February 18 News

Firehose #2,433 Edition

In yesterday’s Stack I shared posts from VP JD Vance calling a journalist a “dummy” because he called the administration out on their violation of the 1st amendment in barring AP News from pressers because they still refer to the Gulf of Mexico as the Gulf of America after Donald decreed the latter. The day prior, Elon had posted that 60 Minutes “should be jailed” for “deliberate deception" without an ounce of proof.

Dan Rather shared last night in his Stack more of the free speech hypocrisy: “Much to the disbelief of his German hosts, Vance met with the head of Alternative for Germany, a radical, far-right political party. His meeting was a tacit backing of the extremist group with ties to neo-Nazis, just weeks before Germany’s national election.

Vance then gave a speech to European leaders meeting in Munich, admonishing them for suppressing “conservative voices” — in other words, curtailing freedom of speech — while his boss is sitting in the Oval Office telling the world’s biggest news organization what they can and cannot say.” Rest of his Stack here.

Donald the other day RE-posted his quote from a 1970s movie about the Emperor Napolean “He who saves his country violates no law” but this time from someone who put the figure of the Emperor into a meme with the quote. Napoleon was controversial because of: "looting of conquered territories, and his mixed record on civil rights. He abolished the free press, ended directly elected representative government, exiled and jailed critics of his regime, reinstated slavery in France's colonies except for Haiti, banned the entry of blacks and mulattos into France, reduced the civil rights of women and children in France, reintroduced a hereditary monarchy and nobility,[8][9][10] and violently repressed popular uprisings against his rule.[11]" (via Wikipedia).

How many of us were concerned he’d take Social Security? Tip to those new here to click the post to be taken to the screenshots or video (in this case of Donald’s gaslighting propaganda and projection).

And how many of us knew Gitmo would be holding people guilty of only misdemeanors (again being here illegally is a misdemeanor)?

In which Donald acts like he doesn’t know Elon meddling in agencies like FAA, DOD and other agencies that have billions in contracts with Elon isn’t a conflict.

and

In another “imbeciles running the government” moment similar to unwittingly firing the nuclear weapons guardians, trying to hire them back and being unable to locate them…USDA "accidentally fired working on bird flu and is trying to rehire them.”

Donald doubles down on shutting out AP News because they won’t buckle to calling the Gulf the correct name. Screw the first amendment and “freedom of the press.”

Donald says auto, semiconductor and pharmaceutical tariffs will be 25%. I wonder if this is why the Dow was down 225 points this afternoon.

Irony.

Rubio hypes economic partnership with the KGB agent who blows up maternity hospitals, schools and residences and has anyone who crosses him pushed out of windows or poisoned.

Hypocrisy, thy name is GOP. Sorry for their F bomb, I couldn’t bleep it.

Pot Kettle. But when the Pot is calling the Kettle corrupt, wow.

Another US Attorney (head of the criminal division) with integrity resigns, refusing to participate in Donald’s revenge tour. Story they are referring to here.

Another source

Third source

The rule of law seems to be collapsing

Pray for President Zelenskyy. I cannot imagine the strength and courage needed to deal with this crap for so many years and now this. He didn’t start this war.

Heh heh. Ended up not being true, and I’m sure Fox, OAN and Newsmax will get right on that.

Here’s what Ron is referring to. Paid Russian asset Benny Johnson (I’m not joking about Benny being a paid Russian asset here's the proof). Shocked that a mega maga would admit they got it wrong, that’s rare.

Judge Chutkan denied state AGs' request for a restraining order against Elon Musk and DOGE, saying the evidence of immediate and irreparable harm falls short, even if DOGE has caused uncertainty and alarm in the states. Maga is mocking the rule of law gleefully and saying they now have a “green light.” I understand if there’s no evidence IMMEDIATELY that there’s harm, but there WILL be. Keesling Sky on Bluesky says sarcastically, “Please, take your time. I'm sure everything is reversible later.” At least Chutkan said this:

Word

Unfortunately Substack has let me know that this Stack is almost at its limit for size and I need to wash the stink of the news off right now anyway, so we’ll have to cut off the rest of the days’ news.

Today I listened to a live podcast from Glenn Kirschner and Scott Dworkin. As they discussed what we’re dealing with, Glenn reminded us that, as we try to keep up with the firehose, we need to focus on self care and how his wife has to constantly remind him about that. I’m trying to focus on that myself. Find joy, get into nature, spend time with your kids/grandkids/pets, get some down time, watch a vlog (my favorites are Positano Diaries, Escape to Rural France, Desert Drifter), listen to music.

My action for today was to take Glenn’s advice and write my representatives yet again even if you know they won’t listen or respond. So I asked my three GOP reps if they agreed with increasing the debt $4 trillion. And I asked if they agreed with the Reagan judge that Donald’s EO to change the 14th amendment was “blatantly unconstitutional” or did they side with Donald? I wait breathlessly for the canned response.