Seth Brown
@risingpun.bsky.social
Freelance writer/humor columnist/sushi enthusiast
National Press Club's 2024 Angele Gingras Humor Award winner
My free semi-monthly newsletter has bad puns, jokes in parentheses, and very rarely, insightful commentary:
https://buttondown.email/RisingPun
National Press Club's 2024 Angele Gingras Humor Award winner
My free semi-monthly newsletter has bad puns, jokes in parentheses, and very rarely, insightful commentary:
https://buttondown.email/RisingPun
Note this is the exact same argument AI companies use to steal from artists without permission or compensation:
"What we want is impossible to do legally, so we're gonna ignore the law, because our big project will bring us tons of money and power so it's special."
Incompatible with Rule of Law.
"What we want is impossible to do legally, so we're gonna ignore the law, because our big project will bring us tons of money and power so it's special."
Incompatible with Rule of Law.
Rep. Mark Alford: "If you tie a judicial warrant to what ICE is doing, it will never happen"
February 17, 2026 at 3:57 AM
Note this is the exact same argument AI companies use to steal from artists without permission or compensation:
"What we want is impossible to do legally, so we're gonna ignore the law, because our big project will bring us tons of money and power so it's special."
Incompatible with Rule of Law.
"What we want is impossible to do legally, so we're gonna ignore the law, because our big project will bring us tons of money and power so it's special."
Incompatible with Rule of Law.
I know there are 17 other horrible things going on right now, but COVID continues to be a massive problem.
But good news:
It's way easier to protect yourself from COVID than from fascism. (although wearing a KN-95/KF-94 mask in crowds may be some whynotboth.gif)
But good news:
It's way easier to protect yourself from COVID than from fascism. (although wearing a KN-95/KF-94 mask in crowds may be some whynotboth.gif)
*endless screaming*
Like, there's so much to scream about but the "cumulative infections per person: 5.07" is the thing that's making me scream the hardest
Like, there's so much to scream about but the "cumulative infections per person: 5.07" is the thing that's making me scream the hardest
PMC COVlD Report, Week of Feb 16, 2026 (U.S.)
14 states are still experiencing High/Very High COVlD levels amid a lingering 12th wave.
Minnesota may be at an all-time high.
THREAD 1 of 4 🧵
14 states are still experiencing High/Very High COVlD levels amid a lingering 12th wave.
Minnesota may be at an all-time high.
THREAD 1 of 4 🧵
February 16, 2026 at 5:54 PM
I know there are 17 other horrible things going on right now, but COVID continues to be a massive problem.
But good news:
It's way easier to protect yourself from COVID than from fascism. (although wearing a KN-95/KF-94 mask in crowds may be some whynotboth.gif)
But good news:
It's way easier to protect yourself from COVID than from fascism. (although wearing a KN-95/KF-94 mask in crowds may be some whynotboth.gif)
"Valentine's Day Poem to an Evangelical" (2018)
You love an honest man of unswerving faith and moral clarity,
Who follows Christ's ideals of fidelity, compassion, and charity,
Or you love a man who lacks any of that,
As long he beats the Democrat.
You love an honest man of unswerving faith and moral clarity,
Who follows Christ's ideals of fidelity, compassion, and charity,
Or you love a man who lacks any of that,
As long he beats the Democrat.
February 14, 2026 at 8:10 PM
"Valentine's Day Poem to an Evangelical" (2018)
You love an honest man of unswerving faith and moral clarity,
Who follows Christ's ideals of fidelity, compassion, and charity,
Or you love a man who lacks any of that,
As long he beats the Democrat.
You love an honest man of unswerving faith and moral clarity,
Who follows Christ's ideals of fidelity, compassion, and charity,
Or you love a man who lacks any of that,
As long he beats the Democrat.
Reposted by Seth Brown
Just noting this because I have cited the trends a lot recently: Tracking data from Civiqs now shows a plurality of the public favors abolishing ICE, with 47% in support and 46% opposed. Independents are net +5 on abolish, up from -40 a year ago substack.com/profile/4791...
February 14, 2026 at 1:00 PM
Just noting this because I have cited the trends a lot recently: Tracking data from Civiqs now shows a plurality of the public favors abolishing ICE, with 47% in support and 46% opposed. Independents are net +5 on abolish, up from -40 a year ago substack.com/profile/4791...
Reposted by Seth Brown
for better or worse, this will probably be the most successful and compelling argument by communities against ICE concentration camps being built:
(from this piece: archive.is/eGsQf)
(from this piece: archive.is/eGsQf)
February 13, 2026 at 5:03 PM
for better or worse, this will probably be the most successful and compelling argument by communities against ICE concentration camps being built:
(from this piece: archive.is/eGsQf)
(from this piece: archive.is/eGsQf)
Reposted by Seth Brown
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
February 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
Over on threads someone just use ai;dr and we all need to adopt that right quick
Reposted by Seth Brown
Authoritarian regimes make you feel like shit because they will never admit they’re losing.
But Trump is losing — and it’s because of the organizing work you’re doing.
But Trump is losing — and it’s because of the organizing work you’re doing.
February 10, 2026 at 12:10 AM
Authoritarian regimes make you feel like shit because they will never admit they’re losing.
But Trump is losing — and it’s because of the organizing work you’re doing.
But Trump is losing — and it’s because of the organizing work you’re doing.
Reposted by Seth Brown
I rapped over the weekend and I did not lip sync.
February 10, 2026 at 1:24 AM
I rapped over the weekend and I did not lip sync.
From destroying healthcare to terrorizing non-white Americans, much of the regime's destruction were laid out in Heritage's Project 2025.
Some folks said "they wouldn't actually do that stuff!" They did.
The next plan is rollback women's rights. Ask 1970's Iran how fast that can happen.
Some folks said "they wouldn't actually do that stuff!" They did.
The next plan is rollback women's rights. Ask 1970's Iran how fast that can happen.
The Heritage Foundation has released a 250-year roadmap to “save America.”
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
The document is a how-to guide for subjugating girls & young women: a detailed plan to push them out of college, funnel them into early marriage and motherhood, and then trap them there.
jessica.substack.com/p/theyre-com...
They're Coming for Our Daughters
The conservative plan to shrink girls’ futures
jessica.substack.com
February 9, 2026 at 11:33 PM
From destroying healthcare to terrorizing non-white Americans, much of the regime's destruction were laid out in Heritage's Project 2025.
Some folks said "they wouldn't actually do that stuff!" They did.
The next plan is rollback women's rights. Ask 1970's Iran how fast that can happen.
Some folks said "they wouldn't actually do that stuff!" They did.
The next plan is rollback women's rights. Ask 1970's Iran how fast that can happen.
When the history of this time is written, and people ask, "Why did they let all the concentration camps happen again, did they not know?", the response will be, "They knew, they let it happen anyway."
Abject moral failure.
Abject moral failure.
“Collection of Handwritten Letters from Children in Detention Center” sounds like an exhibit in the Holocaust Museum.
1/ ProPublica collected handwritten letters in mid-January from children held at the Dilley Immigration Processing Center, the same facility where 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos was taken.
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
Hundreds of kids are still detained.
We’ll let the children’s words speak for themselves. 🧵
February 9, 2026 at 10:33 PM
When the history of this time is written, and people ask, "Why did they let all the concentration camps happen again, did they not know?", the response will be, "They knew, they let it happen anyway."
Abject moral failure.
Abject moral failure.
The regime's war against acknowledging the infinite valuable contributions of Black Americans has spanned from tearing down plaques to encouraging grievance politics against any positive media representation.
Black history is American history, no matter how many racist videos the president posts.
Black history is American history, no matter how many racist videos the president posts.
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:50 PM
The regime's war against acknowledging the infinite valuable contributions of Black Americans has spanned from tearing down plaques to encouraging grievance politics against any positive media representation.
Black history is American history, no matter how many racist videos the president posts.
Black history is American history, no matter how many racist videos the president posts.
The good old boring days
What America needs right now is to be more boring.
www.berkshireeagle.com
February 5, 2026 at 5:52 PM
Reposted by Seth Brown
Just think about the amazing Epstein scoops the new CBS Evening News contributors will have just by interviewing each other.
February 1, 2026 at 7:34 PM
Just think about the amazing Epstein scoops the new CBS Evening News contributors will have just by interviewing each other.
For dinner @starfishknits.bsky.social has created what is essentially Chicago deep dish spanakopita (Deep dish pastry crust with the usual spinach+feta plus chicken+potatoes and a little cream cheese) and it is a delectable abomination.
February 2, 2026 at 12:41 AM
For dinner @starfishknits.bsky.social has created what is essentially Chicago deep dish spanakopita (Deep dish pastry crust with the usual spinach+feta plus chicken+potatoes and a little cream cheese) and it is a delectable abomination.
Frankly, as systems of government go, I'm starting to lose faith in racistpedophile-ocracy.
January 31, 2026 at 8:10 PM
Frankly, as systems of government go, I'm starting to lose faith in racistpedophile-ocracy.
The only people who benefit from the price of homes being astronomical are the people selling them, generally in bulk.
As someone who owns a home I want to keep living in, the price of my home is largely irrelevant to me except for the taxes I pay on it.
I would love if more people can buy homes.
As someone who owns a home I want to keep living in, the price of my home is largely irrelevant to me except for the taxes I pay on it.
I would love if more people can buy homes.
Trump: "People that own their homes -- we're gonna keep them wealthy. We're gonna keep those prices up. We're not gonna destroy the value of their homes so that somebody who didn't work very hard can buy a home."
January 29, 2026 at 8:09 PM
The only people who benefit from the price of homes being astronomical are the people selling them, generally in bulk.
As someone who owns a home I want to keep living in, the price of my home is largely irrelevant to me except for the taxes I pay on it.
I would love if more people can buy homes.
As someone who owns a home I want to keep living in, the price of my home is largely irrelevant to me except for the taxes I pay on it.
I would love if more people can buy homes.
Reposted by Seth Brown
I will simply never recover from reading this sentence:
"Since Georgia implemented work requirements in 2020, they have spent twice as much on Deloitte consultants and administrative costs as on healthcare for people."
"Since Georgia implemented work requirements in 2020, they have spent twice as much on Deloitte consultants and administrative costs as on healthcare for people."
Today, Luke Farrell (@lukef.bsky.social) explains how complex eligibility requirements have turned America’s safety net into a lucrative revenue stream for monopolistic private contractors.
The Means-Testing Industrial Complex
As Republicans tightened work requirements and eligibility rules for Medicaid and SNAP last year, Equifax’s CEO openly celebrated the profits to be made from administering this deprivation.
lpeproject.org
January 28, 2026 at 4:33 PM
I will simply never recover from reading this sentence:
"Since Georgia implemented work requirements in 2020, they have spent twice as much on Deloitte consultants and administrative costs as on healthcare for people."
"Since Georgia implemented work requirements in 2020, they have spent twice as much on Deloitte consultants and administrative costs as on healthcare for people."
Started following this account recently because frogs in the feed is a nice break from the endless firehose of bad news.
Do recommend, or more generally, recommend following an account that will put something in your feed to make you smile.
(my columns might count but they're only semi-monthly)
Do recommend, or more generally, recommend following an account that will put something in your feed to make you smile.
(my columns might count but they're only semi-monthly)
Round Frog has noticed that there is a New House next door! She is supervising in case they need help with Treaties!
January 28, 2026 at 10:03 PM
Started following this account recently because frogs in the feed is a nice break from the endless firehose of bad news.
Do recommend, or more generally, recommend following an account that will put something in your feed to make you smile.
(my columns might count but they're only semi-monthly)
Do recommend, or more generally, recommend following an account that will put something in your feed to make you smile.
(my columns might count but they're only semi-monthly)
Reposted by Seth Brown
This is what letting RFK jr go wild on health looks like
Holy moly this chart: Cumulative US measles cases
January 28, 2026 at 1:14 PM
This is what letting RFK jr go wild on health looks like
Reposted by Seth Brown
If Democrats haven't announced their proposal for the Donald Trump No Guns in Public bill by the end of the day, they're missing an easy shot
Trump: "With that being said, you can't have guns. You can't walk in with guns. You just can't. You can't walk in with guns. You can't do that. But it's just a very unfortunate incident."
January 27, 2026 at 6:06 PM
If Democrats haven't announced their proposal for the Donald Trump No Guns in Public bill by the end of the day, they're missing an easy shot
Reposted by Seth Brown
Jonathan Ross—the ICE fascist who killed Renee Good—is an 18-year ICE veteran, firearms instructor, & active shooter trainer.
The people claiming "ICE needs more training" are missing the point. Ross's 2 DECADES of training IS what led him to execute Good. ICE Training IS the problem.
Abolish ICE.
The people claiming "ICE needs more training" are missing the point. Ross's 2 DECADES of training IS what led him to execute Good. ICE Training IS the problem.
Abolish ICE.
January 23, 2026 at 1:11 PM
Jonathan Ross—the ICE fascist who killed Renee Good—is an 18-year ICE veteran, firearms instructor, & active shooter trainer.
The people claiming "ICE needs more training" are missing the point. Ross's 2 DECADES of training IS what led him to execute Good. ICE Training IS the problem.
Abolish ICE.
The people claiming "ICE needs more training" are missing the point. Ross's 2 DECADES of training IS what led him to execute Good. ICE Training IS the problem.
Abolish ICE.
Ever wondered about the process of writing a parody song? My latest column will give you a very silly look into those crucial first steps:
www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/colu...
www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/colu...
How to write a parody song
Hey kids! Ever wanted to write a parody song like the world's best musician, five-time Grammy winner and fashion template Weird Al Yankovic? Weird Uncle Seth is here to teach
www.berkshireeagle.com
January 22, 2026 at 6:58 PM
Ever wondered about the process of writing a parody song? My latest column will give you a very silly look into those crucial first steps:
www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/colu...
www.berkshireeagle.com/opinion/colu...
Currently enjoying leftover pad thai and wondering if there's ever a time when I would want to eat food but not want pad thai.
Nothing comes to mind.
Nothing comes to mind.
January 20, 2026 at 6:50 PM
Currently enjoying leftover pad thai and wondering if there's ever a time when I would want to eat food but not want pad thai.
Nothing comes to mind.
Nothing comes to mind.
Reposted by Seth Brown
school being canceled because the president sent armed thugs to harass and imprison the populace for voting against him should be the biggest domestic scandal in american history
January 20, 2026 at 4:10 PM
school being canceled because the president sent armed thugs to harass and imprison the populace for voting against him should be the biggest domestic scandal in american history
Reposted by Seth Brown
It’s ironic that they’re like “if we do ethnic cleansing we’ll have a high trust neighborly society” and then Minneapolis is literally doing high trust neighborly society and they’re like nooooo
Many Americans are terrible neighbors to each other, and that is why MN is striking everyone as extraordinary activism... when they are telling us that it is not. They're good neighbors!
It's no wonder that "being a shitty neighbor" is the hallmark of our domestic politics and our foreign policy.
It's no wonder that "being a shitty neighbor" is the hallmark of our domestic politics and our foreign policy.
January 18, 2026 at 6:24 PM
It’s ironic that they’re like “if we do ethnic cleansing we’ll have a high trust neighborly society” and then Minneapolis is literally doing high trust neighborly society and they’re like nooooo