Constance Plattner

A federal tool to check voter citizenship keeps making mistakes. It led to confusion in Texas | Houston Public Media DHS rolled out the revamped tool while it was still adding data. That led to widespread misidentification, particularly for citizens born outside the U.S.

“Jennings added that to get quick access to the Social Security data” for inclusion in the DHS’s “SAVE” voter purge system, “USCIS partnered with DOGE…DOGE has since been accused of misusing Social Security data…Jennings did not respond to questions from ProPublica and the Tribune.” 2/16/26 … 1/

Populists are losing a Maga tug of war over US antitrust policy Gail Slater’s exit suggests pro-business Republicans are ascendant in Donald Trump’s justice department

Before her appointment as Washington’s top antitrust enforcer, Gail Slater told lawmakers concerned that Donald Trump could hijack her division that she would “work to guard against any improper influences”.  Less than a year later, the White House has pushed Slater out after she faced pressure from

Student debt is a generational injustice. Why are we squeezing graduates harder than the super-rich? | Gaby Hinsliff Reform of this stealth tax is long overdue – and with it, a shake-up of the whole university system, says Guardian columnist Gaby Hinsliff

Student debt is a generational injustice. Why are we squeezing graduates harder than the super-rich? | Gaby Hinsliff

“.. Canadian oil sales to China are now booming ..

“.. Canadian tourists are vacationing elsewhere

“.. German firms have resumed investments in China

“.. European investors are reconsidering their holdings of US financial assets ..”

@scottlincicome.bsky.social
www.bloomberg.com/opinion/arti...

Rubio tells Orban ‘your success is our success’ during Hungary visit ahead of elections During a visit to Budapest Monday, just weeks before Hungary’s parliamentary elections, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio told Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban that the nationalist leader’s “succ...

What an utter disgrace Marco Rubio is.

"'I can say to you with confidence that President Trump is deeply committed to your success because your success is our success,' Rubio said during a joint press conference with Orban after their meeting."

www.france24.com/en/europe/20...

This is Bob Coveiro. He sat by his human's grave for 10 years until his own death in 2021. Pets were not permitted to be buried with humans, but he was given an exception. Now 5 years later, inspired by his loyalty, Brazil passed the Bob Coveiro Law allowing pets to be buried in family graves. 14/10

County executive addresses rumors of ICE office opening in Hunt Valley The Baltimore County Council will convene an emergency session on Tuesday to consider legislation about the purchase, similar to a move that Howard County made to prevent a private detention center in...

"The Baltimore County Council will convene an emergency session Tuesday to consider legislation to ban private persons, corporations, property owners or third-party contractors from gaining permits to operate detention centers in the county...."

www.wbaltv.com/article/balt...

WSJ: “.. The pricing break is over. .. Companies .. are raising prices early this year on items from bluejeans and spices to housewares and industrial products.”

@wsj.com
www.wsj.com/business/pri...

⚠️ UKRAINIAN INTELLIGENCE HAS DETECTED PREPARATIONS BY RUSSIA FOR A LARGE-SCALE ATTACK, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY SAID.

He added that the Air Force commander, the defense minister, and the head of Ukrenergo have been instructed to urgently implement additional protective measures during the day.

Well said. The problem is that the leaders of the US government and the people around them are more interested in their ability to profit from the resources of Ukraine and business deals in Russia than a lasting peace for Ukraine and Europe.

Hungary holds elections in 2 months. And the US Secretary of State is in Hungary campaigning for Viktor Orban. And as you can see, Russian state media loves it.

Trump insider Tom Barrack kept in regular contact with Jeffrey Epstein for years, files show Tom Barrack, a top U.S. diplomat and longtime friend of President Trump, networked and socialized with Epstein for years, CBS News found.

Trump's longtime confidant Thomas Barrack, now serving as U.S. ambassador to Turkey and special envoy to Syria, was in regular, close contact with Jeffrey Epstein for years after Epstein's 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor, a CBS News analysis of over 100 texts and email exchanges shows.

👺 Russian oil exports to China have been set to rise for the third consecutive month and reach a new record level in February as independent refineries bought cargoes at significant discounts after India sharply reduced purchases.
📸: Reuters

🧊✈️ VENEZUELA ⛓️🌎

😲 A GlobalX jet (tail: N642VA) departs Miami, transporting humans in chains to Caracas 🇻🇪

Berlin urges Paris to boost defense spending by cutting other costs German officials are growing increasingly frustrated with what they see as French President Emmanuel Macron’s failure to deliver on his calls for European “strategic autonomy.”

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said France needs to spend more on defense even if it means cutting other kinds of spending.

Opinion | How much money has Trump made as president? The answer should worry us all. Ian Bassin: As an Obama White House lawyer, I counseled staff to behave like they are allergic to free stuff. What the Journal report describes threatens not just the public trust but also our nationa...

OPINION by @ianbassin.bsky.social:

“A $500 million transaction between an Emirati royal and President Donald Trump’s cryptocurrency firm sent $187 million to entities tied to the Trump family just four days before his 2025 inauguration.”

READ MORE:
www.ms.now/opinion/trum...

EU to send commissioner for Mediterranean to Trump’s Board of Peace meeting Ursula von der Leyen won’t travel to Washington for Gaza talks, but Dubravka Šuica will be there.

The EU is sending Dubravka Šuica, the European commissioner for the Mediterranean, to Washington for the first formal meeting of U.S. President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace, the Commission said today.

However, the EU isn't joining the initiative.

YouTube video by PBS Banned Books and the Librarians Caught in the Political Battle | Full Documentary | Independent Lens

Banned Books and the Librarians Caught in the Political Battle | Full Documentary #librarians are braver than law firms, universities, and corporations -- warriors for curiosity, learning, and access to information youtu.be/ywQOCY-qDzE?... via @YouTube #library

This time really could be different on jobs Three catalysts are driving an intensifying divergence between a cooling US labour market and strong GDP growth

Via the @financialreports.bsky.social
My thoughts on why US "jobless growth" may have entered uncharted territory.
The decoupling of growth from employment looks more persistent—and consequential—than the three previous episodes we've seen over the last 40 years:
www.ft.com/content/298a...
#economy

These are the oligarchs who seek to rule every aspect of our lives, and the current US regime is doing everything possible to facilitate that because it is owned by them.

What a humongous piece of shit

Second Amendment for all Americans — not just Republicans | Opinion We must insist our leaders defend the fundamental rights of all Americans — not just members of their own party

If we VOTE, @davidjolly.bsky.social will win. His 2A defense in @ndn is appropriate but also points out hypocrisy of MAGA types like his likely opponent @ByronDonalds who only defend the right to bear arms for MAGA voters. David is ready to talk to all voters.
www.naplesnews.com/story/opinio...

Check out our new website: MS.NOW

That’s right, no .com needed.

Same mission. New site.

MS.NOW

Kremlin denies Russia poisoned Navalny with frog toxin  5 European governments had presented a forensic analysis that said poisoning was “likely the cause of his death.”

Moscow denied responsibility for the death of opposition politician Alexei Navalny, two days after five European governments said new forensic analyses pointed to poisoning by frog toxin.

Trump promises billions in aid to Gaza as Israeli airstrikes reportedly kill 12 Palestinians Trump's Board of Peace does not mention Gaza in its charter, instead hinting at a way to swerve accountability to the United Nations.

The astonishing amount of fraud, deception, and graft that will be associated with the so-called Board of Peace is going to BLOW YOUR HAIR BACK.

I doubt humanity has ever encountered as dark and diseased an operation as this one will be, if it even survives the decade.

DHS is in fact "the worst of the worst"

No need to search, just look in the mirror.
bsky.app/profile/aman...

This Weekend in Politics, Bulletin 308 … A huge revelation in Epstein files documents unearthed by investigative reporter Roger Sollenberger: “Maybe the biggest story in the country here.

This Weekend in Politics, Bulletin 308. Everything you need to know about what happened this weekend in politics. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...

FT (no paywall): Jeffrey Epstein asked for Snow White costume weeks before Jes Staley email
Former Barclays chief and JP Morgan Chase banker says he has no recollection of what Disney character reference was about 🙄
archive.ph/2026.02.03-1...

Is it good or bad that an agency that is technically involved in law enforcement is using ideas from the serial killer playbook?