Malcolm Gent
@malcolmgent.bsky.social
Historian, movie buff, comic aficionado, etc.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
Was thrilled to help consult for this fantastic John Oliver segment on the tragic plight of U.S. public media and why, if we hope to be a democracy, we still need public media for so many things that commercial media will never provide. Deserves a wide viewership. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yknM...
Public Media: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)
YouTube video by LastWeekTonight
www.youtube.com
November 17, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Was thrilled to help consult for this fantastic John Oliver segment on the tragic plight of U.S. public media and why, if we hope to be a democracy, we still need public media for so many things that commercial media will never provide. Deserves a wide viewership. www.youtube.com/watch?v=yknM...
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
Whenever some sanctimonious Dem announces that America needs a functioning Republican Party, I always think “I’d settle for a functioning Democratic Party.”
November 10, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Whenever some sanctimonious Dem announces that America needs a functioning Republican Party, I always think “I’d settle for a functioning Democratic Party.”
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
so currently defectors are:
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
Kaine (2030)
Shaheen (Retiring)
Hasan (2028)
Fetterman (2028)
Durbin (Retiring)
CCM (2028)
Rosen (2030)
King (2030)
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 AM
The coordinated nature of this—none are facing voters in 2026—means that either Schumer approved it or failed in his job as Senate Majority Leader to stop it.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Dems voting "no" get zero credit until they demand a change in leadership. Schumer out as Leader, Durbin out as Whip.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
This capitulation will only embolden Trump to target other universities and institutions. This helps no one and only feeds the beast.
We must continue to stand with those who resist Trump’s lawlessness and call out those who don’t. Shame on Cornell.
We must continue to stand with those who resist Trump’s lawlessness and call out those who don’t. Shame on Cornell.
Cornell University to pay $60M in deal with Trump administration to restore federal funding
Cornell University has agreed to pay $60 million and accept the Trump administration’s interpretation of civil rights laws in order to restore federal funding and end investigations into the Ivy Leagu...
apnews.com
November 7, 2025 at 10:16 PM
This capitulation will only embolden Trump to target other universities and institutions. This helps no one and only feeds the beast.
We must continue to stand with those who resist Trump’s lawlessness and call out those who don’t. Shame on Cornell.
We must continue to stand with those who resist Trump’s lawlessness and call out those who don’t. Shame on Cornell.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
Every Cold War spying case is like:
UK: He was recruited to MI6 from Oxford, where he was founder and president of the Friends of Stalin chapter. He was assigned to the Moscow desk for 20 years.
US: His 4th Bugatti that he paid for in cash on a civil servant's salary stated to arouse suspicion.
UK: He was recruited to MI6 from Oxford, where he was founder and president of the Friends of Stalin chapter. He was assigned to the Moscow desk for 20 years.
US: His 4th Bugatti that he paid for in cash on a civil servant's salary stated to arouse suspicion.
November 4, 2025 at 12:18 PM
Every Cold War spying case is like:
UK: He was recruited to MI6 from Oxford, where he was founder and president of the Friends of Stalin chapter. He was assigned to the Moscow desk for 20 years.
US: His 4th Bugatti that he paid for in cash on a civil servant's salary stated to arouse suspicion.
UK: He was recruited to MI6 from Oxford, where he was founder and president of the Friends of Stalin chapter. He was assigned to the Moscow desk for 20 years.
US: His 4th Bugatti that he paid for in cash on a civil servant's salary stated to arouse suspicion.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
Again: for all the moaning about "the groups" and "online leftists," nobody does as much to undermine Dems as elected Dems. Dem voters are rightly suspicious they'll elect someone like @shaheen.senate.gov who leaps in to save the Trumper who disclosed combat operations via a dubious Signal rip-off.
Notable: Trump UN nominee Mike Waltz was on track to fail by a tie vote in committee, but Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen cast a decisive vote to rescue him. 12-10, he advances to the full Senate.
July 24, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Again: for all the moaning about "the groups" and "online leftists," nobody does as much to undermine Dems as elected Dems. Dem voters are rightly suspicious they'll elect someone like @shaheen.senate.gov who leaps in to save the Trumper who disclosed combat operations via a dubious Signal rip-off.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
My prediction is that this will become standard in functioning democracies.
From an NHK poll earlier this year, 78% support regulating the role of social media in elections.
July 20, 2025 at 4:03 PM
My prediction is that this will become standard in functioning democracies.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
Not really an overstatement to say that the test of a free society is whether or not comedians can make fun of the country's leader on TV without repurcussions.
July 18, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Not really an overstatement to say that the test of a free society is whether or not comedians can make fun of the country's leader on TV without repurcussions.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
All that relentless complaining about "the groups" and "leftists online" undermining the Democratic party but we can't get leadership to endorse the actual winner of the Dem primary over a sex pest, a crook, and a Republican in a beret. Our leadership is toxic as hell and needs to go ASAP.
Hakeem Jeffries again declines to endorse Zohran Mamdani, saying "I don't know him well."
CHRIS HAYES: Why are you not endorsing the guy that won the democratic primary in a contested election in your backyard?
JEFFRIES: I didn't get involved in that primary election, and I don't know him well.
CHRIS HAYES: Why are you not endorsing the guy that won the democratic primary in a contested election in your backyard?
JEFFRIES: I didn't get involved in that primary election, and I don't know him well.
July 16, 2025 at 12:05 PM
All that relentless complaining about "the groups" and "leftists online" undermining the Democratic party but we can't get leadership to endorse the actual winner of the Dem primary over a sex pest, a crook, and a Republican in a beret. Our leadership is toxic as hell and needs to go ASAP.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
You know Stardew Valley does a good job simulating life in a small rural community because I now have seething irrational grudges against half the people in town.
