Will Bunch
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willbunch.bsky.social
Will Bunch
@willbunch.bsky.social
National opinion columnist, Philadelphia Inquirer; author of After the Ivory Tower Falls; free weekly newsletter at inquirer.com/bunch
Reposted by Will Bunch
In 1968, a soldier named Hugh Thompson defied orders to save Vietnamese lives during the My Lai massacre. Eventually seen as a hero, in real time he was vilified and nearly court-martialed

It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The Catch-22 around Trump’s illegal orders | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, Pennsylvania chooses a budget over the planet.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
shared with consent from friend who was on site for this latest gassing of neighbors gathering outside for their community in Minnesota.
November 25, 2025 at 10:15 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
Another stellar, must-read column by @willbunch.bsky.social and I also wholeheartedly agree with this assessment of the Anand Giridharadas op-ed in the NYT and have posted a gift link previously.
In 1968, a soldier named Hugh Thompson defied orders to save Vietnamese lives during the My Lai massacre. Eventually seen as a hero, in real time he was vilified and nearly court-martialed

It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The Catch-22 around Trump’s illegal orders | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, Pennsylvania chooses a budget over the planet.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:51 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
NEW: An MPR News journalist was among those hit by less-lethal munitions and taken from the scene by ambulance. www.mprnews.org/story/2025/1...
Another federal agent operation in St. Paul draws large crowds of protesters
Gov. Tim Walz said state officials were monitoring a “chaotic” situation “and working to understand what unfolded. We received no heads up from federal authorities on this operation.”
www.mprnews.org
November 25, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
Please read this story by @willbunch.bsky.social of Maj. Hugh Thompson's heroic actions which prevented U.S. troops from continuing their massacre at My Lai. When Thompson testified before Congress, SC Rep. Rivers said that Thompson should be the only one punished.

www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The Catch-22 around Trump’s illegal orders | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, Pennsylvania chooses a budget over the planet.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
It's @willbunch.bsky.social. It's a must-read.
-GIFT LINK-
share.inquirer.com/uMIjra
The Catch-22 around Trump’s illegal orders | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, Pennsylvania chooses a budget over the planet.
share.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
Thread, today in St. Paul, Minnesota raid and attacks by federal agents.

Dana Thiede, KARE11:

"As word spread about the operation unfolding on Rose Ave., neighbors and activists calling themselves 'constitutional observers' streamed in, holding phones in the air to videotape what was unfolding."
Federal agents launch another operation in St. Paul
A witness said the number of agents "just kept growin' and growin' and growin," as did an angry crowd that was eventually sprayed with chemical irritants.
www.kare11.com
November 25, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
November 25, 2025 at 8:37 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
Cristiano Ronaldo has magically had his ban reduced so he can start the World Cup. There is no precedent...but then he met the President. How depressing...

Column:

inews.co.uk/sport/footba...
Cristiano Ronaldo's World Cup reprieve stinks
Portugal star’s magic non-ban is depressingly inevitable
inews.co.uk
November 25, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
Every American should have this in their wallet:
November 25, 2025 at 5:01 PM
"Nothing is riding on this except the First Amendment of the Constitution, freedom of the press, and quite possibly, the future of the country." -- Ben Bradlee as portrayed by Jason Robards, "All the President's Men."

53 years later...
November 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
International enrollment dips at Pitt, CMU. Pennsylvania hosted 50,000+ international students last year, who spent an estimated $2 billion. State and local leaders are concerned with the drop off www.axios.com/local/pittsb...
Pittsburgh's top schools report dip in international students
Fewer international students could mean big losses for Pa.'s economy.
www.axios.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:40 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
I would decline to voluntarily cooperate. No way. Issue a subpoena and fight it out in court.
MS NOW confirms: The FBI is working with Capitol Police to schedule interviews with the six Democratic lawmakers who urged service members to refuse to comply with illegal orders.
November 25, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
"good people of both parties on Capitol Hill should be doing a lot more to invoke the War Powers Act, hold hearings, debate impeachment, and do whatever else they can to prevent Trump’s reckless acts in the Caribbean and elsewhere. In other words, stop illegal orders before they’re given."
In 1968, a soldier named Hugh Thompson defied orders to save Vietnamese lives during the My Lai massacre. Eventually seen as a hero, in real time he was vilified and nearly court-martialed

It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The Catch-22 around Trump’s illegal orders | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, Pennsylvania chooses a budget over the planet.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
David Rovics has good folk song about Hugh Thompson.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWtt...
November 25, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
"It’s better to stop Trump’s illegal orders than hope troops will disobey them."

Must-read here by @willbunch.bsky.social

And as any vet will tell you, he's spot on. There are way too many movies in people's heads where this issue is concerned.
In 1968, a soldier named Hugh Thompson defied orders to save Vietnamese lives during the My Lai massacre. Eventually seen as a hero, in real time he was vilified and nearly court-martialed

It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The Catch-22 around Trump’s illegal orders | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, Pennsylvania chooses a budget over the planet.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
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...
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
Reposted by Will Bunch
Sinclair is already too big. Plus, the last thing communities need is even more local TV stations spewing lies, conspiracy theories and hyper- partisan, pro trump propaganda.
apnews.com/article/sinc...
Broadcast giant Sinclair makes bid to buy out EW Scripps for $7 per share
Sinclair has submitted a bid to buy out E.W. Scripps for $7 per share, in a deal that could bring further consolidation across America’s local TV news landscape.
apnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
Terrible news.

Broadcast giant Sinclair makes bid to buy out EW Scripps for $7 per share

apnews.com/article/sinc...
Broadcast giant Sinclair makes bid to buy out EW Scripps for $7 per share
Sinclair has submitted a bid to buy out E.W. Scripps for $7 per share, in a deal that could bring further consolidation across America’s local TV news landscape.
apnews.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
If @willbunch.bsky.social wrote it, you should read it.©
In 1968, a soldier named Hugh Thompson defied orders to save Vietnamese lives during the My Lai massacre. Eventually seen as a hero, in real time he was vilified and nearly court-martialed

It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The Catch-22 around Trump’s illegal orders | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, Pennsylvania chooses a budget over the planet.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:53 PM
In 1968, a soldier named Hugh Thompson defied orders to save Vietnamese lives during the My Lai massacre. Eventually seen as a hero, in real time he was vilified and nearly court-martialed

It's Congress' job to stop Trump's war crimes, not the troops. My new column www.inquirer.com/columnists/a...
The Catch-22 around Trump’s illegal orders | Will Bunch Newsletter
Plus, Pennsylvania chooses a budget over the planet.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
What time do you get in?
Officially moving to Chicago tomorrow. I assume JB Pritzker will be waiting for me at the airport
November 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Reposted by Will Bunch
The new editor of CBS News thinks that Alan Dershowitz and Dana Loesch debating the 2nd Amendment is “news.”

So, pour one out tonight for the actual journalists at CBS who have to listen to this drivel in the am news meeting

(She also says Dersh is “charismatic,” but that’s the lesser horror)
1/2
November 25, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Reposted by Will Bunch
"Scientists strive to be apolitical, but they can’t keep politics out of their labs" | Great review of my new book with @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social, #ScienceUnderSiege, in the @latimes.com (and @yahoonews.com), courtesy of Michael Hiltzik: www.yahoo.com/news/article...
Hiltzik: Scientists strive to be apolitical, but they can't keep politics out of their labs
Since Galileo's time, politicians and ideologues have always tried to interfere with science. It's worse than ever today.
www.yahoo.com
September 13, 2025 at 12:50 PM
I can't think of a worse way to defeat fascism than pretending it's not here
OPINION: "Calling the president a fascist does nothing to advance the Democrats’ cause — and more of the party’s leaders would do well to realize that." — Jonathan Zimmerman
To defeat Trump, stop calling him names
Calling the president a fascist does nothing to advance the Democrats’ cause — and more of the party's leaders would do well to realize that, Jonathan Zimmerman writes.
www.inquirer.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:42 PM