Reposted by Maren McGowanThe Media and Democracy Project @mediaanddemocracy.bsky.social · 07/10/2026This is frightening and infuriating. The Ellisons were able to use other people’s money, crippling debt and MAGA-corrupted regulatory agencies: FTC, FCC and DoJ to complete this hostile takeover. Skydance is 49% owned by foreign investors (39% Saudi/Qatar/UAE). Media ownership is power. 43227
Reposted by Maren McGowanChristopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 06/10/2026Wrongly indicted, charges dropped, and now we learn prosecutors allegedly knew the Reflecting Pool renovation was failing and they charged David Hearn anyway. I hope he sues their asses off. 304107653210
Reposted by Maren McGowanJon Cooper @joncooper-us.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Trump administration refuses international election monitors for first time in over two decades The decision not to invite observers from the OSCE puts the U.S. alongside Russia and Belarus, while the Justice Department prepares to deploy its own poll monitors.ms.nowTrump administration refuses international election monitors for first time in over 2 decadesThe decision not to invite observers from the OSCE puts the U.S. alongside Russia and Belarus, while the Justice Department prepares to deploy its own poll monitors. 30033642047
Reposted by Maren McGowanJohn Scalzi @scalzi.com · 05/10/2026This is your occasional reminder that generative "AI" in particular could have been developed on public domain materials and/or licensed and compensated works but the major players intentionally, methodically and systemically chose to steal labor from working creative folks instead 10894862978
Reposted by Maren McGowan California Dreamin’… 😎 @jerasikehorn.bsky.social · 06/10/2026ARE YOU PAYING ATTENTION, YET?! 👇 SURE HOPE SO. 😎🇺🇸✨ 43555671999
Reposted by Maren McGowanRobert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 06/10/2026The richest man owns X. The second richest man owns The Washington Post. The third and fifth richest men control Google. The sixth richest man owns Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp. And the eighth richest man now owns both Paramount and Warner Bros. See the problem here?bbc.comParamount takes over Warner Bros in $110bn Hollywood mergerThe merger of two of Hollywood's biggest movie studios comes after months of legal disputes and concern over competition 676147525998
Reposted by Maren McGowanRadley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Just a reminder: Tillis persuaded the woman Hegseth allegedly raped to come forward with her story, and told her that if she did, it would sink the nomination. She did. At great risk to herself. Tillis then cast the deciding vote for Hegseth. Because he’s a goddamned coward.ms.nowOutgoing Sen. Tillis regrets pivotal vote for Hegseth: ‘He’s an actor. He’s not a manager’Outgoing Sen. Thom Tillis spoke to MS NOW about regretting his vote to confirm Pete Hegseth and his strained relationship with Trump. 25797703046
Reposted by Maren McGowangeoffrey 💀 (scary now) @parsnip.bsky.social · 06/10/2026very tired of being told it is the responsibility of urban democratic voters never to risk possibly maybe by chance seeming less than respectful of rural red state life and then watching thousands in nebraska cheer on the president joking about a nuclear strike on me and millions of my neighbors 774165839
Reposted by Maren McGowanRobert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Pete Hegseth gave a speech in front of a backdrop that almost perfectly matches Nazi imagery. Meanwhile, Trump calls opponents “vermin” who he will “root out,” and says the blood of our country is being poisoned. We are far past left vs right. Our choice is democracy or fascism. 29695003267
Reposted by Maren McGowanEric Pazdziora @ericpazdziora.bsky.social · 06/10/2026"Opera doesn't make money. Opera’s what you spend money *on*.” “But . . what do you get out of it?” “You get opera. You put money in, you see, and opera comes out,” said Salzella wearily. --Terry Pratchett, 'Maskerade' 71262352
Reposted by Maren McGowanAdam Gurri @adamgurri.liberalcurrents.com · 06/10/2026I think @amandamarcotte.bsky.social is really onto something here and that it's related to something @polphilpod.bsky.social has said in a few places; what collapsed was not liberalism, which in some ways is more strongly felt and committed to by more people than ever, but conservatismliberalcurrents.comLiberalism Did Not Fail, Conservatism DidWe are moving from an ideologically multipolar world, to a bipolar one. 922676
Reposted by Maren McGowanPlant Powered A-ron🌱🌎💙🌊 @plantpowered1971.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Holy shit...this is incredibly accurate!! 451671468
Reposted by Maren McGowanRobert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 01/10/2026Household debt at a record high. Student loan defaults at a record high. Credit card debt at a near record high. Meanwhile, corporate profits are the highest they’ve ever been. CEOs are paid 325x more than their typical workers. U.S. billionaire wealth is up 30% in a year. It's unsustainable. 811971733
Reposted by Maren McGowanChuck Schumer @schumer.senate.gov · 28/09/2026He says this with a straight face as gas reaches $4.50/gal, diesel reaches $6.50/gal, mortgage rates soar over 7%, grocery costs are rising, and Americans’ sentiments towards the economy are the lowest they’ve been since the Great Recession. 148948230
Reposted by Maren McGowanHELL Kennedy @helenkennedy.com · 25/09/2026My new favorite news photo. The ugliness of these people just leaps right out at you. 721169214
Reposted by Maren McGowanEmily L. Hauser (she/her) ❌👑 @emilylhauser.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Trump's never been anything but who he is. He's always been corrupt, incompetent, deeply incurious, ravenous for power, & wholly lacking empathy, ethics, or manners. A rapist, racist, liar, cheat, & bully. His age & behavior may suggest recent mental decline, but the above has always been true. 2/ 17111
Reposted by Maren McGowanashley fairbanks @ziibiing.com · 22/09/2026Some live reporting of my comrade Yusra’s presentation on the work of our Keep Minnesota Housed coalition and efforts to pay the rent during Operation Metro Surge This research really would not have been possible without Yusra’s amazing foresight around data collection 05916
Reposted by Maren McGowanSteven Beschloss @stevenbeschloss.bsky.social · 17/09/2026If Trump doesn’t “take care”of the Kennedy Center, it will “get ripped down.” That is the talk of a lifelong abuser. 1193051726
Reposted by Maren McGowanGreg Greene (he/him/his) @greene.haus · 18/09/2026Yep. International confidence can't be won back, after MAGA, just by electing the most affable centrist with the cleverest poll-tested nostrums. Only structural reforms — that rein in the presidency and reduce the skew of our electoral systems toward autocrats — can do that. 23014
Reposted by Maren McGowanMore Perfect Union @moreperfectunion.bsky.social · 16/09/2026HUGE: Elizabeth Warren, AOC, and other members of Congress have introduced a bill to push private equity out of healthcare. The Stop Corporate Takeovers of Physicians Act would make it illegal for private equity, insurance companies, and for-profit corporations to own or control medical practices. 633174668
Reposted by Maren McGowanChris Kluwe @chriswarcraft.bsky.social · 16/09/2026“We must take sides. Neutrality helps the oppressor, never the victim. Silence encourages the tormentor, never the tormented. Sometimes we must interfere. When human lives are endangered, when human dignity is in jeopardy, national borders and sensitivities become irrelevant.” -Elie Wiesel 321423
Reposted by Maren McGowanMichael Harriot @michaelharriot.bsky.social · 16/09/2026Notice how those “apolitical” people ALWAYS end up siding with the oppressors 584660921
Reposted by Maren McGowanMrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 07/09/2026The ultra-wealthy keep trying to pit the rest of us against each other with scare tactics ("communists!" "men in the ladies room!!" "brown people!!!" "drag queens!!!!") to keep us from noticing that our real problem is THEM. They want us to fight *any* war—except a class war. Happy Labor Day. 496139555421
Reposted by Maren McGowanactwithcourage.bsky.social @actwithcourage.bsky.social · 06/09/2026Elected Officials UNDERSTAND THIS We don't care what Party you belong to We don't care about your Religion or Origins We don't care how Wealthy or Connected you are If you don't stand up to DJT and Co, You are COMPLICIT You'll be held to Account by Voters Your Reputations and Futures are at Stake 8318112
