Real Benisons
@realbenisons.bsky.social
reading the morning newspaper is a realistic benediction of the day--Hegel
Reposted by Real Benisons
PBS News Hour: U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents describe how they were treated.
Watch the segment here www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMgC...
I'm clipping transcripts of the citizens speaking in this thread 1/3
Watch the segment here www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMgC...
I'm clipping transcripts of the citizens speaking in this thread 1/3
February 15, 2026 at 8:24 PM
PBS News Hour: U.S. citizens detained by immigration agents describe how they were treated.
Watch the segment here www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMgC...
I'm clipping transcripts of the citizens speaking in this thread 1/3
Watch the segment here www.youtube.com/watch?v=lMgC...
I'm clipping transcripts of the citizens speaking in this thread 1/3
Reposted by Real Benisons
Also, do we think Elon knows enough about US/British history to pick up on the implicit anti-Catholicism in this definition of America’s “common culture,” or no?
"American culture, with its English-Scotts-Irish origin, is great and worth fighting for."
Has he not heard any American popular music?
Has he not heard any American popular music?
February 15, 2026 at 6:36 PM
Also, do we think Elon knows enough about US/British history to pick up on the implicit anti-Catholicism in this definition of America’s “common culture,” or no?
Reposted by Real Benisons
Reposted by Real Benisons
Aside from the obvious racism and idiocy of this, the idea that the English, the Scots, and the Irish are a homogeneous culture is just amazingly hilarious
"American culture, with its English-Scotts-Irish origin, is great and worth fighting for."
Has he not heard any American popular music?
Has he not heard any American popular music?
February 15, 2026 at 4:41 PM
Aside from the obvious racism and idiocy of this, the idea that the English, the Scots, and the Irish are a homogeneous culture is just amazingly hilarious
Reposted by Real Benisons
They cut health care to pay for a paramilitary force that’s trampling on our rights.
I’m not ok with that.
I’m not ok with that.
February 15, 2026 at 5:33 PM
They cut health care to pay for a paramilitary force that’s trampling on our rights.
I’m not ok with that.
I’m not ok with that.
C'mon man
President Obama knows better
We have seen rogue behavior of federal agents in America
AndTrump is openly claiming anti-constitutional arbitrary prerogative power in ways we have not seen
President Obama knows better
We have seen rogue behavior of federal agents in America
AndTrump is openly claiming anti-constitutional arbitrary prerogative power in ways we have not seen
Obama: "The rogue behavior of agents of the federal government is deeply concerning and dangerous ... the sort of behavior that we've seen in authoritarian countries and we've seen in dictatorships, but we have not seen in America."
February 15, 2026 at 5:35 PM
C'mon man
President Obama knows better
We have seen rogue behavior of federal agents in America
AndTrump is openly claiming anti-constitutional arbitrary prerogative power in ways we have not seen
President Obama knows better
We have seen rogue behavior of federal agents in America
AndTrump is openly claiming anti-constitutional arbitrary prerogative power in ways we have not seen
Almost as if if what Noem and Stephen Miller and Trump are doing is not a legitimate use of authority and force
In other words not a "crackdown"
Even if news outlets won't let go of that word
In other words not a "crackdown"
Even if news outlets won't let go of that word
Schumer: "Every other police department in America is unmasked. ICE can do the same. This is a rogue force. They are almost trained it looks like to be nasty and mean and cruel."
February 15, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Almost as if if what Noem and Stephen Miller and Trump are doing is not a legitimate use of authority and force
In other words not a "crackdown"
Even if news outlets won't let go of that word
In other words not a "crackdown"
Even if news outlets won't let go of that word
Reposted by Real Benisons
Massie: "Donald Trump told us that even though he had dinner with these people in NYC and West Palm Beach, that he would be transparent. But he's not. He's still in with the Epstein class. This is the Epstein administration."
February 15, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Massie: "Donald Trump told us that even though he had dinner with these people in NYC and West Palm Beach, that he would be transparent. But he's not. He's still in with the Epstein class. This is the Epstein administration."
Reposted by Real Benisons
“We’re seeing the stock market over one Tom Homan bribe.”
Peter Navarro: "It's the perfect Trump economy in 2026 ... we're seeing stock market over $50,000"
February 15, 2026 at 3:45 PM
“We’re seeing the stock market over one Tom Homan bribe.”
Reposted by Real Benisons
“This refusal to start a review is confusing…It is surprising & we’re trying to understand what has changed.”-Moderna pres
I understand. Vinay Prasad was going to complain about controls & justify denying review no matter what. It’s his job. Gold Standard Vinay Prasad.
