Benwest500
@benwest500.bsky.social
Not under the illusion that being on here matters a lot. Once was a political and public interest communications pro. Now doing other content related things in technology.
Reposted by Benwest500
The Times went to non urban Minnesota to ask people why they dislike urban Minneapolis. If someone were to ask me to teach a journalism school course on helicopter reporting, this story - so cliche it’s almost hard to believe they really did this - would immediately go on the syllabus.
NYTimes has truly outdone itself with this latest in its "ask white guys in diner" genre. Thank goodness we get a perspective on what's happening in Minneapolis from people in **Nisswa** who probably mean Brainerd when they say they "prefer not to go the city anymore" www.nytimes.com/2026/01/15/u...
One State, Two Very Different Views of Minneapolis
www.nytimes.com
January 15, 2026 at 3:55 PM
The Times went to non urban Minnesota to ask people why they dislike urban Minneapolis. If someone were to ask me to teach a journalism school course on helicopter reporting, this story - so cliche it’s almost hard to believe they really did this - would immediately go on the syllabus.
Reposted by Benwest500
Increasingly it's clearer to a lot of people what i have been saying for a while: people use "inflation" and "prices" to talk about their own difficulty making ends meet or affording big ticket items once "inflation" became a big media news story. It's not actually about CPI or even increases.
New YouGov polling shows more people say inflation is their #1 issue now than said the same at any point in 2023-2024 today.yougov.com/politics/art...
January 12, 2026 at 10:33 PM
Increasingly it's clearer to a lot of people what i have been saying for a while: people use "inflation" and "prices" to talk about their own difficulty making ends meet or affording big ticket items once "inflation" became a big media news story. It's not actually about CPI or even increases.
Reposted by Benwest500
Kristof doesn’t understand the common people he thinks need to be saved by him. I haven’t read him for years but when he would talk about the white working class I’d cringe. His politics are benevolent liberal elitism, similar to Ezra Klein’s.
Kristof’s gubernatorial campaign was brutal.
Kristof’s gubernatorial campaign was brutal.
I see this take around from time to time and totally disagree. ICE just murdered a woman standing up to them. No Kings is among the largest protests in history.
The complacency is coming from elites in media, business, universities, and the Democratic leadership
The complacency is coming from elites in media, business, universities, and the Democratic leadership
January 12, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Kristof doesn’t understand the common people he thinks need to be saved by him. I haven’t read him for years but when he would talk about the white working class I’d cringe. His politics are benevolent liberal elitism, similar to Ezra Klein’s.
Kristof’s gubernatorial campaign was brutal.
Kristof’s gubernatorial campaign was brutal.
Reposted by Benwest500
Six words:
They. Already. Do. Daily. News. Conferences.
They. Already. Do. Daily. News. Conferences.
Dear Democratic “Leadership”: Wanna fix your really bad press? Three words: Daily News Conferences.
You already appear to be empty barrels, so make some fucking noise.
You already appear to be empty barrels, so make some fucking noise.
January 10, 2026 at 9:14 PM
Six words:
They. Already. Do. Daily. News. Conferences.
They. Already. Do. Daily. News. Conferences.
Reposted by Benwest500
Kamala Harris at her closing campaign rally:
"Donald Trump intends to use the United States Military against American citizens who simply disagree with him."
"Donald Trump intends to use the United States Military against American citizens who simply disagree with him."
August 24, 2025 at 5:26 PM
Kamala Harris at her closing campaign rally:
"Donald Trump intends to use the United States Military against American citizens who simply disagree with him."
"Donald Trump intends to use the United States Military against American citizens who simply disagree with him."
Reposted by Benwest500
Someone on here today, perhaps
@danahoule.bsky.social, suggested using
@teslatakedown.com techniques against Apple and Apple Stores to help them decide to do the right thing.
@danahoule.bsky.social, suggested using
@teslatakedown.com techniques against Apple and Apple Stores to help them decide to do the right thing.
Democratic US senators demand Apple, Google take X and Grok off app stores over sexual images reut.rs/3NcxAUO
Democratic US senators demand Apple, Google take X and Grok off app stores over sexual images
Three Democratic U.S. senators are calling on Apple and Alphabet's Google to remove X and its built-in artificial intelligence chatbot Grok from their app stores, citing the spread of nonconsensual sexual images of women and minors on the platform.
reut.rs
January 9, 2026 at 8:41 PM
Someone on here today, perhaps
@danahoule.bsky.social, suggested using
@teslatakedown.com techniques against Apple and Apple Stores to help them decide to do the right thing.
@danahoule.bsky.social, suggested using
@teslatakedown.com techniques against Apple and Apple Stores to help them decide to do the right thing.
Reposted by Benwest500
The New York times interview where trump proclaims that the only person who can stop me is me is one of those profound moments of "I wish people would stop taking Trump at his word."
Trump is getting stopped a lot! He's losing all the time! These are desperate moves to portray himself as powerful
Trump is getting stopped a lot! He's losing all the time! These are desperate moves to portray himself as powerful
January 9, 2026 at 4:18 PM
The New York times interview where trump proclaims that the only person who can stop me is me is one of those profound moments of "I wish people would stop taking Trump at his word."
Trump is getting stopped a lot! He's losing all the time! These are desperate moves to portray himself as powerful
Trump is getting stopped a lot! He's losing all the time! These are desperate moves to portray himself as powerful
It's really disappointing when someone like Samaras is an expert on one policy area but so wrong about what constitutes workable politics
It's amazing how many people with fancy degrees and resumes have no earthly idea how things actually work and love to show that off for the clicks on here.
Here’s some things that can be done by a party out of power
- file impeachment articles every day in the House
- withhold unanimous consent in the senate and filibuster every nominee
- be everywhere with comms saying this is lawless and impeachable
- file impeachment articles every day in the House
- withhold unanimous consent in the senate and filibuster every nominee
- be everywhere with comms saying this is lawless and impeachable
January 8, 2026 at 5:51 PM
It's really disappointing when someone like Samaras is an expert on one policy area but so wrong about what constitutes workable politics
Reposted by Benwest500
🤣🤣🤣https://bsky.app/profile/emptywheel.bsky.social/post/3mbtszlmhp227
I mean, the other day Stephen Miller (who may be the same senior official but admittedly there are other possible candidates) said Venezuela was an island.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NiB...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NiB...
Stephen Miller Believes Venezuela Is an Island
YouTube video by emptywheel
www.youtube.com
January 7, 2026 at 3:55 PM
🤣🤣🤣https://bsky.app/profile/emptywheel.bsky.social/post/3mbtszlmhp227
Reposted by Benwest500
Elon Musk is producing CSAM the right way.
by Ezra Klein
by Ezra Klein
January 6, 2026 at 3:35 PM
Elon Musk is producing CSAM the right way.
by Ezra Klein
by Ezra Klein
Reposted by Benwest500
Despite headwinds, over 20 new EVs are coming to the US market in 2026, including several more affordable vehicles. Can any thrive without federal tax credits? insideevs.com/news/782572/... 🔌💡 🔌🚗
Over 20 New EVs Are Coming In 2026. These Are The Seven I'm Most Excited About
We’ve been waiting for the next generation of EVs to arrive—cheaper, faster, better. Next year, they’ll finally be here.
insideevs.com
January 4, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Despite headwinds, over 20 new EVs are coming to the US market in 2026, including several more affordable vehicles. Can any thrive without federal tax credits? insideevs.com/news/782572/... 🔌💡 🔌🚗
Reposted by Benwest500
In this in-depth interview Billie Jean Sweeney — a former editor at The New York Times — details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, why this was directed from the very top, how some staff pushed back and the immense damage done by the NYT legitimizing bigotry.
'A directive from above': Former NYT editor lays out how the paper pushes anti-trans bigotry
In this in-depth interview, former New York Times editor Billie Jean Sweeney details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, how some staff tried to stop it, how it's directe...
transnews.network
January 1, 2026 at 6:32 PM
In this in-depth interview Billie Jean Sweeney — a former editor at The New York Times — details how the paper shifted towards openly promoting anti-trans hatred, why this was directed from the very top, how some staff pushed back and the immense damage done by the NYT legitimizing bigotry.
Reposted by Benwest500
Jon Stewart and the pod saves guys mocking people who wear masks while talking about What Is To Be Done is exactly what Jon Stewart and the pod saves guys are, it's the most Jon Stewart and pod saves guys thing possible.
December 28, 2025 at 6:23 PM
Jon Stewart and the pod saves guys mocking people who wear masks while talking about What Is To Be Done is exactly what Jon Stewart and the pod saves guys are, it's the most Jon Stewart and pod saves guys thing possible.
Reposted by Benwest500
Barely a blip in the news. 🦗from the New York Times editorial and opinion pages. Compare with days of Hunter Biden Hysteria about unprecedented abuse of the pardon power.
December 27, 2025 at 8:28 PM
Barely a blip in the news. 🦗from the New York Times editorial and opinion pages. Compare with days of Hunter Biden Hysteria about unprecedented abuse of the pardon power.
Reposted by Benwest500
If I were a bot or a guy from a content farm paid to act "leftist" in order to sow discord, identifying as a "Californian", "girl", "indigenous American", "black" as well as "trans" and "supporting Hamas" would be a way to meet all/most of my KPIs. Like seriously.... that's trying too hard.
December 21, 2025 at 3:26 PM
If I were a bot or a guy from a content farm paid to act "leftist" in order to sow discord, identifying as a "Californian", "girl", "indigenous American", "black" as well as "trans" and "supporting Hamas" would be a way to meet all/most of my KPIs. Like seriously.... that's trying too hard.
Reposted by Benwest500
Once again, a person who actually knows street-level politics dismantles a person who doesn't.
Probably never occurred to Jain to look at Casten’s FEC report, where he would have seen Casten gave at least $600,000 to the DCCC & the Illinois Dem Party
Maybe had Casten kept that $600K he could have overperformed. You could even argue he DID overperform by not spending all that money on himself
Maybe had Casten kept that $600K he could have overperformed. You could even argue he DID overperform by not spending all that money on himself
This is why I'm really starting to hate the data bros.
