EM Simpson
@emsetc.bsky.social
I am not a committee. Defense, pop-culture, Jayhawk propaganda. All opinions my own.
Co-host of Sirens: A Bombshell Production https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sirens-a-bombshell-production/id1195698408
Co-host of Sirens: A Bombshell Production https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sirens-a-bombshell-production/id1195698408
Reposted by EM Simpson
i’m so happy for him
November 26, 2025 at 10:48 PM
i’m so happy for him
Reposted by EM Simpson
There has always been a type of person who becomes a journalist because they want to get next to power or success or fame. It is dumb to be reflexively cynical and suggest that that is all, or most, journalists. But they're the dangerous ones, and what's frustrating is, they're not hard to spot.
November 26, 2025 at 11:33 PM
There has always been a type of person who becomes a journalist because they want to get next to power or success or fame. It is dumb to be reflexively cynical and suggest that that is all, or most, journalists. But they're the dangerous ones, and what's frustrating is, they're not hard to spot.
Reposted by EM Simpson
People will die, and are currently dying, because RFK was granted one of the most powerful megaphones in the country. Two people who could have thrown barriers in front of his climb decided not to; there's a sex scandal here but it is not the biggest scandal.
November 26, 2025 at 11:30 PM
People will die, and are currently dying, because RFK was granted one of the most powerful megaphones in the country. Two people who could have thrown barriers in front of his climb decided not to; there's a sex scandal here but it is not the biggest scandal.
Reposted by EM Simpson
Thanksgiving Eve thread repost!
as the kind of extra-ass bitch whose contribution to Thanksgiving dinner is often personalized place cards with hand-selected quotes, may I offer on this Thanksgiving Eve a few options for anyone wishing for a little pre-dinner reflection that isn’t cheesy, vapid, or off-puttingly Jesus-y
November 27, 2025 at 12:14 AM
Thanksgiving Eve thread repost!
Reposted by EM Simpson
A leaked telephone conversation between a White House envoy and a top Russian official about the Ukraine peace process sparked a global game of Clue in the search for whodunnit.
Leaked U.S.-Russia Call Sets Off Global Game of Clue: Who Did It—And Why?
Diplomats and amateur sleuths are chasing questions of means and motive, including who had the capacity to eavesdrop on a call between top officials and who would benefit the most from leaking the conversation?
on.wsj.com
November 26, 2025 at 7:26 PM
A leaked telephone conversation between a White House envoy and a top Russian official about the Ukraine peace process sparked a global game of Clue in the search for whodunnit.
Reposted by EM Simpson
Episode starts with my favorite Optimist Economy segment: what executive order would you issue if you had the chance?
New! Sirens welcomes @kedseconomist.com to explain (dun-dun) the economy (no pressure!), unpack the visit of "strategic partner" MBS and whose strategy he's partnering under, looks at the justice system and cringes through the lens of Comey, Epstein, and Kelly. sites.libsyn.com/92063/ai-dea...
Sirens: A Bombshell production: AI Deals, the (Breaking) Justice System, and the Optimist Economy
Everyone's negotiating these days, with the Ukraine deal, recent AI deals, and the near final Schedule F (er Schedule Policy/Career) closing up (or not) as the year wraps up and the holiday party circ...
sites.libsyn.com
November 26, 2025 at 6:38 PM
Episode starts with my favorite Optimist Economy segment: what executive order would you issue if you had the chance?
Reposted by EM Simpson
Again, she is welcome to caucus with the Democrats at any time until the lawless authoritarianism ends.
November 25, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Again, she is welcome to caucus with the Democrats at any time until the lawless authoritarianism ends.
Reposted by EM Simpson
The national security adviser is supposed to oversee policy coordination. The secretary of State is supposed to lead on diplomatic negotiations. In theory, neither would be the clean-up crew, because they’re supposed to prevent the mess from happening in the first place.
November 26, 2025 at 12:27 AM
The national security adviser is supposed to oversee policy coordination. The secretary of State is supposed to lead on diplomatic negotiations. In theory, neither would be the clean-up crew, because they’re supposed to prevent the mess from happening in the first place.
goddammit i'm out of gin
November 25, 2025 at 11:54 PM
goddammit i'm out of gin
pie discourse - what's the least bad place to get store bought pie?
(bonus points for DMV suggestions)
(bonus points for DMV suggestions)
November 25, 2025 at 11:36 PM
pie discourse - what's the least bad place to get store bought pie?
(bonus points for DMV suggestions)
(bonus points for DMV suggestions)
MARA JADE YOU COWARDS
If you were a despotic president, what movie would you force Hollywood to make? I want to see Quentin's Star Trek movie or maybe Kill Bill Vol 3.
November 25, 2025 at 11:26 PM
MARA JADE YOU COWARDS
Reposted by EM Simpson
Go to sleep listening to the little snuffles of baby cheetahs snoring (in Den 2).
nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/chee...
nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/chee...
November 25, 2025 at 4:27 AM
Go to sleep listening to the little snuffles of baby cheetahs snoring (in Den 2).
nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/chee...
nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams/chee...
LOL. lmao even.
Billionaire Binance founder Changpeng Zhao, pardoned by Donald Trump, has been accused of facilitating millions of dollars’ worth of payments to Hamas in the wake of its attack on Israel on October 7 2023. Zhao also financed the Trump family's entrance into the cryptocurrency market.
Binance founder Changpeng Zhao accused of facilitating payments to Hamas
Crypto tycoon pardoned by Donald Trump faces US court complaint from families of victims of October 7 attack
www.ft.com
November 25, 2025 at 3:54 AM
LOL. lmao even.
Reposted by EM Simpson
Mark Kelly: "My wife, Gabby Giffords, meeting with her constituents, shot in the head. Six people killed around her, a horrific thing. She spent six months in the hospital. We know what political violence is and we know what causes it too, The statements that Donald Trump made incites others."
November 25, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Mark Kelly: "My wife, Gabby Giffords, meeting with her constituents, shot in the head. Six people killed around her, a horrific thing. She spent six months in the hospital. We know what political violence is and we know what causes it too, The statements that Donald Trump made incites others."
Reposted by EM Simpson
Super excited that a new edited volume, Bend But Do Not Break, is coming out, edited by Jaron Wharton, @klkuzminski.bsky.social @jkdemp.bsky.social @mzmargulies.bsky.social Keith Carter, and @carriealee.bsky.social
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
November 25, 2025 at 1:33 AM
Super excited that a new edited volume, Bend But Do Not Break, is coming out, edited by Jaron Wharton, @klkuzminski.bsky.social @jkdemp.bsky.social @mzmargulies.bsky.social Keith Carter, and @carriealee.bsky.social
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
And it’s apparently doing well on the amazons
When I was 4, I fell through a weird gap in the stair railing into the large pan of turkey drippings. It took my mom over a week to get all the grease out of my hair.
yes, hello, I would like to place an order for everyone’s funniest stories of holiday food-related family grudges / drama / chaotic incidents / lore
I feel like we need this
I feel like we need this
November 25, 2025 at 2:23 AM
When I was 4, I fell through a weird gap in the stair railing into the large pan of turkey drippings. It took my mom over a week to get all the grease out of my hair.
Reposted by EM Simpson
It took a little while, but the Dept. of Homeland Security finally said the Coast Guard prohibits hate symbols, bullying and hazing without caveats www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
How the Coast Guard Revised Its Policy on Swastikas, Nooses and Bullying
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 1:00 AM
It took a little while, but the Dept. of Homeland Security finally said the Coast Guard prohibits hate symbols, bullying and hazing without caveats www.nytimes.com/2025/11/24/u...
Reposted by EM Simpson
We’ve spent 15+ years as a field in political science/IPE trying to make trade the primary culprit for populist authoritarianism when cycles of financial bubbles, crashes, bailouts, & austerity are right there in front of us.
One explanation for economic populism in the US is the recurring cycle of bubbles and bailouts that happens without any democratic input
November 24, 2025 at 10:48 PM
We’ve spent 15+ years as a field in political science/IPE trying to make trade the primary culprit for populist authoritarianism when cycles of financial bubbles, crashes, bailouts, & austerity are right there in front of us.
Homeland is in the Netflix top 10. You bastards have no idea what you're in for.
November 24, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Homeland is in the Netflix top 10. You bastards have no idea what you're in for.
Reposted by EM Simpson
it is happening again theonion.com/this-war-wil...
November 23, 2025 at 9:52 PM
it is happening again theonion.com/this-war-wil...
Reposted by EM Simpson
If you need a whistle in Somerville, stop by Gracie’s. If you need A LOT of whistles that’s probably ok too.
November 23, 2025 at 8:20 PM
If you need a whistle in Somerville, stop by Gracie’s. If you need A LOT of whistles that’s probably ok too.
Reposted by EM Simpson
Worth it, it's far better than every cinematic Star War made since 1980
www.forbes.com/sites/caroli...
www.forbes.com/sites/caroli...
Disney Spent More On ‘Andor’ Than Any Of Its ‘Star Wars’ Movies
Disney has revealed it spent $60.5 million on Star Wars streaming series Andor in 2024, giving the show a total cost of $705.5 million - far higher than the spending on any of the movies in the saga.
www.forbes.com
November 23, 2025 at 6:04 PM
Worth it, it's far better than every cinematic Star War made since 1980
www.forbes.com/sites/caroli...
www.forbes.com/sites/caroli...
Reposted by EM Simpson
I find the RL choices recently *fascinating* and I would read 10 deep dives into who is driving this and why. Bonus points if it digs into the price of their clothes and production process.
Ralph Lauren released a USPS commemorative capsule collection.
Ralph Lauren Creates Commemorative Capsule for USPS
The U.S. PostalSservice was established in 1775 and celebrated its 250th anniversary this year.
wwd.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:14 PM
I find the RL choices recently *fascinating* and I would read 10 deep dives into who is driving this and why. Bonus points if it digs into the price of their clothes and production process.
Reposted by EM Simpson
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
White House blew past legal concerns in deadly strikes on drug boats
The Trump administration sidestepped skeptical lawyers across national security agencies as it pursued a military campaign against alleged narcotraffickers, officials say.
www.washingtonpost.com
November 22, 2025 at 3:10 PM
On the patently unlawful boat strikes
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
It's hard for USGs to claim ‘mistake of law’ or ‘advice of counsel’ – when they’re firing lawyers who wouldn't sign off on the strikes.
WaPo's new revelations on firings or removals:
1) CIA General Counsel
2) NSC Legal Adviser
3) CIA Mission Center’s lawyer
🧵
Reposted by EM Simpson
Kansas City small businesses need your support, so this year, head to your talented neighbors and spend your dollars where they matter the most. Here's where you can find handcrafted goods, local art and unique gifts for your loved ones around the metro.
Check out these 6 Kansas City maker’s markets, fairs and festivals this holiday season
Kansas City small businesses need your support, so this year, head to your talented neighbors and spend your dollars where they matter the most. Here's where you can find handcrafted goods, local art and unique gifts for your loved ones.
www.kcur.org
November 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM
Kansas City small businesses need your support, so this year, head to your talented neighbors and spend your dollars where they matter the most. Here's where you can find handcrafted goods, local art and unique gifts for your loved ones around the metro.