Bruno Vander Velde
@brunovelde.bsky.social
Managing director, storytelling at @conservationorg.bsky.social. Chicagoan in exile; tireless editor; tired dad. Opinions are mine.
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
All of the money that changed hands in the Teapot Dome scandal totaled less than $10 million after adjusting for inflation, and it was considered so corrupt we still teach it in high school government classes a century later.
Corruption so pungent, it wafts right off the page:
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Lobbyists who do pardon deals “say their going rate is $1 million. Pardon-seekers have offered some lobbyists close to the president success fees of as much as $6 million if they can close the deal.”
Gift link www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Inside the New Fast Track to a Presidential Pardon
Even some of the president’s closest advisers have been surprised by a number of the recent series of pardons.
www.wsj.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:24 PM
All of the money that changed hands in the Teapot Dome scandal totaled less than $10 million after adjusting for inflation, and it was considered so corrupt we still teach it in high school government classes a century later.
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
December 26, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Dean Martin, born Dino Paul Crocetti, son of Italian immigrant Gaetano Crocetti
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
Frank Sinatra, son of Italian immigrants Antonino Sinatra and Natalina Garavanta
Merry Christmas to everyone except Stephen Miller and his enablers and handlers
In a related story, I'm going to live to 159 ... www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
New study sheds light on a beneficial compound found in coffee and chocolate
Theobromine, an alkaloid found in dark chocolate and coffee, is associated with slower cellular aging, a study suggests.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 26, 2025 at 10:26 PM
In a related story, I'm going to live to 159 ... www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/202...
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
Woman comes to US at age 6. Graduates nursing school. Work permit. No criminal record. Snatched and imprisoned by ICE for 6 months now. About to be forced back to Honduras. A life destroyed and one less nurse. Merry Christmas.
www.nola.com/news/educati...
www.nola.com/news/educati...
December 20, 2025 at 1:22 PM
Woman comes to US at age 6. Graduates nursing school. Work permit. No criminal record. Snatched and imprisoned by ICE for 6 months now. About to be forced back to Honduras. A life destroyed and one less nurse. Merry Christmas.
www.nola.com/news/educati...
www.nola.com/news/educati...
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
still think usaid is the biggest story of the year
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
After Trump Officials Cut Food Aid to Kenya, Children Starved to Death
“Brutal and traumatizing”: Interviews and a trove of internal documents show government officials and aid workers desperately tried to warn Trump advisers about impending disaster and death.
www.propublica.org
December 17, 2025 at 2:29 PM
still think usaid is the biggest story of the year
Cool stuff: Where the world's largest fish breed and raise their young has long been a mystery to marine scientists. Then local fishermen made a discovery ... www.conservation.org/news/rare-ne...
Rare newborn whale shark sightings offer clues to a global mystery | Conservation International
Findings from Konservasi Indonesia — Conservation International’s local partner — offer new insight into where the world’s largest fish may begin life.
www.conservation.org
December 17, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Cool stuff: Where the world's largest fish breed and raise their young has long been a mystery to marine scientists. Then local fishermen made a discovery ... www.conservation.org/news/rare-ne...
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
An absolute bedrock institution for understanding how the planet works, just civilization-scaled vandalism by the most incurious morons on Earth
December 17, 2025 at 2:52 AM
An absolute bedrock institution for understanding how the planet works, just civilization-scaled vandalism by the most incurious morons on Earth
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
NSF is about to dismantle NCAR at Russell Vought's direction to protect the fossil fuel industry. It's hard to communicate just how much NCAR does, so let's take a look: I've never worked at NCAR, and I've worked with NCAR researchers once ever. What scientific discoveries has NCAR made possible? 👇
December 17, 2025 at 4:14 AM
NSF is about to dismantle NCAR at Russell Vought's direction to protect the fossil fuel industry. It's hard to communicate just how much NCAR does, so let's take a look: I've never worked at NCAR, and I've worked with NCAR researchers once ever. What scientific discoveries has NCAR made possible? 👇
This is a pretty cool story www.conservation.org/news/a-rare-...
A rare eagle returns to Colombia’s coffee country | Conservation International
A threatened eagle has made its home in a coffee landscape restored through Conservation International’s work with local farmers.
www.conservation.org
December 16, 2025 at 3:52 PM
This is a pretty cool story www.conservation.org/news/a-rare-...
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
one interesting thing here is it shows americans have for decades had a positive view of immigration
but somehow immigration always seems to be portrayed as a Looming Problem That Needs Solving
but somehow immigration always seems to be portrayed as a Looming Problem That Needs Solving
December 16, 2025 at 1:01 PM
one interesting thing here is it shows americans have for decades had a positive view of immigration
but somehow immigration always seems to be portrayed as a Looming Problem That Needs Solving
but somehow immigration always seems to be portrayed as a Looming Problem That Needs Solving
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
A new U.N. report warns the world is heading toward deeper climate shocks, mass biodiversity loss & deadly pollution unless economies are radically transformed.
The report finds environmental damage costs trillions each year. But investing in planetary health could generate $20T annually by 2070.
The report finds environmental damage costs trillions each year. But investing in planetary health could generate $20T annually by 2070.
New report warns of mounting planetary crises — and pathways to hope
A global U.N. report released Dec. 9 warns that the planet is on track for deeper climate shocks, accelerating biodiversity loss, worsening land degradation and deadly pollution — unless countries…
news.mongabay.com
December 13, 2025 at 12:10 AM
A new U.N. report warns the world is heading toward deeper climate shocks, mass biodiversity loss & deadly pollution unless economies are radically transformed.
The report finds environmental damage costs trillions each year. But investing in planetary health could generate $20T annually by 2070.
The report finds environmental damage costs trillions each year. But investing in planetary health could generate $20T annually by 2070.
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
This entire article is positive about Trump Gold Cards. It contains positive quotes about it from Trump, Lutnick and a CEO. It contains no quotes from the many critics of the program. This is sandwiched between 6 posts about Erika Kirk. CBS is lost.
December 12, 2025 at 12:08 PM
This entire article is positive about Trump Gold Cards. It contains positive quotes about it from Trump, Lutnick and a CEO. It contains no quotes from the many critics of the program. This is sandwiched between 6 posts about Erika Kirk. CBS is lost.
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
There are two competing national journalism modes right now.
1. Politics Is Wacky Fun With No Real Outcomes Nor Consequences
2. "Why does my life suck so hard," farmer/nurse/teacher wonders
1. Politics Is Wacky Fun With No Real Outcomes Nor Consequences
2. "Why does my life suck so hard," farmer/nurse/teacher wonders
I could pluck any of a hundred different stories off the news wires on this, and you'd be hard pressed to find a single one that clearly hints at the fact this is about corruption and unchecked corporate power, much less that it's going to kill people
The Supreme Court case that could hand Trump unchecked power to fire agency heads
The court will decide if presidents can fire agency heads at will.
www.axios.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:37 PM
There are two competing national journalism modes right now.
1. Politics Is Wacky Fun With No Real Outcomes Nor Consequences
2. "Why does my life suck so hard," farmer/nurse/teacher wonders
1. Politics Is Wacky Fun With No Real Outcomes Nor Consequences
2. "Why does my life suck so hard," farmer/nurse/teacher wonders
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
I'm just saying, some of us remember the 2016 primary font
December 10, 2025 at 1:16 AM
I'm just saying, some of us remember the 2016 primary font
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
immigrants score the lowest on tests, but they also take all our jobs, while at the same time taking all the welfare and buying all the homes
Stephen Miller: "If you subtract immigration out of test scores, all of the sudden our test scores skyrocket"
December 9, 2025 at 10:59 PM
immigrants score the lowest on tests, but they also take all our jobs, while at the same time taking all the welfare and buying all the homes
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
i asked chat gpt to fact check an article for me
December 8, 2025 at 9:33 PM
i asked chat gpt to fact check an article for me
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
pals you gotta quit spotify
December 8, 2025 at 4:44 PM
pals you gotta quit spotify
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
The USPS posting a NINE BILLION DOLLAR LOSS!!! sounds terrible. Certainly worse than if you said "USPS costs thirty dollars per person per year" even though that means the same thing and more accurately describes a government service
December 5, 2025 at 1:31 PM
The USPS posting a NINE BILLION DOLLAR LOSS!!! sounds terrible. Certainly worse than if you said "USPS costs thirty dollars per person per year" even though that means the same thing and more accurately describes a government service
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
This fetid landmark, this historical stain on humanity is primarily due to the stunningly reckless obliteration of America's foreign assistance agency earlier this year.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
For First Time in Decades, Child Deaths Will Rise This Year
Almost a quarter of a million more children around the world are projected to die in 2025 than in 2024.
www.wsj.com
December 4, 2025 at 4:18 PM
This fetid landmark, this historical stain on humanity is primarily due to the stunningly reckless obliteration of America's foreign assistance agency earlier this year.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
Led by the richest man on earth. In secret, on a weekend. With zero analysis or discussion of its catastrophic impacts.
IMO The rise of sociopathy among the tech set stems (pun intended) from the de-emphasis on teaching humanities. If you know history, civics, philosophy, you’re more likely to have self-doubt, less likely to turn out like these guys. Like, did they learn about hubris? Did they?
Palantir CEO Says Making War Crimes Constitutional Would Be Good for Business
Palantir CEO Says Making War Crimes Constitutional Would Be Good for Business
Alex Karp vows to use his "whole influence" on immigration and defense policy.
gizmodo.com
December 4, 2025 at 2:43 AM
IMO The rise of sociopathy among the tech set stems (pun intended) from the de-emphasis on teaching humanities. If you know history, civics, philosophy, you’re more likely to have self-doubt, less likely to turn out like these guys. Like, did they learn about hubris? Did they?
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
University of Alabama suspended publication of two student-run magazines, claiming they weren’t in compliance with federal guidance on DEI
“This is an attack on the student press and nothing less”
“This is an attack on the student press and nothing less”
University of Alabama shuts down student magazines for Black students, women students
University officials told editors of Alice and Nineteen Fifty-Six that they believed they were out of compliance with Trump administration guidance on anti-DEI policies.
www.whatimreading.net
December 4, 2025 at 12:37 AM
University of Alabama suspended publication of two student-run magazines, claiming they weren’t in compliance with federal guidance on DEI
“This is an attack on the student press and nothing less”
“This is an attack on the student press and nothing less”
Reposted by Bruno Vander Velde
If you ever wondered what GOP gerrymandering looks like in red states with blue cities, I present:
December 2, 2025 at 8:49 PM
If you ever wondered what GOP gerrymandering looks like in red states with blue cities, I present: