Brendan Davey
@brendandavey.bsky.social
Recovering Alcohipster | CUNY-CCNY employee | @psc-cuny.org delegate | History (MA) | Militant Cyclist
Public History Blog: https://halfbakedhistory.substack.com/
Public History Blog: https://halfbakedhistory.substack.com/
Truer words are seldom spoken. I dream of a day (that is hopefully approaching soon) where the "Frank Seddios" of the world don't get to run Brooklyn like their special corrupt little club anymore.
That said, www.repyourblock.com is the best place to start and help push that moment into reality.
That said, www.repyourblock.com is the best place to start and help push that moment into reality.
January 6, 2026 at 9:18 PM
Truer words are seldom spoken. I dream of a day (that is hopefully approaching soon) where the "Frank Seddios" of the world don't get to run Brooklyn like their special corrupt little club anymore.
That said, www.repyourblock.com is the best place to start and help push that moment into reality.
That said, www.repyourblock.com is the best place to start and help push that moment into reality.
For my entire 15 years in NYC, this ****ing ramp has been my go-to example of how stupid the bike "infrastructure" that has actually been built in the city is. And @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social just went out and fixed it on day 6.
I feel so represented I could cry.
I feel so represented I could cry.
Zohran just went out and fixed the Williamsburg Bridge bike entrance. Just did it. No faffing, no nonsense. Bam. Fixed.
January 6, 2026 at 7:45 PM
For my entire 15 years in NYC, this ****ing ramp has been my go-to example of how stupid the bike "infrastructure" that has actually been built in the city is. And @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social just went out and fixed it on day 6.
I feel so represented I could cry.
I feel so represented I could cry.
Much like our overzealous use of sanctions, it's as American as apple pie to indiscriminately punish Africans.
January 6, 2026 at 3:18 PM
Much like our overzealous use of sanctions, it's as American as apple pie to indiscriminately punish Africans.
One of the most frustrating things about this way of thinking is that it ignores almost all of human history in which diplomacy led to bigger gains than any “might makes right” strategy.
The Romans, the Mongols, etc. all did a hell of a lot of talking to become as big and powerful as they did.
🗃️
The Romans, the Mongols, etc. all did a hell of a lot of talking to become as big and powerful as they did.
🗃️
right. and like it's not like they're hiding it now. all of the major pundits (knowles + walsh) basically think the takeaway from Iraq War was not that PNAC was right to want to build democracy, but a world that is explicitly built around turning America into an empire
January 6, 2026 at 1:43 PM
One of the most frustrating things about this way of thinking is that it ignores almost all of human history in which diplomacy led to bigger gains than any “might makes right” strategy.
The Romans, the Mongols, etc. all did a hell of a lot of talking to become as big and powerful as they did.
🗃️
The Romans, the Mongols, etc. all did a hell of a lot of talking to become as big and powerful as they did.
🗃️
Out of all the media I have ever consumed, a game called Disco Elysium is the one that most accurately captured what alcoholism felt like.
I wish I could see more content about how games can approach art/real life that way here too. And yeah….not JUST politics.
I wish I could see more content about how games can approach art/real life that way here too. And yeah….not JUST politics.
i think this site really needs to figure out how to grow the non-politics verticals (the baseball moment was a good thing!) because i suspect a lot of the bad clusters come out of the political clusters driving 95% of ENG-lang posts
I'd be happy with big non politics accounts.
January 6, 2026 at 1:04 AM
Out of all the media I have ever consumed, a game called Disco Elysium is the one that most accurately captured what alcoholism felt like.
I wish I could see more content about how games can approach art/real life that way here too. And yeah….not JUST politics.
I wish I could see more content about how games can approach art/real life that way here too. And yeah….not JUST politics.
Sadly, not my district. Not saying I wouldn't love to live in it though! But it's so damn expensive.
Nevertheless, I believe that Lindsey will actually push for more affordable housing, which the city desperately needs, along with all the other great things she's fought for over the years.
Nevertheless, I believe that Lindsey will actually push for more affordable housing, which the city desperately needs, along with all the other great things she's fought for over the years.
District 3 is my home and I would be proud to serve it in City Council. Stay tuned for more.
January 5, 2026 at 7:59 PM
Sadly, not my district. Not saying I wouldn't love to live in it though! But it's so damn expensive.
Nevertheless, I believe that Lindsey will actually push for more affordable housing, which the city desperately needs, along with all the other great things she's fought for over the years.
