Marcus Mauney

@marcusmauney.bsky.social

2601 Followers 6303 Following

Scribbler. Working on Prosopography in the 3rd Century Roman Empire. Late Roman Empire/Late Antiquity/Early Middle Ages enjoyer. North Carolina expat in California. Appalachian and old man undergrad.

Nancy Mace with a table full of beans, grinning like a dipshit.
Opinion Leadership and Editorial Board: A Full List of Cowards Adam O'Neal: Opinion Editor James Hohmann: Deputy Opinion Editor Mark Lasswell: Deputy Opinion Editor Mili Mitra: Director of Operations and Strategy
A twenty-part television series, and a musical based on it, were later produced.
Maxine Waters makes Michael Tracey piss himself.
A picture of the current speechwriter for Pete Hegseth and the Pentagon. Pictured is a pale man wearing tortoise shell glasses, thinning blonde hair combed over, and a grin like he enjoys smelling his own farts.
A dachshund cocker spaniel mix, resting her head on her paws on my leg. Her name is Lady.
Screenshot of Diedrich Bader, on the bridge of the Enterprise, playing a tactical officer in Star Trek: The Next Generation.
A sign inside a school gym that reads 5th Zavala.
The flags of all the countries of the Americas.
John Candy welcoming Catherine O'Hara to the good place and offering her a ride with his polka band.
Old posts continually showing up in Discover feed.
A tiny baby earthquake in the backyard. 3.6.
Heidi Klum dressed up as a worm.
Peter Griffin in a studio audience, standing and pointing saying: He said it! He said the thing!
"Grab his dick and twist it" guy
I had a couple of folks ask me for a quick explainer on what the government shut down is about. Here goes: How is the government shut down right now when Republicans control every branch of government? Basically, in order for Congress (which includes both the Senate and the House of Representatives) to pass a budget for the government to function, they need 60 votes out of 100 in the Senate and 218 out of 435 votes in the House. The GOP has the votes in the House but need Dem votes in the Senate to make 60. The Republicans wrote a heinous budget bill with massive cuts that will harm the American people and further erode Democracy so, Democrats have refused to just sign on to the bill as Republicans have written it and want to negotiate a comprise. Dems focal point has been on one single negative in the budget - the fact that the GOP budget will gut federal subsidies for healthcare for qualifying families that will result in an astronomical spike in premiums. Dems have asked for those subsidies stay in place to allow families to keep their healthcare. They've asked for no other concession,
For most of the twentieth century, institutions whose authority rested on nonpartisan expertise influenced America’s public sphere through a top-down communications model. Think tanks, modern universities, and social and advocacy organizations produced writing and research aimed at policymakers and elites. Public communication was seen as the last stage of the process. Press releases alerted a relatively manageable set of high-profile outlets to new writings. Carefully crafted content passed through media gatekeepers who determined what deserved public attention. Through op-eds, Sunday talk shows, and briefings, experts could bring their work to the attention of politicians, executives, and other decisionmakers who could act on their ideas. The public—especially the educated and politically engaged—could be reached through a relatively small number of channels. Even as cable news expanded and partisan outlets like Fox News emerged, this approach held: Institutions created, gatekeepers validated, audiences consumed. The top-down, centralized approach rewarded polish, institutional prestige, and insider relationships with gatekeepers. A high degree of shared trust gave credence to the choices of the gatekeepers; legitimacy was communicated through successful participation in this hierarchy. That system has collapsed. Today, public attention flows through a far more diffuse, competitive ecosystem—one where influence is shaped by networks rather than hierarchies. The old gatekeepers have been replaced by new ones: algorithms that curate content, high-follower social media accounts that influence what goes viral, and deeply engaged niche creators who enjoy immense legitimacy within their communities. The newly influential are not simply broadcasters at the top of a different hierarchical order—they determine what content matters in conjunction with active, participating audiences. Legitimacy is now conferred on those who master resonance, immediacy, emotional connec
The truly insane part of this is that it's completely fabricated. Its beautiful out here in California and Oregon. People in Portland are sharing videos of a sunny Saturday afternoon walking their dogs or going to yoga, Senator Ron Wyden is literally posting video from outside the ICE facility and the streets are empty, but there is an entire media ecosystem that has tried for years (and has been largely successful) in convincing Americans that don't know any better that cities, in particular West Coast cities, are horrible hellacapes under "Antifa" occupation. Absolutely farcical and all for political gain and power. Our entire system, Congress, the news media, political leaders that are in positions to stop this, or at the very least show the truth, refuse to do so out of fear or to seek profit. A system that allows a deranged President to call for live ammunition against our own citizens, and the military obeys him, because of a fever dream cooked up by right wing radicals and nurtured in a corrupt ecosystem. A disgusting failure of our society. If you're sitting there watching literally any program that is telling you this bullshit is remotely true or justified you're in it, you're in their propaganda network, and you're not even questioning it.
Man touching the hand of God.
Meanwhile in the US: Trump: The sky is a big, beautiful green! Right wing media: He's so right! It IS green. Libtards have been lying to you your entire life. Main stream media: Trump says the sky is green. Democrats say it's blue. Here's a panel of 8 people to debate the issue. *Debate ensues* Main stream media: Well both sides have great points, voters will have to decide if they want to acknowledge the sky is green or if they want to persist in calling it blue. MAGA voter: See! It's green you lying commie. Liberals/Leftists: You're lying to people and now the media can't even state that fact! Average voter: Why are Democrats so angry?! Anyone see the last episode of America's Next Top Model?
Jesus, I see what you've done for other people, and I want that for me.
A post about The Onion being cleared to renew their attempt to buy Alex Jones's InfoWars and quoting Ben Collins. The post immediately beneath it is Ben Collins confirming his quote.
SeaQuest DSV
A man in a suit being tackled by other men in suits while grasping a microphone and saying "Would".
Pride flag alongside the state and the US flags.
Nathan Felder "Out on the town" meme.
Picture of a toy submarine with a boy inside.
Jake Tapper sucks.
Guardian article headline: First Thing: UN says 14,000 babies could die in Gaza in the next 48 hours under Israeli aid blockade.
Me: I won't talk politics I promise. Me after 2 drinks: Picture: Scene from the show Rome where Julius Caesar, on horseback, harangues legionnaires with a cry of "Our beloved Republic is in the hands of madmen!"
https://discord.gg/g72Dxvq9
The Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer thrilled to be sitting with Archbishop Timothy Dolan and Donald Trump. He's pictured with a big grin giving a thumbs up.
Cast photo from The Goonies.
The RV style spaceship from the movie Spaceballs.
A cat, smoking weed, with the caption overhead "Fuck the patriarchy."
Ro Kanna slobbering all over Elon Musk's boots.
I personally know someone who is transgender and I support them. If you would like to know more, please ask questions so I can inform you better.
A drawing of a horse, smoking a cigarette, with a blanket over it that reads "Don't give up. You can cuss the whole time, just don't give up."
A drawing of a bunny holding a lit matchstick in its mouth with the words "We can't just vote the fascism away, the time has come to disobey."
Chopped onions, pasta, seasoning, and two fingers of Oban.
Rick Grimes from The Walking Dead meme where he's crying to Carl.
An overhead view of Cape Suzette, the fictional home of Balloo and the other characters of Tailspin.
Umberto Eco quote: "Those who buy only one book, read only that one and then get rid of it. They simply apply the consumer mentality to books, that is, they consider them a consumer product, a good. Those who love books know that a book is anything but a commodity."
Spider-Man meme pointing out the irony and hypocrisy of the outrage grift economy.
Televangelist saying: Jesus, I see what you've done for other people, and I want that for me.
MAGA troll hub for other MAGA trolls
Skinhead licking a boot.
Cast photo from the show Earth 2.
A boot licking piece of shit.
As we struggle to deal with so many voluntarily choosing bigotry, hate, and authoritarian rule, one suggestion I'll make is that you do not owe your time and energy to MAGA trolls. For many of us we have MAGA folks that are family or friends that can't be cut out of our lives, and we all have to navigate that as best we can, but I'm not interested in litigating anything with tertiary acquaintances that have either played footsy with MAGA and want to be cute about it or want to celebrate the abdication of our democracy. I do not owe you my attention or access to any aspect of my or my family's lives. My energy will be focused on protecting those I love from what you've unleashed.
Wooly Willy as Forgiatto Blow.
Tin type of Hubert Dilger - a German-American artilleryman who fought for the Union and blasted Rebs all day.
Red Baron Pizza box
Messy but cozy desk with tchotchkes and too many wires.
Beavis, as Cornholio brandishing an assault rifle and a handgun, pictured as the head of the snake on the Gadsden Flag with the line "Are you threatening me?"
Waynesville, NC completely inundated by flood water.
Hwy 74 in Asheville, completed flooded with 5+ feet of water.
Stock photo of a triumphant Roman general with another Roman in a red cloak and two soldiers in armor.