Melinda Clem
@melindaclem.bsky.social
Life: Former Siamese blue point caretaker, bourbon drinker, avid reader.
Work: Strategy and growth executive and Chair of IGF-USA.
Work: Strategy and growth executive and Chair of IGF-USA.
Reposted by Melinda Clem
Next week the House E&C Committee is looking to run something of a shock and awe campaign, debating at least 19 bills that they say are related to "protecting kids online." Most of which are actually about censorship and control. Don't buy the framing. It's always the same damn thing.
November 26, 2025 at 12:50 AM
Next week the House E&C Committee is looking to run something of a shock and awe campaign, debating at least 19 bills that they say are related to "protecting kids online." Most of which are actually about censorship and control. Don't buy the framing. It's always the same damn thing.
Reposted by Melinda Clem
"This is a C-plus, B-minus labor market," says ADP's Chief Economist on CNBC.
US ADP EMPLOYMENT CHANGE WEEKLY ACTUAL: -13.5K VS -2.50K PREVIOUS
November 25, 2025 at 1:24 PM
"This is a C-plus, B-minus labor market," says ADP's Chief Economist on CNBC.
Reposted by Melinda Clem
The Secretary of Defense, ladies and gentlemen
November 25, 2025 at 1:23 PM
The Secretary of Defense, ladies and gentlemen
Reposted by Melinda Clem
FITCH: PEOPLE WITH LOW CREDIT SCORES ARE FALLING BEHIND ON THEIR CAR EMI PAYMENTS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE 6.65% OF SUBPRIME AUTO LOANS ARE OVER 60 DAYS LATE, THE HIGHEST LEVEL EVER RECORDED
November 25, 2025 at 12:44 AM
FITCH: PEOPLE WITH LOW CREDIT SCORES ARE FALLING BEHIND ON THEIR CAR EMI PAYMENTS MORE THAN EVER BEFORE 6.65% OF SUBPRIME AUTO LOANS ARE OVER 60 DAYS LATE, THE HIGHEST LEVEL EVER RECORDED
Reposted by Melinda Clem
Another Republican war for oil. I feel like we’ve done this before just a little while ago. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Rep. Salazar on Venezuela: "We're about to go in ... we need to go in ... Venezuela for the American oil companies will be a field day"
November 24, 2025 at 10:46 PM
Another Republican war for oil. I feel like we’ve done this before just a little while ago. bsky.app/profile/atru...
Reposted by Melinda Clem
JD Vance and Peter Thiel are running a sustained operation out of the White House designed to acquire Greenland, either voluntarily or by force. Thiel has laid out plans for what he intends to do with the island nation in past writings. It doesn't entail the consent of the Greenlanders for anything.
November 23, 2025 at 8:52 PM
JD Vance and Peter Thiel are running a sustained operation out of the White House designed to acquire Greenland, either voluntarily or by force. Thiel has laid out plans for what he intends to do with the island nation in past writings. It doesn't entail the consent of the Greenlanders for anything.
Rascal, the raccoon seed cylinder, making his debut.
November 23, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Rascal, the raccoon seed cylinder, making his debut.
Reposted by Melinda Clem
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
White House blew past legal concerns in deadly strikes on drug boats
The Trump administration sidestepped skeptical lawyers across national security agencies as it pursued a military campaign against alleged narcotraffickers, officials say.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
Reposted by Melinda Clem
BREAKING: Resident of Washington state dies after being infected with H5N5 bird flu
A Grays Harbor County resident receiving treatment for H5N5 avian flu has died. The Washington State Department of Health extends its condolences to the family.
A Grays Harbor County resident receiving treatment for H5N5 avian flu has died. The Washington State Department of Health extends its condolences to the family.
November 22, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Reposted by Melinda Clem
NEW: As Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick drives billions of dollars in foreign payments to help build AI data centers in the US, his sons help run a company earning tens of millions in fees helping finance AI data centers. A NYT investigation. (Free link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Family Affair: Commerce Secretary’s Sons Cash In on A.I. Frenzy
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:02 PM
NEW: As Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick drives billions of dollars in foreign payments to help build AI data centers in the US, his sons help run a company earning tens of millions in fees helping finance AI data centers. A NYT investigation. (Free link)
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/20/u...
Reposted by Melinda Clem
DOJ is now recruiting for immigration judges by calling them “deportation judges.”
That’s seems really bad.
That’s seems really bad.
November 21, 2025 at 1:20 PM
DOJ is now recruiting for immigration judges by calling them “deportation judges.”
That’s seems really bad.
That’s seems really bad.
Reposted by Melinda Clem
If you're trying to convince your friends to spend time on Bluesky rather than X, maybe show them this. X is not "the public town square" or about "free speech." It's "just what Elon Musk wants you to see." If you see stuff he doesn't like he'll step in to make sure you don't see it for long.
If you scroll on X, you are only being shown what Elon wants you to see. If you create content on X, no one will see it unless Elon wants them to.
November 21, 2025 at 1:31 AM
If you're trying to convince your friends to spend time on Bluesky rather than X, maybe show them this. X is not "the public town square" or about "free speech." It's "just what Elon Musk wants you to see." If you see stuff he doesn't like he'll step in to make sure you don't see it for long.
Reposted by Melinda Clem
TEN MONTHS IN:
The national debt is higher.
The trade deficit is wider.
The inflation rate has worsened.
The unemployment rate is up.
The national debt is higher.
The trade deficit is wider.
The inflation rate has worsened.
The unemployment rate is up.
November 20, 2025 at 7:56 PM
TEN MONTHS IN:
The national debt is higher.
The trade deficit is wider.
The inflation rate has worsened.
The unemployment rate is up.
The national debt is higher.
The trade deficit is wider.
The inflation rate has worsened.
The unemployment rate is up.
Reposted by Melinda Clem
I just…
WTF is wrong with this society?
WTF is wrong with this society?
November 21, 2025 at 12:55 AM
I just…
WTF is wrong with this society?
WTF is wrong with this society?
Reposted by Melinda Clem
The President of the United States just called for my arrest and execution.
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
November 20, 2025 at 7:15 PM
The President of the United States just called for my arrest and execution.
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
In these moments, fear is contagious, but so is courage:
Reposted by Melinda Clem
French authorities are taking X to court because Grok is now doing straight up holocaust denial. Gas chambers intended for disinfection, cyanide residue tiny, ‘story’ persists because of taboo against critical examination. (Full translation in alt text)
November 20, 2025 at 1:03 PM
French authorities are taking X to court because Grok is now doing straight up holocaust denial. Gas chambers intended for disinfection, cyanide residue tiny, ‘story’ persists because of taboo against critical examination. (Full translation in alt text)
Reposted by Melinda Clem
GOP is “states rights” flip-flopping again.
The draft order, obtained by WIRED, instructs the US Justice Department to sue states that pass laws regulating AI. www.wired.com/story/trump-...
Trump Takes Aim at State AI Laws in Draft Executive Order
The draft order, obtained by WIRED, instructs the US Justice Department to sue states that pass laws regulating AI.
www.wired.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:03 AM
GOP is “states rights” flip-flopping again.
Reposted by Melinda Clem
when I was young, i used to wonder how people like this would fare in life, as they didn't seem suited for gainful employment. it turns out, the internet allowed them to accumulate a massive audience of similar idiots, enriching them and turning them into a presidential advisor
November 20, 2025 at 12:58 AM
when I was young, i used to wonder how people like this would fare in life, as they didn't seem suited for gainful employment. it turns out, the internet allowed them to accumulate a massive audience of similar idiots, enriching them and turning them into a presidential advisor
Reposted by Melinda Clem
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
![Excerpt from a BBC article: ""We usually work, 10, 11 or 12 hours a day," says a 49-year-old woman from Jiangxi unwilling to give her name. "On Sundays we work around three hours less."
She is in an alleyway, where a dozen people are huddled around a row of bulletin boards.
They are reading the job ads on the board, while examining the stitching on a pair of chinos draped over it.
This is Shein's supply chain. The factories are contracted to make clothes on order - some small, some big. If the chinos are a hit, orders will ramp up and so must production. Factories then hire temporary workers to meet the demand their permanent staff cannot fulfil.
The migrant worker from Jiangxi is looking for a short-term contract - and the chinos are an option.
"We earn so little. The cost of living is now so high," she says, adding that she hopes to make enough to send back to her two children who are living with their grandparents.
"We get paid per piece," she explains. "It depends how difficult the item is. Something simple like a t-shirt is one-two yuan [less than a dollar] per piece and I can make around a dozen in an hour.""](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ks3gpa6ftoyaq7hmf6c4qx4c/bafkreiber7g4o5pujmzmjjzsp5dkz7blfexburuwjispfpv6dki7akjb7a@jpeg)
November 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
The people who make Shein's clothes labor for ten to twelve hours per day (in violation of China's labor laws), some up to seven days a week, and earn as little as 15 to 30 cents per t-shirt.
Waiting until December will only make the increase much, much worse.
US canceling October's employment report after shutdown prevented data collection reut.rs/4plErJs
US canceling October's employment report after shutdown prevented data collection
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said on Wednesday it would not be publishing the closely watched employment report for October, but will combine nonfarm payrolls for that month with November's report after the recently ended government shutdown prevented the collection of data for the household survey.
reut.rs
November 20, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Waiting until December will only make the increase much, much worse.
Booo
Europe has decided to roll back parts of its landmark digital rules, long seen as global benchmarks for privacy and AI. The proposed changes could give tech companies more leeway in using European data, and slow down the enforcement of Europe’s AI rules.
www.techpolicy.press/eu-set-the-g...
www.techpolicy.press/eu-set-the-g...
November 19, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Booo
Reposted by Melinda Clem
“.. Tariffs were pitched as the fix for America’s trade deficit.” 🤡
- Bilello
- Bilello
November 19, 2025 at 2:24 PM
“.. Tariffs were pitched as the fix for America’s trade deficit.” 🤡
- Bilello
- Bilello
Reposted by Melinda Clem
The farthest Trump’s own Treasury Secretary will go is “I think those commitments are real.”
November 19, 2025 at 12:00 AM
The farthest Trump’s own Treasury Secretary will go is “I think those commitments are real.”