Robert Rutledge
@rerutled.bsky.social
Associate Professor, Astrophysicist. Founder, Publisher
@astronomerstel. Opinions here are my own. @rerutled@mastodon.online @rerutled at Threads. he/him
@astronomerstel. Opinions here are my own. @rerutled@mastodon.online @rerutled at Threads. he/him
Does Pete Hegseth think he is going to have a long career arc, like Rumsfeld, like Cheney?
November 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
Does Pete Hegseth think he is going to have a long career arc, like Rumsfeld, like Cheney?
Done. Republicans cleared the procedural vote.
The chair is proceeding onto the main question: Should the government re-open? HR5371 (or HR 873).
It's all but certain it will pass.
The chair is proceeding onto the main question: Should the government re-open? HR5371 (or HR 873).
It's all but certain it will pass.
November 12, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Done. Republicans cleared the procedural vote.
The chair is proceeding onto the main question: Should the government re-open? HR5371 (or HR 873).
It's all but certain it will pass.
The chair is proceeding onto the main question: Should the government re-open? HR5371 (or HR 873).
It's all but certain it will pass.
Voting time has expired and Republicans are still missing votes - could be a few people haven't gotten back to DC yet.
The Chair can (likely will) choose to leave voting open, even indefinitely, until they can get a winning tally.
No sign of any GOP House members voting 'no'.
The Chair can (likely will) choose to leave voting open, even indefinitely, until they can get a winning tally.
No sign of any GOP House members voting 'no'.
November 12, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Voting time has expired and Republicans are still missing votes - could be a few people haven't gotten back to DC yet.
The Chair can (likely will) choose to leave voting open, even indefinitely, until they can get a winning tally.
No sign of any GOP House members voting 'no'.
The Chair can (likely will) choose to leave voting open, even indefinitely, until they can get a winning tally.
No sign of any GOP House members voting 'no'.
A critical rule vote is taking place in the House right now on re-opening the government.
With 433 seated House Members, 219 are GOP, 214 are Dem and if all Democrats vote, the GOP can't lose more than 5 votes.
4 minutes to go.
With 433 seated House Members, 219 are GOP, 214 are Dem and if all Democrats vote, the GOP can't lose more than 5 votes.
4 minutes to go.
November 12, 2025 at 11:01 PM
A critical rule vote is taking place in the House right now on re-opening the government.
With 433 seated House Members, 219 are GOP, 214 are Dem and if all Democrats vote, the GOP can't lose more than 5 votes.
4 minutes to go.
With 433 seated House Members, 219 are GOP, 214 are Dem and if all Democrats vote, the GOP can't lose more than 5 votes.
4 minutes to go.
Sen. Schumer: "The election....the American people have spoken. [Trump should] sit down and talk with us, and let's end this shut down."
November 5, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Sen. Schumer: "The election....the American people have spoken. [Trump should] sit down and talk with us, and let's end this shut down."
I just ran into this: if you ask Grok on X about the shutdown, it will insist that passing the Republican Bill is the only correct thing to do, and that requiring extension of the ACA Credits is less important than re-opening the government immediately (example attached).
October 24, 2025 at 2:17 AM
I just ran into this: if you ask Grok on X about the shutdown, it will insist that passing the Republican Bill is the only correct thing to do, and that requiring extension of the ACA Credits is less important than re-opening the government immediately (example attached).
At No Kings in NYC Times Square with @monaeltahawy.bsky.social!
October 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
At No Kings in NYC Times Square with @monaeltahawy.bsky.social!
This is Trump approval/disapproval % (left) from Oct 15 2019, in the 3rd year of his first Presidency, and (right) from today. It's slightly higher today (44.2% vs 41.8%), in spite of all which is known about him and his movement.
Hs approval is essentially untethered from anything he does.
Hs approval is essentially untethered from anything he does.
October 15, 2025 at 11:41 AM
This is Trump approval/disapproval % (left) from Oct 15 2019, in the 3rd year of his first Presidency, and (right) from today. It's slightly higher today (44.2% vs 41.8%), in spite of all which is known about him and his movement.
Hs approval is essentially untethered from anything he does.
Hs approval is essentially untethered from anything he does.
I’m especially proud to be an MIT graduate, today.
Course 8 (physics) PhD ‘96
Course 8 (physics) PhD ‘96
October 10, 2025 at 11:40 PM
I’m especially proud to be an MIT graduate, today.
Course 8 (physics) PhD ‘96
Course 8 (physics) PhD ‘96
".....in opposition to plaintiff's motion...."
No.
No.
October 9, 2025 at 12:00 AM
".....in opposition to plaintiff's motion...."
No.
No.
While voting continues on the Republican CR, quite a gathering of lawmakers has formed to debate each other, on the Senate Floor.
October 1, 2025 at 4:14 PM
While voting continues on the Republican CR, quite a gathering of lawmakers has formed to debate each other, on the Senate Floor.
Since inauguration day, Trump's approxal has gone underwater in all 7 swing states, plus Texas - which, together, represent 100 electoral college votes.
Source: Owen Winter, data journalist, The Economist.
Source: Owen Winter, data journalist, The Economist.
September 23, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Since inauguration day, Trump's approxal has gone underwater in all 7 swing states, plus Texas - which, together, represent 100 electoral college votes.
Source: Owen Winter, data journalist, The Economist.
Source: Owen Winter, data journalist, The Economist.
Since inauguration day, Trump's approxal has gone underwater in all 7 swing states, plus Texas - which, together, represent 100 electoral college votes.
Source: Owen Winter, data journalist, The Economist.
Source: Owen Winter, data journalist, The Economist.
September 23, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Since inauguration day, Trump's approxal has gone underwater in all 7 swing states, plus Texas - which, together, represent 100 electoral college votes.
Source: Owen Winter, data journalist, The Economist.
Source: Owen Winter, data journalist, The Economist.
The guy who rubbed the fascist's hair.
September 17, 2025 at 11:12 PM
The guy who rubbed the fascist's hair.
I think we can all agree that Charlie Kirk, more than anyone, represented the very best of the Republican Party.
September 16, 2025 at 1:22 PM
I think we can all agree that Charlie Kirk, more than anyone, represented the very best of the Republican Party.
Do any astronomer friends know the story behind the radio telescopes on Ruth Negga's Prada gown at last night's Emmys' Red Carpet? I don't think it's Parkes or Effelsberg (and there are two).
September 15, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Do any astronomer friends know the story behind the radio telescopes on Ruth Negga's Prada gown at last night's Emmys' Red Carpet? I don't think it's Parkes or Effelsberg (and there are two).
"It's the writer's job to tell society what it pretends it doesn't know." - @monaeltahawy.bsky.social (pictured) in front of 30 Rock in NYC, Sep 14, 2022. Artwork by Jenny Holzer.
For @karenattiah.bsky.social
For @karenattiah.bsky.social
September 15, 2025 at 3:23 PM
"It's the writer's job to tell society what it pretends it doesn't know." - @monaeltahawy.bsky.social (pictured) in front of 30 Rock in NYC, Sep 14, 2022. Artwork by Jenny Holzer.
For @karenattiah.bsky.social
For @karenattiah.bsky.social
I've decided Chief Justice John Roberts is the Dr. Spaceman of the Supreme Court.
September 7, 2025 at 8:50 PM
I've decided Chief Justice John Roberts is the Dr. Spaceman of the Supreme Court.
Wait a second. Everybody stop. Hold up.
Glenn Close has been nominated 8 times for Oscars, and has never won, once?
Glenn Close has been nominated 8 times for Oscars, and has never won, once?
September 7, 2025 at 7:23 PM
Wait a second. Everybody stop. Hold up.
Glenn Close has been nominated 8 times for Oscars, and has never won, once?
Glenn Close has been nominated 8 times for Oscars, and has never won, once?
We were just in Chicago, in August!
September 3, 2025 at 8:23 PM
We were just in Chicago, in August!
This tweet, four years ago today from the US FDA, has since been removed. Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19.
August 21, 2025 at 5:06 PM
This tweet, four years ago today from the US FDA, has since been removed. Why You Should Not Use Ivermectin to Treat or Prevent COVID-19.
I saw the "Amy Sherald: American Sublime" exhibit earlier this year at the Whitney with @monaeltahawy.bsky.social. I'm sorry to hear it can't be shown at the National Portrait Gallery - because there's so much more to know and learn about this artist of our times.
July 24, 2025 at 6:23 PM
I saw the "Amy Sherald: American Sublime" exhibit earlier this year at the Whitney with @monaeltahawy.bsky.social. I'm sorry to hear it can't be shown at the National Portrait Gallery - because there's so much more to know and learn about this artist of our times.