Michael Berman

@jakemgrumbach.bsky.social hey Jake, I’m curious, do we think we know where most elected representatives take messaging cues from?

this is ridiculous

My entire feed rn is

Senator: Do you think heart failure causes death

RFK: Senator, medicine doesn't work, we all need to be drinking raccoon blood

Writing teacher advice for Democratic strategists: Your audience is NEVER everyone, and acting as though it is will lead to generalities that appeal on average but not in specific. You find your audience through specificities. Relying heavily on polls and consultants leads to tepid messaging.

From the smallest YouTube influencer to the actual President, a lot of problems could be solved by “you should be upset that people are lying to you to make money”

I love this country, this is the only place where I feel like I make sense, and I’m willing to go down with the sinking ship. Happy 4th my doggz.

I'm really surprised no Dems have sued over this issue

And as usual, the lack of pushback encourages them to go further

University of Virginia President Resigns Under Pressure From Trump Administration

Justice department doing authoritarian shit. Also...

“The overt commitment to social equity clearly accelerated on Ryan’s watch,” said Jim Bacon, a journalist and conservative commentator.

Bacon makes it clear: Good ole boy admissions are exactly what America needs!
www.nytimes.com/2025/06/27/u...

Imagine if the Democratic Party actually helped Zohran instead of trying to kneecap him at every step. A better party is immediately possible if they stop shoving money into the anti-trans combination Racism Dial/Money Toilet and instead get behind candidates people actually want.

SCOTUS majority not deigning to give *any* reasons for staying the injunction of the district court - in the highest-possible stakes context & where the executive branch has acted appallingly - evincing real contempt for both district courts & the rule of law

Bragg Soldiers Who Cheered Trump's Political Attacks While in Uniform Were Checked for Allegiance, Appearance As Trump viciously attacked his perceived political foes, he whipped up boos from the gathered troops directed at California leaders, including Gov. Gavin Newsom.

Really important story - army officials asked soldiers to identify themselves if they don't agree with Trump's politics that way he'd get only supportive soldiers in uniform during his political rally on base. Heavier soldiers were also barred from participating.

The Democratic Party is actually pretty effective under strict institutional norms and rules. They whip votes and submit to leaders despite a big tent and diverse base

When the norms and rules don’t apply (like now), the Democratic Party is a deer in the headlights

He must be protected at all costs.

The President said of the U.S. economy: "We are a department store, and we set the price. I meet with the companies, and then I set a fair price, what I consider to be a fair price, and they can pay it, or they don't have to pay it."

And then... I lost it.

Fraser MacDonald · On Compost I sometimes wonder whether my love of compost is a response to the dispiriting cleanness of modern life – the spray’...

‘I sometimes wonder whether my love of compost is a response to the dispiriting cleanness of modern life – the spray’n’wipe, the no-touch flush, the sanitisers and disinfectants.’

@frasermacdonald.bsky.social in the garden: www.lrb.co.uk/the-paper/v4...

is there a strong anti-cringe coalition I don't know about?

This was….five months ago

I would be happy to!

I'm red-green colorblind and a master's student. At my family's request, I actually tried color blindness glasses. Unfortunately, I don't think I had my "Mary's Room" moment wearing them.

Comedy might just save us all