Michael Sullivan
@thesullivan.bsky.social
Former cognitive anthropologist, former US tank gunner, former US bureaucrat, current IT teacher. ND AF, but mask on the daily to 'people' better.
I nerd out over whiskey, politics, technology, and the human condition.
I nerd out over whiskey, politics, technology, and the human condition.
Tesla ranked dead last (out of 26 auto companies) in terms of long-term reliability. Caveat emptor.
And Europeans have lost interest in Tesla: sales are down 50% there due to Musk's politics.
Remind me again how Musk is worth $1 trillion to Tesla shareholders?
And Europeans have lost interest in Tesla: sales are down 50% there due to Musk's politics.
Remind me again how Musk is worth $1 trillion to Tesla shareholders?
Which Brands Have the Best Long-Term Car Reliability? - Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports’ free brand ranking for used cars focuses on the reliability of 5- to 10-year-old models, based on member surveys.
www.consumerreports.org
December 8, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Tesla ranked dead last (out of 26 auto companies) in terms of long-term reliability. Caveat emptor.
And Europeans have lost interest in Tesla: sales are down 50% there due to Musk's politics.
Remind me again how Musk is worth $1 trillion to Tesla shareholders?
And Europeans have lost interest in Tesla: sales are down 50% there due to Musk's politics.
Remind me again how Musk is worth $1 trillion to Tesla shareholders?
GOP officials are saying they'll continue to lick Trump's boots until they know they can't be primaried by him.
This is what 'courage' looks like in the GOP these days.
Vote them ALL out of office; they've abandoned any pretense of representing citizens.
This is what 'courage' looks like in the GOP these days.
Vote them ALL out of office; they've abandoned any pretense of representing citizens.
Republican Insider Reveals Exact Moment Trump’s Party Will Abandon Him
Politico chief assesses the “daily humiliation” of supporting Trump.
www.thedailybeast.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:44 PM
GOP officials are saying they'll continue to lick Trump's boots until they know they can't be primaried by him.
This is what 'courage' looks like in the GOP these days.
Vote them ALL out of office; they've abandoned any pretense of representing citizens.
This is what 'courage' looks like in the GOP these days.
Vote them ALL out of office; they've abandoned any pretense of representing citizens.
Uh, so the Pentagon is acknowledging that this is drug trade between countries nowhere near a US border, with neither vessel intended on heading toward us.
These victims pose zero threat to US national security.
The Pentagon is admitting to outright murder as routine practice now.
These victims pose zero threat to US national security.
The Pentagon is admitting to outright murder as routine practice now.
Exclusive: Boat at center of double-tap strike controversy was meeting vessel headed to Suriname, admiral told lawmakers | CNN Politics
The alleged drug traffickers killed by the US military in a strike on September 2 were heading to link up with another, larger vessel that was bound for Suriname — a small South American country east ...
www.cnn.com
December 6, 2025 at 1:40 PM
Uh, so the Pentagon is acknowledging that this is drug trade between countries nowhere near a US border, with neither vessel intended on heading toward us.
These victims pose zero threat to US national security.
The Pentagon is admitting to outright murder as routine practice now.
These victims pose zero threat to US national security.
The Pentagon is admitting to outright murder as routine practice now.
I realize that in the moment many on the Left are referring to MAGA - especially the pro-ICE wing - as Nazis.
Years from now, when this ugliness is behind us, do you think people will use MAGA as a similar epithet to label other post-factual nationalists?
Years from now, when this ugliness is behind us, do you think people will use MAGA as a similar epithet to label other post-factual nationalists?
December 6, 2025 at 1:30 PM
I realize that in the moment many on the Left are referring to MAGA - especially the pro-ICE wing - as Nazis.
Years from now, when this ugliness is behind us, do you think people will use MAGA as a similar epithet to label other post-factual nationalists?
Years from now, when this ugliness is behind us, do you think people will use MAGA as a similar epithet to label other post-factual nationalists?
The press should ask AG Bondi why this isn't enough of a predicate to open a murder investigation against a SecDef who insists on being called the Secretary of War.
They don't need a detective for this one; the murder is on camera, with ample documentation.
They don't need a detective for this one; the murder is on camera, with ample documentation.
Pete Hegseth said to kill everybody, officials say - The Washington Post
During the first U.S. strike on a boat in the Caribbean, in September, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth gave the directive to “kill them all,” according to two people with direct knowledge of the operat...
www.washingtonpost.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:05 PM
The press should ask AG Bondi why this isn't enough of a predicate to open a murder investigation against a SecDef who insists on being called the Secretary of War.
They don't need a detective for this one; the murder is on camera, with ample documentation.
They don't need a detective for this one; the murder is on camera, with ample documentation.
There are 2 big problems with this claim.
First, "continuing drug mission" does not directly threaten lives and therefore does not justify the use of lethal force.
Second, they weren't continuing a drug mission; they were getting back on their only ride out of the kill zone.
This was murder.
First, "continuing drug mission" does not directly threaten lives and therefore does not justify the use of lethal force.
Second, they weren't continuing a drug mission; they were getting back on their only ride out of the kill zone.
This was murder.
Exclusive | Survivors of Boat Strike Were Actively Continuing Drug Mission, Admiral to Tell Lawmakers
Adm. Frank “Mitch” Bradley, the commander of the September attack, is set to provide an account of his role for the first time in a closed briefing.
www.wsj.com
December 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM
There are 2 big problems with this claim.
First, "continuing drug mission" does not directly threaten lives and therefore does not justify the use of lethal force.
Second, they weren't continuing a drug mission; they were getting back on their only ride out of the kill zone.
This was murder.
First, "continuing drug mission" does not directly threaten lives and therefore does not justify the use of lethal force.
Second, they weren't continuing a drug mission; they were getting back on their only ride out of the kill zone.
This was murder.
We're entering into the midterm election pre-season, and I think there's a bit too much willingness to read the tea leaves.
A lot will happen between now and next November. While the current moment shows a blue wave, Dems have a bad track record of sustaining momentum.
A lot will happen between now and next November. While the current moment shows a blue wave, Dems have a bad track record of sustaining momentum.
Tennessee's special House election sets stage for affordability focused 2026 midterms
Republican Matt Van Epps won the Tennessee 7th Congressional special election, but Aftyn Behn's overperformance has Democrats celebrating, too, and sets up an affordability focus in the 2026 midterms.
www.npr.org
December 3, 2025 at 12:09 PM
We're entering into the midterm election pre-season, and I think there's a bit too much willingness to read the tea leaves.
A lot will happen between now and next November. While the current moment shows a blue wave, Dems have a bad track record of sustaining momentum.
A lot will happen between now and next November. While the current moment shows a blue wave, Dems have a bad track record of sustaining momentum.
Congress should subpoena the White House physician to testify under oath about Trump's droopy face, whether it precipitated the MoCA, what follow-on tests were ordered, what concerns the MRI was used to investigate, and why an MRI was not done of his brain.
Doctor Reveals Problem With Trump’s ‘Laughable’ MRI Explanation
“The whole note has kind of a weird, defensive, evasive tone to it,” Dr. Jonathan Reiner told CNN.
www.thedailybeast.com
December 3, 2025 at 12:03 PM
Congress should subpoena the White House physician to testify under oath about Trump's droopy face, whether it precipitated the MoCA, what follow-on tests were ordered, what concerns the MRI was used to investigate, and why an MRI was not done of his brain.
To be clear, the White House has not, in fact, revealed new details on the MRI. They've issued an absurd summary.
Show us the MRI.
Show us the MRI.
White House reveals new details on Donald Trump's MRI
President Trump’s MRI showed perfectly normal cardiovascular and abdominal results, with the White House saying he remains in excellent health.
www.newsweek.com
December 2, 2025 at 12:01 AM
To be clear, the White House has not, in fact, revealed new details on the MRI. They've issued an absurd summary.
Show us the MRI.
Show us the MRI.
