Sterling Hammer
@sterlinghammer.com
Senior Reliability Engineer Azure / Technologist / Gamer / Photographer Washington by way of Massachusetts. Here you can find my latest #Photography and thoughts on the world of #Tech and #Politics
These are my personal thoughts.
These are my personal thoughts.
Every time Gavin Newsom opens his mouth I'm reminded that he represents more of the same. It's because of people like him that the electorate shifts further and further right. We need a new generation of leaders who begin to move the needle to the left.
Gavin Newsom: "I'm in the old Ronald Reagan mansion here in Sacramento. The spirit of Reagan is very alive in the walls surrounding me. Now we have an invasive species, Donald Trump, in relation to that. The populism of Trump is reflected in Bernie and AOC and our politics on the left."
February 17, 2026 at 6:00 PM
Every time Gavin Newsom opens his mouth I'm reminded that he represents more of the same. It's because of people like him that the electorate shifts further and further right. We need a new generation of leaders who begin to move the needle to the left.
What I get from this, is they are terrified.
Stephen Colbert said that the FCC and CBS - which is in no way a compromised or complicit organization - wouldn’t allow him to broadcast an interview with Democratic State Rep James Talarico. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/a...
Colbert Doesn’t Give an FCC About Calling Out CBS
www.nytimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 5:13 PM
What I get from this, is they are terrified.
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
As an attorney with occasional experience with the Equal Time rule, I can explain what's going on here and how the FCC's Brandon Carr is leveraging his position to force late night and daytime talk show hosts to exclude Democratic candidates.
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
Stephen Colbert said that the FCC and CBS - which is in no way a compromised or complicit organization - wouldn’t allow him to broadcast an interview with Democratic State Rep James Talarico. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/17/a...
Colbert Doesn’t Give an FCC About Calling Out CBS
www.nytimes.com
February 17, 2026 at 1:37 PM
As an attorney with occasional experience with the Equal Time rule, I can explain what's going on here and how the FCC's Brandon Carr is leveraging his position to force late night and daytime talk show hosts to exclude Democratic candidates.
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
First I need to explain the Equal Time rule itself. 1/
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
In a nutshell, the Dem lodestar should be: "ICE is bad, and immigration is good"
My theory of the moment: The extraordinary courage of ordinary people in places like Minneapolis is reawakening us to our social and economic ties to immigrants. It's making "love thy neighbor" cool again. That's the ultimate antidote to MAGA hate.
Thoughts on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
Thoughts on this:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
February 16, 2026 at 2:46 PM
In a nutshell, the Dem lodestar should be: "ICE is bad, and immigration is good"
At the same time the house passes their insane voter suppression law that would basically require everyone to have a passport, they’re reducing access to passports. A coincidence I’m sure.
U.S. State Department's New Ban Rule Blocks Americans’ Ability To Get Passports At Many In-Person Facilities
A 50-year-old passport service is under threat from a new Cease-and-Desist by the U.S. State Department that blocks applications at some facilities.
www.thetravel.com
February 15, 2026 at 6:58 PM
At the same time the house passes their insane voter suppression law that would basically require everyone to have a passport, they’re reducing access to passports. A coincidence I’m sure.
I wish when people posted screenshots of things like graphs charts and articles they’d post the link in the first reply. They rarely do.
February 15, 2026 at 6:30 PM
I wish when people posted screenshots of things like graphs charts and articles they’d post the link in the first reply. They rarely do.
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
We must speak plainly about the agenda Elon Musk & other MAGA leaders are pushing. It’s white nationalism.
There’s no room for Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native, Jewish or all other Americans in Musk’s monocultural vision.
Multiculturalism is superior. We can’t allow Musk & others to end it.
There’s no room for Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native, Jewish or all other Americans in Musk’s monocultural vision.
Multiculturalism is superior. We can’t allow Musk & others to end it.
February 15, 2026 at 2:51 PM
We must speak plainly about the agenda Elon Musk & other MAGA leaders are pushing. It’s white nationalism.
There’s no room for Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native, Jewish or all other Americans in Musk’s monocultural vision.
Multiculturalism is superior. We can’t allow Musk & others to end it.
There’s no room for Black, Hispanic/Latino, Asian, Native, Jewish or all other Americans in Musk’s monocultural vision.
Multiculturalism is superior. We can’t allow Musk & others to end it.
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
this is a really important point. the district courts are trying to contain this administration. the circuits, by and large, are still working, with the occasional exception of the 5th, 8th, and DC circuits.
the Supreme Court is on an island. lawless and completely rogue.
the Supreme Court is on an island. lawless and completely rogue.
Our court system is largely working, with the exception of the most important court
Courts have ruled 4,400 times that ICE jailed people illegally. It hasn’t stopped.
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
February 15, 2026 at 1:30 PM
this is a really important point. the district courts are trying to contain this administration. the circuits, by and large, are still working, with the occasional exception of the 5th, 8th, and DC circuits.
the Supreme Court is on an island. lawless and completely rogue.
the Supreme Court is on an island. lawless and completely rogue.
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
1/3 What Musk is really referring to here is, of course “race” - that construct that served to define the hierarchies of wealth & power structured by modern colonialism. Like other far right racists though, he uses the word “culture” as a seemingly less pernicious synonym.
February 15, 2026 at 3:14 PM
1/3 What Musk is really referring to here is, of course “race” - that construct that served to define the hierarchies of wealth & power structured by modern colonialism. Like other far right racists though, he uses the word “culture” as a seemingly less pernicious synonym.
Lots of interesting results in this survey. 93% of those surveyed thought that raising taxes on the rich was extremely/very important. And I agree, the wealth / wage gap should be a top priority for any democrat moving forward. 1/3
Rank-and-File Dems to Leaders: It’s Time to Take the Gloves Off
In TNR’s exclusive new poll, loyal Democratic voters make it plain: They want a party that goes after the people making their lives harder.
newrepublic.com
February 14, 2026 at 10:17 PM
Lots of interesting results in this survey. 93% of those surveyed thought that raising taxes on the rich was extremely/very important. And I agree, the wealth / wage gap should be a top priority for any democrat moving forward. 1/3
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
Poll taxes are illegal, but that won't stop them from trying. Requiring an ID to vote is a suppression tactic, which is why they are working hard to put them in place.
I hope they don't succeed, but I'm preparing in case they do.
I hope they don't succeed, but I'm preparing in case they do.
Games are being played with your right to vote. I know it's not possible for everyone, but I'm making sure I got all my paper work in order. Voter registration, certified copies of my birth certificate, Real ID, and U.S. passport.
And the start of early voting is marked on my calendar. No excuses.
And the start of early voting is marked on my calendar. No excuses.
February 14, 2026 at 5:32 PM
Poll taxes are illegal, but that won't stop them from trying. Requiring an ID to vote is a suppression tactic, which is why they are working hard to put them in place.
I hope they don't succeed, but I'm preparing in case they do.
I hope they don't succeed, but I'm preparing in case they do.
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
Yesterday morning kids were sent running from their bus stop in panic because ICE showed up. This guy at today’s ICE Out of Lindenwold protest is a must watch 😭. @maddow.bsky.social
February 14, 2026 at 2:37 AM
Yesterday morning kids were sent running from their bus stop in panic because ICE showed up. This guy at today’s ICE Out of Lindenwold protest is a must watch 😭. @maddow.bsky.social
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
“what cool shit can I do as Mayor? oh, I can marry people? awesome, let’s do it”
once again the constant theme of “New York is great, New Yorkers are great, isn’t this great?” comes through
once again the constant theme of “New York is great, New Yorkers are great, isn’t this great?” comes through
Everyone in the world comes to get married at the NYC Marriage Bureau. Last week, the Mayor stopped by to officiate a few of those ceremonies.
Thank you to all the couples who shared their joy with us. Happy Valentine's Day, New York.
Watch the full video at Youtube.com/nycmayorsoffice
Thank you to all the couples who shared their joy with us. Happy Valentine's Day, New York.
Watch the full video at Youtube.com/nycmayorsoffice
February 14, 2026 at 4:25 PM
“what cool shit can I do as Mayor? oh, I can marry people? awesome, let’s do it”
once again the constant theme of “New York is great, New Yorkers are great, isn’t this great?” comes through
once again the constant theme of “New York is great, New Yorkers are great, isn’t this great?” comes through
I hope nobody forgot her blanket on the way out there.
REPORTER: Why choose to do this press conference this way? Your agency is about to run out of funding. You were just in Arizona last week. And you bussed all of us to a secure facility. This doesn't seem top secret.
KRISTI NOEM: Oh my goodness -- this is our critical infrastructure
KRISTI NOEM: Oh my goodness -- this is our critical infrastructure
February 13, 2026 at 8:32 PM
I hope nobody forgot her blanket on the way out there.
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
I’m currently writing a book about the attempted Nazi demonstration in Skokie in 1977. This is indistinguishable from how American Nazis talked in public.
Trump nominated a legit white nationalist to a top post at the State Department. I asked him some basic questions about his belief in the “erasure of white culture”. Watch this embarrassing, fumbling answer. Like he has never before been asked to explain his views.
February 12, 2026 at 10:31 PM
I’m currently writing a book about the attempted Nazi demonstration in Skokie in 1977. This is indistinguishable from how American Nazis talked in public.
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
There it is: one of the first times anyone in the Trump admin has admitted that protestors & bystanders are legally permitted to protest & document DHS activity.... Just two days ago, this same crowd spent hours claiming DHS agents have been "under attack" in MSP & beyond...
under questioning by Rand Paul, ICE officials confirm that yelling at officers is not assault and recording officers is not a crime
February 12, 2026 at 5:19 PM
There it is: one of the first times anyone in the Trump admin has admitted that protestors & bystanders are legally permitted to protest & document DHS activity.... Just two days ago, this same crowd spent hours claiming DHS agents have been "under attack" in MSP & beyond...
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
What types of jobs will automation bring the labor market? Here's one: DoorDash delivery drivers being paid to close Waymo's doors left open by previous customers. @evystadium.bsky.social has more.
Story by @josephcox.bsky.social here: www.404media.co/waymo-is-get...
Story by @josephcox.bsky.social here: www.404media.co/waymo-is-get...
February 12, 2026 at 8:41 PM
What types of jobs will automation bring the labor market? Here's one: DoorDash delivery drivers being paid to close Waymo's doors left open by previous customers. @evystadium.bsky.social has more.
Story by @josephcox.bsky.social here: www.404media.co/waymo-is-get...
Story by @josephcox.bsky.social here: www.404media.co/waymo-is-get...
Incinerating more money every second.
JUST IN: Anthropic raises $30 billion
This is one of the largest private funding rounds in tech history.
This is one of the largest private funding rounds in tech history.
Anthropic raises $30 billion in Series G funding
The round was led by D. E. Shaw Ventures, Dragoneer, Founders Fund ICONIQ and MGX.
www.axios.com
February 12, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Incinerating more money every second.
Can you point to the plants on the map right now? Photos? Anything?
Trump: "They're building plants all over the United States. And when these plants open in a year, year and a half, you're gonna see numbers like you've never seen before in this country."
February 12, 2026 at 7:16 PM
Can you point to the plants on the map right now? Photos? Anything?
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
Spoiler alert: When top officials have to start saying in an agency’s defense “no, no, no, that’s a totally legitimate law enforcement agency,” they have already lost and it is, in fact, no longer a legitimate law enforcement agency.
Homan: "ICE is a legitimate federal law enforcement agency. We're not out scouring the streets to disappear people or deny people their civil rights or due process."
February 12, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Spoiler alert: When top officials have to start saying in an agency’s defense “no, no, no, that’s a totally legitimate law enforcement agency,” they have already lost and it is, in fact, no longer a legitimate law enforcement agency.
Your regular reminder that most of these guys are there to perform for the cameras and not actually represent their constituents or solve real problems that face this country.
Ron Johnson to Keith Ellison: "Two people are dead because you encouraged them to put themselves into harm's way! And now you are exploiting those two martyrs. You ought to feel damn guilty about it. Yeah, sit there and smirk. Smirk. It's sick! It's despicable. You disgust me."
February 12, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Your regular reminder that most of these guys are there to perform for the cameras and not actually represent their constituents or solve real problems that face this country.
Reposted by Sterling Hammer
Ron Johnson is an embarrassment to the Republican Party. And that is saying a lot.
Ron Johnson to Keith Ellison: "Two people are dead because you encouraged them to put themselves into harm's way! And now you are exploiting those two martyrs. You ought to feel damn guilty about it. Yeah, sit there and smirk. Smirk. It's sick! It's despicable. You disgust me."
February 12, 2026 at 4:06 PM
Ron Johnson is an embarrassment to the Republican Party. And that is saying a lot.
What I think is nuts is these guys going on TV lying over and over again about what the SAVE Act ACTUALLY DOES.
Rep. Brian Steil: "I flew home to my home state of Wisconsin, went to buy a 6 pack a beer, the clerk asked for my ID, confirmed it, and then I was allowed to buy the beer. I just think it's nuts that we protect our beer more than our ballots."
February 12, 2026 at 4:17 PM
What I think is nuts is these guys going on TV lying over and over again about what the SAVE Act ACTUALLY DOES.