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Tod Mipple

@todmipple.bsky.social
147 followers 141 following 699 posts

Cosmopolitan. Perfect Martini in a pinch. Never Puritan. Rootless.

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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
To embrace a cult of violent death is incompatible with maintaining a decent society.
theguardian.com
‘Medieval’ and ‘disturbing’: US plan to livestream execution elicits global condemnation
Pentagon said execution of Nidal Malik Hasan, who killed 13 people at Fort Hood in 2009, would be broadcast live
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 09/10/2026
"anthropomorphize"
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 08/10/2026
Deserves to be prosecuted for that smirk alone
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Bezalel Smotrich: “a true Muslim needs to know that the Land of Israel belongs to the Jewish people, and over time Arabs like you who don’t recognize that will not remain here. Rabbi Shmuel and his multitude of followers, us among them, will make sure of that.” www.timesofisrael.com/smotrich-thr...
timesofisrael.com
Smotrich threatens to expel Arab MK, other Muslims who don’t accept Jewish rule
Ahmad Tibi, of the Joint List, responds by calling Religious Zionism party leader a racist -- in German
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
"Absolute power makes you totally benevolent"
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Benevolent to who exactly?
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
Kahanism, on the other hand, is explicitly racist. Maybe utilize that term? Also, Likudnicks - e.g. Netanyahu is closely allied with Kahanists like National Security Minister Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Smotrich.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 04/10/2026
"antisemitism"
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 30/09/2026
Here's another piece of evidence to support my observation that Israeli fascists - not all Israelis! - deliberately support antisemitic politicians in other countries because fear of antisemitism increases Jewish immigration to Israel. Also, of course, because all fascists are allied. Free link
haaretz.com
Israeli minister backs French far-right leader amid antisemitism allegations
After the publication of antisemitic messages Jordan Bardella wrote as a teenager, Israeli Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli came out in defense of the National Rally leader, accusing the French left o...
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 29/09/2026
Coming soon to an election near you: deceptive automated AI-generated brainwashing campaigns. Slanted towards fascism of course. Free link
economist.com
Artificial intelligence is coming for Israel’s voters
Governments and voters elsewhere should be watching
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
If only the people knew how hard the Tsar is trying to help them
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 27/09/2026
"funny peculiar"
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 26/09/2026
Actually, there is no reason to suppose that if you are evil then you are at least competent. That is an illogical implication. The only thing that is guaranteed if you are in fact evil is that you are in fact evil.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 25/09/2026
What Abdul El-Sayed believes about America: "This is a country where there is no ethnic identity, there’s no religious identity, there is just a national identity." Me too! Or at least, I believe that's how it should be, and could be, even if we've lately regressed a bit. A good interview:
nytimes.com
Opinion | What Does Abdul El-Sayed Believe? (Gift Article)
The Senate nominee talks about his view for the future of the Democratic Party.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 24/09/2026
"It's complicated!"
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 23/09/2026
Doctors conspire to suppress the proven success of fervent appeals to deities and demons
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 21/09/2026
Today I pay homage to rational humanism.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
don't love hate by demo but happy to deflect
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
Violence is never a legitimate response to rudeness. Thank you for coming to my TOD Talk
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
I respect people on Bluesky who block people regretfully and only when absolutely necessary vastly more than those who do so happily at the slightest pretext. Intolerance is not a virtue.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 14/09/2026
Not a realistic question. But: your "appease" formulation implies that the Republicans have an even worse policy than Jim Crow, right? In that case I'd vote for whoever offers the less-bad policy. I mean, why would I want those who propose the worse overall policy to win? I'd rather *reduce* harm.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
If both parties were equally bad then there would be no point in voting. But that's hardly the case here. Democrats are imperfect defenders of civil rights while Republicans are openly fascistic. It's not even close.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I get your point. Mine is that it's not a matter of trust but an assessment of which party will do more harm to everyone's civil rights, overall, and the Republicans are clearly massively worse in this regard. There's nothing to be gained by withholding votes from Democrats, and much to lose.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
I never said vote blue no matter what, I say vote blue when the alternative is infinitely worse. I'd probably capitulate to anyone who can promise to defeat fascism but that's not on offer, from anyone.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 13/09/2026
Not sure how one follows from the other. There are all kinds of restrictions on what you can teach kids, I wouldn't approve of this one by itself but it hardly amounts to totalitarian dictatorship.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Sure. I'd really hate to have to do that but when the alternative is total fascism then I'd still have to vote for the lesser evil. I mean, If both sides promised total fascism then I'd probably stay home. But that's clearly not the case at this point.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 12/09/2026
Of course. I'm in a distinct minority as an atheist, but I routinely vote for politicians who are pro-religion when the alternative is even worse. Which happens a lot. But I'm just trying to make things better, perfection is rarely an option, and I realize the world doesn't revolve around me.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 11/09/2026
Not so at all. Boomers hated the Vietnam war and applauded the US defeat that ended the war. That's the whole "Vietnam Syndrome"! It was the "greatest generation" Republicans, personified by George HW Bush, who exulted that winning the 1991 Gulf War ended the Vietnam Syndrome. His son invaded Iraq.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Maybe if we stopped referring to Democrats by diminutive names like "dims"? If you must shorten for social media, "D's" does the job, no?
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 06/09/2026
Appropriate
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
I like facts and figures. I like @whstancil.bsky.social because he's good with facts and figures.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 01/09/2026
I miss John Lennon. Imagine there's no countries It isn't hard to do Nothing to kill or die for And no religion, too
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 31/08/2026
Dr. Abdul El-Sayed had better not agree with these former Israeli generals, intelligence officials and prime ministers or Bill Ackman and Dana Bash and Bari Weiss and Hakeem Jeffries and John Fetterman and Mike Rogers and Jonathan Tobin and and AIPAC will accuse him of antisemitism in unison.
nytimes.com
These Generals Fought for Israel. Now They See ‘Jewish Terrorism’ as the Threat. (Gift Article)
A growing number of former Israeli generals, intelligence officials and prime ministers are accusing settlers in the West Bank of committing ethnic cleansing with government support. “Once a society b...
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 30/08/2026
You may mock AI but fear may be the more appropriate response. Free link
nytimes.com
Bill Gates Warns A.I. Is More Dangerous Than Big Tech Will Admit (Gift Article)
In an hourlong interview, he said his industry was downplaying the risks, which he believes include mass unemployment and bioterrorism.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
For some reason the people who are usually so exquisitely sensitive to perceived antisemitism remain disquietingly quiet about Mr. Musk
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
Not to mention believes in miasma theory
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 29/08/2026
He's going to lose the votes of lots of Newsmax viewers by saying that.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Nazis don't oppose genocide
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Reposted by Tod Mipple
David Roberts @volts.wtf · 27/08/2026
My whole life, the GOP has been testing the limits of this principle, pushing & pushing, getting shittier & shittier, and nothing breaks the "both sides" model. Nothing. Now we have literal brute fascism being both-sided with ... campaigning with a controversial streamer. Or using pronouns.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
No doubt Dana Bash will get around to noticing the presence of actual Republican Nazis just as soon as she's finished attacking any progressives who criticize Israel's behavior. Free link
wapo.st
A former Mike Collins staffer posted KKK and Nazi images. Some Republicans see a pattern.
Rep. Mike Collins (R-Georgia) is challenging Sen. Jon Ossoff (D). The former Collins staffer posted a swastika and shared an image of himself in what appear to be KKK robes.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Specifically, the Illegal immigration of individuals identified as measles viruses from Morbillivirus.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 23/08/2026
Tariffs are taxes on American consumers, plain and simple. That Democrats don't even try to get this message across is a stronger indictment of Democratic Party leadership than Hakeem Jeffries fellating Jared Kushner. Thank you for coming to my TOD Talk
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
I was responding specifically to @ebharrington.bsky.social quoting Popper about criminalizing the *preaching* of intolerance and persecution. As many religions do. But that's solid First Amendment territory, no?
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Look, I find racism intolerable. I also find religion intolerable. But I try to be kind to people with both tendencies in the hope I can convince them to mend their ways. I certainly don't wish to criminalize either personal preference as such. This is just basic 1A stuff.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Seriously? I'm just saying individuals should be allowed to decide what they personally tolerate and what they steer clear of. Is that out of bounds in your view?
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
*are integral
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Disagree. Individuals should choose what they tolerate and what they don't. Predatory *behavior* may be criminalized, but not the thoughtcrime of intolerance. Anyway, with exceptions, I still claim that kindness and conflict avoidance is integral to a civilized society. What's your alternative?
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
It's a very good cultural norm to live by. There are times when it should be ignored - during wars, fascist takeovers and the like - but you really can't have a decent normal life without that norm. That said, Amy Siskind is missing the point. By a mile.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
He also does not seem to comprehend the meaning of the word "scapegoat". He is not being unfairly blamed for anyone else's sins or errors.
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Tod Mipple @todmipple.bsky.social · 19/08/2026
A man after my own brain Free link
nytimes.com
A Democrat Sounds the Alarm on Christian Nationalism in Congress (Gift Article)
Representative Jared Huffman of California, the only self-declared “humanist” in Congress, writes in a new book that the separation of church and state is in grave danger.
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