James Frank
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James Frank
@smidg.in
28 followers 96 following 88 posts
General troublemaker
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Reposted by James Frank
greenleejw.bsky.social
It's election day! To all my fellow US folks: make sure you get out & vote. The eels demand it of you.

Eels, of course, are citizens of the world. So they can't vote in local elections, and they have to rely on you to do it for them.

Even if you won't vote for you, be a proxy vote for an eel!
🗃️🧪
Meme. Photograph of a New Zealand longfin eel underwater, looking expectantly at the camera. Despite not being a US citizen, this eel (we'll call him Vestiboing) is very concerned with the state of our politics. US policy sets the table for the world, and Vestaboing knows that only one of the major parties has anything like a passing interest in environmental conservation. Does he stand behind everything the Democratic Party does or says? Of course not. Does he wish for better national leadership in this time of trial and doubt? For sure. But will he let the perfect be the enemy of the good? No. He will not. That is not the way with eels. Nor should it be the way with any of us. Vestaboing's blue eye implore you. His fins float on currents of expectation. His nostrils are perky and hopeful. Don't crush his heart. Cast your vote for eels. For Vestaboing. Meme text reads: "It's eelection day! Go vote!"
November 4, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Reposted by James Frank
radiofreetom.bsky.social
Voters discover that hot stove, yet again, turns out to be hot
angrystaffer.bsky.social Angry @angrystaffer.bsky.social · 17d
Independents blame Trump and the GOP for the shutdown by a 2:1 margin.

Trump’s approval with people under 30 has completely cratered.

63% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s management of the federal government.

#GOPShutdown
October 30, 2025 at 6:31 PM
Reposted by James Frank
jentaub.bsky.social
Epstein Ballroom. That's what it is.
davejorgenson.bsky.social Dave Jorgenson @davejorgenson.bsky.social · 25d
Why does everyone keep calling it “The Epstein Ballroom?” Please stop repeating “The Epstein Ballroom” because it is not called “The Epstein Ballroom!” Don’t tell the news that it’s called “The Epstein Ballroom” and please don’t repost this!!!!!
October 23, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Reposted by James Frank
davejorgenson.bsky.social
Why does everyone keep calling it “The Epstein Ballroom?” Please stop repeating “The Epstein Ballroom” because it is not called “The Epstein Ballroom!” Don’t tell the news that it’s called “The Epstein Ballroom” and please don’t repost this!!!!!
October 22, 2025 at 10:33 PM
Reposted by James Frank
carlquintanilla.bsky.social
That’s some chyron. 👑

@atrupar.com
October 20, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Reposted by James Frank
anthonymkreis.bsky.social
Once again, I’m wondering why Democrats aren’t running with a straightforward message of “despotism is un-American and unaffordable” right now and all the way into the midterms.
October 8, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Reposted by James Frank
robertscotthorton.bsky.social
An arrest of a person due entirely to the person having dark skin color is now known across the country as a "Kavanaugh stop," based on Justice Kavanaugh's justification of the practice. slate.com/news-and-pol...
There’s a New Lawsuit Against “Kavanaugh Stops.” It’s Absolutely Devastating.
These detentions, far from the “brief” inconvenience the justice described, are often lengthy, violent, and dangerous.
slate.com
October 2, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Reposted by James Frank
akalhan.bsky.social
What we might refer to as a "Kavanaugh Stop"
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · Sep 25
WOW. The lead plaintiff is a Latino man who's been here legally for 24 years. He was grabbed off the street by plainclothes federal agents who didn't even ASK about his status.

He was detained overnight and only released once a supervisor realized he had been illegally arrested.
September 27, 2025 at 1:08 PM
Reposted by James Frank
elizabethjacobs.bsky.social
I often talk about the fact that MAGA does not access the same news as the left wing. I present to you Exhibit A.

Dr. Daskalakis’ resignation letter excoriated RFK Jr. and shared that RFK Jr. was lying to the public, manipulating data, and ordering unethical actions.

