Ralf W
@raflw.bsky.social
"We collectively need to remind ourselves that the arc of history only stays bent if we are constantly pushing on it." –Gwen Snyder
Peripatetic pessimist-optimist.
Hanger-on at Balloon Juice.
MSP / CO / WI
Peripatetic pessimist-optimist.
Hanger-on at Balloon Juice.
MSP / CO / WI
Pinned
Ralf W
@raflw.bsky.social
· 5d
Speed is the enemy of good decision making that balances the needs of ALL stakeholders. There should be no inherent right to use up all the externalities (ie: clean air, drinkable water, the last trees on the commons) just because you thought up something cool that can be done quick.
Very Minnesota moment this afternoon. It was 55° and sunny. Time to paddle board on Lake of the Isles!
November 24, 2025 at 1:23 AM
Very Minnesota moment this afternoon. It was 55° and sunny. Time to paddle board on Lake of the Isles!
Reposted by Ralf W
Crockett on MTG resigning: "Honestly, I was like, you got to be kidding. You're on the other side of the president for one week and you can't take the heat? Imagine what it is to sit in my shoes."
November 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Crockett on MTG resigning: "Honestly, I was like, you got to be kidding. You're on the other side of the president for one week and you can't take the heat? Imagine what it is to sit in my shoes."
This is insane. Every blood bank, every surgical center, every state health department should be screaming about this.
"White House has proposed shutting down HIV prevention and surveillance at the CDC."
House Republicans' "proposal would eliminate the federal program [..] that has strived to [..] reduce new HIV infections."
"[A]lso want to axe core parts of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program."
#USA #Healthcare
House Republicans' "proposal would eliminate the federal program [..] that has strived to [..] reduce new HIV infections."
"[A]lso want to axe core parts of the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program."
#USA #Healthcare
America's most basic HIV protections are in danger as a decade of progress unravels
Health experts are alarmed as Republicans degrade the country’s pivotal HIV programs — and break promises made during Trump's first term.
19thnews.org
November 23, 2025 at 10:43 PM
This is insane. Every blood bank, every surgical center, every state health department should be screaming about this.
It's the best thing that you've ever had
The best thing you've had has gone away
So don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
The best thing you've had has gone away
So don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
November 23, 2025 at 7:14 PM
It's the best thing that you've ever had
The best thing you've had has gone away
So don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
The best thing you've had has gone away
So don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Don't leave me high
Don't leave me dry
Reposted by Ralf W
I'm skeptical that Trump's make Ukraine surrender plan wasn't real.
Trump envoy Witkoff negotiated it, details and threats to Ukraine were public for multiple days, and Rubio didn't dispute it then, only after the plan got a bad reception and rejected by Europe.
Look like attempting to save face.
Trump envoy Witkoff negotiated it, details and threats to Ukraine were public for multiple days, and Rubio didn't dispute it then, only after the plan got a bad reception and rejected by Europe.
Look like attempting to save face.
Republican Senator Mike Rounds said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a call to senators, confirmed the so-called 28-point “peace plan” was actually a Russian wishlist and is “not the administration’s position”. Nor is there any threat to cut off weapons or intelligence to Ukraine.
November 22, 2025 at 11:46 PM
I'm skeptical that Trump's make Ukraine surrender plan wasn't real.
Trump envoy Witkoff negotiated it, details and threats to Ukraine were public for multiple days, and Rubio didn't dispute it then, only after the plan got a bad reception and rejected by Europe.
Look like attempting to save face.
Trump envoy Witkoff negotiated it, details and threats to Ukraine were public for multiple days, and Rubio didn't dispute it then, only after the plan got a bad reception and rejected by Europe.
Look like attempting to save face.
Reposted by Ralf W
Oh cute. They're trying to say they tricked the Russians into something they sent directly to the Ukrainians, thereby getting the two sides to talk to each other.
Nu-uh. Witkoff got rolled again, and they're trying to get the stink off them.
Nu-uh. Witkoff got rolled again, and they're trying to get the stink off them.
November 23, 2025 at 12:05 AM
Oh cute. They're trying to say they tricked the Russians into something they sent directly to the Ukrainians, thereby getting the two sides to talk to each other.
Nu-uh. Witkoff got rolled again, and they're trying to get the stink off them.
Nu-uh. Witkoff got rolled again, and they're trying to get the stink off them.
Just catastrophic amateur hour over there at the WH.
Daily.
Daily.
Republican Senator Mike Rounds said Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a call to senators, confirmed the so-called 28-point “peace plan” was actually a Russian wishlist and is “not the administration’s position”. Nor is there any threat to cut off weapons or intelligence to Ukraine.
November 22, 2025 at 11:54 PM
Just catastrophic amateur hour over there at the WH.
Daily.
Daily.
Reposted by Ralf W
This is a story about how America’s world-leading cancer and dementia research system was destroyed by frauds and naifs who broke the law.
There must be consequences.
There must be consequences.
Some incredible details in this piece
*one DOGE faction was planning the future of the US government at a venture capital firm
*illegally communicating on Signal to avoid transparency laws was deeply embedded into organizational culture to be taken for granted
*one DOGE faction was planning the future of the US government at a venture capital firm
*illegally communicating on Signal to avoid transparency laws was deeply embedded into organizational culture to be taken for granted
November 22, 2025 at 10:12 PM
This is a story about how America’s world-leading cancer and dementia research system was destroyed by frauds and naifs who broke the law.
There must be consequences.
There must be consequences.
Reposted by Ralf W
I think the public gets some of the notes wrong but the music right in its angst about the state of the political press. It too-easily falls into traps about left-right or issue-specific biases; the rot is more institutional. Reporters cozying up to sources and treating it all as a game.
November 22, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I think the public gets some of the notes wrong but the music right in its angst about the state of the political press. It too-easily falls into traps about left-right or issue-specific biases; the rot is more institutional. Reporters cozying up to sources and treating it all as a game.
Reposted by Ralf W
Seriously - go look at the front pages of Axios, Politico, WaPo and NYT right now. Is there any sense of the depth of America’s betrayal of Europe? Does the coverage reflect in any way how GOP has suddenly made America subservient to Russia? That’s a nyet.
November 22, 2025 at 12:42 PM
Seriously - go look at the front pages of Axios, Politico, WaPo and NYT right now. Is there any sense of the depth of America’s betrayal of Europe? Does the coverage reflect in any way how GOP has suddenly made America subservient to Russia? That’s a nyet.
Reposted by Ralf W
Lizza also talks about Nuzzi going even deeper into ethics violations by doing catch-and-kill on stories about RFK and writing campaign strategy memos
This is far more important than the disgusting sex shit and I'm kind of mad Lizza paywalled it
This is far more important than the disgusting sex shit and I'm kind of mad Lizza paywalled it
November 22, 2025 at 7:39 AM
Lizza also talks about Nuzzi going even deeper into ethics violations by doing catch-and-kill on stories about RFK and writing campaign strategy memos
This is far more important than the disgusting sex shit and I'm kind of mad Lizza paywalled it
This is far more important than the disgusting sex shit and I'm kind of mad Lizza paywalled it
Reposted by Ralf W
i was surprised Mamdani agreed to meet with him, but I suspect ZM had sussed out this feature of Trump's personality and was confident enough in his own charisma that he could charm the old fart's pants off if he could just meet with him in person...and apparently he did!
November 21, 2025 at 9:47 PM
i was surprised Mamdani agreed to meet with him, but I suspect ZM had sussed out this feature of Trump's personality and was confident enough in his own charisma that he could charm the old fart's pants off if he could just meet with him in person...and apparently he did!
Reposted by Ralf W
Calling something "scientific orthodoxy" rather than "established fact" or even "scientific consensus" is so incredibly damaging.
November 21, 2025 at 7:05 PM
Calling something "scientific orthodoxy" rather than "established fact" or even "scientific consensus" is so incredibly damaging.
This is datelined today, so 🤷
Almost all Republicans fully back Charlotte immigration raids
Almost all Republicans fully back Charlotte immigration raids
November 20, 2025 at 11:22 PM
This is datelined today, so 🤷
Almost all Republicans fully back Charlotte immigration raids
Almost all Republicans fully back Charlotte immigration raids
Reposted by Ralf W
I've had a missile blow up next to my airplane, been shot at dozens of times by anti-aircraft fire, and launched into orbit — all for my country. I never thought I'd see a President call for my execution.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
November 20, 2025 at 8:40 PM
I've had a missile blow up next to my airplane, been shot at dozens of times by anti-aircraft fire, and launched into orbit — all for my country. I never thought I'd see a President call for my execution.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
Trump doesn’t understand the Constitution, and we're all less safe for it.
Reposted by Ralf W
if youre a congressional leader and you wont publicly criticize trump out of fear, please step down and give your seat to someone who will do it. because this is the job. this is the fucking job.
November 20, 2025 at 7:49 PM
if youre a congressional leader and you wont publicly criticize trump out of fear, please step down and give your seat to someone who will do it. because this is the job. this is the fucking job.
Reposted by Ralf W
7/Portland has reclaimed the frog as a symbol of its resistance to Trump’s efforts to militarize the city. Perhaps women should claim the glamorous, sassy Muppet Miss Piggy, a known diva with a fierce karate chop, as their own symbol
November 19, 2025 at 12:26 PM
7/Portland has reclaimed the frog as a symbol of its resistance to Trump’s efforts to militarize the city. Perhaps women should claim the glamorous, sassy Muppet Miss Piggy, a known diva with a fierce karate chop, as their own symbol
As we're seeing in the roiling disaster known as the Comey grand jury falsified indictment, one should assume Trump's staff is, if anything, more incompetent than he is!
Because WH is just bullies on an extremely short bus. Like golfcart short. This is pure nonsense. I get Trump being demented and forgetting stuff but he has staff? They already tried that, didn't work
November 19, 2025 at 5:01 PM
As we're seeing in the roiling disaster known as the Comey grand jury falsified indictment, one should assume Trump's staff is, if anything, more incompetent than he is!
Reposted by Ralf W
Not sure what’s worse: the “Quiet, piggy” itself, or the media’s tepid shrug at it. What a tawdry and disappointing time we live in. We deserve so much better than this.
November 19, 2025 at 2:34 PM
Not sure what’s worse: the “Quiet, piggy” itself, or the media’s tepid shrug at it. What a tawdry and disappointing time we live in. We deserve so much better than this.
"There are no meaningful subsidies for fossil fuels" is BEYOND a massive lie.
It's just absurd how freely and wantonly these Admin officials gaslight us.
It's just absurd how freely and wantonly these Admin officials gaslight us.
KERNEN: Does the admin want to dismantle wind projects that are getting started?
WRIGHT: The track record is bad. We've spent hundreds of billions of subsidies for an energy source that's sometimes there. The main goal is to stop subsidizing. There are no meaningful subsidies for fossil fuels
WRIGHT: The track record is bad. We've spent hundreds of billions of subsidies for an energy source that's sometimes there. The main goal is to stop subsidizing. There are no meaningful subsidies for fossil fuels
November 19, 2025 at 3:09 PM
"There are no meaningful subsidies for fossil fuels" is BEYOND a massive lie.
It's just absurd how freely and wantonly these Admin officials gaslight us.
It's just absurd how freely and wantonly these Admin officials gaslight us.
Pope Leo is continuing to say it: JD Vance and the many other Catholics in the Administration are way, way over the line when it comes to their maltreatment of immigrants (I'd expect Leo thinks that of non-Catholics as well, but he's not their religious leader).
November 18, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Pope Leo is continuing to say it: JD Vance and the many other Catholics in the Administration are way, way over the line when it comes to their maltreatment of immigrants (I'd expect Leo thinks that of non-Catholics as well, but he's not their religious leader).
Reposted by Ralf W
For my money, no image captures the moral upsidedown of the Trump era quite like this one:
November 18, 2025 at 8:32 PM
For my money, no image captures the moral upsidedown of the Trump era quite like this one:
Reposted by Ralf W
if a random person started saying this shit to you on a bus or in a bar, you would move seats or leave to get away from them
Trump: "They had restrictions on water. It comes down from heaven. You want to wash your hands, or like me, you wash your hair. I lather up. There's no water. I won't mention the 3rd item in the bc I always get criticized. If you don't know what I'm talking about you shouldn't be owning a McDonalds"
November 18, 2025 at 12:38 AM
if a random person started saying this shit to you on a bus or in a bar, you would move seats or leave to get away from them
Reposted by Ralf W
Vast majorities in all parties support more solar and nuclear. Wind is popular in the center too.
Only minorities of Dems and Independents support more fossil-fuel production.
So why is anyone telling @TheDemocrats to promote fossil fuel production to win elections? 🤔
Only minorities of Dems and Independents support more fossil-fuel production.
So why is anyone telling @TheDemocrats to promote fossil fuel production to win elections? 🤔
November 17, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Vast majorities in all parties support more solar and nuclear. Wind is popular in the center too.
Only minorities of Dems and Independents support more fossil-fuel production.
So why is anyone telling @TheDemocrats to promote fossil fuel production to win elections? 🤔
Only minorities of Dems and Independents support more fossil-fuel production.
So why is anyone telling @TheDemocrats to promote fossil fuel production to win elections? 🤔
Reposted by Ralf W
Dems should say this right now, loudly and clearly: Anyone who is trusting Donald Trump, of all people, when he says what he’s directing you to do is lawful and that you’ll be protected later may be putting themselves in a very precarious position. 6/
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
November 15, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Dems should say this right now, loudly and clearly: Anyone who is trusting Donald Trump, of all people, when he says what he’s directing you to do is lawful and that you’ll be protected later may be putting themselves in a very precarious position. 6/
newrepublic.com/article/2032...
newrepublic.com/article/2032...