David Mastio
@davidmastio.bsky.social
National Columnist for McClatchy/The Kansas City Star
Democrats want 16 yos to vote. What the heck are they thinking? Civic nebraska in this article seems like a bunch of democrat partisan hacks.
ICYMI: Two proposals with competing visions for the future of voting in Nebraska show some differences between how the two major political parties approach voting regulations.
From Juan Salinas II:
From Juan Salinas II:
Competing statehouse visions for voting in Nebraska vie for the ballot • Nebraska Examiner
Two state constitutional amendments offer a microcosm of how some Democrats and Republicans view voting regulations.
buff.ly
January 23, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Democrats want 16 yos to vote. What the heck are they thinking? Civic nebraska in this article seems like a bunch of democrat partisan hacks.
Good lord. There is no 1a right to other people’s money.
NPR and three Colorado stations took the Trump administration to court. The government's defunding of public media “isn’t just an affront to localism," a scholar at the University of Colorado says. "It’s an attempt to reengineer thought." www.cjr.org/analysis/the...
The NPR and Colorado stations that took Trump to court.
“It isn’t just an affront to localism. It’s an attempt to reengineer thought.”
www.cjr.org
January 23, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Good lord. There is no 1a right to other people’s money.
Reposted by David Mastio
Douthat’s interview with @ryanburge.bsky.social is very interesting and informative. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/o...
Opinion | America’s Very Weird Religious Future
www.nytimes.com
January 22, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Douthat’s interview with @ryanburge.bsky.social is very interesting and informative. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/22/o...
Reposted by David Mastio
The first advice that journalists and columnists get is not to read the comments. That’s wrong. From David Mastio: | Opinion
These are the reasons why I always read your comments | Opinion
The first advice that journalists and columnists get is not to read the comments. That’s wrong. From David Mastio: | Opinion
bit.ly
January 22, 2026 at 11:40 AM
The first advice that journalists and columnists get is not to read the comments. That’s wrong. From David Mastio: | Opinion
Reposted by David Mastio
An important issue. President Trump keeps saying that NATO would never come to America's aid. But recent history disproves this. Trump is relying on the ignorance of voters, in the fashion of demagogues everywhere. apnews.com/article/denm...
Danish veterans of US wars feel betrayed by Trump's threats against Greenland
Danish veterans feel betrayed as the U.S. escalates threats to seize Greenland, a territory of Denmark.
apnews.com
January 21, 2026 at 3:21 PM
An important issue. President Trump keeps saying that NATO would never come to America's aid. But recent history disproves this. Trump is relying on the ignorance of voters, in the fashion of demagogues everywhere. apnews.com/article/denm...
My new column on Trump's growing dementia quoting @radiofreetom.bsky.social (gift link) www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
Trump’s late-night ramblings: Will Kansas and Missouri pay for it? | Opinion
If only a World Cup boycott were the worst of the consequences for the president’s foolish Greenland and Nobel Peace Prize obsessions. | Opinion
www.kansascity.com
January 21, 2026 at 1:14 PM
My new column on Trump's growing dementia quoting @radiofreetom.bsky.social (gift link) www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
Good. There is enough blood on communist hands to treat them like nazis in the story of the 20th century.
ICYMI: Nebraska is considering a bill that would require K-12 schools in the state to teach anti-communist lessons. Similar bills have been passed elsewhere in recent years. Some say the history is already taught.
From Juan Salinas II:
From Juan Salinas II:
New bill would require Nebraska K-12 schools to teach anti-communist lessons • Nebraska Examiner
The proposal from Nebraska state Sen. Dave Murman of Glenville follows similar laws passed in Florida and Texas.
buff.ly
January 20, 2026 at 4:46 PM
Good. There is enough blood on communist hands to treat them like nazis in the story of the 20th century.
Reposted by David Mastio
It is not up to the armed forces to put a stop to Trump’s ghastly ideas of war against NATO. The United States is not run by the military, nor should it be. Americans, and their elected representatives, must take this burden away from the armed forces—now.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
The Military Is Being Forced to Plan for an Unthinkable Betrayal
Attacking an ally would be a perversion of everything the armed forces have been trained to do.
www.theatlantic.com
January 19, 2026 at 9:10 PM
It is not up to the armed forces to put a stop to Trump’s ghastly ideas of war against NATO. The United States is not run by the military, nor should it be. Americans, and their elected representatives, must take this burden away from the armed forces—now.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Reposted by David Mastio
Mamdani is changing his tone because of budget realities. Did people really not see this coming?
edition.cnn.com/2026/01/19/p...
edition.cnn.com/2026/01/19/p...
In his first weeks as NYC mayor, Zohran Mamdani takes a measured approach | CNN Politics
Would Zohran Mamdani compromise?
edition.cnn.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:02 PM
Mamdani is changing his tone because of budget realities. Did people really not see this coming?
edition.cnn.com/2026/01/19/p...
edition.cnn.com/2026/01/19/p...
Reposted by David Mastio
Republicans in Congress who want to save NATO - I am thinking here of Sen. Jerry Moran - don’t seem to realize they are probably already too late. I wonder how many realized they were complicit in real time and how many will only realize in retrospect.
I suspect the vast majority of those Americans assume that one day they can simply say 'reset' to us, and all will be well.
It won't be. America has never ever threatened a European democracy with invasion. Until now. We are in a new era.
It won't be. America has never ever threatened a European democracy with invasion. Until now. We are in a new era.
But Americans who want to save the alliance with Europe must have no illusions about how bad a condition this transatlantic partnership is in.
January 18, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Republicans in Congress who want to save NATO - I am thinking here of Sen. Jerry Moran - don’t seem to realize they are probably already too late. I wonder how many realized they were complicit in real time and how many will only realize in retrospect.
Reposted by David Mastio
Kansans *should* like immigration because the state would be treading water without migrants. www.kansascity.com/opinion/arti...
Kansas not as anti-immigrant as you may have been led to believe | Opinion
Fort Hays State survey shows majority support for legal immigration and that a plurality opposes harsh crackdowns on undocumented workers.
www.kansascity.com
January 17, 2026 at 6:46 AM
Kansans *should* like immigration because the state would be treading water without migrants. www.kansascity.com/opinion/arti...
Reposted by David Mastio
From the thebulwark community on Reddit
Explore this post and more from the thebulwark community
www.reddit.com
January 16, 2026 at 6:19 PM
So this has gone a little viral -- "I am inclined to be worried more about the Republicans and their electoral fantasies as we enter an election year. ... But you can’t dismiss the Democrats’ loopy beliefs as inconsequential." www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
America chooses sanity and so does the Missouri Supreme Court (9-0!) | Opinion
One party insists its members deny electoral reality while the other insists its members deny biological reality. Americans are opting out. From David Mastio:
www.kansascity.com
January 16, 2026 at 5:22 PM
So this has gone a little viral -- "I am inclined to be worried more about the Republicans and their electoral fantasies as we enter an election year. ... But you can’t dismiss the Democrats’ loopy beliefs as inconsequential." www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
Reposted by David Mastio
Important emu-related news. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...
Runaway Emu Leads Florida Corporal in 45-Minute Police Chase
www.nytimes.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:11 PM
Important emu-related news. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...
Americans are choosing sanity and I still have hope the courts will, too. www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
America chooses sanity and so does the Missouri Supreme Court (9-0!) | Opinion
One party insists its members deny electoral reality while the other insists its members deny biological reality. Americans are opting out. From David Mastio:
www.kansascity.com
January 16, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Americans are choosing sanity and I still have hope the courts will, too. www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
Meh, I've seen autism Barbie before www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
Barbie with autism isn’t new. Just ask the girls who play with her | Opinion
Mattel adds the neurodivergent woman to their collection of diversity dollies to overhyped fanfare it doesn’t deserve. From David Mastio:
www.kansascity.com
January 15, 2026 at 7:20 PM
Meh, I've seen autism Barbie before www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
Reposted by David Mastio
Past presidents, including G.W. Bush and Obama, took reporters to court and threatened them with jail if they didn't turn over their sources. Under the new authoritarian regime, the FBI just barges into a reporter's home and grabs what they want. apnews.com/article/fbi-...
FBI searches home of Washington Post reporter in classified documents probe, newspaper says
Attorney General Pam Bondi says the search of a Washington Post reporter’s home was done at the Pentagon’s request as part of a leak investigation.
apnews.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:45 PM
Past presidents, including G.W. Bush and Obama, took reporters to court and threatened them with jail if they didn't turn over their sources. Under the new authoritarian regime, the FBI just barges into a reporter's home and grabs what they want. apnews.com/article/fbi-...
Come enjoy seeing me get my head handed to me in the comments ... www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-... (gift link)
My dad was right, the Missouri income tax is awful. He voted with his feet | Opinion
If Gov. Kehoe gets his way, Missouri will vote on abolishing the state income tax. Let’s not wait for others to follow my father. From David Mastio:
www.kansascity.com
January 14, 2026 at 3:28 PM
Come enjoy seeing me get my head handed to me in the comments ... www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-... (gift link)
Reposted by David Mastio
Iran has sent Russia $2.7 billion worth of missiles.
Just to underline how important Iran has become for the Russian regime. It is absolutely vital for Putin to keep the mullah regime running.
Just to underline how important Iran has become for the Russian regime. It is absolutely vital for Putin to keep the mullah regime running.
January 13, 2026 at 3:11 PM
Iran has sent Russia $2.7 billion worth of missiles.
Just to underline how important Iran has become for the Russian regime. It is absolutely vital for Putin to keep the mullah regime running.
Just to underline how important Iran has become for the Russian regime. It is absolutely vital for Putin to keep the mullah regime running.
My latest: www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
My dad was right, the Missouri income tax is awful. He voted with his feet | Opinion
If Gov. Kehoe gets his way, Missouri will vote on abolishing the state income tax. Let’s not wait for others to follow my father. From David Mastio:
www.kansascity.com
January 14, 2026 at 11:37 AM
My latest: www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
Reposted by David Mastio
Trump habitually campaigns as a candidate with no love of military interventions or overseas involvement, and then reverses course in office. Opportunism and ego are at the heart of this bait-and-switch, dove-to-hawk syndrome. My latest at @contrariannews.org contrarian.substack.com/p/an-opportu...
An Opportunist in Dove’s Clothing
Trump’s favorite role is commander of his personal military
contrarian.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:09 PM
Trump habitually campaigns as a candidate with no love of military interventions or overseas involvement, and then reverses course in office. Opportunism and ego are at the heart of this bait-and-switch, dove-to-hawk syndrome. My latest at @contrariannews.org contrarian.substack.com/p/an-opportu...
Reposted by David Mastio
The problem with the Milwaukee ICE shooting is that the victim is only the latest of hundreds of citizens caught up in the gears of the immigration crackdown (gift link) www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
Renee Good isn’t first US citizen caught up in Trump immigration crackdown | Opinion
Americans voted for a crackdown on undocumented migrants, not the slaying and detention of U.S citizens in an incompetent ICE dragnet.
www.kansascity.com
January 8, 2026 at 8:07 PM
The problem with the Milwaukee ICE shooting is that the victim is only the latest of hundreds of citizens caught up in the gears of the immigration crackdown (gift link) www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
My take on the fresh raft of lies about Jan. 6 from WhiteHouse.gov -- www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
Trump’s lies on Jan. 6 White House website portend a totalitarian future | Opinion
Only useful fools and paid stooges could believe the preposterous story the White House site now spins about the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection.
www.kansascity.com
January 8, 2026 at 7:54 PM
My take on the fresh raft of lies about Jan. 6 from WhiteHouse.gov -- www.kansascity.com/opinion/opn-...
Reposted by David Mastio
Today is the anniversary of my younger brother's death. It still hurts like mad.
I wrote three columns, over a few years, about Lee and his struggle. This is the first.
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
I wrote three columns, over a few years, about Lee and his struggle. This is the first.
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
You can't live every day like it is your last, but you can live every day with kindness
There's a tension between urging people to be better and accepting them, flaws and all. With my brother, I still don't know where the balance lies.
www.usatoday.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:25 PM
Today is the anniversary of my younger brother's death. It still hurts like mad.
I wrote three columns, over a few years, about Lee and his struggle. This is the first.
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
I wrote three columns, over a few years, about Lee and his struggle. This is the first.
www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...