Sam Gustin
@samgustin.com
Reporter and editor. Biz, tech, policy. Bylines @ The Nation, Motherboard, Time, Wired. samgustin.com
Pinned
Sam Gustin
@samgustin.com
· Mar 7
Trump and His Crypto Cronies Have Big Plans. Be Afraid.
The incoming president and his Bitcoin-loving acolytes want to turn the government into their personal ATM.
www.thenation.com
Trump and his Bitcoin-loving acolytes want to turn the government into their personal ATM. www.thenation.com/article/poli...
Pitch: In response to Trump's DOJ attack, Fed chair Jay Powell exemplifies Deadhead values: Fierce independence from outside authority, prioritizing the community, staying true to core principles, and resilience in the face of adversity! cc: @steveliesman.bsky.social www.cnbc.com/2023/06/21/l...
January 13, 2026 at 3:34 AM
Pitch: In response to Trump's DOJ attack, Fed chair Jay Powell exemplifies Deadhead values: Fierce independence from outside authority, prioritizing the community, staying true to core principles, and resilience in the face of adversity! cc: @steveliesman.bsky.social www.cnbc.com/2023/06/21/l...
Fair winds and following seas ... youtube.com/watch?v=QkN9...
Grateful Dead - Me And Bobby McGee (1972) (HD 60fps)
YouTube video by The 70s, A Decade of Music in 60fps
youtube.com
January 13, 2026 at 3:27 AM
Fair winds and following seas ... youtube.com/watch?v=QkN9...
Reposted by Sam Gustin
Really excited we have the privilege of publishing Samuel Freedman today, whose piece is as excellent as you’d expect.
“Their version of ICE bears less resemblance to the federal agency formed under the George W. Bush administration than to exactly what Pelley yearned to produce: a paramilitary unit accountable only to a dictator.” www.liberalcurrents.com/return-of-th...
Return of the Silver Shirts
In ICE's invasion of Minneapolis, an echo of a dark past.
www.liberalcurrents.com
January 12, 2026 at 2:36 PM
Really excited we have the privilege of publishing Samuel Freedman today, whose piece is as excellent as you’d expect.
Masterfully written gem of historical perspective, as to be expected from Sam Freedman.
Excited to publish Samuel G. Freedman today
“Their version of ICE bears less resemblance to the federal agency formed under the George W. Bush administration than to exactly what Pelley yearned to produce: a paramilitary unit accountable only to a dictator.” www.liberalcurrents.com/return-of-th...
January 13, 2026 at 12:06 AM
Masterfully written gem of historical perspective, as to be expected from Sam Freedman.
Reposted by Sam Gustin
In the 60 Minutes controversy, Weiss is likely doing what she always does: producing a line of propaganda masquerading as news coverage that serves the interest of her patrons–in this case, David Ellison, whose interests are served by protecting Donald Trump.
https://bit.ly/45bGW9m
https://bit.ly/45bGW9m
Bari Weiss's Counter-Journalistic Crusade Targets “60 Minutes”
The new editor in chief at CBS News has shown she's not merely stupendously unqualified--she's ideologically opposed to the practice of good journalism.
bit.ly
December 22, 2025 at 10:45 PM
In the 60 Minutes controversy, Weiss is likely doing what she always does: producing a line of propaganda masquerading as news coverage that serves the interest of her patrons–in this case, David Ellison, whose interests are served by protecting Donald Trump.
https://bit.ly/45bGW9m
https://bit.ly/45bGW9m
Rick Steves is a national treasure.
It’s the “season of love and giving”…but this year, doesn’t it seem more like a “season of fear and taking”? Like many of you, I’ve been saddened by the human impact of draconian government budget cuts and how angry many housed Americans are at unhoused Americans.
🧵 1 of 9
🧵 1 of 9
December 21, 2025 at 3:10 AM
Rick Steves is a national treasure.
Another @danbarry58.bsky.social classic. These columns are a genre all their own. NYT: A Two-Headed Coin That Always Comes Up ‘Trump’ www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/u...
A Two-Headed Coin That Always Comes Up ‘Trump’
www.nytimes.com
November 9, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Another @danbarry58.bsky.social classic. These columns are a genre all their own. NYT: A Two-Headed Coin That Always Comes Up ‘Trump’ www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/u...
Trump’s FCC chief Brendan Carr has weaponized the agency to intimidate news organizations and media companies by threatening their broadcast licenses. @thenation.com (from June) www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Trump’s FCC Chief Brendan Carr Is Acting More Like a Mob Enforcer Than a Federal Regulator
With a new GOP majority, the incoming FCC boss aims to punish criticism, reward obedience—and screw the public.
www.thenation.com
September 17, 2025 at 11:12 PM
Trump’s FCC chief Brendan Carr has weaponized the agency to intimidate news organizations and media companies by threatening their broadcast licenses. @thenation.com (from June) www.thenation.com/article/soci...
How Trump Plans to Manipulate US Economic Data to Gaslight the Public @thenation.com [from March] www.thenation.com/article/econ...
How Trump Plans to Manipulate US Economic Data to Gaslight the Public
The president and his GOP cronies want to tamper with government statistics and use deceptive budget gimmicks to lie about the impact of their massive tax and budget cuts.
www.thenation.com
August 1, 2025 at 6:35 PM
How Trump Plans to Manipulate US Economic Data to Gaslight the Public @thenation.com [from March] www.thenation.com/article/econ...
Reposted by Sam Gustin
I write in @thenation.com that Paramount’s recent settlement with Trump is a symptom of deep structural rot in our hyper-capitalistic media system. I argue that we should be thinking now about the structural media reforms we need for the post-Trump era as we rebuild journalism from the ground up.
The Media’s Profits Trump Democracy, Once Again
Paramount’s settlement with Trump is a symptom of deep structural rot in our corporate media system.
www.thenation.com
July 8, 2025 at 12:54 PM
I write in @thenation.com that Paramount’s recent settlement with Trump is a symptom of deep structural rot in our hyper-capitalistic media system. I argue that we should be thinking now about the structural media reforms we need for the post-Trump era as we rebuild journalism from the ground up.
Trump’s FCC Chief Brendan Carr Is Acting More Like a Mob Enforcer Than a Federal Regulator
@thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/soci...
@thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Trump’s FCC Chief Brendan Carr Is Acting More Like a Mob Enforcer Than a Federal Regulator
With a new GOP majority, the incoming FCC boss aims to punish criticism, reward obedience—and screw the public.
www.thenation.com
June 25, 2025 at 6:50 PM
Trump’s FCC Chief Brendan Carr Is Acting More Like a Mob Enforcer Than a Federal Regulator
@thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/soci...
@thenation.com www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Robert McChesney, the Great Champion of Journalism and Democracy, Has Died. Tribute from @nicholsuprising.bsky.social www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Robert McChesney, the Great Champion of Journalism and Democracy, Has Died
The academic and activist inspired generations of people to challenge corporate power and support a media reform movement that lives on.
www.thenation.com
March 27, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Robert McChesney, the Great Champion of Journalism and Democracy, Has Died. Tribute from @nicholsuprising.bsky.social www.thenation.com/article/soci...
Reposted by Sam Gustin
congestion pricing is one of the most comprehensively successful policies NYC has ever seen, so of course all the worst people want to get rid of it
some more congestion pricing Ws:
Broadway attendance: up 21%
Restaurant reservations: up 7%
Pedestrian traffic: up 4%
Retail sales: up $900M
Commercial leasing: up 61%
Subway crime: down 37%
Car crashes: down 50%
Honking complaints: down 69%
Broadway attendance: up 21%
Restaurant reservations: up 7%
Pedestrian traffic: up 4%
Retail sales: up $900M
Commercial leasing: up 61%
Subway crime: down 37%
Car crashes: down 50%
Honking complaints: down 69%
March 24, 2025 at 1:43 AM
congestion pricing is one of the most comprehensively successful policies NYC has ever seen, so of course all the worst people want to get rid of it
Reposted by Sam Gustin
Fodder for novels about our times:
1) Trump Commerce Sec H Lutnick says people won't really notice if SocSec misses a payment cycle: www.axios.com/2025/03/21/s...
2) Lutnick just bought house in DC for $25 million, all cash
3) Seller: Bret Baier of Fox
www.washingtonian.com/2024/12/20/b...
1) Trump Commerce Sec H Lutnick says people won't really notice if SocSec misses a payment cycle: www.axios.com/2025/03/21/s...
2) Lutnick just bought house in DC for $25 million, all cash
3) Seller: Bret Baier of Fox
www.washingtonian.com/2024/12/20/b...
www.axios.com
March 22, 2025 at 4:52 AM
Fodder for novels about our times:
1) Trump Commerce Sec H Lutnick says people won't really notice if SocSec misses a payment cycle: www.axios.com/2025/03/21/s...
2) Lutnick just bought house in DC for $25 million, all cash
3) Seller: Bret Baier of Fox
www.washingtonian.com/2024/12/20/b...
1) Trump Commerce Sec H Lutnick says people won't really notice if SocSec misses a payment cycle: www.axios.com/2025/03/21/s...
2) Lutnick just bought house in DC for $25 million, all cash
3) Seller: Bret Baier of Fox
www.washingtonian.com/2024/12/20/b...
