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
A Confederacy of Toddlers
The Trump administration is a regime of troubled children.
www.theatlantic.com
Trump’s voters have become like the members of the administration, delighting in the crassness and obscenity that pours out of the president and his circle whenever they are challenged. But policies suffer and the public is poorly served.
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archiv...
I honestly thought I'd never afford a house. I got tempted by a condo, and let the younger generation learn from me: That first condo purchase at 32 was one of the stupidest things I ever did. I took a bath, moved, and rented until I was 40.
I wonder if it really is harder to buy a house now. When I was in my 20s the mortgage rates were around 10% and was making less than $25k.
I didn't even consider buying a house.
I didn't even consider buying a house.
November 11, 2025 at 5:03 AM
I honestly thought I'd never afford a house. I got tempted by a condo, and let the younger generation learn from me: That first condo purchase at 32 was one of the stupidest things I ever did. I took a bath, moved, and rented until I was 40.
(Reagan wasn't president in 1980)
So those of us starting college in 1980 were what — just supposed to say oh, I guess I shouldn’t go to college because the new president Reagan seems to know more about my future goals than I do? Seriously Tom?! Yes, it was Reagan where the right lost its damn way.
November 11, 2025 at 4:51 AM
(Reagan wasn't president in 1980)
I bought my first house at 40. (If you count a condo I stupidly bought at 32 and then nearly went broke over, then my second home.)
Consider your starter home you probably bought at 25ish. How many 25 year olds could by the same home? And what income would they need to afford it?
November 11, 2025 at 4:47 AM
I bought my first house at 40. (If you count a condo I stupidly bought at 32 and then nearly went broke over, then my second home.)
Yes, it's always Reagan, the Magic Dragon, and not "lots of people going to college on an endless supply of loan money that made colleges never think twice about raising tuition against an inelastic demand for their product"
My father could have reached in his back pocket and paid for my college tuition in 1980.
Then Reagan happened.
Then Reagan happened.
November 11, 2025 at 4:46 AM
Yes, it's always Reagan, the Magic Dragon, and not "lots of people going to college on an endless supply of loan money that made colleges never think twice about raising tuition against an inelastic demand for their product"
Endless loan money and inelastic demand created higher prices? I bet there's some weird theory that explains that
Now do the graph on University tuition. Is that NIMBY too?
Baby boomers benefited from low university tuition, lower education requirements for entry jobs, cheaper housing, higher minimum wage… then they pulled the ladder up behind them.
Baby boomers benefited from low university tuition, lower education requirements for entry jobs, cheaper housing, higher minimum wage… then they pulled the ladder up behind them.
November 11, 2025 at 4:34 AM
Endless loan money and inelastic demand created higher prices? I bet there's some weird theory that explains that
I grew up in the late 60s and 70s. I *never* thought I had it harder than my parents, because for "photographs" existed, and I saw my parents and their homes in the 40s and 50s. I thought those times looked *awful* and I still do. But people who complain now relentlessly idealize the past.
November 11, 2025 at 4:23 AM
I grew up in the late 60s and 70s. I *never* thought I had it harder than my parents, because for "photographs" existed, and I saw my parents and their homes in the 40s and 50s. I thought those times looked *awful* and I still do. But people who complain now relentlessly idealize the past.
When I was a senior in college (1982), I found a diner that had a full breakfast for 99 cents, and on Friday, the local fish store did fish and chips for 1.25.
Going on a date to a restaurant could be a sweaty experience.
Going on a date to a restaurant could be a sweaty experience.
I married young, first kid young. We were on a set grocery budget and I bought the same thing every week. Dinners were based on a whole chicken and 5 pounds of ground beef.
There was this pizza place down the street that sold $5 carryout, so we'd count change sometimes and get one.
There was this pizza place down the street that sold $5 carryout, so we'd count change sometimes and get one.
November 11, 2025 at 4:12 AM
When I was a senior in college (1982), I found a diner that had a full breakfast for 99 cents, and on Friday, the local fish store did fish and chips for 1.25.
Going on a date to a restaurant could be a sweaty experience.
Going on a date to a restaurant could be a sweaty experience.
Republicans named "Bill Clinton," among them
Reagan and the trickle down economy transferred trillions in wealth from the middle class to the wealthy, Republicans helped to outsource millions of jobs to China and insisted on keeping taxes on the wealthy low. In short, Republican politicians are really bad for the economy and the middle class.
November 11, 2025 at 4:09 AM
Republicans named "Bill Clinton," among them
Wednesday is Prince spaghetti day
ANTHONYYYYYYY
ANTHONYYYYYYY
Reading today that Italian pasta brands may not be in my supermarket bc of tariffs and remembering that I didn’t even know about anything other than elbows until I was in my 20’s.
November 11, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Wednesday is Prince spaghetti day
ANTHONYYYYYYY
ANTHONYYYYYYY
Maybe don't wanna think about that debt problem too much
November 11, 2025 at 3:21 AM
Maybe don't wanna think about that debt problem too much
One of the reasons this is happening is that people are going to college and then wanting to live in particular areas. And deferring marriage. And a lot of other behaviors that no one really wants to think about. (And no, not deferring marriage because of money. That trend began 40 years ago.)
college and home ownership was affordable but now there's Trader's Joe's. On balance, I guess it's the same
November 11, 2025 at 3:15 AM
One of the reasons this is happening is that people are going to college and then wanting to live in particular areas. And deferring marriage. And a lot of other behaviors that no one really wants to think about. (And no, not deferring marriage because of money. That trend began 40 years ago.)
Yes, they have, and that's a problem. But there are a lot of reasons for it that people don't wanna hear about (including the effect of cohabitating two-income couples that began in the late 80s, and liberal NIMBY policies).
But yes, you could find a cheap flop more easily in the 80s than now.
But yes, you could find a cheap flop more easily in the 80s than now.
November 11, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Yes, they have, and that's a problem. But there are a lot of reasons for it that people don't wanna hear about (including the effect of cohabitating two-income couples that began in the late 80s, and liberal NIMBY policies).
But yes, you could find a cheap flop more easily in the 80s than now.
But yes, you could find a cheap flop more easily in the 80s than now.
We all have, but it's good to remember now and then
OMG generic foods in white containers. I had put that memory into a deep and buried hole.
November 11, 2025 at 3:04 AM
We all have, but it's good to remember now and then
Honestly, if people today had to contend with these kinds of economic conditions, they'd melt down
My first mortgage was in '89 and it was 10% - and that was a VA mortgage that was 1 point below prime. Commercial mortgages were high 12s, low 13s.
November 11, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Honestly, if people today had to contend with these kinds of economic conditions, they'd melt down
One thing I remember from the early 80s was the generic foods aisle. (Where I shopped.) White boxes marked "macaroni and cheese" and cans marked "chili" and "beer." (Mac and cheese? 25 cents, or about 80 cents today.)
That recession, and the unemployment it brought, was brutal.
That recession, and the unemployment it brought, was brutal.
Wasn't there a point in the early 80's where unemployment in the US approached 10%? Some of my friends from that time have fond memories of unemployment checks, food stamps, and other not so fun things
November 11, 2025 at 2:52 AM
One thing I remember from the early 80s was the generic foods aisle. (Where I shopped.) White boxes marked "macaroni and cheese" and cans marked "chili" and "beer." (Mac and cheese? 25 cents, or about 80 cents today.)
That recession, and the unemployment it brought, was brutal.
That recession, and the unemployment it brought, was brutal.
I had a job in the 80s. With an MA from Columbia.
November 11, 2025 at 2:35 AM
I had a job in the 80s. With an MA from Columbia.
This is objectively nonsense but people believe it because nostalgia is one of the most powerful political forces on earth - especially if it's imagined nostalgia on the part of people who never experienced the times they claim to miss. /1
Things are objectively worse now than the 80s or 90s.
November 11, 2025 at 2:28 AM
This is objectively nonsense but people believe it because nostalgia is one of the most powerful political forces on earth - especially if it's imagined nostalgia on the part of people who never experienced the times they claim to miss. /1
Off to dinner. Thus endeth the AMA
November 10, 2025 at 10:31 PM
Off to dinner. Thus endeth the AMA
This person, straight to jail
You're only against the fairness doctrine because you keep pushing the fascist trope that Boston is a superior band.
November 10, 2025 at 10:26 PM
This person, straight to jail
I am transferring data from an old phone to a new iPhone and having a Monday martini before dinner.
I would say "AMA" but I must rule out "fascism" and "the Fairness Doctrine"
I would say "AMA" but I must rule out "fascism" and "the Fairness Doctrine"
November 10, 2025 at 10:02 PM
I am transferring data from an old phone to a new iPhone and having a Monday martini before dinner.
I would say "AMA" but I must rule out "fascism" and "the Fairness Doctrine"
I would say "AMA" but I must rule out "fascism" and "the Fairness Doctrine"
Reposted by Tom Nichols
The server I keep my “Imagine If Biden Had Done This” file on is using more energy than all AI models combined.
November 10, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The server I keep my “Imagine If Biden Had Done This” file on is using more energy than all AI models combined.
Reposted by Tom Nichols
Nah that is not what is happening. People will very specifically claim that average Americans have less purchasing power and are more financially squeezed than in the 80s. I promise: these are just INCORRECT BELIEFS. It’s the progressive equivalent of the people who think crime is always increasing
November 10, 2025 at 2:56 PM
Nah that is not what is happening. People will very specifically claim that average Americans have less purchasing power and are more financially squeezed than in the 80s. I promise: these are just INCORRECT BELIEFS. It’s the progressive equivalent of the people who think crime is always increasing
"Democrats have decided to embrace a big-tent mindset. Now comes the hard part" - @elainegodfrey.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The Limits of the Democrats’ Big Tent
A convention showed that it’s more medium-size.
www.theatlantic.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:18 PM
"Democrats have decided to embrace a big-tent mindset. Now comes the hard part" - @elainegodfrey.bsky.social
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...