James Downie
@jamescdownie.bsky.social
Columnist and editor at MS NOW (formerly MSNBC). WGAE member. Ex-Washington Post Opinions. DC born and raised. D.C. United and Montreal Canadiens fan.
jim.downie@nbcuni.com; jdow.92 on Signal
jim.downie@nbcuni.com; jdow.92 on Signal
Reposted by James Downie
Grok won’t stop undressing people
January 2, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Grok won’t stop undressing people
Reposted by James Downie
Baybeeeee we love to see it. Pay this man
January 6, 2026 at 11:05 PM
Baybeeeee we love to see it. Pay this man
Reposted by James Downie
I've watched thousands of videos from the Jan. 6 riot as part of NPR's reporting and archive project on that day.
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
January 6, 2026 at 1:23 PM
I've watched thousands of videos from the Jan. 6 riot as part of NPR's reporting and archive project on that day.
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Here are some of the lesser known videos that have really stuck with me.
🧵
Reposted by James Downie
% of Americans who say participants in the Jan 6 Capitol attack should be...
Arrested and tried for their participation 64%
Barred from holding public office 58%
Granted full pardons for any crimes in relation to the attack 18%
ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/Ja...
Arrested and tried for their participation 64%
Barred from holding public office 58%
Granted full pardons for any crimes in relation to the attack 18%
ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/Ja...
January 6, 2026 at 10:30 PM
% of Americans who say participants in the Jan 6 Capitol attack should be...
Arrested and tried for their participation 64%
Barred from holding public office 58%
Granted full pardons for any crimes in relation to the attack 18%
ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/Ja...
Arrested and tried for their participation 64%
Barred from holding public office 58%
Granted full pardons for any crimes in relation to the attack 18%
ygo-assets-websites-editorial-emea.yougov.net/documents/Ja...
Reposted by James Downie
Never let a single goddamned person on the Right ever claim again that they’re the party of law and order without laughing in their lying face.
So Capitol Police officers were assaulted and injured on Jan 6th, the White House today is blaming them for the violence, and the people who attacked them have been pardoned and are back to mock and abuse them on the 5th anniversary.
And the GOP is the party of the police? Really? REALLY??
And the GOP is the party of the police? Really? REALLY??
White House's newly-posted "timeline" of Jan 6 blames Capitol Police for Jan 6, which included an attack on ..... Capitol Police
January 6, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Never let a single goddamned person on the Right ever claim again that they’re the party of law and order without laughing in their lying face.
Reposted by James Downie
Excellent from Osita Nwanevu
ositanwanevu.substack.com/p/hello-agai...
ositanwanevu.substack.com/p/hello-agai...
January 6, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Excellent from Osita Nwanevu
ositanwanevu.substack.com/p/hello-agai...
ositanwanevu.substack.com/p/hello-agai...
As someone who has cut back on news at times during parental leave, I concur.
my hot take is that I don't think it's this website specifically that's toxic. the Circumstances are toxic and nobody really knows what to do about it so they come online and scream. and if I may offer an alternative: actually going outside and screaming feels better.
January 6, 2026 at 10:21 PM
As someone who has cut back on news at times during parental leave, I concur.
Reposted by James Downie
should probably be a bigger deal that the vice president's favorite intellectual is a dull nazi bsky.app/profile/leah...
Curtis Yarvin has written a very long screed in defense of his post in which he said, “Hitler spoke the truth.”
A sampling of select portions is below and includes, in reference to Jewish people, the words:
“The only way to tell is the name and the nose.”
A sampling of select portions is below and includes, in reference to Jewish people, the words:
“The only way to tell is the name and the nose.”
January 6, 2026 at 3:48 PM
should probably be a bigger deal that the vice president's favorite intellectual is a dull nazi bsky.app/profile/leah...
Reposted by James Downie
Yesterday, I had an exchange w a scholar who defended Bhattacharya & Makary as reasonable thinkers after the vaccine schedule change announcement, arguing for the need for civility.
I argue here that we shouldn't prioritize civility over sound health policy
mirandayaver.substack.com/p/bless-thei...
