Looks like we could use an open thread!
What have you guys been up to? What are you guys doing for fun these days?

by WaterGirl| 87 Comments
This post is in: Open Threads
Looks like we could use an open thread!
What have you guys been up to? What are you guys doing for fun these days?
by Adam L Silverman| 17 Comments
This post is in: Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, Military, Open Threads, Russia, Silverman on Security, War, War in Ukraine

(Image by NEIVANMADE)
A quick housekeeping note: Cole asked me to relate the following to you all:
Please tell everyone I am alive, I am in a foul mood, my laptop died, and I took my computer apart to clean and am too lazy to put it back together tonight.
The Russian Tu-95s are up:
❗️❗️A group of Tu-95s was recorded taking off from the Olenya airfield!
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Monitoring resources report that indicators suggest preparations are underway for a massive russian missile strike by Tu-95ms / Tu-22m3 bombers on the night of October 5th, as well as big drone attack.
I guess it’s going to be another night, huh?
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 2:32 PM
Russian planes are out again, flying to launch missiles at Ukraine. The drone attack has been ongoing for hours.
This is how our weekend is going here in Ukraine. Again.
Keep us in your thoughts tonight, please.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 7:33 PM
And the drone swarms that precede them are making their way east to west across Ukraine.
Hundreds of Russian/Iranian Shahed attack drones invading Ukrainian airspace tonight, Russian Tu-95 strategic bombers airborne and likely to launch salvos of cruise missiles.
The war could reach Western countries if they don’t give Ukraine more help to defeat fascist Russia.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 6:38 PM
As a result air raid alerts are up for all but the five westernmost oblasts as of 2:30 AM local time in Ukraine/7:30 PM EDT. I expect the air raid alerts will go up for the last five will go up shortly.
Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.
The Electricity Situation Remains Difficult After the Strikes, but Every Effort Is Being Made to Restore the Power Supply – Address by the President
4 October 2025 – 18:43
Dear Ukrainians!
Today, practically the entire day, the Russians have been carrying out brutal strikes on the city of Shostka in the Sumy region – targeting the railway station, energy facilities, and civilian infrastructure. This is a typical Russian terror. Dozens of drones. One of the hits was virtually on a train – an ordinary train, with no military purpose whatsoever. Tragically, one person has been killed. My condolences. There are injured, including three children, the youngest is only 7 years old. Everyone is receiving the help they need. I want to thank everyone who is helping. Our power engineers and repair crews are also working; all necessary services have been deployed to restore electricity. In Shostka, the Shostka district, other districts of the Sumy region, districts of the Chernihiv region, as well as in the Donetsk region, the electricity situation remains difficult after the strikes, but every effort is being made to restore the power supply, which also means restoring water supply and normal communications. It is essential that in all communities, and at the regional level, our people receive maximum support, especially families with children, the elderly, and those living alone. Support reserves must be available in every region. This is the personal responsibility of regional authorities. I also want to highlight the efforts of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine for their swift response wherever it is needed. In the Sumy region, I particularly want to recognize the work of the regional SES staff in recent days and weeks: Oleksandr Kolyshenko, Volodymyr Morozov, Ihor Yaremenko. SES staff in the Chernihiv region: Anatolii Los, Dmytro Dasiuk, Andrii Opanasenko, Pavlo Tovstyi. SES staff in the Kharkiv region: Serhii Sumtsov, Viktor Hubin, Ihor Chahovets, Maksym Cholombytko. Also, the Main Directorate of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in the Poltava region, and especially Viacheslav Yukhno, Ihor Subota, Oleh Kolomiiets, and Anatolii Davydenko. Thank you, guys, and all your colleagues!
Today, I signed several new sanction decisions, covering various areas of our sanctions. The first extends sanctions that were due to expire. This concerns Russian entrepreneurs and their ties to Putin’s system. The second decree targets the Russian military industry – specifically, manufacturers of drones and components. The third decree imposes our sanctions on individuals and companies connected to the Russian oil sector. We continue our comprehensive policy of pressure on Russia, and we will keep coordinating it with our partners. Many of Ukraine’s initiatives are already forming the basis for our partners’ sanctions. We expect our sanctions to be synchronized with those of our partners. We also look forward to new EU sanctions – the 19th package – and corresponding steps from the United States. Russia ignores or rebuffs literally every opportunity that would enable us to end the war and guarantee security. Putin wants to wage it and do it in exactly this way – by terrorist methods, despicable methods. Russia must feel the consequences. Europe, America, the G7, and the G20 have the power to deal with any terrorist. And they will. I thank everyone who is helping defend lives.
Glory to Ukraine!
Georgia:
I’ve never seen Ivanishvili this nervous, stuttering.
He gave only brief remarks while voting in the local elections and ignored all questions, frowning and freezing when asked about UK sanctions.
Keep an eye on Georgia today for a massive rally on day 311 of daily protests. 🇬🇪
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Traffic is heavy on the highway from western Georgia to Tbilisi as protesters flood toward the capital for today’s massive rally — day 311 of daily, nationwide #GeorgiaProtests.
🎥 Goga Arabuli
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 7:26 AM
The streets of Tbilisi are filled with people walking with 🇬🇪 flags ahead of the big rally.
📷 Mo Se
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 7:35 AM
90-year-old Georgian singer Giuli Chokheli joins the student march, holding a photo of political prisoner and journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli. #GeorgiaProtests ❤️
📷 Dodie Kharkheli
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 7:50 AM
The student march has arrived on Rustaveli Avenue, heading toward Parliament, where a large crowd is already gathered. Turnout looks great. #GeorgiaProtests
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 8:54 AM
Rustaveli Avenue now. #GeorgiaProtests
300+ days of uninterrupted protests against an illegitimate, pro-Russian, repressive regime.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 9:14 AM
The crowd on Rustaveli Avenue and Freedom Square now (6 PM). #GeorgiaProtests
Day 311 of uninterrupted protests in 8+ cities across Georgia.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 10:14 AM
The crowd in Tbilisi, Georgia right now. Instead of taking part in the sham local elections, Georgians are filling the streets in large numbers for Day 311 of uninterrupted, nationwide #GeorgiaProtests.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 10:16 AM
GD PM Kobakhidze claims there are “very few people” on Rustaveli Avenue.
“The rally looks very weak and will end cheerfully. There are very few people. Very few, very few. It’s visible to the eye,” he says.
Meanwhile Rustaveli:
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Things have escalated a wee bit in Tbilisi.
Protesters in Georgia have broken through the fence and gate of the presidential residence on Atoneli Street. Police have responded with water cannons, tear gas, and pepper spray.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 11:54 AM
🇬🇪 Protesters in Tbilisi began storming the presidential palace!
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 11:30 AM
Tbilisi
10:35#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 2:41 PM
A trash can on fire, casually rolling towards the robocops. Protesters are dispersed in various locations. People seem unsure about what to do or where everyone is.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Robocops on the other side.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 12:20 PM
Georgian protesters sing the viral “Fuck GD” chant as riot police wait behind fire barricades in Tbilisi.
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Georgian Protesters have built barricades, while robocops wait on the other side. #GeorgiaProtests
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Rustaveli Avenue is still packed at 9:30 PM. Protesters are also dispersed in various other locations. #GeorgiaProtests
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 1:33 PM
Some protesters are on Purtseladze street (near Rustaveli). Police keep using tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons. #GeorgiaProtests
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Fire barricades on Tabukashvili street. Protesters occasionally retreat and come back. #GeorgiaProtests
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
📍 Situation at Atoneli Street, near the Orbeliani Presidential Palace: clashes periodically intensify between special forces and gathered protesters.
💢A larger group of demonstrators remains on Rustaveli Avenue.#GeorgiaProtests
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) October 4, 2025 at 2:25 PM
A doggo waiting for his owner in front of a store, wearing a mask to protect against tear gas from today’s #GeorgiaProtests.
📷 OC Media
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Police have detained politicians Murtaz Zodelava and Irakli Nadiradze. Zodelava had called for the seizure of the presidential palace during an October 4 rally.
📸 Formula
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 6:23 PM
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, all five members of the “October 4 Organizing Committee” have been arrested: Irakli Nadiradze, Murtaz Zodelava, Paata Burchuladze, Paata Manjgaladze, and Lasha Beridze.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 6:36 PM
One of the organizers of the October 4 rally, Paata Burchuladze, has been taken to a clinic, where police arrived to arrest him.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Police have taken detained Paata Burchuladze out of the clinic. According to the Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, he is being held under Articles 317 and 225 of the Criminal Code – calling for the violent change of Georgia’s constitutional order and organizing group violence.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 6:44 PM
⭕️5th president of #Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, speaking from Rustaveli Ave, condemned the attempted takeover of Presidential Palace as a provocation to discredit #GeorgiaProtests. She said protesters who’ve been on the streets for 310 days remain committed to non-violence and stay on Rustaveli
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) October 4, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Soon after Zourabichvili’s address, Paata Burchuladze and other authors of the “National Assembly Declaration” also returned to Rustaveli, urging protesters at the Presidential Palace to rejoin the main rally.
At the palace there were clashes with riot police; at least two detained#GeorgiaProtests
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) October 4, 2025 at 1:29 PM
The EU:
🦅🇪🇺 Over the past 20 days, more than 17 cases of surveillance using drones have been recorded in Europe, – Oko Gora
🇩🇪 Germany — 7
🇩🇰 Denmark — 5
🇳🇴 Norway — 2
🇧🇪 Belgium — 1
🇸🇪 Sweden — 1
🇫🇮 Finland — 1✈️ The majority were airports and airbases!
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 4:16 AM
Denmark:
Russian warships have repeatedly sailed on collision courses, aimed their weapons at Danish naval vessels, and interfered with navigation systems in the straits linking the Baltic Sea to the North Sea, – Denmark’s defense intelligence service.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 6:44 PM
Calling this “unintended” seems almost absurd.
> Russian warships have repeatedly aimed weapons at Danish naval vessels
>Such incidents risk unintended escalation
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 6:51 PM
🇺🇦🇩🇰 Ukrainian military train Danish forces in drone defense to help protect Denmark’s skies — ⚔️⚔️
💬Ukrainian troops successfully neutralized several “Banshee” drones with STING anti-Shahed interceptors in Denmark during a combat experience exchange as part of a Ukrainian military visit to the country
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 4:12 AM
/2. 💬 Representatives from various European countries were invited to the demonstration, where they could witness firsthand the effectiveness of Ukrainian solutions in countering aerial threats.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 4:13 AM
/3. 💬 STING, developed by the @wildhornets.bsky.social, is one of the most effective low-cost countermeasures against Russian drones, having shot down more than 600 targets in the past few months.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Germany:
Drones that forced Munich airport to halt operations were military reconnaissance drones, BILD reported citing a classified police report. A police helicopter failed to locate the operators.
www.bild.de/regional/mue…— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 8:01 AM
The EU:
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for increased pressure on Russia following shocking footage from Shostka railway station.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 9:45 AM
The Czech Republic:
Andrej Babiš’s party won Czech parliamentary elections but lacks majority with 84 of 200 seats. Babiš previously threatened to withdraw from the Czech ammunition initiative for Ukraine and maintains close ties with Viktor Orbán and Robert Fico.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 1:08 PM
It is expected that Babis’s victory will lead to a change in foreign policy, including towards Ukraine. He previously threatened to leave the Czech Republic’s “shell initiative” for Kyiv.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 1:03 PM
🇨🇿🇺🇦 Babis commented on the ammunition initiative for Ukraine and EU membership.
What do you think? 🤔
— Savchenko Volodymyr (@savchenkoua.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 3:59 PM
Moscow on the Potomac:
Russian State Duma deputy Andrei Lugovoi openly called for infiltrating US institutions, buying American politicians, interfering in elections, and intensifying propaganda operations in Europe and America.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 3:02 AM
I believe we call this Tuesday.
Back to Ukraine.
🚁🔥 Another angle of the already shot down Mi-8, which was hit by FPV drone.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 3:53 PM
A penny from a poor man is worth a pound from a rich man.
