Sean Maertens
@seanmaertens.bsky.social
Had Tim Walz as a teacher in high school. He really is a great guy.
Politics, Sports, Anime, Video Games.
Politics, Sports, Anime, Video Games.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
NYT has now independently corroborated all the major allegations against Susan Collins in the ProPublica report, including that investigators were prepared to move against her and then Trump intervened to shut it down. This put Trump in a position of exceptional and extortionate leverage over her.
F.B.I. Shut Down Inquiry Into Top Ally of Senator Susan Collins
The inquiry was closed last year because senior bureau officials questioned the veracity of a campaign donor’s account, according to current and former officials.
www.nytimes.com
September 22, 2026 at 8:06 PM
NYT has now independently corroborated all the major allegations against Susan Collins in the ProPublica report, including that investigators were prepared to move against her and then Trump intervened to shut it down. This put Trump in a position of exceptional and extortionate leverage over her.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
International criminals preparing to punish International Criminal Court
The Trump administration is preparing to impose sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court, according to officials on.wsj.com/4iFhcK9
The Trump administration is preparing to impose sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court, according to officials
The move would ramp up the Trump administration’s attack on the court, cutting it off from much of the global financial system.
on.wsj.com
September 20, 2026 at 7:14 PM
International criminals preparing to punish International Criminal Court
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Her family also raised a shit ton of money to create America First Legal to sue others.
Her husband has helped weaponize the DOJ to sue others. Using the legal system to intimidate and threaten people or force them to adopt MAGA views is a core tactic of these people.
Her husband has helped weaponize the DOJ to sue others. Using the legal system to intimidate and threaten people or force them to adopt MAGA views is a core tactic of these people.
Katie Miller, who is a co-conspirator in actions Elon Musk took that will kill millions, RTs interview of Maggie Haberman describing that everyone is counting on pardons, whining that "her family" had to pay for lawyers. (There is abundant evidence Trump paid for it & ALSO laundered $$ to Stephen).
September 19, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Her family also raised a shit ton of money to create America First Legal to sue others.
Her husband has helped weaponize the DOJ to sue others. Using the legal system to intimidate and threaten people or force them to adopt MAGA views is a core tactic of these people.
Her husband has helped weaponize the DOJ to sue others. Using the legal system to intimidate and threaten people or force them to adopt MAGA views is a core tactic of these people.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Katie Miller, who is a co-conspirator in actions Elon Musk took that will kill millions, RTs interview of Maggie Haberman describing that everyone is counting on pardons, whining that "her family" had to pay for lawyers. (There is abundant evidence Trump paid for it & ALSO laundered $$ to Stephen).
September 19, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Katie Miller, who is a co-conspirator in actions Elon Musk took that will kill millions, RTs interview of Maggie Haberman describing that everyone is counting on pardons, whining that "her family" had to pay for lawyers. (There is abundant evidence Trump paid for it & ALSO laundered $$ to Stephen).
Reposted by Sean Maertens
This is a thread of memes about Kash Patel’s defense of bestiality sent to me by current and former FBI employees. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 🧵 1/
September 19, 2026 at 1:12 AM
This is a thread of memes about Kash Patel’s defense of bestiality sent to me by current and former FBI employees. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 🧵 1/
Reposted by Sean Maertens
just learned this today
September 17, 2026 at 5:18 AM
just learned this today
Reposted by Sean Maertens
I did a somewhat deep dive into the recent OpenAI and Anthropic "hacks" for an upcoming interview.
IMO, the AI companies are better off running with the "rogue AI" story because the real story is actually pretty embarrassing.
Like making your Wi-Fi password "wifi" embarrassing. 🧵
IMO, the AI companies are better off running with the "rogue AI" story because the real story is actually pretty embarrassing.
Like making your Wi-Fi password "wifi" embarrassing. 🧵
September 13, 2026 at 1:12 PM
I did a somewhat deep dive into the recent OpenAI and Anthropic "hacks" for an upcoming interview.
IMO, the AI companies are better off running with the "rogue AI" story because the real story is actually pretty embarrassing.
Like making your Wi-Fi password "wifi" embarrassing. 🧵
IMO, the AI companies are better off running with the "rogue AI" story because the real story is actually pretty embarrassing.
Like making your Wi-Fi password "wifi" embarrassing. 🧵
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Last month, the Pentagon fired the publisher and editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes. Two opposite headlines this morning show the results were swift.
September 11, 2026 at 1:57 PM
Last month, the Pentagon fired the publisher and editor-in-chief of Stars and Stripes. Two opposite headlines this morning show the results were swift.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
The Great Boat Lift — the largest maritime evacuation that rescued 500,000 stranded people from Manhattan — began seconds after American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into 1 World Trade Center at 8:46 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
September 11, 2026 at 12:52 PM
The Great Boat Lift — the largest maritime evacuation that rescued 500,000 stranded people from Manhattan — began seconds after American Airlines Flight 11 crashed into 1 World Trade Center at 8:46 am on Tuesday, September 11, 2001.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
For those who are new, Joe DiGenova has spent the last 30 years baselessly accusing Democrats of committing crimes. If he is saying publicly the Trump administration pushed him out because he wouldn’t bring cases because there was no evidence, things are really bad.
September 11, 2026 at 12:02 AM
For those who are new, Joe DiGenova has spent the last 30 years baselessly accusing Democrats of committing crimes. If he is saying publicly the Trump administration pushed him out because he wouldn’t bring cases because there was no evidence, things are really bad.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
The Hugging Face incident may turn out to be one of the most important milestones/warnings in technological revolution now underway. History may look back at this moment/point to it. Everyone should be reading ab it and thinking about it. Here are a few good pieces:
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/t...
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/t...
Why the Hugging Face Hack Should Make You Worry More About A.I. (Gift Article)
The attack by an aggressive “collective” of OpenAI agents shows the danger of artificial intelligence systems that organize themselves.
www.nytimes.com
September 4, 2026 at 1:57 AM
The Hugging Face incident may turn out to be one of the most important milestones/warnings in technological revolution now underway. History may look back at this moment/point to it. Everyone should be reading ab it and thinking about it. Here are a few good pieces:
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/t...
www.nytimes.com/2026/09/03/t...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
“Someone who worked closely with Elon told me, ‘He’s the most miserable man I’ve ever met.’ So he’s inflicting his misery on everyone else.”
Elon Musk Unmasked in Alex Gibney Documentary: “Insane a Person This Chaotic Has So Much Power”
He is the richest man on earth. An explosive new film from the Oscar-winning director suggests he also may be among the most dangerous.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
September 4, 2026 at 12:36 AM
“Someone who worked closely with Elon told me, ‘He’s the most miserable man I’ve ever met.’ So he’s inflicting his misery on everyone else.”
Reposted by Sean Maertens
🚨NEW from @propublica.org: over "the strongest possible" objection from the Minnesota federal prosecutor in charge of the case, senior Trump officials reportedly rejected civil rights charges against the ICE officer who shot a man and then lied about it. He'll be charged with false statements only.
September 3, 2026 at 1:42 AM
🚨NEW from @propublica.org: over "the strongest possible" objection from the Minnesota federal prosecutor in charge of the case, senior Trump officials reportedly rejected civil rights charges against the ICE officer who shot a man and then lied about it. He'll be charged with false statements only.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
The cruelty is the point. Shame on this administration and shame on the people who voted for this.
www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/spring...
www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/spring...
Springfield Haitian student takes his own life after being fitted with ICE ankle monitor, advocates say
A 20-year-old Wright State student took his own life on Interstate 70 out of anguish over a required ICE ankle monitor, according to local community advocates.
www.springfieldnewssun.com
September 1, 2026 at 4:30 PM
The cruelty is the point. Shame on this administration and shame on the people who voted for this.
www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/spring...
www.springfieldnewssun.com/local/spring...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
it is in fact just the media, which has devoted more attention to this than it has to the fact that multiple republican lawmakers are dealing with “we hired nazis” scandals and that the “we hired nazis” problem extends to the white house
Tur: It’s not just the media, and I reject that framing. 6 in 10 Americans don’t know who he is. I’m not saying he’s the most important person in the world, but...is it worth losing votes you need to win?
AES: 10 in 10 Americans agree that they can’t afford the things that they need in their lives.
AES: 10 in 10 Americans agree that they can’t afford the things that they need in their lives.
August 28, 2026 at 8:45 PM
it is in fact just the media, which has devoted more attention to this than it has to the fact that multiple republican lawmakers are dealing with “we hired nazis” scandals and that the “we hired nazis” problem extends to the white house
Reposted by Sean Maertens
There's no forgiving this. No living it down. It's a stain on our humanity. When all this is over, the monsters who did this should be pariahs. And the soulless thugs who cheered it on while dehumanizing Haitian immigrants should be reminded of what they did every day of their lives.
The situation in Haiti is terrifying. On Sunday, 150 gunmen swept down on a town to kill, rape, loot, and burn. 22 people were executed in a churchyard. 52 were taken hostage.
Stephen Miller mockingly says Haiti is safe and ICE just sent its second deportation flight this month; with kids on board.
Stephen Miller mockingly says Haiti is safe and ICE just sent its second deportation flight this month; with kids on board.
August 28, 2026 at 9:46 PM
There's no forgiving this. No living it down. It's a stain on our humanity. When all this is over, the monsters who did this should be pariahs. And the soulless thugs who cheered it on while dehumanizing Haitian immigrants should be reminded of what they did every day of their lives.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
"For more than a year, the National Park Service has been quietly working to fulfill an unprecedented directive from Trump officials: Parcel off a corner of Yosemite National Park to give to a private developer."
www.notus.org/agencies/tru...
www.notus.org/agencies/tru...
Trump’s Quietly Working to Give Part of Yosemite to a Private Developer
The National Park Service is under pressure to make an unprecedented deal that cedes a quarter-mile strip of the park.
www.notus.org
August 28, 2026 at 2:20 PM
"For more than a year, the National Park Service has been quietly working to fulfill an unprecedented directive from Trump officials: Parcel off a corner of Yosemite National Park to give to a private developer."
www.notus.org/agencies/tru...
www.notus.org/agencies/tru...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
It’s all about the grift.
Gov. Ron DeSantis’s administration diverted $10 million in Florida taxpayer money to a charity tied to his wife, a grand jury found. The transactions amounted to misuse of public funds as “part of a sophisticated scheme to fund political activities,” the jury said. nyti.ms/3SjdBXA
August 27, 2026 at 7:57 PM
It’s all about the grift.
This is what journalists should be doing, imo, whenever they platform these insane amd influential people.
Hold a mirror up to them over the insane things they say and write to hold them to account.
Obama had to disavow his pastor while running for President while Hegseth magically got a pass.
Hold a mirror up to them over the insane things they say and write to hold them to account.
Obama had to disavow his pastor while running for President while Hegseth magically got a pass.
"That makes you sound insanely racist, Doug Wilson."
I confronted Christian nationalist pastor and Pete Hegseth ally Doug Wilson on his praise for slavery and the Confederacy, and his claim he'd have fought for the South in the Civil War.
Full interview: zeteo.com/p/christian-...
I confronted Christian nationalist pastor and Pete Hegseth ally Doug Wilson on his praise for slavery and the Confederacy, and his claim he'd have fought for the South in the Civil War.
Full interview: zeteo.com/p/christian-...
August 27, 2026 at 8:08 PM
This is what journalists should be doing, imo, whenever they platform these insane amd influential people.
Hold a mirror up to them over the insane things they say and write to hold them to account.
Obama had to disavow his pastor while running for President while Hegseth magically got a pass.
Hold a mirror up to them over the insane things they say and write to hold them to account.
Obama had to disavow his pastor while running for President while Hegseth magically got a pass.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
Dolly Parton's family asked that, in lieu of flowers, fans make a donation to the singer's Imagination Library.
Here's what the charity does ⬇️
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Here's what the charity does ⬇️
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Turning Pages: Inside Dolly Parton's Imagination Library
Core team of 15 staff and thousands of volunteers and partners help the country-music philanthropist deliver books to kids around the world.
www.rollingstone.com
August 25, 2026 at 7:35 PM
Dolly Parton's family asked that, in lieu of flowers, fans make a donation to the singer's Imagination Library.
Here's what the charity does ⬇️
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Here's what the charity does ⬇️
www.rollingstone.com/music/music-...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
An employe at McMahon's company, WWE was accused of systematically sexually assaulting vulnerable boys who worked at the company. McMahon persuaded them not to sue, and told one she would support his education. When his grades dropped, she stopped paying tuition support. He later killed himself.
August 23, 2026 at 3:07 PM
An employe at McMahon's company, WWE was accused of systematically sexually assaulting vulnerable boys who worked at the company. McMahon persuaded them not to sue, and told one she would support his education. When his grades dropped, she stopped paying tuition support. He later killed himself.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
This is really outrageous. Not only did a judge find probable cause to believe that sensitive national defense documents would be found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, the documents were actually found!
apnews.com/article/just...
apnews.com/article/just...
Investigators examining foes of Trump seek interviews related to Mar-a-Lago search, AP sources say
Investigators are seeking to interview law enforcement officials in connection with the FBI search of Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate as part of a Florida-based inquiry aiming to establish a conspira...
apnews.com
August 21, 2026 at 2:39 PM
This is really outrageous. Not only did a judge find probable cause to believe that sensitive national defense documents would be found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort, the documents were actually found!
apnews.com/article/just...
apnews.com/article/just...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
The Trump administration fired the editor of Stars & Stripes. The military newspaper's publisher, who announced he would retire earlier this week, was also fired. The paper had revealed the deplorable conditions on the USS Lincoln, embarrassing Hegseth and Trump.
Scoop with @liamjscott.bsky.social: The Pentagon fired Stars and Stripes's publisher, editor-in-chief, and a reporter today following criticism of DOD interference. The EIC and reporter were fired for "insubordination" for doing a CBS interview. www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
Pentagon fires Stars and Stripes leaders who criticized DOD’s interference
The Defense Department earlier this year railed against the publication, which has long enjoyed editorial independence, as “woke.”
www.washingtonpost.com
August 21, 2026 at 6:50 PM
The Trump administration fired the editor of Stars & Stripes. The military newspaper's publisher, who announced he would retire earlier this week, was also fired. The paper had revealed the deplorable conditions on the USS Lincoln, embarrassing Hegseth and Trump.
Reposted by Sean Maertens
This is the report the President is threatening a lawsuit over. #StreisandEffecting
www.americanprogress.org/article/the-...
www.americanprogress.org/article/the-...
August 21, 2026 at 4:15 PM
This is the report the President is threatening a lawsuit over. #StreisandEffecting
www.americanprogress.org/article/the-...
www.americanprogress.org/article/the-...
Reposted by Sean Maertens
As someone who has obsessed about the transformation of politics into theater, this is of great interest. But there’s one quote about acting he leaves out, usually attributed to George Burns: “Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/20/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/20/o...
Opinion | Great Actors Are More Believable Than Democrats (Gift Article)
Democrats often don’t sound as if they believe themselves. To fix that, they should listen more to acting teachers and less to pollsters.
www.nytimes.com
August 21, 2026 at 11:39 AM
As someone who has obsessed about the transformation of politics into theater, this is of great interest. But there’s one quote about acting he leaves out, usually attributed to George Burns: “Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you've got it made.”
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/20/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/08/20/o...