Steve

Alderaan Rules: The Success and Failures of the Tarkin Doctrine

Is it too much to ask that leftists find a position somewhere in between "exercise is for fascists" and "let's nominate gym bros who abuse women to prove we're manly?"

Has anyone pointed out the irony that, in the 1950s, a shocking covert op success in Iran led to overconfidence and a bunch of debacles in South America and now, decades later, shocking success in South America had led to a debacle in Iran?

New Robert Putnam metaphor just dropped

Don't have the ingredients to pickle your cucumbers? Dill issue

@warren.senate.gov @trahan.house.gov

Exactly one year ago today:

When Tom Homan, Trump and other Republicans defend the masking of ICE agents, I can't help but think of Orson Welles announcing on his radio show his intention of identifying the South Carolina police officer who violently attacked and blinded the uniformed Black veteran Isaac Woodard in 1946.

One of the best things I’ve read in a while:

Earlier this morning, President Trump threatened me and a group of service and veteran Members of Congress with arrest, trial, and death by hanging. Here’s my response:

Great recent article on the variables involved by @scottsantens.com www.scottsantens.com/17-key-varia....

🧵 Yesterday I shared my views on how disordered discourse has captured the US state and the risk of that happening elsewhere, but I don’t want to leave you hanging without proposing a solution.

What we’re witnessing in America is what happens when disordered discourse captures a political party, then the state itself. The Republican Party was the first to fall - abandoning truth for conspiracy, ideology for grievance, and policy for performative outrage.

Re-upping this piece once more because it was a long time in the making. But also because after he was wrongly accused by media outlets, law firms, and politicians, Silverman deserves to have as many people read about his vindication as possible.

Protest is good for you and good for the nation. Get out there

ICYMI: “And now, a response from the leader of the frog resistance...” 🐸 🎵 #Colbert

Senate is back in session today. 1/ So a quick 🧵on where things are at on the shutdown. You get a lot of propaganda and spin thrown at you, so I want to give you the real, behind-the-scenes tea.

Ruin a book by adding “Tom Clancy’s” to the title Tom Clancy's Naked Lunch

The one thing that may save us is that Trump and his admin are just so buffoonish and incompetent. They mimic the aesthetics of authoritarian regimes without seeming to have a real plan. Some random thoughts I had this week about the state of our country...

Trump and Netanyahu are going down a path that is monstrously immoral and will also leave Israel less secure in the future.

Trump getting away with deploying troops to L.A. was a dangerous turning point.

Slightly diminish a band: Pewter Zeppelin

Started out writing about how terms like socialism and communism are misused. Ended up writing about the unfair treatment of Zohran Mamdani, progressive messaging, and how the great champions of free market capitalism supported programs like #UBI and a more robust social safety net.

To the extent I'm aware of it, it disgusts and saddens me.

an utter lack of curiosity is a defining quality of the worst people u know

Want to feel old? There is a ‘90s exhibit at the history museum.

Juan Linz wrote about presidentialism's weaknesses and the threat of falling to authoritarianism, but noted the U.S. was an exception, with traits that supported democracy and smoothed over institutional challenges. Decades later, the U.S. now seems to be following the pattern Linz warned about.

My last living musical hero is still my hero but unfortunately no longer living. RIP to the great, great Mr. Tom Lehrer.

I’m thinking about contracting with a research assistant. Someone who has a background in journalism and politics and is (for better or worse) extremely online. Is this a thing that exists?

Frank Herbert's Dune and the warning it offers about AI's effect on society. #Dune #FrankHerbert #AI

Idaho bans "everyone is welcome here" flags in classrooms. How the authoritarian right uses the language of civil society to undermine rights.

O.J. verdict

Trump is speed-running the crimes King George committed to prompt the Declaration of Independence.

Been saying this for months...

Trump v. CASA - the context and implications of the ruling are far more disturbing than the legal questions.