Pat Ryan
@patryan12.bsky.social
writer.gentleman golfer.recovering journalist
Reposted by Pat Ryan
Whatever happens now, we absolutely cannot allow Trump's refusal to seek Congressional authorization for what appears to be a large scale military attack on another country vanish from the media discussion, which already appears to be happening.
January 3, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Whatever happens now, we absolutely cannot allow Trump's refusal to seek Congressional authorization for what appears to be a large scale military attack on another country vanish from the media discussion, which already appears to be happening.
Reposted by Pat Ryan
It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
January 3, 2026 at 5:08 PM
It's an old and obvious pattern. An unpopular president - failing on the economy and losing his grip on power at home - decides to launch a war for regime change abroad.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
The American people don’t want to “run” a foreign country while our leaders fail to improve life in this one.
Reposted by Pat Ryan
That one person can drag us into a war without consulting or even notifying Congress, or our allies, or fully explaining to the American people why this is necessary, is absolutely bonkers.
Reminder that Congress has the power to stop all of this. Where the hell are they?
Reminder that Congress has the power to stop all of this. Where the hell are they?
January 3, 2026 at 8:01 PM
That one person can drag us into a war without consulting or even notifying Congress, or our allies, or fully explaining to the American people why this is necessary, is absolutely bonkers.
Reminder that Congress has the power to stop all of this. Where the hell are they?
Reminder that Congress has the power to stop all of this. Where the hell are they?
Reposted by Pat Ryan
Adam Kinzinger WARNS: “This Venezuela Move Could Backfire Badly”
youtu.be/et8CDsoXLyw
youtu.be/et8CDsoXLyw
Adam Kinzinger WARNS: “This Venezuela Move Could Backfire Badly”
YouTube video by Adam Kinzinger
youtu.be
January 3, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Adam Kinzinger WARNS: “This Venezuela Move Could Backfire Badly”
youtu.be/et8CDsoXLyw
youtu.be/et8CDsoXLyw
Reposted by Pat Ryan
New Interview: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
January 3, 2026 at 9:42 PM
New Interview: www.newyorker.com/news/q-and-a...
Reposted by Pat Ryan
President Trump said on Saturday that Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president and would act as a partner in letting the U.S. run the country. Less than two hours later, Rodríguez made clear she viewed the U.S. as an illegal invader that must be rejected.
Venezuela’s Interim Leader Defies Trump and Calls Maduro the ‘Only President’
President Trump said that Venezuela’s new leader, Delcy Rodríguez, would help the United States run Venezuela. She quickly said the opposite.
nyti.ms
January 3, 2026 at 11:55 PM
President Trump said on Saturday that Delcy Rodríguez was sworn in as Venezuela’s interim president and would act as a partner in letting the U.S. run the country. Less than two hours later, Rodríguez made clear she viewed the U.S. as an illegal invader that must be rejected.
Reposted by Pat Ryan
In case you were wondering, Jack Smith's testimony was the *opposite* of "total exoneration."
December 31, 2025 at 10:54 PM
In case you were wondering, Jack Smith's testimony was the *opposite* of "total exoneration."
Reposted by Pat Ryan
Jack Smith: I believe we had proof beyond a reasonable doubt in both cases.
December 31, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Jack Smith: I believe we had proof beyond a reasonable doubt in both cases.
Reposted by Pat Ryan
NEW: Jack Smith's team interviewed Giuliani, and when asked whether Rudy believed his own lies about election fraud, Jack Smith said he did not, and that neither did Donald Trump.
December 31, 2025 at 9:48 PM
NEW: Jack Smith's team interviewed Giuliani, and when asked whether Rudy believed his own lies about election fraud, Jack Smith said he did not, and that neither did Donald Trump.
Reposted by Pat Ryan
Our economy is in shambles, and it’s no surprise. Trump is not a negotiator; he’s a chicken, and you’re paying the price for his cowardice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uAVP2mkCm8&list=PLmHDGpDOjacoTxbrY068uPDU6lYhubjg4&index=25
Taco
YouTube video by The Lincoln Project
www.youtube.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Our economy is in shambles, and it’s no surprise. Trump is not a negotiator; he’s a chicken, and you’re paying the price for his cowardice. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0uAVP2mkCm8&list=PLmHDGpDOjacoTxbrY068uPDU6lYhubjg4&index=25
Reposted by Pat Ryan
Question: But the president’s statements that he believed the election was rife with fraud—those are statements protected by the First Amendment, correct?
Smith: Absolutely not. If they are made to target a lawful government function and are made with knowing falsity, then no, they are not.
Smith: Absolutely not. If they are made to target a lawful government function and are made with knowing falsity, then no, they are not.
December 31, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Question: But the president’s statements that he believed the election was rife with fraud—those are statements protected by the First Amendment, correct?
Smith: Absolutely not. If they are made to target a lawful government function and are made with knowing falsity, then no, they are not.
Smith: Absolutely not. If they are made to target a lawful government function and are made with knowing falsity, then no, they are not.
