Just Bob

youtu.beHelland for House - Happy Retirement, Pete Stauber!YouTube video by Robert Helland

16 May

We have 2 weeks to compel our representative, Pete Stauber, a 4-term Republican, to retire. It is his wish as much as ours, I believe. He's tired of depending on and defending Trump. Go to his Facebook, wish a 'happy retirement, Pete!' - nurture that seed. Watch for more: youtu.be/mjUVTFwTLVs?...

23 May

I've developed a moral objection to liking posts that do not allow public comments. #the411 PS the dogpiles will just be 1-2% of FB dogpiles. The billboards: cheaper and shorter.

Just Bob@bobhelland.bsky.social

Why do so many Bluesky users disable public comments? Why are we afraid of interaction and conversation? A social contract? Prefer 1-way streets? Absent true engagement, Bluesky will become a land of rhetorical billboards and emotional dogpiles like many other apps. What's it's true role?

23 May

A lot of people think and say the sentiment, but who are we voting for in the midterms? Which of our AI skeptics and critics has the HI to run and succeed where failure is so abundant due to all those forces: hollow human lives, scorched earth, low-info tech, concentrated wealth. WHO IS RUNNING?

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youtu.beHelland for House - Happy Retirement, Pete Stauber!YouTube video by Robert Helland

ALERT: PETE STAUBER WATCH Day 4 of 15 UPDATE: No sightings, not filed, no changes. ANALYSIS: Is he retiring? You tell me. I think so.

Just Bob@bobhelland.bsky.social

DULUTH DULUTH DULUT: DULUTH DWHOTH DULUTH DULUTH DULUTH ISLUTH DULUTH DULUIN DULUTH DUFRIH DULUTH DULUTH DULUTH SATUTH DULUTH DULUTH DULUTH SUNUTH DTEXTH DULUTH DULUTH DULUTH DBOBTH DULUTH DULUTH DULUTH DATUTH D65U1H D4L0T2 D5L86T4 DUWINH DULUTH DULUTH DULUTH DTHETH DULUTH DULUTH DULUTH DURACE

Recent Pete Stauber (5/20) interview with Hannah Davis, Union Times, as part of what i call a "face-saving farewell tour." Two points of information affirming imminent Stauber retirement: 1. His friend, Golden, is leaving 2. Won't defend Trump's rhetoric Not running. Bidding farewell.

STAUBER WATCH: MN candidate filing day 3 of 14: Still no Pete. Tell him to "enjoy retirement" on his Facebook: share.google/LL6f4uRh0deq... Like many other Republicans, he doesn't want to back trump for 32 more months. We can compel his early retirement, or beat him in November.

Welcome back, @duluthnews.bsky.social. After one month away, as a paid subscriber, I'm glad you are back on Bluesky. I hope city and regional neighbors on Bluesky go to follow @duluthnews.bsky.social to show our appreciation, keep them engaged here, and maybe off pull off X/Twitter one day.

youtu.beHelland for House - The "Real" Bob HellandYouTube video by Robert Helland

Send it! #climb #rock #boulder Should I hang in for the primary or drop out? I think 500,000 eligible voters might like the option of a father with young kids, day-job employee, local artist, choosing to self-fund primary run for moral reasons. Time to ROAR. youtu.be/AHNHPa-NAv8?...

If your first thought is: that is a dangerous tool. YES. It is a "weapon of mass decision" and if you help me deploy it, we will rock the federal tax code in 2027. *no AI involved minnesotafutures.com

Just Bob@bobhelland.bsky.social

Example: congrats to Nisswa, MN for reporting the highest per return Total Income on 1040s in MN-8 CD with average $143K propelled by 330 returns over $200K with average $670K. The power of data by tax form field, by zip code, by income. For free, from me to you. What can you find? What's gotta go?

minnesotafutures.comHelland for House - IRS SOI ExplorerTax reform made simple, by Bob Helland for US House

Bernie Sanders gave us a rhetorical toolbox for tax reform: "millionaires and billionaires" "the 1%" "feel the Bern" I will give you an analytical toolbox: minnesotafutures.com If YOU here on Bluesky, see the potential in elevating a federal tax form, data visualization, and BI expert: We win.

LLMs and OpenAI have grown-up with externalized costs (see: Musk trial), specifically to speculative investors who anticipate a payout at some future date. Wicked confluence of 1) consumer price and product rejection, 2) waning investor confidence 3) crumbling economy and inflation = WINDOW CLOSING!

Nevermind the fact these are essentially all the same leveraged dollar swapped on balance sheets as both AR and AP. Like paying yourself with a credit card to earn points, tokens! Lol. And each new payment is forecast into future earnings. In the end, you might get some extra tokens. (Or investors!)

gizmodo.comMinnesota Becomes First State to Ban Prediction Markets, Feds Immediately SueThe CFTC has sued several states that have tried to regulate prediction markets at the local level.

Let's bring this energy to the federal government. Proud of Minnesota.

Jennifer Ouellette@jenlucpiquant.bsky.social

Minnesota Becomes First State to Ban Prediction Markets, Feds Immediately Sue gizmodo.com/minnesota-be...

Great start! Check out @jakejohnsonmn.bsky.social doing it right.

Jake Johnson@jakejohnsonmn.bsky.social

BIG NEWS: Today, we submitted over 5,000 signatures and officially filed to get on the ballot! Most politicians just pay a filing fee to get on the ballot. But to me, and to a lot of folks across southern Minnesota, $300 is a lot of money. So we chose the grassroots path instead:

youtu.beHelland for House - Happy Retirement, Pete Stauber!YouTube video by Robert Helland

19 May

Put yourself in a GOP Representative's shoes a moment. Forecast the trajectory of POTUS mind in three months and ask: Can I commit to 30 more months of backing him up? Could I really vote against impeachment again? How long can I defend the indefensible? Pete Stauber? Wants out. Won't be pretty.

Just Bob@bobhelland.bsky.social

19 May

You know it's going to happen eventually: Trump's 'weaponization' slush fund will be 'weaponized' against him into making Jim Comey rich in a few years for having been subject to 'weaponized' government under him. Some committee will authorize $86,478,647 payment to him in 2029 to make a point.

19 May

I have avoided Meta/Facebook, but Bluesky really leaves no other choice: both from 1) a technical perspective - can't compress a 1 min video to post - and 2) an attitudinal perspective - a bastion of left-wing aspiration but low commit, no collective purpose. www.facebook.com/share/r/18g7...

facebook.comFacebook

18 May

I just want to clarify for the sake of math all of the following round to $1.8B: $1.77B $1.78B $1.776B $1,776M $1,776,000K $1,776,000,000 For news outlets using some standard that makes this $1.7B: note that in that margin of error, $100M could pay the entire annual salary of the US House of Reps.

15 May

It's not an affordability crisis... it's a COSTASTROPHE.

Who is Neutral Bob? I am trying to desensitize people to neutrality in politics including neutral positions and neutral candidates. Not timid, not indifferent, not ambivalent. Neutral. Open-minded. Data-driven. Empathetic. Considered. I am: 10% PRO 10% ANTI 80% NEUTRAL Exception... or rule?

TMYK: #MN We dont have any clue who is or who is not running for office in Minnesota. Technically speaking. I think our MN election process is beautiful, elegant. Why? As May warms, candidates can get outside and nurture grassroots support, build momentum, and THEN decide to file for office... 1/3

2/3 This timing shortens our overall election cycle relative to other states JUNE file AUG primary NOV election. This, I believe, reduces the need for campaigns to operate and thus reduces need to spend money. I feel it is both candidate-friendly and voter-friendly in condensing timeline to summer..

3/3 having been criticized or questioned as "entering late" consider what had not occurred until 2026, as several of us joined race for MN-08: +Iran War start +ICE murders Good, Pretti, occupies MPLS +BWCA failure in Senate +State voter rolls attacked, VRA Now is perfect time to enter arena.

@chrismurphyct.bsky.social

Conserve gas, save cash? Bike to school!

Just Bob reposted

Chris Murphy

13 May

America's chief Middle East negotiator - Jared Kushner - is almost completely dependent on Middle East government investment in his chief business. It's probably the biggest conflict of interest in American diplomatic history and we should be talking about this way more.

13 May

Bryan hits the nail on its head. I'm about to boycott any association with DraftKings, etc, including #SNL because of Jost/Che selling out. On this topic "Neutral Bob" is not neutral.

Bryan Toporek@btoporek.bsky.social

tbh, I left Twitter because I just wanted a place to talk about the NBA without getting inundated with dumb player-based Muse accounts and crypto/gambling/AI grifters. (Also because Elon Musk is a pox on humanity.)

anthonyhamiltonforcongress.comAnthony Hamilton for Congress | Get Involved TodaySupport Anthony Hamilton, a grassroots candidate for Minnesota's 8th District, advocating for term limits, transparency, and accountability in Congress.

11 May

Interesting development in CD6 and CD8 Republican primary challengers to Emmer and Stauber... with websites!

Mike Foley for Congress@mikefoley4real.bsky.social

When representation fails, it’s on everyday people to step up with integrity. On August 11th, Minnesota's open primary gives voters the power to unseat entrenched politicians who’ve abandoned their responsibility to the people. In MN8, Pete Stauber has a primary challenger.

helland4house.substack.comCHALLENGE: 8 Tough Questions for Luke GulbransonAs a late entrant but splashy fundraiser who was the first to report $100,000 in contributions received, Luke has tailwinds but faces headwinds

11 May

I asked Trina Swanson 8 tough questions. Now, I have 8 tough questions for Luke Gulbranson. Who do you think will respond first? helland4house.substack.com/p/challenge-...

11 May

Who do we love, America? Its the Minnesota Waterfowl Primary. Your VOTE counts: A. Minnesota Loon B. Wood duck C. Parking Lot Seagull Vote in the DFL Primary August 11th!

I appreciate the trans constituency. Trans rights are human rights are constitutional rights. I sense 4 issues dominate conversation. 1) women's athletics/competitions 2) which bathroom used 3) gender-affirming care, access and cost 4) influence on minors All deserve liberty, safety, happiness.

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3*) the public and personal safety of the trans community is a cultural policing, social affirmation, and law enforcement accountability gap when can and will shine light on in congressional hearings.

4) I see primarily and frequently positive influences in the community and encourage my own children's most wild expression and ideas of freedom, while teaching them to respect others, protect others, and learn about things we dont understand. Hope that helps, open to ideas, doing the best I can!

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2) bathrooms are becoming increasingly less-public and as a parent if I am concerned for a child, I am responsible to to go in their preferred bathroom and help them. No issue. Let's be considerate of others and our daily need. 3) de support access, 'life & limb' 1st priority in universal care

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1) this might be the hardest single issue because it may meaningfully/materially affect women. I have two competitive daughters finding their way in life. I want them to a) be with all friends and b) compete fairly. I believe in pre-advised eligibility (not post!) and exhibition participants.

helland4house.substack.comCHALLENGE: 8 Tough Questions for Trina SwansonAs the first person to congratulate her on the endorsement win, I will also be the first to challenge her in the primary race to address unanswered questions in her public statements and biography

9 May

The GOP is built on fraud, represents fraud, and in 2026 will fraudulently project its ability to deter, detect, or disrupt fraud. Stauber's DFL challenger must be transparent, experienced in financial data, forensics, brutally honest and straightforward. helland4house.substack.com/p/challenge-...

richardcarlbom.bsky.social@richardcarlbom.bsky.social

Let’s go Trina Swanson! Unseat Pete!

8 May

As the primary race takes shape I intend to ask fair but tough questions of my DFL/Democrat contenders in Minnesota's 8th district. I have 8 questions for Trina Swanson. Next up: Luke Gulbranson. I likewise invite our primary competitors to challenge me. helland4house.substack.com/p/challenge-...

8 May

More of this, please!

Alice Stollmeyer@stollmeyer.eurosky.social

European Commission has updated its follow buttons. ✅ Mastodon and Bluesky are in; ⛔ X, Facebook, YouTube are out. (Only when you scroll all the way down, FB and YT are still there, but no longer X.) commission.europa.eu/index_en

8 May

WEEKEND AT BERNIES 4: "Long-Covid Pete Completes his Congressional Farewell Tour." This man is RETIRED people. Go to Facebook and wish him a happy retirement when he walks away from it all in June to be replaced by the next GOP clone who inherits an uncontested primary and $1.0M+. He's cooked.

7 May

Subpoena his son-in-law.

helland4house.substack.comDAILY BOBBER: An unauthorized biography of the greatest politician ever: My DadWhy I thought my dad was the smartest, bravest person in the world and why I still think he would be better in office than 99% of politicians

My dad, Jeff, is the greatest politician you've never heard of. Here's why: helland4house.substack.com/p/daily-bobb...

open.substack.comDAILY BOBBER: What is Bob's next move now?After seeing the frontrunner Trina Swanson secure a first-round DFL endorsement on May 2, what is the best path forward for Bob and for CD8?

MN partisan elections involve three stages: STAGE 1: Caucus to Convention (May) STAGE 2: Filing to Primary (Aug) STAGE 3: Nomination to General Election (Nov) We are now in STAGE 2, before you assume the 'right' thing to do for any candidate, please read: open.substack.com/pub/helland4...

If you support any of DFL primary candidates, ask Katie Phang to moderate a US HOUSE (MN-8) forum in Duluth, MN in June at the post below. TRINA SWANSON LUKE GULBRANSON DR. WENDELL SMITH DEBRA TOPPING JP MCBRIDE BOB HELLAND (ME) KATIE PHANG (MODERATOR) Make Stauber famous.

Katie Phang@katiephang.bsky.social

TONIGHT! 👀 I’m joining Protect the Vote Arizona LIVE because Arizona is on the front line of the national fight for voting rights. What happens in AZ won’t stay in AZ–it will impact access to the ballot across the country. TONIGHT | 7–9pm ET / 4–6pm PST 🔗 RSVP: protectthevoteaz.com/live-stream

This candidate is cool: Mallory McMorrow for US Senate.

Mallory McMorrow@mallorymcmorrow.bsky.social

Gen Z is the first generation to be less cognitively capable than the one before them. A neuroscientist told Congress why: screens. I helped pass legislation to get phones out of classrooms and I have a plan to hold Big Tech accountable. My guiding principle will always be putting our kids first.

5 May

Linda knows wassup.

Linda Pitt@ljmkp.bsky.social

Stauber's work is done in D.C. He got the Republicans to agree to open up mining again and the Boundary Waters will be contaminated. That's all he cared about.

5 May

Tell me this man, hiding behind dark sunglasses, is not retiring after he blocks the nomination June 2 like a dutiful team player. Yeah, Rep. Pete Stauber is running alright: away from Trump and towards retirement! #openseat #petesretreat