John S. Cooper
@johnscooper.bsky.social
Executive Director of Safe & Just Michigan (www.safeandjustmi.org)
Opinions mine
Opinions mine
Reposted by John S. Cooper
It’s hilarious and revelatory that a bunch of giant MAGA/America First X accounts are actually based in Eastern Europe and Nigeria.
Top MAGA Influencers Accidentally Unmasked as Foreign Actors
A new feature on Elon Musk’s X has given deeper insight into the online “America First” movement.
www.thedailybeast.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:07 PM
It’s hilarious and revelatory that a bunch of giant MAGA/America First X accounts are actually based in Eastern Europe and Nigeria.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
If you’re a journalist who’s still on Twitter, from now on in your writing you have to replace “the American people want” with “troll bots in Eastern Europe demand”
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
November 23, 2025 at 4:27 PM
If you’re a journalist who’s still on Twitter, from now on in your writing you have to replace “the American people want” with “troll bots in Eastern Europe demand”
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Being there makes your judgment suspect. I don’t care how savvy you think you are, you’re marinating in a disinformation campaign.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
Murder is down 14% relative to *2019* levels through September in the latest Real-Time Crime Index sample of 545 agencies.
All signs continue to point to a strong likelihood that 2025 will feature the lowest murder rate ever recorded by the FBI (data back to 1960).
All signs continue to point to a strong likelihood that 2025 will feature the lowest murder rate ever recorded by the FBI (data back to 1960).
November 21, 2025 at 2:01 PM
Murder is down 14% relative to *2019* levels through September in the latest Real-Time Crime Index sample of 545 agencies.
All signs continue to point to a strong likelihood that 2025 will feature the lowest murder rate ever recorded by the FBI (data back to 1960).
All signs continue to point to a strong likelihood that 2025 will feature the lowest murder rate ever recorded by the FBI (data back to 1960).
Reposted by John S. Cooper
/6 The vast majority of people who serve in the military understand and respect their oath to support and defend the Constitution and acknowledge that means not following manifestly unlawful orders.
www.militarytimes.com/opinion/comm...
www.militarytimes.com/opinion/comm...
4 in 5 US troops surveyed understand duty to disobey illegal orders
As National Guard troops head to DC, a new survey reveals service members’ understanding of the distinction between legal and illegal orders.
www.militarytimes.com
November 20, 2025 at 4:44 PM
/6 The vast majority of people who serve in the military understand and respect their oath to support and defend the Constitution and acknowledge that means not following manifestly unlawful orders.
www.militarytimes.com/opinion/comm...
www.militarytimes.com/opinion/comm...
Reposted by John S. Cooper
A weirdly on point microcosm of MAGA’s whole toxic nostalgia trip. All those things always sucked. You thought they were good because you were twelve. Rinse & repeat.
Late-stage MAGA means accepting that things will never be great again
November 19, 2025 at 6:21 AM
A weirdly on point microcosm of MAGA’s whole toxic nostalgia trip. All those things always sucked. You thought they were good because you were twelve. Rinse & repeat.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
The new Epstein emails are the most incriminating evidence to date on Trump & Epstein & let's be clear, there has been plenty of incriminating evidence for many years. So, can we stop treating this like a process story and start focusing squarely on the likelihood Trump is a pedophile sex criminal.
November 12, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The new Epstein emails are the most incriminating evidence to date on Trump & Epstein & let's be clear, there has been plenty of incriminating evidence for many years. So, can we stop treating this like a process story and start focusing squarely on the likelihood Trump is a pedophile sex criminal.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
Business rent is way too high on Mag (not Miracle) Mile so companies are just shuffling around. H&M moved two blocks down the road to save cash.
He's blaming "murder and crime" in one of the safest parts of the city because the real problem is "landlords." Almost like that's the whole gambit.
He's blaming "murder and crime" in one of the safest parts of the city because the real problem is "landlords." Almost like that's the whole gambit.
Call in the troops to solve the commercial real estate crisis in our swanky downtown cores
You can’t make this shit up, folks
You can’t make this shit up, folks
November 11, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Business rent is way too high on Mag (not Miracle) Mile so companies are just shuffling around. H&M moved two blocks down the road to save cash.
He's blaming "murder and crime" in one of the safest parts of the city because the real problem is "landlords." Almost like that's the whole gambit.
He's blaming "murder and crime" in one of the safest parts of the city because the real problem is "landlords." Almost like that's the whole gambit.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
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November 6, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A List of Things Said to Have Been Ruined by Women
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Reposted by John S. Cooper
The New York Times quickly sending out Douthat to argue that Mamdani’s victory doesn’t really matter is so predictable it borders on self-parody.
Remember, folks: Every time the Right wins an election, it’s an undeniable expression of the will of the people. If a lefty wins, it’s just a blip.
Remember, folks: Every time the Right wins an election, it’s an undeniable expression of the will of the people. If a lefty wins, it’s just a blip.
Opinion | Mamdani’s Victory Is Less Significant Than You Think
www.nytimes.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
The New York Times quickly sending out Douthat to argue that Mamdani’s victory doesn’t really matter is so predictable it borders on self-parody.
Remember, folks: Every time the Right wins an election, it’s an undeniable expression of the will of the people. If a lefty wins, it’s just a blip.
Remember, folks: Every time the Right wins an election, it’s an undeniable expression of the will of the people. If a lefty wins, it’s just a blip.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
By doing this, pro-democracy donors can help their activists build careers and livelihoods. This is critically important. Republicans make it easy to have a career spreading their ideas. Democrats do not. This is unsustainable for thousands of people. They give up and quit politics forever.
October 27, 2025 at 10:01 PM
By doing this, pro-democracy donors can help their activists build careers and livelihoods. This is critically important. Republicans make it easy to have a career spreading their ideas. Democrats do not. This is unsustainable for thousands of people. They give up and quit politics forever.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
By contrast, Democrats spend most of their money on TV ads. This failure to build capacity means that the money on failed campaigns has a net zero return on investment. Democrats could easily divert $200 million every cycle to invest in advocacy media and have plenty more than Republicans.
October 27, 2025 at 9:59 PM
By contrast, Democrats spend most of their money on TV ads. This failure to build capacity means that the money on failed campaigns has a net zero return on investment. Democrats could easily divert $200 million every cycle to invest in advocacy media and have plenty more than Republicans.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false. The Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves to fund benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their grocery bill.
Trump Administration Is Legally Required to Provide SNAP in Shutdown, Contrary to Its Claims
Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false. The Administration is legally required to use contingency r...
www.cbpp.org
October 27, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Secretary Rollins’ claim that the Trump Administration is unable to deliver November SNAP benefits during a shutdown is unequivocally false. The Administration is legally required to use contingency reserves to fund benefits for the 1 in 8 Americans who need SNAP to afford their grocery bill.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
Grass roots organizing (which died out long ago) would reveal what kinds of candidates might win. Now that parties are just elite media companies and consultants, they can only grope at what they think the littles might want.
October 23, 2025 at 12:14 PM
Grass roots organizing (which died out long ago) would reveal what kinds of candidates might win. Now that parties are just elite media companies and consultants, they can only grope at what they think the littles might want.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
White House "changes course"? No. Trump lied. This was always the plan, obviously. Now people can see it, is all. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
Trump Administration Live Updates: White House Changes Course and Will Demolish Entire East Wing
www.nytimes.com
October 22, 2025 at 8:21 PM
White House "changes course"? No. Trump lied. This was always the plan, obviously. Now people can see it, is all. www.nytimes.com/live/2025/10...
Reposted by John S. Cooper
Basically all US policy is at this point about indulging Trump’s irrational obsessions, petty grudges, and corrupt grifts, and then taking secondary and tertiary measures to mask the consequences of those policies.
lol, great, so we're now subsidizing Argentine ranchers at the expense of American ranchers. Seems politically sustainable, no questions from me.
*US SEEKS TO QUADRUPLE BEEF PURCHASES FROM ARGENTINA: POLITICO
*US SEEKS TO QUADRUPLE BEEF PURCHASES FROM ARGENTINA: POLITICO
October 22, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Basically all US policy is at this point about indulging Trump’s irrational obsessions, petty grudges, and corrupt grifts, and then taking secondary and tertiary measures to mask the consequences of those policies.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
This story is extraordinary even by 2025 standards. Marco Rubio, the nation's top diplomat, made a deal with Bukele and agreed to renege on informant agreements in a years-long DOJ investigation into MS-13, totally undercutting credibility of such agreements.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Rubio promised to betray U.S. informants to get Trump’s El Salvador prison deal
To secure U.S. access to President Nayib Bukele’s notorious CECOT prison, Rubio agreed to turn over several MS-13 leaders central to a long-running Justice Department investigation.
www.washingtonpost.com
October 19, 2025 at 2:05 PM
This story is extraordinary even by 2025 standards. Marco Rubio, the nation's top diplomat, made a deal with Bukele and agreed to renege on informant agreements in a years-long DOJ investigation into MS-13, totally undercutting credibility of such agreements.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by John S. Cooper
A very efficient, distilled and to me pretty persuasive version of the bear case against AI economics.
September 29, 2025 at 7:57 PM
A very efficient, distilled and to me pretty persuasive version of the bear case against AI economics.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
My general belief is that Dems need to spend more time thinking about what they believe and less about what they think some imaginary swing voters want them to believe.
Political strategy will stem from an authentic set of beliefs.
Political strategy will stem from an authentic set of beliefs.
This was revealing. Worth reading. The basic demand is that Coates spend less time thinking/writing his true feelings and more time playing political strategist. Klein asks him over and over him to do Dem strategy; he says no, over and over. www.nytimes.com/2025/09/28/o...
Opinion | Ta-Nehisi Coates on Bridging Gaps vs. Drawing Lines
www.nytimes.com
September 28, 2025 at 5:06 PM
My general belief is that Dems need to spend more time thinking about what they believe and less about what they think some imaginary swing voters want them to believe.
Political strategy will stem from an authentic set of beliefs.
Political strategy will stem from an authentic set of beliefs.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
The white supremacist conceit that everyone in antiquity was living under some kind of global jim crow segregation is just complete bullshit news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
Pure bloodlines? Ancestral homelands? DNA science says no. — Harvard Gazette
Geneticist explains recent analyses made possible by tech advances show human history to be one of mixing, movement, displacement.
news.harvard.edu
September 25, 2025 at 10:13 AM
The white supremacist conceit that everyone in antiquity was living under some kind of global jim crow segregation is just complete bullshit news.harvard.edu/gazette/stor...
Reposted by John S. Cooper
Hi all,
Some fun news...I have a new podcast coming out about why perceptions of crime rarely meet reality and what can be and is being done about it! Ep 0 was just released & Ep 1 will be released on Oct 1. Download & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
jasher.substack.com/p/the-jeff-a...
Some fun news...I have a new podcast coming out about why perceptions of crime rarely meet reality and what can be and is being done about it! Ep 0 was just released & Ep 1 will be released on Oct 1. Download & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
jasher.substack.com/p/the-jeff-a...
The Jeff-alytics Podcast Is Coming!
Episode 0 is here! Episode 1 drops next Wednesday!
jasher.substack.com
September 24, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Hi all,
Some fun news...I have a new podcast coming out about why perceptions of crime rarely meet reality and what can be and is being done about it! Ep 0 was just released & Ep 1 will be released on Oct 1. Download & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
jasher.substack.com/p/the-jeff-a...
Some fun news...I have a new podcast coming out about why perceptions of crime rarely meet reality and what can be and is being done about it! Ep 0 was just released & Ep 1 will be released on Oct 1. Download & subscribe wherever you get your podcasts!
jasher.substack.com/p/the-jeff-a...
Reposted by John S. Cooper
This incredibly broad second question suggests they might have something even more radical in mind than just overturning Humphrey's.
September 23, 2025 at 3:33 AM
This incredibly broad second question suggests they might have something even more radical in mind than just overturning Humphrey's.
Reposted by John S. Cooper
Ah yes, who can forget Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus when God demanded “Saul, Saul, why don’t you persecute black people”?
Cardinal Timothy Dolan on Fox & Friends on Charlie Kirk: "This guy is a modern day St Paul. He was a missionary, he's an evangelist, he's a hero. He's one I think that knows what Jesus meant when he said 'the truth will set you free.'"
September 19, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Ah yes, who can forget Saul’s conversion on the road to Damascus when God demanded “Saul, Saul, why don’t you persecute black people”?
Reposted by John S. Cooper
Headlines on the Bloomberg Terminal from Air Force One:
*TRUMP: TV LICENSES SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY IF BAD PUBLICITY FOR ME
*TRUMP: IF TV SHOWS 'HIT TRUMP' SHOULD BE DISCUSSED ON LICENSES
*TRUMP ON TV SHOWS CRITICIZING HIM: THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO
*TRUMP: TV LICENSES SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY IF BAD PUBLICITY FOR ME
*TRUMP: IF TV SHOWS 'HIT TRUMP' SHOULD BE DISCUSSED ON LICENSES
*TRUMP ON TV SHOWS CRITICIZING HIM: THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO
September 18, 2025 at 6:02 PM
Headlines on the Bloomberg Terminal from Air Force One:
*TRUMP: TV LICENSES SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY IF BAD PUBLICITY FOR ME
*TRUMP: IF TV SHOWS 'HIT TRUMP' SHOULD BE DISCUSSED ON LICENSES
*TRUMP ON TV SHOWS CRITICIZING HIM: THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO
*TRUMP: TV LICENSES SHOULD BE TAKEN AWAY IF BAD PUBLICITY FOR ME
*TRUMP: IF TV SHOWS 'HIT TRUMP' SHOULD BE DISCUSSED ON LICENSES
*TRUMP ON TV SHOWS CRITICIZING HIM: THEY'RE NOT ALLOWED TO