Alan deGraffenreid

Proud Husband and Father. Retired Masterchief

[Lyra Emerson @Lyra_Emerson0]

Some sacrifices can never be repaid. 💙

[Brian Allen @allenanalysis]

BREAKING: New York City is becoming the first city in America to require companies to let customers cancel subscriptions as easily as they signed up.

Mayor Zohran Mamdani also announced a sweeping ban on hidden junk fees, requiring businesses to display the full price upfront with no surprise charges at checkout.

The reforms are expected to save New Yorkers up to $162.5 million every year.

[PoliticsVideoChannel @politvidchannel]

BREAKING: Senate Democrats Just introduced a bill that BANS Trump from Pardoning himself for corruption

Trump could go to Jail for a long time for corruption

[Traces of Texas @TracesofTexas]

The Arcane Texas Fact of the Day: 71 years ago today, on July 10, 1955, Frank Hamer died. Frank is, of course, the former Texas ranger most famous for killing Bonnie and Clyde. This may have been Hamer’s most famous act, but his life was full of so much more, much of it controversial. Besides having a reputation for being deadly in a gunfight, Hamer was well known for his courage, toughness, marksmanship, and investigative skills. It is said that he was wounded 17 times and left for dead four times, but he seemed to survive. He was one of five brothers, four of whom became Texas Rangers.

Frank Hamer came from nondescript beginnings. He was born on March 17, 1884, in Fairview, just south of San Antonio, to a blacksmith father. Frank and his five brothers were raised on a ranch, and four of the six boys would eventually earn badges as Texas Rangers. As a young man, Hamer worked in his father's blacksmith shop and spent time wrangling calves. He also developed an early fascination with Texas history, devouring everything he could learn about the Rangers and the Native American tribes of the region.

Hamer attended school in the tiny community of Oxford, Texas, between Marble Falls and Mason, and later enjoyed joking that he was the only "Oxford-educated Ranger" on the force. The claim came with a wink, since he left school after the sixth grade. Formal education may have ended early, but Hamer possessed a keen intellect and an extraordinary photographic memory, qualities that served him well throughout his career.

Traces of Texas reader Wilbourn Woodward kindly submitted this nifty photo of his grandfather Walter M. Woodward (son of State Senator Walter C. Woodward) on the capitol steps with Frank Hamer in 1935 ---- about a year after Hamer's posse took down Bonnie & Clyde. There's so much to love here. Wilbourn's grandfather seems so proud to show Hamer his own pistol and Hamer is doing his best to appear awestruck by the display.

Thank you, Wilbourn. This is super duper!

[Morgan J. Freeman @mjfree]

Now let’s do same for the ICE agents who shot and murdered Reneé Good and Alex Pretti?

[Amazing Nature @AmazingNature00]

Route 163 Through Monument Valley in Arizona 😲😍

[Occupy Democrats @OccupyDemocrats]

BREAKING: HELL YEAH! A New Yorker hits ICE with a massive lawsuit after they sent intimidation agents to his house for sending them an upset email.

These thugs have completely lost their minds...

“I cherish our right to speak openly about issues of public concern,” said David Streever, the plaintiff. “I hope others will not be discouraged from peacefully expressing their views, even when those views are critical of the government.”

Streever — who it should be noted is a legal U.S. citizen — sent an email to ICE's former Acting Director Todd Lyons in the wake of the Alex Pretti and Renée Good murders. He called Lyons a "monstrous human being" and “America’s Reinhard Heydrich, the butcher,” a reference to one of the most infamous high-ranking Nazis in the SS.

“The way you are protecting the obvious execution in Minnesota, even as we see the videos, will lead to your downfall,” Streever wrote.

Months after he sent the email, DHS agents arrived at his home in Rochester. Streever was traveling in Europe, but the agents gave his wife a "warning notice" which absurdly stated that the completely benign, harmless email was being considered a "threat."

Never once in the process of loading up into their vehicle, driving out to Streever's residence, knocking on his door, and delivering their agency's terrifying message did the agents stop to consider the fact that this man was simply exercising his right to free speech under the Constitution.

Apparently, in Trump's America the First Amendment only extends to MAGA supporters.

Thankfully, Mr. Streever is no shrinking violet. His lawsuit reveals that DHS officials later tracked him down in New York City after he was back in the U.S. They repeatedly left him voicemails demanding that he sign their ludicrous notice.

His suit accuses the agency of retaliating against him for daring to criticize ICE's leadership in a blatant violation of his First Amendment rights.

“Americans have a clear right to criticize government officials,” stated JT Morris of the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, which is representing Streever.

“When federal agents come to your door and ask you to stop engaging in political speech,” they are engaged in “an act of intimidation that the Constitution doesn’t tolerate," he added.

The suit also named DHS Secretary Markwayne Mullin as a defendant.

Please ❤️ and share if you strongly support this lawsuit!

[Annie @AnnieForTruth]

John Harwood is spot on! 👍

[Wolf of X @WolfofX]

Cody Green had been fighting cancer for almost his entire life.

He was diagnosed with leukemia when he was just 22 months old.

Over the years, Cody went into remission three times. He endured treatment, hospital rooms and battles no child should ever have to understand.

Through it all, there was one thing he deeply admired.

The United States Marines.

Cody loved their courage, discipline and strength. And when the Marines heard about the young boy who had spent his life fighting with a courage of his own, they decided to honor him.

At just 12 years old, Cody Green was made an honorary Marine.

He was presented with Marine navigator wings.

But soon, Cody's condition became critical. Years of chemotherapy had weakened his immune system, and a fungal infection attacked his brain.

