Matt Szafranski
@mszafranski.bsky.social
Attorney; Editor-in-Chief, @WMassPI.com; #Spfldpoli when you need it; #MaPoli when you want it. "Retweets" ≠ Seal of Approval. Likes = ??? Fasten your seatbelt, please.
"You must go on. I can't go on. I'll go on." -Samuel Beckett
Always Eccles. 1:9
"You must go on. I can't go on. I'll go on." -Samuel Beckett
Always Eccles. 1:9
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Kash Patel's goal going into his ridiculous hearing was to launch ridiculous attacks on Democrats, deflecting attention from his own failures.
He failed because of the bestiality talk. But I also think whataboutism is starting to fail MAGA as a tactic.
www.salon.com/2026/09/18/k...
He failed because of the bestiality talk. But I also think whataboutism is starting to fail MAGA as a tactic.
www.salon.com/2026/09/18/k...
Kash Patel's attack dog act does more than please Trump
The FBI director’s testimony is part of a larger MAGA strategy to sow cynicism
www.salon.com
September 18, 2026 at 11:10 AM
Kash Patel's goal going into his ridiculous hearing was to launch ridiculous attacks on Democrats, deflecting attention from his own failures.
He failed because of the bestiality talk. But I also think whataboutism is starting to fail MAGA as a tactic.
www.salon.com/2026/09/18/k...
He failed because of the bestiality talk. But I also think whataboutism is starting to fail MAGA as a tactic.
www.salon.com/2026/09/18/k...
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
This has come out thanks to the suit the NYT and other news orgs—including us—have filed against OpenAI.
OpenAI and Microsoft admitted LLMs are predatory tech built on “an astonishing theft of unprecedented proportions,” and the “largest theft of labor in human history.” An internal Microsoft document said AI has created a “doom loop” that is killing “the entire web.” www.404media.co/doom-loop-op...
‘Doom Loop’: OpenAI and Microsoft Admits LLMs Are Destroying the Web and Built on Theft
"Millions of people around the world will soon consider large models ‘hoovering up’ all their work to be an astonishing theft of unprecedented proportions."
www.404media.co
September 18, 2026 at 1:53 PM
This has come out thanks to the suit the NYT and other news orgs—including us—have filed against OpenAI.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Correct. The “Kansas experiment” by Gov Brownback was the first (and only) attempt in the US to implement pure unadulterated rightwing economic policy, and it was such a catastrophe that state revenues plummeted and schools were forced to close. Kansans *hated* it.
Any Kansas homies feel free to jump in and correct me, but from what I understand, like 10 years ago Kansas had elected a supermajority of Republicans to state offices and the GOP totally destroyed the state's economy, so the voters wised up and mixed in some competent Dems.
Kansas Senate (Emerson)
🔵Adam Hamilton: 45%
🔴Roger Marshall: 43%
🟡David Graham: 4%
9/15-16
Link: emersoncollegepolling.com/kansas-2026/
🔵Adam Hamilton: 45%
🔴Roger Marshall: 43%
🟡David Graham: 4%
9/15-16
Link: emersoncollegepolling.com/kansas-2026/
September 18, 2026 at 1:53 PM
Correct. The “Kansas experiment” by Gov Brownback was the first (and only) attempt in the US to implement pure unadulterated rightwing economic policy, and it was such a catastrophe that state revenues plummeted and schools were forced to close. Kansans *hated* it.
Let's not give him ideas Kerry.
Thank you @cbsnews.com for having me.
This would be like demolishing the Washington Monument because it didn’t say the Trump-Washington Monument. Or demolishing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier because it didn’t say the Trump-Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There’s a more dignified way forward.
This would be like demolishing the Washington Monument because it didn’t say the Trump-Washington Monument. Or demolishing the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier because it didn’t say the Trump-Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. There’s a more dignified way forward.
September 18, 2026 at 1:36 PM
Let's not give him ideas Kerry.
Kansas Republicans:
September 18, 2026 at 1:32 PM
Kansas Republicans:
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
It's gonna be the craziest fucking lame duck in history.
First they'll deal with the Hegseth impeachment, then this, and if there's shellacking both could have unpredictable outcomes.
First they'll deal with the Hegseth impeachment, then this, and if there's shellacking both could have unpredictable outcomes.
🚨 MAJOR NEWS: Reps. Thomas Massie and Ro Khanna say they have now secured commitments for all 218 signatures needed to force a House vote on Epstein Files Transparency Act II.
