Amanda Marcotte
@amandamarcotte.bsky.social
Senior politics writer at Salon.com. I block for MAGA trolling, violent rhetoric, and humorless sanctimony.
Subscribe to Standing Room Only: salon.com/newsletter
Subscribe to Standing Room Only: salon.com/newsletter
Pinned
Sorry, Fox News: People don’t care about Charlie Kirk
YouTube video by Salon
youtu.be
Special "Standing Room Only!" We're experimenting with reaction content. Let me know what you think!
My colleague @rpaynereport.bsky.social and I watch clips of Fox News trying to hype Charlie Kirk as a martyr.
We explain, based on reporting, why it's not true.
youtu.be/am1pBfSs2mQ?...
My colleague @rpaynereport.bsky.social and I watch clips of Fox News trying to hype Charlie Kirk as a martyr.
We explain, based on reporting, why it's not true.
youtu.be/am1pBfSs2mQ?...
So this may seem obvious to you and me, but it's important to repeat and underscore to every normie we can: Trump's goal was always to end *legal* immigration for anyone he deems not white.
A *lot* of Trump voters believed the lie that only "illegal" immigrants would be targeted.
A *lot* of Trump voters believed the lie that only "illegal" immigrants would be targeted.
Trump: “I will permanently pause migration from all Third World Countries … denaturalize migrants who undermine domestic tranquility, and deport any Foreign National who is a public charge, security risk, or non-compatible with Western Civilization.“
November 28, 2025 at 5:25 PM
So this may seem obvious to you and me, but it's important to repeat and underscore to every normie we can: Trump's goal was always to end *legal* immigration for anyone he deems not white.
A *lot* of Trump voters believed the lie that only "illegal" immigrants would be targeted.
A *lot* of Trump voters believed the lie that only "illegal" immigrants would be targeted.
Reposted by Amanda Marcotte
this is just gutter racism
Stephen Miller is now arguing that assimilation is fundamentally impossible and that certain cultures are not compatible with Western civilization
November 28, 2025 at 12:59 PM
this is just gutter racism
TIL: In Catalan, they have a tradition of a cute log that poops small gifts for children.
www.npr.org/sections/the...
www.npr.org/sections/the...
A Catalan Log That Poops Nougats At Christmas
Catalan holiday tradition involves a log that's fed scraps of food for several weeks leading up to Christmas. Then, it's beaten with a stick and implored to poop out a Spanish nougat called turrón.
www.npr.org
November 28, 2025 at 11:28 AM
TIL: In Catalan, they have a tradition of a cute log that poops small gifts for children.
www.npr.org/sections/the...
www.npr.org/sections/the...
Every time I see an update on the Olivia Nuzzi story, I think of all the strippers and OnlyFans models with real skill at convincing sad older dudes they're horny for them.
And I think about how they don't get near the social status and money Nuzzi gets. It's a travesty.
And I think about how they don't get near the social status and money Nuzzi gets. It's a travesty.
November 27, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Every time I see an update on the Olivia Nuzzi story, I think of all the strippers and OnlyFans models with real skill at convincing sad older dudes they're horny for them.
And I think about how they don't get near the social status and money Nuzzi gets. It's a travesty.
And I think about how they don't get near the social status and money Nuzzi gets. It's a travesty.
A not-small part of what is going on with Trump and Hegseth is that they get sadistic glee out of torturing service members.
Trump is a draft dodger and Hegseth got pushed out of military. They're both failures at what they see as a test of manhood. So they lash out at those who didn't fail.
Trump is a draft dodger and Hegseth got pushed out of military. They're both failures at what they see as a test of manhood. So they lash out at those who didn't fail.
Pete Hegseth says Trump has asked him to add 500 more National Guard troops to Washington D.C.
It's unclear why he seems to be smirking throughout much of this.
x.com/dowresponse/...
It's unclear why he seems to be smirking throughout much of this.
x.com/dowresponse/...
November 27, 2025 at 2:44 PM
A not-small part of what is going on with Trump and Hegseth is that they get sadistic glee out of torturing service members.
Trump is a draft dodger and Hegseth got pushed out of military. They're both failures at what they see as a test of manhood. So they lash out at those who didn't fail.
Trump is a draft dodger and Hegseth got pushed out of military. They're both failures at what they see as a test of manhood. So they lash out at those who didn't fail.
Part of the problem is people think what persuades them is logic and facts.
In reality, most people's opinions are shaped primarily what they perceive to be the views of the community they're in.
So if you hang out with Nazis all day, it starts to feel "normal."
In reality, most people's opinions are shaped primarily what they perceive to be the views of the community they're in.
So if you hang out with Nazis all day, it starts to feel "normal."
This is the correct take. Stewing in white supremacist propaganda is bad for your thinking. And if think you are so savvy that it won’t impact you, you are the exact kind of mark they are slowly converting (I’m looking at you, centrist pundits).
It’s really funny how a generation will roll its eyes at parents who watch Fox News but doesn’t see why being immersed in Twitter is having the same effect. Lots of serious people show up on Fox News too but that shouldn’t be your primary source on the news.
November 27, 2025 at 12:16 PM
Part of the problem is people think what persuades them is logic and facts.
In reality, most people's opinions are shaped primarily what they perceive to be the views of the community they're in.
So if you hang out with Nazis all day, it starts to feel "normal."
In reality, most people's opinions are shaped primarily what they perceive to be the views of the community they're in.
So if you hang out with Nazis all day, it starts to feel "normal."
Reposted by Amanda Marcotte
This is the correct take. Stewing in white supremacist propaganda is bad for your thinking. And if think you are so savvy that it won’t impact you, you are the exact kind of mark they are slowly converting (I’m looking at you, centrist pundits).
It’s really funny how a generation will roll its eyes at parents who watch Fox News but doesn’t see why being immersed in Twitter is having the same effect. Lots of serious people show up on Fox News too but that shouldn’t be your primary source on the news.
November 27, 2025 at 10:05 AM
This is the correct take. Stewing in white supremacist propaganda is bad for your thinking. And if think you are so savvy that it won’t impact you, you are the exact kind of mark they are slowly converting (I’m looking at you, centrist pundits).
One deeply underappreciated aspect of MAHA is how much it's often a fig leaf for domestic abuse. I'm not surprised doctors on the ground belive men are withholding kids' vaccines as a way to control and terrorize their wives. They obviously are!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/o...
November 27, 2025 at 2:14 AM
One deeply underappreciated aspect of MAHA is how much it's often a fig leaf for domestic abuse. I'm not surprised doctors on the ground belive men are withholding kids' vaccines as a way to control and terrorize their wives. They obviously are!
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/o...
www.nytimes.com/2025/11/25/o...
Reposted by Amanda Marcotte
precisely my thought. the president and his dumbass republican allies put these men and women into harm’s way for a political stunt and look what has happened
Whether this was random street crime or targeted political violence, I think it was bad for the president to unnecessarily put the National Guard in harm’s way like this. They simply don’t need to be there.
November 26, 2025 at 8:53 PM
precisely my thought. the president and his dumbass republican allies put these men and women into harm’s way for a political stunt and look what has happened
Prepping for what I hope is a fruitful future fostering kittens. And so I joined a Reddit for advice and commisseration, and already I'm laughing.
www.reddit.com/r/FosterAnim...
www.reddit.com/r/FosterAnim...
November 27, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Prepping for what I hope is a fruitful future fostering kittens. And so I joined a Reddit for advice and commisseration, and already I'm laughing.
www.reddit.com/r/FosterAnim...
www.reddit.com/r/FosterAnim...
Reposted by Amanda Marcotte
Special "Standing Room Only!" We're experimenting with reaction content. Let me know what you think!
My colleague @rpaynereport.bsky.social and I watch clips of Fox News trying to hype Charlie Kirk as a martyr.
We explain, based on reporting, why it's not true.
youtu.be/am1pBfSs2mQ?...
My colleague @rpaynereport.bsky.social and I watch clips of Fox News trying to hype Charlie Kirk as a martyr.
We explain, based on reporting, why it's not true.
youtu.be/am1pBfSs2mQ?...
Sorry, Fox News: People don’t care about Charlie Kirk
YouTube video by Salon
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Special "Standing Room Only!" We're experimenting with reaction content. Let me know what you think!
My colleague @rpaynereport.bsky.social and I watch clips of Fox News trying to hype Charlie Kirk as a martyr.
We explain, based on reporting, why it's not true.
youtu.be/am1pBfSs2mQ?...
My colleague @rpaynereport.bsky.social and I watch clips of Fox News trying to hype Charlie Kirk as a martyr.
We explain, based on reporting, why it's not true.
youtu.be/am1pBfSs2mQ?...
Special "Standing Room Only!" We're experimenting with reaction content. Let me know what you think!
My colleague @rpaynereport.bsky.social and I watch clips of Fox News trying to hype Charlie Kirk as a martyr.
We explain, based on reporting, why it's not true.
youtu.be/am1pBfSs2mQ?...
My colleague @rpaynereport.bsky.social and I watch clips of Fox News trying to hype Charlie Kirk as a martyr.
We explain, based on reporting, why it's not true.
youtu.be/am1pBfSs2mQ?...
Sorry, Fox News: People don’t care about Charlie Kirk
YouTube video by Salon
youtu.be
November 26, 2025 at 5:21 PM
Special "Standing Room Only!" We're experimenting with reaction content. Let me know what you think!
My colleague @rpaynereport.bsky.social and I watch clips of Fox News trying to hype Charlie Kirk as a martyr.
We explain, based on reporting, why it's not true.
youtu.be/am1pBfSs2mQ?...
My colleague @rpaynereport.bsky.social and I watch clips of Fox News trying to hype Charlie Kirk as a martyr.
We explain, based on reporting, why it's not true.
youtu.be/am1pBfSs2mQ?...
American journalists could be a little more like this, tbh
Good morning to Brazilian reporter Manuela Borges, who’s been waiting eleven years for this petty moment. ❤️ 🇧🇷
November 26, 2025 at 2:50 PM
American journalists could be a little more like this, tbh
Getting some responses that assume I care if Usha Vance wears a wedding ring.
This is why I'm always pleading with people to read articles before commenting.
I don't care. I say that clearly in the text.
But I do care about the lies they're telling to excuse it. I explain why the lies matter.
This is why I'm always pleading with people to read articles before commenting.
I don't care. I say that clearly in the text.
But I do care about the lies they're telling to excuse it. I explain why the lies matter.
The excuse for Usha Vance's missing wedding ring is bizarre and preposterous. Look, she doesn't do dishes, so why pretend otherwise?
But this bullshit claim tells us a lot about how JD Vance is trying to humble his wife in public.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/u...
But this bullshit claim tells us a lot about how JD Vance is trying to humble his wife in public.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/u...
Usha Vance doesn’t do dishes — so why the wedding ring excuse?
The second lady's staff runs the kitchen at the VP's residence
www.salon.com
November 26, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Getting some responses that assume I care if Usha Vance wears a wedding ring.
This is why I'm always pleading with people to read articles before commenting.
I don't care. I say that clearly in the text.
But I do care about the lies they're telling to excuse it. I explain why the lies matter.
This is why I'm always pleading with people to read articles before commenting.
I don't care. I say that clearly in the text.
But I do care about the lies they're telling to excuse it. I explain why the lies matter.
Reposted by Amanda Marcotte
The excuse for Usha Vance's missing wedding ring is bizarre and preposterous. Look, she doesn't do dishes, so why pretend otherwise?
But this bullshit claim tells us a lot about how JD Vance is trying to humble his wife in public.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/u...
