• Menu
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • About Us
  • Lexicon
  • Contact Us
  • Our Store
  • ↑
  • ↓

Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

T R E 4 5 O N

The arc of history bends toward the same old fuckery.

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

“A king is only a king if we bow down.” – Rev. William Barber

Every one of the “Roberts Six” lied to get on the court.

Sitting here in limbo waiting for the dice to roll

You are either for trump or for democracy. Pick one.

You are so fucked. Still, I wish you the best of luck.

I’m more christian than these people and i’m an atheist.

Fight for a just cause, love your fellow man, live a good life.

This really is a full service blog.

Human rights are not a matter of opinion!

We can’t confuse what’s necessary to win elections with the policies that we want to implement when we do.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

Not all heroes wear capes.

Wow, I can’t imagine what it was like to comment in morse code.

“When somebody takes the time to draw up a playbook, they’re gonna use it.”

Lick the third rail, it tastes like chocolate!

Their boy Ron is an empty plastic cup that will never know pudding.

If you tweet it in all caps, that makes it true!

They were going to turn on one another at some point. It was inevitable.

Tick tock motherfuckers!

You don’t get to peddle hatred on saturday and offer condolences on sunday.

Everything is totally normal and fine!!!

Mobile Menu

  • 4 Directions VA 2025 Raffle
  • 2025 Activism
  • Donate with Venmo, Zelle & PayPal
  • Site Feedback
  • War in Ukraine
  • Submit Photos to On the Road
  • Politics
  • On The Road
  • Open Threads
  • Topics
  • Authors
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Lexicon
  • Our Store
  • Politics
  • Open Threads
  • 2025 Activism
  • Garden Chats
  • On The Road
  • Targeted Fundraising!

Boycott the State of the Union Address?

by WaterGirl|  February 23, 202612:55 pm| 202 Comments

This post is in: Breathtaking Corruption, Breathtaking Criminality and Lawlessness, Open Threads, Politics

In conjunction with the halftime show at the Super Bowl, it was stated in multiple articles that the only numbers that really mattered were the people watching it LIVE.

Does that hold true for something like the State of the Union?

In any case, Robert Reich suggests that we should all boycott the State of the Union.

Opinions on that?

For anyone who is uncertain about the state of the union – it’s totally fucked up.

Open thread.

Boycott the State of the Union Address?Post + Comments (202)

What’s Your Takeaway?

by WaterGirl|  February 23, 202610:35 am| 147 Comments

This post is in: 2026 Elections, Elections, Politics

Recently we have talked a bit about critical thinking and about evaluating information that is right in front of us.

The folks at The Downballot do good work in general, but I thought maybe we could look at this one together and talk about what jumps out at each of us as we read this.  I am willing to bet that a few things will jump out at all of us and that there will be things that others catch that we do not.

We talk about how some people vote on “vibes”.  I don’t think I am one of those people, but now I’m not sure because anything i know about this race comes from this article, and if I had to vote in this race, I think my further research might be influenced by a few things in this article.

Morning Digest: The first high-profile primary test for House Democrats looms next week

NC-04

Rep. Valerie Foushee will square off next week against Durham County Commissioner Nida Allam in a closely-watched rematch that will be one of the first high-profile tests of the resiliency of House Democratic incumbents facing energetic primary challengers.

When they first met in 2022, Foushee won a previous incarnation of North Carolina’s safely blue 4th Congressional District after defeating Allam 46-37 for the Democratic nod.

Foushee, the first Black woman to represent the rival college towns of Chapel Hill and Durham in Congress, seemed to be in for a long career after easily securing a second term without primary opposition in 2024.

But Allam, who would be the first Muslim person to serve North Carolina in the House, announced a rematch in December, arguing that Foushee had done little to help her constituents.

Much has changed since their initial matchup, not least the intense anger many Democratic voters now feel toward Democrats in Congress. But the specific contours of this year’s race are also very different.

Four years ago, Foushee enjoyed a huge financial advantage over Allam thanks to heavier outlays from third parties. Much of the pro-Foushee spending came from groups aligned with the hawkish pro-Israel group AIPAC and the crypto sector.

This time, though, voters are seeing far more messaging on behalf of Allam than they are for the congresswoman. The local alt-weekly INDY Week notes that Allam has benefited from over $1 million in outside expenditures, which is roughly three times larger than the amount spent to aid Foushee as of Sunday evening.

About half of the pro-Allam spending has come from American Priorities, a new group that formed earlier this month. While the outfit hasn’t said what its specific policy goals are, NBC writes that it intends to “counter AIPAC spending in Democratic primaries.”

American Priorities’ opening ad names AIPAC as one of “the big guys” that has “bought and paid for” Congress, though it’s not the only group it highlights. The narrator also says that Foushee has received support from “big banks, big pharma, big tech, crypto,” and “even corporations working with ICE.”

The spot goes on to praise Allam for having “fought for healthcare” and for earning an endorsement from Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Other pro-Allam organizations like Leaders We Deserve, the group founded by activist David Hogg, have used a similar message to argue that “Valerie Foushee only works for the big guys” while Allam “works for the people.”

