Notices by Maria (mariahill@progressivecafe.social)

The most on-brand Kash Patel thing I can think of (ignorant of his host country's laws, thoughtless about the consequences of his actions, 3D-printed guns are great!) is giving foregn officials illegal weapons.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/trump-administration/fbi-kash-patel-new-zealand-illegal-printed-guns-gift-rcna234624

@TonyStark It's better for him to be on vacation than to be doing anything related to policy and I hope he hears boos everywhere he goes. I will laugh forever at the videos of him getting booed at Disneyland.

But this welfare king is a massive hypocrite. He's exactly the same as someone receiving a housing choice voucher, SNAP, and Medicaid, except someone receiving those benefits is certainly working unless they are elderly, disabled, or doing unpaid caretaking work while he's on vacation.

@TonyStark I like Hunter Biden better than all of them.

@TonyStark @humourmetom South Africa probably isn't interested either. Trump had to accept "refugees," the few people who actually supported him.

@Tengrain @TonyStark "I heard the dog whistle and it didn't say white people were getting deported!"

Foxes in the chicken coop.

You don't have to be a someone waving a thin blue line flag to know that having FBI agents or DOJ employees who encourage people to kill police officers is a terrible idea.

Not only did Trump pardon the worst of the insurrectionists, but now he's filling his administration with them.

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2025/7/2/2331321/-Ex-FBI-agent-accused-of-urging-to-kill-cops-on-Jan-6-joins-Trump-s-DOJ

@TonyStark I've worked with immigrants as colleagues, clients, and students. I have no idea what their legal status was, because why would you need to know about anyone who isn't your close family member or friend who might need you to help them navigate systems? You know what I've never done? Voted for a candidate who threatened to detain or deport anyone in my circle or their family.

@TonyStark Diapers are expensive but unlike the average American family affected by the Republican budget, I'm sure Elon isn't worried about affording them.

Or about how he'll pay for rehab now that he's lost his federal job. He's not getting kicked off Medicaid and it won't be a problem for him that he can't reach a person about it because someone fired them all.

If Republicans in Congress spend their time on ridiculous messaging bills like renaming WMATA (Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority clearly explains its purpose) WMAGA, it's better than coming up with harmfull bills. We'd never call it the Trump Train with anything but derision even if they changed the iconic M to a T. It would just look like Boston's logo. We'd call it Metro anyway.

These are unserious people who would rename the country MAGA if they could.

https://www.independent.co.uk/politics/trump-train-dc-metro-name-change-b2760781.html

A little malicious compliance in Salt Lake City. Here's one way to sidestep a law that forbids Pride and Juneteenth flags.

https://www.ksl.com/article/51308163/salt-lake-city-adopts-3-new-flags-to-bypass-new-state-flag-law

@TonyStark If you ever want to explain how antisemitism works, I can think of no better example than targeting an American Jewish governor for the Israeli government's actions.

It's not even the point, but Josh Shapiro has called Netanyahu “one of the worst leaders of all time.”

Interesting that House Homeland Security Chair Rep. Mark Green is so concerned about not spending taxpayer money on a CODEL to investigate abuse of prisoners rendered to El Salvador, but not about the American tax money being spent to imprison them there in the first place.

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/17/house-republicans-democrats-el-salvador-trips

A 6th grader participating in the National Civics Bee argued against banning books with LGBTQ characters or offensive language in secondary school libraries.

State Sen. Dave Argall, a contest judge, thought it appropriate to ask the 12-year-old if kindergartners should have access to porn. The student had to ask him what he was talking about. (She asked without guile, but maybe we should all ask Republicans what they're talking about when they ask stupid questions.)

https://www.republicanherald.com/2025/04/17/civics-bee-question-stirs-controversy/

Trump and Salvadoran President Bukele each claim they are unable to bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia back to the USA and now the Trump admin says it wasn't a mistake to deport him and it would just send him right back.

Senator Van Hollen is sick of Trump defying a federal judge and says he will go to El Salvador himself to check on his constituent and discuss his release.

This is real leadership. If you're a Marylander, here's a worthwhile call to your senator.

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2025/04/14/kilmar-abrego-garcia-chris-van-hollen/?share=ehcmaic2csw4tlwhealh

@TonyStark "Oopsie" is how Trump's buddy, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele described Trump's violation of the judge's injunction. The Trump admin claimed the planes were already on their way to El Salvador. The admin should have had the planes turned around and did not.

Trump claims the Venezuelans are gang members with no proof. That's how fascism works. Declare someone an enemy and you can do whatever you want to them.

I'm sure it will shock everyone that the Trump admin DOJ's lawyers weren't competent to argue its new position in federal court. The judge had to call a recess so that the attorneys could go read the policy they were defending. Shocker #2: Hegseth "egregiously misquoted" the studies they were relying on to argue their position. The studies actually say that trans troops are more ready and more deployable than a comparison population not excluded from service.

https://newrepublic.com/post/192657/judge-military-trans-ban-trial-lawyers-incompetence

The USA does not want tourists or visitors from countries that are our purported allies. Here's a story about a German citizen detained at the border, accused of living in the United States based on zero evidence. His fiancée, an American citizen, was put in shackles also for no reason and told she didn't have the right to a lawyer when she asked for one.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/german-tourist-detained-by-ice-while-visiting-fiancee-experience-nobody-wants/

How 1984. An Idaho teacher’s “Everyone is welcome here” poster violates the right to express differing beliefs in public schools – a school district code that follows “respect the dignity of others.”

Local news is covering how impossible it is for a teacher when “everyone is welcome” becomes verboten, though the reporter isn’t calling it out as fascism. She’s brave to go to the news.

https://youtu.be/Jv18DtVhLmk?si=lB-wBKGqfKTuB29I

I don't think I've ever been so embarrassed and ashamed for my country as I was a few minutes ago while watching the USA's head of state tell Ukraine's to be more grateful.

It's an almost unbelievable projection for Trump to say that Zelenskyy is the one "gambling with World War III."

https://www.bbc.com/news/live/c625ex282zzt

@MJ Happy Black History Month!

Everyone, regardless of your ethnic background, should celebrate the achievements of Black people who have to do more to be recognized. There are all kinds of cool events everywhere this month. I'm going to one tomorrow. This is just a short list in a few cities. You'll probably have to search for your own since I ran out of space.

https://www.washingtonian.com/2024/01/25/ways-to-celebrate-black-history-month-in-the-dc-area/

https://billypenn.com/2025/01/30/family-friendly-and-children-oriented-black-history-month-events/

https://secretnyc.co/museum-exhibits-black-history-month/

https://chicagodefender.com/your-guide-to-chicagos-black-history-month-events-exhibits-and-celebrations/

https://www.pittsburghmagazine.com/black-history-month-events-pittsburgh/