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opt1mal.bsky.social

@opt1mal.bsky.social
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Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 1h
It's almost like putting a quack anti-vaccine conspiracy theorist in charge of the nation's health policy has consequences. "The United States has now had more measles deaths in the past two years than we have had in the previous three decades combined...": www.ms.now/news/pennsyl...
ms.now
Pennsylvania’s measles outbreak is the largest in decades in the U.S.
The state has surpassed 1,000 measles cases this year, health officials said Monday, making it the largest outbreak in the U.S. in more than three decades.
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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 1h
🚨BREAKING: A Florida lawyer who previously pleaded guilty to illegally accessing election websites monitored the primary election in Maricopa County, Arizona for the Department of Justice (DOJ), according to records viewed by Democracy Docket. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
democracydocket.com
DOJ lawyer convicted of hacking election sites monitored voting in Maricopa County, Arizona
The involvement of the two lawyers in a state where President Donald Trump challenged the 2020 election results adds to concerns that the administration’s monitoring program for the fall — which it ha...
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3h
RAJU: Is it worth it for your constituents to pay higher prices bc of war in Iran? MACKENZIE: Fuel prices were sky high under Biden. Now they're starting to come down R: Diesel is about $3 higher than it was at the beginning of war M: When refineries are blown up in Russia because of Ukraine ...
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Khashoggi's Ghost @urocklive1.bsky.social · 1h
At the same that Trump has started a brutal, unnecessary, and rapidly expanding war in the Middle East, Ka$h Patel has cut 50% of the agents working on counterintelligence. They've all been fired or moved to anti-immigration efforts. Those in the know are worried. www.rawstory.com/kash-patel-t...
rawstory.com
Patel's FBI makes 'terrifying' cuts as agency shifts to Trump midterm vows: report
FBI counterintelligence squads have dropped to as little as half strength in many field offices as Director Kash Patel steers the bureau toward the crime and immigration promises President Donald Trum...
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Sean Morrow @snmrrw.bsky.social · 3h
Never forget that David Ellison's Skydance Media was originally created so he could be an actor. Skydance's first film was 'Flyboys' starring James Franco and... David Ellison. David and his daddy invested $60m to make Flyboys. It grossed $17m Here's a bit of David's acting:
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Congressman Greg Casar @repcasar.bsky.social · 3h
Trump and his sons quietly moved 20 billion crypto tokens into an account that lets them cash out. Corruption, plain and simple.
washingtonsun.com
Is the Trump Family Preparing to Cash Out on Its Own Crypto?
President Donald Trump and his three sons have taken a step that would permit them to sell World Liberty Financial’s digital tokens.
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Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 16h
This tells you everything about how Trump sees this country. The destruction, the fear and the innocent people who would pay the actual price are just collateral damage to him.
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Decoding Fox News @decodingfoxnews.bsky.social · 15h
In what looked like an unscripted moment during his speech in Nebraska Trump said it would be a small price to pay if Iran took out Los Angeles or San Diego before promising the crowd he would get gas prices down.
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Benjamin Husstad-Nedberg @factforce.bsky.social · 05/10/2026
Prepare for the betrayal to worsen. The #US plans to lift sanctions on #Russia in exchange for personal gain for the administration. @theatlantic.com @shustry.bsky.social #Ukraine
theatlantic.com
Trump’s Latest Appeal to Russia Could Outrage Even His Allies
Trump’s envoy wants to trade Russian political prisoners for U.S. sanctions relief, creating a path to business deals before the war in Ukraine ends.
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Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
"Among the first to appear before the judge was Angel, a 13-year-old. He had no attorney. “Would you like to request voluntary departure, or should I issue a removal order?” the judge asked “I don’t know,” Angel said, bursting into tears: “I have no one. I have nothing.” www.cnn.com/2026/09/28/p...
cnn.com
Inside the Texas courtroom where toddlers face immigration judges | CNN Politics
Migrant children as young as 2 are showing up at immigration courts nationwide, many without attorneys, to try make their case to stay in the US and avoid deportation.
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Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
trump's pentagon: www.wired.com/story/a-pent...
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Khashoggi's Ghost @urocklive1.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Simon Andriesz, British banker and whistleblower who exposed Howard Lutnick's many ties to Jeffrey Epstein, was found dead last week of an apparent suicide, raising many suspicions, especially due to his last social media post. www.rawstory.com/howard-lutni...
rawstory.com
Horror as final post of banker who outed Howard Lutnick’s ties to Epstein resurfaces
The final online post of a British banker who reportedly died by suicide shortly after outing Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s business ties to Jeffrey Epstein left several critics speechless on Su...
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 04/10/2026
NEW: I have obtained descriptions of NINE FBI training videos showing agents were instructed to flag Trump's name in the Epstein files for supervisory review. My latest: www.muellershewrote.com/p/exclusive-...
muellershewrote.com
EXCLUSIVE: MSW Media has Obtained Descriptions of NINE Epstein Files Redaction Training Videos in FOIA Lawsuit
Sources confirm that two videos instructed agents to flag documents including Trump’s name for supervisory review.
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Khashoggi's Ghost @urocklive1.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Apparently Trump is up to something and planning to interfere in Brazil's election. He's dying to get his fellow insurrectionist off the hook by getting his son elected. www.rawstory.com/brazil-26779...
rawstory.com
Fears mount that Trump admin ‘absolutely gearing up for something’ on eve of election
Fears mounted Saturday that the Trump administration was “gearing up for something” ahead of Brazil’s presidential election on Sunday, in which incumbent president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will face ...
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Dean Obeidallah @deanobeidallah.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Holy SH*T! NY Times reporting tonight that Trump has stolen $20 million dollars of our taxes to pay for ads to help Republicans win the midterms. Let me repeat that: Trump stole $20 million dollars of YOUR taxes to help Republicans. Trump MUST BE prosecuted. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/02/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Directed Use of Taxpayer Money for Ads Praising His Presidency (Gift Article)
The government-funded ads show just how much President Trump has been able to use federal money for his own aims.
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Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
"Local community activists and faith leaders from Louisiana and beyond marched and prayed Thursday at the fenced-off barracks and trailers at the airpark site where the Trump Administration is preparing to open a privately-run facility to hold children..." religionnews.com/2026/10/02/a...
religionnews.com
As ICE readies Louisiana facility for children and families, faith leaders hold vigil
ALEXANDRIA, La. (RNS and Verite News) — Part of the Trump administration’s efforts to ramp up deportations, the facility — which will hold unaccompanied minors and families — is situated beside an air...
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Sean Casten @seancasten.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
"If House Republicans are going to pull off an upset in November, they say it would come down to the party’s massive cash advantage and its aggressive gerrymandering push." Eg, not on policies or the will of a democratic electorate. www.cnn.com/2026/10/03/p...
cnn.com
A growing number of House Republicans privately believe they won’t win the House | CNN Politics
Four weeks to Election Day, a growing number of House Republicans privately fear their chances of holding onto the majority are vanishing and have begun focusing on how to limit the size of a potentia...
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Karen Attiah @karenattiah.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Mike Pompeo has been rewarded with a teaching fellowship at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs. The same school that canceled my class on media, race and international affairs. @columbiasipa.bsky.social share.google/KEvTy5yER71U...
share.google
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to join SIPA faculty
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will join the School of International and Public Affairs as a fellow at SIPA’s Institute of Global Politics in March, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday.
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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
WSJ tracks how many local cops are getting rich arresting a single migrant. www.wsj.com/us-news/immi...
wsj.com
Exclusive | How Local Police Get Paid Big Money for Just a Few Immigration Arrests
The Department of Homeland Security gives local agencies as much as $2 million for each arrest in a nationwide task force.
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Joshua Collins @murosinvisibles.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
US President Donald Trump has earmarked $100 million to attack Brazil’s Supreme Court Accusation of US interference in the country’s Presidential elections on Sunday are piling up
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 02/10/2026
More than a year after the Trump administration attempted to dismantle Voice of America, it is paying an estimated $1.6 million a week to keep 420 of its staffers on administrative leave, according to a State Department inspector general report.
washingtonpost.com
Trump administration is paying $1.6 million a week to keep Voice of America staff on leave
Hundreds of VOA staffers have been on paid leave since the agency sidelined them in March 2025.
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Phillips OBrien @phillipspobrien.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Latest piece out. There was some confusion about why the UK, France and the Baltics were not invited by the US to its NATO meeting. Its actually brutally simple and part of a US strategy of divide and rule towards European security. And it might work. phillipspobrien.substack.com/p/divide-and...
phillipspobrien.substack.com
Divide And Rule: The US Strategy Towards Europe
And Why It Could Work
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Zach Everson @zacheverson.com · 01/10/2026
🚨 Remember that fancy dinner Trump hosted at his golf club for top holders of his meme coin, and Justin Sun and a bunch of other foreign investors attended? Well, he's doing it again. @jeffstein.bsky.social for @washingtonsun.com
washingtonsun.com
Want Dinner With the President? Buy His Meme Coin.
The $Trump meme coin is offering buyers a new "exclusive" opportunity to meet the president.
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Gwen C. Katz @gwenckatz.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
That's a $96,318 fine for being raped.
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Texas Tribune @texastribune.org · 28/09/2026
Breaking: The Texas Tribune has identified the ICE agent who witnesses say fired through an open van window and killed 52-year-old Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston nearly three months ago.
texastribune.org
ICE agent who shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston identified
The federal government has withheld his identification, even as major state and local law enforcement agencies across the country typically identify officers involved in shootings on the job soon afte...
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Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
"An admission that the American president offered to sell arms to China is extraordinary. The Communist-ruled nation is considered by most policymakers and legislators of both parties to be the greatest military, economic and diplomatic rival of the United States..." www.nytimes.com/2026/09/27/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Offered to Sell Arms to China, U.S. Ambassador Says
President Trump made the offer to Xi Jinping, China’s leader, said David Perdue, the ambassador to China. The White House later said the U.S. had no plans for such a sale.
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Mike Eliason @holz-bau.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
chat is this good?
all construction dropping massively.
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Sanho Tree @sanho.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
“As Trump funds influencers to manipulate the Brazilian election, he is getting help in his quest from Elon Musk, who is blocking accounts that post critiques of the Bolsonaro-Trump alliance. This week, the National Conference of Bishops of Brasil lost access to its X account.“
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Dean Baker @deanbaker13.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Elon Musk is shutting down the Catholic Bishops in Brazil account on X to help the right-wing win the election there paydayreport.com/x-blocks-acc...
paydayreport.com
X Blocks Account of National Conference of Bishops of Brasil As Catholics Back Lula
Polls show Catholics backing Lula as the church denounces foreign interference.
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Oliver Willis @owillis.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Musk showers GOP with cash while defending racism in court www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...
dailykos.com
Musk showers GOP with cash while defending racism in court
Multibillionaire Elon Musk’s political action committee is increasing its spending on House and Senate races as part of his attempt to help Republicans hold on to their majorities in the House and…
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The Washington Post @washingtonpost.com · 26/09/2026
A Post analysis found that immigration judges have ordered more than 440,000 asylum seekers removed during President Trump’s first 19 months back in office — more than during the previous eight years combined. wapo.st/4yZlKjy
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Angie Nixon @angieforfl.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
CBSMiami obtained the grand jury report, and jurors concluded $10 million in taxpayer money was misappropriated as part of a “sophisticated scheme to fund political activities.” Ashley Moody knew about the plan and authorized the settlement. #AngieForFlorida #HopeFlorida
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Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
"At least six babies in Pennsylvania have been born infected with measles, with two so sick they had to be admitted to intensive care. Congenital measles is a disease that’s rarely, if ever, seen in the U.S..." www.nbcnews.com/health/healt...
nbcnews.com
America had wiped out measles. Now babies are infected at birth.
Congenital measles has rarely been seen in the U.S. That’s changing as vaccination declines and more pregnant women become infected.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 24/09/2026
Hannity's list of "TRUMP'S TOP ACCOMPLISHMENTS" includes restoring Confederate names to military bases and releasing dietary guidelines
cap from Hannity
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Olga Nesterova @onestpress.onestnetwork.com · 24/09/2026
www.bbc.com/news/article...
bbc.com
Eight US sailors in USS Abraham Lincoln strike group attempted suicide, Navy says
In a letter to Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, acting Navy Secretary Hung Cao said the crew had adequate mental health support during the long deployment.
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iWillVote.com Pollock ➡️ turn 🔔 on @willpollock.com · 22/09/2026
what happens when a disgraced mobster gets installed atop a once-great democracy? the compromised asset reverse engineers Kremlin sabotage and turns it loose on perceived enemies via @mikeelk.bsky.social paydayreport.com/trump-traini...
paydayreport.com
Trump Training Influencers to Attack Lula -- Brazilian Intelligence Warns of Massive Interference -- SEIU Leaders Call for Regan to Step Down
Trump is training influencers and journalists to attack Lula.
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Kate Starbird @katestarbird.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Renee DiResta (@noupside.bsky.social) and Dean Jackson published a new paper explaining how the "censorship industrial complex" propaganda campaign took shape & was eventually used to dismantle election information resilience infrastructure in the U.S. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com
<em>Public Administration Review</em> | ASPA Journal | Wiley Online Library
This paper examines how a propaganda frame alleging the existence of a “Censorship Industrial Complex” was institutionalized and then helped justify the dismantling of US election information resilie...
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William Turton @williamturton.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
In 2024 the former CEO of a defense contractor made a stunning confession to two FBI agents. He alleged that was the ringleader of a massive pay-to-play operation, bribing senators with campaign contributions in exchange for govt contracts. www.propublica.org/article/fbi-...
propublica.org
The FBI Anti-Corruption Squad Was Circling Susan Collins — Until Trump Got in the Way
After the FBI caught a defense contractor’s CEO making illegal campaign contributions, it sought to launch a sweeping political bribery probe involving Collins and others. Then the second Trump admini...
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George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
"Navatek’s CEO, Martin Kao, sent an initial $150,000 to the Collins super PAC using the shell company. Two months later, he told Navatek executives that Collins committed to getting the company $32 million in naval contracts, according to an internal company email reviewed by ProPublica."
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026
Sen. Susan Collins helped steer millions in federal defense contracts to Navatek, whose CEO illegally funneled thousands of dollars to her campaign. The FBI sought to launch a probe and was eyeing Collins and other lawmakers. Then Trump gutted the unit in charge. THREAD 🧵
Martin Kao, CEO of defense contractor Navatek, poses next to Sen. Susan Collins for a photo. Collins is holding a model of a boat in her hands. Behind them is a large sign with the Navatek logo.
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#TeslaTakedown @teslatakedown.com · 21/09/2026
Elon has already spent over $5 million backing Ken Paxton. Nearly all of it is filling Texans' feeds and mailboxes with vile anti-trans slop. www.nbcnews.com/politics/202...
nbcnews.com
Elon Musk is flying under the radar in the Texas Senate race. Republicans want to keep it that way.
One Republican involved in the Texas Senate contest called Musk’s in-your-face campaigning in Wisconsin last year “a mistake.”
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Sanho Tree @sanho.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
The world’s most expensive criminal “excursion.” “The U.S. military's price tag for the Iran war has grown to $43.6 billion as of Sept. 3, according to a new estimate provided this week to lawmakers.“
nbcwashington.com
Iran war’s cost grows to $43.6 billion in new U.S. military estimate
The financial cost is just one measure of the impact of the Iran war, which also is affecting oil prices and the stock market and has led to deaths and injuries of American troops.
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emptywheel @emptywheel.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Putin's Bagman Bought a Party for DOD Drone Contractor Don Jr emptywheel.net/2026/09/19/p...
emptywheel.net
Putin's Bagman Bought a Party for DOD Drone Contractor Don Jr - emptywheel
At the same time Don Jr was hitting it off with his benefactor Umar Kremlev. DOD was awarding a company partially owned by him a big natsec critical contract.
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Media Matters for America @mmfa.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
Federal data shows that in recent months ICE has primarily targeted immigrants with no criminal record. Fox's coverage suggested the opposite.
mediamatters.org
Only 3 of 113 Fox News segments about ICE actions mentioned that the majority of immigrants being arrested have no criminal record
Fox News has spent the last 3 months heavily focused on Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids, arrests, or deportations that target criminal immigrants, but in reality, a majority of immigrants be...
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David Dayen @ddayen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The new California Oligarch Index identifies the big-money interests that explain why a purportedly deep-blue state has so much trouble making progress. The 99 biggest donors to state candidates & causes spent $5.8 billion since 2005 on politics, more than the bottom 99.9% of CA residents.
prospect.org
Why Some California Democrats Step Up to Fill the Republican Void - The American Prospect
How corporate pressure led legislators to kill a bill that would curtail surveillance pricing
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Joe Sonka 😐 @joesonka.lpm.org · 15/09/2026
“Reporters were barred from recording video” whaaaaaat
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Media Matters for America @mmfa.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Every major nightly news show covered the breaking story about a Russian oligarch bankrolling Donald Trump Jr's wedding celebration — except CBS.
PBS NewsHour coverage: "Donald Trump Jr.'s Bahamas Wedding Was Secretly Bankrolled by Russian Oligarchs Close to Putin"ABC World News Tonight coverage: "Report: Oligarch Paid For Trump Jr. Wedding Parties"NBC Nightly News coverage: "Russian Oligarch Pays For Part of Trump Jr. Party"
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Michigan Democrats @michigandems.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
🚨 BREAKING: Epstein-associated donors gave nearly $4.7 million to Mike Rogers' campaign and political committees while he opposed releasing the Epstein files, arguing for more redactions to "protect somebody who got an airplane and rode with him." www.metrotimes.com/news/donors-...
metrotimes.com
Donors named in Epstein files gave nearly $4.7 million to Mike Rogers and groups backing him - Detroit Metro Times
A Metro Times review found that donors named in the Epstein files have given nearly $4.7 million to Mike Rogers’ campaigns and groups supporting him.
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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Exclusive: He Marched With Nazis in Charlottesville. Now He’s Expected to Join the Florida Legislature. talkingpointsmemo.com/news/florida...
talkingpointsmemo.com
Exclusive: He Marched With Nazis in Charlottesville. Now He’s Expected to Join the Florida Legislature.
The Republican nominee for a seat in the Florida House of Representatives...
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Anthony Michael Kreis @anthonymkreis.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Whistle-Blower: Federal Agents May Have Broken State Laws in Search for Voter Fraud www.nytimes.com/2026/09/14/u...
nytimes.com
Whistle-Blower: Federal Agents May Have Broken State Laws in Search For Voter Fraud
Agents expressed concern about being directed by top Homeland Security leaders to use private information to look up voter records in state databases.
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