Joel Mathis
@joelmathis.bsky.social
Opinion at @kansascity.com and @kansas.com. Was in Philly once upon a time. Journalism will never love you back. Occasionally deactivate my account for a day or so to clear my head.
https://joelmmathis.substack.com/
https://joelmmathis.substack.com/
Pinned
Joel Mathis
@joelmathis.bsky.social
· Aug 14
I'll try to make this the last time I tout my little project, but I wrote about our "Crockpot & Criterion" for the @kansascity.com opinion newsletter:
This is a dumb comment - making empty promises of action by Trump (who doesn't control the House, technically) but fulsome with praise for the president. What does it even mean? www.axios.com/2025/11/25/c...
November 25, 2025 at 12:39 PM
This is a dumb comment - making empty promises of action by Trump (who doesn't control the House, technically) but fulsome with praise for the president. What does it even mean? www.axios.com/2025/11/25/c...
Reposted by Joel Mathis
Can’t get over that the “Quiet, Piggy!” administration thinks we are up for s lecture on what good behavior looks like.
Sean Duffy: "Dressing with respect -- whether it's a pair of jeans and a decent shirt, I would encourage people to maybe dress a little better which encourages us to maybe behave a little better. Let's try not to wear slippers and pajamas as we come to the airport."
November 25, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Can’t get over that the “Quiet, Piggy!” administration thinks we are up for s lecture on what good behavior looks like.
Damn right!
The Surprising Benefits of Giving Up. A recent meta-analysis reveals that “adjusting our goals in response to stress or challenges, rather than grinding on, is often ‘a more appropriate and beneficial response’”. [nautil.us]
The Surprising Benefits of Giving Up
The Surprising Benefits of Giving Up: Ditching or adjusting goals in the face of adversity might often be the best thing for us.
nautil.us
November 24, 2025 at 11:50 PM
Damn right!
I put a dollup on my oatmeal most mornings.
November 24, 2025 at 10:57 PM
I put a dollup on my oatmeal most mornings.
Man, you're starting shit.
November 24, 2025 at 10:54 PM
Man, you're starting shit.
We are watching in real time as MAGA Republicans pre-build their "we were just following orders" defense to whatever happens next.
BLITZER: I want to be precise. Should members of the US military obey clearly illegal orders?
McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took
(Not a no!)
McCLAIN: You're asking an enlisted person for their opinion on what they think is legal. That's a pretty slippery slope. Follow your commander in chief. That's the oath that you took
(Not a no!)
November 24, 2025 at 9:12 PM
We are watching in real time as MAGA Republicans pre-build their "we were just following orders" defense to whatever happens next.
Only half of these movies are watchable by an adult.
haven’t seen ROS or Solo but this seems like a pretty ball-knowing list from Pritzker, particularly if he volunteered the name “Star Wars” rather than “A New Hope”
November 24, 2025 at 7:24 PM
Only half of these movies are watchable by an adult.
I assume Halligan will be a regular Fox News commentator by the end of the year.
BREAKING: Judge rules Lindsey Halligan's appointment was not valid, thus, she had no authority to present the James Comey or Letitia James indictments and the indictments are dismissed without prejudice.
November 24, 2025 at 5:55 PM
I assume Halligan will be a regular Fox News commentator by the end of the year.
What I said, verbatim.
November 24, 2025 at 5:52 PM
What I said, verbatim.
Sending a message to the officer corps they should obey and facilitate illegal orders or else.
November 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Sending a message to the officer corps they should obey and facilitate illegal orders or else.
I love "Naked Gun," but it basically has one move: Gag, double-take. The No. 2 movie on the list, "Some Like It Hot,"* is at times sexy, at times provocative, and it has the best punchline in movie history. It's multidimensional AND funny. It ought to top the list.
* I own a physical copy.
* I own a physical copy.
The movie listed at #1 is so incredibly misplaced that it calls into question the veracity of the entire list. It belongs on the list, yes, but SO MUCH further down. An absolute, credibility-wrecking flub. Boo, @variety.com! Boo!
variety.com/lists/best-c...
variety.com/lists/best-c...
The 100 Best Comedy Movies of All Time
Variety's list of the 100 best comedy movies of all time includes 'Annie Hall,' 'Pretty Woman,' 'Waiting for Guffman' and 'Young Frankenstein.'
variety.com
November 24, 2025 at 5:16 PM
I love "Naked Gun," but it basically has one move: Gag, double-take. The No. 2 movie on the list, "Some Like It Hot,"* is at times sexy, at times provocative, and it has the best punchline in movie history. It's multidimensional AND funny. It ought to top the list.
* I own a physical copy.
* I own a physical copy.
Know thyself, is all I am saying.
November 24, 2025 at 4:35 PM
Know thyself, is all I am saying.
An editor not long ago asked me if I could be funnier in a piece and I said I would like to, but that I was not in fact funnier.
Elon's "Rosebud" is posting. His deepest desire is for everyone to tell him what a hilarious and clever poster he is. The problem is that he isn't funny. And it kills him.
It explains why he bought Twitter. It's why Grok is the way it is. And it explains . . . whatever the holy hell this is.
It explains why he bought Twitter. It's why Grok is the way it is. And it explains . . . whatever the holy hell this is.
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 4:34 PM
An editor not long ago asked me if I could be funnier in a piece and I said I would like to, but that I was not in fact funnier.
Reposted by Joel Mathis
Elon's "Rosebud" is posting. His deepest desire is for everyone to tell him what a hilarious and clever poster he is. The problem is that he isn't funny. And it kills him.
It explains why he bought Twitter. It's why Grok is the way it is. And it explains . . . whatever the holy hell this is.
It explains why he bought Twitter. It's why Grok is the way it is. And it explains . . . whatever the holy hell this is.
Everything about this might be the saddest thing I’ve ever seen
November 24, 2025 at 4:28 PM
Elon's "Rosebud" is posting. His deepest desire is for everyone to tell him what a hilarious and clever poster he is. The problem is that he isn't funny. And it kills him.
It explains why he bought Twitter. It's why Grok is the way it is. And it explains . . . whatever the holy hell this is.
It explains why he bought Twitter. It's why Grok is the way it is. And it explains . . . whatever the holy hell this is.
Breeders’ “Cannonball” is one of my favorite steering wheel songs.
November 24, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Breeders’ “Cannonball” is one of my favorite steering wheel songs.
My Brightest Diamond did a long, slow, gritty version of “Tainted Love” that blew the doors off the place before The Decembrists took the stage.
Might've been Janelle Monae opening for Of Montreal or the Shins for Guided by Voices, before most of us know who those acts were.
Who was the best opening act you've seen live?
November 24, 2025 at 2:48 PM
My Brightest Diamond did a long, slow, gritty version of “Tainted Love” that blew the doors off the place before The Decembrists took the stage.
This has all been 2009 Glenn Beck'd before. This will all 2009 Glenn Beck again.
November 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM
This has all been 2009 Glenn Beck'd before. This will all 2009 Glenn Beck again.
I assume you know @ndhapple.bsky.social, who specializes in this kind of thing.
November 24, 2025 at 12:28 PM
I assume you know @ndhapple.bsky.social, who specializes in this kind of thing.
Reposted by Joel Mathis
You guys will believe anything if it’s in a screenshot.
November 24, 2025 at 10:14 AM
You guys will believe anything if it’s in a screenshot.
Government of, by and for sex pests.
![Sexual assault allegations
In October 2017, during the Me Too movement, a former talent agency employee accused Ratner of rape.[106] On November 1, 2017, six women, including Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge, accused Ratner of sexual assault and harassment, as well as following an actress into a bathroom without invitation and masturbating as another entered his trailer to deliver food.[107][108] The same month, Elliot Page accused Ratner of sexual harassment and outing the then-18-year-old Page as gay (before Page came out as a trans man) in front of many onlookers including Anna Paquin, who later confirmed the story.[109] A former fashion model came forward regarding an incident involving Russell Simmons and Ratner back in 1991, when Simmons coerced her to perform oral sex while Ratner was present.[110]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:urdk2e6xtrlaa2g6mnzc3ks7/bafkreidilk66raybtqjlc6gdmzbq6unyj6brilz24ayl6h3a4h7ffgf76i@jpeg)
November 24, 2025 at 2:31 AM
Government of, by and for sex pests.
OK, I'll take about 10% off of what I just said, but only that much.
November 24, 2025 at 12:47 AM
OK, I'll take about 10% off of what I just said, but only that much.
I will miss Udo Kier’s eyes.
Oh, man. One of cinema's most reliable weirdos, and I mean that in a highly complimentary fashion. RIP.
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
variety.com/2025/film/ne...
Udo Kier, German Actor Who Appeared in ‘My Own Private Idaho,’ ‘Andy Warhol’s Frankenstein,’ Dies at 81
Udo Kier, a German actor who collaborated with everyone from Andy Warhol to Lars von Trier to Madonna, died on Sunday morning. He was 81.
variety.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:32 AM
I will miss Udo Kier’s eyes.
I love Philadelphia, but it's kind of funny to me that the Eagles are the reigning Super Bowl champs, leading the NFC this year, and their fans are still wildly unhappy.
November 24, 2025 at 12:19 AM
I love Philadelphia, but it's kind of funny to me that the Eagles are the reigning Super Bowl champs, leading the NFC this year, and their fans are still wildly unhappy.