I think the right read of Barack Obama isn't "extraordinary political talent unlocked the key to American politics" but "Democrat defeats a Republican during a financial crisis after two GOP terms and is reelected as most incumbents are, while Dems continue a structural decline."

I’m no Trump-Whisperer, but my sense is that the more we refer to his upcoming second term as the Musk Presidency and focus on the overblown role Musk has on influencing Trump, the sooner Musk is kicked right out the door. So, you know what to do.

H.P. Lovecraft is one of those rare writers--a fantasist, in this case--whose language is so particular to his vision, unique & inimitable, it always seems to mean something beyond itself; a glimmering of another, inaccessible world; not the world of Lovecraft's monsters but an

I've been involved in winning presidential races and races that lost. One common thread is that everyone seems to have a reason why you won or lost which usually reflects a personal perspective or agenda. So here's mine: I think VP Harris ran a very good campaign that operated

Rubio is a descent, respectable choice for Secretary of State, which suggests to me he'll last about a year.

I hear Democrats say Trump voters will regret once Trump's tariffs devastate 🇺🇸economy & raise consumer prices. But take it from Brits, people don't acknowledge they erred in a vote even after economic consequences. They'll always find others to blame than themselves. 🇬🇧#Brexit

“…we often congratulate ourselves more on getting rid of a problem than solving it. Such an attitude is dangerous. …The riddle of the Sphinx may be postponed, it may be evasively answered now; sometime it must be fully answered.” -W.E.B. DuBois

My favorite pundits are the ones insisting that 1) Trump won because of economic factors and non-incumbency, forces that are near impossible to overcome, and yet also 2) if you--yes, you specifically--aren't kind to Trump voters, it will have significant electoral effects

"Fuck your feelings" but also please come to thanksgiving, we miss you and our vote had nothing to do with you, honey.

When you’ve made a career out of not believing in god and wind up believing something even more fanciful:

I think one of the most difficult reckonings of this election is that the incentives we thought inspired voting choices -- a better life for your family and future for your community -- may not be as decisive as the desire to dominate and inflict cruelty on outgroups.

It amazes me how some people's solution to electoral loss and accusations of being the party of stagnation is "we need to make our liberalism less inspiring, more compromised, more cautious, more conciliatory to the right, less ambitious."

This gives me no pleasure, but given Elon Musk's history, claims, and behaviors, I can't let Richard's "welfare of the world at heart" line pass without comment. While watching Elon's rise to greater power (and the fawning of his fans), I started keeping notes. Thread (1)

Nobody should have any illusions now

THIS IS WHY WE WERE FROM THE START NEVER TRUMP.

The party that is obsessed with child sex offenders, & is close to a cult that claims child sex offenders run the government, just nominated a guy once investigated for allegedly sex-trafficking a 17 year old girl to be in charge of the country’s legal system. Beyond parody.

Wendy Brown was right: one of the most significant elisions in Nietzsche's work is failing to recognize how much resentiment and a desire for revenge can be the basis of reactionary politics.

What a shock! Who, except everyone, could've seen this coming?

The ability of demagogues & autocrats to surprise, to create a new scandal every day, is their superpower. It diminishes attention to the previous day's transgressions & normalizes them. It slowly numbs the senses, including outrage. Values are the only defense. Hold them dear.