Rachel P-M
@rpmastronomy.com
Former astronomer trying to be a current astronomer. Jeopardy! Champion.
Reposted by Rachel P-M
Celebrity chefs told Californians that PFAS-coated pans were “safe,” and successfully lobbied Gavin Newsom to veto a bill phasing them out
They didn’t mention they all sell PFAS-coated pans.
New joint investigation with @mirandagreen.bsky.social and @atmosmag.bsky.social is out:
They didn’t mention they all sell PFAS-coated pans.
New joint investigation with @mirandagreen.bsky.social and @atmosmag.bsky.social is out:
Why are famous chefs fighting PFAS bans?
The answer, in retrospect, is obvious—and it’s part of a larger campaign to stop bans on Teflon cookware nationwide.
heated.world
December 10, 2025 at 9:08 PM
Celebrity chefs told Californians that PFAS-coated pans were “safe,” and successfully lobbied Gavin Newsom to veto a bill phasing them out
They didn’t mention they all sell PFAS-coated pans.
New joint investigation with @mirandagreen.bsky.social and @atmosmag.bsky.social is out:
They didn’t mention they all sell PFAS-coated pans.
New joint investigation with @mirandagreen.bsky.social and @atmosmag.bsky.social is out:
Reposted by Rachel P-M
the defensiveness and incredulity of a good chunk of the commentary class toward arguments about trump’s racism is, imho, downstream of the same impulse behind the endless trump voter safaris and self-flagellation about being out of touch with the heartland
Thinking back to how people were "hysterical" for calling trump white supremacist and now he's doing nordic theory on the campaign trail
December 10, 2025 at 4:06 PM
the defensiveness and incredulity of a good chunk of the commentary class toward arguments about trump’s racism is, imho, downstream of the same impulse behind the endless trump voter safaris and self-flagellation about being out of touch with the heartland
Reposted by Rachel P-M
This is very well put from @adamserwer.bsky.social. I'd add that the lack of GOP criticism of Trump's vile racism toward Somalis, including many US citizens, reveals broad GOP embrace of ethnonationalism:
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
December 10, 2025 at 5:17 PM
This is very well put from @adamserwer.bsky.social. I'd add that the lack of GOP criticism of Trump's vile racism toward Somalis, including many US citizens, reveals broad GOP embrace of ethnonationalism:
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Reposted by Rachel P-M
"Her campaign made a critical strategic error by prioritising an appeal to moderate, suburban Republicans over mobilising its core working-class and progressive base, leading to significant erosion of support among these vital constituencies" www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Wrong voters, wrong message: progressives’ autopsy lays bare Kamala Harris failures
RootsAction report finds Harris courted moderates instead of working-class Democrats – and Gaza stance did not help
www.theguardian.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:24 PM
"Her campaign made a critical strategic error by prioritising an appeal to moderate, suburban Republicans over mobilising its core working-class and progressive base, leading to significant erosion of support among these vital constituencies" www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Rachel P-M
BREAKING
Trump’s troops must get out of Los Angeles, a federal judge rules.
(Ruling paused until Monday.)
Look out for more coverage soon at All Rise News.
Trump’s troops must get out of Los Angeles, a federal judge rules.
(Ruling paused until Monday.)
Look out for more coverage soon at All Rise News.
December 10, 2025 at 2:35 PM
BREAKING
Trump’s troops must get out of Los Angeles, a federal judge rules.
(Ruling paused until Monday.)
Look out for more coverage soon at All Rise News.
Trump’s troops must get out of Los Angeles, a federal judge rules.
(Ruling paused until Monday.)
Look out for more coverage soon at All Rise News.
No. At the end of her life she was incredibly mean to everyone around her. She accused my parents of murdering my grandfather and poisoned my mom’s relationship with her sister. She always tried to pit me against my cousins. And we actually were fairly close!
IN DEPTH | If you could speak to your dead grandmother forever, would you?
If you could speak to your dead grandmother forever, would you?
www.independent.co.uk
December 10, 2025 at 5:49 PM
No. At the end of her life she was incredibly mean to everyone around her. She accused my parents of murdering my grandfather and poisoned my mom’s relationship with her sister. She always tried to pit me against my cousins. And we actually were fairly close!
Reposted by Rachel P-M
I'm usually a "prioritize winning elections over winning factional fights" guy but that goes out the window with anything these group chat psychos touch. We have to crush them or they'll turn the Democratic Party into Labour
like incredible takeaway from a huge overperformance by Democrats in fucking *TN*
December 10, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I'm usually a "prioritize winning elections over winning factional fights" guy but that goes out the window with anything these group chat psychos touch. We have to crush them or they'll turn the Democratic Party into Labour
Reposted by Rachel P-M
takeaways:
- pushing back against lies just amplifies them :(((((
- 40% of activity from one "wave" of this attack were from bots
- “a significant user overlap between accounts pushing the Swift ‘Nazi’ narrative and those active in a separate astroturf campaign attacking Blake Lively,”
- pushing back against lies just amplifies them :(((((
- 40% of activity from one "wave" of this attack were from bots
- “a significant user overlap between accounts pushing the Swift ‘Nazi’ narrative and those active in a separate astroturf campaign attacking Blake Lively,”
December 10, 2025 at 4:46 AM
takeaways:
- pushing back against lies just amplifies them :(((((
- 40% of activity from one "wave" of this attack were from bots
- “a significant user overlap between accounts pushing the Swift ‘Nazi’ narrative and those active in a separate astroturf campaign attacking Blake Lively,”
- pushing back against lies just amplifies them :(((((
- 40% of activity from one "wave" of this attack were from bots
- “a significant user overlap between accounts pushing the Swift ‘Nazi’ narrative and those active in a separate astroturf campaign attacking Blake Lively,”
Reposted by Rachel P-M
Babe wake up articles of impeachment have been filed against RFK Jr. and Pete Hegseth
December 10, 2025 at 3:27 PM
Babe wake up articles of impeachment have been filed against RFK Jr. and Pete Hegseth
Reposted by Rachel P-M
welcome to the newest member of America’s hottest club, “Primary Every Democrat.”
I’m running for Congress because we need leaders who will fight, not fold. I recognize this moment, and I’m ready to meet it. #FightDontFold #LanderForNYC #LanderForCongress
December 10, 2025 at 1:44 PM
welcome to the newest member of America’s hottest club, “Primary Every Democrat.”
Reposted by Rachel P-M
What gives away the game is that the performance centers on how PROGRESSIVES perceive issues, rather than how THE PUBLIC AT LARGE perceives them.
If progressives think something is important, especially “social issues,” the centrists downplay it - even when the public agrees with progressives!
If progressives think something is important, especially “social issues,” the centrists downplay it - even when the public agrees with progressives!
December 10, 2025 at 3:14 PM
What gives away the game is that the performance centers on how PROGRESSIVES perceive issues, rather than how THE PUBLIC AT LARGE perceives them.
If progressives think something is important, especially “social issues,” the centrists downplay it - even when the public agrees with progressives!
If progressives think something is important, especially “social issues,” the centrists downplay it - even when the public agrees with progressives!
Reposted by Rachel P-M
This highlights the way in which “moderate pragmatic centrism” is a performance, a signaling exercise.
These people signal to their peers how smart they are by refusing to support good things and failing to oppose awful things.
“Look at me! Self-consciously not fighting! A good little moderate.”
These people signal to their peers how smart they are by refusing to support good things and failing to oppose awful things.
“Look at me! Self-consciously not fighting! A good little moderate.”
This exchange drives me nuts. Neither the interviewer nor Bazelon acknowledges that 1) abortion rights are really popular! and 2) what ICE is doing is hugely unpopular!
December 10, 2025 at 3:12 PM
This highlights the way in which “moderate pragmatic centrism” is a performance, a signaling exercise.
These people signal to their peers how smart they are by refusing to support good things and failing to oppose awful things.
“Look at me! Self-consciously not fighting! A good little moderate.”
These people signal to their peers how smart they are by refusing to support good things and failing to oppose awful things.
“Look at me! Self-consciously not fighting! A good little moderate.”
I was writing our holiday letter and was debating between an em dash and a colon and while I think the colon was technically the better choice I still used an em dash for exactly this reason.
are we still on about em dashes and ai. imo human writers should just use the em dashes even harder. we should be out here pummeling out those em dashes like we're emily dickinson
December 10, 2025 at 7:24 AM
I was writing our holiday letter and was debating between an em dash and a colon and while I think the colon was technically the better choice I still used an em dash for exactly this reason.
It is fucking impossible to find a pediatric Covid vaccine for kids under 5. I am well-resourced and my mom is a retired pediatrician and it was still a nightmare to get one.
5/ Vaccination data is finally here and it’s not looking good. Covid vax rates are down a LOT from last year. Specifically:
🔹 5.7% of children are vaccinated, down from 9.3% this time last year
🔹14.7% of adults are vaccinated this year, down from 18.6% this time last year
🔹 5.7% of children are vaccinated, down from 9.3% this time last year
🔹14.7% of adults are vaccinated this year, down from 18.6% this time last year
December 10, 2025 at 7:20 AM
It is fucking impossible to find a pediatric Covid vaccine for kids under 5. I am well-resourced and my mom is a retired pediatrician and it was still a nightmare to get one.
Reposted by Rachel P-M
You may realize that nightmarish visa requirements are bad for US tourism …
… but you may not realize that most visa policies are reciprocal.
The harder for foreigners to visit America, the harder for Americans to visit other countries.
This doubles as a trap that prevents Americans from leaving.
… but you may not realize that most visa policies are reciprocal.
The harder for foreigners to visit America, the harder for Americans to visit other countries.
This doubles as a trap that prevents Americans from leaving.
December 10, 2025 at 6:47 AM
You may realize that nightmarish visa requirements are bad for US tourism …
… but you may not realize that most visa policies are reciprocal.
The harder for foreigners to visit America, the harder for Americans to visit other countries.
This doubles as a trap that prevents Americans from leaving.
… but you may not realize that most visa policies are reciprocal.
The harder for foreigners to visit America, the harder for Americans to visit other countries.
This doubles as a trap that prevents Americans from leaving.
Reposted by Rachel P-M
DHS ordering a church to take down a nativity scene!?
Wait, so is Trump waging a WAR ON CHRISTMAS!? I’ve been warned about this for years by Fox News!
Wait, so is Trump waging a WAR ON CHRISTMAS!? I’ve been warned about this for years by Fox News!
ICE’s acting director ordered a Boston Catholic parish to tear down its Advent Nativity scene—stripped of baby Jesus and branded with the message “ICE WAS HERE.” The parish priest is refusing, citing he pope’s call to stand with migrants. It's another chapter in Kristi Noem's war on Christians.
“ICE Was Here”: Pope Leo-Inspired Nativity Scene Sparks MAGA Outrage
A Nativity scene missing Jesus — and marked with an “ICE was here” sign — has triggered cries of “politicizing Christmas.” The parish priest says he’s answering Pope Leo's call to welcome stranger.
www.thelettersfromleo.com
December 10, 2025 at 2:12 AM
DHS ordering a church to take down a nativity scene!?
Wait, so is Trump waging a WAR ON CHRISTMAS!? I’ve been warned about this for years by Fox News!
Wait, so is Trump waging a WAR ON CHRISTMAS!? I’ve been warned about this for years by Fox News!
Reposted by Rachel P-M
Reposted by Rachel P-M
We have to listen to bigoted handwringing about how we have to abandon trans people and marginalized communities and immigrants while the clearest election winning message is right there.
"Do the rich have too much political power?"
Yes: 80%
No: 8%
YouGov / Dec 8, 2025
Yes: 80%
No: 8%
YouGov / Dec 8, 2025
December 9, 2025 at 10:26 PM
We have to listen to bigoted handwringing about how we have to abandon trans people and marginalized communities and immigrants while the clearest election winning message is right there.
Reposted by Rachel P-M
My students are not my customers. A person walks into a shop, they want a bag of oranges, they buy it+ leave. I check them out, having no interest in their well being or existence. A student walks into my classroom. I invite them on a quest to become a better thinker and human.
December 9, 2025 at 9:30 PM
My students are not my customers. A person walks into a shop, they want a bag of oranges, they buy it+ leave. I check them out, having no interest in their well being or existence. A student walks into my classroom. I invite them on a quest to become a better thinker and human.
Reposted by Rachel P-M
its like people havent looked at how reagan and bush ii were rehabbed in the popular culture, even nixon towards the end. these memories of how shitty people are do not stick. sorry, but they don't. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
December 9, 2025 at 8:30 PM
its like people havent looked at how reagan and bush ii were rehabbed in the popular culture, even nixon towards the end. these memories of how shitty people are do not stick. sorry, but they don't. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...
Reposted by Rachel P-M
It seems Not Great that the bureaucracies in charge of California’s streets at ~every level of government are lawless rogue agencies that are not subject to any real public oversight.
LA quietly stopped repaving all streets last July to avoid fulfilling its ADA obligations. The federal govt says when you repave a street, you have to update all the curb ramps. LA has tons of out of date curb ramps, so the rule makes repaving much more expensive. The city's solution: stop repaving!
LA has stopped repaving our streets
The reason why is probably illegal
futureis.la
December 9, 2025 at 8:36 PM
It seems Not Great that the bureaucracies in charge of California’s streets at ~every level of government are lawless rogue agencies that are not subject to any real public oversight.
Reposted by Rachel P-M
I can’t believe how much of the Trump era is about solving problems that *don’t* exist while making all the problems that *do* exist, worse.
There is no one who thinks the biggest problem with air travel right now is not having an area to do pull-ups.
There is no one who thinks the biggest problem with air travel right now is not having an area to do pull-ups.
Duffy on what he's doing to improve the airport experience for travelers: "Maybe I want a workout area where people might get some blood flowing doing some pull ups or step ups in the airport."
December 9, 2025 at 12:10 PM
I can’t believe how much of the Trump era is about solving problems that *don’t* exist while making all the problems that *do* exist, worse.
There is no one who thinks the biggest problem with air travel right now is not having an area to do pull-ups.
There is no one who thinks the biggest problem with air travel right now is not having an area to do pull-ups.
Reposted by Rachel P-M
1. For weeks, EITM has reported that Republicans would push a trans healthcare ban in their ACA negotiations.
Now, the plan is released, and it includes heavy restrictions on ACA plans, a medicaid ban, an EHB ban, and more.
Democrats must not capitulate.
Now, the plan is released, and it includes heavy restrictions on ACA plans, a medicaid ban, an EHB ban, and more.
Democrats must not capitulate.
Democrats Must Reject The Premise Of Trans Healthcare Bans In Republican Healthcare Offer
Republicans new healthcare bill would bar transgender healthcare as an essential health benefit, bar trans medicaid coverage, and would bar HSAs from considering trans healthcare medically necessary.
www.erininthemorning.com
December 9, 2025 at 6:29 PM
1. For weeks, EITM has reported that Republicans would push a trans healthcare ban in their ACA negotiations.
Now, the plan is released, and it includes heavy restrictions on ACA plans, a medicaid ban, an EHB ban, and more.
Democrats must not capitulate.
Now, the plan is released, and it includes heavy restrictions on ACA plans, a medicaid ban, an EHB ban, and more.
Democrats must not capitulate.
My dad started at Johns Hopkins and after 2 years transferred to Pomona. He said that he went to JHU because he was pre-med and it was the best, but undergrads were ignored. He was so much happier at Pomona because it was smaller (and also he met my mom, which probably helped).
One of my students said another professor had told her “she was too smart to be at our university” and I was like pfft, no. Knowing what I know now? I’d choose a small teaching focused school 1000x more than a big prestigious one for undergrad
Grad school is for big schools, undergrad for learning
Grad school is for big schools, undergrad for learning
December 9, 2025 at 6:46 PM
My dad started at Johns Hopkins and after 2 years transferred to Pomona. He said that he went to JHU because he was pre-med and it was the best, but undergrads were ignored. He was so much happier at Pomona because it was smaller (and also he met my mom, which probably helped).