DGCassidy
@dgcassidy.bsky.social
Humanist. Agnotology watchdog. 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇮🇪 Agitator for a better tomorrow for *everyone*. #VA01 progressive. #LFC, #PetShopBoys fan. Believer in peer-reviewed data, conclusions, and policies.
Pinned
DGCassidy
@dgcassidy.bsky.social
· Dec 17
"Agnotology is the study of the deliberate spread of ignorance or doubt to influence opinion. It helps us understand how people use ignorance to hide or divert attention from societal problems, promote ignorance, and stoke xenophobia and populism."
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
www.bbc.com/future/artic...
The man who studies the spread of ignorance
How do people or companies with vested interests spread ignorance and obfuscate knowledge? Georgina Kenyon finds there is a term which defines this phenomenon.
www.bbc.com
Agnotology = word of the last decade.
“Proctor found that ignorance spreads when firstly, many people do not understand a concept or fact and secondly, when special interest groups – like a commercial firm or a political group – then work hard to create confusion about an issue.”
Sound familiar?
“Proctor found that ignorance spreads when firstly, many people do not understand a concept or fact and secondly, when special interest groups – like a commercial firm or a political group – then work hard to create confusion about an issue.”
Sound familiar?
Reposted by DGCassidy
Wittman is a megaphone for good news. HR1 has devastating cuts to Medicaid and cancer research. Rob loves to brag about popular programs then gaslight us into believing billionaire tax cuts are more important than maintaining rural hospitals and cancer research. Don’t let him get away with it again.
November 15, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Wittman is a megaphone for good news. HR1 has devastating cuts to Medicaid and cancer research. Rob loves to brag about popular programs then gaslight us into believing billionaire tax cuts are more important than maintaining rural hospitals and cancer research. Don’t let him get away with it again.
Enjoyed @erickakopp.com’s town hall today! Directions answers to a broad range of questions. Recommend joining her on her tour when it hits your area in #VA01!
November 15, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Enjoyed @erickakopp.com’s town hall today! Directions answers to a broad range of questions. Recommend joining her on her tour when it hits your area in #VA01!
My goodness, how absolutely right @rosietheresister.bsky.social is in this piece. Essential reading!
Our politics is about to make a big turn. Progressives can lead that charge…if they get the messaging right…for once.
Our politics is about to make a big turn. Progressives can lead that charge…if they get the messaging right…for once.
Two Parties. Two Identity Crisis. Only One Will Come Out On Top.
The nation is at a pivotal moment. It's imperative that the Democrats take control of the messaging.
open.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 2:54 PM
My goodness, how absolutely right @rosietheresister.bsky.social is in this piece. Essential reading!
Our politics is about to make a big turn. Progressives can lead that charge…if they get the messaging right…for once.
Our politics is about to make a big turn. Progressives can lead that charge…if they get the messaging right…for once.
Reposted by DGCassidy
"Column: Governor-elect [Abigail Spanberger] defended UVa’s integrity. Sitting governor [Glenn Youngkin] attacked her for it." bluevirginia.us/2025/11/in-r...
!["Column: Governor-elect [Abigail Spanberger] defended UVa’s integrity. Sitting governor [Glenn Youngkin] attacked her for it."
https://richmond.com/opinion/column/article_86447469-ec9a-4b1d-9e46-e40674653c70.html?fbclid=IwY2xjawOFVRpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyCGNhbGxzaXRlAjMwAAEeZeqdmAXAbE-cMRjcSdG0iONBj9QbGp5rfAp05U45o1j23Ud4zZhZBT4J9J0_aem_8Ojwl3hJd6_Zktmnt1-69A](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:mlan7kocyn37uzb25btjt2cc/bafkreibil7knevmraozsgcegauyf362lbsrgswmvgytsfq65vab32sketi@jpeg)
November 15, 2025 at 12:48 PM
"Column: Governor-elect [Abigail Spanberger] defended UVa’s integrity. Sitting governor [Glenn Youngkin] attacked her for it." bluevirginia.us/2025/11/in-r...
Reposted by DGCassidy
Will Wittman cross Trump and vote to release the Epstein files?!?! 🤔🤔🤔
Hmm, let's ✅ the record:
✅Election denier in '20
✅Votes against infrastructure in '21
✅Guts SNAP and Medicaid in '25
✅Gives huge tax breaks to billionaires
Yup, it's a head-scratcher, for sure! 🙄
@wittmanwatch.bsky.social
Hmm, let's ✅ the record:
✅Election denier in '20
✅Votes against infrastructure in '21
✅Guts SNAP and Medicaid in '25
✅Gives huge tax breaks to billionaires
Yup, it's a head-scratcher, for sure! 🙄
@wittmanwatch.bsky.social
November 15, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Will Wittman cross Trump and vote to release the Epstein files?!?! 🤔🤔🤔
Hmm, let's ✅ the record:
✅Election denier in '20
✅Votes against infrastructure in '21
✅Guts SNAP and Medicaid in '25
✅Gives huge tax breaks to billionaires
Yup, it's a head-scratcher, for sure! 🙄
@wittmanwatch.bsky.social
Hmm, let's ✅ the record:
✅Election denier in '20
✅Votes against infrastructure in '21
✅Guts SNAP and Medicaid in '25
✅Gives huge tax breaks to billionaires
Yup, it's a head-scratcher, for sure! 🙄
@wittmanwatch.bsky.social
Reposted by DGCassidy
This is the Trump economy Wittman keeps voting for: the US has lost 1.1m jobs so far in 2025, and the rate is increasing. When will Wittman work to stop this madness? When will he fight for people in #VA01?
November 14, 2025 at 10:14 PM
This is the Trump economy Wittman keeps voting for: the US has lost 1.1m jobs so far in 2025, and the rate is increasing. When will Wittman work to stop this madness? When will he fight for people in #VA01?
Reposted by DGCassidy
This year, we've worked with state and local partners across the nation to advance #RankedChoiceVoting & #ProportionalRepresentation.
With your help, we can keep moving forward in 2026 – giving voters more voice & making our elections better.
Join us ⬇️
fairvote.org/2025-giving/
With your help, we can keep moving forward in 2026 – giving voters more voice & making our elections better.
Join us ⬇️
fairvote.org/2025-giving/
The Path Forward in 2026 - FairVote
We hope that you will join us by making a generous donation to support our efforts in 2026 as we look to build our movement for success.
fairvote.org
November 14, 2025 at 7:45 PM
This year, we've worked with state and local partners across the nation to advance #RankedChoiceVoting & #ProportionalRepresentation.
With your help, we can keep moving forward in 2026 – giving voters more voice & making our elections better.
Join us ⬇️
fairvote.org/2025-giving/
With your help, we can keep moving forward in 2026 – giving voters more voice & making our elections better.
Join us ⬇️
fairvote.org/2025-giving/
Reposted by DGCassidy
Republican, Democrat, or Independent, you should care about the integrity of those who rule our country, and demand justice for those who need it. Wittman's staff says he doesn't yet have a position on whether to release the Epstein Files. Tell him what you think.
November 14, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Republican, Democrat, or Independent, you should care about the integrity of those who rule our country, and demand justice for those who need it. Wittman's staff says he doesn't yet have a position on whether to release the Epstein Files. Tell him what you think.
Reposted by DGCassidy
153,074 jobs were cut in October, the highest since 2003.
Republicans broke the economy, fueled mass layoffs, and now want to blame Democrats because the numbers look bad.
Give me a break.
Republicans broke the economy, fueled mass layoffs, and now want to blame Democrats because the numbers look bad.
Give me a break.
The White House says that key inflation and jobs data for October will “likely never” be released due to the government shutdown.
The last time a shutdown delayed a jobs report was in October 2013, when the report was delayed by a few weeks.
The last time a shutdown delayed a jobs report was in October 2013, when the report was delayed by a few weeks.
White House says the October jobs report may never be released
The last time a shutdown delayed a jobs report was in October 2013, when the report was delayed by a few weeks.
wapo.st
November 14, 2025 at 6:27 PM
153,074 jobs were cut in October, the highest since 2003.
Republicans broke the economy, fueled mass layoffs, and now want to blame Democrats because the numbers look bad.
Give me a break.
Republicans broke the economy, fueled mass layoffs, and now want to blame Democrats because the numbers look bad.
Give me a break.
Congratulations, MAGA, you just allied yourselves with Hungary. Good luck with that.
Homan: "I don't think the UK is a friend to this country and friend of the president"
November 14, 2025 at 6:42 PM
Congratulations, MAGA, you just allied yourselves with Hungary. Good luck with that.
Reposted by DGCassidy
Remember that Nimarata Nikki Randhawa ran as Nikki Haley
Piyush Jindal ran as Bobby Jindal
Raphael Cruz ran as Ted Cruz
Meanwhile—Barack Obama ran as Barack Obama and Zohran Mamdani ran as Zohran Mamdani, and MAGAs accuse Dems of identity politics
Every MAGA accusation is a confession
Piyush Jindal ran as Bobby Jindal
Raphael Cruz ran as Ted Cruz
Meanwhile—Barack Obama ran as Barack Obama and Zohran Mamdani ran as Zohran Mamdani, and MAGAs accuse Dems of identity politics
Every MAGA accusation is a confession
November 14, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Remember that Nimarata Nikki Randhawa ran as Nikki Haley
Piyush Jindal ran as Bobby Jindal
Raphael Cruz ran as Ted Cruz
Meanwhile—Barack Obama ran as Barack Obama and Zohran Mamdani ran as Zohran Mamdani, and MAGAs accuse Dems of identity politics
Every MAGA accusation is a confession
Piyush Jindal ran as Bobby Jindal
Raphael Cruz ran as Ted Cruz
Meanwhile—Barack Obama ran as Barack Obama and Zohran Mamdani ran as Zohran Mamdani, and MAGAs accuse Dems of identity politics
Every MAGA accusation is a confession
One way to fix our government is to raise voter turnout. We need more experiments like this one in Alaska to ensure our democracy is truly representative of the nation’s people.
Will People Trust Voting by Phone? Alaska Is Going to Find Out.
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 3:04 PM
One way to fix our government is to raise voter turnout. We need more experiments like this one in Alaska to ensure our democracy is truly representative of the nation’s people.
Challenging the definition of pedophilia to protect pedophiles - this is where we are now. There is absolutely no depth of moral depravity to which the acolytes of Trump will not descend. They are competing to be as similar as possible to the man himself.
Megyn Kelly: "I know somebody very close to this case…Jeffrey Epstein, in this person's view, was not a pedophile…He was into the barely legal type, like he liked 15 year old girls…He wasn't into like 8 year olds…There's a difference between a 15 year old and a 5 year old."
November 14, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Challenging the definition of pedophilia to protect pedophiles - this is where we are now. There is absolutely no depth of moral depravity to which the acolytes of Trump will not descend. They are competing to be as similar as possible to the man himself.
Underreported sanity here.
democrats love all their moderate, progressive, and top-of-the-distribution leaders <3
they can all live in harmony together under a big diverse tent if they restore regional party identities and stop the circular firing squad on nationalized media <3
they can all live in harmony together under a big diverse tent if they restore regional party identities and stop the circular firing squad on nationalized media <3
November 14, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Underreported sanity here.
Nope. Misdirection. Historically low interest rates, ineffective housing policies, and - hear me out - corporate landlording on an epic scale, funded by billionaires are to blame. Illegals? No. Shut your cake hole, Playtime Pope.
JD Vance: "A lot of young people are saying housing is way too expensive. Why is that? Because we flooded the country with 30 million illegal immigrants who were taking houses that ought by right go to American citizens."
November 14, 2025 at 1:53 AM
Nope. Misdirection. Historically low interest rates, ineffective housing policies, and - hear me out - corporate landlording on an epic scale, funded by billionaires are to blame. Illegals? No. Shut your cake hole, Playtime Pope.
Damn. Keep it going, @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social. The bear pit of the House needs more of this!
November 14, 2025 at 1:50 AM
Damn. Keep it going, @hakeem-jeffries.bsky.social. The bear pit of the House needs more of this!
Reposted by DGCassidy
Remember, Mr. Wittman, Republicans control all three branches of government and could've opened the government and extended SNAP and ACA benefits at any time. Mikey says he'll put it up for a vote next month. Why should we trust that you'll put constituents first and not bow to political pressure?
November 13, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Remember, Mr. Wittman, Republicans control all three branches of government and could've opened the government and extended SNAP and ACA benefits at any time. Mikey says he'll put it up for a vote next month. Why should we trust that you'll put constituents first and not bow to political pressure?
Reposted by DGCassidy
the nyt frames this so it's the teenager who damages Gaetz, rather than the other way around.
that's a disgusting way to present this story.
that's a disgusting way to present this story.
A teenager in Florida with a homeless parent wanted money for braces and ended up having sex for money with powerful men, setting off a chain of events that would have a dramatic impact on her life and help upend the political career of Representative Matt Gaetz. nyti.ms/49PSkL9
November 14, 2025 at 12:26 AM
the nyt frames this so it's the teenager who damages Gaetz, rather than the other way around.
that's a disgusting way to present this story.
that's a disgusting way to present this story.
Reposted by DGCassidy
Join our campaign to Trump-proof the BBC
Trump-proof the BBC
The BBC is our national broadcaster, we must defend it against those who want to destroy it.
www.libdems.org.uk
November 13, 2025 at 6:32 PM
Join our campaign to Trump-proof the BBC
Does he look more yellow than usual?
Trump: The bible tells us that one of the measures of any society is how it cares for vulnerable children and orphans—so important and so big in the bible.
November 13, 2025 at 8:14 PM
Does he look more yellow than usual?
I'm a big fan of Le Yaca in Williamsburg but a top 25 restaurant in America?! I'd blame AI but this seems like simple nonsense.
Le Yaca French Restaurant in Williamsburg, VA — a local gem earning national praise.
Le Yaca French Restaurant in Williamsburg has been named one of the top 25 fine dining restaurants in America by TripAdvisor — a well-deserved national spotlight for one of the region’s most belove…
mrwilliamsburg.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:46 PM
I'm a big fan of Le Yaca in Williamsburg but a top 25 restaurant in America?! I'd blame AI but this seems like simple nonsense.
Allegations of addressing “waste, fraud, and abuse” are coming shortly, as cover for cruel, unnecessary policies to shovel more of our taxpayer money to billionaires. ALWAYS.
And the capitulators in the Senate made this possible by failing to see the fight through.
And the capitulators in the Senate made this possible by failing to see the fight through.
Brooke Rollins: "SNAP is a broken program. SNAP is full of corruption. We found 186,000 dead people."
November 13, 2025 at 4:15 PM
Allegations of addressing “waste, fraud, and abuse” are coming shortly, as cover for cruel, unnecessary policies to shovel more of our taxpayer money to billionaires. ALWAYS.
And the capitulators in the Senate made this possible by failing to see the fight through.
And the capitulators in the Senate made this possible by failing to see the fight through.
Reposted by DGCassidy
It’s a simple question, Rep. Rob Wittman. You’re gonna have to vote and you’ve had weeks of paid leave to think about it. #VA01 would like to know: will you vote to release the Epstein Files?
November 13, 2025 at 4:11 PM
It’s a simple question, Rep. Rob Wittman. You’re gonna have to vote and you’ve had weeks of paid leave to think about it. #VA01 would like to know: will you vote to release the Epstein Files?
Kai at @densediscovery.bsky.social does such a wonderful job of piercing the everyday by highlighting key essays, art, apps, and more. If you haven’t read an issue or two yet, set aside 8 minutes to do it right now.
📬 Out now: DD364 / When independence meets reality www.densediscovery.com/issues/364/
Dense Discovery – Issue 364 / When independence meets reality
Read the archived version of Issue 364 / When independence meets reality
www.densediscovery.com
November 13, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Kai at @densediscovery.bsky.social does such a wonderful job of piercing the everyday by highlighting key essays, art, apps, and more. If you haven’t read an issue or two yet, set aside 8 minutes to do it right now.