Michael Joneas
@jmikegra.bsky.social
Putting the "So?!?" back into philosophy ('00). Leftist-ish homunculus (est. '77). Marx: right diagnosis, wrong treatment. Language & science are outside my expertise but inside my dilettantery. Yes, that's a word—ask Wittgenstein about meaning as use.
Merely saying "Get rid of them!" is rumination, not action. To make it happen, we must engage: critique failed leadership, protest, and dive into mutual aid or campaigns.
A lack of obvious levers of power is not powerlessness—it’s a call to build our own.
A lack of obvious levers of power is not powerlessness—it’s a call to build our own.
January 8, 2026 at 6:24 PM
Merely saying "Get rid of them!" is rumination, not action. To make it happen, we must engage: critique failed leadership, protest, and dive into mutual aid or campaigns.
A lack of obvious levers of power is not powerlessness—it’s a call to build our own.
A lack of obvious levers of power is not powerlessness—it’s a call to build our own.
Why is it that everything that Jeffries or Schumer say seems so ... ineffectual? No ... yeah, ineffectual.
But it's even worse than that ... it's as if they're more concerned with the institutions than the impact.
That approach makes people want to tear it all down, not vote Dem.
But it's even worse than that ... it's as if they're more concerned with the institutions than the impact.
That approach makes people want to tear it all down, not vote Dem.
Jeffries: "The killing of Renee Nicole Good was an abomination, a disgrace, and blood is clearly on the hands of those individuals within the admin who have been pushing an extreme policy that has nothing to do with immigration enforcement connected to removing violent felons from this country"
January 8, 2026 at 4:47 PM
Why is it that everything that Jeffries or Schumer say seems so ... ineffectual? No ... yeah, ineffectual.
But it's even worse than that ... it's as if they're more concerned with the institutions than the impact.
That approach makes people want to tear it all down, not vote Dem.
But it's even worse than that ... it's as if they're more concerned with the institutions than the impact.
That approach makes people want to tear it all down, not vote Dem.
A question for republicans:
Is it unambiguous that any ICE offices were in clear and present danger of receiving life-threatening injuries as a result of these circumstances?
Because if you think so, you're temperamentally unfit to be a law enforcement officer, or to make legislative decisions.
Is it unambiguous that any ICE offices were in clear and present danger of receiving life-threatening injuries as a result of these circumstances?
Because if you think so, you're temperamentally unfit to be a law enforcement officer, or to make legislative decisions.
January 8, 2026 at 4:36 PM
A question for republicans:
Is it unambiguous that any ICE offices were in clear and present danger of receiving life-threatening injuries as a result of these circumstances?
Because if you think so, you're temperamentally unfit to be a law enforcement officer, or to make legislative decisions.
Is it unambiguous that any ICE offices were in clear and present danger of receiving life-threatening injuries as a result of these circumstances?
Because if you think so, you're temperamentally unfit to be a law enforcement officer, or to make legislative decisions.
And ... he took the bait.
Sigh.
I get the rage. I'm enraged. But Walz's move here reads as all rage, no strategy. Kind of the inverse of Schumer who is all (bad) strategy, no rage.
We need leaders who can walk and chew gum at the same time. Smart and angry, not trading one for the other.
Sigh.
I get the rage. I'm enraged. But Walz's move here reads as all rage, no strategy. Kind of the inverse of Schumer who is all (bad) strategy, no rage.
We need leaders who can walk and chew gum at the same time. Smart and angry, not trading one for the other.
TIM WALZ: Do not take the bait. Do not take the bait. Do not allow them to invoke the Insurrection Act. Do not allow them to invoke martial law.
January 7, 2026 at 10:10 PM
And ... he took the bait.
Sigh.
I get the rage. I'm enraged. But Walz's move here reads as all rage, no strategy. Kind of the inverse of Schumer who is all (bad) strategy, no rage.
We need leaders who can walk and chew gum at the same time. Smart and angry, not trading one for the other.
Sigh.
I get the rage. I'm enraged. But Walz's move here reads as all rage, no strategy. Kind of the inverse of Schumer who is all (bad) strategy, no rage.
We need leaders who can walk and chew gum at the same time. Smart and angry, not trading one for the other.
September 11, 2001 is calling ... it would like to have a word with Herr Drumpf.
Trump: "I single-handedly ENDED 8 WARS, and Norway, a NATO Member, foolishly chose not to give me the Noble Peace Prize. But that doesn’t matter! What does matter is that I saved Millions of Lives ... I DOUBT NATO WOULD BE THERE FOR US IF WE REALLY NEEDED THEM."