As % of GDP, Denmark is Ukraine’s top supporter. Little wonder fascist Russia is harassing the country with drone incursions and aggression against its warships at sea.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
🔥🛢️ Two months into Ukraine’s strike campaign against Russian oil infrastructure: 16 Russian plants have been damaged in one way or another, with a combined total capacity of 146.8 million tons of oil per year.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 6:15 PM
/2. Of this total, 131.1 million tons – total capacity of the targeted oil refineries. In addition, a fire broke out, likely due to malfunction, at Yaroslavl oil refinery with the total capacity of 15.7 million tons.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 6:16 PM
/3. Separately, 3mln ton unit was hit at the Astrakhan gas processing plant. This facility is not an oil refinery – it produces gasoline and diesel components from gas condensate, so while its capacity is not included in the oil total above, it remains an important part of Russia’s fuel production.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 6:16 PM
/4. 📌 Many of these strikes are the work of the 14th USF Regiment. And with your support, they can do even more: help99.co/patches/special-kherson-cat-14th-nafo-campaign
The fundraiser backing the 14th USF Regiment has already reached 94% of its €66,000 goal
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 6:17 PM
AASM Hammer air strike carried out by MiG-29 on building with Russian assault group.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Russia launched a new season of strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure ahead of cold weather, hitting at least 13 energy facilities across the country in the past 10 days, particularly in frontline areas.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Sumy Oblast:
The russian terrorists have just bombed a passenger train Shostka-Kyiv in the Sumy region, injuring at least 30 people.
Don’t let this terrorism go unnoticed and unchecked. A lasting peace can come back only through Ukrainian victory and justice.
Video: president Zelenskyi.
— Olena Halushka (@halushka.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 5:57 AM
❗️One man was killed and another injured while fishing on a lake in Sumy Oblast, when their boat was struck by a russian FPV drone.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 12:40 PM
The moment Russian drone struck a pasaanger train in Shostka, Sumy region was caught on camera 🤬
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 7:29 AM
One person was killed in russian attack on the railway station in Shostka, Sumy region, according to latest update.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 10:26 AM
❗️Russia struck a civilian train traveling from Shostka to Kyiv while it was at the station. As of now, at least 30 people are reported injured.
— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 5:40 AM
Russia struck the Shostka railway station, hitting two trains: the suburban Tereshchenska–Novhorod-Siversk line and the Shostka–Kyiv route.
A second strike targeted the electric locomotive during an ongoing evacuation.
Over 30 people were injured, including three children.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Marinka:
Russia-occupied and destroyed Marinka in Donetsk region, as seen in satellite images from 2019 to 2024.
Every time russians whine about russophobia, show them this. Bastards.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 8:33 AM
Kyiv:
A Shahed drone with its warhead intact was found in Kyiv.
Autumn mushroom season when your neighbor is genocidal maniac.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 7:45 AM
The head of a statue of Ukrainian national poet Taras Shevchenko protrudes from a protective structure in Shevchenko Park in central Kyiv- a symbol of Ukrainians’ defense of their culture against aggressive fascist Russian colonialism.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Better composition.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Kharkiv:
Air defense working in Kharkiv ‼️ the city is under russian drone attack right now ‼️
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Pokrovsk:
🔥 POPRYVSE group of the 3rd SSO regiment destroyed Russians in the Pokrovsk direction.
They burned a Bukhanks, 2 motorcycles, 2 occupants and a car.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Dobropillia:
🇺🇦 Syrskyi: Since the start of the counter-offensive operation in the Dobropillya direction, the Russians have lost about 3,520 soldiers and officers, of which 1,988 Russian military personnel were eliminated.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Also, 991 units of enemy weapons and military equipment were hit or destroyed.
In the Lyman direction, the situation in the area of the Yampil settlement has been stabilized.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 11:50 AM
Zaporizhzhia Oblast:
Russia attacked Zaporizhzhia, there are fires in residential buildings, and wounded people were reported by local authorities.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 8:23 PM
The Kursk cross border offensive:
😎 In Kursk region, UA_REG TEAM continues to destroy the enemy and create roads of death!
Drones hit 2 Bukhanka, 6 trucks, 2 armored personnel carriers and a car.
— MAKS 25 👀🇺🇦 (@maks23.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 3:17 PM
The Ukrainian General Staff also claims that in the Kursk region, the Defense Forces struck a “Garmon” radar system and a transport-loading vehicle from the Iskander missile complex.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Slovyansk:
🙏 Russians hit Slovyansk with guided aerial bombs. Residential buildings were damaged as a result of the strike.
Ambulances and other services are heading to the scene. The number of injured is being clarified.
— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Chernihiv Oblast:
Russian drones struck multiple electrical infrastructure sites in Chernihiv Oblast overnight, leaving around 50,000 customers without power, the regional energy company reports.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Leningrad Oblast, Russia:
During a Ukrainian drone strike on one of Russia’s largest refineries, a local woman filmed herself delivering highly intellectual commentary on the chaos unfolding in the sky, with a total lack of self-reflection and an inability to connect cause and effect (Subtitles in English included)
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 2:29 AM
Another resident of Leningrad Oblast, Russia’s so-called cultural capital, filmed the highly successful aftermath of a Ukrainian drone strike on Kirishinefteorgsintez, narrating the fire show in a truly colorful display of Russian expletives.
Warning: Mature Language
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 3:00 AM
🔥👀 Official: Special Operations Forces, in cooperation with the insurgent movement in Russia “Chernaya Iskra” (❗️), struck LAB-LABS installations and ELOU-AVT-6 at Kirishinefteorgsintez oil refinery in the Leningrad region.
— The Ukrainian Review (@theukrainianreview.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 12:57 PM
A NASA FIRMS image indicates a fire the near ELOU-AVT-6 combined atmospheric and vacuum distillation unit. The unit separates crude oil into fractions that are either finished products or feedstocks for downstream secondary processing units.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Putting a primary distillation unit like the ELOU-AVT-6 out of operation for several weeks would deliver a major blow to Russia’s refined fuel production, leading to more severe domestic fuel shortages, higher consumer prices, and greater reliance on costly imports.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 4:14 AM
Capacity loss in central and northwest regions also strains the remaining, functional refineries and complicates logistics across the country, as fuel must be re-routed from distant, potentially already struggling, facilities, creating logistical bottlenecks that exacerbate shortages in other areas.
— Euan MacDonald (@euanmacdonald.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 4:18 AM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material.
Eleanor the cat, companion and symbol of the Ukrainian Coast Guard boat crew.
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 5:55 AM
#Caturday
— pnwpirate.bsky.social (@pnwpirate.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Open thread!
This post is in: Open Threads, Republicans in Disarray!, Shitty Cops, Trump Crime Cartel, Schadenfreude
FBI agent relieved of duty over refusing Comey perp walk, four people familiar say reut.rs/46AfymJ
— Reuters (@reuters.com) October 3, 2025 at 7:25 PM
… But apparently they *can* make me despise his tormentors even more than I already did.
I want the beefiest agents you got. Hard. Tight. Muscular.
Preferably wearing tight pants.— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 3, 2025 at 11:43 PM
===
It's killing them that Comey is like 6'8"
— The Book of the Void (@eddyrobinson.bsky.social) October 3, 2025 at 11:47 PM
===
“i thought the guardrails would save us” dude you were the guardrails
— not an art thief (@famousartthief.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 1:48 AM
the comey shit is atrocious and an affront to all that is justice but yet again he’s a dude that thought he could tame a gorilla and didn’t realize a gorilla could rip your fucking face off in five seconds and go back to jacking off in a forest.
miscalculation imo— not an art thief (@famousartthief.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 1:46 AM
sorry it didn’t work out for you, dude
— not an art thief (@famousartthief.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 1:47 AM
===
Reupping, how it's more likely we'll find proof that Kash kommitted a krime in the Jim Comey prosecution than that Comey did.
www.emptywheel.net/2025/09/28/w…— emptywheel (@emptywheel.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 12:26 PM
===
Confirmation, as if it were needed:
As soon as I read the words “ass clown factory” I had to double check it was the real FBI director’s account and not some parody.
It’s real.
— Matt Novak (@paleofuture.bsky.social) October 4, 2025 at 11:00 AM
GOP Venality Open Thread: They Can’t Make Me Feel Sorry for James ComeyPost + Comments (173)
This post is in: Baseball, Open Threads
Jackie, provider of baseball information here, tells me that:
Each team plays up to 5 games in this round.
The team that wins 3 games advances to the next round.
Best of 5, just like in volleyball, a sport I actually know! :-)
Game 1: Chicago Cubs @ Milwaukee Brewers, starts at 2:08 pm ET on TBS
Game 2: NY Yankees @ Toronto Blue Jays, starts at 4:08 pm ET on FOX
Game 3: LA Dodgers @ Philadelphia Phillies, starts at 6:38 pm ET on TBS
Game 4: Detroit Tigers @ Seattle Mariners, starts at 8:38 pm on FS1 (Fox Sports 1)
Since this thread will be active all day, at least for a few of you guys, let’s keep this one for all things baseball!
