Matt Vanderwerff

thank you

can you say more about what you mean by "sincere secularizing?"

Small point, but I think it's more "we're trustworthy because we're *on your side*" than "telling you what you want to hear". And vast sums of resources are being invested to demonstrate and cultivate those sides.

To go along with that, we live in an era of low trust voters, and they're just going to keep voting out incumbents over and over because they're mad at "The System" and aren't traditional ideological actors. You can't heal America without making people trust the government more.

among the issues with people not having any knowledge of hybrid regimes in the global South is the fact that everyone assumes contemporary authoritarian governance looks like 20th century totalitarianism

Also, see "Ordinary Men: Reserve Police Battalion 101 and the Final Solution in Poland"

This one is a very good book IMO!

The videos we are all seeing on social media are *after* the backups have been called in. I imagine this varies depending on the situation and how many people are around/observing. T

Again, just my own observation from what I've witnessed: They seem to be patrolling in smaller groups of 3 in unmarked small cars (kia sedan) and then when they stop a delivery driver or (what I observed) a construction worker walking to his truck), they detain and call in backups

I've seen one disappearance personally (north of petworth) and a few different groups of ICE/CBP and other feds. My observation is that they are no longer using only big black SUVs/vans, but also more regular looking small cars.

These are the same two (along with others) who I saw detain a main in brightwood. They did it on private property, without a warrant.

the city I live in is occupied by armed federal agents checking people's papers at random public transportation stops and people are still doing this

In DC today I watched masked secret police detain a brown-skinned man for simply walking on the sidewalk. No warrant. Refused to let him get his id. They shoved neighbors aside, threw him into an unmarked SUV, and vanished. Broad daylight. This is what our city is living with.

A Norwegian friend told me some months ago something to the effect of, look, American friend, you have never had to walk this dark path before. We have walked a very dark path ourselves. We understand. It will be very hard for you, but it is survivable. We are here when you are ready to rebuild.

“.. The news on Israel’s main TV channel had just finished a segment on how hunger in Gaza is portrayed around the world when the anchor looked up and said: ‘Maybe it’s finally time to acknowledge that this isn’t a public relations failure, but a moral one.’”

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

As dangerous as canceling Colbert was for our democracy, it made him infinitely more powerful. I mean, who exactly was watching him before now? Firing him was a signal that what he has to say is REALLY important. I don’t care if he just starts a TikTok, he’ll become one of the key voices in America.

Hey I grew up there!

“It took from the invention of the photovoltaic solar cell, in 1954, until 2022 for the world to install a terawatt of solar power; the second terawatt came just two years later, and the third will arrive either later this year or early next.”

Moore’s Law eat your heart out. Jesus.

Laughing in front of cages designed to hold migrants and refugees, many of whom came to this country fleeing extreme violence and poverty, and hoping to raise their children in a more compassionate country. And many of whom followed all the legal procedures to enter the country.

Thank you for saying this

i can’t express how much i stan rick steves

IDF soldiers spoke to Haaretz about the military directive to shoot Palestinians seeking food. The on-the-ground soldiers say they are murdering Gazans for no reason and that the Israeli govt and military are hiding behind the idea of a "threat" that doesn't exist." www.haaretz.com/israel-news/...

This is Rhogena Nicholas & Dennis Tuttle.

Police shot & killed them—and their dog—during a no-knock raid on their home. A Texas officer claimed an informant had bought heroin there.

The problem? That cop lied. The couple hadn’t sold heroin—and there was no informant. A thread.

A view from high ground looking downhill over forest land toward a body of water dotted with islands. Text reads: Trump Administration to End Protections for 58 Million Acres of National Forests. Photo credit: Christopher Miller for The New York Times

The Trump administration said on Monday that it would open up 58 million acres of back country in national forests to road construction and development, removing protections that had been in place for a quarter century. https://trib.al/VQXR96o

If we are to do this, we will need very different systems of evaluating and understanding impact

Worker arrested by ICE in Lynn, later released, says agents beat him in cemetery A Massachusetts man said he told immigration agents multiple times that he's a legal resident and that he was brought to a cemetery where they assaulted him.

A man with a green card said ICE agents arrested him in #Lynn, Mass then took him to a detention facility—but first made a detour to a cemetery, where they took him out of their vehicle and beat him.

#mapoli #Massachusetts

San Diego neighborhood makes ICE agents retreat

Go, Elon, and Never Darken Our Doors Again The worst ultra-billionaire on Earth says he’s leaving government. Let’s hope he actually does it.

"Roughly 1,500 babies have been born HIV-positive every day since January 21, because Musk cut off their mothers’ medication." prospect.org/power/2025-0...

I like to take handwritten notes during meetings. I use a Supernote e-ink device which feels similar to writing with a pen for me. I can separate notebooks thematically or by project. There's some handwriting recognition and syncing tools that I don't find useful.

What do you mean by "the US will need international assistance"?