Nostr notes by Heidi Li Feldman

Today, federal District Court Judge Indira Talwani issued a 14 ...

2026-08-28T05:00:25Z

Today, federal District Court Judge Indira Talwani issued a 14 day emergency stay on USPS preparing to implement or implementing its now final rule attempting to control how states mail out ballots to vote-from-home voters. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.298449/gov.uscourts.mad.298449.218.0_1.pdf 1/ #LawFedi

AG Brown sues U.S. Postal Service over unlawful attack on ...

2026-08-27T02:05:10Z

AG Brown sues U.S. Postal Service over unlawful attack on vote-by-mail https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/ag-brown-sues-us-postal-service-over-unlawful-attack-vote-mail

I’m absolutely not defeatist. That’s why I’m working hard ...

2026-08-26T19:18:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…p36y
_________________________

I’m absolutely not defeatist. That’s why I’m working hard on MASSIVE turnout, voting by every and any method available. In #NewMexico I spearhead https//landofaction.org/vote. Happy to help progressive activists in other states do likewise.

Whatever happens with the lawsuits against USPS and Trump on ...

2026-08-26T18:46:12Z

In reply to nevent1q…akwg
_________________________

Whatever happens with the lawsuits against USPS and Trump on mailed ballots, there is something every eligible voter can do to thwart the attack on free and fair elections, democracy’s bedrock institution. Vote. Vote in person. Vote early in states that have early voting. For more info about my state, #NewMexico, see pic or go to https://landofaction.org/vote. 12/12

The Roberts Six may of course ignore the plaintiffs’ showings ...

2026-08-26T18:40:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…07hg
_________________________

The Roberts Six may of course ignore the plaintiffs’ showings and simply give Trump the greenlight to interfere with the election. But if so, the Six will clearly be on record as his enabler. That alone should be grounds for a new Congress to reform the Supreme Court and/or impeach and remove every one of the Six. 11/

Democratic Party institutions and leaders, civic organizations, ...

2026-08-26T18:36:43Z

In reply to nevent1q…k9f8
_________________________

Democratic Party institutions and leaders, civic organizations, and the states are demonstrating, across different lawsuits, the harm to free and fair
elections Trump and USPS are doing, and the different ways the different plaintiffs are suffering real, concrete injury. 10/

I’m impressed by and thankful for all the attorneys filing for ...

2026-08-26T18:32:53Z

In reply to nevent1q…s97h
_________________________

I’m impressed by and thankful for all the attorneys filing for new injunctions against Trump’s unlawful efforts to take over elections. They are fighting a Supreme Court controlled by the Roberts Six, which would like to keep denying anybody standing to challenge these efforts (as the Six did in vacating the prior injunction on Monday.) 9/

The plaintiff states in Calif v. Trump, the case in Mass District ...

2026-08-26T18:23:11Z

In reply to nevent1q…xfzu
_________________________

The plaintiff states in Calif v. Trump, the case in Mass District Court, have therefore asked the judge for an expedited decision process on the plaintiffs’ new motion for a temporary injunction against the USPS rule being implemented. 8/

The USPS rule requires states to upend their procedures for ...

2026-08-26T18:20:04Z

In reply to nevent1q…9ccz
_________________________

The USPS rule requires states to upend their procedures for mailing out ballots. With some states starting the process in early September and all already having spent months preparing and paying for their processes, this new rule would create chaos and expense. All designed to disrupt the elections, depress turnout, and give the Trump regime grounds to threaten to prosecute state election officials. 7/

The plaintiff states are laser focused on stopping implementation ...

2026-08-26T18:16:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…3a8v
_________________________

The plaintiff states are laser focused on stopping implementation of the USPS rule, finalized on Friday and published today, re mailed ballots. 6/

The case in federal court in Massachusetts is extremely ...

2026-08-26T18:05:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…fl0c
_________________________

The case in federal court in Massachusetts is extremely significant because the plaintiffs are state attorney generals, defending the states’ Constitutional powers. California is the lead plaintiff. Other state plaintiffs listed on today’s filing. https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.mad.305406/gov.uscourts.mad.305406.3.0.pdf 5/

Monday, the Roberts Six vacated a Massachusetts District Court ...

2026-08-26T18:02:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…jtge
_________________________

Monday, the Roberts Six vacated a Massachusetts District Court judge’s preliminary injunction against Trump’s to federalize control of state voting rolls and the mailed ballots process. Yesterday, plaintiffs in other lawsuits took action to get new injunctions in place. Today, the plaintiffs in the Mass District Court case have moved for such a new injunction, in light of the Trump regime, via USPS, taking definitive steps to operationalize Trump’s plan. 4/ #LawFedi

There are multiple lawsuits in multiple federal courts fighting ...