Reposted by Sam Gustin
As FCC chair, Brendan Carr has launched multiple attacks on freedom of the press.
He’s demonstrated a clear pattern of supporting Trump’s authoritarian takeover by using his government perch to quash dissent.
My latest piece dissects his seven most chilling attacks on free speech.
He’s demonstrated a clear pattern of supporting Trump’s authoritarian takeover by using his government perch to quash dissent.
My latest piece dissects his seven most chilling attacks on free speech.
How FCC Chairman Carr Has Fueled Trump's Authoritarian Takeover
Carr has undermined free speech and press freedom as he carries out Trump’s promises of retribution for those who report critically on his actions.
www.freepress.net
March 18, 2025 at 3:01 PM
As FCC chair, Brendan Carr has launched multiple attacks on freedom of the press.
He’s demonstrated a clear pattern of supporting Trump’s authoritarian takeover by using his government perch to quash dissent.
My latest piece dissects his seven most chilling attacks on free speech.
He’s demonstrated a clear pattern of supporting Trump’s authoritarian takeover by using his government perch to quash dissent.
My latest piece dissects his seven most chilling attacks on free speech.
Reposted by Sam Gustin
The Federal Reserve has significantly revised down expected growth for this year and meaningfully revised up expected inflation for this year.
Trump’s chaotic and harmful approach to the economy is already showing up.
Trump’s chaotic and harmful approach to the economy is already showing up.
March 19, 2025 at 6:05 PM
The Federal Reserve has significantly revised down expected growth for this year and meaningfully revised up expected inflation for this year.
Trump’s chaotic and harmful approach to the economy is already showing up.
Trump’s chaotic and harmful approach to the economy is already showing up.
Reposted by Sam Gustin
DOJ is ditching a bunch of guidelines on how businesses can accommodate people with disabilities. It's supposedly about combating high prices.
Justice Department Announces Actions to Combat Cost-of-Living Crisis, Including Rescinding 11 Pieces of Guidance
The Justice Department today announced that it is taking action in response to President Trump’s Presidential Memorandum “Delivering Emergency Price Relief for American Families and Defeating the Cost...
www.justice.gov
March 19, 2025 at 4:39 PM
DOJ is ditching a bunch of guidelines on how businesses can accommodate people with disabilities. It's supposedly about combating high prices.
Redistribution of wealth from the bottom to the top.
A new analysis reveals that Trump’s tax plan will “actively transfer money from low-income people to the top 0.1% of income earners.”
🔗: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
🔗: www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
March 19, 2025 at 4:10 PM
Redistribution of wealth from the bottom to the top.
March 19, 2025 at 4:00 PM
Reposted by Sam Gustin
Trump's trade war will hit Trump voters hardest. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Trade War Retaliation Will Hit Trump Voters Hardest
Nearly 8 million Americans work in industries targeted by the levies and the majority are Trump voters, a New York Times analysis shows
www.nytimes.com
March 19, 2025 at 12:15 PM
Trump's trade war will hit Trump voters hardest. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
Reposted by Sam Gustin
Yale Budget is out w/ illustrative analysis of what following the House budget plan could look like - of what cutting Medicaid & SNAP while extending the Trump tax cuts could look like.
It’d hurt the poor, be roughly neutral for the middle class, & help the rich.
budgetlab.yale.edu/news/250319/...
It’d hurt the poor, be roughly neutral for the middle class, & help the rich.
budgetlab.yale.edu/news/250319/...
March 19, 2025 at 1:25 PM
Yale Budget is out w/ illustrative analysis of what following the House budget plan could look like - of what cutting Medicaid & SNAP while extending the Trump tax cuts could look like.
It’d hurt the poor, be roughly neutral for the middle class, & help the rich.
budgetlab.yale.edu/news/250319/...
It’d hurt the poor, be roughly neutral for the middle class, & help the rich.
budgetlab.yale.edu/news/250319/...
Reposted by Sam Gustin
Important new work from my @budgetlab.bsky.social colleagues Harris Eppsteiner & John Ricco on the House budget resolution. Neutral illustrative policies consistent w/ committee deficit targets suggest the proposed tax + spending cuts are regressive: they benefit the top & hurt the bottom.
1/3
1/3
March 19, 2025 at 1:47 PM
Important new work from my @budgetlab.bsky.social colleagues Harris Eppsteiner & John Ricco on the House budget resolution. Neutral illustrative policies consistent w/ committee deficit targets suggest the proposed tax + spending cuts are regressive: they benefit the top & hurt the bottom.
1/3
1/3
Wrote about "current policy baseline" earlier this week. www.thenation.com/article/econ...
March 13, 2025 at 11:26 PM
Wrote about "current policy baseline" earlier this week. www.thenation.com/article/econ...