iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 22/02/2026

Don't make me tap the sign, again. (I have a feeling I'm going to use this a lot)

For those who think it important for the Nation to impose more tariffs, I understand that today's decision will be dis-appointing. All I can offer them is that most major deci-sions affecting the rights and responsibilities of the Ameri-can people (including the duty to pay taxes and tariffs) are funneled through the legislative process for a reason. Yes, legislating can be hard and take time. And, yes, it can be tempting to bypass Congress when some pressing problem arises. But the deliberative nature of the legislative process was the whole point of its design. Through that process, the Nation can tap the combined wisdom of the people's elected representatives, not just that of one faction or man. There, deliberation tempers impulse, and compromise hammers disagreements into workable solutions. And because laws must earn such broad support to survive the legislative pro-cess, they tend to endure, allowing ordinary people to plan their lives in ways they cannot when the rules shift from day to day. In all, the legislative process helps ensure each of us has a stake in the laws that govern us and in the Na-tion's future. For some today, the weight of those virtues is apparent. For others, it may not seem so obvious. But if history is any guide, the tables will turn and the day will come when those disappointed by today's result will appre-ciate the legislative process for the bulwark of liberty it is.

Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 23/11/2025

Rockland is for @caitfornewyork.bsky.social. We talked about her vision for Congress last evening at Soul Brewing Company in Pleasantville. I got to meet so many first time comers who wanted to know more about her. No one walked away disappointed. We're going to take this seat back. #ny17

A wider view of the brewery floor at the Conley campaign event.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 03/11/2025

Confirming what we all knew instinctively, @caitfornewyork.bsky.social is the one to beat for the #NY17 race next year. She can speak to rural and suburban voters that make up this district like no other candidate can, least of all, Beth Davidson.

A Change Research poll showing Cait Conley beating Mike Lawler in a general election matchup by five points.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 10/10/2025

🌍 NEW MAP from @clairemaevabg.bsky.social, @mairavz.bsky.social, and I @crisisgroup.org. We updated our West Bank Israeli Settlements tracker with 2025 data - including new road infrastructure - and optimized it for mobile. 🔗 Explore the map: crisisgroup.org/visual-explainers/israeli-settlements

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 25/09/2025

Our VPOTUS posting like the worst of that other site.

VP acting tough. "What exactly did I get wrong, dipshit"?

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 25/08/2025

Honestly it worked out pretty ... *well*. 🥁

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 06/08/2025

In which CIS calls @davidjbier.bsky.social an “open borders advocate” — he’s not — and distorts the argument in his 2023 NYT op-ed. This kind of bad-faith framing ignores the core issue that this administration ignores the law, due process, and tears up the Constitution.

A National Review print article that attacks David Bier of the Cato Institute.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 30/07/2025

the bigger question is - who actually "wants" to be playing for miami #lgm

Sandy Alcantra says he wants to play in Miami.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 17/07/2025

Support for @caitfornewyork.bsky.social is surging in #NY17. She’s outpacing every other Democratic challenger. In Q2 alone, she raised $480K to Beth Davidson’s $352K and now holds $613,787 cash on hand. 📊 Here's how the race stacks up so far. #CaitConley #FlipTheHouse

A chart showing total receipts to Democratic primary candidates for #NY17 YTD 2025. Davidson has only slightly more total receipts than Conley, but Conley currently has $120K more cash on hand and outraised Davidson by $120K in Q2 2025.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 13/07/2025

Trump spent years cynically yelling “WHERE’S THE BIRTH CERTIFICATE” to build his national political brand. Karma's got jokes.

News headline from AFP: "Trump calls for MAGA base to end 'Epstein Files' obsession."

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 01/07/2025

Just show them this palm card. That Chris Davis contract -- yikes.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 27/06/2025

It shouldn’t be surprising that the president is now trying to downplay intel on Iran’s nuclear advances. In 2018, we @csis.org warned that the Trump-Kim talks ignored North Korea’s missile program — the part capable of delivering nukes. Trump lashed out. Here's his response 👇

Screenshot of a November 13, 2018 tweet from Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) stating that a New York Times story about North Korea developing missile bases is inaccurate. He claims the U.S. already knows about the sites, says nothing unusual is happening, and calls it “Fake News.” He adds, “I will be the first to let you know if things go bad!”

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 02/04/2025

Uhh, no, it's definitely gonna be Heat.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 20/03/2025

After more than 50 years into the war on drugs, the illicit drug trade continues to flourish and cause violence in Latin America. @clairemaevabg.bsky.social and I visually explain with @crisisgroup.org's @latam.crisisgroup.org team in our latest interactive ▶️ crisisgroup.org/visual-expla...

A video mashup of drug trading routes in Latin America.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 06/03/2025

Yikes. In a day, fivethirtyeight.com went from complete layoffs to being completely shut down. Sad day. I loved @galendruke.bsky.social and the 538 podcast.

Current state of fivethirtyeight.com and a 404 error.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 14/02/2025

The "experts" of DOGE just left their website completely exposed to hackers. Heckuva job there, fellas. This is why "move fast and break things" in government doesn't work.

Exposing a vulnerability in just a basic data visualisation.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 31/01/2025

He's taking over the mantle of famed Third Reich fanboy and paleoconservative, Pat "wE sHouLd hAve MadE a DeaL wiTh HitLer" Buchanan.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 29/01/2025

Gotta love the Drudge framing.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 29/01/2025

And in tax year 2022, RFK. Jr. was paid over half a million dollars as Chairman and Chief Legal Counsel.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 23/01/2025

Happy official "Bluesky is now bigger than that old website" day to me. 🎂

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 09/01/2025

NEW MAP! 🗺️ @clairemaevabg.bsky.social and I built this new interactive scroll that shows @crisisgroup.org's list of top ten conflicts to watch in 2025. Built with @mapbox.com's scrollytelling library. ♥️ Check it out! ↙️ www.crisisgroup.org/visual-expla...

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 07/01/2025

Mark my words: In addition to the torrent of spoken lies, the Trump admin's pursuit of Greenland will almost certainly involve using map projection distortions to exaggerate the geographic importance of the land mass. #mapping h/t www.thetruesize.com

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 06/01/2025

All my concerns about not reclaiming the same following I built on Twitter since 2009 have been swept away. A good day to celebrate 1337 followers. 🫡 #bluesky

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 03/01/2025

The new real 3D buildings dataset in @mapbox.com's new Standard style is detailed, but I didn't know it was this detailed. 👀

A closeup of Radio City Music Hall in Mapbox's new Standard Style.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 01/01/2025

Nevermind why people distrust public medicine in the first place - because amoral grifters like RFK Jr. spread disinformation.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 10/12/2024

Sen. Kennedy is a deeply unserious man, playing silly gotcha games for Fox News clips rather than digging into policy details. @reichlinmelnick.bsky.social

Sen. Kennedy brought up this series of tweets to play gotcha with expert Aaron Reichlin-Melnick.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 09/12/2024

For no particular reason: Good morning, Yankees fans!

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 05/12/2024

Even if it is the most money Severino could get, why, why, why would you sign with a garbage team like the As? I guess he at least gets guaranteed Octobers off? 🤷 #Mets #Metsky

Luis Severino signs with the Oakland As for $67 million.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 04/12/2024

A reminder that Tucker is resurrecting the historical revisionism of so-called "paleoconservatives" who venerate the Third Reich.

Churchill, Hitler, and the Unnecessary War book by Pat Buchanan.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 03/12/2024

Folks, I know we're obsessing over the word. But it's a post. Not a tweet. Fight me.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 01/12/2024

This is more than perfect

A satirical analysis of my Blue Sky posting habits.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 28/11/2024

Today, I'm thankful for this platform. Let's keep it going. Happy Thanksgiving everyone! bsky-users.theo.io

A live user counter for Blue Sky. Now more than 23 million active users.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 26/11/2024

Is anyone else having an issue with @deck.blue where your Notifications column refuses to load? Can't get it working for any of the accounts I manage, including my personal.

A screengrab of the Notifications column in Deck Blue where a loading wheel constantly spins.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 14/11/2024

I guess this a good problem to have? 🤷

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 14/11/2024

Feels good, fam. Let's keep this up and I'll beat my old Twitter following in no time. Follow me for irreverent takes on all things New York #Mets, foreign policy, video games, cartography/maps, and U.S. politics.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 14/11/2024

NEW MAP: Explore the massive movement of refugees between Sudan and Chad in this latest timelapsed map that Claire Boccon-Gibod and I released today for @crisisgroup.org. crisisgroup.org/visual-expla...

An overview of refugee flows between Sudan and Chad.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 12/11/2024

Coming soon to a Zoom background near you. #mets #lgm

New office background with a 7 Line Army neon sign.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 12/11/2024

Some thoughts here about the #NY17 congressional election, where incumbent GOP Rep. Mike Lawler soundly defeated former Rep. Mondaire Jones by greater margins than in 2022. The verdict on how to win this new district: All roads lead to Rockland County.

A table showing absolute vote totals, 2022 versus 2024.

A table showing the relative change in vote percentages (2024 had far more voters than 2022)

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 11/11/2024

One feature worth re-upping for newcomers to this platform: You can tie your personal domain to your user handle! @ me at paul-franz.com (my portfolio website).

The change handle feature on BSky allows for you to use your own website as your handle.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 24/12/2023

I get nervous when the big innovation here is to just pick another backyard garden critter then invert the white and the blue.

A screenshot of the BlueSky loading screen.

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Paul Franz @paul-franz.com · 19/10/2023

What are some good follow recommendations on this site? Looking for tech, global politics, gaming, and stock market accounts. For real I'm going to try coming back here now.

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