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Caera Thornton

@caerathornton.bsky.social
219 followers 164 following 4.4K posts

Carolina Texpat making good trouble. I don’t evangelize; I shenanigize. Might be an author again someday. Still a musician, though. 😇

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Caera Thornton @caerathornton.bsky.social · 4h
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com/p/september-...
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
September 30, 2026
A Washington Post headline today read: “U.S.
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Caera Thornton @caerathornton.bsky.social · 4h
Today’s News: caerathornton.substack.com/p/news-post-...
caerathornton.substack.com
News Post 10/1/2026
Trackers: Project 2025, Federal Harms, Trump’s Take, Authoritarian Watch:
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 19h
"In returning to the White House press pool while CNN remains excluded, the press has repeated the cardinal sin of capitulating to a bully."
contrariannews.org
You Can Help Improve Legacy Media
🚨33 Days to the Midterms🚨
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 13h
“The ideological clowns are out. The patriotic cowboys are in, with testosterone testing on top.” It’s hard to believe Pete Hegseth prepares such idiotic phrases in advance. Jen writes more: www.contrariannews.org/p/hegseths-d… @jenrubin.bsky.social
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 11h
Go deeper:
contrariannews.org
7 Governor Races to Watch
How a Blue Wave could expand Democratic governing power.
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Caera Thornton @caerathornton.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Today’s News: caerathornton.substack.com/p/news-post-...
caerathornton.substack.com
News Post 9/30/2026
Trackers: Project 2025, Federal Harms, Trump’s Take, Authoritarian Watch:
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
3 little words: cease and desist! The WH is using JMSN’s music in campaign-style ads without permission that they wouldn’t have gotten anyway @democracydefendersaction.org w/Ballard is proud to represent JMSN, demanding immediate end to ads using his music & a written account of every airing -TN
democracydefendersaction.org
JMSN, "Love Me" Artist, Demands White House Stop Using His Music in Its Political Ads
Attorneys for Christian Berishaj, who performs as JMSN, last night sent a cease-and-desist letter to White House Chief o
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 29/09/2026
Put aside the talk of “heir apparent” when it comes to a Republican 2028 nominee. Instead, watch the returns on November 3. The worse they are for Republicans, the less the “heir apparent” talk will make sense.
contrariannews.org
Words & Phrases: ‘Heir Apparent’ or Ballot Box Poison?
🚨 35 Days to the Midterms 🚨
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 29/09/2026
This former paralympian is ready to shake up a deep-red state. Jen sat down with Josh Turek, the Democratic Candidate running for U.S. Senate in Iowa, to hear about why Iowans deserve better from their elected representatives. ⬇️ @jenrubin.bsky.social @joshturek4iowa.bsky.social
contrariannews.org
Iowa Is ‘Uniquely Hurting.’ This Senate Candidate Is Ready to Bring the Cure
Iowa made a big swing to the right in 2016. Will it swing back in 2026?
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 29/09/2026
Unsurprising News: Recent polls show that support for Republicans is continuing to drop Jen writes all about it: contrarian.substack.com/p/dismal-po… @jenrubin.bsky.social
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 29/09/2026
After a 2022 assassination attempt, Salman Rushdie was placed at the center of the conversation around free speech and religious extremism. The Contrarian had the chance to speak with Rushdie and his wife, Rachel Eliza Griffiths, about the new documentary chronicling Rushdie’s recovery journey.
contrarian.substack.com
Why Salman Rushdie Wants to ‘Get on With It’
The author talks about a new documentary chronicling his recovery from an assassination attempt in 2022, and his many ye
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 30/09/2026
What does gun culture reveal about America? Harel Shapira took dozen of classes at a gun school in Texas to reveal the answer
contrariannews.org
Basic Pistol: Living and Dying by the Gun in America
A conversation between Harel Shapira and Abraham Kenmore
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 30/09/2026
🎙️It is against U.S. law to send someone to a place where they could face threats to their life or freedom. With third-country deportations, the administration is doing just that. In the latest episode of The Contrarian Pod, Tim spoke with ACLU lawyer Sarah Mehta to learn more
contrariannews.org
‘Third-Country Removals’ Leave Immigrants Facing Unknown Futures
Sarah Mehta of the ACLU explains how the Trump Administration deports immigrants to countries where they have no ties, e
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
Jen Rubin @jenrubin.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Susan Rice: this is what an informed, highly intelligent veteran of govt sounds like on AI, China and Iran... one day such people could return to govt. open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
open.substack.com
What Do Dictators and Rogue AI Have in Common? Trump's Overwhelming Love
Ambassador Susan Rice warns that unregulated AI will kill civilians and arm hostile parties.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 30/09/2026
"Because Republicans have become an anti-democratic party hostile to an inclusive electorate, that means electing Democrats who are committed to an aggressive, pro-democracy agenda."
contrariannews.org
Courts Are Not Going to Save Voting Rights
🚨 34 Days to the Midterms 🚨
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 30/09/2026
Listen to the full conversation with Sarah Mehta as she explains this Administration’s immigration terror campaign ⬇️ @aclu.org
contrariannews.org
Trump’s Terror Campaign Deports Vulnerable Immigrants to Dangerous Third-Countries
Lower courts and legal activists fight back against Trump’s vicious mass deportation agenda
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 30/09/2026
"Frighteningly, we’ve seen a glaring lack of leadership and foresight from our own federal government." Read more from guest columnist @govpritzker.illinois.gov on the threat of AI and how we should respond:
contrariannews.org
March Us Toward the Summit, Not the Chasm
By Governor JB Pritzker
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 30/09/2026
Trump threatened the Center for American Progress (CAP) with a $5 billion lawsuit for reporting that the National Guard deployed in D.C. had failed to meet their purpose of reducing crime. Norm spoke with CAP CEO Neera Tanden on the latest @americanprogress.bsky.social @neeratanden.bsky.social
contrariannews.org
When Trump Attacks Free Speech, We're All in Danger
Trump’s assaults on the First Amendment are not limited to the press, and the press isn’t the only group with the respon
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 30/09/2026
Jennifer Weiss-Wolf writes more:
open.substack.com
We Keep Failing Women
It is the badge of a degraded democracy that certain men will not be held to account.
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
HCR HQ @hcrhq.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
September 29, 2026 The scene that unfolded today at a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee was a snapshot of politics in the US today. Testifying under oath was Jack Smith, who as special counsel for the US DOJ, investigated Trump’s attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 election…
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
September 29, 2026
The scene that unfolded today at a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee was a snapshot of politics in the U.S.
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
HCR HQ @hcrhq.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
September 28, 2026 It has become routine for Trump to spend the weekend posting wildly on social media, and this weekend was no exception. After attacking the press on Saturday morning, at 9:18 he posted a video with foreboding music that sped up as the video played, showing a glowering Trump….
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
September 28, 2026
It has become routine for Trump to spend the weekend posting wildly on social media, and this weekend was no exception.
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Caera Thornton @caerathornton.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Today’s News: caerathornton.substack.com/p/news-post-...
caerathornton.substack.com
News Post 9/28/2026
Trackers: Project 2025, Federal Harms, Trump’s Take, Authoritarian Watch:
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 28/09/2026
"It turns out that Americans believe in religious freedom, diversity, and democracy, not racist theocracy."
contrariannews.org
A Defining Moment of Religious Pluralism
🚨 36 Days to the Midterms 🚨
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 28/09/2026
These days Paramount is known for producing Paw Patrol sequels, UFC fights on the White House Lawn, and roughly one million shows from Taylor Sheridan. More here on what the Paramount-Warner Bros. deal means for the future:
contrariannews.org
What You Need to Know About the Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal
The agreement is good for billionaires, and bad for consumers, workers, and pretty much everyone whose last name isn’t Ellison.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 28/09/2026
“When the Trump Administration converts taxpayer money to use for partisan hype-pieces, it not only affronts the law, but it inevitably leads to the diversion of taxpayer funds from important government programs that support the American public.” More on Trump’s corrupt propaganda campaign ⬇️
contrariannews.org
Trump Goes Full-Orwell
The administration’s propaganda hype-ads are an abuse of power.
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 29/09/2026
There’s a greater than 10% chance AI will kill us all in the next decade, according to a guy employed to convince it not to Hype about AI’s unprecedented nature and power stokes the kind of awe that funds the AI industry.
contrariannews.org
The Other AIs
"Superintelligence” may be new, but the ways its makers are dodging accountability aren’t.
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
HCR HQ @hcrhq.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
September 26, 2026 Trump’s war on the free press is continuing. Last night, Scott Nover of the Washington Post reported that the White House would not allow reporters from CNN on Air Force One as part of the press pool to cover the president as he traveled to Tennessee for a college football game….
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
September 26, 2026
Trump’s war on the free press is continuing.
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Caera Thornton @caerathornton.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
Your weekly dose of vigilante librarianism. #BannedBooks #ReadFreely #LittleFreeLibrary #Books #BookSky #VigilanteLibrarianism
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Caera Thornton @caerathornton.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Today’s News: caerathornton.substack.com/p/news-post-...
caerathornton.substack.com
News Post 9/25/2026
Trackers: Project 2025, Federal Harms, Trump’s Take, Authoritarian Watch:
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Please don't overreact to the SCOTUS SAVE database decision today Page 6 of the decision makes clear that we are in the 90 day statutory window when mass changes cannot be made to voter lists! Yeah it's a shit decision for the reasons the 3 dissenters say but we can deal with it. More to come...
nytimes.com
Supreme Court Allows Expansive Voter Screening Tool Ahead of Midterms (Gift Article)
Critics of the Trump administration system to monitor the citizenship status of voters had raised alarms about privacy and improper voter purges.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 25/09/2026
"Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson remains the standout on the court, the corrupt MAGA majority’s most ferocious and effective critic."
contrariannews.org
Trump’s Cringeworthy Kowtowing to a Communist Dictator
KBJ defends the rule of law, and investors bet on another rate hike.
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 24/09/2026
🗳️Early voting has started! if you live in any of the states in blue, you can vote in-person now. More on how to stay up to date on voting: www.contrariannews.org/p/contrarian…
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 25/09/2026
90% of Americans believe corruption is widespread in government. Much of what we know about it, from Supreme Court financial scandals to the latest blockbusters, we know because of ProPublica.
contrariannews.org
Undaunted Reporting
🚨39 Days to the Midterms🚨
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 25/09/2026
"We’ve all recognized for a while that Donald Trump and his cronies, such as Elon Musk and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are actively restoring white-dominated racial hierarchies in the United States."
contrariannews.org
Can Democracy Survive a Culture of Cruelty?
From a dehumanizing deportation game to the AfD’s school agenda, the right is remaking identity. The states are our wall
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HCR HQ @hcrhq.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
September 24, 2026 After a hearing yesterday about Trump’s Friday ban of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House campus, very early this morning—I was still awake writing yesterday’s letter—U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly granted the request of the media outlets to stop Trump’s order…
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
September 24, 2026
After a hearing yesterday about Trump’s Friday ban of CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House campus, very early this morning—I was still awake writing yesterday’s letter—U.S.
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Caera Thornton @caerathornton.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Today’s News: caerathornton.substack.com/p/news-post-...
caerathornton.substack.com
News Post 9/24/2026
Trackers: Project 2025, Federal Harms, Trump’s Take, Authoritarian Watch:
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 23/09/2026
“Small potatoes” is how Trump has described the War in Iran. Small potatoes for whom?
contrariannews.org
Trump’s Endless War
Our leaders need to stop treating war as a branding exercise or political theater that carries no consequences.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 24/09/2026
"Trump’s appearance at the United Nations on Tuesday was another cringeworthy display of desperation and self-delusion."
contrariannews.org
COURT STRIKES DOWN MEDIA BAN; Trump’s Weakness Is Apparent to the Whole World
🚨40 Days to the Midterms🚨
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 24/09/2026
"In New York, Democratic strategist Jack O’Donnell claims that the recent success of Democratic Socialists — some backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani — exacerbates existing distrust for Democrats among the state’s more conservative or right-leaning voters."
contrariannews.org
Red-District Democrats Still Have a Problem
The GOP is unpopular in this election, but so are blue-state Democratic Parties in some frontline red districts.
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 24/09/2026
Cryptocurrency fraud is reaching epidemic levels. The president’s own financial interests explains this Administration’s attempts to strip any regulation for the cryptocurrency industry. Read: www.contrariannews.org/p/on-crypto-…
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HCR HQ @hcrhq.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
September 23, 2026 Yesterday, William Turton, Avi Asher-Schapiro, Molly Redden, and Kirsten Berg of ProPublica published a blockbuster story reporting that the anti-corruption group of the Federal Bureau of Investigation was investigating Senator Susan Collins for engaging in a pay-to-play scheme….
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
September 23, 2026
Yesterday, William Turton, Avi Asher-Schapiro, Molly Redden, and Kirsten Berg of ProPublica published a blockbuster story reporting that the anti-corruption group of the Federal Bureau of Investigatio...
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Caera Thornton @caerathornton.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Today’s News: caerathornton.substack.com/p/news-post-...
caerathornton.substack.com
News Post 9/23/2026
Trackers: Project 2025, Federal Harms, Trump’s Take, Authoritarian Watch:
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 23/09/2026
"Trump’s accelerating mental crackup also underscores the degree to which the White House press corps has failed to cover the despotic president in a way that accurately conveys to Americans the depth of his mental deterioration and fascist extremism."
contrariannews.org
Four Changes to Help the White House Press Recover Its Spine
🚨41 Days to the Midterms🚨
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 23/09/2026
Trump and Xi Jinping are set to meet today in Washington, D.C. The security and prosperity of the American people relies on this Administration’s ability to engage with these talks in a well prepared and strategic manner. Read why a diplomat believes this is anything but that.
contrariannews.org
Flying Blind: The Peril of Trump’s Unprepared Approach to China
This is not normal, nor is it safe for the American people.
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 23/09/2026
Trump’s UN speech - as ridiculous as it was - indicated where he will apply his power next: the Western Hemisphere. A retired senior executive from the CIA explains:
contrariannews.org
Trump’s U.N. Speech May Signal the Next Chapter of American Hegemony
Iran showed the limits of American coercion. Trump may turn back to the Western Hemisphere, where those limits remain th
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 23/09/2026
The Trump administration recently announced the launch of a new national drinking-water study that will test for traces of the drugs used in medical abortions, as potential pollutants. There is no scientific need or explanation for such a study. This is the government hoping to scare women.
contrariannews.org
A Bad-News Week for Reproductive Freedom
But there is hope.
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The Contrarian @contrariannews.org · 23/09/2026
A Mississippi Grand Jury rules “no foul play” in the death of Nolan Wells. Left unexplained are the multiple bruises and evidence of blunt force trauma. April writes more:
contrariannews.org
This Is Not the End of the Nolan Wells Story
A Mississippi grand jury determined the death was accidental, but questions linger.
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HCR HQ @hcrhq.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
September 22, 2026 In 1945, still reeling from World War II, representatives from 50 nations reached back to the U.S. Constitution when they wrote the Preamble to the United Nations charter….
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
September 22, 2026
In 1945, still reeling from World War II, representatives from 50 nations reached back to the U.S.
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HCR HQ @hcrhq.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
September 21, 2026 On September 18, while White House chief of staff Susie Wiles was out of town, Trump suddenly announced he was banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House.…
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
September 21, 2026
On September 18, while White House chief of staff Susie Wiles was out of town, Trump suddenly announced he was banning CNN, MS NOW, and Politico from the White House.
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Reposted by Caera Thornton
HCR HQ @hcrhq.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
September 20, 2026 Thousands of people gathered outside the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Friday evening to protest Trump’s takeover of the building and his threat to shut it down or even demolish it unless his name goes onto the facade….
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
September 20, 2026
Thousands of people gathered outside the John F.
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