Fiery Politics

Letting wild claims drive the policy discourse.

More On MAGA Attacks On Haitian Migrants

Thoughts that didn’t fit in my last post

Image of a scupture of a snake eating it's tail. Photographer: Leo Reynolds Image of a scupture of a snake eating it's tail. Photographer: Leo Reynolds

The Fox News/Trump Ororboros

To what degree is right wing media shaping Trump’s view of Harris?

“He’s on our side”

Fascist agitation begets violence.

[JD Vance] [JD Vance]

What Exactly Did The Trump Campaign Vet J.D. Vance For?

It’s not been a great few days for J. D. Vance

A Rebooted Race II

A fresh choice provides room for movement.

Polls, Damn Polls, and Aggregators

There’s something for everyone in the post-debate surveys.

Macron Calls Snap Election

His party got destroyed in EU elections, so he’s doubling down.

Biden’s Morehouse Speech

After weeks of protest, a solid effort.

Worry Polarization

Americans are concerned about very different things.

Age Inversion in American Politics?

Suddenly, old voters are aligning Democrat and young ones Republican.

Mitch McConnell’s Legacy

There is no denying that he was consequential.

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Bowling Aloner

If we’re even bowling at all.

David Brooks’ $78 Airport Burger

A joke(?) gone a-rye.

Robbie Robertson, 1943-2023

The leader of The Band is gone at 80.

Thinking about the Past

Thoughts after reading Part 2 of the Reuter’s series, “Slavery’s Descendants”

Americans Think Neither Biden Nor Trump Mentally Sound to be President

Shockingly, the current President’s numbers are worse than his predecessor’s.

The Ever-Shifting Media Landscape

BuzzFeed, Disney, and others are making big cuts.

NPR Downsizing to Survive

A significant cut to staff and programming to stay afloat.

Raquel Welch, 1940-2023

A Hollywood star is gone at 82.

On Polling and Media Narratives

Some thoughts on polling and the news since 2016.

newspaper newspaper

The Declining Market for News

Reading habits continue to evolve, not necessarily for the better.

David Kay, 1940-2022

A man made famous for discovering Iraq’s WMD program was virtually nonexistent is gone at 82.

David McCullough, 1933-2022

A great American author is gone at 89.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, addresses his remarks at a roundtable on donating plasma Thursday, July 30, 2020, at the American Red Cross-National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour) Dr. Anthony Fauci, Director of National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, addresses his remarks at a roundtable on donating plasma Thursday, July 30, 2020, at the American Red Cross-National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. (Official White House Photo by Tia Dufour)

Fauci Shocked Americans Think Pandemic Over

We’re mostly back to “normal” while yet another new strain is surging.

Tucker Carlson White Supremacist Messaging

The face of Fox News is not the bow-tied buffoon from his “Crossfire” days.

Trump asks Putin for Dirt, Again

It’s okay to ask a war criminal for some political dirt on your opponent, right?

President Joe Biden calls New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Wednesday, November 3, 2021, in the Oval Office Study. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz) President Joe Biden calls New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy, Wednesday, November 3, 2021, in the Oval Office Study. (Official White House Photo by Adam Schultz)

Biden a Failure?

Some of his numbers are worse than even Donald Trump’s.

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Election Results Validate Everyone’s Priors

Too woke! Not woke enough!

Proud Boys, Antifa Clash in Portland While Police Stand Idly By

The weirdest goddamn story you’re likely to read today.

Ken Burns Blocking BIPOC Filmmakers?

Is he bogarting all the good documentaries?

Are “Liberal” States Shrinking?

Thinking about unsupported narratives and a little bit about data usage.

Charley Pride Dead at 87

A country music legend is yet another victim of COVID.

The Business of the News is Business

“We are a cancer and there is no cure,”

Shepard Smith to Anchor CNBC Newscast

The longtime Fox News host has re-emerged at an unusual spot.

Gun Violence Spiking Across American Cities

A marked rise in shooting deaths is going largely unnoticed.

The TV Doctors and the Problem of Cable “News”

Cable news “experts” frequently aren’t.

Iowa Shifting the Narrative?

The media coverage continues on script.

Jim Lehrer, 1934-2020

A legendary newsman has passed.

Polling On Impeachment Largely Unmoved On Eve Of House Vote

With the House of Representatives just days away from impeaching President Trump, polling shows that public opinion on the issue has not changed much since October.

Carroll Spinney, The Man Behind Big Bird, Dies At 85

A sad day for those of us who grew up watching Big Bird, Kermit, and the rest of the Muppets.

Bloomberg Not Worried About Missing Democratic Debates

Under the Democratic National Committee’s current qualification rules, Michael Bloomberg’s self-funded campaign means he wouldn’t qualify for any future debate. He doesn’t seem worried about that.

DNC Sets Criteria For December Debate

The stage for the sixth Democratic debate in December is likely to be much smaller.

Public Opinion On Impeachment Has Shifted Significantly

Public opinion on impeachment has taken a rapid turn that should alarm the Trump White House.

House Democrats Eye Narrowly Focused Impeachment Of Trump

House Democrats are reportedly looking at an impeachment process narrowly focused on the President’s efforts to obtain a quid pro quo from the President of Ukraine.

Trump Impeachment Likely, Removal Thinkable

For the first time, it’s conceivable that Republicans will turn against the President.