@sbwriter.bsky.social
College economics teacher, then a tax lawyer. Now retired in a relatively sane area of the USA.
Reposted
REVEALED: Picture of Bill Clinton hanging out with a serial sex offender.
December 20, 2025 at 10:01 PM
REVEALED: Picture of Bill Clinton hanging out with a serial sex offender.
Reposted
MAGA: I voted for this!
$400 million ballroom.
Triumphal arch.
Qatari jet.
Renaming an arts center.
Foreign crypto deals.
Blowing up boats.
Saudi golf resorts.
High tariffs on goods.
Record deficits.
Epstein cover up.
Pardons for drug traffickers and rich fraudsters.
$400 million ballroom.
Triumphal arch.
Qatari jet.
Renaming an arts center.
Foreign crypto deals.
Blowing up boats.
Saudi golf resorts.
High tariffs on goods.
Record deficits.
Epstein cover up.
Pardons for drug traffickers and rich fraudsters.
December 20, 2025 at 1:25 AM
MAGA: I voted for this!
$400 million ballroom.
Triumphal arch.
Qatari jet.
Renaming an arts center.
Foreign crypto deals.
Blowing up boats.
Saudi golf resorts.
High tariffs on goods.
Record deficits.
Epstein cover up.
Pardons for drug traffickers and rich fraudsters.
$400 million ballroom.
Triumphal arch.
Qatari jet.
Renaming an arts center.
Foreign crypto deals.
Blowing up boats.
Saudi golf resorts.
High tariffs on goods.
Record deficits.
Epstein cover up.
Pardons for drug traffickers and rich fraudsters.
Reposted
Montage of Howard Lutnick over the past 9 months constantly moving the goalposts on when the economy is going to be booming - 4Q! 1Q! 2Q! 1 year!
He was asked in March when it wasn’t going to be Biden’s fault anymore: “We own the economy in the 4th quarter!”
He was asked in March when it wasn’t going to be Biden’s fault anymore: “We own the economy in the 4th quarter!”
December 19, 2025 at 10:11 PM
Montage of Howard Lutnick over the past 9 months constantly moving the goalposts on when the economy is going to be booming - 4Q! 1Q! 2Q! 1 year!
He was asked in March when it wasn’t going to be Biden’s fault anymore: “We own the economy in the 4th quarter!”
He was asked in March when it wasn’t going to be Biden’s fault anymore: “We own the economy in the 4th quarter!”
Reposted
At least 20 people who have received clemency from President Trump so far this year were also forgiven of financial penalties totaling tens of millions of dollars.
Some of these offenders owed money to real-life victims of fraud.
Some of these offenders owed money to real-life victims of fraud.
Trump’s pardons wipe out payments to defrauded victims
In addition to clearing prison sentences, the president’s clemency actions have erased millions in restitution payments.
wapo.st
December 19, 2025 at 4:30 PM
At least 20 people who have received clemency from President Trump so far this year were also forgiven of financial penalties totaling tens of millions of dollars.
Some of these offenders owed money to real-life victims of fraud.
Some of these offenders owed money to real-life victims of fraud.
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There's a series of things (like the ballroom, Gulf of America) that we're going to have to *undo* the moment this guy is out of office.
And yet I can already hear future Democrat presidents saying "I'm focused on the people's work, not the knucklehead stuff" and just leave this man's shit up.
And yet I can already hear future Democrat presidents saying "I'm focused on the people's work, not the knucklehead stuff" and just leave this man's shit up.
The president's name was added to the sign outside the performing arts center.
Trump Ignores Law and Sticks His Name on Kennedy Center
The name of the president was added to the sign outside the performing arts center.
trib.al
December 19, 2025 at 4:49 PM
There's a series of things (like the ballroom, Gulf of America) that we're going to have to *undo* the moment this guy is out of office.
And yet I can already hear future Democrat presidents saying "I'm focused on the people's work, not the knucklehead stuff" and just leave this man's shit up.
And yet I can already hear future Democrat presidents saying "I'm focused on the people's work, not the knucklehead stuff" and just leave this man's shit up.
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Yes, it’s illegal. Like changing it to Department of War, like ten thousand other things. Part of the Trump strategy is to break the law and convey “the rule of law is weak and feminine and laughable and should be overridden by Our Guy.” Trump is fundamentally anti-law.
