@withamartyrcomplex.bsky.social
She/Her, from the US, Politics, Philosophy, Birds, Diplomacy, Militarism, Trans/Lesbian Issues, and Unrequited Love
Pinned
Someone suggested that I be on this site more and Twitter less for obvious and good reasons.
Anyway have a live blog of The Brothers Karanazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Anyway have a live blog of The Brothers Karanazov by Fyodor Dostoyevsky
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it’s pretty funny that Duffy is simultaneously
1. scolding passengers for not wearing fancy clothes while flying
2. supporting airport gyms so passengers can be sweaty and gross while flying
both of these proposals are idiotic but the direct contradiction is next level
1. scolding passengers for not wearing fancy clothes while flying
2. supporting airport gyms so passengers can be sweaty and gross while flying
both of these proposals are idiotic but the direct contradiction is next level
Duffy on what he's doing to improve the airport experience for travelers: "Maybe I want a workout area where people might get some blood flowing doing some pull ups or step ups in the airport."
December 8, 2025 at 9:48 PM
it’s pretty funny that Duffy is simultaneously
1. scolding passengers for not wearing fancy clothes while flying
2. supporting airport gyms so passengers can be sweaty and gross while flying
both of these proposals are idiotic but the direct contradiction is next level
1. scolding passengers for not wearing fancy clothes while flying
2. supporting airport gyms so passengers can be sweaty and gross while flying
both of these proposals are idiotic but the direct contradiction is next level
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(2) seems to be an even more dubious point than (1). first because agencies are shaped by congress as well as executive appointments, and second because the agency rule-making process is more transparent and democratic than top-down decrees from political appointees
The theory of the unitary executive is that (1) the constitution requires it and (2) you get democratic accountability through presidential control through the power to remove agency heads. (1) is dubious (2) seems ridiculous at the present moment.
December 9, 2025 at 1:57 PM
(2) seems to be an even more dubious point than (1). first because agencies are shaped by congress as well as executive appointments, and second because the agency rule-making process is more transparent and democratic than top-down decrees from political appointees
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America got “the president is killing terrorists, don’t question it” in the 2000s too. But unlike now:
-The US had been attacked
-Al Qaeda was a terrorist group and planned more attacks
-They were in areas the US military did not freely operate, where arrest was risky
-Congress authorized the action
-The US had been attacked
-Al Qaeda was a terrorist group and planned more attacks
-They were in areas the US military did not freely operate, where arrest was risky
-Congress authorized the action
December 8, 2025 at 2:32 PM
America got “the president is killing terrorists, don’t question it” in the 2000s too. But unlike now:
-The US had been attacked
-Al Qaeda was a terrorist group and planned more attacks
-They were in areas the US military did not freely operate, where arrest was risky
-Congress authorized the action
-The US had been attacked
-Al Qaeda was a terrorist group and planned more attacks
-They were in areas the US military did not freely operate, where arrest was risky
-Congress authorized the action
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the true believers around nixon genuinely saw him as some kind of embodiment of the people and thought that congressional attempts to corral his authority were illegitimate on that basis. straight line from them to the executive power fetishists on the supreme court.
it is incredible that legalizing watergate has been the overriding ideological project of the american right for fifty years
December 8, 2025 at 9:27 PM
the true believers around nixon genuinely saw him as some kind of embodiment of the people and thought that congressional attempts to corral his authority were illegitimate on that basis. straight line from them to the executive power fetishists on the supreme court.
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hey a fun thing is that if congress is delegating authority to an independent agency then by definition that agency is not "unaccountable." it is still accountable to congress. and it is interesting (read: extremely frustrating) to me that these people just write congress out of existence here.
Kavanaugh: Broad delegations to unaccountable agencies are dangerous for individual liberty! We have used the major questions doctrine to prevent agencies from overreaching.
Sauer: MQD not a substitute for the removal power for the president
Sauer: MQD not a substitute for the removal power for the president
December 8, 2025 at 4:16 PM
hey a fun thing is that if congress is delegating authority to an independent agency then by definition that agency is not "unaccountable." it is still accountable to congress. and it is interesting (read: extremely frustrating) to me that these people just write congress out of existence here.
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By the way, at least half the time someone proposes a ban on dual citizenship in the US or UK, if you scratch the surface it’s antisemitism
December 7, 2025 at 1:32 PM
By the way, at least half the time someone proposes a ban on dual citizenship in the US or UK, if you scratch the surface it’s antisemitism
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I just want to stress that this has nothing to do with the rest of the chapter. She has an epigraph, a bizarre intro paragraph, a description of Britney Spears dancing in 2002 and then a section about Donald Trump promoting birtherism.
