Balloon Juice - Open Threads Archives

Signs (Open Thread)

by Betty Cracker| June 10, 202511:05 am| 124 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Politics, All we want is life beyond the thunderdome

I think the first time I saw a protest sign that said, “Things are so bad, even the introverts are here” was at the Women’s March in DC on 1/21/2017. It was funny because it was true.

This week I got another informal general distress-level indicator: Bill is coming with me to the No Kings protest! He’s never been to a protest in his entire life.

Now I have to make four signs — two for a pair of friends who are frequent protest buddies and two for Bill and me. (I’m the official sign-maker because my handwriting is fairly neat and I have lots of Sharpies.)

Signage ideas welcome! We’re trying to keep a positive spin, e.g., “WE ❤️ DEMOCRACY” rather than “FUCK TRUMP,” though, of course, “fuck that fascist prick straight to hell” is the subtext.

Open thread.

Signs (Open Thread)Post + Comments (124)

Tuesday Morning Open Thread: Dems Fighting Back

by Anne Laurie| June 10, 20256:20 am| 254 Comments

This post is in: Dems Fighting Back, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

I’m co-leading a bill that would name the House Press Gallery after Frederick Douglass. It passed the House today.
This isn’t just symbolic – it’s making sure our history isn’t erased.

— Congressman André Carson (@carson.house.gov) June 9, 2025 at 9:27 PM

===

Frederick Douglass was the first Black man to report on Congress and be allowed into the Capitol press gallery, covering critical debates during reconstruction.
It’s past time for a permanent recognition of his groundbreaking and legendary work.

— Congressman André Carson (@carson.house.gov) June 9, 2025 at 9:27 PM

Republicans BURIED a line in their "big beautiful bill" that would help Trump officials ignore court orders.
One problem? It violates the Senate's rules.
I’m going to fight to strip this provision out. And we need everyone in the fight against this bill.

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— Elizabeth Warren (@warren.senate.gov) June 9, 2025 at 10:02 AM

While some states are taking away the rights of our LGBTQ+ community, we're protecting them here in our state.
Illinois will always be a beacon of equality and hope for all. There's still work to do, but we have your back.

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— Governor JB Pritzker (@govpritzker.illinois.gov) June 9, 2025 at 3:13 PM

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Tuesday Morning Open Thread: Dems Fighting BackPost + Comments (254)

War for Ukraine Day 1,201: Russia Continues It’s Nightly Bombardments

by Adam L Silverman| June 9, 20259:37 pm| 7 Comments

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

(Image by NEIVANMADE)

Russia set a new record for strikes on Ukraine last night:

Russia unleashed 499 air targets on Ukraine overnight — a new record of terror.

Art by Nikita Titov

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 4:41 AM

A staggering 499 drones and missiles were launched by Russia last night, targeting Ukrainian cities as their residents slept.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 7:48 AM

What a night.
– The Ukrainian Defence Forces intercepted 479 out of 499 enemy air threats;
– Meanwhile, Ukraine continues to target the russian war machine: hitting the Savasleyka airbase where at least 2 jets were hit (likely MiG-31 & Su-30/34) & a Shahed component factory in Cheboksary 🔥

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 7:57 AM

Again? Again.

Russian planes are in the air and on their way to bomb Ukraine.

After unleashing almost 500 drones and missiles on Ukraine just last night.

Too bad we couldn’t destroy all of them.

Please keep Ukraine in your thoughts tonight.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 4:42 PM

According to monitoring groups, planes landed back without launching missiles. We are under russian drone attack tho

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 6:52 PM

And they are back at it tonight. All of eastern and most of central Ukraine is under air raid alert for drone swarms at 3:50 AM local time in Ukraine/8:50 PM EDT.

A maternity hospital, along with other buildings, is on fire in Odesa following a Russian drone strike.

Monsters.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 7:03 PM

Russian drone strike damaged the administrative building of a maternity hospital in Odesa. The fact that no one died is nothing short of a miracle.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 7:29 PM

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

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Every One of Our Units That Successfully Fulfills Its Mission on Its Front Is Protecting the Entire Country – Address by the President

9 June 2025 – 20:10

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

Today, the first stage of the prisoner exchange agreed in Istanbul has begun. More stages will follow – at least, that’s what was discussed with the Russian side. This exchange is to include the wounded, the severely wounded, and also those aged 25 and younger. The exchange process is expected to take place over multiple days. The details of the process are quite sensitive, so for now, there is less information than usual. I thank everyone who is helping to carry out the exchange and working to ensure that all our people can return home from Russian captivity.

