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Reposted

Denise Wheeler @denisedwheeler.bsky.social · 20h

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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Nigel Gould-Davies @nigelgould-davies.bsky.social · 20h

Time may no longer be on Russia's side.

US, EU and Chinese policies, and domestic strains, are reshaping Russia's calculus. So it is challenging Western resolve in risker ways. This is certain to escalate unless Europe responds.

www.iiss.org/online-analy...

The Russia–Ukraine war has entered a new phase

Recent policy choices by America, Europe and China, and domestic economic strains, are reshaping Russia’s calculus. Since time may no longer be on its side, it is challenging Western resolve in more risky and aggressive ways. This is certain to escalate unless Europe responds.

www.iiss.org

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 20h

Gullen's followers were essential to Erdogan's rise to power. Then he purged them. Aligning with anti-democratic leaders never leads to narrow ecumenism, it just leads to the next purge.

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 1d

I typically assume that anything i write on social media will be read in an angrier or crueler tone than I can imagine. When conversation follows, that assumption is often borne out.

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 1d

Happy harvest moon, all

Neil Young - Harvest Moon [Official Music Video]

YouTube video by neilyoungchannel

youtu.be

donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 1d

Because they're cost of AI is so much higher than the income from it that they have to shift costs somehow without making it an obvious subsidy.

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 1d

Miller, yes. I don't see that Hegseth is savvy enough, and I'm not sure who would be guiding him.

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 2d

Does it count if it's attached to a lie about serving all Americans?

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 2d

How does he feel about the Bee Gees Sgt Pepper movie?

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 2d

I'm working on a podcast with a conservative friend where we'll find areas of agreement, not just talk in an echo chamber or yell at each other (most political podcasts today). Even in that friendly, intentional space, it's not always easy.

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Senator Ron Wyden @wyden.senate.gov · 3d

They’re using American tax dollars to fund infrastructure in Argentina because that’s where they’re all going to flee when we kick them out of office

Ryan Grim @ryangrim.bsky.social · 6d

After announcing a $20 billion bailout of Argentina, the White House now says it's pausing $18 billion in funding for NYC infrastructure projects

Russ Vought would love nothing more than to tear this country down to its studs

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 2d

I live in LA. A Fox-addicted acquaintance in FL swore up and down that the city was burning earlier this year. Wouldn't believe my assurances or videos to the contrary.

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 2d

All social media is built by the same group of techies using venture capital. Of course they all hate moderation and oversight, the mindset is fundamentally libertarian. That's why we need government regulation. Without that, the best we get is a platform where we can make our own echo chambers.

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 2d

The Democratic Party is the party of fiscal responsibility, economic progress, egalitarian inclusion, democratic norms, and stewardship of our system.

The GOP is a rogue party that undermines truth, justice, the economy, and a quarter millennium of consistent governance.

They3are not the same.

Nicholas Grossman @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social · 3d

So much Democrat and pundit handwringing about the shutdown as if they're in charge of the government.

They're not. The only possibilities are Trump makes things worse with Democratic approval or Trump makes things worse despite Democratic resistance. Don't bail him out.

My latest (on @msnbc.com):

Opinion | Democrats shouldn’t bail out Trump as the shutdown drags on

The best time for the opposition to take a stand, rather than settle for untrustworthy promises, is right now.

www.msnbc.com

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 2d

As I recall, Dems have run on the economy since Clinton while the GOP runs on culture war issues, but the GOP accuses Dems of running on culture wars and claim to be responsible stewards of the economy.

Tragically, no one has defended democracy in decades.

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 3d

More projection. Why are no GOP leaders speaking out about the lawless Trump administration? He pardoned thousands of violent insurrectionists and the GOP leaders are afraid for their safety.

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 3d

I think it's important for the world to know that Ring Of Fire is officially no way related to hemorrhoids.

donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 3d

Germany has it right. Democracy is the core value of the coalitions, and so AfD is on the outside. The GOP poisoned itself by welcoming in southern racists and Christian nationalists. Joining Reform will end the Tories and give Reform all the votes it needs. Labor and the Tories need each other.

donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 4d

I'm afraid it's been done, and the families that dominate before revolution pass down the influence and social capital that reinforces the social and economic hierarchy.

scholar.harvard.edu/files/yangyo...

scholar.harvard.edu

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Mike Galsworthy @mikegalsworthy.bsky.social · 4d

History repeats.

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 4d

I just assume that any user that humorless is a bot that's been deployed to make conversation less pleasant and make progressives look more like the caricature we already have pinned on us.

When I suggest this in a chain they usually leave me alone without blocking me.

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 4d

Pizza's still good if you're in the northeast.

I'm not, but still. It's nice to think about.

donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 4d

I'm in the 2nd category, and i really don't get it. It's the platform that's least top-down and she's the least present as an on-site personality.

Is it because most people are here because we fled Twitter, and so defenses are high? Or maybe the people who left are likelier to push back?

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donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 4d

The MAGA right hates AfD's exclusion from German coalitions because they see common cause and common threat. If Nixon hadn't embraced the Southern Strategy, if Reagan hadn't embraced Christian Nationalists, MAGA would be like AfD.

Saving democracy means excluding MAGA from party tents.

Brian Beutler @brianbeutler.bsky.social · 5d

All Trump loyalists get a libidinal thrill watching him piss on the Constitution, but I wrote about the subset who feel exposed by their obvious hypocrisy, and so pretend it's all a regrettable consequence of Barack Obama radicalizing them. www.offmessage.net/p/they-radic...

They Radicalized Themselves

And we can pinpoint when it happened.

www.offmessage.net

donwest84.bsky.social @donwest84.bsky.social · 4d

The MAGA right hates AfD's exclusion from German coalitions because they see common cause and common threat. If Nixon hadn't embraced the Southern Strategy, if Reagan hadn't embraced Christian Nationalists, MAGA would be like AfD.

Saving democracy means excluding MAGA from party tents.

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