Rebecca Raney
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fairleyraney.bsky.social
Rebecca Raney
@fairleyraney.bsky.social
- Respectable Journalist. Terrible Waitress.
- Compulsive Novelist. Violinist.
- Long-time Contributor/NYT.

Agent: Isabelle Bleecker
Pinned
Hi, I'm Rebecca, and I am not doing one more platform. 🚫⌨️

Also: How many minutes of video can we post here?
Over the weekend, I pitched in on coverage of the driver who plowed a car into a crowd in Los Angeles.

What struck me was how many people in the neighborhood said they weren't surprised, because these incidents are just part of life in LA.

GIFT link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/19/u...
Driver Purposely Plows Car Into Crowd in L.A., Injuring at Least 30, Officials Say
www.nytimes.com
July 21, 2025 at 4:35 PM
So . . . how many dolls would this buy?
May 15, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Hey look!

The local college has a vending machine that sells proven methods to prevent autism:
April 22, 2025 at 5:16 PM
A little-known fact about me: I had a long run as the queen of L.A. #Earthquake Twitter.

I doubt I can duplicate that success here, but here's the running score on my china cabinet vs. earthquakes, since I've lived in this house:

Earthquakes: 0
China cabinet: 10
April 14, 2025 at 5:30 PM
This story started as a routine science piece.

Then I learned that a Canadian scientist had been fired for releasing results to the public, and at least one U.S. scientist encountered intimidation as well.

Here's the story:
March 10, 2025 at 1:12 PM
NEW TODAY: Beekeepers are reporting substantial losses of colonies this winter, and scientists are scrambling to find out why. 🐝

While I didn't call it a "Manhattan Project of entomology" in the story, I can definitely say that a Dream Team of bee scientists is on the case.
February 28, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Question of the day:

Did I really need to buy a 72-inch fuchsia-fade Italian silk scarf for the "Mahler Grooves" festival in L.A.?

Yes. Yes, I did.
February 20, 2025 at 9:22 PM
Here's a worthwhile piece from @columjournreview.bsky.social.

For me, one of the great joys of having long experience in the news business is that I no longer have to hide my background from editors and co-workers.

But where I disagree with this piece . . . (NEXT TAKE)
www.cjr.org/analysis/ame...
America Needs a Working-Class Media
Catering to rich audiences is not serving us.
www.cjr.org
February 18, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Raney
U.S. Right to Know wins James Madison Freedom of Information Award from the Society of Professional Journalists Northern California chapter for our investigation and reporting on the origins of COVID-19.
Our reporting here:
usrtk.org/category/cov...

Award:
spjnorcal.org/2025/02/12/s...
February 12, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I mean, I could play it cool about all this, but I won't
February 9, 2025 at 6:49 PM
The theory of "Musk Mystery Theater," in three parts: 🧵
February 9, 2025 at 5:46 PM
"Wait! They didn't tell us Project 2025 would take away our weed!"

- Confused libertarian weed lobby
February 7, 2025 at 5:15 PM
“I don’t want these ‘tobacco’ huts popping up all over the place selling weed,” he said, adding that he finds it “funny how you never hear about the supremacy of federal law when it comes to legalizing weed.”

- Russ Vought, OMB Director, Life of the Party
February 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by Rebecca Raney
The news that DOGE has read and write access to critical aspects of the federal payment system makes the lawsuit filed yesterday seeking an injunction against this even more important.
prospect.org/justice/2025...
Lawsuit Takes On Musk Payment System Takeover on Privacy Grounds
Giving DOGE access to the Treasury Department’s payment system violates the Privacy Act of 1974 and IRS statutes, three plaintiffs allege.
prospect.org
February 4, 2025 at 3:06 PM
These challenges are always so tempting
people over 30 quote this with some life advice for the rest of us?
January 31, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Jesus, never check email during a layover.

My queue included demands from:

-My lawyer
-My tax preparer
and
-The enthusiastic lady who's trying to sell me drapes

Never in my life have I been so close to walking out of an airport, renting a car and vanishing for an unspecified amount of time. 🚗
January 29, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Bayer has restarted efforts to push for legislation that would limit liabilities in lawsuits against the company. Here's our story on the topic from @usrighttoknow.bsky.social.

In the next take, I'll show you how much money the Bayer PACs gave Missouri lawmakers. 1/2
usrtk.org/pesticides/p...
January 24, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Update: We found out where the rest of the roof ended up.

It flew over the fence into the neighbors' pool. 🪁
When part of your roof ends up in a tree

#SoCal #Windstorm
January 13, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Sunset through the smoke layer, from the foothills east of Los Angeles
#SoCalfires
January 10, 2025 at 12:56 AM
When part of your roof ends up in a tree

#SoCal #Windstorm
January 10, 2025 at 12:37 AM
January 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Back in the spring, I served as concertmaster for a local orchestra.

In the fall, I withdrew from the group to handle fallout from an event that was -- well -- operatic, in scope.

That's why it's been great to break out the concertmaster chops to think about Strauss. 🎻
youtu.be/KP_iXnCSCsI
DIE FLEDERMAUS, 3 WAYS
YouTube video by Rebecca Raney - The Reckless Violinist
youtu.be
December 30, 2024 at 2:27 PM
If you know me from Twitter, you would probably guess that I've been wanting to try out the Star Wars Intro Generator for years. ⚔️

Finally, I've found a topic that's worthy. #HealthInsurance
December 18, 2024 at 4:37 PM