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Leslie/left

@lbrett.bsky.social
197 followers 181 following 198 posts

Progressive, Humanist, idealist , generalist, social Democrat, anti status quo. Common sense for the common good. Hoi polloi. Mother of 3 men- the good kind.

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Reposted by Leslie/left
David Simon @audacityofdespair.bsky.social · 1h
No doubt this has occurred to other bystanders as well, but it would seem that a handful of billionaires dropping $150 million into a single state's election in an attempt to defeat a wealth-tax initiative just about makes the entire case for a wealth-tax initiative.
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God @thegodshow.com · 11h
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Indivisible Upstate SC @iusc.bsky.social · 11h
Today, Joanne Freeman, Yale historian, said something important for all of us to share with others online and in person. Joanne B. Freeman | Yale historian, author, Hamilton expert. Podcaster making history matter. 🎙️
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Greg Sargent @gregsargent.bsky.social · 14h
One key point @nicholasgrossman.bsky.social makes here is that if Dems win the midterms (and win in 2028), deploying congressional power creatively to unwind Elon Musk's sway over the government (contracts, etc) will be essential to any reconstruction: www.ms.now/opinion/elon...
ms.now
Opinion | Oligarchs like Elon Musk are tightening their grip on the Pentagon
A new initiative named Project Meridian is just one way GOP donors’ influence over defense policy is increasing.
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darren32359.bsky.social @darren32359.bsky.social · 18h
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Leslie/left @lbrett.bsky.social · 13h
Golden, no God needed.
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Michael Lobel @mlobelart.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
Because it's late on a Friday and you all deserve something good, this impeccably poised 1964 self-portrait by Hughie Lee-Smith - whose work should be better known - from collection of the National Academy of Design nationalacademy.emuseum.com/objects/2510...
Self-portrait of a Black man, seen from the chest up, wearing a shirt and tie, his head turned a bit away from frontal view
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Kaitlin Kal Lee @kaitlinkallee.bsky.social · 10/10/2026
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James Medlock @jdcmedlock.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
I'm taking my "Norway's wealth tax didn't reduce tax revenue" victory lap.
Whether imposing higher taxes on business owners adversely affects business activity by constraining investment and inducing capitalist flight is a central question in the ongoing debate on how to tax the ultra wealthy. To shed new light, I exploit a series of related Norwegian reforms during 2021–2024 that increased dividend tax rates, removed migration-related capital gains tax loopholes, and nearly doubled the effective marginal tax rate on business wealth. These reforms spurred international debate and, allegedly, an “exodus” of Norwegian billionaires (Financial Times, 2023). While I document clear effects on migration, these responses are concentrated among the top 0.1% of the wealth distribution and mostly confined to 2022 and 2023. My results indicate that at most 100 individuals left due to the reforms. I find no evidence of significant outmigration or reduced inflows of startup founders or inventors. I estimate that absent any outmigration, wealth tax revenues would have increased by 75% from 2021 to 2024. Reform-driven outmigration lowers the revenue gain to 71.5%. My findings further show that outmigrating owners’ firms remain economically active and do not reduce investment. In a broader set of analyses, I examine whether business outcomes are affected, regardless of whether owners outmigrate, since firms may reduce investment both due to liquidity constraints or distortions to owners’ savings decisions. I compare firms owned by Norwegian individuals subject to the wealth tax with firms owned by foreigners and other tax-exempt entities. By merging historical ownership data from Orbis with the Norwegian shareholder register, I perform these analyses on both Norwegian and foreign-domiciled firms. Across settings, I find no evidence that Norwegian-owned firms pay out more dividends or invest less after the reforms, nor is there any evidence that the reform induced more bankruptcies. ...
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Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Today in my American Revolution lecture course, the lecture title is "Civil War." You know. Lexington and Concord. That sort of thing. . . . . Such an interesting time to be teaching about the Revolution.
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Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Today I discussed how a live-streamed execution is meant to intimidate us into compliance Like soldiers at polling places is meant to frighten us from voting Authoritarianism requires FEAR. Don't surrender to it We have the numbers & the law & morality on our side www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wUY...
youtube.com
Violence As Politics
YouTube video by Dr. Joanne Freeman
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M Meerkat @kackbro.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Trump's Revenge Tour Continues...
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DrH @drhaup.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
IMO, This is the whole ballgame. Money corrupts absolutely. Josh Turek: "We need to have campaign finance reform to get dark money out of politics. I want to sponsor a constitutional amendment to overturn Citizens United. We can have oligarchy or we can have democracy. We can't have both."
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Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
This is well worth reading. Needless to say, organizing is key. newrepublic.com/article/2161...
newrepublic.com
If Trump Steals an Election, Here’s What to Do
Nonviolent rebellion has proven again and again to be the most effective way of ousting even a determined autocrat.
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Charles Keener @charleskeener.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
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The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart @weeklyshowpodcast.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting...
