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Scott Imberman

@imbernomics.bsky.social

11K followers 810 following 680 posts

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Professor_Farnsworth

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Reposted by Scott A. Imberman

Benjamin Tausig @burrata.bsky.social · 9h

My daughter has a school assignment to write a scary story in just a few lines, and I showed her this from Clickhole, which is some of the most efficient horror scripting I've ever read.

Clickhole headline: "Incredible! We Asked These Astronauts What It's Like to Be In Space"

Astronaut Barry Wilmore, pictured in an orange spacesuit, says "“You never know true beauty until you see Earth from space, or true terror until you hear someone knocking on the space station door from outside. You look through the porthole and see an astronaut, but all your crew is inside and accounted for. You use the comm to ask who it is and he says he’s Ramirez returning from a repair mission, but Ramirez is sitting right next to you in the command module and he’s just as confused as you are. When you tell the guy this over the radio he starts banging on the door louder and harder, begging you to let him in, saying he’s the real Ramirez. Meanwhile, the Ramirez inside with you is pleading to keep the airlock shut. It really puts life on Earth into perspective.”

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Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 10h

Merci.

Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 10h

Explain this to me like I’m five.

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Reposted by Scott A. Imberman

Steven Beschloss @stevenbeschloss.bsky.social · 10h

It’s hard to overstate how grotesque is the prosecution of Letitia James. I hope John Roberts—who unleashed this malignant, vengeful career criminal on our beloved country—is enjoying Trump’s utter abuse of power and trashing of justice and the rule of law.

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Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Scott A. Imberman

Chris Murphy @chrismurphyct.bsky.social · 11h

Just bone chilling. And when the imprisonment of critics is combined with his offer to enrich and immunize his loyalists, this is how democracies die fast.

But it's still our choice. Don't let him silence you.

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Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 11h

Or at least let us use it on Taylor Swift tickets since that would be way better than this.

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 11h

Can we please get our $20 billion back?

Reposted by Scott A. Imberman

Yashar Ali 🐘 @yasharali.bsky.social · 11h

Can we please get our $20 billion back?

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Reposted by Alan Richardson, David R. Miller, Scott A. Imberman , and 2 more Alan Richardson, David R. Miller, Scott A. Imberman, Aviel Roshwald, Nathan P. Kalmoe

Governor JB Pritzker @govpritzker.illinois.gov · 11h

Donald Trump is not a king — and his administration is not above the law.

Today, the court confirmed what we all know: there is no credible evidence of a rebellion in the state of Illinois.

And no place for the National Guard in the streets of American cities like Chicago.

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Reposted by Brendan Nyhan, Rosemary A. Joyce, Sanford F. Schram , and 3 more Brendan Nyhan, Rosemary A. Joyce, Sanford F. Schram, Kevin Carey, Daniel W. Drezner, Scott A. Imberman

Joshua J. Friedman @joshuajfriedman.com · 12h

NEW: Here's the two-count indictment against NY AG Letitia James. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

INDICTMENT
October 2025 Term - at Alexandria, Virginia
THE GRAND JURY CHARGES THAT:
GENERAL ALLEGATIONS
At all times relevant to this Indictment:
1. Letitia A. James ("JAMES) was a resident of Brooklyn, New York, and the borrower on a
Fannie Mae-backed mortgage loan for the property located at 3121 Peronne Avenue,
Norfolk, Virginia.
2. OVM Financial (also known as Old Virginia Mortgage / AnnieMac) was a mortgage lending business located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, engaged in the business of originating and underwriting residential mortgage loans, including those backed by the Federal National Mortgage Association ("Fannie Mae"). OVM Financial qualified as a "financial institution" within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 20(10).
3. Fannie Mae was a federally chartered corporation that purchased and guaranteed mortgages,
operating as a government-sponsored enterprise under the oversight of the Federal Housing

Finance Agency ("FHFA").
4. First Savings Bank was a state-chartered, FDIC-insured financial institution (Certificate
#29961), headquartered in Jeffersonville, Indiana, which acquired mortgage loans through assignment or acquisition. First Savings Bank qualified as a "financial institution" within the meaning of 18 U.S.C. § 20(1).
5. On or about August 17, 2020, JAMES, as sole borrower, purchased the three (3) bedroom,
(1) bathroom property located at 3121 Peronne Avenue, Norfolk, Virginia 23509 (the
"Peronne Property"), for approximately $137,000, financed with a mortgage loan of approximately $109,600 (Loan #4430025978) backed by Fannie Mae.
6. The loan was originated by OVM Financial under a signed Second Home Rider, which required JAMES, as the sole borrower to occupy and use the property as her secondary residence, and prohibited its use as a timesharing or other shared ownership arrangement or agreement that requires her either to rent the property or give any other person any control over the occupancy or use of the property.
7. Despite these representations, the Peronne Property was not occupied or used by JAMES as a secondary residence and was instead used as a rental investment property, renting the property to a family of (3).
8. This misrepresentation allowed JAMES to obtain favorable loan terms not available for investment properties, including a note rate of 3.000% (avoiding a 0.815% higher
comparable investment property rate of 3.815%, resulting in approximately $17,837 in rate savings over the life of the loan), a seller credit of approximately $3,288 (exceeding the seller credit for investment properties by approximately $1,096), for total ill-gotten gains of approximately $18,933 over the life of the loan.
9. JAMES' Universal Property application for homeowners' insurance indicated "owner-

occupied non-seasonal use," further misrepresenting the intended use of the property.
10. JAMES filed Schedule E tax forms), under penalties of perjury, treating the Perrone Property as rental real estate, reporting fair rental days, zero personal use days, thousand(s)
of dollars in rents received, and claiming deductions for expenses relating to the property, further contradicting the second home classification.
11. The loan was acquired by or assigned to First Savings Bank by March 2021, exposing it to risks associated with the misrepresented loan.
12. The acts described herein occurred within the Eastern District of Virginia.
COUNT ONE
(Bank Fraud - 18 U.S.C. § 1344)
13. The allegations in paragraphs 1 through 12 are re-alleged and incorporated herein.
14. From on or about August 7, 2020, through at least January 2024, in the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere, the Defendant, LETITIA A. JAMES, did knowingly execute and attempt to execute a scheme and artifice to defraud OVM Financial and First Savings Bank,
financial institutions, and to obtain moneys, funds, and credits owned by and under the custody and control of OVM Financial and First Savings Bank by means of false and fraudulent pretenses, representations, and promises.
15. The scheme involved falsely representing the Peronne Property as a secondary residence to obtain favorable mortgage terms, while using it as an investment property with no intended
or actual personal occupancy or use by her.
(In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1344).
COUNT TWO
(False Statements to a Financial Institution - 18 U.S.C. § 1014)
16. The allegations in paragraphs 1 through 12 are re-alleged and incorporated herein.

17. From on or about July 28, 2020, through at least August 31, 2020, in the Eastern District of Virginia and elsewhere, the Defendant, LETITIA A. JAMES, did knowingly make and cause to be made false statements and reports for the purpose of influencing the action of OVM Financial, a Fannie Mae-backed lender, upon an application for a loan, in that JAMES represented and affirmed in uniform residential loan applications and related documents that
the Peronne Property would be used as a secondary residence, when in truth and fact, as JAMES then knew, the property was intended and used as an investment property with no intended or actual personal occupancy or use by her.
(In violation of Title 18, United States Code, Section 1014).
FORFEITURE NOTICE
Pursuant to Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 32.2(a) and Title 18, U.S.C. §
982(a)(2)(A), upon conviction of the offenses in Counts One and Two, the Defendant, Letitia
A. James, shall forfeit to the United States any property constituting, or derived from, proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of such violations, including but not limited to a money judgment in the amount of $18,933.
If any of the property described above, as a result of any act or omission of the Defendant: (a) cannot be located upon the exercise of due diligence; (b) has been transferred or sold to, or deposited with, a third party; (c) has been placed beyond the jurisdiction of the court; (d) has been substantially diminished in value; or (e) has been commingled with other property which cannot be divided without difficulty, the United States shall be entitled to a forfeiture of substitute property pursuant to Title 21, U.S.C. § 853(b), as incorporated by Title
18 U.S.C. § 982(b)(1).
(In accordance with Title 18 U.S.C. § 981(a)(1)(C) and 982(a)(1); Title 28, U.S.C. § 2461(c); and Title 21 U.S.C. § 853(p).)

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Reposted by Anne Applebaum, Joe R. Feagin, Brendan Nyhan , and 30 more Anne Applebaum, Joe R. Feagin, Brendan Nyhan, Jesse H. Kroll, Patrick A. Jansen, Daniel L. Millimet, David Feldman, Eric Goldman, Fabián Muniesa, Jacob Montgomery, Juan Cole, Erwin Dekker, Sanford F. Schram, Devon Greyson, Scott A. Imberman, Caroline Fohlin, Florian Keller, Michael D. McDonald, Jason Lyall, Kate Starbird, Victor Pickard, Nils Zurawski, Nelson Flores, Richard M. Carpiano, Klaus Oschema, Meredith Farkas, Brandon Whitcher, Daxton R. Stewart, Albin Wagener, Aviel Roshwald, Olúfẹ́mi Táíwò, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Bruce Buchan

The Daily Show @thedailyshow.com · 13h

The following is REAL footage from Portland, 2025. Viewer discretion is advised.

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Reposted by Richard S.J. Tol, Steve Peers, Rebecca Tushnet , and 3 more Richard S.J. Tol, Steve Peers, Rebecca Tushnet, Scott A. Imberman, Michael D. McDonald, Nicole Guenther Discenza

Jacob Shamsian @jayshams.bsky.social · 15h

I've been wondering why Dominion Voting Systems suddenly reached settlements with Rudy Giuliani, Sidney Powell, and One America News.

Turns out, it's been purchased by a Republican-owned election tech firm that insisted on it, per Axios.

www.axios.com/2025/10/09/d...

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Reposted by Scott A. Imberman

Carl Quintanilla @carlquintanilla.bsky.social · 15h

> @conorsen.bsky.social

#Shutdown 🇺🇸

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Reposted by Diane Ravitch

Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 15h

This coming from Stitt - very conservative and Trumpy and right next door to Texas - is surprising.

Larry Ferlazzo @larryferlazzo.bsky.social · 16h

Oklahoma’s Republican governor criticizes guard deployment. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...

Gov. Kevin Stitt of Oklahoma, a Republican and the chairman of the National Governors Association, on Thursday criticized the deployment of Texas National Guard troops to Illinois as a violation of his beliefs in federalism and “states’ rights.”

His comments, in an interview with The New York Times, marked the first time a Republican governor has questioned the interstate deployment of National Guard troops over a governor’s objections. Gov. JB Pritzker of Illinois and other Democratic elected officials have been strongly critical of the move and have implored Republican governors to join the opposition.

Mr. Stitt on Thursday said, “We believe in the federalist system — that’s states’ rights,” adding, “Oklahomans would lose their mind if Pritzker in Illinois sent troops down to Oklahoma during the Biden administration.”

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Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 15h

This is a crack. They know this is not working out well for them.

Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur.bsky.social · 15h

Sen. Susan Collins tells me Republican leaders should promise to hold a vote on extending ACA funding to try an end the shutdown — an olive branch to Democrats.

Reposted by Scott A. Imberman

Sahil Kapur @sahilkapur.bsky.social · 15h

Sen. Susan Collins tells me Republican leaders should promise to hold a vote on extending ACA funding to try an end the shutdown — an olive branch to Democrats.

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Reposted by Philip Nel, Alan Richardson, Scott A. Imberman , and 1 more Philip Nel, Alan Richardson, Scott A. Imberman, Helen Jefferson Lenskyj

Larry Ferlazzo @larryferlazzo.bsky.social · 16h

Oklahoma’s Republican governor criticizes guard deployment. www.nytimes.com/2025/10/09/u...

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Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 16h

Congrats. Guess I should’ve said you’re like the worst person in the world or something. Darn it.

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Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 17h

99% chance this is either made up or (more likely) AI.

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 17h

RFK Jr: "Somebody showed me a TikTok video of a pregnant woman at 8 months pregnant -- she's an associate professor at the Columbia Medical School -- and she is saying 'F Trump' and gobbling Tylenol with her baby in her placenta. The level of Trump Derangement Syndrome is now a pathology."

Reposted by Will Jennings, Scott L. Greer, Joseph Schafer , and 7 more Will Jennings, Scott L. Greer, Joseph Schafer, Kevin Carey, Smith, Alan Richardson, Andrew Jacobs, Scott A. Imberman, Simon Lester, David Darmofal

Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 17h

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Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 17h

Welp, that’s one out of three lost.

Gabriel Malor @gabrielmalor.bsky.social · 17h

Judge Nelson: do you disagree with any of the factual findings?

Chaffin: the facts as found by the district court judge were that the protests were small and mostly peaceful.

Nelson: that's clearly erroneous! (whoa)

Reposted by Scott A. Imberman

Gabriel Malor @gabrielmalor.bsky.social · 17h

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Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 22h

Bingo

Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 22h

If he gets a Nobel then I’m going to start pointing out that the Econ prize is not a real Nobel.

Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 22h

Trump’s desire for a Nobel Peace Prize has shaken up global diplomacy, as allies try to curry favor.

It may have even helped spur this week’s Hamas-Israel deal, one former Israeli negotiator said — a bid to help Trump cinch the Nobel before tomorrow’s announcement.

From @mbirnbaum.bsky.social + me

Trump wants a Nobel Prize. He’ll learn Friday if his campaign paid off.

President Donald Trump’s long quest for a Nobel Peace Prize has sparked an unusual global scramble.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Reposted by James Q. Wilson, Rosemary A. Joyce, Scott A. Imberman , and 2 more James Q. Wilson, Rosemary A. Joyce, Scott A. Imberman, Nathan P. Kalmoe, Southern Africa

jamelle @jamellebouie.net · 22h

yeah, trump has made very clear that he doesn’t think black people deserve to be in jobs of influence! www.nytimes.com/2025/10/08/u...

Trump Fires Black Officials From an Overwhelmingly White Administration

www.nytimes.com

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Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 22h

describe your bluesky account with a single image

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Reposted by Scott A. Imberman

Dan Diamond @ddiamond.bsky.social · 22h

Trump wants a Nobel Prize. He’ll learn Friday if his campaign paid off.

President Donald Trump’s long quest for a Nobel Peace Prize has sparked an unusual global scramble.

www.washingtonpost.com

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Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 1d

describe your bluesky account with a single image

Reposted by Scott A. Imberman

Dave Jorgenson @davejorgenson.bsky.social · 1d

Me from 2000 to 2024: I think I could win Survivor.

Me in 2025: Survivor might be a nice break from the U.S.

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Scott Imberman @imbernomics.bsky.social · 1d

That’s high praise for a president these days.

Reposted by Meredith Broussard, Lisa W. Fazio, James Q. Wilson , and 38 more Meredith Broussard, Lisa W. Fazio, James Q. Wilson, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, Dorothy Bishop, Anna Nagurney, Brigitte Nerlich, Ben Bond‐Lamberty, Gavin A. Schmidt, Jesse H. Kroll, Julie L. Lockwood, Patrick A. Jansen, Joshua S. Weitz, Nicole Dubilier, Jason Stajich, Simon J. Greenhill, Michael A. Clemens, Hugo Mercier, Megan L. Ranney, Rosemary A. Joyce, Philip N. Cohen, Michael J. Allen, Andrew Curry, Jacob Montgomery, Juan Cole, Kris Inwood, Smith, Robert C. Richards, Rebecca Tushnet, Alan Richardson, Lauren Hersch Nicholas, Victor Galaz, Scott A. Imberman, Sebastian Karcher, Brian Keegan, Ann Bartow, Jack Stilgoe, Ted Temzelides, Christina Pagel, Annalee Newitz, David Darmofal

Carl Zimmer @carlzimmer.com · 1d

Today my @nytimes.com colleagues and I are launching a new series called Lost Science. We interview US scientists who can no longer discover something new about our world, thanks to this year‘s cuts. Here is my first interview with a scientist who studied bees and fires. Gift link: nyti.ms/3IWXbiE

nyti.ms

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