The incumbent, by contrast, has gotten almost $300,000 in assistance from Jobs and Democracy PAC, which is linked to an organization funded by the AI company Anthropic. Anthropic, CNBC recently noted, has been one of the rare major players in the industry to call for more regulation. Foushee has also gotten $100,000 in help from an organization allied with the Congressional Black Caucus.

The entities that spent heavily for her in 2022, however, have remained on the sidelines.

Foushee, though, is arguing that voters should now be asking who is pouring in money to oust her on March 3.

“An out-of-state PAC is spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to unseat me,” she said in a video responding to Leaders We Deserve’s offensive. “And why is this PAC running ads against me funded by billionaires?”

Foushee singled out one billionaire in particular: venture capitalist Ron Conway, who contributed $500,000 to Hogg’s group during the last election cycle. The American Prospect says that Conway has not yet donated to the organization for the 2026 elections.

Foushee has also sought to distance herself from AIPAC. Her team told INDY Week last summer that she would not accept contributions from the organization going forward.

The congresswoman has, however, struggled to raise money from donors to get her message out.

And despite waiting to announce her second campaign in December, Allam ended 2025 with more cash on hand than the two-term incumbent. Updated campaign finance reports released Thursday show that Allam has continued to outraise Fousheeduring the new year.

Foushee, though, believes she can prevail thanks to her support from prominent North Carolina Democrats.

In her recent video, she highlighted endorsements from Gov. Josh Stein; former Gov. Roy Cooper, who is running for the U.S. Senate this year; and former Rep. David Price, whose decision not to seek reelection in 2022 paved the way for Foushee’s own election to Congress.

Foushee also argues that Allam and her allies have it wrong when they try to portray her as insufficiently liberal.

“I was a progressive before she was born,” Foushee, 69, told the News & Observer of her 32-year-old opponent.

The second Foushee-Allam primary will also be different than their first bout because the 4th District itself is different.

Republicans passed a new gerrymander ahead of the 2024 elections that moved more than a third of Foushee’s constituents to other constituencies and replaced them with other North Carolinians. (The GOP’s latest gerrymander did not impact the 4th.)

One of the new communities that’s now part of the district is the town of Apex, which is near the proposed location for a 190-acre data center dubbed the New Hill Digital Campus. The growth of data centers and the ensuing backlash against them has become a major election issue in races across the country, and the primary for the 4th District is one such contest.

Foushee has not spoken out either in support of or against the New Hill project. She instead told attendees at a recent candidate forum, “While we’re talking about how we set up guardrails, what we make by way of framework for AI has to be where data centers can or should be located. What I don’t want Congress to do is to preempt what a local government decides for itself.”

Allam, by contrast, has made her opposition to the plan a centerpiece of her campaign.

“I’ve been hearing from hundreds of residents across this district with concerns about AI data centers,” she told Prospect. “I am proud to have rejected donations from the AI lobby and the tech industry. People will know that I’m working for them.”

No one has released any polling of the race, but observers across the country—including some of Foushee’s colleagues—will be closely watching the result next week for early clues about what’s in store for Democrats as the 2026 primary season starts.

I originally thought that I would start by mentioning things that jumped out at me, but upon further reflection, I think it’s probably better if we start with a blank slate.

The full article is up top.  I hope you’ll read it and then share your thoughts. Who knows, this might be illuminating when it comes to our own biases.

My fear after reading this article is that people’s opinions can be easily manipulated by the framing offered in an article, without any preference being stated out loud – because it seems to me that there’s a lot of signaling in this article that comes across without ostensibly having offered any opinion either way.

 

What’s Your Takeaway?Post + Comments (147)

Monday Morning Open Thread

by Anne Laurie|  February 23, 20267:49 am| 160 Comments

This post is in: How about that weather?, Proud to Be A Democrat, Trumpery


Since we’re all tired of talking about the snow emergency here in the Northeast…

El Nino warps weather worldwide. Meteorologists say the natural El Nino cycle is both adding to and feeling the heat of a warming world.

[image or embed]

— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) February 20, 2026 at 9:30 PM

"Donald Trump is honest and trustworthy"
Disagree: 70%
Agree: 29%
Ipsos / Feb 17, 2026

— Polling USA (@usapolling.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:12 PM

When does it hit John Rogers' 27% Crazification Factor?

[image or embed]

— Anne Laurie (@annelaurie.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:09 PM

A growing majority of Americans have soured on President Trump’s handling of immigration, with 58 percent saying he has gone too far deporting undocumented immigrants.
One in 3 people say they worry that a family member or friend could be detained by ICE. https://wapo.st/4c76N6K

[image or embed]

— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) February 21, 2026 at 11:00 AM

I love that Dems appear to be digging in on masks. It’s the most important thing they could do; I suspect masks are wildly unpopular, & if Dems can ban masks ICE will have a significantly harder time recruiting & retaining agents.

[image or embed]

— Dana Houle (@danahoule.bsky.social) February 23, 2026 at 2:27 AM

Happy Black History Month!

Workers began restoring an exhibit on the lives of the nine people once enslaved by George Washington at the former President's House in Philadelphia amid a contentious legal fight between the city and the Trump administration.

[image or embed]

— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) February 19, 2026 at 12:59 PM

Save the rocks in your pockets for Republicans…

show full post on front page

Big Oil flooded Donald Trump’s campaign with cash.
Now, they’re getting billions in handouts from his administration.

[image or embed]

— Elizabeth Warren (@warren.senate.gov) February 22, 2026 at 7:28 PM

American families are struggling to afford groceries and health care.
Instead of lowering their costs, Republicans are buying Kristi Noem a luxury jet.
You deserve better.

[image or embed]

— Katherine Clark (@whipkclark.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 12:48 PM

Wrong files.

[image or embed]

— Rep. Jim McGovern (@repmcgovern.bsky.social) February 21, 2026 at 12:51 PM

Not bad for someone who has had to spend a fair amount of time covering up evidence that appears to link him to sexual crimes involving children. A multitasker!

[image or embed]

— Boston Tom Levenson (@tomlevenson.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 7:53 PM

The Trump family has pocketed more than $4,000,000,000 from their crypto schemes—using the office of the President to line their own pockets.
That’s why I wrote the End Crypto Corruption Act—we need to stop this grift in its tracks.

— Jeff Merkley (@jeff-merkley.bsky.social) February 21, 2026 at 10:36 PM

"When they come after trans people[…] not only are they licensing discrimination against trans people, they're sanctioning gender policing that we know in reality actually disproportionately targets non-transgender women."
– CEC Co-Chair @mcbride.house.gov

[image or embed]

— Congressional Equality Caucus (@equality.house.gov) February 20, 2026 at 5:30 PM

certainly makes me feel less than enthused about the US hockey team but I continue to hold that Kash treating the FBI director job as an extended make-a-wish trip is the absolute least damaging thing he could do with the position given this administration's goals

[image or embed]

— Micah (@rincewind.run) February 22, 2026 at 8:05 PM

Denmark’s military says its arctic command forces evacuated a crew member of a U.S. submarine off the coast of Greenland for urgent medical treatment.

[image or embed]

— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) February 22, 2026 at 12:00 PM

The reason for his stupid fucking boat post?
He should be grateful, but trump isn't grateful to anyone. It REALLY cramps his 'only I can solve it' talking point, which embarrasses him, which REQUIRES him to start blustering about nonsensical bullshit.
He sees receiving help in any form as weakness.

[image or embed]

— Roger ZenAF ?????? (@rogerzenaf.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:12 PM

Monday Morning Open ThreadPost + Comments (160)

On The Road – Albatrossity – Kingfishers

by WaterGirl|  February 23, 20265:00 am| 19 Comments

This post is in: On The Road, Photo Blogging

It’s Albatrossity Monday!

Though, apparently,Albatrossity didn’t get the message – No Kings!

Oh, hold on, I guess Kingfishers are different from kings.  Should have read the post first, good to know!

If you’re thinking of putting together an OTR post, this would be a great time.  Only one post scheduled so far for next week.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Kingfishers 10

Albatrossity

Here’s my version of the famous “weave”, a rhetorical meander made famous by the Fat Felon of the United States.

Fat Tuesday has come and gone, along with lots of King Cake, everyone is saying. Then Ash Wednesday moved us into Lent, and fish might be on the menu for a while. In my raised-as-a-Catholic early years, I tried to convince my parents that I should give up some summertime treat, like watermelon, for the Lenten season. They didn’t go along with that. Sad. But for the first full week of Lent, at least we don’t have to give up Kingfishers! Here are some from the USA and from around the world.

On The Road - Albatrossity - Kingfishers 9
Near Manhattan KSAugust 2, 2025

There are roughly 120 species of kingfishers (family Alcedinidae) recognized by taxonomists today, and most of these are found in tropical Africa or Asia, along with many other species found only on some island in the Pacific. Click here for an eBird link that will allow you fo scroll through all of these beauties, starting with Blyth’s Kingfisher. Here in the good ol’ USA we have three, although there is only one, the Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) that is familiar to most American birders. So we will start off with this female (identified by the rusty band on the belly) in typical kingfisher posture, scanning the marsh below for a fishy meal. Interestingly the larger band across the upper chest, which is typically blue-gray, also looks rusty. That is because the bird has recently molted, and those brand-new feathers have a brownish tone for a while. Click here for larger image.

On The Road – Albatrossity – KingfishersPost + Comments (19)

Late Night Open Thread

by Anne Laurie|  February 23, 20263:10 am| 81 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Show Us on the Doll Where the Invisible Hand Touched You

A remarkably disheartening thing is you get the sense there are a handful of genuine historic fork in the road moments of what kind of country we want in our lifetime, and I still can’t shake how much during the height of Covid we had a decision of what lessons we’d all take from it and what…

— Asawin Suebsaeng (@swin24.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 2:26 PM

…policies and actions we’d start preferring, and it was not just the commanding heights and elite who faced with the opportunity to try to achieve a more caring, just society in the long run replied “nah, no, thanks” (which they were always gonna do), it was so so many average working class and…

…middle class people who made the call

You can get into all kinds of reasons why and why the normal, hard working american is so often beaten down and been shown for decades why they (allegedly) can’t have a less bloodthirsty society, to the point we may actually believe it. But it’s still disheartening

We had the chance. We — and do I mean practically All of us — simply refused it

My personal opinion is that ‘lockdowns’ (such as they were) and masking deprived America’s aspiring oligarchs of their chance to harass workers lower down on the economic scale (waiters, clerks, cleaners) and women (why aren’t you smiling, lady?). Most prominent and vocal among the complainers, of course, were the petty bourgeois small business owners & their media minions…

I remember a politician saying, “I’ve heard masking only protects other people”, as a reason to not mask. And I knew we were in trouble.

— seosamh.bsky.social (@seosamh.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:09 PM

They were stacking bodies up in refrigerated trucks and now people are just either pretending it never happened or blaming vaccines.

— Lil Flonase (@lilflonase.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 2:28 PM

I was thinking about that today because I remember when the hospital ship was docked in the Hudson River because NYC hospitals were overflowing. Morgue trucks were stacked up behind every hospital. Everyone seemed to know someone who died of COVID.
We seem to have memory-holed ALL OF IT.

— NOW WHAT? (@mraulston.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 2:34 PM

I hear that from a lot of folks – mostly from the right who still believe they were mandated by libs to wear masks outside, stay inside, forced to get vaccinated! None of which happened. And on the middle and left, who magine that it was just a cold and we overreacted. A million people died. wtf?

— JD (@djbackward.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 2:43 PM

We didn’t learn anything from covid. I was in Singapore when the pandemic started, and they immediately applied lessons from the early oughts SARS epidemic.
It was so disheartening to then turn around and listen to Trump suggesting drinking bleach. And we said yeah more of that.

— TiredTeacher (@txteacher.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 2:42 PM

3,000 Americans died on 9/11 and we invaded two countries and created vast new government agencies to protect the country and surveil the citizens
At the height of COVID, 3,000 Americans were dying EVERY DAY & we were told wearing masks in Home Depot & online classes were crimes against humanity

— * There Are Bot (@diogeneslamp.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:12 PM

COVID was conservatives announcing that they will never sacrifice anything for anyone else, not even to save the life of their own grandmas
Sandy Hook/Uvalde was conservatives announcing we must sacrifice everything, even our children, for them and for their right to a large personal arsenal

— * There Are Bot (@diogeneslamp.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:24 PM

There’s a very widespread assumption that any action undertaken for the common good is a scam designed to help African Americans at the expense of whites. This underlying prejudice is then wrapped up in verbiage about freedom and socialism.

— Welsh rarebit (@welshrarebit.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:17 PM

The right-wing version is that it didn't happen because "things like that don't happen to people like US" and the left (which you see too much on here) is that "if only Biden FELT HARDER about Covid it would have gone away"

— Anti-Drug Talking Urinal Cake (@disgolfelysium.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 4:46 PM

After everything we saw, every Republican senator except Mitch McConnell voted to confirm the deranged sadist RFK Jr.
That’s not just failing to learn. That’s an agenda. That’s actively seeking the deaths of other Americans.
Don’t underestimate the role of eugenics in the thinking of the GOP.

— Mark (@mrkdrm.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 4:33 PM

Late Night Open ThreadPost + Comments (81)

Bolo Update

by John Cole|  February 22, 20269:53 pm| 47 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

He is now on the couch adjacent to Joelle.

Bolo Update

I will keep you posted with more riveting details.

Bolo UpdatePost + Comments (47)

War for Ukraine Day 1,459: Russian Terrorism in Lviv & Russia’s Butcher’s Bill from Last Night

by Adam L Silverman|  February 22, 20269:29 pm| 12 Comments

This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Military, Open Threads, Russia, Silverman on Security, War, War in Ukraine

A black and white cartoon with Popeye the Sailor Man facing forward and to the left. His word bubble says "I Yam Disgustipated"

Quick Rosie update: She had another really good day. We went for a real walk, though only .86 of a mile. She did great. At one point she was jogging along, which I think is partially because the temperature has been dropping from the leading edge of the cold front coming through. Thank you all again for the good thoughts, well wishes, and prayers.

Here are the details of last night’s Russian missile attack on Ukraine.

‼️Consequences of Russia’s massive overnight strike on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure: the attack involved drones, ballistic missiles, “Zircon” missiles, and cruise missiles.

[image or embed]

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:27 AM

▪️ Kyiv: Fires broke out in the capital and surrounding areas, private houses were destroyed. Preliminary reports indicate another strike on the Trypilska Thermal Power Plant.

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:27 AM

▪️ Kyiv region: Five districts were attacked. One person was killed and one injured. Numerous private homes, garage cooperatives, utility buildings, and warehouses were damaged.

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:27 AM

▫️ Mykolaiv: Energy and transport infrastructure facilities were damaged – 16,000 consumers are without electricity. A private house and power line were destroyed. No casualties reported.

▫️ Odesa region: Russia struck energy infrastructure facilities with drones, causing large-scale fires.

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:27 AM

🔹 Dnipropetrovsk region: Around 20 artillery and drone attacks targeted two districts – two people were reported injured.

🔹 Sumy region: A civilian production facility of the company Mondelez in Trostianets was attacked.

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:27 AM

🔸 Powerful explosions were also reported in Kropyvnytskyi, Kremenchuk, Poltava, Chernihiv region, and Cherkasy region.

🔸 Hits were recorded at 14 locations. Ukrainian air defense intercepted 33 out of 50 missiles and 274 out of 297 drones.

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:27 AM

Here’s the Ukrainian air defense tally:

Another “missile-heavy” Blitz air raid by fascist Russia, with fewer drones used than was common in 2025.

345 aerial threats detected, 307 intercepted or suppressed.
Missiles fired: 48
Missiles downed: 69% (33/48)
Drones downed: 92% (274/297)
Total targets neutralized: 307.

[image or embed]

— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 4:10 AM

The main directions of the strike were Kyiv region, Odesa region, Kirovohrad region, and Poltava region.

Unfortunately, 14 missiles and 23 attack drones hit 14 locations across the country. Drone debris also fell in 5 additional locations.

[image or embed]

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:05 AM

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

show full post on front page

The Circumstances of the Terrorist Attack Are Now Being Fully Analyzed. The Attack Was Organized by Russia – Address by the President

22 February 2026 – 20:23

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today there were several reports by the Ministry of Internal Affairs – Minister Ihor Klymenko and other law enforcement officials – on the investigation of the terrorist attack in Lviv. It is difficult to classify it otherwise – it was indeed a terrorist attack, cynical and brutal. There were two explosions, and the second occurred after emergency services had arrived at the scene. Twenty-five people were injured. Tragically, one person – a 23-year-old police officer – was killed. My condolences to her family and loved ones. All the injured are receiving assistance. Some are in serious condition, and doctors are doing everything possible to save lives.

The circumstances of this terrorist attack are now being fully analyzed. Many facts have already been established. The perpetrators were recruited via Telegram. The attack was organized by Russia. The Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Police, and the Security Service of Ukraine will present further details to the public. Today I also instructed that measures and response procedures be developed to prevent similar crimes. Our law enforcement agencies already have certain experience in countering this. Dozens of similar situations have been prevented. Ukrainian law enforcement officials constantly counter such recruitment efforts.

More activity and greater involvement are needed from communities themselves, local leaders, and government institutions – everyone – to reduce Russia’s ability to organize terrorist attacks and sabotage in Ukraine’s rear at all levels. We have intelligence indicating that the Russians intend to continue carrying out such actions – in effect, attacks on Ukrainians. We must strengthen protection for our people.

Today, during the coordination call, we once again discussed with regional representatives Russia’s new tactic of massive strikes, where logistics facilities – primarily the railway – as well as water supply infrastructure are increasingly becoming targets. It is very important that this threat be understood by everyone at the local level and that protection measures be implemented accordingly.

Air defense, the Ministry of Defense, and government structures have also received the necessary tasks. I expect coordinated and truly prompt work at all levels. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense together with our military must also strengthen protection against Russian drones in border areas, where attacks against civilian vehicles, first responders, and our repair crews are increasing. The experience of our frontline regions must be effectively extended to the Sumy region and also to the Chernihiv region.

One more point. It is worth recognizing our warriors who this week increased the distance and extended the range of our Ukrainian precision. Ukraine is striking increasingly distant Russian weapons production facilities, and we must be grateful – grateful to everyone in Ukraine who works toward this, who achieves such results, and does so in the combat use of our Ukrainian missiles and our deep strikes. Based on the results of this week, I would like to commend the warriors of the 19th Missile Brigade “Saint Varvara” and the “Balista” unit of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thank you, warriors!

Thank you to everyone who is fighting for Ukraine, defending Ukrainians, and giving all of us in the country faith that we will end this war with dignity. Peace must prevail.

Glory to Ukraine!

Georgia:

“We won’t stop until we prevail.”

Students are marching in Tbilisi, Georgia, demanding university autonomy and protesting Georgian Dream’s unconstitutional interference in how many students state universities can admit and which academic fields they are allowed to teach.

[image or embed]

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 11:25 AM

Student march against education “reforms” that aim to eliminate organizing possibilities for dissent.

Day 452 of #GeorgiaProtests

📷 MOSE

[image or embed]

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 1:45 PM

Students continue to protest daily in Georgia. This is now in front of Ilia State University — the only state university openly critical of the Georgian Dream regime — which is facing effective dismantling after being stripped down to just two remaining academic fields.

[image or embed]

— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 10:52 AM

MEP Nacho Sánchez Amor tells @publikage.bsky.social that the EU has failed to respond adequately to violations of citizens’ rights in Georgia. He says suspending visa-free travel for holders of diplomatic passports is “useless.”

He also criticizes some EU ambassadors.

Watch the full comment 👇

[image or embed]

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:54 AM

It was my pleasure to discuss the autocratic crackdown in Georgia (before the late January package) with BCSP and Mr. Srdjan Cvijic, especially in the light of parallels and potential warnings to Serbia.

Available now on the YouTube link below👇🏻

m.youtube.com/watch?v=6EEh…

[image or embed]

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 5:29 AM

South Korea:

The Russian embassy in Seoul has hung a 12-meter banner reading “Victory will be ours” with a Russian tricolor and ignored a South Korean request to remove it. Seoul cannot take it down by force due to the Vienna Convention.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 1:09 PM

Hungary:

Hungary will block the EU’s 20th sanctions package tomorrow FM Szijjarto said. No decisions important to Kyiv will advance until Ukraine resumes oil transit through Druzhba he added.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 6:27 AM

The EU:

The EU is developing low-cost interceptor drones quickly.

Germany, France, Italy, Poland, and the UK are establishing drone production after many overflights by “unknown” drones in the EU last year exposed a gap.

Good idea since Russian hybrid warfare will likely increase.

[image or embed]

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 2:07 AM

The US:

🤔Anyone else see a pattern here?

🔹Russia is publicly trying to bribe the US with a $14T economic deal if sanctions are lifted
🔹Russia and the US are discussing reactivating the Nordstream pipeline to Germany, under US control
🔹The US is trying to scale NATO back dramatically

[image or embed]

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:23 AM

“He’s always been honest with me. I get criticized for saying it but it’s true. I got criticized for meeting him eight times. But how do you make a deal if you don’t know anything about the other person?” Witkoff said about Putin.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:10 AM

Witkoff on Russian-Ukraine war: “It really is a silly war. And they’re fighting over this territory. Everyone throws the word “dignity” around, but what does dignity get you if you have that amount of killing”

Oh, you little bothsidist shit! Silly war? Tell that to the invaders. Go on,

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 7:41 AM

tell them, why don’t you? No, you say “Silly war,” but what you really mean is “Silly resistance.”

And what does dignity give us? Our future. We gain a dignified peace, and it will last. Without it, we will all die in occupied Ukraine in FSB basements and torture chambers.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 7:41 AM

A spoof book cover. It has a bunny standing on it's hind legs, wearing a yellow rain coat, and holding a closed red umbrella in its right hand. It is facing slightly to the left and it's left hand is raised and pointing to the spook title, which reads: "Oh Christ. It's THIS ASSHOLE AGAIN."

Washington 💙💛

Not all hope is lost ❤️‍🩹

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:57 PM

Back to Ukraine:

Here’s some of tonight’s outgoing Ukrainian fires:

Right now Russian sources report around 210 Ukrainian drones and 5 jet-powered UAVs in the air across several regions DroneBomber says.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 2:33 PM

Air defense forces repelling a Russian combined attack during the night of February 22, 2026.

[image or embed]

— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 9:38 AM

​Sky News: Mr. Mayor, do you trust President Trump?

Kyiv Mayor Klitschko: [Sighs and laughs]

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 9:48 AM

Last night wasn’t calm in Ukraine again as russians fired hundreds of drones and tens of missiles against Kyiv, Odesa, Poltava & Kirovohrad regions.

Also, they damaged the premises of the American food company Mondelez. That’s all you need to know abt “peace through business.”

[image or embed]

— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 4:13 AM

“I believe that Putin has already started it. The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him… Russia wants to impose on the world a different way of life and change the lives people have chosen for themselves.”

[image or embed]

— Andy Scollick (@andyscollick.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 5:27 PM

From The BBC: (emphasis mine)

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to send out a firm message of defiance.

When we met this weekend in the government headquarters in Kyiv, he said that far from losing, Ukraine would end the war victorious. He was firmly against paying the price for a ceasefire deal demanded by President Vladimir Putin, which is withdrawing from strategic ground that Russia has failed to capture despite sacrificing tens of thousands of soldiers.

Putin, Zelensky told me, has already started World War Three, and the only answer was intense military and economic pressure to force him to step back.

“I believe that Putin has already started it. The question is how much territory he will be able to seize and how to stop him… Russia wants to impose on the world a different way of life and change the lives people have chosen for themselves.”

What about Russia’s demand for Ukraine to hand over the 20% of the eastern region of Donetsk that it still holds – a line of towns Ukraine calls “fortress cities” – as well as more land in the southern regions of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia? Isn’t that, I asked, a reasonable request if it produces a ceasefire?

“I see this differently. I don’t look at it simply as land. I see it as abandonment – weakening our positions, abandoning hundreds of thousands of our people who live there. That is how I see it. And I am sure that this ‘withdrawal’ would divide our society.”

But isn’t it a good price to pay if that satisfies President Putin? Do you think it would satisfy him?

“It would probably satisfy him for a while… he needs a pause… but once he recovers, our European partners say it could take three to five years. In my opinion, he could recover in no more than a couple of years. Where would he go next? We do not know, but that he would want to continue [the war] is a fact.”

US President Donald Trump said on the eve of the most recent ceasefire talks in Geneva that “Ukraine better come to the table fast”.

He continues to default to putting more pressure on Ukraine than on Russia.

Western diplomats have indicated since last summer that Trump agrees with Putin that territorial concessions from Ukraine to Russia are the key to the ceasefire Trump wants, ideally before this coming summer.

Plenty of analysts outside the White House also judge that Ukraine cannot win the war and, without making concessions to Moscow, will lose it.

I asked Zelensky whether Trump and the others had a point.

“Where are you now?” Zelensky asked in return. “Today you are in Kyiv, you are in the capital of our homeland, you are in Ukraine. I am very grateful for this. Will we lose? Of course not, because we are fighting for Ukraine’s independence.”

Zelensky has often said that Ukraine can win, but what would victory look like?

Of course, he said, victory meant restoring normal lives for Ukrainians and ending the killing. But the wider view of victory he presented was all about a global threat that he says comes from Putin.

“I believe that stopping Putin today and preventing him from occupying Ukraine is a victory for the whole world. Because Putin will not stop at Ukraine.”

You are not saying that victory is getting all the land back, are you?

“We’ll do it. That is absolutely clear. It is only a matter of time. To do it today would mean losing a huge number of people – millions of people – because the [Russian] army is large, and we understand the cost of such steps. You would not have enough people, you would be losing them. And what is land without people? Honestly, nothing.”

“And we also don’t have enough weapons. That depends not just on us, but on our partners. So as of now that’s not possible but returning to the just borders of 1991 [the year Ukraine declared its independence, precipitating the final collapse of the Soviet Union] without a doubt, is not only a victory, it’s justice. Ukraine’s victory is the preservation of our independence, and a victory of justice for the whole world is the return of all our lands.”

More at the link.

The framing of the questions is entirely within how Russia has shaped the information environment.

Fiber optic drones found a large Russian military logistics warehouse and destroyed it from the inside.

[image or embed]

— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 9:33 AM

Oryx data as of January 1 shows confirmed Russian equipment losses far exceed Ukraine’s in most categories: 6,374 IFVs vs 1,539, 4,331 tanks vs 1,386, 4,484 vehicles vs 1,308. Ukraine has higher losses in APCs (1,280 vs 720) and armored cars (1,524 vs 413).

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 6:42 AM

Russian advances rank among the slowest in modern warfare a Sunday Times chart shows. Chasiv Yar 14 m/day, Kupyansk 23 m/day, Pokrovsk 70 m/day. Ukraine’s Kharkiv offensive hit 7,400 m/day in 2022.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 6:31 AM

Lviv:

Police released footage of the suspect planting explosives in a trash bin in Lviv. The 33-year-old from Rivne region was caught near the border. She acted on orders from a Russian intelligence handler.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 7:18 AM

UPD on the overnight terrorist attack in Lviv. Police responded to a break-in call around 1 AM when multiple explosions went off. Twenty-four people were injured. A 23-year-old policewoman was killed. Prosecutors opened a terrorism investigation.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:33 AM

Kyiv Oblast:

As of now, 15 people are confirmed injured, including 4 children, – the Regional Military Administration.

The highest number of casualties is in the Fastiv district of the Kyiv region.

[image or embed]

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 7:43 AM

Destruction in Sofiivska Borshchahivka, Kyiv region, following Russia’s massive attack.

[image or embed]

— Maria Drutska (@mariadrutska.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 7:20 AM

Footage from the village of Putrivka in Kyiv region, where a man was killed in a russian attack last night.

Rescuers reported that 8 people, including a child, were pulled alive from the rubble. 1 man died from his injuries on the way to the hospital.

It was their homes…

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:59 AM

South West Kyiv, about 10 enormous explosions and lots of shaheds. Dogs under my bed

[image or embed]

— Мартен Шонгейм 🇺🇦 🇳🇱 (@maaartens.bsky.social) February 21, 2026 at 11:21 PM

‘Russia protects Christianity,’ they say.
Kyiv region after last night’s Russian attack 👇

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 7:30 AM

Sumy Oblast:

Russians killed a married couple and two brothers by striking an ambulance with a drone in the Sumy region.

🕯️ Oleksandr Shchepetkov, 17, an 11th‑grade student
🕯️ His brother, Ivan Shchepetkov, 24
🕯️ Khrystyna Slavska, 25, paramedic
🕯️ Her husband, Serhii Slavskyi, 32, community police officer

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:54 AM

On Feb 21, Russians dropped an explosive from a drone on the outskirts of the Znob‑Novhorodske community. The blast wounded the two brothers. Minutes later medical team arrived—paramedic Khrystyna Slavska and driver Serhii Hloba.

The injured were moved to a safer location for urgent care

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:54 AM

Community police officer Captain Serhii Slavskyi also came to assist. Together with the medics, he helped stabilize the brothers.

It was decided to transport them to the district center of Shostka. The police officer accompanied the ambulance for protection.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:54 AM

While driving along highway T‑1908 near the village of Chyhyn, the ambulance was attacked by a Russian drone and caught fire.

…Only the driver survived. He is now in hospital with severe burns.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:54 AM

Trostianets, Sumy Oblast:

Russia hit a Mondelez factory in Trostianets, one of the first major US investments in Ukraine FM Sybiha said. Moscow can’t push economic ties with the US while bombing American businesses in Ukraine he added.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 4:14 AM

Russian occupied Mariupol:

Once again, FP-2 is accompanied by a second FP-2 flying at a distance behind it to capture proper battle damage assessment (BDA) footage.

[image or embed]

— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:44 AM

The Kursk and northern Slobozhansk axes:

Ukrainian border guards used drones on the Kursk and northern Slobozhansk axes to destroy 4 vehicles, 9 shelters, 2 comms antennas, a field ammo dump, a Murom-M system and several Russian drones hidden in a treeline.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 11:19 AM

The Pokrovsk front:

Russians keep pushing north of Pokrovsk the Airborne Forces report. A sabotage group moved in cells of 2-3 toward farm buildings. Drone recon spotted them and 155mm artillery hit them before they reached their target.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 10:20 AM

Russian occupied Luhansk:

The overnight strike on the Luhansk oil depot.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 3:24 AM

The Udmurt Republic, Russia:

Result of the Ukrainian Flamingo missile strike on the Iskanderov plant in russian Votkinsk: a massive hole torn through the roof of one of the workshops.

By Ukrainian OSINT group Cyber Boroshno.

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 11:36 AM

Belgorod Oblast, Russia:

The russian city of Belgorod had some explosions, after which the power went out.

Now its the city of Blackgorod 👀

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 4:42 PM

Very dense air defence activity in Belgorod, Russia.

[image or embed]

— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 6:55 PM

Pskov Oblast, Russia:

Satellite images show more than one tank burned at the Velikie Luki oil depot in Pskov after the February 19 drone strike, not one as the governor claimed journalist Mark Krutov reports. The SBU’s Alpha unit reportedly carried out the attack.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:49 AM

Samara Oblast, Russia:

The February 21 overnight strike hit two stabilization columns at the Neftegorsk gas plant, core processing units Exilenova+ reports. This disrupts the cycle and means a long recovery. The fire is contained but still burning.

[image or embed]

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 7:14 AM

The Republic of Tatarstan, Russia:

There are reports of an attack in Almetyevsk, Tatarstan, russia.

Something is burning very nicely there 👀🔥

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) February 22, 2026 at 8:25 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

There are no new Patron skeets or videos today.

Here is some adjacent material.

Cats have become an essential comfort for Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines.

United 24 Media / Instagram

[image or embed]

— Eugene McParland 🇺🇦 (@eugenemcparland.bsky.social) February 18, 2026 at 10:03 AM

Open thread!

War for Ukraine Day 1,459: Russian Terrorism in Lviv & Russia’s Butcher’s Bill from Last NightPost + Comments (12)

  • Page 1
  • Page 2
  • Page 3
  • Interim pages omitted …
  • Page 11843
  • Go to Next Page »

Primary Sidebar

On The Road - Auntie Anne - Southeast Asia - Vietnam - Halong Bay 3
Photo by Auntie Anne (2/23/26)

Election Resources

Voter Registration Info – Find a State
Check Voter Registration by Address

Recent Comments

  • WTFGhost on Boycott the State of the Union Address? (Feb 23, 2026 @ 4:00pm)
  • trollhattan on Boycott the State of the Union Address? (Feb 23, 2026 @ 3:58pm)
  • Leto on Boycott the State of the Union Address? (Feb 23, 2026 @ 3:58pm)
  • Leto on Boycott the State of the Union Address? (Feb 23, 2026 @ 3:57pm)
  • trollhattan on Boycott the State of the Union Address? (Feb 23, 2026 @ 3:56pm)

Mary Peltola Alaska Senate

Donate

Balloon Juice Posts

View by Topic
View by Author
View by Month & Year
View by Past Author

Featuring

Medium Cool
Artists in Our Midst
Authors in Our Midst
On Artificial Intelligence (7-part series)

🎈Keep Balloon Juice Ad Free

Become a Balloon Juice Patreon
Donate with Venmo, Zelle or PayPal

Calling All Jackals

Site Feedback
Nominate a Rotating Tag
Submit Photos to On the Road
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Links)
Balloon Juice Anniversary (All Posts)

Fix Nyms with Apostrophes

Outsmarting Apple iOS 26

Balloon Juice Mailing List Signup

Order Calendar A
Order Calendar B

Social Media

Balloon Juice
WaterGirl
TaMara
John Cole
DougJ (aka NYT Pitchbot)
Betty Cracker
Tom Levenson
David Anderson
Major Major Major Major
DougJ NYT Pitchbot
mistermix
Rose Judson (podcast)

Mary Peltola Alaska Senate

Donate

Site Footer

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

  • Facebook
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Comment Policy
  • Our Authors
  • Blogroll
  • Our Artists
  • Privacy Policy

Privacy Manager

Copyright © 2026 Dev Balloon Juice · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc