Michele Dostert
@micheledostert.bsky.social
Moved over from X. Mid-westerner. Slava Ukraina! Life-long Dem.
Until we fix the right-wing propaganda hold on the populace, things will get rapidly worse.
Until we fix the right-wing propaganda hold on the populace, things will get rapidly worse.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
This is just thing that should be released with names.
February 17, 2026 at 9:18 PM
This is just thing that should be released with names.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
There is no bottom with these people. Think of how much we don't know about what is going on inside the concentration camps. I want to hear from every Democratic elected official and candidate about their plans for accountability once this regime is out of power.
ProPublica published children's letters and drawings documenting their sadness and suffering at Dilley. And Dilley staff are now retaliating by confiscating kids' letters and drawings.
www.sacurrent.com/news/san-ant...
www.sacurrent.com/news/san-ant...
February 18, 2026 at 1:25 PM
There is no bottom with these people. Think of how much we don't know about what is going on inside the concentration camps. I want to hear from every Democratic elected official and candidate about their plans for accountability once this regime is out of power.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
Your regular reminder that Palantir started out as a way to expose sex workers to police violence, then expanded to allow cops to spy on anyone they pointed at while barfing out the word "gang".
Fascists *created* Palantir, but useful idiots approved of everything done to grow it.
Fascists *created* Palantir, but useful idiots approved of everything done to grow it.
Any Republican or Democrat who continues to support Palantir, takes money from them, or refuses to hold them accountable is not your friend and should not be supported.
February 18, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Your regular reminder that Palantir started out as a way to expose sex workers to police violence, then expanded to allow cops to spy on anyone they pointed at while barfing out the word "gang".
Fascists *created* Palantir, but useful idiots approved of everything done to grow it.
Fascists *created* Palantir, but useful idiots approved of everything done to grow it.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
remember when a government murdering people was newsworthy
The U.S. killed 11 more civilians in boat strikes yesterday -- 8 in the Pacific Ocean and 3 in the Caribbean.
We're tracking the increasing toll of these extrajudicial killings in a tracker @theintercept.com
theintercept.com/2025/11/17/t...
We're tracking the increasing toll of these extrajudicial killings in a tracker @theintercept.com
theintercept.com/2025/11/17/t...
February 18, 2026 at 6:55 PM
remember when a government murdering people was newsworthy
Reposted by Michele Dostert
This isn't law enforcement. This is an occupation. We should take part of their slush fund to compensate ICE victims.
ICE is crushing Minneapolis economy. On the pod, Mayor Jacob Frey tallies up damage:
$203 million overall
$80 million small biz losses
$5 million hotel cancellations
75K people food insecurity
"Impact is staggering," Frey tells us. Bleeding city for being diverse:
newrepublic.com/article/2066...
$203 million overall
$80 million small biz losses
$5 million hotel cancellations
75K people food insecurity
"Impact is staggering," Frey tells us. Bleeding city for being diverse:
newrepublic.com/article/2066...
Minneapolis Mayor’s Emotional Message to Trump: You Failed to Break Us
In an interview, Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey says ICE’s attack came from the top—and shares new details about how badly it damaged his city, while explaining how the people there are emerging utterly...
newrepublic.com
February 18, 2026 at 7:57 PM
This isn't law enforcement. This is an occupation. We should take part of their slush fund to compensate ICE victims.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
Hegseth has made clear that he thinks he’s on a modern day crusade.
I just want to point out that’s Doug Wilson speaking at the Pentagon. Doug Wilson wants: the 19th amendment repealed, non-Christian religions outlawed, the death penalty for homosexuality, women barred from working or holding office, blasphemy laws, and one party theocratic rule.
February 18, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Hegseth has made clear that he thinks he’s on a modern day crusade.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
"Of people booked into ICE custody since October 1, 2025, 73 percent had no criminal conviction, and only 8 percent had a violent or property criminal conviction." You would not know that if you listen to Tricia McLaughlin.
Tricia McLaughlin’s Top Five Lies
The outgoing Homeland Security flack’s pattern of mendacity.
lnk.thebulwark.com
February 18, 2026 at 8:30 PM
"Of people booked into ICE custody since October 1, 2025, 73 percent had no criminal conviction, and only 8 percent had a violent or property criminal conviction." You would not know that if you listen to Tricia McLaughlin.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
Trump: "Herschel Walker, speaking about loyal. How good a football player was Herschel? Now he's ambassador to the Bahamas. I don't know. Bahamas. Bermuda. Is he Bahamas? Whatever. It's a nice place."
February 18, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Trump: "Herschel Walker, speaking about loyal. How good a football player was Herschel? Now he's ambassador to the Bahamas. I don't know. Bahamas. Bermuda. Is he Bahamas? Whatever. It's a nice place."
