Ben Ricchio
@benricchio.bsky.social
Chicago native, living near Indy. Web developer. Gardener, with interests in soil ecology, biodiversity, and pollinators. Focused on how to boost civic engagement.
Pinned
Ben Ricchio
@benricchio.bsky.social
· Jul 23
The U.S. says no one has died due to the dismantling of USAID. So CNN’s Isobel Yeung went to Afghanistan to investigate.
Producer: Mick Krever
Photojournalist: Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou
Producer: Mick Krever
Photojournalist: Li-Lian Ahlskog Hou
I watched this last night, it is both difficult to watch and infuriating because of Trump, his xenophobic administration, and especially because all of those who voted for him.
I'm saving and pinning this clip to show to my MAGA neighbors, so I can tell them that they helped cause this.
I'm saving and pinning this clip to show to my MAGA neighbors, so I can tell them that they helped cause this.
The only thing Governor Mike Braun got right about his post is that there will be political consequences, and they're going to be for Braun, and the 19 spineless GOP Senators who voted "yes".
December 12, 2025 at 3:19 AM
The only thing Governor Mike Braun got right about his post is that there will be political consequences, and they're going to be for Braun, and the 19 spineless GOP Senators who voted "yes".
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
Indiana’s Senate has voted AGAINST the GOP gerrymander that’d have locked in a 9-0 map.
This keeps the 7-2 map in place, saving two Democratic seats heading into 2026.
The vote failed big, 19/31.
The MAJORITY of the GOP senators opposed it!
This keeps the 7-2 map in place, saving two Democratic seats heading into 2026.
The vote failed big, 19/31.
The MAJORITY of the GOP senators opposed it!
December 11, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Indiana’s Senate has voted AGAINST the GOP gerrymander that’d have locked in a 9-0 map.
This keeps the 7-2 map in place, saving two Democratic seats heading into 2026.
The vote failed big, 19/31.
The MAJORITY of the GOP senators opposed it!
This keeps the 7-2 map in place, saving two Democratic seats heading into 2026.
The vote failed big, 19/31.
The MAJORITY of the GOP senators opposed it!
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
Powell: "Inflation for goods has picked up, reflecting the effects of tariffs."
December 10, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Powell: "Inflation for goods has picked up, reflecting the effects of tariffs."
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
Trump walks into his campaign rallies and wings it like he's "the man with the briefcase" who walks into a casino and wagers all the $ in the case on a single bet.
Yes, sometimes that yields success, but in the end, the House always wins.
Those campaign rallies just don't work like they used to.
Yes, sometimes that yields success, but in the end, the House always wins.
Those campaign rallies just don't work like they used to.
December 10, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Trump walks into his campaign rallies and wings it like he's "the man with the briefcase" who walks into a casino and wagers all the $ in the case on a single bet.
Yes, sometimes that yields success, but in the end, the House always wins.
Those campaign rallies just don't work like they used to.
Yes, sometimes that yields success, but in the end, the House always wins.
Those campaign rallies just don't work like they used to.
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
I had fun reading to some Burke Elementary students at the Chicago Public Library today. When the Obama Presidential Center opens next year, we’ll have a new branch of the library for the community to enjoy.
December 10, 2025 at 12:37 AM
I had fun reading to some Burke Elementary students at the Chicago Public Library today. When the Obama Presidential Center opens next year, we’ll have a new branch of the library for the community to enjoy.
Both parties performed some political judo on themselves, by leveraging their opponents' momentum.
Republicans outperformed D's in 2024, got exactly what they wanted, and now they're heading for the hills.
Democrats found out what happens when they get lazy and now they're showing up in droves.
Republicans outperformed D's in 2024, got exactly what they wanted, and now they're heading for the hills.
Democrats found out what happens when they get lazy and now they're showing up in droves.
December 10, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Both parties performed some political judo on themselves, by leveraging their opponents' momentum.
Republicans outperformed D's in 2024, got exactly what they wanted, and now they're heading for the hills.
Democrats found out what happens when they get lazy and now they're showing up in droves.
Republicans outperformed D's in 2024, got exactly what they wanted, and now they're heading for the hills.
Democrats found out what happens when they get lazy and now they're showing up in droves.
Just a reminder to anyone who reads this, that your MAGA neighbors knew exactly what they were voting for in Trump 2.0, and they voted for him anyway.
It's all their collective fault.
When they wave hello at you, they deserve nothing less than a middle-finger in response.
It's all their collective fault.
When they wave hello at you, they deserve nothing less than a middle-finger in response.
December 9, 2025 at 1:43 AM
Just a reminder to anyone who reads this, that your MAGA neighbors knew exactly what they were voting for in Trump 2.0, and they voted for him anyway.
It's all their collective fault.
When they wave hello at you, they deserve nothing less than a middle-finger in response.
It's all their collective fault.
When they wave hello at you, they deserve nothing less than a middle-finger in response.
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
“I’d have no problem releasing the video”
“I didn’t say that, you said that. Fake news.”
5 days apart 😬
(From @therecount.com )
“I didn’t say that, you said that. Fake news.”
5 days apart 😬
(From @therecount.com )
December 8, 2025 at 10:16 PM
“I’d have no problem releasing the video”
“I didn’t say that, you said that. Fake news.”
5 days apart 😬
(From @therecount.com )
“I didn’t say that, you said that. Fake news.”
5 days apart 😬
(From @therecount.com )
Something I find comforting about this news story is that if Paramount/Skydance successfully acquires Warner Bros. Discovery, I can still watch absolutely nothing from that conglomerate, and my life will be no worse for it.
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/08/p...
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/08/p...
Paramount Skydance launches hostile bid for WBD 'to finish what we started,' CEO Ellison tells CNBC
Netflix won a bidding war for the Warner Bros. film studio and HBO Max streaming service, but it doesn't plan to buy WBD's TV networks.
www.cnbc.com
December 8, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Something I find comforting about this news story is that if Paramount/Skydance successfully acquires Warner Bros. Discovery, I can still watch absolutely nothing from that conglomerate, and my life will be no worse for it.
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/08/p...
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/08/p...
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
📽️ WATCH: As her health declined during a high-risk pregnancy, Tierra Walker asked doctors for an abortion. They assured her she didn’t need to worry. Then she died of preeclampsia.
Listen to her aunt Latanya Walker recount Tierra's story. More: https://propub.li/3MkJs6L
Listen to her aunt Latanya Walker recount Tierra's story. More: https://propub.li/3MkJs6L
December 6, 2025 at 2:00 AM
📽️ WATCH: As her health declined during a high-risk pregnancy, Tierra Walker asked doctors for an abortion. They assured her she didn’t need to worry. Then she died of preeclampsia.
Listen to her aunt Latanya Walker recount Tierra's story. More: https://propub.li/3MkJs6L
Listen to her aunt Latanya Walker recount Tierra's story. More: https://propub.li/3MkJs6L
What is the fucking point of the Constitution being the Supreme Law of the Land, if the Supreme Court can just override it?
I understand that hasn't happened yet, but why are they even having a hearing on it?
I understand that hasn't happened yet, but why are they even having a hearing on it?
December 5, 2025 at 8:35 PM
What is the fucking point of the Constitution being the Supreme Law of the Land, if the Supreme Court can just override it?
I understand that hasn't happened yet, but why are they even having a hearing on it?
I understand that hasn't happened yet, but why are they even having a hearing on it?
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
“Kash Patel lecturing America about ‘attacking our institutions’ while Trump pardoned roughly 1,500 people who literally attacked our institutions is peak MAGA comedy. It’s like the arsonist giving a fire-safety seminar.”
December 4, 2025 at 8:42 PM
“Kash Patel lecturing America about ‘attacking our institutions’ while Trump pardoned roughly 1,500 people who literally attacked our institutions is peak MAGA comedy. It’s like the arsonist giving a fire-safety seminar.”
Signalgate is a rehash of every other critique about the Trump administration, which is to say that in any other administration, those caught in scandals would have resigned in disgrace. But Trump et al are shameless, that's not new information - it's just a reminder of the importance of voting.
December 3, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Signalgate is a rehash of every other critique about the Trump administration, which is to say that in any other administration, those caught in scandals would have resigned in disgrace. But Trump et al are shameless, that's not new information - it's just a reminder of the importance of voting.
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
Community notes don’t get much more brutal than this
December 1, 2025 at 4:07 AM
Community notes don’t get much more brutal than this
Trump can't develop on National Parks, so he's doing the only other thing he has any experience with: putting his name somewhere that will make people believe he had something to do with it. Trump probably hasn't visited a national park once in his life.
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
Trump's face on new national park passes outrages conservationists
Changes to the America the Beautiful passes prioritize U.S. citizens.
www.sfgate.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:52 PM
Trump can't develop on National Parks, so he's doing the only other thing he has any experience with: putting his name somewhere that will make people believe he had something to do with it. Trump probably hasn't visited a national park once in his life.
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
www.sfgate.com/national-par...
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
PUNCHBOWL: “.. GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term. Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
November 24, 2025 at 3:37 PM
PUNCHBOWL: “.. GOP members messaged us over the weekend saying that they, too, are considering retiring in the middle of the term. Here’s one particularly exercised senior House Republican:
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
@punchbowlnews.bsky.social
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died
Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old.
www.whatimreading.net
November 24, 2025 at 8:45 PM
Breaking: Viola Ford Fletcher, the oldest living survivor of the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre, has died. She was 111 years old
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
When Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old from Texas, asked doctors about terminating her high-risk pregnancy to save her life, they assured her she had nothing to worry about.
Then she died of preeclampsia.
Then she died of preeclampsia.
“Ticking Time Bomb”: A Pregnant Mother Kept Getting Sicker. She Died After She Couldn’t Get an Abortion in Texas.
Walker is one of several women ProPublica found with underlying health conditions who died when they couldn’t access abortions.
www.propublica.org
November 24, 2025 at 2:30 AM
When Tierra Walker, a 37-year-old from Texas, asked doctors about terminating her high-risk pregnancy to save her life, they assured her she had nothing to worry about.
Then she died of preeclampsia.
Then she died of preeclampsia.
@astrokatie.com I followed you because this post succinctly explains the psychology of ignorant influencers.
At their core, this really is about jealousy.
At their core, this really is about jealousy.
Can’t believe the whole country has to suffer through the return of Dickensian childhood diseases because the worst, most ignorant attention-demanders decided other people’s expertise makes them feel bad
November 20, 2025 at 12:26 PM
@astrokatie.com I followed you because this post succinctly explains the psychology of ignorant influencers.
At their core, this really is about jealousy.
At their core, this really is about jealousy.
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
Hey @GovBillLee do you have any concerns about your buddy Elon covering up firefighters and workers getting burned by chemicals in his tunnel?
“Workers go to peel off a sock and a chunk of skin comes off” 😳
fortune.com/2025/11/12/e...
“Workers go to peel off a sock and a chunk of skin comes off” 😳
fortune.com/2025/11/12/e...
November 17, 2025 at 3:39 AM
Hey @GovBillLee do you have any concerns about your buddy Elon covering up firefighters and workers getting burned by chemicals in his tunnel?
“Workers go to peel off a sock and a chunk of skin comes off” 😳
fortune.com/2025/11/12/e...
“Workers go to peel off a sock and a chunk of skin comes off” 😳
fortune.com/2025/11/12/e...
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
Reposted by Ben Ricchio
No one should have to face such threats.
It would’ve been nice if Greene had realized this before she amplified and endorsed calls for executing Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama.
It would’ve been nice if Greene had realized this before she amplified and endorsed calls for executing Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama.
November 15, 2025 at 7:21 PM
No one should have to face such threats.
It would’ve been nice if Greene had realized this before she amplified and endorsed calls for executing Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama.
It would’ve been nice if Greene had realized this before she amplified and endorsed calls for executing Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama.