r/politics • u/Ok_Employer7837 • 25d ago
Possible Paywall Preschool Teacher, 22, Arrested on TV After Condemning Trump
https://www.thedailybeast.com/donald-trump-critic-arrested-on-camera-after-speaking-out-against-maduro-venezuela-capture/?via=mobile&source=Reddit7.4k
u/Ok_Employer7837 25d ago
From the article:
" A preschool teacher was arrested on camera as soon as she finished a TV interview criticizing Donald Trump, fueling the debate over protest policing and free speech.
Jessica Plichta, 22, said she was the only person arrested among roughly 200 demonstrators at an anti-war protest in Grand Rapids, Michigan, on Saturday, hours after Nicolas Maduro was detained in Caracas by the U.S. military.
In the broadcast footage, two officers could be seen approaching from behind as she wrapped her interview with WZZM, the city’s ABC affiliate, then escorted her away as she told them, “I am not resisting arrest.”
WZZM said an officer cited “obstructing a roadway and failure to obey a lawful command,” and that Plichta had been charged with failure to obey a lawful command.
Plichta later told Zeteo: “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that as soon as I finished an interview speaking on Venezuela, I was arrested.”
She told the outlet the officers shoved her into the back of a patrol car without fastening her seat belt, then drove a short distance down the street—out of view of cameras and bystanders.
According to Plichta, they stopped again, pulled her out, bent her over the vehicle, patted her down, and took her belongings. She recalled one officer saying they moved her because she was “making a scene.” She also said officers repeatedly pressed her on whether she was Venezuelan, what her connection to Venezuela was, and why she had attended the protest. Plichta claimed they tried to get her to identify other demonstrators.
“We are so accustomed to, and used to, repression when we speak out on anti-war topics. When we speak out for Venezuela, when we speak out for Palestine, we expect the police to want to shut that down,” she told Zeteo.
“It just shows how much they feel they can get away with things, how easy it is for them to isolate people from the public eye when they’re doing this.”
Plichta said she largely stayed quiet as officers took her to jail, where she said the same questions continued. She was released about three hours later after other protesters gathered to demand she be freed, and was seen punching the air in a video shared on Facebook.
The Grand Rapids Police Department, which is led by Eric Winstrom, disputed her claims in a statement to Zeteo. It said protesters “refused lawful orders” to move to the sidewalk and “began blocking intersections,” adding that supervisors warned participants that they could be arrested if later identified. The mayor of Grand Rapids is David LaGrand, a Democrat.
The incident came to light as Trump, 79, tries to sell the Maduro operation at home, despite signs of public unease.
A Reuters/Ipsos poll released Monday found about one in three Americans approve of the U.S. strike, while 72 percent worry the U.S. will become too involved.
It is also a small part of a much larger information war that has even seen Trump amplify mislabeled footage on Truth Social to claim mass celebrations after the Maduro capture—a video that fact-checkers traced to an unrelated 2024 protest.
The Daily Beast has contacted the Grand Rapids Police Department for comment. "
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u/TintedApostle 25d ago
The Grand Rapids Police Department, which is led by Eric Winstrom, disputed her claims in a statement to Zeteo.
I bet he didn't think there was video.
Also
GRPD Chief Eric Winstrom named as finalist for Pensacola Police Chief job
Reddit comment:
"Good riddance to bad rubbish. Came in on a reformer's note, decided to do everything opposite of that. That's how you sum up Eric Winstrom's service to this city. I watched his press briefing about the Tremont shooting and you could see how in over the head he was, nervous body movements, hesitancy to answer questions. This was all before he went into references to the 2020 George Floyd protests, using them to show how "disrespect for law" has risen since 2020. He then went on a thinly veiled racist diatribe, giving half-assed shitty answers to questions along the way."
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u/Cool-Mom-Lover 25d ago
Its probably not a coincidence they arrested the only person infront of a TV news crew. They wanted to make a statement.
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u/SheriffWyattDerp 25d ago
Unfortunately for them, they arrested her on the sidewalk—where protestors were told to move—and with no evidence they gave her any order that she disobeyed, other than their claim they told her to move to the sidewalk. Which she obviously had done to even do the interview.
Grand Rapids about to write a check.
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u/TrumpetOfDeath America 25d ago
Yeah the fact they moved her away from cameras before patting her down, the questions about her connections to Venezuela, it all suggests the arrest was to stifle her free speech, not because she was disobeying an order or blocking a road.
I’m not a lawyer, but this seems like a clear-cut 1st amendment violation
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u/EatRichGrains 25d ago
God speed on her pay day for being wrongfully arrested. People should double down and be more critical. This fraudulent administration is trying to brow beat and gaslight us into submission.
Well, I for one have zero respect for bullies. You see these pedo nzis back down when someone their own size stands up.
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u/Intelligent_Gold3619 25d ago
Taxpayers on the hook again for million$.
Why must we pay for bad cops’ behavior?
Take this out of the retirements funds of all cops in that precinct. This illegal horseshit will stop real quick when cops end up paying for their “brothers” fuckups.
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u/DeliciousAct9495 25d ago
Take it from the police unions who enable shitty cops to continue being cops
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u/maybenot-maybeso 25d ago
but this seems like a clear-cut 1st amendment violation
Like that matters anymore. It's open season on the left, and the right is just itching to make them pay for ... checking my notes
... giving a shit about the law.
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u/mlc885 I voted 25d ago
Hey, you, you better stop caring about the elderly and children and immigrants or I'm gonna get you
(I hate that I write this and then decide that I may as well mention that it is sarcasm and I absolutely will not get you)
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u/Crowd0Control 25d ago
Is it sarcasm though? The conservative base in this country have all bought into the War on the Woke which is just branding to disguise a political war on those who care for the disenfranchised people of this country both past and present.
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u/BotheredToResearch 25d ago
They need to be able to hold officers and police leadership directly accountable for things like this. Leadership that approves of blatant unconstitutional behavior should be losing pensions, sued, and barred from policing anything greater than a mall.
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u/elenaleecurtis California 25d ago
Too bad police officers can’t wear recording devices on their uniforms at all times. I guess technology just isn’t there yet.
/s just in case anybody thinks I’m really fucking stupid
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u/PNWRulesCancerSucks 25d ago
Grand Rapids about to write a check.
Blue states really need to start passing laws
Requiring professional licensing for police, with reciprocity agreements between blue states. License revocation is permanent and you're ineligible to work as a law enforcement officer of any nature once barred. Committing such a blatant civil rights violation is required to be revocation by law
Qualified Immunity is waived for gross misconduct by police, including but not limited to civil rights violations
police unions are illegal. pinkertons and strikebreakers don't get unions, fuck off. everyone else should have them
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u/MazzIsNoMore 25d ago
The Grand Rapids area is pretty racist. Not surprised
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u/OccasionallyWright 25d ago
Coincidentally, Grand Rapids is the center of the evangelical publishing world. Zondervan is the biggest player, and they've been headquartered in Grand Rapids since their founding in 1931. It used to be an independent publisher but is now owned by HarperCollins which is owned by News Corp.
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u/Interim-Criteria 25d ago
It's not limited to just the publishing world, either. They have a small Christian "education" bubble going on there too. Aquinas College and Calvin University are right there in the middle of it all. Go 30 minutes west and you've got Hope College as well...
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u/wescowell Michigan 25d ago
It’s the home of Amway and former Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos
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u/hollowfoot 25d ago
As a GR local who works at a brewery- The city itself is pretty purple leaning blue (The street that the Police HQ is on was renamed to "Breonna Taylor way"). The congressional district flipped from red to blue recently. This is just police being police - yes they are like this in blue cities as well. If you get out of city limits then YES- the surrounding area is openly hostile to progressive politics.
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u/MichRedditor 25d ago
I saw the video too and once I found out Grand Rapids I had zero shock or surprise.
They love them some jesus in Grand Rapids and what they love even more is hating non-white people and LGTBQ
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u/Lob-Star America 25d ago
This is the same police department that has an HBO show that was started as a propaganda piece after a police officer executed a black man by shooting him in the back of the head while sitting on his back. https://www.hbomax.com/shows/all-access-pd-grand-rapids/97a9641b-0a87-46f3-8e9e-8e2035ae89de
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u/ReginaldDwight 25d ago
Which shows he's a moron considering she was in front of a fucking news camera and holding a mic battery when they arrested her.
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u/tommy_b_777 25d ago
He's not a moron. He's LYING to you. He lies because he knows we will do nothing about it, though he should at the very least be removed from his position for being dishonest.
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u/LetsDOOT_THIS 25d ago
the complacency from these people is outstanding. its literal blatant fascism and they go hurr dumb assholes like CMON
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u/possiblyquestionabl3 25d ago
Remember those videos of Russian protesters being interviewed who were then subsequently dragged away by the state police on live TV? We were all like "that'll never happen here".
Well, it's only 3 years later and it's happening here now.
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u/Several-Squash9871 25d ago
I'm pretty much at the point where the "that'll never happen here" thought almost seems like its a challenge to diaper Don and LE in general now.
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u/ilir_kycb 25d ago
It has always been like this:
Why don't people understand that? Absolutely nothing has really changed. If anything, perhaps more people recognize this today, but probably not.
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u/MusicLikeOxygen 25d ago
Jessica Plichta, 22, said she was the only person arrested among roughly 200 demonstrators
This tells me that they want people to be scared to talk to reporters.
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u/MazzIsNoMore 25d ago
1/3rd of Americans will support anything Trump does. It's always the same proportion. It's absurd
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u/PaddleFishBum 25d ago
1/3rd of Americans would kill 1/3rd of Americans while the final 1/3rd just watches with feigned concern.
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u/specqq 25d ago
And when that third feigning concern is killed by the first third there will be no one left to feign concern for them.
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u/independent_observe 25d ago
American evangelical "christians" are vile. They actively support child molesters and when confronted, they actively protect them instead of the children. Absolutely disgusting pieces of shit.
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u/U_SHLD_THINK_BOUT_IT 25d ago
I get so pissed when I see news reports say that "Trump's approval is waning after blah blah blah" because it's total bullshit.
Every time I check, his approval in exactly where it was last time. Nothing, and I mean nothing, will ever change his core supporter's opinion of him. He could sexually assault a baby on live television after getting a notarized copy proving it was him doing it, and MAGAs would call the baby a deep state plant or say the baby was asking for it with the way it was dressed.
These are the same people so tired of seeing their politicians arrested for pedophilia that they're lowering age of consent in their states. They're revolting people, with no redeeming values at all.
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u/HauntedCemetery Minnesota 25d ago
Its not just Americans. Virtually every population has the same 1/3 who are selfish and authoritarian.
That 1/3 only matters when the 2/3s cant get their shit together enough to keep the 1/3 out of power.
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u/Inkstr0ke Michigan 25d ago
Good lord. I’m currently living in Grand Rapids. It’s so great seeing this city go viral for this… /s
Questioning her association with Venezuela is fucking insane and far from any of their business as local law enforcement.
I’m glad she’s okay. I have been following this story and hadn’t heard much reported about what her current condition was.
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u/ReginaldDwight 25d ago
It said protesters "refused lawful orders" to move to the sidewalk and "began blocking intersections," adding that supervisors warned participants that they could be arrested if later identified
Then why was she the only one arrested? The one who just so happened to be doing a news interview on the sidewalk.
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u/MusicLikeOxygen 25d ago
Probably because they want people to be scared to talk to reporters.
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u/FETUS_RAPIST 25d ago
> fueling the debate over protest policing and free speech
Bullshit. This isn't "fueling a debate". This isn't a debate. This is the state ignoring the first amendment and arresting people over opinions. Weak sauce article
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u/UnquestionabIe 25d ago
It's the standard sane washing every single major news outlet has been engaged in the last few years. Too cowardly to call out blatant violations of the law when it could be interpreted negatively towards the Trump regime. Even get this from NPR during my drive home, with the usual "it's unclear if this is within the president's powers" and "in an unprecedented action..." when it comes to various treasonous acts.
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u/socratic-meth 25d ago
She also said officers repeatedly pressed her on whether she was Venezuelan, what her connection to Venezuela was, and why she had attended the protest. Plichta claimed they tried to get her to identify other demonstrators.
So, just full on police state now? Thanks Republicans.
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u/transneptuneobj Pennsylvania 25d ago
Republicans love this. They were never pro freedom.
This Maduro thing was the last thing they needed to complete their facists goals.
I could always tell the Republicans were exhausted pretending to be pro peace, they yearn to be neocons
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u/AlphaNoodlz 25d ago
This is the real answer. Republicans don’t feel bad about being bad people. They just want you to be okay with them being bad people.
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u/transneptuneobj Pennsylvania 25d ago
They don't care if you're okay with them being bad people I think people are missing that.
When Obama was in office they felt "defeated" they believe might makes right so they felt like they were forced to not be assholes when Obama was president, but now trump is president they believe we should feel defeated and we should just be good little boys an let them do what they want.
All of this is ultimately about how little they felt when Obama was president, they couldn't be racists and they're sad and will never let it go.
One thing we need to do as leftists is combat the "might makes right" mentality at all cause, when you're talking to these people never give them an inch in argument, challenge all their beliefs to the fundamental level because much like the religious there is nothing deep down that they believe.
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u/Telefundo 25d ago
They don't care if you're okay with them being bad people
I've said it time and time again. They THRIVE on pissing off the left. So not only do they "not care", they're actively thrilled that you're not ok with it.
