Sign in

oddthumbs55.bsky.social

@oddthumbs55.bsky.social
121 followers 143 following 0 posts
PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 13/10/2026
Excerpts from Michael Lewis on DOGE (Guardian article). 1. Gavin Kliger, white nationalist, refused to shake hands with the Black IRS staffer who briefed him on privacy issues. Or pay attention. Kliger now has a defense start-up valued at 1.4B thanks to DOGE. www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Phyllis, who loved working for Kathleen and saw falling on hand grenades as part of her job, never told her how this one had felt. She knew Gavin had expressed enthusiasm for white nationalists, and he likely knew that she knew. She tried to break the ice by walking in with her hand extended; Gavin stared at it and declined to shake it, though he had shaken the hands of the white men who had offered them. “He was kind of cool towards me,” said Phyllis. Before she could even start the briefing, he said, You know, I’ve heard these rules before at other agencies. Yes, she said, but these rules are different, because no other agency is governed by this privacy law, and this law can get you thrown in jail very quickly. As she walked him through the basics – how you can’t use your personal phone for business, how if you happen to so much as glimpse a form 1040 with someone’s name on it you must avert your eyes – Gavin played on his phone. “He’s multitasking right in front of me, typing and texting,” said Phyllis. “It was, here’s a routine that I must endure.”
5129711365
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Gwen C. Katz @gwenckatz.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Things Gavin Newsom has vetoed this week: -A ban on secretly recording people with smart glasses -A ban on ICE agents working for the state government -A ban on websites selling your data -A bill giving native tribes more say over water rights -A bill protecting transgender healthcare providers
295113464114
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
ProPublica @propublica.org · 22/09/2026
Sen. Susan Collins helped steer millions in federal defense contracts to Navatek, whose CEO illegally funneled thousands of dollars to her campaign. The FBI sought to launch a probe and was eyeing Collins and other lawmakers. Then Trump gutted the unit in charge. THREAD 🧵
Martin Kao, CEO of defense contractor Navatek, poses next to Sen. Susan Collins for a photo. Collins is holding a model of a boat in her hands. Behind them is a large sign with the Navatek logo.
412114656113
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Adam McKay @ghostpanther.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Wrote it with Rob Smigel. And yes, it was pulled from reruns.
422515828
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Dave Karpf @davekarpf.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
This is the type of AI disaster scenario that I ACTUALLY worry about. (1) AI industry oversells the capabilities of its products to score fat government contracts. (2) govt puts the AI in charge of critical shit. (3) AI fucks up, because it has a nonzero error rate. (4) shit, now we’re at war.
30827257
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Ian Boudreau @ianboudreau.com · 10/09/2026
People get confused about the trans sports thing because at a glance it seems like a small issue that impacts a very small number of people and thus makes sense as a "reasonable" concession. But it isn't, because conceding that is accepting that a kid's trans identity is on some level fraudulent
422804745
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
James Ball @jamesrball.com · 11/09/2026
This is the founder of Silk Road – which enabled international drugs trafficking on an industrial scale, among other things – speaking at President Trump's midterm convention (after getting a pardon from him), because lol nothing matters.
952439838
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Brendan Nyhan: The man with the nuclear codes. You'd be concerned if these were being posted by an elderly relative.
1832970734
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Likewise, it’s crucially important to keep pointing out that high inflation was over & done at the end of Biden’s presidency, because people are going to keep insisting & lying that the root cause of current inflation is still Biden’s 2021 policies, & the media is going to fall for that framing.
04317
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Adam Bonica @adambonica.bsky.social · 16/08/2026
The fundraising texts you delete are working on someone. It’s infuriating and heartbreaking. An 85yo in Ohio gave more than double the value of his home. A 91yo in an Indianapolis senior facility gave 25K times. The DCCC/DSCC don’t just tolerate the spammers who exploit seniors. They take part.
data4democracy.substack.com
Hook and Squeeze
How Democratic consultants, committees, and party leaders built a fundraising spam pipeline that funnels money from a captive pool of elderly donors into their own operations.
17845331588
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Ambassador Ken Fairfax (ret) @portlandken.bsky.social · 07/08/2026
Tales of everyday corruption. Pete Hegseth cancelled the $400,000 contract for making uniforms for the Blue Angels on the grounds that the contract with "The Sewing Box" was DEI since the firm is Black-owned. Instead, he awarded it to a Trump donor for $1,690,000, a 325% price increase!
34766173251
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
The Atlantic @theatlantic.com · 05/08/2026
Biden’s bet that the Inflation Reduction Act could address climate change and create jobs for voters is widely considered to have been a bust—but this is the wrong lesson to draw from his administration’s experience, @leahstokes.bsky.social argues.
bit.ly
Bidenomics Was More Successful Than People Think
Conventional wisdom holds that Joe Biden’s bet on climate investment was a bust. The data suggest otherwise.
716347
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Regime Accountant, CPA ☠️🎢 @regimecpa.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Missouri elections be like: Hitler (R) 79% - Christ (D) 21% And then the ballot initiative: Amend the Missouri constitution to require the state to own the means of production and work towards full communism? Yes 92% - No 8%
262500389
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Mark Jacob @markjacob.bsky.social · 02/08/2026
This New York Times article, which ran a week before Christmas last year, didn’t get the attention it deserved. It detailed Trump and Epstein's predatory behavior toward women – “a game of ego and dominance” in which “female bodies were currency.” Here’s a gift link and a thread. 1/6🧵
nytimes.com
‘Don’s Best Friend’: How Epstein and Trump Bonded Over the Pursuit of Women (Gift Article)
The president has tried to minimize their friendship, but documents and interviews reveal an intense and complicated relationship. Chasing women was a game of ego and dominance. Female bodies were cur...
6225131306
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
ashley (birthday) 🕸️ @clearlyashley.bsky.social · 30/07/2026
trans rights frankly is a top 5, potentially top 3 issue for me despite not being trans and not having any trans family being bigoted against trans folks not only hurts my trans friends and every trans person but is so predictive of further bigotry
724075884
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
tony romm @tonyromm.bsky.social · 24/07/2026
NEW: In a stunning admission, the Trump administration admitted in court documents that it canceled billions in energy grants to states "based solely" on politics -- and whether that state was represented by Democrats and backed Harris in 2024. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/24/b...
nytimes.com
Trump Administration Admits Canceling Grants to States That Did Not Vote for Him
Federal officials said in court documents that they halted billions of dollars in funding for energy projects to states “based solely” on whether they backed President Trump in the 2024 election.
28861152932
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Aleksandra Vaca @transiticsnews.com · 15/07/2026
1. After pushing anti-trans laws to ‘protect women’s sports’, Project 2025’s Heritage Foundation now wants women’s sports gone to ‘assist fertility.’ Turns out it was about women’s sports all along—if getting rid of women's sports counts, that is.
transiticsnews.com
After Pushing Anti-Trans Laws to ‘Protect Women’s Sports’, Project 2025’s Heritage Foundation Now Wants Women’s Sports Gone to ‘Assist Fertility’
Turns out it was about women’s sports all along—if getting rid of women's sports counts, that is.
651918819
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
kaitlin @caitidh.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
ah yes... good point sir...
a page from these dumb trump documents that's like entirely redacted
032
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
BREAKING: JD Vance has joined the DSA
80840179
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Headquarters @headquartersnews.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
Mike Johnson says that the Pentagon is requesting an additional $350,000,000,000 for things like "fighting Communism on our own shores"
210318116
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Goldstein (still not a pseudonym) @goldstein.latinsky.app · 12/07/2026
Here is Graham gloating about "killing all the right people." Just in case you see anyone try to do the whole "we should have decency for the dead" nonsense.
310121274558
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 08/07/2026
Trump: "We had 11 missiles shot by the Islamic Republic of Japan"
165580312800
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 07/07/2026
You do not have to give people “due process” before you choose not to vote for them. You can just be like “oh word the guy who wrote rape apologia and had allegations just got another serious allegation? Guess he doesn’t need to be my senator.”
243586677
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Charlotte Clymer @charlotteclymer.bsky.social · 05/07/2026
I’ve lived in D.C. for nearly 20 years, and I have never seen this kind of Lord of the Flies panic on the National Mall. (video credit: MikeCarterTV)
26050101046
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Don Moynihan @donmoyn.bsky.social · 03/07/2026
Trump claim 1: The OBBBA does not cut Medicaid. Reality: the OBBBA is projected to wipe away nearly 3/4ths of the health insurance coverage gains made under the Affordable Care Act. Graph: projected increase in the uninsurance rate. donmoynihan.substack.com/p/one-year-o...
graph showing uninsured rate gradually declining but significantly increasing after passage of OBBBA
19638
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Hemry, Local Bartender @bartenderhemry.bsky.social · 02/07/2026
republicans: you're all transgender marxist communist terrorists who hate our country. you don't deserve to exist. i refuse to even say the name of your party correctly centrist democrats: man it's too bad you guys aren't *stronger*
221623
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
triflersneednot.bsky.social @triflersneednot.bsky.social · 01/07/2026
Michael Phelps is literally a genetic freak who produces lactic acid differently than other swimmers, and yet he's celebrated. How is that fair compared to two 12 year olds competing in a middle school footrace? It's fucking ridiculous.
1252
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Courtney Milan @courtneymilan.com · 01/07/2026
I do not understand the "fairness in sports" thing, in part because it isn't a thing, but also "fair to who" is always the question. People who are taller have an advantage in basketball. Does that mean we ban tall people? Why would THAT be fair?
502666446
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
the Mountain Goats @themountaingoats.bsky.social · 30/06/2026
when it zoomed out I gasped
40797401620
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 25/06/2026
i wonder what race neutral policy stance trump was expressing when he accused haitian immigrants of eating the pets of their neighbors
443617787
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Rick CarBOOso’s Private Fire Crew @amandasmith.bsky.social · 22/06/2026
The cardinal rule with Trump is he agrees with whoever he last spoke with and since he signed the MOU the last people he spoke with was Iran
429056
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Holly McCall @jhollymc.bsky.social · 17/06/2026
This story is long but I guarantee you will be riveted to the foolishness of Tennessee allowing over-the-counter ivermectin distribution after an anti-vaccine doc lobbied the legislature in 2022, saying she'd taken "bucketloads" of the anti-parasitic drug. Hats off to @kffhealthnews.org.
tennesseelookout.com
Tennessee pharmacies sell potent Ivermectin, led by anti-vaccine doctor who’s taken ‘bucketloads' • Tennessee Lookout
Ivermectin is marketed and sold across Tennessee in roadside shops and small-town strip malls with little oversight from health authorities.
96623
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Jeff Fecke @jkfecke.bsky.social · 15/06/2026
If this is true then the US did not negotiate a peace. We surrendered.
44616
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Clay Ranck @clayranck.bsky.social · 20/05/2026
The average gas price when Biden left office was $3.11. It’s currently $4.50. The only time in Biden’s administration when it was higher than now was 2 months in the summer of 2022 right after Russia invaded Ukraine.
A five year chart of US gas prices
401597299
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Acyn @acyn.bsky.social · 12/05/2026
Trump on Iran War: Reporter: What extent are Americans’ financial situation motivating you to make a deal? Trump: Not even a little bit. I don't think about Americans’ financial situation
1001100264319
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Cabel Sasser @cabel.panic.com · 11/05/2026
this graduation speech moment is notable, and her amazed shock at having failed to read the room feels instructive. when you're inside the bubble, you think everybody else is. but everybody isn't.
991272786872
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Sarah Longwell @sarahlongwell25.bsky.social · 27/04/2026
Here’s Trump threatening violence, calling for his political enemies’ executions, celebrating the deaths of people he didn’t like, and otherwise casually promoting political violence. There was also the small matter of Jan. 6 and subsequent pardons for violent felons.
521929765
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Stephen West @stephenwest.bsky.social · 23/04/2026
is that bad? "The contract provisions...allow wealthy donors with business before the federal government to contribute anonymously to a sitting president’s pet project, while exempting the White House from key conflict of interest safeguards and limiting scrutiny by Congress and the public."
wapo.st
Trump fought to keep the ballroom fundraising contract secret. Here’s what’s in it.
The agreement governing hundreds of millions in private donations was kept secret until a watchdog group sued and a judge ordered it disclosed.
14928353
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 18/04/2026
👇🎯 Your regular reminder that <no one> knows the right amount viewpoint diversity on college campuses, & there are <exactly zero> societal institutions in America with more respect for viewpoint diversity than universities. It's not even close. bsky.app/profile/mcop...
525753
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Alex Wenzel @alexwenzel.bsky.social · 15/04/2026
Well this thread is still going.
19435
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Matt Royer 🤘🏼 @mattroyer.bsky.social · 13/04/2026
You know I knew that Door Dash woman looked familiar
525111633757
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Ben Zipperer @benzipperer.org · 10/04/2026
The Trump administration is sabotaging the US economy Slowing nominal wage gains and rising prices mean negative real wage growth is now in the cards for most workers in 2026
418470
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Ian Boudreau @ianboudreau.com · 09/04/2026
"Where are all the campus protestors?" ask the grinning ghouls who cheered on the brutal suppression of campus protests
222173468
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Brandon Friedman @brandonfriedman.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
This is real
25336411085
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
ghost malone ergo propter bones @proptermalone.bsky.social · 08/04/2026
that works out to ~$40b/year, or a little under 10% of Iran’s GDP
37630111
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
Yes, this would be acknowledgement of Iranian control of the Strait of Hormuz and a complete reshaping of the geopolitical order of the Middle East in favor of Iran, an unambiguous Iranian victory in the war. It's a "deal" in the way a surrender is a deal.
330141
Reposted by @oddthumbs55.bsky.social
Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 07/04/2026
The problem is that Trump has proven that he'll break any deal the moment he feels like it, so Iran has zero ability to ensure any deal will stick, even if Trump would and could say yes. But Iran doesn't need to ask anyone's permission to control Hormuz; indeed no one can stop them.
731243