Rami Grunbaum
@rgrun.bsky.social
Retired business editor @ Seattle Times.
Pretty decent at bees and chickens, aiming for ok at fruits and vegetables.
Pretty decent at bees and chickens, aiming for ok at fruits and vegetables.
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
I would like to nominate Maxwell Smart for national security advisor.
Pm Private GIF
ALT: Pm Private GIF
media.tenor.com
March 25, 2025 at 1:32 AM
I would like to nominate Maxwell Smart for national security advisor.
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
So DOGE terminates lease on FDA quality lab in St. Louis and 29 other sites. This is a major concern for drug safety in America. 🦶🔫
Here's why:
Here's why:
March 4, 2025 at 11:44 PM
So DOGE terminates lease on FDA quality lab in St. Louis and 29 other sites. This is a major concern for drug safety in America. 🦶🔫
Here's why:
Here's why:
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
⚡️'Putin will wage war against NATO,' Zelensky tells NBC News.
Russia is training 150,000 troops in Belarus for a large-scale operation that could happen as early as this summer, Zelensky said. "There are risks that this can be Poland and Lithuania."
Russia is training 150,000 troops in Belarus for a large-scale operation that could happen as early as this summer, Zelensky said. "There are risks that this can be Poland and Lithuania."
'Putin will wage war against NATO,' Zelensky tells NBC News
Russia is training 150,000 troops in Belarus for a large-scale operation that could happen as early as this summer, Zelensky said. "There are risks that this can be Poland and Lithuania."
kyivindependent.com
February 16, 2025 at 5:00 PM
⚡️'Putin will wage war against NATO,' Zelensky tells NBC News.
Russia is training 150,000 troops in Belarus for a large-scale operation that could happen as early as this summer, Zelensky said. "There are risks that this can be Poland and Lithuania."
Russia is training 150,000 troops in Belarus for a large-scale operation that could happen as early as this summer, Zelensky said. "There are risks that this can be Poland and Lithuania."
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
The US health department fired employees Saturday across some of its biggest agencies including Medicare, Medicaid and the FDA.
trib.al/99QFCR9
trib.al/99QFCR9
February 16, 2025 at 5:24 PM
The US health department fired employees Saturday across some of its biggest agencies including Medicare, Medicaid and the FDA.
trib.al/99QFCR9
trib.al/99QFCR9
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
SCOOP: The top US election security watchdog has frozen all of its efforts to aid states in securing elections. The move represents the first major example of the country’s cyber defense agency accommodating Trump’s false claims of election fraud and online censorship.
Top US Election Security Watchdog Forced to Stop Election Security Work
The US Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has frozen efforts to aid states in securing elections, according to an internal memo viewed by WIRED
wrd.cm
February 15, 2025 at 3:34 AM
SCOOP: The top US election security watchdog has frozen all of its efforts to aid states in securing elections. The move represents the first major example of the country’s cyber defense agency accommodating Trump’s false claims of election fraud and online censorship.
This whole "Gulf of America" brouhaha could have easily been resolved if they just took my suggestion to split the difference, find something we can all agree on, and call it the "Gulf of Avocado."
"Every American should be concerned when those in power attempt to reshape media access to serve their own interests. Press access should not depend on whether those in power approve of the questions being asked or the words chosen to convey the information."
SPJ Decries AP’s Ongoing Exclusion From White House Events
Society of Professional Journalists, improving and protecting journalism since 1909
www.spj.org
February 14, 2025 at 8:06 PM
This whole "Gulf of America" brouhaha could have easily been resolved if they just took my suggestion to split the difference, find something we can all agree on, and call it the "Gulf of Avocado."
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
MONTREAL – Stéphane Pascalon’s Tesla fan club brings people together to share their pride for the company’s cars, but that pride has turned into shame for some, and now the club plans to distribute hundreds of bumper stickers so owners can distance themselves from CEO Elon Musk.
Once proud fans, some Tesla owners in Canada embarrassed by company's CEO
MONTREAL – Stéphane Pascalon’s Tesla fan club brings people together to share their pride for the company’s cars, but that pride has turned into shame for some, and now the club plans to distribute hundreds of bumper stickers so owners can distance themselves from CEO Elon Musk.
www.winnipegfreepress.com
February 14, 2025 at 6:49 PM
MONTREAL – Stéphane Pascalon’s Tesla fan club brings people together to share their pride for the company’s cars, but that pride has turned into shame for some, and now the club plans to distribute hundreds of bumper stickers so owners can distance themselves from CEO Elon Musk.
Remember that even cutting government personnel by one-fourth would only reduce federal spending by about 1 percent. And the whole point of these indiscriminate cuts is just to make way for renewing tax cuts heavily skewed to benefit the wealthiest.
Nearly 1,300 probationary employees at the CDC — roughly one-tenth of the agency’s workforce — are being forced out under the Trump administration’s move to get rid of all probationary employees.
CDC to lose one-tenth of workforce under Trump team probationary job cuts
With a $9.2 billion core budget, the CDC is charged with protecting Americans from outbreaks and other public health threats.
www.nbcnews.com
February 14, 2025 at 6:58 PM
Remember that even cutting government personnel by one-fourth would only reduce federal spending by about 1 percent. And the whole point of these indiscriminate cuts is just to make way for renewing tax cuts heavily skewed to benefit the wealthiest.
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
Nearly 1,300 probationary employees at the CDC — roughly one-tenth of the agency’s workforce — are being forced out under the Trump administration’s move to get rid of all probationary employees.
CDC to lose one-tenth of workforce under Trump team probationary job cuts
With a $9.2 billion core budget, the CDC is charged with protecting Americans from outbreaks and other public health threats.
www.nbcnews.com
February 14, 2025 at 6:29 PM
Nearly 1,300 probationary employees at the CDC — roughly one-tenth of the agency’s workforce — are being forced out under the Trump administration’s move to get rid of all probationary employees.
As the Washington Post points out, even cutting government personnel by one-fourth would only reduce federal spending by about 1 percent. And the randomly inflicted damage will be great.
The US government began firing hundreds of people at multiple agencies as President Donald Trump and Elon Musk accelerate their purge of America's federal bureaucracy, union sources and employees familiar with the moves told Reuters reut.rs/40WjVVc
Thousands fired in US government as Trump, Musk purge federal workers
The U.S. government began firing thousands of people at multiple agencies on Thursday as President Donald Trump and Elon Musk accelerate their purge of America's federal bureaucracy, union sources and employees familiar with the moves told Reuters.
reut.rs
February 14, 2025 at 3:36 AM
As the Washington Post points out, even cutting government personnel by one-fourth would only reduce federal spending by about 1 percent. And the randomly inflicted damage will be great.
At least this is one layoff that wasn’t orchestrated by Elon Musk.
Blue Origin, formed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, had successfully launched its New Glenn rocket last month after years of delays.
Jeff Bezos’ Kent-based Blue Origin plans to cut 10% of workforce
Blue Origin, formed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, had successfully launched its New Glenn rocket last month after years of delays.
www.seattletimes.com
February 13, 2025 at 4:04 PM
At least this is one layoff that wasn’t orchestrated by Elon Musk.
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
Trump and Musk haven’t found any evidence of waste or fraud in the government … oh wait, here’s some.
U.S. Government May Award Tesla $400M Contract for Armored EVs
The U.S. Department of State may soon award Tesla a US$400 million contract for armored vehicles. According to the latest procurement forecast issued by the government agency, Tesla is named as the re...
driveteslacanada.ca
February 13, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Trump and Musk haven’t found any evidence of waste or fraud in the government … oh wait, here’s some.
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
Blue Origin is bracing for a large reduction in its workforce, people familiar with the matter said, in a sign the Jeff Bezos-backed space company is looking to cut costs and focus resources on ramping up rocket launches after years of R&D work.
Bezos’ Rocket Firm Bracing for Job Cuts After Years of Expansion
Blue Origin LLC is bracing for a large reduction in its workforce, people familiar with the matter said, in a sign the Jeff Bezos-backed space company is looking to cut costs and focus resources on ra...
www.bloomberg.com
February 13, 2025 at 3:43 AM
Blue Origin is bracing for a large reduction in its workforce, people familiar with the matter said, in a sign the Jeff Bezos-backed space company is looking to cut costs and focus resources on ramping up rocket launches after years of R&D work.
Probably not the Nobel, but he’s a shoo-in for the Needy Narcissist award.
February 12, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Probably not the Nobel, but he’s a shoo-in for the Needy Narcissist award.
As Trump's slash-and-burn campaign to remake the government has begun to affect their states and districts, some Republicans have tried to push back. They have sought carve outs and special consideration for agriculture programs, scientific research and more. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
Republicans Love Trump’s Spending Cuts. Just Not in Their States. (Gift Article)
Even as they praise the president’s unilateral actions to slash federal spending, G.O.P. lawmakers have quietly moved to seek carve outs or exemptions for their own constituents.
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2025 at 7:24 PM
As Trump's slash-and-burn campaign to remake the government has begun to affect their states and districts, some Republicans have tried to push back. They have sought carve outs and special consideration for agriculture programs, scientific research and more. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/12/u...
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
Putin began the all-out war on Ukraine almost three years ago.
I very much hope I'm wrong, but I'm very worried that Trump has begun the all-out betrayal of Ukraine today.
I very much hope I'm wrong, but I'm very worried that Trump has begun the all-out betrayal of Ukraine today.
February 12, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Putin began the all-out war on Ukraine almost three years ago.
I very much hope I'm wrong, but I'm very worried that Trump has begun the all-out betrayal of Ukraine today.
I very much hope I'm wrong, but I'm very worried that Trump has begun the all-out betrayal of Ukraine today.
Tom Friedman rightly says "Trump’s proposal is the single most idiotic and dangerous Middle East 'peace' initiative ever put out by an American president."
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/o...
February 12, 2025 at 12:48 AM
Tom Friedman rightly says "Trump’s proposal is the single most idiotic and dangerous Middle East 'peace' initiative ever put out by an American president."
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/11/o...
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
There is no content on the doge website other than a name and motto
Reporter: Are you, in effect, policing yourself? What are the checks and balances in place to ensure there is accountability and transparency?
Elon Musk: We post our actions to the DOGE website and X. All of our actions are maximally transparent. No one has been more transparent than DOGE.
Elon Musk: We post our actions to the DOGE website and X. All of our actions are maximally transparent. No one has been more transparent than DOGE.
February 11, 2025 at 11:30 PM
There is no content on the doge website other than a name and motto
Trump Killed a Major Report on Nature. They’re Trying to Publish It Anyway.
The first full draft of the assessment, on the state of America’s land, water and wildlife, was weeks from completion. The project leader called the study “too important to die.”
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2025 at 11:25 AM
WSJ: Some congressional Republicans who for years wanted to curb USAID’s activities are now watching its sudden collapse with alarm, saying they worry about the fate of programs they see as playing a critical role in protecting U.S. national security and countering China.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Trump’s USAID Shutdown Alarms Republican Allies
While GOP lawmakers complained about the agency’s “woke” excesses, they also see it as crucial to American soft power.
www.wsj.com
February 10, 2025 at 1:06 AM
WSJ: Some congressional Republicans who for years wanted to curb USAID’s activities are now watching its sudden collapse with alarm, saying they worry about the fate of programs they see as playing a critical role in protecting U.S. national security and countering China.
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Red-state politicians may wake up to the NIH budget cuts when they realize the top 50 recipients of NIH research grants include Washington University (MO, #5), Duke & UNC Chapel Hill (NC); Vanderbilt (TN); Emory (GA); Baylor & UT Southwestern Medical (TX); others in Florida, Ohio, Indiana and Utah.
The National Institutes of Health has dramatically changed its grant-making terms by limiting how much it will disperse for costs such as equipment and administration.
NIH announces new funding policy that rattles medical researchers
The National Institutes of Health has dramatically changed its grant-making terms by limiting how much it will disperse for costs such as equipment and administration.
www.npr.org
February 9, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Red-state politicians may wake up to the NIH budget cuts when they realize the top 50 recipients of NIH research grants include Washington University (MO, #5), Duke & UNC Chapel Hill (NC); Vanderbilt (TN); Emory (GA); Baylor & UT Southwestern Medical (TX); others in Florida, Ohio, Indiana and Utah.
Yeah, and she was a heck of a reporter when she worked at the Seattle Times.
February 9, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Yeah, and she was a heck of a reporter when she worked at the Seattle Times.
Reposted by Rami Grunbaum
Trump Claims He Can Overrule Constitution With Executive Order Because Of Little-Known ‘No One Will Stop Me’ Loophole
Trump Claims He Can Overrule Constitution With Executive Order Because Of Little-Known ‘No One Will Stop Me’ Loophole
WASHINGTON—Saying his latest executive order was legal due to an “underutilized but totally feasible workaround,” President Trump claimed Tuesday that he could overrule the U.S. Constitution by means ...
theonion.com
February 8, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Trump Claims He Can Overrule Constitution With Executive Order Because Of Little-Known ‘No One Will Stop Me’ Loophole
Sen. Patty Murray calls the sudden switch illegal and adds, "Trump and Elon are functionally forcing an indiscriminate funding cut for research institutions across the country that will be nothing short of catastrophic for so much of the lifesaving research patients and families are counting on."
February 8, 2025 at 4:58 AM
Sen. Patty Murray calls the sudden switch illegal and adds, "Trump and Elon are functionally forcing an indiscriminate funding cut for research institutions across the country that will be nothing short of catastrophic for so much of the lifesaving research patients and families are counting on."