Michael Mathes
@michaelmathesafp.bsky.social
Recovering US politics reporter at AFP Washington. Stints in Vietnam, Thailand, England, Brazil, Peru. Other datelines: Tikrit, Islamabad, Kabul, Yangon, Phnom Penh, Andaman Islands, 28 US states. Pavement fan. Dad of a rocker
Shocking that #PaulSimon song “50 ways” is now 50 years old.
She said “Why don’t we both
Just sleep on it tonight
And I believe in the morning
You’ll begin to see the light”
And then she kissed me
And I realized she probably was right
There must be 50 ways
To leave your lover
She said “Why don’t we both
Just sleep on it tonight
And I believe in the morning
You’ll begin to see the light”
And then she kissed me
And I realized she probably was right
There must be 50 ways
To leave your lover
November 3, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Shocking that #PaulSimon song “50 ways” is now 50 years old.
She said “Why don’t we both
Just sleep on it tonight
And I believe in the morning
You’ll begin to see the light”
And then she kissed me
And I realized she probably was right
There must be 50 ways
To leave your lover
She said “Why don’t we both
Just sleep on it tonight
And I believe in the morning
You’ll begin to see the light”
And then she kissed me
And I realized she probably was right
There must be 50 ways
To leave your lover
“No donors.”
Yeah I laughed too
Yeah I laughed too
July 6, 2025 at 10:33 PM
“No donors.”
Yeah I laughed too
Yeah I laughed too
Over the #kennedycenter right now.
#fireworks
#july4 #july4th
#4thofjuly
#Fourthofjuly
#happyfourth
#hbdamerica
#fireworks
#july4 #july4th
#4thofjuly
#Fourthofjuly
#happyfourth
#hbdamerica
July 5, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Over the #kennedycenter right now.
#fireworks
#july4 #july4th
#4thofjuly
#Fourthofjuly
#happyfourth
#hbdamerica
#fireworks
#july4 #july4th
#4thofjuly
#Fourthofjuly
#happyfourth
#hbdamerica
I snapped pix of pro-Iran protesters Saturday outside the White House, chanting #handsoffiran. Four hours later Trump announced the US attacks on Iran nuclear facilities…
June 22, 2025 at 4:39 PM
I snapped pix of pro-Iran protesters Saturday outside the White House, chanting #handsoffiran. Four hours later Trump announced the US attacks on Iran nuclear facilities…
I’ve had an #ebike for 2.5 months & 1,300 miles.
Some thoughts: e-bikes are gamechangers for over-40s. Do I work out as much as w/ regular bike? No, but I bike ALL THE TIME NOW. Huge benefit.
Sad fact: every ebiker over 35 is pedaling; EVERYONE under 25 is riding the throttle
#bikelife
#pedalon
Some thoughts: e-bikes are gamechangers for over-40s. Do I work out as much as w/ regular bike? No, but I bike ALL THE TIME NOW. Huge benefit.
Sad fact: every ebiker over 35 is pedaling; EVERYONE under 25 is riding the throttle
#bikelife
#pedalon
June 19, 2025 at 9:31 PM
Hmm. The Fox News reporters anchoring coverage of the #militaryparade in the streets of Washington are speaking openly about “the pride I feel” to have a commander in chief that supports the US Army.
June 14, 2025 at 10:38 PM
Hmm. The Fox News reporters anchoring coverage of the #militaryparade in the streets of Washington are speaking openly about “the pride I feel” to have a commander in chief that supports the US Army.
Difficult week for troubled genius.
First, Sly Stone, the insanely talented funkmeister and musical pioneer.
And now Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys' surf rock poet whose sound textures laid the groundwork for so much in rock and pop.
Both died at 82. Both changed the world. RIP
First, Sly Stone, the insanely talented funkmeister and musical pioneer.
And now Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys' surf rock poet whose sound textures laid the groundwork for so much in rock and pop.
Both died at 82. Both changed the world. RIP
June 11, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Difficult week for troubled genius.
First, Sly Stone, the insanely talented funkmeister and musical pioneer.
And now Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys' surf rock poet whose sound textures laid the groundwork for so much in rock and pop.
Both died at 82. Both changed the world. RIP
First, Sly Stone, the insanely talented funkmeister and musical pioneer.
And now Brian Wilson, the Beach Boys' surf rock poet whose sound textures laid the groundwork for so much in rock and pop.
Both died at 82. Both changed the world. RIP
Coffee shop at #pikeandrose in Rockville getting into the 🏳️🌈 spirit this morning #pride #pridemonth
#croissant
#croissant
June 7, 2025 at 2:38 PM
Coffee shop at #pikeandrose in Rockville getting into the 🏳️🌈 spirit this morning #pride #pridemonth
#croissant
#croissant
-- 'Inaction and silence do not bring about change' --
🇺🇸 They've lost count of how many times each has been arrested, but even with a combined age of 180 years, Americans Joseph and Joyce Ellwanger are far from hanging up their activist boots.
AFP reports from Milwaukee
➡️ u.afp.com/SGZN
🇺🇸 They've lost count of how many times each has been arrested, but even with a combined age of 180 years, Americans Joseph and Joyce Ellwanger are far from hanging up their activist boots.
AFP reports from Milwaukee
➡️ u.afp.com/SGZN
June 2, 2025 at 1:57 AM
-- 'Inaction and silence do not bring about change' --
🇺🇸 They've lost count of how many times each has been arrested, but even with a combined age of 180 years, Americans Joseph and Joyce Ellwanger are far from hanging up their activist boots.
AFP reports from Milwaukee
➡️ u.afp.com/SGZN
🇺🇸 They've lost count of how many times each has been arrested, but even with a combined age of 180 years, Americans Joseph and Joyce Ellwanger are far from hanging up their activist boots.
AFP reports from Milwaukee
➡️ u.afp.com/SGZN
I found a reader!
At a café in downtown #charlottesville, VA
#books #reading #feetup
#booklover #bookworm #bookish #bookstagram
#readingtime #literature
At a café in downtown #charlottesville, VA
#books #reading #feetup
#booklover #bookworm #bookish #bookstagram
#readingtime #literature
May 30, 2025 at 2:25 AM
I found a reader!
At a café in downtown #charlottesville, VA
#books #reading #feetup
#booklover #bookworm #bookish #bookstagram
#readingtime #literature
At a café in downtown #charlottesville, VA
#books #reading #feetup
#booklover #bookworm #bookish #bookstagram
#readingtime #literature
An enormous banner featuring the brooding likeness of President Donald Trump has been affixed to the outside of the US Department of Agriculture building in Washington.
The internet has not been kind...
The internet has not been kind...
May 16, 2025 at 5:14 PM
An enormous banner featuring the brooding likeness of President Donald Trump has been affixed to the outside of the US Department of Agriculture building in Washington.
The internet has not been kind...
The internet has not been kind...
Some flooding this eve at #fletcherscove below the #capitalcrescenttrail
May 16, 2025 at 1:34 AM
Some flooding this eve at #fletcherscove below the #capitalcrescenttrail
Sunday #bike ride on Beach Dr in Northwest #Washington
#rockcreekpark
#trees die
#nature
#bicyclesunday
#bikeride
#rockcreekpark
#trees die
#nature
#bicyclesunday
#bikeride
April 27, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Sunday #bike ride on Beach Dr in Northwest #Washington
#rockcreekpark
#trees die
#nature
#bicyclesunday
#bikeride
#rockcreekpark
#trees die
#nature
#bicyclesunday
#bikeride
Yikes! A beatiful but venemous young #copperhead (!!) crossed the #CapitalCrescentTrail east of the bridge over Canal Road today as I biked into DC.
#nature
#itsnaturekid
#snakesonatrail
#snakes
#washington
#nature
#itsnaturekid
#snakesonatrail
#snakes
#washington
April 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Yikes! A beatiful but venemous young #copperhead (!!) crossed the #CapitalCrescentTrail east of the bridge over Canal Road today as I biked into DC.
#nature
#itsnaturekid
#snakesonatrail
#snakes
#washington
#nature
#itsnaturekid
#snakesonatrail
#snakes
#washington
I dunno @nhlscores.bsky.social , maybe this is as good a time as any to update your biggest stat of all time? 🤷🏼♂️
#ovechkin #great8
#ovechkin #great8
April 6, 2025 at 11:11 PM
I dunno @nhlscores.bsky.social , maybe this is as good a time as any to update your biggest stat of all time? 🤷🏼♂️
#ovechkin #great8
#ovechkin #great8
King. Beast. The Great 8.
Alex #ovechkin of the @wshcapitals.bsky.social scores his record 895th goal today to finally best the great one, Wayne #Gretzky.
Hard to imagine this @NHL record ever being broken.
(My pic from 2019)
Alex #ovechkin of the @wshcapitals.bsky.social scores his record 895th goal today to finally best the great one, Wayne #Gretzky.
Hard to imagine this @NHL record ever being broken.
(My pic from 2019)
April 6, 2025 at 6:24 PM
King. Beast. The Great 8.
Alex #ovechkin of the @wshcapitals.bsky.social scores his record 895th goal today to finally best the great one, Wayne #Gretzky.
Hard to imagine this @NHL record ever being broken.
(My pic from 2019)
Alex #ovechkin of the @wshcapitals.bsky.social scores his record 895th goal today to finally best the great one, Wayne #Gretzky.
Hard to imagine this @NHL record ever being broken.
(My pic from 2019)
April 6, 2025 at 1:26 AM
April 5, 2025 at 3:14 PM
On this day of chaotic news, just checking in on Fox News, which has been showing the Dragon capsule bobbing in the water for a full FIVE minutes. Mmmokay
April 4, 2025 at 4:25 PM
On this day of chaotic news, just checking in on Fox News, which has been showing the Dragon capsule bobbing in the water for a full FIVE minutes. Mmmokay
Tell us you don’t know how China operates without telling us you don’t know how China operates.
April 4, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Tell us you don’t know how China operates without telling us you don’t know how China operates.
“Never change”
April 4, 2025 at 12:55 PM
“Never change”
US Senator Cory @booker.senate.gov is four hours into his floor filibuster where he says he is aiming to cause “good trouble” and draw attention to the current “crisis” brought on by Trump.
"These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such,” he said.
"These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such,” he said.
April 1, 2025 at 3:02 AM
US Senator Cory @booker.senate.gov is four hours into his floor filibuster where he says he is aiming to cause “good trouble” and draw attention to the current “crisis” brought on by Trump.
"These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such,” he said.
"These are not normal times in America. And they should not be treated as such,” he said.
Same at the DC #teslatakedown event in #georgetown on Saturday
March 30, 2025 at 8:15 PM
Same at the DC #teslatakedown event in #georgetown on Saturday
