Tom Nichols
@radiofreetom.bsky.social
Staff writer at The Atlantic. Cat guy, democracy defender. Actor for a day on Succession, Jeopardy champ. New Englander and curmudgeon.
Pinned
The President Is Losing Control of Himself
Donald Trump’s outbursts on social media this week were different than usual.
www.theatlantic.com
This is a new and dire development in the ongoing American constitutional crisis. The voters, Congress, and, yes, the U.S. military must all now be more vigilant than at any time in our modern history.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
In the real world, having the right positions - and Harris, I thought, gave a good convention speech - does not make you a good candidate. There's a certain kind of progressive who thinks that elections are a chance to make Americans eat their vegetables, whether they like it or not.
Every person who says 'Harris was a terrible candidate' not only ignored her commitment to democracy, Ukraine, the ACA, but also reproductive rights and decency.
But a Republican operative like Eric Owens isn't going to look at an Insurrectionist who sold out Ukraine and see problems.
But a Republican operative like Eric Owens isn't going to look at an Insurrectionist who sold out Ukraine and see problems.
November 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM
In the real world, having the right positions - and Harris, I thought, gave a good convention speech - does not make you a good candidate. There's a certain kind of progressive who thinks that elections are a chance to make Americans eat their vegetables, whether they like it or not.
omg omg
Ahem. I am a grown man. I do not get enthusiastic about such things. Carry on.
omg
Ahem. I am a grown man. I do not get enthusiastic about such things. Carry on.
omg
November 22, 2025 at 9:41 PM
omg omg
Ahem. I am a grown man. I do not get enthusiastic about such things. Carry on.
omg
Ahem. I am a grown man. I do not get enthusiastic about such things. Carry on.
omg
Reposted by Tom Nichols
A must read about Trump’s mental state. I hope every Republican in Congress reads, I hope all his cabinet members reads and I hope his family reads. Unhinged is answer understatement.
Thanks for the gift article Tom.
Thanks for the gift article Tom.
This is a new and dire development in the ongoing American constitutional crisis. The voters, Congress, and, yes, the U.S. military must all now be more vigilant than at any time in our modern history.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
The President Is Losing Control of Himself
Donald Trump’s outbursts on social media this week were different than usual.
www.theatlantic.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:55 PM
A must read about Trump’s mental state. I hope every Republican in Congress reads, I hope all his cabinet members reads and I hope his family reads. Unhinged is answer understatement.
Thanks for the gift article Tom.
Thanks for the gift article Tom.
Yes, my parish uses the one with the Foundation Trilogy and Caves of Steel instead of the evangelists.
(This post below is not remotely accurate.)
(This post below is not remotely accurate.)
Each Orthodox patriarchy chooses its own version of the Bible, adding or deleting books as it wishes. Albanian Orthodoxy doesn't necessarily use the same Bible as Greek or Russian Orthodoxy. So it goes for each patriarchy.
November 22, 2025 at 8:52 PM
Yes, my parish uses the one with the Foundation Trilogy and Caves of Steel instead of the evangelists.
(This post below is not remotely accurate.)
(This post below is not remotely accurate.)
"Best thing about being Eastern Orthodox? Easter candy, half-price"
My father was Russian Orthodox and told us that the reason why they had a different Christmas was so that they could garbage pick a Christmas tree and re-use it.
November 22, 2025 at 8:50 PM
"Best thing about being Eastern Orthodox? Easter candy, half-price"
perhaps I can interest you in one of our meetings
Nice try, Tom. I may like to argue with you, but you aren’t tricking me into reading your copy of The Watchtower that easily.
November 22, 2025 at 8:49 PM
perhaps I can interest you in one of our meetings
Gosh, thanks, I was wondering what atheists think of religion
To many atheists (or agnostics), all the religions seem equally unlikely, unverifiable, and unnecessary. (And, well, in a word, wacky.)
As an Orthodox Christian, I should have found this article encouraging. But it makes me more...concerned. Faith is not therapy for masculine insecurities.
(If your comment is to trash religion, I'll just block you.)
cc @shoutingboy.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
(If your comment is to trash religion, I'll just block you.)
cc @shoutingboy.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
November 22, 2025 at 8:48 PM
Gosh, thanks, I was wondering what atheists think of religion
You don't say. I am open to all legal, constitutional, and non-violent suggestions. What did you have in mind?
Instead of talking nice about it, he needs to be stopped by every means available.
It's bad now, tom.
It's bad now, tom.
This is a new and dire development in the ongoing American constitutional crisis. The voters, Congress, and, yes, the U.S. military must all now be more vigilant than at any time in our modern history.
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...
November 22, 2025 at 8:47 PM
You don't say. I am open to all legal, constitutional, and non-violent suggestions. What did you have in mind?
People who are not Orthodox Christians explaining Orthodox Christian doctrine to me is peak Death of Expertise, and the only thing that could make it better is if they were talking to an Orthodox metropolitan
November 22, 2025 at 7:43 PM
People who are not Orthodox Christians explaining Orthodox Christian doctrine to me is peak Death of Expertise, and the only thing that could make it better is if they were talking to an Orthodox metropolitan
Also, the NYT article didn't really get to the difference within Orthodoxy itself.
The OCA (which has Russian roots and is small and self-governing) and the Greek and some other churches (about 4x larger, and under the Constantinople patriarchate) are not just one big generic Orthodox church.
The OCA (which has Russian roots and is small and self-governing) and the Greek and some other churches (about 4x larger, and under the Constantinople patriarchate) are not just one big generic Orthodox church.
I have many thoughts about this article that can't be put into a mere 300 characters, but I think a core problem is that, given how small Orthodox churches tend to be, they make for ripe "colonization" targets by far-right radicals.
As an Orthodox Christian, I should have found this article encouraging. But it makes me more...concerned. Faith is not therapy for masculine insecurities.
(If your comment is to trash religion, I'll just block you.)
cc @shoutingboy.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
(If your comment is to trash religion, I'll just block you.)
cc @shoutingboy.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
November 22, 2025 at 7:38 PM
Also, the NYT article didn't really get to the difference within Orthodoxy itself.
The OCA (which has Russian roots and is small and self-governing) and the Greek and some other churches (about 4x larger, and under the Constantinople patriarchate) are not just one big generic Orthodox church.
The OCA (which has Russian roots and is small and self-governing) and the Greek and some other churches (about 4x larger, and under the Constantinople patriarchate) are not just one big generic Orthodox church.
I should have known I'd open up the complaints from people outside of this faith who don't recognize the difference between some of the ethnic traditions (which can get nutty) and actual church doctrine.
I have never been in a segregated-seating church, even in Russia. But sure, they do exist.
I have never been in a segregated-seating church, even in Russia. But sure, they do exist.
Married into a Serbian Orthodox fam and they wanted me to get married in their church. Pews for women on one side, men on the other. Why you ask? Women have periods and are dirty. NOPE WTF
November 22, 2025 at 7:20 PM
I should have known I'd open up the complaints from people outside of this faith who don't recognize the difference between some of the ethnic traditions (which can get nutty) and actual church doctrine.
I have never been in a segregated-seating church, even in Russia. But sure, they do exist.
I have never been in a segregated-seating church, even in Russia. But sure, they do exist.
Reposted by Tom Nichols
The problem the converts eventually run into is that, regardless of whether it's Catholicism, Protestantism, or Orthodoxy, Jesus is never a deified Rambo. He always instructs his followers to love their neighbors, to not judge them, and to turn the other cheek.
November 22, 2025 at 7:14 PM
The problem the converts eventually run into is that, regardless of whether it's Catholicism, Protestantism, or Orthodoxy, Jesus is never a deified Rambo. He always instructs his followers to love their neighbors, to not judge them, and to turn the other cheek.
Reposted by Tom Nichols
Forever undefeated.
February 11, 2025 at 5:25 PM
Forever undefeated.
Yep. There's a reason "no fanatic like a convert" is an old expression.
Even as a diehard atheist, I've noticed that those that were born and raised into Catholicism are usually cool, but many who convert into it as adults seem indistinguishable from the villains in The Handmaid's Tale. Maybe they like the aesthetics more than any actual Jesus teachings?
November 22, 2025 at 7:07 PM
Yep. There's a reason "no fanatic like a convert" is an old expression.
*rubs temples*
None of this is happening in the Orthodox Church, especially not adopting pre-Vatican II theology.
Please, my brothers and sisters, do not try to explain the doctrine of a church you've never attended
None of this is happening in the Orthodox Church, especially not adopting pre-Vatican II theology.
Please, my brothers and sisters, do not try to explain the doctrine of a church you've never attended
You should be concerned. It's not the faith that's attracting them it's the older rituals and traditions that Catholics dumped after Vatican II. The older style Mass, women covering their hair, all the things they can try to use in a toxic way.
