Brian Jay Jones
@brianjayjones.com
NYT bestselling biographer and big mouth, now coming to you from the wilds of New Mexico. Come for the Muppets, Star Wars, and Dr. Seuss; stay because I make a mean cocktail. Out now: the U.S. Capitol. He/him. Go Lobos 🐺
For everyone guffawing and BFDing New Mexico’s blowout over Mercyherst tonight: the Lobo team from two years ago, under Bronco the Boy Wonder, would’ve made this one a nailbiter and might even have lost. Just take the W.
September 13, 2026 at 5:34 AM
For everyone guffawing and BFDing New Mexico’s blowout over Mercyherst tonight: the Lobo team from two years ago, under Bronco the Boy Wonder, would’ve made this one a nailbiter and might even have lost. Just take the W.
Violent Femmes kicking it at Blossoms & Bones last night at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiú. No New Mexico venue would be complete without a hot air balloon for mood.
September 12, 2026 at 4:08 PM
Violent Femmes kicking it at Blossoms & Bones last night at Ghost Ranch in Abiquiú. No New Mexico venue would be complete without a hot air balloon for mood.
Reposted by Brian Jay Jones
Remember when Joe Biden proposed canceling student debt and every single Republican accused him of "bribing voters"?
Biden accused by GOP of 'bribing' voters with student loan forgiveness
The Biden administration unveiled its latest effort to forgive as much as $20,000 in debt for some borrowers on Monday after the Supreme Court struck down its original plan last year.
www.dailymail.com
September 10, 2026 at 2:27 PM
Remember when Joe Biden proposed canceling student debt and every single Republican accused him of "bribing voters"?
Can’t ANY of the media just come out and say “President bribes voters”?
Trump promises $5,000 ‘dividend’ for US voters if Republicans win midterms ft.trib.al/7sMj9wu
Trump promises $5,000 ‘dividend’ for US voters if Republicans win midterms
President pledges to campaign vigorously for his party despite his plummeting approval ratings
ft.trib.al
September 10, 2026 at 3:55 PM
Can’t ANY of the media just come out and say “President bribes voters”?
Ask me what I was doing on the morning of September 10, 2001, and I couldn’t tell you—after all, it was a long time ago.
Ask me about the morning of September 11, on the other hand…
Ask me about the morning of September 11, on the other hand…
"September 11th was 25 years ago" -- Ted Cruz defends Trump lying about his response to 9/11 but suggesting he might not remember because it was so long ago
September 9, 2026 at 2:52 PM
Ask me what I was doing on the morning of September 10, 2001, and I couldn’t tell you—after all, it was a long time ago.
Ask me about the morning of September 11, on the other hand…
Ask me about the morning of September 11, on the other hand…
Reposted by Brian Jay Jones
Lonnie Bunch fought the good fight against Trump and his fellow white supremacists who are assaulting the truth in American history. This is good news for people like Tom Cotton who think slavery was a "necessary evil."
I see hard times ahead for legitimate historians.
I see hard times ahead for legitimate historians.
Smithsonian’s Secretary to Resign as Trump Tries to Rule the Institution (Gift Article)
In the face of escalating White House attacks about how museums present American history, Lonnie G. Bunch III has announced his decision to depart.
www.nytimes.com
September 8, 2026 at 4:57 PM
Lonnie Bunch fought the good fight against Trump and his fellow white supremacists who are assaulting the truth in American history. This is good news for people like Tom Cotton who think slavery was a "necessary evil."
I see hard times ahead for legitimate historians.
I see hard times ahead for legitimate historians.
President Stolen Valor is at it again.
Trump claims he was basically lifted out of the rubble on 9/11: "Two fireman, big strong guys, they grabbed me under the arms -- 'got to get our of here!' -- and they literally lifted me up, and they started running with me."
September 8, 2026 at 6:11 PM
President Stolen Valor is at it again.
It's just blank pages inside.
September 8, 2026 at 4:45 PM
It's just blank pages inside.
Reposted by Brian Jay Jones
Have seen this Nature piece about the effects of X's algorithm mentioned again and it bears repeating; exposure to a right wing algorithm makes you - measurably and predictably - more right wing, even after you stop using it.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
The political effects of X’s feed algorithm - Nature
Among users initially on a chronological feed, 7 weeks of exposure to X’s algorithmic feed in 2023 shifted political attitudes and account-following behaviour in a more conservative direction compared...
www.nature.com
September 8, 2026 at 10:06 AM
Have seen this Nature piece about the effects of X's algorithm mentioned again and it bears repeating; exposure to a right wing algorithm makes you - measurably and predictably - more right wing, even after you stop using it.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Reposted by Brian Jay Jones
It’s not funny. It’s not clever. It’s covering up a very sick-minded man who is running this country into the ground.
September 7, 2026 at 1:43 AM
It’s not funny. It’s not clever. It’s covering up a very sick-minded man who is running this country into the ground.
Charlotte has a lovely piece here about volunteering to be a poll worker. And you should. It's long hours, it can be hard work, but you'll come away feeling comfortingly patriotic, and impressed with how fairly and securely your elections are run.
I've worked every poll I can for a decade. Do it.
I've worked every poll I can for a decade. Do it.
Folks, it case you haven’t been keeping up with the news this year, we have an election on November 3rd.
I’m not here to stress you out about it. Quite the opposite.
If you don’t yet have plans for that day (besides voting), consider serving as a poll worker at your local election site.
(thread)
I’m not here to stress you out about it. Quite the opposite.
If you don’t yet have plans for that day (besides voting), consider serving as a poll worker at your local election site.
(thread)
September 7, 2026 at 4:17 AM
Charlotte has a lovely piece here about volunteering to be a poll worker. And you should. It's long hours, it can be hard work, but you'll come away feeling comfortingly patriotic, and impressed with how fairly and securely your elections are run.
