Robert David Sullivan
@robertdsullivan.bsky.social
Production editor for americamagazine.org. BA in poli sci, former editor at Boston Phoenix, Boston Business Journal, CommonWealth mag and the New York Blade (LGBTQ weekly). Decided the "Top 100 Sitcom Episodes of All Time" in 2012. UWS resident.
Reposted by Robert David Sullivan
Delivering coal to Newcastle
Bringing sand to the beach
Selling ice to Eskimos
Generating AI cat pictures to post on the Internet.
I mean, GenAI is absolute shit in any context, but the absurdity of burning an acre of rain forest for the thing the Internet is literally made from just kills me.
Bringing sand to the beach
Selling ice to Eskimos
Generating AI cat pictures to post on the Internet.
I mean, GenAI is absolute shit in any context, but the absurdity of burning an acre of rain forest for the thing the Internet is literally made from just kills me.
November 10, 2025 at 10:48 PM
Delivering coal to Newcastle
Bringing sand to the beach
Selling ice to Eskimos
Generating AI cat pictures to post on the Internet.
I mean, GenAI is absolute shit in any context, but the absurdity of burning an acre of rain forest for the thing the Internet is literally made from just kills me.
Bringing sand to the beach
Selling ice to Eskimos
Generating AI cat pictures to post on the Internet.
I mean, GenAI is absolute shit in any context, but the absurdity of burning an acre of rain forest for the thing the Internet is literally made from just kills me.
I knew I shouldn't have started heavy drinking in my 40s.
November 10, 2025 at 8:31 PM
I knew I shouldn't have started heavy drinking in my 40s.
The editors of America magazine: "It is not undocumented immigrants who threaten social cohesion in our cities, but rather the tactic of forcing them to choose between self-deportation or living in fear of arrest and detention."
www.americamagazine.org/editorials/2...
www.americamagazine.org/editorials/2...
The editors: Safe borders do not require terror tactics from ICE
When did the notion that we should protect our borders and regulate immigration devolve into a determination to unleash anonymous masked agents pulling people from cars, and to publicly celebrate the ...
www.americamagazine.org
November 10, 2025 at 6:57 PM
The editors of America magazine: "It is not undocumented immigrants who threaten social cohesion in our cities, but rather the tactic of forcing them to choose between self-deportation or living in fear of arrest and detention."
www.americamagazine.org/editorials/2...
www.americamagazine.org/editorials/2...
Reposted by Robert David Sullivan
they understand insurance. the entire premise of libertarian opposition to mandatory insurance is that they should not have to care about anyone else and be permitted to take risks. it's the same opposition to vaccination and taxation.
they are bad neighbors.
they are bad neighbors.
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
November 10, 2025 at 4:32 PM
they understand insurance. the entire premise of libertarian opposition to mandatory insurance is that they should not have to care about anyone else and be permitted to take risks. it's the same opposition to vaccination and taxation.
they are bad neighbors.
they are bad neighbors.
Reposted by Robert David Sullivan
@colinbphoto.bsky.social caught federal immigration agents in an apparent photo shoot at the Bean this morning and I guess this happened:
While Border Patrol photographers snapped photos, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’”
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
While Border Patrol photographers snapped photos, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’”
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
Border Patrol Agents Pose At The Bean For Apparent Photo Op
The photo op came after agents tear-gassed a Little Village street and were spotted in the area numerous times. At the Bean, one agent shouted, "Everyone say, 'Little Village!'"
blockclubchicago.org
November 10, 2025 at 5:40 PM
@colinbphoto.bsky.social caught federal immigration agents in an apparent photo shoot at the Bean this morning and I guess this happened:
While Border Patrol photographers snapped photos, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’”
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
While Border Patrol photographers snapped photos, one agent shouted, “Everyone say, ‘Little Village!’”
blockclubchicago.org/2025/11/10/b...
This has so much in common with "cull the Catholic Church," except the church doesn't have to win elections.
Cull the Democratic Party. Systematically chip away all the weak, corporate centrists and corrupt, gutless elected officials who refuse to fight and instead suck at the teat of the oligarchy.
November 10, 2025 at 5:31 PM
This has so much in common with "cull the Catholic Church," except the church doesn't have to win elections.
LBJ might have forced the eight senators watch him on the toilet, or he might have handed out envelopes of cash, or he might have blackmailed closeted gays in Congress. I don't see his relevance in 2025.