This is a real challenge. The USG leveraged a lot of foreign nationals willing to risk their lives for our missions, repeatedly, and while it was good that we helped at least some of them escape Taliban retribution, that's just the first step of the process.
newrepublic.com
December 1, 2025 at 10:06 PM
This is a real challenge. The USG leveraged a lot of foreign nationals willing to risk their lives for our missions, repeatedly, and while it was good that we helped at least some of them escape Taliban retribution, that's just the first step of the process.
Trump is not bothered by crime in general - he is only bothered by crime that does not benefit him. That's what it means to be a malignant narcissist corrupted by power. The things that make these actions hypocritical are things about which Trump does not care.
#25thAmendmentNow
#25thAmendmentNow
Trump's War on Drugs: Hypocrisy With Hair on It
Even as he prepares to invade a country because its leader is allegedly a drug trafficker, he is pardoning the Honduran ex-president who partnered with cocaine traffickers.
open.substack.com/pub/charlies...
Even as he prepares to invade a country because its leader is allegedly a drug trafficker, he is pardoning the Honduran ex-president who partnered with cocaine traffickers.
open.substack.com/pub/charlies...
Trump's War on Drugs: Hypocrisy With Hair on It
Plus: A feculent week in review.
open.substack.com
November 30, 2025 at 9:44 PM
Trump is not bothered by crime in general - he is only bothered by crime that does not benefit him. That's what it means to be a malignant narcissist corrupted by power. The things that make these actions hypocritical are things about which Trump does not care.
#25thAmendmentNow
#25thAmendmentNow
The conservative National Review is arguing that Trump's Pentagon is analogous to Japanese war crimes during World War II, and concludes with "If you can explain the moral difference to me without reverting to the repulsive logic of immoral regimes, then please try."
Pete Hegseth’s ‘Kill Everybody’ Command | National Review
The secretary of war’s alleged order that led to drug boat–strike survivors’ being killed appears to be a violation of the norms of warfare.
www.nationalreview.com
November 30, 2025 at 4:07 PM
The conservative National Review is arguing that Trump's Pentagon is analogous to Japanese war crimes during World War II, and concludes with "If you can explain the moral difference to me without reverting to the repulsive logic of immoral regimes, then please try."
Hegseth better hope for a Trump pardon if this story is true, because that's a war crime even under US law.
Trump's dementia isn't exactly slowing down, though, so the clock is ticking for Hegseth.
#25thAmendmentNow
Trump's dementia isn't exactly slowing down, though, so the clock is ticking for Hegseth.
#25thAmendmentNow
Pete Hegseth’s order to ‘kill everybody’ included alleged drug boat survivors: report
More than 80 people killed in campaign that law-of-war experts have labeled extrajudicial murder
www.independent.co.uk
November 28, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Hegseth better hope for a Trump pardon if this story is true, because that's a war crime even under US law.
Trump's dementia isn't exactly slowing down, though, so the clock is ticking for Hegseth.
#25thAmendmentNow
Trump's dementia isn't exactly slowing down, though, so the clock is ticking for Hegseth.
#25thAmendmentNow
I did not have that on my bingo card. Figured she would have held out at least until the effect of the Epstein scandal had time to present itself.
This week ended with wild news: Trump saying nice things about Mamdani and MTG yanking her political ripcord less than 1 year into Trump 2.0.
This week ended with wild news: Trump saying nice things about Mamdani and MTG yanking her political ripcord less than 1 year into Trump 2.0.
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene says she will resign, after fallout with Trump
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene supported a bill compelling the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files by the DOJ, putting her on the bad side of President Trump.
www.cnbc.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:41 AM
I did not have that on my bingo card. Figured she would have held out at least until the effect of the Epstein scandal had time to present itself.
This week ended with wild news: Trump saying nice things about Mamdani and MTG yanking her political ripcord less than 1 year into Trump 2.0.
This week ended with wild news: Trump saying nice things about Mamdani and MTG yanking her political ripcord less than 1 year into Trump 2.0.
Reporting the news ought to involve at least some application of logic and fact-checking. If the administration cannot explain how they arrived at the 1.6 million figure, do not quote it.
You are amplifying their propaganda, not reporting the news. You know better than this, NPR. Do your job.
You are amplifying their propaganda, not reporting the news. You know better than this, NPR. Do your job.
The Trump administration says that more than 1.6 million immigrants have self-deported. But there's also evidence of an internal migration from target cities and states and into quieter areas that feel safer.
'We need to get out of here': Trump's immigration crackdown is quietly reshaping where immigrants live in America
The Trump administration says that more than 1.6 million immigrants have self-deported. But there's also evidence of an internal migration from target cities and states and into quieter areas that feel safer.
n.pr
November 16, 2025 at 11:56 AM
Reporting the news ought to involve at least some application of logic and fact-checking. If the administration cannot explain how they arrived at the 1.6 million figure, do not quote it.
You are amplifying their propaganda, not reporting the news. You know better than this, NPR. Do your job.
You are amplifying their propaganda, not reporting the news. You know better than this, NPR. Do your job.
In all fairness, it's not like decent people were lining up to listen to anything Bannon had to suggest.
Steve Bannon advised Jeffrey Epstein for years on how to rehab his reputation, texts show
Pair devised responses to public outrage about Epstein’s criminal history, his treatment by the justice system and his friendships with powerful people
www.theguardian.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:34 AM
In all fairness, it's not like decent people were lining up to listen to anything Bannon had to suggest.
If they were fine with Carlson before Fuentes, what they object to isn't White nationalism, it's having the public associate them with White nationalism.
Nobody who has listened to Carlson should be surprised to learn that he is a Groyper.
Nobody who has listened to Carlson should be surprised to learn that he is a Groyper.
Tucker loses sponsors after fawning interview with white supremacist Nick Fuentes
Two days after a news site called out Rocket Money for ‘financing white supremacy,’ the financial services app suddenly removed all mentions of its advertising relationship with Tucker Carlson.
www.independent.co.uk
November 16, 2025 at 1:16 AM
If they were fine with Carlson before Fuentes, what they object to isn't White nationalism, it's having the public associate them with White nationalism.
Nobody who has listened to Carlson should be surprised to learn that he is a Groyper.
Nobody who has listened to Carlson should be surprised to learn that he is a Groyper.
While I agree with the basic assumption that Newsom is the Democratic Party's front-runner for 2028, his ascendancy is not a good thing for the Democrats.
Sure, Newsom has been effective at turning the tables on Trump.
But we won't recover from Trump by empowering a left-leaning version of Trump.
Sure, Newsom has been effective at turning the tables on Trump.
But we won't recover from Trump by empowering a left-leaning version of Trump.
Admit It. Gavin Newsom Is the 2028 Front-runner.
For years, Democrats and pundits have rolled their eyes at Gavin Newsom. But he’s positioned better than anyone else for the future of politics.
www.politico.com
November 16, 2025 at 1:08 AM
While I agree with the basic assumption that Newsom is the Democratic Party's front-runner for 2028, his ascendancy is not a good thing for the Democrats.
Sure, Newsom has been effective at turning the tables on Trump.
But we won't recover from Trump by empowering a left-leaning version of Trump.
Sure, Newsom has been effective at turning the tables on Trump.
But we won't recover from Trump by empowering a left-leaning version of Trump.
... And his Cabinet is complicit in shielding that child sex trafficking ring from facing justice of any kind.
Trump has convinced the federal government to enter into a conspiracy with him to protect pedophiles and rapists.
GOP voters refuse to acknowledge this, so the abuse continues.
Trump has convinced the federal government to enter into a conspiracy with him to protect pedophiles and rapists.
GOP voters refuse to acknowledge this, so the abuse continues.
I just don’t see how we can pretend even for a moment that anything involving our federal government is remotely normal when the president is covering up his involvement in a child sex trafficking ring. Like, what are we doing here
November 15, 2025 at 10:32 AM
... And his Cabinet is complicit in shielding that child sex trafficking ring from facing justice of any kind.
Trump has convinced the federal government to enter into a conspiracy with him to protect pedophiles and rapists.
GOP voters refuse to acknowledge this, so the abuse continues.
Trump has convinced the federal government to enter into a conspiracy with him to protect pedophiles and rapists.
GOP voters refuse to acknowledge this, so the abuse continues.
The fact that the Trump administration is using the Sit Room to resist release of the Epstein files is quite the confession for how big they think this is going to be.
They believe the evidence is so damning it could end his Presidency.
They've seen the evidence, and think it's an emergency.
They believe the evidence is so damning it could end his Presidency.
They've seen the evidence, and think it's an emergency.
White House crisis summit lays bare scale of Trump’s Epstein problem
Attempt to pressure Republicans against signing petition for Epstein files vote fails
www.telegraph.co.uk
November 14, 2025 at 12:06 PM
The fact that the Trump administration is using the Sit Room to resist release of the Epstein files is quite the confession for how big they think this is going to be.
They believe the evidence is so damning it could end his Presidency.
They've seen the evidence, and think it's an emergency.
They believe the evidence is so damning it could end his Presidency.
They've seen the evidence, and think it's an emergency.
People on the Left are going to gnash teeth over the decision by 7 Democratic Senators + 1 independent to let the GOP gut the ACA.
Don't get discouraged. Our side is going to make mistakes. Call them out on them and put your support behind stronger bets, but don't waste energy chewing our flanks.
Don't get discouraged. Our side is going to make mistakes. Call them out on them and put your support behind stronger bets, but don't waste energy chewing our flanks.
November 12, 2025 at 12:09 AM
People on the Left are going to gnash teeth over the decision by 7 Democratic Senators + 1 independent to let the GOP gut the ACA.
Don't get discouraged. Our side is going to make mistakes. Call them out on them and put your support behind stronger bets, but don't waste energy chewing our flanks.
Don't get discouraged. Our side is going to make mistakes. Call them out on them and put your support behind stronger bets, but don't waste energy chewing our flanks.
I think this might have been the real reason so many Democrats (nationally) tried to undermine Mamdani's credibility as a candidate: fear that the party itself is about to experience a sea change.
But we want things to change, right? I mean, the old way got us Trump in the Oval Office twice....
But we want things to change, right? I mean, the old way got us Trump in the Oval Office twice....
Opinion | Zohran Mamdani's triumph holds lessons for Democrats
The New York mayor-elect married socioeconomic policies and message discipline to moral clarity. Democrats should apply the same principles going forward.
www.msnbc.com
November 9, 2025 at 1:35 PM
I think this might have been the real reason so many Democrats (nationally) tried to undermine Mamdani's credibility as a candidate: fear that the party itself is about to experience a sea change.
But we want things to change, right? I mean, the old way got us Trump in the Oval Office twice....
But we want things to change, right? I mean, the old way got us Trump in the Oval Office twice....
Congratulations. Now do Schumer and Jeffries and anybody else in Democratic leadership who dragged their feet to support the Democratic primary winner for NYC governor.
Opinion | Nancy Pelosi Is an American Political Giant
www.nytimes.com
November 7, 2025 at 1:59 AM
Congratulations. Now do Schumer and Jeffries and anybody else in Democratic leadership who dragged their feet to support the Democratic primary winner for NYC governor.
Why does the news waffle on facts? These aren't "deadly strikes," they're unambiguous acts of war that are also war crimes. They violate both international and US laws on the subject.
This is why DoD lawyers did not testify before Congress when requested.
This is why DoD lawyers did not testify before Congress when requested.
Trump administration announces 16th deadly strike on an alleged drug boat
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has announced yet another deadly strike on a boat accused of ferrying drugs in the eastern Pacific Ocean
www.wcvb.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Why does the news waffle on facts? These aren't "deadly strikes," they're unambiguous acts of war that are also war crimes. They violate both international and US laws on the subject.
This is why DoD lawyers did not testify before Congress when requested.
This is why DoD lawyers did not testify before Congress when requested.