hooked on persephonics
@amphote.bsky.social
Recovering litigator, baby bureaucrat.
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
"Meningitis is a rare disease, but for the last few years rates have been rising, and no one really knows why. Now is not the time to discourage vaccination." Oh, and it kills 10-15 percent of the people who contract it.
My Life Shows the Horror of RFK Jr.’s New Vaccine Guidelines
The Trump administration just yanked the recommendation for a vaccine that can spare people from what I went through.
lnk.thebulwark.com
January 12, 2026 at 10:00 PM
"Meningitis is a rare disease, but for the last few years rates have been rising, and no one really knows why. Now is not the time to discourage vaccination." Oh, and it kills 10-15 percent of the people who contract it.
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
We have got the most chill normies imaginable on our side and they are eating ICE for breakfast
it's incredible how if you put this entire dialog into the Left Behind series, it would basically work, but instead it's just IRL MN
!["Sir! This is a warning!" the agent yelled as he punched the man's vehicle window. "Stop f—king following us! You are impeding operations! This is the United States federal government!"
"I live over here," the driver explained. "I got to get to my house."
"This is your warning!" the officer exclaimed.
"I serve the Lord; go to church," the resident replied.
"I will arrest you!" the officer threatened.
"Don't make a bad decision," another agent warned.
"I serve the Lord," the driver repeated. "Not a draft-dodging coward."
"Let these people go to church," the driver added. "Let these people serve the Lord and worship."
"You're not going to like the outcome of this, sir," the first officer said. "I guarantee that... Did you not learn from what just happened [when Renee Good was killed]?"
"Learn what?" the driver asked. "I serve the Lord, not a draft-dodging coward. I can't believe you'd take orders from a draft dodger."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:hbpefio3f5csc44msmbgioxz/bafkreibjwvcxk2ptdafgbwfhk4rjalweyoz3d55gl72qhwhiudhu6aywcm@jpeg)
January 12, 2026 at 5:14 PM
We have got the most chill normies imaginable on our side and they are eating ICE for breakfast
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
I'm actually baffled as to how this doesn't put the EPA in blatant violation of its statutory obligations under the Clean Air Act and amendments, which require it to apply a public health standard to regulating NAAQ pollutants like ozone and particulates.
The official explanation they’re apparently going with here is that they aren’t 100% convinced that breathing soot and ozone is actually bad for you.
Breaking News: The EPA will stop considering lives saved when setting pollution limits and instead calculate only the cost to businesses.
January 12, 2026 at 8:54 PM
I'm actually baffled as to how this doesn't put the EPA in blatant violation of its statutory obligations under the Clean Air Act and amendments, which require it to apply a public health standard to regulating NAAQ pollutants like ozone and particulates.
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
These videos are so important. In creating a record, yes, but even more crucially, in the example they set for the rest of us.
This woman is harder than goddamn steel dealing with these goddamn thugs. I want her to be my neighbor.
January 12, 2026 at 8:55 PM
These videos are so important. In creating a record, yes, but even more crucially, in the example they set for the rest of us.
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
semi-regular reminder that ICE was only created in 2003
when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out
when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out
January 12, 2026 at 8:04 PM
semi-regular reminder that ICE was only created in 2003
when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out
when you are asked to imagine a world without ICE, you're basically being asked to remember where you were when Lilo & Stitch came out
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
JUST IN: Judge Mehta rules that Trump/Russ Vought's termination of environmental grants during the shutdown — targeted solely at states that voted for Kamala Harris — violated the 5th Amendment's Equal Protection clause and orders them restored.
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
January 12, 2026 at 6:04 PM
JUST IN: Judge Mehta rules that Trump/Russ Vought's termination of environmental grants during the shutdown — targeted solely at states that voted for Kamala Harris — violated the 5th Amendment's Equal Protection clause and orders them restored.
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
www.documentcloud.org/documents/26...
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
It’s like they read a thread called “how to turn normies into The Joker in one easy step”. You stepped onto a bus? Full of disabled kids?? With your guns and face masks??????? I have internal beef with other parents very often but one thing we fuckin love as a people is a common enemy
Local parents groups asking if adults can ride school buses to help protect children from ICE after a special ed bus got stopped this morning. Like a Dirty Harry movie except the villain in the federal government.
January 12, 2026 at 6:33 PM
It’s like they read a thread called “how to turn normies into The Joker in one easy step”. You stepped onto a bus? Full of disabled kids?? With your guns and face masks??????? I have internal beef with other parents very often but one thing we fuckin love as a people is a common enemy
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
Discworld QOTD, from Night Watch
January 12, 2026 at 6:44 PM
Discworld QOTD, from Night Watch
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
expectation: you will walk down the street hailed by beautiful white women thanking you for Saving The Homeland
reality: a woman who looks exactly like your mom calls you a whiny bitch and the cute cashier gives you the finger and tells you to go fuck yourself and everyone laughs when you fall down
reality: a woman who looks exactly like your mom calls you a whiny bitch and the cute cashier gives you the finger and tells you to go fuck yourself and everyone laughs when you fall down
January 12, 2026 at 6:32 PM
expectation: you will walk down the street hailed by beautiful white women thanking you for Saving The Homeland
reality: a woman who looks exactly like your mom calls you a whiny bitch and the cute cashier gives you the finger and tells you to go fuck yourself and everyone laughs when you fall down
reality: a woman who looks exactly like your mom calls you a whiny bitch and the cute cashier gives you the finger and tells you to go fuck yourself and everyone laughs when you fall down
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
one defense of CBA has always been that it forces admins to be explicit about their values....
"Over the past four decades, Republican and Democratic administrations have used different estimates of the monetary value of a human life... But until now, no administration has counted it as zero."
"Over the past four decades, Republican and Democratic administrations have used different estimates of the monetary value of a human life... But until now, no administration has counted it as zero."
The "administration contends that these estimates are doubtful and said the E.P.A. would no longer take health effects into account in the cost-benefit analyses necessary for clean-air regulations, according to the documents. Instead, the agency would estimate only the costs to businesses."
E.P.A. to Stop Considering Lives Saved When Setting Rules on Air Pollution
www.nytimes.com
January 12, 2026 at 5:37 PM
one defense of CBA has always been that it forces admins to be explicit about their values....
"Over the past four decades, Republican and Democratic administrations have used different estimates of the monetary value of a human life... But until now, no administration has counted it as zero."
"Over the past four decades, Republican and Democratic administrations have used different estimates of the monetary value of a human life... But until now, no administration has counted it as zero."
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
Some good suggestions from @brianbeutler.bsky.social. I think Rep Daniel Goldman offers a good start at how Dems might approach this going forward here:
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
January 12, 2026 at 6:12 PM
Some good suggestions from @brianbeutler.bsky.social. I think Rep Daniel Goldman offers a good start at how Dems might approach this going forward here:
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
newrepublic.com/article/2051...
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
It would be helpful for the AI moderate crowd to acknowledge that while there are some uses, most of the actual use cases being promoted are things LLMs cannot do properly.
Like it's cool that LLMs can solve erdos problems but the number 1 use of ChatGPT by consumers is "therapy"
Like it's cool that LLMs can solve erdos problems but the number 1 use of ChatGPT by consumers is "therapy"
January 12, 2026 at 5:49 PM
It would be helpful for the AI moderate crowd to acknowledge that while there are some uses, most of the actual use cases being promoted are things LLMs cannot do properly.
Like it's cool that LLMs can solve erdos problems but the number 1 use of ChatGPT by consumers is "therapy"
Like it's cool that LLMs can solve erdos problems but the number 1 use of ChatGPT by consumers is "therapy"
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
it's cool to realize that despite having very different personalities and campaign styles, both Katie Wilson and Zohran Mamdani won in part because they were just being themselves. this will be hard for the career consultants: there is no one way to be authentic!
jacobin.com/2026/01/kati...
jacobin.com/2026/01/kati...
We Ran Katie Wilson’s Campaign. Here’s What We Learned.
Seattle’s new socialist mayor, Katie Wilson, won with an authentic image, a strong social media presence, a dedicated and energetic volunteer base, a relentless focus on material issues over political...
jacobin.com
January 12, 2026 at 4:18 PM
it's cool to realize that despite having very different personalities and campaign styles, both Katie Wilson and Zohran Mamdani won in part because they were just being themselves. this will be hard for the career consultants: there is no one way to be authentic!
jacobin.com/2026/01/kati...
jacobin.com/2026/01/kati...
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
/3 That process will make it easier for this to happen again. So: what to do? Someone who promoted and both-sidesed Nazis in 1946 would face economic and social annihilation outside of extremists circles. How can we inflict that annihilation on the vapid media of now?
January 12, 2026 at 3:52 PM
/3 That process will make it easier for this to happen again. So: what to do? Someone who promoted and both-sidesed Nazis in 1946 would face economic and social annihilation outside of extremists circles. How can we inflict that annihilation on the vapid media of now?
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
CITIZENS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO CARRY DOCUMENTATION.
I'm going to post the link to the video but not the actual video which autoplays and is utterly brutal. Instead I'm posting the photo of the man before ICE assaulted him.
bsky.app/profile/dmbm...
bsky.app/profile/dmbm...
January 12, 2026 at 3:55 PM
CITIZENS ARE NOT REQUIRED TO CARRY DOCUMENTATION.
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
Venezuela. Minneapolis. The J6 whitewash. And (after I wrote this) Jerome Powell
It's all the same story: Trump's now-public belief that nothing can stop him beyond his own 'mind' and 'morality'
But he can be stopped, by actual morality. Ours
My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...
It's all the same story: Trump's now-public belief that nothing can stop him beyond his own 'mind' and 'morality'
But he can be stopped, by actual morality. Ours
My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...
Trump now a tyrant restrained only by ‘my own morality.’ We stop him with our own. | Will Bunch
After a monumental week that changed America, Trump believes there is no limit on his powers. We can prove him wrong.
www.inquirer.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Venezuela. Minneapolis. The J6 whitewash. And (after I wrote this) Jerome Powell
It's all the same story: Trump's now-public belief that nothing can stop him beyond his own 'mind' and 'morality'
But he can be stopped, by actual morality. Ours
My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...
It's all the same story: Trump's now-public belief that nothing can stop him beyond his own 'mind' and 'morality'
But he can be stopped, by actual morality. Ours
My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/trum...
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
No one with any power wants to hear that this flows from, in large part, decades of eroding the fourth amendment to fight drugs, terrorism, etc.
A video of ICE agents conducting door-to-door searches today in Minneapolis
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
The homeowner requests a warrant repeatedly, is told they don't require one, then is told they're getting it, then the agents storm in anyway
They also point a taser at her to try and disrupt filming
January 12, 2026 at 2:45 PM
No one with any power wants to hear that this flows from, in large part, decades of eroding the fourth amendment to fight drugs, terrorism, etc.
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
Independent monetary policy means that the Federal Reserve ostensibly tries to set interest rates and steer the economy in such a way that's good for the ENTIRE economy, not just the stock market.
If the rich can set their own monetary policy, the whole US economy is fucked and the world will bail.
If the rich can set their own monetary policy, the whole US economy is fucked and the world will bail.
January 12, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Independent monetary policy means that the Federal Reserve ostensibly tries to set interest rates and steer the economy in such a way that's good for the ENTIRE economy, not just the stock market.
If the rich can set their own monetary policy, the whole US economy is fucked and the world will bail.
If the rich can set their own monetary policy, the whole US economy is fucked and the world will bail.
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
deposing a foreign ruler and spending tens of billions of dollars on oil subsidies so we can put American frackers out of business, just in time for EVs to permanently collapse oil demand. that's the Trump business touch alright
January 12, 2026 at 2:57 PM
deposing a foreign ruler and spending tens of billions of dollars on oil subsidies so we can put American frackers out of business, just in time for EVs to permanently collapse oil demand. that's the Trump business touch alright
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
reading between the lines, what they're pretty clearly asking for is a profit guarantee from the US taxpayer (at like 40 bucks a barrel) and I'd bet they get it too
January 12, 2026 at 2:56 PM
reading between the lines, what they're pretty clearly asking for is a profit guarantee from the US taxpayer (at like 40 bucks a barrel) and I'd bet they get it too
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
FIFA’s peace prize scam pays off
The Supreme Court sets aside lower court decisions upholding convictions for bribery related to the FIFA scandal because the Trump administration decided to dismiss those criminal cases "in the interests of justice." The FIFA prosecution ends in a whimper. www.supremecourt.gov/orders/court...
January 12, 2026 at 2:44 PM
FIFA’s peace prize scam pays off
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
The reason that markets and other countries can't trust us is Trump v. United States. If you want peace and prosperity then you need court reform.
Trump's actually killing multiple geese that lay golden eggs, not just one, so don't use "the goose that lays the golden egg"
January 12, 2026 at 1:44 PM
The reason that markets and other countries can't trust us is Trump v. United States. If you want peace and prosperity then you need court reform.
Reposted by hooked on persephonics
AI is like a simulacrum of tech leaders themselves: superficially impressive until they start talking about a field you know, at which point it's clearly shallow and ill-informed. Most business uses of LLMs require a *lot* of time tweaking inputs and error-correcting outputs.
The latest Duke CFO survey shows that the vast majority of CFOs are seeing no impact from AI on labor productivity, decision-making speed, customer satisfaction, or time spent on high-value-added tasks
Torsten at Apollo
Torsten at Apollo
January 12, 2026 at 1:46 PM
AI is like a simulacrum of tech leaders themselves: superficially impressive until they start talking about a field you know, at which point it's clearly shallow and ill-informed. Most business uses of LLMs require a *lot* of time tweaking inputs and error-correcting outputs.