Richard Barke
@rbarke.bsky.social
What do we owe posterity? I teach public policy at Georgia Tech to those who are likely to live to the year 2100 or later. Many still believe in the possibility of progress – and not only technological progress.
Sounds like Scott Bessent is trying to take Pete Hegseth's job.
September 8, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Sounds like Scott Bessent is trying to take Pete Hegseth's job.
Lee Zeldin, the Environmental Protection Agency’s administrator, said the agency would rescind a 2009 declaration, which concluded that planet-warming greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health. The Administration also will revoke the value of pi, which henceforth will be 3.0 without extras.
July 29, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Lee Zeldin, the Environmental Protection Agency’s administrator, said the agency would rescind a 2009 declaration, which concluded that planet-warming greenhouse gases pose a threat to public health. The Administration also will revoke the value of pi, which henceforth will be 3.0 without extras.
Unfortunately, it's not absurd to wonder whether Ghislaine Maxwell will be offered the same arrangement as Eric Adams. We are being encouraged to distrust every institution, so skepticism about the DOJ "interview" with her is entirely reasonable.
July 24, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Unfortunately, it's not absurd to wonder whether Ghislaine Maxwell will be offered the same arrangement as Eric Adams. We are being encouraged to distrust every institution, so skepticism about the DOJ "interview" with her is entirely reasonable.
Today's protest in East Cobb, a largely Republican suburb of Atlanta. Perhaps most impressive was the car-horn participation of motorists in agreement.
June 14, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Today's protest in East Cobb, a largely Republican suburb of Atlanta. Perhaps most impressive was the car-horn participation of motorists in agreement.
The "deep state" has been replaced with the "shallow state."
American Heritage Dictionary: "Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge."
American Heritage Dictionary: "Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge."
April 5, 2025 at 6:01 PM
The "deep state" has been replaced with the "shallow state."
American Heritage Dictionary: "Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge."
American Heritage Dictionary: "Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge."
Getting tired of winning yet?
March 10, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Getting tired of winning yet?
Dear Mr. Musk -- In what way was it "efficient" to spend trillions of taxpayer dollars defending the West against communism, only to surrender now?
March 3, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Dear Mr. Musk -- In what way was it "efficient" to spend trillions of taxpayer dollars defending the West against communism, only to surrender now?
Disturbing article in Mar 3 Financial Times about the US companies that are considering returning to Russia. But many had their assets seized by the state and Russian companies moved to fill the gap.
Lenin (supposedly): "the capitalist will sell you the rope by which you will hang him."
Lenin (supposedly): "the capitalist will sell you the rope by which you will hang him."
March 3, 2025 at 1:44 AM
Disturbing article in Mar 3 Financial Times about the US companies that are considering returning to Russia. But many had their assets seized by the state and Russian companies moved to fill the gap.
Lenin (supposedly): "the capitalist will sell you the rope by which you will hang him."
Lenin (supposedly): "the capitalist will sell you the rope by which you will hang him."
Occam's Razor? What can explain the nearly-total abdication of congressional Republicans to DJT? Of course many fear being primaried and losing their seats. But all of them? None have integrity? A simple answer:
Perhaps they all have fear. Remember what J Edgar did with the FBI. And now....
Perhaps they all have fear. Remember what J Edgar did with the FBI. And now....
March 1, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Occam's Razor? What can explain the nearly-total abdication of congressional Republicans to DJT? Of course many fear being primaried and losing their seats. But all of them? None have integrity? A simple answer:
Perhaps they all have fear. Remember what J Edgar did with the FBI. And now....
Perhaps they all have fear. Remember what J Edgar did with the FBI. And now....
So now we're clear. We should always tell DJ and JD how thankful we are. For everything. Our Dear Leaders from whom all blessings flow.
Then maybe they'll give us some cards that we can use to prevent World War III.
It's all about "the deal."
Children shouldn't behave so badly.
Then maybe they'll give us some cards that we can use to prevent World War III.
It's all about "the deal."
Children shouldn't behave so badly.
February 28, 2025 at 9:06 PM
So now we're clear. We should always tell DJ and JD how thankful we are. For everything. Our Dear Leaders from whom all blessings flow.
Then maybe they'll give us some cards that we can use to prevent World War III.
It's all about "the deal."
Children shouldn't behave so badly.
Then maybe they'll give us some cards that we can use to prevent World War III.
It's all about "the deal."
Children shouldn't behave so badly.
Ironic that at his townhall meeting in Roswell GA, Rep. Rich McCormick kept using the word "duplicitous" to refer to CDC employees when I suspect he meant "duplicative." Something Freudian going on here? ("I happen to be a doctor," he said, "so I do know a few things." Maybe not psychology?)
February 21, 2025 at 7:40 PM
Ironic that at his townhall meeting in Roswell GA, Rep. Rich McCormick kept using the word "duplicitous" to refer to CDC employees when I suspect he meant "duplicative." Something Freudian going on here? ("I happen to be a doctor," he said, "so I do know a few things." Maybe not psychology?)
I know some well-educated professionals that seem capable of rational thought but found reasons to vote for Trump. Ask them what he has done that benefits them. Their faces go blank. Dead silence. Ask them about the cuts & Elon. Nothing.
I think something is occurring that goes far beyond politics.
I think something is occurring that goes far beyond politics.
February 16, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I know some well-educated professionals that seem capable of rational thought but found reasons to vote for Trump. Ask them what he has done that benefits them. Their faces go blank. Dead silence. Ask them about the cuts & Elon. Nothing.
I think something is occurring that goes far beyond politics.
I think something is occurring that goes far beyond politics.
Who will suffer from tariffs?
February 16, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Who will suffer from tariffs?
McKinsey's headline today: "Davos 2025: CEOs are excited to go on offense."
Poor things.
Somehow the photo doesn't match the headline.
Poor things.
Somehow the photo doesn't match the headline.
February 13, 2025 at 6:12 PM
McKinsey's headline today: "Davos 2025: CEOs are excited to go on offense."
Poor things.
Somehow the photo doesn't match the headline.
Poor things.
Somehow the photo doesn't match the headline.
RFK Jr. will be Secretary of HHS.
Am I alone in thinking that if Donald Trump had nominated Ronald McDonald instead, the Senate would have confirmed him?
Am I alone in thinking that if Donald Trump had nominated Ronald McDonald instead, the Senate would have confirmed him?
February 13, 2025 at 5:39 PM
RFK Jr. will be Secretary of HHS.
Am I alone in thinking that if Donald Trump had nominated Ronald McDonald instead, the Senate would have confirmed him?
Am I alone in thinking that if Donald Trump had nominated Ronald McDonald instead, the Senate would have confirmed him?
"The health care industry ultimately hasn’t fought hard against Kennedy’s nomination, because the costs of speaking out may be too high, Politico reports."
What will be the "costs" (measles, flu?) of NOT speaking out?
No more needs to be said about the current state of our politics.
What will be the "costs" (measles, flu?) of NOT speaking out?
No more needs to be said about the current state of our politics.
February 13, 2025 at 1:26 PM
"The health care industry ultimately hasn’t fought hard against Kennedy’s nomination, because the costs of speaking out may be too high, Politico reports."
What will be the "costs" (measles, flu?) of NOT speaking out?
No more needs to be said about the current state of our politics.
What will be the "costs" (measles, flu?) of NOT speaking out?
No more needs to be said about the current state of our politics.
From today's NYT. What do you think would have been the effect on the 2024 election if voters had seen this list of Trump's actions before the election?
February 12, 2025 at 1:24 PM
From today's NYT. What do you think would have been the effect on the 2024 election if voters had seen this list of Trump's actions before the election?
People respond more to the risk of losing what they have than to the likelihood of gain. There are abundant reasons for everyone in the US to have concerns about loss: social security, tariff inflation, .... The Dems should make "loss" a part of every speech & camera appearance. Make loss real!
February 11, 2025 at 11:54 PM
People respond more to the risk of losing what they have than to the likelihood of gain. There are abundant reasons for everyone in the US to have concerns about loss: social security, tariff inflation, .... The Dems should make "loss" a part of every speech & camera appearance. Make loss real!
Because Google slavishly agrees to relabel the Gulf of Mexico, can we agree to refer to the company now as "Gurgle"? Seems like an appropriate sound.
February 11, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Because Google slavishly agrees to relabel the Gulf of Mexico, can we agree to refer to the company now as "Gurgle"? Seems like an appropriate sound.
Trump stops prosecution for bribing foreign businesses. Next he'll do the same for bribing American elected officers. He's going to keep going until the Supreme Court comes to its senses and decides that some Presidential actions are NOT "official duties."
February 11, 2025 at 1:46 AM
Trump stops prosecution for bribing foreign businesses. Next he'll do the same for bribing American elected officers. He's going to keep going until the Supreme Court comes to its senses and decides that some Presidential actions are NOT "official duties."
Wouldn't it be interesting to have GAO or a now-fired Inspector General have the same unlimited access to Musk's ventures to seek waste, fraud, or corruption?
February 9, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Wouldn't it be interesting to have GAO or a now-fired Inspector General have the same unlimited access to Musk's ventures to seek waste, fraud, or corruption?