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War for Ukraine Day 1,332: A Brief Saturday Night Update

by Adam L Silverman| October 18, 20259:15 pm| 34 Comments

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

A quick housekeeping note: Apparently whenever there is a protest, someone asks if my posts about safety while protesting can get reposted. I have no idea if that happened for today’s protests. I know it happened for the last one several months ago because someone emailed me to thank me for reposting it. Unfortunately, I HAD NOT REPOSTED IT!!!!! If you want something I’ve previously posted reposted, please email me and ask. DO NOT ASK OTHER FRONT PAGERS!!! IT IS NOT THEIR’S TO REPOST!!!! I don’t repost other front pagers’s posts, I don’t even read them or comment on them, please DO NOT ASK THEM TO REPOST MY POSTS!!!!

I know a lot of you are either still at protests or at post protest events or are resting post protest, so I’m just going to run through the basics tonight.

There is no daily address from President Zelenskyy posted today. I expect this is because he’s traveling back to Ukraine.

Russian forces launched a record 268 guided aerial bombs against Ukrainian positions and adjacent areas on October 17.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 5:05 AM

The plot, in DC, thins:

The most interesting part of the article is here:

“In the call between Trump and Putin, the Russian leader suggested he would be willing surrender parts of two other regions of Ukraine he has partly conquered, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, in exchange for full control of Donetsk, the officials said”

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 4:48 PM

This, folks, is how badly informed public gets played. Parts of the occupied parts? Which parts exactly? All of them? Of course not. He’d never give up the land corridor to Crimea.

So he’s offering fragments of fragments likely areas he can’t hold or doesn’t care about, small and insignificant.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 4:48 PM

It’s also highly likely that Trump’s team has once again misinterpreted everything, and what Putin means by ‘territorial concessions’ in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions is simply that he won’t attempt to occupy the rest of them. In doing so, he implies he would take the remainder of Donetsk

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 7:03 PM

region while conceding nothing.
It is his usual suggestion.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 7:03 PM

Russia’s Direct Investment Fund head Kirill Dmitriev said a project to build a tunnel connecting Russia and the US was launched six months ago.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 4:43 AM

Did anyone notify the US prior to Friday?

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Georgia:

Police asked the protesters to unblock the avenue, and they did. Now they greet oncoming traffic with Georgian and EU flags, flashlights, chants, and whistles.

Day 325 of uninterrupted, nationwide protests in Georgia.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 1:06 PM

🚨Demonstrators on Rustaveli Ave briefly blocked the road but reopened it after a warning from the MIA.
The MIA said the road was “artificially blocked”. Under new restrictive laws, blocking roads can now lead to 15 days of arrest.

#GeorgiaProtests
Day 325

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 1:27 PM

“Til the end!”

Protesters haven’t tried to block the avenue again. Passersby honk in support — including buses and even Yandex Taxi drivers.

Day 325 of uninterrupted protests in 8+ cities across Georgia. 🇬🇪

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 1:33 PM

With more and more protesters arriving, Rustaveli Avenue is blocked again for the night.

Day 325 of uninterrupted, nationwide #GeorgiaProtests.

📷 Lika Zakashvili

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 2:10 PM

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 5:41 PM

We might not be graced with capable social or financial elites, but at least we endure. Someday, it will pay off. Day 325 of #GeorgiaProtests, despite threats to imprison everyone.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 12:50 PM

GD has found a new way to terrorize peaceful protesters in Georgia.

Covering your face at a protest = 15 days in jail, 2 years for repeat “offenses.” Police now wait on nearby streets, searching and confiscating masks and scarves.

At least 3 people stopped tonight. Day 325 of protests.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM

Up to 30 policemen successfully confiscated a face mask from a peaceful protester girl at #GeorgiaProtests

What an effective state, we need some sort of a Guinness world record in effective stratecraft.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 3:14 PM

Mariam Mekantsishvili will be released on bail.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 4:48 AM

Mariam is out on bail. Here, she’s hugging her daughter. 🥺

📷 Mo Se

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 5:19 PM

The video of their reunion just killed me. 😭

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 5:28 PM

A combined USD 7 million in cash have been confiscated from ex-PM Garibashvili, ex-State Security Head Liluashvili, ex-Prosecutor General Partskhaladze; in addition to jewelry, paintings, etc.

