Let’s Talk Turkey!

Thanksgiving, Twitter, and the turkeys among us.

Thanksgiving is a day we gather with our loved ones and give thanks for the blessings in our lives, the challenges that have made us stronger, and the people who bring joy, love, and meaning to our days. President Abraham Lincoln first made it a holiday in 1863 during the Civil War to encourage unity and gratitude among a divided nation, reminding Americans to recognize the blessings of prosperity, peace, and divine mercy even amidst great hardship.

Perhaps if we’re celebrating Thanksgiving according to President Lincoln’s ideals, a day of unity and gratitude is needed in these polarizing times. Bless those of you who still have the fortitude to break bread with your MAGA-loving family. It takes a lot of patience… or booze, whatever floats your boat.

Many of us were deceived in school, especially in Lost Cause-indoctrinated states like Texas. From a young age, we were told that the colonizers Pilgrims had a successful harvest and shared a feast with the Indigenous People. It was all sunshine and rainbows. What’s often left out is in 1637, the “Pilgrims” committed the Mystic Massacre, setting fire to a Pequot fort, killing between 500-700 people, including women and children.

Further reading:

• World History Encyclopedia: Mystic Massacre of 1637

• History Channel: Pequot massacres begin

• Native News Online: The Mystic Massacre

This isn’t a history lesson. For most of us, Thanksgiving might be more about turkey and togetherness than history, and that’s okay. But it’s worth taking a moment to acknowledge the whole story—because understanding the past helps us celebrate with greater awareness and respect.

But you came here to talk turkey.

Elon Musk is like a turkey.

He struts around erratically, pecking at every shiny object that crosses his path. I noticed a long time ago that I wasn’t getting as much traffic from Twitter as I used to. (I will never call it “X.”) Musk admitted this week that he was intentionally throttling posts with links in them. Which only gives journalists and independent media all the more reason to jump off the Twitter bandwagon.

I’ve officially quit Twitter two weeks ago. I didn’t mention it before because something about those announcements seems sanctimonious. I’m on all the other platforms (links below), but I’m hoping Bluesky will be the new Twitter.

The reason I will no longer use Elon Musk’s Twitter is:

• It’s full of Nazis, which Musk boosts above left-wing content.

• Everyone you block can still see your content, which means more trolls screenshotting and targeting you for threats and harassment. Depending on your account size, this could mean dozens or hundreds of 4chan-like trolls in your posts.

• Elon Musk is allowing AI to train on your posts and pictures.

• Musk is now cyberbullying and doxxing government employees on his site.

• Musk’s Super PAC spent $200 million electing Trump.

At one time, Twitter was known as “the public square.” Elon Musk ruined that, and major media outlets and celebrities like the Guardian, Mark Hamill, Don Lemon, and Joy Ried have left the platform.

The more people who leave Twitter, the fewer ad imprints are seen, and as the site becomes Truth Social 2.0, more advertisers will withdraw.

In October, Elon Musk’s Twitter was worth nearly 80% less than he had paid when he bought it two years ago. The brand value dropped from $5.7 billion in 2022 to $673.3 million in 2024. Since the election, millions of users have left the site, which will ultimately contribute to its further decline.

Musk has already turned Twitter into garbage. It will only get worse. But don’t worry about poor Elon. He’s slated to become the world’s first trillionaire by 2027.

But you came here to talk turkey.

Ken Paxton is a jive-turkey (as some elders used to say).

Mr. Free Market Conservative Ken Paxton is suing a group of advertisers for boycotting Twitter because nothing says “free market” quite like suing companies that won’t give a platform money. But don’t worry, he’s acting as Elon Musk’s personal attorney on our taxpayer dime.

Wait. Isn’t that why he got impeached before?

Shit, can we impeach him again?

It’s unlikely. Even if they can muster the votes in the House again, the Republicans in the Senate are all bought and paid for, so they won’t even bother.

We need a strong AG candidate to run against him in 2026.

But you came here to talk turkey.

Here’s a juice turkey leg of an announcement:

I’m bringing back “Left In Texas” (podcast) during the legislative session. A weekly show hosted by me, and co-hosted by Karthik Soora, discussing the legislative activities in Austin. We’ll have weekly guests and all the meaty details happening throughout the week. So, if you want to stay tuned to what’s happening in the Texas Legislature, tune in to our weekly show. More details are coming soon.

As we gear up for the Legislature’s return in January and continue carving out space for the conversations that matter, I want to take a moment to express my gratitude to all of you—my subscribers, readers, and supporters.

Whether opening these emails, sharing them with friends, or simply taking the time to read, your continued engagement means the world to me. You allow me to do what I love: sharing ideas, having the conversations, and staying passionate about the things that matter most. Thank you for being here, for your curiosity, and for your commitment to staying informed and connected. Wishing you and yours a warm, joyful Thanksgiving filled with love, gratitude, and maybe just a little extra pie. 🦃❤️

• December 9: House Administration Committee meets to debate rules.

• January 14: The 89th Legislative Session begins.

• March 14: The last day Legislators can file bills.

• June 2: The 89th Legislative Session ends.

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