Benj
@splatterthought.bsky.social
We are contumacious diodes with mercurial biases, and we are transfixed by our borealis.
PNW, Go Hawks
PNW, Go Hawks
Reposted by Benj
Best Twitter riposte of the day. And Washington met his payroll for the Continental Army with money furnished by the Spanish Crown, too.
January 2, 2026 at 5:19 AM
Best Twitter riposte of the day. And Washington met his payroll for the Continental Army with money furnished by the Spanish Crown, too.
Reposted by Benj
huh someone should run on this or something
January 2, 2026 at 6:06 AM
huh someone should run on this or something
Reposted by Benj
one of my recent preoccupations is the visceral hostility the MAGA right has for the histories and traditions of the United States. these are people who spit on the Declaration and salute third-rate European despots!
It's striking that progressives like Tim Walz and Zohran Mamdani evoke the middle American attitude that, "Yes, we can fix these social problems because we're Americans and it's the right thing to do!" While the "America first" right only emulates failed and failing nation-states elsewhere.
January 2, 2026 at 12:45 AM
one of my recent preoccupations is the visceral hostility the MAGA right has for the histories and traditions of the United States. these are people who spit on the Declaration and salute third-rate European despots!
Reposted by Benj
Republicans would never condemn something like this and Democratic politicians, for some reason, still love using Elon Musk's fascist fun house
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform
January 2, 2026 at 12:59 AM
Republicans would never condemn something like this and Democratic politicians, for some reason, still love using Elon Musk's fascist fun house
Reposted by Benj
“we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you.” 🙄
The right-wing dummification of CBS News under Bari Weiss continues. Who cares about science based expert analysis, facts.
Forget information- they are gonna serve up right wing affirmation.
The right-wing dummification of CBS News under Bari Weiss continues. Who cares about science based expert analysis, facts.
Forget information- they are gonna serve up right wing affirmation.
January 2, 2026 at 1:07 AM
“we put too much weight in the analysis of academics or elites, and not enough on you.” 🙄
The right-wing dummification of CBS News under Bari Weiss continues. Who cares about science based expert analysis, facts.
Forget information- they are gonna serve up right wing affirmation.
The right-wing dummification of CBS News under Bari Weiss continues. Who cares about science based expert analysis, facts.
Forget information- they are gonna serve up right wing affirmation.
Reposted by Benj
AI companies are playing a game wherein these computer programs are presented to the public as autonomous individuals capable of issuing a meaningful apology. The machine is just a machine. Human beings owe the apology for building the machine irresponsibly and unleashing it on the world.
so x dot com’s ai generated CSAM and they admitted it may violate US law and … i haven’t seen in anyone in power say much at all or call to stop using the platform
January 2, 2026 at 1:23 AM
AI companies are playing a game wherein these computer programs are presented to the public as autonomous individuals capable of issuing a meaningful apology. The machine is just a machine. Human beings owe the apology for building the machine irresponsibly and unleashing it on the world.
Reposted by Benj
It’s not true that Trump only pardons rich white guys. He also pardons rich foreigners who put hundreds of millions in his pocket through his crypto company.
January 2, 2026 at 12:11 AM
It’s not true that Trump only pardons rich white guys. He also pardons rich foreigners who put hundreds of millions in his pocket through his crypto company.
Reposted by Benj
If you got $1 million, you can pretty much commit any crime you want and Trump will pardon you. I would recommend Pam Bondi’s brother for representation. He seems to get the best results, for some reason.
January 2, 2026 at 12:04 AM
If you got $1 million, you can pretty much commit any crime you want and Trump will pardon you. I would recommend Pam Bondi’s brother for representation. He seems to get the best results, for some reason.
Reposted by Benj
Religious toleration was arguably one of the hallmark achievements of what Musk would call “western civilization,” but sure dude, we will all just sit around waiting for you to make your list of what you and your rich white friends will or will not tolerate. I look forward to complying fully.
January 1, 2026 at 11:45 PM
Religious toleration was arguably one of the hallmark achievements of what Musk would call “western civilization,” but sure dude, we will all just sit around waiting for you to make your list of what you and your rich white friends will or will not tolerate. I look forward to complying fully.
Reposted by Benj
So the GOP’s official position would seem to be that in the interest of viewpoint diversity, university history departments should hire more Republican-voting Holocaust deniers, but then to combat antisemitism they should immediately fire them?
I missed this from the Manhattan Institute survey on December 1 of the "current GOP." 37% are Holocaust deniers, which, to my surprise, is greater than the percentage (33%) that believes vaccines cause autism.
January 1, 2026 at 11:54 PM
So the GOP’s official position would seem to be that in the interest of viewpoint diversity, university history departments should hire more Republican-voting Holocaust deniers, but then to combat antisemitism they should immediately fire them?
Reposted by Benj
You'll be shocked to learn that Trump and his buddies are using The "Trump" Kennedy Center to loot, grift, and hand out money to pals, just like he did with his charity and inaugurations.
Well probably not shocked.
Sheldon Whitehouse is working to expose this.
www.rawstory.com/investigatio...
Well probably not shocked.
Sheldon Whitehouse is working to expose this.
www.rawstory.com/investigatio...
Trump accused of 'slush fund' by turning the Kennedy Center into a MAGA 'private club'
A top Democratic lawmaker revealed how an investigation has found that President Donald Trump and his allies have been accused of using the Kennedy Center for their own personal gains. Sen. Sheldon Wh...
www.rawstory.com
January 1, 2026 at 8:20 PM
You'll be shocked to learn that Trump and his buddies are using The "Trump" Kennedy Center to loot, grift, and hand out money to pals, just like he did with his charity and inaugurations.
Well probably not shocked.
Sheldon Whitehouse is working to expose this.
www.rawstory.com/investigatio...
Well probably not shocked.
Sheldon Whitehouse is working to expose this.
www.rawstory.com/investigatio...
Reposted by Benj
There were 220 murders in Philadelphia in 2025 and 133 in Baltimore. Those are the lowest murder counts since 1966 and 1965 respectively in those cities.
January 1, 2026 at 4:13 PM
There were 220 murders in Philadelphia in 2025 and 133 in Baltimore. Those are the lowest murder counts since 1966 and 1965 respectively in those cities.
Reposted by Benj
Even if some hypothetical large language model eats an ant or whatever and becomes sentient and creates “utopia,” there is no way to ever avoid the question: who defined utopia?
December 31, 2025 at 11:23 PM
Even if some hypothetical large language model eats an ant or whatever and becomes sentient and creates “utopia,” there is no way to ever avoid the question: who defined utopia?
This whole thread is amazing...
My man looks like he’s debating the meaning of “petting” with the manager of a petting zoo
January 1, 2026 at 10:24 PM
This whole thread is amazing...
Reposted by Benj
Yeah, man, the only difference between your career and Mark Rufallo’s career is the political stuff.
December 29, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Yeah, man, the only difference between your career and Mark Rufallo’s career is the political stuff.
Reposted by Benj
These are the people who the administration will harass, fire, detain, and deport you for criticizing, in some cases for just being insufficiently appreciative of them.
January 1, 2026 at 5:52 PM
These are the people who the administration will harass, fire, detain, and deport you for criticizing, in some cases for just being insufficiently appreciative of them.
Reposted by Benj
500 Worst Things the Trump Admin Did in 2025, Part 5.
The final section, which is #401-500 in chronological order from Sept-Dec. Links included in the article to the first 400. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...
The final section, which is #401-500 in chronological order from Sept-Dec. Links included in the article to the first 400. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...
500 Worst Things Trump Did in 2025, Part 5
#401-500. Sept-Dec.
open.substack.com
January 1, 2026 at 9:46 PM
500 Worst Things the Trump Admin Did in 2025, Part 5.
The final section, which is #401-500 in chronological order from Sept-Dec. Links included in the article to the first 400. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...
The final section, which is #401-500 in chronological order from Sept-Dec. Links included in the article to the first 400. open.substack.com/pub/meidasto...
I try to keep some distance from this type of content or opining on it (swearing ins, speeches, promises, celebrations, etc) especially right after someone is carried into power, so I've only seen a few clips & may be off here but, this is the best clip I've seen so far, and it's just...
brilliant.
brilliant.
Mamdani: For too long, those fluent in the good grammar of civility have deployed decorum to mask agendas of cruelty
January 1, 2026 at 9:17 PM
I try to keep some distance from this type of content or opining on it (swearing ins, speeches, promises, celebrations, etc) especially right after someone is carried into power, so I've only seen a few clips & may be off here but, this is the best clip I've seen so far, and it's just...
brilliant.
brilliant.
Reposted by Benj
Just dusted off the Michelle Obama/Kamala Harris binders at the NY Post and off they go.
How dare a woman of color spend her own money on shoes/cookware/gardens.
How dare a woman of color spend her own money on shoes/cookware/gardens.
January 1, 2026 at 7:46 PM
Just dusted off the Michelle Obama/Kamala Harris binders at the NY Post and off they go.
How dare a woman of color spend her own money on shoes/cookware/gardens.
How dare a woman of color spend her own money on shoes/cookware/gardens.
January 1, 2026 at 7:47 PM
Reposted by Benj
Wait until the NYPost discovers the price of any pair of cowboy boots any elected official wears in public. I can almost guarantee you Kristi Noem wouldn’t be caught dead wearing boots so cheap, hers are just different shape
January 1, 2026 at 6:30 PM
Wait until the NYPost discovers the price of any pair of cowboy boots any elected official wears in public. I can almost guarantee you Kristi Noem wouldn’t be caught dead wearing boots so cheap, hers are just different shape
Reposted by Benj
I frequently criticize the Times on various fronts. With great size/power comes great responsibility. But it's always important to remember that really only they have the resources and capacity to put stuff like this together. These are like genome maps of the Trump corruption machine.
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches (Gift Article)
The president, his family and some of their closest associates have engaged in a sprawling campaign of deals that stretches across industries and the globe.
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 7:42 PM
I frequently criticize the Times on various fronts. With great size/power comes great responsibility. But it's always important to remember that really only they have the resources and capacity to put stuff like this together. These are like genome maps of the Trump corruption machine.
Reposted by Benj
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches (Gift Article)
The president, his family and some of their closest associates have engaged in a sprawling campaign of deals that stretches across industries and the globe.
www.nytimes.com
January 1, 2026 at 5:58 PM
Trump’s Tangled Web of Deal-Making, Policy and Riches
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
An illustrated guide of the first year of profiteering.
www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Benj
Eerie and fascinating www.404media.co/researchers-...
Researchers Are Hunting America for Hidden Datacenters
The nonprofit research group Epoch AI is tracking the physical imprint of the technology that’s changing the world.
www.404media.co
January 1, 2026 at 7:25 PM
Eerie and fascinating www.404media.co/researchers-...
Reposted by Benj
This thread still going strong.
My man looks like he was banned from an Ann Taylor Loft for mannequin groping
January 1, 2026 at 7:10 PM
This thread still going strong.