mellifluous
@mdycb.bsky.social
Mostly a lurker. Red Sox fan. Interested in everything and anything, for better or worse. Check my likes if you’re curious.
Reposted by mellifluous
I would argue that the case for dismantling ICE has, at this point, virtually nothing to do with larger questions of immigration enforcement and reform, it's just clearly incompatible with a free and democratic society to maintain a secret police force with sweeping and arbitrary authority.
Senator Gallego weighs in as well. Note that at the start of 2025 he was considered a *moderate* on immigration and co-sponsored the Laken Riley Act. Him and many other Dems have been increasingly horrified at what ICE is doing and shifted away from a "more enforcement" focus.
January 21, 2026 at 11:09 PM
I would argue that the case for dismantling ICE has, at this point, virtually nothing to do with larger questions of immigration enforcement and reform, it's just clearly incompatible with a free and democratic society to maintain a secret police force with sweeping and arbitrary authority.
Reposted by mellifluous
I’ve added the script for Wake Up Dead Man to my site. This is the final shooting script, so it has stuff that was cut and moved around, which I always think is more interesting to see than a conformed cleaned up version. Enjoy! www.rian-johnson.com/screenplays
rcjohnso / scripts
Free screenplays for Brick, Brothers Bloom and Looper.
www.rian-johnson.com
January 22, 2026 at 2:23 AM
I’ve added the script for Wake Up Dead Man to my site. This is the final shooting script, so it has stuff that was cut and moved around, which I always think is more interesting to see than a conformed cleaned up version. Enjoy! www.rian-johnson.com/screenplays
Reposted by mellifluous
it doesn't matter if you don't want to have this fight, it doesn't even matter if it's not politically optimal to have this fight
the fight is here and sitting it out is not an option
if you can't see that get out of the way
the fight is here and sitting it out is not an option
if you can't see that get out of the way
To quote one source:
“They’re terrified of being labeled anti–law enforcement. They want this to go away so they can talk about the cost of living more. Problem is, it’s not going away.”
prospect.org/2026/01/21/j...
“They’re terrified of being labeled anti–law enforcement. They want this to go away so they can talk about the cost of living more. Problem is, it’s not going away.”
prospect.org/2026/01/21/j...
Jeffries Won’t Whip Vote Against ICE Funding - The American Prospect
While the House Democratic leader announced personal opposition to a funding bill for the Department of Homeland Security, he won’t pressure his colleagues to do the same.
prospect.org
January 21, 2026 at 10:43 PM
it doesn't matter if you don't want to have this fight, it doesn't even matter if it's not politically optimal to have this fight
the fight is here and sitting it out is not an option
if you can't see that get out of the way
the fight is here and sitting it out is not an option
if you can't see that get out of the way
Reposted by mellifluous
BREAKING — Mayor of Lewiston, Maine posts on FB that ICE is coming to the city imminently. This confirms my reporting the agency is planning a surge in the city and state generally.
Lewiston is home to a large Somali-American population, which made up 4.6% of the population as of the 2020 census.
Lewiston is home to a large Somali-American population, which made up 4.6% of the population as of the 2020 census.
January 14, 2026 at 9:17 PM
BREAKING — Mayor of Lewiston, Maine posts on FB that ICE is coming to the city imminently. This confirms my reporting the agency is planning a surge in the city and state generally.
Lewiston is home to a large Somali-American population, which made up 4.6% of the population as of the 2020 census.
Lewiston is home to a large Somali-American population, which made up 4.6% of the population as of the 2020 census.
Reposted by mellifluous
Oh to be a little Tardigrade walking across a microscope slide. 🫧🐻🧪
January 13, 2026 at 5:01 PM
Oh to be a little Tardigrade walking across a microscope slide. 🫧🐻🧪
Reposted by mellifluous
This evening one of the very kind con organizers took us to the Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo, which is amazing and you should go and Gustav Vigeland was extraordinarily talented and probably does not deserve the narrative I constructed looking at his work.
But Bluesky! You deserve EVERYTHING!
But Bluesky! You deserve EVERYTHING!
June 13, 2025 at 10:55 PM
This evening one of the very kind con organizers took us to the Vigeland Sculpture Park in Oslo, which is amazing and you should go and Gustav Vigeland was extraordinarily talented and probably does not deserve the narrative I constructed looking at his work.
But Bluesky! You deserve EVERYTHING!
But Bluesky! You deserve EVERYTHING!
Reposted by mellifluous
SCOOP: The Trump administration is providing the names of all travelers passing through U.S. airports to immigration officials in search of people with deportation orders, a substantial expansion of government efforts to draw on data to hunt down immigrants.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
Immigration Agents Are Using Air Passenger Data for Deportation Effort
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:26 PM
SCOOP: The Trump administration is providing the names of all travelers passing through U.S. airports to immigration officials in search of people with deportation orders, a substantial expansion of government efforts to draw on data to hunt down immigrants.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/12/u...
Reposted by mellifluous
BREAKING: Democrats and Republicans in Congress just voted to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act to restore federal workers’ union rights – the first time the House has voted to overturn a Trump executive order in this term. https://bit.ly/4oNyBQc
December 11, 2025 at 10:06 PM
BREAKING: Democrats and Republicans in Congress just voted to pass the Protect America’s Workforce Act to restore federal workers’ union rights – the first time the House has voted to overturn a Trump executive order in this term. https://bit.ly/4oNyBQc
Reposted by mellifluous
Trump's hate rally in Pennsylvania is over. If you appreciate my coverage of his speeches over the past decade, please support what I do by signing up for my newsletter. I think you'll enjoy our coverage and paid subscribers make my work possible. Thanks.
Subscribe to Public Notice
Sign up for independent, incisive coverage of US politics and media, right in your inbox five times a week. Click to read Public Notice, by Aaron Rupar, a Substack publication with hundreds of thousan...
www.publicnotice.co
December 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
Trump's hate rally in Pennsylvania is over. If you appreciate my coverage of his speeches over the past decade, please support what I do by signing up for my newsletter. I think you'll enjoy our coverage and paid subscribers make my work possible. Thanks.
Reposted by mellifluous
Andrew Bird - "O Holy Night"
December 11, 2025 at 5:07 AM
Andrew Bird - "O Holy Night"
Reposted by mellifluous
"there's a new serif in town"
Marco Rubio ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor's decision to adopt Calibri a “wasteful” diversity move
Rubio Stages Font Coup: Times New Roman Ousts Calibri
The secretary of state called it a "wasteful" diversity move, according to an internal department cable seen by Reuters.
www.huffpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 1:06 AM
"there's a new serif in town"
Reposted by mellifluous
December 10, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Reposted by mellifluous
The whole climax of Torah--from the Garden of Eden through Deuteronomy--is covenant, & these two words:
Choose life.
Sounds pithy & easy, right?
Until you start applying the flourishing of all life, all kinds of privilege (as noted in the verses), to concrete policy and systemic choices.
👀 Read:
Choose life.
Sounds pithy & easy, right?
Until you start applying the flourishing of all life, all kinds of privilege (as noted in the verses), to concrete policy and systemic choices.
👀 Read:
Our Side Of The Deal
the tl;dr of covenant, and everything since Creation: Choose Life
www.lifeisasacredtext.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:32 PM
The whole climax of Torah--from the Garden of Eden through Deuteronomy--is covenant, & these two words:
Choose life.
Sounds pithy & easy, right?
Until you start applying the flourishing of all life, all kinds of privilege (as noted in the verses), to concrete policy and systemic choices.
👀 Read:
Choose life.
Sounds pithy & easy, right?
Until you start applying the flourishing of all life, all kinds of privilege (as noted in the verses), to concrete policy and systemic choices.
👀 Read:
Reposted by mellifluous
the fellowship of the arts: thread
October 7, 2025 at 10:00 PM
the fellowship of the arts: thread
Reposted by mellifluous
There has literally never been a universal basic income trial program that didn't deliver real and measurable results above and beyond any other form of social welfare, and every time another concludes with the same findings the powers that be go "interesting! Anyway," and pretend it wouldn't work.
November 22, 2025 at 6:00 AM
There has literally never been a universal basic income trial program that didn't deliver real and measurable results above and beyond any other form of social welfare, and every time another concludes with the same findings the powers that be go "interesting! Anyway," and pretend it wouldn't work.
Reposted by mellifluous
Welcome! This is helpful:
Volts Jump-Start guide
A list of essential episodes & a tool to search the Volts library
www.volts.wtf
November 21, 2025 at 11:13 PM
Welcome! This is helpful:
Reposted by mellifluous
movie posters featuring the muppets: thread
November 22, 2025 at 1:49 PM
movie posters featuring the muppets: thread
Reposted by mellifluous
every week just gets weirder tbh
November 21, 2025 at 11:09 PM
every week just gets weirder tbh
Reposted by mellifluous
The facts are complicated, but here’s a summary of what appears to have happened based on the filings and today’s hearing:
NEWS: During a hearing in federal court in VA, prosecutors confirmed that the operative indictment in the case against James Comey was never shown to or voted on by the entire grand jury before it was presented in open court.
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
Defense counsel argued that’s a complete bar to further prosecution
November 19, 2025 at 6:30 PM
The facts are complicated, but here’s a summary of what appears to have happened based on the filings and today’s hearing:
Reposted by mellifluous
Interesting article. Frogs are trying to save Democracy too! Frog army! 🐸
Gifted wapo.st/47Slsij
#Voices4Victory
#USDemocracy
Gifted wapo.st/47Slsij
#Voices4Victory
#USDemocracy
First, the frogs died. Then people got sick.
An emerging area of research is uncovering hidden links between nature and human health.
wapo.st
November 14, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Interesting article. Frogs are trying to save Democracy too! Frog army! 🐸
Gifted wapo.st/47Slsij
#Voices4Victory
#USDemocracy
Gifted wapo.st/47Slsij
#Voices4Victory
#USDemocracy
Reposted by mellifluous
bringing this statement over from Alice’s Twitter. it appears the below was Alice’s last post before passing. I am heartbroken
November 15, 2025 at 2:37 PM
bringing this statement over from Alice’s Twitter. it appears the below was Alice’s last post before passing. I am heartbroken
Reposted by mellifluous
For folks (and journalists) who want to search the Oversight Committee email texts, I made a database for searching the 20k text files:
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
Epstein Document Search
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
November 13, 2025 at 1:12 AM
For folks (and journalists) who want to search the Oversight Committee email texts, I made a database for searching the 20k text files:
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
splendorous-chaja-f79791.netlify.app
Reposted by mellifluous
i fully agree with this theory and in my actual field, british architectural history, The Problem is that Salisbury Cathedral is built on top of a lake and no i am not exaggerating
between this and the FSO Safer (another ship at serious risk of exploding) I’m convinced every field has its “yeah, this is the problem that keeps me up at night” and I’m on a quest to learn about all of them
yes yes we all know about the Edmund Fitzgerald, rest her soul, but did you know about the ship laden with explosives that sank in the mouth of the Thames in 1944 and could explode at any minute and which attempts to disarm keep failing
November 12, 2025 at 12:53 PM
i fully agree with this theory and in my actual field, british architectural history, The Problem is that Salisbury Cathedral is built on top of a lake and no i am not exaggerating
Reposted by mellifluous
The media allowing Trump plausible deniability on Project 2025 during the campaign is right up there with Iraq War stenography in craven, lazy disgracefulness
September 18, 2025 at 9:52 PM
The media allowing Trump plausible deniability on Project 2025 during the campaign is right up there with Iraq War stenography in craven, lazy disgracefulness
Reposted by mellifluous
miss piggy influencing the golden girls: thread
September 5, 2025 at 10:05 PM
miss piggy influencing the golden girls: thread