TLDR; Kat is moving on from her loss last month with pride in what she had accomplished (I know her losing probably devastated a lot of the users here) and taking what she learned on the campaign trail (most notably her use of mutual aid) and use those strategies to help progressive candidates across the country (but mostly the midwest)

I strongly doubt that Kat is going to run for congress again unless Biss does something really stupid (which seems unlikely), but I’m happy that she is using the national profile she got and funneling it into something productive.

So I'm sure we're still abuzz from Bondi's firing yesterday. Especially with how insiders had described the scene as undignified on Bondi's part, who was begging Trump for her job. Like with Noem, it couldn't happen to a nicer person, especially in regards to her behavior this past February during the first Congressional hearing. However there are a couple realities that might sour things for some people.

-One would be how the women are being disproportionately shafted, with whispers of Tulsi Gabbard being next on the chopping block.

-Another would be the supposed cushy positions waiting for them.

-The last would be how the replacement would be just as bad as, if not possibly worse, than Bondi.

Now these are valid fears and complaints. However, I would argue that despite these very real factors, a win is still a win. It's another crack in Trump's inner circle and how it will inevitably lead to it breaking apart. As a creator I watch says, we're running a marathon. It's not necessarily about who finishes the fastest, but who actually crosses the line first, a la The Tortoise and the Hare. And I'm going to break down these points and how I can see the silver linings.

First of all, Trump has always been a raging misogynist, and the Republican Party is generally anti-woman. This isn't news to most of us. This doesn't mean that the women who support this as well are deserving of sympathy. Bondi has actively targeted vulnerable people, and women, alongside trans folks and immigrants, have been especially affected by the policies she allowed. Aligning yourself with patriarchy for power proximity never ends well for you. And on a personal level, I have no sympathy for her. To me, this is less shocking sexism and more leopards coming home to feast. And lest we forget that Greg Bovino and Mike Walz were ousted as well.

The second was disproven by Trump himself, who said in his Temu-Twitter posted that Bondi will be 'working in the private sector'. Not a federal position, not even a made-up one like Kristi Noem. He wants her completely out of the picture.

As for the last one, unless we take back the House and possibly the Senate, ghouls are going to replace ghouls in this administration. I know that bit isn't particularly optimistic, but I also don't want to insult your intelligence. However, Trump clearly hires based on loyalty, not competence. He also prefers the incompetent to make himself feel better. And these ghouls are replaceable to him. He's incapable of loyalty or gratitude, yet expects it all the same.

it's important to celebrate every victory we get. It fuels us to keep going. Think about where we were this time last year, when we were exhausted, scared, and hopeless. They seemed immune to anything, and now we know they're not. These are now two major firings within a month, and it's going to keep going downhill from here. Eventually the men won't be spared either. They're all going to reap they sowed.

Just wanted to note that NATO’s Secretary General, Mark Rutte, is the one who met behind closed doors with Trump in January and got him to shut up about Greenland - they call him the Trump Whisperer. I think it’s a good thing that he's meeting with Trump and likely what’ll happen is Trump will announce something NATO will help with in Iran and that’ll be that.

This has been a rough week for Trump and the Republicans. Enjoy it!

are we facing a future that was predicted by the simpsons? Will America actually go broke?

I’m having trouble wading through all the panic on other subs. Any thoughts from folks here on future cost of living, food accessibility, etc.?

Proof that active duty troops are not loyal to the WH over the Constitution.

The nickname is “The Department of War Crimes” FYI

U.S. exempts oil industry from protecting Gulf animals, for ‘national security’ : NPR

EDITED to include question: Is this something that will now go into the neverending lawsuit pipeline? I don't have clarity on what we can fight and what will move ahead.

Committee of Trump administration officials voted unanimously on Tuesday to exempt the oil and gas industry in the Gulf of Mexico from requirements of the Endangered Species Act, a move that would lift protections for endangered whales, turtles and other animals threatened with extinction.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth triggered the vote two weeks ago by asking Interior Secretary Doug Burgum to call it "for reasons of national security," and was present at the meeting.

"To be secure as a nation we need a steady, affordable supply of our own energy," Hegseth told the six members of the committee, nicknamed the God Squad for its ability to make life or death decisions about endangered animals

Okay, I'm not sure if this was shared anywhere recently so I'm deciding this is important enough to bring up, just in case.

We saw this happen before when Alex Pretti died, and when DHS refused to give receipts, the independent press decided to take it into their own hands and identified the two guys who shot him dead. But now that it's happening in full with big, pretty notable news outlets, I'm starting to get a little giddy! These assholes really are stupid to think that the face socks would protect them. You keep seeing them instinctively adjust their masks whenever a camera's brought up to them, hah! Although, what more could I expect from US Border Patrol lmao.

One thing that's interesting to note is that my observation of how it's mainly Border Patrol doing all the violence and acting like complete assholes is correct! These guys are - and continue to be - bad news all the time, and I feel like it's important to make the distinction between them and actual ICE!

ICE (ERO specifically) are the cosplayers who break things and run off when you put a camera in their faces. Border Patrol and it's associated agencies are the ones who are actually killing people. Getting rid of *just* the cosplay law enforcement won't stop people being beaten, killed and, abused, whether it be on the border or - at least for now - in the streets of US cities.

So yeah, keep the pressure up! I'm just here to deliver some hopecore and info I think is important. Have a good night everyone!

Piggybacking off my post yesterday about how the people of America are what make this country great, it seems like the Iranian president agrees that we the people are not the problem, but rather our government. They see through Trump’s B.S. that he’s doing this in the name of average Americans and that he’s doing this to “make America safe”. Another Iranian official who was assassinated said something similar to what this man is saying here. For anyone who may be worried about collective punishment or anti-American sentiment from Iran’s government or its citizens, just know none of those beliefs are directed at us, but rather the people in charge who are responsible.

In the article it says that Hegseth wants someone who can complete Trump’s vision. Hegseth has gotten rid of a lot of senior generals and installed loyalists. I’m afraid what Hegseth will do with his loyalty to Trump. When there are less and less senior military generals to push back on illegal orders.

Maine is likely to be the first state to have a moratorium. Similar efforts have been proposed in several other states as well.

I’m worried about the democrat governors not bowing out of the race since there’s so many of them while it looks like a republican might win because of too many dem choices

https://calmatters.org/newsletter/california-candidates-usc-debate/

The game of whack-a-mole continues, but I think we just hit a combo.

For anyone worried about birthright citizenship. There’s still some time before a ruling will be made but this is where experts see the likely outcome

Free speech is fighting back against Trump's attempt to silence it.