Michael Gerber, bon vivant
@michaelgerber.bsky.social
Boss @ American Bystander. Proud papa of Barry Trotter. Cerebrally Palsied. Survivor of bonus mystery illness. Lover of print comedy & cartoons, Worsley acupuncture, qigong, trains, chicken curry. Mayor of Santa Monica (unofficial).
Pinned
My fellow US satirists, now is the time to do your thing.
Self-censoring is “obeying in advance.”
Forget your career—draw blood
Tear down these crooks & fools
Whether you’re writing for Colbert or doing one night in some black box over a bowling alley, NOW is the time to
LET IT RIP!!!!
Self-censoring is “obeying in advance.”
Forget your career—draw blood
Tear down these crooks & fools
Whether you’re writing for Colbert or doing one night in some black box over a bowling alley, NOW is the time to
LET IT RIP!!!!
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
This is, quite literally, the concluding chapter from years of vice signaling as politics. There is no better evidence for how putting Trump, a charlatan and moral void, at the center of our politics for a decade has resulted in the literal rotting of the soul and character this nation.
epstein emails released and everyone coming out as a pedophile to defend donald trump
November 17, 2025 at 4:58 AM
This is, quite literally, the concluding chapter from years of vice signaling as politics. There is no better evidence for how putting Trump, a charlatan and moral void, at the center of our politics for a decade has resulted in the literal rotting of the soul and character this nation.
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
Yes, this is the "fine, search the crawl space, I've got nothing to hide!" moment.
The only reason Trump is telling Republicans to vote for the release of the Epstein files is because so many were already going to do it—likely well over 100 GOP votes. He was forced into this position, and it's better to look like he's going along than face a full-blown rebuke from his own party.
November 17, 2025 at 3:04 AM
Yes, this is the "fine, search the crawl space, I've got nothing to hide!" moment.
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
Good news: If you would like to watch Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants on YouTube I have done a painstaking 4k upscale of this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0gW...
November 17, 2025 at 2:06 AM
Good news: If you would like to watch Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants on YouTube I have done a painstaking 4k upscale of this. www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0gW...
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
Trump lost his trade war in every possible sense. It hurt the economy; it made us look ludicrous and lawless; and it gave Beijing a chance to reach for world power. And there is nothing Trump can do about any of this except back down and blame others. (1/2)
November 17, 2025 at 12:04 AM
Trump lost his trade war in every possible sense. It hurt the economy; it made us look ludicrous and lawless; and it gave Beijing a chance to reach for world power. And there is nothing Trump can do about any of this except back down and blame others. (1/2)
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
Uh
this is
enormous
this is
enormous
British and Australian chemists have discovered a powerful new antibiotic called pre-methylenomycin C lactone, hiding in a well-known soil bacterium. This molecule kills drug-resistant bacteria without triggering resistance. buff.ly/YlXaONo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
#ShareGoodNewsToo
Scientists find hidden antibiotic 100x stronger against deadly superbugs
A team of scientists discovered a hidden antibiotic 100 times stronger than existing drugs against deadly superbugs like MRSA. The molecule had been overlooked for decades in a familiar bacterium. It…
buff.ly
November 16, 2025 at 5:50 PM
Uh
this is
enormous
this is
enormous
The question is:
Why, after this question seemed to have been definitively answered—Reconstruction, and the Civil Rights period—did we allow reactionaries to consolidate and prosper until they pulled us back?
It is because the rulers of this country don’t want it.
Why, after this question seemed to have been definitively answered—Reconstruction, and the Civil Rights period—did we allow reactionaries to consolidate and prosper until they pulled us back?
It is because the rulers of this country don’t want it.
There is absolutely nothing old or consolidated about *multiracial, pluralistic democracy* in America. It only started 60 years ago.
And the conflict over whether or not it should be allowed to endure and prosper has been the central fault line in U.S. politics ever since.
And the conflict over whether or not it should be allowed to endure and prosper has been the central fault line in U.S. politics ever since.
