Emily L Smith

That’s a fair point. Every system has its flaws, but it’s interesting to see how different countries approach healthcare. Australia definitely seems to prioritize accessibility more.

This is amazing!!

“Let them go a month without meals. Maybe they will get a job”

First, many SNAP recipients have jobs. They’re just living below the poverty line because of tremendous wealth inequality.

Second, many are disabled and children and can’t work.

Third, no one should starve to death.

The federal shutdown now into its 23rd day is already forcing the Federal Aviation Administration to warn of major flight disruptions this Thanksgiving if no deal is reached. Democrats must push for swift action for working families now.
#EndTheShutdown #FamiliesFirst
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

Me on Trump pardoning disgraced former congressman George Santos:

"It's completely nuts, but he's completely nuts — and so is Santos, maybe that's the thing that joins them all together... Trump finds a fraudster appealing."

This doesn’t even include the ones who had pending case but he had their charges dropped.

white house has joined bluesky
click here to block all official us government accounts instantly

bsky.app/profile/did:...

Nationwide "No Kings" protests today highlight Americans' demand for democratic values and accountability. Organized by over 200 progressive groups, these rallies reject authoritarianism and advocate for civil rights and healthcare access.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

Trump news at a glance: John Bolton vows to defend his conduct after indictment John Bolton, who served in Trump’s first administration, faces charges of mishandling and transmitting classified information. Key US politics stories from Thursday 16 October at a glance

John Bolton is hit with 18 counts over mishandling classified info. A reminder: justice must apply equally, no political immunity.
#RuleOfLaw #NoOneAboveTheLaw
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

ICE took a 13-year-old they said had a gun. Local cops say he didn’t. Now he's detained 500 miles away from his Massachusetts home.

NEW — I dug into the story of ICE abducting a 13-year-old boy in Massachusetts and moving him 500 miles across state lines without notifying his mother, local cop's complicity, and how the federal government's justification for such cruelty is already falling apart:

US investment boom is sustainable, Bessent says The wave of investment into the U.S. economy is sustainable and is only getting started, but the federal government shutdown is increasingly an impediment, U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Wednesday.

Treasury says the 3-week government shutdown could now cost the U.S. economy up to $15 billion/week in lost output. Democrats must frame this as GOP greed hurting working families.
#EndTheShutdown #Economy
www.reuters.com/world/us/us-...

Headline reads: Altman says ChatGPT will soon allow erotic for adult users.

You gently run your hand through the rack. You can feel it—pure cotton, rich wool, Irish linen. The plump buttonholes are handsewn; the buttons attached with a firm shank. You flip the price tag over. It's affordable

You buy the jacket and go home, which is only 15 mins away. Your apt is $600/month

US revokes visas from six foreign nationals for social media comments critical of Charlie Kirk – as it happened The move marks a stunning departure for the Trump administration, which came to power vowing to stop social-media censorship

The U.S. just revoked visas for six foreign nationals over tweets critical of Charlie Kirk — a dangerous move against free speech. Democrats must step up protections, not punish dissent.
#FreeSpeech #CivilRights
www.theguardian.com/us-news/live...

Trump news at a glance: President declares ‘peace in the Middle East’ despite many barriers remaining Donald Trump has vowed to use the power of his presidency to ensure that Israel recognises it has achieved ‘all that it can by force of arms’. Key US politics stories from 13 October 2025

Trump claims a Gaza peace deal—but real issues remain: disarmament, troops, rights. Democrats must demand transparent diplomacy & UN oversight to avoid a photo-op deal.
#Diplomacy #HumanRights #NoWar
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...

But the claim that “people vehemently disagree with me; therefore I must be right. Cf. Galileo!” is even lazier than “people agree with me; therefore, I must be right!”

Congress's Constitution: Legislative Authority and the Separation of Powers: Chafetz, Josh: 9780300248333: Amazon.com: Books Congress's Constitution: Legislative Authority and the Separation of Powers [Chafetz, Josh] on Amazon.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Congress's Constitution: Legislative Authority and the Separation of Powers

Hi new followers!

If you happen to be interested in the separation of powers, Congress, government shutdowns, contempt of Congress, the filibuster, and more, have I got the book for you! www.amazon.com/dp/0300248334/

Bonus 182: Damages as a (Missing) Deterrent It's worth reflecting on how different things might look right now if federal officers—or the federal government itself—faced a meaningful specter of monetary liability for constitutional violations.

“A more robust and effective damages regime obviously would not prevent unconstitutional conduct by government officers. But it sure would be an easy way to reduce its frequency—and it would also be a remarkably easy statute to write.”

Me in today’s bonus issue of “One First”:

Sign that your 9YO may have two lawyers for parents:

Me: “You’re not complaining, are you?”

9YO: “No. I’m just stating my feelings in an aggravated tone!”

I’m really excited about this — and about the chance to work with Allison Lorentzen and the entire @vikingbooks.bsky.social team!

Democrats refuse to fold over shutdown as Republican outrage builds Party sticks to its guns on healthcare and says it’s willing to hold out – much to the delight of its progressive supporters

Amid the ongoing government shutdown, Democrats have insisted on pushing forward universal health care reform and rejected Republican cuts, winning praise from progressive supporters.
www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...