Sam G. Howard
@samghoward.riliberator.com
Rhode Islander, education union data organizer and Democratic ward committee member. Recovering comms pro, RI's leading vexillologist (probably). Occasionally blogs at riliberator.com
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
This is perfect. The DOJ's embarrassing snafu with disappearing redactions was the fault of Elon Musk. Musk cancelled government subscriptions to Adobe programs that would have made the redactions permanent. What a pack of fools.
December 26, 2025 at 9:02 PM
This is perfect. The DOJ's embarrassing snafu with disappearing redactions was the fault of Elon Musk. Musk cancelled government subscriptions to Adobe programs that would have made the redactions permanent. What a pack of fools.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Remember when Democrats read out loud from Project 2025 on a national prime-time TV broadcast?
🚨🚨 SCOOP @ms.now : The Department of Veteran Affairs has quietly implemented its abortion ban following a DOJ memo issued last week.
This will affect 9 million veterans and their dependents, and has been a long time coming: It was outlined in Project 2025.
Read/share 👇
This will affect 9 million veterans and their dependents, and has been a long time coming: It was outlined in Project 2025.
Read/share 👇
Department of Veterans Affairs quietly implements abortion ban
A VA spokesperson confirmed to MS NOW that the ban was in place following a Department of Justice memo issued last week.
www.ms.now
December 27, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Remember when Democrats read out loud from Project 2025 on a national prime-time TV broadcast?
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Urbanism is really about being able to yell stuff at people from the comfort of your home instead of your car.
December 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Urbanism is really about being able to yell stuff at people from the comfort of your home instead of your car.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
This piece is a great illustration of how the long-term effect of Trump’s destruction of US institutions won’t be felt in a dramatic market collapse, but rather in permanently worse economic conditions, and lower prosperity.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
So long, American exceptionalism
For the first time, investors are talking about ‘US risk’
giftarticle.ft.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:59 PM
This piece is a great illustration of how the long-term effect of Trump’s destruction of US institutions won’t be felt in a dramatic market collapse, but rather in permanently worse economic conditions, and lower prosperity.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
I think the ICE agents work hard and deserve a nice little Kavanaugh Snack, as a treat
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
December 26, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I think the ICE agents work hard and deserve a nice little Kavanaugh Snack, as a treat
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
you can tell when someone is too used to making shit up online because they stop being able to find easy tells in their own lies, such as "why would attendees at an in-person con ask a white man if hes black"
This shit is made up, actually
December 26, 2025 at 8:30 PM
you can tell when someone is too used to making shit up online because they stop being able to find easy tells in their own lies, such as "why would attendees at an in-person con ask a white man if hes black"
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
The Wisconsin component of the analysis here is revealing. Evidence is consistent with DOGE strategically delaying contract terminations in WI until after the 2025 state Supreme Court elections to mitigate electoral risk.
December 26, 2025 at 1:25 PM
The Wisconsin component of the analysis here is revealing. Evidence is consistent with DOGE strategically delaying contract terminations in WI until after the 2025 state Supreme Court elections to mitigate electoral risk.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
some good climate/energy news:
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
Clean energy is going to win. It's just a question of when.
Clean energy is still winning. These 10 charts prove it.
Solar and wind are beating new power demand, steelmaking is slowly getting off coal, and more clean energy victories are clear in these charts.
www.canarymedia.com
December 26, 2025 at 2:09 PM
some good climate/energy news:
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
* 96% of new US power capacity was carbon-free in 2024 (56 gigawatts!)
* 2025 included the first month ever when 51% of power on the U.S. grid was carbon-free
* The golbal trend is overwhelming: The world is now investing more $ in clean energy than fossil fuels
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Plato argued in the Republic that the 'tyrant,' or someone with unlimited wealth and power, would live the worst possible life because his soul would be devoured by lawless, unlimited desires that could never be sated. I think we've gotten confirmation of this from more cases than Trump lately
I always thought Plato was pretty pollyannaish on this point, but this is decent evidence for the view that a man of bad character will therefore be unhappy even with every external trapping of success and good fortune.
President Donald Trump gifted the world with nearly 200 Truth Social posts (and counting) on Christmas Day, where he amplified conspiracy theories about the 2020 election and called for a member of Congress to be deported.
December 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Plato argued in the Republic that the 'tyrant,' or someone with unlimited wealth and power, would live the worst possible life because his soul would be devoured by lawless, unlimited desires that could never be sated. I think we've gotten confirmation of this from more cases than Trump lately
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
A great example of how the @nytimes.com centers white Americans and Trump supporters in its anecdotal political coverage. You never see stories like this about Black Democrats whose cities are cracked in Republican gerrymandering to give them Republican elected officials.
They Wanted a Conservative State. They Might Get a Democratic Representative Instead.
The passage of Proposition 50, which redrew California’s congressional map, means that all of the state’s conservative north is likely to be represented by Democrats.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/u...
The passage of Proposition 50, which redrew California’s congressional map, means that all of the state’s conservative north is likely to be represented by Democrats.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/26/u...
They Wanted a Conservative State. They Might Get a Democratic Representative Instead.
www.nytimes.com
December 26, 2025 at 1:13 PM
A great example of how the @nytimes.com centers white Americans and Trump supporters in its anecdotal political coverage. You never see stories like this about Black Democrats whose cities are cracked in Republican gerrymandering to give them Republican elected officials.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
abolishing ICE is a necessity but *merely* abolishing ICE should be viewed as the most moderate of positions
ICE detain father shopping on Christmas Eve—then steal his family's groceries.
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
Then 3 agents divvy up his paid for food—taking what they want for themselves.
"Can I just get the wife's number to call and let her know?" woman asks.
"No, guess he should've complied," agent says.
Yakima, Washington
December 26, 2025 at 12:37 PM
abolishing ICE is a necessity but *merely* abolishing ICE should be viewed as the most moderate of positions
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
This is the answer to Trump’s litigation threats. Not capitulation. Discovery.
President Trump’s spiteful defamation suit against the Pulitzer Prize Board may backfire, as the latter is now demanding Trump’s psychological records, prescription medication records, and tax returns in the discovery process. trib.al/LUCScTR
December 26, 2025 at 2:54 AM
This is the answer to Trump’s litigation threats. Not capitulation. Discovery.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
This is a great example not just of Nazism being normalized, but of being so removed from the consequences of Nazism that it becomes just a thought exercise. I mean, hey, 20 years ago this avowed antisemite couldn’t even have been part of polite society and look at him now!
Joe Rogan and Shane Gillis on Nick Fuentes running for president one day.
Rogan: “He could probably win in a few years. Listen, he couldn’t have existed before, right? Ten, twenty years ago, couldn’t have existed. Now, super popular. What’s twenty years from now look like?”
Rogan: “He could probably win in a few years. Listen, he couldn’t have existed before, right? Ten, twenty years ago, couldn’t have existed. Now, super popular. What’s twenty years from now look like?”
December 26, 2025 at 2:51 AM
This is a great example not just of Nazism being normalized, but of being so removed from the consequences of Nazism that it becomes just a thought exercise. I mean, hey, 20 years ago this avowed antisemite couldn’t even have been part of polite society and look at him now!
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
still my favorite christmas post
December 25, 2025 at 1:08 AM
still my favorite christmas post
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
The scale of the proposed ICE camps is similar to that of the racist 1940s incarceration of Japanese American immigrants and their families.
There's ways to stop the camps - a reason there aren't any planned for California may be the organized opposition of local activists and leaders.
There's ways to stop the camps - a reason there aren't any planned for California may be the organized opposition of local activists and leaders.
We have to find ways to stop these concentration camps.
December 24, 2025 at 10:32 PM
The scale of the proposed ICE camps is similar to that of the racist 1940s incarceration of Japanese American immigrants and their families.
There's ways to stop the camps - a reason there aren't any planned for California may be the organized opposition of local activists and leaders.
There's ways to stop the camps - a reason there aren't any planned for California may be the organized opposition of local activists and leaders.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
These people are deeply weird and obsessed with controlling other people's bodies.
The FDA says tight underwear is a medical device if trans people enjoy wearing it.
More on the nonsense from our federal government by @alyssaur.bsky.social
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
More on the nonsense from our federal government by @alyssaur.bsky.social
www.assignedmedia.org/breaking-new...
FDA Threatens Companies Selling Binders — Assigned
The FDA sent twelve businesses threatening letters on Tuesday, demanding that they register their chest binders as medical devices with the FDA.
www.assignedmedia.org
December 24, 2025 at 8:15 PM
These people are deeply weird and obsessed with controlling other people's bodies.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
December 24, 2025 at 7:00 PM
A small (personal) example of this book’s intellectual dishonesty:
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
My father-in-law is reading In Covid’s Wake, and excitedly told me he found a passage where I’m quoted. The quote in question is me saying the FBI worked to censor speech on social media.
