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
A new systematic review has found that trans women on HRT have the same level of fitness as cis women and don't retain any advantage in sports.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
Trans athletes may not have fitness advantage in women’s sport, landmark study finds
Findings suggest physical performance in trans women converges toward that of cis women over time
www.independent.co.uk
February 4, 2026 at 12:22 PM
A new systematic review has found that trans women on HRT have the same level of fitness as cis women and don't retain any advantage in sports.
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
www.independent.co.uk/news/science...
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
Nothing has changed here.
So you might ask - how will we know when things have changed? For me it’s all the kids back in school.
So you might ask - how will we know when things have changed? For me it’s all the kids back in school.
A desperate plea sent to me by a Minneapolis resident who's been on the front lines since the beginning of the ICE occupation:
February 8, 2026 at 3:04 PM
Nothing has changed here.
So you might ask - how will we know when things have changed? For me it’s all the kids back in school.
So you might ask - how will we know when things have changed? For me it’s all the kids back in school.
Look at this very good boi fighting the panopticon
Got a camera to monitor my boy and verify noise complaints but he got too smart and joined antipaw to take down the police state
February 8, 2026 at 8:14 PM
Look at this very good boi fighting the panopticon
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
Got a camera to monitor my boy and verify noise complaints but he got too smart and joined antipaw to take down the police state
February 5, 2026 at 4:13 AM
Got a camera to monitor my boy and verify noise complaints but he got too smart and joined antipaw to take down the police state
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
This, from @jamellebouie.net is exactly right. And I think so many folks have refused to see or admit what Trump is because admitting implicates them, or their families, so denial is easier.
February 8, 2026 at 5:33 PM
This, from @jamellebouie.net is exactly right. And I think so many folks have refused to see or admit what Trump is because admitting implicates them, or their families, so denial is easier.
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
Adoption is not social welfare. It is what happens because we *reject* social welfare—because we do *not* help those who need it most. Adoption is a *business*: the business of making affluent people into the parents of less fortunate people’s children.
February 7, 2026 at 8:11 PM
Adoption is not social welfare. It is what happens because we *reject* social welfare—because we do *not* help those who need it most. Adoption is a *business*: the business of making affluent people into the parents of less fortunate people’s children.
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
What’s darkly funny is that there’s an old CIA manual about this, and how if enough people do it, it can destabilize a country. It’s still on their website right now after being declassified in 2008.
February 7, 2026 at 10:32 PM
What’s darkly funny is that there’s an old CIA manual about this, and how if enough people do it, it can destabilize a country. It’s still on their website right now after being declassified in 2008.
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
Breaking — Will Lewis out at the Washington Post. He just sent this email to staff (shared with me by staffer):
February 7, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Breaking — Will Lewis out at the Washington Post. He just sent this email to staff (shared with me by staffer):
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
1,000 reskeets and it's totally made up, that's a photo from Los Angeles, stop sharing this disinfo-spreader
February 7, 2026 at 9:41 PM
1,000 reskeets and it's totally made up, that's a photo from Los Angeles, stop sharing this disinfo-spreader
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I’m not arguing with no account defending AI. My grandmother lives in an area being environmentally compromised currently by an ai data center. I remember the color of the lake before they built it and the sludge I see in it when I go to see her. Shut the fuck up about “the benefits of AI” forever.
February 7, 2026 at 3:46 PM
I’m not arguing with no account defending AI. My grandmother lives in an area being environmentally compromised currently by an ai data center. I remember the color of the lake before they built it and the sludge I see in it when I go to see her. Shut the fuck up about “the benefits of AI” forever.
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
Could be that JD needs a planeful of food because he is terrified of being exposed to San Pellegrino bsky.app/profile/denn...
I’ve made a lot of jokes about the J.D. Vance sparkling water story from Hillbilly Elegy, to the extent that it probably sounds made up, but you owe it to yourself to read the real thing if you haven’t
February 7, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Could be that JD needs a planeful of food because he is terrified of being exposed to San Pellegrino bsky.app/profile/denn...
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
I'm sorry the guy changing the rules on the fly is named what
I stand with County Executive Calvin Ball as he signs emergency legislation today prohibiting privately owned buildings from being used as ICE detention centers.
Howard County chose dignity, accountability, and its people. Tune into our event now:
bit.ly/4a2VtHw
Howard County chose dignity, accountability, and its people. Tune into our event now:
bit.ly/4a2VtHw
Redirecting...
bit.ly
February 7, 2026 at 2:34 PM
I'm sorry the guy changing the rules on the fly is named what
Reposted by Rick Caruso’s Private Fire Crew
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.”
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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
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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.