@mbannister.bsky.social
Reposted
As we’ve warned before, the Trump administration has subjected around 80 staffers to lie detector tests. America, please understand—this is not normal.
April 12, 2025 at 11:00 PM
As we’ve warned before, the Trump administration has subjected around 80 staffers to lie detector tests. America, please understand—this is not normal.
Reposted
NIH Director Removes Four Main Scientists amid Massive Staff Purge
‘One of the darkest days’: NIH purges agency leadership amid mass layoffs
In shock move, four institute directors at the US biomedical agency are removed from their posts.
www.nature.com
April 2, 2025 at 2:21 PM
NIH Director Removes Four Main Scientists amid Massive Staff Purge
Reposted
Hi folks: Facebook appears to be taking down my posts. Please remember they are available for free here (no paywall), and can be received by email (also free-- just don't put in your credit card information). I guess if I'm being banned I'm doing something right?
The government ignored his protective legal status & deported Abrego Garcia. “Now they claim that the court is powerless to order any relief. If that’s true, the immigration laws are meaningless because the government can deport ANYONE & no court can do anything about it once it’s done.”
March 31, 2025
On April 1, 1861, Secretary of State William Henry Seward wrote an astonishing letter to President Abraham Lincoln.
open.substack.com
April 1, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Hi folks: Facebook appears to be taking down my posts. Please remember they are available for free here (no paywall), and can be received by email (also free-- just don't put in your credit card information). I guess if I'm being banned I'm doing something right?
Reposted
The work HHS does—or in this case stops doing—has life and death consequences.
It is not some political game.
I will keep sounding the alarm about Trump & RFK Jr.'s real threat to our families.
It is not some political game.
I will keep sounding the alarm about Trump & RFK Jr.'s real threat to our families.
March 27, 2025 at 9:54 PM
The work HHS does—or in this case stops doing—has life and death consequences.
It is not some political game.
I will keep sounding the alarm about Trump & RFK Jr.'s real threat to our families.
It is not some political game.
I will keep sounding the alarm about Trump & RFK Jr.'s real threat to our families.
Reposted
The officials who shared classified information in a group chat broke protocol and put our servicemembers' lives in danger.
Hegseth and Waltz should RESIGN—and EVERYONE involved must be held accountable.
I'm demanding a thorough investigation from the Inspectors General.
Hegseth and Waltz should RESIGN—and EVERYONE involved must be held accountable.
I'm demanding a thorough investigation from the Inspectors General.
March 28, 2025 at 7:57 PM
The officials who shared classified information in a group chat broke protocol and put our servicemembers' lives in danger.
Hegseth and Waltz should RESIGN—and EVERYONE involved must be held accountable.
I'm demanding a thorough investigation from the Inspectors General.
Hegseth and Waltz should RESIGN—and EVERYONE involved must be held accountable.
I'm demanding a thorough investigation from the Inspectors General.
Reposted
The two billionaires running our country straight into the ground seem to have skipped American history because our Constitution is clear: Congress has the power of the purse. Presidents don't write laws—they execute them.
March 28, 2025 at 11:05 PM
The two billionaires running our country straight into the ground seem to have skipped American history because our Constitution is clear: Congress has the power of the purse. Presidents don't write laws—they execute them.
Reposted
Since January, SpaceX has received over $560 million in government contracts—an amount projected to surpass $2 billion in taxpayer funding by year’s end, averaging roughly $6.1 million per day. Follow the money and see where it goes.
March 28, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Since January, SpaceX has received over $560 million in government contracts—an amount projected to surpass $2 billion in taxpayer funding by year’s end, averaging roughly $6.1 million per day. Follow the money and see where it goes.
Reposted
DOGE staffer ‘Big Balls’ helped cybercrime group.
One of the most prominent members of Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) team once supported a cybercrime group that boasted about trafficking stolen data and stalking an FBI agent.
One of the most prominent members of Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) team once supported a cybercrime group that boasted about trafficking stolen data and stalking an FBI agent.
March 27, 2025 at 10:53 AM
DOGE staffer ‘Big Balls’ helped cybercrime group.
One of the most prominent members of Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) team once supported a cybercrime group that boasted about trafficking stolen data and stalking an FBI agent.
One of the most prominent members of Elon Musk’s “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE) team once supported a cybercrime group that boasted about trafficking stolen data and stalking an FBI agent.
Reposted
This situation could have been avoided entirely if DOGE staffers were required to undergo proper background checks and obtain security clearances—steps that would have prevented someone with known ties to a cybercrime group from gaining access to sensitive government systems and your data.
March 27, 2025 at 10:53 AM
This situation could have been avoided entirely if DOGE staffers were required to undergo proper background checks and obtain security clearances—steps that would have prevented someone with known ties to a cybercrime group from gaining access to sensitive government systems and your data.
Reposted
Breaking News: The Atlantic published the full exchange of texts about U.S. strikes in Yemen among top Trump administration officials. The group chat had inadvertently included an Atlantic journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg.
Follow live updates.
Follow live updates.
Trump Officials' Signal Chat Transcript Is Published as Criticism Mounts Over Leak: Live Updates
www.nytimes.com
March 26, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Breaking News: The Atlantic published the full exchange of texts about U.S. strikes in Yemen among top Trump administration officials. The group chat had inadvertently included an Atlantic journalist, Jeffrey Goldberg.
Follow live updates.
Follow live updates.
Reposted
That is both messed up and disgraceful! You can’t just delete history!
Arlington National Cemetery has removed information about prominent Black, Hispanic, and female service members, as well as topics such as the Civil War, from its website.
Arlington National Cemetery has removed information about prominent Black, Hispanic, and female service members, as well as topics such as the Civil War, from its website.
March 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM
That is both messed up and disgraceful! You can’t just delete history!
Arlington National Cemetery has removed information about prominent Black, Hispanic, and female service members, as well as topics such as the Civil War, from its website.
Arlington National Cemetery has removed information about prominent Black, Hispanic, and female service members, as well as topics such as the Civil War, from its website.
Reposted
In a new executive order, Trump has targeted the federal agency charged with distributing congressionally approved funds to state libraries and to library, museum, and archives program grant recipients.
www.everylibrary.org/statementiml...
www.everylibrary.org/statementiml...
Statement on Trump's Attack on Federal Funding for Libraries
www.everylibrary.org
March 15, 2025 at 1:14 PM
In a new executive order, Trump has targeted the federal agency charged with distributing congressionally approved funds to state libraries and to library, museum, and archives program grant recipients.
www.everylibrary.org/statementiml...
www.everylibrary.org/statementiml...
Reposted
We'll have more to share in the coming days. But what can you do right now? Call Congress. Call your state and local officials. Tell them exactly what's at stake if the President's order stands: the future of America's libraries.
It's time to Show Up #ForOurLibraries: bit.ly/ALA-LibraryStoryIMLS
It's time to Show Up #ForOurLibraries: bit.ly/ALA-LibraryStoryIMLS
March 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
We'll have more to share in the coming days. But what can you do right now? Call Congress. Call your state and local officials. Tell them exactly what's at stake if the President's order stands: the future of America's libraries.
It's time to Show Up #ForOurLibraries: bit.ly/ALA-LibraryStoryIMLS
It's time to Show Up #ForOurLibraries: bit.ly/ALA-LibraryStoryIMLS
Reposted
🚨NEW🚨: Donald Trump is attempting to strip away federal support for libraries. We will NOT let that happen.
Last night the President signed an order to gut the Institute of Museum & Library Services. But together, we know we can show up & defeat it.
Full EO: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Last night the President signed an order to gut the Institute of Museum & Library Services. But together, we know we can show up & defeat it.