2026-08-26T17:57:14Z

In reply to nevent1q…xhrv
_________________________

There are multiple lawsuits in multiple federal courts fighting Trump’s effort to violate the U.S. Constitution via the back door mechanism of the USPS. The Constitution makes states the primary authority on election administration, with a limited role for Congress. There is NO role for the federal executive branch. 3/

In addition to doing all he can to prevent Democrats taking ...

2026-08-26T17:53:22Z

In reply to nevent1q…jh0s
_________________________

In addition to doing all he can to prevent Democrats taking control of the U.S. House and Senate this November, Trump is trying to expand his power to meddle in the 2028 election by getting the Roberts Court to tamper with established election law now. 2/

New activity today in legal efforts to prevent Trump from ...

2026-08-26T17:50:24Z

New activity today in legal efforts to prevent Trump from unlawfully interfering with mail-in voting.

A reminder of what Trump is attempting: he’s trying to use the USPS to control who gets absentee/mail-in ballots. This is to throttle vote-from-home, which for many people has meant requesting a ballot be mailed to them, which they then complete and return by hand or mail. Trump is trying to limit who receives ballots by mail. 1/ #LawFedi

Now, we wait to see whether the trial court judge approves the ...

2026-08-25T23:23:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…e96p
_________________________

Now, we wait to see whether the trial court judge approves the amended complaints and grants a new injunction pausing Trump regime’s actions while the merits of the case are heard. If he does and the DC Circuit upholds it, it will be fascinating/disgusting to see the grounds regime use to challenge the new temporary injunction at the Supreme Court and the new contortions the Roberts Six will go through to lift it. 5/5

The day after the Roberts Six said there was not yet any injury ...

2026-08-25T23:16:39Z

In reply to nevent1q…ycxd
_________________________

The day after the Roberts Six said there was not yet any injury to sue over, both groups of plaintiffs submitted amended complaints showing just how poised the Trump regime was to inflict injury. Gives the lie to the Six’s claims that there was no reason to believe that Trump was about to implement his unconstitutional plans to interfere with the elections. This was ridiculous b.s. and we all knew it, but these amended complaints call the b.s. 5/

(Sorry, had to pause in the midst of this thread). The Elias ...

2026-08-25T23:12:17Z

In reply to nevent1q…m837
_________________________

(Sorry, had to pause in the midst of this thread).

The Elias Group did something clever and amusing. They filed both clean and a redlined copies of their proposed amended complaint. The Roberts Six ignored the fact that USPS had issued a final ruling on Friday — before the Six said Monday that that USPS had not acted definitively! The redlined version indicates how disingenuous the Six were. All that had to be added to the introduction is one short paragraph. 4/

The case consolidates two lawsuits, and the two groups of ...

2026-08-25T22:47:18Z

In reply to nevent1q…e9la
_________________________

The case consolidates two lawsuits, and the two groups of plaintiffs are each represented by their respective, excellent counsel. The Democratic Party institutions are repped by the Elias Law Firm, Marc Elias (npub1vur…9892) ‘s firm. The city, county, and public interest plaintiffs are repped by Democracy Defenders Fund and Campaign Legal Center. 3/

The case is DSCC v. Trump, docket at ...

2026-08-25T22:39:09Z

In reply to nevent1q…alv3
_________________________

The case is DSCC v. Trump, docket at https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/73131864/dscc-v-trump/?filed_after=&filed_before=&entry_gte=&entry_lte=&order_by=desc

The bottom line: the Roberts Six said that plaintiffs sought injunctive relief too early, before Trump’s
EOs caused any actual harm and before USPS had taken definitive action to implement the unconstitutional commands in them. Now, USPS has issued a final ruling. That, plus other concrete implementation by Trump-controlled agencies, means that the dispute is ripe for a new injunction. 2/

Today, all the plaintiffs suing to stop Trump from unlawfully ...

2026-08-25T22:29:20Z

Today, all the plaintiffs suing to stop Trump from unlawfully interfering with mail-in voting have sought to amend their complaints in response to the ruling yesterday from the Roberts Six that lifted the temporary injunction previously in effect. 1/ #LawFedi

Along with an amazing team, I’ve been putting in long hours on ...

2026-08-22T03:41:22Z

Along with an amazing team, I’ve been putting in long hours on the Free and Fair Elections #NewMexico 2026 campaign. Tonight, Trump’s puppet USPS reminded me of the urgency of our work. USPS is further getting ready to interfere with mail voting and state election administration. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/21/us-postal-service-mail-in-voter-rule 1/

Spot on. “You can’t have a Justice Department or FBI doing ...

