Kristen Smith
@ksmithphotography.bsky.social
photographer . wife . momma bear . politics junkie
covid.is.airborne 😷
📍Northern California
covid.is.airborne 😷
📍Northern California
Pinned
“Hope is like the sun - if you only believe in it when you see it, you'll never make it through the night.” -Leia
Trying to remain hopeful for the future is difficult, especially today. But we must #resist!
Godspeed, rebels.
✊
Trying to remain hopeful for the future is difficult, especially today. But we must #resist!
Godspeed, rebels.
✊
Reposted by Kristen Smith
Forty years ago, 90% of media outlets were spread across 50 companies.
Now, just 5 companies control 90% of the media market.
This consolidation hurts consumers and helps oligarchs. 🧵
Now, just 5 companies control 90% of the media market.
This consolidation hurts consumers and helps oligarchs. 🧵
December 5, 2025 at 5:53 PM
Forty years ago, 90% of media outlets were spread across 50 companies.
Now, just 5 companies control 90% of the media market.
This consolidation hurts consumers and helps oligarchs. 🧵
Now, just 5 companies control 90% of the media market.
This consolidation hurts consumers and helps oligarchs. 🧵
Reposted by Kristen Smith
We need to talk about the massive loophole that the Supreme Court just carved into election law over the shadow docket—giving states a free pass to enact patently unconstitutional voting rules within nearly *one year* of an election. A stunning new limit on judicial review. slate.com/news-and-pol...
December 5, 2025 at 7:12 PM
We need to talk about the massive loophole that the Supreme Court just carved into election law over the shadow docket—giving states a free pass to enact patently unconstitutional voting rules within nearly *one year* of an election. A stunning new limit on judicial review. slate.com/news-and-pol...
Reposted by Kristen Smith
some days you just have to laugh at how unbelievably stupid everything is
December 5, 2025 at 6:17 PM
some days you just have to laugh at how unbelievably stupid everything is
Reposted by Kristen Smith
#SCOTUS adds 4 cases to its docket, including one (but not both) of the birthright citizenship cases.
As for why only one, this is the case that cleanly presents the merits (where Court’s likely to rule against Trump); the other case would’ve required the justices to decide if states had standing.
As for why only one, this is the case that cleanly presents the merits (where Court’s likely to rule against Trump); the other case would’ve required the justices to decide if states had standing.
December 5, 2025 at 6:58 PM
#SCOTUS adds 4 cases to its docket, including one (but not both) of the birthright citizenship cases.
As for why only one, this is the case that cleanly presents the merits (where Court’s likely to rule against Trump); the other case would’ve required the justices to decide if states had standing.
As for why only one, this is the case that cleanly presents the merits (where Court’s likely to rule against Trump); the other case would’ve required the justices to decide if states had standing.
Reposted by Kristen Smith
Kennedy's zombie ACIP panel just voted to restrict hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. Experts say it will harm children for no reason. www.ms.now/news/rfk-cdc...
ACIP member Dr. Cody Meissner:
"'Do no harm' is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording. And I vote no."
ACIP member Dr. Cody Meissner:
"'Do no harm' is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording. And I vote no."
RFK Jr.’s CDC panel: No more hepatitis B vaccine for some newborns
The CDC's vaccine advisory panel, stocked with anti-vaccine activists and loyalists to RFK Jr., voted Friday to stop recommending a birth dose of vaccine.
www.ms.now
December 5, 2025 at 3:36 PM
Kennedy's zombie ACIP panel just voted to restrict hepatitis B vaccine for newborns. Experts say it will harm children for no reason. www.ms.now/news/rfk-cdc...
ACIP member Dr. Cody Meissner:
"'Do no harm' is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording. And I vote no."
ACIP member Dr. Cody Meissner:
"'Do no harm' is a moral imperative. We are doing harm by changing this wording. And I vote no."
Reposted by Kristen Smith
“What have I done!” 🤡
December 5, 2025 at 4:11 PM
“What have I done!” 🤡
Reposted by Kristen Smith
At Law Dork overnight, I wrote about Wednesday's shooting of two National Guard troops — their presence, the shooting, and Trump's response.
Quite simply, all of it is wrong. The troops shouldn't have been in DC, violence is unacceptable, and "more troops" is not the answer.
Quite simply, all of it is wrong. The troops shouldn't have been in DC, violence is unacceptable, and "more troops" is not the answer.
The two shot National Guard troops never should have been in DC. More troops is no answer.
The violence is horrible and unacceptable. Trump, Pete Hegseth, and West Virginia Gov. Patrick Morrisey never should have put the troops in this position.
www.lawdork.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:08 PM
At Law Dork overnight, I wrote about Wednesday's shooting of two National Guard troops — their presence, the shooting, and Trump's response.
