Brian Phillips
@brianphillips.bsky.social
Senior Writer at The Ringer 🦉 NYT bestselling author of Impossible Owls 🦉 occasional podcast host (22 Goals, Truthless) 🦉 whippet fancier
https://bookshop.org/p/books/impossible-owls-essays-brian-phillips/7310179?ean=9780374175337
https://bookshop.org/p/books/impossible-owls-essays-brian-phillips/7310179?ean=9780374175337
Grateful humanity has not yet conquered death, as if I lived forever I might have to watch Frankenstein again
November 11, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Grateful humanity has not yet conquered death, as if I lived forever I might have to watch Frankenstein again
OK I wouldn't have done this if I thought people were actually going to start saying nice things about my writing, that's fucked up behavior you guys
Endlessly screenshot-dunking on Twitter idiots is annoying your followers and keeping the idiots famous. Whenever you feel like doing it, you should take a minute, breathe, and then approvingly share something I've written instead
November 10, 2025 at 5:51 PM
OK I wouldn't have done this if I thought people were actually going to start saying nice things about my writing, that's fucked up behavior you guys
I said I wanted to be more famous, I didn't say I wanted to *work*
and what have you written lately, pal? not even dog pics. get on the stick.
November 10, 2025 at 5:36 PM
I said I wanted to be more famous, I didn't say I wanted to *work*
Endlessly screenshot-dunking on Twitter idiots is annoying your followers and keeping the idiots famous. Whenever you feel like doing it, you should take a minute, breathe, and then approvingly share something I've written instead
November 10, 2025 at 5:22 PM
Endlessly screenshot-dunking on Twitter idiots is annoying your followers and keeping the idiots famous. Whenever you feel like doing it, you should take a minute, breathe, and then approvingly share something I've written instead
Sure, it takes skill to deliver the most self-defeating sound byte imaginable on national TV mere moments after needlessly surrendering on the vital political conflict of our moment, but for the sound byte to be factually wrong as well? That's when you know you're in the presence of a true great
November 10, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Sure, it takes skill to deliver the most self-defeating sound byte imaginable on national TV mere moments after needlessly surrendering on the vital political conflict of our moment, but for the sound byte to be factually wrong as well? That's when you know you're in the presence of a true great
Reposted by Brian Phillips
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
'A Slap in the Face': Federal Employees Feel Betrayed by Democrats' Shutdown Cave
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something."
www.gravityisgone.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
I want to stay in the country so I can fight authoritarianism with all my strength. I want to flee the country so I don't have to do it with the Democrats
November 10, 2025 at 2:40 AM
I want to stay in the country so I can fight authoritarianism with all my strength. I want to flee the country so I don't have to do it with the Democrats
Reposted by Brian Phillips
I'm the spouse of an air traffic controller and I could not be more livid at the news that Dems might cave. I called and left voicemails for my Dem senators. If my family can hold the fucking line, so can they.
November 9, 2025 at 11:32 PM
I'm the spouse of an air traffic controller and I could not be more livid at the news that Dems might cave. I called and left voicemails for my Dem senators. If my family can hold the fucking line, so can they.
Reposted by Brian Phillips
Yes. How do Dem electeds not understand this dynamic? After all these years?
At some point we have to let pain hurt Trump instead of helping him. Every time we let pain help him, he’ll do more and bigger next time.
Each acquiescence means the next one will be *more* painful.
Each acquiescence means the next one will be *more* painful.
November 9, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Yes. How do Dem electeds not understand this dynamic? After all these years?
Trump sure does look unpopular. Welp, time to cave to each of his insane demands
November 9, 2025 at 11:17 PM
Trump sure does look unpopular. Welp, time to cave to each of his insane demands
Reposted by Brian Phillips
Reposted by Brian Phillips
If you’re wondering what a “least weasel” is, they absolutely live up to the name. This is the least amount of animal you can have that can still meet the bar for “is weasel”
June 2, 2025 at 6:30 AM
If you’re wondering what a “least weasel” is, they absolutely live up to the name. This is the least amount of animal you can have that can still meet the bar for “is weasel”
Reposted by Brian Phillips
Six people died from tampered Tylenol and the company pulled 30 million bottles off the market. ChatGPT is accused of urging seven people towards suicide, and OpenAI just assures us they’re still working out the kinks. Billions in investment, zero accountability.
OpenAI faces 7 lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide, delusions
OpenAI is facing seven lawsuits claiming ChatGPT drove people to suicide and harmful delusions even when they had no prior mental health issues.
apnews.com
November 8, 2025 at 2:46 PM
Six people died from tampered Tylenol and the company pulled 30 million bottles off the market. ChatGPT is accused of urging seven people towards suicide, and OpenAI just assures us they’re still working out the kinks. Billions in investment, zero accountability.
I swear to God, if they con the government into bailing them out, I am moving my shitty right-wing sports podcast network OUT of New York
ICYMI: Microsoft’s charge “implies a more than $12 billion quarterly loss at OpenAI, said Firoz Valliji, an analyst at Bernstein.”
That “would mark one of the largest single-quarter losses for a tech company in history.”
@jessefelder.bsky.social $MSFT
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
That “would mark one of the largest single-quarter losses for a tech company in history.”
@jessefelder.bsky.social $MSFT
www.wsj.com/livecoverage...
November 7, 2025 at 9:23 PM
I swear to God, if they con the government into bailing them out, I am moving my shitty right-wing sports podcast network OUT of New York
Reposted by Brian Phillips
we talk too much about the male loneliness crisis and not enough about the male suckerfication crisis maxread.substack.com/p/prediction...
November 7, 2025 at 5:40 PM
we talk too much about the male loneliness crisis and not enough about the male suckerfication crisis maxread.substack.com/p/prediction...
Reposted by Brian Phillips
The only people gung ho about AI are AI companies, Republicans, and the tech press. Should tell you all you need to know about how worthless it is. The reason you think AI is popular or inevitable is because the press says so. It isn't true. They made a bad bet and are trying to force you to eat it
Did you know a former White House climate advisor flipped a GOP stronghold in Virginia by running entirely on putting a stop to more AI data centers?
For @heatmap.news I profiled John McAuliff and a campaign that will be a roadmap for all future anti-AI politicians moving forward.
For @heatmap.news I profiled John McAuliff and a campaign that will be a roadmap for all future anti-AI politicians moving forward.
This Virginia Election Was a Warning for Data Centers
John McAuliff ran his campaign almost entirely on data centers — and won.
heatmap.news
November 7, 2025 at 4:16 PM
The only people gung ho about AI are AI companies, Republicans, and the tech press. Should tell you all you need to know about how worthless it is. The reason you think AI is popular or inevitable is because the press says so. It isn't true. They made a bad bet and are trying to force you to eat it
The Scarlet Pumpernickel
November 6, 2025 at 11:56 PM
The Scarlet Pumpernickel
Reposted by Brian Phillips
we also need a team for how to best use magic in case magic becomes real
Microsoft forms superintelligence team under AI chief Suleyman 'to serve humanity'
Microsoft forms superintelligence team under AI chief Suleyman 'to serve humanity'
The MAI Superintelligence Team will pursue research for improving artificial intelligence companions, diagnosing diseases and generating renewable energy.
cnb.cx
November 6, 2025 at 6:27 PM
we also need a team for how to best use magic in case magic becomes real
Reposted by Brian Phillips
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
Elon Musk is boosting the British right - and this shows how
news.sky.com
November 6, 2025 at 7:23 AM
Vital piece of investigative reporting from Sky. They've uncovered the X algorithm which feeds users extremist right wing material from the moment they join the site. It is a far-right radicalisation engine, by design.
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
news.sky.com/story/the-x-...
“You mousepad” is the most devastating insult I’ve ever heard in my life
In vernacular British English, any noun can be used as an insult if it feels right. Just looking around my immediate surroundings, 'you teacup' and 'you plant pot' work, but 'you subwoofer' and 'you mousepad' don't. Same with pastries: donut works, cheese lattice doesn't. Nobody knows why.
November 6, 2025 at 11:39 AM
“You mousepad” is the most devastating insult I’ve ever heard in my life
Larry Lefferts seen having dinner with Julius Beaufort in San Antonio, is a new superteam in the works
The owner of the flower shop they all used must have been the Woj/Shams of Gilded Age New York society
November 5, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Larry Lefferts seen having dinner with Julius Beaufort in San Antonio, is a new superteam in the works
Do you really think I'm not ready to break down The Age of Innocence like an NBA roster. Do you think I won't do that at the drop of a hat. Do you think I don't sit around all day longing for someone to ask me the question
November 5, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Do you really think I'm not ready to break down The Age of Innocence like an NBA roster. Do you think I won't do that at the drop of a hat. Do you think I don't sit around all day longing for someone to ask me the question
Reposted by Brian Phillips
The #1 lesson from yesterday’s blowout:
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
November 5, 2025 at 3:59 PM
The #1 lesson from yesterday’s blowout:
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
Humanities majors killed on the job market
1) Mamdani- Africana Studies
2) Spanberger -French
3) Sherill - Global History
I mean look, if the Republican party wants to concede that Georgia and Pennsylvania are blue states and safely out of contention, I'm prepared to take yes for an answer
Mike Johnson: "What happened last night is blue states and blue cities voted blue. We all saw that coming. And no one should read too much into last night's election results."
November 5, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I mean look, if the Republican party wants to concede that Georgia and Pennsylvania are blue states and safely out of contention, I'm prepared to take yes for an answer
Reposted by Brian Phillips
(incredibly loud automated phone voice) SORRY, DID YOU WANT ME TO SAVE THAT “DAVE COULDN’T PROJECT MANAGE HIS WAY OUT OF A FUCKING PAPER BAG” NOTE?
A new company called Sandbar has unveiled a smart wearable called Stream Ring, which uses a microphone to record your softly spoken thoughts. And it’s powered by—you guessed it—an AI chatbot. www.wired.com/story/sandba...
Whisper Into This AI-Powered Smart Ring to Organize Your Thoughts
A new company called Sandbar has unveiled a smart wearable called Stream Ring, which uses a microphone to record your softly spoken thoughts. And it’s powered by—you guessed it—an AI chatbot.
www.wired.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:09 PM
(incredibly loud automated phone voice) SORRY, DID YOU WANT ME TO SAVE THAT “DAVE COULDN’T PROJECT MANAGE HIS WAY OUT OF A FUCKING PAPER BAG” NOTE?