Joel Mendelson
@jpmendelson.bsky.social
Comms and campaigns guy. Worked with a whole bunch of orgs and campaigns--some more fun than others. Don't know what I'm doing, but maybe I'll figure it out one day. (he/him)
He thinks he’s American James Bond, doesn’t he?
New via MS NOW:
Corey Lewandowski raised alarm inside DHS when he sought approval to carry a federally-issued firearm while working for the agency.
Lewandowski's pursuit of a weapon became so contentious that a veteran attorney for ICE was escorted from the building after refusing the request.
Corey Lewandowski raised alarm inside DHS when he sought approval to carry a federally-issued firearm while working for the agency.
Lewandowski's pursuit of a weapon became so contentious that a veteran attorney for ICE was escorted from the building after refusing the request.
Noem adviser Lewandowski sought to carry a firearm at DHS, alarming officials
A lawyer who refused the request was reassigned, according to two people familiar with the matter.
www.ms.now
February 13, 2026 at 11:22 PM
He thinks he’s American James Bond, doesn’t he?
He can't do that, but sure, go ahead and draft a headline that makes it seem like he can.
Editorial standards! What a concept?!?
Editorial standards! What a concept?!?
BREAKING: Trump says he'll require voter ID for midterms - with or without Congress
Trump: Voter ID to be required to vote in midterm elections
House Republicans passed legislation on Feb. 11 that would require proof of U.S. citizenship for voters ahead of the midterm elections.
bit.ly
February 13, 2026 at 10:20 PM
He can't do that, but sure, go ahead and draft a headline that makes it seem like he can.
Editorial standards! What a concept?!?
Editorial standards! What a concept?!?
Reposted by Joel Mendelson
This is something the Nazis used to do to Jewish children in the camps. It happened to a man I knew when he was a child in Auschwitz. The camp guards thought it was funny as hell.
On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
February 13, 2026 at 8:09 PM
This is something the Nazis used to do to Jewish children in the camps. It happened to a man I knew when he was a child in Auschwitz. The camp guards thought it was funny as hell.
Nazi shit
On Thanksgiving, the immigrant children held at the Dilley detention center gathered in the gym for what they thought was a holiday feast.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
The kids salivated over a spread of turkey, sandwiches, pastries and pies, a family told me.
But the food wasn’t for detainees — it was for the staff.
February 13, 2026 at 10:00 PM
Nazi shit
Is this AI or is his ass inverted?
February 13, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Is this AI or is his ass inverted?
Really important political comms analysis here. Democrats speaking directly and bluntly, and empowering ordinary folks to take action.
Worth the read even if the two governors featured aren't your 2028 cup of tea.
Worth the read even if the two governors featured aren't your 2028 cup of tea.
The extraordinary public backlash to Trump's ICE raids and mass deportations suggests it's time to rethink how information warfare and political persuasion work in the Trump era. Dems have an opening to reset the immigration debate if they act now.
New piece from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
New piece from me:
newrepublic.com/article/2059...
How the Democrats Can Play Offense on Immigration
Typically, Democrats run for the hills when immigration comes up. But as two blue-state governors are showing, the winning play is actually to confront ICE and MAGA xenophobia head on.
newrepublic.com
February 13, 2026 at 3:59 PM
Really important political comms analysis here. Democrats speaking directly and bluntly, and empowering ordinary folks to take action.
Worth the read even if the two governors featured aren't your 2028 cup of tea.
Worth the read even if the two governors featured aren't your 2028 cup of tea.
Kinda crazy and probably not the norm, but I text with friends I've had since HS, middle school, and even elementary school just about every day. I think part of this stems from us adopting chat apps like AIM in the mid-90s, but it still feels rare.
watching John Green talk about his buddy from high school who is still his friend and I’m curious, is that common for people on here?
February 12, 2026 at 8:49 PM
Kinda crazy and probably not the norm, but I text with friends I've had since HS, middle school, and even elementary school just about every day. I think part of this stems from us adopting chat apps like AIM in the mid-90s, but it still feels rare.
Why ask this when it's clear there was no staffer. He posted that shit himself, and you all know it.
Q: Have you fired or disciplined the staffer who posted the video from your account that included the Obamas?
TRUMP: No I haven't. That was a video on voter fraud.
TRUMP: No I haven't. That was a video on voter fraud.
February 12, 2026 at 7:13 PM
Why ask this when it's clear there was no staffer. He posted that shit himself, and you all know it.
The man allegedly took psychedelics and covered a John Edwards rally in 2004, and suddenly, he was the Xer Hunter S. Thompson. Ladida...
Here's the big difference: for all his drug abuse, Thompson was a great writer and often a brilliant critic of American politics. Taibbi never was.
Here's the big difference: for all his drug abuse, Thompson was a great writer and often a brilliant critic of American politics. Taibbi never was.
I face resistance from my fellow travelers whenever I say this but: if you preface your criticisms of Matt taibbi with “I used to admire his work, but”…….. go back. Read them again
February 12, 2026 at 7:04 PM
The man allegedly took psychedelics and covered a John Edwards rally in 2004, and suddenly, he was the Xer Hunter S. Thompson. Ladida...
Here's the big difference: for all his drug abuse, Thompson was a great writer and often a brilliant critic of American politics. Taibbi never was.
Here's the big difference: for all his drug abuse, Thompson was a great writer and often a brilliant critic of American politics. Taibbi never was.
Oh, it’s Opposite Day, isn’t it?
Homan: "ICE is a legitimate federal law enforcement agency. We're not out scouring the streets to disappear people or deny people their civil rights or due process."
February 12, 2026 at 3:15 PM
Oh, it’s Opposite Day, isn’t it?
Reposted by Joel Mendelson
NEW: “CBS Evening News” producer Alicia Hastey sends a bombshell farewell note:
Stories are “evaluated not just on their journalistic merit but on whether they conform to a shifting set of ideological expectations.”
Stories are “evaluated not just on their journalistic merit but on whether they conform to a shifting set of ideological expectations.”
February 12, 2026 at 3:22 AM
NEW: “CBS Evening News” producer Alicia Hastey sends a bombshell farewell note:
Stories are “evaluated not just on their journalistic merit but on whether they conform to a shifting set of ideological expectations.”
Stories are “evaluated not just on their journalistic merit but on whether they conform to a shifting set of ideological expectations.”
I won’t be really concerned until you show up on the air in a Mohawk.
Find myself doing the Travis Bickle monologue to myself as I walk through the increasingly disgusting streets of NYC.
February 12, 2026 at 2:22 AM
I won’t be really concerned until you show up on the air in a Mohawk.
Feels like the Gators are toying with Georgia. Up 17 and it could be a lot more.
February 12, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Feels like the Gators are toying with Georgia. Up 17 and it could be a lot more.
Rejected? Psh. The DMV should've not only approved this tag but also voided this person's personal property tax on their car.
February 11, 2026 at 4:30 PM
Rejected? Psh. The DMV should've not only approved this tag but also voided this person's personal property tax on their car.
AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME (1999)
Dir. Jay Roach
Dir. Jay Roach
Elon Musk told employees at xAI, his artificial intelligence company, on Tuesday that the company needed a factory on the moon to build A.I. satellites and a massive catapult to launch them into space.
Elon Musk Wants to Build an A.I. Satellite Factory on the Moon
In a meeting with employees at his company xAI, Mr. Musk revealed a vision for a facility that includes a giant catapult to launch his satellites into space.
nyti.ms
February 11, 2026 at 3:49 PM
AUSTIN POWERS: THE SPY WHO SHAGGED ME (1999)
Dir. Jay Roach
Dir. Jay Roach
Reposted by Joel Mendelson
It's just absolutely insane the the American public reflexively thinks Republicans are better for the economy. They're better at giving uber-wealthy people tax breaks. That's it
During these 37 years here's the average job growth per year under the two parties:
Democrats - 2,500,000
Republicans - 90,000 2/
Democrats - 2,500,000
Republicans - 90,000 2/
February 11, 2026 at 3:40 PM
It's just absolutely insane the the American public reflexively thinks Republicans are better for the economy. They're better at giving uber-wealthy people tax breaks. That's it
It's only Feb. 11, and the number of baseball injuries reported in recent days feels staggering.
@JeffPassan tweeted
News: Arizona Diamondbacks star outfielder Corbin Carroll broke the hamate bone in his right hand and is undergoing surgery today, sources tell ESPN. He will miss the World Baseball Classic and his ability to play Opening Day is now in question.
News: Arizona Diamondbacks star outfielder Corbin Carroll broke the hamate bone in his right hand and is undergoing surgery today, sources tell ESPN. He will miss the World Baseball Classic and his ability to play Opening Day is now in question.
February 11, 2026 at 3:30 PM
It's only Feb. 11, and the number of baseball injuries reported in recent days feels staggering.
Just imagine the reaction by conservatives if literally anyone other than a white conservative man did this.
Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate James Fishback, ladies and gentlemen...
via @j_fishback X
via @j_fishback X
February 10, 2026 at 10:40 PM
Just imagine the reaction by conservatives if literally anyone other than a white conservative man did this.
Good possibility the World Cup matches in the U.S. will be among the worst attended in the modern era.
Acting ICE Director Todd Lyons says that ICE will be a key part of World Cup security.
February 10, 2026 at 5:53 PM
Good possibility the World Cup matches in the U.S. will be among the worst attended in the modern era.
Howard Lutnick continues to demonstrate that immense wealth does not equal intelligence. In fact, there might be a stronger correlation between immense wealth and immense stupidity (or at least willful ignorance).
KENNEDY: The Census Bureau is under your jurisdiction & responsible for defining what it means to be poor, is that right?
LUTNICK: I don't know
K: Well you need to look, bc it does. What's the % of Americans who live below poverty level?
L: I don't know
K: It's around 11%. It's been constant
LUTNICK: I don't know
K: Well you need to look, bc it does. What's the % of Americans who live below poverty level?
L: I don't know
K: It's around 11%. It's been constant
February 10, 2026 at 5:49 PM
Howard Lutnick continues to demonstrate that immense wealth does not equal intelligence. In fact, there might be a stronger correlation between immense wealth and immense stupidity (or at least willful ignorance).
Braves are gonna have to take a risk and sign someone like Giolito. Pitchers reported today, and the Braves have already lost a rotation arm to the 60-day IL.
Spencer Schwellenbach will start 2026 season on 60-Day IL www.batterypower.com/atlanta-brav...
Spencer Schwellenbach will start 2026 season on 60-Day IL
Also, Robert Suarez is having visa issues. Blah.
www.batterypower.com
February 10, 2026 at 5:38 PM
Braves are gonna have to take a risk and sign someone like Giolito. Pitchers reported today, and the Braves have already lost a rotation arm to the 60-day IL.