Notices by Michael Magras (michaelmagras@mstdn.social)

Some people have asked us why we would rather live in Britain than in the US. Britain has major problems, too, they say. It sure does. But there's also this:

Gun Ownership Rate per 100 people, according to World Population Review:

United States: 120.5
Britain: 5

#Politics #Democracy #Guns #US #Britain #UK #USpol

The FCC and CBS ordered Stephen Colbert not to air his interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico and even told him not to mention that they had canceled the segment. Colbert mentioned it, anyway. His team has posted the full interview to YouTube. In true Streisand effect fashion, we should make sure as many people as possible click on it. Bravo to Stephen and his team. #Politics #Texas #Senate #StephenColbert #CBS #FCC #US #USpol #Censorship https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oiTJ7Pz_59A&t=153s

Washington National Opera has found a new home, at least for now. Good. #Music #Opera #Culture #Entertainment #DC #WashingtonDC https://www.nytimes.com/2026/01/16/arts/music/washington-national-opera-kennedy-center.html?unlocked_article_code=1.E1A.PrER.7jTmL-49EsNT&smid=url-share

I love it. More democratic socialists in positions of power, please. #Politics #Democrats #Democracy #NewYork #NYC #ZohranMamdani #DemocraticSocialism #US #USpol

77 million people voted for the guy currently in charge. But tell me again that they're good people. #RobReiner #Politics #US #USpol https://www.nytimes.com/2025/12/15/us/politics/trump-rob-reiner.html?unlocked_article_code=1.9E8.ci3i.U7-d1G3OMlDh&smid=url-share

I'm reading a New York Review of Books article about the Internet and the World Wide Web. The article discusses recent books by Tim Berners-Lee and Cory Doctorow. This paragraph caught my eye. Berners-Lee is the "he" at the start of the passage. Hurrah for Mastodon, I say. #Mastodon #Fediverse #Technology #Internet #SocialMedia #OpenSource

"I think for far too long we've tried not to lose, as opposed to figuring out how to win."

-- Zohran Mamdani, speaking about the Democratic party and his bold proposals, in the October 20, 2025, issue of The New Yorker. My, I like him. He's the future. I want to see more politicians like him (and AOC, Michelle Wu, Katie Wilson, Maxwell Frost, etc.).

#Politics #NewYork #NYC #NewYorkCity #DemocraticSocialism #Democracy #Progressive #US #USpol

I don't know if anyone is paying attention to the articles I'm posting, but I'm going to post one more, anyway, because The Nation is doing a spectacular job on this issue, as they always do. Unlike certain newspapers of record, they don't refer to hateful, bigoted people as "charismatic." #Politics #Democracy #US #USpol https://www.thenation.com/article/politics/charlie-kirk-assassination-maga/

Yes! A million times yes! This passage is from an interview with Zohran Mamdani in the September 2025 issue of The Nation. I've been making a similar point for ages. Somewhere along the line, "efficiency" became associated with the right. It should be identified with the left. There is nothing inherently conservative about efficiency. Mamdani beautiful explains why. #Politics #Economy #Economics #Democrats #Democracy #NewYork #ZohranMamdani #US #USpol

@ChrisWere @mutter01 Yes, I know. The UK line is only slightly higher. That doesn't necessarily reflect the colossal blunder that is Brexit. In general, however, the plunge in US stocks is evidence of the utter incompetence of the current American administration.

Are we winning yet? #Politics #Economy #Economics #Stocks #StockMarket #Democracy #US #USpol #Tariffs

@mutter01 That's always been my understanding, too.

"In America, health care is a big business. In Canada, it is a right." The person who spoke those words last night? Canadian Prime Minister-designate Mark Carney, a centrist banker. But tell me again that people like Bernie Sanders and AOC who say the same thing are left-wing lunatics. #Politics #Democracy #Health #HealthCare #Canada #Progressive #Democrats #US #USpol

Remember when Marjorie Taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert stood and heckled Joe Biden? And when Joe Wilson shouted, "You lie!" at Barack Obama? And all the Democrats did was shush them? Al Green did what needed to be done last night, and Mike Johnson had him thrown out. I say it all the time: Democrats and Republicans are playing two completely different games. Play their game, fellow Democrats, and fight back. #Politics #Democracy #Democrats #AlGreen #US #USpol

Michelle Obama has more decency and common sense than most elected politicians. I've always admired her, but I admire her even more for refusing to be anywhere near him. I wish more Democrats would finally forget about norms and treat these people the way they deserve to be treated. #Politics #Democracy #USpol https://www.nytimes.com/2025/01/14/us/politics/michelle-obama-trump-inauguration.html?unlocked_article_code=1.pE4.OudT.71UdVHz_zOfk&smid=url-share

Let me make sure I've got this right. She proposed an expansion of the Child Tax Credit to $6,000. She proposed $25,000 in down-payment assistance for first-time homebuyers. She proposed expanding Medicare to offer home care services for the elderly. She was part of an administration that presided over the best economy in 50 years. Her opponent, meanwhile, simulated fellatio and said immigrants were eating dogs. But *she's* the one who didn't focus enough on the economy? #Politics #Election2024

Guys (and everyone else), please listen to her. It's infuriating that, in 2024, this needs to be said, but she said it beautifully and powerfully. I know she doesn't want it, but I'd have voted for her for President in a heartbeat. She's so good at this. #Politics #Democracy #MichelleObama #Election #Election2024 #VoteBlue https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xt9fgCqMfO0

We're in Freeport, Maine, less than 20 miles from the mass shooting in Lewiston. Guess what we heard for half an hour tonight as we prepared dinner? Loud gunfire. This has gone on for years. It occurs near our tourist town's businesses, homes, and walking trails. The Freeport police and Town Council know about it but refuse to stop it. I need a favor: Could you please repost this? I want to put pressure on town officials and force them to end this. Thanks, folks. #Maine #Lewiston

@YoWatShiinaEsq Ah, Cooper's Oxford. We haven't bought it for a while, but it's awfully good.

@YoWatShiinaEsq That sounds perfect. Savor every bite.