@janetd16.bsky.social
Reposted
Hennie. We had "Hennie," (she was a hen, duh) the matriarch of the flock. Knew her name. Came running when she heard you. Produced lotsa eggs. She's the only one who got a burial with honors. In our backyard. In a shoebox. RIP, Hennie. 9/10
March 12, 2025 at 11:46 PM
Hennie. We had "Hennie," (she was a hen, duh) the matriarch of the flock. Knew her name. Came running when she heard you. Produced lotsa eggs. She's the only one who got a burial with honors. In our backyard. In a shoebox. RIP, Hennie. 9/10
Reposted
A confession suitable for this Ash Wednesday, written by Howard Thurman (many decades ago):
March 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM
A confession suitable for this Ash Wednesday, written by Howard Thurman (many decades ago):
Reposted
Reposted
Tired of reading "What do we do?" crap, and especially from "observers." Of course there's no panacea.
You pour sand in the gears. You pile up little victories. There's friction between here and flat-out dictatorship. You use it, magnify it, and use it again. Nothing elegant about it.
You pour sand in the gears. You pile up little victories. There's friction between here and flat-out dictatorship. You use it, magnify it, and use it again. Nothing elegant about it.
Calmes: It's a 'break-glass' moment in Washington, but then what?
Democrats are all but impotent; Republicans have capitulated; the media is fractured. There's only one bulwark left to counter the emergency unfolding in Washington
buff.ly
March 1, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Tired of reading "What do we do?" crap, and especially from "observers." Of course there's no panacea.
You pour sand in the gears. You pile up little victories. There's friction between here and flat-out dictatorship. You use it, magnify it, and use it again. Nothing elegant about it.
You pour sand in the gears. You pile up little victories. There's friction between here and flat-out dictatorship. You use it, magnify it, and use it again. Nothing elegant about it.
Reposted
This article is missing the word "puerile." Otherwise very good.
That said, it seems pretty obvious that Trump's emotionally stunted, having roughly stopped in the adolescent years, since he first came down that escalator in 2015.
That said, it seems pretty obvious that Trump's emotionally stunted, having roughly stopped in the adolescent years, since he first came down that escalator in 2015.
The Adolescent Style in American Politics
The version of manhood placed on display by Trump and his aides is the one imagined by teenage boys.
buff.ly
February 27, 2025 at 2:17 PM
This article is missing the word "puerile." Otherwise very good.
That said, it seems pretty obvious that Trump's emotionally stunted, having roughly stopped in the adolescent years, since he first came down that escalator in 2015.
That said, it seems pretty obvious that Trump's emotionally stunted, having roughly stopped in the adolescent years, since he first came down that escalator in 2015.
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Here you have Zelenskyy standing up for traditional American values when Trump/Vance will not.
Turns my stomach.
Turns my stomach.
BREAKING: There has just been a huge argument between Zelenskyy, Trump & Vance in the Oval Office.
Trump calls Zelenskyy disrespectful and says he “is no position to dictate” to the US.
Trump raises his voice to Zelenskyy. He can’t stand someone standing up to him.
This is unbelievable.
Trump calls Zelenskyy disrespectful and says he “is no position to dictate” to the US.
Trump raises his voice to Zelenskyy. He can’t stand someone standing up to him.
This is unbelievable.
February 28, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Here you have Zelenskyy standing up for traditional American values when Trump/Vance will not.
Turns my stomach.
Turns my stomach.
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Even the people working at DOGE say it is a lawless nightmare for America. In fact, they know it better than anyone.
Thanks to these true public servants who won’t stand for such a dangerous betrayal of the American people.
Thanks to these true public servants who won’t stand for such a dangerous betrayal of the American people.
21 DOGE staffers resign, saying they won't help 'dismantle' public services
Twenty-one members of the United States DOGE Service have resigned, they said in an anonymous letter, citing DOGE's ongoing work dramatically reshaping the federal government.
www.npr.org
February 26, 2025 at 3:09 AM
Even the people working at DOGE say it is a lawless nightmare for America. In fact, they know it better than anyone.
Thanks to these true public servants who won’t stand for such a dangerous betrayal of the American people.
Thanks to these true public servants who won’t stand for such a dangerous betrayal of the American people.
Reposted
Raskin: "It's becoming obvious to the American people that Elon Musk and Donald Trump are not opponents of corruption, they are agents of corruption."
February 21, 2025 at 9:18 PM
Raskin: "It's becoming obvious to the American people that Elon Musk and Donald Trump are not opponents of corruption, they are agents of corruption."
Reposted
Was talking with a Canadian visitor in a hotel where I was staying in New York.
I apologized-a lot-for what is happening.
He looked at me, sadly. I said, "Well, this just shows how upside down everything is. An American saying 'sorry' to a Canadian..."
We laughed and shook hands in friendship.
I apologized-a lot-for what is happening.
He looked at me, sadly. I said, "Well, this just shows how upside down everything is. An American saying 'sorry' to a Canadian..."
We laughed and shook hands in friendship.
February 21, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Was talking with a Canadian visitor in a hotel where I was staying in New York.
I apologized-a lot-for what is happening.
He looked at me, sadly. I said, "Well, this just shows how upside down everything is. An American saying 'sorry' to a Canadian..."
We laughed and shook hands in friendship.
I apologized-a lot-for what is happening.
He looked at me, sadly. I said, "Well, this just shows how upside down everything is. An American saying 'sorry' to a Canadian..."
We laughed and shook hands in friendship.
Reposted
Preach
Love Your Enemies. Are You Kidding Me?
Jesus doesn't want doormat followers in the face of Roman oppression. He wants people to stand up for dignity, equality, justice, and peace.
How we've gotten "turn the other cheek" wrong.
Don't give in. Resist in love.
open.substack.com/pub/dianabut...
Jesus doesn't want doormat followers in the face of Roman oppression. He wants people to stand up for dignity, equality, justice, and peace.
How we've gotten "turn the other cheek" wrong.
Don't give in. Resist in love.
open.substack.com/pub/dianabut...
Love Your Enemies. Are You Kidding Me?
A sermon about living under a reign of revenge
open.substack.com
February 24, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Preach
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A real test for Republicans: Do they let DOGE muck around at the Pentagon without adult supervision?
The Trump administration has directed defense agencies to turn over a list of their probationary employees by the end of Tuesday, with the expectation that many could be laid off as soon as this week.
Defense Department layoffs expected to start soon, officials say
Pentagon agencies were told to submit lists of probationary employees after members of Elon Musk’s DOGE arrived, people familiar with the matter said.
wapo.st
February 18, 2025 at 9:40 PM
A real test for Republicans: Do they let DOGE muck around at the Pentagon without adult supervision?
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Ok that made me laugh
I hope America is as lucky as the delta jet - everyone survives but the right wing explodes
February 19, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Ok that made me laugh
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[T]he chaos is smoke, but the heist is the fire. Don’t look away from the smoke. Look through it for what is being taken, redefined and reallocated. Stop pointing out the hypocrisy ... action is the only real power."
Tressie McMillan Cottom ... her words are a (terrifying) feast.
Tressie McMillan Cottom ... her words are a (terrifying) feast.
Opinion | Look Past Elon Musk’s Chaos. There’s Something More Sinister at Work.
Everything is content.
buff.ly
February 17, 2025 at 12:41 AM
[T]he chaos is smoke, but the heist is the fire. Don’t look away from the smoke. Look through it for what is being taken, redefined and reallocated. Stop pointing out the hypocrisy ... action is the only real power."
Tressie McMillan Cottom ... her words are a (terrifying) feast.
Tressie McMillan Cottom ... her words are a (terrifying) feast.
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For some reason, I keep thinking about how the Emperor Tiberius (the emperor who crucified Jesus) renamed the Sea of Galilee "Lake Tiberias" after himself as part of his brutal repression of the Jews.
Renaming things is a powerful form of colonization and oppression of subject populations.
Renaming things is a powerful form of colonization and oppression of subject populations.
February 14, 2025 at 6:12 PM
For some reason, I keep thinking about how the Emperor Tiberius (the emperor who crucified Jesus) renamed the Sea of Galilee "Lake Tiberias" after himself as part of his brutal repression of the Jews.
Renaming things is a powerful form of colonization and oppression of subject populations.
Renaming things is a powerful form of colonization and oppression of subject populations.
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JD Vance: Just google 'ordo amoris.'
Pope Francis: Forget Google, let me explain it:
www.ncronline.org/vatican/vati...
🫳
🎤
Imagine being a fairly recent convert to a faith & then having the leader publicly call you out for pushing bad theology. Ouch.
Pope Francis: Forget Google, let me explain it:
www.ncronline.org/vatican/vati...
🫳
🎤
Imagine being a fairly recent convert to a faith & then having the leader publicly call you out for pushing bad theology. Ouch.
Pope decries 'major crisis' of Trump's mass deportation plans, rejects Vance's theology
Pope Francis has written a sweeping letter to the U.S. bishops decrying the "major crisis" triggered by President Donald Trump's mass deportation plans and explicitly rejecting Vice President JD Vance...
www.ncronline.org
February 11, 2025 at 4:03 PM
JD Vance: Just google 'ordo amoris.'
Pope Francis: Forget Google, let me explain it:
www.ncronline.org/vatican/vati...
🫳
🎤
Imagine being a fairly recent convert to a faith & then having the leader publicly call you out for pushing bad theology. Ouch.
Pope Francis: Forget Google, let me explain it:
www.ncronline.org/vatican/vati...
🫳
🎤
Imagine being a fairly recent convert to a faith & then having the leader publicly call you out for pushing bad theology. Ouch.
Reposted
Great debunking of White House nonsense about CFPB
You may have seen this BS propaganda document from the White House about CFPB. I'll have more later, but one piece of it is truly amazing. You wouldn't know from this language but they're actively defending segregation.
February 11, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Great debunking of White House nonsense about CFPB
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An entire book on how paperwork wins wars: The Sinews of Power: War, Money, and the English State, 1688-1783, by John Brewer
As far from the battlefield and he-men warriors as can be, but essential.
(I know, asking Hegseth to read a book is futile, but fact and truth are essential to democracy.)
As far from the battlefield and he-men warriors as can be, but essential.
(I know, asking Hegseth to read a book is futile, but fact and truth are essential to democracy.)
Bureaucracy, famously not important in war
February 11, 2025 at 8:05 PM
An entire book on how paperwork wins wars: The Sinews of Power: War, Money, and the English State, 1688-1783, by John Brewer
As far from the battlefield and he-men warriors as can be, but essential.
(I know, asking Hegseth to read a book is futile, but fact and truth are essential to democracy.)
As far from the battlefield and he-men warriors as can be, but essential.
(I know, asking Hegseth to read a book is futile, but fact and truth are essential to democracy.)
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"These days, there are no red lines for any but a few Republicans, and then only the faintest."
Cowards, Chapter 897253
Cowards, Chapter 897253
Opinion | As Trump grabs power, GOP lawmakers sit on their hands
Sen. Angus King asked GOP colleagues: Are there no red lines? The answer is dispiriting.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 11, 2025 at 7:11 PM
"These days, there are no red lines for any but a few Republicans, and then only the faintest."
Cowards, Chapter 897253
Cowards, Chapter 897253
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A great example of a story where being a policy nerd (here: mortgages) intersects with understanding the political economy of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
NEW from me: Russ Vought was on the verge of breaking the mortgage market by shutting down a core function provided by CFPB. But he blinked, and in so doing revealed that regulation is actually pretty important.
prospect.org/economy/2025...
prospect.org/economy/2025...
Vought Restores CFPB Procedure That Sustains Mortgage Markets
The situation reveals that sometimes, even arsonists need the building they’re burning down to stay upright.
prospect.org
February 11, 2025 at 7:10 PM
A great example of a story where being a policy nerd (here: mortgages) intersects with understanding the political economy of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau
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In which I consider Trump's blueprint for destruction This Is the Dark, Unspoken Promise of Trump’s Return www.nytimes.com/2024/11/15/o...
Opinion | This Is the Dark, Unspoken Promise of Trump’s Return
Liberal democracy offers moral constraints without problem-solving. Populism offers problem-solving without moral constraints.
www.nytimes.com
November 15, 2024 at 1:03 PM
In which I consider Trump's blueprint for destruction This Is the Dark, Unspoken Promise of Trump’s Return www.nytimes.com/2024/11/15/o...
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In which there are many reasons to obey and one not to. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/o...
Opinion | To Obey Trump or Not to Obey
The voluntarily surrender of the public’s power is how autocracies are built.
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2025 at 2:48 PM
In which there are many reasons to obey and one not to. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/08/o...
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Over 1000 people showed up outside the HQ of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protest the Muskrat takeover of this vital agency!
1/2
1/2
February 11, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Over 1000 people showed up outside the HQ of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to protest the Muskrat takeover of this vital agency!
1/2
1/2
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I've been waiting for someone to make this point as clearly as @pbump.com did last week:
The entire Federal law enforcement apparatus is a part of the Executive Branch. All of it. So if they don't want to enforce a judge's rulings, or, for that matter, the law... then who?
wapo.st/3CKnHsI
The entire Federal law enforcement apparatus is a part of the Executive Branch. All of it. So if they don't want to enforce a judge's rulings, or, for that matter, the law... then who?
wapo.st/3CKnHsI
Opinion | Who can police a president unwilling to abide by the law?
A president who wants to brazenly challenge both Congress and the courts will be hard to constrain.
wapo.st
February 10, 2025 at 6:33 PM
I've been waiting for someone to make this point as clearly as @pbump.com did last week:
The entire Federal law enforcement apparatus is a part of the Executive Branch. All of it. So if they don't want to enforce a judge's rulings, or, for that matter, the law... then who?
wapo.st/3CKnHsI
The entire Federal law enforcement apparatus is a part of the Executive Branch. All of it. So if they don't want to enforce a judge's rulings, or, for that matter, the law... then who?
wapo.st/3CKnHsI
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These messengers are ... not compelling.
Opinion | Robert Rubin, Lawrence Summers, Timothy Geithner, Jacob Lew, Janet Yellen: DOGE Is a Threat to U.S. Democracy.
Former Secretaries Rubin, Summers, Geithner, Lew and Yellen argue that DOGE is a threat to America.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2025 at 3:07 AM
These messengers are ... not compelling.