Farrah Bostic
@farrahbostic.bsky.social
Founder of The Difference Engine. Researcher, strategist, truth-teller. Host of Cross Tabs. Asking better questions since forever.
I'm trying to make two points:
Popularism can lead you to deeply unethical places, if you let it.
Opinions change in response to one side trying to change it and the other side keeping quiet.
Now is not the time to be quiet or cautious.
Popularism can lead you to deeply unethical places, if you let it.
Opinions change in response to one side trying to change it and the other side keeping quiet.
Now is not the time to be quiet or cautious.
January 28, 2026 at 12:01 AM
I'm trying to make two points:
Popularism can lead you to deeply unethical places, if you let it.
Opinions change in response to one side trying to change it and the other side keeping quiet.
Now is not the time to be quiet or cautious.
Popularism can lead you to deeply unethical places, if you let it.
Opinions change in response to one side trying to change it and the other side keeping quiet.
Now is not the time to be quiet or cautious.
But take heart, my friends. Because only 44% of Republicans think the shooting of Alex Pretti was justified. today.yougov.com/politics/art...
Today more Americans support than oppose abolishing ICE | YouGov
A majority of Americans say ICE's tactics are too forceful and about half say they strongly disapprove of the way the agency is handling its job
today.yougov.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:01 AM
But take heart, my friends. Because only 44% of Republicans think the shooting of Alex Pretti was justified. today.yougov.com/politics/art...
And so, while support for abolishing ICE is growing, and outrage over the murders Alex Pretti and Renee Good is spreading, know that after the murder of Renee Good, 56% of Republicans thought it was an appropriate use of force. www.cnn.com/2026/01/14/p...
Half of Americans think ICE is making American cities less safe, CNN poll finds | CNN Politics
Most Americans see an immigration officer’s fatal shooting of Minneapolis resident Renee Good as an inappropriate use of force, a new CNN poll conducted by SSRS finds. Roughly half view it as a sign o...
www.cnn.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:01 AM
And so, while support for abolishing ICE is growing, and outrage over the murders Alex Pretti and Renee Good is spreading, know that after the murder of Renee Good, 56% of Republicans thought it was an appropriate use of force. www.cnn.com/2026/01/14/p...
Support for the use of torture against suspected terrorists in order to gain information ROSE between 2004 and 2015. 60% of Americans said that the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib was actually just "abuse". ropercenter.cornell.edu/public-divid...
A Public Divided: Americans’ Attitudes about Torture | Roper Center for Public Opinion Research
The release of the Senate Intelligence Committee report on the CIA use of torture in interrogations of suspected terrorists has renewed the debate over what the U.S. should or should not do to its pri...
ropercenter.cornell.edu
January 28, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Support for the use of torture against suspected terrorists in order to gain information ROSE between 2004 and 2015. 60% of Americans said that the torture of prisoners at Abu Ghraib was actually just "abuse". ropercenter.cornell.edu/public-divid...
In 2002, 69% of Americans supported the creation of DHS, though 43% also thought it would lead to abuses of power, 57% thought it would cost too much, 52% thought it would create too much bureaucracy. Only 58% thought it would make them feel more secure, personally. www.pollingreport.com/terror8.htm
Terrorism (8)
www.pollingreport.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:01 AM
In 2002, 69% of Americans supported the creation of DHS, though 43% also thought it would lead to abuses of power, 57% thought it would cost too much, 52% thought it would create too much bureaucracy. Only 58% thought it would make them feel more secure, personally. www.pollingreport.com/terror8.htm
It only took 19,000 dead Americans in Vietnam for the war to start to become unpopular; the majority finally regarded the war as a mistake (51%) in 1968, by which time over 30,000 Americans were dead. news.gallup.com/vault/191828...
Gallup Vault: Hawks vs. Doves on Vietnam
Fifty years ago, in March 1966, 47% of Americans described themselves as hawks on the Vietnam War -- wanting to step up the fighting -- while 26% described themselves as doves, wanting to slow it down...
news.gallup.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:01 AM
It only took 19,000 dead Americans in Vietnam for the war to start to become unpopular; the majority finally regarded the war as a mistake (51%) in 1968, by which time over 30,000 Americans were dead. news.gallup.com/vault/191828...
In 1970, a day after 4 students were killed at Kent State, 58% of Americans surveyed blamed the students. www.newspapers.com/article/the-...
Campus Unrest Linked to Drugs
Clipping found in The Palm Beach Post published in West Palm Beach, Florida on 5/28/1970. Campus Unrest Linked to Drugs
www.newspapers.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:01 AM
In 1970, a day after 4 students were killed at Kent State, 58% of Americans surveyed blamed the students. www.newspapers.com/article/the-...
Want to know some fun stats?
In 1968, 31% of Americans thought that Martin Luther King, Jr. had brought his assassination on himself. 75% disapproved of him. www.huffpost.com/entry/in-196....
In 1968, 31% of Americans thought that Martin Luther King, Jr. had brought his assassination on himself. 75% disapproved of him. www.huffpost.com/entry/in-196....
In 1968, Nearly A Third Of Americans Said MLK Brought His Assassination On Himself
While he was alive, most white Americans didn't think Martin Luther King Jr. was helping the cause of civil rights.
www.huffpost.com
January 28, 2026 at 12:01 AM
Want to know some fun stats?
In 1968, 31% of Americans thought that Martin Luther King, Jr. had brought his assassination on himself. 75% disapproved of him. www.huffpost.com/entry/in-196....
In 1968, 31% of Americans thought that Martin Luther King, Jr. had brought his assassination on himself. 75% disapproved of him. www.huffpost.com/entry/in-196....
My absolute favorite moment was deep in the shade, "Yes! Better things are only kind of possible!... what a vision for 'let's nip around the edges of the status quo.'"
Absolutely read the party for filth.
Absolutely read the party for filth.
January 27, 2026 at 9:36 PM
My absolute favorite moment was deep in the shade, "Yes! Better things are only kind of possible!... what a vision for 'let's nip around the edges of the status quo.'"
Absolutely read the party for filth.
Absolutely read the party for filth.