The Shallow State
@ourshallowstate.bsky.social
Behavioral science. Politics. Documentary films. Commentary. Snark. Truth. Dogs.*
* esp. beagles.
#UNFIT (2020). #UNTRUTH (2022/2024).
We WILL resist, support each other, AND enjoy life while we do.
* esp. beagles.
#UNFIT (2020). #UNTRUTH (2022/2024).
We WILL resist, support each other, AND enjoy life while we do.
Pinned
Here's how they report on him in the UK, where their free press has a spine.
In 5 days, Jack Smith will testify publicly before Congress. Americans will hear directly from him about the two historic probes - the classified documents and January 6th cases - which led to indictments of Trump.
Whatever mega-distractions he engineers, let's be sure not to get distracted.
Whatever mega-distractions he engineers, let's be sure not to get distracted.
January 18, 2026 at 12:21 AM
In 5 days, Jack Smith will testify publicly before Congress. Americans will hear directly from him about the two historic probes - the classified documents and January 6th cases - which led to indictments of Trump.
Whatever mega-distractions he engineers, let's be sure not to get distracted.
Whatever mega-distractions he engineers, let's be sure not to get distracted.
If you were part of Trump 2.0 and you wanted to send a message to Russia and China that America was in the process of becoming a full-on autocracy and would, in time, be amenable to divvying up the world with them, you probably wouldn't do anything differently from what you were doing now.
January 17, 2026 at 11:54 PM
If you were part of Trump 2.0 and you wanted to send a message to Russia and China that America was in the process of becoming a full-on autocracy and would, in time, be amenable to divvying up the world with them, you probably wouldn't do anything differently from what you were doing now.
A cranky 79-year-old Floridian man with limited vocabulary, whose face is painted in orange pigment, hand is bandaged, pants are girdled, and hair is indescribable, desperately seeks to distract from his misfortunes to regain grandiosity by bullying other world leaders who make fun of him regularly.
January 17, 2026 at 8:01 PM
A cranky 79-year-old Floridian man with limited vocabulary, whose face is painted in orange pigment, hand is bandaged, pants are girdled, and hair is indescribable, desperately seeks to distract from his misfortunes to regain grandiosity by bullying other world leaders who make fun of him regularly.
In a new CNN poll, 58% of Americans say Trump's first year has been a failure. That number is at two-thirds for independents. This is significant, in that it's a counter to his direct narrative.
It's not talking disapproval - it's talking FAILURE.
It's not talking disapproval - it's talking FAILURE.
January 17, 2026 at 12:38 AM
In a new CNN poll, 58% of Americans say Trump's first year has been a failure. That number is at two-thirds for independents. This is significant, in that it's a counter to his direct narrative.
It's not talking disapproval - it's talking FAILURE.
It's not talking disapproval - it's talking FAILURE.
When Republicans complain about Trump being treated differently than others, they're speaking an accidental truth. Had Trump been treated the same as any other citizen, four trials comprising 88 charges would have been adjudicated, and he'd be serving several lifetimes in jail.
January 16, 2026 at 10:55 PM
When Republicans complain about Trump being treated differently than others, they're speaking an accidental truth. Had Trump been treated the same as any other citizen, four trials comprising 88 charges would have been adjudicated, and he'd be serving several lifetimes in jail.
The score remains unchanged.
NOBEL PRIZES WON:
Obama: 1
Trump: 0
NOBEL PRIZES WON:
Obama: 1
Trump: 0
January 16, 2026 at 8:58 PM
The score remains unchanged.
NOBEL PRIZES WON:
Obama: 1
Trump: 0
NOBEL PRIZES WON:
Obama: 1
Trump: 0
“Come senators, congressmen; Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway; Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside a-ragin'!
It'll soon shake your windows, and rattle your walls
For the times, they are a-changin'!”
Don't stand in the doorway; Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside a-ragin'!
It'll soon shake your windows, and rattle your walls
For the times, they are a-changin'!”
January 16, 2026 at 8:50 PM
“Come senators, congressmen; Please heed the call
Don't stand in the doorway; Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside a-ragin'!
It'll soon shake your windows, and rattle your walls
For the times, they are a-changin'!”
Don't stand in the doorway; Don't block up the hall
For he that gets hurt will be he who has stalled
There's a battle outside a-ragin'!
It'll soon shake your windows, and rattle your walls
For the times, they are a-changin'!”
Trumpers are over-emotionalized. And it's easier to feel, than to think. At their core, is fear and insecurity. They've bought into the same argument religion uses - belief is as authentic as fact.
Trumpers' "beliefs" are sold to them by conmen and grifters. And THAT'S why Trumpers are chumps.
