Darkstar_Actual
@bradhoward.bsky.social
usual caveat - views here are my own & if I'm posting I'm off the clock
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
the only time the filibuster has ever been used to protect a particular interest of a set of states is to kill anti-lynching and civil rights legislation. that's it.
November 8, 2025 at 10:14 PM
the only time the filibuster has ever been used to protect a particular interest of a set of states is to kill anti-lynching and civil rights legislation. that's it.
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
congress is a russian nesting doll of counter-majoritarian structures. seems to me that there's no need for a supermajority rule on top of that!
November 8, 2025 at 10:27 PM
congress is a russian nesting doll of counter-majoritarian structures. seems to me that there's no need for a supermajority rule on top of that!
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
one thing i find crazy-making is the idea that getting rid of the filibuster would make congress a purely majoritarian institution. bicameralism itself is counter-majoritarian! equal state representation is counter-majoritarian! the fact that senate elections are staggered is counter-majoritarian!
November 8, 2025 at 10:26 PM
one thing i find crazy-making is the idea that getting rid of the filibuster would make congress a purely majoritarian institution. bicameralism itself is counter-majoritarian! equal state representation is counter-majoritarian! the fact that senate elections are staggered is counter-majoritarian!
The short sighted nature of this administration cannot be overstated
U.S. tsunami warning system, reeling from funding and staffing cuts, is dealt another blow
Seismic monitoring stations in Alaska are closing after a denied federal grant, risking delayed tsunami warnings for people living on the West Coast.
www.nbcnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 9:49 PM
The short sighted nature of this administration cannot be overstated
“Chunks of concrete will fall off, and windows will start loosening up,” said Mr. Bongiorno, the structural engineer, who echoed concerns of other independent engineers contacted by The Times. “You can’t take the elevators, mechanical systems start to fail, pipe joints start to break"
A Tower on Billionaires’ Row Is Full of Cracks. Who’s to Blame?
www.nytimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:45 AM
“Chunks of concrete will fall off, and windows will start loosening up,” said Mr. Bongiorno, the structural engineer, who echoed concerns of other independent engineers contacted by The Times. “You can’t take the elevators, mechanical systems start to fail, pipe joints start to break"
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
This is a big deal, although a lot will depend on what #SCOTUS does in the Illinois case (in which we don’t expect a ruling until the week of November 17 at the earliest).
BREAKING: Judge Immergut issues a permanent injunction against Pete Hegseth and the deployment of the National Guard to Portland.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
November 8, 2025 at 1:23 AM
This is a big deal, although a lot will depend on what #SCOTUS does in the Illinois case (in which we don’t expect a ruling until the week of November 17 at the earliest).
"This Court arrives at the necessary conclusion that there was neither 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion' nor was the President 'unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States' in Oregon when he ordered the federalization and deployment of the National Guard,"
Judge permanently bars Trump from deploying National Guard troops to Portland in response to immigration protests
Oregon officials have been embroiled in a complicated legal battle with the administration since late September, when the Trump administration mobilized hundreds of troops.
www.nbcnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 1:17 AM
"This Court arrives at the necessary conclusion that there was neither 'a rebellion or danger of a rebellion' nor was the President 'unable with the regular forces to execute the laws of the United States' in Oregon when he ordered the federalization and deployment of the National Guard,"
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 6, 2025 at 9:00 PM
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
Getting a bike trainer instead of a peloton during 2020 justified yet again
Peloton is recalling nearly 878,000 exercise bikes in the U.S. and Canada — due to seat posts that can break during use and pose fall hazards.
Peloton recalls nearly 878,000 exercise bikes after several seat posts break
Peloton is recalling nearly 878,000 exercise bikes in the U.S. and Canada — due to seat posts that can break during use and pose fall hazards. Notices from the U.S.
bit.ly
November 7, 2025 at 4:02 AM
Getting a bike trainer instead of a peloton during 2020 justified yet again
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
Americans, you could have this.
Australia has so much electricity from solar power that it is going to start offering free electricity to everyone for at least three hours during the day as the wholesale price of power goes negative
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
electrek.co/2025/11/04/a...
Australia has so much solar that it's offering everyone free electricity
Australia's extensive solar power penetration makes so much energy that the government wants to offer free electricity at peak hours.
electrek.co
November 6, 2025 at 1:53 PM
Americans, you could have this.
Speaking of, hey Oregon, pay your state legislators enough that it’s not a rich guy vanity job
The Mayor of New York only makes $260k. I bet there are police that make more than that in NY with overtime.
We need to pay elected leaders more money and stop pretending it's some sort of calling. They're managing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and millions of people's lives.
We need to pay elected leaders more money and stop pretending it's some sort of calling. They're managing hundreds of billions of dollars in investments and millions of people's lives.
November 7, 2025 at 2:58 AM
Speaking of, hey Oregon, pay your state legislators enough that it’s not a rich guy vanity job
This is why I don’t go to chipotle anymore, all conversations at fast casual burrito stops should be automatically off the record and it shouldn’t have to be a written rule
—
Inside scoop: John Mateer’s injury status was revealed by Chipotle worker
—
Inside scoop: John Mateer’s injury status was revealed by Chipotle worker
Inside scoop: John Mateer’s injury status was revealed by Chipotle worker
The quarterback confirmed the rumor that swirled on message boards.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 2:44 AM
This is why I don’t go to chipotle anymore, all conversations at fast casual burrito stops should be automatically off the record and it shouldn’t have to be a written rule
—
Inside scoop: John Mateer’s injury status was revealed by Chipotle worker
—
Inside scoop: John Mateer’s injury status was revealed by Chipotle worker
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
Ivan Demidov's been unreal to start the season with 12 points in his first 13 games 🔥
What does the rookie have in store for us tonight?
What does the rookie have in store for us tonight?
November 7, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Ivan Demidov's been unreal to start the season with 12 points in his first 13 games 🔥
What does the rookie have in store for us tonight?
What does the rookie have in store for us tonight?
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
Attention has (justly) gone to the abuses in Chicago but the assaults in Los Angeles never ended. The military left but they were guarding building. DHS paramilitaries remain active in L.A. it's bad.
Don’t think ppl understand the terror the Feds are unleashing on the streets of LA right now. Roving patrols targeting vulnerable individuals. It’s horrible.
There’s no one coming to save us except ourselves.
There’s no one coming to save us except ourselves.
The past week+ has been really intense in Los Angeles. We need all of the help, support, & attention we can get. Feds are literally roving the streets snatch & grabbing vulnerable individuals. It's horrific. We need to do more.
November 6, 2025 at 3:42 AM
Attention has (justly) gone to the abuses in Chicago but the assaults in Los Angeles never ended. The military left but they were guarding building. DHS paramilitaries remain active in L.A. it's bad.
Exception: in DC where it is legal to ride on the sidewalk outside of a Dt zone, I would ride on the sidewalk in one place-the hill that went up embassy row
There was a bike path once you were up the hill a bit but the start was either a fast road filled with diplomatic immunity or a wide sidewalk
There was a bike path once you were up the hill a bit but the start was either a fast road filled with diplomatic immunity or a wide sidewalk
I also don't think that cars putting cyclists in danger is an excuse for cyclists putting pedestrians in danger. You're just shifting the danger onto other innocent people from yourself. Sorry, no go for me
November 6, 2025 at 4:39 AM
Exception: in DC where it is legal to ride on the sidewalk outside of a Dt zone, I would ride on the sidewalk in one place-the hill that went up embassy row
There was a bike path once you were up the hill a bit but the start was either a fast road filled with diplomatic immunity or a wide sidewalk
There was a bike path once you were up the hill a bit but the start was either a fast road filled with diplomatic immunity or a wide sidewalk
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
I love Bluesky because it's often fun but I hate it because I had to read a post where someone called Leslie Knope a neocon shill and to you I say it is a television show and it absolutely does not matter you sound like a maniac
November 6, 2025 at 2:46 AM
I love Bluesky because it's often fun but I hate it because I had to read a post where someone called Leslie Knope a neocon shill and to you I say it is a television show and it absolutely does not matter you sound like a maniac
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
I listened to the Supreme Court's oral argument today so you dont have to
With the notable exception of Alito & Thomas carrying on like 'what if aliens were gonna destroy the world and the only thing that could stop it was a tariff,' the Court seemed Not Into It
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/learn...
With the notable exception of Alito & Thomas carrying on like 'what if aliens were gonna destroy the world and the only thing that could stop it was a tariff,' the Court seemed Not Into It
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/learn...
Trump’s Plan to Nuke the Global Economy Prompts Conservative Justices to Remember That the Constitution Exists
The Court has no problem facilitating the disappearance of civil rights. Shareholder value is a different story.
ballsandstrikes.org
November 6, 2025 at 1:32 AM
I listened to the Supreme Court's oral argument today so you dont have to
With the notable exception of Alito & Thomas carrying on like 'what if aliens were gonna destroy the world and the only thing that could stop it was a tariff,' the Court seemed Not Into It
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/learn...
With the notable exception of Alito & Thomas carrying on like 'what if aliens were gonna destroy the world and the only thing that could stop it was a tariff,' the Court seemed Not Into It
ballsandstrikes.org/scotus/learn...
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
Harney County gun owners challenge the constitutionality of the measure that's been blocked since 2022
Oregon Supreme Court to hear Measure 114 gun control case
Harney County gun owners challenge the constitutionality of the measure that's been blocked since 2022
www.oregonlive.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Harney County gun owners challenge the constitutionality of the measure that's been blocked since 2022
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
fun thing happening with flock cameras is the federal government getting into the data might be inadvertently turning cities against then and into turning the cameras off entirely www.king5.com/article/news...
Redmond Police Department suspends use of Flock license plate readers
The move follows 'community concern' about the system and a Nov. 3 recommendation from the Redmond City Council.
www.king5.com
November 6, 2025 at 3:31 AM
fun thing happening with flock cameras is the federal government getting into the data might be inadvertently turning cities against then and into turning the cameras off entirely www.king5.com/article/news...
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
So far my major takeaway from the Supreme Court tariffs oral argument is that the liberal justices are still so, so mad about the Biden student debt decision
November 5, 2025 at 3:17 PM
So far my major takeaway from the Supreme Court tariffs oral argument is that the liberal justices are still so, so mad about the Biden student debt decision
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
i closed out my column this week with this preemptive jab at basically every commentator currently looking for ways to say that last night didn’t count
November 5, 2025 at 3:21 PM
i closed out my column this week with this preemptive jab at basically every commentator currently looking for ways to say that last night didn’t count
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
Here's another bit of conventional wisdom Zohran completely blew away: His speech was at well above a 10th-grade level. It was complex, erudite, punctuated by deep and fluent references. You don't have to condescend to voters with baby talk! Part of re-establishing norms is speaking like an adult.
November 5, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Here's another bit of conventional wisdom Zohran completely blew away: His speech was at well above a 10th-grade level. It was complex, erudite, punctuated by deep and fluent references. You don't have to condescend to voters with baby talk! Part of re-establishing norms is speaking like an adult.
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
Mamdani: "We can respond to oligarchy and authoritarianism with the strength it fears, not the appeasement it craves. After all, if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him."
November 5, 2025 at 4:38 AM
Mamdani: "We can respond to oligarchy and authoritarianism with the strength it fears, not the appeasement it craves. After all, if anyone can show a nation betrayed by Donald Trump how to defeat him, it is the city that gave rise to him."
Reposted by Darkstar_Actual
It is gonna be so funny watching the NYC bajillionaires scramble to get appointments with Mayor Mamdani after they all insisted they were gonna move to Florida if he won. First of all, most of you already have places in FL and claim it as your primary resident so you don’t have to pay NYC taxes
November 5, 2025 at 5:14 AM
It is gonna be so funny watching the NYC bajillionaires scramble to get appointments with Mayor Mamdani after they all insisted they were gonna move to Florida if he won. First of all, most of you already have places in FL and claim it as your primary resident so you don’t have to pay NYC taxes