Tara
@terrababa.bsky.social
Demographer, sociologist, health policy researcher, movie buff. I endeavor to make data accurately reflect who we are and appreciate cinema that is trying to do the same.
Reposted by Tara
One fascinating and yet expected thing is that none of the big foreign accounts pretending to be American are left of center, or even anti-Trump. Not a single one. Says something about the economics and geopolitics of political grifting
If I’m understanding this correctly, X is owned by a white nationalist who pays poor people of color in developing countries to pretend to be working class white Americans to scare other white Americans into being afraid poor people of color from developing countries are going to ruin America?
November 23, 2025 at 11:08 PM
One fascinating and yet expected thing is that none of the big foreign accounts pretending to be American are left of center, or even anti-Trump. Not a single one. Says something about the economics and geopolitics of political grifting
Reposted by Tara
12th grade girls are now less likely to say they want to get married someday
1993: 83%
2023: 61%
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
1993: 83%
2023: 61%
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
November 23, 2025 at 11:30 PM
12th grade girls are now less likely to say they want to get married someday
1993: 83%
2023: 61%
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
1993: 83%
2023: 61%
www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/...
Reposted by Tara
Adult children of wealth can already inherit many millions of $ without inheritance tax. But bill says it's not ENOUGH MILLIONS.
In fact, lack of inheritance taxes leads heirs to laze around, waste time, & avoid work.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
In fact, lack of inheritance taxes leads heirs to laze around, waste time, & avoid work.
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Inheritance taxation and wealth effects on the labor supply of heirs
The taxation of bequests can have a positive impact on the labor supply of heirs through wealth effects. This leads to an increase in labor income tax…
www.sciencedirect.com
November 23, 2025 at 11:43 PM
Reposted by Tara
End legacy admissions, should be such a lay up.
3 factors at play: (1) legacy admissions, (2) non-academic credentials, (3) athletes
Start from the top, get rid of legacy preferences gwagner.com/legacy
@oppinsights.bsky.social
Start from the top, get rid of legacy preferences gwagner.com/legacy
@oppinsights.bsky.social
November 23, 2025 at 11:17 PM
End legacy admissions, should be such a lay up.
Reposted by Tara
Fact, and all scientific leaders should say this to his face.
Stop trying to butter up or compromise with Cassidy and Susan Collins. It will not work! Believing it will is a flawed theory of how US politics works in 2025.
Stop trying to butter up or compromise with Cassidy and Susan Collins. It will not work! Believing it will is a flawed theory of how US politics works in 2025.
Bill Cassidy has done infinitely more for the antivaccine movement than he can ever claim he has done to promote vaccination. He is one of the worst antivaxxers to ever live.
With all my heart, fuck this guy.
November 23, 2025 at 6:26 PM
Fact, and all scientific leaders should say this to his face.
Stop trying to butter up or compromise with Cassidy and Susan Collins. It will not work! Believing it will is a flawed theory of how US politics works in 2025.
Stop trying to butter up or compromise with Cassidy and Susan Collins. It will not work! Believing it will is a flawed theory of how US politics works in 2025.
Reposted by Tara
Important case.
The @apnews.com is fighting for press freedom.
The extortion / expulsion over the AP’s refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico should have triggered the Fourth Estate to stand in unanimity with AP - like they did with the Admin’s Pentagon press pool “pledge”.
The @apnews.com is fighting for press freedom.
The extortion / expulsion over the AP’s refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico should have triggered the Fourth Estate to stand in unanimity with AP - like they did with the Admin’s Pentagon press pool “pledge”.
Tomorrow morning, the DC Circuit will consider whether Trump violated the First Amendment by ejecting @apnews.com from the White House press pool after it refused to call the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America. Very glad that the AP is fighting this. knightcolumbia.org/blog/the-fig...
November 23, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Important case.
The @apnews.com is fighting for press freedom.
The extortion / expulsion over the AP’s refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico should have triggered the Fourth Estate to stand in unanimity with AP - like they did with the Admin’s Pentagon press pool “pledge”.
The @apnews.com is fighting for press freedom.
The extortion / expulsion over the AP’s refusal to rename the Gulf of Mexico should have triggered the Fourth Estate to stand in unanimity with AP - like they did with the Admin’s Pentagon press pool “pledge”.
Reposted by Tara
“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health, according to unredacted filings in a lawsuit by U.S. school districts against Meta and other social media platforms.”
Meta buried 'causal' evidence of social media harm, US court filings allege - The Economic Times
Meta reportedly halted internal research into the mental health impacts of Facebook and Instagram after finding causal evidence of harm. Internal documents revealed users reported lower depression and...
m.economictimes.com
November 23, 2025 at 4:46 PM
“Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users’ mental health, according to unredacted filings in a lawsuit by U.S. school districts against Meta and other social media platforms.”
Reposted by Tara
All this shows is that the US has no idea what it’s doing and it’s being played by Moscow. Complete humiliation.
