@dalfen@mstdn.social cover

I’m Dolphin 🐬 / 🌈 🏳️‍⚧️ NB #ally / 🌻 🐸 🇺🇦 in solidarity.
Vive la résistance.

she / her | English/Spanish.
A roll of the dice. A juxtaposition.
A mixed economy but not mixed up.
🐰🐍

In quasi Gilead, •••- - -•••
Expect cat pics.

#AmWriting . MBA. 🩺
🍟 - snark fries
🧐 - analysis
🤿 - deep dive

Likes are acknowledgment 🫧
I toot, therefore, I am.

This profile is from a federated server and may be incomplete. View on remote instance

@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

Some Like It Lukewarm


@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

The Half-Price Breakfast Club


They only eat together when they find a good deal!

@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

Scamilton*


  • Now ham free!
@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

Independence Day* Sale


  • Our markdowns are out of this world!
@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random
dalfen OP ,
@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar
@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

I really want to name a town Setit... then I won't forget it 🤭

It would be known for its great rotisserie restaurants.



( 🙄😂 )

ALT
dalfen OP ,
@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar
dalfen OP ,
@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

/3

Come to Setit and you'll never forget it!


@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

Hot Coffee, Alabama.

You have been warned.


ALT
@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

Experiment, Georgia (US)

We tried.


ALT
@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

Ding Dong, Texas.
The best doorbells this side of the Mississippi


ALT
dalfen OP ,
@dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

/2

Note: Yes it's a real place... though I'm not sure if it has a slogan. Its history does have to do with bells, though!


ALT
  • Reply
  • Loading...
  • @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    Lorida, Florida. We rhyme here.


    ALT
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    Gettysburg... not that one.


    ALT
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    Trump offered to unfreeze funding for NYC tunnel (money that was already appropriated by Congress)

    IF Dulles airport and train New York Penn train station are renamed after him...

    🤔
    So it's not just extortion, but super petty extortion.

    Where are the emperor's clothes again?

    https://www.reuters.com/world/us/trump-offered-unfreeze-funding-nyc-tunnel-if-dulles-airport-train-station-2026-02-06/

    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    The irony of this photo — A border patrol 'agent' hiding behind a face covering & hat while scanning a commuter's face on the road.

    I am taking the time to post this entire article to highlight how / uses emerging, -breeching tech to identify & target regular people– potentially undocumented individuals AND citizens exercising their 1st Amendment right to express their grievances about such behavior as they observe & record it.

    1 of 4🧵

    ALT
    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    "...at least seven American citizens (were) told by agents this month that they were being recorded with facial recognition technology in & around Minneapolis...None had given consent for their faces to be recorded.

    "Facial recognition is just one technology tool that ICE has deployed...
    The technologies are being used not only to identify undocumented immigrants but also to track citizens who have protested ICE's presence..."

    2 of 4🧵

    On the morning of Jan. 10, Nicole Cleland was in her car trailing an Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent through Richfield, Minn., her hometown. Suddenly, the agent turned into a series of one-way streets and stopped, getting out of his white Dodge Ram, said Ms. Cleland, who volunteers with a local watchdog group that observes the activity of immigration officers. The agent then walked over to Ms. Cleland's car and surprised her by addressing her as Nicole. "He said he had facial recognition and that his body camera was on," said Ms. Cleland, 56, who had not met the agent before. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/technology/tech-ice-facial-recognition-palantir.html Accessed: 2 Feb 2026 at 1226 PST
    Ms. Cleland was one of at least seven American citizens told by ICE agents this month that they were being recorded with facial recognition technology in and around Minneapolis, according to local activists and videos posted to social media, which were verified by The New York Times. None had given consent for their faces to be recorded. Facial recognition is just one technology tool that ICE has deployed in Minneapolis, where thousands of agents are conducting a crackdown. The technologies are being used not only to identify undocumented immigrants but also to track citizens who have protested ICE's presence, said three current and former officials of the Department of Homeland Security who were not authorized to discuss confidential matters. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/technology/tech-ice-facial-recognition-palantir.html Accessed: 2 Feb 2026 at 1226 PST
    ICE is using two facial recognition programs in Minnesota, they said, including one made by the tech company Clearview AI and a newer program, Mobile Fortify. The agency is also using cellphone and social media tools to monitor people's online activity and potentially hack into phones. And agents are tapping into a database, built by the data analytics company Palantir, that combines government and commercial data to identify realtime locations for individuals they are pursuing, the current and former officials said. "The technologies are being deployed, or appear to be deployed, in a much more aggressive way than we have seen in the past," said Nathan Freed Wessler, a lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Union, which has sued the Homeland Security Department over the immigration operation in Minneapolis. "The conglomeration of all these technologies together is giving the government unprecedented abilities." https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/technology/tech-ice-facial-recognition-palantir.html Accessed: 2 Feb 2026 at 1226 PST

    ALT
  • Reply
  • Loading...
  • @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    The Trump admin might ease immigration operations in IF it gets more access to state prisons, says Homan—

    Exactly what the admin said when Bovino was directing operations in the state 🤔

    Furthermore:

    "...agents appeared to press on with their aggressive operations on Wednesday"

    The admin's lawyers "defended their actions, describing the surge of federal agents there as a legitimate exercise of its power." 👀


    ~
    https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/29/us/minnesota-ice-shooting-minneapolis/heres-the-latest

    Here's the latest. Tom Homan, President Trump's border czar, said on Thursday that the immigration crackdown in Minnesota could wind down if federal agents gained broader access to state jails, amid public outrage over the administration's policies. "The withdrawal of law enforcement resources here is dependent upon cooperation," Mr. Homan told reporters at a news conference outside Minneapolis. "As we see that cooperation happen, then the redeployment will happen," he added. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/29/us/minnesota-ice-shooting-minneapolis/heres-the-latest Accessed: 29 January 2026 at 0845 CST
    Mr. Homan spoke as anger grew in Minnesota and beyond over the killings of two Americans, Alex Pretti and Renee Good, by federal agents in separate shootings in Minneapolis this month as part of the crackdown. On Wednesday, Minnesota's chief federal judge condemned the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency for violating nearly 100 court orders during its operation. In his remarks, Mr. Homan presented himself as a pragmatist seeking common ground with Minnesota officials, who have publicly butted heads with Mr. Trump. He conceded that not "everything that has been done here has been perfect" and said he had met with local officials, including Governor Tim Walz. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/29/us/minnesota-ice-shooting-minneapolis/heres-the-latest Accessed: 29 January 2026 at 0845 CST
    In response to the public anger, Mr. Trump shook up the on-the-ground leadership of the federal immigration crackdown in Minnesota and put Mr. Homan in control, but there has been little sign of major changes on the ground. Federal immigration agents appeared to press on with their aggressive operations on Wednesday, and the Trump administration's lawyers defended their actions, describing the surge of federal agents there as a legitimate exercise of its power. Mayor Jacob Frey of Minneapolis said during a CNN town-hall meeting on Wednesday night that he and other local officials had a "productive and collegial conversation" with Mr. Homan and agreed that change was needed. But Mr. Homan did not commit to ending the federal operation "on any given timeline," Mr. Frey said. https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/01/29/us/minnesota-ice-shooting-minneapolis/heres-the-latest Accessed: 29 January 2026 at 0845 CST

    ALT
    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    In other words:

    The Trump admin changed pitchers in Minnesota, but the ballgame it is playing hasn't changed.

    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    To Coach A Mockingbird


    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    Some Like It Meh


    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    Vance yelling at people (at today's WH press briefing) and telling them to disregard the things they saw in the videos and instead see what they (Vance, Trump, Noem, etc.) say happened really seems like it will calm tensions a bunch 🙄

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    /2

    Vance chided the media like children and accused them of making up a 'murder' narrative when it was clearly self-defense.

    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    Never forget.

    January 6, 2021

    
    #USA #US #USpol
    
    ![A person in a suit and American flag mask stands prominently trying to block protesters attempting to force their way into the US Capitol building on January 6, 2021. The scene is shrouded in smoke, and various flags are visible among the crowd. People are using their phones to capture the moment.](https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/851/445/573/439/904/original/0de9e86ded8db30c.jpeg)  
    ![At the US Capitol building on January 6, 2021:  A crowd of protestors climbs on the architecture and attempts to force their way into the US Capitol building. Several flags are visible, including an American flag and others with political symbols.](https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/851/447/852/205/704/original/a6b3bd50d4e2a385.jpeg)  
    ![A scene at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021  A large crowd of protesters is gathered at the U.S. Capitol during a demonstration to "Stop the Steal." Smoke fills the air, and several people hold banners and flags, including ones with "Trump 2020" slogans. Protesters are attempting to force their way into the building, and several have climbed up onto the architecture.](https://media.mstdn.social/media_attachments/files/115/851/450/067/569/782/original/aba6000bd9d403e2.jpeg)
    
    ALT
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    "Trump Says U.S. Will 'Run' Venezuela During Transition" (headline*)

    America First.

