Jan 102026
 

Yesterday, I put this into a comment on yesterday’s OT. But there were already two comments so I’m not sure it will be seen. Since there’s a second day of it tomorrow, I’ll repeat the information here:
People For the American Way is partnering with our allies to mobilize communities nationwide for the “ICE Out For Good” Weekend of Action on Saturday, January 10, and Sunday, January 11. These actions are a direct response to violence and abuse of power, and a demand that federal immigration enforcement be held accountable for the harm it causes.
These events are community led, nonviolent, and lawful, and they are a direct demand for accountability in the face of ongoing federal violence. They make visible the real human cost of unchecked enforcement and apply public pressure where oversight has failed. Showing up together is a way to insist that lives cannot be treated as collateral damage.

On Thursday, you probably know that the Senate passed a War Powers bill to stop the God-Emperor from destroying Venezuela any more than he already has, and five Republicans joined Democrats to pass it. Which five may surprise you. From Heather Cox Richardson, here are the names: Susan Collins of Maine, Josh Hawley of Missouri, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Rand Paul of Kentucky, and Todd Young of Indiana.

It would seem to me that, since Congress (or at least the Senate) has to ratify treaties fir them to be in force, that Congress, or at least the Senate, would have to authorize pulling out of them. Common Dreams implies that but doesn’t say it outright.

The Root is calling this an opinion piece – but, sadly, it’s a fact. I realize on the surface it appears incompatible with misogyny, but it really is part of misogyny – like the old saying that men put women on a pedestal – so they can’t move without hurting themselves. It isn’t women as human beings which are so “precious” – it’s women as objects.

Archived from The Hill, referred by The Smile. I’m not putting it on Sunday because Yosemite Sam Barbie* has “testified before Congress before, and she doesn’t answer questions, she just babbles. IIRC, the last time she was there she sneaked out. A Congressman from IIRC Indiana has announced he is working on articles to impeach her – but it’s a long way from announcing to introducing, and introducing doesn’t guarantee impeaching, and impeachment doesn’t guarantee convicting and removing.
*(stolen from Malcolm Nance)

There’s always a lot in The Morning Memo, but I’m focusing on the “cover up.” I put that in quotes because there is so much photographic evidence before the the public already, video and still, that they won’t be able to cover up what happened. Spin it, yes. Change the narrative, that they can do. Protect the killer – almost certainly. Cover it up – not so much. We even know the ICEhole’s name.

SpyKat posted yesterday that ICE also shot 2 people in Portland. I hadn’t seen it – but found it in the New York Times, whose paywall is fierce, so I went to archive – it had already been archived, so that was fast.

In lieu of a political video today, I want to share this letter to the Minneapolis area newspaper from Renee Good’s widow Becca, Because it is really to all of us who care.

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Jul 282025
 

Yesterday, I certainly didn’t mean to scare anyone, and I hope I didn’t. I pulled into my driveway at 4:30, but it was after 5:30 by the time I got the “home safe” post up. And a huge part of that was temperamental computers – three of them. I think it was about the fifth time trying to start it that was the charm for the desktop, and that didn’t happen until I was getting my dinner out of the crockpot. In the meantime I tried the laptop, and I got in in about five minutes, but could not open my Opera browser. I got it open with a workaround, but then it wouldn’t go to any of my speed dial sites. Finally I went to the 8.1 desktop, and managed to get it posted. I grant that some of the delay was for my personal comfort – It was 95°F outside, and I was wearing a heavy sweater (not heavy enough to keep me warm for the visit, though – it seemed unusually cold in the visitation room where it’s always colds, and Virgil thought so too.) But if my main desktop had started right up, I would have been able to post first and cool off afterwards. I suspect it was a random outage. (I certainly hope so.) Anyway the cribbage was good, and we got an update on the dog (he’s wonderful.) Late in the day, another inmate came in to use a tablet (they may use tablets for video phone calls to family/friends if the contact has a camera and mike – I don’t, and I don’t think Virgil could possibly learn to use the tablet, so I’m not planning on getting either) and Virgil said “He’s in my area. I think he’s a [jerk.] He does a lot of pissing and moaning.” and I said, “And you don’t?” and he laughed with a big smile on his face. A lovely, sunny smile. Of course that’s a big reason I fell for him in the first place, and also that we have been together so long – he can genuinely laugh at himself and enjoy it.

Heather Cox Richardson also saw the (full) South Park opener, but she discusses a lot more than that here.

Meidas Touch videos are too long for me – but here’s an article of theirs with just pictures – of Scottish protest signs.

In honor of World Tiger day, World Wildlife Fund is making four wallpaper-sized photos available for desktop or phone free. They had a contest, and the baby won it of course, but they have decided to release all four finalists. In case any cat people missed this, I wanted to share it.

How many times have you heard “Follow the money”? Joyce Vance explains exactly how real investigators accomplish that. Most of us don’t have the appropriate access to do it effectively. Senator Wyden (D-OR) does. Oregon leading again.

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