James Hassett
@rotdialectic.bsky.social
Making sense of the world one dialectic at a time. Writing about climate politics, social democracy, and political economy. https://jdhassett.substack.com/
Pinned
James Hassett
@rotdialectic.bsky.social
· Sep 26
Modernity Runs on Energy, Not Fossil Fuels
The Trump administration's attempt to essentialize fossil fuels as modernity's only driver rewrites the history of energy.
open.substack.com
My latest on Substack: Energy Sec. Chris Wright says modern life depends on fossil fuels. But that’s a false essentialization: modernity runs on energy, not oil & gas. open.substack.com/pub/jdhasset...
Reposted by James Hassett
My latest in WM: Outlets have decried Trump's industrial policy as "state capitalism" but contrasted with China, it's obvious that Trump's interventions lack any strategy. This isn't state capitalism, it's authoritarian cronyism.
The president’s parade of ad hoc deals with companies benefits his political allies and punishes enemies, but doesn’t enhance national greatness.
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/14/i...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/14/i...
Industrial Policy, Trump Style
The president’s parade of ad hoc deals with companies benefits his political allies and punishes enemies, but it isn't an industrial policy.
washingtonmonthly.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
My latest in WM: Outlets have decried Trump's industrial policy as "state capitalism" but contrasted with China, it's obvious that Trump's interventions lack any strategy. This isn't state capitalism, it's authoritarian cronyism.
My latest in WM: Outlets have decried Trump's industrial policy as "state capitalism" but contrasted with China, it's obvious that Trump's interventions lack any strategy. This isn't state capitalism, it's authoritarian cronyism.
The president’s parade of ad hoc deals with companies benefits his political allies and punishes enemies, but doesn’t enhance national greatness.
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/14/i...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/10/14/i...
Industrial Policy, Trump Style
The president’s parade of ad hoc deals with companies benefits his political allies and punishes enemies, but it isn't an industrial policy.
washingtonmonthly.com
October 14, 2025 at 4:14 PM
My latest in WM: Outlets have decried Trump's industrial policy as "state capitalism" but contrasted with China, it's obvious that Trump's interventions lack any strategy. This isn't state capitalism, it's authoritarian cronyism.
Reposted by James Hassett
He has…sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people…
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
—Declaration of Independence, 1776
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
—Declaration of Independence, 1776
ICE agents to US citizen: Turn around or you're getting the dog.
October 13, 2025 at 3:41 AM
He has…sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people…
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
—Declaration of Independence, 1776
He has kept among us, in times of peace, Standing Armies without the Consent of our legislatures.
He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power.
—Declaration of Independence, 1776
Reposted by James Hassett
"Conspiratorial, reactionary anti-leftism" is the defining characteristic of the US "far right imaginary" from the 1940s to present. The central premise is that anyone to the left of a right wing Republican was basically a Commie, and was working in leagues w/ the media, higher ed, Hollywood, etc
September 27, 2025 at 8:31 PM
"Conspiratorial, reactionary anti-leftism" is the defining characteristic of the US "far right imaginary" from the 1940s to present. The central premise is that anyone to the left of a right wing Republican was basically a Commie, and was working in leagues w/ the media, higher ed, Hollywood, etc
Reposted by James Hassett
For 26 but especially 2028 it's time for Democrats to make clear that the current Supreme Court will have to be reformed (expanded in number, reformed in structure) to allow popular govt to continue in the United States. Not so much a litmus test as precondition for any other promise to be credible.
September 27, 2025 at 3:38 PM
For 26 but especially 2028 it's time for Democrats to make clear that the current Supreme Court will have to be reformed (expanded in number, reformed in structure) to allow popular govt to continue in the United States. Not so much a litmus test as precondition for any other promise to be credible.
My latest on Substack: Energy Sec. Chris Wright says modern life depends on fossil fuels. But that’s a false essentialization: modernity runs on energy, not oil & gas. open.substack.com/pub/jdhasset...
Modernity Runs on Energy, Not Fossil Fuels
The Trump administration's attempt to essentialize fossil fuels as modernity's only driver rewrites the history of energy.
open.substack.com
September 26, 2025 at 7:48 PM
My latest on Substack: Energy Sec. Chris Wright says modern life depends on fossil fuels. But that’s a false essentialization: modernity runs on energy, not oil & gas. open.substack.com/pub/jdhasset...
