Mike Davis
@politeopinions.bsky.social
"I don't know how to explain to you why you should care about other people." - Lauren Morrill
Pinned
Mike Davis
@politeopinions.bsky.social
· Jan 21
BREAKING
As expected, President Trump just signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization.
The United States provides around 16% of WHO’s annual budget…over $200 million.
As expected, President Trump just signed an executive order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization.
The United States provides around 16% of WHO’s annual budget…over $200 million.
I'm going to start a thread, beginning today, of all the things President Trump says or does that I strongly disagree with.
Ongoing list, so I don't forget:
Ongoing list, so I don't forget:
As noted in the dissent below, the end point of this rapid descent into unchecked Executive power will be an Executive Branch that replaces most government employees with ideological loyalists.
This project is already well underway, from the FBI to the military to regulatory agencies.
This project is already well underway, from the FBI to the military to regulatory agencies.
In her dissent, Judge Pan says the emerging view of executive power by Trump and his backers in the courts "concentrates excessive power in the President and thus paves the way to autocracy." storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
December 5, 2025 at 6:04 PM
As noted in the dissent below, the end point of this rapid descent into unchecked Executive power will be an Executive Branch that replaces most government employees with ideological loyalists.
This project is already well underway, from the FBI to the military to regulatory agencies.
This project is already well underway, from the FBI to the military to regulatory agencies.
I don't have a crystal ball, but if there was a betting market for the future of America, this is where I'd put my chips. 👇🏼
I'm not an 'there won't be elections' doomer. I'm a long-term doomer. I think the pendulum will swing back and Dems will regain power and then face an even more hostile press than before and won't have the votes to restructure the courts and we'll be in this awful cycle for the rest of my life.
December 5, 2025 at 5:26 PM
I don't have a crystal ball, but if there was a betting market for the future of America, this is where I'd put my chips. 👇🏼
Very frustrating and unexpected to see this from my home state Senator @hirono.senate.gov
11 Senate Democrats just voted to advance the nomination of a Federal Society judge who used to defend banks and payday lenders:
Durbin
Gallego
Hassan
Hirono
Kaine
Kelly
King
Klobuchar
Reed
Rosen
Whitehouse
Durbin
Gallego
Hassan
Hirono
Kaine
Kelly
King
Klobuchar
Reed
Rosen
Whitehouse
December 4, 2025 at 7:59 AM
Very frustrating and unexpected to see this from my home state Senator @hirono.senate.gov
Reposted by Mike Davis
A really nice figure of population and partisan malapportionment in national legislatures around the world
from Beramendi, Boix, Guinjoan, and Rogers (yassified by The Economist) priceschool.usc.edu/wp-content/u...
from Beramendi, Boix, Guinjoan, and Rogers (yassified by The Economist) priceschool.usc.edu/wp-content/u...
December 2, 2025 at 10:08 PM
A really nice figure of population and partisan malapportionment in national legislatures around the world
from Beramendi, Boix, Guinjoan, and Rogers (yassified by The Economist) priceschool.usc.edu/wp-content/u...
from Beramendi, Boix, Guinjoan, and Rogers (yassified by The Economist) priceschool.usc.edu/wp-content/u...
This thread seems important.
I'm curious if this phenomenon is uniquely American or is universal for that age cohort in the digital era.
Are we washed as a country or as a human civilization?
I'm curious if this phenomenon is uniquely American or is universal for that age cohort in the digital era.
Are we washed as a country or as a human civilization?
An issue we're seeing at all levels of university is that many students are simply refusing to do *anything*. They aren't reading the syllabus, aren't following assignment guidelines, aren't engaging with material, ignoring deadlines. And this might seem like old news, but it truly has ramped up.
December 1, 2025 at 1:10 PM
This thread seems important.
I'm curious if this phenomenon is uniquely American or is universal for that age cohort in the digital era.
Are we washed as a country or as a human civilization?
I'm curious if this phenomenon is uniquely American or is universal for that age cohort in the digital era.
Are we washed as a country or as a human civilization?
Reposted by Mike Davis
“The only people who get angry when hearing service members being told to ignore illegal orders are people who intend to issue illegal orders.”
November 30, 2025 at 7:58 PM
“The only people who get angry when hearing service members being told to ignore illegal orders are people who intend to issue illegal orders.”
Reposted by Mike Davis
All of my political views and policy ideas have basically collapsed to "Punish the Villains" and I mumble it to myself every time I see a news article these days
August 11, 2025 at 1:36 PM
All of my political views and policy ideas have basically collapsed to "Punish the Villains" and I mumble it to myself every time I see a news article these days
Not the most important part, but I especially hate Hegseth's effort to redefine America as "the homeland."
I've lived here all my life. Never called it, or even heard it called, "the homeland."
Strong 1930's Germany vibes, presumably intentional.
GTFO with this un-American BS.
I've lived here all my life. Never called it, or even heard it called, "the homeland."
Strong 1930's Germany vibes, presumably intentional.
GTFO with this un-American BS.
Sec of war confesses to war crimes while trying to dunk on the MSM
November 29, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Not the most important part, but I especially hate Hegseth's effort to redefine America as "the homeland."
I've lived here all my life. Never called it, or even heard it called, "the homeland."
Strong 1930's Germany vibes, presumably intentional.
GTFO with this un-American BS.
I've lived here all my life. Never called it, or even heard it called, "the homeland."
Strong 1930's Germany vibes, presumably intentional.
GTFO with this un-American BS.
November 29, 2025 at 9:40 AM
Reposted by Mike Davis
“In 2029 we will rebuild the White House and pay for it by seizing assets from Trump, his family, and all of his companies and organizations. We publicize the name of every contractor involved with this project and permanently ban them as corporate entities and individuals from public contracts.”
Trump fighting with his architect about wanting to build a ballroom bigger than the actual White House feels very on brand
wapo.st/4rqrqA2
wapo.st/4rqrqA2
November 28, 2025 at 5:16 PM
“In 2029 we will rebuild the White House and pay for it by seizing assets from Trump, his family, and all of his companies and organizations. We publicize the name of every contractor involved with this project and permanently ban them as corporate entities and individuals from public contracts.”
This list is correct if completely inverted.
Just FYI:
My most controversial tweet ever, from Thanksgiving three years ago, back when Twitter was Twitter and Bluesky didn’t exist.
_____________
Pies ranked.
1. Cherry (if not too sweet).
2. Mixed berry.
3. Peach/blackberry.
4. Peach.
5. Apple.
…
9. Key lime.
…
99. Pecan.
…
999. Pumpkin.
My most controversial tweet ever, from Thanksgiving three years ago, back when Twitter was Twitter and Bluesky didn’t exist.
_____________
Pies ranked.
1. Cherry (if not too sweet).
2. Mixed berry.
3. Peach/blackberry.
4. Peach.
5. Apple.
…
9. Key lime.
…
99. Pecan.
…
999. Pumpkin.
November 26, 2025 at 2:57 AM
This list is correct if completely inverted.
Reposted by Mike Davis
Trump has murdered at least 83 people with extrajudicial military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats.
He needs to face consequences for this.
His secretary of DHHS, RFK Jr., will kill several orders of magnitude more with this disinformation.
He needs to face consequences for this.
His secretary of DHHS, RFK Jr., will kill several orders of magnitude more with this disinformation.
This is completely disgusting. Today, the CDC updated their vaccine safety page. It now says:
“The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism”.
“The claim "vaccines do not cause autism" is not an evidence-based claim because studies have not ruled out the possibility that infant vaccines cause autism”.
November 20, 2025 at 5:31 AM
Trump has murdered at least 83 people with extrajudicial military strikes on alleged drug-trafficking boats.
He needs to face consequences for this.
His secretary of DHHS, RFK Jr., will kill several orders of magnitude more with this disinformation.
He needs to face consequences for this.
His secretary of DHHS, RFK Jr., will kill several orders of magnitude more with this disinformation.
Reposted by Mike Davis
Trump is a piece of shit and his supporters like him because they are pieces of shit.
"Quiet! Quiet, Piggy."
November 18, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Trump is a piece of shit and his supporters like him because they are pieces of shit.
Reposted by Mike Davis
A lot of education discourse is at root an inability to decide whether the purpose of our education system is to 1) teach material and measure learning 2) reward students who work hard 3) separate the smart kids (destined for smart guy jobs) from the dumb kids (destined to serve the smart guys)
November 15, 2025 at 5:52 PM
A lot of education discourse is at root an inability to decide whether the purpose of our education system is to 1) teach material and measure learning 2) reward students who work hard 3) separate the smart kids (destined for smart guy jobs) from the dumb kids (destined to serve the smart guys)
Reposted by Mike Davis
This is a great piece
The far right is obsessed with Lord of the Rings and Musk keeps posting about "hobbits" because modern scientific racism owes more to fantasy worlds and gaming systems than genetic science, and they see both as effective mediums for right-wing propaganda www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2025/1...
Why Elon Musk Needs Dungeons and Dragons to Be Racist
The fantastical roots of “scientific racism”
www.theatlantic.com
November 11, 2025 at 10:11 PM
This is a great piece
Supremely important and well-argued perspective. Democrats' admirable compassion becomes a liability if they fold when the GOP threatens suffering.
"This is an elite failure, not a popular one. The Democratic base understands what’s at stake. Grassroots activists and voters have shown they’re willing to fight. The failure lies with party leadership who mistake capitulation for pragmatism." data4democracy.substack.com/p/the-compas...
The Compassion Trap: How the Shutdown Weaponized Democratic Values Against Democracy Itself
When Opposition Parties Stop Fighting Because the Cruelty Becomes Unbearable. And Why They Shouldn't.
data4democracy.substack.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:33 PM
Supremely important and well-argued perspective. Democrats' admirable compassion becomes a liability if they fold when the GOP threatens suffering.
Reposted by Mike Davis
"This should be an accountability election for the commentariat that keep telling us the wrong thing about what’s going on in America." www.weekendreading.net/p/election-d...
Election Deep Dive with Perry Bacon
A recording from Michael Podhorzer and The New Republic's live video
www.weekendreading.net
November 11, 2025 at 7:57 PM
"This should be an accountability election for the commentariat that keep telling us the wrong thing about what’s going on in America." www.weekendreading.net/p/election-d...
Reposted by Mike Davis
my heart wants a beautiful, neatly arranged home like the ones featured in architectural digest. but my spirit wants to adopt as many cats and dogs as my living space humanely allows. very difficult dilemma.
November 11, 2025 at 8:03 PM
my heart wants a beautiful, neatly arranged home like the ones featured in architectural digest. but my spirit wants to adopt as many cats and dogs as my living space humanely allows. very difficult dilemma.
Reposted by Mike Davis
In response to this claim that the "strategy didn't work."
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
November 10, 2025 at 5:43 PM
In response to this claim that the "strategy didn't work."
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
The people were on our side. We were building momentum to help save our democracy. We could have won - the premium increase notices were just starting.
And giving in now will embolden him. Things will likely get worse.
Reposted by Mike Davis
Absolutely correct
American politics makes a lot more sense when you realize that the GOP is afraid of pissing off the GOP base, and the Dems are afraid of pissing off the GOP base, but neither party is afraid of pissing off the Dem base.
November 10, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Absolutely correct
This is the most optimistic end of analysis I'm willing to entertain: Democrats are developing "fight" as a muscle. They're not there yet. But they practiced here, and will get better in the future. And in the meantime, we can see more clearly which elected leaders do or do not have a fight in them.
Its nice of Marshall to find some silver lining in the clouds, but the silver lining isn't stopping the lightning, its just a shoddy consolation prize. Still, Marshall clearly understands that and isn't trying to sugarcoat it. Worth a read if for no other reason than an intellectual exercise.
A Quick Take on Team Cave’s Big Win talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/a-qui...
November 10, 2025 at 9:57 AM
This is the most optimistic end of analysis I'm willing to entertain: Democrats are developing "fight" as a muscle. They're not there yet. But they practiced here, and will get better in the future. And in the meantime, we can see more clearly which elected leaders do or do not have a fight in them.
There was nothing gained from this shutdown. Government workers went through tremendous hardship, and the Democrats accepted less than a return to the status quo, with no pushback to the ongoing lawlessness, and health care premiums set to spike.
From pure optics, Democrats capitulated.
From pure optics, Democrats capitulated.
November 10, 2025 at 7:38 AM
There was nothing gained from this shutdown. Government workers went through tremendous hardship, and the Democrats accepted less than a return to the status quo, with no pushback to the ongoing lawlessness, and health care premiums set to spike.
From pure optics, Democrats capitulated.
From pure optics, Democrats capitulated.
Fucking awful. Heartbreaking. Indefensible.
These people, mostly children, die needlessly, for reasons known only to the most selfish people in the world.
These people, mostly children, die needlessly, for reasons known only to the most selfish people in the world.
One analytical model shows that, as of November 5th, the dismantling of U.S.A.I.D. has already caused the deaths of 600,000 people, two-thirds of them children. https://newyorkermag.visitlink.me/jUzNSc
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
newyorkermag.visitlink.me
November 10, 2025 at 6:21 AM
Fucking awful. Heartbreaking. Indefensible.
These people, mostly children, die needlessly, for reasons known only to the most selfish people in the world.
These people, mostly children, die needlessly, for reasons known only to the most selfish people in the world.
Reposted by Mike Davis
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
He said that the agents would throw food at them to eat. The agents threatened to withhold food for a week and to beat him up if he didn't sign deportation papers. He said he saw others refuse and get beaten/receive no food. He signed because he was afraid.
November 7, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Nuremburg trials is the moderate position
Reposted by Mike Davis
If outside moderate factionalists really want to disclaim this outcome, they should seize the whip hand in demanding accountability. Immediate new leadership elections, mid-session resignation for all Dem capitulators who would be replaced by Dem governors. www.offmessage.net/p/16-thought...
16 Thoughts On The Dem Shutdown Cave
Another disgrace, and a new path forward.
www.offmessage.net
November 10, 2025 at 4:04 AM
If outside moderate factionalists really want to disclaim this outcome, they should seize the whip hand in demanding accountability. Immediate new leadership elections, mid-session resignation for all Dem capitulators who would be replaced by Dem governors. www.offmessage.net/p/16-thought...