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Rick Varco

@rvarco.bsky.social
496 followers 465 following 500 posts

MN politics, ex-Philosophy grad student, Democrat, comic book fan, and Spot Bar regular

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Reposted by Rick Varco
Brian Lyman @brianlyman.bsky.social · 8h
This Supreme Court allowed Alabama to keep killing people in 2022 after the state repeatedly botched its executions and left inmates on gurneys, cut up by needles. Of all the Roberts Court’s sins, its death penalty rulings have been especially nihilistic.
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Scott Lemieux @lemieuxlgm.bsky.social · 10h
Pike's lawyers did not present critical mitigating evidence about the repeated sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of multiple relatives as a child, events the state now does not dispute occurred. She will now be executed before the courts can properly consider her claim
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MoveOn @moveon.org · 14h
ICE has shot another person, this time it was in Austin, Texas. His name is Wilber Garcés Pérez and he was shot while doing his job. He should be home with his family, not in ICE detention with no medical care. This chaos has no place in our communities.
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Prof. Eliot Jacobson @climatecasino.net · 20h
Breaking News! The preliminary Nino 3.4 sea-surface temperature anomaly for Sept. 29th came in at 3.18°C above the 1991-2020 baseline. This marks yet another record all-time high and the 123rd consecutive record daily high at 1.1°C above the previous daily record set in 1997.
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Rick Varco @rvarco.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
I don't get what they thought they would prove. "You were in Atlanta the day after something else happened" seems like a nothingburger even if true.
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Josh Marshall @joshtpm.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Holy shit, this ad! I cannot imagine the impetus for pardoning this guy. But I’m not even sure it matters. Kind of along the lines of that Roger Marshall ad. If you’re explaining you’re losing.
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Lorenzo Salgado, jr. @oznezol.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
One step closer to justice for my dad, Lorenzo Salgado Araujo.
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#StupidSuez @diplomatofnight.com · 28/09/2026
It's totally insane. Iraq did absolutely nothing to dent the delusions of our policymaking elite on the idea of a war with Iran. Just crazy lol.
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#StupidSuez @diplomatofnight.com · 28/09/2026
Every single DC based think tank to the right of CAP, which is not really that left wing to begin with on MENA, begged and begged and begged and begged and begged to do anything but a diplomatic solution on this issue for decades. The FDD spent tens of millions begging for this exact war since 2002.
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#StupidSuez @diplomatofnight.com · 28/09/2026
Abjectly insane that this just gets so consistently glossed over.
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#StupidSuez @diplomatofnight.com · 28/09/2026
Any analysis of the Iran War that doesn't start and end with the fact that an entire cottage industry of think tankers and lobbyists and their friends in Congress were frothing at the mouth for literal decades for this got exactly what they wanted and it failed immediately and totally is wrong.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 27/09/2026
Araghchi, Iranian foreign minister, explains why US is untrustworthy: "In 2025 they offered negotiations, we accepted, then in the middle of negotiations they attacked us. Eight months later, again they offered negotiations, again we accepted, & again they attacked us in the middle of negotiations"
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Timothy @landbeforetim.myatproto.social · 27/09/2026
The Drake meme edited to contain the face of Elon Musk

A repulsed Elon saying no: Banning CSAM and revenge porn

A happy Elon pointing and saying yes: Banning the National Conference of Bishops of Brazil for not backing a far-right white supremacist
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southpaw @nycsouthpaw.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
“Beyond two parking tickets for not moving his vehicle during snowstorms, Abdullah has no criminal record in Minnesota and was working legally as a mechanic while his asylum application was pending. He arrived in the United States in early 2023.”
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Scott Horton @robertscotthorton.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
She was an FBI agent. She started an investigation of the murder of Renee Good. Trump forced her to reclassify it as an ICE agent assault. She was then forced to resign. Her evidence confirms that a cover-up of the homicide has been undertaken, directed from the highest levels.
cnn.com
FBI agent who initially investigated fatal ICE shooting in Minneapolis has resigned | CNN Politics
The FBI agent who initially began working with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate the fatal ICE shooting of Renee Good has resigned from the bureau, two sources familiar with...
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public health guy @publichealthguy1.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
fat bear week candidate: buttons
a fat tux cat propped up in her bed and cleaning her white fluffy belly. caturday
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🌬Breeze @cool-summer-breeze.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
This is the Stolen Neighbors Quilt. Each of the 11,000 squares represents a person taken by ICE in Minnesota.
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roxtiron.bsky.social @roxtiron.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
🚨Breaking from @ACapaccio: The Chinese government has taken possession of potentially sensitive F-35 stealth aircraft parts that were inexplicably diverted to Hong Kong while being sent to the US from Australia by UPS, people briefed on the incident said. www.bloomberg.com/news/article...
bloomberg.com
China Is Holding Sensitive F-35 Parts Diverted to Hong Kong
The Chinese government has taken possession of potentially sensitive F-35 stealth aircraft parts that were inexplicably diverted to Hong Kong while being sent to the US from Australia, people briefed ...
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Amesh Adalja @ameshaa.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
“They basically couldn’t go out to the grocery store, to the movies, to dinner with their spouses without risking being harassed or threatened” www.cidrap.umn.edu/public-healt...
cidrap.umn.edu
Local, state public health officials overwhelmingly faced serious backlash during pandemic, report reveals
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Rep. Judy Chu @chu.house.gov · 22/09/2026
If you or a loved one need mental health support, dial 988 then press 1 to be connected to the Veterans Crisis Lifeline 24/7.
veteranscrisisline.net
Veterans Crisis Line
24/7, confidential crisis support for Veterans and their loved ones. Contact the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online, or text 838255.
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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.
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mtsw @mtsw.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
huge cuts to our healthcare and infrastructure, bags of cash for the gulf monarchies
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Metro Transit (Official) @metrotransitmn.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
This has been a big summer for our BRT lines, with record-setting monthly ridership on the Gold Line, Orange Line, and E Line. The B Line and D Line also had their second-busiest months ever this summer. Thank you for riding with us!
Passengers boarding a blue and white Metro bus at a city stop on a busy day.
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Rick Varco @rvarco.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Who is your ideal Nick & Nora in the re-boot of The Thin Man?
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Too Big to Fail @toobigtofail.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Do some canvassing, and you'll find that most people do not care at all about politics, and view it the same way I view the local professional lacrosse team: it's a thing I'm not interested in that doesn't have anything to do with me, and I'm only vaguely aware of its existence.
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Dan Froomkin/Press Watch/Heads Up News @froomkin.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Austin ICE shooting on video. Looks like they did a PIT maneuver on his car and moments later shot at him twice through the passenger-side door. I cannot imagine any lawful reason for doing that.
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Dave Mazella @davemazella.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
I'm struggling to think of how someone could see these shootings and not want to prosecute the guys doing this in the open air to random people. No turning the page on this.
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Amee Vanderpool @girlsreallyrule.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Another ICE officer has shot and wounded a man in Austin, Texas, who is in serious but stable condition at a hospital after being shot in the torso. Austin Mayor Kirk Watson said he wants the investigation to have the Austin PD involved to provide “clear, third-party eyes."
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Rick Varco @rvarco.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Such a fantastic series by @denizcamp.bsky.social ! Enjoying every issue. Just finished #8 which manages to be both heartbreaking and inspiring.
imagecomics.com
Assorted Crisis Events
Image is a comics and graphic novels publisher formed in 1992 by 7 of the comics industry's best-selling artists, and is the 3rd largest comics publisher in the United States.
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MPR News @mprnews.org · 19/09/2026
Public health officials this week confirmed the first case of measles in Minnesota in several months amid a resurgence of the preventable disease across the country. It’s the 18th case in the state so far this year.
mprnews.org
Fillmore County resident tests positive for measles; first case in Minnesota since April
Measles cases seem to be spiking across the country in recent years, as the anti-vaccine movement has grown. The CDC has reported 3,471 confirmed cases so far this year, already surpassing last year’s...
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Rick Varco @rvarco.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
WTF: A 2023 GAO report found "1 million F-35 spare parts have gone missing in the past five years."
politico.com
Hill investigates after F-35 parts diverted to Hong Kong
The incident raises the possibility that top secret weapons technology may have been exposed to a foreign adversary — including China.
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DCMediaGroup @dcmediagroup.us · 19/09/2026
At the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, 1000s have linked hands and are demanding “Hands Off the Arts” while surrounding the center.
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Alex Ip 葉清霖 @alexip718.com · 18/09/2026
This guy who assaulted a sitting member of Congress got 28 years and 10 months less jail time than a Texas resident who transported a box of zines that contained constitutionally protected content opposing ICE reason.com/2026/06/25/t...
reason.com
Texas man gets 30 years in prison for transporting 'anti-government' pamphlets
The case stems from a violent anti-ICE protest, but critics say the government's prosecution threatens First Amendment rights.
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Ars Technica @arstechnica.com · 15/09/2026
arstechnica.com
Measles kills 18-year-old in PA, 4th death as state outbreak nears 700 cases
Teen developed acute disseminated encephalomyelitis, a known measles complication.
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Ej Dickson @ejdickson.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
There is a corner of the internet I had never heard of before I started reporting this story. It’s called the “burnerverse”: a network of anon burner accounts ostensibly discussing college sports. But they have another goal: destroying young girls’ lives.🧵: www.wired.com/story/burner...
wired.com
A College Girl Was Exploited on Camera. A Network of Anonymous Men Got to Work
Maddie Kowalski is one of countless young women who’ve had their lives destroyed by the burnerverse, a loosely connected online community of sports fans. Now she’s fighting back.
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public health guy @publichealthguy1.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
lol
Aaron Rupar • @atrupar.com • 8h
Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei: "My view here is it has always been very strange that this technology is being built by a private company... I think the government and the public needs to have a stake. And that's why we've supported regulation."
© FACE NATION
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hammancheez @hammancheez.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Saudi Arabia : help us Trump: lmao fuck u Saudi Arabia : bold of you to say that on this anniversary of all days
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Meredith Shiner @meredithshiner.com · 11/09/2026
What I will never forget is Ari Fleisher posting his annual million-tweet tick tock of 9/11 for likes and Twitter followers and then becoming a registered foreign agent for Saudi Arabia.
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Rick Varco @rvarco.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Fast and easy way to support.
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Judd Legum @juddlegum.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
🚨 BEWARE of VoteSafe.org 🚨 While it bills itself as a “safe” way to register to vote, it is actually a digital surveillance machine created by Elon Musk’s super PAC.
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Gillian Brockell @gillianbrockell.com · 09/09/2026
This is who was on that Gitmo flight I tracked 12 days ago — a guy who did everything right to overcome the circumstances of his birth.
Gillian Brockell • @gillianbrockell.com
Looks like we're using Gitmo to imprison immigrants again. This is an ICE charter airline owned by ICE's flight broker using the callsign they use for all their ICE flights. 1/2
An FR24 map showing an Air Wisconsin plane landing at Gitmo 
9:14 AM • Aug 28, 2026
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Dr. Samantha Hancox-Li @sjshancoxli.liberalcurrents.com · 08/09/2026
i think conceding the idea that militancy per se is "fascist" is conceding the fascist worldview entirely, because the fascist worldview is that freedom and equality and friendship are luxuries which can only be paid for by "strong men doing strong man things"
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Will Stancil @whstancil.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
Do you know what ticks me off about this, as someone who ran for office? The best part, easily, is getting to talk to regular people about their lives and concerns. You can pick their brains, they’ll happily share their expertise with you. It’s such a privilege. And he’s JUST TOO LAZY to do it!!
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Mike Hicks @mulad.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
In memoriam, the University and Snelling CVS as crop art
A rendering of the former CVS building in seed form with "2007-2026" above, by Kaela Reinardy, St. Paul, MN
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Rick Varco @rvarco.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Amidst the ongoing war on science, news like this feels like singing the La Marseillaise in Casablanca.
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CIDRAP @cidrap.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Here’s what the evidence found on the flu, COVID-19 and RSV immunizations. ⬇️ There were no new safety concerns in comparative studies when examining currently recommended immunizations. Review the full reports, published in @jama.com: bit.ly/4x0nIhW
Graphic titled "VIP released an independent evidence review of respiratory virus immunizations." Includes logos of the Vaccine Integrity Project and CIDRAP. Text states, "Here's what the evidence found on the flu, COVID-19 and RSV immunizations." A rightward arrow is shown against a blue background with virus illustrations. CIDRAP and VIP logos are on the bottom of the graphic. A link to the VIP website is on the bottom right corner of the image. A graphic with an teal and blue ombre background. Microbe icons are in the background of the right hand side of the image. 

Text reads, "The influenza review found: 
Among adults over 65, the flu vaccine increased protection against hospitalization by 31%.*
Vaccine effectiveness was 80% against laboratory-confirmed influenza-associated deaths among infants and children aged 6 months to 17 years.**
*according to an analysis of VISION Network data
** in a case-cohort analysis of national surveillance data over eight seasons (2016-2020, 2021-2025)"
CIDRAP and VIP logos are on the bottom of the graphic. A link to the VIP website is on the bottom right corner of the image. A graphic with an teal and blue ombre background. Microbe icons are in the background of the right hand side of the image. 

Text reads, "The COVID-19 review found: 
For adults over 65, vaccination cut the risk of COVID-related hospitalization by 53% in the 2025-26 respiratory virus season. 

Maternal vaccination lowered the risk of emergency department and urgent care visits for pregnant women by 58% and to infants aged 0-2 months too with a vaccine effectiveness range of 50-54%.

Vaccinated young children (9 months-4 years) saw a 76% reduction in COVID-related pediatric emergency department visits."

CIDRAP and VIP logos are on the bottom of the graphic. A link to the VIP website is on the bottom right corner of the image. A graphic with an teal and blue ombre background. Microbe icons are in the background of the right hand side of the image. 

Text reads, "The RSV review found: 
For adults over 60, studies showed significant protection against hospitalization, with vaccine effectiveness ranging from 69%-83% within the same season as vaccination.

Vaccination during pregnancy reduced the risk of RSV among vaccinees by 82% and also reduced the risk of RSV-associated hospitalization among infants born subsequently.

The infant monoclonal antibody immunization nirsevimab reduced the risk of RSV-related hospitalization by 64%-93% within 6-12 months."

CIDRAP and VIP logos are on the bottom of the graphic. A link to the VIP website is on the bottom right corner of the image.
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Nick Kodama 🌳👻 @nickkodama.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
Trump administration going into the midterms trying to defend the war with Iran while also having to explain why they're opening a path to Saudi enrichment. 10/10 strategy. no notes.
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TKarney @pecunium.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
People will die.
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Headquarters @headquartersnews.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
Fox News complains that underage teenage girls aren’t getting pregnant enough: “The problem is teens and young adults. From ages 15-19, the fertility rate is down 70% in the last 2 decades, which means we are telling people who are young not to have babies.”
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Lindsay Beyerstein @beyerstein.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
youtube.com
Coroner confirms second death of person diagnosed with measles in Lancaster County
YouTube video by WHTM - abc27 News
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