Ben Plume
@pittbaster.bsky.social
I like nature, sci-fi, books, and being Dad. Live in the Maryland DC suburbs with a pretty cool spouse. Admittedly tired.
Reposted by Ben Plume
political science
Found when sorting an old drive. I still, very occasionally, say 'not many badgers in the House of Lords' and this is why:
December 6, 2025 at 12:47 PM
political science
Reposted by Ben Plume
A court with a normal-ish conservative majority would have been tolerable. I'm not eager for court packing, impeaching justices, and other such options. But this court sticking around post-Trump is untenable. They've already torched their own legitimacy, the only question is what do we do about it.
Democrats need to lay the groundwork for reform by attacking the villains on the Supreme Court - loudly, angrily, personally, relentlessly. And they should start now.
paulwaldman.substack.com/p/democrats-...
paulwaldman.substack.com/p/democrats-...
Democrats Need to Treat the Supreme Court Like the Villain It Is
The Court is out of control, and we'll never see reform unless we build the case for it. Starting now.
paulwaldman.substack.com
December 5, 2025 at 9:11 PM
A court with a normal-ish conservative majority would have been tolerable. I'm not eager for court packing, impeaching justices, and other such options. But this court sticking around post-Trump is untenable. They've already torched their own legitimacy, the only question is what do we do about it.
His Administration also swept the Orwellies.
December 5, 2025 at 6:17 PM
His Administration also swept the Orwellies.
Reposted by Ben Plume
She expected Thanksgiving.
Instead she got detained.
Her family got a lawyer.
A federal judge issued an emergency order barring her removal for at least 72 hours so her case could be reviewed.
They deported her to Honduras the next day in shackles.
“Her case is an unconstitutional horror show"
Instead she got detained.
Her family got a lawyer.
A federal judge issued an emergency order barring her removal for at least 72 hours so her case could be reviewed.
They deported her to Honduras the next day in shackles.
“Her case is an unconstitutional horror show"
Student describes ‘horror show’ ICE deportation to Honduras at Thanksgiving
Any Lucia López Belloza, 19, was detained at Boston airport while on the way to see family in Austin for a surprise trip
www.theguardian.com
December 4, 2025 at 3:00 PM
She expected Thanksgiving.
Instead she got detained.
Her family got a lawyer.
A federal judge issued an emergency order barring her removal for at least 72 hours so her case could be reviewed.
They deported her to Honduras the next day in shackles.
“Her case is an unconstitutional horror show"
Instead she got detained.
Her family got a lawyer.
A federal judge issued an emergency order barring her removal for at least 72 hours so her case could be reviewed.
They deported her to Honduras the next day in shackles.
“Her case is an unconstitutional horror show"
Well done, THE DICTIONARY, well done.
December 3, 2025 at 5:04 PM
Well done, THE DICTIONARY, well done.
Reposted by Ben Plume
It's not shocking that an organization formed by an asshole and staffed by assholes to try and make more assholes has an asshole problem.
December 2, 2025 at 5:08 PM
It's not shocking that an organization formed by an asshole and staffed by assholes to try and make more assholes has an asshole problem.
Turns out, most people don’t like when their government is openly evil and corrupt, regardless of which team they were rooting for.
“The GOP drew Tennessee's 7th to be safely red. Suddenly, it isn’t.”
“‘It shouldn’t even be close. But it is,’ Republican Rep. Tim Burchett, who serves eastern Tennessee’s 2nd District, told Fox News on Sunday.” www.the-downballot.com/p/morning-di...
“‘It shouldn’t even be close. But it is,’ Republican Rep. Tim Burchett, who serves eastern Tennessee’s 2nd District, told Fox News on Sunday.” www.the-downballot.com/p/morning-di...
Morning Digest: Why Republicans are sweating a special election they shouldn't have to worry about
The GOP drew Tennessee's 7th to be safely red. Suddenly, it isn't.
www.the-downballot.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:31 PM
Turns out, most people don’t like when their government is openly evil and corrupt, regardless of which team they were rooting for.
Reposted by Ben Plume
I am going to remind u now of my 2019 scoop: www.thedailybeast.com/fox-and-frie...
Fox News Host Pete Hegseth Privately Lobbied Trump to Pardon Accused War Criminals
The president isn’t just watching the network, he’s taking policy advice from its morning hosts.
www.thedailybeast.com
December 2, 2025 at 2:16 PM
I am going to remind u now of my 2019 scoop: www.thedailybeast.com/fox-and-frie...
Reposted by Ben Plume
Here we go again...
Those who failed history class will lead us to repeat that history
We are substituting fentanyl for WMDs
Those who failed history class will lead us to repeat that history
We are substituting fentanyl for WMDs
December 2, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Here we go again...
Those who failed history class will lead us to repeat that history
We are substituting fentanyl for WMDs
Those who failed history class will lead us to repeat that history
We are substituting fentanyl for WMDs
It’s utterly unconscionable.
What are we even doing here? I can’t find common ground with people who get off on the suffering of others. Don’t just kill the people we haven’t even proved are criminals, bring them pain. I can’t relate to this. This is inexcusable to me. I’m sickened.
Megyn Kelly on alleged war crimes: "I really do kind of not only wanna see them killed in the water, whether they're on the boat or in the water, but I'd really like to see them suffer. I would like Trump and Hegseth to make it last a long time so they lose a limb and bleed out."
December 2, 2025 at 2:17 PM
It’s utterly unconscionable.
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Jeffries on the WH's explanation of Hegseth's reported double tap strike: "The White House is lying, but that's no surprise, because they lie for a living and the American people know it."
December 1, 2025 at 8:27 PM
Jeffries on the WH's explanation of Hegseth's reported double tap strike: "The White House is lying, but that's no surprise, because they lie for a living and the American people know it."
Reposted by Ben Plume
really wonder how all of this would be perceived if llms had been marketed as “we made some under the hood improvements to siri so it can give more robust answers and better understand how you talk, plus you can goof around with making fun images” instead of “we are building a new kind of god”
When ChatGPT first went public I played around with it a bit, and there was a very short but lovely period where it was just “Wow, this is really impressive, neato” before the insane self-destructive hype cycle took off.
November 30, 2025 at 3:39 PM
really wonder how all of this would be perceived if llms had been marketed as “we made some under the hood improvements to siri so it can give more robust answers and better understand how you talk, plus you can goof around with making fun images” instead of “we are building a new kind of god”
Thread worth considering IMO
I believe Tyson's decision to shut down its Lexington plant instead of selling it is a PLOY to manipulate cattle and beef markets in violation of our antitrust laws. 🧵
December 1, 2025 at 6:13 PM
Thread worth considering IMO
Yikes… well here’s one I wish weren’t true.
I don't think I've ever talked on Bluesky about why I hate the Foo Fighters and Dave Grohl.
Don't read any further unless you're prepared for uncomfortable truths about the "Nicest Guy in Rock", and his very substantial body count & subsequent cover-up.
Don't read any further unless you're prepared for uncomfortable truths about the "Nicest Guy in Rock", and his very substantial body count & subsequent cover-up.
December 1, 2025 at 5:48 PM
Yikes… well here’s one I wish weren’t true.
Reposted by Ben Plume
I was hasty and careless. The whole concept of self-deportation is bullshit, and I shouldn't have used the phrase.
This ad is an act of white supremacy, a targeted threat against Latino people who are living and working and paying taxes in the US, documented or otherwise, made possible by Google.
This ad is an act of white supremacy, a targeted threat against Latino people who are living and working and paying taxes in the US, documented or otherwise, made possible by Google.
December 1, 2025 at 7:44 AM
I was hasty and careless. The whole concept of self-deportation is bullshit, and I shouldn't have used the phrase.
This ad is an act of white supremacy, a targeted threat against Latino people who are living and working and paying taxes in the US, documented or otherwise, made possible by Google.
This ad is an act of white supremacy, a targeted threat against Latino people who are living and working and paying taxes in the US, documented or otherwise, made possible by Google.
Reposted by Ben Plume
The numbers in here are hilarious.
Do you use AI on the job?
Execs: 87%
Managers: 57%
Workers: 27%
Planned investment by 2030: $5T
"Necessary" annual revenue to justify that spend: $650B
Current annual revenue: $50B
Do you use AI on the job?
Execs: 87%
Managers: 57%
Workers: 27%
Planned investment by 2030: $5T
"Necessary" annual revenue to justify that spend: $650B
Current annual revenue: $50B
Three years into the generative-AI wave, demand for the technology seems surprisingly flimsy
Investors expect AI use to soar. That’s not happening
Recent surveys point to flatlining business adoption
econ.st
November 30, 2025 at 12:28 AM
The numbers in here are hilarious.
Do you use AI on the job?
Execs: 87%
Managers: 57%
Workers: 27%
Planned investment by 2030: $5T
"Necessary" annual revenue to justify that spend: $650B
Current annual revenue: $50B
Do you use AI on the job?
Execs: 87%
Managers: 57%
Workers: 27%
Planned investment by 2030: $5T
"Necessary" annual revenue to justify that spend: $650B
Current annual revenue: $50B
Reposted by Ben Plume
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
December 1, 2025 at 11:09 AM
This is actually quite brilliant, up to and including the final sentence 🔥
Reposted by Ben Plume
this is just rank cowardice, the student very obviously disregarded the instructions and the assignment to antagonize her peers and instructors and provoke this exact reaction, society simply can’t function when the people in charge scurry like kicked dogs every time some troll bully says boo
November 30, 2025 at 8:55 PM
this is just rank cowardice, the student very obviously disregarded the instructions and the assignment to antagonize her peers and instructors and provoke this exact reaction, society simply can’t function when the people in charge scurry like kicked dogs every time some troll bully says boo
Reposted by Ben Plume
the primary thing that TPUSA provides to young conservatives is a blueprint for weaponizing the abject cowardice of university administrators against individual teachers and instructors, and university admins should take a long look in the mirror and think about what that says about them
OU has put the professor here on administrative leave:
November 30, 2025 at 8:51 PM
the primary thing that TPUSA provides to young conservatives is a blueprint for weaponizing the abject cowardice of university administrators against individual teachers and instructors, and university admins should take a long look in the mirror and think about what that says about them
Reposted by Ben Plume
A White House website with a dedicated Lügenpresse tab marks a pretty bleak moment in US history.
Don't know whether this is new or has been up for awhile. Either way, when the White House creates a hit list of journalists it doesn't like, the free press is in danger. www.whitehouse.gov/mediabias/
Media Offenders
Explore the Media Bias Tracker that fact checks and holds Fake News accountable. False claims debunked, Hall of Shame for serial offenders, Leaderboard of networks ranked by Repeated Lies. Stay inform...
www.whitehouse.gov
November 30, 2025 at 12:16 AM
A White House website with a dedicated Lügenpresse tab marks a pretty bleak moment in US history.
Reposted by Ben Plume
Trump: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!"
The White House: He's not calling for their execution and anyone who says so is biased.
Truly Orwellian.
The White House: He's not calling for their execution and anyone who says so is biased.
Truly Orwellian.
November 29, 2025 at 10:10 PM
Trump: "SEDITIOUS BEHAVIOR, punishable by DEATH!"
The White House: He's not calling for their execution and anyone who says so is biased.
Truly Orwellian.
The White House: He's not calling for their execution and anyone who says so is biased.
Truly Orwellian.
Reposted by Ben Plume
The Times adjusted it's headlines, but not until after other media started reporting the links as factual using the Times.
How comfortable should editors be with headlines that amplify the claims of an unverified claim, not subject to peer review, by a known vaccine skeptic?
How comfortable should editors be with headlines that amplify the claims of an unverified claim, not subject to peer review, by a known vaccine skeptic?
November 29, 2025 at 11:59 PM
The Times adjusted it's headlines, but not until after other media started reporting the links as factual using the Times.
How comfortable should editors be with headlines that amplify the claims of an unverified claim, not subject to peer review, by a known vaccine skeptic?
How comfortable should editors be with headlines that amplify the claims of an unverified claim, not subject to peer review, by a known vaccine skeptic?
Reposted by Ben Plume
Pete Hegseth justified murdering two survivors of the Venezuela boat attack by claiming “Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization”
Just like earlier this year Trump justified imprisoning immigrants in CECOT by falsely claiming they were Tren de Aragua
Just like earlier this year Trump justified imprisoning immigrants in CECOT by falsely claiming they were Tren de Aragua
November 29, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Pete Hegseth justified murdering two survivors of the Venezuela boat attack by claiming “Every trafficker we kill is affiliated with a Designated Terrorist Organization”
Just like earlier this year Trump justified imprisoning immigrants in CECOT by falsely claiming they were Tren de Aragua
Just like earlier this year Trump justified imprisoning immigrants in CECOT by falsely claiming they were Tren de Aragua
Reposted by Ben Plume
“I think you’re in my seat”
November 29, 2025 at 1:24 PM
“I think you’re in my seat”