I argue here that we shouldn't prioritize civility over sound health policy
mirandayaver.substack.com/p/bless-thei...
January 6, 2026 at 6:08 PM
Yesterday, I had an exchange w a scholar who defended Bhattacharya & Makary as reasonable thinkers after the vaccine schedule change announcement, arguing for the need for civility.
I argue here that we shouldn't prioritize civility over sound health policy
mirandayaver.substack.com/p/bless-thei...
I argue here that we shouldn't prioritize civility over sound health policy
mirandayaver.substack.com/p/bless-thei...
Reposted by James Downie
Jared Kushner has somehow found a place at Coalition of the Willing press conference with Scholz, Zelensky, Macron, Starmer and Witkoff.
Kushner has no official position in the US government.
Kushner has no official position in the US government.
January 6, 2026 at 7:14 PM
Jared Kushner has somehow found a place at Coalition of the Willing press conference with Scholz, Zelensky, Macron, Starmer and Witkoff.
Kushner has no official position in the US government.
Kushner has no official position in the US government.
Reposted by James Downie
they are completely serious about this and may legitimately shatter every post-WW2 relationship with Europe over trying to take over an island that wants nothing to do with us
*TRUMP AND TEAM DISCUSSING OPTIONS TO ACQUIRE GREENLAND: REUTERS
Reuters heads:
TRUMP AND HIS TEAM ARE DISCUSSING A RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR ACQUIRING GREENLAND AND 'UTILIZING THE US MILITARY IS ALWAYS AN OPTION'- WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT
Reuters heads:
TRUMP AND HIS TEAM ARE DISCUSSING A RANGE OF OPTIONS FOR ACQUIRING GREENLAND AND 'UTILIZING THE US MILITARY IS ALWAYS AN OPTION'- WHITE HOUSE STATEMENT
January 6, 2026 at 8:50 PM
they are completely serious about this and may legitimately shatter every post-WW2 relationship with Europe over trying to take over an island that wants nothing to do with us
Reposted by James Downie
Think its actually pretty bearish for Trump if “only” 80 percent of his supporters back his war on Venezuela. If “only” 80 percent of his supporters supported HIM, he’d be toast. newrepublic.com/article/2049...
Trump Blurts Out Dark Truth About Venezuela Plan—and About MAGA Voters
To some critics, it’s about plunder. To others, it’s about hemispheric hegemony. Actually, it’s about both.
newrepublic.com
January 6, 2026 at 5:31 PM
Think its actually pretty bearish for Trump if “only” 80 percent of his supporters back his war on Venezuela. If “only” 80 percent of his supporters supported HIM, he’d be toast. newrepublic.com/article/2049...
Reposted by James Downie
This, from Bryce Elder, City editor at the FT's Alphaville, is a laudable entry on the subject of the Elon Musk/Grok 'undressing' scandal. It identifies the senior executives at the company who are responsible for it (and 'paints' them in what seems to me to be an appropriate light).
Who’s who at X, the deepfake porn site formerly known as Twitter
A look inside Elon Musk’s big tent
www.ft.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:28 PM
This, from Bryce Elder, City editor at the FT's Alphaville, is a laudable entry on the subject of the Elon Musk/Grok 'undressing' scandal. It identifies the senior executives at the company who are responsible for it (and 'paints' them in what seems to me to be an appropriate light).
Reposted by James Downie
"We love America" is one of the mantras of Bari Weiss' CBS News. "Unapologetically patriotic" is the term the Washington Post's newly right-wing editorial board uses for its ethos. But "America" isn't billionaires/Trump and good journalism isn't always patriotic. newrepublic.com/article/2049...
Bari Weiss Is Dead Wrong—Good Journalism Isn’t About Being Pro-America
The CBS boss and her new evening anchor have released new “principles.” Among them: “We Love America.” They have no understanding of journalism—but they sure know where their bread is buttered.
newrepublic.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:58 PM
"We love America" is one of the mantras of Bari Weiss' CBS News. "Unapologetically patriotic" is the term the Washington Post's newly right-wing editorial board uses for its ethos. But "America" isn't billionaires/Trump and good journalism isn't always patriotic. newrepublic.com/article/2049...
Notice, by the way, that RFK Jr is for once not putting himself front and center on this, even though it's his department.
In the latest example of the government withholding funding from blue states...
HHS will freeze $10 billion in social services funding to blue states, a spox confirmed to @ms.now👇
HHS will freeze $10 billion in social services funding to blue states, a spox confirmed to @ms.now👇
Feds will freeze $10 billion in social services funding to blue states
The states expected to be impacted are Minnesota, New York, California, Illinois and Colorado, a federal health official confirmed to MS NOW on Tuesday.
www.ms.now
January 6, 2026 at 8:00 PM
Notice, by the way, that RFK Jr is for once not putting himself front and center on this, even though it's his department.
Reposted by James Downie
#AKSen: It's been expected for a while, but Mary Peltola is getting ready to run against Dan Sullivan.
www.axios.com/2026/01/06/m...
www.axios.com/2026/01/06/m...
Scoop: Mary Peltola prepares for Alaska Senate race
Schumer wants to recruit his way out of a bad map
www.axios.com
January 6, 2026 at 4:32 PM
#AKSen: It's been expected for a while, but Mary Peltola is getting ready to run against Dan Sullivan.
www.axios.com/2026/01/06/m...
www.axios.com/2026/01/06/m...
Reposted by James Downie
Rep. Seth Moulton comes on CNN and starts by saying: "Is anyone going to just stop for a second and be honest? This is insane. What the hell are we doing? We've got a lot of problems in America today, and invading / occupying / running Venezuela does not solve any of them."
January 3, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Rep. Seth Moulton comes on CNN and starts by saying: "Is anyone going to just stop for a second and be honest? This is insane. What the hell are we doing? We've got a lot of problems in America today, and invading / occupying / running Venezuela does not solve any of them."
Also seems like these traders are practically asking Dems to investigate these trades on Day 1 after taking back the House.
A side story is there’s a ton of insider trading on these prediction markets. New accounts making hundreds of thousands on their first and only trade, that maduro would be ousted. Seems like insider trading is legal if not encouraged on these platforms
January 3, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Also seems like these traders are practically asking Dems to investigate these trades on Day 1 after taking back the House.
Reposted by James Downie
Reposted by James Downie
Notably, this is all about cocaine trafficking, no mention of fentanyl. Sharp-eyed observers will note the shift from the Trump administration's justification for blowing up boats in the Caribbean...
January 3, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Notably, this is all about cocaine trafficking, no mention of fentanyl. Sharp-eyed observers will note the shift from the Trump administration's justification for blowing up boats in the Caribbean...
Reposted by James Downie
We're living out Rubio's "ideological" project, which is basically that he and his funders want Cuba back to run it like a plantation.
January 3, 2026 at 12:13 PM
We're living out Rubio's "ideological" project, which is basically that he and his funders want Cuba back to run it like a plantation.
Reposted by James Downie
AP: Across the Venezuelan capital, there were no signs that the U.S. had taken over control of Venezuela’s government or military forces. The Miraflores Palace and military bases remained guarded by Venezuela’s armed forces
Live updates: Trump says US is ‘going to run’ Venezuela in interim. No immediate signs of US control
Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro has been captured by the United States. U.S. President Donald Trump's administration says he'll face charges on a New York indictment.
apnews.com
January 3, 2026 at 5:13 PM
AP: Across the Venezuelan capital, there were no signs that the U.S. had taken over control of Venezuela’s government or military forces. The Miraflores Palace and military bases remained guarded by Venezuela’s armed forces
Reposted by James Downie
He's gonna claim it for himself, isn't he...
RUBIO: He is a fugitive of American justice with a $50 million award. I guess we saved $50 million.
TRUMP: We should make sure. Don't let anybody claim it. Nobody deserves it but us.
TRUMP: We should make sure. Don't let anybody claim it. Nobody deserves it but us.
January 3, 2026 at 5:20 PM
He's gonna claim it for himself, isn't he...