@octaviuz.bsky.social
Places and facts. Mad about maps and the lines that connect and divide.
Fascinated by the riddle of electoral system change.
Fascinated by the riddle of electoral system change.
Pinned
I sure hope the next time there's an election the Democrats' messaging is less "America needs a strong Republican Party" and more "these corrupt idiots have driven the country off a cliff every single time they've gotten power in living memory."
Everybody gets mad over this point but our current system where one party is kinda meh and the other is made up of monsters who've crawled out of the pit and draped themselves in human skin cannot work as a democracy.
In a free society, voters cannot be prohibited from changing their minds.
In a free society, voters cannot be prohibited from changing their minds.
Reposted
Prison rape is wrong.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
BREAKING: Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans & intersex people, memo says. A DOJ memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA) do not align with Trump’s Jan. 20 anti-trans executive order, @byadamrhodes.bsky.social reports.
Trump administration plans to end prison rape protections for trans and intersex people
A Department of Justice memo says certain standards under the Prison Rape Elimination Act do not align with Trump’s executive order
prismreports.org
December 5, 2025 at 1:28 AM
Prison rape is wrong.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
Jokes about prison rape are wrong.
Eliminating protections against prison rape is wrong.
If another country sentenced a criminal to be raped, we'd consider it a crime against humanity.
BUT
A large segment of Americans regard prison rape as a de facto part of the sentence.
In irrelevant news...
The South Korean Ministry of Defense has awarded medals of merit to 11 officers for disobeying direct orders of superiors during the martial law fiasco, orders that they deemed to be contrary to the constitution and endangerment to democracy.
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
www.chosun.com/english/nati...
National Defense Ministry Honors 11 Soldiers for Refusing Illegal Orders
National Defense Ministry Honors 11 Soldiers for Refusing Illegal Orders Honored for rejecting illegal orders during martial law, Marine death probe
www.chosun.com
December 4, 2025 at 7:20 AM
In irrelevant news...
Reposted
My (I suspect unpopular) opinion is that the problem is not the pardon power of presidents, but rather the inadequacy of criminal legal system to provide justice.
wrote about the problem of the pardon power (gift link)
Opinion | Guess Which Presidential Power Trump Likes the Most
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 4:11 PM
My (I suspect unpopular) opinion is that the problem is not the pardon power of presidents, but rather the inadequacy of criminal legal system to provide justice.
This is just that "the bombing will commence in 10 minutes" or whatever joke by Reagan. POTUS can't just say stuff. The office makes statements consequential, no matter how inconsequential the occupant might be.
President Donald Trump said Sunday that people shouldn’t read much into a social media post where he said Venezuelan airspace should be considered closed
Trump Downplays Venezuelan Airspace Threat as US Mulls New Steps
President Donald Trump said Sunday that people shouldn’t read much into a social media post where he said Venezuelan airspace should be considered closed.
bloom.bg
November 30, 2025 at 11:39 PM
This is just that "the bombing will commence in 10 minutes" or whatever joke by Reagan. POTUS can't just say stuff. The office makes statements consequential, no matter how inconsequential the occupant might be.
Reposted
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
November 29, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Former US military lawyers speak out:
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
"The Former JAGs Working Group unanimously considers both the giving and the execution of these orders, if true, to constitute war crimes, murder, or both."
Statement on Media Reports of Pentagon “No Quarter” Orders in Caribbean Boat Strikes
1/2
I understand neither the tactics nor the strategy.
In October, Trump’s education department asked nine universities to sign a compact to save higher education in the United States. Oakwood University wasn’t on the list, but its president volunteered anyway.
religionnews.com/2025/11/24/a...
religionnews.com/2025/11/24/a...
A Seventh-day Adventist HBCU wants to sign Trump’s compact to reform colleges
(RNS) — The president of Oakwood University, a faith-based HBCU, said the school wants to sign on to the Trump administration's Compact for Academic Excellence in Higher Education — if the DOE makes…
religionnews.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:08 PM
I understand neither the tactics nor the strategy.
Succession rules let Hoover be an elder statesman for 40 years instead of having his palace burned down on his head. That's a really good thing, and not just for him.
November 23, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Succession rules let Hoover be an elder statesman for 40 years instead of having his palace burned down on his head. That's a really good thing, and not just for him.
I suspect that the problem is much worse in the US. It seems to me that far too many pro-tax folks here have adopted the anti-tax framing of taxes as punishment, which leads to promises to only raise taxes on the wealthy. We need more @jmedlock.bsky.social thought. Taxes are good.
November 20, 2025 at 10:57 AM
I suspect that the problem is much worse in the US. It seems to me that far too many pro-tax folks here have adopted the anti-tax framing of taxes as punishment, which leads to promises to only raise taxes on the wealthy. We need more @jmedlock.bsky.social thought. Taxes are good.
Reposted
(IMO this also means nonhuman animals)
November 20, 2025 at 8:30 AM
(IMO this also means nonhuman animals)
Reposted
An idea that somehow never really comes up in any political theory literature is that, if someone is, in fact, incapable of participating in the business of self-government as an equal (say because they're eight years old), what that means is the rest of us owe them a very strong fiduciary duty
the thing which gives the game away on scientific racism is that if we discovered an island where everyone was gravely intellectually disabled and some guy said, "great, let's make them our slaves," we would beat him to death with hammers but if you say that about actual people it's taken seriously
November 20, 2025 at 8:26 AM
An idea that somehow never really comes up in any political theory literature is that, if someone is, in fact, incapable of participating in the business of self-government as an equal (say because they're eight years old), what that means is the rest of us owe them a very strong fiduciary duty
There's a lot of publicly displayed stupidity in the MAGA faction, sarcasm is an excellent tool for uncovering it on this side of the political divide.
Guys I think will actually used sarcasm here
This is true! Other than the vague claim he was “dirty,” Epstein did not accuse Trump of any wrongdoing.
He merely said Trump knew about the hundreds of underage women that Epstein was sexually exploiting and abusing, and maintained a close personal relationship with Epstein anyway. Nothing BAD
He merely said Trump knew about the hundreds of underage women that Epstein was sexually exploiting and abusing, and maintained a close personal relationship with Epstein anyway. Nothing BAD
November 17, 2025 at 8:00 PM
There's a lot of publicly displayed stupidity in the MAGA faction, sarcasm is an excellent tool for uncovering it on this side of the political divide.
Most favored shipyard
my cursed thought
modify the Jones Act to apply to our NATO allies and major non-NATO allies (Japan, SK, etc)
modify the Jones Act to apply to our NATO allies and major non-NATO allies (Japan, SK, etc)
November 6, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Most favored shipyard
Reposted
The Biden administration worked hard to accomplish this new free IRS filing system. It’s astounding that one should have to pay fees in order to pay their taxes. But this rent seeking is entirely consistent with the economic policies of the current administration that benefit the most wealthy.
👀 Scoop: IRS Direct File, the free government-backed program that let you file your taxes for free, is dead.
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax-prep giants
The tax agency has quietly built its own prototype system for filing tax returns digitally and free of charge, according to current and former officials.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 4, 2025 at 10:50 PM
The Biden administration worked hard to accomplish this new free IRS filing system. It’s astounding that one should have to pay fees in order to pay their taxes. But this rent seeking is entirely consistent with the economic policies of the current administration that benefit the most wealthy.
Reposted
👀 Scoop: IRS Direct File, the free government-backed program that let you file your taxes for free, is dead.
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS tests free e-filing system that could compete with tax-prep giants
The tax agency has quietly built its own prototype system for filing tax returns digitally and free of charge, according to current and former officials.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 4, 2025 at 9:42 PM
👀 Scoop: IRS Direct File, the free government-backed program that let you file your taxes for free, is dead.
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
IRS wrote to state tax agencies saying it would not be operational this coming tax season, per records I've obtained.
IRS Direct File: 2023-2025.
(Story from when the pilot launched.)
Reposted
Functionally, this is a Reverse Enabling Act. A total failure of Article I of the Constitution. The most unprecedented such crisis in 🇺🇸 history, while a president murders people freely on the high seas, bulldozes the White House, & monetizes the presidency in plain sight. A "Republic" or something.
My god, WHAT is in those Epstein files that has him so terrified of swearing in Vote Number 218?
“I will not bring the House back to session until the Congress negotiates a budget that it needs to pass” is pretty much a pure pi-r-squared circle.
“I will not bring the House back to session until the Congress negotiates a budget that it needs to pass” is pretty much a pure pi-r-squared circle.
Mike Johnson says he will not bring the House back in session until the government reopens
November 1, 2025 at 6:34 PM
Functionally, this is a Reverse Enabling Act. A total failure of Article I of the Constitution. The most unprecedented such crisis in 🇺🇸 history, while a president murders people freely on the high seas, bulldozes the White House, & monetizes the presidency in plain sight. A "Republic" or something.
Reposted
The report itself is here. Lots of answers to common questions about how proportional representation could work in an American context, and why there's a growing push for it.
Expanding Representation: Reinventing Congress for the 21st Century
www.amacad.org
October 31, 2025 at 8:37 PM
The report itself is here. Lots of answers to common questions about how proportional representation could work in an American context, and why there's a growing push for it.
Wednesday 11/5, check this out.
Wednesday, I'll be joining @johncarey.bsky.social @mcpli.bsky.social @normornstein.bsky.social & Maria Perez for the launch of the American Academy of Arts & Sciences working group report on proportional representation. It's been a great project and discussions. Can sign up here, including Q&A:
Can Congress Better Represent Americans?
2:30 - 3:45 p.m. ET
www.amacad.org
October 31, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Wednesday 11/5, check this out.
Reposted
'Twas antique and the level sands
Did stretch and decay far away
All trunkless were the legs of stone
And Ozymandias, lost, lay
Did stretch and decay far away
All trunkless were the legs of stone
And Ozymandias, lost, lay
There once was a king, Ozymandias
Who was known as a cruel, commanding ass
After centuries gone by
All that’s left of the guy
Are two legs in the sand, and they too shall pass
Who was known as a cruel, commanding ass
After centuries gone by
All that’s left of the guy
Are two legs in the sand, and they too shall pass
my name is Oz
and wen the stone
is broke to bits
and all alone
i lie in sand
it stretches bare
you read my words
you pls despair
and wen the stone
is broke to bits
and all alone
i lie in sand
it stretches bare
you read my words
you pls despair
October 30, 2025 at 3:41 PM
'Twas antique and the level sands
Did stretch and decay far away
All trunkless were the legs of stone
And Ozymandias, lost, lay
Did stretch and decay far away
All trunkless were the legs of stone
And Ozymandias, lost, lay
Mike Johnson has no more religion than my dog (I haven't got a horse).
English Civil War 2: the Rump Congress
October 30, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Mike Johnson has no more religion than my dog (I haven't got a horse).
Too bad SCOTUS invalidated the legislative veto. Legislative vetos would obviously not be subject to another executive veto. They just allowed congress to smack down a misapplication of legislation.
Call me crazy but I really just don't think a president should be able to veto Congressional judgments that he's abusing his powers
US SENATE VOTES 51-47 TO OVERTURN TRUMP’S ‘LIBERATION DAY’ GLOBAL TARIFFS — FOUR REPUBLICANS JOIN DEMOCRATS; MOVE IS MOSTLY SYMBOLIC AS WHITE HOUSE LIKELY TO VETO
October 30, 2025 at 8:42 PM
Too bad SCOTUS invalidated the legislative veto. Legislative vetos would obviously not be subject to another executive veto. They just allowed congress to smack down a misapplication of legislation.
This is the issue that anti (small d) democrat Mike Lee and his fellow travelers fail to comprehend (probably wilfully).
"We the 51% have held a plebiscite, all the 49% are to be imprisoned" is not merely morally wrong, it's democratically illegitimate.
"We the 51% have held a plebiscite, all the 49% are to be imprisoned" is not merely morally wrong, it's democratically illegitimate.
Democracy itself quite obviously requires that the majority not have this power, and the same logic takes you... actually quite far toward a comprehensive scheme of constitutional rights, really. Limits on the power of the majority directly entailed by the democratic principle itself!!
October 26, 2025 at 5:42 AM
This is the issue that anti (small d) democrat Mike Lee and his fellow travelers fail to comprehend (probably wilfully).
"We the 51% have held a plebiscite, all the 49% are to be imprisoned" is not merely morally wrong, it's democratically illegitimate.
"We the 51% have held a plebiscite, all the 49% are to be imprisoned" is not merely morally wrong, it's democratically illegitimate.
Reposted
according to the supreme court, a professional, non-partisan civil service is unconstitutional
This will have a very bad outcome for democracy.
Professional, non-partisan civil service promotes democracy and is a key feature of it.
Professional, non-partisan civil service promotes democracy and is a key feature of it.
New, from me: until recently there was strong bipartisan consensus that a nonpartisan civil service was good and that politicization was bad. Now views are more divided, with Republicans aligning with the pro-politicization actions of Trump. 🧵
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trump-has-...
donmoynihan.substack.com/p/trump-has-...
October 23, 2025 at 9:25 PM
according to the supreme court, a professional, non-partisan civil service is unconstitutional
Reposted
Trump is responsible for mass destruction at both the Capitol and the White House.
Not even a metaphor!
Not even a metaphor!
October 23, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Trump is responsible for mass destruction at both the Capitol and the White House.
Not even a metaphor!
Not even a metaphor!
Which is unfortunate, not unfortunate enough to return to the abyss but still, an unhealthy norm (doesn't mean people have to permit themselves to be abused, but I report first then mute. I'd like to encourage people to be less garbage.)
MAGA folks don’t understand that the culture of Bluesky involves everyone just blocking people they don’t like without any engagement.
They think they’re “shadowbanned” by some unseen force from above.
They think they’re “shadowbanned” by some unseen force from above.
October 18, 2025 at 3:02 PM
Which is unfortunate, not unfortunate enough to return to the abyss but still, an unhealthy norm (doesn't mean people have to permit themselves to be abused, but I report first then mute. I'd like to encourage people to be less garbage.)
Reposted
Family values. www.timesunion.com/news/article...
ICE detention removed a father from Troy family to other side of country
With her husband detained by ICE and sent to Washington state, a Troy mother struggles to care for a baby with DiGeorge syndrome and her other children amid mounting bills as she weighs next steps.
www.timesunion.com
October 10, 2025 at 4:03 PM
Family values. www.timesunion.com/news/article...