cute brute
@cutebrute.bsky.social
Russia, Ukraine, Scandinavia, and the Arctic. Art History (Scandinavia and Imperial Russia). New York. Gay stuff. Lifting. 🇮🇪🇦🇱🇺🇸🏳️🌈
Reposted by cute brute
This is insane. It’s not some kind of character test for you. The point is that most people, poor and otherwise, aren’t tracking their personal finances precisely - this is well-known, extremely established fact - and as a result are unable to reliably notice very small aggregate changes in price.
Will Stancil again at it with his “You’re not poor if you’re not carefully counting every penny” and pretending that definition isn’t a political choice.
I am beyond over the Economic Despair Doomers, who talk to you like you're some kind of silver-spoon aristocrat if you dare notice that the vast majority of Americans are not poor, not starving, not carefully counting every single penny that leaves their bank account. They're just lying constantly
February 15, 2026 at 8:41 PM
This is insane. It’s not some kind of character test for you. The point is that most people, poor and otherwise, aren’t tracking their personal finances precisely - this is well-known, extremely established fact - and as a result are unable to reliably notice very small aggregate changes in price.
Reposted by cute brute
This is why I’m so fixated on the economy-and-inflation stuff. Rather than admit we misdiagnosed the problem, we keep vaguely acknowledging that something seems off, waiting a few months, and rediagnosing ourselves with it, because we really really want that to be the disease and not something new.
February 15, 2026 at 9:27 PM
This is why I’m so fixated on the economy-and-inflation stuff. Rather than admit we misdiagnosed the problem, we keep vaguely acknowledging that something seems off, waiting a few months, and rediagnosing ourselves with it, because we really really want that to be the disease and not something new.
Reposted by cute brute
Allow me to suggest that lying to yourself about what actually happened - the working class did great 2021-24 - is a great way to keep walking into the same traps!!
AOC on why Trump returned to office: "when you have economic stagnation, for the working class that, especially in an environment where GDP is growing, that is the stuff of populist movement. The choice is what direction those populist movements can go."
February 15, 2026 at 9:23 PM
Allow me to suggest that lying to yourself about what actually happened - the working class did great 2021-24 - is a great way to keep walking into the same traps!!
Reposted by cute brute
People mentally cannot accept or grapple with a world where progressive economic policies do not magically make everyone love you
February 15, 2026 at 9:56 PM
People mentally cannot accept or grapple with a world where progressive economic policies do not magically make everyone love you
Reposted by cute brute
Progressives: “Sure, we were completely wrong that improving the station of working-class people would result in electoral gains, but that’s just because, on a deeper level, we were correct that everyone is furious about wealth inequality”
America: *elects a billionaire backed by Elon Musk*
America: *elects a billionaire backed by Elon Musk*
Can we please stop with this argument?
It wasn’t a “vibecession,” it was people seeing how comparatively better the wealthy were doing than they were. It always comes back to the wealth gap and the fact that productivity gains have disproportionately flowed upward.
It wasn’t a “vibecession,” it was people seeing how comparatively better the wealthy were doing than they were. It always comes back to the wealth gap and the fact that productivity gains have disproportionately flowed upward.
Allow me to suggest that lying to yourself about what actually happened - the working class did great 2021-24 - is a great way to keep walking into the same traps!!
February 15, 2026 at 9:55 PM
Progressives: “Sure, we were completely wrong that improving the station of working-class people would result in electoral gains, but that’s just because, on a deeper level, we were correct that everyone is furious about wealth inequality”
America: *elects a billionaire backed by Elon Musk*
America: *elects a billionaire backed by Elon Musk*
Reposted by cute brute
There are very few things I believe more strongly than this:
If you orient your politics around things that you know are not true, or don’t care if are true, whether because it sounds good, or you think it’ll impress people, or any other reason, you are planting the seeds of your own destruction.
If you orient your politics around things that you know are not true, or don’t care if are true, whether because it sounds good, or you think it’ll impress people, or any other reason, you are planting the seeds of your own destruction.
February 15, 2026 at 10:07 PM
There are very few things I believe more strongly than this:
If you orient your politics around things that you know are not true, or don’t care if are true, whether because it sounds good, or you think it’ll impress people, or any other reason, you are planting the seeds of your own destruction.
If you orient your politics around things that you know are not true, or don’t care if are true, whether because it sounds good, or you think it’ll impress people, or any other reason, you are planting the seeds of your own destruction.
Reposted by cute brute
It’s extraordinarily dangerous twice over: we convince ourselves that we can be popular by enacting the exact policies that just failed to make us popular, AND we alienate people who gambled on our policies by refusing to acknowledge they enacted them
February 15, 2026 at 11:06 PM
It’s extraordinarily dangerous twice over: we convince ourselves that we can be popular by enacting the exact policies that just failed to make us popular, AND we alienate people who gambled on our policies by refusing to acknowledge they enacted them
Reposted by cute brute
Then in 2025 as inflation went even lower, they were… even more miserable about the economy! There’s just not any hard material indicator that remotely matches public sentiment here, and at some point we should ask if the public is getting its sentiments from some other source.
February 16, 2026 at 1:24 AM
Then in 2025 as inflation went even lower, they were… even more miserable about the economy! There’s just not any hard material indicator that remotely matches public sentiment here, and at some point we should ask if the public is getting its sentiments from some other source.
Reposted by cute brute
The idea that people were thrilled with the economy in 2021-22 when COVID supports were still in place makes no sense because people were very miserable about the economy in 2021-22. Then in 2023-24, when inflation subsided, they were… still miserable about the economy.
February 16, 2026 at 1:22 AM
The idea that people were thrilled with the economy in 2021-22 when COVID supports were still in place makes no sense because people were very miserable about the economy in 2021-22. Then in 2023-24, when inflation subsided, they were… still miserable about the economy.
Reposted by cute brute
If the economy in 2021-2024 was “the best it’s been in decades”:
A. That’s very good!
B. Someone forgot to tell Americans, who thought it was worse than 2009
A. That’s very good!
B. Someone forgot to tell Americans, who thought it was worse than 2009
That was the best in decades and yet it was still not great. It was very briefly good and people saw what the government was capable of to lift people up. And the general message being sent was that they were unwilling to continue to do any of the things they were capable of.
February 16, 2026 at 1:21 AM
If the economy in 2021-2024 was “the best it’s been in decades”:
A. That’s very good!
B. Someone forgot to tell Americans, who thought it was worse than 2009
A. That’s very good!
B. Someone forgot to tell Americans, who thought it was worse than 2009
Reposted by cute brute
this started a holy war, so let me state a very plain and direct argument for this
the democratic primary is when we decide if we get to have things be good or mid
the general election is when you decide if you dislike nazis
the democratic primary is when we decide if we get to have things be good or mid
the general election is when you decide if you dislike nazis
Counterpoint: if the Prince of Darkness rises from a fiery portal at the Iowa Caucus and declares his opposition to Donald Trump, I will ride to battle with the host of Hell
February 16, 2026 at 2:40 AM
this started a holy war, so let me state a very plain and direct argument for this
the democratic primary is when we decide if we get to have things be good or mid
the general election is when you decide if you dislike nazis
the democratic primary is when we decide if we get to have things be good or mid
the general election is when you decide if you dislike nazis
Reposted by cute brute
Ma’am, this is a chart for Canada
February 16, 2026 at 5:04 AM
Ma’am, this is a chart for Canada
Reposted by cute brute
The reason people are concerned about lefties saying “I won’t vote for a moderate Dem” isn’t because they want Newsom. It’s because lefties keep not voting for moderate Dems!
I think all the scolding about it being years til the primary would hit a little harder if WE DIDN’T JUST GO THROUGH THIS
I think all the scolding about it being years til the primary would hit a little harder if WE DIDN’T JUST GO THROUGH THIS
February 16, 2026 at 6:24 AM
The reason people are concerned about lefties saying “I won’t vote for a moderate Dem” isn’t because they want Newsom. It’s because lefties keep not voting for moderate Dems!
I think all the scolding about it being years til the primary would hit a little harder if WE DIDN’T JUST GO THROUGH THIS
I think all the scolding about it being years til the primary would hit a little harder if WE DIDN’T JUST GO THROUGH THIS
Reposted by cute brute
This. Precisely this. Serious people don’t threaten to vote third party, because it’s a tantrum.
I don’t like Newsom at all, I think he’s an amoral opportunist. But JD Vance is quite literally a man who gets his ideas from neo-Nazis. He’s a white supremacist fascist. It’s an easy, easy choice!
I don’t like Newsom at all, I think he’s an amoral opportunist. But JD Vance is quite literally a man who gets his ideas from neo-Nazis. He’s a white supremacist fascist. It’s an easy, easy choice!
Threatening not to vote just shouldn’t be as much a thing as it is in progressive spaces instead of being the fucking constant monotonous feature that it is and more then anything else if you’re doing that over Newson you’re just telling me and everyone else that what’s happening now is nbd to you.
