Steve S.
banner
fadinglight.bsky.social
Steve S.
@fadinglight.bsky.social
I'm a retired journalist and policy wonk from western Washington. I tend to post on a mix of national and regional political issues, often from an environmental angle. I mostly share information rather than try to debate in social media sound bites.
Reposted by Steve S.
This is glorious. Stop what you’re doing and watch.
Elon’s Downfall
April 2, 2025 at 4:46 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
Marc Short, chief of staff to Mike Pence, quoted in this @asssociatedpress.bsky.social story:

apnews.com/article/trum...
November 25, 2024 at 4:16 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
I am sorry friends, but gotta reserve my attention for that CBS piece on Cancel Culture
Trump has vowed to crack down on universities involved in misinformation research, or what he dubs the "censorship cartel" - e.g. by curbing funds to those that have "flagged content for removal”, or legal threats

“I'm pretty fucking scared," one professor tells me.

www.ft.com/content/bfb4...
Donald Trump’s return sends shivers through the anti-misinformation world
Vow to crack down on the ‘censorship cartel’ has researchers worried — and Big Tech is on notice
www.ft.com
November 25, 2024 at 4:22 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
Fantastic, useful, thoughtful, and well-informed, long-form engagement with Muskaswamy’s dumb op-ed. Thank you @donmoyn.bsky.social for taking the time to write this up.
November 25, 2024 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
Project 2025 talks a lot about shrinking federal agencies, but here's a Heritage Foundation guy explaining why a second Trump White House would need to INCREASE staffing at "one of the few government agencies that limits the regulatory ambitions of other agencies.”
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJOf...
Project 2025 Private Training Video: Federal Regulatory Process
YouTube video by ProPublica
www.youtube.com
August 11, 2024 at 8:14 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
Whaddya know, requiring Medicaid recipients to navigate a bureaucratic obstacle course to get coverage turns out to mean almost nobody gets coverage.

Not a bug, a feature.
Can a Medicaid plan that requires work succeed? First year of Georgia experiment is not promising
By now, Georgia officials expected their new Medicaid plan to provide health insurance to 25,000 low income residents.
apnews.com
July 15, 2024 at 12:02 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
X/Twitter is now just an enormous in-kind campaign contribution to Trump. Are you helping them out?
July 15, 2024 at 1:21 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
The U.S. is losing wetlands at an accelerating rate.

Some states are rolling back their existing protections, even though we know people across the U.S. strongly favor more protection for wetlands 🌎
The US is losing wetlands at an accelerating rate − here’s how the private sector can help protect these valuable resources
The Supreme Court drastically reduced federal protection for wetlands in 2023. Two environmental lawyers explain how private businesses and nongovernment organizations can help fill the gap.
theconversation.com
July 15, 2024 at 11:38 AM
Reposted by Steve S.
Today's newsletter:

Rewriting the Rules of Engagement: GOP's Attempt to Silence Legitimate Criticism

www.readtpa.com/p/rewriting-...
Rewriting the Rules of Engagement: GOP's Attempt to Silence Legitimate Criticism
Republicans revive the familiar tactic of misconstruing Democratic rhetoric as an incitement to violence.
www.readtpa.com
July 15, 2024 at 12:16 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
Q. What do you call a demagogue who softens his tone when trying to appeal beyond his base?

A. A demagogue.

Q. What do you call journalists who breathlessly report on it?

A. Suckers.
July 15, 2024 at 12:47 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
In New York, Wage Theft Violators Get Millions in Government Contracts

We identified 25 employers that, despite histories of wage theft, have received contracts worth more than a collective $500 million from city and state agencies since 2018.
www.propublica.org/article/new-...
In New York, Wage Theft Violators Get Millions in Government Contracts
ProPublica and Documented identified 25 employers that, despite histories of wage theft, have received contracts worth more than a collective $500 million from city and state agencies since 2018.
www.propublica.org
July 15, 2024 at 12:48 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
From Hopium:
- European far right underperforms again. Like MAGA here voters understand the danger, keep choosing better options
- Good economic news just keeps coming
- Biden/Harris is our ticket, but we need better answers on Biden’s health
More 👇
www.hopiumchronicles.com/p/the-right-...
The Far Right Underperforms in Europe (Again), New Biden Ad, Legit Questions About Biden's Health, No Letting Up
Welcome new subscribers! Consequential weeks of politics ahead
www.hopiumchronicles.com
July 8, 2024 at 4:26 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
Because this is the internet, the replies to this are repeating a claim I directly debunk in the text -- the laughable idea that the Republican Party just welcomed the far right with open arms, unlike the mean ol' Democrats who won't let the left in.

