Valastrius
@valastrius.bsky.social
BRD specializing in ska and cackles, most often in the direction of Crumbling Muscovy.
Reposted by Valastrius
US senators will say anything. "Standing up to donald trump gave him more power." No it didn't. That isn't true.
This is what bullies want you to think, and it's why they get stronger
November 11, 2025 at 8:09 PM
US senators will say anything. "Standing up to donald trump gave him more power." No it didn't. That isn't true.
Reposted by Valastrius
Reposted by Valastrius
Maybe burning bridges to the world to build White-kanda isn’t such a good idea?
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 5:51 PM
Maybe burning bridges to the world to build White-kanda isn’t such a good idea?
Reposted by Valastrius
tankies running defense for China is literally just that one old joke about the Soviet Union over and over again
November 11, 2025 at 4:48 PM
tankies running defense for China is literally just that one old joke about the Soviet Union over and over again
Reposted by Valastrius
the key difference between America and China that i'm pointing out here is that you're posting a publicly available press release from the *American* Civil Liberties Union criticizing the United States' incarceration policies
November 11, 2025 at 4:45 PM
the key difference between America and China that i'm pointing out here is that you're posting a publicly available press release from the *American* Civil Liberties Union criticizing the United States' incarceration policies
Reposted by Valastrius
I sell this all day to skeptical conservatives who think USAID is staffed by crunchy, Birkenstocked do-gooders - the Democratic Party can sell it to the American public like Kennedy did.
November 11, 2025 at 3:34 PM
I sell this all day to skeptical conservatives who think USAID is staffed by crunchy, Birkenstocked do-gooders - the Democratic Party can sell it to the American public like Kennedy did.
Reposted by Valastrius
So fuck Elon is what I guess I'm saying, and fuck spineless, soulless energy vampires like Marco Rubio.
A better world is possible and we should demand our leaders rebuild these critical national capabilities for the future. So squishing out when folks start calling for USAID to be restored.
A better world is possible and we should demand our leaders rebuild these critical national capabilities for the future. So squishing out when folks start calling for USAID to be restored.
November 11, 2025 at 3:34 PM
So fuck Elon is what I guess I'm saying, and fuck spineless, soulless energy vampires like Marco Rubio.
A better world is possible and we should demand our leaders rebuild these critical national capabilities for the future. So squishing out when folks start calling for USAID to be restored.
A better world is possible and we should demand our leaders rebuild these critical national capabilities for the future. So squishing out when folks start calling for USAID to be restored.
Reposted by Valastrius
And its staff were certified badasses. They knew how to work with US and foreign militaries, they knew how to tread lightly to overcome sensitivities, they were as comfortable (often more) operating in austere, dangerous places than mil. Those capabilities would've been leveraged in big boy war too.
November 11, 2025 at 3:28 PM
And its staff were certified badasses. They knew how to work with US and foreign militaries, they knew how to tread lightly to overcome sensitivities, they were as comfortable (often more) operating in austere, dangerous places than mil. Those capabilities would've been leveraged in big boy war too.
Reposted by Valastrius
Even the foreign disaster assistance process hasn't been put back together yet since all those dipshits stood by and let Elon gleefully nuke the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. All those experts, all the contacts with US domestic capabilities, the civ-mil cord system that helped DoD get involved
November 11, 2025 at 3:13 PM
Even the foreign disaster assistance process hasn't been put back together yet since all those dipshits stood by and let Elon gleefully nuke the Bureau for Humanitarian Assistance. All those experts, all the contacts with US domestic capabilities, the civ-mil cord system that helped DoD get involved
Reposted by Valastrius
Of course the admin did eventually have a minor panic attack bc we had kneecapped our foreign disaster response and critical program capabilities, and tried to retain some parts at State, but we're nowhere near the capabilities pre-USAID. Civ-mil coordination specialists at the CCMDs are all gone.
