sandra fish
@fishnette.bsky.social
independent data journo, kinda retired; past prez
@womenjournos; fishnette@mastodon.online; RTs = Hey, look over there! she/her
@womenjournos; fishnette@mastodon.online; RTs = Hey, look over there! she/her
Pinned
sandra fish
@fishnette.bsky.social
· Nov 15
just gonna spend my time watching live sports, listening to The Linda Lindas and crafting for the foreseeable future.
Reposted by sandra fish
The largest generation in U.S. history is in their 70s now. And Stephen Miller’s podcaster wife thinks it’s suspicious that there’s a huge surge in home health aides.
December 29, 2025 at 3:06 AM
The largest generation in U.S. history is in their 70s now. And Stephen Miller’s podcaster wife thinks it’s suspicious that there’s a huge surge in home health aides.
Reposted by sandra fish
This is a secondary point but uhm staycations are a thing. I love booking a local hotel for a day of reading and snuggling so I'm not distracted by the things you need to do around the home.
A Hampton Inn in Asheville just canceled my family's reservation because our address (incorrectly) showed Asheville—and the hotel bars locals within 50 miles.
When I asked why, they said, "because of our homeless population," adding that most hotels here have similar policies.
This is outrageous.
When I asked why, they said, "because of our homeless population," adding that most hotels here have similar policies.
This is outrageous.
December 29, 2025 at 2:37 AM
This is a secondary point but uhm staycations are a thing. I love booking a local hotel for a day of reading and snuggling so I'm not distracted by the things you need to do around the home.
Reposted by sandra fish
part of me is annoyed that I left the US due to conditions created by Stephen Miller immigration policies and a media industry clearly in crisis but I still feel like it was partly my fault, even though the border officer also felt bad for me today
December 29, 2025 at 2:02 AM
part of me is annoyed that I left the US due to conditions created by Stephen Miller immigration policies and a media industry clearly in crisis but I still feel like it was partly my fault, even though the border officer also felt bad for me today
Reposted by sandra fish
I feel like "attention hacking" is most of politics now. The Minnesota aid fraud story is becoming a perfect example.
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
December 29, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I feel like "attention hacking" is most of politics now. The Minnesota aid fraud story is becoming a perfect example.
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Reposted by sandra fish
When the White House press pool motorcade reporters used to wait inside Trump's country club in Sterling, VA in the first term we would get finger sandwiches & coffee. It wasn't free. Our news organizations were subsequently billed ~$70 per snack session.
Trump tells the press as he meets with Zelenskyy, "I think you could sit outside and have some food. Would you like to have food or do you consider that a bribe, and therefore you cannot write honestly? ... Margo, take them outside and tell the chef to serve them good lunch."
December 28, 2025 at 7:36 PM
When the White House press pool motorcade reporters used to wait inside Trump's country club in Sterling, VA in the first term we would get finger sandwiches & coffee. It wasn't free. Our news organizations were subsequently billed ~$70 per snack session.
Reposted by sandra fish
Trump's DOJ was monitoring all the movements of the Miami Herald reporter who was covering the Epstein case.
December 28, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Trump's DOJ was monitoring all the movements of the Miami Herald reporter who was covering the Epstein case.
Reposted by sandra fish
Stephen Miller Dead Behind Eyes At 39
December 28, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Stephen Miller Dead Behind Eyes At 39
Reposted by sandra fish
Friends, I must soon put an end to this nightmare weather we have been having.
December 28, 2025 at 12:23 AM
Friends, I must soon put an end to this nightmare weather we have been having.
Reposted by sandra fish
Reposted by sandra fish
The right wing meltdown about the NY mag photo shoot is telling. She is not some elite richie rich but they complain about her that way because she is striking and beautiful in a way that cuts against the Mar a Lago aesthetic. But even more, those photos!
I get served NYP a lot on fb (how I found the butt phrenology thing I just posted) and they’ve been on a wiiiiiiild blitz of meltdown posts about her NY mag interview
Like every day, a new one
Like every day, a new one
December 28, 2025 at 12:06 AM
The right wing meltdown about the NY mag photo shoot is telling. She is not some elite richie rich but they complain about her that way because she is striking and beautiful in a way that cuts against the Mar a Lago aesthetic. But even more, those photos!
Reposted by sandra fish
"Academics literally cannot make genAI go away" we also can't make underage drinking go away and we're not advocating for installing bar carts in every classroom.
December 27, 2025 at 11:46 PM
"Academics literally cannot make genAI go away" we also can't make underage drinking go away and we're not advocating for installing bar carts in every classroom.
Reposted by sandra fish
Corruption so pungent, it wafts right off the page:
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon
Even some of the president’s closest advisers have been surprised by a number of the recent series of pardons.
www.wsj.com
December 27, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Corruption so pungent, it wafts right off the page:
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Reposted by sandra fish
My current state rep is my current state rep because during pandemic lockdown his campaign used canvassers not only for standard campaign outreach but also mutual aid outreach to assist isolated folks, especially seniors.
He defeated an incumbent who had held that seat for 35 years.
He defeated an incumbent who had held that seat for 35 years.
at a deep instinctive level they can't recognise popular ideas or take them seriously
December 27, 2025 at 1:53 AM
My current state rep is my current state rep because during pandemic lockdown his campaign used canvassers not only for standard campaign outreach but also mutual aid outreach to assist isolated folks, especially seniors.
He defeated an incumbent who had held that seat for 35 years.
He defeated an incumbent who had held that seat for 35 years.
Reposted by sandra fish
Venezuela, Iran and Nigeria are all in Trump’s gunsights. Turns out that together, the 3 countries also hold almost a third of the world’s oil reserves.
Canada, aka Trump’s “51st state,”holds an additional 10 percent.
Canada, aka Trump’s “51st state,”holds an additional 10 percent.
December 27, 2025 at 4:23 AM
Venezuela, Iran and Nigeria are all in Trump’s gunsights. Turns out that together, the 3 countries also hold almost a third of the world’s oil reserves.
Canada, aka Trump’s “51st state,”holds an additional 10 percent.
Canada, aka Trump’s “51st state,”holds an additional 10 percent.
Reposted by sandra fish
Good article, but I think we could add that many of the current government officials & influencers spreading political point-scoring falsehoods during crisis events HAVE BECOME gov officials & influencers BECAUSE of their bullshit-spreading talents. System effects of rotten attention dynamics.
Government Officials Once Stopped False Accusations After Violence. Now, Some Join In.
www.nytimes.com
December 27, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Good article, but I think we could add that many of the current government officials & influencers spreading political point-scoring falsehoods during crisis events HAVE BECOME gov officials & influencers BECAUSE of their bullshit-spreading talents. System effects of rotten attention dynamics.
Reposted by sandra fish
We had been starting to make progress on the government’s often ruinous dependency on software contractors and expensive vendors, but DOGE came in to put an end to that and destroy technical capabilities inside of govt.
But, the “Tech Force!” That’s like if Peace Corps staffed by oil companies
But, the “Tech Force!” That’s like if Peace Corps staffed by oil companies
To add to this, what this has meant since the days of Reagan is not that govt is doing less but that more of its responsibilities are being shifted to private contractors who are less accountable, more expensive and who profit from professional growth until cheaper and less skilled staff rotate in
December 26, 2025 at 6:07 PM
We had been starting to make progress on the government’s often ruinous dependency on software contractors and expensive vendors, but DOGE came in to put an end to that and destroy technical capabilities inside of govt.
But, the “Tech Force!” That’s like if Peace Corps staffed by oil companies
But, the “Tech Force!” That’s like if Peace Corps staffed by oil companies
Reposted by sandra fish
Here's the deal, says USDOJ to states: we're going to send you lists of voters we think are ineligible, and you're going to take them off the rolls. That "would hand the federal govt a major role in election admin, a responsibility that belongs to the states under the U.S. Constitution." [Stateline]
Trump’s DOJ offers states confidential deal to remove voters flagged by feds • Stateline
The U.S. Department of Justice has sent confidential draft agreements on voter data sharing to more than a dozen states, part of the Trump administration’s effort to obtain unredacted voter rolls, wit...
stateline.org
December 26, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Here's the deal, says USDOJ to states: we're going to send you lists of voters we think are ineligible, and you're going to take them off the rolls. That "would hand the federal govt a major role in election admin, a responsibility that belongs to the states under the U.S. Constitution." [Stateline]
Reposted by sandra fish
America has 925 billionaires as of this year. Collectively they have a record $6.9 trillion in wealth.
The bottom 50% of Americans control $4.2 trillion in wealth.
When 925 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
The bottom 50% of Americans control $4.2 trillion in wealth.
When 925 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
December 26, 2025 at 5:00 PM
America has 925 billionaires as of this year. Collectively they have a record $6.9 trillion in wealth.
The bottom 50% of Americans control $4.2 trillion in wealth.
When 925 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
The bottom 50% of Americans control $4.2 trillion in wealth.
When 925 people control more wealth than half a country’s population, we have a very serious problem.
Reposted by sandra fish
Merry Christmas! 🎄
In honor of the holiday, I’m reposting my favorite radio story of all time — my holiday decorating poem www.cpr.org/2019/12/25/c...
In honor of the holiday, I’m reposting my favorite radio story of all time — my holiday decorating poem www.cpr.org/2019/12/25/c...
Crow And Perlmutter Are The Clark Griswolds Of Congress Christmas Decorations
The Colorado reps. kicked off a friendly holiday decoration competition in the hallways of Washington, D.C.’s Longworth House Office Building.
www.cpr.org
December 25, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Merry Christmas! 🎄
In honor of the holiday, I’m reposting my favorite radio story of all time — my holiday decorating poem www.cpr.org/2019/12/25/c...
In honor of the holiday, I’m reposting my favorite radio story of all time — my holiday decorating poem www.cpr.org/2019/12/25/c...
Reposted by sandra fish
It’s Xmas Eve and yet I’m still gonna be a little spicy. The fact that the first American pope is from Chicago matters because unmooring power and perspective from the coasts especially east coast is an imperative for building something new and better
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and stra...
www.reuters.com
December 25, 2025 at 4:25 AM
It’s Xmas Eve and yet I’m still gonna be a little spicy. The fact that the first American pope is from Chicago matters because unmooring power and perspective from the coasts especially east coast is an imperative for building something new and better
Reposted by sandra fish
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Pope Leo, on Christmas Eve, says denying help to poor is rejecting God
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon on Wednesday that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and stra...
www.reuters.com
December 24, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Pope Leo said in a Christmas Eve sermon that the story of Jesus being born in a stable because there was no room at an inn should remind Christians that refusing to help the poor and strangers today is tantamount to rejecting God himself. For @reuters.com
Reposted by sandra fish
Not that Bari cares, but every time she writes about "restoring the integrity of the news," she's deeply insulting her own staff -- some of whom have been injured or killed bringing crucial stories back to the US.
Bari Weiss just sent this Christmas Eve email to the CBS News staff about "building trust," which includes her tripling down on spiking the CECOT piece "to make sure it's comprehensive and fair."
One CBS staffer tells me: "She really has no idea how insulting she comes across."
One CBS staffer tells me: "She really has no idea how insulting she comes across."
December 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Not that Bari cares, but every time she writes about "restoring the integrity of the news," she's deeply insulting her own staff -- some of whom have been injured or killed bringing crucial stories back to the US.
Reposted by sandra fish
As an actual Religious Studies scholar, it is an insult to our field to describe anything this student wrote about gender as "Bible-based."
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 6:10 PM
As an actual Religious Studies scholar, it is an insult to our field to describe anything this student wrote about gender as "Bible-based."
Reposted by sandra fish
After Jan 6, the U.S. far right had to find a frame that could distract and shift blame from their election fraud lies. They settled on “censorship” — which made their lying villains into “free speech” heroes, and allowed them to target all of the people and orgs that tried to hold them to account.
Nina Jankowicz: “They’re not doing this because they have any evidence of censorship — they lost a Supreme Court case that made those claims… They’re doing this because the group of researchers and advocates have stood up to liars like Donald Trump and the platforms that enable them.”
“Chilling and unconstitutional” — @attorneynora.bsky.social @freepress.bsky.social
December 24, 2025 at 3:09 PM
After Jan 6, the U.S. far right had to find a frame that could distract and shift blame from their election fraud lies. They settled on “censorship” — which made their lying villains into “free speech” heroes, and allowed them to target all of the people and orgs that tried to hold them to account.