Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
@richardm.bsky.social
Sunnyvale Councilmember, unofficial account.
Houser, liberal, democrat, Democrat, bicycling bisexual, unicameralist fanatic.
Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness. —Terry Pratchet
Houser, liberal, democrat, Democrat, bicycling bisexual, unicameralist fanatic.
Sometimes it's better to light a flamethrower than curse the darkness. —Terry Pratchet
Pinned
It’s not over yet
We are less than a month into the Trump administration, and let’s be honest: it sucks. It sucks considerably worse than even I was…
medium.com
I wrote a thing about what Musk and Trump are doing to the country. Their strategy is to overwhelm us, to panic us, to cause us to give up. If we don't give them that, they're in a world of hurt, because they are breaking their own tools. Read here:
medium.com/@rmehlinger/...
medium.com/@rmehlinger/...
This past week I had the tremendous honor to swear the oath of office as Sunnyvale Vice Mayor.
I've taken the oath of office many times, but this year perhaps hit hardest of all. My speech on what that oath means below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaqw...
I've taken the oath of office many times, but this year perhaps hit hardest of all. My speech on what that oath means below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaqw...
City Council Meeting - Jan. 27, 2026
YouTube video by Sunnyvale City Clerk
www.youtube.com
January 31, 2026 at 10:19 PM
This past week I had the tremendous honor to swear the oath of office as Sunnyvale Vice Mayor.
I've taken the oath of office many times, but this year perhaps hit hardest of all. My speech on what that oath means below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaqw...
I've taken the oath of office many times, but this year perhaps hit hardest of all. My speech on what that oath means below.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gaqw...
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
Just donated to help keep that vibe alive.
January 22, 2026 at 4:48 AM
Just donated to help keep that vibe alive.
Moods. Wine Bar has become a wonderful part of Downtown Sunnyvale, providing a friendly, welcoming third space that we need more of. Unfortunately they're now in danger of closing. Please consider donating to help keep this vital space alive for years to come: www.gofundme.com/f/help-keep-...
Donate to Help Keep Moods. Wine Bar & Bistro Open, organized by kc saljooqi
Help Us Keep Moods. Wine Bar & Bistro Open
Hi everyone,
My name is Mahmoo… kc saljooqi needs your support for Help Keep Moods. Wine Bar & Bistro Open
www.gofundme.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:54 AM
Moods. Wine Bar has become a wonderful part of Downtown Sunnyvale, providing a friendly, welcoming third space that we need more of. Unfortunately they're now in danger of closing. Please consider donating to help keep this vital space alive for years to come: www.gofundme.com/f/help-keep-...
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
Genuinely insane we are living in a world where the Danish have to deploy a battlegroup to protect themselves against America. Makes my blood turn molten, honestly
January 20, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Genuinely insane we are living in a world where the Danish have to deploy a battlegroup to protect themselves against America. Makes my blood turn molten, honestly
After 9/11, 43 Danish soldiers died fighting in Afghanistan. Trump's attempt to steal Greenland, his threats of war against Denmark, his temper tantrum over the Nobel Prize, it's all too disgusting for words.
Congress must reign in this mad king—before it's too late. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Congress must reign in this mad king—before it's too late. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Trump links Greenland threat to Nobel Peace Prize snub, EU prepares to retaliate
He said he no longer thought "purely of Peace" as the row over the island threatened to reignite a trade war with Europe.
www.reuters.com
January 20, 2026 at 3:32 AM
After 9/11, 43 Danish soldiers died fighting in Afghanistan. Trump's attempt to steal Greenland, his threats of war against Denmark, his temper tantrum over the Nobel Prize, it's all too disgusting for words.
Congress must reign in this mad king—before it's too late. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Congress must reign in this mad king—before it's too late. www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
It’s come to this: “Catholic members of the US armed forces could in good conscience consider disobeying orders to attack Greenland if such orders were issued, according to Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the bishop responsible for the pastoral care of US military personnel.”
Military archbishop: Troops could refuse orders on Greenland
Speaking to Britain's Sunday program on BBC, Archbishop Timothy Broglio reiterated that conscience could permit refusal of an unjust military order.
aleteia.org
January 20, 2026 at 1:24 AM
It’s come to this: “Catholic members of the US armed forces could in good conscience consider disobeying orders to attack Greenland if such orders were issued, according to Archbishop Timothy Broglio, the bishop responsible for the pastoral care of US military personnel.”
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
This is the kind of shit that would make you completely outside the bounds of any ancient society, the gods bestow generational curses for violating hospitality
A few days ago, Fox News was whining about ICE agents getting heckled at a Mexican restaurant in Minneapolis.
Meanwhile, in the town of Willmar, ICE agents had lunch at a Mexican restaurant, waited until it closed, then confronted and arrested three workers as they left.
Meanwhile, in the town of Willmar, ICE agents had lunch at a Mexican restaurant, waited until it closed, then confronted and arrested three workers as they left.
ICE agents ate at a Minnesota Mexican restaurant before arresting staff
Immigration law enforcement agents reportedly followed employees out of the restaurant after they closed for the evening
www.independent.co.uk
January 18, 2026 at 2:14 AM
This is the kind of shit that would make you completely outside the bounds of any ancient society, the gods bestow generational curses for violating hospitality
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
Suing everyone who doesn’t like me for hurting my feelings is sure to get them to like me
The Kennedy Center is planning legal action after jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled an annual holiday concert. Redd pulled out after President Trump's name appeared on the building. n.pr/49tB0uS
Kennedy Center vows to sue musician who canceled performance over Trump name change
The Kennedy Center is planning legal action after jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled an annual holiday concert. Redd pulled out after President Trump's name appeared on the building.
n.pr
December 28, 2025 at 2:10 AM
Suing everyone who doesn’t like me for hurting my feelings is sure to get them to like me
That which can be destroyed by the truth should be.
November 15, 2025 at 9:00 PM
That which can be destroyed by the truth should be.
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
One of the most subtly insane aspects of the unrelenting car dependency we’ve deliberately built across North America is the incredible reluctance we have to remove the driving privilege, even from those who clearly are a danger to themselves & others, because “people have to drive.” #CarDependency
November 14, 2025 at 3:47 AM
One of the most subtly insane aspects of the unrelenting car dependency we’ve deliberately built across North America is the incredible reluctance we have to remove the driving privilege, even from those who clearly are a danger to themselves & others, because “people have to drive.” #CarDependency
Tonight, things are looking up, just a little bit.
November 5, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Tonight, things are looking up, just a little bit.
Folks, the official 2025 Mehlinger Voting Guide is finally here! If you live in California, vote YES on 50, and if you live in Santa Clara County, vote Neysa Fligor for county assessor and YES on Measure A! medium.com/@rmehlinger/...
The 2025 Mehlinger Voting Guide
Hello and welcome to a quite unexpected odd year edition of the Official Mehlinger Voting Guide! As always, opinions expressed herein…
medium.com
October 28, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Folks, the official 2025 Mehlinger Voting Guide is finally here! If you live in California, vote YES on 50, and if you live in Santa Clara County, vote Neysa Fligor for county assessor and YES on Measure A! medium.com/@rmehlinger/...
Some fun texts from Rishi Kumar's campaign for Santa Clara County Assessor! He's lying to seniors, saying he'll exempt them from property tax--which the assessor can't do.
So if you live in Santa Clara County, return your ballot by Nov 4 and vote YES on A, YES on 50, and Neysa Fliegor for Assessor!
So if you live in Santa Clara County, return your ballot by Nov 4 and vote YES on A, YES on 50, and Neysa Fliegor for Assessor!
October 27, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Some fun texts from Rishi Kumar's campaign for Santa Clara County Assessor! He's lying to seniors, saying he'll exempt them from property tax--which the assessor can't do.
So if you live in Santa Clara County, return your ballot by Nov 4 and vote YES on A, YES on 50, and Neysa Fliegor for Assessor!
So if you live in Santa Clara County, return your ballot by Nov 4 and vote YES on A, YES on 50, and Neysa Fliegor for Assessor!
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
You may have heard my arguments against the Electoral College before. Here’s a new one the Founders never anticipated:
If the President is elected by popular vote, he probably wouldn’t selectively punish entire states for voting against him.
If the President is elected by popular vote, he probably wouldn’t selectively punish entire states for voting against him.
Oregon is set to lose an additional $400 million in federal grants awarded for climate action and is among more than a dozen Democratic states losing federal funding after the Trump administration terminated nearly $8 billion for those states this week.
Oregon to lose an additional $400 million in federal climate grants
Oregon and 15 other Democratic states are losing nearly $8 billion toward climate projects, after the Trump administration terminated multiple federal grants.
www.opb.org
October 3, 2025 at 12:17 AM
You may have heard my arguments against the Electoral College before. Here’s a new one the Founders never anticipated:
If the President is elected by popular vote, he probably wouldn’t selectively punish entire states for voting against him.
If the President is elected by popular vote, he probably wouldn’t selectively punish entire states for voting against him.
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
October 1, 2025 at 2:38 PM
We are thrilled to announce that our NEW Large Language Model will be released on 11.18.25.
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
The gaslighting is wild. THEY control the White House, the House, and the Senate—yet always find a way to blame Democrats for their mess.
The so-called “$1.5 trillion wish list” is about protecting health care, food assistance, and housing. (1/2)
The so-called “$1.5 trillion wish list” is about protecting health care, food assistance, and housing. (1/2)
September 30, 2025 at 3:58 PM
The gaslighting is wild. THEY control the White House, the House, and the Senate—yet always find a way to blame Democrats for their mess.
