Brian Holland
@bholl7510.bsky.social
International Tax Lawyer, Abundance/YIMBY, Politics, Photography, CT, & Buffalo Bills
Reposted by Brian Holland
The New York Times' obsession with a view from nowhere is long-standing, but as Republicans increasingly circulate insane conspiracy theories and racist nonsense, the cult of centrism has taken a self-destructive turn.
Read more from @lopatto.bsky.social: www.theverge.com/culture/7000...
Read more from @lopatto.bsky.social: www.theverge.com/culture/7000...
July 8, 2025 at 5:43 PM
The New York Times' obsession with a view from nowhere is long-standing, but as Republicans increasingly circulate insane conspiracy theories and racist nonsense, the cult of centrism has taken a self-destructive turn.
Read more from @lopatto.bsky.social: www.theverge.com/culture/7000...
Read more from @lopatto.bsky.social: www.theverge.com/culture/7000...
Holy crap the comments on this article are concerning.
Opinion | The Gender Gap That Ate the Democrats
www.nytimes.com
July 8, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Holy crap the comments on this article are concerning.
I really can’t get over how deeply cynical they are on these work requirements. When you compare it to the way they basically have encouraged tax cheats with their massive cuts to the IRS, it really gives the game away.
Mike Johnson claims that work requirements for Medicaid are popular and really should be more than 20 hours a week
July 2, 2025 at 2:20 AM
I really can’t get over how deeply cynical they are on these work requirements. When you compare it to the way they basically have encouraged tax cheats with their massive cuts to the IRS, it really gives the game away.
This is generally true, but exorbitant executive pay and absurdly high CYA consulting fees are also part of that profit margin. People also think businesses are more efficient than most are.
The reason so many people don't see this as obvious is that, if you ask them what they believe the profit margins are for businesses, they'll give you estimates often an order of magnitude greater than the truth.
This is correct! Increasing minimum wage to keep up with inflation shouldn’t have serious effects on the job market (provided you do it consistently). But increasing minimum wage to a much larger share of average incomes should absolutely have an effect on job markets. It would be weird not to.
June 29, 2025 at 12:30 AM
This is generally true, but exorbitant executive pay and absurdly high CYA consulting fees are also part of that profit margin. People also think businesses are more efficient than most are.
Reposted by Brian Holland
I wrote something I hope will help you filter all the information coming in on the dangerous growing conflict in the Middle East:
“The 8 most important things to know about Trump’s attack on Iran.”
t.co/FZfKw7D5mq
“The 8 most important things to know about Trump’s attack on Iran.”
t.co/FZfKw7D5mq
https://www.chrismurphyct.com/p/8-things-you-should-know-about-trumps?r=2gcjml&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&triedRedirect=true
t.co
June 23, 2025 at 2:04 PM
I wrote something I hope will help you filter all the information coming in on the dangerous growing conflict in the Middle East:
“The 8 most important things to know about Trump’s attack on Iran.”
t.co/FZfKw7D5mq
“The 8 most important things to know about Trump’s attack on Iran.”
t.co/FZfKw7D5mq
Reposted by Brian Holland
Seems good it’s mostly relegated to the news networks. I just hope the non-Fox News coverage appropriately shows the split screen with nationwide protests.
Major TV Networks Set to Snub Trump’s Military Parade for Sports
The president’s event looks like it’s becoming a streaming special.
www.thedailybeast.com
June 11, 2025 at 3:18 PM
Seems good it’s mostly relegated to the news networks. I just hope the non-Fox News coverage appropriately shows the split screen with nationwide protests.
Reposted by Brian Holland
Imo this is why the left should embrace and articulate its version of “abundance”. there’s a version of abundance (indeed, I think the version preferred by Klein) that is basically the practical realisation of a green new deal. housing and energy for the ppl. don’t let centrist ghouls water it down
bringing Josh Barro to that conference to shit on unions permanently poisoned the entire “movement” for me. we simply cannot do without labor
Yep, writing and marketing the book with a left-punching orientation alienated the left out of reading it in good faith ("Oh it's all privatization and deregulation"), leaving other left-punchers as the only people liking the book, and they'll put their own spin on its contents. Great job, guys.
June 8, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Imo this is why the left should embrace and articulate its version of “abundance”. there’s a version of abundance (indeed, I think the version preferred by Klein) that is basically the practical realisation of a green new deal. housing and energy for the ppl. don’t let centrist ghouls water it down
It’s really devious to have the broader popular provisions of the tax bill (eg, tips and overtime deduction) sunset in 2028. They are horrible policy provisions, but Harris cynically supported tax-free tips, it will be unpopular to oppose in an election year.
