Joe Zissman
@jzissman.bsky.social
FWIW, the community envisioned by Leviticus isn't a "state" at all, it is an anti-state. Morality in the "Land" is meant to be a collective effort that recognizes a divine sovereign who knows the heart of each individual. The people are judged failures for asking to subordinate themselves to a king.
February 4, 2026 at 1:47 PM
FWIW, the community envisioned by Leviticus isn't a "state" at all, it is an anti-state. Morality in the "Land" is meant to be a collective effort that recognizes a divine sovereign who knows the heart of each individual. The people are judged failures for asking to subordinate themselves to a king.
Doesn't this just describe "politics", though? Like, replace "social media" with "political salons in Vienna" and it's equally true...
February 3, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Doesn't this just describe "politics", though? Like, replace "social media" with "political salons in Vienna" and it's equally true...
And one would argue that OH, TX, and AK will all have basically ideal candidates (IA options are less famous), with NC also ideal and only ME a source of heartburn.
February 2, 2026 at 4:19 PM
And one would argue that OH, TX, and AK will all have basically ideal candidates (IA options are less famous), with NC also ideal and only ME a source of heartburn.
More specifically, kind of a knock on the idea of a cult of toxic masculinity among young men for Trump when men 18-29 are the least likely to approve strongly among all age/gender cohorts... Trump's base is men over 50. The differences between all other groups aren't substantial.
February 2, 2026 at 4:12 PM
More specifically, kind of a knock on the idea of a cult of toxic masculinity among young men for Trump when men 18-29 are the least likely to approve strongly among all age/gender cohorts... Trump's base is men over 50. The differences between all other groups aren't substantial.
Zero funding until Miller is gone.
January 30, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Zero funding until Miller is gone.
I don't doubt that, but the goal would be to create chaos and reduce turnout, not to disrupt or dispute any individual vote or polling place. Their guys don't need to be at the polling place at all, just terrorizing the community generally as in MN.
January 29, 2026 at 8:18 PM
I don't doubt that, but the goal would be to create chaos and reduce turnout, not to disrupt or dispute any individual vote or polling place. Their guys don't need to be at the polling place at all, just terrorizing the community generally as in MN.
Tuesday's result demonstrates that there's a motivating effect among voters who feel safe going out, but that's in a low-turnout special election. Not to minimize the threat of disrupting counts, arresting tabulators, seizing ballots, etc.
January 29, 2026 at 7:55 PM
Tuesday's result demonstrates that there's a motivating effect among voters who feel safe going out, but that's in a low-turnout special election. Not to minimize the threat of disrupting counts, arresting tabulators, seizing ballots, etc.
I think the danger is realistically there for them to target a single city in a key Senate race - Cleveland or Atlanta, say - on Election Day in an attempt to make non-white residents too scared to go out at all. They can't mess with the whole midterm, but they can mess with one state.
January 29, 2026 at 7:53 PM
I think the danger is realistically there for them to target a single city in a key Senate race - Cleveland or Atlanta, say - on Election Day in an attempt to make non-white residents too scared to go out at all. They can't mess with the whole midterm, but they can mess with one state.
Why use space? Use time - Election Day should be declared a grace period on which immigration enforcement actions by anyone, anywhere, are banned.
January 28, 2026 at 5:22 PM
Why use space? Use time - Election Day should be declared a grace period on which immigration enforcement actions by anyone, anywhere, are banned.
Last time he was out of power, he used Mar-a-Lago as a presidency-in-exile to maintain the sense that MAGA's return, and his own, was inevitable and the homage needs to keep flowing. I think that this is meant to be that, but for world leaders. Instead of the US having allies, political parties do.
January 22, 2026 at 7:44 PM
Last time he was out of power, he used Mar-a-Lago as a presidency-in-exile to maintain the sense that MAGA's return, and his own, was inevitable and the homage needs to keep flowing. I think that this is meant to be that, but for world leaders. Instead of the US having allies, political parties do.
