Tom Philpott
@tomphilpott.bsky.social
Research associate at the Center for a Liveable Future at JHU in Baltimore. Author of Perilous Bounty. Former food politics writer for Mother Jones (2011-2022) and Grist (2006-2011)
Pro tip: If you see someone wearing a cape, they're probably not a hero. They could even be a proto-fascist.
August 7, 2025 at 2:54 PM
Pro tip: If you see someone wearing a cape, they're probably not a hero. They could even be a proto-fascist.
It's axiomatic that conservatives hate the state but love the state police. With DOGE, Elon Musk is simultaneously dismantling crucial state capacity (remember FEMA?)—and building out secret-police infrastructure.
April 30, 2025 at 1:34 PM
It's axiomatic that conservatives hate the state but love the state police. With DOGE, Elon Musk is simultaneously dismantling crucial state capacity (remember FEMA?)—and building out secret-police infrastructure.
No one asked for this, and nobody wants it. Our tech overlords have lost the plot.
April 10, 2025 at 8:04 PM
No one asked for this, and nobody wants it. Our tech overlords have lost the plot.
Would be hilarious to see these two clowns try to work in a factory. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/o...
April 10, 2025 at 1:54 PM
Would be hilarious to see these two clowns try to work in a factory. www.nytimes.com/2025/04/10/o...
White shark? I keep seeing this monstrosity in my Baltimore neighborhood, and it's making me nauseous. I get that that's the point.
April 9, 2025 at 3:22 PM
White shark? I keep seeing this monstrosity in my Baltimore neighborhood, and it's making me nauseous. I get that that's the point.
My own Gen X comes off much worse smdh
April 9, 2025 at 3:19 PM
My own Gen X comes off much worse smdh
I'll repost this chart of p acres. Farmers planted new orchards based on the idea of ever-growing demand from EU, China, etc. What this could mean in the short term is cheaper pistachios for US consumers. That could make them even trendier here!
April 3, 2025 at 4:49 PM
I'll repost this chart of p acres. Farmers planted new orchards based on the idea of ever-growing demand from EU, China, etc. What this could mean in the short term is cheaper pistachios for US consumers. That could make them even trendier here!
Research suggests that pistachios require slightly less water. That's good. But almond acreage in CA has leveled off, while pistachios are still expanding rapidly. If they keep growing at present rates, that's still loads of water!
April 3, 2025 at 4:25 PM
Research suggests that pistachios require slightly less water. That's good. But almond acreage in CA has leveled off, while pistachios are still expanding rapidly. If they keep growing at present rates, that's still loads of water!
Don’t know what to do about it, but I think we’re here. We live in a fascist country, or at least our currently governed by fascists. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/w...
March 18, 2025 at 1:48 AM
Don’t know what to do about it, but I think we’re here. We live in a fascist country, or at least our currently governed by fascists. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/17/w...
McCarthyism is back at elite universities, and just as during the Red Scare '50s, administrations are caving. Utterly craven stuff from the Columbia Journalism School—taking place in Pulitzer Hall, no less. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/n...
March 13, 2025 at 3:34 PM
McCarthyism is back at elite universities, and just as during the Red Scare '50s, administrations are caving. Utterly craven stuff from the Columbia Journalism School—taking place in Pulitzer Hall, no less. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/12/n...
Did Covid kill public health? Siddhartha Mukherjee delivers the last rites. Haunting to read while H5N1 stalks, and the president and his idiots gut the state's capacity to deal with crises. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/o...
March 10, 2025 at 3:04 PM
Did Covid kill public health? Siddhartha Mukherjee delivers the last rites. Haunting to read while H5N1 stalks, and the president and his idiots gut the state's capacity to deal with crises. www.nytimes.com/2025/03/10/o...
Disgracefully, ICE is targeting schools in Kennett Square, PA. It's the US epicenter of mushroom production, an industry that relies heavily on undocumented workers.
February 21, 2025 at 6:49 PM
Disgracefully, ICE is targeting schools in Kennett Square, PA. It's the US epicenter of mushroom production, an industry that relies heavily on undocumented workers.
BariWeiss celebrating the election of Donald Trump by partying with some of the worst people on the planet maybe the most Bari Weiss thing ver. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/b...
February 16, 2025 at 5:10 PM
BariWeiss celebrating the election of Donald Trump by partying with some of the worst people on the planet maybe the most Bari Weiss thing ver. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/07/b...
The toxic narcissist/fabulist now running HHS, in one absurd pic.
February 13, 2025 at 7:30 PM
The toxic narcissist/fabulist now running HHS, in one absurd pic.
February 5, 2025 at 7:51 PM
Since Bluesky doesn't load links:
August 29, 2023 at 8:46 PM
Since Bluesky doesn't load links:
This is spot on, assuming you can access walkable/bikable cityscapes as well as sufficient free time. But it also offers a way of economizing time—that hour you take for exercise could double was your riding time. www.nytimes.com/2023/08/26/w...
August 28, 2023 at 3:53 PM
This is spot on, assuming you can access walkable/bikable cityscapes as well as sufficient free time. But it also offers a way of economizing time—that hour you take for exercise could double was your riding time. www.nytimes.com/2023/08/26/w...
My entries, in no order:
August 27, 2023 at 8:46 PM
My entries, in no order:
The #20songs challenge on Twitter goes like this:
August 27, 2023 at 8:43 PM
The #20songs challenge on Twitter goes like this:
Sure sign that the Fed needs to cut interest rates ASAP.
August 25, 2023 at 6:47 PM
Sure sign that the Fed needs to cut interest rates ASAP.