Michael A. Shea

Lots of energy from the March for a Moratorium's last stop in Richmond. Here are the speakers from the pre-march rally by the Bell Tower. We need a pause to get the guardrails in place. Too many of our state leaders have been asleep at the wheel on this one. youtu.be/QS2aoVBBrDk

There are many reasons to limit the power of Big Tech poobahs like the Zuck in any democracy. One of them is their raging sense of entitlement. It is legal for them to sell dual-class shares. They can cash in their chips and not give up any voting power at the company. fortune.com/2026/10/26/a...

Last year's Nobel for Chemistry went to an Arab, Omar Yaghi, born in Jordan in a family of Palestinian refugees. "Alegbra" comes from a 9th c. book written in Baghdad by a Persian mathematician, Muhammad ibn Musa al-Khwarizmi. The word "algorithm" derives from his name. RFK Jr. is a hateful moron.

Amazing 2 weeks: 8 stops for the March for a Moratorium in Virginia. Whole thing was a collaboration between so many groups across the Commonwealth- not sure who was running it. So let's just say the people writ large were. Video from the rally in Alexandria, the kickoff event. youtu.be/tnl9Eq1QTf4

Even if there were confusion in the Alaska Senate race (which there isn't) and even if the DOJ had a remedy to fix the nonexistent problem (which they don't), RCV in Alaska means incumbent Senator Dan Sullivan will get all the votes that voters want him to get, in either the 1st or 2nd tabulation.

Relative to the hundred or so lawsuits they filed in 2021 that were bounced out of court for being baseless, this DOJ lawsuit on Alaska elections is their best effort so far. And it's still completely baseless, absurd, ridiculous, and laughable. Alaska's Supreme Court has ruled it's a fair election.

It is hilarious to hear Trump whine about people he does not like and say they should not be in Congress and have influence over laws in the United States. Dude, Squeaker Mike Johnson doesn't have anyone there show up for work. NO ONE in Congress is affecting any laws. Your gripes are delusional.

Good for Brazil. We could cut the amount of illegal money laundering in the world IN HALF if we'd confiscate Jared Kushner's passport. www.theguardian.com/world/2026/o...

If Representative @ilhanmn.bsky.social was going to use a second name and run for Congress IN MINNESOTA, why would she choose Ilhan Omar? Ilhan Omar is her real name. Trump is a Demented Clown and a sad little wrinkled balloon.

I am not going to comment on the ridiculous Trump charge that Ilhan Omar is a fake name -- does Trump think the Representative changed her name to Ilhan Omar because that would make it easier to be elected in Minnesota? -- until Vice President James Donald Bowman weighs in this "controversy."

This is news to no one: Iowa is an old school style politics state. Candidates still kiss babies on on the campaign trail.

Part of the DOJ lawsuit demanding that the Alaska Senate vote not be certified if their boy loses. Alaska has already taken steps to eliminate confusion AND the Alaska Supreme Court has ruled this is a fair election. "Prayer" is a common legal term here. IRONIC. This DOJ case does not have a prayer.

On a tangent from the DOJ Alaska lawsuit: The fact that so many lawyers have long used the phrase "Prayer for Relief" in their petitions shows that they have little respect for actual prayer and also that have little respect for the right of everyone to be religious or NOT. Keep prayer out of this.

Musk is using Starlink control to aid and abet war criminal Putin. It's a pretty straightforward legal case for prosecution, conviction, and asset seizure. Musk's own statements confirm his illegal actions. Too bad America doesn't have a federal agency with a mission to hold criminals accountable.

FWIW Trump was the indumbent even before he took office either time. Trump was, is, and always will be the indumbent.

I stand corrected. I was sure Witkoff/Kushner were just dithering in their sham peace talks. Turns out they were trying to knock down doors so Putin’s allies could acquire US assets. (h/t @ericlipton.nytimes.com) www.nytimes.com/2026/10/23/u...

SeatGeek, in its infinite wisdom, has turned over its FB ads to AI. AI, in its own ignorant way, is calling the 2027 season opener the “playoffs” because it falls on a date after the end of the regular season for 2026. The Nationals won’t complain. This is their best shot at making the playoffs.

In Williamsburg today, hitting the doors for @shannontaylorva.com in VA-01. Knocked 77 doors- yes, they were apartments, so no need to suspect any performance enhancing drugs on my part. Shannon Taylor is such a great candidate that it doesn't take much to win over voters.

Putin released a hostage. Someone who had been kidnapped and put throw a show trial in total secrecy. That is not a "goodwill" gesture. It is a reminder why regime change in Russia should be central to US policy towards Putin. Freeze and seize all the assets of the oligarchs. Pressure Putin.

Voted! Early voted at Walter Reed Community Center today. The lines were HUGE! They were headed towards having 200 voters in the 1st hour of today's early voting. But no worries. Janet Boyd and her team of EOs keep it running smoothly. They're all dedicated and unflappable. They know their business.

Postcard from the fall-Donated clothes to the Red Barn Thrift Store in Norton during my road trip this month. Red Barn is operated by Family Crisis Support Services, an amazing nonprofit that serves Norton and several of the counties in SW Va. FCSS provides emergency shelters and family crisis care.

Postcard from the summer- Donated garment storage bags to Cinderella's Closet in Colonial Beach. A local nonprofit that makes it easier for high school homecoming to be inclusive AND stylish.

From the poster session at the Global Innovator Summit on Tuesday. Check-Eye is a Ukrainian company that offers retinal screenings in convenient locations. They launched just before the Russian aggression. Also had a chance to talk with Victoria Chuchina, one of the founders. Inspiring story.

From last week- Congrats to Maria Gallagher & Kieran Daly of Winking Fish for their award from Volunteer Arlington. They earned it by working with Arlington Free Clinic to share the story of their impact and mission. These stories need to be given a higher profile while maintaining patient privacy.

Nikki Haley was also a target of Vivek Ramaswamy's misogyny and lies. Grateful that Nikki Haley wasted no time condemning Ramaswamy's callous attack on Amy Acton. Needs to be said- Nikki Haley is one of the very few prominent former or current Republican elected officials defending Acton on this.

Not surprised Musk has screwed up his motto The accurate version is: "Live by the sword, die in one of my Teslas that spontaneously explode when you are on your way to the sword fight." I have no doubt Musk was a schoolyard bully. Based on his thousands of taunts as an adult, he sucked at it.

Linda Caudill, the Tommy of Ohio, in a Ramaswamy ad claimed that Amy Acton caused her mother's death by limiting visitors to Ohio's nursing homes. Except Caudill's mother died AFTER the closure was lifted. AND Caudill's mother lived and died in Kentucky- not Ohio. Caudill lies like a cheap rug.

Ohio, y'all are better than this. Vivek Ramaswamy has described the sexual assault Amy Acton survived as a child as "something somebody else did to her." (Per video footage of him now on social media.) Good grief. Ramaswamy should offer empathy to Amy Acton but instead more or less offers an alibi.

Volunteering at RAM clinics brings many joys, including being able to connect with local legends. Coach Travis Fiser has led the Grundy High School wrestling team to 17 state championships. Frannie Minton has led the host group that has made the RAM clinic in Grundy an annual event for 23 years.

Hey, that's Virginia's third Senator you're talking smack about!

Trump wants us to think of New Mexico as the "New America." He might finally be talking sense. NM is led by a great Democrat, @govmlg.bsky.social. There are zero Republican US Senators. They have no-cost universal child care. Let's make that the model for the New America. They can keep their name.

I disavow Tommy Teepell, the Christian Nationalist whose daddy got him a "job" with Josh Hawley. I also disavow Josh Hawley.

The debate over whether Trump is a Russian asset? Still over. wapo.st/3UBX1Dd

The debate over whether Trump is a Russian asset is now officially over. Hillary Clinton made that point in 2016. www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...

An actual sign message spotted today in Wise County. YES, Joy Powers is closer than you think. Joy Powers, running for Congress in VA-09, has been in Southwest Virginia all week, in and out of the hollers, and has several town halls. Joy knows her way around the 9th District b/c she lives there.

Billboard spotted today on Alt 58, near the Clinch River Station in Wise County. My first glance at it mistook it for an ad for the suicide prevention hotline. But it is for anyone who has voted for Trump three times and is now thinking MAGA ain't all it's cracked to be. TY to Take Action SWVA!

I had no idea this was the actual White House Press Secretary. I assumed this was part of Take Your Daughter to Work Day, and they were having some fun with it. And Take Your Daughter to Work Day at the Trump World workplace is a REALLY BAD IDEA.

Suddenly, large trees cut down in Ballston, near the entrance to I-66. That Trump golf course project is really getting out of hand.

Today, I saw the economic harm from the health clinic which closed in Churchville last year after the Medicaid cuts. Before the 2 pm rally, I stopped by MTN Mystic for coffee- closed. I think they're on reduced hours. OK, I can get a slice in Village Pizza Too. CLOSED. The sign says temporarily.

This ain't rocket science, people. Janet, one of those who stood for health care in Staunton at noon today, covers it with a flip of her sign. If you cut $700 billion from Medicaid, clinics close, people die. If you fund health care, clinics stay open and people live. Let's get back to health care.

TY to LG Ghazala Hashmi for coming to the health care rally in Buena Vista today. Our LG has been leading on opposition to the Trump cuts to health care. The rally was outside one of the 11 health clinics which closed in Virginia last year after they took a financial hit from the Medicaid cuts.

Everyone is saying Katie Zacharia delivered a very poor performance as White House Press Secretary on her first day. But Zacharia is very successful at coming across as a 14 year old, so she has the most job security in a Trump World universe.

I'm not joining in the criticism of Katie Zacharia for not passing the bar exam or practicing law. She graduated from law school- commendable. Decided against adding to the multitude of practicing attorneys- even more commendable. Katie Zacharia's fascism and racism are PLENTY for us to criticize.

Trump's Medicaid cuts forced 11 health clinics in Virginia to close, including this one in Buena Vista. The SAW/LexRock/BV Democrats are organizing a health care rally on Sycamore Avenue, outside the Trump closed health clinic for Wednesday, October 14th from 4 to 6 pm. Hope to see you!

Even by their own standards of incompetence, the raid on the DC home of @ilhanmn.bsky.social is laughable. Without evidence, they're falsely claiming Rep. Ilhan Omar filed the wrong paperwork 31 years ago when coming to America. What possible physical evidence in her house today would support that?

The media reporting that Trump is "pressure washing" the Reflecting Pool is a funny way of saying he is planting evidence to go after Olympic medalists on baseless charges. The real reason they illegally prosecuted David Hearn was Trump's deep resentment no one has ever awarded him an Olympic medal.

This is a straightforward legal case. Trump illegally spent $12M on ads from taxpayer money. Lied about his response to a judge's order and spent $10M more. For the TV stations who took the illegal money, there is zero criminal liability. HOWEVER they have a civil obligation to return the $22M.

PRO TIP: If you are trick-or-treating in a neighborhood with a lot of Republicans, best costume this year is Angry Voter. Literally nothing frightens them more. www.nytimes.com/2026/10/11/u...