usagibrian
@usagibrian.bsky.social
This place had great Tumblr energy.
No LGB without the T (and the QIA+).
With limited exceptions, I autoblock people with a "K" after their following count.
No LGB without the T (and the QIA+).
With limited exceptions, I autoblock people with a "K" after their following count.
Reposted by usagibrian
It’s not a compromise if only one side is making concessions. It’s not negotiation if they’ve started conceding before negotiations have begun.
January 19, 2026 at 9:02 AM
It’s not a compromise if only one side is making concessions. It’s not negotiation if they’ve started conceding before negotiations have begun.
Reposted by usagibrian
these are the ravings of a madman. @emilyrandallwa.bsky.social
@murray.senate.gov
@cantwell.senate.gov as members of congress, it’s your duty to stand up and escalate opposition to this lunatic.
@murray.senate.gov
@cantwell.senate.gov as members of congress, it’s your duty to stand up and escalate opposition to this lunatic.
This is the full text of the real, batshit insane letter Trump sent to the Norwegian Prime Minister.
We all know MAGA is a death cult, but if Congress & his Cabinet refuse to remove the mentally incontinent idiot from office, they’re guilty of risking the lives of every single person on the planet.
We all know MAGA is a death cult, but if Congress & his Cabinet refuse to remove the mentally incontinent idiot from office, they’re guilty of risking the lives of every single person on the planet.
January 19, 2026 at 10:07 AM
these are the ravings of a madman. @emilyrandallwa.bsky.social
@murray.senate.gov
@cantwell.senate.gov as members of congress, it’s your duty to stand up and escalate opposition to this lunatic.
@murray.senate.gov
@cantwell.senate.gov as members of congress, it’s your duty to stand up and escalate opposition to this lunatic.
Reposted by usagibrian
to the "okay, you were right about the wolf" guys:
we're still yelling. there are other wolves. more wolves. we're fucking surrounded by wolves.
your revelation in seeing the one wolf we've been pointing at for twenty years does not mean that you are suddenly a wolf savant.
we're still yelling. there are other wolves. more wolves. we're fucking surrounded by wolves.
your revelation in seeing the one wolf we've been pointing at for twenty years does not mean that you are suddenly a wolf savant.
January 19, 2026 at 10:39 PM
to the "okay, you were right about the wolf" guys:
we're still yelling. there are other wolves. more wolves. we're fucking surrounded by wolves.
your revelation in seeing the one wolf we've been pointing at for twenty years does not mean that you are suddenly a wolf savant.
we're still yelling. there are other wolves. more wolves. we're fucking surrounded by wolves.
your revelation in seeing the one wolf we've been pointing at for twenty years does not mean that you are suddenly a wolf savant.
Reposted by usagibrian
I have more followers here and have stuff escape containment so much more often than I did even after years on Twitter
Actively* curate your mutuals and try to post good, I really do not know what else to tell ya
* Remember when we did that? Remember when we had some fucking agency?
Actively* curate your mutuals and try to post good, I really do not know what else to tell ya
* Remember when we did that? Remember when we had some fucking agency?
I see we are doing another round of Bluesky Is Dying Because Not Enough Engagement today, which
a) not actually true right now! usually we are looking at the long slow decline of traffic here, but the Grok debacle + the invasion of Minneapolis have us at our highest numbers in six months
(cont)
a) not actually true right now! usually we are looking at the long slow decline of traffic here, but the Grok debacle + the invasion of Minneapolis have us at our highest numbers in six months
(cont)
January 20, 2026 at 1:09 AM
I have more followers here and have stuff escape containment so much more often than I did even after years on Twitter
Actively* curate your mutuals and try to post good, I really do not know what else to tell ya
* Remember when we did that? Remember when we had some fucking agency?
Actively* curate your mutuals and try to post good, I really do not know what else to tell ya
* Remember when we did that? Remember when we had some fucking agency?
Reposted by usagibrian
Bluesky has actually been remarkably successful as an app within a relatively short time frame. Expecting it to have the same metrics as some of the biggest apps in the world is stupid. What really matters is having content that people care about, especially if it travels outside the platform itself
January 20, 2026 at 12:04 AM
Bluesky has actually been remarkably successful as an app within a relatively short time frame. Expecting it to have the same metrics as some of the biggest apps in the world is stupid. What really matters is having content that people care about, especially if it travels outside the platform itself
Reposted by usagibrian
"I saw the most awful thing on twitter/X and-"
no. No thank you. That's fine.
I've already walked away from shitty Omelas.
no. No thank you. That's fine.
I've already walked away from shitty Omelas.
January 20, 2026 at 2:07 AM
"I saw the most awful thing on twitter/X and-"
no. No thank you. That's fine.
I've already walked away from shitty Omelas.
no. No thank you. That's fine.
I've already walked away from shitty Omelas.
Reposted by usagibrian
I completely agree. We would all be facing a far better future if he had.
strongly believe the I think @theophite.bsky.social claim that the number one way that Biden could have impressed swingy Trump voters was by clapping Trump in irons
January 19, 2026 at 6:00 AM
I completely agree. We would all be facing a far better future if he had.
Reposted by usagibrian
Great thread on how entrenched DHS has become.
It was only formed in 2002. From vaguely defined war on terror duties to vaguely defined national security duties to vaguely defined Praetorian Guard duties.
Enough. Tear it down.
It was only formed in 2002. From vaguely defined war on terror duties to vaguely defined national security duties to vaguely defined Praetorian Guard duties.
Enough. Tear it down.
I worked in a Democratic presidential administration and, even then, DHS was very often the most problematic, obstinate part of negotiating a civil/human rights provision into executive branch policy.
I have been thinking about this a lot in recent weeks and want to offer a short 🧵with reflections:
I have been thinking about this a lot in recent weeks and want to offer a short 🧵with reflections:
January 19, 2026 at 12:53 PM
Great thread on how entrenched DHS has become.
It was only formed in 2002. From vaguely defined war on terror duties to vaguely defined national security duties to vaguely defined Praetorian Guard duties.
Enough. Tear it down.
It was only formed in 2002. From vaguely defined war on terror duties to vaguely defined national security duties to vaguely defined Praetorian Guard duties.
Enough. Tear it down.
Reposted by usagibrian
This is such a funny thing to say as he decides to skip being governor to go on a book tour so he can raise tens of millions of dollars and run for president on the public dime under the guise of running for re-election.
Wait... Maybe that's not funny at all!
Wait... Maybe that's not funny at all!
In every chapter of our Commonwealth’s story, ordinary Pennsylvanians have been called to pick up the mantle of leadership, chip away at injustice, and make progress for the next generation.
That’s the Pennsylvania I know and love.
That’s the Pennsylvania I know and love.
January 19, 2026 at 2:10 PM
This is such a funny thing to say as he decides to skip being governor to go on a book tour so he can raise tens of millions of dollars and run for president on the public dime under the guise of running for re-election.
Wait... Maybe that's not funny at all!
Wait... Maybe that's not funny at all!
Reposted by usagibrian
Literally everyone who even vaguely knew what a tariff was said this when they were introduced! You don’t need a team of economists to analyze the situation — no one who lives in reality was confused by this!
“Foreign exporters absorbed only 4% of last year’s U.S. tariff increases by lowering prices, while American consumers and importers absorbed 96%.
“Rather than acting as a tax on foreign producers, the tariffs functioned as a consumption tax on Americans.”
www.wsj.com/economy/trad...
“Rather than acting as a tax on foreign producers, the tariffs functioned as a consumption tax on Americans.”
www.wsj.com/economy/trad...
Americans Are the Ones Paying for Tariffs, Study Finds
New research contradicts President Trump’s claim that foreigners are footing the bill.
www.wsj.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:07 AM
Literally everyone who even vaguely knew what a tariff was said this when they were introduced! You don’t need a team of economists to analyze the situation — no one who lives in reality was confused by this!
Reposted by usagibrian
i am a middle aged white mom with a minivan. i live in a brick ranch and vote democrat in every election. i am the electoral equivalent of a free space in bingo. I PROMISE THIS IS NOT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AT MY KITCHEN TABLE
Despite Trump’s promises, grocery prices are still rising fast. Families can’t afford this… when is he going to get serious about lowering costs?
January 20, 2026 at 12:55 AM
i am a middle aged white mom with a minivan. i live in a brick ranch and vote democrat in every election. i am the electoral equivalent of a free space in bingo. I PROMISE THIS IS NOT WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AT MY KITCHEN TABLE
Reposted by usagibrian
We have a finite amount of time to spend thinking while on this earth and I am very resentful of how much of it has been monopolized by the whims of a demented old real estate scumbag
January 20, 2026 at 3:15 AM
We have a finite amount of time to spend thinking while on this earth and I am very resentful of how much of it has been monopolized by the whims of a demented old real estate scumbag
Reposted by usagibrian
apologies if this comes off as doomerism, that's not my intention... if anything, I think we're seeing MAGA floundering because the agents of evil can't keep the agents of chaos and entropy in line
I just hadn't taken a good look at the abyss in a while, and whew do we have work ahead of us
I just hadn't taken a good look at the abyss in a while, and whew do we have work ahead of us
January 19, 2026 at 8:44 PM
apologies if this comes off as doomerism, that's not my intention... if anything, I think we're seeing MAGA floundering because the agents of evil can't keep the agents of chaos and entropy in line
I just hadn't taken a good look at the abyss in a while, and whew do we have work ahead of us
I just hadn't taken a good look at the abyss in a while, and whew do we have work ahead of us
Reposted by usagibrian
I hate living like this. Its like being a part of a group project and you do all your work but everyone else fucks up so you still get an F.
every single goddam crisis happening right now is self imposed
January 19, 2026 at 7:42 PM
I hate living like this. Its like being a part of a group project and you do all your work but everyone else fucks up so you still get an F.
Reposted by usagibrian
I've long wondered how NYMag's investigation managed to miss the extremely severe malfeasance their former star reporter committed on behalf of the child murder guy. The scandalously dismaying answer apparently is "they found out and they didn't care." www.telos.news/p/part-9-cov...
January 19, 2026 at 8:53 PM
I've long wondered how NYMag's investigation managed to miss the extremely severe malfeasance their former star reporter committed on behalf of the child murder guy. The scandalously dismaying answer apparently is "they found out and they didn't care." www.telos.news/p/part-9-cov...
Reposted by usagibrian
I can’t go to the grocery store alone right now because ICE is racially profiling and abducting people who aren’t white
Despite Trump’s promises, grocery prices are still rising fast. Families can’t afford this… when is he going to get serious about lowering costs?
January 19, 2026 at 9:51 PM
I can’t go to the grocery store alone right now because ICE is racially profiling and abducting people who aren’t white
Reposted by usagibrian
You know, Senator, when someone of your age is obsessed with minor, subsidiary issues instead of immediate clear and present dangers, that often indicates their cognitive skills are under attack, and we have spent almost 6 years with a virus that causes cognitive damage. Might want to see a doctor.
Despite Trump’s promises, grocery prices are still rising fast. Families can’t afford this… when is he going to get serious about lowering costs?
January 19, 2026 at 10:26 PM
You know, Senator, when someone of your age is obsessed with minor, subsidiary issues instead of immediate clear and present dangers, that often indicates their cognitive skills are under attack, and we have spent almost 6 years with a virus that causes cognitive damage. Might want to see a doctor.
Reposted by usagibrian
It's a problem that actual elected officials post on social media as if they are powerless observers and commentators.
January 19, 2026 at 10:14 PM
It's a problem that actual elected officials post on social media as if they are powerless observers and commentators.
Reposted by usagibrian
If there were two of them it was below the declarable amount and it is perfectly legal to leave the country with it. From what DHS is saying here, they literally just robbed a couple of US Citizens bc they happened to be going to Somalia.
January 20, 2026 at 12:46 AM
If there were two of them it was below the declarable amount and it is perfectly legal to leave the country with it. From what DHS is saying here, they literally just robbed a couple of US Citizens bc they happened to be going to Somalia.
Reposted by usagibrian
The average American truly sincerely genuinely believes America is bankrolling the world, meanwhile they haven’t made anything here in decades except software and fundamentalists and the economy is held together with immigrants and duct tape.
Really looks like the hegemon’s find out phase is here.
Really looks like the hegemon’s find out phase is here.
Europe may begin selling U.S. assets in response to a new conflict with the US—a move that could trigger a dollar collapse, Bloomberg reports. Deutsche Bank analysts warn Washington’s key vulnerability is living off global financing—and Europe may decide it no longer wants to bankroll the U.S.
January 20, 2026 at 1:29 AM
The average American truly sincerely genuinely believes America is bankrolling the world, meanwhile they haven’t made anything here in decades except software and fundamentalists and the economy is held together with immigrants and duct tape.
Really looks like the hegemon’s find out phase is here.
Really looks like the hegemon’s find out phase is here.
Reposted by usagibrian
This stuff only reminds me that the Democrats haven't helped with the fascism or the groceries
Despite Trump’s promises, grocery prices are still rising fast. Families can’t afford this… when is he going to get serious about lowering costs?
January 20, 2026 at 12:37 AM
This stuff only reminds me that the Democrats haven't helped with the fascism or the groceries
With remarkably few exceptions, if someone with over 1000 followers follows me, I block the account.
dude on other sites when they start saying "no one is on bluesky" "bluesky is dead" i'm like. yeah. there's about 40 people on here i want to talk to. it's perfect
The thing I want most from social media is to be entertained and chat in an asynchronous non-pressured way with interesting people whenever I fucking feel like it. Bluesky does this. /2
January 20, 2026 at 2:07 AM
With remarkably few exceptions, if someone with over 1000 followers follows me, I block the account.
Reposted by usagibrian
dude on other sites when they start saying "no one is on bluesky" "bluesky is dead" i'm like. yeah. there's about 40 people on here i want to talk to. it's perfect
The thing I want most from social media is to be entertained and chat in an asynchronous non-pressured way with interesting people whenever I fucking feel like it. Bluesky does this. /2
January 20, 2026 at 12:34 AM
dude on other sites when they start saying "no one is on bluesky" "bluesky is dead" i'm like. yeah. there's about 40 people on here i want to talk to. it's perfect
Reposted by usagibrian
It’s really important that we welcome all the bad faith freaks that have been wrong about everything for the past decade who are now fleeing the sinking ship because it’s unpopular. Certainly there are no downsides to this.
January 19, 2026 at 2:59 PM
It’s really important that we welcome all the bad faith freaks that have been wrong about everything for the past decade who are now fleeing the sinking ship because it’s unpopular. Certainly there are no downsides to this.
Reposted by usagibrian
whenever my phone updates I feel a deep understanding with my dog, who also gets very upset when things change even a little
January 19, 2026 at 3:56 PM
whenever my phone updates I feel a deep understanding with my dog, who also gets very upset when things change even a little