James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
Reporter and writer: https://fallows.substack.com/ and https://www.ourtownsfoundation.org/ One-time speechwriter, long-time pilot, longer-time husband of linguist/writer Deborah Fallows. Note same wristwatch in the two photos, more than 50 years apart.
1/2
-More-interesting-than-usual story on Trump's extortion demands on Harvard. (Remember when this was all about the MAGA/Fuentes team's heartfelt concern about antisemitism?)
-Headline badly mismatches contents of the story. As the reporting makes clear, the "escalation" is all on MAGA side.
-More-interesting-than-usual story on Trump's extortion demands on Harvard. (Remember when this was all about the MAGA/Fuentes team's heartfelt concern about antisemitism?)
-Headline badly mismatches contents of the story. As the reporting makes clear, the "escalation" is all on MAGA side.
December 26, 2025 at 6:05 PM
1/2
-More-interesting-than-usual story on Trump's extortion demands on Harvard. (Remember when this was all about the MAGA/Fuentes team's heartfelt concern about antisemitism?)
-Headline badly mismatches contents of the story. As the reporting makes clear, the "escalation" is all on MAGA side.
-More-interesting-than-usual story on Trump's extortion demands on Harvard. (Remember when this was all about the MAGA/Fuentes team's heartfelt concern about antisemitism?)
-Headline badly mismatches contents of the story. As the reporting makes clear, the "escalation" is all on MAGA side.
If you don't know about the NORAD SantaTracker, you should.
www.noradsanta.org/en/map
Merry Christmas Eve.
www.noradsanta.org/en/map
Merry Christmas Eve.
Official NORAD Tracks Santa
www.noradsanta.org
December 24, 2025 at 10:04 PM
If you don't know about the NORAD SantaTracker, you should.
www.noradsanta.org/en/map
Merry Christmas Eve.
www.noradsanta.org/en/map
Merry Christmas Eve.
Unexpected view out the window at Dulles just now.
(This United livery is new to me. The lettering on the engine is about Sustainable Aviation Fuels — SAF.)
(This United livery is new to me. The lettering on the engine is about Sustainable Aviation Fuels — SAF.)
December 22, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Unexpected view out the window at Dulles just now.
(This United livery is new to me. The lettering on the engine is about Sustainable Aviation Fuels — SAF.)
(This United livery is new to me. The lettering on the engine is about Sustainable Aviation Fuels — SAF.)
Agree.
Sharyn Alfonsi is standing up.
People need to stand up with her and for her.
Sharyn Alfonsi is standing up.
People need to stand up with her and for her.
Via @liamjscott.bsky.social at the other site here’s the full email from 60 Minutes correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi. She’s putting her career on the line by fighting here. And she’s fighting for all of us.
December 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Agree.
Sharyn Alfonsi is standing up.
People need to stand up with her and for her.
Sharyn Alfonsi is standing up.
People need to stand up with her and for her.
Good story on how karma caught up w Stefanik.
Part of her legacy: her bear-baiting harassment of univ presidents, back when Team MAGA (including her) still pretended that #1 motive to slash higher ed funding was MAGA's deep concern about antisemitism [Cf: N Fuentes]
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
Part of her legacy: her bear-baiting harassment of univ presidents, back when Team MAGA (including her) still pretended that #1 motive to slash higher ed funding was MAGA's deep concern about antisemitism [Cf: N Fuentes]
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
Elise Stefanik Tried Everything to Please Trump. He Still Jilted Her.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:08 PM
Good story on how karma caught up w Stefanik.
Part of her legacy: her bear-baiting harassment of univ presidents, back when Team MAGA (including her) still pretended that #1 motive to slash higher ed funding was MAGA's deep concern about antisemitism [Cf: N Fuentes]
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
Part of her legacy: her bear-baiting harassment of univ presidents, back when Team MAGA (including her) still pretended that #1 motive to slash higher ed funding was MAGA's deep concern about antisemitism [Cf: N Fuentes]
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
Worth watching 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' in any of its versions, as a reminder of what CBS has been.
Or 'The Insider,' about 60 Minutes in particular.
This is really, really bad.
Or 'The Insider,' about 60 Minutes in particular.
This is really, really bad.
CBS News postponed a "60 Minutes" segment Sunday because it lacked a Trump admin interview, per an email we obtained from correspondent Sharyn Alfonsi, who said the decision by EIC Bari Weiss gave the White House a "kill switch." with @liamjscott.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
‘60 Minutes’ correspondent says CBS’s Bari Weiss abruptly pulled segment on Trump deportations
CBS News pulled a ‘60 Minutes’ segment about a prison in El Salvador one day before it was set to air because the Trump administration declined to participate.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:57 AM
Worth watching 'Good Night, and Good Luck,' in any of its versions, as a reminder of what CBS has been.
Or 'The Insider,' about 60 Minutes in particular.
This is really, really bad.
Or 'The Insider,' about 60 Minutes in particular.
This is really, really bad.
Enjoyed doing this podcast with .... John Kasich!
johnkasich.substack.com/p/the-challe...
(Republican, former 2-term Ohio Gov, multi-term Congressman, 2016 prez candidate.)
johnkasich.substack.com/p/the-challe...
(Republican, former 2-term Ohio Gov, multi-term Congressman, 2016 prez candidate.)
The Challenges Facing Our Air Travel System
I wanted to share a recent conversation I had with a really remarkable person
johnkasich.substack.com
December 21, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Enjoyed doing this podcast with .... John Kasich!
johnkasich.substack.com/p/the-challe...
(Republican, former 2-term Ohio Gov, multi-term Congressman, 2016 prez candidate.)
johnkasich.substack.com/p/the-challe...
(Republican, former 2-term Ohio Gov, multi-term Congressman, 2016 prez candidate.)
Something I didn't foresee in 2025, or ever.
Seeing Rep. Thomas Massie (!!!) sound more reality-based, and unhindered by "both-sides-ism," than the current anchor of a CBS news show.
This is genuinely pathetic by Brennan.
Seeing Rep. Thomas Massie (!!!) sound more reality-based, and unhindered by "both-sides-ism," than the current anchor of a CBS news show.
This is genuinely pathetic by Brennan.
Squint real hard, and you might just see the “WTAF?!” word balloon that pops above Rep. Massie’s head right after Margaret Brennan finishes her question.
BRENNAN: This isn't everything you asked for just yet, but would you acknowledge that they are complying with the spirit if not the intent of your law?
MASSIE: No. They're flouting the spirit and the letter of the law. It's very troubling the posture that they've taken.
MASSIE: No. They're flouting the spirit and the letter of the law. It's very troubling the posture that they've taken.
December 21, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Something I didn't foresee in 2025, or ever.
Seeing Rep. Thomas Massie (!!!) sound more reality-based, and unhindered by "both-sides-ism," than the current anchor of a CBS news show.
This is genuinely pathetic by Brennan.
Seeing Rep. Thomas Massie (!!!) sound more reality-based, and unhindered by "both-sides-ism," than the current anchor of a CBS news show.
This is genuinely pathetic by Brennan.
What American institutions are standing up and "meeting the moment"?
Sleeping giants awake: US foundations.
Podcast with head of MacArthur Foundation, John Palfrey.
fallows.substack.com/p/this-is-th...
Sleeping giants awake: US foundations.
Podcast with head of MacArthur Foundation, John Palfrey.
fallows.substack.com/p/this-is-th...
‘This Is the Proverbial Rainy Day.’
In times of emergency, an American sleeping giant shows how to flex.
fallows.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:59 AM
What American institutions are standing up and "meeting the moment"?
Sleeping giants awake: US foundations.
Podcast with head of MacArthur Foundation, John Palfrey.
fallows.substack.com/p/this-is-th...
Sleeping giants awake: US foundations.
Podcast with head of MacArthur Foundation, John Palfrey.
fallows.substack.com/p/this-is-th...
Presidents who attended Kennedy Ctr events since its opening in 1971 and did not dream of putting their names on it
Nixon
Ford
Carter
Reagan
Bush I
Clinton
Bush II
Obama
Biden
Very different people. None of them this vulgar.
Would have made more sense for DJT to put his name on the Supreme Court.
Nixon
Ford
Carter
Reagan
Bush I
Clinton
Bush II
Obama
Biden
Very different people. None of them this vulgar.
Would have made more sense for DJT to put his name on the Supreme Court.
December 19, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Presidents who attended Kennedy Ctr events since its opening in 1971 and did not dream of putting their names on it
Nixon
Ford
Carter
Reagan
Bush I
Clinton
Bush II
Obama
Biden
Very different people. None of them this vulgar.
Would have made more sense for DJT to put his name on the Supreme Court.
Nixon
Ford
Carter
Reagan
Bush I
Clinton
Bush II
Obama
Biden
Very different people. None of them this vulgar.
Would have made more sense for DJT to put his name on the Supreme Court.
This is flat-out illegal.
Congress determines the name of the Kennedy Center.
Demolition of the East Wing is irreversible. This can and must be fixed.
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/19/t...
Congress determines the name of the Kennedy Center.
Demolition of the East Wing is irreversible. This can and must be fixed.
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/19/t...
Trump name added to Kennedy Center signage
The Kennedy Center board on Thursday voted to add Trump's name to the famed arts institution.
www.cnbc.com
December 19, 2025 at 6:18 PM
This is flat-out illegal.
Congress determines the name of the Kennedy Center.
Demolition of the East Wing is irreversible. This can and must be fixed.
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/19/t...
Congress determines the name of the Kennedy Center.
Demolition of the East Wing is irreversible. This can and must be fixed.
www.cnbc.com/2025/12/19/t...
Reposted by James Fallows
Exactly. If people want to understand why secretly recording professor’s lectures is generally problematic (despite who was recorded in this instance, and why) they might want to consult the faculty at Texas A&M.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/22/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/22/u...
Texas A&M committee rules professor’s firing over gender identity lesson was unjustified | CNN
A Texas A&M committee agreed that the university was wrong to fire a professor earlier this year after a controversy over a classroom video that showed a student objecting to a children’s literature l...
www.cnn.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Exactly. If people want to understand why secretly recording professor’s lectures is generally problematic (despite who was recorded in this instance, and why) they might want to consult the faculty at Texas A&M.
www.cnn.com/2025/11/22/u...
www.cnn.com/2025/11/22/u...
1/2 Ongoing "framing of Harvard stories" saga
Lede: News is secret investigation, about students "drawing scrutiny" to Epstein ties
Three grafs down: Actual problem is that students snuck into a class, and secretly recorded Summers's opening apology
Newsworthy "secrecy" is on student side, right?
Lede: News is secret investigation, about students "drawing scrutiny" to Epstein ties
Three grafs down: Actual problem is that students snuck into a class, and secretly recorded Summers's opening apology
Newsworthy "secrecy" is on student side, right?
December 19, 2025 at 2:23 PM
1/2 Ongoing "framing of Harvard stories" saga
Lede: News is secret investigation, about students "drawing scrutiny" to Epstein ties
Three grafs down: Actual problem is that students snuck into a class, and secretly recorded Summers's opening apology
Newsworthy "secrecy" is on student side, right?
Lede: News is secret investigation, about students "drawing scrutiny" to Epstein ties
Three grafs down: Actual problem is that students snuck into a class, and secretly recorded Summers's opening apology
Newsworthy "secrecy" is on student side, right?
Reposted by James Fallows
Ah yes, Naomi Wolf, known far and wide for her accurate interpretation of texts and for not letting her priors shape her analyses.
December 19, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Ah yes, Naomi Wolf, known far and wide for her accurate interpretation of texts and for not letting her priors shape her analyses.
Reposted by James Fallows
It almost goes without saying, but this is illegal. The name "John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" is established by law and the board doesn't have the power to change it. 20 USC 3 §§ 76h - 76s.
Kennedy Center to be renamed Trump-Kennedy Center —Karoline Leavitt x.com/PressSec/sta...
December 18, 2025 at 6:54 PM
It almost goes without saying, but this is illegal. The name "John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts" is established by law and the board doesn't have the power to change it. 20 USC 3 §§ 76h - 76s.
Reposted by James Fallows
Only Congress can do this. But anyway, good bit of distraction bait when Epstein files are dropping all around...
Kennedy Center to be renamed Trump-Kennedy Center —Karoline Leavitt x.com/PressSec/sta...
December 18, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Only Congress can do this. But anyway, good bit of distraction bait when Epstein files are dropping all around...
Agree with @kairyssdal.bsky.social , disagree with politics editors at @nytimes.com , on this one.
Trump was yelling out *lies* at a frantic, machine-gun pace last night. A "first rough draft of history" account of this moment should make that cler.
Trump was yelling out *lies* at a frantic, machine-gun pace last night. A "first rough draft of history" account of this moment should make that cler.
I honest to Pete don’t understand the aversion to saying he lies. (Don’t give me the whole oh-we-don’t-know-his-intent malarkey)
A look at some of the many falsehoods and exaggerations in Trump's televised address to the nation, by Linda Qiu www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
December 18, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Agree with @kairyssdal.bsky.social , disagree with politics editors at @nytimes.com , on this one.
Trump was yelling out *lies* at a frantic, machine-gun pace last night. A "first rough draft of history" account of this moment should make that cler.
Trump was yelling out *lies* at a frantic, machine-gun pace last night. A "first rough draft of history" account of this moment should make that cler.
Correct.
Thinking of all the figures we've respected at CBS News: From successive '60 Minutes' teams, through generations of evening anchors (Cronkite era to lately Norah O'Donnell, John Dickerson, Maurice DuBois), to peerless 'Sunday Morning' team, to others.
And now to this.
Thinking of all the figures we've respected at CBS News: From successive '60 Minutes' teams, through generations of evening anchors (Cronkite era to lately Norah O'Donnell, John Dickerson, Maurice DuBois), to peerless 'Sunday Morning' team, to others.
And now to this.
weiss does not know how to run a news organization, and so she's doing what she does best: hosting fatuous "debates" involving the people in her group chats www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...
Bari Weiss’ Next CBS News Move: Town Halls With JD Vance, Sam Altman and Debates About God and Feminism
The news division is also planning a town hall with Maryland Gov. Wes Moore in the 'Things That Matter' series, with Bank of America lined up as a sponsor.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
December 18, 2025 at 5:34 PM
Correct.
Thinking of all the figures we've respected at CBS News: From successive '60 Minutes' teams, through generations of evening anchors (Cronkite era to lately Norah O'Donnell, John Dickerson, Maurice DuBois), to peerless 'Sunday Morning' team, to others.
And now to this.
Thinking of all the figures we've respected at CBS News: From successive '60 Minutes' teams, through generations of evening anchors (Cronkite era to lately Norah O'Donnell, John Dickerson, Maurice DuBois), to peerless 'Sunday Morning' team, to others.
And now to this.
Sane-washing headline in WaPo about Trump's on-screen hysteria last night. (First image.)
Accompanying WaPo story gets the idea across more clearly.
Accompanying WaPo story gets the idea across more clearly.
December 18, 2025 at 3:43 PM
Sane-washing headline in WaPo about Trump's on-screen hysteria last night. (First image.)
Accompanying WaPo story gets the idea across more clearly.
Accompanying WaPo story gets the idea across more clearly.
This speech is terrible, even for Trump.
December 18, 2025 at 2:09 AM
This speech is terrible, even for Trump.
Reposted by James Fallows
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
December 17, 2025 at 8:34 PM
The Vanity Fair photographer from the Susie Wiles story.
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Holy. Shit.
www.washingtonpost.com/style/power/...
Theodore Dreiser: Greatest bad writer in American history.
(Am Tragedy: Sentence by sentence, ponderous. Cumulatively, in its 800+ page heft, magnificent.)
Can hardly believe that our English teacher, Mathilda Phillips at Redlands High, had us read and discuss the whole thing, chapter by chapter.
(Am Tragedy: Sentence by sentence, ponderous. Cumulatively, in its 800+ page heft, magnificent.)
Can hardly believe that our English teacher, Mathilda Phillips at Redlands High, had us read and discuss the whole thing, chapter by chapter.
In #BookSky news, Boni & Liveright published Theodore Dreiser's magnum opus a century ago today: two volumes, in a slipcase. (Wish this first edition were mine, but it belongs to Baltimore shop Royal Books.) Filmed a quarter century later as the magnificent A PLACE IN THE SUN.
December 17, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Theodore Dreiser: Greatest bad writer in American history.
(Am Tragedy: Sentence by sentence, ponderous. Cumulatively, in its 800+ page heft, magnificent.)
Can hardly believe that our English teacher, Mathilda Phillips at Redlands High, had us read and discuss the whole thing, chapter by chapter.
(Am Tragedy: Sentence by sentence, ponderous. Cumulatively, in its 800+ page heft, magnificent.)
Can hardly believe that our English teacher, Mathilda Phillips at Redlands High, had us read and discuss the whole thing, chapter by chapter.
This is a science counterpart to demolishing East Wing at the White House. But with far greater consequences.
These people are dangerous zealots (sort of as Susie Wiles has put it), and every decent person must stand up to stop them.
www.nbcnews.com/science/clim...
These people are dangerous zealots (sort of as Susie Wiles has put it), and every decent person must stand up to stop them.
www.nbcnews.com/science/clim...
Trump administration plans to break up largest federal climate research center
Russ Vought, director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, said the National Science Foundation "will be breaking up" the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado.
www.nbcnews.com
December 17, 2025 at 8:01 PM
This is a science counterpart to demolishing East Wing at the White House. But with far greater consequences.
These people are dangerous zealots (sort of as Susie Wiles has put it), and every decent person must stand up to stop them.
www.nbcnews.com/science/clim...
These people are dangerous zealots (sort of as Susie Wiles has put it), and every decent person must stand up to stop them.
www.nbcnews.com/science/clim...
This is worth reading.
It applies to the military, but not only the military:
www.realcleardefense.com/articles/202...
It applies to the military, but not only the military:
www.realcleardefense.com/articles/202...
www.realcleardefense.com
December 17, 2025 at 7:20 PM
This is worth reading.
It applies to the military, but not only the military:
www.realcleardefense.com/articles/202...
It applies to the military, but not only the military:
www.realcleardefense.com/articles/202...
Reposted by James Fallows
Hegseth repeatedly misled the public about this strike.
The boat was headed for Suriname, not the U.S.
It wasn't carrying fentanyl.
The survivors didn't "radio for backup."
This strike was illegal, and Hegseth is trying to cover up what happened by refusing to release video.
The boat was headed for Suriname, not the U.S.
It wasn't carrying fentanyl.
The survivors didn't "radio for backup."
This strike was illegal, and Hegseth is trying to cover up what happened by refusing to release video.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said Tuesday that the Pentagon will not publicly release unedited video of a strike that killed two survivors of an initial attack on a boat allegedly carrying cocaine in the Caribbean. https://to.pbs.org/4pZJb8p
Hegseth says he won't publicly release video of boat strike that killed survivors in the Caribbean
Hegseth said that members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committee would have an opportunity this week to review the video, but did not say whether all members of Congress would be allowed to ...
to.pbs.org
December 16, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Hegseth repeatedly misled the public about this strike.
The boat was headed for Suriname, not the U.S.
It wasn't carrying fentanyl.
The survivors didn't "radio for backup."
This strike was illegal, and Hegseth is trying to cover up what happened by refusing to release video.
The boat was headed for Suriname, not the U.S.
It wasn't carrying fentanyl.
The survivors didn't "radio for backup."
This strike was illegal, and Hegseth is trying to cover up what happened by refusing to release video.