@midwestlibrarian.bsky.social
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One reason why any healthy democracy needs at least two relatively healthy political parties where each sometimes wins an election, and neither destroys the democratic system when it does, is that winning elections is hard.
The idea that everyone who ever lost an election is stupid is not correct.
The idea that everyone who ever lost an election is stupid is not correct.
November 18, 2025 at 2:43 PM
One reason why any healthy democracy needs at least two relatively healthy political parties where each sometimes wins an election, and neither destroys the democratic system when it does, is that winning elections is hard.
The idea that everyone who ever lost an election is stupid is not correct.
The idea that everyone who ever lost an election is stupid is not correct.
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Key thing to remember is: They want these fascist fortress cities because *they believe existing nations are going to collapse*
These are escape hatches for a post-democracy world they seek to create. I would argue that they have gotten much farther than they should have. See: DOGE, crypto, etc
These are escape hatches for a post-democracy world they seek to create. I would argue that they have gotten much farther than they should have. See: DOGE, crypto, etc
The Financial Times finally covers the Network State cult.
Is this tech fascism?
"I mean,we are funding companies that will operate non-democratic cities...and if you're not into that you shouldn't move there," says Peter Thiel protégé Patri Friedman.
Is this tech fascism?
"I mean,we are funding companies that will operate non-democratic cities...and if you're not into that you shouldn't move there," says Peter Thiel protégé Patri Friedman.
December 8, 2025 at 3:38 AM
Key thing to remember is: They want these fascist fortress cities because *they believe existing nations are going to collapse*
These are escape hatches for a post-democracy world they seek to create. I would argue that they have gotten much farther than they should have. See: DOGE, crypto, etc
These are escape hatches for a post-democracy world they seek to create. I would argue that they have gotten much farther than they should have. See: DOGE, crypto, etc
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Remember the part in the old Peter Pan play where Peter tells the boys and girls in the audience that if they all just clap harder they can save Tinkerbell?
That's what Trump's Cabinet Meeting reminded me of. A bunch of children wildly applauding him, all in an effort to bring him back to life.
That's what Trump's Cabinet Meeting reminded me of. A bunch of children wildly applauding him, all in an effort to bring him back to life.
December 3, 2025 at 1:05 PM
Remember the part in the old Peter Pan play where Peter tells the boys and girls in the audience that if they all just clap harder they can save Tinkerbell?
That's what Trump's Cabinet Meeting reminded me of. A bunch of children wildly applauding him, all in an effort to bring him back to life.
That's what Trump's Cabinet Meeting reminded me of. A bunch of children wildly applauding him, all in an effort to bring him back to life.
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Important: WaPo is doubling down on its reporting on Trump's bombings, asserting expressly that the second strike was ordered "when" the two survivors were "detected."
Hegseth is suggesting he didn't see the survivors, but the question remains: Were they visible, or not? Time to see the video.
Hegseth is suggesting he didn't see the survivors, but the question remains: Were they visible, or not? Time to see the video.
December 3, 2025 at 12:35 PM
Important: WaPo is doubling down on its reporting on Trump's bombings, asserting expressly that the second strike was ordered "when" the two survivors were "detected."
Hegseth is suggesting he didn't see the survivors, but the question remains: Were they visible, or not? Time to see the video.
Hegseth is suggesting he didn't see the survivors, but the question remains: Were they visible, or not? Time to see the video.
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Unwise of him to title his book “People’s Exhibit 1.”
Hegseth told soldiers under his command in Iraq to ignore legal advice about when they were permitted to kill enemy combatants under their rules of engagement. The anecdote is contained in a book Hegseth wrote last year in which he sharply disparaged the Geneva and Hague Conventions.
Pete Hegseth told US soldiers in Iraq to ignore legal advice on rules of engagement
Defense secretary shares anecdote in The War on Warriors and rails against ‘rules and regulations’ governing war
www.theguardian.com
December 3, 2025 at 1:16 AM
Unwise of him to title his book “People’s Exhibit 1.”
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I’ve been thinking and it’s kind of exceptional that not a single person said “Hey now” after the piggy comment.
November 19, 2025 at 1:36 AM
I’ve been thinking and it’s kind of exceptional that not a single person said “Hey now” after the piggy comment.
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In 2017, the sitting president had Thanksgiving with his old friend who had been convicted of sex crimes with a minor.
And we’re only learning about this now?
And we’re only learning about this now?
November 13, 2025 at 12:18 PM
In 2017, the sitting president had Thanksgiving with his old friend who had been convicted of sex crimes with a minor.
And we’re only learning about this now?
And we’re only learning about this now?
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Brilliant. Should be a model everywhere
I've seen this go by a few times on TikTok now and I have to say, I love this idea. We need a way to convince people to keep running even if they don't win, maybe building the loss into it as a troll move is the secret.
November 6, 2025 at 3:01 AM
Brilliant. Should be a model everywhere
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"You can make a principled stand for what you believe while welcoming in alienated voters looking for hope and community."
Notably, Anat points to a similar place Andrea Pitzer did in her dissection of the conversation between Klein and Coates:
Expert in framing 🤝 Expert in authoritarianism
Notably, Anat points to a similar place Andrea Pitzer did in her dissection of the conversation between Klein and Coates:
Expert in framing 🤝 Expert in authoritarianism
October 12, 2025 at 10:35 AM
"You can make a principled stand for what you believe while welcoming in alienated voters looking for hope and community."
Notably, Anat points to a similar place Andrea Pitzer did in her dissection of the conversation between Klein and Coates:
Expert in framing 🤝 Expert in authoritarianism
Notably, Anat points to a similar place Andrea Pitzer did in her dissection of the conversation between Klein and Coates:
Expert in framing 🤝 Expert in authoritarianism
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turning out 3.5%—or 11.9 million Americans—would be a tremendous achievement in the effort to overcome MAGA authoritarian rule, but over 60% of movements that turned out 1% to 3.5% succeeded. open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
Even if protests don’t hit 3.5%, the resistance can topple Trump
An all-hands-on-deck moment
open.substack.com
September 25, 2025 at 12:19 PM
turning out 3.5%—or 11.9 million Americans—would be a tremendous achievement in the effort to overcome MAGA authoritarian rule, but over 60% of movements that turned out 1% to 3.5% succeeded. open.substack.com/pub/contrari...
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Extremist murders by ideology, 2013 to 2022. www.pbump.net/o/reassessin...
September 13, 2025 at 2:38 AM
Extremist murders by ideology, 2013 to 2022. www.pbump.net/o/reassessin...
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On Capitol Hill, two corvettes fight over a senate parking spot in the rain
At the pharmacy vaccine clinic closest to the White House, the lunchtime line of staffers with visible WH/other govt badges waiting in line for COVID shots should tell you everything you need to know about the goop
At the pharmacy vaccine clinic closest to the White House, the lunchtime line of staffers with visible WH/other govt badges waiting in line for COVID shots should tell you everything you need to know about the goop
September 10, 2025 at 4:56 PM
On Capitol Hill, two corvettes fight over a senate parking spot in the rain
At the pharmacy vaccine clinic closest to the White House, the lunchtime line of staffers with visible WH/other govt badges waiting in line for COVID shots should tell you everything you need to know about the goop
At the pharmacy vaccine clinic closest to the White House, the lunchtime line of staffers with visible WH/other govt badges waiting in line for COVID shots should tell you everything you need to know about the goop
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🎯
kind of amazing how national outlets can only seem to muster an "are crimes illegal? we have no idea" editorial stance.
"How far can President Trump go in deploying the military to American cities?" is a real question being asked by NPR this morning
September 8, 2025 at 12:26 PM
🎯
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At any other point in my life, this would already be a huge story, and if somehow it wasn’t, tips like these would get reporters scrambling to write the definitive feature story about it. I guess we’ll see…
The national security apparatus of the United States appears to be suffering an existential disaster, but the entire class of natsec oriented journalists and pundits who tanked Biden for a messy Afghanistan withdrawal are too scared to discuss the catastrophe or the cause
September 8, 2025 at 2:18 AM
At any other point in my life, this would already be a huge story, and if somehow it wasn’t, tips like these would get reporters scrambling to write the definitive feature story about it. I guess we’ll see…
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Could be an opportunity for Democrats…remind voters that DOGE came in and basically found little waste, little to no incompetence, and, obviously, no ‘deep state’. Large swaths of the government were working the way they were supposed to under Biden.
August 30, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Could be an opportunity for Democrats…remind voters that DOGE came in and basically found little waste, little to no incompetence, and, obviously, no ‘deep state’. Large swaths of the government were working the way they were supposed to under Biden.
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Just tried watching Ezra Klein’s latest NYT podcast episode on how the U.S. got to this point where vaccines are so politicized.
It’s pretty clear that Klein and his guests—David Wallace Wells and Rachael Bedard—really do not understand why/how the political right turned on vaccines.
It’s pretty clear that Klein and his guests—David Wallace Wells and Rachael Bedard—really do not understand why/how the political right turned on vaccines.
August 28, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Just tried watching Ezra Klein’s latest NYT podcast episode on how the U.S. got to this point where vaccines are so politicized.
It’s pretty clear that Klein and his guests—David Wallace Wells and Rachael Bedard—really do not understand why/how the political right turned on vaccines.
It’s pretty clear that Klein and his guests—David Wallace Wells and Rachael Bedard—really do not understand why/how the political right turned on vaccines.
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I am begging my fellow Dems to emerge from the reflexive “it’s a trap” position on these issues and realize that some things are very simple: the public doesn’t like the federal government turning the military against its own citizens.The public doesn’t like the armed occupation of a city.Period.
Striking: New Quinnipiac poll finds 56% of voters nationally oppose Trump's sending of National Guard into DC. Only 41% support it.
Independents oppose it by 61-34.
Trump's overall approval on crime is cratering at 42-54.
That sound you hear is a lot of dimwitted pundit narratives imploding.
Independents oppose it by 61-34.
Trump's overall approval on crime is cratering at 42-54.
That sound you hear is a lot of dimwitted pundit narratives imploding.
August 27, 2025 at 7:47 PM
I am begging my fellow Dems to emerge from the reflexive “it’s a trap” position on these issues and realize that some things are very simple: the public doesn’t like the federal government turning the military against its own citizens.The public doesn’t like the armed occupation of a city.Period.
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I can't think of a faster way to undermine the country than simultaneously firing government workers, cutting scientific research, rolling back protections on public health & environment, & cutting essential services. It's like the US was defeated in war and is being occupied by a hostile enemy.
February 27, 2025 at 6:27 PM
I can't think of a faster way to undermine the country than simultaneously firing government workers, cutting scientific research, rolling back protections on public health & environment, & cutting essential services. It's like the US was defeated in war and is being occupied by a hostile enemy.
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You understood and accepted the terms of the American dream. You lived up to your end of the bargain with the reasonable expectation that the gov’t would live up to its end. Then Trump betrayed the deal like he betrays all deals. You are right to be angry. You are right to be resentful. A thread.
1. The president is cheating.
His tariffs are pushing up the price of everything, which means inflation remains high, which means interest rates remain high.
But instead of rethinking a ruinous national sales tax, which is what tariffs are, he’s bullying those who set interest rates.
His tariffs are pushing up the price of everything, which means inflation remains high, which means interest rates remain high.
But instead of rethinking a ruinous national sales tax, which is what tariffs are, he’s bullying those who set interest rates.
August 27, 2025 at 2:35 PM
You understood and accepted the terms of the American dream. You lived up to your end of the bargain with the reasonable expectation that the gov’t would live up to its end. Then Trump betrayed the deal like he betrays all deals. You are right to be angry. You are right to be resentful. A thread.
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As you watch the extraordinary spectacle of Trump's government attempting to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda, let's not lose sight of just how lawless and indefensible Trump's misconduct has been all throughout.
Here's a thread recapping all of it. 1/
Here's a thread recapping all of it. 1/
August 25, 2025 at 4:45 PM
As you watch the extraordinary spectacle of Trump's government attempting to deport Kilmar Abrego Garcia to Uganda, let's not lose sight of just how lawless and indefensible Trump's misconduct has been all throughout.
Here's a thread recapping all of it. 1/
Here's a thread recapping all of it. 1/
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A reminder why Melania is sending C&Ds to everyone who repeats Wolff’s claim but not Wolff himself.
August 16, 2025 at 9:11 PM
A reminder why Melania is sending C&Ds to everyone who repeats Wolff’s claim but not Wolff himself.
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The striking thing about this week’s list is not the number of broken norms, but the nature of what Trump is getting away with, and how he has yet again seized control of the narrative.
open.substack.com/pub/theweekl...
open.substack.com/pub/theweekl...
Episode 40 - Two Truths, Two Sets of Data
Catch up on the themes from Week 40's list in a quick listen!
open.substack.com
August 14, 2025 at 2:09 PM
The striking thing about this week’s list is not the number of broken norms, but the nature of what Trump is getting away with, and how he has yet again seized control of the narrative.
open.substack.com/pub/theweekl...
open.substack.com/pub/theweekl...
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A Democratic Party with any spirit would stage a press conference every single day to present Donald Trump with one sarcastic award after another.
The Dennis Hastert Award for Enabling Pedophilia
The Richard Nixon Memorial Trophy for Lawlessness
The Blue Ribbon for Setting a Record Federal Deficit
The Dennis Hastert Award for Enabling Pedophilia
The Richard Nixon Memorial Trophy for Lawlessness
The Blue Ribbon for Setting a Record Federal Deficit
Trump: Since 1978 the Kennedy Center honors have been amongst the most prestigious awards. I wanted one, never able to get one. I would have taken it. I waited and waited and waited and I said to hell with it, I'll become chairman. I will give myself an honor. Next year we'll honor trump, okay?
August 13, 2025 at 6:09 PM
A Democratic Party with any spirit would stage a press conference every single day to present Donald Trump with one sarcastic award after another.
The Dennis Hastert Award for Enabling Pedophilia
The Richard Nixon Memorial Trophy for Lawlessness
The Blue Ribbon for Setting a Record Federal Deficit
The Dennis Hastert Award for Enabling Pedophilia
The Richard Nixon Memorial Trophy for Lawlessness
The Blue Ribbon for Setting a Record Federal Deficit
Reposted
Very not good
BREAKING WSJ:
The Trump White House plans to conduct a far-reaching review of Smithsonian museum exhibitions, materials and operations ahead of America's 250th anniversary to ensure the museums align with "Trump's interpretation of American history." www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
The Trump White House plans to conduct a far-reaching review of Smithsonian museum exhibitions, materials and operations ahead of America's 250th anniversary to ensure the museums align with "Trump's interpretation of American history." www.wsj.com/politics/pol...
Exclusive | White House to Vet Smithsonian Museums to Fit Trump’s Historical Vision
Top White House officials will scrutinize exhibitions, internal processes, collections and artist grants ahead of America’s 250th anniversary.
www.wsj.com
August 12, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Very not good