#dem: on reflection

[presidentkamala]

A LOT of users coming into my notes and trying to shame me for aggressively holding the hands of ppl who need it to the stove - hit dogs holler indeed!

[chappell-roans]

i think it's absolutely evil and malicious to write off red states as hopeless or wholly conservative, because that is not the fucking case. people who would vote blue are often fully blocked from the polls in a number of ways (through gerrymandering, being taken off the voter rolls without their knowledge, through disinformation, through voter disenfranchisement, people with past offenses, and more). but man, it does not feel good to live in a place where there's a new bill everyday that puts your rights, and those of millions, in limbo. where you know that your state is going to go for trump no matter what he does, and you can't stop it. it hurts a little.

[marzipanandminutiae]

if you're terrified for your country's elections next year because a lot of people seem to think the solution to the government handling an international conflict in an abysmal and deplorable way is to let a group of total monsters who would handle it MUCH worse AND also potentially doom huge swaths of oppressed people at home as well as our entire literal planet get into power, by ignoring the way our deeply flawed but also deeply entrenched system realistically works

clap your hands...?

(I cannot understand trying to stop heinous and unnecessary killing- which disgusts and saddens me, too! how could it not?! -by handing the election to people who want to do even more of that exact thing. the math isn't mathing, as they say)

[fffartonceaweek]

What we are really seeing with Trumpism 2.0,here and elsewhere, is longstanding tendencies of the American state stripped of artifice; rendered finally without any pretence to idealism or the public interest; expressed as a politics of pure plutocratic transaction on the domestic front and the belligerent exercise of raw imperial power abroad.

[marejadilla]

Eugène Jansson, "Dawn over the Riddarfjärd" ("Morgengrauen über dem Riddarfjärd"), 1899. Symbolist painting, Swedish artist.

[notbroadwaybound]

well, this has been a depressing night so far

[impishtubist]

Watching every leftist on Twitter be like "damn look at how mad these constituents are at their R congresspeople, haha the midterms are gonna be a Dem sweep!"

Babes Musk/Russia control the voting machines and Trump is taking over the USPS and the SAVE Act means married women won't be able to vote, every election after this is going to be "damn Trump and all the Republicans won 87% of the vote, wild!"

[tshifty]

.

[oceanicxeyes]

[bspoquemagazine]

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[queervegancryptid]

Part of what Cory Booker is doing with this filibuster is reading things into the record. Sometimes when people do a filibuster, they just say shit. I think one time Ted Cruz read "Green Eggs and Ham" into the record. Another dude sang the Mets theme song or whatever the shit.

If you actually have substantial things to say, you don't have to do that. I mean, not for nothing, but what we're watching here is a man doing the job he was elected to do. Our public officials work for us, the people. It's nice to see some of them take that obligation seriously.

Booker is standing there with a binder that he's not even halfway through reading. *Over 42k people are watching it just on YouTube. I haven't watched the news yet today, but I've got the live feed of this open on my computer.

I hope he has a catheter and/or a diaper on. He said he'd continue as long as he's physically able. Probably he's been on a liquid diet for a day or so. I would plan ahead for this.

If Republicans are going to refuse to do the work, if they're going to refuse to take up serious business and would like instead to fuck shit up... Well, we've got a choice to make, don't we? I don't know what the long-term solution looks like. But we can and should talk about it. We can and should take steps to make sure the public record reflects reality to the extent possible.

Really, if we want to come back from this, we have to talk about it. And we know that the official records during this time especially will be, shall we say, less than reliable. So there is value in speaking the truth into the public record.

I'm not in love with the Democratic party as an institution. But this can also be energizing and inspiring for people. He's setting an example, and hopefully his example will shame others into growing a backbone. Hopefully.

I really don't have any hope for Schumer. But Booker, along with folks like Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, AOC, and Jasmine Crockett, are doing what they can do, and I respect it.

This is definitely a coordinated thing, though. Finally, Dems are showing that they have some strategic ability. Booker is the main speaker, but other Dems are asking questions, while allowing him to retain the floor. In this way, it's clear that they're working together, and several people in the room have jobs to do in support of Booker's efforts. They're expanding on his points and doing a call-and-response thing, which is an effective tactic in more ways than one, and it allows him to rest his voice for a few moments at a time.

So I'm not becoming a cheerleader for anybody yet. But what he's doing is important, even if it doesn't change anything directly.

Miss me with bipartisanship talk though. I really can't see that as a viable option at this point. Unless something radical changes, I wouldn't trust that at all. So anytime somebody like Schumer talks about Republicans coming to the table, I can't be bothered to listen. They have repeatedly shown us that they have no intention of doing that and that they further do not care about right and wrong at all. Or if they do, they think their actions are right, and I'm not sure which is worse, but in both cases, I would not call them trustworthy. Their priority is being in lockstep with Trump and the prescribed agenda of the party, not the American people.

At least Booker is trying to do something. Shit.

* When I started typing this, the number of viewers was just over 42k. Now it's over 45k and climbing.

[themilfking]

I really, really need some of you to understand that while ideologically, the Democratic Party might not a monolith (right leaning centrists to progressives exist within the same party). As an institution, the Democratic Party absolutely does function as a monolith. Whether it’s internal party discipline, donor influence, electoral strategy, or leadership pressure, there are mechanisms in place that discourage dissent and keep members in line.

A perfect example? Out of 200+ House Democrats, only 14 (less than 10%) signed a letter demanding the release of Mahmoud Khalil—despite overwhelming calls from their constituents, despite the clear danger of this moment, despite knowing full well what their base is asking of them. That’s not necessarily because the other 190+ personally oppose it; but it’s def because the institutional weight of the party makes it incredibly difficult to break from leadership without facing political and financial consequences.

And yet, when people criticize this clear failure, when they rightfully demand that their representatives reflect the values they were elected on, they’re met with accusations of “helping Republicans.” That logic is not just fucking stupid—it’s actively harmful to democracy. Holding elected officials accountable is not party disloyalty - it’s literally what voters are supposed to do. It is the most basic function of political engagement. It's literally how the window gets moved!

The Democratic Party isn’t entitled to unwavering support. People criticize because they expect better, because they believe change is possible. Silence and complacency don’t strengthen the party—pressure does. Every major policy shift (labor laws, LGBTQ+ rights, civil rights etc)in this country happened because people refused to shut up and fall in line.

So no, calling out Democrats for failing their base is not "helping Republicans." What actually helps Republicans? Democrats validating GOP narratives by condemning student protesters. Democrats failing to take bold stances. Democrats making themselves indistinguishable from the people they claim to oppose.

I just wish some of you would shut the fuck up about how people approach pushing the window left so maybe we can have more than 10% of house Dems representing us.

[ayeforscotland]

Some good news but needs to be a much broader fight back against everything the Trump administration is pushing for.

[feluka]

i really, really do hope this is a self-reflection moment for the fuckers who spammed us with the trolley problem drawings but i also really, really hope they do this self-reflection as far away from us as possible. if you've come to the realization that the dems are not what they've convinced you they are, good! i hope many people come to that conclusion soon. but work that out away from me. i don't want to hear it. none of the 'i'm so disillusioned!' speeches here. do that where i can't see it.

[owololcat]

Slugcat Dashboard Simulator!!!

💥 scavslayingchieftain

what in void’s name are these fucking thingies? /pos

⦻ vultureculture-deactivated119023

those are yeeks! They're normally native to outer expanse, though you may occasionally find a few in farm arrays if you're lucky! :3

💥 scavslayingchieftain

I love em gimme like 20

🍯 gourmdan-ramscug

I just saw a pup get carried into the treetops by a squidcada. Their mom was able to grab em before they could get hurt but now I'm wondering how many squidcadas it’d take to lift me…

🍯 gourmdan-ramscug

clerik dem

🎭 long-live-4pe

I think catboy pebbles would kill a wildscug.

🐁 the-johndoe

Wildscug from Outer Expanse here, can confirm. I only got one second to process the glory of an iterator in a catboy costume before I got my brain nuked and woke up back in The Wall.

🎭 long-live-4pe

… Not what I meant, but this is most certainly funnier than what I intended.

👁️ ripples-and-reflections

heyyyy sorryyyy your mate went down to the void sea and became an echo. yeahhhh he’s stuck between life and death with no escape to either. his attachment to his worldly desires was just too strong, sorryyy.

🌀 ur-getting-eepy

OE scugs, today is the day we finally decide...

🍯 gourmdan-ramscug

This is actually a fun way to gauge the colony's opinions on my antics. I’ll be keeping tabs on this! Thanks, Hypnotist!

🌀 ur-getting-eepy

OH HI DAD

🐟 moons-secret-lovechild

I just found 2 dead noodleflies with their needles shanked into each other. Can any nature-smart scugs explain why they do this?

🌼 fren2all

actually it's just a simple territorial dispute, which are always battles to the death in noodleflies. but what's really interesting is that if there's a winner left alive, they'll actually adopt the baby noots of the loser!

🐟 moons-secret-lovechild

Huh. Talk about a custody battle, am I right?

💥 scavslayingchieftain

my iterator just gave me a pearlreader and a cluster of pearls with a graphic novel series called “Spinning Top’s Folly” on them and WHERE THE FUCK HAS THIS BEEN ALL MY LIFE???

🪡 slash-srs

A new face to share brainrot with is always a welcome sight.~

💥 scavslayingchieftain

oomf, you don't get it.

i used to be a wildscug.

this is my first taste of iterator entertainment.

i can never go back.

🪡 slash-srs

OH SHIT, THAT IS A BIG DEAL. Anyways, your iterator picked a great first series for a creature who's unfamiliar with the benefactors and their history! If you're interested in fanfiction, I recommend trying to get your paws on some of the “Eternity Confluence” pearls by The Werelizard! Its this really silly canon divergence fic where Howlite Skies follows Spinning Top when they run away from the creche, resulting in extra shenanigans and a happier ending for both.

🦎 da-littlest-lizor

imma lizardcat, actually, but ty for the shoutout! I had a lot of fun expanding upon the sibling dynamic they had in the early chapters :}

🪡 slash-srs

H-HELLO?????

🐁 the-johndoe

I stole an egg with plans to eat it the following cycle but oops looks like I'm a dad now. forgive the shitty quality but meet batnip bread everyscug

🌼 fren2all

Pretty fucked up lookin slugpup

🐁 the-johndoe

monk ur supposed to be the nice one, don’t insult ur niece! >:T

🐁 the-johndoe

#so this is the fabled found family

@gourmdan-ramscug MOOOM HYPNOTIST AND MONK ARE BEING FUNNIER THAN ME ON MY OWN POSTS AGAAAAIN!

🌼 fren2all

Fuck kinda dad runs to the grandparent to solve his problems? lol

🐁 the-johndoe

I will suplex you into a patch of protorot grrr

🎭 long-live-4pe

Guess who finally got their title? The Gentleman, at your service.~

🦎 da-littlest-lizor

holup i thought u were a messenger how tf u get a title?

🎭 long-live-4pe:

I actually reside in a colony atop Four Painted Easels. I am a messenger by employment rather than by purpose!

As for how I earned a title in the first place, the scavengers took a pearl that was of great importance to 4PE, so I swiped it back from right under their snouts. Apparently I greatly resembled a gentleman thief from some old novels from the benefactor era.

🦎 da-littlest-lizor:

oh those scavs are gonna send they best elites after u lmao. i can def see how a colony would see you in that way tho, congrats! u earned it!

[thepunkpanther]

SKAM cast for ELLE NORGE

"SKAM var egentlig aldri en serie som ropte så veldig høyt. Den nærmest hvisket, og på en eller annen måte var det nok. Den traff noen veldig ømme punkter med sin milde styrke og nærhet til det virkelige livet. Serien åpnet også viktige dører for samtaler rundt temaer som historisk sett ofte har blitt ignorert eller oversett i populærkulturen. Men det som kanskje var aller mest rørende, var hvordan SKAM aldri undervurderte sitt publikum. Serien stolte på at unge mennesker kunne forstå, føle og reflektere selv. Og i en tid hvor mange ungdommer føler seg presset til å være perfekte, ga SKAM dem rom til å være menneskelige. For mange vil SKAM derfor for alltid være mer enn en serie. Det var en livline. En venn. En følelse av å ikke være alene." "SKAM was never a show that shouted loudly. It almost whispered – and somehow, that was enough. It touched some very tender spots with its gentle strength and closeness to real life. The series also opened important doors for conversations around topics that have historically been ignored or overlooked in popular culture. But perhaps the most touching aspect was how SKAM never underestimated its audience. It trusted that young people could understand, feel, and reflect on their own. And in a time when many teenagers feel pressured to be perfect, SKAM gave them space to be human. For many, SKAM will forever be more than just a series. It was a lifeline. A friend. A feeling of not being alone."