Mark Hoelter (he, him, his)

American democracy might not survive another year – is Europe ready for that? | Alexander Hurst Trapped between Putin and Trump, EU citizens understand the grave dangers facing the continent. Their leaders urgently need to face reality, too, says Guardian Europe columnist Alexander Hurst

This opinion piece comes very close to how I see things now (I've spent the last 2 months in Europe).

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Documents offer rare insight on Ice’s close relationship with Palantir For years, little was known about the multibillion-dollar company that handles data for the US immigration enforcement agency. Now, a cache of emails, training documents and reports sheds light on how...

Palantir Is associated with Peter Thiel, and this should give one pause at the least:

www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-i...

Some Thoughts on the Consent of the Governed President Trump’s decision today to federalize the DC police and deploy National...

One of the few telling it like it is:
talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/the-b...

Federal agents use force during immigration raid at two California farms Border patrol and US Customs and Border Protection respond to protesters with chemical munitions

Unfortunately, California is just a rehearsal and a tryout for how much they can get by with.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Critical Read About the BBB, Federalism and the Future of American Democracy talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/criti...

Ice ‘politically targeted’ farm worker activist Juarez Zeferino, colleagues say Detention comes amid Trump crackdown against perceived political enemies, including immigrants and labor organizers

How it's going down and going to go down even more:

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

Some good news about political polarization: It can change Nearly 200 residents representing the voting breakdown of the swing state found common ground on hot-button issues.

What are the limits? The possibilities?
www.politico.com/news/2025/07...

The Coming Health Care Apocalypse One chart on the Big Ugly Bill

open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...

The Public Is Resisting Trump. The Elites Aren’t. The president is encountering little resistance as he remakes our society. And yet polling is clear that voters aren’t with him.

William "Bill" Kristol is, to say the least, a very conservative Republican. He and I would disagree vehemently over many issues. But he's not a faux Republican like some now are.

So I pay attention to posts like this one by him:

open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...

A remarkable message You need to read this.

I agree with Robert Reich. This, from Liz Cheney, is a must read, not by Trump supporters. By Democrat leaders. So, forward to your favorite Democrat leader who isn't showing any chutzpah.

open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

8 Things You Should Know About Trump's Strikes on Iran America’s addiction to military intervention in the Middle East is a stubborn habit to break for our nation, and it’s heartbreaking.

Talking points to share with your Representatives and Senators (you who have them...we in DC don't):

open.substack.com/pub/chrismur...

Day After Thoughts on Trump’s Iran Strike talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/day-a...

The Most Dangerous Corporation in America Friends,

It's not just DT. All would do well to read Robert Reich's column of 6/20/25. Fans of Lord of the Rings may especially appreciate it.
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

Grok’s ‘White Genocide’ Responses Show How Generative AI Can Be Weaponized This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news...

Grok’s ‘White Genocide’ Responses Show How Generative AI Can Be Weaponized talkingpointsmemo.com/news/groks-w...

‘He’s moving at a truly alarming speed’: Trump propels US into authoritarianism A senator handcuffed, people snatched in public, military deployed – Trump’s slide to authoritarianism has come quicker than critics feared

Phrase from my Concordia Milwaukee High School Latin class: "quam celeritas." However, in that context its meaning was positive, unlike in this article:

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

Why is the media ignoring growing resistance to Trump? | Margaret Sullivan Protest actions like ‘Hands Off’ and ‘No Kings’ are sweeping across the US. But the media is barely paying attention

Perhaps for a period of time we need to demonstrate in front of national and local NBC, CBS, ABC, NYT, WaPo. If that fails, perhaps a little more.

www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Speaks for itself.
www.facebook.com/share/v/1Azr...

Mossad’s Former Chief Calls the War in Gaza ‘Useless’ In an interview with Hanna Rosin, Mossad's former chief Tamir Pardo says Israel’s war strategy in Gaza has been flawed from the start.

A little information from inside -- really inside -- Israel. Many Israelis are fed up with their "Trump," PM Netanyahu, including these normally very reticent (understatement) leaders of Massad. Keep this in mind when protesting, please.

www.theatlantic.com/podcasts/arc...

Solidarity Now We may disagree on many things, but we stand together on the fundamentals.

S-o-l-i-d-a-r-i-t-y forever, solidarity forever...

open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

Troops and marines deeply troubled by LA deployment: ‘Morale is not great’ Several service members told advocacy groups they felt like pawns in a political game and assignment was not necessary

How do the National Guard troops and the Marines feel?

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

A Hellscape Miscellany: Finding Sweet Spots of Leverage Amidst the Chaos We’ve discussed in a number of posts over the spring that Donald...

I continue to appreciate (and support with a few $) Josh Marshall's sane, calmly urgent thinking:

talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-hel...

Hunger in Rural America: What Federal and State Budgets Actually Mean on the Ground My Visit To a Food Bank in Rural Ohio

One of the things I like about David Pepper is how he gets down to the reality, such as in this visit he made in his beloved State of Ohio:

open.substack.com/pub/davidpep...

Maintaining focus and discipline amidst the chaos June 10, 2025

More generous than my thinking at present, and eminently sane, I commend this view and approach:

open.substack.com/pub/roberthu...

I do not intend any negative comment on James Ford. I respect and regard him as deeply respectful of UUism, the UUMA, and the UUA. In fact, he holds a leadership place in my thinking about religion in general, and UUism in particular, as well as American Buddhism and Zen.

Sunday thought Time for non-violent civil disobedience

From Robert Reich (and I approve this message):
open.substack.com/pub/robertre...

Lessons from A Pro-Democracy Convening Top 8 Takeaways

David Pepper's snapshot of the present moment (scary, on point, accurate): open.substack.com/pub/davidpep...

Private prisons and local jails are ramping up as ICE detention exceeds capacity The number of people in ICE detention has grown, and detention facilities are over capacity. So the government is intensifying its hunt for more space, and local police are playing a bigger role.

Reminiscent of what happened in 1933ff Germany:

www.npr.org/2025/06/04/n...

By meta-religion I mean: a collective/communal approach that seeks to enable people to harness personal spirituality to one or more of the traditional religions both intellectually and in practice/action.

(This is not what is asked for; sorry) I note that our colleague, James Ishmael Ford, calls UUism a "magpie religion" in his newest (and very worthwhile book)--Zen at the End of Religion. I'll be a little more generous and continue to call it a meta-religion.

Donald Trump’s Politics of Plunder The greed of the new Administration has galvanized America’s aspiring oligarchs—and their opponents.

Brazen is as brazen does (leading Josh Marshall of "Talking Points Memo" to nudge Democrats (the party) step up their game and action (I don't know if this is behind a New Yorker paywall...if it is, worth it to check out the article):

www.newyorker.com/magazine/202...