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Ralf W

@raflw.bsky.social

2.5K followers 750 following 9.8K 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 · 4d

Johnson has already said the House will pass rescissions of whatever goes through this fall.

It's all horseshit. There's no budget, because there's no plan for Republicans to abide by any of it. 😡

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 6h

Trump wanted a Peace Prize for this!?!

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 10h

There was every indication Rubio was an empty suit, though.
And history is rife with men who have no moral center who've gone on to commit horrors.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 12h

Like, ok, in private I might be more descriptive and even a bit moralistic about how I want to tax the rich. But I'm just fine saying "Tax the rich" on here, the streets, or lobbying my M.O.C.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 12h

In addition to the horrendous racism & wishes for unspeakable violence, there's another element:
They assume liberals have some set of hidden drives & desires that we would unleash if we could.
But vanishingly few do. What we say publicly and privately usually matches.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 15h

Speaker Johnson later today:

"What? I never read Politico. I have no idea what you're talking about."

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

Horrifying.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

This is such deep, terrible moral rot.

Not that really anyone in the press will ask any conservative pastors (or 'pastor' Mike Johnson), but they'd all duck and cover if asked to comment on this objective evil.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

Golly, Dishonest Mike, what's different this September than last March when Schumer voted for "this exact same thing"?

June 12, your press office:

June 12, 2025

House Republicans Approve Rescissions Package

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

(Please also enjoy my alt text)

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 1d

Fashy.
But also look at how bald he is!

Sunlight easily shines through the very thin, so thin, people can't stop talking about how light and wispy and very thin his hair is!
Sir! You scalp, it's so.. so smooth. And visible. Impressive dome and comb you have there, sir!

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

Farmers don't want a handout.
America needs open markets, not trade wars.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

Just whipped up a PDF for a 4-UP quick postcard — Print at home: Plain white card stock, landscape, & cut the 4 postcards out. This is a legal USPS size.

Message on the back left can say what you want "Congratulations, Trump Republicans!" comes to mind.

Mail to your US Congress members!

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 16h

I think it is incumbent upon us all to print the image below onto postcards, and mail them to every Republican in Congress, every Republican in the IA, MN, IN, OH, NE, MO, ND & SD legislatures.

The message on the other side next to the address block can just say:

Trump did this!
Congratulations!

Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 17h

China Bought $12.6 Billion in U.S. Soybeans Last Year. Now, It’s $0. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/25/b...

China Bought $12.6 Billion in U.S. Soybeans Last Year. Now, It’s $0.

www.nytimes.com

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 17h

Who?

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 17h

Secondary reason: They're bitter clingers.

Oh, wait.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 17h

I would love it if Fr. Daniel F. Hartnett, SJ would pay Leader Johnson a visit.

Fr. Hartnett requesting to give Communion to detainees who are in the ICE facility in Broadview. Hartnett and his group were turned away.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 17h

This old Xer (b. 1965) fully supports Gen Z - or anyone - being clear on their values and if employers can't deal, they'll be the ones short-staffed.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 19h

I'm obvs. not Philip, but I think Bezos's longshot was hiring a conservative Brit to shift the paper rightward, in the naive hope that conservatives would overcome many decades of suspicion aimed at WaPo (and NYT, who they tend to lump together) and sign up.

Reposted by Ralf W

Rebecca Solnit @rebeccasolnit.bsky.social · 19h

As I was noting yesterday, our tech oligarchs have no ideological commitment except to get richer, which means they're windsocks yielding to whatever position is most convenient for continuing the plundering. So I don't assume 2013 Bezos is 2025 Bezos when it comes to his WaPo agenda.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 19h

"Young able-bodied men without dependents should just pay out of pocket if they get cancer or are hit by a car."

That's what Mike Johnson, noted very-public Christian is really saying. "You're expendable if you're between jobs."

Reposted by Ralf W

Faine Greenwood @faineg.bsky.social · 1d

These people really don't grasp the connection between "gleefully forcing a bunch of highly educated and highly motivated people out of their jobs" and "those people now have a lot of free time and hate you even more than they did before," do they

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

Sean Duffy: "The No Kings protest, Maria, really frustrating. This is part of antifa, paid protesters. It begs the question who's funding it."

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 1d

If I'm asked to believe either this member of the clergy or a CBP spox, yeah well ... We know everyone in the Trump Admin lies with such complete abandon that the question is barely worth asking!

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 1d

But of course Kavanaugh was only thinking of himself in that!

Straight white guys have nothing to fear from ICE (at least for now...).

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 1d

LOL for O.A.N.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 1d

It bears repeating daily:

Mike Johnson, the second or third "most powerful" Republican in D.C. is a coward. He's also bad at leading his majority, but mostly, he's 🐔💩.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 1d

TUR: Have you met with Mike Johnson?

JEFFRIES: No

TUR: Why not?

JEFFRIES: Donald Trump has not given him permission to meet, Katy and we know that until Donald Trump gives them permission to meet, they're going to continue to hide.

Ralf W @raflw.bsky.social · 1d

"in service"