I held a meeting on June’s international agenda – much has already been planned. And one of the key issues will be precisely this: speeding up diplomacy and achieving real decisions. No meeting should be hollow – in Ukraine, we must always feel the exact value of each negotiation, each format. If a meeting doesn’t bring us closer to decisions that can end the war through diplomacy, then there must be decisions that will help strengthen our defense, our active operations, or increase pressure on Russia. Severe pressure on Russia or real, effective diplomacy to end the war – those are the only possible options.

Today, I held a meeting of the Staff. There were also separate discussions with Defense Minister Umerov, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi, and Chief of the General Staff Hnatov. Intelligence and the Security Service of Ukraine delivered their reports. The primary focus was the frontline, the formation and development of corps, and our strikes on Russian military targets: all their assets contributing to strikes against Ukraine. Our precision matters and should not only spoil the mood in Moscow, but also undermine the real capacity of military production, army supplies, and strategic potential. I thank all our warriors and companies who make this possible. I am also grateful to all our warriors for their tenacity.

The fiercest and most intense fighting continues in the Pokrovsk direction, in the areas of the Kursk operation, and along the border in the Sumy region. Russian tactics remain the same everywhere: ignore losses and try to advance, storming our Ukrainian positions in an attempt to seize even a single meter, anything at all. But their potential is not infinite. That’s why a certain level of Russian casualties – and our actions – should and do hinder their advance. Every one of our units that successfully fulfills its mission on its front is protecting the entire country. The Pokrovsk direction: the 117th Separate Heavy Mechanized Brigade and the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade – thank you, warriors, for your strength! The Kursk direction: the 47th Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade – thank you! And every unit in the Sumy region, in the Kharkiv region – all those defending Ukraine’s border areas and doing so effectively – thank you! Thank you!

Glory to Ukraine!

Georgia:

Day 194 of #GeorgiaProtests

“No justice, no peace!”

📷 George Burjanadze

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 2:42 PM

Speaking about Ambassador Fischer, who’s been attending journalist Mzia Amaglobeli’s court hearings, Tsulukiani says that he “doesn’t miss the trials of opposition leaders” and offers him “the opportunity to attend the GD investigative commission’s sessions instead”.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 7:13 AM

🟥Tina Bokuchava, leader of the UNM party, has stated that her husband, Kote Ioseliani, was abducted and threatened with harm to their children shortly before recording a video apology to Uta Ivanishvili, the son of Georgian oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili. Acc/to her, abduction aimed to intimidate her.

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) June 9, 2025 at 4:37 AM

I am not afraid, I will not be silenced, and I will fight till the end to demolish your violent regime!”

– UNM Chair Tina Bokuchava states after the Georgian Dream regime kidnapped & blindfolded her husband; threatened with their 3 children in order to silence her.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 4:23 AM

1/ The UNM chair Tina Bokuchava said her husband was kidnapped and beaten, and that he was threatened — including threats to their children’s safety — to force him to record a video denying his seven-year-old statement about Ivanishvili’s son’s sexual orientation.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 3:34 AM

2/ Tina Bokuchava said: “My husband was attacked at night by five masked men near the entrance to our house, close to Vake Pond. Fortunately, they were unable to inflict serious physical injuries”.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 3:34 AM

3/ “During the physical confrontation, he was forced into a car, blindfolded, handcuffed, and abducted in an unknown direction. As she was blindfolded, it is impossible for us to determine the exact location”.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 3:34 AM

4/ “However, based on the distance and trajectory, we believe he was taken to the Module building, where he was held for many hours”.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 3:34 AM

5/ Tina Bokuchava claims that the pressure is intended to silence her in her role as the leader of the UNM, and that is why her family is being subjected to it.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 4:06 AM

Head of Patrol Police Vazha Siradze steps down for real, confirming it with a post of gratitude to the regime.

