AS
@alexstephenson.me
Reposted by AS
When they say Trump calling a reporter "piggy" is "just being honest," they are revealing a key feature of the reactionary mind: it believes, at a deep brainstem level, that *everyone* is awful & selfish & ugly on the inside. Everyone just suppresses it out of fear of social disapproval. Not Trump!
November 20, 2025 at 9:04 PM
When they say Trump calling a reporter "piggy" is "just being honest," they are revealing a key feature of the reactionary mind: it believes, at a deep brainstem level, that *everyone* is awful & selfish & ugly on the inside. Everyone just suppresses it out of fear of social disapproval. Not Trump!
Reposted by AS
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
One of the bragging rights that the US ed system had in the 20th century is that we didn't have education tracks. Essentially, any kid could go to a CC or state school & major in whatever they wanted to (obviously an oversimplification). I fear this aspect of the American dream is dying.
November 23, 2025 at 5:18 PM
Really important to stress that the Crown Jewels of the US higher education system were never the Ivies or elite SLACs (other countries have equivalents of these) but the well-funded, large, cheap, and excellently staffed public state university systems bringing high quality education to the masses.
Reposted by AS
There are must-read footnotes in Kilmar Abrego's latest filing in his criminal case describing the Trump administration's false claim that Costa Rica was not willing to accept Abrego if he is removed there.
One directly calls out Drew Ensign's involvement.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
One directly calls out Drew Ensign's involvement.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
![23 (June 24, 2025), https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/06-24-
2025__Protected_Whistleblower_Disclosure_of_Erez_Reuveni_Redacted.pdf. Mr. Ensign’s
warning to Mr. Reuveni occurred just two weeks before the HSI investigation into Mr. Abrego
was reopened, which ultimately led to his charges in this District.
Indeed, at the November 20 hearing, Mr. Ensign told the Court that “nothing would stop
Mr. Abrego Garcia from, once being removed to Liberia, to apply to Costa Rica to take him.”
When Judge Xinis pressed him on why the government was “standing in the way” of Mr. Abrego’s
removal to Costa Rica and “taking the position he should go to Africa first,” Mr. Ensign had no
substantive response other than to assert conclusorily that “the [S]ecretary has determined that it
would be prejudicial to the interests of the United States to do so,” which, in the government’s
view, is not a reviewable decision. Abrego Garcia, No. 8:25-cv-2780 (D. Md. Nov. 21, 2025), Dkt.
107 at 125-26. It is difficult to fathom how sending one individual who is willing to go, to a country
willing to receive him, which generally and historically has had a positive and cooperative
relationship with the United States, could possibly be “prejudicial” to the interests of this country.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:24vva42nxim6zbcmnozegoef/bafkreihu4yoz6w6f75usgyfm3h5g5ujpjvsdc536va7vsjneogcc7qfsmq@jpeg)
November 23, 2025 at 10:07 PM
There are must-read footnotes in Kilmar Abrego's latest filing in his criminal case describing the Trump administration's false claim that Costa Rica was not willing to accept Abrego if he is removed there.
One directly calls out Drew Ensign's involvement.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
One directly calls out Drew Ensign's involvement.
storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.us...
Reposted by AS
The Trump admin submitted a sworn declaration under oath that Costa Rica had changed its mind and would no longer take Mr. Abrego.
Costa Rica has now said publicly that that this is false, that they have not changed their position at all, and that they will still take him.
Costa Rica has now said publicly that that this is false, that they have not changed their position at all, and that they will still take him.
Unpacked:
In Aug., Govt said if Abrego pled guilty he could go to Costa Rica, where he's okay with going. Abrego said no to plea. Govt now wants to send him to Liberia. Why not Costa Rica? Govt told judge Thurs that Costa Rica wouldn’t take him anymore. @mariasacchetti exposed them.
In Aug., Govt said if Abrego pled guilty he could go to Costa Rica, where he's okay with going. Abrego said no to plea. Govt now wants to send him to Liberia. Why not Costa Rica? Govt told judge Thurs that Costa Rica wouldn’t take him anymore. @mariasacchetti exposed them.
Costa Rica will accept Abrego, per @washingtonpost.com .
If true, DOJ, DHS, and Dept of State caused lies to be disseminated to Judge Xinis all day Thursday, where an ICE official testified about info sent him by Dept of State, claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take Abrego.
1/2
If true, DOJ, DHS, and Dept of State caused lies to be disseminated to Judge Xinis all day Thursday, where an ICE official testified about info sent him by Dept of State, claiming Costa Rica wouldn't take Abrego.
1/2
November 23, 2025 at 8:27 PM
The Trump admin submitted a sworn declaration under oath that Costa Rica had changed its mind and would no longer take Mr. Abrego.
Costa Rica has now said publicly that that this is false, that they have not changed their position at all, and that they will still take him.
Costa Rica has now said publicly that that this is false, that they have not changed their position at all, and that they will still take him.
Reposted by AS
The thing about DOGE is it accomplished neither its ostensible nor actual goals but did manage to cause a couple of holocausts worth of deaths internationally.
And the media finds none of those three things particularly notable.
And the media finds none of those three things particularly notable.
It remains insane to me that DOGE was treated at the time as an impressive shock and awe accomplishment - “you can’t deny he’s getting stuff done!” - and then instantly memory holed by the press once if became clear it was a total failure by every possible standard including Musk’s own
Difficult to overstate how profound a failure DOGE was. Spending in FY2025 was not only than in FY2024 – but higher than it was projected to be when Trump first took office.*
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
The little bit of spending DOGE cut has already killed hundreds of thousands and will eventually lead to millions of deaths.
November 23, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The thing about DOGE is it accomplished neither its ostensible nor actual goals but did manage to cause a couple of holocausts worth of deaths internationally.
And the media finds none of those three things particularly notable.
And the media finds none of those three things particularly notable.
Reposted by AS
My interview with Joe Stiglitz in which we talk about, among other things, how bankruptcy and intellectual property laws were structured to make billionaires richer (correct link) www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW5c...
November 22, 2025 at 8:03 PM
My interview with Joe Stiglitz in which we talk about, among other things, how bankruptcy and intellectual property laws were structured to make billionaires richer (correct link) www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW5c...
Reposted by AS
There are going to be prominent Democrats and mainstream media voices who insist that we have to "turn the page" and "forgive and forget" and they should all be roundly ignored, if not mercilessly mocked.
It’s crazy to think about the crimes we’re going to learn about after this regime ends.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
We’re already hearing about Watergate level crimes every week. Imagine what will come out after it’s over.
We’re going to need a full accounting of all that’s been done in violation of the constitution.
November 22, 2025 at 10:46 PM
There are going to be prominent Democrats and mainstream media voices who insist that we have to "turn the page" and "forgive and forget" and they should all be roundly ignored, if not mercilessly mocked.
Reposted by AS
Huh, sure seems like Steve Davis was acting as an officer of the United States when he had no authority to do that. Wonder if that was also true before this point in the story??? (It was).
Some incredible details in this piece
*one DOGE faction was planning the future of the US government at a venture capital firm
*illegally communicating on Signal to avoid transparency laws was deeply embedded into organizational culture to be taken for granted
*one DOGE faction was planning the future of the US government at a venture capital firm
*illegally communicating on Signal to avoid transparency laws was deeply embedded into organizational culture to be taken for granted
November 22, 2025 at 11:19 PM
Huh, sure seems like Steve Davis was acting as an officer of the United States when he had no authority to do that. Wonder if that was also true before this point in the story??? (It was).
Reposted by AS
Good.
'Suddenly exposed' DOGE employees fear prosecution after Musk abandoned them: report
www.rawstory.com/doge-employe...
www.rawstory.com/doge-employe...
'Suddenly exposed' DOGE employees fear prosecution after Musk abandoned them: report
Current and former Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) staffers are growing increasingly concerned that the work they did slashing government programs and eliminating jobs will come back to hau...
www.rawstory.com
November 22, 2025 at 8:58 PM
Good.
Reposted by AS
You do not hate these people enough
November 22, 2025 at 1:42 PM
You do not hate these people enough
The less impressive school I went to has a parking row reserved for Nobel prize winners. Shannon has a bigger flex.
CORRECTION: A *third* potato has been named after Prince.
November 22, 2025 at 6:50 PM
The less impressive school I went to has a parking row reserved for Nobel prize winners. Shannon has a bigger flex.
Reposted by AS
Just remembering how one of the most important and widely read and dropped-with-maximally-damaging-timing "Biden is old and senile" pieces was reported by Nuzzi. It makes you think!
well, I read it, and the salient, non-gross part is Lizza alleging, midsentence and without elaboration, that Nuzzi ran numerous “catch-and-kill operations” on RFK’s behalf, which would give her a role in both his appointment and the untold preventable deaths he has abetted in office. Cool.
November 22, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Just remembering how one of the most important and widely read and dropped-with-maximally-damaging-timing "Biden is old and senile" pieces was reported by Nuzzi. It makes you think!
Reposted by AS
This is right and the other thing here, especially because Lizza doesn’t present evidence, is that “catch and kill” means something specific—putting a source into a contractual obligation so that they don’t have the option of taking a story elsewhere and then not running it.
something i'll note is that if nuzzi ran catch-and-kill ops for rfk jr and lizza knew this prior to him being appointed as HHS, and instead of telling anyone, he decided to save it for his substack long after rfk jr had made communicable disease into federal policy, that's completely fucked
November 22, 2025 at 6:41 PM
This is right and the other thing here, especially because Lizza doesn’t present evidence, is that “catch and kill” means something specific—putting a source into a contractual obligation so that they don’t have the option of taking a story elsewhere and then not running it.
Reposted by AS
It would also give *Ryan Lizza*—who could, in theory, have leaked this info at any point over the last 12-16 months—a role in both RFK’s appointment and the untold preventable deaths. But Lizza either isn’t self aware enough to realize that or is too busy selling Substack subscriptions to care
well, I read it, and the salient, non-gross part is Lizza alleging, midsentence and without elaboration, that Nuzzi ran numerous “catch-and-kill operations” on RFK’s behalf, which would give her a role in both his appointment and the untold preventable deaths he has abetted in office. Cool.
November 22, 2025 at 4:04 PM
It would also give *Ryan Lizza*—who could, in theory, have leaked this info at any point over the last 12-16 months—a role in both RFK’s appointment and the untold preventable deaths. But Lizza either isn’t self aware enough to realize that or is too busy selling Substack subscriptions to care
Reposted by AS
neither of these people should ever work in journalism again and New York magazine should reexamine everything she ever wrote
RFK should, of course, never work anywhere at all
RFK should, of course, never work anywhere at all
November 22, 2025 at 7:50 AM
neither of these people should ever work in journalism again and New York magazine should reexamine everything she ever wrote
RFK should, of course, never work anywhere at all
RFK should, of course, never work anywhere at all
Reposted by AS
okay so here’s the actual bad part of the article
“oh it never affected my coverage” horse and also shit
and what the fuck is Lizza doing sitting on this while RFK takes a buzz saw to American health so he can sell substack subscriptions
ghouls, the lot of them
“oh it never affected my coverage” horse and also shit
and what the fuck is Lizza doing sitting on this while RFK takes a buzz saw to American health so he can sell substack subscriptions
ghouls, the lot of them
November 22, 2025 at 7:45 AM
okay so here’s the actual bad part of the article
“oh it never affected my coverage” horse and also shit
and what the fuck is Lizza doing sitting on this while RFK takes a buzz saw to American health so he can sell substack subscriptions
ghouls, the lot of them
“oh it never affected my coverage” horse and also shit
and what the fuck is Lizza doing sitting on this while RFK takes a buzz saw to American health so he can sell substack subscriptions
ghouls, the lot of them
Reposted by AS
This is a wonderful time to support journalists who do the work, don’t fuck sources, and actually have moral clarity.
i promise i don’t mean to high horse this but if you’re thinking about giving lizza ten bucks there are a lot of good independent journalists whose work you could subscribe to for a month instead
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
This is a wonderful time to support journalists who do the work, don’t fuck sources, and actually have moral clarity.
Reposted by AS
This is such a cool breakdown I can’t believe CNN did something this rad
What if the United States had high-speed rail?
High-speed rail is a proven alternative to gridlocked highways and overcrowded airports. CNN has reimagined a faster, more connected future for US commuters.
www.cnn.com
November 22, 2025 at 2:27 PM
This is such a cool breakdown I can’t believe CNN did something this rad
Reposted by AS
No, he isn’t. There is literally no legal means by which he can do this. It’s not presidential power. TPS by law cannot be terminated early, and Somali TPS is not set to expire until March 17, 2026.
Trump says he’s ending Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somali refugees in Minnesota “immediately.”
November 22, 2025 at 1:50 AM
No, he isn’t. There is literally no legal means by which he can do this. It’s not presidential power. TPS by law cannot be terminated early, and Somali TPS is not set to expire until March 17, 2026.
Reposted by AS
Noting the congressional pension is based on service time, it kicks in at 5 years and her retirement date - Jan. 5, 2026 - will be the first business day after she passes five years since her first swearing in. bsky.app/profile/heli...
Any idea why she's quitting then? Her statement isn't very coherent (big surprise), although it would make more sense as an explanation of just not running for re-election.
November 22, 2025 at 1:37 AM
Noting the congressional pension is based on service time, it kicks in at 5 years and her retirement date - Jan. 5, 2026 - will be the first business day after she passes five years since her first swearing in. bsky.app/profile/heli...
Hey 5 more minutes than these destroyers conducted with my colleagues who actually provided value.
"Personnel office staffers also began to conduct 15-minute interviews with DOGE staffers to determine what exactly each did. At least one Cabinet member was informed that he was free to fire any name he found from lists of DOGE employees."
Oh, poor things
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Oh, poor things
www.politico.com/news/magazin...
Inside the DOGE Succession Drama Elon Musk Left Behind
What really happened when he logged out of Washington.
www.politico.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:35 AM
Hey 5 more minutes than these destroyers conducted with my colleagues who actually provided value.
Reposted by AS
They are literally firing all the judges they think might grant relief. They just fired a friend of mine a couple hours ago. They have no shame. The bastards want an assembly line for deportations and nothing more; rubber-stamping bootlickers who’ll yes’sir at every new diktat to deny.
Instead of hiring more immigration judges, the Department of Justice just posted an ad for "deportation judges." join.justice.gov
November 21, 2025 at 11:17 PM
They are literally firing all the judges they think might grant relief. They just fired a friend of mine a couple hours ago. They have no shame. The bastards want an assembly line for deportations and nothing more; rubber-stamping bootlickers who’ll yes’sir at every new diktat to deny.
Reposted by AS
Q: “Are you affirming you think Trump is a fascist?”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
November 21, 2025 at 9:35 PM
Q: “Are you affirming you think Trump is a fascist?”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
TRUMP: “That’s ok, you can just say yes.”
ZOHRAN: “Ok. Yes.”
Reposted by AS
Hi! I’m Mary and I’m on the #EconJobMarket this year.
Extreme heat doesn’t just affect students, it affects the people teaching them.
JMP 🧵:
Extreme heat doesn’t just affect students, it affects the people teaching them.
JMP 🧵:
November 14, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Hi! I’m Mary and I’m on the #EconJobMarket this year.
Extreme heat doesn’t just affect students, it affects the people teaching them.
JMP 🧵:
Extreme heat doesn’t just affect students, it affects the people teaching them.
JMP 🧵: