Cheryl Rofer

New Mexico

Retired nuclear scientist: national security, nature, science, and women's issues. She, her https://t.co/VaGaGNRzyB https://t.co/89AX7DyNvJ

Featured in: Favicon

lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com Favicon

newsweek.com Favicon

scientificamerican.com Favicon

theglobeandmail.com Favicon

foreignpolicy.com Favicon

motherjones.com Favicon

thediplomat.com Favicon

bellingcat.com Favicon

aip.org (+1) Favicon

thebulletin.org + 3 more

Articles

More Thoughts On Russia's Bomber Losses

6 days ago | lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com | Cheryl Rofer

The Ukrainian drone attack hit two components of the Russian nuclear force. The primary purpose of the attack was to destroy the planes that launch cruise missiles at Ukraine. Some of those planes are also the types that carry nuclear weapons. There also were hits at Severomorsk, the headquarters of the Northern Fleet and Russia’s ballistic missile submarines. We have much less information about the hits at Severomorsk, so I won’t say more about it in this post.
Major Ukrainian Drone Attack In Russia

6 days ago | lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com | Cheryl Rofer

Ukrainian drones have attacked airplanes at four Russian airbases. Forty planes are said to have been lost, including TU-95s, which, in addition to attacking Ukraine with cruise missiles, carry nuclear weapons. An attack on Severomorsk, the headquarters of the Northern Fleet, is also reported to be in progress. The drones were carried in trucks and released near the bases, after which the trucks self-destructed. This is a developing situation.
Lawyers, Guns & Money

1 week ago | lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com | Cheryl Rofer

But first a word from our sponsor –If you want this series to go to Week 52, and eventually to Week 208, you’d better contribute now! As Paul said, we are not making our goals, and something (or someone!) will have to give!I might miss a few weeks anyway, as the pressures associated with my move are becoming more onerous. But, for now! Here are all the ways you can contribute.
What Should We Call Trump's Space Folly?

1 week ago | lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com | Cheryl Rofer

Back when Ronald Reagan told us that he had a way to totally protect the United States from a nuclear attack, those of us who were skeptical managed to substitute “Star Wars” in the discourse for the official name, SDI. Raise you hand if you know what SDI means. I thought so. It was the Strategic Defense Initiative, a nicely bureaucratic name. Star Wars easily supplanted it, slightly mocking, negating Reagan’s seriousness.
Maybe RFK Jr. Has A Point, Episode Too Many

1 week ago | lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com | Cheryl Rofer

I have a simple heuristic for trying to understand whether people have a good point. If they suggest injecting bleach or if they bundle a roadkilled bear cub into their car to eat later, you don’t need to take anything else they say seriously. But there’s a pundit industry that shies away from such unnuanced thinking. It allows them to write more words. Some of the words that the bleach-injectors and bear-cub-eaters emit occasionally resemble word-strings that others have constructed.
Lawyers, Guns & Money

2 weeks ago | lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com | Cheryl Rofer

Court decisions continue to go against Donald Trump and his administration, although the Supreme Court remains solicitous of his ability to cause chaos. There was more court action around the desire of the administration to shackle people into airplanes and send them to undesirable destinations without due process. The courts seem to be holding firm on due process, but none of this has really reached the Supreme Court yet.
House Democrats Bottle Up Billionaires' Budget In Rules Committee

2 weeks ago | lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com | Cheryl Rofer

Home / General / House Democrats Bottle Up Billionaires’ Budget In Rules CommitteeHouse Democrats Bottle Up Billionaires’ Budget In Rules Committee / On May 21, 2025 / At 6:46 pm / 2 Views According to Maxwell Frost, Democratic Representative from Florida. I can’t find anything about this being reported by the usual culprits. They wanted to pass this evil budget to take away healthcare from millions earlier today.
Musk's Boys Are Attacking the GAO

2 weeks ago | lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com | Cheryl Rofer

They started Friday, and who knows what they did over the weekend. The Government Accountability Office is a support to Congress, and as such should be off limits to Musk’s depredations. But extending his reach is what he and his organization are about. Lots of good data at GAO!GAO has several functions, including evaluating government agencies and actions. I’ve interacted with them occasionally.
Lawyers, Guns & Money

3 weeks ago | lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com | Cheryl Rofer

A bunch of court decisions, again mostly going against the administration. They are getting harder and harder to follow, partly because each one is so specific. A big decision, say that the Alien Enemies Act cannot be used because we are not at war, would help my understanding a lot. I do understand why the cases need to be so specific, but the bit-by-bit slog can be discouraging to those of us not lawyers. Last night’s by the Supreme Court seems important, but I don’t understand the details.
Dems In Disarray

3 weeks ago | lawyersgunsmoneyblog.com | Cheryl Rofer

Democrats are having a hard time separating two things: what they believe and what will get votes. But they shouldn’t be, because the two are closely related. In fact, a Democrat won last night in Omaha by running on what we say we believe. Making a separation makes it easy for reporters and Republicans to make Democrats seem insincere. It is also confusing to the politically engaged class like the LGM crowd and source of innumerable fights. How much of what we believe must we give up to be elected?