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James Fallows@jfallows.bsky.social |
6426 followers 334 following 503 posts
Reporter and writer: fallows.substack.com/ and www.ourtownsfoundation.org/ One-time speechwriter, long-time pilot, longer-time husband of linguist/writer Deborah Fallows. Note same wristwatch in the two photos, more than 50 years apart.
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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When reading the piece below, about how bad the SupCt has been ( theatlantic.com/politics/arc... ) ,
can't help thinking of same author's ringing endorsement of Brett Kavanaugh. "A superb nominee," etc.
(This is prof Akhil Reed Amar of Yale Law. )
www.nytimes.com/2018/07/09/o...
3 replies 9 reposts 37 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Reminds me of the days when we first met! Nail-biting time.
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Through 5 prez cycles, 2000 —> 2016, did big-deal reported stories on how parties and candidates prepared for debates. Traveled, interviewed candids + advisors, watched tape, etc Eg
www.theatlantic.com/magazine/arc...
Now: God save us.
Though will watch and write something about it.
2 replies 0 reposts 17 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Just as reference: At this stage in 2012, Obama/Romney a cliff-hanger. In Nov, Obama won by 5 million votes, 4% margin, 332-206 EV. At this stage in 1992, Ross Perot was runway leader over Bill Clinton and GHW Bush. See NYT story June 11 1992 below. At this stage in 2004, Kerry in lead over GWB
7 replies 19 reposts 70 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Anecdata:
Hearing from friend after friend about positive Covid tests in past few days. Separate instances in diff cities, mainly Eastern half of US.
Is it just us? Just coincidence? Similar anecdata from others?
Tracking data showing mild uptick
www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVI...
9 replies 2 reposts 20 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Yeah, if only I had written about both of those at the time.
1 replies 0 reposts 10 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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I've prepped a prez candidate for a debate and written about scads of them, 2000 -> 2016. Any article about this upcoming spectacle that doesn't put "debate" in air-quotes has already lost the narrative.
5 replies 8 reposts 69 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Won't tell you the household conversation with my wife, an Actual Linguist, about this one.
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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2/2 And that was meant to be "next interview" I'd like Isaac C to do. But either way ... jeesh.
0 replies 2 reposts 19 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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News interview I would love Isaac Chotiner to do: With whoever writes NYT headlines. Today's installment. first Axios, then NYT, framing similar news.
13 replies 81 reposts 301 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Our friend Sophie Schmidt took an important step for journalism six years ago in founding @restofworld.org restofworld.org
Now she makes this significant commitment, to
@msf.bsky.social for Gaza crisis relief.
view.newsletters.cnn.com/messages/171...
0 replies 2 reposts 14 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Contrasts of the NYT: On one hand, political coverage. On other, truly outstanding investigative projects. Like today's by Rebecca Robbins / Reed Abelson on "PBM" racket jacking up pharma projects:
www.nytimes.com/2024/06/21/b...
Really well done.
Target for second Biden term.
3 replies 19 reposts 61 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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2/2 And that day with his grandmother.
0 replies 0 reposts 26 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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For the past six months or so, I have hoped and assumed this would be his goal.
Godspeed!
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
7 replies 7 reposts 60 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Two people named J. Fallows (Jack, and James.)
Two people wearing Cirrus jackets. Both standing in front of Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.
One of them six times as old as the other. fallows.substack.com/p/a-note-to-...
Summertime.
5 replies 1 reposts 74 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Unwise to point this out, but still: *By my reckoning, Dems /progs /reproductive-rights etc have done "better than expected" in huge majority of races since Nov 2016. Main exception: JD Vance. *As Prez, Biden has done "better than expected" in big performances, SOTU etc CF: Upcoming "debate."
3 replies 3 reposts 34 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Genuine tip of the hat to Chris Pandolfo, of Fox News, for the most precise use of 'decimate' you'll ever see in a news story.
www.fox13news.com/news/trump-v...
4 replies 14 reposts 126 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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2/2
Speaking for myself, as soon as I hear "hypermasculine," there's only one name that comes to mind.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7_O...
6 replies 6 reposts 81 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Tee-hee. Isn't this amusing?
15 replies 9 reposts 109 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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For your both-sides collection, front page of WaPo today:
www.washingtonpost.com/politics/202...
27 replies 36 reposts 197 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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I give NYT headline writers a lot of grief.
But respect where it is due: Just the right headline, on fascinating story:
www.nytimes.com/2024/05/30/u...
(And story doesn't even include name "Otis.")
1 replies 5 reposts 42 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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If you're looking for more MAGA gear in wake of yesterday's news, add this to your shopping list! Makes a great rally gift. (Came out in 1989, but, hey, always relevant.)
0 replies 0 reposts 24 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Why we love big banks, chapter five million: -Dealing with paperwork / procedure for (very modest) estate of a family member. -In flood of paper, this notice. -As if steep fees are not enough, bank also re-selling personal info w/ no opt-out choice.
4 replies 5 reposts 40 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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I remember the minutes in Dec 2000 when news came that there *was* a verdict in Bush v Gore, but no one knew what it was. (Could guess but not be sure.) Mark these minutes in our experience. We know there is a verdict on Trump. Can guess but not be sure what it is.
2 replies 1 reposts 31 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Correct. For several years now we've been in "could shoot someone on Fifth Avenue" terrain. The realm of things that could dissuade "The Base" is the null set.
2 replies 0 reposts 34 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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2/ "You will serve the reader better, and the truth, by expressing the view more clearly—and being plain about it being the writer's view. "Any of these is better: 'Evidence indicates' / 'Evidence suggests' / even 'It became clear.' " "Portrait emerges" has become NYT trademark, Pitchbot-style.
2 replies 5 reposts 62 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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1/ In next edition of NYT style guide pls add: "When tempted to write 'a picture emerges,' 'a portrait emerges,' 'paints a picture,' recognize these as evasions through which a writer expresses a judgment while shying from doing so "They are similar to 'critics contend' or 'may raise questions'
4 replies 19 reposts 173 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Being Married to a Linguist for Decades™ dept. Listen for a tic that has gotten way out of control in podcasts: - Q: "So you're saying XXX XX." - A: "Exactly." It's the "exactly" that has become the tic / cliche. Listen for it and you'll hear it constantly. You're welcome!
9 replies 1 reposts 28 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Yes, I use and like DDG much of the time.
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Exactly.
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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A commencement speech actually worth watching!
Ken Burns at Brandeis
Really, hear him out.
alumni.brandeis.edu/news/2024/co...
2 replies 19 reposts 57 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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This is a beautiful and wise essay by
Gregg Easterbrook.
greggeasterbrook.substack.com/p/my-back-pa...
It features one of the people we both revere(d) as an editor, Bill Whitworth.
2 replies 1 reposts 10 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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In a sea of "how will it play?" campaign stories, a very good "how will it work?" WaPo story by Rachel Siegel:
www.washingtonpost.com/business/202...
3 replies 8 reposts 19 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Singapore Airlines, by me.
fallows.substack.com/p/the-singap...
TL;DR Keep your seatbelt on, tight.
1 replies 2 reposts 30 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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1) Very good WaPo article on renowned Depression-era photog Russell Lee.
2) Very strange headline framing. Along w Dorothea Lange and Walker Evans, Lee was one of *best* known of the group. (Eg Nick Lemann wrote a book about his photos.)
3) See point #1.
www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/202...
2 replies 2 reposts 15 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Free story idea for newspaper/broadcast politics editors:
How is it that Biden keeps managing to "do better than expected" in high-stakes speeches. Eg: powerful 2024 SOTU, right after "elderly man w/ poor memory." Or this weekend's at Morehouse.
fallows.substack.com/p/election-c...
0 replies 10 reposts 35 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Probably need to click on "More"
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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"I'm not a doctor. But I watched ER — and stayed at Holiday Inn Express!" "I'm not a pilot. But I watched 'Airplane' and 'The Right Stuff.'" Etc.
0 replies 2 reposts 15 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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This is so important and valuable.
A way to get "Google search without the crap." Notably AI crap, which destroys G-search utility.
Intro'd here:
tedium.co/2024/05/17/g...
In practice: After a Google search, click on "Web." You'll get the de-crapped results.
30 replies 211 reposts 414 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Kids these days.
hub.jhu.edu/2024/05/14/q...
8 replies 8 reposts 50 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Unemployment rate: —May 2020: 13.2% —May 2024: 3.9% S&P closing level: —May 15, 2020: 2,864 —May 15, 2024: 5,308. [Stock market ≠ the economy, but still. ] Weekly COVID deaths: —May 2020: 6,900 —May 2024: 294 "Are you better off than you were four years ago?"
22 replies 139 reposts 384 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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2/2 To clarify for DC-ites: the bear appears to be based in Glover Archbold park, essentially right across the street (Reservoir Rd) from Georgetown Univ and a couple of blocks from American Univ. These houses are along 44th street, bordering the park.
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Nope, near American Univ, in NW. The bear is in Glover Archbold park.
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Nature update from NW DC, 3+ miles from White House: -Over the weekend, sizable (5 - 6 feet) Eastern black rat snake sunning on driveway outside our garage. -Overnight, pics on local listserv of sizable young bear prowling houses 3 blocks away. They are coming.
5 replies 1 reposts 29 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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Twenty eight years ago I wrote that this op-ed act had gotten old.
2 replies 1 reposts 29 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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It was an older editorial
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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#4 Jessica Shattuck on the unmatchable, moments-in-time joys of playing catch, in the back yard or in an alley or at a park, with a child.
www.nytimes.com/2024/05/12/o...
4/4
0 replies 2 reposts 16 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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#3 Nick Kristoff on how the despair of these days fits in the long pattern of American crises.
www.nytimes.com/2024/05/09/o...
3/4
1 replies 1 reposts 16 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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#2 Anne Stevenson-Yang on how a strategic failure / setback for China means problems for everyone else.
www.nytimes.com/2024/05/11/o...
2/4
1 replies 1 reposts 15 likes
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James Fallows
@jfallows.bsky.social
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1/4
As very frequent NYT critic, thought I should offer short thread on four 'Opinion' essays today I agreed with.
#1: T Friedman on predictable over-reaction to Biden (finally) applying conditions, re Rafah.
www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/o...
1/4
1 replies 4 reposts 35 likes