Ruth Kostik
@ruthkostik.bsky.social
Alaska transplant, theatre kid who grew up to have a career in government finance, #akleg junky
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
In other news, I recommend today's Daily Podcast, about the parents of a trans girl who just had to flee Tennessee for Connecticut in order to protect her. The parents are both Southerners and ministers, and had idea what "trans" was until they had to learn.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Parenting a Trans Kid in Trump’s America
Podcast Episode · The Daily · 11/21/2025 · 44m
podcasts.apple.com
November 21, 2025 at 11:39 PM
In other news, I recommend today's Daily Podcast, about the parents of a trans girl who just had to flee Tennessee for Connecticut in order to protect her. The parents are both Southerners and ministers, and had idea what "trans" was until they had to learn.
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/p...
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
These are your words of the week
swat
gerrymander
numismatic
seditious
asterism
www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...
swat
gerrymander
numismatic
seditious
asterism
www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...
The Words of the Week - Nov. 21
Dictionary lookups from federal court, numismatics, and the night sky
www.merriam-webster.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:28 PM
These are your words of the week
swat
gerrymander
numismatic
seditious
asterism
www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...
swat
gerrymander
numismatic
seditious
asterism
www.merriam-webster.com/wordplay/the...
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
Gmail users!!
They've turned on AI scraping by default now...Here's how to turn it off.
Pass it on!!
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
They've turned on AI scraping by default now...Here's how to turn it off.
Pass it on!!
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
Gmail can read your emails and attachments to train its AI, unless you opt out
A new Gmail update may allow Google to use your private messages and attachments for AI training. Here's how to turn it off.
www.malwarebytes.com
November 21, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Gmail users!!
They've turned on AI scraping by default now...Here's how to turn it off.
Pass it on!!
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
They've turned on AI scraping by default now...Here's how to turn it off.
Pass it on!!
www.malwarebytes.com/blog/news/20...
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
Wizened Millennials sneering at Gen Alpha: I told you the old ways are best
(Gen X, petting its moldering set of the 1983 World Book Encyclopedia: Soon. Soon.)
(Gen X, petting its moldering set of the 1983 World Book Encyclopedia: Soon. Soon.)
Relying on ChatGPT to teach you about a topic leaves you with shallower knowledge than Googling and reading about it, according to new research that compared what more than 10,000 people knew after using one method or the other.
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
Shared by @gizmodo.com: buff.ly/yAAHtHq
November 21, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Wizened Millennials sneering at Gen Alpha: I told you the old ways are best
(Gen X, petting its moldering set of the 1983 World Book Encyclopedia: Soon. Soon.)
(Gen X, petting its moldering set of the 1983 World Book Encyclopedia: Soon. Soon.)
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
Decent people: "Hey, these hate symbols are terrorizing some of our service members. We should do something about that."
Coast Guard: "Say no more, fam. Those are no longer hate symbols. Problem solved."
newrepublic.com/post/203458/...
Coast Guard: "Say no more, fam. Those are no longer hate symbols. Problem solved."
newrepublic.com/post/203458/...
U.S. Coast Guard Will No Longer Consider Swastika a Hate Symbol
The Coast Guard seems to be fine with Nazis now.
newrepublic.com
November 20, 2025 at 9:11 PM
Decent people: "Hey, these hate symbols are terrorizing some of our service members. We should do something about that."
Coast Guard: "Say no more, fam. Those are no longer hate symbols. Problem solved."
newrepublic.com/post/203458/...
Coast Guard: "Say no more, fam. Those are no longer hate symbols. Problem solved."
newrepublic.com/post/203458/...
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
I don't understand why this isn't the only story and why he isn't giving his resignation.
I mean, I do. But still.
How can the president. THE PRESIDENT. Of the United States of America. The. President.
I mean, I do. But still.
How can the president. THE PRESIDENT. Of the United States of America. The. President.
Donald Trump Snaps at Female Reporter Who Asks About Epstein Files: 'Quiet Piggy'
Donald Trump Says 'Quiet Piggy' to Female Reporter Asking About Epstein Files
people.com
November 18, 2025 at 2:18 AM
I don't understand why this isn't the only story and why he isn't giving his resignation.
I mean, I do. But still.
How can the president. THE PRESIDENT. Of the United States of America. The. President.
I mean, I do. But still.
How can the president. THE PRESIDENT. Of the United States of America. The. President.
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
A consistent theme of the current era is that if you appoint unqualified people to do important jobs so they will follow your orders, they may do what they are told to do, but they will also be very bad at those very important jobs.
BREAKING: Magistrate orders DOJ to turn over grand jury materials to Comey, finding real prospect that "government misconduct" may have tainted the case.
November 17, 2025 at 4:54 PM
A consistent theme of the current era is that if you appoint unqualified people to do important jobs so they will follow your orders, they may do what they are told to do, but they will also be very bad at those very important jobs.
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
every epstein email is some creep complaining about MeToo and then being like “oh before i forget, any advice on how to use my position of authority to force women into sleeping with me?”
November 17, 2025 at 1:31 PM
every epstein email is some creep complaining about MeToo and then being like “oh before i forget, any advice on how to use my position of authority to force women into sleeping with me?”
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
The DOJ ordered US Marshals to the house of the pardon attorney who refused to sign off on a pardon to give Mel Gibson back his guns. Big law firms told her they supported her but did not want to be seen representing her.
This is the use of government-sponsored fear to silence dissent.
This is the use of government-sponsored fear to silence dissent.
November 17, 2025 at 1:59 PM
The DOJ ordered US Marshals to the house of the pardon attorney who refused to sign off on a pardon to give Mel Gibson back his guns. Big law firms told her they supported her but did not want to be seen representing her.
This is the use of government-sponsored fear to silence dissent.
This is the use of government-sponsored fear to silence dissent.
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
Hi. It's me. I'm here to gently ask if you've been giving yourself grace? Patience? Self-care?
You've got this. You are enough, and you deserve all the good things.
You've got this. You are enough, and you deserve all the good things.
November 16, 2025 at 7:02 PM
Hi. It's me. I'm here to gently ask if you've been giving yourself grace? Patience? Self-care?
You've got this. You are enough, and you deserve all the good things.
You've got this. You are enough, and you deserve all the good things.
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
Let’s go …
Prosecute ALL the sex offenders in the #Epstein files!
Not just the ones the Felon US President doesn’t like.
Prosecute ALL the sex offenders in the #Epstein files!
Not just the ones the Felon US President doesn’t like.
November 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM
Let’s go …
Prosecute ALL the sex offenders in the #Epstein files!
Not just the ones the Felon US President doesn’t like.
Prosecute ALL the sex offenders in the #Epstein files!
Not just the ones the Felon US President doesn’t like.
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
Shocked, I tell you. Shocked! FFS
Burns and his team have held advance screenings of "The American Revolution" across the country, including in DC. Kerger described GOP lawmakers who voted against PBS $$$ waiting in line to shake his hand:
November 17, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Shocked, I tell you. Shocked! FFS
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
100% said this and feel free to quote me on it. Also @jackiekashian.bsky.social is a fantastic comedian and you should see her when she comes to your town.
@scalzi.com you say this? bc it’s the best - and your the best but people should know it’s you for realz.
November 15, 2025 at 10:40 PM
100% said this and feel free to quote me on it. Also @jackiekashian.bsky.social is a fantastic comedian and you should see her when she comes to your town.
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
For no particular reason….posting former U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell’s mugshot before he went to Federal prison for committing numerous crimes on behalf and or/at the direction of President Nixon including obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
November 15, 2025 at 2:05 AM
For no particular reason….posting former U.S. Attorney General John Mitchell’s mugshot before he went to Federal prison for committing numerous crimes on behalf and or/at the direction of President Nixon including obstruction of justice and conspiracy.
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
bro every aspect of online life has just become me trying to hide from clippy’s nosy ass. this is just 1999 all over again. i open any app or page and there he is, clippy’s ghost, in the form of AI or algorithms, spying on and meddling in my life choices
November 15, 2025 at 1:52 PM
bro every aspect of online life has just become me trying to hide from clippy’s nosy ass. this is just 1999 all over again. i open any app or page and there he is, clippy’s ghost, in the form of AI or algorithms, spying on and meddling in my life choices
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
Ok, but how are the robots going to feel when they find out ‘robot’ comes from the Czech word ‘robota’ which means “forced labor”??
November 14, 2025 at 8:18 PM
Ok, but how are the robots going to feel when they find out ‘robot’ comes from the Czech word ‘robota’ which means “forced labor”??
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
And we knew this. This wasn't speculation. We studied it, we had the talking points. We trained volunteers to explain this to people. It's not a surprise. Rich people don't flee places with good quality of life when we increase the quality of life. They might try to cheat us, but they don't leave.
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 14, 2025 at 4:16 AM
And we knew this. This wasn't speculation. We studied it, we had the talking points. We trained volunteers to explain this to people. It's not a surprise. Rich people don't flee places with good quality of life when we increase the quality of life. They might try to cheat us, but they don't leave.
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
As the Senate tries to defend a million dollar payday to 8 of their own - and as the House GOP tries to explain why they refused to amend the CR to strip it out, let's review exactly what it is they want restitution for. Brief thread:
November 14, 2025 at 1:28 PM
As the Senate tries to defend a million dollar payday to 8 of their own - and as the House GOP tries to explain why they refused to amend the CR to strip it out, let's review exactly what it is they want restitution for. Brief thread:
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
Today I'm glad I'm not rich enough to feel absolutely invulnerable when I put things into an email
November 12, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Today I'm glad I'm not rich enough to feel absolutely invulnerable when I put things into an email
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
Today was a very stupid day but I have faith tomorrow will be stupider
November 12, 2025 at 1:19 AM
Today was a very stupid day but I have faith tomorrow will be stupider
Kinda like #AKGov candidates promising a “full” dividend 😜
Going to be writing some things for MSNBC/NOW.
Here’s a look at how Trump says great things are going to happen when they aren’t because he wants you not to be mad about the bad things that actually *are* happening. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Here’s a look at how Trump says great things are going to happen when they aren’t because he wants you not to be mad about the bad things that actually *are* happening. www.msnbc.com/opinion/msnb...
Opinion | Trump's $2000 checks from tariff revenue? The math doesn't add up.
Here are the charts to prove it.
www.msnbc.com
November 12, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Kinda like #AKGov candidates promising a “full” dividend 😜
Reposted by Ruth Kostik
This seems like the most straightforward and also basically accurate message.
instead of saying this was good strategy, maybe senate dems should say: "the republicans were going to kill people by starving them to death, and because we aren't monsters, we decided to let this fight go. We'll keep fighting. Stop electing monsters."
November 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM
This seems like the most straightforward and also basically accurate message.