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Ralf W

@raflw.bsky.social

2.4K followers 740 following 9.7K posts

If the press cannot report reality, there is no remaining basis upon which to solve problems. And solving problems is a central thrust of governing. Peripatetic pessimist-optimist. Hanger on at Balloon Juice, also too. MSP / CO / WI

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Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 9d

Here's what far right ideologue Russ Vought and his Heritage bomb-throwers seem not to understand:

Destroy ACA and some mythical income-producing 'free market' health care system will not flourish in its place.

There will just be less care. Less money going even to for-profit clinics or hospitals.

Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett @crockett.house.gov · 9d

Republicans would rather shut down the government than protect the Affordable Care Act. A shutdown puts ACA tax credits at risk—and in Texas, premiums could jump 289%, costing families $459 more each year. (1/2)

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 8m

Also hard to know when the press yawns, maybe posts 3 local protest photos somewhere below Travel or Real Estate on the bottom of the web site.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 11m

Good contrast to propose.

But it will never happen. Because educated people are a) harder to bamboozle and 2) start moving at least to the middle, if not slightly left of center when their world is expanded in a University setting.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 1h

Goes hand in hand with Trump claiming he'll lower drug prices "300, 400, 500 percent".

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 11h

Oh lordy.
A Trumpy appellate judge harkening to Abr Lincoln as to response time.
Abe: letters by mail, troops on foot or horseback.
Trump: Cell phones, cameras everywhere, troop flights.
But to a judge wanting motivated reasoning: Same.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 12h

A lot of that USAID money was spent to purchase US crops to ship abroad. So cutting that aid cut US farm income.

Brilliant.

Reposted by Ralf W

Andrea Pitzer @andreapitzer.bsky.social · 15h

Still amazed that the Vatican has been more responsive to the threat Trump represents than the vast majority of American institutions.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 13h

I sort of love how non-Americans think they can write copy for obvious scams.

I, for one, do not want warm meat shipped to me. But I understand basic food safety and dislike dysentery or flat out dying from food poisoning.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 14h

Charles Amos seems to revel in haplessness.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 14h

So they're questioning his Papal authority? Cause that's how it sounds.
Conservatives going "cafeteria Catholic" as soon as Leo starts talking about walking with the poor, the dignity of work, not promoting lies, etc.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

It's just a jump to the left.

And then a step to the right.

Put your hands on your hips.

You bring your knees in tight.

But it's the pelvic thrust 🎶
That really drives you insane.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

One problem with a handful of people being able to concentrate wild amounts of money is that they no longer have people who can just say to them:

"Dude. Stop that. It's weird.
No body wants to hear you say that."

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

Really. Really. Wierd.

President Trump’s Weird Obsession With Bleeding Women

Megyn Kelly had blood ‘coming out of her wherever.’ Mika Brzezinski is bleeding from a facelift. President Trump’s misogyny is ghoulishly centered on women and the red stuff.

www.thedailybeast.com

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

This time a woman dared cause him to bleed, but it's the same damn neuroses.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

Really. Really. Wierd.

President Trump’s Weird Obsession With Bleeding Women

Megyn Kelly had blood ‘coming out of her wherever.’ Mika Brzezinski is bleeding from a facelift. President Trump’s misogyny is ghoulishly centered on women and the red stuff.

www.thedailybeast.com

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

He's just really f-ing weird!

Tim Walz was right!

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

Narrator:
It's just a jump to the left.

All:
And then a step to the right.

Narrator:
Put your hands on your hips.

All:
You bring your knees in tight.
But it's the pelvic thrust
That really drives you insane. 🎶

The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 19h

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 17h

Also, Trump very much *loves* to tell us we're getting screwed.
It's about the only joy he can tap into (which is sadistic joy, yes).

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 17h

Maybe she should have demanded a $50,000 bribe from an FBI agent.
That, I hear, is not worth indicting.

Reposted by Ralf W

Jon Seidel @jonseidel.bsky.social · 17h

Perry cites other fed prosecutions/lawsuits in Chicago and says "in the last 48 hours, in four separate unrelated legal decision from different neutral parties, they all cast significant doubt on DHS' credibility and assessment of what is happening on the streets of Chicago."

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 19h

This group is listed as a "Partner" of the News Media/Alliance. Jeebus.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 20h

Anything that could be even a remote slight is met with immediate threats of maximal retaliation.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 20h

Trump on Spain: "You'll have to call them and find out why they are a laggard ... maybe you should throw them out of NATO."

Reposted by Ralf W

Tammy Duckworth @duckworth.senate.gov · 20h

UPDATE: While it shouldn't have taken this long for the Senate to look into Trump’s egregious abuse of our military, I have secured a hearing to investigate his deployments of troops into our cities—

And I’ll be asking tough questions of the Trump Administration when it happens.

Tammy Duckworth @duckworth.senate.gov · 23h

Trump is forcing the military to our cities, intimidating Americans and distracting troops from their core missions.

It's unconstitutional—we can't act like it's business as usual.

I'm blocking the NDAA until we secure a hearing to investigate this gross abuse of our military.

Reposted by Ralf W

Heather Cox Richardson (TDPR) @hcrichardson.bsky.social · 1d

20 paragraphs down in the NBC News story that broke the information that the administration is considering invoking the Insurrection Act is the report that Stephen Miller is driving the issue.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 20h

"At least once, Kardon said, ICE fired a pepper ball at her w/o warning, leaving her with a bruise on her abdomen that lasted for weeks.

'Every time we have been attacked with pepper bullets...it has felt like it came from anger, not from any determined safety need or protocol. They are unhinged.'"

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 20h

Rogers Park. The community where Rev. Hannah Kardon, a United Methodist pastor hails from. 🤔

Religious protesters say ICE threatens religious freedom in Chicago

(RNS) — Despite potential danger, religious leaders and faith activists have been a visible presence at Chicago-area ICE protests, some waving signs with slogans such as ‘Love thy neighbor’ and ‘Who w...

religionnews.com

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 20h

Ye Gods, I wish Americans would go back to embracing awnings! My grandparents had them all over the S. & W. exposures of their suburban 60s ranch in Kansas City.

I *love* that Euros have 'em on mid-rises!

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