Chris Conaton
@conatonc.bsky.social
Music writer, movie lover, professional grocery shopper
I don’t think “The election will be canceled” Doomers really think about the difficult logistics of cancelling nationwide elections.
That’s understandable! A lot of people find logistics boring. But they are super important, especially when you’re talking about how granular U.S. elections are.
That’s understandable! A lot of people find logistics boring. But they are super important, especially when you’re talking about how granular U.S. elections are.
ICE can't even deal with irate middle-aged midwesterners. how does he occupy hundreds, if not thousands, of polling cites and precincts? trump v. illinois clarified that he has no legal authority to unilaterally commandeer national guards, how does he move forward from there?
January 15, 2026 at 5:05 PM
I don’t think “The election will be canceled” Doomers really think about the difficult logistics of cancelling nationwide elections.
That’s understandable! A lot of people find logistics boring. But they are super important, especially when you’re talking about how granular U.S. elections are.
That’s understandable! A lot of people find logistics boring. But they are super important, especially when you’re talking about how granular U.S. elections are.
Things seem to be going about as well for Bari Weiss as they did for Megyn Kelly during her 14 months at NBC.
Sources: Bari Weiss has privately been deeply frustrated by the negative reaction to her CBS tenure and has blamed subordinates for not stanching the criticism (New York Times)
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
Main Link | Mediagazer Permalink
January 13, 2026 at 2:15 PM
Things seem to be going about as well for Bari Weiss as they did for Megyn Kelly during her 14 months at NBC.
If anyone in the current Trump Administration had ever opened a National Geographic, this level of pedantry would be infuriating to them.
Nat Geo essentially says, “Sure, you can rename your own waters The Gulf of America, but the rest of it is still The Gulf of Mexico whether you like it or not.”
Nat Geo essentially says, “Sure, you can rename your own waters The Gulf of America, but the rest of it is still The Gulf of Mexico whether you like it or not.”
January 6, 2026 at 2:39 PM
If anyone in the current Trump Administration had ever opened a National Geographic, this level of pedantry would be infuriating to them.
Nat Geo essentially says, “Sure, you can rename your own waters The Gulf of America, but the rest of it is still The Gulf of Mexico whether you like it or not.”
Nat Geo essentially says, “Sure, you can rename your own waters The Gulf of America, but the rest of it is still The Gulf of Mexico whether you like it or not.”
So you’re telling me that U.S. law enforcement officials kidnapped a man from Latin America to bring him to the United States? Guess we’re doing it backwards in 2026.
January 3, 2026 at 2:08 PM
So you’re telling me that U.S. law enforcement officials kidnapped a man from Latin America to bring him to the United States? Guess we’re doing it backwards in 2026.
Evan Gorelick in the New York Times morning newsletter reduces the Writers’ Strike and Nurses protesting against AI to mere “freakouts”.
January 2, 2026 at 2:32 PM
Evan Gorelick in the New York Times morning newsletter reduces the Writers’ Strike and Nurses protesting against AI to mere “freakouts”.
Similarly, the Americana list is full of bangers. I can vouch for The Devil Makes Three, Jason Isbell, Molly Tuttle, and Neko Case, which are all so, so good. Which means if you like this kind of studd you should be giving these other recods a shot, too.
www.popmatters.com/best-america...
www.popmatters.com/best-america...
Establishing a secure connection ...
www.popmatters.com
December 19, 2025 at 1:05 AM
Similarly, the Americana list is full of bangers. I can vouch for The Devil Makes Three, Jason Isbell, Molly Tuttle, and Neko Case, which are all so, so good. Which means if you like this kind of studd you should be giving these other recods a shot, too.
www.popmatters.com/best-america...
www.popmatters.com/best-america...
This came out last week but I’m a bit late. The Popmatters Best Albums list is always filled with interesting records, as well as the ones you’d expect.
I wrote about albums by Molly Tuttle, Deafheaven, and The Beths, which can all be found in the 60-40 range.
www.popmatters.com/best-albums-...
I wrote about albums by Molly Tuttle, Deafheaven, and The Beths, which can all be found in the 60-40 range.
www.popmatters.com/best-albums-...
Establishing a secure connection ...
www.popmatters.com
December 19, 2025 at 12:57 AM
This came out last week but I’m a bit late. The Popmatters Best Albums list is always filled with interesting records, as well as the ones you’d expect.
I wrote about albums by Molly Tuttle, Deafheaven, and The Beths, which can all be found in the 60-40 range.
www.popmatters.com/best-albums-...
I wrote about albums by Molly Tuttle, Deafheaven, and The Beths, which can all be found in the 60-40 range.
www.popmatters.com/best-albums-...
Pepsi has tried numerous times to compete with Sprite and 7 Up. Currently they have Starry, and before that it was Sierra Mist. But before Sierra Mist there was Slice.
They’ve revived that brand name as a competitor in the “healthy” soda area, going up against fruity stuff like Oli Pop and Poppi.
They’ve revived that brand name as a competitor in the “healthy” soda area, going up against fruity stuff like Oli Pop and Poppi.
December 16, 2025 at 6:19 PM
Pepsi has tried numerous times to compete with Sprite and 7 Up. Currently they have Starry, and before that it was Sierra Mist. But before Sierra Mist there was Slice.
They’ve revived that brand name as a competitor in the “healthy” soda area, going up against fruity stuff like Oli Pop and Poppi.
They’ve revived that brand name as a competitor in the “healthy” soda area, going up against fruity stuff like Oli Pop and Poppi.
I’m an advocate for a 16-team college football playoff. But I want every conference champion to get a spot, just like NCAA basketball and every other level of college football.
Sure this would mean a lot of first round blowouts, but when an upset happened it would be magical.
Sure this would mean a lot of first round blowouts, but when an upset happened it would be magical.
December 9, 2025 at 2:30 PM
I’m an advocate for a 16-team college football playoff. But I want every conference champion to get a spot, just like NCAA basketball and every other level of college football.
Sure this would mean a lot of first round blowouts, but when an upset happened it would be magical.
Sure this would mean a lot of first round blowouts, but when an upset happened it would be magical.
Kill Bill vol. 2 plays so much better as part of the same movie with vol. 1, rather than separated by 6 months or however long it was originally.
December 7, 2025 at 12:21 AM
Kill Bill vol. 2 plays so much better as part of the same movie with vol. 1, rather than separated by 6 months or however long it was originally.
Great piece by
@elijahgonzalez.bsky.social at the AV Club about Amazon’s AI anime dubbing fiasco that also spins out into Crunchyroll’s anti-union stance and how it hurts the whole industry.
www.avclub.com/amazon-ai-an...
@elijahgonzalez.bsky.social at the AV Club about Amazon’s AI anime dubbing fiasco that also spins out into Crunchyroll’s anti-union stance and how it hurts the whole industry.
www.avclub.com/amazon-ai-an...
Elijah Gonzalez (@elijahgonzalez.bsky.social)
Currently: Associate Editor @ The A.V Club. Formerly: Assistant Games & TV Editor @ Paste Magazine. Bylines: Endless Mode, Game Informer, Fanbyte, The Gamer, Unwinnable, Uppercut Crit, & more. TCA mem...
elijahgonzalez.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Great piece by
@elijahgonzalez.bsky.social at the AV Club about Amazon’s AI anime dubbing fiasco that also spins out into Crunchyroll’s anti-union stance and how it hurts the whole industry.
www.avclub.com/amazon-ai-an...
@elijahgonzalez.bsky.social at the AV Club about Amazon’s AI anime dubbing fiasco that also spins out into Crunchyroll’s anti-union stance and how it hurts the whole industry.
www.avclub.com/amazon-ai-an...
Trump, handing a full clip of ammunition to anyone who wants to try to primary Cuellar again from the left.
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 7:26 PM
Trump, handing a full clip of ammunition to anyone who wants to try to primary Cuellar again from the left.
@msu--football.bsky.social
It’s been 2 years since Mel Tucker.
Now MSU is set to hire Pat Fitzgerald, who allowed and encouraged a culture of hazing so pervasive that Northwestern had no choice but to fire him despite the fact that he was the school’s most successful football coach of all time.
It’s been 2 years since Mel Tucker.
Now MSU is set to hire Pat Fitzgerald, who allowed and encouraged a culture of hazing so pervasive that Northwestern had no choice but to fire him despite the fact that he was the school’s most successful football coach of all time.
a spartan mascot is sitting on a bleacher in front of a cbs logo
ALT: a spartan mascot is sitting on a bleacher in front of a cbs logo
media.tenor.com
November 30, 2025 at 10:24 PM
@msu--football.bsky.social
It’s been 2 years since Mel Tucker.
Now MSU is set to hire Pat Fitzgerald, who allowed and encouraged a culture of hazing so pervasive that Northwestern had no choice but to fire him despite the fact that he was the school’s most successful football coach of all time.
It’s been 2 years since Mel Tucker.
Now MSU is set to hire Pat Fitzgerald, who allowed and encouraged a culture of hazing so pervasive that Northwestern had no choice but to fire him despite the fact that he was the school’s most successful football coach of all time.
Seems like a decent theory, since even after two movies and billions of box office dollars, there’s very little conversation about them, still.
However, “No one aspires to be or have sex with a giant cat alien,” I mean, maybe the Na’vi specifically but the monsterf**ker genre is pretty huge.
However, “No one aspires to be or have sex with a giant cat alien,” I mean, maybe the Na’vi specifically but the monsterf**ker genre is pretty huge.
‘Toxic’ music video director claims Avatar had no cultural impact because gays don’t like it
https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/11/26/joseph-kahn-music-video-director-avatar-gay/?utm_content=1764314400&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky
https://www.thepinknews.com/2025/11/26/joseph-kahn-music-video-director-avatar-gay/?utm_content=1764314400&utm_medium=social&utm_source=bluesky
Joseph Kahn says Avatar had no cultural impact because gays don't like it
Music video director Joseph Kahn suggested the Avatar film franchise has had "no cultural impact" as gay people don't "give a f**k" about it.
www.thepinknews.com
November 29, 2025 at 12:27 AM
Seems like a decent theory, since even after two movies and billions of box office dollars, there’s very little conversation about them, still.
However, “No one aspires to be or have sex with a giant cat alien,” I mean, maybe the Na’vi specifically but the monsterf**ker genre is pretty huge.
However, “No one aspires to be or have sex with a giant cat alien,” I mean, maybe the Na’vi specifically but the monsterf**ker genre is pretty huge.
When I looked last week I was worried that I wouldn’t have the chance to see this one in a theater, because there were no Houston locations listed.
But @robsaucedo.bsky.social has come through, and The River Oaks Theater will have it this weekend.
But @robsaucedo.bsky.social has come through, and The River Oaks Theater will have it this weekend.
Be seated! Wednesday, in a movie theater, to see #WakeUpDeadMan! See my pinned post for a theater finder link
November 24, 2025 at 4:58 PM
When I looked last week I was worried that I wouldn’t have the chance to see this one in a theater, because there were no Houston locations listed.
But @robsaucedo.bsky.social has come through, and The River Oaks Theater will have it this weekend.
But @robsaucedo.bsky.social has come through, and The River Oaks Theater will have it this weekend.
Sisu: Road to Revenge gets way more ridiculous than the first one, at least from what I remember of the first one.
Having Steven Lang onboard as a real antagonist to react to and torment Sisu is an asset to the movie, though. (I know his name isn’t Sisu)
Having Steven Lang onboard as a real antagonist to react to and torment Sisu is an asset to the movie, though. (I know his name isn’t Sisu)
November 23, 2025 at 10:22 PM
Sisu: Road to Revenge gets way more ridiculous than the first one, at least from what I remember of the first one.
Having Steven Lang onboard as a real antagonist to react to and torment Sisu is an asset to the movie, though. (I know his name isn’t Sisu)
Having Steven Lang onboard as a real antagonist to react to and torment Sisu is an asset to the movie, though. (I know his name isn’t Sisu)
In case people forgot why MBS-funded efforts like LIV Golf and the Riyadh Comedy Festival invoke such scorn towards their participants, this is the inciting incident.
Saudi Arabia forced a WaPo journalist to come to a Saudi embassy for procedural reasons, then brutally murdered him right there.
Saudi Arabia forced a WaPo journalist to come to a Saudi embassy for procedural reasons, then brutally murdered him right there.
Scoop: Rep. Eugene Vindman knows what Trump said on a 2019 call with the Saudi Crown Prince about Jamal Khashoggi's killing, and his effort to make it public is about to rachet up.
Tomorrow, Vindman will appear alongside Khossoggi's widow to call on Trump to release the transcript
Tomorrow, Vindman will appear alongside Khossoggi's widow to call on Trump to release the transcript
Exclusive: Congressman Plans New Push For Trump-MBS Transcript
Rep. Eugene Vindman will appear with Jamal Khashoggi's widow to push for release of a "shocking" transcript between Trump and MBS
time.com
November 20, 2025 at 8:09 PM
In case people forgot why MBS-funded efforts like LIV Golf and the Riyadh Comedy Festival invoke such scorn towards their participants, this is the inciting incident.
Saudi Arabia forced a WaPo journalist to come to a Saudi embassy for procedural reasons, then brutally murdered him right there.
Saudi Arabia forced a WaPo journalist to come to a Saudi embassy for procedural reasons, then brutally murdered him right there.
Nov. 4 - First store playing Christmas music of 2025
Nov. 5. - First Paul McCartney, “Wonderful Christmastime”
Nov. 5 - First store playing exclusively Christmas music
Nov. 12 - First “Christmas Wrapping” horn riff
Nov. 5. - First Paul McCartney, “Wonderful Christmastime”
Nov. 5 - First store playing exclusively Christmas music
Nov. 12 - First “Christmas Wrapping” horn riff
November 12, 2025 at 4:51 PM
Nov. 4 - First store playing Christmas music of 2025
Nov. 5. - First Paul McCartney, “Wonderful Christmastime”
Nov. 5 - First store playing exclusively Christmas music
Nov. 12 - First “Christmas Wrapping” horn riff
Nov. 5. - First Paul McCartney, “Wonderful Christmastime”
Nov. 5 - First store playing exclusively Christmas music
Nov. 12 - First “Christmas Wrapping” horn riff
15-20 Democratic Senators: “I know what we said about health care subsidies, but that was before I knew I might have to fucking DRIVE HOME for Thanksgiving and even Christmas! Find the 8 of us who are least vulnerable in ‘26 and get this deal done.”
November 10, 2025 at 12:39 PM
15-20 Democratic Senators: “I know what we said about health care subsidies, but that was before I knew I might have to fucking DRIVE HOME for Thanksgiving and even Christmas! Find the 8 of us who are least vulnerable in ‘26 and get this deal done.”
If you’ve ever thought, “Eggo Waffles are pretty tasty, especially with syrup,” but also thought what they needed was to be smaller, crunchier, had the maple syrup flavoring already included, and to be covered in milk, well, have I got a Limited Edition cereal for you to try!
Also, marshmallows.
Also, marshmallows.
October 29, 2025 at 12:48 PM
If you’ve ever thought, “Eggo Waffles are pretty tasty, especially with syrup,” but also thought what they needed was to be smaller, crunchier, had the maple syrup flavoring already included, and to be covered in milk, well, have I got a Limited Edition cereal for you to try!
Also, marshmallows.
Also, marshmallows.
As a @michiganstateu.bsky.social alum, if J Batt hasn’t already called Brian Kelly to get him to come back to the Midwest and coach the Spartans, then I don’t know what we’re doing with the @michiganstatefb.bsky.social program.
October 27, 2025 at 3:36 AM
As a @michiganstateu.bsky.social alum, if J Batt hasn’t already called Brian Kelly to get him to come back to the Midwest and coach the Spartans, then I don’t know what we’re doing with the @michiganstatefb.bsky.social program.
Kind of amazed that the NYT found a couple people willing to go on the record and say, “Yeah, the ballroom is needed and the East Wing probably had to go.”
Yet, having watched Netflix’s The Residence this summer, which spends considerable time on the logistics of a State Dinner, I kind of get it.
Yet, having watched Netflix’s The Residence this summer, which spends considerable time on the logistics of a State Dinner, I kind of get it.
October 26, 2025 at 4:40 PM
Kind of amazed that the NYT found a couple people willing to go on the record and say, “Yeah, the ballroom is needed and the East Wing probably had to go.”
Yet, having watched Netflix’s The Residence this summer, which spends considerable time on the logistics of a State Dinner, I kind of get it.
Yet, having watched Netflix’s The Residence this summer, which spends considerable time on the logistics of a State Dinner, I kind of get it.
Serious question: Do you think Trump knows how to play chess? Not metaphorically. Can he actually play a game of chess?
MORNING JOE: Are you comfortable with Trump's bailout of Argentina?
SEN. ROGER MARSHALL: The president here is playing chess and not checkers. This is an opportunity to make a friend, to help an ally out.
SEN. ROGER MARSHALL: The president here is playing chess and not checkers. This is an opportunity to make a friend, to help an ally out.
October 24, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Serious question: Do you think Trump knows how to play chess? Not metaphorically. Can he actually play a game of chess?
Apparently this is the week where @volts.wtf and @adamconover.net finally line up their podcasts. @sgoodyear.bsky.social and @brooklynspoke.bsky.social on both shows promoting their book Life After Cars.
October 22, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Apparently this is the week where @volts.wtf and @adamconover.net finally line up their podcasts. @sgoodyear.bsky.social and @brooklynspoke.bsky.social on both shows promoting their book Life After Cars.
Sloan have a new album out and it’s real good. These guys have been doing great classic rock and power-pop for decades and this one is chock full of big hooks and cool riffs.
www.popmatters.com/sloan-based-...
www.popmatters.com/sloan-based-...
Sloan's 'Based on the Best Seller' Is Relaxed and Poppy » PopMatters
Catchy melodies and big guitars are the order of the day on Sloan's 14th album, with a side of Chris Murph's jauntier piano-driven songs to change things up.
www.popmatters.com
October 22, 2025 at 2:09 AM
Sloan have a new album out and it’s real good. These guys have been doing great classic rock and power-pop for decades and this one is chock full of big hooks and cool riffs.
www.popmatters.com/sloan-based-...
www.popmatters.com/sloan-based-...