M. David Ruff
@mdavidruff.bsky.social
Chief tax nerd at California State Assembly. Tax policy. Watches. Travel. Not always in that order. Duel citizen of California and Switzerland. Proud alum of UC Davis and Berkeley Law. #caleg
Pinned
M. David Ruff
@mdavidruff.bsky.social
· Nov 20
I wish the average voter cared as much about democracy as my homeowners association cares about the shade of blue I’d like to paint my house door.
Just listened to Beethoven’s 9th. If an alien civilization were to come to earth and ask for humanity’s greatest achievement, I think I would likely choose it.
January 1, 2026 at 11:04 PM
Just listened to Beethoven’s 9th. If an alien civilization were to come to earth and ask for humanity’s greatest achievement, I think I would likely choose it.
Not wrong
Opinion | I was a lifelong liberal Democrat. Then I realized that if I joined the Federalist Society I could be a federal judge by the time I was 35.
December 31, 2025 at 11:09 PM
Not wrong
Either I’ve reached that age where computers make no sense or I’m finally ready to admit that, besides looking good, Apple computers are insanely non-intuitive and fussy.
December 31, 2025 at 9:57 PM
Either I’ve reached that age where computers make no sense or I’m finally ready to admit that, besides looking good, Apple computers are insanely non-intuitive and fussy.
That fresco restoration was honestly one of the funniest things to happen in the last 20 years.
December 31, 2025 at 6:07 AM
That fresco restoration was honestly one of the funniest things to happen in the last 20 years.
Have all the billionaires left New York City yet?
December 31, 2025 at 5:46 AM
Have all the billionaires left New York City yet?
Well, sheeeeeeit. That sucks.
Isiah Whitlock Jr, actor known as The Wire’s Clay Davis, dies aged 71
The acclaimed character actor also earned plaudits for his role in ‘Veep’ and his collaborations with Spike Lee
www.the-independent.com
December 31, 2025 at 2:08 AM
Well, sheeeeeeit. That sucks.
Without commenting on the merits of this tax proposal, I’m honestly far more concerned about billionaires using their vast resources to usher in an era of competitive authoritarianism because they got their feelings hurt.
“California is on a path to self-destruction,” wrote Bill Ackman, joining opposition to a tax proposal alongside Google’s cofounder and more.
Possible California Wealth Tax Causes Billionaire Freakout: Page, Thiel Threaten To Leave
“California is on a path to self-destruction,” wrote Bill Ackman, joining opposition to a tax proposal alongside Google’s cofounder and more.
www.forbes.com
December 28, 2025 at 11:34 PM
Without commenting on the merits of this tax proposal, I’m honestly far more concerned about billionaires using their vast resources to usher in an era of competitive authoritarianism because they got their feelings hurt.
Don’t worry. The top ten percent are buying shit like there’s a national going out business sale. I’m sure that’s sustainable.
Large employers indicate that they either want to maintain the size of their teams next year or let go of workers. on.wsj.com/4qyPWxL
The corporate playbook for next year? Don’t hire.
Large employers indicate that they either want to maintain the size of their teams next year or let go of workers.
on.wsj.com
December 28, 2025 at 2:44 AM
Don’t worry. The top ten percent are buying shit like there’s a national going out business sale. I’m sure that’s sustainable.
I’d say this gift was a definite hit.
December 25, 2025 at 5:51 PM
I’d say this gift was a definite hit.
No matter how challenging you find the Holiday Season, just remember that you could be a DOJ employee spending Christmas feverishly redacting Trump’s name from the Epstein Files.
December 24, 2025 at 9:05 PM
No matter how challenging you find the Holiday Season, just remember that you could be a DOJ employee spending Christmas feverishly redacting Trump’s name from the Epstein Files.
Peeps - it’s Christmas Eve. Your email finds me uninterested in it.
December 24, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Peeps - it’s Christmas Eve. Your email finds me uninterested in it.
This error always bugged me tbh.
Watching The West Wing with grandma (I don’t love the series but let us watch in peace).
Anyway, in season one Jed Bartlet gives a campaign speech where he talks about his Civil Procedure professor.
The man did not go to law school. 🤨
Anyway, in season one Jed Bartlet gives a campaign speech where he talks about his Civil Procedure professor.
The man did not go to law school. 🤨
December 24, 2025 at 6:23 AM
This error always bugged me tbh.
Wait. No more vehicular chutes and ladders?
Caltrans announced it had removed all the lane splits on the eastbound portions of Highway 50.
A Christmas gift on Sacramento freeway: No more lane splits on eastbound Highway 50
Caltrans announced it had removed all the lane splits on the eastbound portions of Highway 50.
bit.ly
December 24, 2025 at 6:11 AM
Wait. No more vehicular chutes and ladders?
If you want to sound both drunk and semi-literate, may I suggest Apple’s latest voice dictation for text messaging?
December 24, 2025 at 1:35 AM
If you want to sound both drunk and semi-literate, may I suggest Apple’s latest voice dictation for text messaging?
At this point, I’m pretty sure Thomas and Alito would be cool if Trump declared himself Consul and started issuing edicts from the White House balcony wearing a toga.
Breaking News: The Supreme Court refused to immediately allow President Trump to deploy the National Guard in Chicago, casting doubt on deployments elsewhere.
Supreme Court Refuses to Allow Trump to Deploy National Guard in Chicago
President Trump ordered state-based troops to Portland, Ore.; Los Angeles; Washington; and Chicago over the objections of state and local officials.
nyti.ms
December 23, 2025 at 10:39 PM
At this point, I’m pretty sure Thomas and Alito would be cool if Trump declared himself Consul and started issuing edicts from the White House balcony wearing a toga.
Reposted by M. David Ruff
it’s so funny that you can just get a small animal and put it inside your house
December 23, 2025 at 2:46 AM
it’s so funny that you can just get a small animal and put it inside your house
Just watched the 60 minutes segment. These people are vile criminals. And when I say these people, I am referring to the current regime in DC.
December 23, 2025 at 3:29 AM
Just watched the 60 minutes segment. These people are vile criminals. And when I say these people, I am referring to the current regime in DC.
Bari Weiss strikes me as the kind of person who greatly overestimates their own competence.
December 23, 2025 at 2:16 AM
Bari Weiss strikes me as the kind of person who greatly overestimates their own competence.
Step 1) Spike a thoroughly vetted 60 minutes report to curry favor with an authoritarian regime.
Step 2) Be so transparently craven, the story gets leaked - ensuring it goes viral beyond the 65+ demo.
That’s some 3-D chess right there.
Step 2) Be so transparently craven, the story gets leaked - ensuring it goes viral beyond the 65+ demo.
That’s some 3-D chess right there.
December 23, 2025 at 1:24 AM
Step 1) Spike a thoroughly vetted 60 minutes report to curry favor with an authoritarian regime.
Step 2) Be so transparently craven, the story gets leaked - ensuring it goes viral beyond the 65+ demo.
That’s some 3-D chess right there.
Step 2) Be so transparently craven, the story gets leaked - ensuring it goes viral beyond the 65+ demo.
That’s some 3-D chess right there.
Like toll lanes?
Zohran: "I mean, think about when you fly. We have made it such a difficult experience to go through TSA that there's now a financial incentive to sign up for a separate program that can move you through it quicker. We have monetized the dysfunction."
December 19, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Like toll lanes?
Reposted by M. David Ruff
You don’t give a speech like that when you are winning.
December 18, 2025 at 3:31 AM
You don’t give a speech like that when you are winning.
Anyone know what he’s announcing tonight?
War with Venezuela?
A thirty minute riff on toilet water pressure?
The results of his latest dementia screening?
War with Venezuela?
A thirty minute riff on toilet water pressure?
The results of his latest dementia screening?
December 17, 2025 at 6:07 PM
Anyone know what he’s announcing tonight?
War with Venezuela?
A thirty minute riff on toilet water pressure?
The results of his latest dementia screening?
War with Venezuela?
A thirty minute riff on toilet water pressure?
The results of his latest dementia screening?
Whenever you talk with a journalist, you should always use the line from Almost Famous:
“Just make us look cool, ok?”
“Just make us look cool, ok?”
December 16, 2025 at 10:51 PM
Whenever you talk with a journalist, you should always use the line from Almost Famous:
“Just make us look cool, ok?”
“Just make us look cool, ok?”
She really wants to be fired?
I legit don’t understand why Wiles gave those interviews
December 16, 2025 at 10:16 PM
She really wants to be fired?