John Christman
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jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman
@jchristman58.bsky.social
92 followers 140 following 120 posts

Philosophy Prof, Director of Humanities Inst. (Penn State), author of various things in social political philosophy, most recently Reconceiving Freedom from the Shadows of Slavery (CUP). Cranky lefty

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Philosophy 20%
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jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 23h
Patel and Bondi assured tRump that this is what the Epstein files will look like:

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 2d
All dressed up and no one to kidnap
reichlinmelnick.bsky.social Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 2d
As Bovino and masked DHS officers sweep another Home Depot looking to round up day laborers, a reminder of the meeting in May when Stephen Miller screamed at ICE to stop doing targeted enforcement, start hitting Home Depots and 7/11s and “just go out there and arrest illegal aliens.”

Reposted by John Christman

reichlinmelnick.bsky.social
Aaron Reichlin-Melnick @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social · 2d
As Bovino and masked DHS officers sweep another Home Depot looking to round up day laborers, a reminder of the meeting in May when Stephen Miller screamed at ICE to stop doing targeted enforcement, start hitting Home Depots and 7/11s and “just go out there and arrest illegal aliens.”
Even with the high-profile arrests of suspects by masked immigration agents and the plane loads of migrants swiftly ferried out of the U.S., President Trump was falling short of the number of daily deportations carried out by the Biden administration in its final year. So in late May, Stephen Miller, a top White House aide and the architect of the president's immigration agenda, addressed a meeting at the headquarters of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, known as ICE. The message was clear: The president, who promised to deport millions of immigrants living in the country illegally, wasn't pleased. The agency had better step it up. Gang members and violent criminals, what Trump called the "worst of the worst," weren't the sole target of deportations. Federal agents needed to "just go out there and arrest illegal aliens," Miller told top ICE officials, who had come from across the U.S., according to people familiar with the meeting. Agents didn't need to develop target lists of immigrants suspected of being in the U.S. illegally, a longstanding practice, Miller said. Instead, he directed them to target Home Depot, where day laborers typically gather for hire, or 7-Eleven convenience stores. Miller bet that he and a handful of agents could go out on the streets of Washington, D.C., and arrest 30 people right away. "Who here thinks they can do it?" Miller said, asking for a show of hands.

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 3d
The dog is being wagged
owillis.bsky.social Oliver Willis @owillis.bsky.social · 3d
pairs nicely w the story we published today @dailykos.com

Trump suddenly declares military operation as Epstein scandal reignites www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

Reposted by John Christman

owillis.bsky.social
Oliver Willis @owillis.bsky.social · 3d
pairs nicely w the story we published today @dailykos.com

Trump suddenly declares military operation as Epstein scandal reignites www.dailykos.com/stories/2025...

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 3d
But wait, American consumers aren't paying for the tariffs I thought. The orange julius Caesar said so.

Trump Administration Prepares Tariff Exemptions in Bid to Lower Food Prices www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Trump Administration Prepares Tariff Exemptions in Bid to Lower Food Prices
www.nytimes.com

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 5d
All the commentary re: the explosiveness of these Epstein emails is apt and energizing. But the context has to be the knowledge that *nothing* will happen legally as a result. The DOJ will never take a step toward investigation/prosecution.

The outrage must be set against this reality

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 5d
The situation room? What were they discussing, bombing Venezuela?
thebulwark.com The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 5d
Q: "Why are White House officials…meeting with Rep. Boebert in an effort to try to get her to not sign this petition calling for the release of the [Epstein] files?"

Leavitt: "I'm not going to detail conversations that took place in the situation room."

Reposted by Timothy Snyder, Will Jennings, Rosemary A. Joyce , and 6 more

thebulwark.com
The Bulwark @thebulwark.com · 5d
Q: "Why are White House officials…meeting with Rep. Boebert in an effort to try to get her to not sign this petition calling for the release of the [Epstein] files?"

Leavitt: "I'm not going to detail conversations that took place in the situation room."

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 7d
Nobody believes this. Not even you.
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 7d
Mike Johnson: "That's the reason the inflation is up, the cost of living is up so high -- because of the policies of the previous administration. Now, we're working to root those policies out and implement our own, but it takes a little time."

Reposted by Justin Wolfers, John Christman

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 7d
Mike Johnson: "That's the reason the inflation is up, the cost of living is up so high -- because of the policies of the previous administration. Now, we're working to root those policies out and implement our own, but it takes a little time."

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 12d
Talk about a contradiction!

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 12d
Here's a prediction on this: The reactionary Supremes rebuff tRump's tariff rulings (narrowly) but don't touch the broader emergency powers question.

Then he uses other mechanisms to re-impose the tariff policy (special import taxes, etc.)

wapo.st/4qYPRo6
Supreme Court appears skeptical of legality of most of Trump’s tariffs
The Supreme Court held arguments on one of the most important cases of its term, testing whether the president has authority to impose wide-ranging tariffs.
wapo.st

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 12d
Argument is that Dems need to include conservatives (Joe Manchin) who represent areas where Dem brand is toxic.

Problem is, what does brand *mean* after that? Need principles as well as people

This Is the Way You Beat Trump — and Trumpism www.nytimes.com/2025/11/02/o...
Opinion | This Is the Way You Beat Trump — and Trumpism
www.nytimes.com

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 13d
Dem voices have to say repeatedly: Mamdani-Spanberger-Sherrill in the same breath. Different candidates to different constituents with the same broad principles. Winning with *all kinds* of voters.

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 13d
Yes! on big tent Democratic coalition, but I would also favor repeating some principles that guide the coalition's members: economic fairness, protection of individual rights and autonomy, environmental stewardship.

Enough to mark a profound contrast with the fascistic sycophants in the opposition
jamellebouie.net jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 13d
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
jamellebouie.net jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 14d
the other thing about this is that there is no reason to pit these candidates against each other? each are good fits for their respective electorates and each shows the value of vigorous campaigns focused on the stated material problems of voters.

Reposted by Anna O. Law, Rosemary A. Joyce, Efrén O. Pérez , and 18 more

jamellebouie.net
jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 13d
i want to repeat this: mamdani and spanberger have run similar campaigns tailored to their respective electorates and it is maddening to watch political journalists attempt to create some broad contrast where none exist
jamellebouie.net jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 14d
the other thing about this is that there is no reason to pit these candidates against each other? each are good fits for their respective electorates and each shows the value of vigorous campaigns focused on the stated material problems of voters.

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 18d
A key difference from tRump 1.0 is not just that he now has no guardrails, but world leaders now know exactly how to play him.
forbes.com Forbes @forbes.com · 18d
Trump claimed the meeting was “amazing” and a “12” on a scale of 1-10, but experts have said Xi successfully leveraged China’s rare earths advantage.
Trump-Xi Meeting: Why Experts Say China Came Out Ahead
Trump claimed the meeting was “amazing” and a “12” on a scale of 1-10, but experts have said Xi successfully leveraged China’s rare earths advantage.
www.forbes.com

Reposted by John Christman

forbes.com
Forbes @forbes.com · 18d
Trump claimed the meeting was “amazing” and a “12” on a scale of 1-10, but experts have said Xi successfully leveraged China’s rare earths advantage.
Trump-Xi Meeting: Why Experts Say China Came Out Ahead
Trump claimed the meeting was “amazing” and a “12” on a scale of 1-10, but experts have said Xi successfully leveraged China’s rare earths advantage.
www.forbes.com

Reposted by Will Jennings, Brendan Nyhan, Mark D. White , and 11 more

newrepublic.com
The New Republic @newrepublic.com · 19d
Patel's girlfriend performed at Penn State last weekend. A government jet arrived at State College Regional Airport, according to its FAA registration, with an address listing the FBI HQ. The plane then flew to Nashville, where his girlfriend lives.

All on the taxpayer’s dime.
trib.al/TBvPo7A

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 20d
Mike Johnson: Millions going hungry a small price to pay to avoid release of the Epstein files

Hunger and Cold Loom as Shutdown Imperils Funding for Antipoverty Programs www.nytimes.com/2025/10/27/u...
Hunger and Cold Loom as Shutdown Imperils Funding for Antipoverty Programs
www.nytimes.com

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 25d
Trump mixed up "shut down the government" with "tear down the government"

The man's self-aggrandizement knows no bounds.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/22/u...
Trump Is Wasting No Time in Tearing Down the East Wing
www.nytimes.com

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 26d
Rhetoric will be met with bloodshed?

Also, did he get prior assurance that no mention of bags full of cash will be made during this interview?
atrupar.com Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 26d
Homan: "At the No Kings protest, I watched more of the rhetoric. They've lost their minds. And I tell you: the bloodshed is not over if we don't address the rhetoric."

Reposted by John Christman

atrupar.com
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 26d
Homan: "At the No Kings protest, I watched more of the rhetoric. They've lost their minds. And I tell you: the bloodshed is not over if we don't address the rhetoric."

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 26d
Yeah and Mamdani is the one who makes Bret Stephens uncomfortable. Sheesh
chrislhayes.bsky.social Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · 26d
I am pretty gobsmacked by how open and virulent the anti-semitism is in very mainstream popular places in the online right right now.

Reposted by John Christman

chrislhayes.bsky.social
Chris Hayes @chrislhayes.bsky.social · 26d
I am pretty gobsmacked by how open and virulent the anti-semitism is in very mainstream popular places in the online right right now.

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 28d
Rewording: "Putin Told Trump to Tell Zelensky to..."

jchristman58.bsky.social
John Christman @jchristman58.bsky.social · 28d
The verb is "built" not "is building". The brown shirts are regularly on patrol.
buckleup36.bsky.social Buckleup36 @buckleup36.bsky.social · 28d
How Trump is Building a Violent, Shadowy Federal Police Force

www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Reposted by John Christman

buckleup36.bsky.social
Buckleup36 @buckleup36.bsky.social · 28d
How Trump is Building a Violent, Shadowy Federal Police Force

www.propublica.org/article/trum...

Reposted by John Christman

phroydianslip.bsky.social
phroydianslip.bsky.social @phroydianslip.bsky.social · 28d
#Putin Plays #Trump Once Again!
What A Fool Trump Is!

www.washingtonpost.com/world/2025/1...
In tense meeting, Trump told Zelensky to concede land, meet Putin’s demands
In an often fraught encounter, Trump told Zelensky to accept Putin’s terms to end the war, according to people familiar with the meeting.
www.washingtonpost.com