IowaRural.bsky.social
@iowarural.bsky.social
Small business owner. Plant addict. Community organizer in rural Iowa.
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
In case anyone thinks OP is exaggerating the point
February 4, 2026 at 6:27 PM
In case anyone thinks OP is exaggerating the point
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
I DROVE PAST THERE BETWEEN 8 AND 9AM ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING AND SAW THEM GATHERING THERE!!
😀💪🟦🇺🇸
Supporters rally outside Cedar Rapids ICE office to back immigrants #CedarRapids #Immigration
share.newsbreak.com/h403ycoc
😀💪🟦🇺🇸
Supporters rally outside Cedar Rapids ICE office to back immigrants #CedarRapids #Immigration
share.newsbreak.com/h403ycoc
Supporters rally outside Cedar Rapids ICE office to back immigrants - NewsBreak
CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa — Supporters gathered outside the Cedar Rapids ICE office to show solidarity with immigrants attending their scheduled ICE appointments
share.newsbreak.com
February 4, 2026 at 3:57 AM
I DROVE PAST THERE BETWEEN 8 AND 9AM ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING AND SAW THEM GATHERING THERE!!
😀💪🟦🇺🇸
Supporters rally outside Cedar Rapids ICE office to back immigrants #CedarRapids #Immigration
share.newsbreak.com/h403ycoc
😀💪🟦🇺🇸
Supporters rally outside Cedar Rapids ICE office to back immigrants #CedarRapids #Immigration
share.newsbreak.com/h403ycoc
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
We can't dismantle the Iowa Republican trifecta fast enough. The Fiscal Malpractice Of Iowa Republicans
The Fiscal Malpractice Of Iowa Republicans
Guest column published in the Cedar Rapids Gazette by Joe Bolkcom Iowa Republicans can’t be trusted to manage your money anymore. Their reckless revenue and spending decisions have made a shambles …
blogforiowa.com
February 4, 2026 at 2:08 PM
We can't dismantle the Iowa Republican trifecta fast enough. The Fiscal Malpractice Of Iowa Republicans
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
Floored by this story. A man wrote a pollite email to a federal prosecutor objecting to the deportation of an Afghan seeking asylum. DHS responded with an administrative warrant to get the man's info from Google, then visited his home to intimidate him.
DHS Hunts Down 67-Year-Old U.S. Citizen Who Criticized Them in Email
The Department of Homeland Security is using a little-known tool to go after its critics.
newrepublic.com
February 3, 2026 at 11:14 PM
Floored by this story. A man wrote a pollite email to a federal prosecutor objecting to the deportation of an Afghan seeking asylum. DHS responded with an administrative warrant to get the man's info from Google, then visited his home to intimidate him.
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
This @bostonreview.bsky.social piece by @adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social is an absolute must-read, as are many of the responses to it.
Spread this one far and wide.
Spread this one far and wide.
How Not to Defeat Authoritarianism
Moderation used to help Democrats win, but its advantages now have been greatly exaggerated.
www.bostonreview.net
February 3, 2026 at 4:31 PM
This @bostonreview.bsky.social piece by @adambonica.bsky.social and @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social is an absolute must-read, as are many of the responses to it.
Spread this one far and wide.
Spread this one far and wide.
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
Interesting report on the economic health of Chicago’s constellation of independent venues that’s also strangely agnostic towards LiveNation and Ticketmaster’s impact
Only 1 in 4 of Chicago’s indie music venues is profitable. Owners say that data spells potential trouble
Sold-out shows aren’t enough. Higher costs are undercutting business everywhere, owners say, from juggernauts like Metro to neighborhood venues like the Ramova.
chicago.suntimes.com
February 3, 2026 at 3:22 PM
Interesting report on the economic health of Chicago’s constellation of independent venues that’s also strangely agnostic towards LiveNation and Ticketmaster’s impact
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
#BlackHistoryMonth 3/28
𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒎 (1924-2005) became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress and represented New York's 12th congressional district for 7 terms. She helped to create the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒎 (1924-2005) became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress and represented New York's 12th congressional district for 7 terms. She helped to create the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
February 3, 2026 at 11:20 AM
#BlackHistoryMonth 3/28
𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒎 (1924-2005) became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress and represented New York's 12th congressional district for 7 terms. She helped to create the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
𝑺𝒉𝒊𝒓𝒍𝒆𝒚 𝑪𝒉𝒊𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒎 (1924-2005) became the first Black woman elected to the United States Congress and represented New York's 12th congressional district for 7 terms. She helped to create the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit
Xfinity has just released its Jurassic Park-themed Super Bowl ad that features a digitally de-aged Sam Neil, Laura Dern, and Jeff Goldblum. https://bit.ly/4rmRhrK
February 3, 2026 at 3:32 AM
they should make a movie series about how it’s irresponsible to use technology to mess with the natural order of things for profit
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
New, by me: A must-read NYT Magazine report showed how Senator Chuck Grassley's oversight work as Judiciary Committee chair led to career FBI agents or supervisors being forced out, in some cases with no investigation supporting their alleged wrongdoing.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/02/02/n...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/02/02/n...
NYT report: Chuck Grassley helped end FBI careers
Laura Belin: Grassley's oversight work led to senior FBI agents or supervisors being forced out, in some cases with no due process.
www.bleedingheartland.com
February 2, 2026 at 1:46 PM
New, by me: A must-read NYT Magazine report showed how Senator Chuck Grassley's oversight work as Judiciary Committee chair led to career FBI agents or supervisors being forced out, in some cases with no investigation supporting their alleged wrongdoing.
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/02/02/n...
www.bleedingheartland.com/2026/02/02/n...
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
James Talarico: “Jasmine Crockett can absolutely win Texas statewide — she’s my friend, we’re in a healthy competition, but if she wins I’ll be behind her 1,000%”
Current Texas polling:
Rep Jasmine Crockett - 38%
State Rep James Talarico - 37%
Undecided - 21%
Current Texas polling:
Rep Jasmine Crockett - 38%
State Rep James Talarico - 37%
Undecided - 21%
February 2, 2026 at 9:02 PM
James Talarico: “Jasmine Crockett can absolutely win Texas statewide — she’s my friend, we’re in a healthy competition, but if she wins I’ll be behind her 1,000%”
Current Texas polling:
Rep Jasmine Crockett - 38%
State Rep James Talarico - 37%
Undecided - 21%
Current Texas polling:
Rep Jasmine Crockett - 38%
State Rep James Talarico - 37%
Undecided - 21%
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
The glow up for these devices is campaigns like this, which is an attempt to obscure the fact of them building a surveillance network for an authoritarian state.
Move Over, Puppy Bowl: Ring's Dog-Rescuing Super Bowl Ad Brings Tears and Tech
Ring is bringing its pup-finding AI to everyone, even non-Ring owners, with an adorable video for the big game day.
www.cnet.com
February 2, 2026 at 11:06 PM
The glow up for these devices is campaigns like this, which is an attempt to obscure the fact of them building a surveillance network for an authoritarian state.
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
Let's check in on the Twitter Files guy -- who insisted that the behind the scenes decision-making on content moderation was the most important issue of our time -- and see what he thinks about the publication of communications involving the most notorious sex predator of our generation.
February 2, 2026 at 12:43 AM
Let's check in on the Twitter Files guy -- who insisted that the behind the scenes decision-making on content moderation was the most important issue of our time -- and see what he thinks about the publication of communications involving the most notorious sex predator of our generation.
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
If Schumer wants this to be his job, he should resign as senator and go work as a lobbyist for AIPAC
February 2, 2026 at 5:02 AM
If Schumer wants this to be his job, he should resign as senator and go work as a lobbyist for AIPAC
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
sidenote: my Jewish friends complain a lot about this, because "dual loyalty" is a huge antisemitic trope, and it makes it hard to fight against it when people like Schumer come out and literally say things like "my job as a US Senator is to fight unconditionally for Israel" bsky.app/profile/dipl...
February 2, 2026 at 4:49 PM
sidenote: my Jewish friends complain a lot about this, because "dual loyalty" is a huge antisemitic trope, and it makes it hard to fight against it when people like Schumer come out and literally say things like "my job as a US Senator is to fight unconditionally for Israel" bsky.app/profile/dipl...
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
The James Beard Award winner says federal agents arrested an employee as he arrived at work, and was taken to Texas before he could be brought his medication.
More: https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/chef-sean-sherman-says-federal-agents-took-one-of-his-employees-flew-him-to-texas
More: https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/chef-sean-sherman-says-federal-agents-took-one-of-his-employees-flew-him-to-texas
February 2, 2026 at 4:53 PM
The James Beard Award winner says federal agents arrested an employee as he arrived at work, and was taken to Texas before he could be brought his medication.
More: https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/chef-sean-sherman-says-federal-agents-took-one-of-his-employees-flew-him-to-texas
More: https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/chef-sean-sherman-says-federal-agents-took-one-of-his-employees-flew-him-to-texas
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
“The fact that they seized 700 boxes of ballots was incredibly disturbing and sets a chilling precedent for how Trump might try to interfere in the 2026 election."
FBI Raid in Georgia Is Part of “Trump’s Scheme to Try to Rig the Midterms”: Ari Berman
We speak with Mother Jones voting rights correspondent Ari Berman about the shocking FBI raid on an elections hub in Fulton County, Georgia. Federal agents were seeking records related to the 2020 pre...
www.democracynow.org
February 2, 2026 at 5:12 PM
“The fact that they seized 700 boxes of ballots was incredibly disturbing and sets a chilling precedent for how Trump might try to interfere in the 2026 election."
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
There are ample professional disincentives to spilling the inner workings of a court; even misconduct is rarely disclosed.
Only reason to demand NDAs is if the Justices are engaging in conduct so egregious that the legal profession would recognize the need for court employees to disclose it.
Only reason to demand NDAs is if the Justices are engaging in conduct so egregious that the legal profession would recognize the need for court employees to disclose it.
Jodi Kantor in the NY Times reports that the Chief Justice requested Court employees sign nondisclosure agreements in November 2024 - moving to formal contracts requiring silence/confidentiality after Trump was reelected: www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
February 2, 2026 at 3:44 PM
There are ample professional disincentives to spilling the inner workings of a court; even misconduct is rarely disclosed.
Only reason to demand NDAs is if the Justices are engaging in conduct so egregious that the legal profession would recognize the need for court employees to disclose it.
Only reason to demand NDAs is if the Justices are engaging in conduct so egregious that the legal profession would recognize the need for court employees to disclose it.
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
Well, what does it mean for AI to be "fake?" Language evokes intelligence - in the reader. It's a powerful illusion. A reasonable critic sees that computation at scale can fuse language w/math in ways that do things. That is not "intelligence," and the problems that come that error are bountiful.
You can totally point out that some aspects of AI are overhyped, you can believe that AGI is not possible, you can criticize how the companies and governments developing AI are using or being coopted by these tools. There is a lot to criticize.
But "it doesn't work and is fake" is just wrong now.
But "it doesn't work and is fake" is just wrong now.
February 2, 2026 at 12:04 PM
Well, what does it mean for AI to be "fake?" Language evokes intelligence - in the reader. It's a powerful illusion. A reasonable critic sees that computation at scale can fuse language w/math in ways that do things. That is not "intelligence," and the problems that come that error are bountiful.
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
It's pretty amazing to me the amount of shit that apparently you can Just Do as an NYC mayor. It makes basically every other American politician look like an incompetent loser.
What do you mean there was just a button that reversed wage theft? Why wasn't and isn't everyone hitting it all the time??
What do you mean there was just a button that reversed wage theft? Why wasn't and isn't everyone hitting it all the time??
Incredible contrast between this and Keir Starmer running a delivery driver over
Mamdani Forces Delivery Apps to Pay Back $4.6 Million Cheated From Drivers
New York City's new mayor, Zohran Mamdani, has already scored a major win for deliveristas working for three delivery giants.
futurism.com
February 2, 2026 at 10:58 AM
It's pretty amazing to me the amount of shit that apparently you can Just Do as an NYC mayor. It makes basically every other American politician look like an incompetent loser.
What do you mean there was just a button that reversed wage theft? Why wasn't and isn't everyone hitting it all the time??
What do you mean there was just a button that reversed wage theft? Why wasn't and isn't everyone hitting it all the time??
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
Gonna beg media not to just repeat Trump's obviously bullshit framing in the headlines. Tell readers the truth in the headlines.
Alternatives:
"With Artists and Audience Fleeing, Trump Closes Kennedy Center Indefinitely"
"Trump Says Kennedy Center Needs Renovation, Despite Recent $250M Renovation"
Alternatives:
"With Artists and Audience Fleeing, Trump Closes Kennedy Center Indefinitely"
"Trump Says Kennedy Center Needs Renovation, Despite Recent $250M Renovation"
Breaking news: President Trump said that the Kennedy Center could temporarily close for roughly two years to undergo construction.
https://wapo.st/49VsdCk
https://wapo.st/49VsdCk
February 2, 2026 at 12:45 AM
Gonna beg media not to just repeat Trump's obviously bullshit framing in the headlines. Tell readers the truth in the headlines.
Alternatives:
"With Artists and Audience Fleeing, Trump Closes Kennedy Center Indefinitely"
"Trump Says Kennedy Center Needs Renovation, Despite Recent $250M Renovation"
Alternatives:
"With Artists and Audience Fleeing, Trump Closes Kennedy Center Indefinitely"
"Trump Says Kennedy Center Needs Renovation, Despite Recent $250M Renovation"
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
February 1, 2026 at 3:49 PM
Yesterday, five-year-old Liam and his dad Adrian were released from Dilley detention center. I picked them up last night and escorted them back to Minnesota this morning.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Liam is now home. With his hat and his backpack.
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
Liam is back home.
He is only one of the approximately 3,800 children in ICE custody.
(Source: www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/29/i...)
He is only one of the approximately 3,800 children in ICE custody.
(Source: www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/29/i...)
February 1, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Liam is back home.
He is only one of the approximately 3,800 children in ICE custody.
(Source: www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/29/i...)
He is only one of the approximately 3,800 children in ICE custody.
(Source: www.themarshallproject.org/2026/01/29/i...)
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
liam and his dad are home!
and someone please get rep. castro a coat!
and someone please get rep. castro a coat!
February 1, 2026 at 4:36 PM
liam and his dad are home!
and someone please get rep. castro a coat!
and someone please get rep. castro a coat!
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
This is why we run everywhere.
It’s quite literally my life’s work to support underfunded dems running in Red America. They speak truth to power, organize their communities, give voters a choice and a voice - and make progress.
And sometimes they show the whole country what’s possible. ✨
LFG. 💙
It’s quite literally my life’s work to support underfunded dems running in Red America. They speak truth to power, organize their communities, give voters a choice and a voice - and make progress.
And sometimes they show the whole country what’s possible. ✨
LFG. 💙
February 1, 2026 at 1:42 PM
This is why we run everywhere.
It’s quite literally my life’s work to support underfunded dems running in Red America. They speak truth to power, organize their communities, give voters a choice and a voice - and make progress.
And sometimes they show the whole country what’s possible. ✨
LFG. 💙
It’s quite literally my life’s work to support underfunded dems running in Red America. They speak truth to power, organize their communities, give voters a choice and a voice - and make progress.
And sometimes they show the whole country what’s possible. ✨
LFG. 💙
Reposted by IowaRural.bsky.social
Audre Lorde, in a 1989 commencement address, said, "Remember this, despair is a tool of your enemies. That rumor, 'You can’t fight City Hall,' is circulated by City Hall. Facing the realities of our lives gives us the motivation for action, it gives us the power to change. You are not powerless."
February 1, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Audre Lorde, in a 1989 commencement address, said, "Remember this, despair is a tool of your enemies. That rumor, 'You can’t fight City Hall,' is circulated by City Hall. Facing the realities of our lives gives us the motivation for action, it gives us the power to change. You are not powerless."