Rick
@rickehlers.bsky.social
Writer, designer, photographer, A/V enthusiast, technophile, philosopher (no, really!), coffee drinker, driver, observer of absurdity.
Reposted by Rick
Continually impressed by the accuracy and beauty of the @effinbirds.com Field Guide to Identification
January 21, 2026 at 6:11 PM
Continually impressed by the accuracy and beauty of the @effinbirds.com Field Guide to Identification
Reposted by Rick
Trump in Switzerland: If it wasn't for us, you'd all be speaking German!!
Fact Check: Switzerland's main language is, in fact, German.
Craziest part about Trump's absurd comment is we're now 33 days past the mandated full release of the Epstein Files and Trump is still hiding them like a coward.
Fact Check: Switzerland's main language is, in fact, German.
Craziest part about Trump's absurd comment is we're now 33 days past the mandated full release of the Epstein Files and Trump is still hiding them like a coward.
January 21, 2026 at 6:45 PM
Trump in Switzerland: If it wasn't for us, you'd all be speaking German!!
Fact Check: Switzerland's main language is, in fact, German.
Craziest part about Trump's absurd comment is we're now 33 days past the mandated full release of the Epstein Files and Trump is still hiding them like a coward.
Fact Check: Switzerland's main language is, in fact, German.
Craziest part about Trump's absurd comment is we're now 33 days past the mandated full release of the Epstein Files and Trump is still hiding them like a coward.
Reposted by Rick
Trump confused Iceland and Greenland in his speech three times- when reporters point that out, Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed the reporter saying that was a lie. This is what a fascist regime looks like. www.mediaite.com/media/news/k...
Karoline Leavitt Issues Brazen Denial of Trump Iceland-Greenland Flub Heard Round the World
Karoline Leavitt brazenly denied that President Donald Trump referred to Greenland as Iceland during his speech in Davos, Switzerland on Wednesday.
www.mediaite.com
January 21, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Trump confused Iceland and Greenland in his speech three times- when reporters point that out, Trump's press secretary Karoline Leavitt slammed the reporter saying that was a lie. This is what a fascist regime looks like. www.mediaite.com/media/news/k...
Reposted by Rick
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
December 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Reposted by Rick
My son (5) when he gets in trouble.
October 31, 2025 at 9:21 PM
My son (5) when he gets in trouble.
Reposted by Rick
Reposted by Rick
1. The commercial was done by Ontario, not Canada itself, which is run by someone in the opposing party to Carney. He had nothing to do with it.
2. Commercial was not "false." It was entirely accurate.
3. Reagan hated tariffs.
Stop just letting him lie constantly.
2. Commercial was not "false." It was entirely accurate.
3. Reagan hated tariffs.
Stop just letting him lie constantly.
Trump on Mark Carney: "He apologized for what they did with the commercial. Because it was a false commercial. It was the exact opposite. Ronald Reagan loved tariffs. And he did apologize."
October 31, 2025 at 10:44 PM
1. The commercial was done by Ontario, not Canada itself, which is run by someone in the opposing party to Carney. He had nothing to do with it.
2. Commercial was not "false." It was entirely accurate.
3. Reagan hated tariffs.
Stop just letting him lie constantly.
2. Commercial was not "false." It was entirely accurate.
3. Reagan hated tariffs.
Stop just letting him lie constantly.
Reposted by Rick
We asked readers whether young Americans today can still have a better life than their parents. They responded with stories of economic hardship and growing disillusionment with leaders in Washington. n.pr/43EXSnX
The American dream feels impossible for many young voters, who see no political fix
We asked readers whether young Americans today can still have a better life than their parents. They responded with stories of economic hardship and growing disillusionment with leaders in Washington.
n.pr
October 31, 2025 at 8:57 PM
We asked readers whether young Americans today can still have a better life than their parents. They responded with stories of economic hardship and growing disillusionment with leaders in Washington. n.pr/43EXSnX
Reposted by Rick
“The U.N. human rights chief said Friday that U.S. military strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean allegedly carrying illegal drugs from South America are “unacceptable” and must stop.”
Thank you, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk!
Thank you, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk!
UN human rights chief says US strikes on alleged drug boats are 'unacceptable'
The U.N. human rights chief says U.S. military strikes on vessels allegedly carrying illegal drugs from South America are unacceptable and must stop.
apnews.com
October 31, 2025 at 11:20 AM
“The U.N. human rights chief said Friday that U.S. military strikes against boats in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean allegedly carrying illegal drugs from South America are “unacceptable” and must stop.”
Thank you, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk!
Thank you, U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk!
Reposted by Rick
I really kinda love this story. As much as adults freak out about kids communicating online and look for ways to block access to things, the kids will find a way to communicate. Even if it's in the comments of NPR podcasts...
Kids Turn Podcast Comments Into Secret Chat Rooms, Because Of Course They Do
As anyone who has read Techdirt for any length of time knows full well, there’s been a years-long campaign to demonize kids and social media. Never mind that actual experts have said the data doesn’t support the claims of…
As anyone who has read Techdirt for any length of time knows full well, there’s been a years-long campaign to demonize kids and social media. Never mind that actual experts have said the data doesn’t support the claims of…
Kids Turn Podcast Comments Into Secret Chat Rooms, Because Of Course They Do
As anyone who has read Techdirt for any length of time knows full well, there’s been a years-long campaign to demonize kids and social media. Never mind that actual experts have said the data doesn’t support the claims of inherent harm, politicians around the globe are rushing to ban kids from social media as fast as they can. But banning kids from social media has a fundamental problem: kids will find a way.
www.techdirt.com
October 31, 2025 at 5:58 PM
I really kinda love this story. As much as adults freak out about kids communicating online and look for ways to block access to things, the kids will find a way to communicate. Even if it's in the comments of NPR podcasts...
Reposted by Rick
BREAKING: Federal judge rules that the Trump administration likely illegally suspended SNAP benefits, ruling that at least reduced distribution is required to go forward under law using the $6 billion reserve fund.
Judge gives the Trump admin until Monday to respond as to whether it will act.
Judge gives the Trump admin until Monday to respond as to whether it will act.
![UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS ET AL.,
Plaintiffs,
V.
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE ET AL.,
Defendants.
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Civil Action No. 1:25-cv-13165-IT
MEMORANDUM AND ORDER
October 31, 2025
TALWANI, D.J.
Pending before the court is Plaintiffs' Motion for a Temporary Restraining Order [Doc.
No. 3] seeking to enjoin, on an emergency basis, Defendants' November 1, 2025 suspension of benefits under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program ("SNAP"). For the reasons stated
below, Plaintiffs have standing to bring this action and are likely to succeed on their claim that
Defendants' suspension of SNAP benefits is unlawful. Where that suspension of benefits rested
on an erroneous construction of the relevant statutory provisions, the court will allow Defendants
to consider whether they will authorize at least reduced SNAP benefits for November, and report
back to the court no later than Monday, November 3, 2025.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreiczapq36myqhzcrdp4jfodg5rkso7nuvlta4e5b5r4l5upce7b3le@jpeg)
![As both parties acknowledge, Congress has not yet appropriated any new funds for SNAP
benefits for Fiscal Year 2026, which began on October 1, 2025. Pls.' Mem. 6 [Doc. No. 4];
Defs.' Opp'n 7 [Doc. No. 18]. But Congress took steps to protect against the deprivation of
SNAP assistance. In the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act, Pub. L. No. 118-42, § 6, 138
Stat. 25, 93-94, Congress separately appropriated $6 billion to the SNAP program "to remain available through September 30, 2026" and "be placed in reserve for use only in such amounts and at such times as may become necessary to carry out program operations." See also Pub. L.
No. 119-4, § 1101(a), 139 Stat. 9, 10 (2025). As Plaintiffs point out, given the mandatory nature
of SNAP benefits under 7 U.S.C. § 2014(a) and the appropriation of these funds to be available
10
Case 1:25-cv-13165-IT
Document 26 Filed 10/31/25
Page 11 of 15
through this current fiscal year, the government is obligated to use this contingent reserve
account to fund SNAP "as may become necessary to carry out program operations." 138 Stat. at
93-94; Pls.' Mem. 11 [Doc. No. 4].](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:36eqtmzysqf7wsslczw4uxcd/bafkreiac7aa6icx44x5xjkilpwj7il5oriyttttnrslzrhkwvw6b32cbnm@jpeg)
October 31, 2025 at 5:59 PM
BREAKING: Federal judge rules that the Trump administration likely illegally suspended SNAP benefits, ruling that at least reduced distribution is required to go forward under law using the $6 billion reserve fund.
Judge gives the Trump admin until Monday to respond as to whether it will act.
Judge gives the Trump admin until Monday to respond as to whether it will act.
Reposted by Rick
"It’s just crazy to me to see this engine for intellectual property theft that is totally indefensible taking place with the full cooperation of Amazon.”
Generative AI has made Amazon’s knockoff problem more inescapable than ever. Authors tell Rolling Stone it’s leaving them frustrated— and the internet worse in the process.
Amazon Is the World's Biggest Online Book Marketplace. It's Filled With AI Knockoffs
bit.ly
October 27, 2025 at 8:09 PM
"It’s just crazy to me to see this engine for intellectual property theft that is totally indefensible taking place with the full cooperation of Amazon.”
Reposted by Rick
It’s ok to be apoplectic now, Senator Lankford!
REPUBLICAN Senator Lankford on Trump bombing boats and killing people with no due process or real evidence they’re drug-related: “The administration needs to give Congress insight on this. If this was happening under Biden with this level of insight I’d be apoplectic.”
October 27, 2025 at 1:51 AM
It’s ok to be apoplectic now, Senator Lankford!
Reposted by Rick
NEW: Citing a ProPublica investigation, lawmakers are calling on the FDA to conduct more drug testing and to alert hospitals and other purchasers when foreign manufacturers with safety failures are given a special pass to send their products to the U.S.
Senators Propose Sweeping Changes to Generic Drug Oversight
Citing a ProPublica investigation, lawmakers are calling on the FDA to conduct more drug testing and to alert hospitals and other purchasers when foreign manufacturers with safety failures are given a...
www.propublica.org
October 27, 2025 at 7:33 PM
NEW: Citing a ProPublica investigation, lawmakers are calling on the FDA to conduct more drug testing and to alert hospitals and other purchasers when foreign manufacturers with safety failures are given a special pass to send their products to the U.S.
Reposted by Rick
CNN chief Mark Thompson told reporters to ease up on coverage of the demolition of the White House’s East Wing after a visit to the part of the White House that President Trump has not yet demolished.
CNN chief Mark Thompson reportedly told the cable network’s reporters to ease up on coverage of the demolition of the White House’s East Wing after a visit to the White House.
CNN Boss Ordered Teardown Censorship After West Wing Visit
CNN CEO said to be the latest media boss bending the knee before Donald Trump.
trib.al
October 27, 2025 at 7:40 PM
CNN chief Mark Thompson told reporters to ease up on coverage of the demolition of the White House’s East Wing after a visit to the part of the White House that President Trump has not yet demolished.
Reposted by Rick
Standing there insisting this is all somehow Democrats' fault because they won't support *your* budget -- a budget that explicitly wages war on Democratic constituencies and Democratic programs -- when you refuse to negotiate or compromise at all is just ludicrously laughably stupid.
October 27, 2025 at 5:54 PM
Standing there insisting this is all somehow Democrats' fault because they won't support *your* budget -- a budget that explicitly wages war on Democratic constituencies and Democratic programs -- when you refuse to negotiate or compromise at all is just ludicrously laughably stupid.
Reposted by Rick
No, man, Republicans are in charge of the government.
Do you think Democrats are the ones who keep telling the House to stay on vacation week after week in order to prevent the release of the Epstein Files?
Because I'm pretty positive that's *you* who's been doing that.
Do you think Democrats are the ones who keep telling the House to stay on vacation week after week in order to prevent the release of the Epstein Files?
Because I'm pretty positive that's *you* who's been doing that.
Mike Johnson: "Democrats are required to open the government. They keep saying, 'Republicans are in charge of government.' We aren't!"
October 27, 2025 at 5:48 PM
No, man, Republicans are in charge of the government.
Do you think Democrats are the ones who keep telling the House to stay on vacation week after week in order to prevent the release of the Epstein Files?
Because I'm pretty positive that's *you* who's been doing that.