This what Fox News served.
Screenshot from Fox News that says CDC official includes 'pregnant people' terminology and pronouns in resignation letter Daskalakis accused President Trump's administration of attempting 'to erase transgender populations' By Alex Nitzberg • Fox News Published August 28, 2025 1:47pm EDT
August 28, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Reposted by James Frank
acyn.bsky.social
Pritzker: To the members of the press who are assembled here today and listening across the country, I am asking for your courage to tell it like it is. This is not a time to pretend here that there are two sides to this story.
August 25, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Time to buy a Colombian flag for the car.
kateross.bsky.social Kate Ross @kateross.bsky.social · Aug 21
White woman puts Mexican flag on her truck to waste ICE’s time.
Scooby I am as white as a hotel towel, and the closest thing to Mexican I am was a single all inclusive resort stay in Cancun. I put a Mexican flag sticker on my old Tacoma abd was promptly pulled over by ICE in San Antonio. I'm happy to waste their time 1d RookaTX This is the way Scooby • RookaTX Their big question was like, "why the sticker" I told them it was on the truck when I bought it-and they suggested I remove it. Obnoxious creatures. 1d
August 21, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Reposted by James Frank
gtconway.bsky.social
August 16, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Reposted by James Frank
kairyssdal.bsky.social
Okay, *now you can start to worry about data being manipulated.
kairyssdal.bsky.social Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · Aug 1
Corrupt. Dangerous. Deeply deeply damaging.
August 1, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Reposted by James Frank
kaskosz.bsky.social
“It’s not just that Trump wants to acclimate Americans to the sight of tanks in the streets. [..] The real problem is how the military may begin to see itself.”

A must-read by Hanna Rosin and Tom Nichols.

@radiofreetom.bsky.social

www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/arc...
The Real Problem with Trump’s Parade
The military may start to see itself differently.
www.theatlantic.com
June 14, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Reposted by James Frank
radiofreetom.bsky.social
I know everyone's been breathlessly waiting for what I was going to write about LA.

here you go - gifted

www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Trump Means to Provoke, Not Pacify
Don’t give him the pretext he wants.
www.theatlantic.com
June 8, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Reposted by James Frank
weratedogs.com
Please enjoy these shelter pups reacting to getting a kiss. Some are bashful, some have butterflies, and all deserve approximately 10 million more. 14/10 for all
May 14, 2025 at 10:09 PM
Reposted by James Frank
solomonrdavid.bsky.social
Gar Friend PART THREE:
The FINale!

My pet gar that I donated to Shedd Aquarium got sick and disfigured.

Ten years later, no one wanted her when it was time to find her a new home...
May 8, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Reposted by James Frank
michaelsderby.bsky.social
A reminder the tariff crisis ends as soon as congressional Republicans want it to end.
carlquintanilla.bsky.social Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · Apr 30
(AXIOS) - The Senate on Wednesday killed a resolution that would have effectively reversed President Trump's 10% tariffs on all imported goods, with just three Republicans joining with Democrats in support of the measure.

@axios.com
www.axios.com/2025/04/30/s...
Senate GOP leaders succeed in protecting Trump tariffs
It comes the same day the Commerce Department reported that the U.S. economy contracted by 0.3% in the first quarter — the first contraction in three years.
www.axios.com
April 30, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Reposted by James Frank
atrupar.com
complete batshit insanity
"Good luck to the Great people of Canada. Elect the man who has the strength and wisdom to cut your taxes in half, increase your military power, for free, to the highest level in the World, have your Car, Steel, Aluminum, Lumber, Energy, and all other businesses, QUADRUPLE in size, WITH ZERO TARIFFS OR TAXES, if Canada becomes the cherished 51st. State of the United States of America. No more artificially drawn line from many years ago. Look how beautiful this land mass would be. Free access with NO BORDER. ALL POSITIVES WITH NO NEGATIVES. IT WAS MEANT TO BE! America can no longer subsidize Canada with the Hundreds of Billions of Dollars a year that we have been spending in the past. It makes no sense unless Canada is a State!"
April 28, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Reposted by James Frank
gregsargent.bsky.social
Remarkable from WaPo poll: Trump sinking fast on immigration among independents.

56% disapprove of handling of issue
62% oppose removing foreign students
52% oppose renditions to El Salvador
Only 21% want Abrego Garcia left there

Engage, Dems.

New piece from me:
newrepublic.com/article/1944...
Trump Is Suddenly Bleeding Independents. A Brutal New Poll Shows Why.
Immigration was his best issue in the polls. But now he's sinking on it. Maybe Americans care about the rule of law after all.
newrepublic.com
April 25, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Yeah, went through this yesterday. Dick just assumes everything is black and white. No room for nuance.
gordonbloem.bsky.social Gordon M. Bloem @gordonbloem.bsky.social · Apr 23
While it turned out that Scott Adams was not a great guy, his comic strip occasionally captured the truth.
April 23, 2025 at 3:25 PM
This is hands down the best account on Bluesky (for eel related content).
greenleejw.bsky.social Surprised Eel Historian, PhD @greenleejw.bsky.social · Apr 21
Do you struggle finding gifts for people? Have you considered eels?

In 1494, the city of Cambridge gave John Morton -- the Archbishop & the king's Lord Chancellor -- 2 eels, 2 pikes, 2 tenches, and a flagon of sweet wine.

Just the thing for the cardinal who has it all.
🗃️🧪
Meme. Stained glass image of Cardinal Morton. He is wearing a the trappings of his office, including a wide-brimmed red had and a red robe. He seems to be holding a quill in his right hand, but it's hard to tell from the way I've cropped the image. He has an excellent white beard that, fittingly, is forked. You can see his earlobes, and he does not have gauges (or, at least, not in his left ear). His hair is pulled back and seems bushed. His eyebrows are active, through, crawling towards each other. The cardinal's eyes are grey and piercing, like the thorns of a shrike. He is looking down and to your right, as if there is a small child coming towards you, holding up a dead vole. Morton has the look of man who is suspicious of such childlike joys, and he likely has his quill ready to dash of a crushing haiku to destroy the youngling's self esteem: You're due slight regard little thing of dirt and snot worth less than my salt Meme text reads: "What a lovely gift I shall use my fork"
April 21, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Reposted by James Frank
mollyjongfast.bsky.social
People want institutions to stand up

www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
April 17, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Reposted by James Frank
kenwhite.bsky.social
I enthusiastically aid and abet terrorism.
meidastouch.com MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · Apr 17
JUST IN: Deputy Assistant to the President and "Counterterrorism Czar" Sebastian Gorka says anyone advocating for due process for Kilmar Abrego Garcia could be viewed as "aiding and abetting a terrorist" and be federally charged. (h/t Philip Germain)
April 17, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Reposted by James Frank
greenleejw.bsky.social
Can a love of eels wind you up in hell? Let's ask Pope Martin IV! Martin (d.1285) was a famous eel eater, and he may have died from overindulging in them.

Dante put Martin w/ the gluttons in Purgatory, suffering in death for a life spent enjoying eels cooked in wine. 1/2
🗃️🧪
Meme. Medieval painting of Pope Martin IV being addressed by a group of nobles and/or kings. Martin is seated, and is holding a book in his right hand. The book is in his lap, and he's holding it open with his thumb. His left hand is at his breast, like he's pointing at himself as if to say "Who, me?" He's wearing a pink-ish robe and a lovely white pope hat. The men gathered before him appear to be the head of a large throng. The men at the front are wearing crowns and rich robes. Most of them are extending their left hands towards Marty -- not pointing fingers, with with palms extended like they're begging for change. The people further back also have their hands out. It's amusing to imagine this as a musical about papal hijinks, where the crowd has been doing a dance number, and it's concluded with a dramatic moment where they step back to reveal the new pope. He's about to sing the heartrending solo, "What If I Vatican't?" Meme text reads: "Hell is other people Eating my eels"
April 15, 2025 at 2:33 PM