I understand. Vinay Prasad was going to complain about controls & justify denying review no matter what. It’s his job. Gold Standard Vinay Prasad.
NEW: The F.D.A. refused to accept an application from Moderna for its mRNA flu vaccine.
Its reason: The agency did not think Moderna compared the new vaccine to one of the best flu shots available. The company spent $750M+ on a 41,000 person study.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/h...
Its reason: The agency did not think Moderna compared the new vaccine to one of the best flu shots available. The company spent $750M+ on a 41,000 person study.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/10/h...
F.D.A. Refuses to Review Moderna Flu Vaccine
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 7:30 AM
“This refusal to start a review is confusing…It is surprising & we’re trying to understand what has changed.”-Moderna pres
I understand. Vinay Prasad was going to complain about controls & justify denying review no matter what. It’s his job. Gold Standard Vinay Prasad.
I understand. Vinay Prasad was going to complain about controls & justify denying review no matter what. It’s his job. Gold Standard Vinay Prasad.
Reposted by Real Benisons
Secretary of State Marco Rubio giving a speech that is basically an extended version of the ethnonationalist Proud Boys oath: “I'm a proud Western chauvinist, I refuse to apologize for creating the modern world.”
The Rubio speech really is appalling, and if you haven’t read it yet, you should.
www.state.gov/releases/off...
www.state.gov/releases/off...
February 15, 2026 at 2:16 AM
Secretary of State Marco Rubio giving a speech that is basically an extended version of the ethnonationalist Proud Boys oath: “I'm a proud Western chauvinist, I refuse to apologize for creating the modern world.”
Reposted by Real Benisons
The Rubio speech really is appalling, and if you haven’t read it yet, you should.
www.state.gov/releases/off...
www.state.gov/releases/off...
February 15, 2026 at 12:47 AM
The Rubio speech really is appalling, and if you haven’t read it yet, you should.
www.state.gov/releases/off...
www.state.gov/releases/off...
Reposted by Real Benisons
ICE using the same ruse that Ted Bundy used to kidnap people should tell you something.
CCTV footage appears to show DHS agents posing as people having car trouble in order to lure a target out of his house before arresting them. The target comes out and starts helping them before 3 vehicles surround the scene. The car "experiencing" trouble then drives off with them.
February 15, 2026 at 1:51 AM
ICE using the same ruse that Ted Bundy used to kidnap people should tell you something.
Reposted by Real Benisons
This is somewhat more of an old-fashioned ICE ruse. Arguably this is a sign of the agency going back to more standard “targeted enforcement” tactics designed to be not as disruptive as the more recent aggro-style arrests. Watch for more like this to come.
CCTV footage appears to show DHS agents posing as people having car trouble in order to lure a target out of his house before arresting them. The target comes out and starts helping them before 3 vehicles surround the scene. The car "experiencing" trouble then drives off with them.
February 15, 2026 at 2:13 AM
This is somewhat more of an old-fashioned ICE ruse. Arguably this is a sign of the agency going back to more standard “targeted enforcement” tactics designed to be not as disruptive as the more recent aggro-style arrests. Watch for more like this to come.
Reposted by Real Benisons
DAME TIME ⌚️
Damian Lillard joins Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only players in NBA history to win the State Farm NBA 3-Point Contest three times!
Damian Lillard joins Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only players in NBA history to win the State Farm NBA 3-Point Contest three times!
February 14, 2026 at 11:27 PM
DAME TIME ⌚️
Damian Lillard joins Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only players in NBA history to win the State Farm NBA 3-Point Contest three times!
Damian Lillard joins Larry Bird and Craig Hodges as the only players in NBA history to win the State Farm NBA 3-Point Contest three times!
Reposted by Real Benisons
there’s some wild stuff in here! Coolidge signing the Kellogg-Briand Pact
February 14, 2026 at 7:08 PM
there’s some wild stuff in here! Coolidge signing the Kellogg-Briand Pact
Reposted by Real Benisons
I just trash picked a huge pile of photos from the State Department so you all get Madeline Albright in a cowboy hat
February 14, 2026 at 7:00 PM
I just trash picked a huge pile of photos from the State Department so you all get Madeline Albright in a cowboy hat
Reposted by Real Benisons
“.. I suppose I could have simply, unilaterally, ordered the military to go into some red state and harass and intimidate a governor there or cut off funding for states that didn't vote for me... but that is contrary to how I think our democracy is supposed to work."
(via No Lie with BTC)
(via No Lie with BTC)
February 14, 2026 at 7:52 PM
“.. I suppose I could have simply, unilaterally, ordered the military to go into some red state and harass and intimidate a governor there or cut off funding for states that didn't vote for me... but that is contrary to how I think our democracy is supposed to work."
(via No Lie with BTC)
(via No Lie with BTC)
Reposted by Real Benisons
It’s an RNA world. RNA is posited to be the first genetic material, arising 4 billion years ago. It can store information and act as an enzyme. Eventually, it duplicated its information into a more stable form, DNA.
February 13, 2026 at 2:17 PM
It’s an RNA world. RNA is posited to be the first genetic material, arising 4 billion years ago. It can store information and act as an enzyme. Eventually, it duplicated its information into a more stable form, DNA.
Reposted by Real Benisons
In 1854, after watching the federal government deploy 2000 federal troops and spend $40,000 sending Anthony Burns back into slavery, Boston's Amos Adams Lawrence said “we went to bed one night old-fashioned, conservative, Compromise Union Whigs and waked up stark mad Abolitionists.”
Yesterday morning kids were sent running from their bus stop in panic because ICE showed up. This guy at today’s ICE Out of Lindenwold protest is a must watch 😭. @maddow.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 5:07 PM
In 1854, after watching the federal government deploy 2000 federal troops and spend $40,000 sending Anthony Burns back into slavery, Boston's Amos Adams Lawrence said “we went to bed one night old-fashioned, conservative, Compromise Union Whigs and waked up stark mad Abolitionists.”
Reposted by Real Benisons
The kind of utter confusion Brooks is going to inflict on Yale undergrads.
February 14, 2026 at 5:05 PM
The kind of utter confusion Brooks is going to inflict on Yale undergrads.
Reposted by Real Benisons
I had to look this up (and this seems SUPER-complicated, beyond my expertise, and I've had a negroni) so yes, $934 per month per violation doesn't seem like much..
..BUT it seems to unlock the "Reconsideration of Land Use Approvals" in code section 33.700.040
See:
www.portland.gov/sites/defaul...
..BUT it seems to unlock the "Reconsideration of Land Use Approvals" in code section 33.700.040
See:
www.portland.gov/sites/defaul...
Portland isn't changing course on carrying out its land use violation against the ICE building.
Portland upholds land use violation against ICE facility’s landlord
Portland officials will continue to seek penalties against the owner of the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement building for violating a land use agreement.
www.opb.org
February 14, 2026 at 4:32 AM
I had to look this up (and this seems SUPER-complicated, beyond my expertise, and I've had a negroni) so yes, $934 per month per violation doesn't seem like much..
..BUT it seems to unlock the "Reconsideration of Land Use Approvals" in code section 33.700.040
See:
www.portland.gov/sites/defaul...
..BUT it seems to unlock the "Reconsideration of Land Use Approvals" in code section 33.700.040
See:
www.portland.gov/sites/defaul...
Noem has no legitimate authority to set "time, places, and manner" of elections
neither does Trump--who nevertheless claimed we'll have voter ID, "whether approved by Congress or not"
Trump and Noem have no feel for our freedoms and no respect for the sovereign will of the people
neither does Trump--who nevertheless claimed we'll have voter ID, "whether approved by Congress or not"
Trump and Noem have no feel for our freedoms and no respect for the sovereign will of the people
Kristi Noem: "When it gets to Election Day, we've been proactive to make sure we have the right people voting, electing the right leaders to lead this country."
February 14, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Noem has no legitimate authority to set "time, places, and manner" of elections
neither does Trump--who nevertheless claimed we'll have voter ID, "whether approved by Congress or not"
Trump and Noem have no feel for our freedoms and no respect for the sovereign will of the people
neither does Trump--who nevertheless claimed we'll have voter ID, "whether approved by Congress or not"
Trump and Noem have no feel for our freedoms and no respect for the sovereign will of the people
Reposted by Real Benisons
I seriously have no idea why it’s legal for Trump to sue constituents as President
President Trump's lawyers have told a court he shouldn't have to respond to lawsuits because it would distract him from running the government.
But he's found time to bring lawsuits of his own, against the New York Times and even against his own administration.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
But he's found time to bring lawsuits of his own, against the New York Times and even against his own administration.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
February 14, 2026 at 5:39 PM
I seriously have no idea why it’s legal for Trump to sue constituents as President
Reposted by Real Benisons
I have never seen an injunction like this, which basically says stop using flimsy, bogus "civil rights" to attack your perceived political opponents!
February 14, 2026 at 5:24 AM
I have never seen an injunction like this, which basically says stop using flimsy, bogus "civil rights" to attack your perceived political opponents!