Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
@cassidyaster.bsky.social
Archaeologist, Master Naturalist, Game-runner, hobbyist crafter and writer.
Nonbinary, they/them.
Nonbinary, they/them.
The house I really like qualifies for the shared equity program, I can get a downpayment assistance grant and first time homebuyer loans that cover closing costs, but it's $60k outside of my budget.
January 30, 2026 at 10:01 PM
The house I really like qualifies for the shared equity program, I can get a downpayment assistance grant and first time homebuyer loans that cover closing costs, but it's $60k outside of my budget.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
"The largest immigrant deportation and prison contractors in the US are expecting an epic payout this year: for every $1 that they donated to GOP campaigns in 2024, these private companies stand to reap more than $11,000 in increased annual revenue."
ICE Detention Contractors Are Reaping Massive Profits
The largest immigrant deportation and prison contractors in the US are expecting an epic payout this year: for every $1
jacobin.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:45 PM
"The largest immigrant deportation and prison contractors in the US are expecting an epic payout this year: for every $1 that they donated to GOP campaigns in 2024, these private companies stand to reap more than $11,000 in increased annual revenue."
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
Yes — that's why I hope folks focus on indy journalist Georgia Fort, arrested for covering the same church protest, an Emmy award winner who went out on her own to focus on social justice issues — & does not have the vast resources and celebrity lawyer available to her that Lemon has.
This is about forcing Don Lemon to spend money and time defending himself.
"“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick," legal expert tells me. "But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime."
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
"“They probably don’t have any expectation that this prosecution will stick," legal expert tells me. "But they do know they will put Don Lemon through the grinder in the meantime."
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
January 30, 2026 at 6:42 PM
Yes — that's why I hope folks focus on indy journalist Georgia Fort, arrested for covering the same church protest, an Emmy award winner who went out on her own to focus on social justice issues — & does not have the vast resources and celebrity lawyer available to her that Lemon has.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
Springfield, OH, is bracing for a potential ICE surge. No one knows what to expect. Rumors include: 30-day period starting Feb. 4 w/ as many as 1,500 federal agents. Churches are prepping hubs to care for separated children & offering training in nonviolent resistance. 19thnews.org/2026/01/ice-...
Fear, faith and preparation as ICE closes in on an Ohio community
In Springfield, faith-based coalitions are creating emergency hubs to care for children — and churches are preparing for their sanctuaries to be breached.
19thnews.org
January 30, 2026 at 6:05 PM
Springfield, OH, is bracing for a potential ICE surge. No one knows what to expect. Rumors include: 30-day period starting Feb. 4 w/ as many as 1,500 federal agents. Churches are prepping hubs to care for separated children & offering training in nonviolent resistance. 19thnews.org/2026/01/ice-...
Being a tenant is a never ending humiliation ritual
January 30, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Being a tenant is a never ending humiliation ritual
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
In case we thought that ecological disasters were a special talent of modernity, let’s talk about how the 13th-century peat trade of Norfolk made it permanently vulnerable to flooding, including 3 catastrophic floods just since 2013.
#medievalstorytime
#medievalstorytime
January 29, 2026 at 7:28 PM
In case we thought that ecological disasters were a special talent of modernity, let’s talk about how the 13th-century peat trade of Norfolk made it permanently vulnerable to flooding, including 3 catastrophic floods just since 2013.
#medievalstorytime
#medievalstorytime
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
I think it’s worth keeping in mind that the specific church that was protested, inspiring these outrageous constitutional violations by DOJ, is part of the network of Christian Nationalist churches tied to Doug Wilson and attended by Pete Hegseth.
The fact that *both* of the churches that have made news in Minneapolis for pro-ICE links/positions have ties to the Doug Wilson-verse (which, for those keeping track, is who oversees the church Sec. Pete Hegseth now attends) feels like evidence that the universe's writers are just getting lazy.
Via @bmietana.bsky.social: Cities Church in Minnesota is considering legal options after anti-ICE protest.
A surprising detail in here: Joe Rigney, author of the book "Sin of Empathy," is calling himself a founding pastor of this church. religionnews.com/2026/01/20/c...
A surprising detail in here: Joe Rigney, author of the book "Sin of Empathy," is calling himself a founding pastor of this church. religionnews.com/2026/01/20/c...
January 30, 2026 at 1:38 PM
I think it’s worth keeping in mind that the specific church that was protested, inspiring these outrageous constitutional violations by DOJ, is part of the network of Christian Nationalist churches tied to Doug Wilson and attended by Pete Hegseth.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
Most farmers in America are actually rich. Median household wealth of $1.44 million.
It tracks with existing US policy that they get a bailout but SNAP benefits get cut
It tracks with existing US policy that they get a bailout but SNAP benefits get cut
A tale of two screenshots.
January 30, 2026 at 2:49 PM
Most farmers in America are actually rich. Median household wealth of $1.44 million.
It tracks with existing US policy that they get a bailout but SNAP benefits get cut
It tracks with existing US policy that they get a bailout but SNAP benefits get cut
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
During 2025, the pipeline of gas power projects in development in Texas grew by nearly 58 GW of generation capacity, more than the peak power demand of the state of California.
Country’s Largest Air Pollution Permit Issued to Power Plant for Data Centers in West Texas, Developer Says
It’s among a handful of similarly colossal ventures announced during 2025, making Texas the global epicenter of a gas power buildout.
www.texasobserver.org
January 30, 2026 at 3:15 PM
During 2025, the pipeline of gas power projects in development in Texas grew by nearly 58 GW of generation capacity, more than the peak power demand of the state of California.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
Tri-State says no thanks to federal orders to keep Craig coal power plant open
Tri-State says no thanks to federal orders to keep Craig coal power plant open
The owners of Craig's coal fired power plant petitioned the federal government to let a unit stay closed as planned.
coloradosun.com
January 30, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Tri-State says no thanks to federal orders to keep Craig coal power plant open
Immediately after posting this I locked myself out, at least she's inside and warm.
Yeah it's -4 my geriatric chihuahua is not going for a walk this morning.
January 30, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Immediately after posting this I locked myself out, at least she's inside and warm.
Yeah it's -4 my geriatric chihuahua is not going for a walk this morning.
January 30, 2026 at 12:59 PM
Yeah it's -4 my geriatric chihuahua is not going for a walk this morning.
Preparing myself to be disappointed in my home state again, very well practiced at this point.
January 30, 2026 at 11:32 AM
Preparing myself to be disappointed in my home state again, very well practiced at this point.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
If you’re giving money to a white supremacist who put thousands of my colleagues out of work, decimated American science, and killed millions of people just so you can use a water-guzzling, misinformation-hawking racist chatbot the least I can do is make you embarrassed to admit it out loud.
January 29, 2026 at 11:46 PM
If you’re giving money to a white supremacist who put thousands of my colleagues out of work, decimated American science, and killed millions of people just so you can use a water-guzzling, misinformation-hawking racist chatbot the least I can do is make you embarrassed to admit it out loud.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
Fellow writers: I am deeply saddened to share that if we want the rewards of having written, we must submit to the mortifying ordeal of writing
January 29, 2026 at 11:26 PM
Fellow writers: I am deeply saddened to share that if we want the rewards of having written, we must submit to the mortifying ordeal of writing
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
Just a reminder, the greatest living American historian filmmaker, Ken Burns, released a 720 min exploration of every facet of the American revolution using zero generative AI and paying for all of its assets instead of cobbling it from stolen data, then he gave it away for free on PBS this year.
First trailer for Darren Aranofsky's new AI animated series 'On This Day... 1776'
• Tells short narrative stories about the Revolutionary War
• Uses Gen AI tools, including tech made by Google DeepMind
• Has SAG voice actors
• Tells short narrative stories about the Revolutionary War
• Uses Gen AI tools, including tech made by Google DeepMind
• Has SAG voice actors
January 29, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Just a reminder, the greatest living American historian filmmaker, Ken Burns, released a 720 min exploration of every facet of the American revolution using zero generative AI and paying for all of its assets instead of cobbling it from stolen data, then he gave it away for free on PBS this year.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
Hey folks,
if you're looking for something you can do right now, wherever you are in the country: find organizations that support immigrants and refugees in your state. Follow their social media. Sign up for updates. Go to trainings (I'm in one right now).
Get prepared to help your neighbors.
if you're looking for something you can do right now, wherever you are in the country: find organizations that support immigrants and refugees in your state. Follow their social media. Sign up for updates. Go to trainings (I'm in one right now).
Get prepared to help your neighbors.
January 29, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Hey folks,
if you're looking for something you can do right now, wherever you are in the country: find organizations that support immigrants and refugees in your state. Follow their social media. Sign up for updates. Go to trainings (I'm in one right now).
Get prepared to help your neighbors.
if you're looking for something you can do right now, wherever you are in the country: find organizations that support immigrants and refugees in your state. Follow their social media. Sign up for updates. Go to trainings (I'm in one right now).
Get prepared to help your neighbors.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
With 12,260 overwintering butterflies, 2025 is the 3rd lowest Western Monarch Count on record. Western monarchs are in serious trouble & desperately need our help.
The good news is that there are clear steps we can all take to make a difference. Learn more & get started 🦋 xerces.org/press/wester...
The good news is that there are clear steps we can all take to make a difference. Learn more & get started 🦋 xerces.org/press/wester...
January 29, 2026 at 7:01 PM
With 12,260 overwintering butterflies, 2025 is the 3rd lowest Western Monarch Count on record. Western monarchs are in serious trouble & desperately need our help.
The good news is that there are clear steps we can all take to make a difference. Learn more & get started 🦋 xerces.org/press/wester...
The good news is that there are clear steps we can all take to make a difference. Learn more & get started 🦋 xerces.org/press/wester...
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
If you want to enjoy the queer hockey show, you have to be loud in your support for real queer people who are just trying to play hockey.
This is a flat out ban on trans male athletes. They can't compete in men's leagues and they can't compete in women's leagues.
January 29, 2026 at 5:34 PM
If you want to enjoy the queer hockey show, you have to be loud in your support for real queer people who are just trying to play hockey.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
notice how after ilhan omar was attacked by a maga true believer parroting donald trump, the mainstream media didnt kick off a multi-day orgy about how trump and other republicans need to change their tone and "lower the temperature"?
that discourse only goes one way for the msm.
that discourse only goes one way for the msm.
January 29, 2026 at 2:55 PM
notice how after ilhan omar was attacked by a maga true believer parroting donald trump, the mainstream media didnt kick off a multi-day orgy about how trump and other republicans need to change their tone and "lower the temperature"?
that discourse only goes one way for the msm.
that discourse only goes one way for the msm.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
First, it was American Samoa; then my home, the Northern Mariana Islands; now the Trump administration is looking at Alaskan waters for deep sea mining.
… another home to Indigenous peoples, fisheries and some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. www.eenews.net/articles/fed...
… another home to Indigenous peoples, fisheries and some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. www.eenews.net/articles/fed...
Feds mull first-ever seafloor mining in Alaskan waters
Critics warn that opening up Arctic waters to mineral extraction could devastate large fisheries and sensitive habitats off Alaska’s shores.
www.eenews.net
January 29, 2026 at 1:57 PM
First, it was American Samoa; then my home, the Northern Mariana Islands; now the Trump administration is looking at Alaskan waters for deep sea mining.
… another home to Indigenous peoples, fisheries and some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. www.eenews.net/articles/fed...
… another home to Indigenous peoples, fisheries and some of the world’s most fragile ecosystems. www.eenews.net/articles/fed...
I'm thinking about buying a house so I'm interviewing realtors and one of them used AI to reply to my inquiry email so I can cross him off the list.
January 29, 2026 at 3:24 PM
I'm thinking about buying a house so I'm interviewing realtors and one of them used AI to reply to my inquiry email so I can cross him off the list.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
i was actually shocked to see the numbers on new research from Global Energy Monitor on new gas projects in the US: nearly 100 gigawatts of power—enough to power tens of millions of homes—are currently in development explicitly to power data centers. At the end of 2023 that number was 4 gigawatts
Data Centers Are Driving a US Gas Boom
Gas projects in the US pipeline explicitly linked to data centers increased by almost 25 times over the past two years, according to new research from Global Energy Monitor.
www.wired.com
January 29, 2026 at 1:38 PM
i was actually shocked to see the numbers on new research from Global Energy Monitor on new gas projects in the US: nearly 100 gigawatts of power—enough to power tens of millions of homes—are currently in development explicitly to power data centers. At the end of 2023 that number was 4 gigawatts
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
I’ve tried to tell out-of-towners that one of the low-key traumas of living here is these psychos ignoring all traffic laws. I’ve actually reduced my driving further just to avoid their shittery, but they can cream you on a bike or roll up on sidewalk just as easily.
Just madness out in the streets where these guys throw on their sirens and lights flying through neighborhoods at high speeds. People don't even bother pulling over for them anymore because they just do this all the time.
"FUCK ICE" "NOT ICE"
"FUCK ICE" "NOT ICE"
January 29, 2026 at 4:16 AM
I’ve tried to tell out-of-towners that one of the low-key traumas of living here is these psychos ignoring all traffic laws. I’ve actually reduced my driving further just to avoid their shittery, but they can cream you on a bike or roll up on sidewalk just as easily.
Reposted by Cassidy Aster 🏳️⚧️ They/Them
Utah lawmakers asked for a review of studies on gender-affirming care's effects on trans youth after passing a "moratorium." Records show they planned on publicly discussing the report — until it concluded the care is largely found to have positive outcomes.
Now, they're pushing a permanent ban.
Now, they're pushing a permanent ban.
Utah lawmakers sweep their own study on care for trans kids under the rug as they push to ban it
As Utah's lawmakers move to ban gender-affirming care for transgender kids, they've avoided discussing a report they commissioned on the issue that says care helps kids.
www.sltrib.com
January 29, 2026 at 3:29 AM
Utah lawmakers asked for a review of studies on gender-affirming care's effects on trans youth after passing a "moratorium." Records show they planned on publicly discussing the report — until it concluded the care is largely found to have positive outcomes.
Now, they're pushing a permanent ban.
Now, they're pushing a permanent ban.