David Simpson
@adviserdavid.bsky.social
Retired college media adviser.
Reposted by David Simpson
"After years without accidents, Maria started wetting her pants and her bed. She cried through the night, asking when she and her parents would return to their apartment in New York. She begged to start breastfeeding again."
Maria is one of hundreds of children, who — like Liam Ramos — have been held at a Texas detention facility where parents say children languish as they’re served contaminated food, receive little education and struggle to obtain basic medical care.
Here's our attempt at telling their stories. 2/
Here's our attempt at telling their stories. 2/
Children trapped in Texas immigration facility recount nightmares, inedible food, no school
A photo of Liam Conejo Ramos, a scared 5-year-old, drew attention to a detention center in Dilley, Texas. Advocates say his experience reflects what hundreds of children have endured out of public vie...
www.nbcnews.com
February 6, 2026 at 10:04 PM
"After years without accidents, Maria started wetting her pants and her bed. She cried through the night, asking when she and her parents would return to their apartment in New York. She begged to start breastfeeding again."
Reposted by David Simpson
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Gladys Mae West obituary: mathematician who pioneered GPS technology
She made key contributions to US cold-war science despite facing huge barriers as a Black woman.
www.nature.com
February 6, 2026 at 9:09 AM
No joke: I got angry hate mail today for writing an obituary of a Black woman scientist—because the person felt she did didn’t deserve the recognition.
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Which just makes me want to share it again: www.nature.com/articles/d41...
Reposted by David Simpson
London was a turbulent place, where immigrants’ place was contested and a source of social strife among laborers. And while their children too faced stigma as times, they were not strangers to the realm. Their birth on the king’s lands made them Englishmen.
Ian McKellen performs “The Strangers’ Case” speech from “Sir Thomas More” on Colbert.
February 6, 2026 at 12:53 AM
London was a turbulent place, where immigrants’ place was contested and a source of social strife among laborers. And while their children too faced stigma as times, they were not strangers to the realm. Their birth on the king’s lands made them Englishmen.
I am not a sophisticated tech bro crypto investor. Is it bad when @pkrugman.bsky.social’s latest post starts with this?
February 6, 2026 at 12:37 AM
I am not a sophisticated tech bro crypto investor. Is it bad when @pkrugman.bsky.social’s latest post starts with this?
Reposted by David Simpson
1. Build huge subscriber base by telling them their $ supports democracy.
2. Don’t establish other revenue sources.
3. Rug-pull subscribers by pushing opinion side to the right.
4. Subscribers leave, revenue falls.
5. Enact crippling newsroom cuts.
2. Don’t establish other revenue sources.
3. Rug-pull subscribers by pushing opinion side to the right.
4. Subscribers leave, revenue falls.
5. Enact crippling newsroom cuts.
February 4, 2026 at 11:52 AM
1. Build huge subscriber base by telling them their $ supports democracy.
2. Don’t establish other revenue sources.
3. Rug-pull subscribers by pushing opinion side to the right.
4. Subscribers leave, revenue falls.
5. Enact crippling newsroom cuts.
2. Don’t establish other revenue sources.
3. Rug-pull subscribers by pushing opinion side to the right.
4. Subscribers leave, revenue falls.
5. Enact crippling newsroom cuts.
Reposted by David Simpson
I agree, David. That he didn't show up to face the staff today makes it impossible to believe that he cares about the Post.
I don't see how Will Lewis can effectively lead WaPo.
Lewis did not save Bezos from himself on opinion pages. (375K+ cancelations) His innovations did not stem enough red ink.
And he has not taken any ownership of the devastating ensuing cuts. He's making Murray own it alone.
Lewis did not save Bezos from himself on opinion pages. (375K+ cancelations) His innovations did not stem enough red ink.
And he has not taken any ownership of the devastating ensuing cuts. He's making Murray own it alone.
February 4, 2026 at 11:18 PM
I agree, David. That he didn't show up to face the staff today makes it impossible to believe that he cares about the Post.
Reposted by David Simpson
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
February 5, 2026 at 12:16 AM
If Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie & $500 million for a yacht to sail off to his $55 million wedding to give his wife a $5 million ring, please don't tell me he needed to fire one-third of the Washington Post staff.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Democracy dies in oligarchy.
Reposted by David Simpson
Jeff Bezos’s wealth has increased an average of $70 million every day of 2026, meaning that he could have offset The Post’s losses with what he’s made since Monday.
February 5, 2026 at 2:48 AM
Jeff Bezos’s wealth has increased an average of $70 million every day of 2026, meaning that he could have offset The Post’s losses with what he’s made since Monday.
The three top stories on this morning’s @nytimes.com newsletter. As the kids don’t say these days, I can’t even.
February 4, 2026 at 11:27 PM
The three top stories on this morning’s @nytimes.com newsletter. As the kids don’t say these days, I can’t even.
Reposted by David Simpson
Well, this sucks. Bezos could fully staff this thing and get it back into profitable fighting trim with what for him would be pocket change.
www.npr.org/2026/02/04/n...
www.npr.org/2026/02/04/n...
Bezos orders deep job cuts at 'Washington Post'
The Washington Post embarked on severe cuts despite appeals by the newsroom to owner Jeff Bezos. The paper is to narrow its focus largely to politics and national security.
www.npr.org
February 4, 2026 at 8:19 PM
Well, this sucks. Bezos could fully staff this thing and get it back into profitable fighting trim with what for him would be pocket change.
www.npr.org/2026/02/04/n...
www.npr.org/2026/02/04/n...
Reposted by David Simpson
again we do not really do a good job of explaining how wealthy people like Jeff Bezos are
his net worth is $253.2 billion.
so he could take one million dollars, and just light it on fire
and then do it again tomorrow
and again the day after that
and then do it every day for 693 years and 8 months
his net worth is $253.2 billion.
so he could take one million dollars, and just light it on fire
and then do it again tomorrow
and again the day after that
and then do it every day for 693 years and 8 months
February 4, 2026 at 5:41 PM
again we do not really do a good job of explaining how wealthy people like Jeff Bezos are
his net worth is $253.2 billion.
so he could take one million dollars, and just light it on fire
and then do it again tomorrow
and again the day after that
and then do it every day for 693 years and 8 months
his net worth is $253.2 billion.
so he could take one million dollars, and just light it on fire
and then do it again tomorrow
and again the day after that
and then do it every day for 693 years and 8 months
Reposted by David Simpson
The owner of Amazon killed the Washington Post books section.
February 4, 2026 at 4:49 PM
The owner of Amazon killed the Washington Post books section.
Nothing says integrity like closing your doors to employees.
“Staffers were informed late Tuesday that the AJC offices in Midtown will be closed Wednesday ... Affected employees will receive details in meetings Wednesday.”
www.ajc.com/business/202...
“Staffers were informed late Tuesday that the AJC offices in Midtown will be closed Wednesday ... Affected employees will receive details in meetings Wednesday.”
www.ajc.com/business/202...
The AJC to cut staff as it continues digital transformation
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution said Tuesday it will lay off staffers in the newsroom and other segments of the business.
www.ajc.com
February 4, 2026 at 7:42 PM
Nothing says integrity like closing your doors to employees.
“Staffers were informed late Tuesday that the AJC offices in Midtown will be closed Wednesday ... Affected employees will receive details in meetings Wednesday.”
www.ajc.com/business/202...
“Staffers were informed late Tuesday that the AJC offices in Midtown will be closed Wednesday ... Affected employees will receive details in meetings Wednesday.”
www.ajc.com/business/202...
Reposted by David Simpson
My take today on Jeff Bezos since I met him at his struggling start up in the 1990s in Seattle: Twice the muscles, half the man.
February 4, 2026 at 7:16 PM
My take today on Jeff Bezos since I met him at his struggling start up in the 1990s in Seattle: Twice the muscles, half the man.
Reposted by David Simpson
A publisher who lays off a reporter whose pen is freezing because she's covering a frigid war zone while dodging missiles is not an editor you want to work for, in a more perfect world
February 4, 2026 at 5:07 PM
A publisher who lays off a reporter whose pen is freezing because she's covering a frigid war zone while dodging missiles is not an editor you want to work for, in a more perfect world
We have a winner!
February 2, 2026 at 10:11 PM
We have a winner!
Reposted by David Simpson
We did not properly punish the confederates. We did not properly punish the insurrectionists on January 6th. We have to punish ICE.
They can’t be allowed to slink back into their communities quietly. Expose them. Arrest them. Convict them. Imprison them.
They can’t be allowed to slink back into their communities quietly. Expose them. Arrest them. Convict them. Imprison them.
January 29, 2026 at 8:28 PM
We did not properly punish the confederates. We did not properly punish the insurrectionists on January 6th. We have to punish ICE.
They can’t be allowed to slink back into their communities quietly. Expose them. Arrest them. Convict them. Imprison them.
They can’t be allowed to slink back into their communities quietly. Expose them. Arrest them. Convict them. Imprison them.
Reposted by David Simpson
This is the CDC map for homicide rates by state for the most recent year on their website.
Gov. Landry, who leads one of the states in the nation with the highest murder rate, is on television chiding Minnesota, one of the states with the lowest murder rates.
Gov. Landry, who leads one of the states in the nation with the highest murder rate, is on television chiding Minnesota, one of the states with the lowest murder rates.
January 29, 2026 at 5:41 PM
This is the CDC map for homicide rates by state for the most recent year on their website.
Gov. Landry, who leads one of the states in the nation with the highest murder rate, is on television chiding Minnesota, one of the states with the lowest murder rates.
Gov. Landry, who leads one of the states in the nation with the highest murder rate, is on television chiding Minnesota, one of the states with the lowest murder rates.
Reposted by David Simpson
Today, the House passed the appropriations bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security and its ICE agency.
DHS and ICE are terrorizing our streets, from the murder of Renee Good to the detention of a 5-year old. The Senate MUST reject this bill to protect our communities.
DHS and ICE are terrorizing our streets, from the murder of Renee Good to the detention of a 5-year old. The Senate MUST reject this bill to protect our communities.
January 23, 2026 at 1:23 AM
Today, the House passed the appropriations bill to fund the Department of Homeland Security and its ICE agency.
DHS and ICE are terrorizing our streets, from the murder of Renee Good to the detention of a 5-year old. The Senate MUST reject this bill to protect our communities.
DHS and ICE are terrorizing our streets, from the murder of Renee Good to the detention of a 5-year old. The Senate MUST reject this bill to protect our communities.
Reposted by David Simpson
Mainstream media, we’re looking right at you.
January 22, 2026 at 10:30 PM
Mainstream media, we’re looking right at you.
Reposted by David Simpson
The grimness of US history should encourage us. Yes, people used to send lynching postcards. And other people saw that, worked towards building a more just society anyway, and succeeded beyond anyone's wildest imagination. There's more work to be done. What's our excuse for choosing despair instead?
I understand and appreciate the fact that for some it is genuinely uncomfortable and distracting to think about how grim US history is. yes, that is strategically relevant, and no, I wouldn't put "did you know people used to send lynching photos to each other as postcards?" on a recruitment flyer
January 22, 2026 at 7:18 PM
The grimness of US history should encourage us. Yes, people used to send lynching postcards. And other people saw that, worked towards building a more just society anyway, and succeeded beyond anyone's wildest imagination. There's more work to be done. What's our excuse for choosing despair instead?
Reposted by David Simpson
Sometimes it’s a good idea to step back and ask yourself whether you’re arguing with someone’s political position or their personality disorder
January 22, 2026 at 7:08 PM
Sometimes it’s a good idea to step back and ask yourself whether you’re arguing with someone’s political position or their personality disorder
Reposted by David Simpson
NYSNA nurses go wild as Mayor Zohran Mamdani arrives at the picket line in Washington Heights @thecity.nyc
January 12, 2026 at 3:06 PM
NYSNA nurses go wild as Mayor Zohran Mamdani arrives at the picket line in Washington Heights @thecity.nyc
Reposted by David Simpson
Here’s a link to the news story of the Austin Peay professor who got a $500,000 settlement and his job back www.wkrn.com/news/local-n...
January 7, 2026 at 2:11 AM
Here’s a link to the news story of the Austin Peay professor who got a $500,000 settlement and his job back www.wkrn.com/news/local-n...
Reposted by David Simpson
I would date someone who disagrees with me on the federal budget or trade policy or a bond issue.
I would not date someone who believes it's appropriate to refer to human beings as "illegals" or votes for a rapist or believes in detaining people for their non-violent speech.
That's the difference.
I would not date someone who believes it's appropriate to refer to human beings as "illegals" or votes for a rapist or believes in detaining people for their non-violent speech.
That's the difference.
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
Majority of Gen Z swipe left on dating people with opposite political views
Everyone has a list of so-called "red flags" when they're dating. And for some, especially younger Americans, different political views is a relationship deal breaker.
n.pr
December 31, 2025 at 3:12 PM
I would date someone who disagrees with me on the federal budget or trade policy or a bond issue.
I would not date someone who believes it's appropriate to refer to human beings as "illegals" or votes for a rapist or believes in detaining people for their non-violent speech.
That's the difference.
I would not date someone who believes it's appropriate to refer to human beings as "illegals" or votes for a rapist or believes in detaining people for their non-violent speech.
That's the difference.