Rt. Hon. Rakesh
@densaer.bsky.social
Digital humanitarian. Disaster nerd. Ex-USAID BHA (purged). Pun connoisseur. Dad. Dork. Staring at trees in the PNW
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
Within months of taking office, Trump officials eradicated the world’s largest humanitarian agency, slashing thousands of lifesaving programs and putting millions of lives at risk.
🗓️ Join us Feb. 11 for a conversation about the dismantling of U.S. foreign aid worldwide.
🗓️ Join us Feb. 11 for a conversation about the dismantling of U.S. foreign aid worldwide.
ProPublica Event: Inside the Destruction of the U.S. Agency for International Development
Join ProPublica journalists for a conversation about the dismantling of U.S. foreign aid worldwide.
events.propublica.org
February 5, 2026 at 5:30 PM
Within months of taking office, Trump officials eradicated the world’s largest humanitarian agency, slashing thousands of lifesaving programs and putting millions of lives at risk.
🗓️ Join us Feb. 11 for a conversation about the dismantling of U.S. foreign aid worldwide.
🗓️ Join us Feb. 11 for a conversation about the dismantling of U.S. foreign aid worldwide.
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
Maybe they shouldn't have killed USAID and left all those opportunities to China.
Trump officials overhaul aid to Africa in bid to counter China in ‘priority sectors’
Trump officials overhaul aid to Africa in bid to counter China in ‘priority sectors’
Trump officials overhaul aid to Africa in bid to counter China in ‘priority sectors’
www.independent.co.uk
February 2, 2026 at 4:20 PM
Maybe they shouldn't have killed USAID and left all those opportunities to China.
Elon will be deposed under oath about the destruction of USAID. I’d be more gleeful about this if the full impact of his actions weren’t so grave for so many.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Elon Musk will be deposed along with DOGE staffers over USAID dismantling
Destruction of world's largest humanitarian programme was done without formal authority or official oversight, former USAID employees claim
www.independent.co.uk
February 5, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Elon will be deposed under oath about the destruction of USAID. I’d be more gleeful about this if the full impact of his actions weren’t so grave for so many.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
I clicked on a video on YT today that purported to be something I was looking for but turned out to be AI slop end to end.
I stopped it as soon as I realized what it was. I felt dirty for having clicked on it. Ughhhh
Nobody asked for this deception.
I stopped it as soon as I realized what it was. I felt dirty for having clicked on it. Ughhhh
Nobody asked for this deception.
February 5, 2026 at 5:46 AM
I clicked on a video on YT today that purported to be something I was looking for but turned out to be AI slop end to end.
I stopped it as soon as I realized what it was. I felt dirty for having clicked on it. Ughhhh
Nobody asked for this deception.
I stopped it as soon as I realized what it was. I felt dirty for having clicked on it. Ughhhh
Nobody asked for this deception.
During the 1990s and early 2000s, Noam Chomsky was a frequent guest on Pacifica radio (Democracy Now! Etc). I bought his books and found his analysis of semantics and political events astute.
And yet now between the files (gross, disgusting) and the genocide denialism, it’s so disheartening.
And yet now between the files (gross, disgusting) and the genocide denialism, it’s so disheartening.
February 3, 2026 at 1:23 AM
During the 1990s and early 2000s, Noam Chomsky was a frequent guest on Pacifica radio (Democracy Now! Etc). I bought his books and found his analysis of semantics and political events astute.
And yet now between the files (gross, disgusting) and the genocide denialism, it’s so disheartening.
And yet now between the files (gross, disgusting) and the genocide denialism, it’s so disheartening.
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
Someone needs to write a romcom meet cute about two divorced Twin Cities parents circling each other around, each thinking the other is ICE, only to wind up in a fender bender.
February 2, 2026 at 10:13 PM
Someone needs to write a romcom meet cute about two divorced Twin Cities parents circling each other around, each thinking the other is ICE, only to wind up in a fender bender.
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
Today at school dismissal, I followed a suspicious pickup around for a bit, keeping an eye on them, trying to figure out if they were ICE. Then I realized they were keeping an eye on me also. Then I realized they were, in fact, other parents. Life in Minnesota, January 2026.
February 2, 2026 at 10:09 PM
Today at school dismissal, I followed a suspicious pickup around for a bit, keeping an eye on them, trying to figure out if they were ICE. Then I realized they were keeping an eye on me also. Then I realized they were, in fact, other parents. Life in Minnesota, January 2026.
“Be yourself. Unless you can be Batman.”
Bringing some righteous anger…
Bringing some righteous anger…
An unidentified man dressed in a Batman costume angrily confronted Santa Clara city officials during a joint meeting of the City Council, city authorities, and the Santa Clara Stadium Authority on Monday, using his public comment to condemn the city’s stance on cooperation with ICE.
February 1, 2026 at 1:27 AM
“Be yourself. Unless you can be Batman.”
Bringing some righteous anger…
Bringing some righteous anger…
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
Dr Glaucomflecken, an actual ophthalmologist, with helpful instructions for dealing with pepper spray to the face.
youtube.com/shorts/z4dy0...
youtube.com/shorts/z4dy0...
What To Do If You Get Pepper Sprayed
YouTube video by Dr. Glaucomflecken
youtube.com
January 29, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Dr Glaucomflecken, an actual ophthalmologist, with helpful instructions for dealing with pepper spray to the face.
youtube.com/shorts/z4dy0...
youtube.com/shorts/z4dy0...
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
Live your life such that Bruce Springsteen does not write a protest song about how terrible you are
January 28, 2026 at 9:58 PM
Live your life such that Bruce Springsteen does not write a protest song about how terrible you are
Need inspiration? Go play “City of Heroes” by Billy Bragg. It’s now up on the various music platforms. #Minneapolis
music.apple.com/us/album/cit...
music.apple.com/us/album/cit...
City Of Heroes by Billy Bragg on Apple Music
Song · 2026 · Duration 2:29
music.apple.com
January 28, 2026 at 4:05 PM
Need inspiration? Go play “City of Heroes” by Billy Bragg. It’s now up on the various music platforms. #Minneapolis
music.apple.com/us/album/cit...
music.apple.com/us/album/cit...
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
Frog and Toad looked into a mirror.
“We look brave,” said Frog.
“Yes, but are we?” asked Toad.
“We look brave,” said Frog.
“Yes, but are we?” asked Toad.
January 28, 2026 at 2:37 AM
Frog and Toad looked into a mirror.
“We look brave,” said Frog.
“Yes, but are we?” asked Toad.
“We look brave,” said Frog.
“Yes, but are we?” asked Toad.
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
Via @densaer.bsky.social : City of Heroes, about Minneapolis, from @billybragg.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/braggb/p...
open.substack.com/pub/braggb/p...
CITY of HEROES
A new song of resistance
open.substack.com
January 27, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Via @densaer.bsky.social : City of Heroes, about Minneapolis, from @billybragg.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/braggb/p...
open.substack.com/pub/braggb/p...
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
January 25, 2026 at 10:39 PM
One of the best things I’ve read in a while:
I saw news reports that ICE will be doing enforcement at the Super Bowl in Santa Clara?
If so, it should be a shame if the game were postponed. If the teams refused to take the field. If the fans and advertisers simply didn’t show up.
NFL should play the game when the crisis is over.
If so, it should be a shame if the game were postponed. If the teams refused to take the field. If the fans and advertisers simply didn’t show up.
NFL should play the game when the crisis is over.
January 25, 2026 at 9:57 PM
I saw news reports that ICE will be doing enforcement at the Super Bowl in Santa Clara?
If so, it should be a shame if the game were postponed. If the teams refused to take the field. If the fans and advertisers simply didn’t show up.
NFL should play the game when the crisis is over.
If so, it should be a shame if the game were postponed. If the teams refused to take the field. If the fans and advertisers simply didn’t show up.
NFL should play the game when the crisis is over.
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
Of course no one should assume Signal is perfectly secure, and yes, for certain extreme circumstances, you should use no electronic comms.
But for 99.9% of Americans right now? “Signal is just as insecure as other forms of comms” is utterly irresponsible and counterproductive advice.
But for 99.9% of Americans right now? “Signal is just as insecure as other forms of comms” is utterly irresponsible and counterproductive advice.
January 25, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Of course no one should assume Signal is perfectly secure, and yes, for certain extreme circumstances, you should use no electronic comms.
But for 99.9% of Americans right now? “Signal is just as insecure as other forms of comms” is utterly irresponsible and counterproductive advice.
But for 99.9% of Americans right now? “Signal is just as insecure as other forms of comms” is utterly irresponsible and counterproductive advice.
He was an ICU nurse? Wouldn’t surprise me. Nurses are called to care for the vulnerable.
Doesn’t surprise me he chose to care of his neighbors by being out there.
Doesn’t surprise me he chose to care of his neighbors by being out there.
January 24, 2026 at 7:47 PM
He was an ICU nurse? Wouldn’t surprise me. Nurses are called to care for the vulnerable.
Doesn’t surprise me he chose to care of his neighbors by being out there.
Doesn’t surprise me he chose to care of his neighbors by being out there.
I want to point out that the Minneapolis emergency manager comparing the situation to conflict zones she’s worked in is a powerful and rare comparison since EMs don’t usually have that experience.
Turns out she was a humanitarian team lead colleague at USAID BHA. Her comparison is very credible.
Turns out she was a humanitarian team lead colleague at USAID BHA. Her comparison is very credible.
January 24, 2026 at 6:23 PM
I want to point out that the Minneapolis emergency manager comparing the situation to conflict zones she’s worked in is a powerful and rare comparison since EMs don’t usually have that experience.
Turns out she was a humanitarian team lead colleague at USAID BHA. Her comparison is very credible.
Turns out she was a humanitarian team lead colleague at USAID BHA. Her comparison is very credible.
Stand free, friends.
January 23, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Stand free, friends.
Mushine elves, obviously.
With most psychedelic drugs, you never know what you're going to get. But this mysterious mushroom from China - without fail - causes users to hallucinate tiny people: crawling up walls, popping out from under furniture and marching under doors. www.bbc.com/future/artic...
'They saw them on their dishes when eating': The mushroom making people hallucinate dozens of tiny humans
Only recently described by science, the mysterious mushrooms are found in different parts of the world, but they give people the same exact visions.
www.bbc.com
January 23, 2026 at 3:21 PM
Mushine elves, obviously.
Prince was ahead of his time… again.
January 18, 2026 at 4:33 AM
Prince was ahead of his time… again.
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
My last two shots before my world went dark.
January 17, 2026 at 9:55 PM
My last two shots before my world went dark.
Reposted by Rt. Hon. Rakesh
you know this guy is a FOR REAL photographer because he's telling the story of his brutal, unconditional arrest by federal goons and can't help but slip in a gear review
Photo by Pierre Lavie. Yes this is me. And I threw my Leica. It landed on the bass plate with hardly a scratch. Another Photographer grabbed it along with my phone and I was able to track him later. I was held face down tear gas deployed right in front of me and pepper sprayed directly into the eye.
January 17, 2026 at 3:37 PM
you know this guy is a FOR REAL photographer because he's telling the story of his brutal, unconditional arrest by federal goons and can't help but slip in a gear review
Today is my last day of unemployment. New job starts Tuesday.
I am still very much aware of the destruction of USAID, the careers of my colleagues, and the depraved loss of life that resulted from it. May there be justice for all of us, and all of them.
I am still very much aware of the destruction of USAID, the careers of my colleagues, and the depraved loss of life that resulted from it. May there be justice for all of us, and all of them.
January 16, 2026 at 5:27 PM
Today is my last day of unemployment. New job starts Tuesday.
I am still very much aware of the destruction of USAID, the careers of my colleagues, and the depraved loss of life that resulted from it. May there be justice for all of us, and all of them.
I am still very much aware of the destruction of USAID, the careers of my colleagues, and the depraved loss of life that resulted from it. May there be justice for all of us, and all of them.