Jay Weixelbaum
@jayweixelbaum.bsky.social
I do a bunch of stuff. Science writer primarily in public health. Producer and founder of Elusive Films. PhD. Expert in history of US companies in Germany during World War II. Musician. Designer.
Pinned
Reconciling Rage with Hope
I struggled with which word to put first. Hope is fleeting. It takes work to maintain. Rage lingers; it sticks with you, ceaselessly demanding attention. /1
I struggled with which word to put first. Hope is fleeting. It takes work to maintain. Rage lingers; it sticks with you, ceaselessly demanding attention. /1
Reposted by Jay Weixelbaum
Minibus is out. Democrats were able to include some guardrails in about ICE:
-restricts ICE to spending $3.8 billion of its annual budget
on detention as opposed to being able to spend $10 billion
-$20 million that must be used for body cameras 1/
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
-restricts ICE to spending $3.8 billion of its annual budget
on detention as opposed to being able to spend $10 billion
-$20 million that must be used for body cameras 1/
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
www.appropriations.senate.gov
January 20, 2026 at 1:55 PM
Minibus is out. Democrats were able to include some guardrails in about ICE:
-restricts ICE to spending $3.8 billion of its annual budget
on detention as opposed to being able to spend $10 billion
-$20 million that must be used for body cameras 1/
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
-restricts ICE to spending $3.8 billion of its annual budget
on detention as opposed to being able to spend $10 billion
-$20 million that must be used for body cameras 1/
www.appropriations.senate.gov/imo/media/do...
Because it’s so rare on Bluesky, any expression of support for people trying to help during this crisis is very valuable. Cynicism is what the abusers want.
Can you post about people doing good things for their community today?
Today I recognize public health workers. They’re working for everyone.
Can you post about people doing good things for their community today?
Today I recognize public health workers. They’re working for everyone.
January 20, 2026 at 1:29 PM
Because it’s so rare on Bluesky, any expression of support for people trying to help during this crisis is very valuable. Cynicism is what the abusers want.
Can you post about people doing good things for their community today?
Today I recognize public health workers. They’re working for everyone.
Can you post about people doing good things for their community today?
Today I recognize public health workers. They’re working for everyone.
This is why I did a whole PhD on this exact subject.
I’m working to get it out there.
I’m working to get it out there.
even though i did anticipate the fascist nerd politics turn i also was way too Marxist in my predictions of basically everything up until 2024
like i sincerely thought that corporations had enough informal power and were rational enough that… nothing currently happening could happen
like i sincerely thought that corporations had enough informal power and were rational enough that… nothing currently happening could happen
January 19, 2026 at 6:30 AM
This is why I did a whole PhD on this exact subject.
I’m working to get it out there.
I’m working to get it out there.
Let's put a signpost down: The bot problem on Bluesky is rapidly getting worse.
If you are using an anonymous account, you should think about how you can demonstrate you're a human. Because for me, I think the vast majority of accounts on here don't deserve the benefit of the doubt.
If you are using an anonymous account, you should think about how you can demonstrate you're a human. Because for me, I think the vast majority of accounts on here don't deserve the benefit of the doubt.
January 17, 2026 at 6:28 PM
Let's put a signpost down: The bot problem on Bluesky is rapidly getting worse.
If you are using an anonymous account, you should think about how you can demonstrate you're a human. Because for me, I think the vast majority of accounts on here don't deserve the benefit of the doubt.
If you are using an anonymous account, you should think about how you can demonstrate you're a human. Because for me, I think the vast majority of accounts on here don't deserve the benefit of the doubt.
Pupdate. Looks like he’s going swimming
January 16, 2026 at 6:31 PM
Pupdate. Looks like he’s going swimming
It's worse if Tooze has written in your field and you've had to spend time with his work to finish your PhD.
Tooze's masturbatory fantasies of massacring liberals for not being left enough are such a perfect summary of who he is and why not treating Leninists like neo-Nazis is one of modern academia's greatest sins.
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
www.theguardian.com/business/202...
January 16, 2026 at 5:25 PM
It's worse if Tooze has written in your field and you've had to spend time with his work to finish your PhD.
January 16, 2026 at 12:56 PM
This probably a good a time to announce that I've spent the last 5 years developing a TV show based on my PhD research on Nazis working with US businessmen, and those fighting to stop them.
A true story of the struggle for democracy against fascism.Check out www.elusive-films.com & help if you can.
A true story of the struggle for democracy against fascism.Check out www.elusive-films.com & help if you can.
January 16, 2026 at 4:45 AM
This probably a good a time to announce that I've spent the last 5 years developing a TV show based on my PhD research on Nazis working with US businessmen, and those fighting to stop them.
A true story of the struggle for democracy against fascism.Check out www.elusive-films.com & help if you can.
A true story of the struggle for democracy against fascism.Check out www.elusive-films.com & help if you can.
Henley when the drugs kick in after his ear surgery
January 16, 2026 at 1:58 AM
Henley when the drugs kick in after his ear surgery
This is what leadership looks like.
It’s easy to watch the news and feel overwhelmed or even helpless at everything going on. I need you to fight that feeling.
I’m an optimist. You have to be when you strap yourself to a rocket for a living. But there’s real reason to be hopeful this year and l’ll tell you why.
I’m an optimist. You have to be when you strap yourself to a rocket for a living. But there’s real reason to be hopeful this year and l’ll tell you why.
January 15, 2026 at 7:11 PM
This is what leadership looks like.
Some unsolicited advice for whoever needs it:
Surround yourself with helpers. Practical people. People doing the work.
You don’t need to engage any doomer, crackpot, or troll. Do so to make an example, if necessary, but be brief. Block early & often.
Spend more energy promoting what’s working.
Surround yourself with helpers. Practical people. People doing the work.
You don’t need to engage any doomer, crackpot, or troll. Do so to make an example, if necessary, but be brief. Block early & often.
Spend more energy promoting what’s working.
January 15, 2026 at 5:51 PM
Some unsolicited advice for whoever needs it:
Surround yourself with helpers. Practical people. People doing the work.
You don’t need to engage any doomer, crackpot, or troll. Do so to make an example, if necessary, but be brief. Block early & often.
Spend more energy promoting what’s working.
Surround yourself with helpers. Practical people. People doing the work.
You don’t need to engage any doomer, crackpot, or troll. Do so to make an example, if necessary, but be brief. Block early & often.
Spend more energy promoting what’s working.
It's so silly when trolls come at me with "you study US businesses collaborating with Nazis? You must be a Nazi collaborator."
Bro. You don't do grad school for 9 years to be a Nazi. ICE dudes barely finished high school.
It takes work to add new knowledge about ethics and the choices ppl make.
Bro. You don't do grad school for 9 years to be a Nazi. ICE dudes barely finished high school.
It takes work to add new knowledge about ethics and the choices ppl make.
January 14, 2026 at 9:42 PM
It's so silly when trolls come at me with "you study US businesses collaborating with Nazis? You must be a Nazi collaborator."
Bro. You don't do grad school for 9 years to be a Nazi. ICE dudes barely finished high school.
It takes work to add new knowledge about ethics and the choices ppl make.
Bro. You don't do grad school for 9 years to be a Nazi. ICE dudes barely finished high school.
It takes work to add new knowledge about ethics and the choices ppl make.
Here’s a correction: “genocide” is usually translated to “anything during a war I don’t like” nowadays by populist left.
Genocide is serious issue and scholars sometimes disagree on what violence constitutes genocide.
Treating it as a weapon for bullying and bad faith attacks are unacceptable.
Genocide is serious issue and scholars sometimes disagree on what violence constitutes genocide.
Treating it as a weapon for bullying and bad faith attacks are unacceptable.
How are they defining "antisemitism?" Cuz it seems like:
"Antisemitism" on the Right = The Holocaust never happened, Jews rule the world, Jews control the banks, Jews killed Jesus, Jews hate white people.
"Antisemitism" on the Left = Israel is guilty of genocide.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
"Antisemitism" on the Right = The Holocaust never happened, Jews rule the world, Jews control the banks, Jews killed Jesus, Jews hate white people.
"Antisemitism" on the Left = Israel is guilty of genocide.
Please correct me if I'm wrong.
January 14, 2026 at 6:46 PM
Here’s a correction: “genocide” is usually translated to “anything during a war I don’t like” nowadays by populist left.
Genocide is serious issue and scholars sometimes disagree on what violence constitutes genocide.
Treating it as a weapon for bullying and bad faith attacks are unacceptable.
Genocide is serious issue and scholars sometimes disagree on what violence constitutes genocide.
Treating it as a weapon for bullying and bad faith attacks are unacceptable.
The people who constantly shit on democrats are doing 1 of 3 things:
1 they're helping fascists
2 they're dumb
3 they trash others to lift themselves
The last one. That's selfishness in America: "I'm better than you." They don't actually know policy. They're fluffing themselves at your expense.
1 they're helping fascists
2 they're dumb
3 they trash others to lift themselves
The last one. That's selfishness in America: "I'm better than you." They don't actually know policy. They're fluffing themselves at your expense.
January 14, 2026 at 5:48 PM
The people who constantly shit on democrats are doing 1 of 3 things:
1 they're helping fascists
2 they're dumb
3 they trash others to lift themselves
The last one. That's selfishness in America: "I'm better than you." They don't actually know policy. They're fluffing themselves at your expense.
1 they're helping fascists
2 they're dumb
3 they trash others to lift themselves
The last one. That's selfishness in America: "I'm better than you." They don't actually know policy. They're fluffing themselves at your expense.
Is it fair to say that AI is for folks who don’t want to do it right the first time ?
"85% of respondents said that AI saved them 1–7 hours a week. But about 37% of that time savings is lost to what they call "rework" — correcting errors, rewriting content and verifying output."
Instead of creating, we are just editing and fact checking now.
Instead of creating, we are just editing and fact checking now.
AI speeds up work and creates more of it
New survey says workers spend hours weekly fixing AI's mistakes.
www.axios.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:49 PM
Is it fair to say that AI is for folks who don’t want to do it right the first time ?
Reposted by Jay Weixelbaum
To all those yelling "DO SOMETHING" on social media, here's something YOU can do. So go do it.
NEW: The DNC is launching When We Count, our largest-ever voter registration effort aimed at closing the voter registration gap by training young Democrats to register new voters in districts across the country.
Apply now: win.dnc.org/WhenWeCount
Apply now: win.dnc.org/WhenWeCount
January 13, 2026 at 5:41 PM
To all those yelling "DO SOMETHING" on social media, here's something YOU can do. So go do it.
Reposted by Jay Weixelbaum
Having served in multiple countries run by ruthless dictators, I am accustomed to their tactics for keeping their populations under control. One of them is to employ a legion of fake opposition figures who promote the false narrative that "all parties are the same, so why bother voting?"
January 12, 2026 at 6:45 AM
Having served in multiple countries run by ruthless dictators, I am accustomed to their tactics for keeping their populations under control. One of them is to employ a legion of fake opposition figures who promote the false narrative that "all parties are the same, so why bother voting?"
For those following the Russian economy closely, I highly recommend @prune602.bsky.social
“Our biggest task and our most important challenge is that Iran and Venezuela don’t happen here. It’s all about the economy. It ensures victory in war.”
~ Vladimir Solovyov
I have some bad news…or good news depending on your point of view 😂
~ Vladimir Solovyov
I have some bad news…or good news depending on your point of view 😂
January 11, 2026 at 7:56 PM
For those following the Russian economy closely, I highly recommend @prune602.bsky.social
It's true. One should look at data rather than listen to facehiders with no proof of credibility on social media.
Here's an example of what analysis backed by data looks like
hsph.harvard.edu/news/usaid-s...
Here's an example of what analysis backed by data looks like
hsph.harvard.edu/news/usaid-s...
January 11, 2026 at 6:29 AM
It's true. One should look at data rather than listen to facehiders with no proof of credibility on social media.
Here's an example of what analysis backed by data looks like
hsph.harvard.edu/news/usaid-s...
Here's an example of what analysis backed by data looks like
hsph.harvard.edu/news/usaid-s...
I view people shitting on Democrats as people whining about their generals in the middle of D Day.
It's stupid. You're in the middle of a critical pitched battle. Save your complaints for when Hitler is dead and fight like the free world depends on it. Full stop.
It's stupid. You're in the middle of a critical pitched battle. Save your complaints for when Hitler is dead and fight like the free world depends on it. Full stop.
January 10, 2026 at 6:34 PM
I view people shitting on Democrats as people whining about their generals in the middle of D Day.
It's stupid. You're in the middle of a critical pitched battle. Save your complaints for when Hitler is dead and fight like the free world depends on it. Full stop.
It's stupid. You're in the middle of a critical pitched battle. Save your complaints for when Hitler is dead and fight like the free world depends on it. Full stop.
This. It’s well past time to shut down the bad faith attacks on Democrats.
If someone doesn’t have the critical thinking skills to understand who is accountable for our current crisis, they should be isolated socially until they do. Online and off. Popular or not.
Shut it down.
If someone doesn’t have the critical thinking skills to understand who is accountable for our current crisis, they should be isolated socially until they do. Online and off. Popular or not.
Shut it down.
I wish the trolls who use every bad thing that a Republican does as an opportunity to attack Democrats were intelligent enough to realize that Republicans were able to take control over all three branches of our federal government because they were attacking rather than supporting Democrats in 2024.
January 8, 2026 at 2:44 PM
This. It’s well past time to shut down the bad faith attacks on Democrats.
If someone doesn’t have the critical thinking skills to understand who is accountable for our current crisis, they should be isolated socially until they do. Online and off. Popular or not.
Shut it down.
If someone doesn’t have the critical thinking skills to understand who is accountable for our current crisis, they should be isolated socially until they do. Online and off. Popular or not.
Shut it down.
Happy 77th birthday, Henley!
January 7, 2026 at 1:41 AM
Happy 77th birthday, Henley!
This normally wouldn’t be big news. No offense to the family. But the GOP House majority is razor thin already and the country is in multiple crises.
GOP lawmaker Doug LaMalfa dies at 65
GOP lawmaker Doug LaMalfa dies at 65
The Republican represented a rural northern California district.
www.politico.com
January 6, 2026 at 2:48 PM
This normally wouldn’t be big news. No offense to the family. But the GOP House majority is razor thin already and the country is in multiple crises.