January 7, 2026 at 9:00 PM
September 11, 2001 is calling ... it would like to have a word with Herr Drumpf.
Reading up on the Neagle test, and based only on the videos of the MN ICE bystander shooting, it's obvious that it was neither.
And "The ICE officer was afraid for his life." doesn't seem to meet this standard, at least to me. Legally, though, that might not be the case.
And "The ICE officer was afraid for his life." doesn't seem to meet this standard, at least to me. Legally, though, that might not be the case.
January 7, 2026 at 7:17 PM
Reading up on the Neagle test, and based only on the videos of the MN ICE bystander shooting, it's obvious that it was neither.
And "The ICE officer was afraid for his life." doesn't seem to meet this standard, at least to me. Legally, though, that might not be the case.
And "The ICE officer was afraid for his life." doesn't seem to meet this standard, at least to me. Legally, though, that might not be the case.
The standard is "manifestly illegal orders" not merely "illegal orders". Requiring rank-and-file military members to have knowledge on par with Constitutional lawyers is a non-starter.
If Lieu really wants to prevent military force in Greenland, he must work on explicit legislation prohibiting it.
If Lieu really wants to prevent military force in Greenland, he must work on explicit legislation prohibiting it.
There is no legal justification, whatsoever, to use military force against a NATO ally like Greenland.
If any military member participates in this without congressional authorization, they are following illegal orders.
If any military member participates in this without congressional authorization, they are following illegal orders.
January 7, 2026 at 6:12 PM
The standard is "manifestly illegal orders" not merely "illegal orders". Requiring rank-and-file military members to have knowledge on par with Constitutional lawyers is a non-starter.
If Lieu really wants to prevent military force in Greenland, he must work on explicit legislation prohibiting it.
If Lieu really wants to prevent military force in Greenland, he must work on explicit legislation prohibiting it.
Another issue I take with Dem messaging us that, with a few notable exceptions, the empathy isn't meeting where the electorate is.
I'm all for equanimity, but that's not how Schumer and Jeffries are reading. They're reading as out of touch.
I'm all for equanimity, but that's not how Schumer and Jeffries are reading. They're reading as out of touch.
January 7, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Another issue I take with Dem messaging us that, with a few notable exceptions, the empathy isn't meeting where the electorate is.
I'm all for equanimity, but that's not how Schumer and Jeffries are reading. They're reading as out of touch.
I'm all for equanimity, but that's not how Schumer and Jeffries are reading. They're reading as out of touch.
Sad Insurrection Day for those who commiserate.
Hope everyone had a pleasant Ashli Babbitt Day.
January 7, 2026 at 3:51 AM
Sad Insurrection Day for those who commiserate.
I get that people are bemoaning the desecration of the once venerated news organization, and rightfully so.
But CBS trying to cut into Fox News' market share might actually be a good thing ... albeit in a very narrow pragmatic sense.
Trying to find a silver-lining here.
🤷♂️
But CBS trying to cut into Fox News' market share might actually be a good thing ... albeit in a very narrow pragmatic sense.
Trying to find a silver-lining here.
🤷♂️
"Marco Rubio, we salute you!"
A real thing that was said by the CBS Evening News anchor tonight.
A real thing that was said by the CBS Evening News anchor tonight.
January 7, 2026 at 3:49 AM
I get that people are bemoaning the desecration of the once venerated news organization, and rightfully so.
But CBS trying to cut into Fox News' market share might actually be a good thing ... albeit in a very narrow pragmatic sense.
Trying to find a silver-lining here.
🤷♂️
But CBS trying to cut into Fox News' market share might actually be a good thing ... albeit in a very narrow pragmatic sense.
Trying to find a silver-lining here.
🤷♂️
I'm a sucker for good discourse.
VUCA vs BANI vs RUPT vs TUNA is not good discourse.
Admittedly, they're all talking about various qualities of epistemic inexactness ...
but the idea that one acronym is somehow better or more insightful (or even necessary) is the height of pseudodiscourse.
VUCA vs BANI vs RUPT vs TUNA is not good discourse.
Admittedly, they're all talking about various qualities of epistemic inexactness ...
but the idea that one acronym is somehow better or more insightful (or even necessary) is the height of pseudodiscourse.
January 7, 2026 at 3:40 AM
I'm a sucker for good discourse.
VUCA vs BANI vs RUPT vs TUNA is not good discourse.
Admittedly, they're all talking about various qualities of epistemic inexactness ...
but the idea that one acronym is somehow better or more insightful (or even necessary) is the height of pseudodiscourse.
VUCA vs BANI vs RUPT vs TUNA is not good discourse.
Admittedly, they're all talking about various qualities of epistemic inexactness ...
but the idea that one acronym is somehow better or more insightful (or even necessary) is the height of pseudodiscourse.
What I think is the most frustrating for me is what exactly Schumer (and to a lesser extent Jeffries) is hoping to achieve with the vagueness and equivocation?
It's not really meeting the moment. And it's not achieving the goal of not alienating centrists and independents.
It's not really meeting the moment. And it's not achieving the goal of not alienating centrists and independents.
RAJU: Do you regret you vote to confirm Marco Rubio?
SCHUMER: I am deeply deeply disappointed in Marco Rubio
(Not a yes!)
SCHUMER: I am deeply deeply disappointed in Marco Rubio
(Not a yes!)
January 6, 2026 at 8:24 PM
What I think is the most frustrating for me is what exactly Schumer (and to a lesser extent Jeffries) is hoping to achieve with the vagueness and equivocation?
It's not really meeting the moment. And it's not achieving the goal of not alienating centrists and independents.
It's not really meeting the moment. And it's not achieving the goal of not alienating centrists and independents.
Well, the fact that you're equating mental health with cancer shows me that you understand neither and that maybe you should actually learn more about both.
January 6, 2026 at 8:13 PM
Well, the fact that you're equating mental health with cancer shows me that you understand neither and that maybe you should actually learn more about both.
That we're threatening to "annex" Greenland is imperialism in itself.
KERNEN: Europeans are talking about it almost being like Vladimir Putin and Ukraine.
JEFF LANDRY: I disagree. When has the United States engaged in imperialism? Never. Europe has engaged in imperialism. The reason the Danish have Greenland is because of imperialism.
JEFF LANDRY: I disagree. When has the United States engaged in imperialism? Never. Europe has engaged in imperialism. The reason the Danish have Greenland is because of imperialism.
January 6, 2026 at 7:51 PM
That we're threatening to "annex" Greenland is imperialism in itself.
I do have a problem with the messaging I'm seeing from the preponderance of Dem reps and Senators on Venezuela. The violation of international norms and laws is obvious.
Most Americans don't care about that as exceptionalism is a part of the American identity.
Maybe focus more on the pragmatics?
Most Americans don't care about that as exceptionalism is a part of the American identity.
Maybe focus more on the pragmatics?
January 6, 2026 at 7:35 PM
I do have a problem with the messaging I'm seeing from the preponderance of Dem reps and Senators on Venezuela. The violation of international norms and laws is obvious.
Most Americans don't care about that as exceptionalism is a part of the American identity.
Maybe focus more on the pragmatics?
Most Americans don't care about that as exceptionalism is a part of the American identity.
Maybe focus more on the pragmatics?
How can Republicans "own" healthcare, when the healthcare sector owns Republicans as the single largest direct contributor to the GOP *and* lobbyist on Capitol Hill?
Trump to House Republicans: "You can own healthcare. Figure it out. Let the money go directly to the people. No money for the insurance companies."
January 6, 2026 at 6:09 PM
How can Republicans "own" healthcare, when the healthcare sector owns Republicans as the single largest direct contributor to the GOP *and* lobbyist on Capitol Hill?
So, the fact that nearly all violent and mass casualty crimes and the vast majority of violent crime victims are *men* has *nothing* to do with this air of entitlement with regards to psychiatric health? (Spoiler alert: it does.)
January 6, 2026 at 5:30 PM
So, the fact that nearly all violent and mass casualty crimes and the vast majority of violent crime victims are *men* has *nothing* to do with this air of entitlement with regards to psychiatric health? (Spoiler alert: it does.)
Yeah, English language news coverage y las noticias de la lengua española ...
are *very* different about one crucial thing. Their coverage of the Venezuelan diaspora.
English language news keeps covering the diaspora and confusing it with the people inside Venezuela.
are *very* different about one crucial thing. Their coverage of the Venezuelan diaspora.
English language news keeps covering the diaspora and confusing it with the people inside Venezuela.
January 5, 2026 at 2:07 PM
Yeah, English language news coverage y las noticias de la lengua española ...
are *very* different about one crucial thing. Their coverage of the Venezuelan diaspora.
English language news keeps covering the diaspora and confusing it with the people inside Venezuela.
are *very* different about one crucial thing. Their coverage of the Venezuelan diaspora.
English language news keeps covering the diaspora and confusing it with the people inside Venezuela.
If these swing district Dems don't have the moral clarity or communicative prowess to say any variation of "The ends don't justify the means." then as far as I'm concerned, they should be primaried. www.axios.com/2026/01/04/m...
"It looks weak": Some Democrats want their party to shut up and clap for Maduro's capture
"Everything Trump touches must be bad according to the base," fumed one House Democrat.
www.axios.com
January 4, 2026 at 11:12 PM
If these swing district Dems don't have the moral clarity or communicative prowess to say any variation of "The ends don't justify the means." then as far as I'm concerned, they should be primaried. www.axios.com/2026/01/04/m...
I'm pretty sure that the military kidnapping of a head of state for "drug crimes" is unambiguously an act of war, even in spite of Rubio's woefully insufficient attempt to reframe this as a rote law enforcement action.
WELKER: Is the US at war with Venezuela?
MARCO RUBIO: There's not a war. I mean, we're at war against drug trafficking organizations. It's not a war against Venezuela.
MARCO RUBIO: There's not a war. I mean, we're at war against drug trafficking organizations. It's not a war against Venezuela.
January 4, 2026 at 9:02 PM
I'm pretty sure that the military kidnapping of a head of state for "drug crimes" is unambiguously an act of war, even in spite of Rubio's woefully insufficient attempt to reframe this as a rote law enforcement action.
Yeah, all y'all calling for Maduro to be released are really drinking the Kool Aid.
This is a genie that can't be put back in the bottle.
For the umpteenth time, it can be (and actually is) simultaneously true that Maduro is dictator and Trump violated international law by capturing him.
This is a genie that can't be put back in the bottle.
For the umpteenth time, it can be (and actually is) simultaneously true that Maduro is dictator and Trump violated international law by capturing him.
January 4, 2026 at 6:37 PM
Yeah, all y'all calling for Maduro to be released are really drinking the Kool Aid.
This is a genie that can't be put back in the bottle.
For the umpteenth time, it can be (and actually is) simultaneously true that Maduro is dictator and Trump violated international law by capturing him.
This is a genie that can't be put back in the bottle.
For the umpteenth time, it can be (and actually is) simultaneously true that Maduro is dictator and Trump violated international law by capturing him.
Yo, Keir. You're equivocating. Not a difficult needle to thread. Maduro = bad. Violating international law = also bad.
"Support for international law" is appeasement. Which, as someone living in Trump's America I can tell you, doesn't work.
"Support for international law" is appeasement. Which, as someone living in Trump's America I can tell you, doesn't work.
January 4, 2026 at 5:17 PM
Yo, Keir. You're equivocating. Not a difficult needle to thread. Maduro = bad. Violating international law = also bad.
"Support for international law" is appeasement. Which, as someone living in Trump's America I can tell you, doesn't work.
"Support for international law" is appeasement. Which, as someone living in Trump's America I can tell you, doesn't work.
I see Murphy is no longer equivocating like he was right before the November shutdown.
A welcome improvement in clarity.
A welcome improvement in clarity.
Chris Murphy: "Clearly this is wildly illegal. This is a president who has been operating illegally since he was sworn in -- stealing from the American people, seizing spending power, now dragging America into a war overseas ... Donald Trump's entire foreign policy is corrupt."
January 4, 2026 at 4:57 PM
I see Murphy is no longer equivocating like he was right before the November shutdown.
A welcome improvement in clarity.
A welcome improvement in clarity.
I guess I'm not fixated on that because it's a patent lie.
My fixation is on why Rubio is being made the face of this operation this Sunday.
On the one hand, he's a member of the Cuban diaspora. On the other, he's makes a really good patsy when this whole thing falls apart.
My fixation is on why Rubio is being made the face of this operation this Sunday.
On the one hand, he's a member of the Cuban diaspora. On the other, he's makes a really good patsy when this whole thing falls apart.
WELKER: Mr. Secretary, are you running Venezuela right now?
MARCO RUBIO: Yeah. People are fixating on that. Here's the bottom line -- we expect to see changes in Venezuela
MARCO RUBIO: Yeah. People are fixating on that. Here's the bottom line -- we expect to see changes in Venezuela
January 4, 2026 at 4:54 PM
I guess I'm not fixated on that because it's a patent lie.
My fixation is on why Rubio is being made the face of this operation this Sunday.
On the one hand, he's a member of the Cuban diaspora. On the other, he's makes a really good patsy when this whole thing falls apart.
My fixation is on why Rubio is being made the face of this operation this Sunday.
On the one hand, he's a member of the Cuban diaspora. On the other, he's makes a really good patsy when this whole thing falls apart.
Along with "why" and "God" ... but sure.
I suspect two of the hot words for 2026 will be “impeach” and “remove”
January 4, 2026 at 8:20 AM
Along with "why" and "God" ... but sure.