Richard Stallman

Richard Stallman's Political Notes -

TSA precheck suspended - 2026-02-25T10:39:51+00:00

The bully is trying to focus self-important Americans' hostility on Democrats by shutting down two faster manners of going through airport security checkpoints, supposedly because of Democrats' refusal to fund the Department of Hatred and Sadism.

These two programs give preference to passengers who sign up and give their fingerprints. However, in the 2000s, the TSA would sometimes route some frequent fliers through the TSA Pre line even though we had not signed up. Apparently they didn't really need passengers' fingerprints to send them through the faster scan. So why demand fingerprints?

I suspect that was meant to teach Americans to be happy to be fingerprinted in exchange for saving some time.

The Democrats who criticize the government for halting these programs are being foolish and shallow. The bully is doing so many cruel, damaging and vindictive things; it is lacking a sense of proportion to complain about something that only causes a little more delay.

Sunday Thought - 2026-02-25T10:39:51+00:00

Robert Reich: the wrecker responds to setbacks with redoubled cruelty and stupid tantrums.

I paid no attention to what he said about pulling some thugs out of Minneapolis, because when he talks about making a concession, it is never a real concession.

Trump warns consequences - 2026-02-25T10:39:51+00:00

The obedience-trainer demands that Netflix remove someone from its board if it wants to be allowed to take over another large TV and movies company.

I recommend refusing to do business with Netflix, because of unjust aspects of its business.

Warner Bros Discovery does many of the same injustices. So I expect never to be a customer for either one, whether merged or not.

However, the merger of two such large companies will be harmful to the US and its people. Two such large companies should never be allowed to merge.

Targeted for deportation - 2026-02-25T10:39:50+00:00

*A Guardian analysis of government records has found that the vast majority – 77% – of people who entered deportation proceedings for the first time in 2025 had no criminal conviction.

This demonstrates solidly that what the bullshitter says about this is in fact bullshit.

US tariff policy ruling - 2026-02-25T10:39:50+00:00

The Supreme Court invalidated the bully's bogus excuse for arbitrarily raising tariffs, but his henchmen claim to have other excuses for the same increases. we will see what excuses they present in the next court case

Urgent: Drop charges against Georgia For and Don Lemon - 2026-02-24T11:09:05+00:00

US citizens: call on Attorney General Bondi to drop the charges against Georgia Fort and Don Lemon now.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

Urgent: End Big Tech tax breaks - 2026-02-24T11:09:05+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to end Big Tech tax breaks.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

US citizens: Join with this campaign to address this issue.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent No deportation thugs at our polls - 2026-02-24T11:09:05+00:00

US citizens: call on your state's Secretary of State: No deportation thugs at our polls.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

Urgent: Investigate why IRS gave personal data to DHS - 2026-02-24T11:09:04+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to investigate why the IRS gave taxpayers' personal data to the Department of Hatred and Sadism.

US citizens: Join with this campaign to address this issue.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent: Bully's false picture denying cruelty of deportation thugs - 2026-02-24T11:09:02+00:00

US citizens: call on media to stop supporting the bully's false picture which denies the cruelty of sending deportation thugs, and soldiers, to occupy American cities.

Urgent: Stop cooperating with deportation thugs - 2026-02-24T11:09:01+00:00

US citizens: call on local and state officials to stop cooperating with the deportation thugs.

Urgent: Don't let deportation thugs weaponize Social Security - 2026-02-24T11:09:00+00:00

US citizens: call on the Social Security Administration not to let the deportation thugs weaponize Social Security.

Urgent: Stop corrupter getting money for bogus board of peace - 2026-02-24T11:09:00+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to block the corrupter from getting government money for his bogus board of peace.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

Bully's henchmen demanding voter information from states - 2026-02-24T11:08:59+00:00

The bully's henchmen have demanded, from various states, databases with a lot of information about each registered voter, and sued some states that would not hand them over. A judge decided one suit in favor of Michigan's refusal.

Federal thugs raided race track - 2026-02-24T11:08:59+00:00

Federal thugs raided a race track with a warrant to arrest its owner for illegal gambling — but they violently seized and tied up all the spectators (including children) and wouldn't even let them go to toilet.

Now they are trying to sue over this outrageous conduct, but need to have recourse to a rather obscure legal argument to make it possible.

Google handing over surveillance camera footage - 2026-02-24T11:08:58+00:00

Google can hand over video footage from Pest surveillance cameras on subpoena even after it tells the "owner" it has "deleted" that footage.

States should prohibit remote transmission of "security" camera footage, so that anyone who wants to obtain it has to go to the camera and extract it physically.

Bully defends racist video - 2026-02-24T11:08:58+00:00

The bully continues to defend the racist video that portrayed Obama and his wife as apes. Worse than that, the video spread election disinformation lies that are aimed at undermining future elections.

Banned protests in New South Wales - 2026-02-24T11:08:57+00:00

The head of government of New South Wales banned a protest on behalf of Palestinians on the occasion of a visit by the President of Israel. Thugs attacked would-be protesters, who accused them of crimes. Now he is trying to prevent those accusations from being investigated.

All around the world we see efforts to equate the protesting of Israel's war crimes with antisemitism. That is so evidently absurd that I don't understand why anyone takes it seriously.

Amazon and Walmart subsidized by SNAP - 2026-02-24T11:08:57+00:00

Amazon and Walmart are heavily subsidized in the US by SNAP — their staff are paid so little they need food aid.

Other companies that frequently appear at the top of the state lists include McDonald’s, DoorDash, Uber, Dollar Tree, and Dollar General.

We need to increase the minimum wage.

Funding for Deportation thugs blocked by filibuster - 2026-02-24T11:08:57+00:00

Democrats in the Senate blocked the rest of the deportation thugs' funding with a filibuster. They demand putting some specific limits on the deportation thug department's ability to get away with violence.

I agree with these demands, and I agree with the position that the thugs should also have some of their funds taken away and given to poor people.

Secret list of "domestic terrorist organizations" - 2026-02-24T11:08:57+00:00

Bondi told Congress that the Ministry of Justice has a secret list of "domestic terrorist organizations", but did not answer when asked whether the Ministry of Love would try to kill them without a trial.

Relentless assault upon Palestinians - 2026-02-24T11:08:57+00:00

*The Guardian view on Israel and the West Bank: the other relentless assault upon Palestinians.*

FBI investigating Extinction Rebellion NYC - 2026-02-24T11:08:57+00:00

It looks like the FBI is investigating Extinction Rebellion NYC.

Extinction Rebellion is (or perhaps was) an effort to defend the world against threats of devastation. The making of such threats has a resemblance to terrorism. But I have a feeling that the FBI has not been directed to investigate those threats and help Extinction Rebellion defend civilization from them. More plausibly it is following the wrecker's Orwellian practice of labeling nonviolent protest as "domestic terrorism".

China banned fishing in Yangtze river in 2021 - 2026-02-24T11:08:56+00:00

In 2021, China banned fishing entirely in the Yangtze River. Since then, the quantity of fish in the river has doubled.

More political freedom with Maduro gone - 2026-02-24T11:08:56+00:00

The government formerly headed by President Maduro is allowing more political freedom now that Maduro is gone.

We cannot take for granted that this will restore the political freedom that President Chavez respected, and the persecutor cares no more about freedom for Venezuelans than he does about freedom for Americans. Nonetheless, if the result of his intervention turns out to be freedom in Venezuela, I will rejoice at that result.

(satire) Premium Video Generator for White House Advisors - 2026-02-24T11:08:56+00:00

(satire) OpenAI Introduces Premium Video Generator For White House Advisors Manipulating [the maximum leader].

Tragic end of CBS News - 2026-02-24T11:08:56+00:00

*The tragic end of CBS News.* It has been converted into a puppet show in which puppets pull each others' strings.

Debunking bullshitter's lies about people in deportation prisons - 2026-02-24T11:08:55+00:00

Debunking the bullshitter's lies about the people in his deportation prisons: the vast majority have never been accused of a violent crime.

Master alarm flashing for our democracy - 2026-02-24T11:08:55+00:00

* Arizona senator Mark Kelly warned that the Trump administration's failed attempt to secure an indictment against him and five other Democratic lawmakers for a video urging service members to resist unlawful orders was a "master alarm flashing for our democracy."*

Zelenskyy demands 20-year "security guarantee" for peace deal - 2026-02-24T11:08:55+00:00

Zelenskyy says he demands a 20-year "security guarantee" from the bullshitter to make a peace deal with Russia reliable.

Under a previous US government, such a 20-year commitment might be a basis to trust the deal, but the bullshitter never respects any commitment except to a billionaire who is paying for that commitment. The bullshitter could make a deal with you this month, and next month tell you that he expects you to pay a fortune for that deal.

(satire) Tampering with Earth's gravitational field - 2026-02-24T11:08:55+00:00

(satire) *Finnish Ski Jumping Team Caught Tampering With Earth's Gravitational Field.*

Senators demanding justification to deregulate greenhouse gas emissions - 2026-02-24T11:08:55+00:00

Senators are demanding justification for the EPA's decision to deregulate planet-roasting greenhouse gas emissions, knowing that they will find no justification except nonsense.

Protesters who damaged weapons in Elbit factory acquitted of most serious charges - 2026-02-24T11:08:54+00:00

Protesters who damaged weapons in an Elbit factory were acquitted of the most serious charges, which were clearly trumped up. On the lesser charges, the jury could not reach agreement so they face a retrial.

Urgent: Support Rashida Tlaib's resolution - 2026-02-24T10:39:40+00:00

US citizens: Support Rashida Tlaib's Defund the Oligarchs, Fund Our Communities resolution.

Urgent: Close the loophole - 2026-02-24T10:39:40+00:00

US citizens: call on the Florida Senate to end state funding for Alligator Alcatraz.

Urgent: Congress must investigate - 2026-02-24T10:39:39+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to investigate the deportation thugs' 400 arrests ruled by courts to be illegal, and their defiance of court orders to free the people arrested.

Urgent: Tell congress to investigate - 2026-02-24T10:39:39+00:00

US citizens: call on Tell Congress: Investigate DOGE's Misuse of voters' private Social Security records.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

ICE detention power - 2026-02-24T10:39:39+00:00

The persecutor intends to declare for his henchmen the power to jail any and all admitted refugees, who do not yet have green cards, and hold them indefinitely for "re-screening".

The plan does not establish any required grounds for this jailing, so it makes no sense except as a system of repression.

GOP plot to jack up credit scores - 2026-02-24T10:39:38+00:00

Republicans corrupted by big banks are pushing a law to undermine states' limits on interest charged on bank loans.

Emerging Berlin-Rome axis - 2026-02-24T10:39:38+00:00

The heads of the German and Italian government, both right-wing, seem to want to tear up the European greenhouse emission reduction agreement.

That, and China's efforts, are the only major regional efforts to reduce greenhouse emissions. They are not enough by themselves to save civilization, but they could be a good start. But those two right-wing governments are listing to a billionaire who is so greedy that he would destroy civilization rather than share its wealth with future generations.

Trump's End of Laws - 2026-02-24T10:39:37+00:00

Ralph Nader: *Tyrant Trump Declares End of Laws Saving American Lives.* (And occasionally also laws saving millions of lives in other countries.)

California bill ban - 2026-02-24T10:39:37+00:00

*California bill would ban ICE agents from being near polling sites.*

There would be a court battle over the practical consequences of that law, but it can't be worse than no law on this issue.

If laws like this are obeyed, they can protect fair elections in states that pass them. However, to kick the Republicans out of power, we need elections to be fair also in the states where Republicans now control the legislature — and they will not pass these laws.

Urgent: Investigate corrupter in chief's profit from presidency - 2026-02-21T05:57:19+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to investigate the corrupter in chief's $1.4 billion profit from the presidency.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

US citizens: Join with this campaign to address this issue.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent: Protect the Arctic from oil exploration - 2026-02-21T05:57:18+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to protect the Arctic by stopping reckless oil exploration there.

Exploration for fossil fuel should be pretty much stopped entirely because we can't extract it without destroying ourselves; but this threat to the Arctic is an additional reason.

US citizens: Join with this campaign to address this issue.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent: Hidden insurance industry report data - 2026-02-21T05:57:18+00:00

US citizens: Demand insurance commissioners stop hiding insurance industry report data from the public.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

Urgent: Defend recognition of dangers of global heating - 2026-02-21T05:57:17+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress and everyone else with influence to defend the recognition that global heating endangers the the world and specifically the US.

US citizens: Join with this campaign to address this issue.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent: Stop deportation thugs terrorizing children - 2026-02-21T05:57:17+00:00

US citizens: call on Congress to stop the deportation thugs from from terrorizing children.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

US citizens: Join with this campaign to address this issue.

To phone your congresscritter about this, the main switchboard is +1-202-224-3121.

Please spread the word.

Urgent: Protect clean water from corporate greed - 2026-02-18T06:18:53+00:00

US citizens: Tell the EPA to protect clean water from corporate greed: reject proposed weakening in local approval for development that can affect water supply.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

Urgent: No tax breaks for Big Tech data centers - 2026-02-18T06:18:52+00:00

US citizens: Tell your governor, no tax breaks for Big Tech data centers.

See the instructions for how to sign this letter campaign without running any nonfree JavaScript code--not trivial, but not hard.

Here's the text of the letter I sent.

I’m writing as your constituent, and as recipient of two awards from the ACM for programs I have shared with the public in freedom, to urge you to reject efforts in our state to provide Big Tech with tax breaks to build data centers. I’m concerned about the harms that data centers can do locally, including siphoning our water, using up our land, creating noise and light pollution, and hiking our electric bills. I’m also concerned that providing tax breaks to giant Big Tech corporations will deprive our schools and local budgets of their already insufficient funds. I'm also concerned that these data centers will mostly operate Pretend Intelligence (PI) -- software that *tries to* imitate what an intelligent entity would say, but without really understanding the words it plays with. The use of these digital dis-services does society harm. We should never allow business to play one state against another by making states compete to offer them the biggest tax break, because that perverse competition harms *all* the states for the benefit of business owners. So please reject efforts to give Big Tech (or *any* business) specific tax breaks to operate in our state. The states should form a union and bargain collectively with these businesses. The states could call their union the United States of America. Wouldn't that be a good thing to have?

Urgent: Reporting on refusals by grand juries to indict bogus political "crimes" - 2026-02-18T06:18:52+00:00

US citizens: Call on the media to report loud and clear on the amazingly unusual refusals by grand juries to indict people accused of bogus political "crimes".