P McGrath
@padraicmc.bsky.social
Politics, public administration, music, social justice and religion.
Reposted by P McGrath
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and stra...
www.reuters.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Reposted by P McGrath
Anyway, curious what possible rationale the DOJ could have for redacting those sections saying that Epstein paid off witnesses to their "criminal sex trafficking and abuse conduct," threatened harm, to "release damaging stories about them," and telling them to "destroy evidence."
Ok. Now had a chance to check and, well, at least some docs do appear to be straight up classic redaction fail. And there are some *interesting* bits here.
www.justice.gov/multimedia/C...
www.justice.gov/multimedia/C...
December 23, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Anyway, curious what possible rationale the DOJ could have for redacting those sections saying that Epstein paid off witnesses to their "criminal sex trafficking and abuse conduct," threatened harm, to "release damaging stories about them," and telling them to "destroy evidence."
Reposted by P McGrath
Reposted by P McGrath
Arizona, the model for voucher programs across the country, spent so much money paying private schoolers’ tuition that it faced hundreds of millions in budget cuts to critical state programs and projects last year.
(Published July 2024)
(Published July 2024)
School Vouchers Were Supposed to Save Taxpayer Money. Instead They Blew a Massive Hole in Arizona’s Budget.
Arizona, the model for voucher programs across the country, has spent so much money paying private schoolers’ tuition that it’s now facing hundreds of millions in budget cuts to critical state program...
www.propublica.org
December 16, 2025 at 2:30 AM
Arizona, the model for voucher programs across the country, spent so much money paying private schoolers’ tuition that it faced hundreds of millions in budget cuts to critical state programs and projects last year.
(Published July 2024)
(Published July 2024)
Reposted by P McGrath
Steve isn’t here anymore, but he always posted this picture on Hanukkah so I thought we could carry on his tradition and remember him.
Happy Hanukkah to our friends who celebrate. Rachel Posner, a rabbi’s wife in Kiel, Germany, took this photograph in 1931 -- a potent reminder that fascism must be fought in every generation, even if it's wrapped in an American flag and a red hat.
December 14, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Steve isn’t here anymore, but he always posted this picture on Hanukkah so I thought we could carry on his tradition and remember him.
Reposted by P McGrath
the bottom line argument conservatives are making with the minnesota fraud thing is that somalis are genetically predisposed to committing fraud, when you boil it all down this is what they are arguing
December 13, 2025 at 4:10 PM
the bottom line argument conservatives are making with the minnesota fraud thing is that somalis are genetically predisposed to committing fraud, when you boil it all down this is what they are arguing
Reposted by P McGrath
I PARDON GOODY FLANDERS
December 12, 2025 at 1:22 AM
I PARDON GOODY FLANDERS
Reposted by P McGrath
If the anti-vaxxers were not fans of COVID lockdowns, wait until they find out it’s a 42 day quarantine for measles (with their kids at home).
Over 250 people in quarantine in South Carolina over measles outbreak, 16 in isolation, i.e. sick
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
www.washingtonpost.com/health/2025/...
Hundreds quarantined as South Carolina measles outbreak accelerates
A state epidemiologist said the spike in cases came in the wake of Thanksgiving travel and a lack of vaccinations. At least 16 cases were traced to a church.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 11, 2025 at 5:53 PM
If the anti-vaxxers were not fans of COVID lockdowns, wait until they find out it’s a 42 day quarantine for measles (with their kids at home).
Reposted by P McGrath
The fact that we already have Health Savings Accounts and the most marketized health care system in the world, and it is also the most expensive system does not seem to put a dent in these guy's theories of health economics
Roger Marshall: "We want patients to become consumers again. We want patients to see what the actual prices are. We believe that if we would add the price tags to this bill, that it would save the country a trillion dollars a year."
December 11, 2025 at 1:21 AM
The fact that we already have Health Savings Accounts and the most marketized health care system in the world, and it is also the most expensive system does not seem to put a dent in these guy's theories of health economics
Reposted by P McGrath
this is correct; it's not just the racism that matters, but a kind of (collectively) narcissistic grievance stemming from the knowledge that people with racist beliefs are (justifiably) accorded lower status in societies that normatively value human rights
I think an awareness that the right is perceived as parochial and contemptible is a deep grievance motivating populist nationalism, and explains hostility to immigration, international students, &c at least as powerfully as simple racism does.
December 10, 2025 at 6:45 PM
this is correct; it's not just the racism that matters, but a kind of (collectively) narcissistic grievance stemming from the knowledge that people with racist beliefs are (justifiably) accorded lower status in societies that normatively value human rights
Reposted by P McGrath
If your origins are Southern Italian, Irish, Polish etc. some version of this claim - the immigrant is a criminal underclass incompatible with the true Americans - has been around forever. They hate that the idea of America is more important than any group.
Stephen Miller: "If Somalia keeps failing, if these societies all over the world continue to fail, you have to ask yourself if you bring those societies into our country & then give them unlimited free welfare, what do we think is going to happen? You're going to replicate the conditions they left"
December 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
If your origins are Southern Italian, Irish, Polish etc. some version of this claim - the immigrant is a criminal underclass incompatible with the true Americans - has been around forever. They hate that the idea of America is more important than any group.
Reposted by P McGrath
"Needy Amin" still ranks among the banger nicknames for Trump.
December 8, 2025 at 4:15 AM
"Needy Amin" still ranks among the banger nicknames for Trump.
Reposted by P McGrath
Imagine thinking that people come to America to "access unlimited welfare for life"
Stephen Miller thinks it’s terrible that I can vote
December 6, 2025 at 9:40 PM
Imagine thinking that people come to America to "access unlimited welfare for life"
Reposted by P McGrath
i think to understand the meaning of the birthright citizenship clause to the framers of the 14th amendment, you have to understand significance of dred scott to the civil war republican party. dred scott wasn't just a bad ruling, it was understood as a rejection of the declaration itself.
December 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
i think to understand the meaning of the birthright citizenship clause to the framers of the 14th amendment, you have to understand significance of dred scott to the civil war republican party. dred scott wasn't just a bad ruling, it was understood as a rejection of the declaration itself.
Reposted by P McGrath
This really is grotesque: they went through years-long citizenship processes and are now being denied simply because if the country they are from. It’s formalized bigotry.
“She showed up as scheduled, and when she arrived, officers were asking everyone what country they were from, and if they said a certain country, they were told to step out of line and that their oath ceremonies were canceled.”
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social
www.wgbh.org/news/local/2... @gbhnews.bsky.social
Immigrants kept from Faneuil Hall citizenship ceremony as feds crackdown nationwide
Trump administration is pausing naturalizations for immigrants from 19 countries.
www.wgbh.org
December 6, 2025 at 12:32 AM
This really is grotesque: they went through years-long citizenship processes and are now being denied simply because if the country they are from. It’s formalized bigotry.
Reposted by P McGrath
Democratic politicians need to stop accepting Trump’s white nationalist premise that immigration is bad and proudly and loudly make a positive case for why America’s identity and history as a nation of immigrants is so important.
December 4, 2025 at 1:14 AM
Democratic politicians need to stop accepting Trump’s white nationalist premise that immigration is bad and proudly and loudly make a positive case for why America’s identity and history as a nation of immigrants is so important.
Reposted by P McGrath
I’m kind of new to the Democrats, but I thought we were FOR respecting the legal process, and also that we were AGAINST political corruption. And that it was especially important to hold to these principles at this time.
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
Jeffries claims the charges against Cueller were "very thin" and says Trump's pardon was "exactly the right outcome"
December 3, 2025 at 6:30 PM
I’m kind of new to the Democrats, but I thought we were FOR respecting the legal process, and also that we were AGAINST political corruption. And that it was especially important to hold to these principles at this time.
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
Reposted by P McGrath
Going back in time to 2005 to tell 17 year old me that in 20 years I'd be rooting for Bill Kristol against the Democratic House caucus leader
I’m kind of new to the Democrats, but I thought we were FOR respecting the legal process, and also that we were AGAINST political corruption. And that it was especially important to hold to these principles at this time.
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
But I guess there’s some insider memo I didn’t get that would set me straight?
Jeffries claims the charges against Cueller were "very thin" and says Trump's pardon was "exactly the right outcome"
December 3, 2025 at 8:03 PM
Going back in time to 2005 to tell 17 year old me that in 20 years I'd be rooting for Bill Kristol against the Democratic House caucus leader
Reposted by P McGrath
Chesterton’s Fence
it’s amazing how many people fundamentally do not grasp that the reason the world decided to *start* using international law to govern war is because most leaders at the time were able to grasp that LOAC made things less horrible for *everyone*
there is just absolutely no inkling that someday we might want the LOAC to protect our guys too
December 3, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Chesterton’s Fence
Reposted by P McGrath
Possibly because I was growing up Jewish only ~30 years after the Holocaust, but the evil of “scapegoating” was hammered into me repeatedly. I rarely see the term used, but it’s exactly what Trump, Miller, Noem and the right wing at large do, explicitly, and it should be forcefully condemned.
November 28, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Possibly because I was growing up Jewish only ~30 years after the Holocaust, but the evil of “scapegoating” was hammered into me repeatedly. I rarely see the term used, but it’s exactly what Trump, Miller, Noem and the right wing at large do, explicitly, and it should be forcefully condemned.
Reposted by P McGrath
In this Ohio town, it was tradition: Latin mass, biscuits and gravy at Bob Evans, and then down to the old marina to shoot a bunch of fishermen and claim they were running drugs. But now the woke mob wants to take all that away.
November 30, 2025 at 9:47 PM
In this Ohio town, it was tradition: Latin mass, biscuits and gravy at Bob Evans, and then down to the old marina to shoot a bunch of fishermen and claim they were running drugs. But now the woke mob wants to take all that away.
Reposted by P McGrath
for all they scream about "importing the third world" it's the most idiotic, base tribal clannishness they aspire too as well. fuck rule of law, fuck the law, fuck rules, fuck neutral institutions, fuck universalism, fuck meritocracy.
i mean what are these "western values" these guys are so hopped up about? they are directly antagonistic to western europe. they don't believe in civil liberties. they reject democracy. and don't get me started on christianity, they hate their white neighbors almost as much as the brown ones
November 27, 2025 at 8:43 PM
for all they scream about "importing the third world" it's the most idiotic, base tribal clannishness they aspire too as well. fuck rule of law, fuck the law, fuck rules, fuck neutral institutions, fuck universalism, fuck meritocracy.
Reposted by P McGrath
This is the type of hater energy that will fuel us in the years ahead.
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 1:42 PM
This is the type of hater energy that will fuel us in the years ahead.
Reposted by P McGrath
This is heartbreakingly cruel and hypocritical. The same admin that has redefined refugee status to cover white South Africans is now going to drown thousands of refugees already approved for their status in red tape, potentially even seeking to strip some of their status and deport them.
Trump Admin planning a rule to re-decide whether *every* refugee who entered under Biden meets their criteria for a refugee. That’s 230,000 people! And no appeals!
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM
This is heartbreakingly cruel and hypocritical. The same admin that has redefined refugee status to cover white South Africans is now going to drown thousands of refugees already approved for their status in red tape, potentially even seeking to strip some of their status and deport them.
Reposted by P McGrath
By the way, Ken Burns’ next documentary series is apparently in the can — LBJ & The Great Society
kenburns.com/films/lbj-th...
kenburns.com/films/lbj-th...
LBJ & the Great Society - Ken Burns
This three-part, six-hour series will chronicle the life and times of Lyndon B. Johnson, one of the most capable, colorful, and controversial men ever to occupy the White House. A figure of extraordin...
kenburns.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:02 AM
By the way, Ken Burns’ next documentary series is apparently in the can — LBJ & The Great Society
kenburns.com/films/lbj-th...
kenburns.com/films/lbj-th...