Right in the crosshairs of ISIS, and anybody else who wants that oil:

The mechanized National Guard brigade combat team that is tasked with protecting infrastructure has been in Syria for a little over a week now, a key part of the U.S. military's repositioning of forces. While Pentagon officials will not put an exact figure on the number of troops expected to remain in Syria, they have said it is likely to be a few hundred fewer than the roughly 1,000 troops deployed there before October.

The policy changes have shaken up an already volatile region and severely tested the relationship between the U.S. and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, one of Washington's closest allies in the fight against ISIS.

The 30th Brigade Combat Team had recently deployed to Kuwait to replace a previous unit, and I had hoped their tenure would be uneventful. But when I saw reports of Trump wanting to move in some tanks and other armored vehicles to "provide security" for the oilfields in Syria, I got a sinking feeling. And with them being deployed after a monumental clusterfuck by Trump, I'm even more concerned:

Make sure and vote today, folks:

Tomorrow is #ElectionDay in #Charlotte & #Mecklenburg county.

Vote ‘AGAINST’ the sales tax increase. #cltcc #MeckBOCC #ncpol

— Alfredo Rodriguez (@DyceComms) November 5, 2019

I don't normally agree with Republican operatives like the above, but this sales tax is both regressive and tone-deaf. Tens of thousands in Charlotte are living in poverty with little hope of climbing out, and boosting the arts and culture while that persists is a disconnect from reality.

The deadly cost of conservative ideology:

Hundreds of thousands of people cant get healthcare because Republicans #ncpol https://t.co/FVAwh1mCcV

— LongLeafPol (@LeafPol) October 22, 2019

FWIW, the NC House would have passed it, and there are enough votes in the NC Senate for it to pass, but Phil Berger made this life and death decision to block Medicaid Expansion by himself. You look up the word "Hubris" in the dictionary, and it shows his picture in the margin.

Today is the big day for some municipalities:

Polls open TODAY - 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m for the Durham Municipal Primary. You can check your polling place here -> https://t.co/efa5doO8ww (Precincts 16, 19, 48, and 53-2 have been changed since the last time you voted) and #BeAVoter. #ncpol

— Progressive Durham Dems (@Durmprogressive) October 8, 2019

If you haven't already voted, make sure you do so today. If you live in a municipality that is having its election in November (like me), early voting is just around the corner.

Technology in the hands of an unscrupulous man quickly becomes dangerous:

Thomas Hofeller's impact on #ncpol is well-known. But his influence reached beyond North Carolina. https://t.co/XjmgqRB4lq

— Barry Yeoman (@Barry_Yeoman) September 24, 2019

Every map in which he was involved needs to be taken to court, pronto.