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anineffablegrump.bsky.social
Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
@anineffablegrump.bsky.social
400 followers 970 following 3.5K posts
Iowa. Root beer floats. #YNWA. If martin buber and EM Cioran had a baby and it married Italo Calvino's punk rock estranged kid, and they had a kid. Middling. Former licensed attorney, video store owner and floor layer.
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Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
donmoyn.bsky.social
New, from me: by embracing unitary executive theory, the Supreme Court is moving towards making all public employees fireable at the will of the President.

This will not just hurt government competence, it will aid democratic backsliding. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/at-will-wh...
At will? Whose will?
Removing independent agency heads is part of a broader assault on a nonpartisan government
donmoynihan.substack.com
December 9, 2025 at 1:06 PM
anineffablegrump.bsky.social
If you ever wondered what it would look like for someone against the death penalty to execute somebody.... (you can find the deleted post in the comments)
radleybalko.bsky.social Radley Balko @radleybalko.bsky.social · 8h
Drove 9 hours to talk to someone this week. He was on death row for 27 years.

But thanks for the advice.
December 13, 2025 at 5:27 AM
anineffablegrump.bsky.social
Thought about this last night, driving in our towns square "loop." In the center of the square is a giant newish courthouse, surrounded by multiple bars, bail bondsman and lawyers. The local pd announced dui stops were up some huge %. Yet the bars still go selling by the courthouse steps just fine
jamellebouie.net jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 14h
People still speed. They still drive drunk. What them?
December 12, 2025 at 9:04 PM
anineffablegrump.bsky.social
There is so much behind the scenes petty power playing going on here. Im really curious how these very different outcomes got what palms greased when or why
Funding for the bonuses will come from Amtrak’s executive leadership team bonus packages, the statement said. The federal administration urged executive leadership “to forgo 50% of the bonus packages that would have been paid out under the misplaced priorities of the previous executive bonus structure.” Amtrak set all-time records for both ridership and revenue in the 2025 fiscal year, according to its annual report, with over $2.7 billion in ticket revenue from 34.5 million riders. The announcement comes amid ongoing controversy over the Trump administration’s decision to limit $10,000 bonuses to air traffic controllers and technicians who had perfect attendance during the government shutdown — a measure that rewarded only 776 people, and left nearly 20,000 other workers without the payment.
December 12, 2025 at 8:44 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
civilwarmemory.bsky.social
More whitewashing of American history: "Most notably, the Black Abolition, Women’s Suffrage and Civil Rights quarters were replaced with quarters that instead commemorate the Mayflower Compact, Revolutionary War and the Gettysburg Address." theconversation.com/trump-admini...
Trump administration replaces America 250 quarters honoring abolition and women’s suffrage with Mayflower and Gettysburg designs
US coins showcase American identity and public memory through their designs. The America 250 coins just unveiled reflect the nation’s divided politics and history.
theconversation.com
December 12, 2025 at 8:17 PM
anineffablegrump.bsky.social
Why cant we all unify behind an absolute increase in material conditions, particularly increasing the free time and available resources for people waiting to use all available tools to undermine an absolute increase in material conditions

The postracial solidarity ourobouros has atlantic thoughts
jamellebouie.net jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 20h
ah yes, all workers should have the right to hurl racial slurs at black customers
theatlantic.com The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 20h
“Those of us on the left should be fighting to improve protections for workers of all races, and thereby for the betterment of people’s material conditions regardless of their views,” Arash Azizi argues:
December 12, 2025 at 8:34 PM
anineffablegrump.bsky.social
Hey @highvaluecvnt.bsky.social you know what i worry about? Landfill Kumas
japantimes.co.jp The Japan Times @japantimes.co.jp · 15h
The character “kuma (熊),” meaning bear in Japanese, was selected as kanji of the year for 2025, the Japan Kanji Aptitude Testing Foundation announced Friday, after a year defined by a surge in bear encounters and nationwide unease amid a string of attacks. 👉 ebx.sh/JXz4J8
December 12, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
jacobtlevy.bsky.social
George Will: www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
December 12, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
mjsdc.bsky.social
This is really incredible. The government's battle to deport Abrego Garcia has apparently been based on a lie from the start. Not even the "gang affiliation" lie or the "human smuggling" lie, but the more basic assertion that he was ordered to be deported in the first place.
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 1d
🚨Judge Xinis finds that, incredibly, Mr. Abrego Garcia was never ordered deported in 2019. She notes that every since this saga began all the way back in March, the government has NEVER been able to produce any evidence that the immigration judge actually issued a removal order.
B. No Order of Removal Exists for Abrego Garcia No such order of removal exists for Abrego Garcia. When Abrego Garcia was first wrongly expelled to El Salvador, the Court struggled to understand the legal authority for even seizing him in the first place. At the first hearing in Abrego I, the Court inquired of Respondents’ counsel: The Court: I want to ask, though, the very specific question, if there is a final order of removal, what . . . document got this process started? There is no warrant for his arrest by an order of removal. There is no statement of probable cause. There’s no charge. There’s no report that says that anyone saw Mr. Abrego Garcia doing anything illegal or criminal. So what is the actual document that gave these officers the authority to start this process? Counsel: That is not in the record, and the government has not put that into the record. And that’s the best I can do. Abrego I, ECF No. 33 at 21:11–22. The Court continued to press counsel about the existence of a removal order and was told plainly that none can be found: The Court: Okay. So if there’s a Title 8 removal order, there would be an order of removal that’s being executed, and we don’t have one for Mr. Abrego Garcia, right? . . . Do you have that order? . . . Is it in the record? Counsel: I do not have that order. It is not in the record. Id. at 23:7–24:4. Since that time, Respondents have never produced an order of removal despite Abrego Garcia hinging much of his jurisdictional and legal arguments on its non-existence. ECF No. 1 ¶¶ 68–69; ECF No. 32 at 10, 15–17, 27; ECF No. 87 at 11–12. Indeed, Respondents twice sponsored the testimony of ICE officials whose job it is to effectuate removal orders, and who candidly admitted to having never seen one for Abrego Garcia. See ECF No. 107 at 30:16–22 (testimony of Cantú) (“Q: Based upon your many years of experience you described to us, you know what a final order of removal looks like, right, sir? Cantú: I do. Q: And have you seen a final order of removal in regard to Mr. Abrego Garcia? Cantú: I have not.”). See also Abrego I, ECF No. 234 at 46:6–12 (testimony of interim Assistant Director for ICE Removal Operations, Thomas Giles (“Giles”)) (“Q: You have not seen the final order of removal, have you, sir? Giles: What do you mean by that? Q: I mean, you have not seen a piece of paper that represents the final order of removal vis-a-vis Mr. Abrego Garcia, correct? Giles: No, I have not.”).15 Based on this, the Court concludes that no order of removal exists.
December 11, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
sky.skymarchini.net
Uh www.wsj.com/economy/jobs...
Fed Chair Jerome Powell Says U.S. May Be Drastically Overstating Jobs Numbers
Powell said that Fed staffers believe federal data could be overstating job creation by up to 60,000 jobs a month—which suggests the jobs market might be shrinking.
www.wsj.com
December 12, 2025 at 6:51 AM
anineffablegrump.bsky.social
I need a picture of aquaman with an old school, evil, railroad bandit mustache. Twirling, twirling.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d
Trump: "If you look at the drug traffic, drug traffic by sea is down by 92% and nobody can figure out who the 8% is. And we'll start that on land too. It's gonna be starting on land pretty soon."
December 11, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
laurenmiller.bsky.social
Say it again for the folks in the back: "The first time the House has voted to overturn a Trump executive order in this term." 🙌
aflcio.org AFL-CIO @aflcio.org · 1d
BREAKING: Democrats and Republicans in Congress just voted to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act to restore federal workers’ union rights – the first time the House has voted to overturn a Trump executive order in this term. https://bit.ly/4oNyBQc
December 11, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
kcci.bsky.social
A case of pertussis, also called whooping cough, has been confirmed at a southern Iowa elementary school.
Iowa school district cancels classes Friday due to whooping cough
A case of pertussis, also called whooping cough, has been confirmed at a southern Iowa elementary school.
www.kcci.com
December 11, 2025 at 11:27 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
radleybalko.bsky.social
Warned that this was going to happen. And if Trump’s DOJ doesn’t fight it, I’m not sure there’s much that can be done to stop it.

radleybalko.substack.com/p/magas-300-...
December 11, 2025 at 4:59 AM
anineffablegrump.bsky.social
Oh my stars and garters
December 11, 2025 at 10:09 PM
anineffablegrump.bsky.social
"Donald Trump's Tariffs cause economic turmoil in Iowa" is a true statement not a single iowa R will say
iowacapitaldispatch.com Iowa Capital Dispatch @iowacapitaldispatch.com · 1d
Economic uncertainty due to tariffs and the effects of the federal government shutdown are expected to continue to impact Iowa’s economy, members of the Revenue Estimating Conference said Thursday, Robin Opsahl reports.
Iowa panel warns of 'mixed' economic picture, predicts slight revenue upturn • Iowa Capital Dispatch
The December Iowa Revenue Estimating Conference predicted state revenues will fall by 8.8% in Fiscal Year 2026.
iowacapitaldispatch.com
December 11, 2025 at 9:58 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
jmitchellnews.bsky.social
When I did a 1990 interview w/ Byron De La Beckwith, who killed Mississippi NAACP leader Medgar Evers in 1963, most Americans bristled at Beckwith’s beliefs. Now, 35 yrs later, the assassin is dead, but some of the views he promulgated are emerging in new forms.
mississippitoday.org/2025/12/02/e...
December 11, 2025 at 9:14 PM
anineffablegrump.bsky.social
People are responding with typical guffaws over this answer but by infrastructure he literally means, quite ominously, what human network of folks they will try to arrest or target as Antifa, a group they very much believe can be willed to exist enough for pop awareness of dragnets
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d
GLASHEEN: Antifa is our primary concern right now. That's the most immediate violent threat we're facing

BENNIE THOMPSON: Where is antifa headquartered?

GLASHEEN: ... ... ... we are building out the infrastructure right now

THOMPSON: What does that mean?
December 11, 2025 at 7:09 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
richterscale.bsky.social
SKULL OF THOMAS AQUINAS: TAKE A LEFT NOW
PRIEST: No, the GPS says we have to keep going—
SKULL: I KNOW A SHORTCUT
PRIEST: Do you remember the last ti—
SKULL: FOR THOSE WITH FAITH, NO EVIDENCE IS NECESSARY; FOR THOSE WITHOUT IT, NO EVIDENCE WILL SUFFICE
sardonicus.eu Sardonicus @sardonicus.eu · 3d
'Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas being transported to Fossanova Abbey.'
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
a shot of a god botherer in a car, next to him on the passenger seat is a skull in an ornate box
December 10, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
chicagotribune.com
President Donald Trump’s push for the largest mass deportation in history has had an outsized impact on the child care field.
President Donald Trump’s crackdown on immigration is taking a toll on child care workers
President Donald Trump’s push for the largest mass deportation in history has had an outsized impact on the child care field.
trib.al
December 10, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
This is still VERY illegal. The Trump admin says anyone who pays $1 million will be deemed to have "exceptional business ability" and become eligible for an employment-based immigrant visa.

But there's nothing stopping someone from just getting a loan or using parents' money.
Sec. 2. The Gold Card. (a) The Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall establish a "Gold Card" program authorizing an alien who makes an unrestricted gift to the Department of Commerce under 15 U.S.C. 1522 (or for whom a corporation or similar entity makes such a gift) to establish eligibility for an immigrant visa using an expedited process, to the extent consistent with law and public safety and national security concerns. The requisite gift amount shall be $1 million for an individual donating on his or her own behalf and $2 million for a corporation or similar entity donating on behalf of an individual. (b) in adjudicating visa applications, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, consistent with applicable law, treat the gift specified in subsection (a) of this section as evidence of eligibility under 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(1)(A), of exceptional business ability and national benefit under 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)(A), and of eligibility for a national-interest waiver under 8 U.S.C. 1153(b)(2)(B).
December 10, 2025 at 9:03 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
joedunman.bsky.social
Moreover, as for stops of those individuals who are legally in the country, the questioning in those circumstances is typically brief, and those individuals may promptly go free after making clear to the immigration officers that they are U.S. citizens or otherwise legally in the United States. —Justice Brett Kavanaugh, the most naive person on earth
December 10, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Reposted by Ineffable Benthic Pulchritude (braveiowan on bird app)
andycraig.bsky.social
The mayor of Albuquerque who appeared as himself in Pluribus was reelected to a third term yesterday.
December 10, 2025 at 10:05 PM
anineffablegrump.bsky.social
This is more like it

Let's NCAA bracket this shit

Arial? Pfft. Come at me with Charter, free, "a transitional serif font family."

That's right, it's trans and a family. Radical!

Also, why are all matthew butterick's fonts so woke? Is he antifa?

This has at least two too obscure jokes
December 10, 2025 at 8:23 PM
anineffablegrump.bsky.social
I like to think amelia bedilia and bartleby the scrivener hooked up and had a child and this child exists within Alan Moore's league of extraordinary gentlemen
bowlerhatscience.org Matthew R Francis @bowlerhatscience.org · 2d
tired: Amelia Bedilia was silly and foolish and excessively literal
wired: Amelia Bedilia was engaging in malicious compliance and class solidarity against the oligarchs
criminalerin.bsky.social Erin Fogg says Free Link @criminalerin.bsky.social · 2d
Amelia Bedilia was RIGHT rich folks DO want things done strangely
December 10, 2025 at 8:11 PM