Michael Feola

Andrew Bailey, in line to replace Patel, is a white nationalist firebrand whose name you might recognize as in '23 as Missouri AG, he tried to unilaterally ban trans health care for adults & children, sought kids' private medical records, and tried to get local police to physically enforce his law.

Tomorrow’s WaPo opinion piece: “Thankful for Acres of Burning Styrofoam”

Gaza: Study Reveals Unprecedented Losses of Life and Life Expectancy Researchers analyze the human toll of the ongoing conflict using a statistical model that takes data uncertainties into account

“life expectancy in Gaza in 2024 fell to nearly half the level expected without the war. An update of their analysis, produced after the publication of the study, revealed that the current violent death toll likely exceeds 100,000.”

Tomorrow’s WaPo opinion piece: “Thankful for Acres of Burning Styrofoam”

Gaza: Study Reveals Unprecedented Losses of Life and Life Expectancy Researchers analyze the human toll of the ongoing conflict using a statistical model that takes data uncertainties into account

“life expectancy in Gaza in 2024 fell to nearly half the level expected without the war. An update of their analysis, produced after the publication of the study, revealed that the current violent death toll likely exceeds 100,000.”

Few things bug me more than higher ed leaders saying that we lost our mission and lost the trust of the public, when we have actually been the target of a decades-long smear campaign by the right wing that worked. The moment we’re losing our mission is right now, in capitulation.

Worth reading. Your daily reminder that X isn't just a purposeless cesspool. Instead, Musk's media empire has become the world's largest far right incubator, with a particular push to mainstream, whitewash, and legitimize the most regressive axioms of racial nationalism.

Really hard to believe that the extremely professional, experienced, crack legal squad handpicked to pursue this case could have fumbled it.

Worth reading. Your daily reminder that X isn't just a purposeless cesspool. Instead, Musk's media empire has become the world's largest far right incubator, with a particular push to mainstream, whitewash, and legitimize the most regressive axioms of racial nationalism.

60 Attorneys on the Year of Chaos Inside Trump’s Justice Department Sixty former staffers describe an environment of suspicion and intimidation within the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency.

It is good that the NYT is publishing these things. It is not good that they choose to frame it as a year of "chaos" -- when, by all accounts, the more appropriate framing is the utter corruption of law enforcement, to serve the grievances, vendettas, and paranoia of one man.

60 Attorneys on the Year of Chaos Inside Trump’s Justice Department Sixty former staffers describe an environment of suspicion and intimidation within the nation’s most powerful law enforcement agency.

It is good that the NYT is publishing these things. It is not good that they choose to frame it as a year of "chaos" -- when, by all accounts, the more appropriate framing is the utter corruption of law enforcement, to serve the grievances, vendettas, and paranoia of one man.

AI "woman" in foreground. Dark hair, white shirt, blue blazer. Looking at viewer. Academic quad and buildings in background.

In case you're wondering how higher ed is taking a stand against the planet-destroying plagiarism machine of gen AI -- my employer just launched Jesse, a "virtual engagement officer" -- an AI person-bot to "connect with our community in new and creative ways." You can't even make this up.

AI "woman" in foreground. Dark hair, white shirt, blue blazer. Looking at viewer. Academic quad and buildings in background.

In case you're wondering how higher ed is taking a stand against the planet-destroying plagiarism machine of gen AI -- my employer just launched Jesse, a "virtual engagement officer" -- an AI person-bot to "connect with our community in new and creative ways." You can't even make this up.

House Republican Tells Food Stamp Recipients, ‘Stop Smoking Crack’ Rep. Clay Higgins has little sympathy for millions of Americans whose food assistance benefits are set to expire on Nov. 1.

Reminder #4371: they despise you.

Tweet from official Labor Dept account. Image: strapping white man staring at viewer. American flag and cranes in background. Text. "Through Project Firewall, we’re rebuilding our workforce and ensuring American Jobs go to AMERICANS FIRST!"

DHS has long been the most prominent propaganda wing of the regime. But you shouldn't miss what the Department of Labor has been up to.

AMERICANS FIRST (hmm. That vision of an "American" who should be "first" sure looks like they've got something specific in mind. Let's keep scrolling, though). 🧵

Yeah. Not really sure they actually know where "the gates" are. Probably all that fog.

Tweet from Labor Dept. Image: white family looking happy. Background, blue sky, arm of Uncle Sam holding the American Flag. Text: "RESTORE THE AMERICAN DREAM! We’re continuing our work on Project Firewall—and restoring pathways to the American Dream by ensuring American Jobs go to American Workers 🇺🇸"

More "restoring the American Dream!" And wow! Would you look at all those white faces? It's almost like the regime has a very specific, very clear about who counts as an American and who the dream should be reserved for. And they're pretty committed that you know it, too.

Tweet from Labor Dept. Image: white family sitting in church pews, ostensibly watching speaker (except for mother, who is looking at daughter). Text: "Project Firewall is our commitment to ensure American Workers have a fair shot at the American Dream. It’s not going to be easy—but the American Dream is worth fighting for. ‘Every Sunday Morning’ —Harold Anderson"

Interesting. Not just a white nuclear family -- but sitting in Church. "Every Sunday Morning". You know: the dream has to center Christianity, too. Just in case you thought it was only about whiteness. But hey, let's keep going....

Tweet from Labor Dept. Image: white family standing with backs to viewer, staring at a white, suburban home. Background, Church, school, factory. Text: "Our work on Project Firewall is critical in our mission to put Americans First and RESTORE THE AMERICAN DREAM. ‘These Are Fundamental’ —Fortune Magazine"

2. Oh, hey look. A white family standing in front of the suburban home they were able to buy through racialized mortgage policies. THE AMERICAN DREAM. Something reminds me of the vision of "Americans" from the first picture, no? But let's keep scrolling.

Tweet from official Labor Dept account. Image: strapping white man staring at viewer. American flag and cranes in background. Text. "Through Project Firewall, we’re rebuilding our workforce and ensuring American Jobs go to AMERICANS FIRST!"

DHS has long been the most prominent propaganda wing of the regime. But you shouldn't miss what the Department of Labor has been up to.

AMERICANS FIRST (hmm. That vision of an "American" who should be "first" sure looks like they've got something specific in mind. Let's keep scrolling, though). 🧵

Republican says far-right group should be able to 'hunt' migrants 'I would deputise the Proud Boys and the January 6 Patriots to bounty hunt illegal immigrants.'

Extremely normal thing to say.

“‘I would deputise the Proud Boys and the January 6 Patriots to bounty hunt illegal immigrants,’ he said.”

Republican says far-right group should be able to 'hunt' migrants 'I would deputise the Proud Boys and the January 6 Patriots to bounty hunt illegal immigrants.'

Extremely normal thing to say.

“‘I would deputise the Proud Boys and the January 6 Patriots to bounty hunt illegal immigrants,’ he said.”

Tweet from official DHS account. Image: aerial view, lots of fog, knights in armor, brandishing swords. Superimposed text: "THE ENEMIES ARE AT THE GATES". Tweet text: "Defend your hearth and home".

I regret to inform you that DHS is fashposting again.

THE ENEMIES ARE AT THE GATES. DEFEND YOUR HEARTH AND HOME.

"In February 2024, Ingrassia wrote: “We need competent white men in positions of leadership. … The founding fathers were wrong that all men are created equal … We need to reject that part of our heritage,” according to the text exchange."

"In February 2024, Ingrassia wrote: “We need competent white men in positions of leadership. … The founding fathers were wrong that all men are created equal … We need to reject that part of our heritage,” according to the text exchange."

Trump nominee says MLK Jr. holiday belongs in ‘hell’ and that he has ‘Nazi streak,’ according to texts Paul Ingrassia’s bid to lead a whistleblower agency is set for a Senate confirmation hearing Thursday.

Yet another member of MAGAWorld seems to have avowed Nazi sympathies. So strange that this just keeps happening over and over and over again.

Looks great -- thanks!!

How Trump is Building a Violent, Shadowy Federal Police Force Trump’s DHS appointees have dismantled civil rights guardrails, protected agents’ anonymity and encouraged them to wear masks, threatened groups that stood in their way, and overwhelmed legal challeng...

"Current and former national security officials... describe the masked immigration officers operating in near-total anonymity... as crossing a line that long set the United States apart from the world’s most repressive regimes. ICE...has become an unfettered and unaccountable national police force."

How Trump is Building a Violent, Shadowy Federal Police Force Trump’s DHS appointees have dismantled civil rights guardrails, protected agents’ anonymity and encouraged them to wear masks, threatened groups that stood in their way, and overwhelmed legal challeng...

"Current and former national security officials... describe the masked immigration officers operating in near-total anonymity... as crossing a line that long set the United States apart from the world’s most repressive regimes. ICE...has become an unfettered and unaccountable national police force."

Russell Vought, Trump’s Shadow President From the wholesale gutting of federal agencies to the ongoing government shutdown, Russell Vought has drawn the road map for Trump’s second term. Vought has consolidated power to an extent that inside...

"Vought was unsatisfied. What would be the consequences of a much larger reduction? A career official answered: Less humanitarian aid would mean more people would die... Vought reiterated that he wanted spending on foreign aid to be as close to zero as possible, on the fastest timeline possible." 🧵