Reading John Dewey’s Freedom and Culture. Written in 1939, he grapples with the rise of antidemocratic and fascist forces the world over, and the similarities to today are frightening - we’re still struggling with the same problems
September 14, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Reading John Dewey’s Freedom and Culture. Written in 1939, he grapples with the rise of antidemocratic and fascist forces the world over, and the similarities to today are frightening - we’re still struggling with the same problems
Reposted by James Hassett
My latest in WM - Republicans are trying to spin the energy affordability crisis as a reliability crisis, relying on distorted studies to blame renewables for a disaster of their own making.
I unpack how the grid actually works and what a clean, reliable grid really looks like.
I unpack how the grid actually works and what a clean, reliable grid really looks like.
The Trump administration is kneecapping wind and solar generation under the false narrative that they jeopardize reliability—nothing could be further from the truth:
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/08/21/t...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/08/21/t...
The Republicans’ Reliability Ruse | Washington Monthly
Republicans attack renewables as unreliable, but wind and solar with storage make the grid stronger and cheaper.
washingtonmonthly.com
August 22, 2025 at 4:08 PM
My latest in WM - Republicans are trying to spin the energy affordability crisis as a reliability crisis, relying on distorted studies to blame renewables for a disaster of their own making.
I unpack how the grid actually works and what a clean, reliable grid really looks like.
I unpack how the grid actually works and what a clean, reliable grid really looks like.
My latest in WM - Republicans are trying to spin the energy affordability crisis as a reliability crisis, relying on distorted studies to blame renewables for a disaster of their own making.
I unpack how the grid actually works and what a clean, reliable grid really looks like.
I unpack how the grid actually works and what a clean, reliable grid really looks like.
The Trump administration is kneecapping wind and solar generation under the false narrative that they jeopardize reliability—nothing could be further from the truth:
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/08/21/t...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/08/21/t...
The Republicans’ Reliability Ruse | Washington Monthly
Republicans attack renewables as unreliable, but wind and solar with storage make the grid stronger and cheaper.
washingtonmonthly.com
August 22, 2025 at 4:08 PM
My latest in WM - Republicans are trying to spin the energy affordability crisis as a reliability crisis, relying on distorted studies to blame renewables for a disaster of their own making.
I unpack how the grid actually works and what a clean, reliable grid really looks like.
I unpack how the grid actually works and what a clean, reliable grid really looks like.
“Don’t bring one knife to a two knife fight”
Two nights, 700+ theaters! Come see Jean Claude (very Belgian) and us (not)!
Coming to a theater near you August 14th and 19th! RiffTrax Live takes on Timecop - get your tickets and have a Van Damme good time: rifftrax.com/timecop
youtu.be/h98-uw7XPpU
youtu.be/h98-uw7XPpU
August 20, 2025 at 1:34 AM
“Don’t bring one knife to a two knife fight”
Pretty sure they were just chanting ‘Free DC’ tonight at the Washington Spirit game at Audi Field
August 16, 2025 at 1:27 AM
Pretty sure they were just chanting ‘Free DC’ tonight at the Washington Spirit game at Audi Field
Decoupling from the American economy may be the only way to achieve decarbonization heatmap.news/ideas/ira-gl...
August 12, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Decoupling from the American economy may be the only way to achieve decarbonization heatmap.news/ideas/ira-gl...
Reposted by James Hassett
Alan Dershowitz Sues Farmers Market Vendor For Refusing To Sell Him Child
Alan Dershowitz Sues Farmers Market Vendor For Refusing To Sell Him Child
WEST TISBURY, MA—Following through on his threat of legal action, civil liberties lawyer Alan Dershowitz confirmed Monday that he had filed a lawsuit against a Martha’s Vineyard farmers market vendor ...
theonion.com
August 11, 2025 at 4:30 PM
Alan Dershowitz Sues Farmers Market Vendor For Refusing To Sell Him Child
We need to draw the distinction between respecting cultural traditions/values and living in the modern world - science is not just a European tradition, it’s a way of knowing and understanding the world that’s indispensable to modernity
I am going to be a massive humorless asshole about woo-woo shit, no matter how seemingly harmless, for the rest of my life due to this. astrology, homeopathic medicine, etc etc it's all bullshit and it's not fucking harmless. there are people who will die due to this who would have otherwise lived.
"The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today announced the beginning of a coordinated wind-down of its mRNA vaccine development activities...."
cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy
cc: Sen. Bill Cassidy
August 6, 2025 at 7:23 PM
We need to draw the distinction between respecting cultural traditions/values and living in the modern world - science is not just a European tradition, it’s a way of knowing and understanding the world that’s indispensable to modernity
Reposted by James Hassett
When we talk about corporate disinvestment in local newspapers, what we mean is that rural communities have been stripped of their local journalism.
When local news dies, “It essentially nationalizes content for those areas, so that local cultures no longer exist to themselves anymore.”
When local news dies, “It essentially nationalizes content for those areas, so that local cultures no longer exist to themselves anymore.”
August 3, 2025 at 2:33 PM
When we talk about corporate disinvestment in local newspapers, what we mean is that rural communities have been stripped of their local journalism.
When local news dies, “It essentially nationalizes content for those areas, so that local cultures no longer exist to themselves anymore.”
When local news dies, “It essentially nationalizes content for those areas, so that local cultures no longer exist to themselves anymore.”
Reposted by James Hassett
EVs are quieter, simpler, less expensive to run, and more fun to drive than equivalent combustion cars. They’re where world auto markets are going, so why handicap US auto companies competing in those markets? All to pay off fossil fuel donors.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
Trump Will Slow, but May Not Stop, the Rise of Electric Vehicles
www.nytimes.com
August 3, 2025 at 5:35 PM
EVs are quieter, simpler, less expensive to run, and more fun to drive than equivalent combustion cars. They’re where world auto markets are going, so why handicap US auto companies competing in those markets? All to pay off fossil fuel donors.
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
www.nytimes.com/2025/08/03/b...
Reposted by James Hassett
Zohran didn't win by relying on standard turnout patterns. We had to fundamentally transform the Democratic electorate.
I was part of a group of NYC-DSA members that applied lessons from our previous campaigns to design the “universe” of voters to talk to. Here's how we won 🧵
I was part of a group of NYC-DSA members that applied lessons from our previous campaigns to design the “universe” of voters to talk to. Here's how we won 🧵
August 2, 2025 at 12:28 PM
Zohran didn't win by relying on standard turnout patterns. We had to fundamentally transform the Democratic electorate.
I was part of a group of NYC-DSA members that applied lessons from our previous campaigns to design the “universe” of voters to talk to. Here's how we won 🧵
I was part of a group of NYC-DSA members that applied lessons from our previous campaigns to design the “universe” of voters to talk to. Here's how we won 🧵
Reposted by James Hassett
Dear God, look at the jobs report revisions for May and June! This is not at all the rosy picture it looked like to economists over the past few months.
August 1, 2025 at 1:23 PM
Dear God, look at the jobs report revisions for May and June! This is not at all the rosy picture it looked like to economists over the past few months.
Reposted by James Hassett
Trump and the GOP’s “America First” strategy just killed America’s battery manufacturing boom - new from me in @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/07/22/t...
How Trump's Policies Crush the American Battery Boom | Washington Monthly
Biden policies put the U.S. in a strong position, but Trump is destroying the American battery industry and good American jobs.
washingtonmonthly.com
July 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Trump and the GOP’s “America First” strategy just killed America’s battery manufacturing boom - new from me in @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/07/22/t...
Reposted by James Hassett
Biden policies put the U.S. in a strong position, but Trump is destroying the American battery industry and good American jobs:
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/07/22/t...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/07/22/t...
How Trump's Policies Crush the American Battery Boom | Washington Monthly
Biden policies put the U.S. in a strong position, but Trump is destroying the American battery industry and good American jobs.
washingtonmonthly.com
July 23, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Biden policies put the U.S. in a strong position, but Trump is destroying the American battery industry and good American jobs:
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/07/22/t...
washingtonmonthly.com/2025/07/22/t...
Trump and the GOP’s “America First” strategy just killed America’s battery manufacturing boom - new from me in @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/07/22/t...
How Trump's Policies Crush the American Battery Boom | Washington Monthly
Biden policies put the U.S. in a strong position, but Trump is destroying the American battery industry and good American jobs.
washingtonmonthly.com
July 23, 2025 at 5:00 PM
Trump and the GOP’s “America First” strategy just killed America’s battery manufacturing boom - new from me in @washingtonmonthly.com washingtonmonthly.com/2025/07/22/t...
Reposted by James Hassett
reading a memoir is so crazy to me. you remember stuff you did?
July 23, 2025 at 1:20 AM
reading a memoir is so crazy to me. you remember stuff you did?