The Massachusetts Spy
@themassspy.bsky.social
Since 1770, more or less, the Commonwealth's leading journal of politics and culture. Available at realmassachusettsspy.blogspot.com
Pinned
Democracy dies in silence – Rümeysa Öztürk’s arrest is a warning - The Boston Globe
Democracy isn’t something we are. It’s something we do. And too few people in this country are doing it right now.
www.bostonglobe.com
“Resistance may or may not be futile. Acquiescence definitely is.”
- @yabraham.bsky.social
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/29/m...
- @yabraham.bsky.social
www.bostonglobe.com/2025/03/29/m...
Remind me again why the news section of the @nytimes.com is unable or unwilling to report the objective truths set out on their editorial page.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Opinion | Trump Is the Jan. 6 President
www.nytimes.com
January 4, 2026 at 3:02 PM
Remind me again why the news section of the @nytimes.com is unable or unwilling to report the objective truths set out on their editorial page.
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
Gift link:
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/31/o...
"Immigrant Derangement Syndrome is...a top-down phenomenon, not a broad popular movement. It reflects the perverse obsessions of MAGAdom, with racism a key component."
- @pkrugman.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
- @pkrugman.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
Immigrant Derangement Syndrome
Blaming brown-skinned people for everything bad
open.substack.com
January 4, 2026 at 1:12 AM
"Immigrant Derangement Syndrome is...a top-down phenomenon, not a broad popular movement. It reflects the perverse obsessions of MAGAdom, with racism a key component."
- @pkrugman.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
- @pkrugman.bsky.social
open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...
How did that bipartisan cooperation work out for ya, Ruben?
FOX NEWS: What are your expectations when you get briefings from senior Trump administration officials in the coming days?
GALLEGO: Well, they're just gonna lie
GALLEGO: Well, they're just gonna lie
January 3, 2026 at 11:30 PM
How did that bipartisan cooperation work out for ya, Ruben?
Coming up next in @nytimes.com : more comprehensive coverage:
"Their last names are both three syllables long and begin with 'Ma,' causing some to wonder if they are somehow allied. According to experts at the conservative-leaning Heritage Foundation...."
"Their last names are both three syllables long and begin with 'Ma,' causing some to wonder if they are somehow allied. According to experts at the conservative-leaning Heritage Foundation...."
NYT gonna NYT: "Both Mr. Mamdani and Mr. Maduro identify as socialists, though they have no relationship.” — would be funny if they did this every time you write about two capitalists.
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
www.nytimes.com/2026/01/03/w...
Mamdani Called Trump to Criticize Venezuela Strikes
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 11:29 PM
Coming up next in @nytimes.com : more comprehensive coverage:
"Their last names are both three syllables long and begin with 'Ma,' causing some to wonder if they are somehow allied. According to experts at the conservative-leaning Heritage Foundation...."
"Their last names are both three syllables long and begin with 'Ma,' causing some to wonder if they are somehow allied. According to experts at the conservative-leaning Heritage Foundation...."
Ahmed Chalabi is tanned, rested and ready!
(H/t for our Wonderful Republican Allies who were all pushing for regime change in Iraq in 2003.)
(H/t for our Wonderful Republican Allies who were all pushing for regime change in Iraq in 2003.)
WAIT. HOLD UP WTF? Trump says American wants to run Venezuela with a transitional government until safe elections.
Him and what army?
He left the dictators senior commanders in charge.
This ain’t going to happen.
He changed leadership, not the regime
Him and what army?
He left the dictators senior commanders in charge.
This ain’t going to happen.
He changed leadership, not the regime
January 3, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Ahmed Chalabi is tanned, rested and ready!
(H/t for our Wonderful Republican Allies who were all pushing for regime change in Iraq in 2003.)
(H/t for our Wonderful Republican Allies who were all pushing for regime change in Iraq in 2003.)
Coming up next in @nytopinion.nytimes.com :
An overly-activist approach to government is dangerous, as shown by Trump and Mamdani.
An overly-activist approach to government is dangerous, as shown by Trump and Mamdani.
NYT: “Venezuela has apparently become the first country subject to this latter-day imperialism, and it represents a dangerous and illegal approach to America’s place in the world.”
Opinion | Trump’s Attack on Venezuela Is Illegal and Unwise
www.nytimes.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:58 PM
Coming up next in @nytopinion.nytimes.com :
An overly-activist approach to government is dangerous, as shown by Trump and Mamdani.
An overly-activist approach to government is dangerous, as shown by Trump and Mamdani.
What did we expect from ICE’s new Director of Recruitment, Hedley Lamarr?
