Reposted by Aardvark
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
DOGE was not a money-saving effort. It was an effort to chase down and prove right-wing conspiracy theories. They went after USAID to prove conspiracy theories about foreign aid. Then they went after SSA to, again, pursue conspiracy theories about Dems paying "illegals" to vote. 1/2
All DOGE accomplished was purging critical government staff, handing private data to outsiders, and sentencing thousands in developing countries to death by gutting USAID.
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
I don’t say this lightly: if there were any justice in this world, the people responsible for this devastation would be in jail
November 26, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Being among the first interrogated and ultimately fired by DOGE, I certainly felt we were facing the business end of a right-wing conspiracy theory 🧵
Reposted by Aardvark
Like we’re all clear this is as dangerous as it is farcical right
The lengths the British government will go to please the Israeli government.
www.rte.ie/news/2025/11...
www.rte.ie/news/2025/11...
Sally Rooney books may be pulled from UK, court told
Normal People author Sally Rooney's books may have to be withdrawn from sale and none of her new works published in the UK due to "uncertainty" caused by the ban on Palestine Action, the British High ...
www.rte.ie
November 27, 2025 at 10:41 PM
Like we’re all clear this is as dangerous as it is farcical right
Reposted by Aardvark
The great thing about waiting for something to turn up is the chances of good things turning up are massively higher than bad things turning up (Ed - pls check)
Continues to be wild to me how few Labour MPs have absorbed that the Starmer-Reeves strategy is, and always has been “Plan A: Somehow the Major economy returned Plan B: Die”.
The tax rises in this Budget’s are backloaded.
They're largely kick in in what is likely to be a pre-election year, somewhat implausibly.
They're largely kick in in what is likely to be a pre-election year, somewhat implausibly.
November 27, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The great thing about waiting for something to turn up is the chances of good things turning up are massively higher than bad things turning up (Ed - pls check)
Reposted by Aardvark
American taxpayers supported one of the most life-saving global interventions in history: PEPFAR
Every American is part of that success
As with deleting women in espionage, the Tuskegee airmen, Japanese internment, this is an effort to tell “one American story” that isn’t real, whole, or glorious
Every American is part of that success
As with deleting women in espionage, the Tuskegee airmen, Japanese internment, this is an effort to tell “one American story” that isn’t real, whole, or glorious
SCOOP: The Trump administration has instructed employees and grantees not to use U.S. funds to commemorate World AIDS Day — because the observance was started by the World Health Organization.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/h...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/h...
Trump Administration Cancels U.S. Observance of World AIDS Day
www.nytimes.com
November 26, 2025 at 9:45 PM
American taxpayers supported one of the most life-saving global interventions in history: PEPFAR
Every American is part of that success
As with deleting women in espionage, the Tuskegee airmen, Japanese internment, this is an effort to tell “one American story” that isn’t real, whole, or glorious
Every American is part of that success
As with deleting women in espionage, the Tuskegee airmen, Japanese internment, this is an effort to tell “one American story” that isn’t real, whole, or glorious
Reposted by Aardvark
That man probably wakes up drenched in sweat thinking about this moment to this day
I once said "stop that" in a friendly voice while smiling to a guy who was doing that stupid way-too-hard hand squeeze during a handshake at a conference and he flinched visibly from me. The rules are all fake!
What many men do not understand, because they’re timid conformists whose concern about the opinion of their peers would put teenage girls to shame, is that breaking other men’s rules gives you power over them
November 26, 2025 at 4:33 PM
That man probably wakes up drenched in sweat thinking about this moment to this day
Reposted by Aardvark
#MilkTeaAlliance Thailand, Solidarity Collective TH & Thai 4 Palestine are running a digital sticker sale to raise funds to support the victims of the flooding in Southern Thailand.
Available here:
friendii.art/milkteatha
Available here:
friendii.art/milkteatha
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
#MilkTeaAlliance Thailand, Solidarity Collective TH & Thai 4 Palestine are running a digital sticker sale to raise funds to support the victims of the flooding in Southern Thailand.
Available here:
friendii.art/milkteatha
Available here:
friendii.art/milkteatha
Reposted by Aardvark
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove Made Orwell Prize Judge Despite Record of Attacking Journalists and Dodging Scrutiny
Critics say "Orwell would have enjoyed the irony" of the former Conservative minister's appointment
bylinetimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:53 PM
I’m a past winner of the Orwell Prize & won partly because I exposed Vote Leave’s unlawful activities.
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Michael Gove was its co-convener & refused to answer a single q. He’s now a judge of the prize & our world is truly one that Orwell would recognise
bylinetimes.com/2025/11/25/m...
Reposted by Aardvark
In the span of a hour, they stealth edited the article from trans woman to "biological male who identifies as a woman." The BBC isn't fit for purpose.
It looks like that BBC page has been updated in the last few minutes, so that's no longer the last sentence. I think part of it has been moved to this paragraph in the middle of the article, and the age is no longer mentioned:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
November 25, 2025 at 1:36 PM
In the span of a hour, they stealth edited the article from trans woman to "biological male who identifies as a woman." The BBC isn't fit for purpose.
Reposted by Aardvark
First Secretary of Defense you could defeat by painting a tunnel on the side of a boulder.
November 25, 2025 at 1:55 PM
First Secretary of Defense you could defeat by painting a tunnel on the side of a boulder.
Reposted by Aardvark
Reposted by Aardvark
One of the cliche things in Hollywood war movies that is actually quite accurate is that units of people that come from a diverse array of backgrounds have better decisionmaking.
a man is smoking a cigarette in a dark room with smoke coming out of his mouth
ALT: a man is smoking a cigarette in a dark room with smoke coming out of his mouth
media.tenor.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:44 PM
One of the cliche things in Hollywood war movies that is actually quite accurate is that units of people that come from a diverse array of backgrounds have better decisionmaking.
Reposted by Aardvark
really is incredible how often "men are having a problem, let's fix it using someone else's entire life" comes up. does the institute for family studies understand that children are whole complete human beings whose existence cannot be used as a coping mechanism for their fathers' anxieties? (no)
November 24, 2025 at 2:55 PM
really is incredible how often "men are having a problem, let's fix it using someone else's entire life" comes up. does the institute for family studies understand that children are whole complete human beings whose existence cannot be used as a coping mechanism for their fathers' anxieties? (no)
Reposted by Aardvark
This one really is useful because you won’t see a more clear demonstration of one of the most damaging political phenomena of the era: the reactionary professional mind rejecting unacceptable reality, only able to process and comprehend it via something close to conspiracy theory.
Former Obama speechwriter Sarah Hurwitz says Jewish students shouldn’t have smartphones until they finish high school — so they don’t see the “carnage” Israel and the U.S. have carried out in Gaza.
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
Video: Mel via X (@Villgecrazylady)
November 24, 2025 at 9:06 AM
This one really is useful because you won’t see a more clear demonstration of one of the most damaging political phenomena of the era: the reactionary professional mind rejecting unacceptable reality, only able to process and comprehend it via something close to conspiracy theory.
Reposted by Aardvark
do you have any idea how much you have to piss somebody off to make them change their gauge
#Finland will begin to #Russia - proof its rail network, integrate with EU train infrastructure.
The Finnish government has announced the conversion of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to European standard (1,435 mm).
www.trenvista.net/en/news/flas...
The Finnish government has announced the conversion of its rail network from Russian gauge (1,524 mm) to European standard (1,435 mm).
www.trenvista.net/en/news/flas...
November 23, 2025 at 4:40 PM
do you have any idea how much you have to piss somebody off to make them change their gauge
Reposted by Aardvark
If the Republican position is "Republicans should get away with committing crimes in public office" and the Democrat position is "Republicans should get away with committing crimes in public office" then the result will be that Republicans keep getting away with committing crimes in public office
There are going to be prominent Democrats and mainstream media voices who insist that we have to "turn the page" and "forgive and forget" and they should all be roundly ignored, if not mercilessly mocked.
It’s crazy to think about the crimes we’re going to learn about after this regime ends.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
November 22, 2025 at 11:29 PM
If the Republican position is "Republicans should get away with committing crimes in public office" and the Democrat position is "Republicans should get away with committing crimes in public office" then the result will be that Republicans keep getting away with committing crimes in public office
Reposted by Aardvark
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Clifford “Buzz” Grambo patrols the streets of Baltimore to keep his neighbors safe—and make federal agents uncomfortable.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:00 PM
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Reposted by Aardvark
Grok is saying Elon got an offer to do Playgirl Magazine, and he did it. he did a full spread for Playgirl Magazine. I mean spread man, he pulled his butt apart and stuff. he was totally nude. I mean you probably didn't hear about it because he went under the name Mi www.404media.co/elon-musk-co...
Elon Musk Could 'Drink Piss Better Than Any Human in History,' Grok Says
Grok has been reprogrammed to say Musk is better than everyone at everything, including blowjobs, piss drinking, playing quarterback, conquering Europe, etc.
www.404media.co
November 20, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Reposted by Aardvark
Look !
Phrenology with an obscenely large volume of "data" and environmentally unsound!
and still eugenics/white supremacy.
Phrenology with an obscenely large volume of "data" and environmentally unsound!
and still eugenics/white supremacy.
Say it with me, friends. Pseudoscience is for eugenics.
futurism.com/future-socie...
futurism.com/future-socie...
Scientists Say Their AI System Can Scan Your Face to Detect Whether a Company Should Hire You
New research suggests that an algorithm which scans your face could accurately predict financial, academic, and job success.
futurism.com
November 17, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Look !
Phrenology with an obscenely large volume of "data" and environmentally unsound!
and still eugenics/white supremacy.
Phrenology with an obscenely large volume of "data" and environmentally unsound!
and still eugenics/white supremacy.
Reposted by Aardvark
If you don’t know @sfdirewolf.bsky.social ‘s writing and activism, honour her memory and reward yourself by seeking it out. A huge loss, a unique voice.
Our beloved Alice Wong has joined the ancestors. It was one of the great honors of my life to call Alice my friend, co-author & co-conspirator. She was a true genius, a force of nature the likes of which the world has never seen before. I love you, Alice, and am equal parts grateful and devastated
November 15, 2025 at 8:30 AM
If you don’t know @sfdirewolf.bsky.social ‘s writing and activism, honour her memory and reward yourself by seeking it out. A huge loss, a unique voice.
Reposted by Aardvark
my best friend is undocumented and we’ve had long talks about her fears of being disappeared. I regularly lose sleep over it, which is nothing compared to her.
so I’d just like to say in the kindest way possible: go fuck yourself you conspiracy addled grifter
so I’d just like to say in the kindest way possible: go fuck yourself you conspiracy addled grifter
BlueSky is a bad site used by good people. That describes most social media sites. But BlueSky is egregiously unethical. Any of you can be disappeared for baseless reasons. I've been on social media for 17 years and never been suspended. BlueSky is the first place to do so – over Johnny Cash lyrics.
November 15, 2025 at 8:59 AM
my best friend is undocumented and we’ve had long talks about her fears of being disappeared. I regularly lose sleep over it, which is nothing compared to her.
so I’d just like to say in the kindest way possible: go fuck yourself you conspiracy addled grifter
so I’d just like to say in the kindest way possible: go fuck yourself you conspiracy addled grifter
Reposted by Aardvark
A solution here is that DHS ceases to exist, border patrol and HSI functions get returned to civilization (DOJ), customs gets sent to Treasury, and immigration gets handled by State and/or Labor
I don’t think you get this same cowboy (derogatory) shit when the big boss is a nerdy lawyer or banker
I don’t think you get this same cowboy (derogatory) shit when the big boss is a nerdy lawyer or banker
Correct
If the reform focuses on ICE because they're the Big Baddies in the popular mind, it'll completely miss the fact that the actual worst actor (so far) and the one with an internal culture most prone to be trumpist brownshirts is the BP
If the reform focuses on ICE because they're the Big Baddies in the popular mind, it'll completely miss the fact that the actual worst actor (so far) and the one with an internal culture most prone to be trumpist brownshirts is the BP
I understand this argument but I disagree: being precise about who is doing this stuff matters, especially since we will eventually have to determine what to do in the future if reform becomes possible.
I somewhat agree with you about political messaging, but that’s not what I’m trying to do.
I somewhat agree with you about political messaging, but that’s not what I’m trying to do.
November 8, 2025 at 9:52 PM
A solution here is that DHS ceases to exist, border patrol and HSI functions get returned to civilization (DOJ), customs gets sent to Treasury, and immigration gets handled by State and/or Labor
I don’t think you get this same cowboy (derogatory) shit when the big boss is a nerdy lawyer or banker
I don’t think you get this same cowboy (derogatory) shit when the big boss is a nerdy lawyer or banker
Reposted by Aardvark
Absolutely wild shit
November 8, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Absolutely wild shit
Reposted by Aardvark
Just a regular pipeline now of dubiously funded cranks targeting the NHS to enforce their horrific, hateful politics on the public, by seeking out, targeting and harassing the fuck out people who have quietly been going about their business for years without anyone bothering
Darlington trans medic used female changing room for years
Rose Henderson felt within her rights to use the Darlington hospital facility, a tribunal is told.
www.bbc.co.uk
November 7, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Just a regular pipeline now of dubiously funded cranks targeting the NHS to enforce their horrific, hateful politics on the public, by seeking out, targeting and harassing the fuck out people who have quietly been going about their business for years without anyone bothering
Reposted by Aardvark
The New York Times quickly sending out Douthat to argue that Mamdani’s victory doesn’t really matter is so predictable it borders on self-parody.
Remember, folks: Every time the Right wins an election, it’s an undeniable expression of the will of the people. If a lefty wins, it’s just a blip.
Remember, folks: Every time the Right wins an election, it’s an undeniable expression of the will of the people. If a lefty wins, it’s just a blip.
Opinion | Mamdani’s Victory Is Less Significant Than You Think
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The New York Times quickly sending out Douthat to argue that Mamdani’s victory doesn’t really matter is so predictable it borders on self-parody.
Remember, folks: Every time the Right wins an election, it’s an undeniable expression of the will of the people. If a lefty wins, it’s just a blip.
Remember, folks: Every time the Right wins an election, it’s an undeniable expression of the will of the people. If a lefty wins, it’s just a blip.
Reposted by Aardvark
The part where people confuse the Democratic Party with a European style one focused around a small core set of principles that later has to form a coalition.
November 4, 2025 at 1:48 PM
The part where people confuse the Democratic Party with a European style one focused around a small core set of principles that later has to form a coalition.