Ric Stubbs
@stubbazubba.bsky.social
National security lawyer (all views strictly my own), TTRPG enthusiast, Tolkien lover, occasional songwriter, and a partridge in a pear tree. He/him.
Cover photo: concept art for Númenor in The Rings of Power.
Cover photo: concept art for Númenor in The Rings of Power.
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
There's a reason why major social media platforms, including Twitter pre-Elon, spent time and resources on "countering foreign influence" or "coordinated inauthentic behavior."
But then Tai bi, Shellenberger, Weiss, Benz, and Jordan showed up claiming that was the "censorship industrial complex"
But then Tai bi, Shellenberger, Weiss, Benz, and Jordan showed up claiming that was the "censorship industrial complex"
NEWS: I spent the past 24 hours going through major MAGA accounts on Twitter, and a bombshell development has become clear: most of the right-wing ecosphere is being fed propaganda from foreign actors.
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
This impacts elections. This impacts discourse. This is major. Subscribe to support my work:
NEWS: Major MAGA Accounts on Twitter Exposed as Foreign Actors
A stunning development over the past 24 hours.
open.substack.com
November 23, 2025 at 8:59 PM
There's a reason why major social media platforms, including Twitter pre-Elon, spent time and resources on "countering foreign influence" or "coordinated inauthentic behavior."
But then Tai bi, Shellenberger, Weiss, Benz, and Jordan showed up claiming that was the "censorship industrial complex"
But then Tai bi, Shellenberger, Weiss, Benz, and Jordan showed up claiming that was the "censorship industrial complex"
This thread is peak Menswear Guy: leads with pointing out the fashion illiteracy of a villain-of-the-week, and then dives deep into the human condition and the values that underpin not only his fashion commentary but the kind of society we need to strive to be.
A friend who teaches theology shared with me a post about CS Lewis's Mere Christianity, which discusses foundational Christian logic across denominations. It reminded me of Dale's tweet below, and I wanted to share some thoughts here regarding modesty and respectability, which are often hot topics.
November 24, 2025 at 1:35 AM
This thread is peak Menswear Guy: leads with pointing out the fashion illiteracy of a villain-of-the-week, and then dives deep into the human condition and the values that underpin not only his fashion commentary but the kind of society we need to strive to be.
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
Can’t believe the whole country has to suffer through the return of Dickensian childhood diseases because the worst, most ignorant attention-demanders decided other people’s expertise makes them feel bad
November 20, 2025 at 4:19 AM
Can’t believe the whole country has to suffer through the return of Dickensian childhood diseases because the worst, most ignorant attention-demanders decided other people’s expertise makes them feel bad
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump’s Claims About Cartels
Accounts of a secret Justice Department memo offer a window into how administration lawyers approved the president’s desired course of action.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Accounts of a secret Justice Department memo offer a window into how administration lawyers approved the president’s desired course of action.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump’s Claims About Cartels
www.nytimes.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Memo Blessing Boat Strikes Is Said to Rely on Trump’s Claims About Cartels
Accounts of a secret Justice Department memo offer a window into how administration lawyers approved the president’s desired course of action.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Accounts of a secret Justice Department memo offer a window into how administration lawyers approved the president’s desired course of action.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/13/u...
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
Misinformation *is* central to democratic problems today, but the solution is *not* to correct such epistemic failures directly. Instead, we must address them at their roots, in social identity.
Or so I argue in a new post for @apaphilosophy.bsky.social.
blog.apaonline.org/2025/11/12/t...
Or so I argue in a new post for @apaphilosophy.bsky.social.
blog.apaonline.org/2025/11/12/t...
The Problem is Epistemic. The Solution is Not. | Blog of the APA
Doubts about the wisdom of the masses are as old as philosophy itself. Yet interest in democracy’s “epistemic” merits has surged in the last decade—and it is no mystery why. Democracy is collapsing ar...
blog.apaonline.org
November 13, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Misinformation *is* central to democratic problems today, but the solution is *not* to correct such epistemic failures directly. Instead, we must address them at their roots, in social identity.
Or so I argue in a new post for @apaphilosophy.bsky.social.
blog.apaonline.org/2025/11/12/t...
Or so I argue in a new post for @apaphilosophy.bsky.social.
blog.apaonline.org/2025/11/12/t...
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
The reason these solutions never work is that epistemic failures are rooted in deeper structures of social identity, which are notoriously resilient to rational argument. The only way to restore the epistemic foundations of a healthy democracy is to address these pathologies at the source.
November 13, 2025 at 1:19 AM
The reason these solutions never work is that epistemic failures are rooted in deeper structures of social identity, which are notoriously resilient to rational argument. The only way to restore the epistemic foundations of a healthy democracy is to address these pathologies at the source.
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
tbh, the scope of criminality described in barely-literate text and the scale of how many people involved are both genuinely really shocking to me
November 12, 2025 at 10:44 PM
tbh, the scope of criminality described in barely-literate text and the scale of how many people involved are both genuinely really shocking to me
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
Huh well it turns out I heard from a few federal workers about this and well
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
November 10, 2025 at 9:30 PM
Huh well it turns out I heard from a few federal workers about this and well
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
"We civil servants organized to help our colleagues face the hardship of the shutdown, we put up with the pain and our only request was to not be betrayed like this. Trade our pain, make it count."
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
Why is the "we must be united!" hectoring directed at people who are mad at the Cavers and not to the Cavers? Everyone who's mad was united, then the Cave Caucus walked across the aisle and betrayed what the public had been told was the Dem position.
The sooner we get past internal recriminations and back to fighting united, the better off we all are — the likelier our victory next November.
November 10, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Why is the "we must be united!" hectoring directed at people who are mad at the Cavers and not to the Cavers? Everyone who's mad was united, then the Cave Caucus walked across the aisle and betrayed what the public had been told was the Dem position.
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
Even the senators who are retiring and think they won't have to face the wrath of furious Democratic voters should know that their last name is about to become so toxic that not even a goddamn nonprofit is going to want you on the board.
I think Senate folders are significantly underestimating how fucking angry Democratic voters are at them
November 10, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Even the senators who are retiring and think they won't have to face the wrath of furious Democratic voters should know that their last name is about to become so toxic that not even a goddamn nonprofit is going to want you on the board.
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
'A Slap in the Face': Federal Employees Feel Betrayed by Democrats' Shutdown Cave
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something."
www.gravityisgone.com
November 10, 2025 at 1:46 PM
I heard from a bunch of federal employees last night and this morning. They aren't happy.
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
"I would rather be an actual pawn. At least pawn sacrifices are calculated and achieve something. All this for a fucking meaningless vote."
If the GOP had any doubt after March, they now know for sure that Senate Dems can make zero credible threats whatsoever. The GOP will just wait them out.
The only chance of any actual negotiation in January or ever again is to replace leadership now. Schumer needs to be out by Thanksgiving.
The only chance of any actual negotiation in January or ever again is to replace leadership now. Schumer needs to be out by Thanksgiving.
November 10, 2025 at 4:08 PM
If the GOP had any doubt after March, they now know for sure that Senate Dems can make zero credible threats whatsoever. The GOP will just wait them out.
The only chance of any actual negotiation in January or ever again is to replace leadership now. Schumer needs to be out by Thanksgiving.
The only chance of any actual negotiation in January or ever again is to replace leadership now. Schumer needs to be out by Thanksgiving.
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
The model of holding individual senators responsible is broken here. The retirees clearly agreed to take the fall. Which is why the nos should get no credit for voting no unless they move to oust Schumer
November 10, 2025 at 3:20 AM
The model of holding individual senators responsible is broken here. The retirees clearly agreed to take the fall. Which is why the nos should get no credit for voting no unless they move to oust Schumer
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
Dems backed Trump into a corner where he’s advocating for starving Americans and hemorrhaging support. If they vote to let him off the hook in exchange for nothing it’s a cataclysmic failure. I know people are in pain but insulating Republicans from political consequences is not the answer.
November 9, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Dems backed Trump into a corner where he’s advocating for starving Americans and hemorrhaging support. If they vote to let him off the hook in exchange for nothing it’s a cataclysmic failure. I know people are in pain but insulating Republicans from political consequences is not the answer.
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
Democrats have to stop bailing out Republicans from facing the consequences of their own policies. And yeah, that means they have to stop sparing voters from experiencing what GOP government truly means.
Every time Dems step in, it only emboldens the GOP & they make it even worse the next time.
Every time Dems step in, it only emboldens the GOP & they make it even worse the next time.
So Democrats get:
1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays
2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail
3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts
Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
1. A CR that will prevent the GOP from facing the wrath of Americans for a shutdown over the holidays
2. A coupon for one (1) meaningless ACA vote that will fail
3. An end to the illegal RIF/SNAP moves that are already before the courts
Those all seem like wins for the GOP.
November 10, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Democrats have to stop bailing out Republicans from facing the consequences of their own policies. And yeah, that means they have to stop sparing voters from experiencing what GOP government truly means.
Every time Dems step in, it only emboldens the GOP & they make it even worse the next time.
Every time Dems step in, it only emboldens the GOP & they make it even worse the next time.
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
The White House keeps unilaterally taking entirely voluntary actions which it openly says are intended to inflict more pain and then they're I guess surprised - along with most of the DC media - about why they seem to be taking the blame for the shutdown.
November 8, 2025 at 12:45 AM
The White House keeps unilaterally taking entirely voluntary actions which it openly says are intended to inflict more pain and then they're I guess surprised - along with most of the DC media - about why they seem to be taking the blame for the shutdown.
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
November 7, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Chris Murphy: "There will be pretty substantial damage to a Dem brand that has been rehabilitated if on the heels of an election in which the people told us to keep fighting, we immediately stop... if we surrender without having gotten anything, I worry it'll be hard to get them back up off the mat"
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
10/10 take. No notes.
November 7, 2025 at 5:49 PM
10/10 take. No notes.
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
Halloween is such a perfect holiday to reground yourself in your community. Just throngs of different people wandering the neighborhood with their kids appreciating strangers for helping create something magical. This is what most of us crave.
November 1, 2025 at 3:00 AM
Halloween is such a perfect holiday to reground yourself in your community. Just throngs of different people wandering the neighborhood with their kids appreciating strangers for helping create something magical. This is what most of us crave.
"If Democrats want to influence public opinion about the Democratic Party, then they are going to have to make a sustained investment in media organizations."
💯
💯
My favorite thing as a writer is when I start ranting about something on Bluesky, get it all out of my system, and then turn it into a real piece of writing.
On that note: hey, it’s me, heckling centrist Dems in the New Republic!
newrepublic.com/article/2023...
On that note: hey, it’s me, heckling centrist Dems in the New Republic!
newrepublic.com/article/2023...
October 31, 2025 at 6:03 AM
"If Democrats want to influence public opinion about the Democratic Party, then they are going to have to make a sustained investment in media organizations."
💯
💯
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
I hate watching a whole country fail its Constitution saving throw
October 31, 2025 at 1:15 AM
I hate watching a whole country fail its Constitution saving throw
I hope @democrats.senate.gov @schumer.senate.gov have learned a valuable lesson about caving unilaterally on the funding bill in March: now that you did it once Republicans are banking the entire country that you'll do it again and again and again, every time.
Never again.
Never again.
October 31, 2025 at 3:35 AM
I hope @democrats.senate.gov @schumer.senate.gov have learned a valuable lesson about caving unilaterally on the funding bill in March: now that you did it once Republicans are banking the entire country that you'll do it again and again and again, every time.
Never again.
Never again.
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
Merkley: "What we've seen is that democracies no longer die bc men w/guns go in and take it over. Instead, it's electeds who erode the separation of power. If you have a rubber-stamp Congress & courts that deliver more power to the executive, suddenly you have an authoritarian state. It's here now."
October 23, 2025 at 2:05 PM
Merkley: "What we've seen is that democracies no longer die bc men w/guns go in and take it over. Instead, it's electeds who erode the separation of power. If you have a rubber-stamp Congress & courts that deliver more power to the executive, suddenly you have an authoritarian state. It's here now."
Reposted by Ric Stubbs
A senior's plea for basic dignity and basic income
October 20, 2025 at 10:55 PM
A senior's plea for basic dignity and basic income