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JK

@jkoteen.bsky.social
5.9K followers 7.2K following 68 posts

Pragmatic Northwesterner. Patriot. Climate/energy professional. I will follow back in the interests of building community for positive change.

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Reposted by JK
Dannagal Goldthwaite Young @dannagal.bsky.social · 13h
Full disclosure, Lily and I became friends after her 2018 “Uncivil agreement” became pivotal to the media effects model I developed in “Wrong.” And now my friend has done it again: simplified something we’ve all been fooled into thinking is “too complicated” to readily understand or fix.
Partisan polarization is not the greatest threat to American democracy.
It is a vivid and identifiable symptom of the real threat. And it is a popular frame because it blames no one. But because political polarization is a symptom, and not the root of the problem that ails us, "fixing" polarization will not restore American democratic health.
Having written two books and dozens of articles on the topic, it is clear to me that polarization in the United States is certainly a prob-lem. The gridlock, anger, violence, and unaccountability that accompany partisan polarization are major impediments to the success of American democracy. But the actual source of American partisan polarization today (and often in the past) is the degree to which the nation is disagreeing about who belongs, who deserves the full dignity and protection of U.S. laws, and who is punished for breaking those laws.' For a very long time, the answer to these questions was simple—white, Christian, heterosexual men belong and deserve protection and dig-nity, and everyone else is subject to punishment for breaking laws or challenging this social order. Things were "better," the story goes, back in the 1950s, when everyone knew their place. Polarization became a national problem when this story began to change.
I have written about the partisan divide in the United States as being structured by "mega-identities"-with party identities psychologically bound together with other powerful social identities such as race and religion. These identity-based alignments did motivate and exacerbate the partisan divide. But that party-based social divide along the lines of "who we are" is only part of the story.
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
If you happen to receive a notice that your NY Times subscription rate is bumping up from whatever your intro rate was to $30/month, you can just start the cancellation process and they will probably offer you a discount.
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
In a sickening affront to American values, the Trump launches a racist video game using taxpayer money www.democracyrenovator.com/cp/217443473
democracyrenovator.com
Can Democracy Survive a Culture of Cruelty?
From a dehumanizing deportation game to the AfD’s school agenda, the right is remaking identity. The states are our wall — if they defend culture, too.
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
Just another 200 million dollars of Musk money to influence elections in an attempt to keep GOP in power. insidepoliticalmoney.com/news/the-mus...
insidepoliticalmoney.com
The Musk Money Machine: Who’s Getting Paid?
As Musk cranks back up his political operation for the midterms, we look at the complex ecosystem of vendors and companies who are moving his money.
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Mark Copelovitch @mcopelov.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Signs you might be a far right authoritarian party (#3439):
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
To justify their abhorrent and anti-Christian policies, a new class of self-help books is geared at Right Wing jerks painting empathy as toxic. apple.news/At7dSJV94Qpa...
apple.news
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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
The major platforms—Facebook, YouTube, and X—are all refusing to show the trailer for the upcoming documentary that eviscerates the ridiculous pest Elon Musk. So I guess we have to do our part to make sure it is seen. www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY_8...
youtube.com
Musk | Official Trailer | Bleecker Street
YouTube video by Musk
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Steve Vladeck @stevevladeck.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Here's a graphic that does a better job of conveying the point than my original post: even by the (insane) standards of the first Trump administration, #SCOTUS is receiving—and granting—a truly unprecedented number of applications for emergency relief from the federal government:
A chart that shows the number of emergency applications filed and granted by the Supreme Court during each presidency dating back to George W. Bush, with the data annualized to show the far-higher frequencies since 2017, but especially during the Trump I and Trump II administrations.
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Turns Out We Blew Up All Those Boats in the Caribbean for Nothing - apple.news/AMBzHRDB1Td-...
apple.news
Turns Out We Blew Up All Those Boats in the Caribbean for Nothing — Esquire
As if we needed more confirmation that Pete Hegseth and our defense department are both psychotic and ineffectual.
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Dan Froomkin/Press Watch/Heads Up News @froomkin.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
OK here's part one (of two): presswatchers.org/2026/09/dona...
presswatchers.org
Donald Trump is an idiot, and the mainstream press is covering up for him | Press Watch
He does incredibly stupid things and doesn’t understand basic concepts, for starters
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Interesting take on muse. braddelong.substack.com?utm_campaign...
braddelong.substack.com
DeLong's Grasping Reality Weblog | Substack
Economy in the 2000s & Before: working, making, apportioning, talking, taking, & more. What I know and can learn about it, & related things. Click to read DeLong's Grasping Reality Weblog, by Brad DeL...
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
Corrupt Susan Collins saved by a Kash Patel and Pam Bondi cover up. bsky.app/profile/prop...
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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
"So Trump’s megalomania and narcissism, his deputies’ fanaticism and sycophancy, and the radicalization of MAGA are increasingly out of control. And elites’ accommodation is as widespread as ever. This Quadrangle of Doom means we face a perilous next two years." www.thebulwark.com/p/trumps-qua...
thebulwark.com
Trump’s Quadrangle of Doom
It’s going to get worse.
