[Tutor] would someone please explain this concept to me

[Steven D'Aprano]

In case you are still confused, we can simplify the whole process by 
eliminating the unnecessary use of an external module.

blank = {}
feeds = {}

feeds['a'] = blank
feeds['a'][1] = "Hello"

print(blank)
# will print {1: 'Hello'}

We can see that the dict named "blank" and the dict named "feeds['a']" 
are actually the same dict:

print(feeds['a'] is blank)  # Not the same as == (equals).

In case you still need more evidence:

feeds['b'] = blank
feeds['b'][1] = "Goodbye"
print(blank)
print(feeds)

will print:

{1: 'Goodbye'}
{'a': {1: 'Goodbye'}, 'b': {1: 'Goodbye'}}


(possibly the a and the b will be swapped around).



-- 
Steven