Brad Carpenter (he/him)
@brad-carpenter.bsky.social
Interests include politics, sports, and painting Warhammer 40k models. Oh, and it'd be great if we could do something about income inequality and the impending fascism. Yeah...
Regarding the UK budget, this is the commentary I've been waiting for.
If the billionaire owned media is pissed, there's a chance it's good for normal folks. America, we could learn from this.
@mehdirhasan.bsky.social
@chrislhayes.bsky.social
m.youtube.com/watch?v=bDtt...
If the billionaire owned media is pissed, there's a chance it's good for normal folks. America, we could learn from this.
@mehdirhasan.bsky.social
@chrislhayes.bsky.social
m.youtube.com/watch?v=bDtt...
'You are not serious people': James O'Brien on the state of Britain
YouTube video by LBC
m.youtube.com
November 27, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Regarding the UK budget, this is the commentary I've been waiting for.
If the billionaire owned media is pissed, there's a chance it's good for normal folks. America, we could learn from this.
@mehdirhasan.bsky.social
@chrislhayes.bsky.social
m.youtube.com/watch?v=bDtt...
If the billionaire owned media is pissed, there's a chance it's good for normal folks. America, we could learn from this.
@mehdirhasan.bsky.social
@chrislhayes.bsky.social
m.youtube.com/watch?v=bDtt...
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
"Left on the economy, right on the culture," is just fascism in the end. Also it will never take you left on the economy in the long run, because a machine built for eating people will keep eating people.
"Left on the economy, right on culture" is also, as needs repeating a hundred thousand time, the central lie of fascism.
OF COURSE it appeals to the in-group who thinks their well-being AND their prejudices will be pandered to.
OF COURSE it appeals to the in-group who thinks their well-being AND their prejudices will be pandered to.
The thing about "left on the economy, right on culture" is it's based on analysis of swing voters. Those voters are often low attention and their politics are often not especially coherent. Which is fine for them, it's not their job to run the country, but, you know, the government is
November 27, 2025 at 1:22 PM
"Left on the economy, right on the culture," is just fascism in the end. Also it will never take you left on the economy in the long run, because a machine built for eating people will keep eating people.
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
I was trying to remember a particularly egregious Trump ambassador pick and I started scrolling through all of them and yikes. It really hits you how nuts this administration and its era is.
List of ambassadors appointed in the second Trump presidency - Wikipedia
en.wikipedia.org
November 27, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I was trying to remember a particularly egregious Trump ambassador pick and I started scrolling through all of them and yikes. It really hits you how nuts this administration and its era is.
I've been listening to some coverage of the new UK budget, and it's just everyone being angry, saying things that don't make sense, and analyzing the politics rather than explaining the details of the changes (so...what you'd expect).
This, however, was decent @owenjones.bsky.social
This, however, was decent @owenjones.bsky.social
Labour Budget FAILURE Exposed - And Why They’re In PANIC w/ James Meadway
YouTube video by Owen Jones
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 5:27 PM
I've been listening to some coverage of the new UK budget, and it's just everyone being angry, saying things that don't make sense, and analyzing the politics rather than explaining the details of the changes (so...what you'd expect).
This, however, was decent @owenjones.bsky.social
This, however, was decent @owenjones.bsky.social
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
Pediatricians say vaccines do not cause autism. A bear-eating heroin addict who fantasizes about sucking his own semen out of his lovers' orifices says they do. For busy parents, it can be hard to know who to trust.
November 26, 2025 at 5:14 PM
Pediatricians say vaccines do not cause autism. A bear-eating heroin addict who fantasizes about sucking his own semen out of his lovers' orifices says they do. For busy parents, it can be hard to know who to trust.
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
The problem with ICE is not that it's targeting people who aren't criminals. The problem with ICE is that it's an unaccountable secret deportation police. It cannot be reformed under a better president. It can be made less terrible, but the instrument of repression remains for the next tyrant.
November 26, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The problem with ICE is not that it's targeting people who aren't criminals. The problem with ICE is that it's an unaccountable secret deportation police. It cannot be reformed under a better president. It can be made less terrible, but the instrument of repression remains for the next tyrant.
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
a thing about immigrants is that every single one of them is a person, a full human being, no exceptions, whether deemed by this vicious state to be "peaceful" or not smh
This is the scandal. Trump isn’t targeting dangerous people. He’s targeting peaceful immigrants. Almost exclusively.
November 26, 2025 at 2:36 PM
a thing about immigrants is that every single one of them is a person, a full human being, no exceptions, whether deemed by this vicious state to be "peaceful" or not smh
This is necessary. If I had a friend or family member who joined ICE, I'd be shaming the fuck out of him.
November 26, 2025 at 3:28 PM
This is necessary. If I had a friend or family member who joined ICE, I'd be shaming the fuck out of him.
When The Mark Thompson Show only has 139k subscribers, it really crystalizes just how many politics centric shows are juicing their numbers with bot-armies.
Either way, another great conversation with @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9y9...
Either way, another great conversation with @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9y9...
Missouri’s Slice of Corruption, Sarah Kendzior
YouTube video by The Mark Thompson Show
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 3:02 PM
When The Mark Thompson Show only has 139k subscribers, it really crystalizes just how many politics centric shows are juicing their numbers with bot-armies.
Either way, another great conversation with @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9y9...
Either way, another great conversation with @sarahkendzior.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9y9...
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
At this point, I wonder if he isn't lying when he says he has "my highest Poll Numbers, ever" since it's entirely possible that's what his aides are telling him. It's quite likely that there's an entire Potemkin village built around Trump right now.
Trump responds to a detailed report about his waning energy and propensity to sleep through on-camera events by calling the New York Times's Katie Rogers ugly
November 26, 2025 at 2:24 PM
At this point, I wonder if he isn't lying when he says he has "my highest Poll Numbers, ever" since it's entirely possible that's what his aides are telling him. It's quite likely that there's an entire Potemkin village built around Trump right now.
@cameronkasky.bsky.social is another face of what future politics should look like.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyKx...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyKx...
Parkland Survivor Running For Veteran Dem's Seat | Cameron Kasky | TMR
YouTube video by The Majority Report w/ Sam Seder
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:13 PM
@cameronkasky.bsky.social is another face of what future politics should look like.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyKx...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IyKx...
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
By the way, note that the description of Biden as being "in obvious mental decline" was left in the speech, while the description of Trump as the "most openly corrupt president in American history" was removed:
Note that the BBC openly admits in an email to me that the removal of this claim about Trump's world-historical corruption was done "on legal advice."
Translation: Trump's threat of a lawsuit, no matter how bogus, has now been rewarded.
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
Translation: Trump's threat of a lawsuit, no matter how bogus, has now been rewarded.
newrepublic.com/article/2036...
November 26, 2025 at 2:03 PM
By the way, note that the description of Biden as being "in obvious mental decline" was left in the speech, while the description of Trump as the "most openly corrupt president in American history" was removed:
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
To be clear (since NPR isn't), the "joke" is premised on the fact that Trump is kidnapping people w/o due process and shipping them to offshore concentration slave camps in defiance of court orders, human rights accordances, the U.S. constitution, all tenets of common decency, and international law.
President Trump brought grievances to the Thanksgiving pardoning ceremony on Tuesday. He joked about sending the turkeys to a prison in El Salvador, and claimed that last year's turkey pardons were invalid. n.pr/48nUsYx
Trump spares turkeys — but not his political opponents — at annual pardoning ceremony
President Trump brought grievances to the Thanksgiving pardoning ceremony on Tuesday. He joked about sending the turkeys to a prison in El Salvador, and claimed that last year's turkey pardons were invalid.
n.pr
November 26, 2025 at 11:17 AM
To be clear (since NPR isn't), the "joke" is premised on the fact that Trump is kidnapping people w/o due process and shipping them to offshore concentration slave camps in defiance of court orders, human rights accordances, the U.S. constitution, all tenets of common decency, and international law.
10 years too late, but necessary
Lib Dem leader Edward Davey calls for a national investigation into Russian political interference in British politics:
"Given Reform won't, he must. So will he know launch a national investigation into Russian infiltration into our politics?"
Starmer: "Reform is riddled with pro-Putin propaganda"
"Given Reform won't, he must. So will he know launch a national investigation into Russian infiltration into our politics?"
Starmer: "Reform is riddled with pro-Putin propaganda"
November 26, 2025 at 12:55 PM
10 years too late, but necessary
No mention of what public good is saved / created by raising taxes. No one understands what taxes are used for...only that they hate paying them.
Either way, they should tax back the hoarded wealth of the ultra-rich instead of nibbling around the edges.
Either way, they should tax back the hoarded wealth of the ultra-rich instead of nibbling around the edges.
Reeves’ Budget raises tax take to all-time high on.ft.com/49Hi6Bw
Reeves’ Budget raises tax take to all-time high
Burden to reach 38% of GDP by end of parliament
on.ft.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:44 PM
No mention of what public good is saved / created by raising taxes. No one understands what taxes are used for...only that they hate paying them.
Either way, they should tax back the hoarded wealth of the ultra-rich instead of nibbling around the edges.
Either way, they should tax back the hoarded wealth of the ultra-rich instead of nibbling around the edges.
A.I. will be used to replace workers (without being able to really do the job) and supercharge the amount of racist videos are online. Super. Pull the fucking plug.
@novaramedia.com @mehdirhasan.bsky.social @chrislhayes.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRfV...
@novaramedia.com @mehdirhasan.bsky.social @chrislhayes.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRfV...
Why Right Wing Slop Has Taken Over Social Media
YouTube video by Novara Media
www.youtube.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:12 PM
A.I. will be used to replace workers (without being able to really do the job) and supercharge the amount of racist videos are online. Super. Pull the fucking plug.
@novaramedia.com @mehdirhasan.bsky.social @chrislhayes.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRfV...
@novaramedia.com @mehdirhasan.bsky.social @chrislhayes.bsky.social
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRfV...
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
“…we know (from the released emails) that [Thomas Jr.] had potentially incriminating information about [Trump and] Jeffrey Epstein; we don’t know whether he sat on it, gave it to his editors or what. The Times should be a lot more forthcoming about this than they have been.“
Three lessons in unethical media behavior
Plus: Some moments that made me proud to be a journalist
margaretsullivan.substack.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
“…we know (from the released emails) that [Thomas Jr.] had potentially incriminating information about [Trump and] Jeffrey Epstein; we don’t know whether he sat on it, gave it to his editors or what. The Times should be a lot more forthcoming about this than they have been.“
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
If you're ever wondered why journalists seem so out of touch most of the time it's because in order to establish yourself you need to either come from money, marry into money, or be OK with abject poverty and daily financial panic
That third thing is unsustainable long-term
That third thing is unsustainable long-term
November 25, 2025 at 11:44 PM
If you're ever wondered why journalists seem so out of touch most of the time it's because in order to establish yourself you need to either come from money, marry into money, or be OK with abject poverty and daily financial panic
That third thing is unsustainable long-term
That third thing is unsustainable long-term
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
any politician that starts going after these chatbot grifters now is going to look like a genius looking out for the people by the time 2028 rolls around
November 25, 2025 at 5:59 PM
any politician that starts going after these chatbot grifters now is going to look like a genius looking out for the people by the time 2028 rolls around
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
How Farage feels about Putin: in his own words | LBC
YouTube video by LBC
youtu.be
November 25, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
#GrumpyPolitics Telling troops that they must not follow unlawful orders is not sedition. It is not undermining the President.
Unless the President is giving unlawful orders and knows it. In which case, he might throw a tantrum.
Unless the President is giving unlawful orders and knows it. In which case, he might throw a tantrum.
November 25, 2025 at 1:31 PM
#GrumpyPolitics Telling troops that they must not follow unlawful orders is not sedition. It is not undermining the President.
Unless the President is giving unlawful orders and knows it. In which case, he might throw a tantrum.
Unless the President is giving unlawful orders and knows it. In which case, he might throw a tantrum.
The rich are gobbling up and hoarding all the world's wealth and funding far-right xenophobia to keep us from uniting to do anything about it. The reason liberals struggle to adapt to that fact is: the global threat is one of asset wealth capture, and liberals are rich enough to benefit.
Definitely an overlooked point: The authoritarian far right, including its white nationalist iterations, are self-consciously global in scope and liberals need to adapt to that:
The movement to destroy liberal democracy is international, and so must be its defense
November 25, 2025 at 6:38 PM
The rich are gobbling up and hoarding all the world's wealth and funding far-right xenophobia to keep us from uniting to do anything about it. The reason liberals struggle to adapt to that fact is: the global threat is one of asset wealth capture, and liberals are rich enough to benefit.
5 decades of RW and Neoliberal propaganda has killed anyone's chances of re-tethering to reality.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT6P...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT6P...
MAGA Would Rather Play Footsies With A Fascist Than Own Their Mistake
YouTube video by Dark Brandon
www.youtube.com
November 25, 2025 at 5:10 PM
5 decades of RW and Neoliberal propaganda has killed anyone's chances of re-tethering to reality.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT6P...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aT6P...
Reposted by Brad Carpenter (he/him)
I manage all of this, a dialysis machine, a ventilator, tubes, a stressed out family, and more, but the government thinks we aren't professionals
November 25, 2025 at 4:51 PM
I manage all of this, a dialysis machine, a ventilator, tubes, a stressed out family, and more, but the government thinks we aren't professionals