@smard2.bsky.social
Writer, wife, mother, policy nerd. Can't help it, I was born that way. Just the facts please...they don't lie.
America has always had a seedy underbelly of ignorance and racism. I suppose many other countries do too.
New in PN: @anneapplebaum.bsky.social on Trump's betrayal of Europe
"They’re bewildered we’ve allowed this to happen. And yes, you do hear Europeans saying, 'why aren’t people protesting?' This all comes as a real shock to people who had a different expectation of what America was."
"They’re bewildered we’ve allowed this to happen. And yes, you do hear Europeans saying, 'why aren’t people protesting?' This all comes as a real shock to people who had a different expectation of what America was."
Anne Applebaum on Trump's betrayal of Europe
"They’re bewildered we’ve allowed this to happen."
www.publicnotice.co
February 7, 2026 at 3:56 PM
America has always had a seedy underbelly of ignorance and racism. I suppose many other countries do too.
2/2 - And progressives, I aren’t exclusively Democrats. Think Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower. The GOP champions business, that’s fine, we need commerce. But for the average person, progressives have made life safer & freer from corporate greed. Regulation is almost always born from abuses.
February 6, 2026 at 1:52 PM
2/2 - And progressives, I aren’t exclusively Democrats. Think Teddy Roosevelt and Dwight Eisenhower. The GOP champions business, that’s fine, we need commerce. But for the average person, progressives have made life safer & freer from corporate greed. Regulation is almost always born from abuses.
1/2 - Most of what has improved the lives of American people has been delivered by progressives: the 5-day work week, the 8-hour work day, child labor laws, workman’s comp, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Civil Rights, women’s rights, consumer safety, even the ACA is a consumer protection law.
February 6, 2026 at 1:52 PM
1/2 - Most of what has improved the lives of American people has been delivered by progressives: the 5-day work week, the 8-hour work day, child labor laws, workman’s comp, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, Civil Rights, women’s rights, consumer safety, even the ACA is a consumer protection law.
Of course you can sell it for $2/month if you’re only going to run canned content and opinion columns. No offense to the many talented op-ed writers, but in the immortal words of David Niven, “Sir, your opinion of me has no cash value.” (We’re No Angels - 1955).
I was curious to see what the WashPost would do to retain subscribers, so I started the cancellation process -- and they came back with a $2/month offer, which is crazy
February 4, 2026 at 6:34 PM
Of course you can sell it for $2/month if you’re only going to run canned content and opinion columns. No offense to the many talented op-ed writers, but in the immortal words of David Niven, “Sir, your opinion of me has no cash value.” (We’re No Angels - 1955).
This is such a dark time. And not for nothing, but rhetoric denouncing abusive enforcement tactics is not criminal behavior. Full stop.
This statement from our government is deeply disturbing. Homan said 158 people were arrested during the protests and added, “I said if the hateful rhetoric did not stop, there would be bloodshed and there was.”
February 4, 2026 at 4:06 PM
This is such a dark time. And not for nothing, but rhetoric denouncing abusive enforcement tactics is not criminal behavior. Full stop.
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initially claimed Alberto Castañeda Mondragón had tried to flee while handcuffed and “purposefully ran headfirst into a brick wall,” according to court documents...” - Boston Globe 1/31. AP reporting
The man had five fractures of the skull. I call BS.
The man had five fractures of the skull. I call BS.
January 31, 2026 at 3:37 PM
“Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents initially claimed Alberto Castañeda Mondragón had tried to flee while handcuffed and “purposefully ran headfirst into a brick wall,” according to court documents...” - Boston Globe 1/31. AP reporting
The man had five fractures of the skull. I call BS.
The man had five fractures of the skull. I call BS.
Chef's kiss to whoever wrote this headline.
The reviews for “Melania” are going to be far more entertaining than the movie. What a fabulous headline:
January 30, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Chef's kiss to whoever wrote this headline.
I'm an American and I hate America right now.
January 30, 2026 at 7:19 PM
I'm an American and I hate America right now.
Reposted
Looking at the mug shots Bondi posted of folks who allegedly impeded ICE officers... I'm reminded me of some of the iconic 1960s images of 'criminals' from counter sitins and freedom rides
January 29, 2026 at 10:35 PM
Looking at the mug shots Bondi posted of folks who allegedly impeded ICE officers... I'm reminded me of some of the iconic 1960s images of 'criminals' from counter sitins and freedom rides
Actually, I do. I spent 4 yrs researching & writing exhibits for RKO in the 80s during their legal fight to retain their licenses before deregulation.
News is defined by a commitment to accuracy through verification of facts, among other things. No ministry of truth, just good faith reporting.
News is defined by a commitment to accuracy through verification of facts, among other things. No ministry of truth, just good faith reporting.
January 29, 2026 at 9:07 PM
Actually, I do. I spent 4 yrs researching & writing exhibits for RKO in the 80s during their legal fight to retain their licenses before deregulation.
News is defined by a commitment to accuracy through verification of facts, among other things. No ministry of truth, just good faith reporting.
News is defined by a commitment to accuracy through verification of facts, among other things. No ministry of truth, just good faith reporting.
Didn't realize that. I'm not arguing for fascism, but for some kind of regulatory effort that prevents/punishes lies. FOX News pundits acknowledged they knew Trump lost in 2020, but as an entertainment platform are not held to the same standards as news stations. Thanks for the clarification.
January 29, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Didn't realize that. I'm not arguing for fascism, but for some kind of regulatory effort that prevents/punishes lies. FOX News pundits acknowledged they knew Trump lost in 2020, but as an entertainment platform are not held to the same standards as news stations. Thanks for the clarification.
This is unconscionable.
Jasmine Crockett: "I am gravely concerned about Liam Ramos and all the children we were able to see. They are depressed, not getting education, not eating, throwing up, there are reports of issues with the water - his eyes never opened the entire time we were there."
January 29, 2026 at 8:22 PM
This is unconscionable.
Home values in my state have tripled in the last 25 years. Without an entry level market all housing loses value and we are all poorer.
Trump: "People that own their homes -- we're gonna keep them wealthy. We're gonna keep those prices up. We're not gonna destroy the value of their homes so that somebody who didn't work very hard can buy a home."
January 29, 2026 at 8:21 PM
Home values in my state have tripled in the last 25 years. Without an entry level market all housing loses value and we are all poorer.
Reposted
Gov. Landry: "I like to ask Democrats if they like their communities to be dangerous or safe. Do they want their children to be able to walk to school or do they want to worry if they send them on the sidewalks, that unfortunate violent things are going to happen to them?"
January 29, 2026 at 4:19 PM
Gov. Landry: "I like to ask Democrats if they like their communities to be dangerous or safe. Do they want their children to be able to walk to school or do they want to worry if they send them on the sidewalks, that unfortunate violent things are going to happen to them?"
TRUMP: "you can't have guns."
REPORTER: What about the 2nd amendment?
TRUMP: "We'll work something out..."
Who does he think he is, James Madison?
REPORTER: What about the 2nd amendment?
TRUMP: "We'll work something out..."
Who does he think he is, James Madison?
Trump: You can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns. It's a very unfortunate thing.
January 27, 2026 at 6:48 PM
TRUMP: "you can't have guns."
REPORTER: What about the 2nd amendment?
TRUMP: "We'll work something out..."
Who does he think he is, James Madison?
REPORTER: What about the 2nd amendment?
TRUMP: "We'll work something out..."
Who does he think he is, James Madison?
"...AND the man they killed"????? Like, as in, Renee Goode's wife???? WTF!?
Breaking MS NOW:
Trump's Justice Department has decided there will be no civil rights investigation of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, and instead two units of DHS will investigate their own officers and the man they killed.
Trump's Justice Department has decided there will be no civil rights investigation of the fatal shooting of Alex Pretti, and instead two units of DHS will investigate their own officers and the man they killed.
No civil rights violation probe into latest MN shooting, sources tell MS NOW
As DHS takes over the federal investigation, current and former law enforcement agents warn that Trump’s DOJ isn’t committed to facts or fairness.
www.ms.now
January 27, 2026 at 6:35 PM
"...AND the man they killed"????? Like, as in, Renee Goode's wife???? WTF!?
Reposted
One year into Trump’s second term, some journalists have been “surprised” by the administration’s organized agenda. But Project 2025 was publicly available. Advocacy groups read it and warned us. The press read it and… 🤷♀️ www.readtpa.com/p/this-is-li...
This is Literally the Job
Political journalists need to stop pretending they don't know what Republicans are going to do.
www.readtpa.com
January 27, 2026 at 6:06 PM
One year into Trump’s second term, some journalists have been “surprised” by the administration’s organized agenda. But Project 2025 was publicly available. Advocacy groups read it and warned us. The press read it and… 🤷♀️ www.readtpa.com/p/this-is-li...
The NYTimes reported the individual ICE said it was pursuing when Pretti was murdered had no violent criminal record, just traffic violations.
Our government is harassing, assaulting and killing people to make them afraid. There was never a good reason, no high value criminal immigrant target.
Our government is harassing, assaulting and killing people to make them afraid. There was never a good reason, no high value criminal immigrant target.
January 27, 2026 at 4:17 PM
The NYTimes reported the individual ICE said it was pursuing when Pretti was murdered had no violent criminal record, just traffic violations.
Our government is harassing, assaulting and killing people to make them afraid. There was never a good reason, no high value criminal immigrant target.
Our government is harassing, assaulting and killing people to make them afraid. There was never a good reason, no high value criminal immigrant target.
I'm so sick and tired of the "we've got to turn the rhetoric down on both sides" talk. It's disgusting. There is only one side murdering people - and it ain't the left.
WE don't have to do anything. The admin needs to stop murdering citizens exercising their first amendment rights.
WE don't have to do anything. The admin needs to stop murdering citizens exercising their first amendment rights.
January 27, 2026 at 3:34 PM
I'm so sick and tired of the "we've got to turn the rhetoric down on both sides" talk. It's disgusting. There is only one side murdering people - and it ain't the left.
WE don't have to do anything. The admin needs to stop murdering citizens exercising their first amendment rights.
WE don't have to do anything. The admin needs to stop murdering citizens exercising their first amendment rights.
Congressional reps and senators haven't seen the video(s)?!?! Or do they just claim not to have seen them?
Duckworth on Senate Republicans: "I gotta be honest with you. When I talk to a few of my colleagues, they had not even seen the videos. It's almost like they put blinders on. They're uneasy."
January 27, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Congressional reps and senators haven't seen the video(s)?!?! Or do they just claim not to have seen them?
It's called extortion.
Ellison: "We have the right as a state, as a co-sovereign, to do our own business with our own tax money. What the federal govt has said is, 'if you don't do it our way, we're gonna saturate your state with 4,000 ICE agents until you cry uncle and obey us.' That's unconstitutional and illegal."
January 27, 2026 at 3:10 PM
It's called extortion.
DOJ lawyer tells Judge Menendez he doesn't know how many federal agents are in MN, hasn't seen Trump's post about "day of retribution". House Speaker claims he doesn't know Trump is seeking $230 million from DOJ, hasn't seen Epstein reports, or even about the about Qatari jet gift...WTF! They know.
January 26, 2026 at 6:44 PM
DOJ lawyer tells Judge Menendez he doesn't know how many federal agents are in MN, hasn't seen Trump's post about "day of retribution". House Speaker claims he doesn't know Trump is seeking $230 million from DOJ, hasn't seen Epstein reports, or even about the about Qatari jet gift...WTF! They know.
Same peculiar affliction happens to the Speaker of the House and other members of Congress when asked about Trump's statements or threats.
January 26, 2026 at 6:20 PM
Same peculiar affliction happens to the Speaker of the House and other members of Congress when asked about Trump's statements or threats.
Reposted
Kash Patel: "You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple. You don't have a right to break the law." (Pretti was carrying a gun legally.)
January 25, 2026 at 3:34 PM
Kash Patel: "You cannot bring a firearm, loaded, with multiple magazines to any sort of protest that you want. It's that simple. You don't have a right to break the law." (Pretti was carrying a gun legally.)
Reposted
Filming the police is not obstruction.
Filming the police is not resisting.
Refusing to stop filming police is not resisting.
Holding onto your phone is not resisting.
Federal agents under this admin have zero respect for rights and liberties.
Filming the police is not resisting.
Refusing to stop filming police is not resisting.
Holding onto your phone is not resisting.
Federal agents under this admin have zero respect for rights and liberties.
January 25, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Filming the police is not obstruction.
Filming the police is not resisting.
Refusing to stop filming police is not resisting.
Holding onto your phone is not resisting.
Federal agents under this admin have zero respect for rights and liberties.
Filming the police is not resisting.
Refusing to stop filming police is not resisting.
Holding onto your phone is not resisting.
Federal agents under this admin have zero respect for rights and liberties.