Brian Pierce MD
@mainedpcdoc.medsky.social
he/him, independent family physician in Midcoast Maine, lucky husband, empty nest dad, Direct Primary Care (DPC) small business owner, learning POCUS, USCG and USAF veteran, former Republican, like Mastodon but this place is busier
Clearance? Natalie don’t need no steenkin’ clearance!
Kyle Griffin@kylegriffin1.bsky.social · 8h agoBREAKING MS NOW: Trump aide Natalie Harp worked at the White House without a security clearance for more than a year. Harp declined multiple times to seek a routine security clearance normally obtained by West Wing staffers to work at the White House.
Wait what do you mean Natalie Harp "declined" to get her routine security clearance "multiple times"?
Trump aide Natalie Harp worked at the White House without security clearance for a year
The close aide to the president, known to filter much of the information reaching the commander-in-chief, ultimately relented in recent months after pressure from White House staff.
ms.now
Writing about Trump's promises as if they meant something is so naive it's amazing. Who believes that anymore? Who wants to read something that credulous anymore? There's no audience for this shit. And yet it leads the NYT. Thank Kahn and Sulzberger. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/19/b...
U.S. Debt Hits $40 Trillion as America’s Borrowing Binge Continues
President Trump’s promises to restore fiscal order and reduce the amount of America’s debt burden have been undercut by spending on the Iran war, tax cuts and tariff refunds.
nytimes.com
Read about and watch New Yorker Linda Wolff, a foul-mouthed 72-year-old personal wardrobe consultant who got pepper-sprayed by an ICE agent wearing a “Pray for Contact” camo baseball cap. She’s suing, because in NY state you can do that now. www.headsupnews.org/p/where-are-...
‘Where are the arrests? Where is the trial? Where is the justice?’
A joint editorial from newspapers in Houston and Maine poses fundamental questions after ICE brought chaos and death to their communities
headsupnews.org
Again, I would just like to thank Republicans, MAGA influencers, right-wing media and podcasters for blowing up the Natalie Harp situation a hundred times bigger than it ever would have been without your coordinated fake hissy.
Many of the right-wingers white-knighting Harp are doing so because she’s the gatekeeper on Trump retweets, which means she’s one of the most important people in their universe, while the people in Trump’s orbit providing all the Harp leaks to the media don’t care about that.
Sources tell WIRED that Elon Musk is expected to spend up to $200 million in the midterms. It could be a big boost for GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who’s struggled to raise cash. www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
Elon Musk Is Expected to Point His Money Machine at Texas
Sources tell WIRED that Elon Musk is expected to spend up to $200 million in the midterms. It could be a big boost for GOP Senate candidate Ken Paxton, who’s struggled to raise cash.
wired.com
This will be another complete shit show of unforeseen consequences.
"Don’t be fooled by the Republican operatives financing the Collins campaign to serve the interests of big-money donors." www.bangordailynews.com/2026/08/19/o...
Letter: Mainers have the power to choose someone better than Susan Collins
“I believe Sen. Susan Collins doesn’t trust the citizens of Maine to support her in her bid for a sixth term.”
bangordailynews.com
California Cops Tracked Protesters Using Orange County Sheriff's Flock System For over 19 months, cops across the Golden State continuously used OCSD’s Flock system to track protesters, almost all linked to anti-ICE demonstrations.
California Cops Tracked Protesters Using Orange County Sheriff's Flock System
For over 19 months, cops across the state continuously used OCSD’s Flock system to track protesters, almost all linked to anti-ICE demonstrations.
inadvertent.news
“Man, I wish Trump were just having an affair with someone forty-five years his junior. That kind of relationship would make sense. It would be gross, but intelligible. The reality of the Trump–Harp . . . thing . . . is so bonkers that I don’t have words for it.” open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
Trump’s Human Printer Is Cray-Cray
It would be much better if they *were* sleeping together.
open.substack.com
Your state and local health departments are a critical source for outbreak and other health-related information, especially now that federal data are being compromised. Look up your health departments by state and county for more info.
Florida cop Lamar Roman used a license plate reader to stalk a woman he met on a TV show. We not only have footage of him pulling her over for no reason, but also statements from both him and the victim. @jasonkoebler.bsky.social reports. www.404media.co/i-saw-a-shin...
The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate is adding key personnel and working to elevate his profile. At the same time, groups boosting Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins have a big advantage in the paid-persuasion contest. https://bit.ly/3UGXZO6
Troy Jackson swamped by GOP ads as campaign gains footing
The Democratic U.S. Senate candidate is adding key personnel and working to elevate his profile. At the same time, groups boosting Republican U.S. Sen. Susan Collins have a big advantage in the paid-p...
mainepublic.org
“I know this is going to sound extremely radical, or crazy,” she recounted telling the woman, “but ICE is there at the gate, and they're looking for you."
ICE Is Asking Gate Agents To Help Arrest Passengers. Some Are Pushing Back
An airline manager warned a passenger that ICE agents were waiting at her gate, helping her avoid a possible arrest.
time.com
The Trump administration's decision to cut staff, cancel grants, and withhold tens of millions of dollars appropriated by Congress has left the agency responsible for improving America's healthcare system "on the brink," according to experts.
"Sabotage": Experts, lawmakers blast RFK Jr. for destroying healthcare research
US healthcare is broken. Under RFK Jr., the research agency working to fix it is, too.
arstechnica.com
The spot from Pine Tree Results PAC is the latest escalation in an already turbulent season shaped by attack ads from outside groups.
Ad on Troy Jackson and Social Security joins wave of misleading claims in Maine Senate race
The spot from Pine Tree Results PAC is the latest escalation in an already turbulent season, shaped by attack ads from outside groups.
bangordailynews.com
LAWSUIT WIN: The court blocked the Trump admin’s attempt to turn the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program into an abstinence-only program. The court said the plan would seem to defy social reality, common sense, & scientific evidence alike. A win for young Americans' wellbeing.
Simao Paulo's union is calling for his immediate release. https://www.mainepublic.org/immigration/2026-08-19/portland-public-schools-van-driver-in-ice-custody-after-dhs-says-he-was-trying-to-enter-canada
Portland Public Schools van driver in ICE custody after DHS says he was trying to enter Canada
Simao Paulo's union is calling for his immediate release.
mainepublic.org
Maine’s rural health care system is crumbling: birthing units and nursing homes are closing, thousands of Mainers are losing health coverage, and ACA premiums are rising — all while Sen. Susan Collins tours the state touting her support for rural hospitals, writes Andy O'Brien.
Collins is making Mainers sicker and poorer — no need to thank her - Maine Beacon
As Maine’s rural health care system continues its gradual collapse, Sen. Susan Collins launched her “All Of Maine Bus Tour” last week with much fanfare. But as the Collins bus tootles along, here’s wh...
mainebeacon.com
The people-search tool ClarityCheck says its reverse image search service is “private and secure”—but it left a database containing more than 9 million image files exposed. www.wired.com/story/revers...
Reverse-Lookup Service Exposed Millions of Photos of People’s Faces
The people-search tool ClarityCheck says its reverse image search service is “private and secure”—but it left a database containing more than 9 million image files exposed.
wired.com
The car world is filled with designers still obsessed with shoehorning sex into their rides. Slate went a different route, and it’s why people are smitten with the charming electric pickup. www.wired.com/story/theres...
There’s a Very Simple Reason Why You Love the Slate Truck
The car world is filled with designers still obsessed with shoehorning sex into their rides. Slate went a different route, and it’s why people are smitten with the charming electric pickup.
wired.com
Spare me the outrage, MAGA. You defended Trump through all of it, you have zero moral authority now that someone’s doing something you don’t like. And just wait—you’re going to discover there are many more subjects on which no one respects your opinion after you supported him.