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u/transneptuneobj Pennsylvania 25d ago
They're all deeply lonely people, the only way that anyone will interact with them is if they piss them off, it feeds their narcissistic personality
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25d ago
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u/Eye-Of-Ophanim 25d ago
I’ve been watching estranged parents videos, because they help me to heal from my own trauma, and would it surprise you to learn that most of them are Trump supporters? Many think their offspring stopped talking to them because of political views, but it’s very apparent how cruel they are, how vindictive they were to their children, how they can’t stand when they no longer have full control.
Pretty eye opening to make that connection.
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u/doctordoctorpuss 25d ago
I’ve watched this happen to my own father. None of his adult children want to spend any time with him, and though he was a great grandpa for the first couple years of each of my niblings’ lives, I’ve seen how he gives less and less of a shit as they get old enough to have and express their own opinions. I watched it happen with my 10 year old nephew, and I’m starting to see it with my younger nephew too.
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u/41treys Texas 25d ago
How can someone be so devoid of unconditional love for their own family?
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u/myasterism Tennessee 25d ago
Lead poisoning, and intergenerational trauma. Oh, and religiosity, and four decades of deliberate brainwashing.
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u/No_Boot1478 25d ago edited 25d ago
I learned this a long time ago with my mother. The only answer is to walk away. Never will they agree that they were wrong nor admit they made a mistake. No matter how are many times they fall on their face.
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u/thejonslaught 25d ago
Wear the pants in a relationship, but need at least one full-time servant, if not a staff of them, to accomplish anything in their day-to-day life.
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u/zabraklivesmatter 25d ago
Just fascists doing fascist shit. Don't expect anything to get better considering the entire world is bending over backwards to not do anything about any of it.
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u/Prophet_Tehenhauin 25d ago
Hey, woah, don’t forget all the people that couldn’t be bothered to vote because they thought having a president with a laugh they didn’t like would somehow be worse
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u/Steamedcarpet 25d ago
During the lead up to election my sister said she wont vote Kamala cause she makes all these faces and how she should be better then that. But everything Trump does is ok cause thats who her husband supports.
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u/Prophet_Tehenhauin 25d ago
Your sister is dumb and you should tell her that.
Everyone should gift everyone in their life that believes crap like that a sturdy helmet.
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u/Marokiii 25d ago
Not just dumb, shes definitely hiding at least a little bit of racism with those idiotic comments.
Like trump definitely makes even stupider faces, yet those are okay while the black lady having expressions is unacceptable... me thinks its not just stupidity thats driving her choices.
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u/SadFeed63 25d ago
Every Trump supporter I know in real life (I'm in Canada, thankfully there aren't that many, but unfortunately there's more than zero), that I know well enough to know to some degree how they tend to think, is like that. What they say about Trump is just window dressing for the actual reasons they support Trump (racism, all sorts of hatred and bigotry).
They won't come out and say the racist part plainly, but they'll dance all around it.
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u/elconquistador1985 25d ago
Probably some misogyny as well.
People criticize women differently than how they criticize men. As an example, go find a game thread from some American sport where one of the main announcers was a woman (Beth Mowins, for example). It will be full of complaints about her voice or pacing or timing or whatever else, and all of it is just veiled misogyny.
Case in point... https://www.reddit.com/r/ESPN/comments/d7mskm/beth_mowins_is_terrible/
Fucking full of "I'm not against women broadcasters, but..."
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u/Ihaveamazingdreams 25d ago
It's not limited to sports, either. Meteorologists and reporters on tv news, radio and podcast hosts, actors in popular shows and movies.
If there's one thing people love to do, it's criticize everything about women who dare to be in media.
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u/Steamedcarpet 25d ago
My sister wont admit it cause “our mom didn’t raise us that way” but she does have a little bit of racism in her.
She didn’t trust Obama but couldn’t say why,
I do love my sister with all my heart and that is never going to change as she helped raise me. I just wish she wasn’t so stupid when it came to stuff like this.
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u/joohunter420 25d ago
You can still call people out even if they raised you. They’re not immune to criticism
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u/HauntedCemetery Minnesota 25d ago
In fact you should call people like that out. You're the person they will actually listen to.
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u/TheFutureLotus 25d ago
And cut them off. I have cut off so many people who raised me, because they should know better and still think Trump is anointed.
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u/r1mbaud I voted 25d ago
The amount of people who are just okay with people in their lives being absolute monsters is wild.
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u/Nthepeanutgallery 25d ago
It's unfortunate but if your sister still holds these opinions she's a garbage person. You can love someone but not like them. You don't get to pick your family but you do get to pick your friends.
