Keith Ferguson
@holden-fast.bsky.social
Civil engineer (NCSU), runner, cyclist, film buff, beverage enthusiast. Native North Carolinian now living in Portland, OR. Views are my own.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
1. From the FDA to the NSF’s new priorities to Chan-Zuckerberg’s recent pivot, there’s a massive push — particularly on they political right — to hand off as much of the scientific process as possible to AI.
It’s not about competing with China in AI. Not while gutting the US research ecosystem.
It’s not about competing with China in AI. Not while gutting the US research ecosystem.
July 21, 2025 at 2:19 PM
1. From the FDA to the NSF’s new priorities to Chan-Zuckerberg’s recent pivot, there’s a massive push — particularly on they political right — to hand off as much of the scientific process as possible to AI.
It’s not about competing with China in AI. Not while gutting the US research ecosystem.
It’s not about competing with China in AI. Not while gutting the US research ecosystem.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
Unironically they should buy up the domains for about 60 defunct local newspapers in swing states. Hire two reporters to write almost exclusively about highschool sports and new restaurants opening with every 10th article about how the local GOP is screwing over people.
NEWS:
Democratic mega-donors are debating plans to spend tens of millions of dollars on a range of influencer plans to "find the liberal Rogan."
We've got pitch decks, investor meetings, and internal docs.
One Democrat has a spreadsheet of 26 different proposals.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/u...
Democratic mega-donors are debating plans to spend tens of millions of dollars on a range of influencer plans to "find the liberal Rogan."
We've got pitch decks, investor meetings, and internal docs.
One Democrat has a spreadsheet of 26 different proposals.
www.nytimes.com/2025/05/20/u...
Democrats Throw Money at a Problem: Countering G.O.P. Clout Online
www.nytimes.com
May 21, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Unironically they should buy up the domains for about 60 defunct local newspapers in swing states. Hire two reporters to write almost exclusively about highschool sports and new restaurants opening with every 10th article about how the local GOP is screwing over people.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
The agency is closing the Office of Research and Development, which analyzes dangers posed by hazards including toxic chemicals, climate change, smog, wildfires, water pollution and more.
Trump administration shuts down EPA's scientific research arm
The agency is closing the Office of Research and Development, which analyzes dangers posed by hazards including toxic chemicals, climate change, smog, wildfires, water pollution and more.
n.pr
July 20, 2025 at 10:30 PM
The agency is closing the Office of Research and Development, which analyzes dangers posed by hazards including toxic chemicals, climate change, smog, wildfires, water pollution and more.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
The first redistricting proposals for TX are in.
This is what cracking and packing looks like.
This is an intensive gerrymander.
See how the districts spiral in fingers into the cities.
Lizzie Fletcher's district TX7 becomes almost entirely rural.
This is what cracking and packing looks like.
This is an intensive gerrymander.
See how the districts spiral in fingers into the cities.
Lizzie Fletcher's district TX7 becomes almost entirely rural.
July 19, 2025 at 8:55 PM
The first redistricting proposals for TX are in.
This is what cracking and packing looks like.
This is an intensive gerrymander.
See how the districts spiral in fingers into the cities.
Lizzie Fletcher's district TX7 becomes almost entirely rural.
This is what cracking and packing looks like.
This is an intensive gerrymander.
See how the districts spiral in fingers into the cities.
Lizzie Fletcher's district TX7 becomes almost entirely rural.
Uneven recovery persists in Portland. Found out the wonderful Bar Rione on NW 12th Ave is closing this weekend. On the bright side, there’s been activity this week as Henry’s Tavern seems to be undergoing a remodeling/restoration. @maccoinnich.bsky.social
July 20, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Uneven recovery persists in Portland. Found out the wonderful Bar Rione on NW 12th Ave is closing this weekend. On the bright side, there’s been activity this week as Henry’s Tavern seems to be undergoing a remodeling/restoration. @maccoinnich.bsky.social
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
Florida's Supreme Court has upheld the GOP's congressional gerrymander, which may have cost Dems 3 seats & a House majority in 2024.
Voters passed a 2010 amendment that explicitly banned partisan & racial gerrymandering. The court enforced it in 2015, but DeSantis appointees now dominate the court
Voters passed a 2010 amendment that explicitly banned partisan & racial gerrymandering. The court enforced it in 2015, but DeSantis appointees now dominate the court
supremecourt.flcourts.gov
July 17, 2025 at 4:07 PM
Florida's Supreme Court has upheld the GOP's congressional gerrymander, which may have cost Dems 3 seats & a House majority in 2024.
Voters passed a 2010 amendment that explicitly banned partisan & racial gerrymandering. The court enforced it in 2015, but DeSantis appointees now dominate the court
Voters passed a 2010 amendment that explicitly banned partisan & racial gerrymandering. The court enforced it in 2015, but DeSantis appointees now dominate the court
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
Not really an overstatement to say that the test of a free society is whether or not comedians can make fun of the country's leader on TV without repurcussions.
July 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Not really an overstatement to say that the test of a free society is whether or not comedians can make fun of the country's leader on TV without repurcussions.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
These people are drunk on John Roberts’ immunity ruling, which allows exactly for this scenario:
“Two said that the letter said that Ms. Comey was being fired under Article II of the Constitution, which describes the powers granted to the president.”
“Two said that the letter said that Ms. Comey was being fired under Article II of the Constitution, which describes the powers granted to the president.”
Manhattan Prosecutor Who Handled Epstein Cases Is Fired
www.nytimes.com
July 17, 2025 at 12:34 AM
These people are drunk on John Roberts’ immunity ruling, which allows exactly for this scenario:
“Two said that the letter said that Ms. Comey was being fired under Article II of the Constitution, which describes the powers granted to the president.”
“Two said that the letter said that Ms. Comey was being fired under Article II of the Constitution, which describes the powers granted to the president.”
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
Their aggressiveness in protecting Trump, the procedural irregularities that Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson have repeatedly highlighted, *and their refusal even to try to explain themselves* makes the majority look like the Republican National Committee, judicial branch.
July 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Their aggressiveness in protecting Trump, the procedural irregularities that Justices Sotomayor, Kagan, and Jackson have repeatedly highlighted, *and their refusal even to try to explain themselves* makes the majority look like the Republican National Committee, judicial branch.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
The Supreme Court's disdain for Congress, the statutory design of agencies, and the public services they provide to millions truly astounds.
Destroying a 50-year-old Cabinet-level department may be the biggest violation of the Take Care Clause in U.S. history—and six justices simply ... don't care.
Destroying a 50-year-old Cabinet-level department may be the biggest violation of the Take Care Clause in U.S. history—and six justices simply ... don't care.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court allows the Trump administration to move forward with the abolition of the Department of Education. It gives no explanation for its order. All three liberals dissent. www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
From Sotomayor's dissent:
From Sotomayor's dissent:
July 14, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The Supreme Court's disdain for Congress, the statutory design of agencies, and the public services they provide to millions truly astounds.
Destroying a 50-year-old Cabinet-level department may be the biggest violation of the Take Care Clause in U.S. history—and six justices simply ... don't care.
Destroying a 50-year-old Cabinet-level department may be the biggest violation of the Take Care Clause in U.S. history—and six justices simply ... don't care.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
The majority may think: "We're not ruling on the legality of Trump's actions; it's just a stay." Bullshit. With the injunction stayed, Trump and McMahon will be able to effectuate their evisceration of the Department of Education and it will be impossible to put Humpty Dumpty back together.
The Supreme Court's disdain for Congress, the statutory design of agencies, and the public services they provide to millions truly astounds.
Destroying a 50-year-old Cabinet-level department may be the biggest violation of the Take Care Clause in U.S. history—and six justices simply ... don't care.
Destroying a 50-year-old Cabinet-level department may be the biggest violation of the Take Care Clause in U.S. history—and six justices simply ... don't care.
BREAKING: The Supreme Court allows the Trump administration to move forward with the abolition of the Department of Education. It gives no explanation for its order. All three liberals dissent. www.documentcloud.org/documents/25...
From Sotomayor's dissent:
From Sotomayor's dissent:
July 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
The majority may think: "We're not ruling on the legality of Trump's actions; it's just a stay." Bullshit. With the injunction stayed, Trump and McMahon will be able to effectuate their evisceration of the Department of Education and it will be impossible to put Humpty Dumpty back together.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
It seems clear (to me, anyway) that it has nothing to do with cost saving and is fundamentally ideological: they don't believe in serving the public good, and therefore have only contempt for public servants and see the federal government only as a tool for persecution and personal enrichment.
July 12, 2025 at 11:26 PM
It seems clear (to me, anyway) that it has nothing to do with cost saving and is fundamentally ideological: they don't believe in serving the public good, and therefore have only contempt for public servants and see the federal government only as a tool for persecution and personal enrichment.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
Mechanically what Senate Rs did was refuse to meet with the parliamentarian because they knew she’d say they couldn’t do this. That way, when they did it anyway, they could pretend they didn’t technically ignore her advice.
So instead they had the presiding officer invent a new rule in the spot.
So instead they had the presiding officer invent a new rule in the spot.
Senate GOP tactics to make 2017 tax cuts "permanent" required nuclear move on Senate floor-- weakening authority of the parliamentarian, blowing hole in Byrd Rule, & possibly making future debt crisis more likely. New @goodauth.bsky.social post on fallout from OBBB
goodauthority.org/news/three-b...
goodauthority.org/news/three-b...
Three big takeaways from that “One Big Beautiful Bill.“
Republican tactics seem likely to weaken the Senate – and make fiscal crisis more likely.
goodauthority.org
July 8, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Mechanically what Senate Rs did was refuse to meet with the parliamentarian because they knew she’d say they couldn’t do this. That way, when they did it anyway, they could pretend they didn’t technically ignore her advice.
So instead they had the presiding officer invent a new rule in the spot.
So instead they had the presiding officer invent a new rule in the spot.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
I found this reply interesting ("Can those foreign companies open shop in the US?")
I don't think Japanese or South Korean menswear can be made in the US. At least, not without losing something. Let's explore why. 🧵
I don't think Japanese or South Korean menswear can be made in the US. At least, not without losing something. Let's explore why. 🧵
July 8, 2025 at 3:46 AM
I found this reply interesting ("Can those foreign companies open shop in the US?")
I don't think Japanese or South Korean menswear can be made in the US. At least, not without losing something. Let's explore why. 🧵
I don't think Japanese or South Korean menswear can be made in the US. At least, not without losing something. Let's explore why. 🧵
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
no it is cool that my inbox looks like this this morning
July 4, 2025 at 2:18 PM
no it is cool that my inbox looks like this this morning
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
Inside the digital publishing industry, which I try to monitor closely, this is the big news. By Julia Alexander at Puck.
July 3, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Inside the digital publishing industry, which I try to monitor closely, this is the big news. By Julia Alexander at Puck.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
Any time I talk about a wealthy person's outfit, someone in the comments is quick to reply: "They're rich, you think they care?" No one has to care about my opinions or clothes, regardless of net worth.
But let's talk about the connection between wealth and aesthetics 🧵
But let's talk about the connection between wealth and aesthetics 🧵
July 1, 2025 at 9:14 PM
Any time I talk about a wealthy person's outfit, someone in the comments is quick to reply: "They're rich, you think they care?" No one has to care about my opinions or clothes, regardless of net worth.
But let's talk about the connection between wealth and aesthetics 🧵
But let's talk about the connection between wealth and aesthetics 🧵
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
The world we live in: "The Trump administration wants to keep the world hooked on fossil fuels like oil and gas... China is racing in an altogether different direction. It’s banking on a world that runs on cheap electricity from the sun and wind."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
July 1, 2025 at 12:00 AM
The world we live in: "The Trump administration wants to keep the world hooked on fossil fuels like oil and gas... China is racing in an altogether different direction. It’s banking on a world that runs on cheap electricity from the sun and wind."
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
Honestly, this is so much money and it’s completely unaccountable, very much feels like a completely unimaginable future, just the end of any America we know.
If the GOP reconciliation bill passes, ICE gets through FY2029:
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
- $45 billion for detention, on top of the current annual budget of $3.4 billion
- $14.4 billion for transportation and removal, on top of the current annual budget of $750 million
- $8 billion for hiring/retention
- Billions more.
‼️‼️
June 28, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Honestly, this is so much money and it’s completely unaccountable, very much feels like a completely unimaginable future, just the end of any America we know.
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
That whooshing sound you hear is the massive redistribution of our nation’s wealth from the poorest to the richest, paid for by taking on trillions of debt
I read Trump + Senate Republicans' "One Big Beautiful Bill" so you don't have to.
It came out at *midnight* & we're still getting numbers in from Congress's bookkeepers.
Early returns:
Nearly $1 TRILLION in Medicaid cuts.
Happy Saturday. Follow for more.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
It came out at *midnight* & we're still getting numbers in from Congress's bookkeepers.
Early returns:
Nearly $1 TRILLION in Medicaid cuts.
Happy Saturday. Follow for more.
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
June 28, 2025 at 8:51 PM
That whooshing sound you hear is the massive redistribution of our nation’s wealth from the poorest to the richest, paid for by taking on trillions of debt
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
they managed to do this by sheer contemptuous laziness- they simply didn't count beforehand, or they would have discovered that one democrat had seen an obvious online lie spread by a republican former colleague and believed it so strongly he was willing to tear the state apart
June 28, 2025 at 1:19 PM
they managed to do this by sheer contemptuous laziness- they simply didn't count beforehand, or they would have discovered that one democrat had seen an obvious online lie spread by a republican former colleague and believed it so strongly he was willing to tear the state apart
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
Finally home after Sine Die. Not sure I have the words to express my frustration, anger, & frankly grief after we failed to pass any kind of transportation package tonight. It’s shameful. The R’s ran the clock out; not one chose to suspend rules to work this. So what does this mean?
June 28, 2025 at 8:50 AM
Finally home after Sine Die. Not sure I have the words to express my frustration, anger, & frankly grief after we failed to pass any kind of transportation package tonight. It’s shameful. The R’s ran the clock out; not one chose to suspend rules to work this. So what does this mean?
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
Oregon lawmakers closed the 2025 legislative period with an ill-fated race to finish a gutted major transportation package, bringing an unsatisfactory end to a session that has strained lawmakers’ political capital and dashed their hopes to compromise with one another. buff.ly/56tCZ0C
Oregon Legislature wraps for 2025 after eleventh-hour strife, historic funding shortfall • Oregon Capital Chronicle
Lawmakers introduced more than 3,400 bills — the highest number in at least two decades — during the session.
oregoncapitalchronicle.com
June 28, 2025 at 8:24 AM
Oregon lawmakers closed the 2025 legislative period with an ill-fated race to finish a gutted major transportation package, bringing an unsatisfactory end to a session that has strained lawmakers’ political capital and dashed their hopes to compromise with one another. buff.ly/56tCZ0C
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
but what do you really think brad lander hellgatenyc.com/brad-lander-...
June 28, 2025 at 3:39 PM
but what do you really think brad lander hellgatenyc.com/brad-lander-...
Reposted by Keith Ferguson
trump launched a politically motivated investigation into UVA's decision to admit nonwhite student and jim ryan folded in an immense disservice to the university
June 27, 2025 at 4:55 PM
trump launched a politically motivated investigation into UVA's decision to admit nonwhite student and jim ryan folded in an immense disservice to the university