Balloon Juice - Open Threads Archives

Friday Wee Hours

by WaterGirl| March 21, 20252:07 am| 79 Comments

I almost never wake up in the night like this, tired, but unable to sleep. So I’ve got nothing, really, except a desire for a post that isn’t about the current awfulness.

So here’s a pretty picture that GB in the HC sent me.

3 Sidebar Photos – March 2025 1 — Image by GB in the HC

And here are a couple of photos of my new sort-of-lasagna creation from earlier today.

In the morning – if anyone is interested – I can share the recipe I made up – can’t share it now because I haven’t written it down yet. :-) But it’s so much simpler than lasagna, and I love that it’s portion sized and everything doesn’t ooze all together like regular lasagna does once you cut into it.

Open thread, but maybe just for non political stuff?

Friday Wee HoursPost + Comments (79)

War for Ukraine Day 1,120: Another Long Night of Glide Bombs & Drone Swarms

by Adam L Silverman| March 20, 20259:05 pm| 24 Comments

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

(Image by NEIVANMADE)

All of eastern and most of central Ukraine is under air raid alert for drone swarms and glide bombs as of 8:00 PM EDT/2:00 AM local time in Ukraine.

The Russians have been pounding on Ukraine for hours. This is likely in response to reports of Ukrainian strikes into Russian occupied Crimea, another strike on the Engels airfield in Saratov, and unconfirmed reports coming from Russian social media that a Ukrainian element has pushed towards Smolensk, Russia. Which would be the farthest Ukrainian ground incursion if confirmed.

Earlier today, President Zelenskyy delivered a video address to the Council of Europe meeting In Brussels.

The summit of leaders from the 27 European Union member states has begun in Brussels. The President of Ukraine joined online.

“Ukraine urgently needs enhanced air defense systems and funding for artillery shells,” Zelensky said.
t.me/c/1377735387…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 10:22 AM

Here’s the video:

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He also had a meeting and negotiations with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre. They held a joint press conference afterwards:

First Lady Zelenska met with the Åland Islands Speaker of Parliament Jørgen Pettersson and members of the islands’ government. The Åland Islands is an autonomous region of Finland. The meeting was to express thanks for their support for her foundation’s efforts to build and restock bomb shelters in Ukrainian schools and kindergartens.

Georgia:

JUST IN: the ECHR registers GYLA’s case regarding the violation of the secrecy of vote in the October 2024 elections in Georgia.

Registration itself is less concerned with the content of an appeal, but we believe and hope that the ECHR will start to consider the case.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 4:47 AM

🔴 The European Court of Human Rights [@echr.coe.int] has registered a complaint submitted by Georgia’s Young Lawyers’ Association [GYLA] concerning the widespread violation of ballot secrecy during the 2024 parliamentary elections of #Georgia.

#GeorgiaProtests
#GEOElections2024

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— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) March 20, 2025 at 4:53 AM

Journalist & human rights defender Regina Jegorova-Askerova says she was denied entry to Georgia despite living there for 15 years. She has husband and underage kids in Georgia.

#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:30 AM

1/ „Human Rights House” responds to the seizure of their accounts by the Prosecutor’s Office and the ongoing investigation. According to the organization, both the investigation conducted by the POG and the decision to impose the seizure are unfounded and illegal.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM

2/ According to the organization:

“This is another deliberate attack by the illegitimate regime of Georgian Dream on human rights organizations and human rights defenders. It is clearly an attempt to further restrict human rights activities in the country.”

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM

3/ “Human Rights House has currently paid 365 administrative fines, totaling 843,747 GEL. Since the spring of 2024, we have received donations amounting to 921,336.99 GEL from hundreds of individuals”.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM

4/ Among them, in the last two months, we have received donations from TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia—a total of 300,000 GEL. Currently, about a hundred individuals have applied for fine payments, and if they fail to pay, their property will be seized.”

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM

5/ On March 17, the Prosecutor’s Office seized the accounts of organizations that raised money through crowdfunding and provided assistance, including to people arrested and fined for participating in protests, as well as their family members.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM

6/ The Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation under several charges, including “sabotage.”

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:50 AM

The US:

“The Trump administration could seek to use the plant to help power the extraction of rare and critical minerals that Ukraine holds, according to two senior Ukrainian officials involved in drawing up an agreement with Washington on rare earths and other raw materials.”

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— Mary Glantz (@tarheelmary.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 4:49 PM

From The Financial Times:

Donald Trump has raised the possibility of the US taking control of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants, as part of his push to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The president told his Ukrainian counterpart on Wednesday that US expertise could help manage the plants, with American ownership providing “the best protection” for the country’s energy infrastructure, according to a US readout.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later clarified that their discussion focused solely on a facility currently under Russian control: the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Europe’s largest.

Three years after Russian troops seized the facility, raising fears of a Chernobyl-style disaster in Ukraine, Trump’s proposal has returned it to the spotlight as a potential pillar of a peace deal — one that also seeks to recoup the billions of dollars in US military aid.

Is the US looking to own Ukraine’s atomic power?

It is unclear, but that is what an account of the Trump-Zelenskyy call from secretary of state Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz said.

Zelenskyy, on the other hand, said the discussion only touched on Zaporizhzhia and US involvement would be about helping to “recover” the plant, followed by investment and modernisation.

“I said that liberating the plant alone is not enough because it needs infrastructure — water supply, technical personnel and many other steps to ensure that the plant starts generating money and electricity,” Zelenskyy told the FT after the call with Trump.

Speaking in Oslo on Thursday, Zelenskyy was more categorical: “All nuclear power plants belong to the Ukrainian people.”

If the Zaporizhzhia plant “doesn’t belong to Ukraine, it won’t work for anybody,” he vowed.

More at the link.

Rare Earth Metals are no longer hot topic, as the United States now shifts its attention to Ukrainian Nuclear Power Plants.

Could someone clarify how is this supposed to help Ukraine?

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 8:11 AM

I will remind everyone that Trump’s employer/owner Musk and the latter’s script kiddies fired all of this empty suit’s people at the US Department of Energy that manage the US’s nuclear weapons. I’m not really sure he’s capable of assessing what is and is not a problem.

Regardless, we’re back in the same territory we were in after Trump’s call with Putin. The details in the readouts were widely incompatible on everything other than that a phone call had occurred.

Back to Ukraine.

Russian occupied portions of Ukraine:

Art by Nikita Titov

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 7:27 PM

Putin just signed a decree ordering all Ukrainian citizens in occupied territories to either get Russian citizenship or leave – otherwise, they face forced deportation. 1/

— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM

Russia wants to remove those it sees as “non-loyal” and force others into mobilization. Russia will replace them with those loyal to Moscow, later claiming these lands were never Ukrainian. This tactic has been perfected since the 1930s. Don’t let them get away with it.

— Maria Avdeeva (@mariainkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 2:19 PM

FROG!!!!!!!

An unknown new air defense system with R-73 aircraft missiles in service with the Third Assault Brigade of Ukraine. mil.in.ua/uk/news/tret…

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 11:07 AM

From Militarnyi:

The Third Separate Assault Brigade has received a new anti-aircraft missile system with R-73 missiles.

Brigade soldier Maksym Zaichenko said it is designed for short-range action.

“Despite the venerable age of the equipment and limited tactical and technical characteristics, we find opportunities to modernize and implement the latest approaches,” said Zaichenko.

As a result, the brigade managed to create a surface-to-air missile system that successfully performs combat missions to cover units.

The system, based on a classified platform, was adapted for the use of R-73 air-to-air guided missiles from the ground.

The air defense missile has a certain advantage because it works on a “fire and forget” basis, it does not need to be escorted like some other air defense missiles.

This allows the air defense system to immediately change its position after firing, so as not to expose itself to a retaliatory strike.

The R-73 missile, depending on the variant, can engage targets in the front hemisphere at a distance of 20 (RMD-1) to 40 (RMD-2) kilometers, and in the rear hemisphere – up to 300 meters.

This is not the first time in Ukraine that R-73 missiles have been adapted to ground launchers.

Previously, the Come Back Alive Foundation modernized the Osa anti-aircraft missile systems for the Defense Forces as part of the HORNET project.

After the modernization, the systems can operate not only with standard 9M33M3 surface-to-air missiles, which are currently in short supply, but also with R-73 missiles, which Ukraine currently has in abundance.

FROG is Free Rocket Over Ground. Something you launch and forget about.

FPV drone strike on a loaded Russian Bm-21 Grad. t.me/argus38/515

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 10:04 AM

Odesa:

Odesa is suffering from a massive russian drone attack right now

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 4:54 PM

Russia is attacking several Ukrainian cities with drones and glide bombs right now ‼️
Odesa on the video.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 4:02 PM

🇺🇦🔥 The russian enemy is massively attacking Odesa with attack drones!
There is damage to civilian infrastructure, including a residential high-rise, a shopping center and shops.
Three people were injured, including a minor girl.

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM

🔥🇺🇦 As a result of the russian attack, powerful fires broke out in three locations. There are also localized emergency power outages.
Air alert continues! There is a possibility of repeated enemy strikes!

— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 6:20 PM

Kupyansk, Kharkiv Oblast:

‼️ The governor of Kharkiv Oblast reports a worsening situation in Kupiansk, where russian forces have dropped more than 30 aerial bombs in the past 24 hours.

— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:39 AM

Russia launched a devastating attack on Kupyansk in the Kharkiv region, unleashing 31 glide bombs. An 86-year-old woman was killed, and numerous homes were reduced to rubble.

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 8:02 AM

Zaporizhzhia Oblast:

Russia struck Zaporizhzhia region with glide bombs, injuring at least 5 people, including a child

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 6:54 PM

Kharkiv:

About a year ago, Russia struck ‘Factor-Druk,’ a large printing house in Kharkiv, Ukraine. That strike killed 7 people who simply came to work that day, injured 22 others, and destroyed the printing house.

Today, it reopened!

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 12:53 PM

The Kursk cross border offensive:

Enormous torch lights up entire region in Sudzha, Kursk Oblast. According to reports, local gas distribution terminal is on fire 👀

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 6:40 PM

Russians wanted to cross the river in the Kursk region, but something went wrong again.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 2:55 PM

Engels Airfield, Saratov Oblast, Russia:

Russian airbase in Engels is a little bit on fire 🔥

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— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 7:23 AM

🍄/1. Tonight drones targeted Russian military airfield in Engels, Saratov region of Russia. A strong explosion was reported.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:19 AM

/2. An ammunition depot at the Russian Engels airbase was attacked

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:19 AM

/3. The detonation of ammunition at the Russian military airfield in Engels was so strong that the shock wave blew off the roofs in the area around it.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:20 AM

/4. Engels, destruction from shock wave and sounds of strong continuing secondary detonation

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:22 AM

/5. Engels, massive expansion at the ammunition storage at the local Russian military airbase

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 3:24 AM

/6. Engels moments before drone attack on the Russian military airfield

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 4:24 AM

The airfield in Engels is still on fire. There is still a fire, explosions, and secondary detonation of ammunition recorded there. Tu-95MS, Tu-22M3, and Tu-160 bombers, along with warehouses containing FAB, KAB, and cruise missiles, are stationed there.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 8:24 AM

There has been speculation that this morning’s Ukrainian strike on the Engels-2 airbase was carried out by the new Ukrainian ‘Long Neptune” cruise missile, but it instead appears to be the work of AN-196 Liutyi long-range strike drones.

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— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 5:58 AM

Marinovka Airfield, Volgograd Oblast, Russia:

✈️🦅 💥Russians write that a drone attack is underway on the Marinovka military airfield in the Volgograd region

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— MAKS 24 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 8:14 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

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

Kapibara relaxes on the prosthesis of Serhiy, a veteran and warrior of the 79th Air Assault Brigade 💙💪

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 10:24 AM

War for Ukraine Day 1,120: Another Long Night of Glide Bombs & Drone SwarmsPost + Comments (24)

Thursday Evening Open Thread: No Vacation for YOU, Trump Voters!

by Anne Laurie| March 20, 20258:55 pm| 130 Comments

This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Open Threads, Trump-Musk

I legit think that the way that Europe can absolutely tank Trump's approval rating is make American tourist VISAs dramatically harder to get. The absolute meltdown in the karen-faction when they can't go on their Paris vacation will annihilate a presidency

— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 6:55 PM

People don't really get how much of our interaction with the world is based on the fact that everyone is our pal and their borders are basically always open to Americans.
You change that to literally any other slightly ostracized, icky country? Oh boy.

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— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 6:57 PM

I hadn’t thought about this, but yeah: Our little Trey worked his heart out getting that overseas fellowship — just ask the tutor we paid $300 an hour to ‘supervise’ his application! or Kailleigh’s acceptance at the best Ol Miss sorority is centered on her upcoming immersion summer in Paris! could definitely influence some of those cherished suburban swing voters…

You think a lot of MAGA vacation in Paris?? Lol

— the tallest stone (@talleststone.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 7:08 PM

I understand people think this is a clever point, but idgaf about the rurals (who yes, absolutely vacation in Paris. Who do you think MAGA is? It's car dealers and dentists.)
I care about upper middle class suburban counties flipping another 10-15 points away from the GOP and breaking it for good

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— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 7:10 PM

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Thursday Evening Open Thread: <em>No Vacation for *YOU*, Trump Voters!</em>Post + Comments (130)

Picking Up from Yesterday (News Sources)

by WaterGirl| March 20, 20254:26 pm| 173 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads

Asking for your input one more time!

Everything is in alphabetical order within the finished groups. Now that things are grouped and in alphabetical order, is anything missing? Does something on there really not belong?

Also, I’m really wondering whether we want to include YouTube and Podcasts – general feedback welcome. If it seems like we do, then I’ll do a separate post to get suggestions and links for those. I do think if we choose YouTube and Podcasts, we should limit them to political and political acton, and maybe limit each of those lists to maybe 20?

YouTube
Podcasts

It would be awesome to get feedback on whether each of the links is in the correct grouping.

If a few of you could each take a group, that would be a big help.

Do all the links within a particular group work properly?
Spelled properly?

What else am I missing?

Alternate Media Sources was last updated March 2025.

Independent News

AP News
Christian Science Monitor
Democracy Docket
Democracy Now
MinnPost
Mother Jones
ProPublica
Rewire
Talking Points Memo
TechDirt
Texas Observer
The 19th News Network (nonprofit newsroom reporting on gender, politics and policy)
The American Prospect
The Independent
The New Yorker
Wired

State & Local News

The Colorado Sun
Des Moines Register (Iowa)
Plain Dealer aka Cleveland Plain Dealer (Ohio)
Philadelphia Inquirer (non-profit)
Baltimore Banner (non-profit)
Recombobulation Area (Wisconsin)
High Country News (Western US)
The Cascadia Advocate (Pacific Northwest)
Louisiana Illuminator
Mississippi Free Press
Mississippi Today
Missouri Independent
The Nevada Independent (Jon Ralston)
Tennessee Holler
Tampa Bay Times
VTDigger (non-profit, Vermont)

International News

BBC
Canadian Broadcast Corporation (Canada)
France 24 (France, in English)
Der Spiegel (Germany, in English)
Deutsche Welle (International news)
Ha’aretz (Israel)
Ian Dunt (Striking 13) (UK focus)
Middle East Eye (news, Middle East focus)
El Faro (Central America, in English)
El País (Spain, in English)
The Guardian
The Counteroffensive with Tim Mak (in-country Ukraine focus)

Substacks & Newsletters

Aaron Rupar’s Public Notice
Brad DeLong (Grasping Reality)
Brian Buetler Off Message
Candidly Tiff
Chris Geidner/Law Dork
Dan Rather
Erin Reed (Erin in the Morning)
Jeff Tiedrich
Harry Litman
Heather Cox Richardson
James Fallows
Jay Kuo
Jess Piper
Jessica Valente
Jim Acosta
Joyce White Vance
Judd L Popular Information
Karen Attiah
Mark Jacob (Stop the Presses)
Meidas Touch
Molly White (Citation Needed)
Nathan Tankus
Oliver Willis
Paul Krugman
Robert Hubbell’s Today’s Edition
Ruth Ben-Ghiat
Sherrilyn Ifill
Simon Rosenberg (Hopium Chronicles)
Steve Vladeck
The Contrarian (started by Jennifer Rubin and Norman Eisen)
The Downballot
The Focus Group ??
The Handbasket
Timothy Snyder
What the Fuck Just Happened Today
Will Bunch
Will Leitch
Zeteo

Blogs & Websites

404 Media
Background Briefing with Ian Masters
Bellingcat
Bolts Media
Charlie Pierce
Daily Kos
Dan Froomkin
Dave Zirin
Dean Baker (Beat the Press)
Dear Dean Publishing
Defector
Dissent Magazine
Electoral-Vote.com
Digby’s Hullabaloo
Informed Comment
Jamelle Bouie
Just Security
Lawfare
Marcy Wheeler (emptywheel)
Mike the Mad Biologist
No More Mister Nice Blog
Political Wire
Religion Dispatches
Rewire
Steve Benen (MaddowBlog)
Techdirt
Terry Kanefield
The Black Guy Who Tips
The Editorial Board
The Professional Left
Wonkette

Both Sides of the Issues

Tangle News

YouTube?

Brian Tyler Cohen

LegalAF: https://www.youtube.com/@LegalAFMTN

Fred Kaplan: https://slate.com/news-and-politics/war-stories

Farron Balanced: https://www.youtube.com/@FarronBalanced

I’ve Had It: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLa2mr0CgSHfgNL0ORZF2EA4tIFIYQOhYg

The Professional Left (YouTube)

LegalEagle

Atun-Shei Films.

Podcasts?

Talking Feds

Professional Left

Progress Pondcast

The Dollop

The Ben Joravsky Show

Al Franken

Weekly Show with John Stewart

Know Your Enemy, from Dissent Magazine

Why is this Happening with Chris Hayes

Stay Tuned – Preet Bharara

Cafe Insider- Preet Bharara & Joyce Vance

Openib Arguments

Five Minute News

Strict Scrutiny

Opening Arguments

It Could Happen Here

Hood Politics

Uncategorized

Via YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkbwLFZhawBqK2b9gW08z3g
Via home site: https://fiveminute.news/

Action

Democracy Forward

Just Security Litigation Tracker

Legal Challenges (Lawfare)

5 Calls

Indivisible

50501

Goods Unite Us iOS app android app

Picking Up from Yesterday (News Sources)Post + Comments (173)

Hageman Heckled (Open Thread)

by Betty Cracker| March 20, 20252:10 pm| 153 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Politics, Republican Stupidity

Things got ugly in deep red Wyoming when Rep. Harriet Hageman (R) showed up to shill for the sociopathic oligarch who is dismantling the federal government:

Wyoming Rep. Harriet Hageman was booed after defending DOGE at a town hall.

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— NBC News (@nbcnews.com) March 20, 2025 at 1:45 PM

From NBC News:

Hundreds of people attended the town hall for their sole House member, jeering Hageman throughout her comments on issues including cuts to the federal government spearheaded by Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency.

“It’s so bizarre to me how obsessed you are with federal government,” Hageman told attendees, prompting more outbursts from the crowd.

“You guys are going to have a heart attack if you don’t calm down,” she added. “I’m sorry, your hysteria is just really over the top.”

Maybe Hageman should be more “obsessed with the federal government” since she represents the people of Wyoming in it. Hageman won her seat with 71% of the vote in November.

Meanwhile, I think Rep. Swalwell (D-CA) is correct here:

People keep asking me if Dems are divided between left and center of party. Nope. We are divided over old and new ways of fighting. That 20th Century playbook ain’t stopping a dictator.

— Eric Swalwell (@ericswalwell.bsky.social) March 20, 2025 at 11:01 AM

Choose your fighters.

Open thread.

Hageman Heckled (Open Thread)Post + Comments (153)

Thursday Morning Open Thread: Happy Nowruz / Spring Equinox

by Anne Laurie| March 20, 20257:32 am| 83 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Religion, Trump-Musk

Feels like we could all use a really thorough spring cleaning, not to mention some bonfires.

But I missed yesterday’s Google Doodle… Per the Express Tribune:

… Nowruz, meaning “New Day” in Persian, marks the beginning of the Persian New Year and is celebrated by millions across the globe. Originating in ancient Zoroastrian traditions, Nowruz signifies rebirth, the arrival of spring, and the triumph of light over evil.

Traditionally celebrated for 13 days, Nowruz’s observances take place in countries across the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus, parts of South Asia, and even Europe.

In the Persian tradition, families set up the Haft-Sīn table, a carefully arranged display of seven symbolic objects, each beginning with the Persian letter ‘S’. These items represent different virtues or elements:

– Sabzeh (sprouts or wheatgrass) – symbolizes rebirth and renewal
– Samanu (sweet wheat pudding) – signifies strength and prosperity
– Senjed (dried oleaster fruit) – stands for love and wisdom
– Seer (garlic) – represents health and protection
– Seeb (apple) – symbolizes beauty and good health
– Somāq (sumac berries) – represents the sunrise and patience
– Serkeh (vinegar) – signifies wisdom and the passage of time

The period leading up to Nowruz is filled with customs meant to purify the home and prepare for the New Year. One such practice is Khāne-takāni, or spring cleaning, which is believed to drive away negative energy and make space for new beginnings.

An exciting part of the Nowruz celebrations is the fire-jumping festival known as Chaharshanbe Suri, held on the final Wednesday before Nowruz. During this festival, people chant phrases meant to dispel bad luck and welcome health and energy. This is followed by jumping over bonfires, a symbolic act of purification and renewal.

Families also gather to visit relatives, exchange gifts, and indulge in special Nowruz dishes like Ash Reshteh (a thick noodle soup) and Sabzi Polo ba Mahi (herbed rice with fish). The 13-day celebration concludes with Sizdeh Bedar, a day dedicated to outdoor festivities and connecting with nature, marking the end of the Nowruz festivities.

(Clay Jones via GoComics.com)

Thursday Morning Open Thread: Happy Nowruz / Spring EquinoxPost + Comments (83)

Grey Dawn Open Thread: Move Fast, BREAK Stuff!

by Anne Laurie| March 20, 20253:37 am| 112 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Republican Venality, Trump-Musk, Lock Him Up...Lock Them All Up

a really difficult thing that explains a very large part of the reason we're in the situation we're in is that the average person has a monumentally difficult time accepting and internalizing that these people are doing awful and destructive things *because they like being awful and destructive*

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— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) March 20, 2025 at 1:27 AM

It takes some practice before a toddler’s fine motor skills are devoloped enough to stack three blocks into a tower. It takes no practice at all to kick over someone else’s tower and laugh gleefully at the resulting chaos…

like, if you can't imagine why some 25 year old computer science student would get a thrill out of firing 5,000 people and stripping them of their health insurance *because he thinks it's funny*, that's good, it means you're a normal person, but that's what's happening and it's no deeper than that

— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) March 20, 2025 at 1:29 AM

the world of the past was worse than the modern world in almost every conceivable way but i do sometimes wish we had a battlefield we could send all these young men off to in order to get them vaporized by cannonball

— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) March 20, 2025 at 1:31 AM

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a big part of the authoritarian worldview/fantasy is the desire to do awful things *which you know to be awful* with total impunity, which is why so many of these guys are republicans

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— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) March 20, 2025 at 1:03 AM

this, btw, is what i think both old democrats and zoomer leftists alike don't really get and it's the source of a lot of needless discourse and consternation. the GOP has been bad my entire life but they are objectively much worse now and for much different reasons than when i was in my 20s

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— GOLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) March 20, 2025 at 1:17 AM

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The Oval Office Occupant, ~~King~~ God-Emperor of the Perpetual Toddler Caucus:

The do something golem strikes again.

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— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 19, 2025 at 8:30 PM

Literally idk what to say other than Trumps administration is obsessed with the idea of looking active and it's causing like.. all the problems? All the claims of fascism, etc. It's all down to needing to look like you're DOING THINGS

— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 19, 2025 at 8:40 PM

The fun part of all of this is Trump is a sundowning idiot and so probably doesn't have the vaguest idea what p25 is but they're the ones who write all the papers for him to sign and so are orange boy is just snorting it as furiously as possible.

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— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 19, 2025 at 10:55 PM

As a side note, I read the DofEd being an EO they know is going to get tanked, but they're out things to do to "look busy."
Because of this, I honestly think the next two months or so are going to get really unhinged.

— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 19, 2025 at 10:52 PM

Trump is gonna do real hail Mary shit and DOJ is going to get more desperate.
But i really think it's not because of this fourth dimensional fascist chess, it's because his admin has to look constantly always active or it's failing.

— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 19, 2025 at 10:53 PM

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If there is no hope, there is always vengeance!

Here’s a useful:hopeful way to think about things: the broader strategic rationale behind Musk/Trump/Vought is that they can inflict enough damage and move with enough velocity that when election time comes around it’s all a fiat accompli, regardless of the results. But let’s assume the wheel turns

— William B. Fuckley (@opinionhaver.bsky.social) March 15, 2025 at 9:06 PM

Govt agencies and universities are non-profit entities. Yes, it’s more complex, etc etc. But fundamentally, they just need to survive. And if the wheel does turn, and balance of power does reverse? All of the people backing this need to actively make money. They cannot simply survive.

— William B. Fuckley (@opinionhaver.bsky.social) March 15, 2025 at 9:08 PM

So let’s imagine the damage that could be done to a16z, to Tesla, to SpaceX, to Meta, in two years. They can’t just survive. They need to make money. Their employees and stakeholders are not mission-motivated to the same tent that NASA’s are.

— William B. Fuckley (@opinionhaver.bsky.social) March 15, 2025 at 9:10 PM

I’m definitely not saying that people aren’t hurting right now. I am saying that we can potentially hurt them much, much, more when the time comes.

— William B. Fuckley (@opinionhaver.bsky.social) March 15, 2025 at 9:18 PM

Also: the government can rebuild agencies if it has to. It will be tragic and painful, but possible.
You can't rebuild corporations from liquidation.

— KANADI-Class NHP (@seed-corn-thoughts.bsky.social) March 15, 2025 at 9:21 PM

They think we can't rebuild and that all of this will change American political culture. The only thing they're doing is oppressing Americans and creating mass resentment and hatred that will never leave even if it's temporarily quieted by their threats

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— Blake Brown (@antiquequaalude.bsky.social) March 15, 2025 at 11:21 PM

Grey Dawn Open Thread: <em>Move Fast, BREAK Stuff!</em>Post + Comments (112)

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

A fool as well as an oath-breaker.

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

The snowflake in chief appeared visibly frustrated when questioned by a reporter about egg prices.

We cannot abandon the truth and remain a free nation.

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

Their freedom requires your slavery.

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

If you are still in the gop, you are either an extremist yourself, or in bed with those who are.

The fundamental promise of conservatism all over the world is a return to an idealized past that never existed.

Disappointing to see gov. newsom with his finger to the wind.

Since when do we limit our critiques to things we could do better ourselves?

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

I’d hate to be the candidate who lost to this guy.

The worst democrat is better than the best republican.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Black Jesus loves a paper trail.

When I decide to be condescending, you won’t have to dream up a fantasy about it.

There are some who say that there are too many strawmen arguments on this blog.

There are consequences to being an arrogant, sullen prick.

If you voted for Trump, you don’t get to speak about ethics, morals, or rule of law.

“Just close your eyes and kiss the girl and go where the tilt-a-whirl takes you.” ~OzarkHillbilly

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

Well, whatever it is, it’s better than being a Republican.

Friday Wee Hours

War for Ukraine Day 1,120: Another Long Night of Glide Bombs & Drone Swarms

Thursday Evening Open Thread: No Vacation for YOU, Trump Voters!

Picking Up from Yesterday (News Sources)

Hageman Heckled (Open Thread)

Thursday Morning Open Thread: Happy Nowruz / Spring Equinox

Grey Dawn Open Thread: Move Fast, BREAK Stuff!