Tag: US Military

Political news and stuff I want to share. 8-12-2026

Exclusive: The Justice Department has convened a special grand jury in D.C., a rare legal body that officials say could pave the way for federal prosecutors in the nation’s capital to investigate some of its biggest and most controversial cases.

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) 2026-08-12T12:30:07.482087709Z

Gov. Newsom: That $400 million Qatari plane? That's not a $400 million gift — it cost you $936 million. That was what was appropriated as he's cutting food stamps and cutting your Medicaid.

— Protect Our Care (@protectourcare.org) 2026-08-11T15:33:43.426Z

A federal judge in D.C. dismissed a lawsuit concerning the cancellation of a concert following the addition of President Trump's name to the venue's facade.

— White House Watchdog (@whitehousewatchdog.bsky.social) 2026-08-11T18:33:02.480Z

The FCC has played a leading role in Trump’s attacks on news broadcasters, and a third Republican to cast votes at commission meetings will give Chairman Brendan Carr more support for his policies.

— Ars Technica (@arstechnica.com) 2026-08-11T19:58:54.261Z

https://www.tumblr.com/reagan-was-a-horrible-president/824689839760982016

A federal judge in Massachusetts issued another order blocking the US Postal Service from implementing President Donald Trump’s sweeping attack on mail voting and his attempt to create a national voter registration list before the midterm elections. http://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/…

— Marc Elias (@marcelias.bsky.social) 2026-08-11T21:48:43.772Z

Jadon MacCormack, the anti-LGBTQ Christian extremist who ran for State House in Connecticut, has lost his primary.Republicans petitioned to add someone to the ballot so Jadon wouldn't make it to November and drag other candidates down. The plan worked.www.friendlyatheist.com/p/connecticu…

— Hemant Mehta (@friendlyatheist.com) 2026-08-12T02:50:03.843Z

Jadon MacCormack,(announced he's running 2028, CT Congressional District 2) is a proponent of murdering gays. And he lies that he has Repub Party's endorsement in this year's CT House race. (He doesn't.) He's insane. 🤬

— @bonniegriffith2.bsky.social 2026-08-09T17:18:32.039Z

This is happening in a bit. Come watch and be horrified.youtu.be/ZT70M0mKaDQ

— Hemant Mehta (@friendlyatheist.com) 2026-07-02T00:43:36.139Z

This interview highlights the differences between Evangelical hopes and dreams vs Catholic SCOTUS accomplishments.Mike Johnson “has been hapless & ineffective at governing. But has he advanced the cause of Christian nationalism?” he’s been wildly successful.”www.nytimes.com/2026/08/09/u…

— Tom Carter (@thcarter123.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T11:27:33.861Z

Musk gave $1.5 million last month to the Aurora Action Network, a Wisconsin-based political action committee that has already collected contributions from numerous billionaire mega donors.

— Reset America (@reset-america.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T04:00:38.558Z

Count Binface, a self-described intergalactic space warrior, has landed in the center of the U.K.’s political universe ahead of a special election Thursday that was derided as a farce long before the ballot was packed with nearly three dozen candidates — many from the silly end of the spectrum.

— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) 2026-08-10T12:00:23.872Z

Civil rights groups are challenging President Trump’s new effort to limit “birth tourism.”https://www.notus.org/immigration/civil-rights-groups-challenging-birth-tourism-order

— NOTUS (@notus.com) 2026-08-11T19:30:07.158616493Z

“The supreme court justice Samuel Alito gained up to $2.9m from his fossil fuel interests between 2005 and 2024, a new review of financial disclosures shows.”

— Saeed Jones (@theferocity.bsky.social) 2026-08-11T17:42:43.663Z

— Joe Cantwell (@joecantwell.bsky.social) 2026-08-12T12:51:02.342Z

Lawsuit challenges executive order targeting international criminal court for investigating Israeli crimes in Palestine

— Guardian US (@us.theguardian.com) 2026-08-11T15:59:12.713Z

Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, became Joint Base Lindsey Graham during a ceremony today to rename the installation after the late senator.

— Olga Nesterova (@onestpress.onestnetwork.com) 2026-08-10T21:57:55.575Z

Families of sailors aboard the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln spoke to Military Times about multiple incidents in which sailors have attempted to go overboard amid the ship's extended deployment in support of combat operations in the Middle East

— JD Simkins (@jdsimkins.bsky.social) 2026-08-11T23:57:05.468Z

Trump on the Iran war this morning:"We are low keying it," and plans to wait Iran out economically. “It will work out. It always works out.”www.axios.com/2026/08/09/t…

— Sven-Erik Volberg (@volberg.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T17:16:19.664Z

Breaking: Israel has rejected US President Donald Trump's Board of Peace 15-point plan for Gaza, and will not withdraw until Hamas fully disarms, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Sunday.english.alarabiya.net/News/middle-…

— Mike Walker (@newnarrative.bsky.social) 2026-08-09T11:17:41.839Z

If they were so inclined, Democrats could make some brutal TV ads tying Republicans to these torture devices designed to be used on protesters

— Brandon Friedman (@brandonfriedman.bsky.social) 2026-08-11T23:54:35.251Z

ICE is Trump’s Gestapo, terrorizing the American people. #AbolishICE

— Mark Jacob (@markjacob.bsky.social) 2026-08-12T00:13:45.782Z

"Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers may soon be outfitted with gloves that can deliver painful electric shocks intended to gain compliance from combative individuals."Susan Collins & Congressional Republicans voted to fund all of this.

— Murshed Zaheed (@murshedz.bsky.social) 2026-08-11T23:29:55.494Z

California 🤝 @anthropic.comWe're entering a partnership to strengthen cybersecurity and provide Claude to state agencies at a discount.The Golden State helped build Silicon Valley — and every Californian should benefit from the responsible use of their latest innovations.

