Con Flambers
@themagicconch19.bsky.social
Wisconsin politics and other things. Certified EMT. Opinions are mine and mine alone. He/him
Blog doing deep dives on politics and history here - https://delving-deeper.ghost.io.
Blog doing deep dives on politics and history here - https://delving-deeper.ghost.io.
Pinned
Con Flambers
@themagicconch19.bsky.social
· Jun 22
I saw a raccoon and a deer chowing down on some foliage on the side of the road while driving home tonight... this is what solidarity looks like...
This guy rules and I'm glad we have people like him in the fight
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 6:16 PM
This guy rules and I'm glad we have people like him in the fight
Reposted by Con Flambers
Yes. This is it. Some people believe their politics; other people adopt politics as an excuse to hurt other people for fun and tell themselves it’s for a good cause and they can’t be blamed.
The internet has let all the people in the latter group find each other and make better rationalizations.
The internet has let all the people in the latter group find each other and make better rationalizations.
I often think the real ideological divide online is not really ideology by whether politics exists as a permission structure for behaviour or not
February 14, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Yes. This is it. Some people believe their politics; other people adopt politics as an excuse to hurt other people for fun and tell themselves it’s for a good cause and they can’t be blamed.
The internet has let all the people in the latter group find each other and make better rationalizations.
The internet has let all the people in the latter group find each other and make better rationalizations.
One wonders why the admin seems so supportive of rapists and sex criminals?
That's rhetorical. We know why.
That's rhetorical. We know why.
Feel like it's worth pointing out while we discuss Trump's culpability re: Epstein that his admin pressured Romania to bring the Tate brothers to the US, despite them being wanted there for sexual assault of a minor and sex trafficking charges.
But wait - there's more. (1/5)
But wait - there's more. (1/5)
February 14, 2026 at 6:12 PM
One wonders why the admin seems so supportive of rapists and sex criminals?
That's rhetorical. We know why.
That's rhetorical. We know why.
Feel like it's worth pointing out while we discuss Trump's culpability re: Epstein that his admin pressured Romania to bring the Tate brothers to the US, despite them being wanted there for sexual assault of a minor and sex trafficking charges.
But wait - there's more. (1/5)
But wait - there's more. (1/5)
February 14, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Feel like it's worth pointing out while we discuss Trump's culpability re: Epstein that his admin pressured Romania to bring the Tate brothers to the US, despite them being wanted there for sexual assault of a minor and sex trafficking charges.
But wait - there's more. (1/5)
But wait - there's more. (1/5)
Reposted by Con Flambers
Reposted by Con Flambers
It’s so funny to think about the fact that there’s people out there deferring every life decision to this
February 14, 2026 at 9:53 AM
It’s so funny to think about the fact that there’s people out there deferring every life decision to this
Reposted by Con Flambers
Some people automatically go into this “Well, what’s the other side of the story?” pose. But the answer is that there is no other side. They’re 100% doing the things we accuse them of, and then lying, despite voluminous evidence.
February 14, 2026 at 8:00 AM
Some people automatically go into this “Well, what’s the other side of the story?” pose. But the answer is that there is no other side. They’re 100% doing the things we accuse them of, and then lying, despite voluminous evidence.
Reposted by Con Flambers
this is why i am laser-focused on paying rent for people right now.
the second a family is evicted, the costs of everything explode. lives are disrupted, new schools have to be found, people are in physical danger, and then they are so much harder to rehouse with an eviction on their record.
the second a family is evicted, the costs of everything explode. lives are disrupted, new schools have to be found, people are in physical danger, and then they are so much harder to rehouse with an eviction on their record.
so many families are in awful positions because ICE’s bullshit has collapsed the already fragile social safety net.
this family is living in their van in minnesota in winter. they’ve applied for help at over a dozen orgs and are still unhoused. with babies.
this family is living in their van in minnesota in winter. they’ve applied for help at over a dozen orgs and are still unhoused. with babies.
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February 13, 2026 at 9:29 PM
this is why i am laser-focused on paying rent for people right now.
the second a family is evicted, the costs of everything explode. lives are disrupted, new schools have to be found, people are in physical danger, and then they are so much harder to rehouse with an eviction on their record.
the second a family is evicted, the costs of everything explode. lives are disrupted, new schools have to be found, people are in physical danger, and then they are so much harder to rehouse with an eviction on their record.
Reposted by Con Flambers
One of the terrible things about the ICE occupation of Minneapolis is that they’ve been doing stuff that is so crazy that people assume it’s some kind of exaggeration, despite being widely documented on video. Following observers home! Lurking outside elementary schools! Black-bagging citizens!
February 14, 2026 at 7:54 AM
One of the terrible things about the ICE occupation of Minneapolis is that they’ve been doing stuff that is so crazy that people assume it’s some kind of exaggeration, despite being widely documented on video. Following observers home! Lurking outside elementary schools! Black-bagging citizens!
Reposted by Con Flambers
Glad this is getting covered, but also… Completely surreal to read the NYT report on this as recently disclosed info, and just an allegation. This happened to every observer I know! It happened to me twice! I have it on video both times! www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/u...
February 14, 2026 at 7:48 AM
Glad this is getting covered, but also… Completely surreal to read the NYT report on this as recently disclosed info, and just an allegation. This happened to every observer I know! It happened to me twice! I have it on video both times! www.nytimes.com/2026/02/13/u...
I'm refraining from too much 2028 talk, because what's in front of this year matters far more, but I will say...
I think most savvy Dem pols know people are angry, know that the base wants a more confrontational stance toward the Republicans, know that people want accountability, etc. (1/2)
I think most savvy Dem pols know people are angry, know that the base wants a more confrontational stance toward the Republicans, know that people want accountability, etc. (1/2)
February 14, 2026 at 4:21 AM
I'm refraining from too much 2028 talk, because what's in front of this year matters far more, but I will say...
I think most savvy Dem pols know people are angry, know that the base wants a more confrontational stance toward the Republicans, know that people want accountability, etc. (1/2)
I think most savvy Dem pols know people are angry, know that the base wants a more confrontational stance toward the Republicans, know that people want accountability, etc. (1/2)
Reposted by Con Flambers
Can’t stop, won’t stop
February 14, 2026 at 1:06 AM
Can’t stop, won’t stop
A fact I didn't learn recently is that what was arguably the largest massacre of civilians during the Vietnam War was carried out by the Viet Cong and the NVA, not the South and the US. As the saying goes, "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacr...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacr...
February 14, 2026 at 2:50 AM
A fact I didn't learn recently is that what was arguably the largest massacre of civilians during the Vietnam War was carried out by the Viet Cong and the NVA, not the South and the US. As the saying goes, "One man's terrorist is another man's freedom fighter."
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacr...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massacr...
Trump making that comment about how America started being "politically correct" in how it fought wars I feel like is a pretty common thing you hear from the right re: Vietnam. As if we didn't carpet bomb much of the country and kill 100,000s of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians alike.
February 14, 2026 at 2:43 AM
Trump making that comment about how America started being "politically correct" in how it fought wars I feel like is a pretty common thing you hear from the right re: Vietnam. As if we didn't carpet bomb much of the country and kill 100,000s of Vietnamese soldiers and civilians alike.
I feel like childcare is just generally a hard field to work in - I'd know that, because I work in it - but it's especially hard in midwinter. Kids are going stir crazy, spring still feels in the distant future for them, not a whole lot of big events to look forward to ... it results in Behaviors ™️
February 14, 2026 at 1:29 AM
I feel like childcare is just generally a hard field to work in - I'd know that, because I work in it - but it's especially hard in midwinter. Kids are going stir crazy, spring still feels in the distant future for them, not a whole lot of big events to look forward to ... it results in Behaviors ™️
One thing I appreciate about @fiftyplusone.news's aggregator for presidential polls is that it recognizes that there's a lot of Republican pollsters trying to skew Trump's numbers, and it weights accordingly. So their boy is currently sitting at a cool... 38%.
fiftyplusone.news/polls/approv...
fiftyplusone.news/polls/approv...
FiftyPlusOne - Latest Political Polls and Averages
A comprehensive list of polls and polling averages for elections and politician approval.
fiftyplusone.news
February 13, 2026 at 7:00 PM
One thing I appreciate about @fiftyplusone.news's aggregator for presidential polls is that it recognizes that there's a lot of Republican pollsters trying to skew Trump's numbers, and it weights accordingly. So their boy is currently sitting at a cool... 38%.
fiftyplusone.news/polls/approv...
fiftyplusone.news/polls/approv...
USAID's dismantling alone demolishes into the dirt "Democrat = Republican" arguments, I can see why that crowd ignores it entirely.
February 13, 2026 at 6:50 PM
USAID's dismantling alone demolishes into the dirt "Democrat = Republican" arguments, I can see why that crowd ignores it entirely.
I still think about this pic.
Every ICE agent will be held to account.
Every ICE agent will be held to account.
I hope some newspapers use a crop where you can easily read the sign.
February 13, 2026 at 6:33 PM
I still think about this pic.
Every ICE agent will be held to account.
Every ICE agent will be held to account.
There can be this weird social pressure to not show these kinds of emotions, because they are not "productive" or "constructive." And sure, yeah, you can't fight back if you're constantly overcome with rage. But also: repressing stuff is bad, and again... being angry at this admin is a good thing.
Pretty much the only reason I am not in a constant rage is because I refuse to let these people have that kind of control over me. But I also think it's very important to honor our anger at the evil things they do, which is why I acknowledge it instead of trying to immediately move on from it.
February 13, 2026 at 5:52 PM
There can be this weird social pressure to not show these kinds of emotions, because they are not "productive" or "constructive." And sure, yeah, you can't fight back if you're constantly overcome with rage. But also: repressing stuff is bad, and again... being angry at this admin is a good thing.
I hate this administration and those who defend it so much, it's actually unbelievable. I keep downing Haterade and then these ghouls put down 10 more barrels of it.
February 13, 2026 at 5:49 PM
I hate this administration and those who defend it so much, it's actually unbelievable. I keep downing Haterade and then these ghouls put down 10 more barrels of it.
Reposted by Con Flambers
Kristi Noem is first and foremost a rural landowner/business operator and she is bringing that same attitude to the government
The details of the Kristi Noem blanket incident are just fucking perfect
February 13, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Kristi Noem is first and foremost a rural landowner/business operator and she is bringing that same attitude to the government
"Ukrainians have taught me, in a very real way, what it means to fight and sacrifice for things." - line from an upcoming piece I'm working on for the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
February 13, 2026 at 7:27 AM
"Ukrainians have taught me, in a very real way, what it means to fight and sacrifice for things." - line from an upcoming piece I'm working on for the fourth anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion.
Reposted by Con Flambers
They think good is weak & evil is based, because they are wicked. ICE is doing wicked things & hiring wicked men to do them. It is difficult to look such a thing in the eye, but that is all there there is to them
This is just unconscionable man
February 13, 2026 at 1:49 AM
They think good is weak & evil is based, because they are wicked. ICE is doing wicked things & hiring wicked men to do them. It is difficult to look such a thing in the eye, but that is all there there is to them
I get the temptation to dunk on this guy, he's definitely earned it, but the fact is... coming out of this is gonna depend in part on guys like this lol
“Everything he was doing to make America great I was cool with up until he started messing with the immigrants,” said Andre Lewis, 32, who lives in White Bear Lake.
Gotta love the American voter
www.startribune.com/minnesotas-s...
Gotta love the American voter
www.startribune.com/minnesotas-s...
Minnesota’s suburbs are an election battleground. Trump’s immigration surge is unpopular there.
A new poll shows suburban residents and independents aligning more with Twin Cities residents in opposing Trump’s crackdown and immigration agents’ tactics.
www.startribune.com
February 13, 2026 at 6:06 AM
I get the temptation to dunk on this guy, he's definitely earned it, but the fact is... coming out of this is gonna depend in part on guys like this lol