Dedicated Baseball Thread – American League Baseball Post Season Day 1Post + Comments (165)
This post is in: Military, Open Threads, Trump Crime Cartel
He wants them to kill Americans and break the Constitution.
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec.bsky.social) September 30, 2025 at 5:40 PM
I’ve often heard this said in military circles, but more as a sobering reminder, not an applause line.
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec.bsky.social) September 30, 2025 at 4:53 PM
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the american military is the greatest fighting force in the history of the world because they are good at paperwork and schedules.
— not an art thief (@famousartthief.bsky.social) October 2, 2025 at 10:35 PM
most of these people think military effectiveness is homoerotic guys in tank tops playing volleyball between fighter jet missions but the real military is ten thousand people in an office making sure food goes where it needs to
— not an art thief (@famousartthief.bsky.social) October 2, 2025 at 10:38 PM
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Hegseth "has focused less on meeting with his foreign counterparts and more on doing pull-ups" for social media.
The military officers were silent, "though at least some of them were seething. … 'Those guys have got a lot more dust on their boots than he does.'"
www.nytimes.com/2025/09/30/u…— Drew Harwell (@drewharwell.com) September 30, 2025 at 2:21 PM
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Ever give a speech so bad The NYT runs a callout asking generals and admirals if they’re quitting? Pete Hegseth has.
— Karly Kingsley (@karlykingsley.bsky.social) October 1, 2025 at 1:52 AM
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I'm pretty sure that's precisely what it's aimed at. Just take a look at Hegseth's tattoos.
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec.bsky.social) October 2, 2025 at 11:59 PM
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Or honor your oath and fight back.
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec.bsky.social) September 30, 2025 at 2:32 PM
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This ignores the repeated situations in which Hegseth has blindsided the administration. I think this was very much his idea, and Trump was brought in at the last minute because DOD heard the rumbles from GO/FOs who wondered why they had to haul ass to Quantico to listen to a TV show host.
— Tom Nichols (@radiofreetom.bsky.social) September 29, 2025 at 10:30 PM
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In many ways, time well spent.
— Patrick Chovanec (@prchovanec.bsky.social) September 30, 2025 at 10:31 AM
Eliot Cohen, at the Atlantic — “Pete Hegseth Is Living the Dream”: [gift link]
In the end, it was mostly blither. When Secretary of Defense Peter Hegseth announced a gathering of some 800 generals and admirals (with their senior enlisted advisers), rumors ran wild. Was the administration going to switch the commissioning oath so that officers swear fealty to the president rather than the Constitution? Was the secretary of defense going to publicly dismiss stunned three and four stars? Would he declare an American withdrawal from Europe and Asia to concentrate on hemispheric defense? Would he at least reveal the outlines of the new National Defense Strategy? None of those things happened.
Instead, we got a great deal of verbal incontinence, of two different sorts. President Donald Trump—who initially seemed not to have heard about this planned gathering, but when he did decided to join because it seemed like fun—followed the secretary with more than an hour of meandering whines, boasts, and half-hearted attempts at humor. He appeared tired, his voice raspy, his attention span even shorter than usual; he joked feebly about not wanting to trip while walking downstairs.
There was plenty of nastiness to be sure—unremitting sneers at his predecessor (particularly his autopen), rants about “left-wing lunatics,” and a good many racist dog whistles. President Barack Obama he described as “bopping downstairs,” and the places where Americans were sent pointlessly were Kenya and Somalia rather than, say, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, not to mention his invocation of the two N-words (nuclear being one of them) that one should not use. And of course, there were the asides about the “animals” in the inner cities.
The post-event reporting unsurprisingly emphasized the scarier stuff, particularly the talk of “invasion from within” and the importance of being ready to fight against all enemies “foreign and domestic,” and above all using American cities as “training grounds” for the U.S. military. All bad, but—considered in the context of a speech that weaved and staggered like a drunken man in a dark alleyway—less menacing than one might think. It was Trump being Trump, playing to his base (who probably was not watching), and imagining that he had achieved great things in the space of days by issuing a few orders. What was most striking was the irony of the man who denounced Joe Biden, in effect, for senility showing some of the same symptoms himself as he lost his thread of thought, reminisced, and daydreamed on the stage…
And what of the audience? They were for the most part, and entirely appropriately, silent. Trump had been forewarned that that would be the case but nevertheless seemed deflated by it. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs and his colleagues were not on the stage. The generals’ faces were, in the vast majority, impassive. But undoubtedly, there were thoughts…
They had to have been aware that, by a rough estimate, there were more than 25,000 years of accumulated military experience in that room. To be lectured on the basics of military leadership and qualifications by a secretary of defense with eight months’ experience under his belt, and a few years of active soldiering beyond that, had to have been galling. To be summoned from the four corners of the globe, at considerable expense in money and effort and time, was a waste. They knew that too…
The American military will follow lawful orders and disobey unlawful ones. It will be grateful for weapons put in its hands, and the freedom to prepare itself for war. It will be disciplined, and it will respect the offices of the secretary of defense and the president. But the two men themselves? Not much respect is due them as human beings who have, at this moment and in these ways, shown themselves unfit to lead the greatest military on Earth. Nor will they get any.
Our <del>SecDef</del>… SecWAAARGH!!!, Pete Hegseth — And His ‘Boss’Post + Comments (119)
This post is in: Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat, Republican Venality, Republicans in Disarray!
This GOP move does several things:
+ No votes in the House until at least October 14
+ No swearing-in for Rep.-elect Adelita Grijalva D-AZ
+ No 218th signature from Grijalva on the Epstein Files discharge petition
+ Continues the House 'jam' of the Senate on the CR— Jamie Dupree (@jamiedupree.bsky.social) October 3, 2025 at 3:44 PM
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I guess “district work period” is now a euphemism for “putting off releasing the Epstein files”
— Dana Houle (@danahoule.bsky.social) October 3, 2025 at 4:07 PM
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Harry Enten: "Who do Americans blame more for the shutdown? They blame Republicans. The New York Times — by 7 points they blame Republicans. Marist — blame Trump and Republicans by 12 points. How about Washington Post? By a 17 point margin."
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) October 3, 2025 at 12:04 PM
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An acknowledgement that the all stick no carrot presidency is potentially not working.
— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 3, 2025 at 11:52 AM
This is stuff that a president desperate for good press thinks about.
— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 3, 2025 at 11:52 AM
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Politico is headquartered in Northern Virginia and a lot of national reporters live there.
I would suggest every journalist who is a resident of Virginia do exactly this: enter your information and find out how much your insurance will increase thanks to Republicans.— Laura Chapin (@laurachapin.bsky.social) October 3, 2025 at 10:43 PM
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So both Thune and Johnson are waving around Vought like a boogeyman whereas Trump’s own staffers are telling agencies to ignore him?
Senior government officials privately warn against firings during shutdown
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202…— PhoenixWomanMN (@phoenixwomanmn.bsky.social) October 2, 2025 at 5:12 PM
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Trump isn't President. Vought and Miller are running the government. It would be good to punch that message through. These are the guys clubbing puppies and shutting hospitals down.
— Clean Observer (@hammbear2024.bsky.social) October 1, 2025 at 3:22 PM
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The current batch of the GOP had drunk the kool-aid pretty hard and I don't like their electoral prospects with the strategy of "destroy all of our own voters economic well being."
— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 3, 2025 at 11:33 AM
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Last time Ds agreed to a CR, republicans didn’t honor it. They went back on their promises. They used rescissions to cut spending they didn’t like anyway. Their word is junk. Plus, if he’s so ready to talk, walk across the hall and talk. No one is stopping you. Feckless cowards.
— Partly Cloudy (@ksunny.bsky.social) October 3, 2025 at 12:00 PM
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fox news to mike johnson: can you fucking dipshits please keep it together, you're making this impossible for us
— GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) October 3, 2025 at 5:08 PM
just incredible that thune's terrible senate leadership has put them in a position where the senate is subordinate to the fucking *house*, a better senator with more self-respect and intelligence would know what is proper in this situtation
— GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) October 3, 2025 at 1:00 PM
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As we’ve been saying about many statements & actions by the administration, this is not a sign of strength (& it probably freaked TF out every Republican who got under 65% their last election)
— Dana Houle (@danahoule.bsky.social) September 30, 2025 at 1:22 PM
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i think this is poor tactically by Johnson et al; they will 100% take the blame for a shutdown, all of it, if they’re talking about it as an opportunity to do things they want to do
— ghost malone ergo propter malone (@proptermalone.bsky.social) October 1, 2025 at 8:48 AM
this is maybe useful to try and sell internally but it is counterproductive public messaging
— ghost malone ergo propter malone (@proptermalone.bsky.social) October 1, 2025 at 8:49 AM
if Johnson is already trying to have to sell internally that’s good news for the good guys
— ghost malone ergo propter malone (@proptermalone.bsky.social) October 1, 2025 at 8:51 AM
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i do think there has been some value in the dem strategy of delivering a single message (health care) through every dem member of congress when compared to the every man for himself strategy of the republicans
— GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) October 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
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i assure you, the joker takes no pleasure in flooding gotham with joker gas, he has to ensure the gang places all of these tanks in the right places to poison all of gotham
— GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) October 2, 2025 at 2:04 PM
absolutely fucking no one who knows who russell vought is thinks he is reluctant about any of this
— GHOULLIKEHELLMACHINE (@golikehellmachine.com) October 2, 2025 at 2:26 PM
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Two KFF findings Republicans might want to consider when deciding how much they care about the looming 100+% premium spike:
More than 1/4 of farmers and ranchers are marketplace enrollees.
Almost 1/2 of enrollees are small business owners or work for them.— Drew Altman (@drewaltman.bsky.social) September 28, 2025 at 9:28 PM
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The higher prices, chaos president is not sitting well with folks
— @NewsJennifer (Jennifer Schulze) (@newsjennifer.bsky.social) September 30, 2025 at 11:51 AM
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Trump’s approval in the swing states is abysmal open.substack.com/pub/gelliott…
— G Elliott Morris (@gelliottmorris.com) September 30, 2025 at 9:58 AM
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Reminder:
The Trump Administration does not do stupid things as part of a genius plan. The Trump Administration does stupid things because it is, in many ways, stupid. Evil and stupid so often go together like peanut butter and jelly, but, you know, evil and stupid.
— Jane Coaston (@janecoaston.bsky.social) September 23, 2025 at 10:55 AM
Saturday Morning Open Thread: Blame It All On the GOPPost + Comments (195)
This post is in: Open Threads, Republican Venality, Show Us on the Doll Where the Invisible Hand Touched You, Trump Crime Cartel
lol they're already getting spooked
— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 2, 2025 at 11:05 AM
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Posted by the President of the United States.
— Ron Filipkowski (@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social) October 3, 2025 at 7:27 AM
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I wonder if they're going to try to do an end around the agency heads again. Because most of the agencies have been trying to bring back at least a fair portion of people cut by DOGE/Vought.
My best bet is this just leads to another attempt to kill CFPB— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 2, 2025 at 10:21 AM
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I'm squinting at this and I'm wondering if they're setting up Ross to be the fall guy. The explicit mention of P2025 here is interesting.
— Schnorkles O'Bork (@schnorkles.bsky.social) October 2, 2025 at 11:15 AM
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MIKE LEE: Russ Vought has been dreaming about this moment since puberty
MIKE JOHNSON: Russ Vought does not enjoy this responsibility— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar.com) October 2, 2025 at 11:07 AM
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Defenestration could not happen to a more deserving little wen!
When you recall that political reporters ran interference for Trump over his "opposition" to Project 2025, remember that even AT THAT TIME there was a hidden camera interview with Vought where he said that was bullshit and he didn't mean it. www.mediamatters.org/russ-vought/…
— Adam Serwer (@adamserwer.bsky.social) October 3, 2025 at 10:54 AM
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Last year, CNN ran a “fact check” of Kamala HQ that claimed we were lying for saying Trump’s plan is Project 2025.
Now Trump is outright admitting it’s his plan.
Legacy media failed the country.— Parker Butler (@parkerbutler.bsky.social) October 2, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Late Night Open Thread: New Potential Shutdown ‘Mastermind’ – Russ VoughtPost + Comments (43)
