Robert Mahon
@bedform.org
Associate Prof, U. New Orleans EES/CEE. Sedimentologist, cyclist, runner, potter. Born at 348 ppm CO2. PhD UWyo, MS Idaho State, BS UMontana. PG (LA). he/him. Pro Choice. Pro DEIA. Pro Democracy. Anti-fascist. Views mine 🏳️🌈
Reposted by Robert Mahon
Great thread by @eeka1313.bsky.social here.
I think two of the real drivers (heh) behind the e-bike moral panic are the rapid proliferation and use of these bikes coupled with the fact that our existing infrastructure is not at all suited for higher speed micro-mobility.
I think two of the real drivers (heh) behind the e-bike moral panic are the rapid proliferation and use of these bikes coupled with the fact that our existing infrastructure is not at all suited for higher speed micro-mobility.
Again, the real issue is that now we have a demographic of people who have typically been shuttled around in cars now suddenly trying out car-free mobility. People are noticing the infrastructure and driving habits are horrible for this, but they're blaming the bikes. 5/
January 11, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Great thread by @eeka1313.bsky.social here.
I think two of the real drivers (heh) behind the e-bike moral panic are the rapid proliferation and use of these bikes coupled with the fact that our existing infrastructure is not at all suited for higher speed micro-mobility.
I think two of the real drivers (heh) behind the e-bike moral panic are the rapid proliferation and use of these bikes coupled with the fact that our existing infrastructure is not at all suited for higher speed micro-mobility.
Reposted by Robert Mahon
All of this is illegal
President Trump said that he is “inclined” to keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after its top executive was skeptical about oil investment efforts in the country after the toppling of former President Nicolás Maduro.
Trump 'inclined' to keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after CEO response at White House meeting
President Donald Trump says he is “inclined” to keep ExxonMobil out of Venezuela after its top executive was skeptical about oil investment efforts in the country after the toppling of former President Nicolás Maduro.
bit.ly
January 12, 2026 at 12:55 AM
All of this is illegal
Reposted by Robert Mahon
did something happen
January 12, 2026 at 1:11 AM
did something happen
Reposted by Robert Mahon
Ahem, from 2014…
US Border Agents Intentionally Stepped in Front of Moving Vehicles to Justify Shooting at Them
An internal review of the US Border Patrol raises serious questions about the agency’s use-of-force policy.
www.thenation.com
January 12, 2026 at 12:28 AM
Ahem, from 2014…
Reposted by Robert Mahon
"Don't make us kill you."
I think about this July 2024 threat from the head of the Heritage Foundation quite a lot these days.
January 11, 2026 at 4:54 PM
"Don't make us kill you."
Reposted by Robert Mahon
Not surprisingly so much of the Republican rhetoric is abuser language:
You did this!
You're making it worse!
You're going to force me to hurt you!
And then it's combined with gaslighting about their actions.
You did this!
You're making it worse!
You're going to force me to hurt you!
And then it's combined with gaslighting about their actions.
January 11, 2026 at 4:12 PM
Not surprisingly so much of the Republican rhetoric is abuser language:
You did this!
You're making it worse!
You're going to force me to hurt you!
And then it's combined with gaslighting about their actions.
You did this!
You're making it worse!
You're going to force me to hurt you!
And then it's combined with gaslighting about their actions.
Reposted by Robert Mahon
Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession
Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession
theonion.com
January 11, 2026 at 5:00 PM
Nicolás Maduro Charged With Felony Oil Possession
Reposted by Robert Mahon
The Greenland fixation feels like a personal insult to anyone who's spent more than about five minutes thinking about national security. "Hey, let's demolish our most valuable alliance so we can get get access to arctic territory we already have access to!"
January 11, 2026 at 3:56 AM
The Greenland fixation feels like a personal insult to anyone who's spent more than about five minutes thinking about national security. "Hey, let's demolish our most valuable alliance so we can get get access to arctic territory we already have access to!"
Reposted by Robert Mahon
Cool, cool.
"According to sources, Trump has asked Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare the invasion plan, but it is being resisted by the joint chiefs of staff on the grounds that it would be illegal - and not be supported by Congress."
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
"According to sources, Trump has asked Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare the invasion plan, but it is being resisted by the joint chiefs of staff on the grounds that it would be illegal - and not be supported by Congress."
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Trump 'orders US army chiefs to draw up plan to invade Greenland'
Donald Trump has ordered his special forces commanders to draw up a plan for the invasion of Greenland - but is being resisted by senior military figures, The Mail on Sunday has learned.
www.dailymail.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 3:03 AM
Cool, cool.
"According to sources, Trump has asked Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare the invasion plan, but it is being resisted by the joint chiefs of staff on the grounds that it would be illegal - and not be supported by Congress."
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
"According to sources, Trump has asked Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare the invasion plan, but it is being resisted by the joint chiefs of staff on the grounds that it would be illegal - and not be supported by Congress."
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Reposted by Robert Mahon
Treaties are federal law. As a signatory to the 1949 NATO treaty, the U.S. is barred by law from attacking another NATO member. Therefore, an order to draw up plans to attack Greenland is an illegal one. Military leaders are obligated to disobey illegal orders.
Lawyers correct me if I'm wrong.
Lawyers correct me if I'm wrong.
Cool, cool.
"According to sources, Trump has asked Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare the invasion plan, but it is being resisted by the joint chiefs of staff on the grounds that it would be illegal - and not be supported by Congress."
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
"According to sources, Trump has asked Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC) to prepare the invasion plan, but it is being resisted by the joint chiefs of staff on the grounds that it would be illegal - and not be supported by Congress."
www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article...
Trump 'orders US army chiefs to draw up plan to invade Greenland'
Donald Trump has ordered his special forces commanders to draw up a plan for the invasion of Greenland - but is being resisted by senior military figures, The Mail on Sunday has learned.
www.dailymail.co.uk
January 11, 2026 at 3:42 AM
Treaties are federal law. As a signatory to the 1949 NATO treaty, the U.S. is barred by law from attacking another NATO member. Therefore, an order to draw up plans to attack Greenland is an illegal one. Military leaders are obligated to disobey illegal orders.
Lawyers correct me if I'm wrong.
Lawyers correct me if I'm wrong.
Reposted by Robert Mahon
The reactionary centrist logic is simple: if the left does something bad it’s the left’s fault, and if the right does something bad, it’s also the left’s fault for making them do it. It’s a simple formula and once you see it every one of their arguments is the same
January 10, 2026 at 11:24 PM
The reactionary centrist logic is simple: if the left does something bad it’s the left’s fault, and if the right does something bad, it’s also the left’s fault for making them do it. It’s a simple formula and once you see it every one of their arguments is the same
was in the French Quarter tonight. Saw no fewer than 20 Guardsmen with assault rifles and full camo out in clusters.
That does NOT make me feel safer. It makes me feel like we're under martial law.
That does NOT make me feel safer. It makes me feel like we're under martial law.
January 11, 2026 at 3:23 AM
was in the French Quarter tonight. Saw no fewer than 20 Guardsmen with assault rifles and full camo out in clusters.
That does NOT make me feel safer. It makes me feel like we're under martial law.
That does NOT make me feel safer. It makes me feel like we're under martial law.
Yes Amazon, I know I got the package. I was alerted by my Pittie Alarm system, pictured
January 11, 2026 at 12:30 AM
Yes Amazon, I know I got the package. I was alerted by my Pittie Alarm system, pictured
Reposted by Robert Mahon
Trump is clearly not well.
At a meeting with oil industry CEO’s Trump suddenly interrupts his introductory remarks, gets up and looks out the window and starts talking about his ballroom. Trump then realizes his mistake and says “unusual time to look”, and sits back down to continue.
At a meeting with oil industry CEO’s Trump suddenly interrupts his introductory remarks, gets up and looks out the window and starts talking about his ballroom. Trump then realizes his mistake and says “unusual time to look”, and sits back down to continue.
January 10, 2026 at 8:57 AM
Trump is clearly not well.
At a meeting with oil industry CEO’s Trump suddenly interrupts his introductory remarks, gets up and looks out the window and starts talking about his ballroom. Trump then realizes his mistake and says “unusual time to look”, and sits back down to continue.
At a meeting with oil industry CEO’s Trump suddenly interrupts his introductory remarks, gets up and looks out the window and starts talking about his ballroom. Trump then realizes his mistake and says “unusual time to look”, and sits back down to continue.
Reposted by Robert Mahon
Schumer and Jeffries still 100% behind ICE and refusing to apply any oversight, despite party outcry.
Schumer, Jeffries Refuse to Join Democrats' Growing Calls to Slash ICE Spending | Common Dreams
The killing of Renee Good by an ICE agent sparks outrage as Democrats debate funding for the agency. Should they use their power to rein in ICE's violence? Progressive lawmakers demand action, but top...
www.commondreams.org
January 10, 2026 at 5:05 PM
Schumer and Jeffries still 100% behind ICE and refusing to apply any oversight, despite party outcry.
Reposted by Robert Mahon
Just told one of my dogs that she is my everything, then the other one came over so I told him that he is my everything too. Isn't it great to be able to have 200% of everything?
January 10, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Just told one of my dogs that she is my everything, then the other one came over so I told him that he is my everything too. Isn't it great to be able to have 200% of everything?
Reposted by Robert Mahon
Read this 🧵
🎯
🎯
I was puzzled for a moment about why DHS would release the phone footage from the murderer's point of view, since it clearly shows that the murderer was in no danger from the victim.
January 10, 2026 at 8:43 PM
Read this 🧵
🎯
🎯
Reposted by Robert Mahon
I was puzzled for a moment about why DHS would release the phone footage from the murderer's point of view, since it clearly shows that the murderer was in no danger from the victim.
January 10, 2026 at 4:32 PM
I was puzzled for a moment about why DHS would release the phone footage from the murderer's point of view, since it clearly shows that the murderer was in no danger from the victim.
I. Don't. Need. AI. In. My. Washing. Machine.
fuck off with this shit
fuck off with this shit
January 10, 2026 at 6:25 PM
I. Don't. Need. AI. In. My. Washing. Machine.
fuck off with this shit
fuck off with this shit
Reposted by Robert Mahon
Noooooooooooo
NASA won’t bring Mars samples back to Earth: this is the science that will be lost www.nature.com/articles/d41... 🧪
NASA won’t bring Mars samples back to Earth: this is the science that will be lost
A Congressional bill restores funding for most NASA space science missions, but there is no money for returning samples already collected on the red planet.
www.nature.com
January 10, 2026 at 4:04 PM
Noooooooooooo
Reposted by Robert Mahon
The changes happening at NSF in terms of award processes & types of projects prioritized for funding clearly show this is where we’re heading: political appointees playing key roles, people self censoring or worse to get money, whole research areas excluded from funding… corruption has many facets.
Keeping funding levels high while installing apparatchiks to steer it in political favored directions will fund at least as much corruption as it will science.
This is a HUGE win…and one that happened because we ~collectively~ said “NO!”
But AAAS coming in and saying on record to the NYT “Science is doing ok. Things are not bad at all…” is baffling.
If things are hard for you as a scientist, please share in the comments.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
But AAAS coming in and saying on record to the NYT “Science is doing ok. Things are not bad at all…” is baffling.
If things are hard for you as a scientist, please share in the comments.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/10/s...
January 10, 2026 at 3:38 PM
The changes happening at NSF in terms of award processes & types of projects prioritized for funding clearly show this is where we’re heading: political appointees playing key roles, people self censoring or worse to get money, whole research areas excluded from funding… corruption has many facets.
Reposted by Robert Mahon
The infuriating thing about this is: citizens deserve the presumption of innocence because the government has much more power than the citizen does, and as fucking agents of the fucking state you do not deserve the same standard when you are doing your job *because you are acting as the government*.
Thank you for telling us you neither serve nor protect. Thank you for saying the quiet part out loud. That was state murder in broad daylight, captured from multiple angles by multiple witnesses, and the people of Minneapolis have eyes.
You support murder.
You support murder.
January 10, 2026 at 3:04 PM
The infuriating thing about this is: citizens deserve the presumption of innocence because the government has much more power than the citizen does, and as fucking agents of the fucking state you do not deserve the same standard when you are doing your job *because you are acting as the government*.
I need one more week of break. Maybe four.
January 10, 2026 at 3:27 AM
I need one more week of break. Maybe four.
Reposted by Robert Mahon
The Washington National Opera is leaving the Kennedy Center following Trump’s campaign to remake the performing arts center in his image.
The opera has played there for more than five decades
The opera has played there for more than five decades
Washington National Opera Is Leaving the Kennedy Center
www.nytimes.com
January 9, 2026 at 11:59 PM
The Washington National Opera is leaving the Kennedy Center following Trump’s campaign to remake the performing arts center in his image.
The opera has played there for more than five decades
The opera has played there for more than five decades