Michael Scherer
@michaelscherer.bsky.social
Staff Writer at The Atlantic. Previously at the Washington Post, TIME, Salon, others. Signal: michaelscherer.11
https://www.theatlantic.com/author/michael-scherer/
https://www.theatlantic.com/author/michael-scherer/
Reposted by Michael Scherer
Parents have been expressing concern about their kids’ screen time for years—but what about their grandparents'? @cwarzel.bsky.social on the phone-based retirement:
The Phone-Based Retirement Is Here
Do your parents have a screen-time problem?
bit.ly
January 1, 2026 at 6:15 AM
Parents have been expressing concern about their kids’ screen time for years—but what about their grandparents'? @cwarzel.bsky.social on the phone-based retirement:
Reposted by Michael Scherer
"Beforehand, according to an American official present, Mr. Hegseth dabbed his nose with powder from a small compact. 'Look commanding,' he told one aide. The handshake with the Ukrainian might be shown on Fox; the president might be watching." (Gift link)
The Separation: Inside the Unraveling U.S.-Ukraine Partnership
As President Trump sought a peace deal and Vladimir V. Putin sought victory, factions in the White House and Pentagon bled the Ukrainian war effort.
www.nytimes.com
December 31, 2025 at 7:48 PM
"Beforehand, according to an American official present, Mr. Hegseth dabbed his nose with powder from a small compact. 'Look commanding,' he told one aide. The handshake with the Ukrainian might be shown on Fox; the president might be watching." (Gift link)
Reposted by Michael Scherer
A wave of large-scale studies is quantifying how early smartphone access and heavy screen use can harm adolescent minds.
The numbers suggest screens are taking a broader, deeper toll on teens than many expected.
The numbers suggest screens are taking a broader, deeper toll on teens than many expected.
This is your teen’s brain on phones and social media, according to science
A wave of new studies is shedding light on the risks of early smartphone access and heavy screen use for adolescent mental health and development.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:00 PM
A wave of large-scale studies is quantifying how early smartphone access and heavy screen use can harm adolescent minds.
The numbers suggest screens are taking a broader, deeper toll on teens than many expected.
The numbers suggest screens are taking a broader, deeper toll on teens than many expected.
Reposted by Michael Scherer
Why Is RFK Jr. So Convinced He’s Right? How an outsider, once ignored by the public-health establishment, became the most powerful man in science, by @michaelscherer.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202... via @theatlantic.com
Why Is Robert F. Kennedy Jr. So Convinced He’s Right?
How an outsider, once ignored by the public-health establishment, became the most powerful man in science
www.theatlantic.com
December 24, 2025 at 4:36 PM
Why Is RFK Jr. So Convinced He’s Right? How an outsider, once ignored by the public-health establishment, became the most powerful man in science, by @michaelscherer.bsky.social www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202... via @theatlantic.com
Reposted by Michael Scherer
Y’all might not appreciate it, but it took him 87 moves and 14 hours to get here
December 26, 2025 at 12:48 PM
Y’all might not appreciate it, but it took him 87 moves and 14 hours to get here
Reposted by Michael Scherer
A Gift Guide From the Trump Administration? Alexandra Petri imagines the perfect recommendations from the White House for everyone in the family!
The Trump Administration’s Guide to Christmas Giving
A piece of East Wing Rubble? An MRI for no reason? The options are endless!
bit.ly
December 22, 2025 at 7:15 PM
A Gift Guide From the Trump Administration? Alexandra Petri imagines the perfect recommendations from the White House for everyone in the family!
Reposted by Michael Scherer
👀⚖️ Epstein took the Fifth many times with respect to Dershowitz as well. #DOJ #Epstein files www.justice.gov/multimedia/C...
December 22, 2025 at 2:54 PM
👀⚖️ Epstein took the Fifth many times with respect to Dershowitz as well. #DOJ #Epstein files www.justice.gov/multimedia/C...
Reposted by Michael Scherer
PNC's Christmas Price Index: Up 4.5% YoY... thanks to those 5 Golden Rings JPMAM
There has also been notable Partridge in a Pear Tree inflation, as we all know.
There has also been notable Partridge in a Pear Tree inflation, as we all know.
December 22, 2025 at 1:46 PM
PNC's Christmas Price Index: Up 4.5% YoY... thanks to those 5 Golden Rings JPMAM
There has also been notable Partridge in a Pear Tree inflation, as we all know.
There has also been notable Partridge in a Pear Tree inflation, as we all know.
Reposted by Michael Scherer
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
December 22, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Per NY Times’s Michael Grynbaum on X, this is Sharyn Alfonsi’s email to her “60 Minutes” colleagues in full:
Reposted by Michael Scherer
BREAKING: At least 16 files from the Epstein release disappeared from DOJ's webpage, including a photo of Trump, with no explanation.
At least 16 files have disappeared from the DOJ webpage for documents related to Jeffrey Epstein
The Justice Department’s webpage for documents related to sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is missing at least 16 of its files a day after they were released.
bit.ly
December 20, 2025 at 9:30 PM
BREAKING: At least 16 files from the Epstein release disappeared from DOJ's webpage, including a photo of Trump, with no explanation.
Reposted by Michael Scherer
EXCLUSIVE: The FDA voucher program has become a vehicle for politicization of drug review, staffers say. Staff have been forced to award certain companies vouchers due to White House deals, and at least one voucher was awarded despite staff concerns.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/f...
FDA voucher program has become vehicle for political interference in drug review decisions, staffers say
Two government officials told STAT that the White House has been involved in final decisions about the FDA's new priority review voucher program for drug companies.
www.statnews.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:25 PM
EXCLUSIVE: The FDA voucher program has become a vehicle for politicization of drug review, staffers say. Staff have been forced to award certain companies vouchers due to White House deals, and at least one voucher was awarded despite staff concerns.
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/f...
www.statnews.com/2025/12/19/f...
Reposted by Michael Scherer
The White House says the Kennedy Center board vote was “unanimous”…
BULLSHIT.
@repbeatty.bsky.social, a Congressional member of the board, was on the call. They muted her and didn't let her voice opposition.
This is beyond absurd, totally illegal, and a disgrace to the memory and legacy of JFK.
BULLSHIT.
@repbeatty.bsky.social, a Congressional member of the board, was on the call. They muted her and didn't let her voice opposition.
This is beyond absurd, totally illegal, and a disgrace to the memory and legacy of JFK.
December 18, 2025 at 9:13 PM
The White House says the Kennedy Center board vote was “unanimous”…
BULLSHIT.
@repbeatty.bsky.social, a Congressional member of the board, was on the call. They muted her and didn't let her voice opposition.
This is beyond absurd, totally illegal, and a disgrace to the memory and legacy of JFK.
BULLSHIT.
@repbeatty.bsky.social, a Congressional member of the board, was on the call. They muted her and didn't let her voice opposition.
This is beyond absurd, totally illegal, and a disgrace to the memory and legacy of JFK.
Reposted by Michael Scherer
FOX: If you cut something by 100%, the cost goes down to 0. If you cut it by 600%, the drug companies are actually paying you
LUTNICK: What he's saying is if a drug was $100 and you bring it down to $13, it's down 7 times
F: Not a 600% cut
L: But it's 700% higher price before. It's down 700% now
LUTNICK: What he's saying is if a drug was $100 and you bring it down to $13, it's down 7 times
F: Not a 600% cut
L: But it's 700% higher price before. It's down 700% now
December 18, 2025 at 8:10 PM
FOX: If you cut something by 100%, the cost goes down to 0. If you cut it by 600%, the drug companies are actually paying you
LUTNICK: What he's saying is if a drug was $100 and you bring it down to $13, it's down 7 times
F: Not a 600% cut
L: But it's 700% higher price before. It's down 700% now
LUTNICK: What he's saying is if a drug was $100 and you bring it down to $13, it's down 7 times
F: Not a 600% cut
L: But it's 700% higher price before. It's down 700% now
Reposted by Michael Scherer
I asked the DNC directly if any key party actors pressed the committee to keep these findings under wraps, and whether the report found that Future Forward failed in major ways. Here's their answer:
newrepublic.com/article/2045...
newrepublic.com/article/2045...
December 18, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I asked the DNC directly if any key party actors pressed the committee to keep these findings under wraps, and whether the report found that Future Forward failed in major ways. Here's their answer:
newrepublic.com/article/2045...
newrepublic.com/article/2045...
Reposted by Michael Scherer
Trump is not mentioned in Reagan's diaries.
President Donald Trump has added partisan and subjective plaques to a refashioned West Wing walkway he calls the Presidential Walk of Fame. The plaques include bombastic language, from “Sleepy Joe” Biden references to painting Republican icon Ronald Reagan as a fan of a young Trump.
Trump writes partisan plaques for predecessors in his newly installed Presidential Walk of Fame
President Donald Trump has added partisan and subjective plaques to a refashioned West Wing walkway he calls the Presidential Walk of Fame.
bit.ly
December 18, 2025 at 6:03 PM
Trump is not mentioned in Reagan's diaries.
Reposted by Michael Scherer
Amazon sold a case of Kleenex to Denver Schools for $36.91, while Pittsburgh Schools paid $57.99. @naomibethune.bsky.social reports on the ways that Amazon gouges prices and cons schools: trib.al/3lIkIbI
Amazon Has Been Conning School Districts out of Millions - The American Prospect
Amazon Business is billed as a convenient one-stop shop for schools. Reality is more expensive.
trib.al
December 17, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Amazon sold a case of Kleenex to Denver Schools for $36.91, while Pittsburgh Schools paid $57.99. @naomibethune.bsky.social reports on the ways that Amazon gouges prices and cons schools: trib.al/3lIkIbI
Reposted by Michael Scherer
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
After Trump Officials Cut Food Aid to Kenya, Children Starved to Death
“Brutal and traumatizing”: Interviews and a trove of internal documents show government officials and aid workers desperately tried to warn Trump advisers about impending disaster and death.
www.propublica.org
December 17, 2025 at 12:00 PM
NEW: Without USAID funding to help buy food for refugees, the World Food Program rushed to prioritize families based on need, determining that only half the population would get food.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Refugees learned which half they were in from a number stamped on the back of their ration card.
Reposted by Michael Scherer
NEW: A hacker gained control of 1,100 mobile phones powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok. Then, he shared details of the operation with 404 Media.
A look inside how startup Doublespeed, which is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), is creating AI spam pages on TikTok to promote products.
A look inside how startup Doublespeed, which is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), is creating AI spam pages on TikTok to promote products.
Hack Reveals the a16z-Backed Phone Farm Flooding TikTok With AI Influencers
A hacker gained control of a 1,100 mobile phone farm powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok.
www.404media.co
December 17, 2025 at 2:22 PM
NEW: A hacker gained control of 1,100 mobile phones powering covert, AI-generated ads on TikTok. Then, he shared details of the operation with 404 Media.
A look inside how startup Doublespeed, which is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), is creating AI spam pages on TikTok to promote products.
A look inside how startup Doublespeed, which is backed by Andreessen Horowitz (a16z), is creating AI spam pages on TikTok to promote products.
Reposted by Michael Scherer
More than 2,900 attorneys quit the Justice Department or were fired during the first 10 months of this year -- about triple the number who depart in a typical year. personnel records obtained by Reuters show.
December 17, 2025 at 11:45 AM
More than 2,900 attorneys quit the Justice Department or were fired during the first 10 months of this year -- about triple the number who depart in a typical year. personnel records obtained by Reuters show.
Reposted by Michael Scherer
John Oliver really was not kidding about the overwhelming rebellious power of just saying “Fuck you, make me.”
we can kill them all if we just work together and ✨believe💫
December 15, 2025 at 8:49 PM
John Oliver really was not kidding about the overwhelming rebellious power of just saying “Fuck you, make me.”
I enjoyed this converstion about my RFK Jr story podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
How RFK Jr.’s tumultuous past has shaped his convictions
Podcast Episode · Apple News In Conversation · 12/11/2025 · 31m
podcasts.apple.com
December 14, 2025 at 4:31 PM
I enjoyed this converstion about my RFK Jr story podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/a...
Reposted by Michael Scherer
“Therapy-speak” terms such as “gaslighting” and “love-bombing” have become ubiquitous, @olgakhazan.bsky.social writes. She asked couples therapists how these labels are affecting actual therapy:
Why Couples Therapists Are Sick of ‘Therapy-Speak’
What happens when spouses accuse each other of gaslighting? Nothing good.
bit.ly
December 13, 2025 at 4:15 AM
“Therapy-speak” terms such as “gaslighting” and “love-bombing” have become ubiquitous, @olgakhazan.bsky.social writes. She asked couples therapists how these labels are affecting actual therapy: