Wes
@wescontreras.com
Psychology, politics, philosophy, technology, larp, psychedelics, ADHD.
Portland, OR.
Portland, OR.
Reposted by Wes
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Chuck Schumer Faces Pushback From a ‘Fight Club’ of Senate Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Reposted by Wes
For scale: I spent eleven days in the maximum security wing of a local county lockup before a judge heard my case and moved me to min. I had one hour out of the cell a day. The cell was small. There was a speaker in the ceiling. By the end I was talking to the speaker and spending hours each day
Rejon Taylor was one of 37 people on federal death row whose death sentence was commuted by then-President Biden. This year, he learned the Trump administration was sending him to a supermax prison once called a “clean version of hell.”
Death Row Prisoners Granted Clemency by Biden Brace for “Living Hell” Under Trump
Trump officials are retaliating by imposing the harshest conditions in the entire federal prison system, including near total isolation.
boltsmag.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:07 AM
For scale: I spent eleven days in the maximum security wing of a local county lockup before a judge heard my case and moved me to min. I had one hour out of the cell a day. The cell was small. There was a speaker in the ceiling. By the end I was talking to the speaker and spending hours each day
Reposted by Wes
About 90,000 people living near larger chemical plants face an unacceptable risk of developing cancer, the EPA says.
New rules adopted last year could’ve cut that number to 3,000 residents — a drop of 97%.
But Trump has halted those efforts.
New rules adopted last year could’ve cut that number to 3,000 residents — a drop of 97%.
But Trump has halted those efforts.
Air Pollution From Industrial Facilities Is Far Worse Than Estimated
The Trump administration has put a stop to EPA rules that would have required more than 130 industrial facilities to install air monitors to measure pollution. Millions of people living near these pla...
www.propublica.org
November 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
About 90,000 people living near larger chemical plants face an unacceptable risk of developing cancer, the EPA says.
New rules adopted last year could’ve cut that number to 3,000 residents — a drop of 97%.
But Trump has halted those efforts.
New rules adopted last year could’ve cut that number to 3,000 residents — a drop of 97%.
But Trump has halted those efforts.
Reposted by Wes
This is heartbreakingly cruel and hypocritical. The same admin that has redefined refugee status to cover white South Africans is now going to drown thousands of refugees already approved for their status in red tape, potentially even seeking to strip some of their status and deport them.
Trump Admin planning a rule to re-decide whether *every* refugee who entered under Biden meets their criteria for a refugee. That’s 230,000 people! And no appeals!
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:46 AM
This is heartbreakingly cruel and hypocritical. The same admin that has redefined refugee status to cover white South Africans is now going to drown thousands of refugees already approved for their status in red tape, potentially even seeking to strip some of their status and deport them.
Reposted by Wes
In Morrow County, healthy adults were coming down with unexplained medical conditions, including diseases that usually afflicted the elderly.
In a survey of 30 homes, at least 25 miscarriages and a half dozen people living with one kidney were reported.
🔗 www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
In a survey of 30 homes, at least 25 miscarriages and a half dozen people living with one kidney were reported.
🔗 www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
November 25, 2025 at 1:39 AM
In Morrow County, healthy adults were coming down with unexplained medical conditions, including diseases that usually afflicted the elderly.
In a survey of 30 homes, at least 25 miscarriages and a half dozen people living with one kidney were reported.
🔗 www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
In a survey of 30 homes, at least 25 miscarriages and a half dozen people living with one kidney were reported.
🔗 www.rollingstone.com/culture/cult...
NVIDIA looked at this legacy and shouted "hold my beer."
Fun fact: November 28, 2001:
"ENRON, which had been a component of the S&P; 500, was removed at the end of trading Thursday and replaced by NVIDIA Corp., a Santa Clara, Calif.-based maker of computer-graphics chips."
"ENRON, which had been a component of the S&P; 500, was removed at the end of trading Thursday and replaced by NVIDIA Corp., a Santa Clara, Calif.-based maker of computer-graphics chips."
November 24, 2025 at 4:33 AM
NVIDIA looked at this legacy and shouted "hold my beer."
Reposted by Wes
Rix Road, the season finale of Andor Season 1, was released three years ago today.
F the Empire. All of them.
F the Empire. All of them.
Andor | Maarva Andor’s Monologue | Disney+
YouTube video by Star Wars
www.youtube.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:36 PM
Rix Road, the season finale of Andor Season 1, was released three years ago today.
F the Empire. All of them.
F the Empire. All of them.
Reposted by Wes
The company essentially turned a dial that made ChatGPT more appealing and made people use it more, but sent some of them into delusional spirals.
OpenAI has since made the chatbot safer, but that comes with a tradeoff: less usage.
OpenAI has since made the chatbot safer, but that comes with a tradeoff: less usage.
November 23, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The company essentially turned a dial that made ChatGPT more appealing and made people use it more, but sent some of them into delusional spirals.
OpenAI has since made the chatbot safer, but that comes with a tradeoff: less usage.
OpenAI has since made the chatbot safer, but that comes with a tradeoff: less usage.
Reposted by Wes
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
White House blew past legal concerns in deadly strikes on drug boats
The Trump administration sidestepped skeptical lawyers across national security agencies as it pursued a military campaign against alleged narcotraffickers, officials say.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
Reposted by Wes
DOGE did not fail in any way to accomplish its goals.
Its goals were never efficiency or saving money.
Its goals were to destroy as much of government as possible forever, and to steal data for the Space Nazi.
DOGE is fading away like bank robbery gangs fade away after the robberies are done.
Its goals were never efficiency or saving money.
Its goals were to destroy as much of government as possible forever, and to steal data for the Space Nazi.
DOGE is fading away like bank robbery gangs fade away after the robberies are done.
Exclusive: DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter reut.rs/4abeTdx
Exclusive: DOGE 'doesn't exist' with eight months left on its charter
The Department of Government Efficiency claimed to have slashed tens of billions of dollars in expenditures, but it was impossible for outside financial experts to verify that because the unit did not provide detailed public accounting of its work.
reut.rs
November 23, 2025 at 12:26 PM
DOGE did not fail in any way to accomplish its goals.
Its goals were never efficiency or saving money.
Its goals were to destroy as much of government as possible forever, and to steal data for the Space Nazi.
DOGE is fading away like bank robbery gangs fade away after the robberies are done.
Its goals were never efficiency or saving money.
Its goals were to destroy as much of government as possible forever, and to steal data for the Space Nazi.
DOGE is fading away like bank robbery gangs fade away after the robberies are done.
Reposted by Wes
It is such a disorienting feeling when someone you care about but hadn't talked to that much in a couple of years dies suddenly because there is now a freshly dug hole inside of you and yet the day to day routine of your life has not been altered one bit. www.welcometohellworld.com/watertown-ma...
Watertown, Massachusetts
This piece appears in my book We Had It Coming.
I am sitting in a waiting room right now none of us ever want to be inside of crying about an old friend I'm not entirely sure is even gone yet. The te...
www.welcometohellworld.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:38 PM
It is such a disorienting feeling when someone you care about but hadn't talked to that much in a couple of years dies suddenly because there is now a freshly dug hole inside of you and yet the day to day routine of your life has not been altered one bit. www.welcometohellworld.com/watertown-ma...
Reposted by Wes
I have shared this in previous years, but I don't do new year resolutions.
Instead, I pick a theme word or words.
The past couple years (with an eye to the potential, then definite, looming Trump regime) have been about redundancy & adaptability.
For 2026, I am choosing "light."
In many senses.
Instead, I pick a theme word or words.
The past couple years (with an eye to the potential, then definite, looming Trump regime) have been about redundancy & adaptability.
For 2026, I am choosing "light."
In many senses.
November 22, 2025 at 9:04 PM
I have shared this in previous years, but I don't do new year resolutions.
Instead, I pick a theme word or words.
The past couple years (with an eye to the potential, then definite, looming Trump regime) have been about redundancy & adaptability.
For 2026, I am choosing "light."
In many senses.
Instead, I pick a theme word or words.
The past couple years (with an eye to the potential, then definite, looming Trump regime) have been about redundancy & adaptability.
For 2026, I am choosing "light."
In many senses.
Reposted by Wes
This is sooner or later going to turn into a lawsuit and there's a decent chance he wins, at which point US companies are going to be stuck between violating sanctions and getting absolutely wrecked in European court and leaving Europe entirely.
November 22, 2025 at 6:29 PM
This is sooner or later going to turn into a lawsuit and there's a decent chance he wins, at which point US companies are going to be stuck between violating sanctions and getting absolutely wrecked in European court and leaving Europe entirely.
Reposted by Wes
To members of Congress:
"You don't deserve our vote; you earn it. I guarantee that if you cave to cowardice, someone else will step up to take your place."
- Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social
"You don't deserve our vote; you earn it. I guarantee that if you cave to cowardice, someone else will step up to take your place."
- Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social
November 22, 2025 at 7:46 PM
To members of Congress:
"You don't deserve our vote; you earn it. I guarantee that if you cave to cowardice, someone else will step up to take your place."
- Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social
"You don't deserve our vote; you earn it. I guarantee that if you cave to cowardice, someone else will step up to take your place."
- Kat Abughazaleh @katmabu.bsky.social
Reposted by Wes
"the U.S. — one of the top emitters of greenhouse gases — did not send a delegation. Instead...announced a plan to open up new oil drilling off the coasts of California and Florida...and limit the EPA’s authority to protect wetlands and streams."
www.nbcnews.com/science/envi...
www.nbcnews.com/science/envi...
With the rest of the world at a climate summit, Trump administration announces major environmental rollbacks
This week, the administration released a series of sweeping proposals to encourage oil drilling and roll back protections for wetlands and endangered animals.
www.nbcnews.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:49 PM
"the U.S. — one of the top emitters of greenhouse gases — did not send a delegation. Instead...announced a plan to open up new oil drilling off the coasts of California and Florida...and limit the EPA’s authority to protect wetlands and streams."
www.nbcnews.com/science/envi...
www.nbcnews.com/science/envi...
Reposted by Wes
Israel cannot break ceasefires, they can only “test“ them by killing dozens of people
November 22, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Israel cannot break ceasefires, they can only “test“ them by killing dozens of people
Public opinion is not fixed! Pathetic as they are, Dem leaders still have ways to command media attention. If they would *use* it, we could do a lot more.
Tomorrow's political data roundup is about survey experiments and what they can teach us about how voters are responding to information about the policies of the Trump presidency/GOP-controlled Congress: www.gelliottmorris.com/p/two-new-po...
Two new polls find learning about Trump's policies moves opinion to Democrats
Your weekly political data roundup for November 13, 2025
www.gelliottmorris.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Public opinion is not fixed! Pathetic as they are, Dem leaders still have ways to command media attention. If they would *use* it, we could do a lot more.
Reposted by Wes
Dipshit is smashing out a car window with his gun, barrel first. Just rogue, cowboy stiff.
There were two US citizens in the car. They were apprehended and detained for “obstructing” ICE by honking their horn to let people know ICE was in the neighborhood.
There were two US citizens in the car. They were apprehended and detained for “obstructing” ICE by honking their horn to let people know ICE was in the neighborhood.
November 22, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Dipshit is smashing out a car window with his gun, barrel first. Just rogue, cowboy stiff.
There were two US citizens in the car. They were apprehended and detained for “obstructing” ICE by honking their horn to let people know ICE was in the neighborhood.
There were two US citizens in the car. They were apprehended and detained for “obstructing” ICE by honking their horn to let people know ICE was in the neighborhood.
Reposted by Wes
Reposted by Wes
Remember: the only way to save New York City from Donald Trump’s wrath is electing Andrew Cuomo.
November 21, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Remember: the only way to save New York City from Donald Trump’s wrath is electing Andrew Cuomo.
Reposted by Wes
Google has started automatically opting you in to let it read your stuff to train AI. You need to turn this off in SEVERAL places in your settings (not just for Gmail), if you want to maintain privacy and confidentiality.
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
Gmail can read your emails and attachments to train its AI, unless you opt out
A new Gmail update may allow Google to use your private messages and attachments for AI training. Here's how to turn it off.
www.malwarebytes.com
November 21, 2025 at 4:54 PM
Google has started automatically opting you in to let it read your stuff to train AI. You need to turn this off in SEVERAL places in your settings (not just for Gmail), if you want to maintain privacy and confidentiality.
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
Reposted by Wes
Grok: "The real Final Solution was the friends we gassed along the way"
November 21, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Grok: "The real Final Solution was the friends we gassed along the way"
It costs something like three times that amount to put someone in jail for the month.
We know how to fix the homeless problem. We just need to *do* it.
We know how to fix the homeless problem. We just need to *do* it.
An Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees a staggering reduction in homelessness. The program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years, and at the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees staggering reduction in homelessness
The state program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years. At the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
www.streetroots.org
November 21, 2025 at 7:00 PM
It costs something like three times that amount to put someone in jail for the month.
We know how to fix the homeless problem. We just need to *do* it.
We know how to fix the homeless problem. We just need to *do* it.
Reposted by Wes
It’s almost as if America’s oligarchs think democracy poses a major threat to their power and hence needs to be acquired like one buys a business competitor, so as to neutralize them.
November 21, 2025 at 2:02 PM
It’s almost as if America’s oligarchs think democracy poses a major threat to their power and hence needs to be acquired like one buys a business competitor, so as to neutralize them.
Reposted by Wes
Trump is filling his government with Nazis, consolidating authoritarian power, and eroding democracy at every chance.
And yet these 86 House Democrats voted for a right-wing messaging amendment to say that the real authoritarians are the socialists.
Pathetic.
And yet these 86 House Democrats voted for a right-wing messaging amendment to say that the real authoritarians are the socialists.
Pathetic.
November 21, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Trump is filling his government with Nazis, consolidating authoritarian power, and eroding democracy at every chance.
And yet these 86 House Democrats voted for a right-wing messaging amendment to say that the real authoritarians are the socialists.
Pathetic.
And yet these 86 House Democrats voted for a right-wing messaging amendment to say that the real authoritarians are the socialists.
Pathetic.