Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
@amandasmith.bsky.social
Writer, science nerd, boy crazy, Dodger fan. she/her. I made a book & won best dramatic screenplay at #AFF2021. Opinions my own & often wrong.
Pinned
Please don’t mistake declarative statements for expertise, I’m just medically incapable of speaking without unfounded confidence.
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
“Unlike earlier iterations of family detention, many of the children now held at Dilley are U.S. residents, apprehended not at the border but at their homes, outside schools, in courthouses and during routine immigration check-ins.”
Maria is one of hundreds of children, who — like Liam Ramos — have been held at a Texas detention facility where parents say children languish as they’re served contaminated food, receive little education and struggle to obtain basic medical care.
Here's our attempt at telling their stories. 2/
Here's our attempt at telling their stories. 2/
Children trapped in Texas immigration facility recount nightmares, inedible food, no school
A photo of Liam Conejo Ramos, a scared 5-year-old, drew attention to a detention center in Dilley, Texas. Advocates say his experience reflects what hundreds of children have endured out of public vie...
www.nbcnews.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:21 AM
“Unlike earlier iterations of family detention, many of the children now held at Dilley are U.S. residents, apprehended not at the border but at their homes, outside schools, in courthouses and during routine immigration check-ins.”
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
always disorienting when you say it out loud that minnesota is still under occupation
Hundreds of Agents Left Minnesota, but Residents Are Seeing Little Change www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/u...
Hundreds of Agents Left Minnesota, but Residents Are Seeing Little Change
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:24 AM
always disorienting when you say it out loud that minnesota is still under occupation
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
production of The Muppet Show should not be dependent on petty vulgarities like “ratings” or “revenue.” it should be preserved as a vital function of american culture. it should have a taxpayer-funded budget rivaling the CIA
February 7, 2026 at 12:40 AM
production of The Muppet Show should not be dependent on petty vulgarities like “ratings” or “revenue.” it should be preserved as a vital function of american culture. it should have a taxpayer-funded budget rivaling the CIA
I haven’t figured out how I’m handling the season if the dodgers go to the White House but I haven’t bought merch from the team since they signed Bauer and the embargo continues
BIll Plaschke: ‘Nobody is asking anybody to disavow their beliefs. This is no longer about ideology, this is about standing up for those who are being wrongly arrested, being unfairly harassed or being made to feel constantly frightened in their own homes.’
www.latimes.com/sports/dodge...
www.latimes.com/sports/dodge...
Commentary: Just say no. Dodgers players should decline White House visit
Bill Plaschke says players must stand up for fans and turn down a White House visit the Dodgers' owners promised to make after winning the World Series.
www.latimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 12:17 AM
I haven’t figured out how I’m handling the season if the dodgers go to the White House but I haven’t bought merch from the team since they signed Bauer and the embargo continues
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
BIll Plaschke: ‘Nobody is asking anybody to disavow their beliefs. This is no longer about ideology, this is about standing up for those who are being wrongly arrested, being unfairly harassed or being made to feel constantly frightened in their own homes.’
www.latimes.com/sports/dodge...
www.latimes.com/sports/dodge...
Commentary: Just say no. Dodgers players should decline White House visit
Bill Plaschke says players must stand up for fans and turn down a White House visit the Dodgers' owners promised to make after winning the World Series.
www.latimes.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:30 PM
BIll Plaschke: ‘Nobody is asking anybody to disavow their beliefs. This is no longer about ideology, this is about standing up for those who are being wrongly arrested, being unfairly harassed or being made to feel constantly frightened in their own homes.’
www.latimes.com/sports/dodge...
www.latimes.com/sports/dodge...
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
My pitch: a Robert Pattinson/Gonzo body swap episode
Who do you want to guest host a potential revival of The Muppet Show?
Here’s Who We Want to Guest Host ‘The Muppet Show’ If It’s Revived
February 6, 2026 at 8:52 PM
My pitch: a Robert Pattinson/Gonzo body swap episode
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
Me: im not autistic i dont take everything literally
also me: im not making every main character save a cat are you kidding me
also me: im not making every main character save a cat are you kidding me
February 6, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Me: im not autistic i dont take everything literally
also me: im not making every main character save a cat are you kidding me
also me: im not making every main character save a cat are you kidding me
My pitch: a Robert Pattinson/Gonzo body swap episode
Who do you want to guest host a potential revival of The Muppet Show?
Here’s Who We Want to Guest Host ‘The Muppet Show’ If It’s Revived
February 6, 2026 at 8:52 PM
My pitch: a Robert Pattinson/Gonzo body swap episode
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
The city has spent ~$5M above budget in the past month to deal with the occupation, with roughly $130k per day going to MPD overtime. So when mod CMs/the mayor tell you that we can’t afford rent relief, they’re telling you that they prefer to spend your tax dollars on this instead.
Happening Now: 20+ law enforcement vehicles, including a Minneapolis Police SWAT Bearcat, are staged on SE Beacon St as a noise demo has started at the Graduate Hotel. This is the 4th noise demo at the Graduate and one of multiple noise demos tonight outside hotels housing ICE agents in Minneapolis.
February 6, 2026 at 3:58 PM
The city has spent ~$5M above budget in the past month to deal with the occupation, with roughly $130k per day going to MPD overtime. So when mod CMs/the mayor tell you that we can’t afford rent relief, they’re telling you that they prefer to spend your tax dollars on this instead.
Actively furious that the screenwriting book I always mocked but never read til this week has actually helped me
February 6, 2026 at 8:22 PM
Actively furious that the screenwriting book I always mocked but never read til this week has actually helped me
I’ve been writing since I was 5 and still suck at it but I don’t let that stop me, using AI to make art isn’t about democratizing creativity, it’s about avoiding a person’s discomfort with failure.
February 6, 2026 at 8:21 PM
I’ve been writing since I was 5 and still suck at it but I don’t let that stop me, using AI to make art isn’t about democratizing creativity, it’s about avoiding a person’s discomfort with failure.
The only DFA I’ll accept for Banda is tapping Dat Fat Ass
February 6, 2026 at 8:12 PM
The only DFA I’ll accept for Banda is tapping Dat Fat Ass
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
In days of yore when the Earth was young, we used to just block somebody who was posting some garbage opinion. Didn’t matter if they seemed like they were on our side and other things. We just blocked them. It was a simple and a better time here
February 6, 2026 at 6:50 PM
In days of yore when the Earth was young, we used to just block somebody who was posting some garbage opinion. Didn’t matter if they seemed like they were on our side and other things. We just blocked them. It was a simple and a better time here
The Queen does not like her travel water bowl and shall drink only from crystal
February 6, 2026 at 6:07 AM
The Queen does not like her travel water bowl and shall drink only from crystal
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
It's not just ICE and CBP. Or HSI. Or the U.S. Marshals. Every armed federal agency has been compromised and needs to be largely rebuilt from the ground up once Trump is gone.
TRIGGER WARNING, because here is a US Marshal from Trump‘s Gestapo Force in Memphis kicking a puppy today in the Whitehaven neighborhood and breaking its rib. They were serving a warrant and I guess BIG MAN got scared of the schnauzer.
(I didn’t take the video, the dog’s person did)
(I didn’t take the video, the dog’s person did)
February 6, 2026 at 5:17 AM
It's not just ICE and CBP. Or HSI. Or the U.S. Marshals. Every armed federal agency has been compromised and needs to be largely rebuilt from the ground up once Trump is gone.
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
This is some evil shit
Israel accused of spraying cancer-linked herbicide on farms in southern Lebanon
President condemns ‘environmental and health crime’ as critics say Israel seeks to make southern Lebanon uninhabitable
www.theguardian.com
February 6, 2026 at 5:10 AM
This is some evil shit
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
A good thing you can do about this instead of dooming is Google “how to become a poll observer in [your town]”
Breaking:
The White House press secretary just said she "can't guarantee" that ICE won't be around polling locations in November.
The White House press secretary just said she "can't guarantee" that ICE won't be around polling locations in November.
February 5, 2026 at 9:39 PM
A good thing you can do about this instead of dooming is Google “how to become a poll observer in [your town]”
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
moral panic you say
February 5, 2026 at 11:40 PM
moral panic you say
I just learned that Gore Verbinskini is only 61 and Pirates was only his fourth film so if you need me I’ll be punching the sky at how good Some Guys Just Are At Movies
February 5, 2026 at 10:57 PM
I just learned that Gore Verbinskini is only 61 and Pirates was only his fourth film so if you need me I’ll be punching the sky at how good Some Guys Just Are At Movies
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
Bullshit scare tactic. ICE can't handle a single city, imagine them trying this shit nationwide in every city and town at the same time. They don't have enough resources, they don't have enough thugs.
Breaking:
The White House press secretary just said she "can't guarantee" that ICE won't be around polling locations in November.
The White House press secretary just said she "can't guarantee" that ICE won't be around polling locations in November.
February 5, 2026 at 10:25 PM
Bullshit scare tactic. ICE can't handle a single city, imagine them trying this shit nationwide in every city and town at the same time. They don't have enough resources, they don't have enough thugs.
One step closer to being able to go back to my regular username.
Rick Caruso confirms he will not run for L.A. mayor
Rick Caruso confirms he will not run for L.A. mayor
Caruso had said he was reconsidering whether to run Wednesday.
www.latimes.com
February 5, 2026 at 10:40 PM
One step closer to being able to go back to my regular username.
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
Cops were frequently getting caught planting drugs in 2017 because body cameras were new and many of them didn't understand how the technology worked.
When cops hit "record" it saved the 30 seconds from *before* they hit the button. Eventually, they figured it out.
When cops hit "record" it saved the 30 seconds from *before* they hit the button. Eventually, they figured it out.
Why Cops Frequently Got Caught Planting Drugs in 2017
Look. All technology comes with a learning curve.
gizmodo.com
February 5, 2026 at 9:21 PM
Cops were frequently getting caught planting drugs in 2017 because body cameras were new and many of them didn't understand how the technology worked.
When cops hit "record" it saved the 30 seconds from *before* they hit the button. Eventually, they figured it out.
When cops hit "record" it saved the 30 seconds from *before* they hit the button. Eventually, they figured it out.
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
Days after covering a protest last week, I realized I had been shot with a new so-called "less-lethal" munition that the LAPD is using more commonly at protests: the FN303. This week, Chief McDonnell said that officers used the FN303 because a judge banned the LAPD from using 40mm launchers.
February 4, 2026 at 10:56 PM
Days after covering a protest last week, I realized I had been shot with a new so-called "less-lethal" munition that the LAPD is using more commonly at protests: the FN303. This week, Chief McDonnell said that officers used the FN303 because a judge banned the LAPD from using 40mm launchers.
Take this as an opportunity to request Election Day off & work as a poll watcher, volunteer with ICE watches, or offer rides to the polls to ensure our free elections continue.
Tbh, if we start planing early enough, you could get local businesses to close Election Day.
www.eac.gov/help-america...
Tbh, if we start planing early enough, you could get local businesses to close Election Day.
www.eac.gov/help-america...
February 5, 2026 at 4:42 AM
Take this as an opportunity to request Election Day off & work as a poll watcher, volunteer with ICE watches, or offer rides to the polls to ensure our free elections continue.
Tbh, if we start planing early enough, you could get local businesses to close Election Day.
www.eac.gov/help-america...
Tbh, if we start planing early enough, you could get local businesses to close Election Day.
www.eac.gov/help-america...