I always say that there are no moral victories in politics, and the violent stupidity unleashed by the MAGA trifecta has already been a disaster, BUT…
If any good can come from this episode of criminal incompetence, it would take the form of a vigorous public discussion of American values.
1/
Exit, stage left: X, formerly Twitter.
10th January 2025: https://www.uni-weimar.de/en/university/news/bauhausjournal-online/titel/universities-and-research-institutions-leave-platform-x-formerly-twitter-united-for-diversity-fr/
"Universities and research institutions leave Platform X (formerly Twitter): United for diversity, freedom and science
"Over 60 German-speaking universities and research institutions have decided to take a stand and collectively announce their decision to cease activities on Platform X (formerly Twitter). This withdrawal comes in response to the platform's current direction, which is incompatible with the core values of the participating institutions: openness to the world, scientific integrity, transparency, and democratic discourse. …"
"Leeds becomes first Russell Group university to quit X … Elon Musk’s social media site “no longer aligns with our university values” …"
"University of Brighton, University of Sussex, and other like-minded institutions should – now – be at the UK forefront of what began in Germany. … Now. Do the right thing. Please."
#diversity #freedom #science #integrity #transparency #democracy #discourse #openness #universities #research #UK #Leeds #German #Germany #Deutschland #ElonMusk #X #Twitter
Just watched @mariaressa.bsky.social’s powerful speech on how decentralization of information is essential to preserving democracy and the rule of law. 💡
This is a must-watch for anyone who cares about the future of journalism, free speech, and digital rights:
🎥 Maria Ressa at WJF2025 https://youtu.be/3cqQn4d79KE
What stood out to me: Centralized platforms are inherently at odds with democratic values. While Bluesky is a step up from Twitter, the real heroes are those already in the #Fediverse—you’re building the future we need! 👏
Maria’s argument that decentralized, open systems are the only way to safeguard truth feels more urgent than ever. If the internet is controlled by a few corporations, how can we trust the information shaping our democracies?
The #Fediverse—of which #Mastodon is a part—is fully free and open-source, as beautifully explained by @_elena in this video:
🎥 About the Fediverse: https://youtu.be/YRJHIJy5Nno
To those already here: THANK YOU for being part of this movement! 🙌 Now, let’s spread the word—invite others to join the Fediverse. Here are some instances to share:
🔗 https://hear-me.social/invites
🔗 https://mastodon.social/invites
🔗 https://mstdn.social/invites
🔗 https://mastodon.cloud/invites
🔗 https://mas.to/invites
🔗 https:// (your feddi home) /invites
Remember: Anyone can host their own server—that’s the power of decentralization! It’s resistant to censorship in ways even Bluesky can’t match.
For a deeper dive into how decentralization fights censorship, read Cory Doctorow’s excellent piece:
📖 “Too Many Throats to Choke” https://pluralistic.net/2025/09/16/too-many-throats-to-choke/ by @pluralistic
Maria Ressa’s fight against Duterte’s regime shows change is possible. Her appearance on The Daily Show connects the dots between platform monopolies, misinformation, and democracy’s erosion—and offers hope:
🎥 Maria on The Daily Show https://youtu.be/Tsb1I7hqaJ4
To those already in the Fediverse: You’re the backbone of a free and open internet. What’s one step you’re taking to grow this community? (For me, Using Mastodon nearly dally and it’s sharing technical knowledge with those who need it.)
Let’s keep building a web that’s ours—one that resists tyranny and protects democracy. 💪
#Democracy #RuleOfLaw #MariaRessa #Journalism #Decentralization #Fediverse #Mastodon #MediaFreedom #TechEthics #FreePress #WorldJusticeForum #DecentralizeTheWeb
"During its first 100 days, as the Trump administration has dismantled the Education Department, one of its biggest targets has been the civil rights arm. Now, Education Secretary Linda McMahon is “reorienting” what’s left of it." #education #democracy #uspol https://www.propublica.org/article/education-department-civil-rights-donald-trump-discrimination?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=propublica-mastodon&utm_content=ben
Senior #State Department official sought internal communications with #journalists, #European officials, & Trump #critics
#Trump appointee Darren Beattie requested records regarding a large list of high-profile names, organizations, & #RightWing buzzwords for a “#TwitterFiles” style document dump about alleged conservative censorship.
#law #FirstAmendment #FreeSpeech #FreePress #privacy #InfoSec #democracy #RevengePolitics
https://www.technologyreview.com/2025/05/01/1115988/senior-state-department-official-sought-internal-communications-with-journalists-european-officials-and-trump-critics/
What does a #military #hero look like?
Lt. Gen. #KwakJongkeun
"I was ordered... to pull people inside the National Assembly building outside... I did not fulfill that task even though I knew it would be insubordination because based on my judgment, dragging lawmakers out was clearly an illegal act"
When asked what orders he gave to his unit, the commander said he prohibited giving live ammunition to individual soldiers
🫡🎖️
Tired of their political theater? Dem & Rep hand-in-hand uphold a system that grinds you down for profit. They serve capital, not people. Break from their game! Build real power together. Explore communism – for us, by us. #BeyondTheirSystem #WorkersUnite #democrats #republicans #democracy
A template for WHOMEVER needs it.....
-- Edit: fixed some formality language, because yeah it definitely matters! --
Dear (Associate, Chief) Justice (Roberts is Chief, all others are Associate Justices')
No on should be above the law. Reverse Blanket Immunity for the president. He is not fulfilling his oath of office, he is defying Supreme court orders and also not abiding by the US Constitution.
{I always sign, put my home town, state and USA}
Address to send card to;
Associate Justice Alito (or whichever judge the card is for, Chief Justice for Roberts)
Supreme Court
1 First Street NE
Washington DC, 20543
"shattering those party fortresses could help take some of the steam out of efforts to ramp up separatist sentiment." https://www.thecanadianpressnews.ca/politics/no-more-blue-wall-red-wall-how-electoral-reform-could-stop-regional-election-sweeps/article_954800c6-751e-5d9c-ae3b-b64f513017ba.html
#cdnpoli #abpoli #skpoli #electoralReform #Democracy #EveryVoteCounts
Freedom House awarded its 2025 Beacon Award to the government and civil society of Taiwan for their "steadfast efforts to protect their own vibrant democracy, and to support the global struggle for freedom, in the face of escalating pressure from the Chinese Communist Party."
https://freedomhouse.org/article/freedom-house-announces-2025-award-recipients
North Carolina Supreme Court Blocked Certification of a Justice’s Win. Activists Fear It’s “Dangerous for Democracy.”
—
The move gives the court time to consider a challenge by Republican Jefferson Griffin, who has cited debunked legal theories in his previous failed attempts to block Justice Allison Riggs’ reelection.
Red State Voters Approved Progressive Measures. GOP Lawmakers Are Trying to Undermine Them.
—
In the wake of ballot measures that increased abortion access and improved sick leave for workers, a coordinated effort is unfolding across the country to restrict direct democracy — and shift power to partisan legislatures.
https://www.propublica.org/article/red-state-ballot-initiatives-gop-republicans-florida-missouri?utm_source=mastodon&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=mastodon-post
#News #GOP #Republican #Law #Democracy #USPolitics #Abortion #Labor
Continuing my efforts to put my money where my mouth is - I just donated to @ProPublica for their amazing work doing actual journalism.
If you haven't been donating to organizations helping American democracy, and have the resources to do so, do it.
You'll be amazed at how good it feels!
Must read explainer on Taiwan's constitutional crisis by Kharis Templeman
"...the current confrontation is a foreseeable consequence of Taiwan's constitutional framework, which despite going through several rounds of reforms is still an awkward mash-up of presidential and parliamentary features that isn't well-designed to handle periods of divided government."
https://www.kharistempleman.com/blog/taiwan-is-on-the-verge-of-a-constitutional-crisis
NEW REPORT: UK Political Parties' canvassing apps threaten voter privacy with security vulnerabilities and commercially owned infrastructure.
Data is driving elections, deciding how to focus efforts and target messaging. We lose in a data arms race.
Read more ⬇️
#dataprotection #GDPR #data #democracy #ukpolitics #politicalparties #labour #conservatives #libdems #privacy
The biggest winner in this #election has been #oligarchy. #Oligarchs came out openly against #democracy and used every trick in the book to divide the American people against one another so they can rule us more directly than they have ever done in the modern era. They control #CorporateMedia and they will now strengthen their control in DC.
We have been on the road to oligarchy for a long time, and 11/5/24 will be as big a milestone on it as 1/21/10 when the Citizens United ruling was issued.
This week the US government was overthrown by a white nationalist christo-fascist authoritarian regime, and the media, the military, and Wall Street just sat back and let it happen.
That's where we are, and anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is lying.
https://roberthubbell.substack.com/p/call-it-by-its-name-a-coup
I donated to @ProPublica
https://give.propublica.org/give/346423/#!/donation/checkout?c_src=UpRed
They are doing necessary and thorough journalism.
Far better than other outlets.
I support their contribution to democracy.
https://www.blueamp.co/p/the-us-can-survive-without-almost #news #politics #trump #donaldtrump #elonmusk #musk #us #usa #eu #europe #america #china #russia #ukraine #canada #video #tech #uk #writing #ai #tv #fascism #france #democracy #germany #substack #cliffsedge #blueamp #cliffschecter #davidhuster #briankarem #cliffsnote
Stop using Big Tech to organize your protests! They're part of the authoritarian surveillance and oppression as well.
✊ Replace Meetup/Facebook Groups with Mobilizon:
https://mobilizon.org
📄 Replace Google Docs with CryptPad:
https://cryptpad.fr
📍 Replace Google Map with Organic Maps:
https://organicmaps.app
🎞️ Replace YouTube with PeerTube:
https://joinpeertube.org
📧 Replace Gmail and Google Calendar with Proton or Tuta:
https://proton.me
https://tuta.com
🕸️ Create a simple html website with no tracking and no cookies, and post links to it everywhere, including paper posters and stickers.
We can organize without Big Tech. We have done it for centuries before! 
#Protest #Democracy #DigitalRights #HumanRights #Privacy #MassSurveillance
"3 mos ago 325,000 Serbians took Belgrade (some estimates had many more). That’s 5% of the pop taking on Serbian Pres Vučić's autocracy
If we show up similarly to protest our rubber-chicken #fascist, that's 17MM. How about 15MM of us do this? 𝐅𝐈𝐅𝐓𝐄𝐄𝐍"
READ/TURN OUT! https://www.blueamp.co/p/15-million-vs-one-wannabe-king-america #protest #usa #nokings #la #losangeles #donaldtrump #trump #california #us #nato #america #unitedstates #canada #uk #ai #france #germany #tech #immigration #eu #tv #fascism #democracy #video #writing
Even as late as 1912 A.D., the great mass of the people still persisted in the belief that they ruled the country by virtue of their ballots. In reality, the country was ruled by what were called 'political machines'. At first the machine bosses charged the master capitalists extortionate tolls for legislation; but in short time the master capitalists found it cheaper to own the political machines themselves and to hire the machine bosses. - Jack London, The Iron Heel
From @jackhutton
"It’s always right wing violence. It is always attacks on Democrats—the right wing, Fox, OAN, Murdoch, Musk are terrorists. "
Me: Add the so called leader to the list of terrorists as well as all GOP lawmakers and admin secretaries like #KristiNoem who paint Dems as the enemy.
Jamie Raskin, a leading Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, stated that the bill seeks to strip courts of their power to hold the administration in contempt when the President violates court orders.
#fascism #constitution #trump #meme #democracy
Here's our issues for today! Call your reps and do more at: https://www.5calls.org/
* Oppose Trump Attorney Emil Bove for Federal Court Judge.
* We still need to reign in Trump's war powers [if calling Senate: S.J.Res. 59 / if calling House: H.Con.Res. 38]
* Condemn Trump and Miller's attack on immigrants, California - and block every action they can.
* RFK and Kristi Noem must resign for their incompetence and cruelty.
* (House) Oppose the GENIUS crypto scam act.
* (Senate) Oppose HR the "One Big Beautiful Bill" Act.
For your rep here: https://www.house.gov/representatives/find-your-representative
For your Senators:
Senator Schiff: 202-224-3841
Senator Padilla: 202-224-3553 (Fresno 559-497-5109 and Sacramento 916-448-2787)
Governor Newsom: 916-445-2841
#politics #democrats #democracy #california #santaclara #USPol #CAPol
