Robert Karsten
@rwkar.bsky.social
Former chemist, financial planner, politician, and current amateur house designer.
What Economists Know About Kicking Out Reporters
open.substack.com/pub/platypus...
open.substack.com/pub/platypus...
What Economists Know About Kicking Out Reporters
Trump banned three news organizations from the White House last week — and there’s a research literature on exactly where that leads.
open.substack.com
September 22, 2026 at 9:37 PM
What Economists Know About Kicking Out Reporters
open.substack.com/pub/platypus...
open.substack.com/pub/platypus...
Reposted by Robert Karsten
Reposted by Robert Karsten
Just 9 likes? This is a heartbreakingly underappreciated piece of humor. I hope our AI overlords and evolutionary successors share a quiet chuckle as they read it while sitting on thrones of human skulls.
This meme I made remains highly under-appreciated.
I seem to fit into a very narrow "too smart for the dumb people and too dumb for the smart people" niche, so thank you if you manage to see and enjoy this.
I seem to fit into a very narrow "too smart for the dumb people and too dumb for the smart people" niche, so thank you if you manage to see and enjoy this.
September 21, 2026 at 11:22 PM
Just 9 likes? This is a heartbreakingly underappreciated piece of humor. I hope our AI overlords and evolutionary successors share a quiet chuckle as they read it while sitting on thrones of human skulls.
Reposted by Robert Karsten
In September 2020, the federal SPM working group voted to add home internet to their measure. They found it to be an essential cost, which adds to the story that internet is an essential right.
September 22, 2026 at 3:18 AM
In September 2020, the federal SPM working group voted to add home internet to their measure. They found it to be an essential cost, which adds to the story that internet is an essential right.
Reposted by Robert Karsten
The person who thinks that he has the ability to decide which science to fund out of hundreds of subfields is exactly the person who should not make that decision.
There is a reason that expert committees of scientists review and give recommendations for funding.
No one person can know all of it.
There is a reason that expert committees of scientists review and give recommendations for funding.
No one person can know all of it.
September 21, 2026 at 10:50 PM
The person who thinks that he has the ability to decide which science to fund out of hundreds of subfields is exactly the person who should not make that decision.
There is a reason that expert committees of scientists review and give recommendations for funding.
No one person can know all of it.
There is a reason that expert committees of scientists review and give recommendations for funding.
No one person can know all of it.
Reposted by Robert Karsten
As Health Director for Wayne County, we put vending machines with free Narcan and fentanyl test strips in 100 locations.
We hoped to make even a small dent in offsetting the opioid epidemic that Mike Rogers made even worse by voting with the pharmaceutical industry his entire career in Congress.
We hoped to make even a small dent in offsetting the opioid epidemic that Mike Rogers made even worse by voting with the pharmaceutical industry his entire career in Congress.
September 21, 2026 at 8:56 PM
As Health Director for Wayne County, we put vending machines with free Narcan and fentanyl test strips in 100 locations.
We hoped to make even a small dent in offsetting the opioid epidemic that Mike Rogers made even worse by voting with the pharmaceutical industry his entire career in Congress.
We hoped to make even a small dent in offsetting the opioid epidemic that Mike Rogers made even worse by voting with the pharmaceutical industry his entire career in Congress.
What Is White Christian Nationalism?
jemartisby.substack.com/p/what-is-wh...
jemartisby.substack.com/p/what-is-wh...
What Is White Christian Nationalism?
A definition you can share next time someone asks the question.
jemartisby.substack.com
September 22, 2026 at 12:49 AM
What Is White Christian Nationalism?
jemartisby.substack.com/p/what-is-wh...
jemartisby.substack.com/p/what-is-wh...
Reposted by Robert Karsten
Trump appointed more than 20 former Fox News hosts and contributors to cabinet and senior administration positions during his second term. We’re literally being governed by propagandists…
And, bad ones, at that.
Enjoy. 😎✨
And, bad ones, at that.
Enjoy. 😎✨
September 21, 2026 at 1:21 PM
Trump appointed more than 20 former Fox News hosts and contributors to cabinet and senior administration positions during his second term. We’re literally being governed by propagandists…
And, bad ones, at that.
Enjoy. 😎✨
And, bad ones, at that.
Enjoy. 😎✨
Reposted by Robert Karsten
Should’ve happened a long time ago tbh
September 21, 2026 at 1:16 PM
Should’ve happened a long time ago tbh
Reposted by Robert Karsten
The tragedy has been so knowable. This from seven years ago — and we’re still paying for so many Americans letting it happen.
September 21, 2026 at 2:07 AM
The tragedy has been so knowable. This from seven years ago — and we’re still paying for so many Americans letting it happen.
