Balloon Juice - Open Threads Archives

Florida Special Elections – Just 14 13 Days to Make a Difference

by WaterGirl| March 6, 202511:55 am| 59 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Political Action, Political Fundraising, Targeted Political Fundraising 2025-26, This Fight Is For Everything

Update at 5:56 pm: ANGEL MATCH IS COMPLETE! Thank you Redshift and everyone who donated.

April 1^st is special election day in Florida to fill the empty seats of two grifters Trump pulled out of Congress to staff his regime. These are safe Republican districts in ordinary times, and we would definitely take a pass. But these are not ordinary times.

Boots On the Ground in Florida!

Florida special elections for the US House – is this a long shot or a potentially history making opportunity?

I would argue that it’s both. Donate or volunteer! We have just 13 days left for our dollars to make an impact.

FL-01 is even more red than FL-06, so we have a better chance at winning in FL-06, but who knows? Pick your own strategy – we have thermometers up for each seat, so you can decide.

FL-06 Josh Weil (BlueSky)

Donate

FL-01 Gay Valimont (BlueSky)

Donate

We have a new Balloon Juice Angel!

Redshift will match up to $25 per person up to a total of $500. He had some Tesla stock he had almost forgotten about, and sold it a couple of weeks ago, and it seems like poetic justice to use some of the proceeds here!

Thank you, Redshift!

Yesterday’s post, with lots more details.

Florida Special Elections – Long Shot? Or Potentially History Making Opportunity?

Meet the group that’s on the ground in Florida: National Ground Game

Short inspirational video from one of the founders below. ⬇️

There are post-carding and canvassing opportunities – check out their website.

Florida Special Elections – Just <s>14</s> 13 Days to Make a DifferencePost + Comments (59)

Thursday Morning Open Thread: Spell It Out for the Simple Folk

by Anne Laurie| March 6, 20257:26 am| 249 Comments

This post is in: Democratic Response to Trump 2.0, Foreign Affairs, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

the writers aren't even trying anymore www.theguardian.com/environment/…

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— John Fraley (@johndavidfraley.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 8:46 PM

Nope, not photoshopped, according to the Guardian:

… Mervyn Sequeira, an Ontario photographer, was out with his family on a recent morning when they spotted a bald eagle descending towards a frozen lake.

Sensing a looming attack on unsuspecting prey, Sequeira scanned the landscape and saw a Canada goose, alone and vulnerable.

For the next 20 minutes, lens trained on the battle, Sequeira watched what he expected would be a lopsided fight with a grim coda.

Through bursts of his shutter, however, he captured a defiant goose fending off death.

“I’ve seen bald eagles take a lot of things, from ducks to muskrats. But this is the first time I’ve seen a bald eagle go in for something as big as a goose,” he said.

Despite multiple attacks by the eagle, the goose remained unbowed. The raptor, defeated, flew off…

Crockett: Any of us who have ever dated have been hoodwinked a time or two. We’ve sat there and thought he was going to be so great for us because he sold us on all the things and then we realized… they ain’t shit. That’s where we are.

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— Acyn (@acyn.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 12:18 AM

It's fucking crazy that we have expert communication assassins like crockett and meanwhile trump is trotting out his failed parking garage lawyer to say well veterans simply don't deserve jobs and the press just doesn't care

— Hemry, Local Bartender (@bartenderhemry.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 2:21 AM

Sorry by doesn't care I meant they like trump and want him to rule us as a king

— Hemry, Local Bartender (@bartenderhemry.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 2:22 AM

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Thursday Morning Open Thread: Spell It Out for the Simple FolkPost + Comments (249)

Dank Grey Dawn Open Thread: Keta-mined

by Anne Laurie| March 6, 20253:41 am| 87 Comments

This post is in: Grifters Gonna Grift, Open Threads, Trump-Musk, Elon Musk

Republican senators told Elon Musk Wednesday that the billionaire needs congressional approval for controversial spending cuts or they risk being overturned in court

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— Bloomberg News (@bloomberg.com) March 5, 2025 at 4:11 PM

Tom Cole, speaking of decisions that include firing the people keep nukes secure and Avian flu at bay.
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202…

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— emptywheel (@emptywheel.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 4:39 PM

Perhaps the question is not Why is Musk using so much of a diassociative drug? as From what does Musk so badly need to dissociate himself? (And perhaps it’s no more significant than that it’s hard to ingest a fatal dose by accident.) From the Atlantic, “What Ketamine Does to the Human Brain” [gift link]:

… Ketamine is called a dissociative drug because during a high, which lasts about an hour, people might feel detached from their body, their emotions, or the passage of time. Frequent, heavy recreational use—say, several times a week—has been linked to cognitive effects that last beyond the high, including impaired memory, delusional thinking, superstitious beliefs, and a sense of specialness and importance. You can see why people might wonder about ketamine use from a man who is trying to usher in multi-planetary human life, who has barged into global politics and is attempting to reengineer the U.S. government. With Musk’s new political power, his cognitive and psychological health is of concern not only to shareholders of his companies’ stocks but to all Americans. His late-night posts on X, mass emails to federal employees, and non sequiturs uttered on television have prompted even more questions about his drug use.

Ketamine’s great strength has always been its ability to sever humans from the world around them. It was first approved as an anesthetic in 1970, because it could make people lose consciousness without affecting the quality of their breathing. In the 1990s, as a street drug known as Special K, ketamine took ravers to euphoric states. Then, in the 2000s, researchers found that doses of ketamine that didn’t put people to sleep could rapidly reduce symptoms of depression, because, the thinking went, the drug altered the physical circuitry of the brain. In 2019, the FDA approved a nasal spray containing a form of ketamine called esketamine (sold under the brand name Spravato) for patients with depression who hadn’t responded to other treatments. Spravato came with a list of rules for how the drug should be administered: in a certified medical setting by a health-care professional, and with limited dosage amounts determined by how long a person has been in treatment…

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Research has not yet established the side effects of long-term ketamine therapy, but older studies of recreational users offer some insight on heavy, extended dosing. Celia Morgan, now a psychopharmacology professor at the University of Exeter, in England, led a 2010 study that followed 120 recreational ketamine users for a year. Even infrequent users—those who used, on average, roughly three times a month—scored higher on a delusional-thought scale than ex–ketamine users, people who took other drugs, and people who didn’t use drugs at all. Those who averaged 20 uses a month scored even higher. People believed that they were the sole recipients of secret messages, or that society and people around them were especially attuned to them. The psychological profile of a frequent ketamine user, Morgan and her team concluded, was someone who had “profound” impairments in short- and long-term memory and was “distinctly dissociated in their day-to-day existence.” Morgan’s study was not designed to determine whether people who are more likely to be delusional are also more likely to recreationally use ketamine, but Morgan told me that stopping the drug, in most cases, will dramatically reduce these side effects…

Musk hasn’t publicly acknowledged the risks of ketamine, despite having once claimed that SSRIs, the drugs commonly used to treat depression, “zombify” patients. Other highly visible ketamine promoters tend to do the same. Dylan Beynon, the founder of the ketamine telemedicine company Mindbloom, recently wrote on X, “Ketamine is not physically addictive. SSRIs are very difficult to wean off of for many.” (Beynon’s wife, the former head of engineering at Mindbloom, now works at DOGE.) Although ketamine doesn’t lead to the same kind of physical withdrawal symptoms as opioids or alcohol, Morgan, the University of Exeter professor, said its abuse potential is widely accepted, partly because people build a tolerance to the drug very quickly. In the United Kingdom, where health data are more centralized, more than 2,000 people sought treatment for ketamine addiction in 2023. More to the point, ketamine’s most dramatic risks depend on simply how much ketamine a person takes, and for how long…

Again, I'm going to posit that when the retrospective about all of this came out, it's that Elon/Vought/Trump and co. knew that this was going to get flayed alive in the courts, but the plan was to move so fast that they could outpace them.

— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 4:37 PM

there is no one more innocent of every sin, of any action, than Elon Musk. he is merely present, and then somehow unexpected events unfold.

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— Steve Randy Waldman (@interfluidity.com) February 27, 2025 at 2:54 PM

Dank Grey Dawn Open Thread: Keta-minedPost + Comments (87)

War for Ukraine Day 1,105: Putin Takes Advantage of Trump Stabbing Ukraine in the Front

by Adam L Silverman| March 5, 20258:09 pm| 46 Comments

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

Trump cut off US intelligence assistance to Ukraine earlier today. This included for HIMARS and GMLRS targeting.

⚡️Update: US halts intelligence sharing with Ukraine, CIA director confirms.

The U.S. has halted intelligence sharing with Kyiv, threatening Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian targets amid the full-scale war, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed to Fox Business on March 5.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) March 5, 2025 at 10:20 AM

From The Kyiv Independent:

The U.S. has halted intelligence sharing with Kyiv, threatening Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian targets amid the full-scale war, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed to Fox Business on March 5.

“Trump had a real question about whether President (Volodymyr) Zelensky was committed to the peace process, and he said let’s pause,” Ratcliffe said.

The Financial Times earlier reported on March 5, citing undisclosed sources, that the U.S. had halted intelligence sharing with Ukraine.

The move follows Washington’s decision to freeze all military aid supplies to Ukraine following a public spat between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and U.S. President Donald Trump. The decision was likely intended to put pressure on Zelensky in peace talks.

Zelensky later issued a statement on March 4 in which he called the Oval Office clash “regrettable” and affirmed commitment to work toward peace under Trump’s leadership.

The U.S. president praised Zelensky’s statement in his address to Congress but made no direct comment on releasing military aid.

“I think on the military front and the intelligence front, the pause that allowed that to happen, I think will go away,” Ratcliffe added.

There had been conflicting claims as to whether the aid freeze also concerned intelligence sharing, a crucial capability that allows Ukraine to strike Russian targets and track military movement.

Citing an undisclosed Ukrainian official, Bloomberg originally disputed the Financial Times’ article, claiming that intelligence sharing is ongoing. The British tabloid Daily Mail previously reported that the U.S. banned the U.K. from sharing Washington-obtained intelligence with Kyiv.

Two officials told the FT that while Washington blocked allies from sharing U.S. intelligence with Ukraine, “recipients with assets inside the country” are likely to continue passing certain information to Ukraine.

The restrictions will nevertheless hamper time-sensitive intelligence crucial for conducting precision strikes against moveable Russian targets, according to the outlet. Sky News supported this claim, reporting that the restrictions are “selective” and are aimed at Ukraine’s ability to launch strikes.

Since then, the U.S. media has reported that the aid freeze remains in place, and that it is unclear whether Zelensky’s statement that Oval Office clash was “regrettable” was sufficient to lift the freeze.

The Oval Office spat on Feb. 28, after which the U.S. leaders berated Zelensky as “ungrateful” and not “ready for peace,” derailed the signing of a much-anticipated natural resources agreement between the two countries.

Ukraine’s leader reaffirmed his readiness to sign the deal in his statement on March 4, but CBS News reported that parameters are still unclear as Trump seeks better terms.

Bear in mind that this (perhaps partial) intelligence cut off occurs AFTER Zelensky issued a de facto apology to Trump, which Trump publicly accepted. If Trump wanted Ukraine to lose and Russia to win, it would be hard to see how his actions would be much different right now.

— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 8:46 AM

“Trump wanted a thank you” — we will be writing it on graves of dead Ukrainians.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 2:01 PM

Putin and Russia wasted no time taking advantage of the gift Trump and his team had just provided.

NEW: Multiple reports of Russian missiles pouring into Ukraine tonight, targeting civilians.

The US has shut off the intelligence Ukraine needs to protect itself.

This hotel in the southern city of Kryvyi Rih took a direct hit.

Trump has the blood on his hands of every Ukrainian casualty tonight.

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— News Eye (@newseye.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 4:33 PM

US cuts off intel to Kyiv, hindering its long-range strikes, to build “confidence” (see Walz below).

Meanwhile: “Ukraine’s air force said Russia launched 181 strike drones and three missiles … in the latest attack.” abcnews.go.com/Internationa…

US pressure on Moscow? Zilch.

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— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 10:24 AM

You don’t build confidence when you cripple your ally in order to provide new opportunities for the country that is genocidally re-invading them. That’s not confidence building. It’s not being a legitimate intermediary. It’s demonstrating very, very clearly that you’ve turned coat, that you’re aiding a hostile foreign state – Russia – commit genocide against Ukraine. COL (ret) Waltz knows better.

I would guess intel & aid flow will at least partly resume in coming days. But plausible some restrictions on long-range strikes will remain. And damage is done. Imagine how this would play out for, say, NATO forces who need to strike deep in a hypothetical battle to reverse Ru advances in Baltics.

— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 11:19 AM

Before we get to President Zelenskyy’s address, I want to bring this reporting from The Rio Times to everyone’s attention.

The United States recently blocked the sale of Saab’s Gripen E fighter jets to Colombia, citing restrictions on the export of the General Electric F414-GE-39E engine, a critical component of the aircraft.

This decision, first reported by defense analysts and later confirmed by multiple sources, underscores Washington’s strategic control over military technology exports and its influence on regional defense policies.

The veto has left Colombia scrambling for alternatives and raised concerns about similar restrictions affecting Peru, which is also evaluating the Gripen E as part of its air force modernization efforts.

Colombia had been negotiating a deal worth approximately €3 billion (around $3.2 billion) to replace its aging fleet of Kfir fighter jets with the Gripen E. The Swedish aircraft was favored for its advanced technology, cost-effectiveness, and ability to patrol large territories without refueling.

Saab had also proposed partnerships to boost local industry, making the Gripen an attractive option. However, the U.S. veto on the engine export effectively halted these plans, forcing Colombia to reconsider its options.

I want to emphasize that this is NOT just being done to try to force Colombia to buy F-16s. Rather, it is being done to send a VERY overt message by Trump’s natsec team to all allies and partners: if any weapon system or munition has US parts in them, then we will stop their sale or redistribution (end state usage). Remember, Sweden is considering sending Ukraine a batch of Gripens that would otherwise have been retired and scrapped. Since they have US made engines, the Trump natsec team has a veto! Same with anymore F-16s getting to Ukraine. This takes the Biden natsec team’s implicit extortion on its allies and partners regarding providing what Ukraine was asking for and makes it explicit.

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

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Today, Ukrainian and American Teams Began Working on an Upcoming Meeting – Address by the President

5 March 2025 – 19:05

I wish you health, fellow Ukrainians!

A few updates for today.

A report from Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi – frontline, Kursk, our positions, our actions. The brigades have everything they need. I am grateful to our warriors – the resilience of the army gives confidence to the entire nation and, of course, to our diplomacy. Today, I want to specially commend the 425th Separate Assault Battalion – thank you for your determination, guys. Also, the 225th Assault Regiment and the 71st Separate Jaeger Brigade for their operations in the Donetsk region, specifically in the Novopavlivka direction. And also our warriors of the Special Operations Forces for their actions in the Kursk region.

Domestic production is a top priority. We are preparing agreements to ramp up Ukrainian arms manufacturing, with a focus on drones for the frontline to protect the lives of our warriors.

There were also extensive international activities today – I had conversations with the Prime Ministers of the Netherlands, Portugal, and Slovenia, as well as the Chancellor of Germany. Thank you for the support. We are preparing for the EU summit, which will take place tomorrow in Brussels. Everyone can see how fast diplomatic events are unfolding. Today, Ukrainian and American teams began working on an upcoming meeting. Andriy Yermak and Mike Waltz held talks, and we’re seeing forward momentum. We hope to see the first results next week. We must also reignite progress on our European path, particularly concerning our European integration – clusters in the process of accession negotiations. We count on the support of our partners.

And one more update. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal delivered a report today on domestic matters, including financial stability. Starting March 1, Ukraine traditionally adjusts pensions – this year by 11.5%. In total, more than ten million pensioners will receive increased payments in March. I urge everyone in the Pension Fund, regional authorities, and local governments to be as attentive as possible. If our pensioners have any questions about their payments, please assist them, provide clear explanations, and do your best to support them during this time.

Thank you to everyone working for Ukraine, and to everyone fighting for our country and our people!

Glory to Ukraine!

Georgia:

Rustaveli is blocked today too. Day 98 of continuous protests.

#GeorgiaProtests

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 12:55 PM

Day 98 of continuous protests. “Georgia rise up! Revolt!” is chanted. And you can hear the crazy wind. #GeorgiaProtests
📷 Zurab Michael Vardanashvili

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 1:17 PM

Two owner girls of Krab Coffee, a small coffee place that offers beverages for protesters for free, have been brutally beaten. One of them has her nose broken.
Very manly, very traditional, very sovereign. #terrorinGeorgia

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 12:19 PM

‪One of the girls has broken teeth, needs a dental implant, and a damaged spleen. Another one is undergoing nose surgery. And the police threatened THEM with retaliation. ‬

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 3:44 PM

The girls fought back and now the regime police tells them to revoke their report because “the violence happened from both sides,” indicating that they will be the ones jailed. #terrorinGeorgia

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 1:41 PM

Judge Irakli Shvangiradze has closed the courtroom where 11 people arrested for protesting are on trial. He declared the hearing closed after the defendants’ speeches were met with applause in the courtroom. Shouts of “Until the end!” could be heard inside.

#GeorgiaProtests
#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 12:44 PM

A trial of several regime prisoners facing charges on “violence” without any evidence has been going on for 11 hours.
People chant “until the end!” a frequent exclamation meaning we will not stop until we are victorious. 15 were expelled.
Lots of police outside. #GeorgiaProtests

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— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 2:00 PM

One of the protesters, Irakli Kerashvili, said at today’s hearing:

“The prosecution calls us violent, but I have been a doctor and a selfless blood donor since I was 18. I have always found happiness in caring for the health of those around me.”

#TerrorinGeorgia

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 12:52 PM

🧵1/ Mzia Amaghlobeli’s attorneys published a statement saying that the journalist is not only being held in unlawful detention, but that the judiciary in Georgia has demonstratively stripped her of the opportunity to defend herself and prove her innocence.

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— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 7:50 AM

2/ “The court fully granted the prosecution’s motion and excluded 17 witnesses, 18 pieces of video evidence, 13 inspection reports, and 14 written pieces of evidence from the defence.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 7:50 AM

3/ By doing so, the court deprived Mzia Amaghlobeli of her right to a defence and failed to uphold her right to a fair trial, even at the procedural level. This type of ruling has no precedent in the Georgian judiciary”.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 7:50 AM

4/ On March 4 Batumi City Court Judge Viktor Metreveli upheld the pre-trial detention of the co-founder and director of Netgazeti and Batumelebi.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 7:50 AM

5/ The prosecution accuses the journalist of attacking a police chief. Amaglobeli, who is in pre-trial detention, was on a hunger strike for 38 days.

— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 7:50 AM

I don’t think many Americans comprehend that PUTIN is responsible for the deaths and injuries of MILLIONS.
In Ukraine, in Syria, in Chechnya, in Georgia, and around 800,000 of his own troops.

— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 9:21 AM

France:

Big announcement from Macron: “I have decided to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our nuclear deterrent.”

— Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 2:43 PM

In his address to nation: “The Russian threat is there and affects the countries of Europe, affects us. Russia has made the Ukrainian conflict a global conflict. Russia is testing our limits. Russia has become a threat to France and to Europe.”

— Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 2:45 PM

“The future of Europe does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow.”

— Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM

“The United States, our ally, has changed its position on this war, is supporting Ukraine less and is leaving doubts about what will happen next.”

— Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM

Macron has invited European army chiefs to Paris next week to discuss plans for the new defence.

— Mark Chadbourn (@chadbourn.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 2:48 PM

Macron announced stronger defence, ongoing support for Ukraine, and action against Russian threats. He urged European unity, military investment, and economic independence to secure lasting peace.

Read the full speech in English here:

www.frenchdispatch.eu/p/en-macrons…

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— Julien Hoez (@julienhoez.eu) March 5, 2025 at 3:01 PM

‘”Responding to the historic appeal of the future German Chancellor [Friedrich Merz], I decided to open the strategic debate on the protection by our [nuclear] deterrence of our allies of the European continent,” announced Mr. Macron’ lemonde.fr/international/…

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— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 2:40 PM

Macron: ‘Russia “continues to rearm” & by 2030, “plans to further increase its army, to have 300,000 add’l soldiers, 3,000 tanks…. “Who can believe … that today’s Russia will stop at Ukraine? “Russia has become, … for the years to come, a threat to France and Europe,”’

— Shashank Joshi (@shashj.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 2:46 PM

Germany:

Big policy shifts are taking place in Berlin now, as CDU/CSU and SPD currently negotiating a new coalition have submitted legislation to the Bundestag that will eliminate the debt ceiling for defense spending–a significant move towards a stronger, better armed Europe. Go Germany!

— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 10:58 AM

Back to Ukraine.

⚡️Russian attacks across Ukraine kill 2, injure 7 over past day.

Ukraine’s air defense shot down 115 drones over Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Odesa, and Cherkasy oblasts, the Air Force said.

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— The Kyiv Independent (@kyivindependent.com) March 5, 2025 at 3:41 AM

From The Kyiv Independent:

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least two civilians and injured at least seven others over the past day, regional authorities reported on March 5.

Russian forces launched 181 drones from the Russian cities of Oryol, Kursk, Bryansk, Millerovo, Primorsk-Akhtarsk, and from Cape Chauda in the Russian-occupied Crimea against Ukraine overnight, according to Ukraine’s Air Force.

Russia also reportedly launched three Iskander M/KN-23 ballistic missiles from Voronezh Oblast and an S-300 anti-aircraft guided missile from Kursk Oblast.

Ukraine’s air defense shot down 115 drones over Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Poltava, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Odesa, and Cherkasy oblasts, the Air Force said.

Another 55 drones disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement. Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are often decoys that Russia launches alongside real drones to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense.

In Kherson Oblast, Russia targeted 29 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson, over the past day. As a result of the attacks, one person was killed and six others were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

Russian forces attacked Odesa Oblast and its regional center of Odesa with drones and ballistic missiles, according to Governor Oleh Kiper.

During the attack, Russia targeted critical infrastructure in Odesa, causing power, water, and heat supply outages in the city. A Russian strike against the village of Lymanka on Odesa’s outskirts killed a 77-year-old man, according to the statement.

Russian aerial strikes also targeted an energy facility of Ukraine’s largest private energy company, DTEK, in Odesa Oblast overnight, the company announced. This was the fourth Russian attack in two weeks on the oblast’s power grid.

In Donetsk Oblast, a Russian strike injured a civilian in the town of Pokrovsk, Governor Vadym Filashkin reported.

In Kharkiv Oblast, Russian forces attacked the village of Kozacha Lopan with a glide bomb, injuring a 41-year-old man, according to Governor Oleh Syniehubov.

McDonald’s in Ukraine, which is 100% owned by McDonald’s Corporation, is one of many American corporations operating in the country. Some of them had US citizens as employees. Doesn’t seem like the Russians cared. Poor security guarantee, if you ask me.

— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 4:12 PM

Aerial reconnaissance of the 413th Separate Battalion “Raid” detected and destroyed a concentration of Russian Armed Forces personnel and ground-based robotic systems.

Following this, the position was struck using FPV drones and artillery, including 155mm cluster munitions.
t.me/c/1377735387…

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 3:08 PM

F-16 pilot Karaya thanked the American people for supporting Ukraine. Video shows footage from the cockpit of a fighter jet flying over Ukraine.
www.instagram.com/p/DGyw14bIhBR/

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 6:56 AM

Kryvyi Rih:

UPD Kryvyi Rih. Two civilians killed and 14 injured.

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— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 5:08 PM

🔥🇺🇦 Hotel in Kryvyi Rih BEFORE and AFTER the attack of Russian terrorists!
2 people died, 7 were injured, 14 people were rescued.
A rescue operation is underway, people are being evacuated from the 3rd and 4th floors.
This is what “Russia’s readiness for peace” looks like!

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 4:54 PM

Odesa:

Russians continue to show how much they want negotiations, so last night, as a result of drone strikes, private houses, a post office, energy facilities, and port infrastructure in Odesa were destroyed.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 9:44 AM

Kherson:

The M30 DPICM cluster rocket strikes a concentration of Russian personnel at a training ground in Kherson Oblast.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 5:06 AM

Donetsk:

The center of Donetsk after 11 years of Russian occupation – the consequences of the Russian “peace.”

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 8:03 AM

Pokrovsk:

Cluster munition (M30 DPICM) strike on accumulation of Russian military personnel on the Pokrovsk front.

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— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 12:47 PM

Russian milbloggers report that a Ukrainian local counteroffensive near Pokrovsk has started.

“Ukrainian forces expanded their assault today, achieving significant tactical gains. Fighting is intense, with up to two brigades attacking from Pokrovsk and one from Uspenivka. We struggle,” they add.

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— NOELREPORTS (@noelreports.com) March 5, 2025 at 6:55 PM

The number of Russian assault operations continues to decline on the Pokrovsk front.

A new record low of 17 engagements was recorded on March 4, compared to the daily maximum of 30. The DeepState graph shows the dynamics since 2025, with recent data in blue.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM

Rostov Oblast, Russia:

In the Rostov region, the operation of an oil pumping station was suspended after a UAV attack last night. Russian media reports that the strike damaged an oil pipeline, causing a fuel spill and igniting a fire.

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— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 1:09 PM

That’s enough for tonight.

Your daily Patron!

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

🇺🇦 A Ukrainian sniper gets to know a local resident 😻

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— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) March 4, 2025 at 12:15 PM

Open thread!

War for Ukraine Day 1,105: Putin Takes Advantage of Trump Stabbing Ukraine in the FrontPost + Comments (46)

Busy, Busy (Open Thread)

by Betty Cracker| March 5, 20253:43 pm| 100 Comments

This post is in: Birdwatching, Open Threads

I’m not the one who’s busy; I’ve got a nasty case of writer’s block. I’m referring to this busy Limpkin, which I shared on Bluesky a short while ago:

Limpkin: Mmm, snail GOOD! Ooooo, a BIGGER one! #birds

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— Betty Cracker of Florida (@bettycrackerfl.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 3:13 PM

I hope y’all can see that clip without having to sign in. I don’t protect my “skeets” or whatever they’re called. It’s easier to share short clips using the Bluesky embed than it is to upload them to YouTube.

Here’s a still of the same busy bird.
Medium-sized wading bird with mostly brown feathers and white trim. It's eating a snail on a muddy shoal.

I like Limpkins despite the fact that they scream their heads off all night long this time of year. Marjorie Keenan Rawlings (The Yearling, Cross Creek), who lived not far from here in a similar setting, disliked Limpkins. In one of her books, she even provided a recipe to cook them!

Rawlings grew up in D.C. and came to Florida in her 30s. That may explain some odd attitudes she held about the local wildlife. For example, she described alligators as “gentle” in one piece, a sure sign that she was Not From Around Here.

Anyhoo, Limpkins: when they raise chicks, they’re careful parents, both male and female. They walk their fluffy offspring around the swamp to show them how to find snails. When they see a gator, they raise their wings and make a clucking sound to warn the brood to step carefully.

Here’s a shot of a parent and two chicks from the spring before last (I think).

Limpkin mom and two fluffy chicks

That’s all I’ve got to say about that. Open thread for discussion of any topic you choose.

Busy, Busy (Open Thread)Post + Comments (100)

Florida Special Elections – Long Shot? Or Potentially History Making Opportunity?

by WaterGirl| March 5, 202511:18 am| 61 Comments

This post is in: Open Threads, Political Action, Political Fundraising, Targeted Political Fundraising 2025-26, This Fight Is For Everything

Update at 5:30 pm: We have a new Balloon Juice Angel! redshift will match up to $25 per person – to either FL thermometer – up to a total of $500. He sold some Tesla stock h’d almost forgotten about a couple of weeks ago, and it seems like poetic justice to use some of the proceeds here! Thank you, redshift! ANGEL MATCH STILL AVAILABLE

Update at 2 pm: We have a Balloon Juice Angel! frosty will match up to $25 per person – to either FL thermometer – up to a total of $500. Thank you, frosty! COMPLETE

Boots On the Ground in Florida!

Florida special elections for the US House – is this a long shot or a potentially history making opportunity?

I would argue that it’s both.

April 1^st is special election day in Florida to fill the empty seats of two grifters Trump pulled out of Congress to staff his regime. These are safe Republican districts in ordinary times, and we would probably take a pass. But these are not ordinary times.

Let’s talk about the two open seats and the candidates who are running to fill them.

– FL District 1 is open because Matt Gaetz (R-Pedophile) was tapped to be Attorney General – a thought so horrific that even Congressional Republicans couldn’t stomach it.

– FL District 6 was held by Michael Waltz, who will now help undermine our safety as Trump’s National Security Advisor.

To be clear, these are deep red districts.

Florida District 1 (FL-01)

District 1 (Pensacola and the western Panhandle) is the most Republican District in the state (Cook Partisan District Index R +19). Gaetz retained his seat 66-34 over Democratic challenger Gay Valimont. Valimont (D) is running again as the Democrat in the special election against Florida’s CFO, Jimmy Patronis.

It’s unfathomable that the loathsome Gaetz got those numbers, but he’s from a prominent Florida political family. Patronis is not.

Arguably Gay Valimont has a better chance against a lesser-known and non-incumbent candidate.

Gay Valimont website.

FL-01 Gay Valimont: (BlueSky)

Donate

FL District 6 (FL-06)

District 6 (Daytona Beach) is a little less grim. Cook has it at R+14. However Waltz had a margin of victory similar to Gaetz in 2024: 66-33.

This time, a charismatic Democrat named Josh Weil emerged from the January 28, 2025 primary.

His opponent, Randy Fine, was recruited by Trump to run for the seat, even though he lived outside the district. Carpetbagger much?

Josh Weil website.

FL-06 Josh Weil: (BlueSky)

Donate

National Ground Game

Many of you have asked in the comments if we would do any fundraising or take other action to help win these Florida seats. (Special thanks for this to rikyrah for the reminders.) So here’s your opportunity to donate or volunteer for these races, if you are so inclined.

Consistent with our “boots on the ground” preference, we identified and made contact with an organization that went all out registering voters in Florida 1st and 6th, and is now pounding the pavement to turn out voters.

Meet the National Ground Game. The Ground Game dispatches organizers and canvassers in all 50 states. We’ve made contact with Board Member Zoe Cohen-Sanchez, who is featured in the video below describing the organization’s efforts in FL-01 and FL-06.

Short inspirational video below. ⬇️

There is not enough time to go through our typical process of meeting with folks from an organization, seeing if there is a good fit, trying to figure out if there is a way that we can help them do something beyond what they are normally able to do, and meeting with them again to work out details. But we can put up thermometers to support their work.

This group will also be organizing for the open House seat in New York, and we hope to meet and talk with them as they begin to focus in New York. But right now, the last thing we want to do is slow anything down, so we’re putting up the thermometer and they happily agreed to use whatever funds we might raise for the individual races.

Two Separate Thermometers & Volunteer Opportunities

We have two separate thermometers – that means that you guys can direct donations to either or both of the candidates. You want to donate to the one where winning seems the most likely? Donate through the FL-06 thermometer. Want to donate to the longer shot, donate through the FL-01 thermometer. Want to donate to both districts? You’ll donate once through FL-01 and again through FL-06.

In addition, there are post-carding and canvassing opportunities (if you’re already in Florida), that you can access through their website: www.nationalgroundgame.com

Is this a long shot? What does victory look like?

Is this a long shot? I would argue that is a long shot and a potentially history making opportunity. Certainly FL-01 is a super long shot, but in this year, I think anything can happen. Extremely low probability of an outright win in FL-01, but we’ll likely never see another moment where betting on long shot like this, and winning, could literally change the course of history.

What does “victory” look like in the special elections? If we win even one of them, that puts us one family emergency or bad case of the flu away from close Republican votes failing.

If we can’t flip either seat, is there victory to be found in substantially narrower margins? What does that mean for the New York special election?

No one knows. Uncharted territory. There be dragons.

But if you want to do something, here’s your opportunity.

Florida Special Elections – Long Shot? Or Potentially History Making Opportunity?Post + Comments (61)

How many divisions has the SCOTUS got?

by Betty Cracker| March 5, 202510:13 am| 107 Comments

This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Open Threads, Republican Stupidity

Now we find out. Breaking news, via the WSJ: (gift link)

Supreme Court Lifts Pause on Foreign-Aid Payouts
A 5-4 court rejected the Trump administration’s bid to suspend a lower-court directive to resume nearly $2 billion in funding

WASHINGTON—A divided Supreme Court on Wednesday declined to suspend a lower court’s order that directed the Trump administration to resume nearly $2 billion in foreign-aid funding.

Last week, Chief Justice John Roberts briefly paused a deadline for the government to make the payments. The order Wednesday, which came on a 5-4 vote, removed that hold. The court’s majority, however, instructed a federal trial judge to give “due regard for the feasibility of any compliance timelines.”

Four dissenters, led by Justice Samuel Alito, said recipients of foreign-aid funding had raised serious concerns about the government not paying them for work they had completed. But the trial judge, they said, was “too extreme” in ordering the payments to be made within 36 hours.

Remember, children are literally starving to death and acquiring HIV thanks to the “pause.” That’s what’s “too extreme” here.

Alito is hopping mad, a reliable indicator that actual justice occurred:

Alito dissents, joined by Thomas, Gorsuch, and Kavanaugh. He says he is “stunned” by the court’s order, decrying it as “a most unfortunate misstep that rewards an act of judicial hubris and imposed a $2 billion penalty to b American taxpayers.” They are furious. www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/24p…

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— Mark Joseph Stern (@mjsdc.bsky.social) March 5, 2025 at 9:12 AM

Lawyers (and non-lawyer opinion havers), what do you think?

Open thread.

How many divisions has the SCOTUS got?Post + Comments (107)