Tom Comerford
@tomcomerford.bsky.social
info tech consultant and lifelong student of archaeology, astronomy, journalism, economics... and aspiring philanthropist
Turns out that zealously believing something to be true doesn't obviate basic fact-checking.
If you want to see a witch hunt, watch Sen. Erik Schmitt attack Jack Smith. Schmitt makes false accusations, suggests being in Atlanta proves conspiracy, and when it becomes clear Smith was not in Atlanta at all, persists in name-calling. And no, he has no shame.
www.nbcnews.com/video/republ...
www.nbcnews.com/video/republ...
‘A total dirtbag’: GOP senator mistakenly accuses Smith of perjury over NBA game
Former special counsel Jack Smith’s Senate Judiciary Committee hearing became tense after Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., presented a text message to Smith that he suggested showed he was in Atlanta for a b...
www.nbcnews.com
October 1, 2026 at 2:00 AM
Turns out that zealously believing something to be true doesn't obviate basic fact-checking.
Reposted by Tom Comerford
The reports about the rapes at Cornell—and the lack of accountability—are sickening.
So is the victim blaming: “If you don’t want to be raped, don’t go to a frat party.”
Instead of telling girls and women to avoid harm, we should be raising boys and men not to commit it:
Don’t. Rape. Women.
So is the victim blaming: “If you don’t want to be raped, don’t go to a frat party.”
Instead of telling girls and women to avoid harm, we should be raising boys and men not to commit it:
Don’t. Rape. Women.
September 29, 2026 at 3:00 PM
The reports about the rapes at Cornell—and the lack of accountability—are sickening.
So is the victim blaming: “If you don’t want to be raped, don’t go to a frat party.”
Instead of telling girls and women to avoid harm, we should be raising boys and men not to commit it:
Don’t. Rape. Women.
So is the victim blaming: “If you don’t want to be raped, don’t go to a frat party.”
Instead of telling girls and women to avoid harm, we should be raising boys and men not to commit it:
Don’t. Rape. Women.
Our government is promoting discredited beliefs and practices. It's time to make them the out group.
Eugenics is the discredited beliefs and practices that claim to improve the genetic quality of a specific group by eliminating the propagation of the “out-groups.” This has been accomplished in the past by forced sterilization, inhumane institutionalization,
September 26, 2026 at 8:16 PM
Our government is promoting discredited beliefs and practices. It's time to make them the out group.
Sowing distrust in the integrity of free and fair elections is pathetic, petulant, and undemocratic. It's also an acknowledgment of defeat.
Rumors about “rigged elections" are now a fixture of U.S. elections, leading to diminished trust in election results & democracy (broadly). These rumors can sometimes be hard to debunk, esp. in their early stages. Our UW team has identified the 6 common ways that election integrity rumors mislead:
September 22, 2026 at 10:32 PM
Sowing distrust in the integrity of free and fair elections is pathetic, petulant, and undemocratic. It's also an acknowledgment of defeat.
Reposted by Tom Comerford
It would be more than a little ironic if Trump's CNN/MS NOW/Politico tantrum (and the resulting lack of coverage the entire WHCA is going to provide) is what finally educates the press about the extent to which Trump needs *them* even more than they need him.
September 21, 2026 at 6:09 PM
It would be more than a little ironic if Trump's CNN/MS NOW/Politico tantrum (and the resulting lack of coverage the entire WHCA is going to provide) is what finally educates the press about the extent to which Trump needs *them* even more than they need him.
Reposted by Tom Comerford
The US Constitution is a blueprint for governing and a safety net for civil liberties, not an obstacle to be navigated for loopholes. Happy Constitution Day.
September 17, 2026 at 12:12 PM
The US Constitution is a blueprint for governing and a safety net for civil liberties, not an obstacle to be navigated for loopholes. Happy Constitution Day.
Reposted by Tom Comerford
Why I’m still proud to be an American and what I intend to do about it. joycevance.substack.com/p/on-being-a...
On Being an American
I am not ashamed to be an American.
joycevance.substack.com
September 13, 2026 at 2:36 AM
Why I’m still proud to be an American and what I intend to do about it. joycevance.substack.com/p/on-being-a...
An important if chilling read. Even without gerrymandering, chaos around mail ballots, or the spectre of ICE at polling places, the mid-term election might be subverted.
"This is how the crisis would unfold."...
"This is how the crisis would unfold."...
September 11, 2026 at 3:03 PM
An important if chilling read. Even without gerrymandering, chaos around mail ballots, or the spectre of ICE at polling places, the mid-term election might be subverted.
"This is how the crisis would unfold."...
"This is how the crisis would unfold."...
"do whatever it takes to make sure you vote and your vote gets counted"
The facts you need to know to explain that what Trump is doing has nothing to do with supposed noncitizen voting and everything to do with preventing eligible Americans from casting their ballots. substack.com/home/post/p-...
September 4, 2026 at 9:11 PM
"do whatever it takes to make sure you vote and your vote gets counted"
Reposted by Tom Comerford
![4-panel comic. (1) [Three people. The person on the left has shoulder-length hair; the person on the right has a white hat.] PERSON 1: I’m sad that we missed the Perseids. PERSON 2 with hat: There’s still the Geminids. PERSON 1: Yeah, but they’re in December. (2) PERSON 1: The Perseids happen when it’s warm enough to lie outside with a blanket, and we found a good mosquito-free beach. So we just lie around watching the stars and eating snacks. One year we saw the aurora. (3) PERSON 3 with shoulder-length hair: You know, I think I heard that the Perseids might be late this year. PERSON 2: Yeah, actually, I heard that too. (4) Later… [Three people lying down gazing up at stars in dark sky. One meteor is in the sky.] PERSON 3: Hm, seems like a normal number of meteors. Guess I heard wrong. PERSON 1: Maybe the Perseids are *next* weekend. PERSON 2: Oh, good thinking. Let’s come back then, just in case.](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:cz73r7iyiqn26upot4jtjdhk/bafkreia2nfobiit5kmashzqken2545vvocu5wjnchfzw62yzvixksgunya)
Reposted by Tom Comerford
AI struggles to make creative leaps.
Large language models are trained on data from the past. Original thinking involves recognizing novel patterns in the future.
Machines converge; minds diverge. Long live human ingenuity.
Large language models are trained on data from the past. Original thinking involves recognizing novel patterns in the future.
Machines converge; minds diverge. Long live human ingenuity.
August 28, 2026 at 3:53 PM
AI struggles to make creative leaps.
Large language models are trained on data from the past. Original thinking involves recognizing novel patterns in the future.
Machines converge; minds diverge. Long live human ingenuity.
Large language models are trained on data from the past. Original thinking involves recognizing novel patterns in the future.
Machines converge; minds diverge. Long live human ingenuity.
Reposted by Tom Comerford
Trump says a new report proves 24,000 noncitizens voted illegally in 2020. It doesn’t. The real story here is less about what the report says and why the Trump administration needs it—desperately—now. joycevance.substack.com/p/theyre-bui...
They’re Building The Excuse Now
On Tuesday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick announced a Department of Commerce “report” that claims more than 24,000 noncitizens illegally voted in the 2020 election.
joycevance.substack.com
August 21, 2026 at 2:31 AM
Trump says a new report proves 24,000 noncitizens voted illegally in 2020. It doesn’t. The real story here is less about what the report says and why the Trump administration needs it—desperately—now. joycevance.substack.com/p/theyre-bui...
"It is vital that our society itself values truth and truth-telling."
What is the Vegetable Lamb, and why did so many people think it was real for, oh, three or four centuries?
as.ft.com/r/6af43ed6-2...
as.ft.com/r/6af43ed6-2...
Why the story of the Vegetable Lamb was believed
Our weakness for misinformation is far from new
as.ft.com
August 20, 2026 at 6:39 PM
"It is vital that our society itself values truth and truth-telling."
Reposted by Tom Comerford
I’ve been tracking the slush fund/immunity deal in my newsletter since it happened in May & I’ll stay on it whether it’s in the headlines or not. My analysis is based on 25 years at DOJ & you can read along for free—because I believe our power is shared knowledge. Joycevance.substack.com
August 4, 2026 at 1:24 PM
I’ve been tracking the slush fund/immunity deal in my newsletter since it happened in May & I’ll stay on it whether it’s in the headlines or not. My analysis is based on 25 years at DOJ & you can read along for free—because I believe our power is shared knowledge. Joycevance.substack.com
Reposted by Tom Comerford
The Fauci hearing was a disgrace. Here are some reminders of how it really went down in 2020.
Never forget.
Never forget.
July 30, 2026 at 10:57 PM
The Fauci hearing was a disgrace. Here are some reminders of how it really went down in 2020.
Never forget.
Never forget.
Reposted by Tom Comerford
The headlines today were about Dr. Fauci, but Trump’s intent to expand his control of government & country in ways the Constitution sought to prevent & explicitly prohibited should be the biggest story. Read the analysis here: open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
July 30, 2026 at 3:46 AM
The headlines today were about Dr. Fauci, but Trump’s intent to expand his control of government & country in ways the Constitution sought to prevent & explicitly prohibited should be the biggest story. Read the analysis here: open.substack.com/pub/joycevan...
Reposted by Tom Comerford
Trump is using all the levers of government to manipulate the 2026 election, damage to democracy be damned.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Trump administration drive to seize election powers sparking ‘chaos’ despite pushback
US courts, state officials and Democrats warn that moves are endangering voting rights and the rule of law
www.theguardian.com
July 24, 2026 at 2:57 PM
Trump is using all the levers of government to manipulate the 2026 election, damage to democracy be damned.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026...
Reposted by Tom Comerford
The definition of a true fan:
You’d rather see your team lose fairly than win unfairly.
You’d rather see your team lose fairly than win unfairly.
July 6, 2026 at 6:21 PM
The definition of a true fan:
You’d rather see your team lose fairly than win unfairly.
You’d rather see your team lose fairly than win unfairly.
Independence is a process, not a single event. We can celebrate, but we also must keep working to maintain and improve it.
Snoopy & Woodstock: Happy 4th of July America!
Alt: Snoopy & Woodstock: Happy 4th of July America!
static.klipy.com
July 4, 2026 at 2:55 PM
Independence is a process, not a single event. We can celebrate, but we also must keep working to maintain and improve it.
Reposted by Tom Comerford
Happy Independence Day. Love of country means defending our democracy and working toward a more perfect union.
July 4, 2026 at 12:15 PM
Happy Independence Day. Love of country means defending our democracy and working toward a more perfect union.
I just finished reading @barbmcquade.bsky.social 's excellent book The Fix. It's an outrage-inducing chronicle of autocratic abuses, with specific recommendations for restoring and strengthening our democracy.
This book should be required reading for any House or Senate candidate this year.
This book should be required reading for any House or Senate candidate this year.
June 30, 2026 at 10:36 PM
I just finished reading @barbmcquade.bsky.social 's excellent book The Fix. It's an outrage-inducing chronicle of autocratic abuses, with specific recommendations for restoring and strengthening our democracy.
This book should be required reading for any House or Senate candidate this year.
This book should be required reading for any House or Senate candidate this year.
"We are very proud of what we have done with this magnificent structure", he says, acknowledging himself as the vandal-in-chief.
The only person who vandalized the Reflecting Pool is the president. Bad design meets bad implementation - that's the overwhelming consensus of scientists and experts who've looked at the Pool and tested the water. There is no evidence anyone vandalized it.
June 21, 2026 at 3:59 PM
"We are very proud of what we have done with this magnificent structure", he says, acknowledging himself as the vandal-in-chief.
A key point in addressing any form of misinformation: "When trust breaks down, misinformation doesn't have to be convincing. It only has to be available."
When we talk about misinformation, we often focus on polarization and politics, where the consequences can feel more distant or abstract.
But one of the clearest examples of misinformation causing measurable harm is cancer. 🧵
But one of the clearest examples of misinformation causing measurable harm is cancer. 🧵
June 15, 2026 at 4:50 PM
A key point in addressing any form of misinformation: "When trust breaks down, misinformation doesn't have to be convincing. It only has to be available."
This is deeply concerning; "a single big picture story".
June 12, 2026 at 4:37 PM
This is deeply concerning; "a single big picture story".