Kiegan Irish
@kieganirish.bsky.social
Settler living in unceded and unsurrendered Anishinaabe territory. Striving for decolonization and collective liberation. A better world is possible.
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
I had some thoughts about people saying that "debate me bro" trolling is somehow the height of democratic discourse.
The “Debate Me Bro” Grift: How Trolls Weaponized The Marketplace Of Ideas
Among the attempts to create hagiographic eulogies of Charlie Kirk, I’ve seen more than a few people suggest that Kirk should be respected for being willing to talk to “those who disagree with him” as a sign that he was…
Among the attempts to create hagiographic eulogies of Charlie Kirk, I’ve seen more than a few people suggest that Kirk should be respected for being willing to talk to “those who disagree with him” as a sign that he was…
The “Debate Me Bro” Grift: How Trolls Weaponized The Marketplace Of Ideas
Among the attempts to create hagiographic eulogies of Charlie Kirk, I’ve seen more than a few people suggest that Kirk should be respected for being willing to talk to “those who disagree with him” as a sign that he was engaging in good faith. Perhaps the perfect example of this is Ezra Klein’s silly eulogy claiming that Kirk was “
www.techdirt.com
September 17, 2025 at 4:52 PM
I had some thoughts about people saying that "debate me bro" trolling is somehow the height of democratic discourse.
This was obvious from the beginning but the kirk shooter will turn out to be an ersatz right winger and the the right’s vitriol about the left causing the shooting—literally coming from the president himself—will continue totally unmoored from factual reality
September 12, 2025 at 1:41 PM
This was obvious from the beginning but the kirk shooter will turn out to be an ersatz right winger and the the right’s vitriol about the left causing the shooting—literally coming from the president himself—will continue totally unmoored from factual reality
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
if i was pitching a fast casual dining concept with indian flavors called "Dosa A-Go-Go" and peter thiel specifically came up to me going i'm into Dosa-A-Go-Go, Dosa-A-Go-Go could be huge, im in on Dosa-A-Go-Go i'd kinda wonder if there was a sinister angle to Dosa-A-Go-Go i hadn't considered before
September 5, 2025 at 6:48 PM
if i was pitching a fast casual dining concept with indian flavors called "Dosa A-Go-Go" and peter thiel specifically came up to me going i'm into Dosa-A-Go-Go, Dosa-A-Go-Go could be huge, im in on Dosa-A-Go-Go i'd kinda wonder if there was a sinister angle to Dosa-A-Go-Go i hadn't considered before
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
There have been a ton of 20th anniversary "best of" podcast lists lately, and it has started to feel a bit like an obituary for an industry.
[gift link] defector.com/the-future-o...
[gift link] defector.com/the-future-o...
The Future Of Podcasting Is Here, And It Sucks | Defector
This week, Left Of Dial published its Essential Listening Poll, a compilation of the 100 best podcasts of all time, according to industry creators, writers, and scholars (Disclosure: I was invited to ...
defector.com
August 21, 2025 at 1:59 PM
There have been a ton of 20th anniversary "best of" podcast lists lately, and it has started to feel a bit like an obituary for an industry.
[gift link] defector.com/the-future-o...
[gift link] defector.com/the-future-o...
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
CUPE’s National President Mark Hancock – YYZ – August 16th 2025
August 17, 2025 at 3:07 PM
CUPE’s National President Mark Hancock – YYZ – August 16th 2025
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
my new ai device will sit in a beer garden that backs onto a small river and drink three to five pints on a sunny late summer afternoon for you, leaving you free for more meetings and business calls
July 26, 2025 at 4:17 PM
my new ai device will sit in a beer garden that backs onto a small river and drink three to five pints on a sunny late summer afternoon for you, leaving you free for more meetings and business calls
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
oh man so glad we cancelled that digital sales tax
July 11, 2025 at 12:43 AM
oh man so glad we cancelled that digital sales tax
This dynamic also very clearly describes what’s happening with the Canadian Liberals. They are adopting a values-free policy of appeasement towards the far right. This is visible in Carney’s policy on immigration, extractive industry, public service spending, etc. etc.
"Because reactionary centrists do not really have values, they struggle to understand the motivations of those who do."
www.thebulwark.com/p/when-moder...
www.thebulwark.com/p/when-moder...
When Moderation Becomes Appeasement
If your chief goal is to find a middle ground with the far right on social issues, you’ll end up condoning its values—just ask Keir Starmer.
www.thebulwark.com
July 10, 2025 at 3:30 PM
This dynamic also very clearly describes what’s happening with the Canadian Liberals. They are adopting a values-free policy of appeasement towards the far right. This is visible in Carney’s policy on immigration, extractive industry, public service spending, etc. etc.
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
The Canadian government is going in on AI to make way for cuts to the federal public service. My bet is 18 months from now someone is going to get served by "MechaHitler" at a Service Canada and the the whole thing is going to end up with resignations and a Royal Commission.
July 10, 2025 at 2:29 PM
The Canadian government is going in on AI to make way for cuts to the federal public service. My bet is 18 months from now someone is going to get served by "MechaHitler" at a Service Canada and the the whole thing is going to end up with resignations and a Royal Commission.
What’s so annoying about this negotiation process is that it’s the thing that won Carney his mandate. He promised to play hardball with Trump and chart an alternate political future and won an election on that promise.
This is the crux of Canada's problem. Anything short of absorption/annexation can't solve it because the conditions that made "harmony," to use Mitchell Sharp's word from 1972, possible in Can-US relations no longer exist. Negotiations and the promise of an agreement offer a false sense of security.
Businesses want stability. There is none, even if Carney gets some kind of agreement.
July 9, 2025 at 5:16 PM
What’s so annoying about this negotiation process is that it’s the thing that won Carney his mandate. He promised to play hardball with Trump and chart an alternate political future and won an election on that promise.
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
Y’all. AI is going to fuck us more than any other thing has collectively fucked the west. It will fuck us
👉🏾 accelerates climate change
👉🏾 labour rights will be threatened
👉🏾 surveillance/privacy
👉🏾 policing
👉🏾 increase discrimination at scale
👉🏾 hiring/jobs
👉🏾 threatens our water supply
👉🏾 war games
👉🏾 accelerates climate change
👉🏾 labour rights will be threatened
👉🏾 surveillance/privacy
👉🏾 policing
👉🏾 increase discrimination at scale
👉🏾 hiring/jobs
👉🏾 threatens our water supply
👉🏾 war games
July 9, 2025 at 6:48 AM
Y’all. AI is going to fuck us more than any other thing has collectively fucked the west. It will fuck us
👉🏾 accelerates climate change
👉🏾 labour rights will be threatened
👉🏾 surveillance/privacy
👉🏾 policing
👉🏾 increase discrimination at scale
👉🏾 hiring/jobs
👉🏾 threatens our water supply
👉🏾 war games
👉🏾 accelerates climate change
👉🏾 labour rights will be threatened
👉🏾 surveillance/privacy
👉🏾 policing
👉🏾 increase discrimination at scale
👉🏾 hiring/jobs
👉🏾 threatens our water supply
👉🏾 war games
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
New from me, on the disconnect between Mark Carney’s nationalist rhetoric and what his actual policies will deliver: Deeper Canadian integration with an increasingly authoritarian and fascist US.
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
Opinion: The U.S. is not our friend any more. Has anyone told Mark Carney?
Why is the Prime Minister still trying to negotiate a trade and security agreement with a capricious authoritarian?
www.theglobeandmail.com
July 9, 2025 at 10:38 AM
New from me, on the disconnect between Mark Carney’s nationalist rhetoric and what his actual policies will deliver: Deeper Canadian integration with an increasingly authoritarian and fascist US.
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
www.theglobeandmail.com/business/com...
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
Mark Carney’s decision to rescind Canada’s digital services tax is a cowardly move that shows Trump he can be pressured into making trade concessions.
It also shows how much Carney is willing to give into corporate demands, and particular those of the tech industry.
It also shows how much Carney is willing to give into corporate demands, and particular those of the tech industry.
Mark Carney caves to Trump and the tech industry
Canada’s decision to rescind its digital services tax shows it’s “elbows down” in US trade talks
www.disconnect.blog
June 30, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Mark Carney’s decision to rescind Canada’s digital services tax is a cowardly move that shows Trump he can be pressured into making trade concessions.
It also shows how much Carney is willing to give into corporate demands, and particular those of the tech industry.
It also shows how much Carney is willing to give into corporate demands, and particular those of the tech industry.
Carney has folded on every whim from Trump despite constantly shifting goalposts yet we’re supposed to pretend this is the accomplished negotiator at work. We’ve got draconian border policies, new drug enforcement, now scrapping DST.
June 30, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Carney has folded on every whim from Trump despite constantly shifting goalposts yet we’re supposed to pretend this is the accomplished negotiator at work. We’ve got draconian border policies, new drug enforcement, now scrapping DST.
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
Shout out to the dozens of old women who manage to hold together all historically progressive social movements in this state
June 15, 2025 at 3:46 AM
Shout out to the dozens of old women who manage to hold together all historically progressive social movements in this state
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
Thousands of Christians are being rounded up and deported by the U.S. government, but they’re not cottagecore tradmoms or their homeschooled goat milk enthusiasts, so these guys are fine with it. Actually, they’re thrilled.
June 15, 2025 at 2:07 PM
Thousands of Christians are being rounded up and deported by the U.S. government, but they’re not cottagecore tradmoms or their homeschooled goat milk enthusiasts, so these guys are fine with it. Actually, they’re thrilled.
Reposted by Kiegan Irish
Trying to imagine the weeks-long, career-ending meltdown if this is how any pro-choice politician had responded to the "killing babies" accusation.
GOP Sen. Joni Ernst responds to voters saying that cutting Medicaid will kill them: “Well, we all are going to die.”
May 30, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Trying to imagine the weeks-long, career-ending meltdown if this is how any pro-choice politician had responded to the "killing babies" accusation.
I am reminded of Plato’s discussion in the Euthypro that the democratic politician isn’t necessarily the greatest statesman, but is the greatest hunter. They chase after electoral victory. Once they attain it, can they govern?
January 16, 2025 at 3:04 AM
I am reminded of Plato’s discussion in the Euthypro that the democratic politician isn’t necessarily the greatest statesman, but is the greatest hunter. They chase after electoral victory. Once they attain it, can they govern?
Something to note about the Zuckerberg announcement that meta will stop moderation is his use of the term “mainstream”. He doesn’t want to censor mainstream political discourse. Tacitly admitting that the mainstream media right wingers rail against has been replaced by rw propaganda outlets.
January 10, 2025 at 11:16 PM
Something to note about the Zuckerberg announcement that meta will stop moderation is his use of the term “mainstream”. He doesn’t want to censor mainstream political discourse. Tacitly admitting that the mainstream media right wingers rail against has been replaced by rw propaganda outlets.
The post-war settlement in the 20th C is proving to be the aberration in the long history of capitalism. Last vestiges of welfare state policy are being jettisoned in western countries. 21st C like the 19th characterized by war, colonial violence, absolute wealth and destitute poverty.
January 3, 2025 at 3:50 PM
The post-war settlement in the 20th C is proving to be the aberration in the long history of capitalism. Last vestiges of welfare state policy are being jettisoned in western countries. 21st C like the 19th characterized by war, colonial violence, absolute wealth and destitute poverty.
“This song is going on my drunk driving playlist”
December 27, 2024 at 4:11 AM
“This song is going on my drunk driving playlist”
I think one thing most dystopian sci-fi gets wrong is that it portrays future cities as dense and walkable.
December 3, 2024 at 2:20 PM
I think one thing most dystopian sci-fi gets wrong is that it portrays future cities as dense and walkable.
The liberal left has historically been much more committed to institutional media and its role in democracy. That’s just not a tenable position at this stage and it has left them with some really bad reflexes when it comes to the contemporary media landscape.
The handwringing lectures about how the left has no choice but to stay on Twitter are even more ridiculous when you remember that the far right used a series of alternative media — from direct mail to talk radio to Fox News to Breitbart to Gab, Parler and Truth Social — as their path to victory.
December 1, 2024 at 6:06 PM
The liberal left has historically been much more committed to institutional media and its role in democracy. That’s just not a tenable position at this stage and it has left them with some really bad reflexes when it comes to the contemporary media landscape.