Helaine Marshall

Helaine Marshall

@lainemarsh.bsky.social

Retired linguistics professor. Red diaper baby. Comedienne.

193 followers205 following236 posts

DJT’s cards are from the Mafia/Fascist playbooks and Iran just doesn’t care. Patience, persistence, and Legos are their playbook. Therefore, he is tied up in knots.

🇺🇦Schadenfreude's Cat🇺🇦@acciostickthing.bsky.social

That's what's happening with Iran. For the first time he hit someone and they didn't just roll over, ignore him, or accept a bribe from Daddy/bribe him to go away. That's why he's flailing so badly he doesn't know how to treat an enemy willing to fight him back.

It begins. Let's remember that this small, initial war protest happened in Philly today. Put a pin in it because groundswells all start somewhere. Our Vietnam protests - I was there! - had real impact; these new folks can, too!

Unicorn Riot@unicornriot.bsky.social

Last night, on short notice around 250 people rallied on the west side of Philadelphia City Hall against the US-Israeli war in Iran. The protest looped past the new Day & Zimmermann office on Market Street.

A quiet post but don’t let that fool you. This is actually how it all hangs together. All puns intended.

Mr. Savile Row@mrsavilerow.bsky.social

Stay focused: The midterms are a vote to have Fuck Face impeached and brought to trial on the Epstein files.

My ICE OUT FOR GOOD protest sign! Added the “Yo” for a nice informal touch! Even those who do not catch the subtext reference can appreciate the surface-level meaning. It’s a very quiet rainy day gathering in downtown Mamaroneck, NY, btw.

If DJT were a Russian asset, would he act any differently than he does now? Nope. He's NOT on our side [our = USA]. He is a traitor, the enemy within who poses a clear and present danger. Epstein files will likely reveal him to be a Russian asset. So, proceed accordingly. RESIST MOCK DOCUMENT UNITE

"Plus, if the ratings for his speech are low, it has the added benefit of driving him nuts." For me, that's the kicker - RATINGS! Share widely that not watching is a positive act, not a passive one. We are TANKING the ratings!!!!

Robert Reich@rbreich.bsky.social

For all these reasons, I’m not going to watch Trump’s State of the Union. I recommend that you don’t, either. Plus, if the ratings for his speech are low, it has the added benefit of driving him nuts. So I say let's boycott the State of the Union. It’s the least we can do.

This is exactly the type of resistance that inspires those of us working towards restabilizing our nation and at the same time claps back and irritates the architects of our destabilization. More of this! 👇

Ishaan Tharoor@ishaantharoor.bsky.social

Such is the outrage in Denmark over both Trump’s desire for Greenland and disparaging remarks about NATO that one of the country’s leading newspapers devoted their Saturday front and plenty of room inside to the bios of all 44 Danes slain during NATO missions in support of the US

Pay attention to the language used because language itself can be a "loaded weapon." Dwight Bolinger. As for Orwell, see attached.

Timothy Snyder@timothysnyder.bsky.social

The term “law enforcement” should not be used by media, except perhaps in quotations. It has sadly become an Orwellian term that is used to magically sanctify violence. Language matters. Be specific. Describe individuals with names and ranks. Say exactly what they did. Don’t repeat fascist hocum.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

"They say they're coming to save us from some evil? They're talking about our neighbors who take care of us ... Alex was murdered while he was helping. Mr Rogers said look for the helpers, & right now the helpers have a target on our forehead ... Mr Rogers would be here right now too, so I'm here."

Sane advice. No one thinking out of the box in our party's establishment. That's why we need new people, new ideas. Pass the torch to the next generation.

Daniel Abraham@abraham.bsky.social

If I were running the DNC, there would be Democratic Party sponsored food relief banks across the country right now that specifically welcomed anyone regardless of party affiliation. Along with the food, there could be voter registration and links to runforsomething.net

How this guy can be honest when others just won't say what we all know to be the case, is illustrative more of their hesitancy in the face of the carrot and stick regime than his amazing insightfulness. That said, I still think the guy's cool. Agree? @petebuttigieg12.bsky.social

Pete Buttigieg@petebuttigieg.bsky.social

Emerging from the darkness of this era will require us to acknowledge that the previous status quo, including many institutions that may have served us well in another era, have been failing for my entire lifetime.

This is true and unfortunate. Because we respect individuality and applaud diverse views, we have trouble when collectivism is needed. We can't seem to agree on who speaks for us against the inexorable march towards dictatorship. No transformative leader. That will be why it "could happen here."

Maine Coast Girl@crg64.bsky.social

How can we ever win when everyone's fighting on their own? We need one leader for our side, someone with a national voice who can organize us. We need a clear plan so we can all show up and make our numbers count at the exact same time. Right now it seems so scattered.

What’s so perfect about these posts is that they represent the 180 degree difference from the obsequiousness of others who are afraid to incur DJT’s ire. This approach is fully intended to do so.

Jon Cooper@joncooper-us.bsky.social

I love this trolling of Donald. 🤣🤣

raises concerns? CREW get in the game. This language is too mild. I support you so that you will go after this type of travesty. The good guys need to be more aggressive. (i.e. Fuck the high road; channel our Founders)

CREW@citizensforethics.org

The White House is planning to initiate an extensive review of Smithsonian museums to ensure exhibitions and materials align with Trump’s interpretation of American history. This raises concerns about what might be rooted out of the historical record.

This is the type of creative resistance we need. More like this, please.

Dr. Lucky Tran@luckytran.com

BREAKING: Scientists are staging a “science fair” in the lobby of a Congressional building to tell elected officials about the critical knowledge the US will lose because their research grants have been canceled.

Jefferson UVA founder, “This institution will be based on the illimitable freedom of the human mind, for here we are not afraid to follow truth wherever it may lead...” How many instances of "CAVES" before we see democracy as the frog in the water. We die via CAVING. Protest must focus on NO CAVING!

BeSeriousUSA 🐝@beserioususa.bsky.social

UNIVERSITY of VIRGINIA CAVES 🚩 UVA president resigns due to PRESSURE from TRUMP ADMINISTRATION 🤯 👮 ☠️ 🚔 #FascismIsHere 😳 amp.cnn.com/cnn/2025/06/...

This is what we need now: Congress needs to stand together w/Senator from Alaska - all 50 states say NO, we will. not be afraid to cross that bridge - will you "primary" all of them? Better that the admin should fear the collective power of the Senate than the other way around. FLIP the SCRIPT!

HuffPost@huffpost.com

"I’m oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice because retaliation is real. And that’s not right," the Alaska Republican senator said this week.

This is what we need now: Congress needs to stand together w/Senator from Alaska - all 50 states say NO, we will. not be afraid to cross that bridge - will you "primary" all of them? Better that the admin should fear the collective power of the Senate than the other way around. FLIP the SCRIPT!

The Lincoln Project@lincolnproject.us

"This isn't a battle of your choosing. But it is the battle for which you will always be judged. This is the moment you must show the world and history which side of the Edmund Pettis Bridge you are standing on" - @stuartpstevens.bsky.social

As always, there’s the smokescreen line for all of us and the actual agenda. Ignore the smoke content but dive deeper to see what’s behind it. Data, profit, and Whiteness.

Lynn Stahl@msbtterswrth.altgov.info

As myself and others close to the situation have said this whole time, and will continue to say -- this was never about efficiency. it was a state-sanctioned heist of our personal information so they consolidate it and weaponize it against us.

Always, why is it always, our wonderful BERNIE, who fearlessly, steadfastly, concisely, and emphatically confronts the powerful seeking rational behavior. Would that DJT might this once simply listen and take a high road, just this once! "If you do not retaliate, you will be rewarded."

Senator Bernie Sanders@sanders.senate.gov

An innocent man, picked up by “mistake,” must not be allowed to rot in an El Salvadorian jail. Mr. President. Obey the courts. Obey our Constitution. Bring him home immediately.

Momentum is key to meaningful impact. We need to reach the tipping point of 3.5% of the population. Keep going and growing. It must become a movement. "it always seems impossible until it's done." Take a "leap of faith!"

50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑@50501movement.bsky.social

We’re building a #PeoplesMovement. Today, over 3 million people across the country stood up to say HANDS OFF our democracy. 
And history shows that when just 3.5% of the population engages in sustained, peaceful resistance—transformative change is inevitable. #50501movement #HandsOff #April5

Momentum is key to meaningful impact. We need to reach the tipping point of 3.5% of the population. Keep going and growing. It must become a movement. "it always seems impossible until it's done." Take a "leap of faith!"

50501: The People’s Movement ❌👑@50501movement.bsky.social

TODAY WE MOBILIZED OVER 3 MILLION PEOPLE ACROSS THE NATION!!! This movement has entered the next chapter: the people will mobilize again, and again, until we make a difference. It only takes 3.5% of the population in a sustained resistance in order to make a difference. #50501movement

Yeah ---- uh ------ Putin wouldn't go for that, now would he? Seems like no rhyme or reason to the targets or percents, but yet - he intentionally left out his BFF's country. Just sayin'

Rhuta Bhayga@rhutabhayga.bsky.social

Menso Panzón unleashed #tariffs on these countries. How were they chosen? Do we even have trade deals with them? Do they even export anything? Islands with ZERO population? Did they look up "countries without armies?" Or "who haven't we pissed off and alienated yet?" Notably missing: #Russia

Yup! What she said. And Cory: it's not left vs right - it's right vs wrong.

Lynn Stahl@msbtterswrth.altgov.info

Hey! This is what it looks like when we actually fucking show up besties. When we unite against a common enemy instead of fighting our neighbors. It’s not left vs right, it’s all of us vs the few of them. We can do this.

And this, in the end, is what is so vital to DJT - to be the top story - page one above the fold - anything less is unacceptable to him. So, kudos to Cory for toppling Humpty Dumpty in today's news! That alone is powerful. #CoryBooker

Brian J. Karem@briankarem.bsky.social

Day 72 of the New Donald Trump Regime and he's not the lead story. For once. That honor goes to Corey Booker who tried to remind us what America is supposed to be about. It isn't left or right. It's right or wrong. America's Moral Moment.

Randi stepping up! This is my town - White Plains, NY. We are on the list to lose our SSA office - the only one in the Hudson Valley. Latimer, our Representative also at the rally. Local action matters because grassroots matters, bottom up matters. We may be "poly" but it's our job to make noise!

Acyn@acyn.bsky.social

Weingarten: If you think this is unprecedented. You’re not crazy. It is. It is. We have never faced the kind of assault on people that has happened in the last 60 plus days.

Here we were in June 2017 at Thomas Paine Park in Manhattan - cheerfully protesting, when it was only T'45 not a zillion times worse T'47! Our signs apply totally to 2025. We're older but still got game and will get out the signs from the basement to march yet again (didn't I do this in the 60's?).

God@thegodshow.com

Americans have bystander syndrome. Most just stand around waiting for someone else to do something. No is coming to save us.

"I love the poorly educated." We know why! As a retired linguistics professor, I am fascinated by his use/abuse of language. Here, he gives people permission to be foolish enough to support him. Got it. Meanwhile, it's a jab at the highly educated, whom he hates. Again, we know why!

Robert Reich@rbreich.bsky.social

Trump's plan to close the Dept of Education is illegal. Only Congress can do that. But what's the plan here? Trump knows his biggest enemies are educators and younger generations unafraid to speak truth to power. Attacks on education are central to the fascist playbook.

The horror show we are now viewing and forcibly participating in is painful BUT - the researcher in me also notes how fascinating it is to see how quickly, how easily, how callously, a "government" "duly" elected can move a nation out of democracy and into the hellish landscape of authoritarianism.

ACLU@aclu.org

After public backlash and advocacy from @aclufl.bsky.social, Miami Beach will no longer punish a cinema for the films it shows. This is a win for free speech. The government does not get to dictate what perspectives can and cannot be heard.

Yes - two Republican congressional votes - one rep from Omaha, the other from Iowa City - who won by slim margins, could kill the budget bill when added to the Dems. I’ve followed Bernie for decades. Integrity. Seriousness of purpose. A good heart. Never gives up!