Joel Mathis
@joelmathis.bsky.social
Freelancer. Opinion at @kansascity.com and @kansas.com. Was in Philly once upon a time. Journalism will never love you back. Occasionally deactivate my account for a day or so to clear my head.
https://joelmmathis.substack.com/
https://joelmmathis.substack.com/
Pinned
Joel Mathis
@joelmathis.bsky.social
· Aug 14
I'll try to make this the last time I tout my little project, but I wrote about our "Crockpot & Criterion" for the @kansascity.com opinion newsletter:
Relegation. www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
NBA’s tanking topic isn’t easy for Steve Kerr: ‘It’s not good for the fans’
As the NBA assesses steps to combat tanking, some organizations keep showing on a nightly basis their most important goal isn't winning.
www.nytimes.com
February 11, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Relegation. www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...
It’s been two days. Does Mark Alford have no one on staff to use Google Translate?
Alford: "On Bad Bunny - we're still investigating. There's info out about the lyrics. I don't speak fluent Spanish, but if it's true what was said on natl TV, we have a lot of Qs for entities that broadcast it & we'll be talking w/ the FCC. This could be worse than the Janet wardrobe malfunction"
February 10, 2026 at 10:17 PM
It’s been two days. Does Mark Alford have no one on staff to use Google Translate?
Was Vance pro or con?
Q: Today, Vance posted and then deleted a tweet about the Armenian genocide. Last week, Trump's Truth Social account posted and deleted a racist video about the Obamas. Does the White House have a social media problem?
LEAVITT: No.
LEAVITT: No.
February 10, 2026 at 7:07 PM
Was Vance pro or con?
Maybe this is because I followed Jack Jenkins, but I feel like there’s been more religious discussion about our national debates over the last few weeks than I’ve seen in a very, very long time.
Religion angles, forever:
McIVER: Do you consider yourself a religious man?
LYONS: Yes mam
McIVER: How do you think judgment day will work for you with so much blood on your hands?
LYONS: I'm not going to entertain that question
McIVER: Do you think you're going to hell, Mr Lyons?
LYONS: Yes mam
McIVER: How do you think judgment day will work for you with so much blood on your hands?
LYONS: I'm not going to entertain that question
McIVER: Do you think you're going to hell, Mr Lyons?
February 10, 2026 at 6:16 PM
Maybe this is because I followed Jack Jenkins, but I feel like there’s been more religious discussion about our national debates over the last few weeks than I’ve seen in a very, very long time.
I miss "The New York Times is ONIT" account.
February 10, 2026 at 5:25 PM
I miss "The New York Times is ONIT" account.
Haven't thought about Bari Weiss once this week.
February 10, 2026 at 5:18 PM
Haven't thought about Bari Weiss once this week.
It was 72 degrees in northeast Kansas yesterday.
What I would give for a first fake spring around now @nymetrowx.bsky.social
Celebrating first fake spring, via New York Metro Weather
February 10, 2026 at 4:26 PM
It was 72 degrees in northeast Kansas yesterday.
I wrote about this last week, but Bridgette does it better. (As is usually the case.)
I wrote (without swearing!) about Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway's ugly and ridiculous lawsuit seeking to redo the 2020 census to exclude non-citizens.
There is more effed up about this lawsuit than I had space for: missouriindependent.com/2026/02/10/m...
There is more effed up about this lawsuit than I had space for: missouriindependent.com/2026/02/10/m...
Missouri attorney general wants to rewrite history and redefine who counts in the Census • Missouri Independent
Missouri Attorney General Catherine Hanaway has filed a lawsuit seeking to require the Census Bureau to “redo” the $14 billion 2020 Census.
missouriindependent.com
February 10, 2026 at 3:27 PM
I wrote about this last week, but Bridgette does it better. (As is usually the case.)
Eric Schmitt favors pre-crime for brown people.
February 10, 2026 at 1:52 PM
Eric Schmitt favors pre-crime for brown people.
My latest: Sharice Davids might take on Roger Marshall for Senate. Democrats would love it. But would they love it if she won? #ksleg www.kansascity.com/opinion/read...
If Davids won, she would become the Democrat that Democrats love to hate | Opinion
Moderate Rep. Sharice Davids versus MAGA Sen. Roger Marshall: Could she win or risk alienating Kansas progressives? | Opinion
www.kansascity.com
February 10, 2026 at 12:08 PM
My latest: Sharice Davids might take on Roger Marshall for Senate. Democrats would love it. But would they love it if she won? #ksleg www.kansascity.com/opinion/read...
Reposted by Joel Mathis
Donald Trump can undo the climate change endangerment finding, but he can’t undo the danger of climate change.
February 10, 2026 at 7:53 AM
Donald Trump can undo the climate change endangerment finding, but he can’t undo the danger of climate change.
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN is on @criterionchannl.bsky.social and ... it's really good.
February 10, 2026 at 3:32 AM
KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN is on @criterionchannl.bsky.social and ... it's really good.
Union protections, man.
Ford Defies Trump After Worker Heckled President (Josh Fiallo/The Daily Beast)
Main Link | memeorandum Permalink
Main Link | memeorandum Permalink
February 9, 2026 at 10:18 PM
Union protections, man.
Gene Marks, as ever on the side of the little guy. thehill.com/opinion/tech...
thehill.com
February 9, 2026 at 9:51 PM
Gene Marks, as ever on the side of the little guy. thehill.com/opinion/tech...
February 9, 2026 at 9:27 PM
Is it too late to go back and blow up their bridges to the 21st century? You know, like Belgium did to keep the Germans out at the outset of WWI?
February 9, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Is it too late to go back and blow up their bridges to the 21st century? You know, like Belgium did to keep the Germans out at the outset of WWI?
Let me say this nicely… If you are going to post screenshots from our website, please link to it. It’s really easy and frankly the least you can do. Our head of research, Mary Radcliffe, is the best and fastest in the world at finding polls, and she deserves credit for her hard work!
PPP poll | 2/2-2/3 LV
Illinois Senate Democratic primary 2026
🟦Raja Krishamoorthi 34%
🟦Juliana Stratton 23%
🟦Robin Kelly 8%
Illinois Senate Democratic primary 2026
🟦Raja Krishamoorthi 34%
🟦Juliana Stratton 23%
🟦Robin Kelly 8%
February 9, 2026 at 3:56 PM
There's a lot to envy about the parliamentary system, but the two-term limit on presidencies is helpful here in one respect: A prime minister's term can pretty much only end badly. Nobody leaves 10 Downing Street while they and their party are still broadly popular. nytimes.com/live/2026/02...
The resignation of a key Starmer aide has accelerated the scandal.
nytimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 3:24 PM
There's a lot to envy about the parliamentary system, but the two-term limit on presidencies is helpful here in one respect: A prime minister's term can pretty much only end badly. Nobody leaves 10 Downing Street while they and their party are still broadly popular. nytimes.com/live/2026/02...
Last movie post today, promise:
Watched THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE and PHANTOM THREAD last night on the same cinema screen. I've always thought complaints about modern film lighting were overblown. I was wrong. ANN LEE was very hard to see. I thought it was projection. But THREAD was easy to watch.
Watched THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE and PHANTOM THREAD last night on the same cinema screen. I've always thought complaints about modern film lighting were overblown. I was wrong. ANN LEE was very hard to see. I thought it was projection. But THREAD was easy to watch.
February 9, 2026 at 2:35 PM
Last movie post today, promise:
Watched THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE and PHANTOM THREAD last night on the same cinema screen. I've always thought complaints about modern film lighting were overblown. I was wrong. ANN LEE was very hard to see. I thought it was projection. But THREAD was easy to watch.
Watched THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE and PHANTOM THREAD last night on the same cinema screen. I've always thought complaints about modern film lighting were overblown. I was wrong. ANN LEE was very hard to see. I thought it was projection. But THREAD was easy to watch.
Yeah. *Some* libertarians warned you. A few others jumped on the bandwagon!
I feel like I'm losing my goddamnned mind.
This op-ed was written by Kathrine Mangu-Ward. Katherine is editor-in-chief of Reason magazine.
Reason fired @shikhadalmia.bsky.social for being too anti-Trump.
This op-ed was written by Kathrine Mangu-Ward. Katherine is editor-in-chief of Reason magazine.
Reason fired @shikhadalmia.bsky.social for being too anti-Trump.
Opinion | Libertarians Tried to Warn You About Trump
www.nytimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:28 PM
Yeah. *Some* libertarians warned you. A few others jumped on the bandwagon!
Reposted by Joel Mathis
"The Epstein class" is a global rot
In Europe, ties to Jeffrey Epstein are ending careers, sparking spy probes, and possibly toppling governments
In America, not so much. How the lack of elite accountability became the tipping point for democracy. My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/jeff...
In Europe, ties to Jeffrey Epstein are ending careers, sparking spy probes, and possibly toppling governments
In America, not so much. How the lack of elite accountability became the tipping point for democracy. My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/jeff...
Europe is holding its Epstein creeps accountable. Why can’t we? | Will Bunch
Europeans are pushing to hold Jeffrey Epstein's creepy pals, including billionaires like Elon Musk, accountable. The U.S.? Not so much.
www.inquirer.com
February 9, 2026 at 12:13 PM
"The Epstein class" is a global rot
In Europe, ties to Jeffrey Epstein are ending careers, sparking spy probes, and possibly toppling governments
In America, not so much. How the lack of elite accountability became the tipping point for democracy. My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/jeff...
In Europe, ties to Jeffrey Epstein are ending careers, sparking spy probes, and possibly toppling governments
In America, not so much. How the lack of elite accountability became the tipping point for democracy. My new column www.inquirer.com/opinion/jeff...
Related: You're a "habitual" movie-goer if you see at least six big screen movies a year. ANN LEE and PHANTOM THREAD were my fifth and sixth movies @libertyhall.bsky.social so far in 2026.
Which means I can skip the rest of the year and still be a habitual Liberty Hall attendee. #filmsky
Which means I can skip the rest of the year and still be a habitual Liberty Hall attendee. #filmsky
February 9, 2026 at 4:06 AM
Related: You're a "habitual" movie-goer if you see at least six big screen movies a year. ANN LEE and PHANTOM THREAD were my fifth and sixth movies @libertyhall.bsky.social so far in 2026.
Which means I can skip the rest of the year and still be a habitual Liberty Hall attendee. #filmsky
Which means I can skip the rest of the year and still be a habitual Liberty Hall attendee. #filmsky
I'm not going to "sportsball" at you but I will say we did a big-screen double feature of THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE and PHANTOM THREAD @libertyhall.bsky.social tonight instead of football and I'm ... pretty satisfied with my life choices.
February 9, 2026 at 3:52 AM
I'm not going to "sportsball" at you but I will say we did a big-screen double feature of THE TESTAMENT OF ANN LEE and PHANTOM THREAD @libertyhall.bsky.social tonight instead of football and I'm ... pretty satisfied with my life choices.
One of the takeaways here is that there is real value in going to the cinema to see an adult-minded film instead of yet another CGI spectacle.
How @davidfrenchjag.bsky.social and I saw a movie about Shakers, and why it shook David:
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/o...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/08/o...
Opinion | A Movie About America Broke My Heart
www.nytimes.com
February 8, 2026 at 7:23 PM
One of the takeaways here is that there is real value in going to the cinema to see an adult-minded film instead of yet another CGI spectacle.
Make America Great Again (dismantles America's soft power)
Make America Healthy Again (consumes only fat and cholesterol)
Make American Cancer-Free Again (covers self in toxic sludge)
Make America Healthy Again (consumes only fat and cholesterol)
Make American Cancer-Free Again (covers self in toxic sludge)
RFK Jr on what he'll eat during the Super Bowl: "I am on a carnivore diet so I just eat meat and ferments, and I'm very happy with that. So I'm probably going to have yogurt."
February 8, 2026 at 5:08 PM
Make America Great Again (dismantles America's soft power)
Make America Healthy Again (consumes only fat and cholesterol)
Make American Cancer-Free Again (covers self in toxic sludge)
Make America Healthy Again (consumes only fat and cholesterol)
Make American Cancer-Free Again (covers self in toxic sludge)