Balloon Juice - Open Threads Archives

Saturday Afternoon Open Thread

by WaterGirl| October 25, 202512:57 pm| 74 Comments

Here you go!

Saturday Afternoon Open ThreadPost + Comments (74)

How do you decide what to do when you’re experiencing a flood, a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, and a tsunami all at once?

by WaterGirl| October 25, 202511:50 am| 56 Comments

This post is in: Democratic Response to Trump 2.0, Open Threads, Politics

I think talking about the mental decline of FFOTUS is something we should be doing on a regular basis. Don’t make it political.

I think the President is off his rocker.
I don’t know what happened, but he’s just not making sense anymore.
I’m kind of worried about the President’s mental health, seems like it’s going downhill.
Did you see the President rambling the other day? It seemed like he didn’t even know where he was.
I wonder if the strain of the office is getting to him, I heard the president say some crazy stuff yesterday.

Pick one, make up your own, but drop it everywhere you can.

It’s the new “It’s the economy, stupid!”

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No, wait. It’s Epstein, Epstein, Epstein.

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No, it’s healthcare, and they are killing people with their evil policies.

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No, it the breathtaking lawlessness.

We don’t declare war, we just murder people. Like, you know, dead.

How do you decide what to do when you’re experiencing a flood, a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, and a tsunami all at once?

One thing we can do is come up with “hit and run” statements for all of the categories listed. Then we can have them at our fingertips to drop, whatever feels most relevant on any given day.

It can be our own little à la carte menu.

How do you decide what to do when you’re experiencing a flood, a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, and a tsunami all at once?Post + Comments (56)

We Do More Than Wring Our Hands and Rage at the Madness

by WaterGirl| October 25, 202511:02 am| 20 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Political Action, Politics

We’re approaching the holiday season – let’s talk about gifts that keep on giving.

Who are some of the Attorneys General that are suing the Administration for abuses of power?

People that we helped elect thru direct donations and through our support of boots on the ground organizations in those states.

What is the latest state to help fight the steal of elections by Republican gerrymandering in TX and elsewhere – to rig the game in 2026?

Virginia!

The Virginia Senate majority leader is leading the charge in Virginia to offset the recent gerrymandering in TX and elsewhere. Why is he able to do that?

Because Democrats gained the (slim) majority in the Virginia Senate and the Virginia House in 2023. We directly supported candidates in two key races for the VA House, and we supported boots on the ground organizations in VA.

We need to keep stepping up, and we can’t let the frustration and discouragement and anger at all the destruction that is occurring day after day after day keep us from making a positive difference.

Not suggesting that we all have to agree on everything, but I would love to see us leave the infighting behind – it saps our energy and creates rifts that we can’t afford if we are going to win this fight. I would love to see us get back to making a difference.

Let’s save the rocks in our pockets for the Republicans.

Let’s turn anger into action.

More details about Virginia from the Status Kuo – click to read the whole thing.

Virginia to the Rescue

That’s why I let out a little cheer when a news alert popped up on my screen yesterday: Virginia was moving to act.

Blue seats, from out of the blue

In a surprise move yesterday, the Virginia Senate majority leader, Scott Surovell, announced that his state would seek to redraw its congressional map in time for the 2026 midterms. “We are coming back to address actions by the Trump administration,” Surovell declared, referring to a special legislative session that Democrats would convene.

My first thought was “Yay!” But my second thought was, “How on earth?”

Virginia was not on anyone’s list of “most likely to Avengers Assemble” in this moment of dire need. That’s because the governor, Glenn Youngkin, who is a Republican, wasn’t about to call a special session to push redistricting. And earlier this summer, the Democratic candidate for governor, Abigail Spanberger, had thrown cold water on the idea of a mid-decade redistricting, indicating that she had “no plans” to push such an effort.

And time was running out. Under Virginia’s state constitution, to get an amendment on the ballot, the authorizing legislation has to pass twice—once before both houses of the General Assembly (the House of Delegates and the state Senate) and then again after the election of the next General Assembly.

I figured such a hurry up offense was pretty much impossible with just 11 days to go before the election. Virginia, it seemed, would have to wait, just like New York which has also has a cumbersome dual-session process to amend its state constitution.

What I didn’t consider—and what I hope some brilliant legislative staffer figured out (if so, please give them a raise!)—was the possibility of a special legislative session that the Democrats could call on their own.

Let’s play some inside legislative baseball to explain what happened. It’s all really quite amazing, and the GOP is fuming mad which makes it even more delightful.

We Do More Than Wring Our Hands and Rage at the MadnessPost + Comments (20)

Saturday Morning Open Thread

by Anne Laurie| October 25, 20255:15 am| 234 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Show Us on the Doll Where the Invisible Hand Touched You, Our Failed Media Experiment

If you're hopping mad about Trump destroying the White House, we've got a new hat or sticker for you.
Your purchase supports progressive groups working to build a fairer, more inclusive America for everyone—and win elections!
shop.onwardtogether.org/collections/…

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— Hillary Rodham Clinton (@hillaryclinton.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 9:14 AM

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BREAKING: Social Security recipients will get a 2.8% cost-of-living boost in 2026, reflecting an average increase of $56 per month.

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— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) October 24, 2025 at 9:07 AM

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Inflation under Biden: "Should the President be fired out of a cannon or merely tarred and feathered?"
Inflation under Trump: "Well, pobody's nerfect!"

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— ArgellaStone but Spooky (@argellastone.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 2:49 PM

The American public, having decided they hated inflation combined with their paychecks going up, are now going to be getting inflation and also losing their jobs.
Let's see if they enjoy that more.

— ArgellaStone but Spooky (@argellastone.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM

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The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment index fell -1.5 points in October to 53.6, its lowest level since May. That's down -24.0% from a year ago.

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— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 12:17 PM

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Trump's favorability has fallen among Hispanics, an AP-NORC poll finds, after the key group helped his return to the White House.

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— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) October 24, 2025 at 7:48 AM

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But Trump gets a ballroom and Argentina gets a $40 billion bailout

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— Senator Ron Wyden (@wyden.senate.gov) October 24, 2025 at 8:41 PM

Saturday Morning Open ThreadPost + Comments (234)

Cold Grey Dawn Open Thread: Other New England Political Races

by Anne Laurie| October 25, 20253:18 am| 28 Comments

This post is in: Local Races, Open Threads

Massachusetts: Seth Moulton Wants A New Job
Before the GOP became a wholly-owned subsidiary of TrumpCo LLC (or in a less thoroughly Democratic state than my beloved Commonwealth), Moulton would’ve been a centrist Republican. He’s a nice man, I hear, with a sterling background, but it’s very unlikely he’ll be able to unseat Senator Ed Markey, who is both very crafty and known for ferocious constituent service. However, challenging Markey now means Moulton can spend the next several months giving interviews about how Youth Must Be Served… and, after that, many more months giving speeches / serving on right-wing think tank boards explaining that He Didn’t Leave His Party, It Left Him. Which is, I suspect, more money for less stress than listening to Masshole constituents bitch.

Per his local Tewksbury Town Crier, “Rep. Moulton challenges Sen. Markey”:

U.S. Rep. Seth Moulton, a moderate Massachusetts Democrat who represents Wilmington and Tewksbury, said Wednesday that he will challenge U.S. Sen. Edward Markey for the Democratic nomination in next year’s Senate race, arguing it’s time for the party to embrace a new generation of leadership.

In a video accompanying his announcement, Moulton, 46, said the Democratic Party was stuck in the “status quo” and “isn’t fighting hard enough.”…

“We’re in crisis, and with everything we learned last election, I just don’t believe Sen. Markey should be running for another six-year term at 80 years old,” Moulton said in the video. “Even more, I don’t think someone who’s been in Congress for half a century is the right person to meet this moment and win the future.”

Moulton, who enlisted in the Marines after the Sept. 11 attacks and served four tours of duty in Iraq, was first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014. Last year, he ran unopposed. In his announcement, Moulton said he would be focusing his campaign on issues including affordability, health care, banning assault weapons and protecting democracy…

After Democrats lost the White House and both houses of Congress last year, Moulton caught flak from some members of his party for saying he didn’t want his daughters playing in sports against transgender girls. Critics said Moulton echoed Trump’s talking points against allowing transgender athletes in girls’ and women’s sports.

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“I think that Republicans have a hateful position on trans issues,” Moulton told The Associated Press last year, but he insisted that Democrats still lose voters because of the party’s “attitude.”

Markey, for his part, has been here before. He faced a hard-fought challenge from Kennedy in 2020. He turned to his progressive allies to overcome a challenge from a younger rival from America’s most famous political family.

During that race, Markey appealed to voters in the deeply Democratic state by positioning himself as aligned with the liberal wing of the party. He teamed up with a leading progressive, New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, on the Green New Deal climate change initiative — and at one point labeled Kennedy “a progressive in name only.”…

Click over for an amazing visual…

Taking it to Seth Moulton for the primary.

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— emptywheel (@emptywheel.bsky.social) October 19, 2025 at 11:04 AM

Senator Ed Markey (D-MA) at the Boston No Kings rally today, wore the trans pride flag like a scarf draped over his shoulders and included in his speech. “Because here in Massachusetts, we stand for what is right. We stand with trans people because trans rights are human rights.”

"[Moulton] was greeted by boos and expletives from some rally goers…"
“You sold out trans kids! "Fuck you!” Knowles, yelled from the crowd. “You don’t belong here, Seth Moulton, you traitor! Trans kids matter.”
www.masslive.com/politics/202…

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— Alejandra Caraballo (@esqueer.net) October 18, 2025 at 8:37 PM

Lexington knows a thing or two about taking on a king. #NoKings pic.twitter.com/GzfJAJUW8N

— Ed Markey (@EdMarkey) October 24, 2025

***********

New Hampshire: Who’s More Powerful in the Granite State?

John E. Sununu enters GOP primary race in New Hampshire for the U.S. Senate seat he lost in 2008.

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— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) October 22, 2025 at 6:41 AM

… National Republicans consider Sununu a strong candidate and one who allows them to go on the offensive as they look to hold their majority in the chamber next year.

In statements, the Republican National Committee said Sununu’s entrance creates “a formidable Republican field poised to make this seat competitive in 2026.” The Senate Leadership Fund, a super PAC linked to Senate Majority Leader John Thune, said they were “excited” about Sununu’s bid and that it “expands the Senate map and puts the Granite State in play for Republicans.”…

Sununu must first win the primary though, and his past opposition to President Donald Trump could be problematic. While Brown has aligned himself closely with Trump and served as his U.S. ambassador to New Zealand, Sununu backed Nikki Haley in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, writing an op-ed calling Trump a “loser.”

Trump went on to win New Hampshire’s leadoff primary, but the state’s voters rejected him for a third time in the general election. And while Republicans control the Statehouse and governor’s office, Democrats have held all four of New Hampshire’s congressional seats since 2017.

Sununu has been in contact with the White House about the Senate campaign, according to a senior White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity and was not authorized to discuss private conversations…

Per The Downballot:

John Sununu announced Wednesday that he would run to reclaim the Senate seat he lost all the way back in 2008, and prominent national Republicans were quick to consolidate behind him.

“The @NRSC is all-in for @SununuSenator!” tweeted Tim Scott, the South Carolina senator who leads the Senate GOP’s campaign arm. The well-funded Senate Leadership Fund also backed Sununu, who is both the older brother of former Gov. Chris Sununu and also the son and namesake of another ex-governor.

But one vocal New Hampshire Republican wasn’t deterred by the ex-senator’s entry into the race to succeed retiring incumbent Jeanne Shaheen, the Democrat who unseated Sununu 17 years ago.

“Anyone who thinks that a never-Trump, corporate lobbyist who hasn’t won an election in a quarter century will resonate with today’s GOP primary voters is living in a different universe,” former Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown, who began running in June, told the Washington Examiner just before Sununu’s launch. Brown, whose last victory was in the 2010 special election for Ted Kennedy’s old Senate seat, has never won office in New Hampshire…

Sununu emerged on the political scene in 1996 when, at the age of 32, he prevailed in a hotly contested U.S. House race, an outcome that ensured his family’s influence would continue into the next generation. (Sununu is often identified as “John E. Sununu” to distinguish him from former Gov. John H. Sununu, who achieved national prominence as George H.W. Bush’s first White House chief of staff.)

The congressman later waged a successful primary challenge in 2002 against Sen. Bob Smith, who had temporarily abandoned the GOP to run for president as an independent, before he dug in for a tough general election against then-Gov. Shaheen.

George W. Bush’s popularity in the aftermath of 9/11 and the lead-up to the Iraq War helped propel Sununu to a 51-46 victory over Shaheen in what proved to be her only loss at the ballot box during her long career. Multiple Republicans were later implicated for their involvement in a plot to jam Democratic phone lines to disrupt the pro-Shaheen get-out-the-vote operation, with several sentenced to prison.

Bush, though, was anything but an asset for Sununu in his 2008 rematch against Shaheen…

… The former senator, who went on to join several corporate boards, kept a relatively low profile as his brother, Chris, became the top Republican in the state and won four straight two-year terms as governor.

On the rare occasions Sununu stepped back into the political world, it was chiefly to endorse presidential primary candidates who wound up losing to Trump. In 2016, he supported then-Ohio Gov. John Kasich’s doomed campaign, while last year, he backed Nikki Haley’s failed effort to stop Trump and penned an op-ed in the Union Leader titled, “Donald Trump is a loser.”

He wasn’t even the GOP’s first-choice Sununu. Republican power-brokers had long sought to recruit Chris as a Senate candidate, but after he repeatedly turned them down, they instead turned to John…

The Sununu family is a New-England-lite version of the Bush clan — they’ve got their grubby hooves in every trough of the state’s politics, and done very well by their (shall we call it) persistence. But if Scotty Brown can ding John up during the primary, I’ll bring the popcorn.

Also, is ‘Donald Trump’s pick!’ gonna be a magical mantra up here, next year?

EXCLUSIVE: The GOP redistricting effort in New Hampshire is frozen.
Republican lawmakers see no path forward without buy-in from Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

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— Politico (@politico.com) October 24, 2025 at 11:33 AM

… State Sen. Dan Innis has yanked his own bill that would have kicked off a mid-decade redraw of the state’s two congressional districts in the face of resistance from GOP Gov. Kelly Ayotte.

“The governor wasn’t that supportive of it since it’s in the middle of the normal redistricting cycle,” Innis, a Republican who recently ended his U.S. Senate campaign, told POLITICO. “Rather than create a difficult situation in my own house, the New Hampshire State House, I thought it made sense to save this for another time.”…

The White House had been ratcheting up pressure on New Hampshire Republicans to put forward a new map for months, threatening a take-no-prisoners approach that included weighing a primary challenge to Ayotte. Trump ally and longtime New Hampshire resident Corey Lewandowski, who is serving as a Department of Homeland Security senior adviser, said days later he was considering running for governor against Ayotte…

“We’re in the middle of the census, I don’t think the timing is right for redistricting,” Ayotte recently told local television station WMUR, adding that “the thing [Granite Staters are] talking to me about is not redistricting.”

New Hampshire’s biggest ‘industry’ is tourism — and most of those tourists, I believe, come from the states immediately north of Delaware, plus the eastern regions of Canada. Areas not particularly Trump-enthusiastic, shall we say. Ayotte’s a native New Hampster, a ‘true conservative with libertarian tendencies’… and she ain’t stupid.

Cold Grey Dawn Open Thread: Other New England Political RacesPost + Comments (28)

War for Ukraine Day 1,338: A Brief Friday Night Update

by Adam L Silverman| October 24, 20258:02 pm| 7 Comments

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

A couple of housekeeping notes: First, I had a long day today, so just a brief(ish) update tonight. I have several more through Wednesday, so barring something major happening the updates will be on the just the basics side. And they may come in a little later than normal.

The cost:

Karina Dementiy, head of the Ukrposhta branch in Kherson, was killed this morning, October 24, during a Russian attack.

She was on her way to work. Riding a regular city bus, with ordinary people. At that moment, Russian Grad rockets rained down on the city.

She leaves behind a son and a husband.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 8:18 AM

The russian occupiers hold 21yo Yana Suvorova hostage. They fabricated criminal charges against her which foresee 14yrs in prison. She was kidnapped at the age of 19.

Everyone who advocates for Ukraine ceding lands support these repressions against Ukrainians.

russian occupation is not peace.

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 11:03 AM

The Russians hammered civilian targets in Kharkiv, Kherson, and other parts of Ukraine. I’ll get to all of that during the jump.

The Zelenskyys had another busy day today.

Putin wants a humanitarian catastrophe in Ukraine this winter, Zelenskyy said during a meeting with UK PM Keir Starmer at Downing Street.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 8:33 AM

The president agreed with Starmer’s observation that the Russian dictator shows no intention of ending the war, evidenced by attacks paralyzing Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. “We are not alone in this situation,” Zelenskyy stated.

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 8:33 AM

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

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Europe Is Politically Ready to Channel Frozen Russian Assets Into Comprehensive Support for Ukraine – Address by the President

24 October 2025 – 21:01

Dear Ukrainians!

A meeting with leaders in London has already taken place – this is the third positive development for Ukraine in just a few days. More sanctions against Russia are coming – and they will be aligned with the decision of the United States. This is a very right move by the U.S. President – sanctions against two Russian oil companies that export large volumes of oil. Today, all participants, without exception, in the Coalition of the Willing agreed that this is exactly how pressure should continue – on Russian oil: Russian oil companies, terminals, Russian tanker fleet, and the entire infrastructure of the aggressor. Today we agreed on decisions that can help us a lot. We will not disclose all the details yet, to make things harder for Putin.

And even though Russia is now signaling to the world that sanctions supposedly don’t affect its economy, everyone can see the truth: gas station lines inside Russia, bankrupt Russian regions, and Russia’s federal budget deficit. Sanctions remain one of the most painful blows for Putin, personally for him.

Second, there are very important agreements on financial support for Ukraine. Europe is politically ready to channel frozen Russian assets into comprehensive support for Ukraine and Ukrainians, and yesterday the European Council reached a political decision – the clear framework for using the assets, and this framework has been defined. We now also agreed in Europe that this framework must be implemented by the end of the year. Overall, the mood in Europe is such that we understand: funding for Ukraine, for our people, will be secured for next year.

Third – everything related to weapons, air defense, and positions on the frontline. There are already new packages from our partners; our approach to long-range capabilities is also gaining more support. And this means there will be more precise long-range sanctions – direct-action sanctions against Russia’s war machine. And it works over thousands of kilometers.

I also want very much to thank everyone supporting us in the issue of air defense, of systems: we are working with countries to increase the number of Patriots and compatible missiles. There is also a decision from Italy today – they are preparing a support package for our energy sector. Thank you. There is a decision from Norway to fund gas purchases – thank you very much! We have good agreements with other countries, our European partners, and teams are now working to implement them. And we will continue addressing energy issues with the new Japanese Government– the new Prime Minister of Japan took part in the Coalition of the Willing meeting today. And we expect that each G7 member – from the U.S. and Canada to Japan – will continue their steps to support us, support Ukraine, and support our people.

And of course – Sweden. There is a new and major agreement for our combat aviation: we are working on the Gripen fleet, excellent combat aircraft. We have signed the first document, and we are counting on 150 aircraft. And this is a long-term security guarantee for a strong and modern independent Ukraine. This is a historic step. We thank everyone who is helping us!

Glory to Ukraine!

He also made a statement during the joint press conference of the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing at the NATO summit today.

Statement by the President of Ukraine During the Joint Press Conference with Leaders of the Coalition of the Willing Member States and the NATO Secretary General

24 October 2025 – 22:12

Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends,

Keir, Mette, Dick, Mark, and everyone here,

Thank you for today’s meeting, today’s Coalition. These are two important days for us, very important: today the meeting of the Coalition of the Willing in London, and the day before there was an EU leaders’ meeting in Brussels.

I thank you, guys, for all the support and your readiness to keep helping.

And today all the partners confirmed that next year they will continue to support Ukraine – our country, our resilience – especially the financial support, which is crucial.

And today the new Prime Minister of Japan joined the Coalition for the first time, and all the signals are clear – thank you.

We all see the challenges these days. The Russians are carrying out a campaign of terror against our energy system. They really want to make the winter cold a tool of torment and pressure on Ukraine – on our people and on our defense.

Russia’s goal hasn’t changed – they want to break us, they want to break Ukraine, and they are doing everything to achieve it. So that’s why our defense means everything that truly stops Russia from killing, destroying, and terrorizing.

First – air defense.

Today we spoke in detail with our partners about the systems. It’s important that our partners focus on what’s most practical and effective. We gave all the details.

Second – of course, it’s important that everyone agrees the front needs substantial attention, and the focus must be on it, and thanks for all the steps of help.

And third – we are promoting a more meaningful approach to diplomacy. Diplomacy matters only when it can lead to real decisions. And when it comes to Russia, that “dish” has many ingredients. The essential ones are real forms of pressure on Russia: sanctions, our long-range capabilities, political pressure, accountability for war crimes, and real actions regarding Russian assets. Today we all agreed.

Sanctions that hit Russian oil infrastructure, Russian oil companies are a big step. And I thank President Trump and all our partners who are implementing this.

And we have to apply pressure not only to Rosneft and Lukoil, but to all Russian oil companies like Surgutneftegas and others, and to the shadow fleet and its infrastructure, and to Russia’s oil terminals.

And we have to implement all we have discussed today about Russia’s shadow fleet.

Besides, we are carrying out our own campaign of pressure with drones and missiles – specifically targeting the Russian oil sector. So the long-range capability directly strengthens diplomacy – the more losses Putin suffers on his own territory, the fewer assaults he can carry out on the front line, and the faster he will agree to meaningful diplomacy. That is why we are working to secure Tomahawk cruise missiles, additional Storm Shadow missiles, and other capabilities. Thank you very much, Keir, for today’s decision. Thank you for your support, for what you said, including about the long-range capability. There must be no option left for Russia except to end the war and return peace to our country.

Of course, I also want to thank our partners for working with us to produce weapons – for investing in our country, for joint projects, and for the agreements we are now implementing.

And one more point is the PURL program, I thank you for each contribution. Mark, thank you for coordinating this program, for each contribution. And today we agreed to step up in the coming months.

Peace is born from pressure on the aggressor, and that is what we must continue to do. Thank you.

Here’s the video:

First Lady Zelenska spoke at the unveiling of a monument to Queen Ellisiv, the wife of King Harald Hardrada of Norway.

Ukrainian–Norwegian Friendship Began Almost a Thousand Years Ago, Not Merely With Diplomatic Agreements, but With Human Relationships – Olena Zelenska at the Unveiling of a Monument to Queen Ellisiv (Elizabeth of Kyiv) in Oslo

24 October 2025 – 19:47

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska, together with Their Royal Highnesses Crown Prince Haakon and Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway, Mayor of Oslo Anne Lindboe, and Ukraine’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha, attended the unveiling of a monument to Queen Ellisiv, the wife of King Harald Hardrada of Norway. Elizabeth of Kyiv, the eldest daughter of Yaroslav the Wise, Prince of Kyiv, married King Harald Hardrada in 1045.

“It is especially moving that the marriage of Ellisiv and King Harald Hardrada was not merely a dynastic matter, but also an expression of affection – we know this because poems written by the future king and dedicated to his bride have survived,” the First Lady said.

The President’s wife also noted that Oslo itself was founded during the reign of this royal couple.

“Thus, Ukrainian–Norwegian friendship began almost a thousand years ago, not merely with diplomatic agreements, but with human relationships, mutual support, and trust that we can still see today. Ukraine is receiving vital support from Norway, and thousands of Ukrainians have found a temporary home and safety here,” Olena Zelenska said.

The First Lady also spoke with members of the Ukrainian community who attended the unveiling ceremony.

Here’s the video:

Georgia:

Brave Georgian protesters are still blocking Rustaveli Avenue, risking days or even years in jail.

GD has arrested more than 80 protesters in the past few days for participating in the #GeorgiaProtests.

Day 331 of uninterrupted protests.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:26 PM

Despite all the arrests and imprisonments, protesters blocked Rustaveli again today.

October 24, 21:20

#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:35 PM

While Rustaveli Avenue remains blocked, musician Vakho Babunashvili performs a song from his 90s band, Soft Eject. ❤️

This is the 331st consecutive night that protesters have blocked the avenue — at great personal risk to themselves.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:40 PM

Police have cleared the road, and activists have calmly moved back to the sidewalk. It’s hard to move, the sidewalk is packed.

Rustaveli Avenue was blocked for about 25 minutes.

Day 331 of uninterrupted protests in 8+ cities across Georgia. 🇬🇪

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM

Every day, Ivanishvili’s regime arrests dozens of protesters. Every day, the Rustaveli Avenue is still packed.

Day 331 of uninterrupted protests in 8+ cities across Georgia. 🇬🇪✊

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:55 PM

This is Nino Svanidze of opposition party Droa. She’s just served 5 days in jail for peacefully protesting on Rustaveli Ave.

Behind her, my friend holds her tightly, begging her not to step off the sidewalk as it could mean a year in prison.

Day 331 of #GeorgiaProtests.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 3:35 PM

“EU, UK, USA, please, pull all the levers – we can’t manage without you.”

Nino Svanidze left detention today, and again proceeded to close the road on Rustaveli. The second time is already a criminal offense for the regime.

1/2

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM

This is why Natia Chikovani tried to prevent Nino from closing the road – tying her hands around Nino.

This is where we’re at, and we aren’t stopping.

Proud to be in the same Droa party team as Nino Svanidze.

#TerrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

2/2.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 3:42 PM

⭕️Tamar Lortkipanidze, 48, who climbed onto a patrol car during the Oct. 22 protest in #Tbilisi, has been formally charged by the Prosecutor’s Office with violence and attacking a police vehicle.
💢Charges carry a potential prison sentence of four to seven years.
#GeorgiaProtests #RepressionInGeorgia

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) October 24, 2025 at 12:19 PM

“Everyone in jail!”

A one-man protest in Georgia: comedian Onise Okriashvili stands alone before the Rustaveli statue. He often protests solo in public places.

Georgia now has nearly 200 political prisoners.

📷 Publika

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 12:23 PM

As a sign of resistance, Droa’s Mariam Sitchinava wore a mask at the Zugdidi protest — now punishable by up to 15 days in jail.
When police searched her, she demanded a female officer — and they brought her classmate.
In small towns, friends are forced to arrest friends.

🎥 Mariam Sitchinava

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 12:55 PM

Natia Letodiani’s Grandma: “Natia, are you being arrested?”

Natia: “Yeah!”

Grandma: “Put something warm on!”

Natia: “Okay, I’ll get a coat.”

@DroaParty member Natia Letodiani’s arrest👇🏻

#TerrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

📷 MOSE

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 12:59 PM

Formula TV’s founder, director, and producer Giorgi Liponava has also been arrested for participating in the #GeorgiaProtests. Three of Formula’s journalists, Vakho Sanaia, Keta Tsitskishvili, and Tsira Zhvania, have likewise been detained on the same charges.

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— Anna Gvarishvili (@annagvarish.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 9:41 AM

Police have arrested Davit Gagreli — the young man from yesterday’s striking #GeorgiaProtests photo. According to his Facebook, he’s pursuing a PhD in aviation engineering. He’s also an internally displaced person (IDP) from Gagra, Abkhazia.

Dozen of arrests today in Georgia.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 10:37 AM

Police released Basti after 40 minutes and told him they mistook him for someone else. Yet, they knew everything about him, including the fact that his grandmother was visiting from Guria.

Local journalists see this as a shot across their bow.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 10:21 AM

🧵 Publika.ge’s Statement on the Illegal Detention of Our Journalist, Basti Mgaloblishvili.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM

1/ As the public is already aware, today the co-founder of Publika and journalist Basti Mgaloblishvili was illegally deprived of his liberty by officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM

2/ Plainclothes police officers detained him in a car for approximately 50 minutes, restricting his freedom of movement, forcibly seizing his phone, and preventing him from contacting his family, colleagues, or lawyer.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM

3/ After the incident became public and widely reported, he was released and told him that they detained him mistakenly.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM

4/ However, according to Mgaloblishvili, the circumstances clearly indicate that the officers were aware of his identity and had deliberately targeted him, they knew his name, surname, and address, had been waiting at his home since morning, and were aware that his grandmother was visiting.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM

5/ Since the founding of Publika, journalist Basti Mgaloblishvili has been actively reporting on current events in Georgia and, in recent days, has been covering the Rustaveli protests.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM

6/ Publika condemns this unlawful detention as an act of pressure on independent media and an attempt by the government to suppress freedom of speech and expression.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM

7/ Jurnalists of Publika have frequently become targets of police violence, disinformation, hate speech, and propaganda spread by high-ranking government officials.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM

8/ We recognize that this has become part of the daily reality for media workers in Georgia, yet we refuse to accept it. We call on the government to end the ongoing practice of beating, arresting, intimidating, and otherwise repressing journalists.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM

9/ Freedom to Mzia Amaglobeli!

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:03 PM

Around an hour after regime propaganda media posted about Giga Lemonjava’s detention,

Giga was detained in the yard of Tbilisi City Court, where he was attending sham trials of regime prisoners.

1/2

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM

Giga is the Executive Secretary of our Droa party, the second person after already jailed Elene Khoshtaria.

They could have detained Giga over “closing the road” days ago, but they did so on his birthday.

#TerrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

2/2.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 10:15 AM

Lasha Bregvadze was abducted by the regime police as he took his child to school.

His “crime”? “Closing the road illegally.”

#TerrorinGeorgia #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 5:36 AM

Apparently, on October 22, Putin appointed a new special representative for “demarcation and delimitation” of “borders Georgia, Abkhazia, and South Ossetia.”

1/2

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 7:59 AM

There’s a belief in certain democratic experts in Georgia that eventually the goal of the Georgian Dream Russian proxy regime in Georgia is precisely to recognize the independence of the two breakaway, Russian-occupied regions.

2/2.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 7:59 AM

NATO:

Putin is running out of money, soldiers and ideas in the war against Ukraine, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said at a Coalition of the Willing meeting in London.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 2:44 PM

France:

France will supply Ukraine with Mirage fighter jets and more Aster air defense missiles, Emmanuel Macron announced. Paris will also boost funding and support Ukraine’s energy resilience, and urged the EU to start work on a 20th sanctions package against Russia.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 12:01 PM

The UK:

A London court sentenced six people to prison terms ranging from 8 to 17 years for setting fire to warehouses containing humanitarian aid for Ukraine on behalf of the Wagner Group.

The fire occurred on March 20, 2024, and caused £1.3 million in damage. www.bbc.com/news/article…

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 2:32 PM

“Octopus” interceptor drone which will be co-produced in Britain

In the first stages, it is expected that about 2,000 drones will be produced per month, which will be transferred to the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 12:42 PM

The US:

Key talking points from Dmitriev, who arrived in the US where a meeting with Witkoff is scheduled.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 12:59 PM

Back to Ukraine.

Destruction of a russian “ Shahed ” right in the air 🔥
Effective combat work of our Gods of the Sky 🦾

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:21 PM

A russian drone flies right into the back of a Ukrainian soldier and miraculously does not detonate 🫂🇺🇦

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 2:15 PM

A pair of Ukrainian F-16s flying in formation

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 11:39 AM

Kharkiv:

Russia is bombing Kharkiv outskirts right now. There were 7 explosions just outside the city so far ‼️

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 5:50 PM

The above was at 6:30 PM EDT.

❗️Russia dropped five aerial bombs on one district in Kharkiv, injuring at least six civilians.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 5:12 AM

In Kharkiv, nine people were injured; one man is in serious condition. Russia struck the city with five aerial bombs.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 8:05 AM

Russia struck Kharkiv with six glide bombs earlier today, injuring three people, destroying a car repair shop, and damaging other civilian facilities.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 7:09 AM

Kherson:

Early this morning, russia shelled apartment buildings and houses in Kherson, killing a woman and injuring at least 13 others — among them a 16-year-old boy.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 2:46 AM

Horrific footage from this morning’s Russian attack on Kherson. Artillery shells exploding in a residential neighborhood.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 6:17 AM

❗️Three civilians killed and 22 injured in Kherson.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 6:06 AM

Kostiantynivka:

Kostiantynivka, Ukraine.
Russia is destroying it.
They destroy everything.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 11:55 AM

The Lviv-Kramatorsk railway:

Russians attacked the Lviv-Kramatorsk passenger train with a drone near Kramatorsk station but missed, damaging windows in three carriages with no casualties, Ukrainian Railways reported.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 11:05 AM

Russian occupied Mariupol:

Russians started evicting people from apartments in occupied Mariupol, with courts declaring flats “ownerless” if residents missed Russian property registration deadlines or could not return, Andryushchenko reports, calling it state-backed raiding and legalized theft through fake courts.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 10:31 AM

Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, and Russian occupied Crimea:

HUR operators detected and destroyed three high-value Russian air defense systems on 23 and 24 October, including a Buk-M3 launcher and two Nebo-SVU radar stations in occupied areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions and Crimea, the agency reported.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 9:57 AM

Donetsk Oblast:

Russian forces are hunting Ukrainian farmers in Donetsk region, the 12th Azov Brigade said, releasing intercepted FPV drone footage showing operators targeting civilians and farm equipment.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 8:13 AM

Torske:

Ukrainian assault groups cleared the settlement of Torske, stretching nearly nine kilometers on the Zaporizhzhia axis, eliminating up to 100 Russian troops, the 425th Assault Battalion Skelia reported.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 8:07 AM

Ryazan Oblast, Russia:

(Reuters) – Russia’s fourth-largest oil refinery, the Ryazan plant has suspended operations at its AVT-4 unit following a Ukrainian attack on Thursday. The unit has a capacity of 4 million tonnes of oil per year.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 11:21 AM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron.

There are no new Patron skeets or videos tonight. Here is some adjacent material.

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

Nastia used to be scared of dogs. That changed once she met the furry heroes at Ukraine’s police canine center.

Meet the pups keeping Ukraine safe by sniffing out mines and searching for survivors.

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— Tim Mak (@timkmak.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 10:10 AM

From The Counteroffensive:

Walking to school as a second-grader, my biggest fear came true.

A large local stray dog ran up. I just stood there crying hysterically, as she jumped on my chest with her front paws.

My parents had always told me, “Don’t trust dogs and don’t approach large ones, they are animals first of all.”

The dog who attacked me that morning was a pretty big one. She had no home, but always followed local kids. That day, she simply wanted to play at least once with me, as I always avoided her before.

Despite my fears, deep inside, I always knew: even half of the love a dog has in its heart would never fit in a human’s one. And nowhere would it become more clear than during wartime.

Ukraine is among the most heavily mined countries in the world, with about a quarter of its land laden with explosives.

This week, Russia carried out one of the biggest ballistic missile attacks — none of the missiles were intercepted. The weakness of air defense against ballistic threats leads to more direct hits on residential buildings, leaving many people trapped under the rubble.

This is where rescue dogs step in.

Where human emergency responders wear down from the tough circumstances they operate in, dogs think about emotions differently (just ask the German Shepherd who jumped on seven-year-old me).

For them, search and rescue operations are games. And after three-and-a-half years of war, they are getting really good at them: across Ukraine, dogs and their handlers are setting the international standard for canine search and rescue — and opening their training for others to learn for other international crises.

Open thread!

War for Ukraine Day 1,338: A Brief Friday Night UpdatePost + Comments (7)

Repubs in Disarray! Open Thread: Mad God-Emperor Edition

by Anne Laurie| October 24, 20253:32 pm| 264 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Republican Stupidity, Republicans in Disarray!, Trumpery

lol okay this is pretty good
*AD TRUMP COMPLAINED ABOUT TO AIR DURING WORLD SERIES: ONTARIO

— George Pearkes (@peark.es) October 24, 2025 at 2:07 PM

===

Trump is having a tariff meltdown on Truth Social this morning

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— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) October 24, 2025 at 8:14 AM

===

It wasn't fake. It was edited. But Reagan really did spend a five-minute speech – an April 25, 1987, national radio address that the Reagan Library has published on YouTube – to rail against tariffs. It was a full-throated expression of support for free and fair trade.
https://cnn.it/4o5pBGv

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— CNN (@cnn.com) October 24, 2025 at 11:00 AM

===

So they didn’t like the ad. Let’s just post Reagan’s 5 min speech against tariffs as it appears on YouTube.
Over and over. On all platforms (some of y’all are still on X).
*1981 Sherrilyn horrified by 2025 Sherrilyn saying “let’s post Reagan’s speech.”
youtu.be/5t5QK03KXPc

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— Sherrilyn Ifill (@sifill.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 1:14 PM

===

President needs his timeout yes.

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— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 9:41 AM

===

When Trump hears what Ronald Reagan said about immigrants he’s going to have DOJ arrest him for mortgage fraud.

— Radley Balko (@radleybalko.bsky.social) October 24, 2025 at 9:02 AM

<em>Repubs in Disarray!</em> Open Thread: Mad God-Emperor EditionPost + Comments (264)

Geminid on Friday Afternoon Open Thread (Nov 8, 2025 @ 2:58am)

Ruckus on Friday Afternoon Open Thread (Nov 8, 2025 @ 2:39am)

Geminid on Big Friday News Drop Open Thread (Nov 8, 2025 @ 2:30am)

Ruckus on Friday Afternoon Open Thread (Nov 8, 2025 @ 1:57am)

Ruckus on Friday Afternoon Open Thread (Nov 8, 2025 @ 1:51am)

A tremendous foreign policy asset… to all of our adversaries.

fuckem (in honor of the late great efgoldman)

They traffic in fear. it is their only currency. if we are fearful, they are winning.

That meeting sounds like a shotgun wedding between a shitshow and a clusterfuck.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

The most dangerous place for a black man in America is in a white man’s imagination.

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

Is it irresponsible to speculate? It is irresponsible not to.

This chaos was totally avoidable.

Reality always gets a vote in the end.

When they say they are pro-life, they do not mean yours.

How any woman could possibly vote for this smug smarmy piece of misogynistic crap is beyond understanding.

Disagreements are healthy; personal attacks are not.

Some judge needs to shut this circus down soon.

Prediction: the gop will rethink its strategy of boycotting future committees.

I am pretty sure these ‘journalists’ were not always such a bootlicking sycophants.

Wow, you are pre-disappointed. How surprising.

Every reporter and pundit should have to declare if they ever vacationed with a billionaire.

You can’t attract Republican voters. You can only out organize them.

Hell hath no fury like a farmer bankrupted.

Too little, too late, ftfnyt. fuck all the way off.

Our messy unity will be our strength.

The unpunished coup was a training exercise.

“Everybody’s entitled to be an idiot.”

Saturday Afternoon Open Thread

How do you decide what to do when you’re experiencing a flood, a hurricane, an earthquake, a tornado, and a tsunami all at once?

We Do More Than Wring Our Hands and Rage at the Madness

Who are some of the Attorneys General that are suing the Administration for abuses of power?

What is the latest state to help fight the steal of elections by Republican gerrymandering in TX and elsewhere – to rig the game in 2026?

The Virginia Senate majority leader is leading the charge in Virginia to offset the recent gerrymandering in TX and elsewhere. Why is he able to do that?

We need to keep stepping up, and we can’t let the frustration and discouragement and anger at all the destruction that is occurring day after day after day keep us from making a positive difference.

Let’s turn anger into action.

Saturday Morning Open Thread

Cold Grey Dawn Open Thread: Other New England Political Races

War for Ukraine Day 1,338: A Brief Friday Night Update

Europe Is Politically Ready to Channel Frozen Russian Assets Into Comprehensive Support for Ukraine – Address by the President

Statement by the President of Ukraine During the Joint Press Conference with Leaders of the Coalition of the Willing Member States and the NATO Secretary General

Ukrainian–Norwegian Friendship Began Almost a Thousand Years Ago, Not Merely With Diplomatic Agreements, but With Human Relationships – Olena Zelenska at the Unveiling of a Monument to Queen Ellisiv (Elizabeth of Kyiv) in Oslo

Repubs in Disarray! Open Thread: Mad God-Emperor Edition