Laura Pearle
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vennlibrarian.bsky.social
Laura Pearle
@vennlibrarian.bsky.social
Then: Director of Library Services
Now: Archivist
Always: Reader, researcher, tea-drinker, friend
Feels like something @cnn.com @ms.now @nytimes.com @wsj.com and all the others should be covering. Wonder why they’re not.
A sudden 10 day closure of airspace in a major US city like El Paso should be THE STORY, with nothing else getting any air time until at minimum someone within the US government says what’s happening and why.

It barely even registers on CNN’s site. It’s literally the last item before the page ends.
The FAA is closing the airspace around El Paso International Airport in Texas for 10 days, grounding all flights to and from the airport, for “special security reasons."

The FAA's notice did not provide additional details.
February 11, 2026 at 1:31 PM
“Least curious” or “willfully ignorant”
Reminder that this is a *friendly* question from a GOP Senator — and Lutnick still fumbles it all!

I will never get over how the Trump admin is almost universally the least curious people you could appoint to public life.
KENNEDY: The Census Bureau is under your jurisdiction & responsible for defining what it means to be poor, is that right?

LUTNICK: I don't know

K: Well you need to look, bc it does. What's the % of Americans who live below poverty level?

L: I don't know

K: It's around 11%. It's been constant
February 10, 2026 at 5:51 PM
If only the president in 2018 known how badly treated we were by Canada. Who was that president? I can’t remember.
President Trump has threatened to block the opening of a bridge between Michigan and Ontario.

The Gordie Howe International Bridge has been under construction since 2018 and is due to open early this year, according to the organization behind it.
Trump threatens to block opening of bridge between U.S. and Canada
As the Gordie Howe bridge neared its completion, Trump, in his latest salvo against Canada, suggested he would “not allow” it to open, saying Canada had treated the U.S. “very unfairly.”
www.washingtonpost.com
February 10, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Follow-up: why aren’t you firing your incompetent staff for not bringing this to your attention? And if they are and you’re not reading/listening to the reporting, why don’t you resign?

The things this guy hasn’t heard, read or seen show either incompetence, ignorance or idiocy.
Q: There's reporting that federal judges are increasingly frustrated with DHS for defying court orders in cases involving ICE detainees. Should the administration be able to miss deadlines?

MIKE JOHNSON: I'm not gonna comment on a report I haven't seen. That's the first I've heard of it.
February 10, 2026 at 3:50 PM
Age verification?

I saw a man take one giant step for mankind
Age verification?

My first TV was black and white.
Age verification?

I own a Pikachu pedometer because my grandma didn't know what I meant when I said I wanted Pokemon Yellow Version.
February 10, 2026 at 8:26 AM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
"Your pets may not necessarily love it when you kiss and hug them"

Yeah well I may not necessarily love picking up poop so I guess we're all gonna have to make some sacrifices.
February 9, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Concentration camps.
ICE has now spent over half a BILLION dollars just on purchasing warehouses around the country to convert into detention camps.

If these mega-camps are utilized to the full capacity ICE intends, they'll be the largest prisons in the country, with little real oversight. www.ajc.com/politics/202...
ICE to begin detaining immigrants inside Social Circle warehouse in April
Homeland Security plans to build warehouse detention facilities in other cities being met with opposition.
www.ajc.com
February 9, 2026 at 7:01 PM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
The reality is America is a huge multicultural multilingual country, not a white ethnostate, and venomous white supremacist MAGA crybabies lose it whenever that reality becomes unignorable. We should always seek to increase, not decrease, their discomfort. www.the-reframe.com/hating-the-g...
Hating the Game
The cooperation game, the murder game, and acting in good faith with people you know are acting in bad faith.
www.the-reframe.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:03 PM
I didn’t understand the performance (not my music, don’t know the language). I still enjoyed it.
MAGA complaining that they didn't understand Bad Bunny's performance has nothing to do with a language barrier.

It has EVERYTHING to do with a HUMANITY barrier.
February 9, 2026 at 2:50 PM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
February 8, 2026 at 10:46 PM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
Reminder when you watch the Intuit Super Bowl ads, they have Super Bowl ad money because they are a successful rent seekers who have worked for decades to kill free, quality, public tax preparation services donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-death-...
The Death of Direct File
Tech for good not welcome in the Trump administration
donmoynihan.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
Pretty sure it’s still me, actually, since nobody is gonna come up to you at a signing and tell you how much your slop meant to them.
“If I can generate a book in a day, and you need six months to write a book, who’s going to win the race?” God this is bleak
The New Fabio Is Claude
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:15 PM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
When I lived in France we had a sweet old neighbor lady who would spit every time she passed a certain house. Eventually, her daughter explained to me that the home belonged to a man who’d collaborated with the Nazis 60 YEARS AGO. May these ICE goons face a similarly lonely future.
January 22, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Some are easy. Some you can’t do (eg. hospital ordering drugs via CVS). Some you have to figure out (eg. what bank issues your credit card). Still, you can do your best
Solid list.

You do the best you can to move money from these streams, knowing that some of them--especially in food deserts--it's almost impossible to pull your money out (Walmart is a good example.)
Our boycott guide is updated. All the worst ones with explanation and alternatives. psychopete1.substack.com/p/psycho-pet...
February 8, 2026 at 7:22 AM
Republican governors should also boycott. But won’t.
February 8, 2026 at 2:59 AM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
If the other Dem governors don’t boycott, they should all be primaried.
Democratic governors disinvited from traditionally bipartisan White House gatherings | CNN Politics
Every year, the nation’s governors convene in Washington, DC, for a friendly winter confab that includes a working meeting at the White House and a black-tie dinner hosted by the president.
www.cnn.com
February 8, 2026 at 2:47 AM
Someone is not happy about this snowy Saturday.
February 7, 2026 at 2:13 PM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
GM: Charisma check.

Mamdani: [rolls natural 20]

GM: that’s a d6 how did you

Mamdani: [direct to camera] Did you know you can check out board games at your local public library? 😊
February 7, 2026 at 5:01 AM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
I don't know how a person of faith could vote for a party that takes funding from programs for the most vulnerable members of our society and makes health care unaffordable in order to give tax breaks to the rich. I don't know how a person with a conscience could support the actions of ICE.
February 5, 2026 at 8:39 PM
Um, no. No you do not
Trump: "They say, 'Donald Trump is using the Justice Department to get even!' And I don't. But wouldn't I have a right to?"
February 5, 2026 at 5:51 PM
How many are of Irish descent? Wonder what their ancestors might say.
BANNON: What are you hearing from your constituents?

SEN. ERIC SCHMITT: That they want to meet mass migration with mass deportations
February 5, 2026 at 5:47 PM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
Mind if I share some exciting news?

We’ve officially raised over $45 MILLION for local bookstores 🥳
February 4, 2026 at 6:04 PM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
Spitballing/bargaining stage of grief: A “Washington Banner” outlet, spun off the successful Baltimore Banner and taking advantage of its backend, built out of laid off Washington Post Metro and Sports staffers and funded via a mixed nonprofit and subscription model…
February 4, 2026 at 12:09 PM
Reposted by Laura Pearle
I truly do not understand why members of the press continue this charade of doing pressers with him. And how every member of the press doesn't walk out after that. Like - the government needs the news to govern. There's power - you can withhold attention
KAITLAN COLLINS: What would say to Epstein survivo---

TRUMP: You are so bad. You are the worst report. No wonder CNN has no ratings. She's a young woman. I don't think I've ever seen you smile. They should be ashamed of you.
February 3, 2026 at 11:22 PM
One day I want the reporter being insulted by the president to just respond in kind. Today it was @cnn.com ‘s reporter. When he said she was a horrible reporter, she should have responded he’s a horrible president so they’re even.
February 3, 2026 at 9:58 PM