JZ Murdock (@jzmurdock1)

We’ve seen far too much of someone attacking another in public from an ideological perspective. Esp., these past few decades. While surely historically and before today, so much of this now has to do with social media, polarization via the same, political parties and grandstanding self-involved influencers. When someone in public targets a gay person, a trans person, an immigrant, or other minority, we’re not trying to “win a debate.” Just trying to: Protect the person being targeted. Reframe the behavior. Raise the social cost of cruelty. Here’s approaches that can work in live situations. 1. Name the Behavior, Not the Ideology Avoid arguing policy. Call out the conduct. Example: “You’re not debating policy right now. You’re singling out a person.” “This isn’t about immigration law. You’re targeting someone standing in front of you.” Reframe the moment from abstract ideology to visible behavior. 2. Separate Policy From Personal Attack Most ideologues justify cruelty by claiming they’re defending principles. Interrupt that narrative: “If you want to argue policy, fine. But attacking someone personally isn’t policy.” “Disagreeing with a law doesn’t require humiliating a stranger.” Force them to confront that their bad conduct is unnecessary to their stated goal. 3. Appeal to Strategic Self-Interest Many activists care about optics and influence. Use that. “This is exactly the kind of behavior that turns people away from your cause.” “If your goal is persuasion, this isn’t persuasive.” “You’re hurting your own credibility right now.” Shift the cost-benefit calculation. 4. Use Social Norm Pressure Ideologues often rely on perceived audience support. “Most people here don’t want to see someone bullied.” “This isn’t how adults handle disagreement.” “We can disagree without attacking people.” Calm, firm tone matters more than volume. 5. Center the Targeted Person Sometimes the most powerful move is to ignore the aggressor and support the person targeted. “Are you okay?” “You don’t have to respond to that.” Stand beside them physically. This denies the aggressor the spotlight. 6. Don’t Over-Explain Long moral lectures escalate. Short statements work better: “That’s not okay.” “Leave them alone.” “Stop.” Clarity > cleverness. 7. Safety First If the person is escalating or unstable, sometimes it’s best to leave the person they are attacking to deal with it. If you see they are not overwhelmed, if they appear to be sensible and patient, they may know what they are doing, have handled this before, or have dealt with this individual before. Be ready to help but read the social cues: Do not argue. Create space. Alert staff/security if appropriate. Document if necessary. The objective is de-escalation, not rhetorical victory. What Actually Shuts It Down? Not facts. Not ideology. Not counter-outrage. What shuts it down is: Removing the moral high ground. Making the behavior look small. Raising social cost. Protecting the target. We’re not going to defeat their (and not infrequently today their bizarre, or toxic) worldview in that moment. We’re just interrupting harm. Be safe out there. We need to simply be there sometimes to help others be safe, too.

Keep Big Tech Accountable!

Big Tech is trying to get away with breaking the rules - again.Google and Musk have already been held accountable, but now lobbyists are pushing to weaken the rules that protect our safety, privacy, and money online.We can’t let them succeed✍️ Add your voice and tell EU leaders: protect people’s safety, not billionaires’ profits!

Keep Big Tech Accountable!

Big Tech is trying to get away with breaking the rules - again.Google and Musk have already been held accountable, but now lobbyists are pushing to weaken the rules that protect our safety, privacy, and money online.We can’t let them succeed✍️ Add your voice and tell EU leaders: protect people’s safety, not billionaires’ profits!

52K views · 3.3K reactions | Minnesota Leader Questions Whether Local Officials Have The Courage To Hold Federal Government Accountable. Elizer Darris, Co-Executive Director of the MN Freedom Fund shared this message during a press conference at the government center. | Georgia Fort

Minnesota Leader Questions Whether Local Officials Have The Courage To Hold Federal Government Accountable. Elizer Darris, Co-Executive Director of the MN Freedom Fund shared this message during a...

Urge Congress to Ban Killing Bears Over Bait on Federal Land

Thousands of bears are killed every year on federal public lands using a controversial and unethical practice: baiting. This method involves placing giant piles of human food waste, such as grease, meat scraps, and sugary donuts or other pastries, to lure bears into shooting range. Once the bear is focused on the bait, it can be shot at close range, often with its back turned. That is definitely not fair or sporting, yet it remains legal in some states. This practice raises serious concerns — not just about animal welfare and fair chase principles, but about public safety and ecological balance. That’s why Rep. Shri Thanedar (D-MI) has introduced the “Don’t Feed the Bears Act” (H.R. 4422). This bill would prohibit bear baiting on national forests and other public lands managed by federal agencies. Baiting bears with human-sourced food conditions them to associate people with food. This increases the likelihood of dangerous human-wildlife encounters near campsites, trails, and residential areas. The phrase, “A fed bear is a dead bear” is tragically true–yet this method of killing bears explicitly encourages it. The practice of bear baiting also artificially alters bear behavior and population dynamics, making it more difficult for wildlife managers to maintain healthy, balanced ecosystems. According to Rep. Thanedar, Michigan is one of the states that allow this practice, along with 11 other states. In at least eight of those states, it is permitted on federal lands. This bill would change that. This legislation does not ban bear hunting altogether. Instead, it aligns public land management with widely accepted hunting ethics, which emphasize respect for wildlife and the principles of fair chase. The bill builds on a 2024 National Park Service rule that banned bear baiting on 20 million acres of preserves in Alaska: a rule designed to protect both wildlife and visitors. Sign the petition today to urge Congress to pass H.R. 4422–the “Don’t Feed the Bears Act”--and help protect people, bears, and the integrity of our public lands. __ Source https://thanedar.house.gov/media/press-releases/congressman-shri-thanedar-introduces-the-dont-feed-the-bears-act

Bonobos in Congo form girl groups to fend off male aggression, study says | Africanews

Female bonobos find strength in numbers, teaming up to fend off males in the wild, a new study finds.

A 72-year-old congressman goes back to school, pursuing a degree in AI

The U.S. congressman aims to apply his artificial-intelligence knowledge to his legislative work as the technology evolves further.

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