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samlitzinger

@[email protected]

Mostly retired #journalist (ex-CBS News, ex-AP, etc). Master’s degree in #philosophy. Friend to #animals. Usually annoyed about something. Thank you for reading my posts. https://www.samlitzinger.com/ #journalism #philosophy #animals #history #music

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@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“Joyce Carol Oates owned Elon Musk on his own app. Now he’s mad, and the memes are great.
Strange beef, but OK.”

https://mashable.com/article/elon-musk-joyce-carol-oates-fight-x-jokes-memes?test_uuid=04wb5avZVbBe1OWK6996faM&test_variant=b

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

Trump asks Supreme Court to throw out E. Jean Carroll’s $5 million verdict

https://apnews.com/article/trump-carroll-abuse-defamation-supreme-court-be62982deb6821b62e0471f5bea3e64d

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“F.B.I. Director Is Said to Have Made a Pledge to Head of MI5, Then Broken It
The episode has contributed to concerns among intelligence allies that Kash Patel, brash and partisan, is also unpredictable and even unreliable.”

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/world/europe/kash-patel-fbi-mi5.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

Trump signals no shutdown compromise with Democrats as senators hold a rare weekend session

https://apnews.com/article/shutdown-senate-thune-schumer-trump-9b1829525772259070ed73562ce4ebb3

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“Tesla says shareholders approve Musk's $1 trillion pay plan with over 75% voting in favor”

Insane.

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/06/tesla-shareholders-musk-pay.html?__source=iosappshare%7Corg.joinmastodon.app.ShareActionExtension

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

Time to take the demented old man’s phone away…

ALT
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“The Right's Race Reckoning
Tucker Carlson’s friendly sit-down with racist Nick Fuentes has touched off a reckoning inside the conservative movement, forcing its leaders to confront the ugly monster they helped create.”

https://www.status.news/p/tucker-carlson-nick-fuentes-interview?utm_source=www.status.news&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=the-right-s-race-reckoning&_bhlid=4fa80c9bbe85f766c6000bad67e95fc86f4a675c

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“Kennedy Center ticket sales have plummeted since Trump takeover Nearly nine months into the president’s oversight, sales for orchestra, theater and dance performances are the worst they’ve been since the pandemic, according to a Washington Post analysis.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2025/10/31/kennedy-center-sales/

samlitzinger OP ,
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“Since early September, 43 percent of tickets remained unsold for the typical production. That means that, at most, 57 percent of tickets were sold for the typical production — and some tickets may have been “comps,” which are given away, often to staff members or the press. That compares with 93 percent sold or comped in fall 2024 and 80 percent in fall 2023.”

samlitzinger OP ,
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar

“There has been an influx of Christian programming, but many of these events have been free to the public. Numerous programming executives have resigned or been dismissed, part of a broader trend of layoffs at the center. “

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“For some people in the most expensive markets, the increases could be staggering. A 60-year-old living in southern Illinois will face premiums increasing from $460 a month with the subsidies to $2,800 a month without.”

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/10/30/upshot/obamacare-subsidies-new-prices.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“Alaska nonprofit rescues 180 dogs — and a turtle — after devastating flooding in remote villages”

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/alaska-dog-rescues-bethel-friends-of-canines-flooding-villages/

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

The Washington Post editorial board is a lost cause.

“In defense of the White House ballroom Donald Trump vs. the NIMBYs”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/10/25/ballroom-east-wing-trump-white-house/

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

US hits $38 trillion in debt, after the fastest accumulation of $1 trillion outside of the pandemic

https://apnews.com/article/trump-treasury-debt-ceiling-bessent-09575f13ca95c2f1beb38234b2cbe85b

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

If Democrats ever re-take power in DC, their response to every single Republican propsal should be “Drop dead”.

“More tax cuts!”

“Drop dead.”

“Change Medicare!”

“Drop dead.”

“Mr. Speaker, point of order!”

“Drop dead.”

“Trump says he'd have final say on money he seeks over past federal investigations into his conduct”

https://apnews.com/article/trump-fbi-justice-department-177d42d89b97385132a927686d788d11

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

I’m sorry, but is no major news organization going to run a story about the obviously deranged President of the United States posting a fake video of himself wearing a crown and dumping shit on protesters from a fighter jet?

Are they really this inured to his madness?

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

Blessings to all of you who took part in the “No Kings” rally.

You turned out in great numbers to save democracy.

Let’s hope that soon there won’t be a need for this kind of event because Trump will be gone and he and his fascism will be just a bad memory.

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“‘No Kings' protests return as Trump ramps up authoritarian practices, organizers say”

“organizers say”

https://apnews.com/article/no-kings-protests-trump-immigration-first-amendment-f04e7a4728c10b694f540bcef0646370

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“What Is NPR Now?

For new editor in chief Thomas Evans, the loss of federal funding is either a brutal blow or an opportunity.”

https://www.cjr.org/the-interview/npr-thomas-evans-funding-bias.php?mc_cid=c248dedb79&mc_eid=dafb9b300d

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

Should be fun!

“Zohran Mamdani to Sit Down With Fox News for Exclusive Interview”

https://www.mediaite.com/media/tv/just-in-zohran-mamdani-to-sit-down-with-fox-news-for-exclusive-interview/

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

This is the way.

“Airports say they won’t air Kristi Noem shutdown video at TSA checkpoints Travelers in Cleveland, L.A., Phoenix, Seattle and other cities will not see the footage, which blames congressional Democrats for shutdown-related flight delays.”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/transportation/2025/10/13/kristi-noem-shutdown-video/

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“When I notice how carefully arranged his hair is and when I watch him adjusting the parting with one finger, I cannot imagine that this man could conceive of such a wicked thing as to destroy the Roman constitution.”

  • Cicero, writing of Caesar
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“Yes, Trump deserves the Nobel Peace Prize”

By Marc Thiessen.

Of course.

Seriously, the only hope The Washington Post has of surviving is to spin off its editorial board and opinion section. Just put them on an ice floe and let the news side do what it can despite Bezos and Lewis.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/10/09/gaza-ceasefire-deal-trump-nobel-prize/

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“A quarter of FBI agents are assigned to immigration enforcement, per FBI data The large number of reassignments reflect a vast reshaping of the agency and could put other priorities at risk”

https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2025/10/08/fbi-agents-reassigned-immigration/

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

This is what you see if you go to the HUD.gov home page.

If this isn’t an obvious violation of the Hatch Act, we might as well just erase it.

ALT
samlitzinger OP ,
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“John Thune: Senate Democrats, let’s avoid this shutdown”

“Democrats are holding government funding hostage to a long list of partisan demands, totaling more than $1 trillion. And they’re ready to shut down the government if Republicans don’t comply.”

So Democrats have finally learned to operate like Republicans?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2025/09/29/thune-republicans-democrats-government-shutdown/

samlitzinger OP ,
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“If Democrats would only agree…”

In other words, if Democrats would only give Republicans everything they want…

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

It’s essential to bear in mind that none of the people pursuing this dangerous policy is qualified to evaluate the safety of Tylenol - not RFK, Jr., not the top leadership of the Department of Health and Human Services, not Junior’s advisory panel and certainly not Trump.

Talk to your own doctor.

Do not listen to fanatics.

“Trump makes unfounded claims about Tylenol and repeats discredited link between vaccines and autism”

https://apnews.com/article/tylenol-cause-autism-trump-kennedy-0847ee76eedecbd5e9baa6888b567d66

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

“After cuts to food stamps, Trump administration ends government's annual report on hunger in America”

No government data on hunger - no hunger!

Simple!

https://apnews.com/article/trump-ending-america-hunger-report-snap-cuts-750f90757f50ab2d8bc97dfca5a917dd

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

Let’s hope the NYT doesn’t cave like ABC and CBS did…

“Trump files $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times”

https://apnews.com/article/trump-lawsuit-new-york-times-b2a615192ebe2dcec859eb883368dfbb

samlitzinger OP ,
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Perhaps the dumbest part of a dumb suit:

“The complaint also took issue with the endorsement of Kamala Harris by the editorial board of The Times in September 2024, noting that the endorsement had been published on the front page “in a location never seen before.””

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

The WSJ:

“An early bulletin circulated widely among law enforcement officials said investigators found ammunition engraved with expressions of "transgender and anti-fascist ideology" inside the rifle that authorities believe was used in the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk. But some officials later Thursday cautioned against reaching conclusions based on the internal report.”

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

New Mexico is the first state to promise free child care for all families

https://apnews.com/article/universal-free-child-care-new-mexico-ec514c3b828e1100d4e5cd7ab17412db

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

Not unexpected but reassuring…

“Democrat James Walkinshaw wins US House special election in Virginia”

https://apnews.com/article/virginia-election-walkinshaw-whitson-bea9a80e1fe94635918f8e31392f938e

samlitzinger OP ,
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It’s also encouraging to see a Trump cultist lose this badly - by about 50 points!

samlitzinger OP ,
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@RememberUsAlways Destroying the federal government in an area filled with federal government workers turned out to be a bad plan.

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

Wow.

“New Mexico is first state in nation to offer universal child care”

https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/09/08/new-mexico-is-first-state-in-nation-to-offer-universal-child-care/

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

One of our foster kittens jumped on my lap and I managed to photograph him in mid-blep.

He was the most seriously ill of the four, so it’s great to see him playing and enjoying life.

ALT
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is detained by ICE and facing possible deportation to Uganda

https://apnews.com/live/donald-trump-news-updates-8-25-2025

@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

Who made this?

ALT
@samlitzinger@journa.host avatar samlitzinger , to random

At DC’s Dupont Circle Metro stop (photo by Ian Livingston).

ALT