Why shouldn't Virginia Governor @abigailspanberger.com announce something like "the Supreme Court just ruled that state governments can redistrict, multiple Republican-controlled states already are, and the people of Virginia indicated they want us to, so that's what we're going to do," then do it?

The big divide in today’s Democratic Party is not liberal-progressive or centrist-leftist. It’s fight-acquiesce.

personally I think it's a very big deal that the Canada bureau chief for the @nytimes.com — certainly one of the highest-paid journalists in the country — asked an unspecified "AI tool" what Poilievre said & published its AI-hallucinated quotes in her reporting.

See the left of the graph, when monthly job creation was high? A terrible economy that should be described negatively. And on the right side, where the line has sloped down, and even a relatively high month is lower than the average under Biden? That’s good, and merits positive words like “solid.”

Trump and Co. going "you want Iran to have a nuclear weapon" should be interpreted as the thing they think sounds best in the moment, nothing more. Like an online flame war. The case for attacking Iran was supposed to be US wins quickly, glory to Trump. Having failed, they lie and berate. As usual.

A big problem with messaging by focus group is that, for most people, the real answer to "what wording would appeal to you?" is "if a candidate excites me, I'll know it." Similar to some newly invented products creating their own demand. But since focus group members are asked, they give answers.

Let's stop whining about unfairness and start fighting harder.

Republicans can't gerrymander their way to victory in the midterms. It's quite bad, anti-democracy, and unfair. Should be objected to, opposed, and countered as best as possible for those reasons. Still, if you're worrying, the numbers aren't there, especially since the economy will likely worsen.

Things that should not be run like businesses: universities, hospitals, and government. Things that should be run like businesses: businesses. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk.

The problem—which both the GOP and the milquetoast institutionalists seem to not be grappling with here—is that the more you close off avenues of political change through the democratic process, the more you push people to see extra-institutional mechanisms as their only option

The Canvas cyberattack screws over students, who were studying for finals and can't access course material. University of Illinois (my employer) just suspended all final exams without exception. They displayed similar leadership in the pandemic, and other institutions should consider doing it too.

Putin really wants his annual military parade, to keep up appearances that everything’s fine. But things are not fine, so Russia moved some of its already insufficient air defense to protect the parade. Which opened up windows for Ukrainian strikes elsewhere. Making things look really not fine.

A core part of the Supreme Court’s stated rationale for gutting the Voting Rights Act is that racism isn’t a problem anymore, so former Confederate states would never disenfranchise Black voters the way those states are doing right now.

He thinks he sounds tough, and maybe really is unhinged, but this looks like someone afraid of escalation, afraid of looking liking he lost, and desperately hoping bluster is enough to turn things around. It won’t be, not least because the Iranians—along with Gulf states, China, everyone—sees it.

The Iliad and Odyssey were campfire stories. Shakespeare plays are full of scandal and low brow humor. (The guy named Bottom gets magically turned into an ass. Get it? Get it?) They were mass entertainment. Great, and stood the test of time. But because they’re old timey, thought of as high art.

He crashed the economy. Government, markets, and media will pretend he didn't for as long as they possibly can. But he did, and that will become increasingly apparent in the coming months. The country and world cannot adjust to an energy supply crunch of this size without economic disruption.

By observation, common sense, strategic logic, economics, and the "every accusation is a confession" rule, Trump is more desperate to make a deal than Iran. And it sure looks like the Iranians know it.

I don’t think Americans with hypertension and various other treatable conditions deserve to die. Sorry to get so partisan, but that’s how I feel.

A perfect example, people are still saying goofy stuff like “they didn’t even save money” as if that pretext was anything but

A big middle finger and the umpteenth told-you-so to the many parts of the media that have spent the last month repeatedly told everyone the war is over. “What are we supposed to do, not uncritically put whatever the serial lying White House says in headlines regardless of veracity?” Yes, exactly.

What is especially galling is that this saved zero dollars, since the cruise ships pay for the inspections. And now their industry is less trusted because of perceived health risks. Amazing lose-lose policymaking.

Do we need a new word for when two warring parties agree to stop shooting at each other? Because the word "ceasefire" apparently now means "unceased fire and ongoing acts of war, but not as much as there was recently."

This headline from Justice Roberts and the red banner of what Tennessee just did to Memphis after the SCOTUS gutted the Voting Rights Act..

"To the extent that SCOTUS claims broad authority to say what our Constitution means, it is in large part because we have given this authority to the justices through our indifference...the Republic—and the Constitution that brought it to life—is meant for us." Absolutely, @jamellebouie.net.

I do wonder how much ordinance we have actually dropped going after mobile launchers and missiles. One of the big takeaways from the Gulf War Air Power Survey was that scud hunting was a giant waste of time and resources

SCOOP: A confidential new CIA analysis delivered to policymakers this week concludes that Iran can survive the U.S. naval blockade for at least 3 to 4 months before facing more severe economic hardship, a finding that contradicts those hailing an imminent collapse 🧵

Again: The Trump theory of international relations is other countries are NPCs who can't be bent to our will if we pass an intimidation check. The idea that they might have their own interests is utterly alien.

I am against tear gassing or pepper spraying children. Sorry to get so partisan, but that's how I feel.

Strategically, stalling is in Iran's interest. Not getting bombed while the global energy supply crunch worsens might be the best for them under the circumstances.

I’m truly vexed by the special pleading by the chief justice. Are we not supposed to notice that partisans avidly seek majorities SO THAT they can appoint co-partisans to the court? That co-partisan judges vote together, which is WHY our discourse is obsessed with the partisan composition of courts?

"The Parasocial Style in American Politics" is an incredibly good title. Deserves one of my highest compliments: it's amazing someone didn't think of it sooner. @aselrod.bsky.social's full argument about the internet and social media's societal impact is good too.

just to emphasize again, closing Malacca means 'taking a couple of extra days on a trip.' the economist had a great recent graph on various straits and their relative levels of direness.

still thinking about that Goldman Sachs “analysis” that predicted we would be at 120% of normal traffic in the strait of Hormuz by now

It is interesting how Trump quietly accepted the Gulf states denying U.S. military access to their airspace for Iran operations after blasting NATO countries for doing the same thing. www.nbcnews.com/politics/whi...

Iran is holding the cards, and Trump appears desperate. I joined @ianmastersmedia.bsky.social on Background Briefing to discuss the latest in the war, and why the US never should have done it.

If “Democrats nominate a similar presidential candidate in 2028, one who wins yet doesn’t act with alacrity on democracy preservation and helping Americans live better lives, a fed-up electorate will once again turn them out as ineffectual.” @jilldlawrence.bsky.social, thinking about 2028 v. 2020

Color me skeptical that JD Vance voiced objections to attacking Iran in White House meetings. He’s trying to claim the never true always a lie but somehow believed “Trump is antiwar” label. Works only if no one presses Vance for his real position on Iran, leaving just his self-serving press leaks.

its true that i dont understand how the supreme court operates. for example do you get the free RV and house for your mom before or after issuing favorable rulings? is it a *wink wink* deal or more explicit? these are the things the general public doesnt understand

Trump’s claim of progress in Iran negotiations was a lie to cover for his Project Freedom embarrassment, reports now confirm. But reading between the lines of Saudi Arabia denying base or airspace access, it looks like the Saudis are afraid of resumed launches. Got hit hard, and low on air defense.

Trump White House didn’t bother checking with Gulf partners before trying to run the Strait of Hormuz—which risked resumption of high intensity warfare—and an angry Saudi Arabia forbid use of bases or airspace. Helps explain “Project Freedom” reversal. Nearly every way they can screw up, they do.

Presidents I could take: Trump, Biden, Carter, JFK (no drugs), Wilson, Taft, William Henry Harrison, Madison, FDR Make it interesting: Obama, Bush (either), Clinton, Truman, Hoover, Harding, Garfield I get beat: Ford, LBJ, TR, Arthur, Lincoln Kills me: Jackson Kills me with a hidden shiv: Nixon

Many farms declaring bankruptcy or not planting sucks for the whole country. And it really sucks that many of the people who will be hit hardest by this voted for it.

A state that redraws its legislative maps before every election to maximize advantage for the incumbent party is not a democracy or a republic and in any case obviously violates the guarantee clause, among many others. No country does this. No country ever thought of doing this. It is a total farce.

Where does the Constitution say "major questions" gives the Supreme Court more power as determined by the Court? Why didn't anyone notice it for 224 years? Where does the Constitution say "official acts" make a president immune to legal consequence for crime. Why didn't anyone notice for 235 years?

John Roberts is very upset that the public has lost confidence in John Roberts and the institution John Roberts leads following a series of confidence-cratering actions by John Roberts and his colleagues, and therefore would like everyone to know that this is not John Roberts' fault, it's yours.

An awful lot of credulous quoting of “federal law enforcement” sources in the coverage of the Louise Lucas matter. Given the manifest politicization of Trump’s DOJ and FBI, why should media agree to quote any of these sources on background?

Jesus. The fact that they tipped off Fox News seems like a red flag that this is bullshit.

First, we denigrate, tariff, and threaten other countries. Next we deploy a thuggish state paramilitary force to arrest anyone they think looks foreign, frequently violating basic rights. Then we make travel a lot more expensive with a war of choice we can’t fix. Hey, why aren’t you coming here?

you fucked up a perfectly good freedom of navigation is what you did look at it, it's got tolls

The deadliest terrorist attacks in the United States in recent years come from white nationalists pushing variations of Great Replacement Theory. El Paso Walmart, Pittsburgh synagogue, Buffalo supermarket, and more. Plus some in other countries. Not mentioned in the new counterterrorism strategy.