Ashley Jester
@ajester.bsky.social
Political scientist ∯ Data maven ∯ Librarian ∯ Probably more of a fox than a hedgehog ∯ Not that kind of doctor ∯ Information asymmetry ruins the world ∯ 🦔 = hugs
Pinned
Ashley Jester
@ajester.bsky.social
· Oct 11
It’s not autonomous if you need a human to keep it from fucking up
Reposted by Ashley Jester
A man pardoned by Donald Trump for his role in January 6th - he assaulted Capitol Police officers with bear spray & a metal whip - has avoided prison for child sex crimes because of the president’s sweeping pardon, despite pleading guilty to soliciting what he believed was a 15-year-old girl for sex
Trump Pardon Lets Convicted Child Sex Predator Walk Free
Andrew Taake walked free because of Trump’s pardons, despite being convicted of a child sex crime.
www.thedailybeast.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:22 AM
A man pardoned by Donald Trump for his role in January 6th - he assaulted Capitol Police officers with bear spray & a metal whip - has avoided prison for child sex crimes because of the president’s sweeping pardon, despite pleading guilty to soliciting what he believed was a 15-year-old girl for sex
Reposted by Ashley Jester
The media refuses to even attempt to write this up as a Trump scandal. They press no one. They don’t press him. No allies. No front pages. Just a passing buried piece and it’s gone.
The fact that this, and every other Trump pardonee who has subsequently broken the law, has not ended Trump's political career, that it barely even registers on the national discourse, underlines just how far we are from a functioning democracy that values accountability.
A man pardoned by Donald Trump for his role in January 6th - he assaulted Capitol Police officers with bear spray & a metal whip - has avoided prison for child sex crimes because of the president’s sweeping pardon, despite pleading guilty to soliciting what he believed was a 15-year-old girl for sex
November 12, 2025 at 1:54 AM
The media refuses to even attempt to write this up as a Trump scandal. They press no one. They don’t press him. No allies. No front pages. Just a passing buried piece and it’s gone.
And information asymmetries ruin the world
The Trump administration’s systematic targeting of US knowledge infrastructure spans the entire production chain, from soup to nuts. Without reliable statistics, research funding, or accessible data, information asymmetries will surely increase, writes Amelia Acker.
Week After Week, The US is Dismantling Knowledge Infrastructure | TechPolicy.Press
Without reliable statistics, research funding, or accessible data, information asymmetries will surely increase, writes Amelia Acker.
www.techpolicy.press
November 11, 2025 at 11:56 PM
And information asymmetries ruin the world
Reposted by Ashley Jester
You know whose political platform is always relevant? That "Rent Is Too Damned High" guy.
November 11, 2025 at 11:43 PM
You know whose political platform is always relevant? That "Rent Is Too Damned High" guy.
Reposted by Ashley Jester
Perfect by @dccartoonist.bsky.social
November 11, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Perfect by @dccartoonist.bsky.social
Reposted by Ashley Jester
Reposted by Ashley Jester
Empathy is a simple but profound mechanism for building social cohesion, says @claireadida.bsky.social of @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social.
Using quantitative and field methods, Adida studies what creates or dissolves cohesion, and how that can be used to inform better policymaking.
Using quantitative and field methods, Adida studies what creates or dissolves cohesion, and how that can be used to inform better policymaking.
Meet Our Researchers: Dr. Claire Adida
Exploring how empathy and perspective-taking shape migration, inclusion, and public attitudes toward diversity with FSI Senior Fellow Claire Adida
ow.ly
November 11, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Empathy is a simple but profound mechanism for building social cohesion, says @claireadida.bsky.social of @stanfordcddrl.bsky.social.
Using quantitative and field methods, Adida studies what creates or dissolves cohesion, and how that can be used to inform better policymaking.
Using quantitative and field methods, Adida studies what creates or dissolves cohesion, and how that can be used to inform better policymaking.
Reposted by Ashley Jester
Kendrick, Joyce Carol Oates, Menswear Guy, and Isaac Chotiner are the Voltron of People You Don't Want Focusing on You
November 11, 2025 at 7:37 PM
Kendrick, Joyce Carol Oates, Menswear Guy, and Isaac Chotiner are the Voltron of People You Don't Want Focusing on You
Reposted by Ashley Jester
as someone with two children who are talented at math and need (especially the younger one) a lot of help with social and emotional stuff this makes me want to scream
please help your children learn to interact with the world, it will make their lives (and everyone else’s!) so much easier
please help your children learn to interact with the world, it will make their lives (and everyone else’s!) so much easier
I think the belief by the powerful that "people will put up with many things if you are excellent at math" is incredibly revealing in terms of understanding How We Got Here
November 11, 2025 at 11:15 PM
as someone with two children who are talented at math and need (especially the younger one) a lot of help with social and emotional stuff this makes me want to scream
please help your children learn to interact with the world, it will make their lives (and everyone else’s!) so much easier
please help your children learn to interact with the world, it will make their lives (and everyone else’s!) so much easier
Reposted by Ashley Jester
She hit him with The Groucho???????
November 11, 2025 at 5:44 PM
She hit him with The Groucho???????
The leadership of the Democratic party is clearly afraid to fight for anything & that's why no one trusts them
It's simple – everyone knows you're afraid of a fight, everyone knows you'll always cave, & everyone knows you're unfit to lead b/c leadership requires fighting
You think evil surrenders?
It's simple – everyone knows you're afraid of a fight, everyone knows you'll always cave, & everyone knows you're unfit to lead b/c leadership requires fighting
You think evil surrenders?
November 11, 2025 at 10:37 PM
The leadership of the Democratic party is clearly afraid to fight for anything & that's why no one trusts them
It's simple – everyone knows you're afraid of a fight, everyone knows you'll always cave, & everyone knows you're unfit to lead b/c leadership requires fighting
You think evil surrenders?
It's simple – everyone knows you're afraid of a fight, everyone knows you'll always cave, & everyone knows you're unfit to lead b/c leadership requires fighting
You think evil surrenders?
Reposted by Ashley Jester
isn't that exactly what the senate democratic caucus did by misleading their base these last two months?
Don’t give in to those who are trying to weaponize despair. Don’t let them convince you that they’ve already won. Remember: Evil always goes too far.
Truth crushed to earth will rise again.
Truth crushed to earth will rise again.
November 11, 2025 at 5:47 PM
isn't that exactly what the senate democratic caucus did by misleading their base these last two months?
Reposted by Ashley Jester
and no i'm not going to stop, because this isn't politics for internet points. folks were *depending* on y'all
November 11, 2025 at 5:49 PM
and no i'm not going to stop, because this isn't politics for internet points. folks were *depending* on y'all
Reposted by Ashley Jester
Business rent is way too high on Mag (not Miracle) Mile so companies are just shuffling around. H&M moved two blocks down the road to save cash.
He's blaming "murder and crime" in one of the safest parts of the city because the real problem is "landlords." Almost like that's the whole gambit.
He's blaming "murder and crime" in one of the safest parts of the city because the real problem is "landlords." Almost like that's the whole gambit.
Call in the troops to solve the commercial real estate crisis in our swanky downtown cores
You can’t make this shit up, folks
You can’t make this shit up, folks
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Business rent is way too high on Mag (not Miracle) Mile so companies are just shuffling around. H&M moved two blocks down the road to save cash.
He's blaming "murder and crime" in one of the safest parts of the city because the real problem is "landlords." Almost like that's the whole gambit.
He's blaming "murder and crime" in one of the safest parts of the city because the real problem is "landlords." Almost like that's the whole gambit.
Reposted by Ashley Jester
So the full title is COLOR TASTE TEXTURE: Recipes for Picky Eaters, Those with Food Aversion, and Anyone Who’s Ever Cringed at Food. I know that “picky eaters” is a loaded term, the sole purpose of it in the title is so it can be found by the most people. It’s used sparingly within the book itself.
I’m an Autistic classically trained chef and I wrote a food aversion acceptance cookbook and guide titled COLOR TASTE TEXTURE, that’s all about finding out what works for specific sensory needs and how to customize food for them. It’s useful for all ages, no cooking experience necessary.
Color Taste Texture by Matthew Broberg-Moffitt: 9780593538593 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books
An accessible family cookbook that offers solutions rather than tricks to empower the food-averse, autistic, and picky eater, with 46 recipes. This much-needed cookbook combines tips and techniques.....
www.penguinrandomhouse.com
November 11, 2025 at 7:47 PM
So the full title is COLOR TASTE TEXTURE: Recipes for Picky Eaters, Those with Food Aversion, and Anyone Who’s Ever Cringed at Food. I know that “picky eaters” is a loaded term, the sole purpose of it in the title is so it can be found by the most people. It’s used sparingly within the book itself.
