New episode: A continued exploration of the new papal encyclical and analysis of Bishop Barron's recent attacks on so-called "toxic empathy." Also, an interview with theologian Ed Hahnenberg about synodality and ministry. @daultradio.bsky.social francisfxpod.com/current/2610

Bishop Barron on empathy, Magnifica Humanitas Chapter 1, and an interview with Ed Hahnenberg — The Francis Effect

Heidi, Daniel, and David continue their explorations of the new papal encyclical, and they bring a critical eye to Bishop Barron's recent attacks on so-called "toxic empathy." Heidi brings us an inter...

francisfxpod.com

It's not even hypocrisy on their terms, they're being totally consistent within their own worldview. For right-wingers it's trivially obvious one would privilege the in-group while harming and depriving the outgroup, that's the thing they believe in.

Talia "ATTACK DOGS is out now!" Bhatt ⚢@taliabhatt.itch.io · 6d ago

Please learn that "you don't apply the same rules to yourself as you do to others" isn't "exposing" conservatives, and definitely not an effective means of shaming them. They are very intentional and deliberate about this! It's an exercise of power, of deeming themselves exceptional and superior.

Feels like we're experiencing the rise of vice signal marketing, where there are two target audiences: the fascists who hear the dogwhistle and love it, and the oppressed and antifascists who recognize it and are outraged. The outrage then becomes marketing too.

Caroleeena@caroleeena.bsky.social · 7d ago

As a long, long, long, long, long time Converse buyer, I will never buy a Converse product ever again. I am sick of the virtue signalling to racists. I see this and I see a man hanged, a white robe that could be a klansman's robe and light shaped like a KKK hat. What the actual hell!?!

Repeating common Republican lies as if they are true is harmful. Examples: "No, I don't want Haitains eating cats and dogs." "No, I don't want Muslims to force American women to wear burqas." "No, I don't want a white genocide." "No, I don't want children to be taught to hate Christianity."

Erin Reed@erininthemorning.com · 5d ago

New Mary Peltola ad. “No, I don’t want kids getting surgeries to change genders, or men in girls bathrooms.” Dem, (AK-AL)

The economy is now so bad that MAGA can’t even afford to rent the libs.

I am very grateful for this conversatIon with Rebecca Bratten Weiss for U.S. Catholic magazine about The Accessorized Bible. I hope you enjoy it! https://uscatholic.org/articles/202609/we-shape-the-bibles-messages-as-much-as-they-shape-us/

We shape the Bible’s messages as much as they shape us

How we read the Bible is often predetermined by our own agendas and desires—including our desire to do violence.

uscatholic.org

Yuuuuup…

Here's a gift link to my 9/11 essay in the NYT. Civil libertarians long warned that before giving government new powers, we should consider how an administration with authoritarian ambition might abuse them. We were told that America was too exceptional to elect such a person. Well here we are.

Opinion | Civil Libertarians Knew This Would Happen. We Should Have Listened. (Gift Article)

The civil libertarians’ warnings have come true.

nytimes.com

Aren't folks still waiting for the DOGE checks?

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 2w ago

Trump: "We're making a fortune. So if the Republicans win, you win with us and you get $5,000. It will be called the Trump Dividend. Congratulations."

Would be really nice if reporters asked Trump why he isn't giving everyone $5k now, when he has full control of Congress, instead of uncritically repeating his lie about giving everyone $5k if the republicans retain control of Congress in 2027.

Bragging about an "exclusive chat" with a blatant PR operation is so funny

CNN@cnn.com · 2w ago

Tilly Norwood has been billed the first AI "actor" in Hollywood which raises questions about what awards synthetic performers should be nominated for. In an exclusive chat with CNN's Elizabeth Wagmeister, Tilly Norwood responded to questions about winning an Oscar.

We're gonna need more space on the gas-pump display.

Patrick De Haan@gasbuddyguy.bsky.social · 2w ago

MAXXED OUT at $9.999!! GasBuddy data showing 5 stations in California that have hit the limit and are selling diesel at the dispensers highest possible price: $9.999/gal

We didn’t like students to use Wikipedia not because it was slip but because we wanted them to look for and read secondary sources. I still feel that way. Wikipedia is good for an intro to a topic, and that’s all it’s intended to be.

