Michael_Modal
@michaelmodal.bsky.social
I am an American who cares about democracy, opportunity, and fighting autocracy in all its forms.
By day, I work to make IT usable and empowering.
I love jazz, America's art of collaboration, improvisation, and self-expression.
By day, I work to make IT usable and empowering.
I love jazz, America's art of collaboration, improvisation, and self-expression.
Hegseth’s role model
August 27, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Hegseth’s role model
The US Department of Justice is not above the law.
August 26, 2025 at 3:21 PM
The US Department of Justice is not above the law.
Officials said the driver of the SUV had to be extricated by firefighters and was sent to a nearby hospital
August 21, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Officials said the driver of the SUV had to be extricated by firefighters and was sent to a nearby hospital
DC home rule should mean DC runs its government.
Nice history from the Smithsonian (read it before someone orders it taken down)
www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-...
Nice history from the Smithsonian (read it before someone orders it taken down)
www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-...
August 20, 2025 at 12:11 PM
DC home rule should mean DC runs its government.
Nice history from the Smithsonian (read it before someone orders it taken down)
www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-...
Nice history from the Smithsonian (read it before someone orders it taken down)
www.smithsonianmag.com/history/how-...
Trump is following Putin’s election advice.
August 19, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Trump is following Putin’s election advice.
Don’t listen to RFK jr.
Get your shots.
(I won’t reveal what federal museum this picture was taken in for fears Trump’s museum police will take in down)
Get your shots.
(I won’t reveal what federal museum this picture was taken in for fears Trump’s museum police will take in down)
August 17, 2025 at 12:24 AM
Don’t listen to RFK jr.
Get your shots.
(I won’t reveal what federal museum this picture was taken in for fears Trump’s museum police will take in down)
Get your shots.
(I won’t reveal what federal museum this picture was taken in for fears Trump’s museum police will take in down)
Crime is a problem in DC. Murders are 7x the rate of NYC.
“Washington’s murder rate was generally rising even before the pandemic. The murder rate at the end of 2024 was, per Asher’s data, lower than 2023, but still about 70 percent higher than that of a decade prior.”
“Washington’s murder rate was generally rising even before the pandemic. The murder rate at the end of 2024 was, per Asher’s data, lower than 2023, but still about 70 percent higher than that of a decade prior.”
August 13, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Crime is a problem in DC. Murders are 7x the rate of NYC.
“Washington’s murder rate was generally rising even before the pandemic. The murder rate at the end of 2024 was, per Asher’s data, lower than 2023, but still about 70 percent higher than that of a decade prior.”
“Washington’s murder rate was generally rising even before the pandemic. The murder rate at the end of 2024 was, per Asher’s data, lower than 2023, but still about 70 percent higher than that of a decade prior.”
I read commentators says the Atlantic is the new Washington Post.
They hired away many WaPo writers, true.
But the direction of the magazine feels backwards looking, little different than the Smithsonian magazine.
It’s not going to break important news.
Darkness is killing democracy
They hired away many WaPo writers, true.
But the direction of the magazine feels backwards looking, little different than the Smithsonian magazine.
It’s not going to break important news.
Darkness is killing democracy
August 12, 2025 at 10:31 PM
I read commentators says the Atlantic is the new Washington Post.
They hired away many WaPo writers, true.
But the direction of the magazine feels backwards looking, little different than the Smithsonian magazine.
It’s not going to break important news.
Darkness is killing democracy
They hired away many WaPo writers, true.
But the direction of the magazine feels backwards looking, little different than the Smithsonian magazine.
It’s not going to break important news.
Darkness is killing democracy
No on seems to be asking: What does Melania know about Epstein and Trump’s relationship with him?
Should Congressional hearings require her testimony?
Should Congressional hearings require her testimony?
August 6, 2025 at 10:35 PM
No on seems to be asking: What does Melania know about Epstein and Trump’s relationship with him?
Should Congressional hearings require her testimony?
Should Congressional hearings require her testimony?
Lamenting when things were right, in jazz and other ways...
The late Mulgrew Miller...
Performing at the Kennedy Center (when jazz mattered there)
#jazzsky
The late Mulgrew Miller...
Performing at the Kennedy Center (when jazz mattered there)
#jazzsky
August 4, 2025 at 11:06 PM
Lamenting when things were right, in jazz and other ways...
The late Mulgrew Miller...
Performing at the Kennedy Center (when jazz mattered there)
#jazzsky
The late Mulgrew Miller...
Performing at the Kennedy Center (when jazz mattered there)
#jazzsky
History is being rewritten at the Smithsonian following a Trump administration “content review”
August 1, 2025 at 10:26 AM
History is being rewritten at the Smithsonian following a Trump administration “content review”
The Donald Trump Center for performing arts considers classical music too woke and globalist.
July 30, 2025 at 7:59 PM
The Donald Trump Center for performing arts considers classical music too woke and globalist.
The National Symphony Orchestra under Trump no longer plays classical music.
July 30, 2025 at 10:46 AM
The National Symphony Orchestra under Trump no longer plays classical music.
Fact checking is dead at Bezo’s Washington Post.
July 29, 2025 at 11:27 AM
Fact checking is dead at Bezo’s Washington Post.
‘Marc Andreessen described a “counterattack” against universities in his messages and called for the National Science Foundation, a federal research funding agency, to receive “the bureaucratic death penalty.”’
Billionaire grievences
Billionaire grievences
July 13, 2025 at 12:27 PM
‘Marc Andreessen described a “counterattack” against universities in his messages and called for the National Science Foundation, a federal research funding agency, to receive “the bureaucratic death penalty.”’
Billionaire grievences
Billionaire grievences
Yesterday I attended an informative and meaningful panel on the assault on the rule of law organized by the fantastic team at @principlesfirst.bsky.social
The United States has a beautiful legal system. It is up to us to safeguard it.
The United States has a beautiful legal system. It is up to us to safeguard it.
July 11, 2025 at 9:06 PM
Yesterday I attended an informative and meaningful panel on the assault on the rule of law organized by the fantastic team at @principlesfirst.bsky.social
The United States has a beautiful legal system. It is up to us to safeguard it.
The United States has a beautiful legal system. It is up to us to safeguard it.
Trump forced the removal of UVA's president last week
It's the latest anti democratic bullying by authoritarians who despise racial equality. Deborah Baker covers this history in her new book, Charlottesville.
#booksky
It's the latest anti democratic bullying by authoritarians who despise racial equality. Deborah Baker covers this history in her new book, Charlottesville.
#booksky
June 30, 2025 at 9:27 PM
Trump forced the removal of UVA's president last week
It's the latest anti democratic bullying by authoritarians who despise racial equality. Deborah Baker covers this history in her new book, Charlottesville.
#booksky
It's the latest anti democratic bullying by authoritarians who despise racial equality. Deborah Baker covers this history in her new book, Charlottesville.
#booksky
One less government employee
June 25, 2025 at 10:36 AM
One less government employee
Israel shows a lack of gratitude toward Trump, and jeopardizes his chances at getting the Nobel Peace Prize (which Obama never should have gotten).
Another day in Trumpworld.
Another day in Trumpworld.
June 24, 2025 at 1:38 PM
Israel shows a lack of gratitude toward Trump, and jeopardizes his chances at getting the Nobel Peace Prize (which Obama never should have gotten).
Another day in Trumpworld.
Another day in Trumpworld.
Thomas Fugate, a former Heritage Foundation intern and self-described “Trumplican,” joined DHS in a leadership role at the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, known as CP3 in May. The CP3, which works to combat terrorism, school shootings and other hate-driven violence.
June 23, 2025 at 12:23 PM
Thomas Fugate, a former Heritage Foundation intern and self-described “Trumplican,” joined DHS in a leadership role at the Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, known as CP3 in May. The CP3, which works to combat terrorism, school shootings and other hate-driven violence.