Tony
@rollingdoughnut.bsky.social
“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful about what we pretend to be.” Phillies, Crystal Palace, classical liberal
Pinned
Tony
@rollingdoughnut.bsky.social
· Oct 21
Please, for my sanity, will someone cancel sports?
Reposted by Tony
Made everything worse, and they're still blaming immigrants because the far right understands that the last thing anyone wants to do is bear the shame of their own mistakes bsky.app/profile/chri...
The thing to understand about this is that this catastrophe in the UK has redounded to the political benefit of the very same people and political movement that pushed for it! Extremely perverse.
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
November 11, 2025 at 7:17 PM
Made everything worse, and they're still blaming immigrants because the far right understands that the last thing anyone wants to do is bear the shame of their own mistakes bsky.app/profile/chri...
Reposted by Tony
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
November 11, 2025 at 3:35 PM
I wonder if the United States can learn anything from the last time a major industrialized country decided to isolate itself from the rest of the world?
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
Almost a decade after the Brexit vote, GDP in the UK is around 6-8% lower relative to peer countries. (Source: www.nber.org/papers/w34459)
My mother’s car was t-boned in the ‘80s. If any of us had been in the rear passenger seat, that would’ve been it. A relative was t-boned last month. If anyone had been in the rear passenger seat, the air bag would’ve prevented most injury.
There are problems today, but cars were not better then.
There are problems today, but cars were not better then.
This really is just nostalgia. Cars are much better now. A $65 pair of shoes will still last years if you don't beat them up, and you can buy better ones for a bit more if you like. The annoyances in modern products are "too many useless features" and not "could malfunction and kill you."
Cars were better when you didn't need a subscription to turn on your heated seats or when companies couldn't literally throttle your engine output/power without paying a subscription fee! That kind of rent seeking makes products worse and makes them want when products didn't do that.
November 11, 2025 at 3:12 PM
My mother’s car was t-boned in the ‘80s. If any of us had been in the rear passenger seat, that would’ve been it. A relative was t-boned last month. If anyone had been in the rear passenger seat, the air bag would’ve prevented most injury.
There are problems today, but cars were not better then.
There are problems today, but cars were not better then.
Reposted by Tony
I always say that Chicago and Philly are like cousins. They have cheesesteak. We have Italian beef. They have Philly soul. We have Chicago house. They have Four Seasons Total Landscaping. We have the Miracle Mile Shopping Center.
November 11, 2025 at 3:00 PM
I always say that Chicago and Philly are like cousins. They have cheesesteak. We have Italian beef. They have Philly soul. We have Chicago house. They have Four Seasons Total Landscaping. We have the Miracle Mile Shopping Center.
Reposted by Tony
At risk of flogging a dead horse: this whole letter is a reminder that the creative process is an end in and of itself, and vital to self-actualisation. You can’t experience BECOMING, as he puts it, by outsourcing it to ChatGPT.
In 2006 a high school English teacher asked students to write to a famous author & ask for advice.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
KURT VONNEGUT - born 103yrs ago today - was the only one to respond.
His reply was a doozy.
November 11, 2025 at 10:44 AM
At risk of flogging a dead horse: this whole letter is a reminder that the creative process is an end in and of itself, and vital to self-actualisation. You can’t experience BECOMING, as he puts it, by outsourcing it to ChatGPT.
Reposted by Tony
Reality show where a different member of the Democratic caucus is locked in a room with Bill Kristol for 24 hours
November 10, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Reality show where a different member of the Democratic caucus is locked in a room with Bill Kristol for 24 hours
Fire me into the sun, please.
November 10, 2025 at 10:06 PM
Fire me into the sun, please.
Reposted by Tony
Criticizing Marshall is correct. I think a fundamental problem is we’ve spent decades convincing Americans that health insurance is just prepaid services, not a risk mitigation tool. For bad political reasons, we decided we’d treat insurance as if it was taxes paying for a universal health system.
Tell me you don’t understand risk pools without telling me you don’t understand risk pools
November 10, 2025 at 4:49 PM
Criticizing Marshall is correct. I think a fundamental problem is we’ve spent decades convincing Americans that health insurance is just prepaid services, not a risk mitigation tool. For bad political reasons, we decided we’d treat insurance as if it was taxes paying for a universal health system.
Reposted by Tony
DONALD TRUMP: [asleep, drooling on long red tie]
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
November 10, 2025 at 2:37 AM
DONALD TRUMP: [asleep, drooling on long red tie]
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
SENATE DEMOCRATS: fine, we give in
The @democrats.senate.gov are every client whose project encounters problems that should push the date, but they power through because they think they’ve encountered all the harm they could.
“If we push, it’ll cost more.” In the short-term, yes. But the cost/pain is baked-in once it goes sideways.
“If we push, it’ll cost more.” In the short-term, yes. But the cost/pain is baked-in once it goes sideways.
November 10, 2025 at 3:00 PM
The @democrats.senate.gov are every client whose project encounters problems that should push the date, but they power through because they think they’ve encountered all the harm they could.
“If we push, it’ll cost more.” In the short-term, yes. But the cost/pain is baked-in once it goes sideways.
“If we push, it’ll cost more.” In the short-term, yes. But the cost/pain is baked-in once it goes sideways.
Reposted by Tony
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
two contradictory ideas that i hold in my head at the same time: 1) i think the threat to both SNAP recipients and federal workers is significant enough now that even bad deals are worth making to prevent further harm, and, 2) everyone who caves now should retire in shame
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
Reposted by Tony
I get why the people most directly personally impacted by the government shutdown are saying things like this but "the entire underpinnings of the country" have *already* collapsed and pretending they haven't isn't helpful
👇There it is, the alternative was to keep federal employees unpaid for 13 MONTHS. How the fuck do you think that would play out? A collapse of the entire underpinnings of the country, that's how.
Victory looks like a bill that extends the ACA subsidies OR (and this is a key or) keeps the government shut down until the midterms.
Yes. That's a victory too.
Yes. That's a victory too.
November 10, 2025 at 11:43 AM
I get why the people most directly personally impacted by the government shutdown are saying things like this but "the entire underpinnings of the country" have *already* collapsed and pretending they haven't isn't helpful
Three weeks ago: “No kings!”
@democrats.org after: “No kings?”
Five days ago: “As we said: no kings!”
@democrats.org after: “‘No, kings!’ Ok, got it. We’ve been hoping you’d join our side.”
We will still win, but I guess it’s useful to know we’ll have to do it alone.
@democrats.org after: “No kings?”
Five days ago: “As we said: no kings!”
@democrats.org after: “‘No, kings!’ Ok, got it. We’ve been hoping you’d join our side.”
We will still win, but I guess it’s useful to know we’ll have to do it alone.
November 10, 2025 at 10:04 AM
Three weeks ago: “No kings!”
@democrats.org after: “No kings?”
Five days ago: “As we said: no kings!”
@democrats.org after: “‘No, kings!’ Ok, got it. We’ve been hoping you’d join our side.”
We will still win, but I guess it’s useful to know we’ll have to do it alone.
@democrats.org after: “No kings?”
Five days ago: “As we said: no kings!”
@democrats.org after: “‘No, kings!’ Ok, got it. We’ve been hoping you’d join our side.”
We will still win, but I guess it’s useful to know we’ll have to do it alone.
Reposted by Tony
I am amazed by the people who don't think this is going to further radicalize the left. Talk about not reading the room at all.
The centrists in the Senate Democratic caucus saw that the country was rallying to the party in the 2025 elections and resolved that they would do anything they could to kill that momentum.
November 10, 2025 at 1:01 AM
I am amazed by the people who don't think this is going to further radicalize the left. Talk about not reading the room at all.
It’s snowing.
a woman wearing a playboy sweatshirt is asking the question why
Alt: A woman wearing a white sweatshirt is asking the question “why?”
media.tenor.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:03 PM
It’s snowing.
Reposted by Tony
Question for everyone getting excited about a “$2,000 tariff dividend check”: what did you spend that $5,000 stimulus check you were promised from DOGE on?
November 9, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Question for everyone getting excited about a “$2,000 tariff dividend check”: what did you spend that $5,000 stimulus check you were promised from DOGE on?
Reposted by Tony
Loving today's news that the mysterious "fedora man" outside the Louvre heist was actually a 15-year-old museum visitor who dresses like a 1940s French detective all the time, just because. apnews.com/article/louv...
Fedora man unmasked: Meet the teen behind the Louvre mystery photo
Fifteen-year-old Pedro Elias Garzon Delvaux has become an internet sensation after an Associated Press photo captured him outside the Louvre on the day of a crown jewels heist.
apnews.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Loving today's news that the mysterious "fedora man" outside the Louvre heist was actually a 15-year-old museum visitor who dresses like a 1940s French detective all the time, just because. apnews.com/article/louv...
2020: “You can’t go home to your family for Thanksgiving because you might die.”
2025: “You can’t go home to your family for Thanksgiving because why won’t you all just die already?”
2025: “You can’t go home to your family for Thanksgiving because why won’t you all just die already?”
Sean Duffy: "We have a number of people who want to get home for the holidays, they want to see their family. Listen, many of them are not going to be able to get on an airplane."
November 9, 2025 at 5:15 PM
2020: “You can’t go home to your family for Thanksgiving because you might die.”
2025: “You can’t go home to your family for Thanksgiving because why won’t you all just die already?”
2025: “You can’t go home to your family for Thanksgiving because why won’t you all just die already?”
Reposted by Tony
People wildly overestimate the economic security experienced by past generations. There's no period in American history where significant numbers of young people were just handed high paying jobs. Nostalgia for a time that never existed is a huge problem.
Why Nikki Haley’s son went radical: His generation inherited insecurity.
I profile Nalin Haley, a fascinating young man, who I believe will likely play an important role in conservative politics in years to come.
unherd.com/2025/11/why-...
I profile Nalin Haley, a fascinating young man, who I believe will likely play an important role in conservative politics in years to come.
unherd.com/2025/11/why-...
Why Nikki Haley’s son went radical
unherd.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:08 AM
People wildly overestimate the economic security experienced by past generations. There's no period in American history where significant numbers of young people were just handed high paying jobs. Nostalgia for a time that never existed is a huge problem.
“— and if he had traveled to New York and was ‘aware’ of the mayor-elect in New York City”
So they asked him a question the Speaker of the House would not be able to answer in his daily press conference.
So they asked him a question the Speaker of the House would not be able to answer in his daily press conference.
Three masked agents questioned an Illinois Department of Transportation employee about his immigration status — and if he had traveled to New York and was “aware” of the mayor-elect in New York City, the governor’s office said.
Indian IDOT employee stopped by ICE agents, questioned if he was 'aware' of NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani
chicago.suntimes.com
November 8, 2025 at 7:39 PM
“— and if he had traveled to New York and was ‘aware’ of the mayor-elect in New York City”
So they asked him a question the Speaker of the House would not be able to answer in his daily press conference.
So they asked him a question the Speaker of the House would not be able to answer in his daily press conference.
Reposted by Tony
ben shapiro slides on his well worn hotdog suit yet again
Ben Shapiro tells Megyn Kelly that to avoid vile extremists like Nick Fuentes “the first thing people need to do is turn off X, which is poisoning brains and making people think not true things.” Yet, Shapiro continues to post there, often multiple times a day. youtu.be/tprng5mObQg?...
Ben Shapiro Responds to Tucker Carlson, Plus Sydney Sweeney and Newsom, with Knowles and Klavan
YouTube video by Megyn Kelly
youtu.be
November 7, 2025 at 11:46 PM
ben shapiro slides on his well worn hotdog suit yet again
I continue to be validated in my decision to leave that franchise in my past.
Commanders Team President Mark Clouse: “We are honored to welcome President Trump to the game as we celebrate those who have served and continue to serve our country.
November 7, 2025 at 7:52 PM
I continue to be validated in my decision to leave that franchise in my past.
Reposted by Tony
Reposted by Tony
In a sane world a bipartisan coalition in the House would be assembling Articles of Impeachment right now.
Although, in a sane world, Trump is committing multiple impeachable offenses every day. In a sane world he would be removed and on trial but SCOTUS invented imaginary law to protect him.
Although, in a sane world, Trump is committing multiple impeachable offenses every day. In a sane world he would be removed and on trial but SCOTUS invented imaginary law to protect him.
The AP tracked down details of some of the people killed in President Trump's military strikes on drug smugglers he describes as narco-terrorists.
They were, with one exception, not high-level criminals. One was a fisherman. One was a bus driver; another a taxi driver.
apnews.com/article/trum...
They were, with one exception, not high-level criminals. One was a fisherman. One was a bus driver; another a taxi driver.
apnews.com/article/trum...
November 7, 2025 at 3:54 PM
In a sane world a bipartisan coalition in the House would be assembling Articles of Impeachment right now.
Although, in a sane world, Trump is committing multiple impeachable offenses every day. In a sane world he would be removed and on trial but SCOTUS invented imaginary law to protect him.
Although, in a sane world, Trump is committing multiple impeachable offenses every day. In a sane world he would be removed and on trial but SCOTUS invented imaginary law to protect him.