Mark Badger
@mbadger.bsky.social
Thoughts, follows, and reposts are completely my own and do not reflect those of my employer.
Reposted by Mark Badger
[email protected] : Were you satisfied with the answers you’ve gotten so far in this classified briefing on Venezuela?
AOC: Oh, hell no. It was a joke. This was not a serious intelligence briefing. This was the communication of an opinion.
AOC: Oh, hell no. It was a joke. This was not a serious intelligence briefing. This was the communication of an opinion.
December 16, 2025 at 7:44 PM
[email protected] : Were you satisfied with the answers you’ve gotten so far in this classified briefing on Venezuela?
AOC: Oh, hell no. It was a joke. This was not a serious intelligence briefing. This was the communication of an opinion.
AOC: Oh, hell no. It was a joke. This was not a serious intelligence briefing. This was the communication of an opinion.
Reposted by Mark Badger
Hassett's consistent commitment to lying about data in order to shill for Trump's vapid economic policies makes him a good fit for this administration - and, for the same reason, a terrible pick for the Fed where independence is paramount.
BRENNAN: When do you anticipate voters will feel this positive impact?
HASSETT: It's definitely the case that consumer sentiment right now is lower than anyone would like, but we find that very often happens during a govt shutdown, but the sentiment will catch up with the reality
HASSETT: It's definitely the case that consumer sentiment right now is lower than anyone would like, but we find that very often happens during a govt shutdown, but the sentiment will catch up with the reality
December 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
Hassett's consistent commitment to lying about data in order to shill for Trump's vapid economic policies makes him a good fit for this administration - and, for the same reason, a terrible pick for the Fed where independence is paramount.
Listened to a couple of bands listed in the NYT Best of Pop list, and it seems like singing well is optional.
December 14, 2025 at 4:19 PM
Listened to a couple of bands listed in the NYT Best of Pop list, and it seems like singing well is optional.
Reposted by Mark Badger
A huge night for Democrats:
—They flip Miami's mayorship.
—They flip a state House district in Georgia that had voted Trump by 13%.
—They keep Albuquerque's mayorship, while the liberal faction flips city council.
—And they get big overperformances (+18 & +22) in 2 Florida specials.
—They flip Miami's mayorship.
—They flip a state House district in Georgia that had voted Trump by 13%.
—They keep Albuquerque's mayorship, while the liberal faction flips city council.
—And they get big overperformances (+18 & +22) in 2 Florida specials.
December 10, 2025 at 3:26 AM
A huge night for Democrats:
—They flip Miami's mayorship.
—They flip a state House district in Georgia that had voted Trump by 13%.
—They keep Albuquerque's mayorship, while the liberal faction flips city council.
—And they get big overperformances (+18 & +22) in 2 Florida specials.
—They flip Miami's mayorship.
—They flip a state House district in Georgia that had voted Trump by 13%.
—They keep Albuquerque's mayorship, while the liberal faction flips city council.
—And they get big overperformances (+18 & +22) in 2 Florida specials.
Reposted by Mark Badger
We are dealing with such corruption in every aspect of our government, I don't know how we undo the damage.
December 9, 2025 at 1:26 AM
We are dealing with such corruption in every aspect of our government, I don't know how we undo the damage.
Reposted by Mark Badger
Reader, he is, in fact, making this stuff up
Kudlow is just lying to his viewers: "Unemployment is at rock bottom. These are real facts. I'm not making this stuff up. Unemployment claims are as low as they're ever going to get."
December 8, 2025 at 9:16 PM
Reader, he is, in fact, making this stuff up
Reposted by Mark Badger
For reasons completely unrelated to any opinions about regulatory policy, a Day 1 executive order here in the US should be ending every government agency account on X. Just delete them all, plain as that. For the same reason the US government need not have accounts on Stormfront or 4chan.
Pretty crazy that nearly all of the EU Commission is still on X even as Elon Musk is literally talking about destroying the EU.
You can leave X. It's really not that difficult.
You can leave X. It's really not that difficult.
So what's the outcome?
2️⃣5️⃣ of the 27 Commissioners have posted in the last week
2️⃣4️⃣ of the 27 generally post every week (Albuquerque has never been on X, Ribera is sporadic, McGrath has somehow stopped)
0️⃣ have stopped as a result of what Twitter has become since the Musk takeover
2️⃣5️⃣ of the 27 Commissioners have posted in the last week
2️⃣4️⃣ of the 27 generally post every week (Albuquerque has never been on X, Ribera is sporadic, McGrath has somehow stopped)
0️⃣ have stopped as a result of what Twitter has become since the Musk takeover
December 7, 2025 at 11:28 PM
For reasons completely unrelated to any opinions about regulatory policy, a Day 1 executive order here in the US should be ending every government agency account on X. Just delete them all, plain as that. For the same reason the US government need not have accounts on Stormfront or 4chan.
A must-read post
Study after study shows campaign ads barely move the needle. So where does money’s real power come from? I ranked the five ways money corrupts politics—from least to most corrosive. What I’ve learned from 15 years of tracking political money:
Money Doesn't Buy Elections. It Does Something Worse.
Campaign ads barely move the needle. The real influence is hiding in plain sight.
open.substack.com
December 8, 2025 at 1:51 AM
A must-read post
Reposted by Mark Badger
This entire thread is INSANE
6/ You don’t want to move your husband to Emory or somewhere? The woman whispered. Shouldn’t you get him out of here?
The question seemed inappropriate. “We’re good,” Mrs. Parker said firmly. “I appreciate your concern, but we’re good.”
The question seemed inappropriate. “We’re good,” Mrs. Parker said firmly. “I appreciate your concern, but we’re good.”
December 7, 2025 at 11:48 PM
This entire thread is INSANE
Reposted by Mark Badger
There has been no debate here among constitutional scholars, historians, political scientists, anyone with a pulse really.
Any telling you that this very straightforward point, one that has been universally accepted for a century and a half, is now an "abstruse" issue is just a liar and a hack.
Any telling you that this very straightforward point, one that has been universally accepted for a century and a half, is now an "abstruse" issue is just a liar and a hack.
Anyone who knows this history should know there’s no contested issue.
December 7, 2025 at 12:50 AM
There has been no debate here among constitutional scholars, historians, political scientists, anyone with a pulse really.
Any telling you that this very straightforward point, one that has been universally accepted for a century and a half, is now an "abstruse" issue is just a liar and a hack.
Any telling you that this very straightforward point, one that has been universally accepted for a century and a half, is now an "abstruse" issue is just a liar and a hack.
Reposted by Mark Badger
🔥 @adammockler.com : “Trump wants to act like a monarch that gets gifts. FIFA just cashed in on that. They realized they can placate him. It’s humiliating that other countries are treating our president like a child. It should scare everybody who cares about the constitution.”
December 6, 2025 at 4:38 AM
🔥 @adammockler.com : “Trump wants to act like a monarch that gets gifts. FIFA just cashed in on that. They realized they can placate him. It’s humiliating that other countries are treating our president like a child. It should scare everybody who cares about the constitution.”
Reposted by Mark Badger
“Censorship” is a thought-terminating cliché. These people want you to believe that:
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
american reporters, you've got to call bullshit on this. vance, purveyor of hate/propaganda, wants the public to believe rules on, for instance, transparency in advertising and forms of deception on X are censorship.
don't fall for it.
don't fall for it.
December 5, 2025 at 12:31 AM
“Censorship” is a thought-terminating cliché. These people want you to believe that:
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
- labeling is censorship
- fact-checking is censorship
- transparency is censorship
- research is censorship
What they’re doing is redefining anything that might inconvenience a hard-right populist as censorship.
Reposted by Mark Badger
Highlighting this article in light of today's Supreme Court argument in Cox v. Sony:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Knowing How to Know: Secondary Liability for Speech in Copyright Law
Contributory copyright infringement has long been based on whether the defendant, “with knowledge of the infringing activity,” induced, caused, or materially co
papers.ssrn.com
December 1, 2025 at 7:29 PM
Highlighting this article in light of today's Supreme Court argument in Cox v. Sony:
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....
Reposted by Mark Badger
Congressman Henry Cuellar was indicted for money laundering, bribery, and conspiracy, allegedly taking about $600,000, mostly from Azerbaijan, to influence U.S. policy.
President Donald Trump pardoned Cuellar, because Trump supports money laundering, bribery, and conspiracy.
President Donald Trump pardoned Cuellar, because Trump supports money laundering, bribery, and conspiracy.
Trump announces a pardon of Henry Cuellar: "I am hereby announcing my full and unconditional PARDON of beloved Texas Congressman Henry Cuellar, and Imelda. Henry, I don’t know you, but you can sleep well tonight — Your nightmare is finally over!"
December 3, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Congressman Henry Cuellar was indicted for money laundering, bribery, and conspiracy, allegedly taking about $600,000, mostly from Azerbaijan, to influence U.S. policy.
President Donald Trump pardoned Cuellar, because Trump supports money laundering, bribery, and conspiracy.
President Donald Trump pardoned Cuellar, because Trump supports money laundering, bribery, and conspiracy.
Reposted by Mark Badger
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
Reposted by Mark Badger
We weren’t (and at this hour still aren’t) at war with Venezuela so both strikes are just murder
If the Venezuelan sailors were enemy combatants, then the 2nd strike is a war crime.
If the Venezuelan sailors weren’t enemy combatants, then both strikes are criminal murder.
It’s that simple.
If the Venezuelan sailors weren’t enemy combatants, then both strikes are criminal murder.
It’s that simple.
December 1, 2025 at 2:10 AM
We weren’t (and at this hour still aren’t) at war with Venezuela so both strikes are just murder
Reposted by Mark Badger
The reason I want to see Secretary Hegseth and Admiral Bradley charged with murder, based on what we know, isn't because I hate the US military. It's because I served in the US military and respect it, and want to see its honor restored.
November 30, 2025 at 5:34 AM
The reason I want to see Secretary Hegseth and Admiral Bradley charged with murder, based on what we know, isn't because I hate the US military. It's because I served in the US military and respect it, and want to see its honor restored.
Reposted by Mark Badger
Bolsonaro to Start Serving 27-Year Sentence Over Coup Plot
www.nytimes.com
November 25, 2025 at 7:20 PM
These assholes are beyond delusional
Trump entered the Mar-a-Lago ballroom for his Thanksgiving feast to the song “We Are the World,” a song used to raise money to help starving children.
Trump himself has cut aid to address global famine and has fought for the right to cut food stamps from American families.
Trump himself has cut aid to address global famine and has fought for the right to cut food stamps from American families.
November 28, 2025 at 6:44 PM
These assholes are beyond delusional
Reposted by Mark Badger
Declaring “no quarter” is a war crime.
Even assuming an armed conflict exists.
Even assuming an armed conflict exists.
November 28, 2025 at 6:12 PM
Declaring “no quarter” is a war crime.
Even assuming an armed conflict exists.
Even assuming an armed conflict exists.
Reposted by Mark Badger
WASHINGTON (AP) — Judge dismisses cases against James Comey and Letitia James after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed.
November 24, 2025 at 5:43 PM
WASHINGTON (AP) — Judge dismisses cases against James Comey and Letitia James after finding that prosecutor was illegally appointed.
Reposted by Mark Badger
ACAB and Defund The Police -- the two most destructive messaging efforts from sloganeers who don't actually want to fix a fucking thing and will, at every opportunity, alienate the entire electorate from actual police reform for the sheer pleasure of their own self-regarding purities.
Eat a dick.
Eat a dick.
Okay but ACAB includes David Simon.
Hard, fast rule from a veteran police reporter: Excepting anyone engaged in infiltrating a criminal conspiracy in an undercover capacity, any law officer who hides his identity from the public is a shitheel is doing vile shit and is, in fact, actively destroying the credibility of law enforcement.
November 6, 2025 at 3:02 AM
ACAB and Defund The Police -- the two most destructive messaging efforts from sloganeers who don't actually want to fix a fucking thing and will, at every opportunity, alienate the entire electorate from actual police reform for the sheer pleasure of their own self-regarding purities.
Eat a dick.
Eat a dick.
Reposted by Mark Badger
Oh
Meta paid $16 BILLION in taxes this year, thanks to the corporate minimum tax passed in 2022.
That's the corporate tax that Trump's IRS has quietly decided to stop enforcing.
Go figure.
That's the corporate tax that Trump's IRS has quietly decided to stop enforcing.
Go figure.
November 16, 2025 at 3:39 PM
Oh
Reposted by Mark Badger
ProPublica reports Dan Bongino got a polygraph waiver for his security clearance
These exams catch foreign ties & blackmail risks
Waivers at this level are unprecedented & part of a broader purge of career national-security experts
I explained on @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social 👇 - TN
These exams catch foreign ties & blackmail risks
Waivers at this level are unprecedented & part of a broader purge of career national-security experts
I explained on @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social 👇 - TN
November 16, 2025 at 2:40 PM
ProPublica reports Dan Bongino got a polygraph waiver for his security clearance
These exams catch foreign ties & blackmail risks
Waivers at this level are unprecedented & part of a broader purge of career national-security experts
I explained on @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social 👇 - TN
These exams catch foreign ties & blackmail risks
Waivers at this level are unprecedented & part of a broader purge of career national-security experts
I explained on @theweekendmsnow.bsky.social 👇 - TN
Reposted by Mark Badger
If you’re willing to say, out loud, that it’s “worse” to rape a 5 year old than a 14 year old, this was never about protecting kids.
November 14, 2025 at 4:17 PM
If you’re willing to say, out loud, that it’s “worse” to rape a 5 year old than a 14 year old, this was never about protecting kids.