Colin
@cfmulloy.bsky.social
Reposted by Colin
US is playing hardball on the issue. It has issued bellicose démarches to a wide range of states, including allies, which, I am told, are full of reference to Trump, highly aggressive & threatening—"like something one would have expected from the Nazis or Soviets in the 1930s", one person told me.
February 23, 2025 at 7:01 PM
US is playing hardball on the issue. It has issued bellicose démarches to a wide range of states, including allies, which, I am told, are full of reference to Trump, highly aggressive & threatening—"like something one would have expected from the Nazis or Soviets in the 1930s", one person told me.
Reposted by Colin
This makes the situation even more dangerous. Their actions don’t feel like manipulation to them. They feel like common sense. They genuinely believe the narratives they spread, making them even more erratic and harder to counter.
February 23, 2025 at 3:36 PM
This makes the situation even more dangerous. Their actions don’t feel like manipulation to them. They feel like common sense. They genuinely believe the narratives they spread, making them even more erratic and harder to counter.
Reposted by Colin
Lippmann warned that democracy only works if the public has access to accurate information. But today, people don’t just lack good information - they actively reject it in favour of what fits their worldview, because their entire information ecosystem reinforces those beliefs.
February 23, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Lippmann warned that democracy only works if the public has access to accurate information. But today, people don’t just lack good information - they actively reject it in favour of what fits their worldview, because their entire information ecosystem reinforces those beliefs.
Reposted by Colin
DOGE isn’t just about government efficiency - it’s about purging federal agencies of workers who won’t fall in line. By mass-firing employees and forcing them to prove their worth, they’re reshaping the government into an institution that only serves those in power.
February 23, 2025 at 3:32 PM
DOGE isn’t just about government efficiency - it’s about purging federal agencies of workers who won’t fall in line. By mass-firing employees and forcing them to prove their worth, they’re reshaping the government into an institution that only serves those in power.
Oh great. Lying about a foreign leader again.
Now Trudeau is going to have to come out publicly and contradict the President, and Trump will respond with more 51st state crap and tariff threats.
Now Trudeau is going to have to come out publicly and contradict the President, and Trump will respond with more 51st state crap and tariff threats.
In the White House's readout of Trump's call with Trudeau, they claim that "President Trump reminded the Prime Minister that the [Ukraine] war should never have started and would not have had he been President at the time. The Prime Minister agreed."
February 23, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Oh great. Lying about a foreign leader again.
Now Trudeau is going to have to come out publicly and contradict the President, and Trump will respond with more 51st state crap and tariff threats.
Now Trudeau is going to have to come out publicly and contradict the President, and Trump will respond with more 51st state crap and tariff threats.
This strikes me as the first indicator that the ugly polling is putting stress on the Trumpists.
The post says "be more extreme!" The message underlying that post is (probably? possibly?) saying "you're dragging me down, go fix that or you're under the bus. Now go make your numbers go up."
The post says "be more extreme!" The message underlying that post is (probably? possibly?) saying "you're dragging me down, go fix that or you're under the bus. Now go make your numbers go up."
Interesting thing for the President to say about a person who, according the government’s lawyers, “has no actual or formal authority to make government decisions himself” and “only has the ability to advise the President, or communicate the President’s directives.”
February 22, 2025 at 7:39 PM
This strikes me as the first indicator that the ugly polling is putting stress on the Trumpists.
The post says "be more extreme!" The message underlying that post is (probably? possibly?) saying "you're dragging me down, go fix that or you're under the bus. Now go make your numbers go up."
The post says "be more extreme!" The message underlying that post is (probably? possibly?) saying "you're dragging me down, go fix that or you're under the bus. Now go make your numbers go up."
Ah, an answer to the question "wonder where Conor's been?"
I never thought about it until this afternoon shower but Disney World guests way over-index on conscientiousness — incredibly high % of ponchos being worn.
February 16, 2025 at 11:25 PM
Ah, an answer to the question "wonder where Conor's been?"
Reposted by Colin
Andy helped make all this our new reality. He can take his sanctimonious criticism and stuff it. www.nationalreview.com/2024/11/the-...
February 16, 2025 at 11:20 PM
Andy helped make all this our new reality. He can take his sanctimonious criticism and stuff it. www.nationalreview.com/2024/11/the-...
Reposted by Colin
But many, including Americans, confuse this design for a lack of capacity and/or will. Which I would argue is a geopolitical miscalculation.
February 16, 2025 at 6:43 PM
But many, including Americans, confuse this design for a lack of capacity and/or will. Which I would argue is a geopolitical miscalculation.
Reposted by Colin
I’d argue that Europe today is militarily “weak” as a result of intentional policy, both within and without (the U.S.). It was seen as DESIRABLE, by everyone, compared to the alternative.
February 16, 2025 at 6:42 PM
I’d argue that Europe today is militarily “weak” as a result of intentional policy, both within and without (the U.S.). It was seen as DESIRABLE, by everyone, compared to the alternative.
Reposted by Colin
If this is just negotiating gambit by Trump on Ukraine, why does he begin with maximalist positions for allies - Denmark and Greenland, Canada as the 51st state, Gaza as an American possession - and a raft of concessions for a chief American adversary in Russia?
February 12, 2025 at 10:07 PM
If this is just negotiating gambit by Trump on Ukraine, why does he begin with maximalist positions for allies - Denmark and Greenland, Canada as the 51st state, Gaza as an American possession - and a raft of concessions for a chief American adversary in Russia?
They're still anti-interventionist, but somehow also rabidly revisionist, agitating for territorial expansion. Because they're an incoherent mess.
Wild how fast MAGA went from anti-interventionist to “let’s invade Greenland and Canada.”
February 3, 2025 at 1:14 AM
They're still anti-interventionist, but somehow also rabidly revisionist, agitating for territorial expansion. Because they're an incoherent mess.
Reposted by Colin
If Trump, Musk, and the crew abolish USAID, NED, and other such entities, can those entities be re-established by a future administration? It is only February 2025, but Americans ought to be thinking about “after.”
February 3, 2025 at 12:43 AM
If Trump, Musk, and the crew abolish USAID, NED, and other such entities, can those entities be re-established by a future administration? It is only February 2025, but Americans ought to be thinking about “after.”
Reposted by Colin
if you are dooming in my mentions but are not for instance actively preparing to flee the country or otherwise reacting in earnest as if you believe the shit you’re saying, I’m going to start blocking. nobody needs that
February 2, 2025 at 7:01 PM
if you are dooming in my mentions but are not for instance actively preparing to flee the country or otherwise reacting in earnest as if you believe the shit you’re saying, I’m going to start blocking. nobody needs that
Reposted by Colin
helping put a con artist, a coterie of nazis, and a ketamine addled oligarch in charge of the most powerful state on earth does actually have some consequences!
February 2, 2025 at 6:30 PM
helping put a con artist, a coterie of nazis, and a ketamine addled oligarch in charge of the most powerful state on earth does actually have some consequences!
Reposted by Colin
The United States has real enemies in this world -- Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, etc. Canada and Mexico are not our enemies. Neither is Denmark. Don't let Trump and his movement deceive you.
February 2, 2025 at 4:15 AM
The United States has real enemies in this world -- Russia, China, Iran, North Korea, etc. Canada and Mexico are not our enemies. Neither is Denmark. Don't let Trump and his movement deceive you.
Reposted by Colin
A proposition for you: "America First" and American greatness are in conflict. America has been greatest when it has been world-embracing -- open, confident, strong. Not closed, fearful, cramped.
February 2, 2025 at 3:31 AM
A proposition for you: "America First" and American greatness are in conflict. America has been greatest when it has been world-embracing -- open, confident, strong. Not closed, fearful, cramped.
Reposted by Colin
It's about INCENTIVES NOT CHARACTER. Framers didn't foresee parties & thought Electors would block demagogues! But Republicans' ambition/concern for self-preservation lead them to back Trump. Critics who repent advance (Rubio, Vance) or at least survive (Graham). If not, they're purged (Cheney). 1)
The Framers foresaw this problem and figured legislators' ambition, self-preservation, and self-respect would drive them to act against a tyrant.
The Framers didn't expect a majority of Congress would be cowards and fools who cheered it like pigs celebrating the arrival of the butcher.
The Framers didn't expect a majority of Congress would be cowards and fools who cheered it like pigs celebrating the arrival of the butcher.
February 1, 2025 at 3:50 PM
It's about INCENTIVES NOT CHARACTER. Framers didn't foresee parties & thought Electors would block demagogues! But Republicans' ambition/concern for self-preservation lead them to back Trump. Critics who repent advance (Rubio, Vance) or at least survive (Graham). If not, they're purged (Cheney). 1)
The stove-touching will continue until morale improves
Nearly all coffee consumed in the United States is imported, and the largest source of that coffee is Colombia. Trump is putting a 25% tax on our top source of coffee, and that tax will be passed on to American consumers
BREAKING: Trump orders 25% tariffs on all goods from Colombia after 2 deportation flights were rejected
January 26, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The stove-touching will continue until morale improves
Reposted by Colin
The GOP is a party of political violence. It has sanctioned paramilitary action and made clear that violence on its behalf is acceptable
That’s the stark reality. Under Trump, the party belongs in the same conversation as the British National Party, Front National, pre-2015 Jobbik, Golden Dawn
That’s the stark reality. Under Trump, the party belongs in the same conversation as the British National Party, Front National, pre-2015 Jobbik, Golden Dawn
Trump pardoned the insurrectionists because it was his insurrection. They won’t hesitate to do violence for him again.
January 21, 2025 at 6:46 AM
The GOP is a party of political violence. It has sanctioned paramilitary action and made clear that violence on its behalf is acceptable
That’s the stark reality. Under Trump, the party belongs in the same conversation as the British National Party, Front National, pre-2015 Jobbik, Golden Dawn
That’s the stark reality. Under Trump, the party belongs in the same conversation as the British National Party, Front National, pre-2015 Jobbik, Golden Dawn
Reposted by Colin
I agreed with most of the policy decisions Biden made. I also recognize he’s leaving office as unpopular as any President in my lifetime and the vibes were never great. I think it’s fair to acknowledge all that rather than trying to make it all good or all bad.
January 16, 2025 at 1:59 AM
I agreed with most of the policy decisions Biden made. I also recognize he’s leaving office as unpopular as any President in my lifetime and the vibes were never great. I think it’s fair to acknowledge all that rather than trying to make it all good or all bad.
Reposted by Colin
"Russification of America" is a phrase worth remembering. Also Elon should read up on Berezovsky and the other first gen Russian oligarchs and see how that worked out for them.
On a related note: it can't be overstated how much Hegseth would be a bog standard MOD appointment in Russia. He's a wildly unqualified drunkard who is easily controlled, has pledged his loyalty to dear leader, and cares more about politics than process. Russification of America is a worrying trend.
the 'they're all corrupt, nothing matters' attitude is one of the reasons Russia is a godawful place and it's very worrying how much it's spreading in the United States
January 14, 2025 at 10:53 PM
"Russification of America" is a phrase worth remembering. Also Elon should read up on Berezovsky and the other first gen Russian oligarchs and see how that worked out for them.
Reposted by Colin
There’s a bad conspiracy theory going around that Bob Woodward claims in his book ‘War’ that the AFU allowed 30,000 Russian troops to quietly withdraw from Kherson due to US pressure on Kiyv. It’s false on all counts. 1/
January 11, 2025 at 10:36 PM
There’s a bad conspiracy theory going around that Bob Woodward claims in his book ‘War’ that the AFU allowed 30,000 Russian troops to quietly withdraw from Kherson due to US pressure on Kiyv. It’s false on all counts. 1/
Reposted by Colin
My theory is that the political-operative-economic-enthusiast-types who replaced the killjoy trained economic advisers are usually optimizing on what polls well today, not thinking through what polls well a year from now. Hence opposition to higher interest rates, tariff repeal, etc.
I think it’s interesting!
Standard economic analysis was sidelined on the theory that it was politically dumb, and the result was economic results that were hideously unpopular.
Much to consider.
Standard economic analysis was sidelined on the theory that it was politically dumb, and the result was economic results that were hideously unpopular.
Much to consider.
January 10, 2025 at 1:58 PM
My theory is that the political-operative-economic-enthusiast-types who replaced the killjoy trained economic advisers are usually optimizing on what polls well today, not thinking through what polls well a year from now. Hence opposition to higher interest rates, tariff repeal, etc.