Massie, Khanna Say They Have Secured 218 Signatures for New Epstein Files Vote
The announcement comes hours after MeidasTouch reported the discharge petition was just two signatures short of the threshold needed to force a House vote.
meidasnews.com
September 18, 2026 at 10:16 AM
It's gonna be the craziest fucking lame duck in history.
First they'll deal with the Hegseth impeachment, then this, and if there's shellacking both could have unpredictable outcomes.
First they'll deal with the Hegseth impeachment, then this, and if there's shellacking both could have unpredictable outcomes.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
One side effect of the baby boom retaining a suffocating grip on real power through sheer scale is that the typical transition into power among middle-aged Gen Xers has been stunted. So Gen X has to lean into corny, nostalgia-centered cultural power instead.
September 18, 2026 at 12:53 PM
One side effect of the baby boom retaining a suffocating grip on real power through sheer scale is that the typical transition into power among middle-aged Gen Xers has been stunted. So Gen X has to lean into corny, nostalgia-centered cultural power instead.
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Democratic strategists: Ahhh! What's the right message!!?? Where do we moderate!?!?
Jon Ossoff: This administration is horrible. I hate these people. We should put them in jail. I'm pissed
Voters: This guy is cool
Strategists: I can't figure it out!!!!!
Jon Ossoff: This administration is horrible. I hate these people. We should put them in jail. I'm pissed
Voters: This guy is cool
Strategists: I can't figure it out!!!!!
September 18, 2026 at 3:45 AM
Democratic strategists: Ahhh! What's the right message!!?? Where do we moderate!?!?
Jon Ossoff: This administration is horrible. I hate these people. We should put them in jail. I'm pissed
Voters: This guy is cool
Strategists: I can't figure it out!!!!!
Jon Ossoff: This administration is horrible. I hate these people. We should put them in jail. I'm pissed
Voters: This guy is cool
Strategists: I can't figure it out!!!!!
Wait. Imran Khan's party is on Bluesky? What?
September 18, 2026 at 12:54 PM
Wait. Imran Khan's party is on Bluesky? What?
This is true, but it was AES who brought Piker into his tent and for reasons that made sense in the context of the primary (although I would have advised against it and not for Palestine reasons).
El-Sayed could suplex Piker on stage and say “I condemn this man in the strongest terms possible” and they’d still run with stories like this.
The NY Times is in “but her emails” mode regarding Abdul El-Sayed and Hasan Piker. Relentless and unfair. Where’s the big story about a Republican megadonor who is a white supremacist? Maybe NYT has heard of him. His name‘s Elon Musk.
September 18, 2026 at 12:52 PM
This is true, but it was AES who brought Piker into his tent and for reasons that made sense in the context of the primary (although I would have advised against it and not for Palestine reasons).
😬😬😬😬😬
Bari Weiss has found an extraordinarily sympathetic ear from one news outlet covering her disastrous tenure: Puck.
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/puck-cbs-n...
Details in @status.news: www.status.news/p/puck-cbs-n...
Bari’s Byers
Puck's lead media reporter has gone to unusual lengths to defend Bari Weiss’ disastrous CBS News overhaul—all as the outlet pursues a lucrative deal with one of Paramount’s top investors.
www.status.news
September 18, 2026 at 3:59 AM
😬😬😬😬😬
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Peltola +20
Trump: "I could've banned fishing. The power of this office is crazy. I could've banned fishing. I think I'm gonna do that."
September 18, 2026 at 12:15 AM
Peltola +20
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
I mean…
Trump got convicted for 34 counts with Blanche as his lawyer.
Trump: "He's represented me in the past, and he was a great lawyer -- like great great great lawyer -- and Todd Blanche is now the attorney general of the United States."
September 17, 2026 at 8:39 PM
I mean…
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
The chemtrails conspiracy theories are as nuts as they come and that's saying a lot. No, Bobby, emissions from aircraft are not a sinister plot to alter the weather or spray toxins into the atmosphere. Those white streaks are condensation trails made up of ice crystals.
September 17, 2026 at 7:14 PM
The chemtrails conspiracy theories are as nuts as they come and that's saying a lot. No, Bobby, emissions from aircraft are not a sinister plot to alter the weather or spray toxins into the atmosphere. Those white streaks are condensation trails made up of ice crystals.
