Riki Wilchins
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social
Author of: "When Texas Came for Our Kids: How evangelical extremists launched a war on transgender teens" & "BAD INK: How the NYTimes sold out transgender teens."
Pinned
Riki Wilchins
@rikiwilchins.bsky.social
· Feb 13
Take away my pronouns, my passport, my prison cell, my hormones, & my bathroom, I'm still trans. I'm still here. I'm not going anywhere. And tomorrow there will be more like me. I'm not scared, I'm fighting mad. You can't have my life. It's mine. Because we are #WhatTheFutureOfGenderLooksLike
29 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- New Gallup poll hits new lows for Trump: 36% approve with 60% disapprove. His previous low was 34% after the 2021 Capitol Hill insurrection.
thehill.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:43 PM
29 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- New Gallup poll hits new lows for Trump: 36% approve with 60% disapprove. His previous low was 34% after the 2021 Capitol Hill insurrection.
29 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- In ruby red Tennessee, one of the most anti-trans states with the highest concentration of white evangelicals, in +22 Trump district, Democrat is neck-and-neck with Republican. This isn't NJ or a border state like VA. Is this what a tide turn looks like?
thehill.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:40 PM
29 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- In ruby red Tennessee, one of the most anti-trans states with the highest concentration of white evangelicals, in +22 Trump district, Democrat is neck-and-neck with Republican. This isn't NJ or a border state like VA. Is this what a tide turn looks like?
IDF appears to be supporting those looting aid trucks with UN food bound for the Palestinians. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
Convincing evidence Israel backed aid convoy looters in Gaza, historian says
Account of visit to Gaza by French professor describes Israeli military attacks on security personnel protecting convoys
www.theguardian.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:06 PM
IDF appears to be supporting those looting aid trucks with UN food bound for the Palestinians. www.theguardian.com/world/2025/n...
29 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- Pretty shocking finding (which I missed) from that Pew Research poll earlier this year: More people say trans people face discrimination (77%) than either Black people (74%) or women (64%)!
How Much Discrimination Do Americans Say Groups Face in the U.S.?
Republicans are less likely than in 2024 to say there is discrimination against Black, Hispanic, Asian and White people.
www.pewresearch.org
November 29, 2025 at 4:03 PM
29 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- Pretty shocking finding (which I missed) from that Pew Research poll earlier this year: More people say trans people face discrimination (77%) than either Black people (74%) or women (64%)!
$3.4 billion in grants for HBCUs, health research & Black business cut or frozen and 7k federal datasets deleted, including maternal mortality and sickle cell disease. Insanity! @rikiwilchins.bsky.social
America stares down erasure of Black history and progress
In the last year, federal, state and institutional decisions have gutted pillars of America's civil rights protections.
www.axios.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:27 PM
$3.4 billion in grants for HBCUs, health research & Black business cut or frozen and 7k federal datasets deleted, including maternal mortality and sickle cell disease. Insanity! @rikiwilchins.bsky.social
My fave for 2028. Beshear keeps winning in a deep red state that went +30 points for Trump and elected a Rep super-majority to its legislature. Unlike anyone else in the race--Harris, Newsom, Pritzker--he actually knows how to win the persuadable middle voters _and_ win in red states.
This Democrat Wins in Red America. He Has Advice for His Party as He Eyes 2028.
As he considers a presidential bid, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear will be an important voice in 2026 as chairman of the Democratic Governors Association.
www.wsj.com
November 29, 2025 at 2:24 PM
My fave for 2028. Beshear keeps winning in a deep red state that went +30 points for Trump and elected a Rep super-majority to its legislature. Unlike anyone else in the race--Harris, Newsom, Pritzker--he actually knows how to win the persuadable middle voters _and_ win in red states.
29 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- Our own Assigned Media covers Mother Jones's deep dish on how collee swimmer Riley Gaines turned a fifth-place tie with U Penn's Lia Thomas into major bucks as MAGA's favorite professional anti-trans sports activist.
TWIBS: Riley Gaines Saga Explained by Mother Jones — Assigned
A new profile on the prolific anti-trans activist by Mother Jones sheds light on Gaines’ obsession.
www.assignedmedia.org
November 29, 2025 at 2:15 PM
29 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- Our own Assigned Media covers Mother Jones's deep dish on how collee swimmer Riley Gaines turned a fifth-place tie with U Penn's Lia Thomas into major bucks as MAGA's favorite professional anti-trans sports activist.
225 judges rule against Trump’s mass detention push 700+ cases, finding his efforts a likely violation of due process, including 23 judges appointed by Trump himself. Let's hope the Supremes don't bail him out of this obvious illegality, too.
www.politico.com/playbook
www.politico.com/playbook
Playbook
And the latest on the war in Ukraine ...
www.politico.com
November 28, 2025 at 4:49 PM
225 judges rule against Trump’s mass detention push 700+ cases, finding his efforts a likely violation of due process, including 23 judges appointed by Trump himself. Let's hope the Supremes don't bail him out of this obvious illegality, too.
www.politico.com/playbook
www.politico.com/playbook
IDF soldiers apparently killed 2 Palestinian men in the occupied territories _after_ they had surrendered. IDF says it is "investigating" . Uh-huh.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Israeli soldiers appear to kill Palestinian men in West Bank after they surrender
The Israeli military said it was investigating the killings, which were captured in two videos shown on Arab TV stations.
www.politico.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:12 AM
IDF soldiers apparently killed 2 Palestinian men in the occupied territories _after_ they had surrendered. IDF says it is "investigating" . Uh-huh.
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
The end of Life As We Know It...
Robotaxis are spreading across the U.S.
www.axios.com/2025/11/28/r...
Robotaxis are spreading across the U.S.
www.axios.com/2025/11/28/r...
Robotaxis are spreading across the U.S.
Once the stuff of science fiction, robotaxis are now regularly plying the streets of major cities.
www.axios.com
November 28, 2025 at 11:07 AM
The end of Life As We Know It...
Robotaxis are spreading across the U.S.
www.axios.com/2025/11/28/r...
Robotaxis are spreading across the U.S.
www.axios.com/2025/11/28/r...
27 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- When is it time for trans people to try another country? The New Republic chops it up for us.
When Is It Time to Flee?
Trans people and their families are facing hard questions and choices as threats to their safety and rights proliferate.
newrepublic.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:10 PM
27 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- When is it time for trans people to try another country? The New Republic chops it up for us.
I've posted a zillion stories -- many I felt really deeply about-- but for some reason, that Sen Mark Kelly on Jimmy Kimmel one took off like crazy. Nearly 400 reposts/likes and counting. I guess you can never tell.
November 27, 2025 at 6:08 PM
I've posted a zillion stories -- many I felt really deeply about-- but for some reason, that Sen Mark Kelly on Jimmy Kimmel one took off like crazy. Nearly 400 reposts/likes and counting. I guess you can never tell.
27 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- After four decades of Presidential observance, Trump cancels annual celebration of World AIDS Day, first recognized by Reagan in 1985. White House spox says they're doing other, more effective things. Uh-huh...
Trump team cancels World AIDS Day commemorations after more than 30 years
State Department reportedly informed employees earlier this month to refrain from commemorative messaging on World AIDS Day
www.the-independent.com
November 27, 2025 at 5:01 PM
27 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- After four decades of Presidential observance, Trump cancels annual celebration of World AIDS Day, first recognized by Reagan in 1985. White House spox says they're doing other, more effective things. Uh-huh...
France has just created a voluntary military service. Germany is polishing its invasion war plan. Poland rearming faster than it can draft new soldiers.
Anyone notice a pattern here?
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
tvpworld.com/87513533/ana...
Anyone notice a pattern here?
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
tvpworld.com/87513533/ana...
France's Macron unveils voluntary military service amid 'accelerating threats'
President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday announced the creation of a new voluntary youth military service to begin by mid-2026, which would help France respond to "accelerating threats" on the global sta...
www.reuters.com
November 27, 2025 at 4:17 PM
France has just created a voluntary military service. Germany is polishing its invasion war plan. Poland rearming faster than it can draft new soldiers.
Anyone notice a pattern here?
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
tvpworld.com/87513533/ana...
Anyone notice a pattern here?
www.reuters.com/business/aer...
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
tvpworld.com/87513533/ana...
You-Know-Who ran against Joe Biden as "too old" for the job anymore.
Ummm...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Ummm...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 27, 2025 at 4:13 PM
You-Know-Who ran against Joe Biden as "too old" for the job anymore.
Ummm...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Ummm...
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
In 1st Trump term, a big bulwark against his fascism was the national press. But w/ rightwing billionaires buying it up, that is ending. The Big 3 (NYT, WSJ, WashPo) are all right or lean right. CBS was handed to rightwing provocateur. I find myself turning to o/channels (B/S, Substack) more & more
November 27, 2025 at 2:52 PM
In 1st Trump term, a big bulwark against his fascism was the national press. But w/ rightwing billionaires buying it up, that is ending. The Big 3 (NYT, WSJ, WashPo) are all right or lean right. CBS was handed to rightwing provocateur. I find myself turning to o/channels (B/S, Substack) more & more
***SATIRE** Scouting American (formerly Boy Scouts of America) has responded to statements by announcing it may cut ties with SecDef Pete Hegseth because it considers him to be "gender confused" and "a caricature of masculine values." ***SATIRE**
November 26, 2025 at 11:14 PM
***SATIRE** Scouting American (formerly Boy Scouts of America) has responded to statements by announcing it may cut ties with SecDef Pete Hegseth because it considers him to be "gender confused" and "a caricature of masculine values." ***SATIRE**
25 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- World Strongest Woman, Jammie Booker, stripped of her title by the Official Strongman Games and attacked by her runner-up, Andrea Thompson as "very dishonest" and "taking away a lot of things from a lot of women after Booker was outed as a trans woman.
Transgender athlete 'was very dishonest', says world's strongest woman Andrea Thompson
A British athlete crowned world's strongest woman says she was
www.bbc.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:11 PM
25 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- World Strongest Woman, Jammie Booker, stripped of her title by the Official Strongman Games and attacked by her runner-up, Andrea Thompson as "very dishonest" and "taking away a lot of things from a lot of women after Booker was outed as a trans woman.
26 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- SecDef Hegseth is proposing to cut the military's longstanding support for Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) bec. he says it has gone “genderless” and is promoting "gender confusion" and no longer “cultivates masculine values."
Hegseth reportedly plans to cut support to US scouts group for being ‘genderless’
Scouting America decries accusations by defense secretary that the organization is attacking ‘boy-friendly spaces’
www.theguardian.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:04 PM
26 Nov 2025 @rikiwilchins.bsky.social -- SecDef Hegseth is proposing to cut the military's longstanding support for Scouting America (formerly Boy Scouts of America) bec. he says it has gone “genderless” and is promoting "gender confusion" and no longer “cultivates masculine values."
Surprising nearly everyone, the new Trump Ballroom is shaping up to be a small, tasteful addition to the classic architectural proportions of the White House. ***SATIRE**
November 26, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Surprising nearly everyone, the new Trump Ballroom is shaping up to be a small, tasteful addition to the classic architectural proportions of the White House. ***SATIRE**
Sen. Mark Kelly on Jimmy Kimmel responding to Pentagon investigation over telling servicemembers to “refuse illegal orders:"
“He’s going to prosecute me under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for reciting the Uniform Code of Military Justice? You can’t make this shit up.”
“He’s going to prosecute me under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for reciting the Uniform Code of Military Justice? You can’t make this shit up.”
November 26, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Sen. Mark Kelly on Jimmy Kimmel responding to Pentagon investigation over telling servicemembers to “refuse illegal orders:"
“He’s going to prosecute me under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for reciting the Uniform Code of Military Justice? You can’t make this shit up.”
“He’s going to prosecute me under the Uniform Code of Military Justice for reciting the Uniform Code of Military Justice? You can’t make this shit up.”
Summary of leaked call transcript between Witkoff and Putin emissary. In effect, Trump's representative sounds like he's an agent of the Kremlin-- giving advice on how to butter up Trump and edge out Zelenskyy --just as Trump has behaved as if he's an agent of the Kremlin.
Playbook
The unofficial guide to official Washington, every morning and weekday afternoons.
www.politico.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Summary of leaked call transcript between Witkoff and Putin emissary. In effect, Trump's representative sounds like he's an agent of the Kremlin-- giving advice on how to butter up Trump and edge out Zelenskyy --just as Trump has behaved as if he's an agent of the Kremlin.
***SATIRE*** Wash. DC Nov 25, 2025 Overturning longstanding tradition dating to 1989 of Presidential pardons for the annual Thanksgiving turkey, this year Trump has announced he will personally execute the White House turkey, using only his bare hands to "demonstrate U.S. strength." ***SATIRE***
November 26, 2025 at 12:31 PM
***SATIRE*** Wash. DC Nov 25, 2025 Overturning longstanding tradition dating to 1989 of Presidential pardons for the annual Thanksgiving turkey, this year Trump has announced he will personally execute the White House turkey, using only his bare hands to "demonstrate U.S. strength." ***SATIRE***
Peggy Noonan/WSJ: That the MAGA coalition wd crack was never in doubt; the only questions were when & along what lines. Thinking anyone o/ than Trump cd hold it together was like thinking someone other than Elvis could keep together Elvis fans...And no impersonator here was ever going to do.
November 25, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Peggy Noonan/WSJ: That the MAGA coalition wd crack was never in doubt; the only questions were when & along what lines. Thinking anyone o/ than Trump cd hold it together was like thinking someone other than Elvis could keep together Elvis fans...And no impersonator here was ever going to do.
Merry Xmas? Balsam Hill, which sells Christmas trees and sponsors the National Christmas Tree which sits on the White House lawn, has said it has had to raise prices by to 20% because of Trump’s tariffs and it would have been more if they hadn't already bought much of this years' pre-tariffs.
West Wing Playbook: Remaking Government
Your guide to Donald Trump’s unprecedented overhaul of the federal government.
www.politico.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Merry Xmas? Balsam Hill, which sells Christmas trees and sponsors the National Christmas Tree which sits on the White House lawn, has said it has had to raise prices by to 20% because of Trump’s tariffs and it would have been more if they hadn't already bought much of this years' pre-tariffs.