@donwest84.bsky.social
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Common Ground Podcast
We are two political observers, Owen the conservative and Don the progressive, coming together to try to find common ground. We also hope to work together to establish ideas for reform with our common...
youtube.com
After Kirk was assassinated, a conservative friend reached out to ask if i wanted to do a podcast with him. Not a debate, a discussion. A space where a progressive and a conservative could talk and explore areas of agreement.
If you're interested, here's the link.
If you're interested, here's the link.
@michaelhobbes.bsky.social thank you for educating me on this through your podcasts. I always thought the argument was dumb, but assumed I was missing something because smart people were concerned. Your arguments brought me around.
They developed the "high school girl's sports" angle as a wedge issue, to lever their way up to full society-wide discrimination. What's endlessly stunning to me is how many purported liberals a) helped them when it started & b) are still helping them even after the larger purpose has become clear!
December 17, 2025 at 9:23 PM
@michaelhobbes.bsky.social thank you for educating me on this through your podcasts. I always thought the argument was dumb, but assumed I was missing something because smart people were concerned. Your arguments brought me around.
In 2021, McConnell said that he couldn't vote to impeach an ex-president. He didn't say Trump wasn't guilty. Let's get those insurrection impeachment charges raised back up.
Also, SCOTUS said Congress needs to impeach before criminal charges can be levied. Sooo...
Also, SCOTUS said Congress needs to impeach before criminal charges can be levied. Sooo...
BREAKING on MS NOW:
Jack Smith, in his opening statement to House Judiciary, says:
"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power."
Jack Smith, in his opening statement to House Judiciary, says:
"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power."
December 17, 2025 at 7:15 PM
In 2021, McConnell said that he couldn't vote to impeach an ex-president. He didn't say Trump wasn't guilty. Let's get those insurrection impeachment charges raised back up.
Also, SCOTUS said Congress needs to impeach before criminal charges can be levied. Sooo...
Also, SCOTUS said Congress needs to impeach before criminal charges can be levied. Sooo...
This wonderfully names Trump’s style, and the reason he will fail in his mission to kill American democracy. He is not strategic, he is impulsive, and he has no core vision. He is a toddler, essentially, and should be treated as such.
In Trump's first year, he has developed a distinctive style of government — authoritarian, but so poorly thought out as to blunt its own effectiveness.
I call it "haphazardism," and it may just be the thing saving
American democracy www.vox.com/politics/472...
I call it "haphazardism," and it may just be the thing saving
American democracy www.vox.com/politics/472...
Trump’s war on democracy is failing
And it’s his own fault.
www.vox.com
December 17, 2025 at 12:36 AM
This wonderfully names Trump’s style, and the reason he will fail in his mission to kill American democracy. He is not strategic, he is impulsive, and he has no core vision. He is a toddler, essentially, and should be treated as such.
Reposted
This holiday season Republicans will watch the classic cautionary tale, A Christmas Carol, in which a successful businessman is terrorized into abandoning his libertarian principles by 3 woke ghosts.
December 16, 2025 at 7:13 PM
This holiday season Republicans will watch the classic cautionary tale, A Christmas Carol, in which a successful businessman is terrorized into abandoning his libertarian principles by 3 woke ghosts.
Reposted
Rob Reiner took the lawless hero — Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt, Batman — and reminded us that this is actually the bad guy. It’s a lesson worth remembering today.
Rob Reiner reminded us that lawless authoritarians are bad
The unconventional but needed message of "A Few Good Men"
open.substack.com
December 16, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Rob Reiner took the lawless hero — Jason Bourne, Ethan Hunt, Batman — and reminded us that this is actually the bad guy. It’s a lesson worth remembering today.
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December 16, 2025 at 2:26 AM
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Remember when Alabama had the exact same experience in 2011 when it chased out all migrant laborers?
Who was their senator? Oh, right, Jeff Sessions.
Who was Sessions' policy advisor? Oh, right, Stephen Miller.
you'd think he'd have known the havoc he was creating. Funny, that.
Who was their senator? Oh, right, Jeff Sessions.
Who was Sessions' policy advisor? Oh, right, Stephen Miller.
you'd think he'd have known the havoc he was creating. Funny, that.
December 15, 2025 at 11:42 PM
Remember when Alabama had the exact same experience in 2011 when it chased out all migrant laborers?
Who was their senator? Oh, right, Jeff Sessions.
Who was Sessions' policy advisor? Oh, right, Stephen Miller.
you'd think he'd have known the havoc he was creating. Funny, that.
Who was their senator? Oh, right, Jeff Sessions.
Who was Sessions' policy advisor? Oh, right, Stephen Miller.
you'd think he'd have known the havoc he was creating. Funny, that.
Reposted
Just so I'm clear on this, computer memory has tripled in price because a bunch of it that hasn't been produced yet has been ordered to populate GPUs that aren't installed in data centers that aren't built yet in order to service a demand that doesn't exist to make profits that don't happen.
