I might push for abolishing the Capitol police, too. I have to correct people I talk to that we don’t live in a democracy and that we are now very much living in a dictatorship. “Oh, it’s not THAT bad.” Yep. Yep, it is.

Women’s March@womensmarch.com · 2h ago

🚨 HAPPENING NOW 🚨 Women's Marchers have been arrested in the Capitol for standing vigil for the people killed by ICE. #AbolishICE llustrations by @channeldraw

Morning reading #6 For a lighthearted change of pace, here’s a review of the latest Spider-Man movie by @filmcrithulk.bsky.social. Film Crit Hulk is one of the most trenchant critics around. I remember him as a gimmick account at the AV Club and he’s grown into a fine essayist. Also: SPOILERS!

SPIDER-MAN: A DEFINITELY BETTER NEW DAY | Film Crit Hulk

So after hearing all the enthusiastic chatter about the new Spidey movie, I finally gave in. It was time to return to the land of the MCU af

patreon.com

Morning reading #5 On the topic of Texas’ dysfunctional governance, here’s how Greg Abbott’s ineptitude, casual apathy, and acidic dismissal is damaging a struggling city.

Greg Abbott Blasted Corpus Christi for Its Water Crisis. A River Authority He Has Power Over Is Falling Apart.

The Nueces River Authority is working on a project that could expand the Corpus Christi region’s water supply. But the Texas governor has done little to address the agency’s financial problems, despit...

propublica.org

Morning reading#4 This one’s a tough read as Talarico has been using this as campaign talking point and while Paxton IS a slimy bastard, this tarnishes Talarico the ethically superior candidate. We’re talking about Ken Paxton here, so “ethically superior” is a low bar but 1/2

James Talarico Accused Ken Paxton of Voter Fraud. His Own Voter Registration Is Raising Questions.

ProPublica and The Texas Tribune’s review of the Democratic Senate candidate’s residency records found that he may have voted in up to five elections using an address where he no longer lived.

propublica.org

Morning reading #3 Robert Reich encapsulates the larger ramifications of the Trump and the Rise of the Oligarchs Age.

The Biggest Cost of Trump

It goes far beyond guns vs. butter

robertreich.substack.com

Morning reading #2 This is a cheat because I’ve not read the whole of Senator Wyden’s report, but it provides fire power and a way to fight the regime’s Epstein protectionism. I’m providing it here for anyone who wants to see for themselves how Wyden and his team’s work paid off.

Good morning Bluesky! Morning reading has been something else today, but I’m leading with Heather Cox Richardson because she’s always worth the read and also because she shows how the justice the moral arc of the universe bends toward moves at different speeds. I’ll explain. 1/3

August 4, 2026

On Friday night, a court filing from Capital One denied there was any political motivation behind the closure of more than 380 bank accounts in the names of Donald Trump and the Trump Organization.

heathercoxrichardson.substack.com

Hey y’all! Wile E. Coyoute’s ACME Sales Rep is one of my best Bluesky buds and he’s assembled a pack of utter greatness! Smash that “Follow All” button and meet some of the finest folks on this here platform! 🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋💙🦋🦋🦋🦋🦋💙🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻, etc.!

Wile E. Coyote's ACME Sales Rep@crankyoldcrackpot.bsky.social · last wk.

Stepping out of our comfort zones was never the plan. But the Republic won't defend itself; we need to do it. Hope isn't naive; it's a muscle; we're flexing it together! Nobody fights alone! #StrongerTogether #DOOR #ProudBlue #DV1 #Blues #MindYourWile Smile😁 Laugh😂 Love❤️ Live🤪 go.bsky.app/61k7MCp

Before logging off, here’s a little positivity for your day.

Acid Rain@bearysweet.bsky.social · 2d ago

And now, a little Vivaldi. Michel Tirabosco, a renowned pan flute player, collaborating with Raphaël Froissart. He is a professor at the Geneva Conservatory. Born with physical differences, he began playing the pan flute at 7 and has achieved international recognition for his skill. #streetmusic

This is how you do it! Kudos to Team Talarico! (& Texas folks, do feel free to share!)

Team Talarico@teamtalaricohq.bsky.social · 2d ago

11 years ago today, Ken Paxton surrendered at the Collin County Jail on felony securities fraud charges. This is his mugshot.

Morning reading #4 I’ll end with Scott Dworkin on a positive note. He’s here on Bluesky and if you need some genuine good news, do follow him at @dworkin.bsky.social (& sign up for his Substack). He and his team balance out some of the madness.

Trump’s Senate Nominee Walked Out On His Own Press Conference. Here’s Why.

The DOJ charged an Olympian, then admitted there was no crime. A judge the regime tried to remove refused to go. And Virginia gave 66,085 people their vote back.

dworkinsubstack.com

Morning reading #3 “Those centrists need to take a deep breath, settle down, and understand that they have an interest in seeing all Democrats succeed — even those who are too progressive for their taste.”

Moderate Democrats have a choice to make

Do they want to help their party win, or do they want to whine about the left?

publicnotice.co

Morning reading #2 In a country where we had a chance to pass meaningful legislation to curb inflation, voters chose these maniacs (either by not voting or actively doing so) and their diaper-clad leader.

Words & Phrases

Trump’s ‘thriving economy’ is a disaster.

open.substack.com

Good morning, Bluesky peeps! A little morning reading for our dystopian moment. #1 isn’t so much the obvious fact that he’s doing it. It’s the various ways the Occupier is attempting to make life worse. www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-is-m...

Trump Is Making Government Worse on Purpose

Instead of seeking to simplify and improve citizens’ lives, this administration keeps creating new obstacles and burdens.

thebulwark.com

Great folks in here to follow, folks! I’ve gotta get going, so here’s a parting morning gift! Any of Deborah’s packs are worth gold. Check @mrsdeborahlynn.bsky.social for more!

Deborah Lynn@mrsdeborahlynn.bsky.social · 3d ago

Tax The Billionaires. Tax Their Corporations. #Blues go.bsky.app/6dYPN4W

Another quickie here.

MeidasTouch@meidastouch.com · 3d ago

🚨NEW: Todd Blanche’s new order rescinds the May 18 Anti-Weaponization Fund—but quietly leaves the May 19 IRS immunity settlement intact. Instead of rescinding it, the accompanying memo reaffirms DOJ’s interpretation, arguing the immunity applies only retroactively and only to the parties involved.1/

A thousand times this.

Mark T. Sneed@marktsneed.bsky.social · 2d ago

The whole point of the Bill of Rights is to protect the only true minority - the individual. It limits the governments power to harm the individual. The whole constitution is designed to limit the governments power.

Bonus morning reading! While the story is centered around the environmental and social damage SpaceX is doing to the region (not to mention what Trump’s Wall will do), it speaks to the broader ramifications of what these fools are doing across the country. 1/2

Territorial Spirits | Joseph P. Laycock

He didn’t realize his dream job would involve desperate strangers asking him to save them from demonic oppression.

thebaffler.com

Morning reading #4 Lastly, I’ve been sitting with this since yesterday. I’ll have more to say than I can fit in here, but it’s important to see metrics showing how far gone MAGA is. www.politico.com/news/2026/07...

Poll: Trump’s MAGA voters would stick by a candidate through the most serious of scandals

Most of President Donald Trump’s MAGA base say they’d still vote for a GOP candidate when confronted with an array of scandals — more so than Republican voters writ large or Democrats.

politico.com

Morning reading #3 Moreno’s daughter and granddaughter don’t deserve this and while Moreno is himself execrable in many ways, neither does he. Miller is an abusive chud and shouldn’t be confirmed for any position. www.publicnotice.co/p/max-miller...

The right-wing bubble seals in the GOP with Max Miller

Live by the Fox hit, die by the Fox hit.

publicnotice.co

Morning reading #2 www.commondreams.org/opinion/trum... Thanks, Donald. Great company we’re in (“alongside Guinea-Bissau, Israel, Liberia, Moldova, the Philippines, and Zimbabwe.”) That sucking sound is the last of US credibility going down the drain.

Trump Is Rolling Back So Many Workers' Rights, He's Placed the US on a Watchlist | Common Dreams

​The inclusion of the United States on the International Trade Union Confederation's Watchlist serves as a troubling indicator of the country’s current state of affairs.

commondreams.org

Morning reading #1 www.contrariannews.org/p/trump-choo... With these dolts, La plus ça change…

Trump Searching for a Way Out to Confirm Blanche

Cornyn and Tillis disgrace themselves

contrariannews.org

Hey all! Before I sign off, 🎩 tip to @crankyoldcrackpot.bsky.social for posting Brenda’s post about her starter pack that she can’t share a link to (& thanks to Mike for making it work)! Seriously, this is an awesome pack and I can’t stress enough what an excellent way to support one another it is!

Kinley 🦋 Brenda@bluthrunthru.bsky.social · 4d ago

Starter Pack #42 to show my appreciation for the wonderful #BreakfastCrew Let’s lift each other up and build the Resistance!! 💪 💙💙💙 Thank you Mike for posting this. I’m unable to post the link!

Another great pack of people to follow, folks! (A little alliteration never hurts, either.) May The Welsh Daffodil’s pack bring you new connections (and forward along so more can do the same)!

Tricia "The Welsh Daffodil "@thewelshtaffy24.bsky.social · 4d ago

Please follow and repost. Not in any particular order. Thank you 😊 go.bsky.app/PgDXEtA

Hey all, if you’re at all interested in Brexit-related news and/or how it relates to Ireland, or if you’re in need of just plain interesting posts, give @gylesnamopaleen.bsky.social /GylesNaMopaleen a follow. His recent post regarding the EU’s AI Act Single Information Platform is worth reading.

Thanks to @crankyoldcrackpot.bsky.social for posting @bilbow.bsky.social ‘s wonderful pack! It’s timely for me since I’ve reduced my time on social media and frankly, falling for a bit of doomscrolling myself. Cheers, all!

Wile E. Coyote's ACME Sales Rep@crankyoldcrackpot.bsky.social · 4d ago

Your feed: "Please... no more doomscrolling." 😩 Cindy: "Say no more." 😎 A brand-new Starter Pack by @bilbow.bsky.social is ready to rock your roll. Add some smiles, laughs, good people, resisters, defenders and better vibes. Doomscroll less. Laugh more. Hope more. ✨ F0LL0W👣 & REP0ST♻️

It’s been a minute, but summer’s end is fast approaching and time to hit the blockbusters. Nolan’s work is exemplary (though I’ve quibbles) and there is a major fly in the ointment addressed at the end. I’m not sure this is quite finished. If I update it, I’ll repost. In the meantime, here we go:

Just walked out of this wonderful flick and can’t agree with @nathanrabin.bsky.social more! If the daily hellscape’s got you down, check out Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass. David Wain and Ken Marino nailed it. So did Zoey Deutch and Jon Hamm! Nyuck-nyuck!

Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass is Pure Pleasure, An Instant Classic and the Funniest Movie of the Year

I loved, loved, loved this movie

nathanrabin.substack.com

I can’t do any better than this. Steve Schmidt nails it. The obit major outlets should post.

Steve Schmidt@thewarningses.bsky.social · 3w ago

Lindsey Graham was a simple, tragic man to understand. He lacked a moral core. The great empty spaces of his life were filled with an insatiable need for “relevance.” He found it as a cast member in the most malignant reality show ever made. steveschmidt.substack.com/p/lindsey-kn...

In addition to supporting Maj. Watson and joining up with defendersofourrepublic.org, check out the Removal Coalition, as well. I don’t think many folks know how strong this movement is. removalcoalition.org #RemovalCoalition #DOOR