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Reposted by Ben Raderstorf

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 11h

VICTORY: Today, together with our partners, we won an emergency order stopping federal agents from using violent force against protestors in Illinois. Federal ICE/DHS agents are now blocked from using tactics like tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse lawful assembly. protdem.org/474KWsA

Court Halts Unlawful Suppression of Speech by ICE

DHS ordered to stop violating First Amendment rights of press, clergy, and protesters in Illinois

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Ian Bassin @ianbassin.bsky.social · 5h

Again, Trump has crossed a Red Line no president has ever crossed: personally ordering the criminal prosecution of an American he doesn't like despite DOJ not finding evidence of any crime.

If Trump can do this to the powerful, he can do it to you. That's not freedom, and its not America.

New York Attorney General Letitia James @newyorkstateag.bsky.social · 6h

This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.

I am not fearful — I am fearless.

We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..

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Kurt Andersen @kurtandersen.bsky.social · 5h

Reminder: because the veteran prosecutor nominated by Trump as U.S. attorney and approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee after 8 months on the job found no basis for indicting James Comey or Letitia James, Trump replaced him 3 weeks ago with an insurance lawyer he met at one of his golf courses.

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Stan Oklobdzija @stano.bsky.social · 9h

In the next six months or so, there will be a cascade of Republicans abandoning Trump after realizing that breaking with him means a primary challenge they might lose and sticking with him means a general election they'll definitely lose.

Oklahoma’s Republican Governor Criticizes National Guard Deployment in Chicago

www.nytimes.com

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Peter Sagal @petersagal.bsky.social · 11h

"He works from an office dubbed the “Freedom Suite” on one end of a hallway on the deputy attorney general’s fourth floor, which visitors have described as being decorated with oversize photos of Trump and a small cup of holy water on the wall."

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

Inside the Justice Department Where the President Calls the Shots

The president has executed a wholesale transformation of the Justice Department, taking control in ways he could have only dreamed of in his first term.

www.wsj.com

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Kyle Cheney @kyledcheney.bsky.social · 10h

BREAKING: A federal judge in Illinois has blocked Trump administration authorities from using force against journalists in the Chicago area — including threats or arrest or riot control weapons. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

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Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 11h

This order protects people like Pastor David Black, who was shot in the head with projectiles while praying, and journalists from outlets like Block Club Chicago who were gassed while covering the protests.

Protecting Protesters and the Press from Unconstitutional Federal Force in Illinois

Protect Democracy is suing the Trump administration for violating the First Amendment in Northern Illinois.

protectdemocracy.org

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Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 1d

WATCH Sen. Schiff on the Trump administration’s politicization of the DOJ and the 1000+ former DOJ officials who have joined together to decry a democracy-threatening abuse of power that must be opposed. Read their full statement: protdem.org/3ITOo0Y

The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 2d

Sen. Adam Schiff: "The DOJ has become President Trump's personal sword and shield to go after his ever-growing list of political enemies and to protect himself, his allies, and his associates."

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Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 11h

This is HUGEEEEE

So impressed by the team on this case. A massively important win for the rule of law.

Protect Democracy @protectdemocracy.org · 11h

VICTORY: Today, together with our partners, we won an emergency order stopping federal agents from using violent force against protestors in Illinois. Federal ICE/DHS agents are now blocked from using tactics like tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse lawful assembly. protdem.org/474KWsA

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Anne Applebaum @anneapplebaum.bsky.social · 1d

"We took the freedom of speech away," says the president

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "We took the freedom of speech away because that's been through the courts and the courts said you have freedom of speech, but what has happened is when they burn a flag it agitates and irritates crowds."

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Brad Heath @bradheath.bsky.social · 1d

WSJ: President Trump believed his Truth Social post demanding prosecutions of James Comey and other political foes was a private message to his attorney general, and "and was surprised to learn it was public."

www.wsj.com/politics/pol...

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Matthew Kirschenbaum @mkirschenbaum.bsky.social · 1d

Virginia State Senate Dems just brought down fire and fury regarding the “Compact,” notifying the President and Rector that UVA would lose ALL STATE APPROPRIATIONS if it signs and cedes the University to “federal political control.” Notably, their letter directly restates points made here by @siva.

Siva @sivav.bsky.social · 1d

The “compact” for higher ed is an unserious document written by unserious people from a position of spectacular ignorance. No one should take it seriously. Sadly, my bosses are taking it seriously.

newrepublic.com/article/2013...

Why This Essay Could Cause the University of Virginia to Shut Down

How Linda McMahon’s latest “compact” would do deep and permanent harm to American higher education

newrepublic.com

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Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

PG&E's overnight EV rate is something like $.30!

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Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

Here's a sampling if you search "SMUD" on the sacramento subreddit:

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Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

@chrislhayes.bsky.social quipped on a podcast recently: "'Man, you know what I love? My local utility company' No one says that!"

Chris needs to visit Sacramento!

People here joke that if SMUD had a tip button on their energy bill they'd use it haha. Genuinely the best utility in the country.

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Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

Gas prices though are similar to the rest of the state.

If you're a SMUD customer and you drive a gas car you're literally lighting money on fire

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Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

Yet another example of how living in Sacramento is just *radically* different from the rest of California. Our home charging EV rate is $0.11 in winter and $0.13 in summer, roughly 1/3 of what the rest of the state pays and on par with the cheapest states.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

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Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

"You don't even have stores anymore"

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Trump: "I don't know what could be worse than Portland. You don't even have stores anymore. They don't even put glass up. They put plywood on their windows."

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Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

FWIW, I understand people’s reflexive skepticism — the right to be a jerk to people in uniforms is part of the first amendment too.

But I’m still pretty amazed how few people (including the president!) understand what the NG is and does

Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

Read more: notthemission.org

This is not the mission | It’s time to end the D.C. deployment

National Guard heroes should be back home preparing for real emergencies. It's time to end the DC deployment.

notthemission.org

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Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

To be clear, this applies to the *National Guard* who are mostly civilians with day jobs and who can be called up in emergencies.

They are very, very different from ICE agents, who really do seem to be embracing the jackbooted ethos: bsky.app/profile/uroc...

Khashoggi's Ghost @urocklive1.bsky.social · 2d

This is not going to end well. Sooner or later an American citizen is going to get killed.

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Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

Texas National Guard troops arriving in Chicago (via ABC News)

Remember: These are not MAGA stormtroopers. These are everyday teachers and accountants who signed up to serve their country with their spare time. They're being used as political pawns by venal, un-American, draft-dodging president

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Ben Raderstorf @raders.bsky.social · 1d

I genuinely thought this was a parody video.

It’s not.

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 2d

What will the new Adam O'Neal–hosted WaPo opinions podcast sound like for the next few decades? Maybe a little something like this x.com/WashPostComm...

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Garrett M. Graff @vermontgmg.bsky.social · 2d

All year, we’ve seen this administration treat appropriations bills less as laws-to-follow and more like Lucy playing football with Charlie Brown. What should make this moment any different? www.doomsdayscenario.co/p/there-is-n...

There is no budget "deal" to be made

President Trump in has so broken the constitutional framework as to make joint normal, responsible government impossible.

www.doomsdayscenario.co

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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 2d

I'm on the record saying that Russ Vought will do things during the shutdown that will make his illegal rescissions visible in the way they otherwise weren't. And boy howdy, threatening to ignore the law on backpay is a great example. [corrected]

Shaheen, a retiring Dem Rs are looking to flip on shutdown, says of OMB threats on back pay:

“It would be a lot easier to resolve the situation if Russ Vought would stop talking.”

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