It's Friday, so it's time to start thinking about that weekend Costco trip.
Applying the Costco Model to Government Spending
What the hunt for warehouse club bargains teaches about the economy.
truthdig.com
The main project of the US now is a line-item vindication of the most histrionic and paranoid stuff ever said by Jello Biafra
Kyle Griffin@kylegriffin1.bsky.social · yesterdayWASHINGTON (AP) - Pentagon says the firing squad execution of Fort Hood shooter Nidal Malik Hasan will be livestreamed in December.
There's a takeover of the American news industry going on, pushed by Elon Musk, the Ellisons, the Saudis and others. Democracy is impossible if the truth is buried under right-wing propaganda, so we've got to push back against this "media capture." My Stop the Presses newsletter.
American oligarchs and foreign fatcats are attempting ‘media capture’
Your access to real news is threatened by Elon Musk, the Ellisons, the Saudis, and others
stopthepresses.news
iso cam on Charissa Thompson as she's forced to listen to praise of a rapist
michael mcdonald after seeing the paternity test results
The A.V. Club@avclub.com · last wk.58-year-old adopted man finds out Michael McDonald is his biological father
I don't think it's going to happen but MGP getting knocked off in an unholy blue wave year would be extremely hilarious
Political Poll Bot@pollresults.org · last wk.Washington House (Third Congressional District) Sep 17 - 27, 2026 John Braun (R) 48% (+1.0%) Marie Gluesenkamp Perez (D) 47% Don't know 5% DHM Research (B/C) 543 LV Sponsor: Oregon Public Broadcasting View Poll
The talent drain continues. Can’t imagine why anyone who works for the Blazers and has an offer elsewhere would choose to stay at this point. That’s played out many times publicly and privately in the past six months.
MarcJSpears@marcjspears.bsky.social · last wk.Pooh Jeter has been hired as the Lakers’ new Director of Pro Scouting, source told @andscape. The LA native previously worked with the Trail Blazers as Player Development Coach and Assistant GM of NBA G League Rip City Remix. Jeter was hired by new Lakers asst GM Eric Amsler.
Visitors to the US are on track to drop by almost two million year-on-year. “We’re the only major country in the world losing visitation,” the head of the US Travel Association said. “It’s mind-boggling.” www.semafor.com/article/09/2...
Another Schumer disaster! They had Republican votes, they could have stopped this!
Chris Vannini@chrisvannini.com · 2w agoNEWS: The Senate has passed the Protect College Sports Act, 77-22 It will go to the House, which likely won't take it up until after the midterm elections, making its passage chances TBD. But a historic step. Here's a basic rundown of what's in the bill: www.nytimes.com/athletic/749...
Just stumbled on Bob Costas interviewing Mickey Mantle in 1994 about his alcoholism and the grief over his son’s death. It’s one of the most moving pieces of sports journalism I’ve ever seen: youtu.be/Hm_Ybn4JMxM?...
Mickey Mantle Interview by Bob Costas
YouTube video by Randall Swearingen
youtu.be
I don't love dunking on folks but it's so fucking funny to me that Trump was convicted of 34 felonies 2 years ago, faced no punishment, and went on to win the presidency a second time and journalists are still like, "hmm, I have an inkling that maybe he believes he's above the law for some reason."
Kevin Calabro is indeed going to be doing some games for the Timberwolves this season. Meanwhile, two weeks out from the preseason opener, the Blazers have yet to name a TV play-by-play announcer to replace KC, who walked after Tom Dundon made him an offer he called "subprime."
Howard Sinker@howardsinker.bsky.social · 2w agoSports Take features a major development in #Timberwolves broadcast plans for the coming season on DAZN and over-the-air TV that will be announced soon.
The youngest person his pager attack killed was 9-year-old Fatima Abdullah, who had just started 4th grade. The pager was on a table when it went off and she picked it up to take to her dad. It exploded in her face and reports said it covered the room in her blood. She wanted to learn English.
Eli Valley@elivalley.bsky.social · 2w agoBoasting to the world of his mass terrorist atrocity:
tech evangelists are really trying to advertise ai with unique selling points like "it will fucking kill you and everyone" and "it will make you forget where you live at"
Matt Ford@mford.bsky.social · 2w agoEzra Klein asked Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang about AI making kids worse at math and reading. Huang’s reply: “Does it matter?” Then he said he doesn’t know his own address or phone number. “We’re going to lose some fine intellectual dexterity.” www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/o...
It's too depressing and obnoxious to write about, but virtually all of the doomy/horny AI hyperventilating is transparently displaced anxiety about our fucked climate and political situation. Even rich idiots know it's bad and being permitted to get worse. They're trying to write their own ending.
Only having to interact with a cross section of the population here is a FEATURE not a limitation. 😂
ryan cooper@ryanlcooper.com · 2w ago"No one on Bluesky thinks they’re interacting with a cross section of the population. But a lot of people on X do think that." talkingpointsmemo.com/edblog/we-di...
It’s really rare how few contemporary politicians are talented at doing what I am calling “Mayor Quimby shit”
Acyn@acyn.bsky.social · 2w agoChild: This is my first time meeting a mayor. Mamdani: Wow, have you ever met a prime minister? Child: No Norway PM Jonas Gahr Støre: *walks over*
The way to look at this is George bush is trying to help Donald trump retain power on the Hill
Bayliss Wagner@baylisswagner.bsky.social · 3w agoScoop: John Cornyn & George W. Bush are headlining a Dallas fundraiser tonight for all of the Senate GOP nominees in tossup races—except Ken Paxton It benefits a new joint fundraising committee for IA, ME, NH, OH, AK, MI & the NRSC w/ @teddyschleifer.bsky.social www.nytimes.com/2026/09/21/u...
Insane thread regarding hornball Boebert.
Caroleeena@caroleeena.bsky.social · 3w ago🧵Lauren Boebert had sex with three of her staffers. Two of them were women. Her sex partners were Clarisse Navarro, Jeffrey Small and Raven Finnegan. Navarro's husband Jace Ratzlaff: "I assumed this would eventually surface. I’ll have no further comment on this topic.”
By the time this merger ruins HBO, destroys WB, gets 5,000 people fired, moves production overseas, and guts the quality of the movies the new studio makes, most people will have forgotten how fast the AGs caved and how little they got in this deal. Writers will not.
Phil Lewis@phillewis.bsky.social · 3w agoParamount has reportedly reached a settlement with California and other states suing to block its proposed acquisition of Warner Bros
guy who’s been repeatedly hit in the head and completely lost his memory and higher cognition: How could Governor Newsom DO this???
Nick Field@nickfield.bsky.social · 3w agoThe State AGs were on pace to kill the Paramount/Warner Bros by litigation and delay until Gavin Newsom stepped in and turned the tide. Now the Trump loyalist Ellisons will control CNN and HBO. Don't ever, ever forget that Newsom stabbed us in the back www.wsj.com/business/med...
We’re all living through a years-long preview for THE BATTLE OF DC: COMING JANUARY 2028.
The Washington Post@washingtonpost.com · 3w agoPresident Trump said his proposed 250-foot triumphal arch will now be a “top grade” military complex that will house drones, snipers and ammunition “for National Security purposes.” https://wapo.st/4deuPN5
It's been a tough week, so I wrote about everyone's favorite story. It's important people have a good game out there.
Robert Kraft Enters the Concussion Protocol
Once again, the worst parts of the NFL and real life converge on ownership.
truthdig.com
"The Polymarket ad is (I think) what you get when a depraved, bottomlessly cynical, and terminally stupid culture discovers a compelling aesthetic template for enjoying the absolute hell out of separating suckers from their paychecks." defector.com/lebron-james...
LeBron James Wants Your Paycheck To Become His Paycheck, By Way Of Polymarket | Defector
The new Polymarket ad spot opens with LeBron James stepping onto an elevator and pushing a button labeled “SPORTS.” This is not some AI-extruded, near-enough visual representation of a generic…
defector.com
I did not have “psychosexual obsessions of a mediocre news personality destroy the U.S. military” on my “Exit from Hegemony” bingo card.
MeidasTouch@meidastouch.com · 3w agoNEWS: The Pentagon has announced mandatory low-testosterone screenings for male troops 30 and older, including screening for symptoms such as “reduced libido, loss of spontaneous morning erections, erectile dysfunction,” and other symptoms.
Oregon has a long history as a datacenter state. But a new study details a wild imbalance that comes with the industry. Data centers consume ~23% of the state's electricity, but provide jobs for just 0.2% of the state's workforce
Oregon data centers by the numbers: 111 facilities consume nearly one-quarter of state’s power, according to new report
A first-of-its-kind report details the footprint of the controversial facilities.
opb.org
We've seen a lot about how young people are struggling with mental health. I took the time to speak with young adults across the country about why things are so bad, from their perspectives. My deep dive here: newrepublic.com/article/2149...
The Dire National Crisis That Washington Won’t Touch
Adolescents and young adults across the country are collapsing under the weight of isolation and pressure to succeed. There’s no easy fix—but it’s past time for Washington to do something.
newrepublic.com