The human cost of Trump's Cuba oil embargo "“This isn't life; it's like living in hell."

The human cost of Trump's Cuba oil embargo
open.substack.com/pub/jeremyig...

This campaign needs you now Minnesota CEOs: Do the Right Thing!

In the face of what is happening in Minneapolis, the silence of Minnesota's CEOs is shameful. Please join me in asking them to step up and do the right thing.
c.org/KSzVx6YvGn

This video filmed by Ben Luhmann shows the moment a federal agent sprayed chemical irritants directly into a man's face in south Minneapolis.

Three agents already had the man pinned to the ground when a fourth agent walked up and sprayed the irritants.

National media: Please stop describing what’s happening in Minneapolis as “protests.” There has been a modest, sustained protest outside the Whipple federal building, about 10 miles from downtown, but... 1/3

Hmong American Experience ICE came to my brother-in-law Saly's apartment, broke down the door, trashed the place, handcuffed him, and put a gun to his daughter-in-law's head. They did not allow him to put on proper clothing and forced him outside in freezing weather. Saly is a naturalized U.S. citizen. He has NO criminal record. ICE drove him around for nearly an hour, questioned him, and fingerprinted him. Only after all of that did they realize he had no criminal history and no reason to be detained. They then dropped him back off at his apartment like nothing happened. We believe they were looking for someone who previously lived there, but instead of asking for identification, they chose violence, intimidation, and humiliation.

What makes this even more painful is Saly's story. During the war in Laos, his mother, Nurse Choua Thao, helped a Lao woman deliver premature twins. The mother could not care for them. Chou took the boy, Saly, and one of her fellow nurses took the girl. Choua ensured all her children became naturalized U.S. citizens. She believed deeply in doing things the right way, in protecting life, dignity, and family. To see her son treated like this, in front of family, with weapons drawn, is beyond traumatic. This is not about politics. This is about basic human rights, due process, and accountability. No family should experience this. No child should witness this. And no U.S. citizen should be treated this way. Please share. Silence allows this to keep happening. Louansee Moua

I’m pasting these because the person who shared them didn’t use Alt 😒

Opinion | In Minneapolis, I Glimpsed a Civil War

Great article, bad headline. It's not a civil war, it's a hostile invasion...

La Viña Church in the Minneapolis area provides significant food assistance through free pantry services, especially on Wednesdays in South Minneapolis (Stevens Ave), offering groceries to those in need, even delivering to families in hiding, partnering with organizations like the Sanneh Foundation

DHH church is serving 16000 households, but not currently accepting applications. You could try this: www.mpschools.org/departments/...

Federal agents wearing tactical gear used chemical irritants on protesters at the Bro-Tex facility in St. Paul.

Video by reporter Louis Krauss, who is on the scene.

How Trump Is Making China Great Why we’re going to lose the trade war, and much more besides

How Trump Is Making China Great
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...

www.facebook.com/share/p/17TF...

The Playbook to Defund U.S. Fascism The Ultimate Donor State Financial Compact

The Playbook to Defund U.S. Fascism
I am really intrigued by these ideas. "States and cities process billions in federal tax payments from their employees. These payments flow to Washington automatically, but automatic is not mandatory. "
open.substack.com/pub/cmarmita...

The Democratic Governors' Resistance Scorecard Who's fighting and who's bending the knee?

Tell your Governors and AG’s that if they care, they'll fight. If they don’t, then they need to step aside.

It’s Time for Americans to Start Talking About “Soft Secession” Blue states are finally learning what red states have known all along: you don’t need federal permission to govern.

It’s Time for Americans to Start Talking About “Soft Secession”
open.substack.com/pub/cmarmita...

MIT Student Condemned Genocide — So ADL Chief Said She Helped Cause Boulder Attack Jonathan Greenblatt accused commencement speakers of spreading antisemitic lies — and suggested they’re responsible for violent attacks.

MIT Student Condemned Genocide — So ADL Chief Said She Helped Cause Boulder Attack theintercept.com/2025/06/04/a...

The real cover-up is of Trump's disordered mental state Sanewashing didn't end with the 2024 campaign.

Needless to say, if Joe Biden posted anything close to that nuts, Sean Hannity and Jake Tapper would be roused from bed to anchor special coverage on their networks. But for Trump, this level of compete and utter batshittery is just another Saturday night.
www.publicnotice.co/p/trump-cogn...

A 23-Year-Old Crypto Bro Is Now Vetoing NSF Grants While Staring At His Water Bottle Picture this: You’re a researcher who has spent years developing a grant proposal, gone through layers of expert review, and received National Science Foundation (NSF) approval. Then some kid…

True story: "A 23-Year-Old Crypto Bro Is Now Vetoing NSF Grants While Staring At His Water Bottle" www.techdirt.com/2025/06/02/a...

Israeli Soldiers Open Fire Near Gaza Aid Site. Gaza Officials Say 27 Are Killed.

It just doesn't stop.
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/03/w...

5/ And the Democrats will themselves still be divided. Progressive Democrats may gain some influence and som seats in Congress, but the power of money in politics, and the ability of PACs to buy politicians won't go away.
Thoughts?

4/ But that might be the wrong way of thinking about it. What if a lot of the damage is irreparable - the damage to our public health system, our efforts to combat climate change, our economy, our progress on racial and social justice, , etc? America will be sicker, poorer and more divided.

3/ There will be an election in 2026, and the Democrats will regain control of the House, and maybe even the Senate, and everything that got broken will get fixed - and maybe even built back better.

2/ The binary way of thinking about this is to think that if Trump succeeds, that will be a catastrophe, but if he fails, and the guardrails of democracy hold up, then we are going to be okay.

1/ This is an experiment. I am just thinking aloud here, but I wonder if any of my friends have any thoughts along similar lines, or want to have a conversation:
I have been thinking about what happens if Trump succeeds in consolidating power.

The GOP "Big Beautiful" budget achieved its goal: tax breaks for billionaires like Elon Musk. How did they afford it? By slashing benefits, gutting social programs, and raising taxes on the working class. Call (202) 224-3121 to tell your Rep this bill is bullshit.

In Private, Some Israeli Officers Admit That Gaza Is on the Brink of Starvation

This is genocide.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/13/w...

Opinion | We Study Fascism. And We’re Leaving the U.S.

Powerful.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/14/o...

Meanwhile (ICYMI), the Strib *did* print a letter from a Frey supporter basically saying “thank you for all the fraud: bsky.app/profile/dbra...

1/ The US government has ordered the Swedish city of Stockholm to end its diversity, inclusivity and equality (DEI) programmes within 10 days. The city authorities say the demand is "bizarre" and they won't be complying. ⬇️

Embattled Voice of America to use newsfeed from hard-right network One America News will now provide news and video to government-funded organization

www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Opinion | This Is the Moment of Moral Reckoning in Gaza

This is genocide.
"Israel is now openly exploiting aid as a tool of war; senior Israeli officials have declared what effectively is the intent to use starvation as a tactic to pressure Hamas to release the remaining hostages — a clear violation of international law."
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/06/o...