Reposted by Maren McGowanJames Talarico @jamestalarico.bsky.social · 07/09/2026I met a grandmother in Houston. Augusta works 10-hour shifts at the airport, but her wages don’t cover her basic expenses. Now she and her 5-year-old grandson are facing eviction. In the United States Senate, we’re going to have Augusta’s back. 15697912641
Reposted by Maren McGowanHell-a Bambust 🏳️⚧️ (alleged transsexual)(spooky) @ela-bambust.bsky.social · 06/09/2026I try so hard not to be a cynical dickhead but then the Germans get too many refugees and immediately respond by giving fascism another go and I find it really hard to believe people are fundamentally decent or whatever 1242256327
Reposted by Maren McGowanRobert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Don’t believe the lies you hear about immigrant and undocumented workers. The real villains are the powerful corporations that want workers fighting one another while they rake in record profits at their expense.youtube.comTrump’s Lies About Immigrant Workers, DebunkedDon’t believe the lies you hear about immigrant and undocumented workers.The real villains are the greedy corporations t 281691672
Reposted by Maren McGowan4fuxake @blueheartedly1.bsky.social · 06/09/2026I wish the media had the same urgency about the state of Mitch McConnell as they did for Kamala's W-2 from McDonald's in the 80s. 12265981606
Reposted by Maren McGowanPeter Morley ♿️ @petermorley.bsky.social · 05/09/2026I'm going to KEEP talking about how Senator Rick Scott, the RICHEST man in all of Congress, DEFRAUDED Medicare & is trying to CUT Social Security. Will you join me?🤚 401126495082
Reposted by Maren McGowanRobert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Federal minimum wage in: 2009: $7.25 2010: $7.25 2011: $7.25 2012: $7.25 2013: $7.25 2014: $7.25 2015: $7.25 2016: $7.25 2017: $7.25 2018: $7.25 2019: $7.25 2020: $7.25 2021: $7.25 2022: $7.25 2023: $7.25 2024: $7.25 2025: $7.25 2026: $7.25 Folks, it's time to raise the damn wage already. 1557281989440
Reposted by Maren McGowanRobert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 05/09/2026Huge corporations like Amazon, Walmart, and Uber are among the top employers of SNAP and Medicaid recipients. Meanwhile, their CEOs are raking in multi-million dollar pay packages. How is this not a bigger scandal? 494126345261
Reposted by Maren McGowanYashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 03/09/20261. Rick Steves has spent $2 million of his own money to rescue a single-screen theater in Edmonds, WA. This is part of a multi-million-dollar effort he has made to invest in community properties in order to preserve local institutions and keep them serving the communities they were built for. 268103791889
Reposted by Maren McGowanRobert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 03/09/2026I’ve known many other defense secretaries, starting with Cap Weinberger, who served as defense secretary under Reagan. I can say without fear of contradiction that Pete Hegseth is the stupidest and least qualified of them all.robertreich.substack.comHegseth Must GoIf Trump won’t fire him, Congress must impeach him 29059091508
Reposted by Maren McGowanJacqui @jamelle33.bsky.social · 03/09/2026ANALYSIS: 'Lake America' makes one thing clear: we can’t trust U.S. tech companies The president’s decree is dumb. Why is anyone going along with it?tvo.orgANALYSIS: 'Lake America' makes one thing clear: we can’t trust U.S. tech companies | TVO TodayThe president’s decree is dumb. Why is anyone going along with it? 48074761894
Reposted by Maren McGowan California Dreamin’… 😎 @jerasikehorn.bsky.social · 02/09/2026The same people who think Trump, who dodged the draft five times yet knows how to win a war — also think Trump, who declared bankruptcy six times, knows how to run the economy… That's what Trump Derangement Syndrome actually looks like. Any Questions?! 😎✨ 9836271158
Reposted by Maren McGowanmmothnadine.bsky.social @mmothnadine.bsky.social · 03/09/2026🤔 The Supreme Court had one job and one job only = PROTECT DEMOCRACY by preserving our Constitution through interpreting it justly, but they chose instead to protect only one political party and in doing so made one man a King and destroyed our entire country! 1652735859
Reposted by Maren McGowanAllison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 03/09/2026Any sweeping systemic change you want to make in the United States has to begin with adding seats to the Supreme Court in 2029. No major reform bill will survive the current court. No civil rights law, no anti-corruption law, no wealth tax, nothing. 626140663829
Reposted by Maren McGowanAsawin Suebsaeng @swin24.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Goes without saying but the president directing the fcc to “punish” nbc because a poll made him mad would have consumed basically any other White House in endless scandal 662787625
Reposted by Maren McGowanTressie McMillan Cottom @tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 31/08/2026When did sandwiches become “hand helds”…and why? 292518
Reposted by Maren McGowanBoo!-per Lund @cooperlund.online · 31/08/2026The Lake America thing really drives home that the fundamental divide in this country isn’t left or right, it’s who sees the world and acts like an adult, and who wants to still be a child, throwing tantrums when they don’t get their way. It just happens to map well onto a partisan axis these days. 121790311
Reposted by Maren McGowanTrung Le Nguyen @trungles.com · 01/09/2026Honestly “what if Ebenezer Scrooge was actually right” really does sound exactly like the sort of movie an abuser would make 91664245
Reposted by Maren McGowanFine. I’ll update with a word count when I start writing again. @legalminimum.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Someone inside Google has the authority to say “actually, we’re going to move off US sources for a while”. That person is probably a GM, maybe even a VP. At this point in 2026 I suspect nobody lower than a VP is putting their name on this decision. But note that word: it is a decision. 313018
Reposted by Maren McGowanFine. I’ll update with a word count when I start writing again. @legalminimum.bsky.social · 31/08/2026Yes, I suspect Google has a system where they pick up info from a third party service and that’s where “Lake America” comes from. But the decision not to override it is, wait for it: a decision. I don’t blame the poor low-level PM who oversees the function but that’s who most of you are so angry at. 212415
Reposted by Maren McGowanJoy-Ann Reid @joyannreid.bsky.social · 30/08/2026All of this tracks. Most white journalists cant conceive of white nationalism as anything but fringe, so they report the open white supremacy of the MAGA movement as something else (economic anxiety!) as they did with the tea party. Tough to admit that it's just the same old basic white nationalism. 31761203
Reposted by Maren McGowanDavid Rothschild @davmicrot.bsky.social · 29/08/2026Corporate Media: every Democratic candidate must distance themselves from every comment made by every left-of-center streamer or we will destroy them Also Corporate Media: Republicans’ biggest donor is also leading a worldwide white supremacy movement, but we will not ask any of them about it. 110434
Reposted by Maren McGowanBenjamin Wittes @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org · 28/08/2026I would just like to reiterate: 12519111
Reposted by Maren McGowanjohnedwinmason @johnedwinmason.bsky.social · 25/08/2026One more great thing about Dolly. She was a paid-up union member — American Federation of Musicians, Local 257, Nashville. And she had been for 58 years. www.afm.org/2026/08/afm-...afm.orgAFM Statement on the Passing of Dolly PartonToday, the entire community of professional musicians mourns the loss of an irreplaceable icon and a generous heart: Dolly Parton. While the world knows her as a global superstar and philanthropist… 2667331775
Reposted by Maren McGowanSaeed Jones @theferocity.bsky.social · 23/08/2026Jeffries came out against Medicare For All, a policy that would fundamentally transform the material reality of every single person in this country, but especially black folks who are disproportionately suffering under the current healthcare system. Clearly, Hakeem’s race is incidental TO HIM. 566382
Reposted by Maren McGowanCongressman Greg Casar @repcasar.bsky.social · 20/08/2026ICE just arrested a 5-year-old on his way to a soccer game in Austin. His name is Liam, just like the little boy from Minnesota. He should be in kindergarten this week. Instead he's in a trailer prison in the desert. Release Liam. Release these kids. Close the Dilley children’s prison. 19243652259