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Balloon Juice

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

The gop is a fucking disgrace.

Historically it was a little unusual for the president to be an incoherent babbling moron.

The republican speaker is a slippery little devil.

You know it’s bad when the Project 2025 people have to create training videos on “How To Be Normal”.

We are builders in a constant struggle with destroyers. keep building.

“Loving your country does not mean lying about its history.”

The press swings at every pitch, we don’t have to.

It’s the corruption, stupid.

SCOTUS: It’s not “bribery” unless it comes from the Bribery region of France. Otherwise, it’s merely “sparkling malfeasance”.

Republicans don’t want a speaker to lead them; they want a hostage.

Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Today in our ongoing national embarrassment…

Trumpflation is an intolerable hardship for every American, and it’s Trump’s fault.

It’s easy to sit in safety and prescribe what other people should be doing.

Never entrust democracy to any process that requires Republicans to act in good faith.

It’s always darkest before the other shoe drops.

We will not go quietly into the night; we will not vanish without a fight.

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

Live so that if you miss a day of work people aren’t hoping you’re dead.

Giving in to doom is how we fail to fight for ourselves & one another.

If you can’t control your emotions, someone else will.

Within six months Twitter will be fully self-driving.

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Saturday Morning Open Thread

by Anne Laurie|  June 21, 20259:26 am| 23 Comments

This post is in: Immigration, Proud to Be A Democrat

Spotted the first monarch #butterfly of the summer in my garden today! Happy solstice! #lepidoptera #solstice

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— Lyd (@naturenerdstudio.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 8:05 PM

Priests forcing ICE goons to arrest them feels like when the dam really starts to break.

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— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 8:21 PM

NEW: Pope Leo’s newly appointed Bishop, Michael Pham, outside the court in San Diego:
“We need to speak up for the voiceless in our society – and we will.”
The video then shows masked ICE agents leaving without snatching anyone today.
More of this resistance nationwide! ??
(?? PSL San Diego)

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— News Eye (@newseye.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 5:27 PM

Bishop Pham, himself once a refugee from Vietnam, told Trump to treat migrants with more kindness, compassion & dignity.
“They are human beings. We live on a land where the majority of us were immigrants at one time or another.”
Full story ??

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— News Eye (@newseye.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 5:39 PM

===

show full post on front page

The Dodgers announce they are donating $1 million toward direct financial assistance for families of immigrants impacted by recent events in the region, with more announcements to come.

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— Molly Knight (@mollyknight.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 6:47 PM


===

Just my two cents… A million bucks is light for a multibillion dollar organization, but it's a start.
IMO the bigger deal is they're acknowledging ICE is harming their community and they are taking action.
The bar is hell.
The Lakers, Clippers, Kings, Rams, Chargers remain silent.

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— Molly Knight (@mollyknight.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 7:44 PM

Saturday Morning Open ThreadPost + Comments (23)

Late Night Open Thread: Compare & Contrast

by Anne Laurie|  June 21, 202512:18 am| 121 Comments

This post is in: President Biden, Proud to Be A Democrat, Trumpery

one of the weirdest things going on is the national media's obsession with Joe Biden's fitness and mental health/strength combined with a near total unwillingness to cover his on-going public appearances.

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— Henry (@henrythedog.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 10:33 AM

Daily Beast has (brief) video at the link:

… Joe Biden made veiled jabs at President Trump during public comments on Juneteenth, drawing a big laugh from a crowd when he made the sign of the cross instead of speaking his successor’s name.

Biden was at the Reedy Chapel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Galveston, Texas, where he took part in a service and denounced “ongoing efforts to erase history.” The church was one of the sites where an order announcing the end of slavery in Texas was read, according to the church.

Biden, who made Juneteenth a federal holiday in 2021 to commemorate the end of slavery, said at the church that “the events of Juneteenth are of monumental importance to America’s story,” according to CBS News.

“Still today, some say to me and you that this doesn’t deserve to be a federal holiday. They don’t want to remember…the moral stain of slavery,” Biden said.

The former president spoke on the same day that Trump moaned that there are “too many non-working holidays.” …

=====

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— Mike Luckovich (@mluckovich.bsky.social) June 18, 2025 at 1:52 PM

One of the funnier running subplots of the Trump era is that he hasn't won a Nobel Peace Prize, and it really eats at him.

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— Gary Legum (@glegum.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 4:40 PM

Late Night Open Thread: Compare & ContrastPost + Comments (121)

War for Ukraine Day 1,212: More Russian Missiles in the Small Hours

by Adam L Silverman|  June 20, 20259:53 pm| 14 Comments

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

Painting by NEIVANMADE. It has a white background an in the center are Soldiers in green doing air defense by firing at incoming Russian missiles in the upper right. The missiles are red and yellow. In the upper left, written in green, is the text: "SAVE THE BRAVEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!" Below the Soldiers, also written in green, is "SUPPORT FOR KHARKIV"

(Image by NEIVANMADE)

All of Ukraine is under air raid alert at 3:50 AM local time in Ukraine/8:50 PM EDT. It started about an hour ago.

Ukraine is under russian missile attack right now. The alert is spreading

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 7:52 PM

DeepState analysis shows Russian forces are pushing to keep up attack intensity in June, with a spike in assaults mid-month. Most active on the Pokrovsk front 32% of attacks, followed by Kursk 16.4%, Novopavlivka 15%, Lyman 10.3%, and Toretsk 9.5% sectors.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 8:37 AM

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

show full post on front page

The Russian Economy Is Already Crumbling; We Will Support This Process Even More – Address by the President

20 June 2025 – 20:26

I wish you good health, fellow Ukrainians!

A brief update on today. Another phase of the exchange has been completed, and we are preparing the ones to follow. Today, our warriors returned home to Ukraine – warriors from various branches of our Defense Forces, many of whom had been in captivity for over two years. The exchange process must continue.

Also today, there was a meeting of the Staff – a very detailed report on the frontline. Particular attention was paid to the Sumy region, to operations in the border areas. I am grateful to our units for their resilience. The Russians had various plans and intentions there – absolutely insane, as usual. We are holding them back and eliminating these killers, defending our Sumy region. We also held very detailed discussions on all agreements regarding arms supplies: contracts, funding, and specific commitments from partners. The volume of support this year is the largest since the start of the full-scale war. I instructed that work with partners be increased even further to secure investment in our production, in our weapons. We are also preparing a new platform for such production. This is a long-term, systemic effort, and I want to thank every country already taking part. We are preparing new agreements for next week – together with our NATO partners. Specifically regarding investment in production. These are primarily technologies – first and foremost, drones and artillery shells. We are also making separate efforts on interceptor drones, which must strengthen our defense against Shahed attacks. Several of our domestic enterprises – and accordingly, drone types – are already delivering results. We are working with our partners to secure more substantial funding, and I am confident we will get it. Production volumes of interceptors are already increasing.

Today, there was an extensive report on our sanctions policy, specifically in regard to the areas affecting Russia’s economic capabilities in our temporarily occupied territories. We are preparing relevant National Security and Defense Council decisions.

Today, we also have a new sanctions package adopted by our state, targeting individuals and legal entities who help Russia, including with drone production. We will continue this pressure together with our partners. Our sanctions will be extended by our partners – we are working on that, and, by the way, not only in European jurisdictions.

And one more thing.

I’ve instructed the team to prepare some additional options for cooperation within the Coalition of the Willing – efforts that will strengthen our shared security architecture. Today, the Russians once again openly and absolutely cynically declared that they are “not in the mood” for a ceasefire. Russia wants to wage war. Even brandishing some threats. This means the pressure the world is applying isn’t hurting them enough yet, or they are trying very hard to keep up appearances. Well, the Russian economy is already crumbling. We will support this process even more. Ayatollah Putin can look at his friends in Iran to see where such regimes end up, and how far into decay they drive their countries. More of our decisions will follow, for the sake of restoring security. I thank everyone who is helping us! I thank all our people!

Glory to Ukraine!

Georgia:

Day 205 of daily, nationwide protests in Georgia. This is Rustaveli Avenue, blocked for almost 7 months. ✅

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 2:04 PM

“Revolution!” written in front of the Georgian Parliament on Rustaveli Avenue, which has been blocked for the 205th day in a row.

Protests continue in 8 cities. We demand the resignation of the GD regime, free and fair elections, and the release of our 60+ political prisoners.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 1:57 PM

People chant: Revolution

#GeorgiaProtests
Day 205

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 1:54 PM

Georgia’s route to freedom is currently excruciatingly slow, but I believe we are on the right path and are going through all the purgatories to get there. In the meantime, more frequent public use of the word “Revolution” is observable. 1/2

📷 @rusudandjakeli.bsky.social

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 2:31 PM

Day 205 of #GeorgiaProtests and the 6th anniversary of the day when Georgia’s liberation essentially began, the June 20, 2019 anti-Kremlin protest and the subsequent violent crackdown. 2/2.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 2:31 PM

Those detained during the pro-European rallies, whose court hearings were held today, expressed solidarity with the media and NGOs from the courtroom.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 6:42 AM

Nika Melia has been charged with contempt of court after throwing water at a judge – an offense punishable by up to 2 years in prison. He is already imprisoned for failing to pay bail after skipping a GD investigation commission hearing, which carries a 1-year sentence.

#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 6:46 AM

❌ Judge Shota Siradze of Kutaisi Court of Appeals upheld a GEL 2K fine against Mzia Amaglobeli — despite expert reports proving that the video evidence presented by the MIA was recorded after her release from administrative detention and could not depict the events that led to the charges.
#FreeMzia

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) June 20, 2025 at 8:51 AM

🗣️ “Mzia’s case is very high on the agenda, we are all watching what is happening with huge concern”, Interview with the #EU Ambassador to #Georgia, Pawel Herczyński.
@euingeorgia.bsky.social

#FreeMzia
#RepressionInGeorgia

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) June 20, 2025 at 10:23 AM

One might assume that the liberation of Georgia began on June 20, 2019, the “Gavrilov’s Night.”

Since then, it’s constant crisis, broken promises and perpetual struggle. 1/

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 11:24 AM

The Georgian Dream put a Russian MP Sergey Gavrilov in the Chair of the Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia and spontaneous anti-Kremlin protests erupted, brutally suppressed by the regime. Several people lost eyes with rubber bullets. 2/

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 11:24 AM

Ivanishvili then promised fully proportional representation to trick people into leaving the streets, only to abandon his promise later.

Today, activists coloured the fountain at the Parliament in red. “We remember what you did on June 20.” 3/

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 11:24 AM

The Minister of Internal Affairs back then was Giorgi Gakharia, now-one of the opposition leaders whose resignation was demanded by the protesters but instead got him as the Prime Minister. 4/

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 11:24 AM

While Gakharia states that it wasn’t him who gave the order to assault people, he also does not expose the guilty ones, and maintains that he was protecting the Parliament and the state from an assault.

This is one of the main reasons why Gakharia has not been embraced by the public. 5/5.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 11:24 AM

“Today, Russians arrested my teacher.” 🥺 Nino teaches Georgian language and literature.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 2:10 PM

Another woman, Nino Datashvili, now arrested for up to 7 years over a physical confrontation with a court security guard, which he started to begin with. #terrorinGeorgia

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 5:42 AM

The US:

Trump telling everyone to watch their mouth when asked about Ukraine is fucking rich, considering he never does.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM

He should know. He doesn’t, but he should.

Odesa was on fire last night. Meanwhile, the US Senate delays russia sanctions bill “due to the Middle East escalation.”
Indeed, why rushing? russia’s war has only been ongoing for almost 12 years. Ukrainians can wait another decade until busy people find time to deliver “peace through strength.”

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 4:03 AM

Just in case you forgot who we’re dealing with.
This is a real patch worn by Russian soldiers. It says:

“I’ll take back everything that’s mine”

If you’re still thinking “it’s not our war” think again.

They are ill and that’s their mindset.

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— SAINT JAVELIN (@saintjavelin.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 5:49 AM

Some Americans risk their lives to help Ukrainians rebuild what other Americans allow Russia to destroy.

Those in power are clearly not acting in the interest of their own people — polls show support for Ukraine is only growing.

You don’t have to love Ukraine to condemn and stand up to evil.

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— Victoria (@victoriaslog.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 7:12 AM

The EU and Germany:

Curious what intelligence Germany has that is leading it to this conclusion:

‘…“We are very certain, and we have intelligence evidence for this, that Ukraine is just a step on the path to the West,” [BND chief] Kahl told the Table Today podcast on June 9…’

apnews.com/article/euro…

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— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 9:52 AM

From The Associated Press:

BRUSSELS (AP) — Russia poses a direct threat to the European Union through acts of sabotage and cyberattacks, but its massive military spending suggests that President Vladimir Putin also plans to use his armed forces elsewhere in the future, the EU’s top diplomat warned on Wednesday.

“Russia is already a direct threat to the European Union,” EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. She listed a series of Russian airspace violations, provocative military exercises, and attacks on energy grids, pipelines and undersea cables.

Kallas noted that Russia is already spending more on defense than the EU’s 27 nations combined, and this year will invest more “on defense than its own health care, education and social policy combined.”

“This is a long-term plan for a long-term aggression. You don’t spend that much on (the) military, if you do not plan to use it,” Kallas told EU lawmakers in Strasbourg, France.

“Europe is under attack and our continent sits in a world becoming more dangerous,” she added.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has said that Russia is producing as much weapons and ammunition in three months as the 32 allies together make in a year. He believes that Russia could be in a position to launch an attack on a NATO ally by the end of the decade.

Last week, the head of Germany’s foreign intelligence service (BND), Bruno Kahl, warned against underestimating Russian intentions toward the West and NATO.

“We are very certain, and we have intelligence evidence for this, that Ukraine is just a step on the path to the West,” Kahl told the Table Today podcast on June 9, according to German news agency dpa.

Russia’s goal is to expand its sphere of influence westward, the BND chief said.

“They want to catapult NATO back to the state it was in at the end of the 1990s. They want to kick America out of Europe, and they’ll use any means to achieve that,” Kahl said.

He warned that “this must be nipped in the bud,” and that deterrence is the “most bloodless way” to prevent war. NATO countries are set to agree a new defense investment pledge at a summit in the Netherlands next week, pouring billions of dollars more into security-related spending.

Estonia:

Estonia has begun actively building dozens of bunkers and digging anti-tank ditches on the border with Russia

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 1:03 PM

Back to Ukraine.

Another prisoner of war exchange between Ukraine and Russia has taken place!

After more than two years in captivity, our people are finally home.

Welcome back, heroes, you were never forgotten. ❤️‍🩹

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 7:35 AM

Tortured and starved, but alive! Welcome home, defenders!

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 10:02 AM

Ukrainians and their unique problems 😂

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 6:08 PM

Putin claims Russia supposedly isn’t pushing for Ukraine’s surrender, just wants them to accept “realities” on the ground.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 11:36 AM

Putin claims the Russian and Ukrainian people are one, so “all of Ukraine is ours.” He falsely insists “we never questioned Ukraine’s sovereignty.” Showing imperial vibes, he added, “where a Russian soldier steps, it’s ours.”

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 12:24 PM

Wherever a russian soldier sets foot, there is death, destruction, mass graves, mined kids’ toys, murdered animals, torture chambers, and of course looted homes

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— Mira of Kyiv 🇺🇦 (@reshetz.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 4:10 PM

If allowed, Putin will take the whole of Ukraine. But he won’t stop there: He considers the Baltic states, and the whole of what used to be the “Soviet bloc” of Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Bulgaria – all now EU states – to be vassals of the Kremlin.

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— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 1:56 PM

Statements like these definitely provide the framing context for the German intel analysis and the EU’s assessments of Putin’s/Russia’s intentions.

⚡️🇺🇦 You can’t hide in the pipes! The enemy infantry is destroyed!
The orcs tried to hide in the canal pipes. But the 5th Assault Brigade’s FPV drone operators found the hiding place and destroyed the infantry group with a direct hit. No hiding place can save you from the accuracy of our work 💥

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 3:30 PM

Odesa:

Last night, ten russian drones attacked Odesa, causing fires and significant destruction. The attack killed one person and injured 14 others, including three rescue workers.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 3:10 AM

If you justify, romanticize, or “understand” russia — you are aligning with what it’s doing: the bombings, the terror, the murder.
There is no neutral ground between the victim and the assassin.

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 5:35 AM

Russia attacked the Langeron beach area in Odesa, right next to the most popular hotel for kids — Nemo.

There’s damage near the dolphinarium. I’m not sure who’s more shocked the children or the dolphins.

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— Victoria (@victoriaslog.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 6:22 AM

Kharkiv:

A Russian drone strikes a parking lot wedged between apartment buildings in Kharkiv yesterday evening.
No one was killed by some miracle

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 11:12 AM

The Kursk cross border offensive:

Ukrainian Air Force dropped a slick GBU-39 airstrike on a Russian drone operators’ base somewhere in Kursk Oblast.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 12:38 PM

A destroyed Russian assault group on the border between Russia’s Kursk region and Ukraine’s Sumy region. Yesterday, footage showed five bodies of Russian infantrymen at this location. Today, the number has grown to around two dozen.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 11:28 AM

Sumy:

Putin: “We don’t have the task of taking Sumy, but, in principle, I don’t rule it out.”

Putin chooses his words carefully when he plans a TV appearance meaning there is a message he wants to send. In this case, Russian attempts to take Sumy have collapsed. At least for now.

#OSINT #UkraineWar

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— OSINT Intuit (@urikikaski.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM

Putin: We’re not aiming to take Sumy, but I wouldn’t rule it out.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 11:55 AM

Putin also added that Russia supposedly has to create a security zone along its border with Ukraine. He also noted that Kyiv’s actions in Kursk have effectively doubled the frontline length.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 11:58 AM

The Russian occupied portion of Zaporizhzhia Oblast:

Ukrainian fighters from the 65th Mech Brigade UAV unit pulled off a successful op behind Russian lines on Zaporizhzhia front, hitting an enemy post, then destroying a 1L122 “Garmon” radar and wrecking their gear.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 2:24 PM

Tula, Tula Oblast, Russia:

Per ASTRA, Ukrainian forces hit Tula’s Shipunov Instrument Design Bureau twice in three days, halting operations. On June 18, five drones damaged a power station, three warehouses, and an admin building, sparking a 400 sqm fire. On June 20, one drone wrecked a loading hangar’s roof and walls.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 20, 2025 at 10:05 AM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

A new Patron video!

@patron__dsns

Передробоче. Проводжу інструктаж для Марсика (він же Марс, який і планета, і шоколадний батончик). Така кличка, бо він чимось схожий на марсохід, тільки замість космічних кратерів бачить кратери від мін. Страшний трудяга: ніколи не гавкає, не валяється в траві, не обнюхує кожну калюжу на вході. Офіційно Марс робот, а для мене — напарник. Він холодний, але точно не бездушний. Хвилююсь за нього дуже. Бо такі, як Марс, дуже цінні у нашій роботі. Не те, що я не ціную всіх інших… Та Марсик має залізний характер і не має нервових закінчень. Це значить, що йому не болітиме, якщо станеться щось страшне. Але я дуже хочу, аби йому ніколи, ну просто ніколи(!) не довелось це перевіряти. Мрію оце тепер, щоб у Марса зʼявилась подружка. Марселла. Бо думаю, що йому може бути самотньо. А поки спробую подружити його з роботом-пилососом. А що у вас цікавенького? Всім лизь 👅 #песпатрон

♬ Jet2 Advert – ✈️A7-BBH | MAN 🇬🇧

Here’s the machine translation of the caption:

Pre-work I conduct briefings for Marsik (aka Mars, which is both a planet and a chocolate bar). Such a nickname, because it is somewhat similar to a rover, only instead of space craters it sees craters from mines. Terrible hard worker: never barks, never lies in the grass, never sniffs every puddle at the entrance. Officially, Mars is a robot, and for me it is a partner. He is cold, but definitely not heartless. I am very worried about him. Because people like Mars are very valuable in our work. It’s not that I don’t appreciate everyone else… But Marsyk has an iron character and no nerve endings. This means that he will not be in pain if something terrible happens. But I really want him to never, well, never (!) have to check it. Now I dream that Mars will have a girlfriend. Marcella Because I think he can be lonely. In the meantime, I will try to make him friends with a robot vacuum cleaner. What is interesting about you? Everyone lick 👅#песпатрон

Open thread!

War for Ukraine Day 1,212: More Russian Missiles in the Small HoursPost + Comments (14)

Friday Night Open Thread

by John Cole|  June 20, 20257:19 pm| 103 Comments

This post is in: John Cole Presents "This Fucking Old House"

Just a lovely day today here- the first in a long, long time. Slathered up in sun screen and headed out and mowed for a few hours, then went to the big city to get gas for the mowers because tomorrow is an all day cut, got some groceries, and I am super excited to make this thing I saw on tiktok called Spring Roll in a bowl. Basically this without mango and adding some ground pork and some heat. Tonight I thawed out some orange roughy filets and ate them with some corn and sliced tomatoes.

I dunno if it is just me, but I like to make mild, nutty fished by pan searing them in a little olive oil, then taking them out, putting a little salt and pepper on them, and then squeezing a lime and putting very finely sliced cilantro all over it. So good and bright. It’s a really light, non oily fish, just let it shine. No need to dress it up with all sorts of bullshit.

In other news, I did the bird app after dinner (and I fed the bird around four this afternoon), so there were a lot of them out (not to mention squirrels, chipmunks, and rabbits were all sighted):

Friday Night Open Thread 28

Friday Night Open Thread 29

The one that got cut off at the bottom was a Chimney Swift. There was also a blue jay sitting on the damned fence not 15 feet from me and it never said a word (or attacked any one for that matter), so it probably knew I was recording and stayed quiet. Dick. Blue Jays and Geese. Fuck ’em.

In other news, I did a podcast with Oliver Willis that should be up tomorrow. Before the podcast, I spent fifteen minutes trying to get the damned camera to work. Plugged and unplugged it, started the app a couple time, rebooted the computer, reinstalled drivers, powered down and did a cold boot, and, ladies and gentlemen, the fucking lens cap was on.

You are welcome.

Friday Night Open ThreadPost + Comments (103)

Friday Evening Open Thread: Musical Interlude

by Anne Laurie|  June 20, 20255:25 pm| 73 Comments

This post is in: Music, Open Threads

Per Rolling Stone, “Talking Heads Celebrate 50th Anniversary With ‘Psycho Killer’ Video Starring Saoirse Ronan”:

Fifty years ago, the Talking Heads performed for the first time, opening for the Ramones at CBGB. They’d go on to become one of the most influential art-house bands in music history, leaving fans with tons of iconic songs over the decades. Today, they’re celebrating their anniversary by reminding people of one specific classic: They’ve released a video for “Psycho Killer,” the first song they ever wrote as a band…

Anybody else got tunes, or thoughts, for the end of another fraught week?

Friday Evening Open Thread: Musical InterludePost + Comments (73)

Fucking Bloody Hell

by John Cole|  June 20, 20254:08 pm| 240 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Democratic Stupidity

This makes me want to vomit:

Representative James E. Clyburn of South Carolina, a veteran lawmaker who was once the highest-ranking Black member of Congress, endorsed former Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo in New York City’s Democratic mayoral primary on Friday.

Mr. Clyburn made the case that Mr. Cuomo was the right candidate to help Democrats fend off the ill effects of President Trump’s second term, when Mr. Trump is “challenging the pillars of our democracy.”

“The mayor of New York is uniquely positioned to play an important role in the future of the national Democratic Party,” Mr. Clyburn said in a statement, adding that Mr. Cuomo had the “experiences, credentials and character to not just serve New York, but also help save the nation.”

We’re never going to get rid of this man, Cuomo, are we? My god how must women feel about him. I wish he would not have endorsed him.

Fucking Bloody HellPost + Comments (240)

Dodger Stadium Standoff Open Thread

by Anne Laurie|  June 20, 202510:28 am| 143 Comments

This post is in: C.R.E.A.M., Immigration, Open Threads, Trump Crime Cartel

It is the official position of ICE that this very real event that did, in fact, happen was not them.
Vigilantism is worse. It would be nice if federal agents had means to identify themselves as legitimate law enforcement.

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— Matt Ortega (@mattortega.com) June 19, 2025 at 4:42 PM

This feels pretty notable IMO

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— Nute (@nutedawn.bsky.social) June 19, 2025 at 3:36 PM

NB: The Athletic is the NYTimes’ sports sub-blog:

The Los Angeles Dodgers said they denied federal immigration officials access to the area around the team’s stadium on Thursday morning.
The news comes hours after The Athletic reported the team’s plans to announce assistance to immigrants impacted by recent militarized raids.

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— The Athletic (@theathletic.bsky.social) June 19, 2025 at 5:12 PM

Looking weak like this in the Trump administration is literally begging to get Miller come to your office and shout for hours and hours, it's not surprising they're all rushing to cover they asses.

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— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) June 19, 2025 at 5:41 PM

show full post on front page

if you don’t know the history of Dodger Stadium you can’t fully understand what unfolded today. thanks @chrislhayes.bsky.social for the opportunity to share it.

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— Jacob Soboroff (@jacobsoboroff.bsky.social) June 19, 2025 at 9:05 PM

Imagine being one of these pampered blow-dried TV dolts giggling like a child about the idea of mass deportations at a Dodgers game.
So much misery and chaos! It would be so much fun for these assholes to watch from their living rooms.

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— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) June 16, 2025 at 6:18 PM

Sure looks like ICE got their assignment to stage a raid at Dodgers Stadium from these giggling dipshits.

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— Kevin M. Kruse (@kevinmkruse.bsky.social) June 19, 2025 at 3:22 PM

Barry Petchesky, reporting for Defector — “The Dodgers Can’t Sit This Moment Out”:

… Around 8 a.m., a line of unmarked vans and SUVs attempted to enter the stadium parking lot. They were feds—they said as much, although as has been characteristic of this campaign there was no sure way to tell by looking. They wore no uniforms, displayed no badges or service logos, and covered their faces. In short, they looked and dressed like immigration officers have looked and dressed around the country as they perform deportation raids on terrified communities—like thugs, or kidnappers, or just criminals…

It should be noted that they were not, or not entirely, ICE, but rather Customs and Border Protection agents—another enforcement organization under the Department of Homeland Security, with much of the same powers and purview. It’s a distinction without a difference; they all act more or less the same. The agents themselves were not exactly forthcoming with their identities, they told an L.A. Times reporter only that they were “DHS.”

Denied entrance, the line of vehicles relocated to another gate outside a closed parking lot, where they gathered before gradually dispersing. They had apparently intended to use Dodger Stadium’s lot as a quiet place to process people arrested in early-morning raids, including a major one at a Home Depot in Hollywood that had targeted day laborers and street vendors. One activist showed the Times photos of vehicles that were present at both the Home Depot raid and at Dodger Stadium. That activist also told the Times that a CBP agent had told her why they sought the apparent isolation of a closed stadium parking lot.

“We bring the detainees here to process them and conduct our investigation without public interference,” the agent said, according to [Emily] Phillips, who wrote down his quote. “We can’t do it in the Home Depot parking lot because the public makes it dangerous.”

Angelenos made sure they couldn’t do it at Dodger Stadium, either. After images of the feds at the stadium began spreading on social media, protestors showed up in an attempt to confront them.

The protestors were kept from the federal agents by LAPD. The feds eventually left as more protestors arrived over the course of the morning.

The Dodgers, in the wake of Thursday’s showdown, announced they will delay announcing their community initiatives. “Because of the events earlier today, we continue to work with groups that were involved with our programs,” Dodgers president Stan Kasten said. “But we are going to have to delay today’s announcement while we firm up some more details. We’ll get back to you soon with the timing.”

If the exact form of Thursday’s events wasn’t predictable, the broad strokes absolutely were. This isn’t the type of politics where neutrality can be maintained indefinitely. Any pro sports team will inevitably be entwined with its community, and this is especially true of the Dodgers, from the composition of their fanbase to their immigrant megastar to their stadium’s very origins. They didn’t ask to be involved, but neither did those Angelenos being targeted and terrorized by the government. Not an inch can be given.

Dodger Stadium Standoff Open ThreadPost + Comments (143)

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