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Reposted by Michael J. Stern

Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 10h

In a nutshell.

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Reposted by Michael J. Stern

Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 16h

I don't know what preceded this, but this looks awful.

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Reposted by Michael J. Stern

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 15h

Pete Hegseth was busy ignoring his job and doing pushups as part of a show for the Guinness Book of World Records while Illinoisans are being invaded by Trump’s military troops.

Pentagon chief Hegseth more interested in pushups than talking with Illinois leaders, Pritzker says

The governor said the Trump administration is keeping him in the dark about immigration enforcement and National Guard deployments.

chicago.suntimes.com

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 1h

Nothing is left. We are there.

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 2h

I will not back down.

Trump is now calling for the arrest of elected representatives checking his power.

What else is left on the path to full-blown authoritarianism?

Donald Trump Truth Social Post: Chicago Mayor should be in jail for failing to protect Ice Officers! Governor Pritzker also.

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 1h

Nothing is left. We are there.

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 1h

In Trump's America, the victims of sexual assault are at risk of retaliation if they disclose the perpetrators of crimes against them.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/07/p...

Why some of Jeffrey Epstein’s victims are wary of compiling their own ‘client list’ | CNN Politics

Lisa Phillips, who says she was in her early 20s when she first met Jeffrey Epstein and endured years of abuse from the late-financier and others in his vast network, stood in front of the steps of th...

www.cnn.com

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Reposted by Michael J. Stern

Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 3d

There is no longer room in America to be "apolitical."

We can no longer assume that the rest of the nation operates in its best interests and will carry American democracy across the finish line for us.

Every person who cares about living in a free society must mobilize their passion and power.

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Reposted by Michael J. Stern

Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 11h

Translation: if you are a republican who is involved in an insurrection, you cannot be investigated. The FBI director is offering a pass to republican politicians who are involved in potentially criminal activity.

www.newsweek.com/arctic-frost...

Kash Patel says FBI agents fired over monitoring GOP senators

FBI fires agents, shuts down CR-15 unit after GOP senators’ calls allegedly tracked under Biden DOJ.

www.newsweek.com

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 1h

Yes on 50!

The days of Democrats taking what they perceive to be the moral highroad, as Republicans dismantle American democracy, are over.

Thank goodness Gavin Newsom is taking real action and fighting fire with fire.

New Dems for a new era.

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Reposted by Michael J. Stern

Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 10h

Yes on 50!

The days of Democrats taking what they perceive to be the moral highroad, as Republicans dismantle American democracy, are over.

Thank goodness Gavin Newsom is taking real action and fighting fire with fire.

New Dems for a new era.

Peter Paige @thepeterpaige.bsky.social · 10h

YES ON 50, CALIFORNIA!

It's a temporary solution to what will become an intractable problem if it doesn't pass. We cannot let Trump and the GOP steal unrestrained power. It's bad enough that SCOTUS refuses to rein him in - if he is able to commandeer Congress, democracy is over for US.

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Reposted by Michael J. Stern

Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 20h

Did I miss this on CBS?

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 1h

The man who used is family's money - and claimed "bone spurs" - to get out of military service all together is calling for an investigation of someone else's actual military service.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/08/p...

Trump calls for investigation into Blumenthal over allegations he lied about military service | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump called for Sen. Richard Blumenthal to be investigated in a Truth Social post late Tuesday night, hours after the Democratic senator sparred with Attorney General Pam Bondi durin...

www.cnn.com

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 1h

The whole office of attorneys at the U.S. Attorney's Office in ED Virginia refused to handle the Comey case. The Trump admin is having to look for an attorney in another district -- that's insane.

Whoever takes it, and shows up at the arraignment, will be a pariah.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/08/p...

Jim Comey’s long arc into the jaws of Donald Trump’s campaign of retribution | CNN Politics

Former FBI Director James Comey wasn’t always atop President Donald Trump’s enemies list.

www.cnn.com

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 1h

Unless Amelia Earhart crashed on Epstein Island, we don't give a damn.

RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!!

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 10h

Yes on 50!

The days of Democrats taking what they perceive to be the moral highroad, as Republicans dismantle American democracy, are over.

Thank goodness Gavin Newsom is taking real action and fighting fire with fire.

New Dems for a new era.

Peter Paige @thepeterpaige.bsky.social · 10h

YES ON 50, CALIFORNIA!

It's a temporary solution to what will become an intractable problem if it doesn't pass. We cannot let Trump and the GOP steal unrestrained power. It's bad enough that SCOTUS refuses to rein him in - if he is able to commandeer Congress, democracy is over for US.

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 10h

In a nutshell.

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 11h

Translation: if you are a republican who is involved in an insurrection, you cannot be investigated. The FBI director is offering a pass to republican politicians who are involved in potentially criminal activity.

www.newsweek.com/arctic-frost...

Kash Patel says FBI agents fired over monitoring GOP senators

FBI fires agents, shuts down CR-15 unit after GOP senators’ calls allegedly tracked under Biden DOJ.

www.newsweek.com

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Reposted by Michael J. Stern

Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 15h

I love this from Shelley Morrison who played Rosario on Will and Grace.

Really touching and insightful. Loved the show and her.

www.facebook.com/reel/8024919...

59K views · 2.3K reactions | For Shelley Morrison, playing Rosario in ‘Will & Grace’ wasn’t just a role, it was a chance to honor the strength & dignity of women whose stories are too often overlooked...

For Shelley Morrison, playing Rosario in ‘Will & Grace’ wasn’t just a role, it was a chance to honor the strength & dignity of women whose stories are too often overlooked. ❤️ This Hispanic Heritage....

www.facebook.com

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 14h

Wait, it looks like Trump is suggesting backpay will only be given to Republican, pro-Trump, federal employees when the furlough is over.

As a federal prosecutor, I was furloughed several times during my 25 years with DOJ. It's unheard of to limit backpay to politics.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/07/p...

Trump questions back pay for federal workers furloughed as part of government shutdown | CNN Politics

President Donald Trump is considering not giving back pay to all federal employees once the government shutdown ends, suggesting it could depend on the worker in the GOP’s latest attempt to force Demo...

www.cnn.com

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 15h

Remembering the almost 1200 people murdered by Hamas on this second anniversary of their terrorist attack on Israel and its people.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/07/w...

In Israel, Two-Year Anniversary of Oct. 7 Attack Is Quiet but Inescapable

www.nytimes.com

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 15h

I had 100 columns published that I posted on X and still have more followers on @bsky.app, after much less time on the site. And people are nicer. :)

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 1d

Bluesky vs. X engagement comparisons tell familiar story.

Example: My colleague @johngramlich.bsky.social has similar # of followers on each site. Last week, he had a popular post about sports gambling, a topic of interest across political ideology.

X: 59 retweets
B: 1,234 total reposts

Image of a post about sports gambling from John Gramlich that received 59 retweets on X.

Image of a post about sports gambling from John Gramlich that received 1,234 reposts on Bluesky (815 regular reposts & 419 quote-reposts.

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Reposted by Michael J. Stern

Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 20h

Every career prosecutor in the office refused to prosecute the James Comey case.

The corrupt US attorney is now having to recruit from other offices. It’s insane.

m.youtube.com/watch?v=3j3b...

BREAKING: Federal prosecutors won't comply with Trump retribution campaign, MSNBC reporting reveals

YouTube video by MSNBC

m.youtube.com

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Reposted by Michael J. Stern

Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 21h

Great column.

Of course the Supreme Court is going to say that Kentucky is allowed to ban gender affirming care but Colorado is not allowed to ban conversion therapy.

The hypocrisy is blatant. The court wants to erase #LGBTPeople

talkingpointsmemo.com/news/supreme...

The Medical Science Is Always ‘Uncertain’ When It Pushes Against Supreme Court’s Bias

If you came into Tuesday’s oral argument over Colorado’s conversion therapy ban...

talkingpointsmemo.com

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 15h

I love this from Shelley Morrison who played Rosario on Will and Grace.

Really touching and insightful. Loved the show and her.

www.facebook.com/reel/8024919...

59K views · 2.3K reactions | For Shelley Morrison, playing Rosario in ‘Will & Grace’ wasn’t just a role, it was a chance to honor the strength & dignity of women whose stories are too often overlooked...

For Shelley Morrison, playing Rosario in ‘Will & Grace’ wasn’t just a role, it was a chance to honor the strength & dignity of women whose stories are too often overlooked. ❤️ This Hispanic Heritage....

www.facebook.com

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Michael J. Stern @michaeljstern.bsky.social · 15h

While the leadership aide contended “it’s a customary practice in the House to swear in members when the chamber is in legislative session,” Johnson swore in Florida GOP Reps. Jimmy Patronis and Randy Fine during a pro forma session earlier this year.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/07/p...

Speaker Johnson said he’d swear in new House Democrat ‘as soon as she wants.’ Now Republicans are backtracking | CNN Politics

Speaker Mike Johnson is not planning to allow Democrats’ newest congresswoman-elect to be sworn-in until her party agrees to end the government shutdown, despite telling CNN earlier Tuesday that he wo...

www.cnn.com

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