Full EO: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
March 15, 2025 at 1:41 PM
🚨NEW🚨: Donald Trump is attempting to strip away federal support for libraries. We will NOT let that happen.
Last night the President signed an order to gut the Institute of Museum & Library Services. But together, we know we can show up & defeat it.
Full EO: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Last night the President signed an order to gut the Institute of Museum & Library Services. But together, we know we can show up & defeat it.
Full EO: www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
Reposted
House Democrats held strong against the Musk-Takeover Spending Bill Yesterday. We need your help to ensure that the Senate Democrats do the same. Follow the link and script below to make calls. This vote happens TODAY!
indivisible.org/resource/cal...
indivisible.org/resource/cal...
CALL NOW: Tell Senate Democrats to Hold the Line Against the Extreme MAGA Continuing Resolution
indivisible.org
March 12, 2025 at 2:47 PM
House Democrats held strong against the Musk-Takeover Spending Bill Yesterday. We need your help to ensure that the Senate Democrats do the same. Follow the link and script below to make calls. This vote happens TODAY!
indivisible.org/resource/cal...
indivisible.org/resource/cal...
Reposted
The Social Security Administration is considering dramatically curtailing the phone services that 73 million retired and disabled Americans rely on to apply for and access their earned government benefits, according to records obtained by The Washington Post.
Social Security, facing pressure from DOGE, weighs big cuts to phone service
Agency considers ending phone program that helps with claims processing and is used by millions of elderly and disabled Americans.
www.washingtonpost.com
March 12, 2025 at 4:20 PM
The Social Security Administration is considering dramatically curtailing the phone services that 73 million retired and disabled Americans rely on to apply for and access their earned government benefits, according to records obtained by The Washington Post.
Reposted
Trump is singularly responsible for tanking the economy.
Launching an incoherent trade war and raising prices.
Threatening to upend state budgets with massive cuts to Medicaid.
Massive arbitrary federal layoffs.
That's all on Trump.
Launching an incoherent trade war and raising prices.
Threatening to upend state budgets with massive cuts to Medicaid.
Massive arbitrary federal layoffs.
That's all on Trump.
Wall Street suffered its worst day of the year on Monday, amid investor fears that President Trump's tariffs could raise prices, slow the economy and sow uncertainty among businesses. The S&P 500 has now erased all the gains it made since Election Day. nyti.ms/4hlQ2n9
March 11, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Trump is singularly responsible for tanking the economy.
Launching an incoherent trade war and raising prices.
Threatening to upend state budgets with massive cuts to Medicaid.
Massive arbitrary federal layoffs.
That's all on Trump.
Launching an incoherent trade war and raising prices.
Threatening to upend state budgets with massive cuts to Medicaid.
Massive arbitrary federal layoffs.
That's all on Trump.
Reposted
This unelected billionaire is LYING about Social Security AGAIN.
TAKE NOTE: Elon Musk is spreading insane conspiracy theories in plain view so he can go after the Social Security benefits you pay into your entire life.
NO cuts to Social Security benefits OR staff!
TAKE NOTE: Elon Musk is spreading insane conspiracy theories in plain view so he can go after the Social Security benefits you pay into your entire life.
NO cuts to Social Security benefits OR staff!
Elon Musk reiterated his intention to destroy programs like Social Security, which he has called a Ponzi scheme:
"Most of the federal spending is entitlements... that’s the big one to eliminate."
"Most of the federal spending is entitlements... that’s the big one to eliminate."
March 10, 2025 at 11:33 PM
This unelected billionaire is LYING about Social Security AGAIN.
TAKE NOTE: Elon Musk is spreading insane conspiracy theories in plain view so he can go after the Social Security benefits you pay into your entire life.
NO cuts to Social Security benefits OR staff!
TAKE NOTE: Elon Musk is spreading insane conspiracy theories in plain view so he can go after the Social Security benefits you pay into your entire life.
NO cuts to Social Security benefits OR staff!
