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tonymelone.bsky.social

@tonymelone.bsky.social
1.2K followers 635 following 157 posts
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Reposted by @tonymelone.bsky.social
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 21h
not that you should expect anything more than rank idiocy from this pair of racists, but the idea that whiteness means a "high trust" society of "social cohesion" is some of the stupidest shit i have ever heard. these people live in a fantasy land that you could dispel by simply opening a book.
talkingpointsmemo.com
Chris Rufo — Known For ‘DEI’ and ‘CRT’ Panics — Tries to Make ‘the Indian Question’ a Thing
To the degree that a “respectable” or “moderate” right exists today in...
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Charlie Warzel @cwarzel.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
There is a moment at the very very end of Abdul El-Sayed's podcast with Ezra Klein (book recommendation section) where he talks about the idea of "speaking truth to pain" and this will be staying with me for an extremely long time. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/25/o...
But there’s also something about truth to pain. We talk a lot about truth to power, but I think it’s actually a lot harder to speak truth to pain. I say that as someone who went to medical school, realizing that in a lot of our politics right now, we’ve got to get a lot better at speaking truth to pain if we’re going to get through some of these challenges that we have.

What does “truth to pain” mean?

It’s one thing to look power in the eye and say: You’re wrong about this. But there’s a way in which pain is very difficult to reason with. Because when somebody is in their pain, they’re in their trauma. They see that pain, and they may not see what’s causing it.

I remember just very explicitly being in a trauma ward with a gunshot wound patient and watching this big guy with his hand on his gunshot wound. All the folks are trying to pull his hand off his pain, that point of his gunshot wound, this clear vulnerability.

And this emergency room doctor had the presence of mind to be like: Everyone, stop. And she looks him in the eyes, and she’s like: I get that really hurts, and I’m so sorry that you’re here. You don’t want to be here. We don’t want you to be here. But if you don’t let us fix this, you could die. So I’m going to take your hand, and I’m going to move it off, OK? Because I need to get there so that you can live.

She was speaking truth to pain. He understands he’s at the hospital, he needs care, but he also doesn’t want anybody to touch the wound. Which is a natural thing. And I think it is a really great metaphor for how we think about a lot of these challenges we talked about today.
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New York Focus @nysfocus.com · 30/09/2026
New York Focus found that Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Blakeman submitted requests that could have granted him over $860,000 in public money he isn’t eligible for.
nysfocus.com
Blakeman Sought Matching Funds for Ineligible Donations
The GOP candidate for governor submitted requests that could have granted him over $860,000 in public money he isn’t eligible for.
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Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn @lidbk.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Courts have consistently held that the County Dem Party leadership's attempts to cling to power are illegal. It's past time to honor the will of the voters and move forward with @juliopenabk.com as Chair!
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
"The court has spoken, Brooklyn's elected leaders have spoken, and most importantly, the voters have spoken." Thank you to @zellnor.bsky.social for this statement in support of a more open transparent, and democratic era for the Brooklyn Democratic Party under future Chair @juliopenabk.com!
@zellnormyrie on Instagram:

"Enough is enough. The court has spoken, Brooklyn's elected leaders have spoken, and most importantly, the voters have spoken- it's time for a renewed Brooklyn Democratic Party that's wholly focused on taking back our democracy and electing Democrats up and down the ballot this November.

"For years, under the old leadership, this was not the focus. The events of the last few weeks demonstrated that clearly but make no mistake, years of losing ground to Republicans, attacking incumbent Democrats, and bringing disrepute to the largest county in the state has taken its toll, and the time for fresh, democratically elected leadership is now.

"I was proud to support my returning District Leader Akel Wiliams when many fellow elected leaders in my district, including County, did not along with a coalition of leaders this past June who will move the party forward in partnership with every Democrat in the borough. I look forward to an open, transparent, and democratic process to elect the next leader of Brooklyn Democratic Party."

