversight, and checks and balances (a conservative concept)?
Congress to withhold Pentagon travel funds until it sees boat strike videos
Lawmakers quietly stuck the requirement into their must-pass annual defense policy bill.
www.politico.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Finally, a first step toward reviving congressional oversight, and checks and balances (a conservative concept)?
Saudis, more money for Jared, & remaking CNN into 24 hr Scott Jennings right wing screeching.
📺 The MAGA Moguls’ Media Takeover
The pro-Trump Ellison family launches a hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery, Jasmine Crockett sends Texas Dems into a tailspin, and did 'Alligator Alcatraz' use CIA torture methods on migrants!?
open.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Saudis, more money for Jared, & remaking CNN into 24 hr Scott Jennings right wing screeching.
Trump couldn’t read and comprehend it, of course. Even after the translation from Russian to English.
Trump Jabs At Zelenskyy, Claiming He Hasn’t Read U.S. Peace Proposal That Would Force Ukraine To Cede Land
“His people love it, but he hasn’t read it,” the president claimed regarding the proposal that would have Kyiv accept painful concessions.
www.huffpost.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Trump couldn’t read and comprehend it, of course. Even after the translation from Russian to English.
Another incredibly reckless and irresponsible move. What happened to America First?
Trump Allows Sale Of Powerful Nvidia Chip Shipments To China Despite Security Concerns
The U.S. government will allow Nvidia to export its H200 artificial intelligence chips to China, Trump said.
www.huffpost.com
December 8, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Another incredibly reckless and irresponsible move. What happened to America First?
Using the money he illegally took from the rest of us for a socialist bailout to farmers (mostly corporate farmers) to fix a problem he caused, after most of them voted to give him power to abuse.
Trump Plans Massive Bailout For Farmers Hit By Trade War
A White House official says Trump is planning a massive bailout for farmers who have struggled to sell their crops while getting hit by rising costs.
www.huffpost.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Using the money he illegally took from the rest of us for a socialist bailout to farmers (mostly corporate farmers) to fix a problem he caused, after most of them voted to give him power to abuse.
Eric Edelman
More cozying up to Russia, threatened support for regime change in favor of fascists against our heretofore European allies & undermining the EU & NATO. And a return to the pre-1941 benign neglect in the Pacific that opened the door to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
More cozying up to Russia, threatened support for regime change in favor of fascists against our heretofore European allies & undermining the EU & NATO. And a return to the pre-1941 benign neglect in the Pacific that opened the door to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Trump’s National Security Strategy: Atlas Shrugs
Hopefully the policy document won’t have much to do with the administration’s actions.
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Eric Edelman
More cozying up to Russia, threatened support for regime change in favor of fascists against our heretofore European allies & undermining the EU & NATO. And a return to the pre-1941 benign neglect in the Pacific that opened the door to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
More cozying up to Russia, threatened support for regime change in favor of fascists against our heretofore European allies & undermining the EU & NATO. And a return to the pre-1941 benign neglect in the Pacific that opened the door to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.
Canadian view from Charlie Angus, former member of Parliament.
“We are living next to a neighbour that is heavily armed, militant and determined to break us.
The Trump doctrine…is a vision of international power based on shakedowns, virulent racism and abandonment of democratic allies.”
“We are living next to a neighbour that is heavily armed, militant and determined to break us.
The Trump doctrine…is a vision of international power based on shakedowns, virulent racism and abandonment of democratic allies.”
The Gangster Regime Revealed
Any pundit, politician or commentator who thought that Canada could make its way through this so-called rough patch in U.S.-Canadian relations and come out the other end needs to think again.
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:12 PM
Canadian view from Charlie Angus, former member of Parliament.
“We are living next to a neighbour that is heavily armed, militant and determined to break us.
The Trump doctrine…is a vision of international power based on shakedowns, virulent racism and abandonment of democratic allies.”
“We are living next to a neighbour that is heavily armed, militant and determined to break us.
The Trump doctrine…is a vision of international power based on shakedowns, virulent racism and abandonment of democratic allies.”
Michael Sellers
This is brutal. And accurate.
This is brutal. And accurate.
Trump & KGB (Cont’d): This National Security Strategy Reads Like It Was Written in Moscow
When the White House released Trump’s new National Security Strategy (NSS) last week, I did what I always try to do with major national-security documents: read it once with an open mind, then step ba...
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Michael Sellers
This is brutal. And accurate.
This is brutal. And accurate.
Professor Timothy Snyder connects a lot of authoritarian dots, with historical context.
“Self-terrorism means dropping one’s guard…waiting for the act of terror, and then exploiting it….The resulting violence against one’s own people, can then be used as a pretext to further oppress them.”
“Self-terrorism means dropping one’s guard…waiting for the act of terror, and then exploiting it….The resulting violence against one’s own people, can then be used as a pretext to further oppress them.”
Land War or Self-Terrorism?
Trump's Likely Next Step
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:51 PM
Professor Timothy Snyder connects a lot of authoritarian dots, with historical context.
“Self-terrorism means dropping one’s guard…waiting for the act of terror, and then exploiting it….The resulting violence against one’s own people, can then be used as a pretext to further oppress them.”
“Self-terrorism means dropping one’s guard…waiting for the act of terror, and then exploiting it….The resulting violence against one’s own people, can then be used as a pretext to further oppress them.”
Today’s winner.
December 7, 2025 at 5:43 PM
Today’s winner.
Reposted by Ellis Hankins
Trump rages that Henry Cuellar didn’t pay him back for a pardon by switching parties, blasting Cuellar for a “lack of LOYALTY.”
In other words, Trump admits he was trying to use his pardon power to buy Republicans a House seat.
In other words, Trump admits he was trying to use his pardon power to buy Republicans a House seat.
December 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Trump rages that Henry Cuellar didn’t pay him back for a pardon by switching parties, blasting Cuellar for a “lack of LOYALTY.”
In other words, Trump admits he was trying to use his pardon power to buy Republicans a House seat.
In other words, Trump admits he was trying to use his pardon power to buy Republicans a House seat.
The MAGA partisan hack majority feel free to ignore facts & precedent, engage in revisionist history & just make up new “legal doctrines” (major questions doctrine). They decide their preferred policy outcome, & then reverse engineer the rationale, if they bother to explain the result at all.
US Supreme Court may be poised to ditch more of its precedents
How much allegiance do conservative justices owe to legal precedents set years ago?
www.reuters.com
December 7, 2025 at 12:34 PM
The MAGA partisan hack majority feel free to ignore facts & precedent, engage in revisionist history & just make up new “legal doctrines” (major questions doctrine). They decide their preferred policy outcome, & then reverse engineer the rationale, if they bother to explain the result at all.
“We are witnessing an unprecedented situation – really as far as I can tell in history – where a global leader of education and research is voluntarily dismantling that which gave it an advantage.”
These people are diminishing the United States in so many ways—deliberately, it appears to me.
These people are diminishing the United States in so many ways—deliberately, it appears to me.
MAGA 101: Inside Trump’s fast-track masterclass in undermining academic freedom - Index on Censorship
A report on the impact of the Trump administration’s assault on research and teaching in the United States and what the future might hold for free expression in academia in other democracies
www.indexoncensorship.org
December 7, 2025 at 12:11 PM
“We are witnessing an unprecedented situation – really as far as I can tell in history – where a global leader of education and research is voluntarily dismantling that which gave it an advantage.”
These people are diminishing the United States in so many ways—deliberately, it appears to me.
These people are diminishing the United States in so many ways—deliberately, it appears to me.
Even the WSJ editorial board gets it.
Russian fool tools.
Russian fool tools.
December 6, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Even the WSJ editorial board gets it.
Russian fool tools.
Russian fool tools.
If the boat strikes in the Caribbean & Pacific really were about drugs, the regime instead would order more Coast Guard interdictions like this. It’s not. It’s about blood lust & demonstrating that this lawless regime can kill anybody they want to, any time & anywhere.
