Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
@aaronrosspowell.com
Host of the ReImagining Liberty podcast. Writing about political ethics. Radical liberal. He/him.
Podcast: https://pod.link/1614436300
Blog: https://www.aaronrosspowell.com
Podcast: https://pod.link/1614436300
Blog: https://www.aaronrosspowell.com
Pinned
Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
Politics, culture, and philosophy through a radical liberal lens. Host of ReImagining Liberty podcast.
www.aaronrosspowell.com
Welcome new followers! I encourage you to check out my blog and, while you're there, click the big pink "Subscribe with Bluesky" button. You'll get a nifty custom feed of all my blog posts, as well as those of others you follow who blog on @leaflet.pub, the unofficial blogging platform of Bluesky.
Welcome new followers! I encourage you to check out my blog and, while you're there, click the big pink "Subscribe with Bluesky" button. You'll get a nifty custom feed of all my blog posts, as well as those of others you follow who blog on @leaflet.pub, the unofficial blogging platform of Bluesky.
Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
Politics, culture, and philosophy through a radical liberal lens. Host of ReImagining Liberty podcast.
www.aaronrosspowell.com
January 14, 2026 at 2:42 PM
Welcome new followers! I encourage you to check out my blog and, while you're there, click the big pink "Subscribe with Bluesky" button. You'll get a nifty custom feed of all my blog posts, as well as those of others you follow who blog on @leaflet.pub, the unofficial blogging platform of Bluesky.
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
There’s a certain kind of aging provocateur who can’t imagine losing on the merits, so every loss becomes proof of discrimination.
Like... dude, you lost to Ricky Gervais. I don't think it was about "wokeness." variety.com/2026/awards/...
Like... dude, you lost to Ricky Gervais. I don't think it was about "wokeness." variety.com/2026/awards/...
January 14, 2026 at 2:04 AM
There’s a certain kind of aging provocateur who can’t imagine losing on the merits, so every loss becomes proof of discrimination.
Like... dude, you lost to Ricky Gervais. I don't think it was about "wokeness." variety.com/2026/awards/...
Like... dude, you lost to Ricky Gervais. I don't think it was about "wokeness." variety.com/2026/awards/...
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
"Pete Hegseth isn’t just another meathead at the gym trying to impress women and fellow bros while instead demonstrating how little effort he’s put into developing skill in what he tells the world he’s skillful at."
In which I argue both that Pete Hegseth is humiliatingly bad at kettlebell swings and that his particular variety of conspicuous badness tells us a lot about the psychology of MAGA. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3mcb4y7vwqk24
What Pete Hegseth’s Kettlebell Swings Tell Us About MAGA Ideology - Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
MAGA is built on a fundamental lack of the internal protective quality that warns us when we are debasing ourselves.
www.aaronrosspowell.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:28 AM
"Pete Hegseth isn’t just another meathead at the gym trying to impress women and fellow bros while instead demonstrating how little effort he’s put into developing skill in what he tells the world he’s skillful at."
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
Being publicly bad at stuff while pretending to be tough is core to the MAGA project. That’s why Hegseth keeps posting his humiliating workout videos. Good piece
In which I argue both that Pete Hegseth is humiliatingly bad at kettlebell swings and that his particular variety of conspicuous badness tells us a lot about the psychology of MAGA. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3mcb4y7vwqk24
What Pete Hegseth’s Kettlebell Swings Tell Us About MAGA Ideology - Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
MAGA is built on a fundamental lack of the internal protective quality that warns us when we are debasing ourselves.
www.aaronrosspowell.com
January 14, 2026 at 12:13 AM
Being publicly bad at stuff while pretending to be tough is core to the MAGA project. That’s why Hegseth keeps posting his humiliating workout videos. Good piece
My 1L year of law school, they took us to a local courthouse to observe, and it turned out to be a, let's say, unstable pro se plaintiff suing a local cemetery she'd volunteered at but had been asked to leave because she took it upon herself to exterminate all the ducks.
[Me, reading an unpublished opinion about a pro se appellant]
This person sounds crazy. I have to see this appellant’s brief.
[reads appellant brief]
Ok, this is indeed crazy.
[continue reading]
[appellant includes censored nude pictures of herself in brief]
What the fuck?
This person sounds crazy. I have to see this appellant’s brief.
[reads appellant brief]
Ok, this is indeed crazy.
[continue reading]
[appellant includes censored nude pictures of herself in brief]
What the fuck?
January 14, 2026 at 12:27 AM
My 1L year of law school, they took us to a local courthouse to observe, and it turned out to be a, let's say, unstable pro se plaintiff suing a local cemetery she'd volunteered at but had been asked to leave because she took it upon herself to exterminate all the ducks.
I sometimes think, when I hear about professional video game streamers, how can someone just talk about a video game for hours on end? But my 12-year-old bought a Nintendo DS off a friend at school today and has been telling my wife about it non-stop for the last hour, and now I understand.
January 13, 2026 at 11:47 PM
I sometimes think, when I hear about professional video game streamers, how can someone just talk about a video game for hours on end? But my 12-year-old bought a Nintendo DS off a friend at school today and has been telling my wife about it non-stop for the last hour, and now I understand.
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
one thing i like about cyberpunk 2077 is that, even though all the lines are the same, the two V voice actors treat the character in dramatically different ways.
for example, while woman V is extremely cool and suave, dude V is the biggest fucking dork on the planet and dumb as a box of rocks
for example, while woman V is extremely cool and suave, dude V is the biggest fucking dork on the planet and dumb as a box of rocks
V being hunted like a dog through the cynosure complex by the robotic manifestation of all his bad choices when suddenly Panam texts asking if she can hang out at his place. he tries to ignore the approaching footfalls and guttural howling of Songbird's sundered consciousness to reply "Glen ; )"
January 13, 2026 at 11:39 PM
one thing i like about cyberpunk 2077 is that, even though all the lines are the same, the two V voice actors treat the character in dramatically different ways.
for example, while woman V is extremely cool and suave, dude V is the biggest fucking dork on the planet and dumb as a box of rocks
for example, while woman V is extremely cool and suave, dude V is the biggest fucking dork on the planet and dumb as a box of rocks
Thinking of changing my email signature to "While this is an automated email, I read every single reply!"
January 13, 2026 at 11:40 PM
Thinking of changing my email signature to "While this is an automated email, I read every single reply!"
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
Yes. In the late 90s Scott Adams had the world on a string--money, fame, and a safe job that he barely had to work at. And all he could see was persecution.
As someone who once loved Dilbert, I’m sad he didn’t get a redemption arc. He died an awful person and there is something terrifying about that.
January 13, 2026 at 4:15 PM
Yes. In the late 90s Scott Adams had the world on a string--money, fame, and a safe job that he barely had to work at. And all he could see was persecution.
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
This is low key very important and you should read about why
In which I argue both that Pete Hegseth is humiliatingly bad at kettlebell swings and that his particular variety of conspicuous badness tells us a lot about the psychology of MAGA. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3mcb4y7vwqk24
What Pete Hegseth’s Kettlebell Swings Tell Us About MAGA Ideology - Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
MAGA is built on a fundamental lack of the internal protective quality that warns us when we are debasing ourselves.
www.aaronrosspowell.com
January 13, 2026 at 10:52 PM
This is low key very important and you should read about why
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
ngl getting paid for a weekend with a bunch of fellow wine moms to take over a hotel and practice riots has a strong appeal
Trump, during an "economic" speech today in Detroit, can't help but fixate on "wine mom gangs," saying they're "doing these fake riots." They go practice. They go to areas, they take hotel rooms, and they all practice together. It’s a whole scam. We’re finding out who’s funding all this stuff."
January 13, 2026 at 10:35 PM
ngl getting paid for a weekend with a bunch of fellow wine moms to take over a hotel and practice riots has a strong appeal
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
joe rogan is a very dumb guy, that very dumb guys are realizing that ICE is evil is good.
January 13, 2026 at 8:34 PM
joe rogan is a very dumb guy, that very dumb guys are realizing that ICE is evil is good.
It's okay to call a person who's just died reprehensible. You don't need to find nice things to say about them, and it's fine to use their death as a moment to reflect on the quality of life they lived and the person they were. I wrote this when Pat Robertson died, but the argument broadly applies.
Speaking Ill of the Dead - Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
www.aaronrosspowell.com
January 13, 2026 at 9:01 PM
It's okay to call a person who's just died reprehensible. You don't need to find nice things to say about them, and it's fine to use their death as a moment to reflect on the quality of life they lived and the person they were. I wrote this when Pat Robertson died, but the argument broadly applies.
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
This is the best explanation of toxic MAGA masculinity I've ever encountered
In which I argue both that Pete Hegseth is humiliatingly bad at kettlebell swings and that his particular variety of conspicuous badness tells us a lot about the psychology of MAGA. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3mcb4y7vwqk24
What Pete Hegseth’s Kettlebell Swings Tell Us About MAGA Ideology - Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
MAGA is built on a fundamental lack of the internal protective quality that warns us when we are debasing ourselves.
www.aaronrosspowell.com
January 13, 2026 at 7:04 PM
This is the best explanation of toxic MAGA masculinity I've ever encountered
The Steelers and Ravens should just swap coaches. www.thescore.com/nfl/news/345...
Tomlin steps down as Steelers coach after 19 seasons
Mike Tomlin informed the Pittsburgh Steelers that he's stepping down as head coach, the team announced Tuesday."Obviously, I am extremely grateful to Mike for all the hard work, dedication, and…
www.thescore.com
January 13, 2026 at 8:10 PM
The Steelers and Ravens should just swap coaches. www.thescore.com/nfl/news/345...
In which I argue both that Pete Hegseth is humiliatingly bad at kettlebell swings and that his particular variety of conspicuous badness tells us a lot about the psychology of MAGA. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3mcb4y7vwqk24
What Pete Hegseth’s Kettlebell Swings Tell Us About MAGA Ideology - Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
MAGA is built on a fundamental lack of the internal protective quality that warns us when we are debasing ourselves.
www.aaronrosspowell.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:40 PM
In which I argue both that Pete Hegseth is humiliatingly bad at kettlebell swings and that his particular variety of conspicuous badness tells us a lot about the psychology of MAGA. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3mcb4y7vwqk24
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
Cool to track our progress on @aaronrosspowell.com's Leaflet wish list here :)
✅ Mentions (authors, pubs, posts)
Longer shared quotes
✅ Notifications
Email / bundled digests
Navigation to pages & external links
✅ Tags
Recommendations
Stats
Monetization
Design options
✅ Mentions (authors, pubs, posts)
Longer shared quotes
✅ Notifications
Email / bundled digests
Navigation to pages & external links
✅ Tags
Recommendations
Stats
Monetization
Design options
Leaflet, Blogging, and How to Fix Social Media - Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
Decentralization, network overlap, and why we should all blog, too.
www.aaronrosspowell.com
January 13, 2026 at 6:23 PM
Cool to track our progress on @aaronrosspowell.com's Leaflet wish list here :)
✅ Mentions (authors, pubs, posts)
Longer shared quotes
✅ Notifications
Email / bundled digests
Navigation to pages & external links
✅ Tags
Recommendations
Stats
Monetization
Design options
✅ Mentions (authors, pubs, posts)
Longer shared quotes
✅ Notifications
Email / bundled digests
Navigation to pages & external links
✅ Tags
Recommendations
Stats
Monetization
Design options
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
Thurgood Marshall: My wiiiife
There are so many great reasons to visit Baltimore, a city I love, so I hesitate to criticize this well-meaning ad … but that is NOT Thurgood Marshall
January 13, 2026 at 3:03 PM
Thurgood Marshall: My wiiiife
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
/2 Anyway, America was never about everyone loving liberty; America was always about enough people loving liberty and being willing to defend it to keep down the people with totalitarian souls.
January 13, 2026 at 3:57 PM
/2 Anyway, America was never about everyone loving liberty; America was always about enough people loving liberty and being willing to defend it to keep down the people with totalitarian souls.
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
Every day, I wake up profoundly grateful for this fact.
January 13, 2026 at 1:50 PM
Every day, I wake up profoundly grateful for this fact.
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
This poll shows that 74% of Democrats support abolishing ICE, with 53% *strongly* supporting getting rid of the agency.
Any elected Democrat who wants ICE to exist is outside the mainstream of their party and the people they purport to represent.
Any elected Democrat who wants ICE to exist is outside the mainstream of their party and the people they purport to represent.
YouGov poll - In the future, would you support or oppose...
Eliminating ICE as a federal agency?
Support 42%
Oppose 45%
Reducing ICE’s size and funding
Support 48%
Oppose 37%
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/IC...
Eliminating ICE as a federal agency?
Support 42%
Oppose 45%
Reducing ICE’s size and funding
Support 48%
Oppose 37%
d3nkl3psvxxpe9.cloudfront.net/documents/IC...
January 13, 2026 at 1:59 AM
This poll shows that 74% of Democrats support abolishing ICE, with 53% *strongly* supporting getting rid of the agency.
Any elected Democrat who wants ICE to exist is outside the mainstream of their party and the people they purport to represent.
Any elected Democrat who wants ICE to exist is outside the mainstream of their party and the people they purport to represent.
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
I think it's even more broken by the fact that the pundit class doesn't even know or want to know these "real Americans" so it's a cloistered coastal imagining of what rural white people think.
Fundamentally, I think the conflation of the white, rural population with "real Americans" has broken how a huge swath of our ruling class conceives of how people will react to various policies and government actions, even when it comes to easily predictable thermostatic backlashes.
Trump, Vance, Miller and the rest of those sociopaths thought that we would hate our Somali neighbors as much as they do. Guess what. We don't. They thought that we would be as offended as they are by hearing Spanish or Hmong. They thought we were as broken as they are. Nope. They're wrong.
January 13, 2026 at 1:48 AM
I think it's even more broken by the fact that the pundit class doesn't even know or want to know these "real Americans" so it's a cloistered coastal imagining of what rural white people think.
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
This was great. Thank you so much for having me on, @aaronrosspowell.com. It was great delving into this with you.
I recently sat down (virtually) with @eladn.bsky.social for a discussion of how antisemitism has moved from the fringes of the far-right to the conservative mainstream, the role of X in normalizing hatred, and what both mean for the future of American politics. It's out today in early access.
[PREVIEW] 097: The Right's Mainstreaming of Antisemitism (w/ Elad Nehorai)
Listen to [PREVIEW] 097: The Right's Mainstreaming of Antisemitism (w/ Elad Nehorai) from ReImagining Liberty wherever you get your podcasts!
pod.link
January 13, 2026 at 1:32 AM
This was great. Thank you so much for having me on, @aaronrosspowell.com. It was great delving into this with you.
Reposted by Aaron Ross Powell ☸️
This, about what Pete Hegseth's spectacular inability to do a kettlebell swing tells us about MAGA ideology, is the most fun I've had writing an essay in quite some time. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3mcb4y7vwqk24
What Pete Hegseth’s Kettlebell Swings Tell Us About MAGA Ideology - Aaron Ross Powell's Blog
MAGA is built on a fundamental lack of the internal protective quality that warns us when we are debasing ourselves.
www.aaronrosspowell.com
January 13, 2026 at 1:07 AM
This, about what Pete Hegseth's spectacular inability to do a kettlebell swing tells us about MAGA ideology, is the most fun I've had writing an essay in quite some time. www.aaronrosspowell.com/3mcb4y7vwqk24