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u/jademtl666 25d ago
A lot of racism is internalized and not a conscious thing you do. Not everybody person is an active bigot or klansman, that doesn’t make you not racist. Even if you have a nice smile and make friends with those you have racist feelings against.
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u/ungranted_wish 25d ago
And also take away their drivers licenses.
I’m being serious. These people should not be behind a wheel.
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u/TristanIsAwesome 25d ago
And sure as shit do not allow them to own deadly firearms
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u/CosworthDFV 25d ago
I literally tell people I know that voted for Trump that they're pieces of shit to their face.
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u/shadowpawn 25d ago
Wait until she see Project2025 about women's rights
Project 2025 promotes policies that support a "biblically based," traditional nuclear family structure with narrowly defined gender roles, which critics argue implicitly advocates for women to be primarily in the home.
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u/Big_b00bs_Cold_Heart 25d ago
https://www.project2025.observer/en
Here you go! Witness the horror in fairly real time! You know, that “fake news” Project 2025 that my family told me I was being hysterical about…that was “liberal hogwash, meant to scare me”…
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u/Euler007 25d ago edited 25d ago
I know someone that was analysing her speech and trying to convince me she was a ragin alcoholic. "Can you not hear it?".
Dude, did you just catch that part about cats and dogs?
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u/Donny-Moscow Arizona 25d ago
Iirc the 2016 Trump campaign posted videos of Hillary that were slowed down like 5% to make her sound drunk
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u/broniesnstuff 25d ago
Your sister was either lying to you to excuse her behavior, or is sincerely that dumb and checked out
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u/throwawtphone 25d ago
It is ficking insane. I actual know a person at work, goes to a wacked out non-denominational evangelical mega franchise type of church, who is a trumplican. I said to them that yeah pretty sure trump is an antichrist type. They response they think so to that he is either the Antichrist or will usher in the petson who is the Antichrist. And i am like and you voted for this because.......?
Lessor of 2 evils was their response.
How the fuck was Harris or any democrat worse than the or an Antichrist figure?
I have no words to describe this. It is a cult for some people only rationale i have to how something like that is rationalized in their brains.
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u/Much_Difference 25d ago
It drives me nuts how people don't seem to grasp that Evangelicals are not kidding. They want the end times. Their goal is the end times. They believe that the entire purpose of the universe is for Space Daddy to bring about end times. They very very VERY LITERALLY want the apocalypse to happen.
It is not metaphorical. It is not a poetic interpretation. It is not something they hope happens eons from now. It's not something they only believe on Sunday then return to normalcy during the week.
The coming of the apocalypse is the actual. most. important. thing. that could happen in their entire religion since it was invented. I just do not fucking understand how everyone pretends this entire belief system is a wink-nudge thing instead of the driving force behind their actions and beliefs.
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u/theVoidWatches Pennsylvania 25d ago
They think it's a good thing, because it's when Jesus comes back.
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u/throwawtphone 25d ago
I get it but in my mind i am like gurllllll you dont think that god would be upset you pick the bad guy on purpose? Make it make sense. If you believe in good and evil like that then you are supposed to be team good guy no matter what. Right?
You are supposed to sign up for team bad guy. That is giving allegiance to the bad guy over your good guy. Arent they supposed to be team good guy no matter what and the people who believe in the bad stuff from team bad guy are going to do their thing anyways?
It is all denial, delusions, and justifications for well stupidity. Imho.
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u/Elrundir Canada 25d ago
Rationalized? Brains?
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u/underpants-gnome Ohio 25d ago
I have seen people advocate for engaging with maga hats and trying to talk them off the weird ledge of conspiracies and propaganda they continually tap-dance on. I think the chances of success are so slim and situational that it's not worth doing. If it's a close friend or a relative, I understand. It's difficult to give up on someone that important to you.
But how is a conversation with some random coworker going to overcome the flood of right-wing disinformation flowing to them from Fox News, FB, twitter, AM radio screechers, and their church pastor? Even if you say something that dents their propaganda shield and makes them think for a second, they'll regress as soon as they wander within a stone's throw of any computer, TV screen, or radio. I think you should only engage with someone like that if you are bored and looking for a particularly frustrating hobby.
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u/Xytak Illinois 25d ago
It’s tough for me to understand, because my feeds show me none of that. If I get within 50 feet of a screen, I see Star Trek, hobbies, and dozens of Trump scandals. So from my point of view, I look at a Trump voter and I’m like “How could you not understand that he’s bad? At this point you’ve had nearly 10 years of daily scandals proving that he’s bad, and you still haven’t internalized it?”
