Tom Pepinsky
@tompepinsky.com
Teacher, researcher, globalist, republican.
tompepinsky.com
tompepinsky.com
Truly enjoyed this chance to talk politics and insanity with two of the most outstanding hosts.
-- "It's going to be very hard for non-maniacs to continue the steal."
-- "It's completely bonkers that these miserable billionaires cannot figure out how to be normal"
-- "It's going to be very hard for non-maniacs to continue the steal."
-- "It's completely bonkers that these miserable billionaires cannot figure out how to be normal"
THIS WEEK on our Colorado Politics Podcast
It's our annual check-in with @tompepinsky.com, one of our podcast's all-time most popular guests, on whether we're living in an Oligarchic Kleptocracy or a Kleptocratic Oligarchy or some other third worse thing!
🎧LISTEN UP🎧
It's our annual check-in with @tompepinsky.com, one of our podcast's all-time most popular guests, on whether we're living in an Oligarchic Kleptocracy or a Kleptocratic Oligarchy or some other third worse thing!
🎧LISTEN UP🎧
On a Scale of Zero to Authoritarianism, Where are We Now? (feat. Tom Pepinsky) - The Get More Smarter Podcast - A Weekly Show About Colorado Politics
This week on the Get More Smarter Podcast, the reports of the political insurgency in Colorado Politics appear to have been greatly exaggerated; we check in on how the 2026 primaries are shaping up on...
www.buzzsprout.com
February 10, 2026 at 1:43 AM
Truly enjoyed this chance to talk politics and insanity with two of the most outstanding hosts.
-- "It's going to be very hard for non-maniacs to continue the steal."
-- "It's completely bonkers that these miserable billionaires cannot figure out how to be normal"
-- "It's going to be very hard for non-maniacs to continue the steal."
-- "It's completely bonkers that these miserable billionaires cannot figure out how to be normal"
Good lord, Mr President, do you want some cheese with that whine?
Trump, in the middle of his latest unhinged Truth Social screed, claims that if Canada makes a trade deal with China, "the first thing China will do is terminate ALL Ice Hockey being played in Canada, and permanently eliminate The Stanley Cup."
February 9, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Good lord, Mr President, do you want some cheese with that whine?
I think about this with the frequency that other people my age and demography think about the Roman Empire
These sound like seminar-room liberals & conservatives, who want to turn politics into an intellectualized debate. Within the seminar room, all views can be expressed, analyzed, & evaluated; none should be discarded out of hand.
They mistake that sort of practice for political/liberal neutrality
They mistake that sort of practice for political/liberal neutrality
February 9, 2026 at 4:59 PM
I think about this with the frequency that other people my age and demography think about the Roman Empire
Reposted by Tom Pepinsky
I feel like I'm losing my goddamnned mind.
This op-ed was written by Kathrine Mangu-Ward. Katherine is editor-in-chief of Reason magazine.
Reason fired @shikhadalmia.bsky.social for being too anti-Trump.
This op-ed was written by Kathrine Mangu-Ward. Katherine is editor-in-chief of Reason magazine.
Reason fired @shikhadalmia.bsky.social for being too anti-Trump.
Opinion | Libertarians Tried to Warn You About Trump
www.nytimes.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:09 PM
I feel like I'm losing my goddamnned mind.
This op-ed was written by Kathrine Mangu-Ward. Katherine is editor-in-chief of Reason magazine.
Reason fired @shikhadalmia.bsky.social for being too anti-Trump.
This op-ed was written by Kathrine Mangu-Ward. Katherine is editor-in-chief of Reason magazine.
Reason fired @shikhadalmia.bsky.social for being too anti-Trump.
Grandmas and pop-pops all over the U.S. are excited to learn about Bad Bunny and want to know if Green Day is going to play "the hospital song" (Basket Case). It's the greatest day of the year.
Happy Super Bowl Sunday to all who celebrate.
Some have Holy Week; some have the High Holidays; and some have Grammys-and-Super Bowl February.
Some have Holy Week; some have the High Holidays; and some have Grammys-and-Super Bowl February.
Bad Bunny: hell fucking yes
February 8, 2026 at 10:10 PM
Grandmas and pop-pops all over the U.S. are excited to learn about Bad Bunny and want to know if Green Day is going to play "the hospital song" (Basket Case). It's the greatest day of the year.
Who you gonna root for? The U.S Olympic team and the Super Bowl? Or Kid Rock and this guy’s whatever feelings
February 8, 2026 at 4:33 PM
Who you gonna root for? The U.S Olympic team and the Super Bowl? Or Kid Rock and this guy’s whatever feelings
In all seriousness, Gen X and the Boomers wildly underestimate how popular Bad Bunny is. Putting Kid Rock up against Bad Bunny in 2026 is like putting Ted Nugent up against Dre and Snoop in 1993
“Kid” Rock who is heading up the definitely super cool and hip halftime show by TPUSA is 55 years old
February 8, 2026 at 1:14 PM
In all seriousness, Gen X and the Boomers wildly underestimate how popular Bad Bunny is. Putting Kid Rock up against Bad Bunny in 2026 is like putting Ted Nugent up against Dre and Snoop in 1993
Happy Super Bowl Sunday to all who celebrate.
