BA Porter
@baporter.bsky.social
Old fashioned civil libertarian yelling into the ether. Master of the double-post.
The BA stands for Bad Attitude.
The BA stands for Bad Attitude.
Not only is this patently illegal, but it is immediately impeachable. Congress ought to haul him in and start drawing up articles against Hegseth. This is outrageous; why has the default Democratic position become we must suffer through everything? At least act AS IF the system can work.
Mark Kelly has retirement pay cut by Pentagon over ‘illegal orders video,’ Pete Hegseth announces
Mark Kelly has retirement pay cut by Pentagon over ‘illegal orders video,’
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said the Arizona Democrat is ‘still accountable to military justice’
www.independent.co.uk
January 5, 2026 at 6:19 PM
Not only is this patently illegal, but it is immediately impeachable. Congress ought to haul him in and start drawing up articles against Hegseth. This is outrageous; why has the default Democratic position become we must suffer through everything? At least act AS IF the system can work.
Reposted by BA Porter
America is a rogue and malevolent state and global bad actor
January 4, 2026 at 5:51 PM
America is a rogue and malevolent state and global bad actor
All the people who say the military would surely reject illegal orders are as naive as anybody. Our military has spent 25 years being conditioned for this, their leadership dismantled and rebuilt and self-selecting around the principle that presidential orders can by definition only be legal.
Watch this. Watch again.
"This incredible thing last night... We have to do it again [in other countries]. We can do it again, too. Nobody can stop us."
"This incredible thing last night... We have to do it again [in other countries]. We can do it again, too. Nobody can stop us."
January 4, 2026 at 4:05 AM
All the people who say the military would surely reject illegal orders are as naive as anybody. Our military has spent 25 years being conditioned for this, their leadership dismantled and rebuilt and self-selecting around the principle that presidential orders can by definition only be legal.
FWIW, this is no longer even primarily an American political problem, this is a World problem. If you want to think in terms of axis, right now it is shaping up that we are on the same axis as Putin. We long wondered what a post-bipolar geopolitics would look like: not sure this array ever came up.
January 3, 2026 at 9:50 PM
FWIW, this is no longer even primarily an American political problem, this is a World problem. If you want to think in terms of axis, right now it is shaping up that we are on the same axis as Putin. We long wondered what a post-bipolar geopolitics would look like: not sure this array ever came up.
Get them all the fuck out of there now. Young or ambitious Democrats needs to start lining up challenging him for leadership now. Remember, every Dem in Congress has to vote these people to the top every time! They can publicly come out any time and say they won't anymore!
Asked about the possibility of impeachment, Schumer says "we hope that we can have support from our Republican colleagues to put a brake on this long before it gets that far"
January 3, 2026 at 9:16 PM
Get them all the fuck out of there now. Young or ambitious Democrats needs to start lining up challenging him for leadership now. Remember, every Dem in Congress has to vote these people to the top every time! They can publicly come out any time and say they won't anymore!
The Democrats have long ago shown that they plan to govern through Disapproving Media Hits, just like the courts intend to hold power at bay by Expressing Consternation.
I've said it all along; for a decade now:
This. Only. Stops. When the. Handcuffs. Come. Out.
I've said it all along; for a decade now:
This. Only. Stops. When the. Handcuffs. Come. Out.
This insane asshole has been doing nothing but crimes since the day he took office, you're the only branch of government with the power to remove him and you're not even going to try because it might not work? Why are you even there? To feel important and do insider trading?
January 3, 2026 at 6:26 PM
The Democrats have long ago shown that they plan to govern through Disapproving Media Hits, just like the courts intend to hold power at bay by Expressing Consternation.
I've said it all along; for a decade now:
This. Only. Stops. When the. Handcuffs. Come. Out.
I've said it all along; for a decade now:
This. Only. Stops. When the. Handcuffs. Come. Out.
Reposted by BA Porter
You should be embarrassed to be a member of congress and issuing anything other than impeachment resolutions. You're in the model UN. They should give you legos and a propeller hat
January 3, 2026 at 3:57 PM
You should be embarrassed to be a member of congress and issuing anything other than impeachment resolutions. You're in the model UN. They should give you legos and a propeller hat
Reposted by BA Porter
The leaders of every major institution have straight-up fricasseed their brains with 16 hours of daily Twitter time and are now incapable of any thought that can’t be formulated as “CHEW ON THIS HOT TAKE: [biggest pander imaginable].”
January 2, 2026 at 9:34 PM
The leaders of every major institution have straight-up fricasseed their brains with 16 hours of daily Twitter time and are now incapable of any thought that can’t be formulated as “CHEW ON THIS HOT TAKE: [biggest pander imaginable].”
Here's a thing: every story you have ever read that isn't about actual things a person is doing but is instead about reasons a person isn't like us...is a bad story. You should get actively mad about those stories. They have never informed you of anything worthwhile.
January 1, 2026 at 6:09 AM
Here's a thing: every story you have ever read that isn't about actual things a person is doing but is instead about reasons a person isn't like us...is a bad story. You should get actively mad about those stories. They have never informed you of anything worthwhile.
One of the most important trainings I ever had—weirdly, from high-school debate—is simply, when somebody is firehosing or making appeals to evidence you don't know, just pick something and try to primary source it. Don't take them at their word, report it out.
www.instagram.com/reel/DQxCs1v...
www.instagram.com/reel/DQxCs1v...
Sam Harris on Instagram: "From Sam’s appearance on Shane Smith Has Questions"
12K likes, 1,103 comments - samharrisorg on November 7, 2025: "From Sam’s appearance on Shane Smith Has Questions".
www.instagram.com
December 31, 2025 at 10:50 PM
One of the most important trainings I ever had—weirdly, from high-school debate—is simply, when somebody is firehosing or making appeals to evidence you don't know, just pick something and try to primary source it. Don't take them at their word, report it out.
www.instagram.com/reel/DQxCs1v...
www.instagram.com/reel/DQxCs1v...
One thing I really wish from the next Democratic candidates is to not approach the Trump era as a thing to be moved on from—the Obama/Biden/Pelosi/Schumer "let's unite and put it in the rear view" bullshit—but as a thing that has to be directly and muscularly addressed.
December 31, 2025 at 9:28 PM
One thing I really wish from the next Democratic candidates is to not approach the Trump era as a thing to be moved on from—the Obama/Biden/Pelosi/Schumer "let's unite and put it in the rear view" bullshit—but as a thing that has to be directly and muscularly addressed.
For me the scary part about Machen, Lovecraft, and Blackwood isn't really what happens—it's almost never a thriller—so much as just the insane level to which they manage to suggest and the reader really feels that what's being described is not even the barest scratch of it, the least important part.
I honestly can't understand why GREAT GOD PAN is so highly regarded as "scary. " That one didn't work for me at all.
December 31, 2025 at 5:32 AM
For me the scary part about Machen, Lovecraft, and Blackwood isn't really what happens—it's almost never a thriller—so much as just the insane level to which they manage to suggest and the reader really feels that what's being described is not even the barest scratch of it, the least important part.
Not for nothing, but rewatching It and It 2, with two REALLY good ensembles (and Skarsgard aside), the acting MVP is so clearly James Ransone. A lot of honorable mentions, but like the Sinister movies he just absolutely steals it. What an incredible loss. RIP.
December 31, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Not for nothing, but rewatching It and It 2, with two REALLY good ensembles (and Skarsgard aside), the acting MVP is so clearly James Ransone. A lot of honorable mentions, but like the Sinister movies he just absolutely steals it. What an incredible loss. RIP.
Reposted by BA Porter
A perfect illustration of @larryglickman.bsky.social’s point about how reporters treat aggressive campaigns of white resentment as natural phenomena that have no agency or agenda behind them.
Backlash politics is a fact of life! Let’s focus on how liberals must accept it and adjust, like we have!
Backlash politics is a fact of life! Let’s focus on how liberals must accept it and adjust, like we have!
Real "oh my god, she admit it" moment here. Trump is treated as an uninteresting figure without agency so we can dump endless criticism on liberals for how they react to his "natural disaster." He "doesn't participate in moral frameworks" lmfao
December 30, 2025 at 6:33 PM
A perfect illustration of @larryglickman.bsky.social’s point about how reporters treat aggressive campaigns of white resentment as natural phenomena that have no agency or agenda behind them.
Backlash politics is a fact of life! Let’s focus on how liberals must accept it and adjust, like we have!
Backlash politics is a fact of life! Let’s focus on how liberals must accept it and adjust, like we have!
Courts really need to start stepping in against NDAs. They were designed to protect businesses against intellectual property leaks, not as Cones of Silence for fear of embarrassment or findings of wrongdoing. They are inherently exploitative and contract law cannot negate constitutional rights.
ESTHER HWANG open.substack.com/pub/katherin... Please consider signing the petition available on this Substack. Esther Hwang was sexually assaulted when she was a violinist w/ the VSO. She was forced to sign an NDA to receive a small settlement to recoup therapy expenses. That's intimidation.
ESTHER HWANG
in her own words
open.substack.com
December 30, 2025 at 10:35 PM
Courts really need to start stepping in against NDAs. They were designed to protect businesses against intellectual property leaks, not as Cones of Silence for fear of embarrassment or findings of wrongdoing. They are inherently exploitative and contract law cannot negate constitutional rights.
How this works (as Dave describes) is REALLY important to understand from a media literacy POV. It's why it's so hard to deal with people once they've picked up the story downstream; you can't refute so much as have to start peeling back layers to understand how they got to where they are with it.
I feel like "attention hacking" is most of politics now. The Minnesota aid fraud story is becoming a perfect example.
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
December 30, 2025 at 1:42 AM
How this works (as Dave describes) is REALLY important to understand from a media literacy POV. It's why it's so hard to deal with people once they've picked up the story downstream; you can't refute so much as have to start peeling back layers to understand how they got to where they are with it.
Reposted by BA Porter
I feel like "attention hacking" is most of politics now. The Minnesota aid fraud story is becoming a perfect example.
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
December 29, 2025 at 1:30 AM
I feel like "attention hacking" is most of politics now. The Minnesota aid fraud story is becoming a perfect example.
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
Recap: In 2022, the Biden DOJ filed the first charges against dozens of fraudsters, many of them Somali-American, who'd fleeced a state food aid program. (1/x)
The effort to federalize a national database of voters subject to DOJ approval of who gets to vote continues apace.
This is the same DOJ who is also moving to declare filming ICE as domestic terrorism and pro-Paelstine social media posts as disqualifying for citizenship.
This is the same DOJ who is also moving to declare filming ICE as domestic terrorism and pro-Paelstine social media posts as disqualifying for citizenship.
December 27, 2025 at 5:50 PM
The effort to federalize a national database of voters subject to DOJ approval of who gets to vote continues apace.
This is the same DOJ who is also moving to declare filming ICE as domestic terrorism and pro-Paelstine social media posts as disqualifying for citizenship.
This is the same DOJ who is also moving to declare filming ICE as domestic terrorism and pro-Paelstine social media posts as disqualifying for citizenship.
Dear @jamesgunn.bsky.social,
You are right that Peacemaker doesn't necessarily need another season, and the DCU can handle the major stuff.
But at least consider a one-off spinoff miniseries, Obi-Wan Kenobi style, that is just Tim Meadows parachuting in to deal with X-files type shit, weirdly.
You are right that Peacemaker doesn't necessarily need another season, and the DCU can handle the major stuff.
But at least consider a one-off spinoff miniseries, Obi-Wan Kenobi style, that is just Tim Meadows parachuting in to deal with X-files type shit, weirdly.
December 27, 2025 at 5:25 AM
Dear @jamesgunn.bsky.social,
You are right that Peacemaker doesn't necessarily need another season, and the DCU can handle the major stuff.
But at least consider a one-off spinoff miniseries, Obi-Wan Kenobi style, that is just Tim Meadows parachuting in to deal with X-files type shit, weirdly.
You are right that Peacemaker doesn't necessarily need another season, and the DCU can handle the major stuff.
But at least consider a one-off spinoff miniseries, Obi-Wan Kenobi style, that is just Tim Meadows parachuting in to deal with X-files type shit, weirdly.
What the fuck is he even talking about? The constitution literally says "all people born or naturalized in the United States are citizens and nothing can change that." You can not like that but that is literally just what it says.
I had missed this latest delirium by Adrian Vermeule on birthright citizenship
'Common law?! NAH, it's the Roman law of adoption that should govern the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution!'
thenewdigest.substack.com/p/immigratio...
'Common law?! NAH, it's the Roman law of adoption that should govern the interpretation of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution!'
thenewdigest.substack.com/p/immigratio...
December 27, 2025 at 5:06 AM
What the fuck is he even talking about? The constitution literally says "all people born or naturalized in the United States are citizens and nothing can change that." You can not like that but that is literally just what it says.
There are two ideas in American conservatism that are just fundamentally at odds—the idea of marketplace-defined meritocracy, and the idea that some core group of "real" Americans need to be protected from immigrant/minority usurpers at all costs, by force if necessary.
Guess which one won out?
Guess which one won out?
Striking nativist editorializing by the federal judge who just upheld the $100,000 tax on high-skill immigrants.
She opines that it’s “troubling” that universities hire talent from abroad at all, instead of only native grads.
Then admits (!) that opinion is irrelevant (So why write it? Venting?)
She opines that it’s “troubling” that universities hire talent from abroad at all, instead of only native grads.
Then admits (!) that opinion is irrelevant (So why write it? Venting?)
December 26, 2025 at 8:24 PM
There are two ideas in American conservatism that are just fundamentally at odds—the idea of marketplace-defined meritocracy, and the idea that some core group of "real" Americans need to be protected from immigrant/minority usurpers at all costs, by force if necessary.
Guess which one won out?
Guess which one won out?
I guess the big divide I have between me and anti-AI folks is that, as sympathetic as I am to many of the individual complaints, for me personally in my own life and career, so much of the writing and art and coding I do isn't personal expression I get to do, but labor I have to do.
December 26, 2025 at 7:58 PM
I guess the big divide I have between me and anti-AI folks is that, as sympathetic as I am to many of the individual complaints, for me personally in my own life and career, so much of the writing and art and coding I do isn't personal expression I get to do, but labor I have to do.
Merry Christmas.
December 25, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Merry Christmas.
It still absolutely just burns my ass that Biden had four years in which he could have, at any time, directed his justice department to just...draft a new memo. And he wouldn't do it.
“It is proper, constitutional, and legal for a federal grand jury to indict a sitting president for serious criminal acts that are... contrary to, the president’s official duties. In this country, no one... is above the law.”
--Kenneth Starr (May 13, 1998)
www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/u...
--Kenneth Starr (May 13, 1998)
www.nytimes.com/2017/07/22/u...
Can the President Be Indicted? A Long-Hidden Legal Memo Says Yes (Published 2017)
www.nytimes.com
December 25, 2025 at 3:26 AM
It still absolutely just burns my ass that Biden had four years in which he could have, at any time, directed his justice department to just...draft a new memo. And he wouldn't do it.