Melissa Gray
@msgray.bsky.social
NPR senior producer. I love this fool country and this fool cat. And my grandfather had impressive melons.
Today’s Dusty Word is “frowzy” - unkempt, neglected, scruffy. High usage in the early 1900s.
“He loved proximity to power, yet maintained such a frowzy appearance: a hairy bullfrog in random clothes who’d never contemplated a razor or scissors or even a wash rag.”
“He loved proximity to power, yet maintained such a frowzy appearance: a hairy bullfrog in random clothes who’d never contemplated a razor or scissors or even a wash rag.”
January 31, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Today’s Dusty Word is “frowzy” - unkempt, neglected, scruffy. High usage in the early 1900s.
“He loved proximity to power, yet maintained such a frowzy appearance: a hairy bullfrog in random clothes who’d never contemplated a razor or scissors or even a wash rag.”
“He loved proximity to power, yet maintained such a frowzy appearance: a hairy bullfrog in random clothes who’d never contemplated a razor or scissors or even a wash rag.”
Today’s Dusty Word is “unconstitutional”
How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/t...
How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/t...
How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 1:47 PM
Today’s Dusty Word is “unconstitutional”
How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/t...
How ICE Already Knows Who Minneapolis Protesters Are www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/t...
Reposted by Melissa Gray
The operation in Washington, D.C. alone is projected to cost upwards of $660 million if it runs through the end of this year as expected, according to new data released by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. n.pr/45FbxN0
Trump's National Guard deployments could cost over $1 billion this year, CBO projects
The operation in Washington, D.C. alone is projected to cost upwards of $660 million if it runs through the end of this year as expected, according to new data released by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office.
n.pr
January 28, 2026 at 7:21 PM
The operation in Washington, D.C. alone is projected to cost upwards of $660 million if it runs through the end of this year as expected, according to new data released by the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. n.pr/45FbxN0
Reposted by Melissa Gray
EXCLSUVIE: The Trump administration has secretly rewritten nuclear safety rules and shared them with the companies they're meant to regulate, without making the new rules publicly available.
We've obtained a copy of the new rules and here's what we found.
www.npr.org/2026/01/28/n...
We've obtained a copy of the new rules and here's what we found.
www.npr.org/2026/01/28/n...
The Trump administration has secretly rewritten nuclear safety rules
The rewrite was done to speed up the construction of a new generation of nuclear reactors. Critics warn it could compromise safety and public trust.
www.npr.org
January 28, 2026 at 10:23 AM
EXCLSUVIE: The Trump administration has secretly rewritten nuclear safety rules and shared them with the companies they're meant to regulate, without making the new rules publicly available.
We've obtained a copy of the new rules and here's what we found.
www.npr.org/2026/01/28/n...
We've obtained a copy of the new rules and here's what we found.
www.npr.org/2026/01/28/n...
“There was a fever over the land, a fever of disgrace, of indignity, of hunger. We had a democracy, yes, but it was torn by elements within. “
- Judgement at Nuremberg, 1961
- Judgement at Nuremberg, 1961
January 28, 2026 at 1:43 AM
“There was a fever over the land, a fever of disgrace, of indignity, of hunger. We had a democracy, yes, but it was torn by elements within. “
- Judgement at Nuremberg, 1961
- Judgement at Nuremberg, 1961
Note: this was someone’s focus at DHS before this past weekend.
I understand on the other site, a furious retired military man is responding to any number of pro-ICE posts from Trump officials with a screen shot of that agent aiming his pistol at Pretti’s back: condemnation in a single frame.
I understand on the other site, a furious retired military man is responding to any number of pro-ICE posts from Trump officials with a screen shot of that agent aiming his pistol at Pretti’s back: condemnation in a single frame.
CNN: DHS officials have come to FEMA staff and told them to limit the use of the word ice…they are worried that by posting something like, watch out for the ice, that it's going to become a meme….
January 27, 2026 at 12:08 PM
Note: this was someone’s focus at DHS before this past weekend.
I understand on the other site, a furious retired military man is responding to any number of pro-ICE posts from Trump officials with a screen shot of that agent aiming his pistol at Pretti’s back: condemnation in a single frame.
I understand on the other site, a furious retired military man is responding to any number of pro-ICE posts from Trump officials with a screen shot of that agent aiming his pistol at Pretti’s back: condemnation in a single frame.
Today’s Dusty Word is “scobberlotcher” - a harmless & useless person, a slacker. Dates to 1600s.
A sentence:
“His limp calls from for action from the recliner were all he mustered, and until we saw him get up, he’d forever be in our minds a true scobberlotcher; we would work without him.”
A sentence:
“His limp calls from for action from the recliner were all he mustered, and until we saw him get up, he’d forever be in our minds a true scobberlotcher; we would work without him.”
January 27, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Today’s Dusty Word is “scobberlotcher” - a harmless & useless person, a slacker. Dates to 1600s.
A sentence:
“His limp calls from for action from the recliner were all he mustered, and until we saw him get up, he’d forever be in our minds a true scobberlotcher; we would work without him.”
A sentence:
“His limp calls from for action from the recliner were all he mustered, and until we saw him get up, he’d forever be in our minds a true scobberlotcher; we would work without him.”
Reposted by Melissa Gray
Now I want to know which CNN reporter or producer doesn't know the word "sycophant."
January 26, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Now I want to know which CNN reporter or producer doesn't know the word "sycophant."
Today’s Dusty Word is “shitbag” - a despicable person, one who is full of shit: a liar.
“The little shitbag told us we had not seen the mailman bite the dog, we’d seen the dog bite itself, but we tossed the pipsqueak in a laundry sack and beat the lies out of him with a bar of soap.”
“The little shitbag told us we had not seen the mailman bite the dog, we’d seen the dog bite itself, but we tossed the pipsqueak in a laundry sack and beat the lies out of him with a bar of soap.”
January 25, 2026 at 9:22 PM
Today’s Dusty Word is “shitbag” - a despicable person, one who is full of shit: a liar.
“The little shitbag told us we had not seen the mailman bite the dog, we’d seen the dog bite itself, but we tossed the pipsqueak in a laundry sack and beat the lies out of him with a bar of soap.”
“The little shitbag told us we had not seen the mailman bite the dog, we’d seen the dog bite itself, but we tossed the pipsqueak in a laundry sack and beat the lies out of him with a bar of soap.”
Reposted by Melissa Gray
The people at @mprnews.org are doing such great work. Really proud of them.
Woman tells Minnesota Public Radio that the man killed today was helping vehicle traffic get around the area where ICE agents and observers had started to gather and "next thing I knew, they shot him." www.mprnews.org/live-updates....
The latest on ICE in Minnesota
Live updates on ICE enforcement in Minnesota, with the latest developments and links to deeper reporting as events unfold.
www.mprnews.org
January 24, 2026 at 6:19 PM
The people at @mprnews.org are doing such great work. Really proud of them.
🧊🧊🍼
CNN: DHS officials have come to FEMA staff and told them to limit the use of the word ice…they are worried that by posting something like, watch out for the ice, that it's going to become a meme….
January 24, 2026 at 11:02 AM
🧊🧊🍼
Today - it’s a Snowy Word: “niveous” - of or relating to snow, looking like snow.
The Latin root is “nix.”
Let’s use it in a sentence!
“A large swath of the country was draped in a niveous blanket as the massive winter storm rolled its way to the Atlantic.”
Stay safe, people!
The Latin root is “nix.”
Let’s use it in a sentence!
“A large swath of the country was draped in a niveous blanket as the massive winter storm rolled its way to the Atlantic.”
Stay safe, people!
January 24, 2026 at 10:54 AM
Today - it’s a Snowy Word: “niveous” - of or relating to snow, looking like snow.
The Latin root is “nix.”
Let’s use it in a sentence!
“A large swath of the country was draped in a niveous blanket as the massive winter storm rolled its way to the Atlantic.”
Stay safe, people!
The Latin root is “nix.”
Let’s use it in a sentence!
“A large swath of the country was draped in a niveous blanket as the massive winter storm rolled its way to the Atlantic.”
Stay safe, people!
Today’s Dusty Word is “tomfoolery” - playful or foolish behavior.
I may have used this a lot on my son, Thomas, when he was wee.
Dates back to the 17th century, possibly evolved from a 14th century English jester, Thome Fole.
“Settle down, child! That’s enough tomfoolery for one day!”
I may have used this a lot on my son, Thomas, when he was wee.
Dates back to the 17th century, possibly evolved from a 14th century English jester, Thome Fole.
“Settle down, child! That’s enough tomfoolery for one day!”
January 23, 2026 at 12:51 PM
Today’s Dusty Word is “tomfoolery” - playful or foolish behavior.
I may have used this a lot on my son, Thomas, when he was wee.
Dates back to the 17th century, possibly evolved from a 14th century English jester, Thome Fole.
“Settle down, child! That’s enough tomfoolery for one day!”
I may have used this a lot on my son, Thomas, when he was wee.
Dates back to the 17th century, possibly evolved from a 14th century English jester, Thome Fole.
“Settle down, child! That’s enough tomfoolery for one day!”
Today’s Dusty Word is “gull” - 16th century, to mean “someone who is fooled or deceived” or, as a verb, “to fool or deceive.”
How about a sentence?
“He was told the conference ‘would not have been the same without him,’ but failed to realize he’d been gulled by a barb disguised as flattery.”
How about a sentence?
“He was told the conference ‘would not have been the same without him,’ but failed to realize he’d been gulled by a barb disguised as flattery.”
January 22, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Today’s Dusty Word is “gull” - 16th century, to mean “someone who is fooled or deceived” or, as a verb, “to fool or deceive.”
How about a sentence?
“He was told the conference ‘would not have been the same without him,’ but failed to realize he’d been gulled by a barb disguised as flattery.”
How about a sentence?
“He was told the conference ‘would not have been the same without him,’ but failed to realize he’d been gulled by a barb disguised as flattery.”
Reposted by Melissa Gray
I try to avoid hyperbole when it comes to Trump policies, but this is absolutely frickin’ insane—on about eleventy different levels.
Massive, systemic Fourth Amendment violations because … reasons.
Massive, systemic Fourth Amendment violations because … reasons.
ICE secretly told its officers that any time someone has been ordered removed, ICE can break down their door.
It has been accepted for generations that the only thing which can authorize agents to break into your home is a warrant signed by a judge. No wonder ICE hid this memo!
It has been accepted for generations that the only thing which can authorize agents to break into your home is a warrant signed by a judge. No wonder ICE hid this memo!
![May 12, 2025
MEMORANDUM FOR: All ICE Personnel
FROM: Todd Lyons Acting Director
SUBJECT: Utilizing Form I-205, Warrant of Removal
On January 20, 2025, President Donald J. Trump issued Executive Order 14159, Protecting the American People Against Invasion, directing the Secretary of Homeland Security to "ensur[e] the successful enforcement of final orders of removal." 90 Fed. Reg. 8443, 8444 (Jan. 20, 2025) (E.O. 14159). Essential to the removal of aliens subject to final orders of removal is the ability to locate and arrest them. To this end, certain supervisory immigration officers within both Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) are authorized to issue an administrative warrant, Form I-205, Warrant of Removal (Form 1-205), for the arrest of an alien with a final order of removal. 8 C.F.R. § 241.2(a)(1). All U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) special agents and deportation officers are authorized to execute Forms 1-205. 8 C.F.R. § 287.5(e)(3)(iii) - (y)
Although the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has not historically relied on administrative warrants alone to arrest aliens subject to final orders of removal in their place of residence, the DHS Office of the General Counsel has recently determined that the U.S. Constitution, the Immigration and Nationality Act, and the immigration regulations do not prohibit relying on administrative warrants for this purpose. Accordingly, in light of this legal determination, ICE immigration officers may arrest and detain aliens subject to a final under of removal issued by an immigration judge, the Board of Immigration Appeals (BIA), or a U.S.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:2vtbmhmrwzbqcfv4we4uxzzt/bafkreifrzrvaszfhj4bzhgtyvx3fm6ht4kc2zrwtvozijyxl3zxgp7vx6a@jpeg)
January 21, 2026 at 10:28 PM
I try to avoid hyperbole when it comes to Trump policies, but this is absolutely frickin’ insane—on about eleventy different levels.
Massive, systemic Fourth Amendment violations because … reasons.
Massive, systemic Fourth Amendment violations because … reasons.
Recommending a great podcast, but not a good movie.
You’re left with the sense that maybe “Cleopatra” isn’t a dog’s breakfast of a slogfest, but dear reader - I rewatched it Sunday and those are hours of my life I’ll never get back…
The podcast is FASCINATING
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
You’re left with the sense that maybe “Cleopatra” isn’t a dog’s breakfast of a slogfest, but dear reader - I rewatched it Sunday and those are hours of my life I’ll never get back…
The podcast is FASCINATING
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
London Slog
Podcast Episode · The Plot Thickens · S6 E1 · 51m
podcasts.apple.com
January 21, 2026 at 12:41 PM
Recommending a great podcast, but not a good movie.
You’re left with the sense that maybe “Cleopatra” isn’t a dog’s breakfast of a slogfest, but dear reader - I rewatched it Sunday and those are hours of my life I’ll never get back…
The podcast is FASCINATING
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
You’re left with the sense that maybe “Cleopatra” isn’t a dog’s breakfast of a slogfest, but dear reader - I rewatched it Sunday and those are hours of my life I’ll never get back…
The podcast is FASCINATING
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...
Today’s Dusty Word is a phrase:
“Shut your saucebox”… i.e. your mouth, the place of saucy, impudent talk. 19th century.
A sentence:
“After threatening his friends, the fed-up neighbor told him to shut his saucebox, but he, undeterred, flapped his lips some more, though at a safe distance.”
“Shut your saucebox”… i.e. your mouth, the place of saucy, impudent talk. 19th century.
A sentence:
“After threatening his friends, the fed-up neighbor told him to shut his saucebox, but he, undeterred, flapped his lips some more, though at a safe distance.”
January 21, 2026 at 12:34 PM
Today’s Dusty Word is a phrase:
“Shut your saucebox”… i.e. your mouth, the place of saucy, impudent talk. 19th century.
A sentence:
“After threatening his friends, the fed-up neighbor told him to shut his saucebox, but he, undeterred, flapped his lips some more, though at a safe distance.”
“Shut your saucebox”… i.e. your mouth, the place of saucy, impudent talk. 19th century.
A sentence:
“After threatening his friends, the fed-up neighbor told him to shut his saucebox, but he, undeterred, flapped his lips some more, though at a safe distance.”
Visited a family friend who has dementia and right now I’m thinking about how repetitive he was, as if new ideas couldn’t take hold, so he just kept talking about the same things, over and over and over.
He has problems, my dad said, when we left.
He has some big problems, I nodded.
He has problems, my dad said, when we left.
He has some big problems, I nodded.
January 20, 2026 at 7:09 PM
Visited a family friend who has dementia and right now I’m thinking about how repetitive he was, as if new ideas couldn’t take hold, so he just kept talking about the same things, over and over and over.
He has problems, my dad said, when we left.
He has some big problems, I nodded.
He has problems, my dad said, when we left.
He has some big problems, I nodded.
Reposted by Melissa Gray
Thank you for your resilience, your persistent brilliance...it transformed how the world navigates & understands our planet. Your work touches nearly every modern device & journey and more people should know your name.
Goodnight and godspeed, Gladys West.🕯️
thezebra.org/2026/01/18/d... #WomenInSTEM
Goodnight and godspeed, Gladys West.🕯️
thezebra.org/2026/01/18/d... #WomenInSTEM
Dr. Gladys West, Mathematician Whose Work Made GPS Possible, Dies at 95
ALEXANDRIA, VA — Dr. Gladys West, the pioneering mathematician whose work laid the foundation for modern GPS technology, has died. She passed away
thezebra.org
January 20, 2026 at 12:00 AM
Thank you for your resilience, your persistent brilliance...it transformed how the world navigates & understands our planet. Your work touches nearly every modern device & journey and more people should know your name.
Goodnight and godspeed, Gladys West.🕯️
thezebra.org/2026/01/18/d... #WomenInSTEM
Goodnight and godspeed, Gladys West.🕯️
thezebra.org/2026/01/18/d... #WomenInSTEM
Reposted by Melissa Gray
I suspect 9 of 10 Americans are unaware that the Hmong are here because they aided the US in the Vietnam war, and then had to flee as refugees afterwards. Quite the “thank you” we’re giving them 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
ICE is allegedly hunting for Hmong people in Minneapolis and as I watched video of the incident lo and behold @whstancil.bsky.social was on the scene
January 20, 2026 at 12:35 AM
I suspect 9 of 10 Americans are unaware that the Hmong are here because they aided the US in the Vietnam war, and then had to flee as refugees afterwards. Quite the “thank you” we’re giving them 🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️🤦🏻♂️
Today’s Dusty Word:
“Bedlamite” - a madman, a lunatic
1600s, refers to a London hospital where they put the insane.
Let’s use it in a sentence!
“The bedlamite’s ravings and threats on friend and foe alike made some shudder, but others were inured to it.”
“Bedlamite” - a madman, a lunatic
1600s, refers to a London hospital where they put the insane.
Let’s use it in a sentence!
“The bedlamite’s ravings and threats on friend and foe alike made some shudder, but others were inured to it.”
January 20, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Today’s Dusty Word:
“Bedlamite” - a madman, a lunatic
1600s, refers to a London hospital where they put the insane.
Let’s use it in a sentence!
“The bedlamite’s ravings and threats on friend and foe alike made some shudder, but others were inured to it.”
“Bedlamite” - a madman, a lunatic
1600s, refers to a London hospital where they put the insane.
Let’s use it in a sentence!
“The bedlamite’s ravings and threats on friend and foe alike made some shudder, but others were inured to it.”
A best-seller in 1978: My mom had a copy. I re-read it this week after 44 years.
It’s still excellent. But I don’t recognize that health care: patients are in the hospital days and weeks. No worries about insurance.
The sexism from male doctors is something else.
It’s still excellent. But I don’t recognize that health care: patients are in the hospital days and weeks. No worries about insurance.
The sexism from male doctors is something else.
January 17, 2026 at 1:22 PM
A best-seller in 1978: My mom had a copy. I re-read it this week after 44 years.
It’s still excellent. But I don’t recognize that health care: patients are in the hospital days and weeks. No worries about insurance.
The sexism from male doctors is something else.
It’s still excellent. But I don’t recognize that health care: patients are in the hospital days and weeks. No worries about insurance.
The sexism from male doctors is something else.
Today’s Dusty Word is a phrase: “A Roland for an Oliver” - a retort of equal measure to provocation .
It refers to 2 effective knights of Charlemagne.
“They thought deploying the guard would be a Roland for an Oliver, but its commanders had no desire to violate the angry citizens’ rights.”
It refers to 2 effective knights of Charlemagne.
“They thought deploying the guard would be a Roland for an Oliver, but its commanders had no desire to violate the angry citizens’ rights.”
January 17, 2026 at 1:02 PM
Today’s Dusty Word is a phrase: “A Roland for an Oliver” - a retort of equal measure to provocation .
It refers to 2 effective knights of Charlemagne.
“They thought deploying the guard would be a Roland for an Oliver, but its commanders had no desire to violate the angry citizens’ rights.”
It refers to 2 effective knights of Charlemagne.
“They thought deploying the guard would be a Roland for an Oliver, but its commanders had no desire to violate the angry citizens’ rights.”
Today’s Dusty Word is “nithing,” rhymes with “writhing” and means “villain who breaks a code of honor with their kin and brings shame on themselves.” From Norse mythology.
A nithing pole with a severed horse head is left at the nithing’s home to curse them.
Poor horse, life lost to curse.
A nithing pole with a severed horse head is left at the nithing’s home to curse them.
Poor horse, life lost to curse.
January 16, 2026 at 12:31 PM
Today’s Dusty Word is “nithing,” rhymes with “writhing” and means “villain who breaks a code of honor with their kin and brings shame on themselves.” From Norse mythology.
A nithing pole with a severed horse head is left at the nithing’s home to curse them.
Poor horse, life lost to curse.
A nithing pole with a severed horse head is left at the nithing’s home to curse them.
Poor horse, life lost to curse.
Video Analysis of ICE Shooting Sheds Light on Contested Moments www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...
Video: Video Analysis of ICE Shooting Sheds Light on Contested Moments
Newly available videos and existing footage synchronized and assessed by The Times provides a millisecond-by-millisecond look at how an ICE officer ended up shooting and killing a motorist in Minneapo...
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:16 PM
Video Analysis of ICE Shooting Sheds Light on Contested Moments www.nytimes.com/video/us/100...