ICE Has a New Recruitment Strategy—and It’s Terrifying newrepublic.com/post/204875/...
ICE Has a New Recruitment Strategy—and It’s Terrifying
ICE’s $100 million recruitment plan will target the manosphere.
newrepublic.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:55 PM
What did we expect from ICE’s new Director of Recruitment, Hedley Lamarr?
Dementia, ex. 483.
Trump on Sheinbaum: "The cartels are running Mexico. She's not running Mexico. We could be politically correct & nice and say, 'Oh, yes, she is.' No no. And I've asked her number times, 'Would you like us to take out the cartels?' ... something is gonna have to be done with Mexico."
January 3, 2026 at 2:54 PM
Dementia, ex. 483.
Spoiler alert: there’s no plan.
Maduro being gone is a good thing, but how and why it was done wasn’t. Remember, Trump pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez for exactly the same thing. Where was congress on this? What’s the plan to bring back Edmundo Gonzalez and Maria Corina? I hope we coordinated with folks in Vz and there’s a plan. 🤞
January 3, 2026 at 2:25 PM
Spoiler alert: there’s no plan.
Evergreen post.
another morning when it’s an existentially shameful thing to be an american huh
January 3, 2026 at 2:24 PM
Evergreen post.
Reposted by The Massachusetts Spy
Girl..........
Nobel Peace Prize winner and opposition leader Maria Corina Machado: "We are ready to take over government" in Venezuela. -Bloomberg
January 3, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Girl..........
My even shorter response to St. David “My Dinner with Jeffrey” Brooks is:
This is bulls***, as millions of loving, autonomous people demonstrate every f***in’ day. But you won’t meet them at the billionaires’ trough.
Per policy no link to pisspoor @nytopinion.nytimes.com drivel.
This is bulls***, as millions of loving, autonomous people demonstrate every f***in’ day. But you won’t meet them at the billionaires’ trough.
Per policy no link to pisspoor @nytopinion.nytimes.com drivel.
January 3, 2026 at 2:19 PM
My even shorter response to St. David “My Dinner with Jeffrey” Brooks is:
This is bulls***, as millions of loving, autonomous people demonstrate every f***in’ day. But you won’t meet them at the billionaires’ trough.
Per policy no link to pisspoor @nytopinion.nytimes.com drivel.
This is bulls***, as millions of loving, autonomous people demonstrate every f***in’ day. But you won’t meet them at the billionaires’ trough.
Per policy no link to pisspoor @nytopinion.nytimes.com drivel.
Worst January 3rd decision in 106 years.
January 3rd and I am speechless after waking up and hearing that Trump said President Maduro and his wife were captured in ‘large scale strike against Venezuela and flown out of the country
This is not normal behavior
And wrong on so many levels
Democracy must prevail
This is not normal behavior
And wrong on so many levels
Democracy must prevail
January 3, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Worst January 3rd decision in 106 years.
“Board, show me Epstein Files!”
Why has US attacked Caracas and captured Venezuela’s president?
Why has US attacked Caracas and captured Venezuela’s president?
Trump’s unprecedented capture of Nicolás Maduro follows months of military campaign and years of strained relationship
www.theguardian.com
January 3, 2026 at 2:03 PM
“Board, show me Epstein Files!”
This I need?
A recent coronal mass ejection may disrupt Earth’s geomagnetic field, forecasters said.
Northern Lights Forecast: 17 States Might See Aurora Borealis Friday Amid Geomagnetic Storms
A recent coronal mass ejection may disrupt Earth’s geomagnetic field, forecasters said.
www.forbes.com
January 3, 2026 at 4:18 AM
This I need?
How about puppies? Do you love them? What about people who kill them for spite?
Incredible. CBS Evening News announces five new “simple values” — instead of their “38-page handbook” — as they roll out Tony Dokoupil is lead anchor.
One of those values is simply: “We love America and make no apologies for saying so.”
One of those values is simply: “We love America and make no apologies for saying so.”
January 2, 2026 at 10:42 PM
How about puppies? Do you love them? What about people who kill them for spite?
On the bright side, things are going great at the Redeemed New College of Florida, thanks to white men!
(h/t Anemona Hartecollis, @nytimes.com )
(h/t Anemona Hartecollis, @nytimes.com )
Many people have not been invited at all. I’ve talked to a substantial number of Black speakers who have seen bookings plummet, who have been virtually frozen out from engaging in public talks on college campuses.
I'm trying to get a sense of how many (other) people were invited and then disinvited from US campuses last year. If you have a story to share, please dm. I will keep it confidential – just trying to figure out the scale of this.
January 2, 2026 at 4:08 PM
On the bright side, things are going great at the Redeemed New College of Florida, thanks to white men!
(h/t Anemona Hartecollis, @nytimes.com )
(h/t Anemona Hartecollis, @nytimes.com )
Health care tip: If your neurosurgeon says they're now going to take into account the perspectives of average Americans rather than those of academic neurosurgery experts, get off the table.
Bari Weiss’s CBS News directly attacking academics, subject matter experts, in the promo for her new CBS Evening News.
January 2, 2026 at 3:31 PM
Health care tip: If your neurosurgeon says they're now going to take into account the perspectives of average Americans rather than those of academic neurosurgery experts, get off the table.
I’m sure the matter will be resolved as soon as proper service is effected on the bear. Volunteers?
Good example of law on paper vs law on the ground
A temporary injunction won’t make that bear leave
A temporary injunction won’t make that bear leave
Black bear living underneath California house shows no sign of budging as homeowner mulls legal action
January 2, 2026 at 2:15 PM
I’m sure the matter will be resolved as soon as proper service is effected on the bear. Volunteers?
Smith story garbled and buried by the @nytimes.com on A15 next to huge useless two page package starting on the front page revealing that the Mad King sure likes to run his mouth, showing he’s quite the character.
Jack Smith also tells us that Trump has and still does intimidate witnesses like some kind of mob enforcer.
Smith said he and his staff have been cajoled, harassed, and threatened during the process and that he has the evidence to convict Trump on sedition and obstruction.
Smith said he and his staff have been cajoled, harassed, and threatened during the process and that he has the evidence to convict Trump on sedition and obstruction.
January 2, 2026 at 2:11 PM
Smith story garbled and buried by the @nytimes.com on A15 next to huge useless two page package starting on the front page revealing that the Mad King sure likes to run his mouth, showing he’s quite the character.
I’m sure the current housing affordability crisis has nothing to do with the fact that the last legislation to build government-funded housing was enacted 60 years ago.
Fighting back against the regime, the oligarchs, & the systemic forces destroying the lives of working families means taking advantage of every policy option available.
To tackle the housing crisis, we need to build social housing while ALSO removing unnecessary red tape to encourage construction
To tackle the housing crisis, we need to build social housing while ALSO removing unnecessary red tape to encourage construction
Holy shit it's real
January 2, 2026 at 2:04 PM
I’m sure the current housing affordability crisis has nothing to do with the fact that the last legislation to build government-funded housing was enacted 60 years ago.
Looking for the FAR that exempts deportees from the definition of “passenger” for the purposes of FAA passenger safety regulations.
Are they just “canned goods?”
Are they just “canned goods?”
“‘If a fire occurs in the cabin, if we land on water, don’t check on the immigrants. Just make sure that you and the guards and the people that work for the government get off,’" one flight attendant was told.
“It was as if the detainees’ lives were worthless,” said another.
Trump is a monster.
“It was as if the detainees’ lives were worthless,” said another.
Trump is a monster.
Inside ICE Air: Flight Attendants on Deportation Planes Say Disaster Is “Only a Matter of Time”
Current and former flight attendants for GlobalX, the private charter airline at the center of Trump’s immigration crackdown, expressed concern about their inability to treat passengers humanely and t...
www.propublica.org
January 2, 2026 at 1:54 PM
Looking for the FAR that exempts deportees from the definition of “passenger” for the purposes of FAA passenger safety regulations.
Are they just “canned goods?”
Are they just “canned goods?”
Reposted by The Massachusetts Spy
🥲 dare to dream
The chance that this brilliant young lawyer and writer will be commissioned by @nytopinion.nytimes.com to write this timely and thoughtful take are approximately equal to that of my being told by Mike Vrabel to suit up as starting WR against the Dolphins
Who are the New York Times editors on here who will commission me to write an op-ed like 'John Roberts Just Can't Help Himself: In year-end report, the Supreme Court's Chief Justice continues to distort the past in order to damage democracy in the present.'
It's 2026 I'm shooting my shot
It's 2026 I'm shooting my shot
January 1, 2026 at 6:37 PM
🥲 dare to dream
Evergreen post
“No one could have predicted this.” - Some Fucking Guy Who Enabled It, 2026
January 1, 2026 at 6:21 PM
Evergreen post
Hard pass
WATCH: Stephen Miller and Kristi Noem dancing to “Ice Ice Baby” at Mar-a-Lago on New Year’s Eve.
January 1, 2026 at 5:37 PM
Hard pass