In the caption, he wrote, "It's time to turn the page in Brooklyn. @juliopenany for County Leader"
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Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The appeals court has sided with New Kings Democrats in Brooklyn Democratic party struggle, ordering the Aug. 25 rule changes voted on by prior district leaders, calling them "null and void."
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The Appellate Division ruled today that “the amendments that passed on August 25, 2026, are invalid” — the Brooklyn Democratic Party can’t change its rules to reverse an election result. This is a victory for democracy and for common sense. www.nycourts.gov/courts/ad2/H... 1/🧵
nycourts.gov
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The Brooklyn Can't Wait coalition’s goal is not just to unseat the current party chair, it is to build a party that listens to voters and fights Republicans. Changing the rules to override the voters, handpick a successor, and keep the same clique of insiders in control would takes us backwards.
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Let us be clear: Brooklyn needs a fair vote by the elected District Leaders. The Chair attempting to pick her own successor after she lost an election isn’t democracy, it's cronyism, and the illegal rules changes she has fought to enact would permanently end democratic oversight of our party.
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helloharvi.bsky.social @helloharvi.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Whatever smokescreen she wants to put up, this is the same thing Frank Seddio did for her, the same thing Vito Lopez did for him, and on and on. It's appointing your successor. The voters spoke in June and they spoke based on the rules that existed at the time. That's 42 elected DLs voting 4 chair.
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Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn @lidbk.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
The key thing is that the Brooklyn Democratic Party needs to honor the will of the voters. That means the newly elected District Leaders should be the ones selecting the new Party Chair, and that chair should be @juliopenabk.com -- the clear choice of a majority of duly-elected District Leaders!
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Patrick Hart @patrickhart.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
This 100%. Whoever else may or may not decide to run, @juliopenabk.com is the choice of the district leaders elected by voters across Brooklyn and if respecting election results means anything, he should be our next Party Chair. Plus, he's an amazing leader who will be an awesome chair!
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hammancheez but spooky @hammancheez.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
GOP Consultants : what do you mean she just fucking tweeted it out
Marjorie Taylor Greene
We have not seen a caravan headed to the U.S.
southern border in several years, why now?
Oh yeah, there is an election coming and the
GOP needs to scare you into voting because
nothing else is working.

Anthony Aguero Live
Over 400 aliens predominantly from
Honduras entered Mexico on Thursday,
ready to make their way to the US southern
border ... Here's footage of the caravan.
Someone is incentivizing this movement, t ...

@mt ... . 1d

@Anth ... . 1d
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Amanda Litman @amandalitman.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
I love the optimism about Dems winning in November - I share it! And: I'm a tiny bit nervous that winning will free folks of the urgency to fix deeper structural problems in our party that will fuck us in the long-haul if we don't grapple with them.
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Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
one thing worth saying here specifically: there's lots that AI can't (yet) do and there's a lot of money riding on selling a particular narrative about its future capabilities. but the existential risk of AI is not only not mere hype but it is already a present tense problem
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
To the elected officials rejecting the power grab set on negating an election: thank you. Our voices matter. Our votes count. Thank you for taking a stand.
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Olúfẹ́mi O. Táíwò @olufemiotaiwo.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
to keep functioning, society must discourage baldfaced lying, especially by authorities
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ProPublica @propublica.org · 26/09/2026
Hey, ProPublica reporter Jake Pearson here. I’m taking over the account to tell you about my new story. For months, I posed as a problem gambler on DraftKings to test the company's "responsible gaming" safeguards. Spoiler alert: They made me a VIP — and I lost $10K. Here's how it all went down. 🧵
Selfie taken by ProPublica reporter Jake Pearson, a man wearing a backwards baseball cap and an orange T-shirt.
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Greg Pak @gregpak.net · 24/09/2026
If you wanna help the @newkingsdems.bsky.social fight the Brooklyn Democratic Party in court, you can donate here: www.newkingsdemocrats.com/legal_fees_d...
newkingsdemocrats.com
Help Us Fight In Court!
Working for a more progressive Brooklyn
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Julio Peña III @juliopenabk.com · 26/09/2026
In the Party’s attempt to out maneuver reformers, they neglected to nominate a Chair of the County Committee. That leaves Rep. Nydia Velázquez as the defacto head of the party. A clear sign of things to come 👏🏽 www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/n...
nytimes.com
Brooklyn Democrats Were About to Lose Power. So They Changed the Rules.
The Brooklyn Democratic Party is in the middle of a fight over who will control the organization that has shocked even seasoned political observers.
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
“What’s being proposed now would make Donald Trump blush,” said @jumaane.bsky.social, the public advocate and a former Brooklyn councilman. “This power grab is the worst I’ve seen.”
nytimes.com
Brooklyn Democrats Were About to Lose Power. So They Changed the Rules. (Gift Article)
The Brooklyn Democratic Party is in the middle of a fight over who will control the organization that has shocked even seasoned political observers.
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tonymelone.bsky.social @tonymelone.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Catch up on what’s happening in the BK Dems, some wild stuff www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/n...
nytimes.com
Brooklyn Democrats Were About to Lose Power. So They Changed the Rules.
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Hell Gate *subscribe today!* @hellgatenyc.com · 24/09/2026
The committee that makes up the Brooklyn Democratic Party held a chaotic meeting Wednesday to elect its leadership team using controversial new voting rules, as an appeals court deliberated on the legality of their actions mere blocks away.
hellgatenyc.com
Brooklyn Dems Hold a Meeting Befitting the Most Shambolic Political Organization in History
Meanwhile, an appeals court deliberated on the legality of their actions mere blocks away.
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David_j_roth @davidjroth.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The sunny side of this delusion is the computer gives you a flying car and makes it so you don't have to work. The blackpill one is that it wipes us out via some cinematic method TBD. Two futures you don't actually have to live in. Both are abdications, and embarrassingly childish on their face.
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Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Incredible. First Secretary Mullin claimed that DHS had identified 15,903 noncitizens on Nevada’s voter roll. Then DHS officials told a skeptical Nevada, no no no, that’s just people we flagged. Here are the names of 185 people we KNOW aren’t citizens. All 185 were citizens. DHS got 100% wrong.
When the Department of Homeland Security sent Nevada a list of 185 names last month that it claimed identified noncitizens who had been improperly allowed to register to vote, state election officials got to work.
On Tuesday, the state sent a strongly worded rebuke to the federal government: Every single person on the list was a lawful citizen.
"As for the 185 individuals, our records indicate that they were citizens," Greg D. Ott, a deputy attorney general in Nevada, wrote, according to a copy of a letter sent to Department of Homeland Security officials obtained through open records requests.
"You have provided nothing of substance to suggest otherwise."Following the meeting, Ms. Vogt sent a clarifying email to Nevada officials. "I also wanted to be sure I clarified that we did not reduce the 15,903 to 185," she wrote. "We've manually reviewed some of the 15,903 and confirmed 185 are not U.S. Citizens."
Now, Nevada officials are saying even that 185 number is wrong. They also took issue with a letter D.H.S. sent them in early September, in which the agency reiterated its initial claims about nearly 16,000 noncitizens on the rolls and pressured state officials to review each case in a letter to Nevada officials in early September.
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Maureen Flaherty @maureenflaherty.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
I spy one of my progressive county committee reps, Gina Anderson. She must’ve worn out a pair of sneakers canvassing this year for Rep Your Block candidates and winning her own race! She spends time explaining this process to neighbors, is responsive and proactive.
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Greg Pak @gregpak.net · 24/09/2026
This Brooklyn Democratic Party County Committee meeting was an anti-democratic disgrace. Shame on the leaders of the party, who ignored legitimate questions from reformers, tried to get the cops to eject people, insulted dissenters, and pushed through Bichotte-Hermelyn's power grab. 📷🧵
Rob Robinson, Anthony Beckford, Renee Collymore, and Alan Rokoff presiding over the Brooklyn Democrats meeting. Banner on their table reads "Brooklyn Democrats / Kings County Democratic County Committee"
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Greg Pak @gregpak.net · 24/09/2026
I was at this meeting, and I'm furious and disgusted. I'll have pictures, video, and thoughts to share tomorrow. Strongly suggest following and supporting the @newkingsdems.bsky.social if you live in Brooklyn.
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The City Reporter @thecityreporter.nyc · 24/09/2026
An older woman pushing a walker stalked out of the auditorium into the lobby at one point yelling, “This is goddam ridiculous. Nobody got no time for this.”
buff.ly
Raucous Brooklyn Party Meeting Rubber-Stamps Rule Changes That Judge Found Illegal
Embattled Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn didn’t attend Wednesday’s chaotic meeting, where four of her allies contended with an angry crowd of opposition leaders.
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Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn @lidbk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Feeling let down by democracy after yesterday's Brooklyn Dem Party shenanigans? Turn the page tonight by joining us to support @movementvoter.bsky.social and support organizing for the midterms! Should be a wonderful event in partnership with other great Brooklyn orgs!
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"The meeting, when it finally began five and half hours behind schedule, quickly devolved into chaos after the first vote. The number of votes cast through clicker devices was more than the 1,142 people supposed to be allowed to vote either in person or by proxy."
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Jessy Edwards @jessyedwards.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"Can I make a motion to adjourn?" one party member asked from a floor microphone. "This seems like a fake meeting." Our latest dispatch from the Brooklyn Democratic Party saga!: hellgatenyc.com/brooklyn-dem...
hellgatenyc.com
Brooklyn Dems Hold a Meeting Befitting the Most Shambolic Political Organization in History
Meanwhile, an appeals court deliberated on the legality of their actions mere blocks away.
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Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The Brooklyn Democratic Party County Committee meeting has ended, the rules changes were passed with hundreds of proxy votes, Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn was nowhere to be found. Chaos reigned. dispatch for @thecityreporter.nyc www.thecityreporter.nyc/2026/09/23/b...
thecityreporter.nyc
Raucous Brooklyn Party Meeting Rubber Stamps Rule Changes That Judge Found to Be Illegal
Embattled Party Chair Rodneyse Bichotte Hermelyn didn’t attend Wednesday’s chaotic meeting, where four of her allies contended with an angry crowd of opposition leaders.
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
The advertised meeting time was 10:00-3:00. It’s 2:30 and we still haven’t begun. County Committee members are working people who have other places to be on a weekday. This sort of dysfunction is incredibly disrespectful to community members who are giving their time to engage with our party.
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
A member asked how—if there are 1,142 eligible voters here (in person + proxies)—did 1,240 people supposedly vote?? The Chair continued to the next vote without answering the question, and threatened to have several members removed for continuing to ask about the funny math.
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Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn @lidbk.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The silver lining of the chaotic and undemocratic behavior we saw from Brooklyn Democratic Party leadership today is that it makes it clearer than ever that we need change. LID will keep on working every day to build a transparent and effective party worthy of our borough.
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Hell Gate *subscribe today!* @hellgatenyc.com · 24/09/2026
The committee that makes up the Brooklyn Democratic Party held a chaotic meeting Wednesday to elect its leadership team using controversial new voting rules, as an appeals court deliberated on the legality of their actions mere blocks away. hellgatenyc.com/brooklyn-dem...
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
The first vote, between slates of county committee candidates for the 42nd Assembly District, began, but things immediately broke down. The party leadership's favored slate won by a landslide, but party members objected that the tallies suggested that the proxies controlled by the leadership had been counted, but the proxies filed by the reform bloc had not.

It got worse. Names were misspelled on subsequent ballots. On one ballot, one candidate appeared twice. Party members attempted to raise concerns about all these issues, but the executive committee barreled on. "You are not recognized," Third Vice Chairman Anthony Beckford told the complainants.
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Gwynne Hogan @gwynnefitz.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
'Black Site Dockets’ are the latest source of confusion and alarm for advocates and immigrants attending hearings at 26 Federal Plaza. www.thecityreporter.nyc/2026/09/22/i...
thecityreporter.nyc
DHS Opens ‘Black Site Docket’ for Immigrants Without Lawyers at 26 Federal Plaza
A reporter from The City Reporter was threatened with arrest while attempting to observe comings and goings from the new courtrooms, which have left advocates mystified and fearing the worst.
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
With only 7 weeks until the midterms, Dems need a Brooklyn party that knocks on doors and wins races, not one that is preoccupied with fighting its own voters. Join us tomorrow morning before the County Committee meeting to call for an end to this ongoing misuse of party funds.
Poster featuring a photo by Greg Pak of NYC Public Jumaane Williams speaking at a previous Brooklyn Can't Wait rally alongside State Senator Andrew Gounardes, Democratic nominee for NY Assembly Chris McCreight, and District Leader Omar Hardy. The text of the poster reads:

Rally and Press Conference
Immediately preceding the Brooklyn Dems County Committee Meeting
Wednesday 9:00 am
September 23, 2026
275 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Please join us for a rally and press conference tomorrow morning (Wednesday, 9/23) at 9 am at 275 Jay Street in Downtown Brooklyn. Confirmed speakers include @jumaane.bsky.social, NY Assemblyman Brian Cunningham, @sandynurse.bsky.social, @cmcrystalhudson.bsky.social, and @juliopenabk.com
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Indivisible Brooklyn @bkindivisible.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
This week, BK Dems votes on a new chair to represent the 1M+ Dems in Brooklyn. The choice is clear. Respect the June election and elect @juliopenabk.com , or keep a party that runs a patronage mill while sitting on the sideline for general elections. #BrooklynCantWait
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Tim Murphy @timothypmurphy.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
it's a midterm election so let's see what the Brooklyn Democratic Party is up to!
brooklyn democratic party doing nothing but emailing me about updates to their attempted coup
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Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn @lidbk.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
It's not too late to get tickets for our event in support of @movementvoter.bsky.social this Thursday, 9/24! Join LID and other awesome Brooklyn orgs -- @bkforge.bsky.social @bkindivisible.bsky.social and Arts4Choice -- in support of grassroots party-building nationwide!
Blue square of text reading:

Be Democracy's MVP!
Midterms Fundraiser for Movement Voter PAC

Thursday, 9/24
Gemini and Scorpio Loft

267 Douglass Street, Brooklyn

bit.ly/fund_mvp

Logos on the bottom of sponsoring organizations:
Arts4Choice
Lambda Independent Democrats of Brooklyn
Indivisible Brooklyn
BKForge
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Timothy Burke @bubbaprog.xyz · 21/09/2026
boycotts don't work if they have an expiration date!
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New Kings Democrats @newkingsdems.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
What's one reason the BK Dems Party Chair may be so desperate to cling on to power? New reporting hints at how she and other insiders orchestrate and benefit from the party's current judicial nomination process. 1/🧵
News headline screenshot:
In Brooklyn, a Judge-Maker’s Steady Wins Raise Eyebrows

A court battle over a dramatic rewriting of party rules will shape the selection of future judges.News headline screenshot: NYC Dem bigwigs rake in $200K from judge candidates in move critics call a ‘shakedown’
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Mike DeCillis for Congress (NY-11) @mikedecillis.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Thank you to @bkindivisible.bsky.social for canvassing in the rain ☔for Chris McCreight for Assembly and me. This election will be won on the doors and turnout is key. Missed the canvass today? You can sign up for the next one: mobilize.us/s/0VjUMp. #statenisland #SouthBrooklyn #vote #GOTV
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Philip Bump @pbump.com · 21/09/2026
ICE shot a DoorDash delivery guy.
statesman.com
Attorney: Austin man shot by ICE agent was making DoorDash delivery
A Venezuelan man shot by an ICE agent in Austin was making a DoorDash delivery, his attorney said. Wilber Rafael Garces Perez, 28, was later released from the hospital into ICE custody.
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tonymelone.bsky.social @tonymelone.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
1945 article on the aftermath of the bombing. I think most AI doom scenarios are too clean — the fast-then-slow accumulation of chaos and unfathomable suffering is more likely. The more people learn how to care for each other now, the better we’ll do. www.newyorker.com/magazine/194...
newyorker.com
Hiroshima
A hundred thousand people were killed by the atomic bomb. Survivors wonder why they lived when so many others died.
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Perry Bacon @perrybaconjr.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
"The very thesis of the report, that there are 'dials' a candidate can turn to win an election, is fundamentally flawed." powermapmag.substack.com/p/why-does-j...
powermapmag.substack.com
Why Does Jacobin Sound Like Third Way?
We can do better than this.
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