Patrick
@atomicpopwi.bsky.social
Lover of words, science, & trivia. Intolerant of intolerance. Random acts of kindness do make a difference. Fantasy baseball champion (yes, it's dorky) and often praised for my grilled cheese skills.
Expect a special "Sony Tariff" in response to this
SONY CFO: SONY SEES SIGNS OF US ECONOMY SLOWDOWN, INFLATION
November 11, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Expect a special "Sony Tariff" in response to this
Reposted by Patrick
For anyone who was sleeping, major political news last night: a judge chose a new map for Utah that will deliver a seat to Democrats.
Major point in Dems’ favor that effectively neuters the GOP’s move in Missouri, much like California countered Texas.
Major point in Dems’ favor that effectively neuters the GOP’s move in Missouri, much like California countered Texas.
Just now: The plaintiffs who were arguing that Utah GOP's congressional map is illegal won in court.
The judge orders one of the two maps submitted by the plaintiffs ('map 1') be used.
The ruling, if it stands, guarantees that Democrats will pick up a congressional seat in Utah next year.
The judge orders one of the two maps submitted by the plaintiffs ('map 1') be used.
The ruling, if it stands, guarantees that Democrats will pick up a congressional seat in Utah next year.
November 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
For anyone who was sleeping, major political news last night: a judge chose a new map for Utah that will deliver a seat to Democrats.
Major point in Dems’ favor that effectively neuters the GOP’s move in Missouri, much like California countered Texas.
Major point in Dems’ favor that effectively neuters the GOP’s move in Missouri, much like California countered Texas.
Reposted by Patrick
“So it was, on that misty morning, that Brenda set off for the capital. She knew not what she would find there, only that the time had come to move on - away from small-minded rural attitudes and people who called her ‘Oreo’ and ‘the wide panda’ - to seek a more fulfilling life.”
November 11, 2025 at 9:36 AM
“So it was, on that misty morning, that Brenda set off for the capital. She knew not what she would find there, only that the time had come to move on - away from small-minded rural attitudes and people who called her ‘Oreo’ and ‘the wide panda’ - to seek a more fulfilling life.”
The view from outside the US
Donald Trump has been branded "tacky" as he showed off his "real gold" during an appearance on Fox News.
Fox News fans slam Trump as he brags about his 'real gold' as Americans struggle
www.irishstar.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:18 PM
The view from outside the US
Reposted by Patrick
Trump: "Nobody knows what magnets are."
November 10, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Trump: "Nobody knows what magnets are."
Reposted by Patrick
EXCLUSIVE: My @bylinetimes.bsky.social investigation reveals: 'memo' which sparked President Donald Trump to threaten a $1bn lawsuit against BBC was written by lobbyist at firm paid by pro-Trump tech giants and Trump donors bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b...
'BBC Bias' Memo Was Authored by Lobbyist Tied to Pro-Trump Tech Giants
The leaked memo that fuelled Trump’s attack on the BBC was written by a lobbyist at a firm paid by US tech giants tied to the President
bylinetimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:24 PM
EXCLUSIVE: My @bylinetimes.bsky.social investigation reveals: 'memo' which sparked President Donald Trump to threaten a $1bn lawsuit against BBC was written by lobbyist at firm paid by pro-Trump tech giants and Trump donors bylinetimes.com/2025/11/11/b...
Excerpt from a funeral poem: "Not, how did he die, but how did he live?
Not, what did he gain, but what did he give
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man regardless of birth.
Not what was his church, not what was his creed,
But had he befriended those really in need?"
Not, what did he gain, but what did he give
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man regardless of birth.
Not what was his church, not what was his creed,
But had he befriended those really in need?"
Ahead of Veterans Day, I was honored to welcome a flight of veterans and their families as they arrived in DC.
November 11, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Excerpt from a funeral poem: "Not, how did he die, but how did he live?
Not, what did he gain, but what did he give
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man regardless of birth.
Not what was his church, not what was his creed,
But had he befriended those really in need?"
Not, what did he gain, but what did he give
These are the units to measure the worth
Of a man as a man regardless of birth.
Not what was his church, not what was his creed,
But had he befriended those really in need?"
Reposted by Patrick
NEW: Dems easily flipped the sheriff's office in Pennsylvania's Bucks County, a big swing county in the Philly suburbs.
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
Voters Ousted This Pennsylvania Sheriff After He Signed Up to Collaborate With ICE - Bolts
A populous, swing county replaced its GOP sheriff on Tuesday after months of controversy over his joining ICE’s 287(g) program. The Democratic winner promises he’ll end the contract.
boltsmag.org
November 10, 2025 at 7:12 PM
NEW: Dems easily flipped the sheriff's office in Pennsylvania's Bucks County, a big swing county in the Philly suburbs.
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
So? The incumbent GOP sheriff had contracted with ICE. His Dem challenger promised to end the contract.
Now he wants other swing-state Dems to look at his victory as a lesson:
Reposted by Patrick
As with every single Trump initiative they’re lying about the motivation. They’re not trying to starve insurers, they’re trying to kick millions off coverage. It’d be a catastrophe for everyone, covered or not.
Dismantling ACA isn’t about punishing insurance cos. The subsidies Dems were haggling for are tax credits. That’s our money. Not theirs. They’re talking about health savings as pre-tax dollars like your 401k. This is deregulation. Letting insurance cos resume denying coverage and selling junk plans.
November 11, 2025 at 4:39 AM
As with every single Trump initiative they’re lying about the motivation. They’re not trying to starve insurers, they’re trying to kick millions off coverage. It’d be a catastrophe for everyone, covered or not.
Reposted by Patrick
Yo, @support.bsky.team, bring back @sarahkendzior.bsky.social.
November 11, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Yo, @support.bsky.team, bring back @sarahkendzior.bsky.social.
Reposted by Patrick
She doesn't know why. I'm getting pretty tired of bluesky moderation without explanation.
November 11, 2025 at 5:09 AM
This time it's different 😬
U.S. Households now have 52% of their financial assets allocated to equities, the highest level in history, even surpassing the peak of the Dot Com Bubble 🚨🚨
November 11, 2025 at 7:45 AM
This time it's different 😬
Reposted by Patrick
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
Wordle #1606
@drawstickpeople.bsky.social @evilplasticfork.bsky.social @killersumobunny.medsky.social @susanruddick1.bsky.social @lsmchandler.bsky.social @paulajwilson.bsky.social @lostinnorway612.bsky.social
@ffmichelle.bsky.social
@icu-cna.bsky.social
@hilaryg.bsky.social
@jmdc88.bsky.social
@drawstickpeople.bsky.social @evilplasticfork.bsky.social @killersumobunny.medsky.social @susanruddick1.bsky.social @lsmchandler.bsky.social @paulajwilson.bsky.social @lostinnorway612.bsky.social
@ffmichelle.bsky.social
@icu-cna.bsky.social
@hilaryg.bsky.social
@jmdc88.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 7:11 AM
Reposted by Patrick
they reopened the government for a promise to do this over again in a month
UPDATE: The Senate votes 53-47 to shoot down the Baldwin amendment to extend ACA funds for 1 year. A party-line vote with every Republican rejecting it.
An important vote in this series: Tammy Baldwin’s proposal to extend ACA expiring funds for 1 year. It’s structured as a motion to table (i.e. scrap it from the amendment tree). But it’ll show the appetite (or lack thereof) in the Senate to address this issue.
November 11, 2025 at 1:00 AM
they reopened the government for a promise to do this over again in a month
Reposted by Patrick
This hidden provision is so crooked and selfish, it doesn't even apply to US Representatives. Just US Senators.
Look at this new outrage. To open govt, we're retroactively letting 8 Senators sue for $500K each over having had their J6 phone toll records looked at. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
www.nytimes.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
This hidden provision is so crooked and selfish, it doesn't even apply to US Representatives. Just US Senators.
Reposted by Patrick
THIS is the person beating Senate Democrats.
INGRAHAM: Is a 50 year mortgage really a good idea?
TRUMP: It's not even a big deal. You go from 40 to 50 years. All it means is you pay less per month
TRUMP: It's not even a big deal. You go from 40 to 50 years. All it means is you pay less per month
November 11, 2025 at 1:29 AM
THIS is the person beating Senate Democrats.
Reposted by Patrick
I'm a healthcare lawyer and this is insane.
Trump: "I want the money to go into an account for people where they buy their own health insurance. It's so good. The insurance will be better. It'll cost less. Everybody is gonna be happy. They're gonna feel like entrepreneurs. They're actually able to go out & negotiate their own insurance"
November 11, 2025 at 1:33 AM
I'm a healthcare lawyer and this is insane.
Those free-enterprise Republicans sure seem not so interested in free enterprise
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION BARS GROCERY STORES FROM OFFERING DISCOUNTS TO SNAP RECIPIENTS
November 11, 2025 at 1:26 AM
Those free-enterprise Republicans sure seem not so interested in free enterprise
Reposted by Patrick
This Chinese fishing boat, sailing illegally inside Japan's water, deliberately hit a Japanese Coast Guard vessel, when asked to leave.
No ordinary fishing boat would mess with Coast Guards of other countries inside foreign waters.
No ordinary fishing boat would mess with Coast Guards of other countries inside foreign waters.
November 10, 2025 at 5:16 PM
This Chinese fishing boat, sailing illegally inside Japan's water, deliberately hit a Japanese Coast Guard vessel, when asked to leave.
No ordinary fishing boat would mess with Coast Guards of other countries inside foreign waters.
No ordinary fishing boat would mess with Coast Guards of other countries inside foreign waters.
Reposted by Patrick
I wrote about how I'm seeing America after my long trip around Europe for my newsletter
madness.ghost.io/an-isolated-...
madness.ghost.io/an-isolated-...
An isolated nightmare
An international perspective on what's happening in the United States.
madness.ghost.io
November 10, 2025 at 6:26 PM
I wrote about how I'm seeing America after my long trip around Europe for my newsletter
madness.ghost.io/an-isolated-...
madness.ghost.io/an-isolated-...
So good
November 10, 2025 at 7:57 PM
So good
Reposted by Patrick
"I have been on two humanitarian-esque missions with the guard, which were awesome, doing the things you see on the commercial, helping these communities," says J. "And then you want me to go pick up trash and dissuade homeless people in D.C. at gunpoint. Like, no dude.“
In an encrypted group chat, National Guard members question Trump deployments
As President Trump's call for National Guard deployments rings out across the U.S., a small contingent of Ohio guard members is quietly expressing concern in an encrypted group chat.
www.npr.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
"I have been on two humanitarian-esque missions with the guard, which were awesome, doing the things you see on the commercial, helping these communities," says J. "And then you want me to go pick up trash and dissuade homeless people in D.C. at gunpoint. Like, no dude.“
Reposted by Patrick
This town has officially decided to fight against the construction of an AI data center that would service a nuclear weapons laboratory 1,500 miles away.
Amber Fellows, a Ypsilanti Township councilmember, tells us why:
Story by @mjgault.bsky.social: www.404media.co/a-small-town...
Amber Fellows, a Ypsilanti Township councilmember, tells us why:
Story by @mjgault.bsky.social: www.404media.co/a-small-town...
November 10, 2025 at 5:25 PM
This town has officially decided to fight against the construction of an AI data center that would service a nuclear weapons laboratory 1,500 miles away.
Amber Fellows, a Ypsilanti Township councilmember, tells us why:
Story by @mjgault.bsky.social: www.404media.co/a-small-town...
Amber Fellows, a Ypsilanti Township councilmember, tells us why:
Story by @mjgault.bsky.social: www.404media.co/a-small-town...
Reposted by Patrick
THEY PEPPER SPRAYED A BABY
THEY PEPPER SPRAYED A BABY
Please read this entire excellent piece by Caroline, which points out that a judge ordered the Feds (again) to stop doing **this exact kind of thing** and they are still continuing to do it all over Chicago
THEY PEPPER SPRAYED A BABY
Please read this entire excellent piece by Caroline, which points out that a judge ordered the Feds (again) to stop doing **this exact kind of thing** and they are still continuing to do it all over Chicago
Arianna Sofia Veraza and her parents were driving to Sam's Club for milk, eggs and diapers yesterday when they heard helicopters and horns blaring yesterday. They had turned around to leave when a federal agent pepper-sprayed them through a car window.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/09/c...
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/11/09/c...
Pepper-sprayed Berwyn family rattled after getting caught up in federal blitz
Southwest Side politicians condemned Saturday’s pepper spraying and the federal sweep of Little Village as “state-sponsored terrorism” at a news conference Sunday.
www.chicagotribune.com
November 9, 2025 at 11:56 PM
THEY PEPPER SPRAYED A BABY
THEY PEPPER SPRAYED A BABY
Please read this entire excellent piece by Caroline, which points out that a judge ordered the Feds (again) to stop doing **this exact kind of thing** and they are still continuing to do it all over Chicago
THEY PEPPER SPRAYED A BABY
Please read this entire excellent piece by Caroline, which points out that a judge ordered the Feds (again) to stop doing **this exact kind of thing** and they are still continuing to do it all over Chicago