Michael Wheeler
@michaelcwheeler.bsky.social
Assistant Professor, Director, Curator for work. Other stuff like progressive politics and sports for fun.
In terms of political messaging, I don't think it would hurt as a strategy for one of the opposition parties to simply refer to the Premier as The Nepo Baby in all communications for a year or so. They've just let this guy who accomplished nothing establish a ridiculous working class narrative.
February 18, 2026 at 11:33 PM
In terms of political messaging, I don't think it would hurt as a strategy for one of the opposition parties to simply refer to the Premier as The Nepo Baby in all communications for a year or so. They've just let this guy who accomplished nothing establish a ridiculous working class narrative.
3 MPs in 3 months switching to another party. Is there any precedent for this? They're going to keep dropping these while they're winning by-elections. It will be a real majority in the next 6 months. Davos sealed it. PP is over whether they realize it or not. Carney is PM until (if) Trump is gone.
February 18, 2026 at 7:13 PM
3 MPs in 3 months switching to another party. Is there any precedent for this? They're going to keep dropping these while they're winning by-elections. It will be a real majority in the next 6 months. Davos sealed it. PP is over whether they realize it or not. Carney is PM until (if) Trump is gone.
Forget about how lame this answer is - this also hints at something I have always suspected: That many performers in Starship Troopers were unaware they were performing satire.
I asked actor Neil Patrick Harris about political art at #Berlinale today. He didn't want to engage and said: "I'm always interested in doing things that are apolitical".
February 16, 2026 at 1:26 AM
Forget about how lame this answer is - this also hints at something I have always suspected: That many performers in Starship Troopers were unaware they were performing satire.
This is a big IF, but if these 5 players play hard, it's inconceivable they could lose a game of basketball to any other collection of humans.
February 15, 2026 at 9:05 PM
This is a big IF, but if these 5 players play hard, it's inconceivable they could lose a game of basketball to any other collection of humans.
Folks, I have cue'd up Doctorow at the beginning of the 5 minutes where he defines enshitification and then applies the thesis to FB for your viewing enjoyment:
youtu.be/Yepnhe1T-9U?...
youtu.be/Yepnhe1T-9U?...
We Didn’t Ask for This Internet | The Ezra Klein Show
YouTube video by The Ezra Klein Show
youtu.be
February 12, 2026 at 6:15 PM
Folks, I have cue'd up Doctorow at the beginning of the 5 minutes where he defines enshitification and then applies the thesis to FB for your viewing enjoyment:
youtu.be/Yepnhe1T-9U?...
youtu.be/Yepnhe1T-9U?...
Casually watched some Olympic highlight before bed and the lice dancing was wild! So happy for how happy the Canadians were to win a medal. I don't understand how the Americans lost. I don't know anything about anything, but that was the best skating this pleb has ever seen.
February 12, 2026 at 1:19 PM
Casually watched some Olympic highlight before bed and the lice dancing was wild! So happy for how happy the Canadians were to win a medal. I don't understand how the Americans lost. I don't know anything about anything, but that was the best skating this pleb has ever seen.
Many smart people, including Cory Doctorow, have been pointing out that these tech monopolies exist in part because the US made leaving them alone a condition of a beneficial trade partnership. If that's not how they're operating anymore, nothing stopping us from taking them apart.
February 5, 2026 at 12:48 PM
Many smart people, including Cory Doctorow, have been pointing out that these tech monopolies exist in part because the US made leaving them alone a condition of a beneficial trade partnership. If that's not how they're operating anymore, nothing stopping us from taking them apart.
I'm on one of the older VIA trains, so looking good for being on time.
February 4, 2026 at 1:09 PM
I'm on one of the older VIA trains, so looking good for being on time.
If Jamil Jivani wants to represent Canada's interests on the world stage, all he has to do is be part of a party that forms government. The voters, in their wisdom, elected different citizens than him, having decided his party was too MAGA to oppose Trump effectively. www.cbc.ca/news/politic....
Conservative MP Jivani heads to Washington after Liberals snub offer to collaborate | CBC News
Conservative MP Jamil Jivani, a longtime friend of U.S Vice-President JD Vance, is travelling to Washington to advocate for better Canada-U.S. relations after multiple unsuccessful emails to members o...
www.cbc.ca
February 4, 2026 at 12:33 PM
If Jamil Jivani wants to represent Canada's interests on the world stage, all he has to do is be part of a party that forms government. The voters, in their wisdom, elected different citizens than him, having decided his party was too MAGA to oppose Trump effectively. www.cbc.ca/news/politic....
Folks. I left on a train from Union this eve. It was quite chaotic due to a derailed GO Train. Sure fine, these things happen.
But why doe VIA have no signage or even sound amplification devices in the departures area? Just random people yelling numbers at passengers as if naughty schoolchildren!
But why doe VIA have no signage or even sound amplification devices in the departures area? Just random people yelling numbers at passengers as if naughty schoolchildren!
February 2, 2026 at 10:49 PM
Folks. I left on a train from Union this eve. It was quite chaotic due to a derailed GO Train. Sure fine, these things happen.
But why doe VIA have no signage or even sound amplification devices in the departures area? Just random people yelling numbers at passengers as if naughty schoolchildren!
But why doe VIA have no signage or even sound amplification devices in the departures area? Just random people yelling numbers at passengers as if naughty schoolchildren!
I hope my American friends understand they will not live in a democracy unless there is country-wide civil unrest at some point in the next 3 years. The DNI and President directing this investigation is way beyond "unusual", it's dismantling the will of the people. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Trump Had Unusual Call With F.B.I. Agents After Election Center Search
www.nytimes.com
February 2, 2026 at 7:40 PM
I hope my American friends understand they will not live in a democracy unless there is country-wide civil unrest at some point in the next 3 years. The DNI and President directing this investigation is way beyond "unusual", it's dismantling the will of the people. www.nytimes.com/2026/02/02/u...
Went for a run along Lake Ontario this morning and I regret to inform you that the US physically transformed overnight into Mordor.
February 2, 2026 at 1:26 PM
Went for a run along Lake Ontario this morning and I regret to inform you that the US physically transformed overnight into Mordor.
CBC Metro Morning doing a whole segment on the potential for a Conservative message to resonate in Toronto with a rep from Jenni Byrne and Assoc... Look, it's a reasonable topic to explore, but send out a reporter or something. Don't give a mic to a partisan and call it journalism.
February 2, 2026 at 1:22 PM
CBC Metro Morning doing a whole segment on the potential for a Conservative message to resonate in Toronto with a rep from Jenni Byrne and Assoc... Look, it's a reasonable topic to explore, but send out a reporter or something. Don't give a mic to a partisan and call it journalism.
There's something to extrapolate from the Kennedy Centre basically being unable to operate since adding Trump's name. You can buy cops, and you can buy tech bros, but artists but you can't buy! Reason 84 why Carney should be tripling arts funding as a matter of national security.
February 2, 2026 at 11:50 AM
There's something to extrapolate from the Kennedy Centre basically being unable to operate since adding Trump's name. You can buy cops, and you can buy tech bros, but artists but you can't buy! Reason 84 why Carney should be tripling arts funding as a matter of national security.
I just saw that Norm in an All Star and I'm happy for him. Should have probably been one last year, let's be honest, likely won't be one next year - this was his chance.
February 2, 2026 at 1:46 AM
I just saw that Norm in an All Star and I'm happy for him. Should have probably been one last year, let's be honest, likely won't be one next year - this was his chance.
I'm not sure if Margaret Atwood is available to work for Elon @ $40/hr.
X is hiring a creative writing specialist at $40 an hour to make Grok better at writing and a true LOL at the qualifications
January 30, 2026 at 8:38 PM
I'm not sure if Margaret Atwood is available to work for Elon @ $40/hr.
Lutnick is a MAGA enemy of Canada and Epstein is MAGA kryptonite. Ergo, as a matter of national security, CSIS, the RCMP, Dept of Foreign Affairs, and the Canadian military have justification in their mandate to make this story as big and long as possible. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...
Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Planned Trip to Epstein’s Island
www.nytimes.com
January 30, 2026 at 8:36 PM
Lutnick is a MAGA enemy of Canada and Epstein is MAGA kryptonite. Ergo, as a matter of national security, CSIS, the RCMP, Dept of Foreign Affairs, and the Canadian military have justification in their mandate to make this story as big and long as possible. www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/u...
LOL this is the perfect platform for this thought, but Avi Lewis could become Prime Minister of Canada and globally his wife would still be more famous. Anyhow i hope he wins.
January 29, 2026 at 10:09 PM
LOL this is the perfect platform for this thought, but Avi Lewis could become Prime Minister of Canada and globally his wife would still be more famous. Anyhow i hope he wins.
Reposted by Michael Wheeler
Here's the thing, Greg — free speech is still protected by the First Amendment under the Constitution.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
Bovino: "When politicians, community leaders, & some journalists engage in that heated rhetoric we keep talking about, when they make the choice to vilify law enforcement calling law enforcement 'Gestapo' or using the term 'kidnapping,' that is a choice & there are actions & consequences."
January 26, 2026 at 7:33 PM
Here's the thing, Greg — free speech is still protected by the First Amendment under the Constitution.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
If you want folks to stop saying you're the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people, maybe stop acting like the secret police who are kidnapping and killing people.
Yes pls
Abolish ICE is not enough.
Stern words for Greg Bovino or Kristi Noem is not enough.
We need prosecutions and trials.
Anything short of this position fails to address the gravity of this moment.
Stern words for Greg Bovino or Kristi Noem is not enough.
We need prosecutions and trials.
Anything short of this position fails to address the gravity of this moment.
January 26, 2026 at 6:32 PM
Yes pls
Reposted by Michael Wheeler
Whether it’s liberals peacefully protesting a murder and a child abduction in Minneapolis or conservatives threatening a bloody insurrection in Washington DC, both sides have shattered the norms of civilized behavior
January 23, 2026 at 11:37 PM
Whether it’s liberals peacefully protesting a murder and a child abduction in Minneapolis or conservatives threatening a bloody insurrection in Washington DC, both sides have shattered the norms of civilized behavior
It seems to me the next question facing Canada, and other countries who choose to 'take the sign out of the window', is 'What sign goes up instead?' An empty window devoid of values or purpose will not bind a middle power resistance that will be severely tested. (Democracies of the World Unite?)
January 22, 2026 at 5:26 PM
It seems to me the next question facing Canada, and other countries who choose to 'take the sign out of the window', is 'What sign goes up instead?' An empty window devoid of values or purpose will not bind a middle power resistance that will be severely tested. (Democracies of the World Unite?)
@factorytheatre.bsky.social AD job posted to LinkedIn - but comments are turned off. LOL i woulda done the same. Whoever they get needs to reset the discourse.
January 21, 2026 at 3:31 PM
@factorytheatre.bsky.social AD job posted to LinkedIn - but comments are turned off. LOL i woulda done the same. Whoever they get needs to reset the discourse.
I can only assume Carney chose to structure his historic speech around the words of Vaclav Havel because of the economic benefits his plays generated for the Czech Republic economy.
January 21, 2026 at 12:48 PM
I can only assume Carney chose to structure his historic speech around the words of Vaclav Havel because of the economic benefits his plays generated for the Czech Republic economy.
The thing that jumped out for me the most from the NYT piece on Carney's speech was:
"It highlighted the Canadian prime minister’s motives for flexing his rhetorical muscle on the Davos stage: Canada’s economic and, perhaps literal, survival."
'Will Canada survive? An open question.'
"It highlighted the Canadian prime minister’s motives for flexing his rhetorical muscle on the Davos stage: Canada’s economic and, perhaps literal, survival."
'Will Canada survive? An open question.'
January 21, 2026 at 12:16 PM
The thing that jumped out for me the most from the NYT piece on Carney's speech was:
"It highlighted the Canadian prime minister’s motives for flexing his rhetorical muscle on the Davos stage: Canada’s economic and, perhaps literal, survival."
'Will Canada survive? An open question.'
"It highlighted the Canadian prime minister’s motives for flexing his rhetorical muscle on the Davos stage: Canada’s economic and, perhaps literal, survival."
'Will Canada survive? An open question.'