Trumpers' "beliefs" are sold to them by conmen and grifters. And THAT'S why Trumpers are chumps.
January 16, 2026 at 12:29 AM
Trumpers are over-emotionalized. And it's easier to feel, than to think. At their core, is fear and insecurity. They've bought into the same argument religion uses - belief is as authentic as fact.
Trumpers' "beliefs" are sold to them by conmen and grifters. And THAT'S why Trumpers are chumps.
Trumpers' "beliefs" are sold to them by conmen and grifters. And THAT'S why Trumpers are chumps.
Now that María Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump, we can go back to wondering who he is going to invade, abduct, or bomb next.
January 15, 2026 at 11:38 PM
Now that María Corina Machado gave her Nobel Peace Prize to Trump, we can go back to wondering who he is going to invade, abduct, or bomb next.
We released the film #UNFIT in 2020, a few months before the election. It largely introduced malignant narcissism and gaslighting into the lexicon and warned about ... so much of what we're seeing now.
This was a :30 spot we were able to air one time during Fox and Friends.
This was a :30 spot we were able to air one time during Fox and Friends.
January 15, 2026 at 2:31 AM
We released the film #UNFIT in 2020, a few months before the election. It largely introduced malignant narcissism and gaslighting into the lexicon and warned about ... so much of what we're seeing now.
This was a :30 spot we were able to air one time during Fox and Friends.
This was a :30 spot we were able to air one time during Fox and Friends.
In all the coverage about ICE, much of which is done well, not enough emphasis is being placed on the fact that ICE's biggest presences, and most aggressive behavior aimed at social upheaval, IS POLITICALLY PARTISAN. These are ALL blue states.
Therein lies a key motivation. Say it!
Therein lies a key motivation. Say it!
January 14, 2026 at 7:05 PM
In all the coverage about ICE, much of which is done well, not enough emphasis is being placed on the fact that ICE's biggest presences, and most aggressive behavior aimed at social upheaval, IS POLITICALLY PARTISAN. These are ALL blue states.
Therein lies a key motivation. Say it!
Therein lies a key motivation. Say it!
Reposted by The Shallow State
Being trapped inside an abusive system makes even gentle people fantasize about those doing harm losing their power.
Please read, share, and subscribe 👇🏼
Please read, share, and subscribe 👇🏼
Why the Kindest People Are So Angry
This is what an empath feels when they refuse to be silent under authoritarianism
out5p0ken.substack.com
January 13, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Being trapped inside an abusive system makes even gentle people fantasize about those doing harm losing their power.
Please read, share, and subscribe 👇🏼
Please read, share, and subscribe 👇🏼
Karoline Leavitt, with her squinty eyes and smiling lies, has become downright creepy.
January 13, 2026 at 1:53 AM
Karoline Leavitt, with her squinty eyes and smiling lies, has become downright creepy.
Good morning to all who are not dysfunctional, disturbed, desperate, deluded, and dying demagogues; adjudicated rapists, confirmed insurrectionists, and compromised traitors; lunatics, liars, narcissists, nincompoops, sociopaths, simpletons, and societal parasites.
January 12, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Good morning to all who are not dysfunctional, disturbed, desperate, deluded, and dying demagogues; adjudicated rapists, confirmed insurrectionists, and compromised traitors; lunatics, liars, narcissists, nincompoops, sociopaths, simpletons, and societal parasites.
Noem did poorly on Sunday shows today. She also got pelted in a recent House hearing. Recall she cut it short and left, claiming that she had a FEMA meeting to attend, which was already canceled.
War criminals, conspiracy theorists, brain worms, puppy killers - ladies and gents, the Trump Cabinet.
War criminals, conspiracy theorists, brain worms, puppy killers - ladies and gents, the Trump Cabinet.
January 11, 2026 at 9:53 PM
Noem did poorly on Sunday shows today. She also got pelted in a recent House hearing. Recall she cut it short and left, claiming that she had a FEMA meeting to attend, which was already canceled.
War criminals, conspiracy theorists, brain worms, puppy killers - ladies and gents, the Trump Cabinet.
War criminals, conspiracy theorists, brain worms, puppy killers - ladies and gents, the Trump Cabinet.
To be ABSOLUTELY clear:
Trump does NOT have a protracted strategy or plan, ever.
What he THINKS he has, is instincts.
What he ACTUALLY has, are personality disorders.
Everything he says is in pursuit of grandiosity, wealth, or a distraction to cover up crimes.
Trump does NOT have a protracted strategy or plan, ever.
What he THINKS he has, is instincts.
What he ACTUALLY has, are personality disorders.
Everything he says is in pursuit of grandiosity, wealth, or a distraction to cover up crimes.
January 11, 2026 at 7:30 PM
To be ABSOLUTELY clear:
Trump does NOT have a protracted strategy or plan, ever.
What he THINKS he has, is instincts.
What he ACTUALLY has, are personality disorders.
Everything he says is in pursuit of grandiosity, wealth, or a distraction to cover up crimes.
Trump does NOT have a protracted strategy or plan, ever.
What he THINKS he has, is instincts.
What he ACTUALLY has, are personality disorders.
Everything he says is in pursuit of grandiosity, wealth, or a distraction to cover up crimes.
Jonathan Ross is a misogynist and reckless hothead, but here's a behaviorist's view why he fired. Renee said it's OK. She wasn't mad, turning the wheel to leave, in control, HER feelings, driving away made it THE LAST WORD with him subordinate. Shooting her was him saying -who has the last word now?
January 11, 2026 at 3:42 AM
Jonathan Ross is a misogynist and reckless hothead, but here's a behaviorist's view why he fired. Renee said it's OK. She wasn't mad, turning the wheel to leave, in control, HER feelings, driving away made it THE LAST WORD with him subordinate. Shooting her was him saying -who has the last word now?
RIP Bobby Weir
Fare thee well ...
Fare thee well ...
January 11, 2026 at 12:41 AM
RIP Bobby Weir
Fare thee well ...
Fare thee well ...
There are an estimated 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe with an average of 100 billion planets per galaxy, and yet there is no planet in which Renee Good would have been seen as a threat to ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
January 9, 2026 at 8:13 PM
There are an estimated 2 trillion galaxies in the observable universe with an average of 100 billion planets per galaxy, and yet there is no planet in which Renee Good would have been seen as a threat to ICE agent Jonathan Ross.
I'm so grateful to be the kind of American who can carefully watch a video and then tell you accurately what it was that I just saw, and not the other kind of American.
January 8, 2026 at 10:06 PM
I'm so grateful to be the kind of American who can carefully watch a video and then tell you accurately what it was that I just saw, and not the other kind of American.
The video is crystal clear. No need to show it here, it's everywhere.
A Trump ICE agent stood on the side of a vehicle that was slowly driving away, non-confrontationally, and fired into an open window at a 37-year-old woman driver, at point blank range, in the face, killing her.
This was murder.
A Trump ICE agent stood on the side of a vehicle that was slowly driving away, non-confrontationally, and fired into an open window at a 37-year-old woman driver, at point blank range, in the face, killing her.
This was murder.
January 7, 2026 at 9:24 PM
The video is crystal clear. No need to show it here, it's everywhere.
A Trump ICE agent stood on the side of a vehicle that was slowly driving away, non-confrontationally, and fired into an open window at a 37-year-old woman driver, at point blank range, in the face, killing her.
This was murder.
A Trump ICE agent stood on the side of a vehicle that was slowly driving away, non-confrontationally, and fired into an open window at a 37-year-old woman driver, at point blank range, in the face, killing her.
This was murder.
I'd love for one reporter to ask Leavitt whether Trump thinks Greenland is green ...
January 7, 2026 at 5:29 PM
I'd love for one reporter to ask Leavitt whether Trump thinks Greenland is green ...
Miles Taylor just hit the nail on the head on MSNOW. No matter how much of Trump's bluster is, or proves to be, diversion or distraction, the damage is done. The world can no longer trust or depend on the United States. Period.
January 7, 2026 at 4:16 PM
Miles Taylor just hit the nail on the head on MSNOW. No matter how much of Trump's bluster is, or proves to be, diversion or distraction, the damage is done. The world can no longer trust or depend on the United States. Period.
The Dunning Kruger effect has spread to epidemic proportion.
January 6, 2026 at 11:40 PM
The Dunning Kruger effect has spread to epidemic proportion.
CNN reports that multiple large oil companies have told Trump they are not interested in "jumping into" Venezuela.
Translation: "There is no plan, and Trump is dying. We'll wait until we can speak with his hopefully less-psychotic successor."
Translation: "There is no plan, and Trump is dying. We'll wait until we can speak with his hopefully less-psychotic successor."
January 6, 2026 at 11:02 PM
CNN reports that multiple large oil companies have told Trump they are not interested in "jumping into" Venezuela.
Translation: "There is no plan, and Trump is dying. We'll wait until we can speak with his hopefully less-psychotic successor."
Translation: "There is no plan, and Trump is dying. We'll wait until we can speak with his hopefully less-psychotic successor."