There are lots of emergency briefings this evening, so maybe they’ll be jailed too.

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 9:47 AM

🚨Georgia’s State Security Service reports seizing over $7M in cash, jewelry, and luxury items from the homes of ex–PM Irakli Gharibashvili, the brother of former SSG head Grigol Liluashvili, and six others.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 9:39 AM

The regime jailed Davit Giunashvili, a 70-year-old internally displaced person (IDP) from the Russian-occupied Tskhinvali region. He still works on construction, because neither retirement, nor an IDP status are sufficient to survive in Georgia.

Look at his “crime” on October 4👇🏻

#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 11:38 AM

‪Classic Soros-funded, paid foreign agent and a CIA plotter, isn’t he? ‬

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 11:40 AM

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 11:56 AM

One of the most recent political prisoners in Georgia — Iuri Lomidze.

“I’ve served my country all my life. I put on a uniform at 16. I took it off to help raise children… At the protest, I even helped a policeman — pulled him out and handed him to special forces,” he said in court today.

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— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 12:16 PM

Austria and the EU:

Austria changed its position and will support the EU’s 19th sanctions package against Russia on Monday, removing key obstacle to approval, Reuters reports.
www.reuters.com/world/europe…

— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 1:35 PM

Back to Ukraine.

I hope it is clear that no one is more tired of this war than Ukrainians are, and no one wants it to end more.

Being attacked, especially by a country that razes our cities, abducts our children, and leaves torture chambers and mass graves everywhere it occupies, even briefly,

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM

leaves us no choice but to defend ourselves. For us, this is a matter of survival.

That is why pressure must be on Russia, the aggressor who can stop attacking us at any moment of any day. Not on Ukraine, the victim who cannot stop defending, because that means death.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 6:00 AM

Ukraine must create a grand strategy and be ready to repel aggression at any moment, HUR chief Kyrylo Budanov said, stressing the country needs to transition from a resource-based economy to high value-added sectors and develop a modern defense industry.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 8:54 AM

Chunky grenade dropped on Russian positions. t.me/brigada92_wa…

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 6:35 PM

An inside look at the work of the Mi-8 crew hunting Russian drones.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 5:23 AM

Ukraine building fortifications around energy facilities that withstand strikes from 15 Shaheds with 90kg warheads hitting the same spot, says Deputy PM Kuleba. Government created Coordination Headquarters to speed up construction.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 12:25 PM

Russia lost at least 100,000 troops killed since January 2025 while capturing only 0.4 percent of Ukrainian territory, with total losses reaching 984,000 to 1.4 million troops including 190,000 to 480,000 killed, The Economist reports.
www.economist.com/interactive/…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 12:10 PM

From The Economist:

WAS IT THE Tomahawks? The deadly cruise missiles are probably one reason Vladimir Putin spoke to Donald Trump on October 16th and agreed to meet him in Budapest in the coming weeks to talk about a ceasefire in Ukraine. Mr Trump claims to have told the Russian leader during their call: “Would you mind if I gave a couple of thousand Tomahawks to your opposition?” But the next day, meeting the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, he seemed to backpedal.

Regardless of whether and when America decides to supply Ukraine with the powerful missiles, Mr Putin has deeper reasons to worry. According to an analysis by The Economist, it is paying a huge cost in return for minimal gains on the battlefield.

Russia’s summer offensive is winding down. Many in the West focus on the grinding progress its troops have made, and the shortage of Ukrainian manpower it has exposed. But that is to look down the telescope from the wrong end. More striking is how little territory Russia has taken in its third and largest offensive; and the terrible cost it has paid in men and materiel. Unless something dramatic changes, Vladimir Putin will be unable to win the war on the battlefield. The fact that he nevertheless continues to try regardless suggests that he is out of ideas.

Exactly how poorly Russian forces have fared is impossible to tell. But data from satellites and shifts in areas of control suggest when the fighting is intensifying, and that permits a rough guess. This lines up well with more than 200 credible estimates of casualties from Western governments and independent researchers. Combining these data allows The Economist to estimate Russian losses and track them over time.

Our meta-estimate suggests that, from the beginning of the full-scale invasion to January of this year, Russian casualties amounted to 640,000–877,000 soldiers, of whom 137,000–228,000 have died. By October 13th, those totals had risen by almost 60%, to 984,000–1,438,000 casualties, including 190,000–480,000 dead.

Russia’s losses have not won a commensurate gain in territory. Since the battle lines stabilised after Ukraine’s first counteroffensive ended in October 2022, they have barely moved. No large city has changed hands. At the pace of the past 30 days, seizing what remains of the four regions Mr Putin already claims—Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhia—would take until June 2030. (For Russia to occupy all of Ukraine would require a further 103 years.)

Moreover, a sudden collapse in Ukraine’s defensive lines is unlikely given how the two armies are fighting the war. Constant drone surveillance, coupled with long-range precision weaponry, has made massing forces near the front suicidal. Incremental gains remain possible—though only at enormous cost—by sending small groups of men into the “kill zone” to stake out forward positions. It is hard to breach Ukrainian lines. Should a breach happen, the advance of massed forces and equipment needed to exploit it is extremely difficult.

Perhaps that is why this summer’s fighting appears to have been much less deadly for Ukraine than for Russia. There is too little data for us to generate a meta-estimate of the cost to Ukraine. However, UALosses, a website, has catalogued 77,403 deaths among Ukrainian soldiers since the full-scale invasion began (it reckons a further 77,842 are missing in action). By date of death, there has been a marked downward trend since last autumn, with 8,668 fatalities recorded this year. Crucially, that is a lower bound, and although independent investigations have confirmed the fate of soldiers in the list, no one knows how many are missing from that count. Moreover, recent deaths are less likely to be in the database, as recording them takes time (some will never be included). But even if the true number is twice the tally, the figures would imply a ratio this year of roughly five Russian soldiers killed for every Ukrainian.

At such rates, manpower may soon become a more serious constraint for Russia than for Ukraine. When the offensive began, Russians were lured with generous sign-on bonuses, and Mr Putin’s recruitment drive outpaced Ukraine’s by 10,000-15,000 per month. But Russia’s heavy casualties this summer probably nullified that advantage.

Absolutely Open Thread (Bonus Travellin’ Cat Tale)

by Anne Laurie| October 18, 20255:53 pm| 56 Comments

This post is in: Cat Blogging, Open Threads

For all your not-#NoKings related weekend comments…

Bonus:

100 miles into road trip, family realizes their cat is on top of their van. The Denardo family had already driven for 2 hours when they stopped for gas, and saw that Ray Ray the cat had come with them.
That’s a badass cat.
🎁 article 👇🏼

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— 🇺🇸 Pithy Packy 🇳🇱 (@pithypacky.bsky.social) October 15, 2025 at 12:40 PM

The photos at the link are worth the click — Ray Ray seems rather more perturbed about his new harness, at first, than he does about enjoying Times Square. Gift link:

Tony Denardo plans to run a marathon in every state — which is why his family set out on a road trip to Keene, New Hampshire, late last month. The Denardos brought their youngest child and three of her friends with them, and decided to continue on to New York City after the race.

They left their home in Kittanning, Pennsylvania, early in the morning on Sept. 26, and drove east, stopping for gas and a bathroom break after about 100 miles.

Tony got out of the van, and when he looked up, he saw the family’s 8-year-old cat, Ray Ray, perched atop the roof. Laughing and completely floored, Tony called to his wife, Margaret, to come see for herself.

“All these things are going through my head. The roads that we’ve traveled on, the semitrucks that we’ve passed, the hills, the stop signs, everything. How did this cat stay on there?” Margaret said. “And he was completely unfazed. He’s stretching like he just got up from a nap.”…

The family found a Petco and stocked up on the supplies Ray Ray would need for a week away, including a harness, leash and a cat backpack so they could easily take him along while sightseeing.

Ray Ray seemed to adjust quickly to being a traveling cat, hopping in and out of the backpack and walking on a leash around tourist attractions in New England and New York.

He even crossed the finish line of the marathon in Tony’s arms. The story was first reported by a local Pennsylvania publication, the Leader Times…

This isn’t Ray Ray’s first daring escapade — though it is his longest. He has always loved cars, and the Denardo family first found him as a stray kitten under the same van he would one day ride on top of for more than 100 miles. Once he secretly stowed away with Margaret’s parents for a trip to the car wash — thankfully inside the car that time…

“He’s always been extremely friendly,” Margaret said, explaining he was happy to accept pets and belly rubs from strangers on the trip. “He just wants love.”

And, apparently, a little adventure.

Absolutely Open Thread (Bonus Travellin’ Cat Tale)Post + Comments (56)

No Kings – JR Orlando lurker – Orlando!

by WaterGirl| October 18, 20254:00 pm| 50 Comments

This post is in: No Kings Oct 18, 2025, Open Threads

JR from Orlando here. I am a lurker on the site.

Our report on the Orlando protest:

My wife and I attended the protest at City Hall with some friends. This was by far the largest protest of the year with really large crowd. The protest was in the morning because we also have the Orlando Pride Parade scheduled on the same day. We march in the parade every year so today is going to be a long day but so worth it.

Very well organized protest with multiple speakers and enthusiastic crowd. Some really clever, touching, entertaining signs. As many have pointed out, the crowd was vocal but peaceful. Lots of young people including some kids. One young girl led the crowd in pro-democracy chants for a while and received very enthusiastic and vocal response.

Lots of passing cars honked in support. Unlike the last protest, I did not see any MAGA counter protesters or trolls trying to invade the crowd. We left after 1.5 hours to get ready for the Pride parade. We saw a large group protesters holding up signs with loud chanting in an impromptu march from City Hall to Lake Eola. People with signs were all over downtown. Signs are not allowed in the parade area but plenty of people were walking around wearing protest t-shirts.

Thanks and Regards

(Note from WG: love the lobster that is boiling mad about the gaslighting!)

No Kings – JR Orlando lurker – Orlando!Post + Comments (50)

No Kings in Connecticut! Or in Clearwater!

by WaterGirl| October 18, 202512:15 pm| 60 Comments

This post is in: No Kings Oct 18, 2025, Open Threads, Political Action

I just want to say how encouraging it is that there are No Kings rallies in solidarity in other countries. I hope it’s not just Americans abroad, because it gives me hope that people around the world understand that what he is doing does not represent all of us. It gives me hope that there may be a way back internationally. Not to what we were, but to somewhere we can be a force for good in the world.

Commenter J. sent images of two signs for their No Kings rally in Connecticut today.

You may remember J. from her Sanibel Mysteries and because their place in Sanibel was destroyed in the hurricane a few years back.

My sister’s birthday was yesterday, and every year I send her one of the Sanibel Mysteries for her birthday, so it was nice to hear from J. today!

Love love love this sign!

No kings in Clearwater, Florida, either! espierce sent these photos from Clearwater, FL!

No Kings in Connecticut! Or in Clearwater!Post + Comments (60)

#NoKings in Florida (Open Thread)

by Betty Cracker| October 18, 202511:13 am| 62 Comments

This post is in: Domestic Politics, No Kings Oct 18, 2025, Open Threads

Good turnout for our local #NoKings protest this morning at the old county courthouse!

More than 1200 at the #NoKings rally in my Trumpy little Florida town. Much bigger than the last protest (because things are so much worse). Power to the people!

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— Betty Cracker of Florida (@bettycrackerfl.bsky.social) October 18, 2025 at 10:52 AM

We saw at least one inflatable frog, an inflatable unicorn, a guy in a chicken suit and an inflatable t-rex. Lots of American flags. Many passing cars honked horns in solidarity.

Organizers were walking the line, passing out water and urging folks to stay calm and deescalate if anyone tried to bait us. Very few people yelled rude stuff at us, and there were no rolling coalers like there were at the June protest.

One Duck Dynasty dude lookalike on a Harley rolled by slowly and yelled IDIOTS at us. A group of feisty Latina women standing adjacent to Bill and me called that dude a pendejo, but that was about it.

The atmosphere was festive. The Latina women got Bill to take their pictures while holding up their signs.

One of the women told us she’s an immigrant who has been here for 45 years. She said she’s not afraid of the local Trump cult assholes, that they are weak losers. I think she’s right. I think we will win.

Open thread!

#NoKings in Florida (Open Thread)Post + Comments (62)

Saturday Morning Open Thread: NO KINGS

by Anne Laurie| October 18, 20254:33 am| 190 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Your Place Is In The Resistance

Facts don’t care about the GOP’s feelings — there’s nothing more American than rejecting a mad king. Please join us tomorrow: www.nokings.org?SQF_SOURCE=i… #NoKings

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— Indivisible ❌👑 (@indivisible.org) October 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM

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or you could just smile and wave and chat with a grandma or two

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— Zeddy (@zeddary.bsky.social) October 17, 2025 at 3:14 PM

Look I went to one in June imagine a school pep rally where everyone there actually wanted to participate. Which is what a mass movement historically feels like when you have the numbers which we do.

— Zeddy (@zeddary.bsky.social) October 17, 2025 at 3:49 PM

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Republican officials have spent years psy-oping themselves into thinking that there are no sincere, good faith liberals or progressives anywhere in America. So no wonder they're totally unequipped to deal with a large crowd of normal people waving American flags.

— Ned Resnikoff (@resnikoff.bsky.social) October 15, 2025 at 1:05 PM

So far they seem to be oscillating between:
-"These normal people waving American flags hate America, actually."
-"What we have here are millions of paid protestors."
-And my favorite, "No kings is bad and unamerican, actually."

— Ned Resnikoff (@resnikoff.bsky.social) October 15, 2025 at 1:07 PM

People got mad at me during Trump I when I suggested that black bloc and the far right are actually symbiotic life forms, but it couldn't be clearer that the GOP *wants* black bloc to be their main enemy and don't know what to do about the fact that it isn't.

— Ned Resnikoff (@resnikoff.bsky.social) October 15, 2025 at 1:10 PM

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just go to the protests
take whatever precautions you personally feel comfortable with but these are massive, joyful events, go and have fun

— Micah (@rincewind.run) October 17, 2025 at 3:06 PM

I have come out of both previous events feeling energized and happier and it’s been really good for my overall mental health given how much time I spend online
I suspect I am not alone in that

— Micah (@rincewind.run) October 17, 2025 at 3:09 PM

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?Welcome to No Kings Eve. Trump is sounding and behaving kingly, and Republicans are at DEFCON 1 on the desperation meter. You can tell by their hallucinatory talking points, which are untethered from both reality and the Constitution. New from me at @msnbc.com:
www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb…

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— Jill Lawrence (@jilldlawrence.bsky.social) October 17, 2025 at 7:59 AM

You might find this hard to believe, but Donald Trump and his fellow Republicans are making stuff up. This is a go-to move when they fear their power and corrupt authoritarian plans are at risk, and that’s happening a lot lately. Now, with millions of people signed up to attend thousands of “No Kings” demonstrations Saturday across America, the GOP’s desperation meter is at DEFCON 1.

The alarm is clear from the overwrought Republican leaders spouting hallucinatory talking points in which “No Kings” protests become “‘Hate America’ rallies.” They are weaving a tale of extremists, terrorists, Marxists, agitators, “the pro-Hamas crowd” (House Speaker Mike Johnson’s phrase), and professional protesters supposedly paid by billionaire George Soros. It’s straight-up fearmongering.

In truth, anti-Trump protests, like the first “No Kings” demonstrations earlier this year, have drawn people of all backgrounds, united not by payment but by their deep concern — even despair — about what’s happening to their country. Some may show up this weekend wearing inflatable costumes as frogs, chickens, bears, dinosaurs or unicorns, as they have in Portland, Oregon, and outside Chicago. In D.C., we might once again see and hear a trombonist with the stage name Michael McTrouserpants…

While the president and his allies have been known to revel in violence against Trump’s political opponents, the No Kings website features links to primers on safety, de-escalation, and “sacred” religious protest traditions, and this stern warning: “A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, should not be brought to events.”…

The fictional GOP portrait of protesters as deplorables and undesirables is part of a strategy to stop the resistance before it flexes its growing power against a president who is already decidedly unpopular. Nonviolent public protests can generate dramatic changes in public opinion and, ultimately, in public awareness and public policy as well.

Saturday Morning Open Thread: NO KINGSPost + Comments (190)

Late Night Open Thread: Epstein…

by Anne Laurie| October 18, 202512:36 am| 38 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Republicans in Disarray!, Trump Crime Cartel

Those Epstein files must be bad.
#KY04

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— Carl Quintanilla (@carlquintanilla.bsky.social) October 17, 2025 at 6:31 PM

There’s a niche, it appears, for ‘contrarian’ Repubs to publicly buck Don TACO. Massie, like MTG, has a *very* secure seat; pundits could dismiss MTG as ‘complaining because she’s been snubbed for the positions she wanted’, but if an MIT grad perceives a way to triangulate between Trump’s demands for fealty and his MAGAt constituents’ interest in the Epstein files, well…

From six weeks ago

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— Dear Leader (@dearleader8647.bsky.social) October 16, 2025 at 9:22 PM

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No kings, no princes!

Trump's tantrum appears to be directly connected with this push from Massie, shown by posts to Xitter an hour ago

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— Rude Law Dog (@esghound.com) October 17, 2025 at 6:55 PM

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GOP Rep. Massie raised $768K from July through September — the best fundraising quarter of his career under threat of being ousted by a Trump-linked super PAC.

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— Politico (@politico.com) October 15, 2025 at 10:31 AM

Per Politico:

Rep. Thomas Massie raised $768,000 from July through September — the best fundraising quarter of his career under threat of being ousted by a super PAC linked to President Donald Trump.

The Kentucky Republican’s campaign committee also reported more than $2 million cash on hand at the end of September, according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission on Wednesday morning.

Massie has come under fire from the White House after contradicting Trump on several major issues, including voting against the domestic policy megabill central to enacting the administration’s legislative agenda and pushing for the full release of the Jeffrey Epstein files…

While Massie has beaten back primary challengers before, his substantial war chest at this time could help him next year if Trump and his inner circle take their attacks on the incumbent to the next level.

Massie is also counting on support from his own colleagues in fending off a potential competitor. Most of the campaign contributions in the latest fundraising quarter came from individual donors, but Massie also received $2,000 each from committees linked to Kentucky GOP Sen. Rand Paul and House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio). A leadership PAC connected to Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) gave Massie $5,000.

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Late Night Open Thread: <em>Epstein…</em>Post + Comments (38)

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

You cannot shame the shameless.

Nancy smash is sick of your bullshit.

Of course you can have champagne before noon. That’s why orange juice was invented.

My years-long effort to drive family and friends away has really paid off this year.

Stamping your little feets and demanding that they see how important you are? Not working anymore.

Perhaps you mistook them for somebody who gives a damn.

The way to stop violence is to stop manufacturing the hatred that fuels it.

The world has changed, and neither one recognizes it.

It’s pointless to bring up problems that can only be solved with a time machine.

Incompetence, fear, or corruption? why not all three?

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

When do we start airlifting the women and children out of Texas?

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

Republicans seem to think life begins at the candlelight dinner the night before.

Sadly, there is no cure for stupid.

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

Trump should be leading, not lying.

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

The rest of the comments were smacking Boebert like she was a piñata.

When we show up, we win.

A snarling mass of vitriolic jackals

Conservatism: there are people the law protects but does not bind and others who the law binds but does not protect.

With all due respect and assumptions of good faith, please fuck off into the sun.

War for Ukraine Day 1,332: A Brief Saturday Night Update

Absolutely Open Thread (Bonus Travellin’ Cat Tale)

No Kings – JR Orlando lurker – Orlando!

No Kings in Connecticut! Or in Clearwater!

#NoKings in Florida (Open Thread)

Saturday Morning Open Thread: NO KINGS

Late Night Open Thread: Epstein…