If the Dems put up AOC in ’28, I will vote for her in a heartbeat. A HEARTBEAT.
Which is probably not unusual for people on This Site (Mastodon, to be clear) within the sound of my toot, but… I’m an older, white, Christian man, so there’s that.
https://www.thedailybeast.com/white-house-rages-at-maga-senator-josh-hawley-over-anti-jd-vance-plot/
Here we go!
Waiting for Cotton to come out from wherever he’s hiding and knife Hawley in the back at the last minute (or at least after the front runners have destroyed each other).
Some men carrying what they describe as myrhh, frankincense and gold. Clearly from a foreign land. Probably narcoterrorists.
What’s that ICE reporting number again?
Blah, blah, blah.
The fundamental motivating force behind Trump’s two presidential victories are not going away for at least two more generations, and that’s only with people working on it.
https://sherrilyn.substack.com/p/is-it-too-late
«There are extraordinary scholars, activists and journalists getting to the heart of the matter and writing thoughtfully about complex issues. Be sure your information diet includes them. Rebecca Traister, Sarah Kendzior, Rashad Robinson, Rev. William Barber, LaTosha Brown, Joy-Ann Reid, Kim Crenshaw, Adam Serwer, the law professors on the Strict Scrutiny Podcast, Dr. Renita Weems, and many more.»
https://www.businessinsider.com/europe-tech-turns-guns-into-last-resort-drone-killers-2025-12
«Arbel is a tiny computerized system that can be integrated into light machine guns or assault rifles, giving a soldier a more accurate shot on the battlefield in scenarios that require quick reactions or against moving targets — such as small drones, Semion said.
When activated, the system lets a soldier hold down the trigger while Arbel automatically releases rounds at the moments they’re most likely to hit the target. It can bring down drones at roughly 450 meters in daylight and 200 meters at night.»
Science fiction is coming, fast.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/09/experts-authoritarian-regimes-trump
Turkey:
«“[Autocrats] declare themselves as beyond politics,” said Temelkuran. “[They say:] ‘Politics is corrupt. Parties are corrupt. We’re clean.’ They create a movement, not a party.
“When you despise politics, that means that you are probably going to do something to democracy itself,” she added.»
El Salvador:
«“You cannot make authoritarian leaders the center of your narrative,” said Ortiz. “You have to make the people the center of your narrative, and you have to be passionate about it.”
She said that means doing more to engage with citizens – and being prepared to be surprised by what they say. “A part of the cure for this is listening to people,” she said. “Don’t be so certain about what they want, what they need. You have to ask.”»
«A separate source familiar with the matter said there “should be no premature celebrations.”»
Here, Read This 