YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson The Declaration of Independence | Journey to American Democracy

A video about the Declaration of Independence. I'm proud of this one.

I don’t think anyone is prepared for what they just did w/ ICE.

This is not a simple budget increase. It is an explosion - making ICE bigger than the FBI, US Bureau of Prisons, DEA,& others combined.

It is setting up to make what’s happening now look like child’s play. And people are disappearing.

I’ll start. A thick paste of baking soda and water is a nearly instant treatment for wasp/hornet/bee stings. I’ve heard it also works for deer fly bites. You just slather it on and let it dry. I learned that this year from my mum and it worked like a charm.

Calling all grannies, aunties, sisters, healers - what are your go to home remedies for illnesses/injuries? Let’s get a good list going since we’re all losing healthcare. If we manage to keep it, costs will skyrocket. #homemedicine #herbal #healer #natural

Baraka Arrested for 'Trespassing' at Controversial Immigrant Detention Facility - Insider NJ Authorities with Homeland Securities Investigations at the ICE detention facility Delaney Hall this afternoon arrested Newark Mayor Ras Baraka

“The controversial 1,000-bed facility is owned by the private prison company GEO Group, which entered into a 15-year, $1 billion contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in February.”

$1 BILLION dollars lining the pockets of a private prison company.

www.insidernj.com/baraka-arres...

Alabama intentionally discriminated against Black voters in Congressional redistricting, judges rule The court-ordered map, used in the 2024 elections, resulted in Alabama electing two Black representatives to Congress for the first time in history.

Thanks to the advocacy of Black Alabamians and organizations like @allontheline.bsky.social, Black voters in Alabama will continue voting in fair congressional districts that allow them to elect candidates of their choice. This is a win for Alabama, and proof that progress is possible.

BREAKING: The constitutional crisis has arrived. We knew it was coming, just not when.

Even though the market rises because of the tariffs pause, the cost associated with the rest of the world realizing they can’t count on us not to be nuts will be immeasurable and far-reaching. 🇺🇸

Deporting American citizens—even those with criminal records—to foreign prisons is unconstitutional and violates core due process protections. The White House has stated it will decide who qualifies for deportation. Will protesting eventually be deemed a crime—and a deportable offense?

February 26, 2025 This morning, Office of Management and Budget director Russell Vought and Office of Personnel Management acting director Charles Ezell sent a memo to the heads of departments and agencies.

"Make no mistake: This order transforms federal spending by taking it away from Congress, where the Constitution placed it, and moves it to the individual who sits atop the Department of Government Efficiency." @hcrichardson.bsky.social

open.substack.com/pub/heatherc...

Since we started the Elon Musk boycott, Tesla shares have dropped nearly 26% in the last month. Remember, don’t buy anything Elon.

Judge Anthony J. Trenga acknowledged that, while he might have ruled differently based on principles of fairness, the law and regulations grant Ratcliffe broad discretion to dismiss employees at will and without review.

I don’t speak much Spanish. I should have studied more. But I can sure place my taco order at our local hole in the wall where I am usually the only white person. This place is amazing and I will honour and respect their employees by speaking their language as best I can! #diversityforthewin #dei

El Capitan displays a massive American flag upside down—the traditional signal of distress or extreme emergency.

The DOGE Project Will Backfire Trump’s war on public employees is bad for all of us.

New, from me @theatlantic.com:
*No, the federal government is not too big
*It has real human capital needs
*Firings are indiscriminate, weakening state capacity
*Creating a toxic and politicized workplace is driving away dedicated employees
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...

TAX THE CHURCHES

TAX THE RICH

REMOVE THE CAP FROM SOCIAL SECURITY CONTRIBUTIONS

HANDS OFF OF SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, MEDICAID AND SNAP

AGREE? ✋

I'm in the Netherlands this week to foster business ties with companies looking to expand in Minnesota.

I've made similar trips as Governor, representing Minnesota around the world, but this time is different.

The Department of Agriculture fired employees working on the avian flu outbreak because of DOGE. DOGE works directly for President Trump.

So from now on, when this kind of thing happens, it should be reported as, "Trump fires employees working on avian flu."

The resistance will bring down Musk and Trump. Congress, wake up before your power is gone. The GOP begging Trump to release money to their states is pathetic—stand up to this tyranny. Congress controls the purse strings.

Elon Musk claims DOGE has saved $55 billion, but the numbers don’t add up. DOGE released a list of canceled contracts totaling $16 billion in supposed savings. However, nearly half of that came from an $8 billion ICE contract—except that contract was actually worth just $8 million.

Elon Musk has now set his sights on the U.S. gold reserves at Fort Knox, insisting on personally ensuring the gold remains intact. The vault was last opened to journalists and a congressional delegation in 1974.

Brazil Charges Bolsonaro With Attempting a Coup (Gift Article) Brazil’s attorney general charged the former president Jair Bolsonaro with trying to overturn the 2022 elections.

How completely jealous am I of Brazil right now

“But there are worse lessons to derive from trauma than these: Take pleasure in your senses, question authority, look around you. Look again.”

Susan Tallman, Essay: The Dark Origins of Impressionism, The Atlantic Magazine, Dec. 2024

February 15, 2025 After World War II, the vast majority of Americans—Democrats and Republicans alike—agreed that the federal government should regulate business, provide a basic social safety net, promote infrastructur...

February 15, 2025

“On occasion, the world must confront itself-answer what we are with who we are.” Crosby, Masters of the Air

Our grandparents fought this and won this. Now it’s our turn. Stand for what is right and good in the world. All is not lost. We must remember.

This is becoming a dangerous game—our branches of government exist for checks and balances. Judges should not be individually targeted for doing their job. Evidence is being presented to judges, and they are making their rulings accordingly.