Michael P. Breen
@mpbreen21.bsky.social
Historian of early modern French law & society at Reed College. Prattles on about history, dogs, politics, soccer, & hoops. H-France Editor-in-Chief (www.h-france.net)
Pinned
The truth is, these are not very bright guys, and things got out of hand.
YouTube video by John Schwartz
youtu.be
Every news story between now and Jan. 20, 2029 (assuming we make it that long)
youtu.be/N5jscR7Vz30?...
youtu.be/N5jscR7Vz30?...
Stephen Miller, Tom Holman, & Kristi Noem should never know another day of freedom in their wretched, execrable lives
Ms. Kuyateh was one of 19 third-country nationals sent to Ghana on Nov. 6. At least 61 TCNs have been removed there since September.
Others report similar treatment. Nigerians were forced to cross into Togo w/o documents, rendering them essentially stateless
www.nbcwashington.com/investigatio...
Others report similar treatment. Nigerians were forced to cross into Togo w/o documents, rendering them essentially stateless
www.nbcwashington.com/investigatio...
Woman deported from Maryland shown on video being dragged in Ghana
Rabbiatu Kuyateh was detained this summer at her annual ICE check-in, her son said. She moved to the D.C. area 30 years ago as she fled civil war in Sierra Leone.
www.nbcwashington.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Stephen Miller, Tom Holman, & Kristi Noem should never know another day of freedom in their wretched, execrable lives
Trying to imagine how many months of front page coverage the @nytimes.com & @washingtonpost.com would’ve dedicated to this had Biden done it
November 26, 2025 at 6:20 AM
Trying to imagine how many months of front page coverage the @nytimes.com & @washingtonpost.com would’ve dedicated to this had Biden done it
An astronaut vs a couch f*cker?
Not even Musk & Thiel can save the GOP in that scenario
Not even Musk & Thiel can save the GOP in that scenario
He’s running
My daughter and I visited the house we lived in when she was a baby, and she was shocked a 29-year-old Navy guy could afford a nice house in a safe neighborhood.
That wasn’t crazy in 1996 — but today, a nice house is out of reach for so many young people. That has to change.
That wasn’t crazy in 1996 — but today, a nice house is out of reach for so many young people. That has to change.
November 26, 2025 at 2:40 AM
An astronaut vs a couch f*cker?
Not even Musk & Thiel can save the GOP in that scenario
Not even Musk & Thiel can save the GOP in that scenario
Underperform expectations & underwhelm on the pitch? Get a vote of confidence from the GM
Massively overperform & get your team to show real character on the pitch despite youth & injuries? Get shown the door
Keep Portland Soccer Weird
#RCTID #BAONPDX
Massively overperform & get your team to show real character on the pitch despite youth & injuries? Get shown the door
Keep Portland Soccer Weird
#RCTID #BAONPDX
BREAKING #NWSL NEWS: The Portland Thorns have fired head coach Rob Gale.
The Thorns finished third this season and made the semifinals. Results were up and down, although they also dealt with lots of key absences.
The Thorns finished third this season and made the semifinals. Results were up and down, although they also dealt with lots of key absences.
Sources: Portland Thorns fire coach Rob Gale
The Portland Thorns have fired head coach Rob Gale, multiple sources told ESPN.
www.espn.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:36 AM
Reposted by Michael P. Breen
These are police state tactics.
The same House members who warned service members that they must refuse unlawful orders from President Trump are now saying the FBI is attempting to intimidate them into silence.
Punchbowl also reporting that Senator Mark Kelly has heard from the FBI.
Punchbowl also reporting that Senator Mark Kelly has heard from the FBI.
November 25, 2025 at 7:03 PM
These are police state tactics.
Too little and eighteen months too late @nytimes.com
NYT on Trump’s clear signs of aging: “At one point, Mr. Trump’s eyelids drooped until his eyes were almost closed, and he appeared to doze on and off for several seconds. At another point, he opened his eyes and looked toward a line of journalists watching him.”
Shorter Days, Signs of Fatigue: Trump Faces Realities of Aging in Office
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Too little and eighteen months too late @nytimes.com
Now if only they would extend that principle to the President
It’s sad that “soldiers shouldn’t commit crimes” is a brave position for a Republican to take.
Republican senator now publicly defending Mark Kelly
November 25, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Now if only they would extend that principle to the President
Kash is inept AF but he knows where the bodies are buried
He might want to steer clear of upper story windows & staircases for a bit, however
He might want to steer clear of upper story windows & staircases for a bit, however
White House denies Trump weighing ouster of FBI Director Kash Patel reut.rs/3LYMZaJ
White House denies Trump weighing ouster of FBI Director Kash Patel
The White House denied on Tuesday that U.S. President Donald Trump was considering removing Kash Patel as director of the FBI as news outlet MS NOW reported.
reut.rs
November 25, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Kash is inept AF but he knows where the bodies are buried
He might want to steer clear of upper story windows & staircases for a bit, however
He might want to steer clear of upper story windows & staircases for a bit, however
Reposted by Michael P. Breen
If he believes “the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal” he has no idea what he’s doing. Of course that’s been obvious all along unless what he wants to be doing is representing the Russian Federation. Then he does know what he’s doing.
A private call between Trump-appointed envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin advisor Yuri Ushakov was just leaked — and it shows the American envoy effectively acting as a strategist for Moscow.
NEWSFLASH: Witkoff was secretly giving Russians advice
A secret transcript reveals that the Trump envoy was helping a Putin advisor formulate a plan.
www.counteroffensive.news
November 25, 2025 at 11:10 PM
If he believes “the Russian Federation has always wanted a peace deal” he has no idea what he’s doing. Of course that’s been obvious all along unless what he wants to be doing is representing the Russian Federation. Then he does know what he’s doing.
Aren’t subordinates usually supposed to work on behalf of their employers?
A private call between Trump-appointed envoy Steve Witkoff and Putin advisor Yuri Ushakov was just leaked — and it shows the American envoy effectively acting as a strategist for Moscow.
NEWSFLASH: Witkoff was secretly giving Russians advice
A secret transcript reveals that the Trump envoy was helping a Putin advisor formulate a plan.
www.counteroffensive.news
November 25, 2025 at 11:11 PM
Aren’t subordinates usually supposed to work on behalf of their employers?
🎯 #RCTID
I also don’t think the cupboard is bare, either. I think we’ve seen enough from a number of players to see that there’s an *it* in there.
But I don’t think the Timbers have a coach who has shown capability to bring out those *its* consistently in a way that fosters stable success. #RCTID
But I don’t think the Timbers have a coach who has shown capability to bring out those *its* consistently in a way that fosters stable success. #RCTID
November 25, 2025 at 8:21 PM
🎯 #RCTID
Reposted by Michael P. Breen
Hey, Kash. Copy everything on the Epstein files hard drive and take it with you on your way out. Stop protecting the pedo in chief who hates your guts and finally do the right thing for the victims.
NEW: Trump weighs sacking Patel. www.ms.now/news/trump-k...
President Trump may have had enough of Kash Patel, according to sources
The president is weighing whether to oust the FBI director after scrutiny of Patel's stewardship of bureau resources, including his girlfriend’s security detail and use of a government jet.
www.ms.now
November 25, 2025 at 8:01 PM
Hey, Kash. Copy everything on the Epstein files hard drive and take it with you on your way out. Stop protecting the pedo in chief who hates your guts and finally do the right thing for the victims.
Trump: “I need the kind of generals Hitler had” (2020)
Republicans: “The US military should just follow orders” (2025)
Republicans: “The US military should just follow orders” (2025)
Trump: “If I say it, they’re going to it. They’re not going refuse me, believe me.” (2016)
Trump: “Can’t they just shoot [protesters] in the legs?” (2020)
Vance: “I don’t give a shit [if it’s a war crime].” (2025)
Trump: “we should use [US cities] as training grounds for our military” (2025)
Trump: “Can’t they just shoot [protesters] in the legs?” (2020)
Vance: “I don’t give a shit [if it’s a war crime].” (2025)
Trump: “we should use [US cities] as training grounds for our military” (2025)
November 25, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Trump: “I need the kind of generals Hitler had” (2020)
Republicans: “The US military should just follow orders” (2025)
Republicans: “The US military should just follow orders” (2025)
Kind of like the safety and efficacy of vaccines…
"Is the president openly monetizing the presidency?" is functionally equivalent to "Did the sun rise this morning in the East?" or "Does water have both adhesive & cohesive properties?" It is a settled piece of empirical reality based on hundreds, if not thousands, of observed data points.
If you are on BBC live, you know what to do
(I don't even think this statement would be controversial among experts. He's openly monetizing the office and making literally billions of dollars!)
(I don't even think this statement would be controversial among experts. He's openly monetizing the office and making literally billions of dollars!)
November 25, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Kind of like the safety and efficacy of vaccines…
Reposted by Michael P. Breen
Ronaldo is the perfect ambassador for the coming World Cup. An avatar for greed, selfishness, ego, corruption, toxic masculinity, and lack of consequences for one’s actions.
Cristiano Ronaldo has magically had his ban reduced so he can start the World Cup. There is no precedent...but then he met the President. How depressing...
Column:
inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Column:
inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup reprieve stinks
Portugal star’s magic non-ban is depressingly inevitable
inews.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Ronaldo is the perfect ambassador for the coming World Cup. An avatar for greed, selfishness, ego, corruption, toxic masculinity, and lack of consequences for one’s actions.
Totally not jealous at all
BRASILIA, Brazil (AP) — Brazil's former President Jair Bolsonaro begins serving 27-year prison sentence.
November 25, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Totally not jealous at all
Reposted by Michael P. Breen
"Nothing is riding on this except the First Amendment of the Constitution, freedom of the press, and quite possibly, the future of the country." -- Ben Bradlee as portrayed by Jason Robards, "All the President's Men."
53 years later...
53 years later...
November 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
"Nothing is riding on this except the First Amendment of the Constitution, freedom of the press, and quite possibly, the future of the country." -- Ben Bradlee as portrayed by Jason Robards, "All the President's Men."
53 years later...
53 years later...
This is, of course, exactly what they are saying
The only response is, "So you're saying service members SHOULD comply with illegal orders?"
November 25, 2025 at 6:26 PM
This is, of course, exactly what they are saying
I eagerly look forward to seeing President Pritzker or President Walz make ample use of this precedent against FOX News, Newsmax, & the rest of the right wing media ecosystem
NEWS --> BBC confirms to me that they did edit a line out of historian @rutgerbregman.com's speech. It called Trump "the most openly corrupt president in US history."
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
BBC also confirms this was done on the advice of lawyers. So Trump's threats worked.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Trump’s Fury at BBC Gets Unnerving Results with Pro-MAGA Edit Stunner
First, British Broadcasting Corporation execs resigned after Trump complained about a segment. Now the BBC edited out a line from a historian that was critical of Trump. Where does this end?
newrepublic.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:10 PM
I eagerly look forward to seeing President Pritzker or President Walz make ample use of this precedent against FOX News, Newsmax, & the rest of the right wing media ecosystem
Even Bari Weiss’s propaganda mill isn’t going to run interference for him
November 25, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Even Bari Weiss’s propaganda mill isn’t going to run interference for him
Reposted by Michael P. Breen
Neither Trump, nor half of his cabinet have “ancestors” who were in North America before the revolution. I’d guess that less than half of current US citizens do. “Your ancestors” is doing a lot of implicitly white Christian nationalist work here.
November 22, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Neither Trump, nor half of his cabinet have “ancestors” who were in North America before the revolution. I’d guess that less than half of current US citizens do. “Your ancestors” is doing a lot of implicitly white Christian nationalist work here.
Reposted by Michael P. Breen
San Diego versus the Vancouver Whitecaps for a spot to MLS Cup, as we all expected in February.
November 25, 2025 at 5:13 AM
San Diego versus the Vancouver Whitecaps for a spot to MLS Cup, as we all expected in February.
The “criminal” as a distinct personality type didn’t even exist until the late 17th century
& while there were many capital offenses, a host of mechanisms ranging from “benefit of clergy” to pardons meant that only a very small percentage of those who committed such offenses were executed
& while there were many capital offenses, a host of mechanisms ranging from “benefit of clergy” to pardons meant that only a very small percentage of those who committed such offenses were executed
I don't know what even the point of arguing with these people is anymore, but the idea that "the crime gene" had been weeded out by 19th-20th century Europe is something you have to be a genuine imbecile to believe.
musk agreeing with an explicitly eugenicist post
November 25, 2025 at 5:14 AM
The “criminal” as a distinct personality type didn’t even exist until the late 17th century
& while there were many capital offenses, a host of mechanisms ranging from “benefit of clergy” to pardons meant that only a very small percentage of those who committed such offenses were executed
& while there were many capital offenses, a host of mechanisms ranging from “benefit of clergy” to pardons meant that only a very small percentage of those who committed such offenses were executed
There’s a reason why they’re trying to eliminate the humanities and replace the study of history with AI generated slop
November 25, 2025 at 4:56 AM
There’s a reason why they’re trying to eliminate the humanities and replace the study of history with AI generated slop