@paulspellman.bsky.social
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We really, really need to squash this idea that the first step in effective protest is ensuring that nobody can ever identify who you are or distinguish you in any way
February 2, 2026 at 2:59 AM
We really, really need to squash this idea that the first step in effective protest is ensuring that nobody can ever identify who you are or distinguish you in any way
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So believe me I understand this is deeply frustrating and unfair, but a march that does everything right and still gets tear gassed is a successful march that is winning.
A lot of the strategy of protest is luring the authorities into engaging in obviously, transparently unjust uses of force.
A lot of the strategy of protest is luring the authorities into engaging in obviously, transparently unjust uses of force.
It's hard to overstate how ell-organized the portland march that got gassed was... organizers made the crowd promise to be peaceful, said the march would slow in front of the ICE building but not stop, that we would stick to one chant (ICE Out). They did absolutely everything right and got gassed.
February 1, 2026 at 6:31 AM
So believe me I understand this is deeply frustrating and unfair, but a march that does everything right and still gets tear gassed is a successful march that is winning.
A lot of the strategy of protest is luring the authorities into engaging in obviously, transparently unjust uses of force.
A lot of the strategy of protest is luring the authorities into engaging in obviously, transparently unjust uses of force.
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I don’t think this is a particularly hot take. As we keep telling a particular federal agency, wearing a mask generally indicates cognizance of guilt and an intent to do something illegal. Protest works best when done confidently and unashamedly
An entire generation of people raised on social media simply do not have an understanding of how the media, protests, and surveillance work.
My hottest take is that masks at protests are cowardly and have done absolutely nothing but make all protests themselves look unserious to neutral parties.
My hottest take is that masks at protests are cowardly and have done absolutely nothing but make all protests themselves look unserious to neutral parties.
Anyone who is cagey about who they are or what they’re doing, do not trust. Real journalists exist in a kind of social compact where they tell us their role and their rules, they respect our rules, and in exchange for that they get access. Almost all of them are extremely scrupulous about this
January 30, 2026 at 4:22 PM
I don’t think this is a particularly hot take. As we keep telling a particular federal agency, wearing a mask generally indicates cognizance of guilt and an intent to do something illegal. Protest works best when done confidently and unashamedly
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Mood in minneapolis right now
January 24, 2026 at 11:31 PM
Mood in minneapolis right now
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Also, may I say that I don’t agree with people saying ICE and CBP need “more training.” They’re doing exactly what this administration has trained them to—impose a reign of fear in blue cities. They don’t need more training. They need to be ripped up root and branch.
January 24, 2026 at 11:01 PM
Also, may I say that I don’t agree with people saying ICE and CBP need “more training.” They’re doing exactly what this administration has trained them to—impose a reign of fear in blue cities. They don’t need more training. They need to be ripped up root and branch.
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Trump in Davos, Switzerland:
"Without us, right now you'd all be speaking German".
German is the main language of Switzerland.
"Without us, right now you'd all be speaking German".
German is the main language of Switzerland.
January 21, 2026 at 2:08 PM
Trump in Davos, Switzerland:
"Without us, right now you'd all be speaking German".
German is the main language of Switzerland.
"Without us, right now you'd all be speaking German".
German is the main language of Switzerland.
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Anyways, if you want someone in office who cares about other people and has the track record to prove it, and is ALSO an inveterate shitposter committed to using his powers for good, I’m, uh, running for CA State Assembly District 72 against a MAGA diehard.
January 20, 2026 at 3:36 AM
Anyways, if you want someone in office who cares about other people and has the track record to prove it, and is ALSO an inveterate shitposter committed to using his powers for good, I’m, uh, running for CA State Assembly District 72 against a MAGA diehard.
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Invoke the 25th Amendment.
January 19, 2026 at 4:10 PM
Invoke the 25th Amendment.
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in Woke 2.0 we gotta outlaw sports gambling ads, if not the practice itself
January 18, 2026 at 8:10 PM
in Woke 2.0 we gotta outlaw sports gambling ads, if not the practice itself
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To have this paper appear the same day that RFK Jr is canceling all mRNA vaccine funding is further indication that irony is not dead, even though we might all be soon.
August 6, 2025 at 12:35 AM
To have this paper appear the same day that RFK Jr is canceling all mRNA vaccine funding is further indication that irony is not dead, even though we might all be soon.
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This is what we're fighting, folks.
