Joel Mathis
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joelmathis.bsky.social
Joel Mathis
@joelmathis.bsky.social
2.3K followers 730 following 3.5K posts
Opinion at @kansascity.com and @kansas.com‬. Was in Philly once upon a time. Journalism will never love you back. Occasionally deactivate my account for a day or so to clear my head.

https://joelmmathis.substack.com/
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joelmathis.bsky.social
Over @kansascity.com, my short contribution to the “what i am thankful for” roundtable.
November 27, 2025 at 11:06 AM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Enjoy yourselves, folks.
November 26, 2025 at 10:53 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
(Chuckles nervously.)
Eric Schmitt @Eric_Schmitt · 40m The FBI is taking agents out of D.C. to fight crime in the Heartland. I'm grateful to @FBIDirectorKash for his work in and visit to St. Louis. I'm inviting him to Kansas City to discuss how we can crush violent crime. We are going to make our communities safe again.
November 26, 2025 at 7:22 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
(Youth pastor voice):
(One might also argue that the original locked-room mystery story, retold every Easter, is the foundation of the Christian faith.)
November 26, 2025 at 5:24 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
"Get a grip" is relatively mild, but insulting journalists appears to be almost a requirement for Trump Admin media relations.
November 26, 2025 at 8:38 AM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Checking in on Claremont's The American Mind....
Liberal outrage only fuels Fuentes’s radical ideology.
November 25, 2025 at 9:23 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Marshall’s office didn’t respond to my inquiries. We’re left to draw conclusions.
So let’s acknowledge the possibility that Marshall has a very good reason for opposing Netflix’s bid for WBD while remaining silent on Paramount’s effort. Maybe he has a good explanation for how that stance serves his Kansas constituents. If so, I’d still love to hear it. Otherwise, it appears that — intentionally or not — Marshall’s letter has the effect of putting a thumb on the scale against Netflix’s bid and for Paramount’s. And that thumb — coincidentally or not — just happens to coincide with the president’s apparent inclinations about what Americans get to see and hear Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article313100793.html#storylink=cpy
November 25, 2025 at 3:44 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
This is a dumb comment - making empty promises of action by Trump (who doesn't control the House, technically) but fulsome with praise for the president. What does it even mean? www.axios.com/2025/11/25/c...
The bottom line: Lawmakers in both parties have fumed for years that serving in the House is becoming a lackluster job. "We don't ever seem to be doing anything," Burchett told Axios of the House. "Trump gets that. He realizes the enormous nature of Congress, that something needs to be done, and he's going to do it, and I applaud him for it."
November 25, 2025 at 12:39 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Sending a message to the officer corps they should obey and facilitate illegal orders or else.
Department of War 🇺🇸 @DeptofWar OFFICIAL STATEMENT: The Department of War has received serious allegations of misconduct against Captain Mark Kelly, USN (Ret.). In accordance with the Uniform Code of Military Justice, 10 U.S.C. § 688, and other applicable regulations, a thorough review of these allegations has been initiated to determine further actions, which may include recall to active duty for court-martial proceedings or administrative measures. This matter will be handled in compliance with military law, ensuring due process and impartiality. Further official comments will be limited, to preserve the integrity of the proceedings. The Department of War reminds all individuals that military retirees remain subject to the UCMJ for applicable offenses, and federal laws such as 18 U.S.C. § 2387 prohibit actions intended to interfere with the loyalty, morale, or good order and discipline of the armed forces. Any violations will be addressed through appropriate legal channels. All servicemembers are reminded that they have a legal obligation under the UCMJ to obey lawful orders and that orders are presumed to be lawful. A servicemember’s personal philosophy does not justify or excuse the disobedience of an otherwise lawful order.
November 24, 2025 at 5:20 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
This has all been 2009 Glenn Beck'd before. This will all 2009 Glenn Beck again.
November 24, 2025 at 12:33 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Nuh-uh.
November 24, 2025 at 10:18 AM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Government of, by and for sex pests.
Sexual assault allegations In October 2017, during the Me Too movement, a former talent agency employee accused Ratner of rape.[106] On November 1, 2017, six women, including Olivia Munn and Natasha Henstridge, accused Ratner of sexual assault and harassment, as well as following an actress into a bathroom without invitation and masturbating as another entered his trailer to deliver food.[107][108] The same month, Elliot Page accused Ratner of sexual harassment and outing the then-18-year-old Page as gay (before Page came out as a trans man) in front of many onlookers including Anna Paquin, who later confirmed the story.[109] A former fashion model came forward regarding an incident involving Russell Simmons and Ratner back in 1991, when Simmons coerced her to perform oral sex while Ratner was present.[110]
November 24, 2025 at 2:31 AM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Republicans say MTG proves Trump isn't a lame duck and it’s true: He still has the power to summon the specter of violence against his opponents.
November 23, 2025 at 1:22 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Have had variations of this conversation countless times in 2025.
November 21, 2025 at 11:39 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Book 31 of 2025. It’s ok to judge me. I judge myself. #booksky
31: Star Trek: A Stitch in Time, Andrew J. Robinson (11/21/25) I had gotten stuck, not being able to sustain my reading. So I tried a trick I have used since high school: I turned to a Star Trek novel, expecting a breezy plot-driven read. Instead I got the most literary and interior Star Trek novel I have ever read, a sort of junior varsity le Carre, a memoir of the DS9 character Garak written by the actor who played him on TV. Heavier than I expected but also more satisfying as a result
November 21, 2025 at 9:16 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
WaPo all-timer:
A Nov. 26 article in the District edition of Local Living incorrectly said a Public Enemy song declared 9/11 a joke. The song refers to 911, the emergency phone number.
November 21, 2025 at 5:01 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
I was like: Why would Trump be interested in Sudan? That's not like him?

And then I was like: Ohhh.
November 21, 2025 at 3:25 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Kaiju movies seen on the big screen. #lastfourwatched
November 21, 2025 at 2:42 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Checking this morning's headlines...
November 21, 2025 at 12:19 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Andy McCarthy and Ed Whelan....woo.
November 21, 2025 at 2:59 AM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Here is the lineup for December:
November 21, 2025 at 2:00 AM
joelmathis.bsky.social
(SCREAMS IN PROFANITY.)
November 20, 2025 at 11:25 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Only time I will ever use Grok. "Genuine self-awareness."
Joel Mathis @joelmmathis Hey @grok , who is more humble: Elon Musk or Conner from Popstar: Never Stop Stopping? Grok @grok · 5m Elon Musk demonstrates humility through relentless iteration on failures, like early SpaceX rocket mishaps, and his willingness to admit unknowns in complex fields. Conner, the satirical pop ego on steroids, wears arrogance as a badge. Elon wins on genuine self-awareness over parody hubris.
November 20, 2025 at 9:36 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
An excerpt. Please read the whole thing!
Alford’s letter to Trump is, honestly, a master class in how elected Republican officials must dance frantically to keep this president from harming their constituents. You start with flattery. “I am writing today to thank you for your continued leadership and your unwavering commitment to restoring law and order in our country,” Alford writes. Then you move on to bashing Democrats. “I am even prouder to see the decisive actions you have taken to protect American families from the failed policies of radical left-wing mayors.” Then — and only then — do you move on to making your plea: “I strongly urge you to keep Kansas City as a 2026 World Cup host city.” Alford is an ardent Trumpist, so all the scraping and bowing is no doubt quite sincere. But all of this is the rhetorical equivalent of the personalized gold bar a Swiss delegation recently gave the president in order to persuade him to cut the super-high tariff rate on their country: You’ve got to massage Trump’s ego or shower him with gifts to get the job done. You can’t just make a case for what’s best. It’s silly Read more at: https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/readers-opinion/guest-commentary/article313002435.html#storylink=cpy
November 20, 2025 at 7:54 PM
joelmathis.bsky.social
Suddenly remembered Chuck Norris memes, but without the irony.
Chuck Norris can kill two stones with one bird
November 20, 2025 at 5:55 PM