I think @thepressbox.bsky.social just came up with the best possible title for the inevitable film treatment of the Nuzzi/Lizza/RFK/et al saga: “Love Rhombus”

Tidbit buried deep in the administration's response to Doug Hoffer's latest audit: The audited program is operating with two-thirds of the recommended number of inspectors. Gee, I wonder why they can't handle the work. thevpo.org/2025/11/24/j...

Those directly benefiting from Gov. Phil Scott's back-to-commute order have given more than $41,000 to Scott and other Republicans. It's not a direct quid pro quo, but it does reflect Scott's membership in, and identification with, the interests of the moneyed class. thevpo.org/2015/12/02/w...

This hits different in a deep blue state where the ballot initiative process DOESN'T EXIST. Only the Legislature can put a question before the voters. It's anti-democratic, but we accept it as a given.

Joe Biden attending Dick Cheney's funeral is the most Joe Biden thing ever. www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...

@thepressbox.bsky.social Am I right in understanding that Olivia Nuzzi claims to be uniquely qualified to tell her story BECAUSE of her sleazy, unprofessional behavior? I mean, I don't care how good a writer she is. There's something ethically and morally bankrupt at the center of this.

The Chittenden Central Senate district could see a stunning seven names on the Democratic primary ballot, including the three incumbents and as many as four challengers. It would be one for the history books. thevpo.org/2025/11/19/t...

Gov. Phil Scott claims the School District Redistricting Task Force "failed" to accomplish its mission. He's factually wrong, as it happens. But he also ignores the real culprit: himself. thevpo.org/2025/11/17/t...

I realize we all gotta make a buck however we can, but this seems a bit egregious. Story about downtown "brought to you by Pomerleau Real Estate." I guess it's okay because it's labeled PAID POST in little tiny print.

The panel tasked with redrawing school district boundaries just told the governor and Legislature, in so many words, that the task was impossible in the time given. thevpo.org/2025/11/13/t...

My latest media roundup includes two very different stories about immigration, two devastating accounts of the school redistricting process, a pianist's remembrance of his father, and a strained pun headline for the ages. thevpo.org/2025/11/11/n...

Paul Dame barely survived a challenge to his leadership of the Vermont Republican Party. His prospects for future success are questionable at best. thevpo.org/2025/11/10/t...

Vermont Democrats and Republicans are about to elect party chairs. The Dem contest features two young men conducting polite campaigns, while the VTGOP race borrows heavily from "Lord of the Flies." thevpo.org/2025/11/06/i...

Sen. Peter Welch is one of eight "moderate Democratic Senators" actively trying to bargain an end to the government shutdown. To put it another way, surrender. Not exactly in tune with his constituents. thevpo.org/2025/11/05/h...

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. (Yet another Famous Quotation apparently never said by the attributee)

Oh look, former VTDigger journalist speaking at VTGOP convention, telling attendees about "important Republican Party objectives." (And yes, VTGOP spelled her name wrong.)

Outgoing state senator Larry Hart, Sr. would like to ban those not born in Vermont from holding elective office here. WHAAT? thevpo.org/2025/11/05/y...

Is it just me, or is it noteworthy that Phil Scott's top environmental official has come out with guns a-blazing in an op-ed aimed squarely at Vermont's environmental community? thevpo.org/2025/11/03/j...

Phil Scott's back-to-the-office order may or may not result in leasing office space owned by his friends and political supporters, but it will definitely cost something -- at a time of tremendous fiscal uncertainty for state government. thevpo.org/2025/11/03/p...

Resigning state Sen. Larry Hart is disappointed that he couldn't waltz into the Statehouse and immediately accomplish his major priorities. It's a common theme among Republican lawmakers of the current generation. thevpo.org/2025/11/01/t...

More evidence that Nicholas Deml left no positive impact on the Department of Corrections: The state of Vermont's employee engagement survey shows a staff that's disaffected and aggrieved, and see their workplace as unhealthy. thevpo.org/2025/10/30/m...

I sat in on a recent economic forecast tailored for the investor class. Bottom line: The economy is doing just fine. In the aggregate, that is. All the growth is going to top earners and investors, while the poor and working class are taking it in the shorts. thevpo.org/2025/10/28/g...

@thepressbox.bsky.social "Podcaster" is the new "blogger in Mom's basement" awfulannouncing.com/college-foot...

Gov. Phil Scott's Burlington action plan is "a combo platter of disappointing, punitive, and cheap." Did we really expect anything more? thevpo.org/2025/10/26/a...

@thepressbox.bsky.social Now taking bets on the intentionality of this headline www.timesargus.com/news/local/c...

Telling subhead on Phil Scott's public safety plan for Burlington: "Efforts to curb homelessness did not make the list." www.sevendaysvt.com/uncategorize...

The pending departure of the Vermont Democratic Party's chair may not be as voluntary as it first appeared. thevpo.org/2025/10/23/i...

Here's an elementary part of campaign coverage our Vermont media routinely fail to do: Checking a candidate's social media history. This story may prevent a bigot from winning office with a Phil Scott-style efficiency-in-government pitch. www.pressherald.com/2025/10/22/w...

Funny thing about Sam Douglass' crowdfunding effort. GiveSendGo is a Christian platform, and gives participants the option of donating or simply *praying for* the crowdfunder. At last check, Douglass was about 1/15 of the way to his goal, and more people are offering prayers than money. Ow.

Sam Douglass, self-described victim of a massive media and political conspiracy, has taken to a Christian crowdfunding platform to wallow in self-pity and beg for money. thevpo.org/2025/10/22/s...

Hey, a new roundup of Vermont reporting worth your attention including the retirement of a respected newspaper voice, a local outlet unafraid of stepping on toes, more nonsense from local government meetings, and... Bernie had an affair with Champ? thevpo.org/2025/10/21/n...

Vermont Dems seem to have settled on a familiar strategy for retaking Sam Douglass' Senate seat: Hiding Democratic policies and values like a dog's medication wrapped in raw hamburger. thevpo.org/2025/10/20/f...

@thepressbox.bsky.social Got a better Strained Pun Headline than "Reign Check"?

Seven Days out here giving Sam Douglass credit for "apologizing" when, in fact, he used the word "apologize" but he did not, in any sense of the meaning of the word, actually make an apology. www.sevendaysvt.com/news/politic...

Sam Douglass resigned, not because he realizes his monumental moral offense, but because he feared for his family's safety. Maybe now he'll realize why the targets of conservative hate speech fear for their own safety. thevpo.org/2025/10/17/w...

Vermont's Republican Party sees a spirited contest for party chair. The Vermont Democratic Party will be seeking a new chair at its convention next month. thevpo.org/2025/10/17/m...

My gas pump asked me to donate to something called Give4Good, which has got to be the Human Fund of our time.

Thoughts on Sam Douglass' non-apology. thevpo.org/2025/10/16/t...

VTDigger gives Sam Douglass credit for an apology. He did NOT apologize, at all. The only thing he "apologized" for was "that our county and state have been dragged into this." Not a word about his own conduct or his role in dragging our state into this. vtdigger.org/2025/10/15/v...

By all means, let's fundraise on a scandal.

Kind of embarrassing, isn't it, when Vermont media gets scooped on in-state stories by faraway national outlets? Well, it just happened again. That's twice in as many days. thevpo.org/2025/10/15/f...

Thanks to Politico, an extreme conservative is suddenly persona non grata in #vtpoli-land. I could have told you — actually, I DID tell you — about his extremism three years ago. And there are more like him in the Republican Statehouse caucuses. thevpo.org/2025/10/14/i...

Some troubling information, mostly from the public record, about the recently (and precipitously) departed corrections commissioner Nicholas Deml. Quite a lot of troubling information, actually. thevpo.org/2025/10/13/w...

'Splain this to me: Seven Days' website features (a) a renowned cartoonist standing happily next to a graffiti-adorned pillar, and (b) a story bemoaning Burlington's problem with... graffiti?

Come for the fascism, stay for the deep dish pizza

Oh hey, it's my latest roundup of quality work (and one not so much) by Vermont media outlets! thevpo.org/2025/10/07/n...

The formerly great Burlington Free Press has pubished a story based entirely on a press release, rewritten by an "Assisted by AI" reporter, and they put a goddamn paywall in front of it. Like they think this slop is worth paying for. www.burlingtonfreepress.com/story/news/l...

Oh boy, VTDigger brings news of job openings for those willing (or happy) to, well, join the dark side. thevpo.org/2025/10/06/a...

Here's a scoop: Didja know that some graffiti is considered art??????? Your Digger dollars at work. vtdigger.org/2025/10/06/m...

The Fine Art of Mime