INBOX: Rep. Thomas Massie, who has enraged Trump for his insistence on blocking tariffs and releasing the Epstein files according to the law, just issued what is widely known among Chinese dissidents as "a declaration of no suicidal intent" (不自殺聲明), a sign of extreme distress.

Soccer Fan Only A Few Weeks Away From Giving Up On The Season www.thenutmegnews.com/current/2026...

Last call for a thing I wrote about American soccer media. jason-davis-soccer-eagle.ghost.io/american-soc...

Did you miss out on the Q&A with Thorns GM Jeff Agoos? No problem! Watch the whole thing here: youtu.be/TJK-DNiOzXo?... Many thanks to Jeff for coming out and spending time with us. #BAONPDX

The difference between pre and post Leagues Cup DDC is quite noticeable even in this data set. (Without or without the two game outliers—also known as great games) I hope to see an improved version of the pre-League Cup DDC when he’s back #RCTID

www.france24.com/en/live-news... Well well well, what do we have here? My report from Dortmund's most comfortable win of the season.

You may laugh, but the Macbeths are a much better role model for a marriage than Romeo and Juliet. They discuss their problems (killing the king of Scotland), share their hobbies (killing the king of Scotland), and resolve their conflicts (by killing the king of Scotland).

Recently came across this old email, from 2014, from a DC United employee to my editor at MLSSoccer. The club had just been eliminated from the playoffs & I had just ripped some sick donuts at RFK. Dude tried to get me fired, more or less. Absolutely incredible relic right here. Framing it.

Borussia Dortmund extended their winning run with a comfortable victory over an in-form Mainz side.

It's coming out later this year...

Dortmund meat wall goal

I don’t want to jinx anything, but I’m enjoying this BVB match

One of the most powerful books ever written, highly recommend, and my subject for next week’s episode of Past Lives

My ESPN German football column with the focus on Bayern and their treble quest. www.espn.com/soccer/story...

good piece by @abelmeszaros.bsky.social on Igor Tudor's tactical approach the results of this style of play, as he says, have been mixed but they definitely add up to a recognizable tactical vision analyticsfc.co.uk/blog/2023/03...

This is a landmark year in American soccer, and I don't think the Timbers have had a season with this much pressure and expectation since they entered MLS. #RCTID

An unconventional season preview (again). #RCTID

“The Constitution does not permit the government to arrest thousands of individuals and then disregard their constitutional rights because it would be too challenging to honor those rights.“

Hold up everybody, the Timbers have hired a data analyst! #RCTID “…the club's new Data Analyst, Hrishikesh Dabir, joins from English side Blackburn Rovers, where he served as an assistant data scientist for two seasons.” www.patreon.com/posts/timber...

For the curious: these are the Thorns' offseason roster additions with 4 weeks to go before opening day, going back to when U.S. Soccer fully divested from the NWSL and the CBA was negotiated.

Good piece here calling the Thorns out for basically taking the winter off. Once Sophia Wilson took up her (player-held) option, they faded into the background this winter, which is extremely un-Portland. Where's the ambition these days?

Thank you @phuocerman.bsky.social for asking the tough questions. I expected disruption and transition when the sale happened, but I didn’t expect the dumpster fire to rage on

10 Unanswered Questions for the Portland Thorns ahead of the 2026 NWSL season #BAONPDX 🥀No Head Coach 🥀No movement for a 6 after Sam Coffey's departure 🥀Center Back remains pressing need Is ownership holding the club back? 10 Reality Check Takeaways👇 stumptown-footy.ghost.io/the-portland...

Intuitive but interesting analysis of why La Masia doesn’t produce strikers. (Tl;dr: It’s because they emphasize the skills and habits of exceptional midfielders.) www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

More previews: @beninquiring.bsky.social tells us about the Pids, @trevorwojcik.bsky.social makes us nostalgic for the radio alarm clock in San Jose, and @harrisoncrow.bsky.social says it might be interesting in Sandy this year www.americansocceranalysis.com/home/2026/2/...

The highest and best use of soccer analytics is throwing computer vision and professional graders at identifying the dribbliest bois www.gradientsports.com/blog/discove...

Per Phil Neville, Juan Mosquera is out injured with a knock in preseason. #RCTID “It could be 2-3 weeks until we see him” Mosquera was missing the first game regardless to a suspension from GM3 last year.

More concern than praise after that one. Roster holes are still massive. Coming back from 1-0 to take a 2-1 lead is good, blowing that lead in the span of 3 minutes is bad. Structural problems are still apparent. #RCTID

This team is only going to go as far as Velde/DDC can take them, which matches my expectations. Still not seeing a sign of a serious floor. Concerning. #RCTID

Double zero Hunter Sulte is awesome. Looks like Mora is starting as the 10 and Eric Miller is partnering Kamal Miller at center back. #RCTID

NEW: A month out from the 2026 season, the NWSL landscape has been rocked by a pair of trades for rising USWNT midfielders. @ellabrockway.bsky.social and I on the Claire Hutton and Croix Bethune blockbusters. It’s a great day for Bay FC. www.theguardian.com/football/202...

How the boys go ‼️1️⃣1️⃣ Subs: Joseph, Muse, Fory, Jura, Ondo, Surman, Bassett, Fernandez-Kim, Izoita, Nuñez, Santos, VanVoorhis, Guerra

I'm gonna say it: they only care about their WNBA team now. Shameful. #BAONPDX

Possibly the dumbest decision by a place that has no shortage of self-inflicted wounds in recent years. If you’re an MLS fan, subscribe to Doyle’s newsletter. I promise you’ll get coverage you want. Why the league doesn’t want to be in that business anymore is incomprehensible.

The Portland Thorns not finding a way to get this sort of deal done especially after Sam Coffey’s departure makes no sense. This is the exact type of move they needed heading into the season. The club still doesn’t have a head coach, stud defensive midfielder or cb… A lot of work remains.

2026 Portland Thorns Media Day #BAONPDX - Soph Wilson ahead of schedule - now in team trainings. "Caiya Hanks 'exact type of player' wants to play with - Marie Müller tracking for opening day - Caiya Hanks & Morgan Weaver 'later in season' - Players' High praise for interim head coach Sarah Lowdon

“WE ARE VERY EXCITED FOR THIS,” stated one AI representative from MLSSOCCER.COM.BIZ. “WE WILL ASSIMILATE THE PARLAY. RESPECT THE PARLAY. ALL HAIL THE POLYMARKET.”

MLS Announces Plan To Replace Matt Doyle With AI Chatbot Of Simon Borg That Will Cover Polymarket Parlays www.thenutmegnews.com/current/2026...

We're celebrating the addition of @mattdoyle.bsky.social to the Kickback Soccer Media team today, and with the MLS season right around the corner there's no better time to share (again) our American soccer conversation starter pack:

This is an easy subscribe.

Telling graphic

High blocks, low blocks, everywhere you look...blocks. Using data from SkillCorner, I break down how each side likes to set up out of possession, and what it means for their playing style. @theathleticfc.bsky.social Piece here: www.nytimes.com/athletic/703...

Pretty rude to Josh Wolff

2026 MLS Kit Reviews Insults only Starting off with the “Where’s the rest of the Barbershop Quartet” kit