https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_min2MyyV7E
and, feel the Bern!
rumble.com/v6f0akp-bernie-challenges-rfk-jr.-on-selling-onesies.html?e9s=src_v1_ucp
and, feel the anti-war burn!
and a song:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwSRqaZGsPw
Andy, Wheeler
Amicus Brief
What they call you is one thing.
What you answer to is something else.
Lucille Clifton, 1936 – 2010
The light of day was gone.
It was to honor a birthday
that we were at the Lighthouse,
a local tavern and gathering place.
An unknown to me, you were sitting
by yourself at the bar, a stranger.
When I came up to the bar,
what you saw and apparently imagined,
was not what was actually there.
For your own reasons you were
wanting to hurt, get down, forget.
Not for you and you alone did I
refuse to kiss your angry, drunken
axe, dismiss or ignore all the times
you were wronged, not heard,
demeaned, all the times you were
frightened, contracted, confused.
Full of party intentions, I was wearing
my favorite old coat, unraveling a bit,
threadbare, and apparently from somewhere
in Bolivia. When you asked if I was homeless
it was clear you believed I had no right
or reason to be at the bar, the gathering,
or occupy space at all. It was all so sad
and familiar. A response was needed but
not available. When I answered the fist
of your question, “Are you homeless,”
I could not sanction nor join another
confused distraction, nor support
the ignorance that brought this violence
to you that you were now bringing to me.
My answer, “Not at this time.” could never
quiet what was burning in you and the uncertain
tightening of this difficult meeting continued
in ways I have now completely forgotten.
Finally a person I never saw, claiming to know
each of us, said something that allowed you
to let go, begin to settle down. I was grateful
that at least on this night, self-loathing
quieted, no blood would be lost.
Musician Carol Shepherd will be here to provide percussive accompaniment to the story “Tanka Tanka Skunk” by author Steve Webb. This book is full of rhyme and rhythm, making it great for reading aloud with a group. After the reading, children will have time to play a variety of percussion instruments while learning about drums, the tambourine, and rhythm sticks!
This event is recommended for ages 3-5. Thank you to the North Oregon Coast Symphony for making these wonderful storytimes possible!
See you there!
Virtual Link for Public Meetings
Microsoft Teams is utilized for Housing Commission Meetings. To access this link,
please visit: www.co.tillamook.or.us/bc-hc
Call in: 1-971-254-3149, Conference ID: 887 242 77#
Meeting Location:
Port of Tillamook Bay Conference Center, 4000 Blimp Boulevard, Tillamook, OR 97141
Also: Just as multiple air travel related tragedies have taken place, it’s been reported that the FAA is fighting a class action lawsuit alleging it denied
1,000 people air traffic controller jobs based on diversity hiring targets, according to the New York Post. The lawsuit, originally filed in 2015, resurfaced following this fatal midair collision in Washington, DC, that claimed 67 lives—the deadliest U.S. aviation disaster in nearly 25 years. Hours after this tragic plane crash, a small private plane crashed in Northeast Philadelphia, putting emphasis on the role of air traffic control.
At the time of the blackhawk helicopter incident, staffing levels were reportedly “not normal.” Andrew Brigida, the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit, criticized the FAA’s focus on diversity and inclusion, suggesting it contributed to the likelihood of such an accident.
The New York Post report says that the lawsuit claims the FAA, under the Obama administration, replaced a skill-based hiring system with a “biographical assessment” to increase minority hires.
Now aren’t you sorry if you are one who voted for trump.
He has been in office TWO WEEKS, and has not just created mayhem and confusion, but is dismantling our democracy.
Pay special attention to Justin Trudeau’s words.
HEATHER COX RICHARDSON
FEB 3
Billionaire Elon Musk’s team yesterday took control of the Treasury’s payment system, thus essentially gaining access to the checkbook with which the United States handles about $6 trillion annually and to all the financial information of Americans and American businesses with it. Apparently, it did not stop there.
Today Ellen Knickmeyer of the Associated Press reported that yesterday two top security officials from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) tried to stop people associated with Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, from accessing classified information they did not have security clearance to see. The Trump administration put the officials on leave, and the DOGE team gained access to the information.
Vittoria Elliott of Wired has identified those associated with Musk’s takeover as six “engineers who are barely out of—and in at least one case, purportedly still in—college.” They are connected either to Musk or to his long-time associate Peter Thiel, who backed J.D. Vance’s Senate run eighteen months before he became Trump’s vice presidential running mate. Their names are Akash Bobba, Edward Coristine, Luke Farritor, Gautier Cole Killian, Gavin Kliger, and Ethan Shaotran, and they have little to no experience in government.
Public policy expert Dan Moynihan told reporter Elliott that the fact these people “are not really public officials” makes it hard for Congress to intervene. “So this feels like a hostile takeover of the machinery of governments by the richest man in the world,” he said. Law professor Nick Bednar noted that “it is very unlikely” that the engineers “have the expertise to understand either the law or the administration needs that surround these agencies.”
After Musk’s team breached the USAID computers, cybersecurity specialist Matthew Garrett posted: “Random computers being plugged into federal networks is obviously terrifying in terms of what data they’re deliberately accessing, but it’s also terrifying because it implies controls are being disabled—unmanaged systems should never have access to this data. Who else has access to those systems?”
USAID receives foreign policy guidance from the State Department. Intelligence agencies must now assume U.S. intelligence systems are insecure.
Musk’s response was to post: “USAID is a criminal organization. Time for it to die.” Also last night, according to Sam Stein of The Bulwark, “the majority of staff in the legislative and public affairs bureau lost access to their emails, implying they’ve been put on admin leave although this was never communicated to them.”
Congress established USAID in 1961 to bring together the many different programs that were administering foreign aid. Focusing on long-term socioeconomic development, USAID has a budget of more than $50 billion, less than 1% of the U.S. annual budget. It is one of the largest aid agencies in the world.
Musk is unelected, and it appears that DOGE has no legal authority. As political scientist Seth Masket put it in tusk: “Elon Musk is not a federal employee, nor has he been appointed by the President nor approved by the Senate to have any leadership role in government. The ‘Department of Government Efficiency,’ announced by Trump in a January 20th executive order, is not truly any sort of government department or agency, and even the executive order uses quotes in the title. It’s perfectly fine to have a marketing gimmick like this, but DOGE does not have power over established government agencies, and Musk has no role in government. It does not matter that he is an ally of the President. Musk is a private citizen taking control of established government offices. That is not efficiency; that is a coup.”
DOGE has simply taken over government systems. Musk, using President Donald Trump’s name, is personally deciding what he thinks should be cut from the U.S. government.
Today, Musk reposted a social media post from MAGA religious extremist General Mike Flynn, who resigned from his position as Trump’s national security advisor in 2017 after pleading guilty to secret conversations with a Russian agent—for which Trump pardoned him—and who publicly embraced the QAnon conspiracy theory. In today’s post, Flynn complained about “the ‘Lutheran’ faith” and, referring to federal grants provided to Lutheran Family Services and affiliated organizations, said, “this use of ‘religion’ as a money laundering operation must end.” Musk added: “The [DOGE] team is rapidly shutting down these illegal payments.”
In fact, this is money appropriated by Congress, and its payment is required by law. Republican lawmakers have pushed government subsidies and grants toward religious organizations for years, and Lutheran Social Services is one of the largest employers in South Dakota, where it operates senior living facilities.
South Dakota is the home of Senate majority leader John Thune, who has not been a strong Trump supporter, as well as Homeland Security secretary nominee Kristi Noem.
The news that DOGE has taken over U.S. government computers is not the only bombshell this weekend.
Another is that Trump has declared a trade war with the top trading partners of the United States: Mexico, Canada, and China. Although his first administration negotiated the current trade agreement between the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, on Saturday Trump broke the terms of that treaty.
He slapped tariffs of 25% on goods coming from Mexico and Canada, tariffs of 10% on Canadian energy, and tariffs of 10% on goods coming from China. He said he was doing so to force Mexico and Canada to do more about undocumented migration and drug trafficking, but while precursor chemicals to make fentanyl come from China and undocumented migrants come over the southern border with Mexico, Canada accounts for only about 1% of both. Further, Trump has diverted Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents combating drug trafficking to his immigration sweeps.
As soon as he took office, Trump designated Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations, and on Friday, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth responded that “all options will be on the table” when a Fox News Channel host asked if the military will strike within Mexico. Today Trump was clearer: he posted on social media that without U.S. trade—which Trump somehow thinks is a “massive subsidy”—“Canada ceases to exist as a viable Country. Harsh but true! Therefore, Canada should become our Cherished 51st State. Much lower taxes, and far better military protection for the people of Canada—AND NO TARIFFS!”
Trump inherited the best economy in the world from his predecessor, President Joe Biden, but on Friday, as soon as White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed that Trump would levy the tariffs, the stock market plunged. Trump, who during his campaign insisted that tariffs would boost the economy, today said that Americans could feel “SOME PAIN” from them. He added “BUT WE WILL MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN, AND IT WILL ALL BE WORTH THE PRICE THAT MUST BE PAID.” Tonight, stock market futures dropped 450 points before trading opens tomorrow.
Mexican president Claudia Sheinbaum wrote, “We categorically reject the White House’s slander that the Mexican government has alliances with criminal organizations, as well as any intention of meddling in our territory,” and has promised retaliatory tariffs. China noted that it has been working with the U.S. to regulate precursor chemicals since 2019 and said it would sue the U.S. before the World Trade Organization.
Canada’s prime minister Justin Trudeau announced more than $100 billion in retaliatory 25% tariffs and then spoke directly to Americans. Echoing what economists have said all along, Trudeau warned that tariffs would cost jobs, raise prices, and limit the precious metals necessary for U.S. security. But then he turned from economics to principles.
“As President John F. Kennedy said many years ago,” Trudeau began, “geography has made us neighbours. History has made us friends, economics has made us partners and necessity has made us allies.” He noted that “from the beaches of Normandy to the mountains of the Korean Peninsula, from the fields of Flanders to the streets of Kandahar,” Canadians “have “fought and died alongside you.”
“During the summer of 2005, when Hurricane Katrina ravaged your great city of New Orleans, or mere weeks ago when we sent water bombers to tackle the wildfires in California. During the day, the world stood still—Sept. 11, 2001—when we provided refuge to stranded passengers and planes, we were always there, standing with you, grieving with you, the American people.
“Together, we’ve built the most successful economic, military and security partnership the world has ever seen. A relationship that has been the envy of the world…. Unfortunately, the actions taken today by the White House split us apart instead of bringing us together.”
Trudeau said Canada’s response would “be far reaching and include everyday items such as American beer, wine and bourbon, fruits and fruit juices, including orange juice, along with vegetables, perfume, clothing and shoes. It’ll include major consumer products like household appliances, furniture and sports equipment, and materials like lumber and plastics, along with much, much more. He assured Canadians: “[W]e are all in this together. The Canadian government, Canadian businesses, Canadian organized labour, Canadian civil society, Canada’s premiers, and tens of millions of Canadians from coast to coast to coast are aligned and united. This is Team Canada at its best.”
Canadian provincial leaders said they were removing alcohol from Republican-dominated states, and Canadian member of parliament Charlie Angus noted that the Liquor Control Board of Ontario buys more wine by dollar value than any other organization in the world and that Canada is the number one export market for Kentucky spirits. The Liquor Control Board of Ontario has stopped all purchases of American beer, wine, and spirits, turning instead to allies and local producers. Canada’s Irving Oil, which provides heating oil to New England, has already told customers that prices will reflect the tariffs.
In a riveting piece today, in his Thinking about…, scholar of authoritarianism Timothy Snyder wrote that “[t]he people who now dominate the executive branch of the government…are acting, quite deliberately, to destroy the nation.” “Think of the federal government as a car,” he wrote. “You might have thought that the election was like getting the car serviced. Instead, when you come into the shop, the mechanics, who somehow don’t look like mechanics, tell you that they have taken the parts of your car that work and sold them and kept the money. And that this was the most efficient thing to do. And that you should thank them.”
On Friday, James E. Dennehy of the FBI’s New York field office told his staff that they are “in a battle of our own, as good people are being walked out of the F.B.I. and others are being targeted because they did their jobs in accordance with the law and F.B.I. policy.” He vowed that he, anyway, is going to “dig in.”
—
Notes:
www.state.gov/resources-and-reports-office-of-foreign-assistance/
www.cnn.com/2025/02/02/politics/usaid-officials-leave-musk-doge/index.html
Friday Night Musk-acre
Friday was a busy day in national politics, with the media fixated on two plane crashes, a tariff order that sparked vows of retaliation and a stock market selloff, embarrassing Senate confirmation hearings for a number cabinet appointees, and more. But we need to talk about the massive assault on democracy and the rule of law that occurred this day. It…
Read more
2 days ago · 278 likes · 25 comments · Seth Masket
www.military.com/daily-news/2025/01/31/defense-secretary-hegseth-says-all-options-will-be-table-when-asked-about-military-strikes-mexico.html
globalnews.ca/news/10993376/trudeau-trump-tariffs-us-canada/
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/02/us/politics/fbi-new-york-email-trump.html
www.newsweek.com/stock-market-plunges-trump-tariffs-mexico-canada-china-2024502
www.wired.com/story/elon-musk-government-young-engineers/
apnews.com/article/trump-tariffs-canada-mexico-china-trade-surplus-3010e6368545e2976feb5ac6b41e528e
Thinking about…
The Logic of Destruction
What is a country? The way its people govern themselves. America exists because its people elect those who make and execute laws. The assumption of a democracy is that individuals have dignity and rights that they realize and protect by acting together…
Read more
Timothy Snyder
www.cnbc.com/2025/02/02/stock-market-today-live-updates.html
obamaadministration.archives.performance.gov/agency/department-state-and-usaid.html
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/feb/01/usaid-website-offline-trump
lutheranservices.org/todays-front-line-hero-lutheran-social-services-of-south-dakota-2/
link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-0-387-93996-4_821
Bluesky:
mjg59.eicar-test-file.zip/post/3lh5n4s75sk2n
andrewlebovich.bsky.social/post/3lh7llltink2y
joedunman.bsky.social/post/3lh7mnlmzwc2g
douglasirwin.bsky.social/post/3lh7jz3mjss2b
charlieangus104.bsky.social/post/3lh7htpmaqs2c
gtconway.bsky.social/post/3lhams26fgk2r
charlieangus104.bsky.social/post/3lha4wr6aqs2k
X:
samstein/status/1886085513896956041
RonFilipkowski/with_replies
reichlinmelnick/status/1884247899602849852
Share
You’re currently a free subscriber to Letters from an American. If you need help receiving Letters, changing your email address, or unsubscribing, please visit our Support FAQ. You can also submit a help request directly.
For the full experience, upgrade your subscription.
© 2025 Heather Cox Richardson
548 Market Street PMB 72296, San Francisco, CA 94104
The Energy of Dreams
In the twilight of early morning
carried on the energy of dreams,
an urgent spirit appeared, “Listen,
just listen, listen to the wind passing
over our broken land. Hear the cries
across the barren clear-cuts.
Understand, the old cedar are gone,
as the buffalo are gone and the ones
who were here, who walked in sacred
shadows, breathing in the majesty
of immense branches, they are all
gone now. Listen well. Rising time
has come. As fertile seeds, our voices
will carry. Together, in the turning
of all our lives, mountains and rivers
and clouds passing can hold bright,
new generations. Beauty will return
to a lost and forsaken land.”
Dear Members of Congress,
I am writing to express my deep concern over Elon Musk’s involvement in governmental affairs, particularly in the fabricated DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) position—a role that does not exist within any legitimate government structure and one to which he was neither elected nor approved by Congress. This unprecedented and extralegal appointment is a direct affront to democratic governance and a matter of national security.
Mr. Musk, a private billionaire with a history of prioritizing personal and corporate interests over public well-being, has now been granted undue influence in critical government functions. His unchecked access to sensitive national infrastructure, military contracts, and energy policies poses serious risks. The American people did not vote for him, nor was there any congressional oversight in granting him such authority. It is deeply alarming that a single, unelected individual could wield such power without accountability.
Beyond the national security implications, Mr. Musk’s history of erratic decision-making, financial entanglements, and public manipulation of markets—including his direct financial interests in cryptocurrency, space exploration, and defense contracts—raises serious ethical concerns. No private citizen– is he even a citizen?– should be permitted to insert themselves into government operations without the scrutiny and approval of the legislative branch.
I urge Congress to take immediate action to remove Elon Musk from any and all government-affiliated roles and investigate how and why this fabricated position was granted without democratic consent. If left unchecked, this sets a dangerous precedent, allowing billionaires and private entities to hijack governmental authority without public oversight.
This is a critical moment for our democracy. I implore you to act swiftly to restore transparency, accountability, and the integrity of our nation’s leadership. The American people deserve governance that is chosen by them—not installed by backroom deals and corporate interests.
Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. I look forward to seeing Congress uphold its duty to protect the nation and its democratic institutions.
Sincerely,
(Your name)
Meet Gabriel and Linus, the coolest cats at United Paws. These exceptionally loving and gentle brothers are Zen masters, demonstrating an exceptional ability to enjoy one day at a time. These two overcame adversity early in life to become happy, healthy kitties who now care for smaller foster friends who find themselves at UP.
Gabriel is an angel, soulful and strong-spirited. After receiving extra special care, he recovered from some health issues and became the love of his Foster Mama’s life. She said, “Gabriel’s will to live and thrive are inspirational.” Gabriel loves to be held and snuggled, and the minute you sit, he will be there to warm your lap.
Linus is a black and gray tabby with a gorgeous, ticked coat that makes him irresistible. Playtime is his specialty, and he seeks out toys to conquer and his brother to wrestle. When playtime is done, he soaks in pets, especially on his soft spotted belly. Linus loves lap time too, and is a pro at squeezing in with Gabriel to ensure a lap full of love.
Gabriel & Linus were surrendered to United Paws when very young, so they have had lots of tender loving care in a safe environment. This bonded pair is ready to bring lots of loving energy to a forever home.
You can learn more about these cuties, as well as other cats and kittens available for adoption, at unitedpaws.wordress.com, where you can also complete an application. If you would like to schedule a “Meet & Greet”, please email unitedpawsapps@gmail.com or call United Paws at 503-842-5663.
If you have access problems, drop me an email and I’ll send you the text.
Gene Dieken
let’s tell it like it really is. please read this post AND watch the 2-3 minute video.
well, now that i’ve copied and pasted this message, the link to the video didn’t come through. if you want to watch it, perhaps you can do a google search and find it.
om peace namaste
lucy brook
nehalem resident
U.S. citizen
Inequality Media Civic Action
Lucile W,
Trump is trying to take credit for Biden’s economy. Don’t be fooled.
In 2017, Trump inherited a strong economy from President Obama and never stopped congratulating himself for it. He repeatedly made claims such as, “We created the greatest economy in the history of the world!”
Rubbish!
In his first administration, Trump tanked the economy with his trade wars and botched pandemic response.
Now, Trump has inherited an even stronger economy. Under Biden, over 16 million jobs were created — more than during any single presidential term on record. Unemployment was a low 4.1 percent. And wages were rising.
Under Biden, the American economy grew faster than the rest of the world’s, and faster than the pre-pandemic Trump economy.
Take a look at our new video to shore up your arguments when you hear more of Trump’s unwarranted brags! Then share it with friends to help get the facts out.
WATCH & SHARE
Yes, the United States and every other country had to deal with inflation, but Biden brought inflation down below 3 percent — lower than most other countries.
Americans have every reason to be outraged at decades of policies that prioritized corporations over people. But the Biden Administration cracked down on corporate price-gouging, monopolization, and trickle-down nonsense.
Some of the most important Biden initiatives will only start to pay off during the Trump presidency (assuming Trump doesn’t reverse them).
The Biden Administration took on Big Pharma by capping out-of-pocket drug costs for millions of seniors on Medicare, and lowered the price of 64 drugs — changes that will take place throughout 2025. And more drugs are scheduled to get cheaper in the following years.
Biden’s infrastructure law will give us better roads, bridges, public transit, and broadband access. The CHIPS and Science Act will provide more American-made semiconductors. Biden’s clean energy initiatives will pay off in the future with greater fuel efficiency and less pollution.
I hope you’ll watch and share this week’s video, and add your thoughts in the comments.
His whole life, Trump has taken credit for things he inherited, starting with his own personal fortune. If he doesn’t wreck the economy with his crazy tariffs or cruel deportations (or even if he does), you can be sure he will take credit again for something other people built.
Don’t let him.
Robert Reich
Inequality Media Civic Action
Learn and polish your rotary cutting skills, accurate piecing and design elements in this four-week instructional class Thursdays, beginning Jan 30 1-4pm in the basement at White Clover Grange. Please bring 1/2 yard of white or cream small print and 1/2 yard of red small print, thread, sewing machine, pincushion, scissors, rotary cutter, mat and ruler, and iron if you have one. Don’t have all the tools? We will share. The goal of the first class is to create half square triangles that can be stitched together to form a variety of patterns.
This class is free to attend.
Needle Felting with Glenna Gray
This three-hour workshop will introduce you to the basics of needle felting, Felting is a fun and creative way to create anything from sculptural and fantastic, to wearables, to embellishments. It is relaxing, creative and a lovely cross between clay and paint.
We will meet at White Clover Grange on February 27, 2025 from 1-4. Bring water to drink, all other materials will be supplied.
Glenna Gray has been felting for five years, taking classes as far away as Scotland. She hopes to inspire you to enjoy this ancient skill as much as she has.
This class has a 6-student minimum and a 12-student maximum and is suitable for students 14 years old and up. The fee for this class one day class is $40 which includes all tools and materials. Payment in full is required before class date. Please contact Cindy Erickson at: cindy.obtd@gmail.com for payment options.
We are considering also having a monthly Saturday event for those who work during the week or would like to bring their children to create with. If you have interest in this or know someone who would, please let me know so that I can get it on the calendar.
Have something you’d like to teach? We’d love to have you! Let’s talk!
Have art or craft supplies collecting dust in the back of your closet that you’d like to donate, share, or trade? Bring them with you! Let’s make something beautiful with them!
Please consider making a donation to the White Clover Grange building maintenance fund. Our old gal is showing her age (103!) and we work hard to keep her in tip-top shape. Thank you!
Also, please bring a can or two of food for the Food Bank. We will have collection bins set up at the doors.
And last but not least, please tell your friends and neighbors! This could be a wonderful way for all of us to build community.
Thanks,
Cindy
Here’s a link to their website, pdamerica.org/pda-news/
These are monster zooms with about 500 attendees from across the nation. The first part is usually a nationally prominent person like Ro Khanna or Nadine Smith who speaks for about half an hour and then it’s open to questions and comments. Time limits are strictly enforced for the questions and comments so you might not get a chance to speak. They are run very well.
I like it because you can catch up on emails, write, read the news, play solitaire, or whatever at the same time the zoom is running.
Seeing so many like-minded people from all over the country gathered together is comforting.