Lily Raff McCaulou
@lilyrm.bsky.social
I’m a journalist in Bend, Ore. I also teach and advise student journalists at a community college. She/her.
PSA: If you don’t subscribe to poem-a-day from poets.org, you’re missing out on gems like “The Sonnet in Drag,” by Chris Watkins:
poets.org/poem/sonnet-...
poets.org/poem/sonnet-...
The Sonnet in Drag
She’s charismatic, mistress of the brag. / Who turns a look like hers? The highest tuck
poets.org
November 14, 2025 at 4:34 PM
PSA: If you don’t subscribe to poem-a-day from poets.org, you’re missing out on gems like “The Sonnet in Drag,” by Chris Watkins:
poets.org/poem/sonnet-...
poets.org/poem/sonnet-...
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
Indiana University, which has now been subordinated to the direct control of the Indiana GOP, announces that criticism of the MAGA movement and doctrines of the GOP is forbidden. An instructor is dismissed for speaking critical words about the MAGA movement.
Indiana Professor Removed From Class Over White Supremacy Lesson
www.nytimes.com
November 13, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Indiana University, which has now been subordinated to the direct control of the Indiana GOP, announces that criticism of the MAGA movement and doctrines of the GOP is forbidden. An instructor is dismissed for speaking critical words about the MAGA movement.
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
Best case: The President of the United States knew about a pedophilia ring and did nothing to stop it.
Medium case: He also used his office to protect the perpetrators.
Worst case: Because he was one of the perpetrators.
Medium case: He also used his office to protect the perpetrators.
Worst case: Because he was one of the perpetrators.
November 13, 2025 at 2:39 AM
Best case: The President of the United States knew about a pedophilia ring and did nothing to stop it.
Medium case: He also used his office to protect the perpetrators.
Worst case: Because he was one of the perpetrators.
Medium case: He also used his office to protect the perpetrators.
Worst case: Because he was one of the perpetrators.
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
DONALD TRUMP: [asleep, drooling on long red tie]
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
November 10, 2025 at 2:37 AM
DONALD TRUMP: [asleep, drooling on long red tie]
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
He’s not sleeping, he’s anti-woke
“.. A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent nearly 20 minutes apparently battling to keep his eyes open at the Thursday event. .. a seemingly stark illustration of the strain of the presidency on a 79-year-old ..
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
November 8, 2025 at 9:18 PM
He’s not sleeping, he’s anti-woke
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
The man who ended USAID is the world's first trillionaire
November 7, 2025 at 2:14 AM
The man who ended USAID is the world's first trillionaire
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
When official sources of information dry up or become unreliable, rumors and conspiracy theories take their place. That does not always bode well for whoever is in power.
Here's the planned BLS data release schedule for Nov 2025.
On Tues, it couldn't release Sept job openings, hires, layoffs and firings data.
This morning, it couldn't release 2025Q3 business Productivity and Costs data.
Tomorrow, it can't release Oct 2025 #JobsReport
www.bls.gov/schedule/202...
On Tues, it couldn't release Sept job openings, hires, layoffs and firings data.
This morning, it couldn't release 2025Q3 business Productivity and Costs data.
Tomorrow, it can't release Oct 2025 #JobsReport
www.bls.gov/schedule/202...
November 7, 2025 at 3:29 AM
When official sources of information dry up or become unreliable, rumors and conspiracy theories take their place. That does not always bode well for whoever is in power.
Approximately the same number of people voted for Sliwa as *volunteered* for Mamdani.
A guy from Infowars circled the room like a vulture.
People sporting 'Anti-Mamdani Social Club' shirts.
Plenty of red berets, but not a single red MAGA hat in sight.
This is just a snippet of Curtis Sliwa's watch party.
People sporting 'Anti-Mamdani Social Club' shirts.
Plenty of red berets, but not a single red MAGA hat in sight.
This is just a snippet of Curtis Sliwa's watch party.
My night with Sliwa superfans
At the Republican watch party, there was one point of political agreement: Andrew Cuomo sucks.
www.motherjones.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Approximately the same number of people voted for Sliwa as *volunteered* for Mamdani.
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
“.. There were no counties or cities (as of writing) that moved right relative to four years ago. On average, they instead moved 13 points to the left.”
@pbump.com #Virginia
www.pbump.net/o/what-chang...
@pbump.com #Virginia
www.pbump.net/o/what-chang...
November 5, 2025 at 6:14 PM
“.. There were no counties or cities (as of writing) that moved right relative to four years ago. On average, they instead moved 13 points to the left.”