@daviddark.bsky.social and @daultradio.bsky.social and I talked U2, moral seriousness, robot soft exorcism, and more.

So in this essay, I’m trying to figure out a pattern I’ve been seeing in the leadership of the Democratic party. I invite you to think with me. https://daviddault.substack.com/p/detrimental-victory

Detrimental victory

Why do some Democrats count their wins as losses?

daviddault.substack.com

we're just normal men

Debating the "existence" of God: -pointless -boring -antithetical to a religion based on faith itself Debating whether or not communion by intinction is simply a variation on "chips and salsa" -invigorating -a bold new frontier for discourse -you get drunk the more you do it

Writing is going much better today. Two pages (versus the two paragraphs I was able to get done yesterday). I’ve ended up researching and writing more about the Gregorian Reforms of the 11th century than I would have imagined possible.

They could always sign up to give comment at a public meeting.

The Wall Street Journal@wsj.com · 2mo ago

New York City’s business elites are long accustomed to direct access to City Hall, where even Democratic mayors felt the need to court the city’s wealthiest and most influential corporate leaders. That access is getting shredded by Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

[nods] Funny way of saying the DSA runs competent candidates, and mainline Dems don’t, but here we are

Tressie McMillan Cottom@tressiemcphd.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I know we are chalking the success of some leftist candidates almost entirely to the DSA. However, it seems like the more common theme is that these are candidates with organizing experience?

Spent all afternoon writing two paragraphs. They have kicked my ass. They are not good paragraphs. This is writing.

so far it’s not going well for them

Judge denies request by Elon Musk’s xAI to pause Minnesota nudification ban

The ruling clears the way for the first-in-the-nation law to go into effect on Saturday.

nbcnews.com

Stacey Burns@wentrogue.bsky.social · 2mo ago

I don’t know why anyone would think that picking a fight with @erinmayequade.bsky.social is going to turn out well for them.

There's this line these ghouls are dancing toward where they Won't Say It, but will Quietly Remove Any Alternative Conclusion: like are they going to be second class citizens? Are they going to be Royal Subjects or fucking vassals?

Sheryl Weikal says Prosecute ICE@leftistlawyer.com · 2mo ago

A GOP Congressman, Griffith Morgan (Virginia), has introduced a bill to strip people in Guam, Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and every other US non-state territory of their birthright citizenship. www.congress.gov/bill/119th-c...

Ah the people famous for firing experienced people because they "cost too much" and replacing them with people who know too little to do the job. What could go wrong?

Asheesh Kapur Siddique@asheeshks.org · 2mo ago

“Harvard paid McKinsey & Company at least $250,000 to consult on the Faculty of Arts and Sciences’ staff restructuring efforts, according to internal documents obtained by The Crimson.” www.thecrimson.com/article/2026...

I have determined that my only hope is to keep writing.

Some thoughts here on our birthday. https://daviddault.substack.com/p/250-years-is-enough

250 years is enough

Some thoughts on a birthday that nobody seems to want

daviddault.substack.com

Oops! I did, in fact, do this. I'm in the middle of a note-taking binge. A deadline's approaching! #AcWri

maggie schreiter@squishythings.com · 3mo ago

LIFEHACK: don't forget to eat lunch

As we near the end of Pride month, a shout-out of thanks to the Lesbian Avengers, who were a formative influence on my politics back in the day. https://gomag.com/article/queer-women-history-forgot-lesbian-avengers/

Christ, you're the governor of the entire state. Shut the building down. It's not sovereign territory like a foreign embassy. Pull the certificate of occupancy. Cut the power. Back it up with state police. Stop coddling fascists and groveling every time they order you around. Act like an American.

The New York Times@nytimes.com · 4mo ago

Gov. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey said that federal immigration officials were continuing to bar her from entering a detention center in Newark, raising “serious questions about what is happening behind its walls.”

For many years, there were allegations that ICE would “release” critically ill people in hospitals so that their deaths wouldn’t be recorded as in ICE custody. To fix this, in 2021 the Biden admin required ICE to report deaths occurring up to 30 days after release. Now that rule has been dropped.

Jon Collins@jcollins.bsky.social · 4mo ago

The change comes as ICE has faced pressure after the death of 18 detainees so far this year. www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/...