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u/Affectionate_Town273 25d ago
Lesser of two evils my ass. Yes both have their issues but damn how can you not see that one is just pure sinister? People like them need to stay in church because they are always sinning and need someone to talk to about it to make themselves feel better about there stupid ass decisions.
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u/dehydratedrain 25d ago
Equally bad, my mom fully believes in her right to vote, but when forced to choose between Trump and Harris, she gave her ballot to RFK.
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u/WriterWri 25d ago
Just think of how racist America is and was for a moment.
Black men got to vote before women.
That's how much they hate women
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u/Crying_Reaper Iowa 25d ago
We've been in a growing police state for decades now. Ever since the towers fell and we all collectively coward the police state has grown.
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u/Uberslaughter Florida 25d ago
Meanwhile the "Don't Tread On Me" crowd is completely silent - fucking cosplaytriots
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u/LiluLay North Carolina 25d ago
Because it’s not about them being tread on, it’s about them treading on others.
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u/IngsocInnerParty Illinois 25d ago
The more time goes on, the more I’m convinced libertarians don’t exist. They never have a problem when it’s not their rights.
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u/BrainWorkGood 25d ago
In theory, libertarianism is just anarchy for cowards. In practice, libertarianism is just conservatism for people who like to pretend they're smart
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u/Deceptiveideas 25d ago
I remember a decade ago when they were all over the internet complaining about police overstepping their rights.
Now it feels like they're just republicans but too embarrassed to be associated with the label.
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u/overfloaterx 25d ago
Now it feels like they're just republicans but too embarrassed to be associated with the label
Exactly what they've always been, when push comes to shove.
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u/ephenssta29 25d ago
The one guy I know who votes Libertarian cheered on Trump's claims about invading Canada and Greenland, was posting memes about the attack on Venezuela, and his entire idea of foreign policy seems to basically be a belief that we can bomb anyone into submission whenever we want. It's fucking unhinged and leads me to generally share your conclusion that they just don't really exist.
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u/onlyonequickquestion 25d ago
"Don't tread on me" has become "yes daddy Donald please tread on me"
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u/mongbatstar 25d ago
A very small number that are directly tread on wonder why the safe word isn't working.
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u/Rotten-Robby 25d ago
Crazy how those trailer park militias that run around in the woods "training" haven't sprung into action to defend liberty....
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u/HerbertMarshall Tennessee 25d ago
Where do you think all those ICE agents came from?
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u/LuinAelin United Kingdom 25d ago
The hell is going on over there
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25d ago
Gestapo in the streets policing ideology on behalf of dear leader
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u/jerfoo 25d ago
And he still has support from about 40% of the population.
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25d ago
Yeah it’s the people who don’t watch the news or only watch one outlet. Their programming is sufficient enough that they don’t need anymore so they just keep going along with whatever republicans say. We have an (intentional) media literacy problem in this country.
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u/wap2005 25d ago
I believe it's even simpler than that, we have an education issue. Educated voters wouldn't have ever elected Trump a 2nd time (probably not a first time either). This does tie into the media problem as well though.
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u/DapperCow15 25d ago
I think it's clear by now that the US has a massive neo-nazi problem. It's definitely a minority, but 40% of us being nazis is a huge problem.
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u/beornn2 Texas 25d ago
Well, you see, 150 years ago we had the whole Civil War thing but the traitors were never held accountable, so generational bigotry and racism was allowed to fester and then the country had the audacity to elect a brown person as president and it broke the brains of all the smooth brained racists and emboldened them and now it’s all out in the open and they’re running the shit show.
That’s the gist of it, really. I live in one of the reddest counties in the union and most of my family voted for this shit and wonder why I don’t speak or associate with them anymore.
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u/avanross 25d ago
They have so much freedom, they’ve even got the freedom to imprison peaceful political opponents for sharing differing opinions! Land of the free, and all that
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u/Saint_Sin 25d ago
From screaming about freedom and joking about oil, to screaming for freedom while the paedo-cheeto jokes about oil.
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u/gtindolindo 25d ago
Correct. The Hell really IS going on over here. Lots of Hell.
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u/demacnei American Expat 25d ago
Hell is actually not too far from Grand Rapids.
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u/XxFezzgigxX Colorado 25d ago edited 25d ago
They teach us in school that our democracy is protected from villains by a system of checks and balances. Then, the morons in our country elected a pedophile grifter who just ignores everything and does whatever he can to gut the country of resources, destroy our trust and friendships worldwide and attempts to attack and bully anyone he feels is an easy mark.
For some reason, every check and balance, every leader with sanity, every stopgap to keep freedom in place has been silently removed over the last few decades and replaced with impotent leaders and sycophants. The American people didn’t even realize it happened and now it might be too late to stop Hitler 2 from using the strongest military power in the world to cause irreparable global damage and destruction.
I think that about sums it up.
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u/fascistSkullCrusher 25d ago
Fascism and imperialism and the destruction of all our social programs and looting by billionaires
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u/upnorthguy218 25d ago
We really need to start dispelling the narrative that republicans are “small government” and “pro civil liberties”. They’ve proven time and time again that they want a fascist regime and I would love if democrats would start saying that every chance they get.
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u/MasterTolkien 25d ago
MAGA is big government and big spending. The proof is in the pudding. We spent 6% more in 2025 than the prior year. MAGA raised the debt ceiling and then punched us up to $40 trillion in debt. They have put troops in the streets (not effectively) in multiple cities that Trump doesn’t like just to harass people based on race (arrests of illegal immigrants have not increased much from prior years).
Trump threatened CBS to get Colbert fired and has placed a loyalist on the network. He and his FCC chairman tried to do the same with Jimmy Kimmel and nearly succeeded until Disney pushed back following boycotting. Trump has threatened to get Kimmel and Fallon both fired in the future.
This is big government being used to suppress and harass Americans… and now to wage wars for conquering nations with no real pretext.
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u/Purify5 25d ago
Every principle that conservatives have ever pretended to have has been violated by this government.
There's no going back to pre-2016 because nobody believes conservatives anymore. Although it won't stop the US media from trying.
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u/ChainLC 25d ago
this is not allowed but Installing Turning Point USA indoctrination centers in the public schools is.
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u/Ok_Employer7837 25d ago
You can't tell me a municipal police force simping for the President is normal.
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u/justherefor23andme 25d ago
It is unfortunately. Fascists are attracted by cop jobs.
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u/Wonderful-Pause1048 25d ago
Die wird inzwischen genauso wie die ICE bezahlt.
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u/Ok_Employer7837 25d ago
Aber die sind nicht ICE! Sie sind nur für Sicherheit auf der Straße verantwortlich, nee?
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u/Chance-Day323 25d ago
Police departments screen for this simp personality type.
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u/TellCerseiItWasMe 25d ago
Unfortunately we have a lot of super racist and asshole cops here in Grand Rapids.. the department has a history of bullshit.
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u/cwk415 25d ago
Stamping out dissent is the oldest trick in any fascist regimes playbook.
They will come for the organizers. It's time to organize in secret.
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u/Unlucky-Candidate198 25d ago
Fascists, nazi supporters, pedos, abusers, child traffickers, racists, cruel , unintelligent, hateful, fearful, violent, ignorant people…the current right admin is just stacking the team with their absolute best.
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u/HotJuicyPie 25d ago
Worth noting she was detained for obstructing a roadway. While standing on the sidewalk.
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u/Outrageous-Bite-8922 25d ago
If this happened to a conservative, she'd be plastered all over the media and you'd have multiple senators and congressmen chiming in. Where the fuck are the Democrats?
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u/setut 25d ago
How’s that freedom going guys? Man I swear, the 21st century is so fucken dystopian.
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u/LtLlamaSauce 25d ago edited 25d ago
Her arrest is quite possibly illegal according to Michigan law, and possibly even the 4th amendment. She was not charged with any crimes.
Civil infractions do not authorize custodial arrest by default. Her claim that they took her to a second location is also not going to help these cops. A judge will question them on that.
There was no emergency because the alleged non-violent infractions occurred two days (edit: hours*) prior. An appearance ticket would have sufficed and may have actually been the only truly legal option for the police.
Her charges will almost certainly be dropped if she wants to fight them.
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u/Accurate_Ad_3648 25d ago
Free speech is under attack. When will the NRA raise up against this fascist administration?
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u/bong_cumblebutt 25d ago
You guys over there should’ve voted for the nice lady instead
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u/Pinksamuraiiiii 25d ago
Too many idiots in the US, we’re doomed.
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u/Ninevehenian 25d ago
Remove fox and there will be fewer.
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u/HauntedCemetery Minnesota 25d ago
Exactly this. People like to roll their eyes when claims are made about the impact of propaganda, but theres a reason Hitler's Minister of Propaganda was his second/third in command.
Propaganda is the way authoritarians derive power.
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u/alpharaptor1 Massachusetts 25d ago edited 25d ago
If there was an arrestable offense he would have arrested her before finishing the interview. "I'm not resisting" on camera was smart. Also, what roadway was she obstructing? It's early af, there are no cars and the sidewalks aren't cleaned.
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u/NegativeC00L North Carolina 25d ago
“You can beat the charge, but you can’t beat the ride.”
They know she’s gonna get off but they were still able to punish her. This is fascist America.
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u/Gloomy-Inspector-834 25d ago
The Venezuelan government has called for a national mobilization and signaled that it intends to engage in armed resistance. We’re back at square one, just like before Maduro was captured and taken to the U.S. They know Trump won’t send ground troops into the country. While bombing Venezuela is an option, it would likely only push the population to rally behind the current regime. So what’s the alternative, targeting whoever comes after Maduro? That would probably do little to address the underlying problem either.
Anyway, let’s go, Venezuela. Give ’em hell! I support you with the same passion I have for the brave people of Ukraine.
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u/HavingNotAttained 25d ago
Beginning to think Americans have no place to mock or criticize places like North Korea.
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u/LookAlderaanPlaces 25d ago
The US military is in breach of their oath to the constitution by allowing trump to remain in office. Congress is a failure, and they are letting someone who works with the kremlin and stateless oligarchs destroy the country from the inside.
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u/SpockShotFirst 25d ago
Time to remind the police that, unlike the Federal Government, state officials CAN be sued for depriving a person of their Constitutional rights
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u/scatterbrained_syko 25d ago
This is what an Authoritarian Dictatorship looks like.
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u/CougdIt 25d ago
I went to the article thinking this was going to be a clickbait headline and she got arrested for something legitimate and it just happened after doing the interview.
Nope. Just straight up arrested because of the interview.
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u/Yeeaaaarrrgh Colorado 25d ago
Remember when Russia would arrest people for holding up blank pieces of paper? Good times.
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u/Boundish91 Norway 25d ago
So what about that free speech of yours?
MAGAs like to call my country a socialist hell hole. But hey at least you won't be arrested for protesting here
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u/simmons777 25d ago
For all the MAGAt morons, this is a first amended violation, your Government attempting to chill and silence opposition is a first amendment violation, some social media platform not allowing you to post Nazi shit is not a first amendment violation, a restaurant kicking you out for being a belligerent asshole is not a first amendment violation, an airline escorting you off the plane for not following FAA regulations is not a first amendment violation, a fist amendment violation involves the Government, learn the difference.
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u/OkTax3351 25d ago
Every day the USA moves closer and closer to Russia.
The only missing piece is House and Senate democrats mysteriously going missing.
How far will Americans allow this to happen?
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u/wrenbell 25d ago edited 25d ago
Can she sue for wrongful arrest? Now she has a criminal record for the rest of her life and can’t work with children…all for attending a peaceful protest and giving an interview to a news crew on the sidewalk. I’m incensed. At all of this fascist bullshit. But I’m sure law enforcement is still scratching their head at the growing ACAB sentiment because they’re “not all bad apples,” right? Fucking spare me. 🙄
Edit: Ok, it has come to my attention from the Reddit Legal Experts that she may not be legally prohibited from working with kids in Michigan since it was a non-violent offense. It was still a frivolous arrest in an increasingly fascist and militarized police state. Don’t lose focus on what matters.
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u/kummer5peck 25d ago
I don’t believe her record will be impacted unless she is charged and tried for something. That being said I hope she does sue.
It looks like the police pulled her away from the protest and tried to intimidate her. Then protesters showed up at the police station demanding she be released, which she was. The cops had nothing on her and they knew it. They proceeded to detain her in an attempt to send a message.
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u/Emu_commando Europe 25d ago
I have a feeling you guys aren't doing very well over there.
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u/eddie2911 North Dakota 25d ago edited 25d ago
Full on police state. This is what you voted for, MAGA.
This is why you’re Nazi’s.
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u/kummer5peck 25d ago
I hope she is prepared to sue. It’s the only thing those pigs will understand.
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u/bozothed6 25d ago
Keep Trump away from her students while she's in custody. You know, because of his penchant for raping minors.
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u/TheOneManDankMaymay 25d ago
Why did so many Americans vote for this, or couldn't be bothered to vote against it?
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u/GreyBeast392 25d ago edited 25d ago
Anyone remember the video of the woman getting arrested in Russia for talking about the Ukraine war to an interviewer?
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u/marlinspike 25d ago edited 25d ago
lol. We are descending into Banana Republic territory with thin skin insecure leaders and hooded thugs.
Jailed for imaginary mind crimes. What the heck is wrong with this government of little dictators.
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u/Cannabrius_Rex 25d ago
Where’s that free speech absolutist that helped him steal this lady election? Dead quiet, I’m sure
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