Richard Tofel
@dicktofel.bsky.social
now consulting at Gallatin Advisory, instructor @HarvardChanSPH, author of Second Rough Draft on Substack; former president of ProPublica
Pinned
Parting Thoughts for 2025
Assessing Trump coverage, and this newsletter's own report card
open.substack.com
Assessing Trump as a revolutionary president, and why publishers are having a harder time than editors— this week’s Second Rough Draft newsletter
open.substack.com/pub/dicktofe...
open.substack.com/pub/dicktofe...
Seems like 3 possibilities from here:
1) As with Gaza, Trump pretends to have won, while the previous regime quietly resumes control;
2) The regime now collapses of its own weight (Trump’s bet);
3) US refuses to accept option 1, regime avoids option 2. In this case, US presumably launches invasion.
1) As with Gaza, Trump pretends to have won, while the previous regime quietly resumes control;
2) The regime now collapses of its own weight (Trump’s bet);
3) US refuses to accept option 1, regime avoids option 2. In this case, US presumably launches invasion.
January 3, 2026 at 9:44 PM
Seems like 3 possibilities from here:
1) As with Gaza, Trump pretends to have won, while the previous regime quietly resumes control;
2) The regime now collapses of its own weight (Trump’s bet);
3) US refuses to accept option 1, regime avoids option 2. In this case, US presumably launches invasion.
1) As with Gaza, Trump pretends to have won, while the previous regime quietly resumes control;
2) The regime now collapses of its own weight (Trump’s bet);
3) US refuses to accept option 1, regime avoids option 2. In this case, US presumably launches invasion.
Wonder how MBS feels about the US’s newly asserted right to use force to reverse nationalizations of oil fields from a half century ago.
January 3, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Wonder how MBS feels about the US’s newly asserted right to use force to reverse nationalizations of oil fields from a half century ago.
Thousands of US holiday travelers now stranded in the Caribbean, unable to get home. What is the US plan for them?
January 3, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Thousands of US holiday travelers now stranded in the Caribbean, unable to get home. What is the US plan for them?
US has grounded all flights in and out of Aruba, and presumably also Curaçao. Anyone know about Trinidad? Grenada? Barbados?
January 3, 2026 at 12:04 PM
US has grounded all flights in and out of Aruba, and presumably also Curaçao. Anyone know about Trinidad? Grenada? Barbados?
Bottom line of this: Trump knew in 2003 that Epstein had pressured an 18 year old for sex. That’s three years before Epstein was initially charged.
More great reporting on this from @wsj.com
www.wsj.com/us-news/trum...
More great reporting on this from @wsj.com
www.wsj.com/us-news/trum...
Exclusive | The Incident That Prompted Trump to Ban Epstein From Mar-a-Lago’s Spa
Mar-a-Lago sent an 18-year-old spa worker on a house call to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003. She complained to her bosses that Epstein pressured her for sex.
www.wsj.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:49 AM
Bottom line of this: Trump knew in 2003 that Epstein had pressured an 18 year old for sex. That’s three years before Epstein was initially charged.
More great reporting on this from @wsj.com
www.wsj.com/us-news/trum...
More great reporting on this from @wsj.com
www.wsj.com/us-news/trum...
This may have been a contractual obligation, but it’s not a good look.
The nonprofit owner of the Chicago Sun-Times and WBEZ paid its outgoing CEO more than $900,000 in 2024, new tax filings show, as it engaged in staff cuts and other measures to deal with declining revenue.
Ex-CEO of Chicago Public Media saw $900,000 payout in 2024, IRS filings show
chicago.suntimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 4:38 AM
This may have been a contractual obligation, but it’s not a good look.
Reposted by Richard Tofel
2026 will be a pivotal year.
If you are one to reflect on what the New Year will bring, please consider what your role will be during the difficult year that lies ahead for all of us.
This is a quote from @dicktofel.bsky.social
Will you rise to the occasion?
If you are one to reflect on what the New Year will bring, please consider what your role will be during the difficult year that lies ahead for all of us.
This is a quote from @dicktofel.bsky.social
Will you rise to the occasion?
December 30, 2025 at 4:38 PM
2026 will be a pivotal year.
If you are one to reflect on what the New Year will bring, please consider what your role will be during the difficult year that lies ahead for all of us.
This is a quote from @dicktofel.bsky.social
Will you rise to the occasion?
If you are one to reflect on what the New Year will bring, please consider what your role will be during the difficult year that lies ahead for all of us.
This is a quote from @dicktofel.bsky.social
Will you rise to the occasion?
Key points along the way here:
—NPR might have been able to save federal funding for local stations at the cost of losing its own last Spring, but refused such a deal;
—it is now in a distribution fight with a group that includes some of the largest of those stations.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/b...
—NPR might have been able to save federal funding for local stations at the cost of losing its own last Spring, but refused such a deal;
—it is now in a distribution fight with a group that includes some of the largest of those stations.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/b...
NPR’s C.E.O. Was a Right-Wing Target. Then the Real Trouble Started.
www.nytimes.com
December 30, 2025 at 1:58 PM
Key points along the way here:
—NPR might have been able to save federal funding for local stations at the cost of losing its own last Spring, but refused such a deal;
—it is now in a distribution fight with a group that includes some of the largest of those stations.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/b...
—NPR might have been able to save federal funding for local stations at the cost of losing its own last Spring, but refused such a deal;
—it is now in a distribution fight with a group that includes some of the largest of those stations.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/30/b...
I wrote this 17 months ago.
Now Trump has undergone at least one unexplained MRI and seems regularly to be undergoing unexplained IV treatments.
Is it possible the press will repeat its mistake with Biden of not getting answers about what’s going on?
dicktofel.substack.com/p/now-to-the...
Now Trump has undergone at least one unexplained MRI and seems regularly to be undergoing unexplained IV treatments.
Is it possible the press will repeat its mistake with Biden of not getting answers about what’s going on?
dicktofel.substack.com/p/now-to-the...
Now to the Questions About Trump’s Age and Health
We need more reporting, perhaps including about his published test results
dicktofel.substack.com
December 29, 2025 at 3:46 AM
I wrote this 17 months ago.
Now Trump has undergone at least one unexplained MRI and seems regularly to be undergoing unexplained IV treatments.
Is it possible the press will repeat its mistake with Biden of not getting answers about what’s going on?
dicktofel.substack.com/p/now-to-the...
Now Trump has undergone at least one unexplained MRI and seems regularly to be undergoing unexplained IV treatments.
Is it possible the press will repeat its mistake with Biden of not getting answers about what’s going on?
dicktofel.substack.com/p/now-to-the...
Reposted by Richard Tofel
The President of the United States appears to be getting regular IV infusions, the public doesn’t know anything about it, & the DC media evidently doesn’t care.
We are months into the mystery of Trump’s hands, the White House is lying, & I’ve seen a grand total of one serious news story about it.
We are months into the mystery of Trump’s hands, the White House is lying, & I’ve seen a grand total of one serious news story about it.
Trump looked pretty rough today -- note that both of his hands are discolored
(Joe Raedle/Getty)
(Joe Raedle/Getty)
December 29, 2025 at 1:40 AM
The President of the United States appears to be getting regular IV infusions, the public doesn’t know anything about it, & the DC media evidently doesn’t care.
We are months into the mystery of Trump’s hands, the White House is lying, & I’ve seen a grand total of one serious news story about it.
We are months into the mystery of Trump’s hands, the White House is lying, & I’ve seen a grand total of one serious news story about it.
Important from @charlesornstein.bsky.social of @propublica.org on what it’s like getting comments these days from the regime in Washington.
link.propublica.net/view/5f0a0ac...
link.propublica.net/view/5f0a0ac...
This summer, my colleagues were reporting out a story about the Department of Education’s “final mission,” its effort to undermine public education even as the Trump administration worked feverishly to close the agency.
link.propublica.net
December 27, 2025 at 3:14 PM
Important from @charlesornstein.bsky.social of @propublica.org on what it’s like getting comments these days from the regime in Washington.
link.propublica.net/view/5f0a0ac...
link.propublica.net/view/5f0a0ac...
