"Now watch this d̶r̶i̶v̶e̶ fight."
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Columnist and editor at MS NOW (formerly MSNBC). WGAE member. Ex-Washington Post Opinions. DC born and raised. D.C. United and Montreal Canadiens fan.
jim.downie@nbcuni.com; jdow.92 on Signal
"I cannot count the number of times that people have asked me over the years: “If I want to help unions, where should I donate?”...Now, I will have an easier answer: You can give to Union Now." – @hamiltonnolan.bsky.social
(Donation link: secure.actblue.com/donate/unionnow?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email)
(Donation link: secure.actblue.com/donate/unionnow?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email)
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Reposted by James Downie
Not once in this story does @politico.com mention that US factories employ ~89,000 fewer employees than a year ago.
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2026/04/11/jamieson-greer-tariffs-manufacturing-economy-00867999
@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2026/04/11/jamieson-greer-tariffs-manufacturing-economy-00867999
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So after Vance tells the world that he isn't on board with the Iran war (except when he was), the WH makes him lead peace talks with:
– no experience
– less leverage
– wildly shifting goals
– and a president who'll happily throw him under the bus.
My latest for @ms.now: www.ms.now/opinion/jd-vance-iran-pakistan-peace-talks?embedded=app&platform=android&appVersion=13.5.0
– no experience
– less leverage
– wildly shifting goals
– and a president who'll happily throw him under the bus.
My latest for @ms.now: www.ms.now/opinion/jd-vance-iran-pakistan-peace-talks?embedded=app&platform=android&appVersion=13.5.0
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Reposted by James Downie
Donald Trump Does Not Have a Plan
He has dictatorial desires. But not everything is a brilliant distraction or part of a cunning masterplan. Let’s not turn incompetent agents of malice into omnipotent supervillains.
Some thoughts from my new piece:
🧵
steady.page/en/democracyamericana/posts/70c12168-9b07-44a1-aadc-a4ced5a2d5aa
He has dictatorial desires. But not everything is a brilliant distraction or part of a cunning masterplan. Let’s not turn incompetent agents of malice into omnipotent supervillains.
Some thoughts from my new piece:
🧵
steady.page/en/democracyamericana/posts/70c12168-9b07-44a1-aadc-a4ced5a2d5aa
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Reposted by James Downie
1. The filing deadline is passed
2. A Republican hasn't won statewide in CA in 2 decades
3. Tom Steyer's going to spend like $100M on this race
4. HOW WERE YOU EVER PAID TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS????
2. A Republican hasn't won statewide in CA in 2 decades
3. Tom Steyer's going to spend like $100M on this race
4. HOW WERE YOU EVER PAID TO TALK ABOUT POLITICS????
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Vance's "audience included students at the Mathias Corvinus Collegium....A student seated next to me laughed intermittently during Vance’s remarks. When the vice president concluded, I turned and asked her what she had found funny. 'He doesn’t know much about Hungary,' she said."
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I've studied so many concentration camps through history that held vulnerable people in just this kind of crowded squalor. You demonize people, you demand more arrests, this is what you get. It already has its own budget and its own momentum, and is on track to go much further, unless we stop it.
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I’m very proud of my wife for sharing the details she did. I’m disgusted by all of it. She found herself in one of those moments where she didn’t care what she lost if it helped one other person. The reality is the truth don’t care who tells it, but she told it. Love you @allysammarco.bsky.social
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This is great because you get a visceral sense of the acceleration. h/t @jdotj.bsky.social on the video app.
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Pete Hegseth's Defense Dept appears to be caught in a lie.
It involves deaths of 21 people (including at least 5 children), injuring 110 in Lamerd, Iran with sports hall and school.
By a U.S. missile (PrSM) never before used in combat.
NYT sources include: 3 US officials!
1/
It involves deaths of 21 people (including at least 5 children), injuring 110 in Lamerd, Iran with sports hall and school.
By a U.S. missile (PrSM) never before used in combat.
NYT sources include: 3 US officials!
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Let me reiterate: If you successfully convince women that you have the power to destroy them *before* you abuse them, you can do this stuff for decades without anyone willing to go on the record, even after reporters learn about it and dig. Without a victim willing to speak, reporters have no story.
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Let’s use government to do more cool stuff (help people, explore space) and less bad stuff (pointless wars, racist and illegal immigration policies).
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Reposted by James Downie
GOOD NEWS! Researchers at Stanford University have developed a UNIVERSAL vaccine known as GLA-3M-052-LS+OVA, that protects against a wide range of respiratory viruses, bacteria AND even allergens. The vaccine is delivered intranasally AND provides broad protection in the lungs for several MONTHS.
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All four astronauts standing in the aisle with their roller bags waiting for the door to open.
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this is effectively a book trailer if you're curious
bsky.app/profile/quinnslobodian.com/post/3mj5qf63zy22q
bsky.app/profile/quinnslobodian.com/post/3mj5qf63zy22q
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Reposted by James Downie
Navalists everywhere: the Navy needs more money to buy ships
The Navy: inactivates attack sub after spending 1.6B on repairs because they don’t have maintenance capacity
news.usni.org/2026/04/10/navy-to-inactivate-attack-boat-uss-boise-after-1-6b-repair-effort
The Navy: inactivates attack sub after spending 1.6B on repairs because they don’t have maintenance capacity
news.usni.org/2026/04/10/navy-to-inactivate-attack-boat-uss-boise-after-1-6b-repair-effort
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Reposted by James Downie
Four women
“One member of Swalwell’s staff said they quit immediately after receiving CNN’s detailed list of questions about the allegations.”
www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs?cid=ios_app
“One member of Swalwell’s staff said they quit immediately after receiving CNN’s detailed list of questions about the allegations.”
www.cnn.com/2026/04/10/us/eric-swalwell-sexual-misconduct-allegations-invs?cid=ios_app
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Reposted by James Downie
Trump: The Strait will open up automatically. We'll open the Strait anyway. We don't use the Strait. It won't be easy. We will have that open fairly soon. You don't need a back up plan
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NEW: National poll on No Kings 3.
ATTENDANCE: 7% say they attended; 16% more said they wanted to.
POPULARITY: +10 among all voters; +22 among mods.
GROWTH: 32% of protestors were first timers. 27% of all adults said they'll come next time.
Highlights & crosstabs: indivisible.org/news/national-survey-on-no-kings-3-protests/
ATTENDANCE: 7% say they attended; 16% more said they wanted to.
POPULARITY: +10 among all voters; +22 among mods.
GROWTH: 32% of protestors were first timers. 27% of all adults said they'll come next time.
Highlights & crosstabs: indivisible.org/news/national-survey-on-no-kings-3-protests/
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A woman who worked for nearly two years for Rep. Eric Swalwell, a leading candidate for California governor, said she had sexual encounters with him while he was her boss and alleged he twice sexually assaulted her when she was too intoxicated to consent.
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Swollen RFK Jr. Warns Americans Not Eating Enough Bees theonion.com/swollen-rfk-jr-warns-americans-not-eating-enough-bees/
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