— Governor Gavin Newsom (@governor.ca.gov) 2026-06-29T14:15:39.945Z

That’s a Lot of Green: Taylor Farms Exec Allegedly Stole $32 Million From Produce Supplier at Center of Cyclospora Outbreak

— Mediaite (@mediaite.com) 2026-08-11T18:50:51.974Z

Taylor Farms contributed $2 million to Trump & Republicans as they postponed a rule to help the govt. limit the spread of foodborne illnesses.Read @premthakker.bsky.social's deep dive into how Taylor Farms' successful lobbying led to the current outbreak of cyclospora: zeteo.com/p/taylor-far…

— Zeteo (@zeteo.com) 2026-07-25T19:07:29.836Z
https://www.tumblr.com/reagan-was-a-horrible-president/824719801134055424/president-trump-signs-executive-order-regarding
https://www.tumblr.com/reagan-was-a-horrible-president/824695448814141440
https://www.tumblr.com/reagan-was-a-horrible-president/824692860108652544/aorish-said-yeah-this-kind-of-gripe-is-from-the
https://www.tumblr.com/truth-has-a-liberal-bias/824679277813514240

A draft rule reviewed by WIRED would prevent the census from counting undocumented immigrants. To protect against “distortions,” it would also bar questions about race and sexual orientation. http://www.wired.com/story/census…

— WIRED (@wired.com) 2026-08-08T14:09:33.945Z

Trump says "he'd love to run" for a third term but adds "the law is very strong"

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) 2026-08-12T03:18:34.211Z

NYT: Kennedy Stirred Vaccine Fears in Pennsylvania Years Before Measles Outbreak By Teddy Rosenbluth @nytimes.com @teddyrosenbluth.bsky.social nyti.ms/4i5wbg5

— Greg Folkers (@gregfolkers.bsky.social) 2026-08-12T15:28:25.210Z

Between cheeto face falling asleep, RFK Jr. shaking like a leaf like he's going through withdrawal, and some flight attendant wannabee holding her stomach twisting around like a loon, this is the most Hee Haw administration ever.

— Jerrynmn1 (@jjnmnwww.bsky.social) 2026-08-11T18:35:08.844Z

Negotiations surrounding a possible federal plea deal for Luigi Mangione were ongoing between his lawyers and prosecutors, according to media outlets. (AP photo)

— KARE 11 (@kare11.bsky.social) 2026-08-12T17:04:09.103Z

Axios obtained 180 pages of plans for Trump's Kennedy Center renovation. What they show:

— Axios (@axios.com) 2026-08-12T14:01:24.259Z

Ben Folds, former Artistic Director of the National Symphony Orchestra, testified before a congressional forum titled “Monumental Waste: How Donald Trump Is Spending Millions Destroying American Landmarks”stereogum.com/2505928/ben-…

— Stereogum (@stereogum.com) 2026-07-22T17:48:03.118Z

Trump Administration Kills a Flagship Annual Report on the ArcticThe top of the world is warming faster than any other region. For 20 years, the Arctic Report Card chronicled the extraordinary transformation.

— BanmarNJ (@banmarnj.bsky.social) 2026-08-11T19:16:57.767Z

Sharing A Snippet From Rep. Ocasio-Cortez

Click on the link to read the whole thing which is funny/scary/as only-Jeff-Tiedrich can do it; I’m sharing the message as snipped below.

dunk-tank clown and demented pantload lecture actual soldiers on soldiering by Jeff Tiedrich

what the fuck was that? Read on Substack

(snip)

look, this is all scary shit — so here’s AOC to talk us all down off the ledge.

“I think there’s two things that are happening at once: one, there absolutely is an unprecedented abuse of power, destruction of norms, erosion of our government and our democracy in order to prop up an authoritarian style of governance however, they are weaker than they look, and it is important that we remember that because what they rely on is the impression of power, the perception of inevitability in us giving up in advance. Donald Trump is at record levels of unpopularity in his tenure. the Republican house is at record levels of unpopularity. they are underwater across the board and they know it. and that is causing them to double down in public. but it is backfiring. that is why whether it’s a shutdown, whether it’s all of this, they want us to blink first and we have too much to save.”

steady on, folks. we will get through this.

‘Not about crime’: Maddow CRACKS OPEN Trump’s real motives in deploying the National Guard to D.C.

They are firing into the crowd now. The freedom to protest in the constitution is no longer allowed in the tRump dictatorship.

Peace & Justice History For 6/2

June 2, 1783
At the urging of General George Washington, the United States Congress agreed to gradually disband the Revolutionary army following the end of the war. Subject only to the signing of a final peace treaty with Great Britain, all soldiers and non-commissioned officers were discharged; additionally, a full pardon was granted to privates and non-coms in confinement.
June 2, 1863
Abolitionist and former slave James Montgomery led 300 African-American troops of the Union Army’s 2nd South Carolina Volunteers on a raid of plantations along the Combahee River. Meanwhile, backed by three gunboats, Harriet Tubman’s forces set fire to the plantations and freed 750 slaves.

Harriet Tubman
More on General Tubman 
June 2, 1936
General Anastasio Somoza, head of the U.S. Marine-trained National Guard, forced the resignation of Nicaragua’s elected President, Juan Bautista Sacasa. This followed a seven-year U.S. occupation of the country and was followed by Somoza family control of the country for the next four decades.
More about Somoza and other U.S.-friendly Central American dictators
June 2, 1952
The U.S. Supreme court ruled illegal President Truman’s order two months earlier for the Army to seize the nation’s steel mills in order to avert a strike during the Korean war.
The decision