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NEWS: They're adding Trump's name to the Kennedy Center building right now. www.washingtonpost.com/entertainmen...
Kennedy Center adds Trump’s name to building
The signage change follows a vote by the board of trustees to rename the performing arts complex the Trump Kennedy Center.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 19, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Yes, it’s illegal. Like changing it to Department of War, like ten thousand other things. Part of the Trump strategy is to break the law and convey “the rule of law is weak and feminine and laughable and should be overridden by Our Guy.” Trump is fundamentally anti-law.
/1
/1
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the average person has no clue what we political junkies are talking about. you basically have to treat it like a fandom — but people can die.
December 18, 2025 at 3:24 PM
the average person has no clue what we political junkies are talking about. you basically have to treat it like a fandom — but people can die.
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this is a populace you need to speak to in simple, easy to understand sentences that you repeat over and over. they simply don’t know what’s going on. you have to keep telling them. the right understands this. the democrats don’t.
December 18, 2025 at 3:22 PM
this is a populace you need to speak to in simple, easy to understand sentences that you repeat over and over. they simply don’t know what’s going on. you have to keep telling them. the right understands this. the democrats don’t.
Reposted
Our new golden age of free speech, where opposition to immigration enforcement can trigger a federal investigation
December 18, 2025 at 8:54 PM
Our new golden age of free speech, where opposition to immigration enforcement can trigger a federal investigation
Reposted
He strikes me as someone that has never once enjoyed even a book, movie, or piece of music. He seems devoid of the capacity for joy, aside from some satisfaction when he can put someone else down.
December 18, 2025 at 4:11 AM
He strikes me as someone that has never once enjoyed even a book, movie, or piece of music. He seems devoid of the capacity for joy, aside from some satisfaction when he can put someone else down.
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What's an example of the right becoming less dangerous due to someone posting on Twitter/X?
What's something bad they were doing that they did less after seeing critical posts? Or something bad that would've happened but was avoided by persuasive posting?
I can't think of any, even hypothetically.
What's something bad they were doing that they did less after seeing critical posts? Or something bad that would've happened but was avoided by persuasive posting?
I can't think of any, even hypothetically.
IMO it's hard to combat the dangerousness of the right by participating in a platform where they aren't present.
I think the best way to explain the X vs Bluesky preference is whether a person thinks the left is more annoying than the right is dangerous.
The reason so many Noah Smiths end up on the X side of that equation is that while the left annoys them personally, the right mostly endangers other people.
The reason so many Noah Smiths end up on the X side of that equation is that while the left annoys them personally, the right mostly endangers other people.
December 15, 2025 at 5:23 PM
What's an example of the right becoming less dangerous due to someone posting on Twitter/X?
What's something bad they were doing that they did less after seeing critical posts? Or something bad that would've happened but was avoided by persuasive posting?
I can't think of any, even hypothetically.
What's something bad they were doing that they did less after seeing critical posts? Or something bad that would've happened but was avoided by persuasive posting?
I can't think of any, even hypothetically.
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(1/2) Although they may not admit it, Trump's base loves him *because* of things like his disgusting comments on Rob Reiner (not despite them).
That's not to say this might turn some swing voter types off. But most ppl who support him either love that he does this (his real base)....
That's not to say this might turn some swing voter types off. But most ppl who support him either love that he does this (his real base)....
December 16, 2025 at 3:12 PM
(1/2) Although they may not admit it, Trump's base loves him *because* of things like his disgusting comments on Rob Reiner (not despite them).
That's not to say this might turn some swing voter types off. But most ppl who support him either love that he does this (his real base)....
That's not to say this might turn some swing voter types off. But most ppl who support him either love that he does this (his real base)....
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I think it’s important to remind people that those Trump seeks retribution against are people who had the audacity to suggest the law applies to him. Frequently it’s written about is if he has a legitimate reason for his sick obsessions.
December 16, 2025 at 10:20 PM
I think it’s important to remind people that those Trump seeks retribution against are people who had the audacity to suggest the law applies to him. Frequently it’s written about is if he has a legitimate reason for his sick obsessions.
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I’m not even going to publish a copy of Trumps comments about Reiner and his wife. But occasionally he reminds me that he is simply one of the worst, most degenerate individuals who has ever existed in American public life. Hard to think of any more vicious, vile and sociopathic.
December 15, 2025 at 7:10 PM
I’m not even going to publish a copy of Trumps comments about Reiner and his wife. But occasionally he reminds me that he is simply one of the worst, most degenerate individuals who has ever existed in American public life. Hard to think of any more vicious, vile and sociopathic.
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How can this go on for years and years and years while everyone else is held to mostly the same rules as before? Why is it that Trump and his supporters have been given a free pass to engage in the foulest behavior imaginable, whether illegality, tyranny, corruption, or simply demeaning the dead?
December 15, 2025 at 3:35 PM
How can this go on for years and years and years while everyone else is held to mostly the same rules as before? Why is it that Trump and his supporters have been given a free pass to engage in the foulest behavior imaginable, whether illegality, tyranny, corruption, or simply demeaning the dead?
Reposted
Virginia Heffernan wrote this shortly after the 2016 election and it still holds true
December 16, 2025 at 4:21 AM
Virginia Heffernan wrote this shortly after the 2016 election and it still holds true
Reposted
Opinion | Trump’s crude remarks about Rob Reiner are unbecoming of a FIFA Peace Prize winner.
December 16, 2025 at 2:07 AM
Opinion | Trump’s crude remarks about Rob Reiner are unbecoming of a FIFA Peace Prize winner.
Reposted
Who wore it better?
December 14, 2025 at 6:09 PM
Who wore it better?
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The Trump comments about Rob Reiner are extra batshit because a few months ago people were getting fired and civil war was being threatened because some people dared to accurately describe Charlie Kirk's beliefs
December 15, 2025 at 4:19 PM
The Trump comments about Rob Reiner are extra batshit because a few months ago people were getting fired and civil war was being threatened because some people dared to accurately describe Charlie Kirk's beliefs
Reposted
Whether it's an obscure adjunct professor posting that Charlie Kirk did some bad things or it's the president of the United States celebrating Rob Reiner's death, there's plenty of incivility on both sides.
December 15, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Whether it's an obscure adjunct professor posting that Charlie Kirk did some bad things or it's the president of the United States celebrating Rob Reiner's death, there's plenty of incivility on both sides.
Reposted
I'm not even going to repost a screengrab of his post about Rob Reiner but man it really needs to be said every single day: Trump truly is the biggest piece of shit in the world, a man of absolutely no good qualities and seemingly limitless bad ones. Support for him is just so damning.
December 15, 2025 at 3:55 PM
I'm not even going to repost a screengrab of his post about Rob Reiner but man it really needs to be said every single day: Trump truly is the biggest piece of shit in the world, a man of absolutely no good qualities and seemingly limitless bad ones. Support for him is just so damning.
Reposted
Just a reminder that at least 600 Americans were fired for failing to show sufficient respect after Charlie Kirk's murder.
December 15, 2025 at 3:01 PM
Just a reminder that at least 600 Americans were fired for failing to show sufficient respect after Charlie Kirk's murder.
Reposted
What if the social media experience some seek is not post-truth rhetorical combat with the deck stacked against them? What if they prefer conversations and good faith engagement? Why wouldn’t that be okay?
"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 2:23 PM
What if the social media experience some seek is not post-truth rhetorical combat with the deck stacked against them? What if they prefer conversations and good faith engagement? Why wouldn’t that be okay?
Reposted
if these kids were conservative influencers, it would not have been "things can happen"
December 14, 2025 at 6:25 PM
if these kids were conservative influencers, it would not have been "things can happen"
Reposted
Under Trump, the SEC has eased up on more than 60% of the crypto cases that were ongoing when he took office in January.
Many of the firms that benefited from the leniency had financial ties to the Trump family.
The SEC is no longer pursuing any cases against crypto firms with Trump ties.
Many of the firms that benefited from the leniency had financial ties to the Trump family.
The SEC is no longer pursuing any cases against crypto firms with Trump ties.
The S.E.C. Was Tough on Crypto. It Pulled Back After Trump Returned to Office.
www.nytimes.com
December 14, 2025 at 7:48 PM
Under Trump, the SEC has eased up on more than 60% of the crypto cases that were ongoing when he took office in January.
Many of the firms that benefited from the leniency had financial ties to the Trump family.
The SEC is no longer pursuing any cases against crypto firms with Trump ties.
Many of the firms that benefited from the leniency had financial ties to the Trump family.
The SEC is no longer pursuing any cases against crypto firms with Trump ties.