Richard B. Simon
@rbsimon.bsky.social
Writer. Professor. PEN America Bellwether Prize Finalist. Words: GulfstreamLit, ChicagoQReview, Hunger Mtn., Relix, RollingStone, MTV, Juxtapoz. Teaching Big History (UC Press). BRIGHT SPIDER PRESS.
Pinned
Richard B. Simon
@rbsimon.bsky.social
· Jul 3
Proud that my story "Corrido" is in Hunger Mountain #30!
Freshly sprung from S.F. City Jail, Teen Rabbit lead singer Alejandra Hernandez is asked to make an AgitProp to oppose the dictator's immigrant detention camps. But Alex has something else in mind ...
hngrmtn.org/issues/hunge...
Freshly sprung from S.F. City Jail, Teen Rabbit lead singer Alejandra Hernandez is asked to make an AgitProp to oppose the dictator's immigrant detention camps. But Alex has something else in mind ...
hngrmtn.org/issues/hunge...
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
Everything is for sale.
February 13, 2026 at 8:01 PM
Everything is for sale.
A little gift for exxon and chevron ahead of the midterms.
February 13, 2026 at 1:05 AM
A little gift for exxon and chevron ahead of the midterms.
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
NEW: A newly updated reference manual for U.S. judges that provides answers to scientific and technical questions has eliminated some 90 pages about climate science.
It comes as numerous climate cases make their way through state and federal courts.
It comes as numerous climate cases make their way through state and federal courts.
Under GOP Pressure, Federal Agency Pulls Climate Change Chapter From Official Manual for U.S. Judges
The “Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence” — updated for the first time in 15 years — eliminates some 90 pages about climate science and comes just as numerous climate cases make their way through ...
www.propublica.org
February 10, 2026 at 8:16 PM
NEW: A newly updated reference manual for U.S. judges that provides answers to scientific and technical questions has eliminated some 90 pages about climate science.
It comes as numerous climate cases make their way through state and federal courts.
It comes as numerous climate cases make their way through state and federal courts.
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
I didn't have TikTok on my phone when it was Chinese spyware, I'm not going to have it on my phone when it is US spyware
"TikTok’s Terms of Service now explicitly include tracking of location and citizenship status (among other identity markers, such as sex)." newrepublic.com/article/2059...
How TikTok 2.0 Became a Weapon for ICE
In just one week, the company has gone from being Gen Z’s preferred social media platform to a tool for spying on Americans and the suppression of information.
newrepublic.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:36 PM
I didn't have TikTok on my phone when it was Chinese spyware, I'm not going to have it on my phone when it is US spyware
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
February 10, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
These are concentration camps. Gulags. In America. We sure are great again, huh?
With the number of people in ICE detention topping 70,000 for the first time, 7,252 people had been in custody at least six months in mid-January, including 79 held for more than two years, according to agency data. https://to.pbs.org/4riIgjG
Migrants face dire conditions and prolonged waits in U.S. detention centers
The number of people in Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention has topped 70,000 for the first time.
www.pbs.org
February 9, 2026 at 9:24 PM
These are concentration camps. Gulags. In America. We sure are great again, huh?
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
SuperBowlLX was the first Super Bowl with the stadium powered by 100% solar alone for pre-game show (10AM-3PM PT), since California ISO grid was powered by 100% solar during that time
22nd day of 2025 w/100% WWS on grid-no blackouts
SB LVIII in Las Vegas was 100% RE but not solar alone
22nd day of 2025 w/100% WWS on grid-no blackouts
SB LVIII in Las Vegas was 100% RE but not solar alone
February 9, 2026 at 5:30 PM
SuperBowlLX was the first Super Bowl with the stadium powered by 100% solar alone for pre-game show (10AM-3PM PT), since California ISO grid was powered by 100% solar during that time
22nd day of 2025 w/100% WWS on grid-no blackouts
SB LVIII in Las Vegas was 100% RE but not solar alone
22nd day of 2025 w/100% WWS on grid-no blackouts
SB LVIII in Las Vegas was 100% RE but not solar alone
Grateful Dead 4.0, in which Grateful Dead is now a genre.
great skjellyfetti, gillian welch & david rawlings are doing an all-dead mini-tour! www.gillianwelch-davidrawlings.com/tour
February 9, 2026 at 5:43 PM
Grateful Dead 4.0, in which Grateful Dead is now a genre.
❣️
great skjellyfetti, gillian welch & david rawlings are doing an all-dead mini-tour! www.gillianwelch-davidrawlings.com/tour
February 9, 2026 at 5:40 PM
❣️
“Stand up free people / you must stand up now / don’t let this happen / in our time / Cut the fences / and crash the walls / stand up free people, stand up free people” - Alex, Teen Rabbit
Proud that my story "Corrido" is in Hunger Mountain #30!
Freshly sprung from S.F. City Jail, Teen Rabbit lead singer Alejandra Hernandez is asked to make an AgitProp to oppose the dictator's immigrant detention camps. But Alex has something else in mind ...
hngrmtn.org/issues/hunge...
Freshly sprung from S.F. City Jail, Teen Rabbit lead singer Alejandra Hernandez is asked to make an AgitProp to oppose the dictator's immigrant detention camps. But Alex has something else in mind ...
hngrmtn.org/issues/hunge...
February 9, 2026 at 3:25 AM
“Stand up free people / you must stand up now / don’t let this happen / in our time / Cut the fences / and crash the walls / stand up free people, stand up free people” - Alex, Teen Rabbit
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
They sang “American Idiot”
Green Day avoids making political statement during Super Bowl 2026 opening performance
Green Day avoids making political statement during Super Bowl 2026 opening performance
A rocking start to the Super Bowl.
pagesix.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:35 PM
They sang “American Idiot”
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
WaPo editorial board when TX imposes a legislative gerrymander: don't freak out guys! Not a threat to democracy!
When VA responds to TX with *referendum* on their own gerrymander: brass-knuckled hypocrisy, anti-democratic gamesmanship.
There is hypocrisy here, all right, but not from VA.
When VA responds to TX with *referendum* on their own gerrymander: brass-knuckled hypocrisy, anti-democratic gamesmanship.
There is hypocrisy here, all right, but not from VA.
February 8, 2026 at 12:08 AM
WaPo editorial board when TX imposes a legislative gerrymander: don't freak out guys! Not a threat to democracy!
When VA responds to TX with *referendum* on their own gerrymander: brass-knuckled hypocrisy, anti-democratic gamesmanship.
There is hypocrisy here, all right, but not from VA.
When VA responds to TX with *referendum* on their own gerrymander: brass-knuckled hypocrisy, anti-democratic gamesmanship.
There is hypocrisy here, all right, but not from VA.
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
There was so much ICE activity today. A group of agents spent the whole morning inside Jimmy’s Bar and then ended up driving erratically all throughout the Holland & Como neighborhoods, eventually trying to park at the 2nd precinct police station.
February 7, 2026 at 10:48 PM
There was so much ICE activity today. A group of agents spent the whole morning inside Jimmy’s Bar and then ended up driving erratically all throughout the Holland & Como neighborhoods, eventually trying to park at the 2nd precinct police station.
Why are there humans
MY KIDS: so why are there muppets in the AUDIENCE
ME: THE CONCEIT!! IS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON A VARIETY SHOW!!! IN A WORLD WHERE MUPPET AND HUMAN COEXIST!!! YOU ARE WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY!! FILMED!! IN REAL TIME!!!
ME: THE CONCEIT!! IS THAT THEY'RE PUTTING ON A VARIETY SHOW!!! IN A WORLD WHERE MUPPET AND HUMAN COEXIST!!! YOU ARE WATCHING A DOCUMENTARY!! FILMED!! IN REAL TIME!!!
February 8, 2026 at 6:31 AM
Why are there humans
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
the most impactful thing Elon Musk has ever done or will ever do regarding science and innovation in this country is illegally cut billions of dollars of research funds for literally no reason
February 8, 2026 at 3:01 AM
the most impactful thing Elon Musk has ever done or will ever do regarding science and innovation in this country is illegally cut billions of dollars of research funds for literally no reason
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
Concentration camps:
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
Exclusive: Detention Center Captives Are Throwing Lotion Bottles Wrapped With Notes to Organizers Outside Otay Mesa Facility ~ L.A. TACO
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh," an Otay Mesa captive communicated through handwritten note. "We are all in one big room with no doors...
lataco.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:24 AM
Concentration camps:
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
“For 280 days we haven’t eaten a single piece of fruit, banana, apple, orange, or anything fresh. We are all in one big room with no doors or windows. We can’t see any grass or trees. We are all constantly sick."
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
It’s also exactly what led to Crossfire Hurricane and the Muller Report in the first place — US intelligence surveilling Russian bad guys and Trump associates keep walking into the frame. Russia, Russia, Russia. Remember when Tulsi was so offended when Hillary Clinton said she was a Russian asset?
February 7, 2026 at 11:32 PM
It’s also exactly what led to Crossfire Hurricane and the Muller Report in the first place — US intelligence surveilling Russian bad guys and Trump associates keep walking into the frame. Russia, Russia, Russia. Remember when Tulsi was so offended when Hillary Clinton said she was a Russian asset?
Enormous.
Just because good news is worth celebrating:
There is now a Prep medication that is an *every six month* injection.
HIV has, effectively, a vaccination.
There is now a Prep medication that is an *every six month* injection.
HIV has, effectively, a vaccination.
February 7, 2026 at 10:12 PM
Enormous.
Reposted by Richard B. Simon
On a platter, my Liege
@anntelnaes.bsky.social
@anntelnaes.bsky.social
February 7, 2026 at 7:33 PM
On a platter, my Liege
@anntelnaes.bsky.social
@anntelnaes.bsky.social
Now you’re riding in that long black
February 7, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Now you’re riding in that long black
100%
Expanding Jeff's question. Is there any rigorous/legal argument against describing AI as a technology that is fundamentally based in plagiarism? I would argue that there is no use of AI that is not ultimately rooted in intellectual theft.
@jeffsharlet.bsky.social
@jeffsharlet.bsky.social
Legal-type people: Is it fair to say that Anthropic "stole" the work of writers? That's what it *feels* like to me (took a bunch of my books), but my understanding is the settlement splits hairs. Would one invite legal trouble by using "stole" publicly?
February 7, 2026 at 9:42 PM
100%
Op-ed piece at a newspaper owned by one of the wealthiest men in history, whose fortune was built by destroying other people's businesses and replacing workers with robots, argues that a "new misery" of unemployed men was caused by ... government spending.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | How the New Misery befell America
The most powerful nation in history has lost its confidence in itself. It can get it back.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:21 PM
Op-ed piece at a newspaper owned by one of the wealthiest men in history, whose fortune was built by destroying other people's businesses and replacing workers with robots, argues that a "new misery" of unemployed men was caused by ... government spending.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
February 6, 2026 at 11:35 PM