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The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart @weeklyshowpodcast.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
We’re nominated! Vote for us vote.signalaward.com/PublicVoting...
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Gianmarco Soresi @gianmarcosoresi.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Actors may not want to weigh in on politics but I assure you politics will be weighing in on the entertainment industry
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Leslie/left @lbrett.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Yep, politics is not entertaining but Entertainment is POLITICAL!
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Chasbell 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🇮🇪🇮🇹🇨🇦 @chasbell.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
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Kat Tenbarge @kattenbarge.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Anthropic banning “abusive or cruel behavior” toward Claude in its new usage policies is proof to me that tech companies are going to moderate violence against AI before they ever moderate violence against women and minorities
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Kaitlin Kal Lee @kaitlinkallee.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
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womensartbluesky.bsky.social @womensartbluesky.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Marg Dier, Embroidery artist traditionally trained at The Royal School of Needlework, UK #Womensart
Realistic embroidery of a sparrow. A small bird perched on a twig with brown, gray and bkack wings
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Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Wow. The blunt truths are SUCH a relief to hear. As horrible as it all is, it’s like I can finally catch my breath, just by hearing a politician bluntly say them out loud.
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Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
He’s going to keep saying increasingly offensive things because it earns him attention and…if he’s lucky…it will turn Americans against each other before the election so he can justify a show of force. Don’t fall for it.
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Kyle Khan-Mullins @kylekhanmullins.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
NEW from me for @forbes.com: The House’s, and Congress’s, top 5 data center investors. Number one is a certain former Speaker of the House! www.forbes.com/sites/kylemu...
forbes.com
Here Are The Members Of Congress With The Most Invested In The AI Data Center Boom
Forbes examined financial disclosures for every sitting House member. We found hundreds of representatives and at least $45 million in investments tied directly to the data center boom.
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Charles Johnson @charles.littlegreenfootballs.com · 08/10/2026
I know everyone’s jaded and exhausted by the continual parade of madness, but this is the president of US openly inciting racist violence against an entire community of immigrants. (w/ alt text)
The once Great State of Minnesota is being taken over by Somali Immigrants. There is Violence, Murder, and Mayhem all over the State. The people of Minnesota must fight back. You have been robbed, and abandoned by your State Government. Your Governor is an incompetent thief who doesn't want to get involved. He just wants to get out of town with as much as he can steal, and then, lead a quiet life. The Somalians should not be allowed to get away with what they are doing.
They view you as weak and stupid people. Fight back Minnesota, fight back! If you need, the Federal Government will come to your rescue.
Governor Tim Walz, and Mayor of Minneapolis, Jacob Frey, must immediately ask for Federal help — and leave the rest to us! President DONALD J. TRUMP
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Jason Karsh @jkarsh.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
We are watching in slow motion the things that happen before ethnic cleansing happens. People get that, right?
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 09/10/2026
Susan Collins claims that our reporting about CEO Martin Kao’s bribery allegations took him at his word. That’s not true. We reviewed a trove of FBI evidence and legal records. Here’s how we independently corroborated much of Kao’s account.
propublica.org
Watch: We Uncovered Bribery Allegations Involving Susan Collins
In late 2024, FBI investigators had enough evidence to launch a sweeping bribery probe of politicians including Sen. Susan Collins — until Trump gutted the unit in charge. ProPublica has revealed the ...
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Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
Tomorrow on my livestream "History Matters" Violence as Politics Doesn't need much of an explanation given Hegseth's seeming joy at the idea of a livestreamed execution. But there's a history to its use & implications. We need to confront it head-on Friday 10AM ET www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wUY...
youtube.com
Violence As Politics
YouTube video by Dr. Joanne Freeman
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Opinion Today @opiniontoday.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Super Intelligence: The tech bros are coming up with new terminology all over the shop, so @aiannucci.bsky.social, Stewart Lee and @carolecadwalla.bsky.social review the phrases that grind our gears — rogue agents, warfighters, bootloaders, and more. opiniontoday.substack.com/i/219402052/...
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Jennifer Shin - WTAF @jennifershin.bsky.social · 07/10/2026
I don't think we'll ever be done with the "I fucking told you so's." The Food Research & Action Center reported that these changes would weaken safety nets and worsen food insecurity for low-income families: frac.org/blog/project...
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Alarming — 🇺🇸 Senator @chrismurphyct.bsky.social denied access to military facilities in the Middle East: “Unprecedented. Hegseth is trying to cover up the extent of the damage from a war spiraling out of control. This should be unacceptable to everybody, Republican or Democrat.”
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Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 06/10/2026
In June, Belgium’s diamond industry gifted Trump an 18-karat gold ring encrusted with 321 diamonds and 75 gemstones. A month later, European diamonds got an exemption from Trump’s tariffs. We don’t know where the ring is today. Where did it go? Did Trump keep it for himself?
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
As Trump demonizes cities, remember this: Residents of "blue" states send more tax money to Washington than they get back in federal help, while residents of “red” states send less money to Washington than they get back in federal help. Just thought I should point that out.
youtube.com
How Blue States Help Red States | Robert Reich
Robert Reich explains how states that vote Democratic send money to states that vote Republican.Watch More: The Monopoli
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Leslie/left @lbrett.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Lipstick on a...
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 05/10/2026
“THIS IS THE TEXTBOOK DEFINITION ON LOANSHARKING,” wrote one consumer about a tribal loan company. A federal database used to publicly display such complaints, and they’ve helped inform several ProPublica stories. Now the narratives aren’t public.
propublica.org
The Federal Agency That’s Supposed to Protect Consumers Just Made Another Business-Friendly Move
Debt collection. Credit reporting. Payday loans. Consumer complaints to a federal database used to help reveal issues and bring accountability. Then the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau stopped pu...
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Joanne Freeman @jbf1755.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
A wonderful piece on a visit to St. Andrew’s School with @michaelhattem.bsky.social and Zara Anishanslin www.standrews-de.org/n/~board/new...
standrews-de.org
Nobody Knew How It Would End: Historians on America's 250th
For America's 250th, historians Joanne Freeman, Zara Anishanslin, and Michael Hattem joined St. Andrew's students to explore how uncertain the founding really was
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 05/10/2026
3/ Have an idea for the LRN? ProPublica will be taking on two more projects by the end of 2026. We’re looking for letters of interest by Oct. 15. Details here:
propublica.org
How to Apply
Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 05/10/2026
2/ This is the sixth group selected as part of our 50 State Initiative, a commitment to selecting a partnership with one newsroom from each state by 2028. Learn more about ProPublica's Local Reporting Network:
propublica.org
Local Reporting Network
Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 05/10/2026
1/ Say hello to our new Local Reporting Network reporters and their newsrooms! 👋 • Eliza Aronson, The Everett Herald • Max Filby, @dispatch.com • Luke Nozicka, @missouriindependent.com
propublica.org
ProPublica’s Local Reporting Network Names Three New Partners for Its 50 State Initiative
Investigative Journalism in the Public Interest
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Nathan Tankus @nathantankus.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
This piece highlights something that doesn't get talked enough: Progressives should put forward a proposed set of rules for a new congress to facilitate defeating the far right and actually legislate.
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Adam Serwer @adamserwer.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
I think that @aselrod.bsky.social is right that the attention economy does bad things to our brains, whether or not those things qualify as addiction www.liberalcurrents.com/portraits-of...
liberalcurrents.com
Portraits of an American Dopamine Eater
Our attention economy incentivizes the profane degradations of fame-seeking and celebrity culture.
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Leslie/left @lbrett.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
This is an "ass kicking"?, raise the bar please!!!
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Gail Simone @gailsimone.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
You guys want to hear a short but adorable story that happened right in front of me at the baggage claim in NYC yesterday? I wasn't part of it and there are bits I didn't catch but holy crap, I can't stop thinking about it.
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The Guardian @theguardian.com · 04/10/2026
It’s never been so easy to find answers. But sitting with uncertainty can ultimately bring wisdom | Muhammad Abdulsater
theguardian.com
It’s never been so easy to find answers. But sitting with uncertainty can ultimately bring wisdom | Muhammad Abdulsater
Even the greatest prophets had questions but they learned to wait to see the full picture
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geraldmcgrew @geraldmcgrew.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
I would argue that the Bernie Sanders presidential campaigns and the current rise of DSA are the two subsequent significant advents on the American left since Occupy
American Democratic Socialism: history, politics, religion, and theory

By Gary Dorrien
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Dustin A. Chacón @lingdustin.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
I've heard people make claims that AI would lead to a new Renaissance, but I didn't imagine it'd happen like this:
Screenshot of a Tweet from Pope Leo XIV. It reads: 

"In this era of artificial intelligence, it is becoming urgen to distinguish human art from what machines produce. There is an ontological difference, even before an aesthetic one, between art and what a machine can generate through statistical calculation based on millions of images created by others. Algorithms lack the spark of humanity. For this reason, the Church wishes to renew an alliance with artists and cultural institutions to safeguard our humanity."
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Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Please please please stop making a big deal out of the G7 reserves release. Yes, it’s 100 million barrels over 4 months. We - the planet - use 100 million barrels of crude every…single…day. Almost literally a drop in the bucket.
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The New York Times @nytimes.com · 03/10/2026
From @theathletic.com: Eight teams remain in the MLB postseason. Here’s each club’s path to a World Series title.
nyti.ms
MLB’s Division Series matchups are set. Here’s your team’s path to a World Series
Which team left in the playoff field best resembles the 1986 Mets? Which one is giving off 2002 Angels vibes?
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