Geoff A.
@pseudonymice.bsky.social
Been ill, missed the conversations. He/him. Have degrees in history and law. Had a career in politics and research. Mostly just coping with matters beyond my control these days.
Pinned
Geoff A.
@pseudonymice.bsky.social
· Apr 24
This post is intended to serve as an anchor point for topics and/or passing thoughts I might want to revisit later. It's purely procedural.
Reposted by Geoff A.
You can defeat your opponents without converting them. Demobilization matters.
When there's a leadership vacuum and people in a movement are fighting each other, it saps energy. They lose organizational power. Fewer of them take action. Fewer vote.
www.salon.com/2025/12/15/t...
When there's a leadership vacuum and people in a movement are fighting each other, it saps energy. They lose organizational power. Fewer of them take action. Fewer vote.
www.salon.com/2025/12/15/t...
The Erika Kirk and Candace Owens feud is tearing MAGA apart
The widow vs. the podcaster drama reveals the right's biggest weakness
www.salon.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:35 AM
You can defeat your opponents without converting them. Demobilization matters.
When there's a leadership vacuum and people in a movement are fighting each other, it saps energy. They lose organizational power. Fewer of them take action. Fewer vote.
www.salon.com/2025/12/15/t...
When there's a leadership vacuum and people in a movement are fighting each other, it saps energy. They lose organizational power. Fewer of them take action. Fewer vote.
www.salon.com/2025/12/15/t...
Reposted by Geoff A.
cis people on the skyline are genuinely more distressed by karoline leavitt’s lip fillers than the fact that congress just said, “what we should do is put any doctor or pharmacist in prison who gives lifesaving medical care to this specific kind of child we find gross.”
Bluesky tonight is neatly divided between trans people and family members appropriately angry and freaking out and everyone else who has barely noticed.
December 18, 2025 at 12:56 AM
cis people on the skyline are genuinely more distressed by karoline leavitt’s lip fillers than the fact that congress just said, “what we should do is put any doctor or pharmacist in prison who gives lifesaving medical care to this specific kind of child we find gross.”
Reposted by Geoff A.
the NYT cooking commenters never fail me
December 17, 2025 at 7:26 PM
the NYT cooking commenters never fail me
Reposted by Geoff A.
2/ Our readers deserve clear labeling on AI content, and we deserve job security. Sign our petition for a fair contract and we’ll keep you updated on our campaign: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Fair Contract Now for ProPublica Guild
We, the workers of ProPublica, provide our readers with deeply researched, unbiased news that holds power to account. This work is more important now than ever, but our staff can’t properly contribute...
actionnetwork.org
December 17, 2025 at 5:30 PM
2/ Our readers deserve clear labeling on AI content, and we deserve job security. Sign our petition for a fair contract and we’ll keep you updated on our campaign: actionnetwork.org/petitions/te...
Reposted by Geoff A.
A nuclear-armed U.S. under full totalitarian control is an existential threat to billions of people. To life on this planet.
It's up to us, U.S. citizens living here in the imperial core, to stop it. Nobody is coming to save us. Not the U.N., not the ICJ. It's us or it's nobody.
It's up to us, U.S. citizens living here in the imperial core, to stop it. Nobody is coming to save us. Not the U.N., not the ICJ. It's us or it's nobody.
December 15, 2025 at 1:45 AM
A nuclear-armed U.S. under full totalitarian control is an existential threat to billions of people. To life on this planet.
It's up to us, U.S. citizens living here in the imperial core, to stop it. Nobody is coming to save us. Not the U.N., not the ICJ. It's us or it's nobody.
It's up to us, U.S. citizens living here in the imperial core, to stop it. Nobody is coming to save us. Not the U.N., not the ICJ. It's us or it's nobody.
Reposted by Geoff A.
There are school board meetings on Tuesday & Wednesday this week. If you're a California taxpayer with concerns about your $$ being used to shove AI down the throats of schoolchildren, please sign up to comment: www.schoolsbeyondscreens.com/lausd-commen...
Add your school | Get Involved Now — Schools Beyond Screens
Join Schools Beyond Screens to add your school, participate in activities, and help expand our impact across districts. Get involved today.
www.schoolsbeyondscreens.com
December 14, 2025 at 4:45 PM
There are school board meetings on Tuesday & Wednesday this week. If you're a California taxpayer with concerns about your $$ being used to shove AI down the throats of schoolchildren, please sign up to comment: www.schoolsbeyondscreens.com/lausd-commen...
Reposted by Geoff A.
In this companion piece I have to painstakingly explain how Matt Taibbi
1) gets our research backwards in an incomprehensible way
2) points to emails chains we weren’t on as evidence of things we did
3) imputes plans between tech & govt that happened 6mo before our election project existed, to us
1) gets our research backwards in an incomprehensible way
2) points to emails chains we weren’t on as evidence of things we did
3) imputes plans between tech & govt that happened 6mo before our election project existed, to us
And here is a supplementary companion piece on my Substack in which I include Matt Taibbi's 1800+ word response to questions in full, in the interests of fairness. (Note: this one is for the nerds)
www.jamesrball.com/p/disinforma...
www.jamesrball.com/p/disinforma...
Disinformation Wars: The Extended Edition
Want to see several people argue over *extremely granular* detail? This is your lucky day!
www.jamesrball.com
December 11, 2025 at 12:20 AM
In this companion piece I have to painstakingly explain how Matt Taibbi
1) gets our research backwards in an incomprehensible way
2) points to emails chains we weren’t on as evidence of things we did
3) imputes plans between tech & govt that happened 6mo before our election project existed, to us
1) gets our research backwards in an incomprehensible way
2) points to emails chains we weren’t on as evidence of things we did
3) imputes plans between tech & govt that happened 6mo before our election project existed, to us
Reposted by Geoff A.
All of this, literally over one LGBTQ+ children's picture book. ONE. PICTURE. BOOK.
They dismantled the fucking public library for the whole county. They hate gay people this much.
If you have a library that functions, get in their inboxes or meetings now to tell them that they're great.
They dismantled the fucking public library for the whole county. They hate gay people this much.
If you have a library that functions, get in their inboxes or meetings now to tell them that they're great.
A library's entire board of trustees was fired and replaced because they refused to ban one of my books. It's so terrible. www.randolphhub.com/article/news...
Commissioners vote 3-2 to dismiss Library Board of Trustees
<p>How the Library Board voted to handle a controversial children's book led to a majority decision by commissioners to dismiss the whole board.</p>
www.randolphhub.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:54 PM
All of this, literally over one LGBTQ+ children's picture book. ONE. PICTURE. BOOK.
They dismantled the fucking public library for the whole county. They hate gay people this much.
If you have a library that functions, get in their inboxes or meetings now to tell them that they're great.
They dismantled the fucking public library for the whole county. They hate gay people this much.
If you have a library that functions, get in their inboxes or meetings now to tell them that they're great.
Reposted by Geoff A.
The period known as Redemption is little known to most Americans — I’d argue intentionally — but it’s the period after the fall of Reconstruction where Black people are stripped of their rights, democracy falls in the South and the system of racial apartheid is entrenched.
December 5, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The period known as Redemption is little known to most Americans — I’d argue intentionally — but it’s the period after the fall of Reconstruction where Black people are stripped of their rights, democracy falls in the South and the system of racial apartheid is entrenched.
Reposted by Geoff A.
If the military is obeying Trump’s orders to murder random fishermen who pose no threat to the US, what do you think will happen when Trump orders them to fire on protesters in the US?
Because that day is coming, bet on it.
Because that day is coming, bet on it.
December 5, 2025 at 7:38 PM
If the military is obeying Trump’s orders to murder random fishermen who pose no threat to the US, what do you think will happen when Trump orders them to fire on protesters in the US?
Because that day is coming, bet on it.
Because that day is coming, bet on it.
Reposted by Geoff A.
The normalization of this madness is so quick that we’re debating whether a second illegal strike was wrong after an initial illegal strike with no proof of any crime and we’ve already seen just random murders of fishermen normalized with the excuse they’re running drugs, which isn’t legal either.
December 4, 2025 at 2:37 AM
The normalization of this madness is so quick that we’re debating whether a second illegal strike was wrong after an initial illegal strike with no proof of any crime and we’ve already seen just random murders of fishermen normalized with the excuse they’re running drugs, which isn’t legal either.
Reposted by Geoff A.
I’ve sometimes fallen into the trap of thinking that complementing a creative person for their work is less sophisticated or desired than discussion or debate about it but very often the best thing you can say to them is hell yeah and that doesn’t make you dumb it just makes you nice
December 4, 2025 at 3:05 AM
I’ve sometimes fallen into the trap of thinking that complementing a creative person for their work is less sophisticated or desired than discussion or debate about it but very often the best thing you can say to them is hell yeah and that doesn’t make you dumb it just makes you nice
Reposted by Geoff A.
Once again, one of the most consistently replicated findings in the history of experiments is that giving people cash with zero strings attached has massive social benefits for those receiving the cash as well as the community around them
An Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees a staggering reduction in homelessness. The program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years, and at the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
Oregon pilot program giving cash to homeless youths sees staggering reduction in homelessness
The state program gave participants $1,000 cash payments each month for two years. At the end of the project's first phase, 91% of participants reported being in stable housing.
www.streetroots.org
December 3, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Once again, one of the most consistently replicated findings in the history of experiments is that giving people cash with zero strings attached has massive social benefits for those receiving the cash as well as the community around them
Reposted by Geoff A.
Libraries aren't just books. They provide gathering places, free internet, and programs like story hours and classes and films. Using your library demonstrates to your local government its importance to your community and can affect funding decisions.
November 27, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Libraries aren't just books. They provide gathering places, free internet, and programs like story hours and classes and films. Using your library demonstrates to your local government its importance to your community and can affect funding decisions.
Reposted by Geoff A.
At a recent gathering of Rogers Park volunteers, we heard from a neighbor who choked up telling us about their dad turning around and going home when he heard whistles up the street. "One of you may have saved his life that day." It all matters, it really does.
One thing that is tough about rapid response/patrols, besides constantly being threatened by armed secret police, is that for the most part they see the defeats. There are exceptions, but you’ll never know how many people were saved by slowing feds down, whistles, community alerts, etc.
November 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
At a recent gathering of Rogers Park volunteers, we heard from a neighbor who choked up telling us about their dad turning around and going home when he heard whistles up the street. "One of you may have saved his life that day." It all matters, it really does.
Reposted by Geoff A.
Fun (terrifying) fact: Moose are so gigantic, they don’t have any predators…except for orcas. In winter/scare months, moose will dive for vegetation and orcas will eat them!
www.forbes.com/sites/scottt...
www.forbes.com/sites/scottt...
November 15, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Fun (terrifying) fact: Moose are so gigantic, they don’t have any predators…except for orcas. In winter/scare months, moose will dive for vegetation and orcas will eat them!
www.forbes.com/sites/scottt...
www.forbes.com/sites/scottt...
Reposted by Geoff A.
"What if QAnon was right" is very, very dumb and even more dangerous. Not trying to sell books here, but this is why i named last one undertow. As in a current you get tired of swimming against and you just lean back and let it take you out to sea.
November 14, 2025 at 7:11 PM
"What if QAnon was right" is very, very dumb and even more dangerous. Not trying to sell books here, but this is why i named last one undertow. As in a current you get tired of swimming against and you just lean back and let it take you out to sea.
Reposted by Geoff A.
realized i didn't know the origins of "in the ballpark" meaning "approximately correct" and once again had it reaffirmed that you will never regret looking up the etymology of a word
November 14, 2025 at 3:58 AM
realized i didn't know the origins of "in the ballpark" meaning "approximately correct" and once again had it reaffirmed that you will never regret looking up the etymology of a word
Reposted by Geoff A.
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
November 13, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Lots of folks captioning aurora photos like "for a few minutes we didn't think about politics"
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
guess I'm built different, every time I'm out trying to see night sky stuff I frequently think about how much light pollution is entirely preventable with just a tiny bit of regulation
Reposted by Geoff A.
New: Google has chosen a side in Trump's mass deportation campaign. Google is hosting a CBP facial recognition app to hunt immigrants; no indication Google will remove. At same time Google takes down apps for reporting ICE sightings
“Big tech has made their choice”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
“Big tech has made their choice”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
Google Has Chosen a Side in Trump's Mass Deportation Effort
Google is hosting a CBP app that uses facial recognition to identify immigrants, while simultaneously removing apps that report the location of ICE officials because Google sees ICE as a vulnerable gr...
www.404media.co
November 13, 2025 at 2:11 PM
New: Google has chosen a side in Trump's mass deportation campaign. Google is hosting a CBP facial recognition app to hunt immigrants; no indication Google will remove. At same time Google takes down apps for reporting ICE sightings
“Big tech has made their choice”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
“Big tech has made their choice”
www.404media.co/google-has-c...
Reposted by Geoff A.
I found the most cursed snack chip of all time at the grocery outlet
November 13, 2025 at 4:31 AM
I found the most cursed snack chip of all time at the grocery outlet
Reposted by Geoff A.
Quick sketch of an idea
November 13, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Quick sketch of an idea
Reposted by Geoff A.
In social movement studies, we talk about how marches and protests expand the threshold of acceptable risk so that people take more and bigger social risks IN PUBLIC, EN MASSE. This is extremely important for the bourgeois white folks holding signs and building social rapport.
Not a shitpost: #NoKings is feel-good performative activism for comfortable mostly upper and upper middle class white folks and that’s good, actually. Millions of people in the streets protesting a fascist regime is good. It is good for the normie baseline to be massive displays of public dissent.
October 19, 2025 at 1:44 AM
In social movement studies, we talk about how marches and protests expand the threshold of acceptable risk so that people take more and bigger social risks IN PUBLIC, EN MASSE. This is extremely important for the bourgeois white folks holding signs and building social rapport.
Reposted by Geoff A.
I’m a goddamn American don’t tell me what hole to use
October 17, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I’m a goddamn American don’t tell me what hole to use
Reposted by Geoff A.
As an online MAGA discussion continues, the probability of a laudatory reference or comparison to Hitler or to Nazis all-too-briskly approaches 1.
October 17, 2025 at 8:53 PM
As an online MAGA discussion continues, the probability of a laudatory reference or comparison to Hitler or to Nazis all-too-briskly approaches 1.