Edward Carney
@ecarney.bsky.social
Executive dysfunction, a conspicuous lack of marketable skills, and a paradoxical ambition to build a better society from the ground up.
Pinned
Edward Carney
@ecarney.bsky.social
· Feb 21
Growing up, I recall a lot of people asking, "How could the German people let this happen?" but no one ever asked, "Would they have let if happen if they could effortlessly access detailed information about current events and history and had also been warned all their lives to not let this happen?"
Reposted by Edward Carney
People don't spend enough time thinking about how the evils of the Republican Party look to those who've had a decades-long, 24/7 drip of propaganda portraying Democrats as a group that's consciously dedicated to destroying America.
Imagine the principles you could compromise if you believed that.
Imagine the principles you could compromise if you believed that.
2024 represented a natural experiment in a lot of ways*, like do you have to have a good campaign to win (no), do you have to cover up your malice with euphemisms (no), does being a convicted felon affect the vote (no).
*probably only applicable to republicans, maybe only to Trump specifically
*probably only applicable to republicans, maybe only to Trump specifically
February 12, 2026 at 7:26 PM
People don't spend enough time thinking about how the evils of the Republican Party look to those who've had a decades-long, 24/7 drip of propaganda portraying Democrats as a group that's consciously dedicated to destroying America.
Imagine the principles you could compromise if you believed that.
Imagine the principles you could compromise if you believed that.
I feel like this is part of a larger social problem, in that people struggle to identify themselves except in opposition to something. At least since the Satanic Panic, we've been alternately empowering and straight-up inventing Great Evils because we'd rather fight those than pursue defined goals.
There was an article in The Atlantic early in Biden’s admin about how political journalists were now incredibly bored covering him and one guy interviewed said that he missed covering Trump because he felt as if everyday he was a hero storming Omaha beach. That quote will stick with me until I die.
February 12, 2026 at 5:53 PM
I feel like this is part of a larger social problem, in that people struggle to identify themselves except in opposition to something. At least since the Satanic Panic, we've been alternately empowering and straight-up inventing Great Evils because we'd rather fight those than pursue defined goals.
Reposted by Edward Carney
Wow, almost like the media and journalism profession failed in some sort of professional duty to actually inform these low-engagement voters about what Trump was saying he wanted to do and the consequences of those plans.
There is a moral-failure-of-the-voters here, but it's not the only one.
There is a moral-failure-of-the-voters here, but it's not the only one.
New poll: In 2024, low-engagement voters went for Trump over Harris by 11 percentage points. But now they disapprove of the way he's handling the presidency by 13. They have moved 25 points against Trump — 2x as large as the shift for high-knowledge voters www.gelliottmorris.com/p/trump-lost...
Trump has lost the voters who weren’t paying attention in 2024
The least-engaged Americans have swung 25 points against him since 2024 — about twice the shift among everyone else. Trump has flattened the engagement gap.
www.gelliottmorris.com
February 12, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Wow, almost like the media and journalism profession failed in some sort of professional duty to actually inform these low-engagement voters about what Trump was saying he wanted to do and the consequences of those plans.
There is a moral-failure-of-the-voters here, but it's not the only one.
There is a moral-failure-of-the-voters here, but it's not the only one.
Oh, so NOW conservatives are against "putting cars on roads."
RON JOHNSON: Did you ever encourage people to go out there and exercise their First Amendment rights?
KEITH ELLISON: I freely admit being in favor of the First Amendment
KEITH ELLISON: I freely admit being in favor of the First Amendment
February 12, 2026 at 3:53 PM
Oh, so NOW conservatives are against "putting cars on roads."
I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it: If AI becomes normalized in the production of film television, music and literature, and I can't tell what is and is AI, then I will simply stop consuming new media. I'm not going to waste my time on art that lacks human effort, even if it looks good.
One reason people like to watch Tom Cruise specifically is because he does his own stunts. People like seeing a skill in action. People like seeing actors be good at acting. There might be AI movies but there will be a place for people. There is still live theater more than 100 years after film.
‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ writer Rhett Reese reacts to viral AI video of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt fighting:
“I hate to say it. It’s likely over for us.”
“I hate to say it. It’s likely over for us.”
February 11, 2026 at 11:29 PM
I've said it before and I'll keep on saying it: If AI becomes normalized in the production of film television, music and literature, and I can't tell what is and is AI, then I will simply stop consuming new media. I'm not going to waste my time on art that lacks human effort, even if it looks good.
Reposted by Edward Carney
I don’t really pay attention to charges of doomerism. I don’t know what it means offline.
I do know that refusing a version of how the future will unfold forecloses on the power that actually shapes that future. That’s not disavowing that tech changes are happening but they are in now a given.
I do know that refusing a version of how the future will unfold forecloses on the power that actually shapes that future. That’s not disavowing that tech changes are happening but they are in now a given.
I understand why people are exhausted by AI hype, and why those of us squarely in the corner of "human dignity uber alles" see AI doomerism as self-serving hype, but I *really* think people on the left broadly need to start thinking seriously about the possibiltiy of the hype being...true.
February 11, 2026 at 5:51 PM
I don’t really pay attention to charges of doomerism. I don’t know what it means offline.
I do know that refusing a version of how the future will unfold forecloses on the power that actually shapes that future. That’s not disavowing that tech changes are happening but they are in now a given.
I do know that refusing a version of how the future will unfold forecloses on the power that actually shapes that future. That’s not disavowing that tech changes are happening but they are in now a given.
It could be undiagnosed autism talking, but once thing I can't stand about contemporary society is its sheer, audacious inefficiency.
I'm supposed to drive to and from work and then separately drive somewhere I can run in place and lift heavy objects, when I could just exercise throughout the day?
I'm supposed to drive to and from work and then separately drive somewhere I can run in place and lift heavy objects, when I could just exercise throughout the day?
Without riding my bike and walking for transportation, it would be very hard to work physical movement into my schedule.
I love that running errands or dropping my daughter off at school helps me stay active everyday.
I love that running errands or dropping my daughter off at school helps me stay active everyday.
February 11, 2026 at 7:00 PM
It could be undiagnosed autism talking, but once thing I can't stand about contemporary society is its sheer, audacious inefficiency.
I'm supposed to drive to and from work and then separately drive somewhere I can run in place and lift heavy objects, when I could just exercise throughout the day?
I'm supposed to drive to and from work and then separately drive somewhere I can run in place and lift heavy objects, when I could just exercise throughout the day?
I'm not kidding when I say that religious discourse is going to have a powerful role in forthcoming conflicts between fascism and human decency. I only wish I could have done something with my Religious Studies degree in the intervening two decades.
They tell me that we don't need my field of Religious Studies, only STEM, just at the time that a lot of the leading STEM figures are creating a new religious identity for themselves without even realizing it.
These guys are so normal.
February 10, 2026 at 9:09 PM
I'm not kidding when I say that religious discourse is going to have a powerful role in forthcoming conflicts between fascism and human decency. I only wish I could have done something with my Religious Studies degree in the intervening two decades.
"That Mr. Trump may have a crass style, but at least he's authentic, unlike those shifty Democrats!"
How are people this bad at recognizing when they're amplifying right-wing framing?
How are people this bad at recognizing when they're amplifying right-wing framing?
February 10, 2026 at 7:16 PM
"That Mr. Trump may have a crass style, but at least he's authentic, unlike those shifty Democrats!"
How are people this bad at recognizing when they're amplifying right-wing framing?
How are people this bad at recognizing when they're amplifying right-wing framing?
Users of this app used to be more consistent about blocking people who were aggressively annoying and contrarian. What ever happened to that?
February 10, 2026 at 7:12 PM
Users of this app used to be more consistent about blocking people who were aggressively annoying and contrarian. What ever happened to that?
Reposted by Edward Carney
If they‘re not making progress impeaching Noem or Homan, go after the private prison execs.
People want characters and villains. This is easy stuff
People want characters and villains. This is easy stuff
February 10, 2026 at 5:19 PM
If they‘re not making progress impeaching Noem or Homan, go after the private prison execs.
People want characters and villains. This is easy stuff
People want characters and villains. This is easy stuff
We've really got to make these people aware of how absurdly pathetic they look.
Rep. Mark Alford (R-TX) revealed that House Republicans are "investigating" Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show because they suspect it was "much worse than the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction.
House GOP launches Bad Bunny probe: 'Worse than the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction'
Rep. Mark Alford (R-TX) revealed that House Republicans are "investigating" Bad Bunny's Super Bowl halftime show because they suspect it was "much worse than the Janet Jackson wardrobe malfunction."During a Tuesday interview on Real America's Voice, Alford told the hosts that he and other House Repu...
bit.ly
February 10, 2026 at 4:58 PM
We've really got to make these people aware of how absurdly pathetic they look.
Reposted by Edward Carney
This is the 38th time that the U.S. military has unlawfully killed civilians on the orders of Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump. At least 130 people — never charged with crimes, their identities unknown to their executioners — are now dead.
We are murdering people and it is basically just background noise at this point. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/09/u...
U.S. Boat Strike Kills 2 in Pacific, With One Survivor
www.nytimes.com
February 10, 2026 at 11:29 AM
This is the 38th time that the U.S. military has unlawfully killed civilians on the orders of Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump. At least 130 people — never charged with crimes, their identities unknown to their executioners — are now dead.
Reposted by Edward Carney
Thank you for reminding me that I have to show an ID to get a box of Advil Cold & Sinus because lawmakers took the wrong lessons from Breaking Bad, you schmuck.
Mike Johnson: "Americans need an ID to drive, to open a bank account, to buy cold medicine, to file govt assistance, even to attend the DNC. So why would voting be any different? They can't answer that question."
February 10, 2026 at 3:58 PM
Thank you for reminding me that I have to show an ID to get a box of Advil Cold & Sinus because lawmakers took the wrong lessons from Breaking Bad, you schmuck.
Still a hell of a disturbing number but not quite grounds for writing off the country as a whole.
About 25% of Americans are Republicans. One half of that is 12.5%, or roughly one out of 8 Americans.
bsky.app/profile/bruc...
bsky.app/profile/bruc...
A July 2025 survey revealed that almost 1/2 of registered Republicans would still support/vote for Donald Trump if he "was officially implicated in Jeffrey Epstein's sex trafficking activities" (see: leger360.com/trump-epstei... )
February 10, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Still a hell of a disturbing number but not quite grounds for writing off the country as a whole.
My mother is on the right side of things and is better informed about politics than I am, but I kind of wish she weren't and I'm constantly tempted to tell her she should stop watching the news.
A matching ideology doesn't make it any less annoying when someone treats civics like a spectator sport.
A matching ideology doesn't make it any less annoying when someone treats civics like a spectator sport.
February 10, 2026 at 2:56 AM
My mother is on the right side of things and is better informed about politics than I am, but I kind of wish she weren't and I'm constantly tempted to tell her she should stop watching the news.
A matching ideology doesn't make it any less annoying when someone treats civics like a spectator sport.
A matching ideology doesn't make it any less annoying when someone treats civics like a spectator sport.
"Devolve power to states and individuals." Toward what purpose? It seems to me that if you eliminate the regulatory authority of a federal bureaucracy, you risk empowering a bunch of small-time tyrants. Hierarchy isn't inherently less of a threat to personal freedom just because it's more localized.
One basic problem with libertarianism is they have no functional theory of governing. Their alternative to delegating power to administrators is that governments stop doing the things that people have repeatedly said they want. That is not a philosophy, anymore than sticking your head in the sand is
February 9, 2026 at 5:28 PM
"Devolve power to states and individuals." Toward what purpose? It seems to me that if you eliminate the regulatory authority of a federal bureaucracy, you risk empowering a bunch of small-time tyrants. Hierarchy isn't inherently less of a threat to personal freedom just because it's more localized.
Reposted by Edward Carney
Even as a little kid I remember wondering why speedometers went up to like 140mph or whatever, when there's no circumstance where that's legal.
This just feels like the most common sense policy imaginable.
This just feels like the most common sense policy imaginable.
This technology already exists and is widely used. It doesn't involve 'government surveillance' and would not allow ICE or any other government agency to stop individual cars.
Just say you think thousands of kids dying every year is worth it so you can speed!
www.autoweek.com/news/a615322...
Just say you think thousands of kids dying every year is worth it so you can speed!
www.autoweek.com/news/a615322...
Speed Limiters Now Mandatory in All New EU Cars
Intelligent Speed Assist (ISA) isn't an ironclad speeding prevention system, but could be just annoying enough to spark a backlash.
www.autoweek.com
February 9, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Even as a little kid I remember wondering why speedometers went up to like 140mph or whatever, when there's no circumstance where that's legal.
This just feels like the most common sense policy imaginable.
This just feels like the most common sense policy imaginable.
Reposted by Edward Carney
This is the man that my immediate family earnestly and with their whole heart believes single-handedly designed the SpaceX rockets
BREAKING: “in my 24th year of my quest to settle the planet Mars, I have just been informed of a basic fact of celestial mechanics.”
February 9, 2026 at 3:27 PM
This is the man that my immediate family earnestly and with their whole heart believes single-handedly designed the SpaceX rockets
Reposted by Edward Carney
A huge amount of the stupid economy of the last 20 years is predicated on people being scared of other people and it gets wrapped in all these nice little words like “home security” and before you know it, everyone sounds like my mom who’s been primed for fear by right-wing media
February 9, 2026 at 6:12 AM
A huge amount of the stupid economy of the last 20 years is predicated on people being scared of other people and it gets wrapped in all these nice little words like “home security” and before you know it, everyone sounds like my mom who’s been primed for fear by right-wing media
I love being old enough to have witnessed the introduction of video doorbells. There was a brief moment when advertisements tried to illustrate practical uses for them, but after maybe a month, they just went all-in on, "Anyone who approaches your door could be plotting to murder you."
99% of modern security products are just some company going "would you like this app that gamifies paranoia" and you going "yeag" like just don't do it. just turn it off
why do you need to observe your house if you're not in it. you are giving yourself an opt-in mental illness. no one has to live like this
February 9, 2026 at 3:16 PM
I love being old enough to have witnessed the introduction of video doorbells. There was a brief moment when advertisements tried to illustrate practical uses for them, but after maybe a month, they just went all-in on, "Anyone who approaches your door could be plotting to murder you."
The party must be destroyed. All competent and principled conservatives should be accepted as Democrats and then a new, left-wing party should be spun off from that big tent.
The forces that make Trump impervious to internal correction within the GOP are going to create huge obstacles to the party winning elections and governing for a generation.
The tragedy of today's GOP is that they have purged anyone inclined to independence and leadership. Those who are left chose to climb into the back seat, and now they're lost. But they're finally yelling at the driver.
February 9, 2026 at 3:08 PM
The party must be destroyed. All competent and principled conservatives should be accepted as Democrats and then a new, left-wing party should be spun off from that big tent.
Reposted by Edward Carney
When I was a kid, the super bowl ads were all beer, cola, and Doritos. Then it was dot-coms. A couple years ago it was all crypto. This year is all AI slop, surveillance, and online betting. What a grim reflection of the world the tech oligarchs have wrought.
February 9, 2026 at 3:04 AM
When I was a kid, the super bowl ads were all beer, cola, and Doritos. Then it was dot-coms. A couple years ago it was all crypto. This year is all AI slop, surveillance, and online betting. What a grim reflection of the world the tech oligarchs have wrought.