Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 12hWe're ahead, but it's not over. Let's get out the vote! "Democrats may have the political winds at their backs, but they face a tough electoral map, deep-pocketed opponents and races that could be decided by a handful of votes." steverosenthal3.substack.com/p/dont-pop-t... 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 13/10/2026Two rich geeks are competing to lead the race to escape the planet they are plundering. Fascinating story, great reporting. www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...theatlantic.comChoose Your OverlordMusk vs. Bezos 010
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 13/10/2026How do we make them ALL go away? youtu.be/FDuJ8ojsPOA?...youtu.beIs THIS How Trump Goes Out?YouTube video by Robert Reich 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 09/10/2026Even Trump's former supporters get sick at their stomach watching his sick, "strongman narcissist" ads, which have been funded by taxpayers. open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...open.substack.com‘I Need Some Pepto-Bismol’: Trump’s Taxpayer-Funded Ad Bombs in Focus GroupIt’s not *just* the corruption that bothers them. It’s the actual content, too. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 08/10/2026Yes, with the help of RFK Jr., Trump is causing a veritable shitshow for consumers. robertreich.substack.com/p/is-trump-t...robertreich.substack.comIs Trump to blame for explosive diarrhea, too?Yes. His cuts in food safety have literally caused a shitshow. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 07/10/2026Beware the Office of Management and Budget and its Project 2025 executor distributing the spoils of a democratic nation. Wake up! statuskuo.substack.com/p/trump-is-c...statuskuo.substack.comTrump Is Certifiable. The Press Shrugs It Off.A week of alarming, unhinged statements by Trump raises the question of whether the press can still report with clarity and courage. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 06/10/2026Finger-pointing: Is Sophie Cunningham too toxic for the Fever to win? Indiana has a lot of questions to resolve after the Caitlin Clark-led team fizzled against the WNBA champion Las Vegas Aces. www.nytimes.com/athletic/766...nytimes.comFever should part with Sophie Cunningham. She’s too turbulent to be paired with Caitlin Clark (Gift Article)If the Fever ever want to go back to being a basketball team, Cunningham — who was largely responsible for this year's circus — has to go. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 05/10/2026Fascinating and revealing interview from The Atlantic with Kara Swisher (Burn Book) on the evolving culture of Silicon Valley, "the AI threat matrix, the broligarchs now playing in the political sandbox. ... There are no guardrails on these people, ever," she says. youtu.be/F_lINL20h3c?...youtu.beThe Tech Economy: Is AI Reshaping America?YouTube video by The Atlantic 021
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 04/10/2026Yes, I'm talking about “affordability” and income inequality, and the importance of labor law reform to afford workers the power to bargain for better wages and working conditions. EPI and The American Prospect deliver the goods. cmichaelbyrne304858.substack.com/p/the-real-e...cmichaelbyrne304858.substack.comThe Real Economy and USWhat we owe the Economic Policy Institute and The American Prospect 010
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 02/10/2026Americans are lining up in cities across America to see first-hand evidence of the Trump-Epstein pedophilia and corruption. The Epstein Memorial Bookmobile is in Pennsylvania, heading to Ohio. open.substack.com/pub/defiance...open.substack.comI need to tell you about something remarkable happening in America.Donald Trump’s crowds are shrinking. But in city after city, Americans are lining up around the block to see firsthand evidence of his corruption. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 29/09/2026@bsky.app A profile in courage: Jack Smith will tell senators his investigation found proof beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump committed crimes and that the rule of law is being directly threatened by the Trump regime today. open.substack.com/pub/defiance...open.substack.comJack Smith is what courage looks like. Today he walks into the lion’s den for all of us.The former Trump prosecutor is defying threats from the president and standing up for the rule of law. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 24/09/2026So true, so underreported: It’s not that the prices are going up, it’s that earnings are not keeping up, diminishing the power of the dollar and the existence of a middle class. The GOP is liable for a War on Workers, not just Trump. open.substack.com/pub/thomhart...open.substack.comThe Biggest Lie About America’s Affordability Crisis Is Hiding in Your PaycheckPrices didn’t leave working Americans behind all by themselves. Decades of weakened unions, stagnant wages, billionaire tax cuts, and policies favoring capital changed who gets the money… 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 24/09/2026Good advice from the Professor on steps to rebuild our democracy after Trump. But first: Go get in that Blue Wave! robertreich.substack.com/p/10-steps-t...robertreich.substack.com10 Steps To Fix What Trump Has BrokenAnd mend everything thereafter 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 11/09/2026 Trump and his FCC forced Jimmy Kimmel to take his interview with James Talarico off ABC and onto YouTube. The same thing happened to Stephen Colbert, producing his most-watched interview ever. It probably won't beat this one, now at 2.7 million views. youtu.be/WLDE9LrGpNk?...youtu.beJimmy Kimmel’s Interview with James Talarico That the FCC Doesn’t Want You To SeeYouTube video by Jimmy Kimmel Live 001
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 07/09/2026Americans love unions, and why not? United, workers build economic progress for everyone, not just for the Epstein class. We have the power to change labor laws and practice. prospect.org/2026/09/07/l...prospect.orgLabor Day 2026: Record-High Popularity, Record-Low Power for America’s Unions - The American ProspectWages now constitute the lowest share of the nation’s income since the government began measuring them in 1947. 001
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 29/08/2026The hits just keep on coming. Time to put down the remote and get to work. Open the door and tell the world, "I'm made as hell, and I'm not gonna take it anymore!" We've got two months until Election Day. open.substack.com/pub/thomhart...open.substack.comSaturday Report 8/29/26 — Your Family Is Out $3,800, the Navy Is Out of Money, and Yosemite Is Apparently for SaleThe Best of the Rest of the News 010
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 25/08/2026Fascinating conversation between two of my favorite professors, Robert Reich and Heather Cox Richardson about our political circumstance. History may not repeat, but it does recycle. robertreich.substack.com/p/in-convers...robertreich.substack.comIn Conversation with Heather Cox RichardsonOn the Origins of Trumpism 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 22/08/2026What a lovely goodbye! She's still in a League of her Own. youtu.be/59St41a2TRE?...youtu.beRosie O’Donnell Sings a Song for Donald TrumpYouTube video by Jimmy Kimmel Live 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 19/08/2026Do MAGA men get off on Trump's misogyny? open.substack.com/pub/thomhart...open.substack.comGrabbing Them by the Pussy: Trump Continues His Fifty-Year War on WomenThe insults, the threats, the humiliation of women, and the obsession with male dominance are no longer fringe behavior in the GOP… 001
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 17/08/2026Do you trust this man? Todd Blanche is the consigliere of the Trump crime family, and heads the team trying to keep Trump in power. His job has been to undermine the justice system, to save his client's assets. He doesn't work for us. We are the patsies. statuskuo.substack.com/p/the-trust-...statuskuo.substack.comThe “Trust Me, Bro” DOJAttorney General Todd Blanche isn’t even trying to claim independence from the White House. He just wants us to take his word that he won’t act illegally or unethically. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 14/08/2026Trump doesn't believe in laws he can't break. He believe he is above the law, but he is not. statuskuo.substack.com/p/no-means-n...statuskuo.substack.comNo Means No, DonaldIn case after case, Trump has refused to accept the judgment of the legal system. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 10/08/2026Hey, Barack! Stop having so much fun. Your country needs you. prospect.org/2026/08/10/b...prospect.orgBarack, Your Country Needs You - The American ProspectIt’s great to have fun creating your library and doing a skit with Larry David, but it’s time to engage with Trump. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 01/08/2026The news media is largely ignoring the fact that Elon Musk, who is spending billions to influence U.S. politics, is the world’s most vocal white supremacist and advocate of ethnic cleansing. He uses his own social media channel, X, to amplify his message of hate. open.substack.com/pub/critical...open.substack.comThe world’s most vocal racist will be the Republican Party’s biggest donor again. But don’t mention it.Our top news organizations are covering up Elon Musk’s white supremacist propaganda 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 30/07/2026Got inflammation? Good. Your body is fighting off an infection. And new discoveries point to how you can help it along, easing discomfort and fighting off sickness. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...nytimes.comInflammation Keeps Us Alive. It's Also Making Us Sick. (Gift Article)The discovery that chronic inflammation is a cause of myriad illnesses could be this century's biggest medical breakthrough. 020
