James Del
@jdel.bsky.social
Occasionally blogging (downthepipes.co), often scheming, always producing.
Specialist in assorted dark arts & life sciences.
Previously: Passionfruit, Futurism, GMG
Specialist in assorted dark arts & life sciences.
Previously: Passionfruit, Futurism, GMG
Oh yeah I forgot we have half a decade of perfect call transcripts to sort through. Let's release those too while we're raiding archives.
Yesterday, Trump defended the Saudi Crown Prince in the Oval Office.
He said he had “nothing” to do with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
But I reviewed a call while serving on Trump’s NSC that I believe would be of interest to the Khashoggi family and the American people.
Release the transcript.
He said he had “nothing” to do with the murder of Jamal Khashoggi.
But I reviewed a call while serving on Trump’s NSC that I believe would be of interest to the Khashoggi family and the American people.
Release the transcript.
November 19, 2025 at 5:47 PM
Oh yeah I forgot we have half a decade of perfect call transcripts to sort through. Let's release those too while we're raiding archives.
Explaining to my family how I kinda wound up in the Epstein files is gonna be a blast next Thursday, I'm not being sarcastic this is gonna top the year I made the whole family play HQ.
November 19, 2025 at 5:06 PM
Explaining to my family how I kinda wound up in the Epstein files is gonna be a blast next Thursday, I'm not being sarcastic this is gonna top the year I made the whole family play HQ.
Legit thought this was an Onion headline.
When asked if there was anything "incriminating" in Epstein's emails, Trump pointed a finger in a female reporter's face and snapped. 'Quiet. Quiet, Piggy.'
people.com/donald-trump...
people.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump Snaps at Female Reporter Who Asks About Epstein Files: 'Quiet Piggy'
Donald Trump Says 'Quiet Piggy' to Female Reporter Asking About Epstein Files
people.com
November 18, 2025 at 5:53 AM
Legit thought this was an Onion headline.
Reposted by James Del
@harvard.edu would be easy for u to confirm or refute this as he appears to have done it from his official Harvard email account
If so, seems worth doing a review to see what else blatantly illegal might be in there
If so, seems worth doing a review to see what else blatantly illegal might be in there
If this man is not in jail by next summer I will rent the biggest booth at the Martha's Vineyard farmer's market and exclusively sell framed copies of this email.
November 15, 2025 at 4:05 PM
@harvard.edu would be easy for u to confirm or refute this as he appears to have done it from his official Harvard email account
If so, seems worth doing a review to see what else blatantly illegal might be in there
If so, seems worth doing a review to see what else blatantly illegal might be in there
How's this for a hot take from a straight attractive guy:
I could write an entire series about how media's original sin was prioritizing the visual appeal of subjects and experts over their ability to produce anything of value. Miller is a former R who shouldn't be lecturing the left on hotness.
I could write an entire series about how media's original sin was prioritizing the visual appeal of subjects and experts over their ability to produce anything of value. Miller is a former R who shouldn't be lecturing the left on hotness.
Tim Miller makes a plea for more straight, woke influencers: "This is a message for hot straight men with muscles who work out, and who are also woke. We just need you to just do a little bit of commentary."
November 15, 2025 at 2:47 PM
How's this for a hot take from a straight attractive guy:
I could write an entire series about how media's original sin was prioritizing the visual appeal of subjects and experts over their ability to produce anything of value. Miller is a former R who shouldn't be lecturing the left on hotness.
I could write an entire series about how media's original sin was prioritizing the visual appeal of subjects and experts over their ability to produce anything of value. Miller is a former R who shouldn't be lecturing the left on hotness.
Ok we've released the files, can we dismantle the oligarchy now or were we just looking to go through a pedophile's inbox for the lols?
November 15, 2025 at 2:36 PM
Ok we've released the files, can we dismantle the oligarchy now or were we just looking to go through a pedophile's inbox for the lols?
Reposted by James Del
it's so funny that alex jones was totally right about everything, the government is a bunch of drug-addled pedophiles and masked regime thugs are grabbing people off the streets, and now he has to pretend it's all a hoax
November 13, 2025 at 9:44 PM
it's so funny that alex jones was totally right about everything, the government is a bunch of drug-addled pedophiles and masked regime thugs are grabbing people off the streets, and now he has to pretend it's all a hoax
If this man is not in jail by next summer I will rent the biggest booth at the Martha's Vineyard farmer's market and exclusively sell framed copies of this email.
November 14, 2025 at 2:08 PM
If this man is not in jail by next summer I will rent the biggest booth at the Martha's Vineyard farmer's market and exclusively sell framed copies of this email.
