Imagine how strong the mainstream media incentives to normalize and equivocate must be if they result in a piece that looks at a deranged, anti-science conspiracy theorist devastating public health and goes: "Good questions, just going about it the wrong way... just like Michelle Obama!"
The Atlantic.
Correction: looting the WH again! Started in 2017, never stopped - if you recall, in their last day, everyone was helping themselves to whatever they pleased. This iteration worse than ever before & we’re just 7 months in.
pretty much
This is the problem. Folks like Raddatz normalizing Trump agenda. The main stream media is complicit
Raddatz is inches from approving of Mussolini making the trains run on time.
Yep.
A short stint as part of what’s called Dignitary Protection - to help safe-guard high-profile foreign dignitaries like the Pope during a State visit, is understandable; Far different from an open-ended deployment to takeover cities, doing the job of local police & garbage collectors.
Martha Raddatz - ABC. Beyond shameful.
And the Centre for a Better Britain/James Orr, a self-confessed admirer of the Heritage Foundation (Project 2025), is drawing up similar plans for the UK under Reform
Wha????
The problem is a lot of them don't see a connection between the positions and the policies they advocated for FOR years and the moment we are in.
It's weird how he's posting like this and a bunch of guys who were 12 at the time think that Obama being mean to Romney is cause for destroying democracy.
It’s a meme that lots of things broken in modern America can be traced back to the Reagan administration. This administration is going to have him beat by a country mile. History books will be in awe at America’s massive self own.
NEW: SSA chief data officer and whistleblower Charles Borges resigned today—but his resignation email quickly disappeared from recipients' inboxes, sources tell @wired.com. @makenakelly.bsky.social and @davidgilbert.bsky.social report: www.wired.com/story/charle...
BREAKING: Social Security Administration chief data officer and whistle-blower Charles Borges has resigned after bombshell report that SSA put highly-sensitive data at risk. He sent out an email to colleagues moments ago. Here is the text of his email shared with me:
The average American simply has no idea how quickly the infrastructure that keeps us safe and healthy is collapsing. These systems run in the background thanks to government employees who quietly do critical work. Those employees are being purged and systems are being destroyed.
Earlier this year xAI was taken off of the list of approved AI vendors after Grok went on a tirade calling itself “MechaHitler”. The White House has ordered that xAI be added back as an approved AI vendor ASAP. It looks like Trump and Elon have buried the hatchet.
NEW: A partnership between Elon Musk's xAI and the US government fell apart earlier this summer after Grok praised Hitler. Then the White House apparently got involved, and Grok is back. read @zoeschiffer.bsky.social:
This should be bigger news, I know one state, but breaks super majority in the Iowa Senate.
Australia Post won't deliver packages to USA, but IIUC will deliver letters. Trump's idiocy is breaking even the most basic of international cooperation - mail delivery. This is nuts. NUTS.
Hey Michael Aiken - @rfkdemocrat.bsky.social, pity that trying to explain how Secret Service assignments work; who gets it & for how long - for those engaged in recent bouts of rage-bait, gets labeled as “trolling.” You may not like this fact, but SS entourage is indeed an image-booster for some.
As vile as orange buffoon is, VPs only get 6mths SS post office. Biden’s SS extension at her request, a mere courtesy successor can revoke. Even much reviled Cheney drives himself, no security. Fact is, she’s a very low-threat protectee - gets less threats than many private citizens. No SS necessary
As vile as trump is, all former VPs get 6mths SS. Even the villainous Cheney who was effectively in charge & held sensitive secrets - no security. Biden’s SS extension for his VP at her request, is a mere courtesy at whim of his successor. Fact is, she’s a very low-threat protectee with few threats.
As vile as trump is, this is much ado about nothing. VPs get 6mths SS post office & can then hire private security. Biden’s SS extension for family & her at her request, is a mere courtesy his successor can revoke. Fact is, she’s a very low-threat protectee: fewer threats than many private citizens.
As horrid as trump is, this is rage-bait. VPs only get 6mths SS post office. They can then hire private security. Cheney as reviled as he is, drives himself no security. Fact is, she is a very low-threat protectee: fewer threats than many private citizens. For some, SS entourage is an image-booster.
Trust, she’s not a target. She gets fewer threats than many private citizens who are as susceptible to lone wolves but can’t afford private security. Now, both Obamas on the hand, #1 top targets! Note: She requested the extension from Biden. For some, SS entourage is image-boosting/forces gravitas.
As horrid as what remains of the long despicable GOP is, this noise around revocation of SS, is rage-bait. VPs only get 6mths post office & can then hire private security. Cheney as reviled as he is drives himself. Fact is, she’s a very low-level protectee - gets less threats than private citizens.
All get cut except his wife who unfortunately gets lifetime SS. As vile as trump is, vance is just as loathsome as is mike johnson who’s in line after vance. Loathe them all. To think of vance even remotely having that sort of unchecked power & being the final word for our nation, is as bad as trump
As horrid as trump is, Biden couldn’t terminate his SS coverage. There's a difference between SS coverage for former VPs & former presidents - no matter how vile & undeserving of the office. Biden extending SS for family & his VP at her request, is a mere courtesy a POTUS hopes his successor honors.
He calls the shot, fancies himself final word because someone told him he could because he’s “president.” He’s broken every protocol & norm, destroyed our institutions & desecrated our WH & not only is no one stopping him, he’s gotten away with it. His SS detail have probably tired of advising him.
He’s beyond vile, but there are differences between SS coverage for former VPs & former presidents - no matter how undeserving of the office. Recent noise around revocation of SS is rage-bait. Biden extending SS for his family & for his VP at her request, is a courtesy that his successor can revoke.
He’s a prick & worse, but this is much ado about nothing. VPs only get 6mths post office & can then hire private security. Cheney as reviled as he is drives himself no security. Fact is, she’s a very low-level protectee: less threats than many private citizens. SS entourage is more about image-boost
trump is vile but VPs only get 6mths SS post office. They can then hire private security. Biden extending SS for family & his VP at her request, is a mere courtesy his successor can revoke. Cheney who is reviled has none. Fact is, she’s a very low-threat protectee - fewer than most private citizens.
No precedent set. This is rage-bait. VPs get 6mths SS post office. They can then hire private security. Biden extended SS for family+staff incl his VP - a mere courtesy at the whim of his successor who then revoked it. Fact is, she is a very low-threat protectee - less threats than private citizens.
One actually. Cheney. His relationship with Bush soured beyond repair. Cheney: a reminder that the seemingly invincible & their terrorizing ways will be taken down/cut down to size & will gape like church mice from the sidelines. Which is why I hope narcissist trump lives a long vastly degraded life
Important to note that soulless Cheney continues to be the most reviled VP in modern history & if he and Pence can exist and freely move around without Secret Service, others absolutely can. Fact is, for some, it’s really all about a vanity image-boost/forced gravitas - & all at taxpayer expense.
Also, only Presidents, their wives & minor children under the age of 18 get Secret Service coverage post WH. Once the kid turns 18, they lose Secret Service protection. Former Presidents may then choose to hire private security for their over 18/adult kids.
Only Cheney got an extension - an extra 6mths & it was actually not granted by Bush. Into his standard 6mths, Cheney requested from President Obama, a 6month extension which President Obama granted. After that ended Cheney could be seen driving himself alone. No Secret Service detail. Pleb territory
More photos of Dick Cheney after he lost Secret Service, driving himself alone. Secret Service protectees do not drive themselves & are never out without their Secret Service detail. If he still had SS, the orange buffoon who hates him would’ve long terminated it. Cheney has survived sans SS clearly
Nope. Cheney does not have Secret Service. Bush did not grant him a preemptive extension beyond the 6mths, but he requested & President Obama approved an extra 6mths. He would subsequently be seen sans Secret Service detail driving himself around D.C all alone in his car. There are photographs.
Most people can’t even name/id the VP while in office, why would taxpayers continue to foot the bill to cover unneeded overpriced security by an already overstretched Secret Service. After SS ends former protectees can hire private security. For many, Secret Service is more about vanity image-boost
Much ado about nothing indeed. The rage-bait is insane. Biden SS extension: a mere courtesy his successor could & did revoke - incl for his “allies” like Pompeo. When SS ends, former protectees can hire private security. Fact is, she’s a very low-level protectee - fewer threats than private citizens
The orange buffoon is vile, but this is really much ado about nothing. A distraction. VPs get 6mths SS post office & can then hire private security. The buffoon even terminated SS for “allies” Pompeo etc. Fact is, she is a very low-threat protectee - gets fewer threats than many private citizens.
There’s the option of hiring private security. That’s always been what former VPs & other former SS protectees do if & when they feel they need continued security.
There’s in fact a huge problem with the country; sadly, some choose to exploit aspects of it entirely for their own self-aggrandizement. Fact is, the current WH occupant is vile - but doesn’t change the fact that taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for a vanity SS extension for a very low-threat protectee
She’s a very low-threat protectee - gets less threats than many private citizens. VPs get 6mths SS post office & can then hire private security. Biden’s SS extension for family/staff incl her, is a courtesy at whim of successor. Fact is, SS entourage is more for vanity - image-boost/forced gravitas
Precisely. The rage-bait is wild. VPs get 6mths SS post office & can then hire private security. Biden’s SS extension for family & staff incl his VP, a courtesy his successor can revoke. Fact is, she’s a low-threat protectee - less threats than private citizens. SS entourage is more an image-boost
Doubt that. Like the sycophants that surround the orange buffoon currently desecrating our WH & institutions, those who tango with the devil know what they’ve signed up for. Those who loudly oppose know they're targets, while those who sit on the sidelines sneak around hoping they’ve been forgotten.
Why would anyone rely on this regime for actual data? Great thing about SM, one can bring 1st hand info/real data to bear on discussions. Fact: she is a very low-threat protectee. Both Obamas remain top targets 8+yrs post WH. Mrs Obama actually receives more threats than all living POTUS’ combined.
Firing Lisa Cook from her position without cause, far different from revoking a courtesy SS extension one has no actual claim to. Apples & oranges. It’s trivializing Lisa Cook’s situation & gravity of his baseless firing of her, by pretending it’s same as revoking SS extension Pompeo also “suffered”
He’s vile, but this is rage-bait. VPs get 6mths SS post office & can then hire private security. SS entourage for some is more about an image-boost. She’s a very low-threat protectee - fewer threats than many private citizens. He also revoked Pompeo’s which he extended post 1st term & Biden honored.
A courtesy most POTUS’ hope their successor, with power to revoke, instead honors. For many, SS entourage is less about security, more about an image-boost, all for free. Fact is, she’s a low-threat protectee - less threats than many private citizens. Biden kept Pompeo’s extension trump then revoked
He’s vile & doing untold damage, but this is rage-bait. Cheney, Pence had far more threats. Still do. Fact is, she’s a very low-threat protectee - less threats than many private citizens. Biden extended SS for his family, staff incl his VP, a courtesy most POTUS’ hope their successor does not revoke
Precisely. He’s vile, but this is rage-bait & much ado about nothing. VPs post office/SS, can if they want, hire private security like celebrities do. Fact is, she’s a very low-threat protectee - less threats than many private citizens. SS is more about an image-boost/forcing gravitas, in many cases
The orange buffoon is despicable & doing untold damage, but this is rage-bait. VPs get 6mths post office & can then opt to hire private security like celebrities do. For many, SS is more of a gravitas/image-booster. Fact is, she’s a very low-threat protectee - less threats than many private citizens
MAGA doesn’t see her as a threat. There are random private citizens who rate higher as MAGA targets. For many Dems elements within party/its various dueling factions/astroturf armies pose more of a threat. Now both Obamas on the other hand: top targets! Mrs Obama: more threats than all living POTUS’
As horrid as he is, this is rage-bait. VPs get 6mths SS post office & can then hire private security like celebrities. Biden extended SS for family, staff, incl his VP, a courtesy at whim of his successor. Unlike both Obamas, she’s a very low-threat protectee: less threats than most private citizens
Most POTUS’ did not. Bush did no SS extension. Obama did not extend SS - even for his kids. His Mother-in-Law who lived in WH never had SS. VPs post office/SS, if needed, hire private security like celebrities. Fact is, harris is a very low-threat protectee - fewer threats than most private citizens
As awful as he is, this rage-bait hardly same as actual damage he’s doing. VPs get 6mths post office & can then hire private security like celebrities do. For many, SS entourage is all about image-boost/projecting gravitas. She’s a very low-threat protectee - fewer threats than most private citizens
Fact is, she’s actually a very low-threat protectee - gets less threats than most private citizens. Unlike both Obamas who remain top targets. Biden chose to extend coverage for Pence, Bolton - a courtesy most POTUS’ hope successor honors. For many, SS is less about security & more about image-boost
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/26/t...