The so-called “$1.5 trillion wish list” is about protecting health care, food assistance, and housing. (1/2)
The so-called “$1.5 trillion wish list” is about protecting health care, food assistance, and housing. (1/2)
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
You can literally just post a picture of a woman and be like WOMEN to rake in over 10k likes on Xitter now. I remember before I left there was a ten minutes hate against some 19 year old sorority girls dancing or some shit and I’m still not sure what everyone was pretending to be mad about.
this woman has been working at Nintendo for almost 20 years and nearly a decade longer than the guy she is replacing
how much more qualified does she have to be lol
how much more qualified does she have to be lol
September 26, 2025 at 11:12 PM
You can literally just post a picture of a woman and be like WOMEN to rake in over 10k likes on Xitter now. I remember before I left there was a ten minutes hate against some 19 year old sorority girls dancing or some shit and I’m still not sure what everyone was pretending to be mad about.
Some unfortunate personal news: I'm recovering from a broken left thumb and right wrist after a crash with a car while cycling home. On the one hand, my prognosis is good and I'm lucky it's not much worse. On the other, I don't have working hands right now.
sanjosespotlight.com/sunnyvale-co...
sanjosespotlight.com/sunnyvale-co...
Sunnyvale councilmember injured in bike collision - San José Spotlight
Sunnyvale Councilmember Richard Mehlinger was hit by a car while riding his bike on California Avenue Aug. 30, breaking his left thumb and right wrist. He said the incident shows the necessity and urg...
sanjosespotlight.com
September 11, 2025 at 7:32 PM
Some unfortunate personal news: I'm recovering from a broken left thumb and right wrist after a crash with a car while cycling home. On the one hand, my prognosis is good and I'm lucky it's not much worse. On the other, I don't have working hands right now.
sanjosespotlight.com/sunnyvale-co...
sanjosespotlight.com/sunnyvale-co...
I am sad that we seem to have settled on "clanker" for the anti-robot slur when "toaster" is just so much more derogatory.
August 20, 2025 at 4:34 AM
I am sad that we seem to have settled on "clanker" for the anti-robot slur when "toaster" is just so much more derogatory.
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
The deep irony is the insistence that everything is class politics, despite the overwhelming evidence against such a thing, is proof that ideas have independent causal force. People read Marx and it broke their brains!
August 14, 2025 at 2:18 PM
The deep irony is the insistence that everything is class politics, despite the overwhelming evidence against such a thing, is proof that ideas have independent causal force. People read Marx and it broke their brains!
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
This is no great insight, but actually one of the cardinal flaws in the Marxian tradition
August 14, 2025 at 1:47 PM
This is no great insight, but actually one of the cardinal flaws in the Marxian tradition
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
Gaza is not starving. It is being starved.
Say it with your full chest.
Say it with your full chest.
Gaza is starving.
We want to believe sustained international pressure will allow us to save as many lives as possible in Gaza. But so far we’re not seeing the scale of change we need.
My interview on @cnn.com with @camanpour.bsky.social : www.cnn.com/2025/07/31/T...
We want to believe sustained international pressure will allow us to save as many lives as possible in Gaza. But so far we’re not seeing the scale of change we need.
My interview on @cnn.com with @camanpour.bsky.social : www.cnn.com/2025/07/31/T...
U.N. Relief Chief: Gaza is a man-made famine, the politics is a sideshow | CNN
Christiane Amanpour speaks with Tom Fletcher, U.N. Emergency Relief Coordinator, about the “desperate… impossible conditions” inside Gaza and what he says are the “bureaucratic impediments” preventing...
www.cnn.com
August 1, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Gaza is not starving. It is being starved.
Say it with your full chest.
Say it with your full chest.
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
You need to be as excited for Mamdani as you are for Grijalva and vice versa. Trying to do this weird thing of claiming that an election in Arizona is somehow a rebuke of an election in NYC is insane and doing the work of the Republican Party for them.
July 16, 2025 at 2:45 PM
You need to be as excited for Mamdani as you are for Grijalva and vice versa. Trying to do this weird thing of claiming that an election in Arizona is somehow a rebuke of an election in NYC is insane and doing the work of the Republican Party for them.
Reposted by Richard Mehlinger 🏳️🌈🩷💜💙↙↙↙
Grijalva winning just shows what anyone who actually examines the Democratic Party for more than a second already knows; it’s a lib-left coalition that is going to nominate and elect representatives across that political spectrum depending on numerous factors for any given race.
“The Mamdani momentum withered in the deserts of southern Arizona on Tuesday night” is perhaps the dumbest lede of all time. 10/10 for propagandist bullshit, a banger for the ages, no notes.
July 16, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Grijalva winning just shows what anyone who actually examines the Democratic Party for more than a second already knows; it’s a lib-left coalition that is going to nominate and elect representatives across that political spectrum depending on numerous factors for any given race.