July 16, 2025 at 5:59 PM
You know Stardew Valley does a good job simulating life in a small rural community because I now have seething irrational grudges against half the people in town.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
A whole lot of organizations and politicians do not understand just how minimal their 'reach' truly is on X. It's not what Twitter was. You are shouting at bots and right-wingers. Nobody else sees what you do there. Daily users are down, time on site is down, and the algorithm is hostile to you.
“.. traffic has dropped by only a single percentage point as a result of leaving Twitter ..”
@niemanreports.org #Hellsite
niemanreports.org/npr-twitter-...
@niemanreports.org #Hellsite
niemanreports.org/npr-twitter-...
July 10, 2025 at 12:23 AM
A whole lot of organizations and politicians do not understand just how minimal their 'reach' truly is on X. It's not what Twitter was. You are shouting at bots and right-wingers. Nobody else sees what you do there. Daily users are down, time on site is down, and the algorithm is hostile to you.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
Twitter was NEVER good in terms of driving traffic to anywhere except Twitter. All of the most successful posts there asked nothing of the reader but to keep scrolling Twitter uninterrupted.
“.. traffic has dropped by only a single percentage point as a result of leaving Twitter ..”
@niemanreports.org #Hellsite
niemanreports.org/npr-twitter-...
@niemanreports.org #Hellsite
niemanreports.org/npr-twitter-...
July 9, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Twitter was NEVER good in terms of driving traffic to anywhere except Twitter. All of the most successful posts there asked nothing of the reader but to keep scrolling Twitter uninterrupted.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
I was today years old when I realized we could have had a president named *McGovern*
“Senator McGovern” is probably about the closest we’ll ever come to the political version of Boaty McBoatface
“Senator McGovern” is probably about the closest we’ll ever come to the political version of Boaty McBoatface
July 7, 2025 at 1:31 AM
I was today years old when I realized we could have had a president named *McGovern*
“Senator McGovern” is probably about the closest we’ll ever come to the political version of Boaty McBoatface
“Senator McGovern” is probably about the closest we’ll ever come to the political version of Boaty McBoatface
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
There is something so fundamentally telling with people who think that “reading a book” and “knowing what the plot is” is the same experience.
July 6, 2025 at 7:54 PM
There is something so fundamentally telling with people who think that “reading a book” and “knowing what the plot is” is the same experience.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
A lot of this country’s problems boil down to straight white men who see themselves as some sort of default “normal” but any variation on that as “an identity” that is “political”
July 4, 2025 at 10:28 PM
A lot of this country’s problems boil down to straight white men who see themselves as some sort of default “normal” but any variation on that as “an identity” that is “political”
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
Today I learned that the 346 Free French RAF squadron had a mascot rabbit that flew 30 missions with the captain during WW2
Below: 2 pictures of Cpt. Marchal holding his speckled bunny. Marchal is wearing a aviator uniform in both
Below: 2 pictures of Cpt. Marchal holding his speckled bunny. Marchal is wearing a aviator uniform in both
June 29, 2025 at 10:25 PM
Today I learned that the 346 Free French RAF squadron had a mascot rabbit that flew 30 missions with the captain during WW2
Below: 2 pictures of Cpt. Marchal holding his speckled bunny. Marchal is wearing a aviator uniform in both
Below: 2 pictures of Cpt. Marchal holding his speckled bunny. Marchal is wearing a aviator uniform in both
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
You’ve seen this movie before: Maybe Reagan guessed, Bush hoped, and Trump tried—but tax cuts never paid for themselves. Given the mountain of evidence, claiming once again that "tax cuts will pay for themselves" is no longer ideologically motivated optimism.
It's a lie.
It's a lie.
June 27, 2025 at 12:37 AM
You’ve seen this movie before: Maybe Reagan guessed, Bush hoped, and Trump tried—but tax cuts never paid for themselves. Given the mountain of evidence, claiming once again that "tax cuts will pay for themselves" is no longer ideologically motivated optimism.
It's a lie.
It's a lie.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
the list of Cuomo endorsers is actually a great way to identify people who need to be driven out of the Democratic Party as soon as possible
June 20, 2025 at 2:14 PM
the list of Cuomo endorsers is actually a great way to identify people who need to be driven out of the Democratic Party as soon as possible
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
the story today is of a profoundly low energy military parade being met with millions of americans in nationwide protests denouncing the dictatorial pretensions of the president
June 15, 2025 at 1:11 AM
the story today is of a profoundly low energy military parade being met with millions of americans in nationwide protests denouncing the dictatorial pretensions of the president
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
Elon Musk believes that a majority of the base for the Democratic Party is subhuman. This cannot be squared. Ever. There's no common ground.
Some Democrats are looking to cosy up to Musk:
Ro Khanna: “We should ultimately be trying to convince him that the Democratic Party has more of the values that he agrees with.”
Ritchie Torres: “I'm a believer in redemption, and he is telling the truth about the legislation.”
Ro Khanna: “We should ultimately be trying to convince him that the Democratic Party has more of the values that he agrees with.”
Ritchie Torres: “I'm a believer in redemption, and he is telling the truth about the legislation.”
June 6, 2025 at 5:16 AM
Elon Musk believes that a majority of the base for the Democratic Party is subhuman. This cannot be squared. Ever. There's no common ground.
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
very fun to read frederick douglass accurately describe the problem with the pardon power in 1867
June 5, 2025 at 11:56 AM
very fun to read frederick douglass accurately describe the problem with the pardon power in 1867
Reposted by Malcolm Gent
Read past the headline on this one
May 19, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Read past the headline on this one