Raven Onthill
@ravenonthill.bsky.social
Just a dilettante amateur political science bird who lives in the US Pacific Northwest. If you want to know what I think, try my blogs at adviceunasked.blogspot.com and shinycroak.blogspot.com.
Pinned
Reposted by Raven Onthill
USAID is still gone, no other country has shown either the will or the ability to fill in the services whose disappearance is going to kill millions of people, and no one in the media or political class cares that we are going to kill more people than the Holocaust before this is over 👍
November 11, 2025 at 6:32 AM
USAID is still gone, no other country has shown either the will or the ability to fill in the services whose disappearance is going to kill millions of people, and no one in the media or political class cares that we are going to kill more people than the Holocaust before this is over 👍
Reposted by Raven Onthill
One of the more depressing aspects of this cave-o-rama is that it's revived the tiresome navel-gazing and self-flaggelation that we had finally managed to get beyond. "The discourse" is right back to Groundhog day.
It's not the most important reason for being pissed but it's up there.
It's not the most important reason for being pissed but it's up there.
November 11, 2025 at 12:27 AM
One of the more depressing aspects of this cave-o-rama is that it's revived the tiresome navel-gazing and self-flaggelation that we had finally managed to get beyond. "The discourse" is right back to Groundhog day.
It's not the most important reason for being pissed but it's up there.
It's not the most important reason for being pissed but it's up there.
When Trump is gone I think I know what to do with his ballroom…
Trump on Newsom: "He did something even worse than that. He's now taking a big section of Palisades or some area and he's gonna build low income income where they used to have luxury housing."
November 11, 2025 at 12:33 AM
When Trump is gone I think I know what to do with his ballroom…
Apparently the problem was not Schumer but the group of senators who caved. Is there any way for the Senate Democrats to restore party discipline?
the caucus gets how this is *worse* right? if you're just going around Schumer, what's the point of leadership
November 11, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Apparently the problem was not Schumer but the group of senators who caved. Is there any way for the Senate Democrats to restore party discipline?
Holy fkng shit!
In a now deleted post, China’s consul general in Osaka said he’s left with no choice but to cut off the “filthy head” of Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi because of her pledge to use Japan’s military to defend Taiwan if the Chinese invade the island. japannews.yomiuri.co.jp/politics/pol...
November 10, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Holy fkng shit!
Maybe dump Schumer, definitely dump Durbin (he's retiring anyway), but let's keep Jeffries.
Q: So Dr Oz said that--
JEFFRIES: Who? Nobody who is serious in this country takes Dr Oz seriously.
JEFFRIES: Who? Nobody who is serious in this country takes Dr Oz seriously.
November 10, 2025 at 9:12 PM
Maybe dump Schumer, definitely dump Durbin (he's retiring anyway), but let's keep Jeffries.
Reposted by Raven Onthill
Yeah, I think this was a Durbin thing
Whoa -- Sen. Durbin went to up Leader Thune during the vote last night to tell him that on the shutdown vote and ACA promise that "8 of us are sticking our neck out that you're going to keep your word. I hope you will. He said 'I assure you I will,'" Durbin says just now
November 10, 2025 at 6:39 PM
Yeah, I think this was a Durbin thing
Reposted by Raven Onthill
I LEARNED THE ANSWER TO THIS
Chris's Steakhouse was a New Orleans landmark
Chris Matulich periodically got bored, sold it, waited for the new owner to fail, and bought it back cheap
The sale conditions: Can't move it, can't change the name
He did this six times
Then he sold it to Ruth Fertel
Chris's Steakhouse was a New Orleans landmark
Chris Matulich periodically got bored, sold it, waited for the new owner to fail, and bought it back cheap
The sale conditions: Can't move it, can't change the name
He did this six times
Then he sold it to Ruth Fertel
what did ruth mean when she said her steakhouse was "chris"
November 7, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I LEARNED THE ANSWER TO THIS
Chris's Steakhouse was a New Orleans landmark
Chris Matulich periodically got bored, sold it, waited for the new owner to fail, and bought it back cheap
The sale conditions: Can't move it, can't change the name
He did this six times
Then he sold it to Ruth Fertel
Chris's Steakhouse was a New Orleans landmark
Chris Matulich periodically got bored, sold it, waited for the new owner to fail, and bought it back cheap
The sale conditions: Can't move it, can't change the name
He did this six times
Then he sold it to Ruth Fertel
Reposted by Raven Onthill
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
He said that the agents would throw food at them to eat. The agents threatened to withhold food for a week and to beat him up if he didn't sign deportation papers. He said he saw others refuse and get beaten/receive no food. He signed because he was afraid.
November 7, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
Reposted by Raven Onthill
I don't know when I'll write it up, but among the things Rudy Giuliani got pardoned for is destroying the lives of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
November 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM
I don't know when I'll write it up, but among the things Rudy Giuliani got pardoned for is destroying the lives of Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss.
This man is delusional.
Florida’s surgeon general, Joseph A. Ladapo, said reporters from the Washington Post and the Atlantic "represent forces who are working toward the enslavement of humanity.”
“I saw reporters from The Washington Post and the Atlantic that represent these forces that — I have nothing against them, to be clear — they represent forces who are working toward the enslavement of humanity,” Ladapo said.
November 10, 2025 at 4:20 PM
This man is delusional.
These are not lightweights; air traffic controllers are highly skilled and can find other work. Pressuring them is likely to make matters worse.
November 10, 2025 at 3:56 PM
These are not lightweights; air traffic controllers are highly skilled and can find other work. Pressuring them is likely to make matters worse.
Reposted by Raven Onthill
I am very impressed by all the Bluesky liberals who are apparently so deeply embedded inside private senate Dem strategy sessions that they can state with absolute authority that ALL DEMS WERE IN ON IT!
PRIMARY EVERYBODY!
VOTE 3RD PARTY OR NOT AT ALL!
PRIMARY EVERYBODY!
VOTE 3RD PARTY OR NOT AT ALL!
November 10, 2025 at 3:33 PM
I am very impressed by all the Bluesky liberals who are apparently so deeply embedded inside private senate Dem strategy sessions that they can state with absolute authority that ALL DEMS WERE IN ON IT!
PRIMARY EVERYBODY!
VOTE 3RD PARTY OR NOT AT ALL!
PRIMARY EVERYBODY!
VOTE 3RD PARTY OR NOT AT ALL!
Even very modest levels of privation are too much for some Senators; as soon as it reached them, they caved. (This probably also applies to GOP Senators.) It's a compelling argument against having rich, powerful mostly men as Senators and also why it is that the people are leading; most of us know
I keep reading different takes on the shutdown cave, turning the bones over and over for hidden meaning, and no, the fuckers just wanted to get the planes going again.
My conspiracy brain is that Senate Dems are playing this so Johnson calls the house back into session and is forced to seat Grijalva, then the underwear gnomes something-something bill fails in the House, but before that, oops! Epstein vote!
November 10, 2025 at 3:29 PM
Even very modest levels of privation are too much for some Senators; as soon as it reached them, they caved. (This probably also applies to GOP Senators.) It's a compelling argument against having rich, powerful mostly men as Senators and also why it is that the people are leading; most of us know
Reposted by Raven Onthill
I can't help but notice those accounts whining loudest about "DEMS CAVING AGAIN AS USUAL" are mostly privileged white men, backed up by a bunch of privileged white women.
You know, the people least likely to be affected either way.
Curious.
You know, the people least likely to be affected either way.
Curious.
November 9, 2025 at 10:37 PM
I can't help but notice those accounts whining loudest about "DEMS CAVING AGAIN AS USUAL" are mostly privileged white men, backed up by a bunch of privileged white women.
You know, the people least likely to be affected either way.
Curious.
You know, the people least likely to be affected either way.
Curious.
Reposted by Raven Onthill
There are too many rich white cis gays for whom marriage is *the* issue for the right to actually want to poke that bear
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
There are too many rich white cis gays for whom marriage is *the* issue for the right to actually want to poke that bear
They lost the Biden expansion, not the original legislation. That's important.
I can’t stop thinking about how the ACA is one of the most impactful pieces of legislation in my lifetime.
And they just let them throw it away.
I know it’s been long enough that a lot of people don’t remember (or weren’t alive), but I haven’t forgotten what it was like Before.
And they just let them throw it away.
I know it’s been long enough that a lot of people don’t remember (or weren’t alive), but I haven’t forgotten what it was like Before.
November 10, 2025 at 2:36 PM
They lost the Biden expansion, not the original legislation. That's important.
Reposted by Raven Onthill
I keep reading different takes on the shutdown cave, turning the bones over and over for hidden meaning, and no, the fuckers just wanted to get the planes going again.
My conspiracy brain is that Senate Dems are playing this so Johnson calls the house back into session and is forced to seat Grijalva, then the underwear gnomes something-something bill fails in the House, but before that, oops! Epstein vote!
November 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
I keep reading different takes on the shutdown cave, turning the bones over and over for hidden meaning, and no, the fuckers just wanted to get the planes going again.
Reposted by Raven Onthill
👇🎯 Also, no free & fair elections: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Jeff is right. No one knows. Least of all the “moderate” Senators pretending it’s 1990s-style politics as usual, instead of life under competitive authoritarianism.
Jeff is right. No one knows. Least of all the “moderate” Senators pretending it’s 1990s-style politics as usual, instead of life under competitive authoritarianism.
I've typed out and deleted half a dozen posts about what all this means going forward, and the truth is, I don't know. No one really knows. We're in uncharted waters in so many different ways. Anything could happen ranging from textbook 2026 election to completely unprecedented turnover.
November 10, 2025 at 2:24 PM
👇🎯 Also, no free & fair elections: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Jeff is right. No one knows. Least of all the “moderate” Senators pretending it’s 1990s-style politics as usual, instead of life under competitive authoritarianism.
Jeff is right. No one knows. Least of all the “moderate” Senators pretending it’s 1990s-style politics as usual, instead of life under competitive authoritarianism.
Reposted by Raven Onthill
what’s remarkable about this is that there are zero winners at all, one of the biggest lose-lose deals I can remember
the Dem cavers will catch incandescent shit for it
the rest of the Dems will catch collateral fury
the big R win is… jacking everyone’s health care costs ahead of midterms
the Dem cavers will catch incandescent shit for it
the rest of the Dems will catch collateral fury
the big R win is… jacking everyone’s health care costs ahead of midterms
November 10, 2025 at 1:25 AM
what’s remarkable about this is that there are zero winners at all, one of the biggest lose-lose deals I can remember
the Dem cavers will catch incandescent shit for it
the rest of the Dems will catch collateral fury
the big R win is… jacking everyone’s health care costs ahead of midterms
the Dem cavers will catch incandescent shit for it
the rest of the Dems will catch collateral fury
the big R win is… jacking everyone’s health care costs ahead of midterms
I am reminded of the work of the MIT Media Lab, which started out promising and devolved into a series of broken promises.
Instead, "AI" is completely in the thrall of billionaires and TESCREALists -- how else to explain anyone taking the paper-shaped objects out of corporate labs seriously?
>>
>>
November 10, 2025 at 2:18 PM
I am reminded of the work of the MIT Media Lab, which started out promising and devolved into a series of broken promises.
Very much tool of money laundering.
So currencies. Much medium of exchange. Very store of value.
November 10, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Very much tool of money laundering.
Reposted by Raven Onthill
You can say those 20M are fucked, and they are. Which is precisely where they were after Big Ugly passed.
But please don't forget that 40M people were going to go hungry.
Worse comes to worse govt shuts down on Jan30 and SNAP can't be used as hostages.
www.emptywheel.net/2025/11/10/e...
But please don't forget that 40M people were going to go hungry.
Worse comes to worse govt shuts down on Jan30 and SNAP can't be used as hostages.
www.emptywheel.net/2025/11/10/e...
Eight Senate Dems Caved, and Caved Too Early - emptywheel
With one more week, Trump would have owned far more of the responsibility for SNAP and flight cutbacks.
www.emptywheel.net
November 10, 2025 at 1:42 PM
You can say those 20M are fucked, and they are. Which is precisely where they were after Big Ugly passed.
But please don't forget that 40M people were going to go hungry.
Worse comes to worse govt shuts down on Jan30 and SNAP can't be used as hostages.
www.emptywheel.net/2025/11/10/e...
But please don't forget that 40M people were going to go hungry.
Worse comes to worse govt shuts down on Jan30 and SNAP can't be used as hostages.
www.emptywheel.net/2025/11/10/e...
Reposted by Raven Onthill
Today would be a VERY BAD day to give me superpowers.
Right now I hate the world and want to destroy it.
Right now I hate the world and want to destroy it.
November 10, 2025 at 1:37 PM
Today would be a VERY BAD day to give me superpowers.
Right now I hate the world and want to destroy it.
Right now I hate the world and want to destroy it.
Reposted by Raven Onthill
As a freelance writer I have an ACA plan.
It's jumping from $800/mo to $1,000/mo for 2026, which has gotten to the point where I need to see if I can get a better plan through my LLC or else reduce my benefits.
The price increases are largely thanks to GOP attacks on the ACA reducing the pool.
It's jumping from $800/mo to $1,000/mo for 2026, which has gotten to the point where I need to see if I can get a better plan through my LLC or else reduce my benefits.
The price increases are largely thanks to GOP attacks on the ACA reducing the pool.
Reminder that, unless a creative freelancer has a spouse with a day job that offers health insurance, they likely have an ACA plan. And with the hits to creative industries the past few years, I'm guessing many qualify for subsidies.
Related reminder that comic creators are freelancers.
Related reminder that comic creators are freelancers.
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 8:35 AM
As a freelance writer I have an ACA plan.
It's jumping from $800/mo to $1,000/mo for 2026, which has gotten to the point where I need to see if I can get a better plan through my LLC or else reduce my benefits.
The price increases are largely thanks to GOP attacks on the ACA reducing the pool.
It's jumping from $800/mo to $1,000/mo for 2026, which has gotten to the point where I need to see if I can get a better plan through my LLC or else reduce my benefits.
The price increases are largely thanks to GOP attacks on the ACA reducing the pool.