Reluctant Dissident
@reluctantdissident.bsky.social
Writer, artist, Shakespeare geek; believer in climate change, social justice, and human rights; can frequently be found engaging in the “sin” of empathy.
🚫No trolls. No DMs. Don’t try to sell me anything.🚫
🚫No trolls. No DMs. Don’t try to sell me anything.🚫
Maybe it’s time for Disney to threaten to move out of Florida again. It’s definitely time for people to boycott vacationing in that state.
At the DeSantis Everglades detention camp, people with green cards are being held in terrible conditions, with maggots in the food, the lights kept on 24 hours a day, and delayed access to medicine.
One guy had his Bible taken and was told "here there is no right to religion."
One guy had his Bible taken and was told "here there is no right to religion."
July 8, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Maybe it’s time for Disney to threaten to move out of Florida again. It’s definitely time for people to boycott vacationing in that state.
Reposted by Reluctant Dissident
Only Congress has the power to declare war and our elected officials must take that power back. Urge your senators to use their constitutional authority with the war powers resolution: act.indivisible.org/sign/no-iran...
Then do the same with your representative: act.indivisible.org/sign/no-iran...
Then do the same with your representative: act.indivisible.org/sign/no-iran...
June 22, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Only Congress has the power to declare war and our elected officials must take that power back. Urge your senators to use their constitutional authority with the war powers resolution: act.indivisible.org/sign/no-iran...
Then do the same with your representative: act.indivisible.org/sign/no-iran...
Then do the same with your representative: act.indivisible.org/sign/no-iran...
Reposted by Reluctant Dissident
It’s not just that the President of the United States has announced on social media that the US has bombed Iran, it’s that the President of the United States bombed Iran so that he could announce it on social media.
June 22, 2025 at 12:08 AM
It’s not just that the President of the United States has announced on social media that the US has bombed Iran, it’s that the President of the United States bombed Iran so that he could announce it on social media.
Lesson from the Melon Felon’s Birthday Debacle:
If you want to have a fabulous military parade, don’t fire all the gays from the military.
If you want to have a fabulous military parade, don’t fire all the gays from the military.
June 15, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Lesson from the Melon Felon’s Birthday Debacle:
If you want to have a fabulous military parade, don’t fire all the gays from the military.
If you want to have a fabulous military parade, don’t fire all the gays from the military.
Using AI to write makes you dumber — who would have guessed?
New study finds that using ChatGPT to write essays led to reduced brain activity & memory compared to writing without tools or using a search engine. While ChatGPT made writing easier, it also caused cognitive offloading, weakening learning and engagement over time.
arxiv.org/pdf/2506.08872
arxiv.org/pdf/2506.08872
arxiv.org
June 15, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Using AI to write makes you dumber — who would have guessed?
Reposted by Reluctant Dissident
Carney: Canada says no
Trump: never say never
Shockingly, a president who doesn’t believe in consent for women also doesn’t take no for an answer from a whole damn country.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/06/n...
Trump: never say never
Shockingly, a president who doesn’t believe in consent for women also doesn’t take no for an answer from a whole damn country.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/06/n...
Canada ‘won’t be for sale, ever.’ Canadian Prime Minister shuts down Trump 51st state suggestion. - The Boston Globe
Newly elected Canadian PM Mark Carney visited the White House Tuesday amid tension between the US and Canada.
www.bostonglobe.com
May 7, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Carney: Canada says no
Trump: never say never
Shockingly, a president who doesn’t believe in consent for women also doesn’t take no for an answer from a whole damn country.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/06/n...
Trump: never say never
Shockingly, a president who doesn’t believe in consent for women also doesn’t take no for an answer from a whole damn country.
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/06/n...
Reposted by Reluctant Dissident
Trump's lawyers "appear to be obeying Stephen Miller and not the Supreme Court,” says Chris Newman, an attorney for the Abrego Garcia family. “Miller himself should be deposed under oath in federal court to determine his role in this ongoing affront to due process.”
Stephen Miller is slowly creating a vast, unaccountable removal authority for the president. He thinks he can sell unchecked power as crucial for public safety. But Trump accidentally exposed this project for what it is: Lawless, arbitrary, dictatorial.
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/1948...
New piece:
newrepublic.com/article/1948...
How Trump Accidentally Sabotaged His Own Case Against Abrego Garcia
Trump has now admitted twice that he could bring Kilmar Abrego Garcia home, but says his lawyers are telling him not to. This was a very dumb move—and also a very revealing one.
newrepublic.com
May 4, 2025 at 11:25 AM
Trump's lawyers "appear to be obeying Stephen Miller and not the Supreme Court,” says Chris Newman, an attorney for the Abrego Garcia family. “Miller himself should be deposed under oath in federal court to determine his role in this ongoing affront to due process.”
Reposted by Reluctant Dissident
I am so heartened to this seriously AWESOME #SaveNSF website go up today!!!!
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
May 2, 2025 at 10:08 PM
I am so heartened to this seriously AWESOME #SaveNSF website go up today!!!!
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
Has a take action toolkit with:
1. Press outreach templates
2. Social media toolkit
3. Elected official outreach
4. Talking points
Check it out and share widely!!!! Likely more to come.
www.savensf.com
This is spot on. Democrats need to abandon the business as usual tactics and fight. Only a few of them get it, and most of the leadership is still in the dark.
READ THIS:
"So back to the all these Democrats, who are still barraging us with fundraising messages, and think keeping lightweights like Chuck Schumer in the vicinity of power is helpful.
The Democratic Party has never been more unpopular, and it has never deserved it more."
"So back to the all these Democrats, who are still barraging us with fundraising messages, and think keeping lightweights like Chuck Schumer in the vicinity of power is helpful.
The Democratic Party has never been more unpopular, and it has never deserved it more."
GALL
Yet another Biden/Harris/Harris/Walz campaign vet tells us what went wrong after failing catastrophically to get it right ...
dearlstephens.substack.com
April 30, 2025 at 6:20 PM
This is spot on. Democrats need to abandon the business as usual tactics and fight. Only a few of them get it, and most of the leadership is still in the dark.
Reposted by Reluctant Dissident
You have to wonder what kind of dirt Orange Julius Caesar has on Graham for him to say this.
He will claim he was only joking, but the orange stain on his lips from all that ass-kissing can never be removed.
He will claim he was only joking, but the orange stain on his lips from all that ass-kissing can never be removed.
I don't know what would actually count as a new low anymore but this is a contender.
April 30, 2025 at 3:47 PM
You have to wonder what kind of dirt Orange Julius Caesar has on Graham for him to say this.
He will claim he was only joking, but the orange stain on his lips from all that ass-kissing can never be removed.
He will claim he was only joking, but the orange stain on his lips from all that ass-kissing can never be removed.
If only the American media was brave enough to say this.
Written as it should be, no weasel wording! A shit storm! ☔️ 🖕each and everyone of them! 🤬🤬
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Trump 100 days: delusions of monarchy coupled with fundamental ineptitude
Trump has wasted no time in trying to remake the US in his image – with results that are sweeping, vengeful and chaotic
www.theguardian.com
April 30, 2025 at 12:51 PM
If only the American media was brave enough to say this.
Reposted by Reluctant Dissident
Elon Musk may or may not fulfill his promise to step back from DOGE.
But his legacy is already clear: He is assembling a sprawling domestic surveillance system — the likes of which we have never seen in the United States.
My latest for NYT Opinion (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/o...
But his legacy is already clear: He is assembling a sprawling domestic surveillance system — the likes of which we have never seen in the United States.
My latest for NYT Opinion (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/o...
Opinion | Elon Musk’s Legacy: DOGE’s Construction of a Surveillance State (Gift Article)
DOGE is rapidly assembling a sprawling monitoring system, the foundation of many authoritarian regimes.
www.nytimes.com
April 30, 2025 at 11:20 AM
Elon Musk may or may not fulfill his promise to step back from DOGE.
But his legacy is already clear: He is assembling a sprawling domestic surveillance system — the likes of which we have never seen in the United States.
My latest for NYT Opinion (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/o...
But his legacy is already clear: He is assembling a sprawling domestic surveillance system — the likes of which we have never seen in the United States.
My latest for NYT Opinion (gift link): www.nytimes.com/2025/04/30/o...
Keep up the Target boycott — they deserve it.
In the coming days, as the true economic impacts of the terrible tariffs hit home, we will all be challenged to shop our values.
In the coming days, as the true economic impacts of the terrible tariffs hit home, we will all be challenged to shop our values.
Big local news scoop by @startribune.com: " Target has... never to an inauguration fund until this year. Target’s donation came shortly before the company publicly retreated from its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) goals."
www.startribune.com/target-gave-...
www.startribune.com/target-gave-...