    🍟

    *MSNow

    /1

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar
    ALT
  • Reply
  • Loading...
  • dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    They can't even take care of their own country. Now they'll somehow run Venezuela.

    /3

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    Is it legal for the US to attack Venezuela and take its leader and perhaps, per trump's words, its oil?

    🤷‍♀️

    /4

    "Anyone....anyone?" GIF (from movie "Ferris Bueller's Day Off")

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    Venezuela is a soverign country.

    The US bombed a sovereign country, took its leader, indicated it might take its oil, and said it will now run that country–

    All without declaring war through Congress like the Constitution specifies must be done.

    This wasn't just some random, isolated military operation that the president ordered. It was literally bombing a sovereign country and taking it over.

    /5

    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    Walgreens, bought out by private equity, is now cutting pay and corporate staff.

    The pharmacy chain eliminated six paid holidays for hourly store workers, cutting hundreds of dollars from their paychecks, according to interviews and records reviewed by Bloomberg News. Walgreens informed workers of the change in early October. That was a little over a month after it was acquired by private equity firm Sycamore Partners. Walgreens didn't respond to requests for comment. Sycamore declined to comment. The storied American drugstore has struggled in recent years, leading the business to cut spending and eventually sell itself outright. More people have been buying convenience items from online retailers or discount chains, and insurance companies are paying pharmacies less for prescription drugs. Walgreens' stock price plunged over 85% in the last decade, and the business has been closing hundreds of stores. In August, Sycamore paid $10 billion for Wal-greens, along with other related health care and retail companies that have since been split apart. Bloomberg on Apple News 11 November 2025 at 1152 AKST
    Removing the paid holidays is the latest cost-cutting measure implemented by Walgreens under its new owners. The company fired about 80 corporate employees, including most of its communications team, and announced it would close its office in downtown Chicago, Crain's Chicago Business reported in October. Previously, full-time hourly Walgreens store employees were still paid if they didn't work Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, and Labor Day, as long as they met certain requirements like having worked at the company for six months. If they worked the holiday, they got extra compensa-tion. Now, full-time hourly employees have to work on the holidays to get paid. Employees who work those days still qualify for extra holiday pay, the documents show. One manager said she will lose more than $1,000 in wages throughout the year because of the change, and she's planning on cutting back on her family vacation this winter to save money. She asked not to be identified due to fear of retaliation. Bloomberg on Apple News 11 November 2025 at 1152 AKST
    Even if employees want to work on the holi-days, there aren't always enough shifts to go around, some Walgreens managers said in interviews. Walgreens last year kept its 24-hour locations open, while closing others for the Thanksgiving holidays. CVS Health Corp., which runs the largest American retail pharmacy chain, gives full-time store workers seven paid holidays, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years, spokesperson Amy Thibault said. If they work on the holiday, they get paid time-and-a-half. The Walgreens workers affected by the cuts are in jobs that are generally paid low wages. Across the US, the average hourly rate for a pharmacy technician, who can fill prescriptions and give vaccines, is $21, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Bloomberg on Apple News 11 November 2025 at 1152 AKST

    ALT
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    Government shutdown effects bear down on millions more people after a crucial Nov. 1 deadline passes ~

    -and-

    “Another program that will be forced to shutter in states across the country is Head Start, which provides free learning programs, health screenings and meals to young children from low-income families.“


    https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/government-shutdown-snap-nov-1-deadline-rcna241084

    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random

    US judge permanently blocks Trump order requiring voters to prove citizenship~

    US district judge Kollar-Kotelly “found that part of the order was illegal because the U.S. Constitution gives states, not the president, the power to oversee elections.”


    https://www.reuters.com/world/us-judge-permanently-blocks-trump-order-requiring-voters-prove-citizenship-2025-10-31/

    ALT
    @georgetakei@universeodon.com avatar georgetakei , to random

    He’s just going to make things up to try and stay in power, like all fascist authoritarians do. We will not abide it.

    dalfen ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    @georgetakei Srsly— Lisa Monaco was the Deputy AG from 2021 to 2025. Merrick Garland was AG from 2021 to 2025. Jack Smith wasn’t a DOJ Special Counsel until 2022 to 2025– how could any of them have “rigged” anything related to the 2020 election 😂

    And the “Operation Arctic Frost” nonsense was simply a part of Jack Smith’s investigation THAT HE LISTED IN HIS REPORT!

    And no one “taped” any phone calls from what I read. They investigated phone records.

    https://www.newsweek.com/full-list-republican-lawmakers-monitored-arctic-frost-probe-10841257

    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar dalfen , to random
    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    This is also Missouri (& Kansas):

    Tens of thousands of federal gov’t workers are not getting a paycheck in the area & has threatened not to pay them (as required by law).

    Stronghold Food Pantry has already seen demand increase 300% in the first 10 days of October. 👀

    And Harvesters (food bank) expects a major demand increase at a time when food insecurity is already up more than 10% from last year. 👀

    39a🧵

    https://www.kcur.org/politics-elections-and-government/2025-10-15/kansas-city-federal-workers-shutdown-paycheck-food-insecurity-congress-irs

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    Back to Illinois & Iowa:

    Local food banks have already been hit hard by changes to and USDA food shipment cuts (that ordered earlier in the year). In addition, local food banks cannot purchase more food to meet increasing demand during the .

    40🧵

    WQAD News 8 report (Quad cities)
    from 15 October 2025
    c/o YT

    WQAD News 8 report (Quad cities) from 15 October 2025 https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=3qNMRPKt5rQ&pp=0gcJCR4Bo7VqN5tD Accessed: 18 October 2025 at 2013 CST

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    This is Delaware:

    As the continues, food banks that saw increased demand this past year are preparing for more, esp. as federal employees now go without pay.

    “It’s worrisome…so many individuals are just barely getting by. I don’t know that anyone could plan for not having a paycheck,” said one food bank rep.

    Food banks have also been challenged by canceled food shipments ordered by earlier this year.

    41🧵

    https://www.coasttv.com/news/food-bank-of-delaware-braces-for-increased-demand-uncertain-federal-aid-amid-government-shutdown/article_3586f317-59e2-44a5-90aa-c0b5c7b6010f.html

    https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/video/news/local/food-bank-concerns-raised-about-funding-amid-government-shutdown/4279412/ Accessed: 18 October 2025 at 1921 PST

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    The Native American community is also affected by the & federal spending cuts.

    They brace for ~”damage to health care, education, infrastructure & other services funded by the under treaties struck more than a century ago.” They also fear that the admin “would use the shutdown to lay off federal workers responsible for ensuring that trust and treaty responsibilities are honored.“

    41a (interlude)🧵


    https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-native-americans-services-e70167fd8306097709bddfa7ded55474

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    Tribal communities are already affected by the

    1. Healthcare:

    Some have had to suspend telehealth services, which are important for tribal elders, especially in ultra-rural communities.

    1. Food:

    The entire ‘Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations’ (of ) is furloughed. One director worries that if the shutdown lingers, families will go without some food.
    ~~

    41b (interlude cont.)🧵


    https://www.marketplace.org/story/2025/10/10/why-the-shutdown-hits-indian-country-particularly-hard

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    Now back to each state.

    This is Hawaii (again):

    Hawaii Foodbank prepares for increased demand due to the

    It serves >160,000 households monthly & may add 60,000-80,000 more, incl. federal civilian & military families.

    This comes at a time of significant stress from rising food prices & cuts to programs like

    👉 1 in 3 Hawaiians face food insecrity.

    42🧵

    https://www.kitv.com/news/business/hawaii-foodbank-preparing-for-increase-in-demand-from-federal-government-shutdown-impacts/article_2b1cb190-bb23-4ba7-881f-d85b6269374c.html

    https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2025/10/11/hawaii-foodbank-prepares-growing-need-amid-government-shutdown/

    https://hawaiifoodbank.org/blog/2025/10/01/a-government-shutdown-will-strain-families-and-food-banks/

    ALT
  • Reply
  • Loading...
  • dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    I’m back working on this thread 🧵
    A lot of stuff has happened over the last week or so.

    Before I get back to highlighting the effects of food insecurity in each state (11 more to go), this is today’s news:

    ~Judge orders administration to distribute SNAP contingency money amid shutdown:

    Another judge has ruled that the suspension of SNAP funding is "unlawful."~

    43🧵

    https://abcnews.go.com/US/judge-rules-trumps-attempt-suspend-snap-funding-unlawful/story?id=127069497

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    This is Pennsylvania:

    “Supply is not keeping up with demand,’ said the executive director of one food bank. “On average, we would serve about 50 families a day & we're seeing anywhere from 50-120 families a day.”

    With demand increasing amid the , every donation helps. But the threat to may be unbearable.

    “For every meal a food bank gives, SNAP provides nine. That's the capacity that we're losing here.”

    44🧵

    https://6abc.com/amp/post/government-shutdown-2025-pennsylvania-food-nonprofits-sound-alarm-snap-benefits-are-set-expire/18092035/

    https://6abc.com/post/government-shutdown-2025-pennsylvania-food-nonprofits-sound-alarm-snap-benefits-are-set-expire/18092035/ Accessed: 31 October 2025 at 1429 MST

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    This is Connecticut:

    The largest food bank network is bracing for what could be its toughest challenge yet as threats to funding amid the might “cut off aid to 360,000 families across the state.”

    "We're staring down the barrel of a disaster,” said its president.

    The nonprofit was already seeing a 15% demand increase from Oct. 2024, as civil servants go w/o paychecks & grocery prices continue to rise.

    45🧵

    https://www.aol.com/news/disaster-cts-largest-food-bank-213444177.html

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    This is Arizona:

    ~ 9 out of 10 counties w/ the highest food insecurity rates are rural. With the & benefits potentially being suspended, Flagstaff Family Food Center is working to feed people across Northern Arizona.

    Recently, volunteers like Maria Martell have noticed increased demand.

    “Doing like 150 cars a couple of years ago. Now we’re doing 270….almost at 300 cars, on a Tuesday…so many people in need.”

    46🧵


    https://www.azfamily.com/2025/10/29/flagstaff-food-bank-helps-rural-arizonans-amid-government-shutdown/

    https://www.azfamily.com/2025/10/29/flagstaff-food-bank-helps-rural-arizonans-amid-government-shutdown/ Accessed: 31 October 2025 at 1705 EST

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    And in the news again—

    A U.S. District Judge in Boston ruled the administration has until Monday to decide whether to pay at least partial food benefits.

    Judge Talwani “declined to issue a temporary restraining order to force the administration to act before the funds run out tomorrow, finding that resuming payments at some point can still avoid irreparable harm to SNAP recipients.”

    47🧵

    https://www.npr.org/2025/10/31/nx-s1-5592366/snap-food-benefits-judge-trump-administration-usda-wic

    ALT
  • Reply
  • Loading...
  • dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    This is New York:

    Food pantries brace for a “surge” with ~3 million at risk of losing benefits...

    “Gov. Hochul declared a state of emergency & said NY will not let people go hungry due to the federal .

    Food banks had already seen more demand amid increasing grocery prices & previous food aid cuts.

    ~”It's a cost-of-living crisis people have...(they) just don't make enough money,” said one food bank director.

    48🧵

    https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/snap-benefits-new-york-food-pantries-government-shutdown/

    https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/video/new-york-food-pantries-fearing-potential-snap-freeze Accessed: 31 October 2025 at 1700 CST

    dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    ~11 MILLION people in 14 central states could lose benefits amid the continuing federal .

    The director of one food group spoke of the loss of benefits’ “ripple effects” on local economies, school attendance & chronic disease.

    Food banks had already seen more demand in the past few years, & SNAP provides 9 meals for every 1 from food bank donations, mostly to children, the elderly, & those w/ disabilities.

    49🧵

    https://nebraskapublicmedia.org/en/news/news-articles/food-banks-in-the-central-us-say-they-cant-fill-the-gap-left-by-frozen-snap-benefits/

    ALT
  • Reply
  • Loading...
  • dalfen OP ,
    @dalfen@mstdn.social avatar

    This is Wisconsin:

    On a typical night, ~300 people go to Feed My People food bank’s distribution in Eau Claire.

    This past Monday, 464 people came— “a more than 50% increase.” 👀

    ~”Food service providers across Wisconsin have felt a squeeze in recent months, as household costs have increased & federal programs for the needy have been canceled.”

    They now brace for more demand w/ threats to amid the .

    50🧵

    https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-food-banks-brace-end-snap-shutdown