Quite simply, all of it is wrong. The troops shouldn't have been in DC, violence is unacceptable, and "more troops" is not the answer.
Quite simply, all of it is wrong. The troops shouldn't have been in DC, violence is unacceptable, and "more troops" is not the answer.
Reposted by Kristen Smith
Mark Kelly: "I said something that was pretty simple and non-controversial, and that was that members of the military should follow the law. In response to that, Trump said I should be executed, I should be hanged ... it says a lot more about him than it says about me. I'm not going to be silenced."
November 25, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Mark Kelly: "I said something that was pretty simple and non-controversial, and that was that members of the military should follow the law. In response to that, Trump said I should be executed, I should be hanged ... it says a lot more about him than it says about me. I'm not going to be silenced."
Reposted by Kristen Smith
I swore an oath to the Constitution in 1986. I've upheld it through 25 years of service and every day since I retired.
If Trump's trying to intimidate me, it won’t work. I’ve given too much to our country to be silenced by bullies who care more about power than the Constitution.
If Trump's trying to intimidate me, it won’t work. I’ve given too much to our country to be silenced by bullies who care more about power than the Constitution.
November 24, 2025 at 8:27 PM
I swore an oath to the Constitution in 1986. I've upheld it through 25 years of service and every day since I retired.
If Trump's trying to intimidate me, it won’t work. I’ve given too much to our country to be silenced by bullies who care more about power than the Constitution.
If Trump's trying to intimidate me, it won’t work. I’ve given too much to our country to be silenced by bullies who care more about power than the Constitution.
Reposted by Kristen Smith
The EPA is moving forward with approvals for pesticides containing “forever chemicals” as an active ingredient, dismissing concerns about health and environmental impacts raised by some scientists and activists.
Here’s what to look out for:
Here’s what to look out for:
EPA just approved new ‘forever chemical’ pesticides for use on food
Critics warn the EPA’s approvals of new PFAS pesticides could expose more Americans to “forever chemicals” through their food.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 11:00 PM
The EPA is moving forward with approvals for pesticides containing “forever chemicals” as an active ingredient, dismissing concerns about health and environmental impacts raised by some scientists and activists.
Here’s what to look out for:
Here’s what to look out for:
Reposted by Kristen Smith
Trump feuding with Marjorie Taylor Greene but being in love with Zohran Mamdani was not on my November 2025 bingo card
November 21, 2025 at 9:59 PM
Trump feuding with Marjorie Taylor Greene but being in love with Zohran Mamdani was not on my November 2025 bingo card
Take big money out of politics. Full stop.
WAPO: “.. Since 2000, political giving by the wealthiest 100 Americans to federal elections has gone up almost 140 times ..”
@washingtonpost.com #GildedAge 🥇
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
@washingtonpost.com #GildedAge 🥇
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/int...
November 21, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Take big money out of politics. Full stop.
Reposted by Kristen Smith
this morning's Fox & Friends featured commercials for Trump Watches *and* Trump-branded handguns. a level of presidential grifting that was unfathomable a decade ago.
November 21, 2025 at 2:03 PM
this morning's Fox & Friends featured commercials for Trump Watches *and* Trump-branded handguns. a level of presidential grifting that was unfathomable a decade ago.
Reposted by Kristen Smith
An alarming story about Flock’s automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras ...
"Often, officers will search cameras nationwide even if investigating a case in their own state. Typically this is done without a warrant, something that critics like the EFF and the ACLU have recently sued over."
"Often, officers will search cameras nationwide even if investigating a case in their own state. Typically this is done without a warrant, something that critics like the EFF and the ACLU have recently sued over."
A massive cache of Flock lookups collated by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) shows as many as 50 federal, state, and local agencies used Flock during protests over the last year.
Cops Used Flock to Monitor No Kings Protests Around the Country
A massive cache of Flock lookups collated by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) shows as many as 50 federal, state, and local agencies used Flock during protests over the last year.
www.404media.co
November 21, 2025 at 12:34 AM
An alarming story about Flock’s automatic license plate reader (ALPR) cameras ...
"Often, officers will search cameras nationwide even if investigating a case in their own state. Typically this is done without a warrant, something that critics like the EFF and the ACLU have recently sued over."
"Often, officers will search cameras nationwide even if investigating a case in their own state. Typically this is done without a warrant, something that critics like the EFF and the ACLU have recently sued over."
This is insane.
Q: Trump accused Democrats of seditious behavior punishable by death. Does the president want to execute members of Congress?
LEAVITT: No
LEAVITT: No
November 20, 2025 at 8:13 PM
This is insane.
