Author | Lightnews

Opinion | The Rise of Social Media and the Fall of Western Democracy

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · 14d

Thomas B. Edsall writing today about the problem that (over the last 20-some-odd years) has become a driving obsession for me. I'm looking for structural solutions to it, and would love to talk with anyone who has given it real thought.

www.nytimes.com/2025/10/14/o...

www.nytimes.com

Are We Really Headed for a Second Civil War?

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · 23d

Here's what I'm listening to this morning:

www.thebulwark.com/p/are-we-rea...

Worthwhile so far. Will update on whether it still seems that way near the end.

Are we really close to a second civil war?

The Silence of the Generals

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · 27d

Pay particular attention to what Will Saletan (@saletan.bsky.social) says here:

www.thebulwark.com/p/the-silenc...

And the searing words of a veteran on the bench.

www.thebulwark.com/p/its-a-war-...

2

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · 27d

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Sep 16

Perry Bacon (@perrybaconjr.bsky.social) makes the best argument I've heard for further weakening of the two-party system: newrepublic.com/article/2004...

Brazil Stopped Its Trump. It’s Pathetic That We Couldn’t Stop Ours.

Brazil barred Bolsonaro from running again and is sending him to jail. Other countries have done it too. Why is the United States a unique failure?

Trump Is Our True National Emergency

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Sep 6

Worthwhile reading from @timothynoah.bsky.social:

newrepublic.com/article/1999...

When the president claims everything is a national emergency, so that he can do whatever he wants, the courts need to regard that as the real emergency.

charliesykes.substack.com/p/what-makes...

1 4

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Aug 22

What Makes You Think They Won't Come For You, Too?

Trigger warning: I intend for today’s newsletter to be alarming.

charliesykes.substack.com

popular.info/p/calling-cr...

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Aug 12

Calling crime data "fake news," Trump seizes DC police

Lies, manipulated data, unsubstantiated allegations, and an unprecedented federal takeover.

popular.info

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Aug 6

Jesus H. Christ.

newrepublic.com/article/1988...

Bondi’s Obama Grand Jury: The Authoritarian Moment We’ve All Feared

It’s officially happening: the use of the machinery of justice to go on fishing expeditions about political predecessors. Absolute madness.

A message to ICE Agents from a Veteran.

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jul 23

If you think the Epstein scandal means Trump's days are numbered, think again.

charliesykes.substack.com/p/here-comes...

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jul 13

I'm very much a pantywaist liberal Democrat and don't agree with (much) of this guy's blistering criticism of our side, but his message to ICE agents rings true and gives me hope that people like him and people like me may be finding common cause. Worth a listen.

www.reddit.com/r/ICE_Raids/...

www.reddit.com

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jul 9

www.youtube.com/watch?v=HoaT...

You Aren't Going to Believe This

YouTube video by Sen. Adam Schiff

www.youtube.com

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jun 25

The stench.

popular.info/p/is-emil-bo...

Is Emil Bove the most unethical judicial nominee in modern history?

President Trump nominated Emil Bove, his former personal attorney, to be a federal judge on the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals — one of the most powerful judicial roles in the country.

popular.info

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jun 21

Thank you, @jvl.bsky.social :

www.thebulwark.com/p/should-we-...

I'm working on software that will support creation and management of the kinds of networks you mention, and I'm looking for people interested in helping.

Should We Hide Immigrants in Our Attics?

A serious question about what time it is.

Batya Ungar-Sargon On Trump 2.0

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jun 20

Look at the incredible way @andrewsullivan.bsky.social uses Grok to fact-check this argument between him and a guest on his podcast:

andrewsullivan.substack.com/p/batya-unga...

It gives me hope that AI can reinvigorate debate and discussion of public issues -- can make it vastly more useful.

We debate the tariffs, the BBB, deportations over speech, and more. Things get testy. Listen now on the Dishcast.

andrewsullivan.substack.com

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jun 19

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jun 17

Interesting article. Why is this not persuasive to MAGA types who read? And please don't tell me there aren't any.

www.economist.com/culture/2025...

How golden ages really start—and end

The greatest civilisations of the past 3,000 years were the opposite of MAGA

www.economist.com

Reposted by Cole Brecheen

Michael Tomasky @mjtoma.bsky.social · Jun 16

New Column: Fact: one of our two political parties winks at, abets, and literally pardons political violence. Wanna guess which one? newrepublic.com/article/1968... via @newrepublic.com

America Is at a Terrifying Turning Point—and There’s No Going Back

Why the events of this past weekend should worry everyone who wants a peaceful democracy

NEWSFLASH: Russia's revenge

9 99 260

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jun 9

@jvl.bsky.social says he does not mean to sound hysterical. I do. Read this:

www.thebulwark.com/p/the-most-d...

Referred to my attention this morning by @sykescharlie.bsky.social at www.thebulwark.com/p/its-always...

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jun 6

This is our future, too:

www.counteroffensive.news/p/newsflash-...

What it felt like overnight in Kyiv as the Russian dictator lashed out in response to Ukraine's sneak attacks on military targets. This morning, we awoke to Journalist's Day in Ukraine.

www.counteroffensive.news

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jun 4

charliesykes.substack.com/p/washington...

"Washington Has Become the Court of Nero"

A French senator's blistering indictment

charliesykes.substack.com

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jun 3

From Dan Feiffer today:

www.messageboxnews.com/p/pardons-fo...

Cole Brecheen @cbrecheen.bsky.social · Jun 3

From @jvl.bsky.social today: "These are people who caused harm to their friend, but express no remorse or contrition. ... And they aren’t doing anything to atone for their mistakes other than engage in base, performative sentiment."

www.thebulwark.com/p/meet-the-w...

Meet the Worst People in America

They voted for Trump and now they are very upset that Trump is destroying one of their friends’ lives.