Rich Browner
@richbrowner.bsky.social
Longtime high school / junior high educator in faith, philosophy and music.
Being open to growth, grace, beauty and mystery helps us live and love better.
Being open to growth, grace, beauty and mystery helps us live and love better.
Reposted by Rich Browner
The government is saying that violence rules. That snatching foreign leaders and territories, and shooting US citizens in their cars at point blank range, is justified. That resistance is not only futile, it is dangerous. They can say these things. But they cannot force us to believe them.
January 8, 2026 at 4:16 AM
The government is saying that violence rules. That snatching foreign leaders and territories, and shooting US citizens in their cars at point blank range, is justified. That resistance is not only futile, it is dangerous. They can say these things. But they cannot force us to believe them.
Reposted by Rich Browner
Allow me to address the elephant in the room: It is much more likely that an ICE agent has an arrest record than an immigrant. — Time to unmask, prosecute, and lock them up.
January 7, 2026 at 10:26 PM
Allow me to address the elephant in the room: It is much more likely that an ICE agent has an arrest record than an immigrant. — Time to unmask, prosecute, and lock them up.
Reposted by Rich Browner
the reason people sometimes act madder at democrats than republicans when republicans do impossibly evil shit is the same reason why, if you hired an exterminator to handle a roach infestation and he showed up to feed and play with them instead, your first instinct wouldn’t be to yell at the roaches
January 3, 2026 at 9:19 PM
the reason people sometimes act madder at democrats than republicans when republicans do impossibly evil shit is the same reason why, if you hired an exterminator to handle a roach infestation and he showed up to feed and play with them instead, your first instinct wouldn’t be to yell at the roaches
Reposted by Rich Browner
Wrote this before yesterday but it gets at what undergirds that (and lots of other things in politics).
"The internet universalized subjectivity instead of objectivity. … We have reverted from acting on what we *know* to acting on what we *think*."
"The internet universalized subjectivity instead of objectivity. … We have reverted from acting on what we *know* to acting on what we *think*."
Opinion | How the internet fractured the information ago — and drove down regard for actual facts and education
Philip Bump: We have reverted from acting on what we know to acting on what we think.
www.ms.now
January 4, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Wrote this before yesterday but it gets at what undergirds that (and lots of other things in politics).
"The internet universalized subjectivity instead of objectivity. … We have reverted from acting on what we *know* to acting on what we *think*."
"The internet universalized subjectivity instead of objectivity. … We have reverted from acting on what we *know* to acting on what we *think*."
Reposted by Rich Browner
The most junior copy editor at the nation’s worst college paper could find a way to squeeze “which killed an estimated 40 people” somewhere into these top 6 grafs of the NYTimes story.
It was a conscious decision to bury it in the bottom half.
It was a conscious decision to bury it in the bottom half.
January 4, 2026 at 5:20 AM
The most junior copy editor at the nation’s worst college paper could find a way to squeeze “which killed an estimated 40 people” somewhere into these top 6 grafs of the NYTimes story.
It was a conscious decision to bury it in the bottom half.
It was a conscious decision to bury it in the bottom half.
Reposted by Rich Browner
ICE arrested more than 3,500 people in Colorado in 2025 — including babies and the elderly coloradosun.com/2025/12/31/i... via @taydolven.bsky.social
ICE arrested more than 3,500 people in Colorado in 2025 — including babies and the elderly
The number of arrests made by ICE agents in Colorado this year from Jan. 20 to Oct. 15 quadrupled compared with the same period last year
coloradosun.com
January 2, 2026 at 4:47 PM
ICE arrested more than 3,500 people in Colorado in 2025 — including babies and the elderly coloradosun.com/2025/12/31/i... via @taydolven.bsky.social
Reposted by Rich Browner
Trump golfed 1/4 of the days he was president in 2025. Costing US taxpayers to pay his Golf clubs $110,600,000.
January 1, 2026 at 3:32 PM
Trump golfed 1/4 of the days he was president in 2025. Costing US taxpayers to pay his Golf clubs $110,600,000.
Reposted by Rich Browner
Reposted by Rich Browner
[CW: prison rape, coercive rape]
1. Geo Group operates private prisons
2. Government is appalled at the "stunning indifference" to constant sexual abuse by guards of children as *young as 13*
3. Governors start trying to end private prisons
4. Geo tries to keep its prisons and grow ICE facilities
🤷🏿♂️
1. Geo Group operates private prisons
2. Government is appalled at the "stunning indifference" to constant sexual abuse by guards of children as *young as 13*
3. Governors start trying to end private prisons
4. Geo tries to keep its prisons and grow ICE facilities
🤷🏿♂️
December 31, 2025 at 12:10 PM
[CW: prison rape, coercive rape]
1. Geo Group operates private prisons
2. Government is appalled at the "stunning indifference" to constant sexual abuse by guards of children as *young as 13*
3. Governors start trying to end private prisons
4. Geo tries to keep its prisons and grow ICE facilities
🤷🏿♂️
1. Geo Group operates private prisons
2. Government is appalled at the "stunning indifference" to constant sexual abuse by guards of children as *young as 13*
3. Governors start trying to end private prisons
4. Geo tries to keep its prisons and grow ICE facilities
🤷🏿♂️
Reposted by Rich Browner
All of the top 10 books borrowed through the public library app Libby were written by women. And Kristin Hannah's The Women was the top checkout in many library systems around the country.
Genre fiction and female authors top U.S. libraries' most-borrowed lists in 2025
All of the top 10 books borrowed through the public library app Libby were written by women. And Kristin Hannah's The Women was the top checkout in many library systems around the country.
n.pr
December 31, 2025 at 12:42 PM
All of the top 10 books borrowed through the public library app Libby were written by women. And Kristin Hannah's The Women was the top checkout in many library systems around the country.
Reposted by Rich Browner
MAGA is pushing the Minnesota fraud allegations against Somalis to deflect from the Epstein files-and because they fear immigrants
If they really cared about fraud, they never would’ve voted for the guy who founded Trump University-and they’d attack him now for pardoning people like Philip Esformes
If they really cared about fraud, they never would’ve voted for the guy who founded Trump University-and they’d attack him now for pardoning people like Philip Esformes
December 31, 2025 at 1:04 PM
MAGA is pushing the Minnesota fraud allegations against Somalis to deflect from the Epstein files-and because they fear immigrants
If they really cared about fraud, they never would’ve voted for the guy who founded Trump University-and they’d attack him now for pardoning people like Philip Esformes
If they really cared about fraud, they never would’ve voted for the guy who founded Trump University-and they’d attack him now for pardoning people like Philip Esformes
Reposted by Rich Browner
New: We got an internal ICE document revealing its $100 million ad plan to bring in 14,000 new hires: deals with "tactical" influencers; ads to gun & military buffs; and geo-targeting phones around NASCAR races and gun shows.
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
ICE plans $100 million ‘wartime recruitment’ push targeting gun shows, military fans for hires
An internal ICE document shared among immigration officials details plans to use influencers and geo-targeted ads to rapidly hire thousands of deportation officers.
wapo.st
December 31, 2025 at 12:09 PM
New: We got an internal ICE document revealing its $100 million ad plan to bring in 14,000 new hires: deals with "tactical" influencers; ads to gun & military buffs; and geo-targeting phones around NASCAR races and gun shows.
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
A "wartime recruitment" mode with paramilitary branding: wapo.st/44QrP5j
Reposted by Rich Browner
It's quite an experiment to have a government run by the dumbest people on the planet.
Over on Xitter the Attorney General is pointing to a study that only goes through last year to claim she's fixed the fentanyl crisis.
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
December 30, 2025 at 8:26 PM
It's quite an experiment to have a government run by the dumbest people on the planet.
Reposted by Rich Browner
This is an act of war and illegal under both US and international law, let’s just be clear about that:
C.I.A. Conducted Drone Strike on Port in Venezuela
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 7:52 AM
This is an act of war and illegal under both US and international law, let’s just be clear about that:
Reposted by Rich Browner
Trump's attempting to transform the US from a country that welcomes immigrants into a radically xenophobic nation that demonizes immigrants of color, and even their US born children. But Trump didn't campaign on this destructive/reactionary remaking of America and most Americans don't support it. 1/
December 30, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Trump's attempting to transform the US from a country that welcomes immigrants into a radically xenophobic nation that demonizes immigrants of color, and even their US born children. But Trump didn't campaign on this destructive/reactionary remaking of America and most Americans don't support it. 1/
Reposted by Rich Browner
If we learned that the Obama or Biden DOJ was casually monitoring the comings and goings of a reporter for any reason, much less b/c she was the lead reporter on all things Epstein, it would be a Watergate-level scandal but of course since it's Trump, one day (at best) and we move right along 🙃
December 29, 2025 at 2:31 PM
If we learned that the Obama or Biden DOJ was casually monitoring the comings and goings of a reporter for any reason, much less b/c she was the lead reporter on all things Epstein, it would be a Watergate-level scandal but of course since it's Trump, one day (at best) and we move right along 🙃
Reposted by Rich Browner
They’ve been slashing healthcare due to “waste, fraud and abuse”.
Telling people they must “prove they matter” to receive Medicaid.
Yet this man frauded the system of $1.2 billion dollars and what does he get?
A pardon!
It was never about saving money.
It’s eugenics.
Telling people they must “prove they matter” to receive Medicaid.
Yet this man frauded the system of $1.2 billion dollars and what does he get?
A pardon!
It was never about saving money.
It’s eugenics.
Health care fraudster Philip Esformes is latest Trump clemency recipient to be arrested
Philip Esformes is among several people granted clemency by then-President Donald Trump who have since been charged with new crimes.
www.nbcnews.com
December 29, 2025 at 10:54 AM
They’ve been slashing healthcare due to “waste, fraud and abuse”.
Telling people they must “prove they matter” to receive Medicaid.
Yet this man frauded the system of $1.2 billion dollars and what does he get?
A pardon!
It was never about saving money.
It’s eugenics.
Telling people they must “prove they matter” to receive Medicaid.
Yet this man frauded the system of $1.2 billion dollars and what does he get?
A pardon!
It was never about saving money.
It’s eugenics.
Reposted by Rich Browner
In 2025, the US launched strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, al-Shabab in Somalia, ISIS in Syria, alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, plus Iran’s nuclear program. Now some into Nigeria.
All killed people and damaged things, but none appear to have achieved anything lasting.
All killed people and damaged things, but none appear to have achieved anything lasting.
Opinion | The logic isn't apparent in Trump's strikes in Nigeria
Nicholas Grossman: Add Nigeria to the list of countries Trump has bombed this year
www.ms.now
December 27, 2025 at 2:38 PM
In 2025, the US launched strikes on the Houthis in Yemen, al-Shabab in Somalia, ISIS in Syria, alleged drug traffickers in the Caribbean and eastern Pacific, plus Iran’s nuclear program. Now some into Nigeria.
All killed people and damaged things, but none appear to have achieved anything lasting.
All killed people and damaged things, but none appear to have achieved anything lasting.
Reposted by Rich Browner
If you love Heather Cox Richardson and haven't discovered her conversations with fellow historian Joanne Freeman, you're in for a treat. I love their wisdom, knowledge, rapport, and laughter. Here's today's (12/27) broadcast. @hcrichardson.bsky.social @jbf1755.bsky.social
What the Heck Just Happened?
YouTube video by Heather Cox Richardson
www.youtube.com
December 27, 2025 at 6:46 PM
If you love Heather Cox Richardson and haven't discovered her conversations with fellow historian Joanne Freeman, you're in for a treat. I love their wisdom, knowledge, rapport, and laughter. Here's today's (12/27) broadcast. @hcrichardson.bsky.social @jbf1755.bsky.social
Reposted by Rich Browner
To recap:
*The Trump administration illegally renamed the Kennedy Center. They broke the law.
*Now they are suing a guy who refused to perform because of the name change for $1 million.
*The Trump administration illegally renamed the Kennedy Center. They broke the law.
*Now they are suing a guy who refused to perform because of the name change for $1 million.
The Kennedy Center is planning legal action after jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled an annual holiday concert. Redd pulled out after President Trump's name appeared on the building. n.pr/49tB0uS
Kennedy Center vows to sue musician who canceled performance over Trump name change
The Kennedy Center is planning legal action after jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled an annual holiday concert. Redd pulled out after President Trump's name appeared on the building.
n.pr
December 27, 2025 at 11:08 PM
To recap:
*The Trump administration illegally renamed the Kennedy Center. They broke the law.
*Now they are suing a guy who refused to perform because of the name change for $1 million.
*The Trump administration illegally renamed the Kennedy Center. They broke the law.
*Now they are suing a guy who refused to perform because of the name change for $1 million.
Reposted by Rich Browner
The musician worked with the Kennedy Center for 20 yrs. Now they are suing him, while complaining of bullying.
"Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect."
"Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect."
December 27, 2025 at 11:11 PM
The musician worked with the Kennedy Center for 20 yrs. Now they are suing him, while complaining of bullying.
"Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect."
"Conservatism consists of exactly one proposition, to wit: There must be in-groups whom the law protects but does not bind, alongside out-groups whom the law binds but does not protect."
Reposted by Rich Browner
Big Tech these days in a nutshell
another robot highlight for 2025: man wearing humanoid mocap suit kicks himself in the balls
December 27, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Big Tech these days in a nutshell
Reposted by Rich Browner
I just taught my lecture course on mid-20th c US history, which starts with Harding and concludes with Nixon.
For the first time, I had to pause and stress that those scandals were actually shocking at the time and, what’s more, that Americans actually demanded people be held accountable.
For the first time, I had to pause and stress that those scandals were actually shocking at the time and, what’s more, that Americans actually demanded people be held accountable.
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...
December 27, 2025 at 9:30 PM
I just taught my lecture course on mid-20th c US history, which starts with Harding and concludes with Nixon.
For the first time, I had to pause and stress that those scandals were actually shocking at the time and, what’s more, that Americans actually demanded people be held accountable.
For the first time, I had to pause and stress that those scandals were actually shocking at the time and, what’s more, that Americans actually demanded people be held accountable.
Reposted by Rich Browner
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 8:39 PM
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...