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Ryan S.

@sirfish.bsky.social
431 followers 1.1K following 302 posts

Policy and law / science / human rights / environment / random geekery. Canadian. Personal account and views.

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Reposted by Ryan S.
Hoodlum 🇺🇸 @nothoodlum.bsky.social · 3h
Community Notes for the win here, Megyn Kelly. 👌
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Murshed Zaheed @murshedz.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
"We are not part of any political movement. And we are not attempting to further any political agenda." - says a right wing political operative in #SCOTUS robe who gutted voting rights, abortion rights, gave a Republican President king like powers in attempt to lock in right wing dominance. (1/2)
"CBS News
@CBSNews
Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said increasingly harsh criticism of the court from political leaders can be "quite damaging" to the institution.

"The criticism of the court by President Biden and justices by President Biden and his administration was very harsh. And President Trump has been very harsh," he told CBS News' 
@JanCBS
.

Alito said the court's job is to interpret the Constitution "as best we can" and apply it to the cases that come before them: "We are not part of any political movement. And we are not attempting to further any political agenda.""
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Dominique Baker @bakerdphd.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
"The current level of political animosity is exactly what one would expect to see if an extremist faction attempted to rescind the hard-earned rights of the vast majority of the country’s citizens." There are not enough exclamation points to convey how I felt reading this paragraph
Screenshot of article which reads: From this perspective, the “both sides” frame falls apart. The prob-
lem is not that the parties are divided. The problem is the existential 
threat that a reempowered ethnonationalist strain poses to pluralistic 
U.S. democracy writ large. The current level of political animosity is 
exactly what one would expect to see if an extremist faction attempted 
to rescind the hard-earned rights of the vast majority of the country’s 
citizens. The only way to re-oppress most of a country is to use anti-
democratic and authoritarian tactics. And the only way to oppose those 
tactics is to push back as a population and clearly reject them. This is 
the argument happening in the United States, and its pathology is not 
anger—it is the movement to undermine a generation of rights.
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Melissa Gira Grant @melissagiragrant.com · 02/10/2026
!!!! from “Polarization Is Not the Problem” by @lilymasonphd.bsky.social — muse.jhu.edu/pub/1/articl...
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Jason Markusoff @markusoff.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Stephen Harper has, as we've long awaited, weighed in against Alberta separatism. But man oh man, do I have to strongly quibble with him claiming sentiment was zero when he was PM. Here's a 2014 poll putting belief in separation at 23%, which is where it sits now. nationalpost.com/opinion/step...
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NigelBankes @nigelb.bsky.social · 03/10/2026
Maybe just avoid going altogther.
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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
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David Shepherd @dshepyeg.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
Just yesterday, Danielle Smith declared that no one should have to pay to clean up someone else’s mess. So why are we all on the hook for $134 million because she can’t control the separatists in her party & her caucus? #abpoli
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The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
From the DM’s… Allegedly these illegal door hangers are now showing up across Alberta… Without identifying who is distributing them. Sure would be a shame if someone had some doorbell footage… #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli
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The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
“Direct democracy is the ultimate form of democracy,” asserts Smith with the self-assurance of a second-year seminar student. Respectfully, we disagree.” #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli thewalrus.ca/albertas-ref...
thewalrus.ca
Alberta’s Referendum Fails Every Democratic Test We Have | The Walrus
Danielle Smith’s ten-question ballot doesn’t just measure discontent with Canada. It helps manufacture it
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The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
“Under no circumstance do I support separation of this province from Canada,” he said. “So, we just decided we’re not going to do this.” Separatist event in Banff organized by UCP CA president gets cancelled by owners of venue. #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli www.rmoutlook.com/canmore/canm...
rmoutlook.com
Canmore resort pulls venue for Alberta referendum event with separatist ties
Referendum town hall, Q&A cancelled by Stone Creek Resorts CEO, who says he will not support an event linked to Alberta separation
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NigelBankes @nigelb.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Updated information from Elections Alberta. EA has approved 652,000 applications for special ballots; but to date has received and processed only 131,000. If you have yet to do so, EA recommends that you put your ballot in the mail no later than October 9. #abpoli #ableg
elections.ab.ca
Referendum Information Updates - Elections Alberta
EDMONTON – Elections Alberta issues important referendum information updates to Albertans, including updates on special ballots, referendum voting information, and election worker recruitment. Special...
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Julie S. Lalonde @julieslalonde.bsky.social · 02/10/2026
14 years old and sexually assaulting teammates as a hazing ritual but hey, the problem can't possibly be toxic masculinity + entitlement of hockey players.
theglobeandmail.com
Nova Scotia teen pleads guilty to sexual assault in hockey hazing case
Sentencing and the case of a second teen, who has pleaded not guilty, are expected to be heard next year
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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
“Opposition parties do win unfair elections, & a restored US democracy will remain unconsolidated until both major parties commit to its defense” This is why we need multiparty democracy reforms. The far right authoritarian party is highly unlikely to moderate under our existing institutions.
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The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
UCP MLA Jason Stephan is now joining the “leverage” game and tacitly endorsing the separatist choice. #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli
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Ghouly Hoye 👻🇨🇦 @hollyhoye.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
Going to remember this chart every time I hear the orange turnip say he’s going to “teach Canada a little lesson.”
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semperloquatius.bsky.social @semperloquatius.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington (again) and hands the GOP senators' butts to them.
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Ghouly Hoye 👻🇨🇦 @hollyhoye.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
“Many of the leaders of the separatist movement are from the same cast of characters we first met during the “Freedom Convoy.” They failed to topple the federal government then but are engaged in a similar exercise now.”
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: We must call Alberta separation what it is
It is not a movement of grievance politics. Something far more sinister is at work
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 01/10/2026
25th Amendment? We can’t even get network news to air it or even mention it. It’s a massive national media coverup to hide the fact the we have an addled president.
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Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 30/09/2026
I for one think it’s bad that the president can just say crazy stuff all day every day and 99% of it doesn’t make the news because we’ve normalized having an insane president
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Patrick Lennox @patricklennox.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Fresh from me, Special to The Globe and Mail. www.theglobeandmail.com/opinion/arti...
theglobeandmail.com
Opinion: We must call Alberta separation what it is
It is not a movement of grievance politics. Something far more sinister is at work
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Polling Canada @canadianpolling.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
(Models Available For Subscribers) British Columbia Provincial Polling: CON: 39% (-5) NDP: 36% (-9) GRN: 13% (+5) CNBC: 5% (New) ONE: 5% (New) Others: 2% Leger / Sept 28, 2026 / n=1003 / Online (% Change With 2024 Election) Check out @338canada.bsky.social here: 338canada.com/bc
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A Dave you know you know @notjustdave.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Just to tie this into Alberta at this very moment, the Cargill workers that Kenney's UCP treated as expendable are exactly the foreign workers that Smith's UCP wants to charge $1,900 a year to access health care, even though these workers pay taxes from the minute they start working.
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Max Kennerly @maxkennerly.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Sure, the 2024 election was one too, but 2026 might be the clearest intelligence test ever presented to the American electorate. Taken at face value, he's saying he stole hundreds of billions from the gov't, hid it somewhere Congress can't reach, and he pinky swears he will give you a piece. Really.
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Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 27/09/2026
Four days ago, a scientist was surprised by the news that Anthropic discovered new virus genes for making DNA. He says he’s been studying them for years—and feeding his data to Anthropic’s AI as part of his own research. Coincidence? Here’s my story. nyti.ms/3VSWayc
nyti.ms
Did Anthropic’s A.I. Really Make a Scientific Discovery on Its Own? (Gift Article)
An expert at the University of Copenhagen said his team had been sharing its research with the company’s A.I. model, Claude, and that its new finding matched their work.
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Imani Gandy @angryblacklady.blacksky.app · 20/09/2026
I just honestly can't get over that Save Women Sports, an anti-trans group could only find five trans athletes competing K through 12. Five. The NCAA president testified a year and a half ago or so that there were less than 10 college level trans athletes. What the fuck are we doing, people
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ElieNYC @elienyc.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Jesus fucking Christ
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Troy Avevipart🍁 @privatevotary.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Conrad Black will forever and exclusively be remembered as a traitor who renounced his Canadian citizenship, committed over $6,000,000.00 in fraud, was convicted, and then lovingly shone Trump's penny-loafers with his decrepit tongue to secure an undeserved pardon for his crimes. What a legacy.
Conrad Black: Trump pardons ex- media baron 'friend'
16 May 2019

Conrad Black, who became Lord Black of Crossharbour, was known for his extravagant lifestyle 

US President Donald Trump has signed a full pardon for former media mogul Conrad Black, who he describes as a "friend". 

Black, 74, was convicted of fraud and obstructing justice in 2007 and jailed for more than three years in the US.
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Ryan S. @sirfish.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Canada really never should have let this convicted fraudster re-acquire residency. That we we did is a much bigger indictment of the country than any of the tripe Black writes. #cdnpoli
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The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
“This pandemic of disinformation and dishonesty, through the conduit of the Alberta separatist movement, is testing not our hospitals but our political institutions and our belief that Canada is worth fighting for.” #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli thewalrus.ca/alberta-sepa...
thewalrus.ca
Alberta Separatism Is Built on a Big Lie | The Walrus
Danielle Smith has turned western grievance into a national unity crisis
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Andreas 🇨🇦 Fella 💙 #AbolishICE, #SlavaUkraini @andreasor.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
keeper71: #Alberta #DanielleSith #Seppies In her own words...
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Susan Collins is always horrified by the predictable results of her own vote, which means Mainers who genuinely care about Susan Collins should elect Troy Jackson as he won’t vote for things that wind up upsetting Susan Collins, unlike Susan Collins
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Christopher Hale @christopherjhale.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
NEW: Pope Leo XIV celebrated Mass with an estimated 800,000 people in Paris on Saturday. At a migrant house before Mass , he said the history of humanity “is not written by those who give the impression of winning by imposing themselves and ‘dominating the room,’ but by those who ‘make room.’”
thelettersfromleo.com
Drawing 800,000 in Paris, Pope Leo XIV Calls on the Church to “Make Room” for Migrants and the Poor
“No one is so poor as to have nothing to give.” Before Mass, the pope sat with migrants and told catechists to respect each person’s pace. Six altar servers with Down syndrome served his Mass.
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Heather Campbell @thatheatherc.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
After all the healthcare scandals, use of the notwithstanding clause, a 10 question referendum, and so much political interference, there are *still* people who will vote for Danielle Smith and the UCP. Oh. My. God. Alberta: you can be so embarrassing sometimes. 🤬 www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Danielle Smith’s popularity dips as her party now tied with NDP in support: poll | CBC News
The Janet Brown Opinion Research Poll for CBC News suggests 41 per cent of respondents would vote for the UCP if an election were held today, while 41 per cent would vote for the NDP.
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Clare Blackwood @clareblackwood.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I just want everyone to take a second to imagine how Poilievre would have responded if Justin Trudeau had done this while in office. like i just think it would be a fun experiment for us
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Paris Marx @parismarx.com · 25/09/2026
An individual in Canada used ChatGPT for eight months to plan one of the country’s worst mass shootings. Yet, if you listen to politicians and media, the real threat of AI is a fantastical scenario where it might wipe out humans in ten years. They need to stop getting fooled by tech deceivers.
disconnect.blog
The media has the AI threat all wrong
Generative AI is harming people today. We don’t need to waste time fantasizing about science fictional scenarios.
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Maggie McNeill @maggiemcneill.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Now consider: companies in every other sector could've done this from the beginning. Never forget who collaborated, because they have revealed themselves as quislings and monsters, and they will be that way long after Trump is a bad memory.
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Oregon 🕎🎲 @oregonthedm.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
That's a headline for you cmarmitage.substack.com/p/big-balls-...
cmarmitage.substack.com
Big Balls Now Exposed to Serious Criminal Charges in at Least Six States
Fired at 17 for leaking secrets. Served a cybercrime ring. Named by the Social Security whistleblower. Now the government's model employee.
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Julie S. Lalonde @julieslalonde.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