#BBCNews - Trump says US plan to end Ukraine war not 'final offer' for Kyiv
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#UkraineWar
www.bbc.com/news/article...
#UkraineWar
Trump says US plan to end Ukraine war not 'final offer' for Kyiv
US President Donald Trump says the plan is not his "final offer" for Kyiv, and security officials are set to meet in Geneva on Sunday.
www.bbc.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:13 AM
All this shows is that the US has no idea what it’s doing and it’s being played by Moscow. Complete humiliation.
Reposted by Tara
And speaking of last year's hack of Trump flunkies by Iran, I've been meaning to revisit the disclosure that the "lawyer" involved was none other than Lindsey the Insurance Lawyer.
How did the people who invented chess figure out Lindsey was a weak link? 😀
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
How did the people who invented chess figure out Lindsey was a weak link? 😀
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
November 23, 2025 at 3:02 PM
And speaking of last year's hack of Trump flunkies by Iran, I've been meaning to revisit the disclosure that the "lawyer" involved was none other than Lindsey the Insurance Lawyer.
How did the people who invented chess figure out Lindsey was a weak link? 😀
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
How did the people who invented chess figure out Lindsey was a weak link? 😀
www.reuters.com/legal/govern...
Reposted by Tara
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
November 23, 2025 at 9:23 AM
Twitter pays people based on engagement (views, retweets, comments, etc). It appears that many MAGA accounts are based abroad and they use AI technology to generate low-effort rage bait.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
My guess is that this will get worse as AI tech improves. For instance, fake videos of minorities doing crime.
Reposted by Tara
Which is why so many online leftists & DSA types are turning on her
Also, it goes to my longstanding point I have learned covering her: AOC is far more pragmatic than her detractors and her fans think because she is interested in advancing policy outcomes.
wapo.st/49BkLwA
wapo.st/49BkLwA
AOC built her own political machine. Now she’s deciding her next move.
Seven years after Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez leapt onto the national stage as an outsider, she’s learned an inside game and is considering a run for Senate or president.
wapo.st
November 23, 2025 at 5:58 AM
Which is why so many online leftists & DSA types are turning on her
Reposted by Tara
Teen Vogue’s closure means the loss of a fearless, youth-driven platform for justice journalism and feminist media. When spaces like this disappear, young voices and vital perspectives go unheard. This is a massive blow to good reporting and democracy. www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
Less politics, more makeup: the unraveling of Teen Vogue under Trump 2.0
The folding of the progressive youth-focused magazine into Vogue comes at turbulent time for journalism and the crumbling of feminist media
www.theguardian.com
November 23, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Teen Vogue’s closure means the loss of a fearless, youth-driven platform for justice journalism and feminist media. When spaces like this disappear, young voices and vital perspectives go unheard. This is a massive blow to good reporting and democracy. www.theguardian.com/fashion/2025...
Reposted by Tara
Trump’s reference to “military courts” and the SECDEF “looking into it” is alarming because he is broadly hinting at subjecting members of Congress to military tribunals — something with no legal basis — and even floating that idea is an unmistakable authoritarian signal
rumble.com/v721uvw-pres...
rumble.com/v721uvw-pres...
November 23, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Trump’s reference to “military courts” and the SECDEF “looking into it” is alarming because he is broadly hinting at subjecting members of Congress to military tribunals — something with no legal basis — and even floating that idea is an unmistakable authoritarian signal
rumble.com/v721uvw-pres...
rumble.com/v721uvw-pres...
Reposted by Tara
Ryan Zinke was forced out for shit like this
Seriously tho, this is a well-reported piece that make it hard not to conclude that Patel is using government resources to enjoy the trappings of a mid-level celebrity, like hosting his buddies for a golf retreat in Scotland.
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/23/u...
November 23, 2025 at 3:24 PM
Ryan Zinke was forced out for shit like this
Reposted by Tara
The attention paid to that Dems video also shows a lack of knowledge from many Americans because it is widely known by service members that you are supposed to refuse illegal orders. It’s demanded of you to do so so what the Dems did was merely point that out. Trump has already given illegal orders
Oddly enough, in media coverage of Dems' video warning against carrying out illegal orders, there's very little discussion of *whether it's actually reasonable to fear Trump is giving illegal commands or not.*
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
The evidence is strong that he is. Media should say so:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
November 23, 2025 at 3:22 PM
The attention paid to that Dems video also shows a lack of knowledge from many Americans because it is widely known by service members that you are supposed to refuse illegal orders. It’s demanded of you to do so so what the Dems did was merely point that out. Trump has already given illegal orders
Reposted by Tara
Please note.
Brazil’s federal police on Saturday arrested former president Jair Bolsonaro over suspicion he was plotting to escape and avoid starting a 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt.
Brazil's ex-president Bolsonaro arrested over alleged plot to escape and avoid 27-year prison term
Brazil’s Supreme Court has ordered the arrest of former President Jair Bolsonaro over claims he was planning to escape before starting his 27-year prison sentence for leading a coup attempt.
apnews.com
November 23, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Please note.
