Recovering Optimist
@keedwards.bsky.social
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
When truth-tellers are jailed and killers are shielded, you’re not in a democracy—you’re in a regime. That’s where we are.
Why This Moment Demands Our Attention
A look at how political language in the U.S. is shifting toward labeling fellow Americans as “enemies”—and why that shift matters for all of us.
andrewweinstein.substack.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:16 PM
When truth-tellers are jailed and killers are shielded, you’re not in a democracy—you’re in a regime. That’s where we are.
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
THEY DID IT. EVERY SENATE DEMOCRAT just voted on an amendment to DEFUND ICE (rescind the BBB slush fund that keeps ICE open during a shutdown.) This amendment failed, but it shows broad support! KEEP CALLING and make it a demand to vote for the DHS funding bill!!
👀 Every Senate Democrat + Collins and Murkowski just voted for the Bernie Sanders amendment to repeal the $75 billion in additional ICE funding under Trump’s “big beautiful bill.” The measure failed 49-51.
January 31, 2026 at 12:23 AM
THEY DID IT. EVERY SENATE DEMOCRAT just voted on an amendment to DEFUND ICE (rescind the BBB slush fund that keeps ICE open during a shutdown.) This amendment failed, but it shows broad support! KEEP CALLING and make it a demand to vote for the DHS funding bill!!
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
🚨TONIGHT’S PROTEST IN MINNEAPOLIS IS INSANE:
CNN is STUNNED. Share this widely!
“I've covered many protests… I've not seen a crowd like this before.” It’s 8 degrees. “It is freezing, but nothing, nothing is stopping these people.”
This isn’t a rally. It’s a movement. @calltoactivism.bsky.social
CNN is STUNNED. Share this widely!
“I've covered many protests… I've not seen a crowd like this before.” It’s 8 degrees. “It is freezing, but nothing, nothing is stopping these people.”
This isn’t a rally. It’s a movement. @calltoactivism.bsky.social
January 31, 2026 at 12:59 AM
🚨TONIGHT’S PROTEST IN MINNEAPOLIS IS INSANE:
CNN is STUNNED. Share this widely!
“I've covered many protests… I've not seen a crowd like this before.” It’s 8 degrees. “It is freezing, but nothing, nothing is stopping these people.”
This isn’t a rally. It’s a movement. @calltoactivism.bsky.social
CNN is STUNNED. Share this widely!
“I've covered many protests… I've not seen a crowd like this before.” It’s 8 degrees. “It is freezing, but nothing, nothing is stopping these people.”
This isn’t a rally. It’s a movement. @calltoactivism.bsky.social
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
FOUR journalists were arrested. Proving again that this administration isn’t “pivoting” or “turning down the temperature.” By targeting independent journalists instead of the murderers of Pretti and Good, this is ramping up. Not winding down. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
Don Lemon arrested by federal authorities after protest at Minnesota church service
Attorney General Pam Bondi said in a Friday post on X that Lemon was arrested alongside three others "in connection with the coordinated attack on Cities Church in St. Paul, Minnesota."
www.nbcnews.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:43 PM
FOUR journalists were arrested. Proving again that this administration isn’t “pivoting” or “turning down the temperature.” By targeting independent journalists instead of the murderers of Pretti and Good, this is ramping up. Not winding down. www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...
he continues to drain us…
Breaking Bloomberg:
Trump just sued the IRS and Treasury Department for $10 billion over the unauthorized disclosure of his tax returns to the press during his first term in office — potentially putting American taxpayers on the hook for a massive payout. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Trump just sued the IRS and Treasury Department for $10 billion over the unauthorized disclosure of his tax returns to the press during his first term in office — potentially putting American taxpayers on the hook for a massive payout. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Trump Sues IRS, Treasury for $10 Billion Over Tax-Return Leaks
President Donald Trump sued the US Treasury and Internal Revenue Service for at least $10 billion over an unauthorized disclosure of his tax returns to the press during his first term in office, poten...
www.bloomberg.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:53 AM
he continues to drain us…
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
ICE is changing tactics in Maine: "Now, the volunteers in Maine say federal agents have started showing up at their homes and intimidating them or threatening arrest. Some of them, masked and wearing tactical gear, have issued stark warnings not to follow them." www.pressherald.com/2026/01/23/i...
ICE watchers in Maine say they were threatened by federal agents
Community members have been monitoring the activity of immigration agents in Greater Portland.
www.pressherald.com
January 26, 2026 at 11:06 PM
ICE is changing tactics in Maine: "Now, the volunteers in Maine say federal agents have started showing up at their homes and intimidating them or threatening arrest. Some of them, masked and wearing tactical gear, have issued stark warnings not to follow them." www.pressherald.com/2026/01/23/i...
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
You can’t reform this.
Throw the whole department away.
Throw the whole department away.
Video from this morning shows ICE agents deploying tear gas outside a Minneapolis preschool as parents shout, “This is a preschool! There’s kids here!”
January 27, 2026 at 9:23 PM
You can’t reform this.
Throw the whole department away.
Throw the whole department away.
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
January 25, 2026 at 10:39 PM
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Very good piece by @mashagessen.bsky.social, the author of Surviving Autocracy, who left Russia in 2013 as the authoritarian hammer really started coming down, and moved to the United States. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/o...
January 19, 2026 at 3:43 AM
Very good piece by @mashagessen.bsky.social, the author of Surviving Autocracy, who left Russia in 2013 as the authoritarian hammer really started coming down, and moved to the United States. Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2026/01/18/o...
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Murphy: "It's always been the fear & now is closer to the reality that the Trump admin is creating this mayhem, particularly in cities in swing states, to take control of elections. They're trying to trade the presence of ICE & the murder & mayhem they are causing for control of MN's elections"
January 25, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Murphy: "It's always been the fear & now is closer to the reality that the Trump admin is creating this mayhem, particularly in cities in swing states, to take control of elections. They're trying to trade the presence of ICE & the murder & mayhem they are causing for control of MN's elections"
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Why do media companies print obvious lies from the propagandists in the Trump admin as if that is the “other side” of the story when you have objective, irrefutable evidence to disprove it? Traditional norms/practices don’t work with this regime. Why do you spread their lies?
January 25, 2026 at 2:28 AM
Why do media companies print obvious lies from the propagandists in the Trump admin as if that is the “other side” of the story when you have objective, irrefutable evidence to disprove it? Traditional norms/practices don’t work with this regime. Why do you spread their lies?
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Pam Bondi just sent a letter to Minnesota officials saying ICE will leave if the state turns over its voter database to Trump.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
January 25, 2026 at 12:35 AM
Pam Bondi just sent a letter to Minnesota officials saying ICE will leave if the state turns over its voter database to Trump.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
Guess what? This has never been about safety or immigration. It’s a pretext for Trump to take over elections in swing states.
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Seeing a bunch of normal ass midwestern moms and dads marching in -20 degrees knowing they might be tear gassed or worse really drives home what a cowardly lot of people the pundit class is
January 23, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Seeing a bunch of normal ass midwestern moms and dads marching in -20 degrees knowing they might be tear gassed or worse really drives home what a cowardly lot of people the pundit class is
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Gary Kasparov, as usual, perfectly understands what's going on.
January 23, 2026 at 10:50 PM
Gary Kasparov, as usual, perfectly understands what's going on.
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Can't believe I have to say this but climate change is responsible for extreme cold snaps.
January 23, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Can't believe I have to say this but climate change is responsible for extreme cold snaps.
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
they went to an emergency room seeking help for their 7 year old child.
ICE arrested the 7 year old and her parents.
the family is here legally.
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
ICE arrested the 7 year old and her parents.
the family is here legally.
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
ICE detains family seeking emergency care for child at Portland hospital
The Venezuelan parents and their 7-year-old daughter entered the U.S. legally.
www.oregonlive.com
January 24, 2026 at 12:06 AM
they went to an emergency room seeking help for their 7 year old child.
ICE arrested the 7 year old and her parents.
the family is here legally.
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
ICE arrested the 7 year old and her parents.
the family is here legally.
www.oregonlive.com/portland/202...
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
in case you're curious about how angry Minnesota is about ICE, it was -20 today
January 24, 2026 at 12:38 AM
in case you're curious about how angry Minnesota is about ICE, it was -20 today
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."
January 22, 2026 at 3:33 PM
Jack Smith: "My fear is that we have seen the rule of law function in our country for so long that many of us have come to take it for granted. The rule of law is not self-executing. It depends on our collective commitment to apply it."
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
AOC: This is quite a bit of market concentration. Agreed?
CVS HEALTH CHAIR DAVID JOYNER: No. I'd suggest it's a model that works well for the consumer
AOC: It works well for CVS. Health insurance gets a cut, pharmacy benefit manager gets one, drug manufacturer gets one, & the patient gets screwed
CVS HEALTH CHAIR DAVID JOYNER: No. I'd suggest it's a model that works well for the consumer
AOC: It works well for CVS. Health insurance gets a cut, pharmacy benefit manager gets one, drug manufacturer gets one, & the patient gets screwed
January 22, 2026 at 5:48 PM
AOC: This is quite a bit of market concentration. Agreed?
CVS HEALTH CHAIR DAVID JOYNER: No. I'd suggest it's a model that works well for the consumer
AOC: It works well for CVS. Health insurance gets a cut, pharmacy benefit manager gets one, drug manufacturer gets one, & the patient gets screwed
CVS HEALTH CHAIR DAVID JOYNER: No. I'd suggest it's a model that works well for the consumer
AOC: It works well for CVS. Health insurance gets a cut, pharmacy benefit manager gets one, drug manufacturer gets one, & the patient gets screwed
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Ossoff on Kelly: "It's an effort to intimidate veterans across the country from speaking out. It represents an even deeper threat to our civil liberties. So I just want to thank this man for his courage & continuing to speak truth to power even when threatened by authorities who want to silence him"
January 22, 2026 at 8:53 PM
Ossoff on Kelly: "It's an effort to intimidate veterans across the country from speaking out. It represents an even deeper threat to our civil liberties. So I just want to thank this man for his courage & continuing to speak truth to power even when threatened by authorities who want to silence him"
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Thank you to everyone who is risking their safety and contributing their time and money to protect our neighbors. If you are so inclined, please check out Stand With Minnesota (standwithminnesota.com) to find a way to help.
And no one start any beefs with Will Stancil. (2/2)
And no one start any beefs with Will Stancil. (2/2)
Stand With Minnesota Donation Directory
Stand With Minnesota is a hub for supporting, learning, and taking action to support Minnesotans impacted by ICE and federal enforcement.
standwithminnesota.com
January 22, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Thank you to everyone who is risking their safety and contributing their time and money to protect our neighbors. If you are so inclined, please check out Stand With Minnesota (standwithminnesota.com) to find a way to help.
And no one start any beefs with Will Stancil. (2/2)
And no one start any beefs with Will Stancil. (2/2)
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
Great way to support Minneapolis tomorrow--donate to one of these organizations >
Hi everyone -- there is a general strike in Minnesota tomorrow to protest what the Trump administration and DHS are doing to our community. In solidarity with the action, I am going to donate my revenue from tmrw's newsletter to People over Papers, the Midway-Hamline Diaper Bank, & Every Meal. (1/2)
January 23, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Great way to support Minneapolis tomorrow--donate to one of these organizations >
Reposted by Recovering Optimist
