Lauren Macdonald
@maclauren.bsky.social
Raised in the beautiful Decorah, Iowa ~ San Diegan for decades ~ hater of fascism, YIMBY, feminist, BLM ~ E-🚲/ 🚉 enthusiast, D9 team member (opinions my own) ~ she/her ~
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
The president is a political cartoon of corruption come to life, a gaudy grifter who is selling off pardons and lining his pockets, building a golden ballroom and protecting his fellow sex predator elites, all the while regular Americans are suffering and struggling to make ends meet.
Run on *that*
Run on *that*
November 30, 2025 at 5:02 PM
The president is a political cartoon of corruption come to life, a gaudy grifter who is selling off pardons and lining his pockets, building a golden ballroom and protecting his fellow sex predator elites, all the while regular Americans are suffering and struggling to make ends meet.
Run on *that*
Run on *that*
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
“Cancellation limbo”: when you’re definitely not cancelled but not as celebrated as you used to be. This is one reason why “cancel culture” discourse is so tiresome: a lot of people are using it to mean “my life was affected in some negative way by my actions”
www.newyorker.com/culture/crit...
www.newyorker.com/culture/crit...
November 29, 2025 at 1:21 PM
“Cancellation limbo”: when you’re definitely not cancelled but not as celebrated as you used to be. This is one reason why “cancel culture” discourse is so tiresome: a lot of people are using it to mean “my life was affected in some negative way by my actions”
www.newyorker.com/culture/crit...
www.newyorker.com/culture/crit...
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
Four of Trump's five children have an immigrant mother, and the one who doesn't is married to the son of two immigrants.
Trump makes the outrageous claim that “most” immigrants, which include over 25 million U.S. citizens, “are on welfare, from failed nations, or from prisons, mental institutions, gangs, or drug cartels.”
As insulting as the “deplorables” comment, and on Thanksgiving day no less.
As insulting as the “deplorables” comment, and on Thanksgiving day no less.
Trump calls Tim Walz “seriously retarded”
November 28, 2025 at 4:56 AM
Four of Trump's five children have an immigrant mother, and the one who doesn't is married to the son of two immigrants.
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
a good message for this week
One of the reasons i love tolkien is the theme that despair is an enemy
and it makes clear you don’t need to have constant hope, you can get by with grim determination or spite but never despair
and it makes clear you don’t need to have constant hope, you can get by with grim determination or spite but never despair
You can be as terrified or nonplussed or unperturbed as you like; the sun will still rise tomorrow & the rent will still be due on the 31st. The world has no romantic narratives for its fate except those we invent, because the world does not die. That is our privilege.
November 28, 2025 at 4:22 AM
a good message for this week
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
It’s useful to think about things like this in numbers of tenure track professors.
$53M is 575 assistant professors. Or more than thirty percent of the total number of full-time faculty at LSU.
$53M is 575 assistant professors. Or more than thirty percent of the total number of full-time faculty at LSU.
November 28, 2025 at 3:38 AM
It’s useful to think about things like this in numbers of tenure track professors.
$53M is 575 assistant professors. Or more than thirty percent of the total number of full-time faculty at LSU.
$53M is 575 assistant professors. Or more than thirty percent of the total number of full-time faculty at LSU.
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
the invasion of Afghanistan is among the most horrific recent chapters of the long history of elite impunity in the US. this coda is grim but fitting - the govt practically explicitly affirming that it should only be Afghans who live with the consequences amid fading public memory of the atrocity
November 27, 2025 at 3:58 AM
the invasion of Afghanistan is among the most horrific recent chapters of the long history of elite impunity in the US. this coda is grim but fitting - the govt practically explicitly affirming that it should only be Afghans who live with the consequences amid fading public memory of the atrocity
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
"extortion" or "the price of doing business" which is also extortion. Unbelievable.
The mindless "bothsidism" of the coverage of the authoritarian rampage through our civil society. www.nytimes.com/2025/11/26/u...
November 26, 2025 at 9:38 PM
"extortion" or "the price of doing business" which is also extortion. Unbelievable.
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
“Housing expansion … will significantly impact traffic, public safety and our overall life quality in the city”: ah.
NIMBYism is just conservatism, ultimately. Its proponents stand athwart history — particularly the inexorable march of human population change — yelling ‘stop!’
NIMBYism is just conservatism, ultimately. Its proponents stand athwart history — particularly the inexorable march of human population change — yelling ‘stop!’
November 26, 2025 at 7:13 AM
“Housing expansion … will significantly impact traffic, public safety and our overall life quality in the city”: ah.
NIMBYism is just conservatism, ultimately. Its proponents stand athwart history — particularly the inexorable march of human population change — yelling ‘stop!’
NIMBYism is just conservatism, ultimately. Its proponents stand athwart history — particularly the inexorable march of human population change — yelling ‘stop!’
holy shit
Wow — Senators Van Hollen, Smith, Murphy, Sanders, Warren, Markey, Merkley, Heinrich have created an official internal "Fight Club."
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
They're challenging Schumer & Gillibrand's leadership, arguing the party is using an old, corporate-friendly playbook insufficient to take on Trump or win elections.
Chuck Schumer Faces Pushback From a ‘Fight Club’ of Senate Democrats
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:16 AM
holy shit
Like what does Sarah Hurwitz have to say about this? Raid a children’s play because they don’t “have the right permit”? wtf?
Israel Police raid children's play in East Jerusalem theater on Ben-Gvir's orders
The National Security Minister Ordered Police to Raid the El-Hakawati Theater in East Jerusalem, With Authorities Saying a Musical Show Held in It Was Linked to the Palestinian Authority and Lacked th...
www.haaretz.com
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 AM
Like what does Sarah Hurwitz have to say about this? Raid a children’s play because they don’t “have the right permit”? wtf?
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
There actually has not been enough reflection in the tech community about DOGE
November 24, 2025 at 4:10 PM
There actually has not been enough reflection in the tech community about DOGE
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
The orders for the killing spree at sea are so legal that the administration refuses to disclose the written legal justification...
Leavitt: "Not a single order this president or administration has given to our military has ever been illegal, nor will it ever be. This administration respects and abides by the law."
November 24, 2025 at 8:29 PM
The orders for the killing spree at sea are so legal that the administration refuses to disclose the written legal justification...
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
November 24, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Meanwhile, Tim Cook dines with MBS
In an era filled with tech dipshits who never developed emotionally past the age of 13 & use their wealth to become odious monsters ...
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
... listen to Steve Wozniak.
November 24, 2025 at 3:34 AM
Meanwhile, Tim Cook dines with MBS
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
Rep Jasmine Crockett on MTG quitting: “I was like, you got to be kidding. You’re on the other side of the president for one week and you can’t take the heat? Imagine what it is to sit in my shoes.”
Greene fanned the flames of hate for years and can’t handle the monster she helped create.
Greene fanned the flames of hate for years and can’t handle the monster she helped create.
November 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Rep Jasmine Crockett on MTG quitting: “I was like, you got to be kidding. You’re on the other side of the president for one week and you can’t take the heat? Imagine what it is to sit in my shoes.”
Greene fanned the flames of hate for years and can’t handle the monster she helped create.
Greene fanned the flames of hate for years and can’t handle the monster she helped create.
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
There are going to be prominent Democrats and mainstream media voices who insist that we have to "turn the page" and "forgive and forget" and they should all be roundly ignored, if not mercilessly mocked.
It’s crazy to think about the crimes we’re going to learn about after this regime ends.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
November 22, 2025 at 10:46 PM
There are going to be prominent Democrats and mainstream media voices who insist that we have to "turn the page" and "forgive and forget" and they should all be roundly ignored, if not mercilessly mocked.
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
What a great day on the internet.
November 22, 2025 at 2:49 AM
What a great day on the internet.
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
Zohran Mamdani just put every knee-bending institution to shame.
November 21, 2025 at 10:08 PM
Zohran Mamdani just put every knee-bending institution to shame.
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
We are not a serious country, at all.
BREAKING: The House of Representatives voted 285–98 in favor of a resolution condemning socialism.
Eighty-six Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
Eighty-six Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the measure, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
November 21, 2025 at 6:37 PM
We are not a serious country, at all.
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
Again, I don’t want to get too personal but the most tepidly political, structurally vulnerable people in my life were protesting ICE all week. The juxtaposition here is just wild.
The degree to which the Democratic Party is failing to meet this moment is staggering. And INFURIATING, when contrasted with the courage on display from ordinary people with far, far less power & protection.
November 21, 2025 at 6:46 PM
Again, I don’t want to get too personal but the most tepidly political, structurally vulnerable people in my life were protesting ICE all week. The juxtaposition here is just wild.
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
They like him and want to help him
The New York Times' story about Trump calling for the execution of members of Congress ran on Page 16 today, with an itty-bitty promo on the front about halfway down the page.
No wonder Trump thinks he can get away with anything.
No wonder Trump thinks he can get away with anything.
November 21, 2025 at 2:29 PM
They like him and want to help him
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
Pretty grim to go back and read this. The media liked Trump and helped him win the election.
Can’t think why it turned out how it did with the media reporting honestly.
www.npr.org/2024/08/25/g...
www.npr.org/2024/08/25/g...
12 misleading or lacking-in-context claims from Harris’ DNC speech
They range from characterizations of former President Trump’s stances on abortion rights and Social Security to her plans to address housing and grocery prices.
www.npr.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:55 PM
Pretty grim to go back and read this. The media liked Trump and helped him win the election.
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
this defies parody. also helps explain why Sec Bessent bizarrely blamed immigrants when confronted with a question about high beef prices
November 20, 2025 at 4:58 PM
this defies parody. also helps explain why Sec Bessent bizarrely blamed immigrants when confronted with a question about high beef prices
Reposted by Lauren Macdonald
First Democratic member of the Senate to attack Greenblatt in public?
November 20, 2025 at 10:54 PM
First Democratic member of the Senate to attack Greenblatt in public?