John Pettus
@johngpettus.bsky.social
Social venture entrepreneur. San Francisco native. Iraq veteran. Economics-trained, MBA liberal. Both more liberal and more conservative than you, in some ways. Working on improving public discourse and teaching & measuring critical thinking at scale.
Pinned
Reposted by John Pettus
I don't know why the "Piggy" thing is bothering me so much. It's one more unforgivable thing in a list of 20,000 unforgivable things, but I've been mad about it for like 12 straight hours.
November 18, 2025 at 11:48 PM
I don't know why the "Piggy" thing is bothering me so much. It's one more unforgivable thing in a list of 20,000 unforgivable things, but I've been mad about it for like 12 straight hours.
Reposted by John Pettus
Reposted by John Pettus
🚨 EXPOSED: Parents are being threatened for recording their own kids’ hockey games. Private equity bought the rinks, banned filming, and now charges up to $50 a month to watch youth sports.
November 18, 2025 at 7:26 PM
🚨 EXPOSED: Parents are being threatened for recording their own kids’ hockey games. Private equity bought the rinks, banned filming, and now charges up to $50 a month to watch youth sports.
Reposted by John Pettus
Open your eyes, Ben.
November 19, 2025 at 7:33 AM
Open your eyes, Ben.
Tribal epistemology, made manifest in a poll.
This tells us NOTHING.
(Related - I wish polls wouldn’t ask people’s opinions on matters of fact. It confuses people’s already weak rationality.)
This tells us NOTHING.
(Related - I wish polls wouldn’t ask people’s opinions on matters of fact. It confuses people’s already weak rationality.)
"Do you think that Trump was involved in crimes allegedly committed by Jeffrey Epstein?"
All:
Yes: 42%
No: 34%
Yes Among:
DEM: 79%
IND: 43%
GOP: 7%
YouGov / Nov 17, 2025
All:
Yes: 42%
No: 34%
Yes Among:
DEM: 79%
IND: 43%
GOP: 7%
YouGov / Nov 17, 2025
November 18, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Tribal epistemology, made manifest in a poll.
This tells us NOTHING.
(Related - I wish polls wouldn’t ask people’s opinions on matters of fact. It confuses people’s already weak rationality.)
This tells us NOTHING.
(Related - I wish polls wouldn’t ask people’s opinions on matters of fact. It confuses people’s already weak rationality.)
Such a petulant little bitch.
Seriously—he’s so embarrassing.
Seriously—he’s so embarrassing.
Q: Why wait for Congress to release the Epstein files? Why not just do it now?
TRUMP: It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you're a terrible reporter. It's the way you ask these questions. You start off with a man who's highly respected asking him an insubordinate question
TRUMP: It's not the question that I mind. It's your attitude. I think you're a terrible reporter. It's the way you ask these questions. You start off with a man who's highly respected asking him an insubordinate question
November 18, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Such a petulant little bitch.
Seriously—he’s so embarrassing.
Seriously—he’s so embarrassing.
Reposted by John Pettus
Hi @ktla.com, I broke this story for @lataco.bsky.social yesterday. We were the first news outlet to publish the surveillance footage and report that Rodriguez is a federal agent. Disappointing to not see a "first reported by" credit or link to our website in your story. Do better.
ICE agent arrested for pulling gun on Southern California teen, lawyer says
ICE agent arrested for pulling gun on Southern California teen, lawyer says
A 45-year-old Riverside County man, who reportedly works as a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, is accused of illegally detaining a minor at gunpoin…
ktla.com
November 18, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Hi @ktla.com, I broke this story for @lataco.bsky.social yesterday. We were the first news outlet to publish the surveillance footage and report that Rodriguez is a federal agent. Disappointing to not see a "first reported by" credit or link to our website in your story. Do better.
Reposted by John Pettus
It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.
November 18, 2025 at 3:00 AM
It is genuinely incredible to me how much evidence there is to support investing in the public good and how much animus there is to do this simple, effective thing.
Reposted by John Pettus
If this picture was of Obama, you know @FoxNews would do three weeks solid on why the flag was on the ground.
At least three weeks
At least three weeks
November 18, 2025 at 2:00 AM
If this picture was of Obama, you know @FoxNews would do three weeks solid on why the flag was on the ground.
At least three weeks
At least three weeks
Reposted by John Pettus
Trump is a piece of shit and his supporters like him because they are pieces of shit.
"Quiet! Quiet, Piggy."
November 18, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Trump is a piece of shit and his supporters like him because they are pieces of shit.
Actually, kinda happy about how many entitled bad people are getting what they deserve tonight.
Better than most nights.
Better than most nights.
November 18, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Actually, kinda happy about how many entitled bad people are getting what they deserve tonight.
Better than most nights.
Better than most nights.
Don't be that stupid person who thinks they won't ever come for you or the people you love.
Even if you're the most solipsistic, entitled, selfish white man in a rural county. You KNOW what happens if the govt is allowed to drag people away.
Don't be so stupid as to think it can't happen to you.
Even if you're the most solipsistic, entitled, selfish white man in a rural county. You KNOW what happens if the govt is allowed to drag people away.
Don't be so stupid as to think it can't happen to you.
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
November 18, 2025 at 3:18 AM
Don't be that stupid person who thinks they won't ever come for you or the people you love.
Even if you're the most solipsistic, entitled, selfish white man in a rural county. You KNOW what happens if the govt is allowed to drag people away.
Don't be so stupid as to think it can't happen to you.
Even if you're the most solipsistic, entitled, selfish white man in a rural county. You KNOW what happens if the govt is allowed to drag people away.
Don't be so stupid as to think it can't happen to you.
Reposted by John Pettus
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
November 16, 2025 at 4:25 AM
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
This man is DISGUSTING.
DISGUSTING!! Evil behavior.
Just absolutely vile. All good people hate him. Trump is perfect Rorschach test of any person's morality.
DISGUSTING!! Evil behavior.
Just absolutely vile. All good people hate him. Trump is perfect Rorschach test of any person's morality.
"Quiet! Quiet, Piggy."
November 18, 2025 at 3:16 AM
This man is DISGUSTING.
DISGUSTING!! Evil behavior.
Just absolutely vile. All good people hate him. Trump is perfect Rorschach test of any person's morality.
DISGUSTING!! Evil behavior.
Just absolutely vile. All good people hate him. Trump is perfect Rorschach test of any person's morality.
Fuggin' OOOF!
November 18, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Fuggin' OOOF!
Reposted by John Pettus
this tawdry Olivia Nuzzi stuff highlights why I’m turning into a small-c conservative with regards to “it is unseemly and shameful for people in positions of power and influence to subject the public to their messy-ass sex nonsense on a constant basis”
November 18, 2025 at 2:32 AM
this tawdry Olivia Nuzzi stuff highlights why I’m turning into a small-c conservative with regards to “it is unseemly and shameful for people in positions of power and influence to subject the public to their messy-ass sex nonsense on a constant basis”
Reposted by John Pettus
if you’re a journalist who wants to talk about how embarrassing this week has been for our profession (the michael wolff, landon thomas jr, nuzzi/bernstein of it all) message me on signal
November 15, 2025 at 12:25 AM
if you’re a journalist who wants to talk about how embarrassing this week has been for our profession (the michael wolff, landon thomas jr, nuzzi/bernstein of it all) message me on signal
Reposted by John Pettus
You don't often see this at the end of a whistleblower story:
November 18, 2025 at 1:01 AM
You don't often see this at the end of a whistleblower story:
Reposted by John Pettus
“Finally, we got an ICE agent who crossed the line so bad, he got arrested,” Attorney Greg Kirakosian said in a statement to L.A. TACO.
The full story: lataco.com/gerardo-rodr...
By @shoton35mm.bsky.social
The full story: lataco.com/gerardo-rodr...
By @shoton35mm.bsky.social
November 17, 2025 at 1:30 AM
“Finally, we got an ICE agent who crossed the line so bad, he got arrested,” Attorney Greg Kirakosian said in a statement to L.A. TACO.
The full story: lataco.com/gerardo-rodr...
By @shoton35mm.bsky.social
The full story: lataco.com/gerardo-rodr...
By @shoton35mm.bsky.social
Reposted by John Pettus
Pretty easy heuristic for discourse:
If a person writes "You seem to think..." or "You're saying that..."
... what follows will be a dishonest straw man almost every time.
It's so lazy, so dumb and so dishonest to assert to people what THEY think.
But there are no consequences for dishonesty.
If a person writes "You seem to think..." or "You're saying that..."
... what follows will be a dishonest straw man almost every time.
It's so lazy, so dumb and so dishonest to assert to people what THEY think.
But there are no consequences for dishonesty.
November 17, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Pretty easy heuristic for discourse:
If a person writes "You seem to think..." or "You're saying that..."
... what follows will be a dishonest straw man almost every time.
It's so lazy, so dumb and so dishonest to assert to people what THEY think.
But there are no consequences for dishonesty.
If a person writes "You seem to think..." or "You're saying that..."
... what follows will be a dishonest straw man almost every time.
It's so lazy, so dumb and so dishonest to assert to people what THEY think.
But there are no consequences for dishonesty.
Reposted by John Pettus
I don’t trust the sudden twist on Epstein files one bit.. you?
November 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
I don’t trust the sudden twist on Epstein files one bit.. you?
Reposted by John Pettus
parents freed a hummingbird from a skylight with a coleus flower attached to a pole
November 9, 2025 at 12:05 AM
parents freed a hummingbird from a skylight with a coleus flower attached to a pole
Reposted by John Pettus
Yes; and I want to make a different point.
Editors *shouldn’t* be invisible. They should have bylines. YOU DESERVE to know who shapes the stories you read. Editors do that no less than writers/reporters do. Very often, they’re the ones who assigned the piece, not the writer, and who headlines it.
Editors *shouldn’t* be invisible. They should have bylines. YOU DESERVE to know who shapes the stories you read. Editors do that no less than writers/reporters do. Very often, they’re the ones who assigned the piece, not the writer, and who headlines it.
Editors have a really hard job, and the good ones can make something unreadable readable, and the great ones can make something unreadable into something good. But they're basically invisible, until someone tries to write without one.
November 17, 2025 at 8:36 PM
Yes; and I want to make a different point.
Editors *shouldn’t* be invisible. They should have bylines. YOU DESERVE to know who shapes the stories you read. Editors do that no less than writers/reporters do. Very often, they’re the ones who assigned the piece, not the writer, and who headlines it.
Editors *shouldn’t* be invisible. They should have bylines. YOU DESERVE to know who shapes the stories you read. Editors do that no less than writers/reporters do. Very often, they’re the ones who assigned the piece, not the writer, and who headlines it.
My suggestion: EVERY clause in a headline has to be a true statement, that the paper stands behind.
No more, "'The moon is make of cheese', says Trump."
If 'The moon is made of cheese' appears in your headline, the paper is saying that that is true.
Otherwise, write "Trump lies about moon."
No more, "'The moon is make of cheese', says Trump."
If 'The moon is made of cheese' appears in your headline, the paper is saying that that is true.
Otherwise, write "Trump lies about moon."
We should reboot journalism completely. Start from scratch. They should get those old timey hats and a pencil and figure it out from there
November 17, 2025 at 8:31 PM
My suggestion: EVERY clause in a headline has to be a true statement, that the paper stands behind.
No more, "'The moon is make of cheese', says Trump."
If 'The moon is made of cheese' appears in your headline, the paper is saying that that is true.
Otherwise, write "Trump lies about moon."
No more, "'The moon is make of cheese', says Trump."
If 'The moon is made of cheese' appears in your headline, the paper is saying that that is true.
Otherwise, write "Trump lies about moon."