David Simon

David Simon

@audacityofdespair.bsky.social

Dramatist, author, apostate newspaperman specializing in artisanal contempt and discerning maledicta. The claim that I am the angriest man in television is faint praise indeed; the second angriest is yelling at an agent because residual checks are late.

66.5K followers238 following9.1K posts

The citizen who yelled "Shove that ballroom up your fat ass" is, in this hard time, a patriot. Honestly, what is left to say about this level of misrule? What careful critique hasn't been already offered? What reasoned response to this full-on run at fascism and kleptocracy remained unspoken?

As a Baltimorean old enough to remember when Mayor William Donald Schaefer wore 1890s bathing trunks and jumped into the seal pool himself to highlight the eminent opening of the National Aquarium here, I need to politely suggest that Mr. Mamdani did not go big enough here.

Acyn@acyn.bsky.social

Mayor Mamdani and Councilmember Kayla Santosuosso visited the New York Aquarium to meet some seals and celebrate the impact of the administration’s $2 million investment in the aquarium.

Lately I've been pretending that he was Ukrainian.

Mrs. Betty Bowers@mrsbettybowers.bsky.social

I don't think I ever watched an episode of Star Trek (science fiction isn't my thing), but I thought casting a Russian while the Cold War was still raging, to make the point that humans would get along better in the future, was a lovely touch.

If still debating whether Donald Trump or Elon Musk willfully crippled Ukraine's missile defense, helping to slay innocent civilians, you are a rube. If the U.S. President had no role, then an oligarch governs national security. If not, the U.S. President serves Russia. Both answers are mortifying.

Too true. Between appetizer and entree at the Old Ebbitt Grill two weeks ago, not only was I jacked up by a street gang for a watch and wallet, but then, as I was waiting, bereft, for a dessert menu, my youngest child was taken away by the kitchen staff and transitioned without informing me.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Trump: "In Washington, all the restaurants were closing. People were being held up. They'd walk into a restaurant. Like Jesse James. 'Stand up! Give us all your money.' They're eating dinner at a fancy restaurant. All the restaurants were closing."

David Simon reposted

Lorenzo Salgado Araujo was driving his construction crew to work when an ICE officer shot and killed him in Houston. He wasn’t even the person ICE was looking for. Now Texas voters are leaving their “I Voted” stickers at his memorial. #BlueWaveIn10Days

This is fucking lunacy. The only people getting robbed in D.C. restaurants were those prodigals patrons leaning too hard into the overpriced wine list.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Trump: "In Washington, all the restaurants were closing. People were being held up. They'd walk into a restaurant. Like Jesse James. 'Stand up! Give us all your money.' They're eating dinner at a fancy restaurant. All the restaurants were closing."

This gibbering moron's political rhetoric is a fourth-grader standing at the edge of an elementary school blacktop yelling the first shard of juvenilia that floats into his head. And he is the President of the United States. We are so debased before the world.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Trump mocks Ossoff for having "tiny arms and legs" (Who wants to tell him?)

That he would call that woman a mother and walk away from the young child who was raped -- and the two children who were abandoned when the woman fled with the rapist rather than show up in court -- is entirely on-brand. Sociopath. Narcissist. Liar. And yes, rapist.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Q: Now that you know the backstory about Amy Acton and her stepfather and why she hasn't talked to her mom in so long -- her stepfather was indicted for rape -- do you change your mind about the ad? TRUMP: No. No. It's a mother speaking badly against Amy Acton. You don't know anything.

Democrats won, Democrats lost. Republicans won, Republicans lost. Until this tinpot fascist lost an election, this republic and our ability to select our own government was presumed. It was the cornerstone. Now we no longer believe in our own process. He is destroying our democracy. With intent.

We live in the most debased political environment in modern American history and even so, I am slackjawed that this vileness is being pursued. This woman sided with the rapist and abuser of her 12-year-old daughter. After he was indicted, she fled with him rather than face court. The GOP is trash.

Philip Bump@pbump.com

Vivek putting money behind it now.

Yes, everything on the internet that doesn't echo your prayers is unfocused and off-point. Fuck all, Kathie, citing this as an obvious metaphor is actually quite specific to the charge that Trump and Hegseth have destroyed U.S. standing in the world. If that eluded you, take a breath. Thanks.

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Shame is dead. So is the Republican Party as a legitimate participant in our self-governance.

Julian Sanchez@normative.bsky.social

It really needs to be emphasized that the woman Vivek is featuring in these videos fled with an accused & indicted child rapist and successfully helped him avoid trial for 20+ years.

How is this brand of political engagement and advocacy entitled to any non-profit tax-exempt status? How is this is any difference than the messaging from a political organization or PAC? How the fuck how?

Dr. Bradley Onishi@bradleyonishi.bsky.social

A message from decayed husk of the “Moral Majority”:

Every day before this election that Donald Trump gibbers on about his ballroom, his helipad and some fucking golf course in Washington D.C. is a good day for restoring our republic.

The United States of America is bathing in shame.

Ron Filipkowski@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff to Vladimir Putin today: “You talk so much about Trump being a humanitarian, you are a humanitarian also, sir. And I salute that. I commend you.”

When your admiration for another man's ass and your desire to tell the world carries across state lines and over several days, it's time to acknowledge that you may be ready to consider a change in lifestyle.

Ron Filipkowski@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social

Trump is now in NC but he can’t stop lusting after Husted’s ass, who is running in OH. bsky.app/profile/atru...

Do you know how fecal you hae to be to use for political gain a daughter's evidenced sexual abuse by her stepfather and subsequent estrangment from a mother who took her husband's side and lost custody of both her kids as a result? We do now. Come on down, Vivek, you utter piece of shit.

The Downballot@the-downballot.com

Vivek Ramaswamy has not only confirmed the commercial with Amy Acton's estranged mother was made by his campaign, Axios also reports he's now spending $4 million to air it.

That buainess about God delivering himself in human form so that he could feel the actual suffering of his every creation and then using that suffering to redeem all? That lofty bit eluded these sadists in its entirety. Whatsoever they do to the least of other people, hey, they were asking for it.

J.D. Vance is the most soulless, slanderizing, racist asshole to ever hold high office in the United States. Except, of course, for the president he serves. And by not employing more profanity and maledicta here, I am short-selling him. So to the extent my rhetoric has been imperfect, that's on me.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Q: Why are you scapegoating immigrants for the issues you're supposed to be solving as the vice president? JD VANCE: To the extent my rhetoric has been imperfect, that's on me

Glad to see your seat seemingly secure in these troubled times for Republican office holders. And certainly, Faber College is widely recognized for the legtimacy of its polls, as well as the excellence of its academic programming. As Founder Emil Faber, so famously opined: "Knowledge is good."

RepJackKimble@repjackkimble.bsky.social

This is huge! This is the one we've been waiting for!

Political insight from the Texas senator. Clearly, Trump has alienated this powerful voting cohort and certainly, in doing so, he has tipped the scales and brought about polls in which 60 percent of Americans think his administration is fucking the dog. Never poke left-wing transgender witches.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Ted Cruz: "Right now, if you are left-wing transgender witch, you hate Donald Trump"

It's time to bring back Mr. Scaramucci. He's tan, he's rested, he's ready.

Kyle Griffin@kylegriffin1.bsky.social

BREAKING NYT: Trump's new press secretary, Katie Zacharia, was fired Friday, after less than a week on the job, according to three people familiar with the matter.

My deepest regret today is simply that this shard of enlightenment on the human condition was not broadcast to a waiting, credulous audience on Fox News. In that sense, I kind of miss this guy.

Matt Novak@paleofuture.bsky.social

Tucker Carlson: "If you look at pornography enough or bestiality videos all day, after a while... it's kind of an attractive horse, I get it."

Are you kidding? Do you know how much that trinklet is going to be worth as a one-of-a-kind? It's the Shroud of Turin of statuettes, the upside-down-plane-airmail-postage-stamp of peace prizes. Trump just made a killing.

This is just piling on the poor lady. If only that unreliable donor had transferred the $100K to her Amex account, then everyone else would be paid in full. What is it about trickle-down economics that you hollowed-out Keynesian lefties don't understand?

Ron Filipkowski@ronfilipkowski.bsky.social

“I’m hearing she’s leaving without settling her bills. Hair appointments, beauty treatments… various places, apparently.”

I love this as a variation on a theme. Thelonius Monk once replied to someone who termed him a genius: "A genius is the one most like himself."

derek guy@dieworkwear.bsky.social

My friend Bruce Boyer is fond of saying that "style is being yourself on purpose." Thus, to develop a wardrobe that lasts 10+ years, the first question isn't "Who makes quality clothes?" It's "Who am I?" In 2022, WSJ put Stephen Colbert on the cover of their magazine, styling him in trendy clothes.

Rep. James was busy helping his neighbor deworm a dog, a task which took longer than expected. The dog, by then quite exercised, chewed up the ony copy of the congressman's campaign remarks. Thereafter, we are told, his car wouldn't start, else he would certainly be here with us today...

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

JD Vance: "I want to give a few shoutouts. First of all, your next governor, the great Congressman John James. He's not with us this afternoon."

The law says no such thing. And to play this game with any reporter marks you as an idiotic blowhard -- which nowadays equates to merely being a garden-variety political hack. But to do it and target a student journalist? You are the Platonic ideal of a unwiped asshole, which equates to Andy Harris.

Baltimore Banner@thebaltimorebanner.com

Republican Rep. Andy Harris incorrectly told a reporter they were breaking the law as the reporter and others recorded an exchange with him last night. Harris had just wrapped up a debate with Democratic challenger Dan Schwartz.

This sort of stuff can be confusing. I consulted some people I knew to ask if I could say I was once the starting third baseman for the Baltimore Orioles and they said, "Brooks, my man, you can absolutely say that. You played some infield in Little League and summer camp, right?"

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Zacharia: "A lot of the misinformation, miscommunication is around the fact that I labeled myself a lawyer. I consulted for a long time many people in the field -- 'Is it ok if I label myself a lawyer?' -- and they said, 'Absolutely. You can call yourself a lawyer. You have a JD'"

If true, tens and possibly hundreds of thousands of human beings are going to destroy themselves and each other in new and mildly interesting ways.

Ken Tremendous@kentremendous.bsky.social

If true, this revolutionary new invention has the potential to quickly kill literally thousands of people in some of the most embarrassing ways imaginable.

John Roberts and four other Supreme Court justices have betrayed the U.S. Constitution. The checks are gone. Imbalance prevails. The American experiment in self-governance is imploding in real time.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com

Trump: "I didn't go to Congress. Remember Sleepy Joe? 'Oh, if they would give me approval in Congress!' You're not gonna get approval. You just do it. You're the president."