mj61916.bsky.social
mj61916.bsky.social
@mj61916.bsky.social
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
What Rand Paul is doing is what Jim Jordan did to Stanford Internet Observatory. Under the pretext of “oversight“ he can make sweeping requests —w/the intent to harass & chill.

The universities can fight. But most are afraid of broader attacks so they quickly comply.

www.wired.com/story/senato...
Senators Want Extremism Researchers to Surrender Documents Linked to Right-Wing Grudges
The Senate homeland security committee's chair has asked researchers to turn over troves of documents related to the January 6 attack, vaccines, and more, according to a letter reviewed by WIRED.
www.wired.com
November 22, 2025 at 5:13 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
This is what competitive authoritarianism looks like - regime ally trying to purchase media and remove critical voices
November 20, 2025 at 7:41 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
I’ve been saying this for ages: These folks are doomed to be permanently angry because they’re angry about aspects of the culture that policy ultimately can’t change. They’re seeking political power as a consolation prize for lack of cultural power, and will always be dissatisfied.
I think this prediction is holding up pretty well, and maybe I should have noted the failure of the Turn Charlie Kirk Into A Martyr moment might have been the pinnacle of the phenomenon. In some deep way I think the New Right Loser Men fail to understand what state power can and can't do for them.
November 20, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
Yesterday, Trump defended the Saudi Crown Prince in the Oval Office.

He said he had “nothing” to do with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.

But I reviewed a call while serving on Trump’s NSC that I believe would be of interest to the Khashoggi family and the American people.

Release the transcript.
November 19, 2025 at 3:16 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
On the whole this hasn't been a great year but imo that's all the more reason to recognize when we have wins that show we are not powerless.

Right now, the Trump Administration is basically getting routed and/or in retreat on several key fronts.

We are not powerless! We can do things! Consider-
November 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
NEW: Epstein survivors release the most powerful PSA I have ever seen.

Make this go viral so every member of the House of Representatives sees it.
November 16, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
Jamelle was cooking.

Gift link: www.nytimes.com/2025/11/12/o...
November 14, 2025 at 12:50 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
"This could take down Democrats, too."

I know. And I frankly wouldn't give even an itty bitty damn if it implicated every Democratic man in Congress, every Democratic hopeful for 2028 and every Democrat who has even thought about running for office.

Down with the sex predators, wherever they are.
November 13, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
Good thread from Dave about the new IEA "Current Policies Scenario" making a lot of the headlines.

Here is a very quick mock-up I made of what this scenario assumes for solar PV additions through to 2035, with historical context.

I'll let you decide whether this seems likely.
November 12, 2025 at 3:05 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
Breaking WSJ:

Fannie Mae watchdogs who were removed from their jobs had been probing if Trump appointee Bill Pulte had improperly obtained mortgage records of key Democratic officials, including New York Attorney General Letitia James, according to people familiar with the matter.
Exclusive | Fannie Mae Watchdogs Probed How Pulte Obtained Mortgage Records of Key Democrats
FHFA’s acting inspector general handed the probe report to the U.S. attorney office that had indicted New York Attorney General Letitia James.
www.wsj.com
November 11, 2025 at 9:05 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
Tech guys six months ago: haha yes we’re cutting all this WASTEFUL spending by eliminating medical research and USAID

Tech guys now: yes I think taxpayers will be excited to bailout my non consensual pornography machine
November 8, 2025 at 11:02 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
also it's actively unhealthy for democracies to have trifectas that can't enact (otherwise constitutional) policies. It is demoralizing for the public, and causes blame assignment confusion
November 9, 2025 at 12:38 AM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
every time you think the new WaPo editorial board can't embarrass itself any more, they manage to find a way.

Left: 'Texas gerrymandering is no big deal!', from August.
Right: 'Maryland gerrymandering is an affront to Western civilization!', from today.
November 7, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
As researchers, we have been trying to flag the harm of these scammy ads for years. socialmedialab.ca/2025/04/21/t... We made an app to enable others to expose these types of scammy ads. socialmedialab.ca/2025/03/31/p... But nothing ever changes, see other ex. here: polidashboard.org/how-to-use-p...
The Hidden Game: How Scammers Use "Chameleon Ads" to Bypass Meta's Moderation - Social Media Lab
Over the last few weeks, a series of stories by The Guardian, CBC, and The Logic has highlighted an explosion of fraudulent Facebook and Instagram ads that mimic the likeness of high-profile Canadian ...
socialmedialab.ca
November 7, 2025 at 4:22 AM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
I’ll keep pushing this line of analysis because I’m increasingly convinced the clearest path out of this mess is for Dems to adopt a relentless anti-corruption, anti-inequality, anti-oligarchy, pro-democracy platform. The Dem leadership hasn’t realized it yet, but they’re now a reform party.
November 6, 2025 at 12:06 AM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
Rep. Yassamin Ansari has set up a table and this sign outside Speaker Johnson’s office.
November 6, 2025 at 6:22 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
Cool. What would you call the other wing then? www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...
November 6, 2025 at 12:38 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
Jared Isaacman, the billionaire Space X fanboy picked to take over NASA, plans to eviscerate the agency
November 6, 2025 at 10:40 AM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
I love how Rep. Joe Neguse reframed this question.
October 31, 2025 at 8:19 AM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
I jump into the moderation debate. I agree with @adambonica.bsky.social and @gelliottmorris.com on the methodology, but I want to draw attention to a bigger issue. The collapse of candidate effects generally.
leedrutman.substack.com/p/the-modera...
October 29, 2025 at 8:04 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
My main takeaway on the “moderation” debate is that Democrats would be better served by other debates besides left-right positioning, like how to develop new valence issues (corruption!) as wedge issues, and how to get attention for their policy proposals in the first place
October 28, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
The Founders anticipated the possibility of a corrupt, venal, lawbreaking, wannabe monarch president.

What they did not expect is numerous people achieving prominent national office and not wanting to guard their own power. The combo of ego to run but pathetic absence of ego in office stands out.
October 25, 2025 at 4:41 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
I don’t need to explain why it’s wildly unacceptable for the military to be illegally privately financed by the president’s wealthy allies, right?
New: The Pentagon confirms to CNN it will funnel $130M from an anonymous Trump “friend” toward military pay.

Asked about the donor’s identity and any foreign or domestic entanglements, the WH referred questions to DoD. DoD then referred questions back to the WH
www.cnn.com/2025/10/24/p...
Pentagon to use $130 million donation from anonymous Trump ‘friend’ to pay military members | CNN Politics
The Trump administration plans to funnel a $130 million donation from an anonymous ally of President Donald Trump toward paying military service members during the government shutdown, the Defense Dep...
www.cnn.com
October 24, 2025 at 7:04 PM
Reposted by mj61916.bsky.social
The Trump administration's two-step hack of the system by which executive branch lawyers are supposed to help keep the presidency within the rule of law.
October 24, 2025 at 12:25 PM