Reposted by Richard Tofel
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
Trump flew at least eight times on Epstein’s plane (even though he had his own). On one flight, the only passengers were Trump, Epstein and a 20 year old woman
wapo.st/4b3ycG6
wapo.st/4b3ycG6
Second big batch of Epstein files includes many mentions of Trump
After a first batch of Epstein document had few mentions of President Donald Trump, the Justice Department disclosed thousands more with many references to the president.
wapo.st
December 23, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Trump flew at least eight times on Epstein’s plane (even though he had his own). On one flight, the only passengers were Trump, Epstein and a 20 year old woman
wapo.st/4b3ycG6
wapo.st/4b3ycG6
Bari Weiss doesn’t want anyone to see this. You know what to do
here's the 60 minutes cecot video part 1 of 5 - recorded/uploaded by and all credit to @jasonparis.bsky.social
I just reduced background noise, chopped the 14 minutes into 3 minute segments each compressed under 100 mb for bsky's limits, cropped and rotated a few degrees for easier viewing on here
I just reduced background noise, chopped the 14 minutes into 3 minute segments each compressed under 100 mb for bsky's limits, cropped and rotated a few degrees for easier viewing on here
December 22, 2025 at 11:55 PM
Bari Weiss doesn’t want anyone to see this. You know what to do
Reposted by Richard Tofel
Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.
Surviving CECOT (full documentary) | Deported to a Maximum-Security Prison | FRONTLINE + ProPublica
YouTube video by FRONTLINE PBS | Official
m.youtube.com
December 21, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Now seems like a swell time to point out that Frontline just released this excellent 11-minute mini-documentary about what happened inside CECOT.
Bari Weiss has just guaranteed:
— that the CECOT piece has to air;
— that any effort to soften it will hurt her more than it will help Trump; and
— that its ratings will be higher than they would otherwise have been.
Amateur hour. Again.
— that the CECOT piece has to air;
— that any effort to soften it will hurt her more than it will help Trump; and
— that its ratings will be higher than they would otherwise have been.
Amateur hour. Again.
December 22, 2025 at 2:43 AM
Bari Weiss has just guaranteed:
— that the CECOT piece has to air;
— that any effort to soften it will hurt her more than it will help Trump; and
— that its ratings will be higher than they would otherwise have been.
Amateur hour. Again.
— that the CECOT piece has to air;
— that any effort to soften it will hurt her more than it will help Trump; and
— that its ratings will be higher than they would otherwise have been.
Amateur hour. Again.
David Brooks needs to explain why he didn’t disclose attending a dinner with Epstein in his recent column about the scandal. That was a mistake.
But being there 14 years ago when Epstein was also invited, especially if you didn’t know he would be there/didn’t know who he was, is not the issue.
But being there 14 years ago when Epstein was also invited, especially if you didn’t know he would be there/didn’t know who he was, is not the issue.
December 18, 2025 at 9:23 PM
David Brooks needs to explain why he didn’t disclose attending a dinner with Epstein in his recent column about the scandal. That was a mistake.
But being there 14 years ago when Epstein was also invited, especially if you didn’t know he would be there/didn’t know who he was, is not the issue.
But being there 14 years ago when Epstein was also invited, especially if you didn’t know he would be there/didn’t know who he was, is not the issue.
Assessing Trump as a revolutionary president, and why publishers are having a harder time than editors— this week’s Second Rough Draft newsletter
open.substack.com/pub/dicktofe...
open.substack.com/pub/dicktofe...
Parting Thoughts for 2025
Assessing Trump coverage, and this newsletter's own report card
open.substack.com
December 18, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Assessing Trump as a revolutionary president, and why publishers are having a harder time than editors— this week’s Second Rough Draft newsletter
open.substack.com/pub/dicktofe...
open.substack.com/pub/dicktofe...
December 18, 2025 at 11:58 AM
McLuhan: TV is a cool medium, not a hot one
Trump: Fuck McLuhan
Trump: Fuck McLuhan
December 18, 2025 at 2:28 AM
McLuhan: TV is a cool medium, not a hot one
Trump: Fuck McLuhan
Trump: Fuck McLuhan
Trump telling people that prices are falling just makes him seem like an angry crank.
December 18, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Trump telling people that prices are falling just makes him seem like an angry crank.
Reposted by Richard Tofel
December 17, 2025 at 10:04 PM
Trump and Hegseth’s playing at war almost caused a midair collision with a passenger jet.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/w...
U.S. Military Plane and JetBlue Flight Nearly Collided Over Caribbean, Radio Traffic Shows
www.nytimes.com
December 15, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Trump and Hegseth’s playing at war almost caused a midair collision with a passenger jet.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/w...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/14/w...
Could we please replace Kash Patel with an FBI director more interested in solving crimes than in posting on social media and flying around in government planes?
December 15, 2025 at 10:50 AM
Could we please replace Kash Patel with an FBI director more interested in solving crimes than in posting on social media and flying around in government planes?