David Barak
@theotherbarak.bsky.social
I share political posts and silly posts. PoC and LGBTQ ally. Baltimore Ravens fan 🏈
Reposted by David Barak
Derrick Henry:
36 carries (career high)
216 yards
4 rushing TD (ties career high)
36 carries (career high)
216 yards
4 rushing TD (ties career high)
December 28, 2025 at 3:59 AM
Derrick Henry:
36 carries (career high)
216 yards
4 rushing TD (ties career high)
36 carries (career high)
216 yards
4 rushing TD (ties career high)
Reposted by David Barak
“Then they shouldn’t have voted for this!”
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Hundreds of residents signed up for FEMA buyouts after Hurricane Helene. Not one has been approved.
Hundreds of residents signed up for FEMA buyouts after Helene. Not one has been approved.
More than a year after applying for a federal buyout, many North Carolina homeowners have heard almost nothing definitive.
www.washingtonpost.com
December 27, 2025 at 9:05 PM
“Then they shouldn’t have voted for this!”
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Bitch, Asheville is a blue college town and the county has gone blue for decades. I am so sick of this “if I pretend disasters only happen to red areas, it means I’m safe because I’m properly on the left!” No. You’re not safe. That’s why we save everybody.
Reposted by David Barak
You can pretend to have your shit together if you want. They don’t really check
December 26, 2025 at 1:51 AM
You can pretend to have your shit together if you want. They don’t really check
Reposted by David Barak
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 David Barak
"Why Peter Thiel is leaving Silicon Valley" (2018)
December 27, 2025 at 11:51 PM
"Why Peter Thiel is leaving Silicon Valley" (2018)
Reposted by David Barak
December 27, 2025 at 6:36 PM
Reposted by David Barak
The war against expertise is going to make all of our lives worse
The DOGE-triggered brain drain has destroyed government science, endangered research, and left America fading to black.
When it comes to Trump's brain drain, “the damage is already done”
How the DOGE-triggered attack on government research left America in the dark.
www.motherjones.com
December 27, 2025 at 5:04 PM
The war against expertise is going to make all of our lives worse
Reposted by David Barak
Not to be controversial but I think we should use tools and resources to make people's lives less miserable instead of more
December 27, 2025 at 12:17 AM
Not to be controversial but I think we should use tools and resources to make people's lives less miserable instead of more
Reposted by David Barak
I'm sure the 22 million people whose healthcare premiums will triple in six days are delighted by this news, you inhuman fuck.
December 26, 2025 at 10:23 PM
I'm sure the 22 million people whose healthcare premiums will triple in six days are delighted by this news, you inhuman fuck.
Reposted by David Barak
With fewer than 40 bills signed into law as of Dec. 22, the House and Senate set a modern record for lowest legislative output in the first year of a new presidency, according to data maintained by C-SPAN and Purdue University. https://wapo.st/3YPTQGo
December 27, 2025 at 1:30 AM
With fewer than 40 bills signed into law as of Dec. 22, the House and Senate set a modern record for lowest legislative output in the first year of a new presidency, according to data maintained by C-SPAN and Purdue University. https://wapo.st/3YPTQGo
Reposted by David Barak
Avatar just generally exists in the space franchise movies existed in pre-internet: Most people just go see the movies when they come out, and a handful of diehards dig into lore stuff in their own isolated corner of the world. It's not _that_ dissimilar from Star Wars in the '80s.
December 27, 2025 at 3:12 AM
Avatar just generally exists in the space franchise movies existed in pre-internet: Most people just go see the movies when they come out, and a handful of diehards dig into lore stuff in their own isolated corner of the world. It's not _that_ dissimilar from Star Wars in the '80s.
Reposted by David Barak
This piece is a great illustration of how the long-term effect of Trump’s destruction of US institutions won’t be felt in a dramatic market collapse, but rather in permanently worse economic conditions, and lower prosperity.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
So long, American exceptionalism
For the first time, investors are talking about ‘US risk’
giftarticle.ft.com
December 26, 2025 at 7:59 PM
This piece is a great illustration of how the long-term effect of Trump’s destruction of US institutions won’t be felt in a dramatic market collapse, but rather in permanently worse economic conditions, and lower prosperity.
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
giftarticle.ft.com/giftarticle/... So long, American exceptionalism
Reposted by David Barak
Not saying the people running State are foreign agents but also if you were a foreign agent running State this does feel like the kind of thing you’d do.
Context for Trump withdrawing dozens of ambassadors
*China has invested heavily in expanding diplomacy
*The US has significantly degraded soft power
*The US already has scores of diplomatic vacancies
*China has invested heavily in expanding diplomacy
*The US has significantly degraded soft power
*The US already has scores of diplomatic vacancies
December 25, 2025 at 1:07 AM
Not saying the people running State are foreign agents but also if you were a foreign agent running State this does feel like the kind of thing you’d do.
Reposted by David Barak
low stakes posting today reminds me that 1) Facebook is for talking to people you know IRL but don’t like and 2) microblogging sites are for talking to people you don’t know but do like.
we forget these things at our peril
we forget these things at our peril
December 24, 2025 at 9:11 PM
low stakes posting today reminds me that 1) Facebook is for talking to people you know IRL but don’t like and 2) microblogging sites are for talking to people you don’t know but do like.
we forget these things at our peril
we forget these things at our peril
Reposted by David Barak
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.” https://cnn.it/4b6g3rd
Oklahoma instructor removed from teaching for failing a Bible-based gender essay | CNN
The University of Oklahoma has removed an instructor who was accused by a student of religious discrimination over a failing grade on a psychology paper in which she cited the Bible and argued that promoting a “belief in multiple genders” was “demonic.”
cnn.it
December 24, 2025 at 6:21 PM
If you’re wondering why your friends in academia are a little on edge right now, it’s because an eighteen-year-old who hasn’t done the reading, doesn’t look at the assignment, and has does no critical thinking skills more complex than “because I think it’s in the Bible” can literally end your career
Reposted by David Barak
People who think evil, corrupt, and incompetent don’t go together have it backwards.
Instead of looking to Hollywood to explain real world evil, look to Hannah Arendt. Uncorrupt people of integrity won’t do evil. And evil leaders work to elevate incompetents because that helps ensure their loyalty.
Instead of looking to Hollywood to explain real world evil, look to Hannah Arendt. Uncorrupt people of integrity won’t do evil. And evil leaders work to elevate incompetents because that helps ensure their loyalty.
"It is logically impossible to simultaneously be evil, corrupt, and incompetent" is an absolutely amazing take to have in the year of 2025
December 23, 2025 at 10:01 PM
People who think evil, corrupt, and incompetent don’t go together have it backwards.
Instead of looking to Hollywood to explain real world evil, look to Hannah Arendt. Uncorrupt people of integrity won’t do evil. And evil leaders work to elevate incompetents because that helps ensure their loyalty.
Instead of looking to Hollywood to explain real world evil, look to Hannah Arendt. Uncorrupt people of integrity won’t do evil. And evil leaders work to elevate incompetents because that helps ensure their loyalty.
Reposted by David Barak
“The only Tesla Cybertruck in all of Uganda seems to have rolled after tackling what appears to be a very mild dirt hill.”
Read More: www.jalopnik.com/2058231/ugan...
Read More: www.jalopnik.com/2058231/ugan...
December 23, 2025 at 10:00 PM
“The only Tesla Cybertruck in all of Uganda seems to have rolled after tackling what appears to be a very mild dirt hill.”
Read More: www.jalopnik.com/2058231/ugan...
Read More: www.jalopnik.com/2058231/ugan...
Reposted by David Barak
"Indeed, Trump's National Security 'Strategy' is entirely consistent with the goals of both Putin’s Russia and China’s authoritarian regime, both of which have long viewed the weakening of the Western alliance as a key part of their effort to displace the US as the leading power in the world."
Make America Weak
Trump is systematically undermining America's interests at home and abroad.
www.publicnotice.co
December 23, 2025 at 10:08 PM
"Indeed, Trump's National Security 'Strategy' is entirely consistent with the goals of both Putin’s Russia and China’s authoritarian regime, both of which have long viewed the weakening of the Western alliance as a key part of their effort to displace the US as the leading power in the world."
Reposted by David Barak
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
I count 10 cities in 2025 that are on track to have the fewest murders since at least 1970. Newark is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1956 (though only have data through Oct this year) and San Francisco is on pace to have the fewest murders since 1942.
December 23, 2025 at 10:03 PM
These declines are MASSIVE.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
And the comparative silence in media coverage is absolutely DAMNING.
“Why are ppl always so afraid of crime?”
THIS is why. When crime goes up, media trips over itself to report it.
Falls to pre-war (!!) levels? Just CRICKETS.
Reposted by David Barak
How did DOGE disrupt so much but save so little? In DOGE’s published list of canceled contracts and grants, the 13 largest were all incorrect. Of the 40 biggest claims on DOGE’s list, only 12 appeared accurate, per @nytimes.com analysis. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
How Did DOGE Disrupt So Much While Saving So Little?
www.nytimes.com
December 23, 2025 at 7:47 PM
How did DOGE disrupt so much but save so little? In DOGE’s published list of canceled contracts and grants, the 13 largest were all incorrect. Of the 40 biggest claims on DOGE’s list, only 12 appeared accurate, per @nytimes.com analysis. www.nytimes.com/2025/12/23/u...
Reposted by David Barak
Told my family I don’t really care what christmas gift they get me as long as it’s Tactical
December 23, 2025 at 7:49 PM
Told my family I don’t really care what christmas gift they get me as long as it’s Tactical
Reposted by David Barak
At Xtra: This was supposed to be the year of "post-woke" pop culture. It fell apart because -- shockingly -- no-one wanted to spend time with a bunch of assholes: xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
The year ‘post-woke’ broke | Xtra Magazine
In 2025, bigotry was trendy, and we found out who our friends really are
xtramagazine.com
December 20, 2025 at 3:33 PM
At Xtra: This was supposed to be the year of "post-woke" pop culture. It fell apart because -- shockingly -- no-one wanted to spend time with a bunch of assholes: xtramagazine.com/power/politi...
Reposted by David Barak
suspect a big reason why many academics and others who work in areas where getting facts RIGHT is key are disinterested in using LLMs for research:
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
December 21, 2025 at 4:16 PM
suspect a big reason why many academics and others who work in areas where getting facts RIGHT is key are disinterested in using LLMs for research:
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
they’ve tried it, they keep noticing major errors in output, and they conclude that having to verify all that doesn’t actually save them time.
Reposted by David Barak
jesus
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 4:38 PM
jesus
Reposted by David Barak
Tell me again how schools are biased against boys?
"Boys at her school shared AI-generated, nude images of her. After a fight, she was the one expelled"
apnews.com/article/scho...
"Boys at her school shared AI-generated, nude images of her. After a fight, she was the one expelled"
apnews.com/article/scho...
Boys at her school shared AI-generated, nude images of her. After a fight, she was the one expelled
A 13-year-old girl at a Louisiana middle school got into a fight with classmates who were sharing AI-generated nude images of her.
apnews.com
December 22, 2025 at 3:17 PM
Tell me again how schools are biased against boys?
"Boys at her school shared AI-generated, nude images of her. After a fight, she was the one expelled"
apnews.com/article/scho...
"Boys at her school shared AI-generated, nude images of her. After a fight, she was the one expelled"
apnews.com/article/scho...