Joe (age 10): What is democracy?
Father: Well it’s never bright clear on myself. Like any other form of government it’s got something to do with young men killing each other. —Johnny Got His Gun, Dalton Trumbo
It's kind of wild to find out that the Republican in the NYT story that says she had a toxic relationship with Graham Platner is Lyndsey Fifield. Having been in DC for too long, I know a decent number of people who know her quite well. For a long time she was the co-host of a podcast with her best friend Bethany Mandel, called Ladybrains, though she has also worked for multiple super PACs, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Heritage Foundation.
Some background, presented without judgment: In 2014, Fifield began work as digital director for American Action Network, a Republican Super PAC that oversees House races. The next year she became social media manager for the Heritage Foundation, where she stayed for the next seven years.
In 2022, she joined the Super PAC backing Nikki Haley for president, switching to the official campaign side the next year, and staying until the campaign flamed out. She now lists herself as a visiting fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum, a prominent dark money group that is best known for helping usher Brett Kavanaugh on to the Supreme Court and giving Susan Collins the talking points she needed to make her decisive speech in his favor.
The NYT breezed past all this, saying she was "a Virginia conservative who has worked for right-leaning groups and Republican campaigns."
In an interview for a news outlet called Red Alert Politics that named her to a “30 under 30” list back in 2016, she said that she wanted to “emulate the late conservative blogger Andrew Breitbart’s approach to online activism.” Breitbart, known for pushing the boundaries when it came to political combat, is perhaps best remembered for having exposed Anthony Weiner’s penchant for sending nudes to young girls, and for his work elevating James O’Keefe.
That she worked for Independent Women's Forum recently is even wilder since IWF played a critical role in Kavanaugh's confirmation and in persuading Collins to support it.
Heather Higgins, chair of IWF, laid out the group’s role in a talk several years ago. “We wrote a memo. It was used by a lot of members of the Senate and the House, Fox News, and elsewhere. Most important, Susan Collins told me that without that memo, she would not see how to support him,” Higgins said. “And if you look at the speech she gave on the Senate floor, it’s entirely the playing out and architecture of how we said to structure the argument — what to say and how to say it, which is just so gratifying. We’re watching TV and we’re like, ‘That’s ours! That’s ours!’”
Meanwhile, the timeline Fifield gives of their relationship is confusing, because during at least some of that time she was actually dating a different person, her longterm boyfriend who became her fiancee before she called off the wedding in 2018. We all know this because she and Mandel did a podcast episode on it that went mega-viral in Republican circles back then. Apparently this is the kind of thing the NYT thinks is important now, so I guess it requires more reporting. I'll report back.
Here is Heather Higgins celebrating IWF's role in getting Susan Collins to confirm Kavanaugh:
In a letter to Congress, Netanyahu literally bragged that Section 224, which fuses the US & Israeli militaries, is HIS plan.
We are at the point where foreign leaders are literally writing our laws and the people voting against it are called "traitors".
1776. NOW.
🇦🇱🇮🇱 Albanian fans pelted Israeli players with trash and curses during the recent International "Friendly" match.
Tensions over the genocide in Gaza and Lebanon and the Kushner land grab are rapidly growing.
The Filton 25 Trial represents a turning point for the rule of law and against necrocapitalism.
ELBIT is involved in the commission of heinous crimes in Palestine (see my report Economy of Genocide). It is also one of the most exportable tools of Israel's model of democracy.
La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the tallest Catholic cathedral in the world, is Antoni Gaudí’s breathtaking masterpiece—where sacred architecture, faith, and beauty meet. Every tower and detail lifts the heart to God, drawing millions of pilgrims each year. As Pope Leo prepares to visit this iconic basilica, the world turns its eyes once again to one of the Church’s most awe-inspiring places of worship.
Watch the full segment at https://t.co/dNwnoIKyRx
The best hospital in Central America.
With every medical specialty, the most advanced technology in the world, and top-quality care.
Public. Dignified. Free. For everyone.
Can someone ask Fetterman if he puts on a suit when he stays at $1,500/night luxury resorts in Aspen or when he’s stuffing his face w dry-aged steaks at Lucille’s in DC? What about when he’s spending $95,000 on limos and black car rentals? Does he still dress like a disgusting slob then too?
On CNN, @kaitlancollins had John Bolton on constantly and treated him as one of America's wisest foreign policy gurus, when he's in fact one of the planet's most bloodthirsty warmongers.
Then she defended him when he was indicted as the victim of political persecution. Now?
This is a simple question. Do we do more for Israel now or less? I introduced an amendment to strike 224 because I am for the American people calling the shots, not Netanyahu. I am for Team America.
"It has been 2 days since the last donation. My children and I are hungry and struggling to find food. Every small donation can help us survive. Please don't leave us alone. 💔🙏"
https://t.co/B5H0lubc09
House Armed Services Committee REJECTS Ro Khanna’s Amendment to REMOVE Section 224 from the NDAA
I’m sharing the whole clip so you all can see for yourselves that these Israel Lobby bought lawmakers DID NOT LISTEN TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.
WE DO NOT WANT TIES WITH ISRAEL.