Magdi Jacobs
@magdi.bsky.social
I write about politics, culture, & science.
Per NBC polling, Democrats and Republicans are essentially tied on the question of who would do better handling economy: 38-37. At this point in September, 2023, roughly a year before the 2024 election, Republicans had a 21 point edge. www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...
November 2, 2025 at 5:10 PM
Per NBC polling, Democrats and Republicans are essentially tied on the question of who would do better handling economy: 38-37. At this point in September, 2023, roughly a year before the 2024 election, Republicans had a 21 point edge. www.nbcnews.com/politics/ele...
Look at what Neera Tanden was publishing in 2020, a few months before she was nominated by Biden for OMB. People tanked her nomination. People payed *much more attention* to her nomination than they ever did to Vought's. Time to ask "why?" & whether or not this behavior is bad.
October 2, 2025 at 1:10 AM
Look at what Neera Tanden was publishing in 2020, a few months before she was nominated by Biden for OMB. People tanked her nomination. People payed *much more attention* to her nomination than they ever did to Vought's. Time to ask "why?" & whether or not this behavior is bad.
I feel like now is as good a time as ever to say that people on social media & in the news spent infinitely more time on Neera Tandem's nomination for OMB (2021) than they ever did for Russell Vought (2025). This difference, which is a pretty clear comparison, should tell us something.
October 2, 2025 at 1:03 AM
I feel like now is as good a time as ever to say that people on social media & in the news spent infinitely more time on Neera Tandem's nomination for OMB (2021) than they ever did for Russell Vought (2025). This difference, which is a pretty clear comparison, should tell us something.
Republicans are nervous about this. Keep the pressure on them.
October 1, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Republicans are nervous about this. Keep the pressure on them.
All within one week.
September 26, 2025 at 6:14 PM
All within one week.
Another thing the police officers said when they were drawing up the false charges was, "What's she going to do? Trump's coming." I will remind people that Trump has ceased many Civil Rights investigations into police. PA's AG office, like many other states, does not handle police misconduct.
September 24, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Another thing the police officers said when they were drawing up the false charges was, "What's she going to do? Trump's coming." I will remind people that Trump has ceased many Civil Rights investigations into police. PA's AG office, like many other states, does not handle police misconduct.
Just asking questions for dibble-dabbling purposes
September 24, 2025 at 12:10 AM
Just asking questions for dibble-dabbling purposes
Anyway, in case anyone is curious
SOUND-based naming:
🇬🇧 "Bumble" (buzz) 🇩🇪 "Hummel" (hum) 🇷🇺 шмель (Needs to be investigated)
🇸🇦 طَنّانة "ṭannāna" (buzzer)
APPEARANCE-based:
🇯🇵 マルハナバチ "round-nosed bee"
🇨🇳 大黄蜂 "big yellow wasp"
Then I don't even know how to summarize Tamil, lol. Have to go back to garden.
SOUND-based naming:
🇬🇧 "Bumble" (buzz) 🇩🇪 "Hummel" (hum) 🇷🇺 шмель (Needs to be investigated)
🇸🇦 طَنّانة "ṭannāna" (buzzer)
APPEARANCE-based:
🇯🇵 マルハナバチ "round-nosed bee"
🇨🇳 大黄蜂 "big yellow wasp"
Then I don't even know how to summarize Tamil, lol. Have to go back to garden.
September 22, 2025 at 8:11 PM
Anyway, in case anyone is curious
SOUND-based naming:
🇬🇧 "Bumble" (buzz) 🇩🇪 "Hummel" (hum) 🇷🇺 шмель (Needs to be investigated)
🇸🇦 طَنّانة "ṭannāna" (buzzer)
APPEARANCE-based:
🇯🇵 マルハナバチ "round-nosed bee"
🇨🇳 大黄蜂 "big yellow wasp"
Then I don't even know how to summarize Tamil, lol. Have to go back to garden.
SOUND-based naming:
🇬🇧 "Bumble" (buzz) 🇩🇪 "Hummel" (hum) 🇷🇺 шмель (Needs to be investigated)
🇸🇦 طَنّانة "ṭannāna" (buzzer)
APPEARANCE-based:
🇯🇵 マルハナバチ "round-nosed bee"
🇨🇳 大黄蜂 "big yellow wasp"
Then I don't even know how to summarize Tamil, lol. Have to go back to garden.
So then I started thinking about the bumblebee's name--whether it was 'ill-fitting' or not (I think not), which took me down the path of etymology & linguistic differences on the Bots, which then led me to start arguing w/ the Bots, which then circles back to "This is why I am bad at mindfulness."
September 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM
So then I started thinking about the bumblebee's name--whether it was 'ill-fitting' or not (I think not), which took me down the path of etymology & linguistic differences on the Bots, which then led me to start arguing w/ the Bots, which then circles back to "This is why I am bad at mindfulness."
What a perfect poem. Such a well-landed ending. Such great encapsulation of that intelligence & brutal/strategic movement corvids exhibit? When I watch the bees, I ask myself, "Could I ever capture a bumble bee in Fall as Uncle Tom did the Steller Jay?" I think, "Of course not. But I can still try."
September 22, 2025 at 7:39 PM
What a perfect poem. Such a well-landed ending. Such great encapsulation of that intelligence & brutal/strategic movement corvids exhibit? When I watch the bees, I ask myself, "Could I ever capture a bumble bee in Fall as Uncle Tom did the Steller Jay?" I think, "Of course not. But I can still try."
I have been simultaneously reading my godfather's poetry; he passed away this year, at 84 Tom Sexton. He was Poet Laureate of AK. When I watch the bumble bees, I try to capture them in my brain w/ the same precision, the same spirit, if not the poetic acumen, w/ which he captured so much of nature.
September 22, 2025 at 7:34 PM
I have been simultaneously reading my godfather's poetry; he passed away this year, at 84 Tom Sexton. He was Poet Laureate of AK. When I watch the bumble bees, I try to capture them in my brain w/ the same precision, the same spirit, if not the poetic acumen, w/ which he captured so much of nature.
Today is also the day of the Fall Equinox, when the celestial sun passes the celestial equator. Don't judge me for getting this incorrect; I had to correct the Chatbots, myself! I noticed there are many fewer bees in the garden than there were on Friday. I wonder how many will be out tomorrow?
September 22, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Today is also the day of the Fall Equinox, when the celestial sun passes the celestial equator. Don't judge me for getting this incorrect; I had to correct the Chatbots, myself! I noticed there are many fewer bees in the garden than there were on Friday. I wonder how many will be out tomorrow?
I've never been good at practicing "mindfullness," but I am trying. Watching the last bumble bees of the season in my mom's garden makes it easier. I observed one today with pollen sacks, a feature the others lacked. I am told this bee may have been a "very thorough queen preparing for winter."
September 22, 2025 at 7:00 PM
I've never been good at practicing "mindfullness," but I am trying. Watching the last bumble bees of the season in my mom's garden makes it easier. I observed one today with pollen sacks, a feature the others lacked. I am told this bee may have been a "very thorough queen preparing for winter."
I researched Catherine Parr the other day. Turns out she studied linguistics too. Very interesting historical figure.
September 8, 2025 at 5:24 PM
I researched Catherine Parr the other day. Turns out she studied linguistics too. Very interesting historical figure.
Here is something I posted on twitter two days ago. I mean it. There is so much beauty in the world. I suppose it required extreme trauma for me to see it. But it is everywhere.
September 8, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Here is something I posted on twitter two days ago. I mean it. There is so much beauty in the world. I suppose it required extreme trauma for me to see it. But it is everywhere.
Saw the DSA statement. Went to "DSALIberation's" page. This just doesn't sound like an American to me. But could be an American highly influenced by propaganda. Regardless of who it is: it's highly suspicious.
May 29, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Saw the DSA statement. Went to "DSALIberation's" page. This just doesn't sound like an American to me. But could be an American highly influenced by propaganda. Regardless of who it is: it's highly suspicious.
But there are some very pernicious dynamics unfolding on twitter right now, vis à vis the murder of the two embassy employees. A lot of it seems "coordinated," but I only have one mind & I don't always trust it. That's what it looks like to me. It also looks to be fomenting violence against Jews.
May 29, 2025 at 5:29 PM
But there are some very pernicious dynamics unfolding on twitter right now, vis à vis the murder of the two embassy employees. A lot of it seems "coordinated," but I only have one mind & I don't always trust it. That's what it looks like to me. It also looks to be fomenting violence against Jews.
Other extreme targets of bullying from 2019-2020:
-People who didn't endorse Bernie (Working Families Party)
-People who criticized Bernie's Health Plan (Culinary Union)
-Elizabeth Warren supporters, who were hit w/ "🐍" emojis all over twitter, "Warren is a snake."
-People who didn't endorse Bernie (Working Families Party)
-People who criticized Bernie's Health Plan (Culinary Union)
-Elizabeth Warren supporters, who were hit w/ "🐍" emojis all over twitter, "Warren is a snake."
May 27, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Other extreme targets of bullying from 2019-2020:
-People who didn't endorse Bernie (Working Families Party)
-People who criticized Bernie's Health Plan (Culinary Union)
-Elizabeth Warren supporters, who were hit w/ "🐍" emojis all over twitter, "Warren is a snake."
-People who didn't endorse Bernie (Working Families Party)
-People who criticized Bernie's Health Plan (Culinary Union)
-Elizabeth Warren supporters, who were hit w/ "🐍" emojis all over twitter, "Warren is a snake."
All of this is documented, about Bernie. This has nothing to do w/ ideology. Note, that in the past, I & other Berners begged him to change course to save "progressivism." Now, times have changed, & I am begging him to change course so we can defeat fascism.
May 27, 2025 at 4:10 PM
All of this is documented, about Bernie. This has nothing to do w/ ideology. Note, that in the past, I & other Berners begged him to change course to save "progressivism." Now, times have changed, & I am begging him to change course so we can defeat fascism.
We come to the present. Bernie goes on his "Stop Oligarchy Tour." I am firmly of the position that, to effectively fight fascism, we need "all hands on deck." From AOC to Liz Cheney. However, Bernie is getting criticized by other Dems for the tour. I step in to say, "Let's see if he's being helpful"
May 27, 2025 at 3:54 PM
We come to the present. Bernie goes on his "Stop Oligarchy Tour." I am firmly of the position that, to effectively fight fascism, we need "all hands on deck." From AOC to Liz Cheney. However, Bernie is getting criticized by other Dems for the tour. I step in to say, "Let's see if he's being helpful"
Articles were published about the bullying. Bernie, as he always has, denied it. Then it comes out in 2020 that Russia has, once again, thoroughly infiltrated Bernie's campaign & that his supporters' behavior facilitates that effect. Bernie does what Bernie does: hand-waves away.
May 27, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Articles were published about the bullying. Bernie, as he always has, denied it. Then it comes out in 2020 that Russia has, once again, thoroughly infiltrated Bernie's campaign & that his supporters' behavior facilitates that effect. Bernie does what Bernie does: hand-waves away.
It is always an interaction between the organic & the inorganic. Dems have always been infighters. Social media ups the ante: Large aspects of your social identity are totally defined not just by political affiliation, but also loyalty to individual political figures. Then Russia exploits this.
May 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
It is always an interaction between the organic & the inorganic. Dems have always been infighters. Social media ups the ante: Large aspects of your social identity are totally defined not just by political affiliation, but also loyalty to individual political figures. Then Russia exploits this.
In any case: No one is immune to the effects of social media. I believe I can say: things are getting worse. We need to make radical changes to our behavior. One place to start would be with this book, written by @roberttalisse.bsky.social, the thesis of which, again, I initially treated like poison
May 26, 2025 at 5:10 PM
In any case: No one is immune to the effects of social media. I believe I can say: things are getting worse. We need to make radical changes to our behavior. One place to start would be with this book, written by @roberttalisse.bsky.social, the thesis of which, again, I initially treated like poison
It was a year later that I actually sat down w/ "OverDoing" & reconsidered it. I thought:"This sounds like primary dynamics." Like-minded people sorting into groups, out-doing each other w/ RTs, ratios, etc. That's how I ended up seething on my couch, writing screeds about how much I hated this man
May 26, 2025 at 5:08 PM
It was a year later that I actually sat down w/ "OverDoing" & reconsidered it. I thought:"This sounds like primary dynamics." Like-minded people sorting into groups, out-doing each other w/ RTs, ratios, etc. That's how I ended up seething on my couch, writing screeds about how much I hated this man
And I started to hate this guy. Pete Buttigieg. And I was socially rewarded for my hatred. And I rewarded others for their hatred. Of Pete Buttigieg. Because I wasn't alone. A lot of people really hated this guy. What a bizarre turn of events, in retrospect.
May 26, 2025 at 4:54 PM
And I started to hate this guy. Pete Buttigieg. And I was socially rewarded for my hatred. And I rewarded others for their hatred. Of Pete Buttigieg. Because I wasn't alone. A lot of people really hated this guy. What a bizarre turn of events, in retrospect.