Brian Powell
@bitmapped.net
Transportation geek, computer science PhD, avid geocacher, and WV political junkie.
PSA for those with gas furnaces: Make sure the exhaust vent isn't blocked with snow and ice. My parents' neighbor had CO alarm go off because theirs was blocked and exhaust couldn't escape.
January 28, 2026 at 2:58 AM
PSA for those with gas furnaces: Make sure the exhaust vent isn't blocked with snow and ice. My parents' neighbor had CO alarm go off because theirs was blocked and exhaust couldn't escape.
Reposted by Brian Powell
Why would you believe a US security guarantee right now? They won't even guarantee NATO countries' security.
The Trump admin has indicated to Ukraine that US security guarantees are contingent on Kyiv first agreeing a peace deal that would likely involve ceding the Donbas region to Russia…
Scoop with FT comrades
@maxseddon.bsky.social
@henryjfoy.ft.com
@a-mackinnon.bsky.social
Scoop with FT comrades
@maxseddon.bsky.social
@henryjfoy.ft.com
@a-mackinnon.bsky.social
US links security guarantees for Ukraine to peace deal ceding territory
[FREE TO READ] Washington signalled Kyiv would receive more backing after any withdrawal from the Donbas, say people familiar with talks
as.ft.com
January 27, 2026 at 8:51 AM
Why would you believe a US security guarantee right now? They won't even guarantee NATO countries' security.
How the National Park Service is deleting American history www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/c...
How the National Park Service Is Deleting American History
www.nytimes.com
January 25, 2026 at 3:35 PM
How the National Park Service is deleting American history www.nytimes.com/2026/01/23/c...
Reposted by Brian Powell
We cannot possibly host the World Cup during this madness. Same with the Olympics.
January 18, 2026 at 7:58 AM
We cannot possibly host the World Cup during this madness. Same with the Olympics.
Reposted by Brian Powell
Reposted by Brian Powell
This kind of crass, absurd and obscene embrace of willful murder from a top official is basically participation in murder after the fact
Noem: "People need to stop using their vehicles as weapons ... it's clear that it's being coordinated. People are being trained"
January 8, 2026 at 1:01 AM
This kind of crass, absurd and obscene embrace of willful murder from a top official is basically participation in murder after the fact
Ohio voters enshrined abortion rights into the state constitution. Ohio Republicans don't care. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/01/06/r...
Reproductive rights regulated, tested in Ohio Republican bills, as Dems continue attempts to protect • Ohio Capital Journal
As the current Ohio General Assembly goes into its second year in 2026, abortion will still remain a topic of legislation, in small efforts to change laws, and large attempts to codify or prohibit the...
ohiocapitaljournal.com
January 7, 2026 at 4:56 AM
Ohio voters enshrined abortion rights into the state constitution. Ohio Republicans don't care. ohiocapitaljournal.com/2026/01/06/r...
Reposted by Brian Powell
the entire contradiction at the heart of the last 15 years of dem dysfunction has been simultaneously insisting the only mechanism for punishing republican malfeasance is the vote while also adopting a posture of bipartisan comity with those very politicians voters are supposed to be disciplining.
he should be saying their failures to act are grave violations of their oaths of office, a disgrace to the senate, blah blah blah. he should be making the case to the public to be mad, not dumping it on our laps and saying “you do something about it”
January 6, 2026 at 6:06 AM
the entire contradiction at the heart of the last 15 years of dem dysfunction has been simultaneously insisting the only mechanism for punishing republican malfeasance is the vote while also adopting a posture of bipartisan comity with those very politicians voters are supposed to be disciplining.
Reposted by Brian Powell
The Trump administration just conducted an illegal attack on Venezuela and has spoken about attacking Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, and Denmark.
These Democrats just voted to confirm Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense:
Fetterman
Gallego
Kaine
King
Reed
Rosen
Shaheen
These Democrats just voted to confirm Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense:
Fetterman
Gallego
Kaine
King
Reed
Rosen
Shaheen
January 6, 2026 at 4:09 AM
The Trump administration just conducted an illegal attack on Venezuela and has spoken about attacking Colombia, Mexico, Cuba, and Denmark.
These Democrats just voted to confirm Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense:
Fetterman
Gallego
Kaine
King
Reed
Rosen
Shaheen
These Democrats just voted to confirm Trump's nominee for Assistant Secretary of Defense:
Fetterman
Gallego
Kaine
King
Reed
Rosen
Shaheen
27 Million Fewer Car Trips: Life After a Year of Congestion Pricing www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Congestion pricing after one year: How life has changed. (Gift Article)
How life has changed in the New York area, according to data on traffic, transit and the responses of 600 readers.
www.nytimes.com
January 5, 2026 at 6:52 PM
27 Million Fewer Car Trips: Life After a Year of Congestion Pricing www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Brian Powell
Ironic that our celebration of the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence will be led by a mad king.
The foreign policy of a personalist dictatorship. There are no constraints.
Trump in a single gaggle on Air Force One just threatened:
-- a second strike against Venezuela
-- Cuba
-- Mexico
-- Colombia
-- Iran
-- Greenland (which in turn would be an attack on the EU and Denmark)
-- a second strike against Venezuela
-- Cuba
-- Mexico
-- Colombia
-- Iran
-- Greenland (which in turn would be an attack on the EU and Denmark)
January 5, 2026 at 2:14 AM
Ironic that our celebration of the 250th anniversary of our Declaration of Independence will be led by a mad king.
Reposted by Brian Powell
Every Democrat needs to take notes. You have to run on immediately undoing all of this shit.
January 1, 2026 at 11:09 PM
Every Democrat needs to take notes. You have to run on immediately undoing all of this shit.
Today, I learned that Washington, PA was originally named Catfish Camp.
December 29, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Today, I learned that Washington, PA was originally named Catfish Camp.
Reposted by Brian Powell
Bill Clinton releasing a statement saying 'release the Epstein files, you cowards' was not on my bingo list.
December 22, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Bill Clinton releasing a statement saying 'release the Epstein files, you cowards' was not on my bingo list.
Reposted by Brian Powell
Cover just dropped. Coming in 2026 from Oxford University Press.
November 6, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Cover just dropped. Coming in 2026 from Oxford University Press.
University of Akron is privatizing its dorms. www.cleveland.com/akron/2025/1...
University of Akron announces deal to privatize dorms
Under a new 50-year lease agreement, PRG - Akron Properties will take over management of the University of Akron’s on-campus student housing.
www.cleveland.com
December 22, 2025 at 10:31 PM
University of Akron is privatizing its dorms. www.cleveland.com/akron/2025/1...
Started watching "Boots" on Netflix. I was a bit surprised when I saw Norman Lear listed as an executive producer - turns out it was one of his last projects before his passing in 2023 at age 101.
November 27, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Started watching "Boots" on Netflix. I was a bit surprised when I saw Norman Lear listed as an executive producer - turns out it was one of his last projects before his passing in 2023 at age 101.
TIL that The Jacksons song "Blame It on the Boogie" was written by Michael Jackson, but not the Jackson 5 Michael Jackson. The writer was an English singer-songwriter. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blame_I...
Blame It on the Boogie - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 25, 2025 at 6:42 PM
TIL that The Jacksons song "Blame It on the Boogie" was written by Michael Jackson, but not the Jackson 5 Michael Jackson. The writer was an English singer-songwriter. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blame_I...
Reposted by Brian Powell
Oh hey, I found the war on christmas
"Agencies within the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, including ICE, ERO, and CBP intend to implement a comprehensive plan to target Spanish-speaking churches across the country during the upcoming holiday season between Thanksgiving, Nov. 27, and Christmas, Dec. 25."
Exclusive: Trump DHS Plans Immigration Raids on Churches Over Holidays
The Trump Dept. of Homeland Security is briefing federal agencies on plans for immigration enforcement operations inside churches over holidays.
thisweekinworcester.com
November 18, 2025 at 10:53 AM
Oh hey, I found the war on christmas
Reposted by Brian Powell
Trump arrives in FL for another weekend of parties and golf while his attorneys fight in the Supreme Court to deny food to SNAP beneficiaries despite a court order.
November 8, 2025 at 2:12 AM
Trump arrives in FL for another weekend of parties and golf while his attorneys fight in the Supreme Court to deny food to SNAP beneficiaries despite a court order.
Reposted by Brian Powell
Marge says that Republicans can end the shutdown anytime they want without Democratic votes.
October 3, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Marge says that Republicans can end the shutdown anytime they want without Democratic votes.
JD Vance had the Army Corps of Engineers release water from Caesar Creek Lake so he could go kayaking last weekend. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
JD Vance’s team had water level of Ohio river raised for family’s boating trip
Exclusive: Incident raises questions of exploitation of public services, but Secret Service says it was requested for ‘safe navigation’
www.theguardian.com
August 6, 2025 at 10:41 PM
JD Vance had the Army Corps of Engineers release water from Caesar Creek Lake so he could go kayaking last weekend. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Reposted by Brian Powell
The “deal” that Brown made with the Trump admin is much more extreme than is being reported. It includes government oversight of course evaluations and no barrier to government interference in faculty hiring.
Read it for yourself here:
www.brown.edu/sites/defaul...
Read it for yourself here:
www.brown.edu/sites/defaul...
www.brown.edu
July 30, 2025 at 11:46 PM
The “deal” that Brown made with the Trump admin is much more extreme than is being reported. It includes government oversight of course evaluations and no barrier to government interference in faculty hiring.
Read it for yourself here:
www.brown.edu/sites/defaul...
Read it for yourself here:
www.brown.edu/sites/defaul...
Reposted by Brian Powell
This is an outrage. Other faculty senates need to speak up.
Faculty Support of George Mason’s President Draws Federal Investigation www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/u...
Faculty Support of George Mason’s President Draws Federal Investigation
www.nytimes.com
July 28, 2025 at 8:40 PM
This is an outrage. Other faculty senates need to speak up.
Union Pacific to Buy Norfolk Southern in $85 Billion Railroad Deal www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/b...
Union Pacific to Buy Norfolk Southern in $85 Billion Railroad Deal
www.nytimes.com
July 29, 2025 at 12:32 PM
Union Pacific to Buy Norfolk Southern in $85 Billion Railroad Deal www.nytimes.com/2025/07/29/b...