Chris Nehls
@nehls.bsky.social
Senior advisor @americalabs Congressional reform, democracy, civic tech. US History PhD. 3x Wahoo. Back from Japan. Let's Go Mets. 🏀. wants to know the exact dimensions of hell
Leader Jeffries’ announcement of a commemorative Jan 6 “hearing” included “kitchen table issues” language ffs.
Broken record: The obsession with "kitchen table issues" imagines an electorate too obtuse or amoral to be reached by any appeal to abstract principle, morality, or any longer-term consideration than the immediate health of their bank account. If that's accurate, the game's already over.
Rep Adam Smith, highest ranking Dem on Armed Services Committee: The consultants keep telling me to talk about kitchen-table issues, but the rule of law is being utterly destroyed in America by Donald Trump.
January 5, 2026 at 11:55 PM
Leader Jeffries’ announcement of a commemorative Jan 6 “hearing” included “kitchen table issues” language ffs.
It has personal, but not collective self interest and a major collective action problem. In part because one party’s base is a bunch of jacked up armed conspiracy nuts.
a lot of problems wouldn't exist if we had a congress with even an ounce of self interest
Honestly insane they didn't brief the gang of eight until it was underway
January 5, 2026 at 1:53 AM
It has personal, but not collective self interest and a major collective action problem. In part because one party’s base is a bunch of jacked up armed conspiracy nuts.
Yes, and hard confirm the second part circa 2017
yep. i can identify any number of structural issues but at the end of the day the basic problem is the republican party. this has been apparent for at least 20 years. it is also an incredibly unpopular observation to make among “serious” people.
Right.
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
If you want a good explanation of why the American system of government worked well enough for 200 years and then suddenly stopped, it's because Republicans in Congress suddenly started letting their partisan interests COMPLETELY override their institutional interests
January 5, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Yes, and hard confirm the second part circa 2017
The domestic passport holder facial recognition at IAH is actually this
peter griffin from family guy holding a note that says not okay
ALT: peter griffin from family guy holding a note that says not okay
media.tenor.com
January 5, 2026 at 1:37 AM
The domestic passport holder facial recognition at IAH is actually this
Reposted by Chris Nehls
this is basically ricks' argument in THE GENERALS: that the structure of the american military (and political leadership) has generated an enormously competent professional force... that consistently generates useless results because of a void of strategic thinking at the top
January 4, 2026 at 1:51 PM
this is basically ricks' argument in THE GENERALS: that the structure of the american military (and political leadership) has generated an enormously competent professional force... that consistently generates useless results because of a void of strategic thinking at the top
Unfortunately, the only miss in @shteyngart.bsky.social Super Sad True Love Story officially now is the see-through pants
January 3, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Unfortunately, the only miss in @shteyngart.bsky.social Super Sad True Love Story officially now is the see-through pants
This is the Make-A-Wish administration for Republicans cretins and it’s Rubio’s turn
January 3, 2026 at 1:29 PM
This is the Make-A-Wish administration for Republicans cretins and it’s Rubio’s turn
Wait, did he work in philanthropy?
Mamdani: For too long, those fluent in the good grammar of civility have deployed decorum to mask agendas of cruelty
January 1, 2026 at 8:47 PM
Wait, did he work in philanthropy?
Reposted by Chris Nehls
this new years eve I'm reminded of an old Soviet toast: Here's to another average year - worse than the one before it, but better than the one ahead
December 31, 2025 at 8:43 PM
this new years eve I'm reminded of an old Soviet toast: Here's to another average year - worse than the one before it, but better than the one ahead
Tulum is crazy- mad rush of resort building in a jungle and the gov can’t afford to pave the roads so all the euro trash are walking thru flooded sand roads. Tons of half-finished buildings rotting. Like if AI was a town. Gorgeous surroundings tho
December 29, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Tulum is crazy- mad rush of resort building in a jungle and the gov can’t afford to pave the roads so all the euro trash are walking thru flooded sand roads. Tons of half-finished buildings rotting. Like if AI was a town. Gorgeous surroundings tho
Met this absolute unit of a reptile today - Sian Ka’an, Mexico
December 29, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Met this absolute unit of a reptile today - Sian Ka’an, Mexico
Love me a pooch punt
December 28, 2025 at 3:03 AM
Love me a pooch punt
Reposted by Chris Nehls
Merry Christmas!!
December 25, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Merry Christmas!!
Sitting here in suburban Richmond w my parents complaining about how shitty the (mostly chain) restaurants are. Ask about places in the city and they reply “we don’t go into Richmond.” Because woke. Boomers love self-immiseration
Great profile of a great little city! (Although it somehow neglects to mention 8 1/2) www.nytimes.com/2025/12/24/r...
Richmond, Va.: A City Transforming
www.nytimes.com
December 24, 2025 at 1:15 PM
Sitting here in suburban Richmond w my parents complaining about how shitty the (mostly chain) restaurants are. Ask about places in the city and they reply “we don’t go into Richmond.” Because woke. Boomers love self-immiseration
Reposted by Chris Nehls
"Miller did not respond to several interview requests but in July of this year he did say he wanted to 'expunge the wretched pathogen from our nation's bloodstream,' which feels relevant to this story."
December 22, 2025 at 11:39 PM
"Miller did not respond to several interview requests but in July of this year he did say he wanted to 'expunge the wretched pathogen from our nation's bloodstream,' which feels relevant to this story."
in which @americalabs.org and I see a little light for Congress in discharge petition action and the hope for stronger intraparty factions. Less leadership control and more agency for groups of members to work out deals we think is the path forward, regardless of who controls the 120th Congress
A Fracturing Majority, a More Fluid House
Discharge petitions, factional alliances, and stormy political waters are prompting some members to consider a different course
open.substack.com
December 22, 2025 at 2:59 PM
in which @americalabs.org and I see a little light for Congress in discharge petition action and the hope for stronger intraparty factions. Less leadership control and more agency for groups of members to work out deals we think is the path forward, regardless of who controls the 120th Congress
Reposted by Chris Nehls
In the summer of 1950 most US newspapers ran an AP story about how race had become the main issue in the upcoming Georgia governor's race. Segregationist Herman Tallmadge, governor from '47 to '55 and then a Senator until 1981 made a name for himself by refusing to "apologize for being a white man."
December 21, 2025 at 10:57 PM
In the summer of 1950 most US newspapers ran an AP story about how race had become the main issue in the upcoming Georgia governor's race. Segregationist Herman Tallmadge, governor from '47 to '55 and then a Senator until 1981 made a name for himself by refusing to "apologize for being a white man."
Reposted by Chris Nehls
started / going
December 18, 2025 at 12:13 AM
started / going
I’m assuming TJ Power was involved
Rutgers needed a last second game-winning 3 to win a home game against Penn, the No. 247 ranked team in KenPom, and it came because of the most hilariously sad breakdown by Penn.
December 21, 2025 at 3:25 AM
I’m assuming TJ Power was involved
The linemen are much faster than me in my prime. I remember watching Ken Oxendine run for like 300 yards against my AAAAA HS and being like I’m so glad I’m not out there
been thinking about that “if you had 10 carries behind an NFL line, could you get a first down” hypothetical
and the trickier question is this: assuming you don’t slide, could you make it through all ten carries without fumbling
and the trickier question is this: assuming you don’t slide, could you make it through all ten carries without fumbling
December 21, 2025 at 3:07 AM
The linemen are much faster than me in my prime. I remember watching Ken Oxendine run for like 300 yards against my AAAAA HS and being like I’m so glad I’m not out there
Reposted by Chris Nehls
Can’t wait for people to hear our new album The Velvet Underground & Nico & Mogwai
December 19, 2025 at 8:16 PM
Can’t wait for people to hear our new album The Velvet Underground & Nico & Mogwai
“The Human Genome Project was a $3 billion investment, and what did we find out?” says Thomas Hartung, a toxicologist at Johns Hopkins. “Five percent of all disease is purely genetic. Less than 40 percent of diseases even have a genetic component.”
www.wired.com/story/scient...
www.wired.com/story/scient...
Scientists Thought Parkinson’s Was in Our Genes. It Might Be in the Water
New ideas about chronic illness could revolutionize treatment, if we take the research seriously.
www.wired.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:36 PM
“The Human Genome Project was a $3 billion investment, and what did we find out?” says Thomas Hartung, a toxicologist at Johns Hopkins. “Five percent of all disease is purely genetic. Less than 40 percent of diseases even have a genetic component.”
www.wired.com/story/scient...
www.wired.com/story/scient...
I’d buy this because I don’t think enough people are taking Miller and Vought seriously enough and don’t want to admit we’re in a Gang of Four situation
I keep saying this but no one is connecting the dots. The war is to satisfy legal preconditions for mass removal *domestically* of Latinos (i.e., suddenly a lot of people are going to be “Venezuelan” for purposes of removal). This is 100% Stephen Miller…oil claim is to make grandpa go along
There is no national security logic that would impel the US to want to do regime change in Venezuela. It's simply not that important. I'm not even sure wag the dog is the right metaphor for what's happening here. Seems like an insane misallocation of US national security assets and attention.
December 19, 2025 at 12:29 PM
I’d buy this because I don’t think enough people are taking Miller and Vought seriously enough and don’t want to admit we’re in a Gang of Four situation
Reposted by Chris Nehls
People have been explaining since the moment "Popularism" became a thing that it is based on a fatally flawed understanding of how public opinion actually works and I long ago concluded that it's simply too profitable for them, personally, to keep repeating it for anyone to care that it's wrong.
December 18, 2025 at 6:32 PM
People have been explaining since the moment "Popularism" became a thing that it is based on a fatally flawed understanding of how public opinion actually works and I long ago concluded that it's simply too profitable for them, personally, to keep repeating it for anyone to care that it's wrong.
Reposted by Chris Nehls
Maybe giving the speaker unilateral adjournment/recess authority wasn’t such a great idea.
NEW: Rep. Mike Lawler tells me Speaker Johnson should bring the 3 year ACA extension for a vote BEFORE they leave for the holiday break.
“I think it should. I think we should have an up or down vote before we leave.”
“I think it should. I think we should have an up or down vote before we leave.”
December 17, 2025 at 4:42 PM
Maybe giving the speaker unilateral adjournment/recess authority wasn’t such a great idea.