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.
Reposted by James Fallows
What this ad doesn’t show: Ring also rolled out facial recognition for humans. I wrote to them months ago about this. Their answer? They won’t ask for your consent.
This definitely isn’t about dogs—it’s about mass surveillance.
x.com/Phil_Lewis_/...
This definitely isn’t about dogs—it’s about mass surveillance.
x.com/Phil_Lewis_/...
x.com
February 9, 2026 at 10:42 PM
What this ad doesn’t show: Ring also rolled out facial recognition for humans. I wrote to them months ago about this. Their answer? They won’t ask for your consent.
This definitely isn’t about dogs—it’s about mass surveillance.
x.com/Phil_Lewis_/...
This definitely isn’t about dogs—it’s about mass surveillance.
x.com/Phil_Lewis_/...
Was this just in DC? Last night, during the Big Game, there were two Stephen Miller-toned recruiting ads. One for ICE itself, the other for Bovino's CBP.
Was this just in DC? Or nationwide? Have not seen them mentioned in most discussion of ad strategies. (Otherwise saturated with gambling, AI etc)
Was this just in DC? Or nationwide? Have not seen them mentioned in most discussion of ad strategies. (Otherwise saturated with gambling, AI etc)
February 9, 2026 at 4:03 PM
Was this just in DC? Last night, during the Big Game, there were two Stephen Miller-toned recruiting ads. One for ICE itself, the other for Bovino's CBP.
Was this just in DC? Or nationwide? Have not seen them mentioned in most discussion of ad strategies. (Otherwise saturated with gambling, AI etc)
Was this just in DC? Or nationwide? Have not seen them mentioned in most discussion of ad strategies. (Otherwise saturated with gambling, AI etc)
So sorry to hear that Suzannah (Suki) Lessard has died.
A wonderful writer, and friend.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/b...
A wonderful writer, and friend.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/b...
Suzannah Lessard Dies at 81; Stanford White Descendant Who Wrote a Haunting Family Memoir
www.nytimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:59 PM
So sorry to hear that Suzannah (Suki) Lessard has died.
A wonderful writer, and friend.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/b...
A wonderful writer, and friend.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/b...
Speaking just for myself, by now I've had my fill of efforts to "understand" people who have stuck with Trump.
We know who they are.
There are more of us than of them.
Just have to make sure that diff keeps showing up in election results. (As it has in virtually all special elections so far.)
We know who they are.
There are more of us than of them.
Just have to make sure that diff keeps showing up in election results. (As it has in virtually all special elections so far.)
We spoke with more than a dozen Trump voters about how they are making sense of the recent events in Minneapolis. Listen to "The Daily."
Why Trump Voters Are Torn Over Minneapolis
Illegal immigration and government overreach are colliding in Minneapolis, fundamentally changing Trump voters’ views of the president.
nyti.ms
February 9, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Speaking just for myself, by now I've had my fill of efforts to "understand" people who have stuck with Trump.
We know who they are.
There are more of us than of them.
Just have to make sure that diff keeps showing up in election results. (As it has in virtually all special elections so far.)
We know who they are.
There are more of us than of them.
Just have to make sure that diff keeps showing up in election results. (As it has in virtually all special elections so far.)
People of DC, more than two weeks into being totally iced in, now get news of measles spread—brought in by Right to Life marchers.
Looking for people exposed on the Metro, at DCA, at Children's Hospital, on Amtrak.
Gee, thanks, RFKJr et al.
dchealth.dc.gov/release/heal...
Looking for people exposed on the Metro, at DCA, at Children's Hospital, on Amtrak.
Gee, thanks, RFKJr et al.
dchealth.dc.gov/release/heal...
Health Officials Investigating Measles Exposures to DC Residents
(Washington, DC) - DC Health was notified of multiple confirmed cases of measles whose carriers visited multiple locations in the District while contagious. DC Health is informing people who were at t...
dchealth.dc.gov
February 9, 2026 at 3:57 AM
People of DC, more than two weeks into being totally iced in, now get news of measles spread—brought in by Right to Life marchers.
Looking for people exposed on the Metro, at DCA, at Children's Hospital, on Amtrak.
Gee, thanks, RFKJr et al.
dchealth.dc.gov/release/heal...
Looking for people exposed on the Metro, at DCA, at Children's Hospital, on Amtrak.
Gee, thanks, RFKJr et al.
dchealth.dc.gov/release/heal...
Good for them.
NBC's Olympics coverage this morning had recruiting ads from Bovino's CBP.
NBC's Olympics coverage this morning had recruiting ads from Bovino's CBP.
BREAKING: The Epstein survivors are releasing this ad on this Super Bowl Sunday to send the message that they will not “move on” from the largest sex trafficking scandal in the world. #standwithsurvivors
February 8, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Good for them.
NBC's Olympics coverage this morning had recruiting ads from Bovino's CBP.
NBC's Olympics coverage this morning had recruiting ads from Bovino's CBP.
Excellent, infuriating Data Journalism from @pbump.com
In this week’s newsletter, I visualized The Post’s losses, Bezos’s net worth — and how much that net worth has increased each day since he bought the paper.
(That and a lot more, all for free!)
(That and a lot more, all for free!)
Let's consider some disasters.
It has been quite a week in quite a month in quite a year in quite a decade, has it not? A lot of things have gone sideways, often driven into ditches by distracted drivers. Happily for us, some inter...
www.howtoreadthisch.art
February 8, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Excellent, infuriating Data Journalism from @pbump.com
This is a wonderful piece of reportage and data-illustration by @jacobbogage.bsky.social in battered WaPo.
-See @timothynoah.bsky.social's ongoing work on this theme, eg newrepublic.com/article/2042...
-Seeing our shrunken, barely-there print Sunday WaPo was poignant, artifact from "before."
-See @timothynoah.bsky.social's ongoing work on this theme, eg newrepublic.com/article/2042...
-Seeing our shrunken, barely-there print Sunday WaPo was poignant, artifact from "before."
February 8, 2026 at 4:18 PM
This is a wonderful piece of reportage and data-illustration by @jacobbogage.bsky.social in battered WaPo.
-See @timothynoah.bsky.social's ongoing work on this theme, eg newrepublic.com/article/2042...
-Seeing our shrunken, barely-there print Sunday WaPo was poignant, artifact from "before."
-See @timothynoah.bsky.social's ongoing work on this theme, eg newrepublic.com/article/2042...
-Seeing our shrunken, barely-there print Sunday WaPo was poignant, artifact from "before."
Reposted by James Fallows
McKenzie Scott, Melinda French Gates, and Laurene Powell Jobs are all far better humans than their one-time husbands were. All putting their money to work in constructive ways that their husbands never did.
February 8, 2026 at 1:30 AM
McKenzie Scott, Melinda French Gates, and Laurene Powell Jobs are all far better humans than their one-time husbands were. All putting their money to work in constructive ways that their husbands never did.
One of many good pieces in print NYT Opinion section: John Garnaut on how Trump's perverse combo of hostility to allies + TACO to China is empowering PRC and undermining Taiwan.
Whether "inadvertent," purposeful, merely incompetent, or corrupt, it's dangerous.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/o...
Whether "inadvertent," purposeful, merely incompetent, or corrupt, it's dangerous.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/o...
February 8, 2026 at 3:37 PM
One of many good pieces in print NYT Opinion section: John Garnaut on how Trump's perverse combo of hostility to allies + TACO to China is empowering PRC and undermining Taiwan.
Whether "inadvertent," purposeful, merely incompetent, or corrupt, it's dangerous.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/o...
Whether "inadvertent," purposeful, merely incompetent, or corrupt, it's dangerous.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/03/o...
Among the charming aspects of this note, the passive voice: "Difficult decisions have been taken."
This guy should never have had the job, or been allowed to stay.
The damage to Bezos's reputation is immense, but can't match the damage Bezos has done to journalism.
This guy should never have had the job, or been allowed to stay.
The damage to Bezos's reputation is immense, but can't match the damage Bezos has done to journalism.
Breaking — Will Lewis out at the Washington Post. He just sent this email to staff (shared with me by staffer):
February 7, 2026 at 11:10 PM
Among the charming aspects of this note, the passive voice: "Difficult decisions have been taken."
This guy should never have had the job, or been allowed to stay.
The damage to Bezos's reputation is immense, but can't match the damage Bezos has done to journalism.
This guy should never have had the job, or been allowed to stay.
The damage to Bezos's reputation is immense, but can't match the damage Bezos has done to journalism.
Reposted by James Fallows
The Guardian has a rough outline of what the Tulsi whistleblower complaint is about: NSA found someone close to Trump in contact with foreign intelligence, and rather than doing something about that, Tulsi brought the report to Susie Wiles.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
NSA detected phone call between foreign intelligence and a person close to Trump
Whistleblower says that Tulsi Gabbard blocked agency from sharing report and delivered it to White House chief of staff
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 6:05 PM
The Guardian has a rough outline of what the Tulsi whistleblower complaint is about: NSA found someone close to Trump in contact with foreign intelligence, and rather than doing something about that, Tulsi brought the report to Susie Wiles.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by James Fallows
How it started: Youngkin mixes up Black state senators @SenLouiseLucas and @SenatorLocke
How it ended: "Lucas single-handedly destroying Youngkin’s legacy projects (sports teams in NoVa, suburban GOP that can win) was remarkable to watch" - @daveweigel.bsky.social bluevirginia.us/2026/02/8-wi...
How it ended: "Lucas single-handedly destroying Youngkin’s legacy projects (sports teams in NoVa, suburban GOP that can win) was remarkable to watch" - @daveweigel.bsky.social bluevirginia.us/2026/02/8-wi...
February 7, 2026 at 3:47 PM
How it started: Youngkin mixes up Black state senators @SenLouiseLucas and @SenatorLocke
How it ended: "Lucas single-handedly destroying Youngkin’s legacy projects (sports teams in NoVa, suburban GOP that can win) was remarkable to watch" - @daveweigel.bsky.social bluevirginia.us/2026/02/8-wi...
How it ended: "Lucas single-handedly destroying Youngkin’s legacy projects (sports teams in NoVa, suburban GOP that can win) was remarkable to watch" - @daveweigel.bsky.social bluevirginia.us/2026/02/8-wi...
Reposted by James Fallows
VA Senate president responds to Ted crying about VA’s redistricting, which should add 4 new Dem seats.
February 7, 2026 at 12:17 PM
VA Senate president responds to Ted crying about VA’s redistricting, which should add 4 new Dem seats.
Re-upping from yesterday: Deb Fallows with a great new post on tremendous, innovative 'Reading Railroad' project from Dayton Metro Libraries. And brief newsletter on other Our Towns happenings.
ourtownsflyer.substack.com/p/all-aboard...
ourtownsflyer.substack.com/p/all-aboard...
All Aboard the Reading Railroad in Dayton.
Yet another story of libraries meeting the moment.
ourtownsflyer.substack.com
February 7, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Re-upping from yesterday: Deb Fallows with a great new post on tremendous, innovative 'Reading Railroad' project from Dayton Metro Libraries. And brief newsletter on other Our Towns happenings.
ourtownsflyer.substack.com/p/all-aboard...
ourtownsflyer.substack.com/p/all-aboard...
Really important piece in today's @nytimes.com about possible, disastrous next target of MAGA wrecking ball:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/a...
H/t to my friend @timothynoah.bsky.social for pioneering on this story: newrepublic.com/article/2010...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/a...
H/t to my friend @timothynoah.bsky.social for pioneering on this story: newrepublic.com/article/2010...
It’s Been Called the ‘Sistine Chapel of the New Deal.’ Don’t Destroy It.
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:36 PM
Really important piece in today's @nytimes.com about possible, disastrous next target of MAGA wrecking ball:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/a...
H/t to my friend @timothynoah.bsky.social for pioneering on this story: newrepublic.com/article/2010...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/05/a...
H/t to my friend @timothynoah.bsky.social for pioneering on this story: newrepublic.com/article/2010...
Agree.
People are mad at @samuelmoyn.bsky.social but this is a good piece from him and @ryandoerfler.bsky.social on need to accept that SCOTUS has become functionally illegitimate. Key point is legitimacy does require the public to think the court operates in good faith:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It’s time to accept that the US supreme court is illegitimate and must be replaced | Ryan Doerfler and Samuel Moyn
We need to remake the US high court so Americans don’t suffer future decades of oligarchy-facilitating rule
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Agree.
From writer @stephenmarche.bsky.social, proud Canadian, on what the current despot rule of the US has meant for Canada and the world.
(Also note his nomenclature for the US.)
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
(Also note his nomenclature for the US.)
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
February 7, 2026 at 4:09 PM
From writer @stephenmarche.bsky.social, proud Canadian, on what the current despot rule of the US has meant for Canada and the world.
(Also note his nomenclature for the US.)
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
(Also note his nomenclature for the US.)
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/o...
Reposted by James Fallows
This is not true. All of the evidence from videos and eyewitnesses show the booing started when Vance appeared on the jumbotron. An accurate headline would say this:
"VANCE BOOED AT MILAN CORTINA OPENING CEREMONY"
"VANCE BOOED AT MILAN CORTINA OPENING CEREMONY"
In an unmistakable sign of Europe’s rapidly dimming view on America, the U.S. delegation entered the Milan Cortina Opening Ceremony to a chorus of boos and disapproving whistles from the international crowd of more than 65,000. on.wsj.com/3ZUmCq1
February 7, 2026 at 3:21 PM
This is not true. All of the evidence from videos and eyewitnesses show the booing started when Vance appeared on the jumbotron. An accurate headline would say this:
"VANCE BOOED AT MILAN CORTINA OPENING CEREMONY"
"VANCE BOOED AT MILAN CORTINA OPENING CEREMONY"
Damage done by this latest petulant outburst by Trump and Hegseth:
—1% to Harvard, from loss of students and ongoing links to career military.
—99% to career military officers, losing educational, social, and lifetime-connections benefits of stint at Harvard.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
—1% to Harvard, from loss of students and ongoing links to career military.
—99% to career military officers, losing educational, social, and lifetime-connections benefits of stint at Harvard.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
Defense Department Severs Academic Ties with Harvard | News | The Harvard Crimson
The United States Department of Defense announced Friday evening it would sever all academic ties with Harvard, saying the University’s partnerships with Chinese institutions and antisemitism on campu...
www.thecrimson.com
February 7, 2026 at 3:20 PM
Damage done by this latest petulant outburst by Trump and Hegseth:
—1% to Harvard, from loss of students and ongoing links to career military.
—99% to career military officers, losing educational, social, and lifetime-connections benefits of stint at Harvard.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
—1% to Harvard, from loss of students and ongoing links to career military.
—99% to career military officers, losing educational, social, and lifetime-connections benefits of stint at Harvard.
www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...
Another great post by Deb Fallows, on another great, innovative, (and under-publicized) public library program.
This is the 'Reading Railroad,' of the Dayton Metro Library. Part of continuing Our Towns series.
Read it here!
www.ourtownsfoundation.org/a-librarys-r...
This is the 'Reading Railroad,' of the Dayton Metro Library. Part of continuing Our Towns series.
Read it here!
www.ourtownsfoundation.org/a-librarys-r...
A Library's 'Reading Railroad' Pulls Ahead. - Our Towns
An innovative program from Dayton's metro library shows new ways to address the community's problems and its own.
www.ourtownsfoundation.org
February 6, 2026 at 11:28 PM
Another great post by Deb Fallows, on another great, innovative, (and under-publicized) public library program.
This is the 'Reading Railroad,' of the Dayton Metro Library. Part of continuing Our Towns series.
Read it here!
www.ourtownsfoundation.org/a-librarys-r...
This is the 'Reading Railroad,' of the Dayton Metro Library. Part of continuing Our Towns series.
Read it here!
www.ourtownsfoundation.org/a-librarys-r...
Credit where it’s due:
This is one hell of a hard nosed bullshit free article by the NYT. It feels like an editor slipped in the word anomalies, but other than that it’s tough & honest, & how news outlets should write about Trump & his racist administration.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
This is one hell of a hard nosed bullshit free article by the NYT. It feels like an editor slipped in the word anomalies, but other than that it’s tough & honest, & how news outlets should write about Trump & his racist administration.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/06/u...
February 6, 2026 at 8:11 PM
1) My nominee for Nobel Peace Prize: The people of Minnesota.
2) My action-item for people of DC: Keep round-the-clock watch on the Kennedy Center, so Trump's goons don't do to it what they did to the East Wing.
2) My action-item for people of DC: Keep round-the-clock watch on the Kennedy Center, so Trump's goons don't do to it what they did to the East Wing.
February 6, 2026 at 8:01 PM
1) My nominee for Nobel Peace Prize: The people of Minnesota.
2) My action-item for people of DC: Keep round-the-clock watch on the Kennedy Center, so Trump's goons don't do to it what they did to the East Wing.
2) My action-item for people of DC: Keep round-the-clock watch on the Kennedy Center, so Trump's goons don't do to it what they did to the East Wing.
Remember all the stories after 2016 election about "economic anxiety"?
The Trump Administration wants us to think of Trump's racism as a character flaw grandpa sometimes sadly lets express itself too aggressively, when the reality is that the white nationalism is the governing, organizing logic of his administration that all Republicans are complicit with.
February 6, 2026 at 7:03 PM
Remember all the stories after 2016 election about "economic anxiety"?
Very good, and properly angry, piece by @perrybaconjr.bsky.social.
We have a radical president with three more years and a MAGA political movement not going anywhere. CBS has been co-opted by Bari Weiss, and now too, The Washington Post with Jeff Bezos. CNN and the Times have hinted at moving right.
We are in a uniquely dangerous time in the U.S. trib.al/nfGv9NP
We are in a uniquely dangerous time in the U.S. trib.al/nfGv9NP
The Washington Post Is in Free Fall—and There’s One Person to Blame
Today’s layoffs at this once great newspaper were nowhere near inevitable. But Jeff Bezos was never committed to the paper’s best traditions.
trib.al
February 6, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Very good, and properly angry, piece by @perrybaconjr.bsky.social.