Ben Plume
@pittbaster.bsky.social
I like nature, sci-fi, books, and being Dad. Live in the Maryland DC suburbs with a pretty cool spouse. Admittedly tired.
Reposted by Ben Plume
McDonald’s prices are so high that low-income visits dropped double digits. Delta’s cheap seats are down 5% but luxury seats are up. Budget hotels are losing revenue while high-end hotels climb. And the corporate response? Serve the rich and screw everyone else.
#LetThemEatCake
#LetThemEatCake
McDonald's is losing its low-income customers. Economists call it a symptom of the stark wealth divide
These customers are feeling the pressures of higher prices on groceries and apparel and the growing cost of rent and child care, the company's chief executive said in a recent earnings call.
www.latimes.com
November 16, 2025 at 9:36 PM
McDonald’s prices are so high that low-income visits dropped double digits. Delta’s cheap seats are down 5% but luxury seats are up. Budget hotels are losing revenue while high-end hotels climb. And the corporate response? Serve the rich and screw everyone else.
#LetThemEatCake
#LetThemEatCake
Reposted by Ben Plume
“If you want to know what a bubble looks like, it’s this”
Dotcom crash meet Enron
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Dotcom crash meet Enron
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
The Great AI Bubble
Yes, it's a bubble. And yes, it's going to burst.
open.substack.com
November 16, 2025 at 7:49 PM
“If you want to know what a bubble looks like, it’s this”
Dotcom crash meet Enron
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Dotcom crash meet Enron
open.substack.com/pub/broligar...
Reposted by Ben Plume
OH WOW
YOU'RE TELLING ME ALL THE PROPAGANDA CALLING THE YOUNGEST ADULT GENERATION IDIOTS MAY HAVE BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT THE LEAST RACIST AND MOST LEFT LEANING PORTION OF THE ADULT POPULATION
SAY IT AIN'T SO
YOU'RE TELLING ME ALL THE PROPAGANDA CALLING THE YOUNGEST ADULT GENERATION IDIOTS MAY HAVE BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT THE LEAST RACIST AND MOST LEFT LEANING PORTION OF THE ADULT POPULATION
SAY IT AIN'T SO
“Gen Z has the lowest racial resentment of any generation ever studied.”
Important work from @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social that offers a clear explanation of why there is an intense push to change school curricula to make them more white supremacist
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
Important work from @jakemgrumbach.bsky.social that offers a clear explanation of why there is an intense push to change school curricula to make them more white supremacist
newrepublic.com/article/2030...
The Shocking Truth About Gen Z Voters Is That They’re Pretty Great
Stop panicking: They are the most progressive generation ever, especially on race. If that surprises you, you’ve been listening to the wrong story.
newrepublic.com
November 16, 2025 at 8:25 PM
OH WOW
YOU'RE TELLING ME ALL THE PROPAGANDA CALLING THE YOUNGEST ADULT GENERATION IDIOTS MAY HAVE BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT THE LEAST RACIST AND MOST LEFT LEANING PORTION OF THE ADULT POPULATION
SAY IT AIN'T SO
YOU'RE TELLING ME ALL THE PROPAGANDA CALLING THE YOUNGEST ADULT GENERATION IDIOTS MAY HAVE BEEN AN ATTEMPT TO DISCREDIT THE LEAST RACIST AND MOST LEFT LEANING PORTION OF THE ADULT POPULATION
SAY IT AIN'T SO
Reposted by Ben Plume
I’m going to be honest with you: The headline is appalling, but the piece, which indeed has an absolutely bizarre tone of nostalgia, is worse.
November 16, 2025 at 12:53 PM
I’m going to be honest with you: The headline is appalling, but the piece, which indeed has an absolutely bizarre tone of nostalgia, is worse.
Reposted by Ben Plume
Whatever this regime says is true, is therefore false, whatever this regime says is false, is therefore true, here one almost has a criterion of truth.
July 23, 2025 at 4:45 PM
Whatever this regime says is true, is therefore false, whatever this regime says is false, is therefore true, here one almost has a criterion of truth.
Reposted by Ben Plume
Indiana seems to be disappointing the Nazi regime in DC.
The republicans in Indianapolis must either be reading the writing on the wall, or a few have found a spine.
Because they couldn't find the votes. So no December session.
#SheShed #Hoosiersky
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
The republicans in Indianapolis must either be reading the writing on the wall, or a few have found a spine.
Because they couldn't find the votes. So no December session.
#SheShed #Hoosiersky
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Indiana likely will not push forward with redistricting despite pressure from White House
It’s a massive blow to the White House’s efforts to shore up a Republican House majority next year.
www.politico.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Indiana seems to be disappointing the Nazi regime in DC.
The republicans in Indianapolis must either be reading the writing on the wall, or a few have found a spine.
Because they couldn't find the votes. So no December session.
#SheShed #Hoosiersky
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
The republicans in Indianapolis must either be reading the writing on the wall, or a few have found a spine.
Because they couldn't find the votes. So no December session.
#SheShed #Hoosiersky
www.politico.com/news/2025/11...
Reposted by Ben Plume
Finally someone said it….
November 14, 2025 at 5:29 AM
Finally someone said it….
Reposted by Ben Plume
If you need me, tap me on the shoulder. I’ll be happily working all day listening to this on a loop.
November 13, 2025 at 1:49 PM
If you need me, tap me on the shoulder. I’ll be happily working all day listening to this on a loop.
So if a group of folks with some specific thing in common were to celebrate during a military parade of mounted soldiers on a certain specific hilltop, would a good headline be:
Cohort Cavorts at Calvary Cavalry Cavalcade?
Cohort Cavorts at Calvary Cavalry Cavalcade?
November 14, 2025 at 3:18 PM
So if a group of folks with some specific thing in common were to celebrate during a military parade of mounted soldiers on a certain specific hilltop, would a good headline be:
Cohort Cavorts at Calvary Cavalry Cavalcade?
Cohort Cavorts at Calvary Cavalry Cavalcade?
Absolutely unhinged. Who the fuck thinks this is a good idea?
November 14, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Absolutely unhinged. Who the fuck thinks this is a good idea?
Reposted by Ben Plume
A serious question, for anyone who wants to engage in our economic debate: How should we talk about nonsense?
November 14, 2025 at 12:52 PM
A serious question, for anyone who wants to engage in our economic debate: How should we talk about nonsense?
Reposted by Ben Plume
“Hiding your friends as subcontractors is like playing hide the salami with the taxpayer”
When making Noem's $220,000,000 ad campaign, DHS bypassed the competitive bidding process, designed to prevent waste & corruption in federal contracts, to give the job to the husband of her spokesperson
When making Noem's $220,000,000 ad campaign, DHS bypassed the competitive bidding process, designed to prevent waste & corruption in federal contracts, to give the job to the husband of her spokesperson
November 14, 2025 at 12:51 PM
“Hiding your friends as subcontractors is like playing hide the salami with the taxpayer”
When making Noem's $220,000,000 ad campaign, DHS bypassed the competitive bidding process, designed to prevent waste & corruption in federal contracts, to give the job to the husband of her spokesperson
When making Noem's $220,000,000 ad campaign, DHS bypassed the competitive bidding process, designed to prevent waste & corruption in federal contracts, to give the job to the husband of her spokesperson
Reposted by Ben Plume
📍Senator Fetterman had a VFIB—the leading cause of cardiac arrest—he almost died if not for his implanted defibrillator, which can cost $34,000 to over $51,000. Days ago, he also just voted with GOP to gut health insurance tax credits for millions. Hope he has a change of heart.
November 14, 2025 at 12:07 PM
📍Senator Fetterman had a VFIB—the leading cause of cardiac arrest—he almost died if not for his implanted defibrillator, which can cost $34,000 to over $51,000. Days ago, he also just voted with GOP to gut health insurance tax credits for millions. Hope he has a change of heart.
Reposted by Ben Plume
Through every shutdown in history, the government has still provided economic data to the American people.
They aren’t doing it this time because the numbers are fucking terrible.
They aren’t doing it this time because the numbers are fucking terrible.
November 14, 2025 at 12:43 PM
Through every shutdown in history, the government has still provided economic data to the American people.
They aren’t doing it this time because the numbers are fucking terrible.
They aren’t doing it this time because the numbers are fucking terrible.
Reposted by Ben Plume
Another formative one - Krauss wrote The Physics of Star Trek which I read half a dozen times.
We need a world where we are simply NOT raised by people who turn out to be monsters
We need a world where we are simply NOT raised by people who turn out to be monsters
November 14, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Another formative one - Krauss wrote The Physics of Star Trek which I read half a dozen times.
We need a world where we are simply NOT raised by people who turn out to be monsters
We need a world where we are simply NOT raised by people who turn out to be monsters
Reposted by Ben Plume
the thing that strikes me about this — again, besides it being false — is the venom and disrespect for the people who come here to work and build better lives. they aren’t “servants.”
JD Vance: "Democrats' idea was the way you get more prosperity is that you import more and more low wage servants."
November 14, 2025 at 2:32 AM
the thing that strikes me about this — again, besides it being false — is the venom and disrespect for the people who come here to work and build better lives. they aren’t “servants.”
Reposted by Ben Plume
Having spent a number of hours today fairly deep in the Epstein docs from his estate, one big takeaway is that Epstein had his hands in everything. Connections to MbS, MbZ, China, Israel, the UK, all over Europe, big tech, Bannon, Dems & Rs, academics, physicists, genetics experts and EVERYONE KNEW.
November 14, 2025 at 1:40 AM
Having spent a number of hours today fairly deep in the Epstein docs from his estate, one big takeaway is that Epstein had his hands in everything. Connections to MbS, MbZ, China, Israel, the UK, all over Europe, big tech, Bannon, Dems & Rs, academics, physicists, genetics experts and EVERYONE KNEW.
Reposted by Ben Plume
If you have been put on leave or are being fired because of comments you made in your personal capacity about and during the shutdown, please, reach out to me — Signal is crg.32 and I'm fairly easy to find on any platform.
November 14, 2025 at 2:42 AM
If you have been put on leave or are being fired because of comments you made in your personal capacity about and during the shutdown, please, reach out to me — Signal is crg.32 and I'm fairly easy to find on any platform.
Reposted by Ben Plume
The Kremlin disguised a nearly $100 mn payment to Trump in the form of a brokered real estate deal... and both Jeffrey Epstein and William Pulte were involved in the deal. That's very interesting.
November 12, 2025 at 9:56 PM
The Kremlin disguised a nearly $100 mn payment to Trump in the form of a brokered real estate deal... and both Jeffrey Epstein and William Pulte were involved in the deal. That's very interesting.
Reposted by Ben Plume
a “Space Force”, if you will
November 13, 2025 at 2:27 PM
a “Space Force”, if you will
Reposted by Ben Plume
MAGA collapse is here & it's an important moment. Before jumping in to say we told you so, read this person's experience. It's a real thing.
Please don't browbeat them.
It doesn't matter.
Allow them an exit strategy.
They're the ones who can lead others out of the cult.
#USDemocracy #Voices4Victory
Please don't browbeat them.
It doesn't matter.
Allow them an exit strategy.
They're the ones who can lead others out of the cult.
#USDemocracy #Voices4Victory
We should welcome MAGA remorse: I should know — it saved me
Many Trump voters have doubts. There will be a gradual, and then sudden, awakening. We must be ready to help
www.salon.com
November 13, 2025 at 1:52 PM
MAGA collapse is here & it's an important moment. Before jumping in to say we told you so, read this person's experience. It's a real thing.
Please don't browbeat them.
It doesn't matter.
Allow them an exit strategy.
They're the ones who can lead others out of the cult.
#USDemocracy #Voices4Victory
Please don't browbeat them.
It doesn't matter.
Allow them an exit strategy.
They're the ones who can lead others out of the cult.
#USDemocracy #Voices4Victory
Reposted by Ben Plume
In a separate post, I named several from New York Times: Wesley Morris, Frank Bruni, James Poniewozik, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Jamelle Bouie. There's Ta-Nehisi Coates, Trymaine Lee, Lulu Garcia-Navarro, Audie Cornish...and lots of other people with lower profiles but great journalism to their credit.
Name some journalists who aren't sipping wine with the elite and who actually defend the Fourth Estate.
Pol reporters of late are as bad as senators and reps who look the other way so they can retain access to power as they move up the food chain.
Pol reporters of late are as bad as senators and reps who look the other way so they can retain access to power as they move up the food chain.
What I know is there are still great journalists - even at elite media outlets - who are doing good work. Adopting a knee-jerk cynicism about all they do abandons those journalists. And it's lazy. And it plays into hands of authoritarians who WANT people to distrust all fact-based journalism.
November 13, 2025 at 6:27 PM
In a separate post, I named several from New York Times: Wesley Morris, Frank Bruni, James Poniewozik, Nikole Hannah-Jones, Jamelle Bouie. There's Ta-Nehisi Coates, Trymaine Lee, Lulu Garcia-Navarro, Audie Cornish...and lots of other people with lower profiles but great journalism to their credit.
Reposted by Ben Plume
This part. It's wild that people like Larry Summers and Ken Starr used their personal emails with their WHOLE GOVERNMENT NAMES to communicate with a convicted pedophile. I don't even put slightly critical comments about coworkers in emails...?
Look I've done a lot of tough reporting on Hollywood (and sometimes leaked emails have been my friend) but at least a percentage of industry people know not to send an email that boils down to "hey I had a fun time doing horrific crimes with you, want to circle back and do more crimes next week y/n"
November 13, 2025 at 6:02 PM
This part. It's wild that people like Larry Summers and Ken Starr used their personal emails with their WHOLE GOVERNMENT NAMES to communicate with a convicted pedophile. I don't even put slightly critical comments about coworkers in emails...?
Reposted by Ben Plume
NEW: @propublica.org investigated the Chicago apartment raid where kids were zip-tied and citizens detained for hours. They find:
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
November 13, 2025 at 2:08 PM
NEW: @propublica.org investigated the Chicago apartment raid where kids were zip-tied and citizens detained for hours. They find:
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.
- NONE of the arrested were criminally charged
- NO evidence the building was "filled with TdA terrorists."
- ZERO legitimate reason for DHS to rappel from a Blackhawk.