Reposted by Kristen Smith
The President of the United States is literally threatening opposing lawmakers with death for a video they made encouraging service members to refuse unlawful orders.
Trump posts again about Democrats, saying their behavior is “punishable by DEATH!”
November 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
The President of the United States is literally threatening opposing lawmakers with death for a video they made encouraging service members to refuse unlawful orders.
Reposted by Kristen Smith
This is a stunning thing to even have to see Members of Congress say out loud. Absolutely chilling. And inspiring.
We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.
The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.
Don’t give up the ship.
The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.
Don’t give up the ship.
November 19, 2025 at 8:18 PM
This is a stunning thing to even have to see Members of Congress say out loud. Absolutely chilling. And inspiring.
Reposted by Kristen Smith
We’ve seen research showing LLM chatbots can reduce belief in conspiracy theories in experimental settings: scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=e...
But in the wild, it seems that these tools likely contribute to strengthening belief in conspiracy theories for many.
But in the wild, it seems that these tools likely contribute to strengthening belief in conspiracy theories for many.
November 19, 2025 at 3:33 PM
We’ve seen research showing LLM chatbots can reduce belief in conspiracy theories in experimental settings: scholar.google.com/scholar?hl=e...
But in the wild, it seems that these tools likely contribute to strengthening belief in conspiracy theories for many.
But in the wild, it seems that these tools likely contribute to strengthening belief in conspiracy theories for many.
Reposted by Kristen Smith
“.. The United States is now a nation run by public servants who behave no better than internet trolls ..
“.. Trump’s sexist comments are an attack on women’s dignity — and by making them, he strips the presidency of its dignity too.”
@theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
“.. Trump’s sexist comments are an attack on women’s dignity — and by making them, he strips the presidency of its dignity too.”
@theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
November 19, 2025 at 12:15 AM
“.. The United States is now a nation run by public servants who behave no better than internet trolls ..
“.. Trump’s sexist comments are an attack on women’s dignity — and by making them, he strips the presidency of its dignity too.”
@theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
“.. Trump’s sexist comments are an attack on women’s dignity — and by making them, he strips the presidency of its dignity too.”
@theatlantic.com
www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
Reposted by Kristen Smith
Every Republican present but one voted in favor of a resolution that Trump claimed was part of a Democratic 'hoax'.
BREAKING:
The House just passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, 427-1.
Republican Clay Higgins was the lone 'no' vote.
The House just passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act, 427-1.
Republican Clay Higgins was the lone 'no' vote.
November 18, 2025 at 7:50 PM
Every Republican present but one voted in favor of a resolution that Trump claimed was part of a Democratic 'hoax'.
Reposted by Kristen Smith
Here is the federal district court's 2–1 ruling, authored by a very conservative Trump appointee, striking down Texas' new Republican gerrymander on the grounds that it unlawfully discriminates against racial minorities. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 18, 2025 at 6:43 PM
Here is the federal district court's 2–1 ruling, authored by a very conservative Trump appointee, striking down Texas' new Republican gerrymander on the grounds that it unlawfully discriminates against racial minorities. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by Kristen Smith
This ruling could likely help Democrats maintain 5 congressional seats in 2026:
BREAKING:
A panel of federal judges has blocked Texas' newly-redrawn congressional map — which made five districts in the state more favorable to Republicans — saying the plan appeared to be an illegal race-based gerrymander.
A panel of federal judges has blocked Texas' newly-redrawn congressional map — which made five districts in the state more favorable to Republicans — saying the plan appeared to be an illegal race-based gerrymander.
November 18, 2025 at 7:00 PM
This ruling could likely help Democrats maintain 5 congressional seats in 2026:
Reposted by Kristen Smith
"The message is not that Trump is innocent, it's that *everyone is guilty.* Everyone assaults women, cheats on their taxes, uses public office for private gain. Propriety and following the rules? That stuff is for suckers. In a world of grift and graft, the most corrupt man should be king."
Why Trump can't make the Epstein scandal go away
His ordinary scandal management techniques are not working.
www.publicnotice.co
November 17, 2025 at 2:48 PM
"The message is not that Trump is innocent, it's that *everyone is guilty.* Everyone assaults women, cheats on their taxes, uses public office for private gain. Propriety and following the rules? That stuff is for suckers. In a world of grift and graft, the most corrupt man should be king."
Reposted by Kristen Smith
"This all began with the Rigged Census" claims the guy who was president during the 2020 census
November 17, 2025 at 4:05 PM
"This all began with the Rigged Census" claims the guy who was president during the 2020 census
Reposted by Kristen Smith
Rest in Power, Alice Wong.
“Don’t let the bastards grind you down. I love you all.”
November 15, 2025 at 4:23 PM
Rest in Power, Alice Wong.