Matthew Budman, book guy
@matthewbudman.bsky.social
News junkie, editor, faculty spouse, author of “Book Collecting Now.”
"The episode underscores the haphazard ways consequential policies are sometimes brought before the president, and how Trump’s govern-by-whim nature can backfire." Not only no adults in the room—no adults even allowed *near* the room.
POLITICO: “.. The White House was blindsided by the idea, according to two people familiar with the situation .. and is now dealing with a furious backlash from conservative allies, business leaders and lawmakers.” 🤡
@politico.com $XHB
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
@politico.com $XHB
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
November 10, 2025 at 11:46 PM
"The episode underscores the haphazard ways consequential policies are sometimes brought before the president, and how Trump’s govern-by-whim nature can backfire." Not only no adults in the room—no adults even allowed *near* the room.
No wonder it seems as though the same couple of DOJ people sign every filing: Everyone there has quit or been fired. And Trump wanted to legalize white-collar crime anyway, but it helps that there's no one left to prosecute criminals—federally, anyway. Can—will—state prosecutors step in? (gift link)
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 6:02 PM
No wonder it seems as though the same couple of DOJ people sign every filing: Everyone there has quit or been fired. And Trump wanted to legalize white-collar crime anyway, but it helps that there's no one left to prosecute criminals—federally, anyway. Can—will—state prosecutors step in? (gift link)
Reposted by Matthew Budman, book guy
This is what's so aggravating — yes, it was not working in extracting a policy concession but it was working in *driving down trump's numbers and provoking GOP infighting* which is what's important if you take Dem rhetoric about the perils of MAGA remotely seriously.
weirdly honest messaging from the breakaway mod/institutionalist leaders who blew up the party strategy
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
they're explicitly giving up. "It wasn't working so we quit" that's the message
November 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
This is what's so aggravating — yes, it was not working in extracting a policy concession but it was working in *driving down trump's numbers and provoking GOP infighting* which is what's important if you take Dem rhetoric about the perils of MAGA remotely seriously.
Americans HATE this guy
There were loud boos from some spectators in the stands when Trump was shown on the videoboard late in the first half — standing in a suite with House Speaker Mike Johnson — and again when the president was introduced by the stadium announcer at halftime.
Donald Trump booed as the 1st sitting US president at a regular-season NFL game since Carter in 1978
President Donald Trump has become the first sitting president in nearly a half-century at a regular-season NFL game.
apnews.com
November 10, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Americans HATE this guy
Hard to imagine actual indictments. "But merely creating an aura of criminality around Trump foes by celebrating incremental prosecutorial moves is a trophy in itself to die-hard Trump supporters." Good read from @glennthrush.bsky.social @alanfeuer.bsky.social @charliesavage.bsky.social. (gift link)
Trump Loyalists Push ‘Grand Conspiracy’ as New Subpoenas Land
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Hard to imagine actual indictments. "But merely creating an aura of criminality around Trump foes by celebrating incremental prosecutorial moves is a trophy in itself to die-hard Trump supporters." Good read from @glennthrush.bsky.social @alanfeuer.bsky.social @charliesavage.bsky.social. (gift link)
He's going full Marie Antoinette. Has no one told him what happened next?
Trump threw another lavish party as his DOJ asked the Supreme Court to stop it from being forced to pay food stamps for 40 million Americans.
Yes, this is *different* from last week’s Gatsby party. www.thedailybeast.com/trump-hosts-...
Yes, this is *different* from last week’s Gatsby party. www.thedailybeast.com/trump-hosts-...
Trump Throws Decadent Opera and Truffles Rager at Mar-a-Lago
The president’s ragers show no sign of slowing down even amid the government shutdown.
www.thedailybeast.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:08 PM
He's going full Marie Antoinette. Has no one told him what happened next?
It’s wild: He *knows* he’s on camera. He insists on being at the center of every frame. He’s hyper-aware of critics poking fun at his inability to stay awake. And he *still* nods off.
During an event on Thursday, Donald Trump seemed to repeatedly struggle to keep his eyes open.
A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent roughly 20 minutes battling to keep his eyes open.
New video w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
A Washington Post analysis of multiple video feeds found that Trump spent roughly 20 minutes battling to keep his eyes open.
New video w/ @ddiamond.bsky.social
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
November 8, 2025 at 6:18 PM
It’s wild: He *knows* he’s on camera. He insists on being at the center of every frame. He’s hyper-aware of critics poking fun at his inability to stay awake. And he *still* nods off.
Democrats "won hundreds of lower-profile state & local contests—often swamping Republican incumbents with overwhelming turnout, suggesting that voters’ desire to send a message opposing President Donald Trump was deep & wide." (gift link)
The top priority for '26: make Trump even more unpopular.
The top priority for '26: make Trump even more unpopular.
Democrats swept elections far beyond the big races in referendum on Trump
Beyond the big governors and New York mayor contests, Democrats on Tuesday flipped city councils, school boards and county commissions.
wapo.st
November 8, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Democrats "won hundreds of lower-profile state & local contests—often swamping Republican incumbents with overwhelming turnout, suggesting that voters’ desire to send a message opposing President Donald Trump was deep & wide." (gift link)
The top priority for '26: make Trump even more unpopular.
The top priority for '26: make Trump even more unpopular.
I love the political discussions here! And great that there's now sports. But I do miss the pop-culture talk on Old Twitter. I can't be the only one who wants to read a bunch of takes on whatever intriguing show just debuted. What do people think of PLUR1BUS so far??
Pluribus — Official Trailer | Apple TV
YouTube video by Apple TV
youtu.be
November 8, 2025 at 4:26 AM
I love the political discussions here! And great that there's now sports. But I do miss the pop-culture talk on Old Twitter. I can't be the only one who wants to read a bunch of takes on whatever intriguing show just debuted. What do people think of PLUR1BUS so far??
Post a nonreligious image you think of as holy
November 8, 2025 at 2:25 AM
Post a nonreligious image you think of as holy
Reposted by Matthew Budman, book guy
New York millionaires: threatening to flee the city since 2009
November 7, 2025 at 9:36 PM
New York millionaires: threatening to flee the city since 2009
Reposted by Matthew Budman, book guy
Rudy Giuliani convened a press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping five years ago today. Good times. No, really: The times are unlikely to *ever* get any better than this.
November 7, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Rudy Giuliani convened a press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping five years ago today. Good times. No, really: The times are unlikely to *ever* get any better than this.
Via @roncharles.bsky.social, learned that USPS will be debuting a Phillis Wheatley stamp in January! Hoping Stephen Miller doesn't catch a glimpse before then and draft tweets for his boss railing against the whole notion of Black heritage #BookSky about.usps.com/newsroom/loc...
November 7, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Via @roncharles.bsky.social, learned that USPS will be debuting a Phillis Wheatley stamp in January! Hoping Stephen Miller doesn't catch a glimpse before then and draft tweets for his boss railing against the whole notion of Black heritage #BookSky about.usps.com/newsroom/loc...
Rudy Giuliani convened a press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping five years ago today. Good times. No, really: The times are unlikely to *ever* get any better than this.
November 7, 2025 at 1:31 PM
Rudy Giuliani convened a press conference at Four Seasons Total Landscaping five years ago today. Good times. No, really: The times are unlikely to *ever* get any better than this.
Five years ago today. Update: Trump and his fans never got past the denial stage.
'Give People Time!' CNN's Rick Santorum Pleads for Everyone to Let Trump and His Fans Work Out Their Feelings About Losing
Rick Santorum issued an unironic plea for everyone to give President Donald Trump and his supporters time and space to work through the emotional experience of losing the presidency to former Vice Pre...
www.mediaite.com
November 6, 2025 at 9:32 PM
Five years ago today. Update: Trump and his fans never got past the denial stage.
Reposted by Matthew Budman, book guy
*sips tea*
virginiamercury.com/2025/11/05/d...
virginiamercury.com/2025/11/05/d...
November 6, 2025 at 2:58 AM
*sips tea*
virginiamercury.com/2025/11/05/d...
virginiamercury.com/2025/11/05/d...
What a predicament!
November 6, 2025 at 1:23 AM
What a predicament!
Yes please
This is how the Trump coalition unravels
The 2025 elections illuminate a nightmare scenario for the Republican Party.
www.vox.com
November 5, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Yes please
The Fox News home page, acknowledging that its readers will find Republican losses "disappointing." (Spoiler: Neither of the two possible reasons is that Americans hate Trump.)
November 5, 2025 at 2:17 PM
The Fox News home page, acknowledging that its readers will find Republican losses "disappointing." (Spoiler: Neither of the two possible reasons is that Americans hate Trump.)
Woke up, checked @politico.com, last night was no dream
Democrats didn’t just rebound. They dominated.
"This is a foreshadow of what we're going to see next year," said one strategist.
www.politico.com
November 5, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Woke up, checked @politico.com, last night was no dream
Not a surprise, but congrats to @marklevinenyc.bsky.social, New York's next comptroller! www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
November 5, 2025 at 2:46 AM
Not a surprise, but congrats to @marklevinenyc.bsky.social, New York's next comptroller! www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
I hope it physically pained Sean to read this aloud
November 5, 2025 at 2:29 AM
I hope it physically pained Sean to read this aloud
Asylum released THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS fifty years ago today! The sequencing is off-putting, beginning with a nostalgic pop track and an experimental throwaway. But after that: seven #JoniMitchell gems, evocative and lyrical, beautifully written, arranged, and sung. In my all-time top ten LPs.
Joni Mitchell - Don't Interrupt The Sorrow
YouTube video by Christian Davies
youtu.be
November 4, 2025 at 8:29 PM
Asylum released THE HISSING OF SUMMER LAWNS fifty years ago today! The sequencing is off-putting, beginning with a nostalgic pop track and an experimental throwaway. But after that: seven #JoniMitchell gems, evocative and lyrical, beautifully written, arranged, and sung. In my all-time top ten LPs.
Nearly two-thirds of Americans hate Donald Trump, but he still has the power to make life difficult for companies & universities, so no surprise that they're terrified of him no matter his approval ratings. I didn't expect them to begin canceling A-listers such as @anandwrites.bsky.social, though.
November 4, 2025 at 7:57 PM
Nearly two-thirds of Americans hate Donald Trump, but he still has the power to make life difficult for companies & universities, so no surprise that they're terrified of him no matter his approval ratings. I didn't expect them to begin canceling A-listers such as @anandwrites.bsky.social, though.
Reposted by Matthew Budman, book guy
VOTE TODAY!!! This is so thrilling, the possibilities!! This feels like my city and my country and it makes me proud.
Today is only the beginning.
Our time has come, New York. Our time is now.
Our time has come, New York. Our time is now.
Today is only the beginning.
YouTube video by Zohran Mamdani for NYC
www.youtube.com
November 4, 2025 at 6:13 PM
VOTE TODAY!!! This is so thrilling, the possibilities!! This feels like my city and my country and it makes me proud.