As Cody lay in the hospital nearing the end of his life, Marine Sergeant Mark Dolfini arrived in full dress uniform.

He didn't come for a quick visit.

He took his position outside Cody's hospital room.

And for eight straight hours through the night, the Marine stood guard.

Watching over one of their own.

Cody died the following day at just 12 years old.

He may have only worn the title of Marine for a short time.

But on his final night, a United States Marine made sure Cody Green never stood his last watch alone.

[Just saying @kangaroos991]

WOW! On a 1-10 scale, how 'happy' will
you be if #FoxNews goes bankrupt? 🤔

👇Cr: @CalltoActivism #VoteBlue 💙

[Sabiha 🇺🇸 @Sabiha1278]

Last year, my son was expelled from school.
One day, three boys surrounded him and started making fun of him.

My son tried to stay calm and create some distance, but one person stood in front of him, blocking his path.

Then, another boy uttered words that would change his life.

"I'm glad your mother is in a wheelchair. I
hope she dies of a seizure one day."

Our family has already experienced great grief.

This April will mark 11 years since my daughter passed away.
She only lived for 14 months.

The moment his son heard the words, "You should just die,"
something snapped inside him.

He turned around and punched the boy hard in the nose.

The school didn't consider what the boy had said.
They simply expelled my son for the reason that he had physically assaulted the other boy.

So I took my son to get ice cream.

There is a line that should never be crossed with words.
I wholeheartedly support my son for standing up and saying, "That's enough."

He knows that hitting someone comes with consequences.
But there are some things in life that you absolutely must protect.

When that time comes, I will always be by my son's side.

[Occupy Democrats @OccupyDemocrats]

BREAKING: HELL YES! Anti-abortion activists SEETHE with rage as Planned Parenthood regains access to federal funding in a huge win for women!

This is a major setback for Christian Nationalism…

Republicans cut off Medicaid funding to Planned Parenthood clinics last year using Trump’s disastrous “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” tossing red meat to the Republican Party’s radical religious base. Due to the intricacies of Senate rules, the funding blockade could only be enforced for a one-year period.

As of July 5 that financial cutoff has expired, so Planned Parenthood can once again bill Medicaid for reimbursement for contraception and STI screenings. Roughly $800 million will now flow back into the organization.

The far-right anti-abortion group Students for Life Action is incensed over what they see as a failure by Republicans to permanently cripple Planned Parenthood. They tagged every lawmaker involved with the original bill with a failing grade on their absurd “pro life generation report card.”

“It is the default expectation of the pro-life movement for Congress to renew the defunding of Planned Parenthood and abortion businesses, and the politically smart thing for Republicans who must energize the base to win in November,” whined Kelsey Pritchard, the communications director for the Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America group.

One thing is certain, if these anti-reproductive rights activists are hollering, it means America is doing something right and women are winning!

Please ❤️ and share if you support Planned Parenthood!

[Gianl1974 @Gianl1974]

Senator Tammy Duckworth is everything Trump isn’t — a hero, a patriot, and someone who understands the cost of war ❤️‍🩹

As an Army helicopter pilot, she smelled the dust, the jet fuel, and the sweat-soaked body armor as she climbed into her Black Hawk on November 12, 2004.

It was supposed to be another routine mission north of Baghdad. It wasn't.

A rocket-propelled grenade ripped through the cockpit floor beneath her feet and exploded. It destroyed both her legs and tore into her right arm. But she didn't know. Running on pure adrenaline, she tried to press the pedals, not knowing her legs were gone. She pulled the cyclic stick. She fought to steer the helicopter toward a landing spot as black smoke filled the cockpit.

She kept trying to fly until her body gave out and she lost consciousness.

The pilot beside her, Dan Milberg, looked over and thought she was dead. Face blackened, body slumped forward, blood everywhere. He landed the shattered helicopter. Then one of her crew members noticed something. The blood in the cockpit was still moving. Her heart was still beating.

She was alive.

Duckworth was airlifted to a surgical hospital in Baghdad. She lost her right leg near the hip and her left leg below the knee. She was 36 years old and became the first female double amputee of the Iraq War. She was awarded a Purple Heart and promoted to Major while recovering at Walter Reed.

But she didn't stop. She served another ten years in the Illinois Army National Guard, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. Then she ran for office and became a U.S. Senator from Illinois. She was among the first handful of Army women ever to fly combat missions.

She chose helicopters because it was one of the few combat roles open to women at the time.

She once said: "I love ugly aircraft, machines that look like they shouldn't even be able to fly. The more brutal the better. And that's why I'm a helicopter pilot."

A hero.
A patriot.
Someone who understands the true cost of war — because she PAID it.

📸: The Aviation Circle

[Suzie rizzio @Suzierizzo1]

This is how it should’ve always been done!

[Impeach Trump a 3rd Time! @Christo12919382]

LFG!!! DON'T MESS WITH GAVIN NEWSOM!

[Interesting things @awkwardgoogle]

The guy who created Fortnite (Tim Sweeney) has been quietly buying up U.S. forests to save them from developers.

He has spent over $200M to buy 50,000+ acres of wilderness in North Carolina, using permanent legal protections to block any future logging or building.

[Native American Pride @native_am_pride]

Say something...

[Tamara Reed @TamaraReed1963]

Abso-fucking-lutely!

[Mia @MiaForTrump]

🚨 BREAKING: Trump could face up to 20 years in federal prison for wire fraud.

A new report reveals he appears to have committed wire fraud.

Thumbs up 👍 if you want to see justice served.

[PoliticsVideoChannel @politvidchannel]

BREAKING: Democrats are planning "Project 2029," a plan to jail Trump, his family, and members of the current Trump administration.