Pluralistic: The billionaires aren't OK (24 Sep 2025)

Today's links

The billionaires aren't OK: They're going to give us all Howard Hughes disease.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: KY Republican says the First Amendment protects bribes; Walt Disney's FBI; "The Sapling Cage."
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Trump steals $400b from American workers: You get a noncompete, and you get a noncompete, and you get a noncompete!
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Spying baby-monitors; FBI tests spy-gear at Burning Man; Little Brother optioned by Paramount; Best-paid CEOs have worst-paid workers.
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Friction cannot be reduced, it can only be redistributed: The better things are for your boss, the worse they are for you.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: Dr Bruce Sterling; Buddy Holly's overnight bag; Zombie postcapitalism.
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

AI turns Amazon coders into Amazon warehouse workers: A reverse-centaur in the loop.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
Object permanence: 2005, 2010, 2015, 2020, 2024
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
Recent appearances: Where I've been.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Working class Dems who campaign on economics beat Trumpists in elections: But they rarely beat the Dem establishment in primaries.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2004, 2009, 2014, 2019
Upcoming appearances: Where to find me.
Recent appearances: Podcasts, events and more.
Latest books: You keep readin' em, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Upcoming books: Like I said, I'll keep writin' 'em.
Colophon: All the rest.

Social Security is class war, not intergenerational conflict: If conservatives were really interested in millennial life-chances, they'd demand inheritance taxes, not Social Security cuts.
Hey look at this: Delights to delectate.
This day in history: 2013, 2018, 2022
Colophon: Recent publications, upcoming/recent appearances, current writing projects, current reading