Diane Doherty

Democrat. Political junkie and Government geek. New Yorker living in Boston. Yankees and Pats fan. Mom. All In with MA AG Maura Healey! #ImWithHer

[Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський @ZelenskyyUa]

Ukraine did not start this war. Russia started it. Ukraine supported President Trump’s proposal for a ceasefire. Ukraine has agreed to many different compromises, and this is documented in our draft agreements, in our 20-point plan. Ukraine is willing to do whatever it takes to stop this war.

For us, priority number one – or the only priority – is ending the war. For us, the priority is peace. We need to be strong at the negotiating table. To be strong, we need the support of the world: Europe and the United States. And this includes air defenses – which are currently insufficient, weaponry – which is currently insufficient, and money – thankfully, there is now a European decision, but, frankly, there is a constant shortage of funds, in particular for the production of weapons and, most importantly, drones.

In this war of Russia against Ukraine, we want peace, and Russia demonstrates a desire to continue the war. If the whole world – Europe and America – is on our side, together we will stop Putin. Because together we will all want the same thing: an end to the war, peace – a normal peace, a sustainable peace, safe for the whole world. If anyone – whether the U.S. or Europe – is on Russia’s side, this means the war will continue. There are no other options here. And this is a risk for all countries in the world. Because Russia will not stop, regardless of any agreements, any eloquent messages from them. They will not stop at Ukraine.

[PBS News @NewsHour]

The Trump administration says it plans to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research, the nation’s premier atmospheric science center. It was founded in 1960 and has facilitated generations of breakthroughs in climate and weather science https://t.co/7rl1NJ5HWn

[Jonathan Lemire @JonLemire]

“Johnson might hold the speaker’s gavel for another year, but the extent of his sway has never seemed more in doubt” https://t.co/m9ZOq3G1xx

[The Intellectualist @highbrow_nobrow]

Steve Bannon: “As God is my witness, if we lose the midterms and we lose 2028, some in this room are going to prison, myself included…” (November 6, 2025)

[Kelly @broadwaybabyto]

A bystander wanted to call this man’s wife and let her know what was happening.

The agents said “no”.

They took his food for themselves.

Food meant for his family.

It’s cruel lawlessness and we must all speak out.

[The Intellectualist @highbrow_nobrow]

Vulcan, a rare-earth magnetics firm backed by Donald Trump Jr.’s 1789 Capital, lands a record $620M conditional loan from the Pentagon’s Office of Strategic Capital in a $1.4B bid to curb China’s magnet grip, stoking ethics alarms over family-profit optics.
https://t.co/fxKKFYAiFS

[Moe Davis (U.S. Air Force, Retired) @ColMoeDavis]

Even if it was true that Muslims in Nigeria were targeting Christians because of their religion, that doesn’t give an American President unilateral legal authority to order U.S. military intervention absent a direct threat to America’s national interests.

[The Atlantic @TheAtlantic]

Those who speculated wildly about the Brown shooter without knowing any facts got things wrong—and it is important that they lose their credibility because of it, @gcaw argues. https://t.co/pX19uPNzhJ

[Aaron David Miller @aarondmiller2]

https://t.co/5Wcd0pzXud
In yet another objectionable act of norm busting, Administration sends religious messages from senior Administration officials making their statements official. The founders never envisioned merging church and state. It’s downright un and anti
American

[Mr PitBull Stories @MrPitbull07]

"Nobody understood why Dad kept the storage unit.

Cost him $89 a month. We told him to cancel it, sell the stuff, save the money. He's 68, retired on a fixed income. Can barely afford his medication. But every month, without fail, $89 to Store-All on Industrial Drive.
"What's even in there?" I asked last Christmas.
"Things people need," he said. Wouldn't explain further.

I followed him there in March. Couldn't help myself. Worried he was hoarding, losing his mind, wasting money we didn't have.
Watched him unlock unit 247. It was full. Furniture. Appliances. Clothes on racks. Kitchen supplies. Bedding. Toys. All organized, labeled, clean.

A woman with three kids met him there. He walked her through like a store. "Take whatever you need. No rush. No charge."
She left with a microwave, dishes, winter coats for the kids, blankets. Crying. Thanking him over and over.
"Dad, what is this?"

He sighed. "When your mom and I divorced in '92, I moved into an empty apartment. Slept on the floor for three months. Ate off paper plates. It broke something in me, that emptiness. Made a promise then. If I ever could, I'd help people starting over."
"But $89 a month"
"I don't need much. But they need everything. People leaving abuse. People getting out of shelters. Refugees. Anyone starting from zero."

He'd been doing it for eleven years. Filled that unit with donated furniture, thrift store finds, things neighbors gave him. Gave it all away to people rebuilding their lives. Over 200 families.
"Why didn't you tell us?"
"Because you'd try to stop me. Say I can't afford it. But I can't afford not to. You don't forget what empty feels like."

I posted about it on Facebook. Just a photo of Dad in his storage unit, brief explanation. Asked if anyone had furniture to donate.

It exploded. 4,000 shares in two days. Donations poured in. Furniture stores contributed. People rented additional units. Five units now. Volunteers helping.

"Dad's Second Start" it's called. Sixteen storage facilities across the state doing the same thing. Furnishing empty apartments for people escaping, recovering, beginning again.

Dad still pays for his original unit though. Won't let anyone else cover it.
"It's my promise," he says. "Some things you pay for yourself."

Last week, a woman showed up with her daughter. "Your dad furnished my apartment in 2015 when I left my abusive husband. I'm a social worker now. I send people to him. Brought dishes to donate."

Dad cried. Doesn't cry often.
Because he remembers sleeping on an empty floor. And he made sure hundreds of others never had to."
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Let this story reach more hearts....
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Ai image is for demonstration purpose only.
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By Mary Nelson

[Jo @JoJoFromJerz]

Nothing says “no new foreign wars” quite like attacking Nigeria on Christmas.

[TMZ @TMZ]

Ratings Tank For Kennedy Center Honors With President Trump as Host https://t.co/QlZmj1Eo1r

[Tom Joseph @TomJChicago]

Translation: SDNY was not willing to go along with the cover-up of Trump’s Epstein crimes. Someone was going to blow the whistle. Bondi panicked and suddenly 1 million new files are “found.”

[Mr PitBull Stories @MrPitbull07]

"My husband thinks I'm wasting my time.

Every Wednesday morning, I drive to Riverside Nursing Home. Not to visit anyone. I don't know a soul there. I go to sit in the lobby and knit. Been doing it for three years now. I'm 67, retired teacher, got nothing but time.

The staff thought I was confused at first. "Ma'am, who are you here to see?"
"Nobody," I said. "Just sitting."
They let me stay. I think they felt sorry for me.

But I noticed something. Residents would shuffle past, some in wheelchairs, most alone. They'd see me knitting and slow down. Stop. Watch.
One woman, Agnes, finally asked. "What are you making?"
"Scarf. For nobody in particular."
"That's a waste," she said.
"Probably," I agreed. "Want to help?"
She looked startled. Like I'd offered her the moon. "I haven't knitted in 40 years."
"Good. Then you won't criticize my terrible stitches."
She sat. I handed her needles. Her fingers remembered what her mind had forgotten.

Next week, Agnes brought two friends. Then five. Then eight. The nursing home staff moved us to the sunroom. Called us "the knitting circle," though we mostly just sat together, hands moving, talking about nothing important. Grandchildren. Weather. The awful meatloaf they served on Tuesdays.

But here's what I noticed, these women started showing up to meals. Getting dressed instead of staying in robes. One woman, Clara, hadn't spoken in months according to staff. Started telling stories about knitting blankets during the Depression.

The scarves piled up. Terrible, uneven scarves in every color. "What do we do with these?" Agnes asked.
"Give them away," I said.
We donated them to the homeless shelter. Every month, a pile of scarves made by women everyone had forgotten about.

Then last winter, something happened. A homeless man came to the nursing home. Asked to meet the knitters. Staff was confused but brought him to our circle.

He held up a green scarf, terribly made, one end wider than the other. "I got this at the shelter in November. Wore it every night. There was a note in the pocket. 'Made by Agnes, age 81. Stay warm, friend.'"
Agnes's hands flew to her mouth.

"I'm in an apartment now," he continued. "Got a job. Saved that scarf. Wanted to say thank you. Nobody ever made me something before. Made me feel like I mattered enough to keep living."
Agnes cried. We all did.

My husband still thinks I'm wasting my time. Driving across town to knit with strangers.

But Agnes died last month. Peaceful, in her sleep. At her memorial, her daughter found me. "Mom talked about Wednesdays constantly. Said it gave her a reason to wake up. You gave her three good years."

The circle still meets. Eight women, ages 74 to 93, making terrible scarves for people who need to know someone cares.

I'm not saving the world. Just sitting in a sunroom, knitting with lonely women.
But sometimes that's exactly what saving the world looks like."
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Let this story reach more hearts....
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AI image is for Demonstration purpose only.
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By Mary Nelson

[Steve Shultz @elijahliststeve]

What started as a campaign became a calling. @EricTrump shares this story of what Mike Huckabee said.
Hasn't this administration done amazing things this year?

Follow for insight the headlines miss

[James Lucas @JamesLucasIT]

Curtis Jenkins, an elementary school bus driver, asked all 70 kids on his route what they wanted for Christmas and got each a gift.

[Maine @TheMaineWonk]

Earlier this year @RonWyden revealed Epstein’s Treasury file showed 4,725 wire transfers totaling nearly $1.1 billion—all from a single bank account. The Epstein files show JP Morgan’s involvement.

It’s time for @SecScottBessent + Trump Admin to stop blocking the release of these SARs and FINCEN records so we can hold accountable the elites that were involved in Epstein’s sex trafficking operation.

Pass Wyden’s Produce Epstein Treasury Records Act (PETRA) now and force Trump admin to stop covering up these financial records.

[James Tate @JamesTate121]

The woman lost the baby, and he should be charged with murder. ICE is hiring any POS off the street.

[Joe Scarborough @ScarboroughNow]

Justice Kavanaugh makes critically important clarification from September ruling:

In a footnote on Tuesday, Justice Kavanaugh wrote that “officers must not make interior immigration stops or arrests based on race or ethnicity.”

MUST NOT….

https://t.co/jEwHqnwN98

[Joshua McElwee @joshjmcelwee]

Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @Reuters

https://t.co/Z91z9fGMKB