I’ve known Sam as an outstanding neuroscience researcher, and have followed his subsequent career as an insightful (and evidence-based) commentator on US politics. He deserves support from fellow scientists!

As @ruthmarcus.bsky.social notes, establishing a trust w/ 1% of Bezos's fortune (~$250B) could fund the Post to continue its tradition of great journalism in the service of small-d democracy. Sadly, it seems that strengthening democracy is not one of his interests. www.newyorker.com/news/annals-...

I don't know if non-lawyers understand how insane this statement is. I honestly can't think of anything remotely comparable in non-lawyer speak. I guess the closest would be a surgeon saying "Imagine if I had to wash my HANDS before doing surgery!"

Huge shout-out to the solo practitioners and small firm lawyers, along with non-profits, who have stepped up to try to get people free while the nation's biggest firms were busy either capitulating to or collaborating with the fascists. h/t @jesspish.bsky.social elpasomatters.org/2026/02/01/e...

Trump said he’d bring down costs on day one. His tariffs are costing you an additional $1,400 per year.

Of the biggest scandals in US history just this week, I think I’d rank them: 1) Federal paramilitaries invade US city based on racist lies, murder US citizens 2) Slush fund for the president from stolen foreign resources held in Qatar 3) Whatever FBI and DNI are doing re: 2020 election in Georgia

HEY. MICHIGANDERS. Important action you need to do tonight (other than calling our Senators do that too). Senate bills to support/protect our immigrant community up for Committee tomorrow. Submit a card in support. h/t @acluofmichigan.bsky.social. TY. secure.ngpvan.com/b5uPjgQQNkGq...

We just got the first public poll I've ever seen of this referendum on restoring voting rights in Virginia. It's by Christopher Newport University, just out, and it shows the YES leading 64% to 30%. (mailchi.mp/60b2cb28338a...) The referendum is in November. Details here:

This is why I have real fucking problem with blithe criticisms of "polarization" or "congressional dysfunction." We have a Republican member blaming his colleague for being attacked. The problem isn't polarization or dysfunction. It's the Republican Party.

This needs to happen at the very least

I wrote this song on Saturday, recorded it yesterday and released it to you today in response to the state terror being visited on the city of Minneapolis. It’s dedicated to the people of Minneapolis, our innocent immigrant neighbors and in memory of Alex Pretti and Renee Good. Stay free

This is how “straight” reporting distorts the news. Trump says he wants an “honest” investigation. But the DOJ is not doing an independent investigation, and, instead, CBP will be investigating its own officers. Sounds like it could be a rigged inquiry. Trump’s “vow” is worthless PR.

👍👍 on the historic use, and utility, of anti-masking laws, from @kevinmkruse.bsky.social:

Heyo, Chicago pals: Quick note that the executive vice president of the Bob Loquercio Auto Group is vociferously defending the murder of Alex Pretti. The auto group has 16 locations in and around Chicago, listed below. Please take your business elsewhere. www.blautogroup.com/locations/in...

Paid agitators don't do 30 below zero.

❤️❤️❤️

AND because they think it will be be easier to control Portland ME than Chicago or Los Angeles or NYC. They want to LOOK stronger than they are. If they were really powerful, they wouldn’t need the theatrics. It’s a parade of fear-mongering.

“No one man can terrorize a whole nation, unless we are all his accomplices.” -Edward R. Murrow

This is heartwarming news. (Source: phoebewallhoward.substack.com/p/patriot-mo...)

I extremely hate the policies and personality of Donald Trump to an insane degree but I’d be offended if China sent in team to kill a bunch of our civilians and military personnel and kidnap our leader and his wife and then declare that they now “ran” the United States, this isn’t hard

If I watched CBS News, I'd stop right now. If you watch CBS News, please stop right now.

Remember at all times that this is a simulacrum of authoritarian consolidation, nothing more. badfaithtimes.com/the-doomers-...

The Trump admin broke the “rule of law” when it deprived more than 200 men of due process and sent them to the CECOT torture prison in El Salvador. Bari Weiss killed a 60 Minutes segment on it, falsely claiming there was a “genuine debate” over it. The rule of law is indeed crucial for America.

✅⚖️ 💨 U.S. District Court in Massachusetts rules that Trump's order issued on Inauguration Day blocking new offshore wind projects is arbitrary and capricious and contrary to law, and vacates it. storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...

A real loss to truth-telling about the Confederacy and its apologists. wapo.st/49k4ha6

🤔➡️😒➡️🤬

This is a great piece that speaks to my own family's background in NYC. Thanks to @mollycrabapple.bsky.social for writing it. www.theguardian.com/commentisfre...

Destroying USAID will go down in history as one of the worst Trump foreign policy decisions in 2025. USAID needed reform, not dissolution. China didn't shut down its Belt & Road Initiative (BRI). Unilateral disarmament is not a rational strategy for competing with China.

Ryan Goodman really excellent here in explaining what we’ve learned and how much we don’t yet know about Epstein—and what documents we should be on the lookout for, how much DOJ is still stonewalling, what Congress might have to do. www.youtube.com/live/GZF-ojI...

Ohio only permits one ballot dropbox per county, so the grace period for mailing a ballot is a key convenience for those who cannot easily access a dropbox. Mail voting is particularly popular among older voters and those with disabilities.

My name is OrangeMandias, King of Kings: Look on my tariffs, ye Mighty, and despair!" (H/t P.B. Shelley) open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...

The person charged with enforcing the laws is an open lawbreaker, assisted by a team of open lawbreakers, backed by a Congressional majority indifferent to lawbreaking, supported by a Supreme Court that privileges them to break the law. It has no legitimacy whatsoever.

May the gods of the multiverses bless "Joy of Cooking." (2019 Ed., page 269.)

Highly recommended, not least for the "...dunk on Dunkelman..." choice.

When Crosby Stills Nash and Young were active, I was a skeptic, though I was a big fan of the Byrds, Hollies, and Buffalo Springfield. After watching the "Laurel Canyon" documentary (highly recommended), I've been listening to their albums again and realizing that I liked many of their songs.

For years, I've read that presidents get too much credit for domestic economic improvement and too much blame for economic decline. It's ironic that Trump has committed 100% to his Tariff Bit - one of the few ways he can be factually held responsible for our worsening economy. #OrangeGalaxyBrain

🇺🇸 On this day 25 years ago, The Conservative Supreme Court handed George W. Bush the 2000 presidential election. A heartbroken Al Gore graciously conceded, and delivered a passionate call for national unity. 🇺🇸 Just 20 years later, Donald J. Trump lost by 7 million votes and attacked our country.

Release the boat videos. Release the Epstein files. Release the ICE and Border Patrol body-cam footage. Justice Brandeis: "Sunlight is the best disinfectant." And there's so much the Trump administration's doing that needs disinfecting.

White House Begins Christmas Season With Ceremonial Lighting Of Cross

I support paywalls for news sources, because I support journalism. Those media site agreement-screens about allowing cookies? I click away from such sites immediately (unless I need to access them for work), because the message I take from them is that such sites actually DON'T "value my privacy."

"Readers are not asking the Times to print propaganda or stump for Democrats. In my view, they simply want the Times to be more clear-eyed and honest about the depth of the crisis this country currently faces." — @froomkin.bsky.social Sad but accurate, Dan. presswatchers.org/2025/12/new-...

Missouri Republican lawmakers do not respect Missouri voters. The only way to undo the damage is to kick them out of office. The only way to get them out is to win races across the state. The only way to win races is to contest every race on every ballot. open.substack.com/pub/jesspipe...

"I can't afford to support my favorite author right now, I—" Reviews. Reviews are free AND they are a gift to authors that can keep on giving (i.e., exposure, marketing, algo boosts, etc.) Please, give the gift of reviews to your authors this holiday season. It really can make a difference!

HFS.

Once again, the ads in the print edition of @theonion.com are worth the price alone

Pencils, avocados, what luxuries will people want next? Water? Air? Exposé at 11.

the united states is currently being led by a bunch of little david dukes with a senescent outer-borough grand dragon at the top

I've got Big Wordle on the run.