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bfry1981.bsky.social
Freelance journalist, academic, consultant with over two decades of experience in conflict analysis, public policy, politics, international development, humanitarian aid, foreign policy/affairs, history. Anti-fascist, pro-democracy
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Prolific Poster

🚨 DISGRACE 🚨 Steve Bannon just announced that he spoke with Ric Grenell and the J6 Choir will soon perform at the Kennedy Center. Yes, you read that right—insurrectionists getting a stage at one of the nation's premier cultural institutions. This is beyond unacceptable.

1% of the UK public agree with Trump that Ukraine started the war

Bannon: "The J6 choir is gonna play the Kennedy Center!"

No, but if you’re looking for one, I am aware of a guy you work with that was indicted four times and convicted of thirty-four felonies.

As of noon on Thursday, Trump was president for 31 full days. He spent all or part of 16 of those days at four Trump Organization properties. from @pbump.com: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...

— Accidentally fired workers trying to contain bird flu — Accidentally fired workers overseeing our nuclear stockpile — Accidentally fired workers providing health care to Native Americans “Accidentally.” More like gross incompetence and mismanagement. Opposite of efficient.

WTF that's isn't how it works

MAGA

Three unrelated cases of measles in Lea County prompted the New Mexico Department of Health to declare an outbreak in the county. There are nearly 50 confirmed cases in nearby Texas counties.

The resignation letter by the 38-year-old lead federal prosecutor in the Eric Adams corruption case, and who he is. We are in a character-testing time. Hagan Scotten just passed his with high honors. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/14/n...

No, they were asking her to shut down the illegal infiltration of the government

And if you call for an Uber or Lyft and get a Tesla, cancel it and tell them why.

"[I]f it doesn’t get aired now in the Senate, this question will get aired later in the courts. There is no way the genie of Patel’s candor is going back in the bottle," writes @benjaminwittes.bsky.social.

Repeating myself, but the idea of Trump & Musk as "masculine" remains bizarre. They're just the toxic and immature parts with none of the traditional "masculine" virtues. They're whiny, entitled, unreliable, dishonest, self-absorbed, never take responsibility, never put duty over self-interest, etc.

BREAKING: We are suing Musk & DOGE for violating the constitution They have no right to your personal data & no authority to dismantle entire agencies We’re calling their bluff & taking them to court statedemocracydefenders.org/wp-content/u...

🚨🚨🚨

‘Last nail in the coffin’: Israeli settlers push on with fresh West Bank land grab

What about free elections in Russia?

🇺🇦🙏 "I think everything will be decided without Ukraine," Ukrainian official told The Economist. ❗️According to him, "Ukraine is in deep ass. And Europe, by the way, is too." 🤔 Do you agree with this view of the situation?

🇳🇴 Norway will purchase American air defense systems and air defense missiles for Ukraine for $107 million, - the country's MoD after Ramstein. 🇧🇪 Also, Ukraine is discussing with Belgium the localization of F-16 servicing within the country.

Believing that Tulsi Gabbard — longtime Russian asset and newly confirmed Director of National Intelligence — is acting in the interests of the United States requires an extraordinary level of self-delusion.

🇩🇪🇺🇦 German Helsing company announced that it is producing 6,000 HX-2 strike drones for delivery to Ukraine. 🐝 This follows a previous order of 4,000 HF-1 strike drones which are currently being delivered to Ukraine, in partnership with Ukrainian industry.

Waiting for JD Vance to go full Henry VIII

As I have noted previously, lack of candor (under oath, no less!), is per se disqualifying for any leadership position, but ESPECIALLY the FBI. A liar as director will impact the FBI’s credibility in every case where any agent takes the stand or swears to a judge. He has to go

Elon Musk and his many conflicts of interest are dominating the top of the @nytimes.com home page and app right now. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/u...

Imagine if @aoc @sanders.senate.gov , every dem, SIMULTANEOUSLY held Town Halls where they allowed grant and contract recipients to explain to the country what it is they do and why it's important Invite all media. Including RW podcasters. @spaces Flood the zone Call it a Day Of Transparency

This is a flat-out, clear-cut violation of the First Amendment.

Elon has replaced Vladdy Daddy

Pete Hegseth got heckled as arrived at US military headquarters in Germany by what appeared to be military family members. They were yelling "DEI!" at him in response to recent book bans at DODEA schools there. Fred does a deep dive into these extreme anti-minority efforts. youtu.be/c7ky05dmQ2g?...

Once again, I am here from Poland to tell you that predicating your response to a rule of law crisis on fear of how your opponents will frame your resistance is as ineffectual as it is solipsistic.

BREAKING: CFPB probationary employees just received a termination notice without the pertinent information filled out. Click to see all of it.

Stopping FARA is opening the door to massive corruption

I'm a one-issue voter and it's "we absolutely need to let banks do mortgage fraud again, it's important." So this is a pretty big day for me.

SCOOP: A US Treasury threat intelligence analysis has designated DOGE staff an ‘insider threat'. An internal email reviewed by WIRED calls DOGE staff's access to federal payments systems “the single biggest insider threat risk the Bureau of the Fiscal Service has ever faced.”

Normalize pronouncing DOGE as DOUCHE.

North Dakota Republicans have introduced legislation to declare themselves a Christian nationalist state by “acknowledging the Kingship of Jesus Christ.” This is a direct challenge to the Constitution.

Proposal: A Severance procedure but instead of going to work, only one part of your brain has to live in this reality and know what is going on. The other gets to be completely and blissfully ignorant of it. Who’s in? 🙋🏽‍♀️

It's getting a little North Korean around here.

I traveled to the Dom. Rep. to see my 92 year old grandmother in my hometown. Her health isn’t looking good. She is surrounded by her loved ones, family, and friends. We are praying for a miracle and recovery. Would you pray with me for her?

Go New Orleans!!

Been walking around New Orleans this afternoon and I swear if you could somehow give a mass breathalyzer test right now to all the people on the streets here they would collectively fail

I come from the right. It’s the cruelty. For the right, the cruelty is the point. The cruelty sells.

Déjà vu all over again.