@estherp.bsky.social
Reader, writer, watcher, listener, New Englander.
Reposted
End-times thought experiment inspired by #Pluribus Episode 3:
Civilization is gone, you’re the last person standing, and you can salvage one complete TV series.
Which show are you choosing to stay sane?
Civilization is gone, you’re the last person standing, and you can salvage one complete TV series.
Which show are you choosing to stay sane?
November 16, 2025 at 11:40 PM
End-times thought experiment inspired by #Pluribus Episode 3:
Civilization is gone, you’re the last person standing, and you can salvage one complete TV series.
Which show are you choosing to stay sane?
Civilization is gone, you’re the last person standing, and you can salvage one complete TV series.
Which show are you choosing to stay sane?
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OK, moralists:
If abortion is murder, then the sex act was conspiracy to commit murder.
If abortion is murder, then the sex act was conspiracy to commit murder.
November 16, 2025 at 11:18 PM
OK, moralists:
If abortion is murder, then the sex act was conspiracy to commit murder.
If abortion is murder, then the sex act was conspiracy to commit murder.
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And if I'm being fair a lot of my fellow white people treat racism as a binary. Either you're an anti-racist or you're out there lighting up crosses, when the reality is we're all one thoughtless or clueless remark from being a dumb bigot. It stinks, but that's how it is.
November 16, 2025 at 5:20 AM
And if I'm being fair a lot of my fellow white people treat racism as a binary. Either you're an anti-racist or you're out there lighting up crosses, when the reality is we're all one thoughtless or clueless remark from being a dumb bigot. It stinks, but that's how it is.
On my trip to the #twincities I also visited the Minneapolis Institute of Art. That got me wondering why Minneapolis, Chicago and Detroit all have art institutes while NYC, Boston and Philadelphia have art museums. Just coincidence? Anyone know, #MidwestSky, #HistorySky or #ArtSky?
November 16, 2025 at 6:07 PM
On my trip to the #twincities I also visited the Minneapolis Institute of Art. That got me wondering why Minneapolis, Chicago and Detroit all have art institutes while NYC, Boston and Philadelphia have art museums. Just coincidence? Anyone know, #MidwestSky, #HistorySky or #ArtSky?
I was in the #twincities last week and visited the #Minnesota State Capitol, where I saw a moving tribute to slain House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband, Mark, and their beloved dog, Gilbert. Gun violence is endemic and we move on quickly, forgetting communities are still grieving. #RIP
November 16, 2025 at 5:37 PM
I was in the #twincities last week and visited the #Minnesota State Capitol, where I saw a moving tribute to slain House Speaker Melissa Hortman, her husband, Mark, and their beloved dog, Gilbert. Gun violence is endemic and we move on quickly, forgetting communities are still grieving. #RIP
Is the pope thinking that this jersey thing is getting out of hand?
Spike and Pope Leo XIV
November 15, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Is the pope thinking that this jersey thing is getting out of hand?
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I just bought chocolate at a local candy store. It is the type of chocolate that is great for melting. And Woowee, it is expensive!!!
November 14, 2025 at 12:57 PM
I just bought chocolate at a local candy store. It is the type of chocolate that is great for melting. And Woowee, it is expensive!!!
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Texas, where 1 in 4 ICE arrests have occurred, has experienced widespread economic consequences from the draconian immigration policies of the Trump administration. And things for the state economy could get worse.
Immigration Policies Take A Toll On The Texas Economy
Almost a quarter of ICE arrests have occurred in Texas, inflicting widespread reverberations on the state's economy
texassignal.com
November 13, 2025 at 4:41 PM
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Christianity Today is an influential magazine in Evangelical circles, and it's a noteworthy signpost that they're doing stories like this because it's the kind of story that pops bubbles.
They Led at Saddleback Church. ICE Said They Were Safe. - Christianity Today
A Colombian couple prayed with neighbors and raised their children in one of America’s most influential churches. What did we gain from their deportation?
www.christianitytoday.com
November 12, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Christianity Today is an influential magazine in Evangelical circles, and it's a noteworthy signpost that they're doing stories like this because it's the kind of story that pops bubbles.
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Why does the House, the larger of the two legislative bodies, not simply eat the Senate
November 9, 2025 at 10:07 PM
Why does the House, the larger of the two legislative bodies, not simply eat the Senate
Reposted
This is important.
A man collapsed in the Oval Office yesterday. The internet got the story wrong.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
My experience struggling to correct the record — including on Bluesky! — and the warning signs as AI, aggregation, and social media increasingly drive our news consumption.
A man collapsed in the Oval Office. The internet got the story wrong.
A case study in how bad information can spread — and how hard it is to correct it.
dandiamond.substack.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:27 PM
This is important.
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Here's my piece for @lawfaremedia.org on my experience covering the Sandwich Guy trial. Warning: longer than 280 characters!
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/sand...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/sand...
Sandwich Guy, Thrower of Hoagie–Or Hero?
The trial ended in an acquittal. But the proceedings felt like a strange sort of performance art—highly amusing and highly menacing at the same time.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 6, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Here's my piece for @lawfaremedia.org on my experience covering the Sandwich Guy trial. Warning: longer than 280 characters!
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/sand...
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/sand...
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A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
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November 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
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Interesting column by @pkrugman.bsky.social on whether Republicans have lost the Latino vote for good. He thinks they have but I'm not so sure. I think ICE has pretty much stayed away from places like Florida and Texas, where a move toward the Democrats could flip those states.
November 6, 2025 at 2:20 PM
Interesting column by @pkrugman.bsky.social on whether Republicans have lost the Latino vote for good. He thinks they have but I'm not so sure. I think ICE has pretty much stayed away from places like Florida and Texas, where a move toward the Democrats could flip those states.
If you forget to play Wordle one day I think your streak should stay intact.
November 5, 2025 at 10:56 PM
If you forget to play Wordle one day I think your streak should stay intact.
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sorry i should have tagged @lynnhurtak.com & @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social !!!
no offense to Rama Duwaji but when it comes to marrying a future municipal elected leader at the Manhattan city clerk's office & taking wedding day photos on an IRT train, I did it first (our photos by @melissalyttle.com / theirs by Kara McCurdy)
November 5, 2025 at 8:55 PM
sorry i should have tagged @lynnhurtak.com & @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social !!!
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This is my mom’s congressional district. She has been unrepresented since January and this is going to drag into 2026, simply because Texas gives the governor immense power in setting special elections.
What's happening in TX-18 is more obscene than not seating Grijalva during pro formas. Turner died in March. Abbott delayed the special election until yesterday, and now it goes to a runoff early *next year.*
Congress can and should require special elections to be held within 90 days of a vacancy.
Congress can and should require special elections to be held within 90 days of a vacancy.
November 5, 2025 at 6:33 PM
This is my mom’s congressional district. She has been unrepresented since January and this is going to drag into 2026, simply because Texas gives the governor immense power in setting special elections.
Religious institutions play an important role in NYC. I'm guessing a lot of people outside NYC don't realize that.
"…(Mamdani) has attended Friday prayers, Diwali celebrations in Queens, Baptist church services in Harlem and Sukkot observances in Hasidic Williamsburg."
…
"On the final Friday before Election Day, volunteers from the campaign and other organizations canvassed at 210 of the city’s 300 mosques…"
…
"On the final Friday before Election Day, volunteers from the campaign and other organizations canvassed at 210 of the city’s 300 mosques…"
Truly brilliant @rns.org team reporting here from @ulaakuzi.bsky.social, @fiona-ndre.bsky.social and @richakarma.bsky.social:
Inside Zohran Mamdani's bid to win over religious New Yorkers —> religionnews.com/2025/11/04/i...
Inside Zohran Mamdani's bid to win over religious New Yorkers —> religionnews.com/2025/11/04/i...
November 5, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Religious institutions play an important role in NYC. I'm guessing a lot of people outside NYC don't realize that.
The defeated Republican incumbents had voted to approve six rate increases over the last two years, resulting in an estimated average increase of about $500 per year for the average household.
georgiarecorder.com/2025/11/04/d...
georgiarecorder.com/2025/11/04/d...
Democrats flip two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission • Georgia Recorder
Democrats have flipped two seats on the Georgia Public Service Commission, which is currently an all-GOP panel. The PSC regulates Georgia utilities.
georgiarecorder.com
November 5, 2025 at 12:24 PM
The defeated Republican incumbents had voted to approve six rate increases over the last two years, resulting in an estimated average increase of about $500 per year for the average household.
georgiarecorder.com/2025/11/04/d...
georgiarecorder.com/2025/11/04/d...
Turnout matters.
November 5, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Turnout matters.
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Reposted
Anyone familiar with Conde Nast knows that owner Advance Publications has a history of bloodletting in its media properties. They have no problem firing hundreds of workers on any given day, even to the detriment of their bottom line.
NONE of what happened at Teen Vogue should be a surprise.
NONE of what happened at Teen Vogue should be a surprise.
if you want to know what happened to Teen Vogue yesterday, my work wife @allegrak.bsky.social — who ran our politics section for 6 years until this past June — said it all in this.
can't even pull out a favorite part til I sign my separation letter lol, just read the whole thing.
can't even pull out a favorite part til I sign my separation letter lol, just read the whole thing.
What We Lost When Condé Nast Unceremoniously Shuttered Teen Vogue
This article is part of TPM Cafe, TPM’s home for opinion and news...
talkingpointsmemo.com
November 4, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Anyone familiar with Conde Nast knows that owner Advance Publications has a history of bloodletting in its media properties. They have no problem firing hundreds of workers on any given day, even to the detriment of their bottom line.
NONE of what happened at Teen Vogue should be a surprise.
NONE of what happened at Teen Vogue should be a surprise.
The New York Times obit of Dick Cheney is really long. Much longer than I have a desire to read (which isn't much). I wonder if the whole thing will make it into print?
November 4, 2025 at 1:57 PM
The New York Times obit of Dick Cheney is really long. Much longer than I have a desire to read (which isn't much). I wonder if the whole thing will make it into print?
Reposted
BREAKING: Highlights Magazine Caves Into Trump Administration’s Demands, Kills Gallant Off and Only Keeps Goofus
November 4, 2025 at 2:04 AM
BREAKING: Highlights Magazine Caves Into Trump Administration’s Demands, Kills Gallant Off and Only Keeps Goofus
Reposted
Cuts to SNAP have been a mask-off moment for some religious people in my extended network. People I thought shared a common belief about serving the poor without judgement even if our how-to ideas differed. I'm supposed to be cynical and cranky at 50 but cannot stomach some of their words this week.
November 3, 2025 at 9:50 PM
Cuts to SNAP have been a mask-off moment for some religious people in my extended network. People I thought shared a common belief about serving the poor without judgement even if our how-to ideas differed. I'm supposed to be cynical and cranky at 50 but cannot stomach some of their words this week.