To have Douthat do it seems problematic as well.
It's impossible to trust anything Bari Weiss does at CBS News & 60 Minutes. The same is true with this Patrick Clancy interview. Yes, hearing from him is newsworthy but this massive CBS PR campaign makes it feel more like a stunt to boost ratings than serious journalism. Plus, Ross Douthat? Yikes.
September 17, 2026 at 6:51 PM
To have Douthat do it seems problematic as well.
Eighth Circuit is a race to the bottom with the Fifth Circuit.
JUST IN: Missouri says #SCOTUS settled House district lines for Nov. election, but 8th Circuit judge has different take, seeing short runway to get case back to high court. Right joins chorus flummoxed by opaque shadow docket rulings. w/ @kyledcheney.bsky.social www.politico.com/news/2026/09...
Appeals court considers reviving Missouri redistricting fight, citing murky Supreme Court orders
www.politico.com
September 17, 2026 at 6:48 PM
Eighth Circuit is a race to the bottom with the Fifth Circuit.
It's hard to say whether Baby Ellison is bluffing. He wants to be a media mogul, dammit, but he may be too petulent to understand that moving Paramount to Nashville will kill it. If I were Universal, Disney, Sony or even the Streamers, I'd start making commitments to California.
Paramount Goes All-In on Threat to Leave California — But Are They Bluffing?
Paramount Goes All-In on Threat to Leave California — But Are They Bluffing?
David Ellison is insisting that he'll pack up Paramount and move the company out of California, but some (including AG Rob Bonta) seem to think he's bluffing.
The post Paramount Goes All-In on Threat to Leave California — But Are They Bluffing? first appeared on Mediaite.
dlvr.it
September 17, 2026 at 6:06 PM
It's hard to say whether Baby Ellison is bluffing. He wants to be a media mogul, dammit, but he may be too petulent to understand that moving Paramount to Nashville will kill it. If I were Universal, Disney, Sony or even the Streamers, I'd start making commitments to California.
Great time to step into that job.
September 17, 2026 at 5:41 PM
Great time to step into that job.
Oh dear, AES really is a shrimp!
Together with @abdulelsayed.bsky.social, our progressive majority is going to win big this November—and we're going to deliver a brighter, bolder vision for the future next year. Let's go.
September 17, 2026 at 5:34 PM
Oh dear, AES really is a shrimp!
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
When will the people who argued in April 2025 that Democrats should stay silent on immigration own up to being frankly just disastrously wrong about the politics of mass deportations? Their punditry basically bordered on enablement
Florida GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar to Trump: "Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far ... The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today"
September 17, 2026 at 3:02 PM
When will the people who argued in April 2025 that Democrats should stay silent on immigration own up to being frankly just disastrously wrong about the politics of mass deportations? Their punditry basically bordered on enablement
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
He was actually very clear about what he was going to do. Maybe you should have leveled with your constituents about what you were supporting bsky.app/profile/phil...
Florida GOP Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar to Trump: "Mr. President, some of your immigration enforcement efforts have gone too far ... The same Hispanics who helped you get to the White House in 2024 feel betrayed today"
September 17, 2026 at 3:06 PM
He was actually very clear about what he was going to do. Maybe you should have leveled with your constituents about what you were supporting bsky.app/profile/phil...
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
Please let him hear, "Worse than Jimmy Carter."
Enten: "Trump is breaking records. Yesterday the Marquette Law School poll came out -- Trump's worst net approval rating on inflation. Minus 61! That's the worst Trump has ever polled on inflation, & not only that, it's the worst any president EVER has polled on inflation. Worse than Jimmy Carter!"
September 17, 2026 at 3:06 PM
Please let him hear, "Worse than Jimmy Carter."
Reposted by Matt Szafranski
🇬🇧 🇨🇦 British and Canadian prime ministers attend football match in UK
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney hailed their shared values and "positive developments" in trade plans, before attending an Everton football match — a team they both support.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney hailed their shared values and "positive developments" in trade plans, before attending an Everton football match — a team they both support.
September 17, 2026 at 3:01 PM
🇬🇧 🇨🇦 British and Canadian prime ministers attend football match in UK
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney hailed their shared values and "positive developments" in trade plans, before attending an Everton football match — a team they both support.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham and his Canadian counterpart Mark Carney hailed their shared values and "positive developments" in trade plans, before attending an Everton football match — a team they both support.