Hodgepodge and Miscellany
@hodgepodgemisc.bsky.social
Old. Tired. Fat. Far left. Lover of books and crafts and nature. Multi-species family. She/they.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
Can a producer for @lauracoates.com @cnn.com @cnn-news.bsky.social get in touch with me ASAP? Your guests are factually wrong on the law in California and this is dangerous. Press exempt from arrest per CA Penal Code 409.7. I negotiated language of the law. You need to correct this ASAP.
June 10, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Can a producer for @lauracoates.com @cnn.com @cnn-news.bsky.social get in touch with me ASAP? Your guests are factually wrong on the law in California and this is dangerous. Press exempt from arrest per CA Penal Code 409.7. I negotiated language of the law. You need to correct this ASAP.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
Trump's version of free speech:
- using the military to stop protests
- banning, suing & targeting media and journalists reporting on him objectively
- arresting legal residents for social posts and op-eds
- banning books
- censoring education and history
popular.info/p/the-state-...
- using the military to stop protests
- banning, suing & targeting media and journalists reporting on him objectively
- arresting legal residents for social posts and op-eds
- banning books
- censoring education and history
popular.info/p/the-state-...
The state of free speech in Trump's America
A central promise of President Trump’s 2024 campaign was that, if elected, he would “restore free speech.” In September 2024, at a campaign rally in Wisconsin, Trump said, “I will bring back free spee...
popular.info
June 10, 2025 at 11:35 AM
Trump's version of free speech:
- using the military to stop protests
- banning, suing & targeting media and journalists reporting on him objectively
- arresting legal residents for social posts and op-eds
- banning books
- censoring education and history
popular.info/p/the-state-...
- using the military to stop protests
- banning, suing & targeting media and journalists reporting on him objectively
- arresting legal residents for social posts and op-eds
- banning books
- censoring education and history
popular.info/p/the-state-...
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
Aetna reported a 60% jump in quarterly profits — then announced it's leaving the ACA Marketplace because it's "not profitable enough."
Your reminder that health insurance companies aren’t there to save lives.
They exist to make money — and if you can’t pay, they’ll let you die.
Your reminder that health insurance companies aren’t there to save lives.
They exist to make money — and if you can’t pay, they’ll let you die.
Big Shifts: CVS Is Pulling the Plug on ACA Coverage — And 1 Million Americans Will Pay the Price
CVS says it can’t make enough money covering a million Americans — just as it celebrates nearly $2 billion in quarterly profits and doubles down on high-dollar weight-loss drugs.
healthcareuncovered.substack.com
May 15, 2025 at 3:12 PM
Aetna reported a 60% jump in quarterly profits — then announced it's leaving the ACA Marketplace because it's "not profitable enough."
Your reminder that health insurance companies aren’t there to save lives.
They exist to make money — and if you can’t pay, they’ll let you die.
Your reminder that health insurance companies aren’t there to save lives.
They exist to make money — and if you can’t pay, they’ll let you die.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
The attacks on higher education—funding and free speech—are incalculable. American higher ed has been one of the nation’s jewels, attracting over a million students from around the world each year.
March 20, 2025 at 1:27 PM
The attacks on higher education—funding and free speech—are incalculable. American higher ed has been one of the nation’s jewels, attracting over a million students from around the world each year.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
I want you to understand this is happening in our name and we know most of these men committed no crimes. One is a professional soccer player who was tortured in Venezuela and was working through asylum in the U.S. ICE shipped him for his Real Madrid tattoo and a picture throwing rock & roll horns.
March 20, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I want you to understand this is happening in our name and we know most of these men committed no crimes. One is a professional soccer player who was tortured in Venezuela and was working through asylum in the U.S. ICE shipped him for his Real Madrid tattoo and a picture throwing rock & roll horns.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
Funny how "erasing history" only applies to tearing down Confederate monuments, emphasizing the role of enslavement in the development of the U.S., & renaming military bases named after Confederates, but not to acknowledging historical Black, Brown, queer, and trans folks
March 20, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Funny how "erasing history" only applies to tearing down Confederate monuments, emphasizing the role of enslavement in the development of the U.S., & renaming military bases named after Confederates, but not to acknowledging historical Black, Brown, queer, and trans folks
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
When politicians call for "deregulation," they mean they want to make things less safe for us so corporations can increase their profits.
They see us as expendable and the loss of life acceptable, because they are satisfying the greed of their donors.
That's deregulation.
They see us as expendable and the loss of life acceptable, because they are satisfying the greed of their donors.
That's deregulation.
March 20, 2025 at 4:28 PM
When politicians call for "deregulation," they mean they want to make things less safe for us so corporations can increase their profits.
They see us as expendable and the loss of life acceptable, because they are satisfying the greed of their donors.
That's deregulation.
They see us as expendable and the loss of life acceptable, because they are satisfying the greed of their donors.
That's deregulation.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
When you send innocent people to a foreign gulag, you are not fighting terror. You are practicing it.
NEW! Sworn declarations filed last night confirm the Trump admin sent INNOCENT people to rot in prison El Salvador, including a professional soccer player jailed and tortured by the Maduro regime, who entered this country LEGALLY to seek asylum, and who has NO CRIMINAL RECORD in either country.
March 20, 2025 at 6:21 PM
When you send innocent people to a foreign gulag, you are not fighting terror. You are practicing it.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
Extreme weather events will only become more frequent and destructive because of our climate crisis. More people will die and more property will be destroyed.
But somehow dismantling NOAA, FEMA and promoting more fossil fuels is the priority for the Trump administration.
But somehow dismantling NOAA, FEMA and promoting more fossil fuels is the priority for the Trump administration.
March 17, 2025 at 3:11 PM
Extreme weather events will only become more frequent and destructive because of our climate crisis. More people will die and more property will be destroyed.
But somehow dismantling NOAA, FEMA and promoting more fossil fuels is the priority for the Trump administration.
But somehow dismantling NOAA, FEMA and promoting more fossil fuels is the priority for the Trump administration.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
Among the material devastation to everyday people, Senate Dems have now blown a hole in their ability to work with the House.
We had an agreed upon plan, House took immense risk, then Senate turned around midway and destroyed it w/ a fear-based, inexplicable abdication.
They own what happens next.
We had an agreed upon plan, House took immense risk, then Senate turned around midway and destroyed it w/ a fear-based, inexplicable abdication.
They own what happens next.
March 14, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Among the material devastation to everyday people, Senate Dems have now blown a hole in their ability to work with the House.
We had an agreed upon plan, House took immense risk, then Senate turned around midway and destroyed it w/ a fear-based, inexplicable abdication.
They own what happens next.
We had an agreed upon plan, House took immense risk, then Senate turned around midway and destroyed it w/ a fear-based, inexplicable abdication.
They own what happens next.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
Recognizing that there were no good options, we were dismayed to see Democrats vote for cloture and passing the continuing resolution. A shutdown would have been difficult, but the CR is dangerous, and it's long past time for our elected officials to stand up to the administration.
March 15, 2025 at 2:11 AM
Recognizing that there were no good options, we were dismayed to see Democrats vote for cloture and passing the continuing resolution. A shutdown would have been difficult, but the CR is dangerous, and it's long past time for our elected officials to stand up to the administration.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
A tax system rigged for corporations and billionaires looks like Fox News being allowed to write off their $787 million defamation settlement for spreading election lies, and teachers only being able to write off $300 for school supplies.
February 26, 2025 at 2:51 AM
A tax system rigged for corporations and billionaires looks like Fox News being allowed to write off their $787 million defamation settlement for spreading election lies, and teachers only being able to write off $300 for school supplies.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
EXCUSE me?! The unelected, unconfirmed, apparently all-powerful person in charge of destroying our government from within must remain SECRET?! #TrumpCorruption #ThisIsAmerica now
Reporter: Who is the administrator of DOGE?
White House secretary: “I’m not going to reveal the name of that person from this podium…”
White House secretary: “I’m not going to reveal the name of that person from this podium…”
February 25, 2025 at 9:54 PM
EXCUSE me?! The unelected, unconfirmed, apparently all-powerful person in charge of destroying our government from within must remain SECRET?! #TrumpCorruption #ThisIsAmerica now
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
These are the real consequences of all of these shenanigans
The University of Pittsburgh confirmed Friday that there would be no new Ph.D. offers of admission while Pitt works to understand how reduced federal aid could impact the institution.
The University of Pittsburgh pauses its Ph.D. admissions process amid research funding uncertainty
A spokesperson for the University told WESA Friday that the school has "temporarily paused additional Ph.D. offers of admission," while Pitt works to understand how proposed federal funding cuts could...
www.wesa.fm
February 21, 2025 at 11:30 PM
These are the real consequences of all of these shenanigans
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
Pay attention to this. Replacing JAGs with loyalists enables whatever orders Trump and Hegseth issue to be interpreted as lawful.
February 22, 2025 at 1:56 AM
Pay attention to this. Replacing JAGs with loyalists enables whatever orders Trump and Hegseth issue to be interpreted as lawful.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
in the trump administration, “merit” is pronounced “white” like how strom thrumond said it.
Just look at these paragraphs from the AP story.
Hegseth called Brown unqualified solely because he's Black. Then they fired him... and replaced him with a white guy so indisputably unqualified that he requires a Presidential waiver.
This is what "merit" means to them.
apnews.com/article/trum...
Hegseth called Brown unqualified solely because he's Black. Then they fired him... and replaced him with a white guy so indisputably unqualified that he requires a Presidential waiver.
This is what "merit" means to them.
apnews.com/article/trum...
February 22, 2025 at 4:55 AM
in the trump administration, “merit” is pronounced “white” like how strom thrumond said it.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
We need to call out the blatant lie being pushed by the Trump administration—that Elon’s staffers have only “read-only” access. It has been confirmed across departments that they have “administrative” access to computer systems.
February 8, 2025 at 3:23 AM
We need to call out the blatant lie being pushed by the Trump administration—that Elon’s staffers have only “read-only” access. It has been confirmed across departments that they have “administrative” access to computer systems.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
Um.
It’s almost like they’re trying to control the news.
It’s almost like they’re trying to control the news.
The Pentagon is doubling the number of media outlets losing their workspaces.
OUT: The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC, CNN,
Politico, The Hill, The War Zone, and NPR.
IN: New York Post, The Washington Examiner, OANN, Newsmax, The Free Press, The Daily Caller, and Breitbart.
OUT: The New York Times, The Washington Post, NBC, CNN,
Politico, The Hill, The War Zone, and NPR.
IN: New York Post, The Washington Examiner, OANN, Newsmax, The Free Press, The Daily Caller, and Breitbart.
February 8, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Um.
It’s almost like they’re trying to control the news.
It’s almost like they’re trying to control the news.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
Executive wants to frame the NIH indirects cut as $4B in savings.
But given that NIH returns $2.5 on every $1 investment, this would actually cost US economy a net $6 BILLION (per year!). Not to mention the human costs of wrecking education and research sectors and the communities they serve.
But given that NIH returns $2.5 on every $1 investment, this would actually cost US economy a net $6 BILLION (per year!). Not to mention the human costs of wrecking education and research sectors and the communities they serve.
Direct Economic Contributions
NIH directly supports the economy through investments in research institutions and job formation.
www.nih.gov
February 8, 2025 at 3:08 AM
Executive wants to frame the NIH indirects cut as $4B in savings.
But given that NIH returns $2.5 on every $1 investment, this would actually cost US economy a net $6 BILLION (per year!). Not to mention the human costs of wrecking education and research sectors and the communities they serve.
But given that NIH returns $2.5 on every $1 investment, this would actually cost US economy a net $6 BILLION (per year!). Not to mention the human costs of wrecking education and research sectors and the communities they serve.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
For the people who used to ask 'Why do you have to be so political?' I hope that it's now obvious why.
Healthcare is political. Housing is political. Education is political. The air we breathe, the water we drink —it's all shaped by policy and power.
Ignoring that is a political choice.
Healthcare is political. Housing is political. Education is political. The air we breathe, the water we drink —it's all shaped by policy and power.
Ignoring that is a political choice.
February 6, 2025 at 8:57 PM
For the people who used to ask 'Why do you have to be so political?' I hope that it's now obvious why.
Healthcare is political. Housing is political. Education is political. The air we breathe, the water we drink —it's all shaped by policy and power.
Ignoring that is a political choice.
Healthcare is political. Housing is political. Education is political. The air we breathe, the water we drink —it's all shaped by policy and power.
Ignoring that is a political choice.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
Not only will they let you die, but they’ll sue you if you complain about it.
UnitedHealth Hires Defamation Firm Over Social Media Posts (1)
UnitedHealth Group Inc. has hired a prominent defamation law firm to counter what it sees as inaccurate and irresponsible social media posts about the company’s practices.
news.bloomberglaw.com
February 5, 2025 at 10:00 PM
Not only will they let you die, but they’ll sue you if you complain about it.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
NEW from me: Why has Patrick Soon-Shiong touted RFK Jr repeatedly and run interference for him at his paper, the LA Times? Maybe because his biotech company has 3 applications pending at the FDA, whose parent agency Kennedy is about to be running.
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
L.A. Times Owner Has Financial Motivations for Boosting RFK Jr.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong’s biotech firm is preparing three applications needing approval from the Food and Drug Administration.
prospect.org
February 5, 2025 at 8:14 PM
NEW from me: Why has Patrick Soon-Shiong touted RFK Jr repeatedly and run interference for him at his paper, the LA Times? Maybe because his biotech company has 3 applications pending at the FDA, whose parent agency Kennedy is about to be running.
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
prospect.org/power/2025-0...
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
We are going to see political investigations and prosecutions.
The question is whether the public, the courts and the media will recognize and call them out as political. Will they stand up against them or will people stay silent and allow them to continue.
The question is whether the public, the courts and the media will recognize and call them out as political. Will they stand up against them or will people stay silent and allow them to continue.
February 5, 2025 at 11:34 PM
We are going to see political investigations and prosecutions.
The question is whether the public, the courts and the media will recognize and call them out as political. Will they stand up against them or will people stay silent and allow them to continue.
The question is whether the public, the courts and the media will recognize and call them out as political. Will they stand up against them or will people stay silent and allow them to continue.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
A billionaire, who owns a car company boasting the highest rate of fatalities while pushing for safety deregulations, messing with our federal aviation systems should terrify us all.
February 6, 2025 at 1:37 AM
A billionaire, who owns a car company boasting the highest rate of fatalities while pushing for safety deregulations, messing with our federal aviation systems should terrify us all.
Reposted by Hodgepodge and Miscellany
We just got to make sure every voter in Maine knows next year that her act of pretending to be a “moderate” independent of Trump and MAGA is a fraud. I intend to do everything in my power to facilitate that, and these kind of posts are extremely helpful.
February 6, 2025 at 1:47 AM
We just got to make sure every voter in Maine knows next year that her act of pretending to be a “moderate” independent of Trump and MAGA is a fraud. I intend to do everything in my power to facilitate that, and these kind of posts are extremely helpful.