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So'Westerner gone AWOL

@3elo.bsky.social
1.8K followers 1.1K following 3.2K posts

Well-published author, healthcare wonk, policy wonk. Southwesterner gone AWOL to Blue Yonder. Liberal Forever. Admires Voltaire & Sam Adams. Alas, too near-sighted to become an astronaut. Possessed by felines & hummingbirds.

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So'Westerner gone AWOL @3elo.bsky.social · 3h
Mayor Mamdani, perhaps you could make this happen? Start the ball rolling?
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So'Westerner gone AWOL @3elo.bsky.social · 3h
Wonderful! Can somebody please give us his name & any way to follow him or see more? Meantime, I've been certain we need to mandate civics in US high schools. But clearly we also need a daily dance class/dance time from age 6 till 18! Smiles and laughter would cure a lot of what's wrong with us.
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Mars Firestein @marsfirestein.bsky.social · 18h
obvious vs oblivious: imagine a world where the people engaged in dancing together instead of killing each other.
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ContempraInn 🌹 @contemprainn.bsky.social · 22h
This guy got people from around the world to teach him their favourite dance moves. 📹Ed People
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Abdul El-Sayed @abdulelsayed.bsky.social · 7h
It is my honor and privilege to announce that President @barackobama.bsky.social is joining us on the trail in Detroit on Saturday, October 24. Get. Ready.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 3h
Abdul El-Sayed on Fox News: "I think about MLK. He said this thing I always think about -- 'If your coalition is not uncomfortable, it's not big enough.' A lot of people wonder why I'm having this conversation with you. It's because there are people out there who I want to have a conversation with."
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Mediaite @mediaite.com · 3h
Whistleblower Who Outed Howard Lutnick’s Epstein Ties Dies
dlvr.it
Whistleblower Who Outed Howard Lutnick’s Epstein Ties Dies
The whistleblower who brought to light Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick's ties to Jeffrey Epstein reportedly died by suicide in late September. The post Whistleblower Who Outed Howard Lutnick’s Epstein Ties Dies first appeared on Mediaite.
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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 6h
Texas Pediatricians Face Paxton Investigations for Vaccinating Children. Paxton alleges a vague conspiracy between doctors and vaccine makers. Pediatricians say the accusations are an attempt at intimidation. But for a donation of $10,000 or more they can buy an exemption from Paxton's probe.
nytimes.com
Texas Pediatricians Face Paxton Investigations for Vaccinating Children
Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general and Republican Senate candidate, has alleged a sprawling profit-driven conspiracy. Pediatricians say the accusations are an attempt at intimidation.
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Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 9h
Reminder: Voter registration deadlines are hitting TODAY, October 5, in Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas. Please make sure you’re registered to vote!
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Dagnabitalltoheck (she/her) @dagnabitalltoheck.bsky.social · 6h
#Ohio
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Michael Froomkin @mfroomkin.bsky.social · 7h
Relative got a $500 check from US Treasury and a shocking letter full of lies signed by Trump and ending with "May God bless you". Basically a pre-electoral bribe. News reports say they're sending almost a million of these. Full text in alt below. (I told him to cash it quick before it bounces.)
Dear [name],

For years, the Biden Administration overcharged you to fund the operation of HealthCare.gov. That money belongs to hard-working Americans, not the Government, and now, I am returning it to you!

With this Historic Action, my Administration is taking the surplus funds that accumulated from the Obamacare ''Premium Tax" and issuing a one-time $500 REFUND to Americans who use the HealthCare.gov platform to purchase their health insurance, but who do not receive Taxpayer Subsidies to help pay for their Coverage. You have paid into this flawed System, and now you are finally getting something back.

Healthcare Dollars should benefit Patients, not Insurance Companies or Government Bureaucrats. Since returning to office, I have fought to lower Healthcare Costs, increase Accountability, and Put Patients First. Through TrumpRx, we are delivering massive discounts on Household Prescription Drugs, and my Most-Favored-Nation Pricing Agreements have already saved Americans more than 1 Billion Dollars on much-needed Medications. We also secured an unprecedented 50 Billion Dollar investment to transform Rural Healthcare, expanded access to Health Saving Accounts for millions of people on Obamacare, and restored Pnce Transparency, all while roofing out the Waste, Fraud, and abuse across our Healthcare System.

I am proud to return your money to you, and I will never stop fighting to put the American People FIRST, restore Affordability, protect your hard-earned money, and lower the Cost of Healthcare.

May God bless you, and may He continue to bless the United States of America!

Sincerely,

[signed] 

DONALD J. TRUMP
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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Nicole D. Porter (she/her) @nicoledporter.bsky.social · 6h
As the midterms near, there is good news about expanding voting rights to persons with felony convictions. Virginians have a chance next month to undo the Jim Crow-era voting ban. Latest via @npr.org 1/ www.npr.org/2026/10/05/n...
npr.org
In Virginia, voting rights restoration is tough. A ballot measure could change that
Virginia has been one of the toughest places for someone convicted of a felony to get their voting rights back. An amendment to the state constitution -- on November's ballot -- would change that.
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TrumpsTaxes @trumpstaxes.com · 6h
👀 Still a lot of GOP money in Texas - tens of millions, in fact. So is the pro-Paxton group’s removal of $3.5M just standard ad spend maneuvering…or is it the first hint of a #TXSen triage?
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Allison Gill @muellershewrote.com · 7h
I wonder if they miss the days when they had diesel so cheap they could run massive trucker caravans against democrats.
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 8h
This always happens when we find out the details a few days later on Trump and Nutlick’s Big Announcements. Art of the Deal.
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Taniel @taniel.bsky.social · 6h
If you're in these states, *TODAY* is deadline to register to vote. Arizona, Arkansas Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas. Even if you think you've registered: doesn't hurt to check! And there's a lot happening across them. A thread with stakes on each. ⬇️
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ebisback.bsky.social @ebisback.bsky.social · 12h
Hey maggots 💥🙄
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Ohio Capital Journal @ohiocapitaljournal.com · 6h
Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and the AGs in Arkansas and Alabama filed a lawsuit in the U.S. Supreme Court, suing California, Massachusetts and New York to invalidate the so-called “shield laws” that have allowed providers to send abortion medication to people in states with abortion bans.
ohiocapitaljournal.com
Republican AGs sue abortion ‘shield law’ states in US Supreme Court • Ohio Capital Journal
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Attorney General Liz Murrill and the attorneys general in Arkansas and Alabama filed a lawsuit Tuesday in the U.S. Supreme Court, suing California, Massachusetts and New…
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The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 8h
😕 🌎 🔥
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Indivisible ❌👑 @indivisible.org · 6h
There are battleground districts in Colorado that we need to win next month — and no matter where you live, you can help make that happen! Let’s contact Colorado voters to make sure they have all the information they need to elect Democrats who will fight for working families.
mobilize.us
Indivisible for Manny Rutinel and Jessica Killin in CO Phone Bank Series · Indivisible
Join Indivisible as we engage voters across the country to get out the vote and take back Congress in 2026. We’ll make calls into Colorado to get people to the polls on or before Nov 3rd and share the...
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Internet Archive @archive.org · 6h
🏛️ Government information belongs to everyone. Government documents help us understand society, investigate the past, and participate in democracy. 📚 Democracy's Library brings government publications together so they're easier to discover. Start with the record. 👇 archive.org/details/demo... 🧵
Four "Tools You Can Use" Democracy's Library tiles in a 2x2 grid on cream graph paper with blue schematic line drawings. Top left, "Democracy's Library" above a blue folder reading "Government Information Freely Accessible For All." Top right, a screenshot of the Democracy's Library page with collection highlights. Bottom left, bold black text repeating that line. Bottom right, "Tell us why government information is important to you," with a multicolor line drawing of a columned building.
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Alt National Park Service @altnps.bsky.social · 21h
FFS… Is it really an accident anymore at this point?
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EuphoricFuzion🕯️ @euphoricfuzion.bsky.social · 18h
Heather, my daughter's Dad just got a $500 check from the Government with a letter basically saying it came from ripping millions of Americans off their Healthcare!! This is the letter it came with! I'm awe-struck, while also having been sure this would happen... Have you heard of anyone else?
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Callie Barr for Congress (MI-01) @calliebarr.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
www.wilx.com/2026/10/02/m... Bankruptcies are rising. Diesel prices have hit a record high. Gas and grocery bills are draining our wallets. Michigan families and farmers are being pushed to the breaking point. It's time to fire Jack Bergman. Vote Callie Barr for Change.
wilx.com
Michigan farmers squeezed by record diesel prices
Agriculture is the second largest industry in Michigan. Farmers have been feeling a financial squeeze for years, and diesel prices are the latest increase they have had to manage.
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Sally Deal - 📞 Call your legislators @ (202)224-3121 ⏰24/7! @sallydeal4.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
🚨The LAST BEST TIME to donate to candidates for the 2026 midterm is 🔥RIGHT NOW🔥‼️ ⏰THIS IS THE FINAL CRUCIAL WINDOW. Campaigns lock in their final advertising slots, & need immediate funding for their ground games. Pay now, avoid regrets later. Make a list of your favs. 🤑 CHIP IN today if you can.
static.klipy.com
Sophia Petrillo Writing Notes
ALT: Sophia Petrillo Writing Notes
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Mulberry Tree @mulberrytreeapp.bsky.social · 21h
We have lost over 5 million farms in 100 years. We are losing 77 farms a day. This is a bipartisan issue not left vs right. The 4 meat packing companies have been hurting farms for decades.
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Jim Bellefeuille @jimcat74.bsky.social · 19h
Too bad Biden’s infrastructure plan was cut so rural farmers still have no broadband
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CCDude8 🏳️‍🌈 🌊 @ccdude8.bsky.social · 18h
and they voted directly for the VP whose business model is stealing farms. Americans are stupid AF. www.farmlandgrab.org/post/32430-j...
farmlandgrab.org
JD Vance funded AcreTrader. Here’s why that matters.
The real estate platform streamlines investing in US farmland. Now farms are fast becoming a portfolio staple for investors worldwide.
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Plant Powered A-ron🌱🌎💙🌊 @plantpowered1971.bsky.social · 21h
Holy shit...this is incredibly accurate!!
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Greg Pak @gregpak.net · 20h
Mark Ruffalo wants you to VOTE and PROTECT THE VOTE, friends and neighbors. linktr.ee/wewillvote
Mark Ruffalo on stage with one fist raised in the air. Low angle, medium close. Dramatic as hell.
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Kevin J. Kircher @kevinjkircher.com · 18h
Side note: "LLMs screening LLM-generated content" is the basic structure that the Senate's draft bill would establish for federal energy permitting. It mandates building LLMs for generating and reviewing permit applications and provides little support for human civil servants to do permitting work.
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Kevin J. Kircher @kevinjkircher.com · 18h
We're in the middle of a race to the bottom, where authors use LLMs to generate more and more proposals, so funders use LLMs to screen proposals to keep up with increasing submission volumes. At some level of "LLMs evaluating LLM-generated submissions," you've gotta ask what we're even doing here.
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Kevin J. Kircher @kevinjkircher.com · 18h
A UK research funder used LLMs to screen and desk-reject grant proposals with no human input, then (and this is the unique part) told rejected authors about it. I assume federal appointees in US research agencies are doing the same, though without the "tell people about it" bit.
science.org
U.K. funder uses ‘AI triage’ to reject grant proposals—leaving researchers dismayed
The AI-based assessment, which wasn’t explicitly described in the funding call, has raised privacy and fairness concerns
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So'Westerner gone AWOL @3elo.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Oops, Lina!
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So'Westerner gone AWOL @3elo.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
This is a terrific, make-you-think presentation. I wish there was some way to get it in front of all voters. Lisa Khan is a gem. We need her back in office!
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oldskier/bsky.social @oldskier.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
We have anti-trust laws; do you know why they don't work? Money in politics! Citizens United! Congress trading securities! Bribery that GOPers allow! GOP electing Blanche! When the DEMs gain power, we need to ENFORCE Anti-trust so we can get back to FAIR PAY, FAIR TAXES, RULE OF LAW!
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theophrastvs.bsky.social @theophrastvs.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Yes indeed! A top five selling point for a 2028 presidential candidate (ok, likely only a Democratic party candidate) would essentially be a robust return to 'trust busting'/anti-monopoly enforcement. (Teddy Roosevelt pince-nez optional)
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Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
The Paramount-Warner Bros. merger was officially approved this past week. Corporate concentration means more power for CEOs — and less freedom for everyone else. Former FTC Chair Lina Khan explains.
youtu.be
The Illusion of Choice: How Big Business Controls Your Life (ft. Lina Khan)
From your grocery bill to your paycheck, monopolies are making you less financially secure and ultimately less free. For
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Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Justice Alito is confusing a desire to reform the court with an effort to intimidate it. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
democracydocket.com
Supreme Court expansion is ‘a concerted effort to intimidate the court,' Justice Alito says
Despite Americans' eroding trust in the Supreme Court, Alito says he's not discussed growing calls for expanding the court and setting term limits.
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Krutika Kuppalli, MD FIDSA @krutikakuppalli.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
A lab worker’s death after a reported accident in Russia has raised concern for #plague. A reminder: As the US dismantles public health, we weaken our ability to detect and contain the next threat. Cutting surveillance doesn’t eliminate danger. It makes us slower to see it.
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Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 04/10/2026
🚨 OCTOBER 5 DEADLINE #BlueWaveIn30Days If you live in one of these states, Monday is the voter registration deadline: • Arizona • Arkansas • Florida • Georgia • Indiana • Kentucky • Louisiana • Mississippi • Montana • Ohio • Tennessee • Texas Check your registration. IWillVote.com
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Sara Margarita Medina Ramos @sarammedinaramis.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Time to count down to election day with facts Day 30
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Christopher Webb @cwebbonline.com · 04/10/2026
And if you live in Texas and recently registered, you might not be. Check today. #BlueWaveIn30Days Get it handled. Then help somebody else do the same. IWillVote.com
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wjbotany.bsky.social @wjbotany.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Priority task, Texans, check your registration!
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informationbank.bsky.social @informationbank.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
the situation is worse than you think
sharonlawrence.substack.com
Issue Insights: Data Centers (Economic Incentives & Tax Subsidies)
October 3, 2026 (Updated)
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Ari Berman @ariberman.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
🚨🚨Attention - if you live in Alaska, Rhode Island or South Carolina today 10/4 is the last day to register to vote
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Oregonian Opinion @oregonianopinion.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Read Bruce Broussard’s responses to The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board’s endorsement questionnaire.
oregonlive.com
Bruce Broussard: Multnomah County Board of Commissioners District 2 candidate
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Rachel Maddow @maddow.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
"Among the first to appear before the judge was Angel, a 13-year-old. He had no attorney. “Would you like to request voluntary departure, or should I issue a removal order?” the judge asked “I don’t know,” Angel said, bursting into tears: “I have no one. I have nothing.” www.cnn.com/2026/09/28/p...
cnn.com
Inside the Texas courtroom where toddlers face immigration judges | CNN Politics
Migrant children as young as 2 are showing up at immigration courts nationwide, many without attorneys, to try make their case to stay in the US and avoid deportation.
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T-Fish🇨🇦🍁 @t-fish.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
As much as it think this is the most corrupt administration in history and it’s not even close, I think this is just the tip of the iceberg. The American people will be finding that out for decades.
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Blue Woman Voting 📎 @bluewomanvoting123.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Trump got 10 million dollars from Egypt ... no one even batted an eye. Someone paid off all Kavanaugh's (gambling debts, no doubt), no one asked who, and now this. So corrupt.
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