Sean Maertens
@seanmaertens.bsky.social
Had Tim Walz as a teacher in high school. He really is a great guy.
Politics, Sports, Anime, Video Games.
Politics, Sports, Anime, Video Games.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
The "DOGE is gone" articles are clickbait but this one gets it closer to the truth: DOGE is not gone, it just claims to have "no centralized leadership" anymore -- in other words, its leadership is hiding in an attempt to avoid blame.
DOGE no longer has ‘centralized leadership’ under White House tech team, personnel head says
The team that was altered to house DOGE — formerly the U.S. Digital Service — is also still doing its own technology work across agencies.
www.nextgov.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:09 AM
The "DOGE is gone" articles are clickbait but this one gets it closer to the truth: DOGE is not gone, it just claims to have "no centralized leadership" anymore -- in other words, its leadership is hiding in an attempt to avoid blame.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
November 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Trump promised retribution. He delivered. - www.reuters.com/investigatio...
www.reuters.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:31 PM
Trump promised retribution. He delivered. - www.reuters.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
Reposted by Sean Maertens
At least one insurrectionist goes to jail
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
Bolsonaro to Start Serving 27-Year Sentence Over Coup Plot
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
At least one insurrectionist goes to jail
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/w...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
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 4:10 PM
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...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Again, every elected Democrat needs to put out a video stating exactly what Kelly and the others said. If ever there were a line to draw in the sand, it’s here. The military is not the president’s Praetorian Guard.
“Within the White House, Trump and his lieutenants aren’t planning on letting up…Trump has told some advisers that he wants RICO prosecutions and conspiracy charges leveled against the six Democrats, a source with direct knowledge of the matter tells Zeteo…
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
zeteo.com/p/how-we-gre...
November 24, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Again, every elected Democrat needs to put out a video stating exactly what Kelly and the others said. If ever there were a line to draw in the sand, it’s here. The military is not the president’s Praetorian Guard.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Amazing story, state legislator and Turning Points USA leader who crusaded against bogus voter fraud claims pleads guilty to attempted election fraud. azmirror.com/briefs/turni...
Turning Point leader, former GOP Rep pleads guilty to attempted election fraud | Arizona Mirror
Austin Smith election fraud guilty plea: Former GOP Rep admits forging 100+ signatures on ballot petitions in Arizona
azmirror.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Amazing story, state legislator and Turning Points USA leader who crusaded against bogus voter fraud claims pleads guilty to attempted election fraud. azmirror.com/briefs/turni...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Paul Ingrassia, a lawyer who previously represented Andrew and Tristan Tate before joining the White House, stepped in on their behalf during a federal investigation, saying the seizure of the Tates’ devices was not a good use of time or resources.
The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.
www.propublica.org
November 24, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Paul Ingrassia, a lawyer who previously represented Andrew and Tristan Tate before joining the White House, stepped in on their behalf during a federal investigation, saying the seizure of the Tates’ devices was not a good use of time or resources.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
A video from inside a Border Patrol vehicle shows agents chasing a US citizen for filming them. The citizen refused to get out when they illegally ordered him to stop. The agents say: "This is great." "This is fun." "He's going to get shot."
November 22, 2025 at 9:58 PM
A video from inside a Border Patrol vehicle shows agents chasing a US citizen for filming them. The citizen refused to get out when they illegally ordered him to stop. The agents say: "This is great." "This is fun." "He's going to get shot."
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Seriously tho, this is a well-reported piece that make it hard not to conclude that Patel is using government resources to enjoy the trappings of a mid-level celebrity, like hosting his buddies for a golf retreat in Scotland.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
November 23, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Seriously tho, this is a well-reported piece that make it hard not to conclude that Patel is using government resources to enjoy the trappings of a mid-level celebrity, like hosting his buddies for a golf retreat in Scotland.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Meanwhile on Hellsite, who knew all the Elon bots were Nigerian? 🤡
November 23, 2025 at 2:10 PM
Meanwhile on Hellsite, who knew all the Elon bots were Nigerian? 🤡
Reposted by Sean Maertens
A new feature on Elon Musk’s X has given surprising new insight into the online “America First” movement.
Top MAGA Influencers Accidentally Unmasked as Foreign Actors
A new feature on Elon Musk’s X has given deeper insight into the online “America First” movement.
trib.al
November 23, 2025 at 8:15 AM
A new feature on Elon Musk’s X has given surprising new insight into the online “America First” movement.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Grand opening, grand closing.
X quietly disabled a new feature that showed which country an account was posting from when it revealed that lots of popular right wing MAGA accounts were being run from foreign countries like India and Nigeria.
X quietly disabled a new feature that showed which country an account was posting from when it revealed that lots of popular right wing MAGA accounts were being run from foreign countries like India and Nigeria.
November 22, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Grand opening, grand closing.
X quietly disabled a new feature that showed which country an account was posting from when it revealed that lots of popular right wing MAGA accounts were being run from foreign countries like India and Nigeria.
X quietly disabled a new feature that showed which country an account was posting from when it revealed that lots of popular right wing MAGA accounts were being run from foreign countries like India and Nigeria.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
New: @slawton.bsky.social & I wrote about how Bannon has gone silent on Epstein since the latest release of emails and texts. Back in July, he was all about the need to "get to the bottom of Epstein" - but as new docs confirm their close relationship, he's avoided the topic.
New at @mmfa.bsky.social
New at @mmfa.bsky.social
Suddenly, Steve Bannon isn’t interested in transparency around Epstein anymore
When calls were renewed for the Trump administration to release the full trove of Epstein files earlier this year, War Room host Steve Bannon was among the voices pushing for their release. But since ...
www.mediamatters.org
November 21, 2025 at 3:07 PM
New: @slawton.bsky.social & I wrote about how Bannon has gone silent on Epstein since the latest release of emails and texts. Back in July, he was all about the need to "get to the bottom of Epstein" - but as new docs confirm their close relationship, he's avoided the topic.
New at @mmfa.bsky.social
New at @mmfa.bsky.social
Reposted by Sean Maertens
The US is losing blue-collar jobs for the first time since the pandemic—year-on-year job losses have hit 59k as manufacturing industries lose jobs at a rapid pace while growth in construction & transportation has nearly zeroed out
November 20, 2025 at 1:43 PM
The US is losing blue-collar jobs for the first time since the pandemic—year-on-year job losses have hit 59k as manufacturing industries lose jobs at a rapid pace while growth in construction & transportation has nearly zeroed out
Reposted by Sean Maertens
WAPO: “.. Democrats, who once thought they would come up short in a gerrymandering war, are on track to net an estimated five seats.” 🤡
@washingtonpost.com #Redistrict
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
@washingtonpost.com #Redistrict
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
November 20, 2025 at 11:31 PM
WAPO: “.. Democrats, who once thought they would come up short in a gerrymandering war, are on track to net an estimated five seats.” 🤡
@washingtonpost.com #Redistrict
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
@washingtonpost.com #Redistrict
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Just wanna re-up in simple terms that when Biden talked to platforms, Jim Jordan launched years of investigations into everybody involved, said it was tyranny, censorship, etc.
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
DHS playing 'whack-a-mole' shooting down made-up ICE stories
The Department of Homeland Security is stepping up efforts to combat fake news, viral AI videos, and misinformation on ICE and Border Patrol.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
November 20, 2025 at 1:54 AM
Just wanna re-up in simple terms that when Biden talked to platforms, Jim Jordan launched years of investigations into everybody involved, said it was tyranny, censorship, etc.
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
And now they just straight up acknowledge that they talk to platforms too.
www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/crime/3...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
NEW: The appeals court panel rejected Trump's claim that the term "Big Lie" is defamatory and not simply a valid, subjective assessment of his effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
NEW: The appeals court panel rejected Trump's claim that the term "Big Lie" is defamatory and not simply a valid, subjective assessment of his effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
w/ @joshgerstein.bsky.social
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
mr president sir theres a story coming about how you intervened to help a sex criminal. no sir, not that sex criminal you helped….no not that one either…sir, please stop guessing sex criminals that you helped. ill give you a hint sir, hes a trafficker. no sir, not that trafficker a different one
NEW: When Andrew Tate landed in the US, Customs & Border Protection seized his electronic devices. But @propublica.org found that a White House official told DHS to return the devices, emphasizing that the request came from the White House.
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
By @robert-faturechi.bsky.social & Avi Asher-Schapiro
The White House Intervened on Behalf of Accused Sex Trafficker Andrew Tate During a Federal Investigation
Federal authorities were chided for seizing electronic devices from Tate and his brother, and told to return them, records and interviews show. Experts said the intervention was highly inappropriate.
www.propublica.org
November 18, 2025 at 1:10 PM
mr president sir theres a story coming about how you intervened to help a sex criminal. no sir, not that sex criminal you helped….no not that one either…sir, please stop guessing sex criminals that you helped. ill give you a hint sir, hes a trafficker. no sir, not that trafficker a different one
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Can confirm that Fox News totally ignored the press conference where Epstein survivors and lawmakers called for the release of the Epstein files.
Last week, they ignored key revelations from the Epstein emails. These omissions depict a false reality to their viewers.
Last week, they ignored key revelations from the Epstein emails. These omissions depict a false reality to their viewers.
November 18, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Can confirm that Fox News totally ignored the press conference where Epstein survivors and lawmakers called for the release of the Epstein files.
Last week, they ignored key revelations from the Epstein emails. These omissions depict a false reality to their viewers.
Last week, they ignored key revelations from the Epstein emails. These omissions depict a false reality to their viewers.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
An incredibly Trump-era headline theintercept.com/2025/11/17/p...
Pardoned Capitol Rioter Tried to Hush Child Sex Victim With Promise of Jan. 6 Reparation Money, Police Say
Pardoned Capitol rioter Andrew Johnson tried to keep a child sex abuse victim quiet with claimed $10 million Jan. 6 reparations, police say.
theintercept.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:57 AM
An incredibly Trump-era headline theintercept.com/2025/11/17/p...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Absolutely no way to read this and not conclude that the Department of Justice has been deeply corrupted. And this is from a time when career lawyers were in place, pushing back against illegality. With firings and resignations, the politicization will just get worse.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
60 Attorneys on the Year of Chaos Inside Trump’s Justice Department (Gift Article)
Sixty former staffers describe an environment of suspicion and intimidation within the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency.
www.nytimes.com
November 17, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Absolutely no way to read this and not conclude that the Department of Justice has been deeply corrupted. And this is from a time when career lawyers were in place, pushing back against illegality. With firings and resignations, the politicization will just get worse.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
“The influence that money played in securing this pardon is unprecedented,” says Elizabeth Oyer, former U.S. pardon attorney, about President Trump’s pardon of crypto billionaire Changpeng Zhao.
Zhao didn’t respond to 60 Minutes’ request for an interview. cbsn.ws/4806u9Y
Zhao didn’t respond to 60 Minutes’ request for an interview. cbsn.ws/4806u9Y
November 17, 2025 at 12:53 AM
“The influence that money played in securing this pardon is unprecedented,” says Elizabeth Oyer, former U.S. pardon attorney, about President Trump’s pardon of crypto billionaire Changpeng Zhao.
Zhao didn’t respond to 60 Minutes’ request for an interview. cbsn.ws/4806u9Y
Zhao didn’t respond to 60 Minutes’ request for an interview. cbsn.ws/4806u9Y