Mike Shaw
@zax2000.bsky.social
A yokel Bostonian bumbling around Seattle. Stints in 北京 and Bali along the way. I used to craft/edit journalists' spam. Geopolitics is my jam. I post, therefore I am.
Pinned
Reposted by Mike Shaw
Donald Trump interrupted national tv today to promise a million people (with guns!) two billion dollars he doesn’t have on a timeline he cannot meet to buy Christmas gifts he has personally fought to make less affordable
he doesn’t and the most likely outcome of this is that it doesn’t happen
How does the president have independent authority to mail out Christmas bonuses?
December 18, 2025 at 5:36 AM
Donald Trump interrupted national tv today to promise a million people (with guns!) two billion dollars he doesn’t have on a timeline he cannot meet to buy Christmas gifts he has personally fought to make less affordable
Reposted by Mike Shaw
Fantastic piece.
December 18, 2025 at 3:36 AM
Fantastic piece.
Reposted by Mike Shaw
Trump didn’t exactly refute the “personality of an alcoholic” allegations tonight
December 18, 2025 at 2:51 AM
Trump didn’t exactly refute the “personality of an alcoholic” allegations tonight
Just... Wow.
Look, I can understand people supporting Trump's policies, or even his attitude. I even get how folks may have tied their identities to affiliation w/him or the GOP. But I'm at the point where I have to question the sanity of anyone who actually believes anything that Trump says.
Look, I can understand people supporting Trump's policies, or even his attitude. I even get how folks may have tied their identities to affiliation w/him or the GOP. But I'm at the point where I have to question the sanity of anyone who actually believes anything that Trump says.
December 18, 2025 at 3:40 AM
Just... Wow.
Look, I can understand people supporting Trump's policies, or even his attitude. I even get how folks may have tied their identities to affiliation w/him or the GOP. But I'm at the point where I have to question the sanity of anyone who actually believes anything that Trump says.
Look, I can understand people supporting Trump's policies, or even his attitude. I even get how folks may have tied their identities to affiliation w/him or the GOP. But I'm at the point where I have to question the sanity of anyone who actually believes anything that Trump says.
How pathetically bad at your job do you have to be to get axed from the Trump administration? Wow.
www.nytimes.com/2025/12/17/u...
Being unqualified, incompetent, and generally an absurd choice for a position is no barrier to working in this administration, but it does make it hard to actually do the job, and Bongino didn't like doing hard work.
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey
Being unqualified, incompetent, and generally an absurd choice for a position is no barrier to working in this administration, but it does make it hard to actually do the job, and Bongino didn't like doing hard work.
Na na na na, na na na na, hey hey hey
Bongino to Step Down From F.B.I.
www.nytimes.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:53 AM
How pathetically bad at your job do you have to be to get axed from the Trump administration? Wow.
Reposted by Mike Shaw
“The Trump administration’s policies on illegal and legal immigration would reduce the projected number of workers in the United States by 6.8 million by 2028 and by 15.7 million by 2035 and lower the annual rate of economic growth by almost one-third.”
www.forbes.com/sites/stuart...
www.forbes.com/sites/stuart...
Immigrant Labor Declines As Trump Imposes New Immigration Restrictions
Government data show a decline of 1.1 million foreign-born workers since January. New immigration restrictions will lead to a larger drop.
www.forbes.com
December 17, 2025 at 11:55 PM
“The Trump administration’s policies on illegal and legal immigration would reduce the projected number of workers in the United States by 6.8 million by 2028 and by 15.7 million by 2035 and lower the annual rate of economic growth by almost one-third.”
www.forbes.com/sites/stuart...
www.forbes.com/sites/stuart...
This is fascism.
Border patrol under command of Greg Bovino running a checkpoint at the exit to the Uber lot at O’Hare airport in Chicago, asking drivers for proof of valid residency in this country
December 18, 2025 at 12:34 AM
This is fascism.
This timeline is an absolute nightmare.
Very weird feeling waiting for the president to announce an illegal war based on total bullshit that they made up right in front of our faces on TV, almost like I've lived through this moment before
December 18, 2025 at 12:29 AM
This timeline is an absolute nightmare.
Reposted by Mike Shaw
BREAKING: The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Instacart, according to Reuters.
The probe follows our investigation with @consumerreports.org and @groundwork.bsky.social revealed the company is using AI algorithms to increase grocery prices.
The probe follows our investigation with @consumerreports.org and @groundwork.bsky.social revealed the company is using AI algorithms to increase grocery prices.
EXCLUSIVE: We found that Instacart is using AI algorithms to charge customers different prices for the same items.
It's not just online. It's in physical grocery stores too.
Our months-long investigation with @consumerreports.org and @groundwork.bsky.social found it could cost families $1200/year.
It's not just online. It's in physical grocery stores too.
Our months-long investigation with @consumerreports.org and @groundwork.bsky.social found it could cost families $1200/year.
We Had 400 People Shop For Groceries. What We Found Will Shock You.
YouTube video by More Perfect Union
www.youtube.com
December 18, 2025 at 12:20 AM
BREAKING: The Federal Trade Commission is investigating Instacart, according to Reuters.
The probe follows our investigation with @consumerreports.org and @groundwork.bsky.social revealed the company is using AI algorithms to increase grocery prices.
The probe follows our investigation with @consumerreports.org and @groundwork.bsky.social revealed the company is using AI algorithms to increase grocery prices.
It's starting...
Amazon is talking about investing $10bn in OpenAI so that OpenAI can then hand some of that back as part of its $38bn cloud compute deal using trainium chips. This should get OpenAI to what, March? Utterly stupid and investors should actively punish Amazon
www.theinformation.com/articles/ope...
www.theinformation.com/articles/ope...
December 17, 2025 at 4:09 AM
It's starting...
Reposted by Mike Shaw
This is unbecoming of a FIFA Peace Prize award winner.
Trump: "Venezuela is completely surrounded by the largest Armada ever assembled ... It will only get bigger, and the shock to them will be like nothing they have ever seen before — Until such time as they return to the USA all of the Oil, Land, and other Assets that they previously stole from us."
December 17, 2025 at 1:03 AM
This is unbecoming of a FIFA Peace Prize award winner.
Still supporting our Baristas. Still not buying Starbucks.
Hundreds of fast food workers, Starbucks baristas on ULP strike, @sagaftra.org members, and allies are in Los Angeles RIGHT NOW demanding Starbucks finalizes a fair union contract.
The longer @sbworkersunited.org's ULP strike goes on, the more the labor movement is showing up!
#NoContractNoCoffee!
The longer @sbworkersunited.org's ULP strike goes on, the more the labor movement is showing up!
#NoContractNoCoffee!
December 16, 2025 at 7:06 PM
Still supporting our Baristas. Still not buying Starbucks.
Reposted by Mike Shaw
Trump, having decided that the Iraq invasion was such a success, is going to run it back- only this time with Venezuela.
NEW — Trump has signed an executive order "designating illicit fentanyl and its core precursor chemical as weapons of mass destruction (WMD)." www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...
As a reminder, The Handbasket had the scoop that this was coming back in MARCH:
As a reminder, The Handbasket had the scoop that this was coming back in MARCH:
Trump to declare 'illicit' fentanyl 'Weapon of Mass Destruction,' per draft EO
A copy of the draft was obtained and reviewed by The Handbasket.
www.thehandbasket.co
December 16, 2025 at 2:48 AM
Trump, having decided that the Iraq invasion was such a success, is going to run it back- only this time with Venezuela.
Trump is a monster.
December 16, 2025 at 2:42 AM
Trump is a monster.
May the memory of Rob Reiner imploring a man to suck another man's balls be a blessing to us all. ❤️
I think it's kind of beautiful that this was Rob Reiner's final line on television
December 16, 2025 at 2:41 AM
May the memory of Rob Reiner imploring a man to suck another man's balls be a blessing to us all. ❤️
I'm gonna just dick around, I guess.
i have said this before but if you are actually interested in influencing people beyond a narrow circle of too-online journalists you will be making direct to camera videos on tiktok, instagram and youtube. if you primarily post on text-based social media then you're just dicking around.