I've worked every poll I can for a decade. Do it.
I've worked every poll I can for a decade. Do it.
Even the Republican running for Governor said this was bonkers.
Leaders across party lines push back after Trump shared an image suggesting New Mexico be renamed.
'Oh hell no': New Mexico leaders react to Trump's 'New America' post
www.abqjournal.com
September 7, 2026 at 3:15 AM
Even the Republican running for Governor said this was bonkers.
I don’t know that I’ve ever been to a New Mexico football game where the crowd started leaving early because the Lobos were too far ahead.
September 6, 2026 at 5:08 AM
I don’t know that I’ve ever been to a New Mexico football game where the crowd started leaving early because the Lobos were too far ahead.
A nice article in @smithsonianmag.bsky.social on the 50th anniversary of The Muppet Show, marking its premier UK episode in 1976. I may be quoted in here once, twice, or thrice.
Kermit the Frog Was Just Trying to Put on a Variety Show. Fifty Years Later, the Muppets Are Some of the Biggest Stars in Television History
The first episode of Jim Henson's "The Muppet Show" premiered in the United Kingdom on September 5, 1976. Enthusiasm for the eclectic ensemble has endured ever since
www.smithsonianmag.com
September 4, 2026 at 10:06 PM
A nice article in @smithsonianmag.bsky.social on the 50th anniversary of The Muppet Show, marking its premier UK episode in 1976. I may be quoted in here once, twice, or thrice.
I got one yesterday telling me how much they loved my memoir, The Things That Didn't Kill Me, which is a book I absolutely did not write.
People keep telling me the chatbots are getting really good and then I open my inbox and it’s 30 messages like this
September 4, 2026 at 6:44 PM
I got one yesterday telling me how much they loved my memoir, The Things That Didn't Kill Me, which is a book I absolutely did not write.
Reposted by Brian Jay Jones
Proof of Delivery
September 4, 2026 at 1:04 PM
Proof of Delivery
Boy, there are days I wish I could reset my body back to the factory settings. This is one of those mornings.
September 4, 2026 at 3:43 PM
Boy, there are days I wish I could reset my body back to the factory settings. This is one of those mornings.
Here's the TL;DR:
The Mayor did something for the people. He wanted to get the word out. His social media team cranked into action to let people know.
The horror.
The Mayor did something for the people. He wanted to get the word out. His social media team cranked into action to let people know.
The horror.
"Mr. Mamdani is a master of new media... But as mayor, he has also been able to use taxpayer funds to create a sprawling network of hundreds of friendly influencers to boost his priorities, provide positive depictions of his administration and enhance his popularity."
Inside Mamdani’s Private Army of Public Influencers (Gift Article)
Zohran Mamdani is seen as a social media wizard. Some of his popularity stems from an influencer operation run by the mayor’s office.
www.nytimes.com
September 4, 2026 at 1:45 PM
Here's the TL;DR:
The Mayor did something for the people. He wanted to get the word out. His social media team cranked into action to let people know.
The horror.
The Mayor did something for the people. He wanted to get the word out. His social media team cranked into action to let people know.
The horror.
This fuckin' guy.
Rahm Emanuel: ‘You Don’t Like My Ideas? Show Me Yours’
The always pugnacious Democrat is ready to fight Republicans, the DSA, and Bibi Netanyahu. And maybe run for president.
The always pugnacious Democrat is ready to fight Republicans, the DSA, and Bibi Netanyahu. And maybe run for president.
Rahm Emanuel: 'You Don't Like My Ideas? Show Me Yours'
Rahm Emanuel wants to take on Republicans and Democrats from the "pragmatic center." He talks Israel, the DSA, a possible run for president and more.
rollingstone.com
September 4, 2026 at 5:36 AM
This fuckin' guy.
Legit thought this was Rodney Dangerfield for a split second.
September 4, 2026 at 4:05 AM
Legit thought this was Rodney Dangerfield for a split second.
Jesus, @vanityfair.com. Jack Holmes is a great writer--but please don't waste his talents, or another inch of space in your magazine, giving this dipshit any more oxygen.
Anthony Scaramucci Thinks He Can Save America. I Hopped in His Lamborghini to Hear Him Out.
The former White House communications director says he wants to own his bad bets, from Donald Trump to Sam Bankman-Fried. At his summer house—and around town in his Huracán—Anthony Scaramucci makes hi...
www.vanityfair.com
September 3, 2026 at 10:37 PM
Jesus, @vanityfair.com. Jack Holmes is a great writer--but please don't waste his talents, or another inch of space in your magazine, giving this dipshit any more oxygen.
Up next: soap that smells of ass and sweat.
September 2, 2026 at 8:34 PM
Up next: soap that smells of ass and sweat.
On a similar note, I often ask people to name the song that beat "The Rainbow Connection" for Best Original Song at the 1980 Academy Awards. Anyone know off the top of their head?
Anyone who was ten years old in 1978 can tell you immediately which film beat STAR WARS for Best Picture at the Oscars.
September 2, 2026 at 6:06 PM
On a similar note, I often ask people to name the song that beat "The Rainbow Connection" for Best Original Song at the 1980 Academy Awards. Anyone know off the top of their head?
Anyone who was ten years old in 1978 can tell you immediately which film beat STAR WARS for Best Picture at the Oscars.
September 2, 2026 at 5:55 PM
Anyone who was ten years old in 1978 can tell you immediately which film beat STAR WARS for Best Picture at the Oscars.
Working breakfast: coffee and a toasted bagel with tomato and green chile. Perfect.
September 2, 2026 at 4:14 PM
Working breakfast: coffee and a toasted bagel with tomato and green chile. Perfect.