The war on us federal employees rages on.
And I am fucking tired.
It must show because when I went to the gym yesterday, my acquaintance that teaches the pilates class was immediately like "ohhhh how's it going, are you okay?" and gave me a hug LOL. I felt like, jesus, I know I tend to wear my mood on my face despite my best efforts, but I ain't even depressed or anything, I'm just....worn out. Been cycling through a lot of emotions, but past few days, the emotion has been "worn out".
I've been doing everything I can to raise awareness.
Writing in this newsletter.
Podcast did a solidarity episode with some other popular podcasters guesting.
I guested on some other podcasts and had opportunity to bring up these topics.
I went a week straight wearing business casual everywhere I went, which obviously is context clashing at gym, gigs, etc, and anytime someone commented, I had a paper flyer with the numbers for our Congresspeople and a script on what to say. I'm thinking to do this again soon when I have more emotional energy to really engage with people about it.
I even went to one of those viral 50501 protests at our state capital, standing around with a sign in -10 F weather and knocking ice out of my mustache. I'm not normally so inspired by these sorts of blah blah, 'we got a permit', rally-type protests, but people should do what they want, and I had the day off work so it felt like my due diligence to go.
It's not obvious to me that anything I do will help matters, but I always want to live my life with intention, do the best I can, be able to look back on my life and say 'I did what I thought was right, I tried to make the world a better place'.
And I also think the power of the individual to effect change is severely underrated, but that's a separate philosophical topic.
But it's also hard to always know exactly what to say. The situation evolves on a daily basis, the landscape is always shifting as the battlefronts continue to ebb and flow. I felt like I fucked up on one of the podcasts I guested on because I was still talking about Fork in the Road when that was a week outdated, and I should have used that space to communicate something more immediately relevant. Guess I can't be perfect all the time. It is genuinely difficult to stay up-to-date on the coup, given it's speed, scope, and seriousness.
With all that being said, I will use this space not to catch everybody up on the latest news, but break down the coup for you as straightforwardly and briefly as I think I can, just in case people are a little lost in understanding what's happening.
The coup is an alliance of convenience between two larger cultural forces: the Christian fascists (the Heritage Foundation is their big champion, Project 2025 is their playbook) trying to create a Handmaid's Tale style theocratic dictatorship, and the tech oligarchs (Curtis Yarvin is their anointed philosophical leader and Butterfly Revolution is their playbook) trying to create a dystopian world of corporate city-state fiefdoms. Both require the destruction of the federal government to achieve their end goals, and both see Trump, the popular grifter that lacks any particular values or vision of his own, as the mechanism to bring their plans into action as the climax of the conservative politic's 50 year scheme of class war and social oppression on working class Americans.
The Christian fascists are using federal appointments of people like Russel Vought to start actualizing their strategies. The tech oligarchs had Elon Musk take over USDS through SGE status and be their agent for change.
The coup has two fundamental battlefronts: what's happening at Treasury Department, and the bureaucratic trench warfare against us federal employees. I'd say each battlefront is like 50% of the coup. That is to say, if Musk and his little tech thugs gain control of Treasury Department, it'll only take a marginal push against us fed workers for the whole government to collapse. If they can't get full control of Treasury Department, then it'll be a long-winded meter-by-meter trench warfare against us Feds.
What's happening at Treasury Department is the single most important event happening in America today. It's too complex and technical to explain very well in this newsletter without tripling the size of it. But the #1 source of up-to-date reporting and analysis is www.crisisnotes.com, starting with the January 31 entry.
What's happening to us Feds, it is equally long and convoluted. But it's also why I still have hope.
Near everything that is happening to us Feds is illegal. It's often illegal in concept, it's almost always illegal in implementation. It's costly and time-consuming and frustrating, but all of this can (theoretically) be litigated away. Trump administration does nothing but lie and scam in court, every single day now. Their latest big performance being yesterday in AFGE's lawsuit over probies being illegally fired, with their crony Chuck Ezell flagrantly lying about OPM's role in directing these illegal firings, and pulling a completely random, hyper-distorted, totally whimsical perspective on "probationary employees" straight out of his ass that presumably nobody is going to buy into, given that it has 0 legal merit. They know what they're doing is wrong, and they know that the courts should generally be judging against them. There is still space for the checks to check and the balances to balance, if courts tell the coup to fuck off and the coup fucks off.
The real turning point will be when the courts make a judgement against the Trump administration, and the coup ignores it. Ignoring the courts is an important play in both Project 2025 and Butterfly Revolution, and Vice President Vance is already broadcasting their intention to ignore them. Ignoring the courts is the moment when we really lose democracy, when checks can no longer check and balances can no longer balance because our institutions have lost their meaning and strength becomes the only factor that matters.
We haven't yet turned that corner. There is still space. Court cases are moving at variable speeds, but some illegally fired employees have had their jobs reinstated via litigation, and we will have to see in the next few days if their agencies actually reinstate them. So, it is still possible for our institutions to hold and course-correct.
And this circles back to what I said last month. The #1 thing you can do right now to fight fascism and put your radical politics into action is call your relevant Congresspeople and tell them to support Federal unions and to challenge Musk and his cronies. This little piece has already gone long enough so maybe next month I'll explain in more detail exactly why this is so important. But it doesn't matter if your Congressperson is a Democrat, Republican, independent, doesn't matter if you live in a red area or a blue or a purple or a whatever, the context doesn't matter in this situation, the action does. Do not wait, call them today, tomorrow, every fucking day, unless they're doing a Town Hall, then show up in real life and challenge them to their face.
Call them and say:
Hello, my name is ______ and I am a voter in zip code ______. I voted for you in the last election and I am extremely concerned about Elon Musk's takeover of the Department of Treasury. I am scared that a billionaire oligarch has bypassed security protocols to take control of my personal identifying information and the country's payment control systems. I am also extremely concerned about the illegal firings of federal employees. I am afraid of disruptions to government services I depend on. I am looking for (my Congressperson) to provide outspoken support for federal unions like AFGE and NFFE, and to subpoena Elon Musk and bring him before Congress to be held accountable for his illegal actions.
In housekeeping news:
There's a nice stack of outstanding orders and trades I still need to get out, apologies, I am aware, will get to it this coming week. I am getting stuff out the door, just slightly slower than usual.
Also I deleted all the BIP social media. I always thought dead social media accounts were distasteful for an operation, and now that BIP is down to just me without any helpers....I'm not going to be interacting with this stuff ever again LOL. I'm always one opening away from a 10 minute preaching about the evils of social media etc, so I'm not apt to engage with it. And also, what good does social media do for me? I actually don't want to grow BIP much larger than it is. Currently, the amount of space it takes up in my life is a sweet spot, it's enough to give me something positive and constructive to do with my time, but not enough to overwhelm me as I hack it alone. So I don't have anything to gain from promoting on social media anyway.
Don't need it, don't want it, thus, it is gone.
In better news:
Bunch of us went to go see the new Mobile Suit Gundam GQuuuuuuX theatrical premiere in IMAX. HOLY SHIT, if you are a Gundam fan, this is a mandatory watch!! Not at all what I was expecting, and it is rock solid overall, but the emphatic love and adoration for Gundam makes this particular entry to the franchise a real treat for the meaningful fan. Although I could also see hardcore fans feeling like the first 40 minutes was total blasphemy LOL.
There's so many aspects of the directing and animation, storyboarding and framing, that SCREAM Anno/Gainax/Khara, and you can seriously feel Anno's love and respect for Gundam. As an Anno//Gainax fan, you could feel the lineage of Gainiax staff reconvening into Khara, because the storytelling and visuals were straight out of the Gainax school of madness and adrenaline, harkening back to the days when Gainax was "by fans, for fans".
As a fan of both Gundam and Anno, I can't imagine a better end product.
BIG recommendation.
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FEBRUARY NEW ARRIVALS
I feel a bit more up to writing about records at the moment, so let's start with the monstrous nuclear stockpiles of FOAD stuff now sitting in my living room. FOAD are real noise heroes, always dropping a wide variety of punk, metal, and grind niches, both archival collections and currently relevant bands, both collector obscurities and obvious classics. One of the best labels in the game and one of the operations I respect the most.
Metal fans, dig deep with the pre-Impetigo obscurity Sgt Rock discography LP, and how fascinating is it to hear Bloodcum discography 2xLP and think about the dynamics of the Araya family??
Skinhead oi folks, I know Italian Oi is a collector's thing akin to Greek crust and Colombian hardcore, I've never heard Rough collection LP before but I imagine this must have some people out there really hyped.
Hardcore fanatics, if you're looking for a collector obscurity, add the Warsaw discography LP to your collection of collections from the recently popularized and heavily mined northern Japan scene, but if you're looking for an obvious classic, new Asocial LP shows this classic Swedish hardcore band hasn't dulled their edge whatsoever. For an archival collection, I'm really pleased by Crusty Hi-Charge discography LP and having more time with the demo tracks I'd never heard before, and as something currently relevant goes, I am SO. FUCKIN. HYPED. on this 100 Swindle LP (Tetsuyaaaaaaa!!!).
And speaking of FOAD, their Sapu LP groups nicely with all the fuckin SICK South American stuff that's floated up here this month. I'd never heard Sapu before, but this LP is exactly the sort of punk I want from South America, and now I'm enthused to see them at CY Fest this year.
Chile is on top of the world right now, Ignorantes LP is a modern classic in the same vein of real traditional South American punk (as I joke, "doopa doopa drums, clean bass, guitar sounds broken, singer sings really fast"). And speaking of Chile and broken guitars, I'm just as thrilled by this Bondage demo EP, their noise punk style is so nostalgic for me and their whole aesthetic and vibe resonates deeply with me. This is the kind of band I would have been pogoing straight through the ceiling to 15 years ago....I mean, that's a bit of an exaggeration, because I am still pogoing straight through the ceiling listening to it right now.....
Peru also coming strong, reissue of Pus first 7" is great if you missed this wild and crazy hardcore explosion the first time around, but my curiosity is more strongly piqued by the new record of my crew Los Rezios, continuing with their current Motorcharge style. On the flip is Nitrocharge from Ecuador, never heard of them before and the only Ecuador punk I know is Cacasonica and the Soluka Punk 7" from last year, so I'm really curious to check it out.
But the record I am most excited about is Infesto demo LP. Actually, I've never heard this one before! I have the split 7" and the later vinyl releases, but I've never heard the original demo. But disregarding the fact that I am already a fan of this band, "Colombia, 1991, hardcore" is all I need to hear to know it's exactly what I want on my turntable. One of my Top 5 time/place-s for punk, pure fuckin gold at every turn.
Similar to Dexkoncierto demos LP, this is something that will likely not be restocked, likely not distributed widely, and I highly recommend you buy now so you don't cry later.
Speaking of Bondage, if you're more into CDs than records (fair!), we got a big ass box of all the latest Black Konflik releases. Another label I have total respect and appreciation for, one of the best punk operations on the planet. Bondage CD we talked about, Naked Charge/Gaki split CD great for Japanese hardcore fanatics for being real traditional style, Atomic Throat CD necessary for all the crusties in the room, but I am actually most fascinated by this Haraa tape from Indonesia that simply oozes charm and vibe from every angle. Powerhouse shit, I hope this band continues into the future and keeps getting better.
Okay, we've talked about Asia and South America, but hows about Europe??
Finland continues to be maybe the best punk scene in the world with this new Hapea split 7". One of my top favorite bands in the game right now, loose and wild noise attack in all the right ways. New LP in the works!! Oh yeah, Misanthropic Minds side is good too LOL, makes me feel like, suppose I should track down that 7" from a few years ago and give it a proper listen.
A chunk of my favorite French are yet again playing d-beat hardcore in Phosphore flexi, this time taking a more "brutal Swedish" approach. I'm not surprised because all these dudes are scene veterans and experts in the field, but this flexi is shockingly GREAT.
Swedish but not as brutal, new Mob 47 LP shows they haven't slowed down in the least, and debut X2000 LP is....very weird LOL. I can't decide if I love it, respect it, or frown upon it LOL. Pretty cool. A little bit easier on me is Nagasaki Sunrise LP, somewhere in-between metalpunk and Japanese hardcore style, so basically exactly what I like LOL. Also keen to have some time with new Inferno Personale LP, which I think is a little less "crasher crust" and a little more "raw hardcore", for what it's worth.
Finally, we grabbed a couple of the debut Poguba tapes. Straight outta Slovenia, playing a real traditional style of hardcore bringing to mind UBR and Stres DA, oh hell yeah, this is exactly what I want to hear!!
And finally, I want to circle back around to remaining stuff from last month since I didn't talk about it at the time. Okay, yes, we got giant stacks of Outo reissues just like everybody else LOL. If you're into Japanese stuff, also should be aware of new Eiefits CD. Well, they've been around for a hot minute now, this CD is more of the same, some of the olde guard of Japanese hardcore doing straightforward, fast, streamlined, energized hardcore punk. Great shit. Speaking of consistency and great shit, new Seein Red LP. Enough said. And while you're on that need for speed, if you're punk, the blazing fast new Frenzy LP is a proper fuckin scorcher, terrific...if you're a grinder, again Finland is some magical land of great punk-oriented shit, Nihilist Commando/Nyrkki split 7" is awesome noisecore for fanatics....and if you're more into metal, maybeeee something from this big box of goregrind will be appealing?
But the most obscure shit from this update was the giant sprawl of Ukrainian punk tapes I received in trade. Deathbiter tape on the short/fast/loud team. Dan Stark/Foible Instinct split tape is too, just more grind about it. Warcunt tape even moreso, noisecore brutality project band from Ukraine's resident noisecore superstar, Valentin. The Symbioz tape has one foot in a modern Hellshock sense of crust and one foot in Tragedy-core....basically, this sounds like a band I might typically walk down the street to see here in Minneapolis LOL. Leaning harder, the Zliden tapes are total Tragedy-core, fuck yeah, dig it.
And if you want to get even more obscure than that, explore Kazakhstan, give a listen to Global Despair's industrial stenchcore (the drum machine clinches the industrial angle) and Victor Charlie's metalpunk/Japanese hardcore style (this is my personal favorite of all these tapes....sucker for the style LOL).
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coming in March:
2 new SPHC releases
more More MORE
Thanks and talk more later.
FEDERAL WORKERS, HOLD THE LINE AND DON'T RESIGN.
-Dan