@fdrtoday
Attorney, active in politics & public policy half a century starting with JFK & civil rights movement, Ex Publisher California Progress Report & Legal Counsel to Speaker of CA Assembly. Trying to enjoy life in difficult times with music, photography travel
Spanish deputy leader slams Merz for deference to Trump
Politico EU
“What Europe needs today is leadership not vassals who pay homage to Trump” said Spanish Deputy Prime Minister Díaz
Merz sat in silence as Trump called Spanish government “terrible” & threatened to cut trade ties
bit.ly/4rZt6Ad
The U.S.-Iran war is the biggest oil supply disruption in history
CNBC
Strait of Hormuz closure has caused biggest disruption in history according to Rapidan Energy
20% of global supply has been disrupted for 9 days more than double previous record set during Suez crisis of 1956
bit.ly/3P0Zwfd
Just out: Quinnipiac Poll
Over Half Of VOTERS Oppose Military Action Against Iran
74% Oppose Sending Ground Troops Into Iran
Vast Majority Expect Conflict To Last Months Or More
77% that it will result in terrorist attack on U.S. soil
Disapproval of Trump, Rubio & Hegseth
bit.ly/4bv9T3H
Gullible, Cynical America
The trouble with believing anything and nothing at the same time
by Adam Serwer
Atlantic Gift Article
Believing vaccines are unsafe, cryptolords and gambling companies
Rejecting empiricism makes selling falsehoods easier and contradicting them harder
Wow
bit.ly/4rhO3W1
Trump Team Financials
Explore Financial Disclosures From President Trump and 1,500 of His Appointees
ProPublica
Use database to explore conflicts of interest. Documents disclose positions officials have held outside government, their assets and debts, among other things
Take a peak!
bit.ly/4ul9I2q
Bluesky CEO Jay Graber Is Stepping Down
Wired
Toni Schneider will take over as interim CEO as Bluesky board of directors hunts for permanent replacement.
"The company needs a seasoned operator focused on scaling and execution while I return to what I do best: building new things”
bit.ly/4lj4IHx
Threats to democracy top issue for voters new poll shows
Democracy Docket
NBC Poll finds threats to democracy have surged to top of voters’ priorities — matching inflation as the country’s most important issue ahead of the 2026 midterms
Growing alarm about direction of the country
bit.ly/4rpN5av
Trump admin subpoenas Arizona 2020 voting records as Trump pushes to consolidate election power
Politico
One of series of steps taken by him to relitigate election he lost and bolster federal government’s authority over elections
They also seized records from Fulton County Georgia
bit.ly/3Pq7jDo
House Republican files for reelection as independent after California redistricting
The Hill
This is the back story for Kevin Kiley "leaving" the Republican Party. He will still caucus with the Reeps
He's shown "some" independence in the past but faces a difficult race in November
bit.ly/3OQQxgL
California Rep. Kevin Kiley leaves GOP to become an independent complicating Speaker Johnson's majority
CBS
Immediately switching so Republicans now hold 217 seats, Dems 214, with 3 vacancies and can only lose one vote to pass legislation if all are voting
Running in new district
bit.ly/4byNsKT
AI error or not, Iran school bombing is a permanent stain on America’s soul
by Will Bunch
Philadelphia Inquirer Gift Article
Debate on AI in warfare obscures the truth. Humans are to blame for this war crime
Righteous indignation with facts laid out
Trump & Hegseth lying
share.inquirer.com/ewW8bg
Country Joe McDonald, anti-war singer who electrified Woodstock, dies at 84
NPR
"And it's 1, 2, 3
What are we fighting for?
Don't ask me, I don't give a damn
Next stop is Vietnam
And it's 5, 6, 7
Open up the pearly gates
Ah, ain't no time to wonder why
Whoopee!
We're all gonna die"
bit.ly/4sFzI73
Did Mark Twain say, 'God created war so that Americans would learn geography'?
Snopes
No. But it's a great quote, especially today. And it's not Ambrose Bierce
Searches of Newspapers.com located many similar quotes about war teaching geography as far back as the 19th century
bit.ly/4rjrMqQ
Trump says he won't sign bills until Congress overhauls voting
NPR
Wants the laws changed before the midterms and is getting desperate
If any of this happens we will need to double down on getting our voters registered in advance and out to vote
He can't win a fair election
bit.ly/3NsDPEn
The next races where Latino voters will be decisive
Politico
From Colorado, Arizona to Nebraska Dems see record Latino turnout numbers making these voters top target
Started last year in Virginia & New Jersey
Watched with mouths agape as Latinos turned out for Talarico in Texas
bit.ly/3Nes7gD
Fuzzy memories and hard facts: A South Carolina accuser's claims against Epstein, Trump examined
The Post and Courier
This paper has researched and corroborated the facts surrounding the claim that Trump abused her when she was a minor
This fits together. She is telling the truth!
bit.ly/4swYXrX
Trump Org Files Trademarks to Put His Name Front and Center at America’s 250th
NOTUS
A “Trump 250” image was trademarked to be used on a variety of merchandise
A word mark text-based logo also filed for “The Trump Kennedy Center”
‘Donald J. Trump Boulevard’ is coming to be lit up!
bit.ly/46QBJon
What Iran Might Do When It Has Nothing to Lose
The risk of a retaliatory attack outside the Middle East is growing.
By Colin P. Clarke
Atlantic gift article
Trump when asked about the threat to the U.S. homeland said “I guess” Americans should be worried
Read on how serious this is
bit.ly/47a6EML
Collateral Damage
The impact of the war spreads beyond the Middle East
by Anne Applebaum
Ukraine lacks an air defense, specifically ammo for Patriot batteries without which they can't block Russian missile attacks
The Chinese & North Koreans are also watching.
Cogent analysis
Read
bit.ly/4lmef0q
We Are Being Governed by Unserious People
By Frank Bruni
NYT Gift Article
Noem has done horrible things. But her mundane actions show the dysfunctions and are a signal to the world of how fickle and foolish America has become: She’s unprofessional
A serious piece goes thru others
bit.ly/4s3yT86
Entertainment is winning. Postman was right.
It's just like Peter Sellers in Being There only far more malevolent.
The dangerous rise of decapitation warfare
by David Ignatius
Removing an enemy leader is easy compared with producing a stable political outcome
“Decapitation” emerging as the American way of war is the strategic equivalent of a “fire and forget” missile
Read Ignatius' analysis
bit.ly/4b3hfeN
Lindsey Halligan Is Under Investigation by the Florida Bar
NYT Gift Article
Her actions as U.S. attorney bringing criminal cases against Trump’s enemies, are under review by the organization that licensed her to practice law
Shades of Rudy Giuliani and other lawyers ruined by Trump
bit.ly/4r8Avfn
Pardon Industry Offers Rich Offenders a Path to Trump
NYT Gift Article
One inmate paid lobbyists and lawyers with ties to the president’s team and walked free. Others are following his blueprint but it is not always clear who can deliver
These pardons are a major scandal and issue
bit.ly/4ueu3WU
The Rot Is Real And There Is More To It
The Atlantic Piece Just Scratched The Surface
By Phillips P. O'Brien
Pushes back on criticism of Atlantic article just published
We have seen the worst friendly fire incident in modern US history, worst articulations of war aims
A must read
bit.ly/3P6jNQx
U.S. Capabilities Are Showing Signs of Rot
When a military force begins to decline, the first symptoms may be subtle
By Phillips P. O’Brien
Atlantic Gift Article
O'Brien skewers Trump and Hegseth for vulnerabilities to attacks by drones and other vulnerabilities in Iran
A must read
bit.ly/46K30Jf
Crockett after warning of disenfranchisement concedes to Talarico in Texas Senate race
Politico
A class act: “Texas is primed to turn blue and we must remain united because this is bigger than any one person. With the primary behind us Democrats must rally around our nominee and win”
bit.ly/4b67o6C
After Khamenei, What Now?
Iranians want democracy. Trump wants a brief conflict. Neither seems likely
by Hanna Rosin
Atlantic Gift Article
Before strike killed Khamenei nuclear deal was ultimate objective, now maybe regime change but Trump has no plan on how that might come about
bit.ly/4aLUyeQ
