Jolly Confused
@riteofpassage.bsky.social
Doctor, teacher, gardener, political junkie, history nerd, europhile.
Martin Luther King said "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." I hope he's right.
Martin Luther King said "The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice." I hope he's right.
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Every few years, the GOP majority pushes us closer and closer to a system of election by oligarchs.
The Supreme Court ponders giving billionaires even more power over elections
Republicans want the last limits on political spending eliminated.
www.motherjones.com
December 9, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Every few years, the GOP majority pushes us closer and closer to a system of election by oligarchs.
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Awful: Trump just admitted in a new interview that he knows "very little" about the Honduran ex-president he pardoned. This guy trafficked a gazillion times more drugs into the US than anyone Trump has executed. Wrecks his case for the boat bombings.
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
Trump Accidentally Sabotages Case for Bombings in New Interview Fiasco
The president’s claims about the boat killings and his pardon of the Honduran ex-president in a new Politico interview should finally convince Republicans that they, and we, must get to the bottom of ...
newrepublic.com
December 9, 2025 at 4:37 PM
Awful: Trump just admitted in a new interview that he knows "very little" about the Honduran ex-president he pardoned. This guy trafficked a gazillion times more drugs into the US than anyone Trump has executed. Wrecks his case for the boat bombings.
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
New from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2041...
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Wow -- Russia reportedly plotted last year to plant bombs on US-bound flights (gift link) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
December 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Wow -- Russia reportedly plotted last year to plant bombs on US-bound flights (gift link) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Reposted by Jolly Confused
The DOJ has confirmed that President Trump blocked the release of more than 4,100 documents requested as part of a lawsuit brought by injured January 6 police officers.
With this action, the president is directly blocking a case alleging that he helped to fuel the deadly riot. trib.al/o6IVFjF
With this action, the president is directly blocking a case alleging that he helped to fuel the deadly riot. trib.al/o6IVFjF
December 9, 2025 at 5:37 PM
The DOJ has confirmed that President Trump blocked the release of more than 4,100 documents requested as part of a lawsuit brought by injured January 6 police officers.
With this action, the president is directly blocking a case alleging that he helped to fuel the deadly riot. trib.al/o6IVFjF
With this action, the president is directly blocking a case alleging that he helped to fuel the deadly riot. trib.al/o6IVFjF
Reposted by Jolly Confused
“I look down at the crashing swell. Alone at the after-party, a kind of honeymoon in hell. I am on the list, a bit of grave misfortune. I am in the New York Post, even worse. The ink is black, the pages yellow. Everything, some kind of lie. What of doubt? Scientists cannot see the soul.”
Sentences From American Canto That Sent Me To The Hospital
I reviewed Olivia Nuzzi's American Canto for Slate. There's far less RFK Jr. in it than you'd expect.
substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:53 PM
“I look down at the crashing swell. Alone at the after-party, a kind of honeymoon in hell. I am on the list, a bit of grave misfortune. I am in the New York Post, even worse. The ink is black, the pages yellow. Everything, some kind of lie. What of doubt? Scientists cannot see the soul.”
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Nancy Mace wasn’t “targeted” at the Charleston airport — an internal investigation says she caused the whole spectacle by screaming at unpaid TSA workers and calling cops “fucking idiots.”
Classy.
www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Classy.
www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Nancy Mace's 'very nasty' conduct revealed in police report
An internal investigation by the Charleston Airport Police Department found that Republican Rep. Nancy Mace of South Carolina is at fault for her tirade against law enforcement officers and ...
www.dailykos.com
December 9, 2025 at 7:15 PM
Nancy Mace wasn’t “targeted” at the Charleston airport — an internal investigation says she caused the whole spectacle by screaming at unpaid TSA workers and calling cops “fucking idiots.”
Classy.
www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Classy.
www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Reposted by Jolly Confused
An official complaint has been filed with FIFA's ethics committee over the awarding of the prize to Trump and comments Gianni Infantino has made about the president.
December 9, 2025 at 4:52 PM
An official complaint has been filed with FIFA's ethics committee over the awarding of the prize to Trump and comments Gianni Infantino has made about the president.
Reposted by Jolly Confused
The complaint shows “four clear breaches” of FIFA’s political neutrality, including Friday's draw.
In Gianni Infantino's role as FIFA president, "he a) encouraged people to support the political agenda of President Trump, and b) expressed his personal approval of President Trump’s political agenda”
In Gianni Infantino's role as FIFA president, "he a) encouraged people to support the political agenda of President Trump, and b) expressed his personal approval of President Trump’s political agenda”
Gianni Infantino accused of breaching FIFA’s ethics codes in relation to President Trump comments
Advocacy group FairSquare has also requested an investigation into President Trump being awarded the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize last Friday.
www.nytimes.com
December 9, 2025 at 5:54 PM
The complaint shows “four clear breaches” of FIFA’s political neutrality, including Friday's draw.
In Gianni Infantino's role as FIFA president, "he a) encouraged people to support the political agenda of President Trump, and b) expressed his personal approval of President Trump’s political agenda”
In Gianni Infantino's role as FIFA president, "he a) encouraged people to support the political agenda of President Trump, and b) expressed his personal approval of President Trump’s political agenda”
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Badenoch admits Brexit damaged UK economy - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Badenoch admits Brexit has damaged economy as she announces plan to review benefits system – UK politics live
Tory leader says financial crisis, Brexit and Covid have all hit the economy and a review of which conditions deserve benefits is needed
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 12:08 PM
Badenoch admits Brexit damaged UK economy - www.theguardian.com/politics/liv...
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Russia is attempting to capture Kharkiv Oblast even as peace talks continue
Its latest objective is to destroy Pechenihy Reservoir dam, which supplies 70% of Kharkiv’s drinking water. Russia targeted the facility with Shaheds, bombs, and missiles
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/09/r...
Its latest objective is to destroy Pechenihy Reservoir dam, which supplies 70% of Kharkiv’s drinking water. Russia targeted the facility with Shaheds, bombs, and missiles
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/09/r...
December 9, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Russia is attempting to capture Kharkiv Oblast even as peace talks continue
Its latest objective is to destroy Pechenihy Reservoir dam, which supplies 70% of Kharkiv’s drinking water. Russia targeted the facility with Shaheds, bombs, and missiles
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/09/r...
Its latest objective is to destroy Pechenihy Reservoir dam, which supplies 70% of Kharkiv’s drinking water. Russia targeted the facility with Shaheds, bombs, and missiles
euromaidanpress.com/2025/12/09/r...
Reposted by Jolly Confused
JUST IN: DOJ confirms Trump asserted executive privilege to shield more than 4,100 documents form police and lawmakers suing him over the Jan. 6 riot.
Our earlier story on the privilege claim: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Our earlier story on the privilege claim: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
December 8, 2025 at 10:57 PM
JUST IN: DOJ confirms Trump asserted executive privilege to shield more than 4,100 documents form police and lawmakers suing him over the Jan. 6 riot.
Our earlier story on the privilege claim: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Our earlier story on the privilege claim: www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
Reposted by Jolly Confused
BREAKING: Bernie Sanders just now:
December 8, 2025 at 3:50 PM
BREAKING: Bernie Sanders just now:
Reposted by Jolly Confused
🇺🇸 attempts to force 🇺🇦 surrender are currently 0 from 3. Europe is winning, even if it doesn't realise.
Trump's national security strategy exposes weakness. Its attitude to Europe is like the obsessive ex stalking the former partner, wondering who that new guy is.
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
Trump's national security strategy exposes weakness. Its attitude to Europe is like the obsessive ex stalking the former partner, wondering who that new guy is.
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
America's Weakness, Europe's Strength
The 'new' national security strategy is the admission of defeat from a declining country
open.substack.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:07 PM
🇺🇸 attempts to force 🇺🇦 surrender are currently 0 from 3. Europe is winning, even if it doesn't realise.
Trump's national security strategy exposes weakness. Its attitude to Europe is like the obsessive ex stalking the former partner, wondering who that new guy is.
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
Trump's national security strategy exposes weakness. Its attitude to Europe is like the obsessive ex stalking the former partner, wondering who that new guy is.
open.substack.com/pub/arthursn...
Reposted by Jolly Confused
NEW:
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
w/ @robert-faturechi.bsky.social @amierjeski.bsky.social
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
w/ @robert-faturechi.bsky.social @amierjeski.bsky.social
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
The Trump administration has argued that Fed board member Lisa Cook may have committed mortgage fraud by declaring more than one primary residence on her loans. We found Trump once did the very thing ...
www.propublica.org
December 8, 2025 at 12:32 PM
NEW:
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
w/ @robert-faturechi.bsky.social @amierjeski.bsky.social
Trump’s Own Mortgages Match His Description of Mortgage Fraud, Records Reveal
www.propublica.org/article/trum...
w/ @robert-faturechi.bsky.social @amierjeski.bsky.social
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Economists judge Brexit Bill to be worse than ever just as politics is shifting
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Economists Judge Brexit Bill to Be Worse Than Ever Just as Politics Is Shifting
It’s true the most dismal predictions about Brexit didn’t come true — immediately.
www.bloomberg.com
December 8, 2025 at 8:26 AM
Economists judge Brexit Bill to be worse than ever just as politics is shifting
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
10 Downing Street, please let the cat in, he's been standing on the step waiting for ages! 🙀
December 8, 2025 at 1:04 PM
10 Downing Street, please let the cat in, he's been standing on the step waiting for ages! 🙀
Reposted by Jolly Confused
HOPE WALZ: “What world are we f*cking living in? I draw the line at Gus. You people are f*cking disgraceful.”
She says MAGA loyalists are now driving by their home and yelling “R*tard!” at her family and her special needs brother after Trump called GovTimWalz the R word.
She says MAGA loyalists are now driving by their home and yelling “R*tard!” at her family and her special needs brother after Trump called GovTimWalz the R word.
December 7, 2025 at 3:37 PM
HOPE WALZ: “What world are we f*cking living in? I draw the line at Gus. You people are f*cking disgraceful.”
She says MAGA loyalists are now driving by their home and yelling “R*tard!” at her family and her special needs brother after Trump called GovTimWalz the R word.
She says MAGA loyalists are now driving by their home and yelling “R*tard!” at her family and her special needs brother after Trump called GovTimWalz the R word.
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Every Western European country scores higher on the global ranking of freedom and democracy than the U.S. does, according to Freedom House, a U.S.-based nonprofit that ranks countries according to measures such as election process, rule of law and individual rights.
U.S. Flips History by Casting Europe—Not Russia—as Villain in New Security Policy
An annual strategy document, which has described threats from China to Russia, directs some of its harshest language at NATO allies.
www.wsj.com
December 7, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Every Western European country scores higher on the global ranking of freedom and democracy than the U.S. does, according to Freedom House, a U.S.-based nonprofit that ranks countries according to measures such as election process, rule of law and individual rights.
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Tom Nichols: “This ongoing game show of ‘strike a boat every day’ […] is making us into worse people — every one of us, whether we’re in uniform or just ordinary citizens. It is spiritually and morally corrosive on every level.”
@radiofreetom.bsky.social
@radiofreetom.bsky.social
December 6, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Tom Nichols: “This ongoing game show of ‘strike a boat every day’ […] is making us into worse people — every one of us, whether we’re in uniform or just ordinary citizens. It is spiritually and morally corrosive on every level.”
@radiofreetom.bsky.social
@radiofreetom.bsky.social
Reposted by Jolly Confused
A MAGA grandpa in Wyoming called 911 and told the operator to “call ICE” on an Amazon delivery driver simply for speaking Spanish.
“There’s this guy in front of my house who can’t speak English. You need to call ICE on him.”
“There’s this guy in front of my house who can’t speak English. You need to call ICE on him.”
December 7, 2025 at 4:26 PM
A MAGA grandpa in Wyoming called 911 and told the operator to “call ICE” on an Amazon delivery driver simply for speaking Spanish.
“There’s this guy in front of my house who can’t speak English. You need to call ICE on him.”
“There’s this guy in front of my house who can’t speak English. You need to call ICE on him.”
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Finland has emerged as a global leader in countering “fake news”. Here's how they've done it
Teaching when to trust
As fake news accelerates, we need to teach our children how to think critically. Finnish schools are leading the charge
newhumanist.org.uk
December 7, 2025 at 9:45 AM
Finland has emerged as a global leader in countering “fake news”. Here's how they've done it
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Trump rages that Henry Cuellar didn’t pay him back for a pardon by switching parties, blasting Cuellar for a “lack of LOYALTY.”
In other words, Trump admits he was trying to use his pardon power to buy Republicans a House seat.
In other words, Trump admits he was trying to use his pardon power to buy Republicans a House seat.
December 7, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Trump rages that Henry Cuellar didn’t pay him back for a pardon by switching parties, blasting Cuellar for a “lack of LOYALTY.”
In other words, Trump admits he was trying to use his pardon power to buy Republicans a House seat.
In other words, Trump admits he was trying to use his pardon power to buy Republicans a House seat.
Reposted by Jolly Confused
Smugglers, money launderers and sanctioned people once relied on diamonds, gold and artwork. Now, criminals have a far more practical alternative: stablecoins, a cryptocurrency tied to the U.S. dollar that exists largely beyond traditional financial oversight.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/t...
How a Cryptocurrency Helps Criminals Launder Money and Evade Sanctions
www.nytimes.com
December 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
Smugglers, money launderers and sanctioned people once relied on diamonds, gold and artwork. Now, criminals have a far more practical alternative: stablecoins, a cryptocurrency tied to the U.S. dollar that exists largely beyond traditional financial oversight.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/t...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/07/t...
Reposted by Jolly Confused
This week, the Trump administration released the public-facing version of the long-awaited National Security Strategy document.
The document is a far-right fever dream - and every bit as radical as Zeteo reported it would be.
Our political team explains the NSS: zeteo.com/p/trump-nati...
The document is a far-right fever dream - and every bit as radical as Zeteo reported it would be.
Our political team explains the NSS: zeteo.com/p/trump-nati...
December 7, 2025 at 3:00 PM
This week, the Trump administration released the public-facing version of the long-awaited National Security Strategy document.
The document is a far-right fever dream - and every bit as radical as Zeteo reported it would be.
Our political team explains the NSS: zeteo.com/p/trump-nati...
The document is a far-right fever dream - and every bit as radical as Zeteo reported it would be.
Our political team explains the NSS: zeteo.com/p/trump-nati...