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Douglas W. Burns

@douglaswburns.bsky.social
2.8K followers 236 following 60 posts

4th-generation Iowa journalist. Fmr. Carroll Times Herald owner. Writes The Iowa Mercury column on Substack. Founder Mercury Boost, advertising and PR

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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Iowa State Rep. Sean Bagniewski said this morning that @rokhanna.bsky.social will headline his annual Fish Fry fundraiser in Des Moines on Sunday, Oct. 11
theiowamercury.substack.com
Ro Khanna headlining Iowa legislator Sean Bagniewski’s annual Des Moines fish fry
Iowa Mercury Staff Report
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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 08/06/2026
Background on Dave Muhlbauer, via @douglaswburns.bsky.social who has covered the Muhlbauer family for many years. theiowamercury.substack.com/p/sand-choos...
theiowamercury.substack.com
Sand chooses western Iowa cattleman as lieutenant governor running mate
Democrat Crawford County Supervisor Dave Muhlbauer joins ticket, bringing geographic balance, emphasis on rural appeal
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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 03/06/2026
Thanks to Douglas Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social for recording Josh Turek's speech at the Iowa Democratic Party's event while I was across town at Zach Lahn's event. @joshturek4iowa.bsky.social www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J8y... (Cook Political Report just shifted #IASen from likely to lean R)
youtube.com
Watch Josh Turek's speech after winning Iowa Senate Democratic primary
YouTube video by Bleeding Heartland
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
Chicken fried steak and kindness
theiowamercury.substack.com
Chicken fried steak and kindness
I’m in Omaha, I’m always happy when I’m in Omaha.
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 20/04/2026
46 seconds of truth that will break your heart theiowamercury.substack.com/p/a-harsh-re...
theiowamercury.substack.com
46 seconds of truth that will break your heart
DES MOINES —
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
“I admired and adored my father, and it is one of the harsh realities that I have to face that I am glad that he is dead so that he did not have to see the country he served so faithfully his entire life get smeared and tarred by the behavior of this president> — U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse
theiowamercury.substack.com
A harsh reality for Sheldon Whitehouse: He's glad his father's dead so he doesn't have to see Trump smear and debase United States on world stage
DES MOINES —
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 14/04/2026
4 minutes that will break your heart. theiowamercury.substack.com/p/a-harsh-re...
theiowamercury.substack.com
A harsh reality for Sheldon Whitehouse: He's glad his father's dead so he doesn't have to see Trump smear and debase United States on world stage
DES MOINES —
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 29/03/2026
About 150 protesters lined the north side of the county courthouse in Carroll, Iowa this morning for a No Kings rally in this western Iowa city Trump carried comfortably. Demonstrators displayed carefully crafted signs and hastily scrabbled cardboard pickets open.substack.com/pub/theiowam...
open.substack.com
In deeply red, rural Carroll County, Iowa 150 demonstrators line federal highway for No Kings
CARROLL, Iowa —
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 18/03/2026
Donald Trump is running a cult with no rules.
theiowamercury.substack.com
The Cult Of The Swivel Heads: How no-rules idolatry works for Donald Trump
It’s one thing to run a country with no Congress, but quite another to manage a cult without boundaries
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 06/03/2026
'It took a disabled man to lead a disabled nation.' How Josh Turek's formula of empathy + solutions (minus self pity) is a winning one in Iowa's U.S. Senate race theiowamercury.substack.com/p/it-took-a-...
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Donald Trump’s desecrating insult of Rob Reiner is no match to message of grace in one of actor’s greatest moments, a healing 1976 Christmas episode of ‘All In The Family’
theiowamercury.substack.com
Donald Trump’s desecrating insult of Rob Reiner is no match to message of grace in one of actor’s greatest moments, a healing 1976 Christmas episode of ‘All In The Family’
Donald Trump’s ugliness hit grave-desecrating lows with the inhuman lies the president leveled at the late actor-director Rob Reiner in the hours after Reiner’s death.
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 08/12/2025
Hegseth should be 'ousted,' says U.S. Army My Lai Massacre prosecutor
theiowamercury.substack.com
EXCLUSIVE: Hegseth should be 'ousted,' says U.S. Army My Lai Massacre prosecutor
“I think it is important to look at these airstrikes from a military point of view.
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 27/11/2025
Thanks For Nothing! open.substack.com/pub/theiowam...
open.substack.com
Thanks For Nothing!
For many Native Americans Thanksgiving is a difficult time
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
"Those of you outside of the Chicago area may not be tapped into the same news sources and accounts from friends." "It’s ugly here." Read more from Bonnie Schindler on the ground in Chicagoland as the streets there are ICE-ed up with fear, terror theiowamercury.substack.com/p/fear-and-r...
theiowamercury.substack.com
Fear and reality on the ICE-ed streets of Chicago and its suburbs
'People need to know what is going on in the Chicago area. It could be coming to your location soon enough.'
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 22/10/2025
Describing fellow western Iowa Democrat as 'wicked smart,' 'great, great' candidate Crawford County's Muhlbauer endorses Turek in U.S. Senate race
open.substack.com
Describing fellow western Iowa Democrat as 'wicked smart,' 'great, great' candidate Crawford County's Muhlbauer endorses Turek in U.S. Senate race
MANILLA, Iowa —
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 11/10/2025
The author Peter Hedges suggests this: “For turning his own troops on his own people, the Nobel Committee is pleased to award Donald J. Trump the 2025 Nobel Prize for War.” open.substack.com/pub/peterhed...
open.substack.com
And the Winner is ...
47 Ways Forward - Strategies for Navigating the Next Four Years
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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
New post: @douglaswburns.bsky.social will interview Beth Macy @bethmacy.bsky.social about her new book, Paper Girl, at the Banned Books Festival in Des Moines this Saturday. More on the event and this "powerhouse work of non-fiction" about rural America: www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/10/09/b...
bleedingheartland.com
Beth Macy, author of 'Dopesick' and 'Paper Girl,' coming to Des Moines
Douglas Burns will interview Beth Macy about her new book, Paper Girl, at the Banned Books Festival in Des Moines.
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 09/10/2025
Through what political scientists might call a deep canvass into her own culturally polarized family in rural Ohio author Beth Macy gives us a riveting, devastating and call-to-action mirror into our nation with her extraordinary new book, “Paper Girl" theiowamercury.substack.com/p/coming-to-...
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 21/09/2025
'Very ignorant people' cheerleading demise of family farms in Trump-supporting reaches of rural America —writes Irene Lin in a column in The Iowa Mercury
theiowamercury.substack.com
'Very ignorant people' cheerleading demise of family farms in Trump-supporting reaches of rural America
By IRENE LIN
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 14/09/2025
Iowa U.S. Senate candidate Jackie Norris asks why flags lowered for Charlie Kirk but not for kids massacred in school shootings open.substack.com/pub/theiowam...
open.substack.com
Iowa U.S. Senate candidate Norris asks why flags lowered for Charlie Kirk but not massacred school kids
Senate candidates discuss political violence fallout, their own security considerations
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
The difference between cult leaders Donald Trump and Jim Jones is … there is no difference. Their followers know the Kool-Aid is poisoned and drink it anyway. I guess Jones at least told them.
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Senator Ankit Jain @ankitjaindc.bsky.social · 27/08/2025
I talked with @douglaswburns.bsky.social & the Iowa Mercury about how Trump's takeover of DC policing is meant to impose the far-right agenda on blue cities rather than actually reduce crime; and how it will counterintuitively make DC statehood more likely theiowamercury.substack.com/p/from-withi...
theiowamercury.substack.com
From within federal 'occupation' of DC, shadow senator sees energy, momentum for statehood, an unintended Trump legacy
He's a United States senator.
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 21/08/2025
Shot by police in a park, homeless immigrant in Denison, Iowa died wearing a friend's clothes Friends said Feglys Campos lost his job because of the Trump administration's elimination of a humanitarian work program for Cuban, Haitian, Nicaraguan, Venezuelan nationals in the United States.
theiowamercury.substack.com
Shot by police in a park, homeless immigrant in Denison died wearing a friend's clothes
(Editor’s Note: La Prensa Iowa Spanish Newspaper first published this story in both English and Spanish.
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 16/08/2025
The National Guard didn’t come to protect U.S. Capitol Police officers like Harry Dunn during the Jan. 6 insurrection. He survived that day, and protected members of Congress. Now, Dunn sees The Guard, deployed by President Trump, in everyday DC. theiowamercury.substack.com/p/jan-6-capi...
theiowamercury.substack.com
Jan. 6 Capitol officer says National Guard that wasn't there for him now ordered by Trump to run 'test case' in DC to turn nation into police state
The Iowa Mercury interviews former U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
This is an inspiring, powerful ad. One of more soaring political ads I’ve seen in my career. youtu.be/kCD3vVVAa7U?...
youtu.be
Josh Turek - Underdog
YouTube video by Josh Turek
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 13/08/2025
In one of his Iowa Statehouse campaigns Josh Turek climbed and "crawled"while he dragged his wheelchair behind him — the latter his own description — to 14,000 doors in Iowa House District 20. He won the seat by just six votes — 3,403 to 3,397. youtu.be/kCD3vVVAa7U?...
youtu.be
Josh Turek - Underdog
YouTube video by Josh Turek
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 28/07/2025
“I’ve seen families calling on their ‘white’ friends to come with them to the grocery store, as if proximity to safety could somehow shield them from being targeted, says Maria Torres, founder and CEO of The CommUnity Project in Council Bluffs, Iowa.
open.substack.com
Frightened Latino immigrants ask 'white' friends to go to grocery with them, advocate says
'As if proximity to safety could somehow shield them from being targeted,' Maria Torres of Council Bluffs, Iowa, adds
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 27/07/2025
Waking around downtown Omaha after a breakfast interview with Harry Dunn — Capitol Police officer who protected Congress during Jan. 6 insurrection. We stopped in Raygun store here before heading to Council Bluffs, Iowa for Dunn’s major speech this afternoon. @libradunn1.bsky.social
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 22/07/2025
Watching the Trump Cult attempt to adapt in real time is like seeing domesticated animals being dropped into the wild.
theiowamercury.substack.com
Can Trump Cult hold in rural Iowa over next six weeks with clear Epstein dodging, delayed farm action central to life here?
One of the more confusing roles for an American to inhabit today is that of a Trump Cult member.
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 19/07/2025
'I've been through hell' says Jan. 6 Capitol Police officer slated to keynote Council Bluffs, Iowa political event Harry Dunn says prospect of full-scale slaughter of elected officials, some of nation's top leaders, was within feet, an instant here or there
theiowamercury.substack.com
'I've been through hell' says Jan. 6 Capitol Police officer slated to keynote Council Bluffs, Iowa political event
Harry Dunn says prospect of full-scale slaughter of elected officials, some of nation's top leaders, was within feet, an instant here or there, in run of events, from happening during insurrection
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 10/07/2025
Donald Trump is American carbon monoxide All dignity shedded, the White House likely will have 'ring girls' at cage fights for the America 250 celebration theiowamercury.substack.com/p/donald-tru...
theiowamercury.substack.com
Donald Trump, American carbon monoxide
All dignity shedded, the White House likely will have 'ring girls' at cage fights for the America 250 celebration
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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 06/07/2025
New post: Douglas Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social attended the America 250 event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds and shares his impressions from President Trump's speech. www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/07/05/t...
bleedingheartland.com
Ten takeaways from Trump's "America 250" speech in Des Moines
Douglas Burns attended the America 250 event at the Iowa State Fairgrounds and shares his impressions from President Trump's speech.
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 05/07/2025
Trump said he plans to create an exemption for undocumented workers in agriculture if farmers vouch for them. He laid out no criteria for how farmers could, in essence, save immigrants from deportation for no other reason, seemingly, than they employ them or even just know them. And 9 other takes
theiowamercury.substack.com
10 takeaways from Trump's 'America 250' speech in Des Moines on Fourth Of July eve
With Sinatra swagger, Trump said he wants farmers empowered to vouch for undocumented immigrants to spare them deportation
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 04/07/2025
Speaking in Des Moines, Iowa tonight about nation’s 250th celebration planning President Trump says, “We’re going to have a UFC fight on the grounds of the White House.”
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 01/06/2025
The credentialed lot of authors of AI, having lived and worked, dreamed and dared, behind the early curtains of this now mainstreamed but ever-mysterious technology, have released one forecast that near-horizons human holocaust. Total extinction.
open.substack.com
We'll all be dead by 2030, credentialed forecast on artificial intelligence predicts
'Earth-born civilization has a glorious future ahead of it — but not with us'
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 11/05/2025
Why progressive women are so inspiring to us personally and the nation. Happy Mother’s Day!
open.substack.com
10 walks in a lifetime with my progressive mom
Bugs Bunny broke the news.
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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Iowa Supreme Court ruled today that the League of United Latin American Citizens does NOT have standing to challenge a 2008 injunction that prevents voter materials from being printed in languages other than English. Unanimous 5-0 decision with 2 justices recusing: www.iowacourts.gov/courtcases/2...
iowacourts.gov
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 05/05/2025
Robust discussion on film "Sinners" with Emmy Award-wining producer Nik Heftman and author-historian Rachelle Chase. Some deep and meaningful takes about this exceptional film. @sinnersmovie.bsky.social
open.substack.com
'Sinners' movie experience with Dana James, Rachelle Chase (Part 2). Nik and Doug's America
Episode 9
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Laura Belin @laurarbelin.bsky.social · 12/04/2025
New post: Douglas Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social makes his case for State Representative Josh Turek of Council Bluffs to run against Senator Joni Ernst in 2026. www.bleedingheartland.com/2025/04/12/w...
bleedingheartland.com
Why Josh Turek is Iowa Democrats' best candidate for U.S. Senate
Douglas Burns makes his case for Josh Turek for Senate: The times and the man are meeting. Iowans will soon see this.
