Ever since the Clintons first went to Jackson Hole and stabbed it with their steely knives (despite getting themselves elected by hinting they liked and would at least consider it), MFA has been the obvious political elephant in the room. Yet the DP remains occupied by creeps like Ron Wyden, who markets himself as progressive, yet opposes MFA. And he's way on the left in the command room of this maddening contraption. We got some work to do, friends.
You may not have your notifications set for Bonus Stories. I always tag them in the next TFN newsletter, so you'll never miss them, but if you want them emailed to you, too, just adjust your settings here: https://thefuckingnews.substack.com/account
Thanks for pointing out the simple truth that answers to dumb questions reinforce dumb opinions. You're not alone in making this point. Michael Podhorzer has made this point again, and again, and again, and again on his really excellent substack Weekend Reading. Myself, I see this as a symptom of like-i-fication. What matters isn't what someone's opinion is. What matters is why they have that opinion ... and what they believe the opinion is about. But then we also think a "debate" involves 90 second segments in which candidates hurl their opinions/positions at each other without having to explain (a) what they think the issue is or (b) why they believe their "solution" is a solution or (c) respond to substantive criticism of their position.
I was tempted to critique this as a "glass half empty/full" argument but that is to miss the underlying point: How we say what we say matters.
That has been a contention of mine for some time; one of my preferred memories is the time after a debate that a woman in the audience said I had the ability to "make the most radical proposal sound like a voice of sweet moderation."
Which brings up the fact - shameless self-promotion coming - that I just t'other day posted on that topic. Somewhat different context, but the same idea: phrasing matters.
The Harris campaign's efforts to overcome a hostile environment, rather than to reshape it, is exactly what missed the critical mark last year. I find your data analysis spot on.
Linguistics experts like George Monbiot write about the power of reframing. In this article, you bring to bear timely political proof. Very cool.
Thanks Jonathan for this…i suspect it mirrors how people truly feel about USAID as well…most don’t think those starving African children are “deep state crisis actors” playing a grift.
Thank you Jonathan for taking the time to research and do the hard work that the Democratic Party are not doing and/or overpaying 'consultants' to misread and screw up. Republicans, of course do not care about these numbers, they are busy lying and making up stories to keep the real truth coming out. And unfortunately for. over 30 percent of the moronic American population, after 2 sentences and 1 chart, your story will be 'too much' reading and using undeveloped parts of their brain unit and never realize that they voted for a POS lying shyster for President. But your efforts are noble. Please need to add ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and NPR to your email list for your stories and title each one: GET YOUR FACES OUT OF THE MAKE-UP MIRROR, WAKE UP AND DO YOUR F'IN JOBS!
Last I checked (and I don't check often), MSM react to social media. And while I'm sure they are selective, if any reader would write a reply with links to share the post to said MSM outlets, and a dozen or so other readers would ustilize those... at the very least it would give those outlets another point of data as to where the public's opinion is at.
Loved this analysis. The adage, 'more unites us than divides us' fits. I won't allow negative, hopeless thought to infect my day. I will draw courage from all sources like the AUSA's who defied Emil Bove III. Btw, have you seen his picture? Why do so many in the admin look like Hollywood villains?
I know in my head that it is "statistically valid" but I just can't take seriously a poll with a sample size of 1,100 people taken before trump even took office. I've had the science of it explained to me but I still don't believe polls reflect the populace accurately.
I don’t think this poll is an outlier but I think my central thesis is that there is nothing to reflect accurately. Opinions are held shallowly and wildly mutable!
Ever since the Clintons first went to Jackson Hole and stabbed it with their steely knives (despite getting themselves elected by hinting they liked and would at least consider it), MFA has been the obvious political elephant in the room. Yet the DP remains occupied by creeps like Ron Wyden, who markets himself as progressive, yet opposes MFA. And he's way on the left in the command room of this maddening contraption. We got some work to do, friends.
Wonderful. Brilliant write-up. Why wasn't this in my mail inbox?
You may not have your notifications set for Bonus Stories. I always tag them in the next TFN newsletter, so you'll never miss them, but if you want them emailed to you, too, just adjust your settings here: https://thefuckingnews.substack.com/account
Thanks for pointing out the simple truth that answers to dumb questions reinforce dumb opinions. You're not alone in making this point. Michael Podhorzer has made this point again, and again, and again, and again on his really excellent substack Weekend Reading. Myself, I see this as a symptom of like-i-fication. What matters isn't what someone's opinion is. What matters is why they have that opinion ... and what they believe the opinion is about. But then we also think a "debate" involves 90 second segments in which candidates hurl their opinions/positions at each other without having to explain (a) what they think the issue is or (b) why they believe their "solution" is a solution or (c) respond to substantive criticism of their position.
I was tempted to critique this as a "glass half empty/full" argument but that is to miss the underlying point: How we say what we say matters.
That has been a contention of mine for some time; one of my preferred memories is the time after a debate that a woman in the audience said I had the ability to "make the most radical proposal sound like a voice of sweet moderation."
Which brings up the fact - shameless self-promotion coming - that I just t'other day posted on that topic. Somewhat different context, but the same idea: phrasing matters.
If anyone cares, it's at https://whoviating.substack.com/p/its-only-words.
"I have felt depressingly unseen in this view until ..."
So, at least you were seen in the 19th century! I can think of more isolated bubbles!
The Harris campaign's efforts to overcome a hostile environment, rather than to reshape it, is exactly what missed the critical mark last year. I find your data analysis spot on.
Linguistics experts like George Monbiot write about the power of reframing. In this article, you bring to bear timely political proof. Very cool.
Thanks Jonathan for this…i suspect it mirrors how people truly feel about USAID as well…most don’t think those starving African children are “deep state crisis actors” playing a grift.
🔥
Thank you Jonathan for taking the time to research and do the hard work that the Democratic Party are not doing and/or overpaying 'consultants' to misread and screw up. Republicans, of course do not care about these numbers, they are busy lying and making up stories to keep the real truth coming out. And unfortunately for. over 30 percent of the moronic American population, after 2 sentences and 1 chart, your story will be 'too much' reading and using undeveloped parts of their brain unit and never realize that they voted for a POS lying shyster for President. But your efforts are noble. Please need to add ABC, NBC, CBS, Fox and NPR to your email list for your stories and title each one: GET YOUR FACES OUT OF THE MAKE-UP MIRROR, WAKE UP AND DO YOUR F'IN JOBS!
Last I checked (and I don't check often), MSM react to social media. And while I'm sure they are selective, if any reader would write a reply with links to share the post to said MSM outlets, and a dozen or so other readers would ustilize those... at the very least it would give those outlets another point of data as to where the public's opinion is at.
Thank you!
Hold MAGA reps accountable for cutting your benefits to pay back Elon Musk: Start with these key swing districts
https://thedemlabs.org/2025/02/15/hold-maga-reps-accountable-for-cutting-your-benefits-to-pay-back-elon-musk-start-with-these-key-swing-districts/
Thanks for doing the Math.
Love, Love, Love this. We gotta find a way to operationalize this within our political community.
BROOOOOOOOOOCE!!!
https://brucespringsteen.net/track/land-of-hope-and-dreams-2/
Loved this analysis. The adage, 'more unites us than divides us' fits. I won't allow negative, hopeless thought to infect my day. I will draw courage from all sources like the AUSA's who defied Emil Bove III. Btw, have you seen his picture? Why do so many in the admin look like Hollywood villains?
The evil in their souls is manifest in their faces.
I mean, central casting is a trope for a reason ...
so true!
I know in my head that it is "statistically valid" but I just can't take seriously a poll with a sample size of 1,100 people taken before trump even took office. I've had the science of it explained to me but I still don't believe polls reflect the populace accurately.
I don’t think this poll is an outlier but I think my central thesis is that there is nothing to reflect accurately. Opinions are held shallowly and wildly mutable!
Oh FFS, stop encouraging folks to PONDER ISSUES, you LUNATIC!
💓
😂