David Dayen
@ddayen.bsky.social
Executive editor, The American Prospect. Author, Chain of Title and Monopolized. Tips at ddayen-at-prospect-dot-org or Signal at ddayen.90
Pinned
Sports - The American Prospect
prospect.org
You can see our entire series on The Business of Sports at
prospect.org/sports. More to come in the days ahead!
prospect.org/sports. More to come in the days ahead!
Reposted by David Dayen
No Kings includes Draft Kings
February 8, 2026 at 11:49 PM
No Kings includes Draft Kings
We got the pitch deck that public-private partnership Freedom 250 is using to sell access to corporations to Trump in conjunction with the semiquincentennial. $1 million and up gets you a private reception with the president. Read the deck here:
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
Read Trump’s Pitch Deck for Selling America’s Birthday - The American Prospect
Freedom 250 is urging donors to repeat far-right Christian nationalist and anti-abortion talking points.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 11:02 PM
We got the pitch deck that public-private partnership Freedom 250 is using to sell access to corporations to Trump in conjunction with the semiquincentennial. $1 million and up gets you a private reception with the president. Read the deck here:
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
Look at this cute new milkshake duck, trying to save Democrats from their excesses.
Update: we regret to inform you that the milkshake duck is a registered lobbyist for OpenAI.
lda.gov/filings/publ...
Update: we regret to inform you that the milkshake duck is a registered lobbyist for OpenAI.
lda.gov/filings/publ...
February 9, 2026 at 10:29 PM
Look at this cute new milkshake duck, trying to save Democrats from their excesses.
Update: we regret to inform you that the milkshake duck is a registered lobbyist for OpenAI.
lda.gov/filings/publ...
Update: we regret to inform you that the milkshake duck is a registered lobbyist for OpenAI.
lda.gov/filings/publ...
The trade of "reforms" to ICE for funding for the Department of Homeland Security looks more and more like it's off the table, Bob Kuttner reports.
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
Republican Frostbite - The American Prospect
Defense of ICE has become a political loser, and the deal to trade reforms for continued funding is off the table.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 10:24 PM
The trade of "reforms" to ICE for funding for the Department of Homeland Security looks more and more like it's off the table, Bob Kuttner reports.
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/r...
Reposted by David Dayen
A federal worker at the CFPB found out in December that she had a brain tumor that needed to be removed.
The next month, Russ Vought unilaterally ended her agency's short-term disability plan.
www.huffpost.com/entry/russel...
The next month, Russ Vought unilaterally ended her agency's short-term disability plan.
www.huffpost.com/entry/russel...
A Federal Worker Developed A Brain Tumor. The Trump Admin's Next Move Was Unspeakably Cruel.
Russell Vought is seizing every opportunity he can to dismantle a crucial watchdog agency.
www.huffpost.com
February 9, 2026 at 8:09 PM
A federal worker at the CFPB found out in December that she had a brain tumor that needed to be removed.
The next month, Russ Vought unilaterally ended her agency's short-term disability plan.
www.huffpost.com/entry/russel...
The next month, Russ Vought unilaterally ended her agency's short-term disability plan.
www.huffpost.com/entry/russel...
Reposted by David Dayen
The Trump admin made a pitch deck for corporate sponsors to take over America's 250th birthday.
s3.documentcloud.org
February 9, 2026 at 8:06 PM
The Trump admin made a pitch deck for corporate sponsors to take over America's 250th birthday.
Reposted by David Dayen
Very annoyed at the people who decided to open the floodgates to online sports betting, it is absolutely a scourge. Great piece from Gabrielle Gurley on people spending hours a day on these predatory apps.
The Scourge of Online Sports Betting - The American Prospect
States and leagues must face up to the damage from app-based gambling for the next generation of bettors, most of them young men.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 4:52 PM
Very annoyed at the people who decided to open the floodgates to online sports betting, it is absolutely a scourge. Great piece from Gabrielle Gurley on people spending hours a day on these predatory apps.
I am pretty used to corporate self-interest, but even I'm shocked by what Ellen Ioanes dug up about the Board of Peace and its designs in Gaza.
prospect.org/2026/02/09/b...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/b...
Board of Peace Is a Board of Profits - The American Prospect
Corporate interests dominate the organization planning the reconstruction of Gaza.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 3:50 PM
I am pretty used to corporate self-interest, but even I'm shocked by what Ellen Ioanes dug up about the Board of Peace and its designs in Gaza.
prospect.org/2026/02/09/b...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/b...
There's way too much nonchalance about the fact that California is hurtling toward electing a MAGA governor, even if 65% of its voters vote for a Democrat in the primary. Harold Meyerson reports on the top-two primary setting conditions for an election at odds with voter preference.
The Nation’s Most Democratic State Might Elect a Trump-Friendly Governor - The American Prospect
California’s nonpartisan primary pits eight Democrats against two Republicans; only the top two finishers advance. Do the math.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:46 PM
There's way too much nonchalance about the fact that California is hurtling toward electing a MAGA governor, even if 65% of its voters vote for a Democrat in the primary. Harold Meyerson reports on the top-two primary setting conditions for an election at odds with voter preference.
During college football season you may have endured endless ads telling you the game is in crisis. The crisis is this: players are getting paid. Katie Van Dyck explains how schools appealed to Congress to once again hoard the money players generate, and lost (for now):
prospect.org/2026/02/09/f...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/f...
How Congress Refused to Save the NCAA From Itself - The American Prospect
Colleges want exemptions from antitrust and labor laws, so they can continue to hoard billions in cash from sports and deny the players their rights. So far, they’ve failed.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 2:19 PM
During college football season you may have endured endless ads telling you the game is in crisis. The crisis is this: players are getting paid. Katie Van Dyck explains how schools appealed to Congress to once again hoard the money players generate, and lost (for now):
prospect.org/2026/02/09/f...
prospect.org/2026/02/09/f...
bump
February 9, 2026 at 3:00 AM
bump
Reposted by David Dayen
Just a few weeks ago, the administration cancelled all remaining department of energy grid resilience projects in Puerto Rico. All of them. www.latitudemedia.com/news/the-end...
The end of DOE’s grid work in Puerto Rico
The Trump administration has canceled all eight of the remaining awards devoted to distributed energy on the island.
www.latitudemedia.com
February 9, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Just a few weeks ago, the administration cancelled all remaining department of energy grid resilience projects in Puerto Rico. All of them. www.latitudemedia.com/news/the-end...
"What he may not understand is that Bad Bunny is inherently political"
prospect.org/2026/02/06/b...
prospect.org/2026/02/06/b...
Bad Bunny Bowl - The American Prospect
Fresh off Grammy glory, Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny is set to perform on America’s biggest stage. It’s shaping up to be Puerto Rico’s moon-landing moment.
prospect.org
February 9, 2026 at 1:57 AM
"What he may not understand is that Bad Bunny is inherently political"
prospect.org/2026/02/06/b...
prospect.org/2026/02/06/b...
Every copywriter who produced these ads after that halftime show is calling NBC right now going "Spike it! Spike it!"
February 9, 2026 at 1:35 AM
Every copywriter who produced these ads after that halftime show is calling NBC right now going "Spike it! Spike it!"
Four dead of heart attacks in The Villages from this show so far
February 9, 2026 at 1:21 AM
Four dead of heart attacks in The Villages from this show so far
No reason to respect either of these QBs this far, 9 seems insurmountable
February 9, 2026 at 1:08 AM
No reason to respect either of these QBs this far, 9 seems insurmountable
Don't worry take artists, Bad Bunny in 2:00
February 9, 2026 at 12:54 AM
Don't worry take artists, Bad Bunny in 2:00
Real turncoat stuff from Jon Bon Jovi right there
February 8, 2026 at 11:18 PM
Real turncoat stuff from Jon Bon Jovi right there
Throw out that playbook
According to the Louisiana Democratic Party, Chasity Martinez got outpsent by a 3-to-1 margin in tonight's election yet still turned in a 37-point overperformance—and a victory.
Congratulations to Chasity Verret Martinez on her election to represent House District 60.
She was outspent 3-to-1 and still won. This is what happens when grassroots Democrats show up and organize.
Proud of this win and excited to keep building power together. #LaDemos
She was outspent 3-to-1 and still won. This is what happens when grassroots Democrats show up and organize.
Proud of this win and excited to keep building power together. #LaDemos
February 8, 2026 at 6:10 AM
Throw out that playbook
Reposted by David Dayen
Breaking — Will Lewis out at the Washington Post. He just sent this email to staff (shared with me by staffer):
February 7, 2026 at 10:47 PM
Breaking — Will Lewis out at the Washington Post. He just sent this email to staff (shared with me by staffer):
In a Democratic club meeting, LA Mayor Karen Bass pronounced herself "flabbergasted" by Nithya Raman's entry into the mayor's race. "I’ve worked closely with Nithya, helped her gain the Democratic endorsement, helped her clear an encampment in her district," she said. "I am going to fight."
February 7, 2026 at 8:22 PM
In a Democratic club meeting, LA Mayor Karen Bass pronounced herself "flabbergasted" by Nithya Raman's entry into the mayor's race. "I’ve worked closely with Nithya, helped her gain the Democratic endorsement, helped her clear an encampment in her district," she said. "I am going to fight."
Pretty big deal in Los Angeles as Nithya Raman jumps into the mayor's race at the deadline. She's one to watch. Good to see some actual competition in our typically top-down local politics.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
Rising Progressive Star Shakes Up Race for Los Angeles Mayor
www.nytimes.com
February 7, 2026 at 5:59 PM
Pretty big deal in Los Angeles as Nithya Raman jumps into the mayor's race at the deadline. She's one to watch. Good to see some actual competition in our typically top-down local politics.
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
www.nytimes.com/2026/02/07/u...
Some weekend Prospect here from Thomas Riley on PBS Kids, hit by the elimination of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and cuts to Ready To Learn grants from the Department of Education.
prospect.org/2026/02/07/t...
prospect.org/2026/02/07/t...
It’s a Dreary Day in the Neighborhood - The American Prospect
It’s a Dreary Day in the Neighborhood: PBS Kids is feeling the effects of funding cuts—and so will the rest of the children’s media landscape.
prospect.org
February 7, 2026 at 5:48 PM
Some weekend Prospect here from Thomas Riley on PBS Kids, hit by the elimination of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting and cuts to Ready To Learn grants from the Department of Education.
prospect.org/2026/02/07/t...
prospect.org/2026/02/07/t...
What's the model for daily news now that rich benefactors have manifestly not safeguarded journalism? Bob Kuttner looks to The Guardian nonprofit trust as a path forward.
prospect.org/2026/02/06/p...
prospect.org/2026/02/06/p...
After The Washington Post - The American Prospect
What will it take to preserve a great newspaper in the nation’s capital, and to sustain independent daily journalism generally?
prospect.org
February 6, 2026 at 10:49 PM
What's the model for daily news now that rich benefactors have manifestly not safeguarded journalism? Bob Kuttner looks to The Guardian nonprofit trust as a path forward.
prospect.org/2026/02/06/p...
prospect.org/2026/02/06/p...