May 14, 2025 at 12:54 PM
It’s really devious to have the broader popular provisions of the tax bill (eg, tips and overtime deduction) sunset in 2028. They are horrible policy provisions, but Harris cynically supported tax-free tips, it will be unpopular to oppose in an election year.
Cutting federal subsidies for child care is trying to *force* parents to stay home. A $5,000 tax credit does not replace even a minimum wage job. Also, single family housing on federal land, near what jobs? They hate WFH?
May 12, 2025 at 11:16 AM
Cutting federal subsidies for child care is trying to *force* parents to stay home. A $5,000 tax credit does not replace even a minimum wage job. Also, single family housing on federal land, near what jobs? They hate WFH?
I really worry that the media is not up to the task of explaining Republican budgeting gimmickry and the actual cost of the bill. Like this article has no mention of how they’re using current policy baseline and how dishonest that is to the actual deficit impact.
Can Trump's tax cuts be made permanent? Tariffs, spending fights cloud the picture
Lawmakers are struggling to agree on how to pay for the tax cuts.
www.reuters.com
May 9, 2025 at 2:56 PM
I really worry that the media is not up to the task of explaining Republican budgeting gimmickry and the actual cost of the bill. Like this article has no mention of how they’re using current policy baseline and how dishonest that is to the actual deficit impact.
How embarrassing for Trump that he’s so weak he can’t even get back a single person from the foreign prison we’re paying to hold him. I guess he should go back and read Art of the Deal again.
El Salvador Is Said to Have Spurned U.S. Request to Return Abrego Garcia
It remained unclear whether the diplomatic effort was a genuine bid by the White House to address the plight of the immigrant, Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia.
www.nytimes.com
May 1, 2025 at 12:59 AM
How embarrassing for Trump that he’s so weak he can’t even get back a single person from the foreign prison we’re paying to hold him. I guess he should go back and read Art of the Deal again.
Reposted by Brian Holland
On being called DEI and why it isn’t the burn they think it is
April 24, 2025 at 5:07 PM
On being called DEI and why it isn’t the burn they think it is
Yes, I’m sure it’s that and not the fact that they’re vaporware that no one wants a Nazibot.
Elon Musk Warns China’s Rare Earth Restrictions May Delay Tesla Robots
China’s halt this month on exports of magnets containing heavy rare earth metals has affected Tesla’s plans to manufacture Optimus robots.
www.nytimes.com
April 23, 2025 at 2:47 PM
Yes, I’m sure it’s that and not the fact that they’re vaporware that no one wants a Nazibot.
I’ve been forcing myself to read these NYT “Indepenent” Trump voter focus groups. It’s a real reminder of how frustrating the median voter is. Don’t forget we’re in a bubble.
April 18, 2025 at 11:46 AM
I’ve been forcing myself to read these NYT “Indepenent” Trump voter focus groups. It’s a real reminder of how frustrating the median voter is. Don’t forget we’re in a bubble.
Reposted by Brian Holland
The most daming claim in this statement IMO:
Within 15 minutes of DOGE accounts being created…
Attackers in Russia tried logging in using those new creds.
Correct usernames and passwords.
2 options here. The DOGE device was hacked. And I don't think I need to explain the 2nd.
Within 15 minutes of DOGE accounts being created…
Attackers in Russia tried logging in using those new creds.
Correct usernames and passwords.
2 options here. The DOGE device was hacked. And I don't think I need to explain the 2nd.
April 18, 2025 at 12:12 AM
The most daming claim in this statement IMO:
Within 15 minutes of DOGE accounts being created…
Attackers in Russia tried logging in using those new creds.
Correct usernames and passwords.
2 options here. The DOGE device was hacked. And I don't think I need to explain the 2nd.
Within 15 minutes of DOGE accounts being created…
Attackers in Russia tried logging in using those new creds.
Correct usernames and passwords.
2 options here. The DOGE device was hacked. And I don't think I need to explain the 2nd.
Reposted by Brian Holland
And this “win-win” part of the deal. Trump & Bukele are like a little gang themselves. BS-2 (bullshit 2)
April 17, 2025 at 1:42 PM
And this “win-win” part of the deal. Trump & Bukele are like a little gang themselves. BS-2 (bullshit 2)
Absolutely infuriating. You don’t get to embrace Trump and his mission to kill “wokeness” and pretend there is any high road left for you. You get gold toilets, “midbrow” musicals, and kid rock. You made your bed, now lie in it.
Opinion | Trump’s Movement Needs High Art, and the National Endowment for the Humanities Can Help
Gutting the federal arts and humanities agencies is a mistake.
www.nytimes.com
April 11, 2025 at 11:34 AM
Absolutely infuriating. You don’t get to embrace Trump and his mission to kill “wokeness” and pretend there is any high road left for you. You get gold toilets, “midbrow” musicals, and kid rock. You made your bed, now lie in it.
Sassy YIMBY ChatGPT is great.
April 4, 2025 at 4:01 AM
Sassy YIMBY ChatGPT is great.
Reposted by Brian Holland
This segment from @maryannefranks.bsky.social is an incredibly tight argument that captures the breadth of the Trump assault on free speech perfectly and in less than a minute.
Spread it far and wide.
Spread it far and wide.
WOW. Watch a constitutional law expert completely DEBUNK Republicans’ censorship crusade, while articulating exactly how Donald Trump is threatening freedom of speech. 🔥
March 26, 2025 at 12:25 AM
This segment from @maryannefranks.bsky.social is an incredibly tight argument that captures the breadth of the Trump assault on free speech perfectly and in less than a minute.
Spread it far and wide.
Spread it far and wide.
How about we don’t just uncritically report statistics from the Trump
administration about the number of transgender members of the armed forces that conflict with past reports. That should just be basic common sense at this point if you’re a good journalist.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/u...
administration about the number of transgender members of the armed forces that conflict with past reports. That should just be basic common sense at this point if you’re a good journalist.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/u...
Number of Trans Troops Far Lower Than Estimated, Pentagon Figures Show
The Defense Department said 4,240 service members, or about 0.2 percent of those in uniform, have a diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Previous estimates had put the number at triple that figure.
www.nytimes.com
February 28, 2025 at 1:33 PM
How about we don’t just uncritically report statistics from the Trump
administration about the number of transgender members of the armed forces that conflict with past reports. That should just be basic common sense at this point if you’re a good journalist.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/u...
administration about the number of transgender members of the armed forces that conflict with past reports. That should just be basic common sense at this point if you’re a good journalist.
www.nytimes.com/2025/02/27/u...
Reposted by Brian Holland
Yeah, this is about the single best summary of where we are now, using a broader democratic framing.
www.foreignaffairs.com/united-state... This is by far the best, clearest and most realistic analysis of what we're in for that I've seen.
The Path to American Authoritarianism
What comes after democratic breakdown.
www.foreignaffairs.com
February 12, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Yeah, this is about the single best summary of where we are now, using a broader democratic framing.
Reposted by Brian Holland
gonna talk a bit here about what i mean by "gorilla channel governance." this is a prediction about the next four years, and how to resist it. i want to start from a basic and important fact: trump is picking his cabinet from people he sees on the tv.
what the fuck
what the fuck
today in dulcet tones: me and jason talk over economic anxiety, culture jamming, and gorilla channel governance. a podcast for people who want better analysis than "we need to drop trans!" or "[my personal hobbyhorse] would have saved us!"
www.liberalcurrents.com/neonliberali...
www.liberalcurrents.com/neonliberali...
Neon Liberalism #1: What Just Happened?
Samantha and Jason dissect and reject several popular theories of why Kamala Harris lost the 2024 U.S. Presidential election. They also speculate about what to expect from the next Donald Trump admini...
www.liberalcurrents.com
November 19, 2024 at 2:45 PM
gonna talk a bit here about what i mean by "gorilla channel governance." this is a prediction about the next four years, and how to resist it. i want to start from a basic and important fact: trump is picking his cabinet from people he sees on the tv.
what the fuck
what the fuck
Reposted by Brian Holland
Sunday reading: What awaits us in a second Trump presidency?
A much more extreme rightwing regime that is vastly better prepared and will be operating under conditions that are significantly more favorable to its political cause.
I wrote about what’s different than in 2016/17.
This week’s piece:
A much more extreme rightwing regime that is vastly better prepared and will be operating under conditions that are significantly more favorable to its political cause.
I wrote about what’s different than in 2016/17.
This week’s piece:
Why the Second Trump Regime Will Be Far More Dangerous
This will be a much more radical regime – and it will operate under conditions that are vastly more favorable to its extremist cause
thomaszimmer.substack.com
November 17, 2024 at 2:03 PM
Sunday reading: What awaits us in a second Trump presidency?
A much more extreme rightwing regime that is vastly better prepared and will be operating under conditions that are significantly more favorable to its political cause.
I wrote about what’s different than in 2016/17.
This week’s piece:
A much more extreme rightwing regime that is vastly better prepared and will be operating under conditions that are significantly more favorable to its political cause.
I wrote about what’s different than in 2016/17.
This week’s piece: