Chris Nelson
@chrisnelson.bsky.social
Award-winning writer, bylines @ NY Times, MOJO, MTV, more. Music 🤓. Dylan, Dead, DC punk rock.
📍PNW
📍PNW
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Chris Nelson
@chrisnelson.bsky.social
· Mar 11
The organizational imperative for “growth” — for any kind of org — without some moral underpinning for what that growth is good for has bothered me since I was a kid. I’m not against growth. But explain to me why bigger is better and more is more than more in a way that has integrity
Introduce yourself with bands you’ve seen five times or more…
Fugazi
Bikini Kill
Wilco
Dylan
Springsteen
Fugazi
Bikini Kill
Wilco
Dylan
Springsteen
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen
Phish
Monks of Doom
Elvis Costello
Ween
Space Pussy
(these are the posters over my desk)
Phish
Monks of Doom
Elvis Costello
Ween
Space Pussy
(these are the posters over my desk)
Introduce yourself with five concerts you’ve seen
Arcade Fire
Brigitte Calls Me Baby
Soul Coughing
Wilco
Youssou N’dour
Arcade Fire
Brigitte Calls Me Baby
Soul Coughing
Wilco
Youssou N’dour
November 28, 2025 at 4:54 AM
Introduce yourself with bands you’ve seen five times or more…
Fugazi
Bikini Kill
Wilco
Dylan
Springsteen
Fugazi
Bikini Kill
Wilco
Dylan
Springsteen
I can’t be the only person who reads the phrase, “And it’s not even close” and immediately dismisses the argument at hand, assuming a lack of curiosity or creativity or both
November 26, 2025 at 4:25 AM
I can’t be the only person who reads the phrase, “And it’s not even close” and immediately dismisses the argument at hand, assuming a lack of curiosity or creativity or both
Reposted by Chris Nelson
The number of ways this is disgraceful behavior from the Secretary of Defense is...a lot.
Service members do have a duty to refuse illegal orders
All Americans have a 1st Amendment right to say that out loud.
Service members do have a duty to refuse illegal orders
All Americans have a 1st Amendment right to say that out loud.
Hegseth is now threatening to recall Sen. Mark Kelly to active duty in order to court martial him.
November 24, 2025 at 5:29 PM
The number of ways this is disgraceful behavior from the Secretary of Defense is...a lot.
Service members do have a duty to refuse illegal orders
All Americans have a 1st Amendment right to say that out loud.
Service members do have a duty to refuse illegal orders
All Americans have a 1st Amendment right to say that out loud.
Latest entry in the annals of #Fugazi and #GratefulDead are more similar than you assume: there are pieces of Sand Camels & Glass Camels highlighted in the latest Deadcast (thanks @bourgwick.bsky.social!) that to my ears could find a home on later Fugazi albums
November 21, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Latest entry in the annals of #Fugazi and #GratefulDead are more similar than you assume: there are pieces of Sand Camels & Glass Camels highlighted in the latest Deadcast (thanks @bourgwick.bsky.social!) that to my ears could find a home on later Fugazi albums
This. And, look Dems, you didn't even have to pay Molly an arm and a leg. Nailed it for you in 30 seconds by focusing on values.
Both of these issues are intertwined and I wish democrats would seize on the messaging that all trump cares about is enriching and protecting himself and his billionaire buddies
“Trump approval falls to lowest of his term over prices and Epstein files, Reuters/Ipsos poll finds...the president has been particularly dogged by perceptions he isn't doing enough to help households with everyday expenses”
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
www.reuters.com/world/us/tru...
November 19, 2025 at 6:24 PM
This. And, look Dems, you didn't even have to pay Molly an arm and a leg. Nailed it for you in 30 seconds by focusing on values.
Reposted by Chris Nelson
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
November 16, 2025 at 4:25 AM
5 headlines tonight on Charlotte Observer’s homepage:
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
“Manolo's Bakery closes to protect customers”
“Church members flee as federal agents arrive”
“Super G executive describes agents dragging out teen employee”
“Border Patrol questions people at Walmart”
“Border Patrol sweep sparks fear”
No interviewer ever needs to ask again, “Back in [time past] could you have ever imagined [significant achievement]?” No, they couldn’t. No insights lie down that road. Don’t waste your question opportunities
November 14, 2025 at 2:32 AM
No interviewer ever needs to ask again, “Back in [time past] could you have ever imagined [significant achievement]?” No, they couldn’t. No insights lie down that road. Don’t waste your question opportunities
Reposted by Chris Nelson
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
two contradictory ideas that i hold in my head at the same time: 1) i think the threat to both SNAP recipients and federal workers is significant enough now that even bad deals are worth making to prevent further harm, and, 2) everyone who caves now should retire in shame
November 10, 2025 at 2:54 AM
Harm to SNAP recipients, federal workers, and others is real. In a normal democracy it’d make sense to prioritize reducing that harm in the short term.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
In a rapidly backsliding democracy, harm is happening no matter what. Preventing authoritarian consolidation is the most harm-reducing move.
Sheets of sound. Also sheets of sound.
November 9, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Sheets of sound. Also sheets of sound.
Anyone seen the Springsteen movie? I’m a Bruce nerd, and I … did not enjoy it. It’s a great story to tell. But film is a visual medium, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film that more ignored the imperative to “show, don’t tell.”
November 8, 2025 at 12:07 AM
Anyone seen the Springsteen movie? I’m a Bruce nerd, and I … did not enjoy it. It’s a great story to tell. But film is a visual medium, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a film that more ignored the imperative to “show, don’t tell.”
Kept wondering why I keep thinking the name of the so-far awesome show “Shoresy” was “Shoesy,” and realized it’s because of @hamshooz.ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.ooo
November 8, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Kept wondering why I keep thinking the name of the so-far awesome show “Shoresy” was “Shoesy,” and realized it’s because of @hamshooz.ooooooooooooooooooooooooooo.ooo
Reposted by Chris Nelson
Breaking: A federal appeals court just denied a last-minute bid by the Trump admin to temporarily halt some SNAP funding during the shutdown.
November 7, 2025 at 11:35 PM
Breaking: A federal appeals court just denied a last-minute bid by the Trump admin to temporarily halt some SNAP funding during the shutdown.
Assorted Crisis Events #6, by @denizcamp.bsky.social & @ericxyz.bsky.social, hits harder for me than any other so far. John suffers from Temporal Diminishment, but with my dad, we called it dementia. This whole series has touched me more than any art I’ve encountered all year. Maybe all decade.
November 7, 2025 at 11:38 PM
Assorted Crisis Events #6, by @denizcamp.bsky.social & @ericxyz.bsky.social, hits harder for me than any other so far. John suffers from Temporal Diminishment, but with my dad, we called it dementia. This whole series has touched me more than any art I’ve encountered all year. Maybe all decade.
Reposted by Chris Nelson
Conservative Man Proudly Frightened Of Everything
Conservative Man Proudly Frightened Of Everything
FLOWER MOUND, TX—Condemning the “woke left” for what he called the “modern evisceration of masculinity,” local conservative man Hank Daniels confirmed Monday that he was never going to stop being prou...
theonion.com
November 5, 2025 at 5:15 AM
Conservative Man Proudly Frightened Of Everything
Reposted by Chris Nelson
LOL it must have absolutely killed NYT headline writers to have to write this one
November 5, 2025 at 1:16 AM
LOL it must have absolutely killed NYT headline writers to have to write this one
I’ve never been inspired to read anything about CCR, so thanks to @andrewhickey.500songs.com and 500 Songs for filling me on Bad Moon Rising’s ties to Scotty Moore on I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone
November 5, 2025 at 1:09 AM
I’ve never been inspired to read anything about CCR, so thanks to @andrewhickey.500songs.com and 500 Songs for filling me on Bad Moon Rising’s ties to Scotty Moore on I’m Left, You’re Right, She’s Gone
NYT disappointments, in order:
1) Normalizing fascism
2) Increasing charges for games, possibly to make up for lost revenue from subscriptions cancelled in light of #1
3) Refusal to accept common words in Spelling Bee
1) Normalizing fascism
2) Increasing charges for games, possibly to make up for lost revenue from subscriptions cancelled in light of #1
3) Refusal to accept common words in Spelling Bee
November 3, 2025 at 4:01 AM
NYT disappointments, in order:
1) Normalizing fascism
2) Increasing charges for games, possibly to make up for lost revenue from subscriptions cancelled in light of #1
3) Refusal to accept common words in Spelling Bee
1) Normalizing fascism
2) Increasing charges for games, possibly to make up for lost revenue from subscriptions cancelled in light of #1
3) Refusal to accept common words in Spelling Bee
If you’re gonna write a song about the helpless feeling of not being to keep your loved ones safe, writing a melody that’s fit for a lullaby is perfect
youtu.be/DexmYN0wMJU?...
youtu.be/DexmYN0wMJU?...
Bruce Springsteen - Gun in Every Home (Nebraska Outtakes - Official Audio)
YouTube video by BruceSpringsteenVEVO
youtu.be
October 30, 2025 at 4:00 PM
If you’re gonna write a song about the helpless feeling of not being to keep your loved ones safe, writing a melody that’s fit for a lullaby is perfect
youtu.be/DexmYN0wMJU?...
youtu.be/DexmYN0wMJU?...
Folks rightly talk re the band Suicide as an influence on Springsteen's State Trooper. It's audible in the demo of Downbound Train too in the relentlessness of the drums. But here it's also infused with psychotic early rockabilly. Bruce gets the common ties in these sources
youtu.be/nuC9rSEU-M0
youtu.be/nuC9rSEU-M0
Bruce Springsteen - Downbound Train (Electric Nebraska - Official Audio)
YouTube video by BruceSpringsteenVEVO
youtu.be
October 29, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Folks rightly talk re the band Suicide as an influence on Springsteen's State Trooper. It's audible in the demo of Downbound Train too in the relentlessness of the drums. But here it's also infused with psychotic early rockabilly. Bruce gets the common ties in these sources
youtu.be/nuC9rSEU-M0
youtu.be/nuC9rSEU-M0
Reposted by Chris Nelson
"People can say they don’t want you here,” the judge said. “They can say they don’t like the way you’re enforcing the law and that they wish you would leave Chicago and take your agents with you.”
Keep it up, Chicago.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/28/j...
Keep it up, Chicago.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/28/j...
‘Not how any of us want to live’: Judge orders Border Patrol boss Bovino to court daily to report use of force
A visibly displeased federal judge Tuesday ordered Border Patrol Cmdr. Gregory Bovino to start coming to court every day to detail any confrontations his immigration enforcement officers have had w…
www.chicagotribune.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:36 PM
"People can say they don’t want you here,” the judge said. “They can say they don’t like the way you’re enforcing the law and that they wish you would leave Chicago and take your agents with you.”
Keep it up, Chicago.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/28/j...
Keep it up, Chicago.
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/10/28/j...
I just gave to the Rainier Valley Food Bank in south Seattle. Amazing org doing so much good work. More vital than ever.
givebutter.com/donate-rvfb
givebutter.com/donate-rvfb
Feed South Seattle
By RAINIER VALLEY FOOD BANK
givebutter.com
October 28, 2025 at 10:45 PM
I just gave to the Rainier Valley Food Bank in south Seattle. Amazing org doing so much good work. More vital than ever.
givebutter.com/donate-rvfb
givebutter.com/donate-rvfb
Reposted by Chris Nelson
Reposted by Chris Nelson
Luv 2 "take steps" or "move towards" oligarchy, a political concept which apparently recedes infinitely on the horizon, and which is never reached
October 23, 2025 at 10:44 PM
Luv 2 "take steps" or "move towards" oligarchy, a political concept which apparently recedes infinitely on the horizon, and which is never reached
Reposted by Chris Nelson
It’s becoming increasingly clear that one political party in America thinks Naziism is a normal thing for a young man to look into, like trying out a new video game.
this also drives me insane, this idea that it is the most normal thing in the world for a young (white) man to have a nazi curious phase. it isn’t!
October 21, 2025 at 2:06 PM
It’s becoming increasingly clear that one political party in America thinks Naziism is a normal thing for a young man to look into, like trying out a new video game.