wordmerchant
@thalkowski.bsky.social
Researcher studying language-in-use in clinical (and other) settings. Views my own. #emca #ConversationAnalysis #ethnomethodololgy https://sites.google.com/view/thalkowski/home
From the walk home.
February 3, 2026 at 11:38 PM
From the walk home.
Reposted by wordmerchant
More indicative of a breakdown at the DOJ than a breakdown by the AUSA, imho.
This is unreal. An AUSA talking like that in open court is about as close as you can come to a total breakdown. Never heard of anything like it.
February 3, 2026 at 9:04 PM
More indicative of a breakdown at the DOJ than a breakdown by the AUSA, imho.
Reposted by wordmerchant
I have confirmed the gist of this report out of federal court in Minnesota today from a source familiar.
If you have more information about the District of Minnesota—either the court or the U.S. Attorney's Office—and how they are handling all of this, please reach out. I am at crg.32 on Signal.
If you have more information about the District of Minnesota—either the court or the U.S. Attorney's Office—and how they are handling all of this, please reach out. I am at crg.32 on Signal.
February 3, 2026 at 9:38 PM
I have confirmed the gist of this report out of federal court in Minnesota today from a source familiar.
If you have more information about the District of Minnesota—either the court or the U.S. Attorney's Office—and how they are handling all of this, please reach out. I am at crg.32 on Signal.
If you have more information about the District of Minnesota—either the court or the U.S. Attorney's Office—and how they are handling all of this, please reach out. I am at crg.32 on Signal.
Reposted by wordmerchant
Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation on Friday to slash the entirety of the GOP’s massive ICE budget increase and funnel the money toward undoing Medicaid cuts.
All Democrats Backed Sanders Push to Repeal $75B for ICE to Undo Medicaid Cuts
The extra $75 billion granted to ICE could instead prevent 700,000 people from losing health care, Sanders said.
truthout.org
February 2, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation on Friday to slash the entirety of the GOP’s massive ICE budget increase and funnel the money toward undoing Medicaid cuts.
Reposted by wordmerchant
Reposted by wordmerchant
Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists and Flock-Fleecing Frauds:
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Separa...
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Separa...
February 2, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Separation of Church and Hate: A Sane Person's Guide to Taking Back the Bible from Fundamentalists, Fascists and Flock-Fleecing Frauds:
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Separa...
www.simonandschuster.com/books/Separa...
Reposted by wordmerchant
"She sustained a torn rotator cuff, concussion and bruised ribs during the incident and received medical treatment at a hospital..."
www.salemreporter.com/2026/01/31/u...
www.salemreporter.com/2026/01/31/u...
February 1, 2026 at 6:37 PM
"She sustained a torn rotator cuff, concussion and bruised ribs during the incident and received medical treatment at a hospital..."
www.salemreporter.com/2026/01/31/u...
www.salemreporter.com/2026/01/31/u...
Reposted by wordmerchant
Another brutal Melania pan: “First Lady is a preening, scowling void of pure nothingness in this ghastly bit of propaganda” and “the vulgar, gilded lifestyle of the Trumps makes them look like…Hermann Göring’s staring up at his looted Monet”. [the-independent.com]
Melania Trump is a scowling void of pure nothingness in her ghastly film – review
Hitting cinemas as the streets of America remain filled with the angry and grieving, the vulgar, gilded lifestyle of the Trumps makes them look like Marie Antoinette skulking in her cake-filled chateau
www.the-independent.com
February 1, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Another brutal Melania pan: “First Lady is a preening, scowling void of pure nothingness in this ghastly bit of propaganda” and “the vulgar, gilded lifestyle of the Trumps makes them look like…Hermann Göring’s staring up at his looted Monet”. [the-independent.com]
Reposted by wordmerchant
Reposted by wordmerchant
If anyone wants to know how Judge Biery felt about this, here's his sig block:
January 31, 2026 at 8:45 PM
If anyone wants to know how Judge Biery felt about this, here's his sig block:
Reposted by wordmerchant
As Tokyo-based urbanist I recommend it．Think of it as coffee-table companion to Jacobs’ Death＆Life．Only wish they'd made the connection more explicit—after all，Jane reminded us that「cities have the capability of providing something for everybody，only because，＆only when，they're created by everybody.」
Tonight maybe my FAVOURITE recent book in the #UrbanismBookClub —“EMERGENT TOKYO: Designing the Spontaneous City” by Jorge Almazan & StudioLab. Even if you’re not as fascinated with Tokyo urbanism as I am, this book is both brilliant & gorgeous. HT to @jasonthorne.bsky.social for recommending it. 3/
November 23, 2025 at 10:29 PM
As Tokyo-based urbanist I recommend it．Think of it as coffee-table companion to Jacobs’ Death＆Life．Only wish they'd made the connection more explicit—after all，Jane reminded us that「cities have the capability of providing something for everybody，only because，＆only when，they're created by everybody.」
Reposted by wordmerchant
BREAKING: A federal court permanently blocks two provisions of Trump’s anti-voting executive order seeking to impose new citizenship verification requirements to register to vote.
The judge said the Constitution assigns “no role at all to the President” to change federal election administration.
The judge said the Constitution assigns “no role at all to the President” to change federal election administration.
In major rebuke, federal judge blocks key parts of Trump’s anti-voting order
“Our Constitution does not allow the President to impose unilateral changes to federal election procedures,” the judge wrote.
www.democracydocket.com
January 30, 2026 at 10:29 PM
BREAKING: A federal court permanently blocks two provisions of Trump’s anti-voting executive order seeking to impose new citizenship verification requirements to register to vote.
The judge said the Constitution assigns “no role at all to the President” to change federal election administration.
The judge said the Constitution assigns “no role at all to the President” to change federal election administration.
Reposted by wordmerchant
Good to see --> Reps Eric Swalwell and Dan Goldman just introduced their bill stripping ICE agents of qualified immunity. We broke the news that this was coming on our podcast (see thread below for more info and context).
January 30, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Good to see --> Reps Eric Swalwell and Dan Goldman just introduced their bill stripping ICE agents of qualified immunity. We broke the news that this was coming on our podcast (see thread below for more info and context).
Reposted by wordmerchant
The American state media attacked President Biden more fiercely over his age whilst he was doing good work than they have with orange felon murdering citizens, arresting journalists, terrorizing immigrants and robbing the country blind. They deliberately failed humanity.
January 30, 2026 at 7:56 PM
The American state media attacked President Biden more fiercely over his age whilst he was doing good work than they have with orange felon murdering citizens, arresting journalists, terrorizing immigrants and robbing the country blind. They deliberately failed humanity.
Reposted by wordmerchant
Trump's new pick for Fed Chair makes an appearance in today's Epstein Files release:
January 30, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Trump's new pick for Fed Chair makes an appearance in today's Epstein Files release:
Reposted by wordmerchant
From Brooks’ column TODAY: “The most grievous cultural wound has been the loss of a shared moral order… Without shared standards of right and wrong, it’s impossible to settle disputes; it’s impossible to maintain social cohesion and trust.”
January 30, 2026 at 7:14 PM
From Brooks’ column TODAY: “The most grievous cultural wound has been the loss of a shared moral order… Without shared standards of right and wrong, it’s impossible to settle disputes; it’s impossible to maintain social cohesion and trust.”
Reposted by wordmerchant
Jeffries: "We cannot trust the Department of Justice. They're an illegitimate organization right now under the leadership of Pam Bondi and the direction of Donald Trump."
January 30, 2026 at 3:56 PM
Jeffries: "We cannot trust the Department of Justice. They're an illegitimate organization right now under the leadership of Pam Bondi and the direction of Donald Trump."
Reposted by wordmerchant
This is so unhinged
January 29, 2026 at 9:34 PM
This is so unhinged
Reposted by wordmerchant
A new Pew poll finds that Trump's job approval rating stands at 37%, only 27% support all or most of his policies, and 50% feel the administration's actions have been worse than expected.
Also, only 21% are very confident Trump acts ethically in office.
www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...
Also, only 21% are very confident Trump acts ethically in office.
www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...
Confidence in Trump Dips, and Fewer Now Say They Support His Policies and Plans
Only 27% of Americans say they support all or most of Trump's policies – down since last year, with the change coming entirely among Republicans.
www.pewresearch.org
January 29, 2026 at 8:22 PM
A new Pew poll finds that Trump's job approval rating stands at 37%, only 27% support all or most of his policies, and 50% feel the administration's actions have been worse than expected.
Also, only 21% are very confident Trump acts ethically in office.
www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...
Also, only 21% are very confident Trump acts ethically in office.
www.pewresearch.org/politics/202...