Jeff Spencer
@revjss.bsky.social
1.2K followers 140 following 2.9K posts
Pastor and Teacher of Niles Discovery Church (a DOC/UCC congregation), punster, and climate activist. CO2 level at birth: 319.5ppm. he/him http://linktr.ee/revjss
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revjss.bsky.social
In this letter, Dr. Richardson quotes Illinois Governor JB Pritzker at length, speaking truth about the threats to democracy that Trump poses. Give it a read.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/october-8-...
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October 8, 2025
Yesterday, journalists observed members of the Texas National Guard at a U.S.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
revjss.bsky.social
In yet another helpful “Letter from an American,” Dr. Heather Cox Richardson explains how Trump’s use of declaring national emergencies to justify his authoritarian actions is right out of the Nazi playbook.
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A quote from Dr. Heather Cox Richardson’s October 8, 2025, “Letter from an American” that says, “As Holly Baxter of The Independent pointed out, ‘it is absolutely true that there were anti-fascist protesters in the Weimar Republic. If you’ll remember, those were the people taking issue with the early versions of the Nazis.’”
revjss.bsky.social
Here's a reminder.
A photo of some of the US Capitol Dome  with the US flag flying in front of it. Superimposed on the photo is this message: "If House Republicans were serious about averting a federal government shutdown, they would be in D.C. working with House Democrats and Senators from both sides of the aisle to find common ground. They're not serious: they're on vacation. @RevJSS"
revjss.bsky.social
Dr. Heather Cox Richardson is at her best when she connects what’s happening now in the USA with our history. And she delivers yet again in last night’s “Letter.” heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/october-7-...
A quote from Dr. Heather Cox Richardson’s October 7, 2025, “Letter from an American” that says, “The power being wielded by unelected officials in the Trump administration echoes the conditions of the U.S. government a century ago.”
revjss.bsky.social
<- It was determined that civilian officials as well as military officers could be accused of war crimes.”
Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite, susanthistlethwaitewaite.substack.com/p/stephen-mi...

I think it would be wise for Donald Trump and everyone working in his administration to keep this in mind.
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Stephen Miller and the Needed Post Trump Nuremberg Trials
To recover our democracy we will need a way back to morality
susanthistlethwaitewaite.substack.com
revjss.bsky.social
<- war crimes (including violations of customs or laws of war, including improper treatment of civilians and prisoners of war) and crimes against humanity (including murder, enslavement or deportation of civilians or persecution on political, religious or racial grounds). ->
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revjss.bsky.social
<- Among other things, the charter defined three categories of crimes: crimes against peace (including planning, preparing, starting or waging wars of aggression or wars in violation of international agreements), ->
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revjss.bsky.social
After World War II, “The Nuremberg trials were necessary because of the scope of the Nazi crimes. The Allies eventually established the laws and procedures for the Nuremberg trials with the London Charter of the International Military Tribunal (IMT), issued on August 8, 1945. ->
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Color photograph from Wikimedia.com of the Nuremberg trials showing defendants in the dock.
revjss.bsky.social
Miller, certainly ... and you're not the only one. Earlier today: bsky.app/profile/timo...
timothysnyder.bsky.social
Someone looking at all this with a cold eye might say that Miller and Hegseth are seeking control over the power ministries before a Vance ally invokes the 25th Amendment.
Reposted by Jeff Spencer
michaelemann.bsky.social
Truthful, given the following definitions:
"concerned" as in "concerned it's still available to too many"
"fix" as one might "fix" a race or a dog
atrupar.com
Mike Johnson: "Let me look right into the camera and tell you very clearly: Republicans are the ones concerned about healthcare. Republicans are the party working around the clock everyday to fix healthcare. This is not talking points for us: we've done it."
Reposted by Jeff Spencer
bethsawin.bsky.social
There is a carbon price, it's just that the polluters aren't the one to pay it.
michaelwara.bsky.social
This is a good thing from a risk-based pricing perspective. But also so hard for people that are now paying $12k + difference in conditions. This is one of the true costs for Californians of wildfire.
lvulis.bsky.social
CA FAIR plan seeks 35.8% rate increase.

#climaterisk

www.latimes.com/business/sto...
revjss.bsky.social
procedures and so on, it can drag a nation into a moral quagmire.
“We are nearly knee-deep in the muck already.”
Dr. Susan Thistlethwaite

I absolutely agree.
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revjss.bsky.social
“When a country’s leaders use contemptible language, send troops against their own people including children, create concentration camps, violate due process, “disappear” people, try to undermine democratic norms and ->
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Stephen Miller and the Needed Post Trump Nuremberg Trials
To recover our democracy we will need a way back to morality
susanthistlethwaitewaite.substack.com
revjss.bsky.social
> the Environmental Protection Agency said it would repeal dozens of regulations designed to curb emissions of carbon dioxide, mercury, and other pollutants from coal plants, and that the agency would make less strict a regulation limiting wastewater pollution from power plants.
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revjss.bsky.social
> the Energy Department said it would offer $625 million to upgrade existing coal plants around the country; and
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revjss.bsky.social
In a series of steps aimed at improving the economics of coal:
> the Interior Department said it will open 13.1 million acres of federal land for coal mining and reduce the royalty rates that companies would need to pay to extract coal;
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revjss.bsky.social
If coal needs over half-a-billion dollars in additional government subsidies to be a viable energy source, I think it’s time to stop burning coal.
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‘Mine, Baby, Mine’: Trump Officials Offer $625 Million to Rescue Coal
www.nytimes.com
revjss.bsky.social
In this sermon, I suggest that Jane Goodall’s life might guide us to look beyond what we think we know about these sayings and accept Jesus’ invitation to consider the flora and fauna of the earth to connect with God and empower our mission to be builders of mustard seed-like kin-dom.
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revjss.bsky.social
The manuscript for today’s #sermon, “Grounded: Flora & Fauna,” is on my blog. jeffsjottings.wordpress.com/2025/10/05/g...

In a peculiar parable, Jesus compares the kin-dom of heaven to a mustard seed. In another passage, Jesus tells us, “Don’t worry. Consider the ravens and the lilies.”
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Grounded: Flora & Fauna
A sermon preached at Niles Discovery Church, Fremont, California,on Sunday, October 5, 2025, by the Rev. Jeffrey Spencer.Scriptures:  Matthew 13:31-32 and Luke 12:22-34Copyright © 2025 by Jeffrey S…
jeffsjottings.wordpress.com
revjss.bsky.social
The disastrous financial, security, and privacy impacts of DOGE and the increased violence and illegality of the actions of the Department of Homeland Security, the Justice Department, and the use of military in Trump’s manufactured “war” on people he chooses to label “narcoterrorists.”
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revjss.bsky.social
Dr. Heather Cox Richardson - @hcrichardson.bsky.social - shows how in her “Letter from an American” yesterday.

She goes on to cover two other important stories:
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