Reposted
Elon Musk reiterated his intention to destroy programs like Social Security, which he has called a Ponzi scheme:
"Most of the federal spending is entitlements... that’s the big one to eliminate."
"Most of the federal spending is entitlements... that’s the big one to eliminate."
March 10, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Elon Musk reiterated his intention to destroy programs like Social Security, which he has called a Ponzi scheme:
"Most of the federal spending is entitlements... that’s the big one to eliminate."
"Most of the federal spending is entitlements... that’s the big one to eliminate."
Reposted
A clear alternative to the House GOP funding plan is to pass my short-term bill with @delauro.house.gov to prevent a shutdown & finish work on bipartisan funding bills that invest in workers, keep our country safe, & ensure our constituents have a say in how federal funding is spent.
Murray, DeLauro Introduce Short-Term Continuing Resolution, Call on Congress to Pass Bipartisan Funding Bills | United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
United States Senate Committee on Appropriations
www.appropriations.senate.gov
March 11, 2025 at 1:30 AM
A clear alternative to the House GOP funding plan is to pass my short-term bill with @delauro.house.gov to prevent a shutdown & finish work on bipartisan funding bills that invest in workers, keep our country safe, & ensure our constituents have a say in how federal funding is spent.
Reposted
Employees of the U.S. DOGE Service successfully gained access to the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) headquarters in downtown Washington on Thursday, a day after the small aid agency blocked the group from entering.
DOGE staffers bring U.S. Marshals to small federal agency that denied them access
The show of force by Trump administration officials and federal law enforcement resulted in a frantic and “traumatizing” scene, several officials of the aid agency said, and sparked a lawsuit from its...
wapo.st
March 7, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Employees of the U.S. DOGE Service successfully gained access to the U.S. African Development Foundation (USADF) headquarters in downtown Washington on Thursday, a day after the small aid agency blocked the group from entering.
Reposted
WATCH: There's an unfair stereotype that most federal workers are lazy, overpaid freeloaders. I asked my colleague @andrewvandam.bsky.social if there's any data to back up this gross mischaracterization. He ran the numbers for me.
Spoiler alert: they're not!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnKh...
Spoiler alert: they're not!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnKh...
Are federal workers lazy? Not according to the data.
YouTube video by Washington Post
www.youtube.com
March 6, 2025 at 5:09 PM
WATCH: There's an unfair stereotype that most federal workers are lazy, overpaid freeloaders. I asked my colleague @andrewvandam.bsky.social if there's any data to back up this gross mischaracterization. He ran the numbers for me.
Spoiler alert: they're not!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnKh...
Spoiler alert: they're not!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vnKh...
Reposted
He ruled that the administration exceeded its authority by instructing agencies to withhold funding for federal programs appropriated by Congress, characterizing the case as one of executive overreach. Thank you, Judge John J. McConnell Jr., for upholding the rule of law!
March 6, 2025 at 5:39 PM
He ruled that the administration exceeded its authority by instructing agencies to withhold funding for federal programs appropriated by Congress, characterizing the case as one of executive overreach. Thank you, Judge John J. McConnell Jr., for upholding the rule of law!
Reposted
Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of the Federal District Court for the District of Rhode Island extended an order preventing the Trump administration from withholding billions in congressionally approved funds to 22 states and the District of Columbia.
March 6, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of the Federal District Court for the District of Rhode Island extended an order preventing the Trump administration from withholding billions in congressionally approved funds to 22 states and the District of Columbia.
Reposted
Breaking News: The Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s bid to freeze foreign aid payments, which were seen as a prime target for his plan to cut spending.
Follow live updates.
Follow live updates.
Trump Live Updates: Supreme Court Denies Bid to Freeze Nearly $2 Billion in Foreign Aid
www.nytimes.com
March 5, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Breaking News: The Supreme Court rejected President Trump’s bid to freeze foreign aid payments, which were seen as a prime target for his plan to cut spending.
Follow live updates.
Follow live updates.