Barbara 🧿
@prettygoodemachine.bsky.social
Southwestern Latina surviving the Midwest.
I don’t argue with strangers on the internet.
I said what I said.
I don’t argue with strangers on the internet.
I said what I said.
Pinned
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
They updated the website today to remove the word "independent"
Before (left), after (right)
Before (left), after (right)
December 17, 2025 at 8:25 PM
They updated the website today to remove the word "independent"
Before (left), after (right)
Before (left), after (right)
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
It seems awfully telling that Republicans were unwilling to hold this hearing publicly. It’s not like the case hinged on classified information; they’re just afraid of the public hearing what Smith has to say.
NEW: Jack Smith told lawmakers he developed "proof beyond a reasonable doubt” that Trump engaged in a “criminal scheme” to overturn his election loss.
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Jack Smith tells Congress he could prove Trump engaged in a 'criminal scheme' to overturn 2020 election
Smith testified about his investigations into Trump during a closed-door hearing with members of the House Judiciary Committee.
www.nbcnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:45 PM
It seems awfully telling that Republicans were unwilling to hold this hearing publicly. It’s not like the case hinged on classified information; they’re just afraid of the public hearing what Smith has to say.
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
Ex-Trump lawyer John Dowd defends Jack Smith:
"Smith was once my adversary in a high-profile investigation of a Republican client. In that investigation, Smith proved himself to be fair, impartial and fearlessly committed to the facts … [R]ecent attacks on Smith are motivated by partisan politics."
"Smith was once my adversary in a high-profile investigation of a Republican client. In that investigation, Smith proved himself to be fair, impartial and fearlessly committed to the facts … [R]ecent attacks on Smith are motivated by partisan politics."
Opinion | I'm Trump's former lawyer. Jack Smith should be celebrated, not vilified.
John Dowd: Jack Smith was once my adversary in a high-profile investigation of a Republican client. Smith was fair, impartial and fearlessly committed to the facts and the law.
www.ms.now
December 17, 2025 at 7:10 PM
Ex-Trump lawyer John Dowd defends Jack Smith:
"Smith was once my adversary in a high-profile investigation of a Republican client. In that investigation, Smith proved himself to be fair, impartial and fearlessly committed to the facts … [R]ecent attacks on Smith are motivated by partisan politics."
"Smith was once my adversary in a high-profile investigation of a Republican client. In that investigation, Smith proved himself to be fair, impartial and fearlessly committed to the facts … [R]ecent attacks on Smith are motivated by partisan politics."
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
he also kind of gets everyone's asses again in this follow up with the washington post
December 17, 2025 at 7:36 PM
he also kind of gets everyone's asses again in this follow up with the washington post
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
Oh my god y'all I had not seen the rest of the Vanity Fair photos holy shit. Christopher Anderson deserves a medal.
Look at this. He left the LIGHT SWITCHES in the edited photos! These assholes look like their well-meaning mom took a picture of them on their first day in a grown-up job.
Look at this. He left the LIGHT SWITCHES in the edited photos! These assholes look like their well-meaning mom took a picture of them on their first day in a grown-up job.
December 17, 2025 at 6:12 AM
Oh my god y'all I had not seen the rest of the Vanity Fair photos holy shit. Christopher Anderson deserves a medal.
Look at this. He left the LIGHT SWITCHES in the edited photos! These assholes look like their well-meaning mom took a picture of them on their first day in a grown-up job.
Look at this. He left the LIGHT SWITCHES in the edited photos! These assholes look like their well-meaning mom took a picture of them on their first day in a grown-up job.
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
The Trump Admin wants to turn the clock back to 2008 and let Wall Street run wild.
We all know how that ended – with taxpayers bailing out Wall Street while millions lost their homes and got fired from their jobs.
Donald Trump could be setting the stage for the next crash.
We all know how that ended – with taxpayers bailing out Wall Street while millions lost their homes and got fired from their jobs.
Donald Trump could be setting the stage for the next crash.
Bessent: "These 2008, 2009, 2010 financial rules were too tight. They hamstrung the American financial system. It was time for a change ... we have to take the financial system out of this straitjacket ... the regulated system is too constrained."
December 17, 2025 at 7:58 PM
The Trump Admin wants to turn the clock back to 2008 and let Wall Street run wild.
We all know how that ended – with taxpayers bailing out Wall Street while millions lost their homes and got fired from their jobs.
Donald Trump could be setting the stage for the next crash.
We all know how that ended – with taxpayers bailing out Wall Street while millions lost their homes and got fired from their jobs.
Donald Trump could be setting the stage for the next crash.
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
I'm told that HHS has just terminated all funding agreements with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
December 17, 2025 at 6:00 PM
I'm told that HHS has just terminated all funding agreements with the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
Here's a letter HHS sent canceling one of the grants, relating to work on birth defects. Canceled because the project "emphasizes equity, diversity, and inclusion as key foundational components"
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
December 17, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I think social media keeps us in spaces we’re supposed to out grow.
For generations people “cut off” parents by moving away and mailing them a card once a year. Travel and long distance phone calls were expensive; distance effectively cut people off w/o being so explicit.
The difference now is that communication is cheap so cutting them off requires being explicit.
The difference now is that communication is cheap so cutting them off requires being explicit.
There's no hard data, so it's impossible to know for sure, but I suspect the number of adult children cutting off their parents isn't significantly higher than it used to be, and what's actually new is that the children are now explaining it in therapy terms rather than simply ceasing contact.
December 17, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I think social media keeps us in spaces we’re supposed to out grow.
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
My sense is that the “male loneliness crisis” is not really about addressing men’s emotional needs but rather the relatively newfound absence of having someone to perform domestic labor for you quietly in the background now that there is a longer gap between your mother and your wife doing it
December 17, 2025 at 3:48 PM
My sense is that the “male loneliness crisis” is not really about addressing men’s emotional needs but rather the relatively newfound absence of having someone to perform domestic labor for you quietly in the background now that there is a longer gap between your mother and your wife doing it
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
Ding ding ding
My sense is that the “male loneliness crisis” is not really about addressing men’s emotional needs but rather the relatively newfound absence of having someone to perform domestic labor for you quietly in the background now that there is a longer gap between your mother and your wife doing it
December 17, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Ding ding ding
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
THIS IS EVERYTHING I COULD'VE HOPED FOR! Finally, my questions about luxury good pricing are being answered.
Gift link.
Gift link.
For @bloomberg.com Businessweek’s Year Ahead issue, I wrote about fashion’s failure to find new ideas or fix its outrageous overpricing, and the opening that leaves for secondhand marketplaces to sell brands’ better, older, cheaper stuff to their customers instead. www.bloomberg.com/features/202...
Luxury Goods Are More Expensive Than Ever. You Should Buy Secondhand Instead
With designer prices sky-high and fashion brands in flux, there’s only one thing to do in the year ahead.
www.bloomberg.com
December 17, 2025 at 5:54 PM
THIS IS EVERYTHING I COULD'VE HOPED FOR! Finally, my questions about luxury good pricing are being answered.
Gift link.
Gift link.
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
Peter Thiel's cronies are freaking out about my book.
Here's Garry Tan—an early Palantir employee who designed its logo—launching yet another attack.
Make a tech lord cry! Pre-Order "The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and The War On Democracy"
👉 www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
Here's Garry Tan—an early Palantir employee who designed its logo—launching yet another attack.
Make a tech lord cry! Pre-Order "The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and The War On Democracy"
👉 www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
December 17, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Peter Thiel's cronies are freaking out about my book.
Here's Garry Tan—an early Palantir employee who designed its logo—launching yet another attack.
Make a tech lord cry! Pre-Order "The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and The War On Democracy"
👉 www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
Here's Garry Tan—an early Palantir employee who designed its logo—launching yet another attack.
Make a tech lord cry! Pre-Order "The Nerd Reich: Silicon Valley Fascism and The War On Democracy"
👉 www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Ne...
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
speaking of which, I have a new piece out today about how the Trump admin is making it harder for people of color to enter the workforce, harder for us to remain in the workforce, and harder for us to do anything about it
There's a word for that:
Resegregation
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
There's a word for that:
Resegregation
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
December 17, 2025 at 5:46 PM
speaking of which, I have a new piece out today about how the Trump admin is making it harder for people of color to enter the workforce, harder for us to remain in the workforce, and harder for us to do anything about it
There's a word for that:
Resegregation
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
There's a word for that:
Resegregation
ballsandstrikes.org/law-politics...
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
If we are banning cell phones for kids we need to be talking about banning chatbots for boomers
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
December 17, 2025 at 4:38 PM
If we are banning cell phones for kids we need to be talking about banning chatbots for boomers
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
www.persuasion.community/p/my-chatgpt...
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
MORE from Jack Smith:
"Our investigation also developed powerful evidence that showed President Trump willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January 2021 ... He then repeatedly tried to obstruct justice to conceal his continued retention of those documents."
"Our investigation also developed powerful evidence that showed President Trump willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January 2021 ... He then repeatedly tried to obstruct justice to conceal his continued retention of those documents."
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 4:15 PM
MORE from Jack Smith:
"Our investigation also developed powerful evidence that showed President Trump willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January 2021 ... He then repeatedly tried to obstruct justice to conceal his continued retention of those documents."
"Our investigation also developed powerful evidence that showed President Trump willfully retained highly classified documents after he left office in January 2021 ... He then repeatedly tried to obstruct justice to conceal his continued retention of those documents."
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
Trump administration lawyers admitted in court filings that they specifically targeted blue states for energy grant cuts during the government shutdown
Trump administration admits to targeting blue states for energy grant cuts
Justice Department lawyers argue in court documents that it is legal for the administration to withhold funding based on partisan politics.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Trump administration lawyers admitted in court filings that they specifically targeted blue states for energy grant cuts during the government shutdown
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
If you get a moment....
Scourge of sexual harassment cases in federally-subsidized housing
Feds: Landlord "told the female tenant that if she did not engage in sexual relations with him, he would give her a 24-hour eviction notice"
Just filed ===>
www.cbsnews.com/news/justice...
Scourge of sexual harassment cases in federally-subsidized housing
Feds: Landlord "told the female tenant that if she did not engage in sexual relations with him, he would give her a 24-hour eviction notice"
Just filed ===>
www.cbsnews.com/news/justice...
Justice Department investigating more than a dozen cases of sexual harassment by landlords against female tenants
The Justice Department is suing more than a dozen landlords on allegations of sexual harassment, a problem one top department official called "traumatic for the victims" and "inappropriate and illegal...
www.cbsnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 4:24 PM
If you get a moment....
Scourge of sexual harassment cases in federally-subsidized housing
Feds: Landlord "told the female tenant that if she did not engage in sexual relations with him, he would give her a 24-hour eviction notice"
Just filed ===>
www.cbsnews.com/news/justice...
Scourge of sexual harassment cases in federally-subsidized housing
Feds: Landlord "told the female tenant that if she did not engage in sexual relations with him, he would give her a 24-hour eviction notice"
Just filed ===>
www.cbsnews.com/news/justice...
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
thinking of the introverted woman who said she's never felt FOMO. she's only felt ROMO (Relief Of Missing Out)
December 17, 2025 at 7:49 AM
thinking of the introverted woman who said she's never felt FOMO. she's only felt ROMO (Relief Of Missing Out)
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
We are parents of a trans kid and our family takes this very, very personally. If you intentionally make life harder for our beloved daughter, it’s EXTREMELY hard to think of you as an ally, to say the least. @amyklobuchar.com - you still send us requests for money, while hurting our kid. Disgusted.
Here are the 28 Dem Senators who voted to advance the first federal ban on trans athletes & a federal definition of sex that would make trans & intersex people non-existent: Angela Alsobrooks (MD), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Chris Coons (DE), ->
By a vote of 76-23, S 1071 passes the motion to proceed to the motion to concur. Won't know who voted for this until the roll call is uploaded, but safe to say it passed with the support of at least 24 members of the Democratic caucus. (Rand Paul probably voted nay and Steve Daines has been absent).
December 16, 2025 at 2:33 PM
We are parents of a trans kid and our family takes this very, very personally. If you intentionally make life harder for our beloved daughter, it’s EXTREMELY hard to think of you as an ally, to say the least. @amyklobuchar.com - you still send us requests for money, while hurting our kid. Disgusted.
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
Some Dems have told themselves only ~1% of the population is trans so they can dip their toe in the anti-trans filth and come out clean.
I don't have any trans family members—but it still makes me irate. I see it as a huge red flag, a sign you are unprincipled and untrustworthy. And I'm not alone.
I don't have any trans family members—but it still makes me irate. I see it as a huge red flag, a sign you are unprincipled and untrustworthy. And I'm not alone.
We are parents of a trans kid and our family takes this very, very personally. If you intentionally make life harder for our beloved daughter, it’s EXTREMELY hard to think of you as an ally, to say the least. @amyklobuchar.com - you still send us requests for money, while hurting our kid. Disgusted.
Here are the 28 Dem Senators who voted to advance the first federal ban on trans athletes & a federal definition of sex that would make trans & intersex people non-existent: Angela Alsobrooks (MD), Tammy Baldwin (WI), Richard Blumenthal (CT), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Chris Coons (DE), ->
December 16, 2025 at 3:26 PM
Some Dems have told themselves only ~1% of the population is trans so they can dip their toe in the anti-trans filth and come out clean.
I don't have any trans family members—but it still makes me irate. I see it as a huge red flag, a sign you are unprincipled and untrustworthy. And I'm not alone.
I don't have any trans family members—but it still makes me irate. I see it as a huge red flag, a sign you are unprincipled and untrustworthy. And I'm not alone.
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
"Crystal Meth Clippy" is 🔥
You need to stop talking about Zuckerberg’s get up and not stop talking about how he has overseen the largest corporate swindle in modern history, running roughshod over protections from copyright law to workers rights
All for what? Crystal meth Clippy?
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
All for what? Crystal meth Clippy?
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
Inside Mark Zuckerberg’s turbulent bet on AI
A year of internal disorder, fluctuating priorities and colossal spending at Meta has rattled insiders and investors
giftarticle.ft.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:44 AM
"Crystal Meth Clippy" is 🔥
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
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 Barbara 🧿
White men have been griping about the unfair advantages given to Black people since literally the day after slavery
December 17, 2025 at 3:24 PM
White men have been griping about the unfair advantages given to Black people since literally the day after slavery
Reposted by Barbara 🧿