The Georgian Dream is getting rid of all those sanctioned. At the same time, it isn’t really able to recruit people of the same caliber, downgrading.

More sanctions!

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 2:47 PM

Giorgi Bachiashvili said today that Anri Okhanashvili, the current head of the State Security Service, was also on the plane that brought him back to Tbilisi from Abu Dhabi following his kidnapping.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 9:13 AM

Back to Ukraine.

We’ve become basically desensitised to successive record breaking air attacks by Russia against Ukraine. “Russia launched almost 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight, Ukrainian forces said on Monday.” www.nytimes.com/2025/06/09/w…

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— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) June 9, 2025 at 4:06 PM

From The New York Times:

Russia launched 499 drones and missiles overnight, Ukraine said on Monday, the largest air assault of the war as Moscow intensifies attacks and peace talks stall.

Russia has been stepping up attacks in recent months, an effort that appears to have escalated further after Ukraine mounted a large-scale, coordinated assault on Russian air bases on June 1. In the days since, Russia mounted one of the biggest aerial assaults of the war — which Moscow described as retaliation for the surprise Ukrainian strikes on its bombers.

On Monday, the Ukrainian Air Force said that Russia had launched 479 drones and 20 missiles overnight — the largest number of drones recorded since the war began more than three years ago. Most were intercepted, but 10 strikes were recorded, according to the air force.

One person was killed in the Rivne region of western Ukraine and a Russian strike damaged a private home in the Kyiv region, according to the local authorities. Officials in the Sumy region said that nine people had been injured over the past day. There were no other immediate reports of further damage or casualties.

Amid the intensified bombardment, President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine urged civilians to pay attention to air-raid warnings.

“Please take care of yourselves,” he said in his overnight address. “Take care of yourselves and Ukraine.”

A Note of Thanks for All of Us

by WaterGirl| June 9, 20257:15 pm| 36 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Political Action, Targeted Political Fundraising 2025-26

We received a lovely message from The Civics Center today.

It was written to me, but it’s really for all of us.

Thank you so much for your support of The Civics Center and for energizing your community. Thank you to the angels!

Having sparked combined giving of $60K is a huge accomplishment, especially as we are emerging from a period of profound disengagement. This means so much in starting momentum for real impact.

We can use the funds not just to kick off efforts in PA but also to motivate others about what is possible. Holding out hope and possibility of something concrete and important is so meaningful right now, and it is your leadership that is making it possible.

The young people with whom we work are engaged and looking for ways to support democracy and to make a positive contribution. We could not do this work without you. Thank you for being part of it.

I look forward to sending you updates about all we will be able to accomplish because of your commitment.

With appreciation,
Laura

You guys did this with your Angel matches and donations.

I am so proud to be part of the collective action of this community. I may organize it, but you guys are the ones who make it happen.

Together, we are indeed the little engine that could.

A Note of Thanks for All of UsPost + Comments (36)

Standing Up For Science

by Betty Cracker| June 9, 20254:00 pm| 131 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Republican Stupidity, Science & Technology, Assholes, Clown Shoes, Decline and Fall, General Stupidity

I’m not a scientist, but I’m glad lots of smarter people are because, otherwise, I’d be dead. Millions of us would be. I think most normal people know this and regard activities like finding new cures for diseases and discovering better ways to stay healthy as uncontroversial.

In addition to alleviating suffering, it turns out that funding health-related scientific research also generates prosperity more broadly! Check this out from the Harvard Gazette:

A new report from the nonprofit United for Medical Research (UMR) shows that every dollar of research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) delivers $2.56 in economic activity, a multiplier effect that extends the agency’s impact as the largest public funder of biomedical research in the world.

But since sociopathic grifters and conspiracy kooks are currently running the country, science is under attack. Trump and lackeys like National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Jay Bhattacharya and the ambulatory catcher’s mitt/disgrace to his family’s legacy whom Trump put in charge of Health & Human Services (HHS) are waging war on science.

Well, science is fighting back. Check out the Bethesda Declaration, which dropped this morning at the Stand Up for Science site.

Scores of NIH scientists go public to declare their dissent from Trump’s deep program cuts and upheaval at their agency.

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— The Associated Press (@apnews.com) June 9, 2025 at 9:30 AM

Here’s an excerpt of the press release accompanying the declaration:

Washington, D.C. — Federal employees at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) have stood up for the health and safety of the American people and faithful stewardship of public resources, demanding HHS and NIH leadership uphold the mission of the NIH “to enhance health, lengthen life, and reduce illness and disability.” The Bethesda Declaration, addressed to Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, Secretary Kennedy, and members of Congress who oversee the NIH, raises concern over pressure to implement measures that harm the public. The document outlines how recently enacted policies interrupt ongoing clinical trials and patient care, public health monitoring, critical research, and early career scientist training programs.

NIH Staff say that because of termination of essential employees, politicization of research, and funding cuts they are unable to uphold their commitment to the NIH mission, the American people, and their ethical charge as scientists. Despite fears of retaliation, the Bethesda Declaration has been signed by over 300 NIH Staff including 93 staff who signed their full name.

“Standing up in this way is a risk, but I am much more worried about the risks of not speaking up. If we don’t speak up, we allow continued harm to research participants and public health in America and across the globe. If we don’t speak up, we allow our government to curtail free speech, a fundamental American value.” says Jenna Norton, PhD, MPH, NIDDK Program officer and one of the lead organizers of the Declaration.

Experts say the abrupt changes to the NIH threaten the ecosystem of the biomedical advancement. “The partnership between NIH and the academic community has made huge contributions to the almost every aspect of health of people across the US. Since January, the NIH staff have been forced to focus on issues other than the noble NIH mission. A large group of public servants have found the courage to speak out and say ‘Enough. Let us get back to our important work.’”, says Jeremy M. Berg, PhD, Former Director, National Institute of General Medical Sciences.

“It has been soul destroying to witness the politicization of research resulting in mass termination of grants that are in progress and doing well. It violated my Hippocratic oath,” says one NIH employee who wishes to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.

Stand Up for Science is hosting the Bethesda Declaration and a letter of support. They are asking the public to join with them in supporting these federal employees by signing their open letter. Current supporters include Nobel Laureates, prominent scientists, politicians, activists, patients, and more.

According to Colette Delawalla, MA, MS, founder and executive director of Stand Up for Science, “These NIH employees have devoted their lives to civil service—they care deeply about the public. This is why they are courageously holding NIH and HHS leadership accountable. We are honored they have trusted us with this act of resistance and welcome any such future collaborations with other groups.”

At this historic moment, Stand Up for Science calls on the members of the Senate Appropriations subcommittee who will be soliciting testimony from NIH Director Dr. Jay Bhattacharya Tuesday at 10am to seek his commitment of support for NIH staff members signing the Bethesda Declaration.

Bhattacharya will meet with the Senate Appropriations subcommittee tomorrow. If any of your senators are on that committee, this would be a good day to call them and urge them to explain how duly appropriated funding is supposed to work to the NIH director.

No matter who your senators are, now would also be a good time to express your opposition to the budget proposal Trump and Republicans are trying to ram through Congress. It includes a 40% cut to NIH’s discretionary budget and other measures that would further devastate biomedical research in the U.S. and undermine scientific leadership worldwide.

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The civil servants at NIH are standing up for science, and the rest of us need to do our part because if the people I know in real life are any indication, most are utterly clueless about what’s happening. It’s not just that the Trump admin wants to slash research funding so rich people don’t have to pay taxes — there’s a huge grift angle, as always with these corrupt frauds.

The open letter in support of the Bethesda Declaration calls out the fraudulent bullshit that is RFK Jr.’s MAHA boondoggle:

The current endeavor to Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) refers to some undefined time in the past. Since 1960, the death rate due to heart disease has been cut in half, going from 560 deaths per 100,000 people to approximately 230 deaths per 100,000 today. From 1960 to the present day, the five-year survival rate for childhood leukemia has increased nearly 10-fold, to over 90% for some forms. In 1960, the rate of measles infection was approximately 250 cases per 100,000 people compared with a near zero rate now (at least until recently). These are but a few of many examples. Certainly, much work remains to better treat disease and improve the health of Americans, such as addressing increased rates of obesity, diabetes, and opioid dependency. But, glamorizing a mythical past, while ignoring important progress made through biomedical research, does not enhance the health of American people.

It’s mindboggling that a grotesque old creep who takes his grandchildren swimming in raw sewage is in charge of HHS. It’s infuriating that a crank like Bhattacharya is sabotaging an organization that really is something Americans can be proud of. But here we are, and things are going to suck until we eject the thieves, kooks, sex pests and psychos who are currently running the agencies.

In the meantime, we can try to mitigate the damage by standing with the scientists who are doing heroic work on our behalf. Sign the letter to show support for the Bethesda Declaration. Call your federal representatives. Stand on the street with a sign next Saturday. It matters!

Open thread.

Standing Up For SciencePost + Comments (131)

Monday Morning Open Thread: The LA Protests

by Anne Laurie| June 9, 20258:57 am| 220 Comments

This post is in: Immigration, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Republican Venality, Trump Crime Cartel

Hundreds of National Guard troops dispatched by President Donald Trump arrived on Sunday, a move Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called “unconstitutional,” as protesters continued demonstrating against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown. wapo.st/3HxkXAK

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— The Washington Post (@washingtonpost.com) June 9, 2025 at 7:38 AM

LOS ANGELES — Hundreds of National Guard troops dispatched by President Donald Trump arrived here Sunday, a move Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) called “unconstitutional,” as protesters continued demonstrating against the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown.

While calm reigned for much of the day, tensions flared anew in the afternoon as authorities lobbed tear gas at a growing crowd of protesters gathered by the Edward R. Roybal Federal Building, which houses an immigration detention center near the city’s downtown core. Los Angeles police said people in the crowd were “throwing concrete, bottles and other objects” and that officers had begun making arrests and telling people to disperse.

In an interview with MSNBC, Newsom said Sunday that California would sue the administration over the deployment of the National Guard. “Commandeering a state’s National Guard without consulting the Governor of that state is illegal and immoral,” he wrote on X.

The National Guard’s arrival marks a new, potentially volatile phase in the Trump administration’s push to ramp up deportations and its contentious relationship with state and local authorities.

Trump ordered 2,000 National Guard personnel over the weekend to deploy following protests against immigration raids in the Los Angeles area that at times turned violent. And he acted over the objections of state and local officials in California — a state that is a frequent target of Trump’s ire — who denounced the move as unnecessary and incendiary…

On Sunday, the unease in Los Angeles grew as the day wore on. Several hundred protesters marched more than a mile from Mariachi Plaza to the federal building with an immigration detention center on the edge of the city’s downtown.

Most protesters appeared peaceful, though at least one man threw a water bottle toward the dozens of police officers in riot gear positioned by the detention center. More than two dozen National Guard members also appeared to be located there as well.

At one point, the National Guard members donned masks and police released a white cloud of what appeared to be noxious tear gas before firing volleys of what sounded like pepper balls. The crowd scattered, running to nearby streets, before many returned to their protest…

Trump said he was not yet at the point of invoking the Insurrection Act to quell the Los Angeles demonstrations, but was watching the situation closely to determine whether he would do so. The president also said he would decide that based on his own instincts.

“The bar is what I think it is,” he said of whether he’d invoke the 1807 act, which lets the president deploy the military for domestic law enforcement. “If we see danger to our country and to our citizens, we will be very, very strong in terms of law and order.”

State and local officials have pleaded with the Trump administration not to deploy troops to the area, including making unsuccessful direct appeals…

War for Ukraine Day 1,200: Another Long Night & Early Morning of Russian Drone Swarms

by Adam L Silverman| June 8, 20258:30 pm| 29 Comments

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

(Image by NEIVANMADE)

The cost:

Ukrainian artist 0lha_art visualized this heart-wrenching moment. Eternal memory to the fallen.

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— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 2:10 PM

Air raid alerts are up over 3/4 of Ukraine, including parts of western Ukraine, as of 2:30 AM local time in Ukraine/7:30 PM EDT. As of 3:00 AM local time/8:00 PM EDT, the air raid alert maps are showing MiG-31Ks (Foxhounds), as well as what’s left of Russia’s other strategic fixed wings, up over western Russia and the air raid alerts have been extended to all of Ukraine. The K in MiG 31K stands for 47M2 Kinzhal hypersonic missiles as they are the Foxhound variant designed to carry and fire them.

Here it goes. 😒 bloodthirsty neighbors are bombing us again

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 6:55 PM

Monitoring channels warn that tonight, russia may launch yet another massive combined attack on Ukraine with 400–500 drones and dozens of missiles.

What will they call it “retribution” for this time — Ukraine’s very existence?

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 2:51 PM

Last night Big R asked:

My thoughts every time I review one of Adam’s updates (for which I am very grateful) are always complicated and confused. With the understanding that I’m sort of thinking out loud, I wonder about the following things:

1) Ukraine has all these successes; shooting down and destroying or damaging expensive aircraft, preventing drone and missile attacks from being even worse terrorist attacks than they are, and now more and more being aggressive with their own drone warfare. Are these successes completely disconnected from tactical reality, or are they creating strategic environments for future success at halting and reversing Russian advances?

2) Speaking of Ukrainian air defense, while every strike and every loss is a tragedy, I’m wondering how attacks that cause as much property damage as we see take so few lives. Is it just the magnificence of Ukrainian emergency response? Or are the Russians screwing up their attempts at terrorism? (For the sake of completeness, a third low-probability option: Russian drone operator units are pulling their punches because they see the horror of the orders they’ve been given; drones are flying with little to no explosive.)

3) Earlier in the war these updates often included maps of current front line placements and movement. Have those gone away, or are they not as useful as the war transitions into a more stand-off posture, or is this one of the things that’s been tossed by the wayside because you’re working way too hard?

Let’s take these in order:

No, the successes are tactical reality within Ukraine’s theater strategy and campaign plan and their overall strategy for withstanding Russia’s genocidal re-invasion. Moreover, they are adaptations – branches and sequels – to the existing plans as the Ukrainians are able to bring their own new advances in military tech online or something else changes.
The Ukrainians have gotten very good at getting the air raid alerts up and getting their people into hardened shelters. I highly doubt the Russian drone operators are tanking their own efforts.
One of the reasons the map use fell of was the switch to using Bluesky. Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense’s Bluesky account was up and down for about three weeks, then went down, and I’ve just not checked to see if it’s back. Chuck Pfarrar hasn’t skeeted in six months. Illia Ponomarenko has gone back to X/Twitter. Another reason is I got tired of being yelled at in the comments by people with no experience reading maps prepared by and for military personnel that the maps were wrong or misleading because they didn’t understand what was being visualized on the maps. The final reason is, as Jay mentioned in his answer to your question, that the front lines are not moving much. I’ve seen some reporting that Russians may be in trouble with their own salient in Kursk, but right now maps will obscure more than they clarify as things look static day to day despite all the activity. I’ll poke around and see if I can find someone who posts maps that I’m comfortable with.

I’ve posted a few of the early released clips from President Zelenskyy’s interview with ABC News. Here’s the full video of the interview:

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

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Russia’s Intentions Remain Unchanged, and Everything Depends on Our Warriors and on Everyone Who Helps the State – Address by the President

8 June 2025 – 19:58

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

We are already preparing for the upcoming international events in the coming weeks. Important meetings and negotiations will take place in Ukraine. We are also doing everything to ensure that the June summits – the G7 Summit in Canada and the NATO Summit in the Netherlands – are not hollow. A lot depends on Europe’s resolve, as well as on our relations with the United States. I’m grateful to everyone helping to keep those relations grounded in reality. We must increase pressure on Moscow. We must tighten sanctions. We must explore ways to use frozen Russian assets to support our defense. Russia only truly understands one language — the language of force. That is precisely the language that must become the working one across all formats of international engagement in the coming months.

I’ve spoken both today and yesterday with Defense Minister Umerov, Chief of the Defense Intelligence Budanov, and Head of the Security Service of Ukraine Maliuk – Ukraine continues to do everything possible to secure the release of our POWs and the return of our fallen Ukrainian warriors. Unfortunately, the full lists from Russia for the exchange of over one thousand people, as agreed in Istanbul, have still not been provided. In typical fashion, the Russian side is once again trying to turn even these matters into a dirty political and information game. It’s important to achieve the result. It’s important that people be brought back home. We believe we’ll be able to keep the exchange track moving forward. And for our part, we are doing everything we can to make it happen. And if the Russians fail to comply with agreements even on such humanitarian issues, it will cast serious doubt on all international efforts – in particular those of the United States – regarding negotiations and diplomacy.

Today, Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi delivered a report. The Pokrovsk direction, the Lyman direction, other directions in the Donetsk region, as well as the situation along Ukraine’s border in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions. In some areas, the situation is very difficult, but everything depends on the resilience of our units. I want to thank each and every one who ensures Ukraine’s defense. Russia’s intentions remain unchanged, and everything depends on our Defense and Security Forces of Ukraine – on our warriors and on everyone who helps the state. This week, I would like to especially commend the warriors of the 68th Separate Jaeger Brigade and the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade for their results in the Pokrovsk direction. In the areas of the Kursk operation, the 33rd and 225th Assault Regiments have been particularly effective. In the Lyman direction, special thanks go to our warriors of the 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade. I thank everyone who is fighting for Ukraine and everyone who works for our state and our people. And be sure to pay attention to air raid alerts these days. Please take care of yourselves. Take care of yourselves and Ukraine.

Glory to Ukraine!

Georgia:

1/ Bishop Giorgi (Jamdeliani) of Marneuli and Hujabi says that a member of the current government was planning to poison him and that they had a nun under their influence who was passing information from the diocese. He spoke about this during his sermon.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 12:34 PM

2/ The bishop claims that the person involved is a representative of the security service. According to him, for a year, the nun was instructed either to put poison in his food or to apply it to his hand, which would have resulted in his death within an hour.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 12:34 PM

3/ Jamdeliani also told the parish that this nun was expelled from the diocese two months ago, that the person who was ordering his poisoning was beaten along with the security guards, and that now any provocation can be expected from her.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 12:34 PM

France:

Renault to launch drone production in Ukraine with two French defense firms, per Franceinfo. Located away from the frontline, it’ll leverage Ukrainian drone expertise.
www.franceinfo.fr/monde/europe…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 1:00 PM

The US:

We agreed with Biden on transferring 20,000 missiles to Ukraine to fight ‘Shaheds.’ We counted on them, but the US recently sent them to the Middle East instead, says Zelenskyy.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 11:02 AM

The Biden administration’s strategic incoherence and malpractice, let alone their cruelty, of announcing weapons shipments to Ukraine and then not actually sending them continues to impede Ukraine’s ability to defend itself against Russia’s genocidal re-invasion. Biden and his natsec team didn’t do what they said they were doing when they said they were doing it and, as a result, this has allowed the Trump administration to do nothing, which is what the latter wants to do anyway.

Back to Ukraine.

Somewhere in the southern area of responsibility:

AASM Hammer air strike by the MiG-29 on Russian base with ammunition. Judging by the explosion pattern something with solid rocket fuel was stored there. t.me/soniah_hub/1…

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 10:17 AM

RBC Ukraine has details on other Ukrainian action in the southern AOR:

Ukrainian forces struck a Russian railway convoy with a powerful attack. The strike destroyed more than 10 tanks, informs the Southern Defense Forces of Ukraine.

The Southern Defense Forces said they successfully hit a locomotive carrying a column of Russian military equipment. The enemy’s losses included:

13 tanks;

more than 100 armored and automotive vehicles.

Kharkiv:

Russian drones in Kharkiv skies right now ‼️

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 4:10 PM

Two explosions have been heard in Kharkiv ‼️ russian glide bombs.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 4:03 PM

The drone attacks on Kharkiv are relentless, daily, and people are dying almost constantly. It’s the same grim reality across all frontline regions. Russian drones are killing people every single goddamn day here.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 10:26 AM

Kherson:

Russia murdered 4 people in the Kherson region today, when shelled the area with FPV drones and artillery. 15 others were injured.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 6:49 AM

Kyiv:

Rumors abound in Kyiv of coming Russian mass air attack on night of June 8-9. Record-breaking 500 Shahed drones, followed by waves of cruise and then ballistic missiles feared to strike civilian infrastructure. Shakespeareanly, there’s a thunderstorm in Kyiv.

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— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 1:17 PM

Russian occupied Crimea:

Russia reinforces Crimean Bridge with two lines of anti-drone defenses, notes Supernova.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 12:43 PM

The Toretsk front:

Azov 12th Brigade air defenders down Russian drones with UAR-15 rifles and FPV drones on the Toretsk front.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 10:22 AM

Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia Oblast:

Fire breaks out at the Hydromash factory in occupied Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 3:44 AM

The Kursk cross border offensive:

Russians confirmed that one Su-35S was destroyed in the Kursk sector. According to Ukrainian sources the Russian plane was downed by a F-16.

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— (((Tendar))) (@tendar.bsky.social) June 7, 2025 at 7:06 PM

New footage shows a Russian Su-35 fighter jet destroyed yesterday by Ukrainian Air Forces.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 5:02 AM

Saratov Oblast, Russia:

Oil depot in russian Engels is burning for the 3rd day 👀🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 11:53 AM

Belgorod Oblast, Russia:

Logistics of the Russians moving toward Ukraine’s border destroyed in Belgorod region. Losses include a BRDM and various vehicle types. Ukrainian pilots of the Perun unit, 42nd Mechanized Brigade, carried out the strike.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 5:00 AM

Tula:

Russians claim Ukraine hit the Azot plant in Tula with drones overnight, sparking a fire. They say air defense downed 61 drones over Bryansk, Belgorod, Kaluga, Tula, Oryol, Kursk, Moscow, and Crimea. Novomoskovsk reported up to 12 explosions.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 4:06 AM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

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

DUCK OF WAR:

Today, we have a duck of war that swam peacefully along the Dnipro River in Kyiv, unfazed by the massive Russian attack overnight on Friday. It showed its friendliness to Mariana and her friends by diving playfully into the water every minute!

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— Tim Mak (@timkmak.bsky.social) June 8, 2025 at 9:18 AM

Open thread!

War for Ukraine Day 1,200: Another Long Night & Early Morning of Russian Drone SwarmsPost + Comments (29)

WaterGirl on Something Up His Sleeve? (Nov 12, 2025 @ 8:41pm)

TONYG on Something Up His Sleeve? (Nov 12, 2025 @ 8:41pm)

WaterGirl on Something Up His Sleeve? (Nov 12, 2025 @ 8:40pm)

Math Guy on Part 3: There Is No Artificial General Intelligence Down This Road (Nov 12, 2025 @ 8:39pm)

Scout211 on Something Up His Sleeve? (Nov 12, 2025 @ 8:39pm)

The poor and middle-class pay taxes, the rich pay accountants, the wealthy pay politicians.

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

This is dead girl, live boy, a goat, two wetsuits and a dildo territory. oh, and pink furry handcuffs.

Shallow, uninformed, and lacking identity

Following reporting rules is only for the little people, apparently.

Oh FFS you might as well trust a 6-year-old with a flamethrower.

You’re just a puppy masquerading as an old coot.

75% of people clapping liked the show!

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

No Kings: Americans standing in the way of bad history saying “Oh, Fuck No!”

Bad people in a position to do bad things will do bad things because they are bad people. End of story.

At some point, the ability to learn is a factor of character, not IQ.

You would normally have to try pretty hard to self-incriminate this badly.

We do not need to pander to people who do not like what we stand for.

Imperialist aggressors must be defeated, or the whole world loses.

American history and black history cannot be separated.

Many life forms that would benefit from greater intelligence, sadly, do not have it.

It is not hopeless, and we are not helpless.

Insiders who complain to politico: please report to the white house office of shut the fuck up.

There are more Russians standing up to Putin than Republicans.

One lie, alone, tears the fabric of reality.

Be a wild strawberry.

This chaos was totally avoidable.

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

Signs (Open Thread)

Tuesday Morning Open Thread: Dems Fighting Back

War for Ukraine Day 1,201: Russia Continues It’s Nightly Bombardments

Every One of Our Units That Successfully Fulfills Its Mission on Its Front Is Protecting the Entire Country – Address by the President

A Note of Thanks for All of Us

Standing Up For Science

Monday Morning Open Thread: The LA Protests

War for Ukraine Day 1,200: Another Long Night & Early Morning of Russian Drone Swarms

Russia’s Intentions Remain Unchanged, and Everything Depends on Our Warriors and on Everyone Who Helps the State – Address by the President