Steve Thomas-Patel

In the US, politics is a $21+ billion industry. For us regular people to have a meaningful chance, we need movements that understand how to win without money. Money buys noise, but everyone can make noise.

It's been a while since reading something made me say "wtf did I just read", so, Marc Tracy, thank you? www.nytimes.com/2026/01/30/m... @marcatracy.bsky.social

The Democratic Party to NYC: Your choices will be an unapologetic sexual abuser or a corrupt mayor in the hands of a tyrant president. NYC: Nope.

A couple of months ago I wrote my state representatives and told them I did not feel they should have X on their website or should at least have bluesky. I received no reply, but since then, one has removed her X link, the other has not.

A new horror unlocked: These guys deciding how to deal with Israel-Iran war. This is the stuff of nightmares. What an image.

My belief is that Trump wanted a confrontation before his parade in order to preempt the "No Kings" protesters. He's deployed national guard and marines. I also think he thought he could use this as an opportunity to rally people behind his parade. I don't think it is going the way he'd hoped.

This was a beautiful win. REI is structured as if it is a co-op and likes to say it is, but for the most part just acts like any other company. This year they seriously betrayed their customers by endorsing Doug Burgum for SOI. REI customers pushed back. I don't think the board learned anything.

Forming a new political party is unrealistic, but Democrats need to carve out a sub-party soon. Most rank-and-file Dems have very little in common with current party leaders, particularly Senate Democrats. Voters want ethical leaders willing to fight the Trump administration. We don't have that.

We can expect many more of these spurious charges against democrats or any political rival that emerges, especially when we approach elections in the coming years. I hope this brings Rep. McIver followers. May their attempts at suppression amplify their opponent's messages.

My statement on the charges filed against me:

still maddening how many geriatric Dem senators have run or are running for re-election instead of setting up an orderly transition to a successor or permitting turnover

In case we needed evidence Democratic leadership is out of touch.

Personally, I was all for Biden as the safe bet that "had to win" in 2020. I am not looking for anything like that in 2028.

A nice little bloom for my birthday. Our first matilija poppy of the year opened up yesterday. (Maybe not so **little**)

My favorite part about TESLA's problems, which are caused by Musk, is that they think the solution is more Musk. At least that means the rest of us get less Musk.

The free exchange of ideas is fundamental to who we are as a nation. That includes across borders. It sets us apart from places like China, Russia, Iran, North Korea. This idea sounded all kinds of implausible to me. It's heartening to learn there is already a specific law preventing it.

I'm thinking this guy knows what he's talking about.

Microsoft has dropped a law firm that settled with the Trump administration in favor of one that is fighting the president’s executive orders, in a sign that those firms can still attract clients.

Forbes(!) did a critical story on this guy over a month ago. Now he's senior leadership at the Pentagon, aiming to "right the ship." Oh yes, this is going to go well.

Wtf? An ad by the State Department on reddit telling me not to travel to "Level 4 travel adv. countries?" I assume anyone travelling to one of these countries would be fully aware without needing to be told. Feels like, maybe an attack on Venezuela? Or just trying to make people afraid to travel?

Arresting judges. Fuck.

This is a fight that is nothing new, but the need for digital privacy in the US has never been clearer.

It's the 40th anniversary of New Coke -- here is how the story of New Coke describes what is happening in US politics. steve.thomaspatel.com/posts/new-co...

Under the Trump administration, reporting crime is the crime. As opposed to passing around national security willy-nilly, which is just fine. www.usnews.com/news/politic...

Excited to launch a rebuild of my website, Indiaphile, this week. Note the butterfly in our social icons (and no bird, lol). Check it out! indiaphile.info

Saw this on bsky and wanted to repost but I lost the original. Good find, whoever had it. I'm guessing it's already been making the rounds. Big praise to John Lithgow!

YES! Trump will leave us "feeble and friendless." The moments she speaks this bluntly are the moments we must listen to the most.

Why would anyone hire a lawyer to fight for them that won’t even fight for their own law firm? Instant capitulation is not really a good attribute for a law firm.

I've been waiting for this

I also contacted my state reps. I don't understand why public agencies are still on X. Find yours here: www.sos.ca.gov/elections/wh...

I received a "Silver Alert" today, clicked on the link (a bit.ly link) and was taken to X. So I complained to CHP. If you live in California, please consider doing the same. Our tax dollars should not be used to help sustain that platform. www.chp.ca.gov/home/contact...

Remember when Trump promised Elon would do for the country what he did for Twitter?

1. What you see here is clearest illustration why things are so messed up and why it cannot get any better until this asymmetry is addressed. Put simply: the right-wing has narrative dominance. My org @mmfa.bsky.social did this study and has been sounding this alarm for years. Some thoughts...

I was about to say these NDAs should be illegal and invalidated, but apparently they already are, it just doesn't matter when you have enough money.

I will add that if the prognosis is correct then the Russian opposition's many failures and setbacks (the weird coalitions and compromised triangulations, the struggle to stay one step ahead of restrictions on digital spaces, etc) will be instructive for this moment.

Reminder, today is day 43 of the 90-day plan to convert the US to Orban-style authoritarianism.

Congratulations Tesla on producing 4 of the 20 most depreciating car models.

Voted "withhold" for REI board today. I would encourage anyone who has a membership to do the same. See this post for instructions: www.reddit.com/r/Wilderness...

Are you f'n kidding me with this trash, @newrepublic.com ? The blackout is because people are finally waking up to the oversized power corporations are playing in our lives. It's that simple. We **Citizens** are tired of being thought of as "consumers." It's time to stop the nonsense.

Tomorrow is the big No-Purchase Blackout. But it can't be for just a day. Let's start a movement to bring down the oligarchy.

Bill Burr not holding back. I can't believe I almost missed this.

Yes, my family and I will absolutely be participating in the economic blackout tomorrow. Please join us.

The real story on the SAVE Act. This is how they plan to take over elections. www.tiktok.com/t/ZT2mxp62E/

💥 BREAKING: At Apple's 2025 annual meeting of shareholders today, proposal entitled “Request to Cease DEI Efforts" is rejected by shareholders. Right-wing nonprofit National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) proposal was also rejected by Costco shareholders 98-2 percent.

Biden's farewell speech was perhaps the most fiery speech of his lifetime. Yet feels like it went largely unnoticed. Is it because of our squirrel-brained media or intentional glossing over? I decided to take another look at it to see how it holds up after Trump's first 30+ days in office.

Got my first block on Bluesky today, for suggesting judges are right to defend the rule of law. 🤷

Looking for ways to do my part, I've started this blog to raise awareness and offer practical ways to activate. My expertise in web technologies. This post is about the need for developing alternative networks of information (you are on Bluesky so you already get it!)

It’s easier to pass policy that pushes housing inequality if people don’t know about Jim Crow, Red lining, & so on—it‘a how people believe “it can’t happen here” A pillar for all unjust policy Ex: defacing Stonewall; abuses of deportees in Panama As always, “My liberation is bound up in yours”

If you needed any more motivation to leave google