Gareth Cook
@garethideas.bsky.social
Book editor, journalist. Founder: Verto Literary Group. Alum: NYT Magazine, Boston Globe, Boston Phoenix, Washington Monthly, Foreign Policy
Reposted by Gareth Cook
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
November 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Before the midterms of 1866, President Andrew Johnson called his congressional opponents traitors and said they should be hanged.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Voters were so profoundly moved by his words... that they gave his opponents a supermajority in Congress, and the nation got the Fourteenth Amendment.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
A message from former CIA analyst and current US Senator Elissa Slotkin and her congressional colleagues ⬇️
We want to speak directly to members of the Military and the Intelligence Community.
The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.
Don’t give up the ship.
The American people need you to stand up for our laws and our Constitution.
Don’t give up the ship.
November 18, 2025 at 8:47 PM
A message from former CIA analyst and current US Senator Elissa Slotkin and her congressional colleagues ⬇️
Reposted by Gareth Cook
SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live.
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
October 27, 2025 at 12:48 AM
SNAP isn't about "people who don't work." It's about people who don't get paid enough to live.
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Of the 40 or so million people who rely on food stamps:
* Two-thirds are children, seniors, or disabled
* Most working-age adults who receive SNAP are employed—but in jobs that pay poverty wages
Reposted by Gareth Cook
Among the nested set of fallacies built into Pollingism (for that, indeed, is the most apt moniker) perhaps the most absurd is that what people think about Democrats is made out of what Democrats say, not what is relentlessly said about them.
i love how these people act as if working class voters haven't been trained to hate elizabeth warren via a right-wing propaganda campaign in its second decade and all they really dislike about her are her liberal views. (ignore the misogyny too!)
October 28, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Among the nested set of fallacies built into Pollingism (for that, indeed, is the most apt moniker) perhaps the most absurd is that what people think about Democrats is made out of what Democrats say, not what is relentlessly said about them.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
Every poll is like:
"Should we eat our own shit?"
31% yes
39% no
30% don't know
but there are still people getting paid to argue for how Democrats can finely tailor an eat-some-shit message to win over the median moderate voter, of which there are zero.
"Should we eat our own shit?"
31% yes
39% no
30% don't know
but there are still people getting paid to argue for how Democrats can finely tailor an eat-some-shit message to win over the median moderate voter, of which there are zero.
October 27, 2025 at 9:41 PM
Every poll is like:
"Should we eat our own shit?"
31% yes
39% no
30% don't know
but there are still people getting paid to argue for how Democrats can finely tailor an eat-some-shit message to win over the median moderate voter, of which there are zero.
"Should we eat our own shit?"
31% yes
39% no
30% don't know
but there are still people getting paid to argue for how Democrats can finely tailor an eat-some-shit message to win over the median moderate voter, of which there are zero.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
The optics of Trump building a ballroom that 99.9% of Americans will never set foot in while millions line up for food banks are worth more than any policy paper or economic proposal. This image is a visceral punch in the mouth that needs no words. It should haunt the GOP for a generation.
a live look at the demolition of the White House's East Wing for Trump's ballroom
October 22, 2025 at 5:18 PM
The optics of Trump building a ballroom that 99.9% of Americans will never set foot in while millions line up for food banks are worth more than any policy paper or economic proposal. This image is a visceral punch in the mouth that needs no words. It should haunt the GOP for a generation.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
Well into the season of life where I don’t keep up with pop culture, and it’s great.
You don’t need to get annoyed that The Kids like different stuff. Are Addison Rae and Tate McRae different people? Who cares! There’s jazz to listen to and you have plantar fasciitis.
You don’t need to get annoyed that The Kids like different stuff. Are Addison Rae and Tate McRae different people? Who cares! There’s jazz to listen to and you have plantar fasciitis.
October 23, 2025 at 11:28 AM
Well into the season of life where I don’t keep up with pop culture, and it’s great.
You don’t need to get annoyed that The Kids like different stuff. Are Addison Rae and Tate McRae different people? Who cares! There’s jazz to listen to and you have plantar fasciitis.
You don’t need to get annoyed that The Kids like different stuff. Are Addison Rae and Tate McRae different people? Who cares! There’s jazz to listen to and you have plantar fasciitis.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
Reposted by Gareth Cook
I find it amazing too that Republicans’ boycott of Washington isn’t the biggest story of them all.
The shutdown can’t end if they refuse to show up for work.
The shutdown can’t end if they refuse to show up for work.
October 21, 2025 at 1:21 PM
I find it amazing too that Republicans’ boycott of Washington isn’t the biggest story of them all.
The shutdown can’t end if they refuse to show up for work.
The shutdown can’t end if they refuse to show up for work.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
It's the guns 💯%
October 20, 2025 at 10:59 PM
It's the guns 💯%
Reposted by Gareth Cook
a lazy cynical affect is one of the worst things you can do to yourself as a reporter or analyst, it will corrode not only your work but your soul.
October 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
a lazy cynical affect is one of the worst things you can do to yourself as a reporter or analyst, it will corrode not only your work but your soul.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
I own too much physical media bc I loved meeting fellow fans so much. Geeking out about comics at SPX, bullshitting about sci-fi with Greg at Between Books, my friend Kenny renting two Shaw Bros movies from the store he worked at for Ninja Night.
The fellowship was the point, not the content.
The fellowship was the point, not the content.
video stores aren't "good," but going out and engaging with the world is good, while staying home half-watching the latest garbage the Netflix algorithm shoved at you while scrolling through your Insta feed is a form of cultural and spiritual malnourishment encouraged by corporate psychopaths
Yeah, I think I see the problem here - it's not that the video store was good, it's that you miss being a teenager
October 20, 2025 at 4:38 PM
I own too much physical media bc I loved meeting fellow fans so much. Geeking out about comics at SPX, bullshitting about sci-fi with Greg at Between Books, my friend Kenny renting two Shaw Bros movies from the store he worked at for Ninja Night.
The fellowship was the point, not the content.
The fellowship was the point, not the content.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
The entire "free speech on campus" moral panic was manufactured to blackmail us into making space in intellectual life for bigots and charlatans who couldn't get there on their own merits. Its a DEI scheme for fascism. Congratulations to everyone who took it at face value.
“Following his lecture, Yarvin will debate the legendary British historian David Starkey on history and the future of conservatism.” Everything about this is so cursed. Masks off at the University of Oxford.
October 20, 2025 at 2:13 PM
The entire "free speech on campus" moral panic was manufactured to blackmail us into making space in intellectual life for bigots and charlatans who couldn't get there on their own merits. Its a DEI scheme for fascism. Congratulations to everyone who took it at face value.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
the Muppets have been real quiet since the Louvre heist
October 19, 2025 at 10:19 PM
the Muppets have been real quiet since the Louvre heist
Reposted by Gareth Cook
Those with sharp eyes might detect a subtle difference in NYT play last month of an event in one city, w 100,000+ attendees, versus play this morning of some 2500+ events w many millions of attendees, in all 50 states.
See if you can spot it! /s
Then you can find today's story on p A23
See if you can spot it! /s
Then you can find today's story on p A23
October 19, 2025 at 2:35 PM
Those with sharp eyes might detect a subtle difference in NYT play last month of an event in one city, w 100,000+ attendees, versus play this morning of some 2500+ events w many millions of attendees, in all 50 states.
See if you can spot it! /s
Then you can find today's story on p A23
See if you can spot it! /s
Then you can find today's story on p A23
Reposted by Gareth Cook
Reposted by Gareth Cook
To my Boston-area peeps: ICYMI Robert Kraft was on Fox & Friends this morning, talking about how America has lost its way. Here’s a pic Kilmeade posted from the set.
October 18, 2025 at 1:18 AM
To my Boston-area peeps: ICYMI Robert Kraft was on Fox & Friends this morning, talking about how America has lost its way. Here’s a pic Kilmeade posted from the set.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
Part of the utility for huge protests like No Kings is that they undermine the fundamental basis of Trump's power, which is elite consent. If universities, private companies, government officials, etc. think they could get caught up by a popular backlash they're less likely to comply w/ the regime.
October 16, 2025 at 5:45 PM
Part of the utility for huge protests like No Kings is that they undermine the fundamental basis of Trump's power, which is elite consent. If universities, private companies, government officials, etc. think they could get caught up by a popular backlash they're less likely to comply w/ the regime.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
Name that tune! #NoKings
A king is a guy who think he’s high
Also known as a tyrant
Always talkin’ about what he wants
And just posts in all CAPS, so
A king is a guy who think he’s high
Also known as a tyrant
Always talkin’ about what he wants
And just posts in all CAPS, so
October 16, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Name that tune! #NoKings
A king is a guy who think he’s high
Also known as a tyrant
Always talkin’ about what he wants
And just posts in all CAPS, so
A king is a guy who think he’s high
Also known as a tyrant
Always talkin’ about what he wants
And just posts in all CAPS, so
Reposted by Gareth Cook
In 2024, I wrote a story for Texas Monthly about Michelle Haas, whose complaints resulted in the removal of books about slavery from historic Texas slave plantations. Haas sued us, alleging defamation, and was represented by the preferred lawyer of billionaire J.P. Bryan. Today, we won on appeal.
October 16, 2025 at 2:13 PM
In 2024, I wrote a story for Texas Monthly about Michelle Haas, whose complaints resulted in the removal of books about slavery from historic Texas slave plantations. Haas sued us, alleging defamation, and was represented by the preferred lawyer of billionaire J.P. Bryan. Today, we won on appeal.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
USC is the fourth rejection, no acceptances. I hope they have a safety school.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
USC rejects Trump education compact aimed at shifting the university to the right
USC interim President Beong-Soo Kim said in a statement that he had sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Education turning down the Trump offer.
www.latimes.com
October 16, 2025 at 9:03 PM
USC is the fourth rejection, no acceptances. I hope they have a safety school.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Reposted by Gareth Cook
@wbur.org and ProPublica found that as many as 47 states allow more time to charge rapes or similar assaults of adults than Massachusetts, where attempts to lengthen the statute of limitations have failed every session since 2011.
DNA Finally Tied a Man to Her Rape. It Didn’t Matter.
Seventeen years after Louise was raped, Boston police told her they had a DNA match for her alleged rapist. But under Massachusetts state law, the case would be almost impossible to prosecute.
www.propublica.org
October 16, 2025 at 9:09 PM
@wbur.org and ProPublica found that as many as 47 states allow more time to charge rapes or similar assaults of adults than Massachusetts, where attempts to lengthen the statute of limitations have failed every session since 2011.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
For those of you keeping score, 18-22 year-old students calling for an end to slaughter in Gaza are so racist they need to be expelled or deported, but 24-35 year-olds celebrating Hitler, rape, and, um, racism are just kids being kids so chill.
Also, racism is over so no need for Voting Right Act.
Also, racism is over so no need for Voting Right Act.
JD Vance brushes off racist texts by adults in Republican group chat as ‘what kids do’
Vice-president downplays messages such as ‘I love Hitler’ in chat by 24 to 35-year-olds to ‘stupid jokes’
www.theguardian.com
October 16, 2025 at 3:50 PM
For those of you keeping score, 18-22 year-old students calling for an end to slaughter in Gaza are so racist they need to be expelled or deported, but 24-35 year-olds celebrating Hitler, rape, and, um, racism are just kids being kids so chill.
Also, racism is over so no need for Voting Right Act.
Also, racism is over so no need for Voting Right Act.
Reposted by Gareth Cook