Nevertheless, I believe that Lindsey will actually push for more affordable housing, which the city desperately needs, along with all the other great things she's fought for over the years.
Reason #2,130 why I want @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's "city run grocery stores" instead of the insanely dystopian capitalist slop that makes something as simple as buying an orange unaffordable, and an affront to one's civil liberties.
“It’s really chilling that immigrant New Yorkers going into Wegmans and other grocery stores have to worry about their highly sensitive biometric data potentially getting into the hands of ICE.”
Creepy and concerning for everyone, if you ask me. Uncontrolled tech is ruining a lot of things.
Creepy and concerning for everyone, if you ask me. Uncontrolled tech is ruining a lot of things.
NYC Wegmans is storing biometric data on shoppers' eyes, voices and faces
The supermarket chain says it’s a move to ensure shopper safety. Surveillance experts warn of privacy risks.
gothamist.com
January 5, 2026 at 7:28 PM
Reason #2,130 why I want @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social's "city run grocery stores" instead of the insanely dystopian capitalist slop that makes something as simple as buying an orange unaffordable, and an affront to one's civil liberties.
So far, Tom Brady, the greatest player ever in his sport, and possibly the worst owner ever, is nipping at Michael Jordan's heels for the title of "GOAT Player/WOAT Owner."
January 5, 2026 at 4:35 PM
So far, Tom Brady, the greatest player ever in his sport, and possibly the worst owner ever, is nipping at Michael Jordan's heels for the title of "GOAT Player/WOAT Owner."
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social, my guy, you can help be a big catalyst that gets more people off the child sex abuse material, racist Nazi dumpster fire that is “X.”
Please.
Please.
Anyone know if there’s a Bluesky mirror for the NYC Mayor’s Office posts? There don’t seem to be an official account and @zohrankmamdani.bsky.social isn’t regularly posting here since the inauguration.
January 5, 2026 at 4:18 PM
@zohrankmamdani.bsky.social, my guy, you can help be a big catalyst that gets more people off the child sex abuse material, racist Nazi dumpster fire that is “X.”
Please.
Please.
The people at Interplay who came up with the Fallout universe in the 90s meant for it to satirize the most deranged elements of "American society" in an over-the-top, hardly believable sci-fi setting.
And yet, the Trump admin is practically trying to speed-run into 2077.
And yet, the Trump admin is practically trying to speed-run into 2077.
January 4, 2026 at 1:14 AM
The people at Interplay who came up with the Fallout universe in the 90s meant for it to satirize the most deranged elements of "American society" in an over-the-top, hardly believable sci-fi setting.
And yet, the Trump admin is practically trying to speed-run into 2077.
And yet, the Trump admin is practically trying to speed-run into 2077.
This Wikipedia page is so damn long, because irresponsibly initiating "regime changes" with no real contingency plan is as American as apple pie. To anyone espousing the idea that Maduro needed to go (he was, admittedly, a ghoul), countless examples prove this is not the right way to do it.
🗃️
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United States involvement in regime change - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
January 3, 2026 at 10:42 PM
This Wikipedia page is so damn long, because irresponsibly initiating "regime changes" with no real contingency plan is as American as apple pie. To anyone espousing the idea that Maduro needed to go (he was, admittedly, a ghoul), countless examples prove this is not the right way to do it.
🗃️
🗃️
Reposted by Brendan Davey
"I'm so sorry that we could not have done this earlier...to have saved the loved ones in your life. But I thank you fopr the work that you have done...to ensure that this pain not be felt by others who call this same city home." — Mayor Mamdani at McGuinness Blvd. presser youtube.com/shorts/uwAYI...
Mayor Mamdani commits to ending traffic violence across NYC on third day in office #safestreets
YouTube video by Streetsblog NYC
youtube.com
January 3, 2026 at 9:07 PM
"I'm so sorry that we could not have done this earlier...to have saved the loved ones in your life. But I thank you fopr the work that you have done...to ensure that this pain not be felt by others who call this same city home." — Mayor Mamdani at McGuinness Blvd. presser youtube.com/shorts/uwAYI...
Reposted by Brendan Davey
Best thing I’ve read this morning, from a human rights lawyer in Mexico. Translation is in the ALT-text.
January 3, 2026 at 2:16 PM
Best thing I’ve read this morning, from a human rights lawyer in Mexico. Translation is in the ALT-text.
I had the (dis)pleasure of running into Nick Shirley several times in the fall when he decided to make content by trolling through Federal Plaza and by trying to get in arguments (for content) at every protest for immigrant solidarity in New York
1/
1/
Nick Shirley thinks that daycares are unlocked and have "reception" areas 😆 😭
January 3, 2026 at 3:49 AM
I had the (dis)pleasure of running into Nick Shirley several times in the fall when he decided to make content by trolling through Federal Plaza and by trying to get in arguments (for content) at every protest for immigrant solidarity in New York
1/
1/
Reposted by Brendan Davey
“Can’t believe NYC elected a Muslim as mayor.”
In truth—a Black American Christian woman swearing in a Ugandan American Muslim of South Asian ethnicity as his Syrian American wife holds the Qurans he swears in on, all while standing on the steps of a subway station—is the most NYC thing imaginable.
In truth—a Black American Christian woman swearing in a Ugandan American Muslim of South Asian ethnicity as his Syrian American wife holds the Qurans he swears in on, all while standing on the steps of a subway station—is the most NYC thing imaginable.
January 1, 2026 at 11:43 AM
“Can’t believe NYC elected a Muslim as mayor.”
In truth—a Black American Christian woman swearing in a Ugandan American Muslim of South Asian ethnicity as his Syrian American wife holds the Qurans he swears in on, all while standing on the steps of a subway station—is the most NYC thing imaginable.
In truth—a Black American Christian woman swearing in a Ugandan American Muslim of South Asian ethnicity as his Syrian American wife holds the Qurans he swears in on, all while standing on the steps of a subway station—is the most NYC thing imaginable.
We can finally discard a once evergreen @theonion.com article. Here’s to hoping it’s not the only one, 2026.
De Blasio: ‘Well, Well, Well, Not So Easy To Find A Mayor That Doesn’t Suck Shit, Huh?’
NEW YORK—Clucking his tongue with mock disappointment, Bill De Blasio announced to New Yorkers that “It’s not so easy to find a mayor that doesn’t suck shit after all, huh?” during a press conference ...
theonion.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:32 AM
We can finally discard a once evergreen @theonion.com article. Here’s to hoping it’s not the only one, 2026.
Orwell's "The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears..." quote is way too overused, and often incorrectly. But fucking... come on man...
Trump announces he’s pulling the National Guard from Portland, LA, and Chicago but threatens that “We will come back, perhaps in a much different and stronger form, when crime begins to soar again - Only a question of time!”
December 31, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Orwell's "The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears..." quote is way too overused, and often incorrectly. But fucking... come on man...
Being included in one of these weekly roundups last year was such an honor.
Really appreciate all the work @americanstudier.bsky.social does to find all this great scholarship. Here’s to more people recognizing it in 2026.
Really appreciate all the work @americanstudier.bsky.social does to find all this great scholarship. Here’s to more people recognizing it in 2026.
As promised, here’s a year-end #ScholarSunday thread featuring some of the best public scholarly writing, podcast episodes, new books, & more from throughout 2025. I really appreciate folks who shared work, their own & that of others, for this meta-thread! 🗃️
blackwhiteandread.com/special-best...
blackwhiteandread.com/special-best...
Special Best-of-2025 #ScholarSunday Thread! – Black and White and Read All Over
As promised, here’s a year-end #ScholarSunday thread featuring some of the best public scholarly writing & work, podcast episodes, new books, & more from throughout 2025. I really appreciate folks who...
blackwhiteandread.com
December 31, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Being included in one of these weekly roundups last year was such an honor.
Really appreciate all the work @americanstudier.bsky.social does to find all this great scholarship. Here’s to more people recognizing it in 2026.
Really appreciate all the work @americanstudier.bsky.social does to find all this great scholarship. Here’s to more people recognizing it in 2026.
The entire article is gross trash (NYPost of course), but it’s wild to realize that Liel Leibovitz thinks a litany of “digs” like this makes him look like anything but a petulant whiny baby.
Trying to argue with cheap hits that aren’t even remotely funny or clever is the real childish behavior.
Trying to argue with cheap hits that aren’t even remotely funny or clever is the real childish behavior.
December 31, 2025 at 1:01 AM
The entire article is gross trash (NYPost of course), but it’s wild to realize that Liel Leibovitz thinks a litany of “digs” like this makes him look like anything but a petulant whiny baby.
Trying to argue with cheap hits that aren’t even remotely funny or clever is the real childish behavior.
Trying to argue with cheap hits that aren’t even remotely funny or clever is the real childish behavior.
This is why voting in primaries and doing stuff to change your local Democratic Party for the better is so cool.
You can tell deranged do-nothings like Nancy and Dan Goldman to eat rocks! While you get someone like Zohran or Brad to represent you instead.
You can tell deranged do-nothings like Nancy and Dan Goldman to eat rocks! While you get someone like Zohran or Brad to represent you instead.
Brad Lander approached Nancy Pelosi at a gala and told her he was running for Congress. “I am a Dan Goldman Democrat,” she responded. “Democrats don’t run against Democrats.”
“Was I too much of a b—?” she asked after.
@donlemonofficial.bsky.social tells the story:
“Was I too much of a b—?” she asked after.
@donlemonofficial.bsky.social tells the story:
December 30, 2025 at 4:15 AM
This is why voting in primaries and doing stuff to change your local Democratic Party for the better is so cool.
You can tell deranged do-nothings like Nancy and Dan Goldman to eat rocks! While you get someone like Zohran or Brad to represent you instead.
You can tell deranged do-nothings like Nancy and Dan Goldman to eat rocks! While you get someone like Zohran or Brad to represent you instead.
"Never tried therapy before but this is probably it?"
Therapy is hard. It is work. A good therapist makes you come to realize things that make you uncomfortable. I would know. But, those high up in the tech sphere always want the easy/yes-man route to everything. And we will all suffer for it.
Therapy is hard. It is work. A good therapist makes you come to realize things that make you uncomfortable. I would know. But, those high up in the tech sphere always want the easy/yes-man route to everything. And we will all suffer for it.
In September 2023, Lilian Weng, then Head of "Safety" at OpenAI, used her public Twitter account to announce how ChatGPT could be used as a therapist, and encouraged users to also use it as such.
December 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
"Never tried therapy before but this is probably it?"
Therapy is hard. It is work. A good therapist makes you come to realize things that make you uncomfortable. I would know. But, those high up in the tech sphere always want the easy/yes-man route to everything. And we will all suffer for it.
Therapy is hard. It is work. A good therapist makes you come to realize things that make you uncomfortable. I would know. But, those high up in the tech sphere always want the easy/yes-man route to everything. And we will all suffer for it.
One of the most important and revolutionary bands of all time.
Also proof that even if you can’t afford any instruments greater than literally recycled garbage, you can still push the bar and create something amazing.
Alan Vega and Martin Rev are two of my heroes.
Also proof that even if you can’t afford any instruments greater than literally recycled garbage, you can still push the bar and create something amazing.
Alan Vega and Martin Rev are two of my heroes.
48 years ago today
Suicide is the debut studio album from the American rock band Suicide, recorded at Ultima Sound Studios in New York and released on this day in 1977.
#punk #punkrock #protopunk #suicide #martinrev #alanvega #history #punkrockhistory #otd
Suicide is the debut studio album from the American rock band Suicide, recorded at Ultima Sound Studios in New York and released on this day in 1977.
#punk #punkrock #protopunk #suicide #martinrev #alanvega #history #punkrockhistory #otd
December 28, 2025 at 3:49 PM
One of the most important and revolutionary bands of all time.
Also proof that even if you can’t afford any instruments greater than literally recycled garbage, you can still push the bar and create something amazing.
Alan Vega and Martin Rev are two of my heroes.
Also proof that even if you can’t afford any instruments greater than literally recycled garbage, you can still push the bar and create something amazing.
Alan Vega and Martin Rev are two of my heroes.
Astoria > UES
This is not controversial unless you’re lame.
This is not controversial unless you’re lame.
Insane NY Post column suggesting that the new First Lady who is sad about leaving her longtime neighbors in a not fancy NYC neighborhood is an ungrateful brown woman
December 28, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Astoria > UES
This is not controversial unless you’re lame.
This is not controversial unless you’re lame.
Reposted by Brendan Davey
READ THIS: Still probably the best #ChristmasEve tradition I’ve heard. Iceland definitely does Christmas well — my Reykjavik clients had funny comments about this! Are you planning to curl up with a great new book on cities this #Christmas? Share your pick with us using hashtag #UrbanismBookClub!
December 24, 2025 at 5:25 AM
READ THIS: Still probably the best #ChristmasEve tradition I’ve heard. Iceland definitely does Christmas well — my Reykjavik clients had funny comments about this! Are you planning to curl up with a great new book on cities this #Christmas? Share your pick with us using hashtag #UrbanismBookClub!