Ryan Fischer
@jryanfish.bsky.social
US historian of settler colonialism and the environment in the Twin Cities.
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
November 25, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Google at its peak was basically the best information retrieval system in human history and they and every competitor decided going from there to “you didn’t want answers you wanted half-assed auto-complete 80%-wrong hallucinations” in a few years was the right idea
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
Halted NIH Clinical Trials List Reveals Slashed Treatments for Cancer, COVID and Minority Health. By @danvergano.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/halt...
November 20, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Halted NIH Clinical Trials List Reveals Slashed Treatments for Cancer, COVID and Minority Health. By @danvergano.bsky.social www.scientificamerican.com/article/halt...
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
Another thing this email trove has convinced me of is that NYT has been actively and consciously helping Trump since 2015. It wasn't just casual sexism, double standards, and political reporting Kayfabe. They were doing catch and kill
November 12, 2025 at 8:07 PM
Another thing this email trove has convinced me of is that NYT has been actively and consciously helping Trump since 2015. It wasn't just casual sexism, double standards, and political reporting Kayfabe. They were doing catch and kill
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
This right here, this exact sentence, is THE problem in American political journalism.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
November 1, 2025 at 12:13 PM
This right here, this exact sentence, is THE problem in American political journalism.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
The IRA *was* cheap energy and good jobs! That was the whole bill! Democrats did precisely what political pundits are telling them to do and the pundits just ignore it.
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
WELL HOW ABOUT THAT
"A millionaire levy in Massachusetts has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing significant high-profile departures from the state."
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
"A millionaire levy in Massachusetts has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing significant high-profile departures from the state."
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
October 21, 2025 at 3:22 PM
WELL HOW ABOUT THAT
"A millionaire levy in Massachusetts has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing significant high-profile departures from the state."
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
"A millionaire levy in Massachusetts has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing significant high-profile departures from the state."
www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
Tech oligarchs didn't takeover WaPo, the LA Times, CBS News, Twitter, etc. (maybe TikTok soon) because they love journalism, or even because they want to make money from them. I'm not really sure how to build a functioning alternative information environment (I guess BlueSky is something, for now).
Lmao WaPo has fewer than 100K circulation now. It turns out “alienate your liberal subscriber base” is not a good strategy when the Republicans also hate you. www.forbes.com/sites/andyme...
The Washington Post Is Running Out Of Readers Willing To Pay
Once a titan of American journalism, The Washington Post now struggles to reach even 100,000 print subscribers most days.
www.forbes.com
October 14, 2025 at 5:59 PM
Tech oligarchs didn't takeover WaPo, the LA Times, CBS News, Twitter, etc. (maybe TikTok soon) because they love journalism, or even because they want to make money from them. I'm not really sure how to build a functioning alternative information environment (I guess BlueSky is something, for now).
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
Honestly in some ways this is the epitome of this administration. This is a government of podcasters and TV presenters led by a reality TV star who doesn't actually want to govern, he just wants to create *content*
October 3, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Honestly in some ways this is the epitome of this administration. This is a government of podcasters and TV presenters led by a reality TV star who doesn't actually want to govern, he just wants to create *content*
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
I visited the apartment building ICE raided on Tuesday today. Story to come, but you can walk right in. Half of the apartments have no doors on them. Children's stuff abandoned in some flats. *Citizen* residents told me they were arrested and held for hours in zipties. This is America
October 4, 2025 at 8:49 PM
I visited the apartment building ICE raided on Tuesday today. Story to come, but you can walk right in. Half of the apartments have no doors on them. Children's stuff abandoned in some flats. *Citizen* residents told me they were arrested and held for hours in zipties. This is America
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
We laugh at this shit -- I mean, how can you not? -- but it's serious: these guys want to infuse reactionary thinking into AI and then infuse AI into every nook & cranny of American life. They can't win the argument so they are trying to blunt-force their views onto us with money & power.
September 30, 2025 at 8:33 PM
We laugh at this shit -- I mean, how can you not? -- but it's serious: these guys want to infuse reactionary thinking into AI and then infuse AI into every nook & cranny of American life. They can't win the argument so they are trying to blunt-force their views onto us with money & power.
1. Mariners
2. Blue Jays
3. Brewers
4. Tigers
5. Padres
6. Guardians
7. Reds
8. Phillies
9. Cubs
10. Yankees
11. Red Sox
12. Dodgers
2. Blue Jays
3. Brewers
4. Tigers
5. Padres
6. Guardians
7. Reds
8. Phillies
9. Cubs
10. Yankees
11. Red Sox
12. Dodgers
Rooting interests:
1-2 (FUCK YES!)
3-5 (Happy for them)
6-7 (fine, sure)
8 (no)
9 (fuck no)
10-11 (god dammit no)
12 (may an asteroid kill us all)
1. Phillies
2. Padres
3. Mariners
4. Brewers
5. Guardians
6. Reds
7. Tigers
8. Dodgers
9. Cubs
10. Blue Jays
11. Red Sox
12. Yankees
1-2 (FUCK YES!)
3-5 (Happy for them)
6-7 (fine, sure)
8 (no)
9 (fuck no)
10-11 (god dammit no)
12 (may an asteroid kill us all)
1. Phillies
2. Padres
3. Mariners
4. Brewers
5. Guardians
6. Reds
7. Tigers
8. Dodgers
9. Cubs
10. Blue Jays
11. Red Sox
12. Yankees
September 29, 2025 at 12:04 AM
1. Mariners
2. Blue Jays
3. Brewers
4. Tigers
5. Padres
6. Guardians
7. Reds
8. Phillies
9. Cubs
10. Yankees
11. Red Sox
12. Dodgers
2. Blue Jays
3. Brewers
4. Tigers
5. Padres
6. Guardians
7. Reds
8. Phillies
9. Cubs
10. Yankees
11. Red Sox
12. Dodgers
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
# of paragraphs for news orgs to mention there's no discernable need to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon
The Guardian: 1st paragraph
BBC: 4th paragraph
AP: 5th paragraph
Time: 6th paragraph
Politico: 8th paragraph
NPR: 9th paragraph
CNN: 10th paragraph
NBC: 12th paragraph
Fox News: never mentions
The Guardian: 1st paragraph
BBC: 4th paragraph
AP: 5th paragraph
Time: 6th paragraph
Politico: 8th paragraph
NPR: 9th paragraph
CNN: 10th paragraph
NBC: 12th paragraph
Fox News: never mentions
September 27, 2025 at 7:24 PM
# of paragraphs for news orgs to mention there's no discernable need to deploy troops to Portland, Oregon
The Guardian: 1st paragraph
BBC: 4th paragraph
AP: 5th paragraph
Time: 6th paragraph
Politico: 8th paragraph
NPR: 9th paragraph
CNN: 10th paragraph
NBC: 12th paragraph
Fox News: never mentions
The Guardian: 1st paragraph
BBC: 4th paragraph
AP: 5th paragraph
Time: 6th paragraph
Politico: 8th paragraph
NPR: 9th paragraph
CNN: 10th paragraph
NBC: 12th paragraph
Fox News: never mentions
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
me telling my grandkids what it was like to have vaccines
September 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
me telling my grandkids what it was like to have vaccines
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
Wikipedia is what the internet was meant to be and one of the few online places that hasn’t got worse. It’s a miracle
Last year I got into Wikipedia editing a little bit and it's an insane (compliment) community — people really, really take quality, unbiased editing seriously.
for all people mock it wikipedia is genuinely one of the wonders of the modern world
September 21, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Wikipedia is what the internet was meant to be and one of the few online places that hasn’t got worse. It’s a miracle
Comedy is legal again, I hear.
September 17, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Comedy is legal again, I hear.
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
We're witnessing the most aggressive, fanatical crackdown on free speech in my lifetime. The speed and breadth of government censorship and private sector and nonprofit capitulation has been astonishing. As has the lack of urgency/silence from people who've long claimed to care about this stuff.
September 15, 2025 at 12:30 PM
We're witnessing the most aggressive, fanatical crackdown on free speech in my lifetime. The speed and breadth of government censorship and private sector and nonprofit capitulation has been astonishing. As has the lack of urgency/silence from people who've long claimed to care about this stuff.
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
A decade ago, the Heritage Foundation went full meltdown about how Obama was an imperial president when he had issued about the same number of executive orders -- though he had reached it after six years, not six months.
September 5, 2025 at 5:15 PM
A decade ago, the Heritage Foundation went full meltdown about how Obama was an imperial president when he had issued about the same number of executive orders -- though he had reached it after six years, not six months.
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
It’s outrageous that Sec. Kennedy is trying to fire the CDC Director — after only a few weeks on the job — for her commitment to public health & vaccines.
The Sen. HELP Committee must hold a hearing with Kennedy & the CDC Director as soon as possible.
Vaccines save lives. Period.
The Sen. HELP Committee must hold a hearing with Kennedy & the CDC Director as soon as possible.
Vaccines save lives. Period.
August 28, 2025 at 1:29 AM
It’s outrageous that Sec. Kennedy is trying to fire the CDC Director — after only a few weeks on the job — for her commitment to public health & vaccines.
The Sen. HELP Committee must hold a hearing with Kennedy & the CDC Director as soon as possible.
Vaccines save lives. Period.
The Sen. HELP Committee must hold a hearing with Kennedy & the CDC Director as soon as possible.
Vaccines save lives. Period.
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
Cost of Trump's D.C. Occupation: $1.1M per day.
Cost to operate public housing for D.C.'s entire homeless population: $169,226 per day.
It's not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
Cost to operate public housing for D.C.'s entire homeless population: $169,226 per day.
It's not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
August 26, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Cost of Trump's D.C. Occupation: $1.1M per day.
Cost to operate public housing for D.C.'s entire homeless population: $169,226 per day.
It's not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
Cost to operate public housing for D.C.'s entire homeless population: $169,226 per day.
It's not about what this country can or can’t afford.
It’s about priorities.
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
Privilege - used way more by Republicans
August 22, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Privilege - used way more by Republicans
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
Trump has purchased at least $103 million worth of corporate and municipal bonds since he took office again, according to new filings from the Office of Government Ethics.
Trump made about 690 purchases from Jan. 21 through Aug. 1.
The active trading by a president of the U.S. is unprecedented.
Trump made about 690 purchases from Jan. 21 through Aug. 1.
The active trading by a president of the U.S. is unprecedented.
Trump bought more than $100 million in bonds since January, filings show
The purchases could let the president make money off companies and local entities that could be affected by his agenda.
www.nbcnews.com
August 23, 2025 at 8:35 PM
Trump has purchased at least $103 million worth of corporate and municipal bonds since he took office again, according to new filings from the Office of Government Ethics.
Trump made about 690 purchases from Jan. 21 through Aug. 1.
The active trading by a president of the U.S. is unprecedented.
Trump made about 690 purchases from Jan. 21 through Aug. 1.
The active trading by a president of the U.S. is unprecedented.
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
All of this makes Watergate look like a charming little gaffe. We are never going to untangle all of this bullshit.
The US Administration is now deleting its internal communications, in brazen violation of the Federal Records Act, in order to conceal its other illegal acts.
Those entrusted to enforce our Congress’s laws sit, simply watching this happen, flaccid and impotent.
Those entrusted to enforce our Congress’s laws sit, simply watching this happen, flaccid and impotent.
Homeland Security Dept. Says It Hasn’t Kept Text Message Data Since April
www.nytimes.com
August 23, 2025 at 8:52 PM
All of this makes Watergate look like a charming little gaffe. We are never going to untangle all of this bullshit.
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
Surprising no one, the list of “unAmerican” content is that which highlights/discusses white privilege, Latino culture, Black culture, and COVID history and LGBTQ+ history. Absolute bullshit.
White House Lists Smithsonian Exhibits It Finds Objectionable www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/a...
White House Lists Smithsonian Exhibits It Finds Objectionable www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/a...
White House Lists Smithsonian Exhibits It Finds Objectionable
www.nytimes.com
August 22, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Surprising no one, the list of “unAmerican” content is that which highlights/discusses white privilege, Latino culture, Black culture, and COVID history and LGBTQ+ history. Absolute bullshit.
White House Lists Smithsonian Exhibits It Finds Objectionable www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/a...
White House Lists Smithsonian Exhibits It Finds Objectionable www.nytimes.com/2025/08/21/a...
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
This is so out of date. Scientists are currently being punished because they support the germ theory of disease
In which a Yale prof calls for jettisoning humanities to make way for science-only universities.
“scientists… are being punished for the sins of [humanities scholars] because we all live under one roof. I cannot see a compelling reason for our continued cohabitation.”
“scientists… are being punished for the sins of [humanities scholars] because we all live under one roof. I cannot see a compelling reason for our continued cohabitation.”
Unyoke the Sciences From the Humanities
Arts and sciences typically cohabitate. Should they?
thedispatch.com
August 13, 2025 at 5:03 PM
This is so out of date. Scientists are currently being punished because they support the germ theory of disease
Reposted by Ryan Fischer
There is just no precedent in recent world history of an advanced industrialized country sabotaging its own scientific establishment, and destroying the base of scientific knowledge necessary for basic policymaking. An avowedly, actively anti-knowledge regime.
Head of NASA Sean Duffy intends to destroy a satellite that collects key data on carbon dioxide and plant health, by causing it to burn up in the atmosphere. The U.S. Dept of Agriculture and private agriculture firms use the data to forecast crop yield, drought conditions and more.
Why a NASA satellite that scientists and farmers rely on may be destroyed on purpose
The Trump administration has asked NASA staffers to draw up plans to end at least two satellite missions that measure carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, according to current and former NASA employees.
www.npr.org
August 8, 2025 at 11:24 AM
There is just no precedent in recent world history of an advanced industrialized country sabotaging its own scientific establishment, and destroying the base of scientific knowledge necessary for basic policymaking. An avowedly, actively anti-knowledge regime.