@pbump.com #Virginia
www.pbump.net/o/what-chang...
@pbump.com #Virginia
www.pbump.net/o/what-chang...
“We fight for you because we are you.”
It's starting!
Mamdani's speech will be broadcast live here. No idea when it'll start, but probably soonish. www.youtube.com/watch?v=NnM_...
November 5, 2025 at 6:01 AM
“We fight for you because we are you.”
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
BREAKING: Colorado voters approved a ballot measure that would raise state income taxes on higher-earning households to fund free meals for all public school students.
Follow AP for live updates.
Follow AP for live updates.
Live updates: US voters head to the polls in first general election since Trump's return to power
One year after Donald Trump retook the presidency, 2025 Election Day includes closely watched races for New York City mayor, New Jersey governor and California's Proposition 50.
bit.ly
November 5, 2025 at 3:33 AM
BREAKING: Colorado voters approved a ballot measure that would raise state income taxes on higher-earning households to fund free meals for all public school students.
Follow AP for live updates.
Follow AP for live updates.
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
Sep 30: USDA issues guidance saying they can use contingency fund
Oct 10: USDA tells states to prepare for lapse
Oct 23: USDA deletes Sep 30 guidance
Oct 24: USDA says it can’t use contingency fund
Oct 31: Courts tell USDA to release funds
Nov 1: no funds go out
Nov 4: Trump says he’ll defy courts
Oct 10: USDA tells states to prepare for lapse
Oct 23: USDA deletes Sep 30 guidance
Oct 24: USDA says it can’t use contingency fund
Oct 31: Courts tell USDA to release funds
Nov 1: no funds go out
Nov 4: Trump says he’ll defy courts
The president says he will defy court orders and illegally withhold SNAP benefits despite there being money in the SNAP contingency fund that the Trump is required to use.
November 4, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Sep 30: USDA issues guidance saying they can use contingency fund
Oct 10: USDA tells states to prepare for lapse
Oct 23: USDA deletes Sep 30 guidance
Oct 24: USDA says it can’t use contingency fund
Oct 31: Courts tell USDA to release funds
Nov 1: no funds go out
Nov 4: Trump says he’ll defy courts
Oct 10: USDA tells states to prepare for lapse
Oct 23: USDA deletes Sep 30 guidance
Oct 24: USDA says it can’t use contingency fund
Oct 31: Courts tell USDA to release funds
Nov 1: no funds go out
Nov 4: Trump says he’ll defy courts
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
June 19, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Chatbots — LLMs — do not know facts and are not designed to be able to accurately answer factual questions. They are designed to find and mimic patterns of words, probabilistically. When they’re “right” it’s because correct things are often written down, so those patterns are frequent. That’s all.
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
I looked it up once. SNAP takes 2% of the US budget and 93% of the money goes to the actual poor people instead of to the bureaucracy. So it's kind of like if you paid $1000 in taxes, you spent $20 on the poor of which they got to keep $18.60, and you spent $166.66 on the military.
SNAP is probably the most effective federal dollar we spend in terms of long term domestic economic outcomes.
that isn’t why you should support it; you should support it because it is a moral imperative to feed the hungry.
but it’s why even a growth-oriented ghoul shouldn’t oppose it.
that isn’t why you should support it; you should support it because it is a moral imperative to feed the hungry.
but it’s why even a growth-oriented ghoul shouldn’t oppose it.
October 27, 2025 at 2:34 AM
I looked it up once. SNAP takes 2% of the US budget and 93% of the money goes to the actual poor people instead of to the bureaucracy. So it's kind of like if you paid $1000 in taxes, you spent $20 on the poor of which they got to keep $18.60, and you spent $166.66 on the military.
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
The U.S. hasn’t sent this many ships to the Caribbean since the Cuban missile crisis. W/ Ford's arrival, will be about as many as were used to defend Israel from Iran missile strikes. www.theatlantic.com/national-sec... by @nancyayoussef.bsky.social, Gisela Salim-Peyer, and @jonlemire.bsky.social
The U.S. Is Preparing for War in Venezuela
More U.S.-military firepower is headed to the Caribbean as Trump escalates his anti-Maduro rhetoric.
www.theatlantic.com
October 26, 2025 at 3:27 PM
The U.S. hasn’t sent this many ships to the Caribbean since the Cuban missile crisis. W/ Ford's arrival, will be about as many as were used to defend Israel from Iran missile strikes. www.theatlantic.com/national-sec... by @nancyayoussef.bsky.social, Gisela Salim-Peyer, and @jonlemire.bsky.social
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
At a certain point in Turkey, virtually every non-public person I interviewed refused to give their last name. Eventually I stopped even writing "______ declined to give his/her last name for fear of government reprisal," because it became redundant, and editors understood. But here's the thing...
