Wonky
@wonkysq.bsky.social
Policy wonk specializing in climate change and urbanism, pessimistic optimist, 🔵😈
It's both hilarious and disturbing that he can't just be fuckin' normal for even the most anodyne, non-political parts of the president's job.
What the holy hell is this
Trump: We track Santa. We want to make sure that Santa is being good. We want to make sure that he's not infiltrated, that we're not infiltrating into our country a bad Santa. Santa loves Oklahoma like I do. You know, Oklahoma was very good to me in the election
December 25, 2025 at 3:06 AM
It's both hilarious and disturbing that he can't just be fuckin' normal for even the most anodyne, non-political parts of the president's job.
I'll never be able to wrap my brain around the people who claim the US tried *too hard* to limit the spread of Covid.
WHAT THE ABSOLUTE FUCK.
We had one of the worst fatality rates in the entire world and this book claims we were too cautious!
We had one of the worst fatality rates in the entire world and this book claims we were too cautious!
December 25, 2025 at 2:54 AM
I'll never be able to wrap my brain around the people who claim the US tried *too hard* to limit the spread of Covid.
The only way I'm getting through this time is by thinking about what comes next, and I love imagining the visceral joy of demolishing the tacky shit he loves so much.
newrepublic.com/article/2046...
newrepublic.com/article/2046...
December 24, 2025 at 6:32 PM
The only way I'm getting through this time is by thinking about what comes next, and I love imagining the visceral joy of demolishing the tacky shit he loves so much.
newrepublic.com/article/2046...
newrepublic.com/article/2046...
Reposted by Wonky
We don’t spend enough time discussing how the entire MAGA movement is kept afloat by the constant threats of stochastic terrorism orchestrated by the president of the United States.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
“I’m 84 years old. Threats against my life expectancy are kind of hollow. I don’t have much time anyway. I’m more concerned that our democracy is at risk because of the trends against the rule of law.” www.nbcnews.com/politics/pol...
Judges who ruled against Trump say harassment and threats have changed their lives
More than 100 pizzas were delivered to the homes of judges and their families this year, some with signs of foreign involvement. Judges say the message is clear: We know where you live.
www.nbcnews.com
December 24, 2025 at 3:06 PM
We don’t spend enough time discussing how the entire MAGA movement is kept afloat by the constant threats of stochastic terrorism orchestrated by the president of the United States.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
Congress, the courts, much of the media … all kept in line by the mob boss and his army of anonymous goons.
Reposted by Wonky
Tariffs aren’t complicated, but refunding them is complicated.
Tariffs don’t raise prices, but removing them lowers prices. 🤡
Tariffs don’t raise prices, but removing them lowers prices. 🤡
December 24, 2025 at 1:16 PM
Tariffs aren’t complicated, but refunding them is complicated.
Tariffs don’t raise prices, but removing them lowers prices. 🤡
Tariffs don’t raise prices, but removing them lowers prices. 🤡
Reposted by Wonky
Worth repeating this with every new Epstein document drop. The party of Denny Hastert is the party of Jim Jordan is the party of Matt Gaetz is the party of Donald Trump. Looking the other way and protecting child predators from the law is their brand.
December 23, 2025 at 4:20 PM
Worth repeating this with every new Epstein document drop. The party of Denny Hastert is the party of Jim Jordan is the party of Matt Gaetz is the party of Donald Trump. Looking the other way and protecting child predators from the law is their brand.
Reposted by Wonky
Democrats have had a mandate for over a decade now to just vote against everything Trump does and they can’t manage that. It’s a serious problem.
December 24, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Democrats have had a mandate for over a decade now to just vote against everything Trump does and they can’t manage that. It’s a serious problem.
Granted, there's only so much news I can pay attention to, but I didn't know any of this stuff about Rubio. And they ain't lying about "dead set on placing drug cartel bosses at the top of every Latin American government." Yikes.
Marco Rubio is the Trump administration’s most formidable liar and is dead set on placing drug cartel bosses at the top of every Latin American government. Maureen Tkacik reports on Rubio’s long narco-terrorist history:
trib.al/1qSYY7J
trib.al/1qSYY7J
The Narco-Terrorist Elite - The American Prospect
Why is Marco Rubio so hell-bent on making Iran-Contra again?
trib.al
December 24, 2025 at 4:32 AM
Granted, there's only so much news I can pay attention to, but I didn't know any of this stuff about Rubio. And they ain't lying about "dead set on placing drug cartel bosses at the top of every Latin American government." Yikes.
Reposted by Wonky
This is as easy a test of your belief in the American system as is conceivable: Should this be an acceptable argument from a president?
December 23, 2025 at 11:59 AM
This is as easy a test of your belief in the American system as is conceivable: Should this be an acceptable argument from a president?
Reposted by Wonky
The DOJ is not even trying to hide that it functions as Trump's personal law firm
December 23, 2025 at 1:33 PM
The DOJ is not even trying to hide that it functions as Trump's personal law firm
Reposted by Wonky
1 - the exec branch can't decline to spend $ Congress appropriated
2- the fed govt can't use federal $ to extort states over policy/political disagreements
3-the fed govt can't use federal $ to impose conditions unrelated to the funding program
4-the fed govt can't use federal $ to coerce states
2- the fed govt can't use federal $ to extort states over policy/political disagreements
3-the fed govt can't use federal $ to impose conditions unrelated to the funding program
4-the fed govt can't use federal $ to coerce states
Sean Duffy on blue states: "What I can do is I can pull their money. That's the leverage I do have ... I guarantee you that the federal taxpayer is not going to fund their roads and bridges and their systems when they are putting illegals on the roads."
December 23, 2025 at 2:32 PM
1 - the exec branch can't decline to spend $ Congress appropriated
2- the fed govt can't use federal $ to extort states over policy/political disagreements
3-the fed govt can't use federal $ to impose conditions unrelated to the funding program
4-the fed govt can't use federal $ to coerce states
2- the fed govt can't use federal $ to extort states over policy/political disagreements
3-the fed govt can't use federal $ to impose conditions unrelated to the funding program
4-the fed govt can't use federal $ to coerce states
Reposted by Wonky
A new report from researchers at the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have devastating health and economic consequences for the nation.
New report sounds alarm on health fallout from mRNA vaccine funding cuts
A new report from the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have
ysph.yale.edu
December 22, 2025 at 8:43 PM
A new report from researchers at the Yale School of Public Health warns that the U.S. government’s abrupt cancellation of funding for mRNA vaccine research could have devastating health and economic consequences for the nation.
Reposted by Wonky
He’s gilded the entire White House, slapped his name on both the Kennedy Center and Institute for Peace, installed a new Trump Gold Card, and now proposing a new “Trump class” of naval vessels.
I know we keep saying this is insane but this is seriously fucking insane.
I know we keep saying this is insane but this is seriously fucking insane.
oh my god its literally Long Beach's wario
December 22, 2025 at 10:20 PM
He’s gilded the entire White House, slapped his name on both the Kennedy Center and Institute for Peace, installed a new Trump Gold Card, and now proposing a new “Trump class” of naval vessels.
I know we keep saying this is insane but this is seriously fucking insane.
I know we keep saying this is insane but this is seriously fucking insane.
Reposted by Wonky
Democrats keep accusing the White House of playing petty partisan games with federal disaster aid.
And Trump keeps proving them right. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
And Trump keeps proving them right. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
‘Political games’: Blue states see a pattern as Trump backs disaster aid for red states
Those who believe the White House has politicized disaster relief have ample evidence to work with.
www.ms.now
December 22, 2025 at 6:40 PM
Democrats keep accusing the White House of playing petty partisan games with federal disaster aid.
And Trump keeps proving them right. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
And Trump keeps proving them right. www.ms.now/rachel-maddo...
Reposted by Wonky
Overall, this big @nytimes.com investigation identified $500m+ that was donated to Trump-backed groups AFTER the election from 346 donors.
It found that more than half of the donors have benefited in some way from actions by Trump or his administration. (gift link)
It found that more than half of the donors have benefited in some way from actions by Trump or his administration. (gift link)
December 22, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Overall, this big @nytimes.com investigation identified $500m+ that was donated to Trump-backed groups AFTER the election from 346 donors.
It found that more than half of the donors have benefited in some way from actions by Trump or his administration. (gift link)
It found that more than half of the donors have benefited in some way from actions by Trump or his administration. (gift link)
Reposted by Wonky
Clueless US media understand Trump's shut down of Atlantic coast wind farms as just some vague national security thing about radar or as Trump's weird ideas about alternative energy. But in Denmark, this is immediately understood for what it is: a shakedown against two large Danish companies,
Danske vindaktier lukker i rødt efter amerikansk udmelding
Ørsteds og Vestas' aktier er kommet i modvind og dykker ved børsluk oven på nyhed om havvindparker i USA.
www.berlingske.dk
December 22, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Clueless US media understand Trump's shut down of Atlantic coast wind farms as just some vague national security thing about radar or as Trump's weird ideas about alternative energy. But in Denmark, this is immediately understood for what it is: a shakedown against two large Danish companies,
Reposted by Wonky
1/ Just weeks after a Democrat was elected governor of NC in 2024 by an overwhelming margin, the state’s GOP-controlled legislature set out to strip him of powers.
What happened next illuminates the breakdown in the separation of powers throughout the nation.
THREAD 👇
tinyurl.com/y3v6np59
What happened next illuminates the breakdown in the separation of powers throughout the nation.
THREAD 👇
tinyurl.com/y3v6np59
Inside the North Carolina GOP’s Decade-Long Push to Seize Power From the State’s Democratic Governors
For almost a decade, North Carolina’s majority-Republican legislature tried six times to strip Democratic governors of control over the board overseeing the swing state’s elections. This year, it fina...
tinyurl.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:26 PM
1/ Just weeks after a Democrat was elected governor of NC in 2024 by an overwhelming margin, the state’s GOP-controlled legislature set out to strip him of powers.
What happened next illuminates the breakdown in the separation of powers throughout the nation.
THREAD 👇
tinyurl.com/y3v6np59
What happened next illuminates the breakdown in the separation of powers throughout the nation.
THREAD 👇
tinyurl.com/y3v6np59
This is pretty much how I suspected it would go, but it still fucking sucks to have it confirmed.
Bob and I were among the hundreds of researchers that were supposed to conduct the 6th U.S. National Climate Assessment. Now it looks like they're gonna produce it with a few people and Grok? Communities need rigorous and accurate information about climate change. This will put communities at risk.
December 22, 2025 at 2:00 PM
This is pretty much how I suspected it would go, but it still fucking sucks to have it confirmed.
Reposted by Wonky
💰Trump’s wealth increased by about $2.5B since his reelection, to $6.9B
💰 Eric’s increased 10x, to $400M.
💰 Don Jr.’s 6x, to $300M.
💰 Barron, a college sophomore, is worth $150M.
💰 Eric’s increased 10x, to $400M.
💰 Don Jr.’s 6x, to $300M.
💰 Barron, a college sophomore, is worth $150M.
His policies are picking winners and losers — and blurring the lines between business and government. n.pr/48P2QSb
How President Trump reshaped capitalism in 2025
His policies are picking winners and losers — and blurring the lines between business and government.
n.pr
December 22, 2025 at 1:05 PM
💰Trump’s wealth increased by about $2.5B since his reelection, to $6.9B
💰 Eric’s increased 10x, to $400M.
💰 Don Jr.’s 6x, to $300M.
💰 Barron, a college sophomore, is worth $150M.
💰 Eric’s increased 10x, to $400M.
💰 Don Jr.’s 6x, to $300M.
💰 Barron, a college sophomore, is worth $150M.
Just cartoonishly corrupt. In federal ethics training, this is the kind of example that would take up maybe 1 slide because it's so obviously wrong that no one with a shred of integrity would even think about doing it.
NEW: Todd Blanche, the second-highest official at the DOJ, issued a memo to shut down enforcement against crypto companies while he still held more than $150,000 in crypto investments, ProPublica found.
One expert called it “an obvious conflict of interest.”
One expert called it “an obvious conflict of interest.”
Top DOJ Official Shut Down Enforcement Against Crypto Companies While Holding More Than $150,000 in Crypto Investments
The second-highest official at the DOJ, Todd Blanche rose to prominence as Trump’s personal defense attorney. His actions violated the federal conflicts of interest law and his ethics agreement, experts told ProPublica.
www.propublica.org
December 22, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Just cartoonishly corrupt. In federal ethics training, this is the kind of example that would take up maybe 1 slide because it's so obviously wrong that no one with a shred of integrity would even think about doing it.
Reposted by Wonky
The story is insane. The acting head of cyber security, a Noem crony, repeatedly demanded to see highly classified information he didn’t need access to, and when staff set up a lie detector test as a condition to grant him access, he failed it. So DHS suspended the staffers.
Acting CISA director failed a polygraph. Career staff are now under investigation.
Acting CISA director failed a polygraph. Career staff are now under investigation.
At least six career staff were placed on leave after DHS opened an investigation into whether they misled the agency’s acting director, Madhu Gottumukkala, into taking the test.
dlvr.it
December 22, 2025 at 3:20 AM
The story is insane. The acting head of cyber security, a Noem crony, repeatedly demanded to see highly classified information he didn’t need access to, and when staff set up a lie detector test as a condition to grant him access, he failed it. So DHS suspended the staffers.
Reposted by Wonky
“In effect,” writes the NYT’s Peter Baker, “he bronzed some of his cartoonish social media juvenilia and bolted it to the taxpayer-owned building where two Roosevelts, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan once lived.”
@sykescharlie.bsky.social
charliesykes.substack.com/p/waiting-fo...
@sykescharlie.bsky.social
charliesykes.substack.com/p/waiting-fo...
December 19, 2025 at 5:40 PM
“In effect,” writes the NYT’s Peter Baker, “he bronzed some of his cartoonish social media juvenilia and bolted it to the taxpayer-owned building where two Roosevelts, John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan once lived.”
@sykescharlie.bsky.social
charliesykes.substack.com/p/waiting-fo...
@sykescharlie.bsky.social
charliesykes.substack.com/p/waiting-fo...
I just watched it as well, and given that the (re)politicization of the civil service is on my mind a lot these days, I was thinking it would be great to see a history of the federal civil service timed to the 250th anniversary celebrations next year.
finished Death By Lightning, pretty good! nice plotting, well acted etc. didn’t really buy the saintly portrayal of Garfield but boy are we loaded up with a lot of Guiteau type people today
December 19, 2025 at 4:54 PM
I just watched it as well, and given that the (re)politicization of the civil service is on my mind a lot these days, I was thinking it would be great to see a history of the federal civil service timed to the 250th anniversary celebrations next year.
Reposted by Wonky
NCAR is quite literally our global mothership.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
www.usatoday.com
December 17, 2025 at 2:59 AM
NCAR is quite literally our global mothership.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
Everyone who works in climate and weather has passed through its doors and benefited from its incredible resources.
Dismantling NCAR is like taking a sledgehammer to the keystone holding up our scientific understanding of the planet.
Unbelievable.
I know which one my money is on.
Remember this moment. Either it is the birth of crypto going mainstream in the U.S., or it may be the origin story of the next systemetic economic collapse,as crypto and Wall Street/banking now are becoming so intertwined a crypto crash could be a contagion event. Time will tell.
December 18, 2025 at 3:29 PM
I know which one my money is on.