During my brief but substance driven interviews, I made clear that we need meaningful progress. I pointed out that the Dem party’s national approval is an abysmal 26%. Here’s how TX Rep Jones and DNC Chair Ken Martin responded to my questions: www.qasimrashid.com/p/interview-...
Question for Mike Flood: With $450 million being allocated to Alligator Alcatraz, and ICE burning through $8.4 million a day to illegally detain people—How much does it cost for fascism? How much do the tax payers have to pay for a fascist country?
The annoying spam texts destroying the Democratic brand: $678M raised through those spam tactics $282M to one consulting firm: Mothership Strategies. $11M to actual campaigns (1.6%) The party isn’t just treating donors like marks—it’s being fleeced itself yet continues to back Mothership.
Larry Summers: "This is way beyond anything Nixon ever did ... this is the stuff of democracies giving way to authoritarianism. Firing statisticians goes with threatening the heads of newspapers, launching assaults on universities, launching assaults on law firms. This is really scary stuff."
The New York Times goes both-sides with El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, raising doubts about whether he’s really an autocrat even though Bukele has described himself as the world’s “coolest dictator.” I think it’s clear that NYT is neutral on the question of democracy vs. dictatorship, even in the U.S.
Already seeing Dems say they should run on local, kitchen-table issues in 2026, and I don’t understand how this miserable excuse for a political party expects voters to react as if there’s a national political crisis if they themselves aren’t willing to talk about a national political crisis
"How can we communicate with optimism about the future … when we're living in the here and now where American democracy is in peril? … And we're supposed to ignore it? Leave it to others to wrestle with …? No no no no no. … "That is tonight's Last Word on my last day at the Washington Post."
still in shock about Emil Bove. easily one of the most depraved individuals ever to be confirmed to the federal bench, and that's including the nineteenth century. prosecuting his reported crimes has to be a priority when party control of government next changes hands.
let me sum this piece up for you: “hey, it’s me zaid jilani! you might remember me from my credulous profile of josh hawley, published the literal day before january 6. well now i have another credulous take, the time on another far-right maniac. i am definitely not an idiot.”
POWELL: WHAT WE SEE NOW IS VERY BEGINNINGS OF TARIFF INFLATION
Colbert isn’t the news! It’s a comedy show. It’s not in the news division.
UPDATE: @GovBillLee’s trainwreck education commissioner Lizzette Reynolds is still in school for her teaching degree 2 years after being appointed. Didn’t stop them from jamming through their private school voucher scam tho! pro.stateaffairs.com/tn/education...
Government misconduct complaint against a judge for “improper public comments” about national leader. Americans used to respond to that with “it’s a free country.” Or in the 21st century, scoff at the sensitivity of Erdogan or Kim, and govt systems that protect their feelings with the force of law.
I don't think most Americans realize how hard tariffs are about to hit them. The combination of 1) escalating tariffs, 2) companies slowly passing the cost to consumers, and 3) the repeal of the de minimis exemption in the Big Beautiful Bill, a lot stuff will be more expensive in 2027.
Reporters Without Borders explains how Trump is "both mimicking and inspiring authoritarian and quasi-authoritarian regimes around the world" as they try to silence journalists. Concise and clearly written. Read this. @rsf-interfr.bsky.social
If haven’t already, make sure to check out my report on @boltsmag.org that covered @uniondelbarrio.bsky.social. This piece explores the org’s neighborhood community patrol program, & dives into how the community patrols work to identify potential ICE presence in San Diego’s immigrant communities.
Wow, big news that strikes yet another (near-fatal) blow to the VRA. The 8th circuit has already said people can't sue claiming racial discrimination (under section 2 of the VRA). See here: boltsmag.org/voting-right... This builds on that.
Watch this US citizen being arrested. He says: "I got rights." The officers say: "You've got no rights." Then they say: "THEY're starting to resist more. We're going to end up shooting some of THEM." Who is THEM exactly? Racial profiling cops deserve to be in jails.
The Texas Observer has identified James “Jim” Joseph Rodden, assistant chief counsel for ICE as “GlomarResponder” who posts white supremacist and racist statements on X. Rodden represents the agency in immigration court hearings where judges decide whether an individual is removed from the country.
With Gawker, there was at least a non-frivolous claim. (It wasn't worth $140m and the judgment should've been stayed pending appeal.) With Media Matters, there's nothing here, no reason for them to have legal bills at all, just judges and AGs breaking their oaths to crush it.
From the LinkedIn of the woman—a white lawyer from Carlsbad, CA—who filmed this encounter and shared the video:
a thin white woman in head to toe lululemon screaming at these thugs makes me think ICE has jumped the shark
NYT reports this while simultaneously publishing an OpEd by Bret Stephens that “Israel is not committing genocide.” This is how NYT complicit in this genocide. They’re knowingly pushing disinformation. I debunked their fascism here: www.qasimrashid.com/p/nyt-whitew...
Endless grift with a side of cruelty @jojofromjerz.bsky.social
Beyond the 60 Minutes payoff & Colbert cancelation, an unprecedented capitulation: as part of merger agreement, new parent company agrees to install an official to "monitor bias" at CBS’s news division. CBS news will essentially be state controlled media. www.nytimes.com/2025/07/24/b...
Too busy collecting $$ and will do what they’re told by corporate sponsors. Good example. 👇🏼
THIS is why the party is polling at 36% but Schumer/Pelosi and all the other dinosaurs don’t get it.
Establishment Dems have more energy to condemn CBS for firing Colbert than for Netanyahu for committing genocide More energy to condemn Mamdani for seeking economic justice than for Cuomo’s 13 credible sexual abuse cases Establishment Dems: grow a spine & actually be an opposition party—for once
Ryan Walters, the Oklahoma schools chief who wants bibles in the classroom and Christianity taught to kids, just got caught watching adult content. On his work computer. During a Board of Education meeting. Read that again. www.friendlyatheist.com/p/ryan-walte...
Kennedy will “do everything possible to destroy the vaccine infrastructure.”
A newspaper wrecked on purpose.
It’s WILD how we have to beg Dems not to vote for Trumps nominees or bills. They are just legitimatizing his Authoritarian rule.
ANY Dem who voted for ANY of Trumps nominees or bills should be primaried. Especially, any Dem who voted for the Laken Riley Act or Crypto Bill
"He's in the process of establishing a dictatorship." It's a simple 8-word sentence. News media could tell the public that. They know it's true. They report on the various steps toward autocracy every day. But they're afraid to utter that 8-word sentence. Which is more evidence of how true it is.
We're in the Orbanization of our media system now. It's happening. CNN's Brian Stelter drew this assessment from Gábor Scheiring, "who experienced Viktor Orbán's autocratic power plays in Hungary firsthand as a member of the Hungarian parliament." view.newsletters.cnn.com/messages/175...
The cruelty of the Trump administration will be its undoing. “When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.“ — Thomas Jefferson
This is grotesque. A civil society group effectively being destroyed utterly meritless litigation because of expression that antagonized a politically-connected billionaire. Who ludicrously claims to be a champion of free speech.
my beef with so many centrist democrats is honestly less their ideology than their total lack of political instincts. the actual public is going wild with epstein speculation and this anonymous idiot is skeptical that it is playing outside of washington www.axios.com/2025/07/24/j...
Immigration judges said they were told **how to rule** by DOJ to aid the often illegal arrests of immigrants in courthouses.
When Alex Jones’ attorney says this, that means you are in bad shape.
WATCH: “GOD BLESS TIM BURCHETT.” Kanew & @votegloriaj.bsky.social express their appreciation for @RepTimBurchett and his insatiable need for attention after he basically admits Trump will offer Ghislaine Maxwell leniency to help clear his name from the Epstein cover-up.
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France will recognize Palestine as a state, amid snowballing global anger over people starving in Gaza.
CHIRLA just dropped a heat map tracking immigration raids across L.A., and the data is telling. Since June, 471 confirmed operations—focused predominantly on specific neighborhoods, POC, and Latinos. Proof that ICE isn’t targeting individuals, they’re profiling communities — to meet quota.
reihan salam — who once tried to write a case against birthright citizenship and who has given an institutional home to chris rufo — accusing anyone of having "zero-sum politics" is rich
I dont think there is a "male loneliness epidemic". There is a "I dont understand why women wont let me control them and treat them like a mom with benefits" epidemic. These men got friends. They just wack.
As we grapple with yet another horrific revelation that Trump is named throughout the Epstein files for child sex trafficking—a reminder of 4 facts: 1—Mueller could've charged Trump but chose not to due to made up DOJ "rules" 2—McConnell could've removed Trump but chose not to due to "politics" 1/2
Columbia University has handed over its undergraduate admissions process to Donald Trump and his MAGA allies, who will now decide at their sole discretion whether the university has admitted enough white people. It's no longer an independent institution.
Is this bad? news.gallup.com/poll/692879/...
As a political party, the Labour party, has caused itself irreparable damage.
I am honestly so over the Dem establishment. You all are like the office idiot who loses their mind because someone borrowed your stapler without asking but don't care one bit that the literal building you're in is on fire.
And this is exactly where we’re heading. All of this will come into sharper focus as we get closer to the midterms and they’re grabbing people at polling booths. They’re trying to desensitize everyone to this. We cannot let this happen.
She’s confused. And so am I. This is nuts! My wife just said this is straight out of The Handmaid’s Tale. Anyone know more about this?
this reminds me of the period in american politics when pundits would demand that any black politician of note — really, any black person in politics with a national audience — “condemn farrakhan”
Been offline more often because I’m still processing the despair of our elected representatives being impervious to pressure campaigns because they’ve turned themselves into minor aristocrats via incumbency and donor culture
WaPo: We've killed our independence and objectivity, please like our owner NYT: Trump Making Amazing Deals, White House Says; Mamdani Late 4 Times in 6th Grade CBS: We'll censor things you dislike, here's millions of dollars, please let our parent do a merger WSJ: BREAKING: TRUMP-EPSTEIN LETTER!
Tesla Takedown folks are planning a protest at the weird Tesla diner thing.
Zero to do with AI at this freak and geek show organized by acquiescent minions who allow this verbal diarrhea to flow so they get theirs.
Absolutely surreal to watch White House reporters ask Leavitt questions about tariffs moments after she and Gabbard used this briefing to baselessly accuse Obama of crimes punishable by death. We’re a sick joke of a country.
It’s INSANE the amount of people who believe Candace about this. Insane.
REUNITED, for real this time. On Friday 7/18 Ysqueibel + 251 Venezuelan men were released from CECOT & sent to VZ. That day he was allowed to hug his family but couldn't leave govt custody. Today is his first day outside some govt's custody in months. 🧵⬇️
As someone who has run an actual non-ridiculous independent media operation for over two decades which has lost multiple sponsors due to our public "we're against fascism" stance... to hear that Weiss might get $200 million for basically justifying and whitewashing fascism... is... frustrating.
IMO one of the things that should be passed in a Democratic Congress is a law retroactively allowing private citizens to sue executive branch officials for damages in a much wider capacity than has existed previously
RFK just announced that HHS will officially require manufacturers to remove thimerosal from all influenza vaccines. He claims the move will "restore trust with Americans." This is BS. Ignoring scientific evidence and reducing access to a tool that has saved millions of lives disintegrates trust.
Again: their cruelty is big business for Trump, Desantis, and their friends. apnews.com/article/alli...
It’s embarrassing to say but I didn’t realize axios had gotten THIS bad
Maybe I’m alone in this but I only want candidates who are going to promise revenge. And by revenge I mean actually prosecuting the crimes that are being committed right now. From the top of the government down to these masked ICE agents.
EXCLUSIVE: ICE may have secretly done more third-country removals than previously known Flight data from private jets contracted by ICE show a spike in activity to 13 countries targeted for third-country removals. 👀I've been working on this for two months. hardghistory.ghost.io/exclusive-ic...
really interesting that we don’t have a cultural panic about group think and intellectual homogeneity among the most powerful money men in the country. all the more interesting when a bunch of them have clearly lost their mind.
Women are “naturally experiencing their emotions more intensely, and those are gifts. They’re not symptoms of a disease," said Roger McFillen, a doctor on an FDA panel that largely argued against pregnant women taking antidepressants.
Democrats need to communicate clearly to the public that instances like these are part of a bigger story: Trump is corrupting the bureaucracy—corrupting the people’s government—by seeding it with loyalists at all levels who are willing to manipulate it to carry out his crazed vendettas. #dnc
Gallego fundraising with Andreesen and co-sponsored Laken Riley Act, YUP.
Every single Democrat that voted for Trump‘s crypto bill should be primaried. We the voters actually have the power to fire these people.
My record on Palestine speaks for itself. I’m proud of it. One of the strongest in Congress. I throw down for pro-Palestine candidates. Largely unrecognized work. That’s fine. Disagreements are fine, too. But if you want to toss all that for 1 half assed MTG stunt, be my guest. I know where I stand.
It's true. All of it. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
The personality of a wet blanket
really important to emphasize that roberts' view of the executive branch as comprising a single individual is literally contradicted by the text of the constitution itself
Also, Minnesota peeps, just got a heads up that some crazy shit is going on in Forest Lake, so I highly recommend you turn up for your school board elections. It matters more than you think. Don't let your city turn into Huntington Beach.
This is so pathetic. What does it say about your campaign in unaffiliated groups can sink it? The Groups aren’t why Biden’s approval tanked in 2021 and never recovered.
And he’s as boring a rock to listen to. He gives ZERO inspiration. My toddler is more aggressive in his delivery than Jeffries.
We’re just going full QAnon now.
It’s worth your while to spend some time with this piece. www.zeit.de/gesellschaft...
Cuomo is a really good example of how people often think that it's the far left who would bring a Trumpian candidate to power, when in fact it is the center and center-left most open to their own version. Just as with the center right, the rationalization has always been as a means to an end.
I genuinely don’t know how we move forward when people like these exist
Dem Party: We are spending $20M to figure out how to talk to male voters. Mamdani: Save your money. I have +45 favorability with male voters & +73 with men under 45. Endorse me. Dem Party: No way dude. Now—why is our favorability is -54? Let's spend $20M on wealthy consultants to figure it out!
truly insane that while the NY times was trying to beat chris rufo the the scoop on mamdani's SAT scores, the murdoch owned wall street journal was uncovering evidence of trump's close ties to the leader of an elite pedo ring
Skydance is about to invest in a company, Paramount, which will go bankrupt from it's acquiescence to an authoritarian regime. This is the message that needs to be sent loud and clear by Americans boycotting all Paramount properties and productions.
Bolts reported on this race in early June: At the time, no Democrat had filed to run for the office—and the clock was ticking for a last-minute entry or for the party to recruit. Since then: not only did no one enter, but the local party is now backing the sheriff.
i have really come to believe that this — treating the public like its too stupid to understand anything complex — is one of our big problems.
Anyway republicans have been pushing these “defund NPR” votes since 2011, when it was bundled by Eric Cantor and Mike Pence into HR1. Mitt Romney, a billionaire, supported defunding the CPB in the 2012 presidential campaign. Not all Republicans supported these attempts!!
I’m beyond fed up with Democratic leadership always trying to play nice. Are they the only ones still following the rules, while the other side threw the rulebook out long ago? This isn’t a game anymore; no restrictions are left in government. 👇🏾
The only way for the party to survive to clean house with the leadership. Remember when Pelosi blocked AOC’s committee chair FROM HER HOSPITAL BED and now the guy she chose is already gone because he was nearly 80 with cancer. We need a party revolt.
“They don’t want anyone to see how they treat people. They want to be doing this”—their deportations—”with no witnesses.”
A lot of people are sharing and replying to this without understanding that this isn't just rogue ICE agents or something, a federal prosecutor went out and actually got them indicted for conspiracy to impede federal law enforcement. this is not just arresting them!
The Democratic Party's approval ratings are terrible, a young Democratic politician solidly wins a primary in the country's biggest city by generating enthusiasm and high turnout, and Democratic leaders think the move is to publicly distance themselves, even denounce him, do I have that right?
I'm sorry, nine HUNDRED former DOJ lawyers all signed this letter opposing Emil Bove's nomination to be an appellate federal judge? 900?!
My god these guys are such spectacular morons gizmodo.com/billionaires...
![Travis Kalanick, the founder of Uber who no longer works at the company, appeared on All-In to talk with hosts Jason Calacanis and Chamath Palihapitiya about the future of technology. When the topic turned to AI, Kalanick discussed how he uses xAI’s Grok, which went haywire last week, praising Adolf Hitler and advocating for a second Holocaust against Jews. “I’ll go down this thread with [Chat]GPT or Grok and I’ll start to get to the edge of what’s known in quantum physics and then I’m doing the equivalent of vibe coding, except it’s vibe physics,” Kalanick explained. “And we’re approaching what’s known. And I’m trying to poke and see if there’s breakthroughs to be had. And I’ve gotten pretty damn close to some interesting breakthroughs just doing that.”](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:qlnirjwff4ibiw3wchmleszo/bafkreiac2szurc5dnw6klquhpjmo7iafg4n6fwmrqyred7jrrph6h6mptq@jpeg "Click to view full size")
The trick is to buy the Costco bag of peeled garlic. You put it in your food processor. Then you transfer it to mini Ziploc bags and put them in your freezer. Then you pull one or two out each week. I just did this yesterday.