November 22, 2025 at 7:06 PM
*rubs temples*
None of this is happening in the Orthodox Church, especially not adopting pre-Vatican II theology.
Please, my brothers and sisters, do not try to explain the doctrine of a church you've never attended
None of this is happening in the Orthodox Church, especially not adopting pre-Vatican II theology.
Please, my brothers and sisters, do not try to explain the doctrine of a church you've never attended
As an Orthodox Christian, I should have found this article encouraging. But it makes me more...concerned. Faith is not therapy for masculine insecurities.
(If your comment is to trash religion, I'll just block you.)
cc @shoutingboy.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
(If your comment is to trash religion, I'll just block you.)
cc @shoutingboy.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
Orthodox Church Pews Are Overflowing With Converts
www.nytimes.com
November 22, 2025 at 6:53 PM
As an Orthodox Christian, I should have found this article encouraging. But it makes me more...concerned. Faith is not therapy for masculine insecurities.
(If your comment is to trash religion, I'll just block you.)
cc @shoutingboy.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
(If your comment is to trash religion, I'll just block you.)
cc @shoutingboy.bsky.social
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/19/u...
#AT40 I bought this single (I was almost 13) and then stopped listening to it in, like, a week
Bob Dylan - "Knockin' on Heaven's Door" falls four spots to #19. #AT40
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knockin...
youtu.be/rm9coqlk8fY?...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Knockin...
youtu.be/rm9coqlk8fY?...
Bob Dylan - Knockin' On Heaven's Door (Official Audio)
YouTube video by BobDylanVEVO
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 6:18 PM
#AT40 I bought this single (I was almost 13) and then stopped listening to it in, like, a week
Mine would be the Republic of Tom, but first I'd have to overthow the Republic of Dave with a rigged election
IYKYK
@alradley.com
IYKYK
@alradley.com
My first *state* would be the "Barkingsheltie Dominium".
November 22, 2025 at 6:17 PM
Mine would be the Republic of Tom, but first I'd have to overthow the Republic of Dave with a rigged election
IYKYK
@alradley.com
IYKYK
@alradley.com
Reposted by Tom Nichols
@radiofreetom.bsky.social evening plans: set
November 22, 2025 at 6:09 PM
@radiofreetom.bsky.social evening plans: set
#AT40 I unashamedly love this song
Seals and Crofts - "We May Never Pass This Way (Again)" climbs a spot to #21. #AT40
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_May_...
youtu.be/8Dw8R6kIKyw?...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_May_...
youtu.be/8Dw8R6kIKyw?...
We May Never Pass This Way (Again)
YouTube video by Seals and Crofts - Topic
youtu.be
November 22, 2025 at 6:14 PM
#AT40 I unashamedly love this song
No! The system has become dysfunctional primarily because of population trends. My only argument is the concept is sound.
Honest question here. In your view is power balanced now? In my view we have a controlling party that represents a minority of the country. Polling of people, however flawed, shows that the GOP agenda is not popular. So federalism as currently constructed = minority rule. Do I flunk?
November 22, 2025 at 4:24 PM
No! The system has become dysfunctional primarily because of population trends. My only argument is the concept is sound.
But it hasn’t got a lot of spam in it
November 22, 2025 at 4:23 PM
But it hasn’t got a lot of spam in it
I said this in my most recent @theatlantic.com article: The lawmakers had to make that video because it's so likely that Trump is, in fact, giving illegal orders, as @gregsargent.bsky.social discusses here.
What's weirdly missing from coverage of the Dem video is any discussion of this Q: Is it reasonable to fear Trump is giving illegal orders, or not? The answer is, yes, of course it is.
On the boat bombings, for instance, evidence is extensive. Here's a look at it:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
On the boat bombings, for instance, evidence is extensive. Here's a look at it:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
November 22, 2025 at 3:17 PM
I said this in my most recent @theatlantic.com article: The lawmakers had to make that video because it's so likely that Trump is, in fact, giving illegal orders, as @gregsargent.bsky.social discusses here.
"Every 50 years, we should pretend states don't exist and just play with crayons and maps"
Every 50 years, based on census, we should redraw state boundaries to “redistrict” for equal representation in the senate and electoral college. That would solve so much.
November 22, 2025 at 6:53 AM
"Every 50 years, we should pretend states don't exist and just play with crayons and maps"