I keep seeing journalists pushing this ridiculous narrative that Biden pardoning his son will somehow "embolden" Trump...

No. It really won't.

He was already going to do whatever the hell he wanted to. This will change absolutely nothing.

But if you insist here's a list of things that will*:

Journalists acting like he's a normal president.

Journalists reporting on him like he's a normal president.

The Supreme Court.

All the Republicans still in congress.

Democrats who insist on being bipartisan.

*this list is not exhaustive.

If a loved one's oldest memories are clearest and happiest, join them there.

#Alzheimers #dementia #happiness #kindness

How to survive the broligarchy: 20 lessons for the post-truth world
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/nov/17/how-to-survive-the-broligarchy-20-lessons-for-the-post-truth-world-donald-trump

#GOPKakistocracy #RepublicansDidThis #NoRepublicansEverAgain #USPol

My Experience With Algorithm Extremism:

So, most of us have been through this. I needed to buy a rug, so, I searched a few websites, and purchased what I needed. Now over a week later, I'm still getting ads for rugs. You bought a rug, DON'T YOU WANT A DOZEN MORE!

This is mostly an annoyance, an Algorithm missing it's mark, but what if this also applied to ideas? Let me tell you another story:

If you follow me, you probably already know I'm a pretty ardent feminist. Occasionally, I will peruse other websites, and social media (not X, ffs get off X) that use Algorithms. I had liked a few feminist posts, so the Algorithm said she likes these let's give her more, which was nice, at first. I started noticing they were getting more extreme, less women deserve equality, and moving more into Fuck all men, I hope they die, territory. Not a fan of that, but I figured it's a one off no big deal. Within a few days it had moved into full TERF territory. It took several weeks of me aggressively blocking and reporting every post I saw for it to disappear from my Timeline.

Now imagine if you're a young man who searches or asks on social media, Why won't women date me?, think about how quickly they could get pulled into a world of lies and extremism. Imagine asking any question about a group of marginalized people. This is why places like Mastodon will become more and more essential, and why teaching children critical thinking skills is paramount.

I'm going to start listing some good things that have happened in society, and I know a lot of you are going to want to say, Well, that's all over now, it will all be taken away, but remember nothing lasts forever, even the bad stuff. So, instead of giving into despair and hopelessness, think for a second, and instead of tearing down hope, add to the list.

The idea that we would have open legal gay marriage in my lifetime wasn't something I believed would happen, but here we are.

I can buy legal recreational Marijuana in my state.

The show Drag Race not only exists, but it has for a long time, and it's very popular.

AIDS is no longer a death sentence.

And to add to that, you can take a drug that will just stop you from getting it.

There is a vaccine for Malaria.

I can just go buy an electric car.

When I was a kid, parents hitting kids was the rule, not an exception.

In my teens and 20's, I never met a transitioned or transitioning Trans person, now I know lots of them.

Abortion pills exist.

There are tenant union.

There is a vaccine against cervical cancer.

Women make up more than half of the college educated work force.

Millions of people showed up to protest police brutality in 2020, I know that's not enough, but if you compare that to the past, or even Rodney King, it's a big fucking deal.

Things are rough, and we are scared, but we haven't just been treading water, and we won't just sit in misery. It's never going to be perfect, but we can be better.

"Why doesn't Biden get credit for a strong economy?"

Every consumer brand and lending company will tell you the economy is currently K-shaped with older, whiter, and wealthier Americans rolling in cash and spending like crazy and everyone else struggling to afford basic necessities, especially with rents going out of control.

I wish people would actually listen.