Jeff Barrus
@jeffbarrus.bsky.social
Communications professional, middle-aged punk, gamer, public health and foreign policy geek, father of twins, a grain of sand in the gears, I have friends everywhere
Pinned
Jeff Barrus
@jeffbarrus.bsky.social
· Aug 17
I've lived in Washington, DC, for 24 years, longer than I've lived anywhere else. I can't really convey my level of anxiety right now. Every time I get in my car, I worry I'm going to encounter a checkpoint or masked men with guns. It's been less than a week. 1/
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
@governorwalz.mn.gov had these guys nailed
Dr Oz: "The creation of a penis costs on average in America $150,000 per child ... if you add testicles, that's extra"
December 18, 2025 at 10:47 PM
@governorwalz.mn.gov had these guys nailed
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
I don't know what to say about this garbage vote to criminalize gender affirming care btw. Been trying to find the words. I hear so many friends in sadness and fear today but of what use is "I hear you"? Not much I fear. To live through this moment sucks ass (negative). We must find a way through
December 18, 2025 at 9:38 PM
I don't know what to say about this garbage vote to criminalize gender affirming care btw. Been trying to find the words. I hear so many friends in sadness and fear today but of what use is "I hear you"? Not much I fear. To live through this moment sucks ass (negative). We must find a way through
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Wait. It's real? I assumed it was satire. I ASSUMED IT WAS SATIRE! Is life... satire now?
Today, Trump declared that the nation will host the first-ever “Patriot Games,” an “unprecedented four-day athletic event” featuring high school athletes, one boy and one girl, from each state and territory.
If you think this sounds like The Hunger Games, you're not alone.
If you think this sounds like The Hunger Games, you're not alone.
Trump just announced his own Hunger Games
In case you needed a reminder that we're living in a fascist hellscape.
www.motherjones.com
December 18, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Wait. It's real? I assumed it was satire. I ASSUMED IT WAS SATIRE! Is life... satire now?
Trump just drove a stake through the heart of the Kennedy Center. No DC resident will ever attend an event there again.
Kennedy Center board votes to rename it ‘Trump Kennedy Center’ | CNN Politics
The board of trustees of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts voted Thursday to rename the facility after both the former president and President Donald Trump.
www.cnn.com
December 18, 2025 at 6:48 PM
Trump just drove a stake through the heart of the Kennedy Center. No DC resident will ever attend an event there again.
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Perfect timing for this appearance, if you ask me. Even a month ago and it would have seemed quaint.
BREAKING on MS NOW:
Jack Smith, in his opening statement to House Judiciary, says:
"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power."
Jack Smith, in his opening statement to House Judiciary, says:
"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power."
December 17, 2025 at 4:52 PM
Perfect timing for this appearance, if you ask me. Even a month ago and it would have seemed quaint.
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Is this the first Melania movie you don’t have to go to the back room of the video store to find?
December 17, 2025 at 4:31 PM
Is this the first Melania movie you don’t have to go to the back room of the video store to find?
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
The Pulitzer Board is actually fighting back against one of Trump’s vexatious lawsuits, saying, ‘If you were harmed, prove it — with medical and financial records.’
Not rolling over like some of the capitulating companies we’ve seen.
newrepublic.com/post/204475/...
Not rolling over like some of the capitulating companies we’ve seen.
newrepublic.com/post/204475/...
Pulitzer Board Demands Trump’s Tax and Psych Records in Lawsuit Twist
Donald Trump isn’t going to be happy about this one.
newrepublic.com
December 17, 2025 at 1:06 PM
The Pulitzer Board is actually fighting back against one of Trump’s vexatious lawsuits, saying, ‘If you were harmed, prove it — with medical and financial records.’
Not rolling over like some of the capitulating companies we’ve seen.
newrepublic.com/post/204475/...
Not rolling over like some of the capitulating companies we’ve seen.
newrepublic.com/post/204475/...
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
AOC to @pabloreports.bsky.social: It is the responsibility of Congress to declare and authorize the use of military force. Congress has not authorized a military use of force. There has not been a case made, and I think the absence of one really speaks volumes.
