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?
NBC cut the Olympics crowd booing JD Vance from the prime time broadcast.
That’s some cowardly bullshit.
That’s some cowardly bullshit.
February 7, 2026 at 3:02 AM
NBC cut the Olympics crowd booing JD Vance from the prime time broadcast.
That’s some cowardly bullshit.
That’s some cowardly bullshit.
Reposted by DGCassidy
Gov. Spanberger signs bill to enable redistricting referendum
Gov. Spanberger signs bill to enable redistricting referendum
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The redistricting effort is expected to go to Virginia voters in an April 21 referendum.
The post Gov. Spanberger signs bill to enable redistricting referendum appeared first on Cardinal News.
dlvr.it
February 7, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Gov. Spanberger signs bill to enable redistricting referendum
Reposted by DGCassidy
As usual, @vpap.bsky.social delivers! Here's a tool where you can enter your address and see what district you'd end up in under the new maps, should they be passed.
www.vpap.org/redistrictin...
www.vpap.org/redistrictin...
February 6, 2026 at 6:35 PM
As usual, @vpap.bsky.social delivers! Here's a tool where you can enter your address and see what district you'd end up in under the new maps, should they be passed.
www.vpap.org/redistrictin...
www.vpap.org/redistrictin...
Reposted by DGCassidy
This is REAL--posted during Black History Month.
Trump is showing you EXACTLY who he is. Believe him.
@mcclellan.house.gov @kaine.senate.gov @markwarner.bsky.social @vayd.bsky.social @vademocrats.bsky.social @bluevirginia.bsky.social @rva-indivisible.bsky.social @50501virginia.bsky.social
Trump is showing you EXACTLY who he is. Believe him.
@mcclellan.house.gov @kaine.senate.gov @markwarner.bsky.social @vayd.bsky.social @vademocrats.bsky.social @bluevirginia.bsky.social @rva-indivisible.bsky.social @50501virginia.bsky.social
February 6, 2026 at 1:08 PM
This is REAL--posted during Black History Month.
Trump is showing you EXACTLY who he is. Believe him.
@mcclellan.house.gov @kaine.senate.gov @markwarner.bsky.social @vayd.bsky.social @vademocrats.bsky.social @bluevirginia.bsky.social @rva-indivisible.bsky.social @50501virginia.bsky.social
Trump is showing you EXACTLY who he is. Believe him.
@mcclellan.house.gov @kaine.senate.gov @markwarner.bsky.social @vayd.bsky.social @vademocrats.bsky.social @bluevirginia.bsky.social @rva-indivisible.bsky.social @50501virginia.bsky.social
Reposted by DGCassidy
#VA01 candidate Elizabeth Dempsey-Beggs is hosting a friendship bracelet event in Glen Allen on Feb 15th! Scan the QR code to learn more. #FlipVA01withlove
February 6, 2026 at 11:39 AM
#VA01 candidate Elizabeth Dempsey-Beggs is hosting a friendship bracelet event in Glen Allen on Feb 15th! Scan the QR code to learn more. #FlipVA01withlove
Y’know there are also billionaires in Europe. Seems like taxes aren’t such an onerous burden if a person also wants lower gun violence, a robust system of law, etc. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
February 5, 2026 at 10:43 PM
Y’know there are also billionaires in Europe. Seems like taxes aren’t such an onerous burden if a person also wants lower gun violence, a robust system of law, etc. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
The Trump Economy isn’t working for Americans. It works for billionaires and autocrats only, with crumbs falling off the table to everyone else.
Even if your 401k is up today, the fundamentals will catch up soon. The gains can’t go on with these job numbers.
Even if your 401k is up today, the fundamentals will catch up soon. The gains can’t go on with these job numbers.
CNN: "New data shows January was the lowest months for job cuts since the 2009 Great Recession...layoffs way up, hiring ways down. During the month of January, US-based employers announced just over 108,000 layoffs. That's roughly double January 2025. In fact, this is the highest since January 2009"
February 5, 2026 at 1:36 PM
The Trump Economy isn’t working for Americans. It works for billionaires and autocrats only, with crumbs falling off the table to everyone else.
Even if your 401k is up today, the fundamentals will catch up soon. The gains can’t go on with these job numbers.
Even if your 401k is up today, the fundamentals will catch up soon. The gains can’t go on with these job numbers.
Wow.
Sir Ian McKellen performing a monologue from Shakespeare’s Sir Thomas More on the Stephen Colbert show. Never have I heard this monologue performed with such a keen sense of prescience. Nor have I ever been in this exact historical moment.TY Sir Ian, for reaching us once again.
#Pinks #ProudBlue
#Pinks #ProudBlue
February 5, 2026 at 1:27 PM
Wow.
Rob Wittman (R-VA01) hasn’t held a town hall since 2009! How can anyone claim to represent a district if they never stand up and speak to the people in that district? They can’t.
Time for Wittman to go.
Time for Wittman to go.
No one enjoys performance reviews. People who truly suck at their jobs know their performance reviews will be rough. There's only so long they can avoid their bosses before they're finally fired.
Our latest examines why Rob Wittman doesn't hold town hall meetings.
Our latest examines why Rob Wittman doesn't hold town hall meetings.
Without Town Halls, Representation Suffers
Disengaged Wittman can't hear us because he chooses not to
open.substack.com
February 5, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Rob Wittman (R-VA01) hasn’t held a town hall since 2009! How can anyone claim to represent a district if they never stand up and speak to the people in that district? They can’t.
Time for Wittman to go.
Time for Wittman to go.
Reposted by DGCassidy
Register to vote ASAP so you can vote in the primaries.
We need progressive candidates to get through the gate. Support our cohort by volunteering and donating.
Don’t wait until the general.
We need progressive candidates to get through the gate. Support our cohort by volunteering and donating.
Don’t wait until the general.
February 5, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Register to vote ASAP so you can vote in the primaries.
We need progressive candidates to get through the gate. Support our cohort by volunteering and donating.
Don’t wait until the general.
We need progressive candidates to get through the gate. Support our cohort by volunteering and donating.
Don’t wait until the general.
Reposted by DGCassidy
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Rob, you want a balanced budget and a stronger economy, but Trump-era policies added $8.4TN while Biden-era policies added about $4.5TN to the deficit. The first step to deficit reduction is to repeal the Trump billionaire tax cuts. Take the lead, Rob.
February 4, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Thank you for your attention to this matter. Rob, you want a balanced budget and a stronger economy, but Trump-era policies added $8.4TN while Biden-era policies added about $4.5TN to the deficit. The first step to deficit reduction is to repeal the Trump billionaire tax cuts. Take the lead, Rob.
Let me be among the first to say to Pentagon bigwigs wishing to piss about with VMI's governance: if we Virginia taxpayers fund it (and we do), you have no say. We will preserve and evolve OUR traditions the way WE want, as we have with VMI for generations.
Now fuck off.
Now fuck off.
Pentagon warns it could take ‘extraordinary measures’ in fight over VMI’s future
Democratic state lawmakers have introduced two bills that could substantially alter how the Lexington military college operates.
cardinalnews.org
February 4, 2026 at 5:13 PM
Let me be among the first to say to Pentagon bigwigs wishing to piss about with VMI's governance: if we Virginia taxpayers fund it (and we do), you have no say. We will preserve and evolve OUR traditions the way WE want, as we have with VMI for generations.
Now fuck off.
Now fuck off.
Reposted by DGCassidy
ICE: Aiming guns at citizens who dare follow them.
This is who they are.
Where's Wittman? 🎣🤐
@rva-indivisible.bsky.social @indivisiblevan.bsky.social @50501virginia.bsky.social @804thepeople.bsky.social @neighbors4change.bsky.social
@wittmanwatch.bsky.social
This is who they are.
Where's Wittman? 🎣🤐
@rva-indivisible.bsky.social @indivisiblevan.bsky.social @50501virginia.bsky.social @804thepeople.bsky.social @neighbors4change.bsky.social
@wittmanwatch.bsky.social
February 4, 2026 at 10:54 AM
ICE: Aiming guns at citizens who dare follow them.
This is who they are.
Where's Wittman? 🎣🤐
@rva-indivisible.bsky.social @indivisiblevan.bsky.social @50501virginia.bsky.social @804thepeople.bsky.social @neighbors4change.bsky.social
@wittmanwatch.bsky.social
This is who they are.
Where's Wittman? 🎣🤐
@rva-indivisible.bsky.social @indivisiblevan.bsky.social @50501virginia.bsky.social @804thepeople.bsky.social @neighbors4change.bsky.social
@wittmanwatch.bsky.social
No apologies demanded from the paymaster.
Q: Yesterday you said Putin agreed to pause during the cold weather. Overnight those attacks started up again--
TRUMP: It was Sunday to Sunday. He him them hard last night. He kept his word on that.
TRUMP: It was Sunday to Sunday. He him them hard last night. He kept his word on that.
February 3, 2026 at 10:39 PM
No apologies demanded from the paymaster.
The bill to expand Ranked Choice Voting in Virginia passed the Senate - congrats @upvoteva.bsky.social and @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social ! The companion bill in the House has 20 cosponsors, so it’s looking promising. Please contact your reps today to support this: secure.ngpvan.com/BVnX8olnsk-n...
February 3, 2026 at 7:13 PM
The bill to expand Ranked Choice Voting in Virginia passed the Senate - congrats @upvoteva.bsky.social and @scvanvalkenburg.bsky.social ! The companion bill in the House has 20 cosponsors, so it’s looking promising. Please contact your reps today to support this: secure.ngpvan.com/BVnX8olnsk-n...
Christ alive there’s more: Reform is using DOGE-inspired cost-savings methods but their lead guy says, “We made some assumptions that we would come in here and find some of the craziness that [Musk’s] Doge found in America … and that was wrong, we didn’t find any of that.”
Really? REALLY?!
Really? REALLY?!
Reform UK promised lower taxes. Easier to be in opposition than to govern: “At least four of the 10 councils the party controls had proposed 5% council tax rises, the maximum permitted by law, at the beginning of this year.”
Also, Warwickshire: WTactualF are you doing electing these clowns?
Also, Warwickshire: WTactualF are you doing electing these clowns?
‘I had to learn very quickly’: Reform UK leader, 19, defends council tax rise
February 3, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Christ alive there’s more: Reform is using DOGE-inspired cost-savings methods but their lead guy says, “We made some assumptions that we would come in here and find some of the craziness that [Musk’s] Doge found in America … and that was wrong, we didn’t find any of that.”
Really? REALLY?!
Really? REALLY?!
Reform UK promised lower taxes. Easier to be in opposition than to govern: “At least four of the 10 councils the party controls had proposed 5% council tax rises, the maximum permitted by law, at the beginning of this year.”
Also, Warwickshire: WTactualF are you doing electing these clowns?
Also, Warwickshire: WTactualF are you doing electing these clowns?
‘I had to learn very quickly’: Reform UK leader, 19, defends council tax rise
‘I had to learn very quickly’: Reform UK leader, 19, defends council tax rise
Party accused of breaking election promise – but officials in Warwickshire say George Finch’s 3.89% rise still not enough to balance budget
The 19-year-old leader of a Reform-led council has defended proposals for a 3.89% council tax rise, despite senior officers saying anything less than 5% would put the financial viability of the local authority at risk.
Financial executives at Warwickshire county council said in December that the proposed increase was a “riskier financial strategy” that would threaten the medium-term sustainability of the local authority. Continue reading...
www.theguardian.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:14 PM
Reform UK promised lower taxes. Easier to be in opposition than to govern: “At least four of the 10 councils the party controls had proposed 5% council tax rises, the maximum permitted by law, at the beginning of this year.”
Also, Warwickshire: WTactualF are you doing electing these clowns?
Also, Warwickshire: WTactualF are you doing electing these clowns?
There are consequences (however little) for some people associated with Epstein. Hoping for more. FAR more.
BREAKING: Lord Mandelson is to step down from the House of Lords immediately. But he will keep his title as a peerage is bestowed for life - unless government changes the law.
February 3, 2026 at 3:07 PM
There are consequences (however little) for some people associated with Epstein. Hoping for more. FAR more.
Reposted by DGCassidy
Thomas Jefferson said that public education is foundational to the republic, our economy, and our democracy. Rob Wittman reminds us frequently that his wife was a teacher. So naturally he does all he can to support it. OR SO YOU'D THINK.
Welcome to our latest Myth of the Week!
Welcome to our latest Myth of the Week!
Myth of the Week: Does Wittman care about public education?
Based on his actions, no.
open.substack.com
February 3, 2026 at 12:33 PM
Thomas Jefferson said that public education is foundational to the republic, our economy, and our democracy. Rob Wittman reminds us frequently that his wife was a teacher. So naturally he does all he can to support it. OR SO YOU'D THINK.
Welcome to our latest Myth of the Week!
Welcome to our latest Myth of the Week!
See my prior post about Trump, Putin, Thiel, MBS, et al. Interfering with the elections is their next necessary step.
Trump today: “We should take over the voting in at least 15 places. The Republicans ought to nationalize the voting because we have states that are so crooked.”
February 3, 2026 at 12:28 AM
See my prior post about Trump, Putin, Thiel, MBS, et al. Interfering with the elections is their next necessary step.
Trump is getting paid by Putin, Thiel, MBS, and others. He isn’t and has never governed for Americans, unless they’re paying him.
Peter Thiel has been open about this for a long time. Trump is a way to break the republic, which can then be replaced by “free economic zones” with oligarchs as dictators and tech as a taskmaster for helpless humans without any rights. (1/2)
Definitely seems like they destroyed the country on purpose.
February 3, 2026 at 12:27 AM
Trump is getting paid by Putin, Thiel, MBS, and others. He isn’t and has never governed for Americans, unless they’re paying him.
Reposted by DGCassidy
Golly gee, oh well. They got me again. What can I do about?
February 3, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Golly gee, oh well. They got me again. What can I do about?
2nd amendment fans: Dems were never “coming for your guns”. But these guys are.
Pirro: "You bring a gun into the District, you mark my words, you're going to jail. I don't care if you have a license in another district and I don't care if you're a law abiding law owner somewhere else. You bring a gun into this District, count on going to jail. And that makes all the difference"
February 3, 2026 at 12:22 AM
2nd amendment fans: Dems were never “coming for your guns”. But these guys are.
Reposted by DGCassidy
Wittman wants us to think he's an advocate for wind energy and the prosperity it will bring to #VA01. So he writes a letter to ask Hegseth, if it's not too much trouble, to please, kindly, ever-so-sweetly justify why he and Trump put $11bn of investment and jobs at risk. It's pure hypocrisy! 1/
February 2, 2026 at 10:01 PM
Wittman wants us to think he's an advocate for wind energy and the prosperity it will bring to #VA01. So he writes a letter to ask Hegseth, if it's not too much trouble, to please, kindly, ever-so-sweetly justify why he and Trump put $11bn of investment and jobs at risk. It's pure hypocrisy! 1/
💯 this!
Rob keeps asking if we need help. Hmm, in the last 2-plus months we:
✅Helped stop an ICE jail (NO thanks to YOU)
✅Elected one of our own as Gov
✅Flipped a Red seat in Henrico
Seems like we should be asking you.
#flipVA-01
@wittmanwatch.bsky.social
@neighbors4change.bsky.social
✅Helped stop an ICE jail (NO thanks to YOU)
✅Elected one of our own as Gov
✅Flipped a Red seat in Henrico
Seems like we should be asking you.
#flipVA-01
@wittmanwatch.bsky.social
@neighbors4change.bsky.social
February 2, 2026 at 6:08 PM
💯 this!