Reposted by Michele Dostert
So Trump, and not the "anonymous staffer," actually did post the Obamas/apes video?
Q: The president just said on Truth Social it would be a 'big mistake' for UK to hold over control of Diego Garcia, but the State Dept said the US supports that handover
LEAVITT: The post should be taken as administration policy. When you see it on TS, you know it's directly from President Trump.
LEAVITT: The post should be taken as administration policy. When you see it on TS, you know it's directly from President Trump.
February 18, 2026 at 8:44 PM
So Trump, and not the "anonymous staffer," actually did post the Obamas/apes video?
Reposted by Michele Dostert
That...is not why it's called that
Kash Patel: "You know why it's called the President's Daily Briefing? Because the president decides what are the intel priorities in that briefing."
February 18, 2026 at 7:48 PM
That...is not why it's called that
Reposted by Michele Dostert
Reposted by Michele Dostert
Moskowitz on Maria Bartiromo show's: "Americans voted to have people deported -- criminals and gang members -- they did not vote for people to be shot in the street by masked men. So I think Kristi Noem needs to go."
February 18, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Moskowitz on Maria Bartiromo show's: "Americans voted to have people deported -- criminals and gang members -- they did not vote for people to be shot in the street by masked men. So I think Kristi Noem needs to go."
Reposted by Michele Dostert
lol come to think of it, “The left hasn’t yet discovered the existence of primaries” is actually a pretty good theory with a lot explanatory power in American politics
February 18, 2026 at 12:38 PM
lol come to think of it, “The left hasn’t yet discovered the existence of primaries” is actually a pretty good theory with a lot explanatory power in American politics
Reposted by Michele Dostert
One of the funniest things that happens when you say “vote blue no matter who” is that people say “oh yeah?? What if Donald Trump becomes the Democrat? What if the ghost of Adolf Hitler runs as a Democrat?”
Which, in addition to being absurd, is more evidence the left doesn’t know about primaries
Which, in addition to being absurd, is more evidence the left doesn’t know about primaries
February 18, 2026 at 12:36 PM
One of the funniest things that happens when you say “vote blue no matter who” is that people say “oh yeah?? What if Donald Trump becomes the Democrat? What if the ghost of Adolf Hitler runs as a Democrat?”
Which, in addition to being absurd, is more evidence the left doesn’t know about primaries
Which, in addition to being absurd, is more evidence the left doesn’t know about primaries
Reposted by Michele Dostert
It does feel like the big divide within the socialist left is between those of us who have discovered This One Weird Trick to actually get elected by running in primaries and those who are angry and suspicious of doing things that way
February 18, 2026 at 12:57 PM
It does feel like the big divide within the socialist left is between those of us who have discovered This One Weird Trick to actually get elected by running in primaries and those who are angry and suspicious of doing things that way
Reposted by Michele Dostert
I am ALL FOR criticizing Dems when they fail - which is often - but the flip side of that is you need to acknowledge when they succeed. Despite understandable fears, they have consistently stood in the way of Trump’s attacks on trans people, in substantive ways. They deserve credit for it.
Democrats went to enormous lengths to strip out all the anti-trans provisions from the budget bill. They do not see trans rights as expendable. They’re actively burning substantial political capital to preserve them.
February 18, 2026 at 2:02 PM
I am ALL FOR criticizing Dems when they fail - which is often - but the flip side of that is you need to acknowledge when they succeed. Despite understandable fears, they have consistently stood in the way of Trump’s attacks on trans people, in substantive ways. They deserve credit for it.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
If a progressive wins the primary, vote Democratic in November.
If a moderate wins the primary, vote Democratic in November.
If a socialist wins the primary, vote Democratic in November.
Really. Vote for any D over any R.
If a moderate wins the primary, vote Democratic in November.
If a socialist wins the primary, vote Democratic in November.
Really. Vote for any D over any R.
February 18, 2026 at 3:01 PM
If a progressive wins the primary, vote Democratic in November.
If a moderate wins the primary, vote Democratic in November.
If a socialist wins the primary, vote Democratic in November.
Really. Vote for any D over any R.
If a moderate wins the primary, vote Democratic in November.
If a socialist wins the primary, vote Democratic in November.
Really. Vote for any D over any R.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
Okay, but here is what is going to happen: mainstream candidates are going to win primaries, and if we say “vote blue no matter who,” people will accuse us of saying it as a secret trick to boost moderates. Establishing VBNMW NOW, before the primary, makes it clear the obligation is universal.
I'm not gonna entertain a single discussion about the general before the primary. All our focus should be on the primary & getting the people we want elected. Focusing on the primary is positive. Imagining possible bad choices in the general is self defeating at this point
February 18, 2026 at 2:59 PM
Okay, but here is what is going to happen: mainstream candidates are going to win primaries, and if we say “vote blue no matter who,” people will accuse us of saying it as a secret trick to boost moderates. Establishing VBNMW NOW, before the primary, makes it clear the obligation is universal.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
Anti-establishment radicals having click-gravity seems to be building some permission structure on the left again to avoid voting Dem you don't feel your preferences are being flattered enough, and I think now is a good time to try to enforce some taboos given the state of the country.