December 16, 2025 at 2:23 AM
I'm gonna just dick around, I guess.
Just read The 100 Best TV Episodes
of the Century from @theringer.com.web.brid.gy. I have some thoughts. In short: It's trash.
My ire has nothing to do w/the episodes chosen per se. But the framework & lack of rigor make it a foundationally flawed exercise that wastes its contributors' talent. 🧵
of the Century from @theringer.com.web.brid.gy. I have some thoughts. In short: It's trash.
My ire has nothing to do w/the episodes chosen per se. But the framework & lack of rigor make it a foundationally flawed exercise that wastes its contributors' talent. 🧵
The 100 Best TV Episodes of the Century - The Ringer
Ranking the 100 best television episodes of the 21st century, from Mad Men to Succession to Game of Thrones.
www.theringer.com
December 15, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Just read The 100 Best TV Episodes
of the Century from @theringer.com.web.brid.gy. I have some thoughts. In short: It's trash.
My ire has nothing to do w/the episodes chosen per se. But the framework & lack of rigor make it a foundationally flawed exercise that wastes its contributors' talent. 🧵
of the Century from @theringer.com.web.brid.gy. I have some thoughts. In short: It's trash.
My ire has nothing to do w/the episodes chosen per se. But the framework & lack of rigor make it a foundationally flawed exercise that wastes its contributors' talent. 🧵
Deeply researched, nuanced "debates" like this are exactly what we need more of from our journalists. Joss Fong (formerly Vox) and Adam Cole (formerly NPR) are doing just incredible work.
Too many people? Or not enough?
YouTube video by Howtown
youtu.be
December 15, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Deeply researched, nuanced "debates" like this are exactly what we need more of from our journalists. Joss Fong (formerly Vox) and Adam Cole (formerly NPR) are doing just incredible work.
Reposted by Mike Shaw
Since the Fed started cutting rates last Sept:
* unemployment ⬆️ 30bps
* CPI ⬆️ 60bps
* 10-year yield ⬆️ 50bps
* unemployment ⬆️ 30bps
* CPI ⬆️ 60bps
* 10-year yield ⬆️ 50bps
December 15, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Since the Fed started cutting rates last Sept:
* unemployment ⬆️ 30bps
* CPI ⬆️ 60bps
* 10-year yield ⬆️ 50bps
* unemployment ⬆️ 30bps
* CPI ⬆️ 60bps
* 10-year yield ⬆️ 50bps
Reposted by Mike Shaw
At press time, people were hoping it’s not too inconceivable that Death redeems itself soon by asking the far more right person to prepare to die as they wish.
December 15, 2025 at 6:06 AM
At press time, people were hoping it’s not too inconceivable that Death redeems itself soon by asking the far more right person to prepare to die as they wish.
Reposted by Mike Shaw
Hey Rand, how about if all 340 million Americans banded together into a larger group? Then we’d have even more negotiating power!
Rand Paul: "My plan is this -- let people on the Obamacare market, which is about 4% of America, a small number of people, let them buy their insurance through Costco, Sam's Club, Amazon ... "
December 14, 2025 at 3:32 PM
Hey Rand, how about if all 340 million Americans banded together into a larger group? Then we’d have even more negotiating power!
Our long, national Brady-less nightmare is (almost) over.
It’s about time something good happened to Boston.
December 14, 2025 at 7:27 PM
Our long, national Brady-less nightmare is (almost) over.
This is fascism.
Armed ICE agents trapped US citizens in a restaurant and demanded their papers. Federal agents walked into East African restaurants in Cedar-Riverside, MN. They closed and blocked the doors. Then they demanded to see everyone’s papers. Every person present was a US citizen.
Federal agents use chemical irritant on crowd in Somali neighborhood of Minneapolis amid Trump crackdown
Federal agents have used chemical irritant to disperse a crowd in a heavily Somali neighborhood in Minneapolis. This happened Tuesday during a identification checks amid the Trump administration's cra...
www.mprnews.org
December 14, 2025 at 7:07 PM
This is fascism.