Trump: "We control the strait totally" (Trump is currently trying to negotiate to open the strait because Iran controls it)

To give everyone an idea of where I'm at for reading all the author newsletters in my inbox, I just read The Death and Rebirth of the Queer Bookstore from @charliejane.bsky.social As usual, I loved this issue of the newsletter. Wonderful history & roundup of queer bookstores.

The Death and Rebirth of the Queer Bookstore

Hi! Before we get started… Right now, you can get a Humble Bundle including everything Annalee Newitz and I have published with Tor for just $18 (plus...

buttondown.com

In addition to having no experience in immigration, their website shows Ilya Shapiro (!) and disgraced former law prof Joshua Wright (!) as Senior Counsel. I don't think this massive contract was awarded to give immigrant children effective, zealous advocacy. burkegroup.law/our-team/

Our Team - BURKE LAW GROUP, PLLC

Our Team

burkegroup.law

Politico@politico.com · yesterday

26-employee Texas law firm gets $150M to represent 24,000 children in immigration court

Sixty-two years ago today, the FBI uncovered the bodies of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman & Michael Schwerner in Neshoba County. We honor their courage by refusing to take that freedom for granted & recognizing our responsibility to protect our right to vote & ensure every voice is heard.

Good God, this administration is full of fools. Just effing fools.

The New York Times@nytimes.com · 20h ago

The Trump administration has revoked the visa of Brazil’s top diplomat in the U.S., according to a senior U.S. official, deepening a diplomatic crisis between the two countries.

ooof. he still looks 362 days younger than I do. cuter, too.

Ricky Davila@therickydavila.bsky.social · 22h ago

Happy birthday to an actual President, Barack Obama. 💙

This has to be a Pulitzer finalist. @gettyimages.com

Small biz owner? Please sign: "concerned about Amazon's outsized control of our economy, negative impacts to communities, & harmful treatment of small businesses, I signed on to Small Business Rising's TAKE AMAZON TO TRIAL letter to the FTC & states." www.smallbusinessrising.net/amazon-lawsu...

Take Action — Small Business Rising

smallbusinessrising.net

Unbelievable backside flip. Dude in the car clearly a skater because he knows you only get one take that good

Jerad Walker@jeradwalker.bsky.social · yesterday

I hope this guy just drives around town cheering everyone on.

www.dailykos.com/stories/2026...

The rest of the world understands the US is falling into Fascism.

or at least a semi random sampling of folks from 10 different countries recognizes the US’s descent into fascism. Today in a business type meeting, during introductions the leader of the meeting was…

dailykos.com

I Remember, Hope you do….

Wikipedia remains one of the most useful things online. No subscription fees, no ads, no stupid pursuit of AI, all curated by relentless nerds. Maybe remember to throw them a few bucks every now and again.

After losing at the Supreme Court, the federal administration is again trying to raise taxes on families and businesses with another round of illegal tariffs. The president doesn't have the power to impose sweeping tariffs. Governor Kathy Hochul and I are suing. Again.

The shaman of Bad Dürrenberg are the remains of a 25-35 year old woman, who was buried 8600 to 9000 year ago in Germany. Around her, were the remains of an extraordinary head-dress, made from the bones and teeth of different animals such as deer, wild boar, crane and turtle.

Another example of the lunacy of thinking discrimination against a marginalized group won't affect you if you're not part of that group bsky.app/profile/gbbr...

Gillian Branstetter@gbbranstetter.bsky.social · 2d ago

An initiative on the ballot in Washington state in November would require all athletes seeking to play girl's sports from kindergarten to high school to undergo "genetic screening, a testosterone-levels test, or an examination of their reproductive anatomy" before they can play

no agreement with trump is binding, it's impossible that anyone at this point fails to understand that. All that's happening here is spineless toadies folding as anticipated bsky.app/profile/matt...

Matthew Gertz@mattgertz.bsky.social · 2d ago

You’d have to be a fool and/or desperate to get to yes to accept this, so it’ll probably be enough to get him confirmed. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/03/u...

