Brent Hartinger
@brenthartinger.bsky.social
Screenwriter, novelist, nomad/expat. Just realizing that this is the Bad Place.
Pinned
Brent and Michael Are Going Places | Michael Jensen | Substack
The adventures, insights, and travel tips of a gay nomad couple exploring the world. A "Substack Featured" Newsletter! Also seen on CBS Sunday Morning and CNN.com. Click to read Brent and Michael Are ...
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www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com
www.brentandmichaelaregoingplaces.com
Inside the Pentagon’s Scramble to Deal With Boat Strike Survivors
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 10:14 AM
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
can’t tell if we’ve reached a point in history when there are no more metaphors or if everything is a metaphor
The birds lingered for days at a Catholic school near Cincinnati as agencies haggled over who was responsible for removing them. Officials said the public health risk was low. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/09/u...
Bird Flu Is Suspected After Vulture Carcasses Sat Rotting Outside Ohio School
www.nytimes.com
December 10, 2025 at 4:26 AM
can’t tell if we’ve reached a point in history when there are no more metaphors or if everything is a metaphor
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
The Supreme Court is working hard to turn this country into a despot's dreamscape—while making it nigh impossible for good people to make lasting change for the better.
Those of us who begged folks (and national media) to put SCOTUS before everything else in 2016 are in an endless Cassandrian hell.
Those of us who begged folks (and national media) to put SCOTUS before everything else in 2016 are in an endless Cassandrian hell.
December 8, 2025 at 6:54 PM
The Supreme Court is working hard to turn this country into a despot's dreamscape—while making it nigh impossible for good people to make lasting change for the better.
Those of us who begged folks (and national media) to put SCOTUS before everything else in 2016 are in an endless Cassandrian hell.
Those of us who begged folks (and national media) to put SCOTUS before everything else in 2016 are in an endless Cassandrian hell.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
U.S. NATIONAL DEBT, JANUARY 2025:
$36.1 trillion
U.S. NATIONAL DEBT, DECEMBER 2025:
$38.4 trillion
$36.1 trillion
U.S. NATIONAL DEBT, DECEMBER 2025:
$38.4 trillion
December 10, 2025 at 12:24 AM
U.S. NATIONAL DEBT, JANUARY 2025:
$36.1 trillion
U.S. NATIONAL DEBT, DECEMBER 2025:
$38.4 trillion
$36.1 trillion
U.S. NATIONAL DEBT, DECEMBER 2025:
$38.4 trillion
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
It’s way past time for every WH reporter to speak out to Trump’s face when he’s insulting female reporters. Is your access so critical that you’ll allow your colleagues to be abused?
December 9, 2025 at 2:06 AM
It’s way past time for every WH reporter to speak out to Trump’s face when he’s insulting female reporters. Is your access so critical that you’ll allow your colleagues to be abused?
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
Every legal story now is either
Ancient Circuit Judge Delivers Crystal Clear 100 Page Rebuke To Trumpist Overreach
or
In Unsigned Shadow Docket Decision, 6-3 Majority Declares Trump Can Hunt People For Sport
Ancient Circuit Judge Delivers Crystal Clear 100 Page Rebuke To Trumpist Overreach
or
In Unsigned Shadow Docket Decision, 6-3 Majority Declares Trump Can Hunt People For Sport
October 3, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Every legal story now is either
Ancient Circuit Judge Delivers Crystal Clear 100 Page Rebuke To Trumpist Overreach
or
In Unsigned Shadow Docket Decision, 6-3 Majority Declares Trump Can Hunt People For Sport
Ancient Circuit Judge Delivers Crystal Clear 100 Page Rebuke To Trumpist Overreach
or
In Unsigned Shadow Docket Decision, 6-3 Majority Declares Trump Can Hunt People For Sport
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
Good to see the Washpost putting this as grafs 2 and 3 of tonight’s Hegseth story.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
December 9, 2025 at 12:28 AM
Good to see the Washpost putting this as grafs 2 and 3 of tonight’s Hegseth story.
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
www.washingtonpost.com/national-sec...
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
Cassidy’s “yes” to confirm RFK Jr. has to be the most impactful vote by a single senator in the 21st century, right? Only other one I can recall that comes close is McCain saving the ACA.
December 5, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Cassidy’s “yes” to confirm RFK Jr. has to be the most impactful vote by a single senator in the 21st century, right? Only other one I can recall that comes close is McCain saving the ACA.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
If Republicans can show up to ban books, Democrats and independents could show up to keep democracy.
December 5, 2025 at 6:11 AM
If Republicans can show up to ban books, Democrats and independents could show up to keep democracy.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.
December 5, 2025 at 6:07 AM
I really can't emphasize enough that if you care about local politics, all you gotta do is show up. Just a regular schmegular person showing up. Literally just show up consistently in person and within a remarkably short amount of time, you will have a shocking amount of influence.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
Most Annoying Reply-Guys, ranked:
5. “Why are you posting about THIS, when you clearly should be posting about THAT?!?”
4. ”And you’re SURPRISED by this?!?”
3. “Okay, ‘Professor’!”
2. “Why doesn’t the MSM talk about this thing I only know about because of the MSM?!?”
…
5. “Why are you posting about THIS, when you clearly should be posting about THAT?!?”
4. ”And you’re SURPRISED by this?!?”
3. “Okay, ‘Professor’!”
2. “Why doesn’t the MSM talk about this thing I only know about because of the MSM?!?”
…
December 5, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Most Annoying Reply-Guys, ranked:
5. “Why are you posting about THIS, when you clearly should be posting about THAT?!?”
4. ”And you’re SURPRISED by this?!?”
3. “Okay, ‘Professor’!”
2. “Why doesn’t the MSM talk about this thing I only know about because of the MSM?!?”
…
5. “Why are you posting about THIS, when you clearly should be posting about THAT?!?”
4. ”And you’re SURPRISED by this?!?”
3. “Okay, ‘Professor’!”
2. “Why doesn’t the MSM talk about this thing I only know about because of the MSM?!?”
…
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
When a Canadian turns 16 they have to choose a path: hockey or Cirque du Soleil. There is no third option.
December 5, 2025 at 4:10 AM
When a Canadian turns 16 they have to choose a path: hockey or Cirque du Soleil. There is no third option.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
These are good moments to remember that the CEOs of all the biggest companies in America are happy to go to White House dinners and slap this guy’s back. They do not care about this. Remember this, years from now, when they want you to forget.
Trump: "It’s a hellhole right now. And those Somalians should be out of here. They've destroyed our country. And all they do is complain, complain, complain. You have her. She’s always talking about the Constitution provides me with – go back to your own country and figure out your constitution."
December 4, 2025 at 12:13 AM
These are good moments to remember that the CEOs of all the biggest companies in America are happy to go to White House dinners and slap this guy’s back. They do not care about this. Remember this, years from now, when they want you to forget.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
Imagine if just one of them said, "Mr. President, I came here to support a policy related to our industry. But I cannot stand here and listen to you denigrate people in this way. It's racist and it's wrong. If my shareholders disagree, they can have my resignation. But I cannot be part of this."
December 3, 2025 at 11:15 PM
Imagine if just one of them said, "Mr. President, I came here to support a policy related to our industry. But I cannot stand here and listen to you denigrate people in this way. It's racist and it's wrong. If my shareholders disagree, they can have my resignation. But I cannot be part of this."
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
What does it say about this country that that the kind of open, rank bigotry Trump administration officials regularly express towards black immigrants apparently has no social cost because of the number of Americans who quietly agree or don't care.
December 3, 2025 at 11:35 AM
What does it say about this country that that the kind of open, rank bigotry Trump administration officials regularly express towards black immigrants apparently has no social cost because of the number of Americans who quietly agree or don't care.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
Pete Hegseth says he’s going to court-martial me for saying the same exact thing he said 9 years ago. What changed for Pete? Well to start, he spends all day thinking about how he can suck up to Trump. When Trump says jump, he says how high.
December 3, 2025 at 3:02 AM
Pete Hegseth says he’s going to court-martial me for saying the same exact thing he said 9 years ago. What changed for Pete? Well to start, he spends all day thinking about how he can suck up to Trump. When Trump says jump, he says how high.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
credit to NYT for not sanewashing the appalling bigotry we saw today in the WH
"Even for Mr. Trump — who has a long history of insulting Black people, particularly those from African countries — his outburst was shocking in its unapologetic bigotry."
"Even for Mr. Trump — who has a long history of insulting Black people, particularly those from African countries — his outburst was shocking in its unapologetic bigotry."
Trump Administration Live Updates: President Calls Somalis ‘Garbage’ in Anti-Immigrant Tirade
www.nytimes.com
December 3, 2025 at 2:43 AM
credit to NYT for not sanewashing the appalling bigotry we saw today in the WH
"Even for Mr. Trump — who has a long history of insulting Black people, particularly those from African countries — his outburst was shocking in its unapologetic bigotry."
"Even for Mr. Trump — who has a long history of insulting Black people, particularly those from African countries — his outburst was shocking in its unapologetic bigotry."
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
Hegseth is very transparently blaming a Navy admiral for his own decision. Let this be a lesson for every other military officer: The Trump administration will issue unlawful orders, then blame you for following them.
December 2, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Hegseth is very transparently blaming a Navy admiral for his own decision. Let this be a lesson for every other military officer: The Trump administration will issue unlawful orders, then blame you for following them.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
The one thing Donald Trump has always and will always be afraid of is the truth. And right now, he’s scared.
December 2, 2025 at 3:08 AM
The one thing Donald Trump has always and will always be afraid of is the truth. And right now, he’s scared.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
Not sure the "we're totally responsible for all the illegal murderings, except this one, which people are upset about, so we didn't order that one" is going to stick.
December 2, 2025 at 3:44 AM
Not sure the "we're totally responsible for all the illegal murderings, except this one, which people are upset about, so we didn't order that one" is going to stick.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
Aaaaaand…this is exactly why the six lawmakers needed to remind servicemembers about not obeying unlawful orders (this will get driven home when Hegseth gets a pardon but no one else does)
NYT:
Five officials told us that Hegseth had nothing to do with the second strike
Washpost (which broke the story 2 days ago):
“This is ‘protect Pete’ bullshit,”
and
“It’s throwing us, the service members, under the bus.”
Five officials told us that Hegseth had nothing to do with the second strike
Washpost (which broke the story 2 days ago):
“This is ‘protect Pete’ bullshit,”
and
“It’s throwing us, the service members, under the bus.”
December 2, 2025 at 3:37 AM
Aaaaaand…this is exactly why the six lawmakers needed to remind servicemembers about not obeying unlawful orders (this will get driven home when Hegseth gets a pardon but no one else does)
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
If you're concerned about the U.S. military potentially turning its guns on its own people, it's time to start appealing to their better angels, rather than telling them you knew they were devils all along.
December 2, 2025 at 1:06 AM
If you're concerned about the U.S. military potentially turning its guns on its own people, it's time to start appealing to their better angels, rather than telling them you knew they were devils all along.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
It's also a gross insult to the millions of men and women who served in order to make the world a safer and better place.
December 2, 2025 at 1:01 AM
It's also a gross insult to the millions of men and women who served in order to make the world a safer and better place.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
"The U.S. military were always murderers, now they're just admitting it" may be a popular edgy view on BlueSky, but it undermines any reason to be upset that the Trump Admin are uniquely bad actors or present any urgent danger.
December 2, 2025 at 1:00 AM
"The U.S. military were always murderers, now they're just admitting it" may be a popular edgy view on BlueSky, but it undermines any reason to be upset that the Trump Admin are uniquely bad actors or present any urgent danger.
Reposted by Brent Hartinger
Mark Kelly: “Pete Hegseth is not a serious person. He’s unqualified for this job. I think he is the least qualified Secretary of Defense in the history of our country by far. & this President thinks he can bully & intimidate people? He’s not gonna stop me from speaking out & holding him accountable”
November 30, 2025 at 4:50 PM
Mark Kelly: “Pete Hegseth is not a serious person. He’s unqualified for this job. I think he is the least qualified Secretary of Defense in the history of our country by far. & this President thinks he can bully & intimidate people? He’s not gonna stop me from speaking out & holding him accountable”