Put another way: even if fraud *was* rampant and undocumented immigrants *were* voting in droves, putting the president in charge of election administration would still be a completely fucked idea

every epstein commentary is these immensely rich/powerful/influential people raving about what a genius epstein was, and every one of his emails is just “helo, my name jomfrie”

Elon Musk? The PayPal co-founder?

The first and all-too-timely episode of Highway to Hill dropped this morning! SoRelle schools us on the appropriations process, I pour one out for Bill Cassidy, and the ongoing DHS/ICE fallout in Congress. Subscribe anywhere you get pods.

You are all ABSOLUTELY entitled to your correct opinion that Chuck Schumer's messaging sucks. But don't waste your time whining while he bought you two weeks. Bc this is legislative success.

Wow so cool they should make a playable open-world game that looks like this

Does it also criminalize public executions in a mask without a doctor's note

Need to get my hands on an “ICE? No, Grazie!” sign

This is Jeb-meme-level domination

when you're at the cutting edge of user interface design

bars

I'm so frustrated with my beloved Congress that I started a podcast about it with SoRelle Gaynor. Each week, we'll break down the biggest story on the Hill in 30 minutes or less with a dash of polisci. First episode of Highway to Hill drops next Friday. highwaytohill.substack.com/p/trailer-ho...

Honestly, for these guys, there is no punishment more devastating and complete

"Whiskey Thursdays with Tony Dokoupil"

Hm interesting

Quite a statement by the Republican governor of Vermont

it's equal parts great and bizarre to see someone in office who seems genuinely proud to be a public servant

There are 690 separate polling locations, for 1703 voting divisions, just in the City of Philadelphia. And Pennsylvania law specifies that LEOs cannot be within 100 feet of the entrance to a polling location unless (a) they're there to vote or (b) have been asked to come in to break up a fight.

"Why are they dressed like that?" @captmarkkelly.bsky.social says of ICE agents. Full interview with Kelly here: open.spotify.com/episode/019T...

The guy that runs the Reddit where people post about patting their cat on the butt like bongos has put his foot down

“A federal judge in Minnesota has blocked the Trump administration from ‘destroying or altering evidence’ related to today's fatal shooting of Pretti.” www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...

Congressman Maxwell Frost says he was punched in the face at Sundance Festival by a man who told him "Trump was going to deport" him

when the driving range guys are talking about masked agents of the state you’ve probably made a strategic error if you’re the state

It helps to have this kind of stuff in the archives during a slow news week

I unfortunately just watched (and won't link to, and do not recommend you watch) the video from the woman in pink who is standing near the victim. I can't possibly get across enough how utterly divorced from reality Bovino's statement is.

As these images unfold, I really think this is worth remembering that it's literally -12 degrees in Minneapolis right now

I'm so frustrated with my beloved Congress that I started a podcast about it with SoRelle Gaynor. Each week, we'll break down the biggest story on the Hill in 30 minutes or less with a dash of polisci. First episode of Highway to Hill drops next Friday. highwaytohill.substack.com/p/trailer-ho...

Minnesota: "School officials say the [5-year-old] child was used as bait. They say [ICE] agents made little Liam knock on the door to ask to be let in in order to see if anyone else was home."

I know I'm not the first person to write about the Mercator projection, but I continue think it's at least 64% of the reason Trump is so fixated on Greenland

donald trump experienced a level of what was, for him, humiliation equivalent to death when obama lightly mocked him back in 2011 and we all are going to pay for it

I think Hank's referring to MT-01, which voted Trump by 12 pts in 2024, and by 7 in 2020, according to @the-downballot.com. In special elections over the past year, Dems have overperformed 2024 margins by about 14 pts. I'd say this district is an unlikely pickup, but still within striking distance

The only thing worse than only two viable parties? Only one viable party. We need real competition in our state legislatures, and a buffet of changes to our political system to incentivize more people to run for office.

Remove me from this earth

“you won’t get away with this”

Vegetarian Greek food restaurant called Don't Meat Your Gyros

Something potentially valuable to keep in mind when the public opinion data about Venezuela starts to come in. About a quarter of the 2024 electorate (so, more today) were not voters when Obama declared an end to the War in Iraq 2010; and 36% were not voters in 2003, when it began.

+1. For sure "What should/can I do?" is at least tied for the number one question I get from non-political scientists (up there with "Is this normal?" and "Can he do that?"). I always wish I had better, more concrete answers to the question.

Just leaving this here

Indescribable meaninglessness, bottomless pits of emptiness

If they want to name the category "Most Technically Listened-To Podcast", that's totally fine but they should call it that! Some totally a-okay podcasts on this list, but surely we don't need to pretend this is the 2025 Podcast Criterion Collection

Some quick thoughts on GOP retirements and what drives them — as always, thanks to @the-downballot.com for their public service on the historical retirement data. Will be keeping that chart updated on a weekly basis thru the beginning of next year to compare cycles/parties since 2006.

Construction has begun in earnest

personally I believe that King Moonracer from Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is NOT a toy himself but IS a fantasy being who’s just really into being the photogenic figure-head of a humanitarian aid organization for sentient toys

Very surreal bucket list item checked off today: @jaclynkettler.bsky.social and I were on All Things Considered @npr.org to talk about Scandalized! www.npr.org/2025/12/21/n...

2. What he says about climate is patently false (more on that later) but to the extent he's saying "politicians shouldn't do the right thing unless it's popular", I'd note only that that is a toddlers view of leadership. If the popular kids are mean, should you be mean?