PolymersUp

One way to understand what’s happening right now: the American people are ready, willing and able to resist authoritarianism.

But, very few of the institutions meant to represent us—from the political system, to the Democratic Party, to civil society organizations—are able to mount a resistance.

Trump mentions NYC, Baltimore, and Oakland, says "they're so far gone," and adds, "this will go further. We'll starting very strongly with DC."

This is just the beginning.

Bowser: "I think I speak for all Americans -- we don't believe it's legal to use the American military against American citizens on American soil."

Things on the ChatGPT sub-Reddit are getting grim.

Vacant homes in the US: 15 million

Median home sales price: $435,300.

What someone would need to earn annually to afford a median-priced home: $121,000

Median salary in the US: $62,192

There isn’t a housing crisis.
There’s a housing affordability crisis.

@unusualwhales.bsky.social

Trump considering deploying up to 1,000 National Guard to D.C. The number of Guard who would be assigned is still in flux, the officials say, and most of the troops would likely be pulled from the D.C. National Guard.

Trump’s move to mobilize the National Guard against Americans in DC is another telltale sign of his authoritarian ambitions. But at some point signs of authoritarianism stop being signs and become symptoms of an autocratic regime. We’re far past that point now. www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/t...

‘I’m Actually Surprised It Didn’t Happen Sooner’ CDC staffers saw the violence coming.

Some CDC staff say that they have long feared the day that escalating animosity toward the agency would culminate in actual violence, @landmanspeaking.bsky.social reports:

Trump on January 6: Nancy Pelosi stopped me from sending the DC National Guard to protect the Capitol.

Trump tomorrow: the President of the United States has complete control over the DC National Guard.

Make it make sense.

Heading out to a screening of Grave of the Fireflies (1988) soon. I’ve never seen it but I just want to unwind with a cartoon, y’know? Take my mind off the heaviness of the world.

After Years of Anger Directed at C.D.C., Shooting Manifests Worst Fears

"Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, who oversees the CDC, did not make a statement the day of the shooting.

Late the following morning, more than 30 minutes after posting photos of fishing with his family, Kennedy posted condolences on his official X account..."

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...

This is a completely insane argument from Sotomayor, and is directly hostile to a constitutional form of government. Either we are all bound and protected by that document or it’s meaningless.

‘I’m Actually Surprised It Didn’t Happen Sooner’ CDC staffers saw the violence coming.

I’ve heard from a lot of people at CDC in the last day and a half. Not one was surprised at the attack.

Gift link to my story in the Atlantic:

www.theatlantic.com/health/archi...

Pete Hegseth shares a clip saying women shouldn’t have the right to vote, the 19th Amendment should be “repealed,” and women should “submit” to their husbands: “All of Christ for All of Life”

Screenshot from RFK Jr’s official HHS secretary account that says Medical decisions should be made based on one thing: the wellbeing of the person—never on a financial bonus or a government mandate. Doctors deserve the freedom to use their training, follow the science, and speak the truth without fear of punishment.

RFK Jr. posted this with his official gov’t account yesterday.

In the video, he says “Should doctors make decisions based on what’s best for their patients, or based upon what makes them the most money?”.

Hours later a man who believed the COVID19 vaccine harmed him opened fire on the CDC.

CDC shooter believed COVID vaccine made him suicidal, his father tells police A law enforcement official tells The Associated Press that a Georgia man who opened fire Friday on the U.S.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has identified the man who opened fire at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as 30-year-old Patrick Joseph White of Kennesaw, Georgia.

A deadly shooting at the CDC shook its scientists. Now they want answers from RFK Jr. CDC Director Susan Monarez convened an online all-hands meeting of the agency division that focuses on vaccines, and employees called out Kennedy’s rhetoric specifically.

Exclusive: CDC Director Susan Monarez met with its vaccine-focused center to talk about yesterday’s shooting. I listened to a recording. Scientists and officials are shaken & pointing fingers at RFK Jr. Many said his vilification and misinfo turned them into targets. www.msnbc.com/opinion/anal...

After Years of Anger Directed at C.D.C., Shooting Manifests Worst Fears

CDC workers were terrified as gunman shot at the agency’s headquarters yesterday.
Today they are still reeling from shock, fear — and rage.

www.nytimes.com/2025/08/09/u...

LEFT: Where our government incarcerates a person who has a tattoo in honor of a family member.

RIGHT: Where our government incarcerates a person who has facilitated and/or engaged in the sexual assault of over a thousand children.

I will say it again.

No one is covering the GOP's redistricting scheme as closely, with as much context and analysis as Democracy Docket. Its team of 20 works around the clock to provide you independent pro-democracy news and information.

Support their work by signing up today. hubs.ly/Q03jcjqP0

The CDC Shooter Was Obsessed With Vaccine Conspiracy Theories. RFK Jr. Was Predictably Slow to Respond. Trump's health secretary shared photos of himself fishing before he offered any thoughts about the attack.

The CDC Shooter Was Obsessed With Vaccine Conspiracy Theories. RFK Jr. Was Predictably Slow to Respond.

Trump’s health secretary shared photos of himself fishing before he offered any thoughts about the attack.

Everything we know about the fatal shooting near CDC headquarters The shooting comes amid an already tumultuous time for CDC staff.

Everything we know about the fatal shooting near the CDC headquarters in Atlanta.

we are extremely fortunate that no CDC workers were shot yesterday in the attack targeting them. around a dozen floors in the headquarters buildings had windows pierced by bullets.

The #1 domestic terror threat in America is right-wing terrorism and white supremacist violence. They echo the conspiracies that have been mainstreamed by Trump, MAGA and right-wing media.

No accountability. No scrutiny.

They just keep doing it because it fuels their agenda and brings in $$$.

CNN on Emory Shooting: Police are operating under the theory that the shooter either was sick or believed that he was sick, and blamed the illness on the covid vaccine

ICYMI: Lina Khan wrote at @nytopinion.nytimes.com about our campaign's connection to small businesses and why we need to fight the concentrated economic power that too often suffocates them.

It's not just good for a thriving local economy — it's good politics too.

Parts of the Constitution were erased from the Library of Congress website, including the section featuring the foreign emoluments clause.

The removal was blamed on a "coding error."

Here's a reminder of what the clause says, just in case Congress ever decides to enforce it...

Alien planet glimpsed in star's 'habitable zone' A smudge of light spotted by the James Webb telescope near Alpha Centauri A could be the planet with the tightest orbit ever to be imaged directly.

New from Nature: “I had to take a moment of silence to appreciate what I was seeing.”

Astronomers reveal what could be the first ever image of a planet in its star’s habitable zone—and in the same star system as Avatar, no less

www.nature.com/articles/d41...