October 26, 2025 at 2:14 PM
At a certain point in Turkey, virtually every non-public person I interviewed refused to give their last name. Eventually I stopped even writing "______ declined to give his/her last name for fear of government reprisal," because it became redundant, and editors understood. But here's the thing...
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
Just set up a reoccurring monthly donation to my local food bank. I know they can do so much more with my cash than if I tried to donate food instead. I’m worried it’s about to get very bleak, especially after the holidays - use the link provided below to find a local food bank near you
Donated to the Atlanta Community Food Bank this morning in case anyone wants join on a food bank donation train
find a food bank in your area here: www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-lo...
find a food bank in your area here: www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-lo...
October 26, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Just set up a reoccurring monthly donation to my local food bank. I know they can do so much more with my cash than if I tried to donate food instead. I’m worried it’s about to get very bleak, especially after the holidays - use the link provided below to find a local food bank near you
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
Tomorrow. D.C. The National Mall. Sunup to sundown.
October 26, 2025 at 2:32 AM
Tomorrow. D.C. The National Mall. Sunup to sundown.
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
What happened to all the art, furniture and priceless historical treasures that were in the East Wing?
Did Trump just give it away to his buddies? Is it at Mar-a-Lago? Did Jared and Ivana just help themselves to it?
No one knows
Did Trump just give it away to his buddies? Is it at Mar-a-Lago? Did Jared and Ivana just help themselves to it?
No one knows
October 23, 2025 at 2:29 PM
What happened to all the art, furniture and priceless historical treasures that were in the East Wing?
Did Trump just give it away to his buddies? Is it at Mar-a-Lago? Did Jared and Ivana just help themselves to it?
No one knows
Did Trump just give it away to his buddies? Is it at Mar-a-Lago? Did Jared and Ivana just help themselves to it?
No one knows
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
Did the New York Times have an editorial meeting where they said something like “these are trustworthy people, we should take their word, put it headlines, that’s good journalism.”
Did they go so far as to say “we should help the Trump administration sell this action”?
Or do they just sorta do it?
Did they go so far as to say “we should help the Trump administration sell this action”?
Or do they just sorta do it?
October 23, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Did the New York Times have an editorial meeting where they said something like “these are trustworthy people, we should take their word, put it headlines, that’s good journalism.”
Did they go so far as to say “we should help the Trump administration sell this action”?
Or do they just sorta do it?
Did they go so far as to say “we should help the Trump administration sell this action”?
Or do they just sorta do it?
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
The National Trust for Historic Preservation warned that President Trump’s planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom would “overwhelm the White House itself,” which spans just 55,000 square feet. https://wapo.st/4hmL8rC
October 22, 2025 at 2:15 PM
The National Trust for Historic Preservation warned that President Trump’s planned 90,000-square-foot ballroom would “overwhelm the White House itself,” which spans just 55,000 square feet. https://wapo.st/4hmL8rC
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
I find it amazing too that Republicans’ boycott of Washington isn’t the biggest story of them all.
The shutdown can’t end if they refuse to show up for work.
The shutdown can’t end if they refuse to show up for work.
October 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I find it amazing too that Republicans’ boycott of Washington isn’t the biggest story of them all.
The shutdown can’t end if they refuse to show up for work.
The shutdown can’t end if they refuse to show up for work.
One in seven Americans, or about 50 million people, live in a news desert, with weak or no local news source.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/projects/sta...
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/projects/sta...
The State of Local News 2025
The latest insights and trends on the local news landscape across the country. Through data and graphics, explore the state of local news outlets and learn about news deserts, network sites and pathwa...
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu
October 21, 2025 at 5:46 PM
One in seven Americans, or about 50 million people, live in a news desert, with weak or no local news source.
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/projects/sta...
localnewsinitiative.northwestern.edu/projects/sta...
Reposted by Lily Raff McCaulou
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
October 20, 2025 at 10:09 PM
EXCLUSIVE: One Saturday afternoon in October, my phone lit up with a notification.
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...
I glanced down at the message.
“Anna, Lindsey Halligan here,” it began.
So began my text exchange with the woman who is prosecuting the president's perceived political enemies.
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/anna...