Writer/Editor @protectdemocracy.org. Views are my own. NeverTrump from the jump, Bulwark fam & stan. Former reporter, Hill staffer, CNN contributor. Subscribe to our FREE newsletter! http://IfYouCanKeepIt.org šŗšø
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BREAKING: Judge Breyer rules that President Trump's deployment of the military to Los Angeles violated the Posse Comitatus Act, says Trump is using military as a "national police force with the president as its chief." Injunction granted. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
So the troops can stop doing litter pickup outside the WH and can go home now, right?
Hey D.C. friends! If you see billboards or posters in the District from @ofthebraveusa.bsky.social demanding federal agents take off their mask, be sure to take a picture and share it!
Public servants should face the public. So why are federal agents wearing masks to hide their faces? Check out our mobile billboard driving around Washington, D.C. right now demanding federal agents take their masks off!
āEvery day little children came into Union Headquarters, some with their hands off, some with the thumb missing, some with their fingers off at the knuckle. They were stooped things, round shouldered and skinny. Many of them were not over ten years of ageā¦ā
When you think about this as Trump taking control of the Capitol city this makes more sense.
Vance on undermining the Federal Reserve: "I don't think we allow bureaucrats to make decisions about monetary policy and interest rates without any input from the people that were elected to serve the American people...POTUS is much better able to make these determinations."
Three of the officials who have resigned in protest, outside CDC HQ just now with their colleagues. In his resignation letter Dr Demetre C. Daskalakis (on the right) warned that the Trump administration ārisks our personal well-being and the security of the United States.ā (šø Sam Stein)
āWhat if Democrats Simply Said That an Unpopular President Deploying the Military Against His Own Citizens Is Quite Troubling?ā By @benmathislilley.bsky.social
Oh look, the military is being abused again to accommodate Dear Leader.
This is a real photograph of Washington, DC this week, where the United States president has ordered military occupation in peacetime, and ordered the display of colossal portraits of himself. www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
WTF RFK Jr.: "I know what a healthy child is supposed to look like. Iām looking at kids as I walk through the airports today...and I see these kids that are just overburdened with mitochondrial challenges...and I know thatās not how our children are supposed to look." www.c-span.org/program/publ...
Elementary school children are having to navigate thru a standing clutch of maskedā¦who are they? āThis is ridiculous,ā a woman can be heard saying. Yes. And insanely dangerous.
This morning: MPD and ATF conducted a massive paramilitary operation, with officers in masks and camo, in the Mt. Pleasant neighborhood of DC within 500 yards of an elementary school while neighborhood children were heading to school. On their third day of classes.
As always, @amorrow.bsky.social gets it "This should be 5-alarm fire for Wall Street, an institution that owes much of its success to the existence of a US monetary policy nerve center that is, by law and by tradition, insulated from the whims of any party or politician" www.cnn.com/2025/08/27/b...
To put a pin on this: Theyāre being made to pick up trash outside the *White House* Which is well maintained! Because, what, Trump didnāt think his view was ābeautifiedā enough and heās going to make the troops get on their knees and clean it for him? They do not deserve this. Send āem home.
Send them home. Trump is making them stand around and act like groundskeepers. They need to be on standby for real emergencies in their own states. Not as Trumpās pretend palace guards.
A mixed bag of LEOs patrolling the crime ridden paths by the Lincoln. Hopefully refreshment vendors are holding proper licenses.
Calling up troops because the President doesn't think his view is beautiful enough doesn't rise to the level....
What's the disaster? These areas are typically very well kept and IMHO more clean and accessible than areas in many other cities where these troops may be from?
It's also worth noting that these areas are typically well-kept. Lafayette Square (outside WH), the National Mall, and Tidal Basin generally are very well-maintained & popular national tourist areas.
Trump sees the troops as objects to do what he likes, with no respect or understanding for either the Constitution or their lives. Parade for me! Pick up my trash!
Trump is arming the National Guard and taking them away from their jobs and families to pick up trash around Lafayette Square, the National Mall, and the Tidal Basin. www.fox5dc.com/news/nationa...
Donāt let them tell you heās joking. Heās putting armed troops in the streets. Not a joke. Not a drill.
Missouri Republican Rep. Mark Alford: "I do not think that we should be sending National Guard into other cities unless the governor, unless the governor [asks],ā he said. www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
At this point, it's impossible to know if Bolton mishandled classified intel. We are being kept in the dark. What is known is that the Trump Admin wanted to menace and intimidate Bolton and other Trump critics. The leak to the NY Post is the big clue. shorturl.at/SXSb7
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āA lot of people are saying: 'Maybe we like a dictatorā,ā said the President of the United States, verbatim, in the Oval Office. The same day that he ordered mobilization of āspecializedā military units in all 50 statesāunder his personal commandāin peacetime, to āquell public unrestā by Americans
Iām just showcasing the ways people try to excuse this.
Fair Iām going to take it down since itās second hand
Linking yourself is lame but this is worth pointing out. I'm simply asking people who purport to be writers & journalists to analyze what Trump says & does more than what they "imagine" to be the best version of Trump and the worst version of his critics. bsky.app/profile/aman...
Again, the WSJ repeats this idea the Bad Things were hard to "imagine." (They did this last week with the Bolton editorial.) Not hard to imagine. He said he would do this stuff. His critics pointed that out. And many people refused to believe it.
Newsweek: Legacy tractor maker John Deere has announced layoffs at three Midwestern facilities as the company grapples with declining sales and the effects of tariffs on its bottom line. www.newsweek.com/john-deere-a... Workers are getting notice of termination this week.
WTF.
Chris Christie was investigated. This is Trump threatening Christie for his speech. Period.
When the gov't becomes the biggest stakeholder in your company, that's only the beginning of the meddling. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
"Fewer people will get immunized from potentially deadly diseases. And while itās true that what doesnāt kill you can make you stronger, it can still kill you." RFK Jr.ās Workout Videos Come With a Dangerous Hidden Message open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
I donāt think Mark is a progressive!
Making the prob even worse is that in some cases these corps are āagreeingā to give the govt a stake in exchange of licenses or other favors. This is kiss-the-ring crap, not any kind of policy worth praising. Itās like I want immigration enforcement. No way in hell Iām praising Stephen Miller
If progressives want a wealth tax, there is a proper way to do that by passing legislation thru regular order. Endorsing Trumpās autocratic one-off shakedowns that happen in the Oval Office that cuts out Congress is not the way.
The best, most accurate look at the DC occupation is coming from the locals: local news & local residents capturing violent arrests, peaceful protests, safe tourist spots overrun with bored troops. It's a powerful reality check on Trump propaganda. My latest: open.substack.com/pub/jennifer...
This is supposed to be impressive?
A federal government takeover of 10 percent of Cracker Barrel, when?
Feel u
We called this a socialist bailout when Obama stake in the auto companies in exchange for rescue money amidst an actual economic crisis. But there is no crisis. There are no bailout funds. This is just a plain autocratic takeover because Trump felt like the govt should have Intel. Smile!
Here the WSJ states plainly Trumpās retribution presidency is āworse than we imagined.ā No one had to imagine anything. He said he would do this. All you had to do was listen.
The Maxwell interview is a PR stunt to protect Trump. He promised to release the Epstein files. What he is doing is making a convicted sex criminal a TV surrogate for himself from prison. Quit spreading her lies and showing her face. Itās taking Trumpās bait.
The Maxwell interview is to the Epstein Files what the Barr Memo was to the Mueller investigation.
Maxwell was sentenced in 2022. The interview w Blanche was recorded in 2025, as she seeks a pardon from Trump. It is wrong to accept this interview as part of the "Epstein files." It was an interview done by Trump's lawyer to help Trump and secure herself better treatment and possibly a pardon.
Trump promised to deliver the "Epstein Files." Meaning: information that was compiled and led to Esptein & Maxwell's conviction. The Maxwell interview is NOT THAT. She talked, relieved Trump of involvement, & got better treatment. Maxwell's exoneration of Trump was never meant to be in the files
So, in his press conference Trump talked about invoking a (fake) national emergency to keep troops in DC, overrun Bowser, and have more control over the district. And then sending āregular militaryā to overrun more Democratic leaders and take control of Chicago, NYC, and maybe San Fran.
"If you want to have a coup against the constitutional order, you want to control the capital city. And if he has control of the policing in the city of Washington...Who's gonna tell him to leave the White House?" @gtconway.bsky.social joins @jvl.bsky.social:
"Given."
DC didn't vote for Trump. Not in 2016. Not in 2020. Not in 2024. You can disagree with how DC is run. But there is no emergency that requires the deployment of red state troops to police this very blue city. Trump has no right to overrun Bowser and take it over. And, also, this hat is ridiculous
Worth remembering (and pointing out where necessary) that drawing equivalence between raiding Boltonās house for documents and raiding Mar-a-Lago requires Bolton to have similarly dismissed and worked around demands for their return for months.
You do not have to like John Bolton to see this for what it is.
Scott Jennings: "I donāt care what they think...They donāt know whatās good for them. I do not care one bit." (2/2) ca.news.yahoo.com/scott-jennin...
The citizens of Washington DC and LA have three times rejected Trump and opted for Democratic leadership with their votes. And, Trump is sending red state troops to blue cities to overrule and police them. Here is how they "defend" it (1/2).
It is ridiculous and offensive that the Louisiana governor is sending national guard troops to DC to guard the Georgetown Cupcake in the middle of hurricane season. My thoughts: www.youtube.com/watch?v=CtqX...
Some incredibly good news: One year ago this week, The Onion returned to print. In that one year, weāve grown to the 13th largest print newspaper in the United States, just ahead of the Boston Globe, and growing fast. In short, itās working. Soā¦ thank you. Thank you for helping save this thing.
www.scrippsnews.com/politics/rep...
Governors should not deploy the National Guard away from their families and their jobs for a fake emergency in a far-off state. Those troops may be needed to serve citizens in their states from floods, wildfires, and other urgent needs. They arenāt meant to stroll monuments for show.
Awesome! Iām signed up and am training for it. Am in a bit of a slump with a minor abductor pull but hoping to be totally over it next week. Happy training!!!
A final plug: If you find this inspiring consider a couple bucks to protect the trails. The sheer athleticism and sustained mental discipline this takes is off the charts. And this is her ask. No fancy deals or ceremonies. It's this. secure.qgiv.com/event/longtr...
runningmagazine.ca/trail-runnin...
Queen of the AT and VT Long Trail, beating men's records on both!
Smasheroo!!! thetrek.co/tara-dower-s...
So impressive
Here is her Instaāincredible, breathtaking athleticism all around. www.instagram.com/tara.dower?i...
Ultra runner Tara Dower, who set the fastest known time on the Appalachian Trail last summer, is closing in on setting the FKT for the Long Trail in VT. She has a modest goal of raising 10k to protect the trail there. Give her a look and a couple bucks? tara-treks.com/run-for-a-re...
www.npr.org/2025/08/18/n...
Trump cites Putin on elections. Putin, who is bombing Ukraine & poisons, jails, and kills his critics. All because Trump cares so much about honesty, fairness, and integrity. This is peak authoritarian absurdity. No one should repeat this with a straight face. www.mediaite.com/media/news/t...
Exclusive: An internal planning road map obtained by The Post shows the strategy behind ICEās breakneck expansion, a chaotic effort that has already triggered lawsuits and accusations of cruelty. wapo.st/41FWkck
To "liberate" citizens in blue cities from their chosen elected leadership. That's YOU, Democrats. They are talking about YOU. And you want to minimize this as a distraction? It's kind of the whole damn ballgame.
Troops in the streets is not a distraction. It's something that was widely planned, discussed, and part of Trump's 2.0 agenda. It's a major component of the authoritarian project to suppress critics and advance Trump's agenda.
You tried this before. Supposedly the Epstein files were a "distraction" from the big beautiful bill and now troops in the streets are a "distraction" from the Esptein files....? No. www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Dear Democrats: Please stop with the talking point that somehow the militarization of blue cities is a "distraction" from something something. It's kind of the main thing right now. Downplaying it as a "distraction" minimizes the crisis and dodges responsibility for doing anything about it.
"Checkpoints for general crime control are illegal and smack of a police state." reason.com/2025/08/15/d...
The National Guard may soon be carrying guns in DC and no one at the WH, the National Guard, the Army, or Defense Department seems willing to offer up an explanation or answer questions. www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/...
A reminder that the initial days of this takeover have given no pretense whatsoever to escalate to an *armed* occupation. If anything, itās emphasized how dumb and wasteful this is. So Trump arming the occupation troops is a sign that want more violence.
WSJ reporting National Guard troops in DC are expecting to be ordered to carry arms. www.wsj.com/politics/nat...
Unhinged. The real authoritarian crime spree in Washington is being led by Trump. Pardons for MAGA thugs who violently attacked and injured law enforcement and shut down the peaceful transfer of power. A felony and home raid for someone who threw a deli sandwich at DHS.
From a principled source - by Russia's former political prisoner (and twice poisoned opposition activist), Vladimir Kara-Murza:
Outside DCās Union Station:
It was never about a real āinvasionā or āemergency.ā It was always about getting troops in place to suppress Trumpās critics and advance Trumpās agenda. Remember how Noem said the troops would āliberateā Californians from their chosen elected leadership. This is an intimidation attempt.
Trump: āWe must federalize DC to stop violent crime!ā Feds: āPull over and show me your ID so I can make sure you are wearing a seat belt.ā
Cities set up checkpoints all the time. To prevent drunk driving, etc. But thatās a routine law enforcement operation to be done by police. Not the feds. Esp for a fake emergency.
And yes I am upset the headline here of the storyāin the town where this is happeningāis about the protesters who oppose DHS screening drivers rather than DHS screening drivers.
WaPo: Department of Homeland Security agents stopped cars at a busy intersection for seat belt violations and broken taillights. www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/202...
Lots of good information and advice in the PD newsletter today, but I especially want to highlight this. Don't give the Trump Admin what they want. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/eight-thin...
Export taxes are plainly unconstitutional. www.ft.com/content/1434...
Quit calling these ādeals.ā These are authoritarian end runs around Congress to pick winners and losers, dictate how business is done in America, and pickaxe the rules based economy one company at a time. Congress? Capitalists? Helloā¦.anyone there!?!??
There is no emergency and these troops are not his military to put on parade and display. www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/not-his-mi...
A ridiculous, unnecessary, unjustifiable show of force. Troops patrolling Georgetown and the National Mall. There are crime issues in DC but this ain't it. Gift link. www.nytimes.com/2025/08/12/u...
NEW: @amandacarpenter.bsky.social covers what we can learn from ransomware attacks to stop the political shakedowns that Trump is using to extract funds from elite institutions. She calls it the āsettlement kill chain.ā www.ifyoucankeepit.org/p/trumps-ran...
"People inside the DOJ said no, you cannot use the military to seize voting machines under the guise of a fake emergency...now he is successfully inventing all these fake emergencies to send in the troops." Everything is January 6. @amandacarpenter.bsky.social joins @timmiller.bsky.social
Wasn't Superman an illegal alien.
Who needs to cook the books when you can disappear them?
