orb
@orbthursday.bsky.social
🪐✨ electrified meat in the laniakea supercluster they/them *no longer prone to magical thinking
Pinned
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Reposted by orb
Trust these numbers? Economists see a lot of flaws in delayed CPI report showing downward inflation
Trust these numbers? Economists see a lot of flaws in delayed CPI report showing downward inflation
Thursday saw the release of a much lighter-than-expected inflation report for November, and economists are already questioning its significance.
cnb.cx
December 18, 2025 at 7:25 PM
Trust these numbers? Economists see a lot of flaws in delayed CPI report showing downward inflation
Reposted by orb
A judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to prevent members of Congress from making unannounced visits to ICE facilities, a ruling lawmakers say will restore their ability to conduct real-time oversight into detention conditions.
Trump officials ordered to lift limits on lawmakers’ visits to ICE facilities
A recent requirement that members of Congress give seven days’ notice before visiting ICE immigration detention centers is unlawful, a judge ruled.
wapo.st
December 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM
A judge has temporarily blocked the Trump administration’s efforts to prevent members of Congress from making unannounced visits to ICE facilities, a ruling lawmakers say will restore their ability to conduct real-time oversight into detention conditions.
Reposted by orb
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to effectively ban gender-affirming care for minors, building on broader Trump administration restrictions on transgender Americans. https://to.pbs.org/4pOr8lp
WATCH: Trump administration seeks to cut off access to transgender health care for U.S. children
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to effectively ban gender-affirming care for minors, building on broader Trump administrat...
to.pbs.org
December 18, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Thursday unveiled a series of regulatory actions designed to effectively ban gender-affirming care for minors, building on broader Trump administration restrictions on transgender Americans. https://to.pbs.org/4pOr8lp
Reposted by orb
Venezuela authorizes two unsanctioned loaded oil supertankers to depart, sources say reut.rs/49hA5xv
Venezuela authorizes two unsanctioned loaded oil supertankers to depart, sources say
Venezuela authorized on Thursday two very large crude carriers (VLCC) to set sail for China, according to two sources familiar with Venezuela's oil export operations, which would be only the second and third supertankers to depart since the U.S. seized a ship carrying Venezuelan oil last week.
reut.rs
December 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Venezuela authorizes two unsanctioned loaded oil supertankers to depart, sources say reut.rs/49hA5xv
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19 Dec 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- The HHS is also going after 12 companies who manufacture binders for trans kids, alleging they are engaging in illegal marketing practices. Admin. is also seeking to de-classified gender dysphoria as a disability under federal law.
Trump administration unveils actions aimed at eliminating gender-affirming care for minors
Proposal would prohibit Medicaid funds from being used to cover puberty blockers, hormone treatments or surgical procedures
www.theguardian.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:25 PM
19 Dec 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- The HHS is also going after 12 companies who manufacture binders for trans kids, alleging they are engaging in illegal marketing practices. Admin. is also seeking to de-classified gender dysphoria as a disability under federal law.
Reposted by orb
New Trump administration proposals could further reduce gender-affirming care for minors in Illinois
New Trump administration proposals could further reduce gender-affirming care for minors in Illinois
The specter of losing federal funding has already driven some Chicago area hospital systems to scale back gender-affirming care for minors. But a few hospitals have held out.
trib.al
December 18, 2025 at 6:27 PM
New Trump administration proposals could further reduce gender-affirming care for minors in Illinois
Reposted by orb
White House accuses South Africa of harassing US gov’t staff in latest row https://aje.io/38vbg5
December 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
White House accuses South Africa of harassing US gov’t staff in latest row https://aje.io/38vbg5
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Four U.S. House Republicans in a surprise move on Wednesday forced a vote as soon as early January to extend tax credits that make health care more affordable. But that's after the credits expire on Dec. 31.
Chicagoans brace for rising Obamacare costs or no coverage with Congress poised to end subsidies
chicago.suntimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:30 PM
Four U.S. House Republicans in a surprise move on Wednesday forced a vote as soon as early January to extend tax credits that make health care more affordable. But that's after the credits expire on Dec. 31.
Reposted by orb
NEW: A group of former Denver Public Schools employees are accusing district officials of firing them last month for a sick-out that the workers — all members of the Department of Climate and Safety — say they didn’t participate in.
DPS safety employees say they were fired for sick-out they didn’t participate in
The four employees — Jon Hamilton, Clyde Casados, Letitia Ramirez and Chris Martinez — were among 28 workers in the Climate and Safety Department who did not attend work on Oct. 15.
trib.al
December 18, 2025 at 6:33 PM
NEW: A group of former Denver Public Schools employees are accusing district officials of firing them last month for a sick-out that the workers — all members of the Department of Climate and Safety — say they didn’t participate in.
Reposted by orb
The Democratic National Committee will not publicly release its autopsy of the 2024 presidential campaign, party officials said, a reversal intended to avoid a contentious reckoning over the party’s failure.
Democrats will not release the autopsy of their 2024 loss
Party leaders hope to avoid contentious fights over the party’s failing as it attempts to reboot for the 2026 midterms.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 18, 2025 at 4:40 PM
The Democratic National Committee will not publicly release its autopsy of the 2024 presidential campaign, party officials said, a reversal intended to avoid a contentious reckoning over the party’s failure.
Reposted by orb
Over and over and
over again.
They’re murdering in our name.
over again.
They’re murdering in our name.
December 18, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Over and over and
over again.
They’re murdering in our name.
over again.
They’re murdering in our name.
Reposted by orb
This is horrible. Trump and his crew shut down USAID, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, and they had no idea what they were doing or what would be the consequences. Completely immoral.
(From the VF story on Susan Wiles.)
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
(From the VF story on Susan Wiles.)
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
December 16, 2025 at 4:41 PM
This is horrible. Trump and his crew shut down USAID, which has led to the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, and they had no idea what they were doing or what would be the consequences. Completely immoral.
(From the VF story on Susan Wiles.)
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
(From the VF story on Susan Wiles.)
www.vanityfair.com/news/story/t...
Reposted by orb
LOSES?!?!?!!?!
No.
HHS canceled grants previously awarded to AAP — in what certainly looks like a retaliatory act.
No.
HHS canceled grants previously awarded to AAP — in what certainly looks like a retaliatory act.
December 18, 2025 at 1:43 AM
LOSES?!?!?!!?!
No.
HHS canceled grants previously awarded to AAP — in what certainly looks like a retaliatory act.
No.
HHS canceled grants previously awarded to AAP — in what certainly looks like a retaliatory act.
Reposted by orb
First it was "we have to blow up dozens of people on boats because of fetnanyl." But obviously it wasn't fentanyl being trafficked so then: narco terrorists are shipping cocaine! But then Wiles tells a reporter it's all about regime change and today it's bc US oil companies got kicked out in 2007?
December 18, 2025 at 1:42 AM
First it was "we have to blow up dozens of people on boats because of fetnanyl." But obviously it wasn't fentanyl being trafficked so then: narco terrorists are shipping cocaine! But then Wiles tells a reporter it's all about regime change and today it's bc US oil companies got kicked out in 2007?
Reposted by orb
House Republicans are going on vacation and letting your health care subsidies lapse.
December 18, 2025 at 1:00 AM
House Republicans are going on vacation and letting your health care subsidies lapse.
Reposted by orb
Trump is a lame duck with bad energy open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
December 18, 2025 at 2:00 AM
Trump is a lame duck with bad energy open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
Reposted by orb
Trump’s primetime diatribe against immigrants is straight up unvarnished Nazi stuff
December 18, 2025 at 2:21 AM
Trump’s primetime diatribe against immigrants is straight up unvarnished Nazi stuff
Reposted by orb
My takeaway is that his offer to throw cash at soldiers is a ploy to get them on board with his 2026 martial law plan and that, as expected, he has no ability to pivot on *even one issue*—even with an election year looming—which is a disaster for the GOP
Oh and US media will always give him airtime
Oh and US media will always give him airtime
December 18, 2025 at 2:36 AM
My takeaway is that his offer to throw cash at soldiers is a ploy to get them on board with his 2026 martial law plan and that, as expected, he has no ability to pivot on *even one issue*—even with an election year looming—which is a disaster for the GOP
Oh and US media will always give him airtime
Oh and US media will always give him airtime
Reposted by orb
This could have been an email.
December 18, 2025 at 2:18 AM
This could have been an email.
Reposted by orb
The president continues to preach austerity and hate to people struggling to make ends meet. No wonder voters are turning on him.
He's the Trump who stole Christmas.
He's the Trump who stole Christmas.
Behold, it’s the Trump who stole Christmas | Robert Reich
The president continues to preach austerity and hate to people struggling to make ends meet. No wonder voters are turnin
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The president continues to preach austerity and hate to people struggling to make ends meet. No wonder voters are turning on him.
He's the Trump who stole Christmas.
He's the Trump who stole Christmas.
Reposted by orb
Federal authorities in Massachusetts on Wednesday charged two men with fraud in a nearly $7 million food stamp scheme. on.wsj.com/4pHv7zU
Massachusetts Men Charged With Nearly $7 Million in SNAP Fraud
Federal prosecutors said they are responding to a Trump administration-led effort to crack down on food-stamp crime.
on.wsj.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Federal authorities in Massachusetts on Wednesday charged two men with fraud in a nearly $7 million food stamp scheme. on.wsj.com/4pHv7zU
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Author Rick Reilly has conjured up his latest damning assessment of Donald Trump by branding the U.S.
Donald Trump branded 'sickest person alive' and must have 'green ooze' in him
www.irishstar.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Author Rick Reilly has conjured up his latest damning assessment of Donald Trump by branding the U.S.
Reposted by orb
This happened at the beginning of December...yet today is the first time I've read this. It mirrors the stabbing deaths of Rob and Michelle Reiner...both of these killings are horrific...incredibly terrible! Bless Sykes' soul.
#ProudBlue #DemVoice1 #Pinks #DV1
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
#ProudBlue #DemVoice1 #Pinks #DV1
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
Jubilant Sykes’ son arrested after Grammy-nominated opera singer stabbed to death
The performer’s son Micah has been arrested on suspicion of murder, Santa Monica police said
www.theguardian.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:52 PM
This happened at the beginning of December...yet today is the first time I've read this. It mirrors the stabbing deaths of Rob and Michelle Reiner...both of these killings are horrific...incredibly terrible! Bless Sykes' soul.
#ProudBlue #DemVoice1 #Pinks #DV1
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...
#ProudBlue #DemVoice1 #Pinks #DV1
www.theguardian.com/music/2025/d...