Anson Burlingame
@ansonburlingame.bsky.social
"...she knew, in her clear head, that these outrages came not from the generous hearts of the American people.
She knew that, when Justice should finally assume the reigns of the Government, all will be well."
~US Sen. Anson Burlingame
June 21, 1856
She knew that, when Justice should finally assume the reigns of the Government, all will be well."
~US Sen. Anson Burlingame
June 21, 1856
Pinned
Understanding the Cuts | US Debt in Perspective
An interactive exploration of the US national debt, scaled down to comprehensible numbers to help understand the true scale of government finances.
www.debtinperspective.com
"The national debt is being used to justify spending cuts but do these cuts actually reduce it?"
www.debtinperspective.com
www.debtinperspective.com
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Ohio reports that about 8,000 ballots arrived in its four-day grace period in November 2024. Under the law that state legislators just passed, all of these ballots would have been tossed out.
Ohio Bans Grace Periods for Mail Ballots, Fulfilling Trump’s Wishes
Ohio is the fourth GOP-run state this year to ban ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive after. A Supreme Court case could force that policy nationwide next year.
boltsmag.org
December 27, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Ohio reports that about 8,000 ballots arrived in its four-day grace period in November 2024. Under the law that state legislators just passed, all of these ballots would have been tossed out.
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Trump wants no more Epstein files released, and the whole Epstein story to go away. Why could that be?
December 26, 2025 at 11:44 PM
Trump wants no more Epstein files released, and the whole Epstein story to go away. Why could that be?
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Louisiana is the only state where justices of the peace can pad their own salaries with eviction fees—a rule that critics warn incentivizes them to rule in favor of landlords and grant evictions.
In Louisiana, Some Court Officials Get Paid to Evict
Justices of the peace can line their pockets by granting evictions. A new lawsuit argues that’s unconstitutional.
boltsmag.org
December 27, 2025 at 1:00 AM
Louisiana is the only state where justices of the peace can pad their own salaries with eviction fees—a rule that critics warn incentivizes them to rule in favor of landlords and grant evictions.
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
GOP operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, convicted election fraudsters, were paid $960,000 in the second quarter to secure a pardon for a former nursing-home operator who defrauded the government of $38 million. Trump pardoned the man, Joseph Schwartz, last month.
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon
Even some of the president’s closest advisers have been surprised by a number of the recent series of pardons.
www.wsj.com
December 25, 2025 at 10:35 PM
GOP operatives Jacob Wohl and Jack Burkman, convicted election fraudsters, were paid $960,000 in the second quarter to secure a pardon for a former nursing-home operator who defrauded the government of $38 million. Trump pardoned the man, Joseph Schwartz, last month.
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Ya'll the footnotes. I have never seen anything like this.
![2 In its public-facing statements, the DOJ appears determined to project two images: it, the great protector of culture and children, see discussions supra; and it, the champion of the faithfuloppressed (mostly, Christians, although sometimes with the slightest pinch of “Judeo-”). See, e.g., DOJ press release of Apr. 22, 2025 (celebrating “the inaugural meeting of the Task Force to Eradicate Anti-Christian Bias in the federal government,” where the AG “was joined by peaceful Christian Americans who were unfairly targeted by the [prior a]dministration”; discussions included “efforts to push radical and anti-Christian gender ideology on kids in classrooms, foster care, sports, and healthcare”). These perceived imperatives have formed an unholy alliance, from the perspective of transgender people, who find themselves in an increasingly inhospitable environment. Justice Alito has acknowledged “the discrimination” and “disadvantage[]” facing the transgender community today. Skrmetti at 577. It also is of great concern, for those who value the separation of church and state, to see the Department of Justice cavalierly blurring the lines. See also, e.g., press releases dated Sept. 9, and Sept. 30, 2025 (second and third hearings regarding “threats to religious liberty in education,” which ‒ of course ‒ included matters of gender transition).](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:24vva42nxim6zbcmnozegoef/bafkreifolehrzbx4tqud53zwep5fps47jbuvsea7gvprwey7m2mlju42ha@jpeg)
December 25, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Ya'll the footnotes. I have never seen anything like this.
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Have you looked at why RiteAid and thousands of independent pharmacies went out of business, and Walgreens was broke before being bought ? Do you understand who creates the horrific economics for non captive pharmacies ? Of course you don't.
Spend that same energy pushing to break up insurers
Spend that same energy pushing to break up insurers
After buying it for $18.8 billion, Walgreens' new private equity owner has eliminated paid holidays for all hourly workers on Christmas and New Year's.
Last year, Walgreens had a CEO-to-Worker pay gap of 410 to 1.
Corporate greed that would make even Scrooge blush.
Last year, Walgreens had a CEO-to-Worker pay gap of 410 to 1.
Corporate greed that would make even Scrooge blush.
December 25, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Have you looked at why RiteAid and thousands of independent pharmacies went out of business, and Walgreens was broke before being bought ? Do you understand who creates the horrific economics for non captive pharmacies ? Of course you don't.
Spend that same energy pushing to break up insurers
Spend that same energy pushing to break up insurers
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
When I read the DOJ statement, I just thought, what clowns. But after a moment’s thought I am more incredulous and suspicious.
A million documents? When they’ve been on high alert for months? And DOJ and FBI do have filing systems. (That’s why they’re the Epstein FILES.)
Something’s rotten in DOJ.
A million documents? When they’ve been on high alert for months? And DOJ and FBI do have filing systems. (That’s why they’re the Epstein FILES.)
Something’s rotten in DOJ.
December 25, 2025 at 12:37 AM
When I read the DOJ statement, I just thought, what clowns. But after a moment’s thought I am more incredulous and suspicious.
A million documents? When they’ve been on high alert for months? And DOJ and FBI do have filing systems. (That’s why they’re the Epstein FILES.)
Something’s rotten in DOJ.
A million documents? When they’ve been on high alert for months? And DOJ and FBI do have filing systems. (That’s why they’re the Epstein FILES.)
Something’s rotten in DOJ.
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
“Making incarcerated people pay for communication has a regressive effect on their well-being, on their improvement in prison, and after they are released,” says Wanda Betram, a spokesperson for the Prison Policy Initiative.
Priced Out of Phone Calls Home
The FCC blocked Biden-era limits on the exorbitant rates and fees charged by prison telecom companies, leaving incarcerated people and their families to fight for state-level reforms.
boltsmag.org
December 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
“Making incarcerated people pay for communication has a regressive effect on their well-being, on their improvement in prison, and after they are released,” says Wanda Betram, a spokesperson for the Prison Policy Initiative.
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
This community note
December 24, 2025 at 4:05 AM
This community note
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
December 24, 2025 at 3:33 AM
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
The charitable take is that the DOJ bungled the Epstein file release. The honest one is that this is by design. Cause confusion as a cover-up. Keep the shiny object moving.
If you can’t keep up, this is a solid recap of last night’s document dump — holiday edition.
If you can’t keep up, this is a solid recap of last night’s document dump — holiday edition.
December 24, 2025 at 2:48 AM
The charitable take is that the DOJ bungled the Epstein file release. The honest one is that this is by design. Cause confusion as a cover-up. Keep the shiny object moving.
If you can’t keep up, this is a solid recap of last night’s document dump — holiday edition.
If you can’t keep up, this is a solid recap of last night’s document dump — holiday edition.
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Want to emphasize that this GOP-held seat became vacant for one of the most appalling reasons possible
December 24, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Want to emphasize that this GOP-held seat became vacant for one of the most appalling reasons possible
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
"Voters did not think ... they think he just says crazy things and maybe he would try to do it, but the United States itself is a strong enough institution to stop anything really terrible from happening. And I think that’s a lesson to be learned." trib.al/X9RPKGP
December 24, 2025 at 12:12 AM
"Voters did not think ... they think he just says crazy things and maybe he would try to do it, but the United States itself is a strong enough institution to stop anything really terrible from happening. And I think that’s a lesson to be learned." trib.al/X9RPKGP
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Forest and trees re Epstein documents, as of now.
Trees: Controversies about particular documents.
Forest: Virtually none of the key documents, ones that we know exist, the ones the victims and knowledgeable observers have been demanding to see, have been released.
And so the coverup continues.
Trees: Controversies about particular documents.
Forest: Virtually none of the key documents, ones that we know exist, the ones the victims and knowledgeable observers have been demanding to see, have been released.
And so the coverup continues.
December 23, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Forest and trees re Epstein documents, as of now.
Trees: Controversies about particular documents.
Forest: Virtually none of the key documents, ones that we know exist, the ones the victims and knowledgeable observers have been demanding to see, have been released.
And so the coverup continues.
Trees: Controversies about particular documents.
Forest: Virtually none of the key documents, ones that we know exist, the ones the victims and knowledgeable observers have been demanding to see, have been released.
And so the coverup continues.
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
People passing around the 60 Minutes CECOT piece like teenage boys from the 1980s passing around their dad's Playboy issues, and YouTube cannot take down ripped copies fast enough.
Here's one that's interesting: a video of the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
Here's one that's interesting: a video of the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
60 Minutes CECOT Segment Axed by Weiss (Aired in Canada)
YouTube video by JayyRodd
www.youtube.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:43 PM
People passing around the 60 Minutes CECOT piece like teenage boys from the 1980s passing around their dad's Playboy issues, and YouTube cannot take down ripped copies fast enough.
