Ian Bassin

And don't forget the big one: Trump.

The difference between the two parties could not be starker.

The latest eruption of hostilities and Iran’s clear intention to control the Strait suggests not only that Trump has no idea what he’s doing, but that he’s losing worse by the day. Which means the U.S. is losing worse.

Total disaster. And all brought on entirely by Trump’s arrogance and idiocy.

It should be blindingly obvious by now that Trump has no idea what he’s doing in Iran. He doesn’t have a plan now and never had one.

And everyone who worked for him before warned us he’s got no idea what he’s doing.

The pilot has no idea how to fly a plane. And we’re all on the plane.

This is why Veep went off the air. You can’t do parody when the real thing is already a farce.

Matthew Gault @mjgault.bsky.social

Hegseth announced they're gonna start screening for T and administering testosterone treatment for warriors found wanting

Trump’s war in Iran is getting more dangerous.

Two more U.S. services members killed. Others missing.

Worldwide travel warning for Americans.

And Russia and China may be helping Iran improve its weapons to evade U.S. defenses.

Republican leaders in Congress need to do their jobs and stop it.

Countless of these people who worked up close with him say this. The ones who don’t say it, know it; they’re just riding him for their own grift of either money or power.

George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social

Ty Cobb: “[Donald Trump] is crazy. He is a malignant narcissist, he’s demented. It’s all about self-enrichment. I spent hours and hours in the Oval working through things with him. It’s much worse now”

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This entire episode is exactly why the Founders vested the power to declare war with Congress.

They anticipated the dangers of a president being able to start wars willy nilly.

Unclear though if they anticipated a president as wildly incompetent as this one. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/13/u...

Trump Says Fighting With Iran Has Resumed as He Orders Blockade and Tolls

After several days of strikes, the president notified Congress that fighting had begun again and announced shipping fees that his administration previously deemed illegal.

DOJ is swearing new lawyers into what historically has been the Civil Rights Division. Notice anything about how they dressed for the occasion?

Trump’s DOJ has squandered the presumption of good faith courts used to afford DOJ. Financial institutions need to change their approach accordingly and not cut off funds for targeted nonprofits. From me and @joegoldman.bsky.social in @inquirer.com www.inquirer.com/opinion/comm...

The Trump Justice Dept. has forfeited the benefit of the doubt. Act accordingly. | Opinion

When judges, attorneys, and academics no longer believe the government’s lawyers, something fundamental breaks in the American legal system, write Joe Goldman and Ian Bassin.

Every media outlet in the country and every citizen should stand with The Times, its reporters, and the First Amendment.

Trump can take his attacks on the Constitution, his petty cowardice and grievance, and go shove off.

Eric Lipton NYT @ericlipton.nytimes.com

Times Journalists Subpoenaed as Trump Escalates Pressure on Media The Justice Department is seeking to compel testimony from reporters who wrote about the new Air Force One. The Times called the move a “brazen act.” www.nytimes.com/2026/07/11/b...

Times Journalists Subpoenaed as Trump Escalates Pressure on Media (Gift Article)

The Justice Department is seeking to compel testimony from reporters who wrote about the new Air Force One. The Times called the move a “brazen act.”

Huge win here for the rule of law. Remarkable ruling and kudos to @normeisen.bsky.social @democracydefendersaction.org and the judges who helped bring it about.

Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social

BREAKING: huge victory for our 35 judges in the slush fund case *Knocks out any legal basis for the $1.8B *Also undermines the accompanying settlements *And opens the way to ethics & financial SANCTIONS H/t to cocounsel @democracydefendersaction.org, Platkin LLP & Susman Godfrey

If one upside of this mess is more support for @amandalitman.bsky.social and @runforsomething.net, that would be a good thing.

Amanda Litman @amandalitman.bsky.social

Mmmmmmhmmmmm 👀👀👀👀 www.nytimes.com/2026/07/09/o...

The use by multiple admins of our control over global finance as a weapon led others to seek alternatives to US financial hegemony.

But Trump's reckless and unnecessary blunder in Iran may be the final straw, ceding the dollar's dominance. What a disaster he created by his ego and stupidity.

If this isn’t a sign that our system of both government and finance has jumped a shark, I don’t know what it.

A mockery of capitalism and democracy all wrapped up in one move.

When history is written these will be the blaring warning signs we foolishly didn’t heed. www.wsj.com/finance/stoc...

How Wall Street’s Bots Are Cashing In on Trump’s Truth Social Posts

Traders who already monitor the president’s pronouncements with automated systems can pay for an ultrafast feed. At least five firms have signed up.

Ah yes, “unreliable narrator” is the phrase we were all looking for.

There’s only two possibilities: either the Trump FDA is incompetent or it’s corrupt. Either they announced the culprit of a nationwide crisis inaccurately or Trump took a bribe to lie to the public. It’s one or the other.

A perfect encapsulation of Trumpism. And the result either way is we get sick

public health guy @publichealthguy1.bsky.social

hmmmm

A famous 20th Century demagogue who also believed in genetic superiority and “racehorse theory” took power away from the people by railing against communists too. That didn’t work out well.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com

Trump really thinks he's cooking by running against "communism" and saying it over and over during his speeches

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Fox News was not alone in expressing alarm and outrage over Mamdani's plan to open city-owned bodegas. What say they about this?

USA TODAY @usatoday.com

The White House launched 25 Freedom Fuel gas stations, all selling fuel at $3.47 a gallon.

White House launches 25 Freedom Fuel gas stations in this region

The White House launched gas stations, it announced on July 7, but the prices aren't much lower than the national average. See where they're located.

Want to know what the president is going to say at his nationally televised therapy session on election grievances? It's all on the "rigged elections BINGO card".

He gets to whine more about why he lost six years ago and you get to play with friends! bingo.cip.uw.edu

"Rigged Election" Bingo

Spot the tropes before they spread. Recognize the common storylines behind election rumors — can you get BINGO?

Excellent work by @marcelias.bsky.social, marking second setback this week to Trump attempts to takeover elections.

When he loses, he usually distracts w some new plot twist.

Expect this to be when he cuts a "plea" deal with Maduro in exchange for Maduro lying about rigging the 2020 election.

Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social

NEW EPISODE: SCOTUS has decided Watson v. Republican National Committee! I break down the court's 5-4 ruling rejecting the RNC's effort to throw out mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received afterward. www.youtube.com/watch?v=YCBc...

VICTORY: We Just Won a Supreme Court Case That Protects Your Mail-in Ballot

YouTube video by Democracy Docket

BREAKING: In an unusual move, Trump has reportedly rejected his advisers' plans to hold his Thursday evening speech in the Oval Office.

Instead, he plans to address the nation from outside Four Seasons Total Landscaping in Philadelphia.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com

Trump: "President Trump will be making a Speech to the Nation on Thursday evening, at 9 P.M. Eastern. Thank you for your attention to this matter!"

Congress rejected some of Trump’s proposed budget cuts. OMB is making them anyway. From David Super and Cerin Lindgrensavage @protectdemocracy.org thehill.com/opinion/cong...

Congress rejected some of Trump’s proposed budget cuts. OMB is making them anyway.

President Trump and the Office of Management and Budget are accused of violating the separation of powers by attempting to unilaterally withhold funds that Congress specifically appropriated.

Evergreen

Reply to @ianbassin.bsky.social

They really should go back and read Orwell’s politics and the English language