Don't Poke the Bear

Don't Poke the Bear

@ssshupe.com

Facts not lies. Married (retired) public agency attorney, political moderate, anti-MAGA, photographer, reader, hobbyist programmer. Iowa raised, now live in the Berkeley Hills & La Rochelle France. Hawkeyes/Warriors/REM/Neil Young/Son Volt/Francophile.

223 followers410 following952 posts

Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

That the mid-terms are so close says something very disturbing about the US electorate. Fox has convinced the MAGA rabble that diarrhea is preferable to 7 trans females competing in women's sports.

Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

People forget about this treaty. Russia promised not to invade Ukraine, and we promised to defend Ukraine if they did. Trump's refusal to live up to this commitment is inexcusable. A Putin puppet.

Jennifer Shin - WTAF@jennifershin.bsky.social

The Budapest Memorandum was signed in 1994 giving security assurances to Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and borders in exchange for surrendering 1,900 nuclear warheads to Russia for dismantling. The U.S. pledged to seek United Nations action if Ukraine became the victim of aggression.

Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

Don’t Blame Immigrants Trump and the right-wing MAGA media sphere are spreading the lie that the recent civil unrest in France was caused by immigrants. It wasn’t. The protests began with high school... https://ssshupe.com/2026/10/22/dont-blame-immigrants/

ssshupe.comDon’t Blame ImmigrantsTrump and the right-wing MAGA media sphere are spreading the lie that the recent civil unrest in France was caused by immigrants. It wasn’t. The protests began with high school students. They were protesting the lack of resources provided by the French state to education. A legitimate issue: As in the US, French teachers are...
Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

Why do we listen to anything this idiot says?

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

TRUMP: We gave nothing in exchange for Stephen. We never give anything in exchange for hostages. TRUMP LITERALLY MOMENTS LATER: If I implemented sanctions on Russia, Steven wouldn't be coming out right now.

Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

"We know the Standard Model has to be wrong somewhere—or at least incomplete," Gabrielse said. "For example, it cannot predict why the universe exists, so that's a pretty big loophole." A master of understatement! phys.org/news/2026-10...

phys.orgPhysicists trap and tame single particle of antimatter for monthsFor the first time, Northwestern University physicists have coaxed a single positron—the antimatter counterpart of an electron—into an exquisitely controlled quantum state.
Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

La Rochelle Odds and Ends It occurs to me that I’ve posted lots of material about our trip on Facebook, but not enough material for the loyal readers and subscribers to this blog. So here... https://ssshupe.com/2026/10/21/la-rochelle-odds-and-ends/

ssshupe.comLa Rochelle Odds and EndsIt occurs to me that I’ve posted lots of material about our trip on Facebook, but not enough material for the loyal readers and subscribers to this blog. So here are some visual highlights from the beautiful days we’ve mostly had since we’ve been here. Ride down the Canal de Marans: Pre-foot-break, a pretty ride...
Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

U.S. vs. California and Trump’s Plan to Overturn the Midterm Elections Trump’s Department of Justice has sued California elections officials, claiming that “over 20,000” registered voters in... https://ssshupe.com/2026/10/21/u-s-vs-california-and-trumps-plan-to-overturn-the-midterm-elections/

ssshupe.comU.S. vs. California and Trump’s Plan to Overturn the Midterm ElectionsTrump’s Department of Justice has sued California elections officials, claiming that “over 20,000” registered voters in California are illegal aliens and ineligible to vote. The suit seeks to enjoin California To understand the legal, factual, and logical problems with this suit, some background is necessary. First, while “over 20,000” sounds like a large number, it...
Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

Come out of the closet Donnie. It will relieve your inner torment.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Lincoln: “This nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom” Kennedy: “Ask not what your country can do for you” Reagan: “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Trump: "I examined his ass"

Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

Our Visit to “L’assemblée générale extraordinaire des copropriétaires du immeuble Apollo” Sounds impressive, doesn't it? In fact this flowery language translates as "The... https://ssshupe.com/2026/10/15/our-visit-to-lassemblee-generale-extraordinaire-des-coproprietaires-du-immeuble-apollo/

ssshupe.comOur Visit to “L’assemblée générale extraordinaire des copropriétaires du immeuble Apollo”Sounds impressive, doesn't it? In fact this flowery language translates as "The special meeting of the Homeowners' Association for the Apollo building." Much less impressive in English. (Our building is called Apollo because it was built on the site of an old movie theater with that name.) We couldn't attend prior meetings of the HOA...
Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

Trump’s Dumb Treachery Trump recently announced a "deal" with Putin's Russia, under which the U.S. will ignore its own law imposing sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine and purchase specified amounts of Russian... https://ssshupe.com/2026/10/15/trumps-dumb-treachery/

ssshupe.comTrump’s Dumb TreacheryTrump recently announced a "deal" with Putin's Russia, under which the U.S. will ignore its own law imposing sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine and purchase specified amounts of Russian diesel fuel. Ostensibly the reason for this "deal" (I use quotation marks because history shows that most of the "deals" announced by Trump never happen)...
Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

Damn. Go get 'em.

Team Talarico@teamtalaricohq.bsky.social

NEW AD: Introducing SCANDUEL! The only betting app where you can parlay Ken Paxton’s scandals — and get paid! Here’s a tip: Always bet that he did the thing. 💰

Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

There once was a dolt from Missouri Who tried to score points in a hurry But spreading rank lies Is hard for a guy Who doesn't know Kaitlin from Curry You're welcome.

Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

Missouri really is the "Show Me" state. Poor dumb Schmitt definitely got showed.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

🤡 Schmitt beclowns himself 🤡 Schmitt concocted an elaborate conspiracy theory that Smith traveled to Atl for a Hawks game and to collude with Fani Willis, & flashed his "evidence" before accusing Smith of perjury. There's just one problem -- his facts were totally wrong. Here's the whole sequence:

Don't Poke the Bear reposted

linealoca.bsky.social
@linealoca.bsky.social

"Donald Trump was cultivated as a Russian asset over 40 years and proved so willing to parrot anti-western propaganda that there were celebrations in Moscow, a former KGB spy has told the Guardian." www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021...

theguardian.com‘The perfect target’: Russia cultivated Trump as asset for 40 years – ex-KGB spyThe KGB ‘played the game as if they were immensely impressed by his personality’, Yuri Shvets, a key source for a new book, tells the Guardian
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Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

It's not the Left committing election fraud.

Pete Parkinson@pwparkinson.bsky.social

This page from the State of California voter information pamphlet enumerates all the prohibited activities that could interfere with voting and elections. I invite you to read through the list and check off all the ones the Trump administration is teasing for the midterms.

Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

Saturday at the Ile de Ré Our friends Alain and Isabelle treated us to a wonderful afternoon yesterday at their house on the Ile de Ré. A delicious, long lunch followed by a short nap (!),... https://ssshupe.com/2026/09/27/saturday-at-the-ile-de-re/

ssshupe.comSaturday at the Ile de RéOur friends Alain and Isabelle treated us to a wonderful afternoon yesterday at their house on the Ile de Ré. A delicious, long lunch followed by a short nap (!), then a walk on the beach and through the village of Le Bois Plage. Perfect weather, perfect company ... elle est belle, la vie!
Don't Poke the Bear
@ssshupe.com

We Made it to La Rochelle TLDR: An easy trip, but some surprises awaited in La Rochelle. So, two-and-a-half long travel days. The first was an 11 hour overnight flight to Paris, which was bit delayed,... https://ssshupe.com/2026/09/25/we-made-it-to-la-rochelle/

ssshupe.comWe Made it to La RochelleTLDR: An easy trip, but some surprises awaited in La Rochelle. So, two-and-a-half long travel days. The first was an 11 hour overnight flight to Paris, which was bit delayed, but otherwise perfect. We'd sprung for business class seats, which meant that the food and service were excellent, and that it was possible to sleep...