February 18, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Anti-establishment radicals having click-gravity seems to be building some permission structure on the left again to avoid voting Dem you don't feel your preferences are being flattered enough, and I think now is a good time to try to enforce some taboos given the state of the country.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
I fully agree! Everyone stands to benefit from establishing “vote blue no matter who” now. Leftists can demand the support of the center if they win a primary, and vice versa. It’s crazy not to insist on this as a principle for all voters opposed to MAGA
VBNMW can't just be an obligation. It also needs to be a promise. The left edge of the coalition needs to know that by promising to support a centrist who wins their primary, they are also receiving a promise that a leftist who wins one gets supported from the center.
February 18, 2026 at 3:27 PM
I fully agree! Everyone stands to benefit from establishing “vote blue no matter who” now. Leftists can demand the support of the center if they win a primary, and vice versa. It’s crazy not to insist on this as a principle for all voters opposed to MAGA
Reposted by Michele Dostert
Yeah this is kind of the way of the world now and it’s making politics insane. You are not your actions or record, you are a weird social media hallucination composed of whichever broad cultural and aesthetic characteristics people invoke you to represent, in The Discourse.
This is too generous, I think. What's happening is that posters on here simply don't know what votes these politicians have taken, and don't care to know. Just dumb vibes all the way down.
Okay I’m just gonna say it. I think some of the confusion here might come because people are too politically unaware to realize the distinction between primary and general elections
February 18, 2026 at 3:41 PM
Yeah this is kind of the way of the world now and it’s making politics insane. You are not your actions or record, you are a weird social media hallucination composed of whichever broad cultural and aesthetic characteristics people invoke you to represent, in The Discourse.
Reposted by Michele Dostert
Okay I’m just gonna say it. I think some of the confusion here might come because people are too politically unaware to realize the distinction between primary and general elections
February 18, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Okay I’m just gonna say it. I think some of the confusion here might come because people are too politically unaware to realize the distinction between primary and general elections
Reposted by Michele Dostert
For months I've banged the drum that "not sure" has become the safe harbor answer for "Republicans who know Trump's probably wrong, but don't want to admit it."
Today's Economist/YouGov Poll: Is Donald Trump racist?
41% of Republicans have No Opinion.
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec...
Today's Economist/YouGov Poll: Is Donald Trump racist?
41% of Republicans have No Opinion.
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec...
February 18, 2026 at 1:12 AM
For months I've banged the drum that "not sure" has become the safe harbor answer for "Republicans who know Trump's probably wrong, but don't want to admit it."
Today's Economist/YouGov Poll: Is Donald Trump racist?
41% of Republicans have No Opinion.
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec...
Today's Economist/YouGov Poll: Is Donald Trump racist?
41% of Republicans have No Opinion.
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/ec...
Reposted by Michele Dostert
When you say "vote blue no matter who" these guys always say "oh ho ho, but what if it was Lina Khan, would you vote blue THEN?"
And the answer is "yes"? Very obviously? Was "vote blue no matter who" unclear?
And the answer is "yes"? Very obviously? Was "vote blue no matter who" unclear?
February 17, 2026 at 4:22 PM
When you say "vote blue no matter who" these guys always say "oh ho ho, but what if it was Lina Khan, would you vote blue THEN?"
And the answer is "yes"? Very obviously? Was "vote blue no matter who" unclear?
And the answer is "yes"? Very obviously? Was "vote blue no matter who" unclear?
Reposted by Michele Dostert
Coverage of Andy Barr, a sitting Congressman and candidate for U.S. Senate, running an ad declaring, "It's not a sin to be white" -- a variation of a notorious white nationalist slogan
AP: Zero
NYT: Zero
WashPost: Zero
Reuters: Zero
Politico: Zero
Axios: Zero
AP: Zero
NYT: Zero
WashPost: Zero
Reuters: Zero
Politico: Zero
Axios: Zero
Major corporations bankroll political ad featuring white supremacist slogan
Congressman Andy Barr (R-KY), who is running to replace Mitch McConnell in the United States Senate, released his first television ad earlier this month.
popular.info
February 17, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Coverage of Andy Barr, a sitting Congressman and candidate for U.S. Senate, running an ad declaring, "It's not a sin to be white" -- a variation of a notorious white nationalist slogan
AP: Zero
NYT: Zero
WashPost: Zero
Reuters: Zero
Politico: Zero
Axios: Zero
AP: Zero
NYT: Zero
WashPost: Zero
Reuters: Zero
Politico: Zero
Axios: Zero