December 16, 2025 at 11:00 PM
AOC to @pabloreports.bsky.social: It is the responsibility of Congress to declare and authorize the use of military force. Congress has not authorized a military use of force. There has not been a case made, and I think the absence of one really speaks volumes.
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Just so I'm clear on this, computer memory has tripled in price because a bunch of it that hasn't been produced yet has been ordered to populate GPUs that aren't installed in data centers that aren't built yet in order to service a demand that doesn't exist to make profits that don't happen.
December 15, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Just so I'm clear on this, computer memory has tripled in price because a bunch of it that hasn't been produced yet has been ordered to populate GPUs that aren't installed in data centers that aren't built yet in order to service a demand that doesn't exist to make profits that don't happen.
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
A revolt is brewing in Trump country against DOGE cuts.
The Trump admin policies slashing staffing and funding for public lands are waking a sleeping political giant in Montana. Will either party notice?
The Trump admin policies slashing staffing and funding for public lands are waking a sleeping political giant in Montana. Will either party notice?
‘I Didn’t Vote for This’: A Revolt Against DOGE Cuts, Deep in Trump Country
Trump administration policies slashing staffing and funding for public lands are waking a sleeping political giant in Montana. Will either party notice?
www.politico.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:40 PM
A revolt is brewing in Trump country against DOGE cuts.
The Trump admin policies slashing staffing and funding for public lands are waking a sleeping political giant in Montana. Will either party notice?
The Trump admin policies slashing staffing and funding for public lands are waking a sleeping political giant in Montana. Will either party notice?
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
It is monday morning, which means I have again done the thing which I am known to do
www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Cartoon: The news cycle
A cartoon by Tom Tomorrow.
As always, if � you find value in this work I do, please consider helping me keep it sustainable by joining my weekly newsletter, � Sparky’s List! � You can get it in ...
www.dailykos.com
December 15, 2025 at 2:46 PM
It is monday morning, which means I have again done the thing which I am known to do
www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Merriam-Webster’s human editors have chosen ‘slop’ as the 2025 Word of the Year.
December 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Merriam-Webster’s human editors have chosen ‘slop’ as the 2025 Word of the Year.
This is just so incredibly sad.
RIP Rob Reiner. You were a prince and I’m grateful we intersected.
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie...
Rob Reiner, ‘When Harry Met Sally,’ ‘The Princess Bride’ and ‘Stand by Me’ Director and ‘All in the Family’ Actor, Dies at 78 in Apparent Homicide (Report)
The two-time Emmy winner and Oscar nominee and his wife, Michele, were found dead in their Brentwood home.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
December 15, 2025 at 5:47 AM
This is just so incredibly sad.
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
This is fucking grim. Somebody invented a white guy, an "IT professional" named Edward Crabtree, who stopped the Bondi shooting and spread it all over the internet, which was picked up by AI agents and slop aggregation sites.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
December 14, 2025 at 8:02 PM
This is fucking grim. Somebody invented a white guy, an "IT professional" named Edward Crabtree, who stopped the Bondi shooting and spread it all over the internet, which was picked up by AI agents and slop aggregation sites.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Happy Hanukkah, the holiday where we celebrate the defeat of a large cosmpolitan empire by a small determined group of militant religious fanatics
December 14, 2025 at 11:18 PM
Happy Hanukkah, the holiday where we celebrate the defeat of a large cosmpolitan empire by a small determined group of militant religious fanatics
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Rand Paul on mid-decade redistricting: "I think it's gonna lead to more civic tension & possibly more violence in our country. Think about it: if 35% of Texas is solidly Democrat & they have 0 representation, how does that make Democrats feel? I think it makes them feel they're not represented"
December 14, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Rand Paul on mid-decade redistricting: "I think it's gonna lead to more civic tension & possibly more violence in our country. Think about it: if 35% of Texas is solidly Democrat & they have 0 representation, how does that make Democrats feel? I think it makes them feel they're not represented"
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
How the right-wing backlash to the Covid pandemic led to the FDA’s anti-vax turn
"The Food and Drug Administration — like other HHS agencies overseen by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — is no longer moored to evidence-based reality."
(By @walkerbragman.bsky.social)
👇🎯
"The Food and Drug Administration — like other HHS agencies overseen by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — is no longer moored to evidence-based reality."
(By @walkerbragman.bsky.social)
👇🎯
Opinion | The FDA’s anti-vax turn came out of the right-wing backlash to the Covid pandemic
Walker Bragman: The Food and Drug Administration — like other HHS agencies overseen by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — is no longer moored to evidence-based reality.
www.ms.now
December 13, 2025 at 12:39 PM
How the right-wing backlash to the Covid pandemic led to the FDA’s anti-vax turn
"The Food and Drug Administration — like other HHS agencies overseen by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — is no longer moored to evidence-based reality."
(By @walkerbragman.bsky.social)
👇🎯
"The Food and Drug Administration — like other HHS agencies overseen by Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. — is no longer moored to evidence-based reality."
(By @walkerbragman.bsky.social)
👇🎯
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Here are the top 10 most popular post-1945 American authors at the Seattle Public Library over the last 20 years.
December 11, 2025 at 7:00 PM
Here are the top 10 most popular post-1945 American authors at the Seattle Public Library over the last 20 years.
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Greg Bovino took a photo yesterday with known Proud Boys, in Slidell, Louisiana, including one wearing a Proud Boys hat.
December 12, 2025 at 3:53 PM
Greg Bovino took a photo yesterday with known Proud Boys, in Slidell, Louisiana, including one wearing a Proud Boys hat.
Ah, the classic moral panic about reading. I went to high school in the 80s and 90s. It's delusional to think that most kids read full novels back then, even when assigned. I remember my classmates counting the pages and groaning.
Kids Rarely Read Whole Books Anymore. Even in English Class.
www.nytimes.com
December 12, 2025 at 9:10 PM
Ah, the classic moral panic about reading. I went to high school in the 80s and 90s. It's delusional to think that most kids read full novels back then, even when assigned. I remember my classmates counting the pages and groaning.
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Durbin: "Any president before he engages in act of war has to have the authorization of the American people through Congress ... this president is preparing for an invasion of Venezuela. Simply said. And if the American people are in favor of that, I'd be surprised."
December 11, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Durbin: "Any president before he engages in act of war has to have the authorization of the American people through Congress ... this president is preparing for an invasion of Venezuela. Simply said. And if the American people are in favor of that, I'd be surprised."
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
You've been hit by a car and you're fading in and out. You ask the EMTs to price the ambulance ride. You get to the ER and tell the docs you'll need a price on each service before it's done. You get cancer so it's time to put treament out to competitive bid. I can keep going...
Roger Marshall: "We want patients to become consumers again. We want patients to see what the actual prices are. We believe that if we would add the price tags to this bill, that it would save the country a trillion dollars a year."
December 11, 2025 at 3:09 PM
You've been hit by a car and you're fading in and out. You ask the EMTs to price the ambulance ride. You get to the ER and tell the docs you'll need a price on each service before it's done. You get cancer so it's time to put treament out to competitive bid. I can keep going...
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
Remember that Trump and his propagandists tried to gaslight you into believing there was no percentage in taking on this fight, that it was hopeless. And a certain cadre of pundits tried to persuade you that Dems didn't dare discuss this in public.
Still not over yet but a big step forward.
Still not over yet but a big step forward.
HUGE. Judge Xinis grants the writ of habeas corpus and orders that the government "SHALL release [Kilmar] Abrego Garcia from ICE custody immediately."
December 11, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Remember that Trump and his propagandists tried to gaslight you into believing there was no percentage in taking on this fight, that it was hopeless. And a certain cadre of pundits tried to persuade you that Dems didn't dare discuss this in public.
Still not over yet but a big step forward.
Still not over yet but a big step forward.
Reposted by Jeff Barrus
There were no riots targeting the Supreme Court. Gore conceded. The elites congratulated themselves on what a great political system the U.S. had.
I remember thinking 'wow, all of this stuff is just made up.'
And here we are again.
I remember thinking 'wow, all of this stuff is just made up.'
And here we are again.
December 12, 2025 at 12:31 PM
There were no riots targeting the Supreme Court. Gore conceded. The elites congratulated themselves on what a great political system the U.S. had.
I remember thinking 'wow, all of this stuff is just made up.'
And here we are again.
I remember thinking 'wow, all of this stuff is just made up.'
And here we are again.