The Fifth Declension
@thefifthdeclension.bsky.social
experience: writing code
very slow study: biology, 日本語
interest: visual art
I'm at the limit of what I can track, so i rarely follow back - no offense intended.
I block bogus-looking accounts.
very slow study: biology, 日本語
interest: visual art
I'm at the limit of what I can track, so i rarely follow back - no offense intended.
I block bogus-looking accounts.
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
High gallows, no floor
November 30, 2025 at 7:20 PM
High gallows, no floor
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
The Jim Cramer of politics
November 30, 2025 at 4:22 PM
The Jim Cramer of politics
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
I’ll put it this way: I have significantly more optimism that we can beat this particular set of fascists than I do that Dems will do what is necessary not to hand the country right back over to the next batch four year later
No value, no villain, no vision. Sounds like the tagline for the earnings call of a collapsing appliance retailer
November 30, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I’ll put it this way: I have significantly more optimism that we can beat this particular set of fascists than I do that Dems will do what is necessary not to hand the country right back over to the next batch four year later
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
This is the vulnerability to impeachment and removal that we have been talking about. No one wants to be tethered to a quickly-sinking ship.
MAGA might still be on the Trump train, but Republicans in Congress see the writing on the wall. They know he’s weak, and that weakness gives them cover to finally distance themselves.
A politician’s first unspoken instinct is self-preservation.
A politician’s first unspoken instinct is self-preservation.
November 30, 2025 at 8:01 PM
This is the vulnerability to impeachment and removal that we have been talking about. No one wants to be tethered to a quickly-sinking ship.
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
You do not have to repeat the words of bad faith actors verbatim. From Makary, Prasad and Hoeg at FDA, to Bhattcharya and Memoli at NIH, to RFK Jr. at HHS: letting them speak uncritically through you is a mistake. This is misinformation laundering, you are providing oxygen to help falsehoods thrive.
November 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
You do not have to repeat the words of bad faith actors verbatim. From Makary, Prasad and Hoeg at FDA, to Bhattcharya and Memoli at NIH, to RFK Jr. at HHS: letting them speak uncritically through you is a mistake. This is misinformation laundering, you are providing oxygen to help falsehoods thrive.
👇👇👇
Dem messaging people need to realize voters also listen to what you’re NOT saying.
If you switch to economic messaging in the midst of impudent open criminality, you’re saying you don’t think it’s important.
Which means they think you stand for nothing in a time people are craving moral clarity.
If you switch to economic messaging in the midst of impudent open criminality, you’re saying you don’t think it’s important.
Which means they think you stand for nothing in a time people are craving moral clarity.
The president is a political cartoon of corruption come to life, a gaudy grifter who is selling off pardons and lining his pockets, building a golden ballroom and protecting his fellow sex predator elites, all the while regular Americans are suffering and struggling to make ends meet.
Run on *that*
Run on *that*
December 1, 2025 at 9:03 AM
👇👇👇
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
Lol, Zillow tried to rate the climate risks facing individual properties. The real estate industry *hated* it, precisely because it worked -- it made selling risky properties more difficult. So they rebelled & Zillow caved.
Don't look up!
Don't look up!
Zillow Removes Climate Risk Scores From Home Listings
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Lol, Zillow tried to rate the climate risks facing individual properties. The real estate industry *hated* it, precisely because it worked -- it made selling risky properties more difficult. So they rebelled & Zillow caved.
Don't look up!
Don't look up!
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
"Yes, we have an untaxed, multibillion-dollar endowment. But that doesn’t mean we can burn money on frivolities like a classics department. That involves hiring professors and maintaining a library, which does not help our hospital or our football team."
We Are Not a “School”—We Are a Hospital System with a Football Team
Dear valued faculty,
In light of the recent budget cuts, the university administration thought it would be helpful to clarify a few things about ou...
www.mcsweeneys.net
April 16, 2024 at 7:27 PM
"Yes, we have an untaxed, multibillion-dollar endowment. But that doesn’t mean we can burn money on frivolities like a classics department. That involves hiring professors and maintaining a library, which does not help our hospital or our football team."
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
Saying frequently to Democratic politicians "I will hold *you* accountable if no one is held accountable for these crimes" is a good place to start.
November 30, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Saying frequently to Democratic politicians "I will hold *you* accountable if no one is held accountable for these crimes" is a good place to start.
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
While this usually isn't the intent, "no one will ever be held accountable for this" doomerism is an excuse not to try.
There'll be at least some accountability if enough Americans work for it. And this time really is different. Doesn't guarantee the aftermath will be, but it increases the chances.
There'll be at least some accountability if enough Americans work for it. And this time really is different. Doesn't guarantee the aftermath will be, but it increases the chances.
November 30, 2025 at 9:16 PM
While this usually isn't the intent, "no one will ever be held accountable for this" doomerism is an excuse not to try.
There'll be at least some accountability if enough Americans work for it. And this time really is different. Doesn't guarantee the aftermath will be, but it increases the chances.
There'll be at least some accountability if enough Americans work for it. And this time really is different. Doesn't guarantee the aftermath will be, but it increases the chances.
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
The death of browsing is part of the reason art is the way it is now. Our opinions are largely fed to us by algorithms. Spending a spare 15 minutes wandering around a bookstore or comic shop or video rental place was how you found stuff you wouldn't ordinarily pick up and thereby expanded your taste
Bookselling is like the most "people go to the store and buy what looks cool to them without a particular agenda" type business left, and your purchases have a huge influence on what is ordered, what is displayed, and what is recommended.
November 29, 2025 at 6:44 PM
The death of browsing is part of the reason art is the way it is now. Our opinions are largely fed to us by algorithms. Spending a spare 15 minutes wandering around a bookstore or comic shop or video rental place was how you found stuff you wouldn't ordinarily pick up and thereby expanded your taste
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
The main thing that's annoying and offensive about this is it's usually not framed as simply a factual observation about all the obvious hurdles, as if anybody needs reminding. It's how it's said in a mood of cynical, condescending hostility to even advocating for accountability. Ditto impeachment.
While this usually isn't the intent, "no one will ever be held accountable for this" doomerism is an excuse not to try.
There'll be at least some accountability if enough Americans work for it. And this time really is different. Doesn't guarantee the aftermath will be, but it increases the chances.
There'll be at least some accountability if enough Americans work for it. And this time really is different. Doesn't guarantee the aftermath will be, but it increases the chances.
November 30, 2025 at 9:45 PM
The main thing that's annoying and offensive about this is it's usually not framed as simply a factual observation about all the obvious hurdles, as if anybody needs reminding. It's how it's said in a mood of cynical, condescending hostility to even advocating for accountability. Ditto impeachment.
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
I prosecuted international drug traffickers for DOJ.
It takes years of round-the-clock work to put together a case like the successful prosecution of the former president of Honduras.
If I were the prosecutor on that case, I'd be screaming bloody murder to every news outlet. Every damn one.
It takes years of round-the-clock work to put together a case like the successful prosecution of the former president of Honduras.
If I were the prosecutor on that case, I'd be screaming bloody murder to every news outlet. Every damn one.
Trump is killing low level suspected drug traffickers who are not in the U.S. and he's letting a drug cartel mastermind who was convicted by DOJ, and is serving 45 years in the U.S., out of prison.
Money and power have a grip on America's corrupt president.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/n...
Money and power have a grip on America's corrupt president.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/29/n...
The Ex-President Whom Trump Plans to Pardon Flooded America With Cocaine
www.nytimes.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:38 PM
I prosecuted international drug traffickers for DOJ.
It takes years of round-the-clock work to put together a case like the successful prosecution of the former president of Honduras.
If I were the prosecutor on that case, I'd be screaming bloody murder to every news outlet. Every damn one.
It takes years of round-the-clock work to put together a case like the successful prosecution of the former president of Honduras.
If I were the prosecutor on that case, I'd be screaming bloody murder to every news outlet. Every damn one.
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
Don't sleep on this. A Republican-led Congress pushing back against the administration is 100% necessary, and this is how it starts
Senate committee vows ‘vigorous oversight’ in killing of boat strike survivors
The Republican-led committee’s pledge came after The Post reported that the defense secretary ordered that a U.S. strike on an alleged narcotics boat leave no survivors.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 29, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Don't sleep on this. A Republican-led Congress pushing back against the administration is 100% necessary, and this is how it starts
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
The "strong floor" philosophy of Kegel
November 30, 2025 at 6:43 PM
The "strong floor" philosophy of Kegel
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
Strong Floor, No Ceiling is considerably worse than No Rules, Just Right. Can’t believe we’re gonna lose the messaging war to Outback Steakhouse.
November 30, 2025 at 6:24 PM
Strong Floor, No Ceiling is considerably worse than No Rules, Just Right. Can’t believe we’re gonna lose the messaging war to Outback Steakhouse.
also: triflers in party leadership are fucking around with this stuff instead of building coalitions to remove career criminals from power
The problem with “Strong Floor, No Ceiling” is that no one knows what the fuck it means, and not in the “allows for multiple different, but positive, interpretations” way.
IF YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN YOUR SLOGAN IT’S A BAD SLOGAN.
See also “opportunity society.”
IF YOU HAVE TO EXPLAIN YOUR SLOGAN IT’S A BAD SLOGAN.
See also “opportunity society.”
December 1, 2025 at 7:37 AM
also: triflers in party leadership are fucking around with this stuff instead of building coalitions to remove career criminals from power
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
Donald Trump has not just convinced me that I do not want a king—I'm not even sure about the president thing anymore.
November 30, 2025 at 10:49 PM
Donald Trump has not just convinced me that I do not want a king—I'm not even sure about the president thing anymore.
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < All Hat, No Cattle
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Aim High, Shoot Low
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Too Long, Don't Read
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Jail Every Single One Of Those Murderous Grifting Thieves And Restore Democracy
#SlogansForDemocrats
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Aim High, Shoot Low
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Too Long, Don't Read
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Jail Every Single One Of Those Murderous Grifting Thieves And Restore Democracy
#SlogansForDemocrats
November 30, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < All Hat, No Cattle
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Aim High, Shoot Low
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Too Long, Don't Read
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Jail Every Single One Of Those Murderous Grifting Thieves And Restore Democracy
#SlogansForDemocrats
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Aim High, Shoot Low
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Too Long, Don't Read
Strong Floor, No Ceiling < Jail Every Single One Of Those Murderous Grifting Thieves And Restore Democracy
#SlogansForDemocrats
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
Flawless logic, sir! Makes perfect sense that because video games are improving, we must live in a simulation!
November 30, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Flawless logic, sir! Makes perfect sense that because video games are improving, we must live in a simulation!
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
When i lived in IA, it was a purple state. In the last 20 years, IA took a hard right turn and its politics are indistinguishable from Alabama's, complete with abortion ban and regressive taxes. Now they have horrible brain drain and credulously wonder what caused it.
tinyurl.com/2fyah23c
tinyurl.com/2fyah23c
Iowa needs more doctors. Here's what physicians say must change.
New policy wins — including $150 million for residency expansion and new prior-authorization rules — are giving Iowa physicians hope, but health leaders warns real improvements will take years.
www.thegazette.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:50 PM
When i lived in IA, it was a purple state. In the last 20 years, IA took a hard right turn and its politics are indistinguishable from Alabama's, complete with abortion ban and regressive taxes. Now they have horrible brain drain and credulously wonder what caused it.
tinyurl.com/2fyah23c
tinyurl.com/2fyah23c
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
Walmart and McDonald’s are among the top employers of workers who rely on food stamps.
McDonald's CEO raked in $18.2M last year — over 1,000x the company's median employee pay.
Walmart's CEO pocketed $27.4M — 930x the company's median employee pay.
See the problem?
McDonald's CEO raked in $18.2M last year — over 1,000x the company's median employee pay.
Walmart's CEO pocketed $27.4M — 930x the company's median employee pay.
See the problem?
November 30, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Walmart and McDonald’s are among the top employers of workers who rely on food stamps.
McDonald's CEO raked in $18.2M last year — over 1,000x the company's median employee pay.
Walmart's CEO pocketed $27.4M — 930x the company's median employee pay.
See the problem?
McDonald's CEO raked in $18.2M last year — over 1,000x the company's median employee pay.
Walmart's CEO pocketed $27.4M — 930x the company's median employee pay.
See the problem?
Reposted by The Fifth Declension
I went to the centrist rally. It was beautiful: thousands of people all chanting “Strong Floor, No Ceiling”
No value, no villain, no vision. Sounds like the tagline for the earnings call of a collapsing appliance retailer
November 30, 2025 at 1:54 PM
I went to the centrist rally. It was beautiful: thousands of people all chanting “Strong Floor, No Ceiling”