Your Friend Michael
@michaelpg.bsky.social
We could be doing so much better than this.
"Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value." -Joe Biden, who never actually wanted people to hold him to that ...
"Don't tell me what you value. Show me your budget, and I'll tell you what you value." -Joe Biden, who never actually wanted people to hold him to that ...
Pinned
You've asked, you've begged, (you haven't this is rhetorical), and here it is: An Andor/Dril Season 2 Thread! Since I put half the EU in the Season 1 thread (embedded below), I'm instead going to focus on our special boy, Syril Karn.
(Spoilers for Andor S2 follow)
Fig. 1 - Syril at the office.
(Spoilers for Andor S2 follow)
Fig. 1 - Syril at the office.
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
In Italy labor unions helped start a network of left-leaning news/music radio stations that have become some of the staples of public information in much of the country. They now run on a donation / ads model, but initial investment was from labor. I think about this often.
The AFL-CIO should start throwing some money towards labor journalism. If it was done right (i.e. with them accepting that journalists must have full editorial control over what’s published, whether or not union leaders like what they have to say) it could really have such a hugely positive impact
November 7, 2025 at 2:09 PM
In Italy labor unions helped start a network of left-leaning news/music radio stations that have become some of the staples of public information in much of the country. They now run on a donation / ads model, but initial investment was from labor. I think about this often.
Skibidi Healthcare
November 11, 2025 at 5:18 AM
Skibidi Healthcare
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
whatever happened to the good old days when (flipping through book) when uhh (flipping more pages) when you could expect (flipping) now hold on a second
UPDATE: The Senate votes 53-47 to shoot down the Baldwin amendment to extend ACA funds for 1 year. A party-line vote with every Republican rejecting it.
An important vote in this series: Tammy Baldwin’s proposal to extend ACA expiring funds for 1 year. It’s structured as a motion to table (i.e. scrap it from the amendment tree). But it’ll show the appetite (or lack thereof) in the Senate to address this issue.
November 11, 2025 at 2:19 AM
whatever happened to the good old days when (flipping through book) when uhh (flipping more pages) when you could expect (flipping) now hold on a second
I love the stove touching impulse to fuck w everyone's drugs while they make things more expensive...
More than 15 Senate Democrats join GOP to advance nationwide ban on hemp products, including CBD gummies,
oh the paul amendment is going down 78-22
November 11, 2025 at 2:52 AM
I love the stove touching impulse to fuck w everyone's drugs while they make things more expensive...
You know who wrote a bunch of books from 1870 to 1930 Marc? Samuel Clemens AKA MARK TWAIN and he would have HAAAAAATED BOTH OF YOU PREENING WEALTHY DICKS.
*maximum alpha at 1.25x speed* continuously lives on in my head, unfortunately.
November 11, 2025 at 2:37 AM
You know who wrote a bunch of books from 1870 to 1930 Marc? Samuel Clemens AKA MARK TWAIN and he would have HAAAAAATED BOTH OF YOU PREENING WEALTHY DICKS.
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
November 10, 2025 at 2:45 AM
Tonight’s dumb napkin cartoon…
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
Jeffries and Schumer are a team. h/t @aaronparnas.bsky.social
November 10, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Jeffries and Schumer are a team. h/t @aaronparnas.bsky.social
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
we should not be letting any company get away with blaming AI for their failures. I'm not even sure how we got to this point. people are like "it's just a tool" okay so is a forklift and we still hold somebody responsible when it goes wrong and hurts someone. this is YOUR AI!
November 10, 2025 at 4:05 PM
we should not be letting any company get away with blaming AI for their failures. I'm not even sure how we got to this point. people are like "it's just a tool" okay so is a forklift and we still hold somebody responsible when it goes wrong and hurts someone. this is YOUR AI!
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
a few months ago I said "having generative AI handle absolutely anything with regards to healthcare is a nightmare and should be banned" and a bunch of people made fun of me and called me stupid. anyways,
November 10, 2025 at 4:00 PM
a few months ago I said "having generative AI handle absolutely anything with regards to healthcare is a nightmare and should be banned" and a bunch of people made fun of me and called me stupid. anyways,
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
Enough is enough. Contact your Democratic senators TODAY and tell them to call for Senator Schumer to step aside as Minority Leader. We desperately need new leadership in the Democratic Party.
CALL NOW: Tell Your Democratic Senator It's Time for Chuck Schumer to Step Aside
indivisible.org
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Enough is enough. Contact your Democratic senators TODAY and tell them to call for Senator Schumer to step aside as Minority Leader. We desperately need new leadership in the Democratic Party.
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
A govt shutdown is like a strike in the sense that before you start it you MUST have a concrete idea of what your leverage is and what will cause your opponent to fold. Ironically the Dems' strongest leverage point was probably "fucked up Thanksgiving travel" and they folded just before it came.
November 10, 2025 at 2:40 PM
A govt shutdown is like a strike in the sense that before you start it you MUST have a concrete idea of what your leverage is and what will cause your opponent to fold. Ironically the Dems' strongest leverage point was probably "fucked up Thanksgiving travel" and they folded just before it came.
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
To repeat: I have studied a lot of cases of autocratization over the past 15 years. Wrote about them, taught about them, consulting about them.
I do not recall an opposition so apathetic, ignorant, and inept as the @democrats.org. They cling to their power, rather than fight for democracy. Shame.
I do not recall an opposition so apathetic, ignorant, and inept as the @democrats.org. They cling to their power, rather than fight for democracy. Shame.
March 13, 2025 at 11:22 PM
To repeat: I have studied a lot of cases of autocratization over the past 15 years. Wrote about them, taught about them, consulting about them.
I do not recall an opposition so apathetic, ignorant, and inept as the @democrats.org. They cling to their power, rather than fight for democracy. Shame.
I do not recall an opposition so apathetic, ignorant, and inept as the @democrats.org. They cling to their power, rather than fight for democracy. Shame.
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
one thing i do remember is that the republican party, before it went MAGA, was too weak to keep MAGA from taking it over. remember trump steamrolling all of those guys and now he tells them what to do and the worst elements of his base are in charge. democrats seem that weak now too. no control
November 10, 2025 at 2:25 PM
one thing i do remember is that the republican party, before it went MAGA, was too weak to keep MAGA from taking it over. remember trump steamrolling all of those guys and now he tells them what to do and the worst elements of his base are in charge. democrats seem that weak now too. no control
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
This is exactly correct.
Assume all the yes and no votes from Dem senators are strategic and not sincere votes. The party caucus made a decision. No way to know how many were in favor. Then the caucus decided who would vote yes and no based on what would protect each of them politically the most. That’s how this works.
November 10, 2025 at 1:50 PM
This is exactly correct.
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
we can't lose the filibuster, a procedural anomaly only our opponents take advantage of, because if we try to use it they threaten to end it, though they actually won't, since they use it
We need to kill the filibuster if only so the student government people doing real government jobs can’t keep not doing actual stuff out of Fear They Could Lose The Filibuster
November 10, 2025 at 1:53 PM
we can't lose the filibuster, a procedural anomaly only our opponents take advantage of, because if we try to use it they threaten to end it, though they actually won't, since they use it
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
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 Your Friend Michael
The model of holding individual senators responsible is broken here. The retirees clearly agreed to take the fall. Which is why the nos should get no credit for voting no unless they move to oust Schumer
November 10, 2025 at 3:20 AM
The model of holding individual senators responsible is broken here. The retirees clearly agreed to take the fall. Which is why the nos should get no credit for voting no unless they move to oust Schumer
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
Since the Democrats worked extra hard to hide who actually supported this, I think the No Kings/Resistance position should be to primary every Democrat unless they publicly call for Schumer's ouster this week
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
November 10, 2025 at 2:34 AM
Since the Democrats worked extra hard to hide who actually supported this, I think the No Kings/Resistance position should be to primary every Democrat unless they publicly call for Schumer's ouster this week
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
Either they go into total rebellion mode, which they won't, or the people will
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
I've checked, @hassan.senate.gov, and CareFirst doesn't allow me to pay my health insurance premium with "shame"
Agree.
Sen Hassan, asked what will happen if Republicans don't carry out the deal, "Well, shame on them."
This is not what people were mobilizing for on Oct 18.
Sen Hassan, asked what will happen if Republicans don't carry out the deal, "Well, shame on them."
This is not what people were mobilizing for on Oct 18.
November 10, 2025 at 3:10 AM
I've checked, @hassan.senate.gov, and CareFirst doesn't allow me to pay my health insurance premium with "shame"
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
This is intentional, the Dem caucus caved and nominated those 8 to take the fall.
Not a single one of the eight up for reelection this coming cycle. 🤔
THE FOLLOWING DEMOCRATIC SENATORS VOTE “YES” ON THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION IN EXCHANGE FOR NOTHING:
MAGGIE HASSAN (NH)
CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO (NV)
JEANNE SHAHEEN (NH)
JACKY ROSEN (NV)
DICK DURBIN (IL)
TIM KAINE (VA)
ANGUS KING (ME)
JOHN FETTERMAN (PA)
ITS OVER
MAGGIE HASSAN (NH)
CATHERINE CORTEZ MASTO (NV)
JEANNE SHAHEEN (NH)
JACKY ROSEN (NV)
DICK DURBIN (IL)
TIM KAINE (VA)
ANGUS KING (ME)
JOHN FETTERMAN (PA)
ITS OVER
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 AM
This is intentional, the Dem caucus caved and nominated those 8 to take the fall.
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
Many people think this race could be decided by only a handful of votes (here’s former Seattle mayor Greg Nickels). Have YOU checked to make sure that yours was counted? Check our link in bio to check on your vote with King County elections!
November 9, 2025 at 11:51 PM
Many people think this race could be decided by only a handful of votes (here’s former Seattle mayor Greg Nickels). Have YOU checked to make sure that yours was counted? Check our link in bio to check on your vote with King County elections!
Reposted by Your Friend Michael
I think it would be very good for caucus health to take down someone who’s been squishy in in 2026
they need to understand the depth of the anger
they need to understand the depth of the anger
November 10, 2025 at 2:04 AM
I think it would be very good for caucus health to take down someone who’s been squishy in in 2026
they need to understand the depth of the anger
they need to understand the depth of the anger