dpstratton.bsky.social

Consumer sentiment has fallen to 48.0, the second-lowest reading on record, surpassed only by May 2026. Americans are now more pessimistic about the economy than during the recessions of the 1980s, the 2008 financial crisis, or the COVID-19 pandemic.

Tim Walz sharing how Democrats lost the presidential election by abandoning democratic principles and alienating undecided voters.

Can the Democratic Party fundamentally reform and embrace a new more populist economic system (being demanded by voters) and political institutions when some of its most influential financial supporters are still billionaires?

She was an absolute legend! May she rest in peace.

This is why you should have canceled your Amazon Prime membership. His wife wants him to be President so she can be First Lady!

If Republicans now believe violent political rhetoric makes someone unfit for public office, then they should explain why that standard apparently doesn’t apply to any of their own candidates. I might just send Shelly a check for her campaign. Democrats need a little more fighting energy.

Thank you @carolinaforward.bsky.social for elevating Jess Rivera’s campaign. We need more fighters in the NCGA. We can flip this seat!

The White House’s proposal to penalize nonprofits that help disabled people vote is just part of the Trump administration’s broader attempts to restrict voting access, especially among groups that have historically faced disenfranchisement.

This is deeply concerning: court filings allege DHS agents created records on people observing ICE activity, including photos, license plates and personal information, and put them into a Palantir-built database connected to CBP screening.

GOP is pulling back financially from NC’s Senate race. Senate Leadership Fund planned $71M for Whatley. After spending $30M+, SLF paused further spending & is redirecting money to other races. Trump-aligned ads are also stopping next week. Trump, when asked about Whatley: “I am worried about him.”

Lots of criticism about WakeMed/Atrium merger. But no one is suggesting any alternative. WakeMed is strong today, but UNC & Duke are rapidly expanding across Wake County. WakeMed simply doesn’t have those resources. If not Atrium, what strategy will keep WakeMed competitive & independent long term?

2 post Hurricane Helen and progress still remain slow - just like the response from FEMA and the NC Legislature. Props to Governor Stein for continuing to work for the people of Western NC.

In case you need these statistics.

There are 3 amendments on the NC ballot this Nov. NONE of them are good. The biggest winner with a property tax cap will be Duke Energy, big corporations and data centers. While an across the board reduction of 1 cent would force Counties to lose almost $120M in services - fire, schools, police.

It’s almost October! And in October of 1983 in the US, Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, The Eurythmics, released this hit. It made to 23 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The 400 richest Americans are now worth a record $8 trillion. The entire bottom 50% of American households is worth just $4.27 trillion. Read that back. Remember: Wealth can’t be separated from power. Power begets wealth and wealth begets power.

Tartlettes on the terrace! #hotelmonville #montreal

We also want legislative change that: removes money from politics, unequivocally confirms 3 branches of government, Supreme Court reform, and Medicare for all.

These constitutional amendments will only endanger NC communities with future financial instability. Learn more at ncbudget.org/amendments

Our old Montreal itinerary as offered by our lovely barista from La Finca where we’re having a wonderful breakfast and awesome coffee!

Hanging out at La Finca Cafe in Montreal and waiting for Phil Hyde to arrive from Ottawa by train!

Make it a great day!

Why, yes! Yes, bees do play with toys.

The Roman Space Telescope - now on its 3 month journey to an L2 orbit for the next 5-10 years!

Up early to watch the launch of the Roman Space Telescope at the NC Museum of Natural Science in the Nature Research Center.

In 2011, Dolly opened her concert (at DPAC, in Durham, NC) with an intro to “Light of a Clear Blue Morning” and she brought the house done with a rousing version as the concerts finale. I think it’s a fitting tribute.

There was never a door she couldn’t open.

We will always love you and we will never forget you. www.knoxnews.com/story/entert...

I’m rather tired of this “vote blue no matter who” perspective. You DO NOT defeat fascists by further enabling and funding the current Democratic Party that also serves the same corporate and billionaire overlords. If they are not fighting the fascists now, they won’t prosecute them later.

I’m enjoying her time being “refamous”.

An aerial view of the Segrada Familia taken from the Montjuïc Cable Car - a gondola lift in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. It was so hot and humid!

Sometimes the early bird does catch the worm.

Just another quiet evening.

Good riddance. We will see you in court.

Ha! After letting ICE into their stores and then standing by while ICE dragged employees and customers from their stores, NOW the CEO has been moved to speak up. This CEO is a disgrace. Boycott Target! As if you need yet another reason to do so. #boycottTarget

Data snapshot from year one of Trump’s second term. • ICE detentions surged, people with no criminal history now the largest detainee group • Job growth tanked, unemployment rose • Inflation eased, home energy costs keep rising • Tump's approval ratings crash www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...

(D-NC) Don Davis voted to sustain the $10B in additional ICE funding. His district was gerrymandered out from under him and he has no primary opponent. He thinks this is a good idea politically. We need to let him know this is indefensible. thehill.com/homenews/hou...

Our institutions have failed - they’re not slowing the progress of authoritarians. Resistance is ACTION & WE are the resistance. Refusing to resist is collaboration w/ authoritarians. Power isn’t absolute - it always struggles to maintain. Resistance is the currency of authoritarian collapse.

What makes this visual even more stunning is that it was made possible by people who said their #1 concern when voting was the economy. What idiots.

I cannot love the @thetnholler.bsky.social more!!! ❤️

Liberation Day! When Trump liberated trillions of dollars from the global economy with a f*cked up Tariff “plan” that only the Oligarchs could love.

80% of NC is still rural and many NC residents still use food banks to make ends meet. Everyone in NC needs to fight this latest attack. Call Tillis and Budd (Yes, I know, but they still need to hear about it). www.wunc.org/news/2025-03...

If it were not so true, it might be funny. . . .

Musk started this attack on the federal workforce. That was somewhat rebuffed by the courts as unlawful. Now the sinister attack sets in. Funny, I don't recall FOTUS lecturing us about the "bloated, corrupt federal bureaucracy" on the campaign trail. Guess it slipped his feeble mind.

THIS is why we cannot have nice things!

Rest in power Elisa Rae Shupe! A retired United States Army soldier who became the first person in the US to obtain legal recognition of a non-binary gender (2016). She was found, hanging in the parking deck of a VA medical facility. She was complicated - her suicide note is a must read.