The reason people are concerned about lefties saying “I won’t vote for a moderate Dem” isn’t because they want Newsom. It’s because lefties keep not voting for moderate Dems!
I think all the scolding about it being years til the primary would hit a little harder if WE DIDN’T JUST GO THROUGH THIS
I think all the scolding about it being years til the primary would hit a little harder if WE DIDN’T JUST GO THROUGH THIS
February 16, 2026 at 1:18 PM
This. Precisely this. Serious people don’t threaten to vote third party, because it’s a tantrum.
I don’t like Newsom at all, I think he’s an amoral opportunist. But JD Vance is quite literally a man who gets his ideas from neo-Nazis. He’s a white supremacist fascist. It’s an easy, easy choice!
I don’t like Newsom at all, I think he’s an amoral opportunist. But JD Vance is quite literally a man who gets his ideas from neo-Nazis. He’s a white supremacist fascist. It’s an easy, easy choice!
Reposted by cute brute
People who think their only political tool is withholding their vote are people who haven’t bothered to engage in politics. It’s not a real tool, it persuades nobody of anything but to ignore you. Almost anything else you did would have a better chance of achieving your ends.
February 16, 2026 at 1:28 PM
People who think their only political tool is withholding their vote are people who haven’t bothered to engage in politics. It’s not a real tool, it persuades nobody of anything but to ignore you. Almost anything else you did would have a better chance of achieving your ends.
Reposted by cute brute
Speaking as someone who has many, many complaints about the Democratic Party, “letting them lose” when they’re in a contest with an actual fascist party isn’t very smart. Nor is it remotely fair to say they’ve adopted far right policies on trans rights, immigration, or abortion (??).
chat is it good or bad if the only defense against fascism is voting for one party forever and never letting them lose no matter how far right they go and how much of the fascist's policies around immigration and trans rights and abortion they start taking on over time?
This. Precisely this. Serious people don’t threaten to vote third party, because it’s a tantrum.
I don’t like Newsom at all, I think he’s an amoral opportunist. But JD Vance is quite literally a man who gets his ideas from neo-Nazis. He’s a white supremacist fascist. It’s an easy, easy choice!
I don’t like Newsom at all, I think he’s an amoral opportunist. But JD Vance is quite literally a man who gets his ideas from neo-Nazis. He’s a white supremacist fascist. It’s an easy, easy choice!
February 16, 2026 at 1:24 PM
Speaking as someone who has many, many complaints about the Democratic Party, “letting them lose” when they’re in a contest with an actual fascist party isn’t very smart. Nor is it remotely fair to say they’ve adopted far right policies on trans rights, immigration, or abortion (??).
Reposted by cute brute
This is why healthy democracies don’t have competitive fascist parties - because it turns elections into Russian roulette. The dilemma isn’t “the same party has to win every time for us to be safe” but “the same party has to LOSE every time.” The fascist party is the danger
I do think this raises a problem though: A system where one party must win all the time to prevent fascism is not sustainable. If the electorate cannot simply reject candidates like Trump who threaten to use the military on their opponents... that's very very bad.
February 16, 2026 at 1:30 PM
This is why healthy democracies don’t have competitive fascist parties - because it turns elections into Russian roulette. The dilemma isn’t “the same party has to win every time for us to be safe” but “the same party has to LOSE every time.” The fascist party is the danger
Reposted by cute brute
Yes, the most exhausting thing about the far-left is responding to their completely fictional version of the Democratic Party (one that is not, for instance, one of the most visibly pro-trans parties on Earth).
And where they believe punishing America with fascism is justified by Dem failures.
And where they believe punishing America with fascism is justified by Dem failures.
Speaking as someone who has many, many complaints about the Democratic Party, “letting them lose” when they’re in a contest with an actual fascist party isn’t very smart. Nor is it remotely fair to say they’ve adopted far right policies on trans rights, immigration, or abortion (??).
chat is it good or bad if the only defense against fascism is voting for one party forever and never letting them lose no matter how far right they go and how much of the fascist's policies around immigration and trans rights and abortion they start taking on over time?
February 16, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Yes, the most exhausting thing about the far-left is responding to their completely fictional version of the Democratic Party (one that is not, for instance, one of the most visibly pro-trans parties on Earth).
And where they believe punishing America with fascism is justified by Dem failures.
And where they believe punishing America with fascism is justified by Dem failures.
Reposted by cute brute
Literally no one here is doing that. You’ll notice that a lot of the people claiming they’ll never vote for Newsom are saying some pretty crazy stuff about Democrats in general. We’ve seen this movie before - this isn’t some tactical anti-Newsom feint, they’re dying for a reason to sit things out.
We are over two years out from the next election we do not need to accept Newsom as inevitable.
February 16, 2026 at 1:41 PM
Literally no one here is doing that. You’ll notice that a lot of the people claiming they’ll never vote for Newsom are saying some pretty crazy stuff about Democrats in general. We’ve seen this movie before - this isn’t some tactical anti-Newsom feint, they’re dying for a reason to sit things out.
Reposted by cute brute
I’m not saying you shouldn’t criticize Dems - of course not - but acting like “a mediocre Dem versus an actual fascist” is a tough choice is extremely unhelpful for people trying to build a broad united front against fascism.
February 16, 2026 at 1:47 PM
I’m not saying you shouldn’t criticize Dems - of course not - but acting like “a mediocre Dem versus an actual fascist” is a tough choice is extremely unhelpful for people trying to build a broad united front against fascism.
Reposted by cute brute
The left attacks create a permission structure for non-voters. “Eh, they’re all the same anyway.” Same thing happened in 2000. It contributes to the miasmatic discontent with candidates that drives low-info voters to make terrible choices.
At least half of Stein's votes weren't gettable, they were gonna go third party regardless. So that's not enough. And non-voters are overwhelmingly people who are less engaged in politics, they aren't ideological hardliners abstaining for that reason in any substantial numbers.
February 16, 2026 at 1:45 PM
The left attacks create a permission structure for non-voters. “Eh, they’re all the same anyway.” Same thing happened in 2000. It contributes to the miasmatic discontent with candidates that drives low-info voters to make terrible choices.
Reposted by cute brute
The problem is that letting absolutely nutbars build huge followings poisons the entire environment even if you, personally, do not interact with them. This is PRECISELY what has gone wrong on Twitter - the far right has massive social gravity even if you don’t talk to it.
Bluesky needs better moderation. The level of crazy bullshit, wishing death on people, speading lies, vitriolic comments, dogpiling, etc on here is way too damn high
It would be a real bummer if the site becomes unusable for all but the most troubled and troublesome people
It would be a real bummer if the site becomes unusable for all but the most troubled and troublesome people
Man every day I wonder if I shouldn’t just delete my account on here maybe. Opening Bluesky makes me want to actually walk in front of a truck. I don’t think people on here understand how crazy they’ve gotten
February 16, 2026 at 2:12 PM
The problem is that letting absolutely nutbars build huge followings poisons the entire environment even if you, personally, do not interact with them. This is PRECISELY what has gone wrong on Twitter - the far right has massive social gravity even if you don’t talk to it.
Reposted by cute brute
Bluesky needs better moderation. The level of crazy bullshit, wishing death on people, speading lies, vitriolic comments, dogpiling, etc on here is way too damn high
It would be a real bummer if the site becomes unusable for all but the most troubled and troublesome people
It would be a real bummer if the site becomes unusable for all but the most troubled and troublesome people
Man every day I wonder if I shouldn’t just delete my account on here maybe. Opening Bluesky makes me want to actually walk in front of a truck. I don’t think people on here understand how crazy they’ve gotten
February 16, 2026 at 2:10 PM
Bluesky needs better moderation. The level of crazy bullshit, wishing death on people, speading lies, vitriolic comments, dogpiling, etc on here is way too damn high
It would be a real bummer if the site becomes unusable for all but the most troubled and troublesome people
It would be a real bummer if the site becomes unusable for all but the most troubled and troublesome people
Reposted by cute brute
Biden was the most economically progressive president since LBJ at least, he pursued a full-employment economy at huge political risk, it worked spectacularly.
And what happened is that the entire progressive universe decided that he must not have done any of it, or else he would have been popular
And what happened is that the entire progressive universe decided that he must not have done any of it, or else he would have been popular
Are the progressive economic policies in the room with us right now?
February 15, 2026 at 11:02 PM
Biden was the most economically progressive president since LBJ at least, he pursued a full-employment economy at huge political risk, it worked spectacularly.
And what happened is that the entire progressive universe decided that he must not have done any of it, or else he would have been popular
And what happened is that the entire progressive universe decided that he must not have done any of it, or else he would have been popular
Reposted by cute brute
Well I don’t like all the fascism and pedophilia, but at least he’ll be good for cryptocurrency right, how’s that going
February 6, 2026 at 12:18 AM
Well I don’t like all the fascism and pedophilia, but at least he’ll be good for cryptocurrency right, how’s that going