Jonathan Massaquoi

Detailed analysis of a right-wing propaganda operation; best to inoculate in advance. The left is not trying to attempt a coup, the U.S. right may try again (but it will likely fail again if we stay vigilant), and the media stops reporting admin posts and pressers as truths.

At the White House on Monday, Karoline Leavitt, the press secretary, read a statement that said Mr. Hegseth had authorized the Special Operations commander overseeing the attack, Adm. Frank M. Bradley, “to conduct these kinetic strikes.” She said that Admiral Bradley had “worked well within his authority and the law directing the engagement to ensure the boat was destroyed and the threat to the United States of America was eliminated.” According to five U.S. officials, who spoke separately and on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive matter that is under investigation, Mr. Hegseth, ahead of the Sept. 2 attack, ordered a strike that would kill the people on the boat and destroy the vessel and its purported cargo of drugs. But, each official said, Mr. Hegseth’s directive did not specifically address what should happen if a first missile turned out not to fully accomplish all of those things. And, the officials said, his order was not a response to surveillance footage showing that at least two people on the boat survived the first blast. Admiral Bradley ordered the initial missile strike and then several follow-up strikes that killed the initial survivors and sank the disabled boat. As that operation unfolded, they said, Mr. Hegseth did not give any further orders to him.

Her scripted remarks at a news briefing elicited a furious backlash within the Defense Department, where officials described feeling angry at the uncertainty over whether Hegseth would take responsibility for his alleged role in the operation — or leave the military and civilian staff under him to face the consequences. “This is ‘protect Pete’ bulls---,” one military official, who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss internal conversations, told The Post. Leavitt’s statement “left it up to interpretation” who was responsible for the second strike that killed the two survivors, a separate military official said, imploring the White House to provide clarity on the issue. One official said of Leavitt’s statement, “It’s throwing us, the service members, under the bus.” Another person said some of Hegseth’s top civilian staff appeared deeply alarmed about the revelations and were contemplating whether to leave the administration.

NYT:
Five officials told us that Hegseth had nothing to do with the second strike

Washpost (which broke the story 2 days ago):
“This is ‘protect Pete’ bullshit,”
and
“It’s throwing us, the service members, under the bus.”

What the law says about killing survivors of a boat strike, according to experts Leveling a second strike on the survivors of an initial attack on an alleged drug boat would have been a crime, legal experts say.

Leveling a second strike on the survivors of an initial attack on an alleged drug boat would have been a crime, legal experts say. https://to.pbs.org/48dX0cQ

He Vowed to “Protect the Unborn.” Now He’s Blocking a Bill to Expand Medicaid for Wisconsin’s New Moms. Splitting with anti-abortion members of his own party, Wisconsin Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has refused to join 48 other states in ensuring that vulnerable women have access to potentially lifesaving ...

In 48 other states, new moms have access to Medicaid for up to one year after they give birth. Not in Wisconsin.

There, the limit remains two months. And it’s only because of one man: Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.

By @megomatz.bsky.social

Pretty easy to imagine what it does, actually. Particularly amongst the core of professional, career officers and NCOs.

One of my fundamental beliefs is that I should not have to talk to people who have been cruel to me. You might be surprised to learn how often -- and vociferously -- people disagree with me about that.

Opinion | Why JD Vance keeps trying to help Russia win the war with Ukraine The vice president pushed a Russia-friendly peace plan — which tracks with his far-right worldview that sees Putin as an “anti-woke” culture war ally, says Nicholas Grossman.

JD Vance pushed the recent Russia-friendly "peace" plan, effectively trying to get Ukraine to surrender.

It didn't work.

But it's hardly the first time. Why does he keep trying to help Russia win? Because he's a far right ideologue who sees Putin as a culture war champion.

New from me, in @ms.now

Airlines Will Shut Down Program That Sold Your Flights Records to Government The move comes after intense pressure from lawmakers and 404 Media’s months-long reporting about the airline industry's data selling practices.

One thing we're vvv proud of: 404 Media independent + journalist-owned. Here's a rundown of some of our recent work:

After months of 404 Media reporting and pressure from lawmakers, US airlines will shut down a program that sold millions of YOUR flight records to the government.

Drivers aren't charging their plug-in hybrid cars, research suggests | CBC Climate Change News Plug-in hybrid cars are a compromise for people wanting range with electric capability. But new research finds they’re less green than you think — so how should they fit into a zero-emissions future?

Lots of studies showing a similar result: people who buy "plug-in hybrids" do not, as a rule, plug them in. They are mostly used & operated as gas cars.

(My take is, EVs are improving so fast, PHEVs are gonna look like a silly kludge w/in 5 years or so, well within the lifetime of a car.)

Update from Chris Cameron

“Costco is suing the Trump administration for a refund of the tariffs it has paid since President Trump imposed duties on nearly all imported products earlier this year… [arguing] that the tariffs are illegal because Congress, and not the president, has the authority to set tariffs.“

New from Hegseth: I didn’t do it, that guy did it, and whatever it was that he did I’m sure it was great and I support it but won’t specify what it was

I hate this, but I also recognize the reality that without enough votes in the Senate (an impossibility) this will just result in a series of “[monster] EXONERATED” headlines like we got for both of Trump’s impeachments after the senate failed to convict.

Well, this is exhibit number one in any lawsuit challenging a new travel ban on unconstitutional animus grounds.

A KPop Demon Hunters digital art book confirms some fan speculation. Spoilers: https://bit.ly/442PJtT

🧵

This feels like the right take. Biden looked considerably frail and whenever I'd go home or get off social media, it'd be the first thing people mentioned to me. The presidency is taxing as is and it can signficantly diminish a man in his late 70s/early 80s.

seattle was downzoned continually from the first zoning ordinance in 1923, through the 1980s

Appeals Court Disqualifies former Trump Lawyer Alina Habba as New Jersey’s Top Federal Prosecutor Read more here.

BREAKING: A three-judge panel for the 3rd Circuit upholds a lower court ruling that former Trump attorney Alina Habba has been unlawfully serving as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor for months. The decision bars Habba from participating in any prosecutions as acting U.S. Attorney for New Jersey.

You need an Ekiben.

True! Bezos is not exercising *control* over the news side, and this story is huge. Also true: if he hadn’t tried to run the paper as a whole into a wall it wouldn’t have lost a couple ranks of its most celebrated reporters and editors and would be publishing stories like these three times as often.

it's clearly mainly a "did you do the reading" type assignment and the essay barely mentions the general topic of the assigned reading, does not include even one unambiguous detail to suggest that she did more than skim

Trump Withholding Billions In Grants From States That Engage In Corporate Oversight

Hoping to repay corporate America's feckless support of authoritarianism, the Trump administration is once again attempting to illegally ban all state and federal oversight of corporate power. Both via executive…

Investors *always* expect the thing they invest in to do well. That’s why they invest. But sometimes, a lot of the time, the real world has other ideas.

‘…It was easier to persuade retailers and manufacturers to care about precious metals in rings, necklaces and earrings than the lead hidden inside car batteries, he said.

“It was just one of those things with lead,” Mr. Roche said. “It didn’t have the sex appeal of everything else.”’ 🌱

12/1/25 ☀️ AM: PRESENTED BY IN THIS EDITION December is going to be crazy in D.C.Trump’s deadly boat strikes under Hill microscopeIt’s crunch time for new House mapsDon

“after significant blowback from Republicans on the Hill — including Speaker Mike Johnson — Trump administration sources tell us it’s exceedingly unlikely that the White House will embrace an ACA subsidies extension or offer its own plan.”

punchbowl.news/archive/1212...

The Greatest Victims of Trump's Greatest Grift Are America's Greatest Heroes The so-called Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) no longer exists, but its negative impact on veterans will last for decades.

ICYMI, via @rollingstone.com: ‘America’s veterans paid the heaviest price for this Frankenstein’s monster, which spent months clumsily strip-mining the federal government in order to make the rich richer.’ Winning… 🫠 www.rollingstone.com/politics/pol... #veterans

in case you missed it, i had a new article out over the weekend

how musk, among other things, doesn't understand the plot of lord of the rings

macdonnchada.substack.com/p/feijoo-and...

Trump: Pro-crypto or Pro-crime? Or are they the same thing?

1/Why is Trump pardoning the former president of Honduras (He promised to stuff 'drugs up the gringo's noses')? @pkrugman.bsky.social explains: clique interests. Honduras hosts a libertarian city and its supporters want it protected. Welcome to neo-royalsim.
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...