Bridgett T
@bwrites.bsky.social
Checking out the blue skies. Same Watari as always.
Reposted by Bridgett T
Fact: When a system like Grok is doing things like “nudifying” people’s images, that isn’t an inevitable feature of the technology; it reflects policy and design choices made by the people running the platform.
January 9, 2026 at 11:36 PM
Fact: When a system like Grok is doing things like “nudifying” people’s images, that isn’t an inevitable feature of the technology; it reflects policy and design choices made by the people running the platform.
Reposted by Bridgett T
it is your DUTY as a parent to be basic and cringe. if your child says "6-7" and you do not say, loud enough for their friends to hear, "8-9?", causing profound silence and intense discomfort, you are neglecting your responsibilities. being cool is for kids. your days of being laughed WITH are over
January 4, 2026 at 10:42 PM
it is your DUTY as a parent to be basic and cringe. if your child says "6-7" and you do not say, loud enough for their friends to hear, "8-9?", causing profound silence and intense discomfort, you are neglecting your responsibilities. being cool is for kids. your days of being laughed WITH are over
Reposted by Bridgett T
This is it. "What do you think calling your electeds will do?"
Make them feel about me the same way everyone who's ever defaulted on student loans feels about their voicemail.
Make them feel about me the same way everyone who's ever defaulted on student loans feels about their voicemail.
Ask not what your representative will do for you (nothing), ask how you can make your representative so miserable they quit their job
My attitude on this is that I'm not calling them because I think I can change their minds.
I'm calling them because it is unthinkable to let them do this without hearing how evil and awful they are.
My spite powers me. If I can get just 500 people a day to join me, we could fuck up their day.
I'm calling them because it is unthinkable to let them do this without hearing how evil and awful they are.
My spite powers me. If I can get just 500 people a day to join me, we could fuck up their day.
January 3, 2026 at 10:11 PM
This is it. "What do you think calling your electeds will do?"
Make them feel about me the same way everyone who's ever defaulted on student loans feels about their voicemail.
Make them feel about me the same way everyone who's ever defaulted on student loans feels about their voicemail.
Reposted by Bridgett T
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Right.
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
a lot of problems wouldn't exist if we had a congress with even an ounce of self interest
January 4, 2026 at 11:52 PM
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Reposted by Bridgett T
Not every Chotiner interview is him making some blowhard look foolish. Sometimes he has experts explaining complex situations in clear terms.
Also good discussion of the comparison to Noriega, which was my first question this morning about all this...
Also good discussion of the comparison to Noriega, which was my first question this morning about all this...
January 3, 2026 at 10:19 PM
Not every Chotiner interview is him making some blowhard look foolish. Sometimes he has experts explaining complex situations in clear terms.
Also good discussion of the comparison to Noriega, which was my first question this morning about all this...
Also good discussion of the comparison to Noriega, which was my first question this morning about all this...
Reposted by Bridgett T
If you are a foreign president who commits crimes overseas, America will come get you, arrest you, and lock you up.
But if you are a US president who commits crimes here in the United States, America will give you immunity from prosecution, reelect you, and bribe you with billions of dollars.
But if you are a US president who commits crimes here in the United States, America will give you immunity from prosecution, reelect you, and bribe you with billions of dollars.
January 4, 2026 at 12:26 AM
If you are a foreign president who commits crimes overseas, America will come get you, arrest you, and lock you up.
But if you are a US president who commits crimes here in the United States, America will give you immunity from prosecution, reelect you, and bribe you with billions of dollars.
But if you are a US president who commits crimes here in the United States, America will give you immunity from prosecution, reelect you, and bribe you with billions of dollars.
Reposted by Bridgett T
"Well, he's a dictator whose people don't actually want him in charge" is an interesting precedent for this guy to set
January 3, 2026 at 3:16 PM
"Well, he's a dictator whose people don't actually want him in charge" is an interesting precedent for this guy to set
Reposted by Bridgett T
Compare this to Biden leaving Afghanistan & think about what the incentives are for every American politician
everyone on the tv wants you to know that this is good actually
January 4, 2026 at 12:09 AM
Compare this to Biden leaving Afghanistan & think about what the incentives are for every American politician
Reposted by Bridgett T
Stephen Miller dreamt of bombing Mexico and Latin America during the first Administration. Replacing Maduro was in Project 2025.
The white nationalists and broligarchy (Musk, Thiel) and white Christian nationalists (Vought) are trying to get everything before Trump dies.
The white nationalists and broligarchy (Musk, Thiel) and white Christian nationalists (Vought) are trying to get everything before Trump dies.
January 3, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Stephen Miller dreamt of bombing Mexico and Latin America during the first Administration. Replacing Maduro was in Project 2025.
The white nationalists and broligarchy (Musk, Thiel) and white Christian nationalists (Vought) are trying to get everything before Trump dies.
The white nationalists and broligarchy (Musk, Thiel) and white Christian nationalists (Vought) are trying to get everything before Trump dies.
Reposted by Bridgett T
Mexico managing to have more spine than every western nation despite being in the immediate crosshairs, fuck every cowardly world leader that tries to play this safe
Mexico:
"The Mexican government strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally in recent hours by the armed forces of the U.S. against targets in the territory of the Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations."
"The Mexican government strongly condemns and rejects the military actions carried out unilaterally in recent hours by the armed forces of the U.S. against targets in the territory of the Republic of Venezuela, in clear violation of Article 2 of the Charter of the United Nations."
January 3, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Mexico managing to have more spine than every western nation despite being in the immediate crosshairs, fuck every cowardly world leader that tries to play this safe
Reposted by Bridgett T
Most of the derangement about Mamdani is for the obvious reasons but part of it is also that a surprising amount of people were committed to the Cuomo rehabilitation project because they hated the idea that anything could have consequences for men of the right class.
January 2, 2026 at 4:51 PM
Most of the derangement about Mamdani is for the obvious reasons but part of it is also that a surprising amount of people were committed to the Cuomo rehabilitation project because they hated the idea that anything could have consequences for men of the right class.
Reposted by Bridgett T
I also wrote a lot about libraries last year, and will continue to this year, as they're needed more than ever and are also being flooded with AI slop. This story resulted in a ton of AI books being removed from online libraries: www.404media.co/ai-generated...
AI-Generated Slop Is Already In Your Public Library
Librarians say that taxpayers are already paying for low quality AI-generated ebooks in public libraries.
www.404media.co
January 1, 2026 at 10:14 PM
I also wrote a lot about libraries last year, and will continue to this year, as they're needed more than ever and are also being flooded with AI slop. This story resulted in a ton of AI books being removed from online libraries: www.404media.co/ai-generated...
Reposted by Bridgett T
as a texan i'll spare people zohran takes but one thing i think we're going to see even more of now that he's mayor is mainstream media shift the goal posts of what having a mandate is. trump had a mandate when he narrowly won but zohran has to reach out to all these factions no matter what
January 2, 2026 at 12:02 AM
as a texan i'll spare people zohran takes but one thing i think we're going to see even more of now that he's mayor is mainstream media shift the goal posts of what having a mandate is. trump had a mandate when he narrowly won but zohran has to reach out to all these factions no matter what
Reposted by Bridgett T
vance is a genuine lunatic
JD VANCE THINKS BRITAIN & FRANCE ARE AMERICAS LIKELY ENEMIES.
The world is getting bizarrely screwed with this kind of bull being spewed out.
The world is getting bizarrely screwed with this kind of bull being spewed out.
December 26, 2025 at 9:39 PM
vance is a genuine lunatic
Reposted by Bridgett T
If you are a survivor of trauma , sexual or otherwise you should prioritize your self care .
Do not let the attention starved assholes of the internet and their bots tell you other wise
Do not let the attention starved assholes of the internet and their bots tell you other wise
If you aren't following the Epstein files, then you should follow the Epstein files, not mute any of it
December 26, 2025 at 4:09 PM
If you are a survivor of trauma , sexual or otherwise you should prioritize your self care .
Do not let the attention starved assholes of the internet and their bots tell you other wise
Do not let the attention starved assholes of the internet and their bots tell you other wise
Reposted by Bridgett T
This is John Roberts' America.
The blatant selling of pardons is perhaps the clearest instance of criminal conduct authorized by SCOTUS. Pardons are a quintessential "official act." So, even when Trump takes a bribe to issue one, he is presumably above the criminal law.
The president’s own chief of staff was reportedly stunned by his pardon of a former Honduran president.
December 25, 2025 at 5:29 PM
This is John Roberts' America.
Reposted by Bridgett T
Historical revisionism about COVID-19 and the public health response is now mainstream. The next pandemic will likely be even harder to manage due to a relentless propaganda campaign to weaken public support for masking, vaccines, social distancing, etc.
This is genuinely horrifying. Fact-free far-right agitprop given accolades by credible media across the political spectrum.
Congratulations to Stephen Macedo & Frances Lee, whose book In Covid's Wake has been recognized as:
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
⭐ A @newyorker.com Best Book of the Year
⭐ An @economist.com Book of the Year
⭐ A @wsj.com Best Book of the Year
Learn more about this eye-opening book: press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
December 25, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Historical revisionism about COVID-19 and the public health response is now mainstream. The next pandemic will likely be even harder to manage due to a relentless propaganda campaign to weaken public support for masking, vaccines, social distancing, etc.
Reposted by Bridgett T
The “free speech” and “cancel culture” panics have led to overt state censorship because that was always their purpose. (Gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
December 23, 2025 at 4:54 PM
The “free speech” and “cancel culture” panics have led to overt state censorship because that was always their purpose. (Gift link) www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Bridgett T
This is totally underreported. Trump is not just going after "illegals." He's going after people who were here legally, by changing their status.
These are people who entered the US the right way, and never broke a law. Now they are subject to Trump's whim, his ICE goons, and inhuman detention.
These are people who entered the US the right way, and never broke a law. Now they are subject to Trump's whim, his ICE goons, and inhuman detention.
Trump has revoked legal status for at least 1.6 million immigrants over the past year by cancelling programs like TPS and student visas.
Remember: these are people who entered the country legally.
Trump never cared about “legal immigration" — just inflicting cruelty.
Remember: these are people who entered the country legally.
Trump never cared about “legal immigration" — just inflicting cruelty.
December 23, 2025 at 7:24 PM
This is totally underreported. Trump is not just going after "illegals." He's going after people who were here legally, by changing their status.
These are people who entered the US the right way, and never broke a law. Now they are subject to Trump's whim, his ICE goons, and inhuman detention.
These are people who entered the US the right way, and never broke a law. Now they are subject to Trump's whim, his ICE goons, and inhuman detention.
current state of US 'prestige' journalism:
- one person makes a shitty claim about trans kids' health care = run with absolute credulity
- carefully researched piece on torture prisons = but have we asked the torture prison runners respectfully for a quote?
- one person makes a shitty claim about trans kids' health care = run with absolute credulity
- carefully researched piece on torture prisons = but have we asked the torture prison runners respectfully for a quote?
The Bari Weiss hysteria continues. Exactly what in "this piece isn't ready" and "try harder to get comment from the administration" constitutes the death of American journalism? www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
What Bari Weiss Got Right
And what she got wrong
www.theatlantic.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:04 AM
current state of US 'prestige' journalism:
- one person makes a shitty claim about trans kids' health care = run with absolute credulity
- carefully researched piece on torture prisons = but have we asked the torture prison runners respectfully for a quote?
- one person makes a shitty claim about trans kids' health care = run with absolute credulity
- carefully researched piece on torture prisons = but have we asked the torture prison runners respectfully for a quote?
Reposted by Bridgett T
Retired 27-year FBI agent Brian Carroll, who specialized in managing exactly the type of cases like the Brown University shooting, explains all the ways in which Kash Patel just ain't it. Really great inside analysis:
prospect.org/2025/12/23/k...
prospect.org/2025/12/23/k...
The Empty Suit - The American Prospect
How FBI Director Kash Patel undermines the FBI’s performance and credibility.
prospect.org
December 23, 2025 at 2:53 PM
Retired 27-year FBI agent Brian Carroll, who specialized in managing exactly the type of cases like the Brown University shooting, explains all the ways in which Kash Patel just ain't it. Really great inside analysis:
prospect.org/2025/12/23/k...
prospect.org/2025/12/23/k...
Reposted by Bridgett T
"Hysteria" "alarmism" "[so-and-so] derangement syndrome" etc. are synonyms for the centrist orthodoxy of "this is normal and you're overreacting" that brought us to this
“Bari Weiss hysteria” yes this is the thing about the overseas torture camp that the Atlantic would like you to be upset about
December 23, 2025 at 8:24 PM
"Hysteria" "alarmism" "[so-and-so] derangement syndrome" etc. are synonyms for the centrist orthodoxy of "this is normal and you're overreacting" that brought us to this
Reposted by Bridgett T
English singer-songwriter and slide guitarist Chris Rea has died at 74. While more celebrated in his homeland and even having a popular Christmas song, Rea may be best known in North America for his 1978 hit “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)”. #RIPChrisRea m.youtube.com/watch?v=LqUN...
Chris Rea – Fool (If You Think It's Over) - Top Of The Pops 1978 - live
YouTube video by Sanremo and more
m.youtube.com
December 22, 2025 at 7:37 PM
English singer-songwriter and slide guitarist Chris Rea has died at 74. While more celebrated in his homeland and even having a popular Christmas song, Rea may be best known in North America for his 1978 hit “Fool (If You Think It’s Over)”. #RIPChrisRea m.youtube.com/watch?v=LqUN...
Reposted by Bridgett T
Watch @jamellebouie.net's video, which is very informative, but also note that there are many good reasons for Supreme Court expansion apart from trying to achieve progressive political outcomes. It would be a better, more defensible institution if it were bigger. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
December 22, 2025 at 8:25 PM
Watch @jamellebouie.net's video, which is very informative, but also note that there are many good reasons for Supreme Court expansion apart from trying to achieve progressive political outcomes. It would be a better, more defensible institution if it were bigger. papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Bridgett T
i’ll just say that this isn’t the behavior of people who think their allies are on the verge of establishing a thousand year reich, much less holding control of the national legislature next year
December 22, 2025 at 11:02 PM
i’ll just say that this isn’t the behavior of people who think their allies are on the verge of establishing a thousand year reich, much less holding control of the national legislature next year