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benhear.bsky.social

@benhear.bsky.social
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
newrepublic.com/article/2160...
newrepublic.com
America Has Turned on Trump. But Has It Really Said No to Fascism?
Polling shows the president in free fall. Unfortunately, a number of his most reactionary policies still have disturbing levels of support.
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
The Deleted Tweets of the New White House Press Secretary www.thebulwark.com/p/katie-zach...
thebulwark.com
The Deleted Tweets of the New White House Press Secretary
Katie Zacharia is ready to defend Trump. The Constitution? Less so.
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
FDA may allow some toxic chemicals to be added to food without safety review. Experts are alarmed www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
FDA may allow some toxic chemicals to be added to food without safety review. Experts are alarmed
Regulator looks to expand loophole to allow dangerous compounds in food as long as they’re not carcinogenic
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The UnPopulist @theunpopulist.net · 10/10/2026
Adam Serwer argues that people who break the law for an administration must face accountability—and that failing to act invites another attempt.
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
As you pointed out, political opinion, seems to swing this away and that away in a fairly random manner overtime. Maybe ‘repudiation’ is a better public understanding and awareness and a consistent shift.
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Elsewhere, pundits have noted that the eggs and gas affordability conversation has essentially obscured the question of authoritarianism.
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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Really enjoyed talking to @thorbenson.bsky.social at @atrupar.com's great Public Notice site about the three pillars of Trumpism (tariffs, ethnic purges, America First militarism) and how they're all eroding/collapsing:
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Very interesting conversation.The “repudiation” of the Trump world-view definitely caught my attention. I so wish it were clearly true.The offering of the immigration issue as a case in point is not completely persuasive since the American public is all over the cow pasture on the immigration issue.
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
The Democrats need to get out ahead of the Republicans on controlling the narrative here.
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Instead of ‘purge,’ let’s say ‘systematically and thoroughly eliminate incompetence.’
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Yes! The “Trumpist stench” must be purged. But I think we need to be careful about the language here. Half the country (hopefully just 40%) is gonna frantically run around in circles squawking “witch hunt.” It would be nice to avoid that exhausting nonsense.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
22 California billionaires have spent a combined $150 million so far to defeat Prop 40. By spending their fortunes trying to stop California from taxing billionaires, they're making the argument for a billionaire wealth tax more clearly and articulately than anyone else possibly could.
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Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
All that money electing politicians who will cut their taxes and slash benefits for everyone else. They’re definitely going to use AI to help everyone out though, they really mean it this time bsky.app/profile/rbre...
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 10/10/2026
Breaking news: The Pentagon acknowledged that the number of troops who have died in the Middle East during its operations against Iran is higher than previously reported, and updated the official count to include two more noncombat deaths.
washingtonpost.com
Pentagon raises official toll of troops killed during war with Iran to 21
The Post exclusively reported last month that the numbers of service members lost was greater than what the Pentagon was reporting in its public database.
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MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 10/10/2026
🚨 BREAKING: The Pentagon has raised the official death toll of U.S. troops during the war with Iran to 21, with 865 wounded, weeks after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called reporting that the military had undercounted deaths “a complete lie.”
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 10/10/2026
Legal experts say Christa Pike is the first person in the United States to survive one dose — let alone two — of lethal injection drugs. “There is nothing in the execution process that states are incapable of getting wrong,” said one death penalty expert.
propublica.org
Why Tennessee’s Botched Death Row Execution Could Happen Anywhere
The complications behind Tennessee’s failed execution of Christa Pike aren’t uncommon — and show how easily another botched execution could occur, even as others are planned soon in Texas and Florida.
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Because he’s a certifiable psychopath, it could really go any which way.
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
I certainly hope you are right. But I wish I was completely confident that you are. Most of what he does is rage baiting these days.(He’s out of good strategic options.) I try not to take it too seriously … for my mental health. He just might.
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The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 10/10/2026
The Trump administration announced sanctions on the International Criminal Court at quite the moment. trib.al/2qocXol
trib.al
Trump Sanctions ICC Hours After Losing Nobel Prize to Former Judge
The Trump administration announced sanctions on the International Criminal Court at quite the moment.
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Yikes! “I’ll say I love her publicly, but the truth is I can’t fucking stand her,” the ally said. “But if she asks you to go on the podcast, or come over for dinner, you say yes, because Stephen Miller is the second-most powerful person in the world.”
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NPR @npr.org · 09/10/2026
Christa Pike's botched execution in Tennessee was not the first to go wrong on Frank Strada's watch. Before he took charge of Tennessee's prisons, Strada oversaw three botched executions in Arizona. n.pr/4e4P0gD
n.pr
Drugs in jars, bags of cash: Tennessee ignored warnings from Arizona's botched executions
Christa Pike's botched execution in Tennessee was not the first to go wrong on Frank Strada's watch. Before he took charge of Tennessee's prisons, Strada oversaw three botched executions in Arizona.
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Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I’m literally at a loss for words
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Paul Waldman @paulwaldman.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Inflation was 3% when Trump took office; it's 3.4% now.
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Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
I do wonder if MAGA brain rot has actually made him this stupid or if it’s just an act.
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Additionally, JD Vance announced that Harvard, Yale, Stanford, Brown, Pitt, UC Davis, Caltech, Arizona State, and MIT are also under investigation for their use of J-1 visas
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The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 08/10/2026
The president hasn’t stopped those taxpayer-funded advertisements, despite promising he would. trib.al/Wtu2BzH
trib.al
Trump Is Still Airing Campaign Ads With Your Money by the Way
The president hasn’t stopped those taxpayer-funded advertisements, despite promising he would.
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Jonah Newman @jonahshai.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
ICE arrested more than twice as many *children* in the first 7 months of 2026 as they did in the same period last year. Important work from my colleagues @shannonheffernan.bsky.social @annaflagg.bsky.social www.themarshallproject.org/2026/10/08/i...
themarshallproject.org
ICE Has Arrested Twice As Many Children This Year
In total, more than 8,500 kids have been arrested by ICE in Trump’s second term.
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
On how to repudiate his world view
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Of course he said it again - it enraged Democrats. He’s desperate to keep his ‘name in the papers.’ His rage-bait stuff is probably being over reported. (Maybe his physical health issues too.) Pretty much everyone this side of MAGA knows he’s old demented bat shit crazy. Let’s talk specifics …
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Never forget: www.theguardian.com/media/2019/f...
theguardian.com
'Germs are not a real thing': Fox News host says he hasn't washed hands in 10 years
Pete Hegseth denies existence of germs, saying: ‘I can’t see them, therefore they’re not real’
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
www.the-independent.com/news/world/a...
the-independent.com
Christa Pike’s advisor reveals what happened when she woke up from botched execution
Dr Joel Zivot, who is advising Pike’s legal team, has spoken about the death row killer’s prognosis and the challenges she now faces
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Paul Waldman @paulwaldman.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
In case you were wondering, they STILL haven't managed to fix the Reflecting Pool, six months after work began
Livestream image taken from the Washington Monument, showing the Reflecting Pool still empty
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
theguardian.com
Christa Pike severely unwell, ‘angry and confused’, says lawyer, after judge orders all execution evidence preserved – latest
Lawyer says Pike cannot move her arms or swallow, has a blot clot and pneumonia, adding that a request to unshackle her was refused; judge tells Tennessee officials to preserve all evidence from botch...
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...
theguardian.com
Christa Pike severely unwell, ‘angry and confused’, says lawyer, after judge orders all execution evidence preserved – latest
Lawyer says Pike cannot move her arms or swallow, has a blot clot and pneumonia, adding that a request to unshackle her was refused; judge tells Tennessee officials to preserve all evidence from botch...
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Keri Blakinger @keribla.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
In a hearing this morning, the state said it couldn't answer questions about whether it would try to execute her again:
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
But, as the article points out, nonviolence does exist in the pro democracy world. And it works. And it works without the potential backlash of a violent resistance.
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
Key Points: Autocrats rely on consent and compliance to rule; this can be withdrawn. And, we have to start organizing a resistance NOW So we’re ready when the time comes.
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
NSF withheld $1.4 billion that Congress had intended for research over the course of the past year www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/u...
nytimes.com
National Science Foundation Diverted $1.4 Billion in Science Funds Mandated by Congress
The move, affecting about one-fifth of the National Science Foundation’s primary research budget, is the latest sign of how the White House is asserting more control over grants.
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Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
BREAKING WaPo: Trump wants to transform his West Palm Beach golf club into a presidential retreat modeled after Camp David. 
The plan calls for a parcel of the private club to be designated a permanent, official sanctuary for foreign leaders and future U.S. presidents.
washingtonpost.com
Trump wants to turn his West Palm Beach golf club into the new Camp David
The plan calls for the federal government to be granted part of the property, with the rest maintained as a private course.
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The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 07/10/2026
A new report reveals how the DOJ’s civil rights division has replaced long-time staffers with the worst of the worst. trib.al/xXUKgXt
trib.al
Justice Department Hired Criminals as Veteran Employees Fled
A new report reveals how the DOJ’s civil rights division has replaced long-time staffers with the worst of the worst.
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Philip Bump @pbump.com · 06/10/2026
Among the many bad signs for Republicans next month, there's this. www.ctinsider.com/columnist/ar...
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Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 07/10/2026
Translation: Donald Trump's efforts to abolish the Education Department are under independent investigation.
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The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 06/10/2026
Donald Trump accepted a massive diamond ring months ago. What happened to it? trib.al/1nvSdZb
trib.al
Democratic Senators Demand Answers on That Diamond Ring Trump Got
Donald Trump accepted a massive diamond ring months ago. What happened to it?
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Keri Blakinger @keribla.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
I’ve covered death row cases for nearly a decade and witnessed several executions. What happened to Christa Pike wasn’t an anomaly. It could happen anywhere. With another execution planned for this week in Texas, let me explain why. THREAD 🧵
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 06/10/2026
NEW: The complications behind Tennessee’s failed execution of Christa Pike aren’t uncommon — and show how easily another botched execution could occur, even as others are planned soon in Texas and Florida. by @keribla.bsky.social
propublica.org
Why Tennessee’s Botched Death Row Execution Could Happen Anywhere
The complications behind Tennessee’s failed execution of Christa Pike aren’t uncommon — and show how easily another botched execution could occur, even as others are planned soon in Texas and Florida.
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Jen Rubin @jenrubin.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Imagine what the polling must have looked like. The backlash to Trump’s creepy taxpayer ads was so intense he is now saying his super PAC will pay for them. (We will need to monitor whether he follows through with that promise!) The power of public opinion when galvanized is something to behold
open.substack.com
Public Opinion Gets to Trump
Taxpayers won’t pay for his silly ads trying to bolster his toxic brand.
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benhear.bsky.social @benhear.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
www.npr.org/2026/10/06/n...
npr.org
What happened during Christa Pike's failed execution
Catherine Sweeney was in the witness room when Tennessee attempted to execute Christa Pike on Sept. 30. An attempted execution in May had also failed. Here's what Sweeney saw and heard.
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Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 06/10/2026
www.newsweek.com/scoop-dem-se...
newsweek.com
SCOOP: Dem senators press over ‘Trump’ engraved diamond ring gift
Democratic Senators Elizabeth Warren and Richard Blumenthal sent a letter Monday night to key Trump Administration and government officials in connection to a lavish ring which they claim its location...
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Nicole Foy @nicolefoy.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
a note: if you'd like to read this story without repeatedly watching footage of violent arrests, you can click to disable the videos at the beginning
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Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Texas Pediatricians Face Paxton Investigations for Vaccinating Children www.nytimes.com/2026/10/05/h...
nytimes.com
Texas Pediatricians Face Paxton Investigations for Vaccinating Children
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate, has alleged a sprawling profit-driven conspiracy. Pediatricians say the accusations are an attempt at intimidation.
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