That's not how it happened. At all.
July 8, 2024 at 4:38 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
A proposed address by the nation's 46th president, drawing on an address by the nation's first.

fallows.substack.com/p/a-presiden...
A Presidential Address for This Moment
‘We’ll teach them how to say goodbye.’ A dramatic way for Joe Biden to demonstrate his strength, and the nation’s. An imagined speech, with 120 days to go until the election.
fallows.substack.com
July 7, 2024 at 3:25 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
Biden said it himself that democracy is on the line in this election. @rickperlstein.bsky.social argues that Biden should have the strength of character to let go of power and step down:
Say It Ain’t So, Joe
With democracy itself on the ballot, a statesman with character would know when to let go of power.
prospect.org
July 7, 2024 at 1:35 PM
Dan Pfeiffer: "Maybe he is putting on a brave face, but Biden seems detached from the crisis enveloping his campaign. He dismissed the mountain of polling that showed him behind.... He dismissed the growing calls for him to step aside and the concerns voters have about his capacity."
Biden Did The Big Interview, Now What?
The President's ABC News interview raised more questions than it answered.
www.messageboxnews.com
July 7, 2024 at 1:54 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
“Remember, even though the term is directed at him a lot, Trump is not an isolationist — he is a mercantilist who prefers using force in this hemisphere.” danieldrezner.substack.com/p/world-poli...
World Politics After Trump's Second Term
Spoiler alert: it ain't good.
danieldrezner.substack.com
July 6, 2024 at 4:45 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
Agreed.
July 6, 2024 at 6:08 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
One thing I’m noticing: the people in my life who’ve worked in campaigns or politics overwhelmingly think Biden should be replaced (with Kamala).

That’s clearly not the majority sentiment on here. Also, noticing how few folks in the above category seem to be on here, which is a bummer for me.
July 6, 2024 at 6:14 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
"What men call banshees, women call prophecy."
Am absolutely enamored of Dahlia Lithwick's turn of phrase here: slate.com/news-and-pol...
Don’t Be Hysterical, Ladies. Daddy Chief Justice Knows Best.
It is pretty jarring to hear this kind of condescension trotted out by Chief Justice John Roberts.
slate.com
July 4, 2024 at 10:42 AM
Reposted by Steve S.
In their confirmation hearings, the Republican majority swore under oath that the President was not above the law.

This week, they insisted that the President is not just above the law, but is entitled to absolute immunity for his actions.

Happy 4th!
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/strongman-...
July 4, 2024 at 12:42 PM
Reposted by Steve S.
Reminder that many journalists have been forced to pivot to independent newsletters (including yours truly) and them promoting their work is good and necessary.
Come off it. “his ads” … I’m an independent journalist, 100% of my income comes from my newsletter, and I published seven items last week. If my reminding you occasionally that the free content you want costs money to make renders the content worthless to you, boy, I don’t know what to say.
June 30, 2024 at 6:53 PM
This is a particularly good overview of a Supreme Court decision that deserves much greater attention than it has received thus far.
The demise of Chevron is being widely interpreted as an expansion of judicial power. It is that, but it also and more profoundly an expansion of power of moneyed interests.
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/the-money-...
The Money Coup
What the fall of Chevron deference means for state capacity
donmoynihan.substack.com
June 29, 2024 at 1:57 AM
Reposted by Steve S.
Shoulda known those PE fuckers had something to do with it
"Veterinary prices have soared more than 60% over the past decade, according to federal stats. Private equity firms and large corps have bought 100s of facilities around the country, an acquisition spree reminiscent of the corporate roll-ups of doctors’ offices."

www.nytimes.com/2024/06/23/h...
Why You’re Paying Your Veterinarian So Much
People have grown more attached to their pets — and more willing to spend money on them — turning animal medicine into a high-tech industry worth billions.
www.nytimes.com
June 24, 2024 at 4:06 PM