Gregg Levine
@greggjlevine.bsky.social
Reporter/Editor/Analyst | Flâneur/gadabout/gimlet eye | bys @NewYorker @TheNation @Guardian @NewRepublic @AJAM | 2020 Alicia Patterson Foundation fellow
Pinned
It’s 3 wks till Thanksgiving, a feast that celebrates community & sharing (or at least should), but also, it is the day I lock my holiday playlist.
I’ve been adding songs every year for decades, and the list is now over 1,000 songs long—but there’s always room for more at my holiday table.
I’ve been adding songs every year for decades, and the list is now over 1,000 songs long—but there’s always room for more at my holiday table.
Schumer came from out on the Island
In the cloakroom, he was everybody's darling
But he never lost his head
Even when he was playing dead
He says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the mild side"
Said, "Hey voters, take a walk on the mild side"
And all the lobbyists go “do do do….”
In the cloakroom, he was everybody's darling
But he never lost his head
Even when he was playing dead
He says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the mild side"
Said, "Hey voters, take a walk on the mild side"
And all the lobbyists go “do do do….”
Lou Reed - Walk on the Wild Side (Official Audio)
YouTube video by LouReedVEVO
youtu.be
November 11, 2025 at 3:32 AM
Schumer came from out on the Island
In the cloakroom, he was everybody's darling
But he never lost his head
Even when he was playing dead
He says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the mild side"
Said, "Hey voters, take a walk on the mild side"
And all the lobbyists go “do do do….”
In the cloakroom, he was everybody's darling
But he never lost his head
Even when he was playing dead
He says, "Hey babe, take a walk on the mild side"
Said, "Hey voters, take a walk on the mild side"
And all the lobbyists go “do do do….”
Really, @bigtenplus.bsky.social? I’m supposed to pay you $13/month just so I can watch my UCLA Bruins take on such basketball powerhouses as Western Georgia and Presbyterian?
Not one game was relegated to PPV web-only streaming when there was a Pac-12. Not one.
Not one game was relegated to PPV web-only streaming when there was a Pac-12. Not one.
November 11, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Really, @bigtenplus.bsky.social? I’m supposed to pay you $13/month just so I can watch my UCLA Bruins take on such basketball powerhouses as Western Georgia and Presbyterian?
Not one game was relegated to PPV web-only streaming when there was a Pac-12. Not one.
Not one game was relegated to PPV web-only streaming when there was a Pac-12. Not one.
Tim Kaine called himself the “cleanup hitter” last night because he joined the Cave-In Caucus late—so he’s saying he wasn’t in on the conspiracy to deceive Democratic voters from the beginning, he just signed on when he was 100% sure he could disrupt any momentum gained by the base last Tuesday.
Tim Kaine is on MSNBC accusing Katy Tur of "overdramatizing" the way he and some other Democrats caved. "This is by far a minor-league issue within the Democratic Party," Kaine said.
He's completely out of touch, or just lying.
He's completely out of touch, or just lying.
November 10, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Tim Kaine called himself the “cleanup hitter” last night because he joined the Cave-In Caucus late—so he’s saying he wasn’t in on the conspiracy to deceive Democratic voters from the beginning, he just signed on when he was 100% sure he could disrupt any momentum gained by the base last Tuesday.
“If the WH doesn't have to follow the law, it doesn't matter what you pass…..
“What was the Dem Idrship negotiating strategy? Pretend to be one way to the public and another in private. Not good.”
Read this whole 🧵—but maybe sit down first. 🤯
“What was the Dem Idrship negotiating strategy? Pretend to be one way to the public and another in private. Not good.”
Read this whole 🧵—but maybe sit down first. 🤯
11) The discussion about health care was useful PR, but covered up discussion over the power of the purse, which is fundamental. If the WH doesn't have to follow the law, it doesn't matter what you pass.
With the remaining approps bills + CR, Dems still could fight that fight. If they're smart
With the remaining approps bills + CR, Dems still could fight that fight. If they're smart
November 10, 2025 at 6:20 PM
“If the WH doesn't have to follow the law, it doesn't matter what you pass…..
“What was the Dem Idrship negotiating strategy? Pretend to be one way to the public and another in private. Not good.”
Read this whole 🧵—but maybe sit down first. 🤯
“What was the Dem Idrship negotiating strategy? Pretend to be one way to the public and another in private. Not good.”
Read this whole 🧵—but maybe sit down first. 🤯
🤦♂️I am hearing Tom Suozzi on my radio—he reps parts of Queens & Long Island & is one of the more conservative Dems in the NY delegation—and even he thinks what the Cave-In Caucus agreed to last night is a bad deal. Suozzi says w/out promise of a vote in the House on ACA subsidies, Dems won nothing.
Narrator voice: Trump then just ignored the deal.
For my entire career, approps has worked backwards from toplines. A bad practice that artificially constrains spending and deprioritizes actual need. These three bills were done the very very very old-fashioned way. Would love to see more of that.
But again, if Trump can then just ignore the deal….
But again, if Trump can then just ignore the deal….
November 10, 2025 at 4:18 PM
🤦♂️I am hearing Tom Suozzi on my radio—he reps parts of Queens & Long Island & is one of the more conservative Dems in the NY delegation—and even he thinks what the Cave-In Caucus agreed to last night is a bad deal. Suozzi says w/out promise of a vote in the House on ACA subsidies, Dems won nothing.
The only argument you can make for the Cave-in Caucus is that Republicans were poised to nuke the filibuster & were going to then use simple majority votes to completely undo the Voting Rights Act. But I’ve not heard Dems make that argument, nor was there any sign Thune was poised to kill the fil.
November 10, 2025 at 5:16 AM
The only argument you can make for the Cave-in Caucus is that Republicans were poised to nuke the filibuster & were going to then use simple majority votes to completely undo the Voting Rights Act. But I’ve not heard Dems make that argument, nor was there any sign Thune was poised to kill the fil.
Anyone remember earlier this year when Chuck Schumer made an “impromptu” visit to a Park Slope grocery store? (I can’t find the photo from that appearance.) We were supposed to think he was just another customer in the produce aisle—but it turns out he was one of the vegetables.
November 10, 2025 at 5:02 AM
Anyone remember earlier this year when Chuck Schumer made an “impromptu” visit to a Park Slope grocery store? (I can’t find the photo from that appearance.) We were supposed to think he was just another customer in the produce aisle—but it turns out he was one of the vegetables.
Abolish the Senate.
Thats it.
That’s the post.
Thats it.
That’s the post.
November 10, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Abolish the Senate.
Thats it.
That’s the post.
Thats it.
That’s the post.
“Republicans made it clear this is as far as they would go.”
That is Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s rationale for why she broke ranks, along with seven other Dems, to give the GOP the CR they wanted.
That is Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s rationale for why she broke ranks, along with seven other Dems, to give the GOP the CR they wanted.
November 10, 2025 at 2:24 AM
“Republicans made it clear this is as far as they would go.”
That is Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s rationale for why she broke ranks, along with seven other Dems, to give the GOP the CR they wanted.
That is Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s rationale for why she broke ranks, along with seven other Dems, to give the GOP the CR they wanted.
The deal percolating tonight in the Senate is very much a reaction to Tuesday’s blue wave—not in that the GOP suddenly feels on the back foot & needs a deal, but in that Dem leadership/Schumer desperately wants to steer the conversation away from pressing a progressive agenda & back to “compromise.”
Tuesday’s Dem winners have yet to finish their victory laps. We are still two days from the Sunday news shows, which could also be about how ppl prefer Dems who push back hard on the Trump agenda. Instead, Schumer has negotiated with himself, hoping to take all the air out of a progressive balloon.
SCHUMER is on the floor now making this offer to end the shutdown:
Clean CR
Bipartisan "minibus" of approps bills
1-year ACA funding extension
Bipartisan cmte to negotiate on health care
"This is a reasonable offer that reopens the government, deals with health care affordability."
Clean CR
Bipartisan "minibus" of approps bills
1-year ACA funding extension
Bipartisan cmte to negotiate on health care
"This is a reasonable offer that reopens the government, deals with health care affordability."
November 10, 2025 at 12:46 AM
The deal percolating tonight in the Senate is very much a reaction to Tuesday’s blue wave—not in that the GOP suddenly feels on the back foot & needs a deal, but in that Dem leadership/Schumer desperately wants to steer the conversation away from pressing a progressive agenda & back to “compromise.”
Narrator voice: Trump then just ignored the deal.
For my entire career, approps has worked backwards from toplines. A bad practice that artificially constrains spending and deprioritizes actual need. These three bills were done the very very very old-fashioned way. Would love to see more of that.
But again, if Trump can then just ignore the deal….
But again, if Trump can then just ignore the deal….
November 10, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Narrator voice: Trump then just ignored the deal.
Whenever any Trump admin official starts to explain why they have to clawback SNAP benefits, the reporter should just interrupt and say, “Oh, yes, I understand, the president wants kids to go hungry.” And if the official gets petulant, again say, “we get it, kids need to go hungry—he needs to golf.”
Trump admin tells states to “undo” food stamp benefits: “To the extent States sent full SNAP payment files for November 2025, this was unauthorized. Accordingly, States must immediately undo any steps taken to issue full SNAP benefits for November 2025.“
November 9, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Whenever any Trump admin official starts to explain why they have to clawback SNAP benefits, the reporter should just interrupt and say, “Oh, yes, I understand, the president wants kids to go hungry.” And if the official gets petulant, again say, “we get it, kids need to go hungry—he needs to golf.”
I lived out west long enough to see 29.95 become 99.95….
November 8, 2025 at 8:08 PM
I lived out west long enough to see 29.95 become 99.95….
I am a lonely visitor
I came too late to cause a stir
Though I campaigned all my life towards that goal
I hardly slept the night you wept
His secret's gone but still well kept
Where even Andy Cuomo has got soul
I came too late to cause a stir
Though I campaigned all my life towards that goal
I hardly slept the night you wept
His secret's gone but still well kept
Where even Andy Cuomo has got soul
November 8, 2025 at 7:24 PM
I am a lonely visitor
I came too late to cause a stir
Though I campaigned all my life towards that goal
I hardly slept the night you wept
His secret's gone but still well kept
Where even Andy Cuomo has got soul
I came too late to cause a stir
Though I campaigned all my life towards that goal
I hardly slept the night you wept
His secret's gone but still well kept
Where even Andy Cuomo has got soul
It should absolutely be part of any Dem set of talking points that the Trump administration is using a battery of expensive, taxpayer-funded lawyers to repeatedly prevent the country’s most vulnerable from having enough money to eat.
November 8, 2025 at 2:53 AM
It should absolutely be part of any Dem set of talking points that the Trump administration is using a battery of expensive, taxpayer-funded lawyers to repeatedly prevent the country’s most vulnerable from having enough money to eat.
My memory of James Watson is 2nd hand. I had a college friend who long ago studied in Watson’s lab. She asked him about Rosalind Franklin; he dismissed my friend & Franklin with same wave of his hand & all the rude sleights we now associate with him.
If DNA is everything, James’s was part dinosaur.
If DNA is everything, James’s was part dinosaur.
Hey folks, as news of Watson's demise spreads, please don't set aside his weighty legacy of misogyny and racism. He was truly among the worst of us. www.vox.com/2019/1/15/18...
DNA scientist James Watson has a remarkably long history of sexist, racist public comments
“People say it would be terrible if we made all girls pretty,” he said in 2003. “I think it would be great.”
www.vox.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:28 PM
My memory of James Watson is 2nd hand. I had a college friend who long ago studied in Watson’s lab. She asked him about Rosalind Franklin; he dismissed my friend & Franklin with same wave of his hand & all the rude sleights we now associate with him.
If DNA is everything, James’s was part dinosaur.
If DNA is everything, James’s was part dinosaur.
Tuesday’s Dem winners have yet to finish their victory laps. We are still two days from the Sunday news shows, which could also be about how ppl prefer Dems who push back hard on the Trump agenda. Instead, Schumer has negotiated with himself, hoping to take all the air out of a progressive balloon.
SCHUMER is on the floor now making this offer to end the shutdown:
Clean CR
Bipartisan "minibus" of approps bills
1-year ACA funding extension
Bipartisan cmte to negotiate on health care
"This is a reasonable offer that reopens the government, deals with health care affordability."
Clean CR
Bipartisan "minibus" of approps bills
1-year ACA funding extension
Bipartisan cmte to negotiate on health care
"This is a reasonable offer that reopens the government, deals with health care affordability."
November 7, 2025 at 9:56 PM
Tuesday’s Dem winners have yet to finish their victory laps. We are still two days from the Sunday news shows, which could also be about how ppl prefer Dems who push back hard on the Trump agenda. Instead, Schumer has negotiated with himself, hoping to take all the air out of a progressive balloon.
When you minimize the ongoing (yes, still!) Covid pandemic, you sow the seeds of our next pandemic…
pandemics…
set of comorbid pandemics.
pandemics…
set of comorbid pandemics.
bird flu is spreading asymptomatically like COVID. www.cidrap.umn.edu/avian-influe...
Review: Human H5N1 avian flu cases can be asymptomatic, and the virus likely spreads among people
www.cidrap.umn.edu
November 7, 2025 at 5:23 PM
When you minimize the ongoing (yes, still!) Covid pandemic, you sow the seeds of our next pandemic…
pandemics…
set of comorbid pandemics.
pandemics…
set of comorbid pandemics.
Now that the NYC mayoral election is over, can we go back to saying Kathy Hochul sucks?
This pipeline approval reverses a denial rooted in environmental concerns & shows Hochul bending to Trump just days after Dems won a wave election.
And, as you might have guessed, it won’t “keep the lights on.”
This pipeline approval reverses a denial rooted in environmental concerns & shows Hochul bending to Trump just days after Dems won a wave election.
And, as you might have guessed, it won’t “keep the lights on.”
Gov. Hochul OKs key permit for Trump-favored gas pipeline for NYC, North Jersey
The move reverses an environmental policy victory won by the Cuomo administration.
gothamist.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Now that the NYC mayoral election is over, can we go back to saying Kathy Hochul sucks?
This pipeline approval reverses a denial rooted in environmental concerns & shows Hochul bending to Trump just days after Dems won a wave election.
And, as you might have guessed, it won’t “keep the lights on.”
This pipeline approval reverses a denial rooted in environmental concerns & shows Hochul bending to Trump just days after Dems won a wave election.
And, as you might have guessed, it won’t “keep the lights on.”
Ah, now I understand why Trump went off on that weird rant about hydraulics and steam being better than magnets.
Srsly.
Srsly.
China has commissioned its latest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, after extensive sea trials, state media reported. The ship will help what is already the world's largest navy expand its power farther beyond its own waters, experts say.
China commissions new aircraft carrier as it seeks to extend power far from its coast
China has commissioned its latest aircraft carrier after extensive sea trials, adding a ship to what is already the world’s largest navy and one that experts say will help it expand its influence and reach farther beyond its own waters.
bit.ly
November 7, 2025 at 8:36 AM
Ah, now I understand why Trump went off on that weird rant about hydraulics and steam being better than magnets.
Srsly.
Srsly.
Listening to the BBC World Service, and the business reporter is telling the story of the US govt shutdown and the interruption of SNAP benefits with audible disbelief, especially the part about the Trump admin appealing a court order to use emergency funds to help 41 million Americans buy food.
November 7, 2025 at 7:32 AM
Listening to the BBC World Service, and the business reporter is telling the story of the US govt shutdown and the interruption of SNAP benefits with audible disbelief, especially the part about the Trump admin appealing a court order to use emergency funds to help 41 million Americans buy food.
It’s 3 wks till Thanksgiving, a feast that celebrates community & sharing (or at least should), but also, it is the day I lock my holiday playlist.
I’ve been adding songs every year for decades, and the list is now over 1,000 songs long—but there’s always room for more at my holiday table.
I’ve been adding songs every year for decades, and the list is now over 1,000 songs long—but there’s always room for more at my holiday table.
November 6, 2025 at 7:55 PM
It’s 3 wks till Thanksgiving, a feast that celebrates community & sharing (or at least should), but also, it is the day I lock my holiday playlist.
I’ve been adding songs every year for decades, and the list is now over 1,000 songs long—but there’s always room for more at my holiday table.
I’ve been adding songs every year for decades, and the list is now over 1,000 songs long—but there’s always room for more at my holiday table.
“Computer! End simulation!”
incredible photo that's definitely worth at least 1,000 words from Andrew Harnik of Getty
November 6, 2025 at 7:24 PM
“Computer! End simulation!”
I thought it was a pig-o and not a bovine-o that says, “All uses of force are exemplary, but some uses of force are more exemplary than others.”
Bovino was asked in his deposition if that was still true — that all use of force in Chicago had been "exemplary."
Bovino says "no."
Then he's asked if some force had been "less than proper?"
Bovino: "All uses of force have been MORE than exemplary."
Bovino says "no."
Then he's asked if some force had been "less than proper?"
Bovino: "All uses of force have been MORE than exemplary."
November 6, 2025 at 5:33 PM
I thought it was a pig-o and not a bovine-o that says, “All uses of force are exemplary, but some uses of force are more exemplary than others.”
Those who do no learn politics are doomed. Not doomed to repeat—just doomed.
I am listening to my local public radio political reporters get all 🤯 about how Mamdani is soooo lefty, when, honestly, what he has proposed is probably to the right of leading middle American Democrats from 55 years ago.
I am listening to my local public radio political reporters get all 🤯 about how Mamdani is soooo lefty, when, honestly, what he has proposed is probably to the right of leading middle American Democrats from 55 years ago.
November 5, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Those who do no learn politics are doomed. Not doomed to repeat—just doomed.
I am listening to my local public radio political reporters get all 🤯 about how Mamdani is soooo lefty, when, honestly, what he has proposed is probably to the right of leading middle American Democrats from 55 years ago.
I am listening to my local public radio political reporters get all 🤯 about how Mamdani is soooo lefty, when, honestly, what he has proposed is probably to the right of leading middle American Democrats from 55 years ago.