Rick
@rickv43.bsky.social
Good public policy enthusiast | Healthcare advocate
Well, this is crazy
Trump to direct Pentagon to buy coal to revive industry, Bloomberg News says reut.rs/46vkQiO
Trump to direct Pentagon to buy coal to revive industry, Bloomberg News says
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to direct the Pentagon to use government funding and Pentagon contracts to sustain U.S. coal-fired power plants, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing a White House official.
reut.rs
February 11, 2026 at 4:42 PM
Well, this is crazy
Reposted by Rick
In the absence of real oversight, we will continue to bear the costs of an administration that privileges ideology over evidence: increased risk of disease, narrowing scope for discovery and innovation, and reduced economic activity.
Grievance has its consequences.
Grievance has its consequences.
The FDA has refused to accept an application from Moderna to review its first mRNA seasonal flu vaccine, the company said, in another setback for the technology that’s been a target of some Trump administration health officials. https://cnn.it/4kt8iyn
February 10, 2026 at 11:44 PM
In the absence of real oversight, we will continue to bear the costs of an administration that privileges ideology over evidence: increased risk of disease, narrowing scope for discovery and innovation, and reduced economic activity.
Grievance has its consequences.
Grievance has its consequences.
is not some sort of across the board plan to reduce healthcare costs across the population which I believe was the intent of Bash's question.
February 8, 2026 at 5:44 PM
is not some sort of across the board plan to reduce healthcare costs across the population which I believe was the intent of Bash's question.
Great explanation and history of the CSR saga and it is certainly disingenuous and brazen to try to claim that this is their bright idea to save consumers money after they attempted to sabotage it in Trump's first term but if I am not mistaken this would only help lower income folks on the ACA and
February 8, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Great explanation and history of the CSR saga and it is certainly disingenuous and brazen to try to claim that this is their bright idea to save consumers money after they attempted to sabotage it in Trump's first term but if I am not mistaken this would only help lower income folks on the ACA and
Obviously, he does not since he could keep it going at a fairly robust level with pocket change. I guess the question really is will he let it go, so someone else can try to rebuild it, or does he want to keep it to continue to curry favor with Trump.
February 7, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Obviously, he does not since he could keep it going at a fairly robust level with pocket change. I guess the question really is will he let it go, so someone else can try to rebuild it, or does he want to keep it to continue to curry favor with Trump.
Short answer, likely not you!
Who does TrumpRx actually benefit? www.statnews.com/2026/02/05/t...
TrumpRx has a fundamental flaw
The real winners from TrumpRx are pharmaceutical manufacturers.
www.statnews.com
February 5, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Short answer, likely not you!
Reposted by Rick
INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.
February 4, 2026 at 5:11 PM
INBOX: Washington Post Ukraine Correspondent Lizzie Johnson announces that she has been laid off in the middle of a below-freezing war zone without power, heat, or running water.
Reposted by Rick
but to Andy's point an informed electorate would certainly go a long way for voters to start fixing some of this.
February 4, 2026 at 4:40 PM
but to Andy's point an informed electorate would certainly go a long way for voters to start fixing some of this.
amount of income inequality that has become so skewed it is threatening to bankrupt the country so that a few can have vast wealth and it makes it difficult to invest in the programs that would make people's lives more secure and less fearful. Campaign finance, SCOTUS. Unfortunately, I could go on
February 4, 2026 at 4:40 PM
amount of income inequality that has become so skewed it is threatening to bankrupt the country so that a few can have vast wealth and it makes it difficult to invest in the programs that would make people's lives more secure and less fearful. Campaign finance, SCOTUS. Unfortunately, I could go on
thing / fear going on here fueled by the vast right wing media information ecosphere that makes these vulnerable folks susceptible to the cultural erasure message and there lack of critical thinking is certainly a liability there. Of course, there are other issues equally important like an insane
February 4, 2026 at 4:40 PM
thing / fear going on here fueled by the vast right wing media information ecosphere that makes these vulnerable folks susceptible to the cultural erasure message and there lack of critical thinking is certainly a liability there. Of course, there are other issues equally important like an insane
Good observation by Andy and certainly the education system has been hollowed out. I have listened to quite a few focus groups with Trump voters and Trump curious voters and the lack of critical thinking and the ability to honestly assess policies and facts is shocking. There is also a cultural
February 4, 2026 at 4:40 PM
Good observation by Andy and certainly the education system has been hollowed out. I have listened to quite a few focus groups with Trump voters and Trump curious voters and the lack of critical thinking and the ability to honestly assess policies and facts is shocking. There is also a cultural
Regarding Bezos, with a little perspective in a few years not sure that sending some rockets into space is going to outweigh killing the Washington Post and putting another stake into the free press on his personal ledger of achievements, Sad that he can't see that and seems to have no moral compass
February 4, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Regarding Bezos, with a little perspective in a few years not sure that sending some rockets into space is going to outweigh killing the Washington Post and putting another stake into the free press on his personal ledger of achievements, Sad that he can't see that and seems to have no moral compass
Here is an idea. Let's tax you more and provide healthcare and other essential services to everyone so that there is a guarantee of a decent standard of living for everyone and safety net instead of ringing more working years out of the majority to enrich you. You would probably still be rich.
February 3, 2026 at 7:19 PM
Here is an idea. Let's tax you more and provide healthcare and other essential services to everyone so that there is a guarantee of a decent standard of living for everyone and safety net instead of ringing more working years out of the majority to enrich you. You would probably still be rich.
equitably and raise the level of living for all citizens to include basic needs like healthcare, childcare, reasonable work week etc.. and while we are at it provide a robust safety net for those that need additional support including things like UBI, and after all that the rich would still be rich.
February 3, 2026 at 3:39 PM
equitably and raise the level of living for all citizens to include basic needs like healthcare, childcare, reasonable work week etc.. and while we are at it provide a robust safety net for those that need additional support including things like UBI, and after all that the rich would still be rich.
This is incredibly tone deaf. Why don't we just finance a life of leisure for the elite while we ring a few more working years out of the working class in support of that while they toil in misery trying to afford healthcare, childcare, groceries, rent/mortgage. Another idea would be tax everyone
February 3, 2026 at 3:39 PM
This is incredibly tone deaf. Why don't we just finance a life of leisure for the elite while we ring a few more working years out of the working class in support of that while they toil in misery trying to afford healthcare, childcare, groceries, rent/mortgage. Another idea would be tax everyone
Because of course there is.
Horrifying. ICE confirms measles outbreak at Dilley family detention center. www.cbsnews.com/news/ice-dil...
ICE halts "all movement" at Texas detention facility due to measles infections
The measles cases at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center were detected Friday, Department of Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to CBS News.
www.cbsnews.com
February 2, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Because of course there is.
His longevity gig always seemed a bit sketchy and grifty, so, frankly, not very surprised
January 31, 2026 at 10:57 PM
His longevity gig always seemed a bit sketchy and grifty, so, frankly, not very surprised
the merits of infrastructure or safety net programs. We have really drifted far from the spirit of the founding fathers conceptual principles and we need to wake up and figure out a way to get back closer to that and institute some guard rails to keep this degradation from occurring again.
January 30, 2026 at 11:38 PM
the merits of infrastructure or safety net programs. We have really drifted far from the spirit of the founding fathers conceptual principles and we need to wake up and figure out a way to get back closer to that and institute some guard rails to keep this degradation from occurring again.
mechanisms that funnel the most extreme and or unqualified into elected office who then have no interest in open debate or compromise or reasonable consideration or the actual needs of their constituents. As it is it is not possible to even think that we could ever amend the constitution much less
January 30, 2026 at 11:38 PM
mechanisms that funnel the most extreme and or unqualified into elected office who then have no interest in open debate or compromise or reasonable consideration or the actual needs of their constituents. As it is it is not possible to even think that we could ever amend the constitution much less
Reasonable starting points for sure but that becomes difficult without both federal and state legislatures that actually represent their broad constituencies. We have a real problem with honest open minded representation with all the gerrymandering, party structures / primaries and other
January 30, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Reasonable starting points for sure but that becomes difficult without both federal and state legislatures that actually represent their broad constituencies. We have a real problem with honest open minded representation with all the gerrymandering, party structures / primaries and other
This is unfortunate. Would be interesting to understand the rationale behind this decision
Sanofi scraps plan to develop next-generation mRNA seasonal flu vaccine
The company, however, continues to work on a phase 1/2 study of its H5 mRNA flu vaccine for pandemic preparedness
www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...
The company, however, continues to work on a phase 1/2 study of its H5 mRNA flu vaccine for pandemic preparedness
www.cidrap.umn.edu/i...
January 30, 2026 at 7:50 PM
This is unfortunate. Would be interesting to understand the rationale behind this decision
But having masked un-badged officers enforcing laws on the streets is not what is done in a open democratic society.
January 28, 2026 at 11:26 PM
But having masked un-badged officers enforcing laws on the streets is not what is done in a open democratic society.
What a ridiculous take from Tillis. LEO's should not wear masks period. Obviously, there is some inherent risk in law enforcement work but doxing is pretty low on the list and it comes with the territory along with the more real risks of injury or death. If that's not for you do something else.
January 28, 2026 at 11:26 PM
What a ridiculous take from Tillis. LEO's should not wear masks period. Obviously, there is some inherent risk in law enforcement work but doxing is pretty low on the list and it comes with the territory along with the more real risks of injury or death. If that's not for you do something else.
Here is real data to quantify the substantial exodus of expertise and talent across many agencies and domains from the federal government during the Trump administration. I don't think anyone can say with a straight face this is not very bad for the country.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...
U.S. government has lost more than 10,000 STEM Ph.D.s since Trump took office
A Science analysis reveals how many were fired, retired, or quit across 14 agencies
www.science.org
January 28, 2026 at 5:10 PM
Here is real data to quantify the substantial exodus of expertise and talent across many agencies and domains from the federal government during the Trump administration. I don't think anyone can say with a straight face this is not very bad for the country.
www.science.org/content/arti...
www.science.org/content/arti...