Canary in the Coal Mine
@vaelis.bsky.social
GenXer who grew up on PBS in a small town & ended up in Fortune 5s. I have very strong feelings about our failed government, media, tech, fascism .. and video games. Not here for clout, just old and treat this like it’s a BBS 🙂
Pinned
One of my favorite things about Bluesky (or at least my little corner of it) is that people are always sharing resources for taking action.
So here's a pinned thread collecting those resources, some made by me and some made by others.
So here's a pinned thread collecting those resources, some made by me and some made by others.
This is an excellent compilation of resources for folks looking to take action. Thank you Laura for putting it together.
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
This allows Trump (via DOJ) to use taxpayer money to bribe eight GOP Senators. It's that simple, there's no other way to describe it.
And where's the compensation for people injured by the Trump admin's unlawful conduct through DHS & DOGE?
Take a bow, @schumer.senate.gov, you did this.
And where's the compensation for people injured by the Trump admin's unlawful conduct through DHS & DOGE?
Take a bow, @schumer.senate.gov, you did this.
November 10, 2025 at 9:23 PM
This allows Trump (via DOJ) to use taxpayer money to bribe eight GOP Senators. It's that simple, there's no other way to describe it.
And where's the compensation for people injured by the Trump admin's unlawful conduct through DHS & DOGE?
Take a bow, @schumer.senate.gov, you did this.
And where's the compensation for people injured by the Trump admin's unlawful conduct through DHS & DOGE?
Take a bow, @schumer.senate.gov, you did this.
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
Republicans constantly attack their Congressional leadership, and they remove leaders who fail to achieve the objectives desired by the base.
This 'infighting' hasn't been a 'distraction' or 'weakness' for them, it has produced victory after victory, including control of all three branches.
This 'infighting' hasn't been a 'distraction' or 'weakness' for them, it has produced victory after victory, including control of all three branches.
Oh yeah - never a convenient time to have some real talk about the dynamic that the Democrats in the Senate are led by bunch of chumps. Certainly not after they created the conditions for yet another base demoralizing surrender.
This kind of activity is just what you should want to see, if your are a Republican, eager to see the opposition distracted by self-destructive infighting.
November 11, 2025 at 3:57 PM
Republicans constantly attack their Congressional leadership, and they remove leaders who fail to achieve the objectives desired by the base.
This 'infighting' hasn't been a 'distraction' or 'weakness' for them, it has produced victory after victory, including control of all three branches.
This 'infighting' hasn't been a 'distraction' or 'weakness' for them, it has produced victory after victory, including control of all three branches.
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
I finally got confirmation that ICE agents have been getting paid this whole shutdown. Only people who’ve had guaranteed pay this whole time are the lawmakers responsible for the shutdown and kidnappers
November 11, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I finally got confirmation that ICE agents have been getting paid this whole shutdown. Only people who’ve had guaranteed pay this whole time are the lawmakers responsible for the shutdown and kidnappers
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
Hey @support.bsky.team What is going on with Sarah Kendzior? Why was she suspended with no explanation? Are you doing this to lesser-known people that we’re never going to find out about?
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Hey @support.bsky.team What is going on with Sarah Kendzior? Why was she suspended with no explanation? Are you doing this to lesser-known people that we’re never going to find out about?
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
Outraged by the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a wilderness survival trainer spent years undercover climbing the ranks of right-wing militias.
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
(Published January)
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
(Published January)
A Mole Infiltrated the Highest Ranks of American Militias. This Is What He Found.
Outraged by the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a wilderness survival trainer spent years undercover climbing the ranks of right-wing militias. He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends....
www.propublica.org
November 11, 2025 at 4:00 AM
Outraged by the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, a wilderness survival trainer spent years undercover climbing the ranks of right-wing militias.
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
(Published January)
He didn’t tell police or the FBI. He didn’t tell family or friends. The one person he told was ProPublica reporter @josh-kaplan.bsky.social.
(Published January)
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
“If Schumer really wanted to use his considerable influence and leverage to stop this, he could have done that,” a senior Democratic Senate aide tells Zeteo. “He didn’t.”
Furious Liberals Call for Schumer to Step Aside, Senate Dems Mostly Quiet
After their shutdown surrender, liberal lawmakers are begging their base to unite behind them anyway – as Trumpland celebrates that their opposition is a bunch of 'p*ssies.'
zeteo.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:23 AM
“If Schumer really wanted to use his considerable influence and leverage to stop this, he could have done that,” a senior Democratic Senate aide tells Zeteo. “He didn’t.”
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
"JPMorgan on Monday said building AI infrastructure will cost more than $5tn"
Crazy idea: Why not, rather than spending $5 TRILLION dollars to pay for data centers to create fake brains, just pay actual human beings with real brains that same $5 trillion?
Crazy idea: Why not, rather than spending $5 TRILLION dollars to pay for data centers to create fake brains, just pay actual human beings with real brains that same $5 trillion?
"Investors have been selling off the debt of US tech heavyweights, showing how jitters over Silicon Valley’s boom in spending on artificial intelligence have spilled into the bond market."
Investor angst over Big Tech’s AI spending spills into bond market
Debt issued by groups building data centres has been hit in recent weeks
www.ft.com
November 11, 2025 at 1:03 PM
"JPMorgan on Monday said building AI infrastructure will cost more than $5tn"
Crazy idea: Why not, rather than spending $5 TRILLION dollars to pay for data centers to create fake brains, just pay actual human beings with real brains that same $5 trillion?
Crazy idea: Why not, rather than spending $5 TRILLION dollars to pay for data centers to create fake brains, just pay actual human beings with real brains that same $5 trillion?
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
Meanwhile, people unconstitutionally seized or brutalized by ICE agents can’t sue them because there’s no private right of action for them to do that.
Buried inside the deal to reopen government is a provision that would give Senators private right of action to sue for millions in damages over their phone records being analyzed by Jack Smith's team.
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
news.bloomberglaw.com/us-law-week/...
Shutdown Deal Would Let Senators Sue Over Jack Smith Searches
Senators whose phone records were sought by Special Counsel Jack Smith would gain authority to sue for millions in damages under a provision buried in the Senate-advanced deal to reopen the government...
news.bloomberglaw.com
November 10, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Meanwhile, people unconstitutionally seized or brutalized by ICE agents can’t sue them because there’s no private right of action for them to do that.
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
Rick Scott was CEO of a large, for-profit healthcare company called HCA. While Rick Scott was CEO, HCA stole so much money from Medicare they were fined $1.7 Billion.
Rick Scott told me his plan would be to take all of the remaining ACA subsidies and redistribute them to HSA accounts and people can then buy whatever insurance a state certifies. Basically a repeal/replace.
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
He denied when I asked wouldn’t that create two-tiered system where sick pay much more…
November 11, 2025 at 4:17 AM
Rick Scott was CEO of a large, for-profit healthcare company called HCA. While Rick Scott was CEO, HCA stole so much money from Medicare they were fined $1.7 Billion.
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
anyway if dems think I'm gonna forget this shit in 5 months, they're wrong. if they think I'm gonna forget it in 5 years, they're wrong. they have fully convinced me that purging the party of these inept losers in the senate is more important than retaking the senate in the next election cycle
November 11, 2025 at 4:08 AM
anyway if dems think I'm gonna forget this shit in 5 months, they're wrong. if they think I'm gonna forget it in 5 years, they're wrong. they have fully convinced me that purging the party of these inept losers in the senate is more important than retaking the senate in the next election cycle
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
November 11, 2025 at 4:30 AM
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
I have to hand it to them, it's an incredible bit to publicly lose a game of chicken, admit that's what happened, and then spend the next day lecturing everyone about courage and tenacity
November 11, 2025 at 2:05 AM
I have to hand it to them, it's an incredible bit to publicly lose a game of chicken, admit that's what happened, and then spend the next day lecturing everyone about courage and tenacity
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
The server I keep my “Imagine If Biden Had Done This” file on is using more energy than all AI models combined.
November 10, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The server I keep my “Imagine If Biden Had Done This” file on is using more energy than all AI models combined.
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
In my old town the GOP had run basically without serious challenge for decades. A bunch of us "millennials" joined the local Dem party and basically asked to help.
We were running it in a year. Within 4 years we had a majority of town seats flipped Dem. A FAR more progressive Dem than old party
We were running it in a year. Within 4 years we had a majority of town seats flipped Dem. A FAR more progressive Dem than old party
“Rather than taking over the Democratic Party the same way the right took over the Republican Party, we should take the easier route and just start up a new party ourselves!”
I’m about to fill my pockets with stones and walk into the sea.
I’m about to fill my pockets with stones and walk into the sea.
November 10, 2025 at 8:44 PM
In my old town the GOP had run basically without serious challenge for decades. A bunch of us "millennials" joined the local Dem party and basically asked to help.
We were running it in a year. Within 4 years we had a majority of town seats flipped Dem. A FAR more progressive Dem than old party
We were running it in a year. Within 4 years we had a majority of town seats flipped Dem. A FAR more progressive Dem than old party
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
this is literally never not accurate
November 10, 2025 at 6:32 PM
this is literally never not accurate
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
A scorpion sitting atop a frog sitting atop Lucy's football
Whoa -- Sen. Durbin went to up Leader Thune during the vote last night to tell him that on the shutdown vote and ACA promise that "8 of us are sticking our neck out that you're going to keep your word. I hope you will. He said 'I assure you I will,'" Durbin says just now
November 10, 2025 at 7:34 PM
A scorpion sitting atop a frog sitting atop Lucy's football
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
America’s chickenshit elites problem continues to be the biggest obstacle to fighting Trump www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
November 10, 2025 at 3:25 PM
America’s chickenshit elites problem continues to be the biggest obstacle to fighting Trump www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
We must Move Our Money, away from the forces of destruction aiding this regime & into our communities. From Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, folks are collectively committing to avoid Target, Amazon and Home Depot. If this leaves you $ to spare, local food banks, shelters, & community groups need it.
November 10, 2025 at 4:17 PM
We must Move Our Money, away from the forces of destruction aiding this regime & into our communities. From Thanksgiving to Cyber Monday, folks are collectively committing to avoid Target, Amazon and Home Depot. If this leaves you $ to spare, local food banks, shelters, & community groups need it.
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
Government is shut down. Chaos in airports. 42 million going hungry. 24 million face skyrocketing healthcare costs. Economy in turmoil. And the president of the United States is in the Fox broadcast booth calling plays for a football game.
November 9, 2025 at 11:28 PM
Government is shut down. Chaos in airports. 42 million going hungry. 24 million face skyrocketing healthcare costs. Economy in turmoil. And the president of the United States is in the Fox broadcast booth calling plays for a football game.
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
I have to hand it to Democrats. I'm one of the feds working and not getting paid and they manage to make reopening the government feel worse than the alternative.
Like, why did I miss 2.5 paychecks to end up right back where we were before the shutdown started?
Like, why did I miss 2.5 paychecks to end up right back where we were before the shutdown started?
Not a political consultant but I’m not sure “standing up to trump doesn’t work” is the best midterm message, even if if accurately represents senate dems position. Not much point in putting you in power then bsky.app/profile/atru...
Sen. Angus King: "Standing up to Donald Trump didn't work"
November 10, 2025 at 2:19 PM
I have to hand it to Democrats. I'm one of the feds working and not getting paid and they manage to make reopening the government feel worse than the alternative.
Like, why did I miss 2.5 paychecks to end up right back where we were before the shutdown started?
Like, why did I miss 2.5 paychecks to end up right back where we were before the shutdown started?
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
November 10, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I received this email about Democrats caving to end the shutdown from one of the SNAP recipients I spoke to:
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
COMPLICITY NOT COWARDICE. COMPLICITY.
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
COMPLICITY NOT COWARDICE. COMPLICITY.
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
We’d be much better off if our elected leaders had to endure the same hunger, abductions, lack of good healthcare, jobs, & housing, bigoted policing, hostile & unfunded schools, bullying, & more that their constituents are facing daily. They’re completely out of touch.
And the truly craziest thing abt this cave is that someone seeing the invasion of Chicago firsthand, Dick Durbin, doesn't understand this.
seems to me that those democrats inclined not to fight perceive themselves as living through a somewhat ordinary cycle of presidential overreach and backlash and not something much more significant and dangerous
November 10, 2025 at 1:56 PM
We’d be much better off if our elected leaders had to endure the same hunger, abductions, lack of good healthcare, jobs, & housing, bigoted policing, hostile & unfunded schools, bullying, & more that their constituents are facing daily. They’re completely out of touch.
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
And I've been doing politics for long enough to know clearly that the entire Senate Democratic caucus agreed to this decision to fold. Open your eyes. The 8 who "broke" did so with the complete blessing of Schumer and their colleagues. You don't have to play along because this is not a game. The end
November 10, 2025 at 2:03 PM
And I've been doing politics for long enough to know clearly that the entire Senate Democratic caucus agreed to this decision to fold. Open your eyes. The 8 who "broke" did so with the complete blessing of Schumer and their colleagues. You don't have to play along because this is not a game. The end
Reposted by Canary in the Coal Mine
The model of holding individual senators responsible is broken here. The retirees clearly agreed to take the fall. Which is why the nos should get no credit for voting no unless they move to oust Schumer
November 10, 2025 at 3:20 AM
The model of holding individual senators responsible is broken here. The retirees clearly agreed to take the fall. Which is why the nos should get no credit for voting no unless they move to oust Schumer