Oh, gee. Elon Musk has picked yet another fight he can’t win. Yeah, you can move right on along, nothing to see here.

Gilead

Twitter


Fig. 1. “Elon Musk shared a video of his entrance on his Twitter account.” Photograph attributed to Elon Musk, October 26, 2022, via the New York Post,[1] fair use.

If there’s one company for [Elon Musk] not to pick a fight with in the world, it’s Apple, and he just poked the bear. It’s just another head-scratching battle that Musk has waged since his ownership of Twitter.[2]

But picking fights is just what Elon Musk does. Again and again and again. More often than not, utterly pointlessly.[3] Scratch your head because Musk has picked a fight, and you won’t have a scalp left.

That said, based on what I’m seeing in my feed, I’ve been thinking there wasn’t anybody left on Twitter and therefore nobody to advertise to, undermining Musk’s last bit of leverage. It turns out this was premature. I am seeing signs of life today. They’re feeble, but they’re there. Some people do remain but it remains my impression that many, many have left.

Reuters, “Twitter CEO Musk says user signups at all-time high, touts features of ‘everything app,’” November 27, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-ceo-musk-says-user-signups-all-time-high-touts-features-everything-app-2022-11-27/

Philip Bump, “Hey, Elon Musk? Twitter polls are not the ‘voice of the people,’” Washington Post, November 28, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/28/hey-elon-musk-twitter-polls-are-not-voice-people/

David Frum, “It’s apparently pro free speech when Elon Musk charges you $8 for access to his platform, but anti free speech if Apple charges him $2 for access to theirs,” Twitter, November 28, 2022, https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/1597332772687085569

Sarah E. Needleman and Tim Higgins, “Elon Musk Claims Apple Is Threatening to Remove Twitter From App Store,” Wall Street Journal, November 28, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-attacks-apple-tim-cook-over-advertising-and-censorship-11669662024

Sheila Dang and Katie Paul, “Twitter not safer under Elon Musk, says former head of trust and safety,” Reuters, November 29, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-not-safer-under-elon-musk-says-former-head-trust-safety-conference-2022-11-29/

Reuters, “Twitter rolls back COVID misinformation policy,” November 29, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-rolls-back-covid-misinformation-policy-2022-11-29/

Naomi Nix, “Twitter needs Apple more than Apple needs Twitter,” Washington Post, November 30, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/11/30/apple-musk-tim-cook/

White Christian nationalism (Trumpism)


Fig. 1. A Ku Klux Klan meeting in Gainesville, Florida, Dec. 31, 1922, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

There is a new blog post entitled, “What if, indeed, it comes to civil war?

B. Duncan Moench, “How the Next Civil War Begins,” Tablet, November 29, 2022, https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/news/articles/how-next-civil-war-begins

Donald Trump

Finances


Fig. 1. Trump International Hotel, Las Vegas, undated image credited to https://www.flickr.com/photos/glynlowe/ [bad link], CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Katelyn Polantz, “House committee receives Donald Trump’s federal tax returns from IRS,” CNN, November 30, 2022, https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/30/politics/house-ways-and-means-committee-now-has-donald-trumps-federal-tax-returns/index.html


So-called ‘ridesharing’

Drivers


Fig. 1. “Clarkdale Classic Gas Station, Clarkdale, Arizona,” Photograph by Alan Levine, October 28, 2016, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

In case anyone’s wondering how my refusal of sub-$10 rides is going, the answer seems to be that my revenue is up slightly and my operating costs are down a bit more. So far, Uber has only threatened to take away my “Pro” rewards, which I don’t use anyway because the vendors whom they’ve enlisted to offer special deals are not vendors I trust.


  1. [1]Thomas Barrabi, “Elon Musk barges into Twitter HQ as deal nears: ‘Let that sink in,’” New York Post, October 26, 2022, https://nypost.com/2022/10/26/elon-musk-barges-into-twitter-headquarters-as-deal-nears/
  2. [2]Dan Ives, quoted in Naomi Nix, “Twitter needs Apple more than Apple needs Twitter,” Washington Post, November 30, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/technology/2022/11/30/apple-musk-tim-cook/
  3. [3]David Benfell, “Elon Musk, groan, again,” Not Housebroken, November 22, 2022, https://disunitedstates.org/2020/03/22/elon-musk-groan-again/

Congress to acquiesce to no sick leave for rail workers

Work


Fig. 1. The spectre of Death, in the form of a large skeleton, rises with the smoke and flames of the burning Asch Building during the Triangle fire, as people jump and fall to their death. Artist unknown, from International Ladies Garment Workers Union Photographs (1885-1985) at The Kheel Center for Labor-Management Documentation and Archives, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0.

In principle, I guess I should support the rail workers. Sick leave doesn’t seem like such an unreasonable thing.[1]

But I guess it’s hard for me to get worked up about it when I’m denied any labor protections whatsoever in the neoliberal wet dream “gig economy” and employers can so consistently refuse to consider me for a real job (it’s been over 21 years).[2] What’s needed here is a conversation about why it’s even become acceptable, let alone seemingly existential to treat human beings so badly.

Katy Stech Ferek, “Congressional Leaders Commit to Quickly Pass Legislation to Avert Rail Strike,” Wall Street Journal, November 29, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/congressional-leaders-commit-to-quickly-pass-legislation-to-avert-rail-strike-11669744002


Gilead

Twitter


Fig. 1. “Elon Musk shared a video of his entrance on his Twitter account.” Photograph attributed to Elon Musk, October 26, 2022, via the New York Post,[3] fair use.

Through all the chaos at Twitter, my follower and following counts have barely budged. In theory, these folks are all still there.

But it’s like they’ve all gone quiet. Mostly what I’m seeing are posts on institutional accounts; these are often automated posts or posts by people paid to manage organizations’ social media presence. I’m inferring that the humans have left and Elon Musk now has his white Christian nationalist wasteland of a social network.

It’s more than a little astonishing to see something crash so quickly.


  1. [1]Katy Stech Ferek, “Congressional Leaders Commit to Quickly Pass Legislation to Avert Rail Strike,” Wall Street Journal, November 29, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/congressional-leaders-commit-to-quickly-pass-legislation-to-avert-rail-strike-11669744002
  2. [2]David Benfell, “About my job hunt,” Not Housebroken, n.d., https://disunitedstates.org/about-my-job-hunt/
  3. [3]Thomas Barrabi, “Elon Musk barges into Twitter HQ as deal nears: ‘Let that sink in,’” New York Post, October 26, 2022, https://nypost.com/2022/10/26/elon-musk-barges-into-twitter-headquarters-as-deal-nears/

Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes guilty of seditious conspiracy

Housekeeping

So all this is a little weird, but somehow I got on Michigan State University’s email list for their Humanities Commons. It’s a Mastodon social network site and with Twitter on a full-throttle nosedive to doom,[1] I’m seeing a lot of folks go over to Mastodon.

To put it mildly, I’ve been extremely skeptical of Mastodon because of my previous ignominious experience with what they call the “fediverse,” which is a protocol or a set of standards by which a number of different decentralized social networks can talk to each other.

But since I finished my Ph.D., I’ve been missing the sorts of conversation that can only occur among highly educated people. And I was thinking this might be a place. So I jumped. I’m on it as @Benfell@hcommons.social. I’ve been trying to find the folks I follow on Twitter there with rather limited success. So if you’re reading this, by all means, look me up.


Gilead

Donald Trump

Coup attempt


Fig. 1. Original: The White House. Derivative work: J. J. Messerly, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.

Spencer S. Hsu, Tom Jackman, and Rachel Weiner, “Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes guilty of Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy,” Washington Post, November 29, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2022/11/29/rhodes-oathkeepers-sedition-verdict-jan6/


Gilead

Twitter


Fig. 1. “Elon Musk shared a video of his entrance on his Twitter account.” Photograph attributed to Elon Musk, October 26, 2022, via the New York Post,[2] fair use.

Reuters, “Twitter CEO Musk says user signups at all-time high, touts features of ‘everything app,’” November 27, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-ceo-musk-says-user-signups-all-time-high-touts-features-everything-app-2022-11-27/

Philip Bump, “Hey, Elon Musk? Twitter polls are not the ‘voice of the people,’” Washington Post, November 28, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/28/hey-elon-musk-twitter-polls-are-not-voice-people/

David Frum, “It’s apparently pro free speech when Elon Musk charges you $8 for access to his platform, but anti free speech if Apple charges him $2 for access to theirs,” Twitter, November 28, 2022, https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/1597332772687085569

Sarah E. Needleman and Tim Higgins, “Elon Musk Claims Apple Is Threatening to Remove Twitter From App Store,” Wall Street Journal, November 28, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-attacks-apple-tim-cook-over-advertising-and-censorship-11669662024

Sheila Dang and Katie Paul, “Twitter not safer under Elon Musk, says former head of trust and safety,” Reuters, November 29, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-not-safer-under-elon-musk-says-former-head-trust-safety-conference-2022-11-29/

Reuters, “Twitter rolls back COVID misinformation policy,” November 29, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-rolls-back-covid-misinformation-policy-2022-11-29/


  1. [1]David Benfell, “Elon Musk’s Achilles’ heel,” Not Housebroken, November 22, 2022, https://disunitedstates.org/2022/07/10/elon-musks-achilles-heel/
  2. [2]Thomas Barrabi, “Elon Musk barges into Twitter HQ as deal nears: ‘Let that sink in,’” New York Post, October 26, 2022, https://nypost.com/2022/10/26/elon-musk-barges-into-twitter-headquarters-as-deal-nears/

Twitter may be in trouble with smartphone app stores

This is an occasion when I misjudged when to hit ‘publish.’ COVID-19 Pandemic and supply chain sections have been added, and David Frum’s tweet[1] and a Reuters story[2] have been added to the Twitter section since this was originally published.


Gilead

Twitter


Fig. 1. “Elon Musk shared a video of his entrance on his Twitter account.” Photograph attributed to Elon Musk, October 26, 2022, via the New York Post,[3] fair use.

There is a new blog post entitled, “Elon Musk embraces Donald Trump’s playbook.”

David Frum[4] is a little unfair because of course Apple’s app store charges would amount to $2.40 multiplied a whole bunch of times, once for each Twitter Blue subscription, every month. And from what I can see, this is, in fact, a point of vulnerability: Both Apple and Google are being investigated and sued for anti-competitive behavior on their app stores.[5] But as to getting kicked off the app store?

The Apple App Store, Google Play, and even smaller players like the Amazon Appstore, have language intended to protect users from discrimination, bullying, harassment, and other kinds of objectionable content. As Twitter veers more in the direction of freewheeling right-wing social apps like Truth Social and Parler, the company could be on a collision course with those app stores’ gatekeepers.[6]

If I’m picking between Apple and Elon Musk? Apple, hands down.

Reuters, “Twitter CEO Musk says user signups at all-time high, touts features of ‘everything app,’” November 27, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-ceo-musk-says-user-signups-all-time-high-touts-features-everything-app-2022-11-27/

Philip Bump, “Hey, Elon Musk? Twitter polls are not the ‘voice of the people,’” Washington Post, November 28, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/11/28/hey-elon-musk-twitter-polls-are-not-voice-people/

David Frum, “It’s apparently pro free speech when Elon Musk charges you $8 for access to his platform, but anti free speech if Apple charges him $2 for access to theirs,” Twitter, November 28, 2022, https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/1597332772687085569

Sarah E. Needleman and Tim Higgins, “Elon Musk Claims Apple Is Threatening to Remove Twitter From App Store,” Wall Street Journal, November 28, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-attacks-apple-tim-cook-over-advertising-and-censorship-11669662024

Reuters, “Twitter rolls back COVID misinformation policy,” November 29, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-rolls-back-covid-misinformation-policy-2022-11-29/


Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Infrastructure


Fig. 1. Post-collapse scene at the Fern Hollow Bridge, photograph by National Transportation Safety Board, January 29, 2022, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Terryaun Bell, “You’ve probably been stuck in traffic during Allegheny County’s construction boom. This is only the beginning,” Public Source, November 29, 2022, https://www.publicsource.org/construction-traffic-pittsburgh-allegheny-county-workforce-jobs-infrastructure-investment/


COVID-19 Pandemic


Fig. 1. Photograph by author, November 8, 2022.

Helen Davidson and Verna Yu, “Clashes in Shanghai as protests over zero-Covid policy grip China,” Guardian, November 27, 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/28/clashes-in-shanghai-as-protests-over-zero-covid-policy-grip-china

Crawford Kilian, “China Is in Serious Trouble,” Tyee, November 28, 2022, https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2022/11/28/China-Serious-Trouble/

Devi Sridhar, “China’s Covid crisis demands terrible choices. The world will suffer if this goes wrong,” Guardian, November 28, 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/28/china-abandon-zero-covid-protests-mass-vaccination

Reuters, “Twitter rolls back COVID misinformation policy,” November 29, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-rolls-back-covid-misinformation-policy-2022-11-29/


Supply chain

#image_title

Fig. 1. Graphic by Julia Joshpe, undated, for the University of Rochester,[7] fair use.

