Riley

WSU '20

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

@propogandaKnow @currypistonn Greatest free throw merchant of all time

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

I am in awe reading this

[JD Vance @JDVance]

One of the things the data analysts on our side obsessed over was "composition"—whether the electorate looked close enough to 2024 for Republicans to win. And despite polls that showed a Democrat blowout, the data kept on telling us the same story: in some states turnout was merely OK, in other states it was downright amazing, and in no state was it catastrophic. There was a genuine sense of optimism on our team: our people were showing up.

So, I asked the smartest data guy I know, does that mean we're going to shock the world? "No," he told me. "We might do better than the polls suggest. But the data is telling us that a lot of Trump/Vance 2024 voters are pissed and planning to vote for the other guys. Our voters are turning out, but they may not vote for us."

Well, that looks prophetic now. Our voters did show up. In Florida, for example, the electorate was 9 points more Republican than Democrat, just a couple points worse than 2024. Undoubtedly there were places we could have done better on turnout. But the main problem is not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026.

There will be a lot of infighting and arguing over what happened and why that is. One of the pollsters I really respect told me that our economic messaging wasn’t sharp enough down the stretch. I’m sure that’s true.

But the real reason we lost is obvious to almost everyone.

Another pollster—one of the smartest people I know in politics, told me yesterday we’d lose the generic ballot by 13 points. I felt negative going into Tuesday, but even I was shocked by this. In his polling, he saw that a lot of Trump 2024 voters were angry and planning to vote for Democrats. He asked those voters who had abandoned us what would cause them to come back on our team. The top four answers, accounting for nearly all of the responses were:

1) End the war
2) Focus on cost of living/inflation
3) Put America First
4) Change our relationship to Israel

Our voters showed up. And the above four reasons are why many of them voted for Democrats. This is according to a pollster who nailed the results. While many spent Monday attacking Rachel Campos Duffy for calling for a diplomatic resolution to the conflict, it turns out her political advice was sound. (She’s also a great person.)

In the next few months, there's going to be a lot of gaslighting. Expect to hear any number of establishment politicians say the solution to our woes is amnesty. I'm open to the idea that we should change enforcement—by focusing more on businesses that hire illegal labor, for instance. But anyone pushing amnesty is lying to you.

The reason we lost is the war. The president himself said so last night.

If you'd like to argue it was worth it, that losing the Senate for the next 6 years was worth it, then do so. Argue it was a worthwhile cost to pay. Agree or disagree, that's at least honest.

But everyone knows why we lost. And any honest conversation about where we go from here must start there.

I remain hopeful about our country. To the people who are pissed off and want to say, “I told you so”: you’re right, you did tell us so. Take that energy into electing Republicans who share your worldview. To the people who are just pissed at the results, you should be. Let’s take that anger and get back to the work of saving our country.

[Tom Hur @KoreaPistonsFan]

The friend that I brought from Korea just said that Detroit's the cleanest and safest city he's ever been to in the United States, and that he doesn't understand why it has a bad reputation. He genuinely loves it here.

Me too, brother, me too!!!

[Zito @_Zeets]

I feel like the Detroit vs Everybody brand doing the same thing for every city makes the phrase meaningless. The original one had real roots in Detroiters feeling like the country / government wanted the city to die. You can try transporting that but it’s insincere.

[Jeff Stein @jstein_sun]

Never really had a college football team but guess I’m a Jayhawks all the way now for life

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

@serafawne mt moon exists

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

@serafawne Quagsire!

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

@bigblackjacobin come to Detroit you'll love it here

[Kevín @KevOnStage]

Sheepstealer speaks on the aftermath of episode 1.

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

My top 100 favorite albums. List is always changing but I'm happy with this. Thanks to everyone who put me on to anything or anyone on here.

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

@bigblackjacobin my review of the second book in this series was literally "If only this author had ever felt the touch of a woman"

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

@Hampton I wonder what the music equivalent to adult cocomelon is

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

@WEKetchum how did I miss the news of Ka passing... rest in peace. I think he's second only to Lupe among musicians in influence on my own writing style. Great article, covered all your bases really well.

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

@PrinceOfPEDs yea this guy was demonic

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

happy trans day of visibility

[Alex Press @alexnpress]

I love when writers on here debate whether they should read, all-time favorite

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

This is the best I have ever felt about my friends and my support system. I’ve had a lot of rebuilding and a good bit of healing to do over the past few years, but I think I’ve found my people. I am loved.

[Riley @DetroitRiley]

@WEKetchum My favorite from him is Punch-Drunk Love, couldn’t believe the emotions Adam Sandler put me through

[Frank Isola @TheFrankIsola]

Excellent work here from Blake Griffin. Nothing nasty, no personal shots just honest critical analysis of a star player who simply isn’t doing enough.
Or would you prefer he just ignore the obvious and “celebrate” the game?

[Video Game History @VideoGameHstry]

Xbox 360 Netflix Party Mode (2009-2011)