Reposted by Ashley Jester
If I were Bluesky, I'd make it impossible for anyone to have their name be "Bluesky" or any official sounding version like "Bluesky Support," and I'd probably also make it impossible for anyone to use the Bluesky logo as their avi. But I'm not Bluesky.
Unlike usa2today, who is Bluesky, apparently.
Unlike usa2today, who is Bluesky, apparently.
November 11, 2025 at 5:28 PM
If I were Bluesky, I'd make it impossible for anyone to have their name be "Bluesky" or any official sounding version like "Bluesky Support," and I'd probably also make it impossible for anyone to use the Bluesky logo as their avi. But I'm not Bluesky.
Unlike usa2today, who is Bluesky, apparently.
Unlike usa2today, who is Bluesky, apparently.
Reposted by Ashley Jester
Literally all this man does is complain.
Trump: "If we die, we must die and we as men we die without complaining."
November 11, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Literally all this man does is complain.
Reposted by Ashley Jester
This is actually good spin, or would have been. But the fact that the Democratic cave happened without even a coordinated, agreed-upon message like this indicates the depth of the leadership void.
November 11, 2025 at 5:12 PM
This is actually good spin, or would have been. But the fact that the Democratic cave happened without even a coordinated, agreed-upon message like this indicates the depth of the leadership void.
Reposted by Ashley Jester
November 11, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Reposted by Ashley Jester
What the fuck, bluesky
substack.com/@sarahkendzi...
substack.com/@sarahkendzi...
Sarah Kendzior (@sarahkendzior)
I’ve been suspended from BlueSky. I don’t know why. I wasn’t online much today, and the last things I posted were excerpts from my substack newsletter articles. The suspension followed without explana...
substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 5:13 PM
What the fuck, bluesky
substack.com/@sarahkendzi...
substack.com/@sarahkendzi...
Reposted by Ashley Jester
Between this, the permaban of Link, and the silent rollout of the “rude” moderating, BlueSky’s leaders seem intent on speedrunning the enshittification of the site
November 11, 2025 at 5:29 PM
Between this, the permaban of Link, and the silent rollout of the “rude” moderating, BlueSky’s leaders seem intent on speedrunning the enshittification of the site
Reposted by Ashley Jester
That’s what the should have done in April. But instead, they continue confirming, passing budgets, and allowing unanimous consent to continue apace. Squandering every tool the minority has to slow the GOP’s continued insurrection.
Schumer and co. simply aren’t up to meeting the moment.
Schumer and co. simply aren’t up to meeting the moment.
Now that Dems have capitulated, at the very least they should now make every future extension of funding contingent on Trump following the law. Any lawbreaking must be met with: No more votes from us, period.
My exchange with @brianbeutler.bsky.social on that point:
newrepublic.com/article/2029...
My exchange with @brianbeutler.bsky.social on that point:
newrepublic.com/article/2029...
November 11, 2025 at 2:25 PM
That’s what the should have done in April. But instead, they continue confirming, passing budgets, and allowing unanimous consent to continue apace. Squandering every tool the minority has to slow the GOP’s continued insurrection.
Schumer and co. simply aren’t up to meeting the moment.
Schumer and co. simply aren’t up to meeting the moment.
Reposted by Ashley Jester
And that’s really saying something
We are witnessing the most incompetent government in the history of our great country.
November 11, 2025 at 2:45 PM
And that’s really saying something
Reposted by Ashley Jester
Toured three hospitals this weekend. Doctors were desperate for my business. “What can I do to get you into this MRI machine right now?” they asked. Told them I had to talk to my wife, but I eventually haggled them up to a 5-year kidney warrantee.
November 11, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Toured three hospitals this weekend. Doctors were desperate for my business. “What can I do to get you into this MRI machine right now?” they asked. Told them I had to talk to my wife, but I eventually haggled them up to a 5-year kidney warrantee.
Reposted by Ashley Jester
aaaaand we are back to private sector job losses in ADP, 4-wk avg loss of 11k in the week ending Oct 25 implying a sharp deterioration at the end of the month given the 42k monthly gain for October. This new data series is basically averaging zero net private sector job creation since August
November 11, 2025 at 1:35 PM
aaaaand we are back to private sector job losses in ADP, 4-wk avg loss of 11k in the week ending Oct 25 implying a sharp deterioration at the end of the month given the 42k monthly gain for October. This new data series is basically averaging zero net private sector job creation since August