riffle
@riffle.bsky.social
Skeltering, without helter, in place. That place is US America.
"America: Premodern Leadership for Postmodern Times."
"America: Premodern Leadership for Postmodern Times."
Pinned
riffle
@riffle.bsky.social
· Feb 5
So much bad news recently I've been burying my head in the sand.
Today I wish I'd used flammable sand.
Today I wish I'd used flammable sand.
Reposted by riffle
Column: A gilded White House, Gatsbyesque parties, crypto-grift. Trump won two elections on his appeal to working class voters, but he seems utterly out of touch, enjoying his personal Golden Age as voters struggle with costs he vowed to contain. They've noticed.
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Column: Trump's tone-deaf displays are turning off voters
The president faced poetic comeuppance after his ostentatious party: a blue wave in Tuesday’s elections.
www.latimes.com
November 6, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Column: A gilded White House, Gatsbyesque parties, crypto-grift. Trump won two elections on his appeal to working class voters, but he seems utterly out of touch, enjoying his personal Golden Age as voters struggle with costs he vowed to contain. They've noticed.
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
www.latimes.com/opinion/stor...
Reposted by riffle
I like the Carry On films but the lore is too confusing, impossible for modern audiences to accept these people could play a major part in the French Revolution AND lose their bras on camping holidays
November 11, 2025 at 1:24 PM
I like the Carry On films but the lore is too confusing, impossible for modern audiences to accept these people could play a major part in the French Revolution AND lose their bras on camping holidays
Reposted by riffle
ok so now I really want a cigarette. youtu.be/dBKe0s5g5H4?...
Lee Marvin - Vintage cigarette commercial
YouTube video by stevers62
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
ok so now I really want a cigarette. youtu.be/dBKe0s5g5H4?...
Reposted by riffle
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
November 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Reposted by riffle
My ACA current plan is going from $385/mo to $821/mo.
November 11, 2025 at 12:21 AM
My ACA current plan is going from $385/mo to $821/mo.
Reposted by riffle
“According to an Event Action Plan obtained by FOIAball, at least 11 different departments were on the ground at the Ole Miss-Georgia game, from Ole Miss campus police to a military rapid-response team.”
Public records show DHS is deploying the "Homeland Security Information Network" at college protests and football games.
DHS Is Deploying a Powerful Surveillance Tool at College Football Games
Public records show DHS is deploying the "Homeland Security Information Network" at college protests and football games.
www.404media.co
November 11, 2025 at 3:16 PM
“According to an Event Action Plan obtained by FOIAball, at least 11 different departments were on the ground at the Ole Miss-Georgia game, from Ole Miss campus police to a military rapid-response team.”
Reposted by riffle
Candace Millar’s book is better, but this dip into American history has a terrific cast and a look back at forgotten history that feels surprisingly current.
Death By Lightning: A Mini-Review for a Mini-Success
#DeathbyLighting #entertainment #history #netflix
warnercrocker.com/2025/11/11/dea…
Death By Lightning: A Mini-Review for a Mini-Success
#DeathbyLighting #entertainment #history #netflix
warnercrocker.com/2025/11/11/dea…
November 11, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Candace Millar’s book is better, but this dip into American history has a terrific cast and a look back at forgotten history that feels surprisingly current.
Death By Lightning: A Mini-Review for a Mini-Success
#DeathbyLighting #entertainment #history #netflix
warnercrocker.com/2025/11/11/dea…
Death By Lightning: A Mini-Review for a Mini-Success
#DeathbyLighting #entertainment #history #netflix
warnercrocker.com/2025/11/11/dea…
Reposted by riffle
“How can I be blamed for sexting with a source I was profiling? After all, 9/11.”
November 11, 2025 at 2:35 PM
“How can I be blamed for sexting with a source I was profiling? After all, 9/11.”
Reposted by riffle
WBEZ/Sun-Times are crowd-sourcing a map of ICE raids.
Put aside what they’re doing and to whom and why.
The fact that the people of an American city, including the mayor and governor, have to guess where Federal agents are operating, is itself insane.
interactive.wbez.org/uploader/en/
Put aside what they’re doing and to whom and why.
The fact that the people of an American city, including the mayor and governor, have to guess where Federal agents are operating, is itself insane.
interactive.wbez.org/uploader/en/
October 22, 2025 at 2:17 PM
WBEZ/Sun-Times are crowd-sourcing a map of ICE raids.
Put aside what they’re doing and to whom and why.
The fact that the people of an American city, including the mayor and governor, have to guess where Federal agents are operating, is itself insane.
interactive.wbez.org/uploader/en/
Put aside what they’re doing and to whom and why.
The fact that the people of an American city, including the mayor and governor, have to guess where Federal agents are operating, is itself insane.
interactive.wbez.org/uploader/en/
Reposted by riffle
I don’t think any of us are fully prepared for the level of self-pity and absolution that’s going to be in Olivia Nuzzi’s (hilariously titled) “American Canto”
November 11, 2025 at 2:34 PM
I don’t think any of us are fully prepared for the level of self-pity and absolution that’s going to be in Olivia Nuzzi’s (hilariously titled) “American Canto”
Reposted by riffle
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:42 PM
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by riffle
Susan Collins votes against extending ACA tax credits for one year. Angus King voted in favor of the extension. #MEpolitics
UPDATE: The Senate votes 53-47 to shoot down the Baldwin amendment to extend ACA funds for 1 year. A party-line vote with every Republican rejecting it.
An important vote in this series: Tammy Baldwin’s proposal to extend ACA expiring funds for 1 year. It’s structured as a motion to table (i.e. scrap it from the amendment tree). But it’ll show the appetite (or lack thereof) in the Senate to address this issue.
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Susan Collins votes against extending ACA tax credits for one year. Angus King voted in favor of the extension. #MEpolitics
Reposted by riffle
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
Truly enjoyed "Death by Lightning" (Netflix), about the Garfield assassination. Rich historical drama with many fine performances, particularly Shannon, Macfadyen, and Offerman. Not an era I'm familiar with, and gave lots to think about.
Recommended.
www.imdb.com/title/tt3112...
Recommended.
www.imdb.com/title/tt3112...
Death by Lightning (TV Mini Series 2025) ⭐ 7.8 | Biography, Drama, History
50m | TV-MA
www.imdb.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Truly enjoyed "Death by Lightning" (Netflix), about the Garfield assassination. Rich historical drama with many fine performances, particularly Shannon, Macfadyen, and Offerman. Not an era I'm familiar with, and gave lots to think about.
Recommended.
www.imdb.com/title/tt3112...
Recommended.
www.imdb.com/title/tt3112...
Reposted by riffle
The Government Lawyers Database is live. A lot of people have put a lot of work into this, and it's definitely worth taking the time to check out.
What is it? The short is, it documents the good and the bad that government attorneys are doing right now.
What is it? The short is, it documents the good and the bad that government attorneys are doing right now.
The Government Lawyers Database
glowlaw.org
November 10, 2025 at 11:10 PM
The Government Lawyers Database is live. A lot of people have put a lot of work into this, and it's definitely worth taking the time to check out.
What is it? The short is, it documents the good and the bad that government attorneys are doing right now.
What is it? The short is, it documents the good and the bad that government attorneys are doing right now.
Reposted by riffle
Much needed tImeline cleanser about the retiring Irish President Michael D Higgins - includes cute big dogs.
youtube.com/shorts/yGizP...
youtube.com/shorts/yGizP...
An Irish legend
YouTube video by Garron
youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Much needed tImeline cleanser about the retiring Irish President Michael D Higgins - includes cute big dogs.
youtube.com/shorts/yGizP...
youtube.com/shorts/yGizP...
Reposted by riffle
i dont think there’s ever been a point where corporate america has had a sincere sense of morality but it is probably a sign of the times that the culture at most major firms does not even pretend to encourage ethical behavior anymore. the transformation is really stark in tech.
i honestly do not know what major company in america isnt involved in some ghastly shit at this point? i just would not *do* the ghastly shit yourself.
are we shaming people for having worked for companies that did ghastly shit elsewhere but far away organizationally because I'll be the first to say I ran a poop plant for a company that was/is major defense contractor and I'm pretty sure was involved with NEOM and *am* sure works with the UAE
November 10, 2025 at 5:42 AM
i dont think there’s ever been a point where corporate america has had a sincere sense of morality but it is probably a sign of the times that the culture at most major firms does not even pretend to encourage ethical behavior anymore. the transformation is really stark in tech.
Reposted by riffle
it's not 'performative' if you're taking pictures of random fucking strangers reading. they're just reading! you're the creepy one!
November 10, 2025 at 4:02 PM
it's not 'performative' if you're taking pictures of random fucking strangers reading. they're just reading! you're the creepy one!
Reposted by riffle
Wow, seems consequential since a Illinois Senator (Durbin) is on the list of likely yeses for the CR.
This is not a deal — it's an empty promise.
Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.
Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Trump and his Republican Congress are making healthcare more expensive for the middle class and ending it for working families.
Time for Democrats to stand tall for affordable healthcare. www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Senate reaches deal on ending the shutdown
Democrats are coalescing around a bipartisan agreement to fund the government.
www.politico.com
November 10, 2025 at 12:58 AM
Wow, seems consequential since a Illinois Senator (Durbin) is on the list of likely yeses for the CR.
Reposted by riffle
The bumper says 'rugged working man'.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
November 9, 2025 at 9:35 AM
The bumper says 'rugged working man'.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
But the cargo bed says ‘cosplay builder with soft hands’.
Time to ban these fragile-man-mobiles from our cities.
Reposted by riffle
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
If the Dems blink after all of this, for a deal that all but ensures no ACA subsidies in 2026 anyway, then what was the purpose of letting the shutdown go for 40 days in the first place?
November 10, 2025 at 12:56 AM
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
Reposted by riffle
The weirdest thing about these articles is that they all understand that voters want likable politicians with a compelling vision who deliver meaningful benefits. That's not really the case for centrism though!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/o...
November 10, 2025 at 12:29 AM
The weirdest thing about these articles is that they all understand that voters want likable politicians with a compelling vision who deliver meaningful benefits. That's not really the case for centrism though!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/o...
Limited edition air freshener.
Sometimes, when you are producing the first episodes of your new Food/Movie/TV tie-in and review podcast, the Universe hands you a win.
November 9, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Limited edition air freshener.