Sign in

oystertoadfish.bsky.social

@oystertoadfish.bsky.social
103 followers 76 following 359 posts

The scary thing about a democracy is that the citizens can vote to end it

PostsRepliesMedia
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
It's great that R's seem poised to lose the midterms in epic fashion, despite their prodigious efforts to cheat. But before we get *too* excited, just remember that if gas were $2 cheaper, then Rs would hold Congress.
000
Reposted by @oystertoadfish.bsky.social
4fuxake @blueheartedly1.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Absolutely. 👇
476117942518
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Not content to spend tax dollars on political ads, to engage in off-season gerrymanders, to purge voter rolls based on false pretexts, to screw with vote-by-mail, or to promise a $5000 bribe after the election... Trump tries buying votes 1 month before the election www.cnbc.com/2026/09/30/o...
cnbc.com
Trump administration starts sending $500 Obamacare refund checks — who stands to benefit
The refunds come after millions of people lost premium subsidies for their health insurance and right before the midterm elections.
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The motto of the lobbying industry: "Technically not illegal!" 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...
011
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
How I hate Republicans. Destroying memorials, rampant corruption, illegal wars, friendships with dictators, attacking the press, war crimes, sex offenses, ICE gestapo, DOGE, weaponizing the DOJ against adversaries, attacking allies.. you name it, Trump's done it and none of that mattered to R's.
100
Reposted by @oystertoadfish.bsky.social
Anna Kramer @annackramer.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
🌞 I’m a reporter for the @washingtonsun.bsky.social. And I’m so proud to be part of this next great investment in the news. Believe in what we’re doing? Subscribe and get in touch. Send tips, tell us what stories could use some sunlight. Can’t wait to do this together.
washingtonsun.com
Dana Milbank: The Washington Sun Rises Today. I Hope You’ll Join Our Orbit.
My boss, Tim Grieve, posted a photo on X last week of a shipment of office chairs that had just arrived at the Arlington, Virginia, headquarters of our new publication, The Washington Sun. “It's fun t...
1222151538
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Interference with the mail that causes voters to be disenfranchised should be a felony with a long statute of limitations, if it is not already. Hopefully US democracy will survive and the next Democratic administration will have the stomach to prosecute. www.cnn.com/2026/09/01/p...
cnn.com
USPS whistleblower describes new plans for voting by mail hidden from the public | CNN Politics
The US Postal Service effort to develop a sweeping new system for verifying mail ballots has invited a host of IT concerns among agency officials, with some describing the process internally as a “sh*...
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
Is this a purposefully complex arrangement to get millions of ordinary people to buy the chips that power AI and depreciate over time, like all computer hardware does as it ages? Reminds me of subprime mortgages/credit default swaps fortune.com/2026/08/12/n...
fortune.com
Nvidia found a new way to keep the AI boom funded: your retirement money | Fortune
A $500 billion Wall Street push could route insurance and pension capital into GPU-backed infrastructure as Big Tech leans harder on debt.
010
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 26/07/2026
Reading about all of Trump's attempts to take control of the 2026 midterms, I have to tip my hat to the founders for having decentralized federal elections that are run by the states. We'd be really screwed right now if the Trump administration were in charge of distributing and counting votes.
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 16/07/2026
Articles like these with tips on how to avoid diseases like cyclosporia infection always seen to leave out the most important one: Vote for Democrats www.cnn.com/2026/07/15/h...
cnn.com
As the outbreak of diarrhea caused by a parasite grows, here’s what’s safe to eat and what to avoid | CNN
Cases of diarrhea caused by the parasite cyclospora continue to climb, and with the threat of weekslong illness and no certainty about the source, it’s easy to wonder: Is there anything in the produce...
011
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Trump 47 is unconstitutional: "No person shall ... hold any office ... under the United States ... who, having previously taken an oath ... as an officer of the United States ... to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same."
120
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
It is unacceptable that 4 justices (Kavanaugh, Gorsuch, Thomas, and Alito) would grant themselves the power to rewrite the constitution. Judicial reform needs to be a top priority. Expanding the courts, and ending the Senate filibuster if need be to do so, seems the only practical way forward.
000
Reposted by @oystertoadfish.bsky.social
The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 03/06/2026
Rep. Lieu: “The Supreme Court is out of control, out of touch with the American people…This is the most corrupt Supreme Court we’ve seen in our history, and reform is going to come next year."
805227835944
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 27/05/2026
Texas Republican Bill Paxton, who is almost as corrupt as Trump, challenges a garden-variety Republican who is corrupt at the standard and customary level. Of course Texas Republicans vote for the more corrupt person.
000
Reposted by @oystertoadfish.bsky.social
Mark Lemley @marklemley.bsky.social · 03/05/2026
Anyone remember the Purcell doctrine, saying courts shouldn't change electoral districts too close to the election because it might cause confusion? Remember how SCOTUS applied it six months ago to say it was already too late to invalidate the Texas districts? Funny how that didn't happen in Callais
493113924
Reposted by @oystertoadfish.bsky.social
Nathan Goldwag @goldwagnathan.bsky.social · 22/04/2026
They think you're stupid.
286117863031
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
Congratulations to Hungary on getting rid of their pseudo-dictator! In an age where democracy is in retreat world-wide and authoritarianism is on the rise, this is a rare and welcome bit of good news. But please take care, Hungary, not to forget the past and elect Orban again in 4 years.
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
When a Democrat is credibly accused of sexual abuse by multiple people, the D party does the right thing and clears the way for better people. When a Republican is credibly accused of sexual abuse by multiple people, the R party elects him president or confirms him to be a justice (depending).
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Future Republicans: "No one could have known that Trump was going to commit war crimes after he told everyone he was going to commit war crimes."
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 01/04/2026
Don't worry Mr. Trump. Your position as worst president is secure. There is no need for additional material, like torpedoing the most successful defense coalition the world has ever known. www.cnn.com/2026/04/01/m...
cnn.com
Trump suggests in new interviews he is ‘absolutely’ considering withdrawing US from ‘paper tiger’ NATO | CNN
President Donald Trump suggested in two new interviews that he’s considering withdrawing the US from NATO after repeatedly criticizing a lack of support from members for the Iran war.
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Movie scene on a college campus: lots of people in a narrow corridor with room for 2 pedestrian lanes, one going in each direction. Students and professors are all mixed together. Everyone is glued to their cell phones and walks very slowly. Protagonist, late for something, gets in line and sighs.
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 09/03/2026
Trump's war of choice, already horrible morally, is starting to look like a major strategic failure. More Iranians will support hardliners, Khamenei's son will continue Iran's funding of terrorism across the world, and at top of his agenda will be an Iranian nuclear weapon. 1/x
111
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 20/02/2026
Prediction: Trump pardons Ghislaine Maxwell at the end of his term, especially if a democrat wins in 2028. Maxwell probably knows things that are damaging for Trump. As long as Maxwell is in jail, Trump has leverage over her, as he can corruptly dictate what kind of prison holds her. 1/x
100
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 08/02/2026
Bluesky's algorithm should punish posts that don't allow the general public to reply.
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 01/02/2026
Pure speculation, of course, but maybe the reason this guy was piss drunk was to escape from knowing he's a tool of suppression in an evil regime www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
theguardian.com
CBP employee in Minnesota charged after reportedly being found ‘covered in vomit’ in car
Alfredo Mancillas was reportedly slumped in vehicle and ‘covered in vomit’ when state troopers found him in St Paul
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
While Pam Bondi is busy having journalists arrested, it's good to remember why she's Trump's AG in the first place. www.citizensforethics.org/reports-inve...
citizensforethics.org
The Trump Foundation-Pam Bondi scandal - CREW | Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington
In March 2016, CREW discovered that the Trump Foundation had broken the law by giving an illegal $25,000 contribution to a political group supporting Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. This would set...
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 25/01/2026
The very last step on the road to fascism is a regime's endorsement of murder. There are no more off ramps for Rs and the R party. Which means American democracy's only hope is mass resistance from a citizenry that was stupid enough to reelect Trump just 14 months ago.
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Shorter version of Iowa farmers interviewed by CNN: "Fascism is ok as long as it's oppressing others and not costing me financially. Also everything is the Democrats' fault, especially Biden. Look at what those guys made me do." www.cnn.com/2026/01/19/p...
cnn.com
A year into Trump’s second term, Iowa voters offer clues for the midterm elections | CNN Politics
Shanen Ebersole is smiling, keeping an eye on her cows as they graze. Calving season is soon, so election season will have to wait.
110
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 19/01/2026
Trump's vision for peace is for the entire world to be under the control of a few dictators, with himself superior to all. In Trump's mind, everything he does is to advance peace and no one anywhere has ever done more for its cause. He cannot understand why the Nobel committee snubs him.
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 02/12/2025
Remember when a few brave Democrats advised military personnel that they can decline to carry out illegal orders? Trump and Hegseth threw a hissy, threatened BS prosecution. But it was sound advice. Look who they blame when officers follow illegal orders: www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
washingtonpost.com
Hegseth, with White House help, tries to distance himself from boat strike fallout
As Congress vows accountability, the Trump administration emphasized it was a top military commander — not the defense secretary — who directed the engagement.
010
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 23/09/2025
The only true principle of the modern Republican party is hypocrisy--- an iron-clad conviction that the standards that R's apply to others need not and should not apply to themselves. It has been so normalized within our society that no one blinks an eye.
100
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 09/06/2025
As Trump talks up law and order in LA, it's worth remembering that he's perfectly comfortable with a violent mob as long as it is in service of keeping himself in power after he lost an election.
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 06/06/2025
Incredible that billions of dollars in US public spending may depend on the personal relationship between two individuals. Another point of pride for MAGA voters.
000
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Remember when R's threw a hissy fit about Hunter Biden selling art when his father was President? The same people are oddly quiet on this. Add it to a long list of examples of blatant R hypocrisy. www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
washingtonpost.com
Trump dines with top meme coin holders, shrugging off ethics concerns
White House officials have argued the dinner poses no conflict of interest because the president's assets are in a blind trust managed by his adult sons.
020
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 24/03/2025
The White House to expand the list of boycottable corporations who will sell out American democracy to curry favor with Trump: www.cnn.com/2025/03/23/p...
cnn.com
‘This is not your grandmother’s Easter Egg Roll’: White House seeks corporate sponsorships for Easter event | CNN Politics
The White House, through an outside event production company called Harbinger, is soliciting corporate sponsors for this year’s annual Easter Egg Roll, which is prompting major concerns from ethics ex...
010
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 20/03/2025
Trump/R logic-- Vandalize a nazimobile? That's domestic terrorism. Violence against Capitol Police officers as you try to overthrow an election? Either ordinary tourism or a brave expression of patriotism, depending on who you ask.
100
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 07/03/2025
Oops www.reuters.com/world/us/dog...
reuters.com
DOGE job cuts shake Trump-voting West Virginia town
Jennifer Piggott proudly hung a red-and-blue Trump campaign flag outside her one-story home during the November election race. Now, after she was abruptly fired from her civil service job, her days of supporting the president are over.
010
Reposted by @oystertoadfish.bsky.social
Adam Kinzinger @adamkinzinger.substack.com · 28/02/2025
13757961917478
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 14/02/2025
Trump loves true believers who are loyal to himself. But what really excites him are corrupt, broken people over whom he can exercise complete control. www.cnn.com/2025/02/13/u...
cnn.com
NYC mayor and Trump border czar meet as feds turn eyes toward sanctuary cities like New York | CNN
Border czar Tom Homan met with New York City Mayor Eric Adams on Thursday in a sign of how the Trump administration has its eyes on the country’s biggest city to carry out its immigration enforcement ...
000
Reposted by @oystertoadfish.bsky.social
Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 13/02/2025
Instead of prosecuting the mayor of America’s largest city with the ample evidence that he took bribes from a foreign government, the Trump administration decided to leave him in office, and use the threat of charges to blackmail him into carrying out their agenda. And they did it all in the open.
431564552
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 12/02/2025
R's in congress will not save American democracy. Increasingly, it looks like Trump 47 will ignore the judiciary even if it tries to save American democracy. The best chance for American democracy is mass protest, civil unrest, and general strikes. I can't see anything short of this working.
020
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 05/02/2025
Trump 45 violated norms routinely and laws occasionally. Trump 47 has started by violating laws routinely. There is a very, very short window for R's in congress and R's on SCOTUS to stop Trump before his lawlessness is fully normalized. Our democracy is in real danger. Well done, MAGA voters.
000
Reposted by @oystertoadfish.bsky.social
David Frum @davidfrum.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
Trump last night fired 17 inspectors-general. IGs were historically a nonpartisan position. Trump however takes the view, "You can get away with a lot more when nobody is watching." www.nytimes.com/2025/01/24/u...
nytimes.com
Trump Fires 17 Inspectors General in Late-Night Purge
The internal government watchdogs were believed to have been dismissed at several major agencies, though the Justice Department’s was not said to have been among them.
88876294
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 25/01/2025
Two early tests of whether the USA will continue to be a democracy: 1. Will SCOTUS allow Trump to nullify the constitution's birthright citizenship clause? 2. Will Congress/SCOTUS tolerate Trump's illegal, abrupt mass dismissal of independent inspectors general? Both will depend on R's.
010
oystertoadfish.bsky.social @oystertoadfish.bsky.social · 21/01/2025
I wonder how long it will be before the religious right demands a nationwide abortion ban. After all, when you sacrifice your soul and your integrity to support a man like Trump, you expect something in return
000