Ari Timbs

How billionaires took over American politics The current concentration of wealth is unlike anything in history. So is billionaires’ involvement in politics.

Our #plutocracy: “In 2000, political contributions from America’s richest 100 supplied $1 of every $400 spent in that year’s federal election campaigns. The comparable stat for top 100 political spending in 2024: about $1 of every $13 spent.”
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...

The short answer to "how" is "plutocracy" and "fraud".

But well done FT on now accepting that SpaceX is bailing out xAI using US taxpayers' money.

All Musk does is push money around in shell games, facilitated by Morgan Stanley

Ummm.... I wonder what "Bot Verification" means.
Are they saying that a bot has verified that this quote came from the source in the accompanying link--which it did,
OR does it mean that they've "verified" that I am, to my great surprise, a bot myself?

It's not democracy, it's Plutocracy, rule by the rich. They use their control of all the media and social media platforms to create a narrative where they can't lose power, ever. Manufacturing consent it's been called, where Turkeys are convinced they'll wake up on Christmas day with presents.

kakistocracy 1. a government that is ruled by the least suitable, able, or experienced…

Kakistocracy
A government that is ruled by the least suitable, able, or experienced people in a state or country.
(from dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionar...)

Another word I hadn't thought I needed to know.

Or that we are being ruled--or governed--by, "The Epstein Class."

Good Morning, Everyone!
Here's something I started and finished (I think) last week.
It feels appropriate to our times--though, really, any time period, I suppose.

The survivors standing in front of the Capitol twice is why Rep. Thomas Massie & I were able to pass the Epstein Transparency Act.

Tomorrow, Massie and I will go together to DOJ to see the unredacted files.

We will not rest until the Epstein class is brought to justice.

From Epstein to Bezos, the Ruling Class Is Rotten to the Core Let this week be yet another reminder that plutocrats are a threat to democracy, not its saviors.

From Epstein to Bezos, the ruling class is rotten to the core. www.thenation.com/article/soci...

Trump.
Epstein files.

Bannon.
Epstein files.

Gill
Russian Spy

Millionaires bankrolling Reform.

This isn’t a coincidence.

This is the Epstein class.

And all of them backed Brexit including Epstein & Putin.

"Whereas a plutocracy is defined as a system where a small group of *wealthy* people hold power, an oligarchy is defined as a
system where a small group holds power, regardless of how they’ve amassed it."
(From helpfulprofessor.com/plutocracy-v...)

"Epstein class" is terrific not simply because several of them are directly tied to Epstein's crimes, but because it strikes at the corruption, immorality and impunity of that entire circle.

“Ruled by the Epstein Class” feels like a real solid message, to me.

THE EPSTEIN CLASS

Fox Business: A new poll from the Pew Research Center shows 72% of Americans feel the economy is in poor or only fair condition.

A good thing you can do about this instead of dooming is Google “how to become a poll observer in [your town]”

Park Service employees are being bombarded with guidance telling them to promote Freedom 250, the Trump-run org, in place of America250, the statutorily-bipartisan congressional commission. They were even urged to add the Freedom 250 logo to email signatures. www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...

The horns and whistles work What it's like to watch community activists stand up to a Border Patrol raid.

Two months ago I wrote a story spelling out how the on the ground tactics of activists and neighbors worked.

ICE deportation flights are getting longer and crueler A private equity–owned airline profits off Trump’s migrant crackdown.

A private equity–owned airline profits off Trump’s migrant crackdown.

Economists reject Kevin Warsh’s claim that AI boom will enable rate cuts FT-Booth Survey shows scepticism of productivity gains forecast by Trump’s pick as next Fed chair

Economists reject Kevin Warsh’s claim that AI boom will enable rate cuts ft.trib.al/hvwh6II

N.Y. Gov. Hochul seeks to ban police cooperation deals with ICE NPR's A Martinez speaks with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul about new legislation that would block police departments from collaborating formally with federal immigration authorities.

NPR's A Martinez speaks with New York Gov. Kathy Hochul about new legislation that would block police departments from collaborating formally with federal immigration authorities.

His mistaken deportation was thought to be unique. But 'the problem is getting worse' Immigration lawyers said Kilmar Abrego Garcia's landmark case highlights the pitfalls with the speed and scale of the Trump administration's goal of mass deportations.

Immigration lawyers said Kilmar Abrego Garcia's landmark case highlights the pitfalls with the speed and scale of the Trump administration's goal of mass deportations.

Those MAGA that are sentient (20%? 30%? -- need a snap Quinnipiac poll) realize that ICE assaults could be turned on them.

“[Trump’s] underlying project of mass deportations in service of ethnonationalist renewal faces widespread public condemnation. The old tried-and-true cultural barbs have lost their potency. Much of the energy is on the other side. Whether Trump knows it or not, he’s losing this war very badly.”

How TrumpRx drug prices compare to generic alternatives Patients could save more buying non-branded copycat drugs, even if they don't have insurance.

More than half the drugs on the TrumpRx site have a cheaper generic version on the market.

Pristiq, an antidepressant, is available with a TrumpRx coupon for ~$200 for a 30-day supply.

A generic version is on GoodRx for less than $30 and Mark Cuban's CostPlusDrugs for $16.65.

Ten countries have launched investigations related to the released Epstein files.

Norway, UK, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Sweden, Australia, North Macedinia, Turkey, Poland.

Conspicuously absent is the United States, the epicenter of this scandal.

We know why.

…

I guess we need other countries to do what Trump should have done but won't do.

all Dems should join Massie in demanding Luttnick resign

History will remember the oligarchs who backed Trump