December 15, 2025 at 12:21 PM
Just so I'm clear on this, computer memory has tripled in price because a bunch of it that hasn't been produced yet has been ordered to populate GPUs that aren't installed in data centers that aren't built yet in order to service a demand that doesn't exist to make profits that don't happen.
I'm not convinced that leveling the internet and rebuilding from scratch would be a bad thing. Isn't it likely that there are better versions of the internet than what grew in a libertarian environment? I don't like libertarianism in other things, why is it essential for the internet?
"now they can't ban me or I'll sue them" okay so you want the platform to stop existing entirely
"no, they just aren't allowed to ban me"
too bad, platform's gone, nowhere to post
"no, they just aren't allowed to ban me"
too bad, platform's gone, nowhere to post
December 15, 2025 at 12:00 AM
I'm not convinced that leveling the internet and rebuilding from scratch would be a bad thing. Isn't it likely that there are better versions of the internet than what grew in a libertarian environment? I don't like libertarianism in other things, why is it essential for the internet?
Most functions performed by these institutions are unnecessary or intrusive on the rights of citizens and residents. The federal government should not have policing power anywhere near this scale. Both ICE and CBP need to go.
"ICE and CBP must be abolished" is the only reasonable position. We can debate the specifics of new agencies for immigration functions, but these agencies are simply too infected with a culture of impunity, racism, and fascism to continue. They're gangs with badges.
Armed ICE agents trapped US citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers. Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN. They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers. Every person present was a US citizen.
December 14, 2025 at 10:24 PM
Most functions performed by these institutions are unnecessary or intrusive on the rights of citizens and residents. The federal government should not have policing power anywhere near this scale. Both ICE and CBP need to go.
Another episode of the best podcast on Central Asia just dropped. Worth a listen every time.
The latest Spotlight on Central Asia podcast is out.:(open.spotify.com/episode/0aFd...)
Gas, Grids and Gendered Violence
open.spotify.com
December 14, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Another episode of the best podcast on Central Asia just dropped. Worth a listen every time.
This entire thread is golden. Every word is worth reading.
The problem with asking abolitionists how to prevent violent and sexual crimes is that it presupposes that the current system actually addresses sexual or violent crimes when it categorically does not. The United States has the lowest clearance rates for violent crimes in the developed world.
December 13, 2025 at 4:59 PM
This entire thread is golden. Every word is worth reading.
Me when my son was 1 year old- "I'll be vague about Santa. I don't want to spoil the fun, but I don't want to confuse him by telling him magic is real."
Me now that my son is 4- "Great question. To see at night Santa uses night vision goggles. Alexa, show us how night vision goggles work."
Me now that my son is 4- "Great question. To see at night Santa uses night vision goggles. Alexa, show us how night vision goggles work."
December 12, 2025 at 3:26 AM
Me when my son was 1 year old- "I'll be vague about Santa. I don't want to spoil the fun, but I don't want to confuse him by telling him magic is real."
Me now that my son is 4- "Great question. To see at night Santa uses night vision goggles. Alexa, show us how night vision goggles work."
Me now that my son is 4- "Great question. To see at night Santa uses night vision goggles. Alexa, show us how night vision goggles work."
Why does the President have veto power? Why isn't the executive simply responsible for executing legislation passed by Congress?
How about pardon power? If the Judiciary has ruled that a crime was committed, why can the executive grant a unilateral waiver?
How about pardon power? If the Judiciary has ruled that a crime was committed, why can the executive grant a unilateral waiver?
December 12, 2025 at 1:39 AM
Why does the President have veto power? Why isn't the executive simply responsible for executing legislation passed by Congress?
How about pardon power? If the Judiciary has ruled that a crime was committed, why can the executive grant a unilateral waiver?
How about pardon power? If the Judiciary has ruled that a crime was committed, why can the executive grant a unilateral waiver?
Reposted
Immigrants ‘plucked out of line’ at citizenship ceremony at Faneuil Hall “the cradle of liberty”.
If you ever claimed you want immigrants to do it the right way, this should outrage you. On the other hand, If you think this was okay, you need to come to terms with your white nationalist views.
If you ever claimed you want immigrants to do it the right way, this should outrage you. On the other hand, If you think this was okay, you need to come to terms with your white nationalist views.
December 10, 2025 at 7:44 PM
Immigrants ‘plucked out of line’ at citizenship ceremony at Faneuil Hall “the cradle of liberty”.
If you ever claimed you want immigrants to do it the right way, this should outrage you. On the other hand, If you think this was okay, you need to come to terms with your white nationalist views.
If you ever claimed you want immigrants to do it the right way, this should outrage you. On the other hand, If you think this was okay, you need to come to terms with your white nationalist views.
Reposted
Community members in Kenner, Louisiana, activate rapid-response teams to follow Greg Bovino and his Border Patrol goons through the neighborhood. They alert residents and warn them not to open their doors unless CBP has a court-ordered warrant.
December 7, 2025 at 9:07 PM
Community members in Kenner, Louisiana, activate rapid-response teams to follow Greg Bovino and his Border Patrol goons through the neighborhood. They alert residents and warn them not to open their doors unless CBP has a court-ordered warrant.
Last drop-off from Uber Pool is always the worst.
