Dick Polman
@dickpolman.bsky.social
I teach journalism at UPenn. I’ve been a journo since 1973, including 28 yrs at the Phila Inquirer. I write at dickpolman.substack.com and I’m archived at dickpolman.net
Trying to sustain equilibrium in a land turned upside down.
Trying to sustain equilibrium in a land turned upside down.
The Robmeister! Still hanging near the copying machine! With one-zillionth the talent of Ruffalo! Sums it up for the Robmeister!
The "lost the rest of my barbershop quartet" guy thinks it's his politics that keep the roles away
December 29, 2025 at 10:13 PM
The Robmeister! Still hanging near the copying machine! With one-zillionth the talent of Ruffalo! Sums it up for the Robmeister!
Reposted by Dick Polman
Reposted by Dick Polman
NEW: Is there a dumpster somewhere to torch and bury this year of bedlam?
Fellow columnist @anitachabria.bsky.social and I renew our annual tradition, looking back on the year 2025 and speculating on what the New Year may bring.
It only hurts when we laugh.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Fellow columnist @anitachabria.bsky.social and I renew our annual tradition, looking back on the year 2025 and speculating on what the New Year may bring.
It only hurts when we laugh.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Commentary: America tried something new in 2025. It's not going well
Glow up or grow up? Times columnists Anita Chabria and Mark Z. Barabak look back and assess whether 2025 was good for America or an unmitigated disaster.
www.latimes.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:15 PM
NEW: Is there a dumpster somewhere to torch and bury this year of bedlam?
Fellow columnist @anitachabria.bsky.social and I renew our annual tradition, looking back on the year 2025 and speculating on what the New Year may bring.
It only hurts when we laugh.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
Fellow columnist @anitachabria.bsky.social and I renew our annual tradition, looking back on the year 2025 and speculating on what the New Year may bring.
It only hurts when we laugh.
www.latimes.com/politics/sto...
My latest.
Donate money to independent media sites!.
Donate money to independent media sites!.
And that's the way it is: CBS News has been rendered worthless by a MAGA handmaiden
Ignore corporate media. Give money to support independent outlets.
dickpolman.substack.com
December 28, 2025 at 4:10 PM
My latest.
Donate money to independent media sites!.
Donate money to independent media sites!.
Reposted by Dick Polman
For 50+ years, the NPR Network has offered America trusted information, free of charge. As public media faces a future without federal funding, we're relying on you to sustain this work in 2026 and beyond.
Donate now to power Tiny Desk concerts, local reporting and more: n.pr/4pCcFIx
Donate now to power Tiny Desk concerts, local reporting and more: n.pr/4pCcFIx
December 26, 2025 at 9:13 PM
For 50+ years, the NPR Network has offered America trusted information, free of charge. As public media faces a future without federal funding, we're relying on you to sustain this work in 2026 and beyond.
Donate now to power Tiny Desk concerts, local reporting and more: n.pr/4pCcFIx
Donate now to power Tiny Desk concerts, local reporting and more: n.pr/4pCcFIx
Breaking news: Bari Weiss tells staffers that a 60 Minutes piece on the Holocaust “isn’t ready” for air until they can get a neo-Nazi to say that Hitler did some good things too, like building the Autobahn.
December 24, 2025 at 7:16 PM
Breaking news: Bari Weiss tells staffers that a 60 Minutes piece on the Holocaust “isn’t ready” for air until they can get a neo-Nazi to say that Hitler did some good things too, like building the Autobahn.
Reposted by Dick Polman
NEW — I put together a list of independent journalism subscriptions that would make great holiday gifts. From music to politics, astronomy to alcohol, tech to social justice, there’s something for [almost] everyone. Support indie media *and* surprise and delight your loved ones!
My guide:
My guide:
Giving the gift of independent journalism: a guide
The Handbasket has subscription suggestions for almost everyone on your list.
www.thehandbasket.co
December 6, 2025 at 3:38 PM
NEW — I put together a list of independent journalism subscriptions that would make great holiday gifts. From music to politics, astronomy to alcohol, tech to social justice, there’s something for [almost] everyone. Support indie media *and* surprise and delight your loved ones!
My guide:
My guide:
Reposted by Dick Polman
The exit of more than a dozen staffers follows turmoil at Heritage and the larger conservative movement over the role of right-wing influencers who've promoted antisemitic and other extremist ideas. n.pr/4qeX9Te
A rift in MAGA has top Heritage Foundation officials leaving to join with Mike Pence
The exit of more than a dozen staffers follows turmoil at Heritage and the larger conservative movement over the role of right-wing influencers who've promoted antisemitic and other extremist ideas.
n.pr
December 22, 2025 at 9:26 PM
The exit of more than a dozen staffers follows turmoil at Heritage and the larger conservative movement over the role of right-wing influencers who've promoted antisemitic and other extremist ideas. n.pr/4qeX9Te
Reposted by Dick Polman
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
December 22, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
Reposted by Dick Polman
Why did CBS delete this promo and cancel this from airing in full?
December 22, 2025 at 12:41 AM
Why did CBS delete this promo and cancel this from airing in full?
And math teachers are going, “Why should we bother?”
FOX: If you cut something by 100%, the cost goes down to 0. If you cut it by 600%, the drug companies are actually paying you
LUTNICK: What he's saying is if a drug was $100 and you bring it down to $13, it's down 7 times
F: Not a 600% cut
L: But it's 700% higher price before. It's down 700% now
LUTNICK: What he's saying is if a drug was $100 and you bring it down to $13, it's down 7 times
F: Not a 600% cut
L: But it's 700% higher price before. It's down 700% now
December 19, 2025 at 9:59 PM
And math teachers are going, “Why should we bother?”
Trump said last night that he has forced pharmaceutical firms “to slash prices on drugs…by as much as 400, 500 and even 600 percent.”
Which means that not only are drugs now free (100 percent reduction), but the companies are paying US when we pick up prescriptions.
Can’t wait! Are they on Venmo?
Which means that not only are drugs now free (100 percent reduction), but the companies are paying US when we pick up prescriptions.
Can’t wait! Are they on Venmo?
December 18, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Trump said last night that he has forced pharmaceutical firms “to slash prices on drugs…by as much as 400, 500 and even 600 percent.”
Which means that not only are drugs now free (100 percent reduction), but the companies are paying US when we pick up prescriptions.
Can’t wait! Are they on Venmo?
Which means that not only are drugs now free (100 percent reduction), but the companies are paying US when we pick up prescriptions.
Can’t wait! Are they on Venmo?
Next on Capitol Hill...
"Speaker Johnson, what's your reaction to your president's post about Rob Reiner?"
"I haven't seen it."
"He said Reiner 'passed away' from his anger at Trump."
"I'm deaf in both ears, so I can't hear you."
"We can show it to you."
"I'm blind in both eyes, so I can't read it."
"Speaker Johnson, what's your reaction to your president's post about Rob Reiner?"
"I haven't seen it."
"He said Reiner 'passed away' from his anger at Trump."
"I'm deaf in both ears, so I can't hear you."
"We can show it to you."
"I'm blind in both eyes, so I can't read it."
December 15, 2025 at 8:00 PM
Next on Capitol Hill...
"Speaker Johnson, what's your reaction to your president's post about Rob Reiner?"
"I haven't seen it."
"He said Reiner 'passed away' from his anger at Trump."
"I'm deaf in both ears, so I can't hear you."
"We can show it to you."
"I'm blind in both eyes, so I can't read it."
"Speaker Johnson, what's your reaction to your president's post about Rob Reiner?"
"I haven't seen it."
"He said Reiner 'passed away' from his anger at Trump."
"I'm deaf in both ears, so I can't hear you."
"We can show it to you."
"I'm blind in both eyes, so I can't read it."
Reposted by Dick Polman
👇
December 14, 2025 at 6:55 PM
👇
My latest, on a noteworthy anniversary.
25 years ago today, Al Gore didn't yell "RIGGED!" Instead, "I offer my concession."
Happy anniversary to the way things used to be in the country we used to be.
dickpolman.substack.com
December 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
My latest, on a noteworthy anniversary.
Reposted by Dick Polman
As a GOP activist, Harmeet Dhillon frequently insisted that the federal government has “little to say” about how states run their elections. Now, as head of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), she claims the feds have “sweeping” authority to seize state voter rolls.
Harmeet Dhillon Was an Outspoken Advocate for the Right of States to Run Elections. Then She Took a Top Job at Trump’s DOJ
Read more here.
www.democracydocket.com
December 12, 2025 at 10:13 PM
As a GOP activist, Harmeet Dhillon frequently insisted that the federal government has “little to say” about how states run their elections. Now, as head of the Civil Rights Division at the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), she claims the feds have “sweeping” authority to seize state voter rolls.
Reposted by Dick Polman
This AP story will be in about 100 papers tomorrow. He did the racist "they're coming in caravans to rape our wives" routine in his first midterm, Dems netted 41 House seats
December 10, 2025 at 3:26 AM
This AP story will be in about 100 papers tomorrow. He did the racist "they're coming in caravans to rape our wives" routine in his first midterm, Dems netted 41 House seats
Reposted by Dick Polman
If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and moral, then it’s not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power. - Dwight Eisenhower
December 8, 2025 at 11:37 PM
If a political party does not have its foundation in the determination to advance a cause that is right and moral, then it’s not a political party; it is merely a conspiracy to seize power. - Dwight Eisenhower
“Living is easy with eyes closed / Misunderstanding all you see…”
-John Lennon
-John Lennon
December 3, 2025 at 6:38 PM
“Living is easy with eyes closed / Misunderstanding all you see…”
-John Lennon
-John Lennon
Man. Man. Camera. Incompetent. Incompetent.
Aced it!
Aced it!
Trump on Tim Walz: "I think the man is a grossly incompetent man. I thought that from the day I watched JD destroy him in the debate. I was saying, 'Who's more incompetent, that man or my man?' I had a man and he had a man. They were both incompetent."
December 3, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Man. Man. Camera. Incompetent. Incompetent.
Aced it!
Aced it!
Who could have possibly imagined that a convicted criminal, if elected, would trigger a national and international crime spree?
Not 77 million voters, apparently.
Makes ya proud to be an American.
Not 77 million voters, apparently.
Makes ya proud to be an American.
December 2, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Who could have possibly imagined that a convicted criminal, if elected, would trigger a national and international crime spree?
Not 77 million voters, apparently.
Makes ya proud to be an American.
Not 77 million voters, apparently.
Makes ya proud to be an American.
Reposted by Dick Polman
Sen. Kelly: “This is about a president who doesn't want anybody to say anything that he does not like. I don't think he understands the Constitution. I think he is ignorant to the Constitution and the rule of law…This isn't about me. This is about what he will do next.”
December 1, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Sen. Kelly: “This is about a president who doesn't want anybody to say anything that he does not like. I don't think he understands the Constitution. I think he is ignorant to the Constitution and the rule of law…This isn't about me. This is about what he will do next.”
Reposted by Dick Polman
No child should go hungry simply because their parents are immigrants. As mayor, I’ll join @newyorkstateag.bsky.social in using every lever of government for the families who fear if they can afford tomorrow’s meals.
November 30, 2025 at 10:02 PM
No child should go hungry simply because their parents are immigrants. As mayor, I’ll join @newyorkstateag.bsky.social in using every lever of government for the families who fear if they can afford tomorrow’s meals.
The voice in Trump’s teeth have told him that blowing up shipwreck survivors will clinch him the Nobel Peace Prize.
December 1, 2025 at 8:54 PM
The voice in Trump’s teeth have told him that blowing up shipwreck survivors will clinch him the Nobel Peace Prize.