David Cantwell
@cantkill.bsky.social
Music critic. Husband. Dog Lover. Author of “The Running Kind: Listening to Merle Haggard.” Cofounder No Fences Review. Midwesterner
Sen. Angus King: “So I said, Let’s try totally caving to Trump.”
November 10, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Sen. Angus King: “So I said, Let’s try totally caving to Trump.”
Reposted by David Cantwell
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
Reposted by David Cantwell
US Capitol switchboard 202-224-3121 to express your views on this to your home state Senator.
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 12:46 PM
US Capitol switchboard 202-224-3121 to express your views on this to your home state Senator.
Reposted by David Cantwell
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Reposted by David Cantwell
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
If the Dems blink after all of this, for a deal that all but ensures no ACA subsidies in 2026 anyway, then what was the purpose of letting the shutdown go for 40 days in the first place?
November 10, 2025 at 12:56 AM
i think this is key. taking the deal would amount to taking the blame. it would turn a clear political victory into an unambiguous defeat.
Reposted by David Cantwell
They do not have a plan, they’ve never had a plan. They’ve also never had the votes to repeal the ACA which is *OVERWHELMINGLY* popular, nor have they been able to get the Supreme Court to overturn it, so instead they’ve just shut down the entire government to try forcing Dems to stop funding it.
November 9, 2025 at 1:53 AM
They do not have a plan, they’ve never had a plan. They’ve also never had the votes to repeal the ACA which is *OVERWHELMINGLY* popular, nor have they been able to get the Supreme Court to overturn it, so instead they’ve just shut down the entire government to try forcing Dems to stop funding it.
From @jamellebouie.net and, hopefully, more of this from everyone else too
November 8, 2025 at 1:29 PM
From @jamellebouie.net and, hopefully, more of this from everyone else too
Reposted by David Cantwell
& a good counterpart, David Cantwell's look at the great country records of '75: nofencesreview.substack.com/p/the-best-c...
The Best Country Albums of 1975
David picks his 22 favorite country albums from a half century ago.
nofencesreview.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 4:40 PM
& a good counterpart, David Cantwell's look at the great country records of '75: nofencesreview.substack.com/p/the-best-c...
Reposted by David Cantwell
800+ flights cancelled today because Elon took a chainsaw to the federal government and Trump won’t pay the remaining airport personnel.
Elon’s on his way to becoming a trillionaire.
Trump’s net worth has more than doubled inside a year.
Glad everything worked out for them.
How about you?
Elon’s on his way to becoming a trillionaire.
Trump’s net worth has more than doubled inside a year.
Glad everything worked out for them.
How about you?
November 7, 2025 at 1:13 PM
800+ flights cancelled today because Elon took a chainsaw to the federal government and Trump won’t pay the remaining airport personnel.
Elon’s on his way to becoming a trillionaire.
Trump’s net worth has more than doubled inside a year.
Glad everything worked out for them.
How about you?
Elon’s on his way to becoming a trillionaire.
Trump’s net worth has more than doubled inside a year.
Glad everything worked out for them.
How about you?
Reposted by David Cantwell
People younger than Gen X didn’t live through even the remnants of the red scare but they have lived through the collapse of the middle class and the birth of a new Gilded Age.
It’s been honestly funny watching the socialism and communism scare-words fall flat after working for three generations.
It’s been honestly funny watching the socialism and communism scare-words fall flat after working for three generations.
November 5, 2025 at 4:35 PM
People younger than Gen X didn’t live through even the remnants of the red scare but they have lived through the collapse of the middle class and the birth of a new Gilded Age.
It’s been honestly funny watching the socialism and communism scare-words fall flat after working for three generations.
It’s been honestly funny watching the socialism and communism scare-words fall flat after working for three generations.
Reposted by David Cantwell
"the revolt of the bosses" is a good way of framing the elite reaction to woke 1. what's particularly interesting is that this isn't a reaction to an attack on profits--it's a reaction to changes in workplace culture--
which is to say, the psychic wage of hierarchy
which is to say, the psychic wage of hierarchy
I suspect that the revolt of the bosses element of all this really is explained by: a bunch of upper echelon Americans really didn't like the cultural and workplace changes induced by Woke era, some portion of them were pushed into internet insanity, but most just wanted a shift slightly right....
November 5, 2025 at 4:17 PM
"the revolt of the bosses" is a good way of framing the elite reaction to woke 1. what's particularly interesting is that this isn't a reaction to an attack on profits--it's a reaction to changes in workplace culture--
which is to say, the psychic wage of hierarchy
which is to say, the psychic wage of hierarchy
I’ve wondered for a while if the strategy was to let Trump do WTF he wants by temporarily staying any injunctions limiting him, then when it came time actually to decide a case, check to see which way the wind was blowing…
I can't help noticing the Supreme Court conservatives expressing the first doubt of a Trump assertion in oral arguments the day after the election day where every Republican running lost by 20 points. But they would never be swayed by such worldly things in their consideration of The Law, right?
November 6, 2025 at 1:15 PM
I’ve wondered for a while if the strategy was to let Trump do WTF he wants by temporarily staying any injunctions limiting him, then when it came time actually to decide a case, check to see which way the wind was blowing…
Reposted by David Cantwell
That’s the second reported and sourced story on US soldiers not being fed today
Army closes only dining facility on Kansas base due to government shutdown trib.al/5WGvUOq
Army closes only dining facility on Kansas base due to government shutdown
The only dining facility for junior troops at the Army’s Fort Leavenworth in Kansas has been closed due to funding issues.
trib.al
November 6, 2025 at 12:17 AM
That’s the second reported and sourced story on US soldiers not being fed today
Wrote up my 22 picks for the best country albums of 1975. Fun stuff! At No Fences Review (w/ @charleshughes2.bsky.social )
The Best Country Albums of 1975
David picks his 22 favorite country albums from a half century ago.
open.substack.com
November 5, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Wrote up my 22 picks for the best country albums of 1975. Fun stuff! At No Fences Review (w/ @charleshughes2.bsky.social )
Reposted by David Cantwell
I don’t disagree that Ben Shapiro is trying to kick Carlson out. But I still think the analogy here is fights between White Citizen’s Councils and the Klan. On most points, these folks agree. But the establishment prefers their bigotry thinly veiled and this is harder to maintain in the Trump era.
Ben Shapiro is outright trying to kick Tucker Carlson out of the conservative movement in this video. The right's civil war is truly here www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaRJ...
Tucker Carlson Sabotages America
YouTube video by Ben Shapiro
www.youtube.com
November 3, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I don’t disagree that Ben Shapiro is trying to kick Carlson out. But I still think the analogy here is fights between White Citizen’s Councils and the Klan. On most points, these folks agree. But the establishment prefers their bigotry thinly veiled and this is harder to maintain in the Trump era.
Reposted by David Cantwell
working on the big 2026 book preview that I always do on my newsletter -- if you've got a book coming out next year, tell me
November 3, 2025 at 1:52 PM
working on the big 2026 book preview that I always do on my newsletter -- if you've got a book coming out next year, tell me
The Supreme Court, devoted only to balls and strikes and the president’s feelings
November 3, 2025 at 2:16 PM
The Supreme Court, devoted only to balls and strikes and the president’s feelings
Reposted by David Cantwell
They only have time and resources for threats.
The USDA sent an email to grocery stores telling them they are prohibited from offering special discounts to customers affected by the SNAP funding lapse.
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
I'm aware of at least 2 stores that had offered struggling customers a discount, then withdrew it after receiving this email
November 3, 2025 at 1:08 PM
They only have time and resources for threats.
Reposted by David Cantwell
NYC is going to have the world's biggest media-manufactured crime panic in history the second Mamdani is elected. They aren't even going to wait until he is inaugurated. Whether or not you like the guy, you need to start preparing now for the fire hose of disinformation that is about to activate.
November 2, 2025 at 11:19 PM
NYC is going to have the world's biggest media-manufactured crime panic in history the second Mamdani is elected. They aren't even going to wait until he is inaugurated. Whether or not you like the guy, you need to start preparing now for the fire hose of disinformation that is about to activate.
Reposted by David Cantwell
Folks, food banks can really use your time and money right now if can spare either.
When I was back home I spent an afternoon volunteering at the food bank my mom helps run. It’s in a mid sized Midwestern city. It was pretty eye opening. These are people who are really reliant on the social safety net that the BBB slashed. Here’s a list of observations 1/x
November 1, 2025 at 6:54 PM
Folks, food banks can really use your time and money right now if can spare either.
Reposted by David Cantwell
genuinely crazy-making how much the national press is indifferent to the verifiable fact that jd vance is buddy buddy with internet nazis, and the degree to which this is almost certainly a form of solidarity among people with a similar institution pedigree
mainstream media report on jd vance’s twitter mutuals, challenge level: impossible
He has already chosen, what the fuck are we doing here
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/arc...
November 1, 2025 at 7:23 PM
genuinely crazy-making how much the national press is indifferent to the verifiable fact that jd vance is buddy buddy with internet nazis, and the degree to which this is almost certainly a form of solidarity among people with a similar institution pedigree
Reposted by David Cantwell
Illustration by Josef Fenneker for the lost Fritz Lang film Der Totentanz, 1919
October 31, 2025 at 8:15 AM
Illustration by Josef Fenneker for the lost Fritz Lang film Der Totentanz, 1919
At No Fences Review: @charleshughes2.bsky.social talks to author Bill Janovitz about Let the Stories Be Told, his new biography of The Cars. It's just what you needed!
Let The Stories Be Told: A Conversation about The Cars with Bill Janovitz
Charles talks to the author of a new band biography
open.substack.com
October 31, 2025 at 2:07 PM
At No Fences Review: @charleshughes2.bsky.social talks to author Bill Janovitz about Let the Stories Be Told, his new biography of The Cars. It's just what you needed!
Reposted by David Cantwell
I guess any time a post gets popular enough you’ll start having people reply with, “not all xxx.”
And beloved(s), it’s called speaking to a general trend, I do not need to caveat about the complexity of the human condition with every microblog post I make, please be so serious.
And beloved(s), it’s called speaking to a general trend, I do not need to caveat about the complexity of the human condition with every microblog post I make, please be so serious.
October 30, 2025 at 12:02 PM
I guess any time a post gets popular enough you’ll start having people reply with, “not all xxx.”
And beloved(s), it’s called speaking to a general trend, I do not need to caveat about the complexity of the human condition with every microblog post I make, please be so serious.
And beloved(s), it’s called speaking to a general trend, I do not need to caveat about the complexity of the human condition with every microblog post I make, please be so serious.
Reposted by David Cantwell
Under Trump, the draconian future of homelessness policy is coming into focus: mass internment. Utah is building a 16-acre site to detain up to 1,300 homeless people inside locked "accountability centers." This is profoundly alarming.
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
In Utah, Trump’s Vision for Homelessness Begins to Take Shape
www.nytimes.com
October 29, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Under Trump, the draconian future of homelessness policy is coming into focus: mass internment. Utah is building a 16-acre site to detain up to 1,300 homeless people inside locked "accountability centers." This is profoundly alarming.
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle:
Vital reporting from @ellenbarry.bsky.social and Jason DeParle: