Megan McArdle
@mcmegan.bsky.social
Columnist, Bullmastiff Afficionado, Avid collector of kitchen gadgets
Reposted by Megan McArdle
Hello BlueSky! Here is something new many of you will hate. I’m doing a new podcast with Josh Barro and Megan McCardle about how centrism is good. www.centralairpodcast.com/p/welcome-to...
October 16, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Hello BlueSky! Here is something new many of you will hate. I’m doing a new podcast with Josh Barro and Megan McCardle about how centrism is good. www.centralairpodcast.com/p/welcome-to...
Reposted by Megan McArdle
It is an almost absurdly simple observation, but a great many pathologies in military policy come from the tendency to reason from values which were in the past or are merely thought to be now, connected to victory, rather than reasoning *from victory* itself as a goal.
October 7, 2025 at 3:55 AM
It is an almost absurdly simple observation, but a great many pathologies in military policy come from the tendency to reason from values which were in the past or are merely thought to be now, connected to victory, rather than reasoning *from victory* itself as a goal.
Reposted by Megan McArdle
All legal nonsense aside about the supposed state of armed conflict between the U.S. and Venezuelan gangs, what "I wish to emphasize is that there is a word for killings outside of armed conflict for which there is no domestic legal authority. That word is murder." [@benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org]
The Situation: Murder She Wrote
There's a word for what they're doing.
www.lawfaremedia.org
October 5, 2025 at 1:26 AM
All legal nonsense aside about the supposed state of armed conflict between the U.S. and Venezuelan gangs, what "I wish to emphasize is that there is a word for killings outside of armed conflict for which there is no domestic legal authority. That word is murder." [@benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org]
Reposted by Megan McArdle
Breaking News: President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military should use U.S. cities as “training grounds” at an unusual meeting focused on culture wars. It was unclear why they needed to gather senior military leaders from overseas to tell them this face to face.
Live Updates: Trump Addresses Rare Military Gathering as Government Shutdown Looms
nyti.ms
September 30, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Breaking News: President Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the military should use U.S. cities as “training grounds” at an unusual meeting focused on culture wars. It was unclear why they needed to gather senior military leaders from overseas to tell them this face to face.
The good news is that it seems like they’re overpaying
FT: Several people said they expected the transaction to go through fairly easily.
“.. What regulator is going to say no to the president’s son-in-law?" 🤡
@financialtimes.com $EA
www.ft.com/content/61ce...
“.. What regulator is going to say no to the president’s son-in-law?" 🤡
@financialtimes.com $EA
www.ft.com/content/61ce...
How Jared Kushner brokered the $55bn takeover of Electronic Arts
Trump’s son-in-law used deep ties in Saudi Arabia to help pull off the largest buyout
www.ft.com
September 30, 2025 at 12:02 PM
The good news is that it seems like they’re overpaying
Reposted by Megan McArdle
"You need broad and impartial principles that equally apply to everyone, and are equally enforced by everyone, even against their own," @mcmegan.bsky.social writes. https://wapo.st/4nG1ca6
Opinion | Charlie Kirk’s death reveals heroes — and hypocrites
Conservatives and liberals are undermining core principles of free speech.
wapo.st
September 25, 2025 at 2:32 AM
"You need broad and impartial principles that equally apply to everyone, and are equally enforced by everyone, even against their own," @mcmegan.bsky.social writes. https://wapo.st/4nG1ca6
Just throwing this out there for anyone who was confused. I can't prove that ABC yanked Kimmel off the air because of government pressure. But that doesn't matter, because what I do know is that pressure was applied, outrageously, abusively, and unconstitutionally. x.com/asymmetricin...
Megan McArdle on X: "Since this has been widely misinterpreted on Bluesky, by people who haven't read the rest of my Twitter feed on this subject, let me be crystal clear: I was trying to rebut the argument that "Well, these shows aren't doing so well anyway, who can say why he was taken off air"," / X
Since this has been widely misinterpreted on Bluesky, by people who haven't read the rest of my Twitter feed on this subject, let me be crystal clear: I was trying to rebut the argument that "Well, these shows aren't doing so well anyway, who can say why he was taken off air",
x.com
September 19, 2025 at 4:55 PM
Just throwing this out there for anyone who was confused. I can't prove that ABC yanked Kimmel off the air because of government pressure. But that doesn't matter, because what I do know is that pressure was applied, outrageously, abusively, and unconstitutionally. x.com/asymmetricin...
Reposted by Megan McArdle
Today's decision being heavily criticized by Past Brendan Carr
September 18, 2025 at 2:59 AM
Today's decision being heavily criticized by Past Brendan Carr
Reposted by Megan McArdle
This, from 2021, by @kathapollitt.bsky.social, strikes me as deeply on point. www.dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
September 18, 2025 at 2:35 PM
This, from 2021, by @kathapollitt.bsky.social, strikes me as deeply on point. www.dissentmagazine.org/article/the-...
Reposted by Megan McArdle
I think people would be extremely happy to accept the plain meaning of his words if they’d be clearly right-wing, but since they’re somewhat left-coded, those same people have retreated to arguing that on the internet everyone is a trickster elf who speaks in riddles all the time
You're being purposefully obtuse for someone who's Extremely Online.
September 15, 2025 at 10:30 PM
I think people would be extremely happy to accept the plain meaning of his words if they’d be clearly right-wing, but since they’re somewhat left-coded, those same people have retreated to arguing that on the internet everyone is a trickster elf who speaks in riddles all the time
Reposted by Megan McArdle
If you are a Free Speech Warrior angrily demanding the firing of anyone who criticizes both Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the views he expressed, you embody the very “cancel culture” that you pretended to decry—but which you always planned to employ against your own enemies.
September 15, 2025 at 2:48 PM
If you are a Free Speech Warrior angrily demanding the firing of anyone who criticizes both Charlie Kirk’s assassination and the views he expressed, you embody the very “cancel culture” that you pretended to decry—but which you always planned to employ against your own enemies.
Reposted by Megan McArdle
Starting a podcast aimed at tiny dogs called “Your Ancestors Were Wolves.”
September 13, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Starting a podcast aimed at tiny dogs called “Your Ancestors Were Wolves.”
Reposted by Megan McArdle
A survey of NFL players citing mental and physical decline raises the ethical dilemma of being a fan, @mcmegan.bsky.social writes. https://wapo.st/4pgvTV1
Opinion | The uncomfortable truth about watching football
Survey of NFL players citing mental and physical decline raises the dilemma of being a fan.
wapo.st
September 8, 2025 at 1:44 AM
A survey of NFL players citing mental and physical decline raises the ethical dilemma of being a fan, @mcmegan.bsky.social writes. https://wapo.st/4pgvTV1
Reposted by Megan McArdle
An entire government department has been derailed from its extremely valuable work and is now dedicated to validating the risible delusions of a single crackpot.
WSJ reports RFK Jr has instructed HHS to link autism with Tylenol use during pregnancy and folate deficiency.
Exclusive | RFK Jr., HHS to Link Autism to Tylenol Use in Pregnancy and Folate Deficiencies
Kennedy’s autism report, touted by Trump, will suggest that using the pain reliever during pregnancy may be linked to the developmental disorder.
www.wsj.com
September 5, 2025 at 5:46 PM
An entire government department has been derailed from its extremely valuable work and is now dedicated to validating the risible delusions of a single crackpot.
I wrote about losing your parents, and what we can do for them when there's nothing left to be done. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Both my parents died. This letter explains how I kept going.
I lost my mother and father in a little over a year. It will be brutal, but you will endure.
www.washingtonpost.com
September 2, 2025 at 4:27 PM
I wrote about losing your parents, and what we can do for them when there's nothing left to be done. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Megan McArdle
"Those who believe in the value of neutral institutions must do everything they can now to protect the rule of law — and I’m afraid that doesn’t mean condemning just Trump."
The latest from @mcmegan.bsky.social:
The latest from @mcmegan.bsky.social:
Opinion | When the rule of law becomes rule of lawfare
Friday’s Bolton raid and the rebuke of Trump’s $500 million fine show what happens when justice is not impartial.
wapo.st
August 26, 2025 at 10:20 AM
"Those who believe in the value of neutral institutions must do everything they can now to protect the rule of law — and I’m afraid that doesn’t mean condemning just Trump."
The latest from @mcmegan.bsky.social:
The latest from @mcmegan.bsky.social:
Americans have a right to know what their government is doing. Law enforcement needs to ditch the masks. wapo.st/4oClJgV
Opinion | Masks off, please
Federal officers intimidate D.C. citizens by refusing to identify their agency or show their face.
wapo.st
August 19, 2025 at 1:24 PM
Americans have a right to know what their government is doing. Law enforcement needs to ditch the masks. wapo.st/4oClJgV
I don't understand how the LA Times union thinks a strike will end well. Can someone help me out? What's the plan?
August 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
I don't understand how the LA Times union thinks a strike will end well. Can someone help me out? What's the plan?
Reposted by Megan McArdle
"Is it justified, or just political theater?"
Robert Gebelhoff, Jason Willick and @mcmegan.bsky.social discuss: wapo.st/4ftv8mK
Robert Gebelhoff, Jason Willick and @mcmegan.bsky.social discuss: wapo.st/4ftv8mK
Opinion | What does Trump’s takeover mean for D.C.?
Three writers discuss Trump’s deployment of the National Guard to combat crime in the capital city.
wapo.st
August 11, 2025 at 8:14 PM
"Is it justified, or just political theater?"
Robert Gebelhoff, Jason Willick and @mcmegan.bsky.social discuss: wapo.st/4ftv8mK
Robert Gebelhoff, Jason Willick and @mcmegan.bsky.social discuss: wapo.st/4ftv8mK
Firing the head of the BLS is not only destructive; it's stupid. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Opinion | Trump should heed, not hide, the jobs numbers
Firing the Bureau of Labor Statistics commissioner won’t improve the U.S. economy.
www.washingtonpost.com
August 2, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Firing the head of the BLS is not only destructive; it's stupid. www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
Reposted by Megan McArdle
Monthly reminder: Many people have a book in them, but it takes a special kind of freak to leave the Land of Laziness, cross the Plains of Procrastination and Insecurity Mountain, find the Blade of No One Made You Do This, and use it to cut your chest open and yank that book out.
August 1, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Monthly reminder: Many people have a book in them, but it takes a special kind of freak to leave the Land of Laziness, cross the Plains of Procrastination and Insecurity Mountain, find the Blade of No One Made You Do This, and use it to cut your chest open and yank that book out.
Surprising number of people interpreting this as an endorsement of Trump policies rather than a prediction, even though I lay out many reasons that Trump's actions on tariffs and brutal immigration raids are bad.
"For good and, often, ill, the Trump revolution is probably here to stay," @mcmegan.bsky.social writes.
Opinion | Trump’s policies are here to stay
America has demonstrated a powerful status quo bias.
wapo.st
August 1, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Surprising number of people interpreting this as an endorsement of Trump policies rather than a prediction, even though I lay out many reasons that Trump's actions on tariffs and brutal immigration raids are bad.
Reposted by Megan McArdle
Coming next week! I'm hosting a @cato.org online panel discussion with @davedaley.bsky.social, @mcmegan.bsky.social and John Ketcham (Manhattan Institute) on lessons of the NYC mayoral primary for ranked choice voting and other election reforms. It's Wed. Aug. 6 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Register here: /1
Ranked Choice, Election Reform, and the New York City Vote
What lessons does the New York City primary hold for this and other electoral reforms?
www.cato.org
July 30, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Coming next week! I'm hosting a @cato.org online panel discussion with @davedaley.bsky.social, @mcmegan.bsky.social and John Ketcham (Manhattan Institute) on lessons of the NYC mayoral primary for ranked choice voting and other election reforms. It's Wed. Aug. 6 at 3 p.m. Eastern. Register here: /1
Reposted by Megan McArdle
If your law is good when there are good people in office, but dangerous when there are bad people in office, your law is bad.
Separately and notably, GLAAD — which dropped its opposition to KOSA last year after changes to the bill, easing its path to Democratic support — told me it now wants lawmakers to review the bill in light of "changes in the FTC and other government leadership." www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
June 24, 2025 at 1:54 PM
If your law is good when there are good people in office, but dangerous when there are bad people in office, your law is bad.
Reposted by Megan McArdle
I think it's not just that it's seen as a conservative thing, it's that military and defense issues are seen as a *lower-class* interest - and by academic historians that most dreaded of all things, a popular interest.
Indeed.
If you'll pardon me personalizing, I get asked fairly often why my academic career seems stalled despite a prestigious book contract and public presence and one of my first answers is more than half of departments are uninterested in ever hiring a military historian of any description.
If you'll pardon me personalizing, I get asked fairly often why my academic career seems stalled despite a prestigious book contract and public presence and one of my first answers is more than half of departments are uninterested in ever hiring a military historian of any description.
this is an elite thing, but i also just see it among my lib friends--the feeling that even knowing stuff about how modern militaries operate is a bit distasteful, impure, sus--"why are you so interested in all that military stuff? isn't that a conservative thing?"
June 22, 2025 at 6:49 PM
I think it's not just that it's seen as a conservative thing, it's that military and defense issues are seen as a *lower-class* interest - and by academic historians that most dreaded of all things, a popular interest.