Julie Hotard Ph.D., writer, effects of disinfo on social systems
@upine.bsky.social
Analysis of effects of disinfo on social systems, writer http://Medium.com/@upine "All that is necessary for evil to prevail is for good people to do bothsidesism."
@jigarshahdc.bsky.social would like you to redirect some of your data center hatred to utilities.
Data centers didn't jack up your bill—utility greed did | Opinion
Data centers didn't break the grid—A regulatory model that rewards building over optimizing did.
newsweek.com
El-Sayed: "I believe our kids have a right to our tax dollars. I'm about 10 min away from schools that look like they did 50 years ago. Our money should be spent here rather than sent in the form of bombs or tanks to foreign govts, particularly when they are doing most heinous things with them ... "
If there's one thing red state voters hate more than Democrats it is anyone restricting their ability to pass progressive policy via ballot initiatives.
Missourians Reject Measure That Threatened to Kill Citizen-Led Ballot Initiatives - Bolts
Missourians on Tuesday overwhelmingly voted against a measure to restrict direct democracy, while state officials are trying to block even more citizen-led reforms from the November ballot.
boltsmag.org
The proposed deal now under discussion would give Iran a 5-7% toll for traffic through Hormuz, making the war a massive victory for the Iranians and insuring them a long-term dominant position in the Gulf. It would reflect pretty much an unconditional surrender by Trump to Tehran.
Proposed Hormuz deal would give Iran control of inbound traffic, sources say
A proposed deal between Iran and Oman would give Tehran control over ships entering the Gulf through the Strait of Hormuz, a senior Iranian source and two regional officials told Reuters, in one of th...
reuters.com
Dying at the right-wing activists that (1) held a call with Todd Blanche in which Blanche made a lot of anti-abortion promises, (2) said "uh this is off the record" like doing so would magically ward off journalists, and then (3) UPLOADED IT TO THEIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
Wow. The Atlantic published something not complimentary toward Trump. Good for them and for Adam.
Adam Serwer@adamserwer.bsky.social · 3h agoWrote about the border search exception: a massive loophole in the Fourth Amendment that allows border officials to search through your phone without a warrant, the exception provides an easy pretext for the Trump administration to target its political enemies. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0...
Foreign MAGA trolls impersonate both American MAGAs and Dems. And they do it with Dems to run Divide & Conquer programs on the Democratic party. Though of course some infighting does naturally exist. www.wired.com/story/russia...
Russian Trolls Are Still Playing Both Sides—Even With the Mueller Probe
The latest indictment against Russian trolls shows how they sowed division in the US on wedge issues, including the investigation into their activity.
wired.com
DiveIntoIt🫘💙💙@anandatoday.bsky.social · 46m agoRest assured that the paid trolls and bots are contributing to this perception of democrats fighting; the money is being spent to amplify that perception. Those so called “dems” on your feed that just have questions? They are likely paid to push that narrative.
Rest assured that the paid trolls and bots are contributing to this perception of democrats fighting; the money is being spent to amplify that perception. Those so called “dems” on your feed that just have questions? They are likely paid to push that narrative.
Mazola523@cloe1848.bsky.social · 1h ago
This highlights a profound impact of Trump — the further normalization of violence against women. Trump got elected in spite of his long history of violence against women. He is not held accountable when he continues to abuse women. 1/2
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 6h agoMax Miller on why he's staying in the race: "When we go back to 2015 and 2016, & people in the media looked at President Trump, & everyone came out with allegations. Dozens of women, dozens of crazy allegations, dozens of nasty criminal misconduct. And you know what he did? He stayed in the fight."
And those tolls will eventually end up in the cost of the goods Americans are buying, so it will fall on the consumer.
Josh Marshall@joshtpm.bsky.social · 5h agoas noted yesterday, Trump has now come around to treating an Iranian toll system covering the Strait of Hormuz as a given. Hard to overstate the level of strategic failure. US started the war purely as a war of choice and ends up dramatically empowering Iran and given the Iranian govt big wins.
the ol' "this is off the record, right?" whoopsie-doodle
Jay Willis@jaywillis.net · 1h agoDying at the right-wing activists that (1) held a call with Todd Blanche in which Blanche made a lot of anti-abortion promises, (2) said "uh this is off the record" like doing so would magically ward off journalists, and then (3) UPLOADED IT TO THEIR YOUTUBE CHANNEL www.politico.com/news/2026/08...
This is a very important point. "Free speech" does not mean one gets lavishly rewarded for any obnoxious opinion one expresses.
Eric Rauchway@rauchway.bsky.social · 36m agoand for anyone who's about to invoke "free speech": this person can *say* it, just shouldn't be *rewarded* for it
Some did, of course. From an interesting thread.
Eric Blair@protecttruth.bsky.social · 41m agoIt did not have to be that way: American Jews could have pivoted hard to “we support Israel as a concept but reject this Israeli government.”
and for anyone who's about to invoke "free speech": this person can *say* it, just shouldn't be *rewarded* for it
Kevin M. Kruse@kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 2h agoGonna go out on a limb here and say racist cranks who write for extremist white nationalist websites like VDARE should not, in fact, be confirmed to top roles in the Department of Justice.
"Now it’s time for everyone—left and center—who’s ever admonished 'vote blue no matter who' to show their cards... Anyone who reneges has only ever been a fair-weather friend of democracy."
Brian Beutler@brianbeutler.bsky.social · 7h agoTwenty-seven thoughts on the Michigan race, and the unofficial end of a brutal primary season. www.offmessage.net/p/27-thought...
According to a Wall Street Journal investigation, DHS is working on a 24/7 operation to flag posts it deems a threat to its agents or its mission. The effort has swept up U.S. citizens and activist groups that track ICE activity. bit.ly/4qiAdEd
If people think a colonoscopy is too much, they should consider the treatment for colon cancer.
But at least there's no facial hair anymore. That's probably boosting morale.
Patrick Chovanec@prchovanec.bsky.social · 4h agoKeeping people constantly deployed has a mounting cost. www.ms.now/news/conditi...
"So he can feel a bit more manly by making an AI video" is a direct callback to this image that deserves a second life in this campaign
Headquarters@headquartersnews.bsky.social · 4h agoDr. Abdul El-Sayed: Mike Rogers is a guy who wants to put a data center in your backyard so he can feel a bit more manly by making an AI video. If you want a senator who's gonna lick some boots, go vote for Rogers. But if you want a senator who's going to stand up to Trump, you've got your option.
The prep isn't as bad as it used to be -- pills, not the drink -- and you'll have one, uh, busy evening and then you go in and get the greatest nap of your life and then eat a glorious meal. Get yourself checked out.
Jessica Luther@jessicawluther.com · 19h agoWell, I am of colonoscopy age now and I got my first-ever one yesterday. The prep wasn't fun but not as awful as I'd imagined. My appt was at 6am on Monday, I was home just after 7am. There's no recovery except catching up on the sleep you missed. So, if you need a nudge to get yours, this is it!
"training in Marxist economics tends to give you a) a weird, unrealistic and largely useless theory of economics plus b) a clear understanding of how economics relates to political power. While a training in mainstream neoclassical economics only gives you the first of these."
rent, always rent
economics of the Zohranmarket
backofmind.substack.com
Of all the things to admit on the internet, “I don’t know how bananas work” is one of the funniest
Jess Calarco@jessicacalarco.com · 17h agoSpoken like a man who has never had to shop for himself.
I don’t love that he was hanging out with dirtbag dipshits but a thing about El-Sayed is that he does actually have a lot of talent as a candidate, if he’s smart enough to lean more towards the center now that he’s the nominee—and I think he is—then I think he’ll do fine
Aaron Rupar@atrupar.com · 5h agoEl-Sayed: "If all Mike Rogers got is that 'his name is Abdul, and my name is Mike,' you're gonna be surprised how many people are like, 'Yeah, but that's the Abdul who wants to bring down the price of my groceries and make sure I got healthcare. So yeah, I like Abdul over your Mike from Florida.'"
I'm calling it: "Start smoking" is going to be mainstream MAHA / Republican health advice by 2028. www.motherjones.com/politics/202...