Some have Holy Week; some have the High Holidays; and some have Grammys-and-Super Bowl February.
Some have Holy Week; some have the High Holidays; and some have Grammys-and-Super Bowl February.
Bad Bunny: hell fucking yes
Thank you, Trevor Noah, for murdering Nicki Minaj
February 8, 2026 at 1:03 PM
Happy Super Bowl Sunday to all who celebrate.
Some have Holy Week; some have the High Holidays; and some have Grammys-and-Super Bowl February.
Some have Holy Week; some have the High Holidays; and some have Grammys-and-Super Bowl February.
Reposted by Tom Pepinsky
"as a staff, record label, and as a motherfucking crew"
BREAKING:
New reaction from Leader Jeffries to the racist Trump video:
"This disgusting video posted by the so-called president was done intentionally. Fuck Donald Trump and his vile, racist, and malignant behavior. This guy is an unhinged bottom feeder."
New reaction from Leader Jeffries to the racist Trump video:
"This disgusting video posted by the so-called president was done intentionally. Fuck Donald Trump and his vile, racist, and malignant behavior. This guy is an unhinged bottom feeder."
February 7, 2026 at 10:44 AM
"as a staff, record label, and as a motherfucking crew"
Paesi Bassi is an incredible way to say Netherlands
February 7, 2026 at 2:44 AM
Paesi Bassi is an incredible way to say Netherlands
Goddamn it JD Vance
American star Alysa Liu overcame a delay en route to the Milano Skating Arena caused by Vice President JD Vance’s motorcade and finished second in the women’s short program at the Olympics team event.
“We almost didn’t make it,” her coach said.
“We almost didn’t make it,” her coach said.
Nothing could stop the U.S. figure skating team. Not even JD Vance’s motorcade.
Alysa Liu and world champion dance team of Madison Chock and Evan Bates have the Americans leading the team event after day one.
www.washingtonpost.com
February 7, 2026 at 1:48 AM
Goddamn it JD Vance
Reposted by Tom Pepinsky
Every day
Trump: [says something absolutely horrible]
Media: Why did the president say that
WH: Obviously the president didn't say that
Trump: Yes I did
WH: Ah well nevertheless
Trump: [says something absolutely horrible]
Media: Why did the president say that
WH: Obviously the president didn't say that
Trump: Yes I did
WH: Ah well nevertheless
NEW STORY: Trump admits he was the one who found the video and asked that it be posted from his Truth Social account. Refuses to apologize.
February 7, 2026 at 1:05 AM
Every day
Trump: [says something absolutely horrible]
Media: Why did the president say that
WH: Obviously the president didn't say that
Trump: Yes I did
WH: Ah well nevertheless
Trump: [says something absolutely horrible]
Media: Why did the president say that
WH: Obviously the president didn't say that
Trump: Yes I did
WH: Ah well nevertheless
This is just some striver Princeton shit, trust me
Meanwhile, in the federal government’s war on the World’s Greatest University:
February 7, 2026 at 12:27 AM
This is just some striver Princeton shit, trust me
Reposted by Tom Pepinsky
It's a Big Club and you ain't in it. You and I are not in the Big Club.
Why is the New Yorker platforming this guy in 2026?
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Why is the New Yorker platforming this guy in 2026?
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
February 6, 2026 at 10:48 PM
It's a Big Club and you ain't in it. You and I are not in the Big Club.
Why is the New Yorker platforming this guy in 2026?
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Why is the New Yorker platforming this guy in 2026?
bsky.app/profile/mcop...
Reposted by Tom Pepinsky
This is really an instance of a very longstanding trend where secular pundits end up unwittingly aligned with fundamentalists in treating the crudest and most extreme version of any faith as the genuine article and everything else as somehow inauthentic.
Trump's attempt to crush a religious uprising might be obvious if the press corps treated everyone’s faith as equally authentic, hence equally legitimate. It doesn’t.
February 6, 2026 at 9:49 PM
This is really an instance of a very longstanding trend where secular pundits end up unwittingly aligned with fundamentalists in treating the crudest and most extreme version of any faith as the genuine article and everything else as somehow inauthentic.
<Cheap Trick>
Father says, "see, I was right, I'm really up on things."
"Waymo self-drive really works through guides in the Philippines"
Father says, "see, I was right, I'm really up on things."
"Waymo self-drive really works through guides in the Philippines"
Once again, it turns out “fully autonomous” means “a guy in the Philippines.”
It Turns Out Waymos Are Being Controlled by Workers in the Philippines
During a Congressional hearing, Waymo's chief safety officer, Mauricio Peña, was grilled over the company's reliance on overseas workers.
futurism.com
February 6, 2026 at 6:30 PM
<Cheap Trick>
Father says, "see, I was right, I'm really up on things."
"Waymo self-drive really works through guides in the Philippines"
Father says, "see, I was right, I'm really up on things."
"Waymo self-drive really works through guides in the Philippines"
Spare a thought for the biz school profs who have to rework their slide decks for the next a16z contract
Once AI took over as THE growth/investment story, the euthanasia of crypto/Web3 was only a matter of time.
February 6, 2026 at 4:56 PM
Spare a thought for the biz school profs who have to rework their slide decks for the next a16z contract
I am not a computer security expert. Can someone explain to my why every AI agent (Claude Code, whatever) with read/write/execute privileges is not a gigantic security vulnerability for every computer on which it is installed?
1Password not mincing words here:
"If you are experimenting with OpenClaw, do not do it on a company device. Full stop."
"If you have already run OpenClaw on a work device, treat it as a potential incident and engage your security team immediately."
1password.com/blog/from-ma...
"If you are experimenting with OpenClaw, do not do it on a company device. Full stop."
"If you have already run OpenClaw on a work device, treat it as a potential incident and engage your security team immediately."
1password.com/blog/from-ma...
From magic to malware: How OpenClaw's agent skills become an attack surface | 1Password
The same capabilities that make OpenClaw a groundbreaking tool also make it an urgent security risk. This blog contains confirmed examples of agent skills being used as malware vectors, and advice on ...
1password.com
February 6, 2026 at 2:04 PM
I am not a computer security expert. Can someone explain to my why every AI agent (Claude Code, whatever) with read/write/execute privileges is not a gigantic security vulnerability for every computer on which it is installed?
Reposted by Tom Pepinsky
[Standard caveat that people are bad at predicting what will persuade them.] It's funny that a "fight harder against Trump" message polls the best, and James Carville's anti-defund-the-police message is next to last.
Resistance Moms and the never-Trump Republicans have been right about everything.
Resistance Moms and the never-Trump Republicans have been right about everything.
February 5, 2026 at 10:57 PM
[Standard caveat that people are bad at predicting what will persuade them.] It's funny that a "fight harder against Trump" message polls the best, and James Carville's anti-defund-the-police message is next to last.
Resistance Moms and the never-Trump Republicans have been right about everything.
Resistance Moms and the never-Trump Republicans have been right about everything.
Many people are saying
Personally think Dulles airport deserves to be named after Trump
February 6, 2026 at 12:23 PM
Many people are saying
"Varieties" is a subtle shoutout to the Strokes' The Modern Age. ("I took to many... varieties.")
Up on a hill, is where we begin
This little story, a long time ago
Stop to pretend, stop pretendin'
It seems this game is simply never-endin'
Up on a hill, is where we begin
This little story, a long time ago
Stop to pretend, stop pretendin'
It seems this game is simply never-endin'
Assigning this gem by @mcopelov.bsky.social & @tompepinsky.com to my grad class. Sold on the title alone.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
February 6, 2026 at 12:48 AM
"Varieties" is a subtle shoutout to the Strokes' The Modern Age. ("I took to many... varieties.")
Up on a hill, is where we begin
This little story, a long time ago
Stop to pretend, stop pretendin'
It seems this game is simply never-endin'
Up on a hill, is where we begin
This little story, a long time ago
Stop to pretend, stop pretendin'
It seems this game is simply never-endin'
Reposted by Tom Pepinsky
Assigning this gem by @mcopelov.bsky.social & @tompepinsky.com to my grad class. Sold on the title alone.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
February 6, 2026 at 12:38 AM
Assigning this gem by @mcopelov.bsky.social & @tompepinsky.com to my grad class. Sold on the title alone.
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
The main finding in my book Piety and Public Opinion is that among Indonesian Muslims, there is no relationship at all between how pious someone is and their views on democracy.
Religious authoritarians capture our attention, but their claims to speak for all of the faithful are literally false.
Religious authoritarians capture our attention, but their claims to speak for all of the faithful are literally false.
Trump at the National Prayer Breakfast: "One of my favorite people, President Bukele ... he operates rather large prisons. Very strong prisons."
February 5, 2026 at 2:34 PM
The main finding in my book Piety and Public Opinion is that among Indonesian Muslims, there is no relationship at all between how pious someone is and their views on democracy.
Religious authoritarians capture our attention, but their claims to speak for all of the faithful are literally false.
Religious authoritarians capture our attention, but their claims to speak for all of the faithful are literally false.
Bigots and xenophobes: “Americans hate immigration”
Americans: “Americans hate bigots and xenophobes”
Americans: “Americans hate bigots and xenophobes”
Dems need to abandon the idea, fed to them by certain commentators, that Trump's 2024 win represented a durable cultural shift against immigration. It's blinding them to the possibilities of this moment.
Check out this exchange with @brianbeutler.bsky.social:
newrepublic.com/article/2061...
Check out this exchange with @brianbeutler.bsky.social:
newrepublic.com/article/2061...
February 5, 2026 at 1:28 PM
Bigots and xenophobes: “Americans hate immigration”
Americans: “Americans hate bigots and xenophobes”
Americans: “Americans hate bigots and xenophobes”