Pinned
Mark Blacknell
@blacknell.bsky.social
· Sep 12
This summer, we signed up for a week of dive lessons. I’d never really learned how to use a diving board.
It was an hour a day of throwing my body into the air and hoping I did it right. It was some of the most fun I’ve had in years, and I’m so glad we did it.
(First in a series of Good Things)
It was an hour a day of throwing my body into the air and hoping I did it right. It was some of the most fun I’ve had in years, and I’m so glad we did it.
(First in a series of Good Things)
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
NOT funded after 1/31: DHS, HHS, Labor, Education, Treasury, State, foreign aid, DoD (partial), Transportation, DC, Executive Office of the President, Judiciary Branch
Funded after 1/31: VA, DoD (partial), Commerce, Justice, Energy, Interior, EPA, NSF, NASA, Legislative Branch
List not exhaustive
Funded after 1/31: VA, DoD (partial), Commerce, Justice, Energy, Interior, EPA, NSF, NASA, Legislative Branch
List not exhaustive
Fed friends and constituents, you’re following the news I’m sure but in case this isn’t coming through in the sheer volume of everything, a partial government shutdown beginning next Monday is highly likely
January 26, 2026 at 7:21 PM
NOT funded after 1/31: DHS, HHS, Labor, Education, Treasury, State, foreign aid, DoD (partial), Transportation, DC, Executive Office of the President, Judiciary Branch
Funded after 1/31: VA, DoD (partial), Commerce, Justice, Energy, Interior, EPA, NSF, NASA, Legislative Branch
List not exhaustive
Funded after 1/31: VA, DoD (partial), Commerce, Justice, Energy, Interior, EPA, NSF, NASA, Legislative Branch
List not exhaustive
One of the many things that blows my mind about this that the GC hyping this appears to be a real lawyer, with actual experience in government.
NEW: The Transportation Department, which oversees the safety of airplanes, cars and pipelines, plans to use Google Gemini to draft new regulations.
“We don’t need the perfect rule,” said DOT’s top lawyer. “We want good enough.”
By @jessecoburn.bsky.social
“We don’t need the perfect rule,” said DOT’s top lawyer. “We want good enough.”
By @jessecoburn.bsky.social
Government by AI? Trump Administration Plans to Write Regulations Using Artificial Intelligence
The Transportation Department, which oversees the safety of airplanes, cars and pipelines, plans to use Google Gemini to draft new regulations. “We don’t need the perfect rule,” said DOT’s top lawyer....
www.propublica.org
January 26, 2026 at 6:41 PM
One of the many things that blows my mind about this that the GC hyping this appears to be a real lawyer, with actual experience in government.
Feds were terrified of these guys. But more importantly, the guys at the top didn't want to see the Feds shoot anyone, either.
Now we have Feds with zero fear and a bunch of rabid monkeys at the top howling for more blood.
Now we have Feds with zero fear and a bunch of rabid monkeys at the top howling for more blood.
Remember the Bundy insanity during the Obama years? Armed guys occupied a federal office and one of their buddies took position with a sniper rifle aimed at federal agents?
Exactly how many of those guys were shot and killed?
Exactly how many of those guys were shot and killed?
January 25, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Feds were terrified of these guys. But more importantly, the guys at the top didn't want to see the Feds shoot anyone, either.
Now we have Feds with zero fear and a bunch of rabid monkeys at the top howling for more blood.
Now we have Feds with zero fear and a bunch of rabid monkeys at the top howling for more blood.
Lots of ways to be prepared and contribute to your family and community's safety. Stop the Bleed courses are available all over the country for low to (often) no cost.
Get Trained
The number one cause of preventable death after injury is bleeding. Get trained to control bleeding with an ACS course.
www.stopthebleed.org
January 25, 2026 at 3:57 PM
Lots of ways to be prepared and contribute to your family and community's safety. Stop the Bleed courses are available all over the country for low to (often) no cost.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
The twin souls of American history on full display. The jackboot murderers spilling innocent blood and lying about with a smirk, versus the righteous valor of a community showing out to defend strangers in the face of mortal peril.
January 25, 2026 at 1:29 AM
The twin souls of American history on full display. The jackboot murderers spilling innocent blood and lying about with a smirk, versus the righteous valor of a community showing out to defend strangers in the face of mortal peril.
A whole lot of lawyers share this view, I think. Loads of otherwise-senior folks who would - with much patriotism - take up line-level work in service of restoring this country.
I will immediately resign from my corporate gig and take the attendant pay cut if a future D POTUS offers me a DOJ spot persecuting members of this Administration
Honestly a federal commission with prosecutorial authority paired with stripping immunity from ICE officers would be a huge wombo combo
January 25, 2026 at 1:14 AM
A whole lot of lawyers share this view, I think. Loads of otherwise-senior folks who would - with much patriotism - take up line-level work in service of restoring this country.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
When was he supposed to do that? Between the bursts of pepper spray? Between the blows to his head?
Chip Roy: "As someone who carries a weapon in TX, if I'm in front of law enforcement or if I get stopped, I tell them that. I tell them that I've got a concealed carry permit. I show them my ID. I tell them where the weapon is bc that's what we're supposed to do. That's not what I think I saw here"
January 25, 2026 at 12:19 AM
When was he supposed to do that? Between the bursts of pepper spray? Between the blows to his head?
You know, just a huge amount of appreciation to all the grandparents out there who give a shit and are doing what they can.
(And a heaping helping of shame to those who just sit quietly by, secure in their Medicare and Social Security payments and pensions.)
(And a heaping helping of shame to those who just sit quietly by, secure in their Medicare and Social Security payments and pensions.)
Protester in Minnesota: I’m 70 years old and I’m fucking angry *disappears into gas*
January 24, 2026 at 5:24 PM
You know, just a huge amount of appreciation to all the grandparents out there who give a shit and are doing what they can.
(And a heaping helping of shame to those who just sit quietly by, secure in their Medicare and Social Security payments and pensions.)
(And a heaping helping of shame to those who just sit quietly by, secure in their Medicare and Social Security payments and pensions.)
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
I talk about trials for all this shit like it's a foregone conclusion that they'll happen, not because I think that's true, but because I'm *trying to normalize the idea.*
These evil fucks are doing the Big Crimes. I'm not interested in surrendering in advance. Keep your Denethor energy.
These evil fucks are doing the Big Crimes. I'm not interested in surrendering in advance. Keep your Denethor energy.
They wheeled this Nazi asshole into court in a wheelchair and he was still trying to hide his face in shame 76 years after World War II ended. That's the kind of commitment I'm looking for.
Ex-Nazi guard, 101, sentenced for role in 3,500 murders
He was sentenced to five years in prison for serving at the Nazis’ Sachsenhausen concentration camp.
www.nbcnews.com
January 24, 2026 at 3:22 PM
I talk about trials for all this shit like it's a foregone conclusion that they'll happen, not because I think that's true, but because I'm *trying to normalize the idea.*
These evil fucks are doing the Big Crimes. I'm not interested in surrendering in advance. Keep your Denethor energy.
These evil fucks are doing the Big Crimes. I'm not interested in surrendering in advance. Keep your Denethor energy.
Just outstanding work by @beckyhammer.bsky.social tonight.
January 24, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Just outstanding work by @beckyhammer.bsky.social tonight.
👏👏👏
“But probably not safaera”
“But also maybe because it is the bohemian rhapsody of Reggaeton and eating ass” (paraphrased)
“But also maybe because it is the bohemian rhapsody of Reggaeton and eating ass” (paraphrased)
January 24, 2026 at 12:59 AM
👏👏👏
This is going to force some pretty direct and tough reckoning.
🚨 ICE is creating a watchlist of anyone and everyone who films them, DHS sources tell me: www.kenklippenstein.com/p/ice-making...
ICE Making List of Anyone Who Films Them
“We have a nice little database and now you’re considered a domestic terrorist.”
www.kenklippenstein.com
January 23, 2026 at 9:42 PM
This is going to force some pretty direct and tough reckoning.
Minnesota patching up some of the damage it did with Norm Coleman and Michelle Bachmann.
It’s -9 degrees. Downtown Minneapolis is packed for the anti-ICE rally and the crowd keeps growing
January 23, 2026 at 9:19 PM
Minnesota patching up some of the damage it did with Norm Coleman and Michelle Bachmann.
It's going to be *just like this*, right?
January 23, 2026 at 8:12 PM
It's going to be *just like this*, right?
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
The second Dems get power back. It can’t wait. We can’t Gerald Ford this again. And we know, from both Obama and Biden, that good policy on issue X doesn’t fix the authoritarian problem. The platform must be institutional reform:
- DC/PR/USVI statehood
- Enlarging the House
- MMDs
- New VRA
- Totally revamping SCOTUS: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
- Automatic universal voter registration
- Rewriting the "national emergency" laws: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
- Subordinating the Senate: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Etc.
- Enlarging the House
- MMDs
- New VRA
- Totally revamping SCOTUS: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
- Automatic universal voter registration
- Rewriting
- Subordinating the Senate: bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Etc.
👇🎯💯
Again, the needs to be & all the committees & commissions that want to Do A Popularism & focus on Kitchen Table Issues are engaged in a category mistake about What Democrats Must Do the next time they ever have power.
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Again, the
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
January 23, 2026 at 3:06 PM
The second Dems get power back. It can’t wait. We can’t Gerald Ford this again. And we know, from both Obama and Biden, that good policy on issue X doesn’t fix the authoritarian problem. The platform must be institutional reform:
Well this was a horrible read.
Again, how in the world are our kids *ever* going to be able to look *anything* up?
Again, how in the world are our kids *ever* going to be able to look *anything* up?
Google won’t stop replacing our news headlines with terrible AI
Google won’t stop replacing our news headlines with terrible AI
“This feature performs well for user satisfaction,” claims Google.
buff.ly
January 23, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Well this was a horrible read.
Again, how in the world are our kids *ever* going to be able to look *anything* up?
Again, how in the world are our kids *ever* going to be able to look *anything* up?
Confirming once again that the Commission on Fine Arts is trash. Making sure that we don't get too much (of the wrong) ethnicity on coins, but absolutely fucking useless when it comes to, oh, I dunno, the East Wing of the White House. Clowns. Utter and complete clowns.
During today's Commission of Fine Arts meeting, in a hearing on a new gold dollar coin, the commissioners rejected all the designs for Lady Liberty as too ethnic, choosing a Pegasus instead.
January 22, 2026 at 8:42 PM
Confirming once again that the Commission on Fine Arts is trash. Making sure that we don't get too much (of the wrong) ethnicity on coins, but absolutely fucking useless when it comes to, oh, I dunno, the East Wing of the White House. Clowns. Utter and complete clowns.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
I don't know if I'll ever get over the message of "we are going to protect black and brown americans using states' rights 😤" but here we are. ruby ridge and boston massacre. the states of the united states pre-date the united states. help
January 22, 2026 at 8:32 PM
I don't know if I'll ever get over the message of "we are going to protect black and brown americans using states' rights 😤" but here we are. ruby ridge and boston massacre. the states of the united states pre-date the united states. help
I run a shamelessly pro- @nws.noaa.gov account. You should, too.
Do you appreciate @nws.noaa.gov's posts on Bluesky?
Did you know that this account is a pilot program that may or may not be continued and even expanded to NWS field offices?
NWS is soliciting comments here! www.surveymonkey.com/r/PrototypeN...
Press release:
www.weather.gov/media/notifi...
Did you know that this account is a pilot program that may or may not be continued and even expanded to NWS field offices?
NWS is soliciting comments here! www.surveymonkey.com/r/PrototypeN...
Press release:
www.weather.gov/media/notifi...
⚠️~132 million: Number of people under alerts for snow, sleet, & freezing rain.
A large, long-duration winter storm is expected to bring widespread heavy snow, sleet, & freezing rain from the Southern Rockies & Plains beginning Friday (Jan. 23), spreading eastward toward New England this weekend.
🧵
A large, long-duration winter storm is expected to bring widespread heavy snow, sleet, & freezing rain from the Southern Rockies & Plains beginning Friday (Jan. 23), spreading eastward toward New England this weekend.
🧵
January 22, 2026 at 8:19 PM
I run a shamelessly pro- @nws.noaa.gov account. You should, too.
Hadn't bothered to look at the details of this - none of his fraud ever really is, but after reading this? Kill it in its cradle. Right now. And banish every single person involved - from the perpetrators to the acquiescent - from ever being involved in public life again.
Trump’s board of peace is an imperial court completely unlike what was proposed.
The Guardian share.google/FV1OkaWp5Mk9...
The Guardian share.google/FV1OkaWp5Mk9...
Trump’s board of peace is an imperial court completely unlike what was proposed
The US president’s global club was endorsed by the security council on a false prospectus and seems aimed at displacing the United Nations
share.google
January 22, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Hadn't bothered to look at the details of this - none of his fraud ever really is, but after reading this? Kill it in its cradle. Right now. And banish every single person involved - from the perpetrators to the acquiescent - from ever being involved in public life again.
Reposted by Mark Blacknell
The FCC just issued a misleading announcement targeting certain late-night and daytime programs.
Nothing has fundamentally changed with respect to our political broadcasting rules, but this does represent an escalation in this FCC’s ongoing campaign to censor & control speech.🧵
Nothing has fundamentally changed with respect to our political broadcasting rules, but this does represent an escalation in this FCC’s ongoing campaign to censor & control speech.🧵
January 21, 2026 at 8:04 PM
The FCC just issued a misleading announcement targeting certain late-night and daytime programs.
Nothing has fundamentally changed with respect to our political broadcasting rules, but this does represent an escalation in this FCC’s ongoing campaign to censor & control speech.🧵
Nothing has fundamentally changed with respect to our political broadcasting rules, but this does represent an escalation in this FCC’s ongoing campaign to censor & control speech.🧵
It's not the form of government that's the challenge, here. It's the unwillingness of those in government to change how they engage with the governed.
Government-change proponents face uphill battle educating residents about the issue
Government-change proponents face uphill battle educating residents about the issue | ARLnow.com
Before Arlington moves to change its form of government, it needs to educate more residents on what the current structure is and why reforms might be needed, one County Board member believes. "Walk down...
www.arlnow.com
January 21, 2026 at 8:39 PM
It's not the form of government that's the challenge, here. It's the unwillingness of those in government to change how they engage with the governed.
Hey, @beyer.house.gov, can you step up and do what the utterly useless Minority Leader won't do? Remind your colleagues that things actually matter, and that their voters expect them to act like it?
NEWS: While Hakeem Jeffries has announced he's opposing the DHS/ICE funding bill tomorrow, his team is not whipping the vote. Several frontliners are expected to vote yes. There's a difference in leadership between personal vote decisions & unifying the caucus.
From me:
prospect.org/2026/01/21/j...
From me:
prospect.org/2026/01/21/j...
Jeffries Won’t Whip Vote Against ICE Funding - The American Prospect
While the House Democratic leader announced personal opposition to a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, he won’t pressure his colleagues to do the same.
prospect.org
January 21, 2026 at 8:30 PM
Hey, @beyer.house.gov, can you step up and do what the utterly useless Minority Leader won't do? Remind your colleagues that things actually matter, and that their voters expect them to act like it?