Tom Horner
@tomhorner.bsky.social
A Minnesota independent, interested in good public policy and at least one more home team sports championship in my lifetime.
Too often, the limitations of staff and space leave the fifth W of journalism - “Why” - on the shelf. Yet, it is understanding why an event is happening that provides the context to help us understand the story behind the story.
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
The Missing ‘W’ in the News
Context and background matter when in comes to understanding some of today’s news
open.substack.com
October 21, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Too often, the limitations of staff and space leave the fifth W of journalism - “Why” - on the shelf. Yet, it is understanding why an event is happening that provides the context to help us understand the story behind the story.
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
It will take more than a government shutdown to reform the health system.
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
Shutting Down Government Won’t Fix What Ails the Health System
America is paying a high price for not coming to grips with the need for health system reforms.
open.substack.com
October 1, 2025 at 1:33 PM
It will take more than a government shutdown to reform the health system.
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
The One Big Beautiful Bill is a childish name for abysmal policy. Minnesota can't afford to wait to see just how bad it is before acting.
tomhorner.substack.com/p/minnesota-...
tomhorner.substack.com/p/minnesota-...
Minnesota Can’t Afford to Wait-and-See What the Big Beautiful Bill Brings
It’s Bad Legislation that Requires Immediate and Bold Action
tomhorner.substack.com
August 3, 2025 at 5:53 PM
The One Big Beautiful Bill is a childish name for abysmal policy. Minnesota can't afford to wait to see just how bad it is before acting.
tomhorner.substack.com/p/minnesota-...
tomhorner.substack.com/p/minnesota-...
The commitments of many to better politics in the aftermath of the political assassinations in Minnesota are important. But true change will only come with reforms to our political system.
www.startribune.com/rebuild-gove...
www.startribune.com/rebuild-gove...
Opinion: Kinder and gentler politics are good. Effective policy is better.
"We have allowed the two parties to create a duopoly, one that feels entitled to its voters and divides the country into blue and red," Tom Horner writes. "This noncompetitive environment is the catal...
www.startribune.com
June 27, 2025 at 12:48 PM
The commitments of many to better politics in the aftermath of the political assassinations in Minnesota are important. But true change will only come with reforms to our political system.
www.startribune.com/rebuild-gove...
www.startribune.com/rebuild-gove...
U.S. intelligence agencies remain the world’s best in collecting information. But knowing WHAT is happening doesn’t always lead to knowing what it means or understanding the consequences. What comes next - for Iran, the region and the U.S.?
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
What Next in Iran? Are the Consequences of Dropping Bombs Understood?
U.S. intelligence is great at information-gathering, but what about assessing the impact?
open.substack.com
June 22, 2025 at 6:52 PM
U.S. intelligence agencies remain the world’s best in collecting information. But knowing WHAT is happening doesn’t always lead to knowing what it means or understanding the consequences. What comes next - for Iran, the region and the U.S.?
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
June 9 is an important anniversary of an act of integrity and political courage. The people and circumstances have direct ties to today.
minneapolistimes.com/have-you-no-...
minneapolistimes.com/have-you-no-...
‘Have You No Decency, Sir?’ An Anniversary with Ties and Meaning Today | Minneapolis Times
minneapolistimes.com
June 8, 2025 at 9:19 PM
June 9 is an important anniversary of an act of integrity and political courage. The people and circumstances have direct ties to today.
minneapolistimes.com/have-you-no-...
minneapolistimes.com/have-you-no-...
Minnesota legislators have created a lose-lose decision on health access for undocumented immigrants. Ignoring the big health issue - unsustainable costs - leaves everyone at risk.
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
When Legislators Ignore the Real Problems, They Only Have Bad Choices
Minnesota legislators face a lose-lose decision on health access for undocumented immigrants
open.substack.com
May 22, 2025 at 9:49 PM
Minnesota legislators have created a lose-lose decision on health access for undocumented immigrants. Ignoring the big health issue - unsustainable costs - leaves everyone at risk.
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
open.substack.com/pub/tomhorne...
Says it all. Only missing President Merkin Muffley
April 5, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Says it all. Only missing President Merkin Muffley
Republicans are starting to worry that Trump’s policies may cost them their political future. They should be more worried that the policies are costing the country its future.
April 4, 2025 at 10:36 PM
Republicans are starting to worry that Trump’s policies may cost them their political future. They should be more worried that the policies are costing the country its future.
Last time the stock market had a day this bad, Trump’s mismanagement of a crisis resulted in more than 1 million American deaths. What's the over/under on the toll from the self-inflicted tariff disaster?
April 4, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Last time the stock market had a day this bad, Trump’s mismanagement of a crisis resulted in more than 1 million American deaths. What's the over/under on the toll from the self-inflicted tariff disaster?
To DOGE cynics, let this be a lesson. Musk and Trump were able to save $170 million (in a $6.8 trillion budget) by cutting research into childhood cancer. Research will be replaced by the more efficient GOP plan to protect children from tragic, unnecessary deaths: thoughts and prayers.
December 21, 2024 at 12:50 PM
To DOGE cynics, let this be a lesson. Musk and Trump were able to save $170 million (in a $6.8 trillion budget) by cutting research into childhood cancer. Research will be replaced by the more efficient GOP plan to protect children from tragic, unnecessary deaths: thoughts and prayers.
Seems grocery prices won’t be going down under Trump because that’s actually “very hard” to do, he now acknowledges. But, good news, Trump will fight to end the oppression of Daylight Savings Time. Food will still be expensive, but with shorter summer nights for grilling, we will need less. Bold!
December 15, 2024 at 5:25 PM
Seems grocery prices won’t be going down under Trump because that’s actually “very hard” to do, he now acknowledges. But, good news, Trump will fight to end the oppression of Daylight Savings Time. Food will still be expensive, but with shorter summer nights for grilling, we will need less. Bold!
Maybe too much attention is being is to the incoming Trump administration avoiding
FBI background checks on nominees. Seems more could be learned by interviewing the Moms of the Cabinet wannabes. Just ask Pete Hegseth
FBI background checks on nominees. Seems more could be learned by interviewing the Moms of the Cabinet wannabes. Just ask Pete Hegseth
November 30, 2024 at 10:50 PM
Maybe too much attention is being is to the incoming Trump administration avoiding
FBI background checks on nominees. Seems more could be learned by interviewing the Moms of the Cabinet wannabes. Just ask Pete Hegseth
FBI background checks on nominees. Seems more could be learned by interviewing the Moms of the Cabinet wannabes. Just ask Pete Hegseth
A Trump supporter urged me not to gloat over Gaetz's withdrawal, saying there are more like him. Well, of course there are. Just look at some of Trump’s other nominees
November 21, 2024 at 7:06 PM
A Trump supporter urged me not to gloat over Gaetz's withdrawal, saying there are more like him. Well, of course there are. Just look at some of Trump’s other nominees
In 2021, Trump gave clemency to 10 health executives guilty of Medicare/Medicaid fraud, including two who EACH bilked the programs for $1 billion. Yesterday, Trump named Dr. Oz to direct the health programs, saying Oz "will get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend..." Ironic, huh?
November 20, 2024 at 3:40 PM
In 2021, Trump gave clemency to 10 health executives guilty of Medicare/Medicaid fraud, including two who EACH bilked the programs for $1 billion. Yesterday, Trump named Dr. Oz to direct the health programs, saying Oz "will get the best results in the World for every dollar we spend..." Ironic, huh?
MN is fortunate to have a robust environment of quality news sources. I am on the board of MinnPost. At yesterday's meeting we heard of exciting plans for broader and even more in-depth coverage of key events and issues. Please consider supporting MinnPost on Give to the Max Day bit.ly/3O39Lf8
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November 20, 2024 at 2:12 PM
MN is fortunate to have a robust environment of quality news sources. I am on the board of MinnPost. At yesterday's meeting we heard of exciting plans for broader and even more in-depth coverage of key events and issues. Please consider supporting MinnPost on Give to the Max Day bit.ly/3O39Lf8
House Speaker Johnson is blocking release of an ethics report on allegations that AG-designate Matt Gaetz had sex with underage girls, among other crimes. Claims it would set a terrible precedent. Examining evidence the nation’s top law officer is guilty of heinous crimes seems the right precedent
November 15, 2024 at 11:04 PM
House Speaker Johnson is blocking release of an ethics report on allegations that AG-designate Matt Gaetz had sex with underage girls, among other crimes. Claims it would set a terrible precedent. Examining evidence the nation’s top law officer is guilty of heinous crimes seems the right precedent
Prez candidate speaking to the largest Madison Square Garden rally since FDR: “Our system is under attack…Anarchy prevails today in the streets…I’m not talking about race…It’s a few anarchists, a few activists, a few militants, a few revolutionaries, and a few Communists.” - George Wallace, 1968
November 15, 2024 at 3:29 PM
Prez candidate speaking to the largest Madison Square Garden rally since FDR: “Our system is under attack…Anarchy prevails today in the streets…I’m not talking about race…It’s a few anarchists, a few activists, a few militants, a few revolutionaries, and a few Communists.” - George Wallace, 1968
I hate to start my BlueSky life with a negative, so I will just leave it at two words: Matt Gaetz?????????
November 13, 2024 at 10:03 PM
I hate to start my BlueSky life with a negative, so I will just leave it at two words: Matt Gaetz?????????
Joining Blue Sky with the hope of finding good conversations, interesting and useful insights and a respite from the nonsense of other social media platforms.
November 13, 2024 at 8:13 PM
Joining Blue Sky with the hope of finding good conversations, interesting and useful insights and a respite from the nonsense of other social media platforms.