But this bullshit claim tells us a lot about how JD Vance is trying to humble his wife in public.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/u...
Usha Vance doesn’t do dishes — so why the wedding ring excuse?
The second lady's staff runs the kitchen at the VP's residence
www.salon.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:03 PM
The excuse for Usha Vance's missing wedding ring is bizarre and preposterous. Look, she doesn't do dishes, so why pretend otherwise?
But this bullshit claim tells us a lot about how JD Vance is trying to humble his wife in public.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/u...
But this bullshit claim tells us a lot about how JD Vance is trying to humble his wife in public.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/u...
The excuse for Usha Vance's missing wedding ring is bizarre and preposterous. Look, she doesn't do dishes, so why pretend otherwise?
But this bullshit claim tells us a lot about how JD Vance is trying to humble his wife in public.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/u...
But this bullshit claim tells us a lot about how JD Vance is trying to humble his wife in public.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/u...
Usha Vance doesn’t do dishes — so why the wedding ring excuse?
The second lady's staff runs the kitchen at the VP's residence
www.salon.com
November 26, 2025 at 12:03 PM
The excuse for Usha Vance's missing wedding ring is bizarre and preposterous. Look, she doesn't do dishes, so why pretend otherwise?
But this bullshit claim tells us a lot about how JD Vance is trying to humble his wife in public.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/u...
But this bullshit claim tells us a lot about how JD Vance is trying to humble his wife in public.
www.salon.com/2025/11/26/u...
Reposted by Amanda Marcotte
New Standing Room Only is about how 2028 very well could be AOC vs. MTG. Excerpt is a gentle "told you so."
Read and subscribe! salon-standingroomonly.beehiiv.com/p/2028-could...
Music by Jessie Ware and Honey Dijon.
Read and subscribe! salon-standingroomonly.beehiiv.com/p/2028-could...
Music by Jessie Ware and Honey Dijon.
November 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM
New Standing Room Only is about how 2028 very well could be AOC vs. MTG. Excerpt is a gentle "told you so."
Read and subscribe! salon-standingroomonly.beehiiv.com/p/2028-could...
Music by Jessie Ware and Honey Dijon.
Read and subscribe! salon-standingroomonly.beehiiv.com/p/2028-could...
Music by Jessie Ware and Honey Dijon.
New Standing Room Only is about how 2028 very well could be AOC vs. MTG. Excerpt is a gentle "told you so."
Read and subscribe! salon-standingroomonly.beehiiv.com/p/2028-could...
Music by Jessie Ware and Honey Dijon.
Read and subscribe! salon-standingroomonly.beehiiv.com/p/2028-could...
Music by Jessie Ware and Honey Dijon.
November 25, 2025 at 2:33 PM
New Standing Room Only is about how 2028 very well could be AOC vs. MTG. Excerpt is a gentle "told you so."
Read and subscribe! salon-standingroomonly.beehiiv.com/p/2028-could...
Music by Jessie Ware and Honey Dijon.
Read and subscribe! salon-standingroomonly.beehiiv.com/p/2028-could...
Music by Jessie Ware and Honey Dijon.
November 25, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Reposted by Amanda Marcotte
At this point X is like 1950s Vienna, a whole place made up entirely of spies, running ops against other spies, with no non-spy people. Or maybe like a 1971 Black Panthers convention where 3/4 of the attendees are conintelrpo.
November 24, 2025 at 3:50 AM
At this point X is like 1950s Vienna, a whole place made up entirely of spies, running ops against other spies, with no non-spy people. Or maybe like a 1971 Black Panthers convention where 3/4 of the attendees are conintelrpo.
I wrote this before Candace Owens accused the Macrons of trying to kill her.
But it's a good example of what I'm talking about. There's an all-out war in MAGA to be the Next Big Thing, and it's encouraging nutty behavior to get clicks.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
But it's a good example of what I'm talking about. There's an all-out war in MAGA to be the Next Big Thing, and it's encouraging nutty behavior to get clicks.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
Charlie Kirk's death is tearing MAGA apart - Salon.com
The killing of the Turning Point USA founder didn’t unify the base — it triggered infighting
www.salon.com
November 24, 2025 at 10:22 PM
I wrote this before Candace Owens accused the Macrons of trying to kill her.
But it's a good example of what I'm talking about. There's an all-out war in MAGA to be the Next Big Thing, and it's encouraging nutty behavior to get clicks.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
But it's a good example of what I'm talking about. There's an all-out war in MAGA to be the Next Big Thing, and it's encouraging nutty behavior to get clicks.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
Reposted by Amanda Marcotte
"While elite journos and businessmen kiss the ring of Trump, people in jammies and slippers confront ICE in the street. The courage of ordinary people has been stunning compared to the elite."
On the pod @amandamarcotte.bsky.social is good on Trump's downward spiral:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
On the pod @amandamarcotte.bsky.social is good on Trump's downward spiral:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
Trump Is a Weak, Failing President, and the Media Is Finally Saying So
As Trump’s downward spiral starts producing harsher media coverage, a writer who regularly dissects MAGA and political media explains why he’s entering a tailspin that will be very hard to reverse.
newrepublic.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:52 PM
"While elite journos and businessmen kiss the ring of Trump, people in jammies and slippers confront ICE in the street. The courage of ordinary people has been stunning compared to the elite."
On the pod @amandamarcotte.bsky.social is good on Trump's downward spiral:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
On the pod @amandamarcotte.bsky.social is good on Trump's downward spiral:
newrepublic.com/article/2035...
Reposted by Amanda Marcotte
"The Fuentes vision is being taken up in bits and pieces by the Trump administration.
"The Coast Guard will stop classifying swastikas and nooses as hate symbols."
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
"The Coast Guard will stop classifying swastikas and nooses as hate symbols."
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
November 24, 2025 at 12:16 PM
"The Fuentes vision is being taken up in bits and pieces by the Trump administration.
"The Coast Guard will stop classifying swastikas and nooses as hate symbols."
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
"The Coast Guard will stop classifying swastikas and nooses as hate symbols."
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
Reposted by Amanda Marcotte
Why read past headlines: Juicy details about the MAGA infighting, including the ugly names they're calling each other.
Also analysis about why this is happening. MAGA is full of grifters. And they see Kirk's death as an opportunity.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
Also analysis about why this is happening. MAGA is full of grifters. And they see Kirk's death as an opportunity.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
Charlie Kirk's death is tearing MAGA apart - Salon.com
The killing of the Turning Point USA founder didn’t unify the base — it triggered infighting
www.salon.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Why read past headlines: Juicy details about the MAGA infighting, including the ugly names they're calling each other.
Also analysis about why this is happening. MAGA is full of grifters. And they see Kirk's death as an opportunity.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
Also analysis about why this is happening. MAGA is full of grifters. And they see Kirk's death as an opportunity.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
Reposted by Amanda Marcotte
When Charlie Kirk died, MAGA leaders promised it would unify the base, while rallying millions of previous skeptics to the fascist cause.
Neither has happened.
Even better, Kirk's death is causing MAGA infighting that is tearing at the seams.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
Neither has happened.
Even better, Kirk's death is causing MAGA infighting that is tearing at the seams.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
Charlie Kirk's death is tearing MAGA apart - Salon.com
The killing of the Turning Point USA founder didn’t unify the base — it triggered infighting
www.salon.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:01 PM
When Charlie Kirk died, MAGA leaders promised it would unify the base, while rallying millions of previous skeptics to the fascist cause.
Neither has happened.
Even better, Kirk's death is causing MAGA infighting that is tearing at the seams.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...
Neither has happened.
Even better, Kirk's death is causing MAGA infighting that is tearing at the seams.
www.salon.com/2025/11/24/c...