Steve Butterfield

Steve Butterfield (@stevebutterfield) JVL’s post is helping me work through my thoughts/feelings about where we are. Democrats should not just use the shut down to save the Republicans from the consequences of health care cuts. Dems sho...

substack.com/@stevebutter...

Fascist Eye for the Patriot Guy (Satire)

Nicely done. What an embarrassment Hegseth is. And how helpful Trump is being by making his intentions and threats so explicit.

And all of it televised to the world!

Growing up overseas, I had a case of American exceptionalism arrogance. Trump has helped cure me.

open.substack.com/pub/hollyber...

I am a fan of Stuart Stevens who wrote a terrific book summing up his political career: titled--and concluding--"It Was All A Lie."

In an alternate timeline, he has had a very positive career as an author, film-maker and scriptwriter for such shows as "Northern Exposure." And he had an great Dad!

Everyone Take A Chill Pill Enough Generals Are Enough Good

Daniel Barkhuff points out the benefits of giving Flag and General Officers a chance to see that both they and their fellow FOGOs remain loyal to American values--and their oaths.

This may be a turning point in dashing authoritarian hopes.

open.substack.com/pub/dbarkhuf...

YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson The Tide Turned This Week | Explainer

HCR reinforces my optimism that Trump and his allies are failing.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQ2Z...

Trump (and maybe Hegseth) doesn't know that during and before WW2 the War Department was what is now the Department of the Army which included the Army Air Corps/Force.

This move insults the men and women of the Navy and the Marines--then and now the Department of the Navy.

What an idiot!

Trump (and maybe Hegseth) doesn't know that during and before WW2 the War Department was what is now the Department of the Army which included the Army Air Corps/Force.

This move insults the men and women of the Navy and the Marines--then and now the Department of the Navy.

What an idiot!

Trump (and maybe Hegseth) doesn't know that during and before WW2 the War Department was what is now the Department of the Army which included the Army Air Corps/Force.

This move insults the men and women of the Navy and the Marines--then and now the Department of the Navy.

What an idiot!

Trump (and maybe Hegseth) doesn't know that during and before WW2 the War Department was what is now the Department of the Army which included the Army Air Corps/Force.

This move insults the men and women of the Navy and the Marines--then and now the Department of the Navy.

What an idiot!

Trump (and maybe Hegseth) doesn't know that during and before WW2 the War Department was what is now the Department of the Army which included the Army Air Corps/Force.

This move insults the men and women of the Navy and the Marines--then and now the Department of the Navy.

What an idiot!

Trump (and maybe Hegseth) doesn't know that during and before WW2 the War Department was what is now the Department of the Army which included the Army Air Corps/Force.

This move insults the men and women of the Navy and the Marines--then and now the Department of the Navy.

What an idiot!

Trump (and maybe Hegseth) doesn't know that during and before WW2 the War Department was what is now the Department of the Army which included the Army Air Corps/Force.

This move insults the men and women of the Navy and the Marines--then and now the Department of the Navy.

What an idiot!

Trump (and maybe Hegseth) doesn't know that during and before WW2 the War Department was what is now the Department of the Army which included the Army Air Corps/Force.

This move insults the men and women of the Navy and the Marines--then and now the Department of the Navy.

What an idiot!

Trump (and maybe Hegseth) doesn't know that during and before WW2 the War Department was what is now the Department of the Army which included the Army Air Corps/Force.

This move insults the men and women of the Navy and the Marines--then and now the Department of the Navy.

What an idiot!

Beginning of a better world.

What My Father Taught Me About Bullies Friends,

Very moving readings from Robert Reich. Thank you very much. And bless your father. And your mother.

(And we may as well bless you while we're at it. Thank you for your many contributions.)

open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

We are possibly at a turning point for this administration.
Graff does a good job acknowledging recent concerning hypotheses concerning Trump's health--as well as describing why it is internationally as well as domestically important.
Major media fails to cover any of it.
We will know more soon.

Labor As Obi-Wan Kenobi

Daniel Barkhuff explains how labor unions may be the critical actors in defending American democracy. They are not our "only" hope--but may prove to be the most consequential.

substack.com/@dbarkhuff/n...

I have so appreciated Scott MacFarlane's reporting over the years. He is an outstanding journalist in a time when the fourth estate has been profoundly failing the American people.
Thank you Scott!

@macfarlanenews.bsky.social
#FBI

I Should Be Ride Or Die Israel But I can't anymore

Thank you Daniel Barkhuff. Israel’s actions in Gaza are heart-breaking on many levels.

open.substack.com/pub/dbarkhuf...

I believe immigrants often make the best Americans.

They have been attracted by our values, ideals, our opportunity and openess. And by our traditional optimism and friendliness.

My Norwegian and Cuban maternal grandparents along with paternal ancestors from colonial Massachussetts--all Americans!

I believe immigrants often make the best Americans.
They have been attracted by our values, ideals, our opportunity and openess. And by our traditional optimism and friendliness.

My Norwegian and Cuban maternal grandparents along with paternal ancestors from colonial Massachussetts--all Americans!

Well, if euphoria is a side-effect. of retirement, it might be worth it after all.
Thank your wife for me..and for her service also.

May your retirement all that you wished...and more! (Assuming your retirement expectations are happy ones.)

I may be putting in my federal retirement application this Monday. As I continue to look to rejoin the federal workforce. I think I may have screwed up my sequencing.

Stuart Stevens on the Disaster in Alaska Trump rolls out the red carpet for a butcher.

Stuart Stevens on the Alaska meeting. Stuart's history makes it especially painful.

I felt the meeting yielded a best case outcome--given the possibilities. Trump must be angry. So perhaps Ukraine will benefit at least a little.

@stuartpstevens.bsky.social
www.lincolnsquare.media/p/stuart-ste...

Newsom is most definitely NOT my first choice. I know we gotta get thru 2026, but providing we do, and the Dem primary results in Newsom, he'll have my vote.

And I'm going to block far leftists who preach purity. We're dealing with fascists. Politics is a zero-sum game. We win or we lose.

I am increasingly coming around to this perspective.

We are close to the end-stage of Schumpeter's 'creative destruction of capitalism' where society will not tolerate the costs.

Let's start by completing the New Deal agenda of universal health care and economic reform.

Trump will fail in his attempt to become dictator.

But House & Senate republicans and a majority of the Supreme Court have allowed him to do far too much damage to the American people, our values & institutions, our allies and the world's economies.

@sethabramson.bsky.social contributes even more!

I believe we are. They are failing. I believe American society will be better after--and as a consequence of--this struggle.