He’s an International embarrassment. He has no sense of world affairs, geography, history, or logic.
Amidst all the other transparent bullshit in this letter, the idea that Trump cares in any way at all about potentially fraudulent financial statements is beyond belief.
As horrid as he is, fact is VPs get just 6mths post office & can then opt to hire private security like celebrities do. For many, SS is less about security & more a “gravitas/image-booster.” She’s a low-threat protectee - gets less threats than most private citizens. Fact is, she’s hardly a target.
Again, not so. Take that to any court with Clinton, Obama, Biden-appointed judges & it’ll lose. There’s a reason Biden didn’t push back when orange buffoon stripped Hunter etc. of their SS. Beyond what’s Congress-approved, all else mere courtesies each POTUS hopes his successor opts not to revoke.
If only that were so. Biden used an EO to extend SS coverage for his extended family & staff, including his VP; the orange blob in his current WH capacity can terminate such extensions & did. SS coverage beyond what’s authorized by congress, is not a right. Though maddening it’s really that simple.
He’s pure evil, but in the midst of all the damage he’s doing, this rage-bait is much ado about nothing. Fact is VPs get 6mths post office & can then hire private security if they want. For many, SS is image-boosting. She’s a low-threat protectee; she receives less threats than most private citizens
He removed SS coverage for “allies” like Pompeo. He is despicable, but fact remains, VPs only get 6mths post office, then can opt to hire private security like celebrities do. For many, SS is less about security & more image-booster. She’s a low-threat protectee - less threats than private citizens
Precisely. With all the real damage he’s doing, this is much ado about nothing. VPs get 6mths SS post office & can then opt to hire private security like celebrities do. Fact is, she’s a very low-threat protectee - gets far less threats than most private citizens. SS entourage is more an image-boost
There are real issues with the malignant despot who’s taken our WH hostage, but this is not one. VPs get 6months SS post office & then can pay for private security like celebrities do. Fact is, a Secret Service entourage is mostly an image booster/adds “gravitas.” She’s a very low-threat protectee.
I'm a tech-oriented prof and do everything electronically. But there will be absolutely no GenAI in my class or feedback to my students. That way madness lies.
So dodgy
His birth certificate won't match his voter registration.
Someone needs to investigate all those name changes. Sounds like a crook on the run. NOBODY does this!
Good piece on what we can do to help our country in the face of this crisis.
US is the wealthiest country in the world, yet kids across our nation are now going to school hungry due to Trump’s cuts to SNAP. And instead he’s using millions to build himself a ballroom. It’s a Marie Antoinette moment in history!
You should point out in the post that he doesn’t have the legal authority to do this.
This is completely ludicrous, where is our congress? Who is going to stop all this craziness? 1 billion for his “free” plane and now this ostentatious ballroom while Americans either lose or pay more for healthcare, pay more for groceries.
Whatever for?? He rarely hosts social events like other presidents. He certainly isn't up for dancing. I think it is really a throne room. Like in the movies, where it's filled with courtiers bowing and scraping, while the evil king sits on a gold throne. Pretty sure this is what it really is.
Does this have the approval of the Commission of Fine Arts? Can private funds be used to renovate a public building like the WH? Why are you reporting on this like Trump is a King?? Doesn’t this need some sort of Congressional approval?? Where is that analysis?
This is not the gilded age. The WH is not a resort, it's to do the business of running a country. trump is already charging the American taxpayer for his luxury jet which is totally unnecessary and will cost billions.
I wonder how many food pantries could be fully stocked with that 200 million? Trump is a pig.
Yup. Especially when these events only happen 2 or 3 times a year.
It will be fake gold, like everything else about this president. It will be cheap polyurethane garbage painted to look gold. They will pocket the money.
Exactly. Odd this unending blaming of the unelected Black FLOTUS & a positive parenting mantra from 9yrs ago, for inaction of ELECTED politicians. Odd that @tales-typos.bsky.social brazenly smears the unelected Black FLOTUS - all while touting Gavin who hangs out with vile MAGAts like Kirk, Bannon.
Precisely. Odd how @tales-typos.bsky.social takes out of context the unelected Black FLOTUS & a positive parenting mantra from 9yrs ago, while touting fave ELECTED pols who’ve presided over decades of Dem inaction - incl those who pal around with vile MAGAts like Kirk & Bannon. Utterly disingenuous!
@tales-typos.bsky.social: You are a disingenuous coward. You take out of context & baselessly blame the UNELECTED Black FLOTUS for the failures of your fave ELECTED politicians who’ve presided over decades of Dem impotence - including those who pal around with vile MAGAts like Kirk, Bannon, etc.
Odd how you take out of context, the unelected Black FLOTUS & a positive parenting mantra from 7yrs ago, as you tout your fave ELECTED pols who’ve presided over decades of Dem impotence & pal around with MAGAts. The Black FLOTUS in fact models how to outsmart/win without resorting to idiocy/hijinks.
FYI: The unelected Black FLOTUS never said play dead; never stopped you fighting. She said EFFECTIVE solutions not complacency. Very dishonest blaming the unelected Black FLOTUS & a positive parenting mantra from speech 7yrs ago, for inaction of your fave ELECTED pols incl those pals w’ Kirk/Bannon.
Few POTUS’ ever wrote a book, but ALL modern POTUS’ post WH, snag hefty book contracts. Today, all living POTUS’ have production deals of sorts. Only difference is The Obamas actually elicit interest, bidding wars, top sales for their books etc. & turns out they’re actually smart & beyond capable.
bsky.app/profile/madd...
When it mattered most, the Obamas spoke forcefully & unapologetically warning about trump & his evil cohort. They were ignored, attacked, told to go away, by same people now demanding they say/do their bidding. The Obamas owe you nothing & have the right to earn an honest living as private citizens.
The Obamas who left the WH 9+yrs ago, have important projects w’ staff/overheads & unlike their predecessors & successors, have not taken a cent from saudi/russian oligarchs. The Obamas have ethically & transparently earned money post WH, via books, speaking engagements, award-winning Production co.
The Obamas are not your indentured slaves. They’ve more than done their part. The unelected Black FLOTUS when it mattered most & even while deep in mourning for her mother, pleaded & forewarned re: the stakes & this outcome. The Obamas were attacked, smeared, blamed, disrespected & told to go away.
Paramount just paid Trump a bribe for merger approval. When Democrats retake power, I’ll be first in line calling for federal charges. In the meantime, state prosecutors should make the corporate execs who sold out our democracy answer in court, today.
What the actual f*ck
Yep & not terribly convincing when the “pollster” has only been in politics for 10 years - mostly working as a staffer for a slew of not very known Washington State congressional Dems. bsky.app/profile/zzwh...