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mjcaswell.bsky.social

@mjcaswell.bsky.social
758 followers 10 following 49 posts
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Reposted by @mjcaswell.bsky.social
emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 25m
Spectacular. Yesterday, NYT implied Habba's new hubby married her to keep a concrete contract under Delcy Rodriguez. Today Axios suggests that hubby is trying to take Ric Grenell (who USED to be his tie to VZ) out by claiming Grenell snatched a Kennedy Center donation.
Even as he was meeting Ms. Habba, Mr. Mildon was navigating the shifting political landscape in Venezuela after Ms. Rodríguez had been put in power by the Americans. His spokesman said Mr. Mildon had always supported Ms. Rodríguez, who served as Mr. Maduro’s vice president until his arrest.

But several people who met Mr. Mildon in Washington last year, before Mr. Maduro’s capture by U.S. forces, said Mr. Mildon had praised Mr. Saab, her ruling party rival, presenting him as Venezuela’s pre-eminent power broker and the key to a peaceful resolution of the conflict with the United States.

As it turns out, Mr. Mildon had backed the wrong side.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio sidelined Mr. Grenell and persuaded Mr. Trump to adopt a more aggressive stance toward Mr. Maduro. Mr. Rubio settled on Ms. Rodríguez as Mr. Maduro’s successor, and set in motion plans for a military operation that would topple the Venezuelan president and install her in power.

Mr. Maduro dismissed the growing threats from the White House as a bluff, right until U.S. military aircraft attacked Caracas in the early hours of Jan. 3.President Trump has directed his White House counsel to examine explosive allegations dropped on him Friday in the Oval Office:

Former Trump attorney Alina Habba told the president that another one of his top advisers — former Kennedy Center leader Ric Grenell — failed to deposit a multimillion-dollar donation that her billionaire husband made to the center a year ago, according to four senior administration officials and three insiders briefed on the controversy.
Grenell denied the accusations as "absurd" and a "lie."
Habba and her husband, Turhan Mildon, declined to comment through a spokesperson.
Why it matters: The extraordinary row between the two top-tier presidential advisers and former allies provides a rare and acrimonious behind-the-scenes glimpse into the intersection of power, influence and money in Trump's Washington.

The total value of the contribution in question: nearly $6 million, White House sources said Habba told them.
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Elizabeth Warren @warren.senate.gov · 4h
NEW: Inflation data came in and Donald Trump’s failed economic agenda has raised prices for Americans by 5.9%. That means families are paying $3,772 more thanks to inflation under Trump.
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Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 3h
New York City! You have 10 days left to register to vote! Go to vote.nyc to register, find your polling site or see a sample ballot. And don’t forget: turn your ballot over to vote on faster government!
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Kate from Kharkiv @kateinkharkiv.bsky.social · 4h
In Lutsk, Russian drone hit the Eurogurt wholesale store, killing 6 people and injuring 12 others, including a child‼️ With the new Starlink limitations our ability to intercept drones is very limited.
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Xela Hart @xelahart.bsky.social · 4h
newrepublic.com/post/216602/...
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Charles Gaba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 2h
🚨🚨🚨 CMS cutting off ACA subsidies to *another* 189,000 people raises some troubling questions... acasignups.net/26/10/14/itl...
acasignups.net
"It'll just work itself out naturally:" CMS cutting off ACA subsidies to another 189,000 people raises some troubling questions...
This morning, via the Health & Human Services (HHS) website: Trump Administration Delivers Second Year of Savings by Stopping Taxpayer Payments for Duplicate and Deceased Enrollees in Obamacare WASHIN...
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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 2h
One thing missing from this--perhaps the most important. HSI has been caught lying AT LEAST 36 times in cases targeting Democrats, including kidnapping ordered by Todd Blanche and misconduct by Harmeet Dhillon. emptywheel.net/2026/10/12/h...
emptywheel.net
HSI Agents Ricky Patel, Ryan Ribner, Richard Berger, and Timothy Gerber All Made False Claims to Frame Democrats - emptywheel
There are at least 36 affidavits signed by HSI Agents -- like the goons who just searched Ilhan Omar's house -- who have made false claims to frame Democrats or other Trump opponents.
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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 4h
🚨BREAKING: The Trump administration is threatening legal action against California if it doesn’t immediately purge voters alleged by the administration to be noncitizens. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
democracydocket.com
Trump administration threatens to sue California over alleged noncitizens on rolls
A DOJ spokesperson confirmed to Democracy Docket that the department “has sent letters to California election officials demanding immediate action to ensure that noncitizens do not vote in the upcomin...
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Olga Lautman 🇺🇦 @olgalautman.bsky.social · 1h
As if things weren’t bad enough, Russian media is reporting that Kash Patel has arrived in Moscow. And a reminder he was paid by a Russian agent to participate in a documentary to spew disinformation and attack US agencies
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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 1h
Reup: Kash Patel Colluded with Russian Spies to Frame Jim Comey, and He Probably Will Again emptywheel.net/2026/10/11/k...
emptywheel.net
Kash Patel Colluded with Russian Spies to Frame Jim Comey, and He Probably Will Again - emptywheel
Kash Patel has spent almost a decade using Russian disinformation to try to frame Trump's adversaries -- first Hillary Clinton, then Jim Comey. That means, when Kash goes to Russia this week, they wil...
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Abuse of Power Watch @abuseofpowerwatch.bsky.social · 4h
The Harris County District Attorney also said ICE removed critical evidence after hitting Miguel Parra-Hernandez. “… we were drafting a search warrant on the scene, and during that time, the ICE agent jumped into the vehicle and drove it off of the scene.” #AbuseofPowerWatch
click2houston.com
DA: ICE allegedly removed critical evidence after vehicle hit Miguel Parra-Hernandez in northwest Harris County
Harris County DA Sean Teare has launched a criminal investigation into an ICE officer’s collision with a man, raising questions about whether the man was intentionally struck and whether critical evid...
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Miles Taylor @milestaylor.bsky.social · 23h
Trump’s ex-chief of staff John Kelly said this to me, six years ago: “I don't know how he’s not in an institution somewhere, whether it’s jail or a nuthouse. He’s a seriously sick guy. I never heard him saying anything that wasn’t a lie.” Trump has only gotten worse since.
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Jason Karsh @jkarsh.bsky.social · 17h
I’m sorry, did a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate just ‘Won’t somebody think of the neo-Nazis?’ during a live TV debate?
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Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 20h
WSJ: Ken Paxton partied in Dubai on New Year's Eve 2024 with two fugitives from U.S. justice and a woman who wasn't his wife. Paxton is the top law enforcement official in Texas.
wsj.com
Exclusive | Ken Paxton Partied in Dubai With Fugitives Ahead of High-Stakes Texas Senate Race
Trump backed the scandal-plagued Paxton in one of the riskiest bets of the midterms
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 16h
Kiss of death right there.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 18h
OSSOFF: Mike Collins called for killing immigrants by throwing them to their deaths out of helicopters. I'd like to hear if Mike Collins stands by that statement. Do you still believe in the extrajudicial killing of immigrants? MIKE COLLINS: *changes topic*
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Kyle Griffin @kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 15h
BREAKING on MS NOW: Judge Kelly just granted the preliminary injunction requested by the news orgs banned by the Trump White House. This ruling indefinitely reverses the ban against MS NOW, CNN, and Politico while their lawsuit continues.
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Flying Mezerkis @bananapantz.bsky.social · 17h
static.klipy.com
Champoy Oh Shit Reaction Meme
ALT: Champoy Oh Shit Reaction Meme
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4fuxake @blueheartedly1.bsky.social · 21h
Let's do it 👇
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MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 20h
🚨 NEWS: Trump is backing out of a scheduled deposition with BBC lawyers THIS FRIDAY, citing “matters of national importance” after weeks of radio silence. His team now wants to delay his testimony until JANUARY 2027—after discovery closes—and the BBC is asking a judge to FORCE him to testify.
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Senator Chris Van Hollen @vanhollen.senate.gov · 13/10/2026
Did you know businesses with federal govt contracts aren’t allowed to spend for or against federal candidates? How then has Elon Musk, whose companies get billions in contracts, spent hundreds of millions in our elections? The answer: A giant loophole I'm working to close.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 19h
Troy Jackson: "She is the chair of appropriations. If she wants to stop the war, she could cut the funding off for the war, but she's not she is not willing to do that because Donald Trump wants this."
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States Newsroom @statesnewsroom.com · 17h
Being an election official isn’t easy these days. In recent years, local election officials across the country, including poll workers, have faced an increase in threats and harassment.
bit.ly
The secret sauce to keeping KY election problems to a minimum
Being an election official isn’t easy these days. In recent years, local election officials across the country, including poll workers, have faced an increase in threats and harassment.
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Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 17h
Watch this clip from the Elon Musk documentary that he’s losing his mind over. I need to know what y’all think.
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Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 19h
Group cheered as woman was sexually assaulted at University of Chicago frat house, police report says. From @sophiesherry.bsky.social and Rosemary Sobol, via @chicago.suntimes.com: chicago.suntimes.com/crime/2026/1...
chicago.suntimes.com
Group cheered as woman was sexually assaulted at University of Chicago frat house, police report says
The 21-year-old woman told police the assault happened during a party at the Alpha Epsilon Pi house, according to the report. Her account was backed up by two friends, who stated they intervened by ba...
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Josh Gerstein @joshgerstein.bsky.social · 20h
NEW: Citing 'other matters of national importance,' Trump cancels his pre-election deposition in defamation suit he filed over BBC documentary. He was to be questioned under oath on Friday. Trump's lawyers say he can't spare time for at least next 2 months www.politico.com/news/2026/10...
politico.com
Trump cancels deposition in BBC case, lawyers say
The president was set to be questioned under oath in his defamation lawsuit over the British broadcaster’s 2020 election documentary.
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 20h
Methinks the lady doth protest too much.
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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 19h
Sadly, in the world we live in, it's worth reading the Daily Mail to explain why, for example, a dumbass was hired as Press Secretary. Among other things, this is portrayed as "microagression" towards Susie Wiles. Remember when Wiles was going to quit after the election? archive.is/Irvgl
Trump had raised Zacharia's name on several occasions before, a source close to the president said, and Wiles often steered the conversation toward Jennings and other candidates she viewed as loyal to her.
'Susie wanted someone who would be loyal to her and instead Trump chose someone loyal to him, as it should be,' an administration source said.
'Wiles wants people she can control,' another said. 'This is seen as one of many recent microaggressions of Donald to Susie. He is taking back control, and it is starting to feel more like the first term.'
Zacharia intends to build a relationship with Wiles, much as Leavitt did, a source close to the new press secretary added.
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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 19h
Note, the reason this matters (and I second the kudos to @juddlegum.bsky.social) is bc AFTER SHE CAME BACK she may have represented herself as a real lawyer.
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Politico @politico.com · 13/10/2026
Bipartisan group of senators demand Trump rescind Russian diesel deal politi.co/47Rs7K4
politico.com
Bipartisan group of senators demand Trump rescind Russian diesel deal politi.co/47Rs7K4
Bipartisan group of senators demand Trump rescind Russian diesel deal politi.co/47Rs7K4
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13/10/2026
Ossoff: "I want to remind folks across Georgia that while you pay more for everything as a result of Donald Trump's incompetence, the president and his family are enriching themselves to the tune of billions of dollars ... we urgently need to restore checks and balances"
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Covie @covie93.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Thank god Ken Paxton was only partying with US fugitives in Dubai and not home sick with the flu.
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Policy at Play @policyatplay.com · 13/10/2026
“Ask Ken Paxton a simple question and you’ll get a direct answer” is quite a claim. He’s refused questions about his 15-property portfolio, won’t commit to a debate, and hasn’t explained partying in Dubai with two wanted federal defendants. Direct answers seem to depend heavily on the question.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13/10/2026
JD Vance: "You ask Ken Paxton a simple question and you will get a direct answer" NARRATOR: Paxton has refused to answer Qs about why he won't debate, why he went to England on July 4 w/ his mistress, why he went to Dubai with his mistress, his 15 homes, or how his net worth has increased 7,000%...
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Kat @mainekat.bsky.social · 11/10/2026
static.klipy.com
Your Vote Matters - Lucas & Friends Election Message
ALT: Your Vote Matters - Lucas & Friends Election Message
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Brandi Buchman @brandibuchman.bsky.social · 21h
Oop Texts show Kimberly Guilfoyle may have raised $3M for Jan. 6 rally - Daily Kos share.google/2EevcRH9a9MF...
share.google
Texts show Kimberly Guilfoyle may have raised $3M for Jan. 6 rally
Alleged messages show Guilfoyle boasting of $3M in Jan. 6 rally funding. Explore the ongoing investigation and new revelations now.
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 21h
Whyyyyyyyyy
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 13/10/2026
lol that’s a deep dive to disprove a clearly idiotic conspiracy theory, but bravo.
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Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani @mayor.nyc.gov · 13/10/2026
This morning, the federal government turned the full force of the Department of Homeland Security against a sitting member of Congress for the offense of disagreeing with the White House.

The path to citizenship should not be weaponized against anyone, including Rep. Ilhan Omar, a naturalized American who swore an oath to this country — the same one that I took.

The promise of citizenship should not be contingent on someone agreeing with the federal government.
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Democracy Docket @democracydocket.com · 12/10/2026
UPDATE: The Trump administration apologized to a judge after DHS’ taxpayer-funded Trump ads aired in hundreds of ad spots after she blocked them. The excuse: DHS’ lawyers missed the email. The judge had flagged that the $20 million for the ads was approved in under two hours.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 13/10/2026
holy shit -- a protester at the Trump rally gets physically assaulted after they interrupt the rally by a man who punches her in the face. Trump smears the protester as a "fat guy"
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 12/10/2026
Aw, man. The headline had me thinking I'd get to see data centers blowing up.
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Dan Froomkin/Press Watch/Heads Up News @froomkin.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
This is, what, the third constitutional crisis today? www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202…
washingtonpost.com
Trump blew past deadline to halt running taxpayer-funded campaign-style ads
A coalition of nonprofits had sued, calling the ads “propaganda.” The president has said campaign funds would be used to pay for the commercials going forward.
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Michael Froomkin @mfroomkin.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
She calls it a "crime wave" of agents lying in affidavits to arrest Democrats. Sounds fair.
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
AIPAC's Super PAC spent a record-setting $30 MILLION in Michigan's Senate primary to try to stop Abdul El-Sayed. Now they're spending AGAIN to boost his GOP opponent. We must show them that organized people will always beat organized money.
youtube.com
Meet the Biggest Super PACs of 2026
Voters are increasingly opposed to U.S. aid to Israel, cryptocurrency, and AI data centers.That's why the Big Money grou
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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Oh no. And poor Enrique Tarrio had assured us all he had an ETA exemption, in spite of his fraud and terrorism and gun crime convictions. Whatever injustice might have caused these travel difficulties?
Enrique Tarrio
@NobleOne
The UK has banned me from entering their country. I can’t even land to switch planes…

But it didn’t end there. I am now stuck in Warsaw because 
@British_Airways
 has an “issue” with me flying. I’ve missed two flights because of unknown reasons.

As much as I love Poland I’ve been away from home for two weeks. I wasn’t even given the common courtesy to be notified in advance about this issue. Now I’m stuck abroad.

@USAmbPoland
 can I get some assistance here?
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Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 13/10/2026
Three ICE charters are currently staging for Africa removals over the next 24 hours. A small jet at Mesa, AZ, a small jet at Harlingen, TX, and a large jet at Alexandria, LA. All could include third-country removals, particularly the last one. Gonna be a bad week.
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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
Reup: Kash Patel Colluded with Russian Spies to Frame Jim Comey, and He Probably Will Again emptywheel.net/2026/10/11/k...
emptywheel.net
Kash Patel Colluded with Russian Spies to Frame Jim Comey, and He Probably Will Again - emptywheel
Kash Patel has spent almost a decade using Russian disinformation to try to frame Trump's adversaries -- first Hillary Clinton, then Jim Comey. That means, when Kash goes to Russia this week, they wil...
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The Defence Blog @defence-blog.com · 12/10/2026
Norwegian soldiers on a big exercise around Oslo found their rental cars had been quietly recording them, including where they drove, who they picked up and the codes they punched into military gates. defence-blog.com/chinese-owne...
defence-blog.com
Chinese-owned rental cars recorded Norwegian military drill
Rental cars used by Norway’s Home Guard during a large exercise in September recorded video of soldiers, their routes and the codes they typed into military gates, according to a soldier who took part...
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Miaganga @miaganga.bsky.social · 12/10/2026
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