Reposted by Robert Karsten
The fact all news organizations haven’t immediately left the White House in solidarity is all you need to know about these supposed journalists
You can get the same exact info from his tweets and avoid the smell
Win win really
You can get the same exact info from his tweets and avoid the smell
Win win really
September 20, 2026 at 8:27 AM
The fact all news organizations haven’t immediately left the White House in solidarity is all you need to know about these supposed journalists
You can get the same exact info from his tweets and avoid the smell
Win win really
You can get the same exact info from his tweets and avoid the smell
Win win really
Reposted by Robert Karsten
You don't need a private company to pay a parking ticket.
You don't need one to get Social Security or Medicare.
But somehow you NEED a private company to file your taxes.
And that company pays $0 in taxes on $6 billion in profits. And gets $1 billion in tax breaks.
RIGGED.
You don't need one to get Social Security or Medicare.
But somehow you NEED a private company to file your taxes.
And that company pays $0 in taxes on $6 billion in profits. And gets $1 billion in tax breaks.
RIGGED.
September 20, 2026 at 4:23 PM
You don't need a private company to pay a parking ticket.
You don't need one to get Social Security or Medicare.
But somehow you NEED a private company to file your taxes.
And that company pays $0 in taxes on $6 billion in profits. And gets $1 billion in tax breaks.
RIGGED.
You don't need one to get Social Security or Medicare.
But somehow you NEED a private company to file your taxes.
And that company pays $0 in taxes on $6 billion in profits. And gets $1 billion in tax breaks.
RIGGED.
Reposted by Robert Karsten
As gas prices in Michigan hit $5/gallon and diesel hits a record $6.59, it shouldn't be this hard to buy gas, groceries, or afford healthcare. Our economy has been rigged against the very people who make it work. I'm running for Senate to change that.
September 18, 2026 at 6:27 PM
As gas prices in Michigan hit $5/gallon and diesel hits a record $6.59, it shouldn't be this hard to buy gas, groceries, or afford healthcare. Our economy has been rigged against the very people who make it work. I'm running for Senate to change that.
Reposted by Robert Karsten
I'll say it for the thousandth time: No legitimate news organization has any business being in the White House press briefing room. If a source lies to you repeatedly, you stop using that source. Period. The only thing you gain by proximity to this administration is access to propaganda.
September 18, 2026 at 10:51 PM
I'll say it for the thousandth time: No legitimate news organization has any business being in the White House press briefing room. If a source lies to you repeatedly, you stop using that source. Period. The only thing you gain by proximity to this administration is access to propaganda.
Reposted by Robert Karsten
If the White House Correspondents’ Association stood for more than partying with fascists, it would:
A) Boycott White House news conferences to protest the banning of CNN, MSNOW and Politico.
or
B) Show up and make every question about Trump’s assault on the 1st Amendment.
A) Boycott White House news conferences to protest the banning of CNN, MSNOW and Politico.
or
B) Show up and make every question about Trump’s assault on the 1st Amendment.
September 18, 2026 at 10:54 PM
If the White House Correspondents’ Association stood for more than partying with fascists, it would:
A) Boycott White House news conferences to protest the banning of CNN, MSNOW and Politico.
or
B) Show up and make every question about Trump’s assault on the 1st Amendment.
A) Boycott White House news conferences to protest the banning of CNN, MSNOW and Politico.
or
B) Show up and make every question about Trump’s assault on the 1st Amendment.
Reposted by Robert Karsten
The FCC will allow the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, & Abu Dhabi to own nearly 50% of a merged Paramount-Warner Bros — potentially giving them sway over our media.
This of course comes after Trump received gifts or struck business deals with these countries.
See the problem?
This of course comes after Trump received gifts or struck business deals with these countries.
See the problem?
FCC Approves 49.5% Foreign Ownership of Paramount-Warner Bros.
The FCC has approved Paramount's petition to allow 49.5% ownership by Gulf state sovereign wealth funds as part of its W
variety.com
September 18, 2026 at 5:01 PM
The FCC will allow the sovereign wealth funds of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, & Abu Dhabi to own nearly 50% of a merged Paramount-Warner Bros — potentially giving them sway over our media.
This of course comes after Trump received gifts or struck business deals with these countries.
See the problem?
This of course comes after Trump received gifts or struck business deals with these countries.
See the problem?
Fear Strikes Out
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/fear-strik...
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/fear-strik...
Fear Strikes Out
But the hatred remains
paulkrugman.substack.com
September 18, 2026 at 12:17 PM
Fear Strikes Out
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/fear-strik...
paulkrugman.substack.com/p/fear-strik...
Reposted by Robert Karsten
How Christian Women Have Upheld MAGA and White Supremacy in America
thelefthook.substack.com/p/how-christ...
thelefthook.substack.com/p/how-christ...
How Christian Women Have Upheld MAGA and White Supremacy in America
Author and scholar Kristin Du Mez grew up in conservative America and was a dutiful consumer of “traditional” mainstream Christian culture, such as Amy Grant CDs and frequent trips to Christian book t...
thelefthook.substack.com
September 18, 2026 at 2:16 AM
How Christian Women Have Upheld MAGA and White Supremacy in America
thelefthook.substack.com/p/how-christ...
thelefthook.substack.com/p/how-christ...
Reposted by Robert Karsten
Stock Trades by Presidents While in Office:
Bill Clinton: ZERO
George W. Bush: ZERO
Barack Obama: ZERO
Donald Trump (first term): 517
Joe Biden: ZERO
Donald Trump (second term): 24,000+, averaging >60 trades per trading day.
This is why the crook in the Oval Office manipulates the markets.
Bill Clinton: ZERO
George W. Bush: ZERO
Barack Obama: ZERO
Donald Trump (first term): 517
Joe Biden: ZERO
Donald Trump (second term): 24,000+, averaging >60 trades per trading day.
This is why the crook in the Oval Office manipulates the markets.
September 16, 2026 at 4:44 PM
Stock Trades by Presidents While in Office:
Bill Clinton: ZERO
George W. Bush: ZERO
Barack Obama: ZERO
Donald Trump (first term): 517
Joe Biden: ZERO
Donald Trump (second term): 24,000+, averaging >60 trades per trading day.
This is why the crook in the Oval Office manipulates the markets.
Bill Clinton: ZERO
George W. Bush: ZERO
Barack Obama: ZERO
Donald Trump (first term): 517
Joe Biden: ZERO
Donald Trump (second term): 24,000+, averaging >60 trades per trading day.
This is why the crook in the Oval Office manipulates the markets.
What If We Just Gave Poor People Money?
open.substack.com/pub/platypus...
open.substack.com/pub/platypus...
What If We Just Gave Poor People Money?
It’s more complicated than it sounds. Well, sort of.
open.substack.com
September 17, 2026 at 7:52 PM
What If We Just Gave Poor People Money?
open.substack.com/pub/platypus...
open.substack.com/pub/platypus...
Reposted by Robert Karsten
Also, this paradigm of putting people down by building God up and then losing your composure while getting whipped up into a frenzy by a modern worship band in the promotion of men like Trump and Hegseth is unfortunately setting the world on fire. Literally.
3/3
3/3
Weapons of Worship: How the Songs of Evangelicalism Form the Soundtrack of Extremism
In a sweeping investigation into the music of megachurches and political rallies, a journalist asks: How did praise and worship music beloved by millions of white evangelicals become the soundtrack of...
www.broadleafbooks.com
September 17, 2026 at 1:13 PM
Also, this paradigm of putting people down by building God up and then losing your composure while getting whipped up into a frenzy by a modern worship band in the promotion of men like Trump and Hegseth is unfortunately setting the world on fire. Literally.
3/3
3/3
Reposted by Robert Karsten
He’s got a point!
September 16, 2026 at 8:14 PM
He’s got a point!
Reposted by Robert Karsten
How can they justify leaving right now?
Diesel costs just hit an all-time high. Our nation is at war. The bond market is quivering. The urgency of AI regulation has come to a critical moment.
Congress should be working overtime. Instead Speaker Johnson sent them home.
Diesel costs just hit an all-time high. Our nation is at war. The bond market is quivering. The urgency of AI regulation has come to a critical moment.
Congress should be working overtime. Instead Speaker Johnson sent them home.
September 16, 2026 at 3:56 PM
How can they justify leaving right now?
Diesel costs just hit an all-time high. Our nation is at war. The bond market is quivering. The urgency of AI regulation has come to a critical moment.
Congress should be working overtime. Instead Speaker Johnson sent them home.
Diesel costs just hit an all-time high. Our nation is at war. The bond market is quivering. The urgency of AI regulation has come to a critical moment.
Congress should be working overtime. Instead Speaker Johnson sent them home.
Reposted by Robert Karsten
Trump's immigration policy operates at three levels: cruelty ordered from the top, cruelty institutionalized by bureaucracy, and cruelty casually inflicted by agents.
www.thebulwark.com/p/inside-tru...
www.thebulwark.com/p/inside-tru...
Inside Trump’s Summer of Cruelty
Behind the ICE arrest numbers are hospital arrests, families torn apart, and children asking why they’re being treated like criminals.
www.thebulwark.com
September 16, 2026 at 4:28 PM
Trump's immigration policy operates at three levels: cruelty ordered from the top, cruelty institutionalized by bureaucracy, and cruelty casually inflicted by agents.
www.thebulwark.com/p/inside-tru...
www.thebulwark.com/p/inside-tru...