2026-08-21T16:34:33Z

Spot on.
“You can’t have a Justice Department or FBI doing corrupt work with one hand and normal aboveboard work with the other and expect anyone — from citizens to lawyers to judges — to decipher which is which in any given case.”
https://talkingpointsmemo.com/morning-memo/how-trumps-corruption-makes-everything-doj-does-suspect

Important information about warrantless ICE arrests in #SantaFe ...

2026-08-19T22:24:42Z

Important information about warrantless ICE arrests in #SantaFe #NewMexico and community response hotline. https://www.505omatic.com/ice-on-a-warrantless-arrest-spree-in-santa-fe-and-espanola/ Coverage from a great news reporting collective here in NM.

This is a very interesting result. ...

2026-08-19T02:19:33Z

This is a very interesting result. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/18/angie-nixon-alex-vindman-florida-results

Trump sides with totalitarians every chance he gets. South Korea ...

2026-08-17T04:03:20Z

Trump sides with totalitarians every chance he gets. South Korea showed the world how to treat a leader who menaces democracy. Tonight Trump disses them, embracing Kim Jong-un. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/17/trump-cuts-south-korea-joint-drills-us-military-good-relationship-kim-jong-un?CMP=Share_iOSApp_Other

Here we go! https://www.landofaction.org/vote/ ...

2026-08-13T01:58:12Z

Here we go! https://www.landofaction.org/vote/

I learn so much from working with other activists. That’s the ...

2026-08-12T03:21:18Z

I learn so much from working with other activists. That’s the upside of collective action.

Sam Alito, crooked as the day is long. ...

2026-08-11T16:20:44Z

Sam Alito, crooked as the day is long. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/11/samuel-alito-oil-gas-assets-supreme-court-analysis

Pleased to announce that From the Mundane to the Unprecedented to ...

2026-08-10T02:53:39Z

Pleased to announce that From the Mundane to the Unprecedented to the Lawless: Litigating Civil Cases Against Firearms Actors, by me, is now available from the U.C. Davis Social Justice Law Review. https://sjlr.law.ucdavis.edu/archives/29/2/mundane-unprecedented-lawless-litigating-civil-cases-against-firearms-industry-actors

The principles I’ve been talking about apply not only to our ...

2026-08-07T23:11:02Z

In reply to nevent1q…ugw4
_________________________

The principles I’ve been talking about apply not only to our immediate circles, but to the widest possible circle of people we can include in the fight against fascism in the U.S. 7/

We also have to remind ourselves to treat our colleagues and ...

2026-08-07T23:08:35Z

In reply to nevent1q…g9g9
_________________________

We also have to remind ourselves to treat our colleagues and allies and coalition partners as kindly and warmly as we possibly can. We must summon all our capacity for friendliness and goodwill and use it to bolster one another. 6/

At the same time, we have to try to improve our work and our ...

2026-08-07T23:05:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…q5vh
_________________________

At the same time, we have to try to improve our work and our efforts as we go along, attempting to absorb constructive criticism as the help it can be. 5/

We must try to cut each other and ourselves some slack. We cannot ...

2026-08-07T23:03:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…xtnq
_________________________

We must try to cut each other and ourselves some slack. We cannot let the perfect or even the extremely good be the enemy of the quite good or even the good enough. 4/

I work with different groups of people on pro-democracy efforts, ...

2026-08-07T23:01:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…tvfh
_________________________

I work with different groups of people on pro-democracy efforts, I already sense the strain my colleagues and allies are under. It makes everybody very sensitive to any flaw in anything each or all of us are trying to do. 3/

When people put their all into important effort, they get ...

2026-08-07T22:59:57Z

In reply to nevent1q…66ms
_________________________

When people put their all into important effort, they get stressed, even beyond the stress produced by the factors that have driven them to get involved in the effort. We start stressed by Republican Fascism and we will now be increasingly stressed by our own drive to use the election to strike a blow against it. 2/

The coming months are going to be particularly rough for those of ...

2026-08-07T22:57:34Z

The coming months are going to be particularly rough for those of us concerned about and active in U.S. politics. It is true that the midterms cannot eliminate Republican Fascism from the federal govt, they are an opportunity to make a dent. And we so need to fight defeat fascism. Every pro-democracy activist is starting to out heart and soul into the election. 1/

Republicans are trying to destroy Anthony Fauci, an American ...

2026-08-06T16:20:56Z

Republicans are trying to destroy Anthony Fauci, an American hero, with a political witch hunt. Obscene. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/06/fauci-senate-contempt-vote-covid

The Onion, my friends, keeps me going. ...

2026-08-06T16:18:03Z

The Onion, my friends, keeps me going.

New Mexico sunset. Just now. ...

2026-08-06T02:03:00Z

New Mexico sunset. Just now.

The Park Police actually weren’t all that slow to furnish DoJ ...

2026-07-31T23:18:29Z

In reply to nevent1q…mr0r
_________________________

The Park Police actually weren’t all that slow to furnish DoJ with evidence, and going to be hard to argue that their pace violated all standards of human decency. The outrageous behavior was DoJ’s in rushing to indict without a fuller investigation.But here the very strong immunity the Supreme Court has created for liability arising from even wrongful prosecutorial decisions is going to make it hard for Hearn to sue the prosecutors.5/

Hearn would have to show that the conduct of the Park Police ...

2026-07-31T23:09:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…vvu3
_________________________

Hearn would have to show that the conduct of the Park Police violated all standards of human decency, that the Park Police behaved utterly outrageously. Hearn also has to be able to document exceptional emotional distress 4/

A negligent infliction of emotional distress claim would be very ...

2026-07-31T23:07:23Z

In reply to nevent1q…5sc4
_________________________

A negligent infliction of emotional distress claim would be very hard to win because DC only allows this if the plaintiff’s emotional distress arises from being physically endangered. An intentional infliction of emotional distress claim would be hard, but not as hard, to argue. 3/

Pirro’s fingerpointing at the slowness of Department of ...

2026-07-31T23:02:47Z

In reply to nevent1q…59tv
_________________________

Pirro’s fingerpointing at the slowness of Department of Interior in providing DoJ with full evidence could help Hearn in a suit against the Park Police. In such a suit, Hearn would claim the Park Police negligently and intentionally caused him serious emotional distress. The U.S. government has waived sovereign immunity for such claims. They would be adjudicated under DC’s substantive tort law. 2/

RE: https://mastodon.social/@heidilifeldman/117016929580160902 ...

2026-07-31T22:53:51Z

RE: https://mastodon.social/@heidilifeldman/117016929580160902

Lots of people asking if Hearn can sue for damages. There are many obstacles to him being able to bring suit against the prosecutors, fewer to bringing suit against Park Police. Generally speaking, federal prosecutors enjoy very broad immunity from suits alleging harm arising from prosecutorial acts such as seeking an indictment. 1/ #LawFedi

quoting
note17vs…u3q2

The U.S. Attorney for DC, Jeanine Pirro, has had to dismiss its indictment of Davey Hearn, the Olympian the Trump regime accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool. The motion to dismiss is something else. 1/ https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/28528042/260731-hearn.pdf #LawFedi

Here’s DoJ’s official conclusion as to the cause of the ...

2026-07-31T22:37:25Z

In reply to nevent1q…x3z6
_________________________

Here’s DoJ’s official conclusion as to the cause of the peeling liner at the Reflecting Pool: “hasty and botched work”. (Worth reading entire paragraph in pic.) 5/5

The Trump regime’s motion to dismiss attempts to throw the ...

2026-07-31T22:33:36Z

In reply to nevent1q…v3tp
_________________________

The Trump regime’s motion to dismiss attempts to throw the Department of the Interior (home of the U.S. Park Service) under the bus. One representative paragraph in pic. 4/

There is so much that is absurd about this. But it is a serious ...

2026-07-31T22:29:52Z

In reply to nevent1q…6erk
_________________________

There is so much that is absurd about this. But it is a serious kind of absurdity because the incompetence of the prosecutors — who were under no obligation to indict Hearn and could, like any of the rest of us, know that the problem with the liner was that it was obviously a botched job — brought the full force of federal criminal justice system to bear on a pretty clearly innocent person. 3/

Pirro basically arguing that her office was at the mercy of ...

2026-07-31T22:26:32Z

In reply to nevent1q…qrxu
_________________________

Pirro basically arguing that her office was at the mercy of incomplete information provided by the U.S. Park Service, so the prosecutors could not have known@when they indicted Hearn that the entirely lining job was mishandled and that this, not vandalism, was the cause of peeling liner. 2/

The U.S. Attorney for DC, Jeanine Pirro, has had to dismiss its ...

2026-07-31T22:24:05Z

The U.S. Attorney for DC, Jeanine Pirro, has had to dismiss its indictment of Davey Hearn, the Olympian the Trump regime accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool. The motion to dismiss is something else. 1/ https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/28528042/260731-hearn.pdf #LawFedi

“When you open a new credit card, you necessarily give the ...

2026-07-25T16:14:51Z

“When you open a new credit card, you necessarily give the credit card company your address. You probably expect that information to remain with your bank.
But when you open a new credit card or change your address on file, your address leaves your credit card provider, travels through a web of middlemen companies, and ends up with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which can [use] that data with other pieces of information about your life without a warrant.” https://www.404media.co/you-opened-a-credit-card-ice-now-knows-where-you-live/

California Department of Justice Investigating Simi Valley Police ...

2026-07-24T01:39:18Z

California Department of Justice Investigating Simi Valley Police Department Officer-Involved Shooting Under AB 1506 https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/california-department-justice-investigating-simi-valley-police-department

‘“Everything the Shah had in 1978 was in the mullahs’ hands ...

2026-07-23T00:01:50Z

‘“Everything the Shah had in 1978 was in the mullahs’ hands in 1979,” Sherman said, referring to the Islamic revolution that toppled the Iranian monarch and brought the theocratic regime to power. “We have no idea who is going to be running Saudi Arabia 10 years from now.”’
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/live/2026/jul/22/us-politics-trump-arizona-primary-andy-biggs-hegseth-mamdani-netanyahu-latest-news-updates?CMP=share_btn_url&page=with%3Ablock-6a614b0b8f0890a39cdc49bd#block-6a614b0b8f0890a39cdc49bd

Comment from a Congress member. I’m not happy giving nuclear technology to the people running Saudi Arabia now.

This is so f’ing dangerous. And all so Jared can make real ...

2026-07-22T23:56:20Z

This is so f’ing dangerous. And all so Jared can make real estate deals with the Saudi petrodictator. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/22/trump-nuclear-agreement-saudi-arabia

Witnesses testify that ICE agents lawlessly shot Lorenzo Salgado ...

2026-07-22T04:02:39Z

Witnesses testify that ICE agents lawlessly shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo after he stopped his vehicle and the agents were not in front of it. https://www.texastribune.org/2026/07/21/texas-houston-ice-shooting-witnesses-statements/

Trump’s domestic military simply causing death in our streets.

Latest information about Mexican tourist who died running from ...

2026-07-20T23:27:58Z

Latest information about Mexican tourist who died running from ICE. https://newrepublic.com/post/213277/man-died-running-from-ice-tourist-visa

That the Tates are not already serving long, long prison ...

2026-07-19T07:35:51Z

That the Tates are not already serving long, long prison sentences is further proof, if any were needed, that patriarchy and misogyny run the world. I know, I’m stating the obvious but I’m so disgusted, I had to.

Attorney General Bonta Moves to Intervene in Lawsuit Against ...

2026-07-18T14:02:14Z

Attorney General Bonta Moves to Intervene in Lawsuit Against Trump Administration to Protect Onshore Wind Energy Projects https://oag.ca.gov/news/press-releases/attorney-general-bonta-moves-intervene-lawsuit-against-trump-administration

Long day in a long political struggle. In case anybody else needs ...

2026-07-17T05:03:57Z

Long day in a long political struggle. In case anybody else needs a laugh: (from The Onion)

The Trump regime’s refusal to seek Senate confirmation for U.S. ...

2026-07-16T16:36:50Z

The Trump regime’s refusal to seek Senate confirmation for U.S. Attorney appointments has not received the attention it should. The latest development is in Seattle. https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/16/trump-fires-us-attorney-roger-rogoff-seattle 1/ #LawFedi

Very important. New but short comment period regarding revocation ...

2026-07-16T02:02:58Z

Very important. New but short comment period regarding revocation of 10 mile “withdrawal” around a beautiful #NewMexico location, #ChacoCanyon. the site is sacred to multiple tribes and is geologically significant for all. Anybody may comment.

Go to the BLM Register and say you oppose revocation of the 10 mile withdrawal around Chaco Canyon. Start at the “Participate” button, top left of page. See screenshot 👇

“Mr. Blanche has taken actions that we believe make him unfit ...

2026-07-15T23:57:18Z

“Mr. Blanche has taken actions that we believe make him unfit to lead an ethical and independent department of justice that is essential to our nation’s democracy.” — the New York City Bar Association, from preface of their letter to the Senate urging Blanche not be confirmed.

Worth reading entire letter, not long, and distills Blanche’s manifest opposition to rule of law and U.S. constitutional democracy. https://www.nycbar.org/reports/oppose-todd-blanche-attorney-general-nomination/

RE: https://mastodon.social/@heidilifeldman/116916343453341176 ...

2026-07-14T21:39:44Z

RE: https://mastodon.social/@heidilifeldman/116916343453341176

ICE has killed yet another person today. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/immigration/article316506896.html

quoting
note1f9u…twu4

Want to stop Republican Fascists from continuing to murder people like the guy shot in Maine today, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti? Turn out the vote. Protect your state’s elections from federal interference. Educate and support voters, tell them how to vote and help them through the process. We are organizing for a critical battle in this wretched civil war. Not enough to elect our preferred candidates. Victory requires massive participation, huge margins. Let’s go. 11/11

Want to stop Republican Fascists from continuing to murder people ...

2026-07-14T04:03:42Z

In reply to nevent1q…5gy2
_________________________

Want to stop Republican Fascists from continuing to murder people like the guy shot in Maine today, Renee Good, and Alex Pretti? Turn out the vote. Protect your state’s elections from federal interference. Educate and support voters, tell them how to vote and help them through the process. We are organizing for a critical battle in this wretched civil war. Not enough to elect our preferred candidates. Victory requires massive participation, huge margins. Let’s go. 11/11

We also have to prepare to fight for the opportunity for ...

2026-07-14T03:58:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…pn0s
_________________________

We also have to prepare to fight for the opportunity for everybody to vote and to fight for regularity in the conduct of the elections and against any effort to interfere with free and fair elections. Republican Fascists know it threatens their project for us to show up and be counted. They want to make it hard, maybe even impossible, for us to do this. 10/

Power concedes nothing. And power is now, more than ever, in the ...

2026-07-14T03:54:45Z

In reply to nevent1q…ffj2
_________________________

Power concedes nothing. And power is now, more than ever, in the hands of vested and established interests: the wealthiest, the whitest, the most misogynist, the most xenophobic. Those of us who are not aligned with these interests have to take the upcoming public opportunity to show ourselves. We have to go vote. 9/

In an existential political contest, public knowledge is crucial. ...

2026-07-14T03:50:56Z

In reply to nevent1q…vx8x
_________________________

In an existential political contest, public knowledge is crucial. Whether attempting to start, fight, and win a revolution against rule by a tyrannical empire (the American Revolution) , waging a war to more fully realize equality in a democracy (the first American Civil War), or insisting on a genuinely pluralistic, secular democracy absolutely committed to equal rights for all - the fight for liberation and equal dignity cannot be won without people revealing that they are on that side. 8/

RE: https://mastodon.social/@heidilifeldman/116916251109843021 I ...

2026-07-14T03:45:10Z

RE: https://mastodon.social/@heidilifeldman/116916251109843021

I screwed up numbering the posts in the thread of which the quote post is a part. So I’m picking up here. Sorry, the intensity of the content interfered with my orderliness. 7/

quoting
note12vn…dgqk

This November, showing up to vote, including in “safe” Democratic districts or for elections where Democrats are heavily favored, is imperative to anybody who cares about seeing American Progressivism survive. Thos of us who oppose Republican Fascism must register our opposition in a process that involves tallying up who stands where. 6/

This November, showing up to vote, including in “safe” ...

2026-07-14T03:40:13Z

In reply to nevent1q…vkqx
_________________________

This November, showing up to vote, including in “safe” Democratic districts or for elections where Democrats are heavily favored, is imperative to anybody who cares about seeing American Progressivism survive. Thos of us who oppose Republican Fascism must register our opposition in a process that involves tallying up who stands where. 6/

We are not in a peacetime election season here in the U.S. This ...

2026-07-14T03:33:58Z

In reply to nevent1q…yhpu
_________________________

We are not in a peacetime election season here in the U.S. This November every vote is participation in what has been so far a relatively cold civil war. There has been violence, there has been injury and death. But so far there has not been all out hot war. 5/

Let’s find out where we really stand in the Second American ...

2026-07-14T03:30:06Z

In reply to nevent1q…npy8
_________________________

Let’s find out where we really stand in the Second American Civil War. Let’s *all* go to the polls, let’s work to make it possible for every last eligible person to cast a vote. If it turns out that Republican Fascism gets more votes, American Progressives will know exactly what they are up against. 4/

However substantial that minority, all the data shows they are a ...

2026-07-14T03:26:26Z

In reply to nevent1q…vkhn
_________________________

However substantial that minority, all the data shows they are a minority. Moreover, were those committed to an America that is white, Christian, and patriarchal greater in number than those who want a pluralistic, egalitarian America, we should still seek to have massive and capacious voting this November. 3/

If we don’t turn out as many voters as possible this November, ...

2026-07-14T03:23:16Z

In reply to nevent1q…pdrn
_________________________

If we don’t turn out as many voters as possible this November, in every single state, we will not make the statement that must be made: in a democracy, the people are sovereign, not a political minority who support the indiscrimate killing of people in the name of white Christian patriarchal nationalism. 2/

Spent the day working on free and fair elections in #NewMexico ...

2026-07-14T03:19:46Z

Spent the day working on free and fair elections in #NewMexico this November. Have been following the latest on ICE murdering people (https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/13/maine-ice-shooting-death). These are not disconnected. 1/

Nostr event nevent1qqs8vyyhlutzvu7yz0jw0emrhxfp9jmxr952a3qln4u2hpu6hjpft7szyrsqg2meu8cry8a02psutakvfd24zsmfnufa3c8t0534xsxjh8huuftydd5

2026-07-13T03:26:48Z

Just checked the news. That photo of McConnell is super creepy.

FBI firing analysts who won’t join Patel’s witch hunting in ...

2026-07-12T15:35:27Z

FBI firing analysts who won’t join Patel’s witch hunting in Georgia, plus more on the ongoing effort to disrupt the midterms. https://www.ms.now/news/fbi-kash-patel-trump-georgia-2020-election

Process for nominating Dem candidate for Senator from Main ...

2026-07-11T04:05:27Z

Process for nominating Dem candidate for Senator from Main announced. Impressed by Maine Democratic Party for doing a full scale nominating convention. https://mainedems.org/mdp-statement-on-democratic-u-s-senate-nomination-process-2/

I’ve been deeply, intensely hard at work completing a ...

2026-07-11T03:49:33Z

I’ve been deeply, intensely hard at work completing a manuscript. Submitted today. Spent some time outdoors this evening, picking my head up to the sky first time in a while.

JFC. ‘Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a man killed by federal ...

2026-07-10T07:09:14Z

JFC.

‘Lorenzo Salgado Araujo, a man killed by federal immigration agents during a traffic stop in Houston this week, was not the intended target of the “enforcement operation”, the Department of Homeland Security said on Thursday.’ https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jul/09/houston-man-killed-ice-agents

Gotta love the Onion. Even when — indeed especially when— the ...

2026-07-10T02:47:13Z

Gotta love the Onion. Even when — indeed especially when— the humor has real bite.

Platner ends it. ...

2026-07-09T00:19:38Z

Platner ends it. https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2026/07/08/graham-platner-ends-us-senate-campaign-maine/

WA and other states sue HUD to block new changes to funding ...

2026-07-08T09:27:11Z

WA and other states sue HUD to block new changes to funding addressing homelessness https://www.atg.wa.gov/news/news-releases/wa-and-other-states-sue-hud-block-new-changes-funding-addressing-homelessness

Out of respect for folks and allies here who supported Platner ...

2026-07-08T01:26:36Z

Out of respect for folks and allies here who supported Platner I’ve refrained from commenting on latest developments. I take no joy in the debacle.

I’ll just say this: If Graham Platner actually cared about American democracy, he would step aside. Trump regime is shooting people in streets of US cities, still at war in the Middle East, determined to disrupt midterms. Platner is a huge distraction. He knows this and yet….

An Asian man with a somewhat high profile job in the DC metro ...

2026-07-06T22:15:08Z

An Asian man with a somewhat high profile job in the DC metro area speaks eloquently about being surrounded by disguised white nationalists on the Metro over the holiday weekend. He’s not grand, just very human. https://www.advocate.com/news/people/roswell-encina-patriot-front-metro?1

"Acting on our own, by ourselves, we cannot establish justice ...

2026-07-05T04:31:37Z

In reply to nevent1q…vqj0
_________________________

"Acting on our own, by ourselves, we cannot establish justice throughout the world; we cannot insure its domestic tranquility, or provide for its common defense, or promote its general welfare, or secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity. But joined with other free nations, we can do all this and more." 10/10

"In urging the adoption of the United States Constitution, ...

2026-07-05T04:30:46Z

In reply to nevent1q…4g5f
_________________________

"In urging the adoption of the United States Constitution, Alexander Hamilton told his fellow New Yorkers 'to think continentally.' Today Americans must learn to think intercontinentally.... 9/

"But I will say here and now, on this Day of Independence, ...

2026-07-05T04:29:30Z

In reply to nevent1q…zkmf
_________________________

"But I will say here and now, on this Day of Independence, that the United States will be ready for a Declaration of Interdependence, that we will be prepared to discuss with a united Europe the ways and means of forming a concrete Atlantic partnership, a mutually beneficial partnership between the new union now emerging in Europe and the old American Union founded here 175 years ago. ...8/

[At this juncture, Kennedy turned to foreign affairs.] "A ...

2026-07-05T04:28:55Z

In reply to nevent1q…mtdt
_________________________

[At this juncture, Kennedy turned to foreign affairs.] "A great new edifice is not built overnight. It was 11 years from the Declaration of Independence to the writing of the Constitution. The construction of workable federal institutions required still another generation. The greatest works of our Nation's founders lay not in documents and in declarations, but in creative, determined action. ... Building the Atlantic partnership now will not be easily or cheaply finished. ... 7/

".... The theory of independence is as old as man himself, ...

2026-07-05T04:27:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…2xce
_________________________

".... The theory of independence is as old as man himself, and it was not invented in this hall. But it was in this hall that the theory became a practice .... As apt and applicable as the Declaration of Independence is today, we would do well to honor that other historic document drafted in this hall--the Constitution of the United States. For it stressed not independence but interdependence--not the individual liberty of one but the indivisible liberty of all. 6/

".... [T]hat Declaration unleashed not merely a revolution ...

