Helen Sonner
@helensonner.bsky.social
Medical writer by vocation and cultural historian by avocation. More often than not, these are one and the same. Enjoying the blue sky.
I guess in order to fly going foward, in addition to a Real ID we are going to need an affidavit certifying we have watched Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.
Duffy on his demand that air travelers not wear slippers or pajamas: "It honors our country ... don't take your shoes off and put your feet on the chair ahead of you"
November 24, 2025 at 9:09 PM
I guess in order to fly going foward, in addition to a Real ID we are going to need an affidavit certifying we have watched Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.
Alas. I don't surf, but as someone who grew up at the Virginia oceanfront, watching surfers navigate the Eisbachwelle was one of my favorite things to do when I lived in Munich. So exotic and unexpected and obviously difficult, this urban surfing on the edges of the Englisher Garten.
Munich's famous river wave, the Eisbachwelle, vanished after a dredging in early November. Authorities are working to resurrect the beloved wave but impatient surfers have also tried their own methods.
Surf's down! Munich, until now an inland surfing hotspot, has lost its biggest wave
Munich's famous river wave, the Eisbachwelle, vanished after a dredging in early November. Authorities are working to resurrect the beloved wave but impatient surfers have also tried their own methods.
n.pr
November 23, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Alas. I don't surf, but as someone who grew up at the Virginia oceanfront, watching surfers navigate the Eisbachwelle was one of my favorite things to do when I lived in Munich. So exotic and unexpected and obviously difficult, this urban surfing on the edges of the Englisher Garten.
Reposted by Helen Sonner
Jamal Khashoggi. Say his name.
November 18, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Jamal Khashoggi. Say his name.
Reposted by Helen Sonner
The vast body of research that Ken Burns relied upon to make his new documentary on the American Revolution would be practically impossible to be produced today, what with the defunding of humanistic scholarship, the collapse of stable academic jobs, the attack on public history & academic freedom.🗃️
November 17, 2025 at 9:43 PM
The vast body of research that Ken Burns relied upon to make his new documentary on the American Revolution would be practically impossible to be produced today, what with the defunding of humanistic scholarship, the collapse of stable academic jobs, the attack on public history & academic freedom.🗃️
Reposted by Helen Sonner
Ah poetry. The last refuge.
Where AI cannot follow.
Where angels fear to tread.
And where we realize that metaphorical thinking is what makes humanity.
Where AI cannot follow.
Where angels fear to tread.
And where we realize that metaphorical thinking is what makes humanity.
November 9, 2025 at 3:45 PM
Ah poetry. The last refuge.
Where AI cannot follow.
Where angels fear to tread.
And where we realize that metaphorical thinking is what makes humanity.
Where AI cannot follow.
Where angels fear to tread.
And where we realize that metaphorical thinking is what makes humanity.
Reposted by Helen Sonner
LESS. THAN. A. WEEK.
Took them less than a week to take one of the most visible public repudiations of the GOP in my lifetime and turn it into hog slop.
I’m so mad my temperature is higher than my ACA premiums.
Took them less than a week to take one of the most visible public repudiations of the GOP in my lifetime and turn it into hog slop.
I’m so mad my temperature is higher than my ACA premiums.
November 10, 2025 at 2:59 AM
LESS. THAN. A. WEEK.
Took them less than a week to take one of the most visible public repudiations of the GOP in my lifetime and turn it into hog slop.
I’m so mad my temperature is higher than my ACA premiums.
Took them less than a week to take one of the most visible public repudiations of the GOP in my lifetime and turn it into hog slop.
I’m so mad my temperature is higher than my ACA premiums.
Reposted by Helen Sonner
Sen Tim Kaine DOES NOT take voicemail on his WDC or RVA offices.
😡🤬😡🤬
😡🤬😡🤬
November 10, 2025 at 2:15 AM
Sen Tim Kaine DOES NOT take voicemail on his WDC or RVA offices.
😡🤬😡🤬
😡🤬😡🤬
Reposted by Helen Sonner
agreeing to make a terrible deal while your main opponent is quite literally being boo'd on live tv by an entire stadium of people is the kind of political instinct you'd normally only find in a 3 week old dead goldfish
November 10, 2025 at 12:36 AM
agreeing to make a terrible deal while your main opponent is quite literally being boo'd on live tv by an entire stadium of people is the kind of political instinct you'd normally only find in a 3 week old dead goldfish
Reposted by Helen Sonner
Please don’t think this beltway game of having retiring Dem senators vote yes while everyone else votes no is going to shield leadership from the end result. We see what is happening and can’t be fooled by those games.
November 10, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Please don’t think this beltway game of having retiring Dem senators vote yes while everyone else votes no is going to shield leadership from the end result. We see what is happening and can’t be fooled by those games.
In my whole adult life, I don't think I have ever been as angry about a Congressional vote as I am about reports that @kaine.senate.gov and @markwarner.bsky.social are planning to cave to Trump and the Republicans on ACA funding. It will be a catastrophe if they do, and an unforgettable betrayal.
November 10, 2025 at 1:05 AM
In my whole adult life, I don't think I have ever been as angry about a Congressional vote as I am about reports that @kaine.senate.gov and @markwarner.bsky.social are planning to cave to Trump and the Republicans on ACA funding. It will be a catastrophe if they do, and an unforgettable betrayal.
Reposted by Helen Sonner
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
If the Dems blink after all of this, for a deal that all but ensures no ACA subsidies in 2026 anyway, then what was the purpose of letting the shutdown go for 40 days in the first place?
November 10, 2025 at 12:56 AM
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
Reposted by Helen Sonner
I think Senate folders are significantly underestimating how fucking angry Democratic voters are at them
November 10, 2025 at 12:40 AM
I think Senate folders are significantly underestimating how fucking angry Democratic voters are at them
Reposted by Helen Sonner
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
November 7, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
Reposted by Helen Sonner
Caving on a deal that doesn’t fix health care is, and always has been, a giant betrayal of the American people.
Hold the line. Save health care. I’m a NO on anything that doesn’t extend ACA subsidies.
Hold the line. Save health care. I’m a NO on anything that doesn’t extend ACA subsidies.
November 9, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Caving on a deal that doesn’t fix health care is, and always has been, a giant betrayal of the American people.
Hold the line. Save health care. I’m a NO on anything that doesn’t extend ACA subsidies.
Hold the line. Save health care. I’m a NO on anything that doesn’t extend ACA subsidies.
This Virginian will never forget the betrayal of @markwarner.bsky.social if he votes with the Republicans and caves on protecting the ACA funding.
This Virginian will never forget the betrayal of @kaine.senate.gov if he votes with the Republicans and caves on protecting the ACA funding.
Jesus Christ, @kaine.senate.gov, getting a pinky promise to hold one single vote on ACA funding is not "a path toward fixing the health care mess" anymore than a lottery ticket is a "path toward fixing my personal finances"
November 10, 2025 at 12:34 AM
This Virginian will never forget the betrayal of @markwarner.bsky.social if he votes with the Republicans and caves on protecting the ACA funding.
This Virginian will never forget the betrayal of @kaine.senate.gov if he votes with the Republicans and caves on protecting the ACA funding.
Jesus Christ, @kaine.senate.gov, getting a pinky promise to hold one single vote on ACA funding is not "a path toward fixing the health care mess" anymore than a lottery ticket is a "path toward fixing my personal finances"
“Um well there aren’t even any Senate Dem Press releases saying they support the deal”
Sen Tim Kaine: Hold my beer
Sen Tim Kaine: Hold my beer
November 10, 2025 at 12:29 AM
This Virginian will never forget the betrayal of @kaine.senate.gov if he votes with the Republicans and caves on protecting the ACA funding.
Reposted by Helen Sonner
@kaine.senate.gov doesn’t even give an option to leave a message on his office line. What a disappointment. Will not forget this when he is up for reelection in 5 years. All for a deal that gives a meaningless vote and a promise by Repubs. to abide by something that is already the law. Shame on you!
November 10, 2025 at 12:24 AM
@kaine.senate.gov doesn’t even give an option to leave a message on his office line. What a disappointment. Will not forget this when he is up for reelection in 5 years. All for a deal that gives a meaningless vote and a promise by Repubs. to abide by something that is already the law. Shame on you!
@kaine.senate.gov @markwarner.bsky.social - Please do not cave. Please advocate for other Democratic senators not to cave.
Afternoon reports that some Democratic Senators may yield completely to Republican demands in return for the mere scheduling of a December vote to keep premiums affordable for those relying upon the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This would represent trading something for nothing.
November 9, 2025 at 11:07 PM
@kaine.senate.gov @markwarner.bsky.social - Please do not cave. Please advocate for other Democratic senators not to cave.
Yet another reason to continue to boycott Target.
"Store employees are now required to smile if they are within 10 feet of a shopper.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
They also must make eye contact with and wave to or greet the customer.
If they’re within four feet, the employee should ask how the customer’s day is going or if they need help."
🙄 Won't stop the boycott, y'all.
Target is now requiring its employees to smile more
As the holiday season fast approaches, Target is urging its employees to add a little more “jolly” to their work routine.
www.wilx.com
November 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Yet another reason to continue to boycott Target.
Reposted by Helen Sonner
Sharing this, quite relevant this week. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Remembering my sister Rosalind Franklin
Rosalind Franklin died of ovarian cancer in 1958 aged 37 years. Sympathy and feminism
have combined to give us her familiar image as a downtrodden woman scientist, brilliant
but neglected, a heroine t...
www.thelancet.com
November 8, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Sharing this, quite relevant this week. www.thelancet.com/journals/lan...
Gift OpEd everyone interested in US politics should read. @tressiemcphd.bsky.social is such a talented writer. More than anything else, I will miss her columns when my access to @nytimes.com ends in a few weeks.
Opinion | A Nazi Tattoo Exposes Democrats’ Greatest Weakness
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 5:16 PM
Gift OpEd everyone interested in US politics should read. @tressiemcphd.bsky.social is such a talented writer. More than anything else, I will miss her columns when my access to @nytimes.com ends in a few weeks.
Reposted by Helen Sonner
Refusing to be numb is a radical act.
Caring about the earth while they drill it.
Caring about strangers while they deport them.
Caring about truth while they erase it.
You’re not ‘too sensitive.’ Don’t let them make you be ashamed of your empathy and humanity. You’re still human. Stay that way.
Caring about the earth while they drill it.
Caring about strangers while they deport them.
Caring about truth while they erase it.
You’re not ‘too sensitive.’ Don’t let them make you be ashamed of your empathy and humanity. You’re still human. Stay that way.
October 27, 2025 at 6:38 AM
Refusing to be numb is a radical act.
Caring about the earth while they drill it.
Caring about strangers while they deport them.
Caring about truth while they erase it.
You’re not ‘too sensitive.’ Don’t let them make you be ashamed of your empathy and humanity. You’re still human. Stay that way.
Caring about the earth while they drill it.
Caring about strangers while they deport them.
Caring about truth while they erase it.
You’re not ‘too sensitive.’ Don’t let them make you be ashamed of your empathy and humanity. You’re still human. Stay that way.
Reposted by Helen Sonner
The disastrous 2010 Citizens United decision legitimized corruption and put our elections on sale to the highest bidder.
It was the beginning of the end of true democracy.
It’s time to #EndCitizensUnited.
It was the beginning of the end of true democracy.
It’s time to #EndCitizensUnited.
October 24, 2025 at 6:47 PM
The disastrous 2010 Citizens United decision legitimized corruption and put our elections on sale to the highest bidder.
It was the beginning of the end of true democracy.
It’s time to #EndCitizensUnited.
It was the beginning of the end of true democracy.
It’s time to #EndCitizensUnited.
Reposted by Helen Sonner
Democrats in array.
"Black organizers had noticed gaps in the campaign’s strategy for reaching Black voters. To address them, they led canvasses in working-class Black neighborhoods...By early October, Mamdani had taken a commanding lead over Cuomo among Black voters"
hammerandhope.org/article/zohr...
hammerandhope.org/article/zohr...
Will Zohran Mamdani Win Over Black New Yorkers?
Five people talk about their experience of the Mamdani campaign — from the inside and the outside.
hammerandhope.org
October 23, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Democrats in array.