Mavis Amundson
@mavisja.bsky.social
Journalist, author; PolSci; Supports democracy, rule of law, free press. Follows news in Europe. Baseball fan. www.mavisamundson.com
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
I am opposed to the prodemocracy coalition losing any more elections. I think running a female candidate for the third time since 2016 increases the chances of losing.
But thank you for trying to intentionally misunderstand the point.
But thank you for trying to intentionally misunderstand the point.
You are - as a general matter - opposed the idea of a female being nominated for the presidency in 2028?
December 9, 2025 at 5:35 PM
I am opposed to the prodemocracy coalition losing any more elections. I think running a female candidate for the third time since 2016 increases the chances of losing.
But thank you for trying to intentionally misunderstand the point.
But thank you for trying to intentionally misunderstand the point.
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
Runner up
a man in a hat says " you 're not worried "
ALT: a man in a hat says " you 're not worried "
media.tenor.com
December 9, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Runner up
Jeff Flake on the boat strikes
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
When Leaders Mistake Brutality for Strength
Americans may disagree on many things, but they still distinguish between necessary force and needless killing.
www.theatlantic.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:01 PM
Jeff Flake on the boat strikes
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
You will be visited by three spirits
December 9, 2025 at 11:19 AM
You will be visited by three spirits
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
“How did American democracy backslide?”
“Two ways: gradually, then suddenly”
Trump is the culmination of GOP trends that have been accelerating since at least Ford’s pardon, then Reagan’s rogue pre-presidency foreign policy & Iran-Contra, through everything in the GWB admin. All of it unpunished.
“Two ways: gradually, then suddenly”
Trump is the culmination of GOP trends that have been accelerating since at least Ford’s pardon, then Reagan’s rogue pre-presidency foreign policy & Iran-Contra, through everything in the GWB admin. All of it unpunished.
Trump and Co. haven’t been dismantling US institutions just this year, they’ve been doing it since 2017.
America has been democratic backsliding into authoritarianism for nearly a decade. Much of what we see now builds on what they did in term 1 and advanced in the interim.
But too many denied it.
America has been democratic backsliding into authoritarianism for nearly a decade. Much of what we see now builds on what they did in term 1 and advanced in the interim.
But too many denied it.
One theme here is the speed of American institutional collapse.
“It took Erdoğan 15 years to do what Trump did in 100 days. If [Americans] do not accept the fact that this is a long game, and it will be brutal, I think you won’t have the patience and stamina to bear it.”
“It took Erdoğan 15 years to do what Trump did in 100 days. If [Americans] do not accept the fact that this is a long game, and it will be brutal, I think you won’t have the patience and stamina to bear it.”
December 9, 2025 at 6:22 PM
“How did American democracy backslide?”
“Two ways: gradually, then suddenly”
Trump is the culmination of GOP trends that have been accelerating since at least Ford’s pardon, then Reagan’s rogue pre-presidency foreign policy & Iran-Contra, through everything in the GWB admin. All of it unpunished.
“Two ways: gradually, then suddenly”
Trump is the culmination of GOP trends that have been accelerating since at least Ford’s pardon, then Reagan’s rogue pre-presidency foreign policy & Iran-Contra, through everything in the GWB admin. All of it unpunished.
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
there is no available evidence that donald trump understands what a tariff is, what a trade deficit is, and what the national debt is.
The way Trump talks about the problems he caused by unilaterally imposing tariffs is fairly insane, even by his standards.
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
December 9, 2025 at 6:09 PM
there is no available evidence that donald trump understands what a tariff is, what a trade deficit is, and what the national debt is.
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
I can’t believe how much of the Trump era is about solving problems that *don’t* exist while making all the problems that *do* exist, worse.
There is no one who thinks the biggest problem with air travel right now is not having an area to do pull-ups.
There is no one who thinks the biggest problem with air travel right now is not having an area to do pull-ups.
Duffy on what he's doing to improve the airport experience for travelers: "Maybe I want a workout area where people might get some blood flowing doing some pull ups or step ups in the airport."
December 9, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I can’t believe how much of the Trump era is about solving problems that *don’t* exist while making all the problems that *do* exist, worse.
There is no one who thinks the biggest problem with air travel right now is not having an area to do pull-ups.
There is no one who thinks the biggest problem with air travel right now is not having an area to do pull-ups.
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
it is actually kind of bananas how unitary executive theorists have taken a straightforward clause requiring the president to "faithfully execute the laws" and transformed it into a grant for the exercise of limitless unenumerated power.
The Take Care Clause was a byproduct of the lessons learned from the Glorious Revolution that the executive should not be able to dispense with the law promulgated by the legislature. It was not a constitutional provision to empower the executive branch— but to constrain it!
December 9, 2025 at 2:20 PM
it is actually kind of bananas how unitary executive theorists have taken a straightforward clause requiring the president to "faithfully execute the laws" and transformed it into a grant for the exercise of limitless unenumerated power.
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
"If #Ukraine actually gave up #Donbas (which is simply not feasible and almost certainly won't happen), this would go down on history as one of the biggest mistakes ever made. It would not lead to peace, #Russia would keep attacking, just from a much better starting position."
Janis Kluge
Janis Kluge
December 9, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Associated Press
It's Messi. Repeat, Messi. The Inter Miami star is MLS' first back-to-back MVP winner
apnews.com/article/lion...
It's Messi. Repeat, Messi. The Inter Miami star is MLS' first back-to-back MVP winner
apnews.com/article/lion...
It's Messi. Repeat, Messi. The Inter Miami star is MLS' first back-to-back MVP winner
Lionel Messi has become the first back-to-back MVP in Major League Soccer history. The 38-year-old Argentine star was announced Tuesday as this year’s winner of the league’s top individual honor.
apnews.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Associated Press
It's Messi. Repeat, Messi. The Inter Miami star is MLS' first back-to-back MVP winner
apnews.com/article/lion...
It's Messi. Repeat, Messi. The Inter Miami star is MLS' first back-to-back MVP winner
apnews.com/article/lion...
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
Des dirigeants "stupides", Donald Trump cible à nouveau la politique migratoire des Européens
Des dirigeants "stupides", Donald Trump cible à nouveau la politique migratoire des Européens
Moins d'une semaine après la publication d'un rapport émanant de Washington reprenant à son compte la thèse d'extrême droite du grand remplacement, Donald Trump a dénoncé mardi la politique migratoire de l'UE, qualifiée de "désastre" et mise en œuvre par des leaders européens "stupides".
f24.my
December 9, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Des dirigeants "stupides", Donald Trump cible à nouveau la politique migratoire des Européens
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
Bond investors recently told Bessent they don't want Hassett because Hassett will be politically controlled by Trump. But this will be a problem with virtually anyone Trump chooses, since willingness to do what Trump says seems to be sole criterion for the job.
Not sure how you square this circle.
Not sure how you square this circle.
Bond investors have told the US Treasury they are concerned about Kevin Hassett’s potential appointment as Federal Reserve chair, worrying he will cut interest rates aggressively to please President Donald Trump.
Bond investors warned US Treasury over picking Kevin Hassett as Fed chair
Some market participants worried candidate for top central bank job will be swayed by Trump on interest rates
www.ft.com
December 3, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Bond investors recently told Bessent they don't want Hassett because Hassett will be politically controlled by Trump. But this will be a problem with virtually anyone Trump chooses, since willingness to do what Trump says seems to be sole criterion for the job.
Not sure how you square this circle.
Not sure how you square this circle.
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
Trump has pardoned huge amounts of fraud and truly heinous crimes.
In particular, he's pardoned more corrupt elected officials than any other President, and it's not particularly close.
This President is a crook through and through.
In particular, he's pardoned more corrupt elected officials than any other President, and it's not particularly close.
This President is a crook through and through.
December 9, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Trump has pardoned huge amounts of fraud and truly heinous crimes.
In particular, he's pardoned more corrupt elected officials than any other President, and it's not particularly close.
This President is a crook through and through.
In particular, he's pardoned more corrupt elected officials than any other President, and it's not particularly close.
This President is a crook through and through.
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
Many of these answers appear to have been scripted by the Kremlin press office.
Full transcript: POLITICO's interview with President Donald Trump
The president sat for an in-depth interview with POLITICO's Dasha Burns.
www.politico.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Many of these answers appear to have been scripted by the Kremlin press office.
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
Jared Kushner, we learn here, is negotiating supposedly on behalf of the United States, but in the pay of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia... violating a series of laws, some of them criminal www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
How Jared Kushner became Trump’s indispensable second peace envoy
Despite promising to stay on the sidelines this administration, Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has become enmeshed in critical diplomatic negotiations.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Jared Kushner, we learn here, is negotiating supposedly on behalf of the United States, but in the pay of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia... violating a series of laws, some of them criminal www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
The British government pushed back today against Donald Trump’s assertion that European nations spend too much time discussing the war in Ukraine without reaching a resolution.
UK rejects Trump’s claim that European leaders ‘talk too much’ about Ukraine
PM Keir Starmer’s spokesperson said Britain was “leading the response on sanctions” against Russia — but confirmed support for American-led peace plans.
www.politico.eu
December 9, 2025 at 3:29 PM
The British government pushed back today against Donald Trump’s assertion that European nations spend too much time discussing the war in Ukraine without reaching a resolution.
New York Times
Amy Klobuchar: State A.I. Laws Keep Us Safe. Trump’s Next Move Could Upend That. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/o...
Amy Klobuchar: State A.I. Laws Keep Us Safe. Trump’s Next Move Could Upend That. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/o...
Opinion | Amy Klobuchar: State A.I. Laws Keep Us Safe. Trump’s Next Move Could Upend That.
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 3:39 PM
New York Times
Amy Klobuchar: State A.I. Laws Keep Us Safe. Trump’s Next Move Could Upend That. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/o...
Amy Klobuchar: State A.I. Laws Keep Us Safe. Trump’s Next Move Could Upend That. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/o...
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
Trump is rule of, by and for the broligarchs, writes Ed Luce
December 9, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Trump is rule of, by and for the broligarchs, writes Ed Luce
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
China was the largest export market for American farmers in 2024. They bought 27 metric tons of soybeans last year. They stopped buying in 2025 when Trump started his trade war. These are simple, obvious, basic facts. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Leavitt: "President Trump convinced President Xi to continue purchasing again American soybeans, which is something China wasn't doing under the last administration because they had no respect for President Biden or the country at the time."
December 9, 2025 at 2:57 PM
China was the largest export market for American farmers in 2024. They bought 27 metric tons of soybeans last year. They stopped buying in 2025 when Trump started his trade war. These are simple, obvious, basic facts. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
My mom’s naturalization was a family event - dressed up, photos & lunch to celebrate.
Days later my grandma-in-law gave her apple pie with a card: “Now you’re as American as apple pie.”
If you’re not Native, you’re from immigrants. Punishing law-abiding immigrants is just white supremacy.
Days later my grandma-in-law gave her apple pie with a card: “Now you’re as American as apple pie.”
If you’re not Native, you’re from immigrants. Punishing law-abiding immigrants is just white supremacy.
Anyone who has participated in or attended a naturalization ceremony knows how meaningful and joyous these ceremonies tend to be. The cruelty of this is heartbreaking and enraging.
“She showed up as scheduled, and when she arrived, officers were asking everyone what country they were from, and if they said a certain country, they were told to step out of line and that their oath ceremonies were canceled.”
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social
December 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM
My mom’s naturalization was a family event - dressed up, photos & lunch to celebrate.
Days later my grandma-in-law gave her apple pie with a card: “Now you’re as American as apple pie.”
If you’re not Native, you’re from immigrants. Punishing law-abiding immigrants is just white supremacy.
Days later my grandma-in-law gave her apple pie with a card: “Now you’re as American as apple pie.”
If you’re not Native, you’re from immigrants. Punishing law-abiding immigrants is just white supremacy.
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
ICE has arrested nearly 75,000 people with no criminal records, data shows
ICE has arrested nearly 75,000 people with no criminal records, data shows
The figures don't include arrests made by Border Patrol, which has launched aggressive immigration operations in several cities in recent months.
www.nbcnews.com
December 8, 2025 at 12:54 PM
ICE has arrested nearly 75,000 people with no criminal records, data shows
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
RFK Jr., I know you can't conceive of caring for anyone else, let alone caring for another life more than your own.
Let alone the pain of wanting to care for your child more than you've ever wanted anything in your entire existence—and your body not allowing you to.
In any case, fuck you to hell.
Let alone the pain of wanting to care for your child more than you've ever wanted anything in your entire existence—and your body not allowing you to.
In any case, fuck you to hell.
RFK Jr: "All of the ingenuity of corporate America has not produced an infant formula that is superior in nutrition and all the qualities that we want to the infant formula that God made, which is the infant formula in a mother's breast."
December 9, 2025 at 6:07 AM
RFK Jr., I know you can't conceive of caring for anyone else, let alone caring for another life more than your own.
Let alone the pain of wanting to care for your child more than you've ever wanted anything in your entire existence—and your body not allowing you to.
In any case, fuck you to hell.
Let alone the pain of wanting to care for your child more than you've ever wanted anything in your entire existence—and your body not allowing you to.
In any case, fuck you to hell.
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
It's nine... but he's still an ahole. 🙃
December 8, 2025 at 10:47 PM
It's nine... but he's still an ahole. 🙃
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
He has like 100 kids
December 8, 2025 at 10:37 PM
He has like 100 kids
Reposted by Mavis Amundson
Why is DOT head here? That just makes it creepier.
December 8, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Why is DOT head here? That just makes it creepier.