Mike Pettigano
@mvpettigano.bsky.social
Remember college football blogs? I used to do that. Good times.
Guy from North Jersey; Journalist, technically; Union Thug; Penn State & Blue Band alum
Guy from North Jersey; Journalist, technically; Union Thug; Penn State & Blue Band alum
Pinned
Mike Pettigano
@mvpettigano.bsky.social
· Jan 20
Martin Luther King's 1968 visit to Paterson church, just days before Memphis
YouTube video by NorthJersey
youtu.be
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. visited at a small Baptist Church in Paterson, NJ for what's believed to be his final public speech before his fateful trip to Memphis. This short doc from the 50th anniversary of that day will always be my proudest work at The Bergen Record. youtu.be/cuQI4MLQxy8
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
Whatever shall I do with the social account I haven't checked in ... two years? Three?
Facebook is testing a monthly $14.99 subscription, and telling users they need to subscribe if they want to post more than 2 links a month.
techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/f...
techcrunch.com/2025/12/17/f...
Facebook is testing a link-posting limit for professional accounts and pages | TechCrunch
Meta said that the test impacts professional accounts and pages on Facebook.
techcrunch.com
December 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM
Whatever shall I do with the social account I haven't checked in ... two years? Three?
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
Crazy how all these places that are overwhelmingly white keep on refusing to hire white people because they’re white, other than all the other white people who already work there bsky.app/profile/mtsw...
longstanding theory on this is that people who know the applicant that they don't want to hire has racial resentment offer "wish i could've hired you, but they made me hire a black woman instead!" as a let-them-down-easy cope rather than admit to them that they just didn't want to hire them.
December 19, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Crazy how all these places that are overwhelmingly white keep on refusing to hire white people because they’re white, other than all the other white people who already work there bsky.app/profile/mtsw...
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
It wasn’t unanimous bc the vote needed to change the Kennedy Center’s defined-by-statute name requires 435 Representatives and 100 Senators, in their official capacities as such.
A vote with zero official votes cannot be unanimous.
THAT’S the headline, @nytimes.com.
A vote with zero official votes cannot be unanimous.
THAT’S the headline, @nytimes.com.
A no-brainer for any Democratic aspirant for the presidency is to vow to remove Trump’s name from the Kennedy Center and to tear down his White House ballroom to be replaced by a refurbished East Wing.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/u...
The White House Says the Trump-Kennedy Center Vote Was ‘Unanimous.’ But Someone Was Muted.
www.nytimes.com
December 19, 2025 at 3:40 AM
It wasn’t unanimous bc the vote needed to change the Kennedy Center’s defined-by-statute name requires 435 Representatives and 100 Senators, in their official capacities as such.
A vote with zero official votes cannot be unanimous.
THAT’S the headline, @nytimes.com.
A vote with zero official votes cannot be unanimous.
THAT’S the headline, @nytimes.com.
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
Extra insulting to hear this nonsense about an immutable gender binary coming from a guy who looks like the SNL "It's Pat" character
December 18, 2025 at 10:55 PM
Extra insulting to hear this nonsense about an immutable gender binary coming from a guy who looks like the SNL "It's Pat" character
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
growing up every adult on the planet was telling us that even the hint of cleavage or a red solo cup would blacklist us from the labor force forever and now we have like every powerful white man taking pictures on pedophile island and not a whisper of consequences
[At an Epstein event] Hey man can you not take a thousand pictures of me?
December 18, 2025 at 8:39 PM
growing up every adult on the planet was telling us that even the hint of cleavage or a red solo cup would blacklist us from the labor force forever and now we have like every powerful white man taking pictures on pedophile island and not a whisper of consequences
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
Senator Durbin has had this explained to him multiple times. Getting rid of 230 doesn't help this, but will make it worse. It will make it impossible for smaller sites to exist (like this one) and will give MORE POWER to companies like Meta and X.
Why would Durbin want to do that?
Why would Durbin want to do that?
Children are being exploited and abused because Big Tech consistently prioritizes profits over people.
Enough is enough. Time to sunset Section 230.
Enough is enough. Time to sunset Section 230.
December 18, 2025 at 8:55 PM
Senator Durbin has had this explained to him multiple times. Getting rid of 230 doesn't help this, but will make it worse. It will make it impossible for smaller sites to exist (like this one) and will give MORE POWER to companies like Meta and X.
Why would Durbin want to do that?
Why would Durbin want to do that?
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
If any journalist wants to talk to a trans man with a PhD in Human Genomics who was trained in labs that studied the evolution of sex, I'm right here
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
December 18, 2025 at 5:27 PM
If any journalist wants to talk to a trans man with a PhD in Human Genomics who was trained in labs that studied the evolution of sex, I'm right here
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
Or just keep platforming Republicans who have a 5th grade understanding of biology so they get more trans people killed, sure 🤷🏻♂️
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
CNN has a show with a similar line. That the problem with this country is we just aren’t talking to each other.
It’s the kind of diagnosis that a toddler would land on.
It’s the kind of diagnosis that a toddler would land on.
December 18, 2025 at 2:44 PM
CNN has a show with a similar line. That the problem with this country is we just aren’t talking to each other.
It’s the kind of diagnosis that a toddler would land on.
It’s the kind of diagnosis that a toddler would land on.
HELL YEAH BAND
Jayton HS may have only 50ish kids in their high school, but you know what else they have?
A marching band.
A marching band.
December 17, 2025 at 9:42 PM
HELL YEAH BAND
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
So, one thing I noticed about WaPo's piece about Tyler Robinson is that the paper seemed to really want there to be some "look! he did it because he's pro-trans!" angle here, but there's just... nothing to back that up. And even if it were true, so what? www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
‘You see this news?’: What Charlie Kirk’s alleged killer told friends after the attack
A patchwork of social interactions and a trail of online posts provide a view into the life and beliefs of Tyler Robinson, the suspect in Charlie Kirk’s killing.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 17, 2025 at 9:07 PM
So, one thing I noticed about WaPo's piece about Tyler Robinson is that the paper seemed to really want there to be some "look! he did it because he's pro-trans!" angle here, but there's just... nothing to back that up. And even if it were true, so what? www.washingtonpost.com/investigatio...
This *should* be *the* biggest scandal in the history of the United States, BUT
BREAKING on MS NOW:
Jack Smith, in his opening statement to House Judiciary, says:
"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power."
Jack Smith, in his opening statement to House Judiciary, says:
"Our investigation developed proof beyond a reasonable doubt that President Trump engaged in a criminal scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and to prevent the lawful transfer of power."
December 17, 2025 at 4:36 PM
This *should* be *the* biggest scandal in the history of the United States, BUT
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
Unbelievable. This would be a terrible blow to American science, writ large. It would decimate not only climate research, but also the kind of weather, wildfire, and disaster research that has underpinned half a century of progress in prediction, early warning, and increased resilience.
Exclusive: The Trump administration is moving to dismantle the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, according to a senior White House official, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
Trump moves to dismantle major US climate research center in Colorado
The Trump administration is breaking up the National Center for Atmospheric Research, taking aim at one of the world's leading climate research labs.
bit.ly
December 17, 2025 at 2:49 AM
Unbelievable. This would be a terrible blow to American science, writ large. It would decimate not only climate research, but also the kind of weather, wildfire, and disaster research that has underpinned half a century of progress in prediction, early warning, and increased resilience.
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
I was already in a bad mood and this didn’t help
December 16, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I was already in a bad mood and this didn’t help
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
i have been thinking about MTG and her break from Trump and really wonder if there won't be a political opportunity for more maga pols to break and (still shamelessly) use moments like these to position themselves as 'not brainwashed' to a crowd that likes but is getting tired of trump
Today's newsletter: The same machine that destroyed 600 lives over Charlie Kirk has nothing to say about Trump mocking Rob Reiner. www.readtpa.com/p/the-rules-...
The Rules of Grief
The post-Kirk purge was never about decency. Trump's response to Rob Reiner's murder proves it.
www.readtpa.com
December 15, 2025 at 8:26 PM
i have been thinking about MTG and her break from Trump and really wonder if there won't be a political opportunity for more maga pols to break and (still shamelessly) use moments like these to position themselves as 'not brainwashed' to a crowd that likes but is getting tired of trump
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
I don’t use social media to argue about politics with strangers.
I use social media to talk to people about fish.
When I talk about fish on Bluesky, people ask me questions about fish.
When I talk about fish on Twitter, people threaten to murder my family because we’re Jewish.
I use social media to talk to people about fish.
When I talk about fish on Bluesky, people ask me questions about fish.
When I talk about fish on Twitter, people threaten to murder my family because we’re Jewish.
"Bluesky is an echo chamber."
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
"Bluesky doesn't have enough reach"
"Liberals must return to X to challenge the far right"
I'm not a tech bro or a journalist. Your priorities are not my priorities. Stop telling me I need to do anything other than chat about comics & telly with people who seem nice.
December 15, 2025 at 11:44 AM
I don’t use social media to argue about politics with strangers.
I use social media to talk to people about fish.
When I talk about fish on Bluesky, people ask me questions about fish.
When I talk about fish on Twitter, people threaten to murder my family because we’re Jewish.
I use social media to talk to people about fish.
When I talk about fish on Bluesky, people ask me questions about fish.
When I talk about fish on Twitter, people threaten to murder my family because we’re Jewish.
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
Nate Silver is more obvious than most, but all the guys who once styled themselves as "wonks" and "data driven journalists" [the Vox promise] operate on pure vibes now
December 15, 2025 at 9:11 AM
Nate Silver is more obvious than most, but all the guys who once styled themselves as "wonks" and "data driven journalists" [the Vox promise] operate on pure vibes now
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
we live in the most high surveillence state in history, companies like palantir exist to know everything about us, and they still can’t do anything. kind of astounding how often this has happened under trumps 2nd term
BREAKING: Authorities will release the person of interest in the Brown University shooting, officials said, as the investigation continues.
Live updates: Person of interest identified after 2 killed and 9 injured at Brown University
Live updates: 2 dead, 9 wounded in Brown University shooting; person of interest in custody
nbcnews.to
December 15, 2025 at 5:42 AM
we live in the most high surveillence state in history, companies like palantir exist to know everything about us, and they still can’t do anything. kind of astounding how often this has happened under trumps 2nd term
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
This is what happens when the FBI is run by two right-wing conspiracy theorist podcasters who spent the last 11 months purging almost anyone with institutional knowledge from the bureau. They're going to keep fucking this kind of thing up.
BREAKING: Authorities will release the person of interest in the Brown University shooting, officials said, as the investigation continues.
Live updates: Person of interest identified after 2 killed and 9 injured at Brown University
Live updates: 2 dead, 9 wounded in Brown University shooting; person of interest in custody
nbcnews.to
December 15, 2025 at 5:45 AM
This is what happens when the FBI is run by two right-wing conspiracy theorist podcasters who spent the last 11 months purging almost anyone with institutional knowledge from the bureau. They're going to keep fucking this kind of thing up.
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
This NYT story failed the reader by not digging deeper. One subject dropped out of college after one year (five years ago) and lists "Windows" as his skillset. Story should be: young conservatives who blame immigrants for their personal failures and whose lives won't be improved w/ fewer immigrants
December 15, 2025 at 8:36 AM
This NYT story failed the reader by not digging deeper. One subject dropped out of college after one year (five years ago) and lists "Windows" as his skillset. Story should be: young conservatives who blame immigrants for their personal failures and whose lives won't be improved w/ fewer immigrants
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
I keep thinking about how important this is, and who benefits from the narrative that only a guy named Edward can be the hero who intervened to protect Jewish lives, not a guy named Ahmed
This is fucking grim. Somebody invented a white guy, an "IT professional" named Edward Crabtree, who stopped the Bondi shooting and spread it all over the internet, which was picked up by AI agents and slop aggregation sites.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
The real hero is a fruit stand owner named Ahmed el Ahmed.
December 14, 2025 at 11:23 PM
I keep thinking about how important this is, and who benefits from the narrative that only a guy named Edward can be the hero who intervened to protect Jewish lives, not a guy named Ahmed
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
it's actually worse. not only are AI aggregators (including Musk's lobotomized Grok) spreading this myth, it's entirely based upon an 'article' written by AI originally posted by a website with an Icelandic ISP
December 14, 2025 at 8:40 PM
it's actually worse. not only are AI aggregators (including Musk's lobotomized Grok) spreading this myth, it's entirely based upon an 'article' written by AI originally posted by a website with an Icelandic ISP
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
i am fascinated by how nate silver turns everything he doesn’t like into a bespoke ideology. it’s not that he is annoyed by HCR, it is that she is a dreaded “ism” responsible for everything he doesn’t like about the democratic party. same with bluesky.
December 13, 2025 at 11:01 PM
i am fascinated by how nate silver turns everything he doesn’t like into a bespoke ideology. it’s not that he is annoyed by HCR, it is that she is a dreaded “ism” responsible for everything he doesn’t like about the democratic party. same with bluesky.
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
genuinely what the fuck does this even mean
December 13, 2025 at 10:57 PM
genuinely what the fuck does this even mean
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
In terms of US politics, Bush v. Gore is the defining event of the century. It set the template: a ruthless right that instinctively seeks power & doesn't give a shit about rule of law...and a bunch of hapless, feckless octogenarian Dems worried about the good opinion of centrist opinion columnists.
The 25th anniversary of Bush v Gore is today. The conspiracy mongering & corruption of the GOP has been brewing for a long time.
Roberts, Barrett and Kavanaugh were all on Bush's legal team, where they pushed unfounded legal theories. SC justices were already enmeshed in voter fraud myths.
Roberts, Barrett and Kavanaugh were all on Bush's legal team, where they pushed unfounded legal theories. SC justices were already enmeshed in voter fraud myths.
Here's Sandra Day O'Connor endorsing News Max levels of voter fraud conspiracies in the 2000 election.
December 12, 2025 at 6:53 PM
In terms of US politics, Bush v. Gore is the defining event of the century. It set the template: a ruthless right that instinctively seeks power & doesn't give a shit about rule of law...and a bunch of hapless, feckless octogenarian Dems worried about the good opinion of centrist opinion columnists.
Reposted by Mike Pettigano
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom
December 12, 2025 at 6:23 PM
There isn't a single problem "solved" by edtech that couldn't be fixed with smaller classes led by well-paid teachers given real academic freedom