#GiftArticle

‘People Are Going Silent’: Fearing #Retribution, #Trump Critics Muzzle Themselves

The #silence grows louder every day

Fired #FederalWorkers worried about losing their homes ask not to be quoted by name. #University presidents fearing that millions in federal #funding could disappear are holding their fire. Chief execs alarmed by #tariffs that could hurt their businesses are on mute.

#law #FreeSpeech #democracy #USpol #autocracy #authoritarianism #dissent
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/03/06/us/politics/trump-democracy.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare&sgrp=p&pvid=8DC43EDF-B11C-44E1-8C72-A910E200F459

I’m not a psychologist.

But Trump’s malignant narcissism seems plain.

I’m not a lawyer.

But the collapse of checks and balances and the resultant constitutional crisis seems plain.

I’m not an economist.

But the hollowing out of the public sector for the benefit of corporations and billionaires seems plain.

I am an historian.

And the convergence of these forces has never ended well.

Midnight in America.

#uspol #democracy #fascism

Trump stated on social media that he would kill all the people of #Gaza. Biden was different in that he was committed to doing the same thing but claimed he wasn’t doing it.

#Politics #Democrats #Republicans #Liberals #Conservatives #Vote #Election #DemocraticParty #DNC #RepublicanParty #RNC #VoteBlue #DonaldTrump #Trump #JDVance #Vance #JoeBiden #Biden #KamalaHarris #Harris #TimWalz #Walz #ElonMusk #Musk #Democracy #UnitedStates #USA

#Boycotts: When #billionaires weep, they get nostalgic about #democracy.

https://www.cnet.com/tech/economic-blackout-asks-you-to-boycott-amazon-for-a-week/

#unplugtrump #amazon #fascism

#joekernen and #CNBC say #Democrats should roll over and help #republicans fix #Republican problems.
#Squakbox

Tell Republicans to keep shooting themselves and #Democracy on 5th avenue.

Republicans lost the middle class #economy.
#investing
#premarket
#inflation
#election2026
#2026election

#billionaire #twitter #unplugTrump #democracy #meta #fediverse

Unimaginable a few weeks ago. But here we are. French university offering refuge to US scholars.

“It targets, but is not limited to, climate and environment, health, and human and social sciences.”

#democracy #science

https://www.404media.co/french-university-to-fund-american-scientists-who-fear-trump-censorship/

X might be a cesspool, but it's a cesspool with excellent community notes!

‘US is #1 supporter of dictatorships around be world’ 👏

#BernieSanders #US #Dictatorship #Democracy #UShistory

Where are the times that, when the president of a country claims the #annexation of parts of another sovereign kingdom, that immediately would lead to recalling the ambassador and severing all diplomatic ties. Really curious what #mexico's #PlanD is all about.

#greenland #resistance #50501protests #usmaffia #bullying #geopolitics #europe #gaslighting #solidarity #krasnov #democracy #authoritarian #trumpregime #SecuringOurFuture #canada #mexico #tarifs #jddunce

So, I'm looking over #LawrenceBritt 's #CharacteristicsOfFascism and we're pretty much there here in the good ol' #USA. All 14 of them! And the sad part is that some voters sat out the 2024 US elections, or voted for #Trump, even though #Project2025 was public knowledge. Like I said to a fella who was mocking my protest signs as BS, "You'll find out soon enough." I'm pretty sure he was a veteran. Yup. Thanks for NOT defending #Democracy by voting for #Fascism. #USPol
https://kolektiva.social/@DoomsdaysCW/110832318168556366

National Endowment for Democracy Deletes Records of Funding Projects in Ukraine

The NED played a pivotal role in helping to trigger the conflict with Russia by supporting two color revolutions directed against Ukraine’s pro-Russian (not really - note mine) leader Viktor #Yanukovych — a potential successor to Vlodymyr #Zelensky if Russia wins.

The 2004 color revolution replaced Yanukovych with Viktor Yushchenko, who favored admitting Ukraine to NATO and adopted an International Monetary Fund (IMF) structural adjustment program that benefitted U.S. investors while cutting social programs.

NED activists employed a broad public relations strategy that included: a) busing paid out-of-town protesters into Kyiv; b) creating an online TV protest station and agitation paraphernalia; and c) providing offshore training to the anti-Yanukovych student leadership. The strategy was based on the writings of Gene Sharp and a template that the NED had successfully employed in Serbia with a youth group called “Otpor,” which helped secure the defeat of socialist Slobodan Milosovic in September 2000 elections.
…
As a sign of the NED’s influence, Ukrainian President Petro #Poroshenko (2014-2020)—a main beneficiary of the #Maidan coup currently awaiting trial on treason charges—bestowed the Order of Princess Olga, one of Ukraine’s highest honors, on Dr. Nadia Diuk,[42] a former vice president and senior adviser to the NED for Europe and Eurasia.

US: overt and covert destabilisation

When a scandal in the 1980s revealed the CIA’s 35 years of international manipulations, President Ronald #Reagan established the National Endowment for Democracy as a more discreet and less controversial instrument. It had the same purpose – to destabilise unfriendly governments by funding the opposition.

#NED #USA #US #american #democracy #CIA #IMF #NATO #deepstate #intelligence #NED #propaganda #fraud #psyops #ukraine #ukrainian #war against #Russia #russian #history

European democracy is not a bargaining chip. This needs to be clear in 🇪🇺🇺🇸negotiations.

The EU's Digital Services Act, Digital Markets Act, & AI Act are instruments to offer counterweight.

Europe should not sell the democratic and regulatory instruments in a deal!

#democracy #bigtech #media #DSA #trump #musk

https://www.politico.eu/article/eu-lawmakers-counter-tech-bro-washington-lobby-mark-zuckerberg-elon-musk/

The Independent:
AOC calls Elon Musk a ‘leech’ on the public

“This guy is a leech on the public. No matter how many billions he gets in tax cuts and government contracts, it will never be enough for him,” the representative wrote on X Saturday.

“Now he’s going after the elderly, the disabled, and orphaned children so he can pocket it in tax cuts for himself,” Ocasio-Cortez continued. “It’s disgusting.”
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/alexandria-ocasio-cortez-elon-musk-leech-doge-b2707377.html

#News #Politics #ElonMusk #Trump #Democracy #Democrats

🇺🇾 Uruguay has a new left-wing President Yamandú Orsi, and in his first speech, he distinguished himself clearly from Argentina's far-right, billionaire-sponsored, US puppet leader Javier Milei.

https://x.com/ArrepentidosLLA/status/1895924586644172849

https://x.com/BenjaminNorton/status/1896058613015449679

https://x.com/supply_facts/status/1895934808129478990

#uruguay
#socialism
#democracy
#humanrights
#antiimperialism
#tiktok
#blackmastodon
@blackvoices
@politics
#latinamerica
#cuba
#venezuela
#china
#brics

Tim Snyder's warning: Israel depends upon a functioning US. Trump and Musk are destroying it
#Israel #USA #Trump #Musk #Netanjahu #democracy #authoritarianism

https://www.timesofisrael.com/tim-snyders-warning-israel-depends-upon-a-functioning-us-trump-and-musk-are-destroying-it/

#AUSpol #Media #Politics #Democracy

Murkowski rebukes Trump over Ukraine: ‘Walking away from our allies’

https://www.politico.com/news/2025/03/01/trump-zelenskyy-meeting-lisa-murkowski-00206874

The Alaska senator’s statement was a rare note of dissent from a Republican.

“I am sick to my stomach as the administration appears to be walking away from our allies and embracing Putin, a threat to democracy and U.S. values around the world,” the Alaskan wrote in a Saturday afternoon post to X.

KEWL🌀NEWS

#MURKOWSKI #TRUSSIA #GOP #REPUBLICANS #DEMOCRACY #TWITTER #PUTIN #RUSSIA #TRUMP #PRESS

Zelensky told the American people no ocean will protect them against Putin.

He’s one hundred percent correct.

We’ve been invaded and our Republic has been toppled, functionally speaking.

America is getting its first taste of regime change.

That’s your headline.

#uspol #democracy #fascism

This is how news article should be presented, with references to the source.

Lets all try to rise to this standard.

#democracy is more than how we vote.
#journalism #news #facts

“Britain’s Secret Overseas Meddling Machine”

by Kit Klarenberg in Al Mayadeen English

“The #Westminster #Foundation for #Democracy (#WFD), a British #intelligence #cutout, covertly funds and orchestrates political destabilization and regime change efforts worldwide under the guise of democracy promotion”

https://english.almayadeen.net/articles/analysis/britain-s-secret-overseas-meddling-machine

#Press #UK #Britain #Destabilization #RegimeChange #NED #CIA #ForeignOffice #Interference #MI6 #Infiltration #Milosevic #Ukraine #Revolution #Lebanon #Hezbollah

Telnaes!
Donald Trump's Washington Post-
#WaPo #Journalism #Censorship #Democracy

🔥 This email from @TheGuardian on Bezos' direct interference with the contents of WaPo ... 🎤💥

"The Guardian will never take editorial direction from our billionaire owner – because thankfully, we don't have one. Instead, we rely on supporters like you to fund our truly independent work."

#democracy #pressfreedom #journalism
@journalismscholars

#israel : #repression / #ngos / #dissent / #democracy

https://www.btselem.org/about_btselem/20250224_the_israeli_government_is_trying_to_destroy_human_rights_organizations

I'd hate to abandon the many talented journalists doing such a vital work in the newsroom of the Washington Post. At the same time, I feel a moral duty to immediately cancel my subscription.
Ironically, the personal liberties and the free markets that Bezos decided to champion so vehemently give consumers like you and me the last word and, ultimately, considerable power, should a sufficient number of us choose to exercise it.

#WaPo #journalism #democracy #freedom #USPolitics

So it was widely reported that around half of young people are distrustful of democracy, and relaxed about the prospects of dictatorship or autocracy.... well, it turns out, while that was a good story, that was exactly what it is; a story.

Certainly young people may not think democracy works that well for them, but that's not the same as rejecting it; what they want is for it to work better!

So let's get on with improving democracy...

#democracy #politics

https://theconversation.com/only-6-of-gen-z-actually-favour-dictatorship-not-half-as-some-reports-would-have-you-believe-250945

“Jeff Bezos is muzzling the Washington Post’s opinion section. That’s a death knell” writes Margaret Sullivan in @guardian.
“Bezos no longer wants to own an independent news organization. He wants a megaphone and a political tool that will benefit his own commercial interests.
It’s appalling. And, if you care about the role of the press in America’s democracy, it’s tragic.”

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2025/feb/26/jeff-bezos-washington-post-opinion

#WaPo #journalism #democracy

Remember when you showed up at a public golf club and they suddenly said today is a private event but you found out later that the White friends you thought you had came back later and played without you?

Happened to people close to me.
Why am I on this?
Because the White House Correspondents Association has not announced a full boycott of WH press briefings until AP, Huff. Post and NYTimes reporters get reinstated.

Autocracy requires compliance.
#media #trump #democracy

For an administration that lectures the world, Europe in particular, about democracy and free speech, it is rather stunning what is done to stiffle free press.

Press freedom is already low in the US (ranked 55). The administration works hard to reduce freedom further

#pressfreedom #democracy #journalism

https://www.reuters.com/world/us/white-house-takes-control-press-pool-covering-trump-2025-02-25/

All-Caps moron's ego-masturbating in need of someone calling him a "gentleman" — which he feels compelled to do himself.

Tragicomedy with no fun factor!

#AmericaDeservesBetter #AmericaHasBetter #HarrisWalz #Democracy #YouMatter #YourVoiceMatters #RaiseYourVoice

feel free to use this image to advertise Mastodon in your other social networks!

#billionaires #depression #mentalhealth #socialmedia #mastodon #democracy #activism

As Alex Mair @BylinesNetwork points out (on LinkedIn):

'20% of the German electorate have voted AfD, then the AfD have run into a wall & have proven themselves incapable of expanding their electoral coalition beyond that. If legacy media spent half the time discussing why these right-wing populist parties struggle to get over 20% of the vote, why a significant chunk of the electorate will not vote for them, would be a much better use of their time & ours'!

#Germany #Right #democracy #media

USAID freeze opens door to Russian influence in Eastern Europe https://www.politico.eu/article/usaid-freeze-russia-influence-eastern-europe-georgia-ukraine-moldova-belarus-ngo-media/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication #Energyinfrastructure #Aidanddevelopment #Electionsecurity #ForeignAffairs #Transparency #Development #Humanrights #Democracy #Elections #RuleofLaw #Security #Politics #Media #NGOs

"Red Dawn is a bad movie. Bad in a special, sincere kind of way."

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2025/feb/24/american-violence-gaza-omar-el-akkad

#USpol #Trump #Europe #MiddleEast #Gaza #Democracy

Vogt am Freitag: Das Recht zu beleidigen - Das Netz ist politisch https://dnip.ch/2025/02/21/vogt-am-freitag-das-recht-zu-beleidigen/ #SocialMedia #Hassrede #HateSpeech #Zensur #censorship #Meinungsfreiheit #FreeSpeech #Journalismus #journalism #Demokratie #democracy #FakeNews #Desinformationen #Desinformation

Inhaltswarnung: #Demokratie #USA #uspol Zum Öffnen/Schließen klicken

For those non-voters who wanted to send a message to Biden and the Democrats: not only did you f@ck it up for the people of Palestine, you gave the Ukraine to Russia and totally f@cked your own country.

Well done, dumbasses. Well done.

#america #palestine #ukraine #democrats #democracy #biden #fascism

Having grown up in environments dominated by extreme religious ideologies, I'm deeply concerned about the growing power of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) in US politics.

We must advocate for separation of church and state and protect democratic values. Let's work together to counter extremism and promote an inclusive society. #Democracy #Inclusion

https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2025/02/new-apostolic-reformation-christian-movement-trump/681092/

Extreme-right party Alternative for Germany (AfD) celebrates a record second-place result of 20.8% after the election in Germany. How much did Elon Musk's support contribute to their success? Today's cartoon by GAL. More cartoons: https://www.cartoonmovement.com/search?query=&sort=created&order=desc

#Germany #AfD #ElonMusk #democracy

#MarcElias slays #Musk: "I am the great-grandson of a man who led his family out of the shtetl to a strange land in search of a better life. I am the grandson of the three-year-old boy on that journey. As you know, my English name is Marc, but my Hebrew name is Elhanan (אֶלְחָנָן) — after the great warrior in David’s army who slew a powerful giant. I will litigate to defend voting rights until there are no cases left to bring."

https://www.democracydocket.com/opinion/my-open-letter-to-elon-musk/

#USPol
#Democracy
#VotingRights