An eclectic blog
written & curated
by Kyle Callahan

Latest Curations

The Countdown Starts on Monday

January 16, 2025

In one of the most astonishing political transformations in the history of democracy, Hitler set about destroying a constitutional republic through constitutional means. What follows is a step-by-step account of how Hitler systematically disabled and then dismantled his country’s democratic structures and processes in less than two months’ time—specifically, one month, three weeks, two days, eight hours, and 40 minutes. The minutes, as we will see, mattered.

— “How Hitler Dismantled a Democacy in 53 Days,” The Atlantic

Ignore Trump’s Words

January 8, 2025

My take on Trump post-election has been to stop paying attention, as best I can, to anything he says. I’m only paying attention to what he does. With any other national leader, there’s a correlation between their words and their eventual actions that makes paying attention to what they say worthwhile. With Trump, there’s almost no correlation, and his endless stream of outrageous proclamations are nothing but a distraction.

— “After Years of Moderation-Heavy Zagging, Zuckerberg Announces That Meta Is Going Back to Moderation-Light Zigging Across Its Platforms,” Daring Fireball

It Will Only Get Worse

December 29, 2024

Redaction is a form of psychological warfare against historians and journalists.

— Baseless: My Search for Secrets in the Ruins of the Freedom of Information Act, by Nicholson Baker

Cash for Consumers Is Wealth Redistribution

December 27, 2024

Consider that, because groceries are too expensive, Build Back Better promised to give working families a $300 check each month. Great! But…such an action would do nothing to challenge the pricing dynamic itself. In fact, if producers maintain their markups by passing costs onto consumers, and if the government subsidizes those consumers’ purchases with tax credits and cash transfers, then corporate giants stand to reap even larger profits since buyers will be able to tolerate even higher prices. Ironically, a cash transfer without complementary price and tax policies could result in an overall upward redistribution of wealth. And in a market society, wealth is power…Because the social and economic order is predicated on maintaining a certain level of consumer confidence, cash transfers are not threatening to the rulers of the age; instead they provide the means to shore up demand in a low-wage economy.

— “Better Get Back to Building,” Jacobin

Another Norm Down The Drain

December 3, 2024

FBI directors wield awesome powers over the liberties of Americans. The unwritten rule governing their appointment—no dismissal except for compelling cause—bulwarked American law and freedom for half a century. Even first-term Trump dared not openly defy it. But second-term Trump is opening with a bid to junk it altogether. Much of the reporting on Trump’s announcement reveals a society already bending to Trump’s will: Something that was regarded as outrageously unacceptable in 2017—treating an FBI director as just another Trump aide—has been semi-normalized even before President-Elect Trump takes office.

— “A Constitutional Crisis Greater Than Watergate,” The Atlantic

Good for the Goose, But Not for the Google

November 26, 2024

“We believe that information is good,” [Google] executives told employees in the memo. But, they added, government regulators or competitors might seize on words that Google workers casually, thoughtlessly wrote to one another.

To minimize the odds that a lawsuit could flush out comments that might be incriminating, Google said, employees should refrain from speculation and sarcasm and “think twice” before writing one another about “hot topics.” “Don’t comment before you have all the facts,” they were instructed.

The technology was tweaked, too. The setting for the company’s instant messaging tool was changed to “off the record.” An incautious phrase would be wiped the next day.

— How Google Spent 15 Years Creating a Culture of Concealment, The New York Times

Latest Creations

The Books I Read in 2024

December 27, 2024

My 2024 reading marathon included my favorite genres of fiction, fantasy, and sci-fi, a smattering of religious history, and several audiobooks and graphic novels. This year, I broke the list down into my favorite books of the year, plus the runners up, followed by the whole list with highlights on my recommendations. I hope you find at least a couple that you can add to next year’s list!

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My Ten Favorite Albums of 2024

December 22, 2024

This year, I added 214 albums to my library, spanning nearly a century of music. After much listening, I’ve chosen my ten favorite albums released in 2024. From ambient masterpieces to electrifying jazz, these picks showcase the year’s best. Thank you for following along—here’s to another great year of music!

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Albums Added in November 2024

December 6, 2024

This month’s musical discoveries take us from Leyla McCalla’s Sun Without the Heat, my favorite album of November, to Kendrick Lamar’s lyrical powerhouse GNX, and everything in between. Explore the joy-filled jams of Goose, the haunting melodies of Beth Gibbons, and the Afrobeat grooves of Kokoroko in this eclectic roundup of November’s best music.

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Albums Added in October 2024

November 15, 2024

Discover the soundscape of October, from nostalgic concept albums to international flavors and emotional post-rock. Explore my top picks and hidden gems in this month’s musical adventure.

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You’ve Made a Terrible Mistake

November 11, 2024

I’m disappointed in you, America. You gave Trump a decisive win, prioritizing short-term economic pain over long-term democratic stability. Now, it’s up to the rest of us to fight for our future.

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Trying to Convince Myself The Dems Shouldn’t Cheat

November 2, 2024

Democrats and Never-Trump Republicans argue that Donald Trump’s potential return to the presidency poses a dire threat to American democracy. Some advocate drastic measures to prevent it, but true democracy demands nonviolent persuasion, even in the face of fear and uncertainty.

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The Fascism Is Already Happening

October 31, 2024

“You don’t stop being a fascist because you don’t get everything you want in your first term because you’re surrounded by people who aren’t fascists. They’re right-wing Republicans, they’re craven, but they’re not going along with fascism. You don’t get to do full fascism until you’re surrounded by fascists.”

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America Foreign Policy for Sale

October 23, 2024

“There is no comparison between Donald Trump and any previous president…in terms of selling access to him, his family, and of course, his administration, and selling out American policy in the process. If he wins again in November, if he’s back in the White House, everything in terms of American foreign policy will be for sale to the highest bidder.”

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