I don't care how Schumer himself votes. The bottom line is that as Senate Majority Leader, Lyndon Johnson would have last night had on his desk eight sealed mason jars with the severed hands of every senator who even thought about raising them to vote yes. As a majority leader should.
Chuck Schumer Helps Pull Democrats Back From Brink Of Courage
November 10, 2025 at 3:36 PM
LBJ might have forced the eight senators watch him on the toilet, or he might have handed out envelopes of cash, or he might have blackmailed closeted gays in Congress. I don't see his relevance in 2025.
Nate Silver: "something changed — and I was getting ready to eat crow. Late last month, Trump’s numbers began to plummet.... So what did Democrats do with their newfound leverage? Over the weekend, they just gave up."
www.natesilver.net/p/trump-made...
www.natesilver.net/p/trump-made...
Trump made a huge blunder on the shutdown. So why did Democrats cave anyway?
It's not entirely Chuck Schumer's fault, but the party needs new leadership.
www.natesilver.net
November 10, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Nate Silver: "something changed — and I was getting ready to eat crow. Late last month, Trump’s numbers began to plummet.... So what did Democrats do with their newfound leverage? Over the weekend, they just gave up."
www.natesilver.net/p/trump-made...
www.natesilver.net/p/trump-made...
Reposted by Robert David Sullivan
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
November 10, 2025 at 1:45 PM
Some thoughts on the CR/minibus.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
1 The Dems negotiating with Rs were not freelancing. They coordinated with Sen Schumer. A few were ready to give in on day one, others worked to maximize appropriations wins.
Those voting for the 'deal' are the ones furthest away from electoral consequences.
Today there would be two trapped kids so that one of them could die.
Thirty years ago today, Doug Ross saved a boy trapped in a storm drain, and George Clooney became the biggest star in the world: youtu.be/bMxr5oM9GFI?...
Doug's Rescue | ER
YouTube video by ER - Emergency Room
youtu.be
November 9, 2025 at 4:44 PM
Today there would be two trapped kids so that one of them could die.
Reposted by Robert David Sullivan
UPDATE: Reached out to the Rev. Hannah Kardon, a United Methodist minister who was there that day and has been active in religious demonstrations at Broadview.
“They are making it clear that they are scared of prayer … it speaks the truth that what they are doing in that building is evil.”
“They are making it clear that they are scared of prayer … it speaks the truth that what they are doing in that building is evil.”
November 8, 2025 at 2:08 PM
UPDATE: Reached out to the Rev. Hannah Kardon, a United Methodist minister who was there that day and has been active in religious demonstrations at Broadview.
“They are making it clear that they are scared of prayer … it speaks the truth that what they are doing in that building is evil.”
“They are making it clear that they are scared of prayer … it speaks the truth that what they are doing in that building is evil.”
More people like to sweep a floor than to write headlines, so if Roomba can do it… (More people, in fact, like licking floors than writing headlines.)
This might explain why @npr.org headlines and posts are the way they are.
Who Wrote That Headline? Maybe a Robot.
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 11:21 PM
More people like to sweep a floor than to write headlines, so if Roomba can do it… (More people, in fact, like licking floors than writing headlines.)
Whenever you share a meme without verifying it, a Trump voter gets his wings.
November 7, 2025 at 9:23 PM
Whenever you share a meme without verifying it, a Trump voter gets his wings.
Reposted by Robert David Sullivan
The Penn Station redevelopment plan has a financing scheme that could easily result in you paying more for every train you take out of Penn nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/11/07/t...
Trump's Penn Station Plan Could Saddle New York Commuters With New Fees - Streetsblog New York City
Amtrak and Andy Byford's plan to privatize the operation Penn Station could open the door to sticking transit riders with extra fees.
nyc.streetsblog.org
November 7, 2025 at 7:21 PM
The Penn Station redevelopment plan has a financing scheme that could easily result in you paying more for every train you take out of Penn nyc.streetsblog.org/2025/11/07/t...
Can we agree that this is a straw-man argument? Does anyone really think that the Democrats can flip red states with Mamdani clones? www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
Democrats, Mamdani Doesn’t Point the Way Forward
He won by a modest margin in a deeply blue city not because of his radical commitments, but despite them.
www.theatlantic.com
November 7, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Can we agree that this is a straw-man argument? Does anyone really think that the Democrats can flip red states with Mamdani clones? www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
This would be an interesting response.
Being a feckless government thug isn't a protected class. Every business owner in the Chicago area should be refusing to serve or sell things to federal agents, and residents should boycott any establishment that doesn't.
Let them go to Indiana if they want food.
Let them go to Indiana if they want food.
November 7, 2025 at 4:08 PM
This would be an interesting response.
Reposted by Robert David Sullivan
“It’s kind of a shocking number,” said Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at N.A.R…
In 1991, the typical first-time buyer was able to purchase a home by the time they were 28 years old. That number gradually climbed to 33 in 2020, then shot up to… 38 in 2024.”
In 1991, the typical first-time buyer was able to purchase a home by the time they were 28 years old. That number gradually climbed to 33 in 2020, then shot up to… 38 in 2024.”
First-Time Home Buyers Are Older Than Ever
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:03 PM
“It’s kind of a shocking number,” said Jessica Lautz, deputy chief economist and vice president of research at N.A.R…
In 1991, the typical first-time buyer was able to purchase a home by the time they were 28 years old. That number gradually climbed to 33 in 2020, then shot up to… 38 in 2024.”
In 1991, the typical first-time buyer was able to purchase a home by the time they were 28 years old. That number gradually climbed to 33 in 2020, then shot up to… 38 in 2024.”
Reposted by Robert David Sullivan
“Twenty-three deaths is not a statistic—it’s 23 human lives.”
More immigrants are dying in ICE detention www.americamagazine.org/weekly-dispa...
More immigrants are dying in ICE detention www.americamagazine.org/weekly-dispa...
More immigrants are dying in ICE detention
An effort to dehumanize immigrant people has contributed to federal indifference as the death toll among ICE detainees spikes this year.
www.americamagazine.org
November 7, 2025 at 1:30 PM
“Twenty-three deaths is not a statistic—it’s 23 human lives.”
More immigrants are dying in ICE detention www.americamagazine.org/weekly-dispa...
More immigrants are dying in ICE detention www.americamagazine.org/weekly-dispa...
Reposted by Robert David Sullivan
This seems like a really good way to stir up resentments a lot of Maine Democrats have had about national Dems meddling in Maine races.
BDN: "National Democrats are ‘actively recruiting’ a candidate for Maine’s 2nd District"
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/06/p...
BDN: "National Democrats are ‘actively recruiting’ a candidate for Maine’s 2nd District"
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/06/p...
November 7, 2025 at 12:56 PM
This seems like a really good way to stir up resentments a lot of Maine Democrats have had about national Dems meddling in Maine races.
BDN: "National Democrats are ‘actively recruiting’ a candidate for Maine’s 2nd District"
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/06/p...
BDN: "National Democrats are ‘actively recruiting’ a candidate for Maine’s 2nd District"
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/06/p...
And he’s not blocking the doorway!
...though I sure am happy that NYC has a #straphanger mayor, not one that rolls around in a white Bronco.
November 6, 2025 at 6:05 PM
And he’s not blocking the doorway!
Reposted by Robert David Sullivan
It quickly became apparent that @hellgatenyc.com had figured out how to translate its signature voice — irreverent yet deeply knowledgeable — into video. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/hell...
Hell Gate took on the New York City mayoral election with a livestream and watch parties
At 28 bars across the city, the worker-owned news site became the broadcaster of choice.
www.niemanlab.org
November 5, 2025 at 10:37 PM
It quickly became apparent that @hellgatenyc.com had figured out how to translate its signature voice — irreverent yet deeply knowledgeable — into video. www.niemanlab.org/2025/11/hell...
I hope Democratic Party leaders aren't as easily intimidated as the New York Times is.
November 6, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I hope Democratic Party leaders aren't as easily intimidated as the New York Times is.
Winnable for the Democrats, but probably not with a nominee who would be popular on Bluesky.
Dem Jared Golden says he will not run for re-election in ME-02. Passes on running for higher office earlier this year. Cites incivility in politics etc.
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/05/o...
www.bangordailynews.com/2025/11/05/o...
Jared Golden: I won’t seek reelection. Here’s why.
"What I could accomplish in this increasingly unproductive Congress pales in comparison to what I could do in that time as a husband, a father and a son."
www.bangordailynews.com
November 5, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Winnable for the Democrats, but probably not with a nominee who would be popular on Bluesky.