(VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
@braak.bsky.social
It's me, braak, returned at long last from my social media exile.
I encourage you to purchase my book, RADHIKA RAAD AND THE TOWER INGENIUS, which is now available (for purchase).
https://a.co/d/1nix74W
I encourage you to purchase my book, RADHIKA RAAD AND THE TOWER INGENIUS, which is now available (for purchase).
https://a.co/d/1nix74W
good news everyone after filing my taxes this year and doing the year-over-year financial round up, I can confidently say that Donald Trump's economy has made me 0.87% richer.
February 18, 2026 at 3:35 PM
good news everyone after filing my taxes this year and doing the year-over-year financial round up, I can confidently say that Donald Trump's economy has made me 0.87% richer.
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
one reset I'd personally appreciate: behind the insistence that we must offer the electorate a little bigotry is the idea that commoners are more bigoted than the richer and more educated, who can be appealed to with high minded policy. but then you Ctrl+F "phrenology" in the Epstein files
What strikes me is that 'the volk' have incredibly incoherent and everywhere ideas, but the people who claim to speak for them in the press are like clerics who think there are two poles for all politics and everything must fit between them. These poles are like, eight inches apart
February 18, 2026 at 1:19 PM
one reset I'd personally appreciate: behind the insistence that we must offer the electorate a little bigotry is the idea that commoners are more bigoted than the richer and more educated, who can be appealed to with high minded policy. but then you Ctrl+F "phrenology" in the Epstein files
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
I’m constantly astounded at the sheer level of artistic production coming out of Iceland. Novels, movies, music. Amazing.
February 18, 2026 at 2:23 PM
I regularly see people wondering how it's possible that there are so many musicians and writers and film makers and artists from a tiny nation like Iceland.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
And the answer is really simple: State funding for art education and artists. I literally get a salary from the government to write books.
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
I received a report today from a community member who spotted approximately 24 new unmarked SUVs. outside the ICE facility in Tukwila, WA, just south of Seattle.
It’s hard to say for certain what this means, but it could indicate a greater deployment of personnel in the region in the near future.
It’s hard to say for certain what this means, but it could indicate a greater deployment of personnel in the region in the near future.
February 18, 2026 at 3:47 AM
I received a report today from a community member who spotted approximately 24 new unmarked SUVs. outside the ICE facility in Tukwila, WA, just south of Seattle.
It’s hard to say for certain what this means, but it could indicate a greater deployment of personnel in the region in the near future.
It’s hard to say for certain what this means, but it could indicate a greater deployment of personnel in the region in the near future.
"the 1% already pays 40% of the taxes" yeah okay but what if they paid 90% of the taxes, then the rest of us would barely have to pay anything and those guys would all still be rich.
February 18, 2026 at 2:24 PM
"the 1% already pays 40% of the taxes" yeah okay but what if they paid 90% of the taxes, then the rest of us would barely have to pay anything and those guys would all still be rich.
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
hello philly fam, can we get this eagleville family fully funded? it’s only a little over $1k needed after a raid last week and i think we can push it over the finish line gofund.me/9e971cc7b
Donate to Support Eagleville, Pa family after traumatic ICE raid, organized by Community for Change
On the morning of February 9th, a family in Eagleville, Penns… Community for Change needs your support for Support Eagleville, Pa family after traumatic ICE raid
gofund.me
February 18, 2026 at 2:00 AM
hello philly fam, can we get this eagleville family fully funded? it’s only a little over $1k needed after a raid last week and i think we can push it over the finish line gofund.me/9e971cc7b
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
G. R. R. martin gives all his notes for story ideas to three separate historians, each with a few different key points missing, and then they produce a book that's actually three monographs about the end of the war.
Not saying I think about the structural problems with A Song of Ice and Fire too much, but the other day I had a dream that 'The Winds of Winter' came out, and that it had an entirely new set of POV characters: historians trying to piece together how the war *really* ended a thousand years later.
February 18, 2026 at 12:39 PM
G. R. R. martin gives all his notes for story ideas to three separate historians, each with a few different key points missing, and then they produce a book that's actually three monographs about the end of the war.
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
the overseer of project 2025 is telling you out loud that every inch you cede on trans rights is part of the plan to create a white christian fascist state
Kevin Roberts, President of The Heritage Foundation, claims that evidence suggests a correlation between undergoing Trans Medical Care and acts of violence.
He states Heritage's public policy solution is to ban it for all ages and they're willing to work towards this goal on an incremental basis.
He states Heritage's public policy solution is to ban it for all ages and they're willing to work towards this goal on an incremental basis.
February 18, 2026 at 9:08 AM
the overseer of project 2025 is telling you out loud that every inch you cede on trans rights is part of the plan to create a white christian fascist state
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
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A weekly round-up of our investigations and what we’re reporting next.
Join the list: https://f.mtr.cool/sksolbauxv
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Join the list: https://f.mtr.cool/sksolbauxv
February 18, 2026 at 12:02 PM
Our journalism is powered by readers. The newsletter is the easiest way to keep up.
A weekly round-up of our investigations and what we’re reporting next.
Join the list: https://f.mtr.cool/sksolbauxv
A weekly round-up of our investigations and what we’re reporting next.
Join the list: https://f.mtr.cool/sksolbauxv
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
Japan PM Takaichi Sanae said it's been her "personal dearest wish" to lower the consumption tax. Nakano Tatsuya analyzed her blog from 2008 & found all the times she championed raising & keeping it at 10%.
Shortly after the article came out, Takaichi's entire blog was deleted.
Shortly after the article came out, Takaichi's entire blog was deleted.
February 17, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Japan PM Takaichi Sanae said it's been her "personal dearest wish" to lower the consumption tax. Nakano Tatsuya analyzed her blog from 2008 & found all the times she championed raising & keeping it at 10%.
Shortly after the article came out, Takaichi's entire blog was deleted.
Shortly after the article came out, Takaichi's entire blog was deleted.
Also I don't think you can do that. I don't think you can trademark something that the government owns.
Who tf would willingly put his name on anything? apnews.com/article/trum...
Trump family business files for trademark rights on any airports using the president's name
The Trump family company wants to trademark the use of the president’s name on any airports but says it doesn’t plan on charging a fee — at least for a proposed renaming of one near his Florida home.
apnews.com
February 18, 2026 at 2:32 AM
Also I don't think you can do that. I don't think you can trademark something that the government owns.
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
laughing so hard I might cry at this random instagram comment
February 18, 2026 at 2:06 AM
laughing so hard I might cry at this random instagram comment
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
Saying "um, ah, well..." for thirty seconds and then changing the subject has been the literal policy of the united states as regards the defense of Taiwan for decades. The whole point is to avoid giving a straight answer. If you want to critique on FP at least read a Wikipedia first.
AOC’s Munich Stumble Is a Warning to the Left
It’s time for progressives to get more sophisticated about national security and foreign policy.
nymag.com
February 18, 2026 at 1:55 AM
Saying "um, ah, well..." for thirty seconds and then changing the subject has been the literal policy of the united states as regards the defense of Taiwan for decades. The whole point is to avoid giving a straight answer. If you want to critique on FP at least read a Wikipedia first.
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
We’ve come full circle
February 18, 2026 at 1:39 AM
We’ve come full circle
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
this is what we folks here in the twin cities metro & across MN would really like you to understand —
1. they’re still here harming & destabilizing our communities
2. the reverberations will be felt for a very long time
3. even if they all left right now, there’s still a huge crisis to address
1. they’re still here harming & destabilizing our communities
2. the reverberations will be felt for a very long time
3. even if they all left right now, there’s still a huge crisis to address
This is why we're still raising funds for our neighbors to shelter in place. Even if ICE left TODAY it's too late for so many people to make their rent if they haven't been able to work.
$3311 / $5900 for 3 neighbors in my small condo building to stay housed for March
Venmo Caz-A
paypal.me/ccabb
$3311 / $5900 for 3 neighbors in my small condo building to stay housed for March
Venmo Caz-A
paypal.me/ccabb
shit is STILL rough here. this is a map of current reported ICE activity in the twin cities area (via iceout.org/en/ )
February 18, 2026 at 1:07 AM
this is what we folks here in the twin cities metro & across MN would really like you to understand —
1. they’re still here harming & destabilizing our communities
2. the reverberations will be felt for a very long time
3. even if they all left right now, there’s still a huge crisis to address
1. they’re still here harming & destabilizing our communities
2. the reverberations will be felt for a very long time
3. even if they all left right now, there’s still a huge crisis to address
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
After a discussion with their attorney, I have confirmed that Juan, his 16-month-old sister, his mom, and his dad have been deported.
February 18, 2026 at 12:49 AM
After a discussion with their attorney, I have confirmed that Juan, his 16-month-old sister, his mom, and his dad have been deported.
oh fuck me I am not ready to deal with Adult Convert Elon Musk
Finally, one of Elon's posts on X has broken through to the Fox News audience.
February 18, 2026 at 12:37 AM
oh fuck me I am not ready to deal with Adult Convert Elon Musk
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
we have to go back
Used to be that you could count on never once seeing a government official with his shirt off.
February 18, 2026 at 12:30 AM
we have to go back
Man I knew I should have gotten a new laptop last year
i think lots of people underestimate how badly these “AI” companies want people to be unable to afford computers. they view personal computing as a roadblock to their desire for complete end-to-end centralization. the fact that their tech is putting hardware out of reach is not just a happy accident
WD and Seagate confirm: Hard drives for 2026 sold out
February 18, 2026 at 12:32 AM
Man I knew I should have gotten a new laptop last year
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
i think lots of people underestimate how badly these “AI” companies want people to be unable to afford computers. they view personal computing as a roadblock to their desire for complete end-to-end centralization. the fact that their tech is putting hardware out of reach is not just a happy accident
WD and Seagate confirm: Hard drives for 2026 sold out
WD and Seagate confirm: Hard drives for 2026 sold out
Hyperscalers are tearing hard drives out of the hands of manufacturers. Prices are therefore also rising for SSDs.
www.heise.de
February 17, 2026 at 5:49 PM
i think lots of people underestimate how badly these “AI” companies want people to be unable to afford computers. they view personal computing as a roadblock to their desire for complete end-to-end centralization. the fact that their tech is putting hardware out of reach is not just a happy accident
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
DHS is holding a 2-month-old BABY at a detention facility in Texas.
Last night, Juan Nicolás was rushed to the hospital after choking on his own vomit & being unable to breathe.
This demands accountability — not a blank check for more cruelty.
Last night, Juan Nicolás was rushed to the hospital after choking on his own vomit & being unable to breathe.
This demands accountability — not a blank check for more cruelty.
I have an update on Juan Nicolás, the 2-month-old baby detained at Dilley, and his mother.
February 18, 2026 at 12:18 AM
DHS is holding a 2-month-old BABY at a detention facility in Texas.
Last night, Juan Nicolás was rushed to the hospital after choking on his own vomit & being unable to breathe.
This demands accountability — not a blank check for more cruelty.
Last night, Juan Nicolás was rushed to the hospital after choking on his own vomit & being unable to breathe.
This demands accountability — not a blank check for more cruelty.
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
computers used to be, are, could be again, very cool things. but these bastards have made the computer suck. it’s reprehensible. i love the computer! stop making it bad!
August 4, 2025 at 4:11 PM
computers used to be, are, could be again, very cool things. but these bastards have made the computer suck. it’s reprehensible. i love the computer! stop making it bad!
Okay but do these guys think that Kid Rock is an actual celebrity-celebrity, or is this just a way of rewarding him for his loyalty or something.
Who's up for an official U.S. government video showing RFK Jr. working out with Kid Rock and doing a cold water plunge in jeans
February 17, 2026 at 11:15 PM
Okay but do these guys think that Kid Rock is an actual celebrity-celebrity, or is this just a way of rewarding him for his loyalty or something.
Reposted by (VFP) Strategic Gravitas Reserve
Another thing to add to the Dem platform: all of these contracts were plainly procured through fraud, not one of them will be honored, and all culpable parties will be prosecuted.
This isn't a "radical" demand, it's the bare minimum required to re-establish the rule of law.
This isn't a "radical" demand, it's the bare minimum required to re-establish the rule of law.
The current person in charge of ICE's procurement for detention is a GEO Group executive who ran the company's immigration detention portfolio. He was granted an "ethics waiver" from DHS allowing him to hand out contracts to GEO in his new role.
February 17, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Another thing to add to the Dem platform: all of these contracts were plainly procured through fraud, not one of them will be honored, and all culpable parties will be prosecuted.
This isn't a "radical" demand, it's the bare minimum required to re-establish the rule of law.
This isn't a "radical" demand, it's the bare minimum required to re-establish the rule of law.