R. Bell
@robtbell.bsky.social
Former editor of political and general news at a metro daily. Yes this is a pseudonym. Views expressed are my own. Pleased if they match yours; unbothered if they don't. The America Fairy won't save us.
And - WHAT papers? Citizens don't have "immigration documents to carry!
December 13, 2025 at 5:27 PM
And - WHAT papers? Citizens don't have "immigration documents to carry!
We need a meme of Roberts as Humpty Dumpty saying "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."
December 12, 2025 at 5:24 PM
We need a meme of Roberts as Humpty Dumpty saying "When I use a word, it means just what I choose it to mean—neither more nor less."
The shutdown was furthering Trump's work to end Constitutional government and establish one-man rule. He was unilaterally deciding how to spend tax dollars and the GOP Congress was standing aside.
"Fire with fire" makes no sense when the foe is in your house trying to burn it down.
"Fire with fire" makes no sense when the foe is in your house trying to burn it down.
December 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
The shutdown was furthering Trump's work to end Constitutional government and establish one-man rule. He was unilaterally deciding how to spend tax dollars and the GOP Congress was standing aside.
"Fire with fire" makes no sense when the foe is in your house trying to burn it down.
"Fire with fire" makes no sense when the foe is in your house trying to burn it down.
I keep saying, the Trump Gang is using Orwell's 1984 as a playbook.
December 12, 2025 at 3:15 PM
I keep saying, the Trump Gang is using Orwell's 1984 as a playbook.
Instead of promoting divisions among Dems, why not recognize that the Republicans were NEVER going to cave and would have been happy to let the shutdown go on indefinitely.
December 12, 2025 at 5:49 AM
Instead of promoting divisions among Dems, why not recognize that the Republicans were NEVER going to cave and would have been happy to let the shutdown go on indefinitely.
They're "laser focused" on all the problems Trump is causing - except that they won't go after Trump.
December 11, 2025 at 8:19 PM
They're "laser focused" on all the problems Trump is causing - except that they won't go after Trump.
Oh it's the Dems' fault because they didn't keep the govt shut down? Keep SNAP payments and federal worker paychecks suspended? Thinking they could make Republicans do what they just showed they were *never* going to do?
The shutdown wasn't hurting the GOP, it was hurting the USA. It was a trap.
The shutdown wasn't hurting the GOP, it was hurting the USA. It was a trap.
December 11, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Oh it's the Dems' fault because they didn't keep the govt shut down? Keep SNAP payments and federal worker paychecks suspended? Thinking they could make Republicans do what they just showed they were *never* going to do?
The shutdown wasn't hurting the GOP, it was hurting the USA. It was a trap.
The shutdown wasn't hurting the GOP, it was hurting the USA. It was a trap.
This has been true for at least a decade
December 11, 2025 at 12:35 AM
This has been true for at least a decade
Are we sure the Kremlin didn't write it?
December 8, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Are we sure the Kremlin didn't write it?
This isn't complicated.
In a war, that would be a war crime.
We're not in a war, so it's all just flat-out murder.
In a war, that would be a war crime.
We're not in a war, so it's all just flat-out murder.
December 6, 2025 at 7:33 PM
This isn't complicated.
In a war, that would be a war crime.
We're not in a war, so it's all just flat-out murder.
In a war, that would be a war crime.
We're not in a war, so it's all just flat-out murder.
"...isn't woke; it's accurate."
Huh?
A "woke" view of history is a "warts and all" view, recognizing where some people were mistreated - and where certain people deserve more, or less, credit for good than they've received. 'Woke' and 'accurate' go together.
Huh?
A "woke" view of history is a "warts and all" view, recognizing where some people were mistreated - and where certain people deserve more, or less, credit for good than they've received. 'Woke' and 'accurate' go together.
December 6, 2025 at 1:43 AM
"...isn't woke; it's accurate."
Huh?
A "woke" view of history is a "warts and all" view, recognizing where some people were mistreated - and where certain people deserve more, or less, credit for good than they've received. 'Woke' and 'accurate' go together.
Huh?
A "woke" view of history is a "warts and all" view, recognizing where some people were mistreated - and where certain people deserve more, or less, credit for good than they've received. 'Woke' and 'accurate' go together.
So yeah it was an "inside job" - as in, inside maga.
December 5, 2025 at 3:43 PM
So yeah it was an "inside job" - as in, inside maga.
For what? Obviously for Russia and for Trump associates ready to pounce on Ukraine's minerals.
December 5, 2025 at 3:40 PM
For what? Obviously for Russia and for Trump associates ready to pounce on Ukraine's minerals.
He hasn't "retroactively revoked" them - because that's not a thing he can do. It's the "first occasion" where a president has spouted this particular type of nonsense.
December 5, 2025 at 2:13 PM
He hasn't "retroactively revoked" them - because that's not a thing he can do. It's the "first occasion" where a president has spouted this particular type of nonsense.
And
That
Is
What
He's
There
For.
That
Is
What
He's
There
For.
December 5, 2025 at 2:08 PM
And
That
Is
What
He's
There
For.
That
Is
What
He's
There
For.
What's stopping Smith or any other Democrat from holding a "shadow hearing"? Dems can't hold official committee hearings with subpoena power, but they can invite Holsey to a public airing of his knowledge of these killings.
December 4, 2025 at 5:15 PM
What's stopping Smith or any other Democrat from holding a "shadow hearing"? Dems can't hold official committee hearings with subpoena power, but they can invite Holsey to a public airing of his knowledge of these killings.
There's nothing stopping Democrats from inviting Holsey to speak in a public forum. Official committee hearings aren't the only way to get information to the public.
December 4, 2025 at 3:55 PM
There's nothing stopping Democrats from inviting Holsey to speak in a public forum. Official committee hearings aren't the only way to get information to the public.
He told this same story months ago. It's not any more believable now.
December 4, 2025 at 1:00 AM
He told this same story months ago. It's not any more believable now.
Yes yes yes!! I've been wondering since they lost the majority why they're not doing this every damn day!
December 3, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Yes yes yes!! I've been wondering since they lost the majority why they're not doing this every damn day!
Again! Weaponizing hunger again, second time in 2 months.
December 3, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Again! Weaponizing hunger again, second time in 2 months.
His brain keeps regurgitating what he heard in the 70s about Cuban prisoners and mental patients in the Mariel boatlift. With zero evidence, he insists that's happening again.
December 3, 2025 at 9:22 PM
His brain keeps regurgitating what he heard in the 70s about Cuban prisoners and mental patients in the Mariel boatlift. With zero evidence, he insists that's happening again.
Tell it straight, dammit! Households will *definitely* face spiking insurance costs next year if *Republicans* keep refusing to renew them.
December 3, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Tell it straight, dammit! Households will *definitely* face spiking insurance costs next year if *Republicans* keep refusing to renew them.
His storyline is: "I fixed affordability, so it's not a problem, so talking about it is a fake narrative."
December 3, 2025 at 3:25 PM
His storyline is: "I fixed affordability, so it's not a problem, so talking about it is a fake narrative."