Isaiah James
@iowalibdem.bsky.social
Pinned
I think the dominant take will be that the crazy excess of the neo fascists will be seen as mirroring the crazy excess of the woke left, with both being caused by the reality warping of algorithmically driven social media which increases the salience & power of fear driven identity narratives.
Reposted by Isaiah James
If it’s December 31st, that means it’s time for the Albies! danieldrezner.substack.com/p/the-best-w...
The Best Work on Political Economy in 2025
Presenting the 17th annual Albies!
danieldrezner.substack.com
December 31, 2025 at 12:30 PM
If it’s December 31st, that means it’s time for the Albies! danieldrezner.substack.com/p/the-best-w...
Reposted by Isaiah James
in a hyperpartisan 2-party system, there's just almost never sufficient political motivation for a Member to impeach their party's President. politically, it's *all* downside for them. thus impeachment is inevitably unipartisan, which Americans (& political media especially) reflexively distrust.
December 30, 2025 at 5:12 PM
in a hyperpartisan 2-party system, there's just almost never sufficient political motivation for a Member to impeach their party's President. politically, it's *all* downside for them. thus impeachment is inevitably unipartisan, which Americans (& political media especially) reflexively distrust.
Reposted by Isaiah James
It’s not our duty to just smile and nod when a man with this much power demonstrates that he’s a pathological liar and an imbecile. Quite the contrary. Real patriots say out loud this is just plain nuts and he’s unfit to hold office.
Trump: "It's funny, I settled 8 wars. Some were going on for 35 years. And we got them settled in a couple of days. Some of them -- one was going on for 37 years. I settled it in one day. But this is a very complex one."
December 29, 2025 at 10:38 PM
It’s not our duty to just smile and nod when a man with this much power demonstrates that he’s a pathological liar and an imbecile. Quite the contrary. Real patriots say out loud this is just plain nuts and he’s unfit to hold office.
Reposted by Isaiah James
The Internet brought together people who previously were isolated & alone and let them know in fact they were not alone. It led to the development of communities of all sorts. Some of this (most?) was good for lots of previously ignored groups, but this is the dark side of that same phenomenon.
December 29, 2025 at 8:09 PM
The Internet brought together people who previously were isolated & alone and let them know in fact they were not alone. It led to the development of communities of all sorts. Some of this (most?) was good for lots of previously ignored groups, but this is the dark side of that same phenomenon.
Reposted by Isaiah James
An essential development over the past decade-plus is that the ignorant went from feeling chastened when their ignorance was revealed to banding together and deciding that, actually, they were right. They might disagree at times, but they agreed that ignorance itself was an indicator of trust.
December 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
An essential development over the past decade-plus is that the ignorant went from feeling chastened when their ignorance was revealed to banding together and deciding that, actually, they were right. They might disagree at times, but they agreed that ignorance itself was an indicator of trust.
Reposted by Isaiah James
How stochastic terrorism works - Trump leverages the threats he induces against even Marjorie Taylor Greene's family www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/m... One important reason that so many Rs are scared to challenge him.
December 29, 2025 at 6:10 PM
How stochastic terrorism works - Trump leverages the threats he induces against even Marjorie Taylor Greene's family www.nytimes.com/2025/12/29/m... One important reason that so many Rs are scared to challenge him.
Reposted by Isaiah James
this is very clear: if you claim christianity but don't follow the teachings of Jesus, you aren't a christian, you are a fraud and a heretic.
if you claim to be an American, but don't follow the Constitution and you undermine democracy, you aren't a patriot, you are a fraud and a traitor.
if you claim to be an American, but don't follow the Constitution and you undermine democracy, you aren't a patriot, you are a fraud and a traitor.
December 29, 2025 at 10:53 AM
this is very clear: if you claim christianity but don't follow the teachings of Jesus, you aren't a christian, you are a fraud and a heretic.
if you claim to be an American, but don't follow the Constitution and you undermine democracy, you aren't a patriot, you are a fraud and a traitor.
if you claim to be an American, but don't follow the Constitution and you undermine democracy, you aren't a patriot, you are a fraud and a traitor.
Reposted by Isaiah James
On the surface, grade inflation might seem simple to address, Ian Bogost writes. But it’s a strange and wicked problem on campus, with no single cause or obvious solution: theatln.tc/yjoGnzFM
December 28, 2025 at 10:15 PM
On the surface, grade inflation might seem simple to address, Ian Bogost writes. But it’s a strange and wicked problem on campus, with no single cause or obvious solution: theatln.tc/yjoGnzFM
Reposted by Isaiah James
These clowns are just making up duties and rules and laws. Artists don't have any duty to sing for fascists, and only a fascist would try to force them to.
"Any artist cancelling their show at the Trump Kennedy Center over political differences isn't courageous or principled—they are selfish, intolerant, and have failed to meet the basic duty of a public artist: to perform for all people"- Kennedy Center spokesperson Roma Daravi
Kennedy Center vows to sue musician who canceled performance over Trump name change
The Kennedy Center is planning legal action after jazz musician Chuck Redd canceled an annual holiday concert. Redd pulled out after President Trump's name appeared on the building.
www.npr.org
December 28, 2025 at 3:19 AM
These clowns are just making up duties and rules and laws. Artists don't have any duty to sing for fascists, and only a fascist would try to force them to.
Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or Alice in Chains.
December 28, 2025 at 6:23 AM
Post a perfect album from the 90s that isn't Nirvana, Pearl Jam, Soundgarden or Alice in Chains.
Reposted by Isaiah James
Not everyone has the luxury of sitting in front of a microphone in their basement spouting a few hours of fascist bullshit a few times a week.
December 27, 2025 at 2:18 PM
Not everyone has the luxury of sitting in front of a microphone in their basement spouting a few hours of fascist bullshit a few times a week.
Reposted by Isaiah James
On “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s Helen Lewis discusses what she saw at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, why comedians are attracted to conspiracy theories, and the rise of the right-wing comedy-podcast industrial complex.
Why Has Comedy Become So Right-Wing?
The Atlantic’s Helen Lewis on the Riyadh Comedy Festival, why comedians are attracted to conspiracy theories, and the rise of the right-wing comedy podcast-industrial complex. Plus: the importance of NATO and David’s reflections on Edith Wharton’s Autres Temps.
bit.ly
December 25, 2025 at 7:15 PM
On “The David Frum Show,” The Atlantic’s Helen Lewis discusses what she saw at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, why comedians are attracted to conspiracy theories, and the rise of the right-wing comedy-podcast industrial complex.
Reposted by Isaiah James
Charles Kuralt, 1964, on Christmas among poor people in Kentucky coal country. Mentioned in passing: a local charity raised money for school lunches by selling bootleg liquor. Here’s to reducing poverty in 2026. (27:11)
Christmas in Appalachia (1964) "The Permanently Poor" | 16mm Film Scan
YouTube video by 16mm Time Machine
youtu.be
December 24, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Charles Kuralt, 1964, on Christmas among poor people in Kentucky coal country. Mentioned in passing: a local charity raised money for school lunches by selling bootleg liquor. Here’s to reducing poverty in 2026. (27:11)
Reposted by Isaiah James
i feel like this from roosevelt's 1942 state of the union address still works as a mantra today for our fight
December 23, 2025 at 3:48 AM
i feel like this from roosevelt's 1942 state of the union address still works as a mantra today for our fight
Reposted by Isaiah James
I fell down a rabbit hole into this ep of the 1955 TV game show Feather Your Nest. The first 5 minutes are beyond mesmerizing, as if David Lynch and Ari Aster had collaborated. The intro. The detergent ad. The clinging-to-sanity hostess's description of the furniture. www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...
Feather Your Nest (Game Show) 1955
YouTube video by SabuCat
www.youtube.com
December 23, 2025 at 4:14 AM
I fell down a rabbit hole into this ep of the 1955 TV game show Feather Your Nest. The first 5 minutes are beyond mesmerizing, as if David Lynch and Ari Aster had collaborated. The intro. The detergent ad. The clinging-to-sanity hostess's description of the furniture. www.youtube.com/watch?time_c...
Reposted by Isaiah James
From @theathletic.com: Five women told our reporters that they had strange or uncomfortable exchanges on Instagram with ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore as recently as last month and dating as far back as 2020.
Inside Sherrone Moore’s downfall: Instagram messages, emotional outbursts and Michigan’s breaking point
Five women contacted by The Athletic said they had strange or uncomfortable exchanges on Instagram with ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore.
nyti.ms
December 22, 2025 at 4:40 PM
From @theathletic.com: Five women told our reporters that they had strange or uncomfortable exchanges on Instagram with ex-Michigan coach Sherrone Moore as recently as last month and dating as far back as 2020.
Reposted by Isaiah James
The New York Times investigated 346 people who donated at least $250,000 to Trump and found that more than half of them (197) have received pardons, jobs, government contracts, special treatment, or favors.
Hundreds of Big Post-Election Donors Have Benefited From Trump’s Return to Office
Well into his second term, the president and his allies have continued aggressively raising money. Many donors have interests before his administration, The Times found.
www.nytimes.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:41 PM
The New York Times investigated 346 people who donated at least $250,000 to Trump and found that more than half of them (197) have received pardons, jobs, government contracts, special treatment, or favors.
Reposted by Isaiah James
I did Nazi that coming
JD Vance: "In the United States of America you don't have to apologize for being white anymore"
December 21, 2025 at 8:43 PM
I did Nazi that coming
Reposted by Isaiah James
I think bigotry has become a kind of loyalty ritual among young republicans, it’s how you show you’re one of them www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Racial Slurs and Nazi Symbols: Inside the Complaint That Shut Down The Harvard Salient | News | The Harvard Crimson
Screenshots and message logs obtained by The Crimson appear to show Salient leaders casually using racial slurs, defending extremist rhetoric, and dismissing internal concerns — conversations that lat...
www.thecrimson.com
December 21, 2025 at 12:44 PM
I think bigotry has become a kind of loyalty ritual among young republicans, it’s how you show you’re one of them www.thecrimson.com/article/2025...
Reposted by Isaiah James
How was your year? Probably not as good as the year the 500 richest billionaires had.
www.howtoreadthisch.art/its-beginnin...
www.howtoreadthisch.art/its-beginnin...
December 20, 2025 at 5:29 PM
How was your year? Probably not as good as the year the 500 richest billionaires had.
www.howtoreadthisch.art/its-beginnin...
www.howtoreadthisch.art/its-beginnin...
Reposted by Isaiah James
Scott Alexander: the case for not hating Boomers
Against Against Boomers
...
www.astralcodexten.com
December 20, 2025 at 2:59 PM
Scott Alexander: the case for not hating Boomers
Reposted by Isaiah James
The contrast between ordinary citizens courageously confronting Trumpist bullying, and billionaires and CEOs obsequiously bending the knee– this spectacle in its clear simplicity provides a lesson we should not forget.
December 20, 2025 at 1:58 PM
The contrast between ordinary citizens courageously confronting Trumpist bullying, and billionaires and CEOs obsequiously bending the knee– this spectacle in its clear simplicity provides a lesson we should not forget.
Reposted by Isaiah James
no idea if this will be a good movie or not, I’m just ecstatic to see a poster like this for an upcoming movie — peak of the artform, IMO
December 19, 2025 at 1:45 PM
no idea if this will be a good movie or not, I’m just ecstatic to see a poster like this for an upcoming movie — peak of the artform, IMO
Reposted by Isaiah James
there is really no difference between the current administration and having the country run by david duke
On that last post: I genuinely cannot think of any good-faith reason to bar international adoptions from those 39 countries. Under this new ban, consulates will refuse adoption visas for any baby from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Nigeria, or any of the 39 other countries.
December 17, 2025 at 3:17 AM
there is really no difference between the current administration and having the country run by david duke
Reposted by Isaiah James
As we welcome white Afrikaners from South Africa and deny entry to any other refugees. There is nothing subtle about what is happening here.
The US Administration has banned Americans from *adopting babies* from much of the African continent.
Adopting.
Babies.
What trait do those babies have that, when they grow up as fully American adults, would make them a threat to our country in any form?
Adopting.
Babies.
What trait do those babies have that, when they grow up as fully American adults, would make them a threat to our country in any form?
On that last post: I genuinely cannot think of any good-faith reason to bar international adoptions from those 39 countries. Under this new ban, consulates will refuse adoption visas for any baby from Cuba, Haiti, Venezuela, Nigeria, or any of the 39 other countries.
December 17, 2025 at 3:19 AM
As we welcome white Afrikaners from South Africa and deny entry to any other refugees. There is nothing subtle about what is happening here.