'Skull of St. Thomas Aquinas being transported to Fossanova Abbey.'
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
Photograph by Daniel Ibanez
December 10, 2025 at 7:43 PM
Last drop-off from Uber Pool is always the worst.
Reposted
every single thing you learn about donald trump’s upbringing makes you go “okay, yeah, i see exactly how he turned out this way”
He’s also been coddled and sheltered from the consequences of his awful personality his entire life. It’s like he’s lab grown to be a complete shithead.
December 10, 2025 at 12:15 AM
every single thing you learn about donald trump’s upbringing makes you go “okay, yeah, i see exactly how he turned out this way”
Reposted
This is a good - and important - read.
We recommend it.
#RadioFreeAmerica
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
We recommend it.
#RadioFreeAmerica
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
We asked critics from authoritarian regimes what they wish they’d known sooner. Here’s what they said
Critics from Hungary, El Salvador and Turkey offer advice to the US about what they’ve learned about authoritarians
www.theguardian.com
December 9, 2025 at 9:33 PM
This is a good - and important - read.
We recommend it.
#RadioFreeAmerica
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
We recommend it.
#RadioFreeAmerica
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Credit where credit is due. Californians may not understand which traffic light means "go," or how right on red works, or how to yield, or what speed limit signs mean, or how to merge, or what blinkers are for, but they know that if there's a pedestrian on the crosswalk, you stop. It's something.
December 8, 2025 at 10:03 PM
Credit where credit is due. Californians may not understand which traffic light means "go," or how right on red works, or how to yield, or what speed limit signs mean, or how to merge, or what blinkers are for, but they know that if there's a pedestrian on the crosswalk, you stop. It's something.
A friend of mine agrees with almost everything Stephen Miller says, but finds his anti-democratic actions and his cruel inhumanity to be repugnant.
Republicans who don't commit crimes will not go to jail. Those who commit crimes shouldn't be given a pass just so they'll allow for elections.
Republicans who don't commit crimes will not go to jail. Those who commit crimes shouldn't be given a pass just so they'll allow for elections.
Strategically it would be best if we didn't convince Republicans that they have to hold into power at any cost or go to prison but I just don't know if it's in the cards.
December 8, 2025 at 6:05 PM
A friend of mine agrees with almost everything Stephen Miller says, but finds his anti-democratic actions and his cruel inhumanity to be repugnant.
Republicans who don't commit crimes will not go to jail. Those who commit crimes shouldn't be given a pass just so they'll allow for elections.
Republicans who don't commit crimes will not go to jail. Those who commit crimes shouldn't be given a pass just so they'll allow for elections.
Donald Trump, waddling in from the golf course to belch out ignorant and idiotic takes on delicate political matters since the Central Park Five.
Isn't there a casino that he could bankrupt instead?
Isn't there a casino that he could bankrupt instead?
A few thoughts on the new US national security strategy that was released today.
🧵
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
🧵
www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/u...
December 5, 2025 at 7:20 PM
Donald Trump, waddling in from the golf course to belch out ignorant and idiotic takes on delicate political matters since the Central Park Five.
Isn't there a casino that he could bankrupt instead?
Isn't there a casino that he could bankrupt instead?
100% this. And for all executives, frankly. The executive executes the law, that's the job. If the occupant of the office wants to write the law, there's a different office to run for.
Maybe a hot take, but I don’t think it’s appropriate for the mayor of a large city to weigh in on individual multifamily project, period. The appropriate time to weigh in is when you’re designing or revising the land use rules that determine what can get built.
December 5, 2025 at 7:15 PM
100% this. And for all executives, frankly. The executive executes the law, that's the job. If the occupant of the office wants to write the law, there's a different office to run for.
Reposted
The way I'd put it is that there's currently a global struggle between democracy and nationalist gangster-capitalism, that this struggle is simultaneously unfolding both within and between states, and that the US currently sits at its epicentre
The New Cold War is against nationalist authoritarianism, and the US is on their side.
December 5, 2025 at 11:40 AM
The way I'd put it is that there's currently a global struggle between democracy and nationalist gangster-capitalism, that this struggle is simultaneously unfolding both within and between states, and that the US currently sits at its epicentre
They are who they said they were. They never hid it. The only response is resistance and obstruction, followed by a resounding electoral defeat and trials for every crime they've committed.
The US govt is screaming—in words, actions, and now a strategic document—that America has switched sides in the world, preferring authoritarians and a transnational white nationalism over liberal democracy.
Like Russia, a US foreign policy goal is to undermine the EU.
Will Europe finally listen?
Like Russia, a US foreign policy goal is to undermine the EU.
Will Europe finally listen?
‘Civilisational erasure’: US strategy document appears to echo far-right conspiracy theories about Europe
Official text, signed by Donald Trump, outlines plan to ‘cultivate resistance’ in EU nations to their ‘current trajectory’
www.theguardian.com
December 5, 2025 at 4:26 PM
They are who they said they were. They never hid it. The only response is resistance and obstruction, followed by a resounding electoral defeat and trials for every crime they've committed.