November 11, 2025 at 3:09 PM
Of course the admin did eventually have a minor panic attack bc we had kneecapped our foreign disaster response and critical program capabilities, and tried to retain some parts at State, but we're nowhere near the capabilities pre-USAID. Civ-mil coordination specialists at the CCMDs are all gone.
Reposted by Valastrius
I remember the first few security cooperation and humanitarian response courses we did after the destruction of USAID, where military students would ask if this would be an "opportunity" for DoD to expand onto USAID's portfolio. Some students were absolutely convinced that was the plan. It wasn't.
USAID is still gone, no other country has shown either the will or the ability to fill in the services whose disappearance is going to kill millions of people, and no one in the media or political class cares that we are going to kill more people than the Holocaust before this is over 👍
November 11, 2025 at 3:06 PM
I remember the first few security cooperation and humanitarian response courses we did after the destruction of USAID, where military students would ask if this would be an "opportunity" for DoD to expand onto USAID's portfolio. Some students were absolutely convinced that was the plan. It wasn't.
Reposted by Valastrius
DoD was generally only requested to support at most 10% of validated foreign disaster response missions annually, just to give a sense of how massive the USAID effort was. It leveraged domestic and int'l partners, brought private industry in, provided technical expertise to impacted countries.
November 11, 2025 at 3:23 PM
DoD was generally only requested to support at most 10% of validated foreign disaster response missions annually, just to give a sense of how massive the USAID effort was. It leveraged domestic and int'l partners, brought private industry in, provided technical expertise to impacted countries.
Reposted by Valastrius
In my narcissist era. I'm narcissistic woundmaxxing. I'm going pathological need for admiration mode. I'm DARVO-pilled.
“I’ve been hearing that standards will be eliminated or severely cut back. Bari has told people that she wants to get rid of standards and is shocked that they have so much power. She also asked openly, ‘What’s the point of standards?’” one CBS source said.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Bari Weiss wants to take down ‘too much power’ CBS News Standards unit: sources
EXCLUSIVE: Internal rumblings within the newsroom come after the S&P head resigned and the network disbanded its vaunted Race and Culture unit.
www.independent.co.uk
November 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
In my narcissist era. I'm narcissistic woundmaxxing. I'm going pathological need for admiration mode. I'm DARVO-pilled.
Reposted by Valastrius
Turns out that people who bone-saw journalists might not also be good business managers
ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
End of The Line: how Saudi Arabia’s Neom dream unravelled
Mohammed bin Salman’s utopian city was undone by the laws of physics and finance
ig.ft.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:30 PM
Turns out that people who bone-saw journalists might not also be good business managers
ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
ig.ft.com/saudi-neom-l...
Reposted by Valastrius
Oh, so he totally stole the money
November 11, 2025 at 5:39 AM
Oh, so he totally stole the money
Reposted by Valastrius
November 11, 2025 at 3:14 AM
Reposted by Valastrius
In the struggle against authoritarianism, the pro-democracy opposition needs ruthlessly strategic leadership.
Chuck Schumer ain’t it. It’s time for him to resign. We don’t have time for more Schumer Surrenders.
Chuck Schumer ain’t it. It’s time for him to resign. We don’t have time for more Schumer Surrenders.
“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 2:24 AM
In the struggle against authoritarianism, the pro-democracy opposition needs ruthlessly strategic leadership.
Chuck Schumer ain’t it. It’s time for him to resign. We don’t have time for more Schumer Surrenders.
Chuck Schumer ain’t it. It’s time for him to resign. We don’t have time for more Schumer Surrenders.
Reposted by Valastrius
For anyone who was sleeping, major political news last night: a judge chose a new map for Utah that will deliver a seat to Democrats.
Major point in Dems’ favor that effectively neuters the GOP’s move in Missouri, much like California countered Texas.
Major point in Dems’ favor that effectively neuters the GOP’s move in Missouri, much like California countered Texas.
Just now: The plaintiffs who were arguing that Utah GOP's congressional map is illegal won in court.
The judge orders one of the two maps submitted by the plaintiffs ('map 1') be used.
The ruling, if it stands, guarantees that Democrats will pick up a congressional seat in Utah next year.
The judge orders one of the two maps submitted by the plaintiffs ('map 1') be used.
The ruling, if it stands, guarantees that Democrats will pick up a congressional seat in Utah next year.
November 11, 2025 at 2:02 PM
For anyone who was sleeping, major political news last night: a judge chose a new map for Utah that will deliver a seat to Democrats.
Major point in Dems’ favor that effectively neuters the GOP’s move in Missouri, much like California countered Texas.
Major point in Dems’ favor that effectively neuters the GOP’s move in Missouri, much like California countered Texas.
Reposted by Valastrius
this is an extremely common and well understood surgery, obviously this was not a real number, but what the fuck
healthcare costs are an absurd kabuki theater between insurance and providers and no human being can possibly be expected to manage this shit
anyone who says otherwise is lying to you
healthcare costs are an absurd kabuki theater between insurance and providers and no human being can possibly be expected to manage this shit
anyone who says otherwise is lying to you
November 10, 2025 at 8:58 PM
this is an extremely common and well understood surgery, obviously this was not a real number, but what the fuck
healthcare costs are an absurd kabuki theater between insurance and providers and no human being can possibly be expected to manage this shit
anyone who says otherwise is lying to you
healthcare costs are an absurd kabuki theater between insurance and providers and no human being can possibly be expected to manage this shit
anyone who says otherwise is lying to you
Reposted by Valastrius
so, today I got the surgery center where I got my deviated septum fixed to send me an itemized bill so I could submit to my FSA for reimbursement
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
I was at an event yesterday where Rand Paul spoke via video and talked about how great it was to send ACA money "directly to the people" so that they could work collectively to get better deals on health care.
November 10, 2025 at 8:55 PM
so, today I got the surgery center where I got my deviated septum fixed to send me an itemized bill so I could submit to my FSA for reimbursement
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
my out of pocket cost: $473
what my insurance paid: $4258
what they tried to charge my insurance (not a misprint): $173692
Reposted by Valastrius
Reposted by Valastrius
So cute!!! I love it!!
Thank you for drawing Uni 😭
Thank you for drawing Uni 😭
November 11, 2025 at 10:38 AM
So cute!!! I love it!!
Thank you for drawing Uni 😭
Thank you for drawing Uni 😭
Reposted by Valastrius
Did everyone remember to bring their consumables?
Potions, food, weapon oils, patriot missiles.
I'm looking at you, air defense battery covering the Black Sea.
Potions, food, weapon oils, patriot missiles.
I'm looking at you, air defense battery covering the Black Sea.
November 11, 2025 at 9:25 AM
Did everyone remember to bring their consumables?
Potions, food, weapon oils, patriot missiles.
I'm looking at you, air defense battery covering the Black Sea.
Potions, food, weapon oils, patriot missiles.
I'm looking at you, air defense battery covering the Black Sea.
Reposted by Valastrius
The only person in my World of Warcraft guild who actually knows what he's doing is a Ukrainian dude whom Russian attacks have limited to a few hours of power a day, and who frequently has to leave abruptly due to air alerts.
Sometimes I think Putin doesn't even care about our raid progression.
Sometimes I think Putin doesn't even care about our raid progression.
November 11, 2025 at 9:16 AM
The only person in my World of Warcraft guild who actually knows what he's doing is a Ukrainian dude whom Russian attacks have limited to a few hours of power a day, and who frequently has to leave abruptly due to air alerts.
Sometimes I think Putin doesn't even care about our raid progression.
Sometimes I think Putin doesn't even care about our raid progression.
Reposted by Valastrius
there were a lot of 'eccentric' British figures who were just full blown Nazis (*cough* Alan Clark *cough*)
November 11, 2025 at 8:36 AM
there were a lot of 'eccentric' British figures who were just full blown Nazis (*cough* Alan Clark *cough*)