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 22/09/2026
The Gordie Howe Bridge Is What American Betrayal Looks Like - The Walrus apple.news/AwdUq4af7SKq...
apple.news
The Gordie Howe Bridge Is What American Betrayal Looks Like — The Walrus
Canada spent billions on the crossing. Trump turned it into a shakedown
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The dumbest editorial ever written about the criminal disaster that was DOGE from the execrable pages of @wsj.com apple.news/AJKUHUqSUQIi...
apple.news
Opinion | DOGE Works. Let’s Keep It Going — The Wall Street Journal
A cadre of gifted, creative and patriotic thinkers can uncover wasteful spending and reduce federal debt.
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Joyce White Vance @joycewhitevance.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
The law is that “Although the WH is not required to open its doors to the news media, once it establishes press facilities for credentialed journalists, it cannot deny access based on the content of a journalist’s coverage.” That's exactly what Trump is doing. joycevance.substack.com/p/its-a-nice...
joycevance.substack.com
It’s a Nice First Amendment You’ve Got There…
Mea culpa for the long post on a Saturday night, but read on and see if you don’t agree that it’s essential.
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Bellavavenus @bellavavenus.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
LOL
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Molly Jong-Fast @mollyjongfast.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
Yes, totally normal to have a Russian oligarch pay for your wedding! And I am sure Don Junior will pay him right back! 
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David Roberts @volts.wtf · 17/09/2026
Excellent new work from @powerlines.org: "Lowering Utility Bills and Growing the Economy: A Playbook for Governors"
powerlines.org
Playbooks - PowerLines
PowerLines serves as a hub for modernizing utility regulation by bringing together diverse stakeholders to share ideas, resources, and solutions.
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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
A must read. A carefully researched report on how the Heritage Foundations promotes networks of truly extremist Christian nationalist schools and seeks public funding for them. civildefenseinstitute.org/features/her...
civildefenseinstitute.org
How the Heritage Foundation Promotes Christian Nationalist Schooling — Civil Defense
Tracing Heritage and Kevin Roberts’s ties to a growing network of classical Christian schools—and the policies steering public money their way.
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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 16/09/2026
“A series of impeachments would destabilize the Trump administration…This works best if Trump himself is not impeached. Democrats can claim they’re merely going after government corruption by underlings, not fighting the will of the great and good American people.” open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com
Impeach Them. All of Them.
Hegseth is only the beginning.
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Trump destroys Kennedy Center. Claims only way to fix it is calling it the Trump center. apple.news/AUemXBDYXSG-...
apple.news
Kennedy Center could close as early as Tuesday, warns of bankruptcy, documents show — The Washington Post
Officials said the center is facing “certain fiscal collapse” within weeks, insist that adding President Donald Trump’s name may be the only way to avoid bankruptcy.
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Max Berger @maxberger.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Yes
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Only two justices, Alito and Thomas are evil enough to believe that Trump can end democracy through an executive order at the postal service. apple.news/AcWGY6IVVSKe...
apple.news
In blow to Trump, Supreme Court blocks mail ballot restrictions from taking effect in 2026 — Votebeat
The Supreme Court decision blocks the U.S. Postal Service from blocking delivery of mail ballots in the 2026 midterm elections per Donald Trump’s executive order.
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
What he said.
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
For those keeping score at home: The Ohio GOP Senator who long refused to denounce his MAGA son-in-law who allegedly abused the senator's daughter and granddaughter is a *different Republican* from the Ohio GOP Senator who has long employed a white supremacist who likes to cosplay as Nazis.
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Saudi Arabia hoped to profit off Trump’s Iran war and now their bypass is busted. FAFO apple.news/Abh3b4JWpTW-...
apple.news
Saudi Arabia Shuts Down Pipeline That Was a Crucial Hormuz Bypass — The Wall Street Journal
The kingdom said drones fired from Iraq damaged the East-West pipeline, which can carry up to 7 million barrels of oil a day
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Kevin M. Kruse @kevinmkruse.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
"Oh, see, I only hang out in this sex trafficking dungeon because there's a great community of minor league baseball fans here. I don't have anything to do with the sex trafficking or child raping, honest! I've positioned my chair so I'm not looking at it, see, and I've got my earbuds in all day."
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Trump’s unqualified “Peace Envoy” Is Raking It In apple.news/AwrBYQGPGRhS...
apple.news
Trump’s Peace Envoy Is Raking It In — New York Magazine
Steve Witkoff made $107 million from a crypto-tied entity in 2025, a leap since Trump returned to office.
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paulpro @mariopro.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
@guyvenables.bsky.social
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Seattle activists pulling no punches this morning.
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Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
This keeps happening.
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Mrs. Betty Bowers @mrsbettybowers.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
There are at least two provisions in the U.S. Code that make it illegal to offer or accept a $5,000 "GOP Dividend" for voting. Both the offerer (Donald Trump) and the accepter (good luck with that!) are liable for fines and jail time.
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Senator Sheldon Whitehouse @whitehouse.senate.gov · 09/09/2026
Calling out an “idiocracy” at the Pentagon “of corruption, stupidity and sycophancy.” Don’t we deserve better?
nytimes.com
Opinion | Pete Hegseth Is a Wrecking Ball
We are already paying a high price for the defense secretary’s purges and whims.
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
This is very bad economic policy. stocks.apple.com/AF-UKQDFLTiW...
stocks.apple.com
Treasury Department to buy back up to $6 billion in longer-term debt, triple the normal level — CNBC
The Treasury Department on Wednesday said it will buy back up to $6 billion of government debt in an operation aimed at keeping bond markets functioning.
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Bill Kristol @billkristolbulwark.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Kansas should be put in the same tier of winnable Senate seats for the Dems as IA, OH, TX, and AK. FL isn't that far behind. And people should take a serious look at SD, NE, and yes ID, where the Democrat has stepped aside in favor of an electable independent.
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Charles Gaba ✡️ @charlesgaba.com · 08/09/2026
The small group market has always been an odd bird, so having a more formal way of absorbing it into the ACA market could be a good thing. www.commonwealthfund.org/publications...
commonwealthfund.org
The Health of the Small-Group Insurance Market | Commonwealth Fund
Substantially more small-business owners and their workers have health insurance coverage today than before the Affordable Care Act, new Commonwealth Fund–supported research shows, mainly because of t...
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Wajahat Ali @wajali.bsky.social · 07/09/2026
Hoods off.
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
WaPo has editorials about how Trump is weakening America’s military. apple.news/AyPthqdnjR1m...
apple.news
Opinion | Hegseth crippled the military. Start with most alarming evidence. — The Washington Post
The Iran quagmire wouldn’t have happened under Trump’s first-term military leaders.
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David Sirota @davidsirota.com · 05/09/2026
Absolute bombshell story about Republican John Sununu, who is running in one of America's biggest elections - a race that could decide control of the U.S. Senate. Read the @levernews.com story and pass it on
levernews.com
This Senate Frontrunner Oversaw “Quality And Compliance.” Women Suffered “Life-Altering Harm.”
New Hampshire GOP Senate hopeful John Sununu oversaw product safety and FDA communications at Boston Scientific as it fought to keep pelvic mesh on the market amid mounting lawsuits.
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Seth Cotlar @sethcotlar.bsky.social · 05/09/2026
A new report shows that the Oregon GOP’s finest “drank on the job, created a toxic work environment, charged the government for personal travel, and accepted gifts without properly reporting them.” www.usatoday.com/story/news/p...
usatoday.com
Ex-Labor secretary drank at work, brought staff to strip club, watchdog says
Lori Chavez-DeRemer resigned her Cabinet post the day before her interview with investigators at the Department of Labor.
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MeidasTouch @meidastouch.com · 05/09/2026
Trump has found so many ways to use the presidency to enrich himself and his family that we had to narrow the list down. Here are 75 of the most staggering examples of Trump corruption in 2026. And yes, there were more. Read Ron Filipkowski’s full breakdown:
meidasplus.com
The 75 Most Corrupt Things Trump Did in 2026
So far.
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
From the department of weird shit, today brings next gen tradwife teen influencers: stocks.apple.com/AhRRmBKLVQee...
stocks.apple.com
Influencers Are Selling the Tradwife Fantasy to Teens—and It Looks Like It’s Working — Vanity Fair
A cohort of young, married influencers have gone viral presenting their domestic life—cooking, cleaning, fighting anyone who warns them to stash money away from their husband—as a balm to generational...
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Radical left wing new org, @wsj.com, points out the stupidity of Trump’s idiotic tariff war on Canada and the collateral damage it will do to American businesses. apple.news/AwpZ5fk54TX2...
apple.news
Opinion | Trump to Ford Motor: Drop Dead — The Wall Street Journal
A 50% tariff on autos and parts from Canada would punish U.S. companies.
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Michael McKeon @grinch67.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
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Congresswoman Gwen Moore @repgwenmoore.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
For those losing track, Trump is importing beef that: 1. Is contaminated with 30k pounds already recalled 2. Hurts American ranchers 3. Won’t lower prices
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End Citizens United @endcitizensunited.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Last year, Sen. Susan Collins’ husband received a consulting fee from his former lobbying firm while it was being paid to lobby Congress on behalf of Sen. Collins' donors. Susan Collins is corrupt and can't be trusted to represent everyday Mainers. #MESen
meidasnews.com
Susan Collins Was Paid Directly by a Lobbyist for Her Campaign Donors Through a 'Consulting Fee' to Her Husband
New filings implicate Collins in the lobbyist pay-to-play pipeline
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
‘divisive’ coverage from the @nytimes.com
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JK @jkoteen.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
Some Texas conservatives are breaking rank and pledging to vote Democrat - apple.news/AaTdhRdNeSLq... #breakrank
apple.news
Some Texas conservatives are breaking ranks and pledging to vote Democratic — The Washington Post
Republicans who are angry at Gov. Greg Abbott’s refusal to block data centers are giving his Democratic challenger hope for an upset.
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