Huh? When did I say that?!
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
fascinating new birthright citizenship research from Amanda Frost and Emily Eason — in a reconstruction period rife with eligibility challenges, nobody challenged 12 members of Congress who would fail Trump’s citizenship clause test
Paper here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Paper here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
December 24, 2025 at 3:02 AM
fascinating new birthright citizenship research from Amanda Frost and Emily Eason — in a reconstruction period rife with eligibility challenges, nobody challenged 12 members of Congress who would fail Trump’s citizenship clause test
Paper here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Paper here: papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Look I'm not gonna criticize the great Mandy Patinkin...but I do have something to say about democracy and politicians. goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/celebratin...
Elect Good Politicians, Not Good People
They have the skills that democracies need.
goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:16 PM
Look I'm not gonna criticize the great Mandy Patinkin...but I do have something to say about democracy and politicians. goodpoliticsbadpolitics.substack.com/p/celebratin...
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Sounds like the Trump admin deported an American citizen with no criminal record basically because of her ethnicity, over the ruling of a judge. She is 22
"Her family has now been told she has been deported, despite US District Judge Brendan Hurson ruling Thursday that she could not be deported pending a hearing...attorneys said Monday that they have...confirm[ed] with the hospital she was born in Maryland." https://bit.ly/3MMdJvz
ICE detains woman whose lawyer insists is US citizen. DHS says she isn't
Federal agents arrested Dulce Consuelo Diaz Morales on her way home in Baltimore, Maryland.
bit.ly
December 23, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Sounds like the Trump admin deported an American citizen with no criminal record basically because of her ethnicity, over the ruling of a judge. She is 22
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Adam Seth Levine spent three years writing a book and you just...skeeted it out. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
December 23, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Adam Seth Levine spent three years writing a book and you just...skeeted it out. press.princeton.edu/books/hardco...
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Imagine being a Chinese admiral or general who trained your entire life for Gotterdammerung and then France blows up America for you because a senile reality TV show host doesn't understand how the Mercator projection works and therefore thinks Greenland is 87 times the size of the solar system.
Have become quite critical of Macron lately. But for the EU's sole nuclear power this is an important response.
December 23, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Imagine being a Chinese admiral or general who trained your entire life for Gotterdammerung and then France blows up America for you because a senile reality TV show host doesn't understand how the Mercator projection works and therefore thinks Greenland is 87 times the size of the solar system.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
December 23, 2025 at 2:00 PM
Year 1 data on congestion pricing in Manhattan…
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
* Vehicle traffic: -11%
* Foot traffic: +3.4%
* Storefront vacancy: -0.9%
* Pollution: -22%
* Revenue for mass transit: $548M
So YES this has been a huge success.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Ah, the Epstein/Nassar letter seems to be a fake. Makes sense.
We already knew this letter existed. Now we know FBI doubted its authenticity. Rolling Stone reported in 2023 on a letter addressed to Nassar, purportedly sent by Epstein, found weeks after his death (Sept. 2019). In July 2020, per the latest files dump, the FBI sent it out for handwriting analysis.
Jeffrey Epstein Wrote Fellow Pedophile Larry Nassar a Letter Before His Death
Jeffrey Epstein tried to contact fellow pedophile and admitted sexual abuser Larry Nassar via mail in the days before his death by suicide.
www.rollingstone.com
December 23, 2025 at 1:14 PM
Ah, the Epstein/Nassar letter seems to be a fake. Makes sense.
Reposted by Sam G. Howard
Albania is facing a mounting political crisis after its deputy prime minister was indicted.
It reached its tipping point yesterday after Molotov cocktails were hurled at PM Edi Rama’s office.
It reached its tipping point yesterday after Molotov cocktails were hurled at PM Edi Rama’s office.
Albanian PM’s office petrol bombed as corruption protests flare
The EU candidate country is facing mounting political tensions after its deputy prime minister was indicted.
www.politico.eu
December 23, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Albania is facing a mounting political crisis after its deputy prime minister was indicted.
It reached its tipping point yesterday after Molotov cocktails were hurled at PM Edi Rama’s office.
It reached its tipping point yesterday after Molotov cocktails were hurled at PM Edi Rama’s office.