Charlie Firestone
@charliefirestone.bsky.social
Retired from career in communications law and policy, 30 yrs at the Aspen Institute, first president of the Rose Bowl Institute. Resides in Santa Barbara, CA.
If the #Qatar plane were a gift, it would be to the USA, with no reversion to Trump's "library fund." This is, pure and simple, an unconstitutional emolument for Donald Trump from a foreign sovereign.
May 12, 2025 at 10:08 PM
If the #Qatar plane were a gift, it would be to the USA, with no reversion to Trump's "library fund." This is, pure and simple, an unconstitutional emolument for Donald Trump from a foreign sovereign.
Simple name for what is going on, "Godfather Governance"
April 28, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Simple name for what is going on, "Godfather Governance"
Reposted by Charlie Firestone
This piece from @jvl.bsky.social is one of the most important insightful I have read since January 20th 2025.
How to Think (and Act) Like a Dissident Movement
AOC, solidarity, and people power.
www.thebulwark.com
March 30, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This piece from @jvl.bsky.social is one of the most important insightful I have read since January 20th 2025.
Reposted by Charlie Firestone
We hear the glib phrase "late-stage capitalism" often. Here is late-stage capitalism as fascism by Mussolini's definition: the merger of state and (utterly unfettered) business.
How Trump Was Persuaded to Pardon an Online Drug Kingpin www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/t...
How Trump Was Persuaded to Pardon an Online Drug Kingpin www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/t...
Inside Trump’s Decision to Pardon Ross Ulbricht, the Creator of the Silk Road Drug Marketplace
Libertarian and crypto allies of Ross Ulbricht, who was serving a life sentence for distributing drugs on his Silk Road website, leveraged President Trump’s desire for political support to secure his ...
www.nytimes.com
January 23, 2025 at 2:03 AM
We hear the glib phrase "late-stage capitalism" often. Here is late-stage capitalism as fascism by Mussolini's definition: the merger of state and (utterly unfettered) business.
How Trump Was Persuaded to Pardon an Online Drug Kingpin www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/t...
How Trump Was Persuaded to Pardon an Online Drug Kingpin www.nytimes.com/2025/01/22/t...
Reposted by Charlie Firestone
A good thing to keep in mind.
December 19, 2024 at 1:31 AM
A good thing to keep in mind.
Unbelievable start to the football weekend. #Georgia beats #GeorgiaTech in 8 Overtimes!
November 30, 2024 at 7:41 AM
Unbelievable start to the football weekend. #Georgia beats #GeorgiaTech in 8 Overtimes!
Could the Fifth Circuit’s siding mostly with Texas in its border enforcement dispute, storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us..., be useful when CA fights Trump border actions?
storage.courtlistener.com
November 28, 2024 at 6:51 AM
Could the Fifth Circuit’s siding mostly with Texas in its border enforcement dispute, storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us..., be useful when CA fights Trump border actions?
When can people stop identifying X as "formerly Twitter"? Seems like anyone who might use it should know the new name by now. #socialmedia #X #twitter
November 26, 2024 at 10:55 PM
When can people stop identifying X as "formerly Twitter"? Seems like anyone who might use it should know the new name by now. #socialmedia #X #twitter
As we face possible political realignment, the Democratic Party could/should become the Constitutional Party, in deed if not in actual name. Appeal to traditional Republicans and conservatives who want to conserve the constitution as well as traditional Dems. Institutionalists over insurrectionists.
November 20, 2024 at 1:27 AM
As we face possible political realignment, the Democratic Party could/should become the Constitutional Party, in deed if not in actual name. Appeal to traditional Republicans and conservatives who want to conserve the constitution as well as traditional Dems. Institutionalists over insurrectionists.
Reposted by Charlie Firestone
"The conventional wisdom seems to have settled on the view that, Sure, this is all very bad. But also: It’s ultimately fine. I view this as a dangerous failure of imagination."
Let your imagination run wild with @jvl.bsky.social in today's Triad:
Let your imagination run wild with @jvl.bsky.social in today's Triad:
It’s Time to Consider the Worst-Case Scenario
Let’s go to the Bad Place together.
www.thebulwark.com
November 18, 2024 at 6:11 PM
"The conventional wisdom seems to have settled on the view that, Sure, this is all very bad. But also: It’s ultimately fine. I view this as a dangerous failure of imagination."
Let your imagination run wild with @jvl.bsky.social in today's Triad:
Let your imagination run wild with @jvl.bsky.social in today's Triad:
Seems a major qualification for Trump is your looks. We know he cares how you present yourself on TV, mainly Fox. But at least 80% of the first round nominations convey Trump's image of good looks.
November 15, 2024 at 8:46 PM
Seems a major qualification for Trump is your looks. We know he cares how you present yourself on TV, mainly Fox. But at least 80% of the first round nominations convey Trump's image of good looks.
I have been very impressed with the work of Jonathan V. Last (JVL) on Bulwark. Here is his piece on Tulsi Gabbard worth reading and subscribing to his newsletter. www.thebulwark.com/p/tulsi-gabb...
The Curious Case of Tulsi Gabbard: Is She a Russian Asset or a Dupe?
On assets, espionage coups, and the future director of national intelligence.
www.thebulwark.com
November 14, 2024 at 7:45 PM
I have been very impressed with the work of Jonathan V. Last (JVL) on Bulwark. Here is his piece on Tulsi Gabbard worth reading and subscribing to his newsletter. www.thebulwark.com/p/tulsi-gabb...
Sorry to hear of the passing of Ted Olson. Got to know and appreciate him via my program at the Aspen Institute. Smart, compassionate, conservative mensch. Nina Totenberg's obit fits the man I knew. www.npr.org/2024/11/13/n.... Condolences to Lady and the rest of his family and friends.
www.npr.org
November 14, 2024 at 6:51 PM
Sorry to hear of the passing of Ted Olson. Got to know and appreciate him via my program at the Aspen Institute. Smart, compassionate, conservative mensch. Nina Totenberg's obit fits the man I knew. www.npr.org/2024/11/13/n.... Condolences to Lady and the rest of his family and friends.