Rob Taber

The Mothership Vortex: An Investigation Into the Firm at the Heart of the Democratic Spam Machine How a single consulting firm extracted $282 million from a network of spam PACs while delivering just $11 million to actual campaigns.

“My analysis of the network's FEC disbursements reveals that, at most, $11 million of the $678 million raised from individuals has made its way to candidates, campaigns, or the national party committees.” open.substack.com/pub/data4dem...

And it's going to look different for everyone: running for office, supporting a campaign or good nonprofit, or just doing your job with integrity.

Love the flop-sweat smell, ICE!

She's asking the right questions. Sadly, slavery IS a staffing issue. It's quite popular on farms. And it's not caused by "hiring illegals."

The US's biggest modern slavery case was 100% workers who came legally.

I'm an American & former farm worker. Let's talk!

3. Students who don't use AI do better than students who use it shoddily / heavily even if they're not the most polished of writers.

I think I'm going to make this a standard end-of-course activity. I do wonder what happens when the $ faucet gets turned off.

Only a few responses so far, but three observations, assuming feedback is accurate:

1. The most danger, grade-wise, is to use AI for drafting rather than outlining. Gives opportunity for hallucinations to creep in.

2. Despite the abundance of platforms, ChatGPT is the one being used.

Happy "our application is now open!" day to all who celebrate

Kim is tantalizing close to her fundraising goal. Help her close the gap: secure.actblue.com/donate/nc07s...

YouTube video by Farm to Taber Farm forecast: farmers vs Epstein

Made a dumb little video bc the farm sector's been hopin' and prayin' that Trump "has a plan" to make tariffs go away before harvest so they don't go broke.

Yeah... look at him flailing around on Epstein. This dude doesn't have a plan for himSELF.

youtube.com/shorts/-WsDk...

I'm running to LOWER our costs, raise wages, and fully fund our schools. But I can't do it without you.

Make a contribution TODAY so we can help Southeastern North Carolina THRIVE tomorrow! Donate ➡️ secure.actblue.com/donate/nc07s...

#ncpol #nc07 #ReplaceRouzer #WeDeserveBetter

Me too! I'll try to remember to send you a breakdown. I figure after the course + anonymous + to inform my future course design will increase the amount of honesty in the answers.

Why yes, I am asking my summer class to complete an (anonymized) survey on AI use now that their grades are in.

*blinks in grading*

I just gave to Kimberly Hardy for Congress! Show your support with a contribution.

It doesn't HAVE to be to @kimberlyhardync.bsky.social, but it COULD be.

Make some staffers happy - pick one or two Congressional campaigns to donate to before midnight tonight.

Image from Kimberly Hardy palm card including her pledge not to take donations from corporate PACs and not to trade individual stocks.

But but but he drives a beat-up car! (Among other vehicles, I imagine. 🙄)

And yup, from Kimberly's palm card:

And speaking of NC-11, @jamie.agerforcongress.com makes it official, joining a crowded primary field but with a compelling background and strong team.

I just gave to Kimberly Hardy for Congress! Show your support with a contribution.

Speaking of NC-07: @kimberlyhardync.bsky.social (who doesn't have a primary opponent) is tantalizingly close to hitting her end-of-month fundraising goal. Help her close the gap:

And the best pickup opportunities for the Dems here are NC-11 and NC-07, which, if we hold Don Davis' seat, gets us all the way to...6 of 14.

AI cannot fail, it can only be failed.

Ha! The running gag of Sheryl and Nicky completely talking past each other (until the championship game).

Ok, but I just recorded a podcast interview about Remember the Titans that, uhh, might have referenced Ocean's Eleven when discussing masculinity and Team Movies.

Good on @kimberlyhardync.bsky.social for starting her campaign in a way that is VERY her: 8 public kick-off events in 8 days. (The incumbent in this R+5 district hasn't held a town hall in the last eight years, where he said that he'd continue to do them as long as he serves in Congress.) #ncpol

Also, really remarkable how NC Republicans can move together on all of these culture issues but they're a month late on the state budget and, by all accounts, still milles apart and not getting closer.

I just gave to Dante Pittman! Show your support with a contribution.

For those watching the veto overrides in NC:

Worth remembering that the NC Dem in the state house with the closest winning margin last year was Dante Pittman and HE has stood strong all morning.

#ncpol

Oh! Very, very good segment here on dehumanization.

Context: The Lazy Genius is usually a deeply apolitical podcast but is highly responsive to questions / feedback from their audience.

#427 When You’re Overwhelmed by the World — The Lazy Genius On the average day, we’re already at least a little bit overwhelmed by our personal problems, and what I’m going to share today will actually apply to that pretty effectively. But what about when we’r...

Suburban political engagement watch:

Kendra Adachi on how to follow the news without getting overwhelmed, including saving your reps' office numbers in your phone, picking a couple orgs to donate to, volunteer with. Actually a pretty good guide on how to be involved without burning out:

Ooh, we've been downgraded from "Extreme Heat Warning" to "Heat Advisory." No wonder it feels crisp and cool this morning.

Faculty Support of George Mason’s President Draws Federal Investigation

Faculty who wrote to defend their president and object to a DOJ investigation of their university...are now being investigated by the DOJ.
The most banal defense of free speech and academic freedom will trigger the full wrath of the US government now.
www.nytimes.com/2025/07/28/u...

While North Carolina federal elections are in the news:

Due to anti-Constitutional gerrymandering, our Congressional district boundaries have been changed five times in the last 13 years.