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 09/04/2025
The times and the man are meeting. Iowans and Democrats soon will see why. Josh Turek is inspiring gold-medal-winning Paralympian who returned to Iowa where he earned a legislative seat as a Democrat in a challenging district in which he outperformed top of the ticket. AN IOWA DEMOCRAT TO WATCH
theiowamercury.substack.com
Why Josh Turek is Iowa Democrats' best candidate for U.S. Senate
The times and the man are meeting. Iowans will soon see this.
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Why The Iowa Mercury is staying rural It should be the biggest issue in rural Iowa: Why is so much of the economic health, money, optimism itself, being scooped into the Des Moines sprawl and Iowa City-Cedar Rapids corridors? Our boots-and-blue jeans gal, Governor Kim Reynolds, presided over this.
theiowamercury.substack.com
Why The Iowa Mercury is staying rural
The suburbs of Des Moines are encroaching into rural Iowa at a breakneck pace.
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
Tired of dudes who "mansplain" ladies? Get them a shirt so they have to own it! literary-ts.printify.me/product/1869...
literary-ts.printify.me
'Ready. Aim. Mansplain' Unisex Heavy Cotton Tee - $20.00 - Literary Ts
Buy this product for only $20.00
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 11/03/2025
What are your Top 5 Denzel Washington movies of all time? LET US KNOW! Filmmaker Nik Heftman and I delve into the topic on the latest edition of The Iowa Mercury Cast. @the7times.bsky.social We also review the extraordinary film "Nickel Boys." theiowamercury.substack.com/p/top-5-denz...
theiowamercury.substack.com
Top 5 Denzel Washington movies, ‘Nickel Boys’ review with filmmaker Nik Heftman
A recording from Douglas Burns's live video
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
Iowa Filmmaker Nik Heftman, an Emmy Award-winning producer, joined forces with The Iowa Mercury for a preview of tonight’s Academy Awards. We ran through the films with our thoughts on who should win, and who will win. open.substack.com/pub/theiowam...
open.substack.com
Oscars Preview With Iowa Filmmaker Nik Heftman
Iowa Filmmaker Nik Heftman, an Emmy Award-winning producer, joined forces with The Iowa Mercury for a preview of tonight’s Academy Awards.
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Tony Almquist @tony-almquist.bsky.social · 02/03/2025
by @douglaswburns.bsky.social 1/2 "Why do they even want to pass laws like this when we all know it might not actually materialize in the ways they intended? Hate. That’s the only reason. Hate. "It has nothing to do with protecting women. Sex is already protected under the Iowa Civil Rights Act..
theiowamercury.substack.com
The Place I Call Home No Longer Calls Me One of Its Own
What happens when the place you love stops loving you back?
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 01/03/2025
A powerful essay from Parker Williamson, a rural iowan with an urgent message "The Place I Call Home No Longer Calls Me One of Its Own" "What happens when the place you love stops loving you back?" @progressiowa.bsky.social @jensinkler.bsky.social theiowamercury.substack.com/p/the-place-...
theiowamercury.substack.com
The Place I Call Home No Longer Calls Me One of Its Own
What happens when the place you love stops loving you back?
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Douglas W. Burns @douglaswburns.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
The next big Trans fight isn't what you think The oligarchy's chase for immortality through transhumanism is frighteningly real, and will explode the wealth divide, likely creating species within humanity itself.
theiowamercury.substack.com
The next big Trans fight isn't what you think
The oligarchy's chase for immortality through transhumanism is frighteningly real, and will explode the wealth divide, likely creating species within humanity itself.
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Pete Buttigieg @petebuttigieg.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
The flying public needs answers. How many FAA personnel were just fired? What positions? And why?
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Jack Hopkins-The Original @therealjackhopkins.bsky.social · 17/02/2025
🔥
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Beachbatcher 99 @beachbatcher.bsky.social · 16/02/2025
Your friendly neighborhood librarian here...buy physical copies of your favorite books, especially challenged or banned books. Preferably from small local merchants. That's all; carry on. #Read #BookSky #Resist 📚
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