Austin Kidwell
@austinkidwell.bsky.social
history, politics, economics, sac kings, colorado buffaloes
I am a leftist. Jean Jaures forever
Sacramento CA
I am a leftist. Jean Jaures forever
Sacramento CA
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
When people say Bluesky is like 50% “Cheeto bad” posts that’s how I know their dislike of the platform is a skill issue. I have perfectly curated my feed and encounter fewer of these posts than I do on most other social media platforms
December 21, 2025 at 7:37 PM
When people say Bluesky is like 50% “Cheeto bad” posts that’s how I know their dislike of the platform is a skill issue. I have perfectly curated my feed and encounter fewer of these posts than I do on most other social media platforms
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
Shaedon Sharpe.
December 21, 2025 at 5:35 AM
Shaedon Sharpe.
any other coach I’d think it was weird but it’s really endearing to me that Tad Boyle still wears a suit
December 21, 2025 at 2:35 AM
any other coach I’d think it was weird but it’s really endearing to me that Tad Boyle still wears a suit
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
Obama became president because he opposed the war in Iraq before that was popular 🤷♂️
December 21, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Obama became president because he opposed the war in Iraq before that was popular 🤷♂️
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
Oh yeah, the fact that voters have a clear, demonstrated preference for politicians who do not seem like they're just following what the polls/focus groups say never enters the discussion lol
December 21, 2025 at 1:30 AM
Oh yeah, the fact that voters have a clear, demonstrated preference for politicians who do not seem like they're just following what the polls/focus groups say never enters the discussion lol
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
what's happened is a certain gaggle of dc technocrats have become totally tacticsbrained--they're just forever chasing the next move--and have totally lost sight of the idea that you start with a goal and then use polling to figure out how to achieve it--not vice versa
bsky.app/profile/hurr...
bsky.app/profile/hurr...
Right, sometimes you shouldn't run on what truth and justice demand, because it's impolitic
But you yourself should always have analytical clarity about when and whether that's what you're doing
Which requires doing the truth and justice analysis first, without looking at public opinion yet
But you yourself should always have analytical clarity about when and whether that's what you're doing
Which requires doing the truth and justice analysis first, without looking at public opinion yet
December 21, 2025 at 1:26 AM
what's happened is a certain gaggle of dc technocrats have become totally tacticsbrained--they're just forever chasing the next move--and have totally lost sight of the idea that you start with a goal and then use polling to figure out how to achieve it--not vice versa
bsky.app/profile/hurr...
bsky.app/profile/hurr...
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
striking i think that yglesias' response to being criticized on facts and policy is "well but it doesn't poll well in R+1 electoral districts." polling is important. sure. but it's not actually a good barometer of what's true lmao
Look as long as everybody starts ignoring Yglesias we are making progress.
December 21, 2025 at 1:17 AM
striking i think that yglesias' response to being criticized on facts and policy is "well but it doesn't poll well in R+1 electoral districts." polling is important. sure. but it's not actually a good barometer of what's true lmao
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
So much of punditry is just making up a guy to be mad on behalf of, it’s no wonder the median pundit doesn’t know shit about piss
December 20, 2025 at 11:56 PM
So much of punditry is just making up a guy to be mad on behalf of, it’s no wonder the median pundit doesn’t know shit about piss
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
honestly totally fine with ideological moderates, they just need to be good soldiers, like that is what i care about
December 20, 2025 at 10:48 PM
honestly totally fine with ideological moderates, they just need to be good soldiers, like that is what i care about
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
i cannot escape the sense that what these people are fundamentally opposed to is political leadership
December 20, 2025 at 10:45 PM
i cannot escape the sense that what these people are fundamentally opposed to is political leadership
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
it is one thing to say "here is what our measurements tell us about the playing field," it is something very different to leap from that to "and here is why we have a better understanding of your specific circumstance and your particular electorate than you, the person who represents the district"
December 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM
it is one thing to say "here is what our measurements tell us about the playing field," it is something very different to leap from that to "and here is why we have a better understanding of your specific circumstance and your particular electorate than you, the person who represents the district"
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
data is important, measurement of public opinion is important, but politics also isn't a machine. there are a vast number of qualitative factors at work. and people themselves are unpredictable.
December 20, 2025 at 10:43 PM
data is important, measurement of public opinion is important, but politics also isn't a machine. there are a vast number of qualitative factors at work. and people themselves are unpredictable.
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
There’s no crusade against white men. An anti-white-man world never happened. When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression. That’s the whole story baby.
December 20, 2025 at 10:39 PM
There’s no crusade against white men. An anti-white-man world never happened. When you are accustomed to privilege, equality feels like oppression. That’s the whole story baby.
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
The Abundance movement often points to environmental groups as the obstacles to building. But who actually files the lawsuits blocking projects? It’s not environmental groups. It’s been lawyered-up HOAs protecting property values all along. Regulation by litigation is the problem.
December 20, 2025 at 7:57 PM
The Abundance movement often points to environmental groups as the obstacles to building. But who actually files the lawsuits blocking projects? It’s not environmental groups. It’s been lawyered-up HOAs protecting property values all along. Regulation by litigation is the problem.
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
“The Supreme Court decided not to have a Christmas party for 12 straight years because the justices couldn’t agree on whether to invite the Court’s Black employees” is about as tidy an encapsulation of the Supreme Court’s whole deal as I can think of
The Alarmingly Racist History of the Supreme Court’s Canceled 1947 Christmas Party
The Court held its first-ever office Christmas party in 1946. The following year, the clerks suggested inviting Black employees. It did not go over well.
ballsandstrikes.substack.com
December 20, 2025 at 9:06 PM
“The Supreme Court decided not to have a Christmas party for 12 straight years because the justices couldn’t agree on whether to invite the Court’s Black employees” is about as tidy an encapsulation of the Supreme Court’s whole deal as I can think of
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
ICE and CBP, among others, have violently retaliated against ICE Watch in part because the agencies correctly understand what many do not: Organized neighbors are mounting an effective defense, and an organized movement is a formidable adversary. My new feature: newrepublic.com/article/2042...
Inside Chicago’s Neighborhood ICE Resistance
Residents have organized a formidable network to protect immigrant communities from Trump’s brutal deportation program. Their efforts are making a genuine difference.
newrepublic.com
December 15, 2025 at 3:07 PM
ICE and CBP, among others, have violently retaliated against ICE Watch in part because the agencies correctly understand what many do not: Organized neighbors are mounting an effective defense, and an organized movement is a formidable adversary. My new feature: newrepublic.com/article/2042...
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
💥 Spectacular destruction of Shahed with the Igla MANPADS
December 20, 2025 at 9:53 AM
💥 Spectacular destruction of Shahed with the Igla MANPADS
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
It's not just that the casuals are completely checked out, he has the absolute biggest die hards of the fan base completely checked out.
The Maloofs moving the team didn't even get this fan base to check out like this
It's truly unreal what he's managed to do
And yet.. he still meddles
The Maloofs moving the team didn't even get this fan base to check out like this
It's truly unreal what he's managed to do
And yet.. he still meddles
December 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
It's not just that the casuals are completely checked out, he has the absolute biggest die hards of the fan base completely checked out.
The Maloofs moving the team didn't even get this fan base to check out like this
It's truly unreal what he's managed to do
And yet.. he still meddles
The Maloofs moving the team didn't even get this fan base to check out like this
It's truly unreal what he's managed to do
And yet.. he still meddles
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
Vivek Ranadive has Sacramento Kings fans who worked part time for absolutely free covering/writing about this team.. Not watching
Vivek has the biggest die hard fan groups that used to travel the country to watch games... not going
Vivek has the single best fan base in the NBA completely apathetic
Vivek has the biggest die hard fan groups that used to travel the country to watch games... not going
Vivek has the single best fan base in the NBA completely apathetic
December 19, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Vivek Ranadive has Sacramento Kings fans who worked part time for absolutely free covering/writing about this team.. Not watching
Vivek has the biggest die hard fan groups that used to travel the country to watch games... not going
Vivek has the single best fan base in the NBA completely apathetic
Vivek has the biggest die hard fan groups that used to travel the country to watch games... not going
Vivek has the single best fan base in the NBA completely apathetic
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
very funny to me that one of the most famous painters in mexican history is the reason trotsky was in mexico, and another of the most famous painters in mexican history was one of the people who tried to kill him
December 19, 2025 at 6:18 AM
very funny to me that one of the most famous painters in mexican history is the reason trotsky was in mexico, and another of the most famous painters in mexican history was one of the people who tried to kill him
So Swalwell is running for governor, and an incumbent congressman, and is executive producing a movie??? Seems like a lot
Lol @ericswalwell.bsky.social is the executive producer of a film where most of the crew walked off the set because they can't get a union contract
www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...
www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/bus...
Crew Strikes on Movie Exec Produced by Sean Penn, Eric Swalwell
Workers walked off ‘The Gun on Second Street' in a bid to establish an IATSE union contract; Penn and his company have since removed their names from the project.
www.hollywoodreporter.com
December 20, 2025 at 1:22 AM
So Swalwell is running for governor, and an incumbent congressman, and is executive producing a movie??? Seems like a lot
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
Maria has been accused over the years of fabricating her story that she had gone to the FBI. After finding the document in the trove, I called her. She broke down in tears.
“I’ve waited 30 years. I can’t believe it. They can’t call me a liar anymore.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
“I’ve waited 30 years. I can’t believe it. They can’t call me a liar anymore.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
December 20, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Maria has been accused over the years of fabricating her story that she had gone to the FBI. After finding the document in the trove, I called her. She broke down in tears.
“I’ve waited 30 years. I can’t believe it. They can’t call me a liar anymore.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
“I’ve waited 30 years. I can’t believe it. They can’t call me a liar anymore.”
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/19/u...
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
I love my two blackout drunk Minnesota sons
December 18, 2025 at 2:17 PM
I love my two blackout drunk Minnesota sons
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
yeah, like - JKR is a stone-cold bummer. It doesn't excuse anything, but it's just a such trajectory for someone who could have easily been the most beloved person in the world if she just logged the fuck off.
"Near daily I think of billionaire Rowling, and I just feel sad for her. As much anger as I feel towards her—and towards all transphobes, however active and powerful—I feel sorry for her, is my truth."
new piece out today from me, from @literaryhub.bsky.social ... lithub.com/burn-harry-b...
new piece out today from me, from @literaryhub.bsky.social ... lithub.com/burn-harry-b...
Burn Harry Burn: Reckoning With My Harry Potter Fandom as a Trans Person
During the spring of 2020, as the world locked down and people were dead and dying and breaking apart and mourning and afraid and hiding, the British author J.K. Rowling decided to publish an open …
lithub.com
December 18, 2025 at 8:55 PM
yeah, like - JKR is a stone-cold bummer. It doesn't excuse anything, but it's just a such trajectory for someone who could have easily been the most beloved person in the world if she just logged the fuck off.
Reposted by Austin Kidwell
Hearing this is payback for Colorado not honoring Trump/Peters ‘pardon’
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 5:03 AM
Hearing this is payback for Colorado not honoring Trump/Peters ‘pardon’