ERTBen
@ertben.bsky.social
Figuring out where we go from here. Seeking community and new ways to engage people in progressive ideas. Weather, wildfire, wilderness and front-yard gardening. Midwest-born Californian. Exvangelical.
Reposted by ERTBen
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Blow for OpenAI in Germany as court rules song lyrics used illegally
A German court ruled on Tuesday that OpenAI violated copyright on nine popular songs in a lawsuit that marked another attempt to prevent the free use of artists' content online. The Munich Regional Co...
www.yahoo.com
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Open AI loses copyright case in Germany.
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Judge Elke Schwager summarized the case saying that if you want to build something and need components, "then you purchase them and do not use the property of others."
Reposted by ERTBen
Or, "This wasn't Hegseth's first screwdriver of the day"
November 13, 2025 at 11:47 PM
Or, "This wasn't Hegseth's first screwdriver of the day"
Reposted by ERTBen
At this point, just assume everything they say is a lie.
You probably saw videos of a nighttime raid in Chicago. Agents rappelling from a helicopter, bursting down doors, questioning brown-skinned immigrants.
We investigated -- and found little evidence to support the government’s claims about Tren de Aragua.
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
We investigated -- and found little evidence to support the government’s claims about Tren de Aragua.
www.propublica.org/article/chic...
“I Lost Everything”: Venezuelans Were Rounded Up in a Dramatic Midnight Raid but Never Charged With a Crime
Authorities said Tren de Aragua “terrorists” had taken over the building. A ProPublica investigation found little evidence to back up the government’s claims. For the first time, the Venezuelans arres...
www.propublica.org
November 14, 2025 at 12:48 AM
At this point, just assume everything they say is a lie.
Reposted by ERTBen
Post a bird to support @sbworkersunited.org and warn your followers not to buy Starbucks for the duration of the strike 🪶
November 13, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Post a bird to support @sbworkersunited.org and warn your followers not to buy Starbucks for the duration of the strike 🪶
Reposted by ERTBen
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 11:33 AM
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Reposted by ERTBen
Support striking Starbucks workers today by NOT going into Starbucks! If you're feeling extra supportive, you can maybe set aside what you would've spent at Starbucks today and send it to a strike fund or drop it in your local barista's tip jar when they're back on the job ☕️
BREAKING: Starbucks workers have launched a massive, nationwide strike.
Baristas in 40 cities have walked off the job on the busiest day of Starbucks' year.
Upwards of 12,000 @sbworkersunited.org members could ultimately go on strike as the union escalates.
Baristas in 40 cities have walked off the job on the busiest day of Starbucks' year.
Upwards of 12,000 @sbworkersunited.org members could ultimately go on strike as the union escalates.
November 13, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Support striking Starbucks workers today by NOT going into Starbucks! If you're feeling extra supportive, you can maybe set aside what you would've spent at Starbucks today and send it to a strike fund or drop it in your local barista's tip jar when they're back on the job ☕️
Reposted by ERTBen
New: Google has chosen a side in Trump's mass deportation campaign. Google is hosting a CBP facial recognition app to hunt immigrants; no indication Google will remove. At same time Google takes down apps for reporting ICE sightings
“Big tech has made their choice”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
“Big tech has made their choice”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
Google Has Chosen a Side in Trump's Mass Deportation Effort
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable gr...
www.404media.co
November 13, 2025 at 2:11 PM
New: Google has chosen a side in Trump's mass deportation campaign. Google is hosting a CBP facial recognition app to hunt immigrants; no indication Google will remove. At same time Google takes down apps for reporting ICE sightings
“Big tech has made their choice”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
“Big tech has made their choice”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
Reposted by ERTBen
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills: the emails from Landon Thomas has his New York Times signature block...he was employed by NY Times at the time. He was communicating directly with Epstein about Trump, and was given incriminating information about Trump. It's been in NYT's possession since 2015
November 12, 2025 at 7:23 PM
I feel like I'm taking crazy pills: the emails from Landon Thomas has his New York Times signature block...he was employed by NY Times at the time. He was communicating directly with Epstein about Trump, and was given incriminating information about Trump. It's been in NYT's possession since 2015
Reposted by ERTBen
Fall 2017: Then-NYT reporter literally warning Epstein that someone is "digging around again."
![From:
Thomas Jr., Landon
Sent:
9/27/2017 2:47:47 PM
To:
Subject:
Got another call from Connelly..
Importance:
High
Jeffrey Epstein [jeevacation@gmail.com]
He is digging around again -- not clear if its another book/or expanded paperback version. Was asking me all sorts of questions about why you hired Ken Starr. I told him I had no idea - I think he is doing some Trump-related digging too.
Anyway, for what its worth...
Landon Thomas, Jr.
Financial Reporter
New York Times
http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/people/t/landon_ir thomas/index.h
tml](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreia6463yzmb2suqn5rbfslvtta667av3ryynaetbsl7x6tniezyawu@jpeg)
November 12, 2025 at 10:05 PM
Fall 2017: Then-NYT reporter literally warning Epstein that someone is "digging around again."
Reposted by ERTBen
Once again: every accusation is actually a confession.
November 13, 2025 at 2:01 AM
Once again: every accusation is actually a confession.
Reposted by ERTBen
Epstein: I’m best friends with this pedo running for President, here’s a bunch of stories about how big a pedo he is
NYT: but her emails
NYT: but her emails
Landon Thomas Jr of the New York Times got told by Jeffrey Epstein that Trump walked into a glass door bc he was so busy staring at girls in Epstein's house and didn't print it. wild that the Times didn't consider that newsworthy.
November 12, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Epstein: I’m best friends with this pedo running for President, here’s a bunch of stories about how big a pedo he is
NYT: but her emails
NYT: but her emails
Reposted by ERTBen
Hard to argue "Trump did nothing wrong" or "this is all just a distraction" when you're having a drop everything you are doing, all hands on deck meeting to prevent this from happening.
Exclusive: Top Trump administration officials plan to meet today to discuss House efforts to force the release of the Epstein files. https://cnn.it/3WSyk2Y
November 12, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Hard to argue "Trump did nothing wrong" or "this is all just a distraction" when you're having a drop everything you are doing, all hands on deck meeting to prevent this from happening.
Reposted by ERTBen
An account is spamming horrific, dehumanizing videos of immigration enforcement because the Facebook algorithm is rewarding them for it.
AI-Generated Videos of ICE Raids Are Wildly Viral on Facebook
An account is spamming horrific, dehumanizing videos of immigration enforcement because the Facebook algorithm is rewarding them for it.
www.404media.co
November 12, 2025 at 6:09 PM
An account is spamming horrific, dehumanizing videos of immigration enforcement because the Facebook algorithm is rewarding them for it.
Reposted by ERTBen
Extreme, Watergate level, criminal corruption daily.
November 11, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Extreme, Watergate level, criminal corruption daily.
Reposted by ERTBen
NEW: The US has deported a longtime Oregon firefighter who was arrested by Border Patrol while deployed at a major wildfire in Washington state.
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
US firefighter detained on the job speaks out after deportation: ‘I feel betrayed’
Exclusive: Border patrol arrested José Bertin Cruz-Estrada while he was battling a wildfire in Washington. He is now in Mexico, separated from his family in Oregon
www.theguardian.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:04 PM
NEW: The US has deported a longtime Oregon firefighter who was arrested by Border Patrol while deployed at a major wildfire in Washington state.
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
José Bertin Cruz-Estrada, separated from his family, is speaking out from Mexico for the first time:
“I feel betrayed ... What am I going to do now?"
Reposted by ERTBen
Spotify is running ads to help ICE recruit more agents to infringe our rights and terrorize our communities. We’re calling on users to stop paying for or using the app until Spotify stops streaming fascism: indivisible.org/cancel-spoti...
November 11, 2025 at 6:15 PM
Spotify is running ads to help ICE recruit more agents to infringe our rights and terrorize our communities. We’re calling on users to stop paying for or using the app until Spotify stops streaming fascism: indivisible.org/cancel-spoti...
