Mike Madaio

Today is the day y’all! The day where Pennsylvania comes to the forefront of the world stage! I’m talking about the release of my book of course. order: lifeattable.com/history-philad…

My latest monograph ebook, on the history of the Italian wine grape Pecorino, is now available! Though it is only $2, I am running a 25% OFF PROMOTION through the end of January, if you buy it on Smashwords or Gumroad. Info here: buff.ly/1rGa6nT

😂😂 It honestly gets funnier the more you watch it.

@wblakegray Ok interesting. But it also seems the voters will have to approve the current plan for it to be enacted… so it will either be the will of the voters or it won’t be enacted?

@lifeattable In 2010, we voted to create a nonpartisan redistricting commission. That's the right way to do it. I wish every state would redistrict this way. I could only vote for my state to do so, and I did. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010_Cali…

Gavin Newsom just texted me again, asking for money to overturn the will of the voters (including me) with his partisan redistricting plan. IMHO the Democratic Party should direct its energy toward * Listening to voters * Coming up with policies they want (mini 🧵)

President Biden is right. Political satire is one of the oldest and most important forms of free speech. It challenges those in power while using humor to draw more people in to the discussion. That’s why people in influential positions have always targeted it for censorship.

The censorship cartel must be smashed into a billion pieces. Everyday Americans must have the freedom to fully exercise their First Amendment rights.

Should the government censor speech it doesn’t like? Of course not. The FCC does not have a roving mandate to police speech in the name of the “public interest.” usatoday.com/story/opinion/…

Free speech is the counterweight—it is the check on government control. That is why censorship is the authoritarian’s dream.

I was recently on the Cellar Door Podcast, mostly talking digital UX (i.e., how I can help improve your winery website), but also a bit of culinary history. Check it out: buff.ly/CEsFKQh

My recent Thirsty Bandit podcast session is now a YouTube video, so you can see first hand my hair’s love-hate relationship with virtual backgrounds. (And maybe learn a thing or two about improving your winery website.) youtu.be/smBqsyAswT4?si…

Why TF would a radio station play “Closing Time?!?!?!??” Come on @933WMMR do better 😩

I would guess that 20-25% of people I see walking in my sidewalk-free suburban area understand the correct side of the street to walk on (i.e. against traffic). Do people not learn this anymore? It seems like a relatively simple principle but so many don’t know it… 🤔

Email from Eataly: are you team marinara or team pesto? Why are we like this? I don’t want to pick a team!

Everybody Needs More Frappato in Their Lives open.substack.com/pub/lifeattabl…

My Secret being left off New Edition Greatest Hits is still a tragedy

I was on NPR Weekend Edition this morning talking non-traditional cheesesteaks - listen here: (~3 mins) npr.org/2025/07/05/nx-…

Of course the competitive eating world record holder for spray cheese in a can hails from PA

I mean, I guess wraps are always awful if you are either a) talking about the ones served at corporate meetings or b) don’t know how to make a good sandwich. Otherwise I don’t get the hate. theatlantic.com/culture/archiv… PS yes wraps are sandwiches

New rule: when a headline ends with “according to [some expert],” it is the furthest thing one can find from expertise

Thanks @phillyvictor for the shout out in @phillymag! (The library event was last week but more to come)