Mel Ford
@melford.bsky.social
Avid coffee drinker, wine enthusiast, amateur photographer, maker of keto and low carb dishes, and science believer.
The text message from Donald Trump to the Norwegian Prime Minister is INSANE.
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
The exchange of messages between Norway's prime minister and President Trump
Here is the full text of the exchange between Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere and U.S. President Donald Trump regarding Greenland, trade and the Nobel Peace Prize, as released by Norway's g...
www.reuters.com
January 20, 2026 at 2:18 AM
The text message from Donald Trump to the Norwegian Prime Minister is INSANE.
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
www.reuters.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Mel Ford
Reposted by Mel Ford
Consider:
Nobody should be surprised that Trump is improperly handling seized Venezuelan funds as it's the same thing he did with Trump Org funds.
That's why he's a convicted felon.
He's just doing it on a much bigger scale than before.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Nobody should be surprised that Trump is improperly handling seized Venezuelan funds as it's the same thing he did with Trump Org funds.
That's why he's a convicted felon.
He's just doing it on a much bigger scale than before.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Trump is sending funds from Venezuela oil to a bank in Qatar: report
Senior officials claim Gulf state provides neutral location to store proceeds from which they can be moved safely and without risk of seizure
www.independent.co.uk
January 17, 2026 at 5:18 AM
Consider:
Nobody should be surprised that Trump is improperly handling seized Venezuelan funds as it's the same thing he did with Trump Org funds.
That's why he's a convicted felon.
He's just doing it on a much bigger scale than before.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
Nobody should be surprised that Trump is improperly handling seized Venezuelan funds as it's the same thing he did with Trump Org funds.
That's why he's a convicted felon.
He's just doing it on a much bigger scale than before.
www.independent.co.uk/news/world/a...
So applicable for what we’re experiencing right now.
January 17, 2026 at 7:49 PM
So applicable for what we’re experiencing right now.
Reposted by Mel Ford
BREAKING:
TIM WALZ: "If you see these ICE agents in your neighborhood, take out that phone and hit record."
"Help us create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans, not just to establish a record for posterity, but to bank evidence for future prosecution."
TIM WALZ: "If you see these ICE agents in your neighborhood, take out that phone and hit record."
"Help us create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans, not just to establish a record for posterity, but to bank evidence for future prosecution."
January 15, 2026 at 1:39 AM
BREAKING:
TIM WALZ: "If you see these ICE agents in your neighborhood, take out that phone and hit record."
"Help us create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans, not just to establish a record for posterity, but to bank evidence for future prosecution."
TIM WALZ: "If you see these ICE agents in your neighborhood, take out that phone and hit record."
"Help us create a database of the atrocities against Minnesotans, not just to establish a record for posterity, but to bank evidence for future prosecution."
Trump administration must fully fund food aid benefits by Friday, US judge rules - Reuters
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
November 6, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Trump administration must fully fund food aid benefits by Friday, US judge rules - Reuters
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Here’s what the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) says about the cost of annual healthcare premium increases for 2026…
www.kff.org/affordable-c...
www.kff.org/affordable-c...
ACA Marketplace Premium Payments Would More than Double on Average Next Year if Enhanced Premium Tax Credits Expire | KFF
KFF estimates that, if Congress allows the enhanced premium tax credits to expire at the end of this year, ACA Marketplace enrollees on average would see their premium payments more than double next y...
www.kff.org
October 29, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Here’s what the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) says about the cost of annual healthcare premium increases for 2026…
www.kff.org/affordable-c...
www.kff.org/affordable-c...
Reposted by Mel Ford
Q: Unless ACA subsidies are extended, the average plan will increase by somewhere around 115%
DR OZ: Where'd you get that number?
Q: Kaiser Family Foundation
OZ: They retracted that. Here's the truth. The average American who's on ACA is gonna pay $13 more than this year. That's not a big issue
DR OZ: Where'd you get that number?
Q: Kaiser Family Foundation
OZ: They retracted that. Here's the truth. The average American who's on ACA is gonna pay $13 more than this year. That's not a big issue
October 29, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Q: Unless ACA subsidies are extended, the average plan will increase by somewhere around 115%
DR OZ: Where'd you get that number?
Q: Kaiser Family Foundation
OZ: They retracted that. Here's the truth. The average American who's on ACA is gonna pay $13 more than this year. That's not a big issue
DR OZ: Where'd you get that number?
Q: Kaiser Family Foundation
OZ: They retracted that. Here's the truth. The average American who's on ACA is gonna pay $13 more than this year. That's not a big issue
What a Snowflake.
“Trump says he’s increasing tariffs on Canada by 10% after Ontario’s Reagan ad”
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
“Trump says he’s increasing tariffs on Canada by 10% after Ontario’s Reagan ad”
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
Trump says he’s increasing tariffs on Canada by 10% after Ontario’s Reagan ad | CNN Business
President Donald Trump said Saturday he is increasing the tariff on Canada by 10% over current levels, further escalating trade tensions over what he called a “fake” ad that featured parts of an anti-...
www.cnn.com
October 25, 2025 at 9:53 PM
What a Snowflake.
“Trump says he’s increasing tariffs on Canada by 10% after Ontario’s Reagan ad”
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
“Trump says he’s increasing tariffs on Canada by 10% after Ontario’s Reagan ad”
www.cnn.com/2025/10/25/b...
Reposted by Mel Ford
The Pentagon accepted an anonymous $130 million donation to help pay troops' salaries.
Fiscal policy experts are questioning the legality of the move.
"In general, you may not spend money that has been donated because the Constitution and the Anti-Deficiency Act say that you can't."
Fiscal policy experts are questioning the legality of the move.
"In general, you may not spend money that has been donated because the Constitution and the Anti-Deficiency Act say that you can't."
Pentagon to use $130 million anonymous donation to help pay troops
The amount is less than a day’s worth of salaries. Fiscal policy experts say the move also raises legal questions.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 25, 2025 at 2:40 PM
The Pentagon accepted an anonymous $130 million donation to help pay troops' salaries.
Fiscal policy experts are questioning the legality of the move.
"In general, you may not spend money that has been donated because the Constitution and the Anti-Deficiency Act say that you can't."
Fiscal policy experts are questioning the legality of the move.
"In general, you may not spend money that has been donated because the Constitution and the Anti-Deficiency Act say that you can't."
Due to the ongoing 2025 federal shutdown, many federal workers are resorting to going to food banks, applying for loans, or dipping into their savings or 401Ks to make ends meet.
Federal workers miss first full paycheck since shutdown began:
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/n...
Federal workers miss first full paycheck since shutdown began:
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/n...
It's supposed to be payday for many federal workers. Instead, they're getting nothing
Roughly 1.4 million federal workers are going without pay due to the government shutdown. About half of them are furloughed, while the other half has been deemed essential and is working without pay.
www.npr.org
October 25, 2025 at 6:51 PM
Due to the ongoing 2025 federal shutdown, many federal workers are resorting to going to food banks, applying for loans, or dipping into their savings or 401Ks to make ends meet.
Federal workers miss first full paycheck since shutdown began:
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/n...
Federal workers miss first full paycheck since shutdown began:
www.npr.org/2025/10/24/n...
Reposted by Mel Ford
The amount is meaningless — less than one day of salary. But the principle is important: once the armed services are paid by the oligarchs, they become a private militia, and we no longer have a country.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
Trump Administration Live Updates: Pentagon Accepts $130 Million Donation to Help Pay Troops During Shutdown
www.nytimes.com
October 24, 2025 at 9:18 PM
The amount is meaningless — less than one day of salary. But the principle is important: once the armed services are paid by the oligarchs, they become a private militia, and we no longer have a country.
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
Reposted by Mel Ford
Across the nation, federal workers are turning to food banks and taking on second jobs as missed paychecks continue.
October 24, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Across the nation, federal workers are turning to food banks and taking on second jobs as missed paychecks continue.
The East Wing of the WhiteHouse has been demolished.
The White House is the People’s House. The demolition is such a slap in the face to the American people. I think it really illustrates how he feels about ruling over all of us.
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
The White House is the People’s House. The demolition is such a slap in the face to the American people. I think it really illustrates how he feels about ruling over all of us.
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
The East Wing of the White House has been demolished. Here’s a look at its history
Several preservation groups have expressed concern in recent weeks about the project, which is the first major change to the exterior of the White House in 83 years.
www.pbs.org
October 24, 2025 at 9:47 PM
The East Wing of the WhiteHouse has been demolished.
The White House is the People’s House. The demolition is such a slap in the face to the American people. I think it really illustrates how he feels about ruling over all of us.
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
The White House is the People’s House. The demolition is such a slap in the face to the American people. I think it really illustrates how he feels about ruling over all of us.
www.pbs.org/newshour/pol...
Reposted by Mel Ford
It’s insane to me that we’re just… letting non-government personnel rifle through government code.
The SysAdmins have to be losing their fucking minds right now.
The SysAdmins have to be losing their fucking minds right now.
February 3, 2025 at 12:47 AM
It’s insane to me that we’re just… letting non-government personnel rifle through government code.
The SysAdmins have to be losing their fucking minds right now.
The SysAdmins have to be losing their fucking minds right now.
Reposted by Mel Ford
This language describes a coup. You have to be a government employee, subject to the rules & procedures that bind gov employees, to do this kind of work. This is a blatant abuse of the public trust by the Trump administration, a true 5-alarm fire. www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
February 2, 2025 at 7:34 PM
This language describes a coup. You have to be a government employee, subject to the rules & procedures that bind gov employees, to do this kind of work. This is a blatant abuse of the public trust by the Trump administration, a true 5-alarm fire. www.wired.com/story/elon-m...
The Army Corps of Engineers is “conducting controlled water releases” from two water reservoirs in Tulare County, California, sending water toward farmlands in the San Joaquin Valley.
Btw - Nowhere near Los Angeles
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Btw - Nowhere near Los Angeles
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Acting on Trump's order, federal officials opened up two California dams
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers just opened up two California dams. A spokesperson says the flows are 'controlled' and being coordinated with local officials.
www.latimes.com
February 1, 2025 at 8:07 PM
The Army Corps of Engineers is “conducting controlled water releases” from two water reservoirs in Tulare County, California, sending water toward farmlands in the San Joaquin Valley.
Btw - Nowhere near Los Angeles
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Btw - Nowhere near Los Angeles
www.latimes.com/environment/...
Winter Safety Tip from the US CPSC:
Always plug your space heaters directly into the wall!
“Space heaters require a lot of power. Power strips and extension cords are not designed to handle the amount of power a space heater needs. The power strips/cords can literally meltdown and cause a fire.”
Always plug your space heaters directly into the wall!
“Space heaters require a lot of power. Power strips and extension cords are not designed to handle the amount of power a space heater needs. The power strips/cords can literally meltdown and cause a fire.”
It's cold. Keep plugging that space heater directly into the wall, America.
January 4, 2025 at 2:02 AM
Winter Safety Tip from the US CPSC:
Always plug your space heaters directly into the wall!
“Space heaters require a lot of power. Power strips and extension cords are not designed to handle the amount of power a space heater needs. The power strips/cords can literally meltdown and cause a fire.”
Always plug your space heaters directly into the wall!
“Space heaters require a lot of power. Power strips and extension cords are not designed to handle the amount of power a space heater needs. The power strips/cords can literally meltdown and cause a fire.”
Reposted by Mel Ford
The Palouse, WA on an early spring morning is truly a magical place.
A lovely May morning in the Palouse. Golden light pours over the rolling hills while a solitary tree stands in witness.
December 14, 2024 at 5:12 PM
The Palouse, WA on an early spring morning is truly a magical place.
This lovely image puts me in the mood for summer. I already can’t wait for winter to finish its slow march.
"Keeper of the Breeze". It was an idyllic afternoon. I was driving through the rolling hills of the Palouse and spied this classic Aeromotor windmill patiently waiting for the next wisp of wind.
FYI: The Aermotor windmill company has been making windmills since 1888 and still makes them in the US.
FYI: The Aermotor windmill company has been making windmills since 1888 and still makes them in the US.
December 10, 2024 at 4:44 PM
This lovely image puts me in the mood for summer. I already can’t wait for winter to finish its slow march.
Reposted by Mel Ford
Here's an image taken in the Palouse, in Washington State. I loved how the stormy morning was giving way to a more hopeful, sunny day -- evidenced by this tree catching one of the few rays of sun managing to break through the clouds.
#landscapephotography #washington #farmland #photography
#landscapephotography #washington #farmland #photography
December 6, 2024 at 5:23 PM
Here's an image taken in the Palouse, in Washington State. I loved how the stormy morning was giving way to a more hopeful, sunny day -- evidenced by this tree catching one of the few rays of sun managing to break through the clouds.
#landscapephotography #washington #farmland #photography
#landscapephotography #washington #farmland #photography
Reposted by Mel Ford
Critical thinking and empathy are the most important things that will ensure sustainable human existence.
The current deterioration of both is the biggest problem humanity faces.
The current deterioration of both is the biggest problem humanity faces.
November 25, 2024 at 12:44 PM
Critical thinking and empathy are the most important things that will ensure sustainable human existence.
The current deterioration of both is the biggest problem humanity faces.
The current deterioration of both is the biggest problem humanity faces.
Reposted by Mel Ford
New in PN: RFK Jr. is a massive public health threat
"Kennedy has articulated a vision that will, if enacted, lead to the deaths of untold numbers of people, many of whom have not even been born. It's difficult to overstate the long-term danger he poses."
"Kennedy has articulated a vision that will, if enacted, lead to the deaths of untold numbers of people, many of whom have not even been born. It's difficult to overstate the long-term danger he poses."
RFK Jr. is a massive public health threat
Dems like Jared Polis shouldn't pretend pretend otherwise.
www.publicnotice.co
November 19, 2024 at 2:03 PM
New in PN: RFK Jr. is a massive public health threat
"Kennedy has articulated a vision that will, if enacted, lead to the deaths of untold numbers of people, many of whom have not even been born. It's difficult to overstate the long-term danger he poses."
"Kennedy has articulated a vision that will, if enacted, lead to the deaths of untold numbers of people, many of whom have not even been born. It's difficult to overstate the long-term danger he poses."