December 4, 2025 at 3:27 AM
I just want to stress that this has nothing to do with the rest of the chapter. She has an epigraph, a bizarre intro paragraph, a description of Britney Spears dancing in 2002 and then a section about Donald Trump promoting birtherism.
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i think it's useful to look at areas where the *tech* has gotten much better while tech *interactions* have gotten way worse. streaming has gotten worse, google search has gotten worse, digital cameras are leaps better. apple's silicone is so good it's threatening their user upgrade cycle
it’s so weird to look around and realize like, tech and media are materially worse than a decade ago
November 30, 2025 at 12:14 PM
i think it's useful to look at areas where the *tech* has gotten much better while tech *interactions* have gotten way worse. streaming has gotten worse, google search has gotten worse, digital cameras are leaps better. apple's silicone is so good it's threatening their user upgrade cycle
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presented without comment
December 1, 2025 at 2:28 AM
presented without comment
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This story is supposed to be scandalous, but it's ignoring the millennia old tradition of the troops being fiscally irresponsible to the point of destroying their lives before they can even legally drink.
U.S. troops have become top gun traders, swapping investment tips from cockpits and the decks of aircraft carriers and making fortunes.
Top Gun Traders: Stock Bets and Crypto Culture Take Over the Military
Troops are hooked on investing. They’re trading tips from cockpits and the decks of aircraft carriers, and making fortunes.
on.wsj.com
December 1, 2025 at 3:08 AM
This story is supposed to be scandalous, but it's ignoring the millennia old tradition of the troops being fiscally irresponsible to the point of destroying their lives before they can even legally drink.
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They’re simultaneously arguing that soldiers have to follow all orders from the president, legal or not, but they get to ignore orders from a federal judge if they feel they’re not legal.
KARL: Did you know about the judge's order when you issued your order for the planes to continue?
KRISTI NOEM: This is an activist judge. We comply with all federal orders that are lawful and binding.
KRISTI NOEM: This is an activist judge. We comply with all federal orders that are lawful and binding.
November 30, 2025 at 5:43 PM
They’re simultaneously arguing that soldiers have to follow all orders from the president, legal or not, but they get to ignore orders from a federal judge if they feel they’re not legal.
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IOWA CITY - Neighbors, the first snow is starting tonight!
We have loads of books and puzzles... and Book Seats.
They're perfect for when you are reading a paper book but want to wrap both hands around your cocoa mug! ☕🍵
www.thehauntedbookshop.com/advSearchRes...
We have loads of books and puzzles... and Book Seats.
They're perfect for when you are reading a paper book but want to wrap both hands around your cocoa mug! ☕🍵
www.thehauntedbookshop.com/advSearchRes...
November 28, 2025 at 7:07 PM
IOWA CITY - Neighbors, the first snow is starting tonight!
We have loads of books and puzzles... and Book Seats.
They're perfect for when you are reading a paper book but want to wrap both hands around your cocoa mug! ☕🍵
www.thehauntedbookshop.com/advSearchRes...
We have loads of books and puzzles... and Book Seats.
They're perfect for when you are reading a paper book but want to wrap both hands around your cocoa mug! ☕🍵
www.thehauntedbookshop.com/advSearchRes...
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“why the fuck are we invading Venezuela” should really be on at least a couple of chyrons
November 29, 2025 at 2:36 PM
“why the fuck are we invading Venezuela” should really be on at least a couple of chyrons
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this is unironically good
November 28, 2025 at 2:36 PM
this is unironically good
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he met 4 trans women for lunch and banned polyamory what did they tell him
In a new doctrinal note, Pope Leo and the Vatican sharply reject polygamy and growing Western polyamory, praising monogamy as an exclusive union between one man and one woman.
Pope Leo and the Vatican reject polygamy in sweeping doctrinal praise of monogamy
In a new doctrinal note, Pope Leo and the Vatican sharply reject polygamy and growing Western polyamory, praising monogamy as an exclusive union between one man and one woman.
www.sltrib.com
November 27, 2025 at 6:42 PM
he met 4 trans women for lunch and banned polyamory what did they tell him
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Feels like "guy who owns at least two jigsaws" is the exact right target for jigsaw ads
November 26, 2025 at 9:36 PM
Feels like "guy who owns at least two jigsaws" is the exact right target for jigsaw ads
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I don’t understand why Weiss thinks the desired outcome of CBS News coverage is debate.
November 25, 2025 at 4:15 PM
I don’t understand why Weiss thinks the desired outcome of CBS News coverage is debate.
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The entire debate about whether Democrats should moderate or focus on economic vs identity issues is moot if the media is just going to report that they're doing SJW Shit irregardless
November 23, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The entire debate about whether Democrats should moderate or focus on economic vs identity issues is moot if the media is just going to report that they're doing SJW Shit irregardless
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Not to defend this lady and her fantasy strategies, but if you conceive of Trump as Hitler or Hitler-aspirant (or dare I say it...a fascist despot), it makes total sense to criticize showing up at the White House and shaking his hand and saying you look forward to working together on affordability
November 22, 2025 at 9:19 PM
Not to defend this lady and her fantasy strategies, but if you conceive of Trump as Hitler or Hitler-aspirant (or dare I say it...a fascist despot), it makes total sense to criticize showing up at the White House and shaking his hand and saying you look forward to working together on affordability
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This was the first If Books Could Kill podcast I listened to, and it was phenomenal.
It's not jus a good takedown of one book, but it's a good takedown of this entire genre of "sprawling history of the world" type books.
Think it nails two critical points that plague all punditry.
It's not jus a good takedown of one book, but it's a good takedown of this entire genre of "sprawling history of the world" type books.
Think it nails two critical points that plague all punditry.
Episode 46: Sapiens
It's an ambitious goal to write the entire history of humanity in just 400 pages. It's even more ambitious to do it without reading any research.
It's an ambitious goal to write the entire history of humanity in just 400 pages. It's even more ambitious to do it without reading any research.
Sapiens
Podcast Episode · If Books Could Kill · 11/20/2025 · 1h 38m
podcasts.apple.com
November 22, 2025 at 7:25 PM
This was the first If Books Could Kill podcast I listened to, and it was phenomenal.
It's not jus a good takedown of one book, but it's a good takedown of this entire genre of "sprawling history of the world" type books.
Think it nails two critical points that plague all punditry.
It's not jus a good takedown of one book, but it's a good takedown of this entire genre of "sprawling history of the world" type books.
Think it nails two critical points that plague all punditry.
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The crime is not what we were doing protesting in the 10th floor elevator lobby of 26 Federal Plaza.
The crime is what ICE agents are doing on the other side of the door.
The crime is what ICE agents are doing on the other side of the door.
NEW: Brad Lander says he wants a trial, not a deal to drop his charge stemming from an arrest by ICE.
After Arrest by ICE, City Comptroller Rejects Deal and Seeks Trial
Other officials arrested while protesting at 26 Federal Plaza in September will have their federal charges dropped if they avoid arrest inside a federal building for six months.
www.thecity.nyc
November 18, 2025 at 10:12 PM
The crime is not what we were doing protesting in the 10th floor elevator lobby of 26 Federal Plaza.
The crime is what ICE agents are doing on the other side of the door.
The crime is what ICE agents are doing on the other side of the door.
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The biggest revelation in Lizza’s tell-all tonight is that Mark Sanford was running for president in 2020. I genuinely had zero recollection of this.
November 18, 2025 at 3:01 AM
The biggest revelation in Lizza’s tell-all tonight is that Mark Sanford was running for president in 2020. I genuinely had zero recollection of this.
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All my random politically unaware friends are making Trump/Epstein jokes. You know what they haven’t said? “I heard Hakeem Jeffries promise to lower the cost of groceries”
The usual suspects are telling Dems that Epstein won’t win elections, get back to “affordability” and I think my head might explode. www.offmessage.net/p/force-a-re...
Force A Referendum On The Epstein Coverup
It divides Republicans much more than "affordability" or any other economic issue.
www.offmessage.net
November 15, 2025 at 5:37 PM
All my random politically unaware friends are making Trump/Epstein jokes. You know what they haven’t said? “I heard Hakeem Jeffries promise to lower the cost of groceries”
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The power of Fox News isn’t that they push conservative ideas, it’s that they are willing to set any kind of ideological consideration aside at the drop of a hat to boost Republicans regardless of what they do at any given moment.
November 15, 2025 at 2:39 PM
The power of Fox News isn’t that they push conservative ideas, it’s that they are willing to set any kind of ideological consideration aside at the drop of a hat to boost Republicans regardless of what they do at any given moment.