betsy gaines quammen
@betsygainesquammen.bsky.social
Montana historian, writer, dog mom, dyslexic. Fighting the bad guys. I track extremists and also research ghost stories. Author of American Zion, True West, and Dead Reckoning, 2026.
Two years ago today, True West came out! It feels like a 100. If you want to understand how we got to where we are, give it a read. I look at the collision of militia, MAGA, MAHA, cowboy mythology, billionaires, & fractures in urban/rural communities. It’s about healing, & fighting the bad guys…
October 21, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Two years ago today, True West came out! It feels like a 100. If you want to understand how we got to where we are, give it a read. I look at the collision of militia, MAGA, MAHA, cowboy mythology, billionaires, & fractures in urban/rural communities. It’s about healing, & fighting the bad guys…
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
DC J6: 1.500 arrests
DC No Kings: zero
Tell me again which side is violent?
DC No Kings: zero
Tell me again which side is violent?
October 19, 2025 at 12:43 AM
DC J6: 1.500 arrests
DC No Kings: zero
Tell me again which side is violent?
DC No Kings: zero
Tell me again which side is violent?
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
NN: Dems say you won't swear in Grijalva bc you don't want her vote on Epstein
JOHNSON: No. It's scheduling
NN: But there have been Rs sworn in during pro forma sessions
MJ: Only reason was bc they flew in their family
NN: So if she flies in her family you'd do it?
MJ: Again, it's a distraction
JOHNSON: No. It's scheduling
NN: But there have been Rs sworn in during pro forma sessions
MJ: Only reason was bc they flew in their family
NN: So if she flies in her family you'd do it?
MJ: Again, it's a distraction
October 8, 2025 at 5:15 PM
NN: Dems say you won't swear in Grijalva bc you don't want her vote on Epstein
JOHNSON: No. It's scheduling
NN: But there have been Rs sworn in during pro forma sessions
MJ: Only reason was bc they flew in their family
NN: So if she flies in her family you'd do it?
MJ: Again, it's a distraction
JOHNSON: No. It's scheduling
NN: But there have been Rs sworn in during pro forma sessions
MJ: Only reason was bc they flew in their family
NN: So if she flies in her family you'd do it?
MJ: Again, it's a distraction
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
No notes, this is a perfectly reasonable summary
October 4, 2025 at 1:36 PM
No notes, this is a perfectly reasonable summary
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
Read this thread from a great Portland reporter! The New York Times running this story today is absolutely calculated. It has been positioning Portland for years as a progressive villain. Also: why send a reporter from the Bay when the NYT has at least two reporters who actually live in Portland.
This article has a lot more important problems so I feel stupid saying this…but umm…the Mercury wrote and published the first major article about the DSA councilors back in June. Of course it isn’t the local reporting linked or mentioned here.
What Happens When Socialists Are in Charge? Portland Offers a Glimpse.
www.nytimes.com
October 4, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Read this thread from a great Portland reporter! The New York Times running this story today is absolutely calculated. It has been positioning Portland for years as a progressive villain. Also: why send a reporter from the Bay when the NYT has at least two reporters who actually live in Portland.
I'll miss you Dr. Jane Goodall. An inspiration from the time I was a girl until I passed the mid-century mark. The world is dimmer with you gone.
October 2, 2025 at 12:33 AM
I'll miss you Dr. Jane Goodall. An inspiration from the time I was a girl until I passed the mid-century mark. The world is dimmer with you gone.
So excited to sit down with my brilliant pal, Leah! What a great book and a great person!!!!
Hey Montana friends, this is next week!
Bozeman - Mon 10/6 at the Country Bookshelf w/ @betsygainesquammen.bsky.social
Helena - Tues 10/7 at Montana Book Co. w/ @kemc.bsky.social
Missoula - Wed 10/8 at Fact & Fiction w/ Lee & Jule Banville
Hamilton - Thurs 10/9 at Chapter One w/ Russ Lawrence
Bozeman - Mon 10/6 at the Country Bookshelf w/ @betsygainesquammen.bsky.social
Helena - Tues 10/7 at Montana Book Co. w/ @kemc.bsky.social
Missoula - Wed 10/8 at Fact & Fiction w/ Lee & Jule Banville
Hamilton - Thurs 10/9 at Chapter One w/ Russ Lawrence
September 29, 2025 at 11:58 PM
So excited to sit down with my brilliant pal, Leah! What a great book and a great person!!!!
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
No one is covering the threats to democracy better than the 20-person team at Democracy Docket. No venture capital, no corporate overloads, no compromises. Just pro-democracy news, information and analysis.
Help support their efforts to hold power to account and keep you informed. hubs.ly/Q03jcjqP0
Help support their efforts to hold power to account and keep you informed. hubs.ly/Q03jcjqP0
September 8, 2025 at 1:59 AM
No one is covering the threats to democracy better than the 20-person team at Democracy Docket. No venture capital, no corporate overloads, no compromises. Just pro-democracy news, information and analysis.
Help support their efforts to hold power to account and keep you informed. hubs.ly/Q03jcjqP0
Help support their efforts to hold power to account and keep you informed. hubs.ly/Q03jcjqP0
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
Walmart spent $35.3B on stock buybacks from 2019 to 2024, enough to give each of its 2.2M employees annual bonuses of $2,719.
Last year, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon pocketed $27.4M — 930x the company's median employee pay of just $29,469.
Textbook corporate greed.
Last year, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon pocketed $27.4M — 930x the company's median employee pay of just $29,469.
Textbook corporate greed.
September 7, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Walmart spent $35.3B on stock buybacks from 2019 to 2024, enough to give each of its 2.2M employees annual bonuses of $2,719.
Last year, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon pocketed $27.4M — 930x the company's median employee pay of just $29,469.
Textbook corporate greed.
Last year, Walmart CEO Doug McMillon pocketed $27.4M — 930x the company's median employee pay of just $29,469.
Textbook corporate greed.
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
"The only way to save the lives of the remaining Palestinian civilians, as well as the hostages and captives held by Hamas militants, is an immediate ceasefire. Followed by unfettered access to massive amounts of aid." www.the-independent.com/news/world/m... Gaza Palestine Middle East
There are only two ways to stop Netanyahu destroying Gaza
The Israeli government has repeatedly said the release of all remaining hostages and disarmament of Hamas would end the war, but in reality, Netanyahu’s military objectives in Gaza City come first, so...
www.the-independent.com
September 6, 2025 at 3:11 PM
"The only way to save the lives of the remaining Palestinian civilians, as well as the hostages and captives held by Hamas militants, is an immediate ceasefire. Followed by unfettered access to massive amounts of aid." www.the-independent.com/news/world/m... Gaza Palestine Middle East
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
August 31, 2025
August 31, 2025
Almost one hundred and forty-three years ago, on September 5, 1882, workers in New York City celebrated the first Labor Day holiday with a parade.
heathercoxrichardson.substack.com
September 1, 2025 at 3:22 AM
August 31, 2025
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
there is no question in my mind that rfk jr is the most dangerous person in this administration and that his eugenicist ideology threatens the lives of millions of people www.advocate.com/politics/dem...
RFK Jr.’s damage to the CDC is ‘past the point of no return,’ Dr. Demetre Daskalakis warns
“The CDC you knew is over,” the infectious diseases doctor told The Advocate. “Unless someone takes radical action, there is nothing there that can be salvaged.”
www.advocate.com
August 29, 2025 at 8:53 PM
there is no question in my mind that rfk jr is the most dangerous person in this administration and that his eugenicist ideology threatens the lives of millions of people www.advocate.com/politics/dem...
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
If what we hope will happen ever happens, we'll watch as many, many people in the world of politics, overnight, go on to pretend they were always against what preceded it. This era has been a highly effective acid test for character. Take notes now, so that you don't forget in the future.
August 30, 2025 at 1:14 AM
If what we hope will happen ever happens, we'll watch as many, many people in the world of politics, overnight, go on to pretend they were always against what preceded it. This era has been a highly effective acid test for character. Take notes now, so that you don't forget in the future.
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
For decades gun-lovers argued they had to have guns because the 2nd Amendment says people need guns to fight tyrannical government (it doesn’t)
Then, when a tyrannical government shows up, they’re eager to shoot people protesting it
It was always a lie
Then, when a tyrannical government shows up, they’re eager to shoot people protesting it
It was always a lie
August 28, 2025 at 4:32 PM
For decades gun-lovers argued they had to have guns because the 2nd Amendment says people need guns to fight tyrannical government (it doesn’t)
Then, when a tyrannical government shows up, they’re eager to shoot people protesting it
It was always a lie
Then, when a tyrannical government shows up, they’re eager to shoot people protesting it
It was always a lie
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
"In 2025, less than 70 percent of Americans still believe that childhood vaccinations are “very important.” This year, the US saw its worst measles outbreak since the early 1990s"
The scale of damage to trust in public health in < 6months driven my RFK Jr is staggering.
www.vox.com/health/45922...
The scale of damage to trust in public health in < 6months driven my RFK Jr is staggering.
www.vox.com/health/45922...
America’s leading physician groups are now openly defying RFK Jr.
US vaccine consensus has officially shattered.
www.vox.com
August 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
"In 2025, less than 70 percent of Americans still believe that childhood vaccinations are “very important.” This year, the US saw its worst measles outbreak since the early 1990s"
The scale of damage to trust in public health in < 6months driven my RFK Jr is staggering.
www.vox.com/health/45922...
The scale of damage to trust in public health in < 6months driven my RFK Jr is staggering.
www.vox.com/health/45922...
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
No lies told here.
August 24, 2025 at 5:54 PM
No lies told here.
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
A federal judge ordered that Alligator Alcatraz must be shut down in 60 days.
Time to find out if the Supreme Court approves of concentration camps.
Time to find out if the Supreme Court approves of concentration camps.
Judge orders Alligator Alcatraz shut down in 60 days, says no more new detainees
A federal judge on Thursday barred the DeSantis and Trump administrations from bringing new detainees to Alligator Alcatraz and demanded the state close out operations at the immigration detention fac...
www.miamiherald.com
August 22, 2025 at 3:19 AM
A federal judge ordered that Alligator Alcatraz must be shut down in 60 days.
Time to find out if the Supreme Court approves of concentration camps.
Time to find out if the Supreme Court approves of concentration camps.
Do I think Gavin Newsom is a good presidential candidate? Nope. Do I think this is hilarious? Yes. H/t campcallout.bsky
August 20, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Do I think Gavin Newsom is a good presidential candidate? Nope. Do I think this is hilarious? Yes. H/t campcallout.bsky
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
Rep. Nicole Collier is a Goddamn warrior. This is a woman who is demonstrating grit, resolve, tenacity and the refusal to bow…rather than just yapping about it.
August 20, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Rep. Nicole Collier is a Goddamn warrior. This is a woman who is demonstrating grit, resolve, tenacity and the refusal to bow…rather than just yapping about it.
Reposted by betsy gaines quammen
When they were each nominated, this is pretty much what I expected them to be doing over halfway through year one.
August 18, 2025 at 7:55 PM
When they were each nominated, this is pretty much what I expected them to be doing over halfway through year one.