20,000-pound cocaine seizure by Coast Guard breaks 18-year-old record
Video shows Coast Guard vehicles pursuing a go-fast vessel that appeared to have multiple people aboard.
www.cbsnews.com
December 6, 2025 at 8:24 PM
If the boat strikes in the Caribbean & Pacific really were about drugs, the regime instead would order more Coast Guard interdictions like this. It’s not. It’s about blood lust & demonstrating that this lawless regime can kill anybody they want to, any time & anywhere.
Ukraine & the rest of the civilized world needs effective German leadership, in light of the abdication & hostility of our kleptocratic American regime. We’re getting it.
Merz and Pistorius Just Closed the One Gap Putin Was Counting On
Europe’s Entire Defense Collapsed Into One Question. Germany Answered It.
open.substack.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Ukraine & the rest of the civilized world needs effective German leadership, in light of the abdication & hostility of our kleptocratic American regime. We’re getting it.
Part of their continuing campaign to eliminate all constraints and accountability. And obviously Little Marco has sold his soul.
Exodus From State Department Legal Office Could Heighten Risk Of Trump Admin Breaking The Law
The office tackles global issues such as the administration’s deadly strikes in the Caribbean, which lawmakers and experts say could involve war crimes. Dozens of officials have left this year.
www.huffpost.com
December 6, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Part of their continuing campaign to eliminate all constraints and accountability. And obviously Little Marco has sold his soul.
These people are going to cause even more avoidable deaths than last time.
Trump asks RFK Jr. to ‘fast track’ vaccine schedule review
The president weighed in after the health secretary’s vaccine advisers recommended a major change to the shots routinely given to children.
www.politico.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:28 PM
These people are going to cause even more avoidable deaths than last time.
We’re now commemorating the MAGA Maximum Leader’s birthday at our national parks, & ignoring Juneteenth & MLK Day, by the way, in case you missed it. Probably we’ll soon have large portrait banners on federal buildings.
National parks cut free entry for MLK Day, add Trump's birthday
NPS changed its free admission days in 2026, removing MLK Day and Juneteenth while adding Trump's birthday.
www.usatoday.com
December 6, 2025 at 12:16 PM
We’re now commemorating the MAGA Maximum Leader’s birthday at our national parks, & ignoring Juneteenth & MLK Day, by the way, in case you missed it. Probably we’ll soon have large portrait banners on federal buildings.
Reposted by Ellis Hankins
The new National Security Strategy is a propaganda document, designed to be widely read. It is also a performative suicide. Hard to think of another great power ever abdicating its influence so quickly and so publicly. It will be worth following the reactions around the world, not just in Europe.
Trump's national security strategy is out and some of the Europe sections are shocking. "...the growing influence of patriotic European parties indeed
gives cause for great optimism."
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
gives cause for great optimism."
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
December 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The new National Security Strategy is a propaganda document, designed to be widely read. It is also a performative suicide. Hard to think of another great power ever abdicating its influence so quickly and so publicly. It will be worth following the reactions around the world, not just in Europe.
Miles Taylor
“What happened on Sept. 2 was an apparent trial-less execution carried out by what is supposed to be the freest country in the world….It was a deliberate killing of civilians whom the U.S. government chose not to capture, when they very well could have.
“What happened on Sept. 2 was an apparent trial-less execution carried out by what is supposed to be the freest country in the world….It was a deliberate killing of civilians whom the U.S. government chose not to capture, when they very well could have.
The most damning revelation yet: they KNEW.
Despite "fog of war" denials, Hegseth's team watched drug boat for an hour -- and saw the survivors -- before killing everyone.
open.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Miles Taylor
“What happened on Sept. 2 was an apparent trial-less execution carried out by what is supposed to be the freest country in the world….It was a deliberate killing of civilians whom the U.S. government chose not to capture, when they very well could have.
“What happened on Sept. 2 was an apparent trial-less execution carried out by what is supposed to be the freest country in the world….It was a deliberate killing of civilians whom the U.S. government chose not to capture, when they very well could have.