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Reposted by Charles Mathewes

Denise Wheeler @denisedwheeler.bsky.social · 10h

Reuters photographer Jonathan Ernst noticed that Bondi flipped open a file during the Senate hearing and he zoomed in.

Inside were her crib notes for attacking the senators.

The GOP now practicing Cliff's Notes Fascism

In other words, under oath Bondi was purely a performance.

Bondi senate hearing had a folder full of notes for attacking the senators

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Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 22h

It's like the opposite of WW I, in the sense that both sides achieved major strategic aims, but at (arguably) too high a cost

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 22h

Yes, a weird war: Hamas achieved some of its major goals, especially the de-legitimation of Israel, while being destroyed; and Israel achieved some of its major goals, esp the destruction of Hamas & the destruction of the Iranian network against it, while being de-legitimated.

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rahaeli @rahaeli.bsky.social · 2d

Ohhhh not staying the order is *really interesting*. The tidal shift we're seeing in the past two or three weeks in how much judges are *completely done* with the presumption of regularity and refusing to play Calvinball is fascinating

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 2d

DOJ: I would just reiterate request for stay pending appeal and admin stay and note request in order.

Judge: I am denying both requests for stays.

[HEARING ENDS]

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Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you!

Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 2d

Do you know if they break it down by age group? My impression is that undergrads don't know much about the Russia-Ukraine war, b/c it seems most of that is "happening" on Twitter/x. OTOH, they know a lot about Gaza, b/c that produces lots of TikTok content.

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Janet Spittler @janetspittler.bsky.social · 2d

For anyone at UVa who hasn’t seen this yet! “Universities’ only proper response to this “compact”…is to offer absolutely nothing. There is no revised version of this compact…compatible with the independence of universities and their continuing vitality as venues for free speech and free inquiry.”

Joey Fishkin @fishkin.bsky.social · 3d

I thought I'd put the administration's proposed "compact" with universities in context, so I wrote the blog post below.

It's especially for journalists covering this story!

Many details about how the compact itself works and why the administration has retreated to this strategy.

Balkinization: The Art of Replacing the Law with the Deal

A group blog on constitutional law, theory, and politics

balkin.blogspot.com

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Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 2d

Amen brother

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Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 2d

Such an interesting message. In its emphasis on purpose and hope, its ambiguous non-confessional transcendentalism, reminds me of David Foster Wallace's "This is Water" & esp the ending of that speech: "I wish you way more than luck."

KOJAMF🤘🖤🤘 @kojamf.bsky.social · 3d

Dr. Jane Goodall filmed an interview with Netflix in March 2025 that she understood would only be released after her death.

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Shiv Ramdas Mens Rice Activist @nameshiv.bsky.social · 3d

The Ig Nobel is incredible , one year an Indian guy won it for calculating the average surface area of an elephant and during his acceptance they had an elephant hold up a sign with the surface area of the scientist on it, they do showbiz better than the Oscars

Jeffrey J. Hall @mrjeffu.bsky.social · 18d

Video: a Japanese scientist was attacked by flies while giving the acceptance speech for his Ig Nobel Prize-winning research paper that proved painting Zebra-like stripes on cows led to a decrease in biting fly attacks.

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Joshua McElwee @joshmcelwee.org · 3d

Pope Leo urged the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on Sunday to care for immigrants, pressing ahead with a message of welcome for migrants days after criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump's hard-line anti-immigration policies. For @reuters.com:

Pope Leo, after Trump critique, urges Catholics to help immigrants

Pope Leo urged the world's 1.4 billion Catholics on Sunday to care for immigrants, pressing ahead with a message of welcome for migrants days after criticizing U.S. President Donald Trump's hard-line anti-immigration policies.

www.reuters.com

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Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 2d

Hey, the Pope’s gonna Pope, whatcha gon do about it?

Paul Moser @pkmoser.bsky.social · 2d

www.cbc.ca/news/world/p...

Pope Leo's comments on 'inhuman treatment of immigrants' in U.S. offend some conservatives | CBC News

Pope Francis frequently drew the ire of conservative Catholics throughout his 12-year papacy. Leo, his American successor, raised eyebrows this week with comments that appeared to criticize the U.S. g...

www.cbc.ca

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Mike Boylan-Kolchin @mbkplus.bsky.social · 4d

Another banger from the author of "Relax, we'll be fine no matter who wins [in 2016]" and "Calm down, Roe vs. Wade isn't going anywhere" (in 2018)

Opinion | What Hegseth got right about the military

Put aside the defense secretary’s bravura and focus on his message about muscular armed services

www.washingtonpost.com

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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 3d

Judge Immergut is a Republican and a 2019 Trump appointee.

Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 3d

Good news.

Federal judge enjoins Trump administration’s attempt to order federalization and deployment of Oregon National Guard service members to Portland. Denies administration’s request to stay the TRO.

Case No. 3:25-cv-1756-IM

OPINION AND ORDER GRANTING MOTION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER

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Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 3d

OMG It me

The Onion @theonion.com · 3d

Physical Media Collector Pumped For Downfall Of Humanity

MESA, AZ—Gleefully describing the inevitable day when society would collapse and digital files would become unusable, local physical media collector David Campbell confirmed Wednesday he was “absolute...

theonion.com

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Monica Marks @monicamarks.bsky.social · 3d

Incredible tweets from one of the best-known American experts on the Israel-Palestine conflict, Aaron David-Miller, and Israeli Yediot Ahranot columnist Nadav Eyal

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baddantakes @baddantakes.bsky.social · 3d

when the "dirty work" royalties hit

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Gregg Gonsalves @gregggonsalves.bsky.social · 3d

Are you an alum from one of the 9 schools Trump just attacked? Sign this alumni petition now to support your school, defend democracy, and build a grassroots movement for campus freedom across America. alumni.controlshift.app/petitions/tr...

STAND WITH YOUR SCHOOL: Trump attacks 9 universities. Sign the alumni petition now.

Are you an alum from one of the 9 schools Trump just attacked? Sign this alumni petition now to support your school, defend democracy, and build a grassroots movement for campus freedom across America...

alumni.controlshift.app

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The Associated Press @apnews.com · 4d

Sarah Mullally has been named the new Archbishop of Canterbury, the first woman chosen to lead the world's 85 million Anglicans.

Sarah Mullally named the first female Archbishop of Canterbury in history of Church of England

Sarah Mullally, the bishop of London, has been named Archbishop of Canterbury, the first time a woman has been chosen as the spiritual leader of the Church of England.

bit.ly

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Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 4d

Yes, it is a shakedown. It will be interesting and illuminating to see how our interim president replies. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/o...?

Opinion | Trump’s ‘Compact’ With Universities Is Just Extortion

www.nytimes.com

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Daniel Drezner @dandrezner.bsky.social · 5d

“Some”?! Try “Almost Everyone” @nytimes.com!! www.nytimes.com/2025/10/02/u...

Trump Offered Universities an Invitation for a Deal. Some See a Trap.

www.nytimes.com

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Dave Weigel @daveweigel.bsky.social · 5d

This really is THE issue - you've got a situation where Dems can sweat and bleed to get their stuff in a bipartisan bill, and Rs can nix it with 51 votes (or just impoundment).

That's new, and it removes the incentive to deal.

David Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · 5d

I've noticed that @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social is getting a little more comfortable talking about the shutdown as actually being about rejecting passage of a budget when the president won't honor it. From MSNBC today:

MELISSA MURRAY: Can we talk a little bit about what you just said? The Democrats have been very clear in their messaging. You are emphasizing that the shutdown is about the Republicans refusing to restore healthcare funding, but some have argued that it would be equally compelling for the party to say that it is refusing to fund an administration and government that is bent on abusing its power. Why focus exclusively on healthcare? Why not carry both messages forward?

LEADER JEFFRIES: Well, in the legislation that we introduced as part of our Democratic approach related to avoiding a shutdown—or in this instance, now reopening it—we made clear two things: that we're faced with a massive Republican healthcare crisis related to the largest cut to Medicaid in American history. Hospitals and nursing homes and community-based health clinics are closing all across the country, including in rural America. And now Republicans are refusing to renew the Affordable Care Act tax credits for working-class Americans, everyday Americans and those who are struggling in this Trump economy, where life has already become far too expensive. And so, we believe that healthcare is a central issue. Republicans have said it's an extraneous issue. At the same time, in the Democratic proposal to continue funding, we've also indicated that we can't simply proceed as if this is business as usual. If we reach a bipartisan agreement, then we've got to make sure there are enforceability mechanisms to ensure that the agreement that was reached is actually kept and that the Trump administration follows the law.

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Randall Stephens @randalljstephens.bsky.social · 5d

“Todd Arrington’s resignation came shortly after Arrington refused to relinquish one of Pres Eisenhower’s swords from the museum’s collection. Pres Trump’s administration wanted to give one of the artifacts as a gift to King Charles III on Trump’s most recent state visit to the United Kingdom.”

Director of Eisenhower Library in Kansas ousted after refusing to give Trump administration a sword

The director of the presidential library and museum in Abilene, Kansas, said he was suddenly told to resign or be fired. He refused to give the Trump administration a historic sword from the museum’s ...

www.kcur.org

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Charles Mathewes @ctmathewes.bsky.social · 5d

Public theology is a many-splendored thing

worm @rfksbrainworm.bsky.social · 6d

really enjoying all the people trying to explain the bible to the pope today

Pope Leo XIV
Today, more than ever, we must return to the heart, the center of feeling and emotion, the locus of freedom. Though it includes reason, the heart transcends and transforms it. Only by returning to the heart can we undergo a true ecological conversion that transforms our personal

Austin
I reject this whole heartedly. What you fail to see Mr Pope, the Bible says

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Matthew Kirschenbaum @mkirschenbaum.bsky.social · 7d

When two great discourses align.

Offfial photo of military audience at today’s Hegseth/Trump speech gazing expressionless at camera with superimposed caption “This could have been an email.”

Not my own meme.

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