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 28/07/2026I'm with Dr. Fauci, and science. Sen. Rand Paul's political motives are obvious, and President Trump's campaigns against both Fauci and science are dangerous. It's a shame that Fauci is persecuted after a career dedicated to fighting disease. www.theatlantic.com/health/2026/...theatlantic.comThe Unmaking of Anthony FauciHe built an empire. It did not last. 021
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 25/07/2026Once again the media can't explain what's going on with Trump and his tariffs. Yes, it's a distraction. open.substack.com/pub/critical...open.substack.comWhat you need to know (and didn’t read) about Trump’s new tariffsStarting with how they’re based on a bald-faced lie 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 24/07/2026The Department of Justice (Just ICE?) takes it on the chin. open.substack.com/pub/statusku...open.substack.comDOJ Humiliated in Federal CourtThe government’s New York Times subpoenas just collapsed in court. And it was glorious. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 23/07/2026Republican politicians and the billionaire-owned media that supports them are constantly telling us who to hate and fear. open.substack.com/pub/thomhart...open.substack.comThey Made You Fear and Hate Your Neighbor So They Could Rob Your FutureFor 45 years, billionaires and their political allies have weaponized hate, divided Americans, and quietly dismantled the middle class while we fought each other instead of them… 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 20/07/2026The critical thing we should all know about those Canadian forest fires: the Earth is on fire. open.substack.com/pub/billmcki...open.substack.comSmoke Gets In Your...Hole Where Your Soul Should BeMAGA may have a set a new mark for belligerent stupidity 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 20/07/2026The fascists are trying to make anti-fascism a crime. It's not. It's an American ideal. The Trump administration wants to impose dictatorial power, forcibly oppress the opposition and suppress individual rights. That's fascism. We should all be "Antifa." open.substack.com/pub/defiance...open.substack.comTrump plots a "workaround" to use terror powers against his foes. His foes have a shield.The White House can't legally designate its domestic opposition as "terrorists." So here's the Trump administration's backdoor plan to do it anyway. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 17/07/2026Excellent summary of Trump's speech last night, with explanations and pointed commentary. What a Loser! open.substack.com/pub/simonwdc...open.substack.comTrump Is Unwell and Dangerously Desperate, Strong Dem Q2 Fundraising, Great New Poll In GeorgiaMorning all. 011
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 14/07/2026Pro-Trump billionaires own Fox News, CBS News, CNN, the Wall Street Journal, Roku, Washington Post, and a huge swath of local TV and radio. MAGA billionaires control the platforms that distribute news, including Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, Twitter, and TikTok. open.substack.com/pub/messageb... 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 14/07/2026On Thursday America will see an old man and a sore loser who still cannot accept that he lost, fair and square. And it will see a man who is willing to burn down public faith in democracy itself rather than admit it. open.substack.com/pub/defiance...open.substack.comI helped oversee election security for Trump. He's about to swap the "Big Lie" for a Bigger Lie.The president will reportedly begin releasing cherry-picked intelligence from 2020 to make it look like a foreign country helped Joe Biden win. The claims are categorically false. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 09/07/2026I'm one year sober, thanks largely to conversations with my daughter. Her Metta Momentum incorporates both Western psychology and Eastern philosophy, but It's most precious quality is Miki's honesty and compassion. Talk to her! Her links are here: open.substack.com/pub/mikimett...open.substack.comGetting On Without Knowing Where It EndsThree Slow Breaths... 010
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 07/07/2026Excellent new book that details how railroad barons, failing to sway courts to give corporations status as "persons," managed to buy a court clerk's inaccurate summary of a case - now apparently an indelible citation. We are suffering the consequences today. open.substack.com/pub/thomhart...open.substack.comThe Lie That Changed AmericaFrom corporate personhood to Citizens United, the hidden story behind today's billionaire political power - and what we can do about it… 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 06/07/2026AI exploits and corrupts Wikipedia. But don't count out the nearly 250,000 unpaid strangers editing 324 times a minute under pseudonyms like “Dr. Blofeld” and “WooHooKitty.” You could even join that global newsroom. www.nytimes.com/2026/07/05/b...nytimes.comWikipedia Is Battling for the Soul of the Internet 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 02/07/2026If we can't find a way to tell our nation's story, the history of the United States of America, perhaps we are no longer the nation our Founders set out to create. How do we bridge this divide? www.theatlantic.com/magazine/202...theatlantic.comHow America Gave Up on Its Own HistoryUnable to agree on how to interpret the American story, the country’s schools, universities, and political institutions have stopped trying to tell it at all. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 01/07/2026Trump would earn $400,000 as U.S. president if he took it, if he were an honest man. Instead, he used POTUS-level inside information to play global markets, reaping $2.2 billion. "That makes me smart," he says of all his financial swindles. So, is he above the law? www.nytimes.com/2026/06/30/u...nytimes.comTrump Pulled in at Least $2 Billion After Returning to the White House 010
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 29/06/2026Nice graphic, clarifying Ossoff's position on Israel. Supporting AIPAC, and taking its money, is a red flag for me. www.nytimes.com/2025/02/15/u...nytimes.comGeorgia’s First Jewish Senator Is Losing Jewish Support (Published 2025) 100
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 28/06/2026This guy should be representing all of us. He speaks the truth. Re-elect Jon Ossoff to the U.S. Senate, Georgia, and he will rise to meet even greater challenges. Listen: www.youtube.com/live/T8sJgHZ...youtube.comRally with Jon Ossoff | Savannah, Georgia | 06.27.2026YouTube video by Jon Ossoff 130
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 27/06/2026Remember when the Republican Party had a big tent, good heart and smart leaders? Gone, as historian Heather Cox Richardson explains. Replaced by Tweety Birdbrains. open.substack.com/pub/heatherc... 100
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 26/06/2026"Freedom Trucks" Trumpet Christian Nationalism as the American Ideal, history aside. www.theatlantic.com/culture/2026...theatlantic.comHere Come Trump’s ‘Freedom Trucks’A fleet of mobile museums is touring the country with a version of American history the administration can get behind. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 17/06/2026In the first Gilded Age, at least the super rich sought to project a sense of respectability. No more. open.substack.com/pub/paulkrug...open.substack.comThe Theory of the Vulgar ClassCollapsing norms, cage matches, and a republic in danger 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 14/06/2026It wasn't pretty, but the gritty New York Knicks are NBA champs. Their only loss came when Trump cursed them with his presence. www.nytimes.com/athletic/735...nytimes.comKnicks win first NBA championship since 1973, topping Spurs in Game 5 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 11/06/2026America's 250th birthday party on the rocks. www.theatlantic.com/politics/202...theatlantic.comInside America’s Ugly Birthday BattleThe Trump administration broke an agreement to fund the bipartisan semiquincentennial celebrations, saying they will not “light taxpayer money on fire.” 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 10/06/2026Look what they're doing to our nation! Bottom line: We can't afford a plague of super rich. Listen to the Professor: open.substack.com/pub/robertre...open.substack.comInequality Isn't Just Unfair. It's Dangerous!This week's video 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 09/06/2026Trump spoils everything. open.substack.com/pub/statusku...open.substack.comCall It The Trump EffectOnce again, the President had to make it all about himself. And he spoiled the party. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 08/06/2026Hard to understand why the White House media folks are allowing Trump to walk into Madison Square Garden for a royal drubbing. open.substack.com/pub/defiance...open.substack.comDonald Trump is about to get booed. Expect him to react poorly.The first president to attend the NBA Finals won't be greeted like a beloved commander in chief. He'll be heckled for corruption. 000
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 08/06/2026An emotional Scott Pelley describes his final days at 60 Minutes, and how new management threatens an American institution. www.nytimes.com/2026/06/07/m...nytimes.comScott Pelley on the Bari Weiss Era and His Last Days at ‘60 Minutes’ 010
Michael Byrne @cmichaelbyrne.bsky.social · 04/06/2026Miles Taylor, the "Anonymous" whistleblower in the first Trump administration, warns Trump's rescission of civil service protections for top government employees is strengthening his private security force, adding administrators under his political appointees. open.substack.com/pub/defiance...open.substack.comDonald Trump just tripled the size of his personal army inside government. It was illegal.The White House quietly issued an order turning 8,000 top "civil service" jobs into roles that serve at the pleasure of the president. 000