Bjorning
@bjorning.bsky.social
Software dev, gamer, Tolkien geek, liberal post-Zionist agnostic frum Jew, pro-regulated-markets progressive, bear lover, general weirdo, proud dad of 2.
Blocks people who follow without interacting first.
He/Him
Blocks people who follow without interacting first.
He/Him
Reposted by Bjorning
New leftist challenge, for a dollar name one lobbying group that isn’t AIPAC
November 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
New leftist challenge, for a dollar name one lobbying group that isn’t AIPAC
Reposted by Bjorning
Great system we have there
so, today I got the surgery center where I got my deviated septum fixed to send me an itemized bill so I could submit to my FSA for reimbursement
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
I was at an event yesterday where Rand Paul spoke via video and talked about how great it was to send ACA money "directly to the people" so that they could work collectively to get better deals on health care.
November 11, 2025 at 9:26 AM
Great system we have there
Reposted by Bjorning
My wife and I pay for life insurance even though we have never died. I pay for fire insurance even though my house has never burned down. That's not because we want to throw money at insurance companies. It's because THAT'S HOW INSURANCE WORKS.
November 10, 2025 at 3:44 PM
My wife and I pay for life insurance even though we have never died. I pay for fire insurance even though my house has never burned down. That's not because we want to throw money at insurance companies. It's because THAT'S HOW INSURANCE WORKS.
Reposted by Bjorning
musk is an alpha! he's a buggy unfinished mess of spaghetti code that should never be released much less sold
A subtle one that's easy to miss, but the fact that Andreesen and Musk both use "alpha" as slang for "information advantage" is a clear tell that their mental world is finance, not technology. They try to talk otherwise but they are investors not inventors.
*maximum alpha at 1.25x speed* continuously lives on in my head, unfortunately.
November 11, 2025 at 11:23 AM
musk is an alpha! he's a buggy unfinished mess of spaghetti code that should never be released much less sold
Reposted by Bjorning
It is *not possible* to have pre-existing conditions protection without some sort of system like the ACA in place. i mean, technically it is, but you end up with obscene premiums that no one can pay (which is what’s happening now)
November 11, 2025 at 4:27 AM
It is *not possible* to have pre-existing conditions protection without some sort of system like the ACA in place. i mean, technically it is, but you end up with obscene premiums that no one can pay (which is what’s happening now)
Reposted by Bjorning
at the end of the day, market insurance cannot provide insurance for sick people. It isn’t because insurers are greedy (though they are); it’s because every insurer would go bankrupt.
November 11, 2025 at 4:24 AM
at the end of the day, market insurance cannot provide insurance for sick people. It isn’t because insurers are greedy (though they are); it’s because every insurer would go bankrupt.
Reposted by Bjorning
if AIPAC was the only actor pulling Democrats in reactionary, capital-favoring directions that would be extremely convenient, alas we live in the real world
there is no reason that AIPAC would want to buy an end to the shutdown, but unconditional support for Israel as it plunges off a right-wing cliff and chronic Senate brain in the face of fascism are both kinds of toxic nostalgia which powerful, elderly morons wrap around themselves like warm blankets
November 11, 2025 at 4:33 AM
if AIPAC was the only actor pulling Democrats in reactionary, capital-favoring directions that would be extremely convenient, alas we live in the real world
Reposted by Bjorning
We're officially live. It's incredibly important to have a real record of how our public servants are behaving and this database will be a powerful tool for researchers, reporters, and ordinary Americans.
1/6 A new standard for public accountability is here. GLOW—Government Lawyers Oversight Watchdog—is officially launching today to hold government lawyers accountable. We're unveiling The Government Lawyers Database at glowlaw.org. #RuleOfLaw #Accountability
The Government Lawyers Database
glowlaw.org
November 11, 2025 at 12:23 AM
We're officially live. It's incredibly important to have a real record of how our public servants are behaving and this database will be a powerful tool for researchers, reporters, and ordinary Americans.
Reposted by Bjorning
Y’all, don’t be fucking dicks to staffers, it is neither nice nor particularly productive
You ever call a senator's office and ask the staffer who picks up what it's like to work for someone without a spine?
10/10 recommend.
10/10 recommend.
November 11, 2025 at 4:40 AM
Y’all, don’t be fucking dicks to staffers, it is neither nice nor particularly productive
Reposted by Bjorning
this is the thing every one of the 8 are taking huge amounts of heat and yet none of their offices have leaked "oh Schumer totally gave us a pass, please be mad at him not me!" because he didn't, because sometimes you just can't force Senators to do what you want.
November 11, 2025 at 1:39 AM
this is the thing every one of the 8 are taking huge amounts of heat and yet none of their offices have leaked "oh Schumer totally gave us a pass, please be mad at him not me!" because he didn't, because sometimes you just can't force Senators to do what you want.
Reposted by Bjorning
Most gun owners never have a reason to use their guns, so why not end 2A?
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
November 10, 2025 at 8:41 PM
Most gun owners never have a reason to use their guns, so why not end 2A?
Reposted by Bjorning
Zionism and Judaism are not one and the same, but that doesn’t mean the Protocols of the Elders of Zion isn’t antisemitic since it uses the word “Zion” in the name.
Just doing a Jew -> Zionist find-and-replace is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for Judenhaß
Just doing a Jew -> Zionist find-and-replace is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for Judenhaß
Then we'll blame the zionists.
Zionism and Judaism are not one and the same.
Zionism and Judaism are not one and the same.
November 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Zionism and Judaism are not one and the same, but that doesn’t mean the Protocols of the Elders of Zion isn’t antisemitic since it uses the word “Zion” in the name.
Just doing a Jew -> Zionist find-and-replace is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for Judenhaß
Just doing a Jew -> Zionist find-and-replace is not a get-out-of-jail-free card for Judenhaß
Reposted by Bjorning
I think we should have continued! But I can't disregard the legitimate harms that route takes.
November 10, 2025 at 7:42 PM
I think we should have continued! But I can't disregard the legitimate harms that route takes.
Reposted by Bjorning
There's a lot of narritive-driven politics people fall into, and it will always slip down bad paths quickly. You don't have to like the deal. You can think the consequences are ultimately worthwhile. You don't have to fit it into some heroic narrative
November 10, 2025 at 7:40 PM
There's a lot of narritive-driven politics people fall into, and it will always slip down bad paths quickly. You don't have to like the deal. You can think the consequences are ultimately worthwhile. You don't have to fit it into some heroic narrative
Reposted by Bjorning
Thread does prove point, just not way thread wanted
muting. thread proves point
November 10, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Thread does prove point, just not way thread wanted
Reposted by Bjorning
smallpox eradication is one of the greatest achievement of humans, up there with 'hey maybe we should wash our hands'
Smallpox was so bad that two nations who were threatening to nuke everyone and everything agreed on eradication.
November 10, 2025 at 7:21 PM
smallpox eradication is one of the greatest achievement of humans, up there with 'hey maybe we should wash our hands'
Reposted by Bjorning
I'm one of Fetterman's constituents, indeed, I was a Fetterman voter in 2022. I will be voting against him in the 2028 primary.
With that said, you people need to take a fucking break from politics; you're pickling your minds.
Never forget:
This is the Republicans' fault. It always will be.
With that said, you people need to take a fucking break from politics; you're pickling your minds.
Never forget:
This is the Republicans' fault. It always will be.
November 10, 2025 at 2:16 AM
I'm one of Fetterman's constituents, indeed, I was a Fetterman voter in 2022. I will be voting against him in the 2028 primary.
With that said, you people need to take a fucking break from politics; you're pickling your minds.
Never forget:
This is the Republicans' fault. It always will be.
With that said, you people need to take a fucking break from politics; you're pickling your minds.
Never forget:
This is the Republicans' fault. It always will be.
Reposted by Bjorning
any bsky poaster have a theory of victory aligned with keeping the govt shutdown indefinitely I'm all ears, because again I think I've got a history that's pretty indicative I'm more than supportive of COAs that fuck me over personally if there's a viable path to an achievable end state
Okay so again, you gonna forgo your income for another 13 months?
Because you're asking me and a couple million of your fellow citizens to do that, and I don't think it's too much to ask for a plausible theory of victory aligned with that COA
Because you're asking me and a couple million of your fellow citizens to do that, and I don't think it's too much to ask for a plausible theory of victory aligned with that COA
November 10, 2025 at 2:56 AM
any bsky poaster have a theory of victory aligned with keeping the govt shutdown indefinitely I'm all ears, because again I think I've got a history that's pretty indicative I'm more than supportive of COAs that fuck me over personally if there's a viable path to an achievable end state
Reposted by Bjorning
"Keep denying appropriations until either the Republican Party decides they like the ACA finally, or until the 120th Congress is sworn" doesn't meet that criteria
November 10, 2025 at 2:56 AM
"Keep denying appropriations until either the Republican Party decides they like the ACA finally, or until the 120th Congress is sworn" doesn't meet that criteria
Reposted by Bjorning
The enemy is content to burn everything down, has to be a consideration
November 10, 2025 at 4:54 AM
The enemy is content to burn everything down, has to be a consideration
Reposted by Bjorning
the hard thing is if you let a shutdown go long enough you don't have any air traffic controllers left when you open back up
if your position is that you want to have a government and the functions of civilization you're gonna have to open up eventually
if your position is that you want to have a government and the functions of civilization you're gonna have to open up eventually
November 10, 2025 at 4:52 AM
the hard thing is if you let a shutdown go long enough you don't have any air traffic controllers left when you open back up
if your position is that you want to have a government and the functions of civilization you're gonna have to open up eventually
if your position is that you want to have a government and the functions of civilization you're gonna have to open up eventually
Reposted by Bjorning
I agree but let's not understate it as "people are in pain."
People are facing missed rent payments, loss of SNAP, lost groceries. Lives are falling apart. This is not a painless stance and it's a dangerous game of chicken.
People are facing missed rent payments, loss of SNAP, lost groceries. Lives are falling apart. This is not a painless stance and it's a dangerous game of chicken.
Dems backed Trump into a corner where he’s advocating for starving Americans and hemorrhaging support. If they vote to let him off the hook in exchange for nothing it’s a cataclysmic failure. I know people are in pain but insulating Republicans from political consequences is not the answer.
November 9, 2025 at 11:54 PM
I agree but let's not understate it as "people are in pain."
People are facing missed rent payments, loss of SNAP, lost groceries. Lives are falling apart. This is not a painless stance and it's a dangerous game of chicken.
People are facing missed rent payments, loss of SNAP, lost groceries. Lives are falling apart. This is not a painless stance and it's a dangerous game of chicken.
Reposted by Bjorning
Trump getting booed at the Commanders game
November 9, 2025 at 11:05 PM
Trump getting booed at the Commanders game
Reposted by Bjorning
I continue to be in a "I'll believe it when I see it" state of mind but I'm also in a "I don't want my neighbor and her son to be ruined in the hopes that enough agony causes an uprising against Trump" let alone "Surely the Republicans are going to decide that they care about poor people now."
November 9, 2025 at 11:24 PM
I continue to be in a "I'll believe it when I see it" state of mind but I'm also in a "I don't want my neighbor and her son to be ruined in the hopes that enough agony causes an uprising against Trump" let alone "Surely the Republicans are going to decide that they care about poor people now."