Robb Davis
@robbca.bsky.social
Engaged in work related to food security and finding solutions for unhoused community members. Twenty-five year career in international health. PhD, MPH. Former Mayor City of Davis, CA
He/Him
He/Him
Re-upping this post I wrote a while back. Thinking mostly about elections these days. Do people pause and think about how they actually work in this country? I don’t think they do.
They Are Attacking Us
I have never worked as an election inspector (poll worker), but I have known several in the various places I have lived. They were/are my neighbors. I know the local Elections Clerk and Registrar o…
wp.me
February 17, 2026 at 12:40 AM
Re-upping this post I wrote a while back. Thinking mostly about elections these days. Do people pause and think about how they actually work in this country? I don’t think they do.
Republicans on voting reminds me of when I was mayor and I said to one of my colleagues: “Man, people do not trust us, I don’t know why.” To which he responded: “No, about five people are screaming that they can’t trust us then they quote themselves to prove that people don’t trust us.” Yeah.
February 17, 2026 at 12:33 AM
Republicans on voting reminds me of when I was mayor and I said to one of my colleagues: “Man, people do not trust us, I don’t know why.” To which he responded: “No, about five people are screaming that they can’t trust us then they quote themselves to prove that people don’t trust us.” Yeah.
The militarization of ICE follows decades of militarization of local police. Too many accepted that—and increased police surveillance—as the price of (waves arms) public safety. Read “Copaganda“ by @equalityalec.bsky.social It’s all there.
February 16, 2026 at 12:49 AM
The militarization of ICE follows decades of militarization of local police. Too many accepted that—and increased police surveillance—as the price of (waves arms) public safety. Read “Copaganda“ by @equalityalec.bsky.social It’s all there.
@davidfrenchjag.bsky.social opinion piece is an excellent, succinct explanation of the of the 5th Circuit Appeals Court ruling on immigrant detention. We need to understand this if we are to understand the plans for mass detention by the current administration. Gift link.
Opinion | A Very Dangerous Ruling in New Orleans
www.nytimes.com
February 12, 2026 at 1:53 PM
@davidfrenchjag.bsky.social opinion piece is an excellent, succinct explanation of the of the 5th Circuit Appeals Court ruling on immigrant detention. We need to understand this if we are to understand the plans for mass detention by the current administration. Gift link.
For Californians, the message that we, in all our diversity, are all Americans, is like “Duh”
February 9, 2026 at 3:28 AM
For Californians, the message that we, in all our diversity, are all Americans, is like “Duh”
My ten year old granddaughter protested with about 100 others today at a Target in PA. She wrote: “we got kicked out.” To which her mom replied “Is everyone okay?” And she said: “Yes, we were prepared and trained.” Prepared and trained. She follows in the footsteps of so many others. Proud.
February 8, 2026 at 9:32 PM
My ten year old granddaughter protested with about 100 others today at a Target in PA. She wrote: “we got kicked out.” To which her mom replied “Is everyone okay?” And she said: “Yes, we were prepared and trained.” Prepared and trained. She follows in the footsteps of so many others. Proud.
Begging journalists to please challenge administration officials about their definition of "sanctuary city." The perception out there, based on their rhetoric, is that these cities are committing an illegal act. They are NOT. Talk to any sanctuary city lawyer. We are within our rights.
February 3, 2026 at 8:20 PM
Begging journalists to please challenge administration officials about their definition of "sanctuary city." The perception out there, based on their rhetoric, is that these cities are committing an illegal act. They are NOT. Talk to any sanctuary city lawyer. We are within our rights.
Johnson et al seem to be saying that it is wrong to “resist.” As mayor during Trump 1, I told a crowd that if we were called upon to do unconstitutional things, I would resist. Some objected, suggesting that if the president did it, it WAS constitutional. Now we know better.
February 2, 2026 at 2:38 AM
Johnson et al seem to be saying that it is wrong to “resist.” As mayor during Trump 1, I told a crowd that if we were called upon to do unconstitutional things, I would resist. Some objected, suggesting that if the president did it, it WAS constitutional. Now we know better.
Studied social capital for my dissertation. Used it to understand how people, relying on tight social bonds, achieve things together they could never do alone. But there is a dark side. The Epstein files reveal it: powerful men achieving horrible things together, that they would never do alone.
January 31, 2026 at 2:37 PM
Studied social capital for my dissertation. Used it to understand how people, relying on tight social bonds, achieve things together they could never do alone. But there is a dark side. The Epstein files reveal it: powerful men achieving horrible things together, that they would never do alone.
I guess we are at that event horizon at which everything is now a distraction from everything else.
January 28, 2026 at 2:25 PM
I guess we are at that event horizon at which everything is now a distraction from everything else.
They killed him. I know “they” is a collective accusation, but, in this case, it is appropriate. They, from Trump, through Miller, down to all the people beneath them, killed an innocent man today. They did it in front of all of us, and they expect that we won’t do anything about it. We will.
January 25, 2026 at 3:23 AM
They killed him. I know “they” is a collective accusation, but, in this case, it is appropriate. They, from Trump, through Miller, down to all the people beneath them, killed an innocent man today. They did it in front of all of us, and they expect that we won’t do anything about it. We will.
Our AG today: "It's extremely organized. The signs they have are all matching, they're well written…“ She is saying that organizing and training for protests is, what, illegal? I don’t think I am wrong to say that without organization and training there would not have been a civil rights movement.
January 25, 2026 at 3:19 AM
Our AG today: "It's extremely organized. The signs they have are all matching, they're well written…“ She is saying that organizing and training for protests is, what, illegal? I don’t think I am wrong to say that without organization and training there would not have been a civil rights movement.
So, wait, is he saying he wants Iceland too? But Iceland is so... small. How is getting it going to compensate for... anything?
January 21, 2026 at 6:49 PM
So, wait, is he saying he wants Iceland too? But Iceland is so... small. How is getting it going to compensate for... anything?
Listening to Carney. Yes, I share his vision and I feel Canadian today. This quote: (Negotiating bilaterally with a hegemon) is not sovereignty. It‘s the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination.” And the powerful use “economic integration as coercion.” Clear-eyed and honest.
January 21, 2026 at 2:40 AM
Listening to Carney. Yes, I share his vision and I feel Canadian today. This quote: (Negotiating bilaterally with a hegemon) is not sovereignty. It‘s the performance of sovereignty while accepting subordination.” And the powerful use “economic integration as coercion.” Clear-eyed and honest.
Blowback is the unintended adverse results of an action. Today in the US we are experiencing blowback from the post 9-11 period when we handed the DHS centralized power to ”protect” us. We built the bomb, and assumed no one like Trump (Miller) would ever come along to light the fuse. We were wrong.
January 10, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Blowback is the unintended adverse results of an action. Today in the US we are experiencing blowback from the post 9-11 period when we handed the DHS centralized power to ”protect” us. We built the bomb, and assumed no one like Trump (Miller) would ever come along to light the fuse. We were wrong.
Taking a long view of human history, these are merely dinosaurs (metaphorically) bent on consuming all the dinosaurs (literally).
January 6, 2026 at 1:46 PM
Taking a long view of human history, these are merely dinosaurs (metaphorically) bent on consuming all the dinosaurs (literally).
So, wait… Trump’s a neo-con now? I go to bed on New Year’s Eve with America first and wake up with one war warning and one hot war.
Gonna be hearing a LOT about “spheres of influence” for the rest of 2026.
“Welcome to the new world order.”
Gonna be hearing a LOT about “spheres of influence” for the rest of 2026.
“Welcome to the new world order.”
January 3, 2026 at 5:10 PM
So, wait… Trump’s a neo-con now? I go to bed on New Year’s Eve with America first and wake up with one war warning and one hot war.
Gonna be hearing a LOT about “spheres of influence” for the rest of 2026.
“Welcome to the new world order.”
Gonna be hearing a LOT about “spheres of influence” for the rest of 2026.
“Welcome to the new world order.”
What a science fiction year. Started with Murderbot (@marthawells.com) went on to Redshirts and When the Moon Hits Your Eye (@scalzi.com) and finished with Alien Clay (@aptshadow.bsky.social). There was more in between there. Lovers of SF (me) are lucky to have so many talented & fun writers.
December 31, 2025 at 2:17 AM
What a science fiction year. Started with Murderbot (@marthawells.com) went on to Redshirts and When the Moon Hits Your Eye (@scalzi.com) and finished with Alien Clay (@aptshadow.bsky.social). There was more in between there. Lovers of SF (me) are lucky to have so many talented & fun writers.
This is my local DA. This whole thread is important and describes the unquestioned dehumanization in our criminal legal system. This must change.
There are moments the mask is removed, and all the lies evaporate. This quote by a District Attorney in California is incredible. He says the volume of shackled poor people brought to court--what he calls the "cattle call"--makes it impossible to consider them as individuals.
December 30, 2025 at 2:48 PM
This is my local DA. This whole thread is important and describes the unquestioned dehumanization in our criminal legal system. This must change.
My New Year’s hope for you all comes from nearly 63 years ago, when we went as a family to swallow the sugar cube that kept us and millions of others safe. We cannot go back. I hope for every child to receive all the life saving vaccines we have all worked hard to make available across the planet.
December 24, 2025 at 10:30 PM
My New Year’s hope for you all comes from nearly 63 years ago, when we went as a family to swallow the sugar cube that kept us and millions of others safe. We cannot go back. I hope for every child to receive all the life saving vaccines we have all worked hard to make available across the planet.
Apparently, I, my spouse, and everyone we work with is going to earn 4.3% more now. GDP rose that much so… It’s cool to see the Commerce Secretary explaining to us plebeians how averages work and that GDP growth=wage growth. Very helpful public service.
December 24, 2025 at 2:06 PM
Apparently, I, my spouse, and everyone we work with is going to earn 4.3% more now. GDP rose that much so… It’s cool to see the Commerce Secretary explaining to us plebeians how averages work and that GDP growth=wage growth. Very helpful public service.
The headline I want: “Vance endorses “big tent” conservative movement that welcomes racists, Facists, anti-Semites, and conspiracy theorists.”
Unlike the ”purity tests” of liberals, this party is open to literally anybody with a grievance, hate, and a penchant for lying and dissembling.
Unlike the ”purity tests” of liberals, this party is open to literally anybody with a grievance, hate, and a penchant for lying and dissembling.
December 22, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The headline I want: “Vance endorses “big tent” conservative movement that welcomes racists, Facists, anti-Semites, and conspiracy theorists.”
Unlike the ”purity tests” of liberals, this party is open to literally anybody with a grievance, hate, and a penchant for lying and dissembling.
Unlike the ”purity tests” of liberals, this party is open to literally anybody with a grievance, hate, and a penchant for lying and dissembling.
This subheading in the NYT is about our president and his (mostly) BFF: “Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency.” All you folks who voted for this man, a request: If you have any, read this quote to your daughters and then explain WHY you voted for him. Thanks.
December 18, 2025 at 2:25 PM
This subheading in the NYT is about our president and his (mostly) BFF: “Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were currency.” All you folks who voted for this man, a request: If you have any, read this quote to your daughters and then explain WHY you voted for him. Thanks.
I don’t understand it. Every morning some “news” show has a member of the administration or Republican congressperson on to “discuss” trade, or ACA, or jobs, or whatever. They all lie predictably and using the same concepts over and over and over. What is the point? Is there some hidden pedagogy?
December 16, 2025 at 1:50 PM
I don’t understand it. Every morning some “news” show has a member of the administration or Republican congressperson on to “discuss” trade, or ACA, or jobs, or whatever. They all lie predictably and using the same concepts over and over and over. What is the point? Is there some hidden pedagogy?
I will go out on a limb and say that “Stand by Me” (based on Stephen King’s “The Body”) is the greatest coming-of-age film ever made.
December 16, 2025 at 1:56 AM
I will go out on a limb and say that “Stand by Me” (based on Stephen King’s “The Body”) is the greatest coming-of-age film ever made.