Debra Cowan

Debra Cowan

@debracowan.com

Singer and interpreter of great songs written by other people. Proud member of AFM Local 1000 and professional houseguest. Proud childless cat lady.

321 followers241 following236 posts

Debra Cowan reposted

David Rothkopf
@djrothkopf.bsky.social

This week we were reminded that Elon was a traitor, an idiot and a malevolent force in our society. Again. As we are every week with some new betrayal, stunt and systematic effort to attack our institutions and values.

Debra Cowan
@debracowan.com

Just gave this conversation a Second listen; it's that good. @djrothkopf.bsky.social and @normornstein.bsky.social in conversation with @timothysnyder.bsky.social davidrothkopf.substack.com/p/a-conversa...

davidrothkopf.substack.comA Conversation with Timothy Snyder: Winning is Essential…But it is Not EnoughThis episode is typically reserved for members of The DSR Network Substack, however the conversation is so good that we wanted to share it with the Need to Know community.

Debra Cowan reposted

Nick Mortensen from Autocratic Despair: The Podcast
@nickmortensen.com

I don't know of any podcast that so regularly discusses the term "Remigration" as "Autocratic Despair: The Podcast", so I am sad that I missed that Miller is actually calling it an "Office of Remigration". Talked about the word at length in this episode: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...

podcasts.apple.comThe True Texas Project is Our AfD & It's Taken Over Fort WorthPodcast Episode · Autocratic Despair: The Podcast · September 10 · 1h 3m
Greg Sargent@gregsargent.bsky.social

Stephen Miller’s Office of Remigration was deliberately named to announce to the world that white nationalism is now the basis for US immigration policy. If Dems win power, they should defund it. They should also defund third-country deportations. New from me: newrepublic.com/article/2157...

Debra Cowan
@debracowan.com

Thank you. Proud to be one of your constituents in your district.

Rep. Jim McGovern@repmcgovern.bsky.social

No sane person brags about the “crazy power” of their office. The honor of serving in elected office should be about dedication to public service—not power hungry self-aggrandizement.

Debra Cowan reposted

Dan Froomkin/Press Watch/Heads Up News
@froomkin.bsky.social

NEW: Trump’s phony $5,000 promise gets him the headlines he wanted. presswatchers.org/2026/09/trum... Every journalist there knew it was a desperate, meaningless gambit. But most didn’t even give their audience a hint. I give out grades.

presswatchers.orgTrump’s phony $5,000 promise gets him the headlines he wanted | Press WatchEvery journalist there knew it was a desperate, meaningless gambit. But most didn’t even give their audience a hint. I give out grades.

Debra Cowan reposted

Labor Notes
@labornotes.bsky.social

Shared struggles have deepened relationships between Migrant Justice and AFT-VT, which includes health care workers at the University of Vermont Medical center. “In the last two years, we’ve collaborated a lot [in response to] attacks against immigrants.” labornotes.org/2026/09/verm...

labornotes.orgVermont Hospital Workers Fight for Immigrant NeighborsHealth care workers fighting for a contract in Vermont have come to the table with not only their own demands for safe staffing and fair pay, but also a more unusual demand—one made in solidarity with...

Debra Cowan reposted

Mike Feher
@saxmike71.bsky.social

The logic and writing here are superb:

Greg Sargent@gregsargent.bsky.social

JD Vance told El-Sayed to stop invoking Usha after AES said: "Do we think JD is taking Usha with him back in time to meet Papaw, or no." But it turns out AES offered this *in response* to something vile that JD previously said about how Papaw would have viewed AES: newrepublic.com/article/2149...

Debra Cowan
@debracowan.com

Tomorrow, September 4th is Bandcamp Friday where Bandcamp waives their portion of all sales and 100% goes to the musicians. Support your favorite musicians by purchasing their music on #Bandcamp debracowan.bandcamp.com #bandcampfriday #supportmusicians

Debra Cowan reposted

Marisa Kabas
@marisakabas.bsky.social

we have immigrant concentration camps, diarrhea lettuce, zillion dollar gas, suicidal soldiers, measles resurgence, national park land sold to the highest bidder and teachers crowdfunding school supplies, but the real problems facing our country are a muslim senate candidate and an influencer

Debra Cowan
@debracowan.com

Marc and his team are doing very important work. I became a paying member of @democracydocket.com and you can as well.

Marc Elias@marcelias.bsky.social

Many of you are asking how you can help me. My only ask is this: Spread the word about the threats to democracy and how we can fight back. Tell everyone to subscribe to Democracy Docket and share its content. demdock.com/4w6emld

Debra Cowan reposted

Elad Nehorai
@eladn.bsky.social

“Black lawmakers and activists across the Deep South argue they have been abandoned by the Democratic Party to fight an existential crisis on their own. They say they’ve been let down by nearly all corners of the party.” Essential read:

politico.comSouthern Black leaders warn their power is on the line — and Democrats are looking elsewhereBlack lawmakers and activists in the Deep South say they are fighting an existential crisis on their own in the wake of a major Supreme Court ruling.
Debra Cowan
@debracowan.com

Great question posed from the great @normornstein.bsky.social on “Words Matter”” with @djrothkopf.bsky.social “How do you balance love of your country with hatred or contempt for the leaders you have?” pca.st/episode/77a7...

pca.stWords Matter: America at a Crossroads for Our 250th BirthdayThis Independence Day, we’re face with a stark reality: the values and ideals that lay the foundation of our democracy are consistently being undermined by a corrupt, authoritarian president. The…
Debra Cowan
@debracowan.com

Huge gratitude to @efdss.bsky.social and Mike Norris for the airplay

English Folk Dance and Song Society@efdss.bsky.social

This week's Classic Folk features: Frankie Archer @caradillonsings.bsky.social @maddiemorris.bsky.social @debracowan.com Belshazzar's Feast Arlo Guthrie And many more.... www.efdss.org/listen

efdss.orgListen: Classic FolkClassic Folk with Mike Norris Classic Folk is unique. It mines a rich seam of wonderful folk and roots music and song from around 75 years of recordings. From the great source singers to the legends o...

Debra Cowan reposted

Anne Applebaum
@anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu

Congress is getting ready to remove the requirement that shell companies register their real owners. The bill "will restore America’s status as the leading offshore haven"

Anne Applebaum@anneapplebaum.wsocial.eu

Republicans trying to make the world safe for kleptocracy newrepublic.com/article/2118...

newrepublic.comRepublicans Are Dismantling a Key Tool in the War Against KleptocratsGOP lawmakers are pushing forward a bill to repeal a vital shell company database—completely undoing the biggest anti-kleptocracy step forward the U.S. has seen in decades.

Debra Cowan reposted

Lynne
@lynne-sails.bsky.social

"Beatty won; she should become a role model for the rest of her party. Those other members reflect a more accommodationist mindset that has aged poorly." Very good article.

Greg Sargent@gregsargent.bsky.social

Relatedly, Trump and MAGA fully grasp that their longer term success will depend on our willingness to move on from everything they've done to our country, and directly to us. Musk as well. There cannot be any forgetting. www.offmessage.net/p/detrumpifi...

offmessage.netThe De-Trumpification Process Begins NowWe are already in a battle for historical memory. Proceed accordingly

Debra Cowan reposted

mukkatosa.bsky.social
@mukkatosa.bsky.social

"To use less fancy language, Republicans say Democrats are shitty people; Democrats don’t return the favor." Bingo.

Brian Beutler@brianbeutler.bsky.social

Whether it's Republicans lying about the LA mayor election, or lying about screwworm, or using AI to lie about James Talarico, the Democratic instinct is to correct the record, condemn the attack and move on. It should be to weave a story about the opposition's putrid, morally corrosive dishonesty.

offmessage.netThe Black Mold Of Republican LiesEven when their smears aren't helpful to them in the short run, they harm Democrats in the long run. Here's a prescription for deterrence.
Debra Cowan
@debracowan.com

Please help if you can.

AFM Local 1000@afmlocal1000.bsky.social

Our Union brother, Colin Dean is need your help in light of a medical emergency. We have set up a GoFundMe to help Colin in this difficult time. Even if you can’t donate, sharing this can help spread the word and bring more support during this critical time. gofund.me/21e21db9e

gofund.meDonate to Support Colin & Christi After Christi’s Heart Attack, organized by Aileen VanceDear Friends, Family, and Community, We are urgently rallying ou… Aileen Vance needs your support for Support Colin & Christi After Christi’s Heart Attack

Debra Cowan reposted

David Rothkopf
@djrothkopf.bsky.social

These clowns have no dignity, no scruples, no clue….And they think we’re stupid enough to believe them.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Burgum: "President Trump won the war militarily. Then he won the war economically ... diplomatically, militarily, economically -- three ways to win a war. Trump won all three of them."

Debra Cowan reposted

David Rothkopf
@djrothkopf.bsky.social

What utter contemptible bullshit. We don't need to and never should "calibrate" our stance on fundamental human rights--like those pertaining to a woman's bodily autonomy. It is not only wrong, it's terrible politics given the broad support for a woman's right to choose in key groups.

New York Times Opinion@nytopinion.nytimes.com

“Texas Democrats’ failure to calibrate on abortion serves as a microcosm for what’s happened to abortion politics in the party writ large,” the journalist Zaid Jilani writes.

nyti.msOpinion | Red State Democrats Need a New Approach to AbortionTry nuance and compromise.
Debra Cowan
@debracowan.com

I hope you are correct @djrothkopf.bsky.social

David Rothkopf@djrothkopf.bsky.social

Trump nominating Blanche to be AG is the height of hubris. I doubt it will get to a vote. But if it does it will be a referendum on corruption that will stick to every Republican who votes for his confirmation. Blanche belongs on trial, not atop DoJ.

Debra Cowan
@debracowan.com

I always feel validated when I read David Rothkopf. Thank you.

David Rothkopf@djrothkopf.bsky.social

Trump thinks it's treasonous to demand the truth, criticize his errors, fight for what's best about America. As with so many things, he has that backwards. True American patriotism is about fighting for what we believe in. Worth remembering this Memorial Day. open.substack.com/pub/davidrot...

open.substack.comFighting Back is an Act of OptimismThis Memorial Day, it is time to remember what our leaders have forgotten
Debra Cowan
@debracowan.com

Incredible thread from @kenwhite.bsky.social I agree about rolling heads and pockmarked walls

Popehat@kenwhite.bsky.social

Some notes now that I’ve seen the transcript of the hearing, thanks to @lizdye.bsky.social . First: the government dismissed the felony count in an effort to convince the judge not to make them produce full transcripts, knowing they showed serious misconduct.

Debra Cowan reposted

Wajahat Ali
@wajali.bsky.social

If Republicans can't win legally or peacefully, they will cheat. That's what their King and Daddy Trump taught them. Buckle up. It's going to get far worse, and I fear more violent.