Pete Riches
@peteriches.bsky.social
Officially an old git living in West London obsessed with the impending climate collapse, and wondering if Mother Nature will wipe us out before the fascists do...
Reposted by Pete Riches
On July 22, 1950 a little known FSO on the State Department policy planning staff named George Butler wrote a 24 point memo almost describing verbatim every inflection point in the Korean War in the coming months. So why did his insights have so little influence over policy? My first piece of 2026⬇️
George H. Butler and the Limits of Being Right
The 38th Parallel Paper and the Failure of Strategic Restraint in Korea
secretaryrofdefenserock.substack.com
January 7, 2026 at 10:06 PM
On July 22, 1950 a little known FSO on the State Department policy planning staff named George Butler wrote a 24 point memo almost describing verbatim every inflection point in the Korean War in the coming months. So why did his insights have so little influence over policy? My first piece of 2026⬇️
Reposted by Pete Riches
Epidemiologist Erin McCanlies spent much of the past two decades studying how parents’ exposure to toxic chemicals affects the chances that they will have an autistic child.
RFK Jr. has now cut her entire division.
RFK Jr. has now cut her entire division.
RFK Jr. Vowed to Find the Environmental Causes of Autism. Then He Shut Down Research Trying to Do Just That.
While touting a $50 million initiative to identify the causes of autism, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is helping lead an administration that is rolling back protections against pollution and toxic chemicals,...
www.propublica.org
September 23, 2025 at 11:30 PM
Epidemiologist Erin McCanlies spent much of the past two decades studying how parents’ exposure to toxic chemicals affects the chances that they will have an autistic child.
RFK Jr. has now cut her entire division.
RFK Jr. has now cut her entire division.
Reposted by Pete Riches
Crockett on Homan: For instance, when you are talking about solicitation, and it has to do with, say, prostitution, it's not a matter of whether or not the prostitution took place. The solicitation is complete. Once you actually engage in the agreement, that is enough for solicitation.
September 23, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Crockett on Homan: For instance, when you are talking about solicitation, and it has to do with, say, prostitution, it's not a matter of whether or not the prostitution took place. The solicitation is complete. Once you actually engage in the agreement, that is enough for solicitation.
Reposted by Pete Riches
Trump, Kennedy say the data show that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism.
It doesn't, but the PACER files show that the researcher whose data is fueling their conclusions was paid $150,000 to testify in a case against Tylenol.
www.statnews.com/2025/09/23/r...
It doesn't, but the PACER files show that the researcher whose data is fueling their conclusions was paid $150,000 to testify in a case against Tylenol.
www.statnews.com/2025/09/23/r...
Trump’s Tylenol warning cited a Harvard dean’s research. But a judge called his shifting conclusions ‘unreliable’
A Harvard dean whose work was cited as justification for curtailing Tylenol use provided what a judge called 'unreliable' expert testimony against the drug’s maker
www.statnews.com
September 23, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Trump, Kennedy say the data show that Tylenol use during pregnancy causes autism.
It doesn't, but the PACER files show that the researcher whose data is fueling their conclusions was paid $150,000 to testify in a case against Tylenol.
www.statnews.com/2025/09/23/r...
It doesn't, but the PACER files show that the researcher whose data is fueling their conclusions was paid $150,000 to testify in a case against Tylenol.
www.statnews.com/2025/09/23/r...
Reposted by Pete Riches
"Outrageous incident" turns out, in fact, to be manufactured outrage by, checks notes, a right-wing individual. Twisted on so many levels, including the fact that people could have been hurt. The store had to close because of threats based on disinformation.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/19/v...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/19/v...
Chicago Starbucks Worker Did Not Write 'Loser' On Order Honoring Charlie Kirk, Company Says
A Starbucks spokesperson said time-stamped surveillance footage shows an employee did not write the note, which had prompted online outrage and the store's temporary closure this week.
blockclubchicago.org
September 19, 2025 at 6:39 PM
"Outrageous incident" turns out, in fact, to be manufactured outrage by, checks notes, a right-wing individual. Twisted on so many levels, including the fact that people could have been hurt. The store had to close because of threats based on disinformation.
blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/19/v...
blockclubchicago.org/2025/09/19/v...
Reposted by Pete Riches
@mcopelov.bsky.social I really think we need to be distinguishing between areas where Trump is consolidating power and areas where he's utterly failing to.
A disorienting moment: Trump is consolidating autocratic power in areas where there's an easy path to do so. But in other areas he's facing deep institutional resistance and people are refusing to abandon the rule of law. Here he's weak and failing.
Thoughts on that:
newrepublic.com/article/2006...
Thoughts on that:
newrepublic.com/article/2006...
September 19, 2025 at 6:56 PM
@mcopelov.bsky.social I really think we need to be distinguishing between areas where Trump is consolidating power and areas where he's utterly failing to.
Reposted by Pete Riches
This is better. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl6F...
FLASHBACK: Trump Announces Executive Order To Stop All Government Censorship | Jimmy Kimmel
YouTube video by Forbes Breaking News
www.youtube.com
September 19, 2025 at 6:57 PM
This is better. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cl6F...
Reposted by Pete Riches
“After years and years illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts to restrict free expression, I will also sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.”
January 20, 2025.
January 20, 2025.
September 19, 2025 at 6:43 PM
“After years and years illegal and unconstitutional federal efforts to restrict free expression, I will also sign an executive order to immediately stop all government censorship and bring back free speech to America.”
January 20, 2025.
January 20, 2025.
Reposted by Pete Riches
Dutch late night TV has its take
September 19, 2025 at 2:39 PM
Dutch late night TV has its take
There’s a HUGE Elon Musk shaped hole in the Government’s new plans to improve our elections: shady billionaires like Musk can still donate massive amounts of money with no cap, effectively buying our democracy. Add your name to call for a cap on donations today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...
Take Big Money Out of Our Politics
British politics is awash with money from super rich donors. In 2023, two-thirds of all private donations came from just 19 people. These so-called ‘mega donors’ enjoy privileged access to political p...
you.38degrees.org.uk
September 18, 2025 at 7:59 PM
There’s a HUGE Elon Musk shaped hole in the Government’s new plans to improve our elections: shady billionaires like Musk can still donate massive amounts of money with no cap, effectively buying our democracy. Add your name to call for a cap on donations today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...
Reposted by Pete Riches
1/4 This is the essential lie that underpins Farage’s popularity. Unfortunately most of the mainstream media as well as social media has helped him cement it as ‘common sense’ over the last few years. The reality is quite different.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
August 23, 2025 at 10:12 AM
1/4 This is the essential lie that underpins Farage’s popularity. Unfortunately most of the mainstream media as well as social media has helped him cement it as ‘common sense’ over the last few years. The reality is quite different.
www.bbc.com/news/article...
www.bbc.com/news/article...
Reposted by Pete Riches
Ooh, look. When we covered the climate impacts of machine learning (“AI”) on Rare Earth in June we found it really frustrating that none of the tech companies would tell anyone the water and energy costs. Now Google has made at least some of it public. More of this! (and preferably raw data too).
In a first, Google has released data on how much energy an AI prompt uses
It’s the most transparent estimate yet from one of the big AI companies, and a long-awaited peek behind the curtain for researchers.
www.technologyreview.com
August 23, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Ooh, look. When we covered the climate impacts of machine learning (“AI”) on Rare Earth in June we found it really frustrating that none of the tech companies would tell anyone the water and energy costs. Now Google has made at least some of it public. More of this! (and preferably raw data too).
Reposted by Pete Riches
If a Democratic president starting sending Blue state national guard troops to occupy a red city as a power grab, the GOP officials in that state would arrest the invading guard troops to send a message that they are defending their sovereignty.
August 23, 2025 at 10:51 AM
If a Democratic president starting sending Blue state national guard troops to occupy a red city as a power grab, the GOP officials in that state would arrest the invading guard troops to send a message that they are defending their sovereignty.
Reposted by Pete Riches
President Trump, "Putin has been very respectful of me and our country"
Journalist, "Putin attacked a US factory in Ukraine"
Journalist, "Putin attacked a US factory in Ukraine"
August 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM
President Trump, "Putin has been very respectful of me and our country"
Journalist, "Putin attacked a US factory in Ukraine"
Journalist, "Putin attacked a US factory in Ukraine"
Reposted by Pete Riches
If true this is disgraceful. Punishing Labour MP’s for refusing to plunge hundreds of thousands of people into poverty is not what the public expects from a Labour government
www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/new...
www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/new...
Labour MPs threatened with deselection over welfare bill rebellion
www.independent.co.uk
June 23, 2025 at 8:44 PM
If true this is disgraceful. Punishing Labour MP’s for refusing to plunge hundreds of thousands of people into poverty is not what the public expects from a Labour government
www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/new...
www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/new...
Reposted by Pete Riches
Labour MPs table 'reasoned amendment' in attempt to halt welfare bill - with enough backers to defeat government
news.sky.com/story/labour...
news.sky.com/story/labour...
Labour MPs table 'reasoned amendment' in attempt to halt welfare bill - with enough backers to defeat government
Senior Labour figures, who are normally loyal to the party leadership, are understood to be spearheading the bid to force the government to change course.
news.sky.com
June 23, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Labour MPs table 'reasoned amendment' in attempt to halt welfare bill - with enough backers to defeat government
news.sky.com/story/labour...
news.sky.com/story/labour...
Reposted by Pete Riches
Calling all Labour MPs. NOW is the time to step up and add your name to the reasoned amendment
June 23, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Calling all Labour MPs. NOW is the time to step up and add your name to the reasoned amendment
Reposted by Pete Riches
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is poised to discover billions of new astronomical objects, revolutionizing understanding of everything from the history of the solar system to the workings of dark energy.
Read more: wrd.cm/43UN71u
Read more: wrd.cm/43UN71u
June 23, 2025 at 10:55 PM
The Vera C. Rubin Observatory is poised to discover billions of new astronomical objects, revolutionizing understanding of everything from the history of the solar system to the workings of dark energy.
Read more: wrd.cm/43UN71u
Read more: wrd.cm/43UN71u
Reposted by Pete Riches
What does apartheid look like in 2025? Israel is building tunnels to confine Palestinians below ground — while settlers travel freely above. A plan to erase Palestinian geography, visibility, and rights.
mondoweiss.net/2025/06/isra...
mondoweiss.net/2025/06/isra...
Israel is building a tunnel to cut off Palestinians from the heart of the West Bank
Israel is constructing tunnels that Palestinians will be required to pass through in the heart of the West Bank, making large parts of the occupied territory accessible only to Israelis. The aim is…
mondoweiss.net
June 23, 2025 at 11:00 PM
What does apartheid look like in 2025? Israel is building tunnels to confine Palestinians below ground — while settlers travel freely above. A plan to erase Palestinian geography, visibility, and rights.
mondoweiss.net/2025/06/isra...
mondoweiss.net/2025/06/isra...
Reposted by Pete Riches
He got Trump to use bunker-busters on Iran by making Israeli bombing look cool on Fox. Trump is a puppet, truly.
June 23, 2025 at 11:26 PM
He got Trump to use bunker-busters on Iran by making Israeli bombing look cool on Fox. Trump is a puppet, truly.
Reposted by Pete Riches
All the Tea Party/MAGA fears of FEMA camps were classic cases of projection
"Florida can request some reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency"
"Florida can request some reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency"
Florida Builds ‘Alligator Alcatraz’ Detention Center for Migrants in Everglades
www.nytimes.com
June 23, 2025 at 11:53 PM
All the Tea Party/MAGA fears of FEMA camps were classic cases of projection
"Florida can request some reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency"
"Florida can request some reimbursement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency"
Reposted by Pete Riches
Finally up: Museum of Degenerates book launch from Feb 26: A history of art, caricature, "degeneration," underexplored roots of Zionism—plus GOP Nazism, Democratic treachery, and the catastrophe they’ve ushered in:
youtu.be/dqON5wIhs5s
youtu.be/dqON5wIhs5s
Eli Valley's Museum of Degenerates Book Launch
YouTube video by Eli Valley
youtu.be
June 10, 2025 at 4:14 PM
Finally up: Museum of Degenerates book launch from Feb 26: A history of art, caricature, "degeneration," underexplored roots of Zionism—plus GOP Nazism, Democratic treachery, and the catastrophe they’ve ushered in:
youtu.be/dqON5wIhs5s
youtu.be/dqON5wIhs5s