Nate Hashem
@nhashem.bsky.social
Mostly a politics reply guy. I also review LEGO sets with my daughter: https://www.youtube.com/@SpecialBrix
Reposted by Nate Hashem
On the whole this hasn't been a great year but imo that's all the more reason to recognize when we have wins that show we are not powerless.
Right now, the Trump Administration is basically getting routed and/or in retreat on several key fronts.
We are not powerless! We can do things! Consider-
Right now, the Trump Administration is basically getting routed and/or in retreat on several key fronts.
We are not powerless! We can do things! Consider-
November 17, 2025 at 4:12 PM
On the whole this hasn't been a great year but imo that's all the more reason to recognize when we have wins that show we are not powerless.
Right now, the Trump Administration is basically getting routed and/or in retreat on several key fronts.
We are not powerless! We can do things! Consider-
Right now, the Trump Administration is basically getting routed and/or in retreat on several key fronts.
We are not powerless! We can do things! Consider-
Reposted by Nate Hashem
Evergreen: www.bldgblog.com/2007/10/grea...
Greater Los Angeles
I got back from Los Angeles last night and my head is still spinning. I’d move there again in a heartbeat.There are three great cities in the United States: there’s Los Angeles, Chicago…
www.bldgblog.com
November 15, 2025 at 9:46 PM
Evergreen: www.bldgblog.com/2007/10/grea...
I know it's not the most important thing but it can't believe how sub-literate Epstein is in these emails. At best he's writing like an old Boomer typing an email to his grandson from his @aol email account, at worst it's like the beginning and ending chapters of "Flowers for Algernon."
Responding to a 2017 message that Trump was 'so gross', Jeffrey Epstein said Trump was "worse in real life and upclose."
November 12, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I know it's not the most important thing but it can't believe how sub-literate Epstein is in these emails. At best he's writing like an old Boomer typing an email to his grandson from his @aol email account, at worst it's like the beginning and ending chapters of "Flowers for Algernon."
Reposted by Nate Hashem
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
November 9, 2025 at 8:49 PM
Kyle Kingsbury is not a journalist. He is not an op-ed writer.
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
He is a computer safety researcher.
And he has written one of the most compelling, comprehensive accounts of the ongoing hell in Chicago that you could possibly imagine.
In under 1600 words.
aphyr.com/posts/397-i-...
Reposted by Nate Hashem
The RIFs language is actually great. Not only does it rehire the people RIFed during the shutdown, it makes it an unequivocal Antideficiency Act violation to do ANY MORE RIFs through the duration of the CR (Jan 30)
Completely stops Trump/Vought Phase 2 for now
Would love to see this standardized
Completely stops Trump/Vought Phase 2 for now
Would love to see this standardized
November 10, 2025 at 12:27 AM
The RIFs language is actually great. Not only does it rehire the people RIFed during the shutdown, it makes it an unequivocal Antideficiency Act violation to do ANY MORE RIFs through the duration of the CR (Jan 30)
Completely stops Trump/Vought Phase 2 for now
Would love to see this standardized
Completely stops Trump/Vought Phase 2 for now
Would love to see this standardized
Reposted by Nate Hashem
two contradictory ideas that i hold in my head at the same time: 1) i think the threat to both SNAP recipients and federal workers is significant enough now that even bad deals are worth making to prevent further harm, and, 2) everyone who caves now should retire in shame
November 10, 2025 at 12:46 AM
two contradictory ideas that i hold in my head at the same time: 1) i think the threat to both SNAP recipients and federal workers is significant enough now that even bad deals are worth making to prevent further harm, and, 2) everyone who caves now should retire in shame
Reposted by Nate Hashem
I do not think the era of Islamophobia or anti Arab racism is over but I do think this book ends a particular era of a particular kind of Democratic politics and opens up a new one
November 5, 2025 at 4:35 AM
I do not think the era of Islamophobia or anti Arab racism is over but I do think this book ends a particular era of a particular kind of Democratic politics and opens up a new one
Reposted by Nate Hashem
It's not in this article but the government asserts that the sandwich was thrown at "point blank range", which implies subway sandwiches have defined effective weapon ranges of varying lethality, and I would like to see the government's chart of these ranges.
Trial Begins for Man Accused of Lobbing a Sandwich at a Federal Agent www.nytimes.com/2025/11/03/u...
Trial Begins for Man Accused of Lobbing a Sandwich at a Federal Agent
www.nytimes.com
November 3, 2025 at 9:14 PM
It's not in this article but the government asserts that the sandwich was thrown at "point blank range", which implies subway sandwiches have defined effective weapon ranges of varying lethality, and I would like to see the government's chart of these ranges.
Reposted by Nate Hashem
I don’t know if I agree with this but what I would agree with is that you can’t maximin vote share if the electorate thinks you’re doing it with polls and spreadsheets
i don’t think you can maximin vote share with polls and spreadsheets, and i think it is a problem that the most prominent and influential political commentators right now are more devotees of data than experts in narrative
October 31, 2025 at 8:53 PM
I don’t know if I agree with this but what I would agree with is that you can’t maximin vote share if the electorate thinks you’re doing it with polls and spreadsheets
Reposted by Nate Hashem
i don’t think you can maximin vote share with polls and spreadsheets, and i think it is a problem that the most prominent and influential political commentators right now are more devotees of data than experts in narrative
October 31, 2025 at 12:38 PM
i don’t think you can maximin vote share with polls and spreadsheets, and i think it is a problem that the most prominent and influential political commentators right now are more devotees of data than experts in narrative
Reposted by Nate Hashem
trump's invulnerability primarily functions through the consensus that he is invulnerable
I am losing my gd mind seeing the number of people on here who are so doompilled that they cannot imagine that telling millions of people, including tons of MAGAs, that they’re out of food money and they also can’t have health insurance anymore might have any effect whatsoever on anything
Since SNAP benefits are gone next month and the new ACA enrollment hikes also start to reveal themselves to consumers... it's wild to think that both programs are tilted towards states AND demographics that favored Trump in '24
The stove beckons
The stove beckons
October 27, 2025 at 1:19 AM
trump's invulnerability primarily functions through the consensus that he is invulnerable
I like this framing, as long as you define "anti-facism" as "opposing Trump with discrete political actions, and/or winning elections."
"This Dem says we need to fight fascism, but wants to give more money to fasict cops" - well, yeah. Otherwise the actual fascists will win the election?
"This Dem says we need to fight fascism, but wants to give more money to fasict cops" - well, yeah. Otherwise the actual fascists will win the election?
My pet theory is that the new cleavage in the party is based on the intensity of anti-fascism. The 'antifa wing' can align with lefty candidates (like Mamdani) and in opposition to Dem party leaders, and it was behind Platner over Mills. But the Nazi tattoo changed everything. (consult the chart)
October 25, 2025 at 11:56 AM
I like this framing, as long as you define "anti-facism" as "opposing Trump with discrete political actions, and/or winning elections."
"This Dem says we need to fight fascism, but wants to give more money to fasict cops" - well, yeah. Otherwise the actual fascists will win the election?
"This Dem says we need to fight fascism, but wants to give more money to fasict cops" - well, yeah. Otherwise the actual fascists will win the election?
Reposted by Nate Hashem
When daily life no longer fostered physical fitness as much as in the agricultural/factory era we created gym memberships, this is like a social analog for the digital age.
October 2, 2025 at 12:54 PM
When daily life no longer fostered physical fitness as much as in the agricultural/factory era we created gym memberships, this is like a social analog for the digital age.
Reposted by Nate Hashem
I've written an essay reflecting on how I use the word slop and some theory of what distinguishes slop from spam and kitsch.
minihf.com/posts/2025-1...
minihf.com/posts/2025-1...
On Slop
minihf.com
October 2, 2025 at 11:50 AM
I've written an essay reflecting on how I use the word slop and some theory of what distinguishes slop from spam and kitsch.
minihf.com/posts/2025-1...
minihf.com/posts/2025-1...
Reposted by Nate Hashem
Rooted cosmopolitanism vs rootless nationalism.
September 26, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Rooted cosmopolitanism vs rootless nationalism.
Reposted by Nate Hashem
Recurring gripe of mine but it is incredible how National Conservatism is supposedly built around decrying lack of community, common project etc, while turning every “hate your neighbors” dial they can access up to 11. Make your professor terrified to say anything, don’t trust your doctor, etc
September 26, 2025 at 12:22 AM
Recurring gripe of mine but it is incredible how National Conservatism is supposedly built around decrying lack of community, common project etc, while turning every “hate your neighbors” dial they can access up to 11. Make your professor terrified to say anything, don’t trust your doctor, etc
So to me the Tylenol/autism thing seemed to come out of left field. It felt like RFK Jr was gearing up to blame the MMR vaccine on autism to justify banning it, so where did this Tylenol theory even come from?
Here's a good thread on X by Rachael Bedard that connected the dots IMO:
Here's a good thread on X by Rachael Bedard that connected the dots IMO:
September 23, 2025 at 4:07 AM
So to me the Tylenol/autism thing seemed to come out of left field. It felt like RFK Jr was gearing up to blame the MMR vaccine on autism to justify banning it, so where did this Tylenol theory even come from?
Here's a good thread on X by Rachael Bedard that connected the dots IMO:
Here's a good thread on X by Rachael Bedard that connected the dots IMO:
Reposted by Nate Hashem
doomers: there’s not going to be elections in America ever again
me: if they can’t even cancel an entertainer due to popular pushback what the fuck makes you think they can cancel elections
me: if they can’t even cancel an entertainer due to popular pushback what the fuck makes you think they can cancel elections
September 22, 2025 at 8:11 PM
doomers: there’s not going to be elections in America ever again
me: if they can’t even cancel an entertainer due to popular pushback what the fuck makes you think they can cancel elections
me: if they can’t even cancel an entertainer due to popular pushback what the fuck makes you think they can cancel elections
Reposted by Nate Hashem
"Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that."
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Jimmy Kimmel Returns: ABC Ends Suspension Starting Tuesday
Jimmy Kimmel will return to late night on Tuesday
variety.com
September 22, 2025 at 8:22 PM
"Tyranny requires constant effort. It breaks, it leaks. Authority is brittle. Oppression is the mask of fear. Remember that."
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Looking forward to seeing Jimmy back on the air.
Reposted by Nate Hashem
generally speaking, and with the glaring exception of november 2024, the more directly democratic an institution has been, the better it has checked Trump (eg grand and petit juries); the more elite and insular, the less effective (the Senate, the Supreme Court, big business)
September 18, 2025 at 12:40 AM
generally speaking, and with the glaring exception of november 2024, the more directly democratic an institution has been, the better it has checked Trump (eg grand and petit juries); the more elite and insular, the less effective (the Senate, the Supreme Court, big business)
Reposted by Nate Hashem
it's a pathetic liberal emotion, but the strongest thing i'm feeling right now is total indignity at how much they hate us despite us not doing fucking _anything_ to them
September 10, 2025 at 10:42 PM
it's a pathetic liberal emotion, but the strongest thing i'm feeling right now is total indignity at how much they hate us despite us not doing fucking _anything_ to them
How I'm thinking about the possible budget battle in Congress:
Here's something I'm wrestling with: what is the policy space for Dems to hurt Trump's *agenda* AND also hurt Trump politically?
Let's just say Trump/GOP agrees to reverse all Medicaid cuts from OBBB in return for budget bill. Agenda thwarted, but doesn't this help his approval?
Let's just say Trump/GOP agrees to reverse all Medicaid cuts from OBBB in return for budget bill. Agenda thwarted, but doesn't this help his approval?
September 8, 2025 at 10:02 PM
How I'm thinking about the possible budget battle in Congress:
Reposted by Nate Hashem
I really need people who want Dems to filibuster the budget no matter what it contains to game out what happens, because I don’t think you’ll like either of the ways that ends:
1) enough Dems defect to break the filibuster, Dems look terrible, Rs look unified, circular firing squad continues
1) enough Dems defect to break the filibuster, Dems look terrible, Rs look unified, circular firing squad continues
September 8, 2025 at 5:56 PM
I really need people who want Dems to filibuster the budget no matter what it contains to game out what happens, because I don’t think you’ll like either of the ways that ends:
1) enough Dems defect to break the filibuster, Dems look terrible, Rs look unified, circular firing squad continues
1) enough Dems defect to break the filibuster, Dems look terrible, Rs look unified, circular firing squad continues
Reposted by Nate Hashem
Alright, so I've been afraid to say this out loud, but I think after today, I can say it: In the first Battle of Los Angeles, the good people of LA County have prevailed. We beat ICE back. 1/
September 7, 2025 at 2:41 AM
Alright, so I've been afraid to say this out loud, but I think after today, I can say it: In the first Battle of Los Angeles, the good people of LA County have prevailed. We beat ICE back. 1/
Reposted by Nate Hashem
I disagree with the good doctor’s dx here: I think this is perfectly consistent with a proto-authoritarian state that has very limited but nonzero capacity to punish dissidents.
i'm kind of with will here. one of the *strangest* features of this age is that nominally liberal elites seem totally enervated in the face of fascism--meanwhile the liberal base is screaming our heads off. this doesn't comport at all with the standard story--
If Biden had said even one-tenth of this, he’d have been impeached and removed as a dictator. What is wrong with our elites? They’re paralyzed by their fear of looking unsavvy or biased against MAGA. They’re going to keep pretending everything is normal until the bullet passes through their face
September 7, 2025 at 12:27 AM
I disagree with the good doctor’s dx here: I think this is perfectly consistent with a proto-authoritarian state that has very limited but nonzero capacity to punish dissidents.