From 2022:
November 15, 2025 at 4:09 PM
The question is:
Why, after this question seemed to have been definitively answered—Reconstruction, and the Civil Rights period—did we allow reactionaries to consolidate and prosper until they pulled us back?
It is because the rulers of this country don’t want it.
Why, after this question seemed to have been definitively answered—Reconstruction, and the Civil Rights period—did we allow reactionaries to consolidate and prosper until they pulled us back?
It is because the rulers of this country don’t want it.
You know, that WOULD explain why he's so determined to keep it all under wraps...
November 15, 2025 at 1:56 AM
You know, that WOULD explain why he's so determined to keep it all under wraps...
Hey, I’m in the Epstein doc dump! (Well, sort of)
It's not what you think. Keep reading.
open.substack.com
November 15, 2025 at 1:50 AM
For about five years, Patrick Nagel was EVERYWHERE. Gone too soon.
November 14, 2025 at 11:25 PM
For about five years, Patrick Nagel was EVERYWHERE. Gone too soon.
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
I think people are missing the point with this Epstein thing.
The question is not did he have sex with underaged girls. He did.
The question is not did he have illegal financial transactions with Epstein. He did.
The question is not did he serve as an asset and agent of Putin. He did.
The question is not did he have sex with underaged girls. He did.
The question is not did he have illegal financial transactions with Epstein. He did.
The question is not did he serve as an asset and agent of Putin. He did.
November 14, 2025 at 11:47 AM
I think people are missing the point with this Epstein thing.
The question is not did he have sex with underaged girls. He did.
The question is not did he have illegal financial transactions with Epstein. He did.
The question is not did he serve as an asset and agent of Putin. He did.
The question is not did he have sex with underaged girls. He did.
The question is not did he have illegal financial transactions with Epstein. He did.
The question is not did he serve as an asset and agent of Putin. He did.
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
*taps mic*
If Dems are in “the files,” then they should be prosecuted too. I don’t give a damn how important they are, how much money they have, or what their politics are. If they are in there, PROSECUTE THEM!!
It's not complicated. All we want is equal justice. NO ONE is above the law. ⚖️
If Dems are in “the files,” then they should be prosecuted too. I don’t give a damn how important they are, how much money they have, or what their politics are. If they are in there, PROSECUTE THEM!!
It's not complicated. All we want is equal justice. NO ONE is above the law. ⚖️
November 14, 2025 at 5:39 PM
*taps mic*
If Dems are in “the files,” then they should be prosecuted too. I don’t give a damn how important they are, how much money they have, or what their politics are. If they are in there, PROSECUTE THEM!!
It's not complicated. All we want is equal justice. NO ONE is above the law. ⚖️
If Dems are in “the files,” then they should be prosecuted too. I don’t give a damn how important they are, how much money they have, or what their politics are. If they are in there, PROSECUTE THEM!!
It's not complicated. All we want is equal justice. NO ONE is above the law. ⚖️
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
I am not even religious and i want blasphemy back
The app Text With Jesus uses artificial intelligence and chatbots to offer spiritual guidance to users who are looking to connect with a higher power: on.nbc10.com/7XM8xrf
People can text with Jesus on a controversial new app. How does it work?
Artificial intelligence app Text With Jesus lets users chat with biblical figures and it is raising debate over faith and technology.
on.nbc10.com
November 14, 2025 at 8:24 PM
I am not even religious and i want blasphemy back
even I realize that you can’t really DO capitalism effectively without considering other humans as lesser.
The dehumanizing, it’s built in.
so of course society’s “winner” suoerpredators consider 15-year-old girls as chattel.
under capitalism, personhood is something you must pay for.
The dehumanizing, it’s built in.
so of course society’s “winner” suoerpredators consider 15-year-old girls as chattel.
under capitalism, personhood is something you must pay for.
November 14, 2025 at 6:54 PM
even I realize that you can’t really DO capitalism effectively without considering other humans as lesser.
The dehumanizing, it’s built in.
so of course society’s “winner” suoerpredators consider 15-year-old girls as chattel.
under capitalism, personhood is something you must pay for.
The dehumanizing, it’s built in.
so of course society’s “winner” suoerpredators consider 15-year-old girls as chattel.
under capitalism, personhood is something you must pay for.
The B-52's - Give Me Back My Man - 11/7/1980 - Capitol Theatre (Official)
YouTube video by The B-52's
youtu.be
November 14, 2025 at 6:14 AM
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
Final chapters of Chomsky bio are going to be hilarious
November 13, 2025 at 4:21 PM
Final chapters of Chomsky bio are going to be hilarious
“I would like something that offers me an endless stream of stuff that makes me mad and/or sad”
TECH: we got you
TECH: we got you
November 13, 2025 at 4:13 PM
“I would like something that offers me an endless stream of stuff that makes me mad and/or sad”
TECH: we got you
TECH: we got you
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
I wrote a primer on this, actually (acoup.blog/2022/01/14/c...) - the collapse of Rome was both meaningfully worse than the medievalist change-and-continuity boosters would have, but also meaningfully less disruptive and bad than the 'fall of civilization' doom-sayers would have. It is complex.
Collections: Rome: Decline and Fall? Part I: Words
This week we’re going to start tackling a complex and much debated question: ‘how bad was the fall of Rome (in the West)?’ This was the topic that won the vote among the patrons o…
acoup.blog
November 13, 2025 at 4:09 PM
I wrote a primer on this, actually (acoup.blog/2022/01/14/c...) - the collapse of Rome was both meaningfully worse than the medievalist change-and-continuity boosters would have, but also meaningfully less disruptive and bad than the 'fall of civilization' doom-sayers would have. It is complex.
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
Mike "Little" Johnson is facing a revolt of over 100 of his caucus switching to yes votes on the discharge petition. The dam broke. No reason to fight it. He is rumored to be bringing the Epstein files vote to the floor.
November 13, 2025 at 1:08 AM
Mike "Little" Johnson is facing a revolt of over 100 of his caucus switching to yes votes on the discharge petition. The dam broke. No reason to fight it. He is rumored to be bringing the Epstein files vote to the floor.
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
Removing a monument honoring Black US soldiers has nothing to do with DEI. It’s erasure of history and it’s straight-up racism.
November 13, 2025 at 11:39 AM
Removing a monument honoring Black US soldiers has nothing to do with DEI. It’s erasure of history and it’s straight-up racism.
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
"We're born alone, we'll die alone." That's the myth posited as truth by the cynic. We're likely born in a room full of attention and care, we live our lives surrounded by people, and we die with all those people inside us as memory. We're less and less alone with each person we meet.
#vss365 #myth
#vss365 #myth
November 12, 2025 at 6:25 PM
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
“Guys if we just pass laws saying all our crime is legal no one can ever try us for them” - Germans circa 1942 and also apparently US Senate in 2025
November 13, 2025 at 12:14 PM
“Guys if we just pass laws saying all our crime is legal no one can ever try us for them” - Germans circa 1942 and also apparently US Senate in 2025
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
Hopefully, paving the way for impeachment + conviction.
November 13, 2025 at 2:03 AM
Hopefully, paving the way for impeachment + conviction.
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
The Epstein saga is the biggest political cover-up in modern history.
November 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM
The Epstein saga is the biggest political cover-up in modern history.
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
The best thing to happen in America right now would be for two GOP House members in very fragile districts to decide to go indie and caucus with Dems. It would be *hilarious*. Can you imagine Johnson being forced out?
November 12, 2025 at 9:37 PM
The best thing to happen in America right now would be for two GOP House members in very fragile districts to decide to go indie and caucus with Dems. It would be *hilarious*. Can you imagine Johnson being forced out?
Reposted by Michael Gerber, bon vivant
Can we just take a minute and acknowledge that our POTUS is right OUT IN THE OPEN lobbying Congressional members to vote against releasing the Epstein files?! Like... what the fuck else does anyone even need to know?
November 13, 2025 at 1:32 AM
Can we just take a minute and acknowledge that our POTUS is right OUT IN THE OPEN lobbying Congressional members to vote against releasing the Epstein files?! Like... what the fuck else does anyone even need to know?