James Downie
@jamescdownie.bsky.social
Columnist and editor at MSNBC Daily and WGAE member. Formerly Washington Post Opinions. DC born and raised. D.C. United and Montreal Canadiens fan.
jim.downie@nbcuni.com; jdow.92 on Signal
jim.downie@nbcuni.com; jdow.92 on Signal
Reposted by James Downie
Eight months ago, Katie Wilson declared her intention to run and all the conventional powers-that-be said she didn't stand a chance of winning.
Remember that we don't always know what is possible.
Remember that we don't always know what is possible.
Wilson now leads in the Seattle mayoral race by 91 votes. Prior to today, Harrell had been leading by 4,300 votes, but this latest vote batch netted Wilson 4,391 votes.
November 11, 2025 at 12:13 AM
Eight months ago, Katie Wilson declared her intention to run and all the conventional powers-that-be said she didn't stand a chance of winning.
Remember that we don't always know what is possible.
Remember that we don't always know what is possible.
"A spending package expected to be approved as part of a deal to reopen the government would create a wide legal avenue for senators to sue for as much as half a million dollars each when federal investigators search their phone records without notifying them." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
Spending Bill Would Pave Way for Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches
www.nytimes.com
November 10, 2025 at 8:29 PM
"A spending package expected to be approved as part of a deal to reopen the government would create a wide legal avenue for senators to sue for as much as half a million dollars each when federal investigators search their phone records without notifying them." www.nytimes.com/2025/11/10/u...
"Last year, roughly 10,000 attorneys worked across the Justice Department and its components, including the FBI. Justice Connection, an advocacy group that has been tracking departures, estimates that around 5,500 people — not all of them attorneys — have quit." wapo.st/3JG4ImA
Justice Department struggles as thousands exit — and few are replaced
The Justice Department has lost thousands of experienced attorneys and backfilled a fraction of the open jobs, in part because of a lack of qualified candidates.
wapo.st
November 10, 2025 at 8:26 PM
"Last year, roughly 10,000 attorneys worked across the Justice Department and its components, including the FBI. Justice Connection, an advocacy group that has been tracking departures, estimates that around 5,500 people — not all of them attorneys — have quit." wapo.st/3JG4ImA
Reposted by James Downie
Youth turnout, 2021 to 2025 (and 2025 as pct of 2021):
NJ Gov 20% to 29% (+145%)
VA Gov 27% to 34% (+126%)
NYC Mayor 11.1% to 41.3% (+372%)
Sources: CIRCLE circle.tufts.edu/latest-resea... and DDHQ
NJ Gov 20% to 29% (+145%)
VA Gov 27% to 34% (+126%)
NYC Mayor 11.1% to 41.3% (+372%)
Sources: CIRCLE circle.tufts.edu/latest-resea... and DDHQ
November 10, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Youth turnout, 2021 to 2025 (and 2025 as pct of 2021):
NJ Gov 20% to 29% (+145%)
VA Gov 27% to 34% (+126%)
NYC Mayor 11.1% to 41.3% (+372%)
Sources: CIRCLE circle.tufts.edu/latest-resea... and DDHQ
NJ Gov 20% to 29% (+145%)
VA Gov 27% to 34% (+126%)
NYC Mayor 11.1% to 41.3% (+372%)
Sources: CIRCLE circle.tufts.edu/latest-resea... and DDHQ
Reposted by James Downie
OSCAR ISAAC, on whether he'd return to "Star Wars":
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Oscar Isaac Was ‘Not So Open to Working With Disney’ After Jimmy Kimmel Suspension, Said He’d Return to ‘Star Wars’ if Disney Does ‘Not Succumb to Fascism’
Oscar Isaac was not open to working with Disney after Jimmy Kimmel's suspension and will only return to 'Star Wars' if the studio avoids fascism.
variety.com
November 10, 2025 at 3:28 PM
OSCAR ISAAC, on whether he'd return to "Star Wars":
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
".. Yeah. I mean, I’d be open to it, although right now I’m not so open to working with Disney. But if they can kinda figure it out and, you know, not succumb to fascism, that would be great."
@variety.com $DIS
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Reposted by James Downie
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
November 10, 2025 at 1:49 AM
The average SNAP benefit per month is $177 a person.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
The average ACA benefit per month is up to $550 a person.
People want us to hold the line for a reason. This is not a matter of appealing to a base. It’s about people’s lives.
And working people want leaders whose word means something to them.
According to a new letter from @raskin.house.gov: "The deference and servility to Ms. Maxwell have reached such preposterous levels that one of the top officials at the facility has complained that he is 'sick of having to be Maxwell’s bitch.'"
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/d...
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/d...
Democrats reveal whistleblower details of Ghislaine Maxwell prison "luxuries"
In a letter to the president, House Democrats say Maxwell's treatment as she prepares a clemency request makes the convicted sex offender look like a “guest at a Trump hotel."
www.msnbc.com
November 10, 2025 at 10:21 AM
According to a new letter from @raskin.house.gov: "The deference and servility to Ms. Maxwell have reached such preposterous levels that one of the top officials at the facility has complained that he is 'sick of having to be Maxwell’s bitch.'"
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/d...
www.msnbc.com/msnbc/news/d...
Reposted by James Downie
Filed for future use.
November 8, 2025 at 7:14 PM
Filed for future use.
FHFA director Bill Pulte "appointed Mark Zarkin, a Michigan restaurateur and prominent Detroit-area Trump supporter, as a consultant."
In 1999, Zarkin "pleaded no contest to a felony sex crime involving a sexual encounter with a 'mentally incapacitated' woman."
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
In 1999, Zarkin "pleaded no contest to a felony sex crime involving a sexual encounter with a 'mentally incapacitated' woman."
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
November 8, 2025 at 7:12 PM
FHFA director Bill Pulte "appointed Mark Zarkin, a Michigan restaurateur and prominent Detroit-area Trump supporter, as a consultant."
In 1999, Zarkin "pleaded no contest to a felony sex crime involving a sexual encounter with a 'mentally incapacitated' woman."
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
In 1999, Zarkin "pleaded no contest to a felony sex crime involving a sexual encounter with a 'mentally incapacitated' woman."
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
"A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent nearly 20 minutes apparently battling to keep his eyes open at the Thursday event." wapo.st/4oTia5k
A closer look at Trump’s apparent struggles to fight off sleep in the Oval Office
A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent nearly 20 minutes battling to keep his eyes open at a recent Oval Office event.
wapo.st
November 8, 2025 at 7:02 PM
"A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent nearly 20 minutes apparently battling to keep his eyes open at the Thursday event." wapo.st/4oTia5k
Reposted by James Downie
"When I picked up my granddaughter from the federal agents, she had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. She was exhausted and cried… My heart aches knowing this could happen to others, to my kids, or even me, despite being U.S. citizens.”
November 8, 2025 at 3:26 PM
"When I picked up my granddaughter from the federal agents, she had a dirty diaper, a bruise on her face, and was developing a rash. She was exhausted and cried… My heart aches knowing this could happen to others, to my kids, or even me, despite being U.S. citizens.”
Reposted by James Downie
bezos somehow made an editorial page worse than the one at the wall street journal
November 8, 2025 at 6:27 PM
bezos somehow made an editorial page worse than the one at the wall street journal
Reposted by James Downie
oh so these people do pay attention to who politicians follow on social media, they just don’t care that the vice president follows a bunch of actual neo-nazis
Axios tried to bust James Talarico for following adult content creators on Instagram and I'm genuinely impressed by his campaign's response
November 8, 2025 at 4:39 PM
oh so these people do pay attention to who politicians follow on social media, they just don’t care that the vice president follows a bunch of actual neo-nazis
Reposted by James Downie
Axios tried to bust James Talarico for following adult content creators on Instagram and I'm genuinely impressed by his campaign's response
November 8, 2025 at 4:09 PM
Axios tried to bust James Talarico for following adult content creators on Instagram and I'm genuinely impressed by his campaign's response
Nothing motivates this White House like the chance for more people to suffer.
November 8, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Nothing motivates this White House like the chance for more people to suffer.
I support all forms of "Animorphs"-based communication.
the lib economic buzzword of the cycle shifting from “abundance” to “affordability”
November 7, 2025 at 4:23 PM
I support all forms of "Animorphs"-based communication.
Reposted by James Downie
The drop in gun violence in DC following the Federal deployment starting in mid-August has more or less completely subsided.
November 7, 2025 at 2:21 PM
The drop in gun violence in DC following the Federal deployment starting in mid-August has more or less completely subsided.
Reposted by James Downie
bro are you fucking kidding me
![quote from the Economist article which says "[study authors] are now looking at whether AI facial analysis can give lenders useful clues about a person’s propensity to repay loans. For people without access to credit, that could be a blessing."](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:6ofjbklfvptnupad4lxumblw/bafkreia3yctiqd7ejumpd6novxjpiycphtfkc3bdgd573jw37faqdl7o7m@jpeg)
November 6, 2025 at 5:59 PM
bro are you fucking kidding me
Reposted by James Downie
In a meeting her staff said we need to whip votes to pass the ACA. Someone asked who would do it.
Speaker Pelosi said "I will"
Someone said how many?
Speaker Pelosi said "all of them"
She got it passed.
Speaker Pelosi said "I will"
Someone said how many?
Speaker Pelosi said "all of them"
She got it passed.
November 6, 2025 at 3:20 PM
In a meeting her staff said we need to whip votes to pass the ACA. Someone asked who would do it.
Speaker Pelosi said "I will"
Someone said how many?
Speaker Pelosi said "all of them"
She got it passed.
Speaker Pelosi said "I will"
Someone said how many?
Speaker Pelosi said "all of them"
She got it passed.
This is more or less the deal that, just a couple days ago, a number of political reporters swore Democrats were definitely close to agreeing to.
It's pretty clear where that spin came from -- and who got played by it. www.politico.com/live-updates...
It's pretty clear where that spin came from -- and who got played by it. www.politico.com/live-updates...
November 6, 2025 at 9:29 PM
This is more or less the deal that, just a couple days ago, a number of political reporters swore Democrats were definitely close to agreeing to.
It's pretty clear where that spin came from -- and who got played by it. www.politico.com/live-updates...
It's pretty clear where that spin came from -- and who got played by it. www.politico.com/live-updates...
Sam Altman would like to clarify his CFO's "we do not want a government bailout" t-shirt.
November 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM
Sam Altman would like to clarify his CFO's "we do not want a government bailout" t-shirt.
Reposted by James Downie
I'm one of the four fired employees. I was a writer & producer at Bon Appétit for nearly five years, during which I helped organize our union and sat on our bargaining committee.
I am, to my knowledge, the only trans woman in our union and the only trans woman on editorial who doesn't work at Them
I am, to my knowledge, the only trans woman in our union and the only trans woman on editorial who doesn't work at Them
New: Conde Nast fired four employees who were among a group that confronted the company's head of human resources on Wednesday over the decision to fold Teen Vogue into Vogue/recent cuts. Employees who were fired included journalists from the New Yorker, Wired, and Bon Appétit.
November 6, 2025 at 6:32 PM
I'm one of the four fired employees. I was a writer & producer at Bon Appétit for nearly five years, during which I helped organize our union and sat on our bargaining committee.
I am, to my knowledge, the only trans woman in our union and the only trans woman on editorial who doesn't work at Them
I am, to my knowledge, the only trans woman in our union and the only trans woman on editorial who doesn't work at Them
Many such cases.
there are two wolves inside Hanania. one is a snob, the other a bigot. the fate of his soul depends on the snob defeating the bigot
The vibe I get from him is that he would like to be an intellectual (he is not successful) and is bothered by the awareness that his fellow conservatives are morons.
November 6, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Many such cases.
So depending on which estimate is correct, the average American adult will lose either 0.5 pound...or over 500 pounds.
Oz: We thought it was 125 million pounds. Our estimate is Americans will lose 135 billion pounds by the midterms
November 6, 2025 at 6:17 PM
So depending on which estimate is correct, the average American adult will lose either 0.5 pound...or over 500 pounds.
Reposted by James Downie
I was one of the four people who got canned.
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
November 6, 2025 at 6:02 PM
I was one of the four people who got canned.
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com
In the interim, you can subscribe to my newsletter, Straight From The Hut. No paywall, but feel free to choose the pay to support model. I'm not going anywhere — the show goes on, and I'll be back on MSNBC Saturday night. straightfromthehut.substack.com