PastelWitch
@pastelwitch.bsky.social
apastelwitch.carrd.co
StudioHexe.crd.co
AutoImmune & Latinx
- Ey/Em They/Them She/Ella -
Aro; Pan; Genderfluid; Polyam
Queer as in Fuck Amatonormativity;
Eternally tired of binarism & exorsexism
🔞 Minors DNI
* Pfp ArtByTuna *
StudioHexe.crd.co
AutoImmune & Latinx
- Ey/Em They/Them She/Ella -
Aro; Pan; Genderfluid; Polyam
Queer as in Fuck Amatonormativity;
Eternally tired of binarism & exorsexism
🔞 Minors DNI
* Pfp ArtByTuna *
Reposted by PastelWitch
"It really has to sting for Bari. The person she wanted for the Evening News anchor chair is choosing to leave CBS altogether because of her," one CBS News staffer told me tonight. "This is 'fuck you' to Bari."
Anderson Cooper has decided to nope out of '60 Minutes' and will not return next season, according to Breaker's Lachlan Cartwright.
www.breakermedia.com/p/scoop-ande...
www.breakermedia.com/p/scoop-ande...
🔎 SCOOP: Anderson Cooper To Depart 60 Minutes
Legendary Newsman Will Focus on CNN And Family
www.breakermedia.com
February 17, 2026 at 12:35 AM
"It really has to sting for Bari. The person she wanted for the Evening News anchor chair is choosing to leave CBS altogether because of her," one CBS News staffer told me tonight. "This is 'fuck you' to Bari."
"A History of the World in 6 Glasses" by Tom Standage.
Been reading that book for the past week in pieces and everything below and in the main thread are everything I've been reading about.
Like in Mickey 17, it's always about a new sauce with colonialism
Been reading that book for the past week in pieces and everything below and in the main thread are everything I've been reading about.
Like in Mickey 17, it's always about a new sauce with colonialism
Tobacco, sugar (rum), coffee, tea, opium, spices (many thought be aphrodisiacs at the time) — this was the original drug economy & drove development of the Western world for centuries. These crops were so profitable for Europeans that they enslaved Africans and indigenous people to produce them.🧵
Here’s a talk I gave years ago explaining how Columbus was basically the original trans-Atlantic drug trafficker. You will be never think about the colonization of this hemisphere in the same way again. The “drug” economy powered hemispheric growth (and enslavement) for centuries. Watch:
February 17, 2026 at 10:43 AM
"A History of the World in 6 Glasses" by Tom Standage.
Been reading that book for the past week in pieces and everything below and in the main thread are everything I've been reading about.
Like in Mickey 17, it's always about a new sauce with colonialism
Been reading that book for the past week in pieces and everything below and in the main thread are everything I've been reading about.
Like in Mickey 17, it's always about a new sauce with colonialism
Reposted by PastelWitch
This estate tax cut just passed 38-11.
You can't call every step of creeping fascism a distraction from kitchen-table issues and then punt whenever you have a chance to address the kitchen-table issues.
WA Democrats consider retreat on estate tax, fearing wealth exodus
Democrats in the state Legislature are moving to roll back a big increase in the estate tax rate, acknowledging it may be causing some very wealthy people to move.
www.seattletimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 1:52 AM
This estate tax cut just passed 38-11.
Reposted by PastelWitch
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
agree with this (hah) but also think a particular mistake the left made for a long time online, and still makes to an extent, is failing to understand that the person whose mind you may actually change is the one reading the argument you're having, not the one you're arguing with
The secret to engaging in social media debate is knowing you will never win anyone over. The best you can hope for is to have people who already agree with tell you you're awesome. You might great a dopamine thrill from the righteousness of your anger! Fine benefits, all. But you will never win.
February 16, 2026 at 11:35 PM
The drunk uncle theory.
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
You don’t argue with the casually homophobic uncle at Thanksgiving dinner to change his mind; you argue so that the closeted cousin at the kids table knows there’s safe people and better possibilities out there
Reposted by PastelWitch
Heard an interview today where a guy said (and I'm paraphrasing) "LLMs have had years to train on every aspect of chess, read every book and article about it, review every match, but when they play, they STILL makes illegal moves. That tells you everything."
And.
Yup.
And.
Yup.
February 17, 2026 at 6:26 AM
Heard an interview today where a guy said (and I'm paraphrasing) "LLMs have had years to train on every aspect of chess, read every book and article about it, review every match, but when they play, they STILL makes illegal moves. That tells you everything."
And.
Yup.
And.
Yup.
Reposted by PastelWitch
Me showing up to the function, trying to link up with all my fellow aro peeps
#AromanticAwarenessWeek #aromantic
#AromanticAwarenessWeek #aromantic
February 17, 2026 at 5:08 AM
Me showing up to the function, trying to link up with all my fellow aro peeps
#AromanticAwarenessWeek #aromantic
#AromanticAwarenessWeek #aromantic
Reposted by PastelWitch
ALFORD: We're not doing the drop boxes, which led to a lot of mistrust during the 2020 election
BORIS SANCHEZ: Well, a lot of that mistrust was sewn by the president, who made repeated false claims about widespread election fraud when there was none
BORIS SANCHEZ: Well, a lot of that mistrust was sewn by the president, who made repeated false claims about widespread election fraud when there was none
February 16, 2026 at 7:46 PM
ALFORD: We're not doing the drop boxes, which led to a lot of mistrust during the 2020 election
BORIS SANCHEZ: Well, a lot of that mistrust was sewn by the president, who made repeated false claims about widespread election fraud when there was none
BORIS SANCHEZ: Well, a lot of that mistrust was sewn by the president, who made repeated false claims about widespread election fraud when there was none
Reposted by PastelWitch
It's like ICE is completely ignoring every lesson that moderately competent police forces are forced to learn, like "don't do high speed chases in densely populated areas with low risk targets"
ICE killed a teacher in Georgia today when they chose to chase a man who posed no danger and had no criminal history.
Savannah teacher killed in crash by man fleeing from ICE
According to the Chatham County Police Department, Monday morning’s fatal crash was the result of a chase between Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and a suspect.
www.wtoc.com
February 17, 2026 at 2:29 AM
It's like ICE is completely ignoring every lesson that moderately competent police forces are forced to learn, like "don't do high speed chases in densely populated areas with low risk targets"
Reposted by PastelWitch
My Trans Bill of Rights protects the freedom for all trans people to live as their full, authentic selves. It’s time to get this passed!
February 16, 2026 at 12:06 AM
My Trans Bill of Rights protects the freedom for all trans people to live as their full, authentic selves. It’s time to get this passed!
Reposted by PastelWitch
I agree that if democrats take control of the house in 2026 they should starve ICE/CBP of funding, as republicans successfully did with the IRS when they took control of the house in 2022
ICE/CBP have gone unfunded for 3 days; how about 3 years? The best way to claw back the $170 billion immigration enforcement surge in the Big Beautiful Bill is to just claw it back. The 2nd-best way is to slowly drain it by never funding the underlying appropriation. @ryanlcooper.com makes the case:
The Case for Keeping ICE and CBP Defunded - The American Prospect
Democrats should not provide one thin dime to MAGA storm troopers.
prospect.org
February 16, 2026 at 7:46 PM
I agree that if democrats take control of the house in 2026 they should starve ICE/CBP of funding, as republicans successfully did with the IRS when they took control of the house in 2022
Reposted by PastelWitch
February 16, 2026 at 7:11 AM
Reposted by PastelWitch
People are always like "you're laughing at AI but people laughed at the Wright Brothers" but people also laughed at a lot of technology that failed. Were you under the impression that every invention that received derision turned out to be a success?
February 16, 2026 at 9:50 PM
People are always like "you're laughing at AI but people laughed at the Wright Brothers" but people also laughed at a lot of technology that failed. Were you under the impression that every invention that received derision turned out to be a success?
Reposted by PastelWitch
First, this is hilarious.
Please @magic.wizards.com never stop using Squen & Cragg.
Second, Cragg’s puppeteer is the same performer who played Splinter in the TMNT movies. Amazing accidental synergy.
Please @magic.wizards.com never stop using Squen & Cragg.
Second, Cragg’s puppeteer is the same performer who played Splinter in the TMNT movies. Amazing accidental synergy.
Squen and Cragg's side hustle went worse than expected... Tune in tomorrow at 10am PT for the #MTGxTMNT Debut stream on twitch.tv/magic or youtube.com/@mtg.
February 16, 2026 at 8:45 PM
First, this is hilarious.
Please @magic.wizards.com never stop using Squen & Cragg.
Second, Cragg’s puppeteer is the same performer who played Splinter in the TMNT movies. Amazing accidental synergy.
Please @magic.wizards.com never stop using Squen & Cragg.
Second, Cragg’s puppeteer is the same performer who played Splinter in the TMNT movies. Amazing accidental synergy.
Reposted by PastelWitch
Also my review of Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity edited by Lee Mandelo, a powerful, often joyful anthology of work about a community under siege. locusmag.com/review/ampli...
6/
6/
Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity edited by Lee Mandelo: Review by Alex Brown
Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity, Lee Mandelo, ed. (Erewhon Books 9781645660866, $18.95, 368pp, hc) May 2025. Cover by Noah Camp. Being queer and trans in the United States in 2025 i…
locusmag.com
February 13, 2026 at 4:43 PM
Also my review of Amplitudes: Stories of Queer and Trans Futurity edited by Lee Mandelo, a powerful, often joyful anthology of work about a community under siege. locusmag.com/review/ampli...
6/
6/
Reposted by PastelWitch
I don’t usually campaign for awards, but this year I’ve decided to go for broke for a Fan Writer Hugo Award. Yay me!
1/
1/
Nominations are now open for the 2026 Hugo Awards!
Emails are going out to eligible nominators (those who became a member of LAcon V by January 31, 2026, or were a member of the Seattle Worldcon 2025) about how to set up their LAcon V virtual convention account.
Emails are going out to eligible nominators (those who became a member of LAcon V by January 31, 2026, or were a member of the Seattle Worldcon 2025) about how to set up their LAcon V virtual convention account.
February 13, 2026 at 4:41 PM
I don’t usually campaign for awards, but this year I’ve decided to go for broke for a Fan Writer Hugo Award. Yay me!
1/
1/
Reposted by PastelWitch
New in PN: "Just making s**t up" — @volts.wtf sounds off on the EPA
“How the f**k are they going to do that? If you can get the Supreme Court to rule carbon is not a danger to public health, it will mark the point at which they have abandoned all pretense, because that’s just a flat out lie.”
“How the f**k are they going to do that? If you can get the Supreme Court to rule carbon is not a danger to public health, it will mark the point at which they have abandoned all pretense, because that’s just a flat out lie.”
"Just making s**t up" — David Roberts sounds off on the EPA
"To say members of Congress didn’t anticipate a specific pollutant is just f**king comical."
www.publicnotice.co
February 16, 2026 at 3:35 PM
New in PN: "Just making s**t up" — @volts.wtf sounds off on the EPA
“How the f**k are they going to do that? If you can get the Supreme Court to rule carbon is not a danger to public health, it will mark the point at which they have abandoned all pretense, because that’s just a flat out lie.”
“How the f**k are they going to do that? If you can get the Supreme Court to rule carbon is not a danger to public health, it will mark the point at which they have abandoned all pretense, because that’s just a flat out lie.”
Reposted by PastelWitch
Just to make this abundantly clear:
February 16, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Just to make this abundantly clear:
Reposted by PastelWitch
Public comment on Dr Oz's proposed rules to ban gender-affirming care for youth closes 2/17
One rule bans hospital-based care, the other eliminates Medicaid/CHIP coverage
Together they'd make care virtually unavailable nationwide, including in shield law states
www.patreon.com/posts/149210...
One rule bans hospital-based care, the other eliminates Medicaid/CHIP coverage
Together they'd make care virtually unavailable nationwide, including in shield law states
www.patreon.com/posts/149210...
February 15, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Public comment on Dr Oz's proposed rules to ban gender-affirming care for youth closes 2/17
One rule bans hospital-based care, the other eliminates Medicaid/CHIP coverage
Together they'd make care virtually unavailable nationwide, including in shield law states
www.patreon.com/posts/149210...
One rule bans hospital-based care, the other eliminates Medicaid/CHIP coverage
Together they'd make care virtually unavailable nationwide, including in shield law states
www.patreon.com/posts/149210...
Reposted by PastelWitch
I mean, I'm just going to keep detaching this from people who quote post with direct links to the regs dot gov page to bypass the guide — my whole thing is "here's how you submit a comment that /matters/" — if you want people to spam the register with nonsense, that's fine but do it on your own.
Public comment on Dr Oz's proposed rules to ban gender-affirming care for youth closes 2/17
One rule bans hospital-based care, the other eliminates Medicaid/CHIP coverage
Together they'd make care virtually unavailable nationwide, including in shield law states
www.patreon.com/posts/149210...
One rule bans hospital-based care, the other eliminates Medicaid/CHIP coverage
Together they'd make care virtually unavailable nationwide, including in shield law states
www.patreon.com/posts/149210...
February 15, 2026 at 8:31 PM
I mean, I'm just going to keep detaching this from people who quote post with direct links to the regs dot gov page to bypass the guide — my whole thing is "here's how you submit a comment that /matters/" — if you want people to spam the register with nonsense, that's fine but do it on your own.
Reposted by PastelWitch
For the 2026 primary elections, NPR has collected deadlines and information on how to register to vote — online, in person or by mail — in every U.S. state and territory. n.pr/4ayRPUJ
How to register to vote and check your registration status
For the 2026 primary elections, NPR has collected deadlines and information on how to register to vote — online, in person or by mail — in every U.S. state and territory.
n.pr
February 16, 2026 at 11:02 AM
For the 2026 primary elections, NPR has collected deadlines and information on how to register to vote — online, in person or by mail — in every U.S. state and territory. n.pr/4ayRPUJ
Reposted by PastelWitch
last month the US secretly deported nine asylum seekers to cameroon where they’ve been trapped at a local government-owned compound until they agree to return to their home countries where they face persecution and death. none have history of violence.
U.S. Deports Nine Migrants in Secret, Ignoring Legal Protections
www.nytimes.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:11 AM
last month the US secretly deported nine asylum seekers to cameroon where they’ve been trapped at a local government-owned compound until they agree to return to their home countries where they face persecution and death. none have history of violence.
Reposted by PastelWitch
"How long diseases like measles and the flu linger in the air — after an infected person has left the room"
RSV: up to 45 mins
Influenza: at least 1 hr
Rhinovirus: 1-2 hrs
Measles: up to 2 hrs
Norovirus: up to 2 hrs
COVID-19: up to 3 hrs
Chickenpox: several hrs
Mumps: several hrs
TB: 6-12 hrs
RSV: up to 45 mins
Influenza: at least 1 hr
Rhinovirus: 1-2 hrs
Measles: up to 2 hrs
Norovirus: up to 2 hrs
COVID-19: up to 3 hrs
Chickenpox: several hrs
Mumps: several hrs
TB: 6-12 hrs
February 15, 2026 at 11:22 PM
"How long diseases like measles and the flu linger in the air — after an infected person has left the room"
RSV: up to 45 mins
Influenza: at least 1 hr
Rhinovirus: 1-2 hrs
Measles: up to 2 hrs
Norovirus: up to 2 hrs
COVID-19: up to 3 hrs
Chickenpox: several hrs
Mumps: several hrs
TB: 6-12 hrs
RSV: up to 45 mins
Influenza: at least 1 hr
Rhinovirus: 1-2 hrs
Measles: up to 2 hrs
Norovirus: up to 2 hrs
COVID-19: up to 3 hrs
Chickenpox: several hrs
Mumps: several hrs
TB: 6-12 hrs
Reposted by PastelWitch
Very excited to have this conversation about Viet Nam and Palestine. The histories of the Vietnamese and Palestinian people have been intertwined since at least the 1960s, when Palestinians looked to the Vietnamese revolution as a source of inspiration...
bit.ly/ACCENTED53
bit.ly/ACCENTED53
February 16, 2026 at 6:23 AM
Very excited to have this conversation about Viet Nam and Palestine. The histories of the Vietnamese and Palestinian people have been intertwined since at least the 1960s, when Palestinians looked to the Vietnamese revolution as a source of inspiration...
bit.ly/ACCENTED53
bit.ly/ACCENTED53
Reposted by PastelWitch
it keeps going back and forth between being infuriating and funny how much we study this when the answer is always the same and it never matters
My god do we need UBI
“Researchers have found that when a new plasma center opens in a neighborhood, foot traffic at local grocery stores increases, interest in payday loans declines and crime goes down, an indication of the way money from plasma props up households’ finances for necessities.“
“Researchers have found that when a new plasma center opens in a neighborhood, foot traffic at local grocery stores increases, interest in payday loans declines and crime goes down, an indication of the way money from plasma props up households’ finances for necessities.“
Middle-class Americans are selling their plasma to make ends meet
Last year, people in the U.S. made an estimated $4.7 billion selling their plasma. Donation centers are popping up in middle-class neighborhoods, including suburban strip malls and college towns.
www.nbcnews.com
February 16, 2026 at 4:56 AM
it keeps going back and forth between being infuriating and funny how much we study this when the answer is always the same and it never matters
Reposted by PastelWitch
wake up homie, new culture war just dropped
February 16, 2026 at 2:08 AM
wake up homie, new culture war just dropped