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Kaz Weida

16 Sep, 11 tweets, 5 min read

In today’s thread we’re taking a closer look at the CA recall. Does it tell us anything about Dem chances in the 2022 midterms?

What lessons can we learn about how to motivate voters and get the kind of turnout even the GOP can’t gerrymander away.

(THREAD)

(2) Saying the recall failed is a bit of an understatement. It fell flat as a pancake. 70% of CA voters said no to recalling Dem governor Newsom.

So the media framing that Dems should take to heart hard lessons here seems misplaced.

cnbc.com/2021/09/15/cal…

(3) In fact the CA recall, widely seen as a referendum on Biden and aggressive pandemic management should be seen as a bellwether.

CA overwhelming said yes to vaccines. Yes to science. And yes to abortion rights.

The GOP should sit up and take note.

usatoday.com/story/opinion/…

(4) Governors like DeSantis & Abbott are bleeding support in recent polling. Their approach to opening the floodgates and allowing COVID to surge unchecked through the population is pretty unpopular.

Especially since it places children at greater risk.

thehill.com/homenews/campa…

(5) So while the media framing in the wake of the recall has leaned into Dems in disarray, the reality indicates quite the opposite.

Support for Dem policies is solid, especially given the success of pandemic management in urban areas.

healthline.com/health-news/fr…

(6) So what Dems should take away as a lesson from the CA recall is pretty simple. Turnout turnout turnout.

And what the GOP should walk away with is the certainty that if they don’t course correct, they’re in some trouble come midterms.

fivethirtyeight.com/features/our-b…

(7) The GOP may have history on their side but Americans are FURIOUS. And I don’t know that we’ve ever seen quite this level of outrage.

The GOP is risking our very lives for the sake of political gain. People are dying because of their propaganda.

usatoday.com/story/news/pol…

(8) So yes, the Republicans are going to do what they always do. Talk about the economy. But Democrats have run circles around this talking point by getting pandemic relief directly into the hands of those who need it most.

Voters will remember.

npr.org/2021/09/15/103…

(9) Instead of choosing moderation in the wake of 2020, the GOP has doubled down on Trumpism and extremist politics. They’re betting on an energized base and voter suppression tactics.

But the problem is that vocal minority is just that. A minority.

nytimes.com/2021/09/15/us/…

(10) Abortion rights are also going to galvanize women in ways that should leave the GOP quaking in their boots. Think post Kavanaugh energy but BIGGER.

So yes, there are warnings in the CA recall. But they’re mostly for the GOP.

nymag.com/intelligencer/…

@bobcorrigan

(END) Thanks to @bobcorrigan for the thread suggestion. Come back next week and we’ll do this again.

Like threads like this and want to keep them coming? You can support my work here:

paypal.com/paypalme/kazwe…
patreon.com/kazweida

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More from @kazweida

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

14 Sep

In today's thread we're taking a peak into the dark corner of the internet that is Facebook. Is anyone trying to do anything about the threats unregulated social media platforms pose?

Is Facebook going to be allowed to continue to poison us with misinformation?
(THREAD)

(2) One of the items Biden's FCC was set to tackle is what to do about tech giants.

After the role Facebook played in disinformation campaigns ahead of the 2016 election, it's clear we have to do something. And anti-trust laws aren't going to cut it.

brookings.edu/blog/techtank/…

(3) Facebook knew this moment was coming and tried to position itself for the new era of accountability by suggesting some measures they could impose for better self regulation.

Basically a laundry list of relatively ineffective stuff they already do.

theverge.com/interface/2020…

Read 11 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

26 Aug

In today's thread we're asking what's the cost of COVID? This is a difficult question to answer for several reasons.

Let's start at the beginning.
With straightforward healthcare costs.
Who is paying for the unvaccinated?

The short answer? All of us.
Let me explain.
(THREAD)

(2) The economic impact of the virus extends in all directions. Unemployment, loss of life, long term disability. All of these effects have costs.

A Harvard economic study published in JAMA last year estimated COVID had already cost the US 16 trillion.

jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/…

(3) Many of these costs might have been avoided early on with investment in more robust testing and other mitigation measures.

This year we have vaccines. And they are worth every penny. But the unvaccinated continue to cost us in more ways than one.

marketwatch.com/story/unvaccin…

Read 12 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

24 Aug

In today's thread we're talking about adult content. Don't get too excited, though. Because something rather insidious is happening and I'm not sure we're all fully grasping the issue.

And at the bottom of this mess is Mastercard and Visa.
Let me explain.
(THREAD)

(2) Mastercard & others quietly changed their rules for processing charges earlier this year. Adult content needs to demonstrate consent & age to process payments.

On the surface, this seems aimed at preventing abuse. But it has unintended consequences.

thehill.com/policy/technol…

(3) One consequence was OnlyFans had to ban adult & explicit content.

Many lawyers suggest that the risk of being associated with enabling sex trafficking, child pornography, and revenge porn was just to great for the banks and the sites they serve.

newsweek.com/why-visa-maste…

Read 10 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

10 Aug

In today's thread we're tackling a question everyone is asking these days. Why on earth does Louis DeJoy still have a job as postmaster?

You'd assume the Biden administration could find a way to kick him to the curb by now, but it's more complicated than it seems.
(THREAD)

(2) News that DeJoy's company just earned itself a big juicy contract from the USPS has everyone more than a little outraged.

It's clear that Republican members of the USPS board of governors seem to be milking the agency dry at the expense of taxpayers.
washingtonpost.com/business/2021/…

(3) Coupled with continued cutbacks on mail service and mounting delays, DeJoy still seems to be doing everything in his power to sink the USPS.

So why is he still in charge and what can we do about it?

npr.org/2021/08/06/102…

Read 11 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

9 Aug

I know people like to compare requiring licensing or seatbelts on roadways to requiring masks.

But those comparisons don’t convey the crux of the problem.

If you crash without your seatbelt, the person who gets hurt by your negligence is you.

Not so with masks.
(THREAD)

(2) Your refusal to wear a mask makes my mask less effective at preventing infection.

It would be like if your failure to wear a seatbelt exposed me to a greater risk of death.

I think the best metaphor for mask wearing if we want to talk motor vehicle laws is speeding.

(3) We have speed limits most places but especially in residential areas. Why?

We’ve decided slowing down prevents fatal accidents for everyone.

Your right to go the speed you want even if it’s risky is overridden by public safety.

Read 7 tweets

Kaz Weida

@kazweida

7 Aug

I don’t know who needs to hear this but if your district won’t offer online school, there are a bunch of online charter schools that serve K-12 and essentially function as public schools in most states. They’re free of charge to you.

Now I’m not saying they’re a fantastic option. And you definitely need to be at home and be involved. But the curriculum closely follows state standards and it’s not as terrifying as homeschooling from scratch.

It’s a good short term solution for some.

npr.org/2020/11/30/928…

Yes, I am well aware of the evils of charter schools and how I’m supporting the Republican agenda of undermining public schools but right now parents choices aren’t great.

It’s risk the lives of the people we love or compromise. Give us better choices and we’ll make them.

Read 6 tweets

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