Recent posts by Public Intellectuals and Advocates on Bluesky
Recent posts by Public Intellectuals and Advocates community members. Updated hourly.
John Scalzi
scalzi.comAs a science fiction writer I really fucking resent tech bros for ruining the phrase "artificial intelligence." 80 years of it being all about cool androids and interesting computers destroyed by five years of "Spicy autocorrect making everything shittier for money." NEVER FORGIVE.
Alexander S. Vindman
avindman.bsky.socialIt’s always an honor to meet a fellow veteran. I served in the Army for 21-years. It’s why I’m so pissed off when I see Ashley Moody vote to support foolish wars abroad that are putting our service members in harm’s way and jacking up the cost of gas and groceries. I’m a hell no on forever wars.
George Takei
georgetakei.bsky.socialThree stories this week. The Trump DOJ created a $1.776 billion fund that could potentially pay January 6 rioters. Trump's $1 billion ballroom security plan looks DOA in the Senate. And Cassidy and Massie both lost their primaries after crossing Trump. A lot to unpack here.
Katie Phang
katiephang.bsky.socialEpstein’s long-time personal asst., Sarah Kellen, provided info yesterday incl. what Comer claims are names of 3 “new” abusers. But, they aren’t new so what else did she say? I’ve got the details from that closed interview & analysis on the value of Kellen’s information. youtu.be/JOUVUlvXorc?...
Lawfare
lawfaremedia.orgIn 30 mins, join @benjaminwittes.lawfaremedia.org, @annabower.bsky.social, @rparloff.bsky.social, and @ericcolumbus.bsky.social for a live discussion of the DOJ’s proposed “Anti-Weaponization Fund” and more in this week's The Trials of the Trump Administration www.youtube.com/live/IcgBd-k...
Greg Sargent
gregsargent.bsky.socialIt is so effing boring to be hit with BS doomer posturing so regularly. Again: 1) Midterm elections matter 2) Presidential approval matters a lot in midterms 3) Public opinion matters b/c it tells us something about who we are 4) It's good that Trumpist populism is failing as a long term project!
John Scalzi
scalzi.comI already have to check search results to see if they're trustworthy, why would I want to add another level of untrustworthiness to my searching, my time on this planet is short enough as it is. "Oh you just have to prompt correctly" - OR, I could just fuckin' do a search, I spent 30 years on that.
![2. Blanche’s Unrebutted Statements
Blanche did not testify at the February 26 evidentiary hearing. His public statements stand
unrebutted. Blanche stated that the Executive Branch began “investigating” Abrego after a judge
in Maryland “questioned” the Executive Branch’s decision to deport him. See supra note 6. The
Court previously found that Blanche’s “remarkable statements could directly establish that the
motivations for Abrego’s criminal charges stem from his exercise of his constitutional and
statutory rights,” and that Blanche “directly tie[d] HSI’s investigation to Abrego’s Maryland suit.”
(Doc. No. 138 at 7–8, 10).
Blanche’s words directly confirm that the Executive Branch reopened the criminal
investigation because the Judicial Branch required the Executive Branch to facilitate Abrego’s
return from El Salvador. That evidence confirms what the timing of Agent VanWie’s reopening suggests. From the time Agent VanWie reopened the case, the investigation was marked by
retaliatory taint. The evidence recovered from that tainted investigation was, in McGuire’s words,
“significant” and “important corroboration” to support the charges against Abrego. (Evid. Hr’g
Tr. at 65–66).
Blanche’s statements address the investigation directly, not the indictment. The evidence
that ties the tainted investigation to the indictment comes from Singh’s ongoing close involvement
to the indictment. As a direct report to Blanche, Singh ties the indictment to Blanche’s vindictive
motive. This further suggests direct evidence of vindictive prosecution.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:bbp2b224lro3bfnzcqwwnkfo/bafkreifg3652rwa77of56bunlggs4rtr352sxbtt34fkm432yiok4pyrm4@jpeg)
Robert Reich
rbreich.bsky.socialA history of the top marginal tax rates on the wealthiest Americans: 1940: 81% 1950: 84% 1960: 91% 1970: 72% 1980: 70% 1990: 28% 2000: 40% 2010: 35% For 50 years, corporate backed politicians in Congress have slashed taxes to line the pockets of their wealthy donors.
John Scalzi
scalzi.comIt's an extremely canny execution of corporate propaganda that you spend $25 and two hours of your life in order to access, but, yes! As far as corporate propaganda goes it's quite enjoyable. I spent money in the gift shop, and to get a photo with the company mascot, so it worked like a charm.
Mueller, She Wrote
muellershewrote.comThanks to @ryanjreilly.com at NBC for covering my weaponization claim, though I want to be clear. Just as Todd Blanche has said the $1.776B amount is based only on the expected claims, my $8.647M claim is based solely on calculated damages. 😃 www.nbcnews.com/politics/jus...
Tom Nichols
radiofreetom.bsky.socialHere's what I wrote in the past about Gabbard. I wish her husband a full recovery and hope they'll get through it. But I'm glad she's leaving; she should never have been in the job in the first place. www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/0... and www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/...
Marc Elias
marcelias.bsky.social🚨BREAKING: In a victory for voters, the 8th Circuit denied Arkansas' request for a full rehearing of its decision blocking the state’s "wet signature" requirement, which required voters to submit handwritten signatures on voter registration applications. www.democracydocket.com/cases/arkans...
Mark Hamill
markhamillofficial.bsky.socialI've never seen a series finale as funny, emotionally impactful and downright spectacular as last night's Late Show! What a pleasure it was to meet the hundreds of staff members and thank them personally (and pose for selfies) for entertaining us for more than a decade. ♥️🙏-mh #GoneButNeverForgotten
Greg Sargent
gregsargent.bsky.socialI think we've crossed an important threshold. Trumpism as a political project is facing new levels of peril: *Fox poll shows Trump coalition imploding *GOPers abandoning him on ballroom *Slush fund in deep trouble *War and economy bleeding him out New piece from me: newrepublic.com/article/2108...
Robert Reich
rbreich.bsky.socialComplaints to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau doubled in 2025. But under Russ Vought's tenure heading the CFPB, the agency has been gutted. It's now easier than ever for shady banks, lenders, and credit card companies to pick your pocket. And it's all because of the Trump regime.
Barb McQuade
barbmcquade.bsky.socialMy new book, THE FIX, is here. Thanks to Rodrigo Corral for the cover depicting White House china repaired through the art of Kintsugi, using gold to fix but not conceal the cracks. We must remember our history. All of it. Available here: www.barbaramcquade.com 📚💡#booksky
Al Yankovic
alyankovic.bsky.socialOh, no big deal, just hanging out with MY BUDDY PAUL. Holy cow, the Colbert wrap party was the most insane gathering of friends and heroes that I’ve ever experienced in my life. Much love to Stephen and his entire amazing crew, and wishing them the best in whatever their next adventure happens to be