Reposted by ERTBen
DHS/ICE used an Olivia Rodrigo song for a video on Instagram and after calling them disgusting, Olivia's team allegedly pulled the song for use on Insta so the video has no background music.
This is the second time she's done this - previously it was a tiktok song.
This is the second time she's done this - previously it was a tiktok song.
November 10, 2025 at 4:14 AM
DHS/ICE used an Olivia Rodrigo song for a video on Instagram and after calling them disgusting, Olivia's team allegedly pulled the song for use on Insta so the video has no background music.
This is the second time she's done this - previously it was a tiktok song.
This is the second time she's done this - previously it was a tiktok song.
Judge Wolf was a judge in ‘senior status’, so his resignation will not create a vacancy. He will be a powerful voice to encourage other traditional conservatives to stand up against our creeping authoritarian regime. web.archive.org/web/20251109...
November 9, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Judge Wolf was a judge in ‘senior status’, so his resignation will not create a vacancy. He will be a powerful voice to encourage other traditional conservatives to stand up against our creeping authoritarian regime. web.archive.org/web/20251109...
Reposted by ERTBen
Tech guys six months ago: haha yes we’re cutting all this WASTEFUL spending by eliminating medical research and USAID
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
November 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Tech guys six months ago: haha yes we’re cutting all this WASTEFUL spending by eliminating medical research and USAID
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
Reposted by ERTBen
Axios is functionally arguing that being a white supremacist who starves children is "Christian" because they never call out republicans who campaign on being Christian for the ways their policies violate Christian teachings.
But following/ liking a few sex workers on Insta is anti-Christian.
But following/ liking a few sex workers on Insta is anti-Christian.
November 9, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Axios is functionally arguing that being a white supremacist who starves children is "Christian" because they never call out republicans who campaign on being Christian for the ways their policies violate Christian teachings.
But following/ liking a few sex workers on Insta is anti-Christian.
But following/ liking a few sex workers on Insta is anti-Christian.
Reposted by ERTBen
Until the end of the government shutdown, our campaign will be donating $2,500 a month to a food pantry in the Ninth District.
And to my fellow candidates, I challenge you to do the same:
And to my fellow candidates, I challenge you to do the same:
November 8, 2025 at 8:56 PM
Until the end of the government shutdown, our campaign will be donating $2,500 a month to a food pantry in the Ninth District.
And to my fellow candidates, I challenge you to do the same:
And to my fellow candidates, I challenge you to do the same:
Reposted by ERTBen
Republicans immediately shut down Schumer shutdown offer
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Democrats make a new offer to end the shutdown, but Republicans aren't buying it
The offer, crafted by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., and championed by Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., would also extend expiring health care subsidies for one year.
www.nbcnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 9:54 PM
Republicans immediately shut down Schumer shutdown offer
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/con...
Reposted by ERTBen
Sometimes I see people like 20 tweets deep into an argument with Grok. Like, what are you doing brother? You are trying to win an argument with a vending machine.
August 18, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Sometimes I see people like 20 tweets deep into an argument with Grok. Like, what are you doing brother? You are trying to win an argument with a vending machine.
Reposted by ERTBen
I understand why we shut down American airspace for a few days after 9-11 to avoid a repeat attack but imagine shutting down American airspace to avoid releasing the Epstein files.
November 7, 2025 at 11:03 PM
I understand why we shut down American airspace for a few days after 9-11 to avoid a repeat attack but imagine shutting down American airspace to avoid releasing the Epstein files.
Reposted by ERTBen
US military intervention in Latin America has NEVER ONCE resulted in democracy.
And countries that have gotten there like Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, etc. have largely done it without US help, or despite US meddling.
And countries that have gotten there like Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, etc. have largely done it without US help, or despite US meddling.
November 7, 2025 at 7:20 PM
US military intervention in Latin America has NEVER ONCE resulted in democracy.
And countries that have gotten there like Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, etc. have largely done it without US help, or despite US meddling.
And countries that have gotten there like Chile, Brazil, Costa Rica, etc. have largely done it without US help, or despite US meddling.