Plain Lincoln
@plainlincoln.bsky.social
An nescis, mi fili, quantilla prudentia mundus regatur?
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
165 years ago, on the 16th of February 1861, Abraham Lincoln stopped in the town of Westfield, New York, on the way to his presidential inauguration to meet 12-year-old Grace Bedell. Bedell had sent Lincoln a letter in 1860 suggesting he should grow a beard to help his election. #otd #history 🗃️
February 16, 2026 at 8:01 AM
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
🗃️One of the things that struck me when researching the WWI era in the US was how *pliable* bigotry was when the government was motivated to move it one way or the other. With 1 in 5 soldiers being foreign-born, immigrants were hailed as Real Americans in propaganda and made citizens en masse...
February 16, 2026 at 2:45 PM
🗃️One of the things that struck me when researching the WWI era in the US was how *pliable* bigotry was when the government was motivated to move it one way or the other. With 1 in 5 soldiers being foreign-born, immigrants were hailed as Real Americans in propaganda and made citizens en masse...
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
The Trump administration has formally denied Minnesota law enforcement access to information and evidence from the FBI investigation into the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal agents on Jan. 24 in Minneapolis.
Trump administration formally denies Minnesota investigators access to evidence in Alex Pretti shooting
Drew Evans, the superintendent of the Minnesota BCA, said the FBI has formally denied his agency access to evidence and information from the killing of Pretti at the hands of federal officers.
www.startribune.com
February 16, 2026 at 5:24 PM
The Trump administration has formally denied Minnesota law enforcement access to information and evidence from the FBI investigation into the shooting death of Alex Pretti by federal agents on Jan. 24 in Minneapolis.
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
The NYT really owes it's readers an apology for this. Politicians make verbal stumbles like ALL the time and the NYT NEVER prints them. I remember many years ago at a protest, George Bush Sr. said "too bad they can't do this in Lenin Square in Moscow."
AOC’s biggest problem if she runs for president is that the white men who control our media ecosystem will not so much put a finger on the scale to stop her as an entire hand
it can be done (see: Zohran) but it’s going to be blatant and it’s going to be infuriating
it can be done (see: Zohran) but it’s going to be blatant and it’s going to be infuriating
Have you ever once seen the New York Times quote Trump like this?
February 16, 2026 at 7:49 PM
The NYT really owes it's readers an apology for this. Politicians make verbal stumbles like ALL the time and the NYT NEVER prints them. I remember many years ago at a protest, George Bush Sr. said "too bad they can't do this in Lenin Square in Moscow."
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
True, and if someone doesn't have to see a doctor because they got a vaccine against AIDS that would look lower GDP, whereas a big rise in healthcare spending because of the AIDS pandemic is an increase in GDP. I would effectively keep separate accounts, GDP and quality of health.
If someone pays $900 for a single office visit last year, and this year they are offered a $1000 office visit but decline to get care at all, the dollars in their pocket are higher but they've lost something unmeasured.
February 16, 2026 at 7:56 PM
True, and if someone doesn't have to see a doctor because they got a vaccine against AIDS that would look lower GDP, whereas a big rise in healthcare spending because of the AIDS pandemic is an increase in GDP. I would effectively keep separate accounts, GDP and quality of health.
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
British people: doing British things Britishly
Andrew Neil: What are we, a bunch of EAST GERMANS?
Andrew Neil: What are we, a bunch of EAST GERMANS?
February 16, 2026 at 11:26 AM
British people: doing British things Britishly
Andrew Neil: What are we, a bunch of EAST GERMANS?
Andrew Neil: What are we, a bunch of EAST GERMANS?
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
None of the stuff about Labour Together running insane, scammy, secret ratfucking campaigns is news to these people. They’re not digging for truth or protecting a free press, here: they’re crooks destroying evidence, kicking the bloody candlestick under the couch where the other guests won’t see.
February 16, 2026 at 11:21 AM
None of the stuff about Labour Together running insane, scammy, secret ratfucking campaigns is news to these people. They’re not digging for truth or protecting a free press, here: they’re crooks destroying evidence, kicking the bloody candlestick under the couch where the other guests won’t see.
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
This is the same shit as all the lads noticing in unison that Johnson was a disastrous, bent crook: laser-focused Noticing Things designed to fry their former accomplices, who have now become embarrassing and inconvenient. Look, we’ve done our jobs destroying the people we ourselves put in power.
February 16, 2026 at 11:18 AM
This is the same shit as all the lads noticing in unison that Johnson was a disastrous, bent crook: laser-focused Noticing Things designed to fry their former accomplices, who have now become embarrassing and inconvenient. Look, we’ve done our jobs destroying the people we ourselves put in power.
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
Morgan, I just don’t understand why you’re so angry about this. Mr Forde will investigate and swiftly confirm that nothing weird happened and everything was above board, just like you say it was. Why, look at you, you’re practically vibrating. Can someone get Morgan a glass of water, please.
February 16, 2026 at 11:52 AM
Morgan, I just don’t understand why you’re so angry about this. Mr Forde will investigate and swiftly confirm that nothing weird happened and everything was above board, just like you say it was. Why, look at you, you’re practically vibrating. Can someone get Morgan a glass of water, please.
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
There were reports before Forde’s conclusions were released that Starmer’s aides - McSweeney and these Labour Together dorks, I assume - argued strongly against an inquiry, and particularly against a broad-ranging one. Imagine how awkward that conversation must have been?
February 16, 2026 at 11:49 AM
There were reports before Forde’s conclusions were released that Starmer’s aides - McSweeney and these Labour Together dorks, I assume - argued strongly against an inquiry, and particularly against a broad-ranging one. Imagine how awkward that conversation must have been?
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
In fairness, I don’t think we can understand Sir Keir instructing the Forde investigation unless he was basically clueless about the shenanigans and just assumed they’d find little or no wrongdoing by his own staff. I could easily believe he personally is still oblivious to all this stuff.
February 16, 2026 at 11:48 AM
In fairness, I don’t think we can understand Sir Keir instructing the Forde investigation unless he was basically clueless about the shenanigans and just assumed they’d find little or no wrongdoing by his own staff. I could easily believe he personally is still oblivious to all this stuff.
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
wealth concentration is already 200% as bad at is was in 2020. think about that
The pace at which US wealth concentration is rising is simply staggering
The concentration of AI wealth into the hands of a few tech barons + plutocratic capture ==> unchartered territory
The concentration of AI wealth into the hands of a few tech barons + plutocratic capture ==> unchartered territory
February 15, 2026 at 3:20 PM
wealth concentration is already 200% as bad at is was in 2020. think about that
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
Smash cut to Sir Keir Starmer at party conference, getting showered with a rain of thrown politics commentator underwear, for telling a crowd of cheering dorks that yes, a Second EU Referendum would be a great idea
February 16, 2026 at 1:33 PM
Smash cut to Sir Keir Starmer at party conference, getting showered with a rain of thrown politics commentator underwear, for telling a crowd of cheering dorks that yes, a Second EU Referendum would be a great idea
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
Interior: Labour Together Dastardly Supervillain HQ, 2018.
The lads are trying to work out who they should recruit as the perfectly oblivious figurehead…
The lads are trying to work out who they should recruit as the perfectly oblivious figurehead…
February 16, 2026 at 1:30 PM
Interior: Labour Together Dastardly Supervillain HQ, 2018.
The lads are trying to work out who they should recruit as the perfectly oblivious figurehead…
The lads are trying to work out who they should recruit as the perfectly oblivious figurehead…
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
This is IMO fully consistent with Sir Keir being exactly what he appears to be: a clueless bonnet ornament on a car filled with crooks and shit gangsters, forever staring directly ahead, oblivious to the horrors behind.
February 16, 2026 at 1:21 PM
This is IMO fully consistent with Sir Keir being exactly what he appears to be: a clueless bonnet ornament on a car filled with crooks and shit gangsters, forever staring directly ahead, oblivious to the horrors behind.
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
On the Labour Together stuff, here. It’s Jackie Junior thinking he should heist the bosses’ card game because that’s what Tony Soprano did once: he got away with it, and now he’s a made man. But of course, it’s much dumber and dorkier than that.
These people are all pals; they previously worked together collaboratively on horrific hate campaigns against the left. All that’s happened here is, an ambitious junior staffer has stupidly used his bosses’ methods against previous accomplices, which helpfully gives them a chance to fumigate it all.
February 16, 2026 at 2:01 PM
On the Labour Together stuff, here. It’s Jackie Junior thinking he should heist the bosses’ card game because that’s what Tony Soprano did once: he got away with it, and now he’s a made man. But of course, it’s much dumber and dorkier than that.
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
British politics commentators may actually be completely unembarrasable
February 16, 2026 at 5:53 PM
British politics commentators may actually be completely unembarrasable
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
"Liberals the world over have to stop playing defense if the left is ever going to stop the right's oligarch-fueled momentum. They must stop accommodating or—worse yet—imitating the fascists, and fight them." www.liberalcurrents.com/a-blaring-wa...
A Blaring Warning For The Democratic Party From Across The Pond
Popularism has been tried in the UK, and failed.
www.liberalcurrents.com
February 16, 2026 at 1:32 PM
"Liberals the world over have to stop playing defense if the left is ever going to stop the right's oligarch-fueled momentum. They must stop accommodating or—worse yet—imitating the fascists, and fight them." www.liberalcurrents.com/a-blaring-wa...
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
"UK Labour over the past couple years has tried to out-fash the fascists in many ways—particularly on immigration, where Labour officials sound a lot like far-right German parties—and now their popularity has plummeted" liberalcurrents.com/a-blaring-wa...
A Blaring Warning For The Democratic Party From Across The Pond
Popularism has been tried in the UK, and failed.
liberalcurrents.com
February 16, 2026 at 11:49 AM
"UK Labour over the past couple years has tried to out-fash the fascists in many ways—particularly on immigration, where Labour officials sound a lot like far-right German parties—and now their popularity has plummeted" liberalcurrents.com/a-blaring-wa...
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
For the 2026 primary elections, NPR has collected deadlines and information on how to register to vote — online, in person or by mail — in every U.S. state and territory. n.pr/4ayRPUJ
How to register to vote and check your registration status
For the 2026 primary elections, NPR has collected deadlines and information on how to register to vote — online, in person or by mail — in every U.S. state and territory.
n.pr
February 16, 2026 at 11:02 AM
For the 2026 primary elections, NPR has collected deadlines and information on how to register to vote — online, in person or by mail — in every U.S. state and territory. n.pr/4ayRPUJ
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
What America did through ideology, the UK does in order to get a budget projection that we don't even really care about
Cuts to overseas aid by the UK are set to go further and faster than those made by the Trump administration in the US, as Sir Keir Starmer’s government wrestles with funding pressures
www.ft.com/content/ad52...
www.ft.com/content/ad52...
UK overseas aid cuts to outstrip those of Trump administration
Spending will drop 27% this year from 2024 levels to help fund higher defence budget
www.ft.com
February 16, 2026 at 9:50 AM
What America did through ideology, the UK does in order to get a budget projection that we don't even really care about
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
It's well worth comparing the depth and seriousness of Burnham's proposals for reform in the UK with the utter frivolity and short-sightedness of response from SW1's media-political establishment.
I stumbled on HEAD NORTH by @mayorofgm.bsky.social @metromayorsteve.bsky.social when looking for Xmas presents. It's a powerful call to break from Westminster politics. Especially important now! It's not the man but what he stands for that makes Burnham appealing bylinetimes.com/2026/01/23/t...
'The Malfunctioning British State Cannot be Utilised to Bring About Its Own Solution': Learning from the Mayors of the North
A fundamental break from the old regime is required – it can only come from the outside but must command credibility and popular assent
bylinetimes.com
January 26, 2026 at 12:28 PM
It's well worth comparing the depth and seriousness of Burnham's proposals for reform in the UK with the utter frivolity and short-sightedness of response from SW1's media-political establishment.
Reposted by Plain Lincoln
If Reform-inclined voters in Gorton and Denton discover that the best way to punish Starmer's Labour Party is to vote Green, I can well believe that many of them will do just that, political spectrum be damned.
January 26, 2026 at 2:11 PM
If Reform-inclined voters in Gorton and Denton discover that the best way to punish Starmer's Labour Party is to vote Green, I can well believe that many of them will do just that, political spectrum be damned.