@jkavanagh.bsky.social
Editor at New York magazine and Condé Nast in a previous life.
Also at Shakespeare on Politics on that other platform.
Also at Shakespeare on Politics on that other platform.
Trump “came to the aid of those already in the clear—as far as federal law enforcement is concerned…It is the latest in a series of moves intended to deliver a political message from the White House: Those who stand with Trump and assist in his schemes need not worry about legal consequences.”
November 11, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Trump “came to the aid of those already in the clear—as far as federal law enforcement is concerned…It is the latest in a series of moves intended to deliver a political message from the White House: Those who stand with Trump and assist in his schemes need not worry about legal consequences.”
Reposted
How wrong are Trump’s weird boasts about the state of the economy?
Even his own economic team doesn’t seem to believe him. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
Even his own economic team doesn’t seem to believe him. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
Even Trump’s own team doesn’t believe his weird boasts about the economy
The president isn’t just failing to persuade the public to distrust their lying eyes, he’s also failed to convince his own economic team.
www.msnbc.com
November 11, 2025 at 2:04 PM
How wrong are Trump’s weird boasts about the state of the economy?
Even his own economic team doesn’t seem to believe him. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
Even his own economic team doesn’t seem to believe him. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...
“The Democrats’ highest calling right now is to make Trump less popular—supporting the No Kings rallies, dividing his loyalists in Congress over issues—standing up to him in the government shutdown fight and making him seem weaker than he is, and emphasizing his corruption scandals...”
Now that Dems have capitulated, at the very least they should now make every future extension of funding contingent on Trump following the law. Any lawbreaking must be met with: No more votes from us, period.
My exchange with @brianbeutler.bsky.social on that point:
newrepublic.com/article/2029...
My exchange with @brianbeutler.bsky.social on that point:
newrepublic.com/article/2029...
November 11, 2025 at 7:35 PM
“The Democrats’ highest calling right now is to make Trump less popular—supporting the No Kings rallies, dividing his loyalists in Congress over issues—standing up to him in the government shutdown fight and making him seem weaker than he is, and emphasizing his corruption scandals...”
UConn vs. Columbia tonight. A huge mismatch. UConn, however, has the edge in hoops.
November 11, 2025 at 5:09 AM
UConn vs. Columbia tonight. A huge mismatch. UConn, however, has the edge in hoops.
“By the merit of vile gold, dross, dust, purchase corrupted pardon of a man, who in that sale sells pardon from himself.”
“King John”
“King John”
Trump’s sham Pardon Attorney, Ed Martin, announced a mass pardon of at least 77 people involved in efforts to overthrow the 2020 election results. This is another unprecedented and extremely dangerous use of the pardon power. Please watch and share. youtube.com/shorts/cHkqw...
Trump’s mass pardon of election deniers
YouTube video by Lawyer Oyer
youtube.com
November 11, 2025 at 3:16 AM
“By the merit of vile gold, dross, dust, purchase corrupted pardon of a man, who in that sale sells pardon from himself.”
“King John”
“King John”
When Trump says, ‘I have the best numbers ever,’ [those] covering him don’t shout in unison, ‘No, you don’t!’ even though they know he’s lying…They realize there would be repercussions if they challenged him. Their bosses want access.”
Access for stenographers and sideline “reporters.”
Access for stenographers and sideline “reporters.”
That old metaphor about the frog and the boiling water isn’t true: If you put a frog in a pot of water and slowly raise the heat, the frog will jump out before it gets boiled to death.
The question now is whether American journalists are smarter than frogs.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.
The question now is whether American journalists are smarter than frogs.
My Stop the Presses newsletter.
How news coverage eases us into tyranny
When the media act like things are normal, they don’t reassure us – they gaslight us
www.stopthepresses.news
November 10, 2025 at 9:45 PM
When Trump says, ‘I have the best numbers ever,’ [those] covering him don’t shout in unison, ‘No, you don’t!’ even though they know he’s lying…They realize there would be repercussions if they challenged him. Their bosses want access.”
Access for stenographers and sideline “reporters.”
Access for stenographers and sideline “reporters.”
Bernie Sanders: Thune can say, “Democrats can create their own bill, and…as everybody here knows, it’s a meaningless gesture. You can get a 100 votes in the Senate. It won’t mean anything, because the House is not going to take it up, and [Trump] certainly will not sign it.” He hopes Dems reconsider
November 10, 2025 at 8:19 PM
Bernie Sanders: Thune can say, “Democrats can create their own bill, and…as everybody here knows, it’s a meaningless gesture. You can get a 100 votes in the Senate. It won’t mean anything, because the House is not going to take it up, and [Trump] certainly will not sign it.” He hopes Dems reconsider
“Trump’s approval rating is sinking, and GOP officials were increasingly divided against one another. The pieces, in other words, were in place for Democrats to stand firm in support of a popular cause. Eight of them folded anyway.”
November 10, 2025 at 7:38 PM
“Trump’s approval rating is sinking, and GOP officials were increasingly divided against one another. The pieces, in other words, were in place for Democrats to stand firm in support of a popular cause. Eight of them folded anyway.”
“I discovered that the world should not be divided into good and bad people but into cowards and non-cowards.”
Looking at you, Schumer, and at Dems who caved.
Looking at you, Schumer, and at Dems who caved.
November 10, 2025 at 3:54 PM
“I discovered that the world should not be divided into good and bad people but into cowards and non-cowards.”
Looking at you, Schumer, and at Dems who caved.
Looking at you, Schumer, and at Dems who caved.
Reposted
Maybe Angus King wasn’t paying close enough attention:
- public blamed the GOP for shutdown
- Dems won big in elections last week
- Trump’s approval rating sinking
- Republicans increasingly divided against one another
Standing up to Trump *did* work. tinyurl.com/3aduac4w
- public blamed the GOP for shutdown
- Dems won big in elections last week
- Trump’s approval rating sinking
- Republicans increasingly divided against one another
Standing up to Trump *did* work. tinyurl.com/3aduac4w
November 10, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Maybe Angus King wasn’t paying close enough attention:
- public blamed the GOP for shutdown
- Dems won big in elections last week
- Trump’s approval rating sinking
- Republicans increasingly divided against one another
Standing up to Trump *did* work. tinyurl.com/3aduac4w
- public blamed the GOP for shutdown
- Dems won big in elections last week
- Trump’s approval rating sinking
- Republicans increasingly divided against one another
Standing up to Trump *did* work. tinyurl.com/3aduac4w
“He will lie, sir, with such volubility that you would think truth were a fool… He has everything that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing.”
“All’s Well That Ends Well”
“All’s Well That Ends Well”
Trump is now claiming "affordability" issue that caused epic GOP losses is a "con." Repubs aren't allowed to contradict the despot, so that's become GOP gospel. Meanwhile MAGA coalition is fracturing.
On the pod, Bulwark's Joe Perticone is so good in explaining this:
newrepublic.com/article/2029...
On the pod, Bulwark's Joe Perticone is so good in explaining this:
newrepublic.com/article/2029...
Angry Trump Snaps at Media as Brutal New Data Shows Size of GOP Losses
As Trump seethes at journalists amid the release of striking new analyses of the election, a reporter who covers Congress details how Republicans are barred from acknowledging Trump’s unpopularity—a d...
newrepublic.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:42 PM
“He will lie, sir, with such volubility that you would think truth were a fool… He has everything that an honest man should not have; what an honest man should have, he has nothing.”
“All’s Well That Ends Well”
“All’s Well That Ends Well”
“Democrats emerged with not a single policy win, concession on healthcare, or even a symbolic nod to the voters who just told them to fight harder. They spent six weeks pretending principle and pragmatism were the same thing; the only thing reopened was their revolving door to corporate donors.”
Forty days of shutdown, eight Dems cave, and Trump celebrates by pardoning the architects of his own coup. #uspolitics #kakistocracy #authoritarianism
open.substack.com/pub/marygedd...
open.substack.com/pub/marygedd...
The Longest Shutdown Ends Where It Began
Eight Democrats cross the aisle, Trump redeems his disciples, and America mistakes exhaustion for governance.
open.substack.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:15 PM
“Democrats emerged with not a single policy win, concession on healthcare, or even a symbolic nod to the voters who just told them to fight harder. They spent six weeks pretending principle and pragmatism were the same thing; the only thing reopened was their revolving door to corporate donors.”
The Bard to feckless Dems:
“You fight in justice: then, in God’s name, lords, be valiant.”
“You fight in justice: then, in God’s name, lords, be valiant.”
November 10, 2025 at 3:46 AM
The Bard to feckless Dems:
“You fight in justice: then, in God’s name, lords, be valiant.”
“You fight in justice: then, in God’s name, lords, be valiant.”
“Muster your wits; stand in your own defence; or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence.”
“Love’s Labour’s Lost”
“Love’s Labour’s Lost”
November 10, 2025 at 2:39 AM
“Muster your wits; stand in your own defence; or hide your heads like cowards, and fly hence.”
“Love’s Labour’s Lost”
“Love’s Labour’s Lost”
Scott Bessent is a parody of a Trump cabinet secretary.
Weeks after Trump publicly smeared George Stephanopoulos, MAGA devotee Scott Bessent was out for a fight with the ABC host.
Bessent Erupts in Shouting Match With Trump’s Nemesis Anchor
Weeks after Trump publicly smeared George Stephanopoulos, MAGA devotee Scott Bessent was out for a fight with the ABC host.
trib.al
November 9, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Scott Bessent is a parody of a Trump cabinet secretary.
“After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. Treason has done his worst. Nor steel nor poison, malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing can touch him further.”
“Macbeth”
#ShakespeareSunday
“Macbeth”
#ShakespeareSunday
November 9, 2025 at 7:29 PM
“After life's fitful fever he sleeps well. Treason has done his worst. Nor steel nor poison, malice domestic, foreign levy, nothing can touch him further.”
“Macbeth”
#ShakespeareSunday
“Macbeth”
#ShakespeareSunday
“Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow, where we may take him and disgrace him for it.”
“The Merry Wives of Windsor”
#ShakespeareSunday
“The Merry Wives of Windsor”
#ShakespeareSunday
Court denies Trump administration’s request to block order to fully fund SNAP as states begin issuing benefits
Appeals court says it won't block order to fully fund SNAP as states begin issuing benefits
A court has denied the administration's request to lift a judge's order that it fully fund SNAP for November, as several states have already begun issuing benefits.
abcnews.go.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:25 PM
“Appoint a meeting with this old fat fellow, where we may take him and disgrace him for it.”
“The Merry Wives of Windsor”
#ShakespeareSunday
“The Merry Wives of Windsor”
#ShakespeareSunday
“All three of them are desperate: their great guilt, like poison given to work a time after, now ‘gins to bite the spirits.”
“The Tempest”
#ShakespeareSunday
“The Tempest”
#ShakespeareSunday
Today officially makes this the longest government shutdown IN HISTORY.
Republicans control the White House, Senate, and House. This is their shutdown.
STOP THE REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN.
Republicans control the White House, Senate, and House. This is their shutdown.
STOP THE REPUBLICAN SHUTDOWN.
November 9, 2025 at 7:22 PM
“All three of them are desperate: their great guilt, like poison given to work a time after, now ‘gins to bite the spirits.”
“The Tempest”
#ShakespeareSunday
“The Tempest”
#ShakespeareSunday
“My soul begins to take her flight to hell, and summons all my senses to depart…”
“Tamburlaine,” by Marlowe
“Tamburlaine,” by Marlowe
November 9, 2025 at 7:20 PM
“My soul begins to take her flight to hell, and summons all my senses to depart…”
“Tamburlaine,” by Marlowe
“Tamburlaine,” by Marlowe
A completely healed ear. It’s as though he had never been shot.
November 9, 2025 at 7:13 PM
A completely healed ear. It’s as though he had never been shot.
“I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious; with more offences at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in.”
“Hamlet”
“Hamlet”
November 9, 2025 at 7:12 PM
“I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious; with more offences at my beck than I have thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in.”
“Hamlet”
“Hamlet”
“Bear with my weakness. My old brain is troubled. Be not disturbed with my infirmity.”
“The Tempest”
#ShakespeareSunday
“The Tempest”
#ShakespeareSunday
"Close his eyes," @cnn.com? Trump was sleeping, no matter what Leavitt & the WH says. He couldn't keep his eyes open. I saw that happen with my elderly mom. Esp. when she had to listen for too long. I learned to watch for the signs, then ask her a question, re-engage her. www.cnn.com/2025/11/08/p...
Images of Trump appearing to close his eyes during Oval Office event spread across social media | CNN Politics
Images of Donald Trump appearing to close his eyes at an Oval Office announcement this week rocketed around social media this weekend, with the president’s opponents seizing on the footage to raise qu...
www.cnn.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:09 PM
“Bear with my weakness. My old brain is troubled. Be not disturbed with my infirmity.”
“The Tempest”
#ShakespeareSunday
“The Tempest”
#ShakespeareSunday
“Get thee gone, thou false deluding slave.”
“The Taming of the Shrew”
#ShakespeareSunday
#ShakespeareSunday
Karoline Leavitt is perfectly positioned, so the sign behind her displays perfectly well.....
November 9, 2025 at 7:07 PM
“Get thee gone, thou false deluding slave.”
“The Taming of the Shrew”
#ShakespeareSunday
#ShakespeareSunday
“I stand dishonour’d.”
“Much Ado About Nothing”
#ShakespeareSunday
#ShakespeareSunday
Perfection. A dude possibly dying next to him and Trump standing there very clearly thinking only about himself.
November 9, 2025 at 7:02 PM
“I stand dishonour’d.”
“Much Ado About Nothing”
#ShakespeareSunday
#ShakespeareSunday