As someone who is one of the better ones at making money on the internet for journos, I'm becoming increasingly convinced that worker collectives are the only long term sustainable form of independent journalism. It will not make anyone a billionaire, but you can make more than you spend.
Other folks have said it, but let me just note that:
(1) lots of talented, must-read journalists have been let go from their jobs over the last year
(2) millions of Americans are abandoning current media outlets and looking for new alternatives
Seems like a sure-fire business opportunity here?
(1) lots of talented, must-read journalists have been let go from their jobs over the last year
(2) millions of Americans are abandoning current media outlets and looking for new alternatives
Seems like a sure-fire business opportunity here?
November 13, 2025 at 3:01 AM
As someone who is one of the better ones at making money on the internet for journos, I'm becoming increasingly convinced that worker collectives are the only long term sustainable form of independent journalism. It will not make anyone a billionaire, but you can make more than you spend.
Reposted by James Del
it's a hell of an act -- what do you call it
The attorney general and the FBI director, a manosphere podcaster bro, pulled into the situation room a member of Congress best known for getting kicked out of a Beetlejuice musical for drunkenly giving her date a handy, in order to pressure her about the president's child sex trafficking scandal.
November 13, 2025 at 12:15 AM
it's a hell of an act -- what do you call it
This is a great course taught by the original blogger-turned-columnist, highly recommended for anyone (writers and non-writers) looking to get their expertise out in the world.
My last opinion writing workshop of the year is on Tuesday. You can register here or sign up to be notified of 2026 dates when I figure them out: www.elizabethspiers.com/workshops/
Workshops
Learn to write professional op-eds and personal essays with Elizabeth Spiers, a contributing writer for The New York Times opinion section, former columnist at Fortune and Fast Company, and opinion co...
www.elizabethspiers.com
November 10, 2025 at 4:40 PM
This is a great course taught by the original blogger-turned-columnist, highly recommended for anyone (writers and non-writers) looking to get their expertise out in the world.
Actually curious to see how this plays out. The far left is expecting another Obama, high on the hope and change rhetoric, fairly moderate in governance, still very much tethered to the capitalist order and ultimately a disappointment to card carrying socialists. He stands to disappoint someone here
People who hate Zohran and everything he stands for: Now that Zohran has won, the most effective thing he can do is betray all of his principles
November 6, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Actually curious to see how this plays out. The far left is expecting another Obama, high on the hope and change rhetoric, fairly moderate in governance, still very much tethered to the capitalist order and ultimately a disappointment to card carrying socialists. He stands to disappoint someone here
Reposted by James Del
We should never talk about billionaires without mentioning that they are dangerous money hoarders ever again.
Bloomberg just doubled down on his support for Cuomo.
Bloomberg—who has hoarded $109.4B—has spent $8M to get Cuomo elected. That's like the average American household spending $4.38.
Billionaires got us into this affordability crisis. They will not get us out. Abolish billionaires. Vote Mamdani.
Bloomberg—who has hoarded $109.4B—has spent $8M to get Cuomo elected. That's like the average American household spending $4.38.
Billionaires got us into this affordability crisis. They will not get us out. Abolish billionaires. Vote Mamdani.
November 1, 2025 at 1:54 PM
We should never talk about billionaires without mentioning that they are dangerous money hoarders ever again.
Reposted by James Del
Anyway, here’s what’s wrong with the stupid ballroom: www.elizabethspiers.com/donald-trump...
Donald Trump's $300 Million Playpen
Trump can find money for a vanity project, but not for SNAP recipients
[Note: I actually filed this for the NYT ten days ago but it sort of lingered in the workflow and by the end of the week, they d...
www.elizabethspiers.com
November 1, 2025 at 2:40 PM
Anyway, here’s what’s wrong with the stupid ballroom: www.elizabethspiers.com/donald-trump...
If Toronto wins the World Series the rule is America becomes Canada, nobody knows this because the last time it happened Canada beat Philadelphia, and Clinton was like "double or nothing" which they wisely agreed to, but now we're here (like most Clinton era policies, it felt prudent at the time).
October 30, 2025 at 2:25 AM
If Toronto wins the World Series the rule is America becomes Canada, nobody knows this because the last time it happened Canada beat Philadelphia, and Clinton was like "double or nothing" which they wisely agreed to, but now we're here (like most Clinton era policies, it felt prudent at the time).
Reposted by James Del
First thing, Tulane’s a very competitive school so congrats to the monkeys for getting in there in the first place.
October 28, 2025 at 8:34 PM
First thing, Tulane’s a very competitive school so congrats to the monkeys for getting in there in the first place.
Reposted by James Del
I wrote the first version of this draft almost exactly a year ago, but I wasn’t ready.
I am now.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/10/27/t...
I am now.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/10/27/t...
Texas Is a Lot More Queer Than You Think. I Am Too.
There are 1.8 million of us, and we’re not going anywhere.
thebarbedwire.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:58 PM
I wrote the first version of this draft almost exactly a year ago, but I wasn’t ready.
I am now.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/10/27/t...
I am now.
thebarbedwire.com/2025/10/27/t...
Reposted by James Del
At the end of her column @espiers.bsky.social says she looking for work. I have to say she is one of the people I most look forward to reading these days. When so many mediocre writers rise upwards like hot air, it was shocking to hear this.
I wrote a column about Andrew Cuomo: www.elizabethspiers.com/andrew-cuomo...
Andrew Cuomo is a Nihilist Who Hates New York City
Near the beginning of his mayoral campaign, an eagle eyed observer noticed Andrew Cuomo’s car parked illegally and snapped a photo of it for social media. It wasn’t the worst of Andrew Cuomo’s offense...
www.elizabethspiers.com
October 28, 2025 at 11:25 AM
At the end of her column @espiers.bsky.social says she looking for work. I have to say she is one of the people I most look forward to reading these days. When so many mediocre writers rise upwards like hot air, it was shocking to hear this.
Reposted by James Del
You have to be willing to walk away from these guys if they let you down, just as a matter of basic self respect. It's not a fandom. You're hiring them to do a job or not.
I liked the Platner ads too but I think there's a difference between "guy who had some bad reddit posts a decade ago" and "ex-Blackwater merc who still has a Nazi tattoo." Sucks bigtime that he's the only one taking positions and talking policy I like, but them's the breaks!
October 21, 2025 at 3:50 PM
You have to be willing to walk away from these guys if they let you down, just as a matter of basic self respect. It's not a fandom. You're hiring them to do a job or not.
Reposted by James Del
Someone went there:
"It Kind of Seems Like Peter Thiel is Losing It"
via @futurism.com
futurism.com/future-socie...
"It Kind of Seems Like Peter Thiel is Losing It"
via @futurism.com
futurism.com/future-socie...
It Kind of Seems Like Peter Thiel Is Losing It
He's spent the past month delivering four high-octane lectures in San Francisco's downtown waterfront on the antichrist.
futurism.com
October 20, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Someone went there:
"It Kind of Seems Like Peter Thiel is Losing It"
via @futurism.com
futurism.com/future-socie...
"It Kind of Seems Like Peter Thiel is Losing It"
via @futurism.com
futurism.com/future-socie...
Reposted by James Del
This, FWIW, is my current teaching policy on AI, always subject to revision. It is, I recognize, easier applied to creative writing, which draws students who *want* to take the course rather than have to.
October 20, 2025 at 12:11 PM
This, FWIW, is my current teaching policy on AI, always subject to revision. It is, I recognize, easier applied to creative writing, which draws students who *want* to take the course rather than have to.
Reposted by James Del
We need to talk about how social media algorithms push moms down a slippery slope of distrust.
From "Are my kids getting enough support in school?" To "Maybe I should homeschool." To "Maybe modern medicine is bad."
I've seen this first-hand in research I'm doing on parenting apps. 1/🧵
From "Are my kids getting enough support in school?" To "Maybe I should homeschool." To "Maybe modern medicine is bad."
I've seen this first-hand in research I'm doing on parenting apps. 1/🧵
October 15, 2025 at 12:25 PM
We need to talk about how social media algorithms push moms down a slippery slope of distrust.
From "Are my kids getting enough support in school?" To "Maybe I should homeschool." To "Maybe modern medicine is bad."
I've seen this first-hand in research I'm doing on parenting apps. 1/🧵
From "Are my kids getting enough support in school?" To "Maybe I should homeschool." To "Maybe modern medicine is bad."
I've seen this first-hand in research I'm doing on parenting apps. 1/🧵
This timeline is cursed with a whole host of ghoulish reality but I think having to explain Bari Weiss to my 99 year old grandmother is up there with the worst of it
October 12, 2025 at 3:59 PM
This timeline is cursed with a whole host of ghoulish reality but I think having to explain Bari Weiss to my 99 year old grandmother is up there with the worst of it
Reposted by James Del
Nice try, “Paul A. Thompson”
October 10, 2025 at 5:32 AM
Nice try, “Paul A. Thompson”
Went to see this on the big screen tonight, can confirm it is indeed lol
Welp, here it is: maybe the funniest thing we've ever done, in its entirety.
The Onion Investigates: Jeffrey Epstein
YouTube video by The Onion
www.youtube.com
October 10, 2025 at 1:09 AM
Went to see this on the big screen tonight, can confirm it is indeed lol