The literacy crisis is not just referring to people's ability to literally read and write. It's also people's inability to read for context. I've been a public educator for over 20 years and I have never, ever seen it this bad.
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JW Mason @jwmason.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
This is the master key to deciphering contemporary debates about free speech. www.lrb.co.uk/blog/2026/se...
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Chad :mstdn: @chad.mstdn.ca.ap.brid.gy · 26/09/2026
We’re at the point in Alberta where Ministers of the crown are celebrating the opening of garage doors. That’s it. It’s a garage door. Not an ambulance, no, it’s a garage door. #ableg #abpoli
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Ryan S. @sirfish.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
We can only hope. She should have been turfed on day 1, the day she invoked the notwithstanding clause first, the day she invoked the notwithstanding clause three more times, and every day since. Her departure cannot come too soon.
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Chise @sailorrooscout.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
WELL NOW, would you look at that? A massive, 26-YEAR-LONG study of MORE THAN 2.4 MILLION people in Sweden found NO EVIDENCE to support a causal link between acetaminophen (the API in Tylenol) use during pregnancy and increased risk of autism, ADHD, OR intellectual disability in children.
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Charles Rusnell @charlesrusnell.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
This is false and misleading. There is nothing in the constitution that would require Ottawa to negotiate with Alberta if a majority of Albertans choose Option 2 on Question 10. Alberta Proud is a registered third-party advertiser. Daniel Kary, of Calgary, is the main contact/CFO.
There's a lot of confusion about what Question 10 on the October 19 ballot actually means, so let's be clear.
Question 10 gives voters two options: remain a province of Canada, or start the legal process toward a binding referendum. A binding referendum means a future province-wide vote whose result the government is legally required to act on, not just listen to and ignore. Choosing the second option doesn't take Alberta out of Canada.
Under Canada's constitution, if enough Albertans choose the second option, Ottawa would be required to come to the table for a real conversation about Alberta's place in Canada, how our resources are managed, and whether we're getting a fair return.
Are you voting on October 19?
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Ann Petersen-Kane @anniegirl.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Can't overstate just how bad the outcome is going to be in the aftermath. People will not be safe. #ableg #abpoli After the referendum, Alberta will be angrier, more divided, more radicalized, and a worse place to invest albertapolitics.substack.com/p/after-the-...
albertapolitics.substack.com
After the referendum, Alberta will be angrier, more divided, more radicalized, and a worse place to invest
Whatever happens on Oct. 19, the Premier Danielle Smith will have left Alberta a worse place than it was before
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Kylie Eleison @gonebabygone.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
This is all right-wing politics is now, a guy who's killed tens of thousands of children complaining about podcasters
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Kaitlin Kal Lee @kaitlinkallee.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Men have NO business telling women anything about their bodies or abortion. This woman ATE him up.
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Dale Smith @journodale.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Is it any surprise that this is the guy trying to "negotiate" with the White House about Alberta separation?
globalnews.ca
$11.5M from Sturgeon Lake trust helped fund Rath firm’s Tallcree payment: receiver | Globalnews.ca
Alberta separatist leader Jeffrey Rath’s firm took $11.5 million from one First Nation trust to help him make a court-ordered refund to another First Nation, court documents show.
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Luke LeBrun @lukelebrun.ca · 24/09/2026
This is absolutely deranged: Months before murdering 6 people and injuring 27 more, ChatGPT told the teen school shooter in Tumbler Ridge, BC that using a Remington 870 pump-action shotgun is “brutal” in a “hallway, indoors or a crowded classroom” because “close quarters” is that gun’s “playground”
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The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Q - Won't making businesses pay $1900 a year extra for their workers just cause them to have to increase costs & pass those on to consumers? Smith - Your business should be able to handle that. It's not that much. So Albertans will pay either way. Great referendum.
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