Anna Merlan
@annamerlan.bsky.social
Journalist at Mother Jones and elsewhere, author, writer of social media posts on micro-blogging sites. Tips to Amerlan@motherjones.com or on Signal, username annamerlan.30
Reposted by Anna Merlan
NEW: NEW: HHS is working on an AI tool to analyze VAERS—a database of vaccine injury claims to which anyone can make submissions—and "generate hypotheses." This is from @emilymullin.bsky.social:
HHS Is Making an AI Tool to Create Hypotheses About Vaccine Injury Claims
Experts worry Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Health Department will use an internal AI tool to analyze vaccine injury claims in a way that furthers his anti-vaccine agenda.
www.wired.com
February 4, 2026 at 1:49 PM
NEW: NEW: HHS is working on an AI tool to analyze VAERS—a database of vaccine injury claims to which anyone can make submissions—and "generate hypotheses." This is from @emilymullin.bsky.social:
Reposted by Anna Merlan
We must MOCK them relentlessly writes @annamerlan.bsky.social www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The power of mocking Trump’s pathetic monsters
It's impossible to ignore the administration's blend of violent repression and overwhelming cringe.
www.motherjones.com
February 3, 2026 at 10:17 PM
We must MOCK them relentlessly writes @annamerlan.bsky.social www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Val Kilmer, 2008: “I expressed interest in visiting you since I know how unpleasant the circumstances are and that people become shy sometimes when they should be reaching out. I hope this is your current email and that you are allowing this to let you
grow. God bless, Val Kilmer”
grow. God bless, Val Kilmer”
February 3, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Val Kilmer, 2008: “I expressed interest in visiting you since I know how unpleasant the circumstances are and that people become shy sometimes when they should be reaching out. I hope this is your current email and that you are allowing this to let you
grow. God bless, Val Kilmer”
grow. God bless, Val Kilmer”
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Humor alone will not save us.
But perhaps it allows us to continue the painful task of looking at what’s really happening here, and, in the words of the artist Barbara Kruger, “the ridiculous clusterfuck of totally uncool jokers” who are doing it to us.
But perhaps it allows us to continue the painful task of looking at what’s really happening here, and, in the words of the artist Barbara Kruger, “the ridiculous clusterfuck of totally uncool jokers” who are doing it to us.
The power of mocking Trump’s pathetic monsters
It's impossible to ignore the administration's blend of violent repression and overwhelming cringe.
www.motherjones.com
February 3, 2026 at 5:21 PM
Humor alone will not save us.
But perhaps it allows us to continue the painful task of looking at what’s really happening here, and, in the words of the artist Barbara Kruger, “the ridiculous clusterfuck of totally uncool jokers” who are doing it to us.
But perhaps it allows us to continue the painful task of looking at what’s really happening here, and, in the words of the artist Barbara Kruger, “the ridiculous clusterfuck of totally uncool jokers” who are doing it to us.
Reposted by Anna Merlan
NEW: Until recently, two Minneapolis women have heading out each day on a simple mission: to find and mock Border Patrol field leader Greg Bovino. I talked to one of them and wrote about the strengths and limits of mocking these dripless malevolent losers: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The power of mocking Trump’s pathetic monsters
It's impossible to ignore the administration's blend of violent repression and overwhelming cringe.
www.motherjones.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:54 PM
NEW: Until recently, two Minneapolis women have heading out each day on a simple mission: to find and mock Border Patrol field leader Greg Bovino. I talked to one of them and wrote about the strengths and limits of mocking these dripless malevolent losers: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Anna Merlan
"A powerful blend of menace, deadly incompetence, and total lack of drip." www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The power of mocking Trump’s pathetic monsters
It's impossible to ignore the administration's blend of violent repression and overwhelming cringe.
www.motherjones.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:20 PM
"A powerful blend of menace, deadly incompetence, and total lack of drip." www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Anna Merlan
It’s impossible to ignore the administration’s blend of violent repression and overwhelming cringe.
The power of mocking Trump’s pathetic monsters
It's impossible to ignore the administration's blend of violent repression and overwhelming cringe.
www.motherjones.com
February 3, 2026 at 4:33 AM
It’s impossible to ignore the administration’s blend of violent repression and overwhelming cringe.
Reposted by Anna Merlan
perfect description provided by barbara kruger, and brought to my attention in this excellent piece by @annamerlan.bsky.social
The power of mocking Trump’s pathetic monsters
It's impossible to ignore the administration's blend of violent repression and overwhelming cringe.
www.motherjones.com
February 3, 2026 at 2:23 AM
perfect description provided by barbara kruger, and brought to my attention in this excellent piece by @annamerlan.bsky.social
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Jokes about Trump, Bovino, ICE, and all the rest of them are a way of insisting upon observable reality: what’s taking place is shocking, reprehensible—and also powerfully wack.
The power of mocking Trump’s pathetic monsters
It's impossible to ignore the administration's blend of violent repression and overwhelming cringe.
www.motherjones.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Jokes about Trump, Bovino, ICE, and all the rest of them are a way of insisting upon observable reality: what’s taking place is shocking, reprehensible—and also powerfully wack.
Reposted by Anna Merlan
"Humor alone will not save us. But perhaps it allows us to continue the painful task of looking at what’s really happening here, and, in the words of the artist Barbara Kruger, “the ridiculous clusterfuck of totally uncool jokers” who are doing it to us." www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The power of mocking Trump’s pathetic monsters
It's impossible to ignore the administration's blend of violent repression and overwhelming cringe.
www.motherjones.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:57 PM
"Humor alone will not save us. But perhaps it allows us to continue the painful task of looking at what’s really happening here, and, in the words of the artist Barbara Kruger, “the ridiculous clusterfuck of totally uncool jokers” who are doing it to us." www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
NEW: Until recently, two Minneapolis women have heading out each day on a simple mission: to find and mock Border Patrol field leader Greg Bovino. I talked to one of them and wrote about the strengths and limits of mocking these dripless malevolent losers: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The power of mocking Trump’s pathetic monsters
It's impossible to ignore the administration's blend of violent repression and overwhelming cringe.
www.motherjones.com
February 2, 2026 at 9:54 PM
NEW: Until recently, two Minneapolis women have heading out each day on a simple mission: to find and mock Border Patrol field leader Greg Bovino. I talked to one of them and wrote about the strengths and limits of mocking these dripless malevolent losers: www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Horrifying. ICE confirms measles outbreak at Dilley family detention center. www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-dil...
ICE halts "all movement" at Texas detention facility due to measles infections
The measles cases at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center were detected Friday, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
February 2, 2026 at 3:42 AM
Horrifying. ICE confirms measles outbreak at Dilley family detention center. www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-dil...
In honor of @flaminghydra.com turning two, you can now read, for FREE: @todseelie.bsky.social on Tony Hawk’s absurdly cool office parties and me on the Titanic Experience gift shop, among other cool fun blogs: flaminghydra.com/issue-492/
And now we are two
Celebrating Flaming Hydra’s second birthday
flaminghydra.com
February 2, 2026 at 2:42 AM
In honor of @flaminghydra.com turning two, you can now read, for FREE: @todseelie.bsky.social on Tony Hawk’s absurdly cool office parties and me on the Titanic Experience gift shop, among other cool fun blogs: flaminghydra.com/issue-492/
🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃
Among the batch of newly released emails from Jeffrey Epstein: Epstein telling Peter Thiel he would “gladly share…expenses for the Gawker suit.”
This was sent the day after @rmac.bsky.social and @mattdrange.bsky.social reported in Forbes that Thiel was behind the lawsuit that would bankrupt Gawker
This was sent the day after @rmac.bsky.social and @mattdrange.bsky.social reported in Forbes that Thiel was behind the lawsuit that would bankrupt Gawker
January 31, 2026 at 9:01 PM
🙃🙃🙃🙃🙃
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
![Philadelphia, September 17, 1787: "Well, Dr. Franklin, what do we have?" "A republic, if you
can keep it."
With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike,
It is so ORDERED.
SIGNED this 31st day of February, 2026.
_________________________________________________
FRED BIERY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
[photo of Liam]
Credit: Bystander
Matthew 19:14
John 11:35](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:73t3muu2pudsajp7a2fj3aly/bafkreigfz6fzbu65haq7nfqgaoe7m42gsaonpinpmaaptuzd5atkqvya4i@jpeg)
January 31, 2026 at 8:38 PM
Judge Biery signed the order with a photo of Liam and two bible verses: The first is "But Jesus said, Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven." The second is simply "Jesus wept."
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Astonishing thing for a judge to do.
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Kennedy has stacked another HHS panel with his fellow travelers in the anti-vaccine and pseudoscience world.
Many of the 21 new members have previously worked in some capacity with Children’s Health Defense, the anti-vaccine advocacy group that Kennedy founded.
Many of the 21 new members have previously worked in some capacity with Children’s Health Defense, the anti-vaccine advocacy group that Kennedy founded.
RFK’s overhauled autism committee is even worse than it looks
Kennedy has stacked another HHS panel with his fellow travelers in the anti-vaccine and pseudoscience world.
www.motherjones.com
January 31, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Kennedy has stacked another HHS panel with his fellow travelers in the anti-vaccine and pseudoscience world.
Many of the 21 new members have previously worked in some capacity with Children’s Health Defense, the anti-vaccine advocacy group that Kennedy founded.
Many of the 21 new members have previously worked in some capacity with Children’s Health Defense, the anti-vaccine advocacy group that Kennedy founded.
Is it good when a judge has to say this to the government, or
BREAKING: Federal judge orders Adrian Conejo Arias and his minor son, L.C.R., released.
"The Great Writ and release from detention are GRANTED."
"Civics lesson to the government: Administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not pass probable cause muster."
"The Great Writ and release from detention are GRANTED."
"Civics lesson to the government: Administrative warrants issued by the executive branch to itself do not pass probable cause muster."
![Ultimately, Petitioners may, because of the arcane United States immigration system, return to
their home country, involuntarily or by self-deportation. But that result should occur through a more
orderly and humane policy than currently in place.
Philadelphia, September 17, 1787: "Well, Dr. Franklin, what do we have?" "A republic, if you
can keep it."
With a judicial finger in the constitutional dike,
It is so ORDERED.
SIGNED this 31st day of February [sic], 2026.
Fred Biery
FRED BIERY
UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE
Credit: Bystander
Matthew 19:14
John 11:35](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreiak3ebffxgjk622vrkrsj2zbsqdvs63ap6mz7sm3xinrcofrpxky4@jpeg)
January 31, 2026 at 8:48 PM
Is it good when a judge has to say this to the government, or
This guy? No WAY www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/u...
Bovino Is Said to Have Mocked Prosecutor’s Jewish Faith on Call With Lawyers
www.nytimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 5:11 PM
This guy? No WAY www.nytimes.com/2026/01/31/u...
Reposted by Anna Merlan
X is hiring a creative writing specialist at $40 an hour to make Grok better at writing and a true LOL at the qualifications
January 30, 2026 at 8:14 PM
X is hiring a creative writing specialist at $40 an hour to make Grok better at writing and a true LOL at the qualifications
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Mark McAfee owns America’s largest raw milk dairy. He thought he’d be advising the Trump administration.
What happened?
What happened?
RFK Jr. was raw milk’s biggest fan. Now he won’t return industry calls.
Mark McAfee owns America's largest raw milk dairy. He thought he’d be advising the Trump administration. What happened?
www.motherjones.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Mark McAfee owns America’s largest raw milk dairy. He thought he’d be advising the Trump administration.
What happened?
What happened?
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Kennedy has stacked another HHS panel with his fellow travelers in the anti-vaccine and pseudoscience world.
RFK’s overhauled autism committee is even worse than it looks
Kennedy has stacked another HHS panel with his fellow travelers in the anti-vaccine and pseudoscience world.
www.motherjones.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:06 PM
Kennedy has stacked another HHS panel with his fellow travelers in the anti-vaccine and pseudoscience world.
Reposted by Anna Merlan
With @annamerlan.bsky.social I wrote about RFK Jr.'s new autism committee, which includes, among others, a person who writes about “the removal of religious exemptions to vaccine mandates” and what this “means for the Body of Christ.” www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
RFK’s overhauled autism committee is even worse than it looks
Kennedy has stacked another HHS panel with his fellow travelers in the anti-vaccine and pseudoscience world.
www.motherjones.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:06 PM
With @annamerlan.bsky.social I wrote about RFK Jr.'s new autism committee, which includes, among others, a person who writes about “the removal of religious exemptions to vaccine mandates” and what this “means for the Body of Christ.” www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Me and @kieraevebutler.bsky.social have even MORE good news and it concerns exotic varieties of pseudoscience you may not have even known exist www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
RFK’s overhauled autism committee is even worse than it looks
Kennedy has stacked another HHS panel with his fellow travelers in the anti-vaccine and pseudoscience world.
www.motherjones.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:03 PM
Me and @kieraevebutler.bsky.social have even MORE good news and it concerns exotic varieties of pseudoscience you may not have even known exist www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Anna Merlan
Lol, basically the quack raw milk producer hates the Trump immigration crackdown and the newly aggressive US imperialism. People really do contain multitudes.
NEW: RFK Jr. promised to stop "suppressing" raw milk and possible changes to federal raw milk policy. That hasn't happened. In the meantime, the CEO of the biggest raw milk producer in the U.S. has become disturbed by a lot of what the Trump admin is doing. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
RFK Jr. was raw milk’s biggest fan. Now he won’t return industry calls.
Mark McAfee owns America's largest raw milk dairy. He thought he’d be advising the Trump administration. What happened?
www.motherjones.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Lol, basically the quack raw milk producer hates the Trump immigration crackdown and the newly aggressive US imperialism. People really do contain multitudes.
NEW: RFK Jr. promised to stop "suppressing" raw milk and possible changes to federal raw milk policy. That hasn't happened. In the meantime, the CEO of the biggest raw milk producer in the U.S. has become disturbed by a lot of what the Trump admin is doing. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
RFK Jr. was raw milk’s biggest fan. Now he won’t return industry calls.
Mark McAfee owns America's largest raw milk dairy. He thought he’d be advising the Trump administration. What happened?
www.motherjones.com
January 30, 2026 at 3:33 PM
NEW: RFK Jr. promised to stop "suppressing" raw milk and possible changes to federal raw milk policy. That hasn't happened. In the meantime, the CEO of the biggest raw milk producer in the U.S. has become disturbed by a lot of what the Trump admin is doing. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...