John Steies
@johnsteies.bsky.social
Proud public servant in Seattle | Traveled to 50 countries and sometimes make YouTube videos about it 🌍 https://www.youtube.com/@atravelingperspective | Views shared are my own
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John Steies
@johnsteies.bsky.social
· May 12
So yes all countries need some level of immigration restrictions and Britain probably can’t take nearly a million people a year. Fine, change visa policy. But enough with the ‘incalculable’ crap. It demeans us all. And it sounds like ‘tough enough’ BS coming from the mouth of a human rights lawyer.
It’s incumbent upon all of us to push back on anti-immigrant rhetoric like this; even if it’s spouted by the political figures and parties we generally agree with. Reasonable immigration reform is rarely even given a chance politically in western nations, so we give up and offer this nonsense.
Reposted by John Steies
Do political science profs have to explain to their students that, for most of American history, it was actually borderline unthinkable that elected officials and their spokespersons would constantly talk like trashy reality show contestants?
After calling Schumer a "Palestinian," Leavitt refers to "Gavin Newscum." So she's just ripping off her boss's smears now.
November 14, 2025 at 1:29 AM
Do political science profs have to explain to their students that, for most of American history, it was actually borderline unthinkable that elected officials and their spokespersons would constantly talk like trashy reality show contestants?
Reposted by John Steies
"As of November 5th, it estimated that USAID's dismantling has already caused the deaths of six hundred thousand people, two-thirds of them children." www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
The Shutdown of U.S.A.I.D. Has Already Killed Hundreds of Thousands
The short documentary “Rovina’s Choice” tells the story of what goes when aid goes.
www.newyorker.com
November 7, 2025 at 3:48 AM
"As of November 5th, it estimated that USAID's dismantling has already caused the deaths of six hundred thousand people, two-thirds of them children." www.newyorker.com/culture/the-...
Reposted by John Steies
this is amazing. he might think harder about faith than practically anyone in public life
I've spent a lot of time thinking about this fascinating exchange Colbert had with Dua Lipa, when she asked him about the role his faith plays in his comedy.
July 18, 2025 at 2:56 PM
this is amazing. he might think harder about faith than practically anyone in public life
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Every statement by Trump exists only in the moment he says it and will almost immediately be replaced by another statement that he means equally as little. It’s why it’s so absurd watching news people trying to parse his claims in good faith
Remember when he said that Barack Obama faked the Epstein files? Like 48 hrs ago? It's already gone, like tears in rain
July 18, 2025 at 3:41 PM
Every statement by Trump exists only in the moment he says it and will almost immediately be replaced by another statement that he means equally as little. It’s why it’s so absurd watching news people trying to parse his claims in good faith
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I keep coming back to this James Baldwin quote these days.
"The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality."
"The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality."
July 16, 2025 at 9:39 AM
I keep coming back to this James Baldwin quote these days.
"The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality."
"The children are always ours, every single one of them, all over the globe; and I am beginning to suspect that whoever is incapable of recognizing this may be incapable of morality."
Reposted by John Steies
I think about this constantly
July 13, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I think about this constantly
Reposted by John Steies
It’s almost like Americans were never fundamentally, inevitably “anti-immigration” and Democrats never had to just put their hands up and meekly chase Republicans (and lose), and affirm all their anti-immigrant positions that helped get us here at all!
Wow — New Gallup poll:
— Trump approval on immigration: 35-62 (!)
— Record high approval of immigration (79-17 overall)
— 78% of people support a pathway to citizenship (+8 from 2024); only 38% support mass deportation (-9 from 2024)
— 30% want a decrease in immigration (-25 from 2024)
— Trump approval on immigration: 35-62 (!)
— Record high approval of immigration (79-17 overall)
— 78% of people support a pathway to citizenship (+8 from 2024); only 38% support mass deportation (-9 from 2024)
— 30% want a decrease in immigration (-25 from 2024)
July 11, 2025 at 1:07 PM
It’s almost like Americans were never fundamentally, inevitably “anti-immigration” and Democrats never had to just put their hands up and meekly chase Republicans (and lose), and affirm all their anti-immigrant positions that helped get us here at all!
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/29/t...
"Payments available for withholding include the federal taxes collected from the paychecks of state employees, as well as grant payments owed back to the federal government."
"Payments available for withholding include the federal taxes collected from the paychecks of state employees, as well as grant payments owed back to the federal government."
To fight Trump's funding freezes, states try a new gambit: Withholding federal payments
The novel and untested approach has been introduced by Democratic lawmakers in at least four states.
www.cnbc.com
July 7, 2025 at 5:05 PM
www.cnbc.com/2025/06/29/t...
"Payments available for withholding include the federal taxes collected from the paychecks of state employees, as well as grant payments owed back to the federal government."
"Payments available for withholding include the federal taxes collected from the paychecks of state employees, as well as grant payments owed back to the federal government."
Reposted by John Steies
They’ve destroyed American medical research, the American education system, the American university research system, and the aid system that protected millions of lives, and they’ve given our anti-immigrant masked paramilitary police force a budget the size of a nation
July 3, 2025 at 8:18 PM
They’ve destroyed American medical research, the American education system, the American university research system, and the aid system that protected millions of lives, and they’ve given our anti-immigrant masked paramilitary police force a budget the size of a nation
Reposted by John Steies
I would like for wealthy people excited for tax cuts to sign a piece of paper acknowledging that every dollar they get in tax breaks is going to be paid for by someone else…either someone not getting healthcare or SNAP or some future person paying higher taxes to pay the interest on our new debt.
July 2, 2025 at 5:27 AM
I would like for wealthy people excited for tax cuts to sign a piece of paper acknowledging that every dollar they get in tax breaks is going to be paid for by someone else…either someone not getting healthcare or SNAP or some future person paying higher taxes to pay the interest on our new debt.
Reposted by John Steies
More of this please.
We should all be disgusted by the flood of anti-Muslim remarks spewed in the aftermath of Zohran Mamdani’s victory in the NYC mayoral primary — some blatant, others latent.
Shame on the members of Congress who have engaged in such bigotry and anyone who doesn’t challenge it.
Shame on the members of Congress who have engaged in such bigotry and anyone who doesn’t challenge it.
Attacks on Muslims flood mainstream after Mamdani win
Openly racist rhetoric has become normalized at the highest levels of American politics.
www.axios.com
June 29, 2025 at 8:30 PM
More of this please.
Reposted by John Steies
These people are heroes
Budapest Pride to go ahead amid Orbán pushback
Budapest Pride to go ahead amid Orbán pushback
Some 70 members of the European Parliament taking part in the parade have been advised to carry their diplomatic passports.
dlvr.it
June 28, 2025 at 9:16 AM
These people are heroes
Reposted by John Steies
Also, surely this should be the core media narrative about this war - they’re not doing it for any reason they can articulate!
There’s no intelligence supporting their claims, Trump himself seemed to think it was a bad idea a week ago, but no one’s in charge and Trump is an easily-pressured fool
There’s no intelligence supporting their claims, Trump himself seemed to think it was a bad idea a week ago, but no one’s in charge and Trump is an easily-pressured fool
WELKER: Do you and President Trump trust the US intelligence community and its assessments?
JD VANCE: Of course we trust our intelligence community, but we also trust our instincts
JD VANCE: Of course we trust our intelligence community, but we also trust our instincts
June 22, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Also, surely this should be the core media narrative about this war - they’re not doing it for any reason they can articulate!
There’s no intelligence supporting their claims, Trump himself seemed to think it was a bad idea a week ago, but no one’s in charge and Trump is an easily-pressured fool
There’s no intelligence supporting their claims, Trump himself seemed to think it was a bad idea a week ago, but no one’s in charge and Trump is an easily-pressured fool
Reposted by John Steies
If you’re an American should watch the Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown ep on Iran. A deeply humanizing look at a country full of people just like you and me. I watched it after Anthony died and it moved in ways that are hard to relay. I also immediately ran out to try kabob koobideh and tahdig.
Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown Iran S04 E06
Dailymotion video by L3arnTV
www.dailymotion.com
June 22, 2025 at 5:43 PM
If you’re an American should watch the Anthony Bourdain Parts Unknown ep on Iran. A deeply humanizing look at a country full of people just like you and me. I watched it after Anthony died and it moved in ways that are hard to relay. I also immediately ran out to try kabob koobideh and tahdig.
Reposted by John Steies
The Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh’s message is particularly relevant today—
There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.
#plumvillage
There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.
#plumvillage
June 22, 2025 at 12:39 PM
The Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh’s message is particularly relevant today—
There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.
#plumvillage
There is no way to peace. Peace is the way.
#plumvillage
Reposted by John Steies
I was briefed on the intelligence last week.
Iran posed no imminent threat of attack to the United States. Iran was not close to building a deliverable nuclear weapon. The negotiations Israel scuttled with their strikes held the potential for success.
Iran posed no imminent threat of attack to the United States. Iran was not close to building a deliverable nuclear weapon. The negotiations Israel scuttled with their strikes held the potential for success.
June 22, 2025 at 4:58 AM
I was briefed on the intelligence last week.
Iran posed no imminent threat of attack to the United States. Iran was not close to building a deliverable nuclear weapon. The negotiations Israel scuttled with their strikes held the potential for success.
Iran posed no imminent threat of attack to the United States. Iran was not close to building a deliverable nuclear weapon. The negotiations Israel scuttled with their strikes held the potential for success.
Reposted by John Steies
What is with the Democrats obsession with "Let's pass my bill that says crimes are illegal"
Donald Trump just bombed Iran without any authorization from Congress.
Congress must immediately pass Rep. Massie's War Powers Resolution to block Trump from dragging the US into an unconstitutional war in the Middle East.
Congress must immediately pass Rep. Massie's War Powers Resolution to block Trump from dragging the US into an unconstitutional war in the Middle East.
June 22, 2025 at 2:32 AM
What is with the Democrats obsession with "Let's pass my bill that says crimes are illegal"
Reposted by John Steies
What the actual fuck! Trump's ICE Gestapo hangs out in strip malls and then pounces on American citizens for the crime of having brown skin. These fucking Nazis drive around in unmarked vehicles and like fascist cowards, hide their faces behind masks. 😡👇
June 20, 2025 at 10:29 PM
What the actual fuck! Trump's ICE Gestapo hangs out in strip malls and then pounces on American citizens for the crime of having brown skin. These fucking Nazis drive around in unmarked vehicles and like fascist cowards, hide their faces behind masks. 😡👇
Reposted by John Steies
It’s extremely telling that oligarchs are all “we love New York” and #NewYorkStrong until someone might make them pay one cent more in taxes and then they’re instantly like “this place is a shithole, we’re outta here”
June 19, 2025 at 5:44 AM
It’s extremely telling that oligarchs are all “we love New York” and #NewYorkStrong until someone might make them pay one cent more in taxes and then they’re instantly like “this place is a shithole, we’re outta here”
Reposted by John Steies
Which in turn will cause people to not get health care/health insurance, which makes everyone worse off (expensive emergency care, communicable disease, etc.)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Trump administration gives data of immigrant Medicaid enrollees to deportation officials, documents obtained by AP show.
June 13, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Which in turn will cause people to not get health care/health insurance, which makes everyone worse off (expensive emergency care, communicable disease, etc.)
Reposted by John Steies
a confident nation doesn’t require the spectacle of a military parade
June 10, 2025 at 8:50 PM
a confident nation doesn’t require the spectacle of a military parade
Reposted by John Steies
what i like about this post is it is an illustration of one of the most distinctive qualities of williams' work and mainstream punditry in general, which is a belief that history began a decade ago
"A society can't allow EVERYBODY to have free speech!" is a helluva take.
June 10, 2025 at 4:21 PM
what i like about this post is it is an illustration of one of the most distinctive qualities of williams' work and mainstream punditry in general, which is a belief that history began a decade ago
Reposted by John Steies
“I begin to speak only when I’m certain what I’ll say isn’t better left unsaid.” — Cato
June 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
“I begin to speak only when I’m certain what I’ll say isn’t better left unsaid.” — Cato
Trump, who usually imitates a turbo-charged version of Nixon’s corruption, now trying out his George Wallace routine. He’s a constant mixture of the worst characters this nation has ever seen.
Major General Randy E. Manner, former Acting Vice Chief, National Guard Bureau statement to Fox News:
"This is an inappropriate use of the National Guard and is not warranted.”
"This is an inappropriate use of the National Guard and is not warranted.”
June 9, 2025 at 4:42 AM
Trump, who usually imitates a turbo-charged version of Nixon’s corruption, now trying out his George Wallace routine. He’s a constant mixture of the worst characters this nation has ever seen.