Barb Cummings
@rahirah.bsky.social
Fandom Old. Arizona native. One dog, four cats, and a wife, not necessarily in that order. Dilettante gardener, half-assed DIY-er. Sometimes I write or draw things. Swear to god I'll finish that Spuffy WIP some day. She/her.
Pinned
Barb Cummings
@rahirah.bsky.social
· Oct 16
Note to people who follow me: I am not nearly ideologically pure enough to be a leftist. I think vote withholding is self defeating, incremental progress is better than none, and I am over sixty, which makes me intrinsically evil. I also like pineapple on pizza. Don't say I didn't warn you.
Reposted by Barb Cummings
I hate that AI has made me approach cute animal videos with an air of suspicion. I resent having to harden my heart to the possibility of an unlikely friendship between a very large dog and a very small one
November 14, 2025 at 2:01 PM
I hate that AI has made me approach cute animal videos with an air of suspicion. I resent having to harden my heart to the possibility of an unlikely friendship between a very large dog and a very small one
Reposted by Barb Cummings
my takeaway from this letter is that glenn youngkin, rector sheridan and their flunkies on the board are deeply dishonest people who are engaged, with the trump administration, in a mob-style shakedown against the university of virginia
Former UVA president Jim Ryan, who resigned over the summer due to pressure from the Trump Administration, just shared this 12-page letter with the Faculty Senate, detailing his experience with the Board of Visitors and DOJ.
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
It's a surreal--and troubling--read.
drive.google.com/file/d/1Is6x...
November 14, 2025 at 2:47 PM
my takeaway from this letter is that glenn youngkin, rector sheridan and their flunkies on the board are deeply dishonest people who are engaged, with the trump administration, in a mob-style shakedown against the university of virginia
Reposted by Barb Cummings
well, that's (another) dealbreaker for Josh Shapiro in 2028 www.eenews.net/articles/rgg...
RGGI exit ends Pennsylvania’s only major climate policy
Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) signed the deal Wednesday to leave the regional cap-and-trade system, ending a four-month budget impasse with Republicans.
www.eenews.net
November 14, 2025 at 3:10 PM
well, that's (another) dealbreaker for Josh Shapiro in 2028 www.eenews.net/articles/rgg...
Reposted by Barb Cummings
The US Secretary of Health and Human Services continuing to abuse hallucinogens seems newsworthy.
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
The US Secretary of Health and Human Services continuing to abuse hallucinogens seems newsworthy.
Reposted by Barb Cummings
NEW: The backlash to Trump has been coming in big waves. Dems' sweep in last week’s elections. The 7 million people who turned out for “No Kings” protests.
But it's been fueling something else all year: a surge in young progressives signing up to run for office.
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
But it's been fueling something else all year: a surge in young progressives signing up to run for office.
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
The Trump Backlash That's Flying Under The Radar
In the past year, nearly 75,000 people have signed up to run for local and state office through Run for Something. And its candidates are winning.
www.huffpost.com
November 14, 2025 at 7:00 PM
NEW: The backlash to Trump has been coming in big waves. Dems' sweep in last week’s elections. The 7 million people who turned out for “No Kings” protests.
But it's been fueling something else all year: a surge in young progressives signing up to run for office.
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
But it's been fueling something else all year: a surge in young progressives signing up to run for office.
www.huffpost.com/entry/trump-...
Reposted by Barb Cummings
Awful: Trump's boat bombings are now being justified by a new legal memo that relies on WH's own determinations as evidence. Memo also says people can't be prosecuted for the killings. But that reveals WH knows there's legal vulnerability here, Ds tell me.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
Trump Boat Bombings Darken as Secret Memo Reveals Holes in Legal Case
A new White House memo argues that those carrying out the boat attacks can’t be prosecuted. Why? Because the White House says so!
newrepublic.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Awful: Trump's boat bombings are now being justified by a new legal memo that relies on WH's own determinations as evidence. Memo also says people can't be prosecuted for the killings. But that reveals WH knows there's legal vulnerability here, Ds tell me.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
Reposted by Barb Cummings
Yesterday Ukraine blew up the Novorossiysk oil refinery, which is still burning furiously. Today Russia has been forced to suspend all exports - 2.2 million barrels a day.
That sound you now hear is the Russian economy burning.
That sound you now hear is the Russian economy burning.
November 14, 2025 at 6:20 PM
Yesterday Ukraine blew up the Novorossiysk oil refinery, which is still burning furiously. Today Russia has been forced to suspend all exports - 2.2 million barrels a day.
That sound you now hear is the Russian economy burning.
That sound you now hear is the Russian economy burning.
Reposted by Barb Cummings
‘The Owl House’ creator Dana Terrace responds to Disney+ funding AI-generated short form content in new tweet:
“Unsubscribe from Disney+. Pirate Owl House. I don’t care. Fuck gen AI.”
“Unsubscribe from Disney+. Pirate Owl House. I don’t care. Fuck gen AI.”
November 14, 2025 at 2:39 AM
‘The Owl House’ creator Dana Terrace responds to Disney+ funding AI-generated short form content in new tweet:
“Unsubscribe from Disney+. Pirate Owl House. I don’t care. Fuck gen AI.”
“Unsubscribe from Disney+. Pirate Owl House. I don’t care. Fuck gen AI.”
Reposted by Barb Cummings
They rounded a bunch of random Venezuelans with tats and pretended they were in tren de aragua, then started blowing up random Venezuelan boats they claim “carried drugs,” in order to slowly groom their base into supporting a full ground war on Venezuela that was always about oil
November 14, 2025 at 3:31 AM
They rounded a bunch of random Venezuelans with tats and pretended they were in tren de aragua, then started blowing up random Venezuelan boats they claim “carried drugs,” in order to slowly groom their base into supporting a full ground war on Venezuela that was always about oil
Reposted by Barb Cummings
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Reposted by Barb Cummings
Anthem BC/BS came back, 10 months later, and decided that it was going to deny me and my son's rabies treatments, after already approving the claim last December.
Denying a claim where if treatment were not given, results in death 100% of the time!
Denying a claim where if treatment were not given, results in death 100% of the time!
November 13, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Anthem BC/BS came back, 10 months later, and decided that it was going to deny me and my son's rabies treatments, after already approving the claim last December.
Denying a claim where if treatment were not given, results in death 100% of the time!
Denying a claim where if treatment were not given, results in death 100% of the time!
Reposted by Barb Cummings
The union is asking that you not patronize any Starbucks, even ones that aren't unionized, for the duration! Time to find your new favoriteocal coffee shop. To donate to their strike fund: sbworkersunited.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:16 PM
The union is asking that you not patronize any Starbucks, even ones that aren't unionized, for the duration! Time to find your new favoriteocal coffee shop. To donate to their strike fund: sbworkersunited.org
Reposted by Barb Cummings
Confirmed: Katie Wilson will be mayor of Seattle, ousting the incumbent from his left.
And Erika Evans will be the new city attorney, ousting the GOP city attorney after promising to take the office in a more progressive direction.
What do progressives' win mean for law enforcement? NEW IN BOLTS:
And Erika Evans will be the new city attorney, ousting the GOP city attorney after promising to take the office in a more progressive direction.
What do progressives' win mean for law enforcement? NEW IN BOLTS:
Progressives Win in Seattle, Changing Directions on Public Safety - Bolts
Voters ousted a mayor who oversaw a surge in encampment sweeps, and a Republican prosecutor who pursued punitive policies toward homeless people and drug users.
boltsmag.org
November 13, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Confirmed: Katie Wilson will be mayor of Seattle, ousting the incumbent from his left.
And Erika Evans will be the new city attorney, ousting the GOP city attorney after promising to take the office in a more progressive direction.
What do progressives' win mean for law enforcement? NEW IN BOLTS:
And Erika Evans will be the new city attorney, ousting the GOP city attorney after promising to take the office in a more progressive direction.
What do progressives' win mean for law enforcement? NEW IN BOLTS:
Reposted by Barb Cummings
The reason the headline is "doom!" is because when you see what's already been done, you see that we can do more,
which means things can get better,
which means rich people's "it's over, no stopping this, might as well let us do what we want" manipulation might stop working. Can't have that.
which means things can get better,
which means rich people's "it's over, no stopping this, might as well let us do what we want" manipulation might stop working. Can't have that.
This chart shows that progress has actually been made on climate change www.axios.com/2025/11/13/c...
This chart shows that progress has actually been made on climate change
The possible trajectories are better than a decade ago, but still indicate significant global warming.
www.axios.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:45 PM
The reason the headline is "doom!" is because when you see what's already been done, you see that we can do more,
which means things can get better,
which means rich people's "it's over, no stopping this, might as well let us do what we want" manipulation might stop working. Can't have that.
which means things can get better,
which means rich people's "it's over, no stopping this, might as well let us do what we want" manipulation might stop working. Can't have that.
Reposted by Barb Cummings
"Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable group. 'It is time to choose sides; fascism or morality? Big tech has made their choice.'"
Google Has Chosen a Side in Trump's Mass Deportation Effort
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable gr...
www.404media.co
November 13, 2025 at 6:56 PM
"Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable group. 'It is time to choose sides; fascism or morality? Big tech has made their choice.'"
Reposted by Barb Cummings
come work with us! @bluelabs.bsky.social is hiring a survey scientist. we're looking for someone who loves working with survey data and wants to solve tricky problems facing the polling industry. please share widely!
job-boards.greenhouse.io/bluelabsanal...
job-boards.greenhouse.io/bluelabsanal...
Survey Scientist
Remote or Washington D.C.
job-boards.greenhouse.io
November 13, 2025 at 6:51 PM
come work with us! @bluelabs.bsky.social is hiring a survey scientist. we're looking for someone who loves working with survey data and wants to solve tricky problems facing the polling industry. please share widely!
job-boards.greenhouse.io/bluelabsanal...
job-boards.greenhouse.io/bluelabsanal...
Reposted by Barb Cummings
I see the “technically it’s ephebophelia” crowd is out today, so just a reminder that A) this is NOT a case where technically correct is the best kind of correct and B) the minute you say this, the gods dump you in the “irredeemable creeper” basket and wash their hands thoroughly after touching you.
November 13, 2025 at 6:57 PM
I see the “technically it’s ephebophelia” crowd is out today, so just a reminder that A) this is NOT a case where technically correct is the best kind of correct and B) the minute you say this, the gods dump you in the “irredeemable creeper” basket and wash their hands thoroughly after touching you.
Reposted by Barb Cummings
![[Scene is a kitchen - a middle aged woman called JANET is boiling peas at the stove. A younger more colourfully dressed woman named LIZ approached her.]
JANET:
Ugh...
LIZ:
What's up?
JANET:
I am so bored of cooking peas!
LIZ:
Have you tried...
AI peas?
JANET:
AI peas?
LIZ:
They're peas with AI!
[Liz holds up to us a packet of peas labelled: Pea-i AI - Peas with AI].
LIZ:
Al-powered peas harness the potential of your peas
JANET:
What
LIZ [Now a voiceover as we cut to a whizzy technology diagram of peas all connected by meaningless dotted lines]
Why not take your peas to the next level with Al Peas' new Al tools to power your peas?
[Show a techno diagram of a pea with a label reading 'AI' pointing to a random zone in it]
LIZ:
Each pea has Al in a way we haven't quite worked out yet but it's fine
[Show Janet and Liz now in a Matrix-style world of peas]
LIZ:
With Al peas you can supercharge productivity and make AI work for your peas!
JANET:
What
LIZ:
Shut up
LIZ:
Our game-changing Pea-Al gives you the freedom to unlock the potential of the power of the future of your peas workflow
From opening the bag of peas
to boiling the peas
to eating the peas
To spending millions on adding Al to the peas and then having to work out what that even means.
JANET:
Is it really necessary to-
LIZ [Grabbing Janet by the collar]:
THE PEAS HAVE GOT AI, JANET
[Cut to an advert ending screen, with the bag of peas and the slogan:
AI PEAS: Just 'Peas' for god's sake buy the AI peas.
[Ends]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:4m3we4apbjayclzcnhwe3pfp/bafkreiayqa37f7kik7l7s7fbtfp2sir5ckb662ry2lylinyjrfa2rkvvka@jpeg)
Reposted by Barb Cummings
Trump Denies Writing 36-Volume Comic Titled ‘Don And Jeff: Time Pedophiles https://theonion.com/trump-denies-writing-36-volume-comic-titled-don-and-jeff-time-pedophiles/
November 13, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Trump Denies Writing 36-Volume Comic Titled ‘Don And Jeff: Time Pedophiles https://theonion.com/trump-denies-writing-36-volume-comic-titled-don-and-jeff-time-pedophiles/
Reposted by Barb Cummings
Remember: Trump tried to make this guy Attorney General
November 13, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Remember: Trump tried to make this guy Attorney General
Reposted by Barb Cummings
Meanwhile, here's an example of the horrendous things found in Hillary Clinton's emails—the only story worth covering for any serious news outlet in 2016, apparently.
This email is also regarding a child who suffered abuse from a grown man.
This email is also regarding a child who suffered abuse from a grown man.
November 13, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Meanwhile, here's an example of the horrendous things found in Hillary Clinton's emails—the only story worth covering for any serious news outlet in 2016, apparently.
This email is also regarding a child who suffered abuse from a grown man.
This email is also regarding a child who suffered abuse from a grown man.
Reposted by Barb Cummings
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Reposted by Barb Cummings
Raskin: "The DOJ hasn't released any of these emails that mention Trump's name & identify his role in all these activities. Those came from the Epstein estate. So this is a demonstration the govt is deliberately withholding the info everybody is actually looking for & could be damaging to Trump"
November 13, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Raskin: "The DOJ hasn't released any of these emails that mention Trump's name & identify his role in all these activities. Those came from the Epstein estate. So this is a demonstration the govt is deliberately withholding the info everybody is actually looking for & could be damaging to Trump"
Reposted by Barb Cummings
i’ve said this before and i remain convinced it’s true, the 2028 platform that would deliver obama 08 results is “i am gonna
bring the hammer down on the corrupt self-dealing politicians and their rich friends and there are no sacred cows id give a pass”
bring the hammer down on the corrupt self-dealing politicians and their rich friends and there are no sacred cows id give a pass”
November 13, 2025 at 2:07 PM
i’ve said this before and i remain convinced it’s true, the 2028 platform that would deliver obama 08 results is “i am gonna
bring the hammer down on the corrupt self-dealing politicians and their rich friends and there are no sacred cows id give a pass”
bring the hammer down on the corrupt self-dealing politicians and their rich friends and there are no sacred cows id give a pass”
Reposted by Barb Cummings
NEW: @propublica.org investigated the Chicago apartment raid where kids were zip-tied and citizens detained for hours. They find:
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
November 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
NEW: @propublica.org investigated the Chicago apartment raid where kids were zip-tied and citizens detained for hours. They find:
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.