Reposted by Tara
The US now has the Thiel-Vance foreign policy, the Steve Witkoff foreign policy, the Jared Kushner foreign policy, the Marco Rubio foreign policy, and once in a blue moon the Donald Trump foreign policy... and Putin and Netanyahu plus Saudi, UAE & Qatar drive most of it.
November 23, 2025 at 2:29 AM
The US now has the Thiel-Vance foreign policy, the Steve Witkoff foreign policy, the Jared Kushner foreign policy, the Marco Rubio foreign policy, and once in a blue moon the Donald Trump foreign policy... and Putin and Netanyahu plus Saudi, UAE & Qatar drive most of it.
Reposted by Tara
“Trump’s family has deals to build luxury resorts and hotels in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. And their crypto firm will be used by the UAE to make a $2B deal— netting the Trumps hundreds of millions of dollars. His ‘diplomatic trips’ are blatant self-enrichment opportunities.” @rbreich.bsky.social
May 20, 2025 at 6:11 PM
“Trump’s family has deals to build luxury resorts and hotels in Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Oman. And their crypto firm will be used by the UAE to make a $2B deal— netting the Trumps hundreds of millions of dollars. His ‘diplomatic trips’ are blatant self-enrichment opportunities.” @rbreich.bsky.social
Reposted by Tara
Congress wrote into the law that someone who overstays a visa while applying for asylum is not considered to be accruing “unlawful presence,” but it didn’t explicitly say those people couldn’t be arrested and detained — because it was presumed that they wouldn’t be. Well, Trump is doing it.
We came to LA as refugees from the USSR in 1991. Life wasn’t easy, but we persevered and, I dare say, came to contribute something of worth to this nation.
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
Had I experienced the following when I was a boy, I don’t know what would have become of me.
www.latimes.com/california/s...
November 23, 2025 at 3:54 AM
Congress wrote into the law that someone who overstays a visa while applying for asylum is not considered to be accruing “unlawful presence,” but it didn’t explicitly say those people couldn’t be arrested and detained — because it was presumed that they wouldn’t be. Well, Trump is doing it.
Reposted by Tara
WTF newrepublic.com/post/203517/... This is like a Maddow fever dream circa 2018
Trump’s Ukraine Peace Deal Appears to Be Translated From Russian
Certain phrases in Trump’s proposed deal seem to be using Russian language.
newrepublic.com
November 23, 2025 at 2:50 AM
WTF newrepublic.com/post/203517/... This is like a Maddow fever dream circa 2018
Reposted by Tara
Utterly lawless
November 23, 2025 at 2:55 AM
Utterly lawless
Reposted by Tara
This excellent WSJ annotation of the Molotov/Ribbentrop … sorry, Witkoff/Dmitriev … “peace deal” for Ukraine shows how ridiculously vague and utterly unworkable this thing is
Free link
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Free link
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Trump’s Peace Plan for Ukraine, Annotated
Here’s a breakdown of some of the key points in the plan and how Ukraine and its European allies might respond.
www.wsj.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:42 PM
This excellent WSJ annotation of the Molotov/Ribbentrop … sorry, Witkoff/Dmitriev … “peace deal” for Ukraine shows how ridiculously vague and utterly unworkable this thing is
Free link
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Free link
www.wsj.com/world/europe...
Reposted by Tara
This piece is good, but omits a big source of Musk’s remaining influence in government: namely people given key appointments during the transition who were never officially part of DOGE and who are still in those positions doing DOGE-aligned work—people like my old boss at GSA who came from Tesla.
"Guys, seriously, get your own lawyer if you need it. Elon’s great, but you need to watch your own back.”
What happened to DOGE after Musk left.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
What happened to DOGE after Musk left.
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Inside the DOGE Succession Drama Elon Musk Left Behind
What really happened when he logged out of Washington.
www.politico.com
November 22, 2025 at 9:22 PM
This piece is good, but omits a big source of Musk’s remaining influence in government: namely people given key appointments during the transition who were never officially part of DOGE and who are still in those positions doing DOGE-aligned work—people like my old boss at GSA who came from Tesla.
Reposted by Tara
we appear to be on to version six of this story
November 23, 2025 at 2:44 AM
we appear to be on to version six of this story
Reposted by Tara
@michael-feinberg.bsky.social and @nkorpett.bsky.social explain the controversial measure added into the government funding bill which allow senators to sue for damages over records’ seizures and find that it undercuts reasonable debate about how DOJ should investigate Congress.
The Law Allowing Senators to Sue Over Phone Searches Is Worse Than You Thought
The controversial new measure paves the way for a big payday for senators—and undercuts reasonable debate about how the Justice Department should investigate Congress.
www.lawfaremedia.org
November 22, 2025 at 8:00 PM
@michael-feinberg.bsky.social and @nkorpett.bsky.social explain the controversial measure added into the government funding bill which allow senators to sue for damages over records’ seizures and find that it undercuts reasonable debate about how DOJ should investigate Congress.