April 30, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Keep up the Target boycott — they deserve it.
In the coming days, as the true economic impacts of the terrible tariffs hit home, we will all be challenged to shop our values.
In the coming days, as the true economic impacts of the terrible tariffs hit home, we will all be challenged to shop our values.
Welcome to the Police State, America.
April 29, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Welcome to the Police State, America.
Reposted by Reluctant Dissident
Pritzker: Time to stop wondering if you can trust the nuclear codes to people who don’t know how to organize a group chat. It’s time to stop ignoring the hypocrisy in wearing a big gold cross while announcing the defunding of children’s cancer research…
April 28, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Pritzker: Time to stop wondering if you can trust the nuclear codes to people who don’t know how to organize a group chat. It’s time to stop ignoring the hypocrisy in wearing a big gold cross while announcing the defunding of children’s cancer research…
Someone needs to report those cops for “Anti-Christian Bias”.
BREAKING: Police just surrounded Rev. William Barber, prominent activist and pastor, as he and others prayed in the U.S. Capitol Rontunda.
Police then expelled everyone (including press!) from the Rotunda to (presumably) arrest them.
I've covered protests here a lot. Never seen anything like it.
Police then expelled everyone (including press!) from the Rotunda to (presumably) arrest them.
I've covered protests here a lot. Never seen anything like it.
April 28, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Someone needs to report those cops for “Anti-Christian Bias”.
Reposted by Reluctant Dissident
Yes, the chicken may kill you, but at least you won’t have to worry about the price of eggs.
Sure the chicken will kill you but at least you won’t have to read about Black airmen!
April 27, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Yes, the chicken may kill you, but at least you won’t have to worry about the price of eggs.
Reposted by Reluctant Dissident
Considering that the Melon Felon has tanked projects in nearly every industry he has embraced does not bode well for crypto. Gutting regulations just means that more investors are going to get scammed.
37% of Trump's wealth is in crypto—& suddenly he seems all in on gutting crypto regs
Coincidence? I doubt it
I discuss what this means for democracy in my latest report @sddfund.bsky.social with Ginny Canter 👇
statedemocracydefenders.org/fund/trumps-...
Coincidence? I doubt it
I discuss what this means for democracy in my latest report @sddfund.bsky.social with Ginny Canter 👇
statedemocracydefenders.org/fund/trumps-...
April 23, 2025 at 4:02 PM
Considering that the Melon Felon has tanked projects in nearly every industry he has embraced does not bode well for crypto. Gutting regulations just means that more investors are going to get scammed.
I hope all these old fart Dems who see the writing on the wall and choose not to seek reelection will either step down now or take a page from the Bernie Sanders playbook use the time they have left to fight like hell to save our democracy.
Durbin announcement welcomed. He should resign NOW and give @govpritzker.illinois.gov the chance to put in a replacement. Sen. Judiciary leadership can then pass to more capable and aggressive hands.
April 23, 2025 at 3:53 PM
I hope all these old fart Dems who see the writing on the wall and choose not to seek reelection will either step down now or take a page from the Bernie Sanders playbook use the time they have left to fight like hell to save our democracy.
It’s so hard to root for Goldman Sachs, but…
💥 BREAKING: Goldman Sachs shareholders voted today to reject two anti-DEI proposals, both by 98-2 percent. GS Board urged shareholders to vote to reject proposals. "We believe that diversity, including diversity of thought, experience and perspectives, is important to our commercial success."
April 23, 2025 at 3:17 PM
It’s so hard to root for Goldman Sachs, but…
Reposted by Reluctant Dissident
Happy (most likely) birthday, Will! 🎉
April 23, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Happy (most likely) birthday, Will! 🎉
Whoever comes up with that At-Home-Milk-Test-Kit is going to make a fortune. 🥛🦠🧫
Looks like moms will be breastfeeding their kids until they’re 5!😒 The Food and Drug Administration is suspending a quality control program for testing of fluid milk and other dairy products due to reduced capacity in its food safety. www.reuters.com/business/hea... #Voices4Victory #SheShed
US FDA suspends milk quality tests amid workforce cuts
The Food and Drug Administration is suspending a quality control program for testing of fluid milk and other dairy products due to reduced capacity in its food safety and nutrition division, according to an internal email seen by Reuters.
www.reuters.com
April 22, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Whoever comes up with that At-Home-Milk-Test-Kit is going to make a fortune. 🥛🦠🧫