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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith
@wordsmithfl.bsky.social
490 followers 160 following 1.3K posts

Writing about space policy and politics, from the Space Coast of Florida. Now retired after ten years doing public education at Kennedy Space Center. You can also find me on Counter.Social at the same handle, and on Substack at TheSpacePundit.com. .. more

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Philosophy 17%
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 16h
#Politics #Trump

From #NBCNews: Smithsonian museums and the National Zoo close due to lack of funding by Trump administration.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Smithsonian museums and National Zoo close temporarily as government shutdown drags on
The Smithsonian Institution drew on funds from the prior year to stay open for 11 days after the shutdown began on Oct. 1.
www.nbcnews.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 16h
#Politics #Trump

From #NYTimes via Archive.ph: Trump administration racing to reinstate #CDC employees fired by Trump.

archive.ph/yUvS3

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 1d
#Politics #Trump

From #TheHill: Trump fires dozens of #CDC employees, including the Epidemic Intelligence Service and the staff of the weekly morbidity and mortality report.

thehill.com/policy/healt...

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 3d
From #CNN: National Transportation Safety Board opens investigation into #Tesla Full Self-Driving.

Comment: Tesla just released a major FSD update. But as the article says, we're all just Elon's testing ground.

www.cnn.com/2025/10/10/b...
Tesla under investigation after cars with the self-driving feature ran red lights, drove on the wrong side of the road | CNN Business
US federal regulators have opened yet another investigation into Tesla’s self-driving feature after dozens of incidents in which the cars ran red lights or drove on the wrong side of the road, sometim...
www.cnn.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 3d
#Weather #Hurricane #Florida #Milton

A year ago, Hurricane Milton was coming ashore from the Gulf, through Tampa and on to the #SpaceCoast.

This is WBBH Fort Myers coverage from 9 PM EDT to midnight, if you want to watch in real time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=OyhM...
Hurricane Milton, WBBH Fort Myers Coverage, October 9, 2024, 2100-2400 EDT
YouTube video by News from the Past
www.youtube.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 3d
#Weather #Hurricane #Florida #Milton

A year ago, Hurricane Milton was coming ashore from the Gulf, through Tampa and on to the #SpaceCoast.

This is WTSP Tampa Bay coverage from 9 PM EDT to midnight, if you want to watch in real time.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=N21H...
Hurricane Milton, WTSP Tampa Bay Coverage, October 9, 2024, 2100-2400 EDT
YouTube video by News from the Past
www.youtube.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 3d
#Politics #Trump

From #NBCNews: At Trump's order, #DOJ brings federal mortgage fraud charges against New York state attorney general Letitia James.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Grand jury indicts N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James, a Trump opponent, on bank fraud charges
James, a Democrat, has clashed with President Donald Trump after she brought civil charges against him in New York.
www.nbcnews.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 3d
#Politics #Trump

From #NBCNews: Federal judge (#Biden appointee) temporarily blocks Trump attempt to send National Guard troops to Chicago.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from sending National Guard troops to Chicago
The judge said the administration's directives violate the Constitution and would “only add fuel to the fire that the defendants themselves have started."
www.nbcnews.com

Reposted by Kim L. Scheppele, Kimberly A. Prather, Steve Peers , and 10 more

newyorkstateag.bsky.social
New York Attorney General Letitia James @newyorkstateag.bsky.social · 3d
This is nothing more than a continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.

I am not fearful — I am fearless.

We will fight these baseless charges aggressively, and my office will continue to fiercely protect New Yorkers and their rights..
1.8K 11K 39K

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 4d
#Politics #Trump

From #LATimes: Trump administration is considering the cancellation of $300 billion worth of clean energy projects.

www.latimes.com/environment/...
Leaked list shows Trump administration considering $15 billion in additional clean energy cuts
Projects promoting hydrogen, electric vehicles, carbon capture and direct air capture are among the list of potential cuts from the Department of Energy, according to a leaked list reviewed by The Tim...
www.latimes.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 4d
#Space

If you're thinking "The Right Stuff" or "Apollo 13," don't get your hopes up. It's a horror film. You can tell #NASA didn't cooperate because they're using phony NASA logos.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=cF3g...
The Astronaut | Official Trailer (HD) | Vertical
YouTube video by Vertical
www.youtube.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 4d
#Politics #Trump

From #WaPo via Archive.ph:

Trump has assigned nearly one-fourth of #FBI agents to immigration enforcement.

(Field day for bank robbers ...)

archive.ph/a4wUm
archive.ph
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 4d
From #FloridaToday: The man arrested by #DOJ for starting the Palisades fire was living here in west Melbourne, #Florida. He received a traffic ticket in Palm Bay in August.

www.floridatoday.com/story/news/c...
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 4d
BREAKING from #DOJ ... The suspect arrested for starting the Palisades fire was from here, in nearby Melbourne, #Florida.

Why am I not surprised.

www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr...

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 4d
BREAKING from #LATimes:

Authorities arrest a #Florida man suspected of having set the fire that rekindled and caused the Los Angeles Palisades fire.

www.latimes.com/california/s...
Uber driver accused of intentionally starting fire that destroyed Pacific Palisades
Authorities will announce an arrest in connection with the devastating Palisades fire, law enforcement sources said, and are expected to announce a cause of the blaze.
www.latimes.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 5d
#Politics From #CNN:

While they're working unpaid during the federal shutdown, #Trump has ordered #FBI employees to scour the agency for any records about ... Amelia Earhart.🤣 🤣 🤣

www.cnn.com/2025/10/07/p...
FBI employees ordered to immediately search for records related to Amelia Earhart, sources say | CNN Politics
The Trump administration has ordered FBI employees in Washington, DC, and New York to immediately search their workstations and digital media for any records pertaining to the disappearance of Amelia ...
www.cnn.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 5d
#StarTrek

My latest Substack looks at "When HARLIE Was One," a 1988 book by David Gerrold about true artificial intelligence and its implications. I was fascinated by how well he predicted what's happening now with AI initiatives and their possible abuses.

www.thewrittentrek.com/p/book-revie...
Book Review: When HARLIE Was One (Release 2.0)
Author David Gerrold wrote a novel first published in 1972 that seems eerily prescient in 2025.
www.thewrittentrek.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 5d
Contrary to evidence-free claims on the Internet, South Carolina law enforcement authorities say there's no evidence so far of arson as a cause of the explosion at a South Carolina judge's home.

www.counton2.com/news/local-n...
Preliminary investigation finds ‘no evidence’ that fire at Lowcountry judge’s home was intentionally set: SLED
EDISTO BEACH, S.C. (WCBD) — A preliminary investigation into a weekend fire at the home of a Lowcountry judge has not revealed evidence of foul play, according to the South Carolina Law Enfor…
www.counton2.com

Reposted by Stephen P. Smith

tomtomorrow.bsky.social
Your Internet Friend Tom Tomorrow @tomtomorrow.bsky.social · 6d
new toon: shutting down

www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Cartoon: Shutting down
Big news: my new Kickstarter is live! It’s been five years since my last book, which is too long (my usual schedule is every two to three years, but I’ve had bad luck with traditional publishers latel...
www.dailykos.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 7d
#Politics

From #Time: An explosion set afire the South Carolina house of a judge criticized by #Trump. The South Carolina chief justice said it's unknown if the cause was "accidental or arson."

time.com/7323442/sout...
House of South Carolina Judge Criticized by Trump Administration Set Ablaze
Authorities are investigating a fire at the home of a South Carolina judge who had reportedly received death threats in what could be the latest incident of political violence across the country.
time.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 7d
#Politics #Trump

OVERNIGHT from #NBCNews:

Federal judge (a Trump appointee!) blocks Trump from sending National Guard troops from any state to Portland, Oregon.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Federal judge blocks Trump administration from sending federalized National Guard to Portland
Earlier Sunday, California Gov. Gavin Newsom said he would sue the Trump administration after it federalized 300 California National Guard troops.
www.nbcnews.com
2

Reposted by Stephen P. Smith

cnn.com
CNN @cnn.com · 7d
Three hundred California National Guard members are on their way to Oregon on President Trump’s orders after a judge blocked his deployment of federal troops to Portland, California Gov. Gavin Newsom announced. https://cnn.it/4h0sLJ4
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 8d
#Politics #Trump

BREAKING from #NBCNews: Federal judge (a Trump appointee!) temporarily blocks Trump from deploying the National Guard to Portland, Oregon.

www.nbcnews.com/politics/tru...
Judge temporarily blocks use of National Guard in Portland
The ruling is a setback for the Trump administration as it seeks to use military troops in some Democratic-run cities.
www.nbcnews.com
3

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 8d
#Space #Russia #NASA

"The Russian Right Stuff" was a 1991 PBS Nova three-part documentary series about the Soviet space program. Part 1, "The Invisible Spaceman," was about the early years, including Sputnik 1, which launched 68 years ago today.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=EUcv...
The Russian Right Stuff: The Invisible Spaceman, PBS Nova, February 26, 1991
YouTube video by Space SPAN (Space Policy and News)
www.youtube.com

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 8d
#Space #Russia #NASA

68 years ago today, the USSR launched Sputnik 1, the first artificial satellite.

Both the US and USSR had announced they would launch satellites for the International Geophysical Year. It wasn't a "race" until US media proclaimed it such.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWR7...
1957: Sputnik I (Universal News)
YouTube video by International Astronautical Federation
www.youtube.com
1

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 9d
#StarTrek

My latest Substack is about our visit last Saturday to the Star Trek set replica tour in Ticonderoga, New York. The tour was led by David Gerrold, known in Trekdom as the writer of "The Trouble of Tribbles."

Read about the tour for free at the link.
www.thewrittentrek.com/p/a-visit-to...
A Visit to the Enterprise
The Star Trek tour in Ticonderoga, New York features replicas of the NCC-1701 sets, which were used in the "New Voyages" fan series.
www.thewrittentrek.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 9d
#Politics #Trump

From #CNBC: The US Treasury is preparing to mint a $1 Trump coin to honor him on the nation's 250th anniversary.

www.cnbc.com/2025/10/03/t...
Treasury weighs minting $1 coin with Trump's face for U.S. 250th anniversary
U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach confirmed in a social media post that the draft coin depicting Trump is real. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shared Beach's post.
www.cnbc.com
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 10d
#Space #NASA

This showed up in email ... Federal law requires that president to prepare an annual Aeronautics and Space Report. This NASA webpage has every report going back to the first one in 1959, by Eisenhower.

You might have fun rummaging through the years.

www.nasa.gov/history/hist...
Aeronautics and Space Report of the President - NASA
The annual "President's Report" is a summary of the Government's aerospace activities each year and includes data on spacecraft launches and budget figures.
www.nasa.gov

wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 11d
#Politics #COVID

I can't get a COVID vaccine in Florida because of quack surgeon general Ladapo.

I'm in New York state on vacation. I just went to the local CVS. They gave me a COVID vaccine, no problem.

The pharmacist was appalled to hear about Florida.

In any case, I outwitted MAGA.
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wordsmithfl.bsky.social
Stephen C. Smith @wordsmithfl.bsky.social · 12d
#Space

#NASA was born 67 years ago today, out of the old National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics.🎂

This is a film sent to NACA employees from the outgoing NACA director and the incoming NASA administrator explaining the transition.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5ur...
Message to Employees of NACA, Circa October 1, 1958
YouTube video by Space SPAN (Space Policy and News)
www.youtube.com
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