Reposted by ildon
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Right.
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
a lot of problems wouldn't exist if we had a congress with even an ounce of self interest
January 4, 2026 at 11:52 PM
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Reposted by ildon
Literally a publication for eight-year olds 40 years ago
January 4, 2026 at 6:49 PM
Literally a publication for eight-year olds 40 years ago
Reposted by ildon
Reposted by ildon
out of my depth on any foreign policy thing but seems clear that at least some real part of this is fueled out of, if not a kind of boredom, a very real desire to entertain themselves because they are absolutely not interested in governing beyond shows of force they can post about online
January 3, 2026 at 8:50 PM
out of my depth on any foreign policy thing but seems clear that at least some real part of this is fueled out of, if not a kind of boredom, a very real desire to entertain themselves because they are absolutely not interested in governing beyond shows of force they can post about online
Reposted by ildon
babe wake up, they're doing insider trading on war crimes
“What appears to be a newly created account appeared to invest $30,000 Friday in Maduro's exit. After Maduro went into custody Saturday morning, that same investor netted $436,759.61.”
Someone made $400K by predicting Maduro's capture. Here's what happened
The winnings come as the rules governing prediction markets are still evolving.
www.axios.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:38 PM
babe wake up, they're doing insider trading on war crimes
Reposted by ildon
It's good to steal oil and kill innocent people says Democratic Governor of Colorado
January 3, 2026 at 7:32 PM
It's good to steal oil and kill innocent people says Democratic Governor of Colorado
Reposted by ildon
The kidnapping of Maduro inaugurates a highly dangerous era of U.S. empire that for perhaps the first time in an era of mass media is not pretending to be anything other than a violent, extractive enterprise of domination.
A Criminal Empire
The United States launches a conquest and occupation of Venezuela to extract its oil wealth. The neocon dream is the America First dream
www.forever-wars.com
January 3, 2026 at 7:50 PM
The kidnapping of Maduro inaugurates a highly dangerous era of U.S. empire that for perhaps the first time in an era of mass media is not pretending to be anything other than a violent, extractive enterprise of domination.
Reposted by ildon
fwiw, personally, i am still masking because instead of getting sick several times per year, and missing out on a bunch of fun stuff because of how badly it fucks me up, i have been sick twice in the last six years, am in considerably less discomfort, and miss way less fun stuff. 🤷🏼♀️
Bring back the idea that there's stuff it's rude to ask people about and none of your business (why are you masking, why aren't you drinking, etc.)
Also, never ask someone why they're wearing a mask! Just don't! You're not entitled to people's health info!
December 29, 2025 at 8:15 PM
fwiw, personally, i am still masking because instead of getting sick several times per year, and missing out on a bunch of fun stuff because of how badly it fucks me up, i have been sick twice in the last six years, am in considerably less discomfort, and miss way less fun stuff. 🤷🏼♀️
Reposted by ildon
A psychotic cult of personality wants to use the force of the state to compel people to genuflect at a shrine to their leader.
"Any artist cancelling their show at the Trump Kennedy Center over political differences isn't courageous or principled—they are selfish, intolerant, and have failed to meet the basic duty of a public artist: to perform for all people"- Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Daravi
Kennedy Center vows to sue musician who canceled performance over Trump name change
The Kennedy Center is planning legal action after jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled an annual holiday concert. Redd pulled out after President Trump's name appeared on the building.
www.npr.org
December 28, 2025 at 6:26 AM
A psychotic cult of personality wants to use the force of the state to compel people to genuflect at a shrine to their leader.
Reposted by ildon
Update. The ICE supervisor, who is 47, was arrested for domestic violence against his non-citizen partner who he started a relationship when she was 18 and he was 40.
www.fox19.com/2025/12/22/i...
www.fox19.com/2025/12/22/i...
December 25, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Update. The ICE supervisor, who is 47, was arrested for domestic violence against his non-citizen partner who he started a relationship when she was 18 and he was 40.
www.fox19.com/2025/12/22/i...
www.fox19.com/2025/12/22/i...
Reposted by ildon
This happened here too and I heard of construction in close states being paused as well.
ICE raids appear to be 100% responsible for the current housing crunch in south Texas. Indeed, they have brought residential construction to an end.
South Texas homebuilders say ICE arrests have slowed work
More than 380 people attended an impromptu meeting that industry leaders in the Rio Grande Valley hosted to draw attention to the chilling effect ICE arrests have had on construction.
www.texastribune.org
December 28, 2025 at 6:41 AM
This happened here too and I heard of construction in close states being paused as well.
Reposted by ildon
Reposted by ildon
Reposted by ildon
Headquarters of the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) architecture firm in Copenhagen, Denmark (2024) r/brutalism
December 28, 2025 at 4:28 AM
Headquarters of the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) architecture firm in Copenhagen, Denmark (2024) r/brutalism
Reposted by ildon
All of the money that changed hands in the Teapot Dome scandal totaled less than $10 million after adjusting for inflation, and it was considered so corrupt we still teach it in high school government classes a century later.
Corruption so pungent, it wafts right off the page:
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon
Even some of the president’s closest advisers have been surprised by a number of the recent series of pardons.
www.wsj.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:24 PM
All of the money that changed hands in the Teapot Dome scandal totaled less than $10 million after adjusting for inflation, and it was considered so corrupt we still teach it in high school government classes a century later.
Reposted by ildon
Taking a minute today to appreciate the lighting/shading in Chuck Jones’ Grinch
December 24, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Taking a minute today to appreciate the lighting/shading in Chuck Jones’ Grinch
Reposted by ildon
These guys are all running federal agencies now
December 28, 2025 at 4:32 AM
These guys are all running federal agencies now
Reposted by ildon
“it is illegal for you not to like me”
This is the logical and inevitable conclusion of the last decade of elite media "free speech" discourse.
December 28, 2025 at 1:54 AM
“it is illegal for you not to like me”
Reposted by ildon
Reposted by ildon
It's cool how we do Pop-Tarts Midsommar during football games now
December 28, 2025 at 2:13 AM
It's cool how we do Pop-Tarts Midsommar during football games now
Reposted by ildon
I read Just and Unjust Wars and it’s so funny how much of his stuff post-October 7 is him saying things he said were wrong in his book are okay when Israel does it
December 27, 2025 at 10:03 PM
I read Just and Unjust Wars and it’s so funny how much of his stuff post-October 7 is him saying things he said were wrong in his book are okay when Israel does it
Reposted by ildon
In case I didn't make it clear -- this thread isn't about how Europeans view American protests.
Most European activists and antifascists know what the US is like and what we deal with here.
It's about how American folks view their own protests through the lens of videos they see of other countries
Most European activists and antifascists know what the US is like and what we deal with here.
It's about how American folks view their own protests through the lens of videos they see of other countries
December 28, 2025 at 5:48 AM
In case I didn't make it clear -- this thread isn't about how Europeans view American protests.
Most European activists and antifascists know what the US is like and what we deal with here.
It's about how American folks view their own protests through the lens of videos they see of other countries
Most European activists and antifascists know what the US is like and what we deal with here.
It's about how American folks view their own protests through the lens of videos they see of other countries
Reposted by ildon
I'm not saying that the pigs in Western European countries can't be brutal or corrupt, or that protesters in other countries aren't also brave.
But protesting and direct action in the US is a routine exercise in extraordinary, life-ending or life-altering danger - with no social safety net.
But protesting and direct action in the US is a routine exercise in extraordinary, life-ending or life-altering danger - with no social safety net.
December 28, 2025 at 5:19 AM
I'm not saying that the pigs in Western European countries can't be brutal or corrupt, or that protesters in other countries aren't also brave.
But protesting and direct action in the US is a routine exercise in extraordinary, life-ending or life-altering danger - with no social safety net.
But protesting and direct action in the US is a routine exercise in extraordinary, life-ending or life-altering danger - with no social safety net.
Reposted by ildon
Police in the US do their best to kill and maim protesters on a regular basis.
Those who aren't maimed or killed, prosecutors do their best to bury under the jail.
And cops work with armed right-wing vigilantes to kill even more.
And yet people are still coming out. It takes immense courage.
Those who aren't maimed or killed, prosecutors do their best to bury under the jail.
And cops work with armed right-wing vigilantes to kill even more.
And yet people are still coming out. It takes immense courage.
December 28, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Police in the US do their best to kill and maim protesters on a regular basis.
Those who aren't maimed or killed, prosecutors do their best to bury under the jail.
And cops work with armed right-wing vigilantes to kill even more.
And yet people are still coming out. It takes immense courage.
Those who aren't maimed or killed, prosecutors do their best to bury under the jail.
And cops work with armed right-wing vigilantes to kill even more.
And yet people are still coming out. It takes immense courage.
Reposted by ildon
MAGA and DHS are melting down over Kilmar Ábrego García “making TikToks.”
I went to look at the video they’re complaining about, and all he’s doing is lip sync to a Christian song in Spanish about trusting God amid trials and tribulations.
www.foxnews.com/politics/dhs...
I went to look at the video they’re complaining about, and all he’s doing is lip sync to a Christian song in Spanish about trusting God amid trials and tribulations.
www.foxnews.com/politics/dhs...
December 28, 2025 at 5:23 AM
MAGA and DHS are melting down over Kilmar Ábrego García “making TikToks.”
I went to look at the video they’re complaining about, and all he’s doing is lip sync to a Christian song in Spanish about trusting God amid trials and tribulations.
www.foxnews.com/politics/dhs...
I went to look at the video they’re complaining about, and all he’s doing is lip sync to a Christian song in Spanish about trusting God amid trials and tribulations.
www.foxnews.com/politics/dhs...