Ted Lieu

TRUTH: The massive fire that destroyed Altadena was not a “forest fire.” The fire had nothing to do with forest management or water policy.

Three main reasons the fire exploded:

1. Drought-like conditions
2. Very low relative humidity
3. Santa Ana winds reaching 100 mph

(Video by Stuart Palley)

▶

CANCEL THE CUTS

RELEASE THE FILES

Hard to believe, but maybe, just maybe, trump is lying, again.

I will be voting NO on the package coming from the Senate.

A foreign hacker likely has the Epstein Files.

The best way to prevent blackmail of government officials, such as trump and Howard Lutnick, would be for AG Pam Bondi to stop the cover up and release all the Epstein Files as required by law.

Reuters Legal @legal.reuters.com

Exclusive: Foreign hacker in 2023 compromised Epstein files held by FBI, source and documents show

Exclusive: Foreign hacker in 2023 compromised Epstein files held by FBI, source and documents show

A foreign hacker compromised files relating to the FBI’s investigation of the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein during a break-in at the bureau’s New York Field Office three years ago, according to ​a source familiar with the matter and recently published Justice Department documents reviewed by Reuters.

I’m going to take today’s good news to do my first Bluesky post:

Congratulations to Democrat Derek Tran for taking the lead against the GOP incumbent in #CA45!!

Jacob Rubashkin @rubashkin.bsky.social

🚨Democrat Derek Tran now leads GOP Rep. Michelle Steel in CA-45 — by 46 votes! This would be a Republican to Democratic flip in the House.

I agree with Gov Gavin Newsom that Trump’s take over of the CA National Guard is purposefully inflammatory.

I also note this federalization is being done under 10 U.S.C. § 12406, which means the Guard troops will still be subject to the prohibitions in the Posse Comitatus Act.

The First Amendment protects the public’s right to:

1. Film ICE in public

2. Photograph ICE in public

3. Observe what ICE does in public

ICE and DHS officials cannot lay a finger on any American who is peacefully exercising First Amendment rights.

Trump and Rubio are doing such a great job running Venezuela that the U.S. is now warning Americans to leave Venezuela to escape armed militias.

And they want companies to go to Venezuela? No way companies will do that.

Trump’s Venezuela operation is a disaster.

www.foxnews.com/world/us-war...

US warns Americans to leave Venezuela immediately as armed militias set up roadblocks

Americans in Venezuela warned to leave immediately as armed militias reportedly set up roadblocks searching for U.S. citizens, according to new U.S. Embassy Caracas security alert.

As a former prosecutor, I know a grand jury would indict a ham sandwich. The grand jury’s refusal today to indict Letitia James shows this case should never have been brought.

When we flip the House, we will investigate everyone involved for abuse of power.

MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com

BREAKING: Federal grand jury REFUSES TO INDICT New York Attorney General Letitia James again

As a Catholic, I take great offense to Donald Trump mocking Catholics.

I wish Trump would focus on lowering prices instead. The American economy had negative GDP growth last quarter. That’s what he should be focused on instead of making fun of Catholics.

My prayers are with President Biden and his family.

NPR @npr.org

BREAKING NEWS: Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, which has metastasized to the bone, according to a statement from his personal office.

Former President Joe Biden diagnosed with prostate cancer

Biden has been diagnosed with prostate cancer, which has metastasized to the bone, according to a statement from his personal office.

Congratulations to Democrat Derek Tran for extending his lead over the GOP incumbent in #CA45.

Howard P. Forman @thehowie.bsky.social

Derek Tran now with a 102 (!!) vote lead and growing each day. GOP look poised to have net loss in House seats from 2 years ago.

Congratulations to Democratic State Senator-elect Taylor Rehmet for flipping ruby red Texas SD9 from red to blue!

Trump endorsed Taylor’s opponent, which helped Taylor because Trump is so weak and unpopular.

Democrats will win Congress in Nov, and it won’t be close.

Houston Chronicle @houstonchronicle.com

Democrat Taylor Rehmet has won a special election for the Texas state Senate and flipped a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024.

Democrat Taylor Rehmet wins a reliably Republican Texas state Senate seat, stunning GOP

Democrat Taylor Rehmet has won a special election for the Texas state Senate and flipped a reliably Republican district that President Donald Trump won by 17 points in 2024. Rehmet is a labor union...

Grocery prices will rise due to Republican policies.

“75% of immigrant farm workers didn’t show up yesterday in Bakersfield because of fears of ICE raids under the new presidency.”

Congratulations to Xp Lee for winning the special election for a seat previously held by former Minnesota Speaker Melissa Hortman. Speaker Hortman and her husband were assassinated in June.

The Associated Press @apnews.com

BREAKING: Democrat Xp Lee wins the Minnesota House special election to fill the seat of Melissa Hortman, who was assassinated in June.

Democrat XP Lee wins Minnesota House special election to replace assassinated leader

Democrat Xp Lee has won a special election to fill the Minnesota House seat of a top Democratic leader who was assassinated. Rep.

“All who make idols are nothing, and the things they treasure are worthless. Those who would speak up for them are blind; they are ignorant, to their own shame.” Isaiah 44:9

Steve Herman @newsguy.bsky.social

Trump, following his unprecedented denunciation of the Pope, posts an image portraying himself as Jesus Christ.

Day 2 of the Republican shutdown. Your regular reminders:

1. GOP controls government. They control what bills get voted on and the vote thresholds for each bill. Senate GOP can pass their bad funding bill today if they felt like it.

2. Dems are fighting to lower costs and save healthcare.

Honored to be re-elected as Vice Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. It is a privilege to serve with all our Caucus Members, and Leader Jeffries, Whip Clark, Chair Aguilar and the entire leadership team.

Congratulations to Maxwell Frost for his election to DPCC Co-Chair!

Congratulations to His Holiness Pope Leo XIV. A historic day for America and the world. May he be blessed with the wisdom, courage and grace to lead during these times.

Trump’s federalization of the CA National Guard under 10 USC § 12406 is illegal.

The law requires that orders be issued “through the Governors of the States.” Gov Gavin Newsom has not issued the orders.

Guard troops in LA are following unlawful orders. law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10…

Cry harder

Trump brought Prop 50 upon himself

Another day, another scandal under Hegseth. This is not silly stuff like Hegseth using taxpayer funds for a Pentagon makeup studio.

The allegation here is an illegal wiretap. If they used an illegal wiretap on a senior official, you think they wouldn’t hesitate to use it on you?

The Guardian @theguardian.com

White House stunned as Hegseth inquiry brings up illegal wiretap claims

White House stunned as Hegseth inquiry brings up illegal wiretap claims

Exclusive: Trump advisers lose confidence in Pentagon leak investigation Hegseth used to justify firing three top aides The White House has lost confidence in a Pentagon leak investigation that Pete Hegseth used to justify firing three top aides last month, after advisers were told that the aides had supposedly been outed by an illegal warrantless National Security Agency (NSA) wiretap. The extraordinary explanation alarmed the advisers, who also raised it with people close to JD Vance, because such a wiretap would almost certainly be unconstitutional and an even bigger scandal than a number of leaks. Continue reading...

This is dumb and makes no sense. Starting with 10% indiscriminate tariffs and ending with 10% indiscriminate tariffs means that American consumers will continue to pay exactly the same tariff tax before this “deal”.