Come for the politics, stay for the snark.

We do not need to pander to people who do not like what we stand for.

If senate republicans had any shame, they’d die of it.

They love authoritarianism, but only when they get to be the authoritarians.

The media handbook says “controversial” is the most negative description that can be used for a Republican.

This chaos was totally avoidable.

Innocent people do not delay justice.

Human rights are not a matter of opinion!

Oppose, oppose, oppose. do not congratulate. this is not business as usual.

No offense, but this thread hasn’t been about you for quite a while.

The lights are all blinking red.

Giving in to doom is how we fail to fight for ourselves & one another.

I would gladly pay you tuesday for a hamburger today.

I did not have this on my fuck 2025 bingo card.

Proof that we need a blogger ethics panel.

Whatever happens next week, the fight doesn’t end.

Do we throw up our hands or do we roll up our sleeves? (hint, door #2)

Fuck these fucking interesting times.

Mediocre white men think RFK Jr’s pathetic midlife crisis is inspirational. The bar is set so low for them, it’s subterranean.

So it was an October Surprise A Day, like an Advent calendar but for crime.

I swear, each month of 2025 will have its own history degree.

This has so much WTF written all over it that it is hard to comprehend.

She burned that motherfucker down, and I am so here for it. Thank you, Caroline Kennedy.

We need to vote them all out and restore sane Democratic government.

Compromise? There is no middle ground between a firefighter and an arsonist.

You are here: Home / Archives for Open Threads

Tariffs and the End of the American Century*

by | 251 Comments

This post is in: , , ,

We should probably talk about the madness Trump unleashed this afternoon. As someone on Bluesky said (the actual author is now lost to endless flow of my timeline), the question of whether a nation could more thoroughly punch itself in the groin than the Brits did with Brexit has now been answered with a resounding “Yes.”

Tariffs and the End of the American Century* 4

I’m completely buried in book stuff–trying to finish a rapid turnaround short work on vaccines while promoting the almost-here tome on the history of germ theory (which has become waaaaaay too timely thanks to RFK Jr.)–if anyone’s in the neighborhood, I’ll be talking at the Oxford (UK) Literary Festival, on Sunday afternoon; love to see any UK Jackals. So I’m not going to add my gloss to the disaster we’re about to enjoy.

Instead, let me give you a random sample of Bluesky reactions as prompts to start the chat here. Have fun inventing invective of the ferocity Terry Pratchett would have placed in the mouths of Commander Vimes et al.

Tariffs and the End of the American Century* Tariffs and the End of the American Century* 1 Tariffs and the End of the American Century* 2

To add some grist to your mills, here’s an excerpt from a note Paul Krugman just posted on his Substack:

But you know that having once claimed that Europe charges tariffs more than 10 times as high as reality, Trump will never drop that claim. I don’t know how many people noticed, but he’s still claiming that we’re subsidizing Canada by $200 billion a year. Aside from the basic mistake of claiming that a Canadian trade surplus means that we’re somehow subsidizing Canada, he’s inflating the actual trade surplus by a factor of three. Many, many people have pointed out the error, but Trump is sticking with it, the same way Musk is sticking with the millions of dead Social Security beneficiaries thing.

If you had any hopes that Trump would step back from the brink, this announcement, between the very high tariff rates and the complete falsehoods about what other countries do, should kill them.

With that, this thread is open–but I rather hope it stays focused on the matter at hand.

*That outcome is now wildly overdetermined, to be sure.

Image: Angelo Bronzino, detail from Venus, Cupid, Folly, and Time, 1540-1545

Tariffs and the End of the American Century*Post + Comments (251)

The Good Naomi (Open Thread)

by | 199 Comments

This post is in: , ,

Remember when Naomi Wolf came out as a right-wing kook, and people kept confusing Naomi Klein for Wolf, giving the Good Naomi misdirected grief online? I still recall this rhyme when I see one of their names:

If your Naomi be Klein
You’re doing just fine
If your Naomi be Wolf
Oh buddy, big oof

It was sort of like what happened to a left-learning journalist named Matt with a surname similar to Gaetz on Twitter. Anyway, on Bluesky, Naomi KLEIN shared a theory on why the kleptocrats are attacking science:

This is, in large part, pandemic revenge.

As far as these oligarchs are concerned, all science does is tell them stuff they cannot do.

They can’t keep spewing carbon.

They can’t keep businesses open as usual when millions are dying.

They have concluded that research is the enemy of profit.

[image or embed]

— Naomi Klein (@naomiaklein.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 10:29 PM

Here’s the content in the embedded images in case you don’t want to/can’t leave the boat: (Source)

MAKE AMERICA HEALTHY AGAIN: The mass culling of the labor force of the Department of Health and Human Services began on Tuesday morning. And early indications are that it’s a bloodbath.

Multiple officials who work in the department told The Bulwark that entire offices were being eliminated. Much of the focus appeared to be on the administrative side of things. But not all of it. We were sent an email, for instance, that Vence Bonham, the acting deputy director of the National Human Genome Research Institute, told colleagues this morning that he had been “unexpectedly” placed on administrative leave. He had a 20-year career as a researcher and leader at NIH. Within a few moments, it was gone.

To get a fuller sense of the despair, head over to the NIH’s Reddit forum; or the HHS forum. It’s bleak. That’s what happens, we suppose, when a weeks-old administration decides that it will eliminate 10,000 full-time employees from one of its most critical departments.

Elsewhere in HHS, another email we were sent shows that people put on leave were told they would no longer have access to their buildings starting today. That today happened to be April Fools was treated as a nice little sadistic touch. Was this a ruse?

Of course not. In fact, quite the opposite. Colleagues said they were spending their mornings fielding distraught emails and calls from friends whose lives had been upended, while simultaneously checking their own inbox to see if the ax would drop on them.

“These were dream jobs,” one told The Bulwark. “And these jobs are tough to get. I hate what will happen to science and health care and education . . . for all of it for the coming decades.”

—Sam Stein

Rings true as at least part of the explanation. Like many here and elsewhere have said, the pandemic changed society in ways we haven’t yet processed. I didn’t expect U.S. scientific leadership and innovation to be among the pandemic’s casualties, but I probably should have.

Open thread.

The Good Naomi (Open Thread)Post + Comments (199)

Wisconsin: Not for Sale

by | 130 Comments

This post is in: 

Wisconsin: not for sale

— Ben Wikler (@benwikler.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 11:31 PM

Dear DNC, do we get to say I told you so now?

The DNC went with one of the good old boys for the party chair, the guy who knew all the right people, had paid his dues, waited for his turn, and wouldn’t rock the boat.  Not much, at least.  Stick with the devil you know, wouldn’t want to change too much even though the world is on fire!

I would be surprised if not an insignificant number of DNC insiders aren’t maybe wishing they had voted the other way.

Well, our loss is also our gain!  I would like to see the alternate universe where Ben Wikler is voted in as DNC Chair so I could know whether we would have won in Wisconsin if someone else were chair of the Wisconsin state party right now.  Wisconsin needed the Supreme Court victory, and so did the rest of the country.

My statement on Wisconsin’s election results tonight ⬇️

[image or embed]

— Governor Tony Evers (@govevers.wisconsin.gov) April 1, 2025 at 11:04 PM

Wisconsin: not for sale is classic Ben Wikler.  Truly proud that we supported their efforts with our fundraising, and proud of everyone who did their part to help make this happen.

Listen to Susan Crawford as she says last night, loud and proud, our courts are not for sale!

Susan Crawford: “So Today Wisconsinites fended off an unprecedented attack on our democracy, our fair elections, and our Supreme Court. And Wisconsin stood up and said loudly that justice does not have a price, our courts are not for sale.”

[image or embed]

— Vince D. Monroy (@vincedmonroy.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 9:52 PM

Democracy is not for sale, either.  I say that in spite of the current mob violence and mayhem currently playing out under FFOTUS.

Democracy is not for sale.  I have been re-watching Leverage.

Let’s go steal democracy.

Wisconsin: Not for SalePost + Comments (130)

Taking a Break from the News, Take 2

by | 35 Comments

This post is in: , ,

My timing was terrible yesterday.  Between the April 1 elections and Booker – I love that everyone is referring to it as “Booker” – yesterday was not the day for this post.  Trying again today!

Open thread.

In case anyone wants to take a break from the news, here are all the sidebar images from March.

In no particular order.  Click on any image to see it in full-size.

Just enjoy the beauty, or chime in with thoughts about a daily image in the sidebar.

3 Sidebar Photos – March 2025 1
Image by GB in the HC (3/22/25)

show full post on front page

Taking a Break from the News, Take 2Post + Comments (35)

Gloating: It’s What’s for Breakfast! (Open Thread)

by | 192 Comments

This post is in: , , ,

To recap for the day shift, Florida went ahead and Floriduhed in the special elections yesterday, but by less than the usual Mildew State margins, so there’s a thin reed to hang your optimism on. I’m especially grossed out by the elevation of the odious Randy Fine to national politics.

Fine is a toxin best contained at the statehouse level, a petty, misogynist, self-important jerk. It’s unfortunate that he’s now America’s problem, but his margin of victory was small compared to that of his dumbass predecessor (Signal Waltz) and orange overlord.

Maybe Weil can make another run and oust the sumbitch after Trump and his bumbling clowns fully tank the economy, turn the U.S. into a pariah state and expose us all to epidemics in the coming year. In Florida’s baboon-ass red districts, maybe that’s what it takes.

But huge kudos to the Badger state for kicking Musk’s big fat ego to the curb.

Tweet from Tommy Vietor that reads: Brutal result here for @elonmusk who dropped $26+ million in this race and still got his ass handed to him. Money can’t cure being a politically toxic asshole.

As someone said on Bluesky, for Musk, it must be like getting booed off the stage at the Dave Chapelle show, only this time, it’s an entire state. 

***

Trump is staging some kind of Rose Garden Pavement ceremony to announce tariffs today. Last I looked, Dow futures were down nearly 300 in anticipation.

But who knows what the twitchy sociopaths on Wall Street will make of it? We are subject to the whims of insane people in just about every sphere.

***

To make up for introducing these topics, I wanted to share these breakfasting birds I saw this morning. The Sandhill is hollering its head off on the sandbar right now. It’s a good thing I’m an early riser.

Just a couple of dinosaurs having breakfast on a Wednesday morning. #birds

[image or embed]

— Betty Cracker of Florida (@bettycrackerfl.bsky.social) April 2, 2025 at 8:41 AM

Open thread!

Gloating: It’s What’s for Breakfast! (Open Thread)Post + Comments (192)

War for Ukraine Day 1,132: Putin/Russia Continue to Pound Kharkiv

by | 12 Comments

This post is in: , , , , , , ,

Painting by NEIVANMADE. It has a white background an in the center are Soldiers in green doing air defense by firing at incoming Russian missiles in the upper right. The missiles are red and yellow. In the upper left, written in green, is the text: "SAVE THE BRAVEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD!" Below the Soldiers, also written in green, is "SUPPORT FOR KHARKIV"

(Image by NEIVANMADE)

Russia is once again hammering on Kharkiv with drone swarms. It appears that Putin is trying to destroy the city in order to break the citizens of Kharkiv’s morale.

16!!! explosions reported in Kharkiv and probably more to come! The city is under massive russian drone attack! Russia is a fcking terrorist state!!!!

— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 5:47 PM

Kharkiv right now ‼️ dont look away, watch the video. they just don’t stop.

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 5:46 PM

“We’re like targets in a shooting range,” my mom told me tonight.

— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 5:47 PM

That was an overwhelming number of russian drones—a massive attack, even by Kharkiv’s standards, where we’ve sadly grown accustomed to such assaults. It was…. intense. Bloody murderers.

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 6:07 PM

Russia struck Kharkiv with 13 kamikaze drones tonight. The only signal Putin is sending is that he knows Trump is weak, Europe is weak and he can attack innocent people for fun and go unpunished.

[image or embed]

— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 6:23 PM

Kharkiv right now following the russian drone attack on the city

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 8:07 PM

‼️A 9-month-old baby was injured in russian drone strike on Kharkiv

— Iryna Voichuk (@irynavoichuk.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 6:26 PM

Kharkiv following tonight’s russian drone attack on the city

[image or embed]

— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 1, 2025 at 8:25 PM

Here is President Zelenskyy’s address from earlier today. Video below, English transcript after the jump.

show full post on front page

War for Ukraine Day 1,132: Putin/Russia Continue to Pound KharkivPost + Comments (12)

How to Think About the Results of Key Elections Tonight?

by | 60 Comments

This post is in: ,

You know how they always say you need to make a plan about what to do in case of emergencies?  Before you’re in the middle of the fire, power outage, tornado, hurricane, earthquake, etc?

It seems like it would be helpful for us to take a look a the key races that will be won or lost tonight – now, when aren’t having an emotional response to the results – and talk about various ways to evaluate the landscape and interpret the results.

Anybody game?

First, let’s identify the key elections today:

  • Wisconsin Supreme Court – Susan Crawford
  • Wisconsin State Superintendent – Jill Underly
  • Wisconsin Amendment – we are rooting for NO
  • Special Election in Florida – FL-06
  • Special Election in Florida – FL-01
  • Have I missed any elections we should be paying attention to?

Who are the people we should follow for the Wisconsin races?  (I’ll add links here if you supply them.)

Polls close in Wisconsin at 8 pm Central  (9 pm blog time)

Wisconsin Supreme Court – Susan Crawford

Does it matter to Wisconsin and/or the rest of the country whether the election is close or not?

Or does it only matter who wins and who loses?

What if Susan Crawford wins in a landslide?

What if Susan Crawford wins in a squeaker?

What if Susan Crawford loses in a squeaker?

What if the odius Brad Schimel wins in a landslide?

Wisconsin State Superintendent – Jill Underly

What if Jill Underly wins in a landslide?

What if Jill Underly wins in a squeaker?

What if Jill Underly doesn’t win?

Either way, does it matter to Wisconsin and/or the rest of the country if it’s close or not?

Or does it only matter who wins and who loses?

Why is this election a big deal to anyone outside of Wisconsin?

Wisconsin Amendment – we are rooting for NO

What are the details and implications related to this amendment?

Does it only matter  in Wisconsin who wins and who loses?

Is this amendment a big deal to anyone outside of Wisconsin?

Who are the people we should follow for the Florida races?  (I’ll add links here if you supply them.)

Special Election in Florida – FL-06

How to Think About the Results of Key Elections Tonight?

Trump was very concerned last week that Fl-06 migth only be won by 8 points.

With 87% reporting, it looks like a 10-point spread.

Is that a victory?

What does that tell us?

Polls close in Floria at 7 pm Eastern  (7 pm blog time)

How to Think About the Results of Key Elections Tonight? 1

Special Election in Florida – FL-01

What if a miracle occurs and Gay Valinont (D) wins?

What will it take for a Democratic loss in Fl-01 to be a victory?

What if the result is what one would expect in a normal year, what does that tell us?

Here we go.

How to Think About the Results of Key Elections Tonight?Post + Comments (60)