NewsFlash

Unfortunately every day is Trumpzilla Day

Yeah, I kind of had noticed.



A few little randoms:


The GOP claimed Biden didn’t know whom he was pardoning. Trump now admits he doesn’t know whom he’s pardoning - https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/03/politics/presidential-pardons-trump-biden-gop

“He Effectively Lied for 90 Minutes”: Fact‑Checking Trump’s Bats*** 60 Minutes Interview - https://deanblundell.substack.com/p/he-effectively-lied-for-90-minutes?r=2r25m4&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true

‘If it was anybody else, we’d arrest him tomorrow,' Justice Department aide said of Trump.  A handful of documents found by the FBI at Mar-a-Lago were so sensitive that even a senior Justice Department official didn’t have authorization to see them. - https://www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/trump-arrest-classified-documents-probe-maralago-rcna241155

The U.S. president’s family raked in more than $800 million from sales of crypto assets in the first half of 2025 alone, a Reuters examination found, on top of potentially billions more in unrealized “on paper” gains. Much of that cash has come from foreign sources - https://www.reuters.com/investigations/inside-trump-familys-global-crypto-cash-machine-2025-10-28/

Trial starts for assault case against DC Sandwich Guy -  https://apnews.com/article/sean-dunn-subway-sandwich-trump-surge-98021a81f0a4587e3ecbc8f920bdb83e  Sean Dunn went viral over the summer for throwing a salami sub at a Customs and Border Protection agent. - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/jury-selection-begins-case-dcs-sandwich-guy-rcna241563 [They tried to get a grand jury to return a felony indictment. The jury said "no". But they're taking him to trial anyway. For a sandwich.]

Human-rights attorneys in Chicago say they cannot account for more than 3,000 people arrested during a federal immigration crackdown known as "Operation Midway Blitz," raising concerns about due process, transparency, and possible coerced departures. - https://www.latintimes.com/thousands-jailed-immigrants-chicago-have-vanished-federal-records-human-rights-attorneys-claim-590994

‘Entering Dangerous Territory’: WSJ Drags Nick Fuentes, Tucker Carlson, and Heritage Foundation in Scathing Op-Ed - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/entering-dangerous-territory-wsj-drags-141952016.html      Kevin Roberts Ally Out at the Heritage Foundation Amid Continued Tucker Carlson Fallout -  https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/kevin-roberts-ally-out-at-the-heritage-foundation-amid-continued-tucker-carlson-fallout/   Ben Shapiro Devotes Entire Show to Scorching Takedown of ‘Coward’ Tucker Carlson and ‘Twisted’ Nick Fuentes - https://www.mediaite.com/media/news/ben-shapiro-devotes-entire-show-to-scorching-takedown-of-coward-tucker-carlson-and-twisted-nick-fuentes/

Faith leaders condemn a Pennsylvania Halloween parade float with an Auschwitz sign - https://apnews.com/article/auschwitz-holocaust-halloween-parade-float-hanover-pennsylvania-b32ddffbdd7949c1fb16d678cbec5061





As seen on the Blue:  We’re in a strange limbo where secret police are routinely beating, disappearing, and shooting everyday people in public, but they’ve not yet consolidated enough power to stop us from talking about it on social media. That imbalance prob can’t last. Either we roll them back or this gets rolled up .

They're right.

That should cover SNAP, help with Affordable Care Act medical premiums, and pay the air traffic controllers and railroad inspectors.
[Oh, yeah, right, that's where it would go. Sure. When it comes rolling in. Right.]

Trump is weaponizing hunger. It is a siege. In defiance of two court orders. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-snap-food-stamps-government-shutdown/ 


Trump Claims He ‘Doesn’t Know’ Crypto King He Pardoned — Despite Previously Arguing Biden Pardons Should Be Void Because He Didn’t Know About Them -  https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/trump-claims-doesn-t-know-020539507.html

Trump official threatens to ground all flights before Thanksgiving  -  https://www.rawstory.com/flights/?link_source=ta_bluesky_link&taid=6908e6b436c29200018904b0&utm_campaign=trueanthem&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky

Purge of the Military:  Seventeen General Officers have been removed or have retired from the US military in nine months - https://www.youtube.com/shorts/wKh3iUSTdt4?feature=share

Purge of the FBI:  Kash Patel fired, and then top DC federal prosecutor Jeanine Pirro intervened to reverse the firings of at least 4 FBI agents who had previously investigated the effort to overturn the 2020 federal election - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/keystone-kash-gets-overruled-latest-051226248.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall      FBI re-fires additional agents who participated in investigating Trump, AP sources say - https://apnews.com/article/fbi-firings-kash-patel-jeanine-pirro-b5593fdbe1c94056457a895daef3ea9c   

The FBI Agents Association, which has criticized Patel for the firings, said the director has “disregarded the law and launched a campaign of erratic and arbitrary retribution.”  “The actions yesterday — in which FBI Special Agents were terminated and then reinstated shortly after, and then only to be fired again today — highlight the chaos that occurs when long-standing policies and processes are ignored,” the association said. “An Agent simply being assigned to an investigation and conducting it appropriately within the law should never be grounds for termination.” -   https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/fbi-agents-group-blasts-patel-over-erratic-personnel-moves-targeting-agents-who-2025-11-04/


And

Dismantling of US federal agencies will ‘destroy science’ -  https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-025-03575-7

Trump’s university backlash drives US researchers towards Europe -  https://archive.ph/O7a3J#selection-1563.0-1563.64


And

"Border Tsar" Tom Homan: "Others are in the country illegally but may not have a criminal history, but guess what? They're coming too. ICE is no longer turning a blind eye to illegal aliens in this country." [So much for just getting the hardened criminals out - now it's grandma and the guy next door. This is the guy who it is said took the $50,000-in-a-paperbag bribe, by the way.]  Video at https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3m4sprokr5s2j

Feds explain how Customs and Border Protection vehicle involved in collision that led to woman being shot and criminally charged was moved from Chicago to Maine and then partially repaired while it was evidence in a criminal case. -  https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/26212993-martinezgovflg110325/

Scenes from the nervous hallways of New York's immigration courts, where ICE agents patrol - https://www.reuters.com/pictures/inside-nervous-halls-new-yorks-immigration-courts-where-masked-ice-agents-linger-2025-11-03/

Texas:   The Episcopal Diocese of Texas announced on Saturday (Nov. 1) that one of its priests, a Kenyan national, has been detained by immigration officials despite working in the state legally. The Episcopal bishop of Texas said the priest, who was a "legally employed Kenyan clergy member who works for the Texas Department of Criminal Justice," was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials this week while returning home from his workplace. -  https://www.ncronline.org/news/texas-episcopal-diocese-says-one-its-priests-has-been-detained-ice

Florida:  ICE agent in the Keys pulled over in DUI asks arresting deputy: ‘Are you Haitian?, threatens retaliation.-  https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/crime/article312622331.html#storylink=cpy

Illinois:  Lawsuit cites federal agents’ actions in Evanston as violation of court order - https://evanstonroundtable.com/2025/11/04/evanston-federal-agents-use-force-lawsuit/   Videos at following links:   https://x.com/TheJFreakinC/status/1984405793001640085    https://spaces.hightail.com/space/ERClkyY4Cj/files   https://spaces.hightail.com/space/hHtrXkj6em/files/fi-763e3f21-b5f1-48be-84ab-0c381fc703a6/fv-f5fcace9-950b-4846-8f29-ce0196554ec6/Exhibit%20B.mp4   https://spaces.hightail.com/space/Y1GuNfhSaQ/files/fi-c6660a8a-c6b0-4b42-bcc8-1ab9838a883b/fv-ebeacaa1-5ec8-42d1-8601-f750ef45ac99/Exhibit%20A.mov

Colorado: ICE says father who was detained in Durango, Colorado was "mistaken" for someone else while taking his 12-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son to school in Durango when they were stopped by ICE agents and taken into custody. All three remained in ICE custody as of Friday. - https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/father-detained-ice-durango-colorado-mistaken/

Colorado Bureau of Investigation is investigating an immigration officer accused of shoving a [5'4"] woman to the ground and taking her cell phone during a protest in Durango  https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/us/politics/durango-colorado-ice-protester.html     

Protester thrown down an embankment by ICE, says she was eventually helped up by another protester, but says she saw others hit with pepper spray and rubber bullets later on. “They physically opened a woman’s mouth and again, that long spray down her throat,” .... https://kdvr.com/news/colorado/protester-in-shock-after-ice-agent-grabbed-her-threw-her-to-the-ground-at-durango-protest/


And... at point blank range! 

"Sandwich Guy" Sean Dunn's Jury Trial Begins:    Big day at U.S. District Court in D.C. where Sean Dunn, the D.C. Sandwich Guy, is on trial for misdemeanor assault of a federal officer. 

Border Patrol agent Gregory Lairmore is on the stand narrating surveillance video of the sammie toss.  'Now he’s struck me with the sandwich,' Lairmore says. Border Patrol agent Lairmore testifies that he was not injured by the sandwich, but he felt the impact through his ballistic vest. The sandwich came apart and "kind of exploded" on his chest upon impact, he says.  "I could smell the onions and mustard."   

Defense tells judge they want to question Lairmore about 'gag gifts' he received from fellow officers after the alleged assault, including a Subway sandwich plush toy and a patch that said 'Felony Footlong.'  Prosecutors object. Defense argues they reflect CBP 'state of mind.' 

Defense is now questioning Lairmore on cross-examination. They show a video still of the sandwich and wrapper on the ground, post-throw. "Do you recognize that sandwich?" the attorney asks. Lairmore won't confirm. "I did not go back to collect it," he says. 

The defense team presses Lairmore on whether the sandwich really 'exploded.' They return to the photo of the sandwich and wrapper on the ground. "That sandwich hasn't exploded at all, has it?" defense asks. "It looks like a little bit is coming out towards the bottom," Lairmore replies.

Lairmore testifies that other agents gave him a plush sandwich toy, which he placed on the shelf in his office, and a patch that said "Felony Footlong," which he put on his lunch box. Lairmore has chuckled with the rest of us at times. Defense really trying to underscore the unseriousness of it all. 

The jury in the DC Sandwich Guy case is being released for the day. Trial expected to resume tomorrow at 10:30 a.m. Not clear if any more witnesses will testify. A verdict tomorrow looks likely.      [posted on Blue by Dave Jamieson @jamieson.bsky.social  https://bsky.app/profile/jamieson.bsky.social  ]
[This is a jury trial. Our tax dollars at work here.]



Last month, Dunn’s lawyers tried to dismiss the case, which they called “a blatant abuse of power.”  “The federal government has chosen to bring a criminal case over conduct so minor it would be comical — were it not for the unmistakable retaliatory motive behind it and the resulting risk to Mr. Dunn,” Dunn’s lawyers said in an Oct. 15 memo. “Mr. Dunn tossed a sandwich at a fully armed, heavily protected Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer. That act alone would never have drawn a federal charge. What did was the political speech that accompanied it.” - https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5588126-dc-sandwich-guy-trial-begins/  Background info - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/d-c-jury-seated-sandwich-155429102.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall    Twenty officers sent/Arrest of Sandwich Guy - https://www.cnn.com/2025/08/13/politics/man-sandwich-dc-felony-charged


And

SNAP Webpages Are Hitting Back At The GOP By Giving It A Taste Of Its Own Medicine - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/snap-webpages-are-hitting-back-at-the-gop-by-giving-it-a-taste-of-its-own-medicine/ar-AA1PANb1   https://www.mass.gov/snap-benefits-formerly-food-stamps

Deportation stayed for man who spent 43 years in prison before murder case overturned -  https://apnews.com/article/exoneration-india-penn-state-murder-immigration-91162d6492fafb5849e2dfcf908a4d11

The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments Wednesday (tomorrow) on the legality of the authority Trump has used to impose most of his tariffs. - https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/looking-to-experts-for-how-the-supreme-court-will-rule-on-tariffs-they-arent-sure-either-141959943.html

Pope Leo calls for “deep reflection” on the treatment of migrants in the United States; US-Venezuela situation -  https://www.vaticannews.va/en/pope/news/2025-11/pope-us-migrants-spiritual-rights-venezuela-gaza-work-rupnik.html     Pope Leo XIV ‘tears up’ watching video on plight of migrants in US  - https://www.borderreport.com/hot-topics/border-report-live/border-report-live-pope-leo-xiv-tears-up-watching-video-on-plight-of-migrants-in-us/


And

NYC Mayor-elect Mamdani and his wife Rama Duwaji.

Are these two not the cutest thing going today?  Reminds me of Jackie and JFK, but with more actual affection involved. May they both live long and prosper!

[And not have the same ending as the Kennedys. It's a real apprehension. We can't have nice things because....]

Time to let the kids drive, for sure.

Ugandan-born naturalized citizen Zohran Mamdani becomes the first Muslim Mayor of New York City.  “Donald Trump, since I know you’re watching, I have four words for you: Turn the volume up,” he said, before declaring, “If anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him.”... “New York will remain a city of immigrants, a city built by immigrants, powered by immigrants and, as of tonight, led by an immigrant," he said. “So hear me, President Trump, when I say this: To get to any of us, you will have to get through all of us." - https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/trump-mamdani-post-truth-social-respond-nyc-mayor-election/6414588/

Democrats win key governor's races in New Jersey and Virginia after post-Trump slump - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/democrats-win-key-governors-races-023235842.html    Democrat Mikie Sherrill prevails over Republican Jack Ciattarelli and wins the race for governor of New Jersey. The race, which was the most expensive in the history of New Jersey, was widely seen as a gauge of the Trump administration. - https://whyy.org/articles/new-jersey-election-2025-governor-race-ciattarelli-sherrill/   Blue wave rebuilds the House: Democrats soar to at least 64 seats in Virginia - https://virginiamercury.com/2025/11/04/blue-wave-rebuilds-the-house-democrats-soar-to-at-least-64-seats-in-virginia/

Full list of Democratic victories as party pulls off upsets nationwide - https://www.newsweek.com/full-list-democrat-victories-upsets-nationwide-10994750

Republicans do the "blame game" - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/not-great-night-republicans-point-052249130.html


[A totally new presentation of "delusional".]


And

U.S. Air Force conducted a test launch of a Minuteman III ICBM from Vandenberg Space Force Base - https://www.msn.com/en-in/news/world/us-successfully-tests-minuteman-iii-icbm-from-california-s-vandenberg-base/ar-AA1PRGQ7

Republican lawmakers lash out at Pentagon for keeping them in the dark - https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/republican-lawmakers-lash-out-pentagon-keeping-them-dark-2025-11-04/

Trump's nuke weapons testing could provoke China, Russia - https://www.military.com/daily-news/2025/11/05/donald-trumps-nuclear-weapons-testing-restart-could-provoke-china-russia.html

Several Republican senators are voicing uncertainty before a vote to block the Trump administration from taking military action against Venezuela, setting up a potential rebuke of the president over the scope of his war powers. - https://www.politico.com/live-updates/2025/11/05/congress/key-republicans-waver-ahead-of-war-powers-vote-00637591

Unpaid civilians at the Pentagon working alongside troops who are paid, morale poor. - https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/politics/pentagon-civilians-pay-stress

Referral to German food aid resources for US military families impacted by shutdown who are posted on US Army Garrison Bavaria was listed on Army installation's website, later removed. 


And

Bogus unannounced child “Wellness Checks” by armed federal agents - https://www.psrmemphis.org/unannounced-child-wellness-checks-by-armed-federal-agents-raise-concerns/

He had legal documents to stay in the U.S. ICE arrested him and locked him up anyway. [Catch the red thread in this story?] - https://www.psrmemphis.org/he-had-legal-documents-to-stay-in-the-u-s-ice-arrested-him-and-locked-him-up-anyway/

Chicago: Border Patrol agent was caught on video telling another to throw tear gas “for fun,” according to a court filing. - https://bsky.app/profile/royalpratt.bsky.social/post/3m4szmj72as26

FBI Warns of Criminals Posing as ICE, Urges Agents to ID Themselves:  Criminals posing as ICE officers have carried out robberies, kidnappings, and sexual assaults in several states, warns a law enforcement bulletin issued by the FBI. - https://www.wired.com/story/fbi-warns-of-criminals-posing-as-ice-urges-agents-to-id-themselves/

Chicago:  ICE abducts preschool teacher in front of children - https://apnews.com/video/chicago-daycare-teacher-arrested-by-federal-immigration-agents-at-spanish-language-learning-center-4c40f49de2a54ec19ad695cef677c45e - https://www.wkrn.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-immigration-arrest-of-chicago-daycare-worker-at-drop-off-time-for-kids-sparks-outcry/    video: https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3m4von4bx2225


And

GOP immediately sues to block California’s voter-approved congressional map - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/gop-immediately-sues-to-block-californias-voter-approved-congressional-map/    Trump is pressuring Republican-controlled states to give the GOP an unfair edge by gerrymandering their congressional maps. Texas, North Carolina, and Missouri, have already done so. - https://www.democracydocket.com/analysis/live-redistricting-tracker/   

Senate Majority Leader Thune (R) says ending filibuster 'not happening', the votes aren't there - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/thune-reiterates-filibuster-changes-not-175456775.html

A federal judge has ruled that the White House must once again provide American Sign Language interpreters during press briefings. - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/04/sign-language-interpretation-white-house-briefings-ruling-00636782?utm_medium=email&utm_source=substack

Supreme Court hears Trump tariffs case, key justices appear skeptical of his power - https://abc7news.com/post/supreme-court-hears-trump-tariffs-case-key-justices-appear-skeptical-power/18117078/    https://apnews.com/live/supreme-court-tariff-arguments-updates

Judge in Comey case scolds prosecutors as he orders them to produce records from probe - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/judge-comey-case-scolds-prosecutors-161227201.html   Federal judge warns Justice Department it may be veering close to mishandling evidence in Comey case - https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/05/politics/james-comey-justice-department-evidence

Maine voters reject new GOP-backed voter ID requirement while Texans approve citizenship proposal - https://www.rmoutlook.com/politics/maine-voters-reject-new-gop-backed-voter-id-requirement-while-texans-approve-citizenship-proposal-11439531


And

Data scientists perform last rites for ‘dearly departed datasets’ - https://apnews.com/article/census-bureau-data-scientists-trump-doge-7558df32c4ff7d2152aa5d8b02c0ae57

They were going to execute him anyway! In a highly unusual move, the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board on Wednesday voted [3 to 2] to recommend clemency for Tremane Wood, a man sentenced to death for a killing his brother admitted to committing.  The decision over whether to grant mercy to Wood now goes to Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R), who has only spared one man from execution since becoming governor in 2019. Wood has also asked the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals and the Supreme Court to review his allegations of prosecutorial misconduct and stay his execution, which is currently scheduled for Nov. 13. - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/oklahoma-board-recommends-clemency-tremane-wood_n_690bae61e4b0fbe8fbbd1ce0?unj


And



Food banks, pantries see surge in demand after SNAP benefits halted - https://abcnews.go.com/Health/food-banks-pantries-surge-demand-after-snap-benefits/story?id=127128220   

Trump has (at least temporarily) tariff funds that could  be used for SNAP. He refuses to access them. Instead, the White House has instructed that only partial payments be provided for November.  That will require manual intervention into the disbursement systems. Estimates of time to disbursement range from a week to several weeks, to possibly a few months. People need to eat NOW!  The solution? It would take only days to process full funding for SNAP recipients and load the funds onto their debit cards. So move the tariff funds into the SNAP account! - https://abcnews.go.com/Business/delays-smaller-payments-snap-funding-work/story?id=127129130   https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-administration-partially-fund-snap-months/story?id=127138175

Republican Congressperson admits there is no Republican "health plan" to replace the ACA (Obamacare). - https://www.comicsands.com/greene-republicans-view-healthcare?utm_source=Bluesky&utm_medium=infeed&utm_campaign=linkprogram#Echobox=1762361454

Social Security COLA adjustments seriously inadequate  - https://247wallst.com/investing/2025/11/05/why-millions-could-lose-out-on-social-security-cola-adjustments-next-year/

About the homeless - https://endhomelessness.org/state-of-homelessness/#report

Mass layoffs: list of companies cutting thousands of jobs - https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/companies/mass-layoffs-full-list-of-companies-cutting-thousands-of-jobs/ar-AA1PqIPI

Most Americans don't earn enough to afford basic costs of living, analysis finds - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/cost-of-living-income-quality-of-life/


And



At the trial of Sean Dunn, aka DC Sandwich Guy. [posted on Blue by Dave Jamieson @jamieson.bsky.social  https://bsky.app/profile/jamieson.bsky.social  ]
Prosecutors are making their closing argument that Dunn committed assault.   "This case is not about someone with strong opinions, it’s not about immigration, it’s not about the First Amendment. It’s about an individual who crossed the line."

Defense comes out blazing in closing argument, attacks agent Lairmore's credibility.  "This case is about a sandwich. A sandwich that, according to agent Lairmore, somehow both exploded on his chest in a spray of onions and mustard, but also landed intact on the ground still in its Subway wrapping."  Sandwich guy's team zeroes in on the gag gifts that Agent Lairmore accepted from other agents, including a sandwich plush toy and the "Felony Footlong" patch he put on his lunch box.  "If someone assaulted you, offended you, would you keep a memento of that assault? ... Of course not."

https://abcnews.go.com/US/dc-sandwich-throwers-misdemeanor-assault-case-nears-closing/story?id=127227869     Jury deliberates in DC sandwich thrower's misdemeanor assault case - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/dc-sandwich-throwers-misdemeanor-assault-184025233.html?fr=sycsrp_catchall


And

Big Shocker Here -  "House Speaker Johnson cancels votes next week, including vote on Epstein files."





RELEASE THE EPSTEIN FILES!

<Material has been added to previous post to keep the total number of posts to a minimum.>

If you're...determined... enough to insist on coming to the USA in the near future, say, for the Holidays, and will be flying in:  please keep an eye on the airlines/airport traffic issue.  The pressure on the air traffic controllers who are not becoming ill and going off work is enormous, and there have been a number of close calls.  It does appear that more and more controllers are bailing out. Accordingly, the FAA is reducing air traffic by 10% across 40 ‘high-volume’ markets during  shutdown.  That percentage could go up. Supposedly this is not going to impact international flights,  only domestic, but nothing appears to be set in stone at this point. - https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-airlines-faa-e39c423facec2b0dcc2544af48de0fa1

[Seems like a good time to skip that trip to the States, if other reasons are not enough.]

Some airlines are saying they'll refund fares for people wanting to cancel their flights, even for non-refundable economy tickets. So far, the airports impacted are said to be:

    Anchorage International
    Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International
    Boston Logan International
    Baltimore/Washington International
    Charlotte Douglas International
    Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International
    Dallas Love
    Ronald Reagan Washington National
    Denver International
    Dallas/Fort Worth International
    Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County
    Newark Liberty International
    Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International
    Honolulu International
    Houston Hobby
    Washington Dulles International
    George Bush Houston Intercontinental
    Indianapolis International
    New York John F Kennedy International
    Las Vegas McCarran International
    Los Angeles International
    New York LaGuardia
    Orlando International
    Chicago Midway
    Memphis International
    Miami International
    Minneapolis/St Paul International
    Oakland International
    Ontario International
    Chicago O'Hare International
    Portland International
    Philadelphia International
    Phoenix Sky Harbor International
    San Diego International
    Louisville International
    Seattle/Tacoma International
    San Francisco International
    Salt Lake City International
    Teterboro
    Tampa International



And


A sandwich, Shroff [Defense attorney] said, cannot be a weapon hurled with force anywhere near enough to justify federal charges, and a bulletproof vest, she said, “is definitely going to keep you safe from a sandwich thrown at you.”   "We’re not just talking about a sandwich," Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael C. DiLorenzo [Prosecutor] said. "This isn’t about a sandwich."  Jury chews over fate of 'sandwich guy,' who became a D.C. hero after chucking a sub sandwich.  - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/jury-chews-fate-sandwich-guy-became-dc-hero-chucking-sub-federal-offic-rcna242195  [No, it most definitely is NOT about a sandwich.]

After Trump’s major losses yesterday, the White House says it’s preparing executive orders aimed at changing how U.S. elections are run, citing so-called “blatant fraud” as the reason. - https://www.commondreams.org/news/executive-order-voter-fraud

IRS Direct File won’t be available next year. [Looks like the paid services exerted enough pressure $$$ to get the DF program shuttered. Intuit, parent company of TurboTax, donated $1 million to Trump's inauguration.] - https://apnews.com/article/irs-direct-file-not-available-2026-04f2d0c31bec80b55d122a0e76e08c36

RFK Jr's response to someone collapsing near him - https://bsky.app/profile/atrupar.com/post/3m4y4kdjiel2j    https://bsky.app/profile/krassenstein.bsky.social/post/3m4y6on2oi22x

Over 100 million to be impacted as a major cold outbreak will grip the eastern U.S., triggering the season’s first snow and biting temperatures - https://www.accuweather.com/en/winter-weather/midwinter-style-cold-blast-to-grip-eastern-us-with-over-100-million-to-be-impacted/1833039     Home heating aid threatened for millions of low-income families amid shutdown - https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/5586214-home-heating-aid-shutdown/



And

“They took a US citizen father out and left a toddler in the backseat. Two heavily armed border patrol agents got in that car and drove the child and the vehicle away.” - https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/armed-agents-drive-off-with-child-after-detaining-her-father-a-us-citizen-accused-of-assault/ar-AA1PO3fI   video - https://bsky.app/profile/thetnholler.bsky.social/post/3m4w63zcij223

ICE to open call center to track migrant children for removal - https://abc7chicago.com/post/ice-open-call-center-help-track-migrant-children-removal/18118204/

Border patrol agent who shot Chicago woman boasted about it in text messages - https://www.reuters.com/world/us/border-patrol-agent-who-shot-chicago-woman-boasted-about-it-text-messages-2025-11-06/




And

41 days and counting: Arizona’s Adelita Grijalva says ‘this has gone way too far’ - https://www.washingtonblade.com/2025/11/04/41-days-and-counting-arizonas-adelita-grijalva-says-this-has-gone-way-too-far/

Trump-backed Matt Van Epps wins GOP primary in Tennessee House race, election to be held in December. [If he wins, he would cancel out Grijalva's "release" Epstein vote, as he has not committed to voting "release". So Speaker Johnson is waiting to see if he wins?] - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/matt-van-epps-trump-tennessee-gop-house-primary-aftyn-behn/





Release ALL the Epstein files. And then prosecute.

<Material has been added to previous post to keep the total number of posts to a minimum.>



DC ‘sandwich guy' found not guilty of assault after throwing sub at federal agent - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dc-sandwich-guy-not-guilty_n_690b8d7fe4b09953a606304d



Statement from Folk Hero Sandwich Guy:  “I am so happy that justice prevails, in spite of everything happening. And that night, I believe I was protecting the rights of immigrants. And let us not forget that the great seal of the United States says ‘E pluribus unum.’ That means ‘from many, one.’ Every life matters, no matter where you came from, no matter how you got here,” he said.     [Seriously, does the Department of Justice (et.al.) not realize how absolutely idiotic it has made them look to bring this case to trial? As if sending 20 armed officers in the middle of the night to arrest Sandwich Guy after they'd already let him go once wasn't bad enough... and releasing a video of it?  https://x.com/WhiteHouse/status/1956114803295953325    SG worked for the government before they fired him over this. I sure hope some  firm hires him ASAP - at twice the salary.]

Chicago:   Officer defends use of force:  https://ktla.com/news/ap-us-news/ap-excessive-force-allegations-will-be-the-focus-of-a-chicago-court-hearing/  https://news.wttw.com/2025/11/06/border-patrol-chief-greg-bovino-admitted-he-lied-about-firing-tear-gas-tackling

Chicago  judge says Border Patrol official lied about threats before restricting agents’ use force: A federal judge in Chicago on Thursday issued an extensive injunction restricting federal agents’ use of force, saying Thursday that a top Border Patrol official leading an immigration crackdown repeatedly lied about threats posed by protesters and reporters. -  https://apnews.com/article/chicago-illinois-immigration-ice-border-patrol-7bb7d05c90b970226073857d97427c9e

Trump administration must fully fund food aid benefits by Friday, US judge rules. In finding the administration had failed to comply with his earlier order, he pointed to a recent statement the Republican president had made that SNAP benefits would only be paid when the shutdown ended, which McConnell said reflected Trump's "intent to defy the court order." - https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/trump-administration-must-fully-fund-food-aid-benefits-by-friday-us-judge-rules-2025-11-06/




Watch how government propaganda techniques portray Chicago as a city at war with the feds - https://www.wbez.org/immigration/2025/11/06/watch-how-government-propaganda-techniques-portray-chicago-as-a-city-at-war-with-the-feds

U.S. Senate voted on a War Powers resolution on Thursday that would keep President Donald Trump from attacking Venezuela without congressional authorization -  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/senate-war-powers-vote-venezuela-drug-boats-military-strikes/   The Bill -   https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-joint-resolution/90/text  Livestream of voting - https://www.senate.gov/legislative/floor_activity_pail.htm  The vote ended as 49 in favor, 51 opposed. The Senate has failed to reign in Trump's military action in Venezuela.


And

Evanston, Illinois: On October 31, three U.S. citizens who were watching a woman's violent arrest were shoved into an agent's car and driven around for hours before they were released at an FBI field office without charges, according to a court filing in a federal case brought by journalists and protesters against immigration agents' use of force.    https://www.reuters.com/world/us/chicago-immigration-crackdown-agents-raid-daycare-senior-living-center-2025-11-05/

Fitchburg, Massachusetts:  ICE arrested local mother holding her baby. "They kept saying we’re going to put your kid in state custody if you don’t, so I think that’s why in the end, for the safety of my kid and everything, I’m just gonna go,"....  as man in car had seizure. Hostile crowd formed, ICE called local police for protection.  - https://www.wcvb.com/article/fitchburg-police-say-assistance-was-requested-during-hostile-ice-arrest/69278435 video - https://bsky.app/profile/cwebbonline.com/post/3m55emw5qz227

Chicago:   A federal judge on Wednesday ordered authorities to improve a Chicago-area immigration facility after a group of detainees sued, alleging they were being kept in “inhumane” conditions. - https://ktla.com/news/ap-us-news/ap-excessive-force-allegations-will-be-the-focus-of-a-chicago-court-hearing/

‘The use of force shocks the conscience’: Judge issues sweeping injunction on Chicago tactics of immigration agents - https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/operation-midway-blitz-injunction/ [See also link in reply #920]  US Border Patrol head Gregory Bovino deposition videos: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/06/chicago-bovino-videos-immigration/


And

Another strike on alleged drug boat in Caribbean kills three people, bringing death toll to at least 70 - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-strike-alleged-drug-boat-caribbean-kills-3-death-toll-70/

Investigations into US military “extrajudicial executions” of purported drug-runners -  https://www.wsbtv.com/news/politics/what-reporter-found/UITJSRBCJUZFHP3XBYKWIP3A74/   https://apnews.com/article/trump-venezuela-boat-strikes-drugs-cocaine-trafficking-95b54a3a5efec74f12f82396a79617ea

Despite crossing into the Northern Atlantic Ocean over two days ago,  the USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and her Carrier Strike Group - the USS Mahan (DDG-72), USS Winston S. Churchill (DDG-81), USS Bainbridge (DDG-96), and the USNS Supply (T-AOE-6) - have not begun their journey yet towards the Caribbean, and are tracking as being off the coast of Morocco in Northwestern Africa.


And

Schumer outlines offer to reopen government, wants a "clean, one-year extension of the ACA tax credits to the CR," create a bi-partisan commission to study reform within the ACA.  Republicans turned down the offer.  [The House will officially be out of session again next week for the eighth week in a row.]  - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/democrats-new-offer-end-shutdown-republicans-reject-healthcare-rcna242643      https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/government-shutdown-latest-senate-vote-day-38/

FBI informant who lied about the Bidens covertly released from jail a few months into his six-year sentence; reportedly missing for four months from his low-security prison - https://newrepublic.com/post/202897/fbi-informant-alexander-smirnov-lied-biden-released-jail [Was he "Epsteined"?]

A judge is set to decide on Friday whether President Donald Trump violated federal law when he sent National Guard troops to Portland, Oregon - https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/judge-rule-trumps-portland-troop-deployment-2025-11-07/

Editing federal employees’ emails to blame Democrats for shutdown violated their First Amendment rights, judge says. “Political officials are free to blame whomever they wish for the shutdown, but they cannot use rank-and-file civil servants as their unwilling spokespeople.  - https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/07/judge-orders-education-department-to-halt-partisan-employee-email-messages-00643270

Trump's response when one of his guests passed out during a press conference:


Immigrants with health conditions, including diabetes and obesity, or who are too old may be denied visas under new Trump administration guidance. - https://abcnews.go.com/Health/immigrants-health-conditions-denied-visas-new-trump-administration/story?id=127294699

Trump: “I don’t want to hear about the affordability, because right now, we’re much less,” he said as he touted a Walmart Thanksgiving dinner package that costs 25% less than last year’s version. That meal, however, contains fewer items than last year’s bundle and includes more generic items instead of national brands.  -  https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-delusional-grocery-claim_n_690d6203e4b0063dd27cf802?origin=home-whats-happening-unit

2024 meal grocery basket
2025 meal grocery basket


Trump asks appeals court to pause judge’s requirement that it make full November SNAP payments - https://keyt.com/politics/cnn-us-politics/2025/11/07/trump-admin-asks-appeals-court-to-pause-judges-requirement-that-it-make-full-november-snap-payments/  [The President of the United States is appealing a court order that he must stop starving his own people.]   EDIT: Trump administration says it will fully fund SNAP while court appeal plays out - https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/trump-administration-asks-emergency-pause-judges-order-fully-fund-snap-rcna242545 LATER EDIT: BOSTON (AP) — A federal appeals court leaves an order in place that requires President Donald Trump ’s administration to provide full SNAP food benefits for November amid a U.S. government shutdown. - https://apnews.com/article/snap-food-government-shutdown-trump-a807e9f0c0a7213e203c074553dc1f9b

Trump accuses foreign-owned meat packers of driving up the price of beef in the U.S. and asks the Department of Justice to open an investigation. - https://apnews.com/article/trump-beef-justice-department-c6c57effee6ef1a8c1088d4e5edcc60a  [Kind of sudden, isn't it? I was under the impression that lack of US beef, and the increased costs to produce it, had driven up the price.]

Trump has pardoned the disgraced former Speaker of the Tennessee House and one of his co-conspirators after their corruption convictions and sentencing.  The former speaker was sentenced in September to 36 months in federal prison on wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and using fake names to carry out a fraud and money laundering charges earlier.   https://www.wsmv.com/2025/11/06/president-trump-pardons-former-tn-house-speaker-glen-casada-chief-staff-after-corruption-convictions/

The political appointee leveling fraud accusations against perceived opponents of President Trump enlisted a man convicted of a felony sex offense as a consultant to mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac - https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-official-accusing-presidents-rivals-crimes-tapped-former-registered-sex-2025-11-07/

‘No hire’ job market leaves unemployed in limbo as threats to economy multiply -  https://apnews.com/article/jobs-hiring-economy-c48fd84dfaa71eee962feb3a88fd8575

Judge Agrees to Dismiss Boeing Criminal Case Tied to 737 MAX Crashes as requested by DOJ, despite objections of families who wanted a trial - https://www.wsj.com/business/airlines/judge-agrees-to-dismiss-boeing-criminal-case-tied-to-737-max-crashes-448075ae?st=JXPJ9X

Coal miners with black lung say government is suffocating the ‘working man’ - https://apnews.com/article/black-lung-coal-miners-trump-doge-7c2258181a73f650d138faf07fc4517b

Cornell University caves, agrees to deal with Trump administration to get  research funds restored, will pay government $30 million - https://www.reuters.com/world/us/cornell-reaches-deal-with-trump-administration-restore-research-funds-nyt-2025-11-07/

Supreme Court to weigh longshot bid to overturn same-sex marriage precedent  - https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/07/politics/supreme-court-consider-same-sex-marriage-precedent-obergefell    https://rollingout.com/2025/11/07/supreme-court-same-sex-marriage-kim/

Rutherford County Library System (TN) Temporarily Shuts Down to Ban Books - https://bookriot.com/rutherford-county-library-system-tn-temporarily-shuts-down-to-ban-books/

Joe Khan becomes first Democrat to be elected Bucks County [Pennsylvania] district attorney since the 1800s - https://whyy.org/articles/election-2025-bucks-county-district-attorney/

YESSSS! -  https://bsky.app/profile/krassenstein.bsky.social/post/3m4z2evugds2q


And, in the "what could one possibly say" department:





[It certainly was when I was in school there in the 1960s. Reference https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/CN/htm/CN.6/CN.6.2.htm ]


And


https://newrepublic.com/post/202813/department-justice-admits-republicans-epstein-files-worse-donald-trump

RELEASE ALL THE EPSTEIN FILES. Then prosecute.

Release ALL the Epstein files. And then prosecute.

Look at the way Trump and Epstein are holding their mouths.  That's what you do when you are coked to the gills. 

<Previous "news" post #921 edited, new material added, to keep the number of posts to a minimum.>





After being refused an expedited hearing at the Appeals Court level, Trump administration asks Supreme Court to halt order providing full SNAP payments for November  -  https://apnews.com/article/snap-food-government-shutdown-trump-a807e9f0c0a7213e203c074553dc1f9b   EDIT:   Supreme Court issues emergency order to block full SNAP food aid payments The order will remain in place until 48 hours after the appeals court rules, giving the administration time to return to the Supreme Court if the appeals court refuses to step in. - https://apnews.com/article/snap-food-government-shutdown-trump-a807e9f0c0a7213e203c074553dc1f9b

This is the food distribution line at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas 11/7/25 -  https://bsky.app/profile/austinmermaid.bsky.social/post/3m55cnvyhcc2r

Trump Finally Meets A Problem His Lies Cannot Overcome: Rising Grocery Prices - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-grocery-lies_n_690e4e2ee4b0dd4ea75b830a?utm_campaign=bluesky_feed



The Treasury Department and Internal Revenue Service are issuing rules that provide hundreds of billions of dollars in tax relief to big companies and the ultrarich. - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/08/business/trump-administration-tax-breaks-wealthy.html?unlocked_article_code=1.zk8.y2u6.PxHEGqC3ORDT&amp;smid=url-share [may be paywalled, sorry]

A civil rights organization sued the Trump administration Saturday over a new policy barring nonprofits from helping new U.S. citizens register to vote. - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/uscis-nonprofit-voter-registration-naturalization-ceremony-ban-lawsuit/

'Open Cruelty': Transgender Troops Describe Indignities as They're Kicked Out of the Military - https://www.military.com/daily-news/investigations-and-features/2025/07/29/open-cruelty-transgender-troops-describe-indignities-theyre-kicked-out-of-military.html



Supreme Court considers petition to overturn same-sex marriage; justices will vote during a private conference on whether to hear the case or not - https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/supreme-court-considers-kim-davis-petition-overturn-same/story?id=127267561

US judge rules Trump illegally ordered National Guard to Portland, Oregon - https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/judge-rule-trumps-portland-troop-deployment-2025-11-07/    The Trump administration is likely to appeal Friday's ruling, and the case could ultimately reach the U.S. Supreme Court.

ICE is acquiring powerful new surveillance tools to identify and monitor people. They include apps that let federal agents point a cell phone at someone's face to potentially identify them and determine their immigration status in the field, and another that can scan irises....The federal agency is also ramping up its social media surveillance, with new AI-driven software contracts, and is considering hiring 24/7 teams of contractors assigned to scouring various databases and platforms like Facebook and TikTok and creating dossiers on users. - https://www.npr.org/2025/11/08/nx-s1-5585691/ice-facial-recognition-immigration-tracking-spyware


And

Trump administration moves to dissolve ban on Kilmar Abrego Garcia's removal to deport him to Liberia "in the public interest."  Abrego Garcia is currently being held in a detention facility in Pennsylvania. - https://abcnews.go.com/US/trump-administration-moves-dissolve-ban-abrego-garcias-removal/story?id=127329912

Chicago:   Feds Tell Faith Leaders ‘No More Prayer’ Outside Broadview ICE Facility - In a possible violation of the First Amendment, federal officials instructed demonstrators to stop holding religious gatherings outside the immigration processing facility in suburban Broadview after faith leaders were denied entry to the building for the third time on Friday. - https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/07/feds-tell-faith-leaders-no-more-prayer-outside-broadview-facility/

Pope Leo's critique of Trump emboldens top US Catholics to help immigrants - https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/pope-leos-critique-trump-emboldens-top-us-catholics-help-immigrants-2025-11-07/ [Not seeing tangible results, really. But it's a good thought.]

ICE agents in Chicago violently detained a non-verbal autistic man for being “non-compliant” -  video at https://bsky.app/profile/broadwaybabyto.bsky.social/post/3m545mrx5jk2n

Boston:  ICE raided the Allston Car Wash on Cambridge Street,  employees had work authorization cards. "I would say it's pretty close to the definition of kidnapping," Boston City Councilor Liz Breadon said.  https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/ice-detains-8-allston-car-172322164.html?guccounter=1

Hawaii: ICE raids on Kauai, agents target cleaning company workers in early morning operation, explosions heard - https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/11/06/ice-raids-kauai-lead-dozens-arrests/

Missouri: ICE raid targeted food workers. ICE agents used battering rams to enter homes in St. Charles, "Two of my clients were getting out of the shower, and the person knocking on the door had a gun pointed at them," Hacking said. "It was a very intense situation." - https://www.kcur.org/news/2025-11-04/an-ice-raid-in-missouri-targeted-food-workers-an-attorney-says-the-fear-is-part-of-the-strategy

Federal Campaign Targets Latinos, Blatantly Violates Rights -  https://www.hrw.org/news/2025/11/04/us-ice-abuses-in-los-angeles-set-stage-for-other-cities

He Was a Beloved Dog Trainer and an Asylum Seeker. Why Was He Detained?  - https://www.texasmonthly.com/news-politics/austin-dog-trainer-asylum-seeker-detained-by-ice/


And

On Oct 1, 2025, GISAID informed us that they had ended updates to the flat file of SARS-CoV-2 genomic sequences and associated metadata that we had used to update Nextstrain analyses since Feb 2020. GISAID's stated rationale was that their "resources are limited". Implication: ‪ This means all public tools/webapps of GISAID data (all the ones you've been used to seeing thru the pandemic, as far as we can tell) are prohibited. The file allowed this. Cut that - cut off all tools the public & others were using. - https://bsky.app/profile/firefoxx66.bsky.social/post/3m52cqoix2c2g

UPS, FedEx, Western Global Airlines ground MD-11 cargo planes as investigation continues into crash [shipping delay alert] - https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2025/11/08/ups-md-11-cargo-louisville-boeing/87166881007/


And



Files.Epstein.Release.

Veteran's Day:  https://bsky.app/profile/barackobama.bsky.social/post/3m5e7f6ewv22c




And

US aircraft carrier moves into Latin America region - https://www.reuters.com/business/aerospace-defense/us-aircraft-carrier-moves-into-latin-america-region-officials-say-2025-11-11/     https://www.military.com/daily-news/headlines/2025/11/10/pentagon-sends-carrier-after-trumps-60-minutes-remarks-offers-no-answers-mission.html

Canada, the Netherlands, Mexico, and the UK, have curbed or stopped sharing Intel with the USA - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/top-u-ally-cuts-off-170746807.html

Hundreds of veterans protest Trump policies at Veterans Day rally in Washington  - https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2025-11-11/veterans-day-rally-protest-trump-19733534.html


And

All kidnapping charges dropped against Texas Uber driver, arrest based on false testimony. ICE detainment continues - https://www.aol.com/news/charges-dropped-against-texas-uber-001900040.html

CBS investigation: Hundreds of videos show repeated excessive use of force against protestors/citizens; ICE agent attempts to run over protester with car - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/former-federal-agent-ice-use-of-force-against-protesters/

Chicago: One year-old girl pepper sprayed, ICE targeted their car's open window in a parking lot - https://bsky.app/profile/kamimagic.bsky.social/post/3m5ee7olttk2z   https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/chicago-family-pepper-spray-allegations-ice-immigration-cicero-rcna242536




Chicago:  The Latest Defense Against ICE: 3D-Printed Whistles - https://www.404media.co/the-latest-defense-against-ice-3d-printed-whistles/


And

Bill to end government shutdown passes the Senate, now heads to the House for final vote - https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-11-11-2025

The Supreme Court is expected to say whether full SNAP food payments can resume - https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-food-aid-024906c49fec6126585900ef916698f8  EDIT: Supreme Court extends its order blocking full SNAP payments, with shutdown potentially near an end. The order will expire just before midnight Thursday. - https://www.npr.org/2025/11/11/g-s1-97516/supreme-court-snap-payments-shutdown?utm_medium=social&amp;utm_source=bsky.app&amp;utm_campaign=npr&amp;utm_term=nprnews

Job cuts in October hit highest level for the month in 22 years - https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/06/job-cuts-in-october-hit-highest-level-for-the-month-in-22-years-challenger-says.html

Utah judge rejects Republican congressional gerrymandered map - https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/utah-judge-rejects-republican-congressional-map-win-democrats-2025-11-11/

Supreme Court shuts down attempt to overturn same-sex marriage - https://meidasnews.com/news/supreme-court-shuts-down-attempt-to-overturn-same-sex-marriage

Trump uses DoorDash data to claim he beat inflation. Members of Donald Trump’s team are arguing that lower costs for breakfast indicate an improving economy. - https://newrepublic.com/post/203039/donald-trump-doordash-data-breakfast-inflation

Recent Trump statements fact-check:  https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/10/politics/inflation-trump-fact-check

Trump heavily booed at a regular-season NFL game -  https://apnews.com/article/trump-nfl-lions-commanders-c2c6e511052653e74be0ad77eb51cd64    https://x.com/sirdukedevin/status/1987681434778079696   



Trump pardons Tennessee Republican congresswoman’s husband, a pharmacist who substituted unapproved cheaper drugs for dialysis patients - https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-11-11-2025#0000019a-73ee-d606-a7ba-7bef92170000

Trump’s Truth Social AI-generated chatbot tells the truth about the president’s policies. [OOPSIES!] - https://newrepublic.com/post/203036/donald-trump-truth-social-ai-chatbot

Government watchdog group has asked two different bar associations to investigate Lindsey Halligan, a former personal attorney for President Trump, for bringing unsubstantiated charges against his political enemies -  https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5600737-halligan-james-comey-letitia-james-campaign-for-accountability/

Trump threatens ATCs, US flight cancellations drag on - https://wgntv.com/news/national/ap-us-news/ap-flight-cancellations-and-delays-worsen-as-government-shutdown-drags-on/?ipid=promo-link-block2 

President Trump asked the Supreme Court on Monday to toss New York civil jury's 2023 finding he was liable for sexually abusing and defaming the writer E. Jean Carroll. - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-supreme-court-appeal-e-jean-carroll-sexual-abuse-case/ [Ummm, I'm thinking they should not be ruling on a civil case here.... The Court’s jurisdiction is governed by Article III of the U.S. Constitution and statutes like 28 U.S.C. Section 1254, which allow it to review cases from federal appellate courts and, in certain circumstances, state courts, provided the case involves a substantial federal question or constitutional issue. - https://legalclarity.org/can-a-civil-case-be-appealed-to-the-supreme-court/ ]

Supposedly Congresswoman-elect Adelita Grijalva will finally be sworn in as a member of Congress tomorrow.  She is likely to be the 218th vote on the Epstein discharge petition, which would force a full vote to release the Epstein files. - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/adelita-grijalva-swearing-in-house-arizona-democrat/   [News outlets are saying it will be 16:00 US Eastern time.]


And

Next year there are 35 Senate and 435 House Representative seats on the ballot. It will be a "make or break" election. If you have the ability to vote, please do so.

Judge orders release of hundreds arrested in Illinois immigration crackdown [assuming they can be located] - ...federal agents violated a 2022 settlement agreement over warrantless arrests in the Chicago area, ...at least 1,100 of the 3,000 arrested individuals have voluntarily left the country, saying they “gave up” fighting their cases. - https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/12/us/chicago-ice-arrests-hearing

The White House states that job reports and economic data for the month of October may never be released, blaming Democrats for “permanently damaging the federal statistical system” and thus impairing policy makers at the Federal Reserve, with reports suggesting that job losses in October equated to well over 50,000. [And who f%%%ing fired everyone who handled the stats because he didn't like the numbers? ? ? ?] - https://x.com/sentdefender/status/1988700920851357702


The Trump administration has reportedly ordered states to “immediately undo” any and all efforts to provide low-income families with full food stamp benefits ― the latest action by the White House to block hungry Americans from accessing food aid during the ongoing government shutdown. - https://www.huffpost.com/entry/usda-orders-states-stop-full-food-stamps-snap_n_6910ce91e4b05694e6ae3b88?origin=article-bottom2-nonlife [And the purpose of/justification for ordering states to starve their citizens is what, precisely?]

"Trump’s lying spree about inflation" [That's the CNN headline.] - https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/10/politics/inflation-trump-fact-check

Working weekend for Trump:  https://www.huffpost.com/entry/photo-trump-working-weekend-weird_n_69136d3ce4b0d0f8e6ce640f




Newly released footage shows President Donald J. Trump spraying Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa and Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani with his own brand of cologne, before joking about how many wives al-Sharaa has, during Monday’s meeting in the White House Oval Office.


[I had a full report written up, but we had a power outage before I could click "post", so it's either a sign from the gods or bad luck. Running on slow today, will have to revisit things tomorrow. Hopefully by then we'll have the Rep from Arizona sworn in and even more Epstein material released.  If 218 members of the House – a majority of all 435 districts – sign on, they can force a floor vote in the chamber on anything — even if leadership opposes it. Given the above episode with the perfume, I would assume there's only so much longer that they can "Weekend At Bernies'" Trump, and then Miller and Vought, et.al., will have to get the VP moved into power. Oh joy.]













Trump administration plans meeting over House effort to force release of all of DOJ’s Epstein files - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/exclusive-trump-administration-plans-meeting-173038529.html [Yeah, I bet they are!]

Posted on X - and not at all convincing -  https://x.com/sentdefender/status/19886890399317197

As Karoline Leavitt concludes her press briefing and walks off,  @andrewfeinberg.com  asks: "What was the president doing with Virginia Giuffre for hours at Epstein's house?" She did not respond. -  https://bsky.app/profile/justinbaragona.bsky.social/post/3m5henmsye2

"Survivors of Jeffrey Epstein wrote a letter to the Republican Women's Caucus. Every member of Congress -- and all Americans -- should hear what these women have to say.We need to release the files." - https://bsky.app/profile/kellymorrisonmn.bsky.social/post/3m5hjzf2pps2w

The U.S. House of Representative’s discharge petition to release the Epstein Files has just received its 218th and final signature, made by Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva — who was finally sworn-in moments ago by House Speaker Mike Johnson — automatically triggering a vote on the House Floor for a bill demanding the Justice Department release all further files on sex offender and trafficker Jeffrey Epstein. - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/rep-adelita-grijalva-signs-petition-213106506.html


And, of course

Letter from Chicago broadcast veterans: ...Let us be clear: We support the lawful apprehension and deportation of undocumented immigrants with criminal records. The president says he’s after the worst of the worst, but that’s not what’s happening. It’s gone way beyond that. People are presumed guilty until proven innocent. It is not law enforcement; it is terror.... This dragnet seems to be based on racism and is snaring citizens of color, documented immigrants and people who have committed no serious crimes — your neighbor, friend, co-worker, babysitter and landscaper.  People whose work ethic and honesty have contributed to the city for years. - https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/letter-chicago-immigrants-broadcast-journalists/

“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime -  https://www.propublica.org/article/chicago-venezuela-immigration-ice-fbi-raids-no-criminal-charges

Judge rules mandatory detention of Chicago day care teacher by ICE is illegal - https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/12/federal-judge-illegal-ice-arrest-day-care-teacher/   Daycare teacher released - https://www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/13/chicago-day-care-teacher-arrested-by-ice-released-i-am-so-grateful/



ICE Raids Hit 1 in 3 U.S. Construction Firms, Causing Severe Labor Shortage - https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/news/ice-raids-hit-1-in-3-us-construction-firms-causing-severe-labor-shortage/ar-AA1Qi4If

Florida farmworkers on work bus detained by ICE, their children received word while at school: ICE stationed themselves at every major intersection and pulling over every bus, van, and trucks.  -  https://www.winknews.com/news/collier/immokalee-high-school-releases-statement-regarding-wednesdays-ice-raid/article_377e598c-c1d5-49f3-bc73-1368b6c6ca6c.html



America's Catholic bishops issue statement on migrants calling for an end to the "dehumanizing rhetoric and violence." -  https://www.usccb.org/news/2025/us-bishops-issue-special-message-immigration-plenary-assembly-baltimore

Border Patrol chief vows retaliation after judge releases wrongly held detainees - https://www.rawstory.com/bovino-threatens-chicago-arrests/

Latino Voting Group Sues Texas AG Paxton Over Voter Retaliation, Intimidation Efforts - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/latino-voting-group-sues-texas-ag-paxton-over-voter-retaliation-intimidation-efforts/







(Nov 10) U.S. military blows up 2 more alleged drug boats in Pacific, killing 6 "narco-terrorists," Pentagon chief says - https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-strikes-alleged-drug-boats-pacific-kill-6-narco-terrorists-hegseth/?intcid=CNR-01-0623  (Nov 13) U.S. conducts 20th strike on alleged drug boat, killing 4 people in the Caribbean.- https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-20th-strike-alleged-drug-boat-killing-4-people-caribbean/  [Total death toll now 80?]

Trump Weighing Military Options to Attack Venezuela Within Days—Report - https://www.newsweek.com/venezuela-us-donald-trump-military-attack-war-maduro-11042677

Nebulous, but ominous statement from Hegseth: “President Trump ordered action, and the Department of War is delivering. Today, I’m announcing Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR. Led by Joint Task Force Southern Spear and SOUTHCOM, this mission defends our Homeland, removes narco-terrorists from our Hemisphere, and secures our Homeland from the drugs that are killing our people. The Western Hemisphere is America’s neighborhood – and we will protect it.”

Mark Hamill ‪@markhamillofficial.bsky.social‬:  He's undoubtedly planning the Mother of all Distractions but can't think of anything to top flying over a city in a crown dropping poo on American citizens. [Noting that the orange one has not posted in 24 hours. I wonder if they're going to Epstein him?]  https://bsky.app/profile/markhamillofficial.bsky.social/post/3m5k3zr6yx223






Memorial to Black US soldiers who died in WW2 removed from Belgian war graves cemetery - https://www.newsweek.com/memorial-to-black-us-soldiers-who-died-in-ww2-quietly-removed-11020241 [Could possibly just be a normal rotation of materials, or not.]

Trump’s political criminal vendetta in trouble, challenges mount to Acting U.S. Attorneys - https://www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/trump-acting-us-attorney-challenges-political-prosecutions-trouble/ 

Trump administration declares CFPB funding illegal:  The decision, disclosed in a court filing, puts the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on track to shut down in ‘early 2026’ when its remaining cash runs out. [So if you're a victim of fraud by a corporation or business....] https://www.politico.com/news/2025/11/11/trump-administration-declares-cfpb-funding-illegal-00646354

The Trump administration has developed plans for a wholesale shift in homelessness policy that would slash support for long-term housing programs, according to a confidential grant-making plan, and critics say it could quickly place as many as 170,000 formerly homeless people at risk of returning to the streets. - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/us/politics/trump-homeless-funding.html

Top Fannie Mae officials ousted after sounding alarm on sharing confidential housing data -  https://apnews.com/article/fannie-mae-freddie-mac-firing-pulte-data-a4f8c53df74fef83ec7fd07e3d524746

Student Loan Warning Issued Over Potential Tax of Up to $10,000 - https://www.newsweek.com/student-loan-warning-issued-over-potential-tax-of-up-to-10000-11036621


[While this is not directly US news, since we have mutual defense treaties with Japan and Taiwan, it kinda is not good to read this: Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman: "If Japan intervenes militarily in the Taiwan Strait situation, China will strike back decisively. We warn Japan not to play with fire on the Taiwan question, for those who play with fire will perish by it"]

Our disease surveillance capabilities have been severely damaged, and I am unfamiliar with what Canada and Mexico have going. I hope your politicians haven't cut funding for detection in your location. I have seen warnings from two experts in the field about this mutation, so I'm passing along a relevant article.

Emergence of seasonal influenza A(H3N2) variants with immune escape potential warrants enhanced molecular and epidemiological surveillance for the 2025–2026 season. (Open access article, no subscription required.) https://utppublishing.com/doi/10.3138/jammi-2025-0025


JPWeiland‬ ‪@jpweiland.bsky.social‬ 🔸️Early data suggests we could be in for a worse than normal flu season, brought on by a cluster of escape mutations in H3N2 this year that may lift the Re from 1.2 to 1.4.  We are starting to see an uptick in the US.  Data from BIOFIRE.

There was an article on the 10 o'clock news last night covering this new flu strain and the expectation of a lot more serious cases this winter.

https://www.theguardian.com/society/2025/nov/14/flu-mutated-strain-uk-hospitals-winter-surge

Hospitals are bracing for a once-in-a-decade flu season, with a mutated version of the virus that is spreading widely in younger people expected to drive a wave of admissions when it reaches the elderly.

The threat has prompted NHS managers to redouble efforts to vaccinate staff and communities, expand same-day emergency care and treat more patients in the community to reduce the need for hospital stays.

Military personnel seek legal advice on whether Trump-ordered missions are lawful - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/military-personnel-seek-legal-advice-on-whether-trump-ordered-missions-are-lawful    ‪The Desert Veteran‬ ‪@jkz12769.bsky.social: ‬ More Military personnel are calling legal military non-profit agencies seeking advice for orders they received. "The DOJ has issues a order that all orders are legal & the personnel are immune from prosecution. Right there is the red flag, the prosecution immunity."  [So, yeah, the administration that is ordering you do to the thing tells you that of course it's legal for you to do the thing. Riiiight.]

Operation Southern Spear: Map Shows Where US Military Is Deployed. Latin America analyst Geoff Ramsey wrote on X: “Not to be that guy, but 'Operation Southern Spear' was first announced ten months ago, a week after the inauguration.” - https://www.newsweek.com/operation-southern-spear-map-shows-us-military-deployed-11047031

Trump admin energy and nuclear officials, including Energy Secretary Chris Wright, NNSA head Brandon M. Williams are set to meet with the White House and NSC soon to oppose President Trump's push for resuming nuclear tests, calling explosive warhead detonations—as he proposed last month—unviable, per CNN. -  https://edition.cnn.com/2025/11/14/politics/nnsa-nuclear-testing-white-house-meeting-exclusive


And

"This may be Trump's perfect social media post. A true work of art." - https://bsky.app/profile/marcelias.bsky.social/post/3m5m3tm4cqs2e

"Speaking to reporters earlier about the petition to release the Epstein Files receiving enough signatures tonight to move forward on the House Floor, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) said that there was an “intense pressure campaign” from the White House to get Republican women to remove their signatures, “They were scrambling over there to stop this.”  Massie also stated that besides the four other Republicans who joined with him and Democrats to push the petition though, multiple other House Republicans have quietly told him they intend to vote in favor of the resolution to release the Epstein Files when it comes before the House, adding that he intends to hold a press conference with several victims of Epstein next Tuesday." -  https://x.com/sentdefender/status/1988740467048038625



[The folks in the photos are Capitol Hill Republicans.]

Transcript: Marjorie Taylor Greene Drops Epstein Bomb  -  https://newrepublic.com/article/203186/transcript-marjorie-taylor-greene-drops-epstein-bomb-trump-spirals [Deep breaths, deep breaths.]

Anybody but Donald:   https://x.com/sentdefender/status/1989407841384370453/photo/1 


And

Criticized Trump during the shutdown, now put on leave - https://www.npr.org/2025/11/14/nx-s1-5608969/federal-employees-shutdown-trump-leave

Judge in Jim Comey proceeding says part of grand jury proceeding is still missing. There is a gap from about 4:38pm to when the grand jury handed down the indictment later that evening. Judge again demands full transcript....

Trump administration sues California to invalidate Prop 50 maps ahead of 2026 midterms [but not Texas or any other state that redistricted] - https://www.dailynews.com/2025/11/13/trump-administration-sues-california-over-proposition-50/

Supreme Court won’t review pro-Trump lawyer’s disqualification from Dominion case - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/supreme-court-won-t-review-150453971.html

"A new prosecutor has been selected to take over the Fulton County, Georgia, election interference case against President Donald Trump and others after District Attorney Fani Willis' disqualification. In a statement on Friday, the director of the agency tasked with finding the replacement said he had chosen someone new: himself." [Nobody else contacted would take the job.] - https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/prosecutor-chosen-georgia-2020-election-152553338.html

Texas A&M Tightens Rules on Talking About Race and Gender in Classes. The university system will ban advocacy of “race or gender ideology, or topics related to sexual orientation or gender identity” without approval. - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/us/texas-am-gender-race-ideology-rules-classroom.html?unlocked_article_code=1.1E8.sMxh.vJzVqViYV41-&amp;smid=nytcore-ios-share&amp;referringSource=articleShare

Firm tied to Kristi Noem secretly got money from $220 million DHS ad contracts - https://www.propublica.org/article/kristi-noem-dhs-ad-campaign-strategy-group

US October employment report will not include jobless rate, Hassett says - https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/white-house-make-housing-recommendations-within-months-hassett-says-2025-11-13/ [As someone on Blue said, if you don't test for Covid-19 infections, the numbers go way down....]

White House Scraps Cash Payments for Delayed or Canceled Flights - https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/travel/trump-biden-delayed-flights-payments.html

A Biden-era rule, now halted, would have forced airlines to pay passengers up to $775 in cash for significant flight disruptions. -

SNAP Benefits Map: When Recipients Will Receive Full Payment In Each State - https://www.newsweek.com/snap-benefits-map-when-recipients-will-receive-full-payment-in-each-state-11046365




And

Thousands of parents, guardians of migrant kids arrested in Trump administration crackdown - https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/14/politics/parents-arrested-migrant-children-ice [Paywalled, sorry]

Chicago:  Judge tours Broadview ICE processing facility amid claims of inhumane conditions - https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/judge-broadview-ice-facility-tour/

Nearly two dozen arrested as faith leaders protest outside Chicago-area ICE facility - https://www.reuters.com/legal/government/nearly-two-dozen-arrested-faith-leaders-protest-outside-chicago-area-ice-2025-11-14/



Protesters still being arrested at Broadview by State Police despite promise to protect free speech - https://blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/12/protesters-keep-getting-arrested-at-broadview-by-state-police-despite-promise-to-protect-free-speech/

Oregon:  An ICE agent carrying an AR-15 stole a U.S. citizen’s car keys and wallet, then abandoned her vehicle in the middle of Portland Road NE and Ward Drive NE in Salem, Oregon. - https://bsky.app/profile/strictlychristo.bsky.social/post/3m5k236piys2v

North Carolina: Mecklenburg sheriff says Border Patrol agents are heading to Charlotte  - https://www.wfae.org/crime-justice/2025-11-13/mecklenburg-sheriff-says-border-patrol-agents-are-heading-to-charlotte  US Border Patrol could conduct operation in Charlotte, CBS reports - https://www.wbtv.com/2025/11/11/us-border-patrol-could-conduct-operation-charlotte-cbs-report-says/

Florida:  'We need to get out of here': Trump's immigration crackdown.... https://www.npr.org/2025/11/13/nx-s1-5592335/we-need-to-get-out-of-here-trumps-immigration-crackdown-is-quietly-reshaping-where-immigrants-live-in-america

California:  Pretty much on-target, LAPD, stop shooting at the press while we do our jobs - https://www.dailynews.com/2025/11/12/larry-wilson-stop-shooting-at-the-press-while-we-do-our-little-jobs/

Judge says government is still blocking immigrants’ access to attorneys at LA detention facility - https://apnews.com/article/trump-ice-lawsuit-immigration-lawyers-detention-402a5cf3b2043e5f2d2868a5e9e8adda

Trump sent men to torture in El Salvador, Report Confirms - https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/11/trump-cecot-torture-hrw-elsalvador-prison-venezuelan/


And