2026-07-05T04:25:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…xklw
_________________________

".... [T]hat Declaration unleashed not merely a revolution against the British, but a revolution in human affairs. Its authors were highly conscious of its worldwide implications. And George Washington declared that liberty and self-government everywhere were, in his words, 'finally staked on the experiment entrusted to the hands of the American people.' ... 5/

"But what distinguished this paper from all the others was ...

2026-07-05T04:24:21Z

In reply to nevent1q…cfj4
_________________________

"But what distinguished this paper from all the others was the final irrevocable decision that it took--to assert the independence of free States in place of colonies, and to commit to that goal their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor. ... 4/

"[Y]ou and I are the executors of the testament handed down ...

2026-07-05T04:23:08Z

In reply to nevent1q…fpr0
_________________________

"[Y]ou and I are the executors of the testament handed down by those who gathered in this historic hall 186 years ago today. For they gathered to affix their names to a document which was, above all else, a document not of rhetoric but of bold decision. It was, it is true, a document of protest--but protests had been made before. It set forth their grievances with eloquence--but such eloquence had been heard before. ... 3/

"Our system and our freedom permit the legislative to be ...

2026-07-05T04:21:54Z

In reply to nevent1q…nmvg
_________________________

"Our system and our freedom permit the legislative to be pitted against the executive, the State against the Federal Government, the city against the countryside, party against party, interest against interest, all in competition or in contention one with another. Our task--your task in the State House and my task in the White House--is to weave from all these tangled threads a fabric of law and progress. ... 2/

RE: https://mastodon.social/@heidilifeldman/116865278472576688 In ...

2026-07-05T04:19:55Z

RE: https://mastodon.social/@heidilifeldman/116865278472576688

In the thread below, I quoted Lincoln. In another, related thread, I quoted FDR. Here I quote from John F. Kennedy's speech on July 4, 1962. You can read the entire speech at https://www.jfklibrary.org/archives/other-resources/john-f-kennedy-speeches/philadelphia-pa-19620704. You can even listen to it there.

JFK was speaking at Independence Hall in Philadelphia in a unique public address to the Governors of all 50 states. 1/

quoting
note1dqd…p5an

I have zero interest in anything the current occupant of the White House may say this evening. But I do enjoy certain passages about the Declaration of Independence and democracy from others who have lived and worked there. Thought I'd share a few. 1/

I have zero interest in anything the current occupant of the ...

2026-07-05T03:37:12Z

I have zero interest in anything the current occupant of the White House may say this evening. But I do enjoy certain passages about the Declaration of Independence and democracy from others who have lived and worked there. Thought I'd share a few. 1/

Republican Fascist government is the antithesis of justified, ...

2026-07-05T01:50:01Z

In reply to nevent1q…t3hk
_________________________

Republican Fascist government is the antithesis of justified, good government. So of course on a day dedicated to celebrating the Declaration of Independence and its continuing importance to the United States, I cannot but help being angry, distressed, and bothered at current conditions here. But that doesn't mean I'm not participating in the Fourth of July: I'm absolutely participating in the only way that makes sense. 4/4

They believed -- and I fervently agree -- that government was ...

2026-07-05T01:47:12Z

In reply to nevent1q…lmm4
_________________________

They believed -- and I fervently agree -- that government was justified and good only when it protected every person's basic liberties, most centrally the right to pursue one's own flourishing in one's own way, and when it fostered the sort of prosperity that enabled everybody's ability to do this. 3/

The mighty, noble aspiration of the Declaration: to bring forth a ...

2026-07-05T01:44:03Z

In reply to nevent1q…e9ff
_________________________

The mighty, noble aspiration of the Declaration: to bring forth a government that would respect every person's right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and would serve the general welfare. The Declaration contemplates a truly momentous project, revolutionary in its day and of paramount ethical value in any time. The signers of the Declaration understood the state can easily be oppressive and tyrannical. They thought that was a perversion of the justified purpose of government. 2/

This 4th of July, I am angry and dismayed. I'm disgusted by ...

2026-07-05T01:39:35Z

This 4th of July, I am angry and dismayed. I'm disgusted by our federal government generally and particularly by its absurd approach to commemorating 250 years of American history. I'm horrified by the Republican Fascist control of the federal government and numerous state governments.

But this just means that I am indeed observing the Fourth. It is precisely because I'm keenly aware and appreciative of the Declaration of Independence that I can't help the anger, dismay, disgust, and horror. 1/

I often feel that Gary Legum of Wonkette is the only reporter ...

2026-07-02T20:36:34Z

I often feel that Gary Legum of Wonkette is the only reporter making sense about the Trump regime. This, on the regime’s planned fireworks display in DC, is an example. https://www.wonkette.com/p/park-service-warns-public-to-avoid