Sign in

Phil Stevens

@philstevens19.bsky.social
1.5K followers 483 following 2.9K posts

Retired Illinois public ed guy and proud dad/husband. I love critical thinking based on objective truth. And there’s the Michigan football thing.

PostsRepliesMedia
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Apoorva Mandavilli @apoorvanyt.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
I’ve been reporting on the CDC for years, and have written about many of its troubles over the past year. I was still shocked by the extent of the staff losses and political interference I found when reporting this one. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/26/h...
nytimes.com
‘Zombified’ C.D.C., Hobbled by Cuts, Struggles to Fulfill Scientific Mission (Gift Article)
The agency has lost its independence and nearly a third of its staff, as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and associates have tightened control.
381371569
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Aaron Rupar @atrupar.com · 27/09/2026
WELKER: Did President Xi actually commit to stop China's support of Iran with this war? MIKE WALTZ: They've had, uh, good, strong, and I think fulsome conversations about that support, but I'll leave that to the president to detail (So, no!)
1171204258
Reposted by Phil Stevens
ProPublica @propublica.org · 26/09/2026
In response to our reporting, Susan Collins has mustered a defense that is full of incorrect and misleading claims. We’ve reviewed FBI evidence, examined thousands of pages of records and interviewed dozens of people. Here are the receipts.
propublica.org
ProPublica Debunks Susan Collins’ Claims About FBI Anti-Corruption Probe
ProPublica revealed that the FBI was circling Sen. Collins over a defense contractor’s donations — until President Trump gutted the unit in charge. Collins has since mustered a defense with a series o...
10838301748
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Norm Eisen @normeisen.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
Please don't overreact to the SCOTUS SAVE database decision today Page 6 of the decision makes clear that we are in the 90 day statutory window when mass changes cannot be made to voter lists! Yeah it's a shit decision for the reasons the 3 dissenters say but we can deal with it. More to come...
nytimes.com
Supreme Court Allows Expansive Voter Screening Tool Ahead of Midterms (Gift Article)
Critics of the Trump administration system to monitor the citizenship status of voters had raised alarms about privacy and improper voter purges.
31144901823
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Per DHS, “ICE officers relied on their training and later left the scene..." I guess their training involves beating the shit out of unarmed people and going to lunch. Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription. www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/u...
nytimes.com
ICE Mistakenly Detains U.S. Citizen in Chicago Area, Leaving Him Injured (Gift Article)
The Department of Homeland Security said agents released the man after he identified himself. He was taken to a hospital with head and neck injuries, local police said.
000
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Even a dope like me knows that being mayor puts a premium on getting shit done. This is a great synopsis of Mamdani’s abilities from a guy who philosophically aligns differently Zohran Mamdani Is the Future of the Democratic Party. But Not for the Reason You Think. open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
open.substack.com
Zohran Mamdani Is the Future of the Democratic Party. But Not for the Reason You Think.
What everyone is missing about the left’s fastest rising star.
000
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
Because Donald is a cornered rat, he's likely to ban export of diesel before the midterms. Here is what that will bring about (spoiler: it'll make things worse). Donald the Deadbeat Does Diesel paulkrugman.substack.com/p/donald-the...
paulkrugman.substack.com
Donald the Deadbeat Does Diesel
Trump gets ready to stiff more contractors
000
Reposted by Phil Stevens
George Conway ⚖️🇺🇸 @gtconway.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Honestly when someone first sent me this story this morning I thought it was from @theonion.com
3021826512
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 20/09/2026
Wonder if Collins is concerned about her vote to hand this stuff over to RFK Jr. White House Moves to Take Control of N.I.H. Grants www.nytimes.com/2026/09/20/s...
nytimes.com
White House Moves to Take Control of N.I.H. Grants
000
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 19/09/2026
I'm curious if Donald will pardon this asshole. Donald loves sex criminals (cross ref Epstein, J) and people who abuse their positions for personal gain/pleasure like he does so I'm thinking after the midterms, Uribe walks. Free link www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/17/l...
chicagotribune.com
US Customs and Border agent convicted of raping, robbing sex workers in Chicago-area hotel rooms
A federal jury on Thursday convicted U.S. Customs and Border Protection agent Luis Uribe on all counts alleging he used his gun and badge to rape and rob Chinese sex workers in Chicago-area hotel room...
000
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Rex Huppke @rexhuppke.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
At the end of the day, beyond the hatefulness, he's really just a spectacularly dumb guy. Like I'm not sure he's achieved object permanence yet. He has to be reminded which hole the food goes in. His internal monologue is the sound of one hand clapping. He calls electrical sockets "finger zappers."
983165530
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 18/09/2026
Dude is Charmin soft. Trump Says He Has Banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico From White House www.nytimes.com/2026/09/18/b...
nytimes.com
Trump Says He Has Banned CNN, MS NOW and Politico From White House (Gift Article)
In an insult-laden post on Truth Social, President Trump said he was instituting the ban because of reporting from the outlets that he deemed “fake news.”
000
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
And the toddler is going to demolish the Kennedy Center because no one wants to put his name on it. Completely predictable due to his fragility (even a dummy like me knew it was coming). newrepublic.com/post/215532/...
newrepublic.com
Photographer Exposes Trump’s Kennedy Center Plan—and It’s a Bombshell
And a witness spotted a forklift repeatedly crashing into the building’s pillars.
000
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Me predicting weeks ago that Trump was going to blame Ukraine for diesel prices and that he would publicly demand that Zelenskyy stop bombing Russian refineries, which happened today.
892869701
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Jen Rubin @jenrubin.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
wrong, you moron. your pledge is to the constitution. he really is too dumb even for Congress
1135850
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Ron Filipkowski @ronfilipkowski.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Trump promised $5,000 stimulus checks from DOGE cuts. You got 0. Trump promised $2,000 stimulus checks from tariffs. You got 0. Trump promised $1,000 checks from Obamacare cuts. You got 0. Trump promised $1.98 gas. You got $4+. Trump now has more promises for you.
25143891690
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Catherine Rampell @crampell.bsky.social · 10/09/2026
Since becoming president again, Trump has promised: -$5000 stimulus checks via "DOGE dividend" -$2000 stimulus checks via "tariff dividend" -$1000+ checks via "savings" from expiring ACA subsidies -$5000 "dividend" if Rs win midterms No checks have been issued www.thebulwark.com/p/trump-magi...
46079473375
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 09/09/2026
open.substack.com/pub/thebulwa...
open.substack.com
Marco Rubio Is Punishing a Teenage Boy for His Grandmother’s Sins
America gave Rubio’s family a second chance. He gave this family a cage.
000
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Barry Butler Photography @barrybutler9.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Til Summer Comes Around. This evening's sunset sayonara to summer in Chicago.
13885136
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Gift link. Please read. Two thoughts: quick thread 1/2 www.chicagotribune.com/2026/09/06/c...
chicagotribune.com
Operation Midway Blitz, one year later: A changed Chicago forges on after the resistance
For 64 days, the federal government carried out a militarized immigration enforcement operation under the guise of making Chicago safer. A year later, why do people still feel so unsafe?
101
Reposted by Phil Stevens
The Majors Ann Arbor @themajorsa2.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
⏱️ A Big Ten replay worker showed fans 0:01 on the clock during the disputed Michigan–Western Michigan ending. Should broadcasts show viewers the same angles replay officials use?
1215
Reposted by Phil Stevens
PBS News @pbsnews.org · 05/09/2026
The Trump administration plans to break ground within two weeks on a 250-foot arch just beyond the gates of Arlington National Cemetery. Critics say it would disrupt historic sightlines intended to symbolize the nation’s reconciliation after the Civil War. to.pbs.org/4xQlN0E
to.pbs.org
Retired general calls Trump's proposed arch near Arlington a 'sacrilege'
The Trump administration plans to break ground within two weeks on a 250-foot arch just beyond the gates of Arlington National Cemetery. Critics say it would disrupt historic sightlines intended to sy...
3520290
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Robert Reich @rbreich.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
This should be a reminder that capitulating to tyrants in advance is not necessarily a viable business strategy.
theguardian.com
MapQuest app reaches No 1 on US Apple list after defying Trump’s Lake Ontario order
Navigating app surpasses Google and Apple Maps on top-downloaded US chart after posting ‘we’re not changing it’
551811449
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Donald is really, really good at destruction. This at worst innocuous and at best fun and joyous piece will likely be replaced with some garish crap because Donald. Kennedy Center Removes ‘Blue’ Sculpture That Was an Artist’s Gift www.nytimes.com/2026/09/01/a...
nytimes.com
Kennedy Center Removes ‘Blue’ Sculpture That Was an Artist’s Gift (Gift Article)
The towering artwork, added to the campus in 2019, was targeted for elimination after President Trump’s takeover of the center.
001
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Really, really good critique of Collins' worminess. The Deal Susan Collins Made With Trump open.substack.com/pub/adamkinz...
open.substack.com
The Deal Susan Collins Made With Trump
Susan Collins says Liz Cheney has “no influence.” But what did Collins have to compromise to keep hers?
001
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
Tech oligarchs' assault on democracy in plain sight. 'The Nerd Reich': An Urgent Warning for American Democracy open.substack.com/pub/confront...
open.substack.com
'The Nerd Reich': An Urgent Warning for American Democracy
Decades of investigating government corruption couldn't prepare me for Gil Durán’s chilling account of Silicon Valley’s authoritarian ambitions.
000
Reposted by Phil Stevens
The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
WATCH: “I’m a Dem because the other party doesn’t believe people like me deserve anything, but I want my party to be better… we lost the thread on working people’s issues.”
15474112057
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Tea Pain @teapainusa.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Food so good you grow an extra finger!
1223112933239
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Rex Huppke @rexhuppke.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
I think data centers are great and we should fully embrace them. My reasoned column: www.usatoday.com/story/opinio...
usatoday.com
Data centers are great and we should fully embrace them | Opinion
When I learned a data center was being built near my town or city, I stood up on my human chair and cheered.
57614
Reposted by Phil Stevens
PBS News @pbsnews.org · 29/08/2026
A federal judge in California says the U.S. government is unconstitutionally silencing critics of Israel's war in Gaza and others as part of the Trump administration's quest to deport noncitizens who it says disrupted college campuses while expressing their views. to.pbs.org/4chWtIo
to.pbs.org
Trump cannot deport students for criticizing Israel, judge rules
Judge Noël Wise, in a ruling Friday, delivered a victory for the student newspaper at Stanford University, which has said some international students were afraid to speak out because of the deportatio...
527593
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Really well written warning of how infected the Republican Party is by bigotry. www.ms.now/opinion/trum...
ms.now
Opinion | Trump normalized gutter racism. Now the GOP has a young Nazi problem.
Anthony L. Fisher: A former staffer to Rep. Mike Collins posted unambiguously racist content. This keeps happening to Republicans.
000
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Kai Ryssdal @kairyssdal.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Oil guy…👇
1443370
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Donald is really, really good at destruction. Good bye to an enormous advantage that US used to have. A brain drain will have devastating economic consequences. www.nytimes.com/2026/08/27/w...
nytimes.com
Canada Hires U.S. Scholars From Harvard and Other Top Universities (Gift Article)
A crackdown on American academia by the Trump administration has handed Canadian universities a rare opportunity to lure some top researchers north.
072
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Marc Elias @marcelias.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
🚨BREAKING: The Department of Homeland Security privately confessed that it lacked “high confidence” in its claim that more than 14,000 noncitizens were improperly registered to vote in Pennsylvania, according to a letter from the state’s top election official. www.democracydocket.com/news-alerts/...
democracydocket.com
DHS lacks ‘high confidence’ in its Pennsylvania noncitizen voter roll claims
The disclosure is the latest indication that sweeping noncitizen-voting claims promoted publicly by the Trump administration were based entirely on preliminary or unverified federal data.
14031831310
Reposted by Phil Stevens
NPR @npr.org · 27/08/2026
Nondisclosure agreements covered up negotiations between a tech company and several local and state officials, surprising local residents. It's a tactic used around the country in data center deals. n.pr/4zDUacy
n.pr
NDAs are hiding data center deals, drawing ire from locals — and attention from lawmakers
Nondisclosure agreements covered up negotiations between a tech company and several local and state officials, surprising local residents. It's a tactic used around the country in data center deals.
15285104
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Promises made...it's Biden's fault! A telling graph: Biden Derangement Syndrome paulkrugman.substack.com/p/biden-dera...
000
Reposted by Phil Stevens
Barry Butler Photography @barrybutler9.bsky.social · 25/08/2026
Reflections on Tuesday. This morning's sunrise in Chicago.
121953
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
Corrupt Republicans you say?
000
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Even if you have a limited stats background, like me, this is a great primer on how methodology is CRUCIAL and why it matters if someone (Donald and the Sycophants) tries to game things. Who Put the Census Bureau in the Propaganda Business? open.substack.com/pub/platypus...
open.substack.com
Who Put the Census Bureau in the Propaganda Business?
A once-trusted agency has dressed up partisan election claims as official statistics—and hidden the evidence needed to test them.
000
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 24/08/2026
A chart from Paul Krugman to pull out when Republicans suddenly start panicking about debt after a Democrat becomes president (like they always do). No Bush/Trump tax cuts, no crisis. Tax the rich. Close bullshit offshoring tricks.
000
Reposted by Phil Stevens
The Tennessee Holler @thetnholler.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
Playing in our faces
509118565387
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Math is math.
000
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Summer in the Great Lakes region is often idyllic. Enjoying a cicada serenade and a beer.
010
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
1) Jamelle Bouie is an excellent writer. 2) He cuts to the heart of L'Affaire de Natalie by noting that the real problem is an old narcissist who demands only flattering info, even if it's lies. That is NOT what ANY leader should do. Echos of Hitler's inner circle here tbh.
nytimes.com
Opinion | The Real Natalie Harp Scandal Is the President’s Information Diet (Gift Article)
President Trump exists in a degraded, chaotic environment.
030
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
This is heartbreaking. I cannot believe that people openly voted for this cruelty. People who exemplify the American Dream have their lives upended for…you tell me. www.wbez.org/immigration/...
wbez.org
After their dad was deported, family works to keep his Humboldt Park sandwich shop and legacy alive
Asif Amin Cheema was deported to his native Pakistan in January after 30 years in the United States, where he raised his five kids. In the months since, the Amins have tried to keep his Best Sub #2 sa...
000
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Good! Now do Donald, Lutnick, Dershowitz and the rest of the NY/Palm Springs Epstein BFF club. F.B.I. Agents Search Eric Swalwell’s Home as Part of Federal Inquiry www.nytimes.com/2026/08/20/u...
nytimes.com
FBI Agents Search Eric Swalwell’s Home as Part of Federal Sexual Assault Inquiry
Most sex crimes are prosecuted by state and local authorities. The federal agents appeared to be using civil rights statutes to scrutinize Mr. Swalwell’s conduct, a person familiar with the case said.
030
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Krugman today warns about the OMG DEFICITS that Republicans will very likely yell if Dems get Congress/Presidency in 28. This graph is esp telling. Look where we are without huge tax cuts for the rich. Link to whole piece: paulkrugman.substack.com/p/the-case-a...
000
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 20/08/2026
Math is math. Here's a handy collection of data that shows that when Donald speaks, bullshit commences. www.nytimes.com/interactive/...
nytimes.com
Opinion | Trump’s Economic Record Doesn’t Come Close to His Campaign Promises (Gift Article)
The president likes to boast about the “greatest economy we’ve ever had.” His record falls far short.
011
Phil Stevens @philstevens19.bsky.social · 18/08/2026
This is bad Bond Sell-Off Sends Borrowing Costs to Highest Level Since 2007 www.nytimes.com/2026/08/18/b...
nytimes.com
Bond Sell-Off Sends Borrowing Costs to Highest Level Since 2007 (Gift Article)
Yields on the 30-year U.S. Treasury and government bonds across the world rose to multiyear highs as investors fret about inflation, deficits and A.I. spending.
011
Reposted by Phil Stevens
PBS News @pbsnews.org · 18/08/2026
Scientists say climate change, caused mainly by burning oil, coal and gas, is making the Mediterranean Sea hotter, bringing hundreds of new and invasive fish species that decimate indigenous populations. to.pbs.org/4q3nQLY
pbs.org
The Mediterranean's warming waters are drawing hundreds of invasive species
Scientists say climate change, caused mainly by burning oil, coal and gas, is making the Mediterranean Sea hotter, bringing hundreds of new and invasive fish species that decimate indigenous populatio...
511756