Dave Andress
@davidandress.bsky.social
Historian of revolution, pessimistic anarchist. Nobody else wants these views, trust me. 'His real face is a hat' - Fern Riddell.
Reposted by Dave Andress
Nobody, in the entire history of caring, has ever cared one fraction of a percent about anything as much as he cares about this.
Trump: "I thought when I saw this note -- 'I'm excited to announce that Norway' -- I thought they were going to say they're giving me the Nobel Prize. Oh. This is less exciting. But I don't care. I don't care about Nobel Prize."
February 19, 2026 at 3:19 PM
Nobody, in the entire history of caring, has ever cared one fraction of a percent about anything as much as he cares about this.
Reposted by Dave Andress
This is just really embarrassing for these guys. Your intellectual hero is an amphetamine casualty from the Britpop years. It would be less ridiculous to be queuing up for a lecture by Ginger Spice.
We should be talking a lot more about how the San Francisco tech scene is populated by a strange cult of doom acceleration nerds who fantasize about using computers to destroy humanity.
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Silicon Valley’s Favorite Doomsaying Philosopher
Nick Land believes that digital superintelligence is going to kill us all. In San Francisco, his followers ask: What if, instead of trying to stop an A.I. takeover, you work to bring it on as fast as ...
www.newyorker.com
February 19, 2026 at 7:07 PM
This is just really embarrassing for these guys. Your intellectual hero is an amphetamine casualty from the Britpop years. It would be less ridiculous to be queuing up for a lecture by Ginger Spice.
Now do the thing where the market is regulated to ensure that the owners of capital don’t unjust alienate the surplus-value of the workers’ labour, and we’ll be getting somewhere.
The funny thing about modern economic discourse is that The Wealth of Nations is very clear that market failure requires regulation.
I am a capitalist because “planned economy” vs “lawless markets”‘is a false choice.
A smartly regulated economy is literally what Smith articulated.
I am a capitalist because “planned economy” vs “lawless markets”‘is a false choice.
A smartly regulated economy is literally what Smith articulated.
for lack of other options, i am nominally a capitalist, and i think we should get back to first principles about making capital productive. any one person having tens or hundreds of billions of dollars is grossly unproductive and bad for business.
February 19, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Now do the thing where the market is regulated to ensure that the owners of capital don’t unjust alienate the surplus-value of the workers’ labour, and we’ll be getting somewhere.
Reposted by Dave Andress
I do not feel the need to throat clear anymore about how terrible other regimes are: no war with Iran. Hands off Venezuela. Hands off Cuba. No invasion of Mexico. Leave Greenland alone
If you’re an American service member who gets killed in a retaliatory strike, your family can take comfort in the fact that it was done in service of making the host of Celebrity Apprentice feel like a big man for a minute, before he moved on to something else and forgets about this forever
February 19, 2026 at 5:07 PM
I do not feel the need to throat clear anymore about how terrible other regimes are: no war with Iran. Hands off Venezuela. Hands off Cuba. No invasion of Mexico. Leave Greenland alone
Reposted by Dave Andress
Fun to watch Russell Brand lose his mind exclusively through the aesthetics of his Youtube thumbnails
February 19, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Fun to watch Russell Brand lose his mind exclusively through the aesthetics of his Youtube thumbnails
Reposted by Dave Andress
People think taxing the rich is good, you don't need to link it to any particular project. "We want to tax the rich" is popular, full stop, and it's almost always good policy too
We don't have to tax the rich to have enough funding. That assumes budgets are only about taxes, which is what many elected officials want us to think so they can say no to good political demands and act like it's to save us money.
But taxing the rich is a good project just to make them sweat.
But taxing the rich is a good project just to make them sweat.
February 19, 2026 at 5:08 PM
People think taxing the rich is good, you don't need to link it to any particular project. "We want to tax the rich" is popular, full stop, and it's almost always good policy too
Some old folk are great with technology. On the other hand, my mother-in-law has just needed an app, a website and two different "dedicated" help numbers to add a few pounds of phone credit.
30 minutes, 29 of which were pure frustration at things refusing to do the exact thing they exist to do.
30 minutes, 29 of which were pure frustration at things refusing to do the exact thing they exist to do.
February 19, 2026 at 5:09 PM
Some old folk are great with technology. On the other hand, my mother-in-law has just needed an app, a website and two different "dedicated" help numbers to add a few pounds of phone credit.
30 minutes, 29 of which were pure frustration at things refusing to do the exact thing they exist to do.
30 minutes, 29 of which were pure frustration at things refusing to do the exact thing they exist to do.
Reposted by Dave Andress
Popularism consists in itself of a simple proposition, that a party which adopts the policy stances of the majority of the electorate will win elections. The problem with this proposition is that there is less than zero evidence for this being true anywhere on the planet.
February 19, 2026 at 4:58 PM
Popularism consists in itself of a simple proposition, that a party which adopts the policy stances of the majority of the electorate will win elections. The problem with this proposition is that there is less than zero evidence for this being true anywhere on the planet.
Reposted by Dave Andress
If Makary does mean antibiotics, this would be a public health emergency. We’ve seen this play out in other countries, and it doesn’t end well.
FDA Chief Makary just said that most drugs should be sold over the counter and not require a prescription, unless it’s “unsafe, you need laboratory tests to monitor…or if it could be used for some nefarious purpose or it's addictive”.
Bacteria celebrate as antibiotic resistance enters the chat.
Bacteria celebrate as antibiotic resistance enters the chat.
FDA chief Marty Makary says 'everything should be over the counter' unless drug is unsafe or addictive
Makary said the FDA is looking at prescription drugs like nausea medications and vaginal estrogen, and hopes to make changes this year.
www.cnbc.com
February 19, 2026 at 4:58 PM
If Makary does mean antibiotics, this would be a public health emergency. We’ve seen this play out in other countries, and it doesn’t end well.
Reposted by Dave Andress
Social media appears to have been a lifeline for Brianna Ghey, something she used to connect with other trans people, something that would have been difficult to do when I was her age. But her mother is talking about how social media "killed her", that she "died twice." It's revolting.
February 19, 2026 at 12:20 PM
Social media appears to have been a lifeline for Brianna Ghey, something she used to connect with other trans people, something that would have been difficult to do when I was her age. But her mother is talking about how social media "killed her", that she "died twice." It's revolting.
Definition of an out-group is one where all members are blamed for actions of an individual member.
Definition of an in-group is one where all actions of an individual member are explained away as having other, understandable, reasons.
Definition of an in-group is one where all actions of an individual member are explained away as having other, understandable, reasons.
February 19, 2026 at 4:54 PM
Definition of an out-group is one where all members are blamed for actions of an individual member.
Definition of an in-group is one where all actions of an individual member are explained away as having other, understandable, reasons.
Definition of an in-group is one where all actions of an individual member are explained away as having other, understandable, reasons.
Reposted by Dave Andress
The President is taking a *pre-noon* nap. In public. At his big event. On World Peace. This will go mostly unremarked upon outside here. Meanwhile, the commentary class thinks it deeply important to inform you that AOC said "uhm" a few times in response to a question on the same topic a few days ago
more than two hours into this "Board of Peace" meeting, we are now enduring random world leader open mic time and Trump's eyes are closed
February 19, 2026 at 4:41 PM
The President is taking a *pre-noon* nap. In public. At his big event. On World Peace. This will go mostly unremarked upon outside here. Meanwhile, the commentary class thinks it deeply important to inform you that AOC said "uhm" a few times in response to a question on the same topic a few days ago
LOL what a shitshow.
Observation: leaders praise Trump, but then add their conditions to their pledges.
Qatar: FM/PM says they’ll donate $1B but add a condition of Palestine statehood
Turkey: demands 2-state solution
Albania: asks to free former Kosovo President prosecuted by ICC
Morocco: demands Palestine ownership
Qatar: FM/PM says they’ll donate $1B but add a condition of Palestine statehood
Turkey: demands 2-state solution
Albania: asks to free former Kosovo President prosecuted by ICC
Morocco: demands Palestine ownership
February 19, 2026 at 4:50 PM
LOL what a shitshow.
Reposted by Dave Andress
The possibility that pre-Elon Twitter was limiting the reach of conservative tweets was the greatest story in the history of journalism, while a vast network of sex trafficking pedophiles that included billionaires, celebrities and two presidents is just a big yawn.
February 19, 2026 at 1:45 PM
The possibility that pre-Elon Twitter was limiting the reach of conservative tweets was the greatest story in the history of journalism, while a vast network of sex trafficking pedophiles that included billionaires, celebrities and two presidents is just a big yawn.
Reposted by Dave Andress
Reposted by Dave Andress
Re: #AI- there is a third side. Using planet-killing levels of energy to do a lit review is like warming yourself in winter by lighting your house on fire.
February 19, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Re: #AI- there is a third side. Using planet-killing levels of energy to do a lit review is like warming yourself in winter by lighting your house on fire.
Reposted by Dave Andress
Reminds me of when FPFW realised that the US 'religious freedom' law didn't just allow medics to refuse to treat trans folk but also contraception-using cis women.
"That's not what we meant!"
You opened the door and invited the bigots in, Sodha...
"That's not what we meant!"
You opened the door and invited the bigots in, Sodha...
February 19, 2026 at 9:50 AM
Reminds me of when FPFW realised that the US 'religious freedom' law didn't just allow medics to refuse to treat trans folk but also contraception-using cis women.
"That's not what we meant!"
You opened the door and invited the bigots in, Sodha...
"That's not what we meant!"
You opened the door and invited the bigots in, Sodha...
