Brad | Toward a Better Union
@towardabetterunion.bsky.social
Civic resilience, democratic norms, and constitutional balance.
Healing through good-faith dialogue.
Toward a better union.
Healing through good-faith dialogue.
Toward a better union.
Yes, these are wild times, and the post uses inflammatory language. But it’s not just about tone. He publicly vowed retaliation against Colorado.
Now, his first veto this term concerns a major water project (H.R. 131) for the state. Pure vindictiveness and abuse of power.
Now, his first veto this term concerns a major water project (H.R. 131) for the state. Pure vindictiveness and abuse of power.
She’s exactly where she deserves to be, but how wild is it that the President of the United States is wishing citizens the worst and wants them to rot in hell?
Wild times, folks…
Wild times, folks…
December 31, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Yes, these are wild times, and the post uses inflammatory language. But it’s not just about tone. He publicly vowed retaliation against Colorado.
Now, his first veto this term concerns a major water project (H.R. 131) for the state. Pure vindictiveness and abuse of power.
Now, his first veto this term concerns a major water project (H.R. 131) for the state. Pure vindictiveness and abuse of power.
There’s real value in condemning racism within your own coalition; that’s how norms can be formed and strengthened.
However, when repudiation appears only at moments of political convenience, it is less principle and more self-serving opportunism.
Consistency is key.
However, when repudiation appears only at moments of political convenience, it is less principle and more self-serving opportunism.
Consistency is key.
Until Ramaswamy reckons with his own role in fostering MAGA racism in America, his sudden profession of clarity on the issue will not come across as moral leadership. It will read as just one more self-serving political play.
When It Comes to Race, Vivek Ramaswamy Is No Moral Leader
The Ohio gubernatorial candidate’s political marriage of convenience with MAGA racists lasted until it became inconvenient.
lnk.thebulwark.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:23 AM
There’s real value in condemning racism within your own coalition; that’s how norms can be formed and strengthened.
However, when repudiation appears only at moments of political convenience, it is less principle and more self-serving opportunism.
Consistency is key.
However, when repudiation appears only at moments of political convenience, it is less principle and more self-serving opportunism.
Consistency is key.
Kavanaugh declares “No Go” on “Kavanaugh Stops.”
December 25, 2025 at 3:45 AM
Kavanaugh declares “No Go” on “Kavanaugh Stops.”
History shows authoritarians can survive deep unpopularity. What they can’t survive is institutional resistance (courts, press, civil service, legislatures). We must find ways to protect and reinforce these institutions now before polling becomes irrelevant.
December 23, 2025 at 3:17 PM
History shows authoritarians can survive deep unpopularity. What they can’t survive is institutional resistance (courts, press, civil service, legislatures). We must find ways to protect and reinforce these institutions now before polling becomes irrelevant.
Randomizing infants to delayed or withheld standard care when the benefit is already well proven offers little new knowledge and is ethically indefensible.
December 17, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Randomizing infants to delayed or withheld standard care when the benefit is already well proven offers little new knowledge and is ethically indefensible.
Manufacturing, transportation, and construction are highly sensitive to trade policy. This BLS data shows those sectors now pulling blue-collar employment into decline. Tariffs don’t explain everything but they do raise costs, delay investment, and disproportionately affect the blue collar workers.
The US is losing blue-collar jobs for the first time since the pandemic—year-on-year job losses have hit 65k as manufacturing, transportation, & mining industries lose jobs at a rapid pace while growth in construction has nearly zeroed out
December 17, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Manufacturing, transportation, and construction are highly sensitive to trade policy. This BLS data shows those sectors now pulling blue-collar employment into decline. Tariffs don’t explain everything but they do raise costs, delay investment, and disproportionately affect the blue collar workers.
Yes, this post is ghoulish. It's also deranged and narcissistic.
But it is also a distraction. Performative cruelty is deployed precisely to keep attention off unlawful uses of force, Epstein-related facts, and systemic corruption.
But it is also a distraction. Performative cruelty is deployed precisely to keep attention off unlawful uses of force, Epstein-related facts, and systemic corruption.
December 15, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Yes, this post is ghoulish. It's also deranged and narcissistic.
But it is also a distraction. Performative cruelty is deployed precisely to keep attention off unlawful uses of force, Epstein-related facts, and systemic corruption.
But it is also a distraction. Performative cruelty is deployed precisely to keep attention off unlawful uses of force, Epstein-related facts, and systemic corruption.
A relatively quiet cost of this administration’s boat attack policy is moral injury.
Asking service members to carry out ethically conflicted orders risks violations of law, of course. But it also harms them by forcing actions that violate their own moral judgment and what they know is right.
Asking service members to carry out ethically conflicted orders risks violations of law, of course. But it also harms them by forcing actions that violate their own moral judgment and what they know is right.
December 15, 2025 at 4:30 PM
A relatively quiet cost of this administration’s boat attack policy is moral injury.
Asking service members to carry out ethically conflicted orders risks violations of law, of course. But it also harms them by forcing actions that violate their own moral judgment and what they know is right.
Asking service members to carry out ethically conflicted orders risks violations of law, of course. But it also harms them by forcing actions that violate their own moral judgment and what they know is right.
youtube.com/shorts/IbcLL...
Rogan is, of course, wrong about Biden having “open borders." He is parroting an oft repeated fiction.
Under Biden, millions were apprehended, hundreds of thousands deported, asylum screenings continued, detention remained in use, and expedited removals were expanded.
Rogan is, of course, wrong about Biden having “open borders." He is parroting an oft repeated fiction.
Under Biden, millions were apprehended, hundreds of thousands deported, asylum screenings continued, detention remained in use, and expedited removals were expanded.
Russell Crowe SLAMS Trump admin #russellcrowe #trump #democrats #joerogan
YouTube video by Celebs AgainstTrump
youtube.com
December 13, 2025 at 10:52 PM
youtube.com/shorts/IbcLL...
Rogan is, of course, wrong about Biden having “open borders." He is parroting an oft repeated fiction.
Under Biden, millions were apprehended, hundreds of thousands deported, asylum screenings continued, detention remained in use, and expedited removals were expanded.
Rogan is, of course, wrong about Biden having “open borders." He is parroting an oft repeated fiction.
Under Biden, millions were apprehended, hundreds of thousands deported, asylum screenings continued, detention remained in use, and expedited removals were expanded.
Reposted by Brad | Toward a Better Union
Misdiagnosing voter anger might be emotionally satisfying. But, on a positive note, it’s also a recipe for continued losing at the polls.
"Senate Democrats manipulated the American people" -- Glenn Youngkin claims Virginia swung hard to the left last month because of the government shutdown 🙃
December 12, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Misdiagnosing voter anger might be emotionally satisfying. But, on a positive note, it’s also a recipe for continued losing at the polls.
If truth is optional, power decides everything.
December 12, 2025 at 4:13 PM
If truth is optional, power decides everything.
Drones near Zelensky’s flight path should have dominated headlines.
Russia–North Korea cooperation deepens. Iran pushes its nuclear program. China Increasing Pressure on Taiwan.
Big environmental and public health reg rollbacks.
Real crises (⬆️ & more) vanish when the WH floods the zone with chaos
Russia–North Korea cooperation deepens. Iran pushes its nuclear program. China Increasing Pressure on Taiwan.
Big environmental and public health reg rollbacks.
Real crises (⬆️ & more) vanish when the WH floods the zone with chaos
December 12, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Drones near Zelensky’s flight path should have dominated headlines.
Russia–North Korea cooperation deepens. Iran pushes its nuclear program. China Increasing Pressure on Taiwan.
Big environmental and public health reg rollbacks.
Real crises (⬆️ & more) vanish when the WH floods the zone with chaos
Russia–North Korea cooperation deepens. Iran pushes its nuclear program. China Increasing Pressure on Taiwan.
Big environmental and public health reg rollbacks.
Real crises (⬆️ & more) vanish when the WH floods the zone with chaos
Liam Neeson has a particular set of skills.
Immunology is not one of them.
Immunology is not one of them.
December 11, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Liam Neeson has a particular set of skills.
Immunology is not one of them.
Immunology is not one of them.
An effective way to confront deception: direct evidence, in real time, from the person harmed.
But in an administration built on overwhelming the system, even clear wrongdoing can disappear into the noise. Accountability now depends on persistence from the press, institutions, and *esp. all of us*.
But in an administration built on overwhelming the system, even clear wrongdoing can disappear into the noise. Accountability now depends on persistence from the press, institutions, and *esp. all of us*.
In a normal administration, this would be a career-ending, weeks-long scandal
MAGAZINER: How many veterans have you deported?
NOEM: We haven't deported veterans
MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea
NOEM: We haven't deported veterans
MAGAZINER: We are now joined on Zoom by a combat veteran you deported to Korea
December 11, 2025 at 7:32 PM
An effective way to confront deception: direct evidence, in real time, from the person harmed.
But in an administration built on overwhelming the system, even clear wrongdoing can disappear into the noise. Accountability now depends on persistence from the press, institutions, and *esp. all of us*.
But in an administration built on overwhelming the system, even clear wrongdoing can disappear into the noise. Accountability now depends on persistence from the press, institutions, and *esp. all of us*.
Silencing journalists is about teaching the rest of the press to stop asking the inconvenient questions. Solidarity is the antidote.
December 10, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Silencing journalists is about teaching the rest of the press to stop asking the inconvenient questions. Solidarity is the antidote.
www.war.gov/News/News-St... Enjoy this jaunty post on the Pentagon's website!
The soft, corporate-style language used here gives the veneer of normalcy to what is, in substance, a major blow to media access and Pentagon transparency. It replaces experienced professionals with partisan influencers.
The soft, corporate-style language used here gives the veneer of normalcy to what is, in substance, a major blow to media access and Pentagon transparency. It replaces experienced professionals with partisan influencers.
www.war.gov
December 10, 2025 at 1:33 AM
www.war.gov/News/News-St... Enjoy this jaunty post on the Pentagon's website!
The soft, corporate-style language used here gives the veneer of normalcy to what is, in substance, a major blow to media access and Pentagon transparency. It replaces experienced professionals with partisan influencers.
The soft, corporate-style language used here gives the veneer of normalcy to what is, in substance, a major blow to media access and Pentagon transparency. It replaces experienced professionals with partisan influencers.
Authoritarians don’t fear criticism. They fear persistence: the question that won’t go away, the fact that refuses to be buried, the reporter who won’t be intimidated.
December 9, 2025 at 3:15 PM
Authoritarians don’t fear criticism. They fear persistence: the question that won’t go away, the fact that refuses to be buried, the reporter who won’t be intimidated.
Hmm, let's see:
“We caught terrorists, and put away child predators”
A serious inflation of accomplishments
“Judges in my state…became weapons for the politicized left."
She actually politicizes the judiciary by casting *any* judicial independence as partisan sabotage
“We caught terrorists, and put away child predators”
A serious inflation of accomplishments
“Judges in my state…became weapons for the politicized left."
She actually politicizes the judiciary by casting *any* judicial independence as partisan sabotage
December 8, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Hmm, let's see:
“We caught terrorists, and put away child predators”
A serious inflation of accomplishments
“Judges in my state…became weapons for the politicized left."
She actually politicizes the judiciary by casting *any* judicial independence as partisan sabotage
“We caught terrorists, and put away child predators”
A serious inflation of accomplishments
“Judges in my state…became weapons for the politicized left."
She actually politicizes the judiciary by casting *any* judicial independence as partisan sabotage
Recent additions to the Presidential Trophy Case:
December 8, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Recent additions to the Presidential Trophy Case:
Reposted by Brad | Toward a Better Union
Congress to withhold Pentagon travel funds until it sees boat strike videos
Congress to withhold Pentagon travel funds until it sees boat strike videos
Lawmakers quietly stuck the requirement into their must-pass annual defense policy bill.
dlvr.it
December 8, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Congress to withhold Pentagon travel funds until it sees boat strike videos
Another strong piece from Anne Applebaum.
The U.S. belongs on the side of democracies — always. We should not treat this war as an opportunity for profit, whether at the national level or, as seems to be the case here, for the gain of a favored group of insiders.
The U.S. belongs on the side of democracies — always. We should not treat this war as an opportunity for profit, whether at the national level or, as seems to be the case here, for the gain of a favored group of insiders.
The baroque corruption schemes playing out in America and Russia completely outclass the kickback scandal in Ukraine.
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
www.theatlantic.com/internationa...
Trumpian Corruption Is Worse Than Ukrainian Corruption
The people of Ukraine want an honest government, even as American and Russian kleptocrats circle their country.
www.theatlantic.com
December 7, 2025 at 9:24 PM
Another strong piece from Anne Applebaum.
The U.S. belongs on the side of democracies — always. We should not treat this war as an opportunity for profit, whether at the national level or, as seems to be the case here, for the gain of a favored group of insiders.
The U.S. belongs on the side of democracies — always. We should not treat this war as an opportunity for profit, whether at the national level or, as seems to be the case here, for the gain of a favored group of insiders.
Safeguarding Democracy: The Pillars of Resilience
Democratic erosion seldom announces itself. It spreads quietly through weakened institutions, rising inequality, declining social trust, and the normalization of political behavior that once would have drawn bipartisan concern or condemnation.
Democratic erosion seldom announces itself. It spreads quietly through weakened institutions, rising inequality, declining social trust, and the normalization of political behavior that once would have drawn bipartisan concern or condemnation.
December 7, 2025 at 5:37 PM
Safeguarding Democracy: The Pillars of Resilience
Democratic erosion seldom announces itself. It spreads quietly through weakened institutions, rising inequality, declining social trust, and the normalization of political behavior that once would have drawn bipartisan concern or condemnation.
Democratic erosion seldom announces itself. It spreads quietly through weakened institutions, rising inequality, declining social trust, and the normalization of political behavior that once would have drawn bipartisan concern or condemnation.
Reposted by Brad | Toward a Better Union
December 6, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Steven's article argues Trump’s NSS abandons the U.S. role as a defender of democratic norms abroad, recasting foreign policy as a business venture. I agree. It’s a historic pivot and one that could weaken the democratic alliance system built over 75 years.
We must resist this wrong turn!
We must resist this wrong turn!
“Out is support for democratic ideals and honestly defending their expression and expansion. In is foreign policy as a money-making venture.”
www.americaamerica.news/p/do-you-sup...
www.americaamerica.news/p/do-you-sup...
Do You Support the Global Expansion of Democracy?
A Saturday Prompt
www.americaamerica.news
December 6, 2025 at 8:20 PM
Steven's article argues Trump’s NSS abandons the U.S. role as a defender of democratic norms abroad, recasting foreign policy as a business venture. I agree. It’s a historic pivot and one that could weaken the democratic alliance system built over 75 years.
We must resist this wrong turn!
We must resist this wrong turn!