Ben Alexander
@bigbennyfl.bsky.social
Dolphins, Marlins, Heat. Stetson U alum. Proud, Practical, Progressive, Atheist
Reposted by Ben Alexander
I feel like "academic hiring" discourse is always kind of downstream of the fact that in the 50s we started building a giant public system to make a college education almost universally available and in the 80s and 90s we started taking it apart to go back to the only-the-rich model
December 20, 2025 at 2:22 PM
I feel like "academic hiring" discourse is always kind of downstream of the fact that in the 50s we started building a giant public system to make a college education almost universally available and in the 80s and 90s we started taking it apart to go back to the only-the-rich model
Reposted by Ben Alexander
Weird how this keeps happening.
December 20, 2025 at 4:04 PM
Weird how this keeps happening.
Reposted by Ben Alexander
“Witkoff has declined multiple offers from the CIA for a briefing on Russia.”
Steve Witkoff’s unlikely diplomatic ascent was bolstered by two fans: Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Witkoff’s Other Backer in His Unlikely Diplomatic Ascent: Putin
The Kremlin release of an American prisoner and a Saudi backchannel bolstered the rise of Trump’s longtime friend.
on.wsj.com
December 20, 2025 at 6:01 PM
“Witkoff has declined multiple offers from the CIA for a briefing on Russia.”
Reposted by Ben Alexander
And the air is noticeably cleaner! Literally we can all breathe better thanks to the law!
I refuse to shut up about this: NYC started charging $9 to bring a car into our most transit-rich zone, the haters & trolls predicted doom, but traffic evaporated instantly and here’s Times Square tonite (even after the holiday tourists have left). For a better future, build transit & price driving!
December 20, 2025 at 5:46 PM
And the air is noticeably cleaner! Literally we can all breathe better thanks to the law!
Reposted by Ben Alexander
The White House has been caught.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
December 20, 2025 at 12:33 PM
The White House has been caught.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
The administration inserted a photo of Bill Clinton, Michael Jackson, and Diana Ross into the Epstein files and falsely implied it showed them with victims.
In reality, it’s a publicly available fundraiser photo featuring Jackson and Ross’s own children.
Reposted by Ben Alexander
The wealthiest 10% of humans emit ~47% or ~77% of global greenhouse gases annually, depending on whether emissions are allocated based on consumption of emissions-intensive goods and services on on ownership of polluting assets.
wir2026.wid.world/insight/exec...
wir2026.wid.world/insight/exec...
December 20, 2025 at 12:38 PM
The wealthiest 10% of humans emit ~47% or ~77% of global greenhouse gases annually, depending on whether emissions are allocated based on consumption of emissions-intensive goods and services on on ownership of polluting assets.
wir2026.wid.world/insight/exec...
wir2026.wid.world/insight/exec...
Reposted by Ben Alexander
Obamacare hugely lowered healthcare cost growth, even if Democrats are scared to say it deanbaker22.substack.com/p/obamacare-...
Obamacare Lowered Healthcare Cost Growth #34,706
The ACA was a huge success in reducing costs, even if Democrats are scared to say it
deanbaker22.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 12:54 PM
Obamacare hugely lowered healthcare cost growth, even if Democrats are scared to say it deanbaker22.substack.com/p/obamacare-...
Reposted by Ben Alexander
It is utterly catastrophic that RFK Jr. plans to end CDC recommendations for most childhood vaccines.
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
December 20, 2025 at 12:50 AM
It is utterly catastrophic that RFK Jr. plans to end CDC recommendations for most childhood vaccines.
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
It’s a betrayal of science, ethics, compassion, and the people of the United States.
And it was also a specific goal of Project 2025 (page 254).
Reposted by Ben Alexander
2 things abt Trump's motivations for defiling the Kennedy Center with his name are defining characteristics of the rich & powerful:
1. above all, they want to be liked & respected
2. they are terrified of death
They want $ & power mainly to buy likes & escape mortality for as long as possible.
1. above all, they want to be liked & respected
2. they are terrified of death
They want $ & power mainly to buy likes & escape mortality for as long as possible.
When Trump visited Mount Vernon in 2018, he couldn't understand why George Washington didn't name it after himself. “You’ve got to put your name on stuff or no one remembers you.” Reupping this prescient piece from @politico.com which seems pretty relevant today. www.politico.com/story/2019/0...
Trump’s ‘truly bizarre’ visit to Mt. Vernon
The 45th president — no student of history — marveled at the first president's failure to name his historic compound after himself.
www.politico.com
December 19, 2025 at 9:16 PM
2 things abt Trump's motivations for defiling the Kennedy Center with his name are defining characteristics of the rich & powerful:
1. above all, they want to be liked & respected
2. they are terrified of death
They want $ & power mainly to buy likes & escape mortality for as long as possible.
1. above all, they want to be liked & respected
2. they are terrified of death
They want $ & power mainly to buy likes & escape mortality for as long as possible.
Reposted by Ben Alexander
Vought is one of the top three or four enemies of the Constitution & American democracy. His removal from power is one of the highest priorities for any project of checking the dictatorship's lawless wielding of the vast powers of the state
Russ Vought set out to ensure a second Trump term would not be hampered by checks and balances:
“I don’t want President Trump having to lose a moment of time having fights in the Oval Office about whether something is legal or doable or moral.”
(Published October w/ @newyorker.com)
“I don’t want President Trump having to lose a moment of time having fights in the Oval Office about whether something is legal or doable or moral.”
(Published October w/ @newyorker.com)
Russell Vought, Trump’s Shadow President
From the wholesale gutting of federal agencies to the ongoing government shutdown, Russell Vought has drawn the road map for Trump’s second term. Vought has consolidated power to an extent that inside...
www.propublica.org
December 19, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Vought is one of the top three or four enemies of the Constitution & American democracy. His removal from power is one of the highest priorities for any project of checking the dictatorship's lawless wielding of the vast powers of the state
Reposted by Ben Alexander
Remember that Trump DoE study that showed sea-level rise is no big deal? It was bullshit. Sea-level rise is a big deal.
Rebutting a Trump report, study shows U.S. sea-level rise is accelerating
“It’s not politics. That’s what the data say,” said the study’s author, who examined 70 tide gauges around the country.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Remember that Trump DoE study that showed sea-level rise is no big deal? It was bullshit. Sea-level rise is a big deal.
Reposted by Ben Alexander
Hell yeah: @science.org's official Breakthrough of the Year for 2025 is ... [drumroll] ...
... the unstoppable rise & spread of renewable energy.
... the unstoppable rise & spread of renewable energy.
Science’s 2025 Breakthrough of the Year: The unstoppable rise of renewable energy
Clean energy infrastructure is being deployed with unmatched scale and speed—and China is leading the way
www.science.org
December 19, 2025 at 4:58 PM
Hell yeah: @science.org's official Breakthrough of the Year for 2025 is ... [drumroll] ...
... the unstoppable rise & spread of renewable energy.
... the unstoppable rise & spread of renewable energy.
Reposted by Ben Alexander
A WORD (two words) FOR MY HATERS. Watch #NightThoughts on Hulu.
December 19, 2025 at 3:10 PM
A WORD (two words) FOR MY HATERS. Watch #NightThoughts on Hulu.
Reposted by Ben Alexander
Truth is no longer truth, facts are no longer facts.
It was always going to get here.
This is the Birtherism Administration.
It was always going to get here.
This is the Birtherism Administration.
“They’re denying that any of her birth certificates, which are from Laurel, Maryland, her records of immunization, medical records — they’re denying the authenticity of them. It is something I’ve never encountered.” www.huffpost.com/entry/us-cit...
Trump Administration Says Maryland Woman's Birth Certificate Is Fake In Dystopian Move
Dulce Consuelo Diaz Morales was arrested on Sunday. ICE won’t release her despite extensive documentation of her citizenship, her attorneys told HuffPost.
www.huffpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Truth is no longer truth, facts are no longer facts.
It was always going to get here.
This is the Birtherism Administration.
It was always going to get here.
This is the Birtherism Administration.
Reposted by Ben Alexander
NEW: A Texas district in which Black students were allegedly taunted with monkey noises.
An Arizona school where students admitted saying “slavery is good.”
These are some of the incidents Trump’s Education Department has ignored:
An Arizona school where students admitted saying “slavery is good.”
These are some of the incidents Trump’s Education Department has ignored:
Monkey Sounds, “White Power” and the N-Word: Racial Harassment Against Black Students Ignored Under Trump
Since Trump returned to office, the Education Department’s civil rights office has not resolved a single racial harassment investigation. It sends a message that “people impacted by racial discriminat...
www.propublica.org
December 19, 2025 at 12:34 PM
NEW: A Texas district in which Black students were allegedly taunted with monkey noises.
An Arizona school where students admitted saying “slavery is good.”
These are some of the incidents Trump’s Education Department has ignored:
An Arizona school where students admitted saying “slavery is good.”
These are some of the incidents Trump’s Education Department has ignored:
Reposted by Ben Alexander
I love my two blackout drunk Minnesota sons
December 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I love my two blackout drunk Minnesota sons
Reposted by Ben Alexander
Reposted by Ben Alexander
They booked a bunch of 14 year old models to come to a Mar A Lago party, told them to dress sexy and tried to ply them with alcohol.
These are the people who are willing to go on the record.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
December 18, 2025 at 5:58 PM
They booked a bunch of 14 year old models to come to a Mar A Lago party, told them to dress sexy and tried to ply them with alcohol.
Reposted by Ben Alexander
*smashes the buzzer so hard it shatters into a million pieces* WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU’D SAY IN BED
December 18, 2025 at 4:21 PM
*smashes the buzzer so hard it shatters into a million pieces* WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU’D SAY IN BED
Reposted by Ben Alexander
The Trump administration is embarking on an expansive effort to root out what it sees as left-wing domestic terrorism, raising concerns among some experts that broad categories of Americans’ political speech could come under surveillance.
Trump administration prepares sweeping crackdown on leftist networks
The Justice Department’s program to root out violent “Antifa” extremism is raising First Amendment concerns.
wapo.st
December 18, 2025 at 4:00 PM
The Trump administration is embarking on an expansive effort to root out what it sees as left-wing domestic terrorism, raising concerns among some experts that broad categories of Americans’ political speech could come under surveillance.
Reposted by Ben Alexander
If you're over 50 and you don't listen to this advice from Oncologist @zekeemanuel.bsky.social
you might forever regret it.
Or you might not remember you ever saw it. Get his new book!
'Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life'
you might forever regret it.
Or you might not remember you ever saw it. Get his new book!
'Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life'
December 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
If you're over 50 and you don't listen to this advice from Oncologist @zekeemanuel.bsky.social
you might forever regret it.
Or you might not remember you ever saw it. Get his new book!
'Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life'
you might forever regret it.
Or you might not remember you ever saw it. Get his new book!
'Eat Your Ice Cream: Six Simple Rules for a Long and Healthy Life'