That couldn’t be more ominous if it was accompanied by O Fortuna.
AND NOW THE NEWS
#489
February 24, 2025
We’re five weeks into fascism, and that’s no exaggeration. Every edict from the Very White House is designed to strengthen Trump’s power, injure his enemies, and silence his critics.
There may be some moral line the Republicans are unwilling to cross, but I’ve seen no evidence of it. There are simply no constraints on Trump, his handlers, his backers, and his political party.
I’m not a pundit, can’t write this as eloquently as George F Will wouldn’t, but it’s terrifying. The Republicans are openly Nazis now, sieg heil and everything. The long bluff of Democrats as an opposition party has ended, so the fight will be our puny protests, until protests are banned, and then — I’m not sure what.
Civil right for trans people will probably be the first to go. After that, Trump’s gang will end marriage and adoption rights for gays and lesbians, illegalize abortion pills, and endorse violence against protesters. All that seems obvious.
Once emboldened by these successes, though, there’s no guessing what else awaits. The only certainty is that March will be worse than February, April will be worse than March, and 2026 will be worse than 2025.
What to do about it? That’s the question, ain’t it.
Trump’s DC US Attorney launches “Project Whirlwind” to investigate critics for their speech
LGBTQ federal workers brace for a McCarthyist purge
The Trump administration’s attacks on ‘DEI’ are aimed at reversing the civil-rights movement
Missouri bill would create registry of pregnant women “at risk” of having an abortion
Anxiety mounts among Social Security recipients as ‘DOGE’ troops settle in
New Social Security chief was being investigated for illegally sharing data with Musk
WAR ON SCIENCE AND SAFETY
Trump bars federal scientists from working on pivotal global climate report
Musk’s sabotage team is laying off workers at the auto safety agency overseeing his car company
Trump halts medical research funding in apparent violation of judge’s order
Trump and Elon’s ‘pointless bloodbath’ at the FAA is even worse than you think
Alarm as bird flu now ‘endemic in cows’ while Trump cuts staff and funding
USAID appointees fire hundreds working on urgent humanitarian aid
FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF DYSTOPIA
‘The tyranny of apps’: those without smartphones are unfairly penalized, say campaigners
All this is true. Having tech like this as more and more a requirement is scary, totalitarian sci-fi stuff, and it would be a truly serious problem if there was a future.
As Facebook abandons fact-checking, it’s also offering bonuses for viral content
OUR FRIENDS, THE DEMOCRATS
Democrats want their opposition party to get loud. Bernie and AOC are trying to help
The Republicans are fascists, but we knew that coming in. I thought the Dems were wimpy allies, but it’s worse than that. They’re collaborators. Neville Chamberlain lives again.
They’ll never see another nickel from me, and their lukewarm corporate-friendly clichémongering candidates will never again have my vote.
But that’s moot, of course. There won’t be elections in our fascist future.
Democratic Party leadership refuses to offer any serious opposition to a billionaire coup
Democratic leaders stand real still in hopes no one notices them
GOOD NEWS, BUT NOT MUCH OF IT
Trump kisses Elon Musk’s feet in video displayed at HUD headquarters
Climate protesters disrupt Comptroller Brad Lander’s keynote speech at Law School
That’s the way it is,
and it sucks.
2/24/2025
Logo illustration by Jeff Meyer. Tip ‘o the hat to the Anderson Valley Advertiser, Bleepity-Bleep, Voenix Rising, and anywhere else I’ve stolen links, illustrations, or inspiration.
Special thanks to Linden Arden, Becky Jo, Joey Jo Jo emeritus, Jeff Meyer, John the Basket, Dave S, Name Withheld, and always extra special thanks to my lovely late Stephanie, who gave me 21 years and proved that the world isn’t always shitty.
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