Also establishes which countries might take him if he needs to flee.
January 22, 2026 at 2:41 PM
Also establishes which countries might take him if he needs to flee.
Counterpoint: The personalist nature of this (his role as Chairman isn't linked to the US Presidency) implies that he realizes he will lose power and is trying to set up a way to stay powerful and rich, while undermining any successor's foreign policy.
January 22, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Counterpoint: The personalist nature of this (his role as Chairman isn't linked to the US Presidency) implies that he realizes he will lose power and is trying to set up a way to stay powerful and rich, while undermining any successor's foreign policy.
Of course not, because fracturing it was the whole point.
January 21, 2026 at 8:44 PM
Of course not, because fracturing it was the whole point.
He just forgot which country this is even about and said he wanted Iceland now. "We" aren't remembering a damn thing.
January 21, 2026 at 2:25 PM
He just forgot which country this is even about and said he wanted Iceland now. "We" aren't remembering a damn thing.
You're technically right, but since he won't remember what he said in 20 minutes it's still important that the news tells him he ruled out force.
January 21, 2026 at 2:23 PM
You're technically right, but since he won't remember what he said in 20 minutes it's still important that the news tells him he ruled out force.
It's really a question of where his floor is with Republicans, since overall approval floor is basically a function of the partisan distribution of the poll sample. I think he could drop below 27% with Independents.
January 21, 2026 at 1:59 PM
It's really a question of where his floor is with Republicans, since overall approval floor is basically a function of the partisan distribution of the poll sample. I think he could drop below 27% with Independents.
I'm concerned the word "additional" is imprecise. Congressional Dems are saying they're doing that because ICE is level-funded (or even slightly reduced), but I think the message from the base is that ICE should actually be zeroed out in appropriations.
January 20, 2026 at 4:13 PM
I'm concerned the word "additional" is imprecise. Congressional Dems are saying they're doing that because ICE is level-funded (or even slightly reduced), but I think the message from the base is that ICE should actually be zeroed out in appropriations.
Yes, but I wouldn't describe any of those things as "quixotic".
January 18, 2026 at 11:48 PM
Yes, but I wouldn't describe any of those things as "quixotic".
Though if they did somehow add Greenland, Canada, and Iceland as states, they'd never have control of the Senate again...
January 16, 2026 at 3:52 PM
Though if they did somehow add Greenland, Canada, and Iceland as states, they'd never have control of the Senate again...
Though in the first instance it is combined/equated with "border control" and in the second it is combined with "deportations/ICE".
January 16, 2026 at 3:42 PM
Though in the first instance it is combined/equated with "border control" and in the second it is combined with "deportations/ICE".
As you've probably seen, it does have net positive support in the YouGov/Economist poll, FWIW.
January 13, 2026 at 7:07 PM
As you've probably seen, it does have net positive support in the YouGov/Economist poll, FWIW.
And free early childhood education and daycare, and support for pediatric care...
January 13, 2026 at 5:26 PM
And free early childhood education and daycare, and support for pediatric care...
I realize this isn't funny, but um... no, Greg - I think it was Jonathan Ross who was triggered.
January 12, 2026 at 4:48 PM
I realize this isn't funny, but um... no, Greg - I think it was Jonathan Ross who was triggered.
If you can get UK cooperation, seize his Scottish golf courses at this stage too.
January 11, 2026 at 6:16 PM
If you can get UK cooperation, seize his Scottish golf courses at this stage too.
Hypothetical: Let's say Trump pardons Ross (I assume he will). Murder would be a state charge, but does that also prevent the FBI from investigating, since DOJ could not charge him? Could Minnesota then claw back the investigation?
January 8, 2026 at 7:26 PM
Hypothetical: Let's say Trump pardons Ross (I assume he will). Murder would be a state charge, but does that also prevent the FBI from investigating, since DOJ could not charge him? Could Minnesota then claw back the investigation?