Barbara Banfield
@barbbanfieldrn.bsky.social
RN, farmerette, astrologer, violin/fiddle player, gay-married, anti-fascist, pro-democracy. Whidbey Island WA
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
"It is time to acknowledge what has become tragically obvious: the Trump administration is essentially acting as a massive criminal enterprise. It lies, steals, extorts and murders — all while cloaked in the awesome authority of the state. It is on a crime spree that puts Al Capone to shame."
The most powerful crime syndicate in history
It is time to acknowledge what has become tragically obvious: the Trump administration is essentially acting as a massive criminal enterprise. It lies, steals, extorts and murders — all while cloak…
www.nydailynews.com
February 19, 2026 at 3:08 AM
"It is time to acknowledge what has become tragically obvious: the Trump administration is essentially acting as a massive criminal enterprise. It lies, steals, extorts and murders — all while cloaked in the awesome authority of the state. It is on a crime spree that puts Al Capone to shame."
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
Discovering I was trans was the greatest blessing of my life. A simple explanation for a sense of wrongness I'd felt so long I thought that wrongness was me.
I credit the trans community for bringing society to the point where I could understand what was wrong and get help.
I credit the trans community for bringing society to the point where I could understand what was wrong and get help.
The calls for trans people to be quieter as we're wiped out are only going to increase, and you owe it to your sisters and brothers to get louder and louder.
February 19, 2026 at 3:09 AM
Discovering I was trans was the greatest blessing of my life. A simple explanation for a sense of wrongness I'd felt so long I thought that wrongness was me.
I credit the trans community for bringing society to the point where I could understand what was wrong and get help.
I credit the trans community for bringing society to the point where I could understand what was wrong and get help.
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
There is zero public appetite for a damn war with Iran that hasn’t even remotely been argued or justified in the public sphere. Any Republican facing a midterm election better throw a shiny object in front of Trump. A war when people are already unhappy at home would be electoral suicide.
February 19, 2026 at 3:16 AM
There is zero public appetite for a damn war with Iran that hasn’t even remotely been argued or justified in the public sphere. Any Republican facing a midterm election better throw a shiny object in front of Trump. A war when people are already unhappy at home would be electoral suicide.
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve watched this.
This local Wolfdog joined an Olympic ski event and triggered the finish-line camera. This is Nazgul. He snuck into a cross-country skiing sprint this morning and raced the homestretch with some competitors before being escorted home. 14/10 someone get him a medal
February 19, 2026 at 2:50 AM
I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve watched this.
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
that's right wall st journal
February 19, 2026 at 2:16 AM
that's right wall st journal
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
The Lake Street Council's cash mobs are bringing hundreds of people to struggling restaurants each week. racketmn.com/lake-street-...
ICE Cost Lake Street Businesses at Least $46M. These Weekly Cash Mobs Help Them Claw Back Profit. - Racket
The Lake Street Council's cash mobs are bringing hundreds of people to struggling restaurants each week.
racketmn.com
February 19, 2026 at 3:00 AM
The Lake Street Council's cash mobs are bringing hundreds of people to struggling restaurants each week. racketmn.com/lake-street-...
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
here is a thread you should read right now
So Bree hinted at this story a few days ago, but I want to circle back now that I have permission to share it.
WHISTLES OUT: A WHISTLE CREW MYSTERY
WHISTLES OUT: A WHISTLE CREW MYSTERY
and the lady in our inbox who caused us to go into a Whistles Out: a Benoit Blanc Mystery spiral for half the day because she had rallied so many people to request whistles to the same town that we thought it was a scam, but no she just convinced like 700 people to mobilize and we love her so much
February 19, 2026 at 3:01 AM
here is a thread you should read right now
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
Sick and dying, IMHO 😡
February 19, 2026 at 3:01 AM
Sick and dying, IMHO 😡
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
The grandson of the inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups is calling out Hershey for "quietly replacing" the candy's chocolate and peanut butter ingredients
Grandson of Reese's Peanut Butter Cup inventor accuses Hershey of "quietly replacing" ingredients
Brad Reese claims Hershey is cutting costs by relying on cheaper ingredients, risking the Reese's brand.
www.cbsnews.com
February 19, 2026 at 1:38 AM
The grandson of the inventor of Reese's Peanut Butter Cups is calling out Hershey for "quietly replacing" the candy's chocolate and peanut butter ingredients
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
State guardrails are the last hope we have stopping these fuckers. That's why they're pushing back in places that are putting regulation on AI. Illinois and Texas have new leg regarding privacy, consumer protection and hiring practices involving AI.
NEWS:
Meta is about to start a $65 million midterms push — its biggest political effort in its 20 years in business.
Meta is standing up two super PACs that this week will drop money in races in Texas and Illinois to push A.I.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/t...
Meta is about to start a $65 million midterms push — its biggest political effort in its 20 years in business.
Meta is standing up two super PACs that this week will drop money in races in Texas and Illinois to push A.I.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/t...
Meta Begins $65 Million Election Push to Advance A.I. Agenda
www.nytimes.com
February 19, 2026 at 3:04 AM
State guardrails are the last hope we have stopping these fuckers. That's why they're pushing back in places that are putting regulation on AI. Illinois and Texas have new leg regarding privacy, consumer protection and hiring practices involving AI.
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
Sorry to get radical but I don’t think it’s my job or yours to embrace, accept, understand - and certainly not to use - the thing being sold to us as AI. I don’t like any part of it, so I won’t. I’m missing out? Good, that’s what I want. You’re worried about me missing out? That’s fuckin weird, man.
February 18, 2026 at 5:13 AM
Sorry to get radical but I don’t think it’s my job or yours to embrace, accept, understand - and certainly not to use - the thing being sold to us as AI. I don’t like any part of it, so I won’t. I’m missing out? Good, that’s what I want. You’re worried about me missing out? That’s fuckin weird, man.
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
even barely competent, if sincere, institutional opposition to this nazi shit would instantly crumble and destroy it.
the fascist project is succeeding because the democratic party wants it to succeed. Because they are playing their role in making sure that it does.
the fascist project is succeeding because the democratic party wants it to succeed. Because they are playing their role in making sure that it does.
February 19, 2026 at 12:25 AM
even barely competent, if sincere, institutional opposition to this nazi shit would instantly crumble and destroy it.
the fascist project is succeeding because the democratic party wants it to succeed. Because they are playing their role in making sure that it does.
the fascist project is succeeding because the democratic party wants it to succeed. Because they are playing their role in making sure that it does.
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
jfc.
Breaking MS NOW:
DHS has launched a nationwide campaign to investigate and prosecute naturalized citizens who may have improperly voted in past elections — an effort spurring deep concern that the admin's true goal is to intimidate voters from participating in future elections.
DHS has launched a nationwide campaign to investigate and prosecute naturalized citizens who may have improperly voted in past elections — an effort spurring deep concern that the admin's true goal is to intimidate voters from participating in future elections.
Memo shows White House directing DHS to hunt for voter fraud by naturalized citizens
Agents will be required to turn over names of immigrants who voted before they became citizens — and then explain to the White House why they weren’t charged with a crime.
www.ms.now
February 19, 2026 at 12:00 AM
jfc.
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
Trump's war on Iran is illegal and immoral
From June and still true.
From June and still true.
February 19, 2026 at 12:02 AM
Trump's war on Iran is illegal and immoral
From June and still true.
From June and still true.
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
“None of the deportees are Cameroonian citizens. And almost all had received protection from American courts, which banned the government from sending them back to their home countries, where they would most likely face persecution, according to government documents obtained by The Times…”
"An Associated Press reporter was beaten by the police and detained along with three other journalists on Tuesday in Cameroon while reporting on a secretive Trump administration program to deport migrants to the Central African country, according to two of the people detained." (gift link)
Journalists Arrested in Cameroon While Reporting on Trump’s Secretive Deportation Program
www.nytimes.com
February 19, 2026 at 12:02 AM
“None of the deportees are Cameroonian citizens. And almost all had received protection from American courts, which banned the government from sending them back to their home countries, where they would most likely face persecution, according to government documents obtained by The Times…”
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
The judge should sanction the DHS and DOD for ordering JAGs, which literally have no experience doing this, into this position.
1. DHS surges 3,000 officers to Minneapolis without doing anywhere near enough prep first.
2. Hundreds of habeas cases overwhelm local courts.
3. Dozens of DOJ lawyers quit in disgust/anger.
4. The DOJ brings in JAGs to cover.
5. A JAG was just held in contempt and fined $500/day for ICE's failures.
2. Hundreds of habeas cases overwhelm local courts.
3. Dozens of DOJ lawyers quit in disgust/anger.
4. The DOJ brings in JAGs to cover.
5. A JAG was just held in contempt and fined $500/day for ICE's failures.
February 19, 2026 at 12:03 AM
The judge should sanction the DHS and DOD for ordering JAGs, which literally have no experience doing this, into this position.
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
Eastern Washington farmworkers fight their own legislators to win labor rights withheld for nearly a century
www.inlander.com/news/eastern...
www.inlander.com/news/eastern...
Eastern Washington farmworkers fight their own legislators to win labor rights withheld for nearly a century
For nearly a century, Washington’s farmworkers have been denied the basic labor rights afforded to nearly all other private sector workers. The results have been poor wages, dangerous working conditio...
www.inlander.com
February 19, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Eastern Washington farmworkers fight their own legislators to win labor rights withheld for nearly a century
www.inlander.com/news/eastern...
www.inlander.com/news/eastern...
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
Things you love to see #6245:
JUST IN: Judge Provinzino in Minnesota has held a Justice Department attorney in civil contempt for violations of her order requiring the return of a released ICE detainee’s ID documents. He must pay $500 a day until the documents are returned.
February 19, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Things you love to see #6245:
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
"An Associated Press reporter was beaten by the police and detained along with three other journalists on Tuesday in Cameroon while reporting on a secretive Trump administration program to deport migrants to the Central African country, according to two of the people detained." (gift link)
Journalists Arrested in Cameroon While Reporting on Trump’s Secretive Deportation Program
www.nytimes.com
February 18, 2026 at 11:10 PM
"An Associated Press reporter was beaten by the police and detained along with three other journalists on Tuesday in Cameroon while reporting on a secretive Trump administration program to deport migrants to the Central African country, according to two of the people detained." (gift link)
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
This is why "Let's give in on some of the trans stuff because it'd be a popular compromise and you have to meet people where they are" is not only immoral but politically stupid.
Republicans were never going to stop there. They stop when you stop them.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
Republicans were never going to stop there. They stop when you stop them.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
With New Momentum, Republican States Push Broader Limits for Trans Americans
www.nytimes.com
February 19, 2026 at 12:11 AM
This is why "Let's give in on some of the trans stuff because it'd be a popular compromise and you have to meet people where they are" is not only immoral but politically stupid.
Republicans were never going to stop there. They stop when you stop them.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
Republicans were never going to stop there. They stop when you stop them.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/18/u...
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
One way in which elected democrats could respond to the public is to use their platforms to refer to the right as garbage people not aligned with American values. We would prefer this over the constant “colleague” and “friends across the aisle” shit.
February 18, 2026 at 8:57 PM
One way in which elected democrats could respond to the public is to use their platforms to refer to the right as garbage people not aligned with American values. We would prefer this over the constant “colleague” and “friends across the aisle” shit.
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
This is a very well written description of the mostly unexamined drive I feel to make and share my art. The more anti-culture gets pushed at me the more compelled I feel to make my own
February 18, 2026 at 8:57 PM
This is a very well written description of the mostly unexamined drive I feel to make and share my art. The more anti-culture gets pushed at me the more compelled I feel to make my own
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
PEDOPHILE RAPIST IS FORCING HIMSELF ON US
Trump: "Frankly, if these radical left lunatic Democrats would come and say, 'Please, help us, please,' we'd stop crimes all over the place. Sometimes we have to force ourselves upon them because they're so bad."
February 18, 2026 at 8:58 PM
PEDOPHILE RAPIST IS FORCING HIMSELF ON US
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
one thing that i find interesting about this is that established artists — like, people who are objectively good at it — all seem to stop producing interesting work once they turn right wing
The decline of right wing cultural production is just due to the fact that they don’t like culture, they like the signifiers of culture, ie “classic sculpture means white people are better.” They don’t like art at all except for this purpose. They don’t even like the nerd stuff they whine about
February 18, 2026 at 8:58 PM
one thing that i find interesting about this is that established artists — like, people who are objectively good at it — all seem to stop producing interesting work once they turn right wing
Reposted by Barbara Banfield
A must read about how North Carolina Republicans targeted college students and how they are fighting back. You will be glad you read it. www.democracydocket.com/analysis/nor...
Amid new GOP-led restrictions, North Carolina students lead a fight to vote during the midterm primary
“There’s nothing that the board of elections is going to do to stop me from voting,” one student said.
www.democracydocket.com
February 18, 2026 at 8:58 PM
A must read about how North Carolina Republicans targeted college students and how they are fighting back. You will be glad you read it. www.democracydocket.com/analysis/nor...