#ScienceUnderSiege by @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social & yours truly comes out on 9/9 (www.barnesandnoble.com/w/science-un...)
#ScienceUnderSiege by @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social & yours truly comes out on 9/9 (www.barnesandnoble.com/w/science-un...)
August 4, 2025 at 4:43 PM
This is what we're fighting, folks.
#ScienceUnderSiege by @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social & yours truly comes out on 9/9 (www.barnesandnoble.com/w/science-un...)
#ScienceUnderSiege by @peterhotezmdphd.bsky.social & yours truly comes out on 9/9 (www.barnesandnoble.com/w/science-un...)
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Perhaps unpopular opinion — if you’ve been covering business and the economy for 25 years, you don’t have to cite “economists say” to state the truth — that firing the commissioner of the BLS is a bad thing.
August 4, 2025 at 1:13 PM
Perhaps unpopular opinion — if you’ve been covering business and the economy for 25 years, you don’t have to cite “economists say” to state the truth — that firing the commissioner of the BLS is a bad thing.
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NIMBYs understand that inclusionary zoning policies requiring homebuilders to rent new apartments at a loss to low-income tenants are a tax on new housing that stop badly-needed construction.
Policymakers should keep this in mind when evaluating calls for these policies.
Policymakers should keep this in mind when evaluating calls for these policies.
The call has shifted to the topic of amendments. Someone asks what Livable California is asking for. Can you guess what they want?
They're asking for much higher levels of affordability! Why? Because they know higher levels make projects infeasible, of course!
They're asking for much higher levels of affordability! Why? Because they know higher levels make projects infeasible, of course!
July 12, 2025 at 9:30 PM
NIMBYs understand that inclusionary zoning policies requiring homebuilders to rent new apartments at a loss to low-income tenants are a tax on new housing that stop badly-needed construction.
Policymakers should keep this in mind when evaluating calls for these policies.
Policymakers should keep this in mind when evaluating calls for these policies.
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Congestion pricing is fabulous.
NYC's congestion pricing has produced a huge environmental improvement & it's also making money. Revenue should reach $500 million this year, "allowing upgrades to the subway, the purchase of several hundred new electric buses and improvements to regional rail."
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
New York City’s congestion pricing has cut pollution and traffic – but Trump still wants to kill it
With less congestion, less carbon pollution, less accidents, could it be a model for other US cities? Six months in, environmentalists say yes
www.theguardian.com
July 12, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Congestion pricing is fabulous.
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Much as I would not dare to predict the consequences of this war, I do think we can summarize it thusly so far:
A smart and evil man manipulated a stupid and evil man into a war against a fanatical and evil regime.
A smart and evil man manipulated a stupid and evil man into a war against a fanatical and evil regime.
June 22, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Much as I would not dare to predict the consequences of this war, I do think we can summarize it thusly so far:
A smart and evil man manipulated a stupid and evil man into a war against a fanatical and evil regime.
A smart and evil man manipulated a stupid and evil man into a war against a fanatical and evil regime.
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This is not about the merits of Iran’s nuclear program. No president has the authority to bomb another country that does not pose an imminent threat to the US without the approval of Congress. This is an unambiguous impeachable offense.
June 22, 2025 at 12:26 AM
This is not about the merits of Iran’s nuclear program. No president has the authority to bomb another country that does not pose an imminent threat to the US without the approval of Congress. This is an unambiguous impeachable offense.
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And just like that, the ‘No New Wars’ people are all-in on a new war. Proving yet again that they really believe in nothing other than what one man tells them to believe today. Which could be different tomorrow. The very definition of a cult.
June 22, 2025 at 1:03 AM
And just like that, the ‘No New Wars’ people are all-in on a new war. Proving yet again that they really believe in nothing other than what one man tells them to believe today. Which could be different tomorrow. The very definition of a cult.
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an easy disguise: all you’d need are some black masks
June 21, 2025 at 1:32 AM
an easy disguise: all you’d need are some black masks
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My flabber is gasted 😳😳 I love any human who humiliates Ted Cruz and the human humiliating him here is F*cker Carlson. What is happening in this world. #WTFAmerica #WE3 #WeAreSoScrewed #Warmongers
June 18, 2025 at 2:59 AM
My flabber is gasted 😳😳 I love any human who humiliates Ted Cruz and the human humiliating him here is F*cker Carlson. What is happening in this world. #WTFAmerica #WE3 #WeAreSoScrewed #Warmongers