Helen Davidson and Verna Yu, “Clashes in Shanghai as protests over zero-Covid policy grip China,” Guardian, November 27, 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/28/clashes-in-shanghai-as-protests-over-zero-covid-policy-grip-china

Crawford Kilian, “China Is in Serious Trouble,” Tyee, November 28, 2022, https://thetyee.ca/Analysis/2022/11/28/China-Serious-Trouble/

Devi Sridhar, “China’s Covid crisis demands terrible choices. The world will suffer if this goes wrong,” Guardian, November 28, 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/nov/28/china-abandon-zero-covid-protests-mass-vaccination


  1. [1]David Frum, “It’s apparently pro free speech when Elon Musk charges you $8 for access to his platform, but anti free speech if Apple charges him $2 for access to theirs,” Twitter, November 28, 2022, https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/1597332772687085569
  2. [2]Reuters, “Twitter rolls back COVID misinformation policy,” November 29, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-rolls-back-covid-misinformation-policy-2022-11-29/
  3. [3]Thomas Barrabi, “Elon Musk barges into Twitter HQ as deal nears: ‘Let that sink in,’” New York Post, October 26, 2022, https://nypost.com/2022/10/26/elon-musk-barges-into-twitter-headquarters-as-deal-nears/
  4. [4]David Frum, “It’s apparently pro free speech when Elon Musk charges you $8 for access to his platform, but anti free speech if Apple charges him $2 for access to theirs,” Twitter, November 28, 2022, https://twitter.com/davidfrum/status/1597332772687085569
  5. [5]Sarah E. Needleman and Tim Higgins, “Elon Musk Claims Apple Is Threatening to Remove Twitter From App Store,” Wall Street Journal, November 28, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/elon-musk-attacks-apple-tim-cook-over-advertising-and-censorship-11669662024
  6. [6]Clint Rainey, “Why Apple and Google could be the biggest threats to Elon Musk’s anything-goes version of Twitter,” Fast Company, November 21, 2022, https://www.fastcompany.com/90815181/why-apple-and-google-could-be-the-biggest-threat-to-elon-musks-anything-goes-version-of-twitter
  7. [7]Peter Iglinski, “Expect another year of supply chain issues,” University of Rochester, June 27, 2022 https://www.rochester.edu/newscenter/what-is-supply-chain-issues-explained-525302/

Chinese protest COVID-19 lockdowns

COVID-19 Pandemic


Fig. 1. Photograph by author, November 8, 2022.

There is a new blog post entitled, “On COVID-19 mitigation measures, we should be listening to Chinese protesters.”

Helen Davidson and Verna Yu, “Clashes in Shanghai as protests over zero-Covid policy grip China,” Guardian, November 27, 2022, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/nov/28/clashes-in-shanghai-as-protests-over-zero-covid-policy-grip-china


Illiberalism


Fig. 1. Photograph by Joachim F. Thurn, August 1991, Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-F089030-0003, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.

The coalition agreement with Noam, with the resonant responsibilities and deputy minister’s post for [Avi] Maoz was announced just days after Likud agreed to make far-right provocateur Itamar Ben Gvir police minister with expanded authorities. It brings [Benjamin] Netanyahu one step closer to forming Israel’s most hardline government ever, comprising only right-wing, far-right, religious, and ultra-Orthodox parties.[1]

It appears that the only conversions to Judaism the Israeli regime will accept will be Orthodox conversions. Conservative and Reform Jews will be out of luck, as will LGBTQ+ people.[2]

Carrie Keller-Lynn, “Netanyahu puts extremist homophobic politician in charge of Israel’s Jewish identity,” Times of Israel, November 27, 2022, https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-puts-extremist-homophobic-politician-in-charge-of-israels-jewish-identity/


So-called ‘ridesharing’

Drivers


Fig. 1. “Clarkdale Classic Gas Station, Clarkdale, Arizona,” Photograph by Alan Levine, October 28, 2016, via Wikimedia Commons, CC0.

David Benfell, “Nothing quite says my value . . .” Twitter, November 27, 2022, https://twitter.com/BenfellPhD/status/1596893972181311490

David Benfell, “I have no choice but to be a lot fussier . . .” Twitter, November 28, 2022, https://twitter.com/BenfellPhD/status/1597218706354212865

David Benfell, “It costs money to drive to passengers. . . .” Twitter, November 28, 2022, https://twitter.com/BenfellPhD/status/1597225701480202240


  1. [1]Carrie Keller-Lynn, “Netanyahu puts extremist homophobic politician in charge of Israel’s Jewish identity,” Times of Israel, November 27, 2022, https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-puts-extremist-homophobic-politician-in-charge-of-israels-jewish-identity/
  2. [2]Carrie Keller-Lynn, “Netanyahu puts extremist homophobic politician in charge of Israel’s Jewish identity,” Times of Israel, November 27, 2022, https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-puts-extremist-homophobic-politician-in-charge-of-israels-jewish-identity/

Elon Musk claims two million Twitter signups daily. How many are bots?


Gilead

Twitter


Fig. 1. “Elon Musk shared a video of his entrance on his Twitter account.” Photograph attributed to Elon Musk, October 26, 2022, via the New York Post,[1] fair use.

There is a new post entitled, “Information, information cynicism, disinformation, and misinformation.”

Reuters, “Twitter CEO Musk says user signups at all-time high, touts features of ‘everything app,’” November 27, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/technology/twitter-ceo-musk-says-user-signups-all-time-high-touts-features-everything-app-2022-11-27/


Ukraine


Fig. 2. “Destroyed Russian military vehicles located on the main street Khreshchatyk are seen as part of the celebration of the Independence Day of Ukraine in Kyiv, August 24.” Photograph by Gleb Garanich for Reuters, August 24, 2022,[2] fair use.

Laurence Norman and Stephen Fidler, “Vladimir Putin’s Red Lines, War Aims Shift in Ukraine,” Wall Street Journal, November 27, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/vladimir-putins-red-lines-war-aims-shift-in-ukraine-11669556247


  1. [1]Thomas Barrabi, “Elon Musk barges into Twitter HQ as deal nears: ‘Let that sink in,’” New York Post, October 26, 2022, https://nypost.com/2022/10/26/elon-musk-barges-into-twitter-headquarters-as-deal-nears/
  2. [2]Reuters, “Ukraine puts destroyed Russian tanks on display in Kyiv,” August 25, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/ukraine-puts-destroyed-russian-tanks-on-idUSRTSALV9Q

Then there’s Post. Not Postum. Not the Washington Post. Post.

Gilead

Twitter


Fig. 1. “Elon Musk shared a video of his entrance on his Twitter account.” Photograph attributed to Elon Musk, October 26, 2022, via the New York Post,[1] fair use.

I am way down on a list to join Post (apparently no connection to the Washington Post), a social network meant to foster civil conversation based on real news. If it does anything like it claims, it might even be a network my mother might be willing to join. But if you sign up through this link, I get a bump on the waiting list.

Gee. I’m pretty sure I’ve seen this before: Be one of the cool kids! Get in on this whatever! But you’re gonna have to wait!

I’m waiting for: Now, you can invite your friends!

Kali Hays, “Elon Musk fired dozens more Twitter staff the night before Thanksgiving — days after saying he was done with layoffs,” Business Insider, November 24, 2022, https://www.businessinsider.com/elon-musk-fires-dozens-more-twitter-staff-night-before-thanksgiving-2022-11

Laurel Wamsley, “Looking to leave Twitter? Here are the social networks seeing new users now,” National Public Radio, November 24, 2022, https://www.npr.org/2022/11/24/1139079748/leave-twitter-social-networks-mastodon-hive-post



Fig. 2. My kitchen exhaust fan, on the wall above the stove. Photograph by author, October 14, 2022.

How big are the gaps with that kitchen exhaust fan (figure 2)? Apparently large enough for a chickadee to find its way through. I awoke this morning, seeing something fly in a straight line between my front room and the kitchen. Investigating, I found a chickadee, trying to escape, but you know, the glass in my kitchen window is, well, glass. While the poor bird was cowering behind my portable dishwasher, I opened wide my front door and pushed open the screen door, started my coffee (which begins with grinding), took my shower, and hoped the bird had found its way out. I’m still hoping.

I am, of course, also hoping this little bird drew some comfort from the warmth that I assume had attracted it in the first place and wasn’t too terribly traumatized by the experience.

Update: Either the little chickadee found its way in again or had never flown out the first time. I opened the door again and I’ve now taped something up over the fan hoping to avoid a repeat visit; the time I’m away working would be a long time for a little bird to feel trapped. I’m hoping, again, it flew out, but I’m now rather skeptical, even with a little chickadee, I think I ought to have heard the flutter of its wings.


  1. [1]Thomas Barrabi, “Elon Musk barges into Twitter HQ as deal nears: ‘Let that sink in,’” New York Post, October 26, 2022, https://nypost.com/2022/10/26/elon-musk-barges-into-twitter-headquarters-as-deal-nears/

Aileen Cannon’s intervention on Donald Trump’s behalf may be coming to an abrupt and ignominious end

Gilead

Donald Trump

Coup attempt


Fig. 1. Department of Justice photograph of seized materials, reportedly partially redacted, via the Washington Post, August 31, 2022,[1] public domain.

An appeals panel does not seem at all favorably disposed towards Aileen Cannon’s ruling appointing a special master to stall the Department of Justice investigation of Donald Trump’s retention of documents[2] retrieved from Mar-a-Lago.[3] Indeed, the question of the moment seems to be whether they will 1) vacate or 2) overturn Cannon’s order.[4]

The common refrain is “you can’t predict a case from oral argument.” Um, this one you can. The only question is how fast [Donald] Trump will lose. He will lose badly. I don’t think I’ve ever heard an oral argument go worse for a litigant. And a shame it has taken so many months just to overrule Judge [Aileen] Cannon’s nonsense.[5]

Ronald Brownstein, “Why fewer states than ever could pick the next president,” CNN, November 22, 2022, https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/22/politics/2022-preview-2024-presidential-election

Charlie Savage and Alan Feuer, “Court Appears Ready to End Special Master Review in Trump Files Inquiry,” New York Times, November 22, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/22/us/trump-special-master-review-mar-a-lago.html

Igor Derysh, “‘Goodbye Cannon’: Experts say judge’s controversial pro-Trump order doomed after ‘hostile’ hearing,” Salon, November 23, 2022, https://www.salon.com/2022/11/23/goodbye-cannon-experts-say-judges-controversial-pro-order-doomed-after-hostile-hearing/

Twitter


Fig. 1. “Elon Musk shared a video of his entrance on his Twitter account.” Photograph attributed to Elon Musk, October 26, 2022, via the New York Post,[6] fair use.

Laurel Wamsley, “Looking to leave Twitter? Here are the social networks seeing new users now,” National Public Radio, November 24, 2022, https://www.npr.org/2022/11/24/1139079748/leave-twitter-social-networks-mastodon-hive-post


Ukraine


Fig. 1. “Destroyed Russian military vehicles located on the main street Khreshchatyk are seen as part of the celebration of the Independence Day of Ukraine in Kyiv, August 24.” Photograph by Gleb Garanich for Reuters, August 24, 2022,[7] fair use.

It is true that neither Ukraine nor any other eastern European country are innocent of World War II-era pogroms against Jews. And these countries have erred in attempting to whitewash this history. But none of this justifies Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on a pretext of “de-Nazification.”[8]

Efraim Zuroff and Per Anders Rudling, “Russia’s ‘denazification’ lie and the whitewash of Roman Shukhevych,” Times of Israel, November 22, 2022, https://www.timesofisrael.com/russias-denazification-lie-and-the-whitewash-of-roman-shukhevych/


