Julia Ringma
@juliaringma.bsky.social
Truth first, philosopher, lawyer, student, military brat.
On Substack: "philosophical thoughts, and 500 miles on the A.T."
They/them: gender binary only props up the patriarchy
(Photos: 2024 AT hike. Wolfe Island wind farm.)
On Substack: "philosophical thoughts, and 500 miles on the A.T."
They/them: gender binary only props up the patriarchy
(Photos: 2024 AT hike. Wolfe Island wind farm.)
This is as good an explanation as I've seen.
How about a nice pointless tweet thread? OK.🧵
So, Trump said some ugly & horrible things about Rob Reiner on Truth Social. I have been watching with fascination as several Republican policymakers -- & even commenters on Truth Social! -- reacted with horror. It has brought to mind ...
So, Trump said some ugly & horrible things about Rob Reiner on Truth Social. I have been watching with fascination as several Republican policymakers -- & even commenters on Truth Social! -- reacted with horror. It has brought to mind ...
December 15, 2025 at 11:07 PM
This is as good an explanation as I've seen.
The last ten years has been interesting for what it finally reveals about the morality of more people than I thought. I used to think people wanted to do the right thing, but now I see they mostly want to be perceived that way, but without having to make the effort or take the responsibility.
Since Very Famous & supposedly Very Serious People at the center of the National Conversation™️ have told you repeatedly that The Democrats main problem is that they Talk Funny & that this is alienating Real Folkz, here is the Republican Narcissist In Chief talking about Rob Reiner z”l 🤷♂️🤦♂️
December 15, 2025 at 3:19 PM
The last ten years has been interesting for what it finally reveals about the morality of more people than I thought. I used to think people wanted to do the right thing, but now I see they mostly want to be perceived that way, but without having to make the effort or take the responsibility.
JB has said 2 things that bear repeating: the Dems have to frame the conversation (don't let the GOP do it), and we should have a UBI! Go @jbpritzker.bsky.social !
(PS Never forget a budget is a moral document.)
crooked.com/podcast/can-...
(PS Never forget a budget is a moral document.)
crooked.com/podcast/can-...
Can Democrats Fight Trump Without Being Defined by Him? (with Gov. JB Pritzker) | Crooked Media
crooked.com
December 14, 2025 at 1:57 PM
JB has said 2 things that bear repeating: the Dems have to frame the conversation (don't let the GOP do it), and we should have a UBI! Go @jbpritzker.bsky.social !
(PS Never forget a budget is a moral document.)
crooked.com/podcast/can-...
(PS Never forget a budget is a moral document.)
crooked.com/podcast/can-...
Someone talking about Ai said the thing that makes humans special is our ability to use reason to problem solve. But other animals use reason to problem solve! What makes us human is our moral capacity. We understand that we are responsible for the consequences of our actions.
December 13, 2025 at 7:55 PM
Someone talking about Ai said the thing that makes humans special is our ability to use reason to problem solve. But other animals use reason to problem solve! What makes us human is our moral capacity. We understand that we are responsible for the consequences of our actions.
I love listening to Sherrilyn explain things. (Right now on the Amicus pod with @dahlialithwick.bsky.social .) She said the civil rights movement was a democracy movement. Therefore, the backlash that has been going on ever since is an anti-democracy movement. Get motives out in the open.
December 13, 2025 at 5:52 PM
I love listening to Sherrilyn explain things. (Right now on the Amicus pod with @dahlialithwick.bsky.social .) She said the civil rights movement was a democracy movement. Therefore, the backlash that has been going on ever since is an anti-democracy movement. Get motives out in the open.
Imagine being so rich you can build a bunker for the apocalypse, yet you are unwilling to spend any money on making the planet better so we don’t have an apocalypse.
December 11, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Imagine being so rich you can build a bunker for the apocalypse, yet you are unwilling to spend any money on making the planet better so we don’t have an apocalypse.
But he’ll stay in place because he is a useful idiot for the GOP. They get to do what they want under cover of everyone being distracted by his incompetency. He probably isn’t in charge of much.
He is not well.
If someone’s grandpa posted this on Facebook, the family would be discussing assisted living by dinner.
If someone’s grandpa posted this on Facebook, the family would be discussing assisted living by dinner.
December 10, 2025 at 2:01 PM
But he’ll stay in place because he is a useful idiot for the GOP. They get to do what they want under cover of everyone being distracted by his incompetency. He probably isn’t in charge of much.
What we can, morally, disagree on are the categories and extent of what we define as “common goods”, or the things that everyone should have access to so they can be participating members of society.
November 30, 2025 at 7:45 PM
What we can, morally, disagree on are the categories and extent of what we define as “common goods”, or the things that everyone should have access to so they can be participating members of society.
Do yourself a favour and listen to this episode of Amicus with @dahlialithwick.bsky.social
It's about how democracy works and how we can make change within democracy.
slate.com/podcasts/ami...
It's about how democracy works and how we can make change within democracy.
slate.com/podcasts/ami...
Is This Just MAGA’s New Deal?
Defining Trumpism to defend against it
slate.com
November 29, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Do yourself a favour and listen to this episode of Amicus with @dahlialithwick.bsky.social
It's about how democracy works and how we can make change within democracy.
slate.com/podcasts/ami...
It's about how democracy works and how we can make change within democracy.
slate.com/podcasts/ami...
This was great! Enjoyed the whole thing, especially the bit in the middle where they talk about not selling out to private equity/consolidation interests. And the interviews with people like Bill Withers were so good.
New midweek pod 📻
I basically spent 25 years making @bullseye.maximumfun.org so that Incould get onto @onthemedia.bsky.social . I can finally die in peace.
youtu.be/BrhtNLOLJ9s?...
youtu.be/BrhtNLOLJ9s?...
November 27, 2025 at 11:56 AM
This was great! Enjoyed the whole thing, especially the bit in the middle where they talk about not selling out to private equity/consolidation interests. And the interviews with people like Bill Withers were so good.
This seems like something we should all be aware of.
Understanding the world is intimately tied to acting in the world; you know something to be true because of the coherent activities it supports in the world.
This creates a link between knowledge and power: when you're powerful, *incoherent* actions can succeed from sheer power.
This creates a link between knowledge and power: when you're powerful, *incoherent* actions can succeed from sheer power.
November 26, 2025 at 1:15 PM
This seems like something we should all be aware of.
I think we should start using moral language to condemn this sort of behaviour. “This is wrong.” Even when people are morally repugnant, they want to be seen as morally good, which is why they find excuses for their bigotry etc. Call them out. Don’t let them excuse their moral failings.
Quiet, piggy’ and other slurs: Powerful men fuel online abuse against women in politics and media. #cdnpoli
theconversation.com/quiet-piggy-...
theconversation.com/quiet-piggy-...
‘Quiet, piggy’ and other slurs: Powerful men fuel online abuse against women in politics and media
Gender-based violence in politics has democratic costs, diminishing diverse voices and expertise in public office.
theconversation.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I think we should start using moral language to condemn this sort of behaviour. “This is wrong.” Even when people are morally repugnant, they want to be seen as morally good, which is why they find excuses for their bigotry etc. Call them out. Don’t let them excuse their moral failings.
Thoughtful thread, even quoting Cultural Studies and Stuart Hall.
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
November 24, 2025 at 12:11 PM
Thoughtful thread, even quoting Cultural Studies and Stuart Hall.
Reposted by Julia Ringma
Authoritarians claim the power not just to tell all of our stories but to select the definitive story that says who we are, what our nature, why we're here, in order to cast themselves as both forever hero protagonists while also endlessly victimized.
November 23, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Authoritarians claim the power not just to tell all of our stories but to select the definitive story that says who we are, what our nature, why we're here, in order to cast themselves as both forever hero protagonists while also endlessly victimized.
Social hierarchy societies succeed b/c they concentrate power in a few who wield it with violence against the many. Egalitarian societies are better for all but power is dispersed which allows someone to concentrate power. The trick is to keep power dispersed. This is our lesson.
November 21, 2025 at 6:47 PM
Social hierarchy societies succeed b/c they concentrate power in a few who wield it with violence against the many. Egalitarian societies are better for all but power is dispersed which allows someone to concentrate power. The trick is to keep power dispersed. This is our lesson.
Reposted by Julia Ringma
Here is a video that we posted today that offers an overview of our reporting. Please read the story and watch the video. Investigative reporting like this only matters if people read it/engage with it.
www.nytimes.com/video/us/pol...
www.nytimes.com/video/us/pol...
Video: Howard Lutnick’s Family Business Is Cashing In on Data Center Deals
The commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, is involved in A.I. data center deals that overlap with work his family is doing. Our investigative reporter Eric Lipton describes what we know about these deal...
www.nytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Here is a video that we posted today that offers an overview of our reporting. Please read the story and watch the video. Investigative reporting like this only matters if people read it/engage with it.
www.nytimes.com/video/us/pol...
www.nytimes.com/video/us/pol...
Good news! I am relieved to see this.
Breaking: The House voted unanimously, 426-0, to strip a provision in the funding bill that allowed senators to sue the government for $500K if their phone data was searched without their knowledge.
The provision was designed for GOP senators to sue over the Jack Smith investigation.
The provision was designed for GOP senators to sue over the Jack Smith investigation.
November 20, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Good news! I am relieved to see this.
This is a good explanation of their behaviour: that other people’s expertise makes them feel inadequate/bad/stupid/etc.
Can’t believe the whole country has to suffer through the return of Dickensian childhood diseases because the worst, most ignorant attention-demanders decided other people’s expertise makes them feel bad
November 20, 2025 at 12:25 PM
This is a good explanation of their behaviour: that other people’s expertise makes them feel inadequate/bad/stupid/etc.
Reasons why the "quiet piggy" comment from this POTUS is so disturbing:
1. He said it right to her face.
2. It was so casually vicious.
3. No one on the plane said anything back to him.
1. He said it right to her face.
2. It was so casually vicious.
3. No one on the plane said anything back to him.
November 19, 2025 at 2:44 PM
Reasons why the "quiet piggy" comment from this POTUS is so disturbing:
1. He said it right to her face.
2. It was so casually vicious.
3. No one on the plane said anything back to him.
1. He said it right to her face.
2. It was so casually vicious.
3. No one on the plane said anything back to him.
Reposted by Julia Ringma
Billie Eilish asked an important question: "If you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?"
There are FIVE ways to accumulate a billion dollars:
1) Profiting from a monopoly
2) Insider-trading
3) Political payoffs
4) Fraud
5) Inheritance
Billionaires are the result of a failed system.
There are FIVE ways to accumulate a billion dollars:
1) Profiting from a monopoly
2) Insider-trading
3) Political payoffs
4) Fraud
5) Inheritance
Billionaires are the result of a failed system.
November 18, 2025 at 1:31 AM
Billie Eilish asked an important question: "If you’re a billionaire, why are you a billionaire?"
There are FIVE ways to accumulate a billion dollars:
1) Profiting from a monopoly
2) Insider-trading
3) Political payoffs
4) Fraud
5) Inheritance
Billionaires are the result of a failed system.
There are FIVE ways to accumulate a billion dollars:
1) Profiting from a monopoly
2) Insider-trading
3) Political payoffs
4) Fraud
5) Inheritance
Billionaires are the result of a failed system.
As I long to never have to see or hear from DJT ever again, I also understand that his presence keeps to the forefront the hidden world of evil people who will continue to abuse everyone and put profits over people, long after he is gone. Now that we know about these evil people, keep after them.
November 17, 2025 at 12:55 PM
As I long to never have to see or hear from DJT ever again, I also understand that his presence keeps to the forefront the hidden world of evil people who will continue to abuse everyone and put profits over people, long after he is gone. Now that we know about these evil people, keep after them.
Follow the money!!
Re: the Epstein files
Epstein was also a money guy.
And there used to be talk about money laundering and DJT properties and the Russians.
Focus less on the sex and more on the money.
Epstein was also a money guy.
And there used to be talk about money laundering and DJT properties and the Russians.
Focus less on the sex and more on the money.
November 14, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Follow the money!!
Re: the Epstein files
Epstein was also a money guy.
And there used to be talk about money laundering and DJT properties and the Russians.
Focus less on the sex and more on the money.
Epstein was also a money guy.
And there used to be talk about money laundering and DJT properties and the Russians.
Focus less on the sex and more on the money.
November 14, 2025 at 6:52 PM
Re: the Epstein files
Epstein was also a money guy.
And there used to be talk about money laundering and DJT properties and the Russians.
Focus less on the sex and more on the money.
Epstein was also a money guy.
And there used to be talk about money laundering and DJT properties and the Russians.
Focus less on the sex and more on the money.
Reposted by Julia Ringma
Reminder that Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
As of this morning, Starbucks workers across the country are officially ON STRIKE. And we're prepared for this to become the biggest and longest ULP strike in Starbucks history.
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
Say #NoContractNoCoffee with us: DON'T BUY STARBUCKS for the duration of our open-ended ULP strike! $SBUX
November 13, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Reminder that Starbucks’ CEO made 6,666x more than the company's median employee in 2024.
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
This was the widest CEO-to-Worker pay gap in the entire S&P 500.
And we're supposed to believe Starbucks can't afford to bargain a fair contract with its unionized workers?
Interesting thread with thoughtful comments.
With genuine shame, recent years in politics have given me my first taste for what it is to have moralised contempt for my opponents. Not hatred, not fear; contempt. There's some core element of the right wing coalition at the moment which seems to me best described as a revolt of the loser men...
November 13, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Interesting thread with thoughtful comments.