Matty Y: "Dems should focus less on climate change/renewable energy, it's a losing issue."
Sean Casten (an actual Congressman): "I won a purple district multiple times by focusing on those issues"
Lakshya: "YEAH BUT YOU DIDN'T OVERPERFORM"
Matty Y: "Dems should focus less on climate change/renewable energy, it's a losing issue."
Sean Casten (an actual Congressman): "I won a purple district multiple times by focusing on those issues"
Lakshya: "YEAH BUT YOU DIDN'T OVERPERFORM"
December 21, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Once again, a person who actually knows street-level politics dismantles a person who doesn't.
Ezra Klein blocked me for this. I love it. Was there ever a more pathetic multi-millionaire pundit? Faking your expertise in an egotistical play for influence, and being insecure at the same time will make you that, I guess.
The author is not someone who has proven to have sound political judgment or any understanding of the broad electorate, and what decides elections.
December 22, 2025 at 12:30 AM
Ezra Klein blocked me for this. I love it. Was there ever a more pathetic multi-millionaire pundit? Faking your expertise in an egotistical play for influence, and being insecure at the same time will make you that, I guess.
Reposted by Benwest500
It's fun how every pundit completely misread the anti incumbent anger in the post COVID inflationary period as everyone suddenly loving racism
December 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
It's fun how every pundit completely misread the anti incumbent anger in the post COVID inflationary period as everyone suddenly loving racism
Reposted by Benwest500
This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Opinion | Obama Supported It. The Left in Canada and Norway Does. Why Don’t Democrats?
www.nytimes.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
This Yglesias piece in the NYT is horrifically bad. Almost every "fact" it cites is provably false. At best it is cocktail party banter from a pundit who knows nothing of energy. At worst, it was cut/paste from oil industry talking points. So, a rebuttal: www.nytimes.com/2025/12/18/o...
Reposted by Benwest500
this is, quite genuinely and documentably, an agitprop operation funded by white supremacist billionaire men with the singular aim of sowing division in the electorate
you would just have zero understanding of that reading 95% of journalism
it genuinely feels surreal to me
you would just have zero understanding of that reading 95% of journalism
it genuinely feels surreal to me
Young conservative women find a home in Turning Point with Charlie Kirk's widow at the helm
Young women who have grown emboldened in their conservative beliefs are attending the annual conference held by Turning Point USA.
apnews.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:47 PM
this is, quite genuinely and documentably, an agitprop operation funded by white supremacist billionaire men with the singular aim of sowing division in the electorate
you would just have zero understanding of that reading 95% of journalism
it genuinely feels surreal to me
you would just have zero understanding of that reading 95% of journalism
it genuinely feels surreal to me
Reposted by Benwest500
Here's your autopsy:
Acute cause (Picture 1): the same worldwide post-covid inflation that took down the Tories. Ideology wasn't a factor with economic voters.
Chronic cause (Picture 2): most white people stopped voting for Democrats when Democrats started backing rights for Black people:
Acute cause (Picture 1): the same worldwide post-covid inflation that took down the Tories. Ideology wasn't a factor with economic voters.
Chronic cause (Picture 2): most white people stopped voting for Democrats when Democrats started backing rights for Black people:
December 18, 2025 at 8:08 PM
Reposted by Benwest500
Bloomberg's Jonathan Tamari:
December 17, 2025 at 4:27 PM
Bloomberg's Jonathan Tamari:
Reposted by Benwest500
**
#SlavaUkrainii
in 1994 Russia signed the Budapest memo, guaranteeing Ukraine's territorial integrity in exchange for their nukes.
December 5, 1994, resulted in a multilateral agreement affirming Ukraine's security and sovereignty in exchange for giving up the nuclear stocks.
#HonorTheAccord
#SlavaUkrainii
in 1994 Russia signed the Budapest memo, guaranteeing Ukraine's territorial integrity in exchange for their nukes.
December 5, 1994, resulted in a multilateral agreement affirming Ukraine's security and sovereignty in exchange for giving up the nuclear stocks.
#HonorTheAccord
December 17, 2025 at 12:02 AM
**
#SlavaUkrainii
in 1994 Russia signed the Budapest memo, guaranteeing Ukraine's territorial integrity in exchange for their nukes.
December 5, 1994, resulted in a multilateral agreement affirming Ukraine's security and sovereignty in exchange for giving up the nuclear stocks.
#HonorTheAccord
#SlavaUkrainii
in 1994 Russia signed the Budapest memo, guaranteeing Ukraine's territorial integrity in exchange for their nukes.
December 5, 1994, resulted in a multilateral agreement affirming Ukraine's security and sovereignty in exchange for giving up the nuclear stocks.
#HonorTheAccord
Reposted by Benwest500
The John Birch Society had to walk so TPUSA could run. This is what a many told CBS reporter Eric Sevareid about the JBS in 1961:
December 14, 2025 at 5:34 AM
The John Birch Society had to walk so TPUSA could run. This is what a many told CBS reporter Eric Sevareid about the JBS in 1961: