Writer, producer, director - thirtysomething, Last Samurai, My So-Called Life, Dangerous Beauty. Let's build a future for our children - and their children. LA, PDXhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.socialhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3myte6taqh22tAI is already destroying jobs, especially in movies, TV, and advertising. Powerful people like Ava Duvernay who are protected by their union contracts must decide whether they care about all the workers who aren't protected. Remember, the business model of AI is to destroy jobs across the economy. [contains quote post or other embedded content]27 Oct 2026 04:04 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3myte6taqh22thttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mys32tzluk2iPeople may want to think Steve Bannon is old news. Trust @nick-carmody.bsky.social - he’s not: [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Oct 2026 15:48 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mys32tzluk2ihttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3myr3oaaslc2kThis is fantastic. It turns out there is a bottom. And Ramaswamy just face-planted onto it. [contains quote post or other embedded content]26 Oct 2026 06:26 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3myr3oaaslc2khttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mynmkqwumc2w1) Worth reading this cynical essay on AI replacing writers as much for what it doesn't say than what it does. Raskin is so apparently captured by neoliberal thinking that in all his arguments pro and con he never once considers that writing is a job, like millions of-- https://www.thefp.com/p/the-last-essay-ai-writing-tech-books-future?r=7fqpl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web24 Oct 2026 21:17 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mynmkqwumc2whttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mwysswpwlk2pIf I were a member of Congress and cared about my country, I would be screaming at the top of my lungs that recess must end RIGHT NOW. Anyone running for office who is not calling for immediate regulation of AI is either stupid or corrupt. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/oct/03/openai-safety-leader-quits-warning-ai-companys-culture-is-broken?CMP=share_btn_url03 Oct 2026 21:18 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwysswpwlk2phttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mwcu66sqds2aSo interesting that @nytimes.com only tells us about the terrible tempers and abusive behavior of female Democrats in Congress. I guess the Republicans who support ICE shootings, black-hole deportations, and taking healthcare from millions are just nicer people. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/23/us/politics/mary-peltola-alaska-senate-race.html?unlocked_article_code=1.D1E.g2ph.NVYBpPrCBoqw&smid=bs-share25 Sep 2026 03:44 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mwcu66sqds2ahttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mv44wwwous2g1) Jonathan Kaufman comprehensively deconstructs the terrible damage done by neoliberalism, which GE CEO Jack Welch essentially defined in 2009 as the "single-minded pursuit-- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/09/opinion/80s-reagan-revolution-deregulation.html?unlocked_article_code=1._1A.CoVe.eHTgEIiUcfCX&smid=bs-share09 Sep 2026 18:07 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mv44wwwous2ghttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mupkxreubc2yPerfect irony: After spending 100's of billions in a race to eliminate American jobs and pollute the American landscape, the sociopaths running our giant AI companies will now see their own jobs eliminated by cheaper AI from China. https://www.nytimes.com/2026/09/04/technology/open-source-ai-anthropic-openai.html?unlocked_article_code=1.-lA.prLw.hAwl7wDtgE5H&smid=bs-share04 Sep 2026 18:13 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mupkxreubc2yhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mt5ocl35ec23Great Conversation Live with The Intellectualist today, covering everything from My So-Called Life to income inequality to World War III! Thank you, Brian! Please watch! https://theintellectualistofficial.substack.com/p/live-with-the-intellectualist-4dc?r=7fqpl&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&timestamp=1291.815 Aug 2026 22:00 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mt5ocl35ec23https://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3msopuxujuk2fStory that got WAY too little attention last week: Todd Blanche on a call with faith leaders assured them DOJ and WH are “working hand-in-hand" to make sure the "DOBBS DECISION BECOMES PERMANENT IN EVERY SINGLE STATE.” https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/6008603-blanche-plans-abortion-rollback/09 Aug 2026 23:18 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3msopuxujuk2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3ms4jyq2du22d1) The moral collapse of the great law firm Paul Weiss perfectly illustrates the fatal difference between capitalism and neoliberalism. Famous for decades for its groundbreaking pro-bono, pro-social victories, the firm-- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/08/02/us/politics/paul-weiss-trump.html?unlocked_article_code=1.2VA.giPs.JThlZl45ZCc0&smid=bs-share02 Aug 2026 17:45 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3ms4jyq2du22dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mpear2bfwc2f1) Further evidence that a growing part of the Democratic coalition has disconnected from reality. The activist screaming in Wiener's face crossed the line from political speech to physical threat. (A threat against a pro-trans candidate-- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/27/us/scott-wiener-trans-march-gaza-video.html?unlocked_article_code=1.tlA.nTnP.V675hXlvb40P&smid=bs-share28 Jun 2026 15:06 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mpear2bfwc2fhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mp4n4owrck2l1) A righteous and necessary Democratic populist economic movement is in danger of being hijacked by extremists who espouse insanity already rejected by 90% of Americans. Dems must decide if they're willing to do the hard work of saving America-- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/24/opinion/nyc-election-primary-avila-chevalier-lander-valdez.html?unlocked_article_code=1.s1A.NL23.GzPz0ecLKTIV&smid=bs-share25 Jun 2026 14:25 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mp4n4owrck2lhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mom65xjnys2jOnce in a great while the news is not all bad: https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/jun/18/ocean-monitoring-system-reversal-trump-administration?CMP=share_btn_url19 Jun 2026 01:15 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mom65xjnys2jhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mnnckg2mtk2e1) Today is a day to teach and remember. First and foremost the heroism of those - many our fathers and grandfathers - who waded into hell in order to save freedom from the forces of tyranny. But we must also teach and remember that millions--06 Jun 2026 18:41 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnnckg2mtk2ehttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mnl3kuuw3k2d1) Piece notes today's average CEO pay is 465 times what workers make. Not noted is that in 1965 - during America's greatest period of growth, when the world's greatest middle class was built - average CEO pay was only 30 times-- https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/05/business/highest-paid-ceos-elon-musk.html?unlocked_article_code=1.n1A.kPbl.jAcDM6s3Nmmw&smid=bs-share05 Jun 2026 21:31 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mnl3kuuw3k2dhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mngp62z6dk2nSebastian Junger is a brilliant writer, a serious person with very penetrating things to say about everyone and everything surrounding the Graham Platner phenomenon. Read this. I JUST HAD BREAKFAST WITH GRAHAM PLATNER https://open.substack.com/pub/sebastianjunger/p/i-just-had-breakfast-with-graham?r=7fqpl&utm_campaign=post-expanded-share&utm_medium=web04 Jun 2026 03:38 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mngp62z6dk2nhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mn64nxleec2xRemarkable piece by David French should be the basis of a mandatory course in every high school and college in America. If you can't see behind the paywall, the most important sentence is Santayana's: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/31/opinion/communism-fascism-authoritarianism-democracy.html?smid=bs-share31 May 2026 17:46 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mn64nxleec2xhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mmz5a3aw5c2uMany lessons can be learned from how Hungary finally defeated Orban. This is perhaps the most important: "They were united by a sense of moral outrage." https://www.nytimes.com/2026/05/29/opinion/hungary-win-election-viktor-orban.html?unlocked_article_code=1.mFA.a09_.jBpc4qK7EC5s&smid=bs-share29 May 2026 18:13 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmz5a3aw5c2uhttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mmnleztkp22gYou have to actually read it to understand how corrupt this administration really is:25 May 2026 03:54 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmnleztkp22ghttps://bsky.app/profile/mherskovitz.bsky.social/post/3mmht4xv3qk24Once again @washingtonpost.com shows how shamefully captured it is by tech self-interest. See below the substance of Trump's EO, perhaps the most reasonable he's ever contemplated, reminiscent of safeguards against nuclear accidents. To WaPo it is unendurable government intrusion. wapo.st/4varGo122 May 2026 20:57 +0000at://did:plc:mcypsc2vfpgopsp7nc2tp363/app.bsky.feed.post/3mmht4xv3qk24