Bettina Pearl
@bettinaap.bsky.social
PA Senate staffer. Hiker, biker, rower, traveller.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
The US government is summarily executing people on a weekly basis without telling the American people any of their names or presenting any proof of their guilt, for alleged crimes that do not carry the death penalty in the US.
December 6, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The US government is summarily executing people on a weekly basis without telling the American people any of their names or presenting any proof of their guilt, for alleged crimes that do not carry the death penalty in the US.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
We taxpayers want our money allocated differently. No $ for crony contracts, foreign dictators, ICE ICE ICE.
We need ACA subsidies, Medicaid, child tax credits, Head Start, Pell grants, and many more programs that serve everyday Americans.
We need ACA subsidies, Medicaid, child tax credits, Head Start, Pell grants, and many more programs that serve everyday Americans.
December 4, 2025 at 9:46 PM
We taxpayers want our money allocated differently. No $ for crony contracts, foreign dictators, ICE ICE ICE.
We need ACA subsidies, Medicaid, child tax credits, Head Start, Pell grants, and many more programs that serve everyday Americans.
We need ACA subsidies, Medicaid, child tax credits, Head Start, Pell grants, and many more programs that serve everyday Americans.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
It is critical to read this HCR post.
December 6, 2025 at 2:44 PM
It is critical to read this HCR post.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
On January 1, Illinois begins to regulate employer use of AI, making it a civil rights violation to use AI tools that result in discrimination based on protected characteristics in hiring, promotion, discipline, termination, or other employment terms and requiring notice of AI use. #AIBillofRights
Illinois becomes one of the few states to regulate employer use of AI. House Bill 3773 amends the Illinois Human Rights Act to make it a civil rights violation for employers to use AI tools that result in discrimination based on race, gender, age, or disability.
www.mystateline.com/news/local-n...
www.mystateline.com/news/local-n...
www.mystateline.com
December 6, 2025 at 10:49 PM
On January 1, Illinois begins to regulate employer use of AI, making it a civil rights violation to use AI tools that result in discrimination based on protected characteristics in hiring, promotion, discipline, termination, or other employment terms and requiring notice of AI use. #AIBillofRights
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
Contrary to popular reports, DOGE has “burrowed into the agencies like ticks,” government sources tell WIRED.
DOGE Isn’t Dead. Here’s What Its Operatives Are Doing Now
Contrary to popular reports, DOGE has “burrowed into the agencies like ticks,” government sources tell WIRED.
wrd.cm
December 6, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Contrary to popular reports, DOGE has “burrowed into the agencies like ticks,” government sources tell WIRED.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
the birthright clause was not just written to wipe dred scott off of the books, it was written to repudiate the *idea* behind dred scott, you might say the larger *ideological project* of dred scott. and the whole of section 1 of the 14th amendment is a constitutional statement of political equality
December 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
the birthright clause was not just written to wipe dred scott off of the books, it was written to repudiate the *idea* behind dred scott, you might say the larger *ideological project* of dred scott. and the whole of section 1 of the 14th amendment is a constitutional statement of political equality
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
A neat thing about birthright citizenship is how it tests whether a person cares at all about the Constitution. There's no argument against it, birthright citizenship is the unambitious text, the obvious intent of the drafters, and the undisputed way it was followed for the past 150+ years.
I continue to think that Matty coming out against birthright citizenship a few months ago should have been taken as a major warning sign that the group chats have already decided to surrender on this.
December 6, 2025 at 9:47 PM
A neat thing about birthright citizenship is how it tests whether a person cares at all about the Constitution. There's no argument against it, birthright citizenship is the unambitious text, the obvious intent of the drafters, and the undisputed way it was followed for the past 150+ years.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
Admiral Rachel Levine was the first transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the federal government. Her official portrait at HHS headquarters has been altered. n.pr/48HypvT
HHS changed the name of transgender health leader on her official portrait
Admiral Rachel Levine was the first transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the federal government. Her official portrait at HHS headquarters has been altered.
n.pr
December 5, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Admiral Rachel Levine was the first transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate to serve in the federal government. Her official portrait at HHS headquarters has been altered. n.pr/48HypvT
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
@npr it’s not a principle. It is a constitutional guarantee.
The Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the longstanding principle that grants citizenship to the children of non-citizens born in the U.S., following a legal challenge by the Trump administration. n.pr/48E1oko
Supreme Court agrees to hear arguments in birthright citizenship challenge
The Supreme Court will ultimately decide whether to uphold the longstanding principle that grants citizenship to the children of non-citizens born in the U.S., following a legal challenge by the Trump administration.
n.pr
December 5, 2025 at 8:10 PM
@npr it’s not a principle. It is a constitutional guarantee.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
The White House surrenders at 138 million views. Sabrina wins.
December 5, 2025 at 7:55 PM
The White House surrenders at 138 million views. Sabrina wins.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
at a certain point we will move beyond the "war crimes" debate, since there is no war, and into a "murder" debate that asks not just whether these are individual murders but whether they are widespread & systematic attacks on civilians and thus constitute crimes against humanity.
Excellent reporting from @charliesavage.bsky.social and @julianbarnes.bsky.social starting with the "plain reality" that there was no warship, and no fighting going on, in the Sept. 2 strike, or any of them:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/u...
1/2
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/04/u...
1/2
December 6, 2025 at 12:07 AM
at a certain point we will move beyond the "war crimes" debate, since there is no war, and into a "murder" debate that asks not just whether these are individual murders but whether they are widespread & systematic attacks on civilians and thus constitute crimes against humanity.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
Yeah this is a TERRIBLE framing, what the hell?
You could write this. Or you could write: “That notion, which has been the rule in nearly every country in the Western Hemisphere for over a century, is grounded in the language of the 14th Amendment.”
All how you choose to frame it.
All how you choose to frame it.
December 6, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Yeah this is a TERRIBLE framing, what the hell?
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
How does global warming cause colder winter storms? whowhatwhy.org/2019/11/23/t...
The Paradox of Global Warming and Colder Winters - WhoWhatWhy
If the cold weather makes it harder for you to argue with climate change deniers about the existence of global warming, this story is for you.
whowhatwhy.org
December 5, 2025 at 5:47 PM
How does global warming cause colder winter storms? whowhatwhy.org/2019/11/23/t...
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
The fact that a second strike like that in an armed conflict is definitely a war crime should not completely negate the fact that *there is no war* and ALL the strikes are cold-blooded murder. The whole chain of command are murderers.
December 5, 2025 at 1:20 AM
The fact that a second strike like that in an armed conflict is definitely a war crime should not completely negate the fact that *there is no war* and ALL the strikes are cold-blooded murder. The whole chain of command are murderers.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
This is the story tonight. Every Dem who was in that room should be telling us what they saw.
Himes: "What I saw in that room was one of the most troubling things I've seen in my time in public service ... any American who sees the video that I saw will see the US military attacking shipwrecked sailors."
December 4, 2025 at 10:37 PM
This is the story tonight. Every Dem who was in that room should be telling us what they saw.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
41 minutes is a long time to sit in your air conditioned office watching men struggle to survive as you decide to kill them.
December 5, 2025 at 1:48 AM
41 minutes is a long time to sit in your air conditioned office watching men struggle to survive as you decide to kill them.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
Agree with this thread. Worth reading in full.
25 years ago John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and AC Barrett all worked on GWBush's 2000 Florida recount team. What they're doing now is, if anything, more nakedly partisan.
Fire-breathing dissent by Kagan, with Sotomayor and Jackson.
25 years ago John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and AC Barrett all worked on GWBush's 2000 Florida recount team. What they're doing now is, if anything, more nakedly partisan.
Fire-breathing dissent by Kagan, with Sotomayor and Jackson.
They're not even trying to appear nonpartisan anymore.
December 4, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Agree with this thread. Worth reading in full.
25 years ago John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and AC Barrett all worked on GWBush's 2000 Florida recount team. What they're doing now is, if anything, more nakedly partisan.
Fire-breathing dissent by Kagan, with Sotomayor and Jackson.
25 years ago John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and AC Barrett all worked on GWBush's 2000 Florida recount team. What they're doing now is, if anything, more nakedly partisan.
Fire-breathing dissent by Kagan, with Sotomayor and Jackson.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
What's changed is that the Court has become more transparent in its corruption. There's not even an argument here beyond the implicit one which is: how do you expect us to hold the House without those seats?
December 4, 2025 at 11:34 PM
What's changed is that the Court has become more transparent in its corruption. There's not even an argument here beyond the implicit one which is: how do you expect us to hold the House without those seats?
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
Spending 41 minutes deliberating and then deciding to kill two men clinging to the debris of their boat is nothing more or less than premeditated murder.
There is no rationale that justifies this. There is no magic sequence of words or arguments that excuses it.
It was cold-blooded murder.
There is no rationale that justifies this. There is no magic sequence of words or arguments that excuses it.
It was cold-blooded murder.
December 5, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Spending 41 minutes deliberating and then deciding to kill two men clinging to the debris of their boat is nothing more or less than premeditated murder.
There is no rationale that justifies this. There is no magic sequence of words or arguments that excuses it.
It was cold-blooded murder.
There is no rationale that justifies this. There is no magic sequence of words or arguments that excuses it.
It was cold-blooded murder.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
SPLIT IN HALF?
The boat was capsized and SPLIT IN HALF?
I got nothing folks.
Trials. Prison. Everyone.
If you told me this was a psy-op to make me rethink my moral opposition to the death penalty, I would at least have to think hard about you being right.
The boat was capsized and SPLIT IN HALF?
I got nothing folks.
Trials. Prison. Everyone.
If you told me this was a psy-op to make me rethink my moral opposition to the death penalty, I would at least have to think hard about you being right.
I mean, this is an execution
December 5, 2025 at 2:39 AM
SPLIT IN HALF?
The boat was capsized and SPLIT IN HALF?
I got nothing folks.
Trials. Prison. Everyone.
If you told me this was a psy-op to make me rethink my moral opposition to the death penalty, I would at least have to think hard about you being right.
The boat was capsized and SPLIT IN HALF?
I got nothing folks.
Trials. Prison. Everyone.
If you told me this was a psy-op to make me rethink my moral opposition to the death penalty, I would at least have to think hard about you being right.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
Outstanding and important reporting from @willbunch.bsky.social in New Orleans. As they did in Chicago, they're targeting working folks. It's pathetic, cruel and useless.
I went to New Orleans to see what it looks like when a great American city comes under siege from the government, as masked goons of 'Catahoula Crunch' lie about nabbing bad guys before swarming Home Depot, roofing jobs for folks with brown skin
My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/new-...
My special report www.inquirer.com/opinion/new-...
Life during wartime in New Orleans as feds terrorize Latinos who saved a city | Will Bunch
The first day of long-feared federal immigration raids across Greater New Orleans exposes the Big Lie of mass deportation.
www.inquirer.com
December 4, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Outstanding and important reporting from @willbunch.bsky.social in New Orleans. As they did in Chicago, they're targeting working folks. It's pathetic, cruel and useless.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
Never believe the fuckers who say "why bother, they already won"
NEWS: The Institute of Museum & Library Services has restored ALL previously canceled federal grants to libraries, following a ruling by a federal judge in Rhode Island last month.
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
This is a massive win for libraries & communities in every state & territory!
Learn more: www.ala.org/news/2025/12...
December 3, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Never believe the fuckers who say "why bother, they already won"
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
Striking a boat full of unarmed civilians is murder. The first strike was murder. The followup strike was also murder.
We're not at war. It's not a "war crime". Everyone involved, including the POTUS, SecDef, the Admiral who relayed it and the person who pressed the button needs to be on trial.
We're not at war. It's not a "war crime". Everyone involved, including the POTUS, SecDef, the Admiral who relayed it and the person who pressed the button needs to be on trial.
December 3, 2025 at 5:43 AM
Striking a boat full of unarmed civilians is murder. The first strike was murder. The followup strike was also murder.
We're not at war. It's not a "war crime". Everyone involved, including the POTUS, SecDef, the Admiral who relayed it and the person who pressed the button needs to be on trial.
We're not at war. It's not a "war crime". Everyone involved, including the POTUS, SecDef, the Admiral who relayed it and the person who pressed the button needs to be on trial.
Reposted by Bettina Pearl
It’s true that Trump is weak. Unfortunately the press who cover him are weaker.
December 2, 2025 at 9:12 PM
It’s true that Trump is weak. Unfortunately the press who cover him are weaker.