Farrah Bostic
@farrahbostic.bsky.social
Founder of The Difference Engine. Researcher, strategist, truth-teller. Host of Cross Tabs. Asking better questions since forever.
Reposted by Farrah Bostic
If you are wondering what words the all-male Congress found so "blasphemous" that they felt compelled to literally scrape them off the monument, they were: ''Woman, first denied a soul, then called mindless, now arisen, declared herself an entity to be reckoned.''
On this day in 1921, Congress reluctantly accepted a sculpture memorializing women’s 19th A victory. Congress relegated the memorial to the Capitol’s crypt & painted over the feminist inscription. The statue stayed entombed in the crypt for 76 years. The inscription is still not restored. #WeTheMen
February 16, 2026 at 4:35 PM
If you are wondering what words the all-male Congress found so "blasphemous" that they felt compelled to literally scrape them off the monument, they were: ''Woman, first denied a soul, then called mindless, now arisen, declared herself an entity to be reckoned.''
My LinkedIn feed is full of recommended posts by “behavioral psychologists” posting academic papers they didn’t read & drawing unsupported conclusions to confirm the priors of the airport ideas book-reading crowd.
OTOH, I’ve enjoyed a morning of actually reading those papers, so thank you, dummy.
OTOH, I’ve enjoyed a morning of actually reading those papers, so thank you, dummy.
February 16, 2026 at 4:58 PM
My LinkedIn feed is full of recommended posts by “behavioral psychologists” posting academic papers they didn’t read & drawing unsupported conclusions to confirm the priors of the airport ideas book-reading crowd.
OTOH, I’ve enjoyed a morning of actually reading those papers, so thank you, dummy.
OTOH, I’ve enjoyed a morning of actually reading those papers, so thank you, dummy.
Here’s my observation about Bluesky:
If you don’t have a ton of followers, the experience is fairly serene.
If you have a ton of followers, the experience is clearly quite bonkers.
If you don’t read comments on posts by people with a ton of followers, you can simply experience your own thoughts.
If you don’t have a ton of followers, the experience is fairly serene.
If you have a ton of followers, the experience is clearly quite bonkers.
If you don’t read comments on posts by people with a ton of followers, you can simply experience your own thoughts.
February 16, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Here’s my observation about Bluesky:
If you don’t have a ton of followers, the experience is fairly serene.
If you have a ton of followers, the experience is clearly quite bonkers.
If you don’t read comments on posts by people with a ton of followers, you can simply experience your own thoughts.
If you don’t have a ton of followers, the experience is fairly serene.
If you have a ton of followers, the experience is clearly quite bonkers.
If you don’t read comments on posts by people with a ton of followers, you can simply experience your own thoughts.
In a just society law enforcement can not lie to civilians without specific leave from a court based on evidence-backed extremely important reasons.
I'd bet money that someone at DHS has referred to this tactic unironically as a "Good Samaritan trap."
CCTV footage appears to show DHS agents posing as people having car trouble in order to lure a target out of his house before arresting them. The target comes out and starts helping them before 3 vehicles surround the scene. The car "experiencing" trouble then drives off with them.
February 15, 2026 at 1:36 AM
In a just society law enforcement can not lie to civilians without specific leave from a court based on evidence-backed extremely important reasons.
This is silly.
A critique I hear of me sometimes is that I don’t believe in changing public opinion.
What I would say is that I don’t really think *working politicians* should be focused on changing opinion, that’s the job for everyone else — go out and persuade someone!
What I would say is that I don’t really think *working politicians* should be focused on changing opinion, that’s the job for everyone else — go out and persuade someone!
"Democratic politicians urgently need to adopt the GOP view of public opinion—that it’s movable, and it’s their job to move it." newrepublic.com/article/2058...
February 14, 2026 at 10:45 PM
This is silly.
I grew up in this area and went to high school near where this meeting took place. This is part of a longer history of tax breaks for tech companies who take up massive resources and whose contribution is said to be jobs (that can always be cut).
youtube.com/shorts/4Ciry...
youtube.com/shorts/4Ciry...
Oregon Residents Are MAD AS HELL About Corrupt Data Center Deals
YouTube video by More Perfect Union
youtube.com
February 14, 2026 at 1:49 PM
I grew up in this area and went to high school near where this meeting took place. This is part of a longer history of tax breaks for tech companies who take up massive resources and whose contribution is said to be jobs (that can always be cut).
youtube.com/shorts/4Ciry...
youtube.com/shorts/4Ciry...
Sure okay.
Governor Newsom proclaims Ronald Reagan Day
Governor Newsom proclaims Ronald Reagan Day | Governor of California
www.gov.ca.gov
February 14, 2026 at 1:00 AM
Sure okay.
My conversation with @dhuckelbridge.bsky.social is live (as of last night - would be great if schedulers worked as advertised), and the refreshed newsletter/blog is also updated - find out more about what @crosstabspodcast.com is up to in the latest from me: www.crosstabspodcast.com/what-power-i...
What Power is For
There is an update I want to share with you, a new episode I want you to know about, and an idea I'd love someone to take me up on.
Updates
After a great deal of laziness, I decided to move the new...
www.crosstabspodcast.com
February 13, 2026 at 5:37 PM
My conversation with @dhuckelbridge.bsky.social is live (as of last night - would be great if schedulers worked as advertised), and the refreshed newsletter/blog is also updated - find out more about what @crosstabspodcast.com is up to in the latest from me: www.crosstabspodcast.com/what-power-i...
Somebody let me do a brand tracker with a panel. I want to know specifically why specific people who probably would have said things were better under Trump in a 2024 poll might say things are better under Biden in a 2026 poll.
Whoa! Didn’t expect to wake up to this news.
“A year into Trump’s term, voters say Biden was better.”
Trump’s net approval on the economy is now -18. That’s 26 points worse than this point in his first term and a brutal 53 points lower among independents.
1/2
“A year into Trump’s term, voters say Biden was better.”
Trump’s net approval on the economy is now -18. That’s 26 points worse than this point in his first term and a brutal 53 points lower among independents.
1/2
February 13, 2026 at 4:38 PM
Somebody let me do a brand tracker with a panel. I want to know specifically why specific people who probably would have said things were better under Trump in a 2024 poll might say things are better under Biden in a 2026 poll.
I strongly dislike the cloud.
February 13, 2026 at 4:30 PM
I strongly dislike the cloud.
Reposted by Farrah Bostic
The company spokesperson told me that there are no plans for a Torment Nexus for now. "The feature was designed for this use only," they said. It is not designed to implement a Torment Nexus."
February 12, 2026 at 11:32 PM
The company spokesperson told me that there are no plans for a Torment Nexus for now. "The feature was designed for this use only," they said. It is not designed to implement a Torment Nexus."
Reposted by Farrah Bostic
Disaster capitalism.
“We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns…”
“We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns…”
Meta Plans to Add Facial Recognition Technology to Its Smart Glasses
www.nytimes.com
February 13, 2026 at 2:02 PM
Disaster capitalism.
“We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns…”
“We will launch during a dynamic political environment where many civil society groups that we would expect to attack us would have their resources focused on other concerns…”
Reposted by Farrah Bostic
🚨📄 New paper (conditional accepted at @thejop.bsky.social):
We test whether social desirability bias actually distorts answers in online surveys.
Short version:
It mostly doesn’t.
w. @timallinger.bsky.social @kristianvsf.bsky.social @morganlcj.bsky.social
URL: osf.io/preprints/os...
We test whether social desirability bias actually distorts answers in online surveys.
Short version:
It mostly doesn’t.
w. @timallinger.bsky.social @kristianvsf.bsky.social @morganlcj.bsky.social
URL: osf.io/preprints/os...
February 12, 2026 at 1:06 PM
🚨📄 New paper (conditional accepted at @thejop.bsky.social):
We test whether social desirability bias actually distorts answers in online surveys.
Short version:
It mostly doesn’t.
w. @timallinger.bsky.social @kristianvsf.bsky.social @morganlcj.bsky.social
URL: osf.io/preprints/os...
We test whether social desirability bias actually distorts answers in online surveys.
Short version:
It mostly doesn’t.
w. @timallinger.bsky.social @kristianvsf.bsky.social @morganlcj.bsky.social
URL: osf.io/preprints/os...
Reposted by Farrah Bostic
damn you're telling me that sin taxes work to reduce consumption of socially harmful goods while keeping them legal and thus avoiding the problems of criminalization?
February 12, 2026 at 1:34 PM
damn you're telling me that sin taxes work to reduce consumption of socially harmful goods while keeping them legal and thus avoiding the problems of criminalization?
<screams>
“The startup said it aims to use its technology to anticipate the decisions a person might make in any given situation. To do that, it builds simulations populated by AI agents that represent the preferences of real people.”