Reposted by Dave Andress
As the parent of a trans kid, this makes me incredibly sad. My kid has *always* been the person they are now. There was not some other version that ceased to exist. I didn't lose the child I gave birth to, I gained deeper knowledge when that child decided to trust me with their reality.
February 19, 2026 at 10:02 AM
As the parent of a trans kid, this makes me incredibly sad. My kid has *always* been the person they are now. There was not some other version that ceased to exist. I didn't lose the child I gave birth to, I gained deeper knowledge when that child decided to trust me with their reality.
Reposted by Dave Andress
Shabana Mahmood taking notes...
So many just stunning details in this piece by @jonathanblitzer.bsky.social. Read all the way to the end, which gets into the push now to denaturalize citizens. www.newyorker.com/news/annals-...
How Legal Immigration Became a Deportation Trap
Under Trump, the Homeland Security agency responsible for processing visas and green cards has become a site for easy arrests.
www.newyorker.com
February 19, 2026 at 1:22 PM
Shabana Mahmood taking notes...
Reposted by Dave Andress
To my knowledge, no ICE Enforcement and Removal officer has ever been shot by an immigrant.
Might be wrong but I don’t think so.
Might be wrong but I don’t think so.
"Three federal immigration agents accidentally shot themselves in the leg during routine training exercises within two days last year, according to internal documents reviewed by Newsweek."
ICE agents keep accidentally shooting themselves
Three ICE agents accidentally shot themselves in the leg during routine training exercises within two days last year.
www.newsweek.com
February 19, 2026 at 1:01 PM
To my knowledge, no ICE Enforcement and Removal officer has ever been shot by an immigrant.
Might be wrong but I don’t think so.
Might be wrong but I don’t think so.
Reposted by Dave Andress
"In order to get AI to draft writing of similar quality to my own I must spend twice as much time as actually writing the thing myself would take to produce."
You have an overpriced pencil and pad. You have inserted an irrelevant detour to alter a practice that has deep longitudinal wisdom.
You have an overpriced pencil and pad. You have inserted an irrelevant detour to alter a practice that has deep longitudinal wisdom.
February 19, 2026 at 12:56 PM
"In order to get AI to draft writing of similar quality to my own I must spend twice as much time as actually writing the thing myself would take to produce."
You have an overpriced pencil and pad. You have inserted an irrelevant detour to alter a practice that has deep longitudinal wisdom.
You have an overpriced pencil and pad. You have inserted an irrelevant detour to alter a practice that has deep longitudinal wisdom.
Reposted by Dave Andress
Thinking today of the berk of a private secretary who demanded a written apology from me for being insufficiently forelock-tugging to Andrew Windsor when I was working in the Foreign Office. I’d had the nerve to suggest he might not be the reputational asset we needed as a trade envoy to Ukraine.
February 19, 2026 at 12:10 PM
Thinking today of the berk of a private secretary who demanded a written apology from me for being insufficiently forelock-tugging to Andrew Windsor when I was working in the Foreign Office. I’d had the nerve to suggest he might not be the reputational asset we needed as a trade envoy to Ukraine.
Is it the decision that a book about 1950s public-school evacuees from a nuclear war should be read in schools the thing that makes people think it has to be some kind of allegory of general human nature?
Because it's a book about 1950s public-school evacuees from a nuclear war.
Because it's a book about 1950s public-school evacuees from a nuclear war.
The BBC’s Lord of the Flies shows why diverse casting doesn’t always work | Darren Chetty
William Golding’s classic tale is about civilisation, ‘savagery’ and empire – can a colour-blind cast do that justice, asks writer and academic Darren Chetty
www.theguardian.com
February 19, 2026 at 12:50 PM
Is it the decision that a book about 1950s public-school evacuees from a nuclear war should be read in schools the thing that makes people think it has to be some kind of allegory of general human nature?
Because it's a book about 1950s public-school evacuees from a nuclear war.
Because it's a book about 1950s public-school evacuees from a nuclear war.
Reposted by Dave Andress
Reposted by Dave Andress
“Bold” may be one of the most dangerous words we apply to the biosphere. It often signals a willingness to gamble on planetary systems we barely understand rather than reduce the pressures we clearly do.
The Wildest Plan Ever Imagined: He Wants to Detonate a Nuclear Bomb at the Bottom of the Ocean to Save the Planet - Futura-Sciences
The climate change we continue to fuel through fossil fuel consumption poses a serious threat to our long term survival. Solutions do exist. Most require, if not sacrifice, at least meaningful changes in how we produce and consume energy. Many would likely improve our lives in the process. Still, some...
www.futura-sciences.com
February 19, 2026 at 12:29 PM
“Bold” may be one of the most dangerous words we apply to the biosphere. It often signals a willingness to gamble on planetary systems we barely understand rather than reduce the pressures we clearly do.