Pam Spaulding
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pamspaulding.bsky.social
Pam Spaulding
@pamspaulding.bsky.social
23K followers 9.9K following 13K posts
Former natl political blogger, Pam's House Blend (2004-2013) during OG citizen journo era. Dipping back into pol discourse here. Spinal fusion vet (3x). DM only if I know IRL. Durham, NC native, now in Central Valley CA.

PHB history: https://is.gd/7GbAv2
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pamspaulding.bsky.social
🔥 "At no time during his detention was he allowed to speak with an attorney, [Army vet William] Vermie told ABC News, even though he said that he later learned that his wife had contacted one for him, who had been attempting to speak with him."
🧾 abcnews.go.com/US/army-vet-...
William Vermie, an Army veteran and Purple Heart recipient, told ABC News that he was detained by ICE agents in his Minneapolis, Minn., neighborhood, January 13, 2026, and held for eight hours without being allowed to speak to an attorney or call his family. ABC News Vermie's account appears similar to complaints from multiple attorneys interviewed by ABC News who allege that some of the thousands of people arrested in ICE operations in Minneapolis in recent weeks have been denied their constitutional right to see an attorney. https://abcnews.go.com/US/army-vet-detained-ice-8-hours-allowed-call/story?utm_sf_cserv_ref=28785486&id=129379081&cid=social_twitter_abcn&utm_sf_post_ref=658138659
January 24, 2026 at 11:03 AM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
@jvl.bsky.social on the press/media/pols in denial in response to Trump & the regime.

They are normalizing his dysfunction w/professional paralysis on repeat. They learn nothing, & enable authoritarianism to roll out.

Only The People see clearly to fight back.
🧾 open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
For instance: Trump can say a dozen times that he might run for a third term and the media reports it as “Trump said this crazy thing about running again.” But then Trump gives one interview where he says he won’t run again and the coverage is: “Trump rules out third term.” Why does the media do this? Every organization has its own reasons.1 But in general, I think it’s a coping mechanism born of the reality that the mainstream media was not built to deal with an aspiring authoritarian force. They cannot believe what is happening around them and so, whenever something that feels normal, safe, or sane comes out of Trump’s mouth, they treat it as if that’s the real policy while everything else was just noise. This is a mistake, and a dangerous one. Because it misrepresents our fundamental reality. It’s a form of sane-washing. And while it may be comforting to reporters and editors, it contributes to the authoritarian’s progress. This is a mistake, and a dangerous one. Because it misrepresents our fundamental reality. It’s a form of sane-washing. And while it may be comforting to reporters and editors, it contributes to the authoritarian’s progress.2 https://open.substack.com/pub/thebulwark/p/how-the-media-fails-with-trump-over-and-over-greenland-minneapolis?utm_source=share&utm_medium=android&r=1n6ti
January 24, 2026 at 10:55 AM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
Because Rs know their Decrepit Dictator Trump is deep inside the #Epstein files, a pedophile protector — and they are complicit in the cover up.

📺 bsky.app/profile/over...
oversightdemocrats.bsky.social Oversight Dems @oversightdemocrats.bsky.social · 1d
We know that Epstein frequented President Trump's Mar-a-Lago club. Why are Republicans refusing a subpoena so that we can get answers? What are Trump and the GOP hiding?
January 24, 2026 at 4:45 AM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
Did we miss any of this masterclass that Temu Goebbels witnessed? 😳

I guess the brain-dead Fox viewers probably saw a highly-massaged version of Grandpa Chaos & his activities, but really...
📺 bsky.app/profile/atru...
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 12h
Stephen Miller: "You saw a masterclass. A true amazing masterclass in diplomacy, statesmanship, leadership, in Davos this week with President Trump"
January 24, 2026 at 3:35 AM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
DO IT! 📣 Between travel bans & ICE...

"Oke Göttlich, the president of Bundesliga club St. Pauli and one of the German federation’s 10 vice presidents, told the Hamburger Morgenpost newspaper in an interview on Friday that 'the time has come' to 'seriously consider and discuss this.'”
🧾 is.gd/hxhaNN
German soccer federation official wants World Cup boycott considered because of Trump
A German soccer federation executive committee member says it’s time to consider a World Cup boycott because of the actions of U.S. President Donald Trump.
apnews.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:29 AM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
👀😆 Tasty gossip from over on fElon's domain of dirtbags.

Lunatic Laura Loomer has the knives out for Couch Blaster JD Vance, accusing him of not calling out Tucker or "Rs like your friend MTG who called Trump a pedophile protector."

I wonder if Trump lapdog & terminally online VP will bite.
Since the Vice President is so focused on “conservative influencers” causing division, I look forward to seeing him condemn the conservatives who called his wife a “dirty jeet” and his buddy Tucker Carlson who has attacked every single policy of the Trump administration, and who is currently being broadcasted on Iranian state television. It’s rich, isn’t it? You can carry the casket of Charlie Kirk but you won’t call out Tucker for promoting a guy on his show who accused Erika Kirk @MrsErikaKirk of being involved in her husband’s assassination and who accused @tylerbowyer of being a homosexual pedophile. Being aligned with the President is more important than being friends with degenerates. You won’t call out the Republicans like your friend MTG who called Trump a pedophile protector and who lied and said Trump was trying to get her killed. We are all shocked you refuse to call out the Neo Nazis who attack Jews and Hindus like your wife and demand that she convert to be worthy in their eyes. You refuse to call out those who profit off of attacking your boss Donald Trump on their silly Consevative podcasts because you want their votes in 2028, even if they spew poison and attack President Trump every single day. Let’s call it all out. Doesn’t that seem reasonable? @JDVance Or should we keep pretending this is about abortion? Disgraceful, actually. My loyalty is to your boss, President Trump. And it always will be. https://twitter-thread.com/t/2014821631617597604
January 24, 2026 at 2:49 AM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
😵‍💫 1/2
The vile comments by Trump about allies re: Afghanistan are what finally penetrated *some* ironclad delusional MAGAts in r/conservative.

They realize *just now* that Trump is nutso. That maybe he's "lost the plot." 😳

Take a peek after the jump. ⬇️
🌐 www.reddit.com/r/Conservati...
From the Conservative community on Reddit: Politics latest: Trump 'wrong to diminish sacrifice of British troops' in Afghanistan, says Downing Street | Politics News
Explore this post and more from the Conservative community
www.reddit.com
January 24, 2026 at 2:31 AM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
It will take gens to repair the damage done by Trump, Vance, Heritage, MAGA electeds & supporters to our relationships w/our (fmr) allies. The oligarchs profiting from this must pay as well.

No one gets to quietly claim they "didn't know" or "didn't vote for him." We know who's who.
🦋 is.gd/1BSMPQ
charlieangus104.bsky.social Charlie Angus @charlieangus104.bsky.social · 13h
Canadians took massive casualties fighting the American war in Afghanistan.
Trump says we never stepped up. JD Vance says he's sick of our "sob stories".
MP Jamil Jivani is best friends with Vance. Will he deliver a simple message from Canada?
Trump and Vance can go F--k themselves.
Never again.
January 24, 2026 at 2:08 AM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
📣 "Instead of allowing Ms. Mergen to work w/the U.S. attorney’s office in Minneapolis to investigate Mr. Ross, the DOJ has decided to investigate Ms. Good & her partner, Becca Good."

Under pressure from DC leadership., FBI Agent Tracee Mergen chose to resign.
🧾 www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/u...
kylegriffin1.bsky.social Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 15h
Breaking NYT:

The FBI agent who sought to investigate the federal immigration officer who fatally shot Renee Good has resigned from the bureau, according to two people familiar with the matter, after leadership pressured her to discontinue a civil rights inquiry into the officer.
F.B.I. Agent Who Tried to Investigate ICE Officer in Shooting Resigns
www.nytimes.com
January 24, 2026 at 1:59 AM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
Sorry, Decomposing Dictator, you can't erase documentation of the fact that *human beings owned other human beings* in this country.

Slavery denialism won't fly.
🧾 www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
📺 bsky.app/profile/lore...
January 23, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Reposted by Pam Spaulding
rbreich.bsky.social
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.

In the spirit of Dr. King, we must respond to ICE's tyranny with peaceful, mass civil disobedience across America.

I stand with the people of Minnesota and other cities across the country who are doing that today.
We Need Civil Disobedience Across America
We need civil disobedience in this country. Now.In the words of MLK Jr: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice every
www.youtube.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:45 PM
Reposted by Pam Spaulding
bluewavesurfer.bsky.social
Right now, Minneapolis: ICE is not welcome!
January 23, 2026 at 9:38 PM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
General strike today was in full force in front of Minneapolis airport Terminal 1...

📺 bsky.app/profile/hami...
hamiltonnolan.bsky.social Hamilton Nolan @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social · 23h
Thousands outside Terminal 1 at the Minneapolis airport now.
January 23, 2026 at 9:37 PM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
@lawrenceodonnell.bsky.social opens w/the ludicrous Trump threat to sue the NYT over the latest damning negative poll. 🤣

He focuses on how Trump's spiraling poll numbers over the #Epstein files vexes him — Jeffrey's reaching from beyond the grave to bring him down...
📺 youtu.be/a_Zx44yRIcM?...
Lawrence: Republicans have abandoned the rule of law to embrace the rule of Trump
YouTube video by MS NOW
youtu.be
January 23, 2026 at 9:35 PM
Reposted by Pam Spaulding
implausibleblog.bsky.social
"Prince Harry who served two front line tours in Afghanistan said the sacrifices made by British and other NATO troops, deserved to be spoken about truthfully and with respect"

"After Donald Trump falsely claimed they had avoided the front line" #C4News
January 23, 2026 at 8:45 PM
Reposted by Pam Spaulding
maxnesterak.bsky.social
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
January 23, 2026 at 8:16 PM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
Protesters in Iran, like the rest of the world, should not trust Trump on anything (unless he profits, or gets pleasure out of some sort of retaliation).

The desire to roll back LGBTQ+ rights here in the U.S. is underway, so gay Iranians being deported to almost certain death tracks.
🧾 is.gd/qsBayw
January 23, 2026 at 8:26 PM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
📣 These 10 points from ezralevin.bsky.social apply to ICE funding, but can be applied to any contentious issue institutional Ds want to put on over on voters/small donors that they want & need to keep hitting up for 💰. It's rinse/repeat politics of the tired kind when our country is in jeopardy.
10 Points on the politics of ICE funding 1/23/2026 (@ezralevin.bsky.social) 1) Trump/Miller/GOP want more ICE funding 2) Dem leadership doesn't want it but also doesn't see a way to stop it without focusing attention on it. 3) Dem consultants say focus on ICE is a political loser. [❌ They are wrong — it's a winner] 4) Dem voters want to see elected Dems fight ICE. 5) Dem leadership wants to limit blowback from Dem voters. 6) Elected Dems issue statements against ICE to reassure Dem voters that we're all aligned. 7) Dem leadership quietly cuts deal with GOP on funding bills, including ICE. 8) Elected Dems (mostly) vote against the ICE funding, knowing it will pass. 9) Elected Dems get to claim they opposed, while paving the way for passage. 10) This theater allows Dems to fundraise off of ICE opposition, while shifting back to an affordability-centric campaign message. Via Ezra Levin: https://bsky.app/profile/ezralevin.bsky.social/post/3md3zbquglc2m
January 23, 2026 at 8:08 PM
Reposted by Pam Spaulding
evansutton.bsky.social
Until House and Senate Democrats throw out the current leadership and mount a real fight, they all should be considered collaborators imo. If you aren't trying to replace leaders who do this, you are signing on to this.
leftistwonk.bsky.social W.E.D.em Boyz @leftistwonk.bsky.social · 1d
If you want to know what people mean when they say Democrats are "controlled opposition," rather than whipping votes against ICE funding, Hakeem Jeffries struck a deal with Republicans to allow Democrats to feign outrage at ICE while still funding the spending package.
January 23, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Reposted by Pam Spaulding
jljacobson.bsky.social
1) There was no "neglect." They took away the child's father who was in the process of a totally legal asylum claim. 2) they refused to allow school officials to keep the child safe, but instead SENT HIM TO A DETENTION CENTER IN TEXAS. He's 5 years old.

3) This is a chilling lie.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 22h
Bovino: "Here in the US Border Patrol, I will say unequivocally that we are experts in dealing with children"
January 23, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by Pam Spaulding
joesudbay.bsky.social
What are you going to do while ICE is terrorizing Mainers @senangusking.bsky.social?

They are your constituents. Your voters. Maybe think of them first instead of your usual pompous blather
sahilkapur.bsky.social Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur.bsky.social · 23h
👀 Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., one of 8 Senate Dems who voted for the November deal, slams the House-passed approps package. His concerns include ICE. As a bundle, he doesn’t support it “without significant amendment.”

This still needs 60 senators to avert a shutdown next Friday. Stay tuned.
January 23, 2026 at 3:39 PM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
This violent R cult of the Demented Dictator loves talking big about military action.

How many of the loudest "conservative" mouths we see on camera will sign up (or send their kids) to be on the front lines of any U.S. Article 5-triggering efforts? 🧐
📺 bsky.app/profile/atru...
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 23h
Rep. Greg Steube: "You see Macron and the French sending troops to Greenland. I would love to see the US military up against French troops in Greenland, because it would not last very long. It would be a very small skirmish ... we don't care about what Macron and the French want."
January 23, 2026 at 6:42 PM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
There are a ton of reasons, some related to #Epstein, why Trump is targeting Jamie Dimon & Chase. (It settled a survivor class action suit).

This article covers clashes, incl. a big one — Dimon said no contributions to any R that contested the 2020 election.
🧾 www.axios.com/2026/01/22/j...
January 23, 2026 at 6:28 PM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
🚨🔥 Speaking of Ka$h, he probably has agita over the NYT feature on him today, chronicling his man-baby acts, grifting, & incompetence at his FBI post over the last year, *as told by his own FBI staff & insiders*.

👀 Ka$h should prolly start desk clean out...
🎁 www.nytimes.com/interactive/...

MORE⬇️
Kash Patel’s FBI Is Making America Less Safe, Current and Former Employees Say (Gift Article)
Forty-five current and former employees on the changes they say are undermining the agency and making America less safe.
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2026 at 5:14 PM
pamspaulding.bsky.social
Ka$h continues purge of FBI agents to please his leashmaster in the WH (who's thinking of giving him the heave-ho for unholy bad PR).

As many as 6 agents in Miami were forced out over their connection to the M-A-L classified docs case, & agents involved in the Jan 6 investigation.
🧾 is.gd/T1zYfI
Patel ousts senior FBI agents linked to Trump probes, say sources
As many as six agents in Miami were forced out over their connection to the FBI search of Mar-a-Lago. A special agent in charge in Atlanta was removed, as well as the acting assistant director in char...
www.ms.now
January 23, 2026 at 4:30 PM