Trying to predict the outrages of autocrats is hopeless because their superpower is to generate constant shocks to dominate the environment. But whatโs happening in Minnesota is method, not madness. Trump wants violence, to radicalize & divide, to create pretext for crackdowns.
Over twenty-five years in the U.S. Navy, thirty-nine combat missions, and four missions to space, I risked my life for this country and to defend our Constitution โ including the First Amendment rights of every American to speak out. I never expected that the President of the United States and the Secretary of Defense would attack me for doing exactly that.
My rank and retirement are things that I earned through my service and sacrifice for this country. I got shot at. I missed holidays and birthdays. I commanded a space shuttle mission while my wife Gabby recovered from a gunshot wound to the headโ all while proudly wearing the American flag on my shoulder. Generations of servicemembers have made these same patriotic sacrifices for this country, earning the respect, appreciation, and rank they deserve.
Pete Hegseth wants to send the message to every single retired servicemember that if they say something he or Donald Trump doesnโt like, they will come after them the same way. Itโs outrageous and it is wrong. There is nothing more un-American than that.
If Pete Hegseth, the most unqualified Secretary of Defense in our countryโs history, thinks he can intimidate me with a censure or threats to demote me or prosecute me, he still doesnโt get it. I will fight this with everything Iโve got โ not for myself, but to send a message back that Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump donโt get to decide what Americans in this country get to say about their government.
@BrianRoemmele Have you ever tested this with neurodivergent people?
My son listened to the primer speech w/ me. I thought itโs so cool when I understood what the trailer said. He couldnโt hear other than clicking sounds. He thought his brainโs defective. Heโs 2e AuDHD.
This is from Al Jazeera correspondent Hossam Shabat:
Israel is carrying out a literal death march from Beit Lahia as part of its campaign of ethnic cleansing against Palestinians in northern Gaza. Anadolu Agency photojournalist Mohammad Awad was shot in the neck just hours ago.
@Angry_Staffer They went after Hunter because heโs Joe Bidenโs son. Would he be treated this way if heโs nobody? No.
If the mob boss trying to ruin my sonโs life will be the next POTUS, I sure will do what Joe did if I could.
Elon Musk spent at least $130 million to elect Trump, despite $3300 being the maximum an individual can legally donate.
He increases his wealth by $333 million each day.
But tell me again how taxing billionaires and campaign finance reform are โradical,โ โfar-Left,โ policies.
I love you @JoeBiden for your kindness, strength & dedication to our nation. You did so much to take us out of pandemic & improve the economy.
Iโm asking one more thing. Please, protect our votes the same way U.S. military protects our country, from attacks foreign & domestic.
.@POTUS@CISAJen
This may be a Kobayashi Maru test that you think is no-win.
But there IS a clear directive.
Please protect our votes above all else. All our votes need to be counted CORRECTLY.
Please protect our votes. Protect Democracy.
Iโve said something didnโt add up. Trump won in too many states/popular & electoral votes. The probability of that happening is very low. Why doesnโt Harris ask for hand recounts of paper ballots? She campaigned as fighter. Why doesnโt she fight for votes to be counted correctly?
@CityofSammamish Yes. Twitter/X is losing LOTS of active users, while Bluesky is gaining large numbers of users.
If youโre only able to post on one platform, Iโd think it should be the one most people whom you want your messages to reach are on.
May need to look at data/do research on this.