Michael Blanding
@michaelblanding.bsky.social
Investigative journalist and author of The Map Thief (NYT bestseller) and In Shakespeare’s Shadow. Upcoming book explores Hobby Lobby, looted antiquities, and the rise of Christian Nationalism (PublicAffairs, 2026). www.michaelblanding.com
Pinned
COVER REVEAL! Proud to officially announce my next book, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HOBBY LOBBY: Inside a Billionaire Family’s Quest to Craft a Christian Nation, to be published by PublicAffairs on July 14, 2026. #ChristianNationalism #Bible #Politics #Religion #ReligiousFreedom #AntiquitiesTrafficking
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Asking Thor if everything looks like a nail. He rolls his eyes. He's so sick of my shit
November 30, 2025 at 4:43 AM
Asking Thor if everything looks like a nail. He rolls his eyes. He's so sick of my shit
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Trump Announces Pardon for Honduran Ex-President Convicted in Drug Case
www.nytimes.com
November 29, 2025 at 7:12 PM
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Hope Columbia administrators are paying attention.
Harvard gets its research funding back through defiance and lawsuits.
Majority of Harvard’s Research Funding Has Been Restored
As of Tuesday, Harvard University had recouped most of the federal research funding it lost when the Trump administration froze its access to grants earlier this year, multiple local news organization...
www.insidehighered.com
November 29, 2025 at 1:03 PM
Hope Columbia administrators are paying attention.
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Who’s gonna tell ‘em
November 29, 2025 at 2:52 AM
Who’s gonna tell ‘em
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Disapproval vs Approval in New Gallup Poll
people 18 to 34 71-23%
independents 68-25%
everyone 60-36%
non college grads 57-38%
white people 53-44% news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
people 18 to 34 71-23%
independents 68-25%
everyone 60-36%
non college grads 57-38%
white people 53-44% news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
Trump's Approval Rating Drops to 36%, New Second-Term Low
President Donald Trump's job approval rating has slipped to a new second-term low point and is approaching his all-time low of 34%.
news.gallup.com
November 29, 2025 at 3:05 AM
Disapproval vs Approval in New Gallup Poll
people 18 to 34 71-23%
independents 68-25%
everyone 60-36%
non college grads 57-38%
white people 53-44% news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
people 18 to 34 71-23%
independents 68-25%
everyone 60-36%
non college grads 57-38%
white people 53-44% news.gallup.com/poll/699221/...
Reposted by Michael Blanding
So happy that "On Christian Nationalism: Critical and Theological Perspectives" is now out in print! With 19 contributors, the book addresses definitions of CN; historical development; intersections with racism, sexism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia; and practical ways to address the problem.
November 28, 2025 at 11:38 PM
So happy that "On Christian Nationalism: Critical and Theological Perspectives" is now out in print! With 19 contributors, the book addresses definitions of CN; historical development; intersections with racism, sexism, antisemitism, and Islamophobia; and practical ways to address the problem.
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Send me your books, I’m putting together a gift guide to radicalize your family (or at least make them so they can’t deny what’s happening around them).
My book about sheriffs and right-wing violence is a good book for the dads (and nongendered dad-types) in your life, especially for those who loved watching Yellowstone, Fargo, or Eddington!
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707263...
www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/707263...
November 28, 2025 at 5:35 PM
Send me your books, I’m putting together a gift guide to radicalize your family (or at least make them so they can’t deny what’s happening around them).
Reposted by Michael Blanding
What time do you get in?
Officially moving to Chicago tomorrow. I assume JB Pritzker will be waiting for me at the airport
November 25, 2025 at 1:13 PM
What time do you get in?
Reposted by Michael Blanding
You know, I'm not sure I ever really read the Pond Rules at our local nature preserve all that closely before
November 25, 2025 at 1:24 AM
You know, I'm not sure I ever really read the Pond Rules at our local nature preserve all that closely before
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Ancient Maya game board with unique mosaic design discovered in Guatemala.
phys.org/news/2025-11...
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Ancient Maya game board with unique mosaic design discovered in Guatemala
Centuries before Monopoly, there was Patolli, a high-stakes Mesoamerican game of strategy and luck where players wagered crops and wealth as they raced their opponents around a cross-shaped board.
phys.org
November 24, 2025 at 5:15 PM
Ancient Maya game board with unique mosaic design discovered in Guatemala.
phys.org/news/2025-11...
phys.org/news/2025-11...
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Not only has he never looked at Don Jr. or Eric like this, he’s never been so happy to bask in JD Vance’s presence either.
He looks giddy. JOYFUL even.
Is Zohran a witch
He looks giddy. JOYFUL even.
Is Zohran a witch
November 21, 2025 at 9:42 PM
Not only has he never looked at Don Jr. or Eric like this, he’s never been so happy to bask in JD Vance’s presence either.
He looks giddy. JOYFUL even.
Is Zohran a witch
He looks giddy. JOYFUL even.
Is Zohran a witch
Novel idea in which two people out on dates with their AI companions meet cute and fall in love with each other, only to have their AI companions secretly plot revenge.
we are in hell. www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/ar...
The world’s first AI dating cafe is opening in NY this December
Imagine sipping a latte under dim lights—except your date isn’t across the table as a person, but glowing from your phone. This December, New York City will host the world’s first AI dating café, a cl...
www.yahoo.com
November 21, 2025 at 6:21 PM
Novel idea in which two people out on dates with their AI companions meet cute and fall in love with each other, only to have their AI companions secretly plot revenge.
Wow!
this is a stunning piece of data journalism/art/whatever.
omg they made Jeffrey Epstein Inbox Simulator '25 jmail.world
November 21, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Wow!
Reposted by Michael Blanding
This is...sort of brilliant.
November 19, 2025 at 12:56 PM
This is...sort of brilliant.
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Now THIS????
is a white man!
this is how you white man!!!!!!!!!
is a white man!
this is how you white man!!!!!!!!!
“I want their morale as low as possible because a team with low morale is ineffective.”
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Meet the veteran who chases ICE on a scooter
Clifford “Buzz” Grambo patrols the streets of Baltimore to keep his neighbors safe—and make federal agents uncomfortable.
www.motherjones.com
November 20, 2025 at 2:57 PM
Now THIS????
is a white man!
this is how you white man!!!!!!!!!
is a white man!
this is how you white man!!!!!!!!!
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Excuse me, Mr Harari, but I can think of at least one animal that understands the concept of money
Dog Always Brings A Leaf To 'Buy' Himself Treats At The Store
This clever dog figured out how commerce works.
www.thedodo.com
November 20, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Excuse me, Mr Harari, but I can think of at least one animal that understands the concept of money
Reposted by Michael Blanding
this is the correct framing
Republicans vote overwhelmingly to pretend they want the Epstein Files released. www.axios.com/2025/11/18/h...
House votes to force DOJ release of Jeffrey Epstein files
While the vote marks an important step in backers' crusade to get the files released, significant barriers remain.
www.axios.com
November 18, 2025 at 7:55 PM
this is the correct framing
Reposted by Michael Blanding
A foreign country bribed the president with a bar of gold.
Where are my Originalists at?
Where are my Originalists at?
"It was tough to beat Apple, but the Swiss did it." said one administration official.
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How the Swiss convinced Trump to drop tariffs with gifts of a Rolex desk clock and a 1 kg gold bar.
www.axios.com/2025/11/14/t...
How to lobby Trump with Swiss precision: gifts, gold and gab
How the Swiss broke a diplomatic logjam on tariffs by arriving with tributes fit for a king.
www.axios.com
November 15, 2025 at 3:53 PM
A foreign country bribed the president with a bar of gold.
Where are my Originalists at?
Where are my Originalists at?
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Olivia Nuzzi got sent in to do a profile but it turned out she wanted to fuck the subject so we sent in Jacob Bernstein to profile her and it turns out he also wants to fuck the subject
you can’t be putting this in the paper (gift link but i do not recommend you use it www.nytimes.com/2025/11/14/s...)
November 14, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Olivia Nuzzi got sent in to do a profile but it turned out she wanted to fuck the subject so we sent in Jacob Bernstein to profile her and it turns out he also wants to fuck the subject
Reposted by Michael Blanding
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Millionaire Tax That Inspired Mamdani Fuels $5.7 Billion Haul in Massachusetts
A millionaire levy in Massachusetts that New York City mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani holds up as a model for taxing the rich has generated $3 billion more in revenue than expected without forcing...
www.bloomberg.com
November 12, 2025 at 4:01 PM
NEW: The first two years of Massachusetts' millionaire tax has raised $3 billion more than expected.
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
And rather than driving the rich away, IPS researchers found that the number of millionaires has *increased.*
Tax the rich. Greg Ryan in @bloomberg.com:
Reposted by Michael Blanding
emailing in a semi-literate manner isn’t a sign of stupidity, it’s another form of rich asshole arrogance because you don’t think you owe anyone coherent thoughts
November 13, 2025 at 3:27 AM
emailing in a semi-literate manner isn’t a sign of stupidity, it’s another form of rich asshole arrogance because you don’t think you owe anyone coherent thoughts
Reposted by Michael Blanding
FROM: [email protected]
TO: [email protected]
SUBJECT: re: can you print these pictures of donald trump with underage women
hello jeffrey my friend. no for some reason
TO: [email protected]
SUBJECT: re: can you print these pictures of donald trump with underage women
hello jeffrey my friend. no for some reason
November 12, 2025 at 10:33 PM
FROM: [email protected]
TO: [email protected]
SUBJECT: re: can you print these pictures of donald trump with underage women
hello jeffrey my friend. no for some reason
TO: [email protected]
SUBJECT: re: can you print these pictures of donald trump with underage women
hello jeffrey my friend. no for some reason
Reposted by Michael Blanding
Looks like a fascinating book.
COVER REVEAL! Proud to officially announce my next book, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HOBBY LOBBY: Inside a Billionaire Family’s Quest to Craft a Christian Nation, to be published by PublicAffairs on July 14, 2026. #ChristianNationalism #Bible #Politics #Religion #ReligiousFreedom #AntiquitiesTrafficking
November 12, 2025 at 7:59 PM
Looks like a fascinating book.
COVER REVEAL! Proud to officially announce my next book, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HOBBY LOBBY: Inside a Billionaire Family’s Quest to Craft a Christian Nation, to be published by PublicAffairs on July 14, 2026. #ChristianNationalism #Bible #Politics #Religion #ReligiousFreedom #AntiquitiesTrafficking
November 12, 2025 at 7:53 PM
COVER REVEAL! Proud to officially announce my next book, THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO HOBBY LOBBY: Inside a Billionaire Family’s Quest to Craft a Christian Nation, to be published by PublicAffairs on July 14, 2026. #ChristianNationalism #Bible #Politics #Religion #ReligiousFreedom #AntiquitiesTrafficking
New Bluesky motto just dropped
all of you are very annoying but i also am very annoying
November 12, 2025 at 3:21 AM
New Bluesky motto just dropped