David Barber
@odoketa.bsky.social
He/him. Conway, Arkansas politico. Former candidate. Économiste. Quelque fois en français. Ask me about Talking Like A Pirate.
#LookingForWork as the kids say.
#LookingForWork as the kids say.
So now ICE is just outright falsifying documents. No surprise, really
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Irish man with valid US work permit held in ICE detention for five months
Seamus Culleton has lived in US for two decades, married a citizen and runs a plastering business but faces deportation
www.theguardian.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:42 PM
So now ICE is just outright falsifying documents. No surprise, really
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by David Barber
In one 30-minute stretch, three legal observers were arrested — as Trump’s Border czar Tom Homan calls on locals to “end the resistance.”
“Uptick In Abductions”: ICE Ramps Up Targeting of Minneapolis Legal Observers
In one 30-minute stretch, three Minneapolis legal observers were arrested as ICE ramped up its targeting of community volunteers.
interc.pt
February 9, 2026 at 6:19 PM
In one 30-minute stretch, three legal observers were arrested — as Trump’s Border czar Tom Homan calls on locals to “end the resistance.”
Costa Rica is often held up as a massive success story, and model for other countries. The author puts a little more nuance into the picture. (Gift article)
wapo.st/4qolCFk
wapo.st/4qolCFk
Opinion | The hidden costs of Costa Rica’s ecotourism boom
Planetary gentrification comes to paradise
wapo.st
February 9, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Costa Rica is often held up as a massive success story, and model for other countries. The author puts a little more nuance into the picture. (Gift article)
wapo.st/4qolCFk
wapo.st/4qolCFk
The US is losing friends at a prodigious rate. Having a hostile relationship with our largest trading partner is bad for everyone.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Stephen Harper says Canada must urgently reduce its dependence on the U.S. | CBC News
Speaking at an Ottawa gala late Wednesday, former prime minister Stephen Harper said that Canada must urgently pivot in the face of an erratic U.S. president and reduce its dependence on the American ...
www.cbc.ca
February 8, 2026 at 4:34 PM
The US is losing friends at a prodigious rate. Having a hostile relationship with our largest trading partner is bad for everyone.
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
www.cbc.ca/news/politic...
Can Starmer just resign already? Do we have to do the 'all my underlings fall on their sword first' dance?
February 8, 2026 at 3:13 PM
Can Starmer just resign already? Do we have to do the 'all my underlings fall on their sword first' dance?
Reposted by David Barber
February 8, 2026 at 2:45 PM
This is an excellent overview of what's up in the UK due to Epstein. Spoiler: everyone's a pédophile, or a pédophile protector.
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP892hr32/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP892hr32/
As more details pour out of the Epstein Files all eyes are focussing on the former ambassador to the UK Peter Mandelson and the person who appointed him… Prime Minister Keir Starmer #epstein #epsteinf...
TikTok video by mrcodydahler
www.tiktok.com
February 6, 2026 at 7:14 PM
This is an excellent overview of what's up in the UK due to Epstein. Spoiler: everyone's a pédophile, or a pédophile protector.
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP892hr32/
www.tiktok.com/t/ZP892hr32/
Reposted by David Barber
Billionaires can't be happy with their money because it is impossible to become a billionaire without being a gaping sucking void of desperate ravenous mindless hunger.
The only way to become a billionaire is by transforming yourself into a wendigo.
The only way to become a billionaire is by transforming yourself into a wendigo.
February 5, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Billionaires can't be happy with their money because it is impossible to become a billionaire without being a gaping sucking void of desperate ravenous mindless hunger.
The only way to become a billionaire is by transforming yourself into a wendigo.
The only way to become a billionaire is by transforming yourself into a wendigo.
It goes without saying that the Trump administration has weaponized the government to trample the Constitution. However, many of us have been warning about this through multiple administrations. We need better guardrails, and we'll still need them after Trump leaves office.
wapo.st/4rtfCw8
wapo.st/4rtfCw8
Homeland Security is targeting Americans with this secretive legal weapon
Under Trump, the Department of Homeland Security has weaponized administrative subpoenas to attack free speech, according to privacy and civil rights groups.
wapo.st
February 3, 2026 at 8:04 PM
It goes without saying that the Trump administration has weaponized the government to trample the Constitution. However, many of us have been warning about this through multiple administrations. We need better guardrails, and we'll still need them after Trump leaves office.
wapo.st/4rtfCw8
wapo.st/4rtfCw8
I'm in Arkansas, and the response to data centers here has been enlightening. Too many people got burned by crypto miners dumping a shipping container full of servers running 24/7 in their backyard, and now they want blood. It's a very broad coalition of people.
4. I’ve spent some time tracking and attending local populist responses to ai data centers. Despite some critiques from left that it’s all repackaged “nimby bullshit” (as I’ve been told), I have seen organic multiracial coalitions on this issue. Esp. in places with strong environmental racism orgs
February 3, 2026 at 2:20 PM
I'm in Arkansas, and the response to data centers here has been enlightening. Too many people got burned by crypto miners dumping a shipping container full of servers running 24/7 in their backyard, and now they want blood. It's a very broad coalition of people.
Reposted by David Barber
Cruelty is big business
February 3, 2026 at 2:57 AM
Cruelty is big business
Reposted by David Barber
remember back when we all doodled the current thing for warmups? we could bring that back, maybe, that was fun
February 3, 2026 at 7:52 AM
remember back when we all doodled the current thing for warmups? we could bring that back, maybe, that was fun
Turns out, that Jesus guy was a bit of a radical. Today's Catholics aren't all on board (I know you're shocked)
(Gift Article)
wapo.st/3ZH9rsq
(Gift Article)
wapo.st/3ZH9rsq
For traditional Catholics, Charlotte Communion dispute is a battle line
A seemingly esoteric dispute over the proper way to take Communion signals the rising power of more traditional voices within the Catholic Church.
wapo.st
February 2, 2026 at 11:43 PM
Turns out, that Jesus guy was a bit of a radical. Today's Catholics aren't all on board (I know you're shocked)
(Gift Article)
wapo.st/3ZH9rsq
(Gift Article)
wapo.st/3ZH9rsq
Reposted by David Barber
Bruce Springsteen is currently number one in iTunes in 19 countries.
January 30, 2026 at 10:41 PM
Bruce Springsteen is currently number one in iTunes in 19 countries.
Closing the Kennedy Center on July 4, the 250th birthday, feels too on the nose. Are we actually in a simulation?
February 2, 2026 at 3:49 AM
Closing the Kennedy Center on July 4, the 250th birthday, feels too on the nose. Are we actually in a simulation?
Reposted by David Barber
Bringing Jerry back for Black History Month again, because too many still don't know about his innovative ideas.
This is Jerry Lawson. He invented the video game cartridge for the Fairchild Channel F system. Because of his invention, many consoles had cartridges and CD formats and would become the norm.
The Atari 2600, NES, Genesis, and many consoles wouldn't exist without him.
Happy Black History Month.
The Atari 2600, NES, Genesis, and many consoles wouldn't exist without him.
Happy Black History Month.
February 1, 2026 at 11:06 PM
Bringing Jerry back for Black History Month again, because too many still don't know about his innovative ideas.
Our top three Escape to the Country presenters: Alistair Briony Jules.
Yours?
Yours?
February 2, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Our top three Escape to the Country presenters: Alistair Briony Jules.
Yours?
Yours?
As someone who spent 20 years in IT, I'm now pursuing a retool after years of un- and under-employment. It's frustrating to say the least. (Gift Article)
wapo.st/4qWsgnu
wapo.st/4qWsgnu
Some of the most coveted jobs in America aren’t safe anymore
Tech workers continue to lose their jobs in droves, even as the economy shows positive signs.
wapo.st
February 1, 2026 at 12:31 AM
As someone who spent 20 years in IT, I'm now pursuing a retool after years of un- and under-employment. It's frustrating to say the least. (Gift Article)
wapo.st/4qWsgnu
wapo.st/4qWsgnu
Amazon has changed their product subscriptions to make it much more difficult to cancel. If you use the service, consider yourself warned.
January 31, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Amazon has changed their product subscriptions to make it much more difficult to cancel. If you use the service, consider yourself warned.
Reposted by David Barber
This is just insane. It’s only a matter of time before DHS kills another innocent person here.
(clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)
(clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)
January 31, 2026 at 6:13 PM
This is just insane. It’s only a matter of time before DHS kills another innocent person here.
(clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)
(clip via MPR and @davidjbier.bsky.social on X)
A classic case of 'you broke the rules, but it's ok this time!' from Arkansas 'regulators'. Arkansans will, of course, pay the price. #arpx
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
State regulators approve new natural gas power plant in Jefferson County - Arkansas Times
The Public Service Commission approved Entergy's application for a new natural gas plant, but strongly criticized the utility for not using a more competitive process for deciding how to produce more ...
arktimes.com
January 31, 2026 at 6:43 PM
A classic case of 'you broke the rules, but it's ok this time!' from Arkansas 'regulators'. Arkansans will, of course, pay the price. #arpx
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
arktimes.com/arkansas-blo...
Good news for EV drivers (like me!) - Gift Article
wapo.st/4tafEuE
wapo.st/4tafEuE
One of the worst parts of owning an EV is quickly getting better
Even as EV sales slump, fast chargers are booming.
wapo.st
January 28, 2026 at 8:32 PM
Good news for EV drivers (like me!) - Gift Article
wapo.st/4tafEuE
wapo.st/4tafEuE
Reposted by David Barber
I don’t think we should make concessions to the Masked Murderers Guild of America. I don’t think we should compromise so the Masked Murderers Guild of America stops using kidnapped kids from schools as bait. I thought this was already illegal. The Masked Murderers Guild of America should not exist.
January 27, 2026 at 3:06 PM
I don’t think we should make concessions to the Masked Murderers Guild of America. I don’t think we should compromise so the Masked Murderers Guild of America stops using kidnapped kids from schools as bait. I thought this was already illegal. The Masked Murderers Guild of America should not exist.