David Atkins
@davidoatkins.bsky.social
Contributor @washingtonmonthly.com. Bylines @theprospect & elsewhere. Elected DNC Member from CA. Progressive reformist. Dad of two. I run a qualitative research firm.
If Mamdani were bad for the party, Republicans wouldn't be wetting themselves in terror over him.
November 4, 2025 at 10:41 PM
If Mamdani were bad for the party, Republicans wouldn't be wetting themselves in terror over him.
All of this is loony tunes, of course. But worth noting that Trump's definition of "cheated and rigged the election" is "made me look bad somehow."
October 25, 2025 at 5:20 AM
All of this is loony tunes, of course. But worth noting that Trump's definition of "cheated and rigged the election" is "made me look bad somehow."
The use of "surge" here is so fucking grotesque. Trump is using Iraq War language against the citizens of his own country.
October 23, 2025 at 5:52 PM
The use of "surge" here is so fucking grotesque. Trump is using Iraq War language against the citizens of his own country.
I don't care much, but I find this deeply amusing, as I am simultaneously being blocked on a list of AI haters *and* AI enthusiasts.
It's illustrative of the problem with block lists.
It's illustrative of the problem with block lists.
October 4, 2025 at 12:14 AM
I don't care much, but I find this deeply amusing, as I am simultaneously being blocked on a list of AI haters *and* AI enthusiasts.
It's illustrative of the problem with block lists.
It's illustrative of the problem with block lists.
This is of course an impeachable offense, and anyone in the chain carrying out such an order against American citizens can and should be prosecuted to the *fullest* extent of the law.
September 27, 2025 at 8:06 PM
This is of course an impeachable offense, and anyone in the chain carrying out such an order against American citizens can and should be prosecuted to the *fullest* extent of the law.
Irony poisoned 4chan bros are out of control. This is a social problem we have to deal with, and quickly.
September 25, 2025 at 5:48 AM
Irony poisoned 4chan bros are out of control. This is a social problem we have to deal with, and quickly.
I know we are way down the rabbit hole, but remember when Republicans got outraged over Bill Clinton simply meeting AG Loretta Lynch on a tarmac?
This Truth Social post all by itself is a massively impeachable offense.
This Truth Social post all by itself is a massively impeachable offense.
September 21, 2025 at 12:30 AM
I know we are way down the rabbit hole, but remember when Republicans got outraged over Bill Clinton simply meeting AG Loretta Lynch on a tarmac?
This Truth Social post all by itself is a massively impeachable offense.
This Truth Social post all by itself is a massively impeachable offense.
Also with the defunding threats. They don't seem at all worried about what kind of coercion a Dem President could lever on red states using defunding threats--especially given that most red states are not self sufficient unlike blue states.
September 15, 2025 at 5:56 PM
Also with the defunding threats. They don't seem at all worried about what kind of coercion a Dem President could lever on red states using defunding threats--especially given that most red states are not self sufficient unlike blue states.
In the modern world, media influencers outrank most politicians and elected officials.
That's just the way it is. You can decry it impotently and whine about "show horses" versus "work horses", or you can do something productive and work on fixing the media environment.
That's just the way it is. You can decry it impotently and whine about "show horses" versus "work horses", or you can do something productive and work on fixing the media environment.
September 12, 2025 at 1:08 AM
In the modern world, media influencers outrank most politicians and elected officials.
That's just the way it is. You can decry it impotently and whine about "show horses" versus "work horses", or you can do something productive and work on fixing the media environment.
That's just the way it is. You can decry it impotently and whine about "show horses" versus "work horses", or you can do something productive and work on fixing the media environment.
it is utterly insane that Trump's birthday letter to Epstein has existed all this time, lots of people knew about it, it never leaked, and this hideous felon was allowed to become President *twice.*
September 8, 2025 at 9:41 PM
it is utterly insane that Trump's birthday letter to Epstein has existed all this time, lots of people knew about it, it never leaked, and this hideous felon was allowed to become President *twice.*
I'm no lawyer, but it seems to me that Vance could legitimately wind up on trial with this tweet as Exhibit A.
September 6, 2025 at 7:33 PM
I'm no lawyer, but it seems to me that Vance could legitimately wind up on trial with this tweet as Exhibit A.
DNC Resolution 4 opposing dark money in presidential primaries passes unanimously at DNC Resolutions Committee.
This is a victory decades in the making after long years of opposition and struggle. Much appreciation to Chair Ken Martin.
This is a victory decades in the making after long years of opposition and struggle. Much appreciation to Chair Ken Martin.
August 26, 2025 at 2:11 PM
DNC Resolution 4 opposing dark money in presidential primaries passes unanimously at DNC Resolutions Committee.
This is a victory decades in the making after long years of opposition and struggle. Much appreciation to Chair Ken Martin.
This is a victory decades in the making after long years of opposition and struggle. Much appreciation to Chair Ken Martin.
Resolution 3 to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, secure a ceasefire and affirm commitment to a two-state solution, passes unanimously at DNC.
August 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
Resolution 3 to end the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, secure a ceasefire and affirm commitment to a two-state solution, passes unanimously at DNC.
Resolution #1 to alleviate the housing affordability crisis by increasing the supply of housing passes unanimously out of DNC Resolutions Committee. Another yimby win!
August 26, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Resolution #1 to alleviate the housing affordability crisis by increasing the supply of housing passes unanimously out of DNC Resolutions Committee. Another yimby win!
I didnt say anything like that. Wtf are you talking about?
August 26, 2025 at 12:32 AM
I didnt say anything like that. Wtf are you talking about?
No. I dont think people should or would stay home. Did I say they should?
August 26, 2025 at 12:30 AM
No. I dont think people should or would stay home. Did I say they should?
You strongly suspect? So you don't actually know what you're talking about. I did a custard mountain in Gemini and then gave it to chatgpt.
People who dont use these tools and have no clue about them maybe should stop propounding on them as if they were experts.
People who dont use these tools and have no clue about them maybe should stop propounding on them as if they were experts.
August 23, 2025 at 1:15 PM
You strongly suspect? So you don't actually know what you're talking about. I did a custard mountain in Gemini and then gave it to chatgpt.
People who dont use these tools and have no clue about them maybe should stop propounding on them as if they were experts.
People who dont use these tools and have no clue about them maybe should stop propounding on them as if they were experts.
The centrists and leftists can argue policy and ideological positioning all day long, but at its core this is a media environment and brand problem. Voters prefer Dem policies generally, but the brand itself is in the toilet.
The only way to fix this is with new leaders and new rhetoric.
The only way to fix this is with new leaders and new rhetoric.
July 26, 2025 at 9:19 PM
The centrists and leftists can argue policy and ideological positioning all day long, but at its core this is a media environment and brand problem. Voters prefer Dem policies generally, but the brand itself is in the toilet.
The only way to fix this is with new leaders and new rhetoric.
The only way to fix this is with new leaders and new rhetoric.
Yes, Dems can and should be better in many ways.
But you can't realistically look at this chart and not immediately see "social media algorithms did this." It is mostly a media driven phenomenon, with a side dose of inflation backlash.
But you can't realistically look at this chart and not immediately see "social media algorithms did this." It is mostly a media driven phenomenon, with a side dose of inflation backlash.
July 26, 2025 at 8:21 PM
Yes, Dems can and should be better in many ways.
But you can't realistically look at this chart and not immediately see "social media algorithms did this." It is mostly a media driven phenomenon, with a side dose of inflation backlash.
But you can't realistically look at this chart and not immediately see "social media algorithms did this." It is mostly a media driven phenomenon, with a side dose of inflation backlash.
Gee, I wonder what the third color is and what it represents for Elon.
July 6, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Gee, I wonder what the third color is and what it represents for Elon.
Millennials will save the world if everyone else will actually let us.
June 24, 2025 at 4:05 AM
Millennials will save the world if everyone else will actually let us.
Older Dem insiders would rather try to invent a Joe Rogan of the left who will march to their talking points.
Meanwhile, young men open to voting Dem are making very clear what they want.
Meanwhile, young men open to voting Dem are making very clear what they want.
June 24, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Older Dem insiders would rather try to invent a Joe Rogan of the left who will march to their talking points.
Meanwhile, young men open to voting Dem are making very clear what they want.
Meanwhile, young men open to voting Dem are making very clear what they want.
Thousands lined up for block after block in Santa Barbara. Impossible to photograph them all. Biggest protest I have ever seen here by far. #NoKings
June 14, 2025 at 7:36 PM
Thousands lined up for block after block in Santa Barbara. Impossible to photograph them all. Biggest protest I have ever seen here by far. #NoKings
