@jdthom.bsky.social
Reposted
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Nick Clegg says asking artists for use permission would ‘kill’ the AI industry
Paul McCartne, Elton John and others signed an open letter.
buff.ly
October 8, 2025 at 10:29 AM
Today is a day when arts degrees are worthless, but the product of those degrees is so valuable it would kill an entire industry if they were made to pay for it.
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Back in 2019 I wrote about how Rex Tillerson discovered in a HPSCI hearing that Jared had been withholding his private plans from then Secretary of State.
We haven't skipped a beat since.
www.emptywheel.net/2019/06/28/a...
We haven't skipped a beat since.
www.emptywheel.net/2019/06/28/a...
Amid Description of Kushner's Shadow Foreign Policy, Tillerson Counters a Jared Claim to Mueller about Kirill Dmitriev's Plan - emptywheel
Rex Tillerson told the HFRC some pretty alarming things about how Jared pursued his own diplomatic plans without informing him. That makes Tillerson's claim -- that Kushner did not (as Kushner told Mu...
www.emptywheel.net
December 11, 2025 at 6:36 AM
Back in 2019 I wrote about how Rex Tillerson discovered in a HPSCI hearing that Jared had been withholding his private plans from then Secretary of State.
We haven't skipped a beat since.
www.emptywheel.net/2019/06/28/a...
We haven't skipped a beat since.
www.emptywheel.net/2019/06/28/a...
Reposted
What if they constantly want culture war because policy war is complicated and hard and culture war is stupid and easy
Marco Rubio ordered diplomats to return to using Times New Roman font in official communications, calling his predecessor's decision to adopt Calibri a “wasteful” diversity move
Rubio Stages Font Coup: Times New Roman Ousts Calibri
The secretary of state called it a "wasteful" diversity move, according to an internal department cable seen by Reuters.
www.huffpost.com
December 10, 2025 at 7:11 PM
What if they constantly want culture war because policy war is complicated and hard and culture war is stupid and easy
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Increasing political pressure on the Fed by half as much as Nixon did, for six months, raises the price level by 7% over the next decade.
econweb.umd.edu/~drechsel/pa...
econweb.umd.edu/~drechsel/pa...
December 9, 2025 at 11:45 PM
Increasing political pressure on the Fed by half as much as Nixon did, for six months, raises the price level by 7% over the next decade.
econweb.umd.edu/~drechsel/pa...
econweb.umd.edu/~drechsel/pa...
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Wow -- Russia reportedly plotted last year to plant bombs on US-bound flights (gift link) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
December 9, 2025 at 7:33 PM
Wow -- Russia reportedly plotted last year to plant bombs on US-bound flights (gift link) giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/...
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This will always and forever be the most on point and prescient thing that Fukuyama ever wrote.
December 6, 2025 at 7:21 PM
This will always and forever be the most on point and prescient thing that Fukuyama ever wrote.
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the birthright clause was not just written to wipe dred scott off of the books, it was written to repudiate the *idea* behind dred scott, you might say the larger *ideological project* of dred scott. and the whole of section 1 of the 14th amendment is a constitutional statement of political equality
December 6, 2025 at 6:03 PM
the birthright clause was not just written to wipe dred scott off of the books, it was written to repudiate the *idea* behind dred scott, you might say the larger *ideological project* of dred scott. and the whole of section 1 of the 14th amendment is a constitutional statement of political equality
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Bongino saying the quiet--and cynical--part out loud.
In other words: I was making money shoveling conspiracy bullshit without having any facts and conning my audience to make a buck. After I leave the FBI, I will get back to that.
What a confession.
In other words: I was making money shoveling conspiracy bullshit without having any facts and conning my audience to make a buck. After I leave the FBI, I will get back to that.
What a confession.
December 5, 2025 at 5:11 PM
Bongino saying the quiet--and cynical--part out loud.
In other words: I was making money shoveling conspiracy bullshit without having any facts and conning my audience to make a buck. After I leave the FBI, I will get back to that.
What a confession.
In other words: I was making money shoveling conspiracy bullshit without having any facts and conning my audience to make a buck. After I leave the FBI, I will get back to that.
What a confession.
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The entire debate over birthright citizenship is anti-constitutional because the purpose, intent, and text of the 14th Amendment were designed to foreclose any argument about who counts as an American citizen.
December 5, 2025 at 6:54 PM
The entire debate over birthright citizenship is anti-constitutional because the purpose, intent, and text of the 14th Amendment were designed to foreclose any argument about who counts as an American citizen.
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Agree with this thread. Worth reading in full.
25 years ago John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and AC Barrett all worked on GWBush's 2000 Florida recount team. What they're doing now is, if anything, more nakedly partisan.
Fire-breathing dissent by Kagan, with Sotomayor and Jackson.
25 years ago John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and AC Barrett all worked on GWBush's 2000 Florida recount team. What they're doing now is, if anything, more nakedly partisan.
Fire-breathing dissent by Kagan, with Sotomayor and Jackson.
They're not even trying to appear nonpartisan anymore.
December 4, 2025 at 11:57 PM
Agree with this thread. Worth reading in full.
25 years ago John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and AC Barrett all worked on GWBush's 2000 Florida recount team. What they're doing now is, if anything, more nakedly partisan.
Fire-breathing dissent by Kagan, with Sotomayor and Jackson.
25 years ago John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, and AC Barrett all worked on GWBush's 2000 Florida recount team. What they're doing now is, if anything, more nakedly partisan.
Fire-breathing dissent by Kagan, with Sotomayor and Jackson.
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"Does this feel like or look like a well-run competent administration? It took them 10 months to discover that the United States doesn't grow bananas and that therefore if we tariff bananas that that's not going to bring banana factories on shore."
December 4, 2025 at 12:52 PM
"Does this feel like or look like a well-run competent administration? It took them 10 months to discover that the United States doesn't grow bananas and that therefore if we tariff bananas that that's not going to bring banana factories on shore."
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I’m just a foreign policy wonk, standing in front of the GOP, asking them to read at least one fucking book about the history of US interventions in Latin America. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
December 3, 2025 at 10:15 PM
I’m just a foreign policy wonk, standing in front of the GOP, asking them to read at least one fucking book about the history of US interventions in Latin America. www.politico.com/news/2025/12...
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I've been saying for the better part of a year that Trump is on a mission to decriminalize corruption. To make it the legal equivalent of jaywalking.
I feel that more strongly now than I ever had.
I feel that more strongly now than I ever had.
Trump announces a pardon of Henry Cuellar: "I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, and Imelda. Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!"
December 3, 2025 at 6:09 PM
I've been saying for the better part of a year that Trump is on a mission to decriminalize corruption. To make it the legal equivalent of jaywalking.
I feel that more strongly now than I ever had.
I feel that more strongly now than I ever had.
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Trump calls human beings “vermin,” “garbage,” “diseases,” “poison,” and “animals.”
Then, when I rightfully point out that the same dehumanizing language has been used by fascist regimes to justify humanity’s worst atrocities—Republicans lose their minds.
Give me a break.
Then, when I rightfully point out that the same dehumanizing language has been used by fascist regimes to justify humanity’s worst atrocities—Republicans lose their minds.
Give me a break.
Trump on Somalis: "We're gonna go the wrong way if we keep taking in garbage into our country. Ilhan Omar is garbage. She's garbage. Her friends are garbage."
December 3, 2025 at 5:07 PM
Trump calls human beings “vermin,” “garbage,” “diseases,” “poison,” and “animals.”
Then, when I rightfully point out that the same dehumanizing language has been used by fascist regimes to justify humanity’s worst atrocities—Republicans lose their minds.
Give me a break.
Then, when I rightfully point out that the same dehumanizing language has been used by fascist regimes to justify humanity’s worst atrocities—Republicans lose their minds.
Give me a break.
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The U.S. is the only democracy in the world with:
- Lifetime terms for high court judges
- An electoral college for choosing an executive
- A legislative chamber where legislative minorities routinely and permanently thwart legislative majorities
- 75% requirements for constitutional amendments
- Lifetime terms for high court judges
- An electoral college for choosing an executive
- A legislative chamber where legislative minorities routinely and permanently thwart legislative majorities
- 75% requirements for constitutional amendments
December 3, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The U.S. is the only democracy in the world with:
- Lifetime terms for high court judges
- An electoral college for choosing an executive
- A legislative chamber where legislative minorities routinely and permanently thwart legislative majorities
- 75% requirements for constitutional amendments
- Lifetime terms for high court judges
- An electoral college for choosing an executive
- A legislative chamber where legislative minorities routinely and permanently thwart legislative majorities
- 75% requirements for constitutional amendments
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Leading figures at NYT and other big media organizations are "are adamantly opposed to recognizing bad faith, so they let themselves be used, over and over, in an endless attempt to find reasonable common ground with political forces bent on division."
And they never address this critique. Ever.
And they never address this critique. Ever.
Ezra Klein Accidentally Shows How the Media Brought Us Trump
The prominent liberal pundit made up a fake version of Charlie Kirk to praise, laundering his reputation the way a lot of mainstream media launders MAGA
www.arcdigital.media
December 2, 2025 at 4:39 PM
Leading figures at NYT and other big media organizations are "are adamantly opposed to recognizing bad faith, so they let themselves be used, over and over, in an endless attempt to find reasonable common ground with political forces bent on division."
And they never address this critique. Ever.
And they never address this critique. Ever.
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Definitely a winning message, he should say this every day.
December 2, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Definitely a winning message, he should say this every day.
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Many of us have elderly relatives who use social media in unhealthy ways, but none of them have the nuclear codes.
December 2, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Many of us have elderly relatives who use social media in unhealthy ways, but none of them have the nuclear codes.
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Imma need everyone who threw a fit over Hunter Biden to keep that same energy about Jared Kushner - who has no government role or oversight - sitting in on this meeting www.reuters.com/world/china/...
Witkoff and Kushner to meet Putin to discuss ending war in Ukraine
A leaked set of 28 U.S. draft peace proposals emerged last week.
www.reuters.com
December 2, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Imma need everyone who threw a fit over Hunter Biden to keep that same energy about Jared Kushner - who has no government role or oversight - sitting in on this meeting www.reuters.com/world/china/...
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Hegseth’s only qualification for the job of Secretary of Defense was his TV punditry in support of war crimes. Of course he would do that. That’s why Trump hired him.
GOP Rep. Don Bacon: "I don't think Secretary Hegseth would be foolish enough to make this decision to say, 'Kill everybody. Kill the survivors,' because that's a clear violation of the law of war."
November 30, 2025 at 6:11 PM
Hegseth’s only qualification for the job of Secretary of Defense was his TV punditry in support of war crimes. Of course he would do that. That’s why Trump hired him.
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Yup. Even if Trump's policies were both effective and popular (lolololol, I know), Trump's pardons *alone* would be ample fodder.
This weekend Trump pardoned *yet another* drug lord and *yet another* infamous scammer!
This isn't low-hanging fruit, it's fruit delivered in a holiday basket!
This weekend Trump pardoned *yet another* drug lord and *yet another* infamous scammer!
This isn't low-hanging fruit, it's fruit delivered in a holiday basket!
And this is so obnoxious because actual-politics is kind of a fucking layup right now.
Your opponents are running a historically corrupt government.
Be anti-corruption. Run on fixing the shit they broke, holding assholes accountable, and improving people’s lives.
Duh.
Your opponents are running a historically corrupt government.
Be anti-corruption. Run on fixing the shit they broke, holding assholes accountable, and improving people’s lives.
Duh.
November 30, 2025 at 6:35 PM
Yup. Even if Trump's policies were both effective and popular (lolololol, I know), Trump's pardons *alone* would be ample fodder.
This weekend Trump pardoned *yet another* drug lord and *yet another* infamous scammer!
This isn't low-hanging fruit, it's fruit delivered in a holiday basket!
This weekend Trump pardoned *yet another* drug lord and *yet another* infamous scammer!
This isn't low-hanging fruit, it's fruit delivered in a holiday basket!
Reposted
Mark Kelly: "We have a president who doesn't understand the Constitution, who installed an unqualified secretary of defense. I cannot think of a secretary of defense in the history of our country that is less qualified than Pete Hegseth. He should've been fired after Signal-gate."
November 30, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Mark Kelly: "We have a president who doesn't understand the Constitution, who installed an unqualified secretary of defense. I cannot think of a secretary of defense in the history of our country that is less qualified than Pete Hegseth. He should've been fired after Signal-gate."
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Underrated factor in the Trump-Witkoff-Kushner embarrassing Ukraine “peace” plan flop is the flood of praise they got for a Gaza plan that was also mostly “just tell everyone it’s over then think of how much money we’ll make.”
November 30, 2025 at 1:43 PM
Underrated factor in the Trump-Witkoff-Kushner embarrassing Ukraine “peace” plan flop is the flood of praise they got for a Gaza plan that was also mostly “just tell everyone it’s over then think of how much money we’ll make.”
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“One of those working most closely with Epstein, up to and including attempting to scrub his public image, was Bannon…Bannon, the man millions of MAGA fans trust to tell it like it is, stands revealed as one of the most cynical liars ever to mar this country.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/steve-bann...
www.thebulwark.com/p/steve-bann...
Steve Bannon Was Epstein’s Comeback Consultant. Where’s the Uproar?
The MAGA architect is escaping opprobrium for his chummy relationship with the notorious pedophile.
www.thebulwark.com
November 30, 2025 at 2:17 PM
“One of those working most closely with Epstein, up to and including attempting to scrub his public image, was Bannon…Bannon, the man millions of MAGA fans trust to tell it like it is, stands revealed as one of the most cynical liars ever to mar this country.”
www.thebulwark.com/p/steve-bann...
www.thebulwark.com/p/steve-bann...
Reposted
Congressional Republicans let Trump put an alcoholic rapist in charge of the Pentagon, an anti-science kook in charge of our health, and a 22 year old intern in charge of counterterrorism.
These people do not act as if they actually care about Americans or the constitution.
These people do not act as if they actually care about Americans or the constitution.
November 29, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Congressional Republicans let Trump put an alcoholic rapist in charge of the Pentagon, an anti-science kook in charge of our health, and a 22 year old intern in charge of counterterrorism.
These people do not act as if they actually care about Americans or the constitution.
These people do not act as if they actually care about Americans or the constitution.