Ned Balzer (He/Him)
@nedbalzer.bsky.social
Retired webapp developer, writer, cyclist. Not in that order.
Reposted by Ned Balzer (He/Him)
What’s the opposite of a Nobel Peace Prize?
I think we have a winner.
I think we have a winner.
February 28, 2025 at 9:29 PM
What’s the opposite of a Nobel Peace Prize?
I think we have a winner.
I think we have a winner.
Reposted by Ned Balzer (He/Him)
A friend was advised yesterday not to bother getting the flu shot this winter since it wasn't a particularly good match for the dominant strains (which sometimes happens). Apparently the Trump FDA thinks the best way to avoid that mistake is not to even try.
NEWS: The FDA abruptly canceled its upcoming advisory committee meeting to select the strains for next year's flu shot.
by @berkeleyjr.bsky.social
by @berkeleyjr.bsky.social
FDA cancels meeting to select flu strains for next season's shots
The canceled meeting comes just days after a CDC vaccine advisory committee meeting was abruptly postponed.
www.nbcnews.com
February 27, 2025 at 1:55 PM
A friend was advised yesterday not to bother getting the flu shot this winter since it wasn't a particularly good match for the dominant strains (which sometimes happens). Apparently the Trump FDA thinks the best way to avoid that mistake is not to even try.
Sen John Kennedy (R-LA): "Mr. Musk is acting under the authority of the president of the United States. It’s perfectly legal, perfectly constitutional. And the issue, anyway, is not process. The issue is substance. Did they find wasteful spending, or not?”
Um, the Constitution is all about process.
Um, the Constitution is all about process.
February 5, 2025 at 1:11 AM
Sen John Kennedy (R-LA): "Mr. Musk is acting under the authority of the president of the United States. It’s perfectly legal, perfectly constitutional. And the issue, anyway, is not process. The issue is substance. Did they find wasteful spending, or not?”
Um, the Constitution is all about process.
Um, the Constitution is all about process.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Musk: “He’s doing exactly what he should be doing. He’s going through every agency and looking at how to make sure the money’s spent right." [It's Congress's job to appropriate $, but] "It doesn’t look like Congress is doing their job."
You don't say...
You don't say...
February 5, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) on Musk: “He’s doing exactly what he should be doing. He’s going through every agency and looking at how to make sure the money’s spent right." [It's Congress's job to appropriate $, but] "It doesn’t look like Congress is doing their job."
You don't say...
You don't say...
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) , on Musk: "Nobody should bellyache about that.... That runs afoul of the Constitution in the strictest sense, ... [But] it’s not uncommon for presidents to flex a little bit on where they can spend and where they can stop spending.”
OK then.
OK then.
February 5, 2025 at 1:06 AM
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) , on Musk: "Nobody should bellyache about that.... That runs afoul of the Constitution in the strictest sense, ... [But] it’s not uncommon for presidents to flex a little bit on where they can spend and where they can stop spending.”
OK then.
OK then.
What prevents Musk from accessing personal data on millions of Americans, and misusing them? What prevents him from looting the treasury or stopping payments to his competitors? Who prosecutes him if he breaks the law -- Trump's Justice department?
Elon Musk’s team has gotten access to the Treasury Department’s payments system.
www.nytimes.com
February 1, 2025 at 9:34 PM
What prevents Musk from accessing personal data on millions of Americans, and misusing them? What prevents him from looting the treasury or stopping payments to his competitors? Who prosecutes him if he breaks the law -- Trump's Justice department?
Since CBS is giving the Trump-controlled FCC its unedited transcript of the 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, it needs to make the transcript public. We can't trust the new FCC not to make its own edits.
February 1, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Since CBS is giving the Trump-controlled FCC its unedited transcript of the 60 Minutes interview with Kamala Harris, it needs to make the transcript public. We can't trust the new FCC not to make its own edits.
Reposted by Ned Balzer (He/Him)
Increasing diversity in air traffic controller hiring was an Obama-era initiative that Trump actually expanded
between 2017 and 2021 the FAA's career page actually targeted people with "Vision (Blind)", "Severe intellectual disability", "Psychiatric Disability", and, right there it says, "Dwarfism"
between 2017 and 2021 the FAA's career page actually targeted people with "Vision (Blind)", "Severe intellectual disability", "Psychiatric Disability", and, right there it says, "Dwarfism"
January 31, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Increasing diversity in air traffic controller hiring was an Obama-era initiative that Trump actually expanded
between 2017 and 2021 the FAA's career page actually targeted people with "Vision (Blind)", "Severe intellectual disability", "Psychiatric Disability", and, right there it says, "Dwarfism"
between 2017 and 2021 the FAA's career page actually targeted people with "Vision (Blind)", "Severe intellectual disability", "Psychiatric Disability", and, right there it says, "Dwarfism"
The only way, it seems to me, to solve the problem of understaffing of air traffic controllers is to mount an effort to hire as many air traffic controllers as needed. Why is this so difficult to understand?
January 31, 2025 at 1:35 PM
The only way, it seems to me, to solve the problem of understaffing of air traffic controllers is to mount an effort to hire as many air traffic controllers as needed. Why is this so difficult to understand?
This goes for the freeze on foreign aid too.
It would be fantastic if major federal institutions would acknowledge that the executive branch cannot legally unilaterally cancel or redistribute congressionally appropriated funding on ideological grounds and thus they have no legal obligation to comply with such directives
Trump funding freeze a blatant violation of Constitution, federal law: Legal experts
The Constitution, federal law and court decisions make it clear: President Donald Trump's order to pause federal funding is against the law, legal experts tell ABC News.
abcnews.go.com
January 31, 2025 at 1:26 PM
This goes for the freeze on foreign aid too.
Reposted by Ned Balzer (He/Him)
We are not rescinding the executive order. We are only rescinding the memo that announced the executive order, because the court enjoined us from telling you that we were freezing all federal aid. So, do not be confused anymore.
What a bunch of muttonheads.
What a bunch of muttonheads.
January 30, 2025 at 2:54 AM
We are not rescinding the executive order. We are only rescinding the memo that announced the executive order, because the court enjoined us from telling you that we were freezing all federal aid. So, do not be confused anymore.
What a bunch of muttonheads.
What a bunch of muttonheads.
Mr. President, you took an oath to defend the Constitution as it is, not as you wish it to be.
January 29, 2025 at 4:53 PM
Mr. President, you took an oath to defend the Constitution as it is, not as you wish it to be.
I'm wondering about the emoluments clause, which we used to talk about in TRump 1.0 but seems to be forgotten. Are any foreign kings, princes or states purchasing $TRUMP coins? If holders are secret then how can Congress consent? US Constitution, Article I, Section 9.
January 27, 2025 at 5:38 PM
I'm wondering about the emoluments clause, which we used to talk about in TRump 1.0 but seems to be forgotten. Are any foreign kings, princes or states purchasing $TRUMP coins? If holders are secret then how can Congress consent? US Constitution, Article I, Section 9.
Welp, Colombia backed down. But it seems fitting that TRump chose a Colombia to first try out his tariff bullying. I have a feeling that a Canada, Mexico or France (or esp. China) won't be nearly as timid.
January 27, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Welp, Colombia backed down. But it seems fitting that TRump chose a Colombia to first try out his tariff bullying. I have a feeling that a Canada, Mexico or France (or esp. China) won't be nearly as timid.
TRump is throwing a tantrum. He's slapped 25% tariffs on Colombia because they won't pay ball and accept his deportees. TRump voters: hope you enjoy paying more for your coffee.
January 27, 2025 at 1:27 AM
TRump is throwing a tantrum. He's slapped 25% tariffs on Colombia because they won't pay ball and accept his deportees. TRump voters: hope you enjoy paying more for your coffee.
Pete Hegseth is not a person of good character, and will be in over his head at DOD. And the Senate did abdicate its responsibility by confirming him. But in all the vitriol against Hegseth and the Senate, let's not forget that the bad actor here is TRump.
January 26, 2025 at 7:34 PM
Pete Hegseth is not a person of good character, and will be in over his head at DOD. And the Senate did abdicate its responsibility by confirming him. But in all the vitriol against Hegseth and the Senate, let's not forget that the bad actor here is TRump.
Since TRump is so nativist and all, and believes he can actually change the name of the Gulf of Mexico, I'm waiting for him to rename Mar-a-lago to Sea-a-lake.
January 25, 2025 at 11:24 PM
Since TRump is so nativist and all, and believes he can actually change the name of the Gulf of Mexico, I'm waiting for him to rename Mar-a-lago to Sea-a-lake.