Grits for Breakfast
@gritsforbreakfast.bsky.social
Nom de plume of Scott Henson, Austin, TX. Cancer survivor, househusband, recovering policy wonk (justice systems, civil liberties; innocence). Retirement focus: TX negro-league baseball, female lion tamers. Zines: https://www.gfbpubs.com
Pinned
The long-planned, slow death of open government in New Jersey jerseyvindicator.org/2025/11/19/t...
The long-planned, slow death of open government in New Jersey • The Jersey Vindicator
A decade of shrinking access, weakened oversight and rising secrecy has left the public shut out of its own government.
jerseyvindicator.org
In TX, the death of open government was slow but not planned, at least publicly. Going back 35 years, at every juncture when records, meetings, etc., were closed, or useful reports rendered lame, they just lied and said they were doing the opposite and the media quoted them instead of investigating.
Mom calls Houston police for help; HPD turns the kid over to ICE; John Whitmire at first claims they didn't do that, then reverses himself because his earlier statements simply weren't true, but says not to politicize it. 🤮
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old with intellectual disabilities, wandered away from his mom’s fruit stand in October.
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
She reported him missing to Houston police. But instead of reuniting them, the city turned him over to ICE.
“They’re failing all of us,” his mom said.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/11/24/d...
A Disabled Child’s Mom Reported Him Missing. He Was Locked Away by Federal Immigration Authorities for 48 Days.
Emmanuel, a 15-year-old who has an intellectual disability, walked away from his mom’s fruit stand in October. Houston Police called ICE.
thebarbedwire.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:58 PM
Mom calls Houston police for help; HPD turns the kid over to ICE; John Whitmire at first claims they didn't do that, then reverses himself because his earlier statements simply weren't true, but says not to politicize it. 🤮
Reposted by Grits for Breakfast
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth chastised Sen. Mark Kelly for incorrectly displaying his military uniform medals, not comprehending that photographs reverse images from left to right. Here’s what that says about Joe Biden’s cognitive state.
November 25, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth chastised Sen. Mark Kelly for incorrectly displaying his military uniform medals, not comprehending that photographs reverse images from left to right. Here’s what that says about Joe Biden’s cognitive state.
TFW the new book coming out on *exactly* the obscure ancient history topic you've been trying to research won't be released until July 2026 and will cost $115. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-galli-...
The Galli Priests of Cybele: Ancient Sexuality and Identity through Global Cultures|Hardcover
Presenting a study of the Galli priests of the Roman cult of Cybele, the Great Mother goddess, this book examines the archaeological evidence to give a clearer picture of the priesthood. The Galli wer...
www.barnesandnoble.com
November 25, 2025 at 9:15 PM
TFW the new book coming out on *exactly* the obscure ancient history topic you've been trying to research won't be released until July 2026 and will cost $115. www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-galli-...
Reposted by Grits for Breakfast
Welcoming girls into troops welcomes more mothers and indeed whole families. You want to know what happens when you add families and women? Less child rape happens, less racism happens, and less bigotry happens. 2/
November 25, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Welcoming girls into troops welcomes more mothers and indeed whole families. You want to know what happens when you add families and women? Less child rape happens, less racism happens, and less bigotry happens. 2/
I stepped on a man-o-war as a small kid, IIRC at Port Aransas, and remember the pain and jagged red welts like it happened yesterday. No thanks. That's one of those life lessons you only need to learn once, then you damn well pay attention after that. Or wear shoes. Texas beaches, man!
Unwelcome beach creatures again wash up on Galveston beaches
Just don't confuse these blue meanies with "baby jellies."
www.chron.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:26 PM
I stepped on a man-o-war as a small kid, IIRC at Port Aransas, and remember the pain and jagged red welts like it happened yesterday. No thanks. That's one of those life lessons you only need to learn once, then you damn well pay attention after that. Or wear shoes. Texas beaches, man!
I had not realized there was adrenaline in the topical ointment used by cut men in fighter's corners until noticing a correction proposed by the TDLR combat sports division, which made a typo in a rule listing the wrong concentration amount.
Some states disallow it in amateur fights.
Some states disallow it in amateur fights.
Combative Sports Advisory Board Agenda Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (CDT)
Agenda for the Combative Sports Advisory Board meeting held on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. (CDT)
www.tdlr.texas.gov
November 25, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I had not realized there was adrenaline in the topical ointment used by cut men in fighter's corners until noticing a correction proposed by the TDLR combat sports division, which made a typo in a rule listing the wrong concentration amount.
Some states disallow it in amateur fights.
Some states disallow it in amateur fights.
A notable subset of affected workers are Texas prisoners, many of whom both work (unpaid) in the fields and have no air conditioning in most TX prison units.
Texas keeps getting hotter, and workers keep dying in the heat insideclimatenews.org/news/2411202...
Texas keeps getting hotter, and workers keep dying in the heat insideclimatenews.org/news/2411202...
Texas Workers Keep Dying in the Heat - Inside Climate News
Despite its blazing temperatures, Texas has no labor protections for heat. That leaves workers, especially immigrants, vulnerable on the job.
insideclimatenews.org
November 25, 2025 at 5:25 PM
A notable subset of affected workers are Texas prisoners, many of whom both work (unpaid) in the fields and have no air conditioning in most TX prison units.
Texas keeps getting hotter, and workers keep dying in the heat insideclimatenews.org/news/2411202...
Texas keeps getting hotter, and workers keep dying in the heat insideclimatenews.org/news/2411202...
I would support a hard and fast rule on this, especially for friggin' prosecutors! Using the plagiarism machine to take away people's rights based on phony, made-up cases is a bridge too far.
Using AI hallucinated cites should get you immediately referred to the bar for discipline, including disbarment.
November 25, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I would support a hard and fast rule on this, especially for friggin' prosecutors! Using the plagiarism machine to take away people's rights based on phony, made-up cases is a bridge too far.
I knew we were going to start seeing prosecutions based on this junk. I bet it's widespread and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I wouldn't use AI un-factchecked to write about lion tamers (as is my wont), much less in a damn legal brief! It just gets WAY too much wrong. Irresponsible AF.
Prosecutors in California used A.I. to argue that a 57-year-old man should be held without bail, his lawyers say, filing a brief that included wholesale misinterpretations of the law, as well as quotations that do not actually appear in the cited texts. nyti.ms/3M1bVye
Prosecutor Used Flawed A.I. to Keep a Man in Jail, His Lawyers Say
The case is among the first in which a prosecutor is accused of filing court papers marred by A.I.-generated mistakes.
nyti.ms
November 25, 2025 at 4:20 PM
I knew we were going to start seeing prosecutions based on this junk. I bet it's widespread and this is just the tip of the iceberg. I wouldn't use AI un-factchecked to write about lion tamers (as is my wont), much less in a damn legal brief! It just gets WAY too much wrong. Irresponsible AF.
In TX, the death of open government was slow but not planned, at least publicly. Going back 35 years, at every juncture when records, meetings, etc., were closed, or useful reports rendered lame, they just lied and said they were doing the opposite and the media quoted them instead of investigating.
The long-planned, slow death of open government in New Jersey jerseyvindicator.org/2025/11/19/t...
The long-planned, slow death of open government in New Jersey • The Jersey Vindicator
A decade of shrinking access, weakened oversight and rising secrecy has left the public shut out of its own government.
jerseyvindicator.org
November 25, 2025 at 4:06 PM
In TX, the death of open government was slow but not planned, at least publicly. Going back 35 years, at every juncture when records, meetings, etc., were closed, or useful reports rendered lame, they just lied and said they were doing the opposite and the media quoted them instead of investigating.
Head of Texas’ largest business organization accused of sexual assault in lawsuit www.texastribune.org/2025/11/24/t...
Head of Texas’ top business group sued for sexual assault
An unidentified woman on Monday sued Glenn Hamer, Texas Association of Business president and CEO, alleging he sexually harassed and assaulted her, then retaliated when she rejected his advances.
www.texastribune.org
November 25, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Head of Texas’ largest business organization accused of sexual assault in lawsuit www.texastribune.org/2025/11/24/t...
I had no idea that stories of German settlers in Texas had this sort of (now waning) resonance in Germany. I've certainly been fascinated by that cohort over the years, but never to the point of cosplay.
Before Berlin’s Cowboys Are Booted Off Their Land, One Final Hoedown
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 11:28 AM
I had no idea that stories of German settlers in Texas had this sort of (now waning) resonance in Germany. I've certainly been fascinated by that cohort over the years, but never to the point of cosplay.
May the ghost of Katie Sandwina forever haunt her persecutors
Yulia Lymeshchenko, Ukraine’s powerlifting champion sentenced in Russia to 19 years for partisan acts in defence of her home
khpg.org/en/1608815297
khpg.org/en/1608815297
Ukraine’s powerlifting champion sentenced in Russia to 19 years for partisan acts in defence of her home
“I decided to fight against Russia’s military aggression. Perhaps my words are worsening my position, but, your honour, my conscience is more important for me.” From Yulia Lemeshchenko’s final…
khpg.org
November 25, 2025 at 12:55 AM
May the ghost of Katie Sandwina forever haunt her persecutors
Reposted by Grits for Breakfast
I will add the following: our students lack the research skills required to audit an LLM essay for errors. They don’t arrive on campus with these skills; we teach it to them over four long years. So throwing freshmen in the deep end and saying “swim your way to a shore of rectitude” is folly.
November 24, 2025 at 1:23 PM
I will add the following: our students lack the research skills required to audit an LLM essay for errors. They don’t arrive on campus with these skills; we teach it to them over four long years. So throwing freshmen in the deep end and saying “swim your way to a shore of rectitude” is folly.
W/ his record, I'd be like Br'er Rabbit saying "Please don't throw me into that briar patch!" Make him the poster child in court. I dare ya!
The Pentagon says it's opening an investigation into Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly in the wake of a video of Democratic lawmakers urging servicemembers not to comply with 'illegal orders." n.pr/480zD6s
Pentagon investigates Democrat senator for telling troops to refuse 'illegal orders'
The Pentagon says it's opening an investigation into Arizona Sen. Mark Kelly in the wake of a video of Democratic lawmakers urging servicemembers not to comply with 'illegal orders."
n.pr
November 24, 2025 at 11:52 PM
W/ his record, I'd be like Br'er Rabbit saying "Please don't throw me into that briar patch!" Make him the poster child in court. I dare ya!
I'm so busy lately being embarrassed by A&M, UT, TX State, Tech, etc., I haven't had time lately to feel embarrassed for OU. But I'm embarrassed for OU. They've tried so hard to level up at that university, against all odds, and arresting profs w/ foreign accents isn't going to help matters.
November 24, 2025 at 10:32 PM
I'm so busy lately being embarrassed by A&M, UT, TX State, Tech, etc., I haven't had time lately to feel embarrassed for OU. But I'm embarrassed for OU. They've tried so hard to level up at that university, against all odds, and arresting profs w/ foreign accents isn't going to help matters.
In TX, billionaires used to recognize their limitations and let the smart ones take the lead. So Teledyne's George Kozmetsky directed UT's industrial policy bc he was he only one who knew wtf he was doing. Now, every racist cretin w/ 9 zeroes in their bank account thinks their opinions are relevant.
These days, billionaires feel the need to weigh in about everything now from universities to dating to whatever. But they are so poor, all they have is money, so the STFU backlash is coming: Wealthy People Have Always Shaped Universities. This Time Is Different. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Wealthy People Have Always Shaped Universities. This Time Is Different.
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:34 PM
In TX, billionaires used to recognize their limitations and let the smart ones take the lead. So Teledyne's George Kozmetsky directed UT's industrial policy bc he was he only one who knew wtf he was doing. Now, every racist cretin w/ 9 zeroes in their bank account thinks their opinions are relevant.
San Marcos is jam packed w/ short term rentals, there's no need whatsoever for a taxpayer funded "boutique hotel" at Texas State except for fat cats who think they're too good for the available accommodations. But that's not the taxpayers' problem.
Hotel to be built on Texas State campus
The new development will be located on Guadalupe Street, on the campus' south side.
www.kvue.com
November 24, 2025 at 9:21 PM
San Marcos is jam packed w/ short term rentals, there's no need whatsoever for a taxpayer funded "boutique hotel" at Texas State except for fat cats who think they're too good for the available accommodations. But that's not the taxpayers' problem.
Reposted by Grits for Breakfast
Crime reporting be like
November 22, 2024 at 4:29 PM
Crime reporting be like
Here's wishing them all coal in their stockings and a well funded primary opponent
These 20 House Democrats just joined Republicans in voting to fully repeal DC's police reform laws.
Wiping off the books critical laws on use of force, transparency, and preventing violent cops from getting rehired.
They think that they should have more say over DC police than the people of DC.
Wiping off the books critical laws on use of force, transparency, and preventing violent cops from getting rehired.
They think that they should have more say over DC police than the people of DC.
November 24, 2025 at 8:13 PM
Here's wishing them all coal in their stockings and a well funded primary opponent
Good Lord! Isn't Kathy Hochul up for reelection next year? NY Democrats shd be holding her feet to fire on this. How can Dems credibly criticize Trump over jackbooted thugs beating up handcuffed prisoners if Dem governors turn a blind eye to the exact same thing?
Restrained, Beaten, Asphyxiated: New York Prison Guards’ Brutality Grows
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Good Lord! Isn't Kathy Hochul up for reelection next year? NY Democrats shd be holding her feet to fire on this. How can Dems credibly criticize Trump over jackbooted thugs beating up handcuffed prisoners if Dem governors turn a blind eye to the exact same thing?
Reposted by Grits for Breakfast
So, one reason to slow-walk EVERYTHING in the Trump era is that you need to give the procedural and paperwork fuck-ups time to emerge. You don’t grant UC. You don’t yield back post-cloture time. You don’t concede that paperwork is properly filed, or that signatures or appointments are validly made.
Oh, Tish James case dismissed too. Now Miss Hannigan has to start her orphanage.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/24/p...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/24/p...
Federal judge dismissed indictments against Letitia James and James Comey | CNN Politics
A federal judge dismissed the indictments against former FBI Director James Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia James on Monday.
www.cnn.com
November 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
So, one reason to slow-walk EVERYTHING in the Trump era is that you need to give the procedural and paperwork fuck-ups time to emerge. You don’t grant UC. You don’t yield back post-cloture time. You don’t concede that paperwork is properly filed, or that signatures or appointments are validly made.
Reposted by Grits for Breakfast
Every Democrat in Congress should put out a video saying troops have an obligation to refuse unlawful orders. Make them prosecute all of you. This isn't a close call.
I'd add Republicans too if I thought any of them had the courage to actually cross Trump on this.
I'd add Republicans too if I thought any of them had the courage to actually cross Trump on this.
Hegseth is now threatening to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to active duty in order to court martial him.
November 24, 2025 at 5:52 PM
Every Democrat in Congress should put out a video saying troops have an obligation to refuse unlawful orders. Make them prosecute all of you. This isn't a close call.
I'd add Republicans too if I thought any of them had the courage to actually cross Trump on this.
I'd add Republicans too if I thought any of them had the courage to actually cross Trump on this.
It's a telling statement on the real-world economic value of cryptocurrencies that they could lose a trillion dollars worth of value in just a few weeks and for all but those specific, dilettantish investors, it's a big nothingburger.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/b...
Why Crypto’s Slide Is Rattling Wall Street
www.nytimes.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:46 PM
It's a telling statement on the real-world economic value of cryptocurrencies that they could lose a trillion dollars worth of value in just a few weeks and for all but those specific, dilettantish investors, it's a big nothingburger.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/b...
This jackass is like a bad penny. Good 🧵
Art Briles has been hired as the head football coach at a D2 school and so is back in the news. If you want to understand why this hire is upsetting for many, here's the long piece @dansolomon.com and I wrote back in 2019 about How Baylor Happened: web.archive.org/web/20190208...
How Baylor Happened
WACO, Texas — There’s not much to recommend spending four years in Waco. Driving into town up Interstate 35 from the south, the endless stretch of Texas nothing fills out slowly. It’s flat in the way ...
web.archive.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:38 PM
This jackass is like a bad penny. Good 🧵