Melissa Ryckman
@missoularedhead.bsky.social
Historian, medievalist, geek, feminist, mom, crocheter. Order changes depending on day. Associate professor. All my own thoughts (most of which lately are 'wtf'). Desperately trying to do research.
Why, because they've tried to redact all the names? Also, they abused GIRLS (so maybe we won't find men who abused adult women).
Blanche: “I don't think that the public or you all are going to uncover men within the Epstein files that abused women, unfortunately.”
January 30, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Why, because they've tried to redact all the names? Also, they abused GIRLS (so maybe we won't find men who abused adult women).
Just finished writing my last reading quiz for modern world history, and I realized that the 1980s are now 40 years ago. And now I am considering my life choices. And definitely feeling ancient.
Also, as always, fuck ICE.
Also, as always, fuck ICE.
January 30, 2026 at 3:46 PM
Just finished writing my last reading quiz for modern world history, and I realized that the 1980s are now 40 years ago. And now I am considering my life choices. And definitely feeling ancient.
Also, as always, fuck ICE.
Also, as always, fuck ICE.
He keeps saying shit that isn't true, hoping that if he repeats the lie enough, it will become true. That's not how reality works, damnit.
Trump: "So this has been I think -- and a lot of people say it -- the most successful year of any administration in American history. We extinguished eights wars."
January 29, 2026 at 5:26 PM
He keeps saying shit that isn't true, hoping that if he repeats the lie enough, it will become true. That's not how reality works, damnit.
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
9th Cir. holds that Sec. Noem had no statutory authority to vacate TPS designations for Venezuela and Haiti.
Judge Mendoza, concurring, would additionally hold Noem's action also violated the APA given Noem's explicitly racist comments in vacating TPS.
cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/op...
Judge Mendoza, concurring, would additionally hold Noem's action also violated the APA given Noem's explicitly racist comments in vacating TPS.
cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/op...
January 29, 2026 at 5:04 PM
9th Cir. holds that Sec. Noem had no statutory authority to vacate TPS designations for Venezuela and Haiti.
Judge Mendoza, concurring, would additionally hold Noem's action also violated the APA given Noem's explicitly racist comments in vacating TPS.
cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/op...
Judge Mendoza, concurring, would additionally hold Noem's action also violated the APA given Noem's explicitly racist comments in vacating TPS.
cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/op...
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
Sweetie
[Melania reportedly pocketed nearly $30m of Amazon’s initial $40m outlay]
...so...
Amazon, just putting it out there, but I'm up for making a movie for you
Pretty sure you'll get a better return on your investment too
Oh...yeah...access to POTUS☠️☠️☠️
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
[Melania reportedly pocketed nearly $30m of Amazon’s initial $40m outlay]
...so...
Amazon, just putting it out there, but I'm up for making a movie for you
Pretty sure you'll get a better return on your investment too
Oh...yeah...access to POTUS☠️☠️☠️
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
Are people really going to see Amazon’s $75m Melania documentary?
This weekend sees the release of a controversially funded film about the first lady, directed by a disgraced film-maker
www.theguardian.com
January 29, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Sweetie
[Melania reportedly pocketed nearly $30m of Amazon’s initial $40m outlay]
...so...
Amazon, just putting it out there, but I'm up for making a movie for you
Pretty sure you'll get a better return on your investment too
Oh...yeah...access to POTUS☠️☠️☠️
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
[Melania reportedly pocketed nearly $30m of Amazon’s initial $40m outlay]
...so...
Amazon, just putting it out there, but I'm up for making a movie for you
Pretty sure you'll get a better return on your investment too
Oh...yeah...access to POTUS☠️☠️☠️
www.theguardian.com/film/2026/ja...
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
It’s weird how the “if you haven’t done anything wrong then you don’t have anything to worry about” crowd is trying to illegally shield what they’re doing from journalists who are acting 100% within their rights and the law.
We’re just not a free country.
Any American watching this play out between regime forces and journalists overseas would recognize it for what it is.
Any American watching this play out between regime forces and journalists overseas would recognize it for what it is.
January 29, 2026 at 3:50 PM
It’s weird how the “if you haven’t done anything wrong then you don’t have anything to worry about” crowd is trying to illegally shield what they’re doing from journalists who are acting 100% within their rights and the law.
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
Good morning! In the 9 pm ET hour then recommencing in the 5 am ET, the president posted or reposted more than 60 times, attacking President Obama, PM Carney, Gov Newsom, Gov Walz, Rep Omar, Alex Pretti, and sharing a bunch of untethered nonsense about the 2020 election. I
January 29, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Good morning! In the 9 pm ET hour then recommencing in the 5 am ET, the president posted or reposted more than 60 times, attacking President Obama, PM Carney, Gov Newsom, Gov Walz, Rep Omar, Alex Pretti, and sharing a bunch of untethered nonsense about the 2020 election. I
Oh my. Saying the quiet part outloud.
Kristi Noem: "Everything I've done, I've done at the direction of the president and Stephen"
January 28, 2026 at 3:39 PM
Oh my. Saying the quiet part outloud.
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
We had eradicated this disease.
And now because of targeted disinformation, children, immunocompromised people, elderly folks, and so many others become victims in this proxy war and we have a new avoidable pandemic.
And now because of targeted disinformation, children, immunocompromised people, elderly folks, and so many others become victims in this proxy war and we have a new avoidable pandemic.
Holy moly this chart: Cumulative US measles cases
January 28, 2026 at 2:03 PM
We had eradicated this disease.
And now because of targeted disinformation, children, immunocompromised people, elderly folks, and so many others become victims in this proxy war and we have a new avoidable pandemic.
And now because of targeted disinformation, children, immunocompromised people, elderly folks, and so many others become victims in this proxy war and we have a new avoidable pandemic.
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
"It's less harmful to me to make sure that they can do the things without the AI than to try and push the AI into my classroom knowing that, at least for some of them, it's going to mean that they don't get to acquire the skills that they need."
This this this this this this this this this this 🙏
This this this this this this this this this this 🙏
Forth Worth teacher Chanea Bond says sticking with pen and paper keeps generative artificial intelligence out of her American literature classes. n.pr/4c3cdzs
To keep AI out of her classroom, this high school English teacher went analog
Forth Worth teacher Chanea Bond says sticking with pen and paper keeps generative artificial intelligence out of her American literature classes.
n.pr
January 28, 2026 at 1:38 PM
"It's less harmful to me to make sure that they can do the things without the AI than to try and push the AI into my classroom knowing that, at least for some of them, it's going to mean that they don't get to acquire the skills that they need."
This this this this this this this this this this 🙏
This this this this this this this this this this 🙏
Funny how when it's aligned with what they want, it's great, and when it's not...
In Printz v. United States, #SCOTUS held that the Constitution bars the federal government from forcing or otherwise compelling local or state governments to enforce federal law.
The liberal squish who wrote the majority opinion in that case? Justice Antonin Scalia:
tile.loc.gov/storage-serv...
The liberal squish who wrote the majority opinion in that case? Justice Antonin Scalia:
tile.loc.gov/storage-serv...
January 28, 2026 at 3:29 PM
Funny how when it's aligned with what they want, it's great, and when it's not...
They expect sympathy?! They knew what they were signing up for.
Morale plummeting among ICE agents over long hours, quotas and public hatred: reports
Morale plummeting among ICE agents over long hours, quotas and public hatred: reports
Morale plummeting among ICE agents over long hours, quotas and public hatred: reports
www.independent.co.uk
January 27, 2026 at 4:43 AM
They expect sympathy?! They knew what they were signing up for.
Yes.
IMO, firing or not firing Bovino is irrelevant.
Firing Noem would a step in the right direction.
Firing Miller would be meaningful.
Firing Noem would a step in the right direction.
Firing Miller would be meaningful.
January 27, 2026 at 4:41 AM
Yes.
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
I think the way to get rid of Miller is for Trump to find out that everyone thinks that Miller is the real president. No way Trump can handle that ego blow.
And it’s pretty clear that someone, or more than one, inside the White House is no longer working with him
And it’s pretty clear that someone, or more than one, inside the White House is no longer working with him
January 27, 2026 at 3:41 AM
I think the way to get rid of Miller is for Trump to find out that everyone thinks that Miller is the real president. No way Trump can handle that ego blow.
And it’s pretty clear that someone, or more than one, inside the White House is no longer working with him
And it’s pretty clear that someone, or more than one, inside the White House is no longer working with him
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
"It wasn't murder, and if you say it was murder we will kill you, which again will not be murder."
Homan: "We gotta stop the hateful rhetoric. Saying this officer is a murderer is dangerous. It's just ridiculous. It's gonna infuriate people more which means there's gonna be more incidents like this."
January 11, 2026 at 5:04 PM
"It wasn't murder, and if you say it was murder we will kill you, which again will not be murder."
Uh....uh...uh....
Vance on the economy:
"You don't turn the Titanic around overnight"
"You don't turn the Titanic around overnight"
January 23, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Uh....uh...uh....
These seven should be ashamed of themselves. Absolutely ashamed. They should resign immediately.
The seven Democrats who voted in favor of renewing ICE funding are: Rep. Tom Suozzi (New York), Rep. Henry Cuellar (Texas), Rep. Don Davis (North Carolina), Rep. Laura Gillen (New York), Rep. Jared Golden (Maine), Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (Texas), and Rep. Marie Glusenkamp Perez (Washington).
January 23, 2026 at 12:05 AM
These seven should be ashamed of themselves. Absolutely ashamed. They should resign immediately.
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
January 22, 2026 at 3:58 AM
I came to Minneapolis to report on what's going on, and one of the main questions I showed up with is "just what is the scale of the resistance?" After all, we're all used to the news calling Portland a "war zone" or whatever when it's just some protests in one part of town.
They really like the tactic of trying to embarrass others into doing what they want. Problem is, they’re really bad at it.
Karoline Leavitt announced that Belgium joined Trump’s ‘Board of Peace’. Belgium’s foreign minister responds.
January 22, 2026 at 12:35 PM
They really like the tactic of trying to embarrass others into doing what they want. Problem is, they’re really bad at it.
And they wonder how they keep losing. Sheesh.
To quote one source:
“They’re terrified of being labeled anti–law enforcement. They want this to go away so they can talk about the cost of living more. Problem is, it’s not going away.”
prospect.org/2026/01/21/j...
“They’re terrified of being labeled anti–law enforcement. They want this to go away so they can talk about the cost of living more. Problem is, it’s not going away.”
prospect.org/2026/01/21/j...
Jeffries Won’t Whip Vote Against ICE Funding - The American Prospect
While the House Democratic leader announced personal opposition to a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, he won’t pressure his colleagues to do the same.
prospect.org
January 22, 2026 at 5:28 AM
And they wonder how they keep losing. Sheesh.
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution states,
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation..."
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation..."
January 22, 2026 at 4:39 AM
The Fourth Amendment to the US Constitution states,
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation..."
“The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation..."
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
ICE secretly told its officers that any time someone has been ordered removed, ICE can break down their door.
It has been accepted for generations that the only thing which can authorize agents to break into your home is a warrant signed by a judge. No wonder ICE hid this memo!
It has been accepted for generations that the only thing which can authorize agents to break into your home is a warrant signed by a judge. No wonder ICE hid this memo!
![May 12, 2025
MEMORANDUM FOR: All ICE Personnel
FROM: Todd Lyons Acting Director
SUBJECT: Utilizing Form I-205, Warrant of Removal
On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to "ensur[e] the successful enforcement of final orders of removal." 90 Fed. Reg. 8443, 8444 (Jan. 20, 2025) (E.O. 14159). Essential to the removal of aliens subject to final orders of removal is the ability to locate and arrest them. To this end, certain supervisory immigration officers within both Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are authorized to issue an administrative warrant, Form I-205, Warrant of Removal (Form 1-205), for the arrest of an alien with a final order of removal. 8 C.F.R. § 241.2(a)(1). All U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents and deportation officers are authorized to execute Forms 1-205. 8 C.F.R. § 287.5(e)(3)(iii) - (y)
Although the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not historically relied on administrative warrants alone to arrest aliens subject to final orders of removal in their place of residence, the DHS Office of the General Counsel has recently determined that the U.S. Constitution, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the immigration regulations do not prohibit relying on administrative warrants for this purpose. Accordingly, in light of this legal determination, ICE immigration officers may arrest and detain aliens subject to a final under of removal issued by an immigration judge, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), or a U.S.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreifrzrvaszfhj4bzhgtyvx3fm6ht4kc2zrwtvozijyxl3zxgp7vx6a@jpeg)
January 21, 2026 at 10:09 PM
ICE secretly told its officers that any time someone has been ordered removed, ICE can break down their door.
It has been accepted for generations that the only thing which can authorize agents to break into your home is a warrant signed by a judge. No wonder ICE hid this memo!
It has been accepted for generations that the only thing which can authorize agents to break into your home is a warrant signed by a judge. No wonder ICE hid this memo!
Reposted by Melissa Ryckman
I was at MANY of these stops. Here’s what would happen: the agents would stand guard at the cars, Bovino would literally pose out front while people yelled at him. It was a pathetic, obvious attempt to antagonize neighbors - they transited three gas stations and did the exact same thing thrice.
January 22, 2026 at 4:24 AM
I was at MANY of these stops. Here’s what would happen: the agents would stand guard at the cars, Bovino would literally pose out front while people yelled at him. It was a pathetic, obvious attempt to antagonize neighbors - they transited three gas stations and did the exact same thing thrice.
Can anyone explain to me why MicroSoft is bound and determined that I'm too stupid to know what I want my computer to actually do?
January 21, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Can anyone explain to me why MicroSoft is bound and determined that I'm too stupid to know what I want my computer to actually do?