KJ, otherwise known as KJ

Opinion | Don’t Believe Him (Gift Article) Look closely at the first two weeks of Donald Trump’s second term and you’ll see something very different than what he wants you to see.

Along the lines of "don't obey in advance" I greatly appreciate this advice to not believe he has the power he claims he has

www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/o...

SHARE WIDELY.
KNOW YOUR RIGHTS.

With mass deportations starting today across the country, it is vitally important - for both citizens and non-citizens - to know your rights.

You have the right to remain silent. Assert it. You have the right to a lawyer. Ask for one.

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If you are in the bay area...the Amy Sherald exhibit at SF Moma is breathtaking. Seeing Michelle Obama's official portrait in person was very special, and I had it to myself for quite a while. But there are other pieces that are just inexplicably moving.

As a cadet at the Air Force Academy in the 80s, we underwent combat survival training with experts in survival, evasion, resistance, and escape. It was as miserable as it sounds, but one lesson has stayed with me: a pilot said people die because they fail to accept pain as the price for survival.

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One of the best things I started doing this year is frequently making my own chicken broth. I never have an issue using it up in soups, or just drinking it warmed up on its own. And for the 24-36 hours I have it simmering, my house smells amazing.

So many of them hate one another and will be looking to knife people. That's how their leader likes it, people competing to be his favorite. Hopefully it will keep some of them distracted enough to not fully complete their assignments.

I think some of this will come back to them next year, especially for Maddow and Lawrence. CNN might be a blanket lost cause. But for now a lot of people just do not want to be glued to the news and dread-watching before he's even in office.

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When I think about how to survive the next four years, and how to be useful to others, I realize that yes I have to be extraordinarily clear-eyed. But I also have to have faith in these institutions. To lose faith now is also to obey in advance.

Just some food for thought.

a woman in a white jacket is holding a piece of paper and pointing at it . ALT: a woman in a white jacket is holding a piece of paper and pointing at it .

And a reminder, there will be moments ahead that follow my favorite rule, "stand out." The doing of something that breaks the spell. This woman in particular has taught the House members well...

Another rule that goes with this is "remember professional ethics." I sometimes find the traditional institutionalists infuriating and the means outdated...but in the end to maintain agreed upon norms instead of always acting out of the emotion of the moment is what is called for.

But there's only so much leverage and capital at any given time. Our reps are going to do a lot of things that are not very satisfying...but are in service of the larger attempt to preserve institutions in order to achieve some kind of harm reduction. Not everything that looks like obedience is.

Everyone is rightfully posting that one image from "On Tyranny" that says "do not obey in advance."

But this is not the singular lesson. The second one is "defend institutions." The House and Senate are built on processes, norms, and relationships - all of which can be leveraged to an advantage. 🧵

Every once in a while there's a really great couple and it restores your faith in the whole thing...but mostly not.

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Made a large pot of homemade butternut squash soup and it's not fixing everything wrong but it is doing a nice job of helping me feel nourished.

This passed, unfortunately, but 34 Dems flipped their vote including my rep Adam Schiff because of calls made to their offices. Please get in the habit of pushing your reps when need be, and supporting them just as loudly when they are in line with your values.

Someone get Scott Baio on the phone. It's his time to shine! The only qualifications for this role are to not be qualified and to kiss the Trump ring - a thing I suspect will be offered as merch sooner than later.

I recall that you pre-gamed that outfit on a lunch date in West Village with me. It's a gem of a short suit.

I trust that every few months a major publication will interview a handful of people at a random diner in the middle of a swing state and report out what they care about, and call it a representation of the public-at-large despite always being older and white. I'll be ok in between those articles.

I know of him but do not know him nor have I worked with him. This is the the least embarrassing thing some people I know from crypto have done recently...

The speed at which I clicked to see if I knew the buyer lol.

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Sammie remains my favorite face

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#HR9495 is coming back for a vote this week and as a California constituent, I'm calling on @repadamschiff.bsky.social to change his vote to a NO.

This is opposed by ACLU, Brennan Center, Planned Parenthood and others due to the potential ramifications to non-profits here in states as written.