Tom Nichols
@radiofreetom.bsky.social
Staff writer at The Atlantic. Cat guy, democracy defender. Actor for a day on Succession, Jeopardy champ. New Englander and curmudgeon.
Pinned
Pete Hegseth Should Sit This One Out
By inserting himself into the situation in Minnesota, the secretary of defense is only making things worse.
www.theatlantic.com
"Pete Hegseth might consider adding another task to his many duties, one that would be of immense help to the nation and to the armed forces: He should shut up."
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Also, post- #AT40 observation: "Devil Woman" by Cliff Richard was a good song. Catchy and listenable, like good bubblegum pop should be.
It's like the prequel to Cher's "Dark Lady"
[clap clap]
It's like the prequel to Cher's "Dark Lady"
[clap clap]
January 31, 2026 at 7:39 PM
Also, post- #AT40 observation: "Devil Woman" by Cliff Richard was a good song. Catchy and listenable, like good bubblegum pop should be.
It's like the prequel to Cher's "Dark Lady"
[clap clap]
It's like the prequel to Cher's "Dark Lady"
[clap clap]
Reposted by Tom Nichols
Frozen Tidal Basin
January 31, 2026 at 7:37 PM
Frozen Tidal Basin
#AT40 Ugh. This is lame. Player had a far better song with "This Time I'm in It for Love"
Anyway, nice to catch up with all of you on a Saturday for a change!
(And a shout-out as always to @porpster.bsky.social for being the official AT40 archivist)
Anyway, nice to catch up with all of you on a Saturday for a change!
(And a shout-out as always to @porpster.bsky.social for being the official AT40 archivist)
And #1 for the third week is Player - "Baby Come Back" - produced by Dennis Lambert & Brian Potter. #AT40
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Co...
youtu.be/NmEyGiaqm7k?...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Baby_Co...
youtu.be/NmEyGiaqm7k?...
Player - Baby Come Back
YouTube video by PlayerVEVO
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 7:28 PM
#AT40 Ugh. This is lame. Player had a far better song with "This Time I'm in It for Love"
Anyway, nice to catch up with all of you on a Saturday for a change!
(And a shout-out as always to @porpster.bsky.social for being the official AT40 archivist)
Anyway, nice to catch up with all of you on a Saturday for a change!
(And a shout-out as always to @porpster.bsky.social for being the official AT40 archivist)
Reposted by Tom Nichols
#AT40 Hated this song in high school. But then, I pretty much hated everything Rod did after about 1972.
Rod Stewart is #4 for another week with "You're in My Heart (The Final Acclaim)" - produced by Tom Dowd. #AT40
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27r...
youtu.be/Hf6ng1Hsb7I?...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/You%27r...
youtu.be/Hf6ng1Hsb7I?...
Rod Stewart - You're In My Heart (The Final Acclaim) (Official HD Remastered Video)
YouTube video by Rod Stewart
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 7:17 PM
#AT40 Hated this song in high school. But then, I pretty much hated everything Rod did after about 1972.
Reposted by Tom Nichols
January 31, 2026 at 7:14 PM
#AT40 In fairness to this song - which I disliked as a teen - it has a bit more poignancy when you hear it after 40. (Simon was 37 when he wrote it)
Still don't *love* it, but appreciate the lyrics more.
Still don't *love* it, but appreciate the lyrics more.
"Slip Slidin' Away" by Paul Simon moves up one to #5. #AT40
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slip_Sl...
youtu.be/iUODdPpnxcA?...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slip_Sl...
youtu.be/iUODdPpnxcA?...
Paul Simon - Slip Slidin' Away (Official Audio)
YouTube video by PaulSimonVEVO
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 7:13 PM
#AT40 In fairness to this song - which I disliked as a teen - it has a bit more poignancy when you hear it after 40. (Simon was 37 when he wrote it)
Still don't *love* it, but appreciate the lyrics more.
Still don't *love* it, but appreciate the lyrics more.
I think this was supposed to be optimistic, but I knew that both of them would not make it in Manhattan, they would not stay friends, and that their lives would probably not turn out that great. I still kind of wince at the end of the movie - which is a *great* film and a perfect 70s time capsule.
How Deep Is Your Love - giving flashbacks to the Saturday Night Fever ending #AT40
January 31, 2026 at 7:12 PM
I think this was supposed to be optimistic, but I knew that both of them would not make it in Manhattan, they would not stay friends, and that their lives would probably not turn out that great. I still kind of wince at the end of the movie - which is a *great* film and a perfect 70s time capsule.
I always sort of admired the Catholic Church for not putting Saturday Night Fever on its banned list, because the church noted that the movie shows the consequences of the shitty life the kids in the film were living.
We think of it as a disco flick, but it's a damn sad movie.
We think of it as a disco flick, but it's a damn sad movie.
It is a grim movie and it has not improved with time. The dancing is amazing and Travolta is amazing but yikes.
January 31, 2026 at 7:09 PM
I always sort of admired the Catholic Church for not putting Saturday Night Fever on its banned list, because the church noted that the movie shows the consequences of the shitty life the kids in the film were living.
We think of it as a disco flick, but it's a damn sad movie.
We think of it as a disco flick, but it's a damn sad movie.
For those who want to read where I said 1979 was "a a horrid stew of disco and wimp-rock hits"
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
It Feels Like 1979 Again
But don’t be fooled: 2022 is its own beast.
www.theatlantic.com
January 31, 2026 at 7:08 PM
For those who want to read where I said 1979 was "a a horrid stew of disco and wimp-rock hits"
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
I refuse to be bound by things I actually said and wrote
Antagonists like to slam @radiofreetom.bsky.social for decrying the fascist characteristics of Trump while refusing to call it such. But they should point out a worse hypocrisy: labeling 1970s music "a horrid stew of disco and wimp-rock hits" in The Atlantic while rocking out to #AT40 in private.
January 31, 2026 at 7:06 PM
I refuse to be bound by things I actually said and wrote
#AT40
1. This was a great slow dancing song for us teens
2. It's a good song.
3. Perfect for the ending of Saturday Night Fever, which was actually a very sad, melancholy movie
1. This was a great slow dancing song for us teens
2. It's a good song.
3. Perfect for the ending of Saturday Night Fever, which was actually a very sad, melancholy movie
The Bee Gees - "How Deep Is Your Love" falls from #2 to #7. #AT40
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Dee...
youtu.be/XpqqjU7u5Yc?...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/How_Dee...
youtu.be/XpqqjU7u5Yc?...
Bee Gees - How Deep Is Your Love (Official Video)
YouTube video by beegees
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 7:06 PM
#AT40
1. This was a great slow dancing song for us teens
2. It's a good song.
3. Perfect for the ending of Saturday Night Fever, which was actually a very sad, melancholy movie
1. This was a great slow dancing song for us teens
2. It's a good song.
3. Perfect for the ending of Saturday Night Fever, which was actually a very sad, melancholy movie
Given what bourbon's done to me, the least I can do is punch it back
Wow. You're full curmudgeon today! Movies, AT40....pretty soon you'll be attacking bourbon.
January 31, 2026 at 7:00 PM
Given what bourbon's done to me, the least I can do is punch it back
Supposedly, Frank Sinatra said "Reminiscing" was one of the most beautiful songs ever written
In the 70s, Little River Band was a refuge from some really bad music.
January 31, 2026 at 6:56 PM
Supposedly, Frank Sinatra said "Reminiscing" was one of the most beautiful songs ever written
#AT40 I'M LOOKING AT YOU @quinncy.bsky.social
January 31, 2026 at 6:55 PM
#AT40 I'M LOOKING AT YOU @quinncy.bsky.social
#AT40 With all due respect to Dave and many others, this song was crap in 1978, and it's crap now. It's unlistenable, especially if you listen to the lyrics.
OK...I admit that I like this sappy Dan Hill tune. #AT40
January 31, 2026 at 6:48 PM
#AT40 With all due respect to Dave and many others, this song was crap in 1978, and it's crap now. It's unlistenable, especially if you listen to the lyrics.
Reposted by Tom Nichols
@radiofreetom.bsky.social well, the good news is that any time anyone whines at you about Ronald Reagan, you have a big pile of Noam Chomsky Epstein emails to post back at them
January 31, 2026 at 6:46 PM
@radiofreetom.bsky.social well, the good news is that any time anyone whines at you about Ronald Reagan, you have a big pile of Noam Chomsky Epstein emails to post back at them
#AT40 I think I had a self-defense mechanism that caused mild deafness when stuff like this played. I only vaguely remember it.
Shaun Cassidy - "Hey Deanie" falls from #7 to #12 - written by Eric Carmen. #AT40
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Dea...
youtu.be/ck6QLosTJtM?...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hey_Dea...
youtu.be/ck6QLosTJtM?...
Hey Deanie
YouTube video by Shaun Cassidy - Topic
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 6:45 PM
#AT40 I think I had a self-defense mechanism that caused mild deafness when stuff like this played. I only vaguely remember it.
#AT40 Dolly is beyond criticism. This song was...fine. And even at 17 I knew that you didn't mess with Dolly and you just left it on the radio if it was playing.
Dolly Parton falls from #3 to #13 with "Here You Come Again". #AT40
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Yo...
youtu.be/x87Zx3XAIsI?...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Here_Yo...
youtu.be/x87Zx3XAIsI?...
Dolly Parton - Here You Come Again (Official Video)
YouTube video by DollyPartonVEVO
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 6:42 PM
#AT40 Dolly is beyond criticism. This song was...fine. And even at 17 I knew that you didn't mess with Dolly and you just left it on the radio if it was playing.
Great choice for a comms director
January 31, 2026 at 6:40 PM
Great choice for a comms director
Reposted by Tom Nichols
1978 is not a Boomer year. Gen Jones owns this.
January 31, 2026 at 6:35 PM
1978 is not a Boomer year. Gen Jones owns this.
#AT40 Well, that was a good run of hits, but remember, it was still the craptacular 70s
Samantha Sang - "Emotion" climbs six spots to #17 - written by Barry & Robin Gibb. #AT40
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion...
youtu.be/b_wTZjo9azk?...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotion...
youtu.be/b_wTZjo9azk?...
Emotion
YouTube video by Samantha Sang - Topic
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 6:26 PM
#AT40 Well, that was a good run of hits, but remember, it was still the craptacular 70s
#AT40 Everyone shush. This is a gorgeous song. (As was Diane Birch's cover.)
Paul Davis moves up one to #18 with "I Go Crazy". #AT40
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Go_Cr...
youtu.be/nhu3orNqZu4?...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Go_Cr...
youtu.be/nhu3orNqZu4?...
I Go Crazy
YouTube video by Paul Davis - Topic
youtu.be
January 31, 2026 at 6:24 PM
#AT40 Everyone shush. This is a gorgeous song. (As was Diane Birch's cover.)