Steven Johnson
@boredomfestival.bsky.social
Coding, Caving, Comics, Cats (not necessarily in that order).
Reposted by Steven Johnson
It’s all transparently bullshit and immune to rationality, but if struggling to stabilize half a burning boat to avoid drowning is “getting back in the fight,” what they’re really saying is there’s nothing the survivors could have done to avoid being killed. And that definitely isn’t the law.
there is no more shared reality. www.cnn.com/2025/12/04/p...
December 5, 2025 at 4:05 AM
It’s all transparently bullshit and immune to rationality, but if struggling to stabilize half a burning boat to avoid drowning is “getting back in the fight,” what they’re really saying is there’s nothing the survivors could have done to avoid being killed. And that definitely isn’t the law.
Reposted by Steven Johnson
“Yes, yes, we can see all your ‘facts’ and all the adorable little ‘evidence,’ but you failed to consider that none of that matters if we all close our eyes and pretend the Texas GOP actually had pure motives here, you stupid little rubes.”
The dripping contempt the right wing SCOTUS majority holds for district judges is truly a sight to behold every time. When they deign to give actual reasons for their shadow docket holdings, it’s “look at the absolute idiots who keep getting everything wrong!”
December 5, 2025 at 12:20 AM
“Yes, yes, we can see all your ‘facts’ and all the adorable little ‘evidence,’ but you failed to consider that none of that matters if we all close our eyes and pretend the Texas GOP actually had pure motives here, you stupid little rubes.”
Reposted by Steven Johnson
Prison rape is wrong.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
BREAKING: Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans & intersex people, memo says. A DOJ memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) do not align with Trump’s Jan. 20 anti-trans executive order, @byadamrhodes.bsky.social reports.
Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans and intersex people
A Department of Justice memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act do not align with Trump’s executive order
prismreports.org
December 5, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Prison rape is wrong.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
Reposted by Steven Johnson
#GVerse #Veterans
US Citizen detained by ICE: Clearly it didn't matter that I was a citizen, a veteran, or identified who I was. They ignored everything I said. They just broke my window and dragged me out. I let them know I was a veteran, I wasn't doing anything wrong, just trying to get to work.
US Citizen detained by ICE: Clearly it didn't matter that I was a citizen, a veteran, or identified who I was. They ignored everything I said. They just broke my window and dragged me out. I let them know I was a veteran, I wasn't doing anything wrong, just trying to get to work.
December 5, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Reposted by Steven Johnson
I think Kagan identified the biggest problem with this is it essentially allows states to have illegal elections as long as they time their illegal mapmaking carefully.
December 5, 2025 at 1:09 AM
I think Kagan identified the biggest problem with this is it essentially allows states to have illegal elections as long as they time their illegal mapmaking carefully.
Reposted by Steven Johnson
"The Donald Trump administration has changed which holidays qualify for free entrance to national parks, removing two holidays celebrating Black people and adding the president’s birthday."
National parks change prioritizes Trump birthday over days honoring Black people
Free entrance days at national parks no longer include MLK Day and Juneteenth.
www.sfgate.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:10 AM
"The Donald Trump administration has changed which holidays qualify for free entrance to national parks, removing two holidays celebrating Black people and adding the president’s birthday."
Reposted by Steven Johnson
Top Senate health leader calls CDC vaccine panel ‘totally discredited’ www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/c... via @statnews.com
#CDC #ACIP #vaccines #health #MedSky
#CDC #ACIP #vaccines #health #MedSky
Top Senate health leader calls CDC vaccine panel ‘totally discredited’
A top Senate health leader called a federal panel of vaccine advisers “totally discredited” just minutes ahead of its planned meeting.
www.statnews.com
December 4, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Top Senate health leader calls CDC vaccine panel ‘totally discredited’ www.statnews.com/2025/12/04/c... via @statnews.com
#CDC #ACIP #vaccines #health #MedSky
#CDC #ACIP #vaccines #health #MedSky
Reposted by Steven Johnson
Thinking this is wrong isn’t radical.
Thinking it isn’t is.
Thinking it isn’t is.
December 5, 2025 at 3:35 AM
Thinking this is wrong isn’t radical.
Thinking it isn’t is.
Thinking it isn’t is.
Reposted by Steven Johnson
It's good—very good, and very important—that district courts keep issuing these 100-page rulings upholding the law. It must be incredibly dispiriting to see them overturned in a two-page, lawless, unsigned order, but please, keep them coming. They expose SCOTUS' corruption like nothing else.
December 5, 2025 at 12:41 AM
It's good—very good, and very important—that district courts keep issuing these 100-page rulings upholding the law. It must be incredibly dispiriting to see them overturned in a two-page, lawless, unsigned order, but please, keep them coming. They expose SCOTUS' corruption like nothing else.
Reposted by Steven Johnson
Now that SCOTUS has validated gerrymandering for any racist arbitrary reason imaginable—EVERY Blue state Governor needs to redistrict their state to completely eliminate red seats.
This is the MAGA precedent. It is law now. Run with it. Beat MAGAs at their own game. Vote MAGAs out permanently.
This is the MAGA precedent. It is law now. Run with it. Beat MAGAs at their own game. Vote MAGAs out permanently.
December 5, 2025 at 4:53 AM
Now that SCOTUS has validated gerrymandering for any racist arbitrary reason imaginable—EVERY Blue state Governor needs to redistrict their state to completely eliminate red seats.
This is the MAGA precedent. It is law now. Run with it. Beat MAGAs at their own game. Vote MAGAs out permanently.
This is the MAGA precedent. It is law now. Run with it. Beat MAGAs at their own game. Vote MAGAs out permanently.
Reposted by Steven Johnson
“I’m disgusted, because it wasn’t only myself— it was my elderly mother in her 90’s and my sister too. It makes no sense. Who bought him off?”
A victim of David Gentile, a private equity CEO Trump pardoned after doing just 12 days for defrauding investors of $1.6 billion
A victim of David Gentile, a private equity CEO Trump pardoned after doing just 12 days for defrauding investors of $1.6 billion
December 5, 2025 at 5:03 AM
“I’m disgusted, because it wasn’t only myself— it was my elderly mother in her 90’s and my sister too. It makes no sense. Who bought him off?”
A victim of David Gentile, a private equity CEO Trump pardoned after doing just 12 days for defrauding investors of $1.6 billion
A victim of David Gentile, a private equity CEO Trump pardoned after doing just 12 days for defrauding investors of $1.6 billion
Reposted by Steven Johnson
I used to have to teach the NSS: What's in it, what it means, how it was produced.
In this administration, documents mean nothing. Our national policy is whatever stray voltage is crossing Donald Trump's brain pan at any given moment. The NSS and other such documents are meaningless.
In this administration, documents mean nothing. Our national policy is whatever stray voltage is crossing Donald Trump's brain pan at any given moment. The NSS and other such documents are meaningless.
The Trump administration has quietly released its National Security Strategy — apparently late on Thursday. Usually there's a rollout and fanfare for these things: www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
www.whitehouse.gov
December 5, 2025 at 5:02 AM
I used to have to teach the NSS: What's in it, what it means, how it was produced.
In this administration, documents mean nothing. Our national policy is whatever stray voltage is crossing Donald Trump's brain pan at any given moment. The NSS and other such documents are meaningless.
In this administration, documents mean nothing. Our national policy is whatever stray voltage is crossing Donald Trump's brain pan at any given moment. The NSS and other such documents are meaningless.
Reposted by Steven Johnson
If seat belts were invented today, blue states would require them, but MAGA states would mandate that they *not* be installed, and moving from (say) Massachusetts to New Hampshire would require you to install an expensive conversion kit.
it is MIRACULOUS that we got rid of lead paint and asbestos when we did. if we had tried that today, there would be people whining about how we're restricting their rights.
Bring back residential-use lead paint, you cowards.
December 5, 2025 at 7:19 AM
If seat belts were invented today, blue states would require them, but MAGA states would mandate that they *not* be installed, and moving from (say) Massachusetts to New Hampshire would require you to install an expensive conversion kit.
Reposted by Steven Johnson
It's not surprising that a rapist's presidential administration is removing standards intended to prevent rape.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
DOJ orders prison inspectors to stop considering LGBTQ safety standards
A memo obtained by NPR shows the Justice Department is telling inspectors to stop evaluating prisons using standards designed to protect trans and other LGBTQ community members from sexual violence.
www.npr.org
December 4, 2025 at 11:16 PM
It's not surprising that a rapist's presidential administration is removing standards intended to prevent rape.
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
www.npr.org/2025/12/04/n...
Reposted by Steven Johnson
This is a million times worse than anything Hunter Biden was accused of doing in even the most fevered right-wing conspiracy dream
UPDATE: Trump Jr.-backed startup receives $620 million Pentagon loan
In October, Popular Information reported that the Pentagon awarded a contract to Unusual Machines, an obscure drone company that President Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., joined as an advisor in Novemb...
popular.info
December 4, 2025 at 4:00 PM
This is a million times worse than anything Hunter Biden was accused of doing in even the most fevered right-wing conspiracy dream
Reposted by Steven Johnson
Reposted by Steven Johnson
WONKETTE: “Department of Homeland Security is retooling a federal immigration database in ways that states can use to strike people from voter rolls by claiming they’re not eligible to vote.” www.wonkette.com/p/dhs-takes-...
December 5, 2025 at 12:51 PM
WONKETTE: “Department of Homeland Security is retooling a federal immigration database in ways that states can use to strike people from voter rolls by claiming they’re not eligible to vote.” www.wonkette.com/p/dhs-takes-...
Reposted by Steven Johnson
FOX: "1.1 million job cuts in 2025, a 54% increase from 2024…. But it could be good news for the president.” 🤔
December 5, 2025 at 1:04 PM
FOX: "1.1 million job cuts in 2025, a 54% increase from 2024…. But it could be good news for the president.” 🤔
Reposted by Steven Johnson
reminder that as activity picks up in places like Twin Cities, Louisiana, Alabama etc, my @propublica.org colleagues & I are still investigating immigration enforcement
I'm particularly interested in use-of-force & am still tracking the detention of citizens
Reach out ⬇️ if you have info to share
I'm particularly interested in use-of-force & am still tracking the detention of citizens
Reach out ⬇️ if you have info to share
December 5, 2025 at 11:52 AM
reminder that as activity picks up in places like Twin Cities, Louisiana, Alabama etc, my @propublica.org colleagues & I are still investigating immigration enforcement
I'm particularly interested in use-of-force & am still tracking the detention of citizens
Reach out ⬇️ if you have info to share
I'm particularly interested in use-of-force & am still tracking the detention of citizens
Reach out ⬇️ if you have info to share
Reposted by Steven Johnson
STOCKARD: “The question is whether Tennessee will use a stick of dynamite to blow up the wall of separation of church and state, or a sledgehammer to knock it down brick by brick. Either way, it seems to be falling.” #TennesseeTheocracy
tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/05/s...
tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/05/s...
December 5, 2025 at 1:24 PM
STOCKARD: “The question is whether Tennessee will use a stick of dynamite to blow up the wall of separation of church and state, or a sledgehammer to knock it down brick by brick. Either way, it seems to be falling.” #TennesseeTheocracy
tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/05/s...
tennesseelookout.com/2025/12/05/s...
Reposted by Steven Johnson
Reposted by Steven Johnson
"According to our analysis, reasoning models use, on average, 100 times more energy than models with no reasoning capabilities (or with reasoning turned off)"
Good new analysis of how 'reasoning' mode in chatbots consumes a fairly massive amount more energy than normal mode
Good new analysis of how 'reasoning' mode in chatbots consumes a fairly massive amount more energy than normal mode
AI Energy Score v2: Refreshed Leaderboard, now with Reasoning 🧠
A Blog post by Sasha Luccioni on Hugging Face
huggingface.co
December 5, 2025 at 5:00 AM
"According to our analysis, reasoning models use, on average, 100 times more energy than models with no reasoning capabilities (or with reasoning turned off)"
Good new analysis of how 'reasoning' mode in chatbots consumes a fairly massive amount more energy than normal mode
Good new analysis of how 'reasoning' mode in chatbots consumes a fairly massive amount more energy than normal mode
Reposted by Steven Johnson
The new National Security Strategy is a propaganda document, designed to be widely read. It is also a performative suicide. Hard to think of another great power ever abdicating its influence so quickly and so publicly. It will be worth following the reactions around the world, not just in Europe.
Trump's national security strategy is out and some of the Europe sections are shocking. "...the growing influence of patriotic European parties indeed
gives cause for great optimism."
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
gives cause for great optimism."
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
December 5, 2025 at 12:17 PM
The new National Security Strategy is a propaganda document, designed to be widely read. It is also a performative suicide. Hard to think of another great power ever abdicating its influence so quickly and so publicly. It will be worth following the reactions around the world, not just in Europe.
Reposted by Steven Johnson
Hegseth says the IG report “totally exonerates” him. That is a lie. The IG says “the Secretary’s actions created a risk to operational security that could have resulted in failed U.S. mission objectives and potential harm to U.S. pilots.” #holdfast
Why the new ‘Signalgate’ IG report is so damning for Pete Hegseth | CNN Politics
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s bad week just got worse. That’s after the long-awaited release Thursday of an inspector general’s report on his sharing of highly sensitive military attack plans on th...
www.cnn.com
December 5, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Hegseth says the IG report “totally exonerates” him. That is a lie. The IG says “the Secretary’s actions created a risk to operational security that could have resulted in failed U.S. mission objectives and potential harm to U.S. pilots.” #holdfast
Reposted by Steven Johnson
NEW: Todd Curry of Arkansas has been arrested and charged with mailing threats against several Democratic Senators and then-Vice President Kamala Harris
Justice Dept is prosecuting
Feds allege mailed threats described a "threat to kill"
Justice Dept is prosecuting
Feds allege mailed threats described a "threat to kill"
December 5, 2025 at 1:46 PM
NEW: Todd Curry of Arkansas has been arrested and charged with mailing threats against several Democratic Senators and then-Vice President Kamala Harris
Justice Dept is prosecuting
Feds allege mailed threats described a "threat to kill"
Justice Dept is prosecuting
Feds allege mailed threats described a "threat to kill"