Here's one that's interesting: a video of the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
Here's one that's interesting: a video of the video.
www.youtube.com/watch?app=de...
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Multiple envoys selected by Putin meet in warm American city to discuss future of Ukraine
Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev arrived at a Miami golf club for another round of golf club diplomacy with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
December 23, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Multiple envoys selected by Putin meet in warm American city to discuss future of Ukraine
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Brett Kavanaugh (September 2025): The facts and how they relate to the law don’t matter. Assume ICE and other federal forces always act with integrity, always respect rights, and consistently impose minimal burden.
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Kavanaugh in a footnote in today's opinion says "the officers must not make interior immigration stops or arrests based on race or ethnicity."
December 23, 2025 at 9:34 PM
Brett Kavanaugh (September 2025): The facts and how they relate to the law don’t matter. Assume ICE and other federal forces always act with integrity, always respect rights, and consistently impose minimal burden.
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Brett Kavanaugh (December 2025): Should I not have done that? Was that wrong?
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
During the holiday season, we all want to spend time with our loved ones.
And yet, just two months after buying Walgreens for $10 billion, the private equity firm Sycamore Partners stripped hourly workers of paid vacation, including Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Shameful.
And yet, just two months after buying Walgreens for $10 billion, the private equity firm Sycamore Partners stripped hourly workers of paid vacation, including Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Shameful.
December 23, 2025 at 5:41 PM
During the holiday season, we all want to spend time with our loved ones.
And yet, just two months after buying Walgreens for $10 billion, the private equity firm Sycamore Partners stripped hourly workers of paid vacation, including Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Shameful.
And yet, just two months after buying Walgreens for $10 billion, the private equity firm Sycamore Partners stripped hourly workers of paid vacation, including Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Shameful.
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Interesting insight here
Even 5 years ago if you had told me CBS News would go this way whereas the WSJ wouldn’t it would have surprised me — ultimately I think purveyors of business news are the only ones insulated from these dynamics because when rich people are paying you for market-moving news you can’t mess around.
December 23, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Interesting insight here
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
"It’s remarkable that Vance seems incapable of taking a swing at Fuentes, who regularly calls him a “race traitor” and refers to his wife with ethnic slurs, without adding a spoonful of sugar for his MAGA-addled listeners in the form of a bonus crack at Jen Psaki."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Our Nazi-Agnostic Vice President
Can’t the hard-core anitsemites, the Christian Zionists, and the right-wing Jews all get along?
open.substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 2:48 PM
"It’s remarkable that Vance seems incapable of taking a swing at Fuentes, who regularly calls him a “race traitor” and refers to his wife with ethnic slurs, without adding a spoonful of sugar for his MAGA-addled listeners in the form of a bonus crack at Jen Psaki."
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
"I've been looking through Steve Bannon's iPhone 7 on Cellebrite. As I was going through the images from that phone, I found an image of Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell on Bannon's phone."
December 23, 2025 at 3:48 PM
"I've been looking through Steve Bannon's iPhone 7 on Cellebrite. As I was going through the images from that phone, I found an image of Trump and Ghislaine Maxwell on Bannon's phone."
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
The Justice Department is now claiming the Epstein files they took so long to release by claiming that they’re full of “untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump.” trib.al/REr7r9a
December 23, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The Justice Department is now claiming the Epstein files they took so long to release by claiming that they’re full of “untrue and sensationalist claims made against President Trump.” trib.al/REr7r9a
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
Your energy costs will continue to rise because this President believes some nonsense about wind energy.
Trump suspends all large offshore wind farms under construction, threatening thousands of jobs and cheaper energy | CNN
In the latest blow for the US offshore wind industry, the Trump administration announced Monday it is suspending the federal leases for all large offshore wind projects currently under construction, c...
www.cnn.com
December 22, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Your energy costs will continue to rise because this President believes some nonsense about wind energy.
Reposted by Anson Burlingame
We’re suing the Trump Admin over its unlawful refusal to fund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Trump seems intent on making life more unaffordable for Americans.
We refuse to stand idly by while the Trump Admin abandons its responsibility to protect and defend American consumers.
Trump seems intent on making life more unaffordable for Americans.
We refuse to stand idly by while the Trump Admin abandons its responsibility to protect and defend American consumers.
December 22, 2025 at 9:44 PM
We’re suing the Trump Admin over its unlawful refusal to fund the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
Trump seems intent on making life more unaffordable for Americans.
We refuse to stand idly by while the Trump Admin abandons its responsibility to protect and defend American consumers.
Trump seems intent on making life more unaffordable for Americans.
We refuse to stand idly by while the Trump Admin abandons its responsibility to protect and defend American consumers.