“Ronald Reagan loved tariffs” OK, meemaw, let’s get you back to bed

The “oh well he was in the military, of course he’s racist” type arguments are getting on my nerves, condescending bullshit from people who have no idea how big and diverse the military is

The 100 lowest-paying US corporations spent $644B on stock buybacks from 2019 to 2024. Buybacks artificially boost share prices and inflate CEO pay. The typical worker at these companies earned $35k last year. Meanwhile, the average CEO was paid $17.2M See the problem?

On Saturday, somebody in government and/or in the military defended my 1st Amendment rights. 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 ✔️They refused to provoke peaceful protesters. ✔️They refused to bomb peaceful protests. Despite the fantasies of this shitposter. ⬇️

The whole barnyard turned out for #nokings in Providence RI. #resist It takes all of us.

This is what the 25th Amendment is for.

Our federal tax dollars are being used to fund a network of government social media accounts that pump out disinformation 24/7. Even during a government shutdown. It’s definitely not essential work.

Providence RI: Every Thu & Fri at India Point, Bridge Crew friends and I remind I-195 motorists to defend democracy. 🩷🩷🩷 Join us at the RI Statehouse tomorrow at 1PM for #NoKings. You can bring your lawn chair & beverage, and skip the march. We won't judge. Just show up.

the president of the united states wants to use the american military to kill american citizens on american soil. that's the whole story!

Over the past years, @ridersalliance.org and I have achieved so much together. And we're just getting started. I'm deeply honored to earn their first ever political endorsement.

In any other country, if federal agents fired upon journalists when unprovoked — what would we call it? If federal agents marched down streets demanding papers — what would we say? Authoritarianism — let’s not pretend it’s something else when it happens in our American cities.

First day of #WeekWithoutDriving was a breeze. I’m glad MPLS is taking strides to make it easier to live car-free. This yearly event challenges us to put ourselves in the shoes of kids, elders, disabled and justice impacted people who don’t have cars and/or licenses. Join us!

Pew Research says 17% of American adults living in the Northeast are nondrivers. pewrsr.ch/3ZgKcOt @govdanmckee.bsky.social and RIDOT Dir Alviti: disregarding the safety & transpo needs of car-free Ocean Staters (kids walk & ride bikes, too!) is bad policy. Change direction.

Dr. Snyder cautions us that the US gov't intention of recalling military leaders to Virginia can make us vulnerable. Oh boy. open.substack.com/pub/snyder/p...

Hey Rhode Island: Want to find an easy $250,000 you can put immediately toward restoring bus routes? Stop printing and mailing quarterly payroll tax report reminders to the 30,000 employers who use payroll services so it’s already taken care of for them automatically

Meanwhile in Providence: Please come save us @davidmoralespvd.bsky.social

When we have the deep conversation about RI public policy that grows ridership, maybe our bus agency's marketing department will not feel 100% responsible for attracting new riders. #weekwithoutdriving We all have skin in this game.

September is #suicidepreventionmonth If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, contact the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, which provides 24/7 free and confidential support. Call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org. #SPM25 #ArmedWithFacts

Fun fact: Nancy Mace is trying to censure me over comments I never said.   Her res does not contain a single quote from me because she couldn’t find any.   Unlike her, I have routinely condemned political violence, no matter the political ideology.

One thing I’m really struggling with today is the fact that the director of the FBI is a conspiracy theorist who promoted QAnon and called Jan. 6th insurrectionists political prisoners. This is the guy we’re now supposed to give the benefit of the doubt when he’s releasing information.

#NEW: State Rep. David Morales announced Monday he’s running for mayor of Providence in 2026, setting up a challenge against incumbent Brett Smiley.

Bullets don't care if you are a Republican or Democrat. Reality is over 400,000,000 guns and too much hate. Political violence is happening to both parties. We need leaders to step up. Truly sorry for Charlie Kirk and his family. He was wrong. It is not worth it.

Important to remember that everyone involved in renaming the DoD to the Department of War is afraid to take the subway.

Assault weapons ban NOW.

New England Senators are helping America to see that *this Kennedy* doesn't belong at the helm of a science agency. I immunize myself 1) to protect people around me and 2) to protect me. Gov't should assist. youtube.com/watch?v=vH8G...

My Senator is a lawyer who knows how to question a nominee for the Fed Board. Yes, Jack. Climate is a national security issue. youtube.com/watch?v=baqK...

TY, Ørsted. Keep my RI electricity clean & affordable, electeds. Orsted's Revolution Wind sues Trump administration over project halt - www.reuters.com/legal/litiga...

My news source is @reuters.com, and they hit a home run with this interactive econ article. Where does the US get its goods from? - www.reuters.com/business/tar...

Friends, support @steveahlquist.bsky.social and independent RI journalism. I subscribe to Steve's excellent Substack, and I recommended it to a friend who moved to CT but wants to stay plugged in to RI events.

In Feb 2023, some of us RI transit riders opposed the renomination of Peter Alviti as RIDOT Director. We were not successful. Rep @tanzister.bsky.social has proposed that Mr. Alviti should be removed from the position of RIPTA Board Chair. I concur. Reported here open.substack.com/pub/steveahl...

The president is sending the military to control American cities and if you're a reporter who's framing that illegal power grab as "pushing the boundaries of constitutionality" or "acting boldly to fight crime" or whatever, please go find another line of work where you won't get us all killed.

youtube.com/watch?v=r3qI... I'm a volunteer with Rhode Island @momsdemand.bsky.social. We frequently hand out gun locks when we are tabling at events. You can ask your local librarian to assist you in sourcing free locks, as well.

“Putin would eat you for lunch.” Today, exactly that happened.

what

Your reminder to SUBSCRIBE to Steve Ahlquist News on Substack. No one has worked harder to cover breaking news about proposed RIPTA cuts. open.substack.com/pub/steveahl...

TY, @jcasi-25.bsky.social! I am grateful for Speaker Shekarchi and all of our Transit Champs in @rihouseofreps.bsky.social. I hope we'll usher in a new era of transit & housing by working together. #SaveRIPTA @pvdstreets.bsky.social

Recommended reading, Rhode Island: open.substack.com/pub/steveahl...

I had marked my calendar on July 27th as "Martial Law". It appears my estimate was a bit early.

Did you know that calling in the national guard doesn’t solve homelessness but giving people housing does?

I was at a dinner last week that was like a motonormativity skit. Folks complaining about the unfairness of congestion pricing, parking at Trader Joes, the flaws of commuter rail, wait times at Starbucks drive throughs. It was a good reminder that many people never even hear another point of view.

Interesting ay?

This is another example of how Peter Alviti & Gov. McKee have prioritized RIDOT over RIPTA. Imagine if the money taxpayers paid to keep tow trucks on standby on the #WashingtonBridge had been available to @ripta.com 🚌 #SaveRIPTA

With 52 yrs as a registered Democrat, I am begging @ridemparty.bsky.social to hire a transportation/urbanism expert to advise party leaders, candidates, campaigns. I see little understanding of policy decisions <--> RIPTA ridership. Electeds offer transpo solutions that don't work.

Let the HTF expire. youtube.com/shorts/cl7hR...

I will be at NEYM on Sunday, but @pvdcitycouncil.bsky.social is offering a great opportunity for folks to talk about rent prices. I promised to amplify this message, and I hope to join future meetings.

Thank you ✔️ RI Rep David Morales ✔️ Board Member @coreyjonespvd.bsky.social ✔️ Board Prez Ty'Relle Stephens ✔️ PVD Council Prez Rachel Miller Per-pupil funds belong at our PPSD schools, not at a new charter school. open.substack.com/pub/steveahl...

My friend Diana Garlington, founder of Safer Communities for Justice in PVD, helped me to understand the pernicious effect of unsolved firearm murders on my whole city. Diana's daughter is one of those unsolved firearm murders. We need every strayegy& every tool.