Do you think Democrats are the ones who keep telling the House to stay on vacation week after week in order to prevent the release of the Epstein Files?
Because I'm pretty positive that's *you* who's been doing that.
Reposted by Rick
Reposted by Rick
Trump Says He Won’t Rule Out Third Reich
October 27, 2025 at 6:00 PM
Trump Says He Won’t Rule Out Third Reich
Reposted by Rick
lol what the wealthy today don't seem to understand is part of staying wealthy in society is not pissing off the masses.
There's a reason why Carnegie and the Rockefellers poured money into institutions. Gutting institutions and making it harder for the masses to survive is a...choice.
There's a reason why Carnegie and the Rockefellers poured money into institutions. Gutting institutions and making it harder for the masses to survive is a...choice.
October 27, 2025 at 5:11 PM
lol what the wealthy today don't seem to understand is part of staying wealthy in society is not pissing off the masses.
There's a reason why Carnegie and the Rockefellers poured money into institutions. Gutting institutions and making it harder for the masses to survive is a...choice.
There's a reason why Carnegie and the Rockefellers poured money into institutions. Gutting institutions and making it harder for the masses to survive is a...choice.
Reposted by Rick
Seeing multiple news orgs join together to reject the Pentagon's gag rules and now multiple airports refuse to air partisan govt propaganda.
There've been weeks when the wind is at authoritarians' backs. Let's hope these suggest a different wind direction this week. www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
There've been weeks when the wind is at authoritarians' backs. Let's hope these suggest a different wind direction this week. www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
O'Hare and Midway airports won't show Kristi Noem video criticizing Democrats for government shutdown
O'Hare and Midway airports in Chicago have decided not to show travelers a video of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem criticizing Democrats for the ongoing federal government shutdown.
www.cbsnews.com
October 14, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Seeing multiple news orgs join together to reject the Pentagon's gag rules and now multiple airports refuse to air partisan govt propaganda.
There've been weeks when the wind is at authoritarians' backs. Let's hope these suggest a different wind direction this week. www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
There've been weeks when the wind is at authoritarians' backs. Let's hope these suggest a different wind direction this week. www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news...
Reposted by Rick
"To the extent Trump has the power to federalize troops, it stems from a law Congress passed. In other words, Congress could, were it not currently controlled by sniveling sycophants, just pass a new law that took away that power. So, by its very nature, that’s not a plenary power."
Stephen Miller's radically bogus idea of "plenary authority"
This is not how the Constitution works.
www.publicnotice.co
October 14, 2025 at 5:22 PM
"To the extent Trump has the power to federalize troops, it stems from a law Congress passed. In other words, Congress could, were it not currently controlled by sniveling sycophants, just pass a new law that took away that power. So, by its very nature, that’s not a plenary power."
Reposted by Rick
This is a serious and legal analysis by @asharangappa.bsky.social
And it’s a must read.
open.substack.com/pub/staytune...
And it’s a must read.
open.substack.com/pub/staytune...
So You’ve Decided to Target Random People with Military Force
Here’s why it’s illegal
open.substack.com
October 14, 2025 at 2:36 PM
This is a serious and legal analysis by @asharangappa.bsky.social
And it’s a must read.
open.substack.com/pub/staytune...
And it’s a must read.
open.substack.com/pub/staytune...
Reposted by Rick
good thing a bunch of weird zealots just destroyed whatever was left of the U.S. regulatory state
(which already barely tried to regulate our $63 billion supplement industry)
(which already barely tried to regulate our $63 billion supplement industry)
my latest investigation for @consumerreports.org is based on months of reporting and 60+ lab tests of leading protein supplements
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
we found that most protein powders and shakes have more lead in one serving than our experts say is safe to have in a day (🧵)
www.consumerreports.org/lead/protein...
Protein Powders and Shakes Contain High Levels of Lead - Consumer Reports
CR tests of 23 popular protein powders and shakes found that most contain high levels of lead.
www.consumerreports.org
October 14, 2025 at 5:28 PM
good thing a bunch of weird zealots just destroyed whatever was left of the U.S. regulatory state
(which already barely tried to regulate our $63 billion supplement industry)
(which already barely tried to regulate our $63 billion supplement industry)