leftcoast1213.bsky.social
@leftcoast1213.bsky.social
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
One more quick thread, and then I'm getting out of here to walk my dog in the sun.
I think a lot about the authoritarian personality. I won't start going on about that because this thread would last forever, but I just want to say one thing about it.
I think a lot about the authoritarian personality. I won't start going on about that because this thread would last forever, but I just want to say one thing about it.
February 12, 2026 at 8:57 PM
One more quick thread, and then I'm getting out of here to walk my dog in the sun.
I think a lot about the authoritarian personality. I won't start going on about that because this thread would last forever, but I just want to say one thing about it.
I think a lot about the authoritarian personality. I won't start going on about that because this thread would last forever, but I just want to say one thing about it.
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.
Breaking News: The Trump administration repealed the bedrock scientific finding that greenhouse gases threaten human life and well being, meaning that the EPA can no longer regulate them. nyti.ms/4rSszQu
February 12, 2026 at 8:38 PM
You can't... repeal... a scientific finding. At that point it's just called lying about it.
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
I remember being surprised at how much MeToo took over the minds of certain folks, and I guess I just severely underestimated the number of older men who regarded nonstop predation of younger women as their birthright
Lawrence Krauss being endearing again: "good news btw is that woman on conciliation committee seems like a sweetie.. she is old…. not some young metoo bitch."
February 11, 2026 at 9:15 PM
I remember being surprised at how much MeToo took over the minds of certain folks, and I guess I just severely underestimated the number of older men who regarded nonstop predation of younger women as their birthright
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
like the problem isn't SKYNET, the problem is letting amoral extraction class assholes apply half-cooked automation onto deeply broken sectors in exploitative ways in a country that's too corrupt to have functioning regulators
UnitedHealth uses AI model with 90% error rate to deny care, lawsuit alleges
For the largest health insurer in the US, AI's error rate is like a feature, not a bug.
arstechnica.com
February 11, 2026 at 4:26 PM
like the problem isn't SKYNET, the problem is letting amoral extraction class assholes apply half-cooked automation onto deeply broken sectors in exploitative ways in a country that's too corrupt to have functioning regulators
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
Voter fraud is yet another "issue" that isn't an issue at all. Through countless studies, systematic voter fraud has never been found to exist. Voter suppression is real, though, and there are libraries full of data.
We've got the numbers: Last year we published (in partnership with the @brennancenter.org and @umd-cdce.bsky.social) survey results showing that some 21.3 million Americans could be disenfranchised by the SAVE Act, which the House''ll vote on tomorrow.
Time to send this thing back to its grave.
Time to send this thing back to its grave.
Millions of Americans Don’t Have Documents Proving Their Citizenship Readily Available
Requiring Americans to prove their citizenship to register to vote would exclude millions of citizens from the political process.
www.brennancenter.org
February 10, 2026 at 8:51 PM
Voter fraud is yet another "issue" that isn't an issue at all. Through countless studies, systematic voter fraud has never been found to exist. Voter suppression is real, though, and there are libraries full of data.
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
China is building solar and wind energy capacity equal to 5 nuclear power plants A WEEK, and this guy is using tax dollars to prop up 1800's tech that even the energy companies don't want running anymore. We're goingt o have to jump into an Apollo-program level of electrification post-dipshits.
Trump to direct Pentagon to buy coal to revive industry, Bloomberg News says reut.rs/46vkQiO
Trump to direct Pentagon to buy coal to revive industry, Bloomberg News says
U.S. President Donald Trump is set to direct the Pentagon to use government funding and Pentagon contracts to sustain U.S. coal-fired power plants, Bloomberg News reported on Tuesday, citing a White House official.
reut.rs
February 11, 2026 at 3:56 AM
China is building solar and wind energy capacity equal to 5 nuclear power plants A WEEK, and this guy is using tax dollars to prop up 1800's tech that even the energy companies don't want running anymore. We're goingt o have to jump into an Apollo-program level of electrification post-dipshits.
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
An important part of the appeal to these degenerates is that they get to play soldier *while facing literally no risk to themselves". They have a complete monopoly on the "right" to use force.
So they get to pretend they're in a war zone, geared up, while being essentially untouchable. Cowards.
So they get to pretend they're in a war zone, geared up, while being essentially untouchable. Cowards.
February 10, 2026 at 4:01 PM
An important part of the appeal to these degenerates is that they get to play soldier *while facing literally no risk to themselves". They have a complete monopoly on the "right" to use force.
So they get to pretend they're in a war zone, geared up, while being essentially untouchable. Cowards.
So they get to pretend they're in a war zone, geared up, while being essentially untouchable. Cowards.
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
New in PN: The death of the CIA Factbook and Trump's war on usefulness
"There’s nothing partisan about the CIA World Factbook, so it’s hard to imagine how allowing people to use it could impede the MAGA agenda. Unless, that is, you realize the Factbook had to go *precisely because it was useful.*"
"There’s nothing partisan about the CIA World Factbook, so it’s hard to imagine how allowing people to use it could impede the MAGA agenda. Unless, that is, you realize the Factbook had to go *precisely because it was useful.*"
The death of the CIA Factbook and Trump's war on usefulness
Wherever government does something helpful, the regime wants to kill it.
www.publicnotice.co
February 10, 2026 at 12:37 PM
New in PN: The death of the CIA Factbook and Trump's war on usefulness
"There’s nothing partisan about the CIA World Factbook, so it’s hard to imagine how allowing people to use it could impede the MAGA agenda. Unless, that is, you realize the Factbook had to go *precisely because it was useful.*"
"There’s nothing partisan about the CIA World Factbook, so it’s hard to imagine how allowing people to use it could impede the MAGA agenda. Unless, that is, you realize the Factbook had to go *precisely because it was useful.*"
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
Disturbingly detailed analysis of my first rewatch incoming
February 9, 2026 at 2:30 AM
Disturbingly detailed analysis of my first rewatch incoming
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
What a fantastic show. Gorgeously immersive, energetic, loaded with Puerto Rican culture and perspective. 11/10, impossible to beat that.
February 9, 2026 at 1:33 AM
What a fantastic show. Gorgeously immersive, energetic, loaded with Puerto Rican culture and perspective. 11/10, impossible to beat that.
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
Reminder when you watch the Intuit Super Bowl ads, they have Super Bowl ad money because they are a successful rent seekers who have worked for decades to kill free, quality, public tax preparation services donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-death-...
The Death of Direct File
Tech for good not welcome in the Trump administration
donmoynihan.substack.com
February 8, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Reminder when you watch the Intuit Super Bowl ads, they have Super Bowl ad money because they are a successful rent seekers who have worked for decades to kill free, quality, public tax preparation services donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-death-...
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
I’m Analilia Mejia and I approve this message.
February 8, 2026 at 8:33 PM
I’m Analilia Mejia and I approve this message.
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
So in the UkK the repercussions from Epstein scandal have taken down a chief-of-staff, a prince, an ambassador to the US and will soon take doen the prime minister himself. That's what a functioning democracy looks like. And in the US...???
February 8, 2026 at 11:23 PM
So in the UkK the repercussions from Epstein scandal have taken down a chief-of-staff, a prince, an ambassador to the US and will soon take doen the prime minister himself. That's what a functioning democracy looks like. And in the US...???
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
When Republicans do it / When Democrats do it
February 7, 2026 at 11:41 PM
When Republicans do it / When Democrats do it
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
I've written about the overarching post story, causes, underlying pattern. But the failure of Lewis or Bezos to even show up, literally or figuratively, on a day of devastating cuts epitomizes the profound lack of character and accountability that is so common place today within the American elite.
February 8, 2026 at 6:15 AM
I've written about the overarching post story, causes, underlying pattern. But the failure of Lewis or Bezos to even show up, literally or figuratively, on a day of devastating cuts epitomizes the profound lack of character and accountability that is so common place today within the American elite.
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
kind of funny that an olympian said they are here to represent "compassion, respect, and love for others" and some people automatically knew that was a statement against them
February 7, 2026 at 10:25 PM
kind of funny that an olympian said they are here to represent "compassion, respect, and love for others" and some people automatically knew that was a statement against them
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
WaPo’s degradation makes no sense as trying to do good journalism or trying to make the paper profitable.
But Blue Origin needs govt contracts. Amazon needs to avoid regs. Trump is corrupt. That’s it.
Plus Bezos might find appeal in the culture warring, like many of his tech billionaire peers.
2/2
But Blue Origin needs govt contracts. Amazon needs to avoid regs. Trump is corrupt. That’s it.
Plus Bezos might find appeal in the culture warring, like many of his tech billionaire peers.
2/2
February 7, 2026 at 8:37 PM
WaPo’s degradation makes no sense as trying to do good journalism or trying to make the paper profitable.
But Blue Origin needs govt contracts. Amazon needs to avoid regs. Trump is corrupt. That’s it.
Plus Bezos might find appeal in the culture warring, like many of his tech billionaire peers.
2/2
But Blue Origin needs govt contracts. Amazon needs to avoid regs. Trump is corrupt. That’s it.
Plus Bezos might find appeal in the culture warring, like many of his tech billionaire peers.
2/2
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
THIS is exactly why international fascists & enemies of democracy want to open up European media for corporate or billionaire takeover - the VERY factors that destroyed media in the US, in Russia, in Hungary & so many other dictatorships.
I worry “pro-business” EU messaging can be CODE for this.
I worry “pro-business” EU messaging can be CODE for this.
"The American media makes things that are abnormal seem normal. The European press doesn’t do that. So you’ll see when they report on Trump’s rambling Davos speech, they will say it made no sense. In the US press, you’ll just see excerpts and an attempt to sanitize it." — @anneapplebaum.bsky.social
Anne Applebaum on Trump's betrayal of Europe
"They’re bewildered we’ve allowed this to happen."
www.publicnotice.co
February 7, 2026 at 7:04 PM
THIS is exactly why international fascists & enemies of democracy want to open up European media for corporate or billionaire takeover - the VERY factors that destroyed media in the US, in Russia, in Hungary & so many other dictatorships.
I worry “pro-business” EU messaging can be CODE for this.
I worry “pro-business” EU messaging can be CODE for this.
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
"For years, a cottage industry of political observers has contorted itself to obscure and occlude the obvious. That regardless of what others see in him, Trump’s entire political career...cannot be understood outside the context of his bitter, deep-seated racism." (gift link)
Opinion | This Is Just Who Trump Is
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:49 PM
"For years, a cottage industry of political observers has contorted itself to obscure and occlude the obvious. That regardless of what others see in him, Trump’s entire political career...cannot be understood outside the context of his bitter, deep-seated racism." (gift link)
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
Understanding society is dangerous to reactionaries selling racial animus & crushing austerity, while enriching the rich
I do want to shout-out my fellow sociologists, who have collectively created a discipline so woke that not a single one of our introductory textbooks can make it past Florida's censors.
Great work everyone.
Great work everyone.
February 7, 2026 at 4:59 PM
Understanding society is dangerous to reactionaries selling racial animus & crushing austerity, while enriching the rich
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
If there's one benefit from all the Republican criminality and corruption it's that you never have to treat them like good faith interlocutors again. Every currently living Trump accomplice should be treated at most to a reflexive "Eat Shit" for life, and that's better than they deserve
VA Senate president responds to Ted crying about VA’s redistricting, which should add 4 new Dem seats.
February 7, 2026 at 4:46 PM
If there's one benefit from all the Republican criminality and corruption it's that you never have to treat them like good faith interlocutors again. Every currently living Trump accomplice should be treated at most to a reflexive "Eat Shit" for life, and that's better than they deserve
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
People are mad at @samuelmoyn.bsky.social but this is a good piece from him and @ryandoerfler.bsky.social on need to accept that SCOTUS has become functionally illegitimate. Key point is legitimacy does require the public to think the court operates in good faith:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
It’s time to accept that the US supreme court is illegitimate and must be replaced | Ryan Doerfler and Samuel Moyn
We need to remake the US high court so Americans don’t suffer future decades of oligarchy-facilitating rule
www.theguardian.com
February 7, 2026 at 4:47 PM
People are mad at @samuelmoyn.bsky.social but this is a good piece from him and @ryandoerfler.bsky.social on need to accept that SCOTUS has become functionally illegitimate. Key point is legitimacy does require the public to think the court operates in good faith:
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
Yes, exactly! Also linked to the prevalence of nepo babies and elites in journalism, which was facilitated by centering media in the most expensive cities (NY, DC, SF) and requiring unpaid internships, low-paid labor, and expensive degrees for entry. The reporters won't report on corrupt friends.
February 7, 2026 at 2:30 PM
Yes, exactly! Also linked to the prevalence of nepo babies and elites in journalism, which was facilitated by centering media in the most expensive cities (NY, DC, SF) and requiring unpaid internships, low-paid labor, and expensive degrees for entry. The reporters won't report on corrupt friends.
Reposted by leftcoast1213.bsky.social
The far right authoritarian party’s ongoing project of Making Nineteenth Century America Great Again - complete with the spoils system, Jim Crow, unvaccinated populations dying, & a federal government that can’t regulate anything - continues apace.
New, from me: Trump finalized his Schedule F policy, allowing him to remove job protections from career civil servants.
The new rule is dishonest and unmoored from reality in its effort to formalize the politicization of the federal government 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trumps-sch...
The new rule is dishonest and unmoored from reality in its effort to formalize the politicization of the federal government 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trumps-sch...
Trump's Schedule F Rule Finalized
A bizarro rule formally justifies politicizing public services
donmoynihan.substack.com
February 6, 2026 at 3:13 PM
The far right authoritarian party’s ongoing project of Making Nineteenth Century America Great Again - complete with the spoils system, Jim Crow, unvaccinated populations dying, & a federal government that can’t regulate anything - continues apace.