The best of the #UnitedStates

DOJ said Vermont was violating federal voting laws. Asked for evidence, it couldn’t provide any The hearing comes less than a week after a federal judge dismissed a similar DOJ lawsuit against Massachusetts on comparable grounds.

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) admitted it has no evidence that Vermont is not complying with federal voter roll maintenance laws — an admission that could further weaken its case for amassing voters’ sensitive data. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

Good morning!
Sunrise at Northport, Nova Scotia photographed by Diane Irwin..

Automakers face a troubling customer trend A month of war and rising gas prices has taken a toll on consumer confidence in the U.S., leading to a decline that is consistent across age groups, income levels, and political party affiliation, acc...

Make cheap electric cars and we won't have to deal with this Straits of Hormuz oil bullshit. We will get cleaner air as an added benefit.
finance.yahoo.com/economy/arti...

#Philz coffee was the first California coffee house we discovered when I took my kid to visit schools.
Now we say #GoodBye because its now owned by #PrivateEquity and they've told all stores to remove #Pride flags, #BLM flags, etc all in the name of #Equality. 😆
They never heard of #Target ,I guess.

Maricopa County election staff told to grant FBI unrestricted access, new emails show The emails depict Arizona election offices preparing for possible federal intervention while at least one top local official offered support for the probe.

‼️Election administrators in Maricopa County, Arizona ordered staff to grant federal agents sweeping, unmonitored access to election facilities — including instructions not to record their actions — according to newly released emails. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...

I guess it could have been or probably was a sat flare. Again, this kind was new to me but according to Satellite Tracker there is a geosynchronous sat nearby. But this was really something new. I'm not gonna sleep now. Ugh.

This is weird. I was looking up almost at the zenith and saw a pinpoint flash, like a light bulb popping. Anyone else?
I've never seen anything like this before.
It wasn't a meteor. It was a still point in the sky.
I've seen satellite flashes. Was t that either.
#Nightsky #FlashOfLight #Space

What Do Authoritarians Fear Most? People Who Stick Up for Each Other. The most reliable form of resilience is not individual wealth or distant institutions, but solidarity.

What Do Authoritarians Fear Most? People Who Stick Up for Each Other. truthout.org/articles/wha...

Putin's point man in the EU has been pushed out

This is good news for Europe and for democracy

Let's hope voters in other countries reject Putin stooges

Including Nigel Farage

Accountability!!!!!!!!

May Victor Orbán simply be the first in a string of countries engaging in overdue housecleaning by kicking their authoritarian leaders to the curb.

We win when we TURN OUT THE VOTE!
#America #HungaryWeSeeYou #LetsFuckingGo #BlueWave2026

Activists hold sign TYRANT

Today, the people of #Hungary toppled their tyrant.
America, our return to democracy requires our full attention.
We can see it can be done!

The victory of the opposition in Hungary yesterday, like the Polish election in 2023, is a victory for democracy, not just in Europe but around the world.

And now there is a Hormuz fee!

New published photo this morning from #ArtemisII, "Moonjoy"

images.nasa.gov/details/art0...

Today is (the very first) National Black Bookstore day! The National Association of Black Bookstores (NAB2), a group launched last Juneteenth by Kevin Johnson of Sacramento’s Underground Books, has announced a new holiday: National Black Bookstore…

Today is (the very first) National Black Bookstore day!

Celebrate with a treat from a Black-owned indie bookstore.

Brittany Allen

lithub.com/today-is-the...

#books #literature #blacklivesmatter #NationalBlackBookstoreDay

Before I became an American, I was Lebanese. Parts of my family live in Lebanon.

Anyway, you don't need those bona fides to feel this way, but what is happening in Lebanon right now is a complete outrage. The people there, who mostly are just trying to carve out a living, don't deserve this.

I think appliance review sites should have a separate 'no 'smart' features' vertical because I do feel like there are a growing number of people who don't need a wi-fi enabled dishwasher or a washing machine that requires a subscription or a fridge that can be hacked.

Pretty obvious.

"I grew up across the street from a public library, and it was the only place my mom would let me go on my own. It was my second home, and I read everything that I could get."
~ Tracy Chapman
Chapman by Nicholas Albrecht
#Booksky

Don't forget sunscreen

Happy Birthday
Barbara Kingsolver!

It’s Josephine! She’s a black dog with brown eyes and she’s sitting on the floor in the vet’s office with a concerned look on her face

The vet said our dog is healthy and pretty and well behaved and she’s lucky we rescued her and we’re lucky to have found her, and the whole time Josephine is sitting there making the “I was very brave, when can I have more treats” face. 🥹

Earth behind the Moon

Awesome image from Artemis.
Big!

Today is day 127 of the ICE occupation of MN.

ICE is still here. Neighbors are still being abducted.

So we’re here too. Still carrying whistles. Still standing watch in our neighborhoods. Still doing mutual aid.

Still fighting for ICE OUT EVERYWHERE.

Just because a President announces he’s agreed to a two week ceasefire moments before he threatened to commit war crimes, does not mean he is suddenly fit to serve. #25thAmendment

All of Us Should Be Able To Agree With This…..

Fantastic dog.
About 2 weeks ago I tripped on the stairs. No fall, no big deal.
Ever since then my dog Pip "ushers" me up stairs, steps, anything really.
She presses against me as if telling me she's ready to take the weight.
Who needs humans?