Reposted by Pat Ryan
Jack Smith Deposition quotes
December 31, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Jack Smith Deposition quotes
…oh, and one more thing
Yesterday I pretty blithely sidestepped the opportunity to be specific about what I think has been so awful about the first year of the second iteration of TFG’s presidency (“Without getting into the gory details (again), my millimeter-deep analysis…”). Today I discovered…
Yesterday I pretty blithely sidestepped the opportunity to be specific about what I think has been so awful about the first year of the second iteration of TFG’s presidency (“Without getting into the gory details (again), my millimeter-deep analysis…”). Today I discovered…
…oh, and one more thing
Yesterday I pretty blithely sidestepped the opportunity to be specific about what I think has been so awful about the first year of the second iteration of TFG’s presidency (“Without getting into the gory details (again), my millimeter-deep analysis…”). Today I discovered that Susan Glasser at The New Yorker has done the work far better than I could have. And so, you may ask – well, Pat, could you cite a few examples of just what it was that was so bad about the first year of the second Trump Administration?
patryansblog.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:51 PM
…oh, and one more thing
Yesterday I pretty blithely sidestepped the opportunity to be specific about what I think has been so awful about the first year of the second iteration of TFG’s presidency (“Without getting into the gory details (again), my millimeter-deep analysis…”). Today I discovered…
Yesterday I pretty blithely sidestepped the opportunity to be specific about what I think has been so awful about the first year of the second iteration of TFG’s presidency (“Without getting into the gory details (again), my millimeter-deep analysis…”). Today I discovered…
Another MAGA voice stands athwart history yelling Stop
From the midst of the gray cloud of politics and presidents, I found one brightly-colored flower this week. Without getting into the gory details (again), my millimeter-deep analysis of how our president has done the job this year, and how he…
From the midst of the gray cloud of politics and presidents, I found one brightly-colored flower this week. Without getting into the gory details (again), my millimeter-deep analysis of how our president has done the job this year, and how he…
Another MAGA voice stands athwart history yelling Stop
From the midst of the gray cloud of politics and presidents, I found one brightly-colored flower this week. Without getting into the gory details (again), my millimeter-deep analysis of how our president has done the job this year, and how he has upheld his oath to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution, is: this is even worse than the first term, right?
patryansblog.com
December 31, 2025 at 5:12 AM
Another MAGA voice stands athwart history yelling Stop
From the midst of the gray cloud of politics and presidents, I found one brightly-colored flower this week. Without getting into the gory details (again), my millimeter-deep analysis of how our president has done the job this year, and how he…
From the midst of the gray cloud of politics and presidents, I found one brightly-colored flower this week. Without getting into the gory details (again), my millimeter-deep analysis of how our president has done the job this year, and how he…
Reposted by Pat Ryan
Schiff: "Part of this is a consequence I think frankly of Chief Justice Roberts giving the president absolute immunity when it comes to his instructions to the DOJ. He can pretty much order them to do what he wants and know that he will never be held criminally liable."
December 19, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Schiff: "Part of this is a consequence I think frankly of Chief Justice Roberts giving the president absolute immunity when it comes to his instructions to the DOJ. He can pretty much order them to do what he wants and know that he will never be held criminally liable."
Reposted by Pat Ryan
NEW: After months of the government telling the court under penalty of perjury that the US Attorney alone made the decision to charge Kilmar Abrego with a crime, there is now EVIDENCE tying Todd Blanche to the decision. More to come on Substack... storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
#272 in United States v. Abrego Garcia (M.D. Tenn., 3:25-cr-00115) – CourtListener.com
NOTICE of Defendant's Supplemental Brief on United States' Motion to Quash (Redacted) by Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia (Hecker, Sean) (Entered: 12/19/2025)
storage.courtlistener.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:19 PM
NEW: After months of the government telling the court under penalty of perjury that the US Attorney alone made the decision to charge Kilmar Abrego with a crime, there is now EVIDENCE tying Todd Blanche to the decision. More to come on Substack... storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Pat Ryan
Reposted by Pat Ryan
The White House has been caught.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
December 20, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The White House has been caught.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
"Presidents have not signed bills, or issued executive orders, to name things after themselves. Dictators, emperors, führers, czars, kings, and “dear leaders” do such things, because it makes them feel good, powerful, and strokes their fragile egos"
slate.com/news-and-pol...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
Trump Now Shares One More Thing in Common With History’s Worst Dictators
This sort of behavior is alien to a republic and a democracy. It is common, however, in dictatorships.
slate.com
December 20, 2025 at 4:34 PM
"Presidents have not signed bills, or issued executive orders, to name things after themselves. Dictators, emperors, führers, czars, kings, and “dear leaders” do such things, because it makes them feel good, powerful, and strokes their fragile egos"
slate.com/news-and-pol...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
And, you can’t “surround” Venezuela with an armada. By definition…of “surround” and “armada”
1. A blockade is an act of war
2. The idea that Venezuela has stolen land from the United States is so laughably stupid on its face that even some of his base is like 🤨
3. It’s always about oil.
2. The idea that Venezuela has stolen land from the United States is so laughably stupid on its face that even some of his base is like 🤨
3. It’s always about oil.
December 18, 2025 at 2:29 AM
And, you can’t “surround” Venezuela with an armada. By definition…of “surround” and “armada”
Reposted by Pat Ryan
“Why should I care if criminals are killed?” I see this comment everywhere. Here’s why it matters: these boat strikes aren’t war, they’re law enforcement. When the government can execute people without trial, the rule of law collapses. Due process protects Americans and U.S. service members.
December 16, 2025 at 11:44 PM
“Why should I care if criminals are killed?” I see this comment everywhere. Here’s why it matters: these boat strikes aren’t war, they’re law enforcement. When the government can execute people without trial, the rule of law collapses. Due process protects Americans and U.S. service members.
And why is he shouting?
LOLLL Trump claims he’s cutting drug prices by 600 percent, which is not possible
December 18, 2025 at 2:18 AM
And why is he shouting?