Mike Benson
@mbensonster.bsky.social
Retired rancher, psychologist, happy to be living in Catalonia and making pipes.
Reposted by Mike Benson
it really can't be said enough that this is a person who has dined with the president of the united states
Fuentes then fantasizes about “breeding gulags”: “So just like Hitler imprisoned Gypsies, Jews, communists, you know, all of his political rivals, we have to do the same thing with women… They go to the breeding gulags. The good ones will be liberated. The bad ones will toil in the mines forever.”
February 12, 2026 at 4:11 PM
it really can't be said enough that this is a person who has dined with the president of the united states
Reposted by Mike Benson
The UK just proposed new school guidance that effectively bans even social transition for trans students (using a different name, pronoun or haircut). It implements a full bathroom ban while requiring mandatory outing of trans youth if a teacher suspects they are trans.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
'Vast majority' of parents should be involved if children question gender, schools told
School leaders welcome the "greater clarity" on how to handle the polarising issue for parents and pupils.
www.bbc.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:16 PM
The UK just proposed new school guidance that effectively bans even social transition for trans students (using a different name, pronoun or haircut). It implements a full bathroom ban while requiring mandatory outing of trans youth if a teacher suspects they are trans.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Mike Benson
As an Arsenal fan, I have always enjoyed our historic rivalry with Manchester Utd.
Above all, I admire its identity as a diverse club with players & fans from all over the world.
Jim Ratcliffe’s comments are a disgrace. Migrants aren’t the problem. Tax-dodging billionaires are.
Above all, I admire its identity as a diverse club with players & fans from all over the world.
Jim Ratcliffe’s comments are a disgrace. Migrants aren’t the problem. Tax-dodging billionaires are.
February 12, 2026 at 4:31 PM
As an Arsenal fan, I have always enjoyed our historic rivalry with Manchester Utd.
Above all, I admire its identity as a diverse club with players & fans from all over the world.
Jim Ratcliffe’s comments are a disgrace. Migrants aren’t the problem. Tax-dodging billionaires are.
Above all, I admire its identity as a diverse club with players & fans from all over the world.
Jim Ratcliffe’s comments are a disgrace. Migrants aren’t the problem. Tax-dodging billionaires are.
Reposted by Mike Benson
The El Paso story is a perfect little slice of Trumpism. You take the combined incompetence of our Dep'ts of Transportation, Defense & Homeland Security and create a major public safety risk, shut down a major airport, alarm our neighbors that we are about attack them & shoot down a party balloon.
February 12, 2026 at 12:12 PM
The El Paso story is a perfect little slice of Trumpism. You take the combined incompetence of our Dep'ts of Transportation, Defense & Homeland Security and create a major public safety risk, shut down a major airport, alarm our neighbors that we are about attack them & shoot down a party balloon.
Reposted by Mike Benson
Uncertainty is not your friend: In a new paper published in One Earth, scientists argue that uncertainties in climate projections mean Earth system components could be at a higher risk than we think of reaching crucial tipping points. 🌊
eos.org/articles/ear...
eos.org/articles/ear...
Earth’s Climate May Go from Greenhouse to Hothouse - Eos
Uncertainty in climate models could mean Earth systems are perilously close to their tipping points, scientists warn.
eos.org
February 12, 2026 at 12:24 PM
Uncertainty is not your friend: In a new paper published in One Earth, scientists argue that uncertainties in climate projections mean Earth system components could be at a higher risk than we think of reaching crucial tipping points. 🌊
eos.org/articles/ear...
eos.org/articles/ear...
Reposted by Mike Benson
Across the Irish countryside, hedgerows are constantly being annihilated.
So often, these are the last wildlife refuges in a landscape denuded of habitat.
Just where is nature supposed to go?
So often, these are the last wildlife refuges in a landscape denuded of habitat.
Just where is nature supposed to go?
February 12, 2026 at 8:21 AM
Across the Irish countryside, hedgerows are constantly being annihilated.
So often, these are the last wildlife refuges in a landscape denuded of habitat.
Just where is nature supposed to go?
So often, these are the last wildlife refuges in a landscape denuded of habitat.
Just where is nature supposed to go?
Reposted by Mike Benson
No shit, no kidding:
"Poorly designed tree-planting campaigns could do more harm than good, according to Stanford researcher and others"
Fun fact: restoring ecosystems work, but no money being made, so fuck it!
"Poorly designed tree-planting campaigns could do more harm than good, according to Stanford researcher and others"
Fun fact: restoring ecosystems work, but no money being made, so fuck it!
When planting trees threatens the forest
The first-of-its-kind study reveals that subsidies for the planting of commercially valuable tree plantations in Chile resulted in the loss of biologically valuable natural forests and little, if any,...
news.stanford.edu
February 12, 2026 at 12:20 PM
No shit, no kidding:
"Poorly designed tree-planting campaigns could do more harm than good, according to Stanford researcher and others"
Fun fact: restoring ecosystems work, but no money being made, so fuck it!
"Poorly designed tree-planting campaigns could do more harm than good, according to Stanford researcher and others"
Fun fact: restoring ecosystems work, but no money being made, so fuck it!
Reposted by Mike Benson
New from 404 Media: we've confirmed cops are buying access to GeoSpy, an AI that can geolocate photos in seconds. Doesn't use metadata, but clues in the photo like soil, architecture, to pinpoint where social media photos taken. Being used in investigations www.404media.co/cops-are-buy...
Cops Are Buying ‘GeoSpy’, an AI That Geolocates Photos in Seconds
404 Media has obtained a cache of internal police emails showing at least two agencies have bought access to GeoSpy, an AI tool that analyzes architecture, soil, and other features to near instantly g...
www.404media.co
February 12, 2026 at 2:17 PM
New from 404 Media: we've confirmed cops are buying access to GeoSpy, an AI that can geolocate photos in seconds. Doesn't use metadata, but clues in the photo like soil, architecture, to pinpoint where social media photos taken. Being used in investigations www.404media.co/cops-are-buy...
Reposted by Mike Benson
Here is the presentation saying LAPD has a license for GeoSpy www.404media.co/cops-are-buy...
February 12, 2026 at 2:34 PM
Here is the presentation saying LAPD has a license for GeoSpy www.404media.co/cops-are-buy...
Reposted by Mike Benson
Mississippi Rep. Omeria Scott has advocated for reinstating the Health Care Trust Fund so the state can afford Medicaid expansion.
“And now all we hear about is that we can’t afford health care—that is not true,” Scott said. “We raided the health-care trust fund; we should put that money back.”
“And now all we hear about is that we can’t afford health care—that is not true,” Scott said. “We raided the health-care trust fund; we should put that money back.”
Medicaid Expansion Dead in Mississippi Due to Trump Cuts, Top Republican Says
Mississippi won’t expand Medicaid this year because of federal Medicaid funding cuts under Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill.
buff.ly
February 12, 2026 at 2:45 PM
Mississippi Rep. Omeria Scott has advocated for reinstating the Health Care Trust Fund so the state can afford Medicaid expansion.
“And now all we hear about is that we can’t afford health care—that is not true,” Scott said. “We raided the health-care trust fund; we should put that money back.”
“And now all we hear about is that we can’t afford health care—that is not true,” Scott said. “We raided the health-care trust fund; we should put that money back.”
Reposted by Mike Benson
Breaking: House passes new version of SAVE Act, worst voter suppression bill considered by Congress. Could disenfranchise:
-21 million Americans w/out access to citizenship papers
-69 mil married women who took partner’s name
-21 mil w/out valid drivers license
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
-21 million Americans w/out access to citizenship papers
-69 mil married women who took partner’s name
-21 mil w/out valid drivers license
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
The GOP’s “show us your papers” bill Is the latest effort to help Trump take over elections
“If the SAVE Act were to pass, it would be the worst voter suppression law that Congress has ever enacted"
www.motherjones.com
February 11, 2026 at 11:44 PM
Breaking: House passes new version of SAVE Act, worst voter suppression bill considered by Congress. Could disenfranchise:
-21 million Americans w/out access to citizenship papers
-69 mil married women who took partner’s name
-21 mil w/out valid drivers license
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
-21 million Americans w/out access to citizenship papers
-69 mil married women who took partner’s name
-21 mil w/out valid drivers license
www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
Reposted by Mike Benson
www.elperiodicomediterraneo.com/comarcas/202...
Quiero hacer eco de lo que les está pasando a muchos "niños de la guerra" que tuvieron que exiliarse a Rusia. Este caso en concreto en desde mi pueblo. Las injusticias aún siguen vigentes y sumando en su triste historia de exilio forzado.
Quiero hacer eco de lo que les está pasando a muchos "niños de la guerra" que tuvieron que exiliarse a Rusia. Este caso en concreto en desde mi pueblo. Las injusticias aún siguen vigentes y sumando en su triste historia de exilio forzado.
De 'niño de la guerra' en Rusia a anciano sin pensión en Castellón: la burocracia ahoga a un vecino de 93 años
Exiliado en la Unión Soviética durante la guerra civil, hoy vive sin ingresos tras perder su pensión rusa por las sanciones internacionales y ver suspendida la prestación española por un problema buro...
www.elperiodicomediterraneo.com
December 16, 2025 at 8:50 AM
www.elperiodicomediterraneo.com/comarcas/202...
Quiero hacer eco de lo que les está pasando a muchos "niños de la guerra" que tuvieron que exiliarse a Rusia. Este caso en concreto en desde mi pueblo. Las injusticias aún siguen vigentes y sumando en su triste historia de exilio forzado.
Quiero hacer eco de lo que les está pasando a muchos "niños de la guerra" que tuvieron que exiliarse a Rusia. Este caso en concreto en desde mi pueblo. Las injusticias aún siguen vigentes y sumando en su triste historia de exilio forzado.
Reposted by Mike Benson
No hacía falta ser muy listo.
Oh, sorpresa, los trabajadores argentinos descubren que la libertad carajo es la libertad para joderles la vida. cadenaser.com/nacional/202...
Jornadas de 12 horas, despido sin indemnización y reducción del derecho a huelga: la reforma laboral de Milei que precariza a los argentinos
Las protestas sindicales se extienden a las afueras de la Asamblea, que debate este miércoles la reforma | Cadena SER
cadenaser.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:04 PM
No hacía falta ser muy listo.
Reposted by Mike Benson
EU leaders are examining a "competitiveness" plan by Germany & Italy that would hijack democracy and allow corporations to get rich at the expense of Europe’s long-term security and the resilience of our communities
Find out more in our letter to EU presidents & PMs ahead of today's summit ⬇️
#EUCO
Find out more in our letter to EU presidents & PMs ahead of today's summit ⬇️
#EUCO
Don’t allow the EU to become President Trump’s El Dorado - Greenpeace European Unit
A letter to EU presidents and prime ministers warns that that plans due to be discussed at an EU summit on 12 February are a threat to democracy and Europe's long-term security and resilience.
www.greenpeace.org
February 12, 2026 at 2:46 PM
EU leaders are examining a "competitiveness" plan by Germany & Italy that would hijack democracy and allow corporations to get rich at the expense of Europe’s long-term security and the resilience of our communities
Find out more in our letter to EU presidents & PMs ahead of today's summit ⬇️
#EUCO
Find out more in our letter to EU presidents & PMs ahead of today's summit ⬇️
#EUCO
Reposted by Mike Benson
Went to a panel of election administrators, and they spoke about all of the things they are doing to try to reassure the public about the integrity of the elections, but how much of an effect can it have when the federal government employs conspiracists?
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/u...
Trump’s Director of Election Security Is an Election Denier
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:48 PM
Went to a panel of election administrators, and they spoke about all of the things they are doing to try to reassure the public about the integrity of the elections, but how much of an effect can it have when the federal government employs conspiracists?
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/12/u...
Reposted by Mike Benson
We rely on ethical and honest election officials to ensure we can rely on our elections. Those officials have been threatened and attacked, and are fleeing from the profession. Turnover since 2020 is above 50% in western states/
issueone.org/press/new-re...
issueone.org/press/new-re...
February 11, 2026 at 4:38 PM
We rely on ethical and honest election officials to ensure we can rely on our elections. Those officials have been threatened and attacked, and are fleeing from the profession. Turnover since 2020 is above 50% in western states/
issueone.org/press/new-re...
issueone.org/press/new-re...
Reposted by Mike Benson
I'm still SHOCKED by the obscene rise in billionaire election spending since Citizens United in the NYT piece, despite already knowing that election corruption w/ $ was profound. (Recall that BCRA fought dangerous campaign $ in *2002*)
The article data didn't have a graph, so I made one to show it.
The article data didn't have a graph, so I made one to show it.
February 12, 2026 at 2:26 PM
I'm still SHOCKED by the obscene rise in billionaire election spending since Citizens United in the NYT piece, despite already knowing that election corruption w/ $ was profound. (Recall that BCRA fought dangerous campaign $ in *2002*)
The article data didn't have a graph, so I made one to show it.
The article data didn't have a graph, so I made one to show it.
Reposted by Mike Benson
Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection helps to explain how our moral instincts, such as empathy, compassion, and reciprocity, evolved naturally.
We have #DarwinDay schools resources on the
@humanismedu.bsky.social website: understandinghumanism.org.uk/articles/dar...
We have #DarwinDay schools resources on the
@humanismedu.bsky.social website: understandinghumanism.org.uk/articles/dar...
February 12, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection helps to explain how our moral instincts, such as empathy, compassion, and reciprocity, evolved naturally.
We have #DarwinDay schools resources on the
@humanismedu.bsky.social website: understandinghumanism.org.uk/articles/dar...
We have #DarwinDay schools resources on the
@humanismedu.bsky.social website: understandinghumanism.org.uk/articles/dar...
Reposted by Mike Benson
EU leaders are having a cosy gettogether in a Belgian castle to supposedly talk about competitiveness
But they're dancing to the tune of Trump’s deregulation agenda and allowing greedy multinationals to get rich from the pollution of our food, rivers and homes
Read our comment below 👇
#EUCO
But they're dancing to the tune of Trump’s deregulation agenda and allowing greedy multinationals to get rich from the pollution of our food, rivers and homes
Read our comment below 👇
#EUCO
EU sell-out summit is capitulation to Trump and corporate agendas - Greenpeace European Unit
Greenpeace accused EU governments of undermining democracy, bowing to the Trump agenda of deregulation and taking instructions from corporate lobbies, as an informal EU summit got underway on Thursday...
www.greenpeace.org
February 12, 2026 at 12:42 PM
EU leaders are having a cosy gettogether in a Belgian castle to supposedly talk about competitiveness
But they're dancing to the tune of Trump’s deregulation agenda and allowing greedy multinationals to get rich from the pollution of our food, rivers and homes
Read our comment below 👇
#EUCO
But they're dancing to the tune of Trump’s deregulation agenda and allowing greedy multinationals to get rich from the pollution of our food, rivers and homes
Read our comment below 👇
#EUCO
Reposted by Mike Benson
📣 ✊ We are uniting with labor unions across New Jersey hosting a series of in-person trainings to fight back against the increased presence of ICE in our communities and rising authoritarianism. Join us in your community! Dinner will be provided.
RSVP: https://loom.ly/FunAZhk
RSVP: https://loom.ly/FunAZhk
February 12, 2026 at 2:57 PM
📣 ✊ We are uniting with labor unions across New Jersey hosting a series of in-person trainings to fight back against the increased presence of ICE in our communities and rising authoritarianism. Join us in your community! Dinner will be provided.
RSVP: https://loom.ly/FunAZhk
RSVP: https://loom.ly/FunAZhk
Reposted by Mike Benson
Transcript: Trump FBI Ballot Box Raid Worsens as Damning Info Emerges newrepublic.com/article/2065... via @newrepublic.com
Transcript: Trump FBI Ballot Box Raid Worsens as Damning Info Emerges
As new revelations make the FBI’s seizure of Georgia ballots look worse, a voting rights advocate walks us through the nightmare scenarios for 2026—and how we can prepare for them right now.
newrepublic.com
February 12, 2026 at 4:23 PM
Transcript: Trump FBI Ballot Box Raid Worsens as Damning Info Emerges newrepublic.com/article/2065... via @newrepublic.com
Reposted by Mike Benson
‼️ Malestar al Gironès i l’Empordà per l’alerta generalitzada pel vent i les restriccions
🔶 Gemma Geis, vice-batllessa de Girona, critica que el govern no ha sabut desescalar ni territorialitzar les restriccions
www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/mal...
🔶 Gemma Geis, vice-batllessa de Girona, critica que el govern no ha sabut desescalar ni territorialitzar les restriccions
www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/mal...
Malestar al Gironès i l'Empordà per l'alerta generalitzada pel vent i les restriccions
Gemma Geis, vice-batllessa de Girona, critica que el govern no ha sabut desescalar ni territorialitzar les restriccions.
www.vilaweb.cat
February 12, 2026 at 2:59 PM
‼️ Malestar al Gironès i l’Empordà per l’alerta generalitzada pel vent i les restriccions
🔶 Gemma Geis, vice-batllessa de Girona, critica que el govern no ha sabut desescalar ni territorialitzar les restriccions
www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/mal...
🔶 Gemma Geis, vice-batllessa de Girona, critica que el govern no ha sabut desescalar ni territorialitzar les restriccions
www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/mal...
Reposted by Mike Benson
🚨 The Trump administration has dismantled the office created to keep ICE in check, reducing it to a skeleton crew of nine staffers.
The cuts weaken one of the only civil rights guardrails on an agency that is rapidly expanding its power.
The cuts weaken one of the only civil rights guardrails on an agency that is rapidly expanding its power.
February 12, 2026 at 3:00 PM
🚨 The Trump administration has dismantled the office created to keep ICE in check, reducing it to a skeleton crew of nine staffers.
The cuts weaken one of the only civil rights guardrails on an agency that is rapidly expanding its power.
The cuts weaken one of the only civil rights guardrails on an agency that is rapidly expanding its power.
Reposted by Mike Benson
📝 Campanyes convergents, testimonis divergents, firmes dubtoses i préstecs que sorprenen
🔶 Crònica d'Ot Bou
www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/jud...
🔶 Crònica d'Ot Bou
www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/jud...
Campanyes convergents, testimonis divergents, firmes dubtoses i préstecs que sorprenen
El judici continua furgant en la branca del cas Pujol que s’embranca amb el finançament de Convergència Democràtica
www.vilaweb.cat
February 12, 2026 at 3:40 PM
📝 Campanyes convergents, testimonis divergents, firmes dubtoses i préstecs que sorprenen
🔶 Crònica d'Ot Bou
www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/jud...
🔶 Crònica d'Ot Bou
www.vilaweb.cat/noticies/jud...