AI Startup Nabs $100 Million to Help Firms Predict Human Behavior
Artificial intelligence startup Simile has raised $100 million in a new round of funding to help companies predict human behavior, including by guessing items customers might purchase and questions th...
www.bloomberg.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:59 PM
<screams>
Reposted by Farrah Bostic
He literally says in this clip that ICE will keep in Minnesota “quick reaction forces” — a military term — to go after “agitators.” Remember that those on the ground in MPLS have spent more than a week trying to tell everyone that Trump’s prior “deescalation” was a ruse and ICE is still operational
Homan: "Operation Metro Surge is ending. In the next week, we're going to deploy the officers here on detail back to their home stations or to other areas of the country where they're needed."
February 12, 2026 at 2:44 PM
He literally says in this clip that ICE will keep in Minnesota “quick reaction forces” — a military term — to go after “agitators.” Remember that those on the ground in MPLS have spent more than a week trying to tell everyone that Trump’s prior “deescalation” was a ruse and ICE is still operational
Can’t wait to see what maniac Trump appoints next.
So @elienyc.bsky.social and @strictscrutiny.bsky.social have speculated that Alito may retire soon. I agree. Elie lays out the case here—it'd be odd to release a memoir in October if he's (a) still serving and (b) unable to promote it because he's hearing arguments. www.thenation.com/article/poli...
Is Samuel Alito Preparing to Disrobe?
In this installment of Elie v. US, our justice correspondent explores the week’s big legal news, including a possible Alito retirement. Also, the anti-trans mob’s latest target: tight clothing.
www.thenation.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Can’t wait to see what maniac Trump appoints next.
Reposted by Farrah Bostic
Hmmm. Louder then.
Report: Warner Bros. Discovery Blocks Brody King From AEW Dynamite Following "F*ck ICE" Chants
Brody King was absent from Wednesday night's episode of AEW Dynamite, and it reportedly wasn't a Tony Khan decision not to have him on the show.
cultaholic.com
February 12, 2026 at 3:27 PM
Hmmm. Louder then.
I have so many thoughts about the history of white supremacist anti government militia group in Idaho, the irony that these militia members are federal officers is just like … well it should be somebody’s capstone project, I think.
More than 400 people, including hundreds of citizens, were “sorted” at gun point into racial and ethnic groups by 200 ICE agents who fired flash-bang grenades into cars with people inside, pointed guns at children & demanded their zip tied parents not comfort them. apple.news/Ausdx6kWtT0e...
Idaho families sue over immigration raid that swept up hundreds, including U.S. citizens — NBC News
About 400 people, including children and U.S. citizens, were detained for four hours while they were denied food and water in the raid, according to the lawsuit.
apple.news
February 12, 2026 at 12:59 PM
I have so many thoughts about the history of white supremacist anti government militia group in Idaho, the irony that these militia members are federal officers is just like … well it should be somebody’s capstone project, I think.
Reposted by Farrah Bostic
Babe, wake up, new sarcastic but entirely worthwhile internet abbreviation just dropped
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
February 11, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Babe, wake up, new sarcastic but entirely worthwhile internet abbreviation just dropped
Coming tomorrow on @crosstabspodcast.com, my conversation with @dhuckelbridge.bsky.social of @paidleaveforall.bsky.social. This is part of a future vision that is (or should be) what the power is for. Subscribe to get it in your ears mid-day.
February 12, 2026 at 12:24 AM
Coming tomorrow on @crosstabspodcast.com, my conversation with @dhuckelbridge.bsky.social of @paidleaveforall.bsky.social. This is part of a future vision that is (or should be) what the power is for. Subscribe to get it in your ears mid-day.
Ah, Jared Golden.
219-211, House votes to pass the resolution by @meeks.house.gov to terminate Trump's tariffs on Canada. Six Republicans join Democrats in voting YES, while one Democrat votes NO.
February 11, 2026 at 11:34 PM
Ah, Jared Golden.
Reposted by Farrah Bostic
Reposted by Farrah Bostic
Gotta love it: "The Stop Presidential Embezzlement Act would impose a 100 percent tax on any settlement a president, vice president, cabinet member, or member of Congress receives from the government as a result of a lawsuit filed while in office."
February 11, 2026 at 4:22 PM
Gotta love it: "The Stop Presidential Embezzlement Act would impose a 100 percent tax on any settlement a president, vice president, cabinet member, or member of Congress receives from the government as a result of a lawsuit filed while in office."