  1. [1]Devlin Barrett, “Justice Dept. says Trump team may have hidden, moved classified papers,” Washington Post, August 31, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/31/trump-documents-removed-storage-room/
  2. [2]Igor Derysh, “‘Goodbye Cannon’: Experts say judge’s controversial pro-Trump order doomed after ‘hostile’ hearing,” Salon, November 23, 2022, https://www.salon.com/2022/11/23/goodbye-cannon-experts-say-judges-controversial-pro-order-doomed-after-hostile-hearing/; Charlie Savage and Alan Feuer, “Court Appears Ready to End Special Master Review in Trump Files Inquiry,” New York Times, November 22, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/22/us/trump-special-master-review-mar-a-lago.html
  3. [3]Jacqueline Alemany et al., “National Archives had to retrieve Trump White House records from Mar-a-Lago,” Washington Post, February 7, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2022/02/07/trump-records-mar-a-lago/; Farnoush Amiri, “National Archives: Trump took classified items to Mar-a-Lago,” Associated Press, February 19, 2022, https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-national-security-9c1f6dca7e3e8073ee029604c8253a5c; Scott R. Anderson et al., “What We Do and Don’t Know About the FBI’s Mar-a-Lago Search,” Lawfare, August 9, 2022, https://www.lawfareblog.com/what-we-do-and-dont-know-about-fbis-mar-lago-search; Devlin Barrett et al., “Mar-a-Lago search appears focused on whether Trump, aides withheld items,” Washington Post, August 9, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/09/trump-fbi-search-mar-a-lago/; Devlin Barrett et al., “FBI searched Trump’s home to look for nuclear documents and other items, sources say,” Washington Post, August 11, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/11/garland-trump-mar-a-lago/; Devlin Barrett and Josh Dawsey, “Agents at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago seized 11 sets of classified documents, court filing shows,” Washington Post, August 12, 2022, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2022/08/12/trump-warrant-release/; Alex Leary, Aruna Viswanatha, and Sadie Gurman, “FBI Recovered Eleven Sets of Classified Documents in Trump Search, Inventory Shows,” Washington Post, August 12, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/fbi-recovered-eleven-sets-of-classified-documents-in-trump-search-inventory-shows-11660324501; Eric Tucker and Michael Balsamo, “Trump says FBI conducting search of Mar-a-Lago estate,” Associated Press, August 8, 2022, https://apnews.com/article/donald-trump-mar-a-lago-government-and-politics-9e8d683afe87389407950af7ccfdbdd6; Betsy Woodruff Swan, Kyle Cheney, and Nicholas Wu, “FBI search warrant shows Trump under investigation for potential obstruction of justice, Espionage Act violations,” Politico, August 12, 2022, https://www.politico.com/news/2022/08/12/search-warrant-shows-trump-under-investigation-for-potential-obstruction-of-justice-espionage-act-violations-00051507
  4. [4]Charlie Savage and Alan Feuer, “Court Appears Ready to End Special Master Review in Trump Files Inquiry,” New York Times, November 22, 2022, https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/22/us/trump-special-master-review-mar-a-lago.html
  5. [5]Neal Katyal, quoted in Igor Derysh, “‘Goodbye Cannon’: Experts say judge’s controversial pro-Trump order doomed after ‘hostile’ hearing,” Salon, November 23, 2022, https://www.salon.com/2022/11/23/goodbye-cannon-experts-say-judges-controversial-pro-order-doomed-after-hostile-hearing/
  6. [6]Thomas Barrabi, “Elon Musk barges into Twitter HQ as deal nears: ‘Let that sink in,’” New York Post, October 26, 2022, https://nypost.com/2022/10/26/elon-musk-barges-into-twitter-headquarters-as-deal-nears/
  7. [7]Reuters, “Ukraine puts destroyed Russian tanks on display in Kyiv,” August 25, 2022, https://www.reuters.com/news/picture/ukraine-puts-destroyed-russian-tanks-on-idUSRTSALV9Q
  8. [8]Efraim Zuroff and Per Anders Rudling, “Russia’s ‘denazification’ lie and the whitewash of Roman Shukhevych,” Times of Israel, November 22, 2022, https://www.timesofisrael.com/russias-denazification-lie-and-the-whitewash-of-roman-shukhevych/

Viktor Orbán’s pretend reforms come up short

The Thanksgiving lull has set in, so I’ll be off to work early, trying to make what money I can despite the winter slowdown, despite an employer who won’t admit being an employer, who treats workers as utterly expendable, ferrying entitled but also expendable passengers around. Not thankful.

My delay comes from a realization that I need to update my offline maps. Holidays are unpredictable. I never know where I’ll end up so on this, of all days, updated maps are crucial.


Illiberalism


Fig. 1. Photograph by Joachim F. Thurn, August 1991, Bundesarchiv, B 145 Bild-F089030-0003, via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0 DE.

I had wondered[1] how far Viktor Orbán’s promises[2] actually went to satisfy European Union demands. Joseph Sternberg perceived capitulation,[3] but I guess the European Commission’s answer is indeed, not far enough:[4]

Hungary has failed to adopt promised rule-of-law reforms, the European Commission decided Wednesday, putting billions in EU cash in jeopardy for the country.

The determination comes as Brussels wrangles with Viktor Orbán’s government over the release of both €7.5 billion in regular EU payouts and €5.8 billion in pandemic recovery grants — money the EU has temporarily frozen over democratic backsliding concerns in Hungary.

While the Commission on Wednesday recommended approving Hungary’s plan to spend its recovery funds, it was clear that the country would not actually get the money until it implements 27 specific rule-of-law upgrades.

Meanwhile, the Commission also concluded that Hungary had fallen short in fulfilling a prior pledge to adopt 17 rule-of-law reforms that are needed to access the €7.5 billion in EU funds, which are being held up under a mechanism allowing the EU to freeze funds at risk of graft.[5]

This decision has yet to be ratified. It also calls for an additional 10 reforms, now totaling 27, to roll back Orbán’s competitive authoritarian regime.[6]

Paola Tamma and Jakob Hanke Vela, “Hungary’s EU cash at risk after European Commission concludes reforms fell short,” Politico, November 23, 2022, https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-eu-funds-hungary-reforms-von-der-leyen-viktor-orban-commision/


  1. [1]David Benfell, “In an election that was the Republicans’ to lose, they’re not doing so hot,” Irregular Bullshit, November 9, 2022, https://disunitedstates.com/2022/11/09/in-an-election-that-was-the-republicans-to-lose-theyre-not-doing-so-hot/
  2. [2]Paola Tamma, “Hungary vows to overhaul its judiciary, hoping to unlock EU funds,” Politico, November 7, 2022, https://www.politico.eu/article/hungary-overhaul-judiciary-unlock-eu-funds/
  3. [3]Joseph C. Sternberg, “Orbán and the Collapse of the Trump Intellectuals,” Wall Street Journal, November 17, 2022, https://www.wsj.com/articles/orban-and-the-collapse-of-the-trump-intellectuals-hungary-national-conservatives-brussels-european-union-money-legal-corruption-reform-11668696725
  4. [4]Paola Tamma and Jakob Hanke Vela, “Hungary’s EU cash at risk after European Commission concludes reforms fell short,” Politico, November 23, 2022, https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-eu-funds-hungary-reforms-von-der-leyen-viktor-orban-commision/
  5. [5]Paola Tamma and Jakob Hanke Vela, “Hungary’s EU cash at risk after European Commission concludes reforms fell short,” Politico, November 23, 2022, https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-eu-funds-hungary-reforms-von-der-leyen-viktor-orban-commision/
  6. [6]Paola Tamma and Jakob Hanke Vela, “Hungary’s EU cash at risk after European Commission concludes reforms fell short,” Politico, November 23, 2022, https://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-eu-funds-hungary-reforms-von-der-leyen-viktor-orban-commision/

Affordable no more? Pittsburgh rents approach west coast levels

Pennsylvania

Pittsburgh

Gentrification


Fig. 1. The old Hazelwood library branch. It has been replaced with a new branch on Second Avenue. Photograph by author, May 1, 2020.

This report[1] is late reaching me, older than I would normally include here, but Pittsburgh is a stand-out with rents up 22.8 percent over a year ago and a median rent of $1,877, leading to a new blog post entitled, “The rent is too damn high. But politicians wonder why violence is increasing.

Lily Katz, “Rental Market Tracker: Rents Rose 7.8% in October—Slowest Growth in 14 Months,” Redfin, November 16, 2022, https://www.redfin.com/news/redfin-rental-report-october-2022/

Infrastructure


Fig. 1. Post-collapse scene at the Fern Hollow Bridge, photograph by National Transportation Safety Board, January 29, 2022, via Wikimedia Commons, public domain.

Megan Tomasic, “PennDOT: Still more work set for Route 28, but Fern Hollow Bridge wrapping up,” Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, November 23, 2022, https://www.post-gazette.com/news/transportation/2022/11/22/penndot-route-28-fern-hollow-bridge-highland-park-bridge/stories/202211220102

2022 election


Fig. 1. John Fetterman as mayor of Braddock, photograph uncredited and undated, via Next Pittsburgh,[2] fair use.

Jonathan Lai, Jeremy Roebuck, and Ryan W. Briggs, “Doug Mastriano supporters are flooding Pa. courts with baseless recount petitions in the governor’s race,” Philadelphia Inquirer, November 23, 2022, https://www.inquirer.com/politics/election/doug-mastriano-pa-governor-election-results-recount-petitions-20221123.html


  1. [1]Lily Katz, “Rental Market Tracker: Rents Rose 7.8% in October—Slowest Growth in 14 Months,” Redfin, November 16, 2022, https://www.redfin.com/news/redfin-rental-report-october-2022/
  2. [2]Kim Lyons, “Braddock Mayor John Fetterman keeps on truckin’ in his quest for the Senate,” Next Pittsburgh, March 11, 2016, https://nextpittsburgh.com/features/the-challengers-braddock-mayor-john-fetterman-keeps-on-truckin/