Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
@mollieoreilly.bsky.social
Editor at large for Commonweal magazine; writing at https://www.commonwealmagazine.org/users/mollie-wilson-oreilly-0 and sometimes other places, too. She/her.
If you go to 6:15 of this video you will see Pope Leo singing along to a Marty Haugen hymn. He doesn't have a song sheet; he just knows it. You guys, I am never getting over this American pope thing.
Istanbul, Türkiye, Visit to a Home for the Elderly, November 28, 2025, Pope Leo XIV
YouTube video by Vatican News - English
youtu.be
November 29, 2025 at 1:06 AM
If you go to 6:15 of this video you will see Pope Leo singing along to a Marty Haugen hymn. He doesn't have a song sheet; he just knows it. You guys, I am never getting over this American pope thing.
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
There is no reason for anyone to be intimidated by this unpopular failing lame duck whose mental and physical health is circling the drain
Four polls in recent days now have Trump in the 30s, with 3 at 35%-36%: 2/
35%-62% (-27) ARG
35%-56% (-21) High Point University
36%-60% (-24) Gallup
38%-57% (-19) Econ/YouGov
Again, Trump just keeps dropping.
bsky.app/profile/simo...
35%-62% (-27) ARG
35%-56% (-21) High Point University
36%-60% (-24) Gallup
38%-57% (-19) Econ/YouGov
Again, Trump just keeps dropping.
bsky.app/profile/simo...
Two polls released today have Trump at 35% job approval, his lowest yet.
35%-62% ARG
35%-56% High Point University
Economist/YouGov track had him at 38%-57%, their lowest reading this year. He just keeps dropping.
Wag the dog time!
Data and graph from fiftyplusone.news/polls/approv...
35%-62% ARG
35%-56% High Point University
Economist/YouGov track had him at 38%-57%, their lowest reading this year. He just keeps dropping.
Wag the dog time!
Data and graph from fiftyplusone.news/polls/approv...
November 28, 2025 at 5:39 PM
There is no reason for anyone to be intimidated by this unpopular failing lame duck whose mental and physical health is circling the drain
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
Occasional reminder that the GOP could stop Trump anytime they want, but they don’t because they’re craven opportunists who only care about power
November 28, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Occasional reminder that the GOP could stop Trump anytime they want, but they don’t because they’re craven opportunists who only care about power
Tried to catch up last night on the shooting of the Guard members in DC, and having to rely on Trump and Jeanine Pirro as sources of information is just so freaking bleak. Very difficult already to find out what happened, as it's buried beneath so many layers of opportunistic, hateful propaganda.
November 28, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Tried to catch up last night on the shooting of the Guard members in DC, and having to rely on Trump and Jeanine Pirro as sources of information is just so freaking bleak. Very difficult already to find out what happened, as it's buried beneath so many layers of opportunistic, hateful propaganda.
I second this, and am happy to note that it is also the response clearly called for by Catholic Social Teaching (and the most basic teachings of the Catholic Church). Let this be the Advent when we make sure every Catholic knows it.🕯
The only antidote - and I do mean the ONLY one - to Trump and Miller's xenophobia is a full-throated defense of immigration and a full-throated attack on the racism and xenophobia currently guiding immigration policy. You can't half-ass this one, you can't Very Reasonable Limits this one.
November 28, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I second this, and am happy to note that it is also the response clearly called for by Catholic Social Teaching (and the most basic teachings of the Catholic Church). Let this be the Advent when we make sure every Catholic knows it.🕯
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
RFK Jr. is neither a joke nor a well-intentioned proponent of public health with a few kooky beliefs. He's a menace, evil even by the standards of Trump's inner circle, and the failure of the political press to convey this is maddening
I actually think it’s okay to take a ridiculous scandal seriously when it involves a wingnut conspiracy theorist in charge of things like vaccine policy and pandemic preparedness
Sorry to be a wet blanket 🤷🏻♀️
Sorry to be a wet blanket 🤷🏻♀️
She never misses a beat, of course, but Marina's first paragraph this week is *chef's kiss*
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
November 25, 2025 at 11:44 PM
RFK Jr. is neither a joke nor a well-intentioned proponent of public health with a few kooky beliefs. He's a menace, evil even by the standards of Trump's inner circle, and the failure of the political press to convey this is maddening
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
he’s a deeply ignorant, horrifically needy egoist who wants to get sole credit for sending people checks, so he’s going to immiserate millions and possibly kill thousands by destroying the heath insurance system.
NEW: Donald Trump says he wants ACA funds to end after 2025
“I’d rather not" extend them, he tells reporters on AF1. "I don’t want to extend them for two years. I’d rather not extend them at all."
He wants cash to go "directly" to people. Unclear how that'd work.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
“I’d rather not" extend them, he tells reporters on AF1. "I don’t want to extend them for two years. I’d rather not extend them at all."
He wants cash to go "directly" to people. Unclear how that'd work.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/don...
Trump says he would 'rather not' extend Obamacare tax credits 'at all'
The president said he prefers to let the Affordable Care Act subsidies expire on schedule at the end of December, saying if anything he wants the money to go to "the people directly."
www.nbcnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:51 AM
he’s a deeply ignorant, horrifically needy egoist who wants to get sole credit for sending people checks, so he’s going to immiserate millions and possibly kill thousands by destroying the heath insurance system.
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
Here's how Greg Bovino denies tackling Scott Blackburn, while watching a video showing him tacking Scott Blackburn.
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
![A 5-question exchange in which Greg Bovino is asked if he sees an older gentleman, "expressing his disagreement with [Bovino's] presence in Chicago [who] doesn't like the fact that you are instructing him to move down, right?"
Bovino responds, no, "That individual is failing to follow instructions to vacate the area."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/bafkreibxlni2hq5i7mycqssosneb3ahdrtvw3ullnbi6y66dtomevhyhh4@jpeg)
November 25, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Here's how Greg Bovino denies tackling Scott Blackburn, while watching a video showing him tacking Scott Blackburn.
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
legacy.www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
Here for this.
Nothing in the Scout Oath or Law has ever required identifying as male.
Nothing in the Scout Oath or Law has ever required identifying as male.
This is the Scout Law (say it with me!): "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent." Scouting America hasn't changed its values at all. It has simply recognized that they aren't exclusively male.
Is it a 'masculine value' to melt down about some new fake shit every week?
November 25, 2025 at 2:03 PM
Here for this.
Nothing in the Scout Oath or Law has ever required identifying as male.
Nothing in the Scout Oath or Law has ever required identifying as male.
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
Scouting was where I learned that there are forms of authority that don't rely solely on assertion of will. That there is a masculinity that doesn't involve dominance. But I'm also the kind of man Hegseth would probably find "weak."
Then again, I'm an Eagle Scout and he never held any rank, so.
Then again, I'm an Eagle Scout and he never held any rank, so.
This is the Scout Law (say it with me!): "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent." Scouting America hasn't changed its values at all. It has simply recognized that they aren't exclusively male.
Is it a 'masculine value' to melt down about some new fake shit every week?
November 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
Scouting was where I learned that there are forms of authority that don't rely solely on assertion of will. That there is a masculinity that doesn't involve dominance. But I'm also the kind of man Hegseth would probably find "weak."
Then again, I'm an Eagle Scout and he never held any rank, so.
Then again, I'm an Eagle Scout and he never held any rank, so.
This is the Scout Law (say it with me!): "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent." Scouting America hasn't changed its values at all. It has simply recognized that they aren't exclusively male.
Is it a 'masculine value' to melt down about some new fake shit every week?
November 25, 2025 at 1:44 PM
This is the Scout Law (say it with me!): "A Scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean and reverent." Scouting America hasn't changed its values at all. It has simply recognized that they aren't exclusively male.
Neither the military nor scouting is an all-male safe space, and Pete Hegseth can cry all he wants about that! (Scouting is also not a paramilitary organization. I'm very involved, and I had to read this story to find out what links Scouting America has to the U.S. military in the first place.)
Documents show the U.S. military is planning to sever all ties with the organization formerly known as the Boy Scouts n.pr/3M48mr2
U.S. ready to cut support to Scouts, accusing them of attacking 'boy-friendly spaces'
Documents show the U.S. Military is planning to sever all ties with the organization formally known as the Boy Scouts
n.pr
November 25, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Neither the military nor scouting is an all-male safe space, and Pete Hegseth can cry all he wants about that! (Scouting is also not a paramilitary organization. I'm very involved, and I had to read this story to find out what links Scouting America has to the U.S. military in the first place.)
I am very curmudgeonly about so-called "Advent Calendars" that are just a parade of little luxuries all month long. I mean, luxuries are nice, but that's not what Advent is. So this piece from Heidi in Commonweal is singing my song.
Advent is not a 12-day season of buying yourself more stuff. My rant--I mean, column:
www.commonwealmagazine.org/advent-calen...
www.commonwealmagazine.org/advent-calen...
Advent Calendars Gone Wild
Can Advent calendars stuffed with hot sauce, stuffed animals, and panties still stir feelings of anticipation and mystery?
www.commonwealmagazine.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 PM
I am very curmudgeonly about so-called "Advent Calendars" that are just a parade of little luxuries all month long. I mean, luxuries are nice, but that's not what Advent is. So this piece from Heidi in Commonweal is singing my song.
This is an excellent anaylsis and response to the Epstein email cache, and a direct riposte to David Brooks's useless blather (even though the NYT won't let him say it in so many words).
Opinion | How the Elite Behave When No One Is Watching: Inside the Epstein Emails
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:03 PM
This is an excellent anaylsis and response to the Epstein email cache, and a direct riposte to David Brooks's useless blather (even though the NYT won't let him say it in so many words).
You know what I hate more is the pre-wave of "Happy Thanksgiving" emails from every corporation AND not-for-profit that has me on a list. I don't wamt to spend my holiday deleting your emails! Leave me in peace!
Brace yourself for the tsunami of "Black Friday" emails that are coming your way this week. 😂
a woman pushing a shopping cart in a grocery store with chinese writing on the bottom
Alt: a woman pushing a shopping cart in a grocery store with chinese writing on the bottom
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 11:34 AM
You know what I hate more is the pre-wave of "Happy Thanksgiving" emails from every corporation AND not-for-profit that has me on a list. I don't wamt to spend my holiday deleting your emails! Leave me in peace!
This is the Christ the King preaching you've been waiting for.
Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy from Catholic Mobilizing Network preaches for the Solemnity of Christ the King. Video and text www.catholicwomenpreach.org/preaching/11....
#catholicwomen #catholicwomenpreach #homily #preaching #ChristTheKing
#catholicwomen #catholicwomenpreach #homily #preaching #ChristTheKing
Solemnity of Christ the King: Nov 23, 2025
Krisanne Vaillancourt Murphy reflects on the readings for Solemnity of Christ the King. 2 Samuel 5:1-3 | Colossians 1:12-20 | Luke 23:35-43
www.catholicwomenpreach.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:56 AM
This is the Christ the King preaching you've been waiting for.
See, this is more like it.
November 22, 2025 at 7:50 PM
See, this is more like it.
I listened to the audio of this appearance, and when Leo responded to a comment about a gift of socks he'd received by declaring, "I only wear white socks..." and then pausing for the laugh—that's when I said to myself, this pope has rizz.
Gnosticism!
"Pontifical secret revealed: Pope Leo XIV changes his Wordle start word each day"
"Pontifical secret revealed: Pope Leo XIV changes his Wordle start word each day"
Pontifical secret revealed: Pope Leo XIV changes his Wordle start word each day
Pope Leo XIV has revealed a closely held secret: He uses a different Wordle start word each day. Leo divulged his strategy playing the popular New York Times online game during an online encounter wit...
apnews.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:58 PM
I listened to the audio of this appearance, and when Leo responded to a comment about a gift of socks he'd received by declaring, "I only wear white socks..." and then pausing for the laugh—that's when I said to myself, this pope has rizz.
Fascinated to learn that David Brooks thinks his relationship to "the American elite," in the minds of his readers, is adversarial.
Someday you, too, could have the moral fortitude to look upon a years-long rape circus organized by the nation's most powerful elites and declare, "The people upset about this are speaking about it the wrong way."
November 22, 2025 at 2:11 PM
Fascinated to learn that David Brooks thinks his relationship to "the American elite," in the minds of his readers, is adversarial.
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
Trump frickin' loves this guy lmao
November 21, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Trump frickin' loves this guy lmao
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
remember when he was super impressed after his Obama Oval Office meeting and kept showing everyone the nice letter he left him?
Donald Trump shows off ‘beautiful’ letter from Barack Obama – video
President Donald Trump shows his staff the letter his predecessor Barack Obama left for him in the Oval Office
www.theguardian.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:35 PM
remember when he was super impressed after his Obama Oval Office meeting and kept showing everyone the nice letter he left him?
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
but really: a very funny meeting but also this is just what Trump does, a product of his total shamelessness. After the 2018 midterms he praised Pelosi for her great accomplishment and said they were gonna get lots of stuff done together despite what people thought!
November 21, 2025 at 9:28 PM
but really: a very funny meeting but also this is just what Trump does, a product of his total shamelessness. After the 2018 midterms he praised Pelosi for her great accomplishment and said they were gonna get lots of stuff done together despite what people thought!
Reposted by Mollie Wilson O'Reilly
The correct answer to MAGA outrage over the Dem video is this: Are you effing kidding me? Of course it's reasonable to warn that Trump might be giving illegal orders.
The evidence is strong that he actually is giving illegal orders! I went through that evidence here:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
The evidence is strong that he actually is giving illegal orders! I went through that evidence here:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
Is Trump Giving Illegal Orders? Dems Just Blew That Question Wide Open
From the boat bombings to deportations to prosecutions, the evidence mounts. And the speaker of the House could get to the bottom of it if he wanted to. Yeah, right.
newrepublic.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The correct answer to MAGA outrage over the Dem video is this: Are you effing kidding me? Of course it's reasonable to warn that Trump might be giving illegal orders.
The evidence is strong that he actually is giving illegal orders! I went through that evidence here:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
The evidence is strong that he actually is giving illegal orders! I went through that evidence here:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
Second this! I read it every year in the week after Christmas (or listen to it, on my chilly winter runs), and it is both entertaining and edifying. My favorite audiobook version is performed by Patrick Horgan, who is as fluent in Dickensian prose as anyone I've ever heard:
pca.st/podcast/9f38...
pca.st/podcast/9f38...
November 21, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Second this! I read it every year in the week after Christmas (or listen to it, on my chilly winter runs), and it is both entertaining and edifying. My favorite audiobook version is performed by Patrick Horgan, who is as fluent in Dickensian prose as anyone I've ever heard:
pca.st/podcast/9f38...
pca.st/podcast/9f38...