Tony Byrne
@tonybyrne.bsky.social
Sewer socialist. Born at 322ppm. MKE > YYZ > DCA > BWI he/him
Pinned
Tony Byrne
@tonybyrne.bsky.social
· Jun 19
unless the first sentence of this article is “i’m a giant idiot mark,” i’m not interested
Key to understanding Trump is avoid thinking in terms of ideology (he has none) & therefore policy. Instead think grammar. He simply cannot stand to be an object in any important moment. Of course when a dramatic war started he needed to commandeer headlines and make himself the proverbial subject.
Reposted by Tony Byrne
Trump's policies are inflicting so much harm even his allies can see it. Yet he's mostly doing exactly what he promised to. If they revolt over policy, they'll reveal they were fools to back him in the first place. They need a *moral* reason to abandon him. The Epstein files provide just that.
November 15, 2025 at 10:50 PM
Trump's policies are inflicting so much harm even his allies can see it. Yet he's mostly doing exactly what he promised to. If they revolt over policy, they'll reveal they were fools to back him in the first place. They need a *moral* reason to abandon him. The Epstein files provide just that.
Reposted by Tony Byrne
Imagine if media outlets wrote that someone who committed tax fraud "filed all forms" or "filed their taxes before the deadline".
Media outlets love writing that drivers "stayed at the scene" which is what they legally have to do. But I guess it's news when drivers follow the law.
"The driver of the BMW [did not hit and run]"
November 14, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Imagine if media outlets wrote that someone who committed tax fraud "filed all forms" or "filed their taxes before the deadline".
Reposted by Tony Byrne
Every "population crisis" article in western media is just "WHERE ARE THE WHITE BABIES" in disguise and we absolutely do not have to give any credence to any of them
November 13, 2025 at 10:14 PM
Every "population crisis" article in western media is just "WHERE ARE THE WHITE BABIES" in disguise and we absolutely do not have to give any credence to any of them
This was beyond unsustainable even 10 years ago…
The median age of all U.S. homebuyers is now 59 years old.
Just 15 years ago, it was 39 years old.
Just 15 years ago, it was 39 years old.
November 13, 2025 at 6:37 PM
This was beyond unsustainable even 10 years ago…
Reposted by Tony Byrne
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Reposted by Tony Byrne
Somewhere tonight, a national political correspondent is hoarding critical information to for yet-to-be announced book deal.
November 13, 2025 at 1:02 AM
Somewhere tonight, a national political correspondent is hoarding critical information to for yet-to-be announced book deal.
Reposted by Tony Byrne
maybe JD Vance has never taken ibuprofen, assuming that pounding in his skull is just the normal consequence of attempting a thought at all
JD Vance calls ibuprofen "useless medication" and implies it's not "necessary, safe and effective."
November 12, 2025 at 10:43 PM
maybe JD Vance has never taken ibuprofen, assuming that pounding in his skull is just the normal consequence of attempting a thought at all
Reposted by Tony Byrne
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
November 11, 2025 at 1:50 AM
In the century leading up to 1975, nearly 6000 freighters went down in the Great Lakes.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
The Edmund Fitzgerald was the last.
The last. In 50 years, not a single commercial freighter has been lost in the Great Lakes.
Why?
It's NOAA. Of course it's NOAA.
I’ve been watching with growing dismay a of witless ping-ping journalism in DC for some decades now, and only wish I had this sort of talent to expose it so thoroughly.
This piece is as good as people say it is. Read it to appreciate that writing isn't just about content, but style. AI can't do this.
Maybe Don’t Talk to the New York Times About Zohran Mamdani
It’s remarkable, the people you’ll hear from. Teach for even a little while at an expensive institution—the term they tend to prefer is “elite”—and odds are that eventually someone who was a studen…
lithub.com
November 9, 2025 at 12:25 PM
I’ve been watching with growing dismay a of witless ping-ping journalism in DC for some decades now, and only wish I had this sort of talent to expose it so thoroughly.
Same
I for one am ready to be led by younger people. I'm not sure I believe in age-related "wisdom" at all, and I don't want to become a whiny blocker to the future as so many Boomers and Xers are. Millennials and Zoomers are gonna be living with this world for a lot longer than me, they should lead now.
November 8, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Same
Reposted by Tony Byrne
Obviously she won't win, but you can safely predict that Stefanik's antisemitic conspiracy theories about "Soros" and "globalists" and aides/staffers of hers being in the youth GOP "I love Hitler"/"Throw them in the gas chambers" chat will get nowhere near the scrutiny Mamdani did.
Stefanik poised to announce bid for New York governor on Friday
Stefanik poised to announce bid for New York governor on Friday
New York Republicans have been shut out of statewide office for decades.
dlvr.it
November 7, 2025 at 12:12 AM
Obviously she won't win, but you can safely predict that Stefanik's antisemitic conspiracy theories about "Soros" and "globalists" and aides/staffers of hers being in the youth GOP "I love Hitler"/"Throw them in the gas chambers" chat will get nowhere near the scrutiny Mamdani did.
Passing it on… read the thread.
Sidewalks shouldn’t stop for side streets, pass it on
November 5, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Passing it on… read the thread.
A quirky Takoma Park needs quirky zoning: ggwash.org/view/101317/... great piece and would only add that several county neighborhoods qualify… Via @ericsaul.bsky.social and the indispensable @ggwash.org
A quirky Takoma Park needs quirky zoning
Quirk thrives in the cracks–in the messy mix of uses, people, and incomes that make a place feel alive. The irony is that to preserve Takoma Park’s quirky character, we may have to break from the zoni...
ggwash.org
November 5, 2025 at 5:24 PM
A quirky Takoma Park needs quirky zoning: ggwash.org/view/101317/... great piece and would only add that several county neighborhoods qualify… Via @ericsaul.bsky.social and the indispensable @ggwash.org
Excellent dream
Can we do this every Tuesday
November 5, 2025 at 4:12 AM
Excellent dream
Reposted by Tony Byrne
Somewhere the worst billionaire you know is writing a very long tweet thread about Israel and the mayoral election.
November 5, 2025 at 12:02 AM
Somewhere the worst billionaire you know is writing a very long tweet thread about Israel and the mayoral election.
Reposted by Tony Byrne
Academics’ and planners’ single-minded focus on making *brand new* homes affordable to the poorest people has been a disaster for poor people’s’ ability to afford housing.
Real grim stuff from a nonprofit staff attorney and former UCSD urban studies lecturer
October 31, 2025 at 9:20 PM
Academics’ and planners’ single-minded focus on making *brand new* homes affordable to the poorest people has been a disaster for poor people’s’ ability to afford housing.
Reposted by Tony Byrne
You can't make this up.
November 1, 2025 at 4:31 PM
You can't make this up.
Reposted by Tony Byrne
New York Times editorial board has compiled "a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
October 31, 2025 at 2:36 PM
New York Times editorial board has compiled "a list of 12 markers of democratic erosion." www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
This is what "not the odds, but the stakes" was all about.
During the 2024 campaign, those 12 markers could have been in place and operating to guide news coverage everywhere.
Reposted by Tony Byrne
Happy Halloween from Waltham🫠
October 31, 2025 at 11:48 AM
Happy Halloween from Waltham🫠
Trump Administration in One Headline.
(h/t @ggwash.org excellent daily newsletter)
Link to article: wtop.com/dc/2025/10/d...
(h/t @ggwash.org excellent daily newsletter)
Link to article: wtop.com/dc/2025/10/d...
October 27, 2025 at 8:50 PM
Trump Administration in One Headline.
(h/t @ggwash.org excellent daily newsletter)
Link to article: wtop.com/dc/2025/10/d...
(h/t @ggwash.org excellent daily newsletter)
Link to article: wtop.com/dc/2025/10/d...
Reposted by Tony Byrne
Corporate media is in a bad place.
October 27, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Corporate media is in a bad place.
Reposted by Tony Byrne
The actual WSJ opinion page is hilariously more in touch with reality
October 25, 2025 at 10:15 PM
The actual WSJ opinion page is hilariously more in touch with reality
I've been looking to share an article like this for a loooong time. And here it is! via @mocomikee.bsky.social and @ggwash.org
Who gets to say who gets to have a say?: ggwash.org/view/101232/...
Who gets to say who gets to have a say?: ggwash.org/view/101232/...
Who gets to say who gets to have a say?
Opinion: Everyone was “new” at some point, and even if they were born here, their family was “new” at one point too. They may have come here for work or for school. It may be a forever home, or a stop...
ggwash.org
October 22, 2025 at 4:13 PM
I've been looking to share an article like this for a loooong time. And here it is! via @mocomikee.bsky.social and @ggwash.org
Who gets to say who gets to have a say?: ggwash.org/view/101232/...
Who gets to say who gets to have a say?: ggwash.org/view/101232/...
Reposted by Tony Byrne
No Kings protests were one of the few times Trump, MAGA, and right-wing media were reacting to something the opposition did, rather than the opposition reacting to whatever they do.
Adopt a principle from war strategy: generally better to be taking action and forcing opponents to react. Good point.
Adopt a principle from war strategy: generally better to be taking action and forcing opponents to react. Good point.
Point five is really important. The protests provoked errors from the administration (shit force one) that may haunt them for years. That’s what happens when you stop being reactive.
October 21, 2025 at 5:53 PM
No Kings protests were one of the few times Trump, MAGA, and right-wing media were reacting to something the opposition did, rather than the opposition reacting to whatever they do.
Adopt a principle from war strategy: generally better to be taking action and forcing opponents to react. Good point.
Adopt a principle from war strategy: generally better to be taking action and forcing opponents to react. Good point.