a reason that Stevens lost and other AIPAC candidates are losing despite the huge infusions of money is that Dem voters don't want to vote for a candidate who is funded by the same org who will immediately turn around and fund the Republicans

Andrew Solender@andrewsolender.bsky.social · 11h ago

AIPAC: "Our members remain determined to ensure that voters reject Dr. El-Sayed and his radical anti-Israel agenda in November."

One of the things about generative AI that particularly infuriates me is that some of the most fun I’ve ever had has been teaching myself how to do things around my own constraints I’m bad at art too. But I have PaintShop Pro! So I found some tutorials and *taught myself to make book covers*

Professional writer organizations should not send out pro-AI propaganda in the form of tantrum-having "essays" to their members, and I don't think that's controversial.

Regarding The Pro-AI Tantrum In The HWA Newsletter

Today I, and every other HWA member, received the HWA newsletter in our inboxes. In that newsletter was an essay (“essay”) of pro-AI propaganda that made a number of specious points in …

terribleminds.com

El-Sayed: "My commitment to Jewish safety is the same commitment that I have to the safety of my own daughters. Because if there is one question of political philosophy that ought to animate us all, it's what would we do if we treated all our kids like they were all of our kids?"

This is the way. This is ALSO what "Vote blue no matter who" means.

If I'm around a distinct accent for even a brief time, I start to pick it up. After several trips this year where I've seen plenty of ads for the law firm of Lerner & Rowe, I can now do pretty spot on impressions of both Lerner and Rowe.

Ryan Van Loan @ryanvanloan.bsky.social · 13h ago

Also, speaking with a (slight) imitation of the accent of the person you're speaking to is often indicative of a multilingual speaker. It's actually good practice.

Showing up is one of the most powerful things you can do 💪

@kmhutch.bsky.social · yesterday

Exactly - people need to show up and be vocal. It matters.

"If you have a problem, if no one else can help, and if you can find them, maybe you can hire...the K-Team."

Captain Disillusion@captaindisillusion.bsky.social · 12h ago

They were sent back in time to save the Soviet Union. But they were too late. [🎵Terminator drums with a tremolo of balalaikas]

Ok anecdotal but I talked with several smart people who wanted to vote El-Sayed but they were strategizing for the general and were being told he couldn’t win and Stevens was making that specifically her big pitch in the final moments so I do think that accounts for some of these numbers.

Joe Sonka 😐@joesonka.lpm.org · 12h ago

AP calls it for Abdul El-Sayed. Much closer than the polls had it.

JD is scared.

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 12h ago

JD Vance: "We don't want the next administration, whoever -- god forbid you're gonna have President El-Sayed in three years ... "

This is a sentimental essay about politics, which I know isn't the fashion, and yet the editors at @newrepublic.com let me write something personal about the Lone Star State. Link in the replies.

Notice DOJ doesn't talk about its efforts to obtain state voter files anymore. They are 0-20 in those cases and today is the beginning of the quiet period -- states can no longer do systematic removals of names from the voter rolls. TLDR: We won!🥳

The headline says the quiet part out loud. "...who are used to calling the shots." Good for Mayor Mamdani.

The Wall Street Journal@wsj.com · yesterday

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.

Personnel is policy. We can talk about new regulatory schemes to address corporate power, but sometimes it is as simple as installing personnel who don't feel like they have to constantly consult and privilege business interests. Note that there are many other avenues to engage with city hall.

The Wall Street Journal@wsj.com · yesterday

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.

Spoken like a man who has never had to shop for himself.

I have nothing to give up. When I learn something has integrated it, I turn off the integration or switch to an alternative. I learned to write and create with legal pads, pencils, pens, and typewriters. I learned to think through words and stories before using up ink and paper. I'll be fine.

Alexander Glass@alexanderglass.bsky.social · 20h ago

I have one answer.

"The events of Ray Bradbury’s short story “There Will Come Soft Rains” occur today: August 4, 2026. Like so many dates in science fiction, this one probably seemed far away when it was chosen, but once it was finally upon us, it passed like all days." www.rogerebert.com/mzs/silhouet...

Silhouettes and Warnings: On Reading Ray Bradbury's "There Will Come Soft Rains" On the Exact Day When It's Set

The events of Ray Bradbury's short story "There Will Come Soft Rains" occur today: August 4, 2026.

rogerebert.com

The question now is, will all the "vote blue no matter who" centrists follow through in November? It speaks volumes that she outspent him by a factor of nine and still lost. That says voters are less persuaded by ad spending/saturation and are listening to messages.

Facts have never persuaded Trump. She ought to know that by now.

Greg Sargent@gregsargent.bsky.social · 14h ago

It's funny that Jeanine Pirro brought a box of evidence to WH to persuade Trump. He wants her to consciously *throw out* exculpatory facts and *knowingly* prosecute innocent people. So facts can't persuade him by definition. Me and @barbmcquade.bsky.social on this: newrepublic.com/article/2139...

Thread.

Helen Kennedy@helenkennedy.com · yesterday

"Hold on! Because I'm not done yet with the list of women who accuse you of violence." - Tapper to Miller in an all time political interview quote.

That was the stated purpose behind the establishment of the branch of government in which you serve but go off king

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · yesterday

Cornyn: "There's nothing we could do to rein in the president"

And when they play the division card - “but trans athletes!” - we model inclusion. “A better America for all Americans, including our beloved trans family.” When they scapegoat immigrants we say “America is awesome and we will welcome people who want to do the hard work of becoming American.”

Jaws multiverse. All the sequels happened, forget the retcons. "We're gonna need a bigger fleet..."

weinberg@weinbergs.bsky.social · 7mo ago

let's pretend: Universal announces a screenwriting contest for Jaws 5. What's your pitch?

My dude, we don't need to know your "heart and mind," we just have to look at your prior actions. You've already turned CBS News into a ham-handed partisan laughingstock in land speed-record time, so we have an excellent idea what you will do with CNN.

Mark Harris@markharris.bsky.social · 2d ago

"Unfortunately, I can't give anyone a view into my heart and mind." Why? Are you unfamiliar with them? Ellison's whole "I'm not allowed to express my specific political opinions here, but trust me" approach is transparent nonsense. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/04/o...

It will never be more obvious than right now. It will never be more clear what’s needed. We’re at the breaking point. We have to counter with big ideas - not going back to normal - going someplace way way better.

When they say “where will the money come from” we can point at the trillions the Trump admin wasted making us worse off. Foreign wars. ICE. Gilding statues. Ballrooms! First we take all that. Then we tax the billionaires who got even more obscenely wealthy in just the last few years.

The contrast will never be clearer: Republicans made us sicker, stupider, and poorer. We will reverse all three. Freedom to learn and succeed, freedom to be heathy and happy, freedom to live better, richer lives. It’s all possible.

Free college, free healthcare, free energy. All possible. All doable. All need to be on the table next election.

"Mr. Blanche waved the plastic keys in front of us, then put them behind his back. When his hand reappeared, there were no keys. He gave us assurances that the plastic keys were not in fact behind his back and would not reappear, and in this case, we have no alternative but to take his word."

Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · yesterday

Cornyn: "As to the idea it could be revived in the future, I think it's highly unlikely that could happen without the cooperation of the DOJ. And I think Mr Blanche gave us the assurances that it was dead and would not be revived and in this case we have no alternative but to take his word" 🙃