It’s important to understand that when 1.2 million Americans are dying from a disease, any government action is excessive and tyrannical, but if a dozen trans women want to play soccer no government action can go far enough

And guess what? Also over on @clarkesworldmagazine.com, with @arleysorg.bsky.social leading the charge, is an interview with James Patrick Kelly. Robots & AI are featured in his new collection THE BOOK OF BOTS, out from Fairwood Press during Worldcon. clarkesworldmagazine.com/kelly_interv...

The Minds and Bodies of Robots: A Conversation with James Patrick Kelly by Arley Sorg

Clarkesworld Science Fiction and Fantasy Magazine and Podcast.

clarkesworldmagazine.com

BREAKING: lying liar lied again

FinTwitter@fintwitter.bsky.social · 3d ago

IRAN DENIES TRUMP'S CLAIM ON A STRAIT OF HORMUZ AGREEMENT AND REJECTS HIS ASSERTION THAT IRAN REQUESTED A HALT TO THE PLANNED ATTACK - TBS

really loving all the protests against and support for trans women happening in and around the WNBA, a league that has never had a trans woman play in it. we’re just THAT interesting to talk about! for everyone! how fun!!!!

This may dramatically slow down the attacks on science. It also provides a template for how to prevent the federal government from becoming a patronage state. It’s a big deal!

Politico@politico.com · 3d ago

Senate finalizes funding patch that would block Trump’s grant overhaul

Elon Musk is betting that Maine voters will consider him, the Hitler-saluting white nationalist trillionaire father of 14 children with 4 different women who wants to send people to Mars, as a more trustworthy figure than a 5th-generation Maine logger who wants more spending on healthcare. Good luck

Troy Jackson@troyjackson207.bsky.social · 3d ago

My response to Elon Musk.

"A president without a moral compass and advisers whose true north is the extreme right, helming a government with unparalleled legal, technological and financial resources, can implement...political repression that Joe McCarthy...could not have dreamt of," writes @judith-levine.bsky.social.

McCarthyism has returned to the United States – and this time it’s even more dangerous | Judith Levine

Trump’s campaign of repression echoes the red scare. But now the government has bigger ambitions and more powerful tools

theguardian.com

every Pakistani youth who was crushed or killed or abducted or suppressed by their own govt is hopeful & proud to see their counterparts in India protest for freedom screw Modi. screw the governments. long live the people today we’re all Indian. Jai Hind and Pakistan Zindabad

They are not commenting further lest it further expose that ICE flat-out lied.

Aaron Reichlin-Melnick@reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 2w ago

After ICE shot and killed Lorenzo Araujo, the FBI leaked to Fox News a claim that he was found with possible meth in the van. His family said it was a total falsehood; it was a bag of salt to be used to make an electrolyte drink. And they were right. It was not drugs.

I had forgotten there is an audiobook of this. I haven't heard it, I wonder if the voicer is good.

Transmaniacon

Amazon.com: Transmaniacon (Audible Audio Edition): John Shirley, Zachary Johnson, Encyclopocalypse Publications: Books

amazon.com

So, let me get this right: We get threatened with legal action from our ISP for downloading a copyrighted film or TV show illegally. But AI companies are given free passes to steal copyrighted content from billions of people. Do I have that right?

The one thing republicans don't want to repeat from the 50's

💥 This order clearly reflects that a federal judge does NOT just believe what the Acting AG Todd Blanche represents and has ordered him to basically “prove it.”

Katie Phang@katiephang.bsky.social · 2w ago

BREAKING: In my lawsuit against Todd Blanche for the Epstein Files, Judge Sullivan has just ordered Blanche to produce, in camera (in chambers), the UNREDACTED emails & documents, and Blanche must bring documentation supporting his representations the DOJ’s redactions are what he claims they are.

A federal